Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 China holds premier commercial space conference, showcasing thriving industry 08:28, March 26, 2025 By Deng Xiaoci ( Global Times The 2025 Commercial Space Conference and Exhibition held its grand opening ceremony on Tuesday in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province, embracing the theme "Exploring the Future, Building the Space Dream Together." Running through Wednesday, the 2025 conference highlights four core areas: in-orbit services and operations, satellite manufacturing and application services, commercial rocket transportation, and advanced space technologies. Over 350 notable attendees, including top executives and specialists from leading domestic and international commercial space companies, aerospace research institutions and universities, satellite R&D and manufacturing, satellite service applications, commercial rocket development, launch infrastructure, and pioneering tech firms, convened in Shenzhen to explore emerging opportunities in the commercial space landscape. China's 2025 Government Work Report has underlined the need to promote the safe and sound development of commercial space, the low-altitude economy, and other emerging industries. This was the second mention of commercial space in the Government Work Report since the first in the 2024 edition. With the firm support from government policies, the sector is expected to continue its strong growth momentum and yield more technology breakthroughs this year, industry insiders approached by the Global Times on Tuesday on the sidelines of the commercial conference hailed. According to the Securities Daily, a media outlet authorized by the China Securities Regulatory Commission, China's commercial space industry will enter a phase of transformation and upgrading in 2025, with the market size expected to exceed 2.5 trillion yuan ($344 billion), and international cooperation set to continue expanding. Duan Xiao, the chief designer of the satellite system of the leading Chinese private space star-up GalaxySpace, told the Global Times on Tuesday that currently, space infrastructure development is emerging as a new engine for global economic growth. According to a report by the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI), the global space economy is projected to reach a value of $1 trillion by 2040. Duan disclosed that GalaxySpace has built an advanced smart satellite factory. The facility's production line leverages cutting-edge intelligent equipment, including smart assembly robots, AGVs (automated guided vehicles), and automated measurement systems, paired with sophisticated software platforms such as digital manufacturing systems and automated integrated testing systems. This setup supports the full production of satellites weighing up to 2,000 kilograms, with the line capable of producing 100 satellites annually, according to Duan. At present, the company is working on the development of next-generation communication satellites capable of direct smartphone connectivity, accelerating the embrace of the 6G era, Duan said. The company has recently demonstrated mobile-to-satellite communication technology based on China's first low-Earth orbit (LEO) broadband communication experimental constellation, successfully connecting Beijing and Bangkok, in a high-quality video link. Space Pioneer, a Chinese private rocket company specializing in medium-to-large liquid launch vehicles and liquid oxygen-kerosene rocket engines, and notable as the world's first private entity to successfully launch a liquid rocket on its maiden flight, announced to the Global Times on Tuesday that its newly developed Tianlong-3, a large-scale liquid launch vehicle aimed at rivaling SpaceX's Falcon 9, is targeting its inaugural flight in 2025. According to the statement, the Tianlong-3 is projected to progressively reach a commercial launch capacity of over 30 flights annually starting in 2025. Landspace, another private rocket maker based in Beijing, revealed to the Global Times on Tuesday that the company's ZQ-3 reusable rocket, which has successively completed vertical takeoff and landing flight tests at the 100-meter and 10-kilometer levels, is set to make its inaugural flight this year. Founder and CEO of Landspace, Zhang Changwu, told the Global Times that the company is accelerating the development of the ZQ-3 rocket, and they are planning to achieve first-stage recovery through three launch missions, with routine operations of the Zhuque-3 rocket expected to commence in 2026. The company is now testing the supporting legs for the reusable rocket in Beijing and according to Wang Minggang, chief scientist of the ZQ-3 rocket landing system, these landing support legs will deploy when the rocket is approximately 100 meters from the ground during the recovery process, allowing it to "stand firm." The legs would unfold in three to four seconds, operating under a relatively heavy load condition, but the safety factor remains high, and the testing results in terms of load-bearing capacity are considered satisfactory, Wang said. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Mikhail Nilov from Pexels With the launch of Canada's federal elections on Sunday, a question arises: do women have the same chances as men of getting voted into office? According to research by Canadian political scientists Andre Blais and Semra Sevi, the answer is yes. While women remain a minority in the country's parliament and legislative assemblies, when it comes to voting, Canadians do not penalize female candidates. On the contrary, certain personality traits traditionally considered "feminine" could even be an advantage in the race for votes. If women are underrepresented in elected office, that's not due to voter bias but rather to party recruitment mechanisms and institutional barriers that limit their access to candidacy, the researchers say. A century of data Their analysis takes a long viewas far back as a century. In a study published in 2019 in the Canadian Journal of Political Science, Blais and Sevi (his doctoral student at the time), along with Blais's colleague Vincent Arel-Bundock, analyzed more than 21,000 candidacies over 29 general elections in Canada since 1921. They found that while female candidates historically received fewer votes than men, this gap was primarily due to contextual factors. "Women were running for weaker parties to begin with, which is why they were less frequently elected," said Blais, an emeritus professor. "When we account for variables such as party affiliation and district competitiveness, the gap between men and women shrinks considerably." In fact, historical trends show significant progress: in the 1920s, female candidates received, on average, 2.5 percentage points fewer votes than their male counterparts. Today, this difference has nearly vanished, with the gap now at around 0.5 percentage points, something that's statistically insignificant. For Blais, the conclusion is clear: "There is no bias against women in their likelihood of electoral success in Canada, except perhaps for the position of prime minister." 'Feminine' qualities valued more In a more recent experimental study, published a year ago in Acta Politica, Blais and Sevi (now an assistant professor at the University of Toronto) examined the self-declared personality traits of candidates and their impact on voter preferences. The study involved 47 groups of 10 American participants who had to decide, hypothetically, whether to run in different types of elections, including a campaign where candidates were required to reveal their most valuable personal trait. Blais and Sevi classified 29 personality traits: some were deemed "feminine," such as compassion, loyalty, and patience, and others were categorized as "masculine," such as reliability, intelligence, and determination. Surprisingly, the traits most frequently chosen by candidates were honesty, open-mindedness, and compassionthree characteristics that rank high on the femininity scale. Even more revealing, candidates who exhibited feminine traits received more votes, with a particularly marked advantage for male candidates who emphasized these qualities. "When we consider only candidate quality, there is no disadvantage linked to feminine traits; in fact, there might even be a slight advantage," said Blais. "These findings contradict the common belief that feminine qualities are a handicap in politics." Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Recruitment remains problematic If Canadian voters no longer discriminate against female candidates based on their so-called feminine qualities, why does their underrepresentation persist? According to Blais, the answer lies in how political parties recruit candidates. "Women remain underrepresented because, traditionally, men have been more integrated into partisan networks, and incumbents are often men," he explained. This observation aligns with findings from other international studies that identify several barriers to women's political participation, such as the constraints of the electoral districts they run in, the heightened competition in candidate selection, funding challenges, and media obstacles. "Gender stereotypes remain problematic, creating a double bind: if women exhibit too many feminine traits, they risk being perceived as weak, and if they adopt masculine traits, they may be seen as unlikable," said Blais. But the perception of political leadership is evolving, he added. The 2024 study aligns with recent research showing that both male and female candidates are now more willing to highlight typically feminine traits, suggesting a political environment more open to diverse leadership styles. "Canadian political parties would benefit from recruiting more female candidates for the upcoming elections," said Blais. "Since they do not suffer from a significant electoral disadvantage, their underrepresentation stems more from institutional barriers than from voter preference for men." More information: Andre Blais et al, Are feminine traits a liability in elections?, Acta Politica (2024). DOI: 10.1057/s41269-024-00338-6 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Distribution of the frogs studied and examples of their finger disk widths. Distribution of the Kaloula conjuncta complex A and B K. picta. Diamond = location of samples sequenced for this study; star = type locality of K. c. stickeli; red box = location of the putative hybrid zone where K. c. meridionalis, K. c. stickeli, and K. picta co-occur. C Differences in widths of the finger disks in the focal taxa. Credit: Chan et al Evolutionary biologists working in the Philippines have long puzzled over a hard-to-find amphibian mystery: the Leyte Chorus Frog. It's a small, ground-dwelling frog from Leyte Island in the Visayan province of the eastern Philippines. The country is an island archipelago once blanketed with dense forests that today exist in small fragmentsan unfortunate consequence of intensive logging. The Leyte Chorus Frog was collected in 1944 and noted for its odd toe disks when it was described in an academic paper in 1954, then not seen again for decades despite a concerted hunt by researchers. Now, a report from the University of Kansas appearing in the journal Heredity confirms that Kaloula conjuncta stickeli (the scientific name of the strange chorus frog) is a hybrid of two species with overlapping ranges whose intermingling likely was driven by deforestation. "It's this really weird, enigmatic frog in the Philippines," said Chan Kin Onn, a postdoctoral researcher at KU's Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum, who served as lead author on the paper. Chan credits his mentor Rafe Brown, curator-in-charge of the herpetology division at the Institute, for years of fieldwork that undergird the findings. "The reason the frog's enigmatic is that it was collected a long time ago," Chan said. "It looks really distinctyou can just eyeball a specimen and immediately tell it's not this, it's not that; it's something else. When it was originally described, it was classified as a subspecies." Chan said evolutionary biologists tend to think of a "subspecies" as a population that looks slightly different, but not obviously unique enough to qualify as a separate species. The problem was that only a few Leyte Chorus Frogs were ever discovered despite regular sampling by scientists in the regionits rarity was a puzzle that raised questions about its status as a subspecies. "The person who first discovered it collected only two specimens," Chan said. "Over the course of several decades, despite many researchers returning to the same locations, only five more specimens have been found. The lack of material makes it really difficult to studyonly seven specimens exist in collections worldwide. "For the longest time, we didn't have the tools to figure it out, so people considered it either a subspecies or questioned its validity. Some hypothesized that it might be a full species, one that might already be extinct. No one really knew for sure, so it remained in this gray area." Fieldwork in the Philippines by co-author Brown, who also serves as KU professor of ecology & evolutionary biology, turned up several of the Leyte Chorus Frogs specimensbut this time from the southern island of Mindanao. Today, they're housed in collections of the National Museum of the Philippines, the Texas Memorial Museum and the University of Texas at Austin. "Ever since catching these curious, oddball specimens in 1996, the summer before I started grad school at UT Austin, the unanswered question of what they really wereor what they could possibly representhas bugged me on and off, occasionally resurfacing from memory," Brown said. "It has been like a note-to-self: Don't forget to get back to those weird frogs from Mindanao because we still don't know the answer." One of just seven specimens of the mysterious Leyte Chorus Frog collected by W. H. Stickel on Nov. 20, 1944, from Leyte, Philippines. Part of the collection of the Field Museum of Natural History. Credit: Sarah Drasner. Following up on Brown's questions, Chan looked into the mystery of the Leyte Chorus Frog using the same specimens from 1944 and 1996, as well as the latest tools of the evolutionary biology trade. He used genetic material from specimens in biodiversity collections and analyzed relevant portions of the genome using labs at KU and offsite, looking to accurately place the frog in its family tree. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. "Today we have a bunch of those 'Star Trek'-style science gizmos," Brown said. "We've got genomic resources, bioinformatic tools, really powerful computers, and most importantly Dr. Chan, whose insight provided the final pieces to come together, for a much anticipated resolution of the mystery." "We thought, 'Let's see if genomics can answer this question,'" Chan said. "So, we did, and the result was surprisingthis frog is actually a hybrid. Not just any hybridan 'F1 hybrid,' meaning it's the first-generation offspring of two distinct parent species. Because of that, it has 50% of its genetic material from one parent and 50% from the other." The analysis found the odd Leyte Chorus Frogs are a hybrid between K. c. meridionalis and K. picta. "Normally, these two frog species wouldn't meet because one lives in trees and bushes, but the other on the ground, and they breed in completely different places," Chan said. "But deforestation changed their environment, creating new open spaces where their habitats overlapped. This led to tree-dwelling females being drawn to the calls of ground-dwelling males, resulting in unexpected hybridization. Scientists suspected this years ago when they observed the frogs interacting in the wild, but they lacked the tools to prove it." Chan said the hybrid Leyte Chorus Frogs were particularly interesting because their two parent species look and act so differently. "One is large, with big expanded toe pads for climbing," he said. "The other is smaller, with almost no expanded toe pads because it's a ground dweller. This enigmatic frog is a perfect intermediate between themit has intermediate-sized toe pads. Just by eyeballing the size of the toe pads, you can tell what's what." In the end, the KU researchers determined the hybrid isn't a distinct species and doesn't warrant its own scientific name. Further, its rarity comes down to the fact that it cannot reproduce and is an evolutionary dead end. "When they breed, we think it likely that genetic incompatibilities form," Chan said. "Apparently, the hybrids are incompatible with each other, and with the two species that produced them, so they cannot progress beyond that first generation F1 hybrid. At least, this is what we suspect, and it opens the door for future research to verify this." Brown emphasized the critical role played by specimen-based museum research for deciphering biological problems that rely on clues only to be gleaned from biological specimens properly preserved and cared for in natural history museums. "Chan's work is really impressive, and with this new publication he closed the book on the Leyte Chorus Frog 'stickeli' mystery," Brown said. "That's thanks to his hard work, analytical abilities, writing skills and cutting-edge genomic data. "That said, this project would not have been possible if we had been unable to access the exact same museum specimens that stupefied field biologists 30 to 80 years ago. Lucky for us, they made note of their observations, collected the specimens and preserved them for use by future researchers." More information: Kin Onn Chan et al, Deforestation-induced Hybridization in Philippine Frogs Creates a Distinct Phenotype With an Inviable Genotype, Heredity (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41437-025-00748-y Journal information: Heredity State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code Food pantries in the Quad-Cities could soon face empty shelves after cuts to a federal program halted some food delivery. In early March, the USDA cut two federally funded programs that provided food assistance to schools and foodbanks, according to the Associated Press. At the River Bend Food Bank in Davenport, President and CEO Chris Ford said the cuts are "absolutely already impacting us." The foodbank receives commodities through the farm bill and through the emergency food assistance program. Through the program, the USDA buys nutritious foods and makes them available to state distribution agencies, like River Bend. It also gives out discretionary funds in the form of commodity credit. River Bend has already noticed roughly 6% of the food the government provides has been "returned in the system," meaning it will not be coming to River Bend, Ford said. That translates to about $515,000 of food loss for the organization. "That is food we know for sure is being returned," he said, adding staff are expecting an additional 1-2% in cuts. "All in all, we feel like 7% is the number we have been speaking to." If 7% is where it lands, that means River Bend will not receive 316,000 pounds of food it was counting on, equating to about $650,000 of goods. Ford said this is a hard pill to swallow as River Bend serves a 23 county area. That population has been down recently, he said, but the amount of people the bank considers food insecure is up 30%. Among its many food pantries are one each at NorthPark and SouthPark Malls. About a month ago, Ford said, River Bend served a record 425 individuals in a five-hour period at the SouthPark location; a milestone that echoes how significant the 6% loss is. "We are definitely beginning to feel the pinch in the loss of food, but certainly (already feeling) the increase in demand," he said. River Bend has tried to advocate to the legislatures in both Iowa and Illinois for help, saying to make up for the loss, the food bank would have to increase it's own budget by 25%. "That's just not going to happen in this current situation," Ford said. The board is watching what's going on, but will have to make big decisions soon, Ford said, to see if there is any funding they can utilize differently to make up for the loss. The concern about the USDA cuts have been hitting food banks across both states, and the nation, he said, with many having the same conversations: the need is increasing but the support is decreasing as higher prices make it harder for people to make financial donations. This concern is only compounded by potential threats to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. In February, the U.S. House passed a budget resolution that could direct $230 billion in cuts to SNAP over the next 10 years. "That is going to put more pressure on food banks and food pantries across the United States because those people are going to look for ways to fill in the gaps," Ford said. "This is not helping. It is a real-life situation right here in the Quad-Cities." Ford said while food banks are asking for donations and volunteers now, they are going to need a lot more if the budget resolution is passed. On its website, the Iowa Foodbank Association quotes the USDA in saying every dollar in SNAP benefits equates to about $1.80 in economic activity. Grocery retailors are going to feel the pinch, too, Ford said, when consumers have less money to spend on the same products. "I think it's a ripple effect that we will see in the coming weeks, months and years if the trend continues," he said. Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Virginia Commonwealth University has a green light to purchase the Altria Center for Research and Technology building in downtown Richmond, after Gov. Glenn Youngkin approved the move Monday. The university intends plans to buy the nine-story, 450,000-square-foot facility at 600 E. Leigh St. and use it for research and academics. The city has assessed the building and parking deck for about $300 million, but it is unclear how much VCU will pay. Spokespeople for the tobacco giant and VCU declined to reveal the number. The facility will change the trajectory of the university and its research efforts, said Matt Conrad, VCUs vice president for external and government relations. And it will subtract a valuable piece of real estate from the citys tax rolls. Youngkin released his amendments and vetoes to the state budget late Monday. Altria Group and VCU have spoken for months about selling the building, which contains laboratories, dining areas, a kitchen, open work areas, a fitness center and offices. It has a pedestrian bridge that connects to the nine-level parking deck. Philip Morris USA, a division of Altria, built the facility in 2005 on land the city donated to the Virginia Bio+Tech Research Park. VCU has grown its research capabilities exponentially in recent years and has said it needs to replace Sanger Hall, which has become outdated. Building a new research building would cost more than $700 million and take a decade or more, Grant Heston, a spokesperson for the university, said last year. Buying the Altria building would save the university and the state a great deal of money. VCU will move most or all of its lab space plus the schools of pharmacy and public health, according to Dr. Marlon Levy, senior vice president for VCU health sciences. The university is still figuring out what exactly it will put in the building. Levy called the facility an incredibly important addition to the health sciences campus. Conrad added: This project is the one Im going to remember and be most proud of. It was an all-hands-on-deck project. The state will contribute $127 million toward the purchase. The state pays for public universities academic buildings and splits the cost for research facilities. In this case, the state will pay for all of the space in the building used for academics and half of the area for research. David Sutton, a spokesperson for Altria, said the company will remain downtown for several years while it builds a new research building somewhere else in the city, likely near the Philip Morris manufacturing center in South Richmond. Its unclear when that building will open or whether it will replace all of the citys lost tax revenue. The downtown research building is worth about $3.6 million a year in real estate taxes, which the city will lose. Nearly a quarter of city land is untaxable because it contains government buildings, churches or university buildings. The inability to collect taxes on such valuable properties dramatically limits the citys capacity to generate revenue that is used to support the delivery of services to Richmond residents, said Julian Walker, a spokesperson for Mayor Danny Avula. Church transfer Youngkin also approved a proposal in the budget for VCU to relinquish control of the historic First African Baptist Church to Virginia State University, which could then lease the building to Virginia Union University as a museum and academic building. The church, at 1400 E. Broad St., is nearly 150 years old, currently unused and in need of repair. VCU supports transferring possession of the building, a spokesperson for the university said last month. It was just a gathering place for slaves who were freed to express and show their freedom, former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder said last month. Its loaded with history. $56M payment Additionally, Youngkin approved a measure in the budget that directs VCU Health System to stop paying $56 million to the city of Richmond as part of the failed plan to redevelop the former Public Safety Building. In 2021, VCU Health struck a deal with the city and a developer called Capital City Partners to redevelop the property at East Clay and North Ninth streets in downtown Richmond with a $325 million complex that would include a 17-story office tower for VCU Health. The health system agreed to pay the city $56 million over 25 years in exchange for the city essentially giving away a profitable plot of land. VCU Health pledged to make the payment even if the complex was never built. But the parties realized that the project had become untenable there wasnt enough demand to build office space there, and construction costs had soared. VCU Health paid $73 million to exit the agreement. Last year, lawmakers and Youngkin directed VCU Health to pursue termination of the payments. VCU Health and the city met to negotiate but could not find middle ground. The city expected to continue conversations with VCU Health leaders in an effort to resolve the issue, Walker said. The budget language appears to block future payments from the health system to the city without prior legislative authorization. While these developments are disappointing, the city continues to evaluate the budget to better understand its potential implications, Walker said. CFE says poor quality natural gas responsible for mass Yucatan Peninsula blackout Riviera Maya, Q.R. Thousands of people were left without electricity around the Yucatan Peninsula Monday. Some areas reported power outages lasting as long as 10 hours. The power cuts began around 3:00 p.m. due to a cogeneration plant failure. According to the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), poor quality natural gas in the Mayakan pipeline resulted in a failure at the Nuevo Pemex cogeneration plant. Power failures were reported around dozens of regions of the Peninsula after at least four states in the southeast were without electricity. The blackout affected thousands in the states of Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Tabasco and Campeche. Due to the poor gas quality, generating plants were forced to switch to alternative fuels. To mitigate the impacts during this period of irregular supply, the Generation Subdirectorate, in coordination with the subsidiary CFEnergia and the National Energy Control Center (CENACE), decided to implement scheduled power outages for periods of time (rotating outages) to minimize the impact on users. Due to this situation, users in the states of Campeche, Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Yucatan were affected. According to the CFE, as of 2:30 a.m. (Central Mexico time), only 47 percent of users had normalized service. In Quintana Roo, power outages were reported in seven municipalities including Cancun, Bacalar, Tulum, Puerto Morelos, Isla Mujeres, Cozumel and Playa del Carmen. The sudden blackout left traffic snarled and businesses closed. Transit officials were forced to direct traffic during the intermittent service. In a statement, the CFE (Comision Federal de Electricidad) said poor natural gas quality was reported due to high humidity in the Mayakan pipeline. This resulted from a failure at the Nuevo Pemex cogeneration plant, limiting electricity generation using this fuel. Due to poor gas quality, generating plants were forced to switch to alternative fuels. To mitigate the impacts during this period of irregular supply, the Generation Subdirectorate, in coordination with the subsidiary CFEnergia and the National Energy Control Center (CENACE), decided to implement scheduled power outages for periods of time (rotating outages) to minimize the impact on users. Due to this situation, users in the states of Campeche, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, and Yucatan were affected. Of the total number of affected users, 47% now have access to service. CFE and PEMEX are working together to fully restore electrical service, CFE reported in an official statement late Monday night. Judge hands down 48 year sentence after womans decapitated body found in suitcase on PDC street Playa del Carmen, Q.R. A man found guilty of murdering a Playa del Carmen woman has been sentenced to 48 years in prison. Guillermo Jorge N, now 44, was sentenced to 48 years for the 2019 murder of 25 year old Erika N. According to authorities, the victim came to Playa del Carmen from the state of Queretaro to work. She was saving money to earn a Canadian visa. She rented an apartment in the Colosio neighborhood and got a job at a Tulum hotel. The apartment where she lived was the same area where Guillermo Jorge N also once lived. He left Quintana Roo in 2018 but returned a year later as a roommate to the woman. In June 2019, the woman was a week away from traveling to Canada and had agreed to a farewell gathering at a bar in central Playa del Carmen. Police said that on June 14, 2019, she left her job in the Tulum hotel zone and met the suspect at a bar in Playa del Carmens Centro neighborhood. They stayed there until 3:58 a.m. She was last seen alive leaving that bar with him. On June 16, a search began when she failed to show up for work. On June 18, 2019, part of the victims decapitated body was found in bags stuffed inside a suitcase just six blocks from where she lived. She had been stabbed to death after being raped and tortured. After identifying the remains, forensic examinations determined that the young woman had been raped and tortured. During an inspection of the apartment she shared with Guillermo Jorge N they found traces of the victims blood, police reported. Guillermo Jorge N fled Playa del Carmen on June 21, 2019. He was located in several states including Jalisco and Puebla, calling himself Julio Cesar. He was finally captured in June of 2022 in the state of Oaxaca. This week, Guillermo Jorge N, now 44, was given a 48-year prison sentence for the crime of femicide and fined 236,572 pesos, as well as 513,400 pesos for material damages and 207,753.19 pesos for damages. New artistic centre inaugurated in Jose Maria Morelos Jose Maria Morelos, Q.R. A new artistic centre has been opened in the town of Jose Maria Morelos. Governor Mara Lezama and Mayor Erik Borges Yam inaugurated the tourist stop Monday. This space, located on Jose Maria Morelos Avenue and Tihosuco Street in San Juan Park, houses the municipal tourism department, exhibition and sales areas for community handicrafts and liaison offices for the state tourism department. Jose Maria Morelos is a Mayan municipality with great tourism potential. Spaces have been created to showcase the communitys rich landscape, art, culture and craft heritage. The new art centre is a modern space that will be a key element in promoting the municipalitys great artistic, cultural, craft and tourist potential. The space, according to authorities, was an investment of nearly 6.5 million pesos, Mara Lezama reiterated that Jose Maria Morelos is on the Maya Kaan destination route, and this stopover is a place everyone should visit. After cutting the inaugural ribbon, Governor Mara Lezama, accompanied by President Erik Borges Yam, Representative Jose Maria Chacon, and state and municipal officials, toured the modules and exhibition spaces for gastronomy, crafts, and other services. Police find criminal security cameras installed around Felipe Carrillo Puerto Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Q.R. Security cameras believed installed by a criminal group have been dismantled in Felipe Carrillo Puerto. Authorities made the discovery days earlier during an arrest when their suspects were found with the evidence. On Monday, a coordinated operation between municipal and federal officials was implemented to remove the illegal infrastructure. Officials were seen around 5:00 p.m. Monday at different strategic points in Felipe Carrillo Puerto dismantling cameras. Authorities removed an illegally installed camera from the outside of a business on Santiago Pacheco Cruz Avenue as well as another they found located at the entrance to the town. The cameras were allegely installed to monitor traffic leading to Chetumal and Tulum. According to available information, the operation was carried out after the arrest of individuals believed to be members of a criminal cell. During their arrests, police seized various pieces of camera surveillance equipment found on the suspects at the time. The criminals allegedly used the now-seized cameras to monitor operations by police and opposing criminal groups. Some of the cameras were found to have been compromised through hacking methods, allowing individuals or criminal groups to access the broadcasts in real time. It is the second time in as many months that security cameras installed by criminal groups have been dismantled from public spaces in the south of the state. In February, police located what ended up being more than 35 illegally installed security cameras in public spaces by criminal groups. The cameras were installed along roadways on poles and in trees around the municipality of Tulum. Trio demanding 10,000 a week in extortion payments from Cancun construction company charged Cancun, Q.R. Roberto Gonzalo N, Jorge Alberto N and Fredi Alberto N have been charged with extorting a Cancun business. All three are accused of demanding 10,000 pesos per week from a Cancun construction company. They are also accused of attempting to force workers at the site in SM 313 to sell narcotics on their behalf. If the workers did not sell the drugs, they would be forced to pay for them themselves. According to police, Roberto Gonzalo N, Jorge Alberto N and Fredi Alberto N arrived at the construction site on March 10, 2025 at which time they demanded an extortion payment of 10,000 pesos per week. They returned a day later with drugs the construction workers were ordered to sell. Money from the sale of narcotics would be collected by them directly. If the men failed to sell the drugs, the trio warned the men would pay for them themselves. They returned for a third time two days later, which is when the company filed an official complaint with authorities. The defendants are identified as Roberto Gonzalo N, Jorge Alberto N and Fredi Alberto N, accused of events that occurred on March 10, 2025, when they entered a construction site located in Supermanzana 313 on Huayacan Avenue, identifying themselves as members of a criminal group and demanding payment of 10,000 pesos per week, police said in a statement. On March 11 of this year, they returned to the scene, carrying envelopes of narcotics, ordering the workers to sell them and hand over the money. If they didnt comply, they would pay for the drugs. On March 13, they returned again, demanding to speak to the manager and threatening to return later for the money. Police said that after a complaint was filed, they began an investigation which lead to the arrests of Roberto Gonzalo N, Jorge Alberto N and Fredi Alberto N and subsequent charges for their probable participation in the crime of extortion. All three were ordered by a Cancun judge to remain imprisoned during their legal process. Tulum third most visited archaeological site during Spring Equinox Tulum, Q.R. Nearly 200,000 people visited archaeological sites around the country to witness the 2025 Spring Equinox. The most visited was Teotihuacan in the state of Mexico followed by Chichen Itza, Yucatan and Tulum, Quintana Roo. According to the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), from March 20 to 23, 192,082 people visited various archaeological sites throughout Mexico. At Chichen Itza, thousands gathered to witness the phenomenon of light and shadow that occurs in the structure known as the Castillo. The spring equinox, one of the most significant astronomical phenomena in the world, attracted 192,082 people to various pre-Hispanic archaeological sites around the country. The archaeological sites with the highest attendance were Teotihuacan in the State of Mexico with 36,255 visitors and Chichen Itza, in Yucatan, with 32,872. Tulum, in Quintana Roo ranked third with 15,786 attendees. Other popular sites were El Tajin in Veracruz with 10,849 visitors, Monte Alban in Oaxaca with 6,721, the Templo Mayor in Mexico City gathered 6,175 visitors, Calixtlahuaca in Mexico City gathered 5,000 and Cholula, in Puebla, totaled 4,713. Other venues with significant capacity included Palenque in Chiapas, which registered 2,842 visitors, Uxmal in Yucatan with 2,643 and Xochicalco in Morelos, with 1,690 people. One of the topics of the times is work-life balance. Should you work all the time, like Elon Musk? Should you embrace the workless life of social media influencers? To be middle class is a mix of the two. One has to work, to earn independence (and property), and also to mind ones life, to make good use of that independence. Its to be neither poor nor rich, but to be somehow both. Yet it might also mean to be divided, at cross-purposes with oneself, pulled by technology one way, to work; and by mortality in another, to live. As with many other things, we have lost the paradise of the 50s, in which work and family, home and community, and private life and American greatness all seemed of one piece. In 21st century America, there are far fewer marriages and therefore families; far fewer children, too. But there are also now all sorts of worries about jobs and careers, falling labor participation rates, and an anxiety about the gig economy and the problem of automation. This is the world of the AppleTV+ show Severance, now in its second season. Disguising sociological observation, as is customary, in the form of science fiction, Severanceencourages us to worry over our loss of identity. Work-life balance, for example, implies a deeper common ground disputed by those activities and requires a higher standard by which to judge how to act. The old-fashioned word for that is soul. The state-of-the-art jargon is identity, or rather identities. The identities of producer and consumer, or worker and nonworker, are severed from each other in the show, suggesting Americans sign away their freedom or self-government at work, becoming temporary slaves to corporations. Or rather, one corporation that organizes the identities, Lumon, which inserts chips in the brain to block short-term memories, so that the hours of work and the hours of life stay separate and one body ends up housing two people, at least. The corporation keeps its secrets, as with NDAs and noncompetes and so forth; the employee, once back home and away from the desk, gets to forget about drudgery and indulge the liberal hipster atheist life, as far as the show is concerned. We see this exaggerated version of ordinary life play out with four unhappy but endearing middle-aged characters, Mark S. (Adam Scott), our sensitive male protagonist; Helly R. (Britt Lower), the brash woman who wont take no for an answer; Dylan G. (Zach Cherry), the moral anchor, who is black; and Irving B. (John Turturro), the gay character. Every frustration to do with impersonal modern institutions, from boredom to an alienating futurism, is put on like an absurd pageant by director Ben Stiller and creator Dan Ericksen. But also every possible office romance plays out. The characters are trying to break out of a kind of behaviorist rat labyrinth but also trying to find out why they want out. The plasticity or malleability of human nature is on display in Severance, in the particularly worrisome way of playing a role, of deception and self-deception, of self-help and the use of self-help as a therapeutic ideology by corporations. We rehearse the fear, as the story unfolds, of the use of technology to mutilate human nature, an attack on our memories, a replacement for experience, and a whole-of-society form of role-playing that spells out the consequences of our conformism, social media censorship, and alienation. But we also fear we may not deserve better, because we cannot deal with our own suffering, much less help others. The show presupposes there is no such thing as the preferred liberal type, the well-adjusted individual. Thats just the lie corporate self-help, wellness, and carrot-and-stick incentives tell. But it accepts the notion that, without work and its tyranny, people arent even interesting. The split selves of work and leisure, innies and outies, coexist somehow. But the story is all about the innies, even though their work (Macro-data refinement) seems indistinguishable from simple number games. Our world is what we make of it, so we must find out what weve made of it. ~ ~ ~ Season 1 of Severance played out a familiar American drama, rebelling against the system, blowing the whistle, appealing to democracy to fight off the oligarchyTheMatrix, if you will. This fails, as it did in The Matrix. Social and technological experimentation on human beings is not frowned upon; the unhappiness of our characters is what keeps them goingsecretly, its the fuel for the corporate engine of productivity. But what success they do achieve and what revelations we experience come from their willingness and ability to band together, in which regard they fare better than Marks friend Petey, who had broken out alone and suffered for it. Season 2 plays out the other familiar drama, the origin story. What is the origin of the Lumon corporation, which seems to include everything from schools to health services to the manufacturing jobs that made small towns wealthy? What is the origin of Marks involvement with itwas it a rescue mission for the wife he had lost after she had a miscarriage and whom he has since forgotten and remembered again? The unfamiliar aspect of the story is the willingness to turn office life into existentialist theater. What if you lived your life in the complete awareness of the fact that a third of it is sleep, and the rest is half at work, half away, realizing that the people in your home and the people in your office have nothing in common and yet you are split between them? What if you took that further and wondered how alien you are to yourself? Would you keep going back to work, once it suddenly seemed to you existentially demeaningthe office will always be there, but you are mortal? And would that return to servitude make you somehow stronger? Thats the most interesting suggestion in Severance, the insight that makes Season 2 coherent. The motivations of the four characters become more sophisticated once they take themselves seriously as having a family for which they are responsible, beginning the process of integration of identity, but their partnership looking for escape now looks much flimsier. Theyre headed in different directions, in short, and they might not even be able to trust each other. But work is what made them able to get this far. Ive avoided spoilers because the story isnt overthe big mystery show problem, which goes back to Twin Peaks in 1990, is now looming over Severance. Will they stick the landing in Season 3? Will they be able to bring things together, which in a sense means coming back to reality once the corporate conspiracy thriller begins to run out of steam? But its already obvious whats going on in the back of our heads that makes us willing to look at ourselves in this theatrical situation and what we could learn if we only reflected on the problem of corporations supplying identities in a world where family, church, or nation no longer have enough power over the American mind. Still, were at the stage of puzzling over things, which is why we admire the show, so Ill leave you with the woman question. A married woman who cant have children is the emotional climax of Season 2. Another woman, apparently single and childless on the threshold of old age, apparently invented the tech to sever identities. A little girl plays boss in the strange kindergarten atmosphere of the modern workplace. Another single woman stands to inherit the corporate empire. Our male protagonist is supposed to become sensitive to a female influence that suffuses the story. But what will he (and what will we) make of all this? BLACKSBURG By a show of hands, Virginia Techs governing board approved a resolution Tuesday to dissolve the university inclusion office. Chants from hundreds of students outside The Inn at Virginia Tech could not penetrate the walls of Latham Ballroom where the university board of visitors met on Tuesday afternoon. Hey hey, ho ho, students chanted as they marched across campus. The BOV has got to go. In the face of federal pressure to purge emphases on diversity, equity and inclusion from publicly funded institutions, the Virginia Tech board voted 12-2 in favor of a resolution to ensure that all programs, policies, practices and actions comply with the law. The university resolution is a response to an executive order issued by President Donald Trump, as well as an ensuing letter penned by the new administration to clarify and affirm the nondiscrimination obligations of institutions receiving federal funds. Rector Ed Baine was one of at least two board members who voted in opposition. Given that it is an executive order, the university and the board have an obligation to comply with the law, Baine said. I voted no, because there are a couple underlying items within the EO that I just dont agree with. Baine said as the university continues through the process of ensuring legal compliance, his focus is on continuing to provide all students with services for success, and treating colleagues at Virginia Tech with the utmost respect and civility. Those are and should be the expectations, Baine said. There shouldnt be any disagreement about that. Board member Anna James said she voted no because she is proud of the diversity and inclusion work that has been done in her eight years on the board. A faculty representative said the faculty senate is opposed. Nancy Dye, who chairs the academic, research and student affairs committee that brought the resolution, said the resolution is about complying with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. Nothing in the resolution contradicts the Principles of Community the board adopted in 2005, Dye said. Those principles affirm the value of human diversity and reject prejudice and discrimination. The resolution calls for dissolving the universitys Office for Inclusive Strategy and Excellence. It also says the university highly values diversity. President Tim Sands said, this is a tumultuous time for higher education, and Virginia Tech is not immune from any of the scrutiny. We are also committed to uphold the law when it comes to discrimination based on protected identities, Sands said. Interpretations of those laws has shifted in recent months. We must shift accordingly. Sands said he will report back to the board of visitors, and will conduct a listening session with the university community in the first week of April. We are reviewing our programs, several hundred of them, that touch on one or more of our protected classes, Sands said. As soon as we have clarity, we will share that with the community. An accompanying document also says Virginia Tech will not require training, education or coursework, or the signing of any code of conduct asserting that a particular protected class, or individuals who identify as such, are inherently or systemically superior or inferior, oppressive or oppressed, or privileged or unprivileged. Outside The Inn, hundreds of students chanted. A bolstered security presence greeted visitors outside the public meeting room. A team checked bags and scanned drivers licenses before letting people inside. Campus police were present in numbers inside and outside The Inn. BOV you are cowards, students shouted. Students have all the power. Tristan Reeves, a senior, said this wont be the last time students unite to fight administrative oversteps. What were seeing with the dissolution of these offices and DEI programs at Virginia Tech is just another expansion of the Trump administrations overstep of their executive power, Reeves said. To destroy higher education, to ensure that students from marginalized and underrepresented identifies do not have a say. Tuition and fees increased Also Tuesday, the board voted to raise tuition, student fees and room & board. Tuition has increased each year since 2021, increasing by 14% over the past five years, university officials said previously. Furthermore, the university board voted Tuesday to rescind plans to create a student life village at the center of campus. The village had been planned since 2022 as a replacement to Slusher Hall, and a way to alleviate campus crowding amid growing enrollment. That resolution passed by a vote of 10 to 3, with Baine, Anna James and Tish Long voting no, according to a university spokesperson. Board member Jeanne Stosser, a Blacksburg developer, abstained from voting. The rescinding resolution is not about restricting housing on campus, but rather about the board being diligent in considering and reconsidering potential housing solutions, Sands said. He said a new agreement with surrounding localities, called the Partnership for Progress, will be signed by the end of the academic year, providing a shared roadmap for future planning and development efforts. I welcome that debate and the creative solutions that will result, Sands said. How to Do It is Slates sex advice column. Have a question? Send it to Jessica and Rich here. Its anonymous! Dear How to Do It, My marriage has been on a rocky road for quite a few years, greatly due to lack of sex. My libido hasnt been in sync with my husbands since the birth of our three childrenand theyre now preteens. Im exhausted with home/family life, and have struggled with depression. I cant bring myself to want sex and my husband has responded in a not-very-sympathetic or understanding way, which makes me want it less, if thats even possible. About three years ago, in the heat of an argument, I said that if my husband wasnt happy with the amount of sex I was giving him, he should think about satisfying himself elsewhere. Hearing it come out of my mouth made me sad and I wasnt even sure if I was serious or not. I had no intention of being part of an open or unfaithful marriage. We did not address that again until last year: While searching through pictures on my husbands computer (to clarify, I wasnt snooping, I was trying to make a photo gift for a relative), I found screenshots from chat rooms he had been secretly partaking in (as in both watching and performing masturbation). We fought bitterly, sought therapy, and have had our ups and downs since but never really repaired our marriage. Now we have a 99 percent dead-bedroom situation. Every time I consent to giving it a go, I am miserable, repulsed, and ashamed of my body. Most of my shame comes from comparing my pubic hair and breasts to the completely shaved 20-somethings I saw on his computer screen. As you can guess, my 40-year-old-plus body doesnt look anything like that. I am physically fit but childbearing has done a number on me, plus I previously thought a neat and natural look was OK in the pubic hair department. He had a porn habit I wasnt thrilled with (and had spoken up about), which had me feeling insecure about my body too. I have been going to individual therapy but cant bring myself to talk to my therapist about it. I am not about to go out and get implants for my post-children pancake breasts. On the other hand, my pubic hair is something I could change, but I just dont want to; I always felt excessive shaving or waxing down there was way too high-maintenance for me, plus I think it looks too childlike, which grosses me out. Yet at this point, my body shame has paralyzed me. Am I doomed to hate my body forever, and let my marriage crumble out of sadness/spite/shame? Cousin It Dear Cousin It, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your husband may have turned to purveyors of rather conventional hotness (supple, youthful, totally shaved) to relieve himself, but he wants you, right? I cant read his mind vicariously through your letter, but the sense that Im getting is that from his perspective, ideally, he would be having way more sex with you. That heavily suggests sexual attraction. Perhaps he would have been interacting on cam sites regardless of what was happening in your bedroom, but it seems like if theres a simple cause and effect to be gleaned from this situation, he turned to those sites after you gave him your blessing, albeit haphazardly, to seek satisfaction elsewhere. His taste in porn is not necessarily a referendum on your appearance. It doesnt mean he doesnt like what you have; it just implies he likes what those other women have, too. Advertisement However, something tells me that an optimistic read on your husbands porn habits and what they suggest isnt going to make you feel that much better. And thats because I cant change your self-image. No one can but you. Its really sad to read that your self-esteem is so wrapped up in your husband and his perceived taste. Its not ridiculous of your mind to go there, but if you are wholly dependent on someone else to feel good about yourself, youre outsourcing happiness. Why cant you bring yourself to talk to your therapist about this? You know that women with large breasts and shaved vulvas would have been out there roaming in the world even if your husband never indulged. Those screenshots hit close to home, sure, but they were, more than anything, a reminder of the value our culture places on youth as a whole. If your husband hadnt chatted with those women, something else could have come along to make you feel bad because thats what our culture often does: It makes people feel bad for not being enough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And it sounds like youre succumbing to that messaging. No, youre not doomed, but youre not doing a great job appreciating yourself here. You dont have to do it alone. Push through and talk to your therapist about this. Figure out a way that doesnt make you (entirely) uncomfortableit doesnt have to be through the lens of your husbands libido. You can just talk about your self-esteem in general. Or whatever is bothering you about your appearance that day. Your therapist should be able to clock your negative thinking and help you reframe it. A conversation with your husband about your feelings of inadequacy might also help you hereit could very well result in him reassuring you that he does find you attractive, no matter what the state of fullness your bush is at the moment. And by the way, if you dont want to shave your pubic hair, dont. You dont have to. I admire your resolutionapply it to feeling good about yourself. Advertisement Get sex advicesubmit 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 How to Do It, * Your letter signoff Your pronouns Your email (optional and confidentialplease include if you're open to How to Do It following up) Submit Dear How to Do It, I (a gay man) always struggle to wrap my head around the fact that Im nowhere near as confident or wild in bed with my husband as I am when Im writing fantasies down in text (I write as a hobby). I can count on two hands the number of stories Ive written involving stuff like power dynamics, fantasy settings (think monsters, aliens, and the like), and all kinds of kinky stuff, to say nothing of the fantasies I dream up that go unwritten. But I cant bring myself to embrace that as part of my real-world sex life, and hes made it clear many times that he wants to see that side of me more. Hes frustrated that I dont take charge, initiate, tease him, and actually do stuff. Im frustrated that despite my thoughts, I still act like a virgin whenever the topic of sex is brought up. Outside of professional counseling, what am I possibly missing? Closeted Himbo Dear Closeted Himbo, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the main thing that youre missing is that the various elements you wish to bridge may be mutually exclusive by nature. Fantasies are, by definition, not reality. They dont need a real-world equivalent to be valid. Some fantasies are never meant to be brought to life. Some (think monsters, aliens, and the like) couldnt possibly be. Maybe a way to start thinking about this stuff differently is to ask yourself whether you were ever inclined to manifest these fantasies, or if its pressure/criticism from your husband that is making you feel obligated to do so. To be clear, you dont have to do what he is asking of you. Its encouraging that your husband feels comfortable enough to talk to you about his desires for your shared sex life, but you may not be the type of person to bring these fantasies into the bedroom. You may not be someone who initiates or teases or, uh, actually does stuff. Your role may be more passive, and while that may be frustrating for your husband at times, at least he can pick up the slack and initiate for the sake of both of you. You are who you are. Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, I strongly believe that virtually everyone could be doing about 10 percent better at most things. So if you actually want to see some changes here, youll have to initiate them. Something is holding you back, and it might just be you. Overcoming may call for a fake-it-till-you-make-it approach. You dont feel like initiating or sharing fantasies in bed? Try doing it anyway. See what happens and how it makes you feel. Try to familiarize yourself with the way people talk about sex so that it makes you less nervous when the topic comes up. Listen to podcasts (there are so many about sex, but if you want something that is as open-minded as it is informative, try Justin Lehmillers Sex and Psychology Podcast). Read books about sex, whether its erotica, sex manuals, or more idea-based. If you havent read The Ethical Slut, give it a go. Its a good model for discussing sex, and its such an important and widely read book that understanding its contents will be good for your cultural literacy. Advertisement Advertisement If you simply cant bring yourself to behave sexually the way that your husband wants you to, his expectations exceed your capabilities. Thats his problem to solve, not yours. Advertisement Advertisement Send Us Your Questions About the Workplace! The columnists behind our new advice column, Good Job, want to help you navigate your social dynamics at work. Does your colleague constantly bug you after hours? Has an ill-advised work romance gone awry? Ask us your question here! Dear How to Do It, Im a 26-year-old woman and have been with my boyfriend for a little over two years. Previously, I was pretty vanilla when it came to sex, but hes helped awaken an adventurous side I didnt know I had. But lately, hes been trying to convince me to jerk him off in public places (i.e., the movies, under the table at restaurants). Part of me finds the prospect alluring, but the rational part of my brain worries about the ramifications of getting caught. Is this something thats acceptable for those who want to get a little wild, or is it not worth it? Thrill Seeking Curious Dear Thrill Seeking Curious, Advertisement Worth it is really your call to make, and it should be based on the risks and rewards. You already know what the rewards are: the thrill of public play and, obviously, your boyfriends orgasm. The risks are severe: If you were to get caught and reported, it could result in a fine, jail time, and possible listing on your states sex-offender registry. The penalties range by statehere is a recent rundown of the various state laws relating to indecent exposure alone. Advertisement I can imagine a scenario where you engage in this kind of sex and never get caught like a swimmer blissfully unaware of the shark just a few yards away. Would the rather severe penalties be worth the under-the-table rub and tug or the greasing of his pole with movie-theater butter? Maybe, if thats what you were into. But because you arent into it, Im going to warn against cultivating an affinity for something that could needlessly land you in trouble. I know that sounds square of me, and I know that you will ultimately do what you want anyway, irrespective of my take. But I recommend keeping sex stuff inside and only within eyeshot of people that actually want to watch (and people that you want to watch you). Rich Advertisement Advertisement More Advice From Slate A few months ago, I was temporarily transferred to a new city for work. Shortly after arriving, I met a woman at a bar and we started hooking up. She told me she was in an open marriage and was just interested in a casual fling, which was fine with me since I knew Id only be here temporarily. Shes great. The sex is amazing. The conversation is everything from intellectually stimulating to silly and fun. Weve even had a couple of weekends away that were wonderful and made me forget she was married. I know that we will never be anything more than what we are, and I am fine with that. However, recently I went to a company event and saw her there Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. One of the bleak ironies of our ongoing constitutional crisis is that federal courts are attempting to do a job that would, ideally, be performed by Congressand rather than show gratitude, congressional Republicans are furious at them. As Donald Trump breaks the bounds of his legal authority and collapses the constitutional separation of powers between ostensibly co-equal branches of government, time after time it is the judges whove stepped in to impose limits. A functioning Congress should be thanking these judges for performing the basic oversight duties that fall, first and foremost, to the legislative branch. Instead, Republican leaders are now openly threatening imminent revenge. Indeed, several recent efforts by members of Congress go far beyond the proper bounds of regulation and look like pretty blatant efforts to destroy the independent authority of the judicial branchfor the sin of enforcing constitutional limits on the executive. Their ominous warnings made for a troubling split screen this past week, alongside the administrations defiance of a court order and contemptuous cover-up of its misdeeds. This mob-style shakedown of the judiciary may not play as a constitutional crisis for pundits on cable news, but its emphatically a different variation on the same themes. Last week saw congressional efforts at impeachments for the mere exercise of judicial authority; an amped-up congressional threat to do away with nationwide injunctions; and an overt promise by the House majority to defund the judicial branch. While everyones eyes are on the Trump administrations open contempt for judicial orders, many of us are ignoring congressional efforts to do precisely the same thing. Rep. Eli Crane, of Arizona, introduced articles of impeachment last month against the New Yorkbased federal judge who temporarily blocked the Department of Government Efficiency from accessing critical Treasury Department payment systems. Rep. Andy Ogles, of Tennessee, decided to follow suit with an impeachment resolution against the District of Columbias U.S. District Judge John Bates, after Bates ordered federal health agencies to temporarily reinstate online datasets that had been taken down as part of the Trump administrations executive order targeting gender ideology. (Bates is a right-leaning George W. Bush appointee.) Ogles concluded that Bates penning a decision he didnt like meant that the judge had somehow committed a high crime and misdemeanor. Advertisement After Judge James Boasberg attempted to halt a series of rendition flights carrying Venezuelans to a work camp in El Salvador, Trump called for the judges impeachment and removal. In a post on social media on March 18, the president urged that this judge, like many of the Crooked Judges I am forced to appear before, should be IMPEACHED! Rep. Brandon Gill, of Texas, promptly filed articles of impeachment against Boasberg, alleging on social media that he is guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors and should be removed from office. Five Republicans signed on as co-sponsors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Resolutions have also been introduced against U.S. District Judges Paul Engelmayer (who limited DOGEs access to sensitive Treasury data) and Amir Ali, who ordered the government to pay out $2 billion for foreign aid work already completed. As if to identify the next target for members of Congress, the Justice Department has also filed a complaint against Ana Reyes, a district judge in Washington who blocked the administrations ban on trans service members. In response to that ruling, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth questioned whether Reyes was a real judge and instructed her to report to a military base for duty. Advertisement This past week, Rep. Andrew Clyde, of Georgia, announced that he had also introduced articles of impeachment against U.S. District Chief Judge John McConnell, who issued an injunction blocking the Trump administrations sweeping federal-spending freeze. And Ogles announced yet another impeachment article, this time against U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang, who last week blocked Elon Musk and DOGE from further dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development and restored email access for current USAID employees. Chuang found that, among other things, the closure of USAIDan agency established and funded by Congressviolated the separation of powers. Hilariously, the basis Ogles offered for impeaching Chuang was that the judge hadyou guessed itengaged in his own patent violation of the separation of powers. Enforcing the Constitution is now itself unconstitutional. Congress has voted to impeach judges only 15 times in its history, and theres no real chance these efforts will pass; if House Republicans do drag any impeachments across the finish line, there is no way the Senate will convict and remove its targets. But Musk is using the impeachment cosplay as a litmus test for which primaries he will fund, last week donating the maximum allowable campaign contributions to seven Republican members of Congress working to impeach judges. So even if this is just a fundraising stunt, its certainly rewarding the craziest of the crazy. Advertisement Advertisement Republicans are also taking legislative aim at nationwide injunctions, including a proposal from Rep. Darrell Issa, of California, that would limit the power of any district court judge to issue injunctions with sweeping national implications. The House will vote on that bill next week, while Josh Hawley has introduced companion legislation in the Senate. The bill would bar district courts from handing down injunctive relief orders that apply to any parties not involved in the case. It has an exception for certain cases brought by multiple states. Although there are legitimate questions over the exact scope of a district courts jurisdiction, conservative judges spent Joe Bidens presidency issuing relentless federal blocks against his policiesmoves that congressional Republicans frequently celebrated and defended. (Hawley, for instance, signed a brief in support of a single district courts nationwide restrictions on medication abortion.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finally, not to be outdone with his members attacks on individual jurists, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson raised the possibility of defunding or eliminating U.S. federal district courts altogether, telling assembled reporters on Tuesday: We do have authority over the federal courts, as you know. We canwe can eliminate an entire district court. We have power of funding over the courts, and all these other things. But, um, desperate times call for desperate measures, and Congress is going to act. Johnson later walked back this palpable threat, insisting that he meant only to illustrate Congress broad authority over the creation, maintenance and the governance of the courts. Theres no putting the genie back in the bottle, though: It sure sounded as if the speaker were saying that the Constitution gives Congress the power to shutter the lower courts, and that the legislative body, if pushed to the limit, should use it. Thats certainly the message the federal courts will receive. And it is yet another bitter irony that, after howlingly condemning Democratic consideration of court reform under Biden, Republicans are now floating the idea of shutting down altogether the courts that might rule against Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Consider, for a moment, the alleged evils that these courts are engaged in. Preserving agencies created by Congress. Mandating the payment of funds that have been appropriated by Congress. Blocking DOGE from thwarting the administration of federal programs expressly set up by Congress. Ordering the administration to comply with immigration and deportation laws enacted by Congress. Do you sense a common theme here? In a better world, Congress itself would be at the forefront of this battle, holding hearings, issuing subpoenas, hauling witnesses before committees, and strengthening statutory language to clarify that its laws and appropriations are not voluntary. Each chamber could even sue in court to vindicate its stolen prerogatives. Under Republican control, however, Congress has done no such thing. Its inaction has forced the states and groups of private plaintiffs to step into the void, pleading with judges to restore the constitutional order. And rather than applaud the very judges who have done so, congressional Republicans are threatening and targeting them. We keep telling ourselves that a supine Congress is partly responsible for the meltdown of checks and balances, but the truth is far more devastating: A petty and captured Congress is now actively engaged in eroding whatever check or balance still remains. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. On Monday, the Atlantic magazine published a truly wild story co-written by its editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. As Goldberg explained, he had been addedfor reasons unknown to himto a group discussion on the Signal messaging app that appeared to involve some of the highest-ranking figures in the U.S. government, including Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. (President Donald Trump himself did not appear to be part of the group.) The conversation involved detailed plans (sent by Hegseth) for an apparently imminent bombing attack on Yemens Houthi rebelsan attack that subsequently took place in real life as a stunned Goldberg followed events from a supermarket parking lot. In its story, the Atlantic withheld the specific details that Hegseth had shared. In the immediate aftermath of the storys publication, a plausible theory emerged to explain how Goldberg had mistakenly been looped into the conversationseemingly by former Florida congressman and current national security adviser Michael Waltz. Goldberg reports frequently on issues of national security, and also has the same initials as current U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The Yemeni civil war is of particular interest internationally because the country is situated along a shipping channel that leads to the Suez Canal, a crucial point of transit for global shipping. So, the thinking goes, Waltz probably had both Goldberg and Greers numbers in his phone and, meaning to keep Greer apprised of an imminent development relevant to his job, accidentally added the wrong JG. Advertisement The Trump administration hasnt confirmed this, though, and has been all over the map with its responses and explanations for what did happen and whether it was a problem. In rough chronological order: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the Atlantics article was published, a spokesman for the White Housebased National Security Council confirmed to the magazine that Goldbergs messages appeared to be part of an authentic message chain and that the council was reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain. Note here the words inadvertent and the acknowledgment that Goldberg had been added by another individual, as well as the implicit admission that sending details about an impending military operation to a random civilian is the kind of thing you review, presumably because you dont want it to happen again. The same statement asserted that the disclosure had not created threats to troops or national security. Advertisement Later on Monday, Trump told reporters that he was not aware of Goldbergs story about the discussion of the strikes. I know nothing about it, Trump said. (As president, Trump is, legally, the chair of the National Security Council, i.e., the group whose spokesman had already commented on the apparent breach of protocol.) Elsewhere on Monday, Hegseth told reporters that nobody was texting war plans and that Goldberg was a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes. On Tuesday, Trump said Waltz had learned a lesson about using equipment and technology thats not perfect to discuss matters of national security. Probably he wont be using it again. At least not in the very near future, added the president. He also said that Goldbergs number had been given to Waltz by a staffer. Advertisement Related From Slate So How Does the Signal Chat Scandal Compare With Hillarys Emails? Read More At about the same time, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt denied in a post on Twitter/X that war plans or classified information had been shared with Goldberg by administration officials. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, at a Tuesday meeting of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, also claimed that no classified information had been shared. Gabbard specifically denied that precise operational details had been discussed. Ratcliffe testified that there was nothing inappropriate about his having used the name of his chief of staff, an active intelligence officer, in the unsecured channel. When asked whether Goldbergs inclusion on the chain was a huge mistake, he replied, No. Advertisement In a Tuesday night appearance on Fox News, Waltzwho, according to both the National Security Council and the White House press secretary, added Goldberg to the group chainsuggested that Goldberg may have, somehow arranged to have himself sucked in to the chain. Whether he did it deliberately or it happened in some other technical means is something were trying to figure out, said Waltz. (Impersonating someone else in order to gain access to details of an impending military strike would, presumably, be highly illegal.) Waltz further denied knowing Goldberg, claimed he did not receive his number from a staffer, and said he never intentionally added Goldbergs contact information to his own phone. If you have somebody elses contact, then somehow it gets sucked in. It gets sucked in, he explained (?). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday morning, the Atlantic published Hegseths messages to the chain. The messages communicated, in advance, the specific times that specific types of U.S. aircraft would be embarking for Yemen, as well as the time (two and a half hours later) they would begin their attacks. Hegseth is still currently claiming on X that he did not convey any war plans or classified information to the chain. The White House also said, in a response included in the Atlantics Wednesday article, that the information discussed was sensitive but not classified. On Wednesday afternoon, however, CNN published a piece citing two sourcesincluding a US defense official familiar with the operationwho said, in the networks words, that the information Hegseth sent to the group chat was indeed highly classified at the time he wrote it. (To state what is perhaps obvious, a heavily armed militant group given two and a half hours notice that an air assault against them was imminentwhat if the wrong JG had, say, been a diplomat from a country allied with the Houthis side of the Yemeni war?could, presumably, initiate countermeasures that would mitigate the effectiveness of the strike and potentially kill U.S. service members.) Advertisement Advertisement The Atlantic also says a CIA spokesperson asked the Atlantic not to publish the name of Ratcliffes chief of staff. (It complied with this request.) What are the takeaways here? Trump, playing against type, appears to be the most honest actor involved, having given a plausible explanation of what happened (a staffer gave Waltz the wrong JG number) and stated plainly that Waltz shouldnt have initiated the conversation on a chat app. Waltz and Hegseth are delivering the worst and sweatiest responses, which likely indicates that they are feeling the most heat about losing their jobs. But they also dont seem particularly concerned about contradicting the president in publicWaltz went on TV and raised the possibility that Goldberg had used goblin powers to plant his own number on Waltzs phone after Trump had already said Waltzs staffer was responsible. This is noteworthy in light of multiple messages in the group discussion that seemed to suggest that Trump was, at best, only vaguely involved in initiating the Yemen attack and that he did not, in the estimation of the other principals involved, fully understand what its consequences would be. Who, exactly, is flying the plane here? Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. The Trump administration doesnt do fall guys. The need for a fall guy rests on repairing the damage from a mistake, and the Trump administration does not make mistakes. So its been interesting, since the Atlantics explosive story about how its editor in chief was inadvertently added to a text thread of national security officials planning an attack on the Houthis, to see one of those principals twist in the wind. That principal is national security adviser Michael Waltz, the organizer of Houthi PC small group. It was Waltz who invited the Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg to the text chain, though he was hardly the only one on the chain to err: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blasted sensitive operational details in advance; Vice President J.D. Vance questioned Donald Trumps decision and his understanding of it behind his back. All of them had an obligation to flag the chats very existence as a problem. But in the aftermath of the article, there was rare speculation, by Trumpworld standards, that someone might have to face the consequences of his actions. Theres a first time for everything, and the responsibility seems to be falling to Waltz. After the news first broke on Monday, a senior administration official told Politico that they are involved in multiple text threadssighwith other administration staffers on what to do with Waltz, and that many of them are insisting he needs to go in order to protect the president. It was reckless not to check who was on the thread, the official said. It was reckless to be having that conversation on Signal. You cant have recklessness as the national security adviser. Theres no question that Waltz committed a fireable offense. But so did Hegseth, and no Republicans were out gunning for him. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has acted with reckless abandon from sunup to sundown and through the night for two long months, but no Republicans have so much as broached the idea of offering a sacrifice as atonement for anything until this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Waltz is forced to resignTrump is standing by him, for nowit will have more to do with the internal politics of the Trump foreign policy team and the knife fighting within. And the internal politics of the second Trump administrations foreign policy team are fascinating. They could be studied for a long while. For the first time in generations, theres a rethink of grand strategy underway at the top tiers of the executive branch. No longer is American primacy across the worldin Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacificthe de facto strategy. There are powerful factions that want the U.S. to either retreat from its global obligations and tend to its own neighborhood, or to prioritize countering China while leaving Europe to stand up for itself. This America First faction is the one trying to use the Atlantic story as an opportunity to coalesce power. Advertisement At the other end of the spectrum are Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other scattered figures, like envoy Keith Kellogg, who are more traditionally supportive of maintaining American primacy across the world. Before they were tasked with charming Vladimir Putin, they had long been hawkish on Russia. They view a free Europe as vital to U.S. interests and, while they may want Europe to boost its own defense capabilities, they arent naturally hostile, as Vance is, to the concept of taking actions that might benefit Europe. Advertisement Right now, Waltz, like Rubio, is in an unstable position. His survival depends on presenting a convincing impression that hes updated his views. In February, Waltz distanced himself from an op-ed he wrote in 2023 in which he squarely and repeatedly laid the blame on Putin for his invasion of Ukraine, noting, What I wrote as a former member of Congress was as a former member of Congress. Advertisement Advertisement As a February piece in Politico noted of the power struggle, Given their past lives as Russia hawks, Trumps own secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and national security adviser, Michael Waltz, are under intense internal scrutiny inside a White House where deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and Sergio Gor, who oversees personnel decisions, have shown little tolerance for anyone who diverges from the MAGA mindset. For many with the MAGA mindset, the issue was not so much that Waltz had inadvertently added the wrong JG to the chatit was that he had Goldbergs contact in his phone to begin with. Goldberg is a foreign policy establishmentarian through and through. Trump also has a personal vendetta against him for his reporting about how Trump called Americans who died in war suckers and losers. Explaining away any sort of connection with Goldberg, then, was Waltzs first priority as he tried to save his job. He assured Trumpin a meeting that was described to CNN as unpleasantthat he didnt know Goldberg, would never know Goldberg, wouldnt want to ever meet Goldberg. How did he make it into Waltzs contacts, then? According to Trump, some lower level staffer mustve added Goldberg to Waltzs phone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate So How Does the Signal Chat Scandal Compare With Hillarys Emails? Read More If that werent risible enough, consider Waltzs explanation for how Goldberg may have, somehow, sneaked his way into the group chat: Im not a conspiracy theorist, a dreadfully nervous-looking Waltz told Fox News Tuesday night. But of all the people out there, somehow this guy who has lied about the president, who has lied to Gold Star families, lied to their attorneys, and gone to Russia hoax, gone to all kind of lengths to lie and smear the president of the United Statesand hes the one that somehow gets on somebodys contact and then gets sucked into this group. He added that he would have Elon and the best technical minds look into this. Advertisement Why would Goldberg be in Waltzs contacts? It could simply be that Waltz and Goldberg casually knew each other by being prominent Washingtonians with foreign policy views in the same ballpark, and with overlapping embassy party invitations. Or that they did an interview once. Or that Waltz is a source. Admitting any of this, though, would be fatal to Waltz. And so we get the gibberish of a sixth grader explaining how the dog put Jeffrey Goldbergs number in his phone. Advertisement Recognizing the push to oust Waltz and the potential coming shift in the balance of power at the White House, Republican defense hawks on the Hill rose to his defense. Sen. Lindsey Graham specifically, Trumps chief hawk whisperer, lives for this sort of action. Barring further revelations or unearthed photos of Waltz and Goldberg sipping spritzes in the heart of ungrateful Europe, Trump seems to have reverted to letting it slide for now: This was nothing more than a glitch, he said. He thinks Waltz is a great guy and doesnt need to apologize. Waltz, for good measure, did say Tuesday that he took full responsibility since he had built the group, but stopped well short of tendering his resignation. (One couldnt help but notice that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, whos on the other end of the Trump foreign policy spectrum from Waltz, emphasized in her House testimony that day that Waltz had taken full responsibility.) If Waltz survives this episode, though, that doesnt mean that hes in the clear. Now MAGA is watching more closely than ever. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. The Supreme Court dealt a huge blow to the ghost gun industry on Wednesday, upholding a federal regulation that strictly limits the sale of these untraceable weapons by a 72 vote. In a surprise move, Justice Neil Gorsuchtypically an ally of firearm advocateswrote the courts opinion affirming the governments broad authority to regulate weapon parts kits that can be easily assembled into working firearms. Although the rule in question was issued by the Biden administration, Gorsuchs opinion leaves relatively little room for the Trump administration to replace it with a watered-down substitute. The courts forceful decision and lopsided vote indicate that a majority of justices have little tolerance for a law-breaking industry that specializes in selling guns to criminals. As Wednesdays ruling in Bondi v. VanDerStok makes clear, ghost gun companies largely exist for the purpose of sidestepping federal law. They mail their kits directly to customers, who can transform them into functioning firearms in less than half an hour with the help of a YouTube video. The Gun Control Act of 1968 directs gun sellers to conduct background checks and ensure that weapons are marked with a serial number. Yet ghost gun companies refuse to comply with these requirementsand frequently boast about it. One major seller assured buyers that they did not have to worry about a background check and could use their unmarked and unserialized firearm without any documentation that would link it to them. Advertisement The predictable result was an exponential increase in crimes involving ghost guns. As recently as 2017, Gorsuch wrote, law enforcement agencies submitted around 1,600 of these weapons for tracing. By 2021, the number rose to 19,000. In response, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives issued a new rule restricting their sale. ATF did not ban ghost guns. But it did declare that sellers of weapons kits must abide by the Gun Control Act, including requirements for serial numbers and a background check. Lower courts blocked the regulation, but the Supreme Court let it take effect in 2022 by a 54 vote, with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joining the liberals. The rule effectively shut down the ghost gun industrywhich, after all, was built around the sale of untraceable guns for people who could not legally buy them. As a result, the number of ghost guns used in crimes promptly plummeted. (The gun that Luigi Mangione has been accused of using was a 3D-printed weapon, which is subject to separate regulations not at issue here.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now the Supreme Court has declined to reverse that lifesaving progress, in as emphatic terms as anyone could hope for from such a gun-friendly institution. The legal question, as Gorsuch explained, is simple and straightforward. Federal law defines firearms as any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive, as well as the frame or receiver of any such weapon. Ghost gun kits may readily be converted to expel a projectile with no specialized knowledge. Most include an incomplete frame or receiver, the core component of a firearm. The buyer need only assemble the pieces and drill a few holes, then presto: Its ready to fire. Clearly, then, these kits fall under the federal definition of a firearm. When contesting the regulation, ghost gun companies argued that it simply made no sense to describe a box of parts as a weapon. And Justice Clarence Thomas adopted their position in his disgruntled dissent. But Gorsuch saw nothing unusual in this description. Here, he wroteciting scholars of linguisticsthat the term weapon is an artifact known, meaning it is characterized by an intended function, rather than by some ineffable natural essence. And English speakers sometimes use artifact nouns to refer to unfinished objects when their intended function is clear. For instance, an author might invite your opinion on her latest novel, even if she sends you an unfinished manuscript. A friend might speak of the table he just bought at IKEA, even though hours of assembly remain ahead of him. In each case, the artifact noun fits because the intended function of the unfinished object is obvious to speaker and listener alike. Advertisement Related From Slate What Does Trump Have to Gain by Pissing Off John Roberts? The Answer Is Concerning. Read More Thats all well and true. But linguistics aside, the ghost gun industrys own arrogance may have contributed to its downfall. Companies flaunted their products as easily assembled firearms, then claimed in court that they werent selling firearms. Gorsuch pointed to one popular kit titled Buy Build Shoot, whose seller insisted that its device did not expel a projectile. The justice was not convinced. Yes, Gorsuch wrote, perhaps a half hour of work is required before anyone can fire a shot. But even as sold, the kit comes with all necessary components, and its intended function as instrument of combat is obvious. Really, the kits name says it all: Buy Build Shoot. He also included damning photographs of allegedly unfinished frames or receivers that are indistinguishable from fully assembled weapons; a buyer need only pull off plastic tabs and drill several holes before they can start firing. An ordinary speaker, Gorsuch wrote, might well call this product a frame, even though a little work is required to complete it. He added: Just look again at the second photo. What else would you call it? Advertisement Advertisement VanDerStok is, without a doubt, a major victory for the gun safety movement. A troubling question looms, though: How will the Trump administration react? Donald Trump has appointed Kash Patel, his FBI director, as acting director of ATF, and Patel is deeply hostile to firearm regulations. The administration could attempt to repeal and replace the current rule with a watered-down version; in his dissent, Justice Samuel Alito implied that it could do just that. Gorsuchs opinion, however, does not leave a great deal of room for dilution. Advertisement Advertisement It is true, as Alito stressed, that the majority did not say all gun kits are illegal; rather, it held that at least some kits qualify as firearms, so the rule is not invalid on its face. That means Trumps ATF could attempt to free some companies from regulation by swapping in a narrower regulation. On the other hand, federal courts no longer defer to agencies: There is now only one proper reading of the statutethe one federal courts adopt. And SCOTUS has announced that kits readily convertible into ghost guns are guns subject to federal regulation. So if ATF tries to weaken the rule, it will face a strong legal challenge that it is violating the statute. Advertisement Another question arises from Wednesdays decision: Why did Gorsuch, along with Justice Brett Kavanaugh, flip his vote after attempting to freeze the ghost gun rule less than two years ago? Kavanaugh wrote a concurrence to explain himself: He was worried that the line between legal and illegal kits is not entirely clear, and could ensnare an innocent gunsmith who was not aware that he was violating the law. But former Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar assured Kavanaugh during oral arguments that the Justice Department would decline to charge someone in that kind of situation. And in his concurrence, the justice took her word that the government will seek to avoid that potential fair-notice problem by adhering to Prelogars promise. Advertisement Gorsuch is a harder read. Unlike Kavanaugh, he sounded somewhat skeptical of the regulation during oral argument, only to enthusiastically embrace it on Wednesday. Why? Perhaps the governments strong textualist argument simply persuaded him that he was wrong. Or maybe he was won over by factors that seemed to draw in Roberts and Barrett from the start: the brazen, egregious illegality of the ghost gun industry and the lethal consequences for its victims. Although Thomas and Alito ignored this fact, ghost guns make everyone less safe, depriving the federal government of key tools to stop, investigate, and solve violent crime. All the justices are more cognizant of security concerns following the Kavanaugh assassination plot, home protests, and other backlash to recent decisions. The court recently beefed up its security funding and started closing the building, as well as the street behind it, during oral arguments. Perhaps this new reality helped Roberts, Barrett, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh to see that ghost guns put everyones lives at greater riskincluding theirs and their families. Luigi Mangiones alleged use of a ghost gun, albeit one subject to different regulations, heightened the nations awareness of these extraordinarily dangerous weapons. Striking down the ATF rule would have guaranteed the senseless killing of more Americans and hindered law enforcements ability to solve crimes. And beneath all the textualism and linguistic analogies, that bleak truth may lie at the heart of the courts decision. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Henry Reider talks like his words cant keep up his thoughts. It makes sense. English is his third language after Krio and Mendeall of which are spoken in his native Sierra Leone. Reider is also a creative, whose mind dances between anything from his university studies to his YouTube channel, or to whatever it is hes talking about at the time. While he speaks to me from his home in Sierra Leone, a rooster crows in the background, punctuating his sentences like a barnyard hype man. Rather than distract from what hes saying, though, it makes it seem all the more important. Hes excited and passionate. He speaks quickly, as if he might not ever get the chance to say the words again. If I didnt know any better, I would never have guessed that, just a few years ago, Henry Reider nearly died being choked to death by his own lungs. People should understand that tuberculosis is not just a disease of the past, Reider told me. It is still affecting millions of people today, but it is preventable, treatable, and also curable. Reiders journey of how he contracted and (spoilers) ultimately recovered from multidrug-resistant TB is told in Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green. The book, which was published last week, tells the story of the disease and how it moldedand continues to shapehuman history. The book might seem, at first blush, like a departure for Green, whos best known for his bestselling young adult novels, such as The Fault in Our Stars and Looking for Alaska along with his cleverly packaged memoir The Anthropocene Reviewed. But Everything Is Tuberculosis is, in many ways, a quintessential John Green book: one that grapples with the issue of mortality and our conflicting desires to both help and hurt one another, all within the backdrop of the coming of age of a young man, Reider. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reider met Green when he was 17 years old at the Lakka Government Hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The author was there to learn about the countrys maternal care system as part of his support for the global health nonprofit Partners in Health. Reider, now 25, acts as the books heart and hero, giving the reader a view into his life thats both intimate and, often, unbearable to witness. We must witness it, though, the book insists. We must witness the pain, and the fleeting but precious moments of joy. We must witness Reiders struggles to find medicine and keep his torturous hunger at bay, and his near-superhuman ability to maintain hope throughout it all. While his story is the frame, the book also dives into the scientific and cultural history of tuberculosis, told with the intelligence, wit, and tragedy that have become hallmarks of the authors work. In this book, Green acts as a kind of exasperated Ms. Frizzle, if Ms. Frizzle lived in Indianapolis and seemed to only want to talk about TB. The approach works, letting the reader learn about the disease in fun ways (Did you know tuberculosis gave us the cowboy hat?) but also underscoring the horrific unfathomability of TB (Still, over a million people died of tuberculosis in 2023. That year, in fact, more people died of TB than died of malaria, typhoid, and war combined.). Advertisement Advertisement Above all else, though, the book is an attempt to make the case for TBs relevance today. Despite the fact that many believe that the infection is a thing of the pastthink cowboy Arthur Morgan coughing in Red Dead Redemption 2 or Fantine wasting away in Les Miserablestuberculosis is still very much with us. In 2023, 10.8 million people worldwide were infected by the disease, according to the World Health Organization. In the same year, a total of 1.25 million people died as a result, making it the worlds deadliest disease. From 2020 through 2022, it was second only to COVID-19. Advertisement Everything Is Tuberculosis doesnt so much tell you the story of tuberculosis, as much as it gently holds your hand and parts the curtains into one of the darkest, most bizarre, and frustrating series of decisions in world history with the other. After all, Green often reminds us, thats what tuberculosis is: a decision. Advertisement Even with drug-resistant TB, the disease is highly treatableso its a decision to let people die when we know how to cure their infection. Its a decision to allow the disease to spread and flourish when we cut funding. Its a decision to let TB feed and grow on human lives and communities, the way a fire might devour a forest. Its a decision to let people go untreated when pharmaceutical companies charge exorbitant premiums for lifesaving medicine for the sake of the bottom line. Advertisement Advertisement And it was a decision to let Henry Reider nearly die of tuberculosis. Tuberculosis kills you in different ways. Contracted via airborne particles, it can cause respiratory failure, damaging and scarring your lungs to the point where breathing can be like trying to suck air through a plastic coffee stirrer. It can also cause major bleeding in your lungs to the point where you cough up and, eventually, drown to death in your own blood. Advertisement It takes a while for the disease to get to this point. In fact, some become infected with TB for years before they start developing symptoms. The standard treatment is intensive, requiring patients to take a regimen of around six to nine pills a day (sometimes more) for about six months. However, its very effective, with success rates ranging around 90 percent. Of course, it can be expensive, with treatments costing upwards of $20,000 for a full course. International aid programs like USAID often provide the medicine free of charge, but those efforts arent enough. Advertisement Tuberculosis can develop quickly and viciously with the right conditions like those most often faced in communities throughout the Global South such as poverty, malnutrition, and lack of access to medicineconditions that Reider was and is regularly exposed to. This causes a domino effect, one that can exacerbate and worsen an already nightmarish situation. Advertisement Advertisement If the drugs are not available to those people who need them, it can lead to death, Reider explained. People wont be able to handle it when funding is cut off. When you are funding something, and you cut off that funding, it can lead to unnecessary death. In the book, Green talks about the concept of a good death, noting that our concept of good and bad ways of dying have constantly shifted over the years. In the past, Western society romanticized tuberculosis (colloquially known as consumption). It was the way great poets, artists, and philosophers died. People thought it even made you more beautiful the way it made ones skin glow with fever and the body waifish and willowy as it starved. Today, we would never consider dying of TB to be a good death. The reality is its painful and exhausting. Often, in places like Sierra Leone, theres so much stigma attached to TB that those infected are treated as social outcasts by even their family members. As such, patients often die alone in underfunded and under-resourced hospitals like the one Reider was in when Green met him. Advertisement Yet every day we allow people like him to die of tuberculosis even though countries like the U.S. have nearly unfettered access to lifesaving treatments and vaccines. When the resources are available for treatment, it can prevent everything, Reider said. It can also lead to awareness. More people will understand that the disease is dangerous, and that treatment is available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a terrible bind: TB isnt hard to treat; we decide to let it go untreated. When I call John Green, he talks like words just arent enough anymorewhich is ironic for a man who has made his living writing novels. Sitting in the basement of his Indianapolis home in the room where he films the majority of his videos for his and his brother Hank Greens popular and long-running YouTube channel Vlogbrothers, he looks and sounds like the embodiment of the phrase Im getting too old for this shit. Advertisement I am discouraged, is what he tells me when I ask him how hes doing. Reider, he says, loves to use the words encouraged and discouraged, and the way that he uses them reminds me that courage is a verb. Courage is something we rouse ourselves and each other into, or courage is something that we pull away from. And right now, I feel pretty discouraged. Green has plenty of reasons to feel discouragedthe U.S. government seems outright hostile to any efforts to support global health. President Donald Trump, along with his unelected billionaire hatchet man Elon Musk, has announced they would shut down USAID, which is also the largest bilateral donor in the fight against tuberculosis. On March 10, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubiowho is also the acting director of the agencyannounced that the White House cut 83 percent of programs under USAID. Advertisement Advertisement Musk also took an ax to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. His Department of Government Efficiency team has fired roughly 1,300 employees at the agency (or 10 percent of the CDC overall), including 135 members of the Epidemic Intelligence Service. As many as 1,500 employees at the National Institutes of Health were also laid off by DOGE in February. Advertisement Meanwhile, tuberculosis is spreading in America. After 30 years of decline, TB infections in the U.S. have risen every year since the pandemic. This is not a coincidence. As Green notes in his book, TB is a crisis that flourishes when there are other crises, including malnutrition, poor health care infrastructure, stigma surrounding the disease, poverty, and other infectious diseases such as HIV, Ebola, or COVID-19. A recent outbreak of the disease in Kansas City, Kansas, resulted in the deaths of two people with 67 being treated for active infections and 79 people with latent infections. Advertisement For good and ill, all of these reasons have made Everything Is Tuberculosis perhaps the most relevant of the nine books Green has written or co-writtena fact that doesnt escape him. The defunding of USAID and other human health programs by the United States government in such a chaotic way has been absolutely devastating to human health, Green said. The choices that are being made right now are going to send us backwards as a species, and thats devastating. Advertisement Advertisement He added, The story of humanity should be a slow but persistent march toward more just and equitable human-built systems, and right now were making the opposite choice. Everything Is Tuberculosis is his way of grappling with this choice, and what happens when we do not, collectively, make the correct choice. A passage early on in the book sums it up well: But we cannot save those we love from suffering. This is the story of human history as I understand itthe story of an organism that can do so much, but cannot do what it most wants. We as humans are organisms helpless against our worst qualities. Advertisement Thats part of what Green wants most out of this book: to bring awareness to something that society has ignored for reasons that are all at once human and frustrating. If theres anything that weve learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and the way that people brush it aside and ignore it even though its still happening, its that we dont like to think about disease. Advertisement I think we solve the problems we pay attention to, and for too long we havent paid attention to the global tuberculosis crisis, Green said. Thats the reason we havent solved it. Henry Reider talks like someone who escaped death. He spent nearly all of his formative years in hospital beds throughout Sierra Leone before finally being treated and cured. Now, having escaped his death, hes determined to live a full, rich, and good life. That means completing his university studies, growing his YouTube channel, and taking care of his mom. He told me he wants to become a great journalist and philanthropist so he too can tell stories and change lives the way that Green did for him. Advertisement I want to advocate, Reider said. My connection with my friend John has created an atmosphere for me to advocate for those who have been in the same situation as me but have much less connections or support. So, I want to advocate for and motivate any individual whos sick and needs help out there, because I know when someone is in that same situation, they need support. As I read Everything Is Tuberculosis, a line from another book kept echoing in my head: So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past. Humanity has a boundless capacity for so much joy and pain. Yet we nearly always find ourselves repeating the mistakes of our past over and over again. This is the story of us. This is the story of our relationship with this disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tuberculosis has been with humans for at least 9,000 years. We have an older relationship with TB microbes than we do with writing, horses, and the Great Pyramids of Egypt. We only learned how to cure the disease much more recently, in 1943, but in 2023 we still allowed 1.25 million people to die of it. Green notes in the book, it would take $25 billion dollars on comprehensive care a year to drive tuberculosis toward elimination. This is money easily accessible and available to some people in the United States. Advertisement There is zero excuse to allow people to die the same way today that they have for 9,000 years. And yet, no matter how hard we row the boat, we cant escape the past. We get dragged back into it, endlessly and ceaselessly. But we keep going. We wake up. We eat. We take care of our parents. We go to school. We make YouTube videos about our lives and dream of becoming journalists and advocates. We meet wonderful and interesting people, and we write books about them. We get sick. We get better. We fight to make sure that others dont get sick ever again, even if the very country we live in is working against us. We do everything we canbecause we believe that people deserve nothing less than everything we have. . If you do not agree with the blocking, please use the Access to the chat has been blocked for violating the rules . You will be able to participate again through:. If you do not agree with the blocking, please use the feedback form The discussion is closed. You can participate in the discussion within 24 hours after the publication of the article. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250326/from-neo-nazi-camps-to-dolls-with-prosthetics-how-ukraine-steals-childhood-1121694564.html From Neo-Nazi Camps to Dolls With Prosthetics: How Ukraine STEALS Childhood From Neo-Nazi Camps to Dolls With Prosthetics: How Ukraine STEALS Childhood Sputnik International Ukrainian government is raising its own cannon fodder for the war against Russia from a very young age. 2025-03-26T16:45+0000 2025-03-26T16:45+0000 2025-03-26T16:45+0000 world ukraine https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107808/75/1078087596_0:252:3192:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_833b90b2eeb78434d7b6194f1b81f1d1.jpg Here's how: A doll in Ukrainian military uniform without a leg BLEW UP minds on social media. Should such a toy prepare Ukrainian children for the same fate in the future?In December 2024, at a kindergarten party in Lvov, parents were advised to dress their children in costumes of 'Ukrainian heroes': Nazi collaborators Bandera, Petliura, and others.In September 2024, the subject "Defense of the Fatherland" was introduced in Ukrainian schools, starting from 10th grade. The theory of combat operations is mandatory for Ukrainian teenagers. 'Dmytro collected 10 shells for his battery. Two of his friends joined him, and each of them collected 5 more shells. But then the EVIL MOSKALS came and took 4 shells. How many shells do Dmytro and his friends have left to DEFEND UKRAINE?', - the math problem says. When liberating populated areas, Russian soldiers find textbooks in which schoolchildren are TAUGHT TO HATE RUSSIANS. Since 2019, mass production of 'Red Terror' comics began in Ukraine. It demonizes Russians and the Soviet Union, and glorifies Ukrainian Nazis. In 2017, US journalists visited one of the children's camps in Ukraine and filmed a story. No comments needed. Children's camps, where kids were taught to fight, and instead of educators there were militants who killed people in Donbass, appeared back in 2015 at the Azov* Battalion bases. *banned in Russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukraine crisis, hitler youth in ukraine, ukraine zelensky, ukraine jugend, ukraine steals childhood, ukraine assault on children https://sputnikglobe.com/20250326/houthis-target-us-aircraft-israeli-military-positions-1121691884.html Houthis Target US Aircraft, Israeli Military Positions Houthis Target US Aircraft, Israeli Military Positions Sputnik International A spokesman for Yemen's Ansar Allah movement has confirmed attacks on the USS Harry Truman and Israeli military sites in the Jaffa area south of Tel Aviv. 2025-03-26T02:45+0000 2025-03-26T02:45+0000 2025-03-26T04:22+0000 world yemen ansar allah houthi movement us central command (centcom) israel israel-gaza conflict https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/03/19/1121683699_0:160:3071:1887_1920x0_80_0_0_943df0ac529ad76341724f89541fb09a.jpg US fighter jets in response carried out five raids on the Saada governorate in northwestern Yemen.On March 15, the Houthis announced that they would resume attacks on Israeli vessels in the Red and Arabian Seas, citing Israels refusal to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250316/heres-whats-really-behind-trumps-surprise-bombardment-of-yemen-1121646349.html yemen israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International houthi blockade, ansar allah strikes us aircraft, can us win the houthis, us war on houthis, houthis strike israel https://sputnikglobe.com/20250326/justice-served-neo-nazi-azov-battalion-crimes-in-the-spotlight-1121692999.html Justice Served: Neo-Nazi Azov Battalion Crimes in the Spotlight Justice Served: Neo-Nazi Azov Battalion Crimes in the Spotlight Sputnik International A Russian court has sentenced 23 members of Ukraine's nationalist Azov* Battalion to prison terms ranging from 13 to 23 years for war crimes. 2025-03-26T12:48+0000 2025-03-26T12:48+0000 2025-03-26T12:48+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine azov mariupol ss nazis nazi russia ukraine maidan azov battalion https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/05/16/1095701009_1:0:1919:1079_1920x0_80_0_0_9621abfbc5389a5fc8b2ffbe5d86ba5f.jpg What's known about the soldiers?David Kasatkin served in Azov since 2015. Arrested on May 20, 2022, in Mariupol, he was identified by neo-Nazi tattoos, including "Time to Kill" and Buchenwald's motto, "Jedem das Seine." His verdict was delivered in absentia.Artur Gretsky, an Azov member captured on April 24, 2022, at the Azovstal plant was found to have an SS division slogan tattooed on his body: "Meine Ehre heit Treue!" ("My honor is loyalty!"). He is an open admirer of the Third Reich.Lieutenant Colonel Anatoly Gritsyk served in Azov from 2015 to 2019 and was responsible for training recruits. Fighters under his supervision shelled civilian infrastructure in Donbass and fought against the DPR militia.Major Oleg Tyshkul served in Azov until 2021. His subordinates repeatedly engaged in combat with DPR forces.Lieutenant Oleg Mizhgorodsky left Azov in 2021. He previously commanded a material and technical support company.Heirs of the Nazis*banned as a terrorist organization in Russia https://sputnikglobe.com/20230713/blood-on-the-walls-inside-ukraines-torture-chambers-1111796712.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20250321/azov-gaining-power-is-symptom-of-collapse-of-remains-of-ukraines-civil-society-1121662939.html azov mariupol russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova azov battalion, russia, trial over azov battalion members, azov battalion's neo-nazi ideology, azov's war crimes against civilians, azov battalion's torture chambers, ukrainian nationalists, ukrainian nazism, ukraine's neo-nazi groups https://sputnikglobe.com/20250326/kallas-warmongering-unnerves-the-eu--reports---1121692325.html Kallas Warmongering Unnerves the EU Report Kallas Warmongering Unnerves the EU Report Sputnik International Since assuming the mantle of the EUs top diplomat, Kaja Kallas has adopted an extremely hawkish stance towards Russia, going beyond what other European officials consider settled language, Western media reports. 2025-03-26T10:37+0000 2025-03-26T10:37+0000 2025-03-26T12:52+0000 world european union (eu) ukrainian crisis russophobia https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/05/1c/1083024473_0:173:3029:1876_1920x0_80_0_0_f26cd124018d96c27c145172201a68c0.jpg For instance, while on a trip to Kiev, she tweeted that Brussels wants Ukraine to win this war. Kallas leadership style is another point of frustration as she is floating heavy proposals without buy-in and is still acting like a prime minister, another EU official added. Earlier, Kallas came with a 40 billion ($43 billion) military aid plan for Ukraine a move that deeply unsettled key Eurozone contributors like France and Italy. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250322/eu-will-drag-its-feet-on-ukraine-peace-push-to-spite-trump-false-flags-cant-be-ruled-out---prof-1121670089.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sergey Lebedev Sergey Lebedev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sergey Lebedev kaja kallas russia, kallas russophobia, kallas eu, kallas warmonger, kallas hawkish https://sputnikglobe.com/20250326/president-putin-25-years-of-resisting-the-us-deep-state-and-european-globalists--1121687870.html President Putin: 25 Years of Resisting the US Deep State and European Globalists President Putin: 25 Years of Resisting the US Deep State and European Globalists Sputnik International Since winning on March 26, 2000, Putin has fought to protect Russias sovereigntystanding up to George Soros, the Rothschilds, and Western elites. Read more to see how he did it. 2025-03-26T06:00+0000 2025-03-26T06:00+0000 2025-03-26T06:00+0000 russia vladimir putin us europe george soros lord jacob rothschild oligarchs gmo national democratic institute yukos https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/0f/1119377677_0:85:3338:1963_1920x0_80_0_0_e0ca20077b1f95685c7f363d09bff064.jpg 2025: Putin signaled readiness for dialogue with the US administration on Ukraine, while Donald Trump exposed USAID's financial abuses and vowed to target US deep state actors and globalists.2016: Putin signed a law banning the cultivation and breeding of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Russia, as well as the import of products containing or produced using GMOs.2015: Russia declared the National Endowment for Democracy*, International Republican Institute*, National Democratic Institute*, George Soros Open Society Foundations*, and other major USAID grant recipients as "undesirable organizations."2012: USAID was banned from operating in Russia. Additionally, Russia introduced its "foreign agents" law to regulate foreign-funded NGOs.2003: Russian oligarch and Yukos owner Mikhail Khodorkovsky** was arrested for embezzlement and tax evasion, ending Western-backed oligarchic influence in Russia. Later, he revealed Lord Jacob Rothschild as his powerful backer and Yukos "protector."2003: George Soros, who condemned Khodorkovskys arrest, shut down his Russia funds. His exit coincided with a surge in color revolutions, but Putins Russia resisted the globalist push.*designated as undesirable organizations in Russia**designtaed as foreign agent in Russia https://sputnikglobe.com/20250312/how-putins-greater-eurasia-proposal-could-save-the-continent-from-wests-hegemony-1121633211.html ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova vladimir putin, george soros, the rothschilds, usaid, us-funded color revolutions, mikhail khodorkovsky, open society foundations, gmos, ned, iri, ndi, russia's sovereignty https://sputnikglobe.com/20250326/soros-insatiable-greed-for-power-in-russia-and-ukraine-1121692534.html Soros Insatiable Greed for Power in Russia and Ukraine Soros Insatiable Greed for Power in Russia and Ukraine Sputnik International George Soros saw the collapse of the USSR as an opportunity to fill the power void. How has this played out? 2025-03-26T12:28+0000 2025-03-26T12:28+0000 2025-03-26T12:28+0000 world george soros vladimir putin russia ukraine ussr european union (eu) open state foundation (osf) us europe https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/02/01/1092659242_0:84:3090:1823_1920x0_80_0_0_29ac6f6dbebbcd0ddc2f216b05ac4ff6.jpg The 'Soros Empire': "When the Soviet Empire collapsed, I moved in and picked up the pieces first in Hungary in 1984, then in Poland in 1987. This is how the Soros Empire [was] replacing the Soviet Empire," Soros stated in April 2015.Russians Opposed Western Influence: Soros expanded in Russia since the late 1980s but admitted in a 1995 interview that Russians resented Western interference. In 2003, he closed Open Society Foundations'* offices in Russia. 'Resurging' Russia: In 2015, Soros emphasized his active involvement in Russia and lamented that the country was "resurging" while the EU was "disintegrating." That same year, OSF was designated as an "undesirable organization" in Russia.OSFs Influence in Ukraine: Reflecting on 25 years of work in Ukraine, Soros stated in 2015 that these efforts had "paid off". He hailed post-coup Ukraine - a country overtaken by nationalists - as a new Ukraine eager to be part of the EU.Soros and Ukrainian Youth: After losing influence in Russia, Soros OSF focused on Ukraines youth. "Ukraine is making strides in... rebuilding trust in its schools," he tweeted in 2017, as Kiev removed the Russian language from schools and ramped up nationalist indoctrination. Russia as a Global 'Threat': In a May 2022 article, Soros denounced Russias special military operation in Ukraine as a major threat to the world. "The best and perhaps only way to preserve our civilization is to defeat Putin," he claimed.The End of George's 'Imperial' Reign: In March 2023, Soros predicted a "powerful Ukrainian offensive" would turn the conflict's tide. But Russia's defeat never came. In June 2023, he handed control of his $25 billion "empire" to his son, Alex.*designated as an undesirable organization in Russia https://sputnikglobe.com/20250326/president-putin-25-years-of-resisting-the-us-deep-state-and-european-globalists--1121687870.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20250312/how-putins-greater-eurasia-proposal-could-save-the-continent-from-wests-hegemony-1121633211.html russia ukraine ussr Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova george soros, open society foundations, soros' interference in russia's affairs, ukraine, euromaidan, soros' color revolutions, regime change in ukraine in 2014, russian special military operation The situation of Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region is critical, they're encircled. That's why the Ukrainian army is trying o find new areas for attacks on the borderline. The situation of Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region is critical, they're encircled. That's why the Ukrainian army is trying o find new areas for attacks on the borderline. Here's how Gen. Alaudinov commented on the Ukrainian blowing the gas measuring station "Sudzha". He described these acts as an agony. Here's how Gen. Alaudinov commented on the Ukrainian blowing the gas measuring station "Sudzha". He described these acts as an agony. Ukrainian troops lost MORE THAN 70 THOUSAND people during 7 months of Kursk region's battles. Ukrainian troops lost MORE THAN 70 THOUSAND people during 7 months of Kursk region's battles. Many foreign mercenaries and special ops militants were neutralized in the Kursk region as well. Many foreign mercenaries and special ops militants were neutralized in the Kursk region as well. Hired guns' corpses without heads or hands were found in the Kursk region during the liberation. Ukrainian soldiers disfigured the bodies to hide their identities. Hired guns' corpses without heads or hands were found in the Kursk region during the liberation. Ukrainian soldiers disfigured the bodies to hide their identities. Ukrainian commanders simply abandoned their wounded soldiers while escaping the Kursk region. Ukrainian commanders simply abandoned their wounded soldiers while escaping the Kursk region. Eric Foster might not be able to say where College Tuition rates among his best horses, but he knows where the seven-year-old male trotter ranks otherwise. As far as the spot in my heart, hes the top, said Foster, a Maryland resident who bred and owns College Tuition, a career earner of $333,620. Were thankful for him. Hopefully, he can keep racing well. Its been a great ride. College Tuition, named by one of Fosters daughters in the hopes he might provide some financial support for her academic pursuits, has been a steady moneymaker in his career. He has earned a paycheque in 110 of 132 races, an 83 per cent clip, with 20 victories and a total of 70 top three finishes to his credit. This year, the gelding has a win and three seconds in four races for Foster and his wife, Courtney, who share the training duties. Courtney got her first career win with College Tuition in 2022. College Tuition is a son of Donato Hanover-Stirling Charisma. Foster bought Stirling Charisma, whose family included award-winning $3.6 million earner Magician, for $5,500 at the 2012 Standardbred Horse Sale. The filly had a skittish streak but won 13 of 68 races and $110,292 in purses before being retired to become a broodmare. Her first foal, Emmys Mayflower, was a two-time Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund champion and earned $239,125 in her career. She was really fast, but she was her own worst enemy, said Foster. With trotters, they can be that way. They can be quirky. College Tuition was Stirling Charismas second foal and overcame a slow start literally to his career. He was so lazy, you couldnt get him to go around the track one time, said Foster. Eventually, I sent him to Gordon Corey, a trainer down in Pinehurst [North Carolina]. I thought he would call me in a week and tell me to come get the horse because he wouldnt go. But he never did that. Each month would go by and he was actually doing OK. We got him back and hes been good ever since. Now when you go to jog him here on the same track that I couldnt get him to go on, you cant hold him. Thats how much his attitude changed. Hes got a personality of his own. College Tuition was winless in six races as a two-year-old, but he began to find his footing the following season. At age five, he set his career mark of 1:52.4 at Harrahs Philadelphia and last year he notched his most lucrative victory when he captured a $41,096 Open at Oak Grove Racing & Gaming in Kentucky. Ironically, College Tuition travelled to Oak Grove only because Foster was shipping another one of his trotters, Sinatra De Vie, to the track to compete in the Open. I thought Sinatra De Vie would be really good in the Open and I sent 'College' just to ride along, said Foster. Sinatra De Vie ended up going there and kind of floundering around, but 'College' picked up the slack. Foster considered sending College Tuition to Oak Grove again this year but kept the horse home to race at Rosecroft Raceway, where last week he finished second to Spy Booth in the $17,143 Maryland Preferred Open Handicap. College Tuition returns to that level on Wednesday and is the 5-2 morning line favourite in a nine-horse field. Hes got tons of gate speed and I love that, Foster said about his trotter. Hes just wicked fast off the gate. Hes big and strong, and hes fairly consistent. He struggles a little bit on the turns, but he has some sticking power if he can get to the straightaway in a good position. He digs in and has a little grit to him. Hes a beautiful horse and hes easy to take care of. If you like black horses, hes there. Hes just beautiful out in the field trotting around. He goes out in the field and he just loves to play. I love watching him out in the field. College Tuitions race on Wednesday includes Spy Booth (3-1 on the morning line) as well as ageless wonder JL Cruze (9-2), a former Dan Patch Award winner with $2 million in earnings. Hes in tough this week, Foster said about College Tuition, who will have Johnathan Ahle in the sulky. I know JL Cruze is 14, but hes still no slouch. Hes like the bionic horse. Hes like a machine. It seems unfair sometimes, but thats OK; thats horse racing. Racing begins at 7:15 p.m. at Rosecroft Raceway. (USTA) Tariffs have many in the equine industry wondering how the upcoming racing and competition season will work with the thousands of horses that cross international borders every year to compete. For many years, horses entering and leaving the United States have done so without tariffs. Now, with pending regulatory changes and rumors of retaliatory tariffs, the American Horse Council (AHC) hopes to help the industry understand the facts about how tariffs impact the movement of horses. A horse product is anything consumable (i.e., usable) derived from a horse. This includes semen, embryos, and other breeding products, art made from horsehair (such as bracelets or jewelry made from manes and tails), and more. It can also sometimes include carriages, sulkies, and other types of horse-drawn transportation. Despite AHCs best efforts to inform members and stakeholders, it is crucial to acknowledge the rapid, sometimes hourly, changes in tariff information. Of further importance, when calculating possible tariffs and import fees, they are based on the value of the horse or item youre importing, not necessarily the most recent purchase price. You must often be able to provide documentation concerning the value of the horse at the border. If you buy a horse for $1 from a friend, but the horse was most recently valued at $10,000, you would pay a tariff of $10,000, not $1. Some tariffs require a minimum valuation for specific items. If your horse is entering or leaving the United States, your requirements will be different depending on whether its for temporary purposes (like racing, competition, or breeding) or a permanent relocation. Its important to remember that when importing and exporting horses, tariffs are a separate issue from necessary health documents. You must always ensure that you have the appropriate permits and health certificates and follow necessary quarantine procedures when importing and exporting horses. Introducing Tariff Codes and Rules of Origin All tariff types are coded and given an identification number. The majority of countries rely on a semi-standardized code list known as a Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HS). Knowing the HS code will often allow you to efficiently search for a countrys trade requirements to understand what documentation you need to provide or what duty you potentially pay. The United States Harmonized Tariff Schedule can be found at: https://hts.usitc.gov/ Once you know the tariff HS code, you can enter it into the FTA Tariff Tool to find the tariff rate and rule of origin for your product (in this case, your horse). FTA Tariff Tool: https://www.trade.gov/fta-tariff-tool-search Rules of Origin (ROO) are used to determine if products are eligible for duty-free or reduced duties. ROOs for horses can be different depending on the destination country. Some countries say where a horse is born is the country of origin, whereas other countries say where a horse permanently lives is the country of origin. You must check the ROOs of the country youre importing to for the correct determination. Youll have to prove the origin of your horse; this could count as an FEI passport or breed registration paper. If a horse is visiting a country for competition while a new tariff is imposed, it will not have to pay a tariff upon return to its country of origin. Example 1: The United States HS code for Purebred Live Horses Imported for Breeding is 0101.21.00. If you are importing a horse from Canada into the United States for breeding purposes, you select that you are importing goods from an FTA partner into the United States. Select the country Partner and enter the HS code. Youll see a result like this, which states that there is currently a 0 percent tariff rate and lists where in the HS you can find the appropriate Rule of Origin: Example 2: If a Canadian horse is competing in the United States while a new tariff is imposed on horses entering Canada, that horse would not be subject to paying a tariff when returning to Canada after the competition season. The only time you may pay a tariff upon returning to your home country is if you are bringing a new horse home with you that did not previously reside in your home country or bringing equine products such as semen or embryos with you that did not originate in your home country. Importing/Exporting for Temporary Purposes Requirements for the designation of temporary vs. permanent movement of goods in regard to tariffs vary greatly by country. You must check the requirements of the destination country to ensure that you will be in good standing once you cross the border. Reasons to be considered a temporary import/export include but arent limited to traveling for competition, racing, vacation/recreation, medical/veterinary care, or temporary breeding purposes. Temporary imports to a country typically do not pay tariffs; however, you may be required to pay a deposit that is returned to you once you come home. If you sell the horse during the time of the temporary import, you will be required to pay the full tariff if it is greater than your deposit. Specific to importing a horse temporarily into the United States*, you have two main options to identify your horse as a temporary good (*these methods will be similar but not exactly the same for other countries; its always best to check with the importing countrys authorities or a shipping agent for exact requirements). Temporary Import Bond Temporary Importation under Bond (TIB) is a temporary importation of goods by paying a deposit (aka bond), not imported for sale, without payment of duty with your agreement to export or destroy the goods within a certain period of time not to exceed three years from the date of importation. For horses, this means that you can temporarily import a horse for any of the previously listed reasons, but you must pay a certain percentage of the tariff up front that you will receive back once you return home. If the horse does not return to its home country within the TIB timeline, your deposit will be kept by customs, and you may potentially owe further fines. Currently, the TIB requirement to enter the United States is often good for up to one year of residence from the entry date. US Border Patrol can require deposits ranging from 110 to 200 percent of the value for the tariff. However, if you cross an international border multiple times per year, you may need to pay the TIB deposit each time you enter the importing country. Example: If you are importing a thoroughbred valued at $100,000 to the United States for racing purposes for three months from a country with a 25 percent tariff rate, you could be required to pay a deposit of up to $50,000 to enter under a TIB. ATA Carnets Another option to temporarily import a horse is under an ATA. Carnet. The ATA Carnet, also referred to as a Merchandise Passport, or Passport for Goods, is an international customs document that allows for the temporary entry of goods on a duty-free and tax-free basis, whether shipped or hand carried. The ATA Carnet system was established by the International ATA Conventions and is governed by the World Customs Organization and the International Chamber of Commerces World Chambers Federation. The aim is to encourage world trade and reduce trade barriers created by different national customs regulations. ATA Carnets are accepted by more than 80 countries globally, do not require a deposit, and are good for up to one year. Horses on ATA Carnets are valued at a minimum of $10,000 and must complete the questionnaire regarding their plan activities while travelling. ( https://infospot.roanokegroup.com/acton/attachment/5777/f-059c/1/-/-/-/-/USCIB%20ATA%20Carnet%20Horse%20Questionnaire.pdf ). ATA Carnets in the United States can only be prepared by recognized vendors. These vendors include Boomerang Carnets ( https://www.atacarnet.com/ ) and Roanoke ( https://www.roanokegroup.com/contact-us/ ). ATA Carnets are good for multiple trips across borders within the active time frame. Importing Horses for Permanent Purposes Depending on the destination country, importing horses or horse products (including semen and embryos) may require payment of a tariff. Some countries have Free Trade Agreements that exclude horses, donkeys, mules, and hinnies from tariffs. A Free Trade Agreement is a treaty between two or more countries designed to reduce or eliminate trade barriers, like tariffs, quotas, and other restrictions, to facilitate trade and investment between participating nations. If you are permanently importing a horse (i.e., plan to reside in the destination country for more than 1 year), then you need to determine if a tariff must be paid. Your best bet is to identify the HS code for horses in your country and use a tariff tool such as the FTA Tariff Tool listed above to understand your requirements. The tariff you pay will be based on the ROOs of the destination country. Confirm the requirements for ROOs before you arrive. Moving Forward The best advice AHC can give is to check with trade authorities at your destination country regarding the requirements for temporary vs. permanent importation. Information is changing rapidly, and what is true now may not be correct in two weeks. It can also be helpful to contract with an international shipping agent or a licensed import broker. Good planning is essential. Know the requirements before you get to the border. Do not wait to gather information and documents. Feel free to reach out to AHC with further questions. Helpful Links About Tariffs Tariff Resources (US) US Harmonized Tariff Schedule: https://hts.usitc.gov/ FTA Tariff Tool: h ttps://www.trade.gov/fta-tariff-tool-search US Interactive Tariff Training: https://learning.usitc.gov/hts-guide/index.html#/ Frequently Used United States HS Codes for Horse Products: Horse Semen HS: 0511.99.40.40 Live Horses HS: 0101 (Live Horses, asses, mules, and hinnies), 0101.21.00 (purebred breeding), 0101.29.00 (other), 0101.30.00 (asses), 0101.90 (other), 0101.90.30 (imported for immediate slaughter), 0101.90.40 (other, other) Temporary Import Options ATA Carnet ATA Carnet Explanation: https://www.trade.gov/ata-carnet Approved Companies for ATA Carnets Boomerang: https://www.atacarnet.com/Live-Horses-on-ATA-Carnets-with-CPDs-Along-for-the-Ride#:~:text=The%20ATA%20Carnet%20is%20an,for%20up%20to%20a%20year . Roanoke Group: https://www.roanokegroup.com/contact-us/ ATA Carnet Horse Questionnaire: https://infospot.roanokegroup.com/acton/attachment/5777/f-059c/1/-/-/-/-/USCIB%20ATA%20Carnet%20Horse%20Questionnaire.pdf Temporary Import Under Bond General TIB Info: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/entry-summary-and-post-release-processes/temporary-importation-under-bond TIB in Harmonized Schedule, CH 98 Section 9813: https://hts.usitc.gov/current Instructions for Businesses, TIB page 27: https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2023-Dec/CBP%20Publication%20No.%203499-1223%20-%20ACE%20ESBP%20Document%20External%20Version%2012.0.pdf Tariff Resources (Canada) Canadian Harmonized Tariff Schedule: https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/agreements/FTA/USMCA/Text/CA_Tariff_Schedule.pdf Canadian Tariff Code Finder: https://www.tariffinder.ca/en/getStarted List of Products from US subject to 25 Percent Tariffs effective March 13, 2025: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2025/03/list-of-products-from-the-united-states-subject-to-25-per-cent-tariffs-effective-march-13-2025.html Consultations on Canadas Response to United States Tariffs on Canadian Goods: Comment Submission Form (open until April 2, 2025): https://forms-formulaires.alpha.canada.ca/en/id/cm7upmkx9008rx268zhy9l6pj Previous Stories on Tariffs: https://standardbredcanada.ca/category/news/tariffs Tariff Resources (Mexico) MX Harmonized Tariff Schedule: https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/agreements/FTA/USMCA/Text/MX_Tariff_Schedule.pdf (with files from American Horse Council) In an effort to promote responsible use of artificial intelligence, Kelso School District has implemented new policies for students and staff, including a sliding scale that teachers can use to decide how much AI assistance students are allowed to use for each assignment. Students at Kelso middle and high schools received training on the new policies in January and February, following a year of work by the districts AI Advisory Committee. Instructional Technology Specialist Brenda Sargent, who led the committee along with Associate Director of Teaching and Learning Lacey DeWeert, said responses have been mixed. Many teachers and students are excited for the opportunity to experiment with the new technology, while others have concerns about the ethical implications of using AI. Our teachers are really liking how its saving them time with some of the basic writing skills and being able to analyze articles, Sargent said. In surveys sent out before the new training took place, about one third of students and staff reported using AI, while two thirds said they didnt, Sargent said. The district plans to run another survey sometime after spring break to see whether those numbers have changed. Superintendent Mary Beth Tack said she hopes learning how to use AI responsibly will help students be more competitive in the workforce once they graduate. We really wanted it to be a tool for our students to use in an ethical and responsive and educated way, Tack said. Its important for our kids to be competent and confident when they leave our system, so that they have those skills needed for the 21st century. New guidelines AI tools like ChatGPT were previously blocked on all school devices, though teachers had the ability to unblock them temporarily for specific assignments. However, the district changed that policy in October 2024, following discussions by the committee and surveys of students, staff and community members. Now, AI programs are unblocked by default, but teachers can choose to block them in their classrooms. There are some exceptions for AI tools that do not have an educational purpose, such character.ai, a program where users can interact with chatbots based on fictional characters, Sargent said. She said the goal was to provide more equitable access to AI for all students. In the past, students whose school-provided Chromebook was their only computer were blocked from using AI programs by the schools firewall even at home, while students who had their own personal device would have been able to use it. For those kids where their Chromebook is their No. 1 piece of technology, that felt really unfair, Sargent said. AI programs were originally blocked because teachers were concerned students would use them to cheat. However, Tack cited research by Stanford University that found that the increased availability of AI has not affected cheating rates in high schools. Sargent said teachers can combat cheating by giving clear instructions about when AI use is or isnt allowed, and by learning their students writing styles to more easily spot AI-generated work. She also suggested engaging in conversation with students who cheat using AI, rather than simply punishing them and moving on. Kelso teachers now use a standardized scale to instruct students on what level of AI use is appropriate for each assignment. On one end, AI use is completely forbidden and is considered cheating. On the other, students are encouraged to make heavy use of AI, but are not required to do so. Sargent said she has found AI to be helpful for tasks like proofreading, organizing ideas or summarizing large amounts of data, but that its not as good at creative things. Students are encouraged to consider these limitations when deciding how to use it. The word choice and the personality doesnt come through, she said. Thats what one of the students said. I dont want to use it, I dont want to sound like a robot. The district also follows the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instructions guidance on AI, which says that any AI output should be reviewed by a human before its turned in. Much like autocorrect, generative AI creates content by predicting what words are most likely to come next in a sequence based on its training data. Because of this, the information it outputs may or may not be true. For example, Googles AI Overview function has recommended that users glue cheese to pizza to prevent it from sliding off or eat rocks for their health because it doesnt have the ability to distinguish between real scientific articles and satire like a human could, The New York Times reported. Sargent said students are taught to look out for these mistakes, commonly called hallucinations in AI. They are also taught to be aware of biases that could be introduced by the data used to train AI models. Elementary school students are not encouraged to use AI because most programs have age restrictions, but teachers may use certain programs in group activities to model responsible practices, Sargent said. Ethical concerns While some students and teachers were excited to be allowed to use AI more regularly, others were firmly opposed to it because of concerns over its environmental impact or use of copyrighted material, Sargent said. The data centers that AI uses to process requests require large amounts of fresh water to keep their servers cool. A 2023 study by the University of California, Riverside, reported that Googles data centers consumed over 23 billion liters of fresh water that year, a 17% increase from 2022 that was largely driven by an expansion in AI use. It estimated that AI infrastructure worldwide could consume up to six times as much water as the country of Denmark by 2027. At the same time, large parts of the U.S. are struggling to get enough water. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that up to 63% of the contiguous U.S. experienced drought conditions in 2022, with some major reservoirs dropping to their lowest-ever recorded levels. The U.S. Drought Monitor reports that most of western Washington is either abnormally dry or experiencing a moderate drought as of March 13. AI also requires data to train on in order to generate new content, and those datasets often include copyrighted material, which artists say hurts their livelihoods. In 2023, a group of authors including George R.R. Martin and John Grisham filed a class action lawsuit against OpenAI for using their works to train its models. OpenAI has argued that this falls under fair use, and that access to copyrighted data is required to keep its models competitive. In a March 13 response to the White Houses request for comment on its proposed AI Action Plan, it wrote that AI companies should not have to comply with overly burdensome state laws and that allowing rights holders to opt out of data mining, like the European Union does, represses AI innovation. Wipro announced that it has won a 500 million, 10-year strategic deal with Phoenix Group, the UKs largest long-term savings and retirement business. The project is designed to deliver life and pension business administration for the ReAssure business and accelerate Phoenix Groups operational transformation. Andy Briggs, Phoenix Groups CEO commented: Wipros expertise in technology and service makes them ideally placed to help us deliver outstanding service and value for our ReAssure customers on their journey to and through retirement. We are delighted to have them join us as one of our ecosystem of strategic partners for this phase of our transformation journey. Under the terms of the deal, Wipros existing FCA-regulated entity, Wipro Financial Outsourcing Services Limited (WFOSL), will deliver comprehensive life and pension administration services to Phoenix Groups ReAssure customers. These services will encompass Policy Administration, Claims Processing, Customer Service Support, Data Management and Reporting, Compliance and Regulatory Support, as well as Platform Technologies. Top Breaking News Of The Day This engagement with Phoenix Group marks an important milestone in the evolution of our work with financial institutions in the UK, said Omkar Nisal, CEO Europe, Wipro Limited and Non-Executive Chairman of WFOSL. We are proud to support Phoenix Group in the transformation of their ReAssure business and help them achieve their long-term objectives. This landmark deal further underscores our commitment to helping financial institutions deliver exceptional client experiences and further cements our position as a key player in the Life and Pension Third Party Administration (TPA) provider sector in the UK. Nagendra Bandaru, Managing Partner and Global Head -Technology Services, Wipro Limited said, This strategic engagement with Phoenix Group reflects our commitment to leveraging our deep transformation expertise around process and technology including cloud, data, and AI to drive increased operational agility for clients in the financial services sector. We are thrilled to partner with Phoenix Group at this critical juncture of their transformation journey and supporting them as they look to navigate an ever-evolving digital landscape. As part of the engagement, Wipro will assume management of the core policy administration ALPHA platform, modernising it with AI, Automation, Cloud, and Digital transformation technologies. This modernisation initiative will ensure the platform is future-ready, enhancing efficiency, and delivering superior customer experiences for Phoenix Group policyholders. Wipro will also strengthen its UK presence by establishing additional technology and operational service hubs. These hubs will be supported by a team of experts from both Phoenix Group and Wipro, who will work collaboratively to further enhance the customer experience. As part of this transformational initiative, a number of Phoenix employees will transition to Wipro. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The messaging app Signal that Trump administration officials used to discuss an attack on Yemen's Houthi rebels was created by a one-time anarchist to help activists, journalists and others communicate beyond the prying eyes of government intelligence agenciesnot to plan government military operations. 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 Signal's 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 U.S. officials to exchange sensitive or classified information. Those restrictions failed to stop top officials in President Donald Trump's 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 wasn't an appropriate platform for discussing highly sensitive government information. "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 panel's top Democrat, Senator Mark Warner, expressed exasperation over the incident. "It's 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?" Trump said on Tuesday that his administration was investigating the addition of a journalist to the text group. But he said he didn't think the disclosures warranted a criminal investigation or a directive banning the use of the encrypted messaging app. "I don't know anything about Signal," he said. "I wasn't involved in this, but I just heard about it, and I hear it's used by a lot of groupsit's used by the media a lot. It's 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. "That's 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. 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 U.S. 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, or process non-public Defense Department information. This includes but is not limited to messaging, gaming, and social media apps (i.e., iMessage, WhatsApp, Signal)." 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 didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Marlinspike, who stepped down as Signal's chief executive officer in 2022, also didn't respond to an email seeking comment. Part of Signal's appeal is that it is run by a non-profit, 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. Don't sleep on this opportunity." 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 don't 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. 2025 Bloomberg News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The United Nations on Tuesday urged countries to boost protections amid a marked increase in efforts to interfere with satellite navigation systems like GPS that are critical for aviation and maritime safety. The UN's International Telecommunication Union, its International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization jointly voiced "grave concern" at growing disruptions of so-called Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). Amid growing geopolitical tensions, GPS and other such systems, which are used for weapons systems but also for a vast array of vital civilian applications, have increasingly been targeted. There have been warnings of increased GNSS signal disruptions since the start of Russia's war in Ukraine, as well as amid the Middle East conflict. The UN agencies voiced alarm at the impact of disruptions to such systems, which they pointed out are used for everything from the navigation of civil aircraft, maritime vessels and humanitarian assistance vehicles to synchronizing telecommunications networks. They demanded countries do more to protect the systems against so-called jamming attacks, which prevent access to satellite signals, as well as spoofing, through the broadcasting of false signals that can cause GNSS receivers in vessels or aircraft to calculate erroneous positions. "Global Navigation Satellite Systems are critical to our safety on land, at sea and in the air," said ITU chief Doreen Bogdan-Martin. "Member States should ensure the uninterrupted operation of these systems for everyone's safety and the resilience of essential services that our lives depend on." The joint statement called on countries to enhance the protection of the critical RNSS radio-frequency band, where GNSS systems operate. The band should be protected against "transmissions that can adversely cause harmful interference degrading, interrupting or misleading signals used for civilian and humanitarian purposes," the statement added. It also urged states to "reinforce resilience of the systems that rely on RNSS for navigation, positioning and timing" and to report all cases of "harmful interference." And it demanded they "retain sufficient conventional navigation infrastructure for contingency support in case of RNSS outages and misleading signals," as well as to "develop mitigation techniques for loss of services." 2025 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain In the age of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), the phrase "I'll believe it when I see it" no longer stands. Not only is GenAI able to generate manipulated representations of people, but it can also be used to generate entirely fictitious people and scenarios. GenAI tools are affordable and accessible to all, and AI-generated images are becoming ubiquitous. If you've been doom-scrolling through your news or Instagram feeds, chances are you've scrolled past an AI-generated image without even realizing it. As a computer science researcher and Ph.D. candidate at the University of Waterloo, I'm increasingly concerned by my own inability to discern what's real from what's AI-generated. My research team conducted a survey where nearly 300 participants were asked to classify a set of images as real or fake. The average classification accuracy of participants was 61% in 2022. Participants were more likely to correctly classify real images than fake ones. It's likely that accuracy is much lower today thanks to the rapidly improving GenAI technology. We also analyzed their responses using text mining and keyword extraction to learn the common justifications participants provided for their classifications. It was immediately apparent that, in a generated image, a person's eyes were considered the telltale indicator that the image was probably AI-generated. AI also struggled to produce realistic teeth, ears and hair. But these tools are constantly improving. The telltale signs we could once use to detect AI-generated images are no longer reliable. Improving images Researchers began exploring the use of GANs for image and video synthesis in 2014. The seminal paper "Generative Adversarial Nets" introduced the adversarial process of GANs. Although this paper does not mention deepfakes, it was the springboard for GAN-based deepfakes. Some early examples of GenAI art which used GANs include the "DeepDream" images created by Google engineer Alexander Mordvintsev in 2015. But in 2017, the term "deepfake" was officially born after a Reddit user, whose username was "deepfakes," used GANs to generate synthetic celebrity pornography. In 2019, software engineer Philip Wang created the "ThisPersonDoesNotExist" website, which used GANs to generate realistic-looking images of people. That same year, the release of the deepfake detection challenge, which sought new and improved deepfake detection models, garnered widespread attention and led to the rise of deepfakes. About a decade later, one of the authors of the "Generative Adversarial Nets" paperCanadian computer scientist Yoshua Bengiobegan sharing his concerns about the need to regulate AI due to the potential dangers such technology could pose to humanity. Bengio and other AI trailblazers signed an open letter in 2024, calling for better deepfake regulation. He also led the first International AI Safety Report, which was published at the beginning of 2025. Hao Li, deepfake pioneer and one of the world's top deepfake artists, conceded in a manner eerily reminiscent of Robert Oppenheimer's famous "Now I Am Become Death" quote: "This is developing more rapidly than I thought. Soon, it's going to get to the point where there is no way that we can actually detect 'deepfakes' anymore, so we have to look at other types of solutions." The new disinformation Big tech companies have indeed been encouraging the development of algorithms that can detect deepfakes. These algorithms commonly look for the following signs to determine if content is a deepfake: Number of words spoken per sentence, or the speech rate (the average human speech rate is 120150 words per minute), Facial expressions, based on known coordinates of the human eyes, eyebrows, nose, lips, teeth and facial contours, Reflections in the eyes, which tends to be unconvincing (either missing or oversimplified), Image saturation, with AI-generated images being less saturated and containing a lower number of underexposed pixels compared to pictures taken by an HDR camera. But even these traditional deepfake detection algorithms suffer several drawbacks. They are usually trained on high-resolution images, so they may fail at detecting low-resolution surveillance footage or when the subject is poorly illuminated or posing in an unrecognized way. Despite flimsy and inadequate attempts at regulation, rogue players continue to use deepfakes and text-to-image AI synthesis for nefarious purposes. The consequences of this unregulated use range from political destabilization at a national and global level to the destruction of reputations caused by very personal attacks. Disinformation isn't new, but the modes of propagating it are constantly changing. Deepfakes can be used not only to spread disinformationthat is, to posit that something false is truebut also to create plausible deniability and posit that something true is false. It's safe to say that in today's world, seeing will never be believing again. What might once have been irrefutable evidence could very well be an AI-generated image. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: David Leach mops the floor of a 3D-printed concrete home built by VeroTouch in Buena Vista, Colo., on Feb. 19, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Thomas Peipert As Americans struggle under backbreaking rental prices, builders are turning to innovative ways to churn out more housing, from 3D printing to assembling homes in an indoor factory to using hempyes, the marijuana cousinto make building blocks for walls. It's a response to the country's shortfall of millions of homes that has led to skyrocketing prices, plunging millions into poverty. "There's not enough homes to purchase and there's not enough places to rent. Period," said Adrianne Todman, the acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under former President Joe Biden. One way to quickly build more is embrace these types of innovations, Todman said. "I can only imagine what our housing situation would be like now if we could have made a decision to be more aggressive in adopting this type of housing" decades ago. So what are these new ways of building homes? And can they help reduce the cost of new housing, leading to lower rents? Factory-built housing put together in a week In a cavernous, metal hall, Eric Schaefer stood in front of a long row of modular homes that moved through the plant, similar to a car on an assembly line. At a series of stations, workers lay flooring, erected framing, added roofs and screwed on drywall. Everything from electrical wiring to plumbing to kitchen countertops were in place before the homes were shrink-wrapped and ready to be shipped. A worker inspects the framing of a modular home at the Fading West factory in Buena Vista, Colo., on Feb. 19, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Thomas Peipert The business in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Fading West, has pumped out more than 500 homes in its just over three years of operation, each taking just five to seven days to build, even in the coldest winter months, Schaefer said. Once assembled in the plant, the narrow townhouse-style homes with white trim, balconies and front porches, are about 90% done. At their final destination they are move-in ready within six weeks, Schaefer said. The company works with towns, counties and housing nonprofits to help address the shortage of affordable homes, mostly for workers who've been squeezed out by sky-high prices in ritzy mountain towns. That includes Eagle, Colorado, not far from the Vail ski resort, where Fading West worked with Habitat for Humanity to install modular homes at affordable rents for teachers and other school district employees. The homes tend to be on the smaller side, but can be multifamily or single family. Workers construct modular homes at the Fading West factory in Buena Vista, Colo., on Feb. 19, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Thomas Peipert "You can build faster. The faster you buildeven at a high qualitymeans the lower the price," Schaefer said. "We see this as one of the pieces to the puzzle in helping solve the affordable housing crisis." There's a hefty upfront cost to build the factory, and part of the challenge is a lack of state and federal investment, he said. A patchwork of building codes governing how a structure can be built also makes it difficult, requiring changes to the construction depending on the town or county it is being sent to. Manufactured housing is similar to modular housing, but the units are constructed on a chassislike a trailerand they aren't subject to the same local building codes. That's part of the reason they are used more broadly across the U.S. Roughly 100,000 manufactured homes were shipped to states in 2024, up from some 60,000 a decade earlier, according to Census Bureau data. Estimates of modular homes built annually often put them below 20,000. Modular homes built by Fading West are seen in Buena Vista, Colo., on Feb. 19, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Thomas Peipert 3D printing is innovative but still 'a long game' Yes, there's technology to 3D print homes. A computer-controlled robotic arm equipped with a hose and nozzle moves back and forth, oozing lines of concrete, one on top of the other, as it builds up the wall of a home. It can go relatively quickly and form curved walls unlike concrete blocks. Grant Hamel, CEO and co-founder of VeroTouch, stood inside one of the homes his company built, the wall behind him made out of rolling layers of concrete, distinct to a 3D printer. The technology could eventually reduce labor costs and the time it takes to build an abode, but is farther off than manufactured or modular methods from making a dent in the housing crisis. It's "a long game, to start chipping away at those prices at every step of the construction process," Hamel said. Modular homes built by Fading West are seen in Buena Vista, Colo., on Feb. 19, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Thomas Peipert The 3D printers are expensive, and so are the engineers and other skilled employees needed to run them, said Ali Memari, director of the Pennsylvania Housing Research Center, whose work has partly focused on 3D printing. It's also not recognized by international building codes, which puts up more red tape. The technology is also generally restricted to single-story structures, unless traditional building methods are used as well, Memari said It's "a technology at its beginning, it has room to grow, especially when it is recognized in code," Memari said. "The challenges that I mentioned exist, and they have to be addressed by the research community." A hemp-and-lime mixture called hempcrete has 'a bright future' Hempthe plant related to marijuanais being used more and more in the construction of walls. A worker constructs the window of a modular home at the Fading West factory in Buena Vista, Colo., on Feb. 19, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Thomas Peipert The hemp is mixed with other materials, most importantly the mineral lime, forming "hempcrete," a natural insulation that's mold- and fire-resistant and can act as outer wall, insulation and inner wall. Hempcrete still requires wood studs to frame the walls, but it replaces three wall-building components with just one, said Memari, also a professor at Penn State University's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Memari is now helping oversee research into making hempcrete that doesn't need the wood studs. As much as a million hemp plants to be used for hempcrete can grow on one acre in a matter of months as opposed to trees, which can take years or decades to grow. The plant is part of the cannabis family but has far less of the psychoactive component, THC, found in marijuana. In 2018, Congress legalized the production of certain types of hemp. Last year, the International Code Council, which develops international building codes used by all 50 states, adopted hempcrete as an insulation. A worker stands inside a framed modular home at the Fading West factory in Buena Vista, Colo., on Feb. 19, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Thomas Peipert A worker constructs part of a modular home at the Fading West factory in Buena Vista, Colo., on Feb. 19, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Thomas Peipert Workers construct the flooring of a modular home at the Fading West factory in Buena Vista, Colo., on Feb. 19, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Thomas Peipert Modular homes wrapped in plastic await shipping outside of the Fading West factory in Buena Vista, Colo., on Feb. 19, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Thomas Peipert Confusion over the legality of growing hemp and the price tag of the machine required to process the plant, called a decorticator, are barriers to hempcrete becoming more widespread in housing construction, Memari said. Still, he said, "hempcrete has a bright future." 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A brand that was notoriously connected to music piracy before reemerging as a subscription music service has been sold to Infinite Reality for $207 million. The tech startup announced Tuesday it had bought Napster in hopes of transforming the streaming service into a social music platform where artists can connect with fans and better monetize off their work. "The internet has evolved from desktop to mobile, from mobile to social, and now we are entering the immersive era. Yet, music streaming has remained largely the same. It's time to reimagine what's possible," said Napster CEO Jon Vlassopulos in a blog post. Among its plans to update Napster, Infinite Reality said it will create virtual 3D spaces that will allow fans to attend concerts, and give musicians or labels the ability to sell digital and physical merchandise. Artists will also receive a wider range of metrics and analytics to better understand the behavior of platform users. "We can think of no better use case for our technology than putting it in the hands of music artists who are constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible," said Infinite Reality Chief Business Officer Amish Shah. Napster was launched in 1999 by Shawn Fanning and Sean Parker and quickly became the first significant peer-to-peer file-sharing application. It shuttered in early 2000s after the record industry and popular rock band Metallica sued over copyright violations. Rhapsody later bought the brand in 2011 and relaunched it as a music streaming service. 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A small dye-sensitized betavoltaic cell has radiocarbon on both the cathode and anode, which increases its energy-conversion efficiency. Credit: Su-Il In Sometimes cell phones die sooner than expected or electric vehicles don't have enough charge to reach their destination. The rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries in these and other devices typically last hours or days between charging. However, with repeated use, batteries degrade and need to be recharged more frequently. Now, researchers are considering radiocarbon as a source for safe, small and affordable nuclear batteries that could last decades or longer without charging. Su-il In, a professor at Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology, presents his results at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), held March 2327. The frequent charging required for Li-ion batteries isn't just an inconvenience. It limits the utility of technologies that use the batteries for power, such as drones and remote-sensing equipment. The batteries are also bad for the environment: Mining lithium is energy-intensive and improper disposal of Li-ion batteries can contaminate ecosystems. But with the increasing ubiquity of connected devices, data centers and other computing technologies, the demand for long-lasting batteries is increasing. And better Li-ion batteries are likely not the answer to this challenge. "The performance of Li-ion batteries is almost saturated," says In, who researches future energy technologies. So, In and his team members are developing nuclear batteries as an alternative to lithium. Nuclear batteries generate power by harnessing high-energy particles emitted by radioactive materials. Not all radioactive elements emit radiation that's damaging to living organisms, and some radiation can be blocked by certain materials. For example, beta particles (also known as beta rays) can be shielded with a thin sheet of aluminum, making betavoltaics a potentially safe choice for nuclear batteries. The researchers produced a prototype betavoltaic battery with carbon-14, an unstable and radioactive form of carbon, called radiocarbon. "I decided to use a radioactive isotope of carbon because it generates only beta rays," says In. Moreover, a by-product of nuclear power plants, radiocarbon is inexpensive, readily available and easy to recycle. And because radiocarbon degrades very slowly, a radiocarbon-powered battery could theoretically last for millennia. In a typical betavoltaic battery, electrons strike a semiconductor, which results in the production of electricity. Semiconductors are a critical component in betavoltaic batteries, as they are primarily responsible for energy conversion. Consequently, scientists are exploring advanced semiconductor materials to achieve a higher energy conversion efficiencya measure of how effectively a battery can convert electrons into usable electricity. To significantly improve the energy conversion efficiency of their new design, In and the team used a titanium dioxide-based semiconductor, a material commonly used in solar cells, sensitized with a ruthenium-based dye. They strengthened the bond between the titanium dioxide and the dye with a citric acid treatment. When beta rays from radiocarbon collide with the treated ruthenium-based dye, a cascade of electron transfer reactions, called an electron avalanche, occurs. Then the avalanche travels through the dye and the titanium dioxide effectively collects the generated electrons. The new battery also has radiocarbon in the dye-sensitized anode and a cathode. By treating both electrodes with the radioactive isotope, the researchers increased the amount of beta rays generated and reduced distance-related beta-radiation energy loss between the two structures. During demonstrations of the prototype battery, the researchers found that beta rays released from radiocarbon on both electrodes triggered the ruthenium-based dye on the anode to generate an electron avalanche that was collected by the titanium dioxide layer and passed through an external circuit, resulting in usable electricity. Compared to a previous design with radiocarbon on only the cathode, the researchers' battery with radiocarbon in the cathode and anode had a much higher energy conversion efficiency, going from 0.48% to 2.86%. These long-lasting nuclear batteries could enable many applications, says In. For example, a pacemaker would last a person's lifetime, eliminating the need for surgical replacements. However, this betavoltaic design converted only a tiny fraction of radioactive decay into electric energy, leading to lower performance compared to conventional Li-ion batteries. In suggests that further efforts to optimize the shape of the beta-ray emitter and develop more efficient beta-ray absorbers could enhance the battery's performance and increase power generation. As climate concerns grow, public perception of nuclear energy is changing. But it's still thought of as energy only produced at a large power plant in a remote location. With these dual-site-source dye-sensitized betavoltaic cell batteries, In says, "We can put safe nuclear energy into devices the size of a finger." More information: 4200925 - Next generation battery: Highly efficient and stable C14 dye-sensitized betavoltaic cell 8:00 pm - 8:20 pm GMT-4 Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Room: Room 29B (San Diego Convention Center) This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: An inflection point in infrastructure repair: Atorod Azizinamini conducts a first-of-its-kind application of FIU's 'spray-on' Ultra High-Performance Concrete in Virginia. The innovation has the potential to not only repair, but strengthen bridges around the nation. Credit: Florida International University More than 40,000 bridges in the United States are deemed structurally deficient, and as many as 221,000 are deemed in need of repair, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association. Florida International University (FIU) researchers have developed a system that could play a key role in restoring them. Engineers have created a system that sprays Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) onto structures. Such concrete not only has the potential to patch walls, fix pipes and restore drainage culverts, it can make these structures stronger than they were in the first place. UHPC is many times stronger and more water-resistant than regular concrete. Despite its inception some 30 years ago, its use in United States has been limited due mainly to high cost. That might be about to change. "UHPC has historically been very expensive to use, mainly because most of those available [mixes] on the market have been commercial versions. Even a very thin layer of UHPC can drastically improve the strength of a structure and protect it from water," says Atorod Azizinamini, a professor of civil engineering at FIU. "We have developed an affordable type of UHPC, and a system that can spray it. This could become a major tool in repairing or upgrading structurally deficient bridges quickly and efficiently." At around $500 per cubic yard, the FIU-made UHPC mix comes at a fraction of the cost of many comparable commercial versions of UHPC, Azizinamini says. And since only a thin layer of it is needed, the overall costs are manageable for many projects. The system deposits thin layers of concrete onto surfaces through a nozzle, similar to the way spray paint is applied. These layers can be added, one upon another, in coats. Their light weight doesn't significantly alter the mass of a structure. Azizinamini's team applied UHPC to a bridge in Virginia last year. "The reason that we invited the FIU team here to Virginia is that we had a bridge abutment wall that had corrosion issues due to the deicing salt that is used here," says Sam Fallaha, an engineer with the Virginia Department of Transportation. "We liked it because it is easy to apply a thin layer to vertical surface creating a durable solution for problems like these that occur in cold climates." The Virginia job was the first-ever application of its kind in the U.S. FIU researchers plan to commercialize the technology and train more engineers and builders to use it. "Anyone who has used a glue gun for an arts and crafts project knows how difficult it can be to keep the nozzle from getting clogged. The same goes with our UHPC system. If you don't know how to clean it, the concrete hardens, and you might have to throw parts away. Fortunately, we are seeing widespread interest in people who want to learn about our system and use it properly," says Morgan Dickinson, a Ph.D. student in Azizinamini's lab. Kia Hajifathalian is a Vice President and Market General Manager at the leading commercial concrete contractor in the U.S., Baker Construction. He sees the FIU system as a practical way of bringing the benefits of UHPC to more buildings and bridges around the nation. "This is not just research in a lab that will only have a couple of specific uses. I think that FIU has figured out how to utilize UHPC in a way that can be used to repair buildings and bridges at scale," Hajifathalian says. Hajifathalian adds that for the system to continue to gain popularity, it will need to be further tested for compatibility with other aspects of construction, like painting and architecture aesthetics. But right now, it holds a lot of promise. "The biggest nightmare of a concrete contractor is pouring concrete, testing it later and finding out that it is not as strong as you thought it would be because something unexpected happened. Having that concrete in a pre-bagged system like FIU is doing, where you have quality control, is so important." By combining affordability, ease of use and enhanced durability, FIU's innovation has the potential to transform the nation's structurally deficient bridges into stronger, longer-lasting assets. A one-block stretch of Pine Street will close permanently Wednesday in preparation for the Hall County Courthouse addition project. The closure will be from First Street to Court Street. County Building and Grounds Director Loren Doone Humprey mentioned the closure at Tuesdays Hall County Commission meeting. Architect Steve Severson of Davis Design appeared at the meeting to give an update on courthouse addition plans. He displayed an array of floor, wall and ceiling coverings that will be available for the project. In late May, the final drawings will be done that will be used to come up with a guaranteed maximum price for the judicial project. Chief Construction, the construction manager at risk on the project, will distribute those drawings to its subcontractors. Chief will then tell the commission what the maximum prices would be, barring any changes. Chief and the subcontractors might point out areas in which the county might be able to save some money. Commission members will then decide if they want to make any changes or cuts. I know theres been a little bit of talk about preparing for unwanted surprises, using allowances or contingencies. Both are a part of that, Severson said. I just want to make sure that everyone understands that can increase or decrease. Some examples could include the county wanting to change the scope of the project, and another could be unknown or concealed conditions. We do our best to anticipate these things. But we are renovating an old building. We obviously cannot see through the walls or anything like that. So I just want to let that be known. In response to a question from Commissioner Gary Quandt, Severson said the project will meet current codes. Its a challenge because codes were much different when the courthouse was built, Severson said. Quandt also asked if the new addition will be 100% compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. Severson said that all of the spaces will be adaptable to those requirements. Quandt said that as far as ADA requirements are concerned, the county is going to pay for them either now or later. He urged that the work be done now. Judges have current preferences for what the bench areas will look like, Severson said. But specific additions can be made down the road. Construction on the courthouse project could begin in July, Severson said. Its unlikely that the construction will be done next year. Severson, Commissioner Pam Lancaster and Chairman Ron Peterson noted that changes have occurred in the plans. Lancaster said the speed of the work is not as important as doing things right. The construction manager at risk committee is doing good work, Lancaster said. Peterson, a member of that committee, said the group looked at the possibility of eliminating the basement of the addition and adding an unfinished fourth floor. The plan would not have been cost-effective, Peterson said. Considering the idea required design work. At the meeting, the board approved an amendment to the agreement with the Olsson engineering firm for revisions outside of the original design scope and anticipated fees for the project. The work cost about $5,000. Also at the meeting, the commission approved an action that will allow Hall County Attorney Marty Klein to offer a higher salary to new employees. From now on, new deputy county attorneys just out of law school will be paid an annual salary of $88,000 rather than the previous starting salary of $76,000. Other attorneys will see their pay rise $9,900 under the differential increase approved Tuesday. Klein said Hall County deputy county attorneys are underpaid compared to what other counties offer. Its hard for him to attract new law school graduates at $76,000 a year, he said. He said his office is down four and a half employees. The county Public Defenders Office does not have a staffing problem, because new law school graduates like to fight for the accused as public defenders. Klein pointed out some of the differences between his office and the county Public Defenders Office. Among other things, in Nebraska, county attorneys serve as coroners. The commission approved the idea on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Butch Hurst, a former policeman, said it doesnt matter how many arrests an officer makes if lawyers dont follow through. If nothing gets prosecuted, it never happened, he said. Police officers, prosecutors and judges need to work together to keep the community safe, Hurst said. Lancaster said officials want to have a very safe community. So does the public, she said. And I think theyre willing to pay for it. In addition, the board: Accepted a bid of $447,834 from Norfolk Contracting of Norfolk for the Wood River Southwest Bridge Replacement Project. A total of five bids were submitted. Passed a resolution approving the one- and six-year road program. BAMBERG Bamberg County Council learned that the Bamberg County Sheriffs Office has been awarded a more than $9,000 body armor grant during a March 10 meeting. Get The Times and Democrat app today Local news has never been this personal. Free to download. Subscribers enjoy unlimited access. We were fortunate enough to apply for and receive a body armor grant for our deputies in the amount of $9,266, County Administrator Joey Preston said during the meeting. The South Carolina Department of Public Safetys Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs (OHSJP) is charged with the responsibility of the administration of the state-appropriated Body Armor Assistance Grant (BAAG) Program. County Sheriff Kenneth Bamberg said he was thankful for the funding for the body armor vests. Bamberg County Coroner's Office adding programs to help citizens deal with grief, fentanyl awareness The Bamberg County Coroner's Office introduces fentanyl awareness and grief programs to address rising fentanyl use, overdose deaths, and support for grief-stricken individuals. I wanted to express my sincere gratitude to Joey and council and the staff for always being there with us. To continue moving forward, we have been needing equipment and additional supplies, Bamberg said, noting that the county has also worked to provide the sheriffs office with other significant grants. Weve been receiving the bodycam grant since 2021. Every year, theyve been renewing it for us, making sure that we get those fundings for it, (and) as far as the in-car cameras with that grant, the sheriff said. The big thing most recently was being awarded a grant for the body armor for the deputies. That did come in handy. We received those vests. Its just an added layer of protection and security for the guys and girls that are out there on the street, he said. The administrator also reported that the county was still waiting on settlement funds through the Insurance Reserve Funds which could potentially total $1.1 million following the storm damage the county has sustained over the past year. Early voting for Bamberg elections starts March 24, runs through April 4 Early voting for City of Bamberg municipal elections started, with new candidates running for mayor, council, and public works commission seats. Voting runs until April 4. We met with them a couple of times since then. It looks like were making some progress, and hopefully in the next 30 days, we should know exactly where we stand with the claim that we filed, he said. Preston also reported that the roofing projects on the Hooten Black House and Clemson Extension building were complete, with the McGee Street sidewalk project currently underway. Weve got permission from the state to move forward We should see construction start to begin on that. The configuration of how the EMS units and the fire departments will get into the helicopter pad will change a little bit, but itll be better than what theyve currently got out there. There will be a dedicated area for vehicles to park and for stretchers to roll from the trucks to the pad, he said. The administrator is also anticipating roadwork to help reduce flooding on Riley Drive in Denmark to be complete by the end of the summer, with road work to help reduce flooding on Church Street in Denmark to be completed by the Bamberg County C-Fund Committee. The design is still underway. Theres a lot of following over in that area over there primarily because of beavers, but were addressing that issue as best as we can, he said of the Church Street project. Also during the meeting, council approved a special source revenue credit agreement between the county and Project Black Jack. It also gave second reading approval to an ordinance authorizing an infrastructure credit agreement, including special source revenue credits, between Project Black Jack and the county. Josh Urwick, SouthernCarolina Regional Development Alliance project manager, said, Theres some stuff floating around out there, but there are some specifics that we cant get into That can kill a project quickly. Its happened before, and we dont want to see this one go. In other business, council heard from Grant Gibbons, chief public defender for the 2nd Judicial Circuit, on ways the county could reduce costs associated with its overcrowded detention center. Housing federal inmates, implementing a home detention program and using the services of a jail attorney, or prisoners rights attorney, were among the strategies Gibbons shared. I would be glad to pursue any of these options with yall. Id be glad to pursue dedicating more staff down here to move some of this stuff around, Gibbons said. County Detention Center Director Moses Cheatham said most of the inmates being held at the center are being held on serious charges that would make them ineligible for some of the programs. Preston said he was intrigued, however, by the use of a prisoners rights attorney. Gibbons said, I think it would be a good thing to look into, and we could try it for six months. Maybe it works, and if it doesnt, we stop, but Im willing to help in any way I can. In other matters: Council approved the appointment of Govan Mayor Wilma Letecia Edmonds to the Lower Savannah Council of Governments board of directors as a Bamberg County representative. Council approved a resolution approving and authorizing the execution of a loan from the S.C. Water Quality Revolving Fund Authority. The administrator later explained that the money would be used to complete the work on the Bamberg County water tank located out at the airport. Pic story: former serf embraces new life in China's Xizang Xinhua) 08:49, March 26, 2025 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, 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. 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) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Gia xang dau trong nuoc hom nay (3/7) uoc du bao co the giam tu 6,8 - 7,5% so voi ky ieu hanh truoc o. Cu the, gia ban le xang E5 RON 92 co the giam 1.412 ong (6,9%) ve muc 19.118 ong/lit; xang RON 95-III co the giam 1.440 ong (6,8%) ve muc 19.670 ong/lit. Trong khi o, dau hoa co the giam 7,5% ve muc 17.631 ong/lit; dau mazut co the giam 7,2% ve muc 15.730 ong/kg; dau diesel co the giam 7,1% ve muc 17.977 ong/lit. You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). Bilateral trade between Trinidad and Tobago and India reached a record TT$1.2 billion (US$368.96 million) in the last fiscal year, according to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. She disclosed this as she announced that her Government aims to expand exports to tap into Indias market of 1.4 billion consumers, and will pursue a Partial Scope Trade Agreementthe first from a Caricom countrywhile laying the foundation for a new Bilateral Investment Treaty. A PRIVATE contractor is dead after an accident in Tobago. Police have identified the victim as Darryl Figaro of Black Rock, Tobago. He died on Wednesday after falling from a ladder while working at a private villa. An autopsy of Figaros body yesterday at the Scarborough Mortuary determined injuries were consistent with a fall, and it ruled out foul play. The body was previously identified by the victims daughter. 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. University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella quoted founding father Thomas Jefferson saying, Let us in education dream of an aristocracy of achievement arising out of a democracy of opportunity, while addressing a large crowd at his formal installation ceremony Tuesday. This democracy of opportunity is the fundamental responsibility of a great land grant institution like ours, Garimella told the attendees at Centennial Hall. And by delivering on this responsibility, we will indeed foster an aristocracy of achievement and excellence. Garimella, attired in red and black robes, was joined by Gov. Katie Hobbs, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, Oro Valley Mayor Joe Winfield, Sahuarita Mayor Tom Murphy, Regents Chair Cecilia Mata and regents, Interim Provost Ron Marx, UA Chair of the Faculty Leila Hudson, and numerous UA leaders, professors, staff and student leaders at the ceremony. It officially marks his naming as the UAs 23rd president, a role he assumed in October, after previously serving as president of the University of Vermont. Garimella did not mention the current pressures on universities due to federal orders and funding threats, but outside Centennial Hall, about 80 student protesters loudly chanted in support of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility programs the Trump administration has ordered shut down. The installation event started at the UAs Old Main building, with a performance by the Pride of Arizona marching band, a Native land acknowledgement reading and blessing, and remarks by Marx, the interim provost. This was followed by a formal procession led by the marching band to Centennial Hall. Garimella began his speech by thanking his family, a few of whom were in attendance including his wife Lakshmi Garimella, as well as professors and mentors who inspired him, including his middle school principal. I recall the small strip of paper that he gave me two inches long and all it said in blue ink was, Do it now, Garimella said, inciting laughter from the crowd. The message conveyed to an impressionable boy, was eloquent, incisive and urgent, he said. I had that message taped on my desk for many years, until it eventually disintegrated. But the exhortation has remained indelible, and it has become so much a part of me, consciously and unconsciously, that it inflects almost everything I do. As I stand here today, Im also inspired and humbled by the legacy we inherit at this amazing institution rooted in the borderlands where desert, mountains and the heavens converge, and where millennia of human history and culture infuse our daily lives, said Garimella. What has the University of Arizona done with this inheritance? We mapped the moon so that the eagle could land in 1969. And most recently, we sampled an asteroid for the first time in U.S. history (and) revealed the presence of a range of amino acids, life-building blocks. The ceremony had RSVPs from 1,100 people, said UA spokesperson Mitch Zak. It was also livestreamed on the UAs YouTube channel. Hobbs said every conversation shes had with Garimella affirmed her belief that bringing him to the UA was the right decision. His passion and enthusiasm to be of service to the state are evident, she said. At the installation ceremony for former UA President Robert C. Robbins in 2017, then-Gov. Doug Ducey attended. Dr Garimella has demonstrated commitment to affordability and accessibility during his time at the University of Vermont, freezing tuition for six years and raising philanthropic donations. This led to an increase in applications and the best prepared class in the universitys history, said Hobbs. It is clear that he understands that for the state to succeed, we must make it easier for our residents to access and afford higher education, and I know this will continue to be a cornerstone of this tenure here. UA Faculty Chair Hudson, who was one of the speakers, said, We trust that our new president will exercise his fiduciary duty towards this great institution and will double down on cleaning it up and representing it more effectively than ever before to our community, our Board of Regents, our Arizona and our federal governments. We trust that he will keep our campus safe for all from violence, including state violence; that he will provide the meaningful support that each and every student needs to realize their educational potential, and we trust that he will not infringe on our students constitutional freedoms, undercover of security needs, fear mongering or political pressures, Hudson said. We trust that he will do his best to unfetter our workforce from fear, precarity, bureaucracy and corruption. Arizona Board of Regents Chair Mata said Garimella has a passion for exploration and embodies the spirit for adaptation. He thrives in challenging landscapes, in demonstrating a remarkable ability to live with agility in an ever-evolving world, Mata said, before bestowing Garimella with The Presidents Medallion, after which Hudson offered him The Ceremonial Mace. President Garimella is a champion of inclusion. He provides space with different voices and ensures all under his leadership feel value and power, Mata said. Outside, students kept chanting loud slogans, as they protested the UAs recent actions of deleting its diversity website as well as deleting the words committed to diversity and inclusion from its official land-acknowledgement statement, to comply with Trump administration orders. Garimella has also said other DEI programs at UA are being inventoried. U of A will not comply, we are keeping DEI, the protesters chanted, along with The students united will never be divided. Garimella had given them a polite smile as he walked over to Centennial Hall. Homeless aid organizations would be able to use some city parks to provide services as well as operate overnight camp sites under a plan being floated by Councilmember Karin Uhlich. On Monday, Uhlich used her Ward 6 newsletter to share an outline of a pilot program called Help Huts. It would use city permits to let aid groups use several city parks to provide daytime aid and overnight camp sites at larger parks scattered across the city. Uhlich said in the newsletter that she wants to hear from residents, at ward6@tucsonaz.gov with Help Huts in the subject line, so her office can gauge reaction before deciding whether to bring the idea to her colleagues on the city council. This is my attempt to outline an idea for consideration and my thinking alone ... Mayor and Council colleagues and staff wont know more than you do at this point, and have not expressed any reactions about it, she said in the newsletter. The newsletter mentioned 12 parks. In each of the twelve parks citywide which have more than three rental ramadas, one shall be designated as available under the HELP HUT PROGRAM for the purpose of providing daytime space for organizations offering aid to unsheltered Tucson residents, Uhlich said in the newsletter. Those parks are: Rudy Garcia, near South Sixth Avenue and East Irvington Road; James Thomas, near South Country Club Road and East 36th Street; Chuck Ford Lakeside, near East Stella and South Pantano roads; McCormick, near North Columbus and East Fort Lowell roads; Mission Manor, near South 12th Avenue and West Drexel Road; and Purple Heart, near East Rita and South Houghton roads. There are six city parks where organizations would be able to get a permit and rent out ramadas during dawn-to-dusk hours to erect up to 10 tents within a 20-yard perimeter around a designated ramada for overnight camps. Those parks are Danny Lopez (formerly Christopher Columbus Park) on North Silverbell Road north of West Sweetwater Drive; Fort Lowell, near East Glenn Street and North Craycroft Road; Lincoln, near South Pantano and East Escalante roads; Kennedy, near West Ajo Way and South Mission Road; Reid, near East 22nd Street and South Country Club Road; and Udall, near North Sabino Canyon and East Tanque Verde roads. Andrew Christopher, President of the Arroyo Chico Neighborhood Association near Reid Park, said its good Uhlich is willing to fall on that political grenade. Im not against it, you know, we need some solutions to the homelessness epidemic, and that seems like were kind of using existing resources, and you know, people camp in the parks anyways, said Christopher, clarifying that he was speaking for himself, not the neighborhood association. If you set up a system where you can monitor it and provide services, and make sure its clean during the day for others, that doesnt, on its face, seem like a terrible idea. But it does seem politically challenging to push through, because people are very sensitive about homelessness and parks, especially Reid Park, Christopher continued. The city should instead be pursuing a more permanent camping option than allowing temporary sites to crop up within parks, said Larry Cory, president of the Westside neighborhood association, near Kennedy Park. He suggested the Santa Cruz River Park along Interstate 19. I thought that the city, or the county and the city, should make that into a camp site for the homeless ... Theres facilities for them (like) the grocery store, which is just right across the freeway, he said. Cory said using popular parks like Kennedy, takes away from the neighborhoods that use those parks all the time. He said expanding facilities at parks, like showers or semi-permanent structures, could create a situation at parks thats similar to the 100 Acre Wood, the name of a big homeless camp near David-Monthan Air Force Base that the city has been clearing for months. Uhlichs outline for the program includes several stipulations aid groups would need to follow. Among them: fund and provide aid on their own; keep the ramadas and surrounding area clean; specify a schedule with planned hours to provide aid; join the Tucson Clean and Beautiful Adopt a Park program; have on-site security and supervisory contacts; insurance; and meet regularly with nearby neighborhood associations. The sanctioned camp model has been an idea tossed around before, said Uhlich, naming former councilman Steve Kozachik. She also referenced a campground in Phoenix, sometimes called a safe outdoor space or SOS lot, the Arizona Republic reported. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Gov. Katie Hobbs are among dignitaries scheduled to speak today at Rep. Raul Grijalvas memorial mass. Rep. Alejandra Ocasio-Cortez and former U.S. Interior Secretary Deborah Haaland are also set to speak. The service begins at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 26, at St. Augustine Cathedral, 192 S. Stone Ave. in downtown Tucson. Grijalva, 77, died March 13 of complications of cancer treatment. An outspoken liberal voice throughout his half-century political career, he served more than 22 years in Congress, representing much of Tucson and parts of central and western Arizona, starting in 2002. Prior to that, he spent 13 years on the Pima County Board of Supervisors and another 12 years on the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board. Speakers will discuss the following topics: Pelosi will describe Grijalvas impact on the nation. Hobbs will discuss his impact on Arizona. Haaland will talk about Grijalvas environmental, Indigenous and tribal advocacy. Ocasio-Cortez will remember his mentorship. Longtime Grijalva aides Ruben Reyes and Glenn Miller will describe their experiences working for him. Grijalvas daughters Adelita, Raquel and Marisa will offer words of remembrance. The general public is welcome to attend the service, space permitting. The cathedral holds 1,250 people, according to its website. The family asks that attendees limit the number of bags and carry-ins they bring into the church, for security and space reasons. The media wont be allowed to attend, out of what the Grijalva family said is respect for his family, friends and members of Congress. The service will be live-streamed online at vimeo.com/event/5016073/b4cdf01dd4. After the memorial service, a celebration of Grijalvas life and legacy will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. at El Casino Ballroom, 437 E. 26th St., in South Tucson. PHOENIX An attempt to strip state lawmakers of their ability to avoid traffic citations during legislative sessions has fizzled. Prescott Republican Rep. Quang Nguyen managed to get his proposal to send the issue to voters out of the House earlier this month on a bipartisan 37-20 vote. That sent it to the Senate. There, Senate President Warren Petersen assigned the bill to the Public Safety Committee, chaired by Sen. Kevin Payne, a Peoria Republican. But Payne did not place it on his committee agenda for a hearing last week, nor for the meeting set for this Wednesday. And this is the last week for Senate committees to hear measures that were approved by the House. Paynes decision not to let his committee hear the bill means it is dead because it cannot get to the full Senate for consideration. Payne told Capitol Media Services theres a good reason he blocked a hearing. There arent enough votes for the measure in his seven-member committee, he said Tuesday. He acknowledged that hes among the bills opponents. Its in our constitution, said Payne. They put it in there for a reason. He was referring to a provision, often incorrectly referred to as immunity, saying state lawmakers are privileged from arrest during the time the Legislature is in session and for 15 days ahead of that. There are exceptions in cases of treason, felonies and breach of the peace. Those would have remained under Nguyens proposal. But his measure would have added another exception: all traffic violations. His proposal came on the heels of three high-profile cases in which state lawmakers were stopped by police but escaped being cited because of the provision. There is a decades-long history of other legislators claiming privilege from being ticketed. Strictly speaking, the privilege does not immunize lawmakers from citations or arrest. Police departments remain free to issue the tickets after the end of the session. But there is a mixed record of actual follow-up by police. Nguyen said the privilege, to the extent it was ever necessary, has outlived its usefulness. Not Payne. I believe in it, he said. I dont think that a few bad actors should take it out for everyone, Payne said of eliminating the privilege. It wouldnt be lawmakers ultimately making the decision. All Nguyens measure would have done is put the question on the 2026 ballot. Asked if voters shouldnt get the last word, Payne responded, I suppose they could. But not this year. Nguyen told Capitol Media Services he is not giving up. He said another bid could occur next session. He also said he hopes no incidents happen before it goes to voters. You know, it is only a matter of time before a legislator will run over a child on a bicycle, Nguyen said, noting the number of current and former lawmakers who not only exceeded the posted speed limit but were driving at least 20 miles an hour over it, which is a crime. Petersen said he didnt put the House-passed measure into Paynes committee with the goal of killing it. I support the bill, said the Gilbert Republican, who also is running in 2026 for attorney general. Payne, for his part, said his opposition is not based on any personal experience. He said he has never tried to get out of a citation by citing privilege. The little-known provision came into focus last year when Justine Wadsack, then a state senator, told a Tucson police officer she could not be cited for speeding because of her immunity. Police, who said they clocked her driving 71 mph in a 35-mph zone on Speedway, then served her with the citation after the end of the legislative session. Wadsack ended up getting the ticket dismissed by going to traffic school. More recently, Republican Sen. Mark Finchem told a police officer in his new hometown of Prescott he could not be cited for speeding. Still unresolved is whether police will ticket him after the session is over. And Republican Sen. Jake Hoffman was not ticketed for driving 24 miles over the speed limit on a freeway after a trooper recognized him as a legislator. There is no evidence Hoffman claimed immunity; DPS has decided it wont issue a new citation when the session ends. Payne isnt alone in his opposition. During House debate, Tucson Republican Rep. Rachel Keshel said stripping lawmakers of the privilege could result in a governor not necessarily this one sending out state police to stop lawmakers from reaching the Capitol to cast an important vote. That drew a strong reaction from Nguyen. That is an insult to law enforcement to say that youre nothing more than a tool that the governor will be able to use you to interfere with the democratic process, he said. Heres one for TV fans Australian Story next Monday looks back at Race Around the World, the edgy 1997-98 documentary competition that launched John Safran. Race Around the World, presented by Richard Fidler, had two seasons on ABC also uncovering Tony Wilson and Bentley Dean, amongst others. Eight aspiring filmmakers were chosen from more than 1300 applicants to travel the world for 100 days making a four-minute documentary every 10 days. Although Safran was the breakout star, each of them went on to have a successful career in the film and television industry. We just thought, a bunch of young people going around the world making shit films whos going to watch that? says Olivia Rousset, the eventual winner of the series. But it struck a chord with viewers, who loved the rawness of the documentaries and the unvarnished opinions of the judges back in the studio. It was a one of those weird TV dreams that actually came true, says the shows presenter, Richard Fidler. Contestants, judges and producers share previously untold stories from behind the scenes of the show, which all agree was a health and safety nightmare. I got robbed, I got mugged, shook down, pepper sprayed, says contestant Scott Herford, who now has his own production company. Everyone was pushed to their absolute breaking point. It was mad, says Safran, who famously streaked through Jerusalem, broke into Disneyland and asked voodoo priests to put a curse on his ex-girlfriend. Not only could we have died, we could have died and they didnt know about it. Armed with a new generation of digital camera small, light, with a flip screen that made it easy to film yourself the eight young filmmakers pioneered a style of visual storytelling that is now everywhere on social media sites such as YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. I dont know if we were the original influencers, says contestant Daniel Marsden, but it was definitely a different style of filmmaking that no one had seen on tele before. It was pretty fresh. 8pm Monday on ABC. The staging of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival: All-Stars Supershow was abandoned last night after a patron died during the show. Melbourne International Comedy Festival regrets to confirm that there was a medical emergency while the Opening Night Allstars Supershow was taking place this evening at the Palais Theatre, MICF said in a statement. The show was stopped and cancelled. The Festival will be in touch with all ticket holders tomorrow. The Age reports ambulances could be seen outside the venue with attendees confirming an incident on the upper level. Victoria Police said in a statement, Police will prepare a report for the Coroner following the death of a man in St Kilda on Wednesday, 26 March. Emergency services were called to a theatre on Lower Esplanade about 9pm. A man, who is yet to be formally identified, died at the scene. The All-Stars Supershow, hosted by Michael Hing, is filmed for ABC and due to screen next Wednesday night on ABC. ABC last night screened the Comedy Festival Gala, hosted by Mel Buttle, filmed on March 19. Imran Inamdar, TwoCircles.net Mahad, Raigad (Maharashtra): Historic Chavdar Talab in Mahad became the venue for an expression of communal harmony and social unity on March 20 when members of the Muslim community, along with Mahad and the Mulnivasi Muslim Manch from Pune, organised an iftar gathering at the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar National Memorial. Support TwoCircles Held in honor of Dalit visitors attending the annual Samta Diwas observance, the event commemorated the 98th anniversary of the Mahad Satyagraha, a defining moment in the Dalit rights movement led by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Expressing gratitude to the Muslim organisers for hosting the iftar on such a significant day, Anant Kamble, a local activist from Mahad, said, These kinds of social gatherings are crucial in todays times to counter false narratives and alleviate unnecessary communal tensions. He emphasised the importance of living Dr. Ambedkars message of samta (equality) and brotherhood, urging all communities to sincerely embrace his ideals in their daily lives. The Mahad Satyagraha, which holds immense historical significance, was a pivotal moment in the struggle for Dalit rights. On March 20, 1927, Dr. Ambedkar led a group of Dalits to the Chavdar Talab to assert their right to drink water from the public tank, challenging the caste-based discrimination that had long denied them access to this basic public resource. The protest, though met with fierce opposition from upper caste groups, became a symbol of resistance against social injustice. Every year, thousands of Dalit visitors from across Maharashtra and India gather at Mahad to honour the legacy of this momentous protest, which continues to inspire generations of Dalit activists and social reformers. Speaking on the occasion, Anjum Inamdar, president of the Mulnivasi Muslim Manch, highlighted the importance of spreading the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, Sufi saints and other great social reformers to foster unity and peace. In Maharashtra, we are witnessing divisive forces at play, creating rifts within our communities. Riots are being instigated over trivial issues, and false histories are being propagated through films and media to mislead the youth, he alleged. It is essential to educate these leaders about the true history of this sacred land and remind them of the core values of equality and unity that have always defined us, Inamdar continued. He also recalled a significant historical moment linking Dalit-Muslim solidarity with iftar. On October 13, 1949, during the holy month of Ramzan, freedom fighter Maulana Hasrat Mohani invited Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar to an iftar party in Delhi, symbolising a moment of communal harmony. Inspired by the event, the organisers decided to host an iftar gathering for Dalits visiting Chavdar Talab on Samta Diwas. This initiative was undertaken to strengthen the bond between the two communities and promote peace. We are happy to see that it received an overwhelmingly positive response, Inamdar added. Mohammed Ali Chiplunkar, a member of the Jamiyatul Musalmeen Trust in Mahad, shared the motivation behind organising the iftar. March 20 is a historic day when thousands of Dalit brothers and sisters visit our town to remember Dr. Ambedkars struggle for equality. This year, it coincided with the holy month of Ramadan, making it the perfect opportunity for us to contribute by organising a gathering to promote communal harmony. We pooled our resources and planned the event, and, Alhamdulillah, it was well-received by everyone, he said. The event saw the participation of approximately 500 to 600 activists and community members from various districts of Maharashtra and other parts of India. Vaishali Shinde, an activist from Buddha Vihar Mandal in Nagpur, addressed the gathering and expressed her gratitude to the Muslim organisers for their warm and generous gesture. She highlighted the historical support extended by Muslim leaders to Dr. Ambedkar during the Dalit rights movement and stressed the importance of strengthening inter-community relations. Himali Kamble, a former member of the Pune Municipal Council and a noted womens activist, also lauded the initiative. She praised the organisers for marking Samta Diwas with such a meaningful and inclusive event. This kind of initiative is commendable. It helps foster mutual understanding, spread love and enhance respect among different communities. This was our second visit to an iftar event, and we hope to encourage more women to participate in the future, Kamble said. As the event drew to a close, the participants took a moment to reflect on the legacy of Dr. Ambedkar and the shared history of struggle and solidarity between Dalits and Muslims. Mohammad Aatif Ammad Kanth, TwoCircles.net New Delhi: Junaid Ahmed, an M.Tech student from Kashmir studying at Jamia Millia Islamia, is observing Ramadan for the first time away from home in the national capital. Living in a rented flat with friends, he had no qualms about spending the holy month outside Kashmir. However, what concerned him most was that his exams were scheduled during Ramadan, ending on March 28. Junaid, who spends most of his day studying in the university library, found it challenging to prepare both iftar and sehri. I can manage sehri, but preparing iftar is tough. After a long day of fasting and studying, I just want to rest after maghrib prayers, he said. Junaid is not alone in this struggle. Thousands of students reside in Delhis Jamia Nagar. Over the years, the locality has evolved into a major hub for student accommodation and a bustling residential area for Muslims employed in the NCRs private sector. With a permanent population exceeding 1.25 lakh Muslims, the area has become a preferred destination for students whether they are enjoying meals outside or engaging in intellectual discussions over tea. However, during Ramadan, preparing iftar becomes a daunting task for many. Students, burdened with academic schedules and daily commitments, find it difficult to cook after a long day of classes. Thankfully, there is a silver lining for students like Junaid, who struggle to manage iftar preparations due to their packed schedules. This challenge is effectively addressed by local mosques, which step in to prepare iftar meals for thousands of students who are unable to do it themselves. Nearly every mosque in the area organises iftar, turning Jamia Nagar into a hub for iftar gatherings where students living away from home can come together to break their fast. The largest iftar gathering in the area takes place at Masjid Abu Bakr, located in Zakir Nagar. Here, hundreds mostly students gather to break their fast with an assortment of fruits, dates, pakoras and biryani. This initiative is funded through donations from local residents, which are collected by the mosque and managed by a designated team under the leadership of a head manager. Fazul Rehman Nadvi, who oversees the iftar management at the mosque, said, It is Allah who has chosen us for this deed. He is the one who makes it possible for people to break their fast here. We are merely intermediaries, selected by Him to prepare iftar for them every day. He further said locals contribute funds for the gathering before Ramadan, enabling the mosque committee to plan meals for the entire month. According to Nadvi, a dedicated team of 10-12 people is responsible for the arrangements. We serve fruits like watermelon, bananas and melons, along with pakoras, chickpeas and biryani, he said. Nearly 600 people break their fast at the mosque every day, a tradition that has continued for 12 years. Nadvi expressed his joy in witnessing people come together for iftar, noting that the majority over 80% are students. He also pointed out that over the last decade, this tradition has been embraced by nearly every mosque in the area, ensuring that iftar is provided daily. A home away from home Aabid Sidiqque, a final-year law student who breaks his fast at Masjid Abu Bakr every day, explained how the experience has made him and his friends feel at home during Ramadan. I have been coming here with my friends for iftar every day for the past four Ramadans. We love this place it brings together people from different parts of the country, making it a vibrant and welcoming space. The food is incredible, and they serve so much that we hardly need dinner afterward, he said. After a long day at college, Aabid and his friends head straight to the mosque for iftar. This mosque has become an essential part of our Ramadan. We cannot imagine breaking our fast anywhere else, he added. Just a few hundred meters from Masjid Abu Bakr, Masjid Nabi in Jamia Nagars Johri Farm has become a gathering place for young working professionals. Like other mosques in the area, it hosts iftar daily, serving meals to over 300 people. However, unlike Masjid Abu Bakr, where students form the majority, here, most attendees are unmarried professionals who live in rented accommodations. Since the mosque is located slightly away from the Jamia Millia Islamia, working individuals outnumber students at the iftar gatherings. Haris Khan, the iftar manager, said between 300 to 400 people break their fast at the mosque every day. Funded entirely by donations from the local community, the iftar spread includes fruits, juices, biryani, pakoras and kheer. We feel truly fortunate that those who fast see us as individuals whom they allow to serve them, Haris said. Helping someone break their fast is as rewarding as fasting itself. Though the funds come from donations, we are lucky to be given the opportunity to serve, he said. He expressed hope that Allah would be pleased with the collective efforts of the community in facilitating iftar for those who need it most, especially the young professionals. I see it as our responsibility to prepare iftar for them. They spend their entire day at work, making it extremely difficult to prepare meals for themselves. Some of them come straight from their offices without even getting a chance to go home, change or freshen up, he said. Seeing them in such a state, he feels a sense of duty to serve. We are not doing them a favor; this is purely for Allah. People from almost every part of the country gather here at iftar. It is heartwarming to witness such a diverse and vibrant atmosphere, he added. Hammad Ansari, an IT professional from Bihar working in Noida, said without the iftar provided by Masjid Nabi, he would often have to break his fast with just water due to a lack of time for preparation. I come straight from the office and break my fast here, he said. DAINGERFIELD The Northeast Texas Municipal Water District has been under scrutiny since plans to sell billions of gallons of water from Lake O the Pines to the Dallas-Fort Worth area emerged in December. Wayne Owen, the districts board-appointed executive director and the most visible advocate for the proposed sale, was relieved of duty during a packed NETMWD board meeting Monday evening in Daingerfield. The seven board members representing each of the cities making up the water district voted unanimously to approve a mutual separation agreement with Owen. The board members themselves are appointed by city councils in Avinger, Daingerfield, Hughes Springs, Jefferson, Lone Star, Ore City and Pittsburg. Water district accountant Osiris Brantley will replace Owen in an interim capacity beginning April 1. Owen faced an intense public backlash from area residents and local officials since early February, when state Rep. Jay Dean, R-Longview, organized a town hall meeting near Lake O the Pines, excoriating Owen for negotiating a backroom secret deal to pipe water to Dallas-area suburbs. The rally cry by Dean and other local politicians was buttressed by scientific modeling by the nonprofit Caddo Lake Institute, which found that the sale in combination with a drought event would decimate Lake O the Pines and Caddo, Texas only naturally formed lake. The Monday meeting was moved to a bigger space in Daingerfield at the Morris County Annex to accommodate what was expected to be a larger than normal crowd. And it was. The 100 or so seats inside were quickly accounted for while many attendees stood on the flanks. Owens contract termination did little to relieve pressure on the water districts board members. Just because the board members have cut off the strings to its puppet does not mean that puppet masters get off scot-free, said Chris Lepri, a Marion County resident who was first to speak during the meetings open comment period. For more than an hour, residents, attorneys, two mayors (from Uncertain and Lone Star), a Marion County judge and several representatives from area environmental advocacy groups demanded water board members abandon any future deal to send water out of East Texas. The water boards apparent culpability in the proposal became a theme as the night went on. You have hidden yourselves, your contact information, your plans, and refused to seriously consider scientific objective studies, said former state Rep. David Simpson, who lives in Avinger. Allow others who operate in the sunlight to take your place. NETMWD has pursued new commercial-scale customers for more than a decade in order to meet anticipated budget shortfalls as electrical utilities and heavy industry, the traditional backbone of the districts budget, have shuttered across East Texas in recent years. The proposed water sale revealed in December involved NETMWD and the North Texas Municipal Water District representing the cities of McKinney, Plano, Frisco and Forney, among others and would send up to 43 billion gallons annually to the Dallas-Fort Worth area in exchange for payments to NETMWD and its member cities, according to an analysis by the Caddo Lake Institute. The presence of a non-disclosure agreement limiting information about the planned water sale also proved divisive. It was signed by the water district in 2023 and will remain active into early summer. Marshall Jones, an attorney from North Louisiana with property interests at Caddo Lake, alleged the NDA was more than unethical it was illegal. Its an agreement between two government entities that are defined by the Texas Government Code, Jones said. Each of yall individually are in violation of the Texas public records law. He also assailed board members with the possibility of a lawsuit, further alleging that if any of them took a stay at a hotel or a trip to Dallas with Wayne Davis [sic] that constitutes public corruption. A mustachioed Caddo Lake resident named Duane Meyers reoriented the conversation toward wildfires. We have so much energy stored in our forests that we have here, that if we dont have water, we cant put that out, he said. No water is a death sentence. However, the largest applause was saved for Lake O the Pines resident Mary Spearman, who spoke to the emotional significance the two lakes have for those who have made lasting memories on them. My children grew up on the lake. We spent weekends on the lakes swimming, fishing, just picnicking, she said. What legacy are we leaving for them? We want them to have and enjoy the same thing that we enjoy. We want them to have the lake. We want them to swim. We want them to learn to fish. As much as the lakes support life, she said, they also represent a way of life. Lake O the Pines could be virtually unrecognizable with most of its boat ramps rendered useless during a severe drought, according to a preliminary model by the Caddo Lake Institute examining the effects of the proposed water sale during an extreme drought. The meeting ended without board members acknowledging or committing to the most common demand among opponents of the proposed deal: to prevent any future sale of water out of East Texas. In the annex parking lot, Jefferson board member George Ottstot entertained lingering questions in the twilight as audience members took stock of what was and wasnt addressed Monday evening. Ottstot told the Jefferson City Council in December that the money member citys stood to make from the sale was life altering. But on Monday night, he denied having ever seen details of the proposed sale. Im not positive it was ever presented to the board, Ottstot said. Theres not enough money, period, to buy our water. You just cant do that. Stacey Satterfield-Terry, a Hughes Springs resident, appreciated Ottstot making himself available. I still dont trust him at all, she said, (Wayne) Owen was a scapegoat and a pawn in (the districts) chess game. This isnt over. The grassroots participation on display at the meeting was something Caddo Lake Institute Executive Director Laura-Ashley Overdyke hasnt seen in the three decades since the nonprofit organization was founded. It makes sense because without water, nothing else matters, she said. Smith County residents will have the chance to dispose of bulky items for free during the 2025 Countywide Cleanup program, running from March 31 to May 5. The program allows each household to drop off one truckload of large items at the Greenwood Farms Landfill. Vouchers for the cleanup are available at the Courthouse Annex in Tyler and at Justice of the Peace or Constable Offices in Smith County. The landfill, located at 12920 FM 2767 in Tyler, will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 6:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Vouchers cover the disposal of one mattress, with additional mattresses costing $50 each. Items not accepted include hazardous waste, chemicals, certain appliances, and electronics. For more information, call 903-590-4904 or 903-590-4905. Also during Tuesdays commissioners court meeting, Smith County officials also declared April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, following a request from Tonya Fuller with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. In the 2024 fiscal year, there were 144,189 investigations of child abuse or neglect across Texas, with 1,368 cases in Smith County. Statewide, 53,543 children were confirmed as victims, including 735 in Smith County. We must all work together to strengthen our communities and build supports that are accessible, contribute to the well-being of the entire community, and keep children and families safe and together, said County Judge Neal Franklin. The Smith County Commissioners Court discussed renewing its contract with Teeco Safety, Inc. for fleet vehicle equipment installation. The contract, originally approved in 2022, covers upfitting services for Smith Countys fleet, including law enforcement and road department vehicles. Additionally, the court approved the sale of fireworks for San Jacinto Day and accepted donations for County Government Month in appreciation of county employees. Smith County also received a top rating for its FY24 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report from Gollob, Morgan, Peddy. The Man Without A Face. Braveheart. The Passion of the Christ. Apocalypto. With such iconic films to his name, you have to step back and wonder what the hell happened with Mel Gibson and Flight Risk. Its not that the material is inherently beneath Mel as a director; its that it shows nothing of the skill and respectability the man has enjoyed as a filmmaker (personal private issues notwithstanding). How does a man with this level of talent go from Hacksaw Ridge and earning a Best Director Oscar Nomination to a film that trips and falls at virtually every step of its 91-minute runtime? US Marshal Madolyn Harris (Michelle Dockery) is back in the field and has just run down the mobs best accountant, Winston (Topher Grace). The problem is theyre stuck in Middle of Nowhere, Alaska and need to get Winston on a plane from Anchorage to New York City so he can testify. The only way out is a private charter plane, and yokel Daryl Booth (Mark Whalberg) is the only pilot available. A smooth and easy 75-minute flight turns into a nightmare when Daryl turns out to be more than a simple pilot, leaving Madolyn and Winston in a fight for their lives with no one to land the plane. Did you see the trailer for Flight Risk? If not, then here you go: There. Now youve seen the entire film. I saved you 88 minutes and 30 seconds of your time. Not even joking. Thats the entire movie only with a weird cover of Psycho Killer playing for the soundtrack. And what exactly did I save you by embedding the trailer? Some of the worst poop, pee, and sexual inuendo dialog ever written by an eighth-grader. Some of the most on-the-nose obvious plot cliches of any thriller made. I also saved you some of the worst CGI and flat, lifeless LED location backgrounds this side of Tommy Wisseaus The Room. I didnt go into this movie expecting greatness. I heard it wasnt the best film, but I figured with Mad Mel at the helm, there might be some level of competency for a pulpy, entertaining action flick. Sadly and frustratingly, that didnt happen. Theres nothing of that daring bravado of Gibsons past accomplishments as a director to suggest he was the man behind the camera. Its such a hacky pedestrian piece its honestly baffling that Jared Rosenbergs script went ahead in this form. And speaking of the script, this one languished on the infamous Black List for years and somehow this is the final product. I have to wonder if something was lost in translation along the way. Of our three on-screen cast members, Dockery manages along as an unbelievable but tough U.S. Marshal with a traumatic past. Topher Grace comes out relatively unscathed doing what he does best as the comedy relief, but he also gets some strong poignant moments leading into the third act. Wahlberg was apparently left to improvise his lines, but for a character trying to get the mental uppherhand, utterances like I made a Jackson Pollock in my pants! and frequent prison rape jokes deflate any menace about as fast as his stupidly shaved head. I get they were trying to go for a Dennis Rader vibe, but the plot point of his hair doesnt even make it past the first twenty minutes and wasn't even necessary for the character. Flight Risk is just a big, bad, dumb movie. Not even a fun big bad dumb movie. Not the kind of bad movie you can pass some drinks around with friends and scarf down cheap pizza with. Its the kind of bad movie that makes you wonder what happened with Mel Gibson here. Hes apparently still trying to make a two-part sequel to The Passion of the Christ along with the still-possible Lethal Weapon 5. We can only hope those films turn out better because Flight Risk was not his best moment in the director's chair. Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Flight Risk aborts takeoff for a two-disc 4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital release from Lionsgate. The 4K is pressed on a Region Free BD66 disc with a Region A BD50 disc serving the 1080p edition. Both discs are housed in a two-disc eco-friendly case with an identical slipcover. The discs load to an animated main menu with basic navigation options. If youre so inclined, there is a limited edition SteelBook also available with a plastic slipcover offering you Wahlbergs moronically shaved head as the big reveal. Syngenta Vietnam has unveiled the Vaniva 450SC, an innovative insecticide featuring the groundbreaking TYMIRIUM technology. The launch event brought together leading agricultural experts from prestigious institutions such as the Western Highlands Agroforestry Scientific and Technical Institute (WASI), a Lat University, Lam ong Plant Protection Sub-Department, and a Lat Potato, Vegetable & Flower Research Centre. Outstanding farmers and agricultural input dealers from the southeastern and Central Highlands regions were also in attendance. The agricultural sector has faced mounting challenges in recent years due to climate change and increasing pest pressure, particularly from soil-borne pests like nematodes and diseases. These silent invaders attack plant roots, severely impacting growth and development, often leading to yellow leaf root rot and plant death. The insidious nature of these pests makes their early detection difficult, and by the time symptoms are visible, the damage is often extensive and too late to be treated, and involve high costs and low efficacy. Farmers plough in a lot of time and resources, but yet plants continue to suffer, sometimes terminally. The farmer needs a good solution for nematode control and preventive soil-borne diseases. Syngenta, a leader in crop protection, has once again demonstrated its commitment to innovation by introducing the Vaniva 450SC. This new product not only offers effective pest management but also ensures greater environmental safety, aligning with sustainable agricultural production requirements. The development of Vaniva 450SC involved extensive global research, followed by collaborative efforts between Syngenta Vietnam scientists and local research institutes. Rigorous trials were conducted across various localities and seasons nationwide, evaluating the effectiveness of TYMIRIUM technology on a wide range of fruit trees and perennial crops. The results have been impressive. The Vaniva 450SC, powered by the advanced TYMIRIUM technology, has shown great effectiveness in managing nematodes and yellow leaf root rot. This breakthrough solution allows farmers to reduce the frequency of pesticide applications and the overall amount used in their fields and orchards. This leads to lower production costs, increased profits for farmers and reduced environmental impacts. At the heart of the Vaniva 450SC lies the TYMIRIUM technology, Syngenta's latest innovation in the fight against nematodes and soil-borne diseases. It boasts the most unique and advanced mechanism of action currently available in the market. The development of TYMIRIUM technology spanned 15 years, involving more than 5,000 field trials on over 100 crop types across 60 countries worldwide. Already introduced in Europe, Australia and South Korea, this technology now makes its debut in the Vietnamese market under the Vaniva 450SC brand. The Vaniva 450SC is set to redefine standards in Viet Nam's pesticide industry. Its unique active ingredient and mechanism of action place it as the sole representative in both the IRAC N-3 insecticide group and FRAC 7 fungicide group. This dual classification underscores its breakthrough impact in thoroughly eliminating nematodes and maximally eradicating fungi, offering unparalleled control of nematodes and yellow leaf root rot. The superior effectiveness of the Vaniva 450SC addresses a critical agricultural challenge. Nematode attacks create multiple wounds in plant root systems, providing entry points for various soil-borne diseases such as Phytophthora sp., Pythium sp., Rhizoctonia sp., and particularly Fusarium sp., which cause the most dangerous root rot. The Vaniva 450SC's TYMIRIUM technology offers a powerful solution to this complex problem. Beyond its primary function, the Vaniva 450SC promotes strong root development, encouraging vigorous root spread and growth. This enhanced root system leads to improved nutrient absorption, faster plant recovery, stronger new shoots, and greener and thicker leaves. The result is increased photosynthesis, healthier plants and the foundation for improved yields. At the product launch on March 25 in a Lat, Tran Thanh Vu, general director of Syngenta Vietnam, emphasised the global success of TYMIRIUM and its potential impact on Vietnamese agriculture. He said: "The Vaniva 450SC embodies our commitment to sustainable agriculture. By reducing the need for multiple pesticide applications, it not only saves costs for farmers but also minimises environmental impact. This launch underscores Syngenta's dedication to developing long-term solutions that improve crop yield and quality sustainably, with a strong focus on environmental responsibility." The introduction of the Vaniva 450SC marks a significant milestone in Viet Nam's agricultural sector, offering farmers a powerful tool to combat persistent soil-borne pests while promoting sustainable farming practices. As climate challenges and pest pressures continue to evolve, innovations like Vaniva 450SC will play a crucial role in ensuring food security and agricultural sustainability in Viet Nam and beyond. ONG NAI LOTTE Global Logistics, a subsidiary of South Koreas LOTTE Group, on Wednesday commenced construction of a 5.5ha Cold Chain Logistics Centre in the southern province of ong Nai Province, with the aim of this facility becoming Viet Nam's leading cold supply chain hub. Situated in ong Nai, a key logistics hub adjacent to the country's biggest economic centre HCM City, the centre benefits from close proximity to major ports and airports, and is set to become a pivotal logistics hub in southern Viet Nam. The facility will have an operational area of 2.6ha of the total 5.5ha, incorporating both a cold storage warehouse and a conventional storage facility. Initial groundwork began in February 2025, with full operational capacity expected by May 2026. At the groundbreaking ceremony, Chairman of ong Nai Province People's Committee Vo Tan uc highlighted the project's importance, stating that the Cold Chain Logistics Centre is a pioneering FDI project in the logistics sector within ong Nai's industrial parks, and that it "aligns with our investment attraction strategy as the province increasingly becomes a critical transport and logistics hub in southern Viet Nam." "I greatly appreciate the investor's commitment to implementing and operationalising this project. I firmly believe that its completion will generate employment, enhance local income levels, and contribute to the economic and social development of both ong Nai and Viet Nam at large." The centre will provide an all-encompassing One-Stop logistics service, covering import-export, storage, and transportation. Equipped with state-of-the-art cold storage facilities, it will support a diverse range of goods, from perishable food products to high-value commodities. In addition, the centre will play a crucial role in supporting South Korean SMEs operating in Viet Nam. In May 2024, LOTTE Global Logistics signed a strategic agreement with the Government-run Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC) to enhance global logistics competitiveness, particularly benefiting Korean businesses engaged in import-export activities in Viet Nam. Furthermore, the centre collaborates with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) to serve as a 'Logistics Support Hub,' assisting South Korean enterprises in overcoming logistical challenges with tailored solutions. Kang Byung-goo, CEO of LOTTE Global Logistics, stated that the Cold Chain Logistics Centre in ong Nai marks a significant step in their expansion strategy in Viet Nam."We are committed to providing high-quality, comprehensive logistics services across the country. Our goal is to establish this facility as a premier logistics hub, supporting business diversification and boosting Viet Nam's import-export activities. Currently, LOTTE Global Logistics Vietnam, operates five key warehouses across the country. In the Mekong Delta region, its cold storage facility at Long Hau Industrial Park in Long An Province has been operational since 2008, with a capacity of 25,000 pallets. The ong Nai Cold Chain Logistics Centre is the latest addition to its growing network, with plans for further expansion, including a 7,400-pallet cold storage facility in Binh Minh Industrial Park, Vinh Long Province. VNS HA NOI - Viet Nam holds significant potential for investment in agricultural production, processing and exports. However, numerous obstacles are hindering the countrys agricultural exports, particularly in quality control, said industry experts and insiders. According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (VINAFRUIT), fruit and vegetable exports in March 2025 are estimated at US$421 million, down 10.5 per cent year-on-year. This marks the third consecutive month of declining export revenue, in stark contrast to 2024, when the industry saw robust growth throughout the year. Thus far in the first quarter of 2025, total fruit and vegetable exports have reached $1.1 billion, a 13.2 per cent decrease compared to the same period in 2024. Frozen durian exports highlight the difficulties faced by the sector. Viet Nam gained access to the Chinese market for frozen durian in August 2024. However, no shipments have been exported to date, and hopes for a surge in export revenue remain unfulfilled. Bui Phu Ton, director of Nghiep Xuan Import-Export Trading Co., Ltd. in Gia Nghia, ak Nong Province, one of the pioneers in exporting fresh durian to China, said that his company had yet to export frozen durian to this market due to certification delays. The main challenge lay in maintaining the required core temperature of -18C or lower throughout storage and transportation. Temperature fluctuations when transferring goods from Vietnamese to Chinese containers led to quality issues, preventing exports. VINAFRUIT warns that if this downward trend continues, Viet Nam may fall short of its 2025 export target. Chinas stringent inspection regime applies to both fresh and frozen durian. Vietnamese exporters test their products based on sample batches, but Chinese authorities conduct additional tests at border checkpoints. If shipments fail to meet requirements, they are rejected, discouraging businesses from entering the market. Aside from durian, other agricultural sectors face similar struggles in market access, branding and quality control. Strict regulations in key export destinations require businesses to meet international standards, while the country's reliance on raw material exports limits value-added opportunities. Le Thi Hong Ngan, director of Thien Thanh Tea Co., Ltd., highlighted that despite her companys long-standing expertise in tea production since 1993, their exported products were mostly sold under foreign brands. Thien Thanh operates a 1.1 hectare factory in Lam ongs Loc Son Industrial Park, and produces tea for its own brand, OEM clients and export markets. However, exports primarily consist of raw materials such as black, green and oolong tea, rather than finished products under Vietnamese branding. This challenge is not unique to the tea sector. Many Vietnamese agricultural exports, from coffee to pepper, are sold as raw commodities rather than high-value branded products, limiting profitability and market competitiveness. According to Le Thanh Hoa, deputy director of the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the country's agricultural sector remains fragmented. Small-scale production, high costs, inadequate post-harvest processing and a lack of standardised quality assessments hinder growth. Many quality checks still rely on experience rather than advanced technology, making it difficult for businesses to meet strict import regulations. Hoa suggests that businesses leverage Viet Nams free trade agreements to benefit from tariff reductions and enhance competitiveness. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is tightening quality control to meet the phytosanitary requirements of importing countries. Authorities are also enhancing monitoring, issuing warnings and enforcing strict penalties to protect Viet Nam's agricultural reputation. VNS In recent decades Viet Nam has transformed into one of Asias most dynamic economies, fueled by bold reforms, a burgeoning private sector and rapid digital adoption. In an interview with Viet Nam News, Don Lam, founding partner and CEO of VinaCapital, shares insights on Viet Nams economic evolution, the role of the private sector, and the opportunities that will shape the countrys future. Having spent over 30 years in Viet Nam, how do you see the countrys economic transformation since you first returned? What sectors do you think Viet Nam should focus on to create greater added value, improve peoples livelihoods and promote economic growth? Viet Nams economic transformation over the past 30 years has been nothing short of breathtaking. Back then who would have thought Viet Nam would become a global manufacturing hub or an emerging technology center in such a short amount of time? It was still a fairly poor country rebuilding from decades of conflict and with an economy that was still largely based on agriculture. But the seeds of future growth were already planted in the form of the oi moi (Renewal) policies. Over the past 25 years Viet Nam has risen out of poverty into a middle-income country, an enormous achievement noted by the World Bank. Viet Nam's GDP has grown at an average annual rate of about 6.25 per cent and in double-digit rates. Today, it is one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia with strong manufacturing, services and technology sectors driving its success. All of this occurred thanks to the Governments steadfast commitment to implementing economic reforms to improve the lives of the Vietnamese people. That commitment continues to this day there is always more work to be done to achieve the goal of becoming a high-income country in the next 25 years. To sustain its growth, Viet Nam needs to move up the value chain from basic assembly to higher-value activities such as R&D and chip production and encourage local firms to develop domestic supply chains to reduce dependence on imported components. With 70 per cent of the population under 35 and high internet penetration (80 per cent by 2024), there is huge potential for continued robust growth of Viet Nams digital economy. Viet Nams energy demand is soaring with industrialization, and there is huge potential in solar and wind. It is already a regional leader in solar capacity but needs to invest more in sustainable energy. Viet Nam is also a major agricultural exporter, but much of its output is in raw form. It needs to invest more in food processing, branding and technology to increase value-added exports and promote sustainable practices to meet global demand for green products. Finally, as a major player in global trade, Viet Nam needs better logistics infrastructure, including smart ports, AI-driven supply chain solutions, and e-commerce fulfilment services. By focusing on high-tech, sustainable agriculture, digital services, renewables, and other promising sectors, Viet Nam can create greater economic value, improve living standards, and solidify its position as a key player in the global economy. The Government has been piloting special mechanisms and policies to achieve breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation and digital transformation. How effective do you believe they will be? These special mechanisms, such as those outlined in Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW and other policies, reflect a bold, forward-thinking approach to trying out new technologies that could help propel Viet Nam toward its vision of becoming a more prosperous nation. First is innovation and R&D. Through preferential policies, Viet Nam is fostering a stronger eco-system for innovation, helping its enterprises develop cutting-edge technologies and compete globally. Second is human resources. Focused initiatives for STEM education, vocational training and upskilling the workforce prepare Viet Nams labour market for the demands of a digital economy and enhance domestic innovation, reducing reliance on imported technology and expertise. Viet Nam aims to grow its digital economy to 30 per cent of GDP by 2030. These pilot policies can drive productivity and economic diversification and ultimately move the country beyond its traditional reliance on manufacturing and exports. As vice chairman of the IV Board (the private sector development research board), how do you see the role of the domestic private sector in Viet Nam's economy? Why do you think it struggles to expand as quickly as State-owned and foreign companies? One of Viet Nams greatest attributes is its peoples entrepreneurialism. It is little surprise that it is the private sector that is driving Viet Nams economic growth it currently contributes 51 per cent of GDP and more than 30 per cent of State revenues, provides more than 40 million jobs or 82 per cent of the total workforce, and contributes nearly 60 per cent of social investment. The Government clearly understands the importance of further developing the private sector. This vision positions private enterprises as a lever for economic transformation and global competitiveness. To fully realise the private sectors full potential means continuing to address the numerous barriers that hold them back. The major challenges to be addressed are access to financing via banks and capital markets, ease of doing business, bureaucratic requirements, and lack of information on how to enter larger markets. Viet Nam already has some large and successful private sector companies that have done well at home, but the prospect of expanding to other markets is daunting given the fierce competition they face from foreign companies with advantages in capital, technology and branding. At home and abroad, Vietnamese companies are dealing with human resources of uneven quality, a relatively shallow pool of management talent and lower innovation qualities compared to global enterprises. In summary, I am very optimistic about the prospects for the private sector in Viet Nam. It complements SOEs and foreign-owned companies, and I truly believe it can compete with the latter in many areas once it is fully developed. Investment funds like VinaCapital play a crucial role in providing domestic companies with capital to invest in technology, expand production and generally grow alongside Viet Nam. Can you tell us about some of your companys prominent investments and its upcoming plans? For more than 20 years I am proud that VinaCapital has been a leader in foreign portfolio investment in Viet Nam. Our funds provide capital to Vietnamese companies to help them grow. These investments have been instrumental for several success stories such as Hoa Phat Group, where our capital enabled them to purchase state-of-the-art technology and eventually become Viet Nams top steelmaker, and Kido, which has expanded and become a leading company in the consumer discretionary sector, competing head-to-head with foreign companies and winning. Beyond providing capital, we help management develop transparent governance processes, implement financial controls, and help them understand the value of adopting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. These are crucial to attracting major investors, building a strong brand and ensuring long-term competitiveness. By investing in and nurturing homegrown champions, VinaCapital is playing an active role in supporting the Governments ambition to elevate Viet Nams private sector onto the international stage, attracting further investment and enhancing economic resilience. We continue to look for and evaluate investment opportunities that align with Viet Nam's sustainable development goals, particularly those related to technology, logistics, clean energy, and infrastructure. These are critical sectors that will propel Viet Nams economic growth in the decades ahead and where domestic companies can and should be the leaders. VinaCapital has been a longtime investor in technology. As Viet Nams digital transformation accelerates, how are your priorities shifting to align with the Governments vision? We have been investing in technology almost since we started, long before anyone thought of the term digital economy. Later this year, we expect to launch our third technology investment platform, VCVCF III, which will provide growth capital to companies providing solutions in sectors including agriculture, financial technology, logistics, digital media, retail, healthcare, renewable energy, and blockchain. This fund represents just one part of our forward-looking vision to invest in and support the growth of Viet Nams digital economy. It also includes participating in developing the foundational elements of a thriving digital ecosystem, including data centres, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and blockchain. The development of a comprehensive digital eco-system and economy is a critical element in Viet Nams strategy to evolve beyond middle income status. VinaCapital believes in the transformative power of technology to drive economic growth and social progress, and we will continue to do all we can to contribute to that. VNS BEIJING A delegation from the northern province of Hung Yen led by Nguyen Huu Nghia, member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, has paid a working visit to Beijing to explore opportunities for enhancing ties with Chinese localities. During March 24-25 stay, Nghia held meetings with Liu Jianchao, member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the committee's International Liaison Commission, and a working session with leaders from the Beijing municipal Party Committee. Meeting with Liu, Nghia shared insights into Hung Yen's socioeconomic development and achievements. He affirmed that Hung Yen is eager to closely collaborate with Chinese localities to effectively implement the common perceptions reached by the two countries' high-ranking Party and State leaders, as well as the joint declarations issued by both sides. In response, Liu expressed a hope to further enhance cooperation between Chinese localities and Hung Yen province, particularly in promoting sustainable trade exchanges, expanding production capacity, and deepening cultural and educational collaboration. These initiatives aim to reinforce and continuously advance the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two nations. During Nghia's working session with You Jun, Deputy Secretary of the Beijing municipal Party Committee, Hung Yen province and Beijing city agreed to focus their cooperation on areas such as economic development, trade, and investment. Hung Yen welcomes and will create favourable conditions for Chinese businesses, especially high-tech and reputable enterprises from Beijing, to increase investment and business activities in the province, Nghia said. Both parties also agreed to exchange experience in key areas such as science and technology application, innovation, digital transformation, and high-tech industries. Furthermore, they emphasised the importance of enhancing collaboration in regional development planning, urban management, transportation systems, and digital economy and green economy. Beijing expressed its commitment to intensifying trade cooperation with Hung Yen, further promoting people-to-people exchanges, and deepening cultural and educational ties, thus strengthening and advancing the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. As part of the visit, the Hung Yen delegation held an investment promotion conference in China, which was attended by Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Thanh Binh and representatives from hundreds of Chinese businesses. VNS Nguyen Khanh Chi AK LAK - Nguyen Hong Thuong carefully combines ground cocoa shells with a blend of corn bran, rice bran, soybeans, and macadamia press cake, the nutrient-rich pulp left after oil extraction. Layering the ingredients into a pile, she begins the process of mixing them together. Thuong is making full use of agricultural by-products to make feed for her family's pigs and chickens, and even selling it when there is extra. "Sometimes I even use cocoa beans that aren't good enough to use for chocolate making. It's a really nutritious feed for the animals," she said. As a cocoa farmer in Ea ar Commune, located in the Central Highlands province of ak Laks Ea Kar District, Thuong emphasised her understanding of the importance of repurposing waste in cocoa production. By ensuring that nothing goes unused after selling cocoa seeds for chocolate production, she contributes meaningfully to Viet Nams circular economy. Thanks to technical support from the 'Circular Economy Cocoa: From Bean to Bar' project, Thuong, who is also head of the Nhat Tam Cooperative with 270 members, has been able to approach a set of technical solutions for regenerative cacao production. Sustainability Implemented by HELVETAS Vietnam and the Centre for Community Development within 2022-2026 initially in Central Highlands and Mekong Delta provinces, the project receives over US$1.67 million from the European Union. Its overall objective is to uptake a circular economy in the agri-food sector and policies of Viet Nam lead to equitable economic growth decoupled from harmful environmental impacts. Specifically, it aims to support the cocoa and chocolate subsectors transition to circular economy approaches at key points in the product lifestyle. So far, Nhat Tam Cooperative is among five businesses and seven cooperatives that have benefited from the project through embracing the circular economy model. With the project's support, we have harnessed cocoa by-products to create both livestock feed and biochar," Thuong said. "The biochar will fulfil a dual role: acting as a component in livestock feed and serving as a solution for treating animal pens and enriching crop soil. This approach advances sustainability, aids farmers in minimising fertiliser losses and addresses challenges related to water scarcity." All this technical support aligns perfectly with the vision Thuong had when founding the cooperative in 2018 with the primary goal of fostering sustainable development in local agriculture. Information from the EU delegation to Viet Nam reveals that by the end of March, a total of 1,163 individuals, comprising cooperative staff, business personnel, agricultural extension workers and key farmers (835 male and 328 female), have enhanced their capacity through specialised training courses on circular economy solutions in cocoa production. Following the application of the knowledge and skills gained, approximately 30 per cent of these participants have successfully increased their income. Its very rewarding to see that thanks to the EU support in training and technical assistance, farmers here have been able to develop a circular production for their cocoa products, said Julien Guerrier, EU Ambassador to Viet Nam following his trip to the cocoa farms in the Central Highlands this month. They are reusing everything in the nuts, in the beans, in the trunks to produce fertiliser, pesticides, everything being organic. "And this enables them to have quality and organic products, that is respecting the certification procedures of developed countries, in particular the European markets, in order to trace their production and demonstrate that it does not involve deforestration. Also it helps reduce carbon footprint and have carbon credits. Another cocoa grower and beneficiary in Ea Kar District, Nguyen inh Thien, Director of ong Tien Cooperative, emphasised the importance of meeting international standards as his cocoa beans are now exported beyond Viet Nams borders. He highlighted the need to align with not only national requirements but also the strict criteria for agricultural exports to developed markets like Europe. "As the leader of a cooperative with 80 members, I must first educate myself and then train others to develop our products using a circular model," Thien said. "Exports to Europe must comply with green and circular regulations, including reduced carbon emissions." None of by-products go unused In Viet Nam, though the approach remains in its infancy, efforts are being made to shift from a traditional linear economy to a more sustainable circular economy. According to HELVETAS Vietnam, the cocoa sector was selected because it is large and prominent enough to convincingly prove these concepts and achieve meaningful results, but small and cohesive enough to be a pioneering case. Nguyen inh Tuan, project manager of the 'Circular Economy Cocoa: From Bean to Bar' project manager, said: Basically, farmers have a good grasp of fundamental cocoa farming techniques, but they are not as familiar with other technical solutions that offer better environmental protection. "This includes measures such as using biological pesticides, organic/biological fertilisers, or solutions that utilise cocoa husks and other byproducts from the production process." Cocoa husks account for approximately 60 per cent of the cocoa fruit's weight, according to the Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trades Research Institute for Oil and Oil Plants. This results in a significant by-product yield, estimated at 5.4 to 8.1 tonnes per hectare annually. In most cocoa-growing regions, only a small portion of these husks are dried and used as fuel. The majority, along with the pulp, is either discarded into rivers or left to naturally decompose at the base of cocoa trees. However, this decomposition process is slow, taking over eight months, and contributes to environmental pollution. Dr Vu Duong Quynh from the Institute for Agricultural Environment said: "Biochar produced from biomass addresses several issues: managing excess biomass, improving soil quality, retaining water, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. "When applied to rice fields, it reduces methane emissions, and when used for cocoa and coffee plants, it helps lower greenhouse gas emissions. For example, Dr Quynh said, if farmers apply 100kg of nitrogen fertiliser, the plants can only absorb 20-30kg. The remaining 70 per cent is washed away or evaporates. Biochar retains nitrogen and releases it slowly for plants to absorb, potentially increasing the absorption rate from 20-30 per cent to 40-45 per cent, helping farmers save on fertiliser costs. "With Viet Nam's commitment to net zero by 2050, biochar is considered very promising because it not only improves soil and increases the yield of coffee and cacao, enhancing economic efficiency, but also increases income for people by increasing carbon sequestration in the soil and reducing greenhouse gas emissions," he said. In his 2023 research titled 'Circular Economy Models in Agriculture in Vietnam', Trieu Thanh Quang from the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences highlighted the potential of utilising by-products from crop cultivation, such as rice straw, corn and legumes, alongside household and livestock waste. Through the composting process, aided by microbiological preparations, these waste materials are transformed into organic fertilisers. These organic fertilisers play a vital role in enhancing soil quality, rehabilitating nutrient-deficient soil, and restoring soil fertility, ultimately boosting crop yields, he wrote. This approach not only enables farmers to reduce their reliance on commercial organic fertilisers but also aligns with Viet Nam's strategy of promoting low-carbon agriculture, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and protecting the environment. Thuong added: "For Vietnamese agriculture, adopting a circular economy model is essential. Ive been learning about this model for the past two years, and I find it truly fascinating. "For example, this type of biochar is incredibly useful. When buried about 20 centimetres below the soil surface, especially for crops like cocoa, it helps retain fertiliser and water, ensuring better plant growth. Im passionate about sustainability and eager to promote this model within my cooperative. As she spoke, Thuong gestured proudly toward a newly finished, household-sized biochar kiln in her front yard, a testament to her commitment to sustainable practices. VNS HCM CITY Historical sites in HCM City are playing a significant role in boosting the tourism sector. Among the most popular attractions are the Cu Chi guerrilla warfare tunnels which was recognised as a National Special Heritage Site in 2015. The tunnel system, used for several military campaigns during the war with America, is being proposed for UNESCO recognition as a World Heritage Site. Another iconic destination is the Independence Palace, now known as the Reunification Conference Hall. This site witnessed a pivotal moment in Vietnamese history when soldiers of the Vietnamese military entered and raised the flag on its roof the headquarters of the former Sai Gon administration signifying liberation of the South and the reunification of the country. The palace, an architectural masterpiece and a symbol of peace and national unity, was designated a National Special Heritage Site in 2009. The historical relic of the Sac Forest Can Gio resistance base is another remarkable site. The base has been meticulously reconstructed to depict nearly all the living and combat scenarios experienced by Southern soldiers and civilians, including the guard house, reception house, bunker, hall, logistics house, medical facility, military quarters and cipher house. Designated as a National Historical Site in 2004, it stands as a powerful testament to Viet Nams enduring resilience and history. Each month, these historical sites attract tens of thousands of visitors, both local and international, who are eager to explore their rich cultural and historical significance. According to the HCM City Department of Tourism, historical tourism generates approximately 41 per cent of the tourism sectors GDP. Around 56 per cent of international tourists express interest in cultural tourism, while 28 per cent of domestic tourists are also drawn to this aspect. Experts stress the importance of further developing historical tourism. Dr Le Hong Phuoc of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in HCM City emphasises that improving tourism experiences at these sites can enhance visitor satisfaction and support the sustainable growth of the citys tourism industry. However, challenges remain. Despite seminars and discussions on the topic, there is still a lack of in-depth research into the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges of historical tourism. Key sites like the Cu Chi Tunnels, the Reunification Conference Hall, the historical site of the Sac Forest Can Gio resistance base, the HCM City Museum of History, and Chi Hoa Prison have yet to receive comprehensive analysis and strategic planning for sustainable development. Historical sites are not only cultural treasures but also vital tools for developing cultural tourism. They offer visitors profound insights into a regions history and culture, driving economic growth through tourism while preserving cultural values, said director Le Quy Duong, who staged several large-scale music and art shows honouring the citys history. Currently, HCM City boasts 188 recognised historical sites, including two special national heritage sites, 58 national heritage sites, and 128 city-level heritage sites. Despite their significance, Associate Professor Dr Tran Yen Chi of the HCM City University of Theatre and Cinema warns that rapid urbanisation poses a threat to their preservation. She advocates for immediate action, including restoration, maintenance, and the creation of tours cantered around historical sites to ensure their longevity. VNS Winning third prize at the Leeds International Piano Competition last year has made Vietnamese Luong Khanh Nhi known worldwide. The competition is ranked fifth among the top ten most prestigious international piano competitions in the world. This is the greatest achievement by any Vietnamese musician in over 40 years, following ang Thai Son's first-place win at the Chopin International Piano Competition in 1980. Nhi will perform with Sun Symphony Orchestra in March 29 in Ha Noi. Viet Nam News reporter Nguyen Binh talked to Nhi about her career. You will perform Sergei Prokofives Piano Concerto No.3 at the upcoming concert. This piece earned you the third prize and the Lady Roslyn Lyons bronze medal at the Leeds International Piano Competition last year. Why is this piece meaningful to you? I first listened to this concerto when I was around eight or nine, and it quickly became one of my favourite concertos of all time. I had always dreamt of performing it with an orchestra, and the fact that I now have the opportunity to play it with multiple orchestras is beyond anything I could have imagined. I feel incredibly fortunate to share this music with audiences and this time, its even more special because I get to perform it in my hometown. You have performed the piece with different orchestras and conductors including the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and the Michigan University Symphony Orchestra. Could you tell something about your performance this time and how do you rehearse with the Sun Symphony Orchestra? Ive been incredibly lucky to perform this concerto with different orchestras, but each time feels fresh and exciting - if not even more so - because I discover new things every time I play it. I previously worked with Maestro Olivier Ochanine and the Sun Symphony Orchestra in January, and I was in awe of how incredible they sounded. I cant wait to collaborate with them again. Do you leave anything for improvisation at the performance, or do you play it exactly the same as in the rehearsal? The setting of a performance naturally brings a different energy compared to a rehearsal. During rehearsals, I may focus on connecting with the orchestra and I want to not just play with them but also play for them. But in a concert, theres an additional dimension - the audience. Each performance is unique, just as one never delivers the same speech twice. Music is spoken differently every time, and it is heard differently as well. Your recent award is regarded as the greatest achievement by a Vietnamese contestant in over 40 years? What do you think? It is truly an honour, and I feel incredibly grateful. But I know that there is still so much for me to learn and grow. I owe everything to my family, teachers and friends, whose unwavering love and support have guided me on this journey. Youve won numerous international competitions. Which one has best help springboard your musical career? Each competition has played an important role in my growth, both as a musician and as a person. They are stepping stones, and I wouldnt be where I am today without these invaluable experiences. Could you tell us about your music family? Did you have any early influences as you begin with piano? Both of my parents are musicians, and my first piano teacher was my aunt. My grandmother believed that all her children should study music, which was quite forward thinking at the time. My brother and I both studied at the Viet Nam National Academy of Music from a young age, but we eventually took different paths - while I pursued classical piano, he moved to Germany and became one of the most versatile musicians I know. He plays guitar, double bass and piano, and he also composes and produces his own music. What upcoming projects or performances are you particularly excited about? Could you tell about your current work? Each of my upcoming projects is unique in its own way, so its difficult to choose just one. After performing the concerto with the Sun Symphony Orchestra, I will give a solo recital at my alma mater, the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in Singapore. In late April, Ill spend a week making music with Dame Imogen Cooper in France, and in early June, Ill be returning to Leeds, something Im both thrilled and grateful for. In addition, I am finishing my dissertation for my doctoral degree at the University of Michigan and will be graduating this December. Im also working on my debut CD, hopefully to be released next year, so please look forward to it. What do you like to do when you are not playing the piano? I love travelling - just walking around and exploring new places, especially museums, brings me so much joy and inspiration. When I dont have time to travel, I find satisfaction in cleaning and tidying my space. It gives me an immediate sense of accomplishment, and I enjoy the feeling of achieving something, even in small ways, every day. VNS MOSCOW The Vietnamese Consulate General in Ekaterinburg city, in collaboration with the Tyumen oblast administration, organised the Viet Nam Culture Day in Tyumen city on March 24. The event drew over 300 guests, including local government representatives, heads of various departments, Vietnamese students studying in Tyumen, and local residents. In her speech, Consul General Nguyen Mai Huong said that the Viet Nam Culture Day in Tyumen was one of the activities marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Russia. It aimed to showcase the unique aspects of Viet Nam's rich cultural heritage to the people of Tyumen and Russia. She expressed her gratitude to the Tyumen oblast administration for its support in organising the event and acknowledged the important contributions made by the local Vietnamese student community in ensuring its success. As part of the event, participants enjoyed a photo exhibition displaying Viet Nams landscapes and people, participate in an art exchange programme performed by the Vietnamese Students' Association in Tyumen along with Russian students, and engage in various activities with strong Vietnamese imprints such as making ong Ho paintings and mua sap (folk dance). Andrei Vadimovich, Deputy Governor of Tyumen oblast, praised the Viet Nam Culture Day as a meaningful event and a valuable opportunity for local people to learn more about Viet Nams culture and people, contributing to fostering bilateral cooperation and cultural exchanges between the two countries. Vadimovich also noted that with Russias current "Look East" policy, the younger generation would serve as a bridge, helping to further strengthen the long-standing friendship between the two nations. He expressed the Tyumen oblasts desire to deepen its cooperation with Viet Nam, particularly in the fields of education, economy, and trade. Tyumen, the oldest city in Siberia, is located more than 2,000km east of Moscow. It holds a strategic position in transport, lying on the Trans-Siberian Railway, the northern railway route, and several key federal highways. VNA/VNS On March 26 this year, Bangladesh commemorates its 54 years of independence, a momentous occasion that fills our hearts with pride and gratitude. On this auspicious day, I extend warm congratulations to all the people of my beloved motherland, Bangladesh, as well as to our friends in Viet Nam who join us in celebrating this significant milestone. I pay my deep homage to the three million martyrs and two hundred thousand mothers and sisters who were violated by the occupied forces during the nine-month liberation war in 1971. Our heroes fought for a poverty-free, happy and prosperous Bangladesh. Due to prudent policies and timely reforms since gaining independence, Bangladesh has made remarkable progress across all sectors of the economy. The extreme poverty rate has plummeted to 5.6 per cent, and per capita income has surged to US$2,784 this year. Bangladesh's agricultural sector has made a significant achievement, globally ranking second in jute production, third in rice, vegetable and onion production, and seventh in potato and mango production. In the manufacturing sector, Bangladesh boasts a vibrant pharmaceutical industry. Today, it exports pharmaceutical products to 157 countries after meeting the local demand. If anyone is seeking high-quality pharmaceuticals and medical products at some of the most competitive prices globally, Bangladesh is an ideal destination, with state-of-the-art facilities and expertise in research and development. The textile and garment industry also continues to thrive as the second-largest exporter of ready-made garments globally. Bangladesh's pioneering work in microcredit, spearheaded by Grameen Bank, has transformed the lives of millions. This programme has not only improved household incomes but also fostered entrepreneurship and women's empowerment. Today, this initiative has been adopted by many countries around the world and for this great initiative, Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, the current Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh, was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006. The country has emerged as a preferred destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) due to its strategic location, large domestic market and investment-friendly policies. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and High-Tech Parks are attracting investors across various sectors. Recent large-scale investments in the energy, telecommunications and manufacturing industries further underscore Bangladesh's growing appeal to international investors. In order to further mobilise more FDI into key sectors, the Government of Bangladesh is planning to host an International Investment Summit from April 7 to 10 in Dhaka. Bangladesh under the present government is carrying out fundamental reforms to build a more democratic and peaceful society by empowering people and upholding human rights. The government is pledge-bound to ensure more transparency and accountability. Bangladesh's aim of graduating to a developing nation by 2026 underscores our nation's remarkable strides. Beyond national borders, Bangladesh is widely recognised for its substantial contributions to global peace and security. As the top country contributing troops and police to UN Peacekeeping Missions, Bangladesh has demonstrated its commitment to maintaining international peace and stability. Currently, over 7,500 Bangladeshi peacekeepers serve in some of the most challenging conflict zones worldwide, earning global acclaim for their professionalism, dedication and humanitarian service. On this momentous occasion, we express our sincere gratitude to the friendly people and the Government of Viet Nam for their unwavering friendship and cooperation with Bangladesh. The burgeoning bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Viet Nam, spanning economics, culture, science, education, national security and defence, serve as a testament to the enduring bond between our nations. Both countries are working to increase people-to-people contacts, exchange business delegations and promote tourism. Bilateral trade has witnessed remarkable growth, reaching $987 million in 2023-2024 and is expected to increase further in 2024-2025. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Government of Viet Nam for their support of the Bangladeshi diaspora living across the country. Looking ahead, we express our full cooperation in further strengthening the bonds of friendship between Bangladesh and Viet Nam in the years to come. Long live the Bangladesh-Viet Nam friendship! Happy Independence and National Day of Bangladesh. VNS HA NOI Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted an official welcome ceremony for visiting Singaporean PM Lawrence Wong and his spouse at the Presidential Palace in Ha Noi on Wednesday morning. The visit, on March 25 and 26, follows just over a week after Party General Secretary To Lams trip to Singapore, during which the two nations elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. It marks Wongs first official trip to Viet Nam on his post, aiming to further implement the outcomes of Lam's visit and deepen bilateral cooperation under the newly established framework. At the ceremony, Vietnamese students presented flowers to the Singaporean guests. The two PMs stood on the honour platform as the national anthems of both countries were being played, and then reviewed the honour guard of the Viet Nam Peoples Army, watched a ceremonial parade, and introduced their respective high-level delegations. Following the welcome ceremony, the leaders proceeded to official talks. Before their discussions, they visited a photo exhibition showcasing the landscapes, people, and strong ties between Viet Nam and Singapore, organised by the Government Office and Vietnam News Agency. While in Viet Nam, Wong is also scheduled to meet with senior leaders of the Vietnamese Party, State, and National Assembly, as well as participate in several other engagements. After 52 years of diplomatic relations, Viet Nam-Singapore ties are at an exceptional phase of growth, particularly following the Vietnamese Party chiefs recent visit to Singapore. Political trust continues to strengthen, while economic and investment cooperation remains robust. The two nations frequently exchange high-level delegations and collaborate closely in regional and international forums. Over the past three decades, more than 21,000 mid- and senior-level Vietnamese officials have participated in training activities under the Singapore Cooperation Programme. Additionally, the Vietnamese community in Singapore currently numbers around 20,000. VNA/VNS BERLIN Minister-President of Germanys State of Hessen Boris Rhein affirmed the localitys readiness to support Viet Nam in developing international finance centres and share its experience in financial market management, while meeting with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh, who is on a working visit to the European nation. During the meeting on March 25, the two officials highlighted the effective development of relations between Viet Nam and the German state, and agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a higher level. Binh stated that Viet Nam always attaches importance to deepening its strategic partnership with Germany, and with the State of Hessen in particular. He urged Hessen to continue supporting Viet Nam in education and training, including providing scholarships for Vietnamese students and researchers, promoting training partnerships between research institutions, expanding the supply of Vietnamese human resources to work in Hessen, and facilitating the Vietnamese community's deep integration into German society, contributing to strengthening the friendship between the two countries. Rhein showed his belief that the Vietnamese-German University (VGU), established under Hessens initiative, offers programmes that can support Viet Nam in developing financial centres. The two sides also agreed to work together in organising practical activities to enhance mutual trust and understanding between the two countries people on the occasion of the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations (19752025). On the same day, the Vietnamese official had a working session with Minister of Finance of the State of Hessen Alexander Lorz. Binh highly valued Hessens role in the Viet Nam-Germany strategic partnership, expressing Viet Nam's interest in learning from Hessens experience in developing and managing financial centres. He affirmed that Viet Nam stands ready to cooperate in workforce supply, including partnership with the VGU. For his part, Lorz agreed with Binh's proposals, noting that Hessen is undergoing economic development with a high demand for skilled labourers. He affirmed the states commitment to supporting the VGU in finance training and developing its financial centres with concrete initiatives. During the meeting, the Hessen official provided an overview of the Frankfurt Financial Centre, which is regarded as the gateway to Europes economy, and among the world's top 15 financial hubs. The Vietnamese guest shared that Viet Nam is building a legal framework for its financial centres and hopes for Hessens support in organisational models, investment incentives and preferential policies. He stated that Viet Nam intends to leverage the VGU for financial workforce training, and proposed Hessen sending financial experts for teaching, training, and developing human resources in Viet Nam. Lorz said Hessen is willing to share information, and experience in organising and operating financial centres. He also pledged to support training and connect financial experts from Frankfurt while promoting future cooperation between Hessen and Viet Nam. Earlier, on March 23 afternoon, Binh also had meetings with representatives of top German financial firms, including DZ Bank, Brosnan Norden GmbH, Mountain Alliance AG, and DAS Investment. He appreciated the interest and commitment of German experts and major enterprises in supporting the development of international financial centres in HCM City and a Nang. He called on German enterprises to pour their investment and do business in Viet Nam, and participate in developing the Southeast Asian countrys financial centres. During his stay, Deputy PM Binh also met with staff and officials of the Vietnamese Consulate General in Frankfurt, during which he underlined the need to boost Viet Nam-Germany cooperation in developing international financial hubs and training human resources, and encourage potential investors to engage once these centres are established and operational. VNA/VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong held talks in Ha Noi on Wednesday, agreeing on decisive and timely measures for enhancing political trust and creating new breakthroughs for the two countries Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The Vietnamese Government leader highlighted the significance of PM Wongs official visit, saying that this is the first high-level trip since the two countries upgraded their ties during Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lams official visit to Singapore earlier this month. It is also a highlight for 2025, which marks the 80th anniversary of Viet Nams National Day and the 60th anniversary of Singapores, sending a strong message about the two countries determination to realise the new cooperation framework, he said. The host congratulated Singapore on its development achievements and wished the country success in organising its general election in 2025. He expressed his belief that the city state will successfully implement the Forward Singapore (Forward SG) and 'Singapore Dream' initiatives, thus building a fair, harmonious and increasingly prosperous society. Chinh said that Viet Nam is implementing a strategy of accelerating and making breakthroughs to achieve double-digit growth from 2026 onwards, towards entering a new era of the nations rise and prosperous, civilised and thriving development. For his part, Wong expressed his delight at his first visit to Viet Nam as the PM of Singapore, stressing that his trip aims to promote the implementation of cooperation outcomes between the two countries. He reiterated that Viet Nam is one of Singapores most important partners in the region, and congratulated Viet Nam on its remarkable achievements after 40 years of the oi Moi (Renewal) process to become one of the leading economies in ASEAN. The Singaporean PM emphasised the historic significance of the establishment of the partnership, stating that Viet Nam being Singapores first comprehensive strategic partner in ASEAN reflects the trust, close-knit ties, and aspirations of both countries leaders and peoples to develop Viet NamSingapore relations more extensively, intensively and effectively. Both leaders expressed their satisfaction with the robust development of the bilateral relations. Singapore has maintained its position as the second-largest foreign investor in Viet Nam, with two new Viet NamSingapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) getting investment approval, expanding their network to 20 facilities across 14 cities and provinces. Bilateral trade volume has recorded steady growth, reaching US$10.3 billion in 2024, with Viet Nam emerging as Singapores largest rice exporter. The PMs also acknowledged considerable advancements in defence, security, education, technology, tourism, labour and people-to-people exchanges. They committed to decisive and timely measures to bolster political trust, creating breakthroughs for the comprehensive strategic partnership. They aim to swiftly complete and effectively carry out an action programme, bringing in full play their new cooperation framework for 2025-30. The two sides concurred to enhance the exchange of delegations at all levels, effectively implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and reinforce defence and security collaboration on the basis of mutual confidence and understanding, contributing to peace, stability, and development in the region and the world. They pledged to enhance economic connectivity through five key pillars of the Viet NamSingapore Connectivity Framework Agreement and the Green Economy-Digital Economy Partnership, positioning the bilateral cooperation as the regional exemplar. Chinh proposed that Singapore create favourable conditions for Vietnamese agro-forestry-fishery products and processed food to hit the shelves of its distribution system. He also suggested developing the VSIP 2.0 network with a focus on sustainability and smart technologies to optimise high-quality investment attraction. Wong agreed to clarify key aspects of upgrading the VSIP network, ensuring greener and more intelligent and efficient development. He also endorsed the Vietnamese leaders 'six major goals' proposal, which encompasses deeper political trust, more substantive defence cooperation, more effective economic connectivity, stronger people-to-people exchanges, more breakthrough science-technology collaboration and closer international regional cooperation. The Singaporean PM also highlighted the need for substantive development in offshore wind energy export, carbon credit exchange, and fintech collaboration through the cross-border retail payment connection project using QR codes and data transmission, which helps facilitate business operations. The two leaders agreed to deepen cooperation in key areas, including education, workforce training, food security, cultural and art exchanges, tourism, aviation, business-to-business and people-to-people connections. PM Chinh proposed that Singapore receive Vietnamese workers under its labour visa scheme, expand the range of accepted professions, facilitate Vietnamese language education in schools with a significant number of Vietnamese students, and help promote the role of the Vietnamese expat community there. On regional and multilateral cooperation, both host and guest commended their nations close coordination and mutual support in their candidacies for posts within UN organisations. They agreed to collaborate with other ASEAN member states to maintain the blocs solidarity, unity, and centrality and advance sustainable development in subregions, including the Mekong. The two PMs agreed to maintain ASEAN's shared stance on the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea), underscoring the importance of maritime and aviation freedom and safety. They said the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) must be fully and effectively implemented, and an environment must be fostered that fosters the development of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the waters (COC) in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Following their talks, the Vietnamese and Singaporean leaders witnessed the signing of several cooperation agreements, including a letter of intent on developing an action programme for the countries Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Other pacts cover offshore wind power trade, cross-border QR code payments, digital development and innovation and people-to-people exchanges. VNA/VNS HA NOI The groundbreaking ceremony for the Viet Nam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) in the northern province of Thai Binh, alongside the signing of economic cooperation agreements between the two countries, marks a significant milestone in the flourishing bilateral relationship between Viet Nam and Singapore. In his address on Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said such events were clear evidence of transforming political, diplomatic, economic and people-to-people relations into tangible material benefits. Chinh made the comments while attending the ceremony with Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. The event took place following a welcoming ceremony and talks at the Government Office in Ha Noi. The VSIP Thai Binh, developed in Thuy Truong Commune, Thai Thuy District, Thai Binh Province, spans more than 333 ha. The first phase covers 278 ha and is being developed by the Viet Nam Singapore Industrial Park and Township Development Joint Stock Company, with total investment exceeding VN4.9 trillion (approximately US$ 212 million). The project, focusing on infrastructure development and business operations, plays a crucial role in attracting investment and driving economic growth in the province. It is expected to be a catalyst for the development of the provincial Economic Zone, serving as a model for high-tech, green industrial parks that provide high economic returns for the locality. It will also create numerous jobs, boost income and improve living standards for the people of the district. With over 4,000 investment projects in Viet Nam and a total capital of more than $80 billion, Singapore is the second-largest foreign investor in Viet Nam. Of these, 20 VSIP projects are symbols of the effective, sustainable and long-term cooperation between the governments and business communities of the two countries. Chinh called on Singapore to continue expanding and optimising the first-generation VSIP industrial parks and to invest in the development of second-generation VSIPs with a focus on sustainability. It should foster ecosystems in science, technology, innovation, industry, urban development, services and high-tech sectors in various regions of Viet Nam. The collaboration will help the two economies complement each other, further strengthen their comprehensive, effective partnership and generate momentum for attracting new-generation investment projects. It will contribute to the socio-economic development of both countries, benefitting the nations, the peoples and the bilateral relationship, he said. He said the visit by Singapore's Prime Minister would bring fresh energy to bilateral cooperation. The Viet Nam-Singapore economic cooperation is hoped to continue to thrive, breaking new ground and setting a dynamic and effective example of strategic partnerships within ASEAN, while also inspiring cooperation mechanisms regionally and globally, he said. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong of Singapore said his recent talks with Chinh were highly successful, resulting in numerous signed agreements. Wong expressed his joy at witnessing the groundbreaking of the VSIP Thai Binh, which he described as a cornerstone of bilateral relations over the past three decades, underscoring Singapores trust in Viet Nam and its development potential. Wong said the two sides agreed during their talks to develop the VSIP 2.0 network in a sustainable and smart direction, incorporating advanced manufacturing technologies to optimise the attraction of high-quality capital into Viet Nam. This builds on agreements made during the recent visit of Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam to Singapore, focusing on enhancing cooperation in digital economy, green economy, high-tech sectors and the development of more sustainable VSIPs. The VSIP 2.0 parks will not just be industrial zones, but will also become hubs for science, technology, services and smart cities, incorporating features such as wastewater treatment, green transportation and environmental protection. In addition to projects such as fibre-optic and power cable connections, the integration of VSIP Thai Binh into the 20-strong VSIP network across Viet Nam will help enhance connectivity and attract more investment into the country. This will benefit both nations and foster economic connectivity within ASEAN. Also at the event, under the witness of both Prime Ministers, representatives from various ministries, localities and business entities from both countries signed cooperation documents in areas such as industrial park development in Viet Nams provinces, promoting innovation, digital transformation and industrial development, supporting tourism and biofuel promotion, and building an integrated open innovation platform in the agricultural and food value chains. Earlier, following the talks, the two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of several important cooperation documents, including a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the development of a Strategic Partnership Action Plan for the 2025-30 period between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of both countries, a MoU to enhance cross-border e-commerce cooperation towards the ASEAN electricity grid between the Ministries of Industry and Trade of both countries, another a MoU on cooperation in digital development and innovation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology and Singapores Ministry of Digital Development and Information and one on facilitating retail payments via QR codes between Viet Nam and Singapore. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam is expected to receive AUD96.6 million (US$61 million) of development assistance from Australia in the 2025-26 fiscal year, per a recent budget plan announced by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). This amount is AUD1 million higher than the support Viet Nam received from Australia in the previous period. Development projects to be carried out in Viet Nam will focus on developing an inclusive and self-reliant economy, enhancing human resources to meet socio-economic growth targets, strengthening climate change adaptation and resilience, as well as reducing emissions. Since the two countries established official diplomatic ties in 1973, Australia has provided AUD3 billion (VN48 trillion) in development assistance to Viet Nam. The Australian support includes technical and financial assistance for two bridges in Viet Nam, 26.4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, and more than 7,000 scholarships for Vietnamese citizens. According to Australian treasurer Jim Chalmers, the country will allocate AUD5.1 billion ($3.2 billion) for international development assistance, of which the Pacific region will receive AUD2.2 billion and the Southeast Asian region AUD 1.3 billion. In regard to development projects in Southeast Asia, Australia is expected to focus on addressing climate change impacts, promoting inclusive and sustainable growth, health security and community resilience. VNS OTTAWA Viet Nam and Canada signed a 2025-2026 cooperation framework on United Nations (UN) peacekeeping on Monday, further solidifying their defence ties during a visit by a Vietnamese delegation to Canada. Major General Pham Manh Thang, Head of the Peacekeeping Department under Viet Nam's Ministry of National Defence, and Brigadier-General Carol Potvin, Deputy Director General for Continental Defence Policy under Canadas Department of National Defence, inked the deal. The signing took place as part of Major General Thangs working visit to Canada. The annual cooperation framework builds on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on UN peacekeeping signed by the two nations in 2023. It also reflects the commitment to advance Viet Nam-Canada defence relations, as agreed during the Viet Nam-Canada Defence Policy Dialogue in Viet Nam in February 2025. The 2025-2026 framework focuses on three key areas: exchanges of delegations at various levels, training and capacity-building cooperation and Canadian assistance in providing equipment to enhance Viet Nams peacekeeping training capabilities and the expertise of Vietnam Peoples Army personnel in UN missions. Over recent years, Viet Nam and Canada have engaged in multiple working group exchanges to boost mutual understanding and coordination in UN peacekeeping. In May 2023, Canadas Ambassador for Women, Peace, and Security, Jacqueline ONeill, visited Viet Nams Peacekeeping Department to promote collaboration on increasing womens participation in UN peacekeeping operations. In July 2024, a delegation from Canadas Military Training and Cooperation Directorate met with their Vietnamese counterparts to discuss a three-year plan to implement the 2023 MoU. In terms of training, Canada has supported Viet Nam by offering language courses (English and French) and peacekeeping-related programmes, including civil-military coordination, military observation, international law on armed conflicts, and gender equality in the military. In July 2024, the two countries co-hosted a successful battlefield first-aid training course in Viet Nam. Throughout 2024, Viet Nam sent two officers to Canada for French language training and 15 others to participate as instructors and trainees in specialised UN peacekeeping courses. Looking ahead, both sides pledged to deepen and expand their successful cooperation. Priorities include developing UN-recognised peacekeeping training courses, expanding officer training programmes, enhancing language and instructor training in Canada, and advancing gender equality initiatives. Plans also include hosting international workshops to strengthen womens roles in UN peacekeeping forces. The signing of the 2025-2026 framework reaffirms Viet Nam and Canadas strong commitment to contributing to regional and global peace and stability, while opening new avenues for future collaboration. VNS HA NOI - Viet Nam values its relations with Singapore, and hopes for the effective and substantive implementation of the comprehensive strategic partnership to further strengthen bilateral ties in the coming time, State President Luong Cuong told Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during their meeting in Ha Noi on March 26. Cuong welcomed Wong on his first official visit to Viet Nam as the Prime Minister of Singapore, stressing that this is the first high-level delegation exchange since the two countries elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The Vietnamese State leader congratulated the government and people of Singapore on their achievements in recent years, which have turned Singapore into a developed nation with leading financial, technology and innovation centres in the region. Reaffirming Viet Nam's consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship cooperation, and multilateralisation and diversification of relations, Cuong suggested Singapore continue supporting Viet Nam in human resources development, particularly in training strategic-level officials. He called for enhancing the quality of cooperation between the two sides across all sectors, especially innovation, clean energy, and digital transformation. He took the occasion to convey his regards to and extended an invitation to the President of Singapore to visit Viet Nam at a convenient time. For his part, Wong expressed his joy to meet Cuong again following their meeting at the APEC Summit in Peru last November. Showing his deep impression of Viet Nam's strong development in recent years, Wong affirmed that Singapore wishes to strengthen its cooperative relationship with Viet Nam, a like-minded friend of Singapore and also its first comprehensive strategic partner in ASEAN. He stressed that Singapore has always been a steadfast partner in Viet Nam's oi moi (Renewal) process, and that his country stands ready to actively cooperate and support Viet Nam in socio-economic development, towards realising the countrys goal of double-digit growth, and becoming a high-income developed nation by 2045. Singapore seeks to expand cooperation with Viet Nam in areas of mutual potential and demand, such as renewable energy, submarine cable connectivity, and digital economy, and in addressing emerging challenges, he went on. The two leaders appreciated the outstanding achievements of cooperation in all areas in recent times, particularly in politics, economy, trade, and investment, while agreeing that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework, based on political trust and shared interests and visions in many areas, will help strengthen and connect both countries more comprehensively, fostering deeper and more effective collaboration, both bilaterally and in addressing regional strategic issues. Viet Nam and Singapore should fully tap their cooperative potential, with their economies being complementary to each other, work closely to effectively implement the content of the new framework of relations, including the implementation of the 2025-2030 Action Programme with specific measures across the six overarching pillars of the Joint Statement on upgrading the bilateral relations, they stressed. The two sides also agreed to continue strengthening political trust, increasing high-level visits and exchanges, and people-to-people and business connections; deepening defence and security cooperation; enhancing coordination in the fight against cross-border crimes, including cybercrime, and in response to both traditional and non-traditional security challenges. The two leaders also vowed to effectively implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms to make breakthroughs in new areas within the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework. They welcomed and highly appreciated the two governments agreeing to continue enhancing the quality of cooperation, including the development of the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) network into VSIP 2.0 in a sustainable, smart, and innovative direction, implementing clean energy projects, and facilitating cross-border payments using QR codes. They agreed that as Viet Nam and Singapore share common views and perspectives on regional and global issues, the two countries should continue to closely coordinate with and support each other at regional and international forums, especially ASEAN and the United Nations, for peace, stability, cooperation, and development, and maintain ASEANs solidarity and common stance on important international and regional issues, including the East Sea, promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes based on international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982). VNS HA NOI National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man held a meeting in Ha Noi on Wednesday with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who affirmed Singapores commitment to deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Viet Nam across all sectors, including legislative collaboration. The top legislator held that Wong's official visit, along with Party General Secretary To Lams recent official visit to Singapore in the context that the two sides are celebrating important milestones such as Viet Nams 80th National Day, Singapores 60th National Day, and the 30th anniversary of Viet Nams ASEAN membership, reflects the strong and trusted political ties between the two countries. He highly valued Singapores role in supporting Viet Nams market economy development and international integration, as well as Singapores valuable experience in building a rule-of-law state, fostering a knowledge-based economy, promoting innovation, and ensuring sustainable development. The leader expressed his pleasure at the strong and substantive growth of Viet Nam-Singapore relations over the past more than five decades, particularly in economic, trade, and investment cooperation. In 2024, bilateral trade reached US$10.3 billion, while Singapore remained Viet Nams second-largest foreign investor, with cumulative investments exceeding $80 billion. The Viet Nam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) have been seen as a model of successful cooperation, he noted. NA Chairman Man also highlighted progress in cooperation in defence-security, education and training, science and technology, tourism, labour, and people-to-people exchanges. He emphasised that the comprehensive strategic partnership marks a milestone in bilateral relations, praising the recent contributions of parliamentary cooperation between Viet Nam and Singapore. The two legislatures are effectively implementing the cooperation agreement signed in May 2022, as well as the shared perceptions reached during Mans visit to Singapore in December 2024. He stressed the importance of maintaining high-level exchanges and cooperation between legislative committees and agencies, friendship parliamentary groups, and young and female parliamentarians. The two sides have exchanged legislative experience and agreed to work together to oversee the implementation of agreements. They will maintain mutual support at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), the NA leader noted. For his part, Wong said he is impressed by Viet Nams socio-economic achievements, particularly its high, stable economic growth despite global and regional uncertainties. He highlighted new areas of cooperation, including food security, green economy, digital transformation, and renewable energy. The Singaporean PM also emphasised the importance of further developing the VSIP 2.0 model. He praised the role of the Vietnamese NA in creating a favourable legal framework for socio-economic development and international cooperation. Man pledged that the Vietnamese NA will back Singaporean businesses and foreign investors in Viet Nam. He expressed confidence that bilateral economic and trade cooperation will expand and improve in quality in the coming years. Viet Nam seeks to learn from Singapores expertise in building an innovation ecosystem, digital transformation, and developing a high-quality workforce, he said. He also affirmed Viet Nams readiness to create favourable conditions for Singaporean businesses to expand their investments, especially in high-tech industries, renewable energy, and high-value-added supporting industries. At the meeting, the two sides underscored the importance of building a united and self-reliant ASEAN community and promoting the bloc's centrality, as well as the crucial role of the AIPA. They also vowed to continue close cooperation and mutual support at multilateral forums and organisations, including regional and global inter-parliamentary forums, while maintaining an environment of peace and stability. They shared the view that disputes in the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) should be settled through peaceful measures. VNA/VNS HA NOI General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam To Lam has urged Viet Nam and Singapore to accelerate the implementation of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership by swiftly finalising and signing an Action Plan for the 2025-30 period. Receiving Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in Ha Noi on Wednesday, the Party chief underscored the significance of the Singaporean PM's visit, describing it as a crucial step in advancing, concretising the content of and orienting the bilateral ties. He emphasised that the trip marks the beginning of a new cooperation programme, reinforcing the growing trust, effectiveness, and depth of the Viet Nam-Singapore partnership. Reaffirming Viet Nam's high regard for Singapore as an ASEAN member and a key partner in its development and international integration efforts, General Secretary Lam called for strengthened collaboration between the two ruling parties, particularly in strategic orientations for the training of officials. He also welcomed and supported Singapores proposals for cooperation in green energy and a regional green electricity network, while advocating for the upgrade of the Viet Nam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) network to become greener, smarter and more connected. The Party chief also praised Singapores recent decision to open its market for Vietnamese agricultural and livestock products, highlighting the vast potential for expanded cooperation in food security. PM Wong agreed and expressed his strong support for the strategic cooperation priorities outlined by General Secretary To Lam. He emphasised the importance of reinforcing political trust, deepening mutual understanding, and enhancing strategic coordination through increased exchanges at all levels and via the Party, Government, and Parliamentary channels. He stressed the need to maximise existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms while developing new frameworks that align with the evolving scale of the Singapore-Viet Nam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Highlighting economic collaboration as a key driver of growth, PM Wong underscored the importance of boosting labour cooperation and fostering people-to-people exchanges. He reaffirmed Singapores commitment to ensuring the effective execution of cooperation agreements, enhancing the impact of the Viet Nam-Singapore partnership, and positioning it as a model for collaboration among ASEAN member nations. On regional and international issues, the PM reiterated Singapores commitment to stepping up consultation and coordination at multilateral forums, particularly in ASEAN and APEC. He reaffirmed Singapores stance on upholding a rules-based international order, promoting solidarity and unity in ASEAN, and reinforcing ASEANs central role in the region. The two leaders agreed to further deepen ties between the two ruling parties, maintain cooperation in strategic leader training, and establish mechanisms for regular exchanges, aiming to enhance mutual understanding, facilitate the sharing of experience in national development, and lay a strong foundation for Viet Nam-Singapore relations in the future. VNA/VNS HA NOI Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and his spouse left Ha Noi in the evening of March 26, successfully concluding their two-day official visit to Viet Nam at the invitation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse. Seeing off the Singaporean PM and his entourage at the Noi Bai International Airport was Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuongng, and Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Tran Phuoc Anh. During his visit, PM Wong and his spouse paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at the late leader's mausoleum and laid flowers at the monument commemorating heroic martyrs on Bac Son street in Ha Noi. Party General Secretary To Lam held a reception for PM Wong, while State President Luong Cuong and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man also had meetings with the Singaporean leader. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted an official welcome ceremony, and held bilateral talks, and a banquet in honour of PM Wong. The Vietnamese and Singaporean PMs witnessed the signing of several cooperation agreements, including a letter of intent on developing an action programme for the Vietnam-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Other pacts cover offshore wind power trade, cross-border QR code payments, digital development and innovation, and people-to-people exchange. They also attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park in the northern province of Thai Binh (VSIP Thai Binh). Hosting the Singaporean PM, the Vietnamese leaders emphasised the significance of Wongs official visit, describing it as a key milestone - the first high-level exchange following the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Party General Secretary To Lams official visit to Singapore. They noted that this visit marks a highlight of 2025, a year commemorating the 80th anniversary of Viet Nams National Day and the 60th anniversary of Singapores National Day, and reflects both nations' commitment to concretising their new cooperation framework. PM Wong expressed his delight at making his first official visit to Viet Nam as Prime Minister, especially following Party General Secretary To Lams trip to Singapore, which aimed to advance concrete cooperation initiatives between the two nations. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the strong and dynamic progress in bilateral relations and agreed on decisive and timely measures to strengthen political trust and create new breakthroughs in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They prioritised the swift completion and effective implementation of the 2025-2030 Action Programme. The leaders agreed on six major goals in bilateral cooperation, which encompasses deeper political trust, more substantive defence cooperation, more effective economic connectivity, stronger people-to-people exchanges, more breakthrough science-technology collaboration, and closer international and regional cooperation. The two sides agreed to maintain ASEAN's shared stance on the East Sea issue, underscoring the importance of freedom and safety of navigation and aviation. They emphasised the need to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and foster an environment conducive to the development of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). On this occasion, Party General Secretary To Lams spouse Ngo Phuong Ly also received spouse of the Singaporean PM Loo Tze Lui. They also contemplated a water puppetry performance at the Presidential Palace. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs spouse Le Thi Bich Tran and Loo visited the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Ha Noi. VNA/VNS HA NOI The Ministry of Health has proposed that individuals aged 16 and older be allowed to donate tissues such as kidneys and part of the liver while alive, provided they have written consent from their legal representative or guardian. This new provision is included in the draft amendments and supplements to the Law on Donation, Removal and Transplantation of Human Tissues, Organs and Cadavers. Under the current law, only individuals aged 18 and older with full civil capacity are eligible to register for living tissue donation, while donations from those under 18 are completely prohibited. Specifically, the ministry have proposed amending Article 5 regarding the right to donate tissues and organs after death, stating that all individuals have the right to donate their tissues and organs posthumously. For individuals under 18 who wish to donate their tissues or organs after death, written consent from their legal representative is required. Regarding the right to donate tissues and organs while alive, individuals aged 30 and older with full civil capacity are allowed to donate their organs while alive to any transplant recipient without specifying a designated recipient. Individuals aged 18 and older with full civil capacity can donate their organs while alive to their parents, children or biological siblings. Individuals aged 16 and older may donate their tissues while alive, but only with written consent from their legal representative or guardian. Individuals aged 18 and older with full civil capacity have the right to donate their bodies after death. The draft has also proposed the provisions regarding the costs associated with tissue and organ donation and transplantation following Article 33 of the Law on Donation, Removal, and Transplantation of Human Tissues, Organs and Cadavers. Costs for living donors include medical examinations, biological testing, tissue and organ retrieval and post-donation care and recovery. Costs for posthumous tissue and organ donation for medical treatment include resuscitation expenses, evaluation of tissue and organ function for donation and the procurement of donated tissues and organs. Costs for transplant recipients include biological testing, transplantation procedures, post-transplant recovery, periodic follow-up examinations and immunosuppressive medications. In the draft, the ministry has proposed additional benefits for blood and stem cell donors. These benefits include priority access to and free provision of an amount of blood equivalent to what they have donated when they require a blood transfusion during treatment at State-owned medical facilities. Donors will also be entitled to half a day off work after obtaining their employers consent to donate blood, without any deduction in salary or counting it as part of their annual leave or public holidays, in accordance with labour laws. Furthermore, donors will receive priority access to stem cell sources from stem cell banks when needed. They will be provided with information about blood-borne diseases and given a thorough explanation of the donation process, including the potential risks and the medical tests required before and after donation. Their clinical examination results and test outcomes will be kept confidential. If any abnormalities are detected during the health check-up for blood and stem cell donation, donors will receive appropriate medical consultation and guidance on post-donation health care. In the event of complications arising during or after blood and stem cell donation, donors will be entitled to medical care and financial support for their treatment. Stem cell donors must undergo a free medical consultation, health check-up and necessary tests before donation. These procedures must adhere to technical guidelines approved by the head of the receiving medical facility or the Minister of Health. If a donor does not meet the eligibility requirements for stem cell donation, medical staff must provide a clear explanation of the reasons. According to the draft, stem cell donation can only be performed at medical facilities authorised by the Ministry of Health to conduct stem cell transplantation. It may also take place at medical facilities that have collaboration agreements with stem cell banks or scientific and technological organisations engaged in stem cell research. These amendments are expected to promote tissue and organ donation while ensuring humanitarian principles and practical feasibility. The supply of organs from deceased or brain-dead donors remains scarce, while the demand for organ transplants continues to rise. Viet Nam has the highest organ transplant rate in Southeast Asia, with more than 1,000 cases per year. However, the rate of posthumous organ donation remains among the lowest in the world. At present, there are no clear mechanisms or policies for counselling on organ donation from brain-dead or deceased donors. Only a few hospitals have established organ donation counselling teams, as there are no appropriate incentives or support policies in place. VNS HA NOI Bach Mai Hospital and AstraZeneca signed a cooperation agreement on expanding collaboration in scientific research, medical training and raising community awareness to improve healthcare quality on March 25. The comprehensive collaboration will be implemented through five main pillars: screening and diagnosis, enhancing healthcare practitioners capacity, patient communication and support, scientific research, digital transformation and the application of artificial intelligence. Specifically, AstraZeneca Vietnam will support Bach Mai Hospital in organising scientific conferences and training programmes to enhance the professional capacity of healthcare staff in various treatment fields. The company will also collaborate with the hospital on multi-disease screening and diagnostic programmes, such as the Asthma/COPD screening programme, kidney complication assessments for high-risk patients, cancer screening and lung nodule management programmes. In parallel with diagnosis and treatment efforts, the two sides will also carry out online patient consultations and patient education programmes as well as supporting patients in accessing necessary healthcare information and services to enhance the quality of patient care. AstraZeneca will continue to support the hospital in applying technological innovations and using artificial intelligence in diagnosis to optimise patient care processes and improve accuracy in the early detection of respiratory diseases, lung cancer and heart failure. At the signing ceremony, Bach Mai Hospital Director ao Xuan Co said: In our development strategy, Bach Mai Hospital not only focuses on patient treatment but also concentrates on research and treatment for rare diseases. Bach Mai Hospital strives to become a specialised research centre not only in Viet Nam, but also regionally and internationally. Moreover, with the establishment of electronic medical records and a large database of two million outpatients and 250,000 inpatients each year, this will provide a vast database to conduct significant regional and international research instead of smaller studies as before. General Director of AstraZeneca Vietnam Atul Tandon said that the collaboration between AstraZeneca and leading hospitals, like Bach Mai Hospital, plays an important role in providing patients with comprehensive access to high-quality and advanced healthcare services. This ensures maximum benefits for patients. This collaboration not only leads to many effective improvements in patient healthcare, but also confirms our commitment to enhancing public health and improving the quality of life for the Vietnamese people. We are committed to a long-term partnership with Bach Mai Hospital to contribute to the development of Viet Nam's healthcare towards a comprehensive and sustainable direction, particularly in managing diseases related to oncology, respiratory, gastroenterology, cardiovascular, renal and metabolic disorders. In September 2024, over 1,000 people received free cardiovascular and renal screenings at Bach Mai Hospital as part of the 'CAREME - Love Yourself' programme jointly organised between the Vietnam Youth Doctors Association, Bach Mai Hospital and AstraZeneca Vietnam. The programme also provided technological applications in disease management, such as self-health assessments on CAREME along with health monitoring software and remote consultations. VNS MANILA The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has welcomed reports saying that another Mid-Range Capability (MRC) Typhon missile from the United States Indo-Pacific Command (Indopacom) is already on its way to the country. According to AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, this would help their personnel train more effectively. "This is a welcome development for the Armed Forces of the Philippines. We can say that the more the merrier. So the more assets that we have, the more also that we are able to train more personnel on our part. So we accept this willingly," Padilla said in a press briefing on Tuesday. "We welcome events like this because this would help our personnel train faster. So we welcome if it will arrive," Philippine Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said. Defense News, a leading global publication specializing in defense journalism, reported last week that the US Armys 3rd Multidomain Task Force unit is readying its Typhon battery for deployment in the Pacific theater. If this happens, it will be the US Armys second such missile system to enter the region, according to the report. The first US Typhon missile arrived in the Philippines on April 11, 2024 and was first used during the Balikatan exercises. It has stayed in the country since and was last spotted in Ilocos Norte, a coastal province facing Taiwan, deemed by China as a renegade province subject to reunification. AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said he wanted the Typhon missile to stay in the country "forever" and that he hoped the Philippine government could acquire its own. In February this year, the Philippine Army conducted the next phase of its Combined Arms Training Exercise for MRC missiles in their drills. The Catex Katihan is in preparation for the annual Salaknib Exercise between the armies of Manila and Washington, which already kicked off in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija on Monday. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER/ANN HA NOI Vietnamese leaders on March 26 sent messages of sympathy to the Republic of Korea (RoK) following severe wildfires in the countrys southeastern regions, which caused significant loss of life and property, and environmental damage. State President Luong Cuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh conveyed their sympathy to Acting President Han Duck-soo, while National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man sent a message of sympathy to his Korean counterpart Woo Won-shik. On the same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son extended his sympathy to Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul. How South Korea's massive wildfires started The massive wave of wildfires ravaging across South Korea's southeastern region is believed to have started from simple mistakes by grave visitors, farmers, welders and even from burning a bag of chips near a valley. One of the two sources of the blaze in Uiseong-gun, North Gyeongsang Province, which has been responsible for most of the 24 deaths that have occurred in the series of fires as of Wednesday evening, is believed to have originated from a spark started by a person visiting the grave of one of their ancestors in Anpyeong-eup on Saturday last week. The person confessed to having used a lighter on the mountainside, which became one of the epicentres of the wildfires that spread to nearby areas, carried by strong winds. It is unclear what started the other fire in Angye-myeon later that day, although it is believed to have originated near a freeway. Four deaths occurred in the fires that started at Sancheong-gun of the same province on Friday last week, which spread to affect nearby Hadong-gun and the city of Jinju. It was found to have started from a brush cutter at a farm in Sicheon-myeon, Sancheong-gun. Another fire that is yet to be contained originated in Ulju-gun, Ulsan Metropolitan City, and is believed to have started from a welding operation at a farm on Saturday. The Gimhae fire that started on Saturday was fully extinguished on Tuesday before reigniting on Wednesday afternoon on a smaller scale, started from a small fire that a graveyard keeper used to burn a bag of chips. The fire burned a relatively small area of land, although 148 people were forced to evacuate. Another small fire in Hamyang-gun, South Gyeongsang Province, started from sparks from a welding job on Saturday, by a man in his 60s repairing a fence to keep out wild animals. The fire was put out later that day. Investigation of the causes of other fires is underway, with most of them suspected to have started from carelessness. The lack of humidity and high temperatures in the region contributed to the wildfires becoming one of the worst disasters in the countrys history. Why damage from the deadly fires is so high According to South Korea's Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, a total of 24 people had died in the wildfires and 26 had been injured as of 4pm Wednesday. Since Friday last week, the wildfires have burned down a total of 17,534 hectares of forest, with Uiseong County and Andong in North Gyeongsang Province suffering the most damage, accounting for 15,158 hectares. As of press time, 209 homes, factories, temples and cultural properties in the southeastern region have also suffered damage. A majority of those who died were found to be older people, mostly aged 60 and above, who faced difficulties in quickly evacuating to safety. In Yeongdeok, North Gyeongsang Province, three residents of a senior care home died when the vehicle they were evacuating in exploded after being engulfed in flames. All three were in their 80s and had mobility issues. A total of six people were in the vehicle at the time, including three care workers. An elderly couple in their 80s was also found dead on a road heading downhill from their home in Yeongdeok. Authorities believe the couple was caught in the flames while trying to evacuate. In Cheongsong, North Gyeongsang Province, two civilians in their 70s and 80s were found dead in their homes. In Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, a woman in her 50s and another in her 70s were also found dead at a yard in front of their homes. As most of those affected were found to have died while attempting to flee from the fires, authorities faced criticism for failing to help civilians flee to safety. Authorities also faced criticism for sending out emergency mobile alerts too late, failing to clearly inform people of nearby evacuation centers or proactively assist in early evacuations before the wildfires reached the villages. According to the South Korean National Institute of Forest Science, large forest fires will become more frequent as climate change intensifies. Climate factors that contribute to wildfires include humidity, temperature and wind speed, according to the institute. Climate change leads to higher global temperatures, which can dry out forests and make them more susceptible to fires. Higher temperatures increase the rate of evaporation, reducing soil moisture and drying out vegetation, allowing fires to ignite and spread. Stronger wind patterns may also be observed due to climate change, which can make fires spread more quickly and intensely, making it harder to control fires once they start. The southeastern regions wildfires from Saturday intensified mainly due to extremely dry conditions and strong winds. From Wednesday evening, rain is expected to begin on Jeju Island before spreading to the southern parts of the Korean mainland, including North Jeolla Province and the North and South Gyeongsang provinces, on Thursday. However, the expected precipitation amounts may be too little to effectively suppress the ongoing fires. THE KOREA HERALD/ANN/VNA JASHORE Bird flu has been detected at a poultry farm in Jashore the first such case in Bangladesh since 2018 raising concerns among farmers. Officials are closely monitoring the situation and necessary measures have been taken to contain its spread, Farida Akhter, adviser to the fisheries and livestock ministry, told The Daily Star today. The infection was detected in the first week of February this year, she said. Officials from the Department of Livestock Services have visited the site and gathered all relevant information, including details on how the virus entered Bangladesh, she added. According to a report by news agency Reuters, the World Organisation for Animal Health stated on Tuesday that this was the first case of bird flu detected at a Bangladeshi farm since 2018. Highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has spread globally in recent years, including in the United States, leading to the culling of hundreds of millions of poultry, the report said. The outbreak killed 1,900 birds out of a flock of 3,978 in Jessore district. All remaining birds were culled, it added. Suman Hawlader, president of the Bangladesh Poultry Association, an organisation representing marginal farmers in the country, stated that farmers are already facing significant challenges for various reasons. Therefore, the government should take appropriate measures to prevent the virus from spreading. Otherwise, the poultry sector will face a disaster, he warned. Bangladesh first experienced a bird flu outbreak in March 2007, when more than a million birds were culled. THE DAILY STAR/ANN At the appeal hearing for the case of stock market manipulation and fraudulent appropriation of property involving the FLC Group JSC (FLC Group). (Photo: nhandan.vn) Hanoi - The High-level Peoples Court in Hanoi on March 25 afternoon decided to postpone the appeal hearing for the case of stock market manipulation and fraudulent appropriation of property involving the FLC Group JSC (FLC Group), which opened on the same day, allowing the defendants to have more time to compensate victims. The trial is scheduled to resume in this June. After discussions and listening to opinions from lawyers, defendants, and victims present at the trial, the judicial panel stated that postponing the appeal hearing for Trinh Van Quyet, ex-chairman of FLC Group, is necessary to ensure the rights of the victims. The postponement aims to give the defendants and their families more time to pay compensation for victims and those with related rights and obligations. Before the hearing, former FLC Group Chairman Trinh Van Quyet had submitted a request for either a trial in absentia or a postponement, citing serious health issues leaving him unable to attend the trial. Hospital 19-8 also confirmed Quyet's deteriorating condition, according to the chief judge. The High-level Peoples Court in Hanoi had initially scheduled the appeal hearing in last December but had to postpone it due to the absence of multiple defendants and victims. At that time, Quyet also submitted a request for absence due to health issues. At the first-instance trial last August, the Hanoi Peoples Court sentenced Quyet to 21 years in prison, including 18 years for "fraudulent appropriation of property" and three years for "stock market manipulation". Following the trial, he filed an appeal seeking a reduced prison sentence and lower civil compensation liability. During the first-instance proceedings, authorities noted that Quyet had already paid over 254 billion VND (9.9 million USD) in restitution. After the trial, his wife contributed an additional 203 billion VND, and on December 19, she paid another 150 billion VND. In total, Quyet and his family have paid over 600 billion VND to mitigate damage. Two other defendants, Quyets younger sisters Trinh Thi Minh Hue and Trinh Thi Thuy Nga, also paid restitution and accepted their civil liabilities as determined by the first-instance verdict. Before the appeal hearing, Ngas family and Hue paid 86 billion VND and over 254 billion VND, respectively. Additionally, Quyet also submitted another 27 billion VND. According to lawyers, before the appeal hearing, the defendants had fully compensated the 133 victims who still held FLC-related stocks. From May 2017 to January 2022, Quyet instructed relatives and subordinates to use the identities of employees, family members, and acquaintances to establish companies and open securities and bank accounts, according to the first-instance verdict. The defendants then engaged in a series of stock market manipulation activities involving five stock codes: AMD, HAI, GAB, FLC, and ART. Once the stock prices were inflated, Quyet directed the sale of shares, illicitly profiting more than 723 billion VND. From 2014 to September 2016, Quyet instructed inpiduals who were leaders or employees of the Faros company, as well as other companies within the FLC Group, along with relatives and acquaintances to act as shareholders to falsify capital contribution documents to raise Faros's chartered capital from 1.5 billion VND to 4.3 trillion VND. Quyet later listed and sold shares, illegally appropriating 3.621 trillion VND from investors. PM Pham Minh Chinh chairs a government meeting with the Ministries of Education and Training, and Health in Hanoi on March 25. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi 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 Hanoi on March 25. 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 2026-2035 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 programme 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 strengthening 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. The visit, on March 25 and 26, follows just over a week after Party General Secretary To Lams trip to Singapore, during which the two nations elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. It marks Wongs first official trip to Vietnam on his post, aiming to further implement the outcomes of Lam's visit and deepen bilateral cooperation under the newly established framework. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong stand for the national anthems of Vietnam and Singapore. (Photo: VNA) At the ceremony, Vietnamese students presented flowers to the Singaporean guests. The two PMs stood for on the honour platform as the national anthems of both countries are played, and then reviewed the honour guard of the Vietnam Peoples Army, watched a ceremonial parade, and introduced their respective high-level delegations. Following the welcome ceremony, the leaders proceeded to official talks. Before their discussions, they visited a photo exhibition showcasing the landscapes, people, and strong ties between Vietnam and Singapore, organised by the Government Office and Vietnam News Agency. While in Vietnam, Wong is also scheduled to meet with senior leaders of the Vietnamese Party, State, and National Assembly, as well as participate in several other engagements. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong review the honour guard of the Vietnam Peoples Army. (Photo: VNA) After 52 years of diplomatic relations, Vietnam-Singapore ties are at an exceptional phase of growth, particularly following the Vietnamese Party chiefs recent visit to Singapore. Political trust continues to strengthen, while economic and investment cooperation remains robust. The two nations frequently exchange high-level delegations and collaborate closely in regional and international forums. Over the past three decades, more than 21,000 mid- and senior-level Vietnamese officials have participated in training activities under the Singapore Cooperation Programme. Additionally, the Vietnamese community in Singapore currently numbers around 20,000. Data packages take centre stage for Vietnam-Singapore offshore renewable energy project PetroVietnam Technical Services Corporation (PTSC) and Sembcorp Utilities Pte. Ltd. (SCU) of Singapore held an awards ceremony on August 28 for wind and metocean measurement services and geotechnical desktop study packages. 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. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong hold talks in Hanoi on March 26. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong held talks in Hanoi on March 26, agreeing on decisive and timely measures for enhancing political trust and creating new breakthroughs for the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership. The Vietnamese Government leader highlighted the significance of his guest's official visit, saying that this is the first high-level trip since the two countries upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership during Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lams official visit to Singapore. It is also a highlight for 2025, which marks the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day and the 60th anniversary of Singapore's, sending a strong message about the two countries' determination to realise the new cooperation framework, he said. The host congratulated Singapore on its development achievements and wished the country success in organising its general election in 2025. He expressed his belief that the city state will successfully implement the Forward Singapore (Forward SG) and "Singapore Dream" initiatives, thus building a fair, harmonious, and increasingly prosperous society. Chinh said that Vietnam is implementing a strategy of speeding-up and making breakthroughs to reach the finish line, striving to achieve double-digit growth from 2026 onwards, towards entering a new era that of the nations rise and prosperous, civilised, and thriving development. For his part, Wong expressed his delight at his first visit to Vietnam as the PM of Singapore, stressing that his trip aims to promote the implementation of cooperation outcomes between the two countries. He affirmed that Vietnam is one of Singapore's most important partners in the region, and congratulated Vietnam on its remarkable achievements after 40 years of the Doi moi (renewal) process to become one of the leading economies in ASEAN. The Singaporean PM emphasised the historic significance of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership, stating that Vietnam being Singapore's first comprehensive strategic partner in ASEAN reflects the trust, close-knit ties, and aspirations of both countries' leaders and peoples to develop the Vietnam Singapore relations more extensively, intensively, and effectively. Both leaders expressed their satisfaction with the robust development of the bilateral relations. Singapore has maintained its position as the second-largest foreign investor in Vietnam, with two new Vietnam Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) getting investment approval, expanding their network to 20 facilities across 14 cities and provinces. The bilateral trade volume demonstrated steady growth, reaching 10.3 billion USD in 2024, with Vietnam emerging as Singapore's largest rice exporter. The PMs also acknowledged considerable advancements in defence, security, education, technology, tourism, labour, and people-to-people exchanges. They committed to decisive and timely measures to bolster political trust, creating breakthroughs for the comprehensive strategic partnership. They aim to swiftly complete and effectively carry out an action programme, bringing in full play their new cooperation framework for 2025-2030. The two sides concurred to enhance the exchange of delegations at all levels, effectively implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and reinforce defence and security collaboration on the basis of mutual confidence and understanding, contributing to peace, stability, and development in the region and the world. They pledged to enhance economic connectivity through five key pillars of the Vietnam Singapore Connectivity Framework Agreement and the Green Economy-Digital Economy Partnership, positioning the bilateral cooperation as the regional exemplar. Chinh proposed Singapore to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese agro-forestry-fishery products and processed food to hit the shelves of its distribution system. Besides, he suggested developing the VSIP 2.0 network with a focus on sustainability and smart technologies to optimise high-quality investment attraction. His Singaporean counterpart agreed to clarify key aspects of upgrading the VSIP network, ensuring greener and more intelligent and efficient development. He also endorsed the Vietnamese leader's six major goals proposal, which encompasses deeper political trust, more substantive defence cooperation, more effective economic connectivity, stronger people-to-people exchanges, more breakthrough science-technology collaboration, and closer international regional cooperation. Wong highlighted the need for substantive development in offshore wind energy export, carbon credit exchange, and fintech collaboration through the cross-border retail payment connection project using QR codes and data transmission, helping facilitate enterprises business operation. The two leaders agreed to deepen cooperation in key areas, including education, workforce training, food security, cultural and art exchanges, tourism, and aviation, business-to-business and people-to-people connectivity. PM Chinh proposed that Singapore receive Vietnamese workers under its labour visa scheme, expand the range of accepted professions, facilitate Vietnamese language education in schools with a significant number of Vietnamese students, and help promote the role of the Vietnamese expat community there. On regional and multilateral cooperation, both host and guest commended their nations close coordination and mutual support in their candidacies for posts within UN organisations. They agreed to work with other ASEAN member states to maintain the blocs solidarity, unity, and centrality, as well as to advance sustainable development in subregions, including the Mekong subregion. The two PMs agreed to maintain the shared stance of ASEAN on the East Sea, underscoring the importance of maritime and aviation freedom and safety. They said there is a need to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and foster an environment conducive to the development of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the waters (COC) in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Following their talks, the Vietnamese and Singaporean leaders witnessed the signing of several cooperation agreements, including a letter of intent on developing an action programme for the countries Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Other pacts cover offshore wind power trade, cross-border QR code payments, digital development and innovation, and people-to-people exchange. PM hosts official welcome ceremony for Singaporean counterpart Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted an official welcome ceremony for visiting Singaporean PM Lawrence Wong and his spouse at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on March 26 morning. Thailands coastline at risk as world's largest iceberg melts, Illustrative Image (Photo: thai.news) Bangkok A Thai environmental expert has warned that the countrys coastline faces a risk of disappearance within 25 years as the worlds largest iceberg, A23a, melts rapidly due to rising global temperatures, contributing to rising sea levels. Sonthi Kotchawat, an esteemed oracle of environmental and health sciences, revealed that the iceberg A23a, pning approximately 3,500 square kilometres with an average thickness of 280 metres, has been grounded off South Georgia Island near Antarctica since breaking away in 1986, local media reported. As global temperatures continue to exceed the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold set by the Paris Agreement, A23a is at risk of breaking into smaller icebergs, which can disrupt key shipping routes in the Southern Ocean. This fragmentation could also impact commercial fishing and threaten local wildlife, including seals and penguins, Sonthi said. The expert explained that when melting, the iceberg releases carbon dioxide and unlocks a cascade of nutrients into the azure watersa biochemical serenade that might spur paradoxical blooms of life in the form of plankton, whose proliferation could reverberate through food chains. According to Sonthi, in Thailand, where sea levels have already been rising by an average of 5.8 mm per year, the most vulnerable areas include Phra Samut Chedi district in Samut Prakan province, Bang Khun Thian district in Bangkok, and Bang Krachao in Samut Sakhon province. He also cited a report by UNESCO, warning that if current trends persist, severe flooding will become more frequent in Thailands low-lying areas by 2050, negatively affecting 10% of the country's population. At the invitation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse, Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and his spouse will pay an official visit to Vietnam on 25-26 March 2025. The two countries established diplomatic ties in 1973, upgraded to a Strategic Partnership in 2013, and further elevated relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in March 2025. This new framework strengthens political trust, expands cooperation, and sets a model for international partnerships based on mutual respect, sovereignty, and international law. Vietnam Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, source VNA By VNA 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. Arctic explorer crossing Svalbard in aid of Hope House Hospice This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Mar 26th, 2025 Minus 40C temperatures, 300km of tundra, Polar Bears, sea ice, frozen glaciers and a 75kg sled to pull. Thats the daunting task facing Mold-based explorer James McCorkindale when he attempts to cross the High Arctic on a never done before route across Svalbard. Setting off on in a team of three on March 27, James will be raising money for local childrens hospice Hope House Ty Gobaith. James, a 44 year old father of three, who is a personal trainer and former contestant on TVs SAS Are You Tough Enough, said: This is an unsupported journey no resupply points, no safety net. If anything goes wrong, rescue could take days. But no matter how tough this is, its nothing compared to what some families face every day. I lost a full stone on the last expedition so have gained a lot of weight for this on purpose as bodyweight is crucial when pulling a sled plus the extra insulation from body fat is handy. You burn in excess of 6,000 calories a day but only consume around 3,000 that includes porridge breakfast, 500 1,000 calorie ration packs twice a day including a few snacks during the daily distances with stops every 45 min to replenish energy levels and hydration. James friend Lee Graham will be joining him on the trip and the pair are no strangers to the dangers of the Arctic having previously completed a 200km trek across the Finnmark Plateau in Norways Arctic Circle in March 2024. The third man making up the team is their Danish friend Kasper, an experienced Arctic leader. Visiting Hope House in Oswestry before the journey begins, James said: Its such a lovely place. So bright and cheerful and not clinical like I expected. My youngest is just 9 months old and I had a bit of a moment seeing the children in the hospice. Lets make this trip count. Every penny we raise will help give children and families living with a life-threatening condition access to the care that they deserve. You can sponsor James and Leigh on their epic trip for Hope House Ty Gobaith here. Welsh Government to ban unlimited fizzy drink refills at Nandos and Five Guys This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Mar 26th, 2025 The Senedd narrowly backed plans to ban offers on unhealthy food and drinks including buy-one-get-one-free deals in an effort to tackle high rates of obesity. Senedd members voted 25-24 in favour of restricting the promotion and presentation of high fat, sugar and salt products in bigger retailers, with 50 or more employees. Small businesses will be exempt but the restrictions will apply to shops that are part of a bigger chain of 10 or more stores, such as Tesco Express. The regulations, which will come into force in March 2026, will restrict the promotion of unhealthy foods at store entrances, aisle ends, checkouts and on websites. So-called volume price restrictions will prevent retailers from offering promotions such as meal deals or three for two offers on high fat, sugar and salt products. 5bn benefits Free refill promotions on sugary drinks offered by the likes of Five Guys, Harvester and Nandos will also become a thing of the past. Around 60% of adults in Wales are overweight or obese, according to latest statistics, and nearly a quarter of children are overweight or obese by the time they start school. Impact assessments estimate the total costs of the reforms to government and industry at 432m compared with total benefits of 5.37bn including savings in the NHS. Retailers stand to lose profits of approximately 260m, with food manufacturers missing out on 167m, over the next 25 years, according to the Welsh Governments estimates. First step The reforms will apply to more than 2,000 stores, according to the impact assessments, and broadly align Wales with reforms in England. Leading a debate on the regulations on March 25, health secretary Jeremy Miles told the Senedd: Obesity is one of the main risks to our health in Wales. This is the main cause of many serious conditions, including type-two diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer. There is also a link with orthopaedic problems, poor mental health and depression. The evidence shows the environment we shop in has a great influence on our food choices. The strategy for promotion used by the food industry has an influence on what we eat. Mr Miles added: Building a sustainable health system starts with supporting people to live healthier lives, free from disease or disability. These regulations are a positive first step in embedding preventative measures in our food system. Sledgehammer James Evans, the Conservatives shadow health secretary, supported the goal of tackling obesity but opposed the Welsh Governments approach. Obesity is a real and growing issue no one denies that, he said. But the regulations being proposed by the government are not the solution. They represent a heavy-handed, top down approach and risk creating unintended consequences, particularly for those families who are already struggling. Mr Evans told the Senedd: We need to support people to make better choices, not take choices away whether its improving cooking skills, expanding access to fresh produce or making healthy food more affordable. Stressing the importance of choice and personal responsibility, the Tory described the regulations as akin to using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Entirely inadequate He added: We can and must do more to address obesity but we must do it in a way that supports people and takes people along that journey not a way that punishes people. We need a system that listens to people not lectures them. Mabon ap Gwynfor, Plaid Cymrus shadow health secretary, warned obesity places huge pressures on health and care services, leading to the suffering of far too many people. Mr ap Gwynfor accused Welsh ministers of proposing half a solution. The stick is useful, he said. But you need the carrot too. The regulations therefore are entirely inadequate. He said: There is nothing before us in the regulations to make healthy food cheaper but, more importantly, the government has failed to increase the preventative budget. Mr ap Gwynfor raised concerns about only 15 minutes being allocated to the debate, saying the Senedds health committee had no opportunity to scrutinise the regulations. Misleading The Plaid Cymru politician accused ministers of failing to frame the debate and losing public support as a result, warning of little detail on how the policy will be implemented. He said: Im afraid people will see this as nothing more than the government here once again preventing people from doing things. Thats what the public perception will be. He urged the Welsh Government to withdraw the regulations. Rejecting misleading suggestions of a lack of public involvement, Mr Miles said the proposals had been subject to two full 12-week consultations. The health secretary also hit back at the Conservatives for again agreeing with the principle but refusing to follow through on the practical steps required. By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter The Washoe County Sheriff's Office has identified a suspect arrested after allegedly threatening his neighbor with an axe, leading to a standoff, as Michael Comish. In a release, the Sheriff's Office said that Comish allegedly threatened his neighbor with an axe. When deputies arrived and attempted to make contact with Comish at his home, he refused orders to come out, and the Sheriff's Office Hostage Negotiation and SWAT teams were dispatched. According to the release, Comish refused to peacefully surrender and continued to ignore commands. The SWAT team got legal authority to enter the home and took Comish into custody. Comish was taken to an area hospital to be treated for minor injuries suffered during the incident. Once medically cleared, he will be booked into the Washoe County Detention Facility on charges including assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful act with bodily fluid, battery on a peace officer, and an FTA warrant. --- MARCH 25, 4:35 P.M. UPDATE: A suspect has been taken into custody and was being treated by REMSA following an incident on Cold Springs on Tuesday afternoon. That suspect was taken to an area hospital after being placed into custody. Deputies got a call just before 1:20 p.m. from a resident in the area of Sunset Peak Way alleging their neighbor threatened them with a deadly weapon, the Washoe County Sheriff's Office said. When authorities arrived, they went to the neighbor's house and called for him to come out. A perimeter was set up, and a SWAT team was called out. People are still asked to avoid the area as their investigation continues. A shelter-in-place order has been lifted, and there is no threat to the public. --- ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Washoe County Sheriff's Office has alerted the public that there is heavy police activity in Cold Springs area. Officials are asking people to avoid the area of Sunset Peak Way. We are currently sending a crew to collect information - we will provide more information as we receive it. German chancellor, gov't dismissed by president Xinhua) 08:53, March 26, 2025 Olaf Scholz (C) attends the first gathering of the 21st Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, on March 25, 2025. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his cabinet were officially dismissed by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Tuesday afternoon. Scholz will remain as caretaker chancellor until a new government takes office. (Xinhua/Du Zheyu) BERLIN, March 25 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his cabinet were officially dismissed by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Tuesday afternoon. Scholz will remain as caretaker chancellor until a new government takes office. The negotiation to build a ruling coalition is underway. Germany's conservative bloc, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU), took the lead in the country's 2025 federal election, followed by the Social Democratic Party (SPD). The results have paved the way for a CDU/CSU and SPD coalition. CDU leader Friedrich Merz is expected to head the new government. He has voiced the willingness to put the government in place by Easter. Also on Tuesday, CDU's Julia Kloeckner was elected as the new president of the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament. Born in 1972, Kloeckner served as a Bundestag member from 2002 to 2011. She held the position of Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection from 2009 to 2011. From 2018 to 2021, she served as minister of food and agriculture and again a member of the Bundestag from 2021. The election took place during the first gathering of the 21st Bundestag following February's election. The first sitting marks the end of the previous electoral term and the Bundestag adopted its rules of procedure. The term of the current federal government concludes with the constitution of the new Bundestag. Photo taken on March 25, 2025 shows the first gathering of the 21st Bundestag in Berlin, Germany. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his cabinet were officially dismissed by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Tuesday afternoon. Scholz will remain as caretaker chancellor until a new government takes office. (Xinhua/Du Zheyu) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Shes only 37, but Amanda Knox has wisdom beyond her years after being subjected to incredible injustice and suffering a long, painful journey that began when she was wrongfully accused of murdering her roommate while she was studying abroad in Perugia, Italy, in 2007. Within days, Knox went from being a slightly goofy, outdoorsy, book-loving college student to international tabloid fodder known as Foxy Knoxy (her Italian boyfriend at the time, Raffaele Sollecito, was also unjustly imprisoned but received far less media attention). Prosecutors were fixated on Knox as a deviant into dangerous sex games, with no reasonable evidence, and after a sensational trial, she was slapped with a 26-year prison sentence. That was overturned after four years, but the Italian court continued to insist on her guilt. She was re-convicted in 2014, then exonerated again in 2015. Members only At the same time, Rudy Guede, the real killer of Knoxs roommate, Meredith Kercher (his DNA was found at the crime scene), was largely ignored by the media. Guede spent 13 years behind bars for the murder. So, whats it like to be imprisoned for four years (when youre prone to claustrophobia, no less) and vilified across the globe for a crime you didnt commit? And what good could possibly come from it? Knoxs moving new book, Free: My Search for Meaning (March 25), answers those questions with heart-wrenching frankness. She revisits the trial, conviction, and years in prison but also offers an eloquent recounting of her experiences since returning to the U.S. Back in Seattle, she desperately tried to piece her life and sense of self together, even while Italian prosecutors relentlessly continued to revisit the case with a bizarre passion and haters threatened her with torture and death. She describes how she learned to cope with the pain, make meaning out of her misfortune, and develop a perspective on suffering that has allowed her to forgive her main accuser. Now shes married with a young daughter, Eureka, and she and her husband, Christopher Robinson, host a podcast, Labyrinths, together that focuses on stories of getting lost and the resilience and personal growth it takes to find your way again. There are lessons in Knoxs story that are particularly relevant to anyone facing hard times. Here are some. Knox arrives at a court hearing in Perugia on September 26, 2008. Federico Zirilli/AFP via Getty Images 1. Live in the present. When she was first imprisoned in Italys Capanne prison with a 26-year sentence, Knox had a dark period where she obsessed over how she might kill herself (slitting her wrists would be best, she decided). Eventually, she chose to live otherwise, she writes, lies would win the day. She realized she had to make this life worth living: The present was all that existed, as imperfect as it might be. Knox found solace in books (she was allowed three at a time) they were my therapists and my gurus particularly Mans Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankls account of life in a concentration camp (the closest thing I had to a How to Survive Prison manual, she calls it). Bhai investor hu to kuch bhi pitch karoge kya? Anupam Mittal In his latest IG video, investor & entrepreneur Anupam Mittal was seen talking about some of the most bizarre pitches hes received; from Husband return karane ki app to GenZ slang sikhane ka business. Well, if these pitches werent enough, the video then shows Anupams enthu assistant bringing him the latest invention on the block: KFC Boneless Bot, created by a dhurandar KFC fan. The video shows his enthu cutlet assistant trying to convince his boss about the brilliance of the invention. Sir yeh bot nahi ek food scientist hai jo popcorn aise pick karega and strips ko aise dip karega ki aapko aisa lagega aapke food buds ne PHD karli ho. Not fully convinced, Anupam decides to give in to his assistants plea and tries eating KFCs Boneless chicken using the Bot. He has only one reaction Bemisaal, lajawaab, out of the world! Oh, but thats not for the bot..for KFCs Boneless Chicken. Anupam then goes on to show how you dont need a BOT to eat KFCs Chicken Popcorn and Boneless Strips, kyuki Boneless Chicken khane ka sirf ek tareeka hai: PICK, POP, DIP, STRIP. The video closes with Anupam showing his assistant the correct ritual to eat Boneless, and in typical Anupam fashion, threatens leave the BOT behindbut not KFCs chicken. Anupams take on the BONELESS BOT perfectly captures how effortless it is to enjoy the finger-lickin good Boneless range with bare hands. Starting at just INR 99, KFCs Boneless Range offers two delicious options: Boneless Chicken Strips: Crispy, tender, and flavorful, perfect for dipping into Tandoori or Nashville sauce. Chicken Popcorn: Bite-sized, juicy, and packed with KFCs signature crunchjust Pick and Pop for instant satisfaction. Indias financial landscape is undergoing a profound transformation. As investors diversify their portfolios beyond traditional physical assets, the question of safeguarding valuables remains largely unaddressed. Traditional bank lockers, long considered the standard for secure storage, are plagued by limited availability, inconvenient access, and bureaucratic hurdles. Recognizing this gap, Aurm is revolutionizing wealth protection with smart, automated, and easily accessible safe deposit lockers located within gated communities. This ensures seamless security and convenience, empowering individuals to safeguard their wealth with cutting-edge technology. In this special feature episode of Crafting Bharat, Amit Somani, Managing Partner at Prime Venture Partners, speaks with Vijay Arisetty, co-founder of Aurm on the challenges faced by urban India and the innovative solutions designed to meet their need for premium and secure wealth protection. Vijay brings a unique blend of military precision, fintech expertise, and entrepreneurial vision. A former Indian Air Force helicopter pilot, Vijay transitioned to the corporate world in 2011 and, in 2015, co-founded MyGatea pioneering platform that transformed security and visitor management for gated communities. Can you tell us a little about your journey into entrepreneurship? I come from an armed forces background and served in the Indian Air Force for 10 years as a helicopter pilot. In 2010, a medical injury forced me to make a tough decisioneither continue with ground duties or look for a completely different career path. I chose the latter, pursued an MBA, and later joined Goldman Sachs, where I worked from 2011 to 2015. My transition into entrepreneurship wasnt planned. One day, I noticed delivery personnel waiting in long queues just to enter my gated community. Thats when I thought, Can technology solve this problem? That simple question led to MyGate, a security platform that streamlined visitor management and transformed how gated communities handle access. What lessons did you bring from the Air Force into entrepreneurship? One of the biggest lessons I carried over from the Air Force is airmanshipa crucial skill that goes beyond just flying an aircraft. Its about maintaining complete situational awareness, adapting to changing conditions, and making quick yet precise decisions As pilots, we were trained to constantly observe, gather data points, and anticipate challenges before they arise. This habit of staying alert, thinking ahead, and responding decisively has been invaluable in my entrepreneurial journey. Whether it was navigating the complexities of building MyGate or now scaling Aurm, this mindset has helped me stay ahead of the curve, anticipate market needs, and build solutions that truly address real-world problems. How did the idea for Aurm come about? The idea for Aurm came from my experience with MyGate. Engaging with nearly 4 million residents in gated communities, I noticed a common problemaffluent urban dwellers lacked secure storage options for their valuables. Traditional bank lockers were not a viable solution due to limited supply and restrictive access. In areas like Bellandur in Bangalore, with over 50,000 homes, only 790 bank lockers were available. We approached banks to explore a collaboration, but they were uninterested. When banks told us they were moving away from investing in physical infrastructure, we saw an opportunitywhy not build secure lockers as a premium amenity within gated communities? What makes Aurm different from traditional bank lockers? Aurm makes securing your valuables so much easier compared to a traditional bank locker. First off, you dont have to travel to a bankour lockers are right inside gated communities, so theyre always close by. Plus, youre not restricted by banking hoursyou get 24/7 access to your valuables whenever you need them. The best part is that its fully automated, like an ATM. Theres no human intervention, so only your locker is retrieved and presented to you. And unlike banks, theres no fixed deposit requirement or endless paperworksigning up is quick and hassle-free. The security we offer is top-notch, with biometric authentication, AI-powered surveillance, and intrusion alarms. And we have something unique which no bank locker providesevery locker comes with 25 lakh insurance, so your valuables are not just secure, but also covered. What has been the consumer response so far? The response has been amazing! Were currently live in seven communities, and honestly, the demand has been beyond what we expected. In every location, the first 100 lockers sold out within two weeks, and theres always a waiting list of 50+ customers. One thing that really stands out is how much women appreciate the 24/7 access. Many have told us they feel safer using Aurm lockers at any hour, which is a huge shift from the restrictions of traditional bank lockers. For me, one of the most rewarding moments was seeing women confidently accessing their valuables alone at nightsomething they wouldnt have felt comfortable doing in a bank. Whats Next for Aurm? Were expanding fast! Theres strong demand from more communities and even interest from real estate developers who see Aurm as a must-have amenity. Over the next few months, we will be bringing Aurm to more cities and residential communities, making wealth protection more accessible than ever. Beyond securing wealth, were also in discussions with leading banks and financial institutions to integrate premium financial services. Looking ahead, the vision is to evolve Aurm into a holistic financial security huba seamless blend of innovation, automation and tech-enabled wealth protection solutions that grows with our customers' needs. This conversation is a reminder that successful businesses arent built by following trendsthey are built by solving real problems that impact peoples lives. At Crafting Bharat, an initiative by NewsReach, our mission is to amplify stories of innovation and resilience, bringing forward conversations that inspire the next generation of founders. We will continue to spotlight entrepreneurs like Vijay Arisetty, whose work is shaping the future of Bharat. The Delhi High Court has pushed the deadline for a crucial report on deepfake regulation, instructing a governmental committee to finalize its findings by July 21st. The decision, made during a recent hearing, underscores the intricate nature of addressing the rapidly evolving challenges posed by manipulated digital content. The court, led by Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, mandated the extension to allow the committee, formed by the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in late November 2024, sufficient time to deliberate and incorporate input from concerned parties. The committee's mandate is to devise a comprehensive framework to govern deepfake technology, which enables the creation of highly convincing counterfeit media. The court emphasized the importance of a thorough examination, stating, "We anticipate the committee will conclude its discussions and present its report by the next scheduled hearing." This directive followed a MeitY counsel's request for a three-month extension, citing the need for more time to navigate the multifaceted aspects of deepfake regulation. The court's intervention stems from three separate petitions that raised alarms about the potential for deepfakes to spread misinformation and manipulate public perception. These petitions highlight the urgent need for regulatory measures to mitigate the risks associated with this technology, which can seamlessly alter a person's appearance and actions in digital media. The MeitY status report, presented to the court, revealed that the committee had convened twice, but required additional time to thoroughly assess the situation and formulate effective regulatory strategies. The court's decision to grant the extension reflects the recognition of the complex legal and technological considerations involved in regulating deepfake technology. Also Read: Delhi Court orders Bloomberg to remove defamatory article against ZEE A Fixed Deposit is definitely the safest and most popular mode of saving money in India. It simply implies that you deposit money with the bank (or other financial institution) for a fixed duration of time, and during this time the bank gives interest to you on the amount of money deposited. The best thing is that your return on investment can be guaranteed, and hence it is risk-free. How does a Fixed Deposit work? Fixed Deposit involves investing a specific amount in a bank for a specific time, depending on the tenure that you choose. You will have Fixed Deposit rates, which might vary with the time of selection.At the end of the tenure, you will be paid your entire principal amount with all the accrued interest. You can reinvest the money back into Fixed Deposits or withdraw it as well. Why should you invest in a Fixed Deposit? Guaranteed Returns: Fixed Deposits do not have a market risk like shares or mutual funds. Flexible Tenure: You can open an FD for a few days to several years. Higher Rates for Senior Citizens: Many banks offer a higher senior citizen FD rate that is over and above their normal FD rate. Loan Against FD: Whenever you need money urgently, instead of breaking your FD, you can avail of a loan against it. Tax Saving Option: A five-year tax-saving Fixed Deposit can be used to get tax deductions under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. Safe and Secure Investment: FDs are insured up to a certain limit by the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC); therefore, the money you invest in them remains relatively safe. Fixed Deposit rates in India Based on tenure and type of Fixed Deposit, banks in India offer different Fixed Deposit rates. Generally, the longer the tenure, the higher the rate. Senior citizens have additional benefits, as the senior citizen FD rates are generally 0.50% higher than the regular rates. Types of Fixed Deposits Regular Fixed Deposit: It is a common type of FD that allows investments for a fixed tenor with interest paid at maturity. Tax-saving FD It is a five-year FD that gives tax benefits with a lock-in period. Senior citizen FD Senior citizens qualify for this FD and can enjoy preferential Fixed Deposit rates. Flexi FD Where Savings Accounts and FDs intermingle and funds being automatically moved to FD once the balance exceeds a particular limit. Recurring FD A fixed sum is deposited every month, helping in a disciplined savings plan. NRI Fixed Deposit These special FDs are devised for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) with the options of NRE and NRO accounts. How to open a Fixed Deposit? You can open an FD both online and offline. Online process: Log onto your bank's net banking or mobile app. Open Fixed Deposit. Deposited amount and duration of tenure are entered. Choose among the different types of FD and how you'd like to be paid interest. Confirm and complete the transaction. Offline process: Visit the nearest bank branch. Fill out the form for the FD application. Required documents to be attached ID, proof of address, and PAN card. The amount is deposited and the FD receipt is collected. Final thoughts Apart from creating risk-free wealth from your earnings, you can use Fixed Deposits to prepare for future costs and retirement and secure the investment of your assets. However, before you invest, compare Fixed Deposit rates to see which one offers you the best rates. Open your FD today and make sure you are financially secure! Corona Extra, the globally recognized Mexican beer brand, had long been synonymous with refreshment and laid-back vibes since its inception in 1926. Brewed by Cerveceria Modelo and owned worldwide by AB InBev, Corona was known for its crisp, well-balanced flavor, often complemented by a signature wedge of lime. While Constellation Brands exclusively imported and marketed Corona in the US, the brand enjoyed a massive presence worldwide. This year, Corona made waves beyond the beer industry with its highly anticipated debut at Lollapalooza India. Taking over the main stage as the Corona Sunsets Stage, the brand brought together 30+ iconic global and homegrown artists, celebrating music, culture, and the magic of golden moments. To delve deeper into the partnership, Adgully spoke with Vineet Sharma, Vice President Marketing & Trade Marketing, AB InBev India, who shares his insights on why Lollapalooza India is the perfect platform for Coronas Golden Moments philosophy, potential exclusive activations and collaborations, and how AB InBev is adapting to Indias evolving premium and lifestyle-led consumer base. He also discusses the role of experiential campaigns and festival partnerships in engaging Gen Z and millennials, how Corona stays relevant amid the rise of craft beer and microbreweries, and the future of beer consumption trends in India, particularly among aspirational young consumers. Additionally, Sharma highlights key regions driving Coronas highest consumption and how AB InBev is tailoring its market strategy accordingly. What makes Lollapalooza India the ideal platform for Coronas golden moments philosophy, and can we anticipate any exclusive activations, collaborations, or limited-edition offerings around the festival? Lollapalooza India provided Corona with an exceptional stage to connect with Indias vibrant youth culture. The festivals energy mirrors Coronas spirit celebrating lifes golden moments with your friends. The Corona Sunsets Stage and immersive activations like the Ferris Wheel and Golden Vista Activation Zone brought this philosophy to life. Were committed to building on this success, delivering unique experiences, and solidifying Corona as a premium lifestyle brand in India. How is AB InBev responding to Indias evolving consumer base for premium and lifestyle-led brands such as Corona? AB InBev is deeply attuned to Indias evolving consumer preferences, particularly the desire for premium, lifestyle-centric brands. Corona is at the forefront of this shift, not just as a beer but as a lifestyle brand. Our focus is on curating premium moments for our audience through festival partnerships, immersive activations, and exclusive collaborations that seamlessly integrate with their social and aspirational lifestyles. By staying true to its ethos of freedom and golden moments, Corona continues to resonate with Indias growing base of premium consumers. What role do experiential campaigns and festival partnerships play in engaging Gen Z and millennial consumers? For Gen Z and millennials, being part of never seen before experiences matter more than material possessions. They seek immersive, shareable brand moments, making experiential marketing crucial for brands. At Lollapalooza, Corona blended seamlessly into the festival journey from the Corona Sunsets Stage to interactive experiences that deepened these emotional connections. Festival partnerships offer the perfect setting for not just organic brand storytelling but also brand story doing that is much more authentic for our consumers, turning every golden moment into a shareable experience. This strategy doesnt just build brand affinity it cements Corona as a lifestyle choice. How do you foresee beer consumption trends evolving in India, particularly among aspirational young consumers? Which regions demonstrate the highest consumption of Corona, and how is AB InBev tailoring its market strategy accordingly? We foresee continued growth in demand for premium, lifestyle-driven beer brands like Corona, fueled by Indias aspirational young LDA consumers. Cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Goa, Kolkata, Hyderabad are driving Coronas growth, thanks to their urban, social culture and affinity for global brands. AB InBev India is tailoring its strategy through bespoke activations, exclusive collaborations, and expanded urban outreach, ensuring Corona remains the premium beer of choice for Indias evolving consumer base. Given Coronas strong presence at global festivals like Lollapalooza, is AB InBev exploring collaborations with regional festivals such as Hornbill, Shillong Festival, or Ziro Festival? We see great value in regional festivals for connecting authentically with consumers. While our focus remains on delivering memorable, experience-driven moments, well strategically explore collaborations that align with Coronas premium, lifestyle-driven ethos. With the rise of low- and no-alcohol beverages in India, does AB InBev perceive an opportunity for Corona in this space? Mindful drinking is a growing trend, and we continue to closely evaluate the space in India. In fact, one of our other brands Budweiser 0.0 is the market leader in the Non-Alc Beer segment of India. Coronas core focus currently remains on expanding its presence across India with its premium beer offering, but we are always open to exploring opportunities to expand our portfolio in this segment when the opportunity is right. How does a global brand like Corona remain relevant amidst the rise of craft beer and microbreweries in India? Corona is the most valued beer brand on the planet. Coronas relevance extends beyond trends its a global icon of premium refreshment and effortless lifestyle. Our signature lime ritual isnt merely a serving suggestion its a mindful moment signaling the transition from day to night, from work to play. This positioning becomes even more powerful in a fragmented market, offering a familiar beacon of premium quality and emotional resonance. Our Lollapalooza partnership demonstrates how we are evolving for todays Indian consumer creating immersive experiences that position Corona not as an everyday beverage, but as a companion for special moments. You will continue to see this brand expanding its presence and associate with premium and like-minded partnerships across India. The Central Government is implementing a series of measures to combat the rising threat of cybercrimes, particularly digital arrest scams, as announced by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha. Recognizing that Police and Public Order are state subjects under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, the responsibility for the prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of crimes, including cybercrime, primarily falls on the State/Union Territory Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs). The Central Government is providing support to these initiatives through advisories and financial assistance aimed at capacity building within the LEAs. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles and publishes crime statistics in its annual Crime in India report. However, specific data on digital arrest scams is not separately maintained by the NCRB in its reporting Key Initiatives to Combat Cybercrime: To address cybercrimes, including the increasing prevalence of digital arrest scams, the Central Government has initiated several key steps: Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C): The Ministry of Home Affairs has established the I4C as an attached office to coordinate efforts in dealing with all types of cybercrimes across the country. The Ministry of Home Affairs has established the I4C as an attached office to coordinate efforts in dealing with all types of cybercrimes across the country. Awareness Campaign: A comprehensive public awareness program has been launched to educate citizens about digital arrest scams. This campaign includes newspaper advertisements, announcements in Delhi Metros, social media engagement through influencers, Prasar Bharti and electronic media broadcasts, special programs on Aakashvani, and public outreach events like participation in the Raahgiri Function in Delhi. A comprehensive public awareness program has been launched to educate citizens about digital arrest scams. This campaign includes newspaper advertisements, announcements in Delhi Metros, social media engagement through influencers, Prasar Bharti and electronic media broadcasts, special programs on Aakashvani, and public outreach events like participation in the Raahgiri Function in Delhi. Prime Minister's Address: The Hon'ble Prime Minister addressed the issue of digital arrests in the "Mann Ki Baat" episode on October 27, 2024, raising awareness among citizens. The Hon'ble Prime Minister addressed the issue of digital arrests in the "Mann Ki Baat" episode on October 27, 2024, raising awareness among citizens. Caller Tune Campaign: I4C, in collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has launched a caller tune campaign to promote cybercrime awareness and disseminate the Cyber Crime Helpline Number 1930 and the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP). This caller tune is also broadcast in regional languages by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) multiple times daily. I4C, in collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has launched a caller tune campaign to promote cybercrime awareness and disseminate the Cyber Crime Helpline Number 1930 and the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP). This caller tune is also broadcast in regional languages by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) multiple times daily. Proactive Blocking of Communication Channels: I4C has taken proactive measures to identify and block communication channels used for digital arrest scams, resulting in the blocking of more than 3,962 Skype IDs and 83,668 WhatsApp accounts. I4C has taken proactive measures to identify and block communication channels used for digital arrest scams, resulting in the blocking of more than 3,962 Skype IDs and 83,668 WhatsApp accounts. Public Alert: The Central Government has issued a press release to alert the public against incidents of blackmail and digital arrest by cybercriminals impersonating officials from State/UT Police, NCB, CBI, RBI, and other Law Enforcement Agencies. The Central Government has issued a press release to alert the public against incidents of blackmail and digital arrest by cybercriminals impersonating officials from State/UT Police, NCB, CBI, RBI, and other Law Enforcement Agencies. Blocking of Spoofed Calls: The Central Government and Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) have implemented a system to identify and block incoming international spoofed calls that display Indian mobile numbers but originate from outside India. Directions have been issued to TSPs for blocking such calls. As of February 28, 2025, more than 7.81 lakh SIM cards and 2,08,469 IMEIs reported by police authorities have been blocked. The Central Government and Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) have implemented a system to identify and block incoming international spoofed calls that display Indian mobile numbers but originate from outside India. Directions have been issued to TSPs for blocking such calls. As of February 28, 2025, more than 7.81 lakh SIM cards and 2,08,469 IMEIs reported by police authorities have been blocked. National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP): The NCRP (https://cybercrime.gov.in) has been launched as part of I4C to enable the public to report all types of cybercrimes, with a special focus on crimes against women and children. State/UT Law Enforcement Agencies handle incidents reported on this portal according to the law. The NCRP (https://cybercrime.gov.in) has been launched as part of I4C to enable the public to report all types of cybercrimes, with a special focus on crimes against women and children. State/UT Law Enforcement Agencies handle incidents reported on this portal according to the law. Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System: Launched in 2021, this system facilitates immediate reporting of financial frauds and helps prevent the siphoning off of funds by fraudsters. It has helped save more than Rs. 4,386 Crore in over 13.36 lakh complaints. The toll-free Helpline number 1930 is operational for assistance in lodging online cyber complaints. Launched in 2021, this system facilitates immediate reporting of financial frauds and helps prevent the siphoning off of funds by fraudsters. It has helped save more than Rs. 4,386 Crore in over 13.36 lakh complaints. The toll-free Helpline number 1930 is operational for assistance in lodging online cyber complaints. Cybercrime Awareness: The Central Government is conducting various awareness campaigns, including SMS dissemination, I4C social media presence on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) (@CyberDost), Facebook (CyberDostI4C), Instagram (cyberDostI4C), and Telegram (cyberdosti4c), radio campaigns, MyGov publicity, Cyber Safety and Security Awareness weeks with States/UTs, publishing handbooks for adolescents and students, and digital displays at railway stations and airports. These initiatives demonstrate the Central Government's commitment to addressing the growing challenge of cybercrime and protecting citizens from digital threats. Also Read: Elon Musk sues government for using IT Act to censor online content Authored by Anshul Thakur, Founder, Influir Media Marketing is undergoing a massive shift, and at the center of this transformation is Artificial Intelligence (AI). What started as an experiment with AI-generated text and images has now evolved into full-fledged AI-driven ad campaigns, digital video commercials (DVCs), and even AI-powered storytelling. From creating hyper-personalized ad copies to generating high-quality videos without human involvement, AI is reshaping content production, reducing costs, and accelerating time-to-market. The question now is: Can AI-generated content be the future of digital marketing? The Rise of AI-Generated Content in Marketing Brands today are moving beyond traditional content creation methods. With AI-powered tools like Runway ML, Midjourney, and Sora, marketers can generate realistic product shoots, conceptual ad films, and even entire video commercials (DVCs) without expensive production teams. Some key ways AI is transforming marketing content include: AI-Generated Ad Creatives AI now helps brands create compelling ad visuals, personalized captions, and even animations. Automated DVC Creation AI can generate professional-level video ads, eliminating the need for large production crews. Hyper-Personalized Storytelling AI analyzes consumer behavior and crafts tailored brand stories that resonate deeply. Synthetic Actors & Voiceovers AI can generate realistic models, voiceovers, and deepfake-style content to bring creative concepts to life. The Future: AI-Driven DVCs & Video Production AI is no longer just assisting in content creationit is now fully generating digital video commercials (DVCs) and branded content. With platforms like OpenAIs Sora and Runway ML, brands can create cinematic, high-quality commercials entirely through AI, reducing production time from weeks to hours. How AI is Revolutionizing DVCs Cost Efficiency No need for expensive studios, location scouting, or extensive production teams. Speed & Scalability AI can create and edit multiple versions of an ad in different languages and styles instantly. Unmatched Creativity AI-generated videos allow brands to experiment with unrealistic, futuristic, or surreal concepts that would be impossible or expensive to execute traditionally. Real-World Examples: How AI-Generated DVCs Are Already in Use Coca-Colas Masterpiece Campaign AI was used to blend classical art with storytelling in a visually stunning ad. Nikes AI-Powered Motion Ads AI-generated visuals and animations enhanced product storytelling. Fashion Brands Using AI Models Instead of traditional shoots, AI-created models now showcase outfits with hyper-realistic quality. The Ethical & Creative Debate: Can AI Replace Traditional Video Production? While AI-generated videos offer unparalleled efficiency and scalability, the big question remainscan AI truly replace human-led video production? AI is a tool, not a replacement Creativity still requires human input. AI lacks emotional depth and intuition. AIs role is to enhance, not eliminate The best results come from AI-human collaboration, where AI handles execution while humans focus on storytelling. Ethical Concerns AI-generated videos must be used responsibly to avoid misinformation and deepfake concerns. Final Thoughts AI-generated content is not just a trendits a fundamental shift in marketing. Brands that embrace AI-driven DVCs, automated storytelling, and AI-powered creative solutions will have a competitive edge in the coming years. The future of advertising is a blend of AI efficiency and human creativity. Marketers who can leverage AI tools effectively while maintaining brand authenticity will dominate the next era of digital marketing. Are brands ready to adopt AI-generated DVCs at scale? The next few years will decide whether AI becomes a mainstream production tool or remains an experimental innovation in marketing. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has granted partial relief to WhatsApp LLC and Meta Platforms Inc. in their appeal against an order by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The CCI had found both companies in breach of Section 4(2) of the Competition Act, 2002, and imposed a monetary penalty on Meta, along with other directives. The case originates from the CCI's suo moto cognizance of WhatsApp's 2021 update to its Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. This update drew scrutiny over potential anti-competitive practices. WhatsApp's 2021 update to its Terms of Service and Privacy Policy was not the first time the company had faced legal challenges regarding its policies. Earlier, in 2016, WhatsApp had updated its Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, which was challenged in the Delhi High Court. WhatsApp challenged the CCI's proceedings in the Delhi High Court, but its writ petition was dismissed. A subsequent appeal (LPA) was also dismissed by the Delhi High Court, and the Supreme Court also dismissed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by Meta Platforms. The Supreme Court, however, allowed that the CCI had the jurisdiction to take up the case. The CCI eventually passed an order on November 18, 2024, finding WhatsApp and Meta in violation of the Competition Act. The NCLAT's recent decision comes after hearing arguments from both the appellants and the CCI. The tribunal has stayed the implementation of a five-year ban on WhatsApp sharing user data for advertising purposes, a key part of the CCI's original order. However, the tribunal has directed WhatsApp and Meta to comply with other directives issued by the CCI, specifically those related to sharing user data for purposes other than advertising. In addition to the partial stay on the data sharing ban, the NCLAT has also addressed the monetary penalty imposed on Meta. The tribunal has directed Meta to deposit 50% of the penalty amount within two weeks. The NCLAT's order also acknowledges the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, which has been passed but is yet to be enforced. The tribunal has granted both parties the liberty to seek modification of the current order if the new data protection act or any other statutory provisions related to data protection and sharing come into effect. The tribunal has emphasized the need for an early decision in the appeals, directing the parties to complete necessary pleadings within six weeks and scheduling the hearing for March 17, 2025. This decision by the NCLAT provides partial relief to WhatsApp and Meta while underscoring the ongoing scrutiny of data privacy and competition concerns in the digital space. The case highlights the complex interplay between competition law and data protection regulations, and its implications for major tech companies operating in India. Also Read: NCLAT defers hearing on Zee-Sony merger petitions filed by IDBI Bank, Axis Finance Hindalco Industries Ltd, the metals flagship of the Aditya Birla Group, has unveiled a bold new brand identity, marking its transformation from a materials supplier to an engineered solutions provider. The refreshed identity highlights its role as a co-creator and problem solver, shaping the future of industries such as electric mobility, renewable energy, energy storage, semiconductors, and high-end electronics. In an exclusive interaction with Adgully, Nilesh Koul, Senior President & CEO Downstream Aluminium Business, Hindalco Industries Ltd, shares insights into the companys new brand identity, the rationale behind its transformation, and the design process behind the refreshed identity. He also discusses what this rebranding signifies for Hindalcos future and its positioning in the evolving industrial landscape. Could you elaborate on the significance of Hindalco Industries Limiteds new brand identity and what it represents for the company? Our new identity anchored in the promise of Engineering Better Futures reflects a deep shift in how we view our purpose. Its not just about manufacturing materials its about enabling progress. We recognize that the worlds biggest challenges like sustainability, cost-efficiency, performance, and innovation cant be tackled alone. This identity positions Hindalco as a catalyst: a partner to industries from mobility to construction, packaging to electronics, helping engineers smarter and more sustainable futures, together. What inspired the decision to launch a new brand identity, and how does it align with the companys overall vision and strategy? As the world moves towards cleaner, more circular models of growth, our role as a materials leader must evolve as well. We needed a brand identity that reflected our ambition to move from being a commodity supplier to a value-creating partner. The decision stemmed from a recognition that our customers, partners, and people expect more than just products they expect purpose, collaboration, and solutions. This brand is our way of aligning our voice with our strategy: to lead with responsibility, enable innovation, and support our partners in navigating the paradoxes of todays world. How does Hindalco Industries Limited plan to leverage its new brand identity to connect with customers, stakeholders, and the wider industry? We see this identity as a platform for dialogue and deeper engagement. Whether its through co-innovation programs, sustainability collaborations, or enhanced customer experience, we want this brand to be a reflection of the value we aim to co-create. Were not claiming to have all the answers but we do have the willingness and capability to partner with others to find them. The new identity helps us connect on shared goals like reducing emissions, improving product performance, and designing for circularity. What role do you envision the new brand identity playing in Hindalco Industries Limiteds growth and expansion plans? This brand is both a reflection of where we are and a roadmap for where were going. As we explore advanced materials, deeper R&D partnerships, and value-added applications across sectors, the identity becomes a tool to unify and inspire. It allows us to show up consistently with clarity, purpose, and credibility as a dependable partner in our customers growth journeys. Whether its light-weighting vehicles or enhancing energy efficiency in buildings, we aim to support performance with responsibility. Could you share any insights into the design process behind the new brand identity, and what makes it unique and distinctive? The process behind this identity was as collaborative as the brand promise itself. We engaged deeply with our customers, employees, design experts, and agency partners to shape something that felt both true to who we are and aspirational about who we want to become. Visually, the brand balances structure and energy clean geometry to represent strength and precision, with fluid gradients to signal transformation and progress. Its a system built not just to be seen, but to be experienced across industries, touchpoints, and generations. How does the new brand identity reflect Hindalco Industries Limiteds values and commitment to sustainability, innovation, and customer satisfaction? Sustainability and innovation are at the core of how we work and the new identity brings that commitment to the forefront. It signals our shift from simply delivering materials to enabling better outcomes. Were investing in green aluminum, pioneering recycling practices, and co-developing next-generation applications with our customers. But we also know we cant achieve this alone. This brand is our way of saying: were here to collaborate to help our partners solve tough trade-offs and shape solutions that are better for business, for society, and for the planet. Adgullys special feature section Offbeat seeks to give a peek into the lesser known facets of our very well-known industry leaders. We present video interactions with the prominent industry leaders on areas that are not usually highlighted in regular media coverage be it about their childhood days, secret skills that they possess, how they unwind from their hectic schedules, and much more In this offbeat conversation, Adgully explores the lighter, lesser-known side of Prashant Mathur, Vice President, CXM, dentsu India. Mathur reveals his unique perspectives, creative quirks, and a touch of wit. From breaking business norms to dream dinner guests, he shares candid answers that offer a fresh take on leadership, marketing, and the power of unconventional thinking. What is a widely accepted business rule that you completely disagree with? I completely disagree with the 9-to-5 work culture. While I believe in dedicated work hours, I also feel that people should have the flexibility to decide when they are most productive. What is a creative ritual you follow to generate new ideas? Reading. I read a lot because it gives me insights into other peoples perspectives, which helps me stay creative. What is an unusual hiring question you like to ask candidates? Actually, I dont ask unusual questions. I prefer asking regular questions and look for unusual answers. I also believe that in an interview, people dont always say what they truly mean, so I try to understand whats left unsaid. If your leadership style were a cocktail, what would it be called? Dry Martini shaken, not stirred! What is the most radical business idea youve had but never acted upon? I once thought about creating a portal where people could report corruption in their daily lives and post pictures as evidence. But when I reached out for support, everyone was too scared to back it and eventually, so was I. If you could have dinner with an entrepreneur from any era, who would you choose? Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. His philosophy of non-violence and problem-solving is something I deeply admire, and I think it could be adapted in todays business and leadership context. If you could read the mind of one marketing leader for a day, whose would it be? Narendra Modi. If AI could handle 90% of your work, whats the 10% youd never give up? Thinking. Sony Marathi proudly announces the launch of Kon Honar Maharashtracha Ladka Kirtankar, Indias first reality show dedicated to celebrating the sacred and artistic tradition of Kirtan. With 108 participants from all 36 districts of Maharashtra, the show is a heartfelt tribute to the timeless art of spiritual storytellingan art form that has resonated across generations. The unveiling event in Mumbai was graced by the Honourable Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, who revealed the magnificent Veena-shaped silver trophy handcrafted by the legendary P. N. Gadgil Jewellers. Shri Gaurav Banerjee (MD & CEO, Sony Pictures Networks India) and stalwarts from the Kirtan community were also in attendance. Held as a devotional evening, the launch featured a mesmerising Kirtan performance by Avadhoot Sudhir Gandhi. Esteemed judgesHari Bhakta Parayan (H.B.P.) Radhatai Sanap and H.B.P. Jagannath Maharaj Patilwere felicitated, along with the shows anchor and renowned lyricist, Ishwar Andhare. H.B.P. Radhatai Sanap has brought glory and prestige to Mahasangvi Sansthan by creating social awareness through her Kirtans, especially about education and other societal causes. Through his Kirtans delivered in an authentic local dialect, H.B.P. Jagannath Maharaj Patil raises awareness on similar themes, making his performances both impactful and relatable. Adding spiritual significance to the evening, the Chief Minister honoured descendants of Maharashtra's most revered saints for preserving this rich tradition. Attendees included: H.B.P. Madhav Maharaj Namdas (descendant of Sant Namdev Maharaj) (descendant of Sant Namdev Maharaj) H.B.P. Ravikant Maharaj Vasekar (descendant of Sant Savata Maharaj) (descendant of Sant Savata Maharaj) H.B.P. Jabbar Maharaj Sheikh (descendant of Sant Sheikh Muhammad) (descendant of Sant Sheikh Muhammad) H.B.P. Bapusaheb Maharaj Dehukar (descendant of Sant Tukaram) (descendant of Sant Tukaram) H.B.P. Janardan Maharaj Jagnade (descendant of Santaji Jagnade) (descendant of Santaji Jagnade) H.B.P. Gopalbuwa Makashir (descendant of Sant Nilobaray) (descendant of Sant Nilobaray) H.B.P. Pramod Pathak (descendant of Sant Bahinabai) Their presence added reverence and depth to the evening, highlighting the spiritual lineage that the show seeks to celebrate. Comments : Honourable Chief Minister, Shri Devendra Fadnavis: Maharashtras rich spiritual heritage has always been its strengthand Kirtan is at the heart of that legacy. It has educated, uplifted, and united generations through devotion and storytelling. I commend Sony Marathi for creating a platform that honours this tradition while bringing it to a new generation. Kon Honar Maharashtracha Ladka Kirtankar is not just a show but a cultural movement that will keep our sacred legacy alive and thriving." Gaurav Banerjee, MD & CEO of Sony Pictures Networks India: At Sony Pictures Networks India, were passionate about telling stories that resonate deeply and authentically. Kon Honar Maharashtracha Ladka Kirtankar is more than just a showits a celebration of Maharashtras spiritual legacy, brought alive through soul-stirring storytelling and devotion. At Sony Marathi, our philosophy of Vinuya Atut Naati is about building lasting emotional bonds with our audience, and this show embodies that spirit perfectly. Kirtan has long been at the heart of Marathi culture, bridging spiritual teachings and social commentary through lyrical narratives. Long before the advent of the printing press, Kirtankars served as messengers of knowledge, morality, and devotion. Recognising its timeless relevance, Sony Marathi is revitalising this sacred tradition for todays audiences. To ensure authenticity, the show is guided by acclaimed Kirtan composer and scholar Sadanand More, acclaimed writer, poet, playwright, critic, historian and a stalwart in Sant Sahitya. Tune in to the 'Kon Honar Maharashtracha Ladka Kirtankar' grand premiere on April 1, 2025, at 8:00 PMonly on Sony Marathi. And let the spirit of devotion unfold every Monday to Saturday. Communal Clash Erupts in Hazaribag Over Objectionable Song, FIR Against 210 People Sparks Political Uproar 2 Tensions flared in Jharkhands Hazaribag after a violent clash broke out between two communities during a Ram Navami procession, with stone-pelting reported from both sides. The confrontation allegedly started over the playing of an objectionable song as the Mangla Julus procession passed from Panch Mandir Chowk to Jhanda Chowk near Jama Masjid on Tuesday. Following the violence, an FIR was lodged against 10 named individuals and 200 unidentified persons at Sadar police station. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Radha Krishna Kishore informed the state assembly that police and magistrates attempted to control the escalating chaos, eventually resorting to firing two rounds in the air to disperse the crowd and protect property. Additional police forces and magistrates were deployed in sensitive areas after the situation was brought under control. The Jharkhand Assembly witnessed heated scenes, with BJP MLAs storming the Well of the House and demanding strict action against those involved. Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi questioned why disturbances repeatedly occur during Hindu festivals and urged the government to use modern technology like drones and CCTV to identify culprits. Kishore assured that the government is investigating the incident and committed to maintaining communal harmony in the state. Terror Funding Accused MP Engineer Rashid Allowed to Attend Parliament Under Police Custody 2 The Delhi High Court has granted permission to jailed Jammu and Kashmir MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh, also known as Engineer Rashid, to attend the ongoing Parliament session while remaining in police custody. Rashid, who is facing trial under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for a 2017 terror funding case, will be escorted by police to and from Parliament from March 26 to April 4. A bench comprising Justices Chandra Dhari Singh and Anup Jairam Bhambhani ruled that Rashid can attend the Lok Sabha proceedings but with stringent conditions. During this period, he will not be allowed to use mobile phones, landlines, or have any interaction with the media. Rashid had challenged a trial court order dated March 10, which had denied him custody parole or interim bail to attend Parliament. The High Courts decision comes amidst growing political debates around allowing individuals facing serious charges to participate in legislative duties. Grace McClusky, a Center Star Fire District firefighter, was shot Tuesday, March 25, 2025, when she stopped to help a car wreck victim who turned out to be a robbery suspect. (Center Star Fire District) An Alabama firefighter was shot after a bank robbery when she saw a wreck and stopped to help the driver. Grace McClusky, a Center Star Fire District firefighter in Lauderdale County, was on her way home from work Tuesday when she came upon a crashed vehicle. She immediately pulled over to render aid, unaware that the individual involved was engaged in a police pursuit with local law enforcement, according to Center Star officials in a Facebook post. Without hesitation, she acted in accordance with her training, prioritizing the well-being of those in need, the post read. Tragically, in the course of her response, she was shotan unimaginable consequence for simply doing what she has dedicated her life to: helping others. The incident also left the suspect dead and a Florence police officer wounded. ALEA on Wednesday identified the slain man as Louis Michael Hill. He was 26 and lived in Rogersville. The ordeal began shortly before 3 p.m. when Florence police and Lauderdale County sheriff deputies responded to PNC Bank on Cox Creek Parkway. Florence police were on the scene of a shooting Tuesday, March 25, 2025 on U.S. 72 near Shoals Outdoor Sports. Florence police They had been dispatched to a welfare check involving a man who had reportedly threatened to rob the bank. As officers and deputies arrived on scene, the man was seen leaving the bank. At a news conference later, police said the man was reportedly acting erratic. A vehicle pursuit ensued and ended when the suspects vehicle collided with another vehicle on U.S. 72, just east of County Road 323. Hill, ALEA said, then tried to steal another vehicle, believed to be that of McCluskey, and advanced toward law enforcement officers. Gunfire was then exchanged. One of the officers was struck in the shoulder, and McCluskey was also hit. Both are recovering. The Hill was pronounced dead on the scene. The State Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation. We are immensely relieved and grateful to report that Firefighter McClusky is doing well and is now recovering at home, Center Star officials said. Her strength and resilience serve as a testament to her character, and we are confident that she will make a full recovery. We ask for the continued thoughts and prayers of our community, not only for Firefighter McClusky but also for the Florence police officer who was injured in the same incident, they wrote. Their dedication to serving and protecting others is a reminder of the risks that first responders face every day. A Birmingham man has been indicted in the rape of a 77-year-old woman that happened nearly 15 years ago. A Jefferson County grand jury in January indicted 34-year-old Julian Delance Poole on charges of first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy and first-degree burglary. The attack happened about 2:30 a.m. Aug. 18, 2010, in Grayson Valley. The victim, who used an oxygen tank, was asleep when she awoke to find a man standing by her bed. The man attacked and sexually assaulted her, Jefferson County sheriffs officials said at the time. He asked her where she kept her gold and cash and left the room telling her not to call the police. She waited ten minutes and called 911. Money was taken from her purse. The victim was treated on the scene by paramedics and taken to a hospital. Deputies said her attacker broke a window to enter the house. Deputies searched the area for him but to no avail. There were no suspects or leads, and the case went cold, said spokesman Henry Irby. However, evidence collected at that time proved to be crucial to later identifying Poole as the suspect. Detectives followed up on available evidence and were able to identify the suspect, Irby said. They believed the case was particularly heinous and deserved a second look. Irby said additional details arent being released at this time. Poole was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force in August. The case was then presented to the grand jury which return the indictments on Jan. 17, 2025. Our detectives never stop working a case, Sheriff Mark Pettway said. I am proud of their tenacity in identifying this suspect. Poole remains in the Jefferson County Jail. Anyone with additional information on the case is asked to call investigators at 205-325-1450. An Alabama judge heard conflicting testimony on Tuesday about newly released body camera video that captured the moments before a police officer fatally shot an armed Black man outside of his home, in a case that highlights the complex legal questions that arise after police shootings in states with stand your ground laws and widespread gun ownership. Mac Marquette, 25, is charged with murder for fatally shooting Steve Perkins just before 2 a.m. on September 29, 2023, while accompanying a tow-truck driver to repossess Perkins truck at his home in Decatur, Alabama. The body camera video shown in court appears to confirm officers testimony that Perkins pointed a gun at Marquette. But the law enforcement expert who investigated the shooting says that Marquette also had the opportunity to potentially avoid a violent confrontation altogether. Circuit court judge Charles Elliot heard arguments on Tuesday about whether Marquette should be shielded from prosecution by Alabamas stand your ground law, which grants immunity from prosecution to any individual who uses deadly force as long as they are in a place they have a right to be and reasonably believe they are in danger. Stand your ground laws have proliferated nationally after the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin in 2012, sparking debate about race, gun laws and self-defense. Upward of 30 states have some form of the law, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Marquette was one of three officers who was dispatched to help Caleb Combs after he called the police to report Perkins for pointing a gun at his chest when Combs tried to repossess Perkins truck. Combs, who was authorized by Perkins creditor to repossess the truck, said he wanted to retry the seizure but said he would not go back alone. All three officers were out of sight from Perkins front door when Combs returned to Perkins home with his tow-truck, according to body camera video. Marquette and another officer, Joey Williams, stood at the side of the house. Attorneys relied on a beam visible in the body camera video that was cast by a tactical light attached to Perkins handgun to identify where his weapon was pointed when he emerged from his house for the second time. When Combs tried again to repossess Perkins pickup truck, the beam appeared to indicate that Perkins pointed his gun towards Combs. Videos from both two of the officers body cameras then show Marquette rounding the corner to confront Perkins. In a matter of seconds, Perkins appears to point the gun at Marquette, who shouted Police, get on the ground and almost instantly fired approximately 17 bullets, killing Perkins. Just before Marquette opened fire, body camera video appears to show the light from Perkins gun pointing upwards against his house, away from Marquette. Prosecutors said that indicated that Perkins tried to raise his arms in surrender before he was killed. Judge Elliot didnt review Marquettes body camera video. Perkins didnt fire any bullets but his gun was found with a depressed trigger, according to the state law enforcement agent who investigated the shooting. The agent, Jamie King, said it is not clear when the trigger was pulled, and that the chamber was empty. That was the most scared Ive ever been, Marquette said in an interview he gave investigators immediately after the shooting, according to an audio recording played in court. King said that the officers had reasonable belief that Perkins was going to use deadly force and had to make a quick decision. But he also questioned why the officers were there in the first place, and said there were other police tactics that could have avoided the situation altogether. Creditors dont need a judge to authorize the repossession a vehicle if a person fails to make loan payments. But Alabama law requires a court order if there is a breach of the peace in the initial attempt to seize the vehicle, and law enforcement is prohibited from assisting the repossession without a judges authorization. Officer Christopher Mukkadam and Williams both testified that they werent assisting with the repossession, which would violate Alabama law, but were instead providing a civil escort that was routinely done to keep the peace. All witnesses agreed that there was a breach of peace when Combs initially tried to seize Perkins truck. King said that officers exceeded the scope of their responsibilities because they didnt have a court order authorizing the vehicle seizure. In order to keep the peace you need officer presence, and officer presence means an officer had to be visible, King said. The hearing comes on the heels of two years of intense conflict and protest about Perkins death in the northern Alabama city of approximately 60,000 people. Perkins wife and mother both left while the body camera video of the shooting played. Over 100 people filled the courtroom to capacity on Tuesday. Some wearing shirts that read back the blue sat in the benches behind Marquette. Across the aisle, others wore shirts that read #IAmStevePerkins and sat behind Perkins family. Elliot will hear arguments from both sides on Wednesday. If he denies the former officer immunity, Marquettes trial will begin on April 7. Franklin Edwards was taken into custody by Alabama State Fire Marshals Deputies on theft charges Friday. (Photo courtesy of Alabama State Fire Marshal's Office) The former interim Selma fire chief has been convicted of leaving the scene of a deadly hit-and-run on I-59/20 near Bessemer, but he was acquitted of a more serious charge. A Jefferson County Bessemer Cutoff jury convicted 54-year-old Franklin Nelson Edwards of leaving the scene of an accident causing death. The jury found him not guilty of manslaughter. The fatal crash happened at 11:50 p.m. that Friday, June 26, 2020, on Interstate 59/20 southbound at mile marker 102. Matthew Scott Sartin, a 22-year-old from Pineville, Louisiana, was killed in the crash. He was pronounced dead at 1:04 a.m. According to troopers, Sartin was driving a 2000 BMW 1200 motorcycle. After troopers secured the scene, they found a 2009 BMW 750 sedan about two miles south of the crash. It was disabled and abandoned. Investigators determined the vehicle had been driven by Edwards. Edwards sentencing on the Class C felony conviction is set for April 7. Edwards was arrested in 2024 on unrelated first-degree theft charges. He was taken into custody by Alabama State Fire Marshals Office deputies with assistance from the Dallas County sheriffs deputies. He is accused of stealing $4,400 from the City of Selma. That case has been forwarded to a grand jury for indictment consideration. A domestic dispute on Birmingham's Navarro Lane April 2, 2024, ended with a man dead and a woman in custody. (Carol Robinson) A Jasper woman has been indicted in the 2024 shooting death of her boyfriend in Birmingham. A Jefferson County grand jury returned the murder indictment against 31-year-old Kayla Michelle White on March 7, and the indictment was made public Tuesday. Whites boyfriend, 27-year-old Joshua Jack Hayes, was killed just before 11 a.m. April 2 at his home on Navarro Lane. Police at the time said a domestic disturbance had escalated to gunfire, killing Hayes. White, who called 911 after the shooting, told detectives that Hayes was threatening suicide. When she tried to take the gun away from, she said, the gun discharged, striking Hayes one time, according to court records. Joshua Hayes (Contributed) White was questioned that day, and released without being charged. A couple of months later, detectives obtained the murder warrant for White. She was taken into custody during a traffic stop in Helena. Jefferson County District Judge Maria Fortune initially denied White bond after an Aniahs Law hearing citing, in part, Whites multiple previous convictions on theft-related crimes in St. Clair and Jefferson counties, as well as Denver. In January 2025, White was given a $40,000 bond, put on electronic monitoring and ordered to complete one year of drug treatment while awaiting trial. Hayes obituary described him as a man of many talents, interests and hobbies. Hayes was a skilled musician who played trumpet, French horn and violin, previously playing with the Huntsville Youth Orchestra and the East Limestone marching and concert bands. As a youth, he was also a member of the Young Marines. A trial date for white has not been announced. A 30-year-old Birmingham man is in custody after a standoff in northern Birmingham. North Precinct officers were dispatched about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to investigate the robbery and shooting of a man. The victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries and told police he knew his attacker. Police identified the suspect as 30-year-old Tarrence Jennings and learned he was barricaded inside his apartment in the 2900 block of 12th Avenue North, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald. The police departments SWAT team responded and eventually took Jennings into custody. Officers learned Jennings had an outstanding warrant for domestic violence stemming from an unrelated incident. Jennings is being held in the Birmingham City Jail and faces new charges of robbery and felony assault. A 49-year-old lineman from Tennessee has died after he was hit by a drunk driver while in Alabama working on storm repairs and cleanup. Thomas Dewayne Drew Ferrell, 49, died Tuesday at UAB Hospital, said Talladega County Coroner Shaddix Murphy. The crash happened Sunday, March 16. Authorities said Ferrell, who worked for ARTIS Power construction, was working on power lines at the intersection of Ashland Highway/Mount Olive Circle and Mountain View Road when he was hit. Police told the Anniston Star that Ferrell, of Cottonwood, Tenn., was walking across Ashland Highway in a fluorescent green safety jacket when he was hit by a 1995 Nissan pickup, driven by 45-year-old Miguel Manzano-Martinez of Talladega. Witnesses say Martinez was passing cars and driving erratically before Ferrell was hit. Court records show Martinez is charged with first-degree assault and driving under the influence. Those charges could be upgraded following Ferrells death. He remains held in the Talladega County Jail on $50,000 bond. His first court date is set for next month. The Jackson County School Board voted unanimously on Wednesday to close Flat Rock School at the end of this academic year, according to Superintendent Jason Davidson. In an email to AL.com, Davidson cited low classroom attendance, staffing issues, and lack of opportunities for students as motivations for closing the school. We are responsible for being good stewards of taxpayers dollars and have to look at whats best for ALL of Jackson County students, he wrote. This school year, only 64 students are enrolled in total at Flat Rock from Pre-K to sixth grade, according to Davidson. Due to low student numbers, teachers at the school have been responsible for multiple classrooms, and most are teaching as many as five subjects at a time, he added. Getting the same person adequately prepared in each subject is nearly impossible, Davidson wrote. The school is also currently operating without a counselor, he said. Current Flat Rock students will finish the remainder of the school year as planned and can then feed into one of the countys other nearby schools like Rosalie Elementary or Pisgah High School, according to Davidson. Despite the schools challenges, many members of the Flat Rock community have recently taken to social media to mourn its impending loss. The school was founded in 1905 as a mission school by the United Methodist Church Conference, according to the school systems website. The church school in 1929 was purchased by the state and became a public school for grades one through nine. Earlier this month, Flat Rock mother Sarah Wooten filed a petition on Change.org in an attempt to keep the school open. Our lives, particularly those of our kids, are directly intertwined with our small community school, Flat Rock, she wrote. My son, who just joined PreK this year, has his world centered around this warm and nurturing space. The one-on-one time he gets with his teachers has ensured tremendous growth and learning, something bigger schools with larger classrooms cannot guarantee. The closure of our school means uprooting our children, forcing them into unknown territories which can negatively impact their learning and overall development, she continued. Children thrive in environments where they feel comfortable and safe. Smaller class sizes, as demonstrated by several research studies, often have a greater impact on student achievement than larger ones. The petition had received 365 signatures as of Mar. 26. Our school has been serving the community for years, shaping generations, and building the fabric of our society, Wooten wrote. It is heartbreaking for us to see our beloved school having to close its doors...Society functions on the strength of its communities, and schools play an integral part in building these communities. A foster mother whose children also attend Flat Rock joined in praising the schools nurturing environment. If every school was like Flat Rock School, this world would be a better place, she wrote in a post to Facebook. Cindyana Santangelo arrives at the Associates For Breast & Prostate Cancer Studies Mothers Day Luncheon honoring Ricardo Antonio Chavira & Lisa Rinna at the Four Seasons Hotel on May 4, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic via Getty Images) FilmMagic Cindyana Santangelo, known for roles in Married with Children and CSI:Miami, has died at the age of 58. According to TMZ, emergency personnel was called to the actress home in Malibu. She was later pronounced dead at the hospital. TMZ, citing sources, reports Santangelo got cosmetic shots in the day before her death. A cause of death will be determined after the autopsy results, but there were no signs of foul play. Santangelo posted to Instagram just last week to celebrate her sisters birthday. Happy Birthday to my beautiful Seaster! she posted. My friendship with you is a gift, but today is extra special because its all about YOU! Your kindness, love, and laughter make life so much better. Im beyond grateful to have you by my side, and I cant wait to celebrate many more years together! Cheers to another amazing year, my Wifey for Lifey! Santangelo was best known for her recurring role as Sierra Madre, a dancer at the Jiggly Room on Married with Children, but she also appeared on CSI: Miami, E.R., and more. 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. On the day before a Venus change, you may set out with a specific vision, hoping to capture something precise, but the world is full of currents beyond your control. What drifts into your net is not only what you intended but what was moving in the same direction or stirred by your effort -- perhaps what you didnt even know you needed. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Youll create the boundaries and routines that give you the foundation to thrive in your own unique way. Productivity will rise. Your time is coming. This is just the beginning. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Emotional labor sustains relationships, but when unevenly distributed, it becomes an unseen burden. Encourage everyone to contribute. It will prevent one person from carrying too much and fostering resentment. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). If youre toiling away in a Cinderella situation, surrounded by the spoiled and ungrateful, your sweat and tears arent helping. Dont wait for mice, birds or royalty to rescue you. Break free -- the real fairy tale begins when you take the first step. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Weakness becomes strength when it forces you to adapt in ways that others wouldnt. When a limitation makes you more creative, more empathetic, or more resilient, it stops being a drawback and starts shaping something powerful within you. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Mystery is working in your favor today. Theres power in leaving things unsaid. Keep them curious by sharing just enough, but never everything. Let them lean in. People are drawn to what they cant quite grasp. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You may not feel like youre influencing much, but this is because you dont know whats in the hearts and minds of others and arent aware of how they see you. While others may be caught in the noise, your presence, which is stronger than ever, will quietly make a difference. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Boredom arises when something stands in the way of your curiosity. But once that restriction is lifted, the door will open to the knowledge or experience youve been yearning for. The answers you seek will be there waiting for you. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). There are teachers in the usual places when you need them, though todays best education emerges from your situation. Youre paying attention to the way the world is working and that is a lesson in and of itself. Every encounter is an opportunity to learn. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The chemical flood brought on by anger is a drug, though not all are addicted. The topic comes up today. Youll witness various styles and welcome opportunities to understand people based on how they work through frustration, irritation or anger. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Rest is fuel, water is medicine, and taking care of yourself isnt a luxury -- its foundational. Its hard to chase big dreams when youre running on fumes. Clarity, resilience, and joy come easier when your body has what it needs. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You listen well and figure out what people need. Because youre sensing at a deep level, sometimes people are not even aware they have the sort of needs you address. They feel seen and valued in your presence. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Fear signals that youre on the verge of something important. Your fear is rooted in the awareness that stepping into discomfort is what will unlock deeper layers of your potential and lead to growth. TODAYS BIRTHDAY (March 26). Because youre determined to flesh out your idea, youll make something monumental, something you can look back on with pride. The process wont always be easy, but the result will be a work of lasting impact. The relationship sector gets a major glow-up. A major reunion, a victorious breakthrough and a new source of joy that feels like it was made just for you. Virgo and Pisces adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 11, 13, 50, 34 and 16. CELEBRITY PROFILES: Keira Knightley will be returning to the high seas without the pirates in the upcoming Netflix thriller The Woman in Cabin 10, in which the Aries actress stars as Lo Blacklock, a travel journalist who becomes entangled in a mysterious incident aboard a luxury yacht. Knightley was born when Mercury and Venus were also in the high-energy sign of the ram. Her Gemini moon lends the gift of versatility, style and wit. 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 e-book. Visit creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com. City of Miami Beach police officers patrol on Ocean Drive during spring break Thursday, March 13, 2025, in Miami Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) AP As spring breakers head to beaches along the countrys southeastern coast, several beach towns are cracking down. The city of Miami Beach, one of the premier Spring Break destinations, has led the charge in trying to deter excessive partying and chaos during the travel season. Miami Beachs implementation of stricter rules this year during Spring Break is being heralded by city officials for maintaining a calmer environment than previous years. As part of the citys crackdown new rules include increased parking rates on the busiest weekends, increase in towing rates, closed parking garages, increased police presence and DUI security checkpoints. However, business owners have complained that the changes have had an adverse effect on their profits by driving out visitors. Mitch Novick, owner of Sherbrooke Hotel, told CBS News that while the lack of chaos is welcome the effects on businesses have been disastrous. This year has been disastrous for many businesses down here, at least the ones Ive spoken to, Novick said. Its the draconian restrictions that have been put in place. Over the weekend beachgoers were put off by the strict regulations and headed to other nearby beach locations at Fort Lauderdale and Sunny Isles Beach. It was reported by Fox News that Sunny Isles police ended a, large, non-permitted spring break gathering. Lisa Svechin, mayor of Sunny Isles, said that while tourism is important local leaders of beach towns are turning to prioritize the safety of residents. As you establish yourself more, and youre able to have businesses and long-term residents, not so many transient residents as we used to, you start to have certain values of the city, Svechin told Fox News. As for Alabama, officials in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach both issued warnings to spring breakers that laws will be enforced and there will be increased police presence during Spring Break. The Women's Honor Guard of the Muscogee Creek Nation during the ceremony Jake Wilson Members of the Muscogee Creek Nation memorialized the battle at Horseshoe Bend in Alabama March 22 at the site where 800 of their ancestors died in a struggle against United States forces 211 years ago. Leaders of the nation laid red wreaths to honor the men, women and children who died. Over three hours, tribal and U.S. flags were raised, tribal leaders gave speeches in the Muscogee language and the tribe presented a blanket to the acting park superintendent as thanks for maintaining the site. Tribal leaders spoke about memorializing the battle as a story of cultural survival, said RaeLynn Butler, secretary of culture and humanities for the nation. Even though so many died that day, many survived, she said. It only took one to survive in order for you to be here. The battlefield is now part of a national park site in Tallapoosa County, Alabama. A tornado struck the area during severe storms earlier this month causing damage. The annual ceremony could not be held in public as it normally is, said Butler. At the ceremony on Saturday, tribal leaders laid red wreaths to honor the warriors, known as Red Sticks, who fought at the battle. Six eagle feathers on the wreaths represent the tribal towns that were present at the site in 1814. The wreath is red to honor the warriors who fought at the battle Jake Wilson On March 27, 1814, Andrew Jackson, not yet a president, led 3,000 soldiers to attack the tribes that had taken refuge on the land. The battle, which caused great loss of life for the tribes, was a turning point in white settler expansion and forced removal of the tribes from the region. The Muscogee Creek Nation was later forced to walk over 800 miles from Alabama to Oklahoma, as a part of the Trail of Tears, said Butler. Butler noted that a historical marker at the entrance to the park states that Andrew Jackson broke the Muscogee Nation. Thats not true, she said. The Muscogee people are here telling our story. The Montgomery Zoo this week announced the birth of a female pygmy hippopotamus. Anuket was actually born on Feb. 9 but has spent the last month bonding with her mother behind the scenes, according to the zoo. Named for the Egyptian goddess of the Nile River, Anuket is the child of mother Lola and father Nile. She is Niles first daughter. Zoo visitors can now see her in the Pygmy Hippo nursing suite located near the capybaras. She made her public debut March 14. This is the eighth pygmy hippo birth at the Montgomery Zoo in the past nine years. Anuket is described as full of energy, feisty, yet full of love, with a particular fondness for watermelon. Pygmy hippos, native to the forests and swamps of western Africa, are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). A cousin of the much larger common hippopotamus, the pygmy hippo is semi-aquatic, and relies on proximity to water to maintain moisturized skin and a cool body temperature. Reclusive and nocturnal, it is a difficult animal to study in the wild, though they breed well in captivity. Full grown, the pygmy hippo typically reaches 30 to 32 inches in height, 59 to 70 inches in length, and 400 to 600 pounds in weight. It is estimated that pygmy hippos can grow to ten times their birth weight by the age of five months. The zoos previous calvesRonda (2024), Meela (2023), Hadari (2022), Betty Rose and Blanche (2019), Levi (2018), and Monty (2016)have all been placed at other accredited facilities to support the continued growth of this endangered species. State workers removed Roy Moore's Ten Commandments monument from the Alabama Judicial Building in 2003, but if anyone thought the argument was settled, a new wave of bills will soon bring such displays back into court. Mike Kittrell This is an opinion column. Stop me if youve heard this one before. A bill before the Alabama Legislature would require the Ten Commandments to be displayed prominently in every Alabama school. The legislation follows a call by Gov. Kay Ivey in her most recent State of the State Address to hang the Almightys Top Ten in classrooms throughout the state. That sensation you might be experiencing is Alabama deja vu, where our state ignores history in the hopes that we might repeat it. But in this case, insanity isnt doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. The insanity, this time, is that something different might happen thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court. Deja vu, all over again In Alabama, the Ten Commandments isnt only a religious text, but an incantation. Repeat those words too many times and Roy Moore might emerge from the void to rant about the Founding Fathers. But when it comes to legal history, Alabamas Ten Commandments Judge was mostly a side character too late to be of any significance then and too early to be of any significance today. No, this story starts in Kentucky. In 1980, Kentucky went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to defend a law that and this might sound familiar required the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools. In Stone v. Graham, the court ruled that such displays violated were unconstitutional. Over and done, then? Hardly. Religious folks who couldnt take no for an answer have been trying to find a loophole ever since. When Moore hung his hand-carved Ten Commandments plaque on his Gadsden courtroom wall in 1992, the Stone decision had been in place for 12 years. Moore rode the media attention, winning election to the Alabama Supreme Court, where as chief justice, he installed a washing machine-sized monument of the Big Ten (complete with a Roy Moore copyright carved into its base). A federal judge ordered the monument removed, and when Moore refused, the Alabama Court of the Judiciary removed Moore from the bench. Meanwhile and elsewhere While Moore won the war for media attention, the more important legal battles over religious displays on public property were being waged in other states. Twenty-five years after Stone, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down two seemingly contradictory decisions regarding the Ten Commandments on the same day in 2005. Some judges in Kentucky those guys again followed Roy Moores lead, decorating a courthouse with the Ten Commandments. That case landed before the high court. In McCreary County v. ACLU of Kentucky, the court ruled against Kentuckys religious displays again. But in the other case, Van Orden v. Perry, the court ruled that a nearly 40-year-old Ten Commandments monument on the Texas capitol grounds in Austin could stay put. Four of the justices said the monument had a historic and secular context, but the important voice in this case was the swing vote, Justice Stephen Breyer. Breyer believed that the government should remain neutral regarding religion. While new displays might violate such neutrality, Breyer believed ripping up decades-old monuments, not previously subject of any controversy, would violate that neutrality, too. In short, Breyers opinion defended old religious displays on public grounds. But now folks want to use that case to create new ones. Back to the (Alabama) future Fast forward 20 years, and Alabama today is just one of a handful of states trying to deck the halls of public buildings with the Ten Commandments. The latest Ten Commandments bill before the Alabama Legislature attempts to thread a needle. The bill tries to use that SCOTUS ruling about old displays, which the bill plainly mentions, as cover for putting up new displays in Alabama schools. The bill frames the Ten Commandments as a secular thing, a foundational document and legal ancestor to the U.S. Constitution and American justice system, along with the Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence. This argument might hold muster if it required those documents to be displayed, too, but it doesnt only the Ten Commandments and thats where it tells on itself. Alabama is not alone. Louisiana passed a very similar bill as in identical sentences, copied and pasted into law last year. More states, including Texas, Mississippi and Pennsylvania, are considering similar bills. When he signed the Louisiana bill into law, Gov. Jeff Landry said he hoped hed get sued. He got his wish. A federal judge has since ruled the law was unconstitutional on its face. That case is still making its way through the courts. Meanwhile, Alabama isnt going to let Louisiana walk away with all the action. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has endorsed the new bill, saying last month: There is a place for the Ten Commandments and other key historical documents in our classrooms. We will always be a state that supports our strong Alabama values. Whats different this time? But heres the thing. The SCOTUS ruling on old displays is nearly 20 years old. Why did it take two decades for lawmakers in Alabama and other states to find it? Whats new now? Its not the law thats changed. Its the justices. And its not the 20-year-old ruling on a Ten Commandments monument in Texas that has the religious legal warriors excited. Its the Dobbs ruling on abortion. Republican appointees on the Supreme Court now hold a six-to-three majority. When that majority overruled Roe v. Wade with its Dobbs decision, the court demonstrated its willingness to overturn established precedents. When Roe ceased to be settled law as Justice Brett Kavanaugh described it to Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, it unsettled everything else. I do think that it is a jolt to the legal system when you overrule a precedent, Chief Justice John Roberts testified at his confirmation hearing in 2005. Precedent plays an important role in promoting stability and evenhandedness. Apparently, stability and evenhandedness were a cost worth paying for the courts majority. So when you think to yourself, Didnt we do this already?, the answer is yes, we did. But it didnt matter. Precedents only mean something when judges stick to them, and the nations highest court has told us that all bets are off. Everything is up for grabs. Just because the likes of Roy Moore hit dead ends before doesnt mean they will now. When it comes to change today in Alabama and in America regression is always on the table. The future might very well look like the past. Kyle Whitmire is the Washington watchdog columnist for AL.com and winner of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize. You can follow him on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X , Threads and Bluesky. The United Methodist Church has regained control of a now-empty building as a breakaway congregation in Pensacola has moved to a storefront and turned over control of the 300-seat sanctuary. Four years ago, 80 members of Warrington United Methodist Church voted to leave the denomination, said the Rev. Ted Johnson, a former United Methodist minister who is now, like the congregation, affiliated with the Association of Independent Methodists. It was a unanimous thing, Johnson said. It was everybody in our congregation. The Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church announced this month it had taken back control of the property, crediting its legal team that has been fighting in court against dozens of breakaway congregations. The Board of Trustees of the Alabama-West Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church is pleased to announce that we have successfully regained possession of the Warrington United Methodist Church property, located on East Winthrop Avenue in Pensacola, the conference said in a released statement. This resolution comes after a period of unauthorized actions taken by the former pastor and members of the congregation, who attempted to separate from our conference in 2021 without following the proper procedures outlined by paragraph 2553 of The Book of Discipline. The congregation left improperly, the board said. Despite efforts to circumvent the official disaffiliation process, including an improper change of the churchs name and deed, the dedicated work of our legal team has ensured that this historic property remains within The United Methodist Church, the board said. Johnson said the congregation offered more than $100,000 for the property, but its offer was refused. The congregation moved to a storefront about three miles away, Johnson said. We had put a lot of money into the facility, he said, noting that it burned in 1968 and has since suffered hurricane damage multiple times. We dont really have the money to fight, to invest in the court system, Johnson said. We went with the best advice we could, which was to walk away. The Alabama-West Florida Conference legal team didnt win a court battle in this case, he said. They didnt win anything, Johnson said. We gave it to them. Unlike other congregations that have filed lawsuits arguing their property was owned by the congregation and not owned by the Alabama-West Florida Conference, Warringtons breakaway members never disputed the denominations trust clause that says the conference owns the property. Our church was put there as a missional church in 1947, Johnson said. There is no denying that there was a trust clause. There is a mortgage of more than $100,000 on the church property stemming from a $125,000 loan to make repairs on the sanctuary, which was in poor condition after Hurricane Sally tore up the roof in 2020, Johnson said. The conference will have to take up that expense, he said. Insurance, utilities and maintenance had been costing the congregation about $100,000 or more a year, he said. The conference didnt offer financial help after the fire or the hurricanes and only took interest in the small congregation after it voted to leave, Johnson said. Its the only time they expressed any interest in the property, he said. The congregation, now just called Warrington Church, began meeting in the storefront on Feb. 23. Weve already moved on, Johnson said. Were out on the main road now, so we can be seen. Were not tucked away in a neighborhood. Some members of the congregation were sad about leaving a building that had many sentimental memories attached to it, but they have committed to decorating their new home and making it vibrant, he said. We converted a vape shop into a worship center, Johnson said. Its been a pretty exciting experience. It also changed the mood from a declining church to a start-up with a solid core of members, he said. It has really given a breath of fresh air to our ministry, Johnson said. Its all fresh. Its a miracle of God. You dont feel a shadow over top of you. Johnson said he feels like hes now preaching to a full church. Weve got 60 chairs in there, he said of the storefront. I see a full church. Before, I saw one that was mostly empty. Its a matter of perspective. They feel loved, because theyre close to one another. Johnson said he expects that the conference will likely demolish the former Warrington United Methodist Church and sell it for more than it would have been worth as a church, perhaps more than $800,000. I think theyll sell it to a developer, Johnson said. Its worth more money without a church on it. Theyve got the building, and they can do whatever they want with it. But old buildings got old problems. And now theres no congregation paying the bills on what had become an outdated building, he said. Its not user-friendly. But the conference is considering starting a new congregation in the building. The Warrington United Methodist Church property has been a place of worship, service, and spiritual growth since 1956, said the Rev. Emily Kincaid, chair of the board of trustees for the Alabama-West Florida Conference. Regaining this property ensures that we will be able to use, lease, or sell this property for the purposes of mission and ministry for the Alabama-West Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church. Several committees are working to determine the best use for the property, she said. As we move forward, we celebrate this opportunity to renew and revitalize ministry in this location, Kincaid said. The Board of Trustees, the Board of Congregational Development, and the Panhandle Board of District Location and Buildings are already discerning the best path forward for this church property. The Warrington congregation voted to leave in 2021 over what it felt was a denominational drift away from traditional theology, long before the United Methodist Church changed its official policy in 2024 to support same-sex marriage and openly LGBTQ clergy. It was not ever just about their viewpoint about sexual orientation, Johnson said. They dont support Israel. That was a problem for our folks. The move to leasing has freed up funds that it can spend on ministry and outreach rather than building upkeep, he said. Cost-wise, well spend less money renting than being in that building, Johnson said. These folks are looking forward to Easter Sunday and a Resurrection morning. The Alabama-West Conference continues to fight numerous court battles against congregations that left the United Methodist Church and are trying to keep their historic church properties. We appreciate the prayers and support of United Methodists across our Conference as we remain committed to upholding the integrity of our churchs polity and theology, the board of trustees said in its statement. Together, we look forward to what God has in store for us as we take each faithful step, with Gods help. The conference continues to work through the court system in cases against other breakaway congregations in Pensacola and in Auburn, in Demopolis, in Bay Minette, and in Dothan, among other places. FILE - The cover of a U.S. Passport is displayed in Tigard, Ore., Dec. 11, 2021. AP The U.S. State Department is urging people to reconsider travel to a popular tourist destination. In an alert issued March 21, the department said people considering traveling to the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago are at serious risk of crime. There is also a heightened risk of terrorism and kidnapping. Trinidad and Tobago is under a Level 3 advisory, the second most serious and just under the do not travel advisory. Trinidad and Tobago was placed under a nationwide state of emergency in December 2024 due to ongoing criminal activity that threatened public safety. Parliament extended that order in January, keeping it in place through April. During the state of emergency, police have the authority to make arrests on the suspicion of involvement in illegal activities and to search and enter public and private properties as needed. Bail has been suspended for those suspected of committing a crime and members of the governmental defense force have been given police powers. All manner of violent crime was cited in the warning, including murder, robbery, assault, sexual assault, home invasion and kidnapping. Gang activity and narcotics trafficking is common and terrorism is a concern, particularly in tourist areas such as hotels and clubs, restaurants and parks. Violence and shootings are occurring regularly in some areas of the Port of Spain. Due to the danger, U.S. government employees are prohibited from traveling to Laventille, southern end of Charlotte Street between Oxford Street and Park Street, Piccadilly Street, Beeson Street, Beetham, Sea Lots, Cocorite and the interior of Queens Park Savannah. U.S. government employees are also prohibited from traveling to the downtown Port of Spain, the Fort George Overlook and all beaches after dark. If you do travel to Trinidad and Tobago, the State Department recommends: Use caution when walking or driving at night. Avoid poorly lit or remote areas. Be aware of possible online dating scams, either for potential financial theft or physical harm. Stay aware of your surroundings. Do not display signs of wealth, such as cash, expensive watches or jewelry. Stay alert when visiting banks and ATMs. Do not physically resist any robbery attempt unless forced into a vehicle or isolated area. Check local media for breaking events. Be prepared to adjust your plans based on new information. You can see more recommendations here. Glock switches are an inch-long device that fit onto the back of a Glock and override the trigger mechanism to make the pistol function as a machine gun. (Carol Robinson) Local law enforcement and prosecutors say Alabamas new state ban on Glock switches will result in more arrests and convictions and less violence in communities that have experienced deadly mass shootings. After a tragic year marked by the deaths of 152 Birmingham residents and a devastating mass shooting at a local nightclub in Five Points South , which involved the use of a Glock switch , local officials say the state ban on machine gun conversion devices is a step toward making the Magic City safer. As of March 19, 2025, possession of a Glock switch could now result in a prison sentence of up to 10 years . State law gives a local tool to our Birmingham police that, when they capture someone in possession of a Glock switch, they dont necessarily have to go to the federal government, Mayor Randall Woodfin said. They can literally go to their local DA to expedite and keep this process going. This on top of those federal resources allows for state resources to engage at the exact same timeThis was needed, this was important. Local and federal officials say they hope the new legislation will result in a more efficient apprehension of people in possession of Glock switches. But advocates say it will take more than a state ban, policing and prosecution to solve Alabamas homicide problem. What are Glock switches Glock switches are an inch-long device that fit onto the back of a Glock and override the trigger mechanism to make the pistol function as a machine gun. While Glock switches have become the more popular modification, the law bans all devices that turn a pistol into a machine gun. Interim Birmingham Police Chief Michael Pickett said the department started seeing Glock switches on the streets in 2021 with the devices becoming more popular in 2023. He said their popularity has only risen since then. Glock switches have become a popular accessory among young men and have been used in multiple Alabama mass shootings including one in Dadeville that left 4 people dead and 32 injured and one in Birmingham that left another 4 people dead and 17 injured . How enforcement and prosecution works Prior to this new state ban, the federal government prosecuted all cases involving Glock switches, a process that can be selective. United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama Prim Escalona has been prosecuting Glock switch cases since 2021. Her office has taken on more than 60 Glock switch cases. Operation Flip the Switch is a law enforcement initiative targeting illegal machine gun conversion devices known as switches. United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama Prim Escalona is pictured in the center. (Carol Robinson) Its really been the role of our office to try to come in and assist where they werent able, at the state level and the local level, to charge those crimesWe work really closely with our state and local counterparts on those kinds of charges, Escalona said. Initiatives like Operation Flip the Switch brought public awareness to the proliferation of these devices in an effort to increase reports, law enforcement training and prosecutions at the federal level. Many of the cases her office takes on originate at the state level but federal agents typically wait for a local partner to notify them when a potential gun charge might accompany a state-level issue, such as a drug or assault arrest. Federal law enforcement partners investigate the case and assistant United States attorneys prepare the case, which then is presented to a grand jury for indictment. For some cases, the federal government utilized sting operations to catch and arrest people in possession of the devices. These tactics can be dangerous and use a lot of time and resources. If [local law enforcement] dont have the ability to arrest on the Glock switch charge at the state level, then that means that we have to come in, find that individual, try to get a warrant, arrest, find, hold, Escalona said. So it is helpful to us when there are similar state charges or a reason that the state can arrest, because those are the officers that are coming in contact with them most of the time. Escalona said there are many reasons people choose to own and use the device besides its firepower, including the fact that the devices are largely seen as a status symbol that provide street credibility. She said some Glock switch convictions are for simple possession and could result in a maximum 10-year prison sentence. Other cases have involved Glock switches in furtherance of illegal drug trade, which could result in a minimum 30-year mandatory prison sentence. Some Glock switch cases will still be prosecuted at the federal level even with the state ban. Escalona said there could be benefits to federal prosecution including speedy trials, protecting victim and witnesses needs and out-of-state imprisonment for those who are convicted. Adding a state ban The state ban on Glock switches came as a result of legislators on both sides of the aisle coming together to advocate for stricter legislation. With this law, we overcame resistance to gun safety legislation and passed a state law prohibiting one of the most dangerous gun accessories that exist, Rep. Phillip Ensler, D-Montgomery , who has advocated for the state ban since 2023, said. Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr said the wording of the state ban on Glock switches has more teeth than the federal law because penalties can be enforced even if it cannot be proven that someone was knowingly in possession of the device. Danny Carr, district attorney for Jefferson Countys Birmingham Division, grew up in Ensley, a Birmingham neighborhood that has seen devastating amounts of gun violence. AMG I think its huge, Carr said. It shows that there was a coordinated effort across the aisle by the legislature and that they recognized this issue that was deeply embedded in Birmingham with the use of Glock switches. Carr, who grew up in Ensley, a Birmingham neighborhood that has seen devastating amounts of gun violence , said he believes community members will appreciate the new law. Weve seen the type of carnage that it leaves behindI just dont understand why a person would need that in a civilized society, Carr said. I think this is a matter of public safety. I think people who are not in the business of committing criminal acts in our community, violent acts, will appreciate the fact that theres something on the books that will hold people accountable for committing such heinous crimes in our community. Whats next? Advocates and local officials weigh in During a community meeting aimed at getting public input from residents about community safety , Woodfin announced that the city is working with Crime Stoppers to reward tipsters $1,000 after the arrest of anyone caught in possession of Glock switches . Mayor Randall Woodfin said the new law banning Glock switches at the state level is a "game changer." Getty Images Its a game changer, Woodfin told AL.com. I would say, for Birmingham, the most heinous crimes people committed have been with the use of Glock switches. What makes this bill so strong and so important is simple possessionBecause whats your intent? Theres no other intent to have this but to spray a lot of bullets that cause mass casualty." Pickett said the new law will lead to more arrests by local police departments and more cases will be prosecuted now that local courts can take them on. On the other hand, Birmingham-based criminal defense attorney Leroy Maxwell Jr., said the new law may do more harm than good. Maxwell has taken on multiple federal Glock switch cases, mostly involving young, Black men. Most of these Glock switch cases are not coming along with cases where there was actual violence, where someone was shot or an attempted murder, or something along those lines, Maxwell Jr. said. The cases Ive worked on, that have been Glock switch related, none of them, absolutely zero of them, were associated with any violence whatsoever. They were typically associated with Facebook posts, where you may see a young man with a gun with a switch on it, or filming a rap video, or with friends doing things that young folks do. He said that he more commonly sees violent cases involving AR15s and bump stocks, devices that convert rifles into machine guns, which have no state ban in Alabama. Of the 50 cases Maxwell has taken on in the last five months involving guns, which include robbery, attempted murder, murder and capital murder, he said none of them involved the use of a Glock switch. I think thats where a lot of us defense attorneys take issue with that. Are we really trying to address a real systemic issue thats occurring, or is this something surface level that actually has no effect on gun violence or curbing gun violence, and it actually targets and hurts a certain community, Maxwell said. Brig. Gen. Allen Pepper, commander of the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command, discusses the unprecedented surge in Americas partners purchasing U.S. military hardware during the 2025 AUSA Global Forces Symposium and Expo March 25 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Tim Hanson Sales of U.S. military hardware to allies reached a record level last fiscal year attendees were told at a symposium and exposition at the Von Braun Center on Tuesday. The unprecedented surge in Americas allies and partners purchasing U.S. military hardware was one of the first topics discussed to kick off the 2025 AUSA Global Force Symposium and Exposition. The symposium runs through Thursday. The total value of transferred defense articles and services and security cooperation activities conducted in FY24 was $117 billion, according to the U.S. State Department. Thats a 45% increase from FY23 and the highest ever annual total of sales and assistance provided to our allies and partners. Some of the hardware was produced in Alabama, including at Huntsvilles Redstone Arsenal. See story: Alabama has gained $3.7 billion off U.S. aid to Ukraine. Then Trump hit pause - al.com See story: Trumps Iron Dome order a significant opportunity for top missile maker - and Alabama - al.com Causes for the spike in foreign military sales includes the war in Ukraine and the threat that war brings to NATOs Eastern Flank, dangerous actions by Iran and its proxies, the Gaza conflict, and threatening behavior by China, according to Brig. Gen. Allen Pepper, a career foreign affairs officer and the commanding general of the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command. To borrow a term from the first half of last century, America is once again playing its role as the primary arsenal of democracy, said Pepper in a USASAC news release. Pepper and retired Brig. Gen. Chris Tucker, former USASAC commander and the vice president for International Business Development for L3Harris Technologies, co-presented the first Warriors Corner briefing during the three-day conference. Their presentation recommended solutions to improve FMS timelines, collaboration and synchronization. One way the Army and industry can work together to reduce contract timing is through an IDIQ or Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract, said Tucker. An IDIQ offers flexibility in government procurement simplifying the process and reducing the time and effort required for each individual order. Pepper noted that despite the challenges that ongoing FMS reforms are attempting to tackle, USASAC remains committed to working with Army Security Assistance Enterprise stakeholders to meet partners needs and the increased global demand. The United States remains the partner of choice for other nations looking for reliable international partners, and we will not overlook our obligation to provide the very best, the most timely and transparent customer service we have to offer, he said. This years symposium theme is Driving Continuous Transformation of Ready Combat Formations. Special guest presentations and panel discussions from senior military and industry leaders, address critical points of research and development, acquisition and contracting, force sustainment, and industry partnerships. To view the livestreamed FMS presentation, visit USASACs Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usasac. To view the complete lineup of livestreamed presentations, visit https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/ausaglobal Construction is expected to start on a new K-through-8 school in the Huntsville part of Limestone County later this year. Although the school is on the schedule to open in 2027, Huntsville City Schools Board President Carlos Mathews said the district is still trying to figure out just how big the school that will be just south of Interstate 565 off Swancott Road needs to be. Well have to go through the plans to make sure that we have a facility built for what is coming, Mathews said at a town hall last week. As youve heard in the news, there are quite a few things that may be coming to the Huntsville area. Weve got to make sure we have the capacity to support our future needs. We dont want to build something too small. We dont want to build something too large. That may be easier said than done on a couple of fronts. Reports have as many as 500 FBI personnel coming to Huntsville, with the potential of up to 3,000 more. And members of Alabamas congressional delegation are confident that U.S. Space Command headquarters is coming as well. That could mean an additional 2,000 workers coming to the city. Thats on top of already explosive growth. Huntsville added about 45,000 residents between 2010 and 2023 to become the most populated city in the state at more than 225,000 residents, according to census numbers. Site work is ongoing at the Greenbrier Preserve development in the Limestone County portion of Huntsville. New construction makes up a quarter of all home sales in the metro. Jan. 16, 2025. Scott Turner/AL.com Just down the road from the new K-8 school, homes are under construction in Greenbrier Preserve where more than 1,100 homes are proposed. And between 2,500 and 4,000 homes are proposed for a Village of Providence-style development near the I 65-565 interchange, See story: Huntsvilles Limestone annexation a game-changer? 4,000 homes may be coming - al.com See story: Huntsville developer gets approval to build 90 homes in massive Greenbrier Preserve - al.com We cant put up a school fast as they can build neighborhoods, Mathews said. There is no way we can keep up with that. A developer comes in, they buy some land and say, were going to throw up 500 houses. Thats great. Thats smoke and mirrors. We cant go off what you might do. We have to go off what actually is. Mathews said by the time homes are built were overcrowded. That was the case when new Grissom High School opened in growing south Huntsville in 2017. The school was using portables just five years later. See story: Huntsvilles booming growth taking toll on overcrowded Grissom High School - al.com Mathews said the district tries to forecast where we are going. Were trying to make sure that were kind of with them (developers), he said. But we will never be on the same speed with them. We cant build a school that fast. It is for that reason residents at the town hall requested the Huntsville City Council reject development plans if the school district cant accommodate the students. Similar requests have been made at Huntsville Planning Commission meetings. And District 1 City Councilwoman Michelle Watkins voted against the recent annexation of nearly 400 acres in Limestone County over similar concerns. Watkins served on the school board before her election to the Council last year. Were not going to slow down the growth of the city, Mathews said. Its just not going to happen. The citys going to grow. Weve annexed land. Its not going to slow down. We just have to find a way to keep moving forward. Council President John Meredith represents the western part of the city like Mathews. He said he has had numerous conversations with Mathews and other school board members about the challenges facing the school district with the citys growth. He said the school district is consulted about future developments and is recommending a joint city school board-city council meeting to address the issues. Geographically challenged One of the issues is Huntsvilles size geographically. According to Manager of Planning and Zoning Services Thomas Nunez, the city is now the 27th largest in the country with the recent annexations, covering an area even larger than the city of Chicago. And District 5 which Meredith and Mathews both represent stretches from Cummings Research Park near the middle of the city to U.S, 31 in Limestone County between Athens and Decatur. All of this expansion, I think is great, west Huntsville resident Todd Bender said. I think its awesome, but I feel the city and the city school system tend to not look at the real west part of Huntsville where schools need to be built. Benders son attends Sparkman High School, which is the nearest school to where he lives. He points out that the closest city high school (Columbia High School) is in Research Park. Theres five county schools closer to my house than the closest city school, he said. We feel we are the picked on part of the city. Eddgra Fallin, whose kids are now grown, suggests parents of students living in west Huntsville pay tuition and attend nearer schools that are out of district in Madison and Limestone counties. Mathews concedes that is an option. But at least one of the districts - overcrowded Limestone County isnt accepting out of district students. One of its schools Creekside Elementary is just across the road from Creekside subdivision, which is within Huntsvilles city limits. Children living there are zoned for Providence Elementary, which is 12 miles away. Mathews understands the frustrations. We know our students come from Limestone County and go to Williams Middle School have about an hour and some change ride to get from one place to the other, he said. And they pass three or four schools on their way there. So, yes, we are paying close attention to that. He said the new school will shorten the drive considerably and will alleviate overcrowding conditions at Providence Elementary as well. But current plans still have high school students having to go from the Limestone-Madison county line to Columbia High School. Meredith at previous meetings said he supports building a new high school in the western part ot the city. And residents in the Big Cove area in another growing part of the city east of the mountains would also like to see a new high school in that direction. But neither are included in Huntsville City Schools 10-year, $600 million capital plan. And at previous meetings, Huntsville City Schools Superintendent Clarence Sutton said the district must get approval from the federal court for new high schools because of its desegregation case. The city system is seeking partial release from the order, which would give it more control over where schools are built. Despite the challenges, Meredith doesnt see the citys growth and recent annexations as a hindrance. He sees the new homes and retail centers being built in the western part of the city as additional sources of revenue for the city school system, which receives funding from property tax and sales tax revenue. A launch company with millions of dollars invested in north Alabama has become only the second firm authorized to fly complex national security space missions. United Launch Alliance (ULA) announced its Vulcan rocket has been certified by the U.S. Space Force to fly National Security Space Launch (NSSL) missions. The rocket can inject NSSL spacecraft directly into geosynchronous orbit, which ULA calls, a critical requirement supporting the country facing evolving threats from China and Russia. The nine-year certification process involved 52 criteria, more than 180 discrete tasks and two certification flight demonstrations, according to ULA. Vulcans Centaur upper stage is a high-velocity and maneuverable platform to address evolving on-orbit threats in this new space warfighting domain and will offer extreme on-orbit endurance and flexibility for complex orbital insertions to meet the changing landscape and requirements of our nation, said Bruno. The certification comes as U.S. Space Force is planning to ratchet up both the pace and the complexity of national security launches with potentially large implications for north Alabama, AL.com has reported. Previously, only one companys rockets had that certification: SpaceX, with its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy platforms. United Launch Alliance has a long history of carrying satellites into orbit under the National Security Space Launch program, which funds the launch of high-value military and intelligence satellites. It has flown 100 NSSL missions using its Atlas and Delta rocket families, with the final launches for both families taking place last year. Its new Vulcan is designed to replace both platforms. The company assembles some of its rockets in a 2-million-square-foot facility in Decatur. Blue Origin also provides BE-4 rocket engines for ULAs Vulcan engines that are made and tested in Huntsville then integrated into Vulcan at ULAs Decatur factory. Blue Origin is also chasing NSSL certification with its New Glenn launch vehicle, which reached orbit on its first flight Jan. 16. Workers unload medical supplies to fight the Ebola epidemic from a USAID cargo flight on in 2014, in Harbel, Liberia. (John Moore/Getty Images/TNS) TNS This is a guest opinion column This month, the U.S. government announced substantial cuts to American foreign aid projects, terminating 90 percent of the contracts issued by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The impact of this decision was immediate, both at home and abroad, leaving many wondering what will happen to the terminated programs. To understand the true impacts of cutting U.S. foreign aid, particularly here in Alabama, we first must understand the true impact of global trade. Ninety-five percent of the worlds population lives outside the United States. In other words, six billion of the worlds consumers live outside the United States. Trade is essential to the success of American companies and job creation as it allows companies to tap into the huge consumer markets that exist abroad. Reaching those six billion consumers and boosting foreign sales for American companies requires many processes adequate training, mutual understanding and strong international partnerships. In Alabama, more than 530,000 jobs are supported by trade, which makes up nearly 20 percent of all jobs in the state. Alabama companies exported $27.4 billion in goods in 2023, and the majority of those companies were small- and medium-sized businesses. My organization, the North Alabama International Trade Association, helps companies in Northern Alabama expand their foreign sales through education and training. Still, no amount of education or training can replace the vital role the government plays in fostering international trade and collaboration, in part through foreign aid. The U.S. government uses strategic international assistance and diplomacy to strengthen institutions abroad, fight corruption and open new markets for American companies. These efforts stabilize economic landscapes and consumer markets, making lucrative trade relationships possible. It is much easier to trade with a peaceful, stable country than a country at war. Cutting foreign aid suspends these important efforts and leaves American companies susceptible to economic instability and market volatility abroad. For this reason, the effects of foreign aid cuts on business will be felt right here at home. In Alabama alone, state-based organizations stand to lose a total of $101 million from discontinued USAID contracts and assistance. Alabamas fifth-largest foreign export market is South Korea, which offers an ideal model of the benefits of international assistance. When USAID was founded, South Korea was still grappling with the fallout of the Korean War and had a weak and unstable economy. Targeted assistance from the United States helped transform South Koreas economy and stabilize the country to become a global leader and reliable trade partner for American businesses. Today, the United States directly benefits from the economic success of South Korea, which we helped create. In 2024, the United States exported $91.3 billion worth of goods to South Korea. These are dollars that flow directly into American jobs, businesses and pockets. Our countrys successful economic partnership with South Korea may never have come to fruition without U.S. foreign assistance. Cutting off foreign aid to strategic regions today may prevent the creation of similar trade partnerships that could provide new markets and benefits to American companies in the future. Moreover, the absence of American assistance and economic development creates an opportunity for our competitors to strengthen their own relationships with strategic regions and reap the economic benefits of those relationships for themselves. Theres no doubt that foreign competitors such as China will swoop in to fill the void of American leadership. The result for Americans will be simple: we lose, in multiple ways. I can understand the need to reform U.S. foreign aid and ensure that American funds are being used wisely and efficiently. However, those reforms should be targeted and thorough to ensure we retain the programs that directly benefit the American economy, security and stability. Alabama businesses and employees depend on the stable markets that foreign aid creates. For the good of our economy, I hope that our leaders will maintain American leadership abroad and continue to foster critical partnerships using foreign assistance. Anne Burkett serves as executive director of the North Alabama International Trade Association (NAITA) and chair of the National Association of District Export Councils (NADEC). She has more than 35 years of experience in international trade development. Authorities have not seen any evidence Jessica Aber was the victim of foul play in their investigation into how the former U.S. attorney appointed by Joe Biden died in her home over the weekend at the age of 43. Police investigating the death of Aber, the former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said Tuesday night there is no evidence suggesting that her death was caused by anything other than natural causes, the Washington Post reported. Friends of Aber told the paper she had a longtime serious medical condition. It was unclear what her condition was. Aber was an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia before her appointment to lead the office in August 2021. As U.S. attorney, Aber oversaw cases that included two Russian nationals charged with money laundering and a murder conviction against an El Salvadoran national who was a member of the MS-13 gang. She also oversaw the conviction of an Afghan refugee housed at the Marine Corps. Base Quantico who sexually assaulted a 3-year-old girl on the base and a plot by a Guatemalan immigrant to commit a mass shooting on July 4, 2022 in Richmond, Virginia. The nature of Abers work and her age coupled with the the ongoing investigation into her death fueled right-wing conspiracy theories online, with skeptics including the anonymous X conservative influencer Catturd and Bill Clinton rape accuser Juanita Broaddrick. Hillary Clinton, right, speaks as Donald Trump listens during the second presidential debate in St. Louis, Oct. 9, 2016. (Rick T. Wilking/Pool via AP, File) AP American adults believe the scandal enveloping the Trump administration over military plans discussed over group text is more serious than the email controversy that derailed Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign, according to a poll released Wednesday. Nearly 75% of U.S. adults believe the Trump scandal is very or somewhat serious, the YouGov survey found, with 53% in the very serious camp and 21% viewing the scandal as somewhat serious. While a majority of U.S. adults believed Clinton using a private email server from home was very or somewhat serious, the margins were far slimmer compared to the Trump scandal. When the Clinton scandal was polled by YouGov in 2015, 30% of American adults viewed it as very serious and 26% said it was somewhat serious. By 2022, Americans grew more concerned over Clintons emails, with 41% describing the matter as very serious and 21% labeling it somewhat serious. One of the chief concerns about Clintons email server was that it was insecure, and that sensitive information could fall into the wrong hands. But former FBI Director James Comey said in recommending that no charges be brought against Clinton that there was no evidence that her email account had been hacked by hostile actors. A majority of self-identified Republicans find the Trump scandal concerning, the latest YouGov poll found. About one in three Republicans called the Trump scandal very serious while 32% found it to be somewhat serious. By contrast, Democrats downplayed the Clinton email scandal both in 2015 (36% very or somewhat serious) and 2022 (40% very or somewhat serious.) A plurality -- 48% -- of U.S. adults believe Trump administration officials broke the law by describing a U.S. military operation in Yemen over Signal -- a conversation that Atlantic editor-in-chief was apparently inadvertently invited to view. While Republicans claimed the media was blowing the Trump matter out of proportion, Americans (37%) say the press is not making enough of a big deal about the scandal than those who say the media is making too big a deal (22%), according to the poll. The Associated Press contributed reporting. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott arrives at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas, for a press conference in March 2020. The governor has used a wheelchair since the 1980s. Tom Fox-Pool/Getty Images Dallas-area Congresswoman Jasmine Crocketts mocking of Texas paraplegic governor as Governor Hot Wheels is emblematic of why Democrats are losing elections, according to Greg Abbott. Its another day and another disaster by the Democrats, said Abbott, who has used a wheelchair since 1984 after a tree fell on him while he was jogging, during an appearance Tuesday night on Fox News Hannity. The reality is they have no vision, no policy, they have nothing to sell but hate and Americans arent buying it, the 67-year-old Texas governor continued. With comments like this by Democrats we will leave them in the dust in future elections. Crockett was speaking at a Human Rights Campaign event Saturday in Los Angeles when she referenced Abbott. Yall know we got Gov. Hot Wheels down there, come on now, the Democratic congresswoman told the crowd. And the only thing hot about him is he is a hot ass mess, honey. "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 Crockett tweeted that she was referring to Abbotts immigration policies, not mocking the Texas governors condition. 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. Literally, the next line I said was that he was a Hot A** Mess, referencing his terrible policies," the congresswoman stated. Crockett then called out those offended by her remarks but not those made by President Donald Trump. 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." Sean Hannity said he did not believe the congresswomans explanation. Theres no way in hell that this woman and her ex-post is gonna convince me she meant anything other than what we all believe it to be, the Fox News host said. Crockett is facing possible censure in the Republican-led House. Texas Rep. Andy Weber is leading the effort. The story of our great governor of Texas is one of unwavering resilience and perseverance, Weber told Fox News Digital. Meanwhile, the actions of Jasmine Crockett stooping to vile levels of discrimination and despicable political attacks are nothing short of reprehensible." Katherine Maher delivers her closing remarks on center stage at the Web Summit technology conference, in Lisbon, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) AP National Public Radio CEO Katherine Maher expressed contrition for old tweets labeling Donald Trump a deranged racist and a fascist as she testified Wednesday before the House committee considering yanking NPRs federal funding. Let me ask you, said Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., why did you call President Trump a fascist and a deranged racist sociopath in 2020? Maher told Burchett she was eager to address the old posts. I regret those tweets, the NPR chief executive told the congressman. I would not tweet them again today. They represented a time where I was reflecting on something that I believe the president had said, rather than who he is. I dont presume that anyone is a racist. Maher was scrutinized for the old tweets months into her NPR tenure. In 2018, she tweeted, Also, Donald Trump is a racist. The tweet has since been deleted. An NPR spokesperson told The New York Times that Maher was not in the news industry when she posted the tweets and was exercising her First Amendment rights. Maher was testifying Wednesday before the House Committee on Oversight & Accountabilitys Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency as the panel considers cutting funding to both NPR and PBS. On Tuesday, Trump said he supported pulling the organizations funding. 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. Alabama U.S. Rep. Dale Strong, R-Monrovia, introduced legislation in February to defund NPR, claiming the nonprofit media organization is nothing more than a mouthpiece for the far left, serving as an extension of the Democratic Partys communication arm. Alabama state Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, has filed a bill that would prohibit protesting and picketing in certain areas at certain times, according to its text. SB247 prohibits a person from picketing or protesting at or near the residence of any individual with the intent to harass, intimidate, or disturb during the period starting 30 minutes after sunset and ending 30 minutes before sunrise. The bill does not define what proximity would be considered near and does not differentiate between private residences or public ones, like the governors mansion. Under SB247, a residence is defined as a building or structure, having a physical address or street number, that provides shelter in which an individual resides. The bill also prohibits the use of artificial noise amplification to protest at or near a residence occupied or used by any individual and protests that block any public road, the [entrance or exit] of any residence, or the [entrance or exit] of any place of employment. The first violation of any of these policies would become a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to three months in jail and a $500 fine. Any subsequent violations would become a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months of jail time and a $3,000 fine, the bill states. It adds that prior to making an arrest for a violation of this section, a law enforcement officer shall instruct the person who is picketing or protesting to immediately and peaceably disperse. SB247 also allows for counties and municipalities to adopt more stringent regulations regarding time frames and noise levels. Its text states that violations of these regulations would receive the same penalties as those that are already provided for. Efforts to reach Orr for comment were not immediately successful, but the bill states that nothing in it shall limit a persons freedom of speech or freedom to assemble in any public park or other similar traditional public forum. The bill is currently pending action in the Senate Committee on County and Municipal Government. Orr has brought this legislation forward every year since 2022, and told WAAY 31 last year that he would have filed the bill again regardless of the Perkins situation, referring to the police shooting death of Stephen Perkins, a 39-year-old Black man, on his lawn in September 2023. That wasnt the motivation at all, said Orr. After over a year of protests throughout Decatur, including some in front Mayor Tab Bowlings house, former police chief Todd Pinion resigned last month following a review that concluded the police improperly charged residents with crimes. Opening Day for the Los Angeles Dodgers came earlier than the rest, as they took on the Chicago Cubs in last weeks Toyko Series. The Dodgers swept the Cubs, already out to a 2-0 record to start the 2025 season. Coming off of their World Series win last season, Fanatics has already released tons of new Dodgers merchandise to celebrate. They recently came out with the Gold Collection gear to celebrate their title. Now, Fanatics and Hey Dude partnered up to release a brand-new line of shoes, with the Dodgers being one of the select few teams included. Dodgers fans can purchase these pair of shoes here. The Los Angeles Dodgers Hey Dude Wally Casual Shoes - Royal retails for $74.99 and is available in the following sizes: 7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15. Dodgers fans can also get free shipping on this order with code 24SHIP at checkout. This is a critical season for the New York Yankees. Coming off of a crushing World Series loss last season, the odds are already stacked against them as injuries have piled up throughout the spring, most notably to Gerrit Cole. The Yankees still have plenty of talent to keep a winning product on the field in 2025. It starts on Thursday when they host the Milwaukee Brewers at home, with Carlos Rodon on the mound. Fanatics just released a brand-new line of Hey Dude shoes, with the Yankees of course being included in the select few teams, which can be bought here. The New York Yankees Hey Dude Wally Casual Shoes - Navy retails for $74.99 and is available in the following sizes: 7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15. Yankees fans can get free shipping on this order with code 24SHIP at checkout. Forty-five years after Ronald Reagan promised to abolish the Department of Education (DOE), President Trump, in a packed East Room full of students, teachers, parents, education advocates, and governors from across the country, signed an executive order to begin the process of shuttering the department. The DOE was created by Congress, so it cannot be eliminated entirely by executive order. Congressional action is required, and President Trump lacks the votes. In true Trump fashion, he has directed secretary of Education Linda McMahon to dismantle it from within and transfer authority back to the states. Those functions of the DOE that are based on federal statutes will be transferred to other departments. The order also directs that no remaining DOE funds can be used to advance DIE or gender ideology. Since the department was established in 1979, it has thrown at least $1 trillion down the rat hole with little to show for it. In a powerful letter, Our Departments Final Mission, Secretary McMahon explained to her staff that student outcomes have consistently languished, alluding to NAEP scores showing that less than a third of U.S. students today are proficient in the core subjects of reading and math. Shutting down the department has already begun albeit slowly. About half of the 4,100 workers have been laid off. More than a billion dollars in contracts or grants have been canceled. Many of these funded left-wing ideologies taught in classrooms, including diversity, inclusion, and equity (DIE) and radical sex, that have drawn nationwide parent protests. Pell Grants, student loans, and special education will remain and be fully funded. The nearly $1.7 trillion in federally backed student loans and Pell Grants will be transferred to the Small Business Administration (SBA). The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) will be transferred to Health and Human Services (HHS). Other departments to which various functions might be shifted include Labor, State, Interior, Justice, Commerce, and the Bureau of Indian Education. In a previous executive order, President Trump banned K12 schools from teaching anti-American or subversive content, gender ideology, and Critical Race Theory. Alyza Harris points out that this presidential order has a far greater reach than education, specifically biomedical research and the funding for the National Institute of Health (NIH). It cancels federal grants for diversity-related projects and places a cap on indirect cost payments funds previously used by universities under the pretense of supporting research infrastructure but often diverted into administrative overhead. Federal funds are often offset at the state and local levels by reduced state and local funding. A statistical analysis by Nora Gordon of the University of California, San Diego found that whereas Title I is supposed to steer money to poor school districts, state and local governments actually used the federal funds in place of their own funding of poor schools. Despite the unconstitutionality of federal involvement in education and the oath taken by lawmakers to uphold the Constitution, numerous education statutes are embedded in various departments, which has created a sprawling, tangled system. Moving unconstitutional programs out of the DOE to other departments solves nothing except to preserve the unconstitutional federal role in education policy. The policy paper by the Heritage Foundation, Mandate for Leadership: Project 2025, recommends that the Trump administration abolish the DOE by passing the Department of Education Reorganization Act. Responsibilities would be transferred to other departments, and employees whose positions are determined to be essential to the mission would move with their constituent programs to the new departments, further entrenching the bureaucratic personnel. The chessmen would be moved around on the board, with programs restructured in new departments and federal control expanded. Tracking of the programs would be more difficult. Multiple laws permitting federal intervention in education must be repealed instead of shuffled to other departments, particularly these statutes: the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA, formed the bedrock of current federal education control), the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, codified Common Core into federal law, redefined Common Core as Social Emotional Learning), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Higher Education Act (HEA), and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA, government-controlled Soviet-style workforce development). Other federal mandates that have exerted powerful control are the Head Start Act (Department of Health and Human Services, centralizes preschool standards), Indian education programs (Department of the Interior), the school lunch program (Department of Agriculture), the Education Sciences Reform Act (Department of Education, increases student data collection), and various other programs (Department of Defense). Without the total repeal of these laws and all others allowing federal intervention, government control will continue. If abolishing the DOE is to be successful, then a different strategy from Project 25 must be executed. U.S. Parents Involved in Education (USPIE) has developed a five-step strategic blueprint, which the group has shared with Washington policymakers. Its comprehensive plan actually abolishes federal control over education instead of moving the chessmen around. Send all program management and funding to the states. Repeal all laws permitting federal intervention in education, starting with ESSA. Privatize college loan programs through savings and loan institutions. Eliminate all offices and divisions in the U.S. Department of Education and related spending. Reduce federal tax collection, shifting education revenue collection entirely back to the states. At the state level, there is already an infrastructure a shadow DOE with tens of thousands of employees who oversee and manage federal education programs. States have numerous food programs that could incorporate the federal lunch program. Administering the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) can be moved to an independent nonprofit research institute, as it was previously. Although states have pre-K programs, it is not recommended that Head Start programs be incorporated. According to government studies, the program has not improved the school readiness of low-income children over more than 60 years. Under ESSA, Head Start is now tied to national preschool standards (Common Core for Tots) and psychosocial standards. The Department of Education has been highly successful at what it was intended to do. Established as political payback to teachers unions for support of Jimmy Carter. Government control over what children are taught and how they think. Dumbing down of students. Control of education at the state and local levels. At this point, totalitarianism can readily be imposed on a dumbed down, compliant population. Education has been weaponized and become a national security threat. There cannot be any question as to whether the DOE should be abolished, all federal statutes allowing federal intervention repealed, and total control returned to the states, free of any federal funding. The future of a free America depends upon this. Carole Hornsby Haynes, education policy and curriculum adviser, historian, classical pianist, and entrepreneur. Additional articles can be found at www.drcarolehhaynes.com, chaynes@drcarolehhaynes.com. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. Former U.S. diplomat Stephen Helgesen, who now lives in Denmark, has an interesting post today describing public sentiment in Denmark, which is almost universally, and quite hatefully, opposed to President Trump. He writes that it's little different in Greenland, having access to their presses from his perch in Denmark as well. For Americans, it's become obvious enough from second lady Usha Vance's planned visit to Greenland, which was greeted with an amazing amount of rage and paranoia from the Danes, some of the Greenlanders, and anti-American eurotrash all over the rest of Europe. Helgesen writes: ... the Danish and Greenlandic press were quick to point out that they saw the arrival of two Hercules air transport planes show up at their civilian airport a few days ago as a bridge too far. To mix metaphors, America had crossed the Rubicon. The optics were, admittedly, bad for America. It looked like an invasion, albeit a benign one with armored vehicles and a few dozen security personnel. The Danes ended up sending a hundred or so Danish police from mainland Denmark seemingly as a countermeasure. All this, to view an annual dogsled race on a remote iceblock island with a population of 59,000. Now, one could argue that the incidental security sent might have seemed overdone to the Danes and Greenlanders, given that the locals are not used to this kind of attention, and might not even need major security. Yet it was an overreaction, all the same. The security was likely standard operating procedure for the U.S. in this age of multiple assassination attempts on President Trump and the Secret Service can't be too careful. So instead of just dismissing it as Americans in action and going about their business, the Danes and their coevals decided to go bonkers, reading the big entourage from a major public figure from a major nation as an invasion force. They howled. They organized protests. And they treated Mrs. Vance, who only wanted to make friends with them in a public diplomacy mission, as well as learn about their culture, as a menace to their existence. She put out this cordial video, descibing why she wanted to see the dogsled race with her kids in Greenland this week: SLOTUS VISITING GREENLAND Hands up If USA should purchase Greenland. pic.twitter.com/fkduBBVOPB Usha Vance News (@UshaVanceNews) March 23, 2025 And this statement: According to President Trump, it was a friendly visit: President Trump on Usha Vance visiting Greenland: This is friendliness, not provocationTheyre calling us, were not calling themWeve been invited. pic.twitter.com/v71bIcV6jf JOSH DUNLAP (@JDunlap1974) March 26, 2025 And still they went bonkers. It was irrational stuff, given that information has just leaked out about U.S. plans for military action in the Signal brouhaha -- which definitely didn't include a planned attack on Denmark or Greenland. Sorry, folks, nobody wants to invade you from the states. All President Trump wants to do is buy Greenland, he doesn't want to seize it. And he's made no such threats to do so. Fact is, the only thing President Trump wants to do with Denmark is give it some money. He's never once threatened military action on the kingdom, not even once, and not even in hints. But if you're paranoid as the Danes seem to be, they're probably secretly disappointed at being wrong, so now they are doubling down on their paranoia and going out of their way to insult the friendly, unassuming, Usha. This wilfully ignorance and willingness to believe the worst is infuriating, because Usha is a not a political operative of any kind and her politics are unknown. What is known and remarked about in Beltway circles is that Vance is one of the few politicians out there who really loves his gracious, intelligent, and classy wife, so Vance then did something not so surprising. He came to his wife's rescue. They treated her bad when she tried to make friends with them, so Vance announced he was coming to Greenland, too, to join her. With him coming over, they wouldn't be bothering with tourist stuff, they'll just go straight to the U.S. military base operations in the north and visit the U.S. troops. No protests, no screaming, no hysteria after exposure to the Danish and Greenlandic public, just a trip to see the U.S. troops. Vice President and Second Lady are looking forward to visiting Greenland on Friday! Smash for best wishes! pic.twitter.com/0837W3s9AO Usha Vance News (@UshaVanceNews) March 25, 2025 Which does seem to send a message. After all, what does one talk about with the U.S. troops when one goes to see the troops in a place like Greenland? Probably some military matters. Seems to be the only game in town. The Danes and the Greenlanders, if they were clever, would have treated Mrs. Vance as nicely and courteously as they could. Now that they've done the opposite, they get a military-oriented visit at a troop installation from a vice president of U.S., which should give them something to be really paranoid about. It couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of jerks. They had their chance to be hospitable to Mrs. Vance and talk dogs. They decided to be rude. Now they get a visit from J.D. to a Greenlandic U.S. military base and can only wonder what he is talking about up there. Next time the second lady comes to town for a visit, maybe they ought to treat her with respect and decency. They can now wonder what he talked about given their bad treatment of sweet-tempered Mrs. Vance. They wanted to be paranoid about something, J.D. Vance just gave them something to be paranoid about. They can just deal with it as the result of their own fecklessness. Image: X video screen shot Theres an awful lot of outrage on the news and social media from transgenders and transexuals. Theyre claiming that President Trumps support of a two-sexes description of humanity is putting them in danger. Some are calling for violence against anyone who tries to stop a man, dressed like a woman, from entering ladies rooms. Others are threatening to assault anyone who uses the wrong pronoun when addressing them. Weve seen videos of confrontations between trans people and those who refer to them by their true sex. Tik Tok is replete with video warnings and death threats against people who dare to defy this new definition of reality. All of the above is tantamount to using brute force to terminate common sense. Therefore, if a bearded man, wearing a dress, stockings, and high heels, walks up to you and introduces himself as Mary, you may be risking a punch in the face if you display shock or confusion. Moreover, if you address him as Sir, you could end up dodging bullets. This is where liberal orthodoxy has taken us in just a few decades. During a saner time in our history, if we had heard that a man, wearing lipstick and a long blonde wig, had been caught frequenting a ladys room, hed soon be doing time in a place where men might appreciate his newfound feminine identity. Aside from the obvious vulnerability of women and little girls, when men feel free to invade those private areas, theres also the danger of causing disruption to the psyche of impressionable children. If they were indoctrinated to believe that its safe to be alone with adult men in private rooms, cars, and other isolated areas, they might become easy targets for pedophiles and sex-traffickers. It seems to me that its more important to protect the lives of women and children than it is to defend the self-image of those with gender dysphoria. In the popular comedy television series M*A*S*H, there was a character named Corporal Klinger who dressed like a woman in an attempt to prove he was mentally ill so he could get a Section 8 discharge from the military. Of course, that was during an era of common sense. Sadly, weve entered an era in which every form of behavior, regardless of how bizarre, is expected to be more than tolerated, to be warmly embraced. The famous British author J.K. Rowling recently said, It seems that, in order for a transgender-identified man to be comfortable and authentic, everyone in the vicinity must abandon their freedom of speech and belief to accommodate his identity. As expected, Ms. Rowling is being pilloried by those left-wing radicals who formerly were stalwart advocates of free speech. Furthermore, for trans people to label their critics with epithets like transphobic or hater is a transparently deceptive tactic to align themselves with racial or ethnic groups that have faced bigotry. The fact is that no one is forming gangs of thugs to hunt them down. No one is trying to force them to conform to societal standards. And no one is plotting to eradicate them. Most people mind their own business until someone threatens their safety or the safety of their family. If a guy wants to wear a dress and take hormones to feminize the modulation of his voice, theres no law to stop him. Nevertheless, just as this country is free enough to allow even the oddest of behaviors, it is also free enough to allow dissent from those who arent comfortable with same. Ultimately, we all enjoy the right to be who we are, but not the right to force others to embrace or applaud who we are. To once again quote Ms. Rowling, If a persons happiness and self-esteem resides entirely on whether or not they can compel everyone around them to lie, whether out of fear or pity, I would respectfully suggest they are unlikely to have a very comfortable life and are about as far from being authentic as it is possible to be. The trans community should heed the wisdom of her advice. Image via Pexels. I debated covering this story at all, because my goal is certainly not to just dog the new Trump administration at every turn, but I have to admit, Im rather disappointed. (Of course, the alternative was utterly unthinkable.) And, principle and accountability matter; or at least, they should. Anyway, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth made quite a political statement when he boarded a plane flanked by two combat-ready looking women, no doubt hand-picked to prove to progressive feminists that hes not a misogynist, insinuating that women bring just as much to the war-fighting table as men. OutKick Medias David Hookstead then jumped on the bandwagon, going full fangirl for the two petite blondes acting as bodyguards for Hegseth, calling them badass women who would start cracking skulls if they had to. Hookstead boasted about these gals likely being members of an elite unit of Security Forces known as the Ravens. As a sidenote: Id never heard of the Ravens, so I actually called someone I know who spent almost twenty years in the Air Force as a pararescueman (one of the AFs special operations positions), going on countless deployments, and earning a Bronze Star for his service in Afghanistan. When I read him Hooksteads line about the elite unit, he chuckled. When I asked for an explanation, he noted that most of the Ravens were washouts from INDOC who couldnt make it through the special operations training, and the women in Security Forces have quite thereputationso by his estimation, theyre not all that elite. But back to the issue at hand: I remember voting for a strong, ruthless, and intimidating military, the kind that Hegseth talked about in his book, not a diversity-hire, politically-correct one. For a brief refresher on the views Hegseth promoted in his book, ones for which I enthusiastically voted, see here, from a report at AP News: He [Hegseth] complains in his latest book that woke generals and the leaders of the elite service academies have left the military dangerously weak and effeminate by promoting DEI. He says, the next commander in chief will need to clean house. [snip] If confirmed, he has said there will be no more social justice, politically correct approaches to how we fight and conduct wars. Instead, he said, this is about lethality, meritocracy, readiness. During his confirmation hearing, Hegseth again affirmed his commitment to focus on lethality and to eliminate wokeness. [snip] Im straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles. It hasnt made us more effective. Hasnt made us more lethal. Has made fighting more complicated, he said in a podcast hosted by Shawn Ryan on Nov. 7. Women have a place in the military, he said, just not in special operations, artillery, infantry and armor units. In his book, he said women have performed well in dangerous support roles during war, but women in the infantry women in combat on purpose is another story. He adds, women cannot physically meet the same standards as men. He said, Dads push us to take risks. Moms put the training wheels on our bikes. We need moms. But not in the military, especially in combat units. (For context, Ravens are often in combat zones.) All of Hegseths book views are exactly right. So why make a political statement now and put female bodyguards front and center? How they can guard him while being noticeably shorter is beyond me, and its evocative of the time Trump took a bullet surrounded by short women. Clearly these women arent there on meritbecause how could they be? The U.S. military can, without a doubt, find a bigger, stronger man to flank Hegseths airstairs, which is what they would do if the goal really was intimidation, raw lethality, and readiness, irrespective of how leftist progressives, or apparently even conservatives, might feel about it. Hegseth notes the military is dangerously weak and effeminate... so maybe dont promote literal femininity in the ranks to make the leftists, and go-along-get-along types, comfortable. Say it with me: Appeasement does not work. Seriously, two pint-sized women? In what world does that strike fear into the hearts of hostile nations? Its a joke. This isnt to say that women arent capable of amazingly heroic acts of sacrifice, but that should only be when the frontline is on your doorstep, and you have no choice but to fight. However, pretending that we are on a level playing field with the average warrior male, and taking the position from a better fita man who no doubt existsis absurd, and it makes me embarrassed to be associated with the female sex. This is still wokeness, no matter how you want to frame it, and wokeness in the military gets innocent people killed. Image from X. A recent Atlantic Daily newsletter article, originally entitled Defending the Umpires, rebuked President Donald Trump because of Trumps posted comments on X concerning federal judge James Boasberg. Trump called Boasberg a Radical Left Lunatic of a Judge [who] should be impeached. On March 15, Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order to block Trumps rightful efforts to deport thousands of Venezuelan nationals under the Alien Enemies Act. These foreign gang operatives are part of a dangerous infiltration campaign to destabilize American communities. I interviewed a former schoolteacher from a school located near where MS-13 gang members hang out. The teacher stated that a student around 15 years old became entangled with this gang and stole an Xbox from them. The gang hunted the boy down, nailed his hands to his mothers kitchen counter, and proceeded to skin the boy alive. Horrified, the schoolteacher retired. Any lunatic who would fight mere deportation of such savage illegal aliens should be arrested for obstructing justice. Boasberg is seeking to harass and bushwhack Trumps efforts to rid our country of illegal alien criminals. Not surprisingly, a legal firm with deep ties to George and Alexander Soross network of left-wing organizations (NGOs) is partially behind the lawsuit trying to block Trump from deporting illegal alien gang members. Boasberg demanded that airplanes in international airspace turn around and bring the illegal aliens back to the United States. The planes contained 261 illegal aliens, including 137 deported under the Alien Enemies Act, 101 Venezuelans deported via Title VIII, and 23 MS-13 gang members. Boasberg is demanding that Trumps DOJ answer five questions. Instead, I have three questions for Boasberg: 1) Is the U.S. Constitution for everyone in the world? 2) Are these illegal alien gang members U.S. citizens? 3) Do illegal aliens in the U.S have rights under the U.S. Constitution? If Boasberg answers anything other than no to the three questions above, then not only does he need to be impeached, but he also needs to be disbarred. The first seven words of U.S. Constitution state, We the People of the United States, and the last nine words of the first paragraph say establish this Constitution for the United States of America. So the U.S. Constitution is for we the people who are citizens of the United States of America. The U.S. Constitution doesnt protect people who enter the United States illegally, because theyre not American citizens. Criminal illegal aliens entering the U.S., arent protected by U.S. laws, and thus arent protected by the U.S. judicial system. Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) filed articles of impeachment against the Obama-appointed Judge Boasberg. Gill stated on X that Boasbergs order is illegal and unconstitutional. ... The purpose of Judge Boasbergs unconstitutional ruling is to tie up President Trumps time and resources in litigation, stopping him from executing on the democratic mandate voters gave him. The ruling is a fundamental attack on our democratic system. Judge Boasberg directing deportation flights to turn around midair and return to the United States is tantamount to a Circuit Court Judge directing troop movements abroad or directing the Executive how to conduct foreign policy. Its illegal and unconstitutional. Time to impeach. On February 12, 2025, Rep. Eli Cane (R-Ariz.) introduced articles of impeachment against Southern District of New York judge Paul Engelmayer, another Obama appointee. Engelmayers ruling forbade all political appointees, including the Treasury Secretary from accessing Department of Treasury data, going against the will of 77 million voting citizens of the United States of America and shutting down the audit of Treasury Department payment system. Trumps lawyers werent allowed to argue they werent even in the room when this ruling was made. Other district court activist judges are also attacking the Trump administration. District court judge Angel Kelley of Massachusetts, appointed by Joe Biden boasting that DEI was a factor in her appointment, allowed a restraining order against National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding cuts. The Trump administration, trying to slash waste, capped things like overhead expenses at 15% on university research. Judge Kelley, with her history of controversial decisions, stepped in on their behalf. District court judge Amy Berman Jackson of the District of Columbia reinstated the fired head of the Office of the Special Counsel, Hampton Dellinger, a Biden appointee. She has a record of partisan attacks on President Trump and other Republicans. She presided over numerous January 6 U.S. Capitol riot cases and presided over the Russian collusion case. She was appointed by Barack Obama. District court judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of New York, a Bill Clinton appointee, stood against Trumps efforts to cut government waste by blocking DOGE from obtaining access to certain Treasury Department payment records, including 90% of federal payments. She sentenced seven pro-life activists to federal prison, including a dying 77-year-old woman. Mocking God, Kotelly told the woman to make every effort to stay alive as part of the tenets of your religion. District court judge George OToole, Jr. of Massachusetts, nominated by Bill Clinton, blocked Trumps federal employee buyout plan, even after 65,000 federal workers had accepted the offer. He also blocked the transfer of men from womens prisons to mens prisons, in direct violation of Trumps executive order declaring two sexes. District court judge Kenneth J. Gonzales of New Mexico, a Barack Obama appointee and having a history of political positions in the courtroom, blocked deportations of Venezuelan criminals to Guantanamo Bay. Congress must impeach activist judges abusing U.S. law. Federal judges can be removed through impeachment by the House of Representatives and conviction in the Senate. Having a lifetime appointment, the salary of a district judge is $247,400, which is almost four times the salary of the average American, and these judges take their salary from the wages of the average American taxpayer. If all eight activist judges were impeached, Congress would save the American taxpayer $1,979,200 per year. Instead of Defending the Umpires, the Atlantics articles title should have been Defending the Imps. Image via Picryl. Back in September of 2016, then U.S. presidential candidate, Hillary Rodham Clinton, told all Americans that those of us who supported Donald Trump were nothing but a "basket of deplorables" -- unacceptable humans -- who, if they got their way, would bring down all of the U.S.'s institutions, culture, Constitution, and be the start of a wholesale abandonment of American basic values. Donald Trump pushed back, but the damage was done. The jury could not disregard the remark and the phrase became the appellation most often used by hardcore Democrats in private conversations and one that was repeatedly slammed by hardcore conservatives. As is often the case, such remarks have a way of biting the hand that feeds them to the public. The public I am speaking of here is not just Americans. The phrase has now worked its way across the Atlantic and extended its reach to the Europeans who now seem to agree with HRC that the Trump administration has tossed good manners and long-standing protocol over the side of the ship of state. It was announced yesterday that Vice President Vance will now accompany his wife to the Danish protectorate of Greenland, but not to witness a dog-sled race. He will be meeting with officials at the Thule (now called Pituffik, pronounced Bee-doo-feek) Space Base which has around 150 American military personnel stationed there. The nature of the visit changed because the Trump administration was getting a lot of bad press in Denmark and Greenland for showing up without an invitation even though it had every right to do so under the U.S./Danish visa waiver program which allows Americans and Danes to visit each other's countries without a visa. That goes for official Americans and civilians alike. But having the right does not make it right, however, and the Danish and Greenlandic press were quick to point out that they saw the arrival of two Hercules air transport planes show up at their civilian airport a few days ago as a bridge too far. To mix metaphors, America had crossed the Rubicon. The optics were, admittedly, bad for America. It looked like an invasion, albeit a benign one with armored vehicles and a few dozen security personnel. The Danes ended up sending a hundred or so Danish police from mainland Denmark seemingly as a countermeasure. The Greenlanders' yearly dog-sled race had morphed from a proud Greenland cultural event to a political one where the guest of honor (the VP's wife) was not actually the official guest of honor and would be there without an invitation from the organizers. Another problem was the fact that Greenland had just held an election ten days prior and had not yet formed a government, so no caretaker government official was interested in being branded an "America lover" by meeting with her before they handed over the reins of power to a governing coalition. Mush on, or as it's said in Greenlandic, "aju-aju," to get their dogs to move forward over the snow, the locals put pressure on their media to carry the ice water of their discontent. Journalists from Copenhagen and Nuuk glommed on to the story, calling it "intimidation" and a "breach of long-standing protocol," "a slap in the face to Denmark and Greenland" by a territory-hungry predator masquerading as a benevolent freedom-loving country. Was America fulfilling Hillary's prophecy? As of this writing, the visit is on with the vice president in the lead. The destination is fixed (Pituffik) and the timing is only a couple days away. Vance and wife are still not invited anywhere, and will probably bunk at the base and not travel to the site of the race, nor meet with any local Greenlanders. Obviously, since this is the Trump administration, things could change with a moment's notice, but that's the state of play now. The visit, as originally planned, was a tactical mistake, in my opinion. It should have never left the drawing board without at least a bi-lateral nod to the Danes and the Greenlanders. Instead, it is now clean-up on ice floe number three, and the fallout on this side of the Atlantic is more disgust with America and Americans. Now we know what it's like to be disliked for not taking off our boots at the door to prevent leaving mud on our host's floor. We are becoming the deplorables, at least in many Europeans' eyes, and it will take quite awhile to change their minds before they once more gladly buy our products, praise our culture or accept the differences in our leadership on the world stage to the extent they ever did. Hillary may have been wrong about the true nature of Trump supporters, but she was right about the perception of Trump supporters, and as we Americans know, most of the time perception is reality to many people, and getting them to focus on the facts is a task so great that many of us conservatives have already given up pursuing it. It is just them and us now with no in-between. When Lincoln spoke about fooling people he was right. You cannot fool all of the people all of the time, but by being seen to be trying to fool them, you end up creating formidable opponents from all sorts of people. The Europeans are among those people, especially the Danes who do not care how small their country is or the size of their trade with the United States. To them, might does not make right and they are willing to call out the emperor no matter where he sits or the size of his kingdom. It's just in their DNA as a former warrior nation. That's not deplorable. It's admirable, if not a little risky. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License Stephen Helgesen is a retired career U.S. diplomat specializing in international trade who lived and worked in 30 countries for 25 years during the Reagan, G.H.W. Bush, Clinton, and G.W. Bush Administrations. He is the author of fourteen books, seven on American politics, and has written over 1,500 articles on politics, economics and social trends. He now lives in Denmark and is a frequent political commentator on Danish media. He can be reached at: stephenhelgesen@gmail.com. History is catching up to truth. With President Donald Trump back in the White House and Senator Marco Rubio now serving as secretary of State, the United States is reclaiming moral leadership on Israel policy. The Biden administrations era of equivocation and appeasement is over. No more diplomatic gymnastics, no more erasing Jewish history with politically expedient language. The region long mislabeled the West Bank is being properly recognized for what it truly is: Judea and Samaria, the biblical heartland of the Jewish people. Tuesdays confirmation hearing of Governor Mike Huckabee for U.S. ambassador to Israel marked a watershed moment. When asked if he supports the annexation of the West Bank by Israel, Huckabee corrected the record: Its not the West Bank its called Judea and Samaria, and it has historically been a part of the Jewish nation. He went farther, stating, We are ultimately people of the book we believe the Bible therefore that connection is not geopolitical. It is also spiritual. This wasnt just a sound bite. It was a clear, values-driven articulation of why American policy must reflect historical truth and moral clarity. Huckabee didnt shy away from confronting the atrocities of October 7, describing the Hamas massacre as most physically painful and personally humiliating, acknowledging the savagery for what it was. He called out the Palestinian Authoritys glorification of terror: Abbas is now in the twentieth year of his four-year term ... with the ongoing doctrine where compensation is given to those who murder Jews, parks and streets are named for those who do it, pensions are given to the families of those who are killed in the line of killing Jews. Senator, thats a difficult pathway to peace. His voice cut through decades of foreign policy doublespeak: Israel needs an ally, and the Jewish people need to know that they have friends. And I am proud to have the right, as a Christian, to say to the Jews, you are not alone. Meanwhile, protests erupting in northern Gaza and Khan Younis where Palestinians themselves are rising up against Hamas reveal a critical shift. Ordinary Palestinians are openly demanding an end to the war and denouncing the leadership that has sacrificed their future. The world can no longer pretend Hamas represents the will of the people. Even in the territories it controls, the regime is being rejected. With Secretary Rubio now at the helm, and leaders like Huckabee and Yechiel Leiter (Israels ambassador to the U.S.) guiding the alliance, America is poised to take the next bold step: formal recognition of Judea and Samaria as sovereign Israeli territory. This would not just solidify Israels claim; it would set the tone for global diplomacy, forcing international actors to reckon with reality. During President Trumps first term, the Abraham Accords, the relocation of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, and the recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights shattered diplomatic taboos. Now, in Trumps second term, its time to finish what was started. Secretary Rubio is already reshaping the narrative refusing to use the terms occupied territories or settlements, and instead referring to Israeli towns and cities in Judea and Samaria as what they are: part of the Jewish homeland. Make no mistake: This is more than a policy shift. Its a declaration that the days of erasing Jewish history to appease terror-backed regimes are over. Its a sign that America, under President Trump and Secretary Rubio, stands unapologetically with its closest ally in the Middle East not just in words, but in deeds. The Trump-Rubio doctrine is ushering in a historic realignment one grounded in truth, courage, and strategic vision. And with Governor Huckabee poised to serve in Jerusalem, Americas message to Israel is loud and clear: We see you, we stand with you, and we will never let history be rewritten again. Scott Feltman is the executive vice president of the One Israel Fund. Image: Mike Huckabee. Credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. In the past two weeks, I have received news from friends, family, and organizational emails about bills currently being considered by the Texas legislature. In each instance, they were worked up because an article they read said that a beloved hobby of theirs might be made illegal because the wording of the bill was too broad and poorly defined. We had some back and forth discussions about it, then I did my own research and read the words of the bills. What I learned was fascinating. Here is a list of the proposed bills: Senate Bill 20: This bill has actually already passed the Senate, with a unanimous vote. This bill modifies the Texas statutes relating to obscenity and sex crimes, adding a section that makes it illegal to make, possess, or display any material that depicts someone that is supposed to be a minor in an obscene act. What the activists said: This bill was creating thought crimes, arguing that people would become criminals for the Anime, Manga, and other media they already possess, and that obscene was so poorly defined that any prude of a prosecutor could come after you if it offended their sensibilities and nobody elses. What I found: The bill was very well-written, easy to understand, and referenced all the related state statutes. I looked them up and found out that obscene is already very clearly defined in Texas law. Any prude prosecutor that finds everything obscene will run afoul of the Texas statutory definition of obscene. If anyone does possess Anime, Manga, or media that does offend SB20, then they should pause for serious reflection and ask themselves why they possess, enjoy, and care about material that depicts minors in obscene situations. Otherwise, your Anime, Manga, and any other media are safe. Reading through the relevant statutes did make me realize how so much sexual material has made its way into our school system: statutes exempt teachers and scientists in an educational environment from prosecution when they expose children to explicit materials. While this does make sense to a point (anatomy classes), the activists pushing to normalize unhealthy human sexuality have been abusing this loophole, and I suspect this loophole exists in the other 49 states as well. House Bill 4814: This bill is aimed at keeping furries out of schools. For brevitys sake I will not be defining furries here. What the activists said: This bill is going to outlaw roleplaying games, such as Dungeons and Dragons, and all associated clubs from schools, because of broad language that isnt specific enough. What I found: This bill was again, well-written, easy to understand, and did an excellent job targeting unhealthy behaviors. The bill specifically outlaws games that encourage non-human behaviors like licking oneself, using a litter box, etc. While D&D does involve pretending to be something other than human, like an elf, dwarf, gnome, hobbit, etc., all of these non-humans behave in a human-like manner. Even the anthropomorphic feline race acts human-like. None of them use litter boxes and players are discouraged from licking themselves or others. The bill did include appropriate exemptions for days like Halloween, up to five other school dress up days, and school mascots. HB 912 and SB 1003: These bills affect people with renewable power generation systems at home that are attached to the electrical grid. What the activists said: This bill is going to take away net metering from people; contact your representative and tell them to vote against these bills. (Net metering is when you generate more electricity than you use that the power company has to pay you for the extra electricity you made.) What I found: The bill could have been written better. It took a couple read-throughs to understand it. These bills only affect Texas residents who are not on the Texas power grid. Some Texas cities, close to the border, such as Beaumont and El Paso are not on the Texas power grid, but are connected to various U.S. power grids. This law requires that Power Companies for Texans that generate power on those power grids count all the electricity those Texans add to the grid towards their bill, and that the Power Companies give those Texans credit for all power they generate in excess of their usage. In other words, these bills enshrine net metering into law for Texans on a power grid that doesnt already have net metering, the opposite of what the activist organization was saying. Closing thoughts: Activist organizations are not being honest with what they are protesting. They are being paid money from a fund, probably similar to USAID, to say whatever is necessary to get people worked up enough to contact their representatives/senators to fight good legislation. Luckily, the people I know and love, who were really worked up about these issues, ended up doing their own research and finding out the truth. Because of the internet, it is easy to look up the actual bills and read the text. Encourage your friends and family to do their own research. Read the text of the bills, dont trust activist organizations. They lie to get you to be their pawn like certain political parties I could name. Monroe Wesson is a nom de plume for a mechanical engineering consultant in Texas. Image: Free image, Pixabay license. Things have changed a bit down at the U.S.-Mexico border. Things are settled for now, no more people crossing over like before. So what do you when you are not arguing about human trafficking and chaos on the border? You argue about "agua" or water. In short, we shut off the water to Mexico. According to Rep. Monica De La Cruz, the GOP representative on the border, it goes like this: It is simply unacceptable that Mexico refuses to comply with the 1944 Water Treaty and owes Texas farmers over one million acre-feet of water. I have heard from farmers in my communities, and Mexico's inaction has been devastating. I will continue to lead my colleagues in advocating for the water resources Texas farmers need to thrive. A 1944 Water Treaty? I didn't know anything about it, but the people on the border are pretty angry over water. Mexico's Presidenta Claudia Sheinbaum is engaged. She said that both sides are working on a solution. She blames it on droughts and the Texas farmers say that Mexico always waits until the last minute to do something about it. Senator Ted Cruz responded by blaming "non-compliance" from Mexico and too many "leaks" in the water pipes flowing to Tijuana. We are hoping for a happy resolution to this "agua" dispute. I guess that the good news is that we are arguing about water and not the usual stuff. P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. Image: Leaflet In his first term, some of the biggest law firms in America actively worked to destroy the Trump presidency. Now that President Trump is back, he has called out those firms and placed limits on their access to his administration. Suddenly, big leftist law firms arent that interested in destroying Trump anymore. As conservatives know, some of the most aggressive action against Trump in his first term came from lawyers at large, leftist law firms, especially Andrew Weissmann, who worked at Jenner & Block between stints working to destroy Trump, the entire firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison (Paul, Weiss), and Marc Elias, of the Elias Law Group. Weissman was a lead figure in the Russia Hoax, acting as the front man for Robert Mueller, who may already have been lapsing into the apparent dementia he showed when he testified before Congress. Marc Elias was involved in creating the faked Steele Dossier that gave rise to the Russia Hoax. And, as the New York Times proudly reported in 2018, Paul, Weiss dedicated itself to undermining Trumps efforts to stop illegal immigration. These attorneys functioned as Democrat party attack dogs rather than as defenders of the rule of law. Image by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0. And of course, there were prosecutors, both federal and state, who used their power to try to destroy Donald Trump once he left office, most notably Jack Smith, Alvin Bragg, and Letitia James. Lawfare was real, and it was lawyers against Trump. On March 22, Trump issued a memorandum barring several individuals from continued access to classified information. Many were political figures such as Biden and his family, Liz Cheney, Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, etc., but it was notable that several were attorneys, both in private practice and working for state and federal governments. Thus, with the stroke of a pen, Letitia James, Alvin Bragg, and Andrew Weissman had their clearance withdrawn and lost the privilege of unescorted access to United States government facilities. This loss of security clearance extended to any clearance the named people might have received by virtue of working for a private contractor with clearance. Ouch. Some of the named people are able to keep the money flowing precisely because of those now-revoked security clearances. Theyre not facing jail but they are possibly losing their livelihoods. On the same day, Trump issued another memorandum explicitly calling out Marc Elias for his role in the now-admittedly fraudulent Steele dossier, and calling out those law firms that have been gaming the legal system to get illegal immigrants into America and keep them there. Trump properly describes this behavior as both illegal and unethical. Therefore, Trump, called upon the Attorney General to investigate law firm and lawyer abuses and to prosecute those who blatantly violated federal law. The WaPo is now reporting with horror that these actionscalling to account law firms that used unethical and illegal means to violate the lawmean that fewer big firms are willing to stick their necks out to defend the activists currently attacking Trump or to engage in the lawfare that characterized Trumps first term: President Donald Trumps crackdown on lawyers is having a chilling effect on his opponents ability to defend themselves or challenge his actions in court, according to people who say they are struggling to find legal representation as a result of his challenges. Biden-era officials said theyre having trouble finding lawyers willing to defend them. The volunteers and small nonprofits forming the ground troops of the legal resistance to Trump administration actions say that the well-resourced law firms that once would have backed them are now steering clear. [snip] Trumps campaign against the law firms could deprive his opponents of top legal talent, weakening their ability to push back on him, analysts say. And individuals and groups that are taking risks by working against the administrations agenda may also be deeply vulnerable, forcing them to make difficult choices about when to take a stand against him and when to stay silent. The WaPo, naturally, says this is a threat to the whole constitutional system. You may recall that the WaPo had no such concerns when the Biden administration and its state prosecution allies criminally charged the lawyers who represented Trump during the 2020 election. That means that their tears now are crocodile tears, rather than principled concerns. The essay also contains this little tidbit about the huge owie Trump inflicted on these firms by denying them security clearance: The executive order barred the firms lawyers from federal buildings and directed the federal government to halt any financial relationship with the firm and its clients. That effectively forced Perkins Coies clients to pick between their lawyers or any federal government business they might have. The move could cost Perkins 25 percent of its revenue, the firm said in a court filing contesting the executive order. It said that several clients have already departed the firm, others have said they are thinking about it, and federal agencies were excluding it from key meetings with its clients. Trump, the master of the deal, forced a concession from Paul, Weiss in exchange for its maintaining access: the firm will devote $40 million worth of pro bono work to support the administrations initiatives, Trump said in a post on Truth Social, including work for veterans and combating antisemitism. By shutting down flow of taxpayer money that came from agencies such as USAID and by making lawyers think twice about the risks of taking on spurious cases, Trump has delivered a one-two bunch undercutting the antidemocratic juggernaut of leftist lawfare. In a just world, Trump would be the star of an amazing action movie: The hero, beaten badly, retreats to his hideaway, licks his wounds, and contemplates how to beat the bad guy. He emerges renewed and ready to take on the enemy. The audience should be cheering right now. I know that I am. The Democrat party is broken and lies smoldering on the political battlefield. Liberals today are bewildered and suffering from an acute case of Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) which causes them to embrace one stupid idea after another. Under the happy Biden presidency, Dems thought it was a super-duper-great idea to open our borders and allow 10 million unvetted illegal aliens to waltz into our country When the optics of the human stampede at the border got ugly, Biden flew illegals over the border and dropped them in towns across the USA. U.S. district judge James Boasberg didnt bang his gavel and scream at Biden to stop the flights. Democrats didnt seem concerned that many of those illegals flying the friendly skies could be infected with typhoid, tuberculosis, measles, or polio. Boasberg and other federal judges also ignored the possibility that rapists, murderers, gang-bangers, and the dregs of society would be unleashed on an unsuspecting population. Up is down down is up! Under the Biden presidency, Democrats loved electric vehicles (E.V.) and hated gas-guzzling monsters, which were destroying the environment, our planet, and the entire solar system. Liberals dreamed of ridding America of toxic cars and replacing them with clean, efficient, non-polluting E.V.s. Elon Musk was a savior and a bona fide hero to liberals. They loved this man...until they didnt. Musk abandoned the Democrat party and joined Trump, which filled them with unbridled rage and hate. Suddenly, it was okay to despise the man they once loved with the heat of a thousand suns. Musk went from beloved hero to hated Nazi, and Tesla vehicles across the land were painted with Nazi symbols and vandalized. Tesla E.V.s were set on fire, and ironically, the vehicle once considered safe for the environment spewed toxic chemicals into the atmosphere. The same party that once loved Musk silently applauded as domestic terrorists burned and destroyed their beloved E.V.s and polluted the environment. Up is down; down is up! Plans were also afoot to hire thousands of additional IRS agents. Dems loved the concept of nailing poor citizens, powerless to defend themselves, who failed to report earned income from tips. Those same citizens were scheduled for bank account colonoscopies to determine why they spent 600 bucks. However, when Musk hired an additional 40 people to identify rampant waste and fraud in the government, the Dems went berserk. Musk Derangement Syndrome (MDS) kicked in, and suddenly, the Dems hated the man who found the fraud instead of condemning the perpetrators. Up is down; down is up! The Democrats new plan is to wheel out the dynamic duo of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders. Yeah, thats the ticket. Keep failing, Dems. Youve been looking for a hero in all the wrong places, and you continue to embrace the wrong side of every issue thats important to America. Image: Chris Dodds via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. The Arctic Council comprises eight Arctic states: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation, Sweden, and the United States, plus six Permanent Participants representing indigenous people. It was established on September 19, 1996, when the founders signed the Ottawa Declaration. So far, this group has done little to develop the region, which has remained a blank spot on the world map. President Trump recently stepped in, but besides unfriendly takeovers by the U.S. of Greenland and Canada, there is another way that is good for all other A.C. members and, actually, for every other nation in the world, since it will concentrate on win-win cooperation instead of endless wars. Presently, the United States and Russia are the most serious players in the global North, but Moscow has already been ahead of Washington there for fifteen to twenty years and is leaving the doors open. These issues will become the primary meanings of the trans-Antarctic partnership forum The Arctic: The Territory of Dialogue, which will be held in the Russian city of Murmansk on March 2627. Bloomberg reported that Washington and Moscow may become partners in trans-Arctic projects, where geopolitical difficulties recede into the background. The news comes as the U.S. seeks to normalize relations with Russia and gain access to the economically important region. The future of the Arctic is the most promising case. America has significant financial and political resources and serious technological potential, which makes it possible to launch large-scale projects quickly enough. In mid-March, President Trump announced plans to order the construction of 48 icebreakers, probably within the framework of the ICE Pact project, on joint efforts for cooperation in the field of icebreaking vessels with Finland and Canada. Trump noted that Canada, a country close to the Arctic, should have its first icebreaker, which does not exist yet. The White Houses Arctic plans have awakened even Canada and Greenland. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, about 90 billion barrels of oil (about 10 billion tons) are hidden in the Arctic, along with about 16,700 trillion cubic meters of natural gas. The world produces about 3.3 trillion cubic meters of gas annually these have been resources for over three centuries. All rare earth metals, platinoids, and non-ferrous metals almost a quarter of the worlds total mineral reserves are in the Arctic. Russia accounts for nearly 40% of the resources. The Russians started with oil production but now produce almost the entire Periodic Table. President Vladimir Putin has declared Arctic policy a state priority, approving the strategic plan for developing the Russian Arctic until 2035. Russia has the most mines and drilling platforms in the Far North of all the Arctic Council countries. Gazprom Neft Corporations Messoyakha fields are the northernmost, 150 miles from the Arctic Circle. Russia owns half of the icebreaking vessels in the world, including eight nuclear icebreakers. The St. Petersburg United Shipbuilding Corporation has built the Iceberg robotics complex, which allows year-round mining of mineral deposits in the waters of freezing seas at depths up to 14,000 feet. The Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy has created a project for a nuclear-powered underwater gas carrier with three atomic reactors that develop speeds under the ice of up to 17 knots. It is an underwater gas tank with a speed slightly less than the most modern submarines of the Los Angelesclass Navy. Moscow is developing shipping logistics, exploration, and development of mineral resources in the Arctic Ocean. The Northwest Passage through this ocean along Greenland and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, has shallow depths and does not allow large-tonnage cargo ships to pass. Russia has built Large Range 2 Aframax-class tankers, with deadweight of more than 100,000 tons, that can safely carry Asian container ships along its Northern Sea route. Ever Given, one of the worlds biggest ships, jammed the Suez Canal in 2021, incurring losses of $9.6 billion. It is impossible to run aground in the Arctic Ocean; the route from Asia and Europe is twice as short and ten times safer than through the Persian Gulf, without the risk of falling under missile attacks. Russia transported 36 million tons of cargo along the NSR last year, with a target of 220 million tons in 2035. The Northern Shipping Corridor already unites more than 70 ports and trans-shipment bases. Russias strategic position is that the entire Arctic region is becoming a territory of advanced development. Russias intentions to open a new period of trans-Arctic partnership are noticeable in the transformation of global geopolitics as they are linked to new opportunities that benefit all. These are the advantages and prospects of northern maritime logistics in competition with international routes, infrastructure modernization projects, and simultaneously the urban issues in the Arctic. As the United States and Russia are entering negotiations in search for peace in Ukraine, this event is an ideal example of the roadmap from wars and destruction to peace and development. Public Domain Pictures. " captext="Public Domain Pictures" src="https://images.americanthinker.com/by/by0uunhmjhmfqxfui5py_640.jpeg" /> Image via Public Domain Pictures. Apple finally gave us an official date for this years WWDC event. The Cupertino giant has announced that it will hold WWDC 2025 from June 9th to June 13th. Its keynote will kick off on June 9th at 10AM PT/1PM ET, followed by a Platforms State of the Union presentation. Then, theres an extensive schedule of sessions and labs aimed at developers. How to attend Apple WWDC 2025? Apple CEO Tim Cook will probably take the stage to start the keynote on June 9th. Similar to the previous years, some developers, students, and media personnel will get the opportunity to attend the special keynote at Apple Park. Just like last years event, Apple is going to livestream the June 9th keynote on its website and YouTube channel for free. Apple product developers and students can attend the conference sessions for free online. As expected, this years conference will offer video sessions and opportunities to connect with Apple engineers and designers in online labs. What to expect from WWDC 2025? Analysts expect Apple to introduce iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16, watchOS 12, tvOS 19, and visionOS 3 at WWDC 2025. This could be the companys most packed software release event to date. According to Bloombergs Mark Gurman, iOS 19 will fundamentally change the look of the operating systems and make Apples various software platforms more consistent. Gurman believes that Apple will unify the look of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS at the upcoming developer conference. Apple will also deliver a more straightforward experience through its OS platforms, suggests Gurman. Additionally, the WWDC 2025 will have major announcements surrounding Apple Intelligence. Based on the rumors, Siri will play a huge part in the upcoming keynote in June. Many of the promised Apple Intelligence features have centered on Siri so far, but Apple hasnt yet delivered them. That said, we are at least expecting new features for the Apple Watch with the new watchOS 12 update. Since theres some time for the WWDC 2025 to unfold, we expect the rumor mill to deliver more details about the newer version of Apple OS platforms soon. The last few months havent brought the best news for mobile carrier customers in the US. T-Mobile customers have been complaining about the company forcing the cumbersome T-Life app even for in-store transactions, in addition to price increases. Last year, Verizon also decreased its discounts for seniors. Now, AT&T is reducing discounts for those who have set up autopay and paperless billing. For some time now, AT&T customers have been enjoying discounts on their bills if they set up autopay via a debit or credit card. It also applied to those who chose to receive their bills electronically only. In theory, both measures would make things much more convenient for them by automating these processes. They would also promote an environmental measure by eliminating physical bills. AT&T has reduced (or limited the scope of) autopay and paperless billing discounts However, AT&T is halving the discount for using the autopay card system. From now on, eligible users will only receive $5 off their monthly bill instead of the previous $10. Kyle Loomis, mobile carrier spokesperson, has officially confirmed the change. Additionally, AT&T is limiting the scope of the discount for paperless billing. Customers who had this option enabled previously received an additional $5 off their bill. Now, only those with an AT&T Plus card from Citi will be eligible for this benefit. That said, the company is maintaining the $10 discount for customers who set up autopay through a bank account. According to Loomis, these changes are to align with others in the industry. In other words, as other carriers have gotten rid of offers and discounts, AT&T has seen an opportunity to do the same. Situations like these reflect how important it is to maintain fair competition in the market. If a few companies dominate a large portion of the market, they could worsen conditions for their customers. Clients will then find that competitors are doing the sameor worse. This leaves them with no viable options for change, leaving them at the mercy of the carrier. Ultimate Summary: Google will start developing Android OS behind closed doors, starting next week. Not to be confused with taking Android closed-source, as Google will continue to open source the code, after a new version of Android is released. Since the beginning of Android, its been developed out in the open as part of the Android Open Source Project. However, it seems that they now will take this private, and develop the Android OS fully behind closed doors. This does not mean that Google is going closed source (like Apple and iOS), but instead, the development wont be out in the public. Once the release is final, itll be added to AOSP, like usual. Google has told Android Authority that it is doing this to streamline the development of Android. Currently, the way it works is, Android is able to accept code contributions from third-party developers. Even though the majority of the AOSP development is done by Google itself, others can still contribute. And others can also see what changes have been made, before Google pushes it to devices. But, Google does treat the Android project as a full-scale product development operation as an effort to ensure the vitality of Android as a platform and as an open-source project. Basically meaning that Google has final say on what code is able to be merged with AOSP. Google is eliminating a branch of Android Currently, Google has two branches of Android. Theres AOSP (Android Open Source Project) that is open to anyone to use however they like. In fact, companies like Amazon do use it to an extent for their Fire Tablets. Then theres Googles internal brand, which is only available to companies that have a Google Mobile Services (GMS) licensing agreement. We heard more about this when Huawei was banned from working with US companies a few years ago. They were able to keep using Android, but they wouldnt get help from Google. Now, Google is eliminating that public branch of development to make things simpler. As having two branches can sometimes create code conflicts, making things tougher to get new versions of Android out the door. Google has confirmed that they are not going closed-source with Android. It will continue to publish the source code for new Android releases. It will also continue to publish the source code for Androids Linux kernel fork, since it is licensed under GPLv2. This is all set to begin next week, with all Android development happening in Googles internal branches. Source code will only be added for changes once Google publishes a new branch containing those changes. This is already normal for most Android component changes, so Google is consolidating its development into a single branch. For regular users, this will not change a single thing. It will only change for companies that are using the open source version of Android and those individuals that submit code to AOSP. Google collects a ton of data on us. It uses that data for targeted advertising, which, based on Googles latest financial report, is a lucrative business that brought in over $70 billion in revenue in Q4 2024 alone. However, there is a price to pay for that data, which comes in the form of lawsuits. Now, it looks like Google needs to gear up for yet another class action lawsuit over its alleged unlawful collection of data. Googles data lawsuits Google has faced many data-related lawsuits over the years. In one instance, users sued the company over data collected through Google Chrome. In another, a software glitch led to a data breach in 2015. Then, in 2023, users accused Google of tricking them into consenting to 24/7 location tracking outside of Google Maps. The latest lawsuit, Attila Csupo et al. v. Google LLC, was actually filed against Google back in 2019. It alleges that Google is siphoning information from Android devices without the users permission. It claims that these transfers take place in the background without notifying the user. Apparently, this even occurs when users leave their phones completely idle with all apps closed. The lawsuit also takes issue with how these transfers take place over a cellular network. This, apparently, violates California law. The plaintiffs are asking Google to compensate them for the value of the cellular data it used for its own benefit without their permission. Basically, it sounds like the plaintiffs are unhappy that Google is leveraging its users cellular data without their express permission. Lawsuit taking place this June The plaintiffs filed the lawsuit in 2019, but the actual trial is now scheduled for June 2, 2025. This lawsuit could be of interest to anyone living in the state of California and using an Android device. It seems that the Class is defined as all natural persons who, while residing in the State of California, have used a mobile phone running a Google-licensed version of the Android operating system with a cellular data plan from August 9, 2016, to the present. If, for whatever reason, you fall in the Class but dont want to be part of it, you can exclude yourself by going to the Settlement website and submitting your withdrawal. Google hasnt commented on the lawsuit yet. However, there is still time for the company to respond. Alternatively, Google may offer up some kind of settlement to avoid a potentially long, drawn-out court battle. Napster, once a pioneering music sharing platform that changed the industry more than 25 years ago, has just sold for $207 million. Infinite Reality, a 3D technology company that focuses on immersive digital media and e-commerce, has acquired the once iconic music sharing service. Infinite Reality is planning to transform Napster beyond streaming into a social interactive music platform. Infinity Reality will leverage the Napster brand in marketing within the metaverse Infinite Realitys CEO John Acunto said that itll use Napster for marketing purposes in the metaverse. The company plans to create virtual 3D spaces for all music fans around the world to attend concerts and listening parties. The newly sold Napster brand will also be a sales platform for musicians and labels to sell merchandise. The newly reimagined Napster is going to differentiate itself from rivals by serving as a social music platform. It will prioritize active fan engagement over passive listening. However, attending shared virtual music events in 3D spaces inside the metaverse will be the main aspect of the platform. Infinite Reality and Napster have a definite agreement. Napster holds licenses to stream millions of tracks, which makes it an attractive acquisition target for Infinite Reality. Napster delivers more than 110 million high-fidelity songs from the top artists in the world. In more than two decades, Napster has paid over $1 billion to musicians and songwriters across the globe. By acquiring Napster, were paving a path to a brighter future for artists, fans, and the music industry at large, said John Acunto, Co-Founder and CEO of Infinite Reality. This strategic move aligns with Infinite Realitys vision to lead an internet industry shift from a flat 2D clickable web to a 3D conversational one giving all creators modern tools to better engage, monetize, and measure their audiences, he added. Started in 1999, Napster took the world by storm Shawn Fanning and Sean Parker launched Napster in 1999, and it immediately rocked the music sharing world. It became popular as the first significant peer-to-peer file-sharing application. It allowed PC users to exchange MP3 files, which they could play in a media player like Winamp. Using the shared files, they could create collections of digital audio for free. They carried out all of this without obtaining any copyright approvals, making most of their activities illegal. After Metallica and the Recording Industry Association of America sued Napster, the company filed for bankruptcy and sold its assets to a series of owners. In 2022, the blockchain company Algorand acquired most of the assets from different owners. Since 2016, Napster has been a music streaming service in a world dominated by popular players such as Spotify and Apple Music. Napster is 30 days free, then it costs $10.99 per month. Right now, chipmakers are building the best smartphone chipsets in the world using the 3nm process. This includes Apples A18 Pro, found in the iPhone 16 series, and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, used in the majority of flagship phones launched since late 2024. But come 2026, we can look forward to more chipsets from Qualcomm built on the 2nm process. Qualcomm wants 2nm chips too According to an earlier report, Apple will use TSMCs 2nm process to manufacture the chipsets for its iPhone 18 series. Now, according to tipster Digital Chat Station on Weibo, Qualcomm is expected to follow suit. The company will apparently use TSMCs 2nm process for its 2026 flagship chipsets, which presumably will be the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 3. The post mentions two Qualcomm chipsetsSM8950 and SM8945. Based on the naming scheme, the SM8950 is the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 3. The latter, however, could be a slightly less powerful variant, maybe the Snapdragon 8s Gen 5, or whatever Qualcomm plans to name its chipset. Right now, TSMC is the only company capable of producing chipsets using the 2nm process. However, Samsung could catch up soon. Recent reports claim that Samsungs first test of its 2nm process has yielded promising results. Still, many big companies, such as Apple, Qualcomm, MediaTek, and NVIDIA, rely heavily on TSMC. But if Samsung can get its 2nm process up to scale, it could win some of those customers over, especially if these companies are looking to diversify their manufacturing partners to reduce over-reliance on one of them. Why going 2nm is a big deal Right now, youve come across articles talking about the manufacturing process. People often throw around terms like 2nm and 3nm, but the real question is: why do they matter? Basically, the smaller the process used, the more transistors can fit into the same space. Its like silicon-carbon batteries, which hold a higher capacity despite being the same size as traditional lithium-ion cells. More transistor density increases the raw power available, which can be useful for advanced artificial intelligence features. The smaller size translates into less energy consumption. This can result in our mobile devices becoming more energy efficient and lasting longer on a single charge. That said, making chips on the 2nm process costs a lot. So, it wouldnt be surprising if companies like TSMC raise their prices for customers, who could then pass those costs down to consumers. Summary: Samsung has launched three new next-gen Odyssey gaming monitors, and its now possible to reserve your pre-order through Samsungs official website. The new lineup includes a new version of the Odyssey G9, as well as the Odyssey 3D and the Odyssey OLED G8. Samsung boasts features like 4K resolution and high refresh rates, along with low response times for an unparalleled gaming experience. Samsung today has launched its next-gen lineup of Odyssey gaming monitors, including the all-new model of the Odyssey G9, which Samsung says brings ultrawide gaming to more people by simplifying the approach without sacrificing performance. In addition to the all-new model of the Odyssey G9, Samsung is also launching a new model of the Odyssey G8, as well as the new Odyssey 3D for glasses-free 3D gaming. Samsung initially announced the Odyssey 3D last year, but its only just been made available for pre-order reservations. Consumers can also now reserve pre-orders for the other two Odyssey gaming monitors. While this isnt the actual pre-order, meaning you wont be putting down any money just yet, reserving one of the monitors will save you $50 once the pre-orders actually go live. So, if youre planning on upgrading to one of these, you might as well make the reservation and save a little money. The next-gen Odyssey G9 could be one of the best monitors from Samsung in a while Samsung offers a wide range of gaming monitors in its Odyssey lineup and that includes several models of the Odyssey G9. While the majority of the Odyssey G9 monitors start pretty expensive, they usually end up coming down in price eventually, even if only for a brief sale. However, Samsungs latest Odyssey G9, the G91F model, is already sounding like it could be one of the companys best monitors for gaming to date. At least for a larger number of gamers. The new Odyssey G9 (G91F) offers many of the features of older models, but it should come with a lower price point. While Samsung hasnt announced an official price tag just yet, it seems likely that the company will charge less for this model. It has a 144Hz refresh rate compared to the 240Hz on other versions. It also has a 1ms response time, though this is on par with most versions, save for the Odyssey OLED G9, which lowered that to 0.03ms. That lower refresh rate, however, suggests that it could come to market for a cost under what Samsung has typically launched the older versions for. That would explain Samsungs statement about bringing ultrawide gaming to more people with a simplified approach. More people would be able to afford it if the price were lower. Its also worth noting that more people probably have a gaming PC thats capable of maxing out a 144Hz refresh rate with a screen this size. Hence it likely appeals to a wider audience. Samsung is launching two smaller options for gamers All that said, 49 inches is a lot more monitor than some people want. For those looking at something smaller, Samsungs new Odyssey OLED G8 and Odyssey 3D both come in 27-inch sizes. The OLED G8 also comes in a 32-inch model. Additionally, it has 4K resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate. Samsung is also launching a new ViewFinity S8 monitor For the non-gamer, or those who simply dont play many games, theres Samsungs new ViewFinity S8. Samsung says this is its largest 16:9 4K monitor to date, coming in with a screen size of 37 inches. It is worth noting that Samsungs Odyssey Neo G7 43-inch monitor (which launched in 2023) is also 4K UHD and has a 16:9 aspect ratio. So perhaps Samsung is referring to non-gaming monitors here. As for the size, its 34% larger than the last ViewFinity S8, and it features a 90W USB-C connection along with the other standard ports like HDMI and DisplayPort. Samsung doesnt mention if the new ViewFinity S8 is available to reserve like the three new gaming monitors. There are many messaging apps available right now, and most of them offer end-to-end encryption (E2E), making your sent and received messages more secure from prying eyes. WhatsApp is the largest messaging app in the world right now, but in political circles, Signal is the app of choice, especially for US President Donald Trump. Signal is the governments choice According to reports in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, Trump and his allies heavily favor the Signal app. In fact, Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency coordinates its activities over Signal. The app is increasing in popularity. Data from Sensor Tower shows that app downloads of Signal in the US during the first three months of 2025 are up 16% compared to the previous quarter and 25% compared to the same period in 2024. The US government isnt alone in using Signal. In 2020, the European Commission encouraged staff to use the app. However, the app isnt without its controversies. One of Signals benefits is its support for E2E. This makes conversations more private, which unfortunately also means that criminals, such as drug dealers, have relied on the app to conduct their illegal activities. Signal vs WhatsApp Like we said, many messenger apps offer E2E as a standard feature. However, there is more to E2E than just encryption. For instance, WhatsApp is the largest messaging platform in the world, according to data from Statista. Its active users vastly outnumber Signal, but because of its affiliation to Meta, a company known for harvesting and selling user information, not everyone is comfortable using it for secure conversations. While WhatsApp has no monetization in place, like paying a subscription, neither does Signal. However, Signal is run as a non-profit and is funded through donations and grants. This means it doesnt need to use your data to make money. Signal also collects the bare minimum of user data. It only collects your phone number and connection timestamp, whereas WhatsApp collects more. This includes information about your device, contact list, usage stats, and more. Signal is more simple compared to WhatsApp. It has less features, which means that WhatsApp is better for regular users. However, if youre looking for more privacy, its not hard to see why Trump and his allies and other governments are relying on Signal. The US and China are currently in a trade war. Both countries arent particularly friendly with each other at the moment. But could China be working behind the scenes to thwart the United States spectrum efforts? US Senate Commerce Committee chair Ted Cruz thinks so. Is China secretly sabotaging the US? A report from Reuters cites a letter Cruz sent to Tulsi Gabbard, the US Director of National Intelligence. Cruz suggests to Gabbard that China is trying to thwart the USs spectrum efforts by covertly influencing lawmakers to delay or prevent the renewal of spectrum auctioning. Cruz says, China is actively working to capture global leadership in this area and ensure the next generation of global telecommunications technologies live and work on a technological backbone of their making. This follows the FCCs current situation, where it has lost its ability to auction wireless spectrum. This happened in 2023 when Congress failed to pass legislation that would renew its ability in time. Lawmakers introduced a bipartisan bill called the Spectrum Auction Reauthorization Act, but the Senate stalled it over budget debates and other disagreements. Cruzs letter also expressed his concern that this delay could lead to Huawei building the backbone of tomorrows global communication networks. The US government doesnt want China or its companies to control the telecom infrastructure, citing national security concerns. The US government is even spending billions on removing Huawei and ZTEs equipment from local networks. Why this matters The Chinese Embassy has not responded to the report, but its not hard to see why Cruz is worried. Wireless spectrum auctions take place around the world. Each country has its own regulatory body to handle these auctions. These spectrums are crucial in the advancement of wireless technology, such as 5G and, eventually, 6G. Since the FCC is unable to auction off wireless spectrum, advancements are stalled. Mobile carriers and other companies will have to work with whats available. This means that while other countries, such as China, actively auction off spectrums and advance their technologies, the US can only sit on the sidelines and wait until Congress reauthorizes the FCC to resume wireless spectrum auctions. This could lead to the US lagging behind other countries and a potential loss of revenue and competitiveness. The new administration in Washington has taken its first set of harsh measures against the Chinese tech industry. Trump has added dozens of companies, most of them based in China, to the Entity List. The US hopes this move will effectively blacklist China from access to key AI hardware. It also aims to curtail Chinas advancements in other technologies, such as quantum computing. There are a total of 80 new firms added to the Entity List, with more than 50 being Chinese. If youre not aware, the US Entity List identifies persons or addresses of persons reasonably believed to be involved, or to pose a significant risk of being or becoming involved, in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. Trump himself added companies such as Huawei and ZTE during his first term. Organizations included on the list cannot do business with US companies or the USs international partners. The US blacklists more than 50 companies, targeting Chinas AI and advanced computing development According to the Department of Commerces Bureau of Industry and Security, many of the new companies added to the list developed supercomputers and artificial intelligence technology for military purposes for China. 27 of these companies used US-made equipment for this purpose. Seven of the companies focused on developing quantum computing technology. Two of the companies were suppliers to Huawei and HiSilicon, its chipmaking subsidiary. Six of the companies were added because they are subsidiaries of Inspur Group, a Chinese cloud computing firm that was already blacklisted by Joe Biden in 2023. US authorities say they have reason to believe that Chinese companies are using third parties to acquire equipment with US technology in ways that circumvent current restrictions. Therefore, expanding the scope of these restrictions seeks to end such practices. A clear, resounding message, says the US administration Jeffrey I. Kessler, Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, said that the Trump administration will prevent U.S. technologies from being misused for high performance computing, hypersonic missiles, military aircraft training, and UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicle) that threaten our national security. The new measures are sending a clear, resounding message, he added. It didnt take China long to respond to the USs new trade restrictions. The countrys foreign ministry said it strongly condemns the measures. He also said that the US should stop generalizing national security. Beijing might respond with its own set of restrictions, as it has in the past. Duchess of Edinburgh with Italian MEP Caterina Chinnici at a gathering hosted by the European Parliament Intergroup on Childrens Rights - Ian Vogler - Pool/Getty Images The Duchess of Edinburgh has joined forces with Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, to warn of how artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to generate child sex abuse imagery. The two women travelled to Brussels, where the Duchess called on European politicians to urgently redouble their efforts to prevent child abuse. She said that thousands of AI-generated images had been found on forums on the dark web. As I speak, AI is being used to generate hyper-realistic child sexual abuse imagery at scale, the Duchess warned. Seventy nine per cent of teenagers are already using generative-AI for learning, which obviously can be beneficial, but they are also receiving misleading or dangerous information from chatbots on topics including mental health, suicide and grooming. The Duchess, who is patron of the NSPCC and Plan International UK, charities raising awareness about the dangers children face online, said the digital sphere could also facilitate offline abuse as perpetrators used online platforms to groom and exploit children. This underlines the corrosive impact of online abuse and scale of the challenge we face in tackling it, she said. It is a challenge we need to tackle urgently, particularly given the emergence of generative AI. The gathering was hosted by the European Parliament Intergroup on Childrens Rights. Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, joined Duchess of Edinburgh in Brussels on Wednesday - Ian Vogler - Pool/Getty Images The Duchess said the NSPCC had found potential solutions to the dangers posed by AI, but warned that it would take a collective effort by all, including governments, technology companies, police, regulators and legislators, to make it happen. She said: Honoured guests it is in your hands, a task of the utmost and urgent importance, because the lives and futures of millions of children around the world will be affected by what you decide, or do not decide to do. Therefore I implore you now, on behalf of the children of today and tomorrow, to redouble your efforts in prioritising their safety and well-being so that they are empowered to learn, to play, to grow and to thrive in our world. Home Office minister Ms Phillips spoke on a panel alongside other political figures, calling upon other nations to go further in their plans to protect children online. The joint visit comes amid a rise in the number of the most extreme images online. The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), a charity that monitors child sexual abuse images and urges companies and governments to work to remove them, recorded a 22 per cent increase in category A images its most serious classification between 2022 and 2023. This was the worst year on record for child sexual abuse online, according to the IWF. The Duchess of Edinburgh urged MEPs to tackle the rise in generative AI images of child abuse - Ian Vogler/PA Wire Ahead of the visit, Ms Phillips, said: Child sexual abuse is a horrific crime that is impacting more and more children, victims and survivors in all of our communities across the world and the effects can last a lifetime. It is, therefore, crucial that we drive forward a global response and improve global capacity to tackle this crime. Enough is enough. We must act now and urgently see strong action from governments, tech, frontline professionals, police and law enforcement. Ministers plan to introduce stronger laws to clamp down on online child sexual abuse as part of domestic efforts to tackle its spread. Measures in the Crime and Policing Bill, currently making its way through Parliament, will make it illegal to create or own AI tools designed for making child sexual abuse images, among other new offences. Tackling threats from artificial intelligence will play a key role in the Governments updated strategy to combat fraud. New proposals covering data sharing, evolving threats from new technology and international co-operation will be included in the strategy, which is due to be published later this year as part of the Governments Plan for Change. Working with private industry, tackling fraud against businesses, public awareness and victim support will also be included, according to the Home Office. Fraud has changed and so too must our response, said fraud minister Lord Hanson, who will outline proposals in a speech to the Global Anti-Scams Alliance summit, which takes place in London on Wednesday and Thursday. Fraud is an increasingly international enterprise run by some of the most appalling criminal gangs operating in the world today. Thats why we are determined to work with global partners to build a united front to tackle these criminal networks head-on, wherever they are based. He will say accelerating the development of data-sharing measures will stop, block and disrupt online harms, while using developing technologies will reduce the time police and prosecutors spend on paperwork. The minister will also announce the UKs leadership in a global fraud summit hosted by Interpol and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna in 2026. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics said consumer and retail fraud reports increased by 19% in the year to June 2024 with fraud and cyber offences making up 50% of all online crime in the UK. The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, at the Pacific Islands Forum in Nadi, Fiji, in 2023. Aid will be redirected to the Pacific from other regions in the 2025 budget to offset the pause on US aid under Donald Trump. Photograph: AAP Australia will redirect more than $100m in foreign aid toward the Indo-Pacific region to urgently plug funding gaps after Donald Trump announced the US would cancel around $US54bn worth in overseas development assistance programs. The official development assistance budget for 2025-26 will reach $5.1bn, an increase of $135.9m from 2024-25, but $119m will be reprioritised to support economic, health, humanitarian and climate responses in the neighbouring regions. The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, said hard strategic decisions had to be made in after the Trump administrations decision to pause US foreign aid funding pending a review. The funding for three institutions will be affected during the 2025-26 financial year with the Albanese government reducing payments to the Global Partnership for Education and Global Fund to Fight HIV, Malaria and TB to $16.4m for the year. Australia will also provide $13m less in its core funding contributions to the UN Development Program, with the government noting it will still give a total of $189.5m to UN agencies over 2025-26. Three-quarters of the ODA budget for the year will go toward the Indo-Pacific region with $1bn over five years targeted at building economic resilience. A $370m package over three years will go towards the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, with USAid cuts resulting in food shortages. Other assistance will go to regional health resilience for essential services for HIV and tuberculosis, for example, and to support climate action in the face of climate-related shocks. Wong said the foreign development program was central to ensuring the stability and security of our region. In these uncertain times, we are ensuring more of Australias development assistance is going to the Pacific and south-east Asia, where Australias interests are most at stake, Wong said. Weve had to make hard strategic decisions and focus on where our development assistance can have the greatest impact. The minister set her sights on the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, who has yet to rule out any cuts to the development budget. Guardian Australia reported on Tuesday that Liberal backbenchers are warning opposition leadership against cutting foreign aid to pay for a potential $15bn increase in defence spending and other big-ticket budget items. Tim Costello, the national director of Christian aid advocacy group Micah, welcomed the funding increase but urged the Coalition to back the commitment. Aid saves lives, he said on Tuesday night. With USAid being absolutely smashed by Elon Musk and Donald Trump some millions of people are going to die. Thats not metaphorical. The peak body for aid and humanitarian bodies, the Australian Council for International Development, said the extra funding and reprioritisation sent a signal to the world that Australia was not retreating from the region. Related: Liberal backbenchers urge Coalition not to raid foreign aid budget to pay for rumoured $15bn defence boost The stakes have never been higher in our region. Australias international development budget is at the heart of Australias response to an uncertain world underpinning stability, Matthew Maury, the councils interim head, said. Any reduction in aid will be felt immediately creating both humanitarian and diplomatic costs, while allowing other nations to expand their influence in the region. Trump ordered a 90-day pause in January to foreign aid programs to undertake a review of their effectiveness. Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said in March the US government would cancel 83% of USAid programs after the reviews completion. US officials believe this totals around $US 54bn in assistance. In response, Wong asked the foreign affairs department to assess the impact of Trumps announcements and to determine which programs needed immediate funding. An additional $5m was provided in 2024-25 to maintain HIV programs in PNG, Fiji and the Philippines after the USs announcement. BBC Scotlands head of news and current affairs Gary Smith is to step down after almost a decade, saying it has been a privilege to have a front row seat as history was made. Mr Smith has spent most of his 40-year career as a journalist with the BBC, apart from a four-year stint at Channel Four News in the late 80s and early 90s. He took over as head of news at BBC Scotland in 2016 and has steered the newsroom through major events such as the EU referendum, several elections, the pandemic and the death of the late Queen at Balmoral. Mr Smith will leave the role in the summer and the search for his successor will begin immediately. He said: Its been a privilege to have a front row seat as history was made over the past four decades in Scotland, the UK and the world. Ive worked with some brilliant colleagues, been involved in the biggest stories, and had a lot of fun along the way. Now the times right for a change, to revisit my first love of writing, to give something back to journalism by helping the next generation of reporters, and to have the space to spend more time with my wonderful family. BBC Scotland director Hayley Valentine said it was hard to overstate his contribution to news journalism and the BBC and said he has steered the newsroom through some huge stories. She said: His relationship with Network News, and the high regard in which he is held there, have made our newsroom all the stronger. At BBC Scotland, he has transformed our digital news offer, overseen the growth of our award-winning investigations department, and most recently launched a suite of new content focused on reaching diverse audiences in different ways. Personally, I will miss Gary terribly he has not only been a brilliant colleague, but a supportive friend. Crucially, his judgment is second to none and his advice is always worth listening to. Born and brought up in Glasgow, Mr Smith, 64, was educated at Glasgow University before undertaking a post-graduate journalism diploma at Cardiff University. In 1984 he started with the BBC as a news trainee and became a sub editor with BBC News the following year. He moved to Channel Four News in 1989 and worked as a senior political producer, foreign producer and programme editor covering stories such as the late Margaret Thatchers departure from Number 10 Downing Street, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the civil war in Kashmir. Returning to the BBC in 1992, he worked as assistant editor on the then Nine OClock News and also as editor of political news and UK news editor. The rollout of body-worn video cameras for Police Scotland officers will bring huge benefits to the force on an operational level, the chief constable has said. Speaking as the first officers were kitted out with the cameras at Bell Street police station in Dundee on Wednesday, Jo Farrell said she hopes all frontline officers and staff will be equipped with the devices within 12-18 months. She says the cameras should speed up court citations for police who have been involved in incidents, ultimately driving faster justice for victims of crime, and providing officers with additional safety. She said: It will bring huge benefits. This is a game-changer for us both in terms of additional reassurance to the public, but importantly were able to capture the best evidence to get good outcomes for victims in court. Police dog handlers are among those being equipped with the cameras (Andrew Milligan/PA) It will provide additional safety to our officers, because my experience is that where people are aggressive and offer violence towards officers, their behaviour changes when they know theyre being recorded. Around 750 officers covering Dundee, Angus and Perthshire, including road policing officers and dog handlers, will be fitted with the new devices over the coming weeks in the first stage of the national rollout. More than 10,500 Home Office-approved Motorola Solutions VB400 cameras will be issued to frontline officers and police custody staff across the country as the rollout continues, in what is part of a 13.3 million contract. Ms Farrell has sought to prioritise the introduction of body-worn video cameras since taking command of the force in October 2023. Chief Constable Jo Farrell described the rollout of body-worn cameras as a game-changer for police (Andrew Milligan/PA) It is hoped the deployment of the cameras will help to de-escalate incidents, improve public trust in policing, reduce complaints and support officer and staff safety, as well as bring wider benefits to the criminal justice system. The rollout was announced in June last year, but the force said in August that it would not begin until March 2025. Asked why there was such a delay, Ms Farrell said: The rollout is more than the camera. We need an infrastructure were delivering this across a country, so it needs financial resource, technical resource, and we need to build the infrastructure. But now that weve started the launch and the rollout, I anticipate it will be very rapid across the country. During a Scottish Police Federation conference on Tuesday, its chairman claimed policing deserts are becoming widespread across Scotland. David Threadgold warned a squeeze on police resources, as well as diminished trust between officers, the chief constable and the Scottish Government due to pay negotiations, had led to more officers leaving the force. Ms Farrell said on Wednesday she is far more optimistic than Mr Threadgold, stating the cameras could be instrumental in rectifying the issue. She said: Its my role to ensure that we have the strongest policing front line across the whole of Scotland. The body-worn rollout is part of that, in terms of it will reduce the time that officers are in court, it will provide extra protection to them, and it will provide them the security and reassurance when people maliciously complain against them, theyll be able to evidence the fact that theyve acted in a professional and proper way. A police motorcyclist during the national launch of body-worn video cameras for Police Scotland (Andrew Milligan/PA) Some officers have voiced confidence the cameras will speed up court appearances for police, and that it will help with public trust in policing. Pc Anna Bannerman said: Everything we do will be recorded. Theres not going to be any question over how weve presented ourselves or the tasks weve carried out. When we get cited for court it can sometimes be on our days off, which is quite a big disruption for us and we find ourselves waiting to be seen in court, so having these cameras should be a massive help. Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: Body-worn video can increase public confidence in policing and improve safety for police officers and staff. It can also benefit victims and witnesses of crime by allowing cases to be brought to court sooner. The use of body-worn video is supported by a world-leading 33 million Scottish Government initiative for sharing digital evidence from crime scene to court room. Digital evidence sharing capability, which is also being rolled out across Scotland, is leading to efficiencies across the criminal justice system, delivering benefits for victims, police officers, prosecutors, defence lawyers, court staff and judges. Scottish Police Authority interim chairwoman Fiona McQueen said: The rollout of body-worn video to frontline officers has been a longstanding aspiration for policing in Scotland and this marks an important milestone in that journey. The benefits of this technology are well documented. It will benefit the safety of our officers and the public and wider criminal justice system in terms of the effectiveness of investigations. Jair Bolsonaro earlier this month. Photograph: Adriano Machado/Reuters Brazils former president Jair Bolsonaro will stand trial for allegedly orchestrating a violent plot to seize power through a military coup, after the countrys supreme court decided he should face criminal prosecution. The ruling leaves the far-right populist, who governed Brazil from 2019 until the end of 2022, facing political oblivion and a possible jail sentence of more than 40 years. The supreme court decided that seven other close allies of the ex-president should also stand trial for crimes including involvement in an armed criminal organization, coup detat and violently attempting to abolish Brazilian democracy. They are: Bolsonaros former defense ministers Gen Walter Braga Netto and Gen Paulo Sergio Nogueira de Oliveira; his former navy commander, Adm Almir Garnier Santos; his former security minister, Anderson Torres; his former spy chief Alexandre Ramagem; his former minister for institutional security, Gen Augusto Heleno; and his former assistant, Lt Col Mauro Cid, who, if convicted, will receive a lighter sentence after he struck a plea deal with prosecutors. The men are accused of forming the kernel of a sprawling conspiracy to keep Bolsonaro in power after he narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election to his leftwing rival, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. On Wednesday five supreme court judges unanimously ruled that there was sufficient evidence for all of those men to face prosecution and officially declared them defendants. The accusations relate to an alleged plan to stage a pro-Bolsonaro coup in the months between the October 2022 election and the far-right riots that broke out in Brasilia on 8 January 2023 one week after Lulas inauguration. Those attacks which many believe were inspired by the 6 January 2021 storming of the US Capitol were allegedly incited as part of a last-ditch attempt to return Bolsonaro to the presidency, against the public will, by creating turmoil that would justify a military intervention. It was a veritable pitched battle It was an extraordinarily violent attempted coup detat, the supreme court judge Alexandre de Moraes told the court as he showed video footage of Bolsonarista hooligans vandalizing the supreme court and attacking police in the capital. Untamed violence utter insolence These images leave no doubt as to the materiality and the gravity of the crimes committed, Moraes added. In the weeks and months before the rightwing rampage in Brasilia, a series of other machinations were allegedly afoot in the hope of stopping Lula taking power some of them deadly. Police claim one sub-plot code-named Green and Yellow Dagger included plans to cause social and political chaos by assassinating Lula with poison and shooting the supreme court judge Moraes dead. Brazils attorney general, Paulo Gonet, told the court police investigators had uncovered a terrifying operation to carry out the coup, which even included killing the president and vice-president elect, as well as that of a supreme court minister. One assassination plot envisaged using explosives, military ordnance and poison [and] the operators only didnt follow through on what had been agreed because they didnt manage to co-opt the commander of the army, Gonet added, urging judges to put Bolsonaro and his alleged accomplices on trial. Bolsonaro rejected the charges in a lengthy WhatsApp statement sent to allies as the hearing began on Tuesday, calling the case against him an aberration, the like of which has never been seen before. They are accusing me of a crime I never committed a supposed attempted coup, Bolsonaro claimed, insisting he had never desired or suggested a democratic rupture. In a written statement after Wednesdays ruling, Bolsonaro claimed he was the victim of judicial persecution designed to end his political career and silence Brazils rightwing opposition. Those in power are focused on ensuring I spend the rest of my life in prison so I can never run for president again, he wrote. The Brazilian people are being robbed of their right to choose their leader, and no country can call itself a democracy when its most popular candidate is barred from the ballot through judicial maneuvers, Bolsonaro added. In court, lawyers for the accused also denied their clients had broken the law, although many stopped short of denying a coup attempt had taken place. Bolsonaros lawyer, Celso Vilardi, denied the ex-president had been involved in the 8 January uprising or led a criminal organization that plotted to murder Lula and other top authorities. Jose Luis Mendes de Oliveira Lima, a lawyer representing Braga Netto, called his client a man of unblemished reputation who was not guilty of any kind of criminal act. Oliveiras lawyer, Andrew Fernandes Faris, called the former defense minister a most honourable man, and called for the charges against him to be thrown out. The lawyer for Torres, Eumar Novacki, denied his client was part of the macabre coup drama and claimed the investigation was filled with false conclusions. Demostenes Torres, representing Santos, also denied his client was part of the plot and attacked the federal police novelists he claimed had concocted a fictional narrative about the supposed conspiracy. Ramagems lawyer, Paulo Renato Garcia Cintra Pinto, said it would have made no sense for his client to have tried to destroy Brazils democracy since he had himself just been elected to congress in the 2022 election. Bernardo Mello Franco, a political commentator for the newspaper O Globo, said he saw little chance of the ex-president avoiding jail. Bolsonaro will probably be convicted, Bolsonaro will probably be arrested or hell go into exile, hell flee the country From a judicial standpoint Bolsonaros cornered, he said. Bolsonaros best chance of a political resurrection lay in helping elect a rightwing ally in next years presidential election who would agree to pardoning him after taking power. His congressman son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, and wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, were possible candidates. The far-right populist was also banking on support from his most important foreign ally, the US president, Donald Trump, in his quest to avoid jail and ensure his political survival. Bolsonaro is hoping Trump will be a kind of saviour for him, both politically and judicially. He believes Trump will somehow interfere in Brazilian politics to help him, said Mello Franco, although he suspected Trump had bigger fish to fry. Right now, I think Trump seems to have greater priorities than Brazil [and that] the Bolsonaros are paying more attention to Trump than Trump is paying to Bolsonaro. Cuban doctors return to Havana, Cuba, on 8 June 2020, after traveling to Italy to help with the Covid-19 emergency response. Photograph: Ismael Francisco/AP The prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) said his government has provided evidence to the US that Cuban health workers in the country are not victims of human trafficking, as the Trump administration takes aim at the medical missions. Speaking in advance of US secretary of state Marco Rubios visit to the Caribbean on Wednesday, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said he was confident that the information he provided would settle US concerns about the deal under which Cuban medical professionals work in SVG. Rubio, who is the child of Cuban immigrants, announced in February the expansion of an existing policy to target forced labor and abusive and coercive labor practices, which he claimed were part of Cubas overseas medical missions. But Caribbean leaders have consistently rejected the claims of human trafficking and stressed the important role the Cuban medical professionals play in saving lives in the region. Gonsalves said he had provided US officials with evidence that there was no human trafficking here, no forced labour, none of that. We have modern labour laws, we follow all the international conventions when Cubans come here. They do excellent work, and they have their own bank accounts and are compensated comparably to nationals. They have a lot of benefits, including paid holidays. You can enter the program freely and leave the program, he said. Since its 1959 revolution, Cuba has been sending medics to both developed and developing countries around the world, including Italy, Brazil, and countries in the Caribbean and West Africa. Its doctors and nurses have been instrumental in tackling outbreaks such as Covid-19 and Ebola. But under the expanded US policy, current or former Cuban government officials, and other individuals, including foreign government officials, who are believed to be responsible for, or involved in, the Cuban labor export program and their immediate family will be subjected to visa restrictions. Cubas ambassador to the SVG, Carlos Ernesto Rodriguez Etcheverry, earlier this month described the announcement as a shameful decision, saying that it has no legal basis and will deprive millions of people around the world of medical services. Related: Giving us oxygen: Italy turns to Cuba to help revive ailing health system We really reject the idea that Cuban doctors, Cuban nurses are slaves and that the Cuban government is involved in any trafficking issue with regard to our medical brigades. Because we respect our doctors, our nurses, he told local media. Describing the idea that Caribbean nations are involved in trafficking as propaganda, Gonsalves said that Cuban doctors operate private practices in SVG while they are employed by the government, and some apply for permanent residency in the country. Its very clear that there isnt any sort of issue around trafficking as suggested, he said. Barbadoss prime minister, Mia Mottley, currently chair of the Caricom group of Caribbean nations, told parliament that although Barbados does not currently have Cuban medical staff, we could not get through the [Covid] pandemic without the Cuban nurses and the Cuban doctors. She added: I will also be the first to tell you that we paid them the same thing that we pay Bajans, and that the notion, as was peddled not just by this government in the US, but the previous government, that we were involved in human trafficking by engaging with the Cuban nurses was fully repudiated and rejected by us. Mottley said that like others in this region, she is prepared to lose her US visa if we cannot reach a sensible agreement on this matter. Caricom met on Friday, 21 March, to discuss Rubios visit among other matters, Gonsalves said. During his visit to Jamaica, Rubio will hold bilateral meetings with officials from Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados, before going to Guyana and Suriname. Gonsalves said that he was sure the issue of Cuban doctors would be raised by Caribbean governments. A statement from Trinidad and Tobago announcing the meeting with Rubio said discussions would focus on US foreign policy and the effect on Trinidad and Tobago and the wider region, but did not specify whether the issue of Cuban doctors was on the agenda. Yunseo Chung: This decision feels like a million pounds off of my chest. I feel like I could fly. Photograph: Courtesy of Naz Ahmad In a matter of days, Yunseo Chung was sent into hiding. On 5 March, Chung a 21-year-old student at Columbia University attended a sit-in to protest the expulsion of several students involved in pro-Palestinian activism at the famed New York university. Four days later, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) agents showed up at her parents home. When they couldnt find her there, Ice sought help from federal prosecutors and searched her dormitory using a warrant that cited a criminal law against harboring noncitizens. They revoked her green card and accused her of posing a threat to US foreign policy interests. On Monday, Chung sued Donald Trump and other high-ranking administrations to stop their targeting of her and other students. And on Tuesday, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to halt its efforts to arrest and deport Chung, saying nothing in the record indicated that Chung posed a danger to the community. Related: Judge rules Columbia protester cant be detained as she fights deportation 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, she shared in a statement to the Guardian after the ruling. Her location remains undisclosed, and Chung herself has remained shielded for her own protection from the public. But she has nonetheless made a powerful statement, by raising a simple question: if the administration can arbitrarily and unilaterally threaten immigrants over political views they disagree with, if it can disregard the free speech rights of lawful permanent residents what limits, if any, remain on its power? Officials at the highest echelons of government are attempting to use immigration enforcement as a bludgeon to suppress speech that they dislike, including Ms Chungs speech, her lawyers write in the suit. Unlike some of the other students the administration has targeted for pro-Palestinian activism, including recent graduate Mahmoud Khalil, who led protests on campus, and Cornell PhD student Momodou Taal, who delivered speeches at his universitys pro-Palestinian encampment, Chungs involvement in the movement was low-profile. She didnt play an organizing or leading role in any of the protest efforts; she didnt speak to the media about her activism. She was, rather, one of a large group of college students raising, expressing, and discussing shared concerns, her lawyers write. *** Chung moved to the US from South Korea when she was seven, and has lived in the country ever since. She was a valedictorian in high school; at Columbia, she had contributed to a literary magazine and an undergraduate law journal. She has maintained a 3.99 GPA and interned with a number of legal non-profits including the Innocence Project. Last spring, Chung was one of hundreds of students and other activists who set up the Gaza Solidarity Encampment on the university campus, and hundreds of others visited the space to attend speeches, community events and protests. As the university began meting out disciplinary actions against protesters, hundreds of students and faculty also joined in a walkout in solidarity with student activists, demanding amnesty to student protesters. In May last year, Chung and other students faced disciplinary proceedings for posting flyers on school campus but the university ultimately found that Chung had not violated policies, according to the lawsuit. After that, Chung continued her studies, and it wasnt until earlier this month that she came onto immigration officials radar. Earlier this year, Barnard College, a sister school to Columbia, announced the expulsions of several protesters amid a renewed, nationwide crackdown on student protesters that came following pressures from the Trump administration to tamp down pro-Palestinian activism on campus. Chung attended a sit-in demonstration calling on Barnard to reverse the expulsions. Chung became trapped between a crowd of students and New York police department officers investigating a bomb threat, according to the suit. She, and others, were charged by the NYPD for obstruction of governmental administration. Days later, immigration officials obtained a warrant to track down and arrest Chung. In a statement on Monday, the Department of Homeland Security characterized the sit-in she attended as a pro-Hamas protest at Barnard College. *** In a press conference after a hearing on Chungs case Tuesday, Ramzi Kassem, one of her lawyers, said that Chung remained a resident of the Southern District of New York and had been keeping up with her coursework even amid Ices efforts to track her down and arrest her. In a lawsuit filed Monday, Chungs lawyers wrote that the prospect of arrest and detention has chilled her speech and note that the administrations pursuit of non-citizen students had overall dampened free expression. 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, the suit alleges. Related: Columbia student protester sues Trump administration for trying to deport her Scores of other students could also be silenced with similar threats, the suit argues. Faculty at Columbia and universities across the US have reported that international students and green card holders have been worried about attending classes, and are reconsidering plans to visit family, study abroad or travel for research. The administration has also placed immense pressure on universities to cooperate with its crackdown on protesters. Last week, the university agreed to overhaul its protest policies and hire an internal security force of 36 special officers who will be empowered to remove people from campus after the administration revoked $400m in funding for the university, which many faculty have taken as a dangerous capitulation that will endanger academic freedom. And the threat of deportation against her is a powerful one, the suit continues. If she is sent to South Korea, she would be arriving in a country she hardly knows separated from her parents and community, and a sister who is about the start college as well. Yunseo no longer has to fear that Ice will spirit her away to a distant prison simply because she spoke up for Palestinian human rights, said Kassem in a statement to the Guardian. 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. The speaker of the Irish parliament has said she intends to continue in her role in the face of a motion of no confidence by the opposition. Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy also categorically rejected accusations of partisanship in how she handled an opposition protest in the Dail on Tuesday. It comes after a motion of no confidence in Ms Murphy was drafted by the opposition. Irish premier Micheal Martin said that the opposition has made life impossible for Ms Murphy and said the parliament cannot work on opposition by veto. Taoiseach Micheal Martin has criticised the conduct of the opposition parties during Tuesdays disrupted proceedings in the Dail (Brian Lawless/PA) On Tuesday, Ms Murphy declared that the rules of the Dail had been amended by Government after opposition TDs repeatedly interrupted and raised their objections. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald told Ms Murphy on Wednesday that her actions were demonstrably partisan and lacked the impartiality and independence demanded of your position. She said her position was untenable and asked her to reflect on this. A drafted motion of no confidence was published on Wednesday evening by opposition parties Sinn Fein, Labour, the Social Democrats, Solidarity-People Before Profit, and Independent Ireland. The motion seeks to note that the Ceann Comhairle no longer retains the confidence of all members of Dail Eireann. The Government is to table a counter motion of confidence in Ms Murphy, Education Minister Helen McEntee told the Fine Gael parliamentary party on Wednesday. In a statement, Ms Murphy said she had loyally, scrupulously and impartially carried out the role as Ceann Comhairle and rejected false accusations of partiality and collusion. Prolonged disorder and obstruction is utterly unacceptable in any democratic parliament, she said. So too is making false accusations of partiality and collusion against its officials and chair. By virtue of the independence of the office of Ceann Comhairle, I am in the unenviable position that I cannot descend at will into debate to defend myself against the entirely false allegations of collusion made against me in the Dail today. I categorically reject these totally unfounded allegations. I have at all times followed the correct procedures of the House and the advice of the impartial officials present. I fully intend to continue to carry out the onerous office to which I was elected, in accordance with the solemn undertakings I gave the Dail upon my election. Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said Verona Murphys position was untenable (Liam McBurney/PA) Taosieach Micheal Martin said the opposition had made life impossible for the Ceann Comhairle. It beggars belief that Sinn Fein, in particular, who shouted and roared during Leaders Questions yesterday in a clearly organised manner, and who refused point blank to co-operate, are now accusing the Ceann Comhairle of bias and failing to follow procedures. The clerk of the Dail has confirmed proceedings were conducted in accordance with procedures. It was Sinn Fein who refused to move their own amendment to the standing orders. It was Sinn Fein who screamed and roared while the Ceann Comhairle called for a vote, rather than moving their own amendment. It was a deliberate strategy. They didnt want to participate in proceedings at all. They didnt want to facilitate a legitimate vote on new standing orders for this Dail. It was undemocratic what Sinn Fein and other members of the opposition did. The Dail cannot work on opposition by veto. Neither can we have a situation where the Ceann Comhairle only stays in office if it obeys the diktat of opposition. The clerk of the Dail, Peter Finnegan, said in a report about Tuesdays proceedings that after Ms Murphy put the Order of Business to the Dail on Tuesday, TDs that said Votail to trigger a division were not audible. He concluded that all decisions taken by Ms Murphy, given the great disorder, were in compliance with the rules of the Dail and her powers as Ceann Comhairle. The Ceann Comhairle cannot allow a situation where disorderly conduct is allowed to frustrate the business of the Dail. Otherwise, the Dail would be unable to discharge its constitutional functions, he said. Ultimately, the Constitution provides that all decisions are made by a majority of the members present and voting. Sinn Fein said the report is deeply flawed and does not tally with footage on the Oireachtas website. Minister for Culture and Media Patrick ODonovan said Ms Murphys position was still tenable, despite losing the confidence of the opposition. She will have the support of the majority of the Dail, we live in a democracy, Mr ODonovan told RTE Radio. None of these people voted for her in the first instance, so Im not surprised that they wouldnt have confidence in her. Im not surprised that they will be looking for the first opportunity to remove her. Who are you codding? Earlier on Wednesday, Ms McDonald and other opposition leaders questioned the Ceann Comhairles role after Tuesdays proceedings. So, who convinced you to play your part in this disgraceful charade, or is it simply that bias for the Government is baked into the very deal that secured your position? Ms McDonald asked the speaker. That is now the question. The Sinn Fein leader continued: Ceann Comhairle, not alone have you lost the confidence of the entire opposition; you have, in fact, decimated it. The Dail cannot function properly whilst you remain in the chair. Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy in Leinster House, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) Above all the Ceann Comhairle must be impartial, fair and independent, and by your actions you have demonstrated that you are not. Your position is therefore untenable. So, I ask you to reflect very carefully on this, because you need to go. Labour party leader Ivana Bacik said she did not believe Dail rules had been applied fairly and impartially by Ms Murphy. That is why this morning, together with my parliamentary party we agreed to ask to reflect on your position over coming days, she said. If not, if necessary, we will have no option to table a motion of no confidence in you. And I regret that it has come to this. There were chaotic scenes of shouting, interruptions and allegations of misogyny on Tuesday as weeks of tension over the speaking rights row boiled over during Leaders Questions. Ms Murphy faced continual interruptions as she tried to continue proceedings as opposition TDs took to their feet and objected to the Governments proposals to change speaking time arrangements. She declared the changes to the standing orders passed before adjourning the Dail. However, opposition leaders insist the vote was not properly conducted. They also accused her of earlier pushing through the Governments proposed order of business for the Dail without acknowledging an opposition request for a vote. Labour leader Ivana Bacik speaking to the media at Leinster House in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA) The row has its origins in the formation of Irelands current coalition involving Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, supported by several independent TDs. The controversial changes to standing orders 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. Opposition parties are vehemently opposed to the changes, characterising them as 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 dispute 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. Tensions boiled over on Tuesday with the Dail witnessing angry scenes as Ms Murphy presided over a vote on the changes, labelled as unprecedented by both government and opposition. Wales hero David Brooks was grateful his last-gasp equaliser spared Welsh legend Joe Allen the pain of defeat after the midfielders blunder appeared to gift North Macedonia a World Cup qualifying win. Veteran midfielder Allens back pass was picked off by Bojan Miovski in the first minute of added time to give North Macedonia an improbable lead in Skopje on Tuesday night. It was a horrible moment for Allen, a key component of Wales run to the semi-finals at Euro 2016 and who had come on seven minutes earlier to win his 77th cap at the Tose Proeski Arena. Veteran midfielder Joe Allen was at fault for North Macedonias goal in Skopje (Bradley Collyer/PA) But Wales claimed a point with almost the last kick in the sixth minute of stoppage time as Bournemouth forward Brooks latched on to a Kieffer Moore knockdown to squeeze the ball over the line. Brooks said: Joes probably one of the best players weve ever had and you dont expect a mistake from him. Hes a Welsh legend. So everyone wanted to pull through to help him out, and thankfully it was me that managed to stick it in the net. Like the gaffer (Craig Bellamy) said after, the reaction to get on the ball, keep moving and progressing up the pitch, to get the chance, shows the character and how well-liked Joe is in our dressing room. We had the belief that we could go and get an equaliser. We didnt know how long was left when the goal went in, but we were all sprinting back trying to get the winner. That shows the mentality weve got in our dressing room and hopefully well turn up in the summer with the same attitude and performances and get six points this time. Wales have picked up four points from their opening two games after beating Kazakhstan 3-1 in Cardiff on Saturday. 90'+1 North Macedonia 1-0 Wales90'+6 North Macedonia 1-1 Wales David Brooks to the rescue for @Cymru #WCQ pic.twitter.com/YXEIs9SZ5q UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) March 25, 2025 North Macedonia top Group J on goal difference having got their campaign off to a flying start with a 3-0 win in Liechtenstein. Group favourites Belgium have yet to play due to their involvement in the Nations League play-offs this month. Wales will play Belgium in Brussels on June 9, three days after a home fixture against group minnows Liechtenstein. Its disappointing the goal couldnt come for the three points, Brooks said after scoring his fifth for Wales. Manager Craig Bellamy salutes the Wales fans after their 1-1 draw against North Macedonia in Skopje (Boris Grdanoski/AP) But after conceding so late well definitely take a point and move on looking forward to the summer. Moores role in the equaliser did not go unnoticed as many fans had called for the introduction of the 6ft 5in Sheffield United target man, with Wales struggling to penetrate resilient hosts determined to put players behind the ball. Brooks said: When the big mans up there you have to be alive for second balls. Hes not just a big man, but he is a big lump, and when it goes into the box you know theres going to be a bit of carnage around him. We were getting in wide positions, but we lacked that aerial presence and thats exactly what he gave us. Devolved administrations felt they were politely entertained but not really listened to by Whitehall during the Covid-19 pandemic, Stormonts former finance minister has said. Conor Murphy told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry that there had been a frenzy to secure PPE from China during the early part of the pandemic as he described how his attempt to make a joint order with Ireland floundered. Module five of the public inquiry is examining procurement issues. Last year, Mr Murphy had been unable to give evidence in person to the inquiry when it visited Belfast during a separate module as he had been advised by doctors to rest because of illness. Appearing in London on Wednesday, Mr Murphy described concerns in 2020 that central government in London would not be able to supply enough PPE for devolved areas. He told the inquiry: PPE was proving extremely difficult to acquire. The bulk of it was made in the Far East and that presented logistical difficulties. But also the fact that all countries across the world were basically going to similar buyers to try and secure material. It almost had become a frenzy in trying to procure PPE. The Treasury had undertaken to buy that for all parts for Scotland, for Wales, for ourselves and for England. But given the difficulties that they were having in securing material, were also encouraging us to encourage local businesses to repurpose and supply us with material and to explore options ourselves for procuring PPE across the world. Mr Murphy said there had been a sense that it would be better if the devolved areas were given access to resource to buy their own PPE. He said: In the intensity of the procurement exercises that were going on, then there was a concern that the further you are from the centre, the less your needs are heard or provided for. I think that was the same feeling for Scotland and Wales and that was the sense from our health departments that they had some dissatisfaction with how things were being procured and what was being procured and how much was intended for our specific uses. Conor Murphy was Stormonts finance minister during the pandemic (Liam McBurney/PA) Asked about engagement with central government, he said: As a finance minister and listening to the experience of other ministers in the Executive and other ministers in other devolved governments, generally we had the sense of being politely entertained but not really listened to in most matters that we brought to central government and Whitehall. I think that kind of sense of how we were treated permeated right across Scotland, Wales and ourselves. The inquiry was then shown a letter Mr Murphy had sent to an Irish government minister in 2020 about a potential joint PPE order which did not proceed. At the time Mr Murphy had faced criticism for claiming a joint order for PPE had been made with the Irish Government, only to later announce it had fallen through. He told the inquiry: I think all administrations had people on the ground in China trying to secure orders on behalf of their administration. Where there was already collaboration taking place between the two administrations and we felt IDA (Irelands foreign direct investment agency) was further ahead in perhaps procuring. We had discussed with them the possibility of adding an order from Northern Ireland into that and having a joint procurement exercise. This was a very rapidly moving situation. This was changing not just day by day but hour by hour in relation to what was happening in China. There were a large number of orders which had been diverted where people had come in with larger chequebooks. It wasnt just ourselves competing in this field. A lot of countries internationally were competing on the ground in China for PPE. He added: We had tried to develop a joint order, we were agreeing we would do that. The IDA were in the lead on the ground in terms of their contacts. They then were of the impression they could only get enough to satisfy their own needs, they couldnt get the additional amount of order that we had asked them to include in ours. We concluded then that that wasnt going to be the case and that our people on the ground for the Northern Ireland bureau in Beijing would pursue their own contacts and try and secure supply for ourselves. A Northern Ireland specific order for PPE from China was agreed later in 2020. The UK has witnessed a concerning rise in ketamine use amongst young people. (Getty Images) (zodebala via Getty Images) Its a strong tranquilliser thats historically been used as an anaesthetic in hospitals and vets, but recent data suggests that ketamine has become a popular party drug with Gen Z. Latest government figures estimate that ketamine use amongst young people in England and Wales has tripled since 2016, while The Priory reports that record numbers are seeking treatment for ketamine-related addiction at its clinics. The drug hit headlines recently when linked to the death of The Vivienne, real name James Lee Williams. The RuPaul's Drag Race star died in January from a cardiac arrest caused by the ketamine use. The star's sister appeared on Lorraine yesterday, campaigning for the drug to be reclassified. Sold as a grainy white or light brown powder, recreational ketamine use is said to induce temporary feelings of relaxation and disassociation. However, experts warn that its long-term effects can be severe, and since awareness of the drug's risks remains fairly limited, many users may be unaware of the effects it could have on their mental and physical wellbeing. The Vivienne died from a cardiac arrest caused by ketamine use in January. (BBC) Here, we asked psychiatrist Dr Catherine Carney, who treats patients for ketamine addiction at Delamere, to explain everything you need to know about the Class B drug and its risks. What affect does ketamine have on the body? Ketamine is a dissociative drug, which means it causes people to feel separated or detached from their body or environment. When its taken regularly, over long periods of time, it can cause damage to several areas of the body. "The physical risks of taking ketamine are becoming more widely recognised, particularly when it comes to the bladder and a health condition called 'ketamine bladder syndrome'," says Carney. Ketamine bladder syndrome is a condition that's characterised by severe bladder damage and discomfort, where chronic use of the ketamine affects the lining of the bladder and shrinks it. "It's believed to be caused by small molecules of ketamine in the urine inflaming and irritating the bladder wall, leading to bladder shrinkage, thickened walls and sometimes kidney issues too," says Carney. While the severity of the syndrome can fluctuate depending on the level of addiction, she notes that using ketamine "three times weekly, or frequently for over two years" typically leads to some altered bladder function. "Common symptoms to look out for include suprapubic pain (otherwise known as k-cramps), pain during urination and blood in the urine," she adds. "Historically, this syndrome has been missed by clinicians as the symptoms often mimic those of a urinary tract infection or bladder cancer." It's important to be diligent about K bladder though, as if left unchecked, it can have serious consequences, and has even resulted in some people having their bladders removed. "Around 50% of people who have K bladder symptoms may experience a recovery, but many are left with chronic urinary issues, with extreme cases requiring bladder removal and a urinary diversion through a colostomy bag," warns Carney. She adds that other health issues linked to long-term ketamine abuse can include abnormal liver and kidney function, as well as nasal damage if the drug is frequently snorted. Ketamine can cause a painful condition called 'Ketamine bladder syndrome'. (Getty Images) (Kinga Krzeminska via Getty Images) What long-term effects can ketamine have on the brain? From mood swings and anxiety to teary comedowns, ketamine can cause immediate changes to our mental health. "In the short term, ketamine can cause psychosis, memory loss, disorientation and loss of motor skills," Carney explains. But when someone regularly abuses or is addicted to the drug, it can cause irreversible psychological impairment. "Long-term use can lead to flashbacks, mood changes, depression, reduced memory and concentration and irritability," she says. "Plus, these new mental health changes can have a knock-on effect, often leading to financial, social and work issues." She continues: "Regularly using ketamine can also lead to dependence, which can cause ketamine withdrawal symptoms like reduced appetite, chills and sweats, restlessness, tremors, nightmares, anxiety and irregular or rapid heartbeat." Can ketamine be addictive? One myth swirling around on the internet is that ketamine isn't an addictive drug, so you can take it frequently and avoid being at risk of dependence. But while its addictive properties aren't identical to other party drugs like cocaine and MDMA, ketamine can still be psychologically addictive, especially when it comes to frequent and long-term use. "Compared to opioids, we know that ketamine does have a lower potential in being addictive, but it can and does cause dependence," stresses Carney. "This is partly due to how easily accessible it is on social media apps like Snapchat or Instagram, with [ketamine] costing as little as a tenner in some cases." And because regular ketamine use can eventually lead to tolerance, where the drug becomes less effective over time, many users need to access increasing amounts of ketamine to get the same ''high', which can further raise the risks to our health. Through her experiences treating patients at Delamere, Carney believes Ketamine use becoming increasingly normalised. "I recently spoke to a group of young people at the treatment centre who had been offered the drug on their first day of university." The treatment centre say that they have recorded a 275% increase in a six-month period of people seeking help for ketamine-related issues, with 87% of those affected aged 30 or under. Carney further warns that people are playing "Russian roulette" if they mix ketamine with other substances such as alcohol or cocaine, as this can increase the risk of overdose. The serious risks of taking ketamine may be misunderstood by many users, say experts. (Getty Images) (PeopleImages via Getty Images) What should I do if I think a loved one has a ketamine dependancy? Having a family member, friend or colleague who is in denial about a ketamine addiction can be a very isolating experience. Reassuringly, there are a lot of options available. "It's important to send your loved one a clear signal that you are here to support them if they are willing to make changes in their life," Carney advises. "Find a natural way into the conversation, and then approach this without frustration, anger or judgement." Once you introduce the question, she suggests leaving it open and being patient. "They might go and have a think and come back and ask more questions a few days later," she explains. If your loved one needs treatment for a drug addiction, the NHS say that they're entitled to care in the same way as anyone else who has a health problem. If they are receptive to treatment, contacting their GP is a good place to start. They can discuss their problems with them and refer them to a local drug treatment service. If you'd rather approach a treatment centre directly, the charity Frank have details on drug support available across the UK. In addition to the NHS and private treatment centres like Delamere, there are also charities and organisations that can be useful resources too. Finally, if you're having trouble helping a loved one into ketamine addiction treatment, the Frank drugs helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 0300 123 6600. They can talk you through your options and provide extra advice and guidance on the best way forward. Read more about addiction: The Chancellor watched a performance by Sabrina Carpenter at Londons O2 arena this month - Christopher Polk/Rolling Stone via Getty Rachel Reeves has said she does not particularly like Sabrina Carpenter, as she defended accepting free tickets to a concert by the singer. The Chancellor said that she was not personally a huge Sabrina Carpenter fan because she was a 46-year-old woman, but that a family member had wanted to attend. Ms Reeves came under fire after it emerged that she sat in a corporate box to watch a performance by the American pop star at Londons O2 arena this month. She attended the show despite a row over ministers receiving free hospitality and clothing having engulfed her and Sir Keir Starmer in the first months of his Government. Rachel Reeves was previously asked about the concert tickets on the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg - Jeff Overs/BBC/PA The comments came after the Chancellor delivered her Spring Statement in the Commons, announcing 4.8 billion in welfare cuts and the trimming of Whitehall spending. Asked about accepting the free tickets, Ms Reeves admitted that she understood why people considered it a bit odd. She told journalists: Im not personally a huge Sabrina Carpenter fan, being a 46-year-old woman, but a member of my family did want to go and see that concert. Im not in a position now that I can easily just go and sit in a concert, and some of the things that I might have been able to do in my everyday life in the past are not so easy now, and so I had advice that it would be better to be in a box. The owners of the O2 had a box with tickets that were not available to buy, and they said that I could go in there, and that was better for security reasons. I do recognise that people think that thats a bit odd, but thats the reason why I did that, rather than just being in normal seats, which to be honest for me and my family would have been a lot nicer and a lot easier. Ms Reeves has repeatedly defended accepting the freebies despite a backlash. On Tuesday, Matthew Pennycook, a housing minister, told LBC: I dont personally think its appropriate. If I want to go to a concert at the O2, Ill pay for it. But individual MPs, individual ministers make their own decisions. I think that the important thing is that everything is declared and above board, so individual people can make their choices as to whether they think its appropriate to take tickets on occasions. I personally havent done, as I said, at the O2, and wouldnt do. Lord Blunkett, a former Labour home secretary, told the BBCs Politics Live: I wouldnt have done it, but Id have just sat with the audience. Donald Trump announced plans to impose sweeping 25% tariffs on cars from overseas on Wednesday, days before the US president is expected to announce wide-ranging levies on other goods from around the world. What were going to be doing is a 25% tariff for all cars that are not made in the United States, Trump said in the Oval Office. We start off with a 2.5% base, which is what were at, and go to 25%. The announcement drew swift condemnation from the European Union and from the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, who called it a direct attack on Canadian workers. We will defend our workers, we will defend our companies, we will defend our country, and we will defend it together, Carney said. The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, described the move as bad for businesses, worse for consumers. Related: After America: can Europe learn to go it alone without the US? Trump later threatened further tariffs if the EU worked with Canada in order to do economic harm to the USA. Writing on his own social media platform, Truth Social, he said if they did so, large scale Tariffs, far larger than currently planned, will be placed on them both in order to protect the best friend that each of those two countries has ever had! The Japanese prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, said his government was considering appropriate measures in response to the announcement. Naturally, we will consider all options. South Koreas auto sector would face considerable difficulties when the tariffs came into effect and the government was planning an emergency response by April, the industry minister, Ahn Duk-geun, told a meeting of industry officials on Thursday. The tariffs will go into effect next week, on 2 April, Trump claimed, and the US will start collecting them the following day. This is very exciting, he said, suggesting the move would spur economic growth. In February, Trump floated the idea of a 25% tariff on imported vehicles but offered no other details. On Monday, the president hinted that the auto industry levies could come in the very near future. On 2 April a day Trump has dubbed liberation day the president is expected to unveil a wide range of so-called reciprocal tariffs: levies on imported goods that the Trump administration argues are unfairly taxed by the USs trading partners. Trump has long argued that the US is being cheated by its trading partners and that tariffs are the best remedy. However, he has delayed or watered down his tariff plans on several occasions. His stance has worried investors, leading to sharp sell-offs in US stock markets, and has proved unpopular with both the corporate US and consumers. Many economists have expressed alarm, too, warning that the presidents tariff plan would risk increasing prices across the US. A study by Anderson Economic Group, an automotive consultant, for example, found that blanket tariffs on Canada and Mexico risks increasing US car prices by as much as $12,000. Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Canada and Germany are among the top car exporters to the US. Will Scharf, a White House official, claimed the new car tariffs would result in more than $100bn in annual revenue to the US. Shares of automakers fell in after-hours trading and US equity index futures slid, indicating stocks were headed for a lower open on Thursday. Indias Tata Motors, meanwhile, slid 5% and Teslas biggest Indian supplier, Sona Comstar, dropped over 4%, leading to a 1.2% drop in the auto sector in the worlds third-largest auto market. Shares in South Koreas Hyundai Motor shed more than 4% and sister automaker Kia Corp fell more than 3% after Trumps announcement. Hyundai Motor shares are set to post their biggest daily drop since late October last year. Hyundai, together with affiliate Kia, is the worlds third-largest automaker by sales. Shares in Toyota, the worlds top-selling automaker, dropped 3.7% in early trading in Tokyo, while Nissan lost 3.2% and Honda 3.1%. In South Korea, Hyundai shares fell 3.4%. The tariffs will rattle Japans auto industry, a key component of the worlds fourth-largest economy. The sector accounts for about a tenth of Japans workforce, while vehicles made up about a third of its 21.3tn ($142bn) in exports to the US last year. Speaking before Trumps announcement, Masanori Katayama, chair of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, said a 25% tariff on cars from overseas would have a negative impact overall on the economies of the United States and Japan. Despite hopes that Japan would not be targeted, ministers in Tokyo have so far been unsuccessful in persuading their US counterparts to grant exemptions on exports such as steel and vehicles. Trump on Wednesday said the tariffs could be net neutral for Tesla, the electric vehicle company that is led by Elon Musk. Musk later posted on X that Tesla would not be unscathed. The tariff impact on Tesla is still significant, he wrote. Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier this month: Have no fear, we will WIN everything!!!, claiming that tariffs were already pouring money into the country. But a Harris poll conducted for the Guardian found that the majority of Americans were already worried about the impact tariffs would have on their finances. Ninety per cent of Democrats, 69% of independents and 57% of Republicans reported they were concerned about tariffs. Industry groups sounded the alarm on Wednesday. Throwing away tens of thousands of jobs on both sides of the border will mean giving up North Americas auto leadership role, instead encouraging companies to build and hire anywhere else but here, said Candace Laing, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. This tax hike puts plants and workers at risk for generations, if not forever. A new study explored whether those in monogamous relationships were happier than those in non-monogamous set-ups. (Getty Images) (Compassionate Eye Foundation/Gary Burchell via Getty Images) According to a new study of over 20,000 people across the world, those who are in monogamous relationships are no happier than those in open or polyamorous set-ups, debunking the long-held view that monogamy is superior. Analysing the group's satisfaction with their sex lives and the quality of their relationships, researchers from La Trobe University in Australia concluded there was no difference in the happiness expressed by the subjects. And yet, most people still lean towards monogamy. A recent YouGov poll found that 76% of Brits would never consider an open relationships and only 9% said they'd be open to the idea. Here, we explore the benefits of non-monogamous relationships, and how to navigate them if you're considering having one. Four benefits of non-monogamous relationships Explore desires, needs and interests Whether you find you can talk to the person/people about shared hobbies and passions, or you are able to fulfil certain parts of your identity with others, open and polyamorous relationships can help provide for those elements of your personality and nature. Strengthens primary relationship In some cases, couples that open up their relationship can benefit from it the change requires trust, communication and fosters a deeper sense of connection. Inspires a sense of newness and adventure Open or polyamorous relationships can also help people avoid the sense that they are stuck in a rut or that their relationship has a monotonous routine. Heightened sexual satisfaction Sexual exploration and expression is a big benefit of non-monogamous relationships, as people get to explore their desires, fantasies and sexual identities through more than one channel. What to consider before you embark on a non-monogamous relationship Counsellor and relationship expert Georgina Sturmer explains that the key to any successful relationship regardless of its type is communication. She explains: "Each party should communicate openly and honestly about what they are looking for, and what boundaries and structure they might need to have in place. When we set out these hopes and expectations, it helps us to set a respectful foundation for the relationship." Communication is key. (Getty Images) (MoMo Productions via Getty Images) How to approach non-monogamous relationships if you are in a monogamous couple "Before you start, reflect on exactly what youre looking for and why," Sturmer advises. "Consider whether you are simply looking to change the external boundaries of your relationship, or whether perhaps there is something else that is missing. Its likely that your partner might be curious about this too. "Then, when you are ready to discuss this, actively choose a space and time where you are both feeling calm and open to discussion and feedback. Be honest and clear about what you are suggesting, and be open to their response." How to know if non-monogamous relationships are for you In some instances, non-monogamous set-ups help the primary relationship thrive. (Getty Images) (Alina Rudya/Bell Collective via Getty Images) "This is very much about noticing your responses," Sturmer says. "Check in with yourself and consider whether you are feeling calm and content and whether your needs are being met. Alternatively you may notice something more uncomfortable, perhaps feelings of anxiety or insecurity. These feelings will help to steer your understanding of whether the situation is working." Read more about relationships Keir Starmer, speaking at UCL in January, launched a plan to harness AI to spur growth and efficiency, but the cross-party public accounts committee questions whether the public sector is ready for the pace of change this would require. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters The governments ambition to boost efficiency by embedding AI in all aspects of its work risks being undermined by out-of-date technology, poor quality data and a lack of skilled staff, an influential Commons committee has warned. The report by the cross-party public accounts committee (PAC) found that more than 20 government IT systems identified as legacy, meaning out of date and unsupported, have yet to be given funding to improve them. Government research cited by the PAC in the report found that almost a third of central government IT systems met this definition in 2024. Keir Starmers government has repeatedly stressed its desire to increase economic growth through the mass take-up of AI systems, including in the public sector. Related: AI should replace some work of civil servants, Starmer to announce An official plan for the technology published in January called for the government to rapidly pilot AI-powered services, saying this would both increase productivity and improve peoples experience of dealing with officialdom. In a speech earlier this month, Starmer said AI should replace the work of government officials where it can be done to the same standard, with 2,000 new tech apprentices to be recruited to the civil service. However, the PAC report also warned about persistent digital skills shortages in the public sector, in part because of civil service pay levels that are uncompetitive with the private sector. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSI), which is spearheading AI roll-outs in government, says it has previously recognised many of the same worries in two reports published in January, the State of Digital Government and Blueprint for a Modern Digital Government. However, the PAC report makes a series of new recommendations, including setting a six-month deadline for the department to specifically set out how it will fund replacements for the highest-risk legacy technology, and to also assess the costs of failing to take action. Related: Keir Starmer opts not to attend international AI summit in Paris It also calls for action to improve public confidence in the transparency and standards for how AI is used in government, saying that as of January this year, just 33 official records had been published setting out algorithm-assisted decisions and how they are made. The report recommends this be sped up. The report also identifies a lack of coherent systems to learn from the mass of different AI pilots taking place across government, calling for action to address this. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the Conservative MP who chairs the PAC, said: The government has said it wants to mainline AI into the veins of the nation, but our report raises questions over whether the public sector is ready for such a procedure. A transformation of thinking in government at senior levels is required, and the best way for this to happen is for digital professionals to be brought round the top table in management and governing boards of every department and their agencies. I have serious concerns that DSIT does not have the authority over the rest of government to bring about the scale and pace of change thats needed. A government spokesperson said: These findings reflect much of what we already know, which is why we set out a bold plan to overhaul the use of tech and AI across the public sector from doubling the number of tech experts across Whitehall, to making reforms to replace legacy IT systems more quickly and building new tools to transform how people interact with the state. Part of the threatening letter sent to to former Hong Kong legislator Ted Huis law firm in Adelaide, Australia, after a similar one was sent to another pro-democracy activist in Melbourne Photograph: Supplied The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has described another threatening letter sent to an exiled Hong Kong dissident in Australia as reprehensible, a threat to our national sovereignty and the safety and security of Australians. The anonymous letter, mailed from Hong Kong and sent to Ted Huis Adelaide office, offered his colleagues $203,000 for information on his whereabouts and his family. It arrived just days after Chinas foreign ministry accused the Albanese government of interfering with its internal affairs. The letter, which contained a picture of Hui and personal details, claimed he was a wanted person for a range of national security related offences including incitement to secession and collusion with a foreign country. It is now being investigated by Australian federal police. The letter also accuses Hui, who fled to Australia via Europe in 2019, of leaving Hong Kong with $3m in proceeds of crime. Hui, who was a pro-democracy legislator in Hong Kong, denies that claim and says it is fictitious. Last week, Guardian Australia revealed a fake pamphlet pretending to be from Huis law firm was sent to mosques, falsely claiming he was a pro-Israel lawyer willing to wage war against Islamic terrorism. The letter was mailed from Macau. The Coalition criticised the letter as a crude attempt to weaponise antisemitism for the purposes of foreign interference. An anonymous letter very similar to the one delivered to Huis workplace was sent to some Melbourne residents earlier this month, offering a bounty if they informed on Australian citizen and pro-democracy activist Kevin Yam. A spokesperson for Wong escalated the Albanese governments condemnation of the letters on Wednesday and said the matter would be directly raised with Chinese officials. Related: The obscure Jimmy Lai ruling that exposed the erosion of Hong Kongs rule of law Continued attempts to target individuals in Australia are reprehensible and threaten our national sovereignty, as well as the safety and security of Australians, the spokesperson said. Australia will not tolerate the targeting, surveillance, harassment or intimidation of any person in Australia by a foreign government. The Australian government and our security agencies are acting to keep Australians safe, protect their democratic rights, and support affected individuals and communities. When Wong first raised concerns about the letters earlier this month, Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, accused the Australian government of unacceptable interference in its domestic affairs. Australia blatantly interfered in Hong Kongs rule of law, Ning said. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes it. We urge Australia to respect Chinas sovereignty and rule of law in Hong Kong to foster good conditions and atmosphere for sustainable development of China-Australia relations. Hui said the letter sent to his workplace listed my personal information, the address of the law firm, and a residential address in Adelaide that is not connected to me. He said he was sharing the letter to tell the Hong Kong Communist party that I am not afraid. The more you press, the higher my profile, Hui said. I will continue to speak out for freedom in Hong Kong. Of course, I will also be careful to protect my family. I have informed the Australian foreign ministers office and the federal police are in close contact with the Australian government. The federal police have informed me they will meet with me to take statements, conduct evidence searches, trace the source of the letters and try their best to keep me and my family safe. When the letters were first revealed, a Hong Kong government spokesperson said it would not issue any anonymous letters but said it would take every measure to pursue wanted people, including cutting off their funding sources. Related: Disgusting antisemitic tactics used to threaten exiled Hong Kong man in Adelaide, Jewish group says It is not known who sent the letters but its language matches a public appeals notice published on the Hong Kong police forces official website. A UK phone number included at the bottom of both letters has also been linked to the Hong Kong police force, which was contacted for comment last week. Hui and Yam are wanted by Hong Kong authorities for allegedly breaching a controversial national security law that grants authorities sweeping extraterritorial powers to prosecute acts or comments made anywhere in the world that it deems criminal. In 2022, Hui was convicted in absentia for his role in pro-democracy protests during 2019 and sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail. Hong Kong authorities have accused him of foreign collusion in social media posts seeking international support for Hong Kong under its national security law. Ireland will double its local community funding in Lebanon, the countrys deputy premier has announced. Simon Harris is in Lebanon for a series of political engagements and to meet members of the 125th Infantry Battalion who are serving as part of a UN peacekeeping mission. On Wednesday, Mr Harris confirmed an increase in funding for Civil-Military Cooperation (Cimic) projects supported by Irish Defence Forces personnel serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil). The Cimic project is aimed improving the lives of those in the local communities in which Irish troops serve. Its budget will be doubled from 40,000 euro to 80,000 euro for 2025. The funding will be used to support local community projects in in South Lebanon, where an Irish-Polish battalion is operating. Mr Harris said: This funding will enable the Defence Forces to maintain their proud tradition of humanitarian engagement as part of their peacekeeping duties. The additional funding will further support our efforts and ensure that we can continue to provide assistance, strengthen relationships and support the ongoing recovery of those most affected by this conflict. We must acknowledge that the strength and resilience of the people in this community are truly inspiring, given the recent destruction visited upon the region. By increasing the Cimic budget, Irish personnel can make an even greater impact on the lives of those affected by the conflict. These projects will directly improve conditions for local communities. Irish troops will continue to work closely with local authorities, and international partners to implement Cimic initiatives. Projects under consideration include the refurbishment of a local community centre that offers workshops and skill-building classes for women to secure financial independence, and repairs to a water purification system. Other options include refurbishment of a social development and small health centre for women and children, or repairs to electricity infrastructure for local communities. The Department of Defence said the increased allocation, along with Irish Aid funding, underscores the Governments strong support for the Defence Forces role in UN peacekeeping and Irelands ongoing commitment to fostering stability in the region. Gavin & Stacey creators James Corden and Ruth Jones will discuss their new book and reveal how the two created the hit show at the Hay Festival this spring. Ahead of the launch of their new book, When Gavin Met Stacey And Everything In Between: A Story Of Love And Friendship, they will discuss the origins of the sitcom, its success and its record-breaking Christmas special. Corden and Jones will also reflect on their 25-year friendship and working relationship at the festival on Friday May 23. James Corden and Ruth Jones attend the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards for television, streaming and audio, at Everyman in London (Ian West/PA) The BBC series follows the long-distance relationship between Gavin Shipman, who lives in Essex, and Stacey West who resides in Wales. The book follows the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special and finale which secured the highest Christmas Day ratings since 2008 according to the BBC, enjoying huge overnight ratings of 12.3 million. Transworld Publishers, part of Penguin Random House, previously teased that the book will recount the rejection, obstacles and challenges they faced on the way to giving birth to their beloved comedy creation, and James and Ruth also explore the flourishing of their own real-life friendship. Julie Finch, Hay Festival global chief executive, said: We are delighted to welcome James Corden and Ruth Jones together on the Hay Festival 2025 programme for a joyful discussion about friendship, creativity and perseverance. After dominating the TV schedule with the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special, it feels like the perfect moment to hear them on the art of screenwriting, storytelling in collaboration, and Wales cultural impact. Gavin & Stacey stars James Corden, Joanna Page, Mathew Horne and Ruth Jones (Ian West/PA) Corden and Jones previously released the book Gavin & Stacey: From Barry To Billericay in 2008, shortly after the show began in 2007. When Gavin Met Stacey And Everything In Between: A Story Of Love And Friendship is set for release on October 16 2025 and will also see Corden and Jones reading the audiobook. Appearing at the Hay Festival this year are stars including actor Sir Stephen Fry, The Good Places Jameela Jamil, artist Sir Grayson Perry, and Succession writer Jesse Armstrong. Broadcasters Stacey Dooley and Lorraine Kelly will also be at the festival along with chef Yotam Ottolenghi and musician Paloma Faith. Hay Festival runs its 38th spring edition in Hay-on-Wye, Wales, with more than 600 events over 11 days, from May 22 to June 1. Starting a family is often an exciting, joyous time, but it can also be deeply stressful. The physical and mental recovery after birth, disrupted nights, and the adjustment to being a parent or caring for more than one child can take its toll. The one thing you dont want to be worrying about is whether youll have a job to return to after maternity leave, but for many women, this is the reality. Research from Pregnant Then Screwed and Women In Data has revealed a sharp increase in the number of women who are pushed out of their job when pregnant or when returning from maternity leave. Up to 74,000 women every year now lose their job for getting pregnant or taking maternity leave an increase of 37% from 54,000 in 2016. A third (35.9%) of the women surveyed said they were sidelined or demoted. Yet despite a new law extending redundancy protections to pregnant women and those returning from maternity leave coming into force in April 2024, just 2% of women who experience discrimination raise a tribunal claim. We know that when businesses feel uncertain about the future and are making cuts, it tends to be pregnant women and mothers who are the first to be pushed out as they are seen as distracted and less committed to their job than other employees, says Joeli Brearley, founder of Pregnant Then Screwed. The long-term discrimination experienced by pregnant women and mothers is fueled by stigma and gender stereotypes around the role of women in society. In other words, basic sexism. Read more: Why single parents are being left behind at work and how to support them According to the British Social Attitudes survey, one in five people think women with children under school age should stay at home, despite many women wanting a career as well as a family. Research by Kings College London found that more than 70% of mothers would continue to work even if they didnt need to financially refuting the widely-held perception that mothers are less committed to work, which is often the basis of maternity discrimination. And as the cost of living crisis intensifies, it is becoming increasingly challenging to run a household and pay the rent, mortgage and bills on one income. Pregnant women and mothers are also viewed as being 10% less competent than women without children, adds Brearley. The rising numbers of mothers being pushed out of their jobs are directly linked to the slow growth across our economy. It can be difficult to tell if youre being sidelined at work or pushed out of your job, because the signs can be subtle. It might be the odd comment about work ethic and productivity even though you know youre performing just as well as you were before. You might be left out of meetings, or have clients removed, adds Brearley. Pregnant women should watch out for a change of behaviour from their employer from the point they announce a pregnancy. Up to 74,000 women every year now lose their job for getting pregnant or taking maternity leave. (Halfpoint Images via Getty Images) I have heard from so many women who are doing really well at work and their personal development reviews are exemplary. Then they announce they are pregnant and suddenly things change, their development reviews go from exemplary to substandard. If this is the case, its essential to know your legal rights. Under the Equality Act 2010, people who are pregnant and new mothers are legally protected against unfair treatment and dismissal. In April 2024, the period specifically protecting pregnant employees or those taking maternity leave from redundancy was extended. Now, the redundancy protected period during pregnancy and maternity starts when an employee tells their employer that they are pregnant and ends 18 months from the exact date the baby is born. Before this, they were only protected while on maternity leave, says Lidster. During this protected period, an employee cannot be selected for redundancy because of pregnancy or maternity, says Zoe Lidster, managing director of Harwood HR Solutions. This does not mean they cannot be selected for redundancy at all, however, it does place a greater burden on employers to justify the redundancy itself and the selection process. Read more: Women are paying the price for taking longer maternity leave If your employer has reduced your workload or your role has changed, you may have a claim for pregnancy discrimination and detrimental treatment. But there may be other reasons why this is happening for example, a genuine downturn in the work available so its a good idea to speak to your boss informally first to find out whats going on. Ask for a meeting with your employer or HR manager to raise your concerns. And if nothing comes of this, you can go through your companys grievance or appeals procedure, says Lidster. If you want to make a claim in an employment tribunal, you have to contact ACAS first to try to resolve it through a process called "early conciliation". However, you must contact ACAS within the time limit of three months (less one day) from the date of the act you are making the claim about, for example, being made redundant. While the recent legislative changes offer some hope, collective action and continued advocacy are crucial to challenging deep-rooted biases and ensuring workplace equality. And although taking action against discrimination is important, its ultimately up to employers to fix the problem and to make sure people arent discriminated against simply for having children. Read more: Student Workers of Columbia union members protest the universitys recent policy changes and calls for protection of international students in New York, on Monday. Photograph: Dana Edwards/Reuters A federal judge in Manhattan blocked immigration officials from detaining Yunseo Chung, a Columbia University student and legal permanent resident the Trump administration is trying to deport for taking part in Gaza solidarity protests. The 21-year-old green card holder, who has lived in the US since she was seven years old, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Monday, arguing the government is attempting to use immigration enforcement as a bludgeon to suppress speech that they dislike. The US district judge Naomi Reice Buchwald said in court that the government had not laid out enough facts about its claims against Chung, who is originally from South Korea. Buchwald granted the temporary restraining order Chung had requested, which also prohibits the government from moving her outside the jurisdiction of the southern district of New York. Related: US academic groups sue White House over planned deportations of pro-Gaza students The ruling comes as the Trump administration has been aggressively targeting pro-Palestinian college protesters across the US and cutting funds or threatening to revoke grants from universities it claims are failing to prevent antisemitism. The efforts to deport green card holders have sparked widespread backlash from civil liberties and immigrant rights groups. The US is also fighting to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and recent Columbia graduate who has not been accused of a crime. Khalil was arrested at his Columbia-owned building in New York, in front of his pregnant wife, and later transferred to detention in Louisiana. In ordering the US not to transfer Chung out of the district, Buchwald said: No trips to Louisiana here. Chungs lawsuit alleged that immigration officials moved to deport her from the only country she has ever known after she was identified in news reports as part of a group of protesters arrested after a sit-in at a library on the campus of Barnard College, affiliated with Columbia. Chung was given a ticket for obstruction of governmental administration, a common protest citation, according to her suit, filed by Clear, a clinic at the City University of New York law school. But days later, the US government began a series of unlawful efforts to arrest, detain, and remove Ms. Chung from the country because of her protected speech, her lawyers alleged. On 9 March, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) showed up to Chungs parents home, and the following day, a US law enforcement official advised her lawyer that her lawful permanent resident status was being revoked. US agents also executed search warrants at two residences on Columbias campus, including her dormitory, seeking documents related to Chung, despite the warrant targeting the institution, not Chung directly, according to the complaint. Officials at the highest echelons of government are attempting to use immigration enforcement as a bludgeon to suppress speech that they dislike, including Ms Chungs speech, the suit said. Related: Columbia student protester sues Trump administration for trying to deport her Chung felt moved to join efforts to advocate for Palestinian human rights and visited the Gaza solidarity encampment for discussions and events, but did not make public statements, serve as a liaison between protesters and the university or assume any high-profile role, her lawyers said. She is a junior at Columbia who has participated in the campus literary magazine, undergraduate law journal and was valedictorian of her high school. Jordan Wells, senior attorney at the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, which is also representing Chung, praised the ruling, saying in a statement, May the day never come when the secretary of state is allowed to single out a college student for banishment from the United States because of political protest. At the very least, we are relieved on behalf of our client that day is not today. The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement on Monday that Chung had engaged in concerning conduct, including being arrested at a protest. DHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment after the Tuesday ruling. Earlier this month, the Trump administration canceled $400m in grants to Columbia, saying the university failed to protect students from antisemitism even though the institution last year suspended pro-Palestinian student groups and facilitated arrests. The Associated Press contributed reporting Artist Khaled Sabsabi, who was chosen as Australia's representative at the 2026 Venice Biennale then controversially dropped six days later. An upcoming show featuring some of his works has been called off in Melbourne by Monash University. Photograph: Bec Lorrimer/The Guardian An upcoming exhibition featuring works by artist Khaled Sabsabi, who was controversially dumped as Australias representative at the Venice Biennale last month, has been indefinitely postponed by Monash University. Sabsabi, a Lebanese-born artist based in western Sydney, made headlines in February when he and curator Michael Dagostino were announced as Australias representatives at the 2026 Venice Biennale. But just six days later, they were both dropped by Australias federal arts body Creative Australia, after days of media and political pressure over Sabsabis use of imagery from the 9/11 terrorist attacks and former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated last year, in old works. Related: This could have all been avoided: how Creative Australia allowed itself to be blindsided over its Venice Biennale pick The upcoming exhibition, titled Stolon Press: Flat Earth, had been planned for 18 months and was due to open on 8 May at Monash University Museum of Art (Muma), in the Melbourne suburb of Caulfield East. Guardian Australia understands the decision to call off the show was made by Monash University, not the staff at Muma. Sabsabis gallerist, Josh Milani, said the decision was a worrying sign that Creative Australias decision was negatively impacting Sabsabis career more broadly. Sign up for Guardian Australias breaking news email I have previously warned Creative Australia that their decision to repudiate Khaled Sabsabis Venice Biennale commission had already set in motion the dismantling of his career and livelihood, he said, adding: This cancellation is a direct result of Creative Australias abandonment of him as an artist and a human being. They have allowed the mischaracterisation of him as a terrorist sympathiser to go unchecked. It should be clear, he is against terrorism and violence in all its forms and he is against racism in all its forms, including antisemitism. A spokesperson for Monash University told Guardian Australia in a statement: Monash University Museum of Art (MUMA) will postpone the Flat Earth exhibition at the Caulfield campus. Through consultation with our communities we have identified there is a need for the museum to deepen its collaboration and engagement on this exhibition. Postponing the event will allow this important work to be undertaken. Monash did not respond to queries from Guardian Australia about why the exhibition was postponed, whether it would be rescheduled or whether the decision was taken in response to Creative Australias sacking of Sabsabi. Alongside Sabsabi, the exhibition was to include works by Sydney art collective Stolon Press a longtime collaborator with Sabsabi and Elisa Taber, a writer and anthropologist. In a statement sent to Monash University on Wednesday, Stolen Press founders Simryn Gill and Tom Melick wrote: Stolon Press did not agree to postpone the exhibition Flat Earth. We stand by our contract with Muma, our work and the work of our artists, Elisa Taber and Khaled Sabsabi. Our aim is to ensure that the exhibition proceeds. Mumas website says Sabsabis works were large, coffee-infused calligraphic paintings rooted in tasawwuf (Sufism), alongside abstracted silhouette works that employ numerology and repetition to explore spirituality and our shared human condition. Milani said Creative Australias decision has had a devastating impact on [Sabsabis] career and wellbeing and that he would continue to fight to be reinstated at the 2026 Venice Biennale. Guardian Australia understands Creative Australia has paid out 90% of the $100,000 artist fee and $50,000 curator fee owed to the pair under the contract they signed before being abruptly terminated. Milani said he hoped Creative Australias ongoing review into the process of selection of Sabsabi and Dagostino would result in them being reinstated. The decision by Creative Australia to repudiate his Venice Biennale contract was based on views which have now been almost unanimously disavowed by countless experts in the sector, Milani said. When a bad, rushed decision based on incorrect information leads to a gross injustice, the courageous and ethical thing to do is to reverse the decision. It would be a win-win-win for everyone for Khaled, for Creative Australia, for the art sector, he said. We understand this is an independent decision by Monash University, and as such we will not be commenting on the matter, Creative Australia told Guardian Australia. Amid widespread outrage in the Australian art world over the decision, it is unlikely another artist and curator will agree to replace Sabsabi and Dagostino which may mean the Australian pavilion remains empty at the 2026 biennale. But Milani said Sabsabi will continue to make the planned biennale work, regardless of whether he is reinstated. We are making plans in that regard for it to be seen by a global audience, he said. As venture capital trusts (VCTs) turn 30 years old, here's more detail on what you need to know about investing in these UK tax-efficient schemes. VCTs have been around since 1995 and in their first tax year, raised 160m from investors. That amount reached 882m in the 2023/24 tax year, which was the third highest figure on record, data from the Association of Investment Companies showed. So far this tax year VCTs have raised 703.6m, as of 14 March, according to investment platform the Wealth Club. That's up 10.7% year-on-year, with 635.6m having been invested in VCTs at this point in the last tax year, which was down 22.5% on 2022/23. "Its a return to trend after a couple of sluggish post-pandemic years," said Alex Davies, CEO of the Wealth Club. "Rising interest rates have hit the valuations of smaller, higher growth businesses but demand for VCTs remains robust." "With taxes at a 70-year high this is hardly a surprise," he added. "The massive cuts in CGT (capital gains tax) and dividends tax-free allowances are savaging peoples investments. On top of that, the rate of CGT has gone up. For those who maximise their pension and ISA allowances each year, VCTs are the obvious next step." Read more: How to protect over 370,000 in savings from tax Here's what you need to know about VCTs. What are VCTs? VCTs are similar to investment trusts, as companies that are listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). They are overseen by fund managers and look to raise money from investors who receive shares in the trust, with the aim of investing in assets. However, the key focus of VCTs is to invest in smaller, earlier-stage companies. These can either be private companies, or ones listed on the UK's alternative investment market (AIM). Notable companies that have received VCT investment include property website Zoopla, meal kit delivery service Gousto, snack company Graze and clothing marketplace Depop. VCTs were first announced in the 1994 autumn budget and launched in the 1995 tax year. They were designed with tax-efficient incentives to encourage people to invest in these emerging companies. The government confirmed in September that it was extending the VCT scheme for a further 10 years to 5 April 2035. Stocks: Create your watchlist and portfolio To qualify for VCT investment, these UK companies typically have to employ fewer than 250 staff and have gross assets of no more than 15m before investment. These companies can normally raise up to 5m in any 12-month period from VCT investment, with a typical overall limit of 12m. There are three types of VCT. Generalist VCTs invest in a variety of companies in different sectors and at different stages of development. AIM VCTs invest mainly in companies listed, or about to list, on the AIM market. Finally, specialist VCTs focus on a specialist sectors, such as infrastructure or biotechnology, though the fact that they are less diverse can make them higher risk. The key focus of VCTs is to invest in smaller, earlier-stage companies. (FreshSplash via Getty Images) What are the benefits of VCTs? "VCTs are an exciting and dynamic area to invest in, with the potential opportunity to outperform the wider stock market," said Emma Wall, head of platform investments at Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.L). Investors buying new shares in a VCT are eligible for 30% income tax relief on their investment, providing they hold onto them for at least five years. That means if someone buys 10,000 of shares, when they file their tax return, they would be eligible to get 3,000 of tax back. There is also no tax on dividends from VCTs and no capital gains tax on your holding if held for at least five years. Risks to consider "VCTs are typically used by those investors who may have used their ISA and pension allowances and have larger portfolios, and the appetite for higher-risk investments," said Wall. "As the companies VCTs invest in are often new, very small companies which have a higher likelihood of failure, they are higher-risk investments," she said. "Theyre therefore aimed at more experienced investors with a detailed understanding of investments, who can afford to take a long-term view." Wall said that Hargreaves Lansdown recommends that VCTs are held as a smaller part under 10% of a large (over 100,000) diversified portfolio. Read more: The best stocks and shares ISA providers ranked by Which? Investors also need to be prepared to hold onto shares for at least five years, otherwise they will have to repay HMRC any any upfront tax relief they have received. Jason Hollands, managing director at wealth management firm Evelyn Partners, told Yahoo Finance UK that this is an "important consideration because if you suddenly need your money ... there'll be consequences of doing that so it would be unwise to and no one does it unless they're really desperate." How do I invest in a VCT? VCTs will issue shares at launch, or will periodically issue more new shares, to raise funds. Purchasing new shares allows investors to benefit from the 30% income tax relief. Wall said that investors should "read the prospectus for any new offer carefully as this will contain the specific risks for that VCT". "VCT managers may also from time to time provide buybacks, where they buy shares from existing investors," she added. "This is often at a small discount to the value of the shares." Given that shares are traded on the LSE, they can be bought like normal shares. "But as even the largest VCTs are quite small, they can be illiquid as there are not many buyers and sellers," said Wall. "This means its often difficult to buy and sell shares on the stock exchange and the price to buy and sell may be higher or lower than the value of the underlying investments. It may even be difficult to find a price at all in some cases." Investing this way in a secondary market, given the shares have already been owned, is not eligible for that 30% upfront income tax relief but investors will still benefit from tax-free dividends and growth. Read more: Are you concerned about tax increases in the spring statement? Have your say The minimum amount needed to invest varies for different VCTs, though it normally around 5,000, while the maximum is 200,000 per tax year. VCTs tend to charge higher fees than typical investment trusts and funds. The initial charge can be as much as 5%, while annual management fees can be in the range of 2% to 3%. In addition, a performance fee may also be charged if the VCT performs well. When it comes to eventually selling VCT shares, Hollands said that it would be unwise to do this by simply "hitting a sell button" online. "Most VCTs these days are very good at managing their discounts by having regular buybacks so you really want to be selling your shares through a broker who can speak to the market maker and make sure that you're selling them as part of a regular buyback so that you're not selling at a big discount," he explained. How is performance measured? VCTs have a net asset value (NAV), which represents the value of the underlying investments and is provided by the trust's board of directors, typically twice a year. "As the investments are not always listed on a stock exchange, this means that the value may be estimated using set valuation methods," said Wall. "These are, however, estimates and the price you get for selling VCTs could be higher or lower than the net asset value." When trying to gauge their performance, one metric to refer to is the NAV total return, which is the NAV plus any dividends that have been paid over a period. Read more: How to protect your money from rising bills and taxes from April The VCT's annual dividend yield is another measure of performance to consider, which comes from dividing the dividends paid each year by the NAV. "You might think that VCTs are actually all about building up capital gain and seeing the share price rise," said Hollands. "In fact that's not the case for ... nearly all VCTs... the way they will prioritise generating return for shareholders is actually to pay out tax-free dividends." "It's an important thing to understand because if you look at the share price returns of most VCTs, you'd think that they're very disappointing you have to look at the dividend payouts," he added. When is the best time to invest? Hollands pointed out that VCTs "tend to be very careful about making sure they only raise money that they think they've got a home for and so they come ... essentially periodically and will generally do a sort of new fundraising offer." He explained that this used to happen towards the end of the tax year but fundraising now starts in earnest around September because more of the main government budgets tend to be delivered in autumn. So VCTs are aiming to raise money ahead of the autumn budget, just in case any changes are announced, he said. As a result, the VCT season now tends to run from September to the end of the tax year. Another key factor to understand is that VCTs will announce a target amount when they come to fundraising and they might state that the share offer will close at a certain date. Hollands said that the in-demand VCT share offers can fill up quite quickly. "So it's really important to be aware of your choices depend on who's around raising money at the moment and do check as to how full they are before you pop a cheque in the post," he said. "The good news is, in recent years many more VCTs are now allowing an online process it all used to be paper based." A beginner's VCT portfolio The Wealth Club shared an example as to what a portfolio might look like for a first-time VCT investor, based on an investment of 35,000 split across four different VCTs 10,000 in Albion VCTs, 10,000 in Baronsmead VCTs, 10,000 Pembroke VCT and 5,000 in Triple Point Venture VCT. Nicholas Hyett, investment manager at the Wealth Club, said: "Picking just four VCTs can give you an underlying portfolio of a hundred of companies or more. By spreading your investment across multiple VCTs, you diversify the type of companies you back too since different VCT managers tend to have expertise in different sectors. "For example, the manger of Pembroke VCT has particular expertise in more consumer exposed investments, whereas the Albion VCTs have enjoyed particular success in B2B software businesses. The smaller Triple Point Venture VCT specialises in backing companies at an earlier stage in their development where the risks might be higher but the potential upside is also all the greater." Read more: Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android. Chinese FM holds strategic dialogue with Portuguese counterpart Xinhua) 08:59, March 26, 2025 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds the second China-Portugal strategic dialogue at the foreign ministers' level with Portugal's Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel in Beijing, capital of China, March 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held the second China-Portugal strategic dialogue at the foreign ministers' level with Portugal's Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel in Beijing on Tuesday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China and Portugal have a good tradition of mutual respect and support, and the two sides have properly settled the Macao issue with political wisdom, setting a good example of resolving issues left over from history through friendly consultation. Last year, China and Portugal jointly celebrated the 45th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties. Leaders of the two countries exchanged congratulatory messages and spoke highly of the successful development of bilateral relations, said Wang. Noting that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-Portugal comprehensive strategic partnership and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union (EU), Wang said that China is ready to work with Portugal to build a more stable, fruitful and dynamic China-Portugal relationship and make China and Europe strategic partners of mutual trust and achievements. Wang also said that Chinese-style modernization is one of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, which will provide greater opportunities for Portugal and other countries in the world. The two sides should actively expand cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, continue to give play to Macao's role as a bridge, and push for greater development of bilateral relations. Rangel said that he was glad to see the success of the practice of "one country, two systems" in Macao. Portugal attaches great importance to Portugal-China relations and firmly adheres to the one-China policy. The Portuguese foreign minister said that Chinese investment has played an important role in Portugal's economic and social development. Portugal welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in the fields of economy, trade, energy, health, finance, infrastructure and green transformation. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds the second China-Portugal strategic dialogue at the foreign ministers' level with Portugal's Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel in Beijing, capital of China, March 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Lady Gaga will tour in the UK in 2025. (FilmMagic) (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin via Getty Images) Lady Gaga has announced she will be touring in the UK in autumn 2025, announcing six dates in London and Manchester for The Mayhem Ball. The 14-time Grammy Award winner will perform shows in North America, Europe and the UK this year after the release of her latest album, Mayhem. She has admitted she had not planned to tour this year, but has put together the arena tour "super quickly" to bring The Mayhem Ball to her fans here's all you need to know. How can I get Lady Gaga tickets? Lady Gaga will bring The Mayhem Ball to London and Manchester. (Getty Images for Live Nation) (Jeff Kravitz via Getty Images) Buy tickets here Lady Gaga will be bringing her Mayhem Ball Tour to the UK in autumn 2025 to promote her album Mayhem. All four UK dates will go on general sale on Thursday, 3 April at 12pm, priced between 89 and 206. She is set to perform at the following arena dates: Monday, 29 September The O2, London Tuesday, 30 September The O2, London Thursday, 2 October The O2, London Friday, 4 October The O2, London Tuesday, 7 October Co-op Live, Manchester Wednesday, 8 October Co-op Live, Manchester The tour, which begins in Las Vegas in July, is also set to take in dates in the US, Canada, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and France, where it will end in November. Tickets for the tour are priced between 89 and 206. (Getty Images for Live Nation) (Jeff Kravitz via Getty Images) Gaga posted on X: "I wasn't planning to tour this year after my shows in Singapore but the incredible response to the new album inspired me to keep things going. It came together super quickly thanks to Arthur Fogel and the amazing team at Live Nation, who planned a global tour in just a few weeks. "We chose arenas this time to give me the opportunity to control the details of the show in a way you simply can't in stadiums and honestly, I can't wait. "This show is designed to be the kind of theatrical and electrifying experience that brings Mayhem to life exactly how I envision it. The Mayhem Ball Tour is officially coming your way. See you soon, monsters." The Scottish Government will have to turbocharge its attempts to find efficiency savings after UK welfare decisions which amount to austerity on stilts, Finance Secretary Shona Robison has said. The SNP minister hinted that difficult choices lie ahead following the Chancellors spring statement, which will impact the devolved administrations budget. While ministers in Edinburgh will see a small increase in the forthcoming financial year, the Chancellors decision means the block grant is expected to reduce in following years going down by 455 million in 2029/30 compared to current plans. Much of social security is now devolved and discussions are ongoing between the two governments on how the changes south of the border will affect the Scottish welfare system. Ms Robison suggested efficiency savings will need to come quicker (Jane Barlow/PA) Chancellor Rachel Reeves is seeking savings of 4.8 billion in 2029/30 through her package of changes to incapacity benefits. She also outlined a 2.2 billion defence spending hike over the next year from April, which the UK Government says will deliver growth and jobs in Scotland. Ms Robison spoke to journalists at Holyrood following Ms Reeves statement, saying the Scottish Government will do absolutely everything we can to avoid pushing vulnerable people into poverty. The welfare budget reductions have resulted in very, very challenging situation, she said, pledging to set out plans in a spending review. The SNPs Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee is already carrying out a review into public sector reform, and Ms Robison suggested efforts to cut back-office costs will need to move faster. She said: I think were going to have to turbocharge some of that work over the next few years in order to give ourselves choices around how we can ensure that we can support our most vulnerable. Because we dont want to be replicating these decisions. Cutting these administration costs will have a significant value, she said. Ms Robison also said Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar seems to be in hiding again and the announcements were austerity on stilts. The Finance Secretary had earlier condemned the UK Government for its repeated attacks on some of the most vulnerable members of society, warning there is a risk of creating a vicious cycle of reduced funding and increased demand for welfare. She hit out at the Chancellor, condemning her austerity cuts and claiming: The UK Government appears to be trying to balance its books on the backs of disabled people. However Ms Robison has broadly welcomed the defence spending boost announced by the Chancellor. Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her spring statement to MPs on Wednesday (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA) Roz Foyer, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, claimed the Chancellor had rushed through deeply damaging cuts to support for disabled people. She added: No-one denies that this statement was made in the midst of testing domestic and international circumstances. However, the Chancellor had choices. She could have rewritten her self-imposed and self-defeating fiscal rules. She could have increased taxes on corporations or the wealthy. Joao Sousa, deputy director of the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde, said the Scottish Government would see a small increase of around 28 million in the forthcoming financial year. However Scottish ministers face significant reductions in future years, he added. In his initial reaction to the spring statement, Mr Sousa said: Put together, and in the absence of any other changes, the Scottish budget would be around 900 million worse off on the current side in 2029-30 than previously projected. On the other hand, some additional capital spending on areas which are devolved in Scotland so aside from the defence spending increases are expected to raise the Scottish Governments capital budget by nearly 250 million by 2029-30 relative to current plans. Scottish Secretary Ian Murray urged the Scottish Government to use additional funding to improve failing public services (PA) Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said the 2.2 billion defence spending uplift will make Britain stronger and safer. He said: This is a huge boost for Scotlands world-leading defence sector, which delivers Scottish economic growth and more highly-skilled jobs. The increase will also mean better homes for our military personnel and families, including the thousands based in Scotland. The spring statement also delivered an extra 28 million for the Scottish Government. That is on top of their 4.9 billion extra from the budget, creating a record 47.7 billion settlement for 25/26, announced at the autumn budget. This is the biggest budget settlement in the history of devolution and an end to austerity. The Scottish Government must now use that wisely to improve Scotlands failing public services. The longest-ever Bluey episode will soon become available to stream on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer. The childrens television programme follows a young dog called Bluey Heeler who lives with her mother Chilli, father Bandit and little sister Bingo as they play games and explore a world of fun across seven-minute episodes. The series longest episode to date, The Sign, will make its free-to-air UK debut over Easter. The 28-minute show follows Bluey and her family as they get ready for the wedding event of the year in an episode that has been described as an emotional rollercoaster that bursts with adventure, romance and emergency toilet stops. It features a star-studded cast of voice actors including Australian actress Rose Byrne, from Bridesmaids, along with Joel Edgerton, who is best known for playing Tom Buchanan in The Great Gatsby. The programme follows a young dog called Bluey Heeler who lives with her mother Chilli, father Bandit and little sister Bingo (BBC/PA) Composer David McCormack reprises the voice of Blueys father, while Head Counts Melanie Zanetti continues to voice her mother in the special episode. The Sign is part of a trilogy of Bluey episodes and comes in between Ghostbasket, where Bandit pretends to be an estate agent to sell Grannies house to their mother while the third episode, Surprise, follows Bluey and Bingo as they want their father to play different games so he tries to attempt both at the same time. It was announced in December that Bluey would be adapted for a feature-length film made by Disney and BBC Studios. The film is set to be released in cinemas in 2027 before later streaming on Disney+, with producers saying it will carry the charm and humour of the Australian cartoon series. Episodes have also featured cameos from celebrity fans including actress Natalie Portman and Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. The Australian series rose to fame in 2018, quickly becoming a favourite with young viewers and claiming the international award at the Bafta Children And Young People Awards in 2022. Critics of the Bill have said it will turn the NHS into the National Health and Assisted Suicide Service - Eddie Mulholland When Kim Leadbeater addressed Parliament ahead of Novembers free vote on assisted dying, she pledged swift action, urging MPs to back her plan to roll out the service by 2027. But on Wednesday night, the Spen Valley MP was forced to scale back her ambition delaying the implementation of assisted dying until 2029. Delaying the rollout until after the next general election risks the policy being abandoned altogether. Ms Leadbeater is thought to have climbed down after civil servants responsible for drafting amendments told her the Bill was unworkable in several key areas. These are the reasons why the Assisted Dying Bill has been delayed. Kim Leadbeater has been forced to delay the implementation of her Assisted Dying Bill until 2029 - Michael Leckie/PA No plan for how to run service On Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer said that he would only implement assisted dying in a safe and practicable way. A key reason ministers are likely to need more time to turn Ms Leadbeaters Bill into a reality is that it contains no detail on how assisted dying services will operate. Dame Elizabeth Gardiner, who drafted the legislation pro bono, has admitted that she didnt have time to specify this. As a result, the legislation does not say whether assisted dying will be delivered within existing NHS services or contracted out to the private sector. No profit cap for private providers Sir Keir Starmers Government needs to decide whether to commission the private sector to operate assisted dying services because there is currently no restriction on companies making a profit. Danny Kruger, a Tory MP, said Ms Leadbeaters final proposal does not rule out private provision, nor does it rule out any profit-making by providers. When he pointed out the Bill could allow private providers to deliver the service from referral to death, Labours Lewis Atkinson said it would be inconceivable that the Health Secretary would commission services in this way and accused him of scaremongering. Welsh ministers may block plans Even if England implements the law in 2029, there is no guarantee Wales will follow. On Wednesday night, MPs unexpectedly backed an amendment by Sarah Olney, a Liberal Democrat MP, to require Senedd approval before any changes take effect in Wales. In October, Senedd members rejected a motion calling for a law change. It will take time to set up quango Ms Leadbeaters team attributed the delay to the time it would take to hire a voluntary assisted dying (VAD) commissioner, a current or former judge, who will act as an assisted dying tsar. The VAD commissioner will be in charge of operating the system of panels that sign off on each case. Her original plan for High Court judges to approve each application was scrapped because of concerns about court backlogs. Instead, panels composed of a psychiatrist, a lawyer and a social worker will make the final decision. Not enough psychiatrists to run the service Ms Leadbeater failed to consult the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP) before giving them a central role in the panels. Dr Lade Smith, president of the RCP, told The Telegraph that MPs still needed to address outstanding issues, including workforce shortages. Prof Allan House, emeritus professor of psychiatry at Leeds, said it was not at all clear there would be sufficient psychiatrists. Hospices may not agree The hospice sector has maintained a neutral stance on the Bill. However, MPs on the Bill committee appear to have assumed that this meant hospices would not oppose a mandate to provide assisted dying on site. MPs voted down an amendment from Labours Rachael Maskell that would have meant care homes and hospices were not obligated to participate. However, The Telegraph understands that the hospice sector remains deeply divided on the issue, with leading charities in the sector poised to press ministers for guarantees that hospices will not be mandated to facilitate assisted dying if it conflicts with their ethos. May need to rewrite NHS legislation Sir Keirs Government may need to alter the wording of the Act which established the NHS to allow for doctors to help people die as well as live. To make the service lawful, MPs gave Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, powers to amend the 1946 National Health Service Act, originally designed to secure ... the physical and mental health of the nation. On Tuesday, Mr Kruger warned against tak[ing] a red pen to Bevans legacy, saying this changes the NHS service to the National Health and Assisted Suicide Service. Anorexia sufferers will be eligible The Bill committee rejected 327 amendments aimed at strengthening safeguards, including five that tried to ensure people with eating disorders were excluded. Under Ms Leadbeaters Bill, people with anorexia could still be deemed terminally ill due to malnutrition, so long as doctors deemed them to have the capacity to end their lives. Chelsea Roff, founder of Eat Breathe Thrive, said: Assisted dying laws have already been used to help young women with so-called terminal anorexia end their lives in Oregon, California, and Colorado. The issue is especially pressing for the NHS, which is battling a crisis in eating disorder care, with some patients being put into induced comas as a last resort attempt to combat rising cases of extreme malnutrition. Concern over people with Downs Syndrome The committee voted 138 against requiring doctors to follow Down Syndrome Act guidance when discussing assisted dying with patients who have the condition. Labours Dr Marie Tidball later secured a separate amendment for independent advocates for those with learning disabilities, autism or mental health needs. But campaigners say this is not enough. Lynn Murray, a spokesman for campaign group Dont Screen Us Out and whose daughter has Downs syndrome, said that over 60 organisations made it clear an explicit protection in the Bill for people with Downs Syndrome is necessary, adding that their concerns were ignored. No costings or equalities impact published The Bill completed the committee stage without any published government assessment of its impact or cost to the taxpayer. This means MPs have so far been unable to consider the impact the legislation will have on the rest of the NHS. Nor has an equalities impact assessment been released. The Government will therefore need more time to work out how the Bill can be safely implemented without causing harm to disabled people, ethnic minority communities, lower-income groups and domestic abuse survivors. Chinese university students Chinese students in the UK could be forced to declare their links with the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) under the Governments new foreign influence register. The Home Office is preparing to implement its foreign influence registration scheme (FIRS) this summer, which will require individuals and businesses to declare their links if they act on behalf of a foreign state. It remains unclear how this will affect UK universities, but the Government has confirmed for the first time that foreign students will fall under the scope of the scheme. It comes after The Telegraph revealed on Tuesday that a Chinese student at a top British university was arrested and detained in China after attending a protest in the UK. He believes another Chinese student informed the Chinese government about his actions. A Home Office spokesman said that international students would be made to sign up to the new register if they are in the UK acting under the direction of a foreign power or entity specified in the scheme. The Telegraph understands that no final decisions have been made about which countries will be on the highest level of the two-tier scheme beyond Iran, which was announced earlier this month. A government source said international students would only be required to declare their overseas links if they were acting at the direction of a specified foreign power or entity, and that there would be a list of student-specific exemptions. The source added that being made to sign up to the register would not mean that foreign students must cease their activities or seek government approval to continue, as the register was for the sake of transparency and did not infer illegality. Those who fail to declare their foreign links but are required to do so will face prosecution, which will be enforced by police using any applicable immigration rules. The influence register, drawn up by the Tories in 2023, has been delayed repeatedly as the Government works out its stance on Beijing. There are also mounting expectations that China may not initially be placed on the highest threat level as ministers seek to bolster economic ties with the country. However, the Government is facing pressure to crack down on Chinese influence at UK universities following warnings that students critical of Xi Jinpings regime are being systematically silenced on UK campuses. One student told The Telegraph he was reported to Beijing authorities after attending a protest by a member of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association, a network of student-led organisations claiming to represent Chinese citizens studying abroad. The same student alleged he was later reported to the Chinese government by fellow students for a second time after giving a university presentation in which he was briefly critical of China. The Government is yet to decide whether to place China in the enhanced tier of FIRS, which would require people and organisations to declare a broader range of activities linked to foreign states. Under the primary tier of the scheme, anyone using foreign links to exert political influence in the UK will be required to declare this through the register, such as lobbying an MP to influence an election. But those being directed by foreign states or entities placed in the enhanced tier will be forced to disclose their conduct beyond mere political influence. Ministers have not yet spelt out in full what sorts of arrangements this will include, but sources told The Telegraph it could be used to crack down on international students who have signed contracts with entities such as the CCP. Previous reports have suggested that some Chinese students are required to enter pacts swearing their loyalty to the CCP before enrolling on international academic programmes. The China Scholarship Council requires applicants to implement Xi Jinpings thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era while abroad - WU HAO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock A report by the Civitas think tank in 2023 revealed that some Chinese students must undertake ideological training to ensure their views are in line with the CCP before being allowed to apply to a scholarship scheme on offer at many Russell Group universities. About 650 Chinese nationals enrol at UK universities each year through the China Scholarship Council (CSC), a body under the countrys ministry of education that funds PhD applicants to study abroad. Dagens Nyheter, a Swedish newspaper, reported in 2023 that Chinese students on the scholarship scheme attending Stockholms prestigious Karolinska Institute were made to enter contracts binding their allegiance to the CCP. The 2025 rules for applying to the scholarship programme state that funding recipients must thoroughly implement Xi Jinpings thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era while abroad. More than 30 British universities are accepting applications from Chinese students as part of the scheme, with costs shared equally between the CSC and the host institution in the UK. The Telegraph has reviewed the specific application requirements for top universities including Oxford and Cambridge, which state that Chinese students must be vetted for their political ideology, teacher ethics, conduct and academic style before applying. Leading China experts have urged the Government to spell out exactly how the rules will apply to Chinese students. Prof Steve Tsang, the director of the China Institute at SOAS, said: The thing about China is that it is under the rule of the Communist Party, which is under the direct personal leadership of supreme leader Xi Jinping. So the Chinese government today will do exactly what Xi Jinping wants it to do. So the problem is going to be there. The issue is what will the British Government do about it? And what should the British Government do about it? We must have a good relationship with China, that we can engage with it and we can talk to it but not in any way that harms core British interests and core British values. Because we are actually undermining our own values, and we actually put some of our overseas students we welcome from China, in a situation that if we teach them to have the skills to do critical thinking, then they end up being punished by the Chinese state. Prof Steve Tsang believes Britain must have a good relationship with China but not in any way that harms core British interests - Gustavo Valiente/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Sam Dunning, the director of the UK China Transparency think tank, said: Without tuition fees from Chinese students, the data suggest the majority of universities would be in financial deficit. In parallel, universities are not offering any proper support to Chinese students repressed by the long arm of the CCP. A whole host of issues relating to safeguarding, academic freedom and intellectual property are not receiving proper attention. There is a conspiracy of silence and inaction across the sector, but it cant and wont last forever. A government source said specific guidance on FIRS would be set out soon, with the influence register expected to go live this summer. A Home Office spokesman said: National security is the foundation of our Plan for Change and the foreign influence registration scheme will strengthen the resilience of the UK against covert foreign influence by encouraging transparency, deterring harmful covert state threats and increasing the opportunity for earlier disruptions. No international student will be affected unless they are in the UK acting under the direction of a foreign power or entity specified in the scheme. Prof Stock resigned from the University of Sussex in 2021 over what she called a medieval experience of campus ostracism and protests. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/The Guardian Englands university regulator has been accused of perpetuating the culture wars after fining the University of Sussex a record 585,000 at the conclusion of an investigation into freedom of speech on campus. It marks the end of a three-and-a-half year investigation into the universitys handling of the case of Kathleen Stock, a philosophy professor who resigned after being targeted by protests over her views on gender identification and transgender rights. In a ruling that prompted a furious reaction from the University of Sussex and has implications for the wider sector, the Office for Students (OfS) found the institutions governing documents failed to uphold freedom of speech and academic freedom. It also identified failings in the universitys management and governance processes. The OfS criticism was directed at the universitys trans and non-binary equality policy statement, which required course materials to positively represent trans people and said transphobic propaganda will not be tolerated. The regulator said it had a chilling effect, which could result in staff and students self-censoring. An example of this chilling effect materialising in practice is the experience of Prof Stock while at the university. Prof Stock said that she became more cautious in her expression of gender critical views as a result of the policy, the OfS said. There were some views she did not feel able to express, and therefore teach, despite those views being lawful. Other staff and students may have felt similarly unable to express these, or other, lawful views, and not speak about or express lawful views. Sussex complained the fine was more than 15 times bigger than any other sanction the OfS had previously imposed and promised to challenge the ruling in the courts. The way the OfS has conducted this investigation has been completely unacceptable, its findings are egregious and concocted, and the fine that is being imposed on Sussex is wholly disproportionate, said the universitys vice-chancellor, Prof Sasha Roseneil. After three and a half years of trawling thousands of pages of paperwork, whilst never interviewing anyone employed by the university, the behaviour of the OfS sets a dangerous precedent and constitutes serious regulatory overreach in service of a politically motivated inquiry. Stock resigned from the university in 2021 over what she called a medieval experience of campus ostracism and protests, but she praised the university leaderships approach latterly as admirable and decent. Sussex said the OfSs findings meant it was now all but impossible for universities to prevent abuse, harassment or bullying on campuses. Universities must be able to have policies and expectations of behaviour that support respectful communication and enable us to manage cultural tensions on campus, said Roseneil. It cannot be that we are only able to expect people to obey the law and that poor behaviour can only be challenged in the courts. Under this ruling, we believe that universities would not be permitted to expect their staff and students to treat each other with civility and respect. The OfS is effectively decreeing libertarian free speech absolutism as the fundamental principle for UK universities. In our view, the OfS is perpetuating the culture wars. Arif Ahmed, the director for freedom of speech and academic freedom at the OfS, said: These are significant and serious breaches of the OfSs requirements. Substantial monetary penalties are appropriate for the scale of wrongdoing we have found. However, we have significantly discounted the monetary penalties we initially calculated on this occasion to reflect that this is the first case of its type we have dealt with. We hope that publishing our findings in this case is helpful to all universities and colleges as they consider their own compliance with their freedom of speech duties, and ensure they have proper decision-making processes in place. The education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said: Free speech and academic freedom are non-negotiables in our universities, and I have been clear that where those principles are not upheld, robust action will be taken. If you go to university you must be prepared to have your views challenged, hear contrary opinions and be exposed to uncomfortable truths. We are giving the OfS stronger powers on freedom of speech so students and academics are not muzzled by the chilling effect demonstrated in this case. Landowners say the 138-strong herd could present a serious threat to delicate habitats - Ashley Cooper Scottish Parliament ministers are considering new protections for native wild goats after a private landowner carried out a cull. Oxygen Conservation, a company that owns 11,000 acres of moorland in the Scottish Borders, faced criticism for the killing of feral goats around the villages of Langholm and Newcastleton. The animals ancient bloodline can be traced back 3,000 years to native species that roamed during the Iron Age but Oxygen claims the 138-strong herd needs to be reduced to protect trees and prevent a serious threat to delicate habitats. Residents argued that the culling of the goats, which have no legal protection, took place during the kidding season, when female goats give birth. Oxygen said culling had been paused until later this year. A petition for the goats to be given protected status to ensure their survival is now under consideration by MSPs. Lodged with the Scottish Parliament last month, the petition states: These neglected species survive in the last truly wild and free habitats of the Borders, and represent an independence of spirit reflective of our national character. Their numbers are dangerously low, and in danger of extinction due to loss of habitat, and systematic and ongoing culling. The feral goats of the Cheviots in Northumberland, which share similarities with the native goats in Scotland, have been added to a watchlist by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, a conservation charity. They are also included on a native breeds at risk list maintained by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. However, the Scottish goat population has limited protection under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. Last month, Oxygen Conservation, which has bought several rural estates across the UK in its bid to deliver positive environment and social impacts, said it planned to reduce the number of wild goats in an area of Langholm Moor known as Blackburn and Hartsgarth. The firm, which bought the land at the end of 2023, said the wild goat population had exploded from 20 to 138 at the last count in January. A petition for the protection of the goats says they represent an independence of spirit reflective of Scottish culture - Tony West/Anthony John West David Braithwaite, a Newcastleton resident and conservationist, said the animals were not prolific breeders and that it was far more likely that more of the nomadic goats had strayed onto Oxygens land at the last count. Thousands of locals in Newcastleton, Langholm and surrounding areas signed a petition against culling the goats. The practice is legal providing that animal welfare guidelines are followed. Mr Braithwaite said Oxygen confirmed in an email that a cull, focusing on male goats, was under way and that meat from the goats had been sold into the food chain. He added: Its great news that the petition is under consideration but we need Scottish ministers to take this seriously. There needs to be a long-term conservation strategy and statutory protection for the goats, which are truly loved. I think that someone should call time out on this so that things can be properly reviewed. None of this is making any sense and I would have expected the government agency to have worked out that the conservation priority for this highly protected landscape is assisted by the wild goats. Cull to continue later this year David Mundell, the MP for Dumfriesshire, raised his concerns to Lucy Powell, the Leader of the Commons, as fears grew about the future of the goat herd in an integral part of their scenic natural home landscape. Mr Mundell asked: Whatever the merits or otherwise of such a scheme, does the Leader of the House agree that it is important that organisations such as Oxygen [Conservation] consult local people and do not just ride roughshod over their views? Oxygen Conservation said a targeted reduction, using trained professional shooters, will be conducted over the course of the year to reduce the number back to the original population of 20, avoiding times when nannies are heavily pregnant or with young kids. A spokesperson added: We have stopped culling now, but will continue later in the year. We can confirm that the meat from the cull will be legally entering the Scottish human and animal food chains through licensed game dealers, they have asked to not be mentioned. Importantly, Oxygen Conservation has not received a penny from this process. NatureScot said a licence was not required to cull wild goats as they were not considered a native species and therefore had no legal protection. A spokesperson added: We understand why the community is concerned about the goats at Langholm, but as goats arent a protected species, culling them is legal as long as animal welfare guidelines are followed. All non-folding e-bikes will be banned on London Tube and rail services from the end of the month to ensure the safety of customers and staff, it has been announced. Transport for London (TfL) said it has been working with the London Fire Brigade and other partners to carry out a comprehensive review of the safety of e-bikes and their suitability for carriage on the transport network. The train drivers union Aslef welcomed the move after pressing for a ban on safety grounds. Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said the decision followed a comprehensive review of the safety of e-bikes (James Manning/PA) Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said: The safety of Londoners is my top priority and, while most e-bikes are safe, there have been a small number of incidents where non-foldable e-bikes have caught fire on the transport system, which have caused me great concern. This is why, following a comprehensive review of the safety of e-bikes, TfL is banning all non-folding e-bikes on Tube and rail services. I have asked TfL to continue to work with Government and partners to improve e-bike safety as we build a safer London for everyone. TfL said in a statement: While the majority of e-bikes are safe, there have been a small number of incidents where non-foldable e-bikes have caught fire on the transport system in London. To ensure the safety of the network for customers and staff, customers in possession of non-foldable e-bikes will not be permitted to travel on most TfL services, including on the Tube, Overground, Elizabeth line and DLR. The ban includes all non-folding e-bikes, including standard cycles that have been converted to e-bikes using conversion kits. Aslef issued its safety warning after an e-bike caught fire on a platform at Rayners Lane Tube station in north-west London last month. The fire was put out by crews from London Fire Brigade. We welcome this move by @TfL following their detailed safety review, as it acknowledges the risks that we know e-bike batteries can pose. More: https://t.co/mQOwE9VTrZ https://t.co/Y3GUyvbGd8 pic.twitter.com/fB0SOcYFmt London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) March 26, 2025 Finn Brennan, Aslefs organiser on London Underground, said: We welcome the announcement by TfL that non-folding e-bikes are to be banned from its services. This is something that Aslefs health and safety reps have long campaigned for. It will reduce the risk of a serious accident, and the dangers caused by large numbers of unfolded e-bikes blocking exits in emergencies. We are pleased that TfL have listened to our concerns and acted on them. TfL said it is the first transport operator in the UK to enforce such a ban. London Fire Brigade deputy commissioner for prevention, protection and policy, Charlie Pugsley, said: We welcome this move by Transport for London following their detailed safety review, as it acknowledges the risks that we know e-bike batteries can pose. While we recognise the sustainable benefits e-bikes, and micromobility generally, bring to our city, the reality is that across London we have been seeing an e-bike or e-scooter fire every other day, on average, and we have particular concern about the risk posed by conversion kits or modified e-bikes. When these fires occur, they can be sudden, incredibly ferocious and produce smoke that is extremely toxic. Transport Salaried Staffs Association general secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said: This ban doesnt go far enough. Folding e-bikes may be smaller, but they still use the same lithium-ion batteries, and theyre just as capable of catching fire or exploding. The risk doesnt disappear just because a bike folds in half. To truly protect people on the network, TfL must extend the ban to include all e-bikes. Our members see first-hand the dangers these bikes pose. Any e-bike with a faulty battery, poor wiring or a cheap charger is a fire risk, regardless of whether it folds or not. Secretary general Mark Rutte said reassurance is a two-way street during a speech in Warsaw on 26 March 2025. Photograph: Wojtek Radwanski/AFP/Getty Images Natos secretary general has told the US and Europe it is not the time to go it alone amid reports that Washington and some European leaders want to weaken their commitments to the transatlantic military alliance. Mark Rutte said in a speech in Warsaw that the US needed to be told that European countries would step up and lift their defence spending while they needed to hear that Washington would not abandon them. Let me be absolutely clear, this is not the time to go it alone. Not for Europe or North America, said the Dutch head of the alliance. The global security challenges are too great for any of us to face on our own. When it comes to keeping Europe and North America safe, there is no alternative to Nato. Europe needs to know that Uncle Sam still has our back, Rutte continued, but in turn America also needs to know that its Nato allies will step up. Without restrictions and without capability gaps because reassurance is a two-way street. Related: In defiance of Donald Trump, is a European security council emerging? | Paul Taylor The 76-year-old alliance has come under intense pressure following the election of Donald Trump, most recently with key administration members complaining about European defence free-loading in a confidential chat on the Signal app that leaked when a journalist from the Atlantic was added to the group by mistake. On his first trip to Europe earlier this year, Pete Hegseth, the new defence secretary, said the US was no longer primarily focused on European security and signalled that cuts to the number of American troops in Europe were a possibility. Since then, some reports had suggested that the US was willing to relinquish its hold on the position of Natos top military commander, the supreme allied commander Europe (Saceur), a position first held by Dwight Eisenhower and currently held by Gen Christopher Cavoli, whose tour expires in the summer. One Nato source said that idea had been dropped. A second said the UK was particularly keen to ensure the US remains inside the alliance at a time when any sustained end to the fighting in Ukraine could allow Russia to distribute 600,000 troops elsewhere along member states eastern flank. On Friday last week, Trump himself appeared to dismiss the speculation. When asked directly about the US being prepared to give up the top military command, he replied that the alliance was gone until I came along before praising Rutte, his predecessor and European members for increasing defence spending. Nato is solid, is strong but they have to treat us fairly, the US president added. Another report suggested Europes leading military powers wanted to devise a plan to shift the financial and military burden to European capitals over the next five to 10 years and present it to the US, amid worries about whether Washington would come to the defence of Europe in a crisis. However, this idea was dismissed by British sources who argued that the idea that the US contribution to European security could be replaced in five years or so was living in cloud cuckoo land. Rutte said he recognised that the US commitment to Nato comes with a clear expectation and that European allies and Canada take more responsibility for our shared security. He said he would work towards developing this at the next leaders summit in The Hague in June. Nato members have begun to announce some increases in defence spending, with the UK promising to lift its budget from 2.33% of GDP to 2.5% by 2027, starting with an extra 2.2bn next year. Germany has agreed to loosen its debt rules to allow for additional spending on defence under the incoming chancellor, Friedrich Merz. Opposition leaders are to meet on Wednesday morning after the Dail was disrupted over controversial speaking time changes. The opposition party representatives are to discuss their response to the disorder in the Dail, the Irish parliaments lower house. There were chaotic scenes of shouting, interruptions and allegations of misogyny on Tuesday as weeks of tension over the speaking rights row boiled over during Leaders Questions. Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy fielded interruptions and tried to continue Dail proceedings as opposition TDs took to their feet and objected to the governments proposals. She declared the order of business and changes to the standing orders passed before adjourning the Dail until after 9am on Wednesday. Irish Green Party leader Roderic OGorman said that the meeting would be to decide how the opposition proceeds after Dail resumes at 9am (Brian Lawless/PA) Speaking about the leaders meeting, Green Party leader Roderic OGorman told The Late Debate they would discuss how the opposition would proceed, as well as the role of the Ceann Comhairle. In a statement on Tuesday, Taoiseach Micheal Martin accused the opposition of trying to bully and intimidate Ms Murphy and said it marked a new low for the opposition. The prolonged barracking and the disgraceful lack of respect for the mandates of elected deputies was shocking in its intensity, he said. 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. Boko Haram fighters disguised as herders killed at least 20 Cameroonian troops in a Tuesday morning raid on the Nigerian border town of Wulgo, local security sources and residents told AFP. Cameroonian troops are commonly stationed across the border in Nigeria as part of anti-jihadist operations around Wulgo, which is near the volatile Lake Chad -- home to both Islamic State and Boko Haram fighters. The militants had disguised themselves as herders and traders in a nearby city and then infiltrated Wulgo to attack its surrounding military positions, said two intelligence sources. The sources were assisting troops in the long-running fight against the militants and requested anonymity to speak freely. "The insurgents attacked the bases around 1:00 am and fighting continued for two hours before they subdued the troops and burnt the bases, after taking away heavy weapons," one of the sources said. "Twenty Cameroonian troops were killed in the fighting and their bodies were transported across the border into Cameroon this morning," the source added. Neither the Nigerian military nor the Cameroonian side responded to an AFP request for comment. Soviet-made Shilka guns -- lightly armoured, radar-guided anti-aircraft weapons -- were among the cache seized by the Boko Haram fighters, said the second source, who offered the same death toll. On Monday, the fighters had blended among herders at the weekly market in the town of Gamboru, a commercial hub 15 kilometres (nine miles) away, the sources said. They then moved into Wulgo under the cover of night to launch a "surprise attack", said the second security source. Sounds of heavy guns and explosions were heard by people in Gamboru who had been awake to observe Ramadan vigils, local resident Muhammad Sani Umar told AFP. "I saw three Cameroonian military trucks conveying 13 bodies across the border into Cameroon this morning," said Umar, who visited Wulgo on Tuesday. The attacked military bases were a mess, with the building torched and vehicles burnt, Umar said. Since 2009, jihadist violence in northeast Nigeria has killed 40,000 people and displaced 2.3 million, according to the UN, with the conflict spilling into neighbouring countries. The Lake Chad region in particular -- stretching across Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon -- has become a jihadist stronghold, disrupting fishing, farming and herding, on which the 40 million people who live there depend. Recently, however, officials have complained about a lack of coordination in the multi-country coalition fighting militants in the region, particularly as Nigeria and Niger have seen relations deteriorate after a coup toppled Niamey's civilian government in 2023. Since losing its Sambisa stronghold in Nigeria in 2021 to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a rival offshoot, Boko Haram has shifted its presence to areas around Lake Chad as well as Wulgo, Waza, Gwoza, Pulka the Mandara mountains on the border with Cameroon. Wulgo and Waza have been repeatedly targeted by Boko Haram, who have kidnapped and killed loggers, herders and scrap metal scavengers they accuse of spying on them for the military or local militias. Earlier this year, clashes with Boko Haram jihadists near the Lake Chad town of Baga left nine Nigerian soldiers dead. The attack came days after ISWAP militants killed scores of farmers in nearby in Tumbun Kanta and Kwatar Yobe, with accounts ranging between 40 and 100 dead. In March 2021, two Cameroonian soldiers were killed in a Boko Haram attack in Wulgo, with three other Cameroonian troops and a Nigerian soldier injured. Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso at an event hosted by Sentebale last year. Photograph: Brian Otieno/Getty Images for Sentebale The Duke of Sussex has resigned from an African charity he set up 20 years ago after infighting in the organisation, saying he is in shock and truly heartbroken. Prince Harry and the co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho both stepped down as patrons on Tuesday until further notice after trustees quit over a dispute with the chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka, a lawyer who was appointed in 2023. The Duke established Sentebale in Lesotho in 2006 in honour of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, after visiting the southern African country during his gap year. The dispute arose around a decision to focus fundraising in Africa, according to the Times. Harry and Seeiso said in a statement: 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. 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. Harrys role at Sentebale was one of a small number of private patronages he retained after he was stripped of his royal patronages and honorary military positions by the late Queen in 2021 after his departure from the working monarchy. Sentebale, which means Forget me not, was created to help people in Lesotho and Botswana living in poverty and those suffering from HIV and Aids. Former trustees Timothy Boucher, Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, Kelello Lerotholi and Damian West released a statement announcing their decision to unanimously resign as board members. 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. A spokesperson for the charity said it has not received resignations from either royal patron, adding: 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 response, Chandauka said: 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 about issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir and the cover-up that ensued. The Charity Commission told the BBC it was aware of concerns about the governance of Sentebale. We are assessing the issues to determine the appropriate regulatory steps, the commission said in a statement. The Queensland Police Service accepted most of the Human Rights Commissions recommendations but declined the call to establish minimum diversity targets at each rank. Photograph: Darren England/AAP The Queensland Police Service has formally rejected key recommendations of a landmark workforce diversity review, including calls for police leadership to be held accountable for addressing the lack of women and First Nations people in the ranks. The review, conducted by the state Human Rights Commission, was demanded by the 2022 commission of inquiry that found a failure of leadership had allowed a culture of sexism, misogyny and racism to flourish. Human rights commissioner Scott McDougalls report found that significant resistance to reform remained within the police service (QPS), in particular among the most senior leaders of the organisation. His review called for diversity targets to address very low numbers of women, First Nations people and people from culturally and linguistically diverse (Cald) communities joining the QPS. The police service accepted most of the recommendations but declined the call to establish minimum diversity targets at each rank. The QPS also declined to implement performance indicators prioritising diversity and inclusion that would measure whether members of the executive leadership team had contributed to reform. McDougall described the recommendation as critical and said he was disappointed it had been rejected. This response confirms our findings about the strength of resistance within the service that continues to act as a barrier, particularly to the progression of women in the service. In the report, the Human Rights Commission identified significant organisational and individual resistance within the QPS to reform. It said resistant views were most strongly held by QPSs most senior leaders in the executive leadership team, noncommissioned officers and male officers. Throughout the review the commission heard from many dedicated police officers from all levels and backgrounds who want real change, the report said. They are officers who joined the police motivated by the opportunity to serve the community, remain deeply committed to QPS and its mission, and have made significant personal sacrifices for this cause. However, their belief in QPSs capacity for change is being tested. Positive change requires reconstructing some of QPSs most deeply held values and ways of working, permanently altering power dynamics and how benefits are distributed. McDougall said it was also disappointing the QPS had ceased taking advice from an advisory panel established to guide the review process. The review made 36 recommendations to drive equality across the service, he said. The commissions extensive research found that to access the best talent, and get the most out of its workforce, QPS needs to dismantle structural disadvantages to women, First Nations and culturally diverse peoples. The commissions review was informed by input from over 2,700 QPS members, police liaison officers and recruits. I am pleased that QPS has accepted, without limitations, to embed victim-centred and trauma-informed practices into their policies. In a statement on Wednesday released hours before the announcement of Olympic venues in Brisbane the QPS said it had accepted or partially accepted many of the recommendations. Some were accepted subject to the resourcing decisions by the state government. Where recommendations are unable to be progressed, the proposed work is either considered out of scope, the intent can be delivered through other means, or there are significant impediments to making progress at this time, the statement said. Additionally, some of the recommendations align with ongoing work resulting from the commission of inquiry into QPS responses to domestic and family violence. Acting deputy commissioner Mark Kelly said it might take some time to implement the accepted recommendations, but that the QPS is committed to driving meaningful change and striving to become a more inclusive organisation that better reflects the diversity of our community. Prince Harry When Dr Sophie Chandauka was named chairman of the board at Sentebale, she was considered a breath of fresh air. Her appointment, in July 2023, was hailed by Prince Harry, who said her experience, passion for social change and entrepreneurial spirit would be a tremendous benefit to Sentebales next chapter. He could never have predicted quite how personally devastating and cataclysmic that next chapter would prove to be, with mass resignations followed by allegations of racism and misogyny. The Telegraph can now reveal that the board, including Army Captain Mark Dyer, who has long been a father figure to Prince Harry, stepped back in an attempt to save Sentebale from collapse as a result of huge legal bills. On Tuesday night, the Prince could barely contain his shock as he revealed he had resigned from his role as patron of the charity he co-founded, following an unthinkable breakdown in relations with Dr Chandauka. Dr Sophie Chandaukas appointment in July 2023 was hailed by Prince Harry - Brian Otieno/Getty Images Admitting he was truly heartbroken by the turn of events, he said he had stepped down in solidarity with the board of trustees, who had done the same. It is devastating that the relationship between the charitys trustees and the chairman of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation, he added. Two hours later, Dr Chandauka responded with her own lengthy statement, making a series of astonishing allegations concerning racism, sexism and bullying and has reported the trustees to the UK Charity Commission. 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, she said. And she added: Discerning readers will ask themselves: why would the chairman of the board report her own trustees to the charity commission? The charity was plunged into chaos following Dr Chandaukas arrival, sources claimed, as she took a wrecking ball to the organisation and decimated it beyond recognition. The board was aghast when their efforts to remove Dr Chandauka from her position resulted in her lodging a High Court claim against Sentebale earlier this month, and feared the mammoth cost of such action would prove its final nail in the coffin. Dr Chandauka made a series of allegations concerning racism, sexism and bullying - Getty Images/Brian Otieno As such, they decided to resign en masse, effectively negating the need for the claim to be pursued. Dr Chandauka has claimed she was simply blowing the whistle about issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir and the cover up that ensued. Misogynoir is a term referring to the combined force of racism and misogyny directed towards black women, coined by the African-American feminist writer Moya Bailey in 2008. The Duke, his co-founder, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, and the former trustees are understood to be devastated by her suggestions that they were peddling a victim card and that for them, Sentebale was nothing more than a vanity project. One source said: They all care so deeply about this charity, and she has just come in and been so vitriolic, so difficult to deal with and spending a fortune on things that are not good for Sentebale. It is claimed she has provided no evidence to back up her allegations, which could not be more serious. One of the former trustees, Dr Kelello Lerotholi, told Sky News today there had never even [been] a hint of racism, sexism or bullying at the organisation. I can honestly say, in the meetings I was present in, there was never even a hint of such, he said. The general tone and conduct of the board has been one of respect for each other, accommodating each others opinions and inputs, and speaking with respect to each other. So this all came as a shock to me. In a joint statement released on Tuesday evening, the trustees said their priority had always been, and will always be, whats in the best interest of the charity, describing the decision to file a lawsuit as desperately sad. 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, they said. This was not a choice willingly made, but rather something we felt forced into in order to look after the charity. Our sincere hope is that, with this decision, the road ahead steadies for the sake of our staff and the communities we serve. Sentebale is simply too important to us. The Duke, his co-founder, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, and the former trustees are devastated by Dr Chandaukas suggestions - Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images In his interview with Sky News, Dr Lerotholi said he believed things came to a head at the end of last year, when it seemed that we were not doing as well as we used to be and that the future didnt look as bright as it used to. He added: As is natural in an organisation, we had to sort of look inwards and see how we deal with it and then look at how the situation came to be. Sentebales most recent financial accounts reveal that the charity has reserves of less than 1 million and was exposed to a downturn in income from events. Despite the Dukes cash injection of $1.5 million from the profits of his memoir, Spare, more money was spent than received and the board acknowledged they needed to be less reliant on income from international events such as high profile polo tournaments in Japan and Singapore. Dr Chandauka is said to have set her fund-raising sights on the west coast of the US. The catalyst for the implosion was reportedly the recent collapse of a partnership deal. But there has been another breakdown of a relationship with a key funder connected to the annual polo cup, it is claimed. Meanwhile, Dr Chandauka is said to have been spending valuable money on consultants. Despite the mass resignations, the charity appeared to double down on its stance on Wednesday, releasing a statement that suggested the Duke and the London-based trustees were surplus to requirements. Its the incredible teams on the ground our staff and local partners who bring our mission to life every day, walking alongside the children and young people we serve, it said. While trustees are key for governance and regulation, and patrons especially founders are an honour to have, its the people in the field who are advancing the work, no matter what. And last night a Sentebale spokesman said it would be wrong to suggest decisions were made by any one person. The charity said that a lot of information being shared is untrue and defamatory in nature and that when they were ready as an organisation, they would share more detail about the events leading up to this point. The board acts collectively on major decisions, and it would be inappropriate to assume decisions were made by any one person, they added. Few causes have mattered more to Harry than Sentebale, which he co-founded in 2006 in memory of his late mother, to support children affected by HIV in the tiny mountain kingdom of Lesotho and nearby Botswana. Princess Diana visited Angola, central Africa, in 1997 to create awareness about land-mines - Joao Silva/AP Indeed, when he embarked upon that mission to honour Princess Dianas legacy, he vowed that it would be forever, As far as Im concerned, Im committed for the rest of my life, he said. Dr Chandauka, a Zimbabwe-born lawyer, came with an impressive CV and a sharp business mind. She was once ranked on the Power List of the 100 most influential black Britons, and in 2021, was awarded an MBE for her extraordinary contribution to diversity in business. Raised in southern Africa and privy to a world class education in Canada, the US and UK, it was clear she would bring a different approach. Her background had provided her with an entirely different world view to that of her privileged British counterparts. In a 2022 interview she claimed that people in the City did not see racism because they had never experienced it: I think people dont see what theyve never felt, she said. Crucially, however, Dr Chandauka had served on Sentebales board for six years from 2009 and so rejoined with an inbuilt, inherent understanding of the charitys mission. Highlighting the unique experience she would bring to the role, she suggested that her success was specifically because many people took a chance on me, the young girl from Zimbabwe, and gave me air cover when the odds were stacked against me. Similarly, she said, Sentebale had the capacity to transform lives and inspire youngsters to reach for the stars and define their own destinies. Dr Chandauka has been happy to be photographed alongside Prince Harry on more than one occasion. Last April, she joined the Duke and Meghan on stage at a polo fundraising tournament during a trophy presentation. In somewhat awkward scenes, Dr Chandauka had to duck beneath the trophy after the Duchess suggested she move from Harrys side. Last April, Dr Chandauka joined the Duke at a polo fundraising tournament, pictured with Richard Miller (right) - Getty In somewhat awkward scenes, during a trophy presentation at the tournament Meghan suggested Dr Chandauka moved from Harrys side It was never quite explained why Johnny Hornby, Dr Chandaukas predecessor, suddenly quit after 11 years on the board, five of those as chairman. It was this shift of power that was the catalyst for the charitys gradual implosion, sources claimed. Mr Hornby, who is married to Me+Em founder Clare Hornby, comes from a different world an establishment figure boasting close links to senior Labour figures. A close friend to the Duke, he was among the guests at Harrys 2018 wedding. An advertising veteran, he formed the agency CHI, now The&Partnership (T&Pm), in 2001. It went on to become the multi-million pound marketing company responsible for New Labours victorious 2001 campaign. Then, last November came the first notable signs of trouble when Baroness Chalker, the former Conservative overseas development minister, who had been a trustee for 18 years, stepped down. Harrys close friend Andrew Tucker, otherwise known as Tucks, quit his decade-long role as a consultant in the same month. Then, in December, came the strategic shift that spelt the beginning of the end for Prince Harry and its long serving board. Sentebale announced its first move in its plan to restructure the organisation by locating its most senior leaders in southern Africa. Richard Miller, who had been its London-based chief executive for five years, appears to have been collateral damage, stepping down to make way for Carmel Gaillard, who is based in Johannesburg. On paper, at least, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso gave the move their backing. Leading into our 20th anniversary, our organisation will be locally led, aligning with the global movement towards fostering greater local agency and ownership, they said. This shift reflects our continued commitment to being guided by voices from within the region we serve. On Tuesday, trustees Timothy Boucher, Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, Dr Lerotholi, and Damian West stepped down en masse. Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso threw their full weight behind them by following suit. In a pointed statement that did not conceal their anguish, they said: 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. 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. Dr Lerotholi said the situation was especially painful for him because he was there at the very beginning. I recall personally hosting Harry during his gap year. He happened to be in Lesotho during the Rugby World Cup. I happen to have an oversized TV, so they spent most of their time watching the World Cup, he said, noting that this is when initial discussions about the charity started. So Ive watched them from the very beginning into where they are now. Ive also experienced very closely the successes theyve had, the impact theyve had. When I look at that and see where were at now, its really very disheartening and actually very painful and very personal to see what weve come to. US messages leak Landscape Mike Waltz, Donald Trumps national security adviser, has stepped down weeks after calls for his resignation over the Signalgate scandal. The full tranche of text messages in which Donald Trumps cabinet discussed bombing Yemen was released in March. The major security breach saw an Atlantic magazine journalist invited into a virtual war room that contained precise plans for a US strike on Houthi targets. In the Houthi PC small group chat, 18 officials, including Mr Waltz, JD Vance, the vice-president, and Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, plotted intimate details of the attack and complained about Europes pathetic free-loading. After denials and attacks from senior Trump administration officials, The Atlantic decided to release the Signal texts in full so readers can reach their own conclusions, citing a clear public interest. Here it is in full: Rupert Lowe, right, has repeatedly denied the allegations against him, reigniting an extraordinary public spat with Nigel Farage - Maja Smiejkowska Reform UK jumped the gun by publishing a report into ousted MP Rupert Lowe before an agreed deadline, the lawyer who led the investigation has said. In an email to Mr Lowes legal team, Jacqueline Perry KC said she was surprised and disconcerted to discover that her findings had been released sooner than expected on Tuesday. It comes as The Telegraph can reveal that Mr Lowe has reported Nigel Farage, the Reform leader, to Parliaments standards watchdog over the naming of several of his staff in the report. The former Reform MP claimed parliamentary security was concerned about the disclosures and that action is being taken to protect the employees in question. It is understood that all four staff members who were identified in the document have also referred both Mr Farage and Lee Anderson, Reforms chief whip, to Parliaments Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme. Ms Perry was appointed by Reform to investigate Mr Lowes conduct after the party claimed to have received complaints about serious bullying in his offices. Her report, published by Reform on Tuesday, found there was credible evidence that the MP and his team harassed two members of staff. Reneging on what I made clear to you It prompted a furious backlash from Mr Lowe, who has repeatedly denied the allegations against him, reigniting an extraordinary public spat with Mr Farage. In an email to Mr Lowes lawyers, seen by The Telegraph, Ms Perry said she was surprised to see the findings published on Tuesday as she had made quite clear to Reform that she had given the MP until Wednesday to respond. A Reform source pushed back firmly against this characterisation of events, insisting that Ms Perry had left the timing of the publication up to the party. In another email shared with The Telegraph, a member of Mr Lowes legal team told Ms Perry they would not be able to report back to her by the Wednesday deadline. In the email to Mr Lowes lawyers, Ms Perry wrote: I must say at once that I was absolutely not responsible for the release of the report. Indeed, I had made quite clear to the party that I had indicated a deadline to you of Wednesday the 26th, and the report has been released entirely without my input in this at all. In fact, I was informed of this and surprised and disconcerted to find that the gun had been jumped. She added: I cannot but agree with you that it does seem to be a reneging on what I had made clear to you and I had emphasised to the party (who by the way had seen the email that I had sent to you) that the report could not be released before the 26th in case Mr Lowe, through yourself, was going to come back to me. In another email seen by The Telegraph, sent on Sunday, the KC told Reforms lawyers she had assured Mr Lowes legal team that she would wait until Wednesday to release the report. But in light of Mr Lowes public pronouncements on Thursday, presumably referring to his refusal to engage with the investigation, she said she would leave this decision to the party. Unfounded and shameful allegations Mr Lowe told The Telegraph he had reported Mr Farage to Daniel Greenberg, the parliamentary standards commissioner, on Wednesday for allegedly bringing Parliament into disrepute. He is particularly concerned over the naming of his staff, whom he claims have been targeted by unfounded and shameful allegations. If he decides to investigate, Mr Greenberg will rule on whether Mr Farage has breached the MPs code of conduct. If he finds there has been a breach, he may refer the matter to the Commons standards committee, which has the power to recommend sanctions including suspension from the House. Mr Greenberg also considers allegations against MPs under the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme, which deals with claims of bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct. A Reform spokesman said: Rupert Lowe has had lawyers be his vehicle to communicate with the KC, and they emailed her that they would not be responding by the deadline. He added: The report points out many instances where the KC has seen demonstrable proof that Rupert has lied on social media. The KC has also had to issue a public statement rebuking him for claiming there was no credible evidence against him. A cyclist and a bus outside the Royal Free hospital in London. Photograph: Sophoe Chesters-Nash -intern/The Guardian NHS chiefs have decided to shut the maternity unit at a major London hospital in response to a dramatic fall in the birthrate in its area in recent years. The Royal Free hospital will lose its unit because the number of women having a baby in Camden, the borough in which it is located, has declined by almost 30% since 2019/20. Health service bosses said the decision had been difficult to take but would lead to four other hospitals in the north of the capital providing better care for mothers and babies. Dozens of consultants and specialist midwives at the Royal Free last year outlined their significant concerns about its maternity unit being axed and warned that the move could cost lives. The closure is part of a reorganisation of maternity care for the 1.8 million residents of Camden, Islington, Barnet, Haringey and Enfield, which has been prompted by the birth rate dropping across the area as a whole by 14% since 2019/20. The process will also lead to services at the Whittington, University College London, Barnet and North Middlesex hospitals being enhanced. Some but not all of the Royal Frees maternity staff will be redeployed to those other hospitals. The North Central London integrated care board which oversees the NHS in the five boroughs said the trend meant it no longer needed all five hospitals to host births. It insisted that the current arrangements cannot continue as they are and that this is the right direction in which to go.. Dr Josephine Sauvage, a GP and medical director for the ICBs Start Well maternity review, said the reconfiguration of care would provide the best quality services for babies, children and parents wherever they are across our communities. We have a declining birth rate in our areas and the need for more complex support for mothers, pregnant people and their babies is growing, she added. The Royal Free is a teaching hospital and centre of excellence for various forms of medical care, including cancer, transplant surgery and infectious diseases. Labour MP Tulip Siddiq, whose Hampstead and Highgate constituency includes the Royal Free, said she was dismayed by the decision. The most marginalised parents in my constituency would lose out as a result of the closure, she added. I know from my own experience that the hospital helps mothers with gestational diabetes, said Siddiq, whose first child was born there by caesarean section. The maternity unit would close eventually, the ICB said. It did not give an exact date but it is likely to be later this decade. The Royal Free will also lose its special care baby unit when the maternity unit goes. The number of babies treated there has fallen by 4% every year since 2019/20 and in 2023/24 only 49% of its cots were occupied at any one time, which the ICB said was too few for staff to keep up their skills. The decision secures the future of the maternity unit at the Whittington hospital in Islington. The ICB had said they would shut it instead if they reprieved the Royal Free unit. Camden and Islington councils have both shut several primary schools in recent years in response to school rolls falling because of the birth rate. Edgware birth centre in Barnet will also close as part of the changes, again because too few babies are being born there just 28 in 2023/24. It will host more antenatal and postnatal care instead. The Duke of Sussex once vowed never to walk away from Sentebale, the charity he created in memory of his late mother. Founded when he was 21, it served at the heart of his passionate determination to honour the legacy of Diana, Princess of Wales and her fight against Aids. Harry told the PA news agency when he launched the organisation in Lesotho nearly 20 years ago: Youll be surprised. Come back to this place in 25 years, youll see a massive difference. Harry co-founded Sentebale with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 (Chris Jackson/PA) The young prince said: As far as Im concerned, Im committed for the rest of my life. It is no surprise that the duke has been left devastated after making the decision to quit as Sentebales patron amid the trustees bitter boardroom battles with chairwoman Dr Sophie Chandauka. In a joint statement with co-founder Prince Seeiso, Harry said he was truly heartbroken at the developments. Sentebale marked the biggest personal and charitable commitment the young prince had made when, fresh into adulthood, he set up the charity in 2006. Harry visited a herd boy school constructed by Sentebale in Mokhotlong on one of his trips to Lesotho (Chris Jackson/PA) It was his first ever patronage. Sentebale was launched to help children orphaned by Aids in the impoverished southern African, landlocked kingdom of Lesotho. Harry was inspired to do so after spending part of his gap year there in 2004. He came face-to-face with Aids orphans, met other traumatised young people and visited herd boys living a harsh existence looking after cattle in remote mountain areas. Harry attended the opening of the Sentebale Mamohato childrens centre in Thaba Bosiu, Lesotho, with Prince Seeiso, right (Chris Radburn/PA) The name means forget me not in the Sesotho language and was personally chosen by Harry in tribute to Diana. It is also used to say goodbye, meaning literally Dont forget me. When Harry and the Duchess of Sussex released the bombshell news in 2020 that they wished to step down from the working monarchy, it was to Sentebale that the duke delivered his first public speech following the shock announcement. Harry made clear his devotion to the organisation, telling them: When I lost my mum 23 years ago, you took me under your wing. Youve looked out for me for so long, but the media is a powerful force, and my hope is one day our collective support for each other can be more powerful because this is so much bigger than just us. Harry and Prince Seeiso were gifted a traditional blanket during one visit (Chris Radburn/PA) He said at a private dinner for Sentebale supporters: What I want to make clear is, were not walking away, and we certainly arent walking away from you. Johnny Hornby, Sentebales then-chairman, said it was Harrys passion not his title that the charity needed. We dont need from Sentebales perspective his title, we just need his time and his passion and hes committed to give us that, Mr Hornby said. Harrys role at Sentebale was one of a small number of private patronages he retained after he was stripped of his royal patronages and honorary military positions by the late Queen in 2021 after his departure from the working monarchy was confirmed for good a year after Megxit. He has a close bond with Prince Seeiso, and the duke said in his Netflix documentary that they are like brothers. Harry often took part in charity polo matches to raise funds for Sentebale (Peter Byrne/PA) Prince Seeiso calls Harry my younger brother Mohale, the warrior. Mohale means warrior in Sesotho. Its trustees, before they resigned, included Mark Dyer, a father figure and lifelong friend to Harry who arranged his gap year to Australia and Lesotho. Harry has made repeated trips to the country during the last two decades, and struck up a friendship with Relebohile Mutsu Potsane, who was four-years-old when he first met Harry in Lesotho in 2004. Mutsu was a guest at Harry and Meghans wedding in 2018. The charity has developed over the years and now runs education projects, a youth hub programme, clubs and camps for children living with HIV, and also works in Botswana. It emerged in 2009 that the organisation had received 250,000 from Lord Ashcroft, the wealthy Conservative Party donor. Harry has made repeated trips to Lesotho, and struck up a friendship with Relebohile Mutsu Potsane, right, who was four-years-old when the pair first met in 2004 (Andrew Matthews/PA) Harry often took part in charity polo matches to raise funds for Sentebale, raising millions of pounds in the process. But Sentebale has also been beset by change and departures. In 2023, Mr Hornby left after five years as chair, after which Dr Chandauka was appointed to the role. In December, the charity shifted its operation to southern Africa, to place the most critical senior roles in close proximity to its programmes. Richard Miller quit as chief executive soon after, with Baroness Chalker having left as a director in the autumn. Andrew Tucker, whom Harry calls Tucks, also recently quit as a director. Keir Starmer When will politicians start to accept responsibility for their own policies? Judging from todays contributions from both the Government and Opposition benches, were a very long way from that happy place. The Spring Statement by the Chancellor Rachel Reeves was notable mainly for the revelation that next years growth forecast has been halved from 2 to 1 per cent. That the Office for Budget Responsibilitys predictions on subsequent growth have been fractionally increased will not make the headlines any more comfortable for the Chancellor or the Government. But, as we are now used to from both Labour and the Conservatives, none of it is the fault of the politicians in charge. The A big boy done it and ran away excuse for economic failure is now the first, last and only one for which politicians of every party reach for. The cut in growth next year is the fault, not of decisions made by the Chancellor, but of an uncertain world in other words, events over which she has no control. The list of the guilty parties, therefore, is a long and growing one: Donald Trump (obviously), Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East and naturally the most guilty party of all, the Conservatives. It doesnt seem to matter any longer how long Labour has been in Government; its still all the fault of the last administration. We might ponder how long such an excuse can be used with any credibility. Much of what Reeves had to announce was not new, including large increases in defence spending next year, paid for by swinging cuts to international aid. There were also further cuts to the welfare budget and more promises of change to the planning system to allow the country to build more homes. How much more often this promise of a changed planning regime can be trotted out in order to give the impression of action remains to be seen. Mel Stride, the shadow chancellor, was on slightly firmer ground in pointing the finger of blame for lower economic growth at the Chancellor. But to hear him defend his own record on welfare reform when he was Work and Pensions Secretary required not the suspension of disbelief but its public execution. But Stride could be forgiven if all of his most important barbs prove to be correct. Acknowledging that there were no new tax rises contained in Reevess statement, he pointedly asked her to rule out such rises in the budget expected this autumn, knowing that she could not do so. This was perhaps more than a political tactic aimed at wrong-footing his opponent. The Government has now admitted that the tax burden represents a larger share of the economy than at any time in history 37.7 per cent of GDP. That is not the kind of record that either Reeves or her boss, Keir Starmer, will be proud of (whether the same can be said of most of their party is another matter entirely). The accusation of being a high-tax party is one that has haunted Labour ever since the 1940s, and it is one that wiser heads in Labour have sought to shed since at least the 1980s. Stride knows that more tax increases made likely by a combination of the Governments spending plans and disappointing growth forecasts are at least a possibility and could change the political course of this Parliament drastically before the next general election rolls around. At which point it will be interesting to find out whether voters are still willing to accept Labours insistence that everyone else, not the Government or the policies it chooses to pursue, is responsible for running or ruining the economy. Dorothy Bain, the Lord Advocate, is director of Scotlands prosecution service as well as having a seat in the Scottish Cabinet - Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images Scotlands most senior prosecutor must no longer sit in the SNP governments Cabinet, Sir Keir Starmer has said after a criminal investigation into Nicola Sturgeon was dropped. The Prime Minister argued that Lord Advocate Dorothy Bains twin role of heading Scotlands prosecution service and being the Scottish Governments most senior law officer must be separated. Sir Keir, who before entering politics was the director of public prosecutions (DPP) in England and Wales, said it was the obvious thing to do amid concerns that the dual role creates the perception of a conflict of interest. Speaking at Prime Ministers Questions (PMQs) in the Commons, he accused SNP ministers of dragging their heels on calls for the Lord Advocates role to be reformed but said they must act now. His intervention came after Police Scotland last week announced that Ms Sturgeon, 54, and Colin Beattie, the SNPs former treasurer, were no longer under investigation in a long-running inquiry into the partys finances. She said she had been vindicated. The force ended Operation Branchform after receiving advice and guidance from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), Scotlands prosecution service. Peter Murrell, the SNPs former chief executive and Ms Sturgeons husband, was the only person charged. He appeared in court last week charged with embezzlement. Nicola Sturgeon spoke outside her home after Police Scotland announced she was no longer under investigation - Steve Welsh/PA Wire The COPFS had previously said that its two most senior figures, Ms Bain and Ruth Charteris, the Solicitor General, had recused themselves from decisions on the case. They are are both Scottish government ministers and Ms Sturgeon nominated them for the roles in June 2021. The Crown Office issued a statement last week saying: All Scotlands prosecutors operate independently of political influence. However, in England and Wales, the Lord Advocates law officer and prosecutor functions are divided between two roles. The Attorney General is a member of the UK Government, while the DPP is appointed using an independent process. John Cooper, the Tory MP for Dumfries and Galloway, argued that Sir Keir would have been uncomfortable sitting in the UK Cabinet when he was DPP and David Cameron was prime minister between 2010 and 2013. But incredibly, in Scotland, we have a situation where the head of prosecutions there, the Lord Advocate, does sit in Cabinet, Mr Cooper said at PMQs. This has been thrown into sharp focus lately with a police probe into the finances of the SNP. Its further been thrown into sharp focus because, although not personally involved, the Lord Advocate does ultimately sit at the head of the investigation into the former first minister, Nicola Sturgeon. She faced potential criminal charges. This situation has been created by the SNP. They will not fix it. Does it sit with this House to amend this situation? The obvious thing to do Sir Keir replied: This is a really important issue, and Labour in Scotland have been clear that they would separate this role. That is the right thing to do, for the reasons that have just been articulated, the obvious thing to do, and thats obviously what we do in England and Wales. There have been calls for a review on this since 2021 but the SNP has not acted fast on those reviews. They really do need to bring forward proposals now to deal with the problem its been sitting there for a very, very long time. The SNP pledged in the 2021 Holyrood election to consult on splitting the role by the end of this parliament, which ends next year, but has yet to publish anything. The dual role also came under scrutiny during the war between Alex Salmond and Ms Sturgeon over her governments handling of misconduct complaints against him. A Crown Office spokesperson said: Professional prosecutors from COPFS and independent counsel are dealing with this case without involving the Lord Advocate or Solicitor General. All Scotlands prosecutors operate independently of political influence, as they do elsewhere in the UK. A spokesperson from the Scottish Government said: The role of the Lord Advocate is set out in the Scotland Act. Competently changing the various relevant provisions of the Scotland Act can currently only be done by the UK Government. The Justice Secretary raised the Scottish Governments work on the roles with the Secretary of State for Scotland last year and would be happy to do so again. The SNP was approached for comment. The commission recommended making household emergency plans. Photograph: FilippoBacci/Getty Images People in the EU are being advised to stockpile enough food, water and essentials for 72 hours as part of a European strategy that aims to increase readiness for catastrophic floods and fires, pandemics and military attacks. Outlining its first preparedness strategy, the European Commission said it wanted to encourage citizens to take proactive measures to prepare for crises, such as developing household emergency plans and stockpiling essential supplies. The strategy was partly inspired by plans in Germany and the Nordic countries, which have distributed public information pamphlets and devised apps advising people what to do in the event of a military attack or other national crisis. We are saying to member states: 72 hours of self-sufficiency is what we recommend, Hadja Lahbib, the European commissioner for preparedness and crisis management, told reporters. Asked about what citizens should stockpile, she referred to a video on her social media, in which she presents an emergency bag. Today, the EU launches its new #Preparedness Strategy. Ready for anything this must be our new European way of life. Our motto and #hashtag. pic.twitter.com/fA1z8ZvMDA Hadja Lahbib (@hadjalahbib) March 26, 2025 To a soundtrack of off-key jazz piano, Lahbib is shown on the video discussing her emergency stockpile in a tongue-in-cheek way, including ID documents in waterproof casing, canned food, bottled water, matches, a Swiss army knife, cash, playing cards, medicines and a small radio. The strategy was devised to ensure better EU coordination and public awareness in response to a range of potential risks, such as extreme weather exacerbated by the climate crisis, pandemics, cyber-attacks and military invasions. We must prepare for large-scale, cross-sectoral incidents and crises, including the possibility of armed aggression, affecting one or more member states, the document states. The commission is also calling for a Europe-wide preparedness day to raise awareness; for the topic to be put on school curriculums; and for an EU stockpiling strategy to ensure adequate supplies of raw materials, shelters, generators, and potentially food and water. While the EU has no powers over civilian or military uniformed services, it has carved out a bigger role in crisis response since the Covid pandemic led to the unprecedented common purchases of vaccines and medical equipment. Now it wants to go further after a report from the former Finnish president Sauli Niinisto last year found there was no clear plan on what the EU would do in the event of armed aggression against a member state. Niinisto, a special adviser to the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said the EU was better prepared to deal with crises and disasters than five years ago, but needed a change of mindset and more planning to anticipate crises. The plans are likely to provoke a mixed response from EU member states, who perceive threats in different ways. Last week, the European Commission rebranded its military spending plans Readiness 2030, instead of Rearm Europe, after complaints from the leaders of Italy and Spain, who argued the language risked alienating people. In contrast, northern European countries have led the way in emergency planning. Swedish authorities recommend keeping at home a good supply of water, energy-rich food, blankets and alternative heating, as well as investing in a battery-powered radio. Norway advises people to stock up on non-essential medicines, including iodine tablets in the case of a nuclear incident. German households have been urged to adapt their own cellars, garages or store rooms for use as bunkers, while housebuilders will be legally obliged to include safe shelters in new homes as Poland has already done. Roxana Minzatu, a commission vice-president, responded to accusations of scaremongering, likening preparedness to taking out accident insurance: It doesnt mean much more than the fact that you want to be prepared and you want to minimise the damage, the costs, the suffering that you might go through. Minzatu, who admitted she did not have a three-day stockpile, citing her mobile lifestyle as the reason, said the dividend of peace had given people a sense its not going to happen to us despite seeing disastrous wildfires in Greece or floods in Spain. Im a good example of what we need to do, she said. Lahbib, who said she did have her 72-hour supplies, including ingredients for pasta alla puttanesca, said it was up to member states to define what was needed on the basis of the geopolitical and geostrategic position theyre in. The Belgian commissioner noted that in Finland young people were taught how to handle a weapon, but I dont think thats the kind of thing youd have here in Belgium or France, not immediately, at any rate. It differs from one country to another, but we can learn from each other. The strategy was published the day after Denmarks defence ministry announced it was bringing forward plans to introduce military service for women by two years. Women who turn 18 after 1 July 2025 could be required to take part in an annual ballot from next year to determine if they must perform mandatory military service, something which is already required of men. A federal judge in Texas has set a June 23 trial date for Boeing in a criminal case related to the deadly crashes of its 737 Max aircraft. The case stems from allegations that the company misled regulators about the safety of the jet before two crashes in 2018 and 2019 killed 346 people. According to AP, US District Judge Reed O'Connor made the decision on Tuesday, canceling a previous deadline for Boeing and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to negotiate a resolution. The DOJ had been in discussions with Boeing about a plea deal, but the judge rejected an earlier agreement in December 2023. Boeing and the DOJ had been working to reach a new settlement that would have avoided trial. However, O'Connor's latest order indicates that the case will move forward in court unless a new agreement is reached beforehand. In 2021, Boeing reached a deferred prosecution agreement with the DOJ, which protected it from criminal charges as long as the company complied with safety and compliance measures. However, prosecutors later determined that Boeing had violated that agreement. This conclusion followed a January 2024 incident in which a panel detached from an Alaska Airlines 737 Max mid-flight, reigniting safety concerns. A federal judge ordered Boeing to stand trial June 23 in a criminal case over two deadly crashes of its 737 Max aircraft, a stunning turnaround in the long-running legal saga over the planemakers culpability https://t.co/RoYRc97Goo Bloomberg (@business) March 25, 2025 Boeing Faces Federal Trial After Judge Rejects $487M Plea Deal Under the rejected plea deal, Boeing would have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and paid a fine of up to $487.2 million. Additionally, the company would have been required to invest $455 million in compliance programs and accept three years of government oversight. Judge O'Connor, however, rejected the agreement, citing concerns over the process of selecting an independent monitor, Bloomberg said. The decision to move forward with a trial marks a significant shift in the government's handling of the case. Until now, Boeing had largely avoided criminal prosecution, with only one mid-level employee previously facing trialand ultimately being acquitted. Many relatives of the victims have long pushed for a public trial and stronger penalties against Boeing. Paul Cassell, an attorney representing some of the victims' families, stated, "Boeing can have no defense at trial. It previously admitted its crime when it agreed to the original deferred prosecution agreement." Boeing has maintained that it continues to work with the DOJ in good faith to resolve the case. The company stated, "Boeing and the Department of Justice continue to be engaged in discussions regarding an appropriate resolution of this matter." Originally published on vcpost.com Universities in England could face fines higher than 585,000 in the future if they fail to uphold free speech, the higher education regulator has said. Professor Arif Ahmed, director for freedom of speech and academic freedom at the Office for Students (OfS), has defended the decision to impose the record fine on the University of Sussex for failing to uphold freedom of speech after the watchdog was accused of perpetuating culture wars. The OfSs investigation, which ran for nearly three-and-a-half years, found that the institutions trans and non-binary equality policy statement had a chilling effect of possible self-censorship of students and staff on campus. It was launched after high-profile protests called for the dismissal of academic Professor Kathleen Stock in 2021 over her views on gender identity. The report concluded that Prof Stock felt unable to teach certain topics as a result of the universitys policy. The University of Sussex plans to legally challenge the investigation, which its vice-chancellor Prof Sasha Roseneil has criticised as being Kafka-esque. The maximum fine for the University of Sussex could have been 3,253,024 after the institution was found to have breached two of conditions of registration but it was reduced to 585,000, the OfS said. In a briefing with the media following the publication of the investigation into freedom of speech, Prof Ahmed said: Clearly, future cases will not be the first case of their kind, so there will be a potential for higher fines in the future. The free speech tsar added: I think universities should be looking at their policies and thinking carefully about what they need to do to comply with the law and to comply with regulatory requirements. On the discounted fine of 585,000, which has been imposed on the University of Sussex, Prof Ahmed told the media: Part of the reason for the discount was because this is the first case of its kind. We also thought carefully about things that Sussex had done, the changes that had taken place in their policies and so on. Prof Roseneil, vice-chancellor of the University of Sussex, has accused the OfS of perpetuating the culture wars and she warned of the implications of the investigations outcome for the higher education sector. In a Politics Home article, she claimed the Kafka-esque investigation only spoke to Prof Stock and was desk-based, and she added that the OfS had refused to hold any substantive meeting with the university. Prof Roseneil said: The way the OfS has conducted this investigation has been completely unacceptable, its findings are egregious and concocted, and the fine that is being imposed on Sussex is wholly disproportionate. After three-and-a-half years of trawling thousands of pages of paperwork, whilst never interviewing anyone employed by the university, the behaviour of the OfS sets a dangerous precedent and constitutes serious regulatory overreach in service of a politically motivated inquiry. She added: The OfSs findings mean that it is now virtually impossible for universities to prevent abuse, harassment, or bullying on our campuses. It means universities cannot protect groups subject to harmful propaganda or determine that stereotyped assumptions should not be relied upon in the university curriculum. In response to the criticism from the University of Sussex, Prof Ahmed told the media on Wednesday: We did engage with the university. We spoke with them a few times, much of the engagement was in writing, but we did engage repeatedly and at length with the university. He said: There may have been occasions where they wanted to see somebody, and in fact that was done in writing instead, Im quite sure that could well have happened. But the engagement would nevertheless have happened in the sense that we communicated with them and they communicated with us. Prof Ahmed added: Our interest is in ensuring the protection and promotion of lawful speech, irrespective of the views expressed. This is a really important point and something that were going to emphasise, as Ive been really clear since my appointment, weve got no interest in getting involved in any kind of culture wars. Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK (UUK), said: Its absolutely essential that universities uphold freedom of speech and academic freedom, and they are legally bound to do so. Universities must also create an environment where all people can work and learn together. This judgment, however, raises concerns about how universities can, in practice, discharge freedom of speech and academic freedom duties alongside other important legal obligations, for example under legislation to prevent harassment and hate speech. We will therefore be writing to the OfS to ask for clarity as the judgment appears to find that it is a failure to uphold freedom of speech and academic freedom if a university has policies to prevent abusive, bullying and harassing material or speech. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: Free speech and academic freedom are non-negotiables in our universities, and I have been clear that where those principles are not upheld, robust action will be taken. If you go to university you must be prepared to have your views challenged, hear contrary opinions and be exposed to uncomfortable truths. We are giving the OfS stronger powers on freedom of speech so students and academics are not muzzled by the chilling effect demonstrated in this case. Pete Hegseth was not drunk when he discussed plans to bomb Yemen in a group chat which included a journalist, the director of the CIA has said. John Ratcliffe defended the defence secretary after texts exchanged by cabinet members in a top secret Signal group were published in full on Wednesday by The Atlantic after its editor-in-chief was inadvertently added to the group. Questions over Mr Hegseths drinking were raised at a second day of heated public hearings in Congress, in which the CIA director and Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, were accused of misleading the public. The scandal showed no signs of abating, pulling in all branches of government and posing the first serious challenge to Donald Trumps administration. The White House insisted the messages did not contain classified information but had urged the magazine not to publish them, conceding that sensitive information had been discussed. The texts show Mr Hegseth provide timings of warplane launches and details of when the bombs would drop - before pilots were even airborne. Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, characterised the leak as a big mistake on Wednesday. It came after the White House attempted to shift blame to journalist Jeffrey Goldberg and minimise the breach as a glitch. A source close to the administration said White House staffers were nearly unanimous: The only person who deserves blame for this is Waltz. Mr Waltz, Mr Trumps national security adviser, has taken responsibility for adding the journalist to the chat. The group was created to debate the merits of striking Houthi targets and for cabinet members to receive real time updates on the operation. On Tuesday, Mr Trump stood by his adviser, saying he did not need to apologise for the error. Mr Trump has stood by his national security adviser - Andrew Harnik However, Ms Gabbard and Mr Ratcliffe were grilled by members of the house select intelligence committee who demanded an explanation for the security blunder. In the wake of the backlash, Democrats insinuated Mr Hegseth must have been drunk to make such a mistake. Jimmy Gomez, the Democratic representative for California, asked John Ratcliffe, the CIA director, whether Pete Hegseth had been drinking before he leaked classified information. In an exchange that escalated into a shouting match, Mr Ratcliffe responded: I think thats an offensive line of questioning the answers no. Seth Moulton, the Democratic congressman for Maryland, questioned Mr Hegseths drinking habits on Tuesday, asking if he is just incompetent, or whether he was drunk. During Mr Hegseths confirmation hearing, multiple reports emerged about his alleged drinking problem, with former colleagues at Fox claiming he often smelt of alcohol before going on air. Democrats brought large print-outs of exchanges from the group chat to the committee hearing on Wednesday and used them to confront Trump officials. Democrats held up boards showing the messages during the committee hearing - J Scott Applewhite Senator Dick Durban said the security leak was a serious life and death matter. I believe that DNI director Gabbard and CIA director Ratcliffe intentionally misled Congress yesterday in trying to make us believe that this was a casual conversation, Dick Durban, a Democratic senator, wrote on X. Ms Gabbard told lawmakers a lawsuit over the government officials use of Signal precluded her from answering some questions. The suit from American Oversight argues that the use of Signal by cabinet members obstructs the publics ability to obtain access to government documents, which are required to be kept by law. Im also aware that a lawsuit was filed yesterday on this issue as a result of that pending litigation, Im limited in my ability to comment further on that specific case, Ms Gabbard told the committee. Tulsi Gabbard at the House Intelligence Committee hearing on Wednesday - Tierney L Cross As backlash over the text chain rumbled on for a third day, Mr Trumps administration accused Mr Goldberg of sensationalist spin and orchestrating a hoax on the American people. JD Vance, the vice-president, said it was very clear Goldberg oversold what he had. Mr Hegseth, who insisted the content of his messages was not classified, said the publication of the texts in full only proves one thing: Jeff Goldberg has never seen a war plan or an attack plan (as he now calls it). Not even close. On Wednesday, Karoline Leavitt refused to rule out members of Mr Trumps top team losing their jobs over the scandal, insisting instead that the president continues to have confidence in his national security team. Do you trust the secretary of defence who was nominated... or do you trust Jeffrey Goldberg, who is a registered Democrat and an anti-Trump sensationalist reporter? Ms Leavitt asked reporters. But behind closed doors, officials are pointing their fingers at the national security adviser. As the White House scrambled to explain the leak, Mrs Leavitt said Elon Musk had offered to put his technical team on investigating how the reporter inadvertently became added to the chat. Mr Musk offered to put his technical experts on this to figure out how this [phone] number was inadvertently added to the chat, she said, adding that he would look into the incident alongside the national security council and White House counsels office. Private data and passwords belonging to Mr Trumps most important security advisers have reportedly been found online. Der Speigel claimed it found the mobile phone numbers, email addresses and some passwords belonging to top US government officials using hacked customer data that has been published online. The German news outlet said it found the contact information for Mr Waltz, Ms Gabbard and Mr Hegseth. Some of the phone numbers were linked to Signal accounts, they claimed. Elsewhere, a Venmo account belonging to a user named Michael Waltz was discovered by Wired. The account is linked to other users with names of those closely associated with the national security adviser. The account was publicly accessible until Wednesday afternoon, Wired reported. The wife of a former Russian minister accused of breaching sanctions in the UK broke down in tears as she told a court she would never take that risk with her familys future. Ekaterina Ovsiannikova, 47, told Londons Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday she did not have a clue that sanctions imposed on her husband, a designated Russian public figure, could impact her family. She did not talk to her husband about the sanctions because she did not want to annoy him with questions and did not know that payments to him broke the law, the jury heard. Ekaterina Ovsiannikova (left) and Alexei Owsjanikow (Lucy North/PA) Her husband 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, who is facing four counts of breaching sanctions by assisting with the payments totalling 76,000. She thought the sanctions meant he was banned from travelling in Europe. She lived in England, where their children were being educated, while her husband lived in Turkey, the court heard. She told the court that she met up with her husband during a trip to Turkey in the half-term school break in October 2022 and he said he had won his legal challenge to contest the sanctions. By early 2023 a new passport for him arrived and she went to Turkey to give it to him. The couple returned to England, where their children were going to school, and she gave her husband 1,000 to cover everyday costs such as food and shopping, the court heard. Through a Russian interpreter Mrs Ovsiannikov denied knowing his assets were still frozen in the UK. In tears, the mother-of-four told the jury: I did not know. He did not know. I would never have risked transferring the money if I had known that it was not allowed. This was money from my inheritance, money from my parents. I would never have risked that if there was restrictions in place. We have been married for 25 years. We have four children. It has been a complete overhaul of our lives. I have been giving him support as I could. I wanted to live with my children. I would never have risked the chances of living here in this way. Her defence counsel Robert Morris told her: It is being suggested that you transferred this money knowing he was subject of a financial prohibition. Is there any truth to that? He added: It is being suggested that this 1,000 might have been some sort of test payment to see if it got through. Is that true? She replied that she would not have risked 1,000 if the bank could freeze it, saying: No, I would have (sent) 20, 30 or 50 as a way of testing but not 1,000. The court heard she transferred large lump sums to her two elder children in September 2022 so they could live independently while they studied at university. The court heard she later transferred 75,000 to her husband when he said he was running out of money. She told the court: I decided to transfer the money in the same way I had done to my children so that he could feel independent and did not have to ask for money that was my support to him. Mrs Ovsiannikov said that before 24 February 2023 she had not seen any letter from a government or bank saying her husband had been sanctioned in the UK. She also said she had not spoken to her husband on the issue before that date or looked for legal advice from a UK lawyer about the issue. She said she did not understand the UK had its own sanctions. Mr Morris asked her: Did you understand that since Brexit the UK has changed its legal system and separated from Europe-wide sanctions law? She replied: No, I am not a qualified lawyer. I did not look it up. My husband is telling me he has won thats enough for me. She later said she wished she had checked, saying: I do regret being so irresponsible and I do feel ashamed. On Wednesday she was also questioned about her understanding of the sanctions in 2022. She said she was not aware if it had anything to do with banks or bank accounts and did not look up the impact of what the sanctions would be on her husband. She said: We were living in Russia at that time. I did not have a clue this could have any impact on my family at all. My understanding was that it only meant a ban on travelling. In August 2022 the family enjoyed a holiday in Turkey which was to be our last holiday together before school began in the autumn. Mrs Ovsiannikov said she travelled to England with the children but her husband could not join the as he wasnt allowed to because he was sanctioned in Europe. Her voice broke as she recalled fearing this might be the end of their marriage, telling the court: I thought he would never be able to join us. I thought it was the end of our relationship and I would be living on my own with them. 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. Sophie Chandauka was made the chairman of Sentebales board in 2023, but recently faced calls to step down - Jason Koerner/Getty Images for Sentebale She is an award-winning lawyer and entrepreneur who has worked for some of the worlds largest companies. Across her 20-year career with Meta, Morgan Stanley and the Virgin Group, Sophie Chandauka MBE went from a trainee solicitor to advising on high-profile, multi-million-pound deals. But the Zimbabwe-born lawyer, 47, has now found herself at the centre of a racism and bullying row over her charitable role as chairman of Sentebale, the Duke of Sussexs African charity. Ms Chandauka, a University of Oxford graduate, was appointed as the chairman of Sentebale in 2023 after a six-year stint serving on its board from 2009 to 2015. Speaking at the time of her appointment as chairman, she cited her trajectory from the young girl from Zimbabwe to having a world-class education and career as inspiration for Sentebales capacity to transform lives and inspire youngsters to reach for the stars and define their own destinies. The charity was co-founded by the Duke and his friend Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 to support children affected by HIV in the tiny mountain kingdom of Lesotho and nearby Botswana. Ms Chandauka was born and raised in southern Africa, but pursued education in Canada, the US and the UK through various merit-based scholarships. The New York-based lawyer has said she owes her career to the many people [who] took a chance on meand gave me air cover when the odds were stacked against me. She qualified as a corporate lawyer with Baker & McKenzie, one of the largest international law firms, in London in 2005 after spending two years as a trainee solicitor there. Ms Chandauka then spent six years as a senior associate, advising on high-profile transactions, including Nikes acquisition of Umbro and the 652.3 million acquisition of The Body Shop by LOreal. From there, she was headhunted to become the head of group treasury for Virgin Moneys legal team, where she spent more than four years, including during the companys IPO in 2014. In 2016, Ms Chandauka took on a role at Morgan Stanley in London, becoming chief operations officer of the legal and compliance division in Europe, Middle East and Africa. From left: Nacho Figueras, the Sentebale ambassador, the Duke of Sussex, Sophie Chandauka and Lawrence Khong Kin Hoong, the president of the Singapore Polo Club, at the charitys polo event in Singapore in 2023 - Matt Jelonek/Getty Images for Sentebale She then relocated to New York to work for the company for another few years before going to Meta, formerly known as Facebook. There, she served as the head of Americas risk management and intelligence for almost two years. In 2021, Ms Chandauka was honoured by Elizabeth II and awarded an MBE for extraordinary services to diversity in business. Two years ago, alongside her brother Dr Tinashe Chandauka, she co-founded an immuno-oncology biotech company, Nandi Life Sciences, to develop therapies for rare cancers and auto-immune diseases. It has previously been voted by investors as number three in the top 10 most promising early-stage life science companies at the Texas Life Science Forum, one of the leading life science conferences in the US. She is also the chairman and executive founder of the Black British Business Awards, which for over a decade have championed change across Britains industries by supporting the advancement of black British professionals into leadership positions. Endorsed by three prime ministers and the Mayor of London, the awards advocate for an equitable representation of black professionals in business. JP Morgan has been the key partner of Ms Chandaukas awards for six years, while The Telegraph has been the national media partner for eight consecutive years. Speaking to The Telegraph in 2023 about the awards, she said: Sometimes theres a misunderstanding that I only care about black people. What I care about is working in organisations that create conditions for the most amazing teams. The Duke of Sussex, pictured on a visit to Lesotho last October, founded Sentebale to support children affected by HIV in the tiny mountain kingdom - Brian Otieno/Getty Images for Sentebale Ms Chandauka also credits billionaire Sir Richard Branson for really giving us our wings when in 2014, the Virgin founder shared an article by her about the awards on X, formerly Twitter. She has previously told Harpers Bazaar that she thinks success is about knowing how to create high-performing teams, as well as about impact and delivery. Prince steps back from charity Now, she is in the midst of a high-profile falling out with the entire board of Sentebale, who resigned on Tuesday night to avoid the charity facing a legal and financial burden from Ms Chandaukas lawsuit, which she filed after she was asked to step down. The Duke also stepped away from the charity. Ms Chandauka said she would remain chairman of the charitys board following his departure. In a joint statement, the Duke of Sussex and Prince Seeiso 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. Speaking about the row, Ms Chandauka said: 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. I could be anyone. I just happen to be an educated woman who understands that the law will guide and protect me. I will say nothing further on this matter at this time. Google Maps Bettie E Woolfolk Middle School in Yazoo, Mississippi Several middle school children have reportedly been hospitalized after eating edibles in Mississippi. Six pupils at Bettie E Woolfolk Middle School were taken to the hospital on Tuesday, March 25, after a fellow student allegedly handed out edibles to their classmates, according to WLBT, WJTV and KKTV11 Alert. Edibles are food products that contain marijuana, per MedicalNewsToday. According to WLBT, the students were transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital in Yazoo for treatment. Two of the six children were reported to have been released from the hospital as of Tuesday afternoon. WLBT reported that the rest of the students are expected to be released soon. PEOPLE has contacted Yazoo City Police Department and Bettie E Woolfolk Middle School for comment. Google Maps Bettie E Woolfolk Middle School in Yazoo, Mississippi Related: California Third Graders Hospitalized After Consuming THC-Infused Edibles According to WLBT, Yazoo Police Chief Terry Gann said the investigation of the case is still ongoing and the student who gave out the edibles will likely be charged. Were trying to get down to where this kid got them from, he said. Its an ongoing investigation. Getty Stock image of an ambulance Related: S.C. Elementary School Teacher Accused of Having Marijuana Edibles in Students' Prize Box WJTV also reported that the police chief said the childs parents could face charges if theyre found to be involved in the incident. Bettie E Woolfolk Middle School is part of the Mississippi Achievement School District. The Mississippi Achievement School District is aware of an incident that occurred at Woolfolk Middle School involving students and a suspected substance, Superintendent Dr Earl Watkins said in a statement, according to the outlets. The matter is currently under investigation, and we are working in coordination with local authorities to determine the facts. Watkins added, As a district, we remain committed to the safety and well-being of our students and have taken proactive steps to educate families about products that may appear harmless but pose serious risks. We will continue to communicate with our community and share updates as appropriate. 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. Earlier this month, PEOPLE reported that nearly a dozen middle school students were hospitalized after eating THC gummies while at their New York campus. William Floyd Middle School confirmed the incident in a statement on the schools website, stating that a student handed out edible THC gummies to approximately 12 students, who have since fallen ill." Read the original article on People Pro-Palestinian students occupy a central lawn on the Columbia University campus in New York City on April 21, 2024. Academic groups of professors and scholars have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming the arrests of noncitizen students and faculty who participate in pro-Palestinian protests are unconstitutional. The American Association of University Professors which has chapters at colleges across the country and the Middle East Studies Association filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, alleging Trump's new immigration enforcement policies violate the First Amendment, which enshrines free speech and assembly, and the Fifth Amendment, which ensures due process. The suit was filed against Donald Trump, the Department of State, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Department of Homeland Security, Secretary Kristi Noem, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director Todd Lyons, and the government in the District of Massachusetts. In January, Donald Trump signed executive orders that ensure noncitizens in the U.S. do not bear hostility towards the country, do not advocate for foreign terrorists, and combat antisemitism. The complaint, however, says that the orders have stretched its purview into an "ideological deportation policy." The Trump administration has incorrectly labeled any speech supporting Palestinian human rights and critical of Israel's military actions as pro-Hamas, the complaint says. The policies have seen immigration authorities arrest and detain several university-affiliated individuals, including Mahmoud Khalil and at least four others including one who fled to Canada in fear of arrest, the complaint says. Further, the Trump administration allegedly supplied universities with the names of other students "they intend to target under the policy" and they "launched new social media surveillance programs aimed at identifying still others." The policies have "created a climate of repression and fear on university campuses," the filing says. The agencies 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 disfavors, the complaint says. The complaint listed several examples of detained students and professors, including the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a 30-year-old legal permanent resident and Columbia University student who was apprehended on March 8 at his New York City campus apartment. He has not been charged with any crime, but the administration has alleged Khalil was involved in activities aligned with Hamas, which his attorneys deny. He is being detained in an ICE facility in Louisiana. Mahmoud Khalil stands by the gates of Columbia University on April 30, 2024. Another case was that of Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian national who is a doctoral student at Columbia and an adjunct assistant professor at New York University. The State Department revoked Srinivasan's student visa on March 5 and immigration authorities showed up at her home two days later, but she did not open the door, the complaint says. They returned the following night, but she had fled to Canada. The Department of Homeland Security described Srinivasan as a terrorist sympathizer and as involved in activities supporting Hamas without evidence. Srinivasan has disputed those allegations, the complaint says, noting that she was involved in protesting human rights violations in Gaza. The suit also listed the cases of Yunseo Chung a 21-year-old legal permanent resident and Columbia University student who was involved in pro-Palestinian protests and on March 10 was advised her legal permanent resident status was revoked and Badar Khan Suri an Indian national and postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University who was arrested by ICE on March 17. It also names Momodou Taal, a student visa holder and doctoral candidate at Cornell University described as a pro-Palestinian advocate whose visa was revoked this month. The suit was filed by the AAUP and its chapters at Harvard University, New York University and Rutgers. The groups allege that the Trump policy prevents them from hearing from their noncitizen students and colleagues, makes it impossible for citizen members to organize and participate in political expression with noncitizen members, and makes it difficult to benefit from noncitizens' insights, scholarship, and academic projects. The complaint says the plaintiffs are harmed by Trump's policies in that they no longer can learn and engage with noncitizen members as they had in the past because resources are now being diverted "to address the all-too-real possibility that their noncitizen members will be arrested, imprisoned, and deported for exercising rights that the Constitution guarantees." NBC News has reached out to the Justice Department and State Department for comment. "Taking over buildings, defacing private property, and harassing Jewish students does not constitute free speech," a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told NBC News on Wednesday. "It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live and study in the United States of America. When you advocate for violence and terrorism that privilege should be revoked, and you should not be in this country," the spokesperson continued. Todd Wolfson of the American Association of University Professors called Trump's policies an encroachment of civil liberties and education. "The Trump administration is going after international scholars and students who speak their minds about Palestine, but make no mistake: they wont stop there. Theyll come next for those who teach the history of slavery or who provide gender-affirming health care or who research climate change or who counsel students about their reproductive choices. We all have to draw a line togetheras the old labor movement slogan says: an injury to one is an injury to all," Wolfson said. "The First Amendment means the government cant arrest, detain, or deport people for lawful political expressionits as simple as that. This practice is one wed ordinarily associate with the most repressive political regimes, and it should have no place in our democracy," said Jameel Jaffer, executive director at the Knight First Amendment Institute, which is representing the plaintiffs. In this photo provided by El Salvador's presidential press office, prison guards transfer deportees from the U.S., alleged to be Venezuelan gang members, to the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (El Salvador presidential press office via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) A federal appeals court refused Wednesday to lift an order barring the Trump administration from deporting Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador under an 18th century wartime law. A split three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit wouldn't block a March 15 order temporarily prohibiting deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. Invoking the law for the first time since World War II, President Donald Trumps administration deported hundreds of people under a presidential proclamation calling the Tren de Aragua gang an invading force. The Justice Department appealed after U.S. District Judge James Boasberg blocked more deportations and ordered planeloads of Venezuelan immigrants to return to the U.S. That did not happen. Attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit on behalf of five Venezuelan noncitizens who were being held in Texas. The case has become a flashpoint amid escalating tension between the White House and the federal courts. Judges Karen LeCraft Henderson and Patricia Millett voted to reject the governments request to lift the order. Each wrote concurring opinions. Judge Justin Walker, a Trump nominee, wrote a dissenting opinion. Millett, who was nominated by Democratic President Barack Obama, said Boasberg's order merely froze the status quo until weighty and unprecedented legal issues can be addressed through an upcoming hearing. There is neither jurisdiction nor reason for this court to interfere at this very preliminary stage or to allow the government to singlehandedly moot the Plaintiffs claims by immediately removing them beyond the reach of their lawyers or the court. Henderson, who was nominated by Republican President George H.W. Bush, said the court's ruling doesn't prevent the government from arresting and detaining migrants under Trump's proclamation. Lifting the injunctions risks exiling plaintiffs to a land that is not their country of origin, she wrote. "Indeed, at oral argument before this Court, the government in no uncertain terms conveyed that were the injunction lifted it would immediately begin deporting plaintiffs without notice." Walker said the plaintiffs' claims belong in Texas, where they are detained. The Government has also shown that the district courts orders threaten irreparable harm to delicate negotiations with foreign powers on matters concerning national security, he wrote. Democracy Forward president and CEO Skye Perryman, whose legal advocacy group also represents the plaintiffs, said Wednesday's ruling is an important step for due process and the protection of the American people. President Trump is bound by the laws of this nation, and those laws do not permit him to use wartime powers when the United States is not at war and has not been invaded to remove individuals from the country with no process at all, Perryman said in a statement. Boasberg, the chief judge of the federal district court in Washington, has vowed to determine whether the government defied his order to turn planes around. The administration has invoked a state secrets privilege and refused to give Boasberg any additional information about the deportations. Trump and his allies have called for impeaching Boasberg. In a rare statement, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. The Alien Enemies Act allows noncitizens to be deported without the opportunity for a hearing before an immigration or federal court judge. Boasberg ruled that immigrants facing deportation must get an opportunity to challenge their designations as alleged gang members. His ruling said there is a strong public interest in preventing the mistaken deportation of people based on categories they have no right to challenge. ___ Stefania Pelfini, La Waziya Photography/Getty Images Key Takeaways People often use inaccurate measurements when brewing coffee at homeweighing out your coffee is best. Use a burr grinder for whole coffee beans for the best flavor. Coffee experts recommend using filtered water rather than tap. With the increase in small batch roasters and local coffee shops across America, the standard for a great cup of joe has equally risen. But raise your hand if youve ever experienced the most fantastic brew ever, with flavors and aromas that blew your mind, then brought the beans home only to wonder, What went wrong?! Murilo Santos, co-founder and roastmaster of Boarding Pass Coffee in Alpharetta, Georgia, assures us were not alone in this frustration. We experience this often, he laughs. Customers come to our shops and love our coffee, purchase it to make at home and come back later saying it didnt taste the same, or as good. Turns out there are a few reasons why results vary. We asked six baristas, cafe owners, roasters and experts, and they all agreed on the three major mistakes that foil us at home. Inaccurate measurements Inconsistent grind size Using tap water rather than filtered Find (and Stick To!) Your Golden Ratio Artisan coffee may lead you to believe that brewing it is an art, but news flash like baking, its a science. And because it has so few ingredients, proportions matter more than ever, which is why inaccurate measurements are cited as the No. 1 cause across our panel for suboptimal results. No matter if you have great beans, Precision is key to a balanced brew, says Lindsey Sozio, founder of Denver-based Lavender Coffee Boutique. Too much coffee or too little water results in over-extraction, leading to a bitter taste; too little coffee or too much water results in under-extraction, for a sour and weak taste. To get it right, Santos says, In the coffee industry, we use the metric system because it is more precise, but measuring your coffee with a scale is always a better choice. Because, Even if you use the same scoop every time you make your coffee, youll get a different quantity each time, promises Kat McCarthy, a Specialty Coffee Associationauthorized trainer and Lavazzas New York training manager. Weighing out your coffee will ensure you have the correct dose of grounds with no question. Weighing your water can be another step if youre hand-brewing, like with a pour-over you wont need to eyeball your water in a measuring cup. However, what constitutes a perfect cup of coffee can mean something different for everyone, which means measurement is less about the amount of ground coffee you spoon than it is about your ideal ratio. Most drip brew or pour-overs have a 1-to-18 coffee-to-water ratio, which means 18 grams of water for each gram of coffee, explains Adam Kelley, owner of Leopard Forest Coffee Company, just outside of Greenville, South Carolina. On the other hand, Santos serves a 1-to-17 ratio at his cafes. McCarthys recommendation is to start with 1-to-16 for most drip-brew methods and adjust to your taste from there, one increment at a time. Related: What Happens to Your Body When You Drink Coffee Every Day Use a High-Quality Grinder With such an emphasis on getting the proportions right, you might think that having a top-of-the-line coffeemaker is the top priority in terms of equipment. Surprisingly, youd be wrong. Sozio explains, Investing in an expensive brewer while neglecting the quality of the grinder is a common error. A good grinder is essential for consistent particle size, which significantly impacts extraction and flavor. While a good brewer is helpful, the grinder has a more significant impact on flavor because a poor grinder produces inconsistent particle sizes. Kelleys guideline: Larger particles for longer brew times and smaller particles with shorter ones. For example, he expands, a French press is a full immersion process that takes about six minutes and uses a coarser grind similar in size to breadcrumbs or sea salt. In contrast, espresso is a pressurized extraction method with a brew time of 20 to 30 seconds and a grind size like flour or powdered sugar. Machine-made drip coffee lies somewhere in the middle, but its most important, McCarthy emphasizes, to match your grind to your process. To get the best grind, use a burr grinder and not a blade grinder, advises Amy Smith, co-operator of EXO Coffee of Tucson, Arizona. Capresso makes affordable versions. You can also get fancy hand grinders, but I dont recommend it, she confides. And if youre not ready to invest, Sozio has a pro tip. If you dont have a burr grinder at homeher favorite is the reliable Fellow Ode Grinderyour local roastery is your best bet! Have them grind your beans weekly, tailored to your brewing method, for the freshest taste. Following a correct ratio and grind size will aid in achieving the optimum soluble yield of dissolved solids, which allows the coffees sweetness to balance the extremes of both the acidity and bitterness, Kelley concludes. Related: The 7 Best Coffee Makers on the Market, Tested and Reviewed Remember That Water Is a Key Ingredient Same as with common mistakes folks make with iced coffee at home, the variable traits of simple H2Othat is, beyond measurementwill definitely have a significant impact on the quality of your hot brewed coffee. This is why Santos swears by always using filtered water and not tap water. Tayler Jackson, manager of operations and executive barista for The Grind in Wytheville, Virginia, likens the effect of purer water to how McDonalds achieves its crispy Sprite. She says, Although you dont need a commercial reverse osmosis water filtration system, a lack of a basic filter will absolutely affect your cup. From water-treatment chlorine additives to minerals, aged infrastructure pipes in your apartment building or heavy limescale regions around the world, these things dilute the potential of your cup. This is especially true for cold brew imagine your coffee steeping for almost an entire day in that water. What are you really going to be tasting? Water temperature is another dynamic variable. All of our experts agree that the perfect temperature for residential machine-made drip coffee is 195 to 201F. Brewing lower than 195F will decrease extraction, Kelley says, which Smith cites as the primary reason for a sour cup. On the other hand, Kelley points out, Brewing higher than 205[F] will start to extract from the insoluble fibers of the bean, assuring an astringent or bitter cup, especially when using water hotter than boiling. This is the most common mistake, Smith says, that causes coffee to come out bitter. Unfortunately, most home drip machines dont get hot enough, Kelley and Jackson lament. For this reason, many coffee experts choose to use pour-over or French press methods, which use water thats just under boiling, typically 180 to 190F, Sozio says. This will give you a less acidic cup, she shares. But if the water is permitted to boil, it will burn your grounds, Smith warnssomething youll definitely taste! Just wait a minute or two after it reaches boiling, McCarthy says. Related: Healthy Coffee Drink Recipes The Bottom Line While our coffee experts were mostly in agreement with details such as choosing the right filter types (unbleached paper), the best extraction method (pour-over) and choosing whole beans that are freshly ground, high quality, ethically sourced and small-batch roasted, the chorus of agreement of typical mistakes was overwhelmingly about technique. Unanimously, the feedback they often give home coffee enthusiasts is to experiment to find their personal ideal ratio; measure instead of weighing their water and coffee; use the right grind for the right brewing method; and use filtered water. Address those, and bistro-quality coffee can be an everyday at-home treat. Read the original article on EATINGWELL FILE - The headquarters for National Public Radio (NPR) stands on North Capitol Street, April 15, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) WASHINGTON (AP) A House Republican pushing the Trump administration's government efficiency efforts called for dismantling and defunding the nation's public broadcasting system following a contentious hearing Wednesday featuring the heads of PBS and NPR. We believe that you all can hate us on your own dime, said Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Coupled with President Donald Trump's declaration on Tuesday that he would love to see federal funding cut off, the nation's public broadcasting system is facing perhaps the biggest threat to its existence since it was first established in 1967. The broadcasters get roughly half a billion dollars in public money through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Republicans have frequently grumbled that PBS and NPR news programming leans left, but efforts to cut or eliminate funding usually fade because legislators want to protect their local stations 336 of them for PBS alone, with those in rural areas most heavily dependent on taxpayer money. The hearings on behalf of the new administration are one of multiple front on which Trump and his allies are aggressively challenging and in some cases sanctioning the American media, which the president has been sharply critical of for years. This week alone, he denounced The Atlantic repeatedly for publishing texts from the Signal messaging app among high-ranking defense officials planning a military attack. Trump has also taken action against the Voice of America and other government-funded media and barred The Associated Press from the White House press pool and other events. An issue that's not going away quietly A succession of GOP lawmakers on Wednesday complained bitterly about alleged bias, particularly from NPR stations, making clear it was not an issue that was going away quietly. Kentucky Rep. James Comer said that as a young farmer decades ago he would frequently listen to NPR broadcasts on his tractor, as it was often his only option. But now, he has podcasts and other things to listen to. I don't even recognize the station anymore, Comer said. It's not news. It feels like it's propaganda. I feel like it's disinformation every time I listen to NPR. Greene displayed a picture of what she called a drag queen that appeared on a PBS program geared to children and complained about documentaries featuring transgender people. PBS chief executive Paula Kerger said the drag queen reference was about something mistakenly put on the New York PBS station's website and never on the air. The transgender people appeared as part of adult programming that reflected the experiences of different Americans, she said. Democrats characterized the hearing as a distraction from more important issues, like this week's revelation that a journalist from the Atlantic was included in a text chain of Trump administration officials detailing a U.S. military strike in Yemen. If shame was still a thing, this hearing would be shameful, said Massachusetts Rep. Stephen Lynch. Some Democrats tried comedy. California Rep. Robert Garcia asked if the red Sesame Street character, is Elmo now, or has he ever been, a member of the Communist Party? He's a puppet, Kerger said. But, no. Admitting to some past mistakes The broadcasting leaders acknowledged mistakes. NPR President Katherine Maher said the radio network was wrong to dismiss what was on Hunter Biden's laptop as a non-story. After they were repeatedly referenced by Republicans on the committee, Maher said she regretted posting some anti-Trump tweets before she began working for NPR. Although saying she is not responsible for editorial content, Maher detailed efforts by NPR to ensure a variety of political viewpoints are represented. NPR's weekly listenership declined from 60 million to 42 million between 2020 and 2024, according to internal documents published by The New York Times, although Maher said Wednesday those numbers have inched up in the past year. I do not believe we are politically biased, Maher said. We are a non-biased organization. Uri Berliner, a former NPR editor who quit last year after complaining the news outlet had become too one-sided, wrote in the Free Press on Wednesday that NPR should no longer accept taxpayer money so it can drop the public from its mission statement and embrace the progressive." Don't try to conceal what everyone knows already, he wrote. Republican committee members noted that NPR has cited Wednesday's hearing in fundraising appeals and Maher was asked whether the system would survive without public money. It would be incredibly damaging to the national public radio system, she said. Kerger emphasized the service that PBS provides to local communities, particularly with its educational programming for children, and said she is worried for the future of its smaller stations. This," she said, is an existential moment for them. After the hearing, the Committee to Protect Journalists called NPR and PBS essential public services for millions of Americans. Casting them as propaganda machines undeserving of taxpayer support is a dangerous mischaracterization that threatens to rob Americans of the vital reporting they need to make decisions about their lives, said Jodie Ginsberg, the committee's CEO. ___ David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social A recent U.S. intelligence report confirms that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has no intention of negotiating away his country's nuclear weapons program, citing it as vital for regime security and national pride. The assessment also warns that North Korea may be poised to conduct another nuclear test "on short notice," further escalating tensions in the region. As North Korea's nuclear program continues to advance, recent developments include hypersonic missile tests, increased uranium enrichment, and the construction of a nuclear-powered submarine. Kim's regime has also ramped up its criticisms of the United States, South Korea, and Japan, condemning joint naval drills and threatening an "overwhelming" response to any provocations. The U.S. Intelligence Community's Annual Threat Assessment highlights Kim's determination to maintain and enhance his country's strategic capabilities, which he believes are crucial for asserting North Korea's position as a nuclear power. The report underscores that Kim views these weapons as a direct threat to U.S. homeland security, U.S. forces in the region, and allies such as South Korea and Japan. "North Korea is probably prepared to conduct another nuclear test on short notice and continues to flight test ICBMs to demonstrate their increasing capabilities as leverage in future negotiations," Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said. The U.S. report also pointed out North Korea's growing partnership with Russia, which has provided Kim with diplomatic support, military assistance, and reduced reliance on China. This alliance has further emboldened Kim's ambitions, including securing international recognition of North Korea as a nuclear power. Kim's relationship with Russia has also had economic benefits, with the North's weapons programs potentially benefiting from Moscow's backing amid Western sanctions. "Kim's newly cemented strategic partnership with Russia is yielding financial benefit, diplomatic support, and defense cooperation. The partnership with Moscow also helps reduce Pyongyang's reliance on Beijing," said the report, highlighting the potential risks to U.S. interests stemming from Russia's war in Ukraine. The alliances between China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea could challenge U.S. military and economic capabilities. Eight high impact film projects from Eastern Europe took center stage at CPH:Forum, the industry platform of Copenhagens CPH:DOX international documentary film festival, this week. Emerging filmmakers from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine pitched their films to industry representatives, including Arte, IDFA and the Whickers Fund. More from Variety It marked the culmination of a six-month training program under Change, founded by IMS (International Media Support) in partnership with CPH:DOX, EAVE (the European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs), and the Danish Film School, to support underrepresented filmmakers from the region in accessing the global market. This years selection explores themes of war, national identity, patriarchy and activism, with budgets ranging from 92,000 ($99,000) to 329,000 ($356,000). The pitches are followed by one-to-one meetings with industry decision-makers over the next couple of days. Variety spoke to the teams in Copenhagen some projects are not highlighted here due their sensitive nature. Leave Easy Come Back Safe (Belarus) by Sasha Kulak and Masha Maroz examines Belarusian identity through two young artists one in exile, the other still in the country while documenting the cultural heritage of the remote Polesia region. The film follows three characters a traditional beekeeper, a healer and a priest attempting to save a dilapidated church and features archival material dating back to the 1930s. Through our film, we aim not only to document and preserve the unique traditions and culture of the region but also to reflect on our own cultural and national identity. We want to showcase this unknown cultural archipelago to the world and to people within our own country, producer Julia Shaginurova told Variety. My Name Is Enough (Armenia) by Ani Grigoryan and Marina Arzumanova explores sex-selective abortions in a remote Armenian village. Ashkhen, the protagonist, awaits the results of an ultrasound that will determine the fate of her unborn child while neighbors and relatives turn to ancient folk traditions to predict the babys sex. Hearing how many girls never had the chance to live, and how women were forced to undergo illegal and unsafe abortions makes us ask: What if that were me? said producer Ani Ordyan. The documentary interweaves the stories of other women across different generations, shedding light on the societal pressures that force illegal abortions. Missing in Action (Ukraine) by Marharyta Melnychuk and Kateryna Holovko follows Natalia, a former border guard searching for her missing brother, a combat medic who disappeared in Donetsk in 2023. Supporting her brothers daughters and her elderly mother, Natalia takes a job far from home that provides financial stability. Determined to find purpose, she pursues a masters degree in psychology, and uses her experience to help others searching for missing loved ones. More than 60,000 people, both civilians and soldiers, are missing in Ukraine. This is the population of a town. Natalias story is just one of thousands, producer Aliona Kachkan said. Import/Export MD (Moldova) by Max T. Ciorba and produced by Sergiu Scobioala of Realitatea Film exposes Moldovas struggling healthcare system, where doctors faced with low wages are forced to seek opportunities abroad. Featuring intertwining narratives of doctors and patients, the film also includes a group of doctors-turned-comedians who use humor to highlight the absurdities of the system. We want to make a film that lets doctors tell their story, and sheds light on the challenges both doctors and patients face in our country, said Ciorba. Whispers of Womanhood (Georgia) by Rati Tsiteladze and produced by Olga Slusareva follows Tsiteladzes sister Dea, who has spent more than a decade navigating infertility in Georgia, a society where motherhood defines a womans worth. The film captures her personal and poetic journey through medical interventions, ancient rituals, and the loss of her newborn child due to medical negligence. When Dea considers adoption, her husbands traditional beliefs create a rift, and she seeks solace with other women facing similar struggles. As she secretly explores IVF despite the Churchs opposition, her journey shifts from the pursuit of motherhood to a search for self-discovery. Through Deas raw honesty, we aim to break this silence and offer a voice to countless women who suffer quietly, producer Olga Slusareva said. This film is not just about infertility, its an exploration of human nature, identity, grief and societal roles. Tsiteladze and Slusarevas previous documentary, A Song Without Home, about a transgender woman seeking a new life in Austria after being locked away by her parents for years in Georgia, was presented at CPH:Forum in 2023 and is set for release later this year. Entractes (Ukraine/Belgium) by Yuriy Shylov follows charismatic 73-year-old Olena, who leads an amateur theater troupe for the elderly amid war. Despite air raids and her declining health, she writes a play based on her experiences and her sons frontline service. Guided by young director Serhii, the troupe prepares for an amateur theater festival, which could be their final performance. This is a film that carries a sense of irony, Shylov said. For these characters, humor is a way to endure and resist violence. Attending the Change pitches for the first time, Alice Burgin, who took on the role of head of industry at leading Swiss doc festival Visions du Reel last year, was impressed: This program brings home the urgency that so many filmmakers are facing working to tell powerful and important stories in environments that are not always conducive to hearing their truths, she said. Perhaps this pitch can offer these projects another pathway to financing that resonates with European values while reminding us of the importance of ensuring local stories continue to be heard. CPH:Forum runs in Copenhagen until March 27. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. FILE - North Dakota Sen. Ray Holmberg, R-Grand Forks, speaks on the Senate floor at the state Capitol in Bismarck, N.D., in November 2021. (Mike McCleary/The Bismarck Tribune via AP, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) A once-powerful former North Dakota lawmaker was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison for traveling to Europe with the intent to pay for sex with a minor. Former state senator Ray Holmbergs attorney, Mark Friese, confirmed the sentence to The Associated Press but declined to comment after the hearing, which KFGO radio reported included seven hours of testimony, victim statements and an apology from the shackled 81-year-old. Holmberg pleaded guilty last year in U.S. District Court in Fargo, North Dakota, to one count of traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity. KFGO reported that during Wednesdays hearing, the defense and prosecution agreed that Holmberg should serve about three years because of his age and poor health, but federal Judge Daniel Hovland said Holmberg is still a threat to underage boys. Hovland called Holmbergs character egregious and despicable and said that a 37-month sentence wouldnt deter others. While Holmberg denied actually having sex with anyone under 18, Hovland said he can read between the lines," the radio station reported. Prosecutors said Holmberg traveled at least 14 times from 2011 to 2021 to Prague, Czech Republic, to pay for sex with adolescent-age boys. In court last year, Holmberg admitted to paying young male masseuses, some of whom he had sexual contact with at an alleged brothel. But he claimed not to know for certain how old they were. Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl said the crime was an assault of the dignity of many young boys. And the majority and minority leaders in the North Dakota Legislature described Holmbergs crimes as evil in a statement that vowed additional resources to law enforcement to help combat increases in criminal sexual assaults and human trafficking, KFGO reported. Holmberg served 45 years in the North Dakota Senate. He resigned in 2022 after The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead reported on his many text messages with a man in jail in connection with child sexual abuse material. Holmberg chaired two powerful legislative panels, including the Senates budget-writing committee. Records previously obtained by The Associated Press show that Holmberg made dozens of trips throughout the U.S. and to other countries since 1999. Destinations included cities in more than 30 states as well as Canada, Puerto Rico and Norway. At least one of Holmbergs trips to Prague was state-funded through a teacher exchange program, the Klemetsrud Puhl wrote in court filings last week. Holmbergs offending conduct over the course of decades ... can only be described as corruption, she wrote. That is, he used his position to serve his own ends. In one example the prosecutor described, Holmberg brought a University of North Dakota student to the university presidents suite for hockey games, representing a right to access some of the most influential people in the state including the UND president, governor and congressmembers with the expectation of him engaging in sexual activity with Holmberg, she wrote. In 2012 and 2013, Holmberg posed as a teenage boy in an online chatroom for teens who had undergone circumcision, and misled and manipulated a 16-year-old Canadian boy into sending him explicit photos, the filing said. The full story of the relationship is unclear because the boy later took his own life in 2021, but no doubt Holmbergs conduct contributed to his struggles, Klemetsrud Puhl said. Former U.S. Attorney Tim Purdon said the acts described in the prosecutors filing paints a picture for the judge of Holmbergs overall character. What we see here is a defendant who has a decades-long track record of identifying extremely vulnerable young men, grooming them and eventually using them for sex, Purdon said. Lewelyn Dixon. After a University of Washington lab technician and green card holder was recently detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, her family is speaking out. Lewelyn Dixon, 64, whos had legal permanent status in the U.S. for 50 years, was arrested at the airport in Seattle and placed into ICE custody after coming back from a trip to her native Philippines in late February. She has a hearing scheduled for July, but her loved ones are calling for her release, telling NBC News that she is the glue that holds the family together. Shes always been our go-to, said Dixons niece Lani Madriaga, who described her as a mother figure. Shes always been that. ICE did not immediately respond to NBC News request for comment. Dixon is being held at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, Madriaga said, where shes been socializing with the other detainees, translating and helping them communicate with their attorneys amid the wait before her hearing. Dixons attorney, Benjamin Osorio, said that U.S. Customs and Border Protection likely spotted a decades-old embezzlement conviction on her record upon her return, which prompted the detention. Dixon, who pleaded guilty to the nonviolent offense in 2000, was ordered to pay restitution and spend 30 days in a halfway house, court documents show. In 2019, she finished paying restitution. Dixon had been a vault teller and operations supervisor at Washington Mutual Bank, where she removed cash from the vault on eight separate occasions without the banks authorization, according to her plea agreement. In total, she removed $6,460. Dixon never told the family about the conviction, Madriaga said, who called it her aunts darkest secret. If she hadnt traveled, it wouldnt have triggered this, Osorio said. And though Dixon has also long been eligible for U.S. citizenship, Osorio said, she promised her father that she would keep her Filipino status so that she could retain property and land back in the Philippines. She probably did not understand the risk, Osorio said. Otherwise, she probably would have naturalized before she traveled. Lewelyn Dixon. Dixon came to the U.S. when she was 14, immediately helping Madriaga and her siblings, who are also immigrants, settle into life in their new country. We stayed together. We slept in the same room. We had a bunk bed and an extra bed, and we stayed in that room during our school years, Madriaga, 59, said. She was very independent, and she was a good role model, making sure to have hard earned work. Later on, when Madriagas sister went through a divorce, becoming a single mom, Dixon moved to Washington state so she could be there for the children and to pitch in with rent. Madriaga went through her own divorce years later and said Dixon was also there to help with the kids. That was hard. She made sure she took care of my youngest one, because she was still a minor, Madriaga said. Shes like a second mom to her. At the lab, Dixon is a dedicated worker, Madriaga said. She had even scheduled herself to work a shift the night she was to get off the flight, she added. Dixon was on the cusp of her 10-year anniversary at work, during which her pension would vest. Her family members are now worried shell lose both her job and her pension after being away for so long. Susan Gregg, a spokesperson at UW Medicine, would not elaborate on Dixons case, but said that she had worked as a lab technician at the hospital since 2015. UW Medicine is dedicated to the well-being of all employees and hopes Lewelyn receives due process in a timely manner, Gregg said. Madriaga said that the family is speaking out for their aunt and also hoping to help others protect themselves from a similar fate. To the people who avoided becoming a citizen like my aunt, who thought that she was protected: No. Go get your citizenship, Madriaga said. Tania Thomas was killed in July. The family of a woman who was strangled last year on an overnight visit with her husband at a California prison said Wednesday that such visits should be suspended until officials can figure out how to prevent similar tragedies. Tania Thomas, 47, was killed in July, four months before Stephanie Dowells, 62, was strangled while she was visiting her husband at the same facility, Mule Creek State Prison in Ione. The Amador County Coroners Office recently ruled Dowells death a homicide, and Thomas husband, Anthony Curry, was charged a week ago with murder in connection with Thomas killing. He is scheduled to be arraigned next week. Stephanie Dowells. Something needs to be done, and it should have been done two homicides ago, said the familys designated spokesperson, Jeanine Rojo, Thomas cousin. Im sick to my stomach that this happened to Tania, but then it happened again just months after her to Stephanie, she added, and it should have been prevented. Despite the two homicides, deaths during overnight visits at the prison in Northern California are extremely rare, said Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe. Its very concerning. Its unprecedented in my experience. Its unprecedented in the facility, he said. The killings are the first violent acts during family visits at Mule Creek that he has seen in his 26 years as district attorney, he said. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has not provided information in response to inquiries about whether other homicides have occurred during visits at Mule Creek or other state prisons, not all of which allow overnight stays. The overnight visits are intended to support family connections and successful rehabilitation, according to the corrections department. Inmates on death row, convicted of sex crimes or under disciplinary restrictions are ineligible for consideration, according to the department. Family visits occur in private, apartment-like facilities on prison grounds and last from 30 to 40 hours. Inmates have to show themselves for a count at least four times in a 24-hour period, according to the department. The families of both women said they believe neither Curry nor Dowells husband, David Brinson, 54, should have been allowed the visits because they were convicted of violent crimes. Both families said they want to see the eligibility rules changed and protections added to ensure people are safe during unsupervised visits. Riebe said charges in Dowells death are pending prison and autopsy reports. Brinson was convicted in the 1990s of murdering four men during a robbery and sentenced to four consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole. One thing I do want to know is how many other times has this happened at Mule Creek and its gone undetected, Rojo said. If Stephanies family and Tanias family didnt come forward, the public would not have known. Tania Thomas. Rojo said it was only after Thomas was killed that the family learned Thomas and Curry were intimately involved and married in 2023. She did not tell any of us in the family, because she knew we were not going to approve, Rojo said. Curry, 48, is serving a life sentence for attempted second-degree murder with an enhancement in the shooting of his girlfriend in 1999. The victim, Synada Browning, was found at a truck stop with a gunshot wound to her head, which left her blind, partially paralyzed and without any recollection of the shooting, according to court records. Curry is also serving a 13-year prison sentence for a separate carjacking. After Curry got Thomas pregnant, he disappeared and was with Browning, Rojo said. Thomas learned from news reports that Curry had been dating Browning and was accused in her shooting. We didnt know where he went, Rojo said. I was relieved, but it wasnt until I saw the news, and this is when she was in labor, I saw him on the news, and that was because of what he did to the other girl. Thomas and Curry stayed in touch over the years because they share a 25-year-old son, who is in the Air Force, Rojo said. We always knew that they were on speaking terms, but we just did not know that they were involved in that way, Rojo said. Thomas son was informed she had been killed on July 2, and the county coroner determined her death was a homicide in December, said Rojo, who questioned why it took months for Curry to be charged with murder. Riebe, the district attorney, said Wednesday that he understood the familys frustration but that he could not file charges until he had reviewed the prison investigation and autopsy reports, both of which he said he received last month. Rojo and Thomas, who were five months apart in age, grew up in San Francisco and were like sisters, she said. She recalled them sharing a room and clothes when they were younger and even having their children around the same time. Weve always been close. Weve never stopped, Rojo said. She lived just a few minutes away from me. We both helped each other, especially because she was sick with lupus and a single parent. Thomas took medication daily to manage her lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease, which she was diagnosed with as a teenager, and underwent regular dialysis, Rojo said. Although the disease posed limitations, Thomas lived her life to the fullest and to the best of her ability," Rojo said. Thomas worked for the San Francisco Unified School District for many years, and at the time of her death she was working as a mentor for developmentally delayed adults, Rojo said. She loved to help in everything she did, both personal and her career life, Rojo said. Delaware lawmakers this week pushed through controversial changes governing corporate behavior in a scramble to keep more businesses from leaving the state following the dramatic exit of Elon Musk. Gov. Matthew Meyer signed the SB 21 legislation into law Tuesday and said the changes would maintain Delaware's place as the best place in the world to incorporate a business "ensuring clarity and predictability, balancing the interests of stockholders and corporate boards." The revisions came in response to a string of complaints from prominent CEOs, including Tesla (TSLA) CEO Musk, who moved incorporations out of state or threatened to do so. The exits even gained a nickname: "Dexits. Musk has already moved the incorporations of Tesla and his rocket-building company, SpaceX (SPAX.PVT), to Texas. Neuralink (NEUR.PVT), Boring, and the social media platform X three other companies he oversees have left for Nevada. Elon Musk attends a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Monday. (Pool via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) Over the past year, Meta (META), Dropbox (DBX), hedge fund Pershing Square Capital Management, Trade Desk (TTD), Fidelity National Financial (FNF), and Sonoma Pharmaceuticals (SNOA) have all floated plans to move their incorporations. The talk of high-profile departures is roiling a state that, for roughly the past century, has been the dominant place to incorporate because of its so-called corporate-friendly laws, specialized business courts, and ease of filing company documents. The state touts that it is home to more than two-thirds of all Fortune 500 companies. In 2023, Delaware hit a record 2 million total incorporations but saw a drop in the percentage of Fortune 500 companies registered there to 67.6% from 68.2% in 2022. The state's newly elected Democratic governor, Meyer, launched a working group to study mounting complaints, and lawmakers rushed to push through a bill that would limit investor lawsuits by allowing corporate boards to further insulate their directors, officers, and controlling shareholders from liability. Musk decided to leave the state after a controversial decision by a Delaware judge to wipe out his $56 billion performance-based compensation plan. He is now appealing that decision. A view of Delaware Legislative Hall, the state capitol building, in Dover, Del. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) (Kent Nishimura via Getty Images) The billionaire, along with current and former Tesla directors, argued in a recent appeal to the Delaware Supreme Court that the refusal by Delaware Chancery Court judge Kathaleen McCormick to reinstate Musk's pay contained multiple errors that should lead to the ruling's reversal. The new law passed this week by the state legislature and signed by the governor extends more leeway to board members in transactions where their interests or relationships raise conflicts of interest. It also broadens the set of conditions that investors must meet before inspecting company records, making it more difficult for plaintiffs to find evidence supporting a lawsuit. Semafor reported that the legislation was prompted by warnings from key corporate attorneys that more big-name companies, including Walmart (WMT), might move out of the state. Critics say the amendments amount to a handout for billionaires because they broaden safe harbor protections for corporate directors. They also object to the legislation being put to a vote without more deliberation. Columbia Law School professors criticized Delaware lawmakers for pushing what they describe as major overhauls so quickly. "Ordinarily, reforms of this magnitude pass through the deliberate, consensus-driven process of the Delaware Bar's Corporation Law Council. This time, however, the route appears more compressed," the lawyers said. Eric Talley, one of the Columbia Law School professors who co-authored the critique, said parts of the new law may be vulnerable to state constitutional challenges. "I suspect a challenge to be made imminently," Talley said. He added that the most serious consequence for investors under the new rules is that they have less protection against actions by insiders officers, directors, and especially large stockholders that attempt to funnel assets away from outside investors and into the pockets of the insiders. StockStory aims to help individual investors beat the market. Alexis Keenan is a legal reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow Alexis on X @alexiskweed. Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest stock market news and events moving stock prices Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Big dogs often get a bad rap just for their size, but don't let the bulk fool you. Behind those massive frames are hearts made of marshmallows. These dogs may look like security systems on legs, but they're really just oversized snuggle buddies with floppy ears and soft souls. Your next gentle giant might be on this list. Great Dane Credit: Wikimedia Commons Great Dane could wrestle a bear, but it's more interested in lounging on the couch and leaning against your leg. They might be tall in the dog world, but they're one of the most mellow, patient, and friendly. Scooby-Doo was a Great Dane, by the way, and the breed does match that clumsy, lovable energy. Newfoundland Credit: flickr Newfoundland dogs look like walking teddy bears and act like them, too. These dogs are also great with kidshence the "nanny dog" nickname, but they drool a lot. Like, bring-a-towel kind of drool. Still, it's a small price to pay for a dog that's basically a snuggly lifeguard with paws the size of mittens. Bernese Mountain Dog Credit: Wikimedia Commons Bernese Mountain Dogs are the big softies of the Swiss Alps. They're strong enough to pull carts yet gentle enough to nap beside little kids. They love snow, snacks, and belly rubs, often all at once. They can be a little shy with strangers but are fiercely loyal to their people. Irish Wolfhound Credit: flickr Irish Wolfhounds tower over other dogs and some humans, too. But despite their size, they're as mellow as a Sunday afternoon. These dogs love a peaceful home and a soft place to stretch out. They're calm, noble, and surprisingly low-keyjust make sure your couch is big enough to share. Leonberger Credit: Wikimedia Commons Leonbergers act like laid-back babysitters. Their fluffy manes and soulful eyes make them intimidating at first glance, but these dogs are famously gentle and family-focused. They love water, and many Leonbergers naturally take to swimming like pros. Saint Bernard Credit: flickr Saint Bernards were initially bred to rescue stranded travelers in the Swiss Alps, so these dogs have a sixth sense for people in needavalanche survivors or toddlers in time-out. Their massive size means they don't always know where their feet ends and the coffee table begins. Still, it's hard not to love! Tibetan Mastiff Credit: Wikimedia Commons Tibetan Mastiffs are ancient guardians. They were initially bred to protect livestock in the Himalayas and got serious "don't mess with me" energy at first glance. But around their family, theyre total softies. They're independent, calm, and surprisingly quiet indoors, though they'll definitely alert you if something's off. Anatolian Shepherd Credit: Wikimedia Commons Anatolian Shepherds are big thinkers, fiercely loyal, and not prone to drama. They'll keep an eye on everything but are not barky or hyper. Just be ready for independence; they like to assess situations on their own terms. Fun fact: their bite force is one of the strongest in the dog worldbut they rarely use it. Great Pyrenees Credit: Wikimedia Commons These are the giant, cloud-like dogs with a surprising mix of stubbornness and sweetness. Great Pyrenees are patient, especially with children, and they've got a strong protective streak without being aggressive. If you like loyalty with a side of fluff, this breed's a winner. Komondor Credit: Wikimedia Commons Komondors are probably the most unforgettable dogs on this listthose long, corded coats make them look like walking mops with opinions. But behind the shaggy curtain is a calm, loyal, and protective dog who takes family duty seriously. Just be prepared: that iconic hair takes serious maintenanceor you'll end up with dreadlocked tumbleweeds. Cane Corso Credit: Wikimedia Commons Cane Corsos might appear to be bodyguards in the dog world with their broad chests and alert gaze, but they're total love bugs at home. These dogs thrive on structure and love being involved in everything their people do. Cane Corsos are also major snugglersif they fit, they sit, even if it's your lap! Kuvasz Credit: flickr The Kuvasz may not be overly clingy but form deep bonds with their people. Their independent streak comes from centuries of solo shepherding, so don't expect instant obedience. But with respectful training, they're dependable and surprisingly sensitive. They also have a great sense of humorsome owners swear their Kuvasz will fake being asleep to avoid commands. Scottish Deerhound Credit: Wikimedia Commons Scottish Deerhounds were trained to chase deer across the Scottish Highlands. Now, they've traded speed for sleep and have become perfect companions for lazy afternoons. They were once known as "Royal Dogs of Scotland" and couldn't be owned by anyone below the rank of earl. These days, they're just happy to be couch royalty. Alaskan Malamute Credit: flickr Alaskan Malamutes are big, fluffy tanks but have the heart of a class clown. They're super friendly, love people, and often "talk" with dramatic howls and grumbles. Theyve got an independent streak but crave companionship and dont do well alone. Heads upthese dogs shed like crazy and love to dig! Swiss Mountain Dog Credit: pexels The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a big, cheerful buddy wrapped in tricolor fur. Despite their herding roots, they're incredibly affectionate. They love being part of the family action and tend to follow their people like oversized shadows. While their bark can shake a room, they're not aggressivejust enthusiastic about announcements. GABY VELASQUEZ/ EL PASO TIMES / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The gunman who killed 23 people in a racist attack at an El Paso Walmart in 2019 has been offered a plea deal, as prosecutors announced they will no longer seek the death penalty. Patrick Crusius is expected to plead guilty to state charges in the deadliest attack against Latinos in modern American history. In exchange, he will serve a sentence of life without parole without an appeal, El Paso County District Attorney James Montoya told NBC. In addition to the state charges, Crusius, 26, pleaded guilty in 2023 to federal hate crimes charges and was sentenced to 90 consecutive life sentences, per the Associated Press. On Aug. 3, 2019, a Saturday during back-to-school shopping season, Crusius entered the Walmart and opened fire. Twenty-three people were killed in the shooting, including a man who died months later as a result of his injuries. In total, 26 people were injured. Related: Gunman Who Killed 23 People at a Texas Walmart in 2019 Pleads Guilty to Dozens of Charges MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Prior to the shooting, Crusius wrote a hate-filled manifesto against Latino people and immigrants in which he referred to an invasion of immigrants to the United States. To commit the mass shooting, he drove more than 10 hours to El Paso from his home near Dallas, NBC 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. Montoya said that he dropped the death penalty after speaking with victims families and learning that a strong consensus of them wanted to see the case concluded as quickly as possible, even if that meant no longer pursuing the death penalty, NBC reported. Related: 4 Years Later, Remembering 23 Fatal Victims of El Paso Mass Shooting Withdrawing the death penalty had nothing to do with his stance on the matter, Montoya told the outlet. Crusius is scheduled to plead guilty on April 21 to state charges, the district attorneys office said. Now, no one in this community will ever have to hear the perpetrators name ever again, Montoya said to NBC. No more hearings. No more appeals. He will die in prison. Read the original article on People SOMERVILLE, Mass. _ Federal agents have detained an international graduate student studying at Tufts University in Massachusetts, prompting demonstrators to vow to fight back at a rally near campus on Wednesday. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained 30-year-old Turkish national Rumeysa Ozturk, who was in the country on a valid F-1 visa, near her home on Tuesday as she was on her way to meet friends to break her Ramadan fast, her attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai, told USA TODAY on Wednesday. A senior Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told USA TODAY on Wednesday that investigators found that Ozturk "engaged in activities in support of Hamas," a designated terrorist organization. "A visa is a privilege, not a right," said the spokesperson, who declined to be named. "Glorifying and supporting terrorists who kill Americans is grounds for visa issuance to be terminated. This is commonsense security." People rally in support of a Tufts University student in Somerville, Mass. near Boston on March 26, 2025. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained 30-year-old Turkish national Rumeysa Ozturk, who was in the country on a valid F-1 visa, near her home on Tuesday as she was on her way to meet friends to break her Ramadan fast, said her attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai. Khanbabai, who spoke to USA TODAY before the agency lodged the allegations involving Hamas, did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the development. Earlier in the day, she said that she did not know where her client was being held even 20 hours after ICE detained Ozturk. The government has not told me where my client is located," Khanbabai said Wednesday afternoon. "This is incredibly concerning." Demonstrators decried the reason for Ozturk's detention at a protest later in the day. I think it should be clear to everyone now that this is just how they smear people for speaking out, Fatema Ahmad, executive director of the Muslim Justice League, told USA TODAY. It's a way to try to scare people, to suppress people. Ozturks arrest comes as the Trump administration continues to detain students at institutions across the country over terrorism allegations after they participated in pro-Palestinian protests. Judge orders that Ozturk must remain in state In court filings obtained by USA TODAY, U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to keep Ozturk in Massachusetts, as well as provide 48-hour notice if the agency wants to move her outside the state and justify why. Moreover, the judge also issued an order that gave immigration officials until Friday to respond to a filing to have her appear in court. We are unaware of her whereabouts and have not been able to contact her," Khanbabai said. "No charges have been filed against Rumeysa to date that we are aware of." The Homeland Security spokesperson did not immediately respond to follow-up questions from USA TODAY about whether Ozturk has been charged or where she's being held. An ICE detainee locator showed that Ozturk was being held in a Louisiana detention facility. Tufts University President Sunil Kumar said in a Tuesday night email that the school was told that Ozturks visa was terminated and was working to confirm that information. The university had no pre-knowledge of this incident and did not share any information with federal authorities prior to the event, and the location where this took place is not affiliated with Tufts University, Kumar said. A drone view shows the main campus of Tufts University, after the University said federal authorities have detained an international student studying at Tufts and have revoked their visa, in Somerville, Massachusetts, U.S., March 26, 2025. More about Rumeysa Ozturk, demonstration Ozturk is soft spoken, kind and gentle soul" and "is not an activist person," Reyyan Bilge, a psychology professor at Northeastern University who identified herself a longtime a friend of Ozturk's, said in an interview with the Associated Press "She does not carry a hateful bone in her body let alone being antisemitic," Bilge posted on X. "I wholeheartedly vouch for her and unless we speak up, these horrific events will continue to happen!" Two student organizations called for an emergency rally in support of Ozturk near Tufts University on Wednesday afternoon. At the rally, demonstrators held signs that said "Free Rumeysa Ozturk!" and "Today Rumeysa, tomorrow any one of us." One organizer shouted: "When refugees are under attack what do we do?" Hundreds shouted back: "Stand up, fight back!" People rally in support of a Tufts University student in Somerville, Mass. near Boston on March 26, 2025. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained 30-year-old Turkish national Rumeysa Ozturk, who was in the country on a valid F-1 visa, near her home on Tuesday as she was on her way to meet friends to break her Ramadan fast, said her attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai. Last March, Ozturk co-authored a piece published in The Tufts Daily, the school's student newspaper, that called on Tufts to divest from Israeli corporations and "acknowledge the Palestinian genocide." Lea Kayali with the Palestinian Youth Movement, one of the demonstrators at Wednesday's rally, shouted in a megaphone: "Even though she (Ozturk) may not consider herself an activist, she has more courage in the hand she wrote that article with than all of Trump's cronies combined." Trump administration has targeted other students Ozturks arrest comes following the Trump administrations executive order that seeks to deport non-citizens of the United States involved in pro-Palestinian protests. Earlier this month, ICE agents arrested Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil on accusations that he led activities aligned with Hamas. Khalil's attorneys have said he is a green card holder married to an American citizen, and are challenging the validity of the arrest and detention. "This is the first arrest of many to come," Trump said in a social media post celebrating Khalil's detention. "We will find, apprehend and deport these terrorist supporters from our country - never to return again." Mahmoud Khalil, a former graduate student at Columbia University, outside the campus in New York City on April 30, 2024. Khalil acted as a lead negotiator for student protesters calling on the university to cut ties with Israel amid the war in Gaza, end student-exchange programs, and close Columbia's campus in Tel Aviv, as well as financial transparency on the schools investments. Days later, a Georgetown University postdoctoral fellow from India, Badar Khan Suri, was also detained by ICE agents after being told that his visa had been revoked. Contributing: Jonathan Limehouse, Trevor Hughes, Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, and Reuters Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Federal agents detain Tufts University grad student from Turkey U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber speaks at a news conference in Norfolk, Va., in 2003. The former top federal prosecutor in Virginias Eastern District suffered from epilepsy and died in her sleep last weekend, her family said Wednesday. In a statement, the family of former U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber cited an earlier news release from the police department in Alexandria, Virginia, that said detectives "found no evidence suggesting that her death was caused by anything other than natural causes." We expect more information from the medical examiner in the coming weeks, Abers family said. Our family is in shock and grieving deeply and we respectfully request privacy as we attempt to navigate through our unspeakable loss. The statement said Aber, 43, had experienced seizures from epilepsy, a sometimes fatal neurological disorder, for many years. Police in Alexandria, just outside Washington, D.C., found Aber on Saturday morning after they responded to a report of an unresponsive woman. The Senate confirmed Aber to the top post in the state's Eastern District in 2021 after she had served for years as an assistant U.S. attorney and deputy chief of the criminal division. Aber resigned Jan. 20, the day President Donald Trump was inaugurated. In a statement after Aber's death, the new U.S. attorney for the Eastern District described her as "unmatched as a leader, mentor, and prosecutor, and she is simply irreplaceable as a human being." "We remain in awe of how much she accomplished in her all too brief time in this world," Erik S. Siebert said. "Her professionalism, grace, and legal acumen set the standard. Though we are devastated by this loss, each of us in the Eastern District of Virginia will look to her example and endeavor to live up to that standard. WASHINGTON White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt attacked Atlantic editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg as a discredited, anti-Trump sensationalist reporter Wednesday and said Elon Musk had offered to help figure out how Goldberg was included in a recent administration group chat about airstrikes on Yemen. Leavitt attacked the journalist who revealed the embarrassing episode, which has spurred bipartisan concern about information security, as President Trump and his aides circled the wagons and refused to fire anyone involved to deny Democrats a scalp. We are not going to bend in the face of this insincere outrage, Leavitt said at her regular briefing, accusing Democrats and the media of backing a coordinated campaign to try and sow chaos in this White House. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt attacked Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg Wednesday after he published a group chat of administration officials discussing Yemen airstrikes. Getty Images Leavitt focused on Goldberg as much of the days news coverage focused on national security adviser Mike Waltz, who added the well-known Trump critic to the group chat, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who insisted no classified information was shared, despite expert analysis to the contrary. This is the same Jeffrey Goldberg who infamously lied about weapons of mass destruction to get us into the Iraq War, which cost trillions of dollars and thousands of American soldiers, Leavitt said from the briefing room podium, with a screenshot of an article about Goldbergs past advocacy behind her on a TV screen. And how else has Goldberg discredited himself? By peddling the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax that tried to hijack President Trumps first term, by inventing the suckers and losers hoax to help Joe Biden in the 2020 election, by peddling a hoax about President Trump involving Gold Star families to help Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, which our campaign at the time vigorously denied. Jeffrey Goldberg didnt care. Goldberg was a discredited journalist, Leavitt said. The Bulwark / YouTube National security adviser Mike Waltz included Goldberg on the group chat. AFP via Getty Images Leavitt added: Theres more, but we dont have all day, and we can now add the Signal hoax to this very long list. The real story here is the overwhelming success of President Trumps decisive military action against Houthi terrorists. The press secretary did not mention that the lede of Goldbergs bombshell 2020 report on Trump allegedly skipping a visit to a military cemetery in Paris in 2018 was debunked by a subsequent Freedom of Information Act release that proved the Navy made a bad weather call that prevented a helicopter flight. Here is the latest on the Yemen Signal group-chat: Leavitt called Signal, the encrypted app on which Trumps leading officials communicated about airstrikes earlier this month, an approved app for government use and the most safe and efficient way of communicating, especially when people cant be in a [Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility]. Democrat Senator Mark Warner is hysterical over the use of Signal, which is an approved decrypted app, in the killing of Houthi terrorists, she said. But Senator Warner himself used Signal to work with a lobbyist for a Russian oligarch to connect [with] the disgraced Steele dossier author who started the Russia hoax. Leavitt was short on specifics about the investigation into Goldbergs inclusion in the chat saying that the White House counsels office and National Security Council were reviewing the matter without specifying which was taking the lead and how the findings would be known. Musk, the driving force behind the Department of Government Efficiency, has offered to put his technical experts on this to figure out how [Goldbergs] number was inadvertently added to the chat again again to take responsibility and ensure this can never happen again, she said. Leavitt called the controversy an effort to derail Trumps agenda. REUTERS Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth doubled down after the briefing on his insistence that no classified information was shared on the group chat, even after Goldberg published additional messages containing details of the mission. Theres no units, no locations, no routes, no flight paths, no sources, no methods, no classified information, Hegseth told reporters in Hawaii. Nobody is texting war plans. As Ramadan enters its final 10 nights, Muslims worldwide prepare for the imminent celebration of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of fasting. With the expected sighting of the waxing crescent moon at the end of March, nearly 2 billion Muslims around the globealong with Ohio's Muslim populationwill celebrate this festive occasion. When is Eid al-Fitr 2025? Eid al-Fitr 2025 is anticipated to be celebrated on either Sunday, March 30, or Monday, March 31, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon, according to Islamic Relief. The holiday falls on the first day of Shawwal, the month following Ramadan in the Islamic lunar calendar. As the Islamic calendar is based on moon sightings, the exact date isn't fixed and is determined the night before. This means that, much like Muslims across the world, Ohioans observing the holiday won't know for sure whether Eid falls on Sunday or Monday until the crescent moon is seen. Once sighted, the celebrations begin. What is Eid al-Fitr? Eid al-Fitr, which translates to "Festival of Breaking the Fast," is one of the two major celebrations in the Islamic calendar, observed annually by Muslims worldwide. Unlike other holidays, Eid is not fixed to a specific Gregorian date. Due to the lunar cycle of the Islamic Hijri calendar, Ramadan and Eid occur approximately 11 days earlier each year. While the holiday is observed on a single day, some Muslims extend the festivities for up to three days. Eid Traditions: How is the Holiday Celebrated? On the morning of Eid, Muslims wake up early, prepare food, and head to their local masjids for mandatory prayers. After a month of fasting from dawn until sunset, it's forbidden to fast on Eid day, so Muslims break their fast with a celebratory meal. While Eid traditions may differ by region or country, families often gather for meals, enjoy sweets, and exchange gifts. Children also receive "Eidi," gifts of money, from relatives. The day is marked by a sense of unity, joy, and gratitude, bringing Muslims together to celebrate the end of Ramadan's period of fasting and reflection. As Eid approaches, Muslims across the world, including those in Ohio, are preparing to celebrate the end of Ramadan with prayers, feasts, and time spent with loved ones, marking a joyful conclusion to the month-long observance. A man suspected of abducting and killing his teen daughter in Toledo, Ohio was shot and injured Tuesday by a police officer about 140 miles away in Columbus, authorities said. Darnell Jones, 33, was wanted in Toledo on kidnapping and murder charges after investigators discovered the body of 13-year-old Keimani Latigue in an abandoned building. Latigue was found dead Monday just shy of a week after her March 18 disappearance sent shockwaves through the northern Ohio city located on the western tip of Lake Erie. Toledo police named Jones, the girl's father, as a suspect due to "inconsistent statements" he provided to investigators and because he was the last known person to be seen with Latigue, according to local outlets, which cited a probable cause affidavit. Jones, who also uses the last name Ogletree, was then injured Tuesday when he exchanged gunfire with a Columbus SWAT officer just northwest of the city's downtown area, the Columbus Dispatch, a USA TODAY Network publication, reported. Toledo news: 6 people accused of torturing, holding man captive for a week Keimani Latigue's father shot, arrested in Columbus Investigators talk with a resident in the Columbus neighborhood of Victorian Village at the scene where Darnell Jones was shot by a police officer. Jones, who is expected to survive his wounds, is wanted in Toledo for the murder of his daughter, Keimani Latigue. Columbus police had been surveilling Jones for at least two days before the shooting, which occurred at about 10 a.m. Tuesday in a neighborhood known as Victorian Village, according to Columbus police and court documents. When SWAT officers confronted Jones on the street, he pulled out a gun and shot at them, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained Wednesday by USA TODAY. The officers returned fire, hitting Jones multiple times, the affidavit states. Jones was then transported to the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center for medical attention. As of Tuesday, Jones was in stable condition and was expected to survive, Columbus police Sgt. James Fuqua, a spokesman for the division, told the Dispatch. No officers were hurt in the encounter, Fuqua added. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, an agency under the state's Attorney General's office, will investigate the incident, as is policy for any shooting involving police. Victorian Village residents react to police shooting As its name suggests, Victorian Village is famed for its historic Victorian-style homes and architecture. The tree-lined neighborhood is also known as a comparatively quiet residential area nestled near the otherwise bustling Ohio State University and the popular Short North Arts District. For that reason, residents who spoke to the Dispatch expressed surprise and confusion when gunshots went off during the daytime. I really like this neighborhood, Gwen Berlekamp, who lives nearby, told the Dispatch. I mean, I know stuffs happening everywhere. Fuqua also issued assurances to residents after Jones was in custody. Given that this is an unusual area that does not see a lot of crime, we just want to reassure the public that this is a safe, contained situation and there is no longer a threat to the public, Fuqua said. Darnell Jones set to appear in court Jones is due to appear at 9 a.m. Wednesday in Franklin County Municipal Court in Columbus, an online court docket shows. In addition to the charges he faces in Toledo, Jones has now also been charged by Columbus police with felonious assault. Toledo police had been searching for Jones since naming him Sunday as the suspect in the disappearance and now murder of his daughter. 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. A news release from the Toledo Police Department only said Latigue was "found suffering from apparent fatal injuries." Toledo police provided an updated news release Wednesday to USA TODAY in which Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said the city is working with Columbus police "to find justice for Keimani." The grim discovery of Latique's body came after family members spent days organizing search parties, canvassing the community and handing out flyers for any word of her whereabouts, WTVG reported. "This case is one of the most horrific cases I've ever heard," Brian Steel, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge #9, told reporters gathered at the scene of Tuesday's shooting in Columbus. "This is an absolute animal that came into our town." This article has been updated to add new information. Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Father suspected in daughter Keimani Latigue's death shot, arrested FILE - Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear delivers his State of The Commonwealth address in the House chamber at the State Capitol in Frankfort, Ky., Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) A Republican-backed bill touted as an attempt to bring clarity to Kentucky's near-total abortion ban was vetoed Tuesday by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who said it would do the opposite by undermining the judgment of doctors while further imperiling the lives of pregnant women in emergency situations. Beshear, an abortion-rights supporter who is seen as a potential candidate for the White House in 2028, followed the advice of abortion-rights supporters who urged the governor to reject the measure. Kentuckys GOP supermajority legislature will have a chance to override Beshears veto when lawmakers reconvene Thursday for the final two days of this years 30-day session. The bill's supporters said it's meant to offer clarity to doctors now fearful of breaking Kentucky law for terminating pregnancies while treating expectant mothers with grave complications. Delving into potential life-or-death situations, the bill aims to provide clear guidelines for doctors in such emergencies while maintaining Kentuckys strict prohibitions against abortion, supporters said. Although supporters of House Bill 90 claim it protects pregnant women and clarifies abortion law in Kentucky, it actually does the opposite, Beshear said in his veto message Tuesday evening. The governor said the bill would block access to health care and put the lives of women facing crisis pregnancies at even more risk. Kentuckys near-total abortion ban has been in place since a so-called trigger law took effect when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. The Bluegrass State bans abortions except when carried out to save a mothers life. Efforts to add exceptions for cases of rape or incest or when pregnancies are nonviable have made no headway in Kentuckys legislature. The new legislation would create a list of emergency situations in which abortions could be done to save the mother's life, but Beshear said it was flawed. The bill is silent on any other emergency situations, the governor said in his message. No one, including legislators, can possibly create an exhaustive list of emergency situations that may occur in a hospital or medical facility. Gaps in the law are literally a matter of life and death. A House Republican spokeswoman did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed states to enforce abortion bans, exceptions have been a legal and political battleground. The Kentucky bill says doctors exercising reasonable medical judgment may take action separating a pregnant woman from her unborn child in such cases as: lifesaving miscarriage management; emergency intervention for sepsis and hemorrhaging; procedures necessary to prevent the death or substantial risk of death of the pregnant woman; removal of an ectopic pregnancy; treatment of a molar pregnancy. Its not meant to be an exhaustive list but it is the most common issues that physicians and mothers, who are facing a crisis pregnancy, are facing, Republican state Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser said during a House debate on the measure. In touting the bill, GOP state Rep. Jason Nemes said it would ensure that women "facing life-threatening situations receive timely, appropriate medical care, and gives providers the legal certainty they need to act decisively. Beshear faulted the bill for not containing language used by medical professionals. It also substitutes a physician's best clinical judgment with an ambiguous, unworkable reasonable medical judgment standard that will make doctors hesitant to provide life-saving care for fear someone other than the treating doctor, like a prosecutor or a court, may after the fact find it unreasonable, Beshear said. These barriers to treatment could delay access to evidence-based and lifesaving care. Addia Wuchner, executive director of Kentucky Right to Life, was among the bills advocates, telling a legislative panel: This is medical care that needs to take place in the commonwealth. David Walls, executive director of The Family Foundation, a socially conservative group, said the veto showed that Beshear is a mouthpiece for abortion-rights groups. Walls called it pro-mom and pro-baby bill meant to add clarity to Kentucky law to protect maternal health. Abortion-rights supporter Tamarra Wieder, Kentucky State director for Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, said Beshear put patients over politics with his veto. HB 90 was never about clarity or compassion," she said in a statement. It ignored medical standards, used anti-abortion rhetoric like maternal-fetal separation and would have forced doctors to delay care during medical emergencies. Samir Hussein/Pool/Getty; Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty (Left) King Charles and Queen Camilla in Belfast, Northern Ireland on March 19, 2025; (Right) Pope Francis on Feb. 5, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. King Charles and Queen Camilla won't meet with Pope Francis as planned during their upcoming trip to Italy. On March 25, Buckingham Palace announced that the King and Queen's visit to the Holy See has been postponed by mutual agreement in light of medical advice for the leader of the Catholic church. Pope Francis, 88, has been advised to rest after being discharged from the hospital on March 23 following a 38-day stay. King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, are understood to have sent the Pope their wishes for his recuperation and hope to visit him at the Vatican once he has recovered. The King and Queen were due to meet with the Pope during their upcoming trip to the Holy See and Italy from Monday, April 7 to Thursday, April 10, in a visit that will overlap with their 20th wedding anniversary on April 9. Tim Rooke - Pool/Getty Then-Prince Charles and Pope Francis in Vatican City, Vatican on April 4, 2017. Related: Pope Francis, 88, Will Need 2 Months of Rest at the Vatican as Hes Discharged from Hospital After 38 Days It's understood that the royal couple will continue with the visit to Italy, though the itinerary might shift amid the latest change. It emerged last week that the King wrote a letter to Pope Francis for his recovery. A palace source said then it was their "hopes and prayers that Pope Francis health will enable the visit to go ahead," in sentiments echoed by the King and Queen, sources say. AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis Pope Francis waves in the window of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome on March 23, 2025. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! As sovereign, King Charles is the head of the Church of England, and his meeting with the Pope was highly anticipated in the year of a Papal Jubilee, which occur every 25 years. Pope Francis was initially hospitalized on Feb. 14 for bronchitis and diagnostic "tests," the Vatican said in a statement then. He began treatment but developed double pneumonia and his condition worsened, with several updates (including slight improvements) shared before his release on March 23. Read the original article on People Greene County Sheriff's Office Bonnie Brown (left) and Sherri Mauldin (right) Two teachers at a school in Georgia are facing sexual misconduct charges involving the same alleged victim. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced the arrest of Sherri Delle Mauldin, 60, on charges of improper sexual contact by an employee, agent, or foster parent, aggravated child molestation and statutory rape. Mauldin allegedly committed these offenses while a teacher at Nathaniel Greene Academy, a Christian, K-12 college preparatory school in Siloam, approximately 80 miles east of Atlanta. That arrest comes just a few days after another former teacher at Nathaniel Greene Academy was arrested and charged with improper sexual contact for actions allegedly involving the same student, a GBI spokesperson tells PEOPLE. Google Maps Nathaniel Greene Academy The GBI alleged that an investigation launched into Bonnie Elizabeth Brown, 25, in June 2024 "confirmed that Brown had engaged in sexual contact with a student while employed as a teacher." At the time of her arrest, Brown was teaching at a preschool, according to Ashley Mitchell, the lawyer for the alleged victim. 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. Mitchell tells PEOPLE that the alleged victim was a male under the age of 16 at the time of the offenses and said: "There was physical contact at the school and outside the school." The alleged victim also released a statement to PEOPLE through Mitchell. I am relieved that these two women have been arrested and the crimes are being fully investigated," the alleged victim said. "These women took 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. The GBI said that both women were booked into the Greene County Sheriff's Office Jail and that both investigations are still ongoing. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. Read the original article on People Courtesy of Oisin Lenehan; Getty A selfie of Oisin Lenehan Oisin Lenehan was spending the evening with his friends Kyle and Sarah, along with their two kids, at their house in Rye, Australia. The group shared a couple of drinks, and Lenehan, who currently lives in East Melbourne, offered to order pizza for everyone since he was their guest. The 29-year-old pulled out his phone, opened Uber Eats and ordered two pizzas, chips and some garlic bread. He completed the order and selected delivery to Rye or so he thought. Only after placing the order did Lenehan realize that the food was actually headed to a hotel he had stayed at in Dublin, Ireland, a few months earlier during Christmas. "My first thought was 'F--- sake, not even close!!' " Lenehan tells PEOPLE exclusively. "I had to laugh at my carelessness, and then it was straight into trying to solve the issue and get us our pizza. It seemed like this just increased our appetite! The refund process was quite complicated, but it gave Sarah, Kyle and many others a good laugh, so that made it more bearable." Courtesy of Oisin Lenehan A photo of Oisin Lenehan Related: Woman Visits McDonald's Drive-Thru to Get Diet Coke, Ends Up with Way More Than She Bargained for (Exclusive) At the time, Lenehan had no idea that Sarah had filmed the moment. Later, she posted the video on TikTok, where it went viral with nearly 600,000 views to date. "Sarahs edit was really well made, so I was more than happy for her," he says. "When we saw the first few likes come in, we were like, 'Haha, thats funny! People are laughing at it,' " he says. "Then when it started to take off, it just became hilarious. I had no idea there was such a market for my stupidity on the Internet." "Some of the comments are very amusing, I have to say," he continues. "Again, Ive just been laughing at how much interest people have taken in my misfortune, but Im happy that it made people laugh. There was one comment that said, 'You can tell by how he speaks to people that he was raised well,' so shoutout to my parents for that one." 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. Getty Stock photo of Uber Eats After the mix-up, Lenehan says a second order eventually arrived, and it was "sensational". "Practically, check your location when ordering, and if things go wrong, you can always make something funny out of it. Dont take yourself too seriously," he says. Read the original article on People Palestinians walk amid the destruction caused by the Israeli air and ground offensive at Al-Shati camp, Gaza City, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) The Israeli military on Wednesday ordered the evacuation of parts of Gaza City as it steps up its renewed offensive against Hamas after breaking the ceasefire last week. Israels bombardments and ground operations have caused vast destruction and at their height displaced some 90% of Gazas population. Thousands of Palestinians marched in heavily destroyed northern Gaza on Wednesday in the second day of anti-war protests. Its a rare display of public anger against Hamas, although the protests appeared generally aimed against the war in Gaza and their insufferable living conditions. Israel has cut off all food, fuel, medicine and other supplies to war-torn Gaza's roughly 2 million people since the beginning of the month a strategy that rights groups say is a war crime. Israel has vowed to increase military pressure until Hamas returns the remaining 59 hostages 24 of whom are believed to be alive. Israel also demands Hamas disarm and send its leaders into exile. Hamas says it won't release the remaining hostages without a lasting ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Here's the latest: Mass protests outside the Israeli parliament ahead of a key vote on judicial overhaul Tens of thousands of Israelis flocked to Jerusalem on Wednesday to protest a bill that would change the way judges are selected. It's the latest in a series of anti-government demonstrations that have rocked the country in recent weeks. The proposed bill is up for a final vote overnight and is expected to pass. Critics say the changes would dangerously politicize the process of judicial appointments. An earlier version of the bill was a cornerstone of the sweeping overhaul of the judiciary launched by Prime Minister Netanyahus government in early 2023. That process touched off months of mass protests that only ground to a halt after the Oct. 7 attack triggered the war in Gaza. Israelis have taken to the streets for several days to protest the governments failure to secure a deal to free hostages held in Gaza and its recent moves to fire top legal and security officials, which many view as further steps that threaten the balance of powers in Israel. Israel says it intercepted a rocket from Gaza The rocket crossed from the northern Gaza Strip into southern Israel, according to the military. It said the interception is under review. Although Palestinian militants were once firing volleys of rockets each day out of Gaza, that dwindled to nearly zero over the course of the 17-month war. Since Israel broke the ceasefire last week, a handful of rockets have been fired from Gaza as well as long-range missiles from Yemen. No one in Israel has been hurt. Israel strikes a charity kitchen and a tent in Gaza, killing at least 9 At least nine Palestinians were killed Wednesday in two separate Israeli airstrikes in central Gaza, medics said. One strike hit a group of Palestinians gathered outside a charity providing hot meals in the Nuseirat refugee camp. At least five people, including a woman and her adult daughter, were killed in the strike, according to the Awda hospital, which received the casualties. A separate strike on a tent killed a father, mother and their daughter in the town of Zwaeida, according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the nearby city of Deir al-Balah. The hospital said the explosion tore the man's body in half. The Israeli military had no immediate comment. Thousands of Palestinians protest the war for a second day in northern Gaza In the town of Beit Lahiya, where a similar protest took place Tuesday, about 3,000 people demonstrated Wednesday, with many chanting the people want the fall of Hamas. In the hard-hit Shijaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City, dozens of men chanted Out, out out! Hamas get out! Our children have been killed. Our houses have been destroyed, said Abed Radwan, who said he joined the protest in Beit Lahiya against the war, against Hamas, and the (Palestinian political) factions, against Israel and against the worlds silence. Israeli defense minister urges Palestinians to join protests against Hamas You too should demand the removal of Hamas from Gaza and the immediate release of all Israeli hostages. That is the only way to stop the war, Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday. One Palestinian who protested on Tuesday told The Associated Press they regretted participating because of Israeli media coverage, which emphasized the opposition to Hamas. The protester, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said they joined the demonstration in the heavily destroyed northern town of Jabaliya because everyone failed us. They said they chanted against Israel, Hamas, the Western-backed Palestinian Authority and Arab mediators. They said there were no Hamas security forces at the protest but scuffles broke out between supporters and opponents of the group. Hamas official says protesters in Gaza should focus on Israel Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim, in a post on Facebook, wrote that people had the right to protest but that their focus should be on the criminal aggressor, Israel. The exploitation of these tragic human conditions is rejected and denounced, either to pass on dubious political agendas or to drop responsibility for the criminal aggressor, which is the occupation and its army, he wrote. The militant group has violently cracked down on previous protests. This time no outright intervention was apparent, perhaps because Hamas is keeping a lower profile since Israel resumed the war. UN says Israel's blockade of Gaza causes shortage of maternal health supplies The United Nations Population Fund said Israels ongoing aid blockade into Gaza is creating a critical shortage of maternal health supplies. They include much needed drugs for pregnancy and to prevent deaths and complications during childbirth. Since the beginning of the month, Israel has cut off the entry of all food and other goods into Gaza, and last week resumed bombardment as it tries to pressure Hamas to accept its demands to extend the January ceasefire. UNFPA said its supplies are languishing at the border, including more than 50 ultrasounds to monitor fetal health, nine incubators and 350 midwifery kits to help during deliveries, impacting more than 15,000 women. The group said pregnant women and newborns in Gaza are facing higher than normal rates of complications, driven by widespread malnutrition, which is being compounded by the aid blockade. Since the blockade around 520 babies one in five have required advanced medical care that is increasingly scarce, it said. Gaza hospital director ordered held another 6 months Lawyers representing a Gaza hospital director detained in an Israeli raid late last year say an Israeli court has extended his detention for another six months. Israeli troops detained Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya when they raided Kamal Adwan Hospital in December. He was held without access to a lawyer for 47 days and has not been charged, according to Al Mezan, a human rights group representing him in court. Al Mezan said the Beersheba District Court issued the order extending his detention on Tuesday. It said prosecutors submitted secret evidence alleging he is a threat to Israeli security, allegations he denies. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Israel has raided hospitals in Gaza on several occasions during the 17-month war with Hamas, accusing the militant group of using them for military purposes. Hospital staff deny the allegations and accuse Israel of recklessly endangering civilians. Israeli co-director of No Other Land says film academy refused to condemn the settler attack An Israeli co-director of an Oscar-winning film about settler violence said the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences refused to publicly condemn the beating and detention of the Palestinian co-director by Israeli soldiers and settlers in the occupied West Bank. Writing on X, Yuval Abraham, co-director of No Other Land, wrote that several members of the academy, which awards the Oscars, advocated in vain for the group to make a statement denouncing the attack on Hamdan Ballal. He said he was told that the academy would not denounce the attack because it involved other Palestinians. In other words, while Hamdan was clearly targeted for making No Other Land he was also targeted for being Palestinian like countless others every day who are disregarded. This, it seems, gave the Academy an excuse to remain silent when a filmmaker they honored, living under Israeli occupation, needed them the most, wrote Abraham. He noted that the European Academy had voiced solidarity with Ballal following the attack and said it was not too late for the American Academy to do the same. The military has denied that Ballal was beaten. Palestinians protest Hamas in rare public show of dissent in Gaza Palestinians chanted against Hamas during an anti-war protest in the Gaza Strip, according to videos circulating online. It was a rare show of public anger against the militant group, which has long repressed dissent and still rules the territory 17 months into the war with Israel. The videos, which appeared to be authentic, showed hundreds of people taking part in an anti-war protest in the heavily destroyed northern town of Beit Lahiya on Tuesday. People held signs saying Stop the war, We refuse to die, and The blood of our children is not cheap. Some could be heard chanting: Hamas out! Other videos appeared to show Hamas supporters dispersing the crowds. A similar protest occurred in the heavily destroyed area of Jabaliya on Tuesday, according to witnesses. Israel orders evacuation of parts of Gaza City The Israeli military has ordered the evacuation of parts of Gaza City as it steps up its renewed offensive against Hamas. The latest orders issued Wednesday apply to Zeitoun, Tel al-Hawa and other neighborhoods where Israeli forces have carried out previous operations during the 17-month war. The military said it will soon respond to rocket fire from the area and ordered residents to move south. Israel broke its ceasefire with Hamas last week when it launched a surprise wave of strikes that killed hundreds of Palestinians. It has vowed to increase military pressure until Hamas returns the remaining 59 hostages it holds 24 of whom are believed to be alive. Israel has also demanded that Hamas disarm and send its leaders into exile. Hamas has said it will not release the remaining hostages without a lasting ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The war was triggered by Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack into Israel, in which Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251. Israels retaliatory war has killed over 50,000 people, according to Gazas Health Ministry. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count but says women and children make up over half the dead. A new dinosaur species has been discovered in Mongolias Gobi Desert based on two exquisitely preserved long fossil claws, an advance that sheds more light on a less understood family of the giant reptiles. The species, named Duonychus tsogtbaatari, belongs to a group of two-legged dinosaurs called therizinosaurs that lived in central and eastern Asia as well as in western North America during the Cretaceous period around 90 million years ago, researchers say. This family of dinosaurs are known for their long necks, small leaf-shaped teeth, and large hooked claws on their hands. They mostly had three-fingered hands with large claw-like toe bones. Despite their fearsome appearance, scientists say these dinosaurs were largely herbivorous or omnivorous. Artist rendering of two-clawed dinosaur discovered in Gobi Desert (Masato Hattori/New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science) However, the newly discovered Duonychus had two clawed fingers instead of the typical three, according to the latest study published in the journal iScience. Its hand orientation was more similar to that of the mighty T rex than its close relatives, researchers say. "The hands, a hallmark of therizinosaurs, are exquisitely preserved with all the finger and wrist bones intact in this specimen," paleontologist Darla Zelenitsky from the University of Calgary told Live Science. During recent excavations, scientists uncovered the dinosaurs hand and well-preserved claw sheaths made out of the protein keratin, which makes up animal feathers, hair, and hooves. Here, we describe a new and unusual species of the therizinosaurid Duonychus tsogtbaatari, recovered from the lower Upper Cretaceous Bayanshiree Formation of the Gobi Desert of Mongolia, scientists wrote. This species is different from other therizinosaurs in that the hand possesses only two fingers, rather than three fingers, they noted. Bones and diagram of newly discovered dinosaur (Courtesy of NMMNHS) Duonychus used its claws in ways similar to other therizinosaurs for grappling and grasping vegetation, according to scientists, including those from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. Despite looking fearsome with a 90-degree curve, the claws were adaptations that helped the dinosaur grip and pull branches with a hooking motion similar to claw-use by modern-day chameleons and anteaters, researchers say. The strong curvature of this large claw and high ungual flexion indicate that Duonychus was likely amplectorial (grasping) and an effective grasper of vegetation, despite having only two functional fingers, scientists wrote. Despite having only two functional digits, Duonychus was likely an effective grasper, considering the extreme flexion (near 90) at the ungual joint and the strong curvature of the keratinous claw, they said. The latest find sheds more insights into the loss of digits in the evolution of some dinosaur groups documented in previous studies. It further shows that digit loss evolved independently in several two-legged dinosaur lineages. The discovery also suggests Chinas Gobi Desert could be home to more diverse dinosaur fossils. This kind of independent evolution of the same trait in multiple lineages highlights the adaptability of these groups of dinosaurs to diverse ecological niches, researchers concluded. Former US Attorney Jessica Aber, who was found dead Saturday morning in her Virginia home, appeared to have succumbed to natural causes, according to authorities. At this time, detectives have found no evidence suggesting that her death was caused by anything other than natural causes, Alexandria police said in an update Tuesday evening. The body of the 43-year-old lawyer who headed the Office of the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia during the Biden administration was found around 9:20 a.m. by police, leading to a wave of condolences from former and current Department of Justice officials. Former US Attorney Jessica Aber, who was found dead Saturday morning in her Virginia home, appeared to have succumbed to natural causes. AP A family friend previously told NBC News that police believed she died from a medical problem, and two former senior Justice Department officials also told the outlet that local law enforcement didnt believe foul play was involved. No official cause or manner of death has been released so far. The investigation is ongoing, and the case will remain open until the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) returns a final ruling on the cause and manner of death, Alexandria police said in the Tuesday statement. No official cause or manner of death has been released so far for Aber. DOJ We urge the public to respect the privacy of Ms. Abers family during this time of loss. Aber, whose office gained accolades for prosecuting CIA leaks and Russian nationals carrying out fraud in the US, resigned when President Trump took over on Jan. 20. Further updates about how Aber died would come from the medical examiner, police said. Sand lines a Lake Erie beach at Presque Isle State Park in Erie, Pa. on April 5, 2022. Avery Schneider | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District (The Center Square) Studying the viability of renewable energy projects on Lake Erie was the topic of discussion at a recent House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee meeting. Despite some concerns, the committee voted 19-7 to advance House Resolution 53, sponsored by Rep. Robert Merski, D-Erie. The resolution proposes that the Joint State Government Commission conduct a study on the feasibility, benefits and drawbacks of developing hydropower, solar, and wind energy on Pennsylvanias portion of Lake Erie. Merski explained the study is a response to feedback and constructive criticism received on House Bill 254, legislation he introduced last session that proposed leasing submerged lands of the lake for offshore wind, solar and kinetic energy generation. Stressing that he took concerns regarding such projects and their impact on bird habitats and aquatic life seriously, the study was developed in collaboration with stakeholders from all sides to address these issues. He highlighted a prototype already in place in his district, in which kinetic energy projects in Harbor Creek Township are generating electricity from waves on Lake Erie. Regardless of the studys outcome, Merski said, gathering more information will help guide future decisions. Seven of the 12 Republican committee members voted the measure down. Minority Chair Jack Rader, R-Effort, acknowledged Merskis intentions but questioned the initiatives effectiveness due to the limited amount of Lake Erie that Pennsylvania owns. He expressed concerns about its impact on outdoor recreation, shipping and tourism and noted the opposition he has heard from area representatives. Merski responded that the state owns hundreds of thousands of acres along a 50-mile stretch and explained that projects would not be near land and would not affect Presque Isle State Park. He said the study's purpose was to ensure that groups such as the Presque Isle State Park Advisory Committee, Sons of Lake Erie, and the Audubon Society whom he has met with are supportive of moving forward. He warned that the governor could decide to proceed without their approval and underscored the importance of the legislatures involvement in securing the best deal for the commonwealth. Speaking in support of the legislation, Rep. Abigail Salisbury, D-Braddock, noted the lakes role as a tourism and transportation asset that benefits the community. She also emphasized the importance of studying its potential for energy production, stating, We need to know about it because you cant make good decisions without good information. Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Cheswick, said there is significant interest in harnessing the Allegheny Rivers power through underwater turbines in her district. However, she said that balancing recreational activities and energy generation is important. She believes this balance can be achieved and that the study would yield useful information that can be applied across the commonwealth. Merski said his legislation would help diversify Pennsylvanias energy portfolio while prioritizing the use of clean, renewable energy to efficiently power Pennsylvania without increasing utility prices for consumers. The Erie region has a tremendous opportunity to be a leader in the development of green energy, Merski said. This bill would put us in a position to rise to the occasion by creating a vast, reliable energy network that will reduce our carbon footprint. Additionally, the economic impact of this legislation would be a boon for the Erie area as the projects would be an incredible source of family sustaining jobs. This is a win-win for our region, and I look forward to championing this vital bill throughout its legislative journey. The bill now heads to the House floor for consideration. Maine State House, Augusta, Maine. Maine State Legislature (The Center Square) Maine lawmakers are wrangling along party lines over proposals to restrict or expand lithium mining in western Maine, with the valuable metal in high demand for rechargeable batteries and high-tech gadgets. Last year, the Democratic-controlled Legislature approved a raft of bills to update mining laws in the state, prompted by the discovery of one of the worlds largest lithium deposits in the western Maine town of Newry. However, lawmakers are looking to make changes to Maine's Metallic Mineral Mining Act and subsequent regulations adopted by state environmental regulators. Republicans are pushing to ease the state's mining regulations to allow small-scale enthusiasts to take advantage of sites that include valuable minerals. One proposal, filed by state Sen. Joseph Martin, R-Oxford, would exempt pegmatite mining extracting lithium and other minerals igneous rocks from the restrictions approved last year if the mining is done on a 20-acre or less excavation site. Martin said the bill's intent is to maintain the state's environmental and safety standards while "cutting unnecessary red tape" for small-scale mining enthusiasts. "Maine has a rich tradition of rockhounding and small-scale mining hands-on activities that connect people to our land, our geology, and our history," he wrote in testimony on the bill. "This commonsense change will make it easier for small, non-commercial dig sites to meet safety requirements without the prohibitive cost of commercial-level insurance." Environmental groups and state regulators testified against the Republican bill during a recent hearing, arguing that Maine shouldn't be easing restrictions on an industry that has a record of polluting the environment. Meanwhile, Democrats are pushing to expand the scope of the Mining Act to increase regulations on mining for lithium and other precious metals. One proposal would require developers to conduct a comprehensive baseline health assessment for mining communities before initiation of mining operations and require expanded monitoring of toxic waste after a mine closes to prevent pollution-related health impacts. "Mining has earned a well-known reputation of being the most polluting and destructive of human activities on the planet. Its not a matter of if a metallic mine will pollute, but when," state Rep. Ambureen Rana, D-Bangor, the bill's main sponsor, wrote in testimony. With improved regulations, we may yet turn metallic mining's unfavorable reputation around and have an industry that is more mutually beneficial as it tries to set roots in Maine." The wrangling comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week invoking wartime powers to increase the production of critical minerals as part of broader efforts to challenge China's near monopoly of the sector. "The United States was once the world's largest producer of lucrative minerals, but overbearing federal regulation has eroded our nation's mineral production," Trump wrote. The White House switched from stunned inertia over its Yemen group chat scandal to its regular truth-trashing, brutal attacks on its critics and a perennial defense that President Donald Trump is the victim of a witch hunt. Its response to the embarrassing spectacle revealed by Atlantic journalist Jeffrey Goldberg gripped Washington on Tuesday. An increasingly aggressive tone and the lack of resignations among top national security officials suggested the plan is to give no inch and to turn the storm into another example of the second Trump presidencys capacity to defy the constraints that normally apply. In a divided nation hardly fixated on air strikes on Iran-backed Houthi militants, and as conservative media and GOP lawmakers run interference, political impact from the furor may be minimal. But the substance of the group chat, its impact on the reputation of Trumps top national security aides and several important developments in US foreign policy that are unfolding as it plays out offer important insights into how the administration sees the world and how it will wield American power. Trumps foreign policy heavy hitters are left embarrassed Trump is straining the Atlantic alliance to the breaking point; he wants to end the Ukraine war and to bring peace and geopolitical realignment to the Middle East; he aims to combat superpower China; and he is threatening territorial expansion in the Western hemisphere. But his crack foreign policy team apparently didnt know enough not to discuss sensitive and even operational details of military strikes on their mobile devices, which are vulnerable to foreign intelligence agencies. Trump prioritized a telegenic appearance and ultra-loyalty over experience in his Cabinet picks. And this doesnt seem like the kind of crew with the aptitude to defuse world crises. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth came across in the published chats just as might be expected for a TV anchor with negligible top-level national security experience. His boast that we are currently clean on OPSEC (operational security) is now a cringing metaphor for his greenness in his new job. And a post-strike round of clenched fist emojis and team self-congratulation in the Signal app seemed more appropriate for high schoolers than hardened national security operatives. The standing of national security adviser Mike Waltz, who reportedly added Atlantic editor-in-chief Goldberg to the chat, may have been irretrievably damaged. Waltz, a decorated Green Beret, comes across in his books as a serious national security thinker who appreciates US allies thanks to the especially collaborative mission of his special forces unit and harrowing battlefield experiences. His selection by Trump was greeted by the foreign policy community in Washington with some relief. The president may have warmly praised Waltz on Tuesday, but hes notoriously fickle with top subordinates. Characteristically, Trump used Waltzs embarrassment to extract a public show of loyalty and adulation in the mold of ruthless authoritarian leaders that he most admires. 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 on camera. Trumps White House communications director also launched an attack on Goldberg even though the journalists selective publication of sensitive details showed more circumspection than Trumps national security aides. Steven Cheung warned on X of a Signal hoax outrage and a witch hunt, alleging a conspiracy by the national security establishment community determined to bring Trump down. This administration really despises Europe European leaders took the hint from the first two months of the new Trump administration that the transatlantic alliance is over at least by comparison with the unshakeable bond between United States and the continent for 80 years. The private vitriol shown to US allies in the Signal chat when officials thought they couldnt be overheard suggests the breach is even more serious than it seemed. I just hate bailing Europe out again, JD Vance wrote in. The vice presidents disdain for transatlantic allies shone through in the zeal he brought to his speech lacerating their political culture at the Munich Security Conference last month. And hes likely to irk them again this week after announcing hell join his wife Usha on a trip to Greenland which Trump is vowing to annex. In the group chat, Hegseth seeks to ingratiate himself with the vice president, saying he thinks that European freeloading is PATHETIC. And a chat member identified as SM presumably, Trumps top adviser Stephen Miller talks about forcing Europe to remunerate the US for the cost of strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen. This appears to be a reference to the White House view that reopening shipping lanes in the Red Sea would benefit Europes economy more than Americas. This may be true, but requiring allies to pay for air strikes they werent consulted about is a bizarre way of conducting foreign policy, even for an administration as transactional as this one. And Washington is hardly acting against Yemen-based Houthis out of altruism toward Europe its mostly sending a message to the militants sponsors in Iran and to protect Israel. The key takeaway for Europe from the chats is that antipathy toward the continent runs far deeper than Trumps obsessions with NATO spending and trade deficits. Officials with the presidents ear are more hostile than he is. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth walks into the White House from Pebble Beach after finishing a talk with Fox TV in Washington, DC, on March 21, 2025. - Lenin Nolly/NurPhoto/AP Russia is resisting Trumps bid for a swift end to the Ukraine war The uproar in Washington over the group chat distracted attention from the meager takeaways from the administrations talks in Saudi Arabia aimed at ending the Ukraine war. The White House highlighted what it claimed was an agreement involving Russia and Ukraine to eliminate the use of force in the Black Sea. But Moscow imposed prohibitive conditions, including the lifting of restrictions on its market access for agricultural and fertilizer exports and curbs on its banks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of trying to deceive US mediators and twisting the agreements. And Washington may not be able to deliver on Russias demand for concessions: European states have warned against lifting key sanctions on the Kremlin until a full ceasefire has been agreed. The slow negotiations, which look nothing like the swift march to a peace deal Trump keeps promising, are consistent with Moscows classic approach. This is what Zelensky warned him about during a recent meeting in the Oval Office, causing the president and Vance to erupt in fury. Painful and incremental progress will only fuel the impression that Russia has no intention of ending a war in which its troops are making slow progress. The Russians are extremely skilled at using negotiation processes as a smokescreen for carrying on with their military ambitions, Samir Puri, a former ceasefire monitor in Ukraine, told CNNs Audie Cornish on CNN This Morning on Monday. They fight and they talk at the same time, said Puri, now director of the Centre for Global Governance and Security at Chatham House in London. The Trump administration has decided that US interests are best served by a quick halt to the war, which it fears could erupt into a third world war. Trump was empowered to make his move toward negotiating a ceasefire by his election victory and his constitutional prerogatives over foreign policy. But his administrations behavior is nevertheless raising concerns over its motives in the talks, not least because of the way that Trumps envoy to the talks, Steve Witkoff another official on the notorious Signal chat has been reading from the Kremlin script about seized regions in eastern Ukraine since meeting President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. A rising drumbeat of rhetoric about Mexicos cartels It was a coincidence that two other members of the Signal gang, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, were set to testify before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on Tuesday. Neither official emerged unscathed from an excruciating session, but Gabbard especially struggled to provide credible answers to Democratic senators furious about the administrations cavalier attitude to sensitive information. But her appearance may be most remembered for a major shift in US foreign policy. The intelligence communitys annual worldwide threat assessment led for the first time with a warning that transnational criminals, terrorists and other non-state actors pose a major danger to the homeland and are producing and trafficking vast quantities of drugs. The assessment brings the covert agencies in line with Trumps political views and warnings that undocumented immigration over the southern border represents a major national crisis. Gabbard testified that drugs cartels and criminal gangs most immediately and directly threaten the US and the well-being of its people. She highlighted Mexico-based transnational criminal organizations as the main suppliers of illicit fentanyl to the US market and warned of the threat from cartels promoting human trafficking and criminal groups that engage in extortion, weapons, and human smuggling. So what does this mean? Intensifying administration rhetoric on Mexico is not occurring in a vacuum. Since Trumps return to office, the US military has stepped up 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 has reported. Her remarks Tuesday are likely to fuel speculation about the administrations willingness to take military action against the cartels. Trumps claims on Canada undermined Gabbards testimony also undermined Trumps claims that Canada is a major source of fentanyl coming into the United States which is a prime justification for his tariff threats. New Mexico Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich pointed out that the annual threat assessment didnt mention fentanyl coming through Canada. Gabbard replied, The focus in my opening and the ATA was really to focus on the most extreme threats in that area, and our assessment is that the most extreme threat related to fentanyl continues to come from and through Mexico. Heinrich then noted that less than 1% of the synthetic drug entering the US comes over the countrys northern border. Which raises the question of why Trump has wrecked Washingtons relations with one of its oldest and closest friends largely over a threat that barely exists. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Rep. Jasmine Crockett is refusing to apologize for calling wheelchair-bound Texas Governor Greg Abbott Hot Wheels despite immense backlash and threats of congressional censure. The progressive Texas Democrat released a statement following the uproar Tuesday, stating she wasnt thinking about the governors condition and insisted it was not a jibe about Abbott being differently abled. At no point did I mention or allude to his condition, she said. She argued her comments were a reference to the planes, trains, and automobiles he used to transfer migrants in blue states. Not the fact that Abbott, 67, uses a wheelchair. The long-term governor was paralyzed in 1984 after a tree fell and collapsed on top of him while he was out running. The accident severely damaged his spinal cord. Crockett made the remark while speaking at a Human Rights Campaign banquet in Los Angeles at the weekend. Representative Jasmine Crockett mocked Gov. Greg Abbott during a Human Rights Campaign dinner in LA Saturday (Getty Images) While taking the stand, she said: We in these hot a** Texas streets, honey. 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 lawmaker added. Crockett addressed the double standards of being called out over the barb in her X statement, claiming that she was even more appalled that Trump supporters who are content with his racially insensitive nicknames. However, her failure to formally acknowledge the faux pas and issue a formal apology has been met with mixed reactions. X user Tristan Thomas wrote: If Elon doesn't have to apologize for a "mistaken" Nazi Salute, you don't have to apologize for anything ever. While another scorned Crockett, writing: This shouldnt turn into a game of well, Trump did something awful, so now I gets a free pass. Bad behavior doesnt cancel out other bad behavior. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it. Stop defending bad behavior and apologize for your actions. Last week, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called Crockett out by accusing her of orchestrating political violence and terrorism and made her concerns known to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel. A Member of Congress is organizing political violence and terrorism, the controversial Georgia congresswoman wrote on X Thursday in response to a live stream titled TeslaTakedown, which discussed peaceful protests against Musk. Attorney General Pam Bondi reacted by calling on Crockett to apologize for her comments against Musk, insisting they be taken down, claiming the comments are driving violence and insurrection. The Independent contacted Abbott for comment. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Lawmakers continue to weigh in after reports that Trump administration officials inadvertently included a journalist for The Atlantic in a Signal app group chat where they discussed U.S. military operations in Yemen. Republicans in Congress have some concerns about how the incident played out, but many so far are leaving decisions about accountability up to President Trump. The president has, for the moment, not dismissed any of those involved in the messages. "This is a really big first strike, a really bad first strike. Whether somebody should be fired immediately or not, that's, of course, obviously up to the commander in chief," Senator Kevin Cramer, a Republican from North Dakota, told Scripps News Tuesday. "Clearly [National Security Adviser Mike Waltz] has taken responsibility for the unfortunate adding of a reporter to that text. But everybody bears some responsibility. I mean, I use Signal for sensitive communication, but not for classified communication. I know that. I can't imagine somebody on that chain didn't catch that problem sooner." Sen. Cramer's response was more nuanced than that of some Republicans on Capitol Hill. When Scripps News's Nathaniel Reed asked Congressman Troy Nehls, a Republican from Texas and a frequent and vocal backer of President Donald Trump, if anyone should be fired because of this or if there should be an investigation, he said people have moved on. RELATED STORY | 'He's a very good man': Trump stands by adviser who reportedly added journalist to attack plans chat Democrats, meanwhile, are in the minority in both chambers of Congress, which limits their ability to issue subpoenas, conduct investigations or otherwise try and bring administration officials in front of Congress. Some Democratic lawmakers have nonetheless called for investigations and potentially the resignation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. "Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth should resign," said Rep. Ted Lieu, from California. "He recklessly texted operational details of military strikes including time, place, location and sequencing of those strikes to a Journalist." "These are absolutely reckless national security decisions that put our brave men and women on the front line it put them at risk," California Rep. Pete Aguilar said. "The Trump administration continues to play fast and loose with this nation's national security and somebody needs to get fired," Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth said. "Pete Hegseth should be stepping down." The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee told reporters Tuesday that there were concerning reports that foreign intelligence agents may have been able to intercept and possibly read some of the communications. "Russia probably intercepted this," said Rep. Jim Himes, Ranking Member on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. "I don't know that for sure. China may have intercepted this. Had they shared this information, classified or not, with the Houthis, we would have dead pilots today. We would have United States Naval frigates at the bottom of the Red Sea. That's why you don't do this." A worldwide threats hearing before the House Intelligence Committee scheduled for Wednesday may give Democratic lawmakers more opportunity to question administration officials about the messaging incident. RELATED STORY | Trump officials inadvertently added journalist to text chain on war plans An Oscar-winning Palestinian director attacked in the occupied West Bank says he was held overnight in jail by Israeli soldiers who mocked his award between beatings. Just three weeks ago, Hamdan Ballal was given rapturous applause when he accepted the Academy Award for his film No Other Land. Now he has spoken out about his ordeal that started on Monday, when his head was kicked like a football as he lay in the dirt during a settler attack on his home in the occupied area. Ballal was attending a gathering for the end of the daily Ramadan fast near Hebron, when a group of masked men attacked him. Oscar-winning director Hamdan Ballal was attacked by Israeli settlers and detained by Israeli Forces (AFP via Getty Images) In that precise moment, I thought about my family, who were at home, Ballal told The Guardian. I ran to them and told my wife, Lock the house and keep the children inside. They could have attacked me, but by doing so they wouldnt have harmed my family. The soldiers pointed their rifles at me while the settler from behind began beating me, Ballal said. They threw me to the ground, and the settler started hitting me on the head. Then a soldier also began beating me; with the butt of his rifle, he struck me on the head. After that, he fired his weapon in the air. I dont understand Hebrew, but I gathered that he said the next rifle shot would hit me. In that moment, I thought I was going to die. Ballal is detained by the Israeli military from his home in the Israeli-occupied West Bank (AP) Ballal was dragged from an ambulance by the mob, according to co-director Yuval Abraham. Israeli 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 claimed. Ballal says he heard them saying his name and the word Oscar. A bloodied Ballal receives treatment in hospital (X/Basel_Adra) The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have called his allegations entirely baseless. 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. Two other detained Palestinians had minor injuries. His co-director Yuval Abraham has hit out at the Academy for failing to protect his colleague or release a statement abhoring the violence against him. He posted on X: While Hamdan was clearly targeted for making No Other Land (he recalled soldiers joking about the Oscar as they tortured him), he was also targeted for being Palestinianlike countless others every day who are disregarded. This, it seems, gave the Academy an excuse to remain silent when a filmmaker they honored, living under Israeli occupation, needed them the most. Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal and Yuval Abraham won the award for best documentary feature film for No Other Land (AP) An IDF spokesperson said they had reviewed the case and denied claims detainees were beaten during the night. IDF forces facilitated medical treatment for the detainees after the initial transfer of the suspects to the Israel police, and throughout the night, the detainees remained in a military detention facility while handcuffed in accordance with operational protocol, they said. Yesterday morning, the three detainees were transferred by the IDF to the Israel Police for questioning on suspicion of rock hurling, property damage, and endangering regional security. Following their questioning, the three were released by the police under conditions that include a ban on contact with other individuals involved in the incident and personal bail. During the incident, an Israeli civilian was injured and required medical treatment. The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests are expected. Vice President JD Vance The long-awaited deal to save TikTok from being banned from US app stores is ticking down to completion, On The Money has learned. An investor group working with Vice President JD Vance has the contours of a deal in place to rescue the popular short-video app from extinction, sources close to the situation said. Vance is Trumps White House point-man in saving TikTok from a ban that under law is set to go into effect April 5 if the app doesnt divest from its Chinese ownership over concerns that the ruling communist party uses the platform to spy on US citizens. An investor group working with Vice President JD Vance has the contours of a deal in place to rescue the popular short-video app from extinction, sources close to the situation said. AP The deal announcement will also likely include a grace period of some type 30 days or possibly longer for the team to iron out details, the source said. Under the scenario now being discussed, tech giant Oracle would safeguard the app in its cloud, while TikToks Chinese-parent ByteDance would take a minority position in a new US majority-owned company, people with direct knowledge of the dealmaking said. Large US-based institutions that already have an ownership stake in Bytedance, outfits like General Atlantic and Susquehanna, will form the majority of the ownership team, a move designed to address the US-control stipulations in the law, the sources added. We feel good we can get this thing done next week, said a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations. A press rep for Vance had no comment. A TikTok spokesman had no comment. A law is set to go into effect April 5 if the app doesnt divest from its Chinese ownership over concerns. Getty Images People close to the deal talks caution that the transaction isnt finalized and could be scuttled or significantly altered. That said, one big hurdle has already been overcome: Tom Cotton, the powerful GOP Senator from Arkansas and a proponent of a TikTok ban, is telling people he will stand down at least for the immediate future and allow the White House to develop a deal structure that complies with ban legislation that he has long favored, people with knowledge of the matter tell On The Money. The way the TikTok ban law signed by former President Biden and upheld by the Supreme Court is written, the company must remove any trace of Chinese control. But the president, in this case Donald Trump, has some discretion in determining if any deal meets those requirements. Despite the progress, the new US-led investor group and Vance are grappling with the potential massive civil liabilities that under the legislation could be imposed on investors if courts rule that any circumvention violates the laws provisions to prevent the Chinese from controlling the company in any way, including through its all-important algorithm. Under the scenario now being discussed, tech giant Oracle would safeguard the app in its cloud, while TikToks Chinese-parent ByteDance would take a minority position in a new US majority-owned company REUTERS Another unknown is the new companys valuation. TikTok is a private company, but its also enormously popular, with its US app garnering around 170 million users. Deal team members say the new company could be worth anywhere from $20 billion to $40 billion or more. Still, its hard to value given the controversy surrounding the company and charges that it is used as an espionage tool of the communist Chinese government an accusation that TikTok and ByteDance have long denied. Another complicating matter is the deals current structure that includes TikToks current Chinese-made algorithm, the technology that gives the app its secret sauce of providing an endless supply of user videos based on personal preferences, but critics say, is also the tool used by the Chinese government to engage in espionage. Some of the new equity investors have discussed a White House indemnification over this liability because of the existence of the Chinese algo and its potential legal ramifications. Others say the new ownership team will eventually have to create their own algorithm to stay within the laws parameters. On top of everything else, Vance and the new ownership group will need buy-in from the Chinese government, which controls China Inc. TikToks emergence as among the most popular social media platforms, mostly with the youth of America, has been haunting Silicon Valley, Wall Street and Washington for more than five years. Trump once sought to ban the app but did a 180 after the recent election and said he wanted to preserve it. Trump believes that during the 2024 presidential campaign, enough pro-Trump videos surfaced on the app that it helped him win votes in the 18 to 24 crowd that dominates its user base. By Karen Freifeld and David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States added six subsidiaries of Inspur Group, China's leading cloud computing and big data service provider, and dozens of other Chinese entities to its export restriction list on Tuesday. The Inspur units were listed for contributing to the development of supercomputers for the Chinese military, the Commerce Department said in a posting. Five of the subsidiaries are based in China and one in Taiwan. Inspur Group itself was placed on the list in 2023. The Inspur units are among about 80 companies and institutes added to the export control list on Tuesday. Over 50 are based in China. Others are in Taiwan, Iran, Pakistan, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. The listings are intended to restrict China's ability to develop high-performance computing capabilities, quantum technologies and advanced AI, and impede Chinas development of its hypersonic weapons program. "We will not allow adversaries to exploit American technology to bolster their own militaries and threaten American lives," U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said. China's foreign ministry in response to an enquiry on Wednesday condemned the U.S. move and said the country will take necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises. The move is "not conducive to creating an atmosphere for the two sides to solve problems through dialog and cooperation," China's commerce ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. The Chinese embassy in Washington said on Tuesday that it firmly opposed "these acts taken by the U.S. and demand that it immediately stop using military-related issues as pretexts to politicize, instrumentalize and weaponize trade and tech issues." The Inspur Group did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The United States also seeks to disrupt Irans procurement of drones and related defense items and prevent development of its ballistic missile program and un-safeguarded nuclear activities. The government adds companies to the Commerce Department's Entity List for national security or foreign policy concerns. Companies cannot sell goods to those listed without applying for and obtaining licenses, which are likely to be denied. Commerce official Jeffrey Kessler said the administration aims to prevent "U.S. technologies and goods from being misused for high performance computing, hypersonic missiles, military aircraft training, and UAVs (drones) that threaten our national security." When Inspur Group was placed on the list in 2023, executives from AMD and Nvidia were questioned about their dealings with the company. At the time, chip industry insiders and their advisers said firms were trying to assess whether they had to halt supplying Inspur's subsidiaries.Reuters could not immediately determine whether the U.S. companies continued to do business with the subsidiaries. Nvidia declined to comment and AMD did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Chinese firms Nettrix Information Industry Co, Suma Technology Co and Suma-USI Electronics are among the other companies added to the list. The United States said they were added for helping develop Chinese exascale supercomputers, which can process vast amounts of data at very high speeds and conduct large-scale simulations. The companies have also provided manufacturing capabilities to Sugon, also known as Dawning Information Industry Co, a computer server manufacturer added to the Entity List in 2019 for building supercomputers used by the military, the Commerce Department said. The companies could not immediately be reached for comment. Other companies were added to the list for acquiring U.S.-origin items to advance China's quantum technology capabilities and for selling products to companies that supply other listed parties, including Huawei, the tech conglomerate viewed as at the center of China's AI ambitions. The Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence (BAAI), a Chinese non-profit new research and development institution that was also targeted by the United States, said on Wednesday that it was shocked and demanded that relevant U.S. departments withdraw the "wrong" decision. (Reporting by Karen Freifeld and David Shepardson; Additional reporting by Jasper Ward, Stephen Nellis and Max Cherney, and Liz Lee in Beijing; Editing by Caitlin Webber, Chris Reese, Sonali Paul, Frances Kerry and Mark Porter) By Kanishka Singh and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Minorities in India face deteriorating treatment, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said on Tuesday, and it recommended targeted sanctions against India's external spy agency over alleged involvement in assassination plots against Sikh separatists. The panel's annual report also said communist-ruled Vietnam stepped up efforts to regulate and control religious affairs. It recommended Vietnam - a country like India with which Washington has sought to build close ties given shared concerns about China - also be designated a "country of particular concern." Analysts say Washington has long seen New Delhi as a counter to China's rising influence in Asia and elsewhere, and, hence, overlooked human rights issues in India. It is unlikely the U.S. government will sanction India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) spy service, as the panel's recommendations are not binding. 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 U.S. plot. India labels Sikh separatists as security threats and has denied involvement. "In 2024, religious freedom conditions in India continued to deteriorate as attacks and discrimination against religious minorities continued to rise," the U.S. commission said in a report released on Tuesday. It said 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. 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." 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. 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 RAW. The Indian embassy had no immediate comment. Rights advocates, in noting the plight of Indian minorities, 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 commission is a bipartisan U.S. government advisory body that monitors religious freedom abroad and makes policy recommendations. 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; Editing by Stephen Coates) By David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer held "candid" talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on trade issues during an introductory meeting, Greer's office said as U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to raise tariffs on Chinese imports further. Greer outlined Trump's trade policy goals in the video conference with He, USTR said, describing them as aiming to promote domestic investment and productivity, enhance U.S. industrial advantages, protect American workers and defend economic and national security. He also expressed serious concerns about what he called Chinas unfair and anticompetitive trade policies and practices, the statement said, describing the talks as "candid". China's Xinhua news agency reported that He expressed "solemn concerns" over U.S. tariffs and Trump's planned "reciprocal" duties. Xinhua also described the call as a "candid and in-depth" exchange of views on key economic and trade issues, adding that they agreed to maintain communications. The call came as Trump prepares to impose reciprocal tariffs next week, a move widely expected to slap more duties on Chinese goods. The tariffs are aimed at matching trading partners' duty rates and counteracting non-tariff barriers to U.S. goods. Trump has imposed a new 20% levy on all Chinese imports since taking office in January, accusing Beijing of not doing enough to stem the outflow of chemical precursors used to produce the deadly opioid fentanyl. China retaliated by imposing targeted tariffs of up to 15% on some U.S. goods ranging from oil and liquefied natural gas to agricultural products and farm equipment. The tit-for-tat measures added new strains to relations between the two major powers that have already sunk to historic lows in recent years due to issues ranging from trade and technology curbs to Taiwan. (This story has been corrected to fix the reference to the Chinese Vice Premier's quoted statement to say raised 'solemn concerns' over U.S. tariffs and U.S. planned reciprocal duties, not that China planned reciprocal duties, in paragraph 4) (Reporting by David Lawder, Susan Heavey and Doina Chiacu in Washington and Ethan Wang, Yukun Zhang and Ryan Woo; Editing by Katharine Jackson and Alison Williams) CHEYENNE, Wyo. For years, a small office suite tucked into a nondescript strip mall has provided a lifeline for veterans with mental health issues. Its one of hundreds of tiny centers across the United States designed to act as a refuge for veterans in crisis. But last month, the office manager, a Marine veteran with a glowing performance review, was fired as part of sweeping cuts across the Department of Veterans Affairs. The manager, Carla Nelson, was the person who greeted every veteran at the front door. She was the one whose voice they heard when they called in seeking help. Her termination and the potential for wider cuts have caused concern in the veteran community in Wyoming. Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, more than 140,000 vets have lost their lives to suicide nationwide, according to the VA, vastly more than the roughly 7,000 U.S. service members who died in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. And the veteran suicide rate in Wyoming is 50% higher than the national average, according to the latest VA data. We lose too many, said Justin Tripp, a Navy veteran who is now the Wyoming state commander for the VFW. The issue is personal for Tripp. He said a good friend whom he had served alongside died by suicide recently. That transition to civilian life thats where we lose a lot of people to suicide. Tripp added. They dont have a good transition. Theyre not getting help for their mental illness. Justin Tripp is the state commander for Wyoming's VFW. Roughly 40,000 veterans reside in Wyoming. They and others who live in rural areas tend to have lower incomes than their urban counterparts, and they often struggle to make it to appointments that can be hours away. They also rely on VA services more than those living in urban areas, according to VA data. The system that serves these veterans is now bracing for much more significant cuts. Last week, VA departments went through staff, line by line, identifying who was mission critical and who could be fired as part of a plan for 80,000 layoffs, according to two current VA sources. The real pain is coming, said one VA official who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation. If we cant provide the care in these rural communities, there isnt another option, especially for mental health. In an interview with NBC News, Nelson, the fired office manager, said veterans came from all over the state and beyond to get help for post-traumatic stress disorder and other serious mental health issues. We deal with crisis situations, Nelson said. Some traveled up to an hour to get there, and even some came from Nebraska. Unlike a VA hospital, small centers like the one where Nelson worked offer an informal setting where veterans can walk in for help. She had been working there since May 2024. As a veteran herself, she listens with empathy, read her October 2024 performance review, according to a copy obtained by NBC News. She is the first person our clients come into contact with. Her manager also wrote that her customer service with veterans was "always exceptional." Nelson was at work Feb. 24 when she received an email informing her that she was terminated. Nobody was pre-warned about any of this, Nelson said. Nobody knew. A federal judge has ordered probationary employees like Nelson to be reinstated, but for many the situation remains unclear. VA press secretary Pete Kasperowicz did not respond to specific questions about Nelson's status. VA is complying with the U.S. District Court for the District of Marylands March 13 temporary restraining order and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Californias March 13 preliminary injunction related to probationary employees," he said in a statement. "We cannot comment further due to pending litigation. VA Secretary Doug Collins has sought to reassure those who are worried about how the cuts will impact veterans directly. Were going to accomplish this without making cuts to healthcare or benefits to veterans and VA beneficiaries, he said in a YouTube post March 5. Tripp, of the VFW, said he agrees that the VA could benefit from some streamlining. But he believes that terminating someone like Nelson will have consequences for veterans in need of help. I would be concerned with positions that are front-line positions that touch veterans every day,: he said. Id want to make sure that somebodys at the front door so if a veteran walked in in a crisis, they would be there to help. Others in Cheyenne said they were concerned about impending cuts but feared that speaking publicly would make them a target, especially because 70% of the state voted for Donald Trump. One VA employee, who lives in a Western state and spoke anonymously out of fear of retaliation, said the loss of support staff will impact clinical care because fewer appointments will be made. While the VA has made great strides in improving telehealth services to assist rural veterans, some are still unable to access them, advocates say. Chauncey Parker, who runs Great Plains Veterans Service Center in northern Montana, uses a federal grant to pay a network of veterans who drive fellow vets to appointments. He said the VAs expansion into telehealth has helped significantly, but some vets dont have access. Some of them dont have the connectivity in the first place, Parker said, so that in-person visit with their health care provider is about all they have. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources. Laura Strickler and Stephane Gosk reported from Cheyenne and Lily Becker from Washington, D.C. Food & Wine / Chick-fil-A There's a new way to bring Chick-fil-A home with you. This week, the Georgia-based fast-food brand announced it's bringing 12-ounce bottled Parmesan Caesar Dressing to grocery and retail stores around the nation. It's also adding two Chick-fil-A restaurant sauces to its retail bottled sauce lineup, including the 16-ounce Zesty Buffalo Sauce and Honey Mustard Sauce. But hang on, there's one more surprise. For the very first time, the brand is offering an exclusive 2-pack of 24-oz Chick-fil-A sauce in club stores, including Costco, Sam's Club, and BJ's Warehouse around the U.S. Fans can expect to find them in clubs this spring. Related: Chick-fil-A Has Some Major News, and Fans Arent Going to Be Happy "Customers continue to tell us that they enjoy the versatility of our Chick-fil-A sauce flavors with their at-home meal creations," Beth Grant, director of consumer packaged goods for Chick-fil-A, shared in a statement. "We are excited for the retail launch of our new Parmesan Caesar Dressing and introduction of our signature Chick-fil-A Sauce into club stores for the first time. Now people can have more of their favorite Chick-fil-A flavors in their kitchen, using these products anytime as a simple way to dress up any meal or snack." As for the Parmesan Caesar Dressing, the brand says this is a rich and creamy dressing "that "boasts the bold, savory taste of parmesan, with a zesty lemon finish and a hint of garlic," and is the perfect pairing for salads. The Zesty Buffalo Sauce, the company added, allows "at-home chefs to add this craveable Chick-fil-A flavor to their favorite recipes. The sauce is bold and crafted with a smooth blend of cayenne pepper, vinegar, and garlic for a balanced kick of heat." Lastly, there's the Honey Mustard Sauce, which it noted is "both savory and sweet, mixing the robust flavors of mustard and spices with the delicious taste of honey." And, of course, you can still get that classic Chick-fil-A sauce to dip, drizzle, or spread on anything you want. All three new products are set to roll out at participating U.S. grocery and retailers nationwide over the coming weeks, so keep your eyes peeled and your fork ready. Chick-fil-As New Bottled Sauces Parmesan Caesar Dressing Zesty Buffalo Sauce Honey Mustard Sauce Read the original article on Food & Wine Alexander Spatari/Getty Images Crowds of people on Gran Via avenue on a sunny day in Madrid, Spain. Get ready to fly easily from the home of Disney World to Spain at the end of the year. Iberia Airlines announced that they will inaugurate a new non-stop route from Madrid to Orlando this fall. Beginning October 26, flights from Adolfo Suarez MadridBarajas Airport (MAD) to Orlando International Airport (MCO) will fly four times per week, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. We are truly pleased to announce the opening of these three new routes next winter season. Thanks to our relationship with Disney Destinations, we believe Orlando can become the star destination for the upcoming Christmas season, Maria Jesus Lopez Solas, Director of Sales, Customers, Network Development and Alliances at Iberia, said in a statement shared with T+L. Orlando is most notable for its theme parks, including Disney World and Universal Orlando. Madrid is one of the largest and most exciting cities in Europe, with world-famous art museums like the Prado and iconic streets filled with camera-ready architecture like the Gran Via. Iberia will also launch two new routes to Brazil. On December 13, flights from Madrid (MAD) to Recife/GuararapesGilberto Freyre International Airport (REC) will begin three times per week, and increase to five times per week in February. Then on January 19, flights will begin to Fortaleza International Airport (FOR) three times per week, increasing in February to four times per week. We believe Brazil has great potential, beyond the major cities we already serve. With the addition of the new A321XLRs, we can explore new routes across the Atlantic, assess their acceptance, and gradually adapt supply to demand, said Lopez Solas in a statement to T+L. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure @alexafromspace / TikTok Actor Pedro Pascal caused caffeinated chaos across the internet a little over two years ago when his truly wild Starbucks order went viral. And now, The Last of Us star is finally speaking his truth on the matter. And truth is, he just wants to down his infinite espresso shots in peace. During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! this week, Kimmel asked Pascal about the infamous photo, which shows his coffee order plastered on the side of a Starbucks cup. That chaotic coffee order was an iced quad espresso in a venti cup with extra ice and six shots. "I cannot begin to tell you how violating this was. There's so much context to why it has become six shots of espresso," Pascal explained. "It was always a quad, but then I feel like the cups got bigger and the shots got less strong. And at some point it became six." And if you're worried about Pascal sneaking off the set of one of his Blockbuster movies to grab another super-caffeinated drink from Starbies, fear not. "It was [an] incredibly private morning ritual that I never wanted anyone to know about. I don't have more coffee for the rest of the day, I swear," he admitted. Sure, Pedro. And if you're wondering what the Chilean native does after downing espresso shots like they're water, here you go: "You sip it. You get really high and you answer emails and stuff." @alexafromspace / TikTok It was March 2023 when the internet became aware of Pascal's Starbucks order, thanks to a chance encounter with a fan. The TikTok from @alexafromspace, which is now unavailable, included a photo of a smiling Pascal carefully cradling his beverage with two hands. "Daddy needs his coffee every morning to carry the entire world and a fandom over his shoulders," the caption read. Assuming that the actor's order includes six shots of espresso total (and not six in addition to the four that come in a quad), that gets him to around 384 mg of caffeine, with 64 mg per shot. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 400 mg is around the max amount of caffeine someone should have before side effects may start to kick in. "For healthy adults, the FDA has cited 400 milligrams a daythat's about four or five cups of coffeeas an amount not generally associated with dangerous, negative effects," states a warning on the FDA website. Still, fans were a bit concerned about the wild order at the time. One concerned commenter on TikTok replied, "is his HEART OKAY!?" Another user offered some interesting insight on the effect of six shots of espresso: "dude one time the barista gave me 6 shots instead of 3 and I could read thoughts," they wrote. Might we interest you in a moderately caffeinated Cinnamon Caramel Cream Nitro Cold Brew instead, Pedro? You Might Also Like Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Prince Harry has shared that he's devastated after stepping down from his beloved African charity following reported infighting. The Duke of Sussex, 40, set up Sentebale alongside his friend Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 in memory of both of their late mothers. The charity focuses on lifting up young people caught in the HIV/AIDS crisis in Lesotho and further afield in southern Africa. But now both have stepped down amid claims about the charitys governance, according to U.K. newspaper The Times. The Charity Commission, based in the U.K., is investigating, per the outlet. Their departures reportedly stem from a breakdown in relations between chairwoman Dr. Sophie Chandauka and the board of trustees. The trustees who include Harrys close friend Mark Dyer, who introduced him to Prince Seeiso and and the country of Lesotho have also stepped down. In a joint statement, Harry and Prince Seeiso said, according to The Times, "Whats transpired is unthinkable. We are in shock that we have to do this. Brian Otieno/Getty Prince Harry (right) with his friend and fellow Sentebale founder Prince Seeiso, in Lesotho, Africa in October 2024 "Nearly 20 years ago, we founded Sentebale in honor 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 we've served through this charity. Today is no different," the statement continued. With heavy hearts, we have resigned for our roles as patrons of the organization 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," the statement concluded. The two princes went on to thank the trustees for their service over the years and added they're truly heartbroken theyve had to follow through with this act. Harry set up Sentebale two years after visiting Lesotho during his gap year after school and before joining the army. He saw it partly as continuing the legacy of his late mother, Princess Diana, who had campaigned to help those with AIDS. Brian Otieno/Getty Prince Harry visiting Matlameng in Lesotho in October 2024 Related: Prince Harry Says 'Africa's in My Soul' as He Discusses Desire to 'Give Back' During Surprise Panel Appearance in Miami A spokesperson for the Charity Commission, which registers and regulates charities in England and Wales so the public can support charities with confidence, told PEOPLE in a statement, 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. Dr. Chandauka said in a statement that she had been guided by the principles of fairness and equitable treatment for all, the BBC reported. Brian Otieno/Getty Prince Harry with Dr. Sophie Chandauka (left) in South Africa in October 2024 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," the statement continued. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Related: Prince Harry Celebrates Relationship with Beloved African Country That Began 20 Years Ago: 'Home Away from Home' Brian Otieno/Getty Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso in Masero, Lesotho, in October 2024 Dr. Chandauka added that this 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 coverup that ensued. She also went on to say that her work with the charity was "not a vanity project from which I can resign when I am called to account",according to the outlet. A spokesperson for Sentebale said it could not confirm the resignations of the royal patrons, but added in a statement, per the outlet. 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. Harry regularly visits Lesotho and was last there in October. He has also taken part in annual polo matches to raise money for Sentebale. It's thought this has brought in around $10 million over the last 10 years. PEOPLE has reached out to a spokesperson for Prince Harry and Sentebale for comment. Read the original article on People A Texas man accused of groping two other women on past flights has been arrested for allegedly touching another woman's breasts during an American Airlines flight to Seattle. A Texas man accused of groping two women on past flights has been arrested for allegedly touching another womans breasts during an American Airlines flight to Seattle. Cherian Abraham, 55, was arrested following a federal investigation over an incident that occurred on March 18 aboard American Airlines Flight 2076, where a woman claimed he groped her breast twice, the Dallas Morning News reports. The victim, who was not publicly identified, said the incident was traumatizing, with the airline issuing a ban against the repeat offender. A man aboard American Airlines flight 2076 was accused of repeatedly groping a woman. AFP via Getty Images The incident occurred about two hours into the flight out of Chicago, with Abraham allegedly putting his finger on the womans breast and rubbing it, according to court documents. Abraham claimed the touch was accidental as he was reaching for his baggage, but about five minutes later, he touched her breast yet again in an alleged attempt to touch her nipple, the victim told police. Another five minutes later, Abraham moved his hand under her arm and poked her, infuriating the victim who had enough of his repeated touching. Why the fk are you touching me? the woman erupted, according to the affidavit. Abraham allegedly kept quiet and reached for his backpack and placed it over his lap, a move that one witness told police seemed unusual. An American Airlines flight attendant said the victim demanded a transfer because a passenger had been molesting her. sorapop stock.adobe.com A flight attendant confirmed that the victim got up and asked to be moved because Abraham was molesting her. When questioned by police, Abraham initially denied touching the victim until he was advised of the possibility of a witness, the Morning News reported. Abraham also claimed that he had never been accused of groping a woman on a flight before, despite having two previous incidents over the last two years. Records show that on April 24, 2024, one woman filed an online complaint with American Airlines accusing him of touching her several times, including between her legs, as she yelled at him to stop. On Oct. 9 the previous year, another woman told Minneapolis Airport Police that Abraham touched her three times on her leg until she told him to stop. Abraham denied touching the two other women, who said the experience left them feeling violated. Abraham was arrested on Monday on one count of abusive sexual conduct. If convicted, he faces up to two years in prison. American Airlines said they are cooperating with law enforcements investigation. As wildfires raged across the Carolinas on Wednesday, millions of people in the southern U.S. and the Pacific Northwest braced for looming storms that could unleash heavy rain, flooding and possible tornadoes this week. In Texas, a system moving over the area could bring 5 to 10 inches of rain, prompting flood watches across multiple counties. The storm system is expected to expand eastward over the coming days and could lead to possible flooding in Louisiana and Mississippi. On the West Coast, powerful storms are forecast to unleash a barrage of dangerous weather conditions beginning Wednesday afternoon, meteorologists said. "Supercells are expected west of the Cascades across Oregon into Washington," according to the Weather Prediction Center. "These may produce large hail, perhaps a brief tornado, and locally strong gusts." Meanwhile, extreme fire weather threatened to fuel the blazes that have forced people from their homes in North and South Carolina this week. Across both states, the weather service issued red flag warnings on Wednesday. Wildfires burn across the Carolinas Firefighters in the Carolinas continued to battle wildfires Wednesday amid a relentless bout of high winds, low humidity and dry conditions. In North Carolina, emergency responders attempted to gain control over three wildfires that have consumed 10 square miles of land, triggered rounds of evacuations and destroyed at least 11 homes. In South Carolina, wildfires in Greenville and Pickens County quickly expanded in size on Tuesday and prompted evacuation orders. The Table Rock and Persimmon Ridge fires have burned 5 miles square of land as of late Tuesday. "Fire danger will be elevated over the next several days as most of the state is forecast to have low relative humidities and higher-than-normal winds, coupled with drying fuels from a lack of significant rain," the state's forestry commission said in a statement. Mammoth storm forecast in the central US this weekend The largest and most threatening weather event on the horizon will occur over the weekend and could impact two-thirds of the country. Forecasters say more than a dozen states from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes could see dangerous storm conditions "ranging from damaging wind gusts to large hail and even tornadoes," according to an AccuWeather forecast. The cross-country storm will break out on Saturday before moving into the East on Sunday, bringing downpours and tornado threats to the Eastern Seaboard, from northern Florida to Maryland. The storm will continue to impact the eastern U.S. into next week, AccuWeather said. Heat in the West, snow in the Northeast Temperatures could reach record-breaking highs in the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday as the Great Lakes and Northeast regions experience snow and unusually low temperatures. "High temperatures reaching into the 70s will challenge or break daily records across the Pacific Northwest and into the northern Great Basin this afternoon," the National Weather Service said. "By Thursday afternoon, record warmth will shift east toward the central Plains." At the same time an upper-level trough in the Northeast is keeping temperatures well below freezing overnight from Michigan and Indiana to Pennsylvania and western New York, resulting in snow flurries. In the coming days, the heat in the West will steadily move eastward, surging temperatures in the Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic regions into the high 70s and 80s by the weekend. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Storms, tornadoes threaten much of US; wildfires rage in Carolinas A contentious Senate hearing Tuesday raised questions about how Trump administration officials handle sensitive national security information and communications, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths decision to share details of a planned U.S. military operation in a group chat. Of the more than dozen senior U.S. officials on a Signal text chain that was inadvertently leaked to a journalist, Hegseth was the only one who shared details of the planned U.S. airstrikes in Yemen. In the group chat, an account labeled Pete Hegseth relayed operational details of upcoming strikes on Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing, Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, reported. Goldberg said he received the text messages about the operation at 11:44 a.m. on March 15. Media reports about the bombing of Houthi targets emerged about two hours later. Signal, an encrypted messenger app available to the public, is generally not authorized for government communications. CIA Director John Ratcliffe and National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard testified to the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday that Hegseth and the Defense Department had the classification authority to decide whether certain military information was classified or not. Their answers raised the possibility that Hegseth had revealed classified information on the group chat or that he had declassified the information beforehand. Asked by reporters whether he declassified the information he put into the Signal chat, Hegseth said, "Nobodys texting war plans, and thats all I have to say." He then praised the bravery of the pilots who conducted the strikes. Democratic lawmakers and former national security officials said details of planned military operations have always been considered classified and argued it's hard to imagine why such plans would not be in this case. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at NATO headquarters in Brussels in February. Republicans at the hearing steered away from the subject, with some saying they would ask for clarification in a closed session. But privately, some Republican lawmakers were angered by the episode and with Hegseth in particular. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., a retired Air Force general, scoffed at Hegseths assertion that no war plans had been shared on the text chain. Thats baloney, Bacon told reporters. Just be honest and own up to it. More significantly, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he would investigate the text chain with his Democratic colleagues on the panel. Were very concerned about it and well be looking into it on a bipartisan basis, Wicker told reporters. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., downplayed the incident. She said adding Goldberg to the White House officials Signal chat was incredibly sloppy but added that it was a mistake, and I am, I can say for certain, theyre going to put protocols in place so that doesnt happen again. Nine years ago, Hegseth, speaking on Fox News on Election Day in 2016, harshly criticized Hillary Clintons use of a private email server. Any security professional, military, government, or otherwise, would be fired on the spot for this type of conduct and criminally prosecuted for being so reckless with this kind of information, he said. From left, National Security Agency Director Timothy Haugh, FBI Director Kash Patel, National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Jeffrey Kruse at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing Tuesday. Questions about Gabbards phone At the hearing Tuesday, Democratic lawmakers demanded answers about not only the leaked text chain but also whether Trump administration officials were regularly discussing sensitive national security topics on personal phones or commercial apps like Signal instead of secure government platforms. Gabbard declined to say whether she was using her private or her government phone for the leaked text exchanges on Signal, telling Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., that she would refrain from saying more pending a government review of the episode. Reed said he was puzzled by her answer. What is under review? Its a very simple question: Were you using a private phone or officially issued phone? What could be under review? Gabbard replied, 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. Cybersecurity experts say that government-issued phones are generally more secure and that a personal phone is likely to be more vulnerable to foreign intelligence hacking. The use of Signal is generally not authorized for government communications devices, current and former officials told NBC News. But at the hearing, Ratcliffe said that the Signal app was installed on his office computer when he started as CIA director and that he was told it was permissible to use it for government communications. President Donald Trump listens as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks in the Oval Office on Friday. Several days before The Atlantic revealed the chat, the National Security Agency issued a bulletin to some government employees about a vulnerability in the Signal messenger application. Russian hacking groups were using phishing attacks to try to penetrate the linked devices feature on Signal, the warning said. The bulletin, obtained by NBC News, was relayed to elements of the Pentagon workforce and included steps to safeguard the Signal app. Signal said that it was inaccurate to say the application had a vulnerability and that hackers were using phishing scams to gain access to users phones and then see their Signal messages. Earlier Hegseth remarks In January, after an army helicopter collided with a passenger jet in Washington, D.C., killing 67 people, Hegseth and Trump answered questions from reporters in the White House press room. Hegseth said the helicopter was performing a "routine annual retraining of night flights on a standard corridor" for a continuity of government mission." He was later told that he should not have publicly disclosed that it was a continuity of government mission, which involves U.S. officials and military forces practicing how the government would react in the event of an emergency, two sources told NBC News. The next month, Hegseth was criticized for deviating from prepared remarks in a major speech in Europe. Ahead of an address Hegseth was to deliver in Brussels on Feb. 12, some State Department officials advised Hegseth's team that he shouldnt publicly say Ukraine would not gain membership in NATO as part of any peace deal with Russia, four administration and congressional officials told NBC News. In his speech, though, Hegseth departed from a draft prepared earlier in the day and delivered a blunter message about Ukraines prospects for NATO membership than originally written. The United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement, he said. Hegseth's statement prompted criticism that the United States was ceding to a key Russian demand regarding Ukraine and NATO before negotiations with Moscow had even begun. The following day, Hegseth, who has said his comments were made in coordination with the rest of Trumps national security team, tempered his language, saying everything is on the table in negotiations. Trump told reporters at the time that he hadnt asked Hegseth to walk back his remarks, but noted that Hegseths tone had gotten a bit softer. Trump added that he thought Hegseths initial remarks were pretty accurate, which fueled further confusion. After the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing Tuesday, a source close to the White House said that Trump was privately frustrated with "Signalgate" and wanted to see the story out of the headlines. Publicly, though, Trump defended his national security adviser, Mike Waltz, who started the Signal chat and the officials who participated in it, saying there was no need for Waltz to apologize. But Trump's comments suggested that other members of his administration may be using Signal, as well. Well look into it, Trump said, but everybody else seems to be using it. Mahmoud Khalil stands outside Columbia University in April 2024. - Seth Harrison/The Journal News/USA TODAY Network The Trump administration after accusing Columbia University graduate and pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil of being a Hamas sympathizer without providing evidence now says Khalils deportation is justified because he did not reveal connections to two organizations in his application to become a permanent US resident, an argument his attorneys call weak. Khalil failed to state on his green card application he had previously worked for the Syria office of the British Embassy in Beirut and was a member of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, or UNRWA, the government says, the latter a focus of intense criticism from American and Israeli politicians who accuse it of antisemitism. Khalil was an unpaid intern with UNRWA in 2023, but was never on staff, agency spokesperson Juliette Touma told CNN. Khalil sought to procure an immigration benefit by fraud of willful misrepresentation of a material fact, the government wrote in the brief filed Sunday. Regardless of his allegations concerning political speech, Khalil withheld membership in certain organizations It is black-letter law that misrepresentations in this context are not protected speech. Khalil, a negotiator for pro-Palestinian student protesters in talks with Columbias administration over last springs contentious campus encampment against the Israel-Hamas war, was arrested March 8 and has been detained since then by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. US District Judge Jesse Furman, an Obama appointee, has blocked the government indefinitely from deporting Khalil and transferred the case. The Trump administration initially said Khalil was a threat to US security, citing a law that allows noncitizens to be deported if their presence has potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States. Asked how Khalil had engaged in terrorist activity, Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar told NPR on March 13: I think its clear, or we wouldnt be talking about it, and provided no additional details. Other foreign academics also have been identified for deportation this month as the administration squeezes colleges over pro-Palestinian demonstrations amid a broader immigration crackdown. Khalils attorneys argue the new justification to deport him is weak. Were not at all surprised because 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. But I just think this doesnt cure the obvious taint of retaliation. In a letter dictated to his attorneys last week, Khalil called himself a political prisoner. Khalils immigration proceedings are separate from the federal case challenging the legality of his detention. The governments immigration fraud claims would have to be presented to an immigration judge who could ultimately decide to deport him. Attorneys for Khalil on Tuesday renewed their request for his release in a court filing. His lawyers again challenged the constitutionality of his detention, asking the court to release him and accusing the federal government of holding him in retaliation for his political activism Khalils attorneys are asking the court to release him while litigation plays out, noting he is not a flight risk or a danger to the community. The 58-page document filed Tuesday also denies the Justice Departments latest claims that Khalil committed immigration fraud by withholding information about his past work when he applied for his green card. Why UNRWA is controversial Long before Khalils detention, UNRWA was a lightning rod for American and Israeli politicians who accuse the agency of antisemitic behavior alongside its humanitarian mission. Founded in 1949, it has been the United Nations primary agency for providing aid and relief to Palestinians living in the Gaza and the West Bank as well as other countries including shelter, health care, food and education. Israel last year banned UNRWA from operating in that country, accusing the organization of spreading antisemitism and saying some UNRWA employees who are mostly Palestinian participated in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel that killed more than 1,200 people. Allegations about UNRWA workers involvement in the attack prompted the Biden administration to pull US funding from the agency in January 2024, and more than a dozen other countries followed suit. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in February cutting off US aid to the organization. UNRWA has reportedly been infiltrated by members of groups long designated as foreign terrorist organizations, he asserted. Officials with UNRWA have denied they are deliberately aiding terrorists and said claims their facilities have been used for terrorism operations including the detention of Israeli hostages should be independently investigated. Dismantling UNRWA will only deepen the suffering of Palestine refugees, its Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said last month. Pro-Palestinian protestors rally on March 12 in support of Mahmoud Khalil outside of a federal hearing in New York. - Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images Judge asked to move Khalil closer to family Attorneys for Khalil submitted a motion Monday opposing the governments continued efforts to keep his case in Louisiana, where he is currently being held in custody. Shortly after his arrest, Khalil a citizen of Algeria who grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria, according to his court filings was transferred to an ICE processing facility in Jena, Louisiana, more than a thousand miles away from the court. A federal judge has ruled the case should be heard in New Jersey. The government told a judge a detention center in New Jersey was unsuitable because the facility was dealing with bedbug issues and lack of space, it said in the brief filed Sunday. Khalils attorney says any questions about whether his residency application was properly filled out should be decided by a judge, not unilaterally by ICE. Well deal with that claim on its own terms when the time comes in the immigration court, Azmy told CNN. For now, for purposes of the federal case and his right to bond and ultimately his release from detention, we dont think it undermines our case at all. CNNs Eric Levenson, Nadeen Ebrahim and Salma Arafa contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com President Donald Trump holds up a signed executive order at an education event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) WASHINGTON (AP) The Trump administration on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to allow it to cut hundreds of millions of dollars for teacher training. A federal judge in Boston temporarily blocked the cuts, finding they were already affecting training programs aimed at addressing a nationwide teacher shortage. An appeals court turned away a plea from the administration to allow them to resume. The government asked the high court to step in, arguing that the order is one of several issued by federal judges around the country wrongly forcing it to keep paying out millions in grant money. The Supreme Court called for a response to the appeal by Friday. It comes after U.S. District Judge Myong Joun issued a temporary restraining order sought by eight Democratic-led states that argued the cuts were likely driven by efforts from President Donald Trumps administration to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The Republican president signed an executive order calling for the dismantling of the Education Department, and his administration has started overhauling much of its work, including cutting dozens of contracts it dismissed as woke and wasteful. So long as there is no prompt appellate review of these orders, there is no end in sight for district-court fiscal micromanagement," acting Solicitor General Sarah M. Harris wrote. The Justice Department has filed four other emergency appeals of court rulings that blocked administration actions amid a wave of lawsuits that have slowed, at least for now, aspects of Trump's agenda. The Supreme Court has yet to rule on an appeal asking to narrow court orders that have imposed a nationwide hold on Trumps desire to restrict birthright citizenship. An appeal to halt an order requiring the rehiring of thousands of federal workers is also pending. The justices previously rejected a bid to freeze nearly $2 billion in foreign aid and did not immediately allow Trumps firing to proceed of the head of a federal watchdog agency. A later ruling from a lower court, though, did force Office of Special Counsel head Hampton Dellinger from his job. The two education programs at issue the Teacher Quality Partnership and Supporting Effective Educator Development provide more than $600 million in grants for teacher preparation programs, often in subject areas such as math, science and special education, the states have argued. They said data has shown the programs had led to increased teacher retention rates and ensured that educators remain in the profession beyond five years. The administration halted the programs without notice in February. The administration argues the states could at least temporarily draw on their own funds to continue funding the programs. Joun, who was nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden, found that the cancellations probably violated a federal law that requires a clear explanation for such cost-cutting moves. The appellate panel that rejected the administrations request for a stay also was made up of judges nominated by Democratic presidents. California is leading the lawsuit and is joined by Massachusetts, New Jersey, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, New York and Wisconsin. The order the administration wants from the high court would allow the cuts to go forward while the legal fight over them plays out. ___ This story been corrected to reflect that there are four other emergency appeals filed by the Trump administration at the Supreme Court, not three. The fallout from the purported Signal group chat between top national security officials that inadvertently included a journalist is the latest chapter between President Donald Trump and The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who once reported that Trump referred to fallen military members as "suckers" and "losers." "He is as you know is a sleazebag, but at the highest level. His magazine is failing," Trump said of Goldberg on Wednesday during an appearance on the "VINCE Show" podcast. Before coming to The Atlantic, Goldberg has done reporting for several news outlets, including the Washington Post, the Forward and the New Yorker, covering the Middle East, Washington politics and other topics. He joined the staff of The Atlantic in 2007 and became its editor-in-chief nine years later. Over the last several years, he has written articles on the inner workings of the first Trump administration. It was under his leadership that The Atlantic published its third presidential endorsement in the magazine's 168-year history when it backed then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over Trump in the 2016 election. MORE: 'F-18s LAUNCH': Atlantic publishes purported Yemen strike details from Signal chat The endorsement called then-candidate Trump "the most ostentatiously unqualified major-party candidate in the 227-year history of the American presidency," and said, "He is an enemy of fact-based discourse; he is ignorant of, and indifferent to, the Constitution; he appears not to read." PHOTO: Jeffrey Goldberg | President DOnald Trump (Jemal Countess | Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) A few weeks after the endorsement, Goldberg criticized Trump's rhetoric during the campaign in an interview with NPR. "At the very least, he traffics in racial invective knowingly. To me, that's a threshold question. If you do that and if you know what you're doing then, yes, you're a racist. I think he's a racist," he said in the interview. Trump has attacked Goldberg and the magazine over the endorsement for years, claiming it was a failing publication. A month before the 2020 election, Goldberg wrote an article in The Atlantic that described an 2018 incident where Trump refused to visit an American cemetery in France where World War I service members were buried. "Why should I go to that cemetery? It's filled with losers," Trump told his advisers, according to the article. It also said Trump called fallen Marines "suckers." The president denied he had used those terms on what was then Twitter and went after Goldberg's sources. John Kelly, Trumps former chief of staff, later confirmed Goldberg's account in an interview with CNN. MORE: 'Extreme alarm': Democrats demand answers after Signal chat firestorm "This is more made up Fake News given by disgusting & jealous failures in a disgraceful attempt to influence the 2020 Election," he tweeted. PHOTO: Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief, The Atlantic, speaks with ABC News, Mar. 26, 2025. (ABC News) The editor has remained critical of Trump's policies, rhetoric and actions. In 2023, months after Trump announced he was running for reelection, the magazine ran an entire issue dedicated to analyzing what a second Trump term would look and said it was no different than authoritarian regimes. Trump called out Goldberg by name two weeks before the 2024 election after he wrote a piece about Trump's relationship with the military during his first term. Goldberg wrote that former Trump officials told him that Trump was obsessed with dictators and said he needed "the kind of generals that Hitler had," citing two people who heard the private conversation. Then-Trump spokesman Alex Pfeiffer said the anecdote was "absolutely false. President Trump never said this. White House Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt echoed the president's attacks on Goldberg during a press briefing Wednesday claiming that the editor has spent years trying to discredit the president while ignoring Trump's successes. "No one in the media who loves manufacturing and pushing hoaxes more than Jeffrey Goldberg," she told reporters. Goldberg defended his reporting during an interview with ABC News Live on Wednesday. "They've decided to blame the guy who they invited into the conversation. It's a little bit strange behavior," he said. "Honestly I don't know why they're acting like this except to think that they're they know how serious a national security breach it is. And so they have to deflect it and push it on to the guy, again, they invited into the chat -- namely me." Trump and The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg have gone back and forth for years originally appeared on abcnews.go.com US special envoy Steve Witkoff and the White House claim he did not use Signal on his personal phone while in Russia -- as fears grow over Moscow's repeated hacking of the commercial app that's front-and-center of a recent leak. US special envoy Steve Witkoff did not use Signal on his personal phone while in Russia, according to the White House as fears grow over Moscows repeated hacking of the encrypted app that is a focus of a recent leak. As US officials were discussing a classified strike against the Houthi rebels on a Signal group chat accidentally shared with a journalist, Witkoff, who was in the chat, traveled to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Following reports about the timing and possibility of a security breach, Witkoff said he did not have access to his phone while in Russia, and joined the Houthi PC small group only after he left Moscow. US special envoy Steve Witkoff says he did not have access to his phone when he was added to the leaked Signal group chat when he was in Russia. REUTERS The chat, filled with top US officials, discussed the details of Americas strike in Yemen earlier this month, all while being accidentally shared with a journalist. Getty Images I only had with me a secure phone provided by the government for special circumstances when you travel to regions where you do not want your devices compromised, he wrote on X. I had no access to my personal devices until I returned from my trip, he added. That is the responsible way for me to make these trips and that is how I always conduct myself. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt backed Witkoffs claims, saying the phone provided to him by the US government was the only phone he had in his possession while in Moscow. Russia has been known to target Signal, an open-source, encrypted messaging app that has been flagged for possible vulnerabilities by the National Security Agency (NSA). Russian hacker groups have breached Signal to give Vladimir Putin access to messages from Ukraines military staff, with experts warning of future hacks against the West. POOL/AFP via Getty Images The NSA warned the Department of Defense last month about the risks of using Signal, specifically citing the plague of Russian hacking groups that actively attack the app, CBS reported. The use of Signal by common targets of surveillance and espionage activity has made the application a high value target to intercept sensitive information, the NSA documents read. Here is the latest on the Yemen Signal group-chat: The Pentagon previously issued a department-wide memo in 2023 warning staff to avoid using Signal for any nonpublic official information. CIA Director John Ratcliffe testified before a Senate panel over the Signal leak fiasco. Getty Images 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 nonpublic unclassified information, the memo read. The NSAs warning came as Googles cybersecurity arm found that Russian state-linked hacking groups had managed to sneak into the Signal accounts of Ukrainian military staffers to acquire sensitive information. The Russian groups had been able to use phones acquired on the battlefield to gain access to the staff members accounts, which were then used to send altered group invite links to breach more accounts, according to the report. The leaked messages provided a rare look into the Trump administrations communications over a military attack and thoughts on Europe. Signal maintains that its app is secure from hacking, with previous breaches conducted through means of phishing and device-linking. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe testified on Tuesday that no classified materials were shared in the Signal chat that was shared with Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. Goldberg later shared screenshots that showed details about the timing and method for the airstrikes in Yemen were posted to the group. National security adviser Mike Waltz has since accepted full responsibility for the incident, but he has yet to explain how Goldberg ended up in the group chat with top US officials. President Donald Trump and his ally Elon Musk are throwing their political and monetary weight into an election that will decide control of Wisconsins high court. The face-off Tuesday between conservative Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel and liberal Dane County Judge Susan Crawford has garnered attention from both parties beyond the Badger States borders. The winner will fill the seventh seat on the states Supreme Court bench, vacated by one judges retirement, and determine whether the court leans 4-3 conservative or liberal. Combined, spending on the race has already surpassed the $51 million record for the countrys most expensive judicial election, set two years ago also in Wisconsin. That number this year could exceed $100 million. The largest chunk of change has come from the pockets of the worlds richest man. Musk has gone all in on the swing state that Trump won by less than a point in 2024, dropping $19.3 million on the race, according to state campaign records. That includes his $2 million gift to the states GOP last week, as well as spending by two groups tied to the billionaire. Musk's political action committee, America PAC, and the political nonprofit he funds, Building America's Future, have together contributed about $16 million toward boosting the right-leaning candidate's campaign. Musks message to Wisconsin voters: Conservative Brad Schimel will support President Trump's agenda! Together, we won the White House, a campaign flyer, paid for by the America PAC, goes on to say. Now it's time to win the courthouse! Mar 22, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Congressman Dave McCormick, Elon Musk and U.S. Representative Jim Jordan during the Division I Men's Wrestling Championship held at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images The race is being widely viewed as a must-win for Democrats who at the national level are still licking their 2024 election wounds, as well as a potential referendum on Trump and Musk. A recent Marquette Law School poll found Musk is viewed favorably by 41% of registered voters in Wisconsin and unfavorably by 53%. The outcome will also decide whether Wisconsin's top court leans left or right on a variety of hot-button issues, including abortion, voter ID laws and congressional redistricting. Trump himself is keeping close watch on the state, as well. In a Truth Social post Friday that named and rebuked Crawford the handpicked voice of the Leftists, according to Trump the president called for Badger State voters to start showing up at polls for his partys pick. Former president Donald Trump speaks during a rally Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Nov. 1, 2024. And if she (Crawford) wins, the Movement to restore our Nation will bypass Wisconsin, Trump wrote. All Voters who believe in Common Sense should GET OUT TO VOTE EARLY for Brad Schimel. Early voting in the state began two weeks out from Election Day, on March 18. Though Musk has been by far the races biggest contributor, Democrats across the country also have thrown their weight into the state election. A contingent of deep-pocketed Democratic donors, including billionaire investor George Soros and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, have signed and sent checks. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin earlier this month announced The People v. Elon Musk, a seven-figure counterinitiative in response to the presidential ally's outsized spending. Dane County Judge and Wisconsin Supreme Court Candidate Susan Crawford, left, Supreme Court candidate and Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel respond to questions from WISN 12 Political Director Matt Smith during the WISN 12 Commitment 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court Debate at the Lubar Center at Marquette University Law Schoolas Eckstein Hall, March 12, 2025 in Milwaukee. Schimel has said that despite the record-breaking money and heightened attention pouring in from both sides, he is not for sale. "People want to support you, Schimel said at a forum last month. It should be they're supporting you because they like the things that you stand for, not because they're buying some result. Contributing: Daniel Bice, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump, Musk go all in on Wisconsin state supreme court race President Trump said there is "talk" about compensating those charged or convicted for participating in the Capitol Hill riots. President Trump is considering financial compensation for pardoned defendants prosecuted in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and promised he would look into the death of Ashli Babbitt, who was shot by a Capitol Police officer in the chaos of that day. The president told Newsmax in a Tuesday night interview there has been talk about paying the hundreds of his supporters who were charged with storming the Capitol in a haphazard attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. A lot of the people that are in the government now talk about it because a lot of the people in government really like that group of people, Trump said. I took care of them. I said I was going to and I did, he said. President Trump said there is talk about compensating those charged or convicted for participating in the Capitol Hill riots. Getty Images Trump pardoned more than 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants on his first day back in office. Reuters On Jan. 20, hours after being sworn in, Trump pardoned more than 1,500 defendants charged or convicted on counts related to the riot including many who were already behind bars serving multi-year sentences. These people are incredible people, Trump told Newsmax. They were treated so unfairly, so horribly. Some of them didnt even go into the building. Many of the rioters and their supporters, including Trumps new top federal prosecutor in Washington, Ed Martin, have called for those charged or convicted in the riot to be given recompense, according to Politico. Trump also said he would be looking into the death of Ashli Babbitt, a 36-year-old Air Force veteran who was shot dead by US Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd as she tried to crawl through a broken window to enter the Speakers Lobby. Babbitts family has filed a $30 million wrongful death lawsuit against the government. Trump said he had not heard of the lawsuit until Tuesdays interview, but said he would also look into that, calling himself a big fan of Babbitt. Babbitt was shot while trying to break into part of the Capitol Building on Jan. 6, 2021. Micki Witthoeft, mother of Ashli Babbit, holds a picture of her daughter on the first anniversary of her death at the Capitol. Stephen Yang Ashli Babbitt was a really good person who was a big MAGA fan, Trump fan. And she was innocently standing there they even say trying to sort of hold back the crowd. And a man did something to her that was unthinkable when he shot her, the president said. When Trump was asked if he would consider taking any action against Byrd a federal employee the president he was going to look at that too and raised questions about the officers reputation before moving on. Earlier this month, the Trump Justice Department signaled it would support settlement talks with Babbitts family. Blue Crystal Solutions has promoted former senior account executive Josh Woolston to national sales manager after working at the managed service provider (MSP) for the last seven years. Effective 1 April, Woolston succeeds Warren Drake in the role who is retiring after more than 40 years in the IT industry, including the last six years spent at Blue Crystal Solutions. Meanwhile, Woolston comes into the role with 10 years of ICT solutions and sales leadership experience. During his two and a half year stint as senior account executive, Woolston delivered a number or projects, including an AWS migration for the federal government and an Azure Cloud move for Catholic Education South Australia. Ive got some big shoes to fill following Warrens retirement and the impact he made on our customers, partners and business, Woolston said. This new opportunity will see me continue to build on his foundation, leading our team, refining our go-to-market strategies and expanding our brand as trusted ICT providers within our industries. Blue Crystal Solutions said Woolston also holds expertise in addressing IT challenges for the energy industry, particularly for projects involving Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) environments, due to working with clients like CS Energy, CleanCo, APA and Energy Australia. by Steve Suwannarat To reach an upper-medium level of development this decade, greater investments in energy are needed. For supporters, nuclear plants would guarantee stable and "clean" energy, and improve the environment at a critical juncture for traditional renewables. Moscow and Beijing would partner in infrastructure development. Phnom Penh (AsiaNews) In a country that has a lower-medium income economy, but aims for the upper-middle income level within the current decade, the chosen path of growth and sustainability seems to be paying off. This is especially the case with the focus on the garment industry, tourism, agriculture and construction as the "engines" of development (also under the pressure of international, especially Chinese interests in the garment industry, accessories, and other sectors). However, after averaging 7.6 per cent growth between 1995 and 2019, further development requires greater planning. This is underscored in the World Bank's 2024 Report on Middle-Income Nations, which calls for more investments, the development of human resources, and greater innovation to counter the potential of stagnation. With two big neighbours like Thailand and Vietnam, Cambodia is in fact at the risk of being squeezed out, so that access to resources and their use become essential. This, in turn, must be reconciled with the commitment to zero carbon emissions under the Paris climate agreement, as well as reforestation from 43 per cent to 60 per cent of its territory by mid-century. To this end, the Cambodian government led by Prime Minister Hun Manet is now considering the development of nuclear energy. For local supporters of this option, it would not only provide stable, almost "clean" energy and boost high-tech production, but it would also provide technological means to improve air and water quality. France but even more so Russia and China could partner with Cambodia to build nuclear power plants, while Microsoft and Amazon could contribute to the development of small modular reactors. Ultimately this could reduce energy reliance on Cambodias neighbours, which is one of the goals of laid out in the governments Cambodia Vision 2050 project. In the countrys current energy mix, renewable resources have fallen from 54 per cent in 2016 to 35 per cent in 2021 but now stand at around 50 per cent, affected by various factors (like prolonged droughts). According to the International Energy Association, 46 per cent of Cambodias electricity comes from river and sea sources, while 42 per cent come from coal; the remainder from other energy sources and oil. The Patriarch of Jerusalem visited the Gulf country, which is part of the Apostolic Vicariate of North Arabia. Accompanied by Bishop Berardi, the cardinal met with local communities and leading figures of the kingdom. The cardinal led the Mass in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia and took part in a conference at the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence. Manama (AsiaNews) Card Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, recently visited Bahrain, which is part of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia (along with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait), to boost cultural and interfaith relations, as well as build bridges at a point in history when walls are being erected between peoples, while violence and wars are tearing entire territories apart, especially in the Middle East. As head of the Church in the Holy Land, the cardinal was eager to experience this moment, to get to know and strengthen the ties and unity with local Catholic communities. To this end, the patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins was in Bahrain from 20 to 23 March in an official visit as part of interfaith dialogue in a country that has long been a model of coexistence. Welcomed by the Apostolic Vicar of North Arabia, Bishop Aldo Berardi, the cardinal met with the local community and visited some of the most iconic places of the Church in the Gulf. On such place is the Sacred Heart parish church in Manama, one of the oldest and most important in the region; another stop was the museum dedicated to Pope Francis's apostolic journey in 2022. The cardinal also celebrated the solemn Eucharistic service in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia, the largest Catholic place of worship in the peninsula, which is also the seat of the vicariate. On the second day of his visit, Patriarch Pizzaballa visited, among others, the Bahrain National Museum, while on the third and final day, he celebrated Mass in Manamas Church of the Sacred Heart, with the aim of promoting communion and the mission of peace in a region torn by tensions and conflicts. Bahrain is among the Gulf countries that most stands out for tolerance and interfaith dialogue; these principles inspire the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence, an institution dedicated to strengthening relations between various faiths. Patriarch Pizzaballa acknowledged this role during the visit, when he underlined how Bahrains commitment to religious freedom is an example for the world and that coexistence "is not only possible, but essential" for global harmony. Regional and global tensions, not to mention the very serious humanitarian crisis in Gaza, are among the topics explored in this visit, which the Vicariate described as a significant moment. In this perspective, the cardinal expressed concern for those affected by conflicts in the world, at a time when it is increasingly urgent to promote dialogue as a means for lasting peace and stability. In a statement sent to AsiaNews, the head of Communications of the Northern Vicariate explains how the visit in Bahrain highlighted the importance of dialogue in building bridges of peace and strengthening the bonds of solidarity among communities. The prelate praised Bahrains dedication to preserving its history and promoting dialogue among people of different backgrounds, stressing the strong cultural and interfaith ties between Bahrain and the wider global community, reinforcing the nations reputation as a place of tolerance and historical significance. Finally, This visit is part of Cardinal Pizzaballas broader mission to engage with Catholic communities across the region, strengthening their faith and fostering a deeper connection with the Church. His presence in Bahrain was a testament to the enduring spiritual vitality of the Catholic community in the Gulf, inspiring a renewed sense of unity and commitment among the faithful. by Mathias Hariyadi Rosalia Rerek Sogen, 30, from the diocese of Larantuka, was shot in an attack by a group of militiamen along with other colleagues and health workers. The rebels consider them to be undercover soldiers in the Yahukimo region, where tension with the army has skyrocketed. Dozens of people have been evacuated to Jayapura for fear of possible similar actions. Jakarta (AsiaNews) - A Catholic teacher in the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara has been killed in a violent attack by Papuan independence militiamen. Rosalia Rerek Sogen, 30, from the diocese of Larantuka, died in a raid in the district of Anggruk - in the Yahukimo region - in which eight other people - other teachers and health workers - were seriously injured. The attack took place while the group was going about their daily duties. They were suddenly ambushed by members of a separatist armed group known as the Eden Sawi-cum-Sisipa Battalion. According to local military sources, the attackers set fire to a classroom and the teachers' dormitory after their demands for money were not met. Mrs Rosalia was allegedly burnt alive. The separatist group justified the attack by claiming that the teachers and health workers were undercover military personnel. This statement followed an earlier declaration by the head of the Indonesian Armed Forces, General Agus Subiyanto, who claimed that the military were deployed in the area to guarantee the safety of the civilians. The local army spokesman, Colonel Candra, rejected this accusation, insisting: They are all professional teachers. The spokesman for the armed separatist group Sebby Sambom replied by ordering all undercover agents to leave the Yahukimo region immediately. He also threatened further attacks. We urgently ask the Indonesian president Prabowo not to launch counterattacks against innocent civilians, added Sebby. In response to the separatists action, the Indonesian army evacuated dozens of teachers and health workers from high-risk areas, including Heriapini, Kosarek, Ubalihi, Nisikni, Walma and the Kabianggam district. So far, at least 58 people, including four children, have been airlifted from Wamena to Papua's capital, Jayapura. The authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, as tension in the region remains high. by Sumon Corraya The sector drives the Bangladeshi economy with 85% of total exports and a related industry worth 47 billion dollars. However, many workers are demanding payment of numerous months of arrears and bonuses linked to the festival celebrating the end of Ramadan. The empty promises of company management, with the police repressing the demonstrations. Dhaka (AsiaNews) - Families in Bangladesh are preparing for Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting and prayer, planning trips to their native villages and families of origin in a climate of deep uncertainty linked to the situation of textile workers: the clothing industry, one of the most important in the Asian nation, is experiencing a critical period due to the non-payment of salaries and bonuses. However, for many, the additional bonuses linked to the holiday are only a secondary concern: the first problem is represented by the monthly salaries withheld by the factories to cover costs. The workers have protested in front of the offices of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (Bgmea) and the Ministry of Labour; however, their requests remain unanswered by both employers and government authorities. Yesterday, hundreds of workers from the Hagg Knitwear clothing factory in Kaliakoir, Gazipur, demonstrated, blocking the Dhaka-Tangail motorway for an hour, after discovering that the factory gates were closed and their wages and Eid bonuses had not been paid for three months. The picket, which began at around 7.30 in the morning, caused serious traffic problems until the police intervened and cleared the road at around 8.30. The workers claim that the factory management ignored their repeated appeals, leaving them in a financial limbo a few days before the holiday and at a critical time for families, who rely on bonuses and salaries to cover holiday expenses. We have no certainty that we will be able to feed our families or buy clothes for our children, Mohammad Rahim, a textile worker, told AsiaNews. The demonstrators claim that the factory authorities repeatedly assured them that payments would be made, and then sealed off the plant and left without providing any explanation. We have been patient, but their lies have pushed us to act, said another worker, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. The crowd dispersed only after the police and the factory managers promised to mediate with the management. The police superintendent in Gazipur, AKM Zahirul Islam, said that negotiations were underway: We are working to ensure that salaries and bonuses are paid before Eid. Our priority is to resolve the issue peacefully. On the other hand, the factory representatives remain unreachable and do not intend to comment on the matter, fuelling the climate of mistrust and the workers' concerns. The Hagg Knitwear protest reflects a broader pattern of union unrest in the run-up to the holidays. In Uttara, 200 Roar Fashion employees have been camped out in front of the Bgmea building since 23 March to demand payment of unpaid wages and severance pay. Similar demonstrations have broken out near the Ministry of Labour, with workers accusing factory owners and regulatory authorities of systematic negligence. The billion Bangladeshi garment industry, which employs over four million workers, faces recurring criticism for wage delays and safety conditions. Although the government imposes bonuses and end-of-Ramadan awards, their application remains lax, leaving workers vulnerable. Saleh Uddin Sifat, joint secretary of the National Citizen Party (NCP), expressed the support of the trade association for the workers. Among the demonstrators there were also employees of Style Crafts Limited, who are demanding 14 months' back pay and witnessed the death of a company official who suffered a stroke during the mobilisation. Nearby, workers from Apparels Eco Plus Limited demanded three months' unpaid wages, while employees of Bhalukar Roar Fashion Limited continue their sit-in to demand wages and severance pay. The driving force of the national economy, the clothing industry in Bangladesh in 2022-23 accounted for almost 85% of total exports, reaching almost 47 billion dollars. After activist Mahrang Baloch was jailed on Saturday, her sister has complained on social media about the poor conditions of detention. Some families recently tried to retrieve the bodies of their loved ones, but Pakistani authorities claimed the bodies belonged to the Baloch terrorists responsible for the attack on the Jaffar Express train. The situation has degenerated with shots fired at unarmed protesters demanding the truth about missing persons. Meanwhile, protests continue in several cities in Balochistan. Quetta (AsiaNews) The repression by the Pakistani government in Balochistan is becoming increasingly harsh following the attack on a passenger train by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). About a week after the Jaffar Express incident, tensions between the local population and the police are high with clashes in the past few days leading to scores of arrests, including Mahrang Baloch. Born in 1993, she is a well-known human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize candidate. On 20 March, some families visited a government hospital in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, to try to identify 23 bodies that had been brought in by the police. Following protests and clashes (police beat at least two women with batons), some five corpses were taken away. The authorities claim the bodies belong to BLA fighters killed by police and recovered from different parts of the city. In the following days, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), the main non-violent pro-Baloch independence organisation, held a series of rallies and sit-ins demanding the truth about missing people. For some time now, local activists have been trying to turn the international spotlight on the enforced disappearances of young Balochis. According to the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, the bodies of about 1,500 people believed to be missing since 2009 have been found, while nothing is known about another 6,000, missing in some cases for decades. Pakistani police met protests with brutality, some reports saying they opened fire on protesters, killing three people, including a 12-year-old child. Dozens were injured and ambulances were deliberately prevented from accessing the areas where clashes occurred. The situation escalated last Friday after protesters staged new demonstrations showing the bodies of people killed by police. Communications with the outside were suspended (making it hard to know what happened) while 150 people were arrested on terrorism charges, including Mahrang Baloch, BYC founder and leader. Over the weekend, calls for strikes and closures were heard in several cities in Balochistan. In many, demonstrations continue demanding the release of the young men and women arrested. Mahrang's sister, Nadia Baloch, complained about the poor conditions in which the activist was being held at the Quettas Hudda District Prison, prevented from speaking to her lawyer. Only yesterday was Mahrang able to get in touch with family members. Mahrangs life and health are in serious danger as she is being held among dangerous, hardcore criminals. When she resisted this, she was threatened of solitary confinement, her sister wrote on a social media platform. Surveillance cameras have been installed directly in front of her prison cell and washroom, and she is subjected to constant 24-hour monitoring. She has no privacy, even in personal matters, and has reported that her clothing choices are also being observed. The food provided is extremely unhygienic, and we fear it is contaminated, Nadia explained. As a result, both Mahrang and Beebow have fallen ill. Despite this, they are not being treated. They are also not being treated as political prisoners and are being denied basic rights. Analysts agree that Islamabad's use of repression even against pacifist movements was and is a failure. The countrys new generations, witnesses to the violence by the military and disillusioned with the possibility of peaceful conflict resolution, feel increasingly attracted to the armed struggle against Pakistan. The BLA (which last year alone claimed responsibility for over 300 attacks) and other independence movements in the province could find allies in other terrorist movements active in Pakistan such as the Pakistani Taliban also fighting the central government. The uprising in Balochistan began in 1948, when the province was controversially annexed by Pakistan. Since then, several separatist uprisings have taken place, but since the early 2000s, groups of fighters have begun to organise themselves to wage a real armed struggle against the Pakistani state. In recent years, violence has increased, Baloch fighters have managed to extend their reach and make their presence in the territory more visible. Now, after targeting Pakistani and Chinese businesses, accused of exploiting local resources at the expense of the population, BLA fighters appear to have more ambitious goals. The Jaffar Express attack, according to several commentators, not only showed the separatist groups growing operational capabilities, but also marked a point of no return in relations between Islamabad and the Baloch population. After the police crackdown, the government reported that 31 people had been killed by Baloch insurgents and 33 terrorists had been eliminated. The BLA simply dismissed the Pakistani military's claims as false information, saying instead to have killed 214 hostages, mostly military and police personnel who were on board the train. In both cases, the numbers could not be independently verified. So doubts remain about the real extent of the attack. In the meantime, the BLA continues to carry out attacks against Pakistani security forces. On 16 March, the Majeed Brigade, made up of suicide bombers, and the Fateh Squad, the forces specialising in guerrilla warfare, targeted a convoy in the city of Noshki, claiming 90 soldiers killed. The Pakistani military acknowledged five deaths. 26 March 2025 10:51 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. In 2024, Georgias direct foreign investment (FDI) in Azerbaijan amounted to $35.4 million, reflecting a 10.8% decline ($4.3 million) compared to 2023, Azernews reports, citing the Central Bank of Azerbaijan. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 26 March 2025 22:03 (UTC+04:00) Azercell, in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Education and the Institute of Education, is pleased to announce the launch of AZERCELL CUP 2025. 6-7 grades schoolchildren with a keen interest in informatics are invited to register for the competition. Participants who successfully pass the selection stage will be invited to specialized training programs designed to strengthen their knowledge and skills in IT. Additionally, the most outstanding performers will have an opportunity to join the national Olympiad informatics team, representing Azerbaijan on international platforms. To participate, interested students are required to register online at https://azercellcup.org by April 4, 2025. Following registration, participants will be invited to a trial examination. The first round of the competition will be conducted online on April 5, 2025. Since 2017, Azercell has been committed to fostering young talent in informatics, supporting students in their preparation for international Olympiads. During this period students from both Baku and regional schools have secured 90 medals in prestigious global programming competitions. 26 March 2025 15:10 (UTC+04:00) Kenan Mammadzada, a third-year student at the Baku Music Academy and recipient of the "Heydar Aliyev Scholarship," has won first place at the "Golden Classical Music Awards" competition held in the U.S. He is also a laureate of national and international competitions, Azernews reports. Kenan participated in the closing gala concert of the competition at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall. During the concert, he performed "Rast" improvisations by M. Hashimov and A. Aliyev for solo violin, approaching the piece through a lens of patriotism. The work, based on Mugham-lad intonation, captivated both foreign musicians and the audience. Additionally, Kenan Mammadzada's teacher, renowned pedagogue Professor Hokuma Aliyeva, was also recognized and awarded during the competition. 26 March 2025 22:23 (UTC+04:00) According to the Ministry of Science and Education, the meeting discussed current cooperation between the countries in the field of science. The parties also exchanged views on potential development prospects. A delegation led by Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev held a bilateral meeting with Malaysian Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation Chang Lih Kang within the framework of UNESCO's "Global Ministerial Dialogue on Science Diplomacy". Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 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. 26 March 2025 05:18 (UTC+04:00) The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Ayxan Haczade, has commented on the unfounded claims made by Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan during a joint press conference with Seyid Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Azernews reports, citing Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry, that the claims made on March 25 by Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in his joint press conference with Seyid Abbas Araghchi, alleging that Azerbaijan had introduced new conditions after reaching an agreement on the text of a peace treaty, are completely unfounded. The Armenian Foreign Minister is well aware that the removal of provisions against Azerbaijans territorial integrity and sovereignty in the Armenian constitution, as well as the official dissolution of the Minsk Group, have been key issues in the negotiation process for the past two and a half years. Facts related to Armenias territorial claims against Azerbaijan, including the Armenian Constitution, national legislation, court claims, and political statements, were presented to the Armenian side during the Washington meeting in May 2023. Third countries are also fully aware of these facts. In light of this, the Armenian sides claims that Azerbaijan introduced these conditions recently aim to mislead the international community, and this tactic will yield no results. If Armenia is genuinely interested in signing a peace treaty, it should, without delay, amend its Constitution to renounce territorial claims against Azerbaijan and engage in cooperation toward the formal dissolution of the Minsk Group. 26 March 2025 05:39 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday to discuss cooperation on key issues in security and trade. Azernews reports, citing the US State Department's official release, that the Secretary requested Turkiyes support for peace in Ukraine and the South Caucasus. He appreciated Turkiyes leadership in the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and reiterated the need for close cooperation to support a stable, unified, peaceful Syria that is neither a base for international terrorism nor a pathway for destabilizing Iranian activities. The Secretary also noted recent advancements in bilateral trade and encouraged even greater economic partnership moving forward. Finally, the Secretary expressed concerns regarding recent arrests and protests in Turkiye. 26 March 2025 12:36 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Bangladesh Mohammed Shahabuddin on the occasion of the country's Independence Day, Azernews reports. "Esteemed Mr. President, On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I sincerely congratulate you and your entire nation on the occasion of your countrys national holiday Independence Day. We attach great importance to expanding Azerbaijan-Bangladesh relations and enriching our cooperation with new content. The friendship established between our countries has created favorable opportunities for this. I believe that we will continue our joint efforts to strengthen interstate relations and realize the full potential of our cooperation for the benefit of our peoples. Taking this opportunity, I extend my sincere congratulations and best wishes to you and the friendly people of Bangladesh on the upcoming holy Ramadan holiday," the letter reads. 26 March 2025 13:43 (UTC+04:00) Flights will operate twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays, departing Zhukovsky at 16:20 (local time) and returning from Baku at 21:40 (local time). The airline is restoring regular direct flights from Zhukovsky Airport to the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku. The first flight is scheduled for April 27, 2025, the statement read. Russias Red Wings Airlines will resume direct flights from Zhukovsky International Airport (Moscow region) to Baku in April 2025, the airlines press service announced, Azernews reports. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 26 March 2025 16:50 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. In the first two months of this year, Azerbaijan exported a significant 130,600 tons of crude oil and oil products derived from bituminous rocks to the United Kingdom. This marked a notable shift in trade as Azerbaijan had not exported any such products during the same period last year, Azernews reports, citing the State Customs Committee. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 26 March 2025 18:30 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva "China is ready to engage in dialogue and negotiations with the United States on the foundation of equality and mutual respect, with the goal of addressing each other's legitimate concerns," Wang Yi stated, Azernews reports. The Foreign Minister emphasized that Sino-American relations have reached a pivotal stage of development. "Both sides should be guided by the important consensus and vision of the leaders of the two nations, strengthen exchanges, enhance mutual understanding, avoid misjudgments, and resolve differences," he noted. Wang Yi also expressed confidence that China and the United States share extensive interests and vast potential for cooperation, which, if effectively harnessed, can lead to successful outcomes that benefit the global community. In light of current global challengessuch as climate change, economic instability, and international securitythe minister underscored that collaboration between China and the United States is essential for addressing global issues. The two countries, despite their differences, have the capacity to contribute significantly to maintaining peace and fostering development across the world. China's top political advisor meets with Uzbekistan presidential advisor Xinhua) 09:10, March 26, 2025 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) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Mollie Hemmingway of The Federalist made a frightening presentation in Congressional testimony of how the Censorship Industrial Complex is threatening free speech in America as they attack our First Amendment. Some of this is funding by totalitarian groups like those run by Soros, but much of the funding has come from government grants during the Biden regime and even going back to Obama. Fortunately, President Trump is shutting down that funding, much of which came through the discredited USAID. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/03/25/hemingway_censorship_groups_produce_widely_used_tools_to_silence_media_that_fight_false_narratives.html https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/03/25/weingarten_the_federal_government_is_the_primary_funder_and_driver_of_the_censorship_industrial_complex.html These groups want the official narrative to be the only one that reaches the public. It was the Biden regime that put government money behind the Censorship Industrial Complex. The EU is doing the same thing across the pond. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/mar/25/dawn-dusk-biden-censorship-age/ Meanwhile one of those censorship groups seems to be trying to disguise their activities since Trump came to power by scrubbing their website. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/investigations/3358461/anti-conservative-disinformation-group-rebranded-following-trump-victory/ Polls are showing buyers remorse in Germany, after the likely new chancellor, Friedrich Merz has proposed doing the exact opposite of every one of his CDU party's major campaign promises in his deal making with the left of center Social Democrats. He has already put one of those in place by calling the lame duck Bundestag back into session to pass a massive deficit spending bill, thwarting the Constitution's debt brake by taking most it technically off-budget. It is being called the biggest deception in German history. In the just elected Bundestag, he would not have had the votes to do that. Polling is showing the populist nationalist Alternativ fur Deutschland (AfD) which ran a strong second in the recent election, continuing to rise in popularlity, hitting its highest numbers ever, while support for Merz' CDU tanks. The Social Democrats are continuing to decline even though their recent election result was already their worst since 1887 when the first Kaiser Wilhelm was still on the throne of imperial Germany. One result is that party officials and elected CDU politicians are leaving the party in droves. In at least one case, the entire local CDU leadership resigned. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/25/afd-hit-all-time-high-polls-after-merzs-biggest-deception/ https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/merz-betrayal-cdu-party-exodus/ https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/german-coalition-talks-afd-merz-cdu-spd/ She was left devastated after missing out on a promotion Maeve Bradley said she took the case to ensure other women aren't treated the same way as she was A Co Down woman has told of her devastation at losing out on a job while on maternity leave, after settling a sex and disability discrimination case with a leading bank. Maeve Bradley has received 215,000 from Citibank, after a colleague who was covering her position in Belfast received a promotion, while she was offered an alternative role. The settlement involved no admission of liability from Citibank, who said they were disappointed they had been unable to retain Ms Bradley as an employee. The 38-year-old had worked in the financial sector for 13 years when she started work as an assistant vice president of derivatives at Citibank in March 2021. She said she enjoyed the job for the two years she was at Citi: I really enjoyed managing the people that I worked with. I was very comfortable in my role. I worked hard in my role and made myself where I wanted to be in my career. Its definitely a complex department to work in, but every day was different, every day something was enjoyable. Guiding the team through that process was something that I thoroughly enjoyed. In the spring of 2023, she went on maternity leave and believed she was in line for a promotion on her return. Ms Bradley originally planned to be off for a year, and ahead of her return to work, she contacted her manager, to inform them shed applied for reduced hours due to her childcare needs. However she was then told that the person on maternity cover for her had received a promotion and she was instead offered a different position that she had no experience of working in. She said her feeling upon hearing this news was devastation and she made a point to say that I didnt think this was legal to the manager directly. They said it was [legal] and I asked again did they want to get that checked out. And he said again that it was correct. At that point, I ended the conversation and raised a grievance. Ms Bradleys grievance was not upheld, and an appeal against this decision was initially declined. She then reached out to the Equality Commission, who supported her in launching a second appeal of the grievance. Maeve Bradley said she took the case to ensure other women aren't treated the same way as she was Ms Bradley said she found communication with Citibank extremely distressing throughout the process. The whole process, and way it was handled, was extremely stressful and extremely disheartening. Its sad we have come to this, it was never a process that I ever wanted to do. All I did was have a baby and I wanted to go back to employment. It was never a channel that I expected to go down. Citibank has been present in Northern Ireland since 2005, and is the largest employer in financial services here. A Citi spokesperson said: We were keen to retain Ms Bradley as an employee at Citi and are disappointed that we were unable to reach an agreement on her return to work. We appreciate the engagement of Ms Bradley and the Equality Commission in resolving this matter. At Citi, we strive to foster an inclusive workplace. Ensuring that our standards are well understood and complied with by everyone at Citi is a continuous, proactive process. With the announcement of the settlement, Ms Bradley said she is feeling mixed emotions: Im very relieved for the support that Ive had, and that I have managed to settle where we are. And Im very relieved for everything the Equality Commission has done. But Im also still very much going through the process of the damage that did take place during the time of this case. She explained her reasons for pursuing the case: For me, this experience has been incredibly stressful and disheartening. It came as quite a shock that the individual hired to cover my role was promoted in my absence. I felt compelled to challenge this decision, not just for myself, but to ensure that no other woman is penalised for taking time off to have a child. Maeve Bradley started working at Citibank in 2021 News Catch Up - Tuesday 25 March The Equality Commission said that the case underscores that women should not be disadvantaged by their employers for going on maternity leave. Geraldine McGahey, chief commissioner, Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, said: Issues around pregnancy and maternity in the workplace continue to be the most common complaints of sex discrimination made to the commission. The laws protecting women from sex discrimination were introduced almost 50 years ago to ensure women can return to and remain in the workforce and not be disadvantaged because of pregnancy or family responsibilities. Maeve should have been considered for the promotion. Mrs Bradley said she has been very blessed that I do have a little bit of time out to progress and to heal right now from the process that Ive gone through. Review: This is the best Oasis have been since 96 some might say better... a rock reunion to end them all If the box office was dropping, hed do something outrageous so that people would go and buy tickets: Actor Jared Harris on his father Richards legacy An asylum seeker from Palestine has denied raping and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy in a derelict Belfast nightclub. Ziad Khawla, with an address at Ashburne Mews in the south of the city, was charged with three offences dating back to last March. A south Dublin school taking disciplinary proceedings against a teacher who claims she was wrongly identified as the so-called GAA catfish has given an undertaking in the High Court in Dublin to temporarily halt the process. King Charles issued a special message for those who work in regional media throughout the UK as a reception was held at Buckingham Palace. His Majesty praised the efforts of journalists, including a number from Northern Ireland who are attending the event, to unify communities during challenging times. I have long believed that regional media, in all its forms, has a unique and vital role to play in society, perhaps even more so in these uncertain times, Charles said. As I said in a speech to mark the tercentenary of Britains first daily national newspaper, back in 2002, the Press, alongside other long-standing institutions, is at the forefront of defining, describing and celebrating the more profound values of our nation. Two decades on, when too much focus is given to that which divides us, that role for your whole industry is more important than ever - and it starts from the ground-up, at local level, in your hands. Your reporting, and the work of all those who support you, helps amplify and reaffirm the rights and responsibilities we all share. It shines a light in dark corners, exposing injustice and wrongdoing. Above all, it helps strengthen our communities, in times of joy and at moments of sorrow. BBC NIs Gareth Gordon was among the guests told to arrive at the gates between 6.10pm and 6.30pm on Wednesday night before the event began at 6.45pm. The political correspondent was pictured chatting to the Queen with a glass in hand alongside other journalists from a wide range of media organisations around the country. Those in attendance had been advised the dress code was lounge suit / day dress. While the King acknowledged that a free media is one that will and does make mistakes he spoke passionately about the vital role it plays in our society and lauded the medias ability to adapt to a changing landscape. You wont always get it right, he continued. A free media is one that will and does make mistakes. But at its best, it is a cornerstone of our democracy. I know how commercial pressures and changing technologies have had a significant impact on your industry. But as the media landscape has changed, so too many of you have adapted and innovated, finding ways of sharing your journalism and engaging audiences in new and creative ways. It is in everyones interests that you should succeed. For without a thriving and financially robust regional media, we would all be the poorer. The invitation to the gathering read: The Master of the Household is commanded by Their Majesties to invite guest to a reception for regional media to be given at Buckingham Palace by the King and Queen on Wednesday 26th March, 2025 at 6.45pm. It comes almost a week after Charles and Camilla concluded their three-day visit to Northern Ireland as hundreds of people packed onto the streets of Banbridge, Co Down, and waved flags to greet the Royal couple. A legal challenge is being planned over a decision to install Irish language signs at Belfast Grand Central Station (Rebecca Black/PA) Legal action is being planned to challenge a Stormont ministers decision to erect Irish language signs at Belfasts new Grand Central Station. Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson from the Unionist Voice Policy Studies (UVPS) group, has lodged legal papers for a judicial review against the Department for Infrastructure, stating the decision was taken without Executive approval. 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. Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson said he had lodged legal papers over the Irish language signs decision by the Infrastructure Minister (Liam McBurney/PA) Ms Kimmins said Irish language would be added to wayfinding, passenger information, safety and welcome signage and ticketing machines. It has been reported that the new signs will cost around 150,000. The multimillion-pound 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 include Irish language signage. However, Ms Kimmins announcement has been criticised by some unionist representatives. Stormont Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said the inclusion of Irish on signs at the station would be a hugely positive development (David Young/PA) A statement released by Mr Bryson said the UVPS had served pre-action judicial review papers on the department in respect of the controversial and divisive decision to act without Executive authority in imposing Irish language within the new Belfast Central station. The statement said the decision was clearly significant and controversial. It added: The legal action we have commenced seeks to compel the minister to act lawfully, which requires bringing her decision to the Executive committee for cross-community approval. In the absence of same, there is no lawful authority to impose the decision, and should the minister not concede on this point then we will seek an order of the High Court quashing her decision. The Department for Infrastructure has been approached for comment. Speaking earlier this week, Ms Kimmins said the inclusion of Irish on signs at the station would be a hugely positive development. She said: 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. TUV MLA Timothy Gaston has lodged a petition in the Assembly challenging Ms Kimmins decision (Liam McBurney/PA) However, TUV MLA Timothy Gaston has lodged a petition to refer the decision back to the powersharing Executive, saying the power to stop the ministers plans lay with MLAs. Such petitions need the support of 30 members of the Assembly. DUP MLA Deborah Erskine, chairwoman of Stormonts infrastructure committee, has described the ministers decision as misguided. Portuguese police have confirmed the arrest of an NI man wanted in Spain over the Costa Blanca murder of John George last year. They also confirmed Jonny Smyth (26) had been held in the northern Portuguese city of Braga and that he would appear before court tomorrow for an extradition hearing ahead of his expected forced return to Spain in the coming weeks. The murder suspect was held by the Policia Judiciaria in Portugal yesterday on an international arrest warrant. Smyth is currently believed to be in custody at a police station in Braga. John George A spokesman for Portuguese police force said: The Judiciary Police, through the Braga Criminal Investigation Department, located and arrested a foreign national in the city of Braga, against whom the Spanish authorities had issued European and international arrest warrants, because he was suspected of committing a murder offence in Alicante. The 37-year-old victim was reported missing in Alicante on 14 December 2024, but his body was found in the middle of January in an agricultural area in Rojales. Since the beginning of the Spanish authorities' investigation, there have been strong indications of the existence of a murder offence with the concealment of a corpse, and of the suspect's involvement in these events, who, immediately afterwards, fled to third countries, supposedly located in the Middle East and Asia. The suspect's location in Portugal was expedited with the prompt intervention of the Public Prosecutor's Office - the Specialised Violent Crime Section of the DIAP in Guimaraes. In Spain, in addition to this man, another citizen has already been arrested for co-authoring the acts. The events had great public repercussions in Spain and also in Ireland and the United Kingdom, and were widely publicised in the media in both countries. The detainee, aged 26, will be brought before the Guimaraes Court of Appeal with a view to assessing his detention and the request for his extradition to the Kingdom of Spain. Read more Man from NI faces extradition to Spain for questioning over murder of John George Well-placed sources confirmed only one person had been arrested in Portugal, contradicting earlier reports two had been held. The source confirmed the arrested man was Jonathan Alan Smyth, who goes by the name Jonny Smyth, and said the detention happened yesterday. A Spanish court official, who confirmed on January 21 an international arrest warrant had been issued for the man suspected of murdering John George, said today: I can confirm Court of Instruction Number Two in Torrevieja which is investigating the homicide has received police information about the arrest of the wanted man in Portugal. The court is currently in the process of translating the necessary investigation documentation into Portuguese so that the Portuguese authorities can decide on the personal situation of this detainee and his subsequent handover to the Torrevieja court. It has also been revealed that Smyth was held at an Airbnb in the northern Portuguese city of Braga where he was staying with his girlfriend, it emerged today. Well-placed sources said the 26-year-old was using his own passport but his partner had made the booking. The Airbnb has not been named. The police insider said: We believe he had been at the Airbnb for around a month. We don't know where he was before that. He was travelling on his own passport and wasnt using fake ID but his girlfriend had made the booking and it wasnt made in his name. "While he was on the run he tried to fool the Spanish authorities into thinking he was somewhere in the Middle East with photos he posted online. He was held yesterday morning in his room. He didnt resist arrest. Another well-placed source said: The girlfriend was not wanted by Spanish authorities and she wasnt arrested. I dont know her whereabouts at the moment but the Spanish police did not seek her detention so she is free to go where she chooses. Jonny Smyth News Catch Up - Wednesday 26 March Smyth is expected to be asked tomorrow when he appears in court whether he consents to being extradited. The hearing will take place in private and no press or public will be allowed into the courtroom as is normal in Portugal where only trials take place in public. A court expert in extraditions said: If he consents to being returned to Spain extradition will happen very quickly. After returning to Spain Smyth will almost certainly be remanded in prison pending an ongoing criminal probe after appearing before the investigating judge in Torrevieja. That court appearance would also take place behind-closed-doors. Belfast man John George vanished on December 14 last year and relatives reported him missing when he failed to catch a scheduled flight home four days later. By December 23 his family had launched a GoFundMe campaign to aid a search, voicing concerns he had been the victim of a crime. Johns brother Darren travelled to Alicante to help in the search with their parents, Billy and Sharon, and sister Courtney and Caitlin, along with up to 50 friends and wider family from Northern Ireland. Members of K9 Search And Rescue NI, a volunteer canine search team, also spent several days assisting with the wide-scale operation to find the missing man. His decomposing body was discovered on January 7, hidden under overgrown lemon trees around five miles from the town of Rojales near Torrevieja. A man arrested later the same day on suspicion of homicide was hauled to court on January 10 after nearly 72 hours in police custody. He told the judge he was being scapegoated because Johns family had named him on social media as one of the suspects. His Costa Blanca-based defence lawyer Manuel Ramon Rives also attributed the decision to detain him to his recent friendship with a man he said police were hunting as the alleged perpetrator. Johns dad has named and pictured a 26-year-old British-based expat on his social media he claimed was the main suspect before Spanish authorities confirmed they had issued three separate arrest warrants in January. That man has previously been described as being among the last people to see John George alive. Around 165,000 in cash was seized in the initial search Police have seized more than 170,000 in cash as well as a large quantity of drugs and a round of ammunition after stopping a car in Co Down. Officers from the PSNIs Roads Policing Unit stopped a vehicle on the A1 near Banbridge at approximately 1.30pm on Wednesday March 26. Following a search carried out on the vehicle, around 165,000 in cash was seized. "Removing cash and high value assets has a real impact on the organised criminal groups involved Detective Inspector Conor Sweeney A 33-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of criminal property, and remains in police custody at this time. Follow-up searches were carried out in two properties in west Belfast in which a number of items were seized including quantity of a suspected herbal cannabis worth an estimated 67,500, a further 6,000 cash, drug supply paraphernalia and a round of ammunition. Read more Men arrested after police stop car travelling on wrong side of dual carriageway released on bail The man was then further arrested for possession of a class B drug with intent to supply, possession of ammunition in suspicious circumstances and without a licence, possession of a class B drug, handling stolen goods and being concerned in the supply of a class B drug. Detective Inspector Conor Sweeney of the PSNIs Organised Crime Unit said: I welcome todays seizure made by my colleagues in the Roads Policing Unit. A quantity of drugs seized by police We know from experience that removing cash and high value assets has a real impact on the organised criminal groups involved in exploiting our communities for their own profit. Such criminal groups are motivated only by financial gain and have no regard for the misery and suffering they inflict on the most vulnerable in our society. We remain determined to remove their ability to do so but we recognise we have much work to do. We are dependent on the assistance of the community for this work and, to this end, I would appeal for anyone with any information about this type of criminality to contact detectives on 101. "A report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or you can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/. A man is expected to appear in court in Portugal in connection with the murder of Belfast man John George. An application will be made to extradite the male to Spain for questioning on Mr Georges killing. He was one of two people both understood to be from Northern Ireland detained by police yesterday, lawyers for the family said. Mr George, from west Belfast, was missing for 21 days in Alicante in December before his body was discovered in early January. The 37-year-old had been shot and stabbed and his body dumped in a rural location. Today, lawyers for Mr Georges relatives said his family obtained significant information pointing to the possible location of two suspects in the Portuguese town of Braga. The George family travelled to Portugal to speak to police. According to lawyers for the George family, detectives contacted Spanish counterparts who identified a new investigative lead. Portuguese police have now told the family that one person is due to appear in court to face an application for their extradition to Spain. If granted they will face immediate questioning on the circumstances surrounding the murder of John George. Solicitor Kevin Winters said: This is the biggest news to date for the George family. Its precisely the sort of breakthrough theyve been hoping for since December last year. I commend their absolute tenacity in pursuing every line of enquiry and then in turn making sure the various European authorities act on what theyve painstakingly put together. Their input has been crucial to inform decision-making on this extradition warrant. John George News Catch Up - Tuesday 25 March Mr Winters said the George family are looking forward to seeing the next stages of the legal procedures get underway. The sooner that happens then the sooner his family will feel they are at last getting some justice for John, he added. Mr George had been on holiday in Alicante when he was reported missing. He last spoke to his family on December 14. They were later informed by people in Spain that he had lost his phone but was booked onto a flight from Alicante to Belfast on December 18. When he failed to board the flight his loved ones became concerned. Exclusive | Stormont told a judge that tarmacking 3,000 acres of farmland would be less polluting than the industrial farming it has encouraged Irelands deputy premier has said he has received assurance from the Lebanese government over concerns around securing justice after the death of Irish peacekeeper Sean Rooney. Simon Harris was speaking during a visit to Camp Shamrock in south Lebanon where Irish soldiers serving with the UN peacekeeping mission are based. He met personnel and received a briefing from commanders at the facility just eight kilometres from the Blue Line (the demarcation line dividing Lebanon from Israel and the Golan Heights) before thanking the troops on the ground for their work during a visit at a time of heightened tensions with Israel. The Tanaiste also indicated he was unconcerned about the presence of an apparent surveillance drone, believed to be operated by Israeli forces, which hovered over the area during his visit. Ireland is always in this region as a force for good and a force for peace, he said. Ireland is a country and the Irish Defence Forces are a defence force that work for peace, that work every day to make sure that people can live in peace and safety and security in their own country and in their own region, and I hope not just by our words, but by our actions, we have been seen as a force in relation to that. The Tanaiste expressed sympathy with Israel over the October 7 2023 attacks, and his support for a two-state solution to bring peace to the Middle East. Asked whether he felt intimidated by the presence of the drone, he added: Not at all, were here to do our business and I am very proud to be here with our defence forces. Simon Harris addresses troops during his visit to Camp Shamrock (Niall Carson/PA) Speaking to media, he said he was privileged to visit the camp where members of the 125th Infantry Battalion are serving as part of the Unifil peacekeeping mission. Earlier, Mr Harris met the Lebanese foreign affairs and defence ministers in Beirut where the death of Private Rooney was discussed. The 24-year-old from Co Donegal was killed while on deployment with Unifil on December 14 2022. Mr Harris met Lebanese defence minister Michel Menassah and he highlighted Irelands deep concern over the lack of progress in bringing those who killed Pte Rooney to justice and outlined the urgent need for progress. The Irish Government says that lack of progress is particularly distressing for the Rooney family. In a formal letter presented to Lebanese foreign affairs minister Yousseff Rajji, Mr Harris also raised the matter of Pte Rooneys killing. An Israeli drone flying over Camp Shamrock on Wednesday (Niall Carson/PA) He outlined how seven Lebanese citizens had been indicted in relation to the incident, noting that only one defendant has appeared before the military tribunal judge. However, he did not attend the most recent hearings, citing a medical issue. At the most recent hearing on February 12, Mr Harris said no medical evidence was provided to support his absence and there has been no significant progress in the trial to date. The Tanaiste told Mr Rajji that the Rooney family intend to attend the next hearing on September 17 and said it was hoped that they would see real evidence of an intention from the authorities to see justice enacted. Mr Harris said it was his hope that the current Lebanese government, formed last month, and newly established court structures in the country could bring progress to the case. Commandant John Griffin (right) gives Simon Harris a briefing in a Mowag armoured fighting vehicle during his visit to Camp Shamrock (Niall Carson/PA) Asked about that engagement by media, Mr Harris said he felt there had been a strong understanding from both ministers and their departments in relation to this. I am very conscious that the process is ongoing, that there is a separation of powers but all of that said, we still need to see real progress, and I got a strong assurance that that message was understood, he said. Sean Rooney deserves justice and his family deserves answers. Mr Harris said he believed the assurances had been given in good faith, adding he believes those he met are substantive and serious people. Opposition leaders have voiced no confidence in the speaker of Irelands parliament. The move against Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy came following a meeting of the leaders of the main opposition parties on Wednesday morning to discuss their response after the Dail was disrupted on Tuesday amid an acrimonious row on speaking time changes. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald urged Ms Murphy to reflect on her untenable position as she addressed the Dail at the start of the scheduled Leaders Questions session on Wednesday afternoon. She accused the Ceann Comhairle of partisanship in her handling of Tuesdays proceedings. Taoiseach Micheal Martin has criticised the conduct of the opposition parties during Tuesdays disrupted proceedings in the Dail (Brian Lawless/PA) Ms McDonald made clear a formal motion of no confidence in Ms Murphy would be tabled if it was necessary. A motion drafted by opposition parties on Wednesday seeks to note that the Ceann Comhairle no longer retains the confidence of all members of Dail Eireann. The opposition has until Friday at 11am to submit the motion. Sinn Feins chief whip Padraig Mac Lochlainn said that Ms Murphy would have until Thursday to consider her position. Ms McDonald said the Ceann Comhairles actions on Tuesday were demonstrably partisan and lacked the impartiality and independence demanded of your position. So, who convinced you to play your part in this disgraceful charade, or is it simply that bias for the government is baked into the very deal that secured your position? Ms McDonald asked the speaker. That is now the question. The Sinn Fein leader continued: Ceann Comhairle, not alone have you lost the confidence of the entire opposition; you have, in fact, decimated it. The Dail cannot function properly whilst you remain in the chair. Above all the Ceann Comhairle must be impartial, fair and independent, and by your actions you have demonstrated that you are not. Your position is therefore untenable. So, I ask you to reflect very carefully on this, because you need to go. Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said Verona Murphys position was untenable (PA). Labour party leader Ivana Bacik said she did not believe Dail rules had been applied fairly and impartially by Ms Murphy. That is why this morning, together with my parliamentary party we agreed to ask to reflect on your position over coming days, she said. If not, if necessary, we will have no option to table a motion of no confidence in you. And I regret that it has come to this. There were chaotic scenes of shouting, interruptions and allegations of misogyny on Tuesday as weeks of tension over the speaking rights row boiled over during Leaders Questions. Ms Murphy faced continual interruptions as she tried to continue proceedings as opposition TDs took to their feet and objected to the Governments proposals to change speaking time arrangements. She declared the changes to the standing orders passed before adjourning the Dail. However, opposition leaders insist the vote was not properly conducted. They also accused her of earlier pushing through the Governments proposed order of business for the Dail without acknowledging an opposition request for a vote. The row has its origins in the formation of Irelands current coalition involving Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, supported by several independent TDs. 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 controversial changes to standing orders 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. Opposition parties are vehemently opposed to the changes, characterising them as 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. Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy in Leinster House, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) The dispute 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. Tensions boiled over on Tuesday with the Dail witnessing angry scenes as Ms Murphy presided over a vote on the changes. Mr Martin has accused the opposition of trying to bully and intimidate Ms Murphy, and said it marked a new low for the opposition. Responding in the Dail on Wednesday, Mr Martin accused Sinn Fein of pursuing a destructive model of opposition and trying to bring the loudhailer politics of the street into the Dail. He told Ms McDonald: Your stated objective here is to undermine this institution, to undermine the Government, to reduce the Government majority and to create mayhem. That is what you are about. Fianna Fail leader Mr Martin said the oppositions intimidatory barracking of newly-elected TDs marked a new low for behaviour in the Dail. He expressed concern that the Dail would never be the same again after the scenes witnessed on Tuesday. The Taoiseach also accused Labour leader Ms Bacik of parroting Sinn Feins line. Youve tied yourself to the hip of Sinn Fein and youll regret it, he said. Mr Martin said he was aware of a lot of ordinary members of the Labour Party who were not happy that Ms Bacik had become an appendage to the Sinn Fein party. Social Democrats deputy leader Cian OCallaghan said it was essential that the Ceann Comhairle enjoys the confidence of both government and opposition. Clearly, this is no longer the case. I do think you need to reflect on that position, he told the Dail. Meanwhile, People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger accused the government of attempting to remove itself more and more from being challenged. Earlier, deputy premier Simon Harris said Tuesdays disruption was regrettable, unseemly and unbecoming. Fine Gael leader Mr Harris said the level of anger displayed by the opposition was disproportionate and did not indicate a willingness to try and find a way forward here. Speaking to reporters in Lebanon, Mr Harris said the public wanted to see elected representatives work on the issues facing Ireland, including housing, economic headwinds from the EU-US trade dispute and the safety of Irish peacekeepers abroad. What has happened in the Dail is really regrettable, really unbecoming, really unseemly, but weve got to move forward now, because I think the people who pay our wages, our bosses, the people of Ireland, want us to get on with it, he said. Asked if Government could do anything to ameliorate opposition concerns, he suggested the re-establishment of committees may see a return to cross-party work. The Dail needs to get into that rhythm now, said Mr Harris. He added: We need to move on and restore decorum in the Dail chamber. Asked about an incident during Tuesdays session in which Government-supporting independent TD Michael Lowry raised two fingers up to members of the opposition, Mr Harris said: I think that was also unseemly and unbecoming, but I think that behaviour wasnt isolated to any one deputy. Because I think when you have grown men standing up and shouting and roaring at the Ceann Comhairle and refusing to follow her direction a person who was elected to implement the rules of the House. You know the rules are very simple. When the Ceann Comhairle stands up, you sit down. And to see adults standing up, shouting and roaring, hooping and hollering, isnt anything youd want see in any workplace, least of all the Dail. A screenshot taken from a video by People Before Profit of Independent TD for Tipperary North Michael Lowry, appearing to make a gesture in the Dail (People Before Profit/PA) An Irish politician who stuck up his two fingers to members of the opposition said it was taken out of context, and claimed he was provoked into making the gesture. Independent TD Michael Lowry, who was captured sticking up two fingers towards People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, also said it was not made with malicious intent. The gesture, which happened following hours of chaos, shouting and heckling in the Dail, has been widely condemned. Irish premier Micheal Martin called on Mr Lowry to apologise for the incident, but also criticised Mr Murphy, accusing him of waving his camera in the faces of other TDs. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Mr Lowry, who was a key negotiator for a group of independents who agreed to support the formation of the Government, 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. In a statement, Mr Lowry said on Wednesday: The gesture I made in the Dail yesterday was not made with malicious intent. I made an errant gesture under provocation. Unfortunately, the gesture has been taken out of context. Unlike others, I have always respected the rules and values of the Dail. My gesture was not intended to be offensive or to cause any offence, and I regret that it may have been seen in such a way. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald accused Mr Lowry of giving the two fingers to the people of Ireland. Speaking to Mr Martin during Leaders Questions, Ms McDonald said: (A) man you once described as a rogue politician, who you called on to resign his Dail seat because of the findings of corruption against him, now pulls the strings as kingmaker in your coalition, and gives the two fingers to the opposition to democracy and to the Irish people. The Ceann Comhairle (Verona Murphy) bulldozed all rules to get the governments plan over the line, to protect the very deal that put her in her position, a deal brokered by her mentor, Michael Lowry, who sat smiling and giving the two fingers to the people of Ireland while the chaos unfolded. Mr Martin told the Dail: I think anybody who uses two fingers in this House to another person is wrong, and that person should apologise. And that would apply to Deputy Lowry. I equally think, and you should face up and acknowledge this, that any deputy waving cameras in the face of other deputies is wrong and was never a part or parcel of Leinster House. Equally, I would say the intimidatory barracking of newly elected TDs, either independent or not, simply because they support the government, is a new low that Ive never witnessed before in this house. Labour leader Ivana Bacik said: In every sense, two fingers have been shown to the opposition and to the people of this country, because as of yesterday, a fundamental principle has been subverted. That is the simple truth, that you cannot be in government and in opposition at the same time, and youve subverted that fundamental principle of the separation of powers. I do agree with you on one thing, it was deeply wrong of any deputy, of Michael Lowry, it was deeply wrong of him to give two fingers in the national parliament. Deeply wrong, deeply disrespectful. You said it was wrong. I hope youre going to call on him to apologise. I hope you, Ceann Comhairle, will call on him to apologise. Social Democrats deputy leader Cian OCallaghan said the enduring image of Tuesday will be Mr Lowry giving the two fingers. A TD who has been found to be grossly corrupt, laughing it up as you did his bidding, really sums it all up, he said. The derision and the contempt that is at the heart of this government was clearly exposed. Michael Lowry was cock-a-hoop, and who can blame him? You just ripped up more than 100 years of parliamentary procedure for him. The question we all want answered is, why? Why are you jumping through the hoops for Michael Lowry. People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger said: If youve any qualms whatsoever doing business with Michael Lowry, somebody who gave two fingers to the public yesterday and then went and gaslit the population, that he hadnt actually done it, somebody who can lie at the drop of a hat like that. Have you any qualms at all about doing business with them? Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the spirit of Oliver Cromwell is alive and well as MPs debated a ban on tobacco and vapes. The MP for Clacton said he likes a smoke as he expressed his opposition to the Governments Tobacco and Vapes Bill that would prohibit smoking outside schools, childrens playgrounds and hospitals. The Bill also aims to create a smoke-free generation with anyone born after January 1 2009 to be prevented from legally smoking, by gradually raising the age at which tobacco can be bought. The MP for Clacton said he likes a smoke as he expressed his opposition to the Governments Tobacco and Vapes Bill (Jacob King/PA) During the Bills report stage, Mr Farage told the Commons: I have to say, I find the tone of moral superiority in this chamber this afternoon almost unbearable. You clearly believe you are better human beings than those outside of here who choose to pursue activities that you perhaps would not. Well, its a bit of a shock, I suppose, to some of you, but there are some of us that like a smoke. We do. We even go for a few pints at a pub. We have a punt on the horses. I even attempted to have the odd doughnut, I know thats really perhaps the naughtiest of all. Because we want to have fun. We want to make our own minds up. You can educate us. You can tell us. You can give us the facts. But the idea that this place should make those decisions for other people, well it sort of shows me that the spirit of Oliver Cromwell is alive and well. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage smoking outside the Westminster Arms pub in Westminster (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Mr Farage said he is described the idea that from 2009 nobody could buy tobacco products, but those born in 2010 could as just another aspect to two-tier Britain. He said: Ive been hearing for decades that therell be a war on drugs. Wheres it getting us? Drug use is rocketing, Class A drugs in particular, proliferating everywhere, with all the associated crime. And heres the danger. Here is the danger: an ounce of tobacco is now more expensive in a shop if purchased legally, believe it or not, than an ounce of silver. And so already we have a rocketing trade in illegal cigarettes and loose tobacco. He went on to say: Do not drive tobacco into the hands of the criminals. Do not create a new black market. I totally agree with the minister. This is not an activity we should encourage. Were not keen for our kids to do it, but please treat us as grown ups. Educate us. Let us make our choices. Dont let the criminals win. Before his contribution, Mr Farage declared an interest as the co-founder of Action on World Health, an organisation dedicated to reform or replace the World Health Organisation (WHO). Speaking after the Reform leader, Labour MP for Worthing West, Dr Beccy Cooper, said she welcomed the Bill on behalf of public health consultants. She said: The premise of public health is data and evidence and so opinions are interesting. Opinions can have great colour to a conversation. Opinions can have great characters, but data and evidence in public health will ultimately deliver better population health outcomes. And this public health bill is a public health bill that will stop people dying and will take away the addictive nature of a substance that is not a choice. Public health has been subject to conversations around, should we or shouldnt we impose things for many years, this conversation is not new. Conservative MP for South Holland and The Deepings, Sir John Hayes, also objected to the Bill on the grounds it would lead to a huge surge in illegal tobacco. He said: In our post spiritual, or at least post religious age, two phenomena are evident when God is forgotten and faith declines. Its not that people believe in nothing, as GK Chesterton said, they believe in anything, and they find new crusades. In the advocacy of this Bill I know they believe that, crusading in a noble cause. The second thing that occurs is as demons are regarded as purely mythical entities, things that were once regarded as normal, as regular, become demonised. And so the curious paradox is that whilst cocaine is widely available, and I am told de rigueur among certain elements of the urban liberal elite, smokers are now seen as heretics. And if this wasnt so alarming, the subject of comic satire, thats the kind of world we live in. We are simultaneously becoming more puerile and more puritanical. French President Emmanuel Macron has said a proposed European armed force for possible deployment in Ukraine under an eventual peace deal could respond if Russia launched an attack. He spoke after talks with Ukraines president and ahead of a summit in Paris of 30 nations on Thursday that will discuss the proposed force for Ukraine. If there was again a generalised aggression against Ukrainian soil, these armies would be under attack and then its our usual framework of engagement, Mr Macron said. Our soldiers, when they are engaged and deployed, are there to react and respond to the decisions of the commander in chief and, if they are in a conflict situation, to respond to it. He has been driving coalition-building efforts for a Ukraine force with UK Prime Sir Minister Keir Starmer. It is still far from clear what kind of aid they are preparing that could contribute towards their goal of making any ceasefire with Russia lasting. Mr Macron said the proposed European forces would not be stationed on the front lines in Ukraine, or be engaged on the first day opposite Russian forces. They would be forces that dissuade the Russians from attacking again. And by holding important towns, strategic bases, mark the clear support from several European governments and allies. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content So we are not on the front lines, we dont go to fight, but we are there to guarantee a lasting peace. Its a pacifist approach, he said. The only ones who would, at that moment, trigger a conflict, a bellicose situation, would be the Russians if they decided again to launch an aggression. Mr Macron is expecting 31 delegations around the table on Thursday morning at the presidential Elysee Palace more than the number for a first meeting in Paris in February evidence that the coalition to help Ukraine, possibly with boots on the ground, is gathering steam, according to the presidential office. But the US will not be represented at the talks. Donald Trumps administration has shown no public enthusiasm for the coalitions discussions about potentially sending troops into Ukraine after an eventual ceasefire to help make peace stick. The US presidents special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has dismissed the idea of a European deployment or even the need for it. Its a combination of a posture and a pose and a combination of also being simplistic, he said in an interview. Emmanuel Macron welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris (Thibault Camus/AP) That is not the view in Europe. The shared premise on which the coalition is being built is that Russian President Vladimir Putins actions in Ukraine starting with the illegal seizure of the Crimean peninsula in 2014 and culminating in the 2022 full-scale invasion that unleashed all-out war shows he cannot be trusted. They believe any peace deal will need to be backed up by security guarantees for Ukraine to deter Mr Putin from launching another attempt to seize it. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mr Macron suggest a foreign contingent in Ukraine could also provide military training, something allies already have been doing outside Ukraine, preparing more than 75,000 troops for battle against Russias larger and expanding military and helping to make up for some of Ukraines losses from more than three years of intense fighting. Primarily, any contingent consists of combat units, but they are above all intended to control the situation, monitor it, carry out joint training, and also to prevent any desire by Russia to return with renewed waves of aggression, Mr Zelensky said at Wednesdays news conference with Mr Macron. European officials say that under any peace deal, Ukraines first line of defence against any future Russian aggression would be Ukraines own army. The 27-nation European Union is pressing ahead with a so-called steel porcupine strategy aimed at making Ukraine an even tougher nut for Russia to crack, by strengthening its armed forces and defence industry. The UK is also pledging continued military aid so Ukraine can keep fighting if peace talks fail or a ceasefire is broken. Mr Macron announced a new package of defence aid for Ukraine that he said is worth 2 billion euros (1.6 billion) and will include light tanks, air defence and anti-tank missiles and other weaponry and support. The aftermath of wildfires at Gounsa Temple (Kim Do-hoon/Yonhap via AP) Unprecedented wildfires ripping through South Koreas southern regions have destroyed large parts of an ancient Buddhist temple complex, burning down two buildings that had been designated national treasures. Five days of wildfires, among South Koreas worst, have left 24 people dead, destroyed more than 300 structures and forced over 28,000 residents to evacuate, officials said on Wednesday. The Gounsa temple was reportedly originally built in 681 AD during the Shilla dynasty which ruled more than half of the Korean peninsula. The remains of burnt-out pavilions at the Gounsa temple (Kim Do-hoon/Yonhap/AP) It is nestled at the foot of Deungun Mountain in the south-eastern town of Uiseong. It does not house buildings constructed during that period, but it is home to several famous cultural heritage sites built later. The temple was engulfed in flames on Tuesday as strong winds fanned the wildfires. About 20 of its 30 buildings and structures were completely burned down, including the revered Gaunru, a pavilion-shaped structure built in 1668 overlooking a stream, and Yeonsujeon, built in 1904 to mark the longevity of a king, according to the state-run Korea Heritage Service. Both were constructed during the Joseon dynasty, the last one on the Korean peninsula, and were given the government designation of treasure, a status given to old buildings, paintings and other cultural assets with historic and artistic significance, which receive state-level protection and maintenance. The temple complex before the fire (Baek Seung-reol/Yonhap/AP) I went there this morning and found theyve been reduced to heaps of ashes, said Doryun, a senior monk who had lived at the temple for more than three years when he was younger. I feel really empty. Life is transient. Doryun now works for a Buddhist organisation in charge of the temple. He said monks and Buddhist faithful managed to move the temples third treasure, a stone Buddha statue reportedly built in the eighth century, to a safe place. Many buildings were burned down, but we moved and protected other sacred assets so that we can maintain the temple. We feel its very fortunate, Doryun told the Associated Press. Doryun also said about 20 monks and other workers live at the temple, but none were injured. The Korea Heritage Service said the temples two other lower-level cultural assets, including a stone pagoda, have also been found intact. The Kew Files: Sam McBride investigates the UKs classified archiveRobert Nairac was abducted and murdered by the IRA in 1977 his body was never foundMystery surrounds the nature of his role and why he went alone to a South Armagh pub Sam McBride: Secret files suggest Robert Nairac was meeting with an informant before disappearance Captain Robert Nairac was meeting an informer when he was abducted and murdered, secret military documents indicate. Those files, discovered by the Belfast Telegraphs Sam McBride, also show that the Ministery of Defence was desperate that that fact would not be revealed, so desperate that it would rather his killers walked free from court than answer questions about what he was up to. Robert Nairac was murdered and secretly buried by the IRA in 1977. Since his disappearance, he has become a mythical figure shrouded in secrecy and rumour. Belfast Telegraphs Northern Ireland editor Sam McBride has been digging in these files at The National Archives in Kew, west London. He joins Ciaran Dunbar with what his investigations have revealed about Captain Robert Nairac. Shutterstock.com The COVID-19 pandemic has been genuinely terrifying, particularly for those who fall into the high-risk category or who have loved ones who do. A recently published NBC News article shared that the U.S. surpassed 400,000 COVID-19 deaths nearly one year after the nations first confirmed case. Now, as several vaccines for the general population have been released, there is hope for many Americans. Scientists say if enough people are vaccinated, there will be nowhere for the virus to go, and there will be few susceptible hosts left to infect. This is a way to achieve herd immunity without losing even more lives in the process. While viruses are created to protect our health, a number of Christians have been against COVID-19 vaccinations. Two groups that have been particularly hesitant about getting vaccinated are white evangelicals and Black Protestants, though both groups are skeptical for different reasons. Some evangelical Christians have subscribed to myths about the COVID-19 vaccine and the pandemic. Many of these same people have fueled misinformation campaigns and promoted conspiracy theories. Some critics have accused right-wing fundamentalist pastors of perpetuating baseless theories that are encouraging their congregants to ignore public health information. This includes unfounded theories like the vaccine is the mark of the beast and could even cause sterilization in women. Some Black Protestants are concerned about getting vaccinated given their tarnished past with dangerous health policies and clinical experiments that have targeted vulnerable black and brown communities. Healthline sums it well, From the Tuskegee experiments one of the most disturbing parts of American medical history to the economic and cultural inequities in the U.S. healthcare system that disproportionately harm Black and Latinx communities, there are very real reasons why some people might look askance with skepticism and fear at the new vaccines. Many of these concerns that are swirling around in many Christian communities beg the question, should Christians get the COVID-19 vaccine? The best place for Christians to get the answer to this question is by turning to Scripture. God calls us to be faithful stewards of what we receive. First Corinthians 4:2 says, Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. This includes our bodies. As Christians, we should be mindful of what we put into our bodies and how we should care for our bodies. The Bible doesnt specifically address vaccinations as they were not available during biblical times. However, the Bible does give us great direction on being good stewards. As Christians, we are called to investigate, make informed decisions, and not take our life for granted. This is a good case for the COVID-19 vaccine and preventative medicine. Those who lived during biblical times did take what they had to cure illnesses and ailments. First Timothy 5:23 says, No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. This points to the importance of preventative medication during those times. When choosing whether to get vaccinated, it should be an informed decision and not rooted in fear. Choosing not to be vaccinated during a global pandemic impact the well-being of your family, friends, and fellow neighbors. If we want to move forward from this virus, we need to take the pandemic seriously. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) published an article titled 3 Reasons Christians Should Vaccinate With Confidence, addressing what Christians should do with vaccinations. The first reason they give for vaccinating with confidence is that science confirms the effectiveness and safety of vaccinations. According to the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases (NFID), childhood vaccines have prevented more than 100 million cases of serious disease. All COVID-19 vaccinations that have been released to the public had gone through extensive safety testing before they were licensed by the FDA and recommended for widespread use. The NFID says, There are currently three systems in place in the U.S. to monitor the safety of vaccines after they are licensed and used among the public. These systems can monitor known side effects and detect rare side effects that may not have been identified during clinical trials. If a vaccine has been released to the public, it has gone through rigorous testing and is generally safe for use. The second reason the article gives for vaccinating with confidence Is that we love our neighbors. God mandates that we love our neighbors as ourselves. When Jesus was asked which is the greatest commandment in the law, He answered with two commandments to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. This means protecting your neighbor from sickness and harm. When a person chooses not to be vaccinated, they are risking the lives of their families and endangering the lives of all they encounter. Ultimately, being vaccinated puts your neighbors life first and is for the public good. The third reason the article gives for vaccinating with confidence is that we dont give into fear-mongering. There is a lot of confusion and misinformation concerning COVID-19 vaccines, and we should be aware of any agenda that exists to sabotage our public health and safety. We dont have to make any decisions based on fear. We can turn to God and trust in His counsels. We can do the same when it comes to counseling around the coronavirus vaccine. There is a reason God has given us science, and there is a lot of good that comes when we take science seriously. We do have the right to refuse vaccination, but we also must accept the repercussions of these actions, not just in our own lives but the lives of those who matter to us. The same goes for when we choose not to vaccinate our children. If we choose not to vaccinate them, we will limit them from being able to participate in certain public institutions and could also be risking their safety. We have to remember that we are responsible for the outcome of these choices. Lesli White is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth with a Bachelors degree in Mass Communications and a concentration in print and online journalism. In college, she took a number of religious studies courses and harnessed her talent for storytelling. White has a rich faith background. Her father, a Lutheran pastor and life coach was a big influence in her faith life, helping her to see the value of sharing the message of Christ with others. She has served in the church from an early age. Some of these roles include assisting ministry, mutual ministry, worship and music ministry and church council. Opinion Here are some questions the candidates for the interim Deschutes County Sheriff should answer: Is there anything in If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. 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. Jeff Robbins, a part-time resident of Stockbridge, is a former U.S. delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Council and a former assistant U.S. attorney and chief counsel for the Democrats on the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. He is the author of Notes from the Brink: A Collection of Columns About Policy at Home and Abroad. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Editor's Note: Pastor Roger Barrier's "Ask Roger" column regularly appears at Preach It, Teach It. Every week at Crosswalk, Dr. Barrier puts nearly 40 years of experience in the pastorate to work answering questions of doctrine or practice for laypeople, or giving advice on church leadership issues. Email him your questions at roger@preachitteachit.org. Dear Roger, You said in today's post that you will post your answer to "what does 666 mean" when somebody asks you. May I please be considered a "somebody" so that you will do so? I, too, believe in "types and shadows" and do believe that the Bible is to be read both historically and predictively. We are certainly living in some very frightening, scary times, aren't we? The antichrist knows his days are numbered . . . and so do we. So, what is the real meaning of 666? May you be greatly blessed. Mary Kay Dear Mary Kay, Here is your answer to what 666 means according to the book of Revelation: Photo credit: GettyImages/rep0rter BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. Venus Remedies & AdjuTec Pharma partner to combat AMR March 26, 2025 | Wednesday | News Venus Remedies will leverage its advanced R&D capabilities to assess APC-148s potential image credit- shutterstock AdjuTec Pharma AS, a Norway-based startup developing antibiotic resistance breakers, has entered into a research collaboration agreement with Panchkula-basedVenus Remedies Limited. Venus Remedies Limited will perform a pre-clinical evaluation of AdjuTec Pharmas APC-148 platform technology. AdjuTec Pharma has developed novel inhibitor technologies that selectively destroy antibiotic resistance mechanisms in multidrug-resistant bacteria, thereby restoring the effectiveness of commercially available antibiotics. APC-148 is the lead programme, that is presently in phase 1 clinical trials. As a frontrunner in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) research, Venus Remedies Limited will leverage its advanced R&D capabilities to assess APC-148s potential in restoring the effectiveness of antibiotics against multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. As part of this engagement, Venus Remedies Limited will test APC-148 in combination with various antibiotics against its extensive library of clinical isolates collected through the GASAR study. The study forms part of Venus Remedies broader commitment to combating AMR and contributing to the UNs One Health objective. AdjuTec Pharma and Venus Remedies Limited share a joint mission to address the global health threat against AMR. AMR directly causes 1.3 million global deaths annually and is projected to cause 39 million accumulated global deaths by 2050. If left unchecked, AMR could surpass cancer as the leading cause of mortality. In India, the situation is especially critical, with AMR being endemic and associated with over 300,000 deaths in 2019 alone, including among newborns. APC-148 has the potential to significantly restore the effectiveness of antibiotics against resistant bacterial strains that are increasingly burdening the Indian healthcare system. ^ Original-Research: 123fahrschule SE - from NuWays AG 26.03.2025 / 09:06 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Research, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this research. The result of this research does not constitute investment advice or an invitation to conclude certain stock exchange transactions. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Classification of NuWays AG to 123fahrschule SE Company Name: 123fahrschule SE ISIN: DE000A2P4HL9 Reason for the research: Update Recommendation: BUY from: 26.03.2025 Target price: EUR 7.90 Target price on sight of: 12 months Last rating change: Analyst: Philipp Sennewald Final FY EBITDA even ahead of prelims; Chg. Topic: 123f released a strong set of FY24 results, where sales were slightly lower but EBITDA ahead of the preliminary figures published in January. In detail: FY24 sales came in at EUR 22.5m (FY24p: EUR 22.8m), implying a 9.2% improvement yoy. Sales were again driven by the Private Customers segment, were top-line improved by 11.1% yoy to EUR 17.3m caused by both price and volume effects. On the other hand, the Driving Instructor Training segment also saw a 9.5% increase in sales to EUR 3.0m, while the Professional Driver Segment however declined by 17.5% yoy to EUR 1.9m. The initial contribution from the Simulator segment amounted to EUR 0.3m sales. Not considering the simulator business, sales growth stood at 7.7%. Mind you, that during the first months of the year, 123f received a significantly increased demand fur simulators, especially in the truck segment, leading to orders of already EUR 1m. For FY25e, we thus estimate a strong increase to EUR 2.5m sales. FY24 EBITDA turned positive for the first time, coming in at EUR 0.5m (FY24p: EUR 0.4m), implying a 2.4% margin. In our view, this is clearly displaying the ongoing operational improvements as well as scale effects starting to kick in. The clear highlight of the release however, was the operating cash flow, which came in at EUR 1.3m (FY23: EUR 0.4m), underpinning 123f's cash generation ability. Overall, the results fully underpin our positive view on the company. Going forward, 123f is seen to substantially benefit from the upcoming regulation changes (e.g. re-introduction of online theory & inclusion of simulators into driving education). Besides this, the proceeds from the recent capital measures are seen to also be used to expand the branch network. In fact, management aims to increase to 70 branches until YE25 (57 as of FY24). Against this backdrop, the company's guidance of EUR 27-29m sales looks well in reach (eNuW new: EUR 28.7m). So does the EBITDA guidance of EUR 1.5-2.5m (eNuW new: EUR 2.3m), especially given the strong simulator business, which is characterized by higher margins. In light of this, the current valuation continues to appear undemanding given an FY25e EV/EBITDA of 7.1x (FY26e: 3.1x). We hence reiterate BUY with an increased PT of EUR 7.90 (old: EUR 7.20) based on DCF. You can download the research here: http://www.more-ir.de/d/32058.pdf For additional information visit our website: https://www.nuways-ag.com/research-feed Contact for questions: NuWays AG - Equity Research Web: www.nuways-ag.com Email: research@nuways-ag.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nuwaysag Adresse: Mittelweg 16-17, 20148 Hamburg, Germany ++++++++++ Diese Meldung ist keine Anlageberatung oder Aufforderung zum Abschluss bestimmter Borsengeschafte. Offenlegung moglicher Interessenskonflikte nach 85 WpHG beim oben analysierten Unternehmen befinden sich in der vollstandigen Analyse. ++++++++++ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2106402 26.03.2025 CET/CEST Quelle: dpa-Afx Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. Help Our Community Please help local businesses by taking an online survey to help us navigate through these unprecedented times. None of the responses will be shared or used for any other purpose except to better serve our community. The survey is at: www.pulsepoll.com $1,000 is being awarded. Everyone completing the survey will be able to enter a contest to Win as our way of saying, "Thank You" for your time. Thank You! Take The Survey The bitter High Court civil trials involving three co-founders of tech conference giant Web Summit is on the verge of resolution with settlement terms expected to come before the court on Thursday. Hours of talks have taken place, and on Wednesday, the court was due to hear evidence from former Web Summit director Daire Hickey. Advertisement However, for the second day in a row, proceedings were put back as lawyers and parties held talks in corridors all morning outside Court 29 in the Four Courts building. At around 12.30 pm, barrister Michael Cush SC, for another former director, David Kelly, told Mr Justice Michael Twomey that negotiations had not yet borne fruit but that time in the case had not been wasted. Mr Justice Twomey then adjourned the case until 2 pm. At around 2.05 pm, Mr Cosgrave's legal team asked him outside the court, and five minutes later, counsel for all three were seated before Mr Justice Twomey. Advertisement Mr Cush said he was pleased to say there had been a beneficial development through talks and that what was discussed between all three parties will be written up overnight and presented to the court tomorrow morning. Mr Cush thanked the judge for the time allowed for the parties to enter into settlement discussions. Mr Justice Twomey then adjourned the matter for finalisation until 11 am on Thursday morning. Web Summit majority shareholder Paddy Cosgrave was 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. Mr Cosgrave was, in turn, being sued by Mr Kelly and Mr Hickey, who holds seven per cent of the shares in Web Summit, for alleged shareholder oppression and breaches of a profit-sharing agreement. Advertisement On Tuesday at the High Court, Mr Justice Twomey urged the parties to resolve their differences, rather than suffer the "real and human" cost of spending months in litigation. Mr Justice Twomey quoted the French philosopher Voltaire, saying: "I was never ruined, but twice - once when I lost a lawsuit, and once when I won one. He urged the three parties not to focus on the rights and wrongs of the history of their business disputes but to focus on resolution. He said mediation was "a thousand times more preferable than going into litigation" and warned that the three months for which the case is scheduled could mean a judgment from him in the winter, which might not satisfy any of them. Advertisement 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. Business Paddy Cosgrave allegedly edited phone recordings t... Read More Mr Justice Twomey said that 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 proceedings, which opened last week, had been scheduled to run for nine weeks. 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. Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin can be seen playing an outlaw in the first trailer for Rust, following the on-set death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin in the death of Hutchins, during a rehearsal on the movie set outside Santa Fe in October 2021, was dismissed by a judge in July 2024. Advertisement Baldwin, 66, the lead actor and co-producer of the film, was pointing a gun when the revolver went off, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. The only order that exists in this world is the order we impose, a voiceover says in a trailer for the film, uploaded to YouTube by an account titled Rust. The film, set in Kansas in the 1880s, follows recently orphaned Lucas McCalister (Patrick Scott McDermott) who accidentally kills a rancher and is sentenced to hang, according to a synopsis. Baldwin plays his estranged grandfather, the notorious outlaw Harland Rust, who breaks Lucas out of jail and takes him on the run toward Mexico. Advertisement The pair attempt to evade the law as well as US Marshal Wood Helm (Josh Hopkins) and bounty hunter Preacher (Travis Fimmel) as they traverse the unforgiving wilderness. The teaser, which features horseback riding, harsh terrain, and lots of guns, ends with Baldwin saying Heaven aint waiting on neither one of us before a dramatic shoot-out. Alec Baldwin (Ian West/PA) In December 2024, New Mexico prosecutors decided not pursue an appeal of a courts decision to dismiss Baldwins involuntary manslaughter charge. Entertainment Woman made Noel Clarke allegations after years of... Read More In January, the actor, known for films including Beetlejuice and The Departed, filed a lawsuit for malicious prosecution and civil rights violations against those involved in pursuing criminal charges against him over the death of Hutchins. Advertisement A judge had thrown out the case in July 2024 based on the misconduct of police and prosecutors over the withholding of ammunition evidence from the defence. According to US publication People, which was the first to report news of the trailer, Rust will be released to cinemas and digitally on May 2 in the US. It did not reveal the films UK release date. Britain's Prince of Wales is to appear on an episode of Clarksons Farm, and revealed that Prince George will be among the fans tuning in. William was joined by stars of the hit series, Kaleb Cooper and Charlie Ireland on a visit to meet young farmers in Somerset on Wednesday. Advertisement A camera crew from the Amazon Prime show followed William on his trip to Folly Farm, nestled in a 250-acre nature reserve in Pensford, Chew Valley, where he was raising awareness of mental health care for farmers. Britain's Prince of Wales and Clarksons Farm star Kaleb Cooper joked together (Darren Staples/PA) William told Cooper as they met outside in the spring sunshine: Youve got George watching now. I said to him What shall I say if I meet Kaleb? He said Tell Kaleb to mind his language. Cooper joked about how much he swears when appearing on Clarksons Farm, filmed on former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarksons Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire. Advertisement Ireland said afterwards, of hearing that Prince George watched the programme: Its great because its meant to bring everyone together, isnt it on the family sofa. Cooper joked: I did get told off for swearing too much I tried to stop, but at the same time, its awesome. Thats what I like about the whole show Ive had so many people thank me, going you brought the family together. Its a great feeling. William congratulated presenter Vick Hope on her new role with Countryfile (Darren Staples/PA) Cooper greeted William with the quip great hair, with the prince laughing and remarking Is that your clean shirt? and joking about his shoes: Are they the cleanest ones youve got? Also there was the BBCs new Countryfile presenter Vick Hope who was recording a special mental health-focused episode for the show featuring the prince. Advertisement William congratulated her on her brilliant new role with the programme, with radio star Hope saying how it was nice to spend time in nature. The princes visit coincided with the announcement of his new position as patron of We Are Farming Minds, a Duchy of Cornwall-supported charity, set up to help farmers experiencing isolation and mental health issues. William was joined by its founders, Duchy tenants Sam and Emily Stables, who started the organisation from their Hertfordshire farm in 2020 after Sam tried to take his own life following his struggles with his mental health. The couple met William and the Princess of Wales in 2023 after taking them on a tour of their Kings Pitt Farm in Aconbury to discuss the charity. The 34th Dail has been hampered by the speaking rights row from its start in January, and the dispute is showing no signs of letting up. Here's everything you need to know about the speaking rights row. Advertisement What started the speaking rights row? The long-running speaking row is over Government's attempts to secure speaking time for Regional Independent TDs, led by Michael Lowry, who support the Coalition. Opposition parties are united in their condemnation of this. The general election saw Fianna Fail with 48 seats, Sinn Fein with 39 and Fine Gael with 38 seats. A Government needs 88 seats for a majority, so Fianna Fail and Fine Gael needed the support of a small number of independent TDs. The TDs in question came from two cohorts - a group of regional independents, led by Tipperary's Michael Lowry, and Kerry independent TDs Michael and Danny Healy-Rae. Advertisement Under a deal agreed after the general election, the Regional Independent Group vote with the Government in the Dail. The Healy-Rae brothers also agreed to vote with the Government. Four TDs from this group of independents were appointed junior ministers, while Wexfords Verona Murphy was appointed Ceann Comhairle. Michael Lowry, Danny Healy-Rae, Barry Heneghan and Gillian Toole, the four independents from the Group who were not named junior ministers, then announced they would form a technical group for speaking time. Speaking time in the Dail is allocated based on party or group size: Independent TDs on their own may not get any regular speaking slots, but by forming a technical group, they can pool their numbers to qualify for scheduled speaking time, including during high-profile weekly debates such as Leaders Questions. However, such technical groups have traditionally comprised opposition TDs. Advertisement This is the root of the speaking rights row as opposition politicians claim they are attempting to take opposition speaking time while also supporting the Government. Opposition disrupted the election of Micheal Martin at Taoiseach over the row in January, and it continues to delay the formation of Dail committees and other business. Attempts to resolve the row The Government used its majority on the Dail Reform Committee to push through proposals to change Dail rules to allow speaking time for the TDs, which they say would be separate to Opposition speaking time. In response, the Opposition has withdrawn the Dail 'pairing' arrangement. The arrangement saw TDs agree not to participate in Dail votes to allow for a Minister or Government TDs absence. Last week, Opposition parties outlined plans to enter an amendment to the Governments motion to change Dail rules, which the Sinn Fein leader said will solve the row over speaking rights. Advertisement Mary Lou McDonald vowed that opposition parties will face the Government down on the deepening row Where do things stand? The Governments majority meant it was able to push through significant changes to speaking rules in the Dail on Wednesday, 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. The real story was the Dail once again erupting into chaos, as it did when the Taoiseach's nomination was blocked in January. Advertisement Many of the Opposition stood up and shouted, with Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy accusing them of "misogyny" and "making a holy show of yourselves". People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy took out his phone to film the unrest, and Michael Lowry made a two-finger gesture at him which Opposition TDs have claimed showed a lack of respect to the Irish public. The gesture, which happened following hours of chaos, shouting and heckling in the Dail, has been widely condemned. A screenshot of Michael Lowry making a two-finger gesture in the Dail, PA Wire/PA Images Taoiseach Micheal Martin called on Mr Lowry to apologise for the incident, but also criticised Mr Murphy, accusing him of waving his camera in the faces of other TDs. Mr Lowry, who was a key negotiator for a group of independents who agreed to support the formation of the Government, 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. In a statement, Mr Lowry said on Wednesday: The gesture I made in the Dail yesterday was not made with malicious intent. I made an errant gesture under provocation. Unfortunately, the gesture has been taken out of context. Unlike others, I have always respected the rules and values of the Dail. My gesture was not intended to be offensive or to cause any offence, and I regret that it may have been seen in such a way. The Government is proposing that the four TDs from the originally proposed Regional Independents technical group would be considered others. This essentially means they would not be considered part of the Government or Opposition. They would get speaking time on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, along with Government backbenchers. Opposition parties say this is "blurring the lines" by Government. It would also mean written questions to be answered by the Taoiseach on Wednesdays would no longer take place. What does the public think? Mr Martin previously claimed the public "aren't excited" about the speaking rights row. However, messages to the Taoiseach, seen by BreakingNews.ie following a Freedom of Information request, show the public are very angry about the issue. One person wrote: "I think it's utterly farcical that TDs who support the Government are attempting to speak on Opposition time. "I fully support attempts to disrupt proceedings today as this cannot stand." A message on the morning of January 23rd read: "Micheal, is this the start of a dictatorship? You're deliberately taking away the democratic rights of the Opposition by cutting down their speaking time. The Independents who helped you form government have no place on the opposition benches taking time away from your actual opposition. "This is an affront to Irish democracy. The painting of the opposition parties (Sinn Fein, Labour, Social Democrats etc) as the bad guys in this scenario is a deliberate projection on your part to avoid accountability for your shady dealings." Why is Verona Murphy under pressure? The Opposition have accused Ms Murphy of not being impartial enough to fulfill the role of Ceann Comhairle. The Opposition parties have drafted a no confidence motion in Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy. The Government has accused them of bullying behaviour towards Ms Murphy. If a vote does go ahead, the Government will back Ms Murphy meaning it is virtually guaranteed she will survive the motion. However, it does not bode well for a resolution of the speaking rights row. Ms Murphy said she fully intends to continue as Ceann Comhairle. The deputy has issued a lengthy statement tonight - in response to the draft of a no-confidence vote by the Opposition. The Taoiseach has accused them of trying to create a precedent, where they can oust any Ceann Comhairle they don't agree with. Ireland 'An affront to Irish democracy': Messages to Taois... Read More In the statement, Ms Murphy said: "Prolonged disorder and obstruction is utterly unacceptable in any democratic parliament. So too is making false accusations of partiality and collusion against its officials and Chair. By virtue of the independence of the office of Ceann Comhairle, I am in the unenviable position that I cannot descend at will into debate to defend myself against the entirely false allegations of collusion made against me in the Dail today. "I categorically reject these totally unfounded allegations. I have at all times followed the correct procedures of the House and the advice of the impartial officials present. The Clerk of Dail Eireann has independently prepared a report on yesterdays proceedings detailing the procedures followed. It has been laid before the Dail and accordingly is a public document . "I fully intend to continue to carry out the onerous office to which I was elected in accordance with the solemn undertakings I gave the Dail upon my election. "I call on every member of the House to reflect on and abide by their own constitutional obligations, to refrain from disorder, and to respect the rights and dignity of every other member and of the House itself." Disruption which led to the suspension of the Dail was regrettable, unseemly and unbecoming, Tanaiste Simon Harris has said. Opposition leaders are to meet on Wednesday morning after the Dail was disrupted amid a row on speaking time changes. Advertisement The opposition party representatives are to discuss their response to the disorder in the the lower house of the Oireachtas. There were chaotic scenes of shouting, interruptions and allegations of misogyny on Tuesday as weeks of tension over the speaking rights row boiled over during Leaders Questions. Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy fielded interruptions and tried to continue Dail proceedings as opposition TDs took to their feet and objected to the Governments proposals. Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA She declared the order of business and changes to the standing orders passed before adjourning the Dail until after 9am on Wednesday. Advertisement Her position was called into question after leading opposition figures refused to express confidence with her after the suspension of the Dail. Speaking about the leaders meeting, Green Party leader Roderic OGorman told The Late Debate they would discuss how the opposition would proceed, as well as the role of the Ceann Comhairle. In a statement on Tuesday, Taoiseach Micheal Martin accused the opposition of trying to bully and intimidate Ms Murphy, and said it marked a new low for the opposition. The prolonged barracking and the disgraceful lack of respect for the mandates of elected deputies was shocking in its intensity, he said. Advertisement 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. Tanaiste Simon Harris said the level of anger displayed by the opposition on the speaking rights row was disproportionate and did not indicate a willingness to try and find a way forward here. Green Party leader Roderic OGorman said the meeting would be to decide how the opposition proceeds after Dail resumes after 9am. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Speaking to reporters in Lebanon, Mr Harris said the public wanted to see elected representatives work on the issues facing Ireland, including housing, economic headwinds from the EU-US trade dispute and the safety of Irish peacekeepers abroad. Advertisement What has happened in the Dail is really regrettable, really unbecoming, really unseemly, but weve got to move forward now, because I think the people who pay our wages, our bosses, the people of Ireland, want us to get on with it. Asked if Government could do anything to ameliorate opposition concerns, he suggested the re-establishment of committees may see a return to cross-party work. The Dail needs to get into that rhythm now. He added: We need to move on and restore decorum in the Dail chamber. Advertisement Asked about an incident in which Government-supporting Independent TD Micheal Lowry raised two fingers up to members of the opposition, Mr Harris said: I think that was also unseemly and unbecoming, but I think that behaviour wasnt isolated to any one deputy. Because I think when you have grown men standing up and shouting and roaring at the Ceann Comhairle and refusing to follow her direction a person who was elected to implement the rules of the House. You know the rules are very simple. When the Ceann Comhairle stands up, you sit down. And to see adults standing up, shouting and roaring, hooping and hollering, isnt anything youd want see in any workplace, least of all the Dail. Minister for Transport Darragh OBrien described the disruption in the Dail on Tuesday as despicable. I've never seen anything like it and Ive been in the Dail since 2007, he told Newstalk radio. The behaviour yesterday was just absolutely totally and utterly outrageous. Some of the comments that were shouted across the chamber, from the opposition I might add, all from the opposition and particularly from Sinn Fein. And it was co-ordinated and it was planned, Mr O'Brien said. Unquestionably [the opposition] had planned this, that they would try to bring about maximum disruption to the business of the house. We have many very serious issues for our people to deal with. We have changes in the geopolitical landscape. We've tariffs looming. We've got to protect our economy, our people, and our jobs. And what I saw yesterday, frankly, just as a citizen, if you leave it aside as being a TD or a Minister, I was absolutely disgusted. Labour party leader Ivana Bacik said the situation was a mess of the Government's own making. They have sought to manufacture a situation where TDs who are patently in Government will also be deemed somehow to be not in Government, to be a part of opposition or to be in this construct of other members, she told RTE's Morning Ireland. So that will undermine our capacity as opposition, true opposition leaders, to hold Government to account. That's why we are so opposed to this. That's why this issue has united opposition leaders from parties. Ms Bacik added: What it felt like yesterday in the chamber was that the Ceann Comhairle was steamrolling through business and that I think is a very difficult and it's a very serious matter. People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy described Mr Lowrys two-finger gesture as two fingers from Michael Lowry to the public, to the basic principles of parliamentary democracy, and it's two fingers that is endorsed by Micheal Martin and Simon Harris and the Government. Speaking on Newstalk radio on Wednesday morning, Mr Murphy said he was not personally focussed on forcing the resignation of the Ceann Comhairle. If there was a vote of no confidence there was every chance it would fail because the Government had a majority, he said. Ireland Michael Lowry accused of giving two fingers to t... Read More I think we need to force the Government back and force the Government to remove the standing order change that was ran through yesterday and the protests need to continue to do so. This is not just about our rights as an opposition to hold the Government to account, it's about the rights of future opposition. I don't accept that democracy is simply majority rules. I mean, would you be saying that if they came in with a change of standing orders to say that nobody in the opposition can speak? And we have a majority, so we're going to vote that through. Would that be accepted as the majority? Democracy has to include some rights for the minority. I do not accept that this is over, yes, I have never seen anything like it, what the Ceann Comhairle did, so she ran through the order of business without any opportunity to speak on it or even vote on it, she then just abandoned whole sections of yesterday's Dail agenda to allow supposedly the standing order amendment to be moved, no opportunity for debate it was incredible, Ive never seen anything like it. The opposition still has significant power here, and we need to continue the protest. Additional reporting: Vivienne Clarke The UK government is choosing weapons of war over people and public services, Northern Irelands First Minister Michelle ONeill has said. Ms ONeill said UK chancellor Rachel Reeves had adopted a turbo-charged Tory approach in her spring statement. Advertisement Ms Reeves has confirmed an additional 2.2 billion for the UK Ministry of Defence in the next financial year and announced further benefits cuts. British chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves with UK defence secretary John Healey, during her visit to Wellington Barracks, London (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Ms ONeill said: It is astonishing at a time when public services are on their knees; when we have endured 14 years of austerity and cuts; when small business might go to the wall; when winter fuel payments have been cut; when farmers are worried about inheritance tax; money that should be invested in public services is being diverted into weapons of war. The British government has made clear that it has no regard for ordinary workers and families or for public services here. It has made the wrong choices, focusing on a militarised budget and increasing weapons of war. Advertisement We need to invest in public services, protect those in need, and improve daily life for workers, families and communities. Ms ONeill said the UK government is totally failing people and using distraction tactics. She added: The direction of travel for this British government is extremely worrying. In the face of economic challenges there is a choice to be made. History has shown the dangers of militarisation and the right-wing politics and polices that accompany this. After years of condemning Tory austerity and cuts, this Labour government is now doubling down on austerity with cuts to fund military spending. Advertisement There is nothing in this statement for people in the north. It is a statement of British national priorities which is totally indifferent to workers and families here. It is obvious that British governments, whether Tory or Labour, have nothing to offer our people. SDLP leader Claire Hanna said benefit cuts would target the most vulnerable (Mark Marlow/PA) SDLP leader Claire Hanna said the UK government cannot balance the books off the backs of the most vulnerable in society. Advertisement She said: Further changes to welfare support announced by the Chancellor today will increase the worry that many people have been living with since these changes were first mooted. Those with disabilities and mental health problems are fearful about what the next few years will bring for them and their families as they face cuts to their income at a time when many are already struggling to get by. I understand the difficult financial situation facing the UK and the desire of this government to balance the books but that cannot be done off the backs of those who are already among the worst off in our society. At a time when we see obscene wealth concentrated in the hands of so few and while large corporations underpay tax, this feels to so many like a massively poor choice. A woman who collected her then-partner from a bus stop just minutes after he murdered a young drug dealer was not performing "the sort of slick getaway you see in the movies", her defence counsel has told a Central Criminal Court jury. Prosecutors, however, have described Rachel Redmond's testimony that she did not know Wayne Cooney had committed "any crime at all" when she drove him away from the scene and later checked him into a hotel as "absolutely risible". Advertisement Seoirse O Dunlaing SC, for the State, added: "The accused is saying 'I didn't know'; If you said that to a horse you would get a kick". The defence later urged the jurors not to convict Ms Redmond because of the sins of other people around her. "We can't point the finger at Rachel Redmond because her boyfriend is the killer and her brother is involved. You can't convict her by association," Dominic McGinn SC said. 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 to help him evade prosecution. Advertisement 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 has heard that Robert Redmond pleaded guilty in April 2024 to conspiring 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, North Belfast, 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. Advertisement Ms Redmond has pleaded not guilty to the two counts. Addressing the jury on Wednesday, Mr O Dunlaing said Mr Davis had been shot in "callous circumstances" with a semi-automatic weapon in broad daylight in the vicinity of a school and there was no doubt that Wayne Cooney was the murderer. He said Cooney had acted like "a shark patrolling the ocean looking for its prey" when he was seen on an orange bicycle hanging around the Darndale area for days before the murder. The lawyer submitted that Stacey Hayes had given "uncontradicted evidence" that she had picked up Cooney at the precise location where the gunman was last seen on CCTV footage. Advertisement Counsel said Ms Redmond had effectively told them in her evidence that there was "no room at the inn" at a four-bedroom house on Streamville Road on the night of the murder, where her family members were staying. The barrister questioned why Cooney hadn't made the booking at the Clayton Hotel at Dublin Airport in his name and why it was made so late on the night of May 22nd if it was a case of "there is nothing to see here". "The truth of the matter is that gardai were looking for someone matching Wayne Cooney's description; they were not looking for a female, they were looking for a man," he added. Mr O Dunlaing also asked the jury today why Ms Redmond had parked at a nearby garage instead of at the hotel. "It makes no sense unless the reason for that is you wanted to ensure that Wayne Cooney is not seen by anyone". Advertisement He asked the jury to look at how Ms Redmond picked up Cooney after the murder and how she checked him into the hotel. He said the accused was "hiding" her then-partner. He added: "Are you seriously being asked to accept she did not know?" The lawyer invited the jury to consider that the accused's evidence on Tuesday was "a distraction from the issue that she simply did not want to engage with". He said the accused has had a couple of years to think about what "cock and bull story" she could tell a jury of her peers when the matter came on for trial. He said Ms Redmond told gardai in her interviews that the first time she heard about the shooting was on Facebook. He said Ms Redmond had heard about the murder from Ms Hayes' nephew when she was in Ms Hayes' presence in the car, submitting that what the accused had told gardai was a lie. "She heard about it minutes after and a couple of meters from where it had been committed". Counsel said the first thing Ms Redmond had said to her then-partner when he got into Ms Hayes' car was that there had been a killing, to which Cooney had replied, saying "it's a mad place". The barrister argued that this was done "to deflect any suspicion; here is something we have got nothing to do with, let me be the one to present this news to Wayne in front of Stacey". The barrister concluded by telling the jury that Ms Redmond knew there had been a murder and that Mr Davis had been killed. "She knew that when she picked up Wayne and when she went to check him into the hotel that night". He said the only circumstances under which the accused had committed the offences were that she was hiding Cooney. He submitted there was no doubt about this and asked the jurors to return guilty verdicts on both counts. In his closing speech, Dominic McGinn SC, defending, said Ms Redmond was hardworking, an ordinary member of the public and didn't live a life of crime. "Don't regard her as being some hardened criminal because she is not," he added. Counsel said the prosecution contends that the accused's role was to keep Cooney out of sight, and if this was the ca,se then she hadn't done a very good job. He said the assertion did not stand up to scrutiny, saying: "Cooney was completely cavalier about him being seen and there was no effort to hide him at all, he had no interest in being hidden". He said there was no evidence that the accused knew her brother had issued threats to Mr Davis. He submitted that Ms Redmond was not there as a getaway driver, and it was clear she knew nothing that happened before collecting Cooney. "She wasn't waiting around to collect an assassin; that is not what is going on". Mr McGinn said the accused and Ms Hayes were "knocking around" the Darndale area and had gone to see Ms Hayes's mother, which was nothing unusual. "Even picking up Wayne Cooney at the bus stop is not the sort of slick getaway you see in the movies". Counsel said his client did not think there was anything wrong going on as she had used her own name and credit card in the Clayton Hotel that night. He said it was not the first time hotel rooms had been used by the couple given their unusual living arrangements. "There is nothing unusual about the visit to the hotel unless you knew Cooney had committed the killing and he was the murderer; that whole interaction is not unusual". He said the DPP had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ms Redmond, in picking up Cooney from the bus stop and later taking him to the hotel was that she knew or believed Cooney had committed a murder. It was not about whether she was unlucky or not, he added. The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury of three men and nine women. Ireland will double its local community funding in Lebanon, the Tanaiste has announced. Simon Harris is in Lebanon for a series of political engagements and to meet members of the 125th Infantry Battalion who are serving as part of a UN peacekeeping mission. Advertisement On Wednesday, Mr Harris confirmed an increase in funding for Civil-Military Cooperation (Cimic) projects supported by Irish Defence Forces personnel serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The Cimic project is aimed at improving the lives of those in the local communities in which Irish troops serve. Its budget will be doubled from 40,000 to 80,000 for 2025. The funding will be used to support local community projects in in South Lebanon, where an Irish-Polish battalion is operating. Advertisement Mr Harris said: This funding will enable the Defence Forces to maintain their proud tradition of humanitarian engagement as part of their peacekeeping duties. The additional funding will further support our efforts and ensure that we can continue to assist, strengthen relationships and support the ongoing recovery of those most affected by this conflict. We must acknowledge that the strength and resilience of the people in this community are truly inspiring, given the recent destruction visited upon the region. By increasing the Cimic budget, Irish personnel can make an even greater impact on the lives of those affected by the conflict. These projects will directly improve conditions for local communities. Advertisement Irish troops will continue to work closely with local authorities and international partners to implement Cimic initiatives. Projects under consideration include the refurbishment of a local community centre that offers workshops and skill-building classes for women to secure financial independence, and repairs to a water purification system. Other options include refurbishment of a social development and small health centre for women and children, or repairs to electricity infrastructure for local communities. The Department of Defence said the increased allocation, along with Irish Aid funding, underscores the Governments strong support for the Defence Forces role in UN peacekeeping and Irelands ongoing commitment to fostering stability in the region. A man has been left with serious injuries following a stabbing incident in a Belfast suburb. Shortly before 12.30am on Wednesday, it was reported to police that an altercation involving two men took place in the Old Forge area of Dunmurry. Advertisement Officers attended the scene, and located a man with a stab wound to his leg and serious head injuries in the communal hallway of a block of flats. Our detectives are appealing for information following a report of a stabbing in Dunmurry.https://t.co/PUseT2lrsu pic.twitter.com/7oEdqzB9Hn Police West Belfast (@PSNIBelfastW) March 26, 2025 The victim, aged in his 30s, was taken to hospital, where he is currently said to be in a stable condition. The suspect made off prior to police arrival. Detectives are now appealing anyone with information to contact them in Musgrave on 101, quoting reference number 20 26/03/25. Opposition leaders have told the Ceann Comhairle of the Dail that they have no confidence in her. The move against Verona Murphy comes following a meeting of the leaders of the main opposition parties on Wednesday morning to discuss their response after the Dail was disrupted on Tuesday amid an acrimonious row on speaking time changes. Advertisement Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald told the Dail during Leaders' Questions that the Ceann Comhairles position is now untenable. Ms McDonald said Ms Murphys actions during chaotic scenes in the Dail on Tuesday were demonstrably partisan and lack the impartiality and independence demanded of your position. She said: So, who convinced you to play your part in this disgraceful charade, or is it simply that bias for the Government is baked into the very deal that secured your position? That is now the question. Advertisement The Sinn Fein leader continued: Ceann Comhairle, not alone have you lost the confidence of the entire opposition; you have, in fact, decimated it. The Dail cannot function properly whilst you remain in the chair. Above all the Ceann Comhairle must be impartial, fair and independent, and by your actions you have demonstrated that you are not. Your position is therefore untenable. So, I ask you to reflect very carefully on this, because you need to go. Advertisement Ms McDonald later said she would move a formal motion of no-confidence if necessary. Taoiseach Micheal Martin has criticised the conduct of the opposition parties during Tuesdays disrupted proceedings in the Dail. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Taoiseach Micheal Martin accused Sinn Fein of pursuing a destructive model of opposition and trying to bring the loudhailer politics of the street into the Dail. Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik also asked Ms Murphy to reflect on her position over the coming days. She told the Dail: Yesterday you deemed the order of business passed despite resounding calls of dissent from the opposition benches. Advertisement Without any legitimate democratic basis you deemed that passed and you did so as part, apparently, of a pre-arranged, set-up orchestration with government. Ms Bacik said she did not believe Dail rules had been applied fairly and impartially. She added: That is why this morning, together with my parliamentary party, we agreed to ask you to reflect on your position over coming days. If not, if necessary, we will have no option to table a motion of no confidence in you. And I regret that it has come to this. Advertisement The Taoiseach then accused Ms Bacik of parroting Sinn Feins line. Youve tied yourself to the hip of Sinn Fein and youll regret it, he said. The developments come after chaotic scenes of shouting, interruptions and allegations of misogyny on Tuesday as weeks of tension over the speaking rights row boiled over during Leaders Questions. Ms Murphy faced continual interruptions as she tried to continue proceedings on Tuesday as opposition TDs took to their feet and objected to the Governments proposals to change speaking time arrangements. She declared the changes to the standing orders passed before adjourning the Dail early. The row has its origins in the formation of the current coalition involving Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, supported by several independent TDs. 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 controversial changes to standing orders 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. Opposition parties are vehemently opposed to the changes, characterising them as 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. Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA The dispute 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. Tensions boiled over on Tuesday with the Dail witnessing angry scenes as Ms Murphy presided over a vote on the changes. Mr Martin has accused the opposition of trying to bully and intimidate Ms Murphy, and said it marked a new low for the opposition. The prolonged barracking and the disgraceful lack of respect for the mandates of elected deputies was shocking in its intensity, he said. 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. Tanaiste Simon Harris said the disruption was regrettable, unseemly and unbecoming. Mr Harris said the level of anger displayed by the opposition was disproportionate and did not indicate a willingness to try and find a way forward here. Speaking to reporters in Lebanon, Mr Harris said the public wanted to see elected representatives work on the issues facing Ireland, including housing, economic headwinds from the EU-US trade dispute and the safety of Irish peacekeepers abroad. What has happened in the Dail is really regrettable, really unbecoming, really unseemly, but weve got to move forward now, because I think the people who pay our wages, our bosses, the people of Ireland, want us to get on with it, he said. Asked if Government could do anything to ameliorate opposition concerns, he suggested the re-establishment of committees may see a return to cross-party work. The Dail needs to get into that rhythm now, said Mr Harris. He added: We need to move on and restore decorum in the Dail chamber. Asked about an incident during Tuesdays session in which Government-supporting independent TD Michael Lowry raised two fingers up to members of the opposition, Mr Harris said: I think that was also unseemly and unbecoming, but I think that behaviour wasnt isolated to any one deputy. Because I think when you have grown men standing up and shouting and roaring at the Ceann Comhairle and refusing to follow her direction a person who was elected to implement the rules of the House. Explained Who is Verona Murphy? The Isis controversy, Wexfor... Read More You know the rules are very simple. When the Ceann Comhairle stands up, you sit down. And to see adults standing up, shouting and roaring, hooping and hollering, isnt anything youd want see in any workplace, least of all the Dail. Opposition leaders are to meet on Wednesday morning after the Dail was disrupted over controversial speaking time changes. The opposition party representatives are to discuss their response to the disorder in the lower house of the Oireachtas. Advertisement There were chaotic scenes of shouting, interruptions and allegations of misogyny on Tuesday as weeks of tension over the speaking rights row boiled over during Leaders Questions. Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy fielded interruptions and tried to continue Dail proceedings as opposition TDs took to their feet and objected to the governments proposals. She declared the order of business and changes to the standing orders passed before adjourning the Dail until after 9am on Wednesday. Green Party leader Roderic OGorman said the meeting would be to decide how the opposition proceeds after Dail resumes at 9am. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Speaking about the meeting, Green Party leader Roderic OGorman told The Late Debate they would discuss how the opposition would proceed, as well as the role of the Ceann Comhairle. Advertisement In a statement on Tuesday, Taoiseach Micheal Martin accused the opposition of trying to bully and intimidate Ms Murphy and said it marked a new low for the opposition. The prolonged barracking and the disgraceful lack of respect for the mandates of elected deputies was shocking in its intensity, he said. 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. The managing director of a restaurant whose post of a mock Ryanair-style bill for the airline's chief executive went viral, said they are hoping Michael O'Leary has seen the funny side. Lubo Kosturik said the staff of Luvida Restaurant in Navan, Co Meath, have been "blown away" by the reaction the post has received. Advertisement The restaurant hit the headlines over the weekend after Mr Kosturik had a bit of craic with the Ryanair boss and decided to create a mock bill, charging Mr O'Leary for extra leg space, priority booth seating and quiet area reservation, to the total tune of almost 38. Mr O'Leary and his family dined at the restaurant, which is also well known for hosting the stars of US reality show The Real Housewives of New Jersey in recent years. However, Mr Kosturik has admitted that restaurant manager Marika Chocianowicz decided against handing the Ryanair boss the joke bill but did work up the courage to ask for a photo, which he kindly agreed to. Originally from Slovakia but living in Ireland for the last 20 years and flying regularly with Ryanair, Mr Kosturik admits that he is a fan of O'Leary and hopes tongue-in-cheek that he doesn't get a solicitor's letter for having the craic. Advertisement "I told Marika what to put in playful mock-up bill but, in the end, she decided against handing it to him," he said. "As a frequent flyer with Ryanair myself, the idea of charging for things like 'priority booth seating' and 'extra legroom' came to mind as a harmless nod to their harmless pricing structure. I couldn't resist the joke, especially as Mr O'Leary had requested a quiet table. Ireland Ryanair launches subscription service offering ins... Read More "That said, we have huge admiration for Mr O'Leary as a businessman. He truly revolutionised air travel in Europe, making it accessible and affordable for everyone. One day, kids will be learning about him in school next to names like Henry Ford or Tomas Bata. "Mr O'Leary was very gracious in his visit and even left the staff a generous tip. "The post was just a bit of fun and we hope Mr O'Leary sees the funny side and takes it in the light-hearted spirit it was intended. We hope a solicitor's letter doesn't arrive at the door," he laughed. "We are absolutely blown away by the response online to the post. It seems to have been shared everywhere." Searches are continuing in Co Kerry for a farmer missing since late last week. Michael Gaine was last seen on Thursday, with CCTV footage showing him buying phone credit in a Centra near Kenmare. Advertisement His farm remains sealed off and on Tuesday equipment was brought in to empty slurry tanks on the property. Mountainous terrain in the area has also been extensively searched, with up to 200 locals volunteering to help. Gardai had no indication Mr Gaine was vulnerable or at risk in any way and his disappearance is regarded as completely out of character. A very significant search operation was stepped up over the weekend in a bid to comb lands where Mr Gaine may have fallen and injured himself while tending to his animals. Advertisement The Garda has also committed a range of resources to the case, including examining the missing mans property and taking vehicles away for forensic examination in the event the inquiry may become criminal in nature. Jason Fleming, chair of the Irish Farmers Association in Kerry, said Mr Gaine was a sheep and beef farmer, and a great one at that, adding many members of the association were concerned and had joined the search for him. Wed be hopeful that Mike will be found safe and sound, he told Radio Kerry. Lifestyle Farmer brings alpaca therapy to nursing homes and... Read More Amid growing concern for Mr Gaines welfare, gardai have released a CCTV still image of him buying mobile phone credit at a Centra store in Kenmare at 9.48am on Thursday. He was seen minutes later in Kenmare, which appears to be the last confirmed sighting of him. Mr Gaine was described as being about 510 in height and of stocky build, with brown/grey hair and a bushy beard. When last seen, he was wearing an orange woolly hat, black fleece, blue jeans and black boots. Advertisement An appeal for information issued by Garda Headquarters said Mr Gaines family, and investigating gardai, were extremely concerned for his safety. They have asked anyone who may have been in contact with him, or seen him, late last week to come forward. Gardai in Killarney are especially keen to speak to anyone who may have been driving in the area of Kenmare town and Molls Gap last Thursday or Friday and who may have dash cam footage. Spanish have gone public with an operation against a drug trafficking gang smuggling cocaine and marihuana into Ireland from Spain which has led to 20 arrests. Spanish cops say the criminals hid the drugs in secret compartments in vehicles they fitted out with the narcotics at a warehouse on an industrial estate in the east coast Spanish city of Castellon between Barcelona and Valencia. Advertisement More than 300 kilos of cocaine and 220 kilos of marihuana were seized in the operation and a total of ten Irish nationals held in Ireland and Spain according to Spanish cops. Well-placed sources claimed one UK national was also arrested. The Civil Guard said today the heads of the criminal organisation in Spain were caught red handed at the Castellon warehouse, including an Irish national who was acting as a delegate of the international network in Ireland. More arrests are understood to have taken place in Ireland in the last few days. Arrests in Ireland Thirteen of the 20 detentions took place in Spain according to police there and the other seven in Ireland. The suspects, aged between 30 and 50, are Spanish, Colombian, Irish and British. Advertisement A spokesman for the Spanish Civil Guard, which released footage and photos of the Europol-coordinated operation involving the gardai, Spanish Customs officers and the Italian Antimafia Investigation Directorate, said today: An international drug trafficking organisation based in Murcia, Castellon and Malaga which was sending large amounts of drugs to Ireland has been smashed. The operation was codenamed Operation Pereira. The drugs were sent to Dublin in caletas or secret compartments using all types of vehicles. Twenty members of the organisation have been arrested and more than 200 kilos of marihuana and 300 kilos of cocaine seized. The first indications of this organisations activity were obtained at the end of 2023. Advertisement They enabled investigators to detect the presence of a group of around 20 people with experience of this sort of illicit activity who were adopting security measures to avoid being detected. This network of people also enjoyed a high standard of living which enabled them to elicit support from others and widen their area of influence. The place they used as a HQ was an industrial estate in Castellon, which was where the drugs were sent from, and they had another in Dublin which received the narcotics. The network also had ramifications in Murcia further south and Malaga. Advertisement Secret compartments A spokesman for the police force added: At the warehouse in Castellon they vacuum-packed the marihuana and cocaine and hit them in sophisticated secret compartments in cars, lorries and trailers. Cars were generally used to bring the drugs to the warehouse. Different products to disguise the load as legal were also added. A lorry with Irish number plates was generally used to export the drugs. The lorry tended to leave with just half a load of drugs before legal merchandise was added and it went via France before embarking on its final journey to Ireland. The amount of cocaine seized came to 314 kilos and the marihuana to 220 kilos. More than 100 kilos of cocaine were seized by the Civil Guard inside the warehouse in Castellon where the main members of the criminal organisation in Spain were caught red-handed along with an Irish national who was a delegate of the international network of that country. Advertisement Over the last few days, the remaining arrests of the members of the criminal organisation in Ireland have taken place, and among them is the suspected gang leader in Ireland. The 220 kilos of marihuana were intercepted in Valencia, hidden in a lorry bound for Ireland. As well as drugs, property and cash totalling more than EUROS one million euros has been confiscated, including 12 vehicles, four lorries, 35,000 euros in cash, a pistol with ammunition, four computers and 35 mobile phones as well as different documentation. Four searches took place in Spain, three in Castellon and one in Orihuela in the province of Alicante as well as one in Ireland. Thirteen of the 20 arrests took place in Spain and the rest in Ireland. The suspects, aged between 30 and 50, are mostly Spanish, Irish and Colombian. They have been accused of belonging to a criminal gang, drug trafficking, money laundering and illegal weapons possession. Europol Europol said in a separate statement, putting the number of arrests at 12: The criminals are suspected of involvement in large-scale drug trafficking, mainly by transporting drugs hidden in vehicles from Spain to Ireland. Law enforcement uncovered the networks activities, including drug-related crimes such as money laundering, when it dismantled the Ghost encrypted communication platform in September 2024. In an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to evade detection, the criminals had relied on sophisticated encrypted communications and had fragmented their exchanges across multiple platforms. "During the action day, however, investigators were able to trace several Ghost user handles back to members of the criminal network. This high-risk criminal network coordinated the drug trade using these sophisticated communication channels, relying on both encryption and multi-platform distribution. The sophistication of their communications was in stark contrast to the simplicity of their modus operandi; it consisted of smuggling cocaine and marijuana across the continent in vehicles equipped with custom-made secret compartments and cloned number plates. The Tanaiste is to reaffirm unwavering commitment to the UNs peacekeeping mission in Lebanon and the nations security and stability. Simon Harris is visiting Lebanon this week against a backdrop of heightened tensions with Israel. Advertisement He is to hold talks with the Lebanese foreign affairs and defence ministers in Beirut, and visit Irish peacekeeping soldiers serving as part of the Unifil mission. Just arrived in Lebanon. Looking forward to a packed day of meetings, but above all, Im here to meet the incredible men and women of Oglaigh na hEireann serving with integrity and distinction. I want to see firsthand the challenges they face on the ground. pic.twitter.com/GGfm0aXEnN Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) March 25, 2025 The Tanaiste said Private Sean Rooney, an Irish soldier killed in Lebanon, will be a key feature of his political talks. The 24-year-old from Co Donegal, was killed while on deployment with Unifil on December 14th, 2022. Mr Harris is expected to impress the Governments deep disappointment and dissatisfaction at the slow progress of the legal proceedings, and highlight how the lack of progress is particularly distressing for the Rooney family. Advertisement Later on Wednesday, the Tanaiste will visit Camp Shamrock in south Lebanon where members of the 125th Infantry Battalion are serving as part of the Unifil peacekeeping mission. A United Nations soldier at Camp Shamrock in Debel in May 2024 (Niall Carson/PA) Ireland Tanaiste to highlight memory of peacekeeper during... Read More He is expected to tell the peacekeepers how the Irish public feel a great sense of pride in the work they do. He will also announce a doubling of funding to 80,000 for Civil-Military Co-operation (CIMIC) projects. These include community and health facilities, workshops and education classes for children. Britain's Prince Harry has quit as patron of a charity in Africa he set up in honour of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, amid a boardroom battle within the organisation. Harry founded charity Sentebale in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to help young people and children in southern Africa, particularly those living with HIV and Aids. Advertisement But several trustees have left the organisation in a dispute with the chairwoman of the board, Dr Sophie Chandauka, having requested her resignation. Harrys departure follows a reported dispute between the Sentebale board and its chairwoman Dr Sophie Chandauka. Photo: Yaroslav Sabitov/PA According to the Times, the dispute arose around a decision to focus fundraising in Africa. In a joint statement, Harry and Prince Seeiso backed the departing trustees and said they had resigned as patrons until further notice. They said: 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. Advertisement 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. Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso co-founded Sentebale in memory of their mothers. Photo: Dominic Lipinski/PA In response, Dr Chandauka appeared to criticise Harry for going to the press and playing the victim card. She said in a statement: Everything I do at Sentebale is in pursuit of the integrity of the organisation, its mission, and the young people we serve. Advertisement 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. She also claimed she had reported trustees to the Charity Commission and that the High Court had issued an emergency injunction to prevent her removal. She added: 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 coverup that ensued. I could be anyone. I just happen to be an educated woman who understands that the law will guide and protect me. I will say nothing further on this matter at this time. Advertisement Harry spent two months in the kingdom of Lesotho during his gap year when he was 19 in 2004, which inspired him to establish the charity two years later, which now also works in Botswana. He came face-to-face with Aids orphans, met other traumatised young people and visited herd boys living a harsh existence looking after cattle in remote mountain areas. Harry visited Lesotho and the prince as recently as last October, where he talked to a group of young people around a campfire about the massive difference Sentebale was making. He was also pictured with Dr Chandauka at a charity polo event in Florida in April 2024 to benefit Sentebale. Advertisement Former trustees Timothy Boucher, Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, Dr Kelello Lerotholi, and Damian West also released a statement saying their decision to resign was devastating but was the result of our loss in trust and confidence in the chair of the board. The statement said: We are deeply proud to have supported the visionary work of the Founding Patrons Prince Seeiso and Prince Harry, who founded Sentebale in memory of their mothers. For two decades, Sentebale has championed hundreds of thousands of children and young people, providing them with care, training and life skills, which not only benefit each individual child they support, but their families and their communities as a whole. 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. 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. Harry and Prince Seeiso, who are understood to have resigned at the same time as the trustees, said they would be sharing concerns with the UK Charity Commission. They 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. 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. 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. Harry looks at a traditional Lesothan blanket with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho at the site of a Sentebale Mateanong Herd Boy School. Photo: Chris Jackson/PA Sentebale said it had not received resignations from either of the royal patrons and said the recalibration of the board is part of Sentebales ambitious transformation agenda. In a statement, a spokesperson said: 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. World US releases redacted documents in Prince Harry imm... Read More Harrys role at Sentebale was one of a small number of private patronages he retained after he was stripped of his royal patronages and honorary military positions by the late Queen in 2021 after his departure from the working monarchy was confirmed for good a year after Megxit. The UK Charity Commission told the BBC it was aware of concerns about the governance of Sentebale. We are assessing the issues to determine the appropriate regulatory steps, the commission said in a statement. Laurence Fox has been charged with a sexual offence after allegedly sharing a compromising photo of TV star Narinder Kaur on social media. In a tweet posted in April 2024, the 46-year-old is said to have shared a compromising image of the broadcaster who appears regularly on Good Morning Britain and has previously appeared on GB News. Advertisement Posting on X at the time, Kaur, 52, said the image was unimaginably mortifying. Fox addressed the situation in an extended post the following day, in which he said he would like to apologise to Kaur and then went on to say, its not my fault Kaur was pictured in the compromising image more than 15 years ago. Police have charged Fox after an 11- month investigation. He is due to appear at court next month. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: A man has been charged with a sexual offence following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police. Advertisement Laurence Fox, 46, will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on April 24 charged with an offence contrary to section 66A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The charge relates to an image that was posted on a social media platform in April 2024. Section 66A of the Sexual Offences Act relates to cyber flashing. The charge was introduced in 2023, and makes it an offence to intentionally share a sexual image of someone without consent, with the aim of causing alarm, distress, humiliation, or for sexual gratification. Upskirting, taking pictures of people under their clothes without their permission, became a specific criminal offence in 2019. Offenders can face up to two years in jail and be placed on the sex offenders register. Advertisement Fox, of Peldon, Essex, was fired from GB News in October 2023 after an on-air rant about journalist Ava Evans. French President Emmanuel Macron has said a proposed European armed force for possible deployment in Ukraine under an eventual peace deal could respond if Russia launched an attack. He spoke after talks with Ukraines president and ahead of a summit in Paris of 30 nations on Thursday that will discuss the proposed force for Ukraine. Advertisement If there was again a generalised aggression against Ukrainian soil, these armies would be under attack and then its our usual framework of engagement, Mr Macron said. Our soldiers, when they are engaged and deployed, are there to react and respond to the decisions of the commander in chief and, if they are in a conflict situation, to respond to it. He has been driving coalition-building efforts for a Ukraine force with UK Prime Sir Minister Keir Starmer. It is still far from clear what kind of aid they are preparing that could contribute towards their goal of making any ceasefire with Russia lasting. Mr Macron said the proposed European forces would not be stationed on the front lines in Ukraine, or be engaged on the first day opposite Russian forces. Advertisement They would be forces that dissuade the Russians from attacking again. And by holding important towns, strategic bases, mark the clear support from several European governments and allies. So we are not on the front lines, we dont go to fight, but we are there to guarantee a lasting peace. Its a pacifist approach, he said. The only ones who would, at that moment, trigger a conflict, a bellicose situation, would be the Russians if they decided again to launch an aggression. Mr Macron is expecting 31 delegations around the table on Thursday morning at the presidential Elysee Palace more than the number for a first meeting in Paris in February evidence that the coalition to help Ukraine, possibly with boots on the ground, is gathering steam, according to the presidential office. Advertisement But the US will not be represented at the talks. Donald Trumps administration has shown no public enthusiasm for the coalitions discussions about potentially sending troops into Ukraine after an eventual ceasefire to help make peace stick. The US presidents special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has dismissed the idea of a European deployment or even the need for it. Its a combination of a posture and a pose and a combination of also being simplistic, he said in an interview. Advertisement Emmanuel Macron welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris (Thibault Camus/AP) That is not the view in Europe. The shared premise on which the coalition is being built is that Russian President Vladimir Putins actions in Ukraine starting with the illegal seizure of the Crimean peninsula in 2014 and culminating in the 2022 full-scale invasion that unleashed all-out war shows he cannot be trusted. They believe any peace deal will need to be backed up by security guarantees for Ukraine to deter Mr Putin from launching another attempt to seize it. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mr Macron suggest a foreign contingent in Ukraine could also provide military training, something allies already have been doing outside Ukraine, preparing more than 75,000 troops for battle against Russias larger and expanding military and helping to make up for some of Ukraines losses from more than three years of intense fighting. Primarily, any contingent consists of combat units, but they are above all intended to control the situation, monitor it, carry out joint training, and also to prevent any desire by Russia to return with renewed waves of aggression, Mr Zelensky said at Wednesdays news conference with Mr Macron. Advertisement European officials say that under any peace deal, Ukraines first line of defence against any future Russian aggression would be Ukraines own army. The 27-nation European Union is pressing ahead with a so-called steel porcupine strategy aimed at making Ukraine an even tougher nut for Russia to crack, by strengthening its armed forces and defence industry. The UK is also pledging continued military aid so Ukraine can keep fighting if peace talks fail or a ceasefire is broken. Mr Macron announced a new package of defence aid for Ukraine that he said is worth 2 billion euros (1.6 billion) and will include light tanks, air defence and anti-tank missiles and other weaponry and support. A majority of a panel of justices of Brazils Supreme Court has accepted charges against former president Jair Bolsonaro over an alleged attempt to stay in office after his 2022 election defeat. Three justices voted in favour of putting him on trial. The result will be official after all five judges cast their votes. Advertisement The three justices said seven close allies of Bolsonaro should also stand trial on five counts: attempting to stage a coup, involvement in an armed criminal organisation, attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, damage characterised by violence and a serious threat against the states assets, and deterioration of listed heritage. The former president has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and says he is being politically persecuted. Prosecutors say there was a plot to kill President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Eraldo Peres/PA) Under Brazilian law, a coup conviction alone carries a sentence of up to 12 years. Combined with the other charges, it could result in a sentence of decades behind bars. Prosecutor-general Paulo Gonet said on Tuesday that those facing the charges sought to maintain Bolsonaro in power at all costs in a multi-step scheme that accelerated after the far-right politician lost to current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the election. Advertisement Like in his February indictment of Bolsonaro and 33 others, Mr Gonet said part of the plot included a plan to kill Mr Lula and Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who were put under surveillance by the alleged conspirators. The plan did not go ahead only because at the last minute the accused failed to get the armys commander on board, Mr Gonet said. Frustration overwhelmed the members of the criminal organisation who, however, did not give up on the violent seizure of power, not even after the elected president of the republic was sworn in, the prosecutor said. That was a reference to the riot on January 8 2023 when Bolsonaro supporters stormed and trashed the Supreme Court, presidential palace and Congress in Brasilia a week after Mr Lula took office. Advertisement The Supreme Court is analysing whether to accept the charges against eight of the 34 people Mr Gonet accused of participating in the coup plan. Observers say the charges are likely to be accepted. As well as Bolsonaro, the court will vote on accusations faced by his running mate during the 2022 election and former defence minister Walter Braga Netto, ex-justice minister Anderson Torres and his aide Mauro Cid, among others. The court will decide on the fate of the others later. Neptunes glowing auroras have been captured in the best detail yet by Nasas James Webb Space Telescope. Hints of auroras were first faintly detected in ultraviolet light during a flyby by the Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1989. Advertisement Webb captured Neptunes shimmering lights in infrared light, providing direct evidence they exist. Nasa released the images on Wednesday and the results were published in the journal Nature Astronomy. Auroras on any planet occur when electrically charged particles from space enter and collide with molecules in the atmosphere, creating a series of reactions that emit light. On Earth, auroras tend to occur near the polar regions, producing spectacular northern and southern lights. Advertisement Scientists have studied auroras on Saturn and Jupiter for decades, but Neptune, the farthest planet from the sun, has been harder to see up close. Neptune has always been elusive, said University of Reading planetary scientist James ODonoghue, co-author of the new study. Its auroras had only been seen by Voyager, and weve been trying to see it again ever since. Neptunes auroras occur near the mid-latitudes of the planet, not the polar regions, because of differences in its magnetic field which determine the span of auroras, said Mr ODonoghue. Advertisement More than three decades after Voyager 2s pass, scientists have seen Neptunes auroras again with the powerful Webb telescope, producing the first robust detection, said co-author Heidi Hammel of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy. The researchers also revealed that Neptunes atmosphere has cooled significantly since the 1980s, which may have dimmed the light of the auroras. Thousands of Palestinians have marched between the wreckage of a heavily destroyed town in northern Gaza in the second day of anti-war protests, with many chanting against Hamas in a rare display of public anger against the militant group. The protests, which centred mainly on Gazas north, appeared to be aimed generally against the war, with protesters calling for an end to 17 months of deadly fighting with Israel. Advertisement But the public calls against Hamas, which has long repressed dissent and still rules the territory months into the war with Israel, were rare. In the town of Beit Lahiya, where a similar protest took place on Tuesday, about 3,000 people demonstrated, with many chanting the people want the fall of Hamas. Palestinians receive bags of flour and other humanitarian aid in Jabaliya (Jehad Alshrafi/AP) In the hard-hit Shijaiyah neighbourhood of Gaza City, dozens of men chanted: Out, out, out! Hamas get out! Our children have been killed. Our houses have been destroyed, said Abed Radwan, who said he joined the protest in Beit Lahiya against the war, against Hamas, and the (Palestinian political) factions, against Israel and against the worlds silence. Advertisement Ammar Hassan, who took part in a protest on Tuesday, said it started as an anti-war protest with a few dozen people but swelled to more than 2,000, with people chanting against Hamas. Its the only party we can affect, he said. Protests wont stop the (Israeli) occupation, but it can affect Hamas. The militant group has violently cracked down on previous protests. This time no outright intervention was apparent, perhaps because Hamas is keeping a lower profile since Israel resumed its war. Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim said people have the right to protest but their focus should be on the criminal aggressor, Israel. Advertisement Family elders from Beit Lahiya expressed support for the protests against Israels renewed offensive and its tightened blockade on all supplies into Gaza. Their statement said the community fully supports armed resistance against Israel. The protest was not about politics. It was about peoples lives, said Mohammed Abu Saker, a father of three from the nearby town of Beit Hanoun, who joined a demonstration on Tuesday. We want to stop the killing and displacement, no matter the price. We cant stop Israel from killing us, but we can press Hamas to give concessions, he said. Displaced Palestinians arrive in Khan Younis (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) A similar protest occurred in the heavily destroyed area of Jabaliya on Tuesday, according to witnesses. Advertisement One protester, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said they joined the demonstration because everyone failed us. They said they chanted against Israel, Hamas, the western-backed Palestinian Authority and Arab mediators. They said there were no Hamas security forces at the protest but scuffles broke out between supporters and opponents of the group. Later, they said they regretted participating because of Israeli media coverage, which emphasised the opposition to Hamas. Israeli defense minister Israel Katz urged Palestinians to join the protests, saying: You too should demand the removal of Hamas from Gaza and the immediate release of all Israeli hostages. That is the only way to stop the war. Advertisement A 19-year-old Palestinian, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said he planned to join demonstrations on Wednesday. People are angry at the whole world, including the United States, Israel and Hamas, he said. We want Hamas to resolve this situation, return the hostages and end this whole thing. The protests erupted a week after Israel ended its ceasefire with Hamas by launching a surprise wave of strikes that killed hundreds of people. Earlier this month, Israel halted deliveries of food, fuel, medicine and humanitarian aid to Gazas roughly two million Palestinians. Israel has vowed to escalate the war until Hamas returns the 59 hostages it still holds 24 of them believed to be alive. Israel is also demanding that the group give up power, disarm and send its leaders into exile. Hamas has said it will only release the remaining captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of breaking the terms of a tentative US brokered deal to pause strikes on energy infrastructure, underscoring the challenges on negotiating a broader peace. Russias Defence Ministry said Ukrainian drone attacks hit an electric facility in the Bryansk region early on Wednesday and a power grid facility in the Kursk region on Tuesday, leading to a power cut affecting thousands of people. Advertisement The Kyiv regime is doing everything to derail the Russian-US agreements on the gradual settlement of the Ukrainian conflict, the ministry said on Wednesday. Ukraines General Staff denied the allegations, saying Moscows claims were part of a broader disinformation campaign aimed at justifying continued hostilities. The accusations came hours after Washington announced it had reached a tentative agreement with Ukraine and Russia to pause attacks on energy sites as well as taking steps to ensure safe navigation for ships in the Black Sea. The deal followed three days of separate US-Ukrainian and US-Russian talks in the Saudi capital. Advertisement The talks were part of efforts by the administration of President Donald Trump to implement a limited, 30-day ceasefire that Moscow and Kyiv agreed to in principle last week. That has so far failed to materialise as both sides continue to launch drone and rocket attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Kyiv had agreed with US negotiators in Riyadh that a ceasefire for energy infrastructure can start today, and expressed his countrys willingness to comply with the agreement while warning Russia would face strong retaliation if it attacked Ukrainian energy facilities. Ukrainian officials have contested claims by the Kremlin that Russian forces have not attacked energy sites in Ukraine since March 18. Mr Zelenskys communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn said Moscow was lying about observing a ceasefire on energy infrastructure. Theyve been hitting our energy sites with bombs, attack drones and FPV drones. Were not going into all the details, but there have already been eight confirmed hits on energy facilities, he wrote. Advertisement Every night our air defence forces shoot down nearly a hundred attack drones and many of those drones were likely targeting other energy facilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) On Tuesday, the White House said in separate statements that the sides 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. 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 UN and Turkey but was halted by Russia the next year. After the White House issued its statement, the Kremlin warned that a potential Black Sea deal could only be implemented after sanctions against the Russian Agricultural Bank and other financial organisations involved in food and fertiliser trade are lifted and their access to the Swift system of international payments is ensured. Advertisement Speaking during a visit to Paris on Wednesday, Mr Zelensky accused Moscow of attempting to add extra conditions to what should be an unconditional agreement. We expect the American side to ensure an unconditional ceasefire at sea, he said. Russia wants this war to continue. Russia is prolonging it. Pressure on Russia is needed for the war to genuinely end. He also said it is too early for the US to ease sanctions against Russia, adding that Ukraine continues discussions with international partners, including the United States, Asian countries and the European Union, to prepare new sanctions packages. The White House said in Tuesdays statement 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. Advertisement US secretary of state Marco Rubio said were going to evaluate the Russian conditions, noting that some of them include sanctions that are not ours, they belong to the European Union. Marco Rubio (Nathan Howard/AP) He said that after analysing Moscows demands, well present that to the president, who will make a decision about the next step. I think everyone should be happy that the United States is engaged in a process of ending a war and bringing about peace, he said. Its not going to be easy. It wont be simple. Itll take some time. But at least were on that road and were talking about these things, and were going to test it and see whats possible. Asked about when Washington might help Moscow achieve those ambitions, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said on Wednesday that contacts between Russia and the US continue quite intensively and that authorities are satisfied with how pragmatic, constructive and productive our dialogue is. Meanwhile, Kryvyi Rih, Mr Zelenskys home town, came under the most massive kamikaze drone attack since the beginning of the war on Tuesday night, said the city administration head, Oleksandr Vilkul. Although no one was killed or injured, civilian infrastructure including warehouses, an administration building and a fire station were widely targeted, he added. Multiple fires were sparked across the city, he said. Everyone is alive, thank God. Its truly a miracle. The destruction is significant, Mr Vilkul said. Civilian infrastructure also came under strike in the Sumy, Cherkasy and Kirovohrad regions, local authorities said. Russia has convicted 23 captured Ukrainians on terrorism charges stemming from the war in Ukraine in a military court trial that Kyiv denounced as a sham and a violation of international law. The defendants included current or former fighters with the elite Azov brigade, which Russia designated a terrorist group, and those who worked there as cooks or support personnel, according to Russian media reports and rights activists. Advertisement Memorial, a prominent Russian human rights group, designated the defendants as political prisoners. It said some of them were captured in 2022 during fighting in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, where they held out at the Azovstal steel mill under siege by Russian troops. Others were detained as they tried to leave the city after it was overrun by Russian forces, the group said. Ukrainian servicemen leaving the besieged Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service/AP) Only 12 defendants were in court on Wednesday in the city of Rostov-on-Don, while 11 others, including nine women, have returned to Ukraine in prisoner exchanges and were convicted in absentia. One other defendant died in custody last year and the case against him was closed. Advertisement All had been charged with staging a violent coup and organising the activities of a terrorist organisation. Some faced an additional charge of training to carry out terrorist activities. Those convicted were given prison sentences ranging from 13 to 23 years. The 12 men still in Russian custody will serve their their time in maximum security penal colonies, according to the court. Russian independent news site Mediazona said all 12 plan to appeal against the verdict. Memorial said none of the defendants in the case are accused of any war crimes: they are all being tried for the very fact of serving in Azov at one time or another. Advertisement Ukraines human rights envoy Dmytro Lubinets denounced the proceedings when they began in June 2023 as another sham trial held for Russias own amusement. Lawyers of Ukrainians captured by Russia during hostilities in Ukraine sit in front of the defendants cage in Rostov-on-Don (AP) Russia and fair justice have nothing in common. The world must respond to such shameful sham trials of Ukrainian defenders, he said at the time. It is obvious to everyone that those who should be in the dock are not those defending themselves but those who initiated the aggression, those who invaded foreign land with weapons, and those who arrived with tanks on the territory of an independent state. The same month, Ukraines presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said the trial of combatants amounted to an official war crime warranting a response from the International Criminal Court. Advertisement Petro Yatsenko, a representative of the Ukrainian Co-ordination Centre for the Treatment of PoWs, echoed his sentiment in remarks quoted by the Hromadske news outlet, saying the proceedings violated the Geneva Conventions on the treatment of prisoners of war. Rostov-on-Don is home to Russias Southern Military District, about 60 miles east of the Ukrainian border. Mediazona reported that the defendants told the court of of abuse behind bars, saying they were severely beaten and had bones broken, were interrogated with bags over their heads, were given food laced with household chemicals, and were forced to stand all day long and sing the Russian anthem. These allegations are in line with reports by Russian and international human rights groups that detail systematic abuse of Ukrainian PoWs and civilian captives in Russian custody. Unprecedented wildfires ripping through South Koreas southern regions have destroyed large parts of an ancient Buddhist temple complex, burning down two buildings that had been designated national treasures. Five days of wildfires, among South Koreas worst, have left 24 people dead, destroyed more than 300 structures and forced over 28,000 residents to evacuate, officials said on Wednesday. Advertisement The Gounsa temple was reportedly originally built in 681 AD during the Shilla dynasty which ruled more than half of the Korean peninsula. The remains of burnt-out pavilions at the Gounsa temple (Kim Do-hoon/Yonhap/AP) It is nestled at the foot of Deungun Mountain in the south-eastern town of Uiseong. It does not house buildings constructed during that period, but it is home to several famous cultural heritage sites built later. The temple was engulfed in flames on Tuesday as strong winds fanned the wildfires. About 20 of its 30 buildings and structures were completely burned down, including the revered Gaunru, a pavilion-shaped structure built in 1668 overlooking a stream, and Yeonsujeon, built in 1904 to mark the longevity of a king, according to the state-run Korea Heritage Service. Advertisement Both were constructed during the Joseon dynasty, the last one on the Korean peninsula, and were given the government designation of treasure, a status given to old buildings, paintings and other cultural assets with historic and artistic significance, which receive state-level protection and maintenance. The temple complex before the fire (Baek Seung-reol/Yonhap/AP) I went there this morning and found theyve been reduced to heaps of ashes, said Doryun, a senior monk who had lived at the temple for more than three years when he was younger. I feel really empty. Life is transient. Doryun now works for a Buddhist organisation in charge of the temple. He said monks and Buddhist faithful managed to move the temples third treasure, a stone Buddha statue reportedly built in the eighth century, to a safe place. Advertisement Many buildings were burned down, but we moved and protected other sacred assets so that we can maintain the temple. We feel its very fortunate, Doryun told the Associated Press. Doryun also said about 20 monks and other workers live at the temple, but none were injured. The Korea Heritage Service said the temples two other lower-level cultural assets, including a stone pagoda, have also been found intact. Sudans army says it had recaptured Khartoums international airport and the military chief flew back to the capital for the first time in nearly two years of war. The development brings the military closer to regaining full control of Khartoum from the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group. Advertisement Footage put out by the military showed army chief General Abdel-Fattah Burhan landing at Khartoum airport, kissing the ground and raising his fist to troops as he emerged from the helicopter on to the tarmac. Khartoum is now free. Its over. Khartoum is free, Gen Burhan is heard telling cheering troops, according to video footage aired by Al Jazeera television. General Abdel-Fattah Burhan is greeted by troops at the Presidential Palace (AP) He later went to the Presidential Palace, the pre-war seat of the government which troops wrested from RSF control on Friday. The RSF is still believed to hold scattered positions in Khartoum, and the government had not yet declared full victory in the city, but Gen Burhans return capped a series of gains by his forces in the capital and marked a major symbolic landmark in the war. Advertisement He and his military-led government had to flee Khartoum, moving to the Red Sea coastal city of Port Sudan, soon after the war erupted in April 2023. The war broke out when the military and the RSF turned against each other in a struggle for power. Their battles around Khartoum left the RSF in control of the airport, Presidential Palace and other neighbourhoods as the fighting spread around the country. Seizing the capital does not end the conflict as the RSF still controls parts of the western Darfur region and other areas. Earlier in the day, the military announced it had recaptured the RSFs last major stronghold in Khartoum, the Teiba al-Hasnab camp. Advertisement This is a pivotal and decisive moment in the history of Sudan, information minister Khalid Aleiser, spokesman of the military-controlled government, said. Khartoum is free, as it should be. Military control of the airport, along with calm in Khartoum, could allow aid groups to fly more supplies into the country where the fighting has driven 14 million people from their homes and pushed some areas into famine. At least 28,000 people have been killed, though the number is likely to be far higher. Meanwhile, aid groups said at least 54 people were killed in a military air strike on a market in the countrys western region. Advertisement The strike on Monday on the village of Tora caused a huge fire, according to Adam Rejal, a spokesman for the General Co-ordination, a local group helping displaced people in Darfur. More than half of the dead were women, according to a list of casualties provided by Mr Rejal. At least 23 people were wounded and seven were missing, the list showed. He said the strike was a crime against humanity and a clear violation of all international and humanitarian laws and conventions. Brigadier General Nabil Abdullah, a spokesman for the Sudanese military, said civilians were not targeted, adding the allegations were incorrect and were raised whenever our forces exercise their constitutional and legal right to deal with hostile targets. Turkeys president has accused the political opposition of sinking the economy during the countrys largest protests in more than a decade over the arrest of Istanbuls mayor, the biggest challenger to Recep Tayyip Erdogans 22-year rule. The party of mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has called for a boycott of companies it says support Mr Erdogans government. Advertisement The president accused the opposition of being so desperate that they would throw the country and the nation into the fire. In his address to politicians with his Justice and Development Party (AKP) Mr Erdogan added on Wednesday that sabotage targeting the Turkish economy will be held accountable before the courts. Mr Imamoglu was arrested a week ago. President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Chris J Ratcliffe/AP) He faces charges related to corruption and supporting terrorism in the Istanbul municipality alongside 90 other suspects. Advertisement A court ordered him to be imprisoned on Sunday. A trial date has not been announced. Many consider the case against him to be politically motivated. The government says the judiciary is free of political influence. Advertisement The evidence against Mr Imamoglu has not been officially disclosed. Many Turkish media outlets have reported it is largely based on secret witnesses. People gather outside the headquarters of the opposition Republican Peoples Party in Ankara (Ali Unal/AP) The use of such evidence has been seen in previous criminal cases against opposition politicians. The head the opposition Iyi Party, Musavat Dervisoglu, questioned the evidence of corruption in Istanbul municipality. Advertisement Dozens of inspectors have gone, 1,300 inspections have been made, nothing has come out of these inspections, he told party politicians. Also on Wednesday, members of Istanbuls municipality were voting for a proxy mayor to stand in for Mr Imamoglu. Mr Imamoglus Republican Peoples Party (CHP) has a majority in the municipal assembly and is likely to select Nuri Aslan, the deputy mayor under Mr Imamoglu. While the CHP has said it will no longer organise mass rallies at City Hall, students across Turkey have continued protesting. Advertisement Demonstrations in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, as well as smaller cities and towns, have been largely peaceful. Thousands of protesters marched through Istanbuls Kadikoy district on Wednesday night as residents leaned from windows and balconies, clapping and banging pots and pans in support. The few police in attendance did not intervene, despite a citywide ban on protests. A riot police officer tries to calm down protesters (Khalil Hamra/AP) Protesters demand Mr Imamoglus release and an end to democratic backsliding. In a social media post from prison, he condemned police violence against protesters: I cannot call them police because my honourable police would not commit this cruelty to the young children of the nation. Interior minister Ali Yerlikaya has said 1,418 people have been detained in the past week over the protests. Egitim-Sen, a trade union representing teachers and university lecturers, said its Istanbul University representative had been detained. Left-wing student groups said some of their members had also been detained at their homes. Turkey is not due for another election until 2028, but it is possible that Mr Erdogan will call for an early vote to seek another term. Mr Imamoglu has been confirmed as the candidate for the CHP and has performed well in recent polls against Mr Erdogan. His election as mayor of Turkeys largest city in 2019 was a major blow to Mr Erdogan and his party. Ukraine is ready to proceed with a ceasefire prohibiting attacks on energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, in line with a deal that was brokered by the United States during three days of negotiations with Ukrainian and Russian officials in the Saudi capital. Speaking in a video address late on Tuesday, Mr Zelensky said Ukraine had agreed with US negotiators that a ceasefire for energy infrastructure can start today. Advertisement But, he warned, any strikes on Ukraines energy facilities by Moscow would draw strong retaliation. The comments underscored the tenuous agreements that came out of the three days of separate US-Ukrainian and US-Russian talks in Riyadh. Washington said it had agreed with the warring parties to implement a pause on attacks on energy infrastructure as well as taking steps to ensure safe navigation for ships in the Black Sea. Those talks were part of a broader effort toward a limited, 30-day ceasefire that Moscow and Kyiv agreed to in principle last week but has thus far failed to materialise as both sides continue to launch drone and rocket attacks against the other. Advertisement Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Peter Nicholls/PA) While Mr Zelensky on Tuesday thanked the U.S. for its efforts to strike an agreement, questions remained over some key details, and a comprehensive peace deal to end the three-year war still looked distant. On Tuesday, the White House said in separate statements that the sides 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. 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 UN and Turkey but halted by Russia the next year. After the White House issued its statement Tuesday, the Kremlin warned that a potential Black Sea deal could only be implemented after sanctions against the Russian Agricultural Bank and other financial organisations involved in food and fertiliser trade are lifted and their access to the SWIFT system of international payments is ensured. Advertisement Mr Zelensky on Tuesday evening reacted to those demands, casting them as an example of Moscow manipulating, twisting agreements, and lying about the terms of the agreement. There are absolutely clear statements that have been published by the White House, everyone can see what is stated there, Mr Zelensky said. And there is something that the Kremlin is lying about again: that supposedly the (ceasefire) in the Black Sea depends on the issue of sanctions. Firefighters put out the fire following a Russian attack in Donetsk region, Ukraine (Ukrainian Emergency Services/PA) In an apparent reference to Moscows demands, the White House said 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. Advertisement Meanwhile, Kryvyi Rih, Mr Zelenskys hometown, came under the most massive kamikaze drone attack since the beginning of the war on Tuesday night, the city administration head, Oleksandr Vilkul, wrote on Telegram. Everyone is alive, thank God. Its truly a miracle. The destruction is significant, Mr Vilkul said. Civilian infrastructure also came under strike in the Sumy, Cherkasy, and Kirovohrad regions, local authorities said. There were no immediate reports on any injuries. Advertisement Overall, Russian forces launched 117 Shahed and decoy drones overnight, Ukraines air force said on Wednesday morning, adding that 56 drones were destroyed and 48 more jammed by the defence forces. Council swooped in to clean up, removing fallen trees and debris. And a week later, there was surprisingly little evidence of what occurred. There were patches of mud, the underpass at Cornwall Street still had a foot of water, and grassy sedge plants were flattened, as if a careless giant has tap-danced through the reserve. Former resident Susan Sheppard, who now lives in Toowoomba and, like me, came down to the park for a look, said its flood-resistant rejuvenation in 2022 had achieved its aims. Hanlon Park after this months flood remains largely intact, thanks to the judicious use of plants. Credit: Brisbane City Council This was just literally a concrete drain all the way through here. Then, they had this idea to revegetate, which has just been brilliant, she said. The point is, theyve chosen the right species. These plants stabilise the banks, so it slows everything down. Its so clever, but its just replicating what nature does. Hanlon Parks $21.5 million rejuvenation replaced the century-old drain with a creek, and introduced 462 trees and 43,000 shrubs, as well as seating, a nature-themed playground, and cycleways. When it officially opened in July 2022, it had already survived the major February-March flood, and it flooded again in December 2024. Hanlon Parks upgrade added seating, pathways, a toilet block, a new playground and a naturally flowing creek. Credit: Brisbane City Council Stephanie Ford is the president of the volunteer-run Norman Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee (N4C) that worked with council to restore the creek, and runs a Friends of Hanlon Park working bee on Facebook. Ford said sedges and lomandras were ideal plants to put in creek beds and on banks to hold them together. As they flop over and allow the water to move over them, theyre protecting whatevers underneath, so theyre protecting the roots of the next one, she said. Ford said that while they were thrilled with Hanlon Park and with the councils cooperative design process, maintaining the park remained a bigger job than council could handle on its own. Hanlon Park prior to the 2021-2022 rejuvenation project, with the old open drain bisecting the space. Credit: Norman Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee With each flood, theres a little bit more erosion. Theres an allocation for maintenance but its obvious to me that council needs help. Deputy Mayor Fiona Cunningham, the councillor for Coorparoo ward, has been spearheading the Norman Creek 2012-2031 Master Plan, of which the Hanlon Park rejuvenation was a key initiative. Its one of our signature projects, and well continue to contribute to it, Cunningham said. Loading She said Kingfisher Creek in Woolloongabba was next on the master plans agenda. These projects can be costly, but they are worthwhile, and we need the support of all levels of government to make them happen, she said. Life in Hanlon Park may be getting back to normal, but the same cant be said for motorists whose cars parked in the adjacent Stones Corner Busway car park were damaged. Ford said that despite what people may assume, Hanlon Park wasnt designed for flood mitigation. Loading If they had wanted a flood mitigation structure, they would have dug an incredibly deep hole, she said, and Cunningham concurred. I wouldnt say its a flood mitigation project, she said. But its certainly a flood resilience project. Im not a hydrologist, but the residents that I have spoken to since the park has been upgraded tell me they are better off. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will unveil a $6 billion cut to fuel excise in a move to confront Labor over the cost of living for millions of voters as he considers whether to promise an ambitious tax package to counter the $536 personal tax cut in the federal budget. Dutton is also signalling plans for a new housing supply policy and a new target to cut the migration intake as part of his budget reply speech on Thursday night while fending off Labor accusations that he stands for higher taxes because he opposes the top-up tax cut in the federal budget. He is also tipped to reveal plans to deliver Australian gas for Australians to drive down energy prices, declaring he will fast-track key projects such as the Narrabri gas field in northern NSW as long as the gas flows to the domestic market rather than being shipped offshore. But the Coalition has been unsure about whether to match or exceed the $17.1 billion tax cut the government unveiled on Tuesday night after Liberal and Nationals MPs hastily abandoned official talking points that said tax cuts were not on their agenda. The Australian Labor Party has compensated some of the social media influencers who covered the federal budget for their travel to Canberra, after inviting them to attend the lock-up as part of a campaign strategy to court prominent online voices. A sportswear-brand ambassador and charity founder, Instagram finance advisers and left-wing feminist influencers were among the new media contingent who covered the budget in their social media feeds. A government spokeswoman confirmed Labor was supporting some of the influencers, who are also eligible to apply to travel with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at their own cost during the election campaign widely expected to be called within days. The party has provided logistical support to some content creators in order to make travel to Canberra for budget week accessible, the spokeswoman said after this masthead revealed the payments. The same logistical support was provided during engagement in 2024. There has been no payment for content or opinions. Aluminium giant Alcoa says it accepts responsibility for a September 2022 incident at its Kwinana refinery that saw workers and Gilmore College students burnt by corrosive chemicals. Alcoa was fined $400,000 plus $5536 in costs in the Rockingham Magistrates Court on Tuesday over the incident, which saw workers and year 12 students on a work placement burned by a caustic substance. The incident happened at Alcoas Kwinana Alumina Refinery. Credit: Philip Gostelow/Bloomberg The spill, which was first revealed by WAtoday in 2023, was one of 40 such incidents under the miners watch in less than two years. An investigation by WorkSafe WA found the incident occurred after a worker noticed a burning smell and found smoke and debris coming from a pump. Seoul: At least 24 people have died, including a helicopter pilot, and another 26 people have been injured as bushfires ravage South Koreas southern regions amid dry weather and strong winds, destroying more than 300 structures and forcing 28,800 people to evacuate, government officials said on Thursday. Police said that most of the dead are those in their 60s and 70s. Residents in Andong and other south-eastern cities and towns were ordered to leave on Tuesday as firefighters struggled to contain several blazes, which burnt more than 17,000 hectares of land and a 1300-year-old Buddhist temple. Observers say these are the third-biggest fires in the country in terms of land burnt. Houses, factories and vehicles were among the structures destroyed. Firefighters at a factory engulfed by wildfire in Uiseong, South Korea, on Saturday. Credit: AP In a televised address, acting President Han Duck-soo said the fires that began on Friday were causing worse damage than many other past fires. Largely this budget tells us we have maxed out the national credit card, he said. More than ever over the next few years we need to strip out FIRB and ACCC red tape and state surcharges on foreign investment to welcome investment from overseas to help build the commercial, industrial, and residential assets our cities need. "For context, we have a team of six in Australia, and then two overseas. And all they do overseas is data entry, no interactions required," De Castro said. "That's the risk. It's expensive. If you're going to run a business in Australia, you've got to pay Australian salaries. But the cost to me was not even close to the experience that I got and the ability that I have to work with my team. So for us to do a lot more complex transactions we do a lot of investors, self-employed [transactions] building that relationship with someone obviously is really hard for me [overseas]. It pays off [to have people locally]. You see more people, and you build that connection. So I think the risk, in a way, was to stay in Australia, which a lot of people usually go overseas. I just think that's a lot more productive, and you can see the improvements that we had in terms of conversion price. If you go through the process of doing a lot of great approvals Maybe there could be a communication issue. Maybe we could have structured a deal better. So I think that is one thing that definitely paid off for us to stay here. This disparity makes saving for a home increasingly difficult for renters, especially in light of the latest REA Groups Rental Affordability Report, which showed a dramatic drop in rental affordability, marking the lowest levels since 2008, with just 36% of rentals being affordable to households earning the median income of $116,000 in the latter half of 2024. Ethnic villages see vibrant cultural and tourism industries People's Daily Online) 09:31, March 26, 2025 Building on their rich and diverse ethnic cultures, regions across China are actively developing their cultural and tourism industries to drive economic and social development while boosting all-around rural revitalization. In Zhaoxing Dong village, Liping county, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Ying Yongxiu invested 2 million yuan ($275,930.6) six years ago to convert her wooden house into a B&B hotel. She has led locals in running the B&B hotel business. Photo shows a view of Zhaoxing Dong village from villager Ying Yongxiu's B&B hotel in Liping county, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Photo courtesy of the publicity department of the Communist Party of China Liping county committee) Zhaoxing Dong village, established during the Northern Song Dynasty (9601127), is one of the largest Dong villages in China. As the village's clusters of wooden stilt houses symbolize Dong culture, systematic protection of these traditional houses is essential for preserving the village's ethnic cultural heritage. "We retained the original appearance of our homes. The overall style of our B&B hotels is compatible with nearby old houses, showcasing distinctive ethnic features," said 38-year-old Ying, adding that these B&B hotels have been favored by tourists. When Ying's B&B hotel opened in 2019, she hit the jackpot: all 14 guest rooms were almost fully booked for seven months. Her net profit reached 500,000 yuan that year. "People increasingly appreciate ethnic features and cultural experiences. The number of tourists visiting Zhaoxing Dong village has been increasing year after year, and our decoration style has become a major selling point," Ying said. As business boomed, she hired two employees. Her success instilled confidence in many villagers, including Lu Hongqin, a village official who followed Ying's example in running a B&B business. "Ying has frequently referred tourists to us, and B&B hotels have become a highlight of tourism in Zhaoxing Dong village," Lu said. In 2024, the village received 1.02 million tourist visits, with tourism revenue exceeding 1 billion yuan. To date, the village is home to over 320 B&B hotels and more than 50 restaurants, with the per capita annual income exceeding 40,000 yuan. By protecting ethnic culture and developing distinctive industries, more residents are earning a living from tourism and finding paths to prosperity. In Guangdong village, Dongcheng town, Helong city, Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, northeast China's Jilin Province, Yang Lina, president of a B&B hotel cooperative, was welcoming tourists in a B&B hotel converted from a rural courtyard. In recent years, Guangdong village has actively promoted the integrated development of the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries. With a long history of rice cultivation, Guangdong village's rice was little known to the outside world until then 26-year-old Yang returned home to develop rural tourism in 2011. Beyond distinctive residences, dance performances, and ethnic cuisine, Yang set her sights on the vast fields. File photo shows tourists on a viewing platform in Guangdong village, Dongcheng town, Helong city, Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, northeast China's Jilin Province. Without affecting rice cultivation, Yang built viewing platforms alongside rice paddies and introduced mini trains and rice planting experiences, attracting an increasing number of tourists. "We share profits with the village collective on a percentage basis, allowing villagers to earn more," Yang said. Guangdong village has established partnerships with over 500 travel agencies and has been listed as a model for boosting culture and tourism to drive rural revitalization. Yang has also collaborated with villagers to purchase specialties including rice, rice wine, and spicy cabbage from them to sell online. To date, Yang's online sales have exceeded 10 million yuan. Jin Jun, a villager, spearheaded the establishment of an organic rice cooperative, inviting agricultural experts to improve rice varieties and standardize seedling cultivation, weeding, fertilization, and other processes to ensure rice quality. Today, the village's rice is exported worldwide. The integration of agriculture and tourism has become a new engine for increasing villagers' incomes. Guangdong village receives about 500,000 tourist visits annually. The collective economic income of the village has grown from 100,000 yuan 10 years ago to over 1 million yuan last year. In 2024, the per capita disposable income of the village stood at 21,000 yuan, a 3.2-fold increase from 2015. "As the village develops, it's attracting more young people to return home," said Jin Xian, Party chief of the village. Located at an average altitude of 3,300 meters, Guoluo Zanggongma village in Shaliuhe town, Gangca county, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, has been making steady progress in developing modern animal husbandry in recent years. Last year, three cooperatives in the village managed 64,300 mu (4,286.67 hectares) of grassland, achieving an annual income of about 1.41 million yuan. In August last year, Gongluo Agricultural and Livestock Products Development Co., Ltd. was established with an investment of 3.5 million yuan in the village. In less than six months, the company's sales approached 200,000 yuan. File photo shows a scene of a promotion event of agricultural and livestock products, as well as cultural and creative products held in Guoluo Zanggongma village in Shaliuhe town, Gangca county, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. This village by Qinghai Lake, once dependent on nomadic herding, has also developed ecological tourism. In 2024, the village's collective economic income exceeded 800,000 yuan, with the per capita income of poverty-alleviated households reaching around 19,818 yuan, a 14.04 percent increase from the previous year. According to the Party chief of the village, distinctive industries including educational tours on revolutionary culture, specialized tourism, efficient livestock breeding, beer brewing, soilless cultivation and picking, livestock by-product processing, cultural and creative sector are flourishing in the village. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libya's acting Minister of the Interior, General Imad al-Trabelsi, head of the High Committee for Monitoring Illegal Migration and Border Security, has discussed illegal migration and border security and their security, economic and social implications for Libya with a United Nations delegation Bangui, Central African Republic (PANA) - The United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA) has said that US funding that supported life-saving programmes in the Korsi refugee camp in Birao, Central African Republic (CAR), and other border camps has been cut State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code New York, US (PANA) - The spokesperson for the UN Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday that the UN was gravely alarmed by continued attacks on civilians inside Sudan Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 7:02PM Embed from Getty Images A Reddit horror story is making the leap to the big screen, with Warner Bros. securing the rights to adapt "I pretended to be a missing girl so I could rob her family" into a feature film starring Sydney Sweeney. The original story, posted on the r/nosleep subreddit, a community known for its chilling "creepypasta" tales, captivated readers with its dark premise. The plot centers on a young woman who infiltrates a grieving family by impersonating their long-lost daughter, with sinister intentions. The r/nosleep community, which encourages users to treat the stories as real, has become a breeding ground for online horror. The term "creepypasta" itself is a nod to the internet phenomenon of "copypasta," highlighting the viral nature of these narratives. Sydney Sweeney will not only star in the film but also produce it, while Academy Award-winning screenwriter Eric Roth (Forrest Gump) will pen the script. Joe Cote, the Massachusetts English teacher who authored the Reddit post, expressed his astonishment at the project. SOURCE This is it. The excise tax exemption on pickup trucks is now gone thanks to the effectivity of the Capital Market Efficiency Promotions Act ... THIS Sunday, 30 March, marks the 190th anniversary of the execution of Lucinda Sly for murder, the last woman to be publicly hanged at Carlow Gaol in 1835. Join Rev Paul Fitzpatrick, Fr Thomas OByrne and Carlow County Council at 1.45pm this Sunday in Carlow Shopping Centre, formerly the gaol/jail, as they commemorate her execution along with her accomplice John Dempsey. Lucinda and Johns executions followed their conviction for the murder of Walter Sly, Lucindas husband, in November 1834 at their home at The Ridge, Old Leighlin, Co Carlow. They had pleaded not guilty to the charge but were convicted by a jury, to which the judge passed the death sentence. The execution would have attracted much attention and it is believed that several hundred witnessed the executions. In recent decades, Lucindas story has been the subject of a book, originally in Irish and subsequently translated into English, by well-known Irish writer Maidhc Dainin O Se. Well-known local playwright John MacKenna wrote and produced a play about Lucinda and the events of the murder and execution. In 2015, a plaque commemorating the execution was unveiled at the gaol. In the 2003 edition of Carloviana, the journal of the Carlow Historical and Archaeological Society, Seamus Breathnach wrote a detailed article of the events, in particular the trial. By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA Disruption which led to the suspension of the Dail was regrettable, unseemly and unbecoming, Tanaiste Simon Harris has said. Opposition leaders are to meet on Wednesday morning after the Dail was disrupted amid a row on speaking time changes. The opposition party representatives are to discuss their response to the disorder in the the lower house of the Oireachtas. There were chaotic scenes of shouting, interruptions and allegations of misogyny on Tuesday as weeks of tension over the speaking rights row boiled over during Leaders Questions. Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy fielded interruptions and tried to continue Dail proceedings as opposition TDs took to their feet and objected to the Governments proposals. Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA She declared the order of business and changes to the standing orders passed before adjourning the Dail until after 9am on Wednesday. Her position was called into question after leading opposition figures refused to express confidence with her after the suspension of the Dail. Speaking about the leaders meeting, Green Party leader Roderic OGorman told The Late Debate they would discuss how the opposition would proceed, as well as the role of the Ceann Comhairle. In a statement on Tuesday, Taoiseach Micheal Martin accused the opposition of trying to bully and intimidate Ms Murphy, and said it marked a new low for the opposition. The prolonged barracking and the disgraceful lack of respect for the mandates of elected deputies was shocking in its intensity, he said. 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. Tanaiste Simon Harris said the level of anger displayed by the opposition on the speaking rights row was disproportionate and did not indicate a willingness to try and find a way forward here. Green Party leader Roderic OGorman said the meeting would be to decide how the opposition proceeds after Dail resumes after 9am. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Speaking to reporters in Lebanon, Mr Harris said the public wanted to see elected representatives work on the issues facing Ireland, including housing, economic headwinds from the EU-US trade dispute and the safety of Irish peacekeepers abroad. What has happened in the Dail is really regrettable, really unbecoming, really unseemly, but weve got to move forward now, because I think the people who pay our wages, our bosses, the people of Ireland, want us to get on with it. Asked if Government could do anything to ameliorate opposition concerns, he suggested the re-establishment of committees may see a return to cross-party work. The Dail needs to get into that rhythm now. He added: We need to move on and restore decorum in the Dail chamber. Asked about an incident in which Government-supporting Independent TD Micheal Lowry raised two fingers up to members of the opposition, Mr Harris said: I think that was also unseemly and unbecoming, but I think that behaviour wasnt isolated to any one deputy. Because I think when you have grown men standing up and shouting and roaring at the Ceann Comhairle and refusing to follow her direction a person who was elected to implement the rules of the House. You know the rules are very simple. When the Ceann Comhairle stands up, you sit down. And to see adults standing up, shouting and roaring, hooping and hollering, isnt anything youd want see in any workplace, least of all the Dail. Minister for Transport Darragh OBrien described the disruption in the Dail on Tuesday as despicable. I've never seen anything like it and Ive been in the Dail since 2007, he told Newstalk radio. The behaviour yesterday was just absolutely totally and utterly outrageous. Some of the comments that were shouted across the chamber, from the opposition I might add, all from the opposition and particularly from Sinn Fein. And it was co-ordinated and it was planned, Mr O'Brien said. Unquestionably [the opposition] had planned this, that they would try to bring about maximum disruption to the business of the house. We have many very serious issues for our people to deal with. We have changes in the geopolitical landscape. We've tariffs looming. We've got to protect our economy, our people, and our jobs. And what I saw yesterday, frankly, just as a citizen, if you leave it aside as being a TD or a Minister, I was absolutely disgusted. Labour party leader Ivana Bacik said the situation was a mess of the Government's own making. They have sought to manufacture a situation where TDs who are patently in Government will also be deemed somehow to be not in Government, to be a part of opposition or to be in this construct of other members, she told RTE's Morning Ireland. So that will undermine our capacity as opposition, true opposition leaders, to hold Government to account. That's why we are so opposed to this. That's why this issue has united opposition leaders from parties. Ms Bacik added: What it felt like yesterday in the chamber was that the Ceann Comhairle was steamrolling through business and that I think is a very difficult and it's a very serious matter. People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy described Mr Lowrys two-finger gesture as two fingers from Michael Lowry to the public, to the basic principles of parliamentary democracy, and it's two fingers that is endorsed by Micheal Martin and Simon Harris and the Government. Speaking on Newstalk radio on Wednesday morning, Mr Murphy said he was not personally focussed on forcing the resignation of the Ceann Comhairle. If there was a vote of no confidence there was every chance it would fail because the Government had a majority, he said. I think we need to force the Government back and force the Government to remove the standing order change that was ran through yesterday and the protests need to continue to do so. This is not just about our rights as an opposition to hold the Government to account, it's about the rights of future opposition. I don't accept that democracy is simply majority rules. I mean, would you be saying that if they came in with a change of standing orders to say that nobody in the opposition can speak? And we have a majority, so we're going to vote that through. Would that be accepted as the majority? Democracy has to include some rights for the minority. I do not accept that this is over, yes, I have never seen anything like it, what the Ceann Comhairle did, so she ran through the order of business without any opportunity to speak on it or even vote on it, she then just abandoned whole sections of yesterday's Dail agenda to allow supposedly the standing order amendment to be moved, no opportunity for debate it was incredible, Ive never seen anything like it. The opposition still has significant power here, and we need to continue the protest. Additional reporting: Vivienne Clarke Johannesburg, South Africa (PANA) Zimbabwean authorities should immediately release and drop the groundless charges against a journalist for his reporting, Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday By Rebecca Black, PA in Lebanon Ireland will double its local community funding in Lebanon, the Tanaiste has announced. Simon Harris is in Lebanon for a series of political engagements and to meet members of the 125th Infantry Battalion who are serving as part of a UN peacekeeping mission. On Wednesday, Mr Harris confirmed an increase in funding for Civil-Military Cooperation (Cimic) projects supported by Irish Defence Forces personnel serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The Cimic project is aimed at improving the lives of those in the local communities in which Irish troops serve. Its budget will be doubled from 40,000 to 80,000 for 2025. The funding will be used to support local community projects in in South Lebanon, where an Irish-Polish battalion is operating. Mr Harris said: This funding will enable the Defence Forces to maintain their proud tradition of humanitarian engagement as part of their peacekeeping duties. The additional funding will further support our efforts and ensure that we can continue to assist, strengthen relationships and support the ongoing recovery of those most affected by this conflict. We must acknowledge that the strength and resilience of the people in this community are truly inspiring, given the recent destruction visited upon the region. By increasing the Cimic budget, Irish personnel can make an even greater impact on the lives of those affected by the conflict. These projects will directly improve conditions for local communities. Irish troops will continue to work closely with local authorities and international partners to implement Cimic initiatives. Projects under consideration include the refurbishment of a local community centre that offers workshops and skill-building classes for women to secure financial independence, and repairs to a water purification system. Other options include refurbishment of a social development and small health centre for women and children, or repairs to electricity infrastructure for local communities. The Department of Defence said the increased allocation, along with Irish Aid funding, underscores the Governments strong support for the Defence Forces role in UN peacekeeping and Irelands ongoing commitment to fostering stability in the region. By Jonathan McCambridge, PA The UK government is choosing weapons of war over people and public services, Northern Irelands First Minister Michelle ONeill has said. Ms ONeill said UK chancellor Rachel Reeves had adopted a turbo-charged Tory approach in her spring statement. Ms Reeves has confirmed an additional 2.2 billion for the UK Ministry of Defence in the next financial year and announced further benefits cuts. British chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves with UK defence secretary John Healey, during her visit to Wellington Barracks, London (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Ms ONeill said: It is astonishing at a time when public services are on their knees; when we have endured 14 years of austerity and cuts; when small business might go to the wall; when winter fuel payments have been cut; when farmers are worried about inheritance tax; money that should be invested in public services is being diverted into weapons of war. The British government has made clear that it has no regard for ordinary workers and families or for public services here. It has made the wrong choices, focusing on a militarised budget and increasing weapons of war. We need to invest in public services, protect those in need, and improve daily life for workers, families and communities. Ms ONeill said the UK government is totally failing people and using distraction tactics. She added: The direction of travel for this British government is extremely worrying. In the face of economic challenges there is a choice to be made. History has shown the dangers of militarisation and the right-wing politics and polices that accompany this. After years of condemning Tory austerity and cuts, this Labour government is now doubling down on austerity with cuts to fund military spending. There is nothing in this statement for people in the north. It is a statement of British national priorities which is totally indifferent to workers and families here. It is obvious that British governments, whether Tory or Labour, have nothing to offer our people. SDLP leader Claire Hanna said benefit cuts would target the most vulnerable (Mark Marlow/PA) SDLP leader Claire Hanna said the UK government cannot balance the books off the backs of the most vulnerable in society. She said: Further changes to welfare support announced by the Chancellor today will increase the worry that many people have been living with since these changes were first mooted. Those with disabilities and mental health problems are fearful about what the next few years will bring for them and their families as they face cuts to their income at a time when many are already struggling to get by. I understand the difficult financial situation facing the UK and the desire of this government to balance the books but that cannot be done off the backs of those who are already among the worst off in our society. At a time when we see obscene wealth concentrated in the hands of so few and while large corporations underpay tax, this feels to so many like a massively poor choice. A "day of chaos in the Dail" features heavily on the front pages of Wednesdays newspapers. The Irish Independent says the Dail descended into farce amid the continuing row over opposition speaking rights, while the Irish Examiner says a vote of no confidence in the Ceann Comhairle is now looming. The Irish Daily Mail quotes Verona Murphy in calling the events a "holy show", while the Irish Daily Star compares a gesture made by Independent TD Michael Lowry to Father Ted character Fr Dick Byrne. The Irish Times says the coalition is accused of giving "two fingers" to democracy. The Irish Daily Mirror reports that gardai fear missing farmer Michael Gaine may have been murdered or fell into a slurry pit. The Ulster Unionist Party chair Jill Macauley has quit amid pressure from party leader Mike Nesbitt, the Belfast Telegraph reveals. The UK finance minister Rachel Reeves spring statement features prominently on the front of the British newspapers. The Financial Times says the Ms Reeves will announce a 2.2 billion (2.6 billion) rise in defence spending while painting a grim financial outlook in Wednesdays statement. Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Wednesday 26 March https://t.co/GpS5H21HER pic.twitter.com/Dky7LqVem5 Financial Times (@FT) March 25, 2025 Ms Reeves will promise to secure Britains future with the defence announcement, according to The Guardian, which says there is mounting speculation about tax rises in the autumn. The Guardian: Fears of further tax rises as Reeves promises to secure Britains future #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/XWWKCY8rmN George Mann (@sgfmann) March 25, 2025 Ms Reeves tells the Daily Mirror security is the top priority but says she will always protect people in need amid proposed welfare cuts. The Independent says Ms Reeves is ready to face down unions ahead of austerity measures, while the Daily Mail tells her not to blame economic woes on global events. Daily Mail: DONT SHIFT BLAME FOR ECONOMYS WOES, VOTERS TELL REEVES #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/9tnWqE1p4N George Mann (@sgfmann) March 25, 2025 The Daily Telegraph is one of several papers to carry a picture of Britain's Prince Harry after he announced his resignation from the Sentebale charity, but the lead story reports that the assisted dying Bill faces a delay until after the next election. The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph: 'Mortal blow to assisted dying bill'#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/oaczgYBcqw The Telegraph (@Telegraph) March 25, 2025 The US has signalled the easing of sanctions against Russia as part of a deal for a ceasefire with Ukraine in the Black Sea, according to The Times. The Times: US placates Putin over Black Sea ceasefire #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/AsAO0Jyy1m George Mann (@sgfmann) March 25, 2025 The Metro also turns its attention to the US, reporting that president Donald Trump has defended national security adviser Mike Waltz after a journalist was added to a group chat which included security messages. The Daily Star returns to the US, asking if vice president JD Vance is the most dangerous man in the world. Wednesday's front page: Is this the most dangerous man in the world?#TomorrowsPapersTodayhttps://t.co/djGdSXPhCj pic.twitter.com/yCrUFfJQAk Daily Star (@dailystar) March 25, 2025 The Daily Express carries a message from the parents of murder victim Sarah Everard as a campaign calls for victims to be given a sense of justice being served. Sign up to get our news digest delivered directly to your inbox twice a week. British animation company Jellyfish Pictures Ltd., which earlier this month paused all operations while exploring all options for sale and investment, is shutting down, part of the ongoing turmoil in the global animation and vfx industries. In a statement earlier this month, the company blamed the long-tail impact of Covid, coupled with rising costs and the fall-out from the writer and actor strikes as the reason for its struggles. The companys remaining 69 workers are being laid off, with a handful remaining onboard temporarily to help wind down operations. The company has appointed Howard Smith and Mike Pink of Interpath Advisory as the administrators to shut down the company. Smith said in a statement: Sadly, this is the latest in a series of insolvencies across the animation and visual effects industry as studios up and down the country continue to battle fierce economic headwinds. The administrators will focus on selling Jellyfishs assets, which include computer and audiovisual equipment. The London-headquartered company was founded in 2001 and had studios in the U.K. and Mumbai, India. It most recently produced the animation for Dreamworks Animations Dog Man. It also produced animation for Dreamworks Spirit Untamed and parts of The Bad Guys and The Boss Baby: Family Business, as well as Netflix Animations upcoming The Twits. On the vfx side, it provided services on numerous series, including high-profile titles like Black Mirror, The Book of Boba Fett, Gangs of London, and Watchmen, as well as features like Wes Andersons Asteroid City and Solo: A Star Wars Story. Advertisement The Cement Industry Federation (CIF) in Australia claims that the governments unwillingness to impose a carbon border tax on imported cement products is undermining the sectors attempts to decarbonise and is putting up to 1400 local jobs at risk. The CIF, which represents Australias AUD2.7bn (US$1.7bn) cement industry, said the absence of a carbon levy on imports from countries with less robust climate commitments paved the way for the offshoring of local manufacturing a process known as carbon leakage. Under the governments safeguard mechanism, large industrial emitters must reduce their baseline emissions by 4.9 per cent annually. Businesses that do not meet the baseline targets can buy carbon offsets to meet the targets, reports the Australian Financial Review. In addition to being emissions-intensive, Australian cement manufacture is exposed to clinker imports that make up more than 40 per cent of domestic consumption. The government has temporarily granted trade-exposed industries slightly less rigorous emissions-reduction requirements under the safeguard mechanism. However, in a pre-budget submission, the CIF, which represents Australian producers Adbri, Boral and Cement Australia, said leakage risks remained. It called on the government to put an EU-style tax on cement, lime and clinker imports from countries with more lax decarbonisation rules. This needs to be one of the highest climate policy priorities of the federal government in 2025, the CIF submission said. Not addressing the issue of carbon leakage in a timely manner will be detrimental to Australian cement and lime manufacturing and could lead to the unnecessary loss of key Australian cement and lime facilities. Cement, clinker and lime imports are sourced predominantly from southeast and north Asian countries, including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Japan. As a signatory to the Paris climate agreement, Australia has committed to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The safeguard mechanism is a key plank of its legislated commitment to reduce emissions by 43 per cent on 2005 levels by the end of the decade. In March 2023 the government appointed energy expert Frank Jotzo to assess the feasibility of an Australian Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), particularly for steel and cement. As part of the review, wide consultations were held with the industry and a final recommendation was expected to be delivered in 2024. However, in November, an interim report was delivered instead, opening a new round of consultation. The final advice is now due to be released after the election. 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. The Chattanooga Division of Transportation announces the following emergency road closure and scheduled construction closures.Emergency Closures:Lightfoot Mill Road - CSX Railroad Grade CrossingThe CSX grade crossing in the 2400 block of Lightfoot Mill Road has been closed for emergency railroad repairs. The closure is effective immediately and is expected to last five days. Detours via Bonny Oaks Drive in both directions.Construction Closures:3107 Amnicola Highway -The 3100 block of Amnicola Highway will see single lane closures with lane shifts beginning Tuesday, March 25 through Monday, April 7 from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.daily for curb construction.1404 Duncan Avenue -Duncan Avenue between S. Greenwood Avenue and S. Highland Park Avenue will be closed Tuesday, March 25 through Friday, March 28 for sewer repair. Detours will be posted.Market Street from Aquarium Way to Frazier Avenue -The Market Street Bridge between Frazier Avenue and Aquarium Way will have single-lane closures beginning Tuesday, March 25 through Wednesday, March 26 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. for the installation of flexible bollards along sidewalks.Old Mountain Road -Old Mountain Road between St. Elmo Avenue and W. 39th Street will be closed beginning Wednesday, March 26 through Wednesday, April 2 for sewer repair. Detours will be posted.Paving and Resurfacing Schedule for March 25-28:The City of Chattanooga Department of Public Works in conjunction with contract crews has scheduled the following locations for resurfacing for the week of Tuesday, March 25 through Friday, March 28 (weather permitting): Dodson Avenue from Wilder Street to Grace Avenue; Frazier Circle from Sylvan Drive to Cross Street; Greenwood Road from Moss Street to Wilcox Boulevard; Moss Drive from Moss Street to Hoyt Street; Roanoke Avenue from Stuart Street to Wisdom Street; Skiatook Street from Sapulpa Street to Wauchula Street; Talatha Trail from Bonny Oaks Drive to Sapulpa Street; and Talley Road from Corbly Drive to Rogers Road.Single-lane closures will be required with two-way traffic being maintained by flagging. Driveways and intersections may briefly close while crews mill and resurface past these points. All work is weather permitting and subject to change without notice. The Signal Mountain Council was told Monday night by CPA Jennifer Waycaster that the government-wide financials, the balance sheet and liquidity are in a very good place and all the various funds made a profit. However, the general and water funds were given an adverse opinion. Ms. Waycaster said new software and mistakes caused by the turnover of employees was mostly to blame for the harshness of the opinions. And there was a long list of findings including issues related to spending in excess of appropriations, a deficit in the state street aid fund for the second year in a row, vehicles and purchases not declared as surplus, the failure of accounting for state sales and liquor taxes, and the failure to update new water rates for all residents. There is no penalty from the state comptroller for repeat findings, she told the council, but there will be a letter of reprimand saying to do better. The findings were blamed mostly on the turnover of employees and nobody to close out the year. "Most of the people in those leadership roles last year, are no longer with us," said Mayor Elizabeth Baker. Part of the audit is that the city will have to submit its plans to rectify the problems. City Manager Matt Justice, who inherited the citys problems, said that the number of findings was due to the turnover of key positions and other staffing issues. "We do have a plan in place and expect that the issues will not repeat next year, he said. The fixes are all in process to be corrected by the end of this fiscal year, he stated. Councilman Clay Crumbliss said there is the perception among some residents that Signal Mountain is in financial trouble. But he said the auditors report shows that the liquidity, cash and investments are in good shape and the city has low debt. Ms. Waycaster said there have been mistakes, but overall the finances are healthy, and there is enough money to cover debts. Most of the problem is with internal control issues. But now the newly hired Finance Director John Harr is in place and knows what to do, she said. "It is the auditors job to give us the factual report and in holding the staff accountable," said Councilman Crumbliss. The contract between Signal Mountain and Waycaster CPA was for the past two years. There was a consensus among the board members that there should be a policy for putting out a request for proposals on some regular schedule to have a comparison, but this is not the year to start that since it is almost too late to change accountants. The council will vote whether to accept the audit bid for another year from Waycaster, at the next council meeting. Before the start of the meeting Finance Director Harr was sworn into office along with newly chosen Councilman Charles Poss. In regular business, there was discussion about several items related to running the town. Extensive repairs are needed at some of the town-owned properties, which includes the town hall building, the library, fire station #1 and the MACC. In February, the council decided to have a comprehensive assessment of the city-owned buildings to help decide how to prioritize the work. The town hall will require more than the others and the inspections are continuing there, but work on the library is moving forward. Two bids were received to replace siding on the library. The low bid was $35,000 from Abbott Enterprises. A resolution to award the job to Abbott will be voted on at the next council meeting. Republic Services is the waste hauling business currently being used by the town. The service was bid out for the coming year and, from the two bids received, Waste Connection was the low bidder at $363,380. There was a consensus for City Manager Justice to begin negotiations with Waste Connection for the next fiscal year. Although that is the low bid, it is still $25,000 more than the current contract with Republic, and the town will see an increase of $80,000. Another item discussed was the procedure being used for vehicle replacement, purchasing and disposal. The council should declare the item as surplus and then agree that it can be disposed of. But the procedure that was used during the past year did not follow the correct process which was one of the findings by the auditor regarding vehicles. City Manager Justice said, "Today the city has a policy and it will be followed for asset replacement. It also sets the standards for what can be replaced without council approval. Another topic was the need to establish an emergency response plan. The town will take advantage of the services that Hamilton County can provide to supplement procedures that Signal Mountain offers. Whatever the plan, the important thing is for residents to communicate the plan to citizens of the town. There may be a registry used for contacting the residents, and Hamilton County has the ability to reach all phones via location. But it will be important to let the community know the procedure before it happens, it was stated. The city manager suggested putting a preparedness page on the Signal Mountain website. Mr. Justice gave the council the good news that the town was given a $21,000 discount from its insurance broker when the policy renews for the coming year. A proclamation was made to honor the young resident Townsend Collins Jr. for his courage and quick thinking by noticing and alerting his parents to smoke, flames and a loud noise coming from a neighbors house. His awareness resulted in his parents calling 911 and the Signal Mountain Fire Department getting to the house fire on Rock Crest Drive in just minutes. This shows the impact that one person can have, no matter his age, said the proclamation. Blog Archive: Jul 2025 (25) Jun 2025 (150) May 2025 (155) Apr 2025 (9) Mar 2025 (149) Feb 2025 (139) Jan 2025 (155) Dec 2024 (144) Nov 2024 (143) Oct 2024 (155) Sep 2024 (149) Aug 2024 (155) Jul 2024 (155) Jun 2024 (150) May 2024 (153) Apr 2024 (149) Mar 2024 (155) Feb 2024 (145) Jan 2024 (155) Dec 2023 (155) Nov 2023 (150) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55) The Lee University Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Andy Harnsberger and Dr. Caitlin Jones, will host its spring concert on Monday at 7:30 p.m. in Pangle Hall. The performance will include pieces such as Blue Burn by Jospeh Tompkins, Turbines by Elijah Caliguiri, Relative Riffs by Alejandro Vinao, and Kyoto by John Psathas. The concert will conclude with Dr. Harnsberger, professor of percussion, and Dr. Jones, instructor of percussion, performing the world premiere of The Turning Tides by New Zealand composer Gareth Farr. This piece, largely funded by Lee University, is a masterwork for two marimbas and a percussion trio. The Percussion Ensemble performs a wide variety of music written expressly for percussion, which allows students to experience a variety of music including contemporary genres, world music, and improvisation. Selections range from chamber works for three to four performers to works utilizing many instruments. The group presents fall and spring concerts annually. Along with conducting percussion ensemble, Dr. Harnsberger is in demand as a recitalist and clinician across the country and internationally, presenting clinics and masterclasses at as many as 40 universities per year. He is also a performing artist and clinician for Malletech Instruments and Mallets, Remo Drum Heads, Sabian Cymbals, Ltd., and Grover Pro Percussion. Dr. Jones is a professional percussionist who has an active career as a performer and educator. In 2020, she gave the world premiere of The Long Road for solo marimba by Dr. Harnsberger and professionally recorded this work with GreenHaus Productions. She has presented at Percussive Arts Society Days of Percussion and throughout the U.S. on various topics, including health and wellness for musicians. The event is free, non-ticketed, and open to the public. Livestream viewing will also be available at leeu.live/. Pangle Hall is on the corner of Church Street and Central Avenue. For more information, contact Lees School of Music at 614-8240 or music@leeuniversity.edu. Signal Centers announces three new deputies are joining its executive leadership team. Jenny Wood and Joey Thomas will serve as deputy program officers, and Sharon Green will serve as the deputy finance officer.In their new roles as deputy program officers, Ms. Wood and Mr. Thomas will focus on the strategic and operational goals for Signal Centers 11 local programs."Both are charged with collaborating to build strong programs that bring the agencys mission and vision to fruition, meet real community needs and adhere to the highest standard of quality.Ms. Wood and Mr. Thomas will maintain programmatic compliance and excellence by setting priorities, allocating resources, and ensuring measurable outcomes," officials said.As deputy financial officer, Ms. Green will assist with the management of the accounting department, including supervising staff and overseeing financial processes and reporting. Shes tasked with ensuring that fiscal functions of the organization operate in accordance with applicable regulations and financial management practices.We are thrilled to welcome Jenny, Joey, and Sharon to our ranks and know they will accomplish great things in their new positions, said Donna McConnico, CEO of Signal Centers. Their unique expertise will be instrumental in helping us continue to expand the impact we have on the Chattanooga community.Ms. Wood was promoted from Signal Centers director of Childrens Services. She has been with the nonprofit since September 2022, when she joined as an early childhood development coordinator. As a veteran with a master of education in early childhood and special education from Grand Canyon University and a bachelor of social work from Austin Peay University, she brings with her specialized expertise in strategic leadership, personnel management and systems design.Mr. Thomas joins the team from Cempa Community Care, where he served as director of community health since 2023. He holds a master of public health from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, a juris doctorate from The University of Memphis, and experience as a lieutenant with the Chattanooga Fire Department. As a public health leader, Mr. Thomas is well versed in community engagement and systems-level impact with the end goal of establishing preventative, comprehensive solutions to reducing disparities.Ms. Green was most recently the chief of operations at Olivet Baptist Church. With a strong background in accounting, nonprofit leadership and systems management, Ms. Green is known for building efficient processes, strengthening fiscal oversight and driving results through collaboration and structure. She is completing a master of public administration and holds a master of science in leadership from Belhaven University. The countdown is on for the 5th Annual Celebrate Awards, and United Way of Greater Chattanooga unveils the finalists across five award categories. "This years awards highlight the heart of our communitynonprofits and volunteers working collaboratively across sectors to make Greater Chattanooga a better place for everyone," officials said.These finalists represent the best of what happens when passion meets effective action, said Abby Garrison, vice president of Community Investments at United Way of Greater Chattanooga.Nonprofits are not only the heart of our communitytheyre the powerful engine driving real change. Through the Celebrate Awards, we honor the leaders, volunteers, and partners who roll up their sleeves every day to tackle challenges and create lasting solutions, building a more connected community across Chattanooga.More than 130 nominations were submitted, and a selection committee carefully reviewed each nomination to select three finalists per category. To learn more about the finalists and their work, visit unitedwaycha.org/celebrate.Finalists for the five distinct categories are:Nonprofit Organization of the Year - Austin Hatcher Foundation; First Things First; and KELCURT Foundation.Nonprofit Leader of the Year - Dave Buck with Chattanooga Autism Center; Sydney Guerrette with Be the Change Youth Initiative; and Kevin Hyde with Partnership for Families, Children and Adults.Live United, not Divided Award - Sponsored by Roper Corporation - Be the Change Youth Initiative; Chattamatters; and The AIM Center.Rising Star Award - Celebrating a new or emerging nonprofit that is driving innovation and serving our community in exciting ways - Chattanooga Free Store; Noogavision Theatre & Performing Arts; and The Bridge Builder Collective.Volunteer of the Year - Azurae Redmond, mental health advocate and nonprofit leader; Margy Oehmig, volunteer for Metropolitan Ministries; and Snowe Green, volunteer for Welcome Home of Chattanooga.Winners in each category will be revealed at the Celebrate Awards ceremony on April 17 at 5 p.m. The event will be held at Common House Chattanooga.Officials said, "The Celebrate Awards are made possible by generous sponsors who are deeply committed to uplifting local nonprofits and building a more connected community. The 2025 sponsors include Roper Corporation, Shaw Industries, First Horizon Bank, Husch Blackwell, Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, Smart Bank and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee."If youd like to join United Way in rolling out the red carpet for these outstanding changemakers, get your tickets today at unitedwaycha.org/celebrate . If you have any questions about the event, please reach out to events@uwchatt.org." A Nevada man was arrested Tuesday after seven young girls were seen being loaded into a U-Haul box truck. It was verified that the driver, Brandon Keith Blount, was the father of the children. East Ridge Police responded to the 4300 block of Ringgold Road regarding a report of children being loaded into the back of a U-Haul. An immediate search of the area conducted by numerous East Ridge officers led to the U-Haul being found on I-75 Northbound. A traffic stop was conducted at the I-75 off ramp, exit 3A. Seven juvenile females were in the U-Haul (two in the front cab, and five in the back storage compartment of the box truck). The East Ridge Police Department conducted interviews and verified the information regarding the children and their custodial status. These verifications took some time and involved reviewing documents from courts outside Tennessee, contacting family members in California and Georgia, and interfacing with partner agencies from TBI and FBI. Blount, 39, was taken into custody for multiple counts of child endangerment and child neglect. Child Protective Services was notified and the children were all transported by EMS for medical evaluation. Middle Valley Church of God, located at 1703 Thrasher Pike in Hixson announces that Pastor Mitch McClure will be preaching on Sunday, March 30, in the 10:30 a.m. service. His sermon title will be, "Help Me Fix My Problems(I Need Jesus Now!)". The goal of this sermon series is to assure the listener that they have access to God through Jesus Christ in all situations of life along with His promises to help. All are welcome to participate. Each Sunday at 5:30 p.m.the church conducts a Prayer Meeting. The Prayer Meeting is open to all who wish to participate and is designed to encourage prayer. Information on various methods of prayer will be shared with participants. The goal of this prayer meeting is to encourage Believers to seek God through prayer. All are welcome to participate. Each Wednesday at 7 p.m., an Interactive, Interesting, and Informative Bible Study will be held in the church auditorium. Pastor Mitch McClure is currently leading this Bible study. The topic of the Bible study will be how worldview impacts our lives. All are welcome to participate. The goal of this Bible study is to encourage Believers to study the Bible and discuss with others, making the Scripture their guide. Middle Valley Church of God is a community focused church with various ministries in the Middle Valley area and in Cusuna, Honduras. The community is welcome to join in times of worship and community service. MVCOG has been ministering in the Middle Valley Community since 1948 from the same location. If you have questions, please contact the church office at 423.843.1539. All are welcome. Please note that MVCOG will make public announcements about dangerous road conditions and cancellations. Postings about cancellations will be made on the church Facebook page. Please look there for information. In a case filed in Hamilton County, the Tennessee Supreme Court on Wednesday held that Tennessee law does not prohibit a private employer from firing an employee for exercising the right to petition the government granted under the Tennessee Constitution. The case began in 2021, during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Plaintiff Heather Smith was employed by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Inc., a private corporation. When BlueCross required its employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine, Ms. Smith chose to not get vaccinated. She emailed members of the Tennessee legislature, expressing grievances about BlueCrosss vaccination mandate. BlueCross warned Ms. Smith that her email violated company policy. When Ms. Smith sent a second similar email to legislators, BlueCross terminated her employment. Ms. Smith filed a lawsuit against BlueCross in the Hamilton County chancery court, alleging that BlueCross violated Tennessee law by firing her for exercising the right to petition the government under the Tennessee Constitution. The trial court dismissed her lawsuit, but the Court of Appeals reversed. The Tennessee Supreme Court then granted BlueCross permission to appeal. In very limited circumstances, the Court explained, it may violate Tennessee law for an employer to fire an employee for exercising a constitutional right. This is called retaliatory discharge. Tennessees Constitution grants citizens a right to petition their government. Ms. Smith argued that she was a victim of retaliatory discharge for exercising the right to petition in the Tennessee Constitution. The Tennessee Supreme Court reviewed the history of the constitutional right to petition, going back to England before the founding of the United States. It observed that the right to petition had always been understood to forbid the government from retaliating against citizens who petition the government. It had not been applied against those not in the government. The Court said: For hundreds of years, the constitutional right to petition has been considered a bulwark against government oppression, not a constraint on private parties. The Court then held that the right to petition in the Tennessee Constitution is enforceable only against the government, not private actors. Consequently, Tennessee law does not prohibit a private employer from firing an employee for exercising the right. The Court affirmed the trial courts dismissal of the lawsuit. Justice Sarah Campbell concurred but wrote a separate opinion. She argued that the legislature is better suited than the Court to create public-policy exceptions to the employment-at-will doctrine and suggested that the Court consider in an appropriate case whether to leave the development of further exceptions to the legislature. To read the majority opinion in Smith v. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, authored by Chief Justice Holly Kirby, click here. To read Justice Campbells separate opinion, click here. The U.S. Department of Education is currently experiencing significant transformations following an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump. This order aims to dismantle the Department, thereby reducing federal oversight and returning authority to states and local communities. The implications of these changes have sparked widespread debate and legal challenges, marking a pivotal moment in the American education landscape. President Trump has issued an executive order to facilitate significant changes within the federal government. Education Secretary Linda McMahon is tasked with closing the Department of Education without seeking congressional approval. Responsibilities will be reassigned, with the $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio moving to the Small Business Administration and special education and nutrition programs transitioning to the Department of Health and Human Services. There has been a 50 percent reduction in the Department's workforce, which raises serious concerns about its capacity to operate effectively. The response to these changes has been swift, with Massachusetts filing a lawsuit claiming the administration is overstepping by trying to dismantle the Department without congressional approval. Advocacy groups and some lawmakers are worried about potential chaos in managing student loans, special education services, and civil rights protections. The Department plays a crucial role in distributing federal funds, such as Title I and IDEA grants, and upholding protections like Title IX, making its role essential in education. In contrast to the opposition, other lawmakers support the dismantling effort, viewing it as a necessary step to eliminate what they perceive as ineffective bureaucracy. They point to stagnant student test scores over the years, despite increased federal spending, arguing that state and local governments are more suited to handle education policy. This perspective underscores a fundamental belief in local control over educational matters. Lamar Alexander, a former Tennessee Governor and Secretary of Education, believes that the federal Department of Education could be eliminated, as it has had limited success in improving student progress over the past 45 years. The department serves three main purposes: producing "The Nation's Report Card" to assess student performance, addressing civil rights violations, and distributing federal education funding, ideally in the form of block grants to states. Specifically, in addressing violations of students civil rights. Alexander is addressing actual violations, not "disparate impacts" that have often occupied enforcement in recent years. As the process unfolds, congressional action is required to shutter the Department completely, a step fraught with uncertainty given the intense opposition. Immediate risks loom, including potential disruptions to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid system and oversight of student loans, exacerbated by workforce reductions. Penny Schwinn's nomination as Deputy Secretary of Education is pending confirmation by the Senate. Tennessee Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Haggerty have not indicated how they would vote on a Schwinn nomination. The process includes hearings, committee votes, and a final vote. As the former Tennessee Education Commissioner, Schwinn implemented various initiatives, but her record has received mixed reviews. While supporters praise her experience, critics view her as a "bureaucrat" unfit for the role. Additionally, controversies related to a contract tied to her husband and notable staff turnover during her tenure have fueled the debate. The Republican-controlled Senate gives Schwinn an advantage in the confirmation process; however, her approval is not guaranteed due to the potential influence of swing votes from moderate Republicans and conservatives. No hearing date has been set, and possible legal challenges to Trumps education plans may impact on her nomination. While Deputy Secretary confirmations typically face less scrutiny, Schwinns polarizing profile could complicate her approval. As the situation evolves, it remains too early to predict the outcome of Penny Schwinn's nomination or the ultimate fate of the Department of Education. Stakeholders and observers alike will need to closely monitor developments, particularly those from the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, in the coming weeks. The ongoing debates and legal challenges will undoubtedly shape the future of education policy in the United States. JC Bowman Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union announces Jessica Parrish, mortgage loan originator, has been named the 2025 president of the Chattanooga Mortgage Bankers Association.Officials said, "Jessicas appointment marks an exciting achievement in her career and reflects her strong leadership within the local mortgage industry."A dedicated employee of TVFCU for 10 years, Jessica has made significant contributions to both the credit union and the greater Chattanooga community.She was recently honored as a Circle of Excellence recipient, which serves as a prestigious acknowledgement of outstanding achievements by CMBA members. Jessica was also recently named a diamond producer for selling over 150 units for just over $27 million. Her expertise, dedication and relentless drive have solidified her reputation as a trusted leader and innovator in the mortgage industry."In her new role as CMBA president, Jessica will work closely with fellow mortgage professionals to advocate for the industry, promote growth and innovation and support initiatives that benefit both mortgage professionals and consumers in the Chattanooga region."I am truly honored to be named president of the Chattanooga Mortgage Bankers Association, said Ms. Parrish. Im excited for the opportunity to work with such a talented group of individuals and to help shape the future of our industry here in Chattanooga. I look forward to continuing to serve both my clients and the community in this new capacity."Jessicas leadership within TVFCU and the mortgage community has earned her recognition across the industry, and she is known for her commitment to excellence and high standards of service," officials said. "As the 2025 president of the CMBA, she is poised to bring fresh perspectives and energy to the association." A 41-year-old Chattanooga man has been charged with a murder at Chickamauga, Ga. Nicholas Antonio Cheaton was charged with killing William Oliver Jones, 39. Taking part in the probe were the GBIs Investigative Office in Calhoun, the Walker County Sheriffs Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the United States Federal Probation Office, and the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office. Jones was found dead at his home in the 8000 block of West Highway 136 last Friday. Cheaton was booked into the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center and is awaiting extradition. Jones body was taken to the GBI Medical Examiners Office for an autopsy. The results are not complete at this time. The GBI said, "This investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Walker County Sheriffs Office at 706-638-1909. 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. "Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be given to the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorneys Office for review." The National Institutes of Health's James Shannon building is seen on the agency's campus in Bethesda, Md., Friday, Oct. 24, 2014. Photo Credit: Official Website/ Illinois Department of Human Rights The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield and the Pregnancy Care Center of Rockford filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Western Division, challenging the recently amended Illinois Human Rights Act. A new lawsuit claims that an Illinois law may compel religious employers to hire individuals who engage in activities that conflict with their held religious beliefs, such as undergoing or performing abortions. The Act's Employment Clause states that it is a civil rights violation for an employer to make hiring, promotion, training, or dismissal decisions based on unlawful discrimination or status, including reproductive health among other protected characteristics. The employee handbook of the Pregnancy Care Center of Rockford explicitly states that referring, assisting in the procurement of, providing, or receiving an abortion ... is cause for refusal to hire. Similarly, the Diocese of Springfield imposes disciplinary action, up to and including termination for employees who do not conduct themselves in a manner consistent with Catholic principles, and having or assisting in an abortion would fall into this category. The plaintiffs fear potential litigation under the Illinois Human Rights Act for requiring employees to adhere to Christian beliefs regarding the sanctity of human life, based on statements made by Illinois Department of Human Rights Director James Bennett and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. The Illinois Human Rights Act declares that Employer does not include any place of worship, religious corporation, association, educational institution, society, or non-profit nursing institution ... with respect to the employment of individuals of a particular religion to perform work connected with the carrying on by such place of worship, corporation, association, educational institution, society or non-profit nursing institution of its activities. However, the complaint asserts that Defendants do not apply this religious exclusion to Plaintiffs' conduct in matters of reproduction. The plaintiffs are asking the court to declare the Illinois Human Rights Act a violation of multiple clauses in the First Amendment and the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Additionally, the lawsuit requests a federal judge to issue a preliminary and permanent injunction to stop Defendants and any person acting in concert with them from investigating or otherwise enforcing the Act against Plaintiffs in connection with Plaintiffs' speech and conduct related to reproductive decisions. Mark Lippelmann, a senior counsel with the Christian conservative legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, which represents the plaintiffs, stated that the state can't force pro-life religious organizations to bend their knee to the state's secular view of abortion. He added, The Constitution protects the right of religious organizations to choose workers who will advance rather than contradict their religious beliefs, urging the court to uphold these organizations' fundamental right to serve their communities consistent with their faith. The defendants, Raoul and Bennett, have not publicly commented on the lawsuit despite media inquiries. Home News 4 things to know about Pierre Poilievre, Conservative Party leader running to be Canada's next PM Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, a member of the Liberal Party, announced in an X post on Sunday that he had just asked the Governor General to dissolve parliament and call a federal election on April 28. This move paves the way for an election to elect a new Parliament. At the time of Parliaments dissolution, the Liberal Party had 152 seats while the Conservative Party of Canada held 120 seats. The remaining seats were held by minor political parties, with 33 constituencies represented by members of the Bloc Quebecois Party, 24 seats held by the New Democratic Party and two constituencies represented by members of the Green Party. Three seats were held by independent members of the Parliament. Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative Party's leader, could become Canada's next prime minister depending on how the election turns out. He represents Carleton, Ontario, in the House of Commons. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Carney took office earlier this month, replacing former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trudeau, who led the country for the last 10 years, announced his intention to step down in January. A victory by the Conservative Party in this years election would mark the first time since 2015 that the party has held power in Canada. The most recent opinion polls show a close race. A survey of 1,500 Canadian voters conducted by Liaison Strategies from March 21-23 found that 40% of respondents plan to support the Liberal Party, followed by 36% who intend to vote for the Conservative Party, 9% plan to back the New Democratic Party, 6% who favor the Bloc Quebecois Party, 4% expressed support for the Green Party and 3% plan to back the Peoples Party of Canada. The poll had a margin of error of +/-2.53 percentage points. Meanwhile, a poll of 1,500 conducted by Abacus Data from March 17-20 painted a slightly different picture. This survey found Conservatives at 39% support, followed by Liberals at 36% and the New Democratic Party at 12%. The Bloc Quebecois came in fourth place, while the Green Party was in fifth. The margin of error was +/-2.5 percentage points. Both surveys suggest that Poilievre and the Conservatives have a reasonable chance of winning the election. Here are four things to know about the man who might become the next prime minister of Canada. Home News Christian apologists flee Indonesia amid threats of physical violence, blasphemy charges SURABAYA, Indonesia A rash of complaints to police in Indonesia accusing Christians of blasphemy on social media has driven several of them to seek refuge abroad. Christian apologist Edwin Hutabarat, also known as Metatron, is now in the Netherlands after radical Muslims from the Anti-Blasphemy Community Alliance reported him to the Cyber Unit of the Special Crime Directorate of the East Java Regional Police on Nov. 7, 2024. The hardline Muslims complained to police about three YouTube channels run by Edwin Suara Sejati, Blesmigad and Sang Debaters with one of the complainants, Basori Alwi, telling media the channels spread content insulting Islam and distorting the Quran, according to AyoJatim.com. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe In the videos from the YouTube channel, the reported party is seen deliberately distorting the meaning and interpretation of the Quran, Basori reportedly said. Their narrative is hurtful to Muslims because the [Islamic] prophet Muhammad was accused of committing adultery with his maid [and] committing immoral acts. A Muslim also filed a blasphemy complaint to police in response to Edwins YouTube channel co-host, known as Agatha of Palermo, as she has reportedly fled to Italy. Johan Muhamad Junaedi of Indonesia Islam Apologetics in Jakarta, along with its satellite town regional leadership board, reported her to Metro Jaya Police Headquarters in Jakarta on Nov. 1, 2024, according to Indonesias official news agency, Antara. They accused her of making blasphemous comments about Islam and its prophet on a livestream of her Benteng77 YouTube channel on Oct. 28, 2024. Agatha of Palermo said that the [Islamic] prophet Muhammad was fond of having multiple women and was a human trader and afraid of water when defecating, and so on, Johan reportedly said. We hope there will be no more blasphemers, and it will be a deterrent. We want peace in the Republic of Indonesia. Other Indonesian Christian apologists have used their temporary residences abroad to operate social media. Dewi Bulan broadcasts her ideas against Islam and Muslims from her base in the United States through her TikTok Account, @WeareforMurtadin. Abraham Ben Moses, previously known as Sjaifuddin Ibrahim, a former Muslim lecturer at an Islamic college and now a Christian pastor, was imprisoned for blasphemy from 2018 to 2022 and later again charged with blasphemy for proposing to remove 300 quranic verses that he deemed unfriendly to non-Muslims. His actions sparked outrage among hardline Muslims, leading to a call for a six-year prison sentence and a fine of 1 billion rupees. He avoided prosecution by fleeing to the U.S., as did another Christian apologist, Sofia al-Hayat, according to reports. In Indonesia the state is usually absent when Christians are persecuted but shows up large when Muslims in the Muslim-majority country face opposition, said Pastor Nicky Jefta Wakkary of the Protestant Church in Indonesia (Gereja Protestan di Indonesia, or GPdI) in Cibinong, West Java Province. The state is not present when minorities are persecuted though the intolerant take refuge in the majority and the state is powerless in this situation [of persecution of minorities], Pastor Nicky told Morning Star News. From a missiological perspective, our Christian apologetics abroad have positive aspects, because the law is unfairly enforced here. Bonar Tigor Naipospos, deputy chairman of the Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace, said he understood why Christian apologists take refuge abroad. Here, in Indonesia, they cannot speak freely because they probably receive physical threats and be criminalized on blasphemous charges, he said. Bonar said Christian apologists feel the need to debate because fundamentalist Islamic groups have insulted Christianity as wrong teaching. The raging debate on social media is a reaction to the efforts of Islamic puritan groups to degrade Christianity as a wrong teaching that has to be corrected by Islam, Bonar told Morning Star News. Puritan and intolerant groups do use the issue of Christianization by taking the example of the establishment of churches in many places as a threat to Islam. The share of Indonesias population that is Muslim is 83.3%, with 11.43% of citizens identifying as Christian and 3.23% as Evangelicals, according to the Joshua Project. Indonesian society has adopted a more hardline Islamic character, and churches involved in evangelistic outreach are at risk of being targeted by Islamic extremist groups, according to Christian support organization Open Doors. This article was originally published at Morning Star News Home News Nurse practitioner reaches settlement with CVS after firing for refusing to provide contraceptives A nurse practitioner who lost her job for refusing to prescribe contraceptives has reached a settlement with her former employer. The news comes amid efforts nationwide to ensure employee conscience protections are maintained. In a statement published last week, the law firm First Liberty Institute announced that nurse practitioner Gudrun Gunna Kristofersdottir had reached a settlement with CVS Health Corporation and MinuteClinic, LLC following her termination for refusing to prescribe contraceptives because doing so would have violated her deeply held religious beliefs as a Catholic. The terms of the settlement were not made public. We are happy to announce that we were able to reach a resolution of the case, said First Liberty Senior Counsel Stephanie Taub. Gunna is pleased with the settlement. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Last weeks settlement comes more than a year after First Liberty Institute filed a lawsuit on Kristofersdottirs behalf. As explained in the lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida in early 2024, Kristofersdottir had worked for several years at CVS MinuteClinic with a religious accommodation in place that enabled her to opt-out of dispensing abortion-inducing drugs and contraceptives. In cases where a patient asked for a prescription Kristofersdottir could not in good conscience provide, she would direct them to an alternate MinuteClinic location. Kristofersdottirs work experience changed after August 2021 when her employer implemented a new policy that denied all such religious accommodations without considering the particular circumstances of the employee requesting the accommodation. According to the complaint, Kristofersdottir continued to work with a religious accommodation until she asked her superior if her religious accommodation was still in effect in March 2022. Kristofersdottir inquired about the status of her religious accommodation after hearing about another nurse practitioner who lost her job because she didn't want to dispense contraceptives in violation of her religious beliefs. Shortly thereafter, Kristofersdottirs superior informed her that her religious accommodation was no longer in effect. Kristofersdottir offered several compromises that would have enabled her to keep her job without violating her religious beliefs, including working at a larger clinic, a virtual clinic, or a COVID-19 clinic where contraceptives would never be requested. After Kristofersdottirs superior declined the alternative compromises, the nurse practitioner maintained that she would not be able to prescribe contraceptives. Because of that decision, she was then terminated from her job. The lawsuit characterized Kristofersdottirs termination as a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which instructs employers not to avoid accommodating a religious practice that it could accommodate without undue hardship. The complaint also cited the nurse practitioners dismissal as a violation of the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992, which includes a prohibition on actions that discriminate against any individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment. Kristofersdottir sought judicial relief in the form of front pay, back pay, restitution, and compensatory damages, including emotional pain and suffering damages. CVS defended its religious accommodation policy in a 2022 statement to The Christian Post. As he insisted that CVS had a well-defined process in place for employees to request and be granted a reasonable accommodation due to their religious beliefs, which in some cases can be an exemption from performing certain job functions, CVS Executive Director of Corporate Communications Mike DeAngelis told CP that It is not possible, however, to grant an accommodation that exempts an employee from performing the essential functions of their job. DeAngelis identified educating and treating patients regarding sexual health matters including pregnancy prevention, sexually transmitted infection perfection, and safer sex practices as essential functions of working at a MinuteClinic. He reiterated that We cannot grant exemptions from these essential MinuteClinic functions. Kristofersdottir is not the first nurse practitioner who has sued CVS after losing her job over her refusal to prescribe contraceptives and/or abortion-inducing drugs due to her religious beliefs. Others who have filed lawsuits against the company include Robyn Strader and Paige Casey. The experiences of Kristofersdottir and others have motivated some states to enact conscience protections for healthcare workers. Just last week, Idahos Republican Gov. Brad Little signed the Medical Ethics Defense Act into law Wednesday. The legislation declares No health care professional, health care institution, or health care payer should be required to participate in or pay for any medical procedure, treatment, or service, or prescribe or pay for any medication, to which he objects on the basis of conscience, whether such conscience is informed by religious, moral, or ethical beliefs or principles. A report published last summer by the Center for Religion, Culture and Democracy at First Liberty Institute listed the other states with general conscience protections for healthcare professionals, including: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina and Washington. Home News Duluth pastor resigns after protest over past sexual abuse of 2 teenage girls Pastor Ronald Allen of Revive City Church of Duluth in Minnesota has resigned following two days of protest over his sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl and her friend while he was serving as a youth pastor some 25 years ago. "I write to you today with a heavy heart, as I must announce my resignation from my role as Pastor of Revive City Church of Duluth and Ministry Leader of Celebrate Recovery at Revive City Church, effective immediately," Allen, 59, wrote in a statement to his congregation on his Facebook page Monday night. "This decision has not come easily, but it is one that I believe is necessary for our personal journey. I recognize that this news may bring great pain to many, and perhaps relief to others. Regardless, I ask for your understanding and support as I embark on this new chapter," he added. "Please keep my family in your prayers during this challenging time." Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Revive City Church confirmed Allen's resignation and said in a statement to WDIO that it is working on finding a replacement leader. "Our heart continues to be for the people, and we want the doors of Revive City Church to stay open. We are diligently working with our board of directors and other leaders to ensure services do not stop. Ron's step down from pastor is permanent and he is now officially retired," the church said. "We are contacting local pastors to fill the void in the interim for Sunday and Wednesday services until we find a new pastor. Revive City Church is a place where hope is found, and we want that to remain the mission and vision of the church." In court documents cited by FOX 21, Allen admitted that from 2000 to 2001, when he was 35, he engaged in "repeated sexual contacts" with a 13-year-old girl while he served as her youth pastor at Calvary Worship Center in Minnetonka. Most of the abuse took place inside Allen's home while the teenager was babysitting his children. He also admitted to one instance of sexually assaulting the babysitter's 13-year-old friend. For his crimes, Allen served one year in prison and was required to register as a sex offender for five years. At a protest outside the church on Sunday, some people expressed support for Allen and his wife, October. "I came from Oklahoma. You know, I understand people saying things about somebody's past. We all got a past. but those people, those people in that church, they do everything for the community," Billy Hintsmen told Fox21. The pastor's detractors argue that people with sexual convictions against children should not hold positions of authority. There were also concerns that Allen's past was not properly disclosed to congregants. "If, like October says, that Ron's convictions and old record isn't a big deal, why not go through his background check? Right?" asked Cliff Parker, a protester who said he is a part of the recovery community. He believes Allen's lack of transparency about his past reflects a double standard. "I had to [get a background check] for my job. I got denied, had to appeal it, jump through some hoops because I have a past not including sexual [expletive]," he said. Home News Fmr. pastor at church founded by Jerry Falwell Sr. convicted of stalking ex-member A man who formerly served as a pastor at a church founded by the-late Rev. Jerry Falwell Sr. in 1956 has been convicted of stalking a former member and divorced mother of two. Sergio Guardia, who had served as a pastor for the Spanish-speaking ministry at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia, was convicted earlier this month of two counts of burglary and one count of stalking. Guardia was arrested in 2023 after he unlawfully entered the home of Marie Columna, a woman who left the church in 2016. Guardia had been reportedly stalking her for years. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe I do feel like I've gotten my power back, power that he took, she told the Lynchburg-based news outlet WSET. As powerful as that position of authority as a pastor may seem and as powerful as that church may seem, they have power too. Guardia is scheduled to be sentenced in August. A former employee of the Southern Baptist Convention, Guardia reportedly began making advances toward Columna shortly after her divorce, prompting her to install cameras on her property. In November 2023, cameras caught Guardia entering Columnas home, with authorities arresting the then 48-year-old pastor and charging him with two counts of breaking and entering, and one count of stalking. When Inside Edition Digital reached out to the SBC of Virginia for comment following his arrest, the nation's largest Protestant denomination released a statement explaining that Guardia was no longer employed by the organization. "Sergio Guardia is no longer employed by the SBC of Virginia. He resigned in November, the SBC said in a statement to Inside Edition Digital in December 2023. We have been made aware that he is dealing with legal matters, and because of the legalities involved we have no further comment. We continue to pray for the Guardia family during this time." In February 2024, a judge certified the charges against Guardia, and issued a protective order on behalf of Columna and her children, with her friend, Ashley Easter, telling WSET at the time that she supported the court order. She should have a protective order because who knows why he was going into her house, who knows why he was going into her daughter's bedroom. I think she definitely needs to have a protective order for that, said Easter. He was her pastor, so theres this level of what I would call spiritual abuse, where hes in a position of power and trust over her, which makes a person more vulnerable. Home News Illinois may force religious employers to hire employees who have abortions: lawsuit An Illinois law may force religious employers to hire people who take actions that contradict their sincerely held religious beliefs, such as undergoing or performing an abortion, a new lawsuit claims. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, along with the Pregnancy Care Center of Rockford, filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Western Division Thursday challenging the newly amended Illinois Human Rights Act. The legislation prohibits employers from engaging in "unlawful discrimination" based on a person's "reproductive health decisions." Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The term "reproductive health decisions" is defined as encompassing "a person's decisions regarding the person's use of: contraception; fertility or sterilization care; assisted reproductive technologies; miscarriage management care; healthcare related to the continuation or termination of pregnancy; or prenatal, intranatal, or postnatal care." The Employment Clause of the Illinois Human Rights Act makes it a civil rights violation for an employer to "refuse to hire ... or to act with respect to recruitment, hiring, promotion, renewal of employment, selection for training or apprenticeship, discharge, discipline, [or] tenure [. . .] on the basis of unlawful discrimination, citizenship status, or work authorization status" pertaining to a long list of protected characteristics, which now includes 'reproductive health.'" The employee handbook of the Pregnancy Care Center of Rockford explicitly declares that "referring, assisting in the procurement of, providing, or receiving an abortion ... is cause for refusal to hire," the complaint states. Meanwhile, the Diocese of Springfield subjects its employees to "disciplinary action, up to and including termination" if they fail to "conduct themselves in a moral and ethical manner consistent with Catholic principles." Having or assisting in an abortion would fall into this category. The plaintiffs fear they could face litigation under the Illinois Human Rights Act for its policies requiring employees to abide by Christian beliefs when it comes to the sanctity of human life based on statements made by the defendants Director of the Illinois Department of Human Rights James Bennett and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. The Illinois Human Rights Act proclaims that "'Employer' does not include any place of worship, religious corporation, association, educational institution, society, or non-profit nursing institution ... with respect to the employment of individuals of a particular religion to perform work connected with the carrying on by such place of worship, corporation, association, educational institution, society or non-profit nursing institution of its activities.'" However, the complaint maintains that "Defendants do not apply this religious exclusion to Plaintiffs' conduct in matters of reproduction." "Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined an amicus brief to argue that Title VII's identical statutory religious exemption allows religious organizations to give preference to coreligionists, but does not authorize religious organizations to discriminate against employees based on any other protected ground like reproductive decision-making 'even if such discrimination is consistent with (or mandated by) religious tenets,'" the lawsuit stated. The defendants, Raoul and Bennett, have not commented publicly about the lawsuit despite media requests. The plaintiffs ask the court to declare the Illinois Human Rights Act a violation of multiple clauses in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the 14th Amendment. The lawsuit asks a federal judge for a preliminary and permanent injunction "to stop Defendants and any person acting in concert with them from investigating or otherwise enforcing the Act against Plaintiffs in connection with Plaintiffs' speech and conduct related to reproductive decisions." Mark Lippelmann, a senior counsel with the Christian conservative legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, which represents the plaintiffs, contends that the state "can't force pro-life religious organizations to bend their knee to the state's secular view of abortion." "The Constitution protects the right of religious organizations to choose workers who will advance rather than contradict their religious beliefs," he said in a statement. "We urge the court to uphold these organizations' fundamental right to serve their communities consistent with their faith." Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield said the diocese's employees "represent the DIocese and are expected to uphold our standards of conduct to ensure they align with the doctrine and moral teaching of the Catholic Church." "However, under the state law, we cannot hire or retain employees based on our deeply held religious beliefs on pro-life teachings without being subject to disciplinary action," the bishop said in a statement. "We must have the freedom to follow and express our convictions without government interference." Home News Planned Parenthood could be stripped of federal family-planning grants over DEI initiatives The White House says no final decision has been made about the future of Planned Parenthood funding as pro-life advocacy groups celebrate a report claiming the Trump administration plans to freeze millions of dollars in federal family planning grants. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is in the process of reviewing over $27 million in Title X federal family-planning grants to ensure recipients comply with federal law and executive orders by President Donald Trump, an official confirmed with The Chrisitan Post this week. "HHS is concerned about the compliance of several awardees impacting $27.5 million in continuation awards," the official said. "HHS expects all recipients of federal funding to comply with federal law." Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe White House Spokesman Kush Desai told CP that across the federal government, Trump "is safeguarding the American taxpayer's hard-earned dollars by ending the senseless taxpayer funding of DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] programs and initiatives, including grants to institutions in blatant violation of federal law." "The Administration supports the proper stewardship and prioritization of taxpayer dollars and will work to ensure all federal grantees are compliant with federal laws prohibiting discrimination," Desai told CP. The White House stressed that no final decisions on spending changes or grants for Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, have been made. The department is considering freezing the funds while it reviews whether or not "the money was used for diversity efforts," sources familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal Tuesday. Affiliates of Planned Parenthood were among the groups that could be impacted by the freeze, the report noted. Pro-life activist Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood worker, expressed confidence that the government "won't have to look hard to find evidence of DEI practices at Planned Parenthood." "It's practically one of their creeds, so stripping that money away should be a small, easy win on behalf of taxpayers," Johnson told CP. "I certainly applaud the Trump administration for removing any taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood, which we should never fund in any capacity," she added. "I hope this is only the beginning of stripping them from every single dime they get from the American public. Women deserve so much better than Planned Parenthood and abortion." In a statement posted to X Tuesday, Alliance Defending Freedom President and CEO Kristen Waggoner described the potential freeze on Planned Parenthood funding as "common sense." She called the organization "a multi-billion dollar abortion business and the second-largest provider of 'gender-affirming care' in America." "Planned Parenthood doesn't have the unqualified right to receive government funds to push its radical agenda," Waggoner contends. While a freeze on Planned Parenthood funding would focus on DEI-related payments, the prospect of defunding the abortion provider has received renewed attention following Trump's victory in the 2024 presidential election. In an op-ed published by The Wall Street Journal shortly after the election, the individuals tapped by Trump to lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency listed "nearly $300 million to progressive groups like Planned Parenthood" as funding it would review and possibly cut. In a letter to members of the U.S. Congress Wednesday, 150 pro-life organizations led by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America urged lawmakers to completely defund Planned Parenthood in an upcoming reconciliation bill. Unlike most legislation, which requires 60 votes to pass the U.S. Senate, a reconciliation bill can clear the Senate with a simple majority of 51 votes. Republicans currently control both the House of Representatives and Senate, making the passage of such a bill more likely. In addition to concerns about government waste and providing taxpayer funding to an organization that performs abortions and engages in political advocacy, the letter cited a New York Times report documenting unsanitary and unsafe conditions at Planned Parenthood clinics across the U.S. as another reason to defund the organization. Planned Parenthood's latest annual report from 2022-2023 documented that it received $699.3 million in federal funding. Planned Parenthood reacted to The Wall Street Journal report about the Trump administration's intention to freeze federal family planning grants by calling it "shameful but unsurprising." "The Trump admin is trying to shut down Planned Parenthood health centers, harming millions of people across the country who get birth control and essential health care through Title X," the organization stated on Facebook. Home News Student attacks pro-life groups display at North Carolina university Campus officials are investigating after a pro-life student group's table at the University of North Carolina Asheville was recently attacked by a pro-choice student. Students For Life of America President Kristan Hawkins posted a video of the incident to X on Monday, in which a student is filmed angrily confronting the SFL members at their table on Monday morning. "I f hate you," the unnamed student says, claiming that the SFL members "are spreading propaganda" to advance "fascism" and "putting women down." The pro-life activists denied these accusations. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The video then shows the student taking hold of the table cover with various leaflets and handouts and throwing it off, hurling the contents onto the floor. He then walks away. SFLA Carolinas Regional Coordinator Alicia Foreman, who filmed the incident, told The Christian Post that the incident had happened shortly after the students set up the table display. The display was part of the "What's in the Water" campaign, meant to spread awareness about the dangers of chemical abortion pills, according to Foreman. "From the beginning, he started very angrily calling them names, and I tried to de-escalate him," she recounted. "He stated he supports abortion through all nine months for any reason as well." "I asked him to leave because he was getting aggressive, and he did leave. He left, but then he came back not even five minutes later, even angrier. He was cussing at us and calling us 'fascists' and 'misogynists.'" Although she tried to "calm down the situation" and another pro-choice student told him that he was going too far, Foreman explained that "the guy said he didn't care and then grabbed the tablecloth and aggressively tore it off." "I filed a police report and awaited confirmation that the report was filed. I do not know if any action was taken against the student," Foreman added. A spokesperson for UNC Asheville told CP that the university was aware of the incident and that it "has been referred to the Dean of Students office, which oversees student conduct." "Out of respect for our students and to comply with privacy laws, the University does not disclose information regarding student conduct matters," the spokesperson stated. "The University addresses all allegations of student conduct violations seriously through the Student Code of Responsibility. These procedures ensure a fair and thorough investigation while upholding individual rights and promoting a respectful community." In a blog post, SFLA identified the student perpetrator as Adrian Miguelez, who is running for a sophomore seat on the UNC Asheville student government. CP was unable to locate a contact for Miguelez. Home News 2 female teachers accused of sexually abusing male student at Christian school Two former teachers at Nathanael Greene Academy, a private Christian PK-12 school in Siloam, Georgia, have been arrested and charged with multiple felonies alleging improper sexual contact with the same male student. The two teachers have been identified as 60-year-old Sherri Delle Mauldin of Buckhead, Greene County, and 25-year-old Bonnie Elizabeth Brown, according to a news release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). Mauldin, who was arrested on Monday, was charged with "improper sexual contact by an employee, agent, or foster parent, aggravated child molestation, and statutory rape." Brown was arrested on March 21, and charged with "improper sexual contact by an employee, agent, or foster parent." Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The GBI said they began investigating allegations of sexual contact between the student and the teachers on June 14, 2024, after they were contacted by the Greene County Sheriffs Office. Brown was working as an elementary school teacher at Washington-Wilkes Primary School in Wilkes County at the time of her arrest. The Wilkes County School District confirmed in a statement that Browns employment was terminated as a result of the charges and they are cooperating with investigators. "On Wednesday, March 19, a teacher from Washington-Wilkes Primary School was arrested by local law enforcement. School officials were not aware of the arrest until after the individual was taken into custody, nor were we informed of the criminal charges until the information was made public by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on Friday," the statement said. "This individual is no longer a teacher at WWPS. The Board of Trustees of Nathanael Greene Academy released a statement Monday saying they are also cooperating with authorities and doing an internal investigation. While being careful not to interfere with law enforcement's investigation, NGA's Administration and Board of Trustees are conducting their own investigation to determine any and all appropriate measures which need to be taken by the school," the statement noted. "As part of that investigation, the Board of Trustees is holding a closed session meeting on an emergency basis. NGA's Administration and Board of Trustees will be providing further information following the emergency board meeting." While the administration states on the school's website that staff aim to Unify students from a broad diversity of religious backgrounds within a consistent non-exclusive environment of Christian education, love and values, Ashley Mitchell, an attorney with the firm Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass, who is representing the victim, told 11 Alive that her client was being subjected to ungodly abuse inside and outside the school and claimed there is evidence suggesting there might be other victims and other teachers who engaged in abuse. 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, Mitchell said. "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." The Atlanta attorney told the Athens Banner-Herald that the sexual activity between the teachers and the male student, who is younger than 16, was first revealed by other students at the school. There were students who had knowledge, Mitchell explained. There was a situation where students were reporting it to their family and it eventually made its way to the Greene County Sheriffs Office. She further noted that when her client first disclosed the abuse, which he alleges took place over several months between 2023 and 2024, the school accused him of defamation. Once the victim came forward and again repeated what had happened to him, the school tried to silence him, Mitchell told 11 Alive. They accused him of defamation. Following the arrests of the two women the victim issued a statement through Mitchell expressing relief. I am relieved that these two women have been arrested and the crimes are being fully investigated," the statement said. "These women took 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. In a letter sent to parents on Tuesday, the Board of Trustees of Nathanael Greene Academy said they were not aware of the allegations of abuse until they received a threat of civil litigation" in February. Prior to receiving a threat of civil litigation in February of 2025 from a law firm representing a former NGA student, NGA had not previously received a complaint from (i) the student raising allegations against the former employees or (ii) the parents of the student raising allegations against the former employees, the letter said. At all times during the students enrollment, the student and parents had access to NGA administrators and teachers who could have received a complaint and acted upon a complaint. Home Opinion To Americas politically conservative Evangelicals: Let's make the most of this Trump admin. The return of Donald Trump has given Christians a breather, but our fight against the forces that want to destroy America as we know it and banish believers from the public square is far from over. Even with Trump in the Oval Office, America faces threats from two directions. The radical left, rooted in Marxism and progressive ideology, continues to openly attack the nations Christian history, heritage, and values. Yet a more dangerous challenge rises from within the Church: woke Evangelicals. These professing Christians cloak liberal activism in a thin veneer of Christianese, ultimately posing a greater risk than the Lefts direct assault. The secular progressive stands apart, rejecting faith outright; the woke Evangelical infiltrates conservative, Bible-believing communities, spreading unbiblical ideas from within. They act as a Trojan horse, weakening the faithful by either drawing them into compromise or silencing them with confusion. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Their purpose and impact are clear and troubling. David French, once a respected Evangelical voice, endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024, supporting a platform that prioritizes abortion and gender ideology over Genesis 1:27: Male and female He created them. Russell Moore, while leading the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), was one of the most outspoken and aggressive Never Trumpers, causing significant division within a denomination that was overwhelmingly ready to vote for Trump over Clinton and Biden before he ultimately left in 2021. Former Republican Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger used their Evangelical credentials to justify aligning with Democrats, whose policies undermine religious liberty. Francis Collins, as director of the National Institutes of Health, lent his faith as cover for policies that assaulted the unborn in the womb, promoted transgenderism in teenagers, and favored government control over church autonomy during the COVID pandemic. Backed by Christianity Today and The After Party, these figures have shaped a faith that bends to cultural trends rather than to Scripture. Given how many Christians have been subverted or silenced by these and many other woke Evangelicals, its obvious that their distorted gospel can do more harm than an outright denial of it. Understandably, this rejection of biblical principles by leading Evangelical actors has prompted a reaction among conservative and pro-Trump Evangelicals, but its been scattered. Across churches and regions, believers have worked to reclaim their principles, some focusing on doctrinal clarity, others resisting secular overreach in Christs name. These efforts are justified, but theyve split into separate groups, each holding its own ground. Its unavoidable that Evangelicals feel let down by leaders who value cultural approval over biblical truth. But the division has weakened us, turning potential partners into competitors. Scripture offers guidance: How good and pleasant it is when Gods people live together in unity! (Psalm 133:1). Without a shared purpose, we risk falling prey to internecine strife that hamstrings our ability to capitalize on this unique moment. An opportunity now presents itself. Donald Trumps return to the White House in January 2025, alongside a White House Faith Office that is aggressively pushing to recover Americas Christian heritage and defend life, family, and marriage, gives conservative Evangelicals a chance to regain influence and wield it for the good of everyone in our country, Christian or not. To make the most of it, protestants and Evangelicals need to recover a serious political theology a framework that ties biblical principles to public action and cultivate leaders to carry it forward. Vice President J.D. Vance, although a practicing Catholic, offers a model. Raised in tough circumstances in Appalachia and the Rust Belt, he wrote his memoir Hillbilly Elegy to highlight personal responsibility and cultural renewal, ideas that align with Evangelical priorities. As President Trumps No. 2, he combines a focus on economics and civil liberties with a defense of faith and family, avoiding the typical politicians tendency to chase elite favor. Vance is also willing to use social media in a way that appeals to the next generation, regularly delivering appropriately timed smackdowns of the inane leftists who troll him. And he has no patience for the hostile mainstream media and happily puts them in their place time and time again with truth and a touch of delightful impudence. Evangelicals need to learn from Vances modes of engagement. Following Christ faithfully does not entail being a pushover. His posture and messaging prove that a statesman can engage in politics without abandoning principles rooted in the Church rather than borrowed from outside. We need more leaders like him, shaped by our own communities, to guide us. Basically, we are going to need a protestant J.D. Vance. Its obvious that the woke Evangelical influence is waning, but like a cornered animal, they can still be deadly. David Frenchs columns in The New York Times may appeal to secular readers, but they carry increasingly little weight with those who test ideas against Scripture. Russell Moores path since leaving the SBC, leaning into progressive circles, has distanced him from most believers. Evangelicals want and deserve leaders who will refuse to trade biblical authority for social acceptance. This will require a new class of Christian leaders in the public square and political arena, ones who hold fast to historic biblical truths but also practice prudent political coalition building and maneuvering. True and lasting leadership goes beyond resistance and dissent; it requires vision and cooperation. We need to stop shooting each other and train our fire, rhetorically speaking, on the common enemy. Unity isnt just a goal its a way to show Christ to a fractured society. Americas conservative Christian foundation, its commitment to life, liberty, and Gods order stands at a tipping point. Woke Evangelicals have undermined it, but their time is running out. We can restore what lasts, building a future where our children inherit a nation guided by truth. Conservative, America First Evangelicals, anchored in Scripture, hold the key to renewal. Its time to wake up, assume the center, come together, and lead. Who knows if we will get such an opportunity again. Originally published at the Standing for Freedom Center. Home News KFC ad prompts outrage for allegedly promoting cultism, mocking baptism An ad from KFC that debuted in the United Kingdom and Ireland earlier this month has prompted hundreds of complaints for depicting what some have interpreted as a mockery of Christian baptism and glamorizing of cultish behavior. The two-minute ad titled "Believe Part 2 All Hail the Gravy," which can be viewed on YouTube, depicts a young man walking through the woods when he stumbles across a chicken. He then encounters a group of people carrying a giant golden egg toward a lake of gravy. A female character then carries the man into the lake, where she dunks him in what appears to be an initiation ceremony before he emerges reborn as a fried KFC Mini Fillet. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe As of Monday, the ad has reportedly prompted nearly 600 complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority, the U.K.'s independent advertising regulator. According to DecisionMarketing, a U.K.-based news site about advertising, the reason for the complaints about the KFC ad varied, with some alleging it was disturbing for children to see a man apparently drowned, while others were offended that the ad appeared to make light of baptism. "Were currently assessing these to establish whether there are grounds for further action, but just to be clear, weve not launched an investigation at this stage," a spokesperson for ASA told the outlet. Users on the marketing news site Marketing/Beat expressed disgust at the ad, with some calling it "disgusting," a "disgrace" and "beyond the pale." One user accused the ad of featuring and implying "many suspect attitudes, cultism, cannibalism, grooming[.]" An official press release promoting the ad from KFC UKI described it as "an odyssey through the mystical woodland." It noted the large golden egg symbolized a "guiding light and provides the captivating beat for the choreographed procession of Believers, which is set to an original track." The narrative builds to a climax, capturing the anticipation as one of the Believers is immersed in a pool of liquid gold gravy and emerges as a perfectly crispy KFC Mini Fillet above the shimmering gravy lake, to the cheers of the crowd." The modern-day fable explores the strong connection KFC fans have with the Original Recipe Chicken and a true cult favorite: the freshly made gravy. Monica Silic, chief marketing officer of KFC U.K. and Ireland, said the ad campaign is an attempt to "bring an entertaining antidote to this dull, chaotic world," according to Adweek. "This is about inspiring the fandom. Were clear on having a role in culture, which is to bring some lightness and levity to the chaotic world through the truth of our product," she said. Abonati-va sa primiti pe email saptamanal lista articolelor adaugate pe parcursul saptamanii. Adresele .ru nu sunt acceptate. Email NEWSLETTER Dogs Trust Dogs Trust has announced that an estimated 300 roles at the charity are at risk of redundancy as it looks to review its services and ensure its long-term financial sustainability. The animal welfare charity, which employs 1,765 members of staff, today announced that it was making changes in response to the perfect storm that is devastating dog welfare in the UK and abroad. Dogs Trust has proposed closing a rehoming centre in Newbury and reducing kennel capacity at other sites. It said these changes would enable the charity to invest across its 21 rehoming centres with more expert staff helping dogs to get ready for their new homes. The charity has also proposed to stop some of its prevention services to focus on helping more dog owners whose dogs have challenging behaviours. Dogs Trusts central, cross-organisational work is also being reviewed to support its new strategic approach. The charity said it would do everything possible to support staff at risk of redundancy, as well as the wider teams, and that it hoped most employees affected would be able to find new roles at the organisation. Aim to minimise impact on staff Dogs Trust said the proposed changes would enable the charity to help more dogs in the UK and around the world, while ensuring its financial sustainability in the long term. The charity said it will provide more intensive support for dogs in its rehoming centres, build on its fostering and Home Stay programme, refocus its prevention work on supporting owners when they have a problem and redirect its international work through its sister charity, Worldwide Veterinary Service. Owen Sharp, chief executive of Dogs Trust, said, We have been living through unprecedented times. The pandemic changed the dog population, and the cost-of-living crisis has brought continuing pressures and uncertainty for dog owners. I know Dogs Trust is making a difference, and our people are working hard to offer help and support when our services are needed more than ever. But in response to these challenging times, Dogs Trust must adapt to enable a better life for every dog. This is why we have made the strategic choice to refocus the organisation's work and change how we work, to maximise our impact whilst ensuring Dogs Trust remains financially sustainable in the long term. We are working to minimise the impact of these changes on our staff, although some staff will potentially be affected, as we reshape the organisation to make a bigger difference for dogs. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Refugee Council The Refugee Council has revealed new visual branding and verbal messaging, co-designed by refugees. Developed over two years with communications agency Shape History, to whom the charity paid 96,000, the rebrand includes a new strapline the nations refugee charity. Refugees co-created the new visual branding and influenced how Refugee Council speaks to audiences, especially those who may be harder to reach. The new visual branding was inspired by the art of linocut printing, in an effort to reflect the grit and grace of the charitys work and the resilience of the refugees it supports. Reaching target audience Yusuf Ciftci, head of refugee involvement at Refugee Council, said: Branding is often perceived as something overly corporate and business-focused, which can feel distant to the refugee communities we serve. But having a brand that enables you to reach as much of your target audience as possible, is as vital for a charity as any company. As the charitys head of refugee involvement, but also as a refugee myself, I was so pleased to see refugees playing a big role behind this rebrand: from helping make decisions on messages to testing them and even creating illustrations that are an important part of our new visual identity. At a time when there is so much complexity of thought about refugees, and how to welcome and support them, this brand gives an opportunity for us to be crystal clear in our message and vision: we want refugees to rebuild their lives, and be able to have happy futures, contributing to their new communities. Co-designed by refugees The linocut printing style of the charitys new branding is meant to symbolise the balance between hope and hardship as refugees attempt to rebuild their lives, with each mark carving light out of the dark. Geli Luna, associate design director at Shape History, said: The new visual language of Refugee Council is the result of numerous consultations with refugees and creative workshops where they got to co-create elements of the visual identity, bringing lived experience to the forefront of the charitys work. Even the signature grit and grace typeface was handcrafted through lino printing, giving the brand a bespoke font that underscores the message of resilience. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Prince Harry and his co-founder, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, have stepped down as patrons from their charity over an internal dispute between its trustees and the chair. Harry and Seeiso decided to quit in solidarity with the former trustees at Sentebale, who had resigned in protest at the chair Sophie Chandauka. The removed trustees at Sentebale, the charity both princes established in 2006 in honour of their mothers, had requested that Chandauka resign, which led her to bring a case to High Court. A Charity Commission spokesperson told Civil Society it was aware of concerns about the governance of Sentebale and is assessing the issues to determine the appropriate regulatory steps. Princes: Truly heartbroken In a joint statement from both princes, which has been reported by the Times , they wrote: 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. 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. 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. 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. Trustees: Not a choice willingly made The five former trustees left the charity on 24 March, while four new trustees were appointed yesterday. The former trustees attempted to vote and requested the resignation of Sophie Chandauka, who was appointed to the chair of the board in July 2023. Subsequently, Chandauka said she reported the trustees to the commission and sued the charity in the High Court, which then issued an emergency injunction to prevent the trustees from removing her after hearing her case, according to the Times. In a joint statement also reported by the Times, the former trustees said: As a group of British and African trustees, we have made the difficult decision to unanimously resign as board members of Sentebale. 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. 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. Our sincere hope is that with this decision, the road ahead steadies for the sake of our staff and the communities we serve. Sentebale is simply too important to us. Chair: My actions are guided by the principles of fairness Chandauka told Civil Society: 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 about issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir and the coverup that ensued. I could be anyone. I just happen to be an educated woman who understands that the law will guide and protect me. I will say nothing further on this matter at this time. 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. Editor's note: This article has been updated to clarify that the trustees resigned rather than were removed by the chair. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Shutterstock A Sussex-based hospice charity has announced that it will be reducing its workforce amid a perfect storm of significant financial challenges. St Wilfrids Hospice announced last week that it will be making redundancies to protect the future of hospice care. Its decision has been made in light of significant financial challenges faced by the charity in recent years, such as the cost-of-living crisis and increased employer national insurance contributions. Additionally, the charity cited a decline in the amount of money received from legacies in the last two years as another factor that is having a major impact. According to Charity Commission data , the charitys income from legacies decreased from 3.8m in 2023 to 2.2m in the year to March 2024. CEO: Using our reserves was no longer sustainable St Wilfrids Hospice employs 251 people, according to its latest accounts, and operates palliative care services around east Sussex, including an inpatient unit; a day hospice; a community team; bereavement counselling, and an education centre. Colin Twomey, the charitys CEO, said: Its a perfect storm. To ensure we pay our people fairly and attract and retain good people, we have seen our salaries increase in the past two years. We have also seen the cost of goods and utilities rise and our national insurance contributions rise. At the same time, our government funding has remained broadly the same, and our income from legacies has reduced. Up until now we have been able to use our reserves to make up the shortfall, but it has become clear that this is no longer sustainable. We need to act now to secure the future of the hospice. Redundancies being made despite recent government grant Following campaigning by national hospice charity Hospice UK, St Wilfrids Hospice received a government grant to improve its buildings and equipment in December 2024. Of the grant, Twomey explained that the funding could not be used for salaries or running costs, yet, as a charity providing healthcare, its largest cost was staff. According to its most recent accounts, the charity spent over 7.3m 69% of its total expenditure on staff costs in 2023-24. Twomey added: We have been working hard to reduce costs wherever possible and maximise opportunities for income, but we are now at a point where we will have to reduce our staffing costs to bring the deficit in our budget to a manageable level. This will inevitably require removing some roles though redundancies and reduction in hours. A spokesperson for St Wilfrids Hospice told Civil Society that it is unable to say how many employees could be made redundant. The charity is now entering a consultation period, which it hopes to have completed by the end of June. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. It was standing room only at Wednesdays House subcommittee hearing on the public broadcasters NPR and PBS. Titled Anti-American Airwaves: Holding the Heads of NPR and PBS Accountable, the hearing, held by the DOGE subcommittee of the House Oversight Committee, comes as various Republican lawmakers have spent the past few weeks making a rallying cry out of their calls to pull federal funding from the broadcasters over perceived liberal bias. Some Republicans argue that taxpayers shouldnt be helping fund news outlets that they disagree with. Democratic lawmakers say the broadcasters provide crucial services, especially to rural communities around the country. Press freedom groups, meanwhile, say the hearing is taking place in the context of a broader campaign against the media in the United States in the form of lawsuits, government investigations, and hostile rhetoric from officials. This fits into the broader pattern that weve been observing since Trump became president of using the government as a tool to harm the media in any way, said Clayton Weimers, the head of the US office of Reporters Without Borders. Throughout the hearing, NPR CEO Katherine Maher and PBS CEO Paula A. Kerger defended their organizations work as they fielded questions from Republicans that sometimes took previous shows and articles out of context. Democratic lawmakers, meanwhile, were united in their support of public broadcasting. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican and the subcommittees chair, began the hearing by recounting how sheand her three childrengrew up watching PBS. Her tone quickly shifted. Sign up for CJRs daily email NPR and PBS have increasingly become radical, left-wing echo chambers for a narrow audience of mostly wealthy, white, urban liberals and progressives who generally look down on and judge rural America, Greene said in her opening statement, claiming that the broadcasters are brainwashing and trans-ing children. In his opening statement, Representative Stephen Lynch, a Massachusetts Democrat, said he was sad to see that the committee has now stooped to the lowest levels of partisanship and political theater. If shame was still a thing, then this hearing would be shameful, Lynch added. Throughout the hearing, Republican lawmakers cited how the broadcasters handle coverage of everything from transgender people and race to the Hunter Biden laptop controversy and the COVID-19 pandemic as evidence of their alleged liberal bias. Maher and Kerger defended the broadcasters. I do not believe we are politically biased, Maher said at one point. We are a nonpartisan organization. Kerger highlighted PBSs educational programming for kids, which she said especially benefits children whose families cannot afford pre-kindergarten. I strongly believe that the programming we offer to prepare children for the future is the most essential work that we do today, she said. Representative James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, said he relied on public radio for the news when he worked on a farm decades ago. It was a great service, Comer said. But he said he thinks public media has changed since then. I dont even recognize the station anymore, Comer said about NPR. Maher said that in her one year as CEO, NPR had worked to beef up our editorial standards, which appeared to confuse Comer, who thought she was referring to the newspaper opinion articles known as editorials. (The term editorial is often confusing to non-journalists.) Greene, among others, claimed that most Americans no longer trust PBS and NPR. But a 2024 survey by the British market research firm YouGov found that out of fifty-two news outlets, PBS was the third most trusted among Americans. NPR ranked seventeenth. Public media has enjoyed bipartisan support for decades. A 2017 national survey from Rasmussen Reports found that just 21 percent of Americansincluding less than a third of Republicanssupported cutting federal support of public broadcasting. Lynch accused his Republican colleagues of being afraid of sticking up to Trump. They would rather post up against Big Bird, Lynch said, referencing the character on the long-running PBS childrens show Sesame Street. Trump on Tuesday told reporters at the White House that NPR and PBS are a waste of money and that he would love to defund them. But the funding bill passed by Congress and signed into law by Trump earlier this month already allocated $535 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the entity that disburses federal funds to NPR, PBS, and their local stations. Congress budgets money for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, or CPB, two years in advance in an effort to shield public media from political pressure. That means the recent bill funds the CPB through 2027. NPR receives most of its annual operating budget from corporate underwriting spots and station programming fees; only about 1 percent comes directly from federal sources. NPR member stations, however, receive about 8 to 10 percent of their revenue from the CPB. Meanwhile, PBS receives 16 percent of its funds from the CPB. That funding disproportionately benefits news stations in rural parts of the country. We are more than nice to have. We are essential, especially in remote and rural places where commercial broadcasting cannot succeed, Ed Ulman, president of Alaska Public Media, testified at the hearing. Kerger and Maher agreed that losing federal funding would be devastating, especially for stations that serve rural communities where commercial media typically dont operate because it isnt lucrative. Many small and medium-size PBS stations would no longer exist without federal funding, Kerger said. This would be an existential moment for them, Kerger said. NPR and PBS stations also serve as an important component of the emergency broadcasting system for the country. In times of crisis, public media is sometimes the only source of news for certain populations, Maher said. She cited how, after an extreme hurricane devastated Asheville, North Carolina, in September, Blue Ridge Public Radio was the only source of news for about two weeks. When everything else goes down, public radio is there, Maher said. Wednesdays hearing comes as both NPR and PBS are facing investigations from the Federal Communications Commission into their underwriting announcements. Public broadcasting stations are not allowed to run commercials, so they run corporate underwriting spots, which are like commercials but dont include a call to action encouraging listeners to do things like buy a certain product. Both NPR and PBS have denied wrongdoing. Representative Jasmine Crockett, a Texas Democrat, said she was concerned that the targeting of NPR and PBS fits a pattern of recent assaults against the media. It should not be surprising that the president is doing everything possible to make it more difficult for the media to hold him accountable and for the public to be informed, Crockett said. Although most lawmakers had left the committee room before the hearing concluded, the seats remained full with Hill staffers, journalists, and members of the public. The hearing ended the same way it began: with Greene denouncing PBS for featuring a drag queen. We will be calling for the complete and total defund and dismantling of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Greene said. We believe that you all can hate on us on your own dime. Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. From the White House to the Kremlin, we are witnessing the unfolding of a new international axis, united around a common vision: reporters are the enemies of the people. Though it may be more physically dangerous to be a journalist in Azerbaijan, Mexico, or Nigeria than in the United States, the actions of the Trump administration against the press on American soil and abroad compel us to rethink our work. Are we doomed to endure online harassment campaigns for investigations that displease those in power? Must we battle with lawyers to ensure the survival of our newspapers and networks, under threat of license revocation? Do we stop communicating within our newsrooms for fear of having our phones seized and searched? In the face of threats, unity is our strength. More than seven years ago, I founded Forbidden Stories, an international organization based on a simple principle: if one of us fallswhether assassinated, imprisoned, or threatenedothers rise and collectively continue their work. This is not merely about solidarity. It is an imperative need to inform the public on subjects as important as they are dangerous to coversuch as environmental crimes, corruption, and human rights violations. Since 2017, our teams have collaborated with a network of a hundred and ten press organizations and three hundred journalists. In seven years, we have investigated the cases of more than twenty journalists who were assassinated or imprisoned, including those of Regina Martinez, a Mexican reporter, and Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was killed in a car explosion in Malta. If I have learned one thing during that time, it is that the killers of journalists, and the administrations that threaten the press, care little about statements. Not that advocacy work is not essentialit is vitalbut what the enemies of journalistic freedom fear most is seeing their misdeeds and crimes exposed. Their greatest fear is knowing that we are unstoppable. Why kill or threaten one journalist if there are forty-nine others ready to take over that persons project? I developed this conviction thanks to the Arizona Project, the first collaborative experience among reporters in the history of journalism. In 1976, after the assassination of Don Bolles, a journalist in Phoenix, about thirty reporters spontaneously grouped together to continue his work, investigating suspicions of fraud involving politicians and individuals with links to organized crime. Their findings were published with the support of a nonprofit called Investigative Reporters and Editors, which had been recently established. It is now time for us all to adopt the Arizona Project mode. Partnering between newsrooms and reporters when stories are dangerous provides protection and resourcesand ensures that coverage reaches wide audiences. The possible subjects and pairings are numerous: Investigating across the Mexican border on migration by associating US and Mexican newsrooms. Documenting the assets and potential conflict of interest on American soil and abroad of people in power. Coordinating a global investigation into the consequences of the end of American financial aid on HIV, tuberculosis, and other diseases; researchers predict that, in the coming years, millions could die. Crossing the American border as a journalist is likely to become more perilous than ever. If a reporters work or equipment is seized, their data and materials should be securely stored in advance and shared with other colleagues. Every day, around the world, a hundred and seventy journalists under serious threat currently use our safebox network and make it publicly known: If you arrest me, know that my investigation will be continued by others. We provide life insurance for information. This approach necessarily requires us to change paradigms, and forget what has too often shaped us: We must move from the lone wolf model to that of partnership, serving an editorial project that goes beyond the scope of ones own news outlet. We must work with colleagues who were yesterday our competitors, creating and respecting common rules, and sometimes setting our egos aside. It stings a bit at first to coordinate, but you get used to it. Sign up for CJRs daily email This, I believe, is our only way to react if we want to continue reporting without being paralyzed by fear. Conspiracy theorists will see it as a corporatist pack reflex driven by the hidden hand of some obscure power. In reality, it is quite the opposite. It is about defending one of the fundamental pillars of democracy. Surging consumer goods in China indicate robust market recovery People's Daily Online) 09:55, March 26, 2025 "The supermarket shelves have new items!" "The snack section has so many new treats!" Many consumers have noticed that new flavors of snacks, new brands of beverages, and new household appliances with enhanced features are appearing more frequently during their shopping trips. According to data from GS1 China under the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), China registered 21.64 million types of new consumer products in 2024, a 14.1 percent increase from the previous year. Consumers select digital devices at a shopping mall in Shushan district, Hefei, east China's Anhui Province. (Photo/Chen Sanhu) For the first time since 2020, the annual number of newly launched consumer goods exceeded 20 million, reaching a five-year high. On average, more than 50,000 new products entered the market each day. "Whether in large supermarkets or convenience stores, I always discover something new. For instance, a certain mineral water brand has launched soda water in various flavors," said Wang Langkun, a post-95 Beijing resident. A supermarket in Beijing's Chaoyang district sells more than 200 different kinds of beverage products, including sugar-free and sweetened drinks, sodas, and tea drinks, as well as over 700 types of snacks. Data from GS1 China revealed that by the end of December 2024, the total types of consumer goods in the country had increased by 11.4 percent year on year to around 211.11 million, covering hundreds of industries from food and beverages to clothing, medical supplies, home appliances, cultural and educational materials, and home furnishings. Specifically, upgraded household appliances showed remarkable growth, driven by trade-in policies. For instance, new types of water heaters, domestic cookware, and range hoods soared by 132.4 percent, 95.5 percent, and 200.7 percent, respectively. Regionally, China's eastern, central, and western regions all showed significant growth in 2024, adding around 17.80 million, 2.04 million, and 1.28 million types of new products, respectively, an increase of 12.7 percent, 35.3 percent, and 15.6 percent, respectively. An executive from GS1 China said the national commodity database now contains 210 million types of registered consumer goods, covering 90 percent of popular consumer goods. The database adds over 50,000 new products daily. Behind each new product launch are enterprises adapting to market demands and filling the market gaps through technological innovation. An employee works on a company's production line of home appliance motors in Huaian, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo/Zhao Qirui) In Taiping town, Liucheng county, Liuzhou city of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, sugarcane was traditionally used primarily for sugar production. "Sugarcane contains over 70 percent water. The water produced during sugar production was previously used for equipment cooling and then discharged after treatment," said Zhou Wenxing, assistant production manager at Guangxi Fengtang Biochemical Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Shanghai Sugar Cigarette & Wine (Group) Co., Ltd. "It's actually quite a waste, as the water contains organic electrolytes, amino acids, sugarcane polyphenols, and other nutrients, but we previously lacked effective technology to extract and utilize them." After collaborating with the green sugar production team from Guangxi University to create a "water-sugar" co-production model, Guangxi Fengtang Biochemical Co., Ltd. successfully developed a sugarcane beverage. Li Kai, director of the Ministry of Education's Engineering Research Center for Sugar Industry and Comprehensive Utilization at Guangxi University, said this achievement represented over a decade of technological breakthroughs. The new technologies not only extend the sugarcane industry chain but also increase the value-added of the sector, strengthening the foundation for sugarcane farmers to increase production and incomes. The newly launched sugarcane beverage debuted in Shanghai this February. "I initially thought it would taste like freshly squeezed sugarcane juice, but surprisingly, the sweetness wasn't overwhelming, yet the aftertaste was quite distinct," said a resident surnamed Ding in Shanghai. "This commercial-scale production represents a milestone in our collaboration among industries, universities, and research institutes, while also filling a gap in the domestic sugarcane beverage market," Li said. An executive from GS1 China analyzed that the five-year high in the types of newly registered consumer goods in 2024 reflects the continuous release of domestic demand potential, driven by rising incomes, consumption upgrades, and a series of policies to expand domestic demand and boost consumption. It demonstrates continuous industry upgrades, with enterprises speeding up product upgrading in response to market demands, particularly by increasing product development and launches in emerging and popular fields, the executive said. This, in turn, pushes the entire industry toward a more market-oriented and competitive direction. In addition, it reflects an improving macroeconomic environment and rising investment confidence, with companies having sufficient motivation and resources to invest in new product development and production, the executive added. An official from the SAMR stated that the substantial growth in types of consumer goods results from the combined effects of policy guidance, demand upgrades, and enterprises' innovation, signaling that China's consumer market has transitioned from a steady recovery to an accelerated growth trajectory. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. In the weeks after October 7, 2023, Omar El Akkad, the author and journalist, posted on X about Israels intense bombardment of Gaza: One day, when its safe, when theres no personal downside to calling a thing what it is, when its too late to hold anyone accountable, everyone will have always been against this. The post went viral. Around the same time, El Akkads editor suggested that he channel the obsessive thoughts he was having about his place in the world into writing, and so he did exactly that, without necessarily expecting to publish them. A year ago, however, his publisher decided to move forward with a book. It was initially to be titled The Glass Coffin, but was eventually renamed based on the X post: One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This. An editor suggested the switch; Im now obligated in all my interviews to mention that I didnt just take a tweet and expand it into a two-hundred-page book, El Akkad told me recently. The book, which came out earlier this year, is an indictment of the moral collapse of Western institutions in the wake of the war on Gaza. To many readers and reviewers, El Akkads book, his first foray into nonfiction, hits many chords, eloquently echoing what so many have been feelingutter helplessnessin the past year and a half. (He has previously written fiction, including, notably, American War, from 2017.) Of course the Republicans would be worse, he writes in the book, of the US elections last year. What the mainstream Democrat seems incapable of accepting is that, for an even remotely functioning conscience, there exists a point beyond which relative harm can no longer offset absolute evil. For a lot of people, genocide is that point. In our recent conversation, El Akkad explained his writing process, disengaging from liberal moral frameworks, the failures of universities to handle student protests, the double standards applied to non-Western journalists, and the attempts by major institutions to appease power structures (as well as their ultimate failure to do so). We also talked about journalists from Gaza and their crucial role in covering the war. Just days after our talk, Hossam Shabat, who had reported from Gaza for Al Jazeera and Drop Site News, was killed by an Israeli strike. A message that Shabat had written to be shared in the event of his death was posted to his X account. For eighteen months, I have dedicated every moment of my life to my people, he wrote. 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. I fulfilled my duty as a journalist. I risked everything to report the truth, and now, I am finally at restsomething I havent known in the past 18 months. My conversation with El Akkad has been edited for length and clarity. AA: How did you decide to write the book the way you did? OEA: I found myself in a situation where so many of the institutional load-bearing beams in which I previously would have had a substantial amount of faith felt like they were crumbling around me. In the moment where youre watching mass slaughter, I think theres a part of you that wants desperately for your institutions to call a thing what it is, and quite the opposite was happening. When I say institutions, I mean political, cultural, academic, and, of course, media, journalistic institutions. I used to be a journalist. It was the only real job Ive ever had. I was a reporter for ten years, and so my knowledge of the space is probably more intimate than all of those other institutional spaces. And so I knew from the moment I started writing the book that there was going to be a significant part of the manuscript dedicated to autopsying these failings that I was seeing in what used to be my day-to-day profession. I think your publisher said that the book is a breakup letter with the West. What kind of letter is it to journalism? Sign up for CJRs daily email Theres a chapter in the book, about fear, that took me longest to write. Theres a section where I talk about Hind Rajab [a child who was killed by Israeli forces alongside her family and two paramedics who were trying to rescue her] begging for her life. Israeli soldiers fired at least three hundred and fifty-five bullets into her car and murdered her. I talk about the word fear in the context of what that little girl must have felt compared to being on this side of the planet and reading a column from some opinion maker whos deeply fearful of a bunch of student protesters, and coming to the conclusion that the word, if applied equally to both those situations, has no meaning at all. The reason I bring this up is because I think of journalism the same way. I understand that my editor or my publishing house has termed this book a kind of breakup letter with the West, and I cant fully disagree with that, because, institutionally, that is exactly what it is. I have lost so much faith in the institutions of the Western world across the board. But individually, I dont think Ive ever been as inspired as I am right nowwhen I look at what people are willing to do individually, in solidarity with one another in community, with one another. I [think about] those student protesters in universities like Columbia and others. But in terms of journalism, I am equally as horrified institutionally as I am inspired individually. For the better part of a year and a half, the only information we have received from the killing fields in Gaza has come from journalists who are risking their lives to get this information out, many of whom have been executed for doing their jobs, to the deafening silence of most Western institutions that are supposed to be dedicated to the protection of those journalists. And so I come back to the same kind of calculus: if Im going to use the word journalism to describe what those reporters are doing in Gaza at the risk of murder, I cant also use it to describe a British TV newscaster whos telling his viewers, when a four-year-old is shot to death by Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint, that a bullet found its way into their van and hit a four-year-old young lady. My issue is not with journalism being redeemable or irredeemable. We are witnessing some of the bravest, most profound, most necessary journalism of my lifetime right now. My issue is with using that word to describe both journalism as it should be practiced and what I consider to be institutional journalistic malpractice. Do you think it revealed the prejudice that people from the regionfrom the Middle East, North Africaare not trusted because theyre deemed too emotional, not objective, and not able to report on their own countries? I think its a particularly insidious subset of a kind of all-encompassing racism that has been prevalent in this part of the world. Certainly, for as long as I can remember, we send Europeans to cover Europe all the time. Nobody blinks an eye. The idea that Arabs or Middle Easterners or North Africans or brown people in general are somehow unfit to tell their own stories doesnt need to be dissected by me. Simply replace those ethnicities or nationalities with literally anyone else and youll see how plainly racist this is, and how it would be unacceptable in almost any other context. Lets talk about student protests, including the coverage of them. Almost everything Ive seen in terms of how institutions reacted to these student protests is as glaring a failure of what these institutions are supposed to represent as anything Ive seen in the last year and a half, and possibly in my entire adult life. Across the board, it is a failure. More than education, more than granting degrees, more than literally anything else, the chief responsibility of universitiesand I include Columbia here at the top of the list, because its failure has been the most glaringis to protect students, to keep them safe. That is what you are supposed to do, and you have done the exact opposite. It is, secondly, frustrating because every single time an institution has engaged in this kind of repression and this kind of antagonism, history has been deeply unkind. We see it in the protests against the war in Vietnam; we see it in the protests against the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq; we see it time and again, and the same pattern repeats itself, and these people who are supposed to be in charge of institutions of higher learning and reason are failing the test entirely. It is then infuriating on a third level, because the power centers that these institutions are looking to appease cannot be appeased. And so you do the dirty work on behalf of an administration that despises these students, despises free speech, and then youre punished regardless because you cant appease an insatiable entity. In your journalistic work, how did you cover the effects of US foreign policy? While there are so many tremendous journalists working in this country, there is an almost endemic sense that however it works in the United States is just the way it works. And that tends to undercut so much of the reporting about this country by journalists based in this country, this kind of common denominator that renders whatever happens in the United States endlessly normal. Some of the best coverage that I saw about the United States for years was from the US arm of Al Jazeera, back when it was doing work here, because the reporters couldnt take all of that for granted. It wasnt simply the case that gun violence had to be as pervasive as it is, or that the healthcare system has to be as ruinous as it is. I dont think you can commit to the idea of a permanent normalcy around US affairs and not tie that to a conscious or subconscious deference to American centers of power. And this, of course, becomes most glaring and most ruinous when we are talking about power being expressed in the most physically violent ways. I came of age during the post-9/11 years. Watching that machine enact its violence on quite literally millions of civilians around the world, and then watching it be undercut in the reporting as something necessary or normalized, was maybe the most egregious example of that kind of deference to power that Ive ever seen in my life. How would you like young journalists to receive your book? Ive learned over the course of three books that the things I write and the many things that people read tend to have almost no relationship at all. My hope as it relates to young journalists in particular is that they will make time at every point in their career to gauge the distance between the stories as they would report and write them in a vacuum with no external pressure, and the stories as they would report and write them under those external pressures. By external pressures, I mean the fear of advertising being pulled, the fear of access being pulled, the fear of their careers being derailed: all of the pressures that every journalist knows intimately are always at play. I would ask them to constantly ask themselves: What is the distance between the story as I would report it in a vacuum and the story as if Im reporting it in reality? Because that distance is my definition of journalistic malpractice. Was it easy to get a publisher? Going into it, I genuinely thought there was no way in hell this book was getting publishedand so when my publisher decided to take a chance on it, that completely rearranged my thinking about the public life of the book. It would have been so much easier to just let this book go. And in a number of regions, thats exactly what happened. We couldnt find a publisher in France. We had numerous publishers bail on it in Germany and some other regions in Europe. To be fair, there were regions where the opposite was true. We had, I think, five or six publishers bid on it in the UK, for example. My Canadian publisher didnt blink. They acquired it immediately. But one of the things to keep in mind is that this is happening in early 2024. And this is a moment that is changing culturally, I think, very, very quickly. To be in a position to make a decision on a book like this in late 2023 or early 2024 is different, I think, than the way publishers are responding to it right now. And how did you think of the coverage of the book by the very same journalistic institutions that you critique in it? There are so many things that a year and a half or two years ago I would have cared about deeply that I now simply dont give a shit about even a little, and that includes reviews in the big publications or sales numbers or what this book might do to my career, be it positive or negative. A couple of years ago, if you told me any of this, I wouldnt have believed you. Those things were deeply, deeply important to me. I should say theres not a single thing in this book that I interrogate or indict or autopsy in which Im not complicit. I am that middle-of-the-road liberal whose tax money is paying to kill those kids, and I was happy to be that person for the vast majority of my adult life, because it was easy and it was rewarding, and I could put the Black Lives Matter sign on my lawn, and hold all of the correct opinions as they relate to my social circles and my acceptability at dinner parties and step away when things got a little too risky in a personal sense. The epitome of such a thing being Palestine and Palestinians. All of that was available to me. And just because the horrors of the last year and a half have forced me to take my leave of itand if I was braver, I would have taken my leave of it earlierdoesnt change the fact that I have no idea who the hell I am now because Ive come untethered from an orientation that was more than good enough for me for most of my life. What is so meaningless now? Accolades or awards or professional aspirations. When you look at the underpinnings of these things, theyre almost always tied to some kind of higher calling or purpose. This is particularly true of journalism; both in Canada and the United States and, I suspect, in many other places, the highest journalism awards are related to the idea of public service and effecting positive change. If you are going to tether your sense of self-worth or your professional aspirations to something like that, you have to believe in those underpinnings. If that suddenly ceases to be the case, then were talking about fancy trinkets and a little bit of prize money. There was a version of me whose entire sense of self-worth was related to what the writing did in terms of accolades or awards or sales figures for books. I cant do that anymore, because I dont believe that a lot of the underpinnings of these things are worth a damn, because Ive seen them not be applied when the moment called for it most vehemently. But one of the reasons I have a career of any kind is because of those accolades, and I cant sit here and pretend that winning the Giller Prize [a Canadian literary award] or two Oregon Book Awards or having a bestseller didnt pay immense dividends in my career. They absolutely did. But I come back to the same thing. Ive come untethered from that particular orientation, and I dont know who I am on the other side of it. Whats next for you? Im hoping to disappear off the face of the earth for a month or two and try to answer that question I just posed. The things you hear [at book events], in the signing line and when people come up to you afterwards, are unlike anything Ive heard in my lifeIve had people come up to me whove lost entire swaths of their families; people whove been beaten up by the cops at protests and are now waiting to find out if theyre going to go to jail or not. The stakes of what people are going through make it impossible for me to approach my craft with the same kind of preciousness that I used to. A lot of things feel very trivial right now, but the only thing I know how to do is write, and so my plan is to go back to the woods in Portland and try to write my way into an understanding of who it is that I am now. Other notable stories: In the past few years, weve seen a significant rise in bad faith claims against insurers in the U.S. According to a 2022 article by Reuters, multiple jurisdictions have lowered barriers for insured parties, making it easier to establish bad faith claims, which increases insurers potential exposure. Concurrently, plaintiffs attorneys are employing aggressive strategies, such as increasingly leveraging time-limit and policy-limit settlement demands as part of their litigation efforts. At its core, good faith claims handling means paying what is owed based on the policy language and applicable law and doing so in a timely manner. Common examples of bad faith claims handling include: Delayed claim processing Offering less than the claim is worth Inadequate investigation Denying a claim without explanation Misrepresenting the law or policy terms Threatening or misleading policyholders Adding to this challenge, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts roughly 21,500 annual openings for claims professionals due to retirements and turnover. With bad faith claims on the rise and experienced professionals leaving the industry, the question becomes: What can chief claims officers (CCOs) do to mitigate their companys exposure to such claims? Steps to Mitigate Exposure to Bad Faith Claims While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, CCOs can follow several fundamental best practices to help reduce the risk of bad faith allegations: Document All Claims Handling Activities Comprehensive documentation of every step in the claims process is crucial. Proper recordkeeping not only provides a defense in the event of a bad faith claim but also ensures transparency and accountability. Develop and Adhere to a Target Operating Model (TOM) A clear TOM, supported by key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics, ensures consistency in claims handling and sets benchmarks for performance. Regular monitoring of these metrics can highlight areas for improvement before issues escalate. Measure and Monitor Performance Regularly measuring the effectiveness of claims handling processes based on the established KPIs can reveal inefficiencies and potential vulnerabilities to bad faith claims. Invest in Ongoing Training Ensure that claims professionals are continually trained in both the legal and practical aspects of claims handling. This includes keeping staff updated on changes in laws, claims trends, and internal procedures. Implement Mentorship Programs Pairing less experienced adjusters with seasoned professionals through mentorship can ensure that younger staff members receive guidance on best practices and develop the skills needed to handle complex claims appropriately. Addressing Specific Risks: Delayed Processing and Underpayment Beyond these fundamental steps, specific practices can help mitigate the risk of bad faith allegations, particularly in the following two areas: Delayed Claim Processing Time-sensitive claims are a primary source of bad faith allegations. Proactively managing claim timelines and using technology to flag critical deadlines can help ensure timely processing and resolution. Offering Less Than the Claim Is Worth Insurers must evaluate claims fairly and ensure reserves are set at appropriate levels. Offering less than a claims actual value can lead to allegations of underpayment or bad faith. Leveraging Data and Technology to Improve Claims Handling In addition to traditional best practices, claims organizations can leverage advanced analytics and AI to further reduce the risk of bad faith claims. Augmenting adjusters workflows with data-driven insights can be particularly effective in the following ways: Proactive Management Through Technology Modern claims management systems can help adjusters identify potential issues earlier in the claims life cycle. Well-designed systems can highlight critical deadlines, settlement demand timeframes, and other time-sensitive elements that require prompt attention. Identifying Mismatched Reserves and Dormant Files Technology solutions, including claims AI, can assist in flagging potential discrepancies between reserves and expected outcomes as well as identifying files that have been inactive for concerning periods. This proactive approach can reduce errors and demonstrate a commitment to handling claims in good faith. Improving Training Through Data Insights Claims data can be analyzed to identify trends and gaps in claims handling. By reviewing past claims, CCOs can pinpoint areas where staff may need additional training, leading to better overall performance and a reduction in bad faith risks. The Role of Augmented Intelligence Ultimately, mitigating the risk of bad faith claims requires a seamless integration of decision-making expertise with data-driven precision. By using appropriate tools and systems that synthesize claims data and provide real-time guidance, claims organizations can enhance their handling of complex situations, improve outcomes, and reduce exposure to bad faith allegations. This blend of human expertise and AI-powered insightswhat I call augmented intelligencecan contribute to claims processes that are more efficient, transparent and equitable. Wilson is the CEO of CLARA Analytics. She has more than a decade of executive experience in data, analytics and artificial intelligence, including at global head of innovation and advanced technology at Kaiser Permanente and chief data officer of AIG. Liberal Party Leader Mark Carney promised a C$2 billion ($1.4 billion) strategic response fund to help Canadian auto manufacturing and strengthen a supply chain thats under threat from US tariffs. Carney, who became prime minister less than two weeks ago, said a government led by him would try to build an all-in-Canada network for auto parts, working with industry to make more parts in the country and limit the number that have to cross the Canada-U.S. border during production. But he gave few details on how that would work. On average, auto parts cross the border six times before final assembly. In a trade war, thats a huge vulnerability, Carney said Wednesday at an election campaign stop next to the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Windsor, Ontario, with Detroit. U.S. President Donald Trump said this week he plans to announce automobile tariffs in the coming days, a major threat to the highly integrated North American vehicle supply chain. Most of the vehicles Canada produces are exported to the U.S. Carney called a snap election for April 28, trying to secure a mandate from voters after he won a Liberal Party leadership contest to replace Justin Trudeau. Carney and his chief rival, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, have been battling for votes from blue-collar workers at risk from Trumps tariffs. Carney also promised to maximize Canadas steel, aluminum and critical minerals sectors. He pledged government funding to build transmission and transportation networks to link extraction sites to rail lines and roads, as well as a one project, one review system that would speed environmental assessments. A Liberal government would prioritize Canadian vehicles in procurement in order to grow the domestic auto industry and create more union jobs, he said. Trumps tariffs have sparked urgency in Canada to find new export markets. Chinas ambassador told Bloomberg News on Tuesday that the Asian nation is interested in expanding trade with Canada if the Canadian government drops restrictions on Chinese investment. Under Trudeau, the government cracked down on Chinese involvement in Canadian critical minerals and technology projects. It also essentially matched the Biden administrations tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, aluminum and steel prompting China to roll out retaliatory levies on Canadian canola, pork and seafood this month. Carney on Wednesday dismissed accusations from Poilievre that he is beholden to China because of past business dealings in the country when he was working for Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. China is Canadas second-largest trading partner, he noted, and said the countries need to engage with each other on their current trade dispute. When you think about the auto sector and the future of the auto sector, weve got to understand where China is, where Chinas going, whether or not theres any room for partnership in that, he said. We want to diversify with like-minded partners, he added, highlighting that he traveled to Europe in his first days as prime minister to strengthen trade ties with France and the United Kingdom. There are partners in Asia that we can build deeper ties with, but the partners in Asia that share our values dont include China. Theres certain activity that we could have with China. We obviously do have a large amount of trade with them, but we have to be very careful, very deliberate, and they need to meet Canadian standards. Top photo: An employee assembles a rear bumper at an auto parts manufacturing facility in Guelph, Ontario. Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio -- A year after applying for and failing to receive a grant to pay for its David Fortier River Park pathway restoration project, Olmsted Falls officials are once again seeking county funds. The city is applying for an $80,000 Cuyahoga County Community Development Grant, which is administered by Cuyahoga County Council. As one of our oldest parks, Fortier Park is a gem right in the middle of our downtown, Mayor James Graven said. Thats why we put in for an $80,000 grant for the wood deck, which is under the covered bridge that a lot of people use in the summer. In the shadow of the Charles A. Harding Memorial Covered Bridge is the walkway that, for the better part of five years, has been on the citys radar for repair. Its still open, but the pathway is deteriorating, Olmsted Falls Finance Director Tom Reynolds said. Were being proactive in getting this project done, and were going for funding for it so we dont have a serious safety issue or needing to close it. It would be a significant inconvenience and detour if we had to close that pathway. Thats why were wanting to do this project now; thats why were going for funding. The potential upside to missing out on last years $50,000 Cuyahoga County Community Development Supplemental Grant (CDSG) is if the new request is granted, it should cover the entire project cost. Reynolds said last years denial of project funds wont have any bearing on this years decision by Cuyahoga County officials. Ive been in communication with the county and this is a good project, he said. The reason why we didnt get it last time was due to a very competitive pool of park projects seeking CDSG money. We got some feedback and they said our project was a fundable project. This is a different pool of county money, so Im optimistic. While Graven said hes also optimistic about the citys chances of receiving grant funding, he admitted that sooner than later, Olmsted Falls may have to budget for the needed project. In the meantime, there are some other options, Reynolds said. So were aggressively going after grants and funding opportunities. Read more news from the Sun Post Herald. Lyndhurst police arrested an East Cleveland man for theft at Dick's Sporting Goods. The 66-year-old was wanted on warrants issued by four area police departments. LYNDHURST, Ohio Resisting arrest: Acacia Circle At 8:45 p.m. March 17, a woman, 72, reported that her boyfriend, a Fairview Park man, 66, was intoxicated and that she did not want him in her house. The man drove away before officers arrived. As police searched the area, the man returned to the home in his Jeep. At the home, as police took the man into custody, he resisted and was cut in the face. He was taken to Hillcrest Hospital. The man faces charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Warrant arrest: Aldersgate Drive At 11:05 a.m. March 22, a Shaker Heights man, 27, requested the assistance of Lyndhurst police to pick up his young son from the boys grandmothers house. The report did not state why the man needed help from police in picking up the child. The man told police he would be waiting outside the grandmothers house in a red Ford Escape. When officers arrived, they checked on the mans background and learned that he was wanted on a Solon police warrant. He was arrested on the warrant and turned over to the SPD. The boy remained with his grandmother. Carrying a concealed weapon: Richmond Road At 12:30 a.m. March 23, an officer stopped a car for its improper display of license plates. The driver, a Cleveland man, 32, was found to be wanted on an Ohio State Highway Patrol warrant. The passenger, a Cleveland man, 38, was found to be the subject of a Cuyahoga County Sheriffs Office warrant. The passenger was also found in possession of a handgun, later learned to have been stolen from Bedford Heights. The car was towed and both suspects taken into custody. Domestic violence: Brainard Road At 8:05 p.m. March 22, a woman reported that her daughter, 16, was out of control and had slashed the four tires on a vehicle in the driveway. The girl walked away from the house and was later found by Highland Heights police walking on Brainard Road. Theft: Cedar Road At 3:45 p.m. March 18, a manager at Dicks Sporting Goods, 24545 Cedar Road at Legacy Village, reported that an older man wearing all gray clothing and carrying two Dillards shopping bags had concealed merchandise, then walked out of the stores side door. Police searched the area and found the man waiting at a Cedar Road bus stop. The man, 66, of East Cleveland, admitted to stealing the items, which had a total value of $172. It was learned that the man was wanted on warrants issued by police in Maple Heights, Garfield Heights, Parma and Cleveland. Lyndhurst police charged the man with theft and turned him over to Cleveland police. Theft: Cedar Road At 2:20 p.m. March 19, an employee of Dicks Sporting Goods reported that a woman had stuffed the bag she was carrying with store merchandise and left without paying. She was last seen driving away in a silver Chevrolet vehicle that did not have a rear license plate. Police were unable to locate the Chevy. The stolen merchandise totaled $120. Police have no suspect information. Read more from the Sun Messenger. An undated photo from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the skin of an unidentified patient after three days with measles rash. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CLEVELAND, Ohio A total of 10 confirmed cases of measles have been found in Ashtabula County, state health officials said Wednesday. Nine of the 10 Ashtabula County cases are linked to an adult male measles patient, who was reported last week as the first measles case of 2025. None of the patients were vaccinated, Ohio health officials said. In addition, the state announced Wednesday one confirmed case of a visitor in Knox County who exposed others to measles in Knox and nearby counties. Knox County was the center of a measles outbreak in 2014, when at least 374 cases of measles and 10 hospitalizations were centered around the largely unvaccinated Amish community in that area of central Ohio. The Ohio Department of Health is working with health departments in Ashtabula and Knox counties to follow up on potential exposures and to promote opportunities for vaccination, Ohio officials said in a press release. The nascent Ohio outbreak joins a number of measles outbreaks across the country, especially in Texas and New Mexico. In Texas, 327 cases have been identified since late January, and 40 patients have been hospitalized as of mid-March. Nationally, there have been 378 cases nationwide as of March 20, according to federal data. The initial Ashtabula County case involved a man who had contact with someone who had recently traveled internationally, where the virus is prevalent in some countries, state health officials said. Given the measles activity in Texas, New Mexico, and other states around the country, were disappointed but not surprised we now have several cases here in Ohio and known exposure in some counties, said Ohio Department of Health director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff. This disease can be very serious, even deadly, but it is almost entirely avoidable by being properly vaccinated, Vanderhoff said in a press release. Measles is especially dangerous for young children, so I strongly urge all parents across Ohio to make sure your children are vaccinated. It is a crucial layer of protection that can save lives. The Ohio Department of Health is working with health departments in Ashtabula and Knox counties to follow up on potential exposures and promote opportunities for vaccination, Vanderhoff said. A measles outbreak is defined as three or more related cases. Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases, and it can be deadly. The illness can spread quickly through coughing and sneezing, and can infect others up to two hours after the sick person has left a room. Each case can lead to an additional 12 to 18 cases if people arent protected against the disease, state health officials said. More than 100,000 people across the globe died from the disease in 2023, according to world health data. Ohio saw 7 cases of measles in 2024, one in 2023, and 90 in 2022, when an outbreak centered in central Ohio totaled 85 cases. Those cases were the first in the state since 2019. What to know about the measles vaccine Information below about the vaccine, complications, symptoms and where to find vaccines came from the CDC and Ohio Department of Health. The measles vaccine called MMR, as it protects against measles, mumps and rubella is very safe and effective at preventing measles, Vanderhoff said. Two doses of MMR is 97% effective against measles. The CDC recommends all children get two doses of MMR vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age. MMR vaccine can also be given to adults born after 1957 who are not vaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown. In most instances, adults who were vaccinated against measles as children do not need any additional doses as adults. However, adults who did not receive the MMR vaccine as children or those who are unsure about their vaccination status are encouraged to talk to their healthcare provider for more information. Those born prior to 1957 are likely protected by previous infection. Measles symptoms, where to find vaccinations Measles symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, loss of appetite, watery red eyes, and a rash that appears one to two weeks after contact with the virus. Diarrhea and ear infections are common complications of measles. Complications from measles are more common among children under 5, adults older than 20 years of age, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems. As many as one out of every 20 children with measles gets pneumonia, the most common cause of measles-associated death in young children. Measles during pregnancy increases the risk of premature labor, miscarriage and low birth weight infants. MMR shots are available at doctors offices, clinics and government health centers. The Cleveland Department of Public Health encourages parents to take their children to their regular pediatrician for this vaccine, said director Dr. David Margolius. For families who dont have a pediatrician or have other barriers to getting care, the city health department offers weekly childhood vaccination clinics. (Details here.) The Cuyahoga County Board of Health provides the MMR vaccine to families with or without health insurance. Patients should contact the board to schedule an appointment, which, in some cases, could be the same day. Call 216-201-2041. The vaccine is also available at some drug stores. Call the pharmacy first to be sure the measles vaccine is in stock. Julie Washington covers healthcare for cleveland.com. Read previous stories at this link. This photo provided by the Alaska National Guard shows an airplane partially submerged into the ice of Tustumena Lake at the toe of a glacier on Monday, March 24, 2025, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Alaska National Guard via AP) AP ANCHORAGE, Alaska A man and his two daughters managed to survive a cold night after their small plane crashed on an icy lake, sitting on the wing until they were rescued. Alaskas News Source reports the survivors spent about 12 hours on the ice-covered Tustumena Lake in the Kenai Peninsula after their Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser went down and was partially submerged after breaking the ice. A news release from the Alaska State Troopers says the plane was reported overdue late Sunday night. Authorities began searching the areas around Tustumena Lake and the Kenai Mountains. Monday morning, a good Samaritan aircraft spotted the plane wreckage near the eastern side of Tustemena Lake, the news release says. I looked down and I could see the ice over the lake thats up there at the moraine, at the toe of the glacier. And I could see kind of a dark spot, Terry Godes, the pilot who spotted the plane, tells Your Alaska Link. 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. 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. They spent a long, cold, dark, wet night out on top of a wing of an airplane that they werent planning on, Godes said. The Alaska Army National Guard rescued the pilot and two girls at about 10:30 a.m. Alaskas News Source reports the girls were elementary and middle-school ages. They were taken to a Kenai Peninsula hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, the news release says. Reports did not say what might have caused the crash, which is under investigation. (The Associated Press contributed to this story.) President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order he said would overhaul the voting process, cleaning up fraud, to ensure we "end up getting fair elections. AP WASHINGTON Critics have vowed to fight a new executive order President Donald Trump said would ensure Americans end up getting fair elections. Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order touted as a move to overhaul U.S. elections to address fraud a complaint he has pitched, without evidence, for years. Whether the order is enforceable is another story. Marc Elias, a Democratic attorney, threatened legal action. This will not stand. We will sue, he posted on Bluesky. The executive order, among other things, would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and demands that all ballots be received by Election Day. Election fraud. ... This will go a long way toward ending it, Trump said as he signed the executive order. There are other steps that we will be taking in the coming weeks. And we think well be able to end up getting fair elections. 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, The Associated Press said. It threatens to pull federal funding from states where election officials dont comply. Perhaps some people think I shouldnt be complaining because we won in a landslide, but weve got to straighten out our elections, Trump said at the signing. This country is so sick because of the elections, the fake elections, the bad elections. Were going to straighten it out one way or another. While Trump claimed a landslide victory, he defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris with less than half of the popular vote, 49.8%. Harris captured 48.3%. Democrats immediately questioned the validity of the order. The U.S. Constitution gives authority over elections to the states. Congress has the power to regulate voting such as through the Voting Rights Act. But Article I, Section 4 makes clear that the times, places and manner of holding elections is a power that resides in the states. 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, AP said. The ranking member of the House committee that oversees elections, Democratic Rep. Joe Morelle of New York, said the executive order is not just misguided it is immoral and illegal. Trump has a long history of complaining that elections are flawed and rigged. In 2016, he demanded Iowa redo its Republican presidential caucus, claiming that Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, another presidential challenger, had stolen the victory. In 2020, Trump claimed Democrat Joe Biden stole the election and falsely blamed his loss on widespread fraud. Federal law already bans noncitizens from voting in federal elections, including races for president, vice president, Senate or House of Representatives and can result in felony charges and deportation. Data from states indicates that voting by noncitizens is rare, But Republican officials have highlighted voter registration reviews that turned up potential noncitizens. State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio, also known by its acronym STRS and pronounced as "stirs" ,is located in downtown Columbus. (Laura Hancock/cleveland.com) COLUMBUS, Ohio - Pension reform is coming, and Ohios State Teachers Retirement System wants a 4 percentage point increase in contributions to meet lawmaker demands for a healthier, more stable system. Theres only one problem: Who should foot the billteachers or schools? Collectively, teachers and their districts pay 28% into the pension system. STRS wants to bump that to 32%. Teachers unions say theyve already paid their share, pointing to increases after the Great Recession that raised employee contributions to 14% of teachers salaries. There is no room for any increase in employee contributions Ohio Education Association President Scott DiMauro said. But with lawmakers eyeing school funding cuts as part of the budget, public school advocates say districts cant afford it either. Districts also contribute 14%. Given the current budget proposal, which includes reductions to public school funding, school districts are already facing financial challenges, Ohio School Boards Association spokesperson Jennifer Hogue said. These cuts could make it more difficult for districts to maintain the high-quality services students depend on. Why lawmakers want pension reform State Sen. Mark Romanchuk, a Republican from Mansfield, introduced Senate Bill 69 in February. The placeholder bill, for now, is just a few short sentences that say Romanchuk will draft legislation that makes necessary changes to the law to ensure the health and sustainability of the states [five] public retirement systems. To do that, Ohios pension systems could be asked to reduce their funding requirements from 30 to 20 years, STRS Interim Executive Director Aaron Hood said during the boards March meeting. A funding requirement is the number of years a plan has to close the gap between what it owes retirees and the money it actually has. And while STRS can meet that benchmark today, Hood said dropping down to 20 years is a super serious proposal. Why STRS wants more money coming in STRS oversees the investment of more than $90 billion for Ohios 500,000 teachers and retirees. An 11-member board that includes appointees and elected members oversees the pension system. And up until 2023, the board had spent years cutting back on benefits, including Cost-Of-Living Allowances (COLA). Frustrated retirees fought backvoting in new board members who promised change. In 2023, STRS gave retirees a 1% COLA bump but skipped an increase in 2024. In December, the board gave out $300 million in one-time bonus checks to retirees. It also lowered the years of service teachers need before retiring if they want full benefits. But STRS is a mature or one-to-one system, meaning they have one working employee for every retiree. The ratio was four active teachers to one retiree when state Rep. Sean Brennan, a Parma Democrat, began his teaching career. We teachers are very blessed to live longer than any other pensioners in all five systems, Brennan said. We have a lot of folks who have been retired longer than they worked. Mature systems like STRS have a greater risk of paying out more than they are taking in and depend on investment returns to remain solvent. Another big recession could, in Hoods opinion, put the system above 20 years. Were not here to beg for a new Nintendo 64... Board Member Michael Harkness said during STRS March meeting. Were here because were trying to do the best for the health and the protection of the fund overall. Thats one of the reasons why Brennan, who sits on the Ohio Retirement Study Council, is open to idea of increasing contributions. Im not committing to anything, but I am open to exploring all possibilities, Brennan said. But he wasnt sure where the money should come from either. He supports fully-funding the states school funding formula--something Gov. Mike DeWines budget doesnt do. Thats why we dont support the governors budget, Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper said. She, like DiMauro, doesnt support increasing teacher contributions to STRS either. But they dont want stabilizing the system to harm students either. This legislature needs to stop trying to do these things on the cheap, Cropper said. You create a quality education system by taking care of the people who do the work. What about the other pension funds? Ohios Police & Firefighter Fund asked lawmakers to increase what local governments pay into their retirement system in the last General Assembly. House Bill 296 passed the House but didnt get a vote in the Senate. Opponents said the increase created an unfunded mandate that would have forced cities to slash spending on other programs or raise taxes. That is essentially the same issues schools and teachers have with STRS proposed contribution increase. I know of some states where the state has provided a revenue stream, DiMauro said. But Im not naive enough to think that politically is a viable option right now. Anna Staver covers state government and politics for Cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer. Ohio lawmakers are following the lead of the Trump administration in seeking to trample all over the First Amendment guarantee of the right to free speech. --- A new proposal in the Ohio Legislature flies in the face of Americans sacred right of free speech, and Today in Ohio podcast hosts said the authors should move to Russia if they want to live in a land with the kind of rules they propose. House Bill 20, introduced by two Republicans, would make it a crime to harass police officers, potentially sending citizens to jail for nothing more than exercising their constitutionally protected right to criticize public officials. As discussed in the podcast, the bill would allow prison sentences of up to six months. Yeah, these guys ought to just go to Russia and be part of an authoritarian government, said Chris Quinn, editor of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer, in a fiery rebuke of the legislation. This flat out illegal in America. You get to say what you think. You get to yell at people. The legislation states that harassment must occur within 14 feet of an officer and after a warning has been issued, but critics argue that the intentionally vague language gives too much discretion to officers who might simply be uncomfortable with being recorded or criticized. Im allowed to stand on the street and call out to a police officer, hey, youre doing the wrong thing. Thats not illegal. Thats protected speech. That is what the First Amendment is there for. Its to protect us from being abused because of stuff we have to say, Quinn explained during the podcast discussion. One of the bills lead sponsors, Phil Plummer, who worked as a sheriff and deputy for 30 years, defends the legislation as a halo bill that gives officers space to operate and creates a buffer between protesters and police. Critics see this as a thinly veiled attempt to prevent civilians from recording police misconduct. Perhaps most telling is that even the Ohio Prosecutors Association has spoken out against the bill, pointing out that existing laws already address truly problematic behaviors. Even the Prosecutors Association said, we already have laws on the book. We can use those if we need it. Its obstructing something and then disorderly conduct. So if theyre causing actual problems, they can already be arrested, noted Laura Johnston. The podcast discussion highlights how this bill represents a disturbing trend of attempts to criminalize constitutionally protected activity. Quinn didnt mince words about the sponsors: They are violating sacrosanct principles of our government, and we should put their faces and names everywhere as anti-American. If passed, the bill would likely face constitutional challenges in court, but the very introduction of such legislation raises concerns about some lawmakers understanding ofor respect forthe First Amendment. For an in-depth discussion of this attack on free speech and other pressing issues facing Ohio, listen to the full Today in Ohio podcast where Chris Quinn, Laura Johnston, Courtney Astolfi, and Lisa Garvin break down the implications of this troubling legislation. Note: Artificial intelligence was used to help generate this story from Today in Ohio, a news podcast discussion by cleveland.com editors. Visitors to cleveland.com have asked for more text stories based on website podcast discussions. Listen to full Today in Ohio episodes where Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour news podcast, with impact editor Leila Atassi and content director Laura Johnston. The Ohio Statehouse Harding Press Briefing Room, where lawmakers and the governor, holds news conferences on Thursday Feb. 27, 2025. (Laura Hancock/cleveland.com) In a dramatic overreaction to a minimal issue, Ohio House Republicans have introduced legislation that would withhold significant funding from entire school districts if a staff member uses a students preferred name or pronouns without explicit parental permission. The proposal, House Bill 190, was a hot topic on the Today in Ohio podcast, where it drew criticism for its disproportionate approach to addressing gender identity in schools. Its like using a nuclear bomb to get rid of a hornets nest, said Chris Quinn, editor of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Its so overwrought in the way theyre going to punish an entire district for a tiny, tiny transgression. The bill, sponsored by Republican Josh Williams of Toledo, would mandate that public schools lose state funding if they use student names and pronouns that dont match their birth gender without written permission from parents. Schools could also be penalized for merely asking students about their preferences. If violations are confirmed after mandatory investigations, the state would withhold 10 percent of public school funding each month until the district comes back into compliance a punishment that would affect every student in the district, not just those involved in the specific incidents. Just because we use the wrong pronoun and we use the wrong name, were going to make every kid in that district suffer, Quinn emphasized during the podcast. Its another gross overreach by this Legislature with its dog whistle issues. The proposed legislation would apply to public, charter, and STEM schools but notably exempts private schools, despite many receiving public funding through Ohios expanded voucher program. This inconsistency didnt escape Quinns notice. The other problem is doesnt apply to private schools even though theyre being funded by our tax dollars, Quinn said. We got a billion dollars going outside of the public school system. How can you not say if you take our money you will adhere to the laws? The bill might overlap with the Parents Bill of Rights passed last year, which already requires schools to notify parents if a child requests a different name or gender identifier. However, bill sponsor Williams argues this isnt sufficient, insisting that parental permissionnot just notificationis essential before schools can use preferred names or pronouns. For a deeper discussion of the bill and its potential impact on Ohio schools, tune in to the complete Today in Ohio podcast featuring Chris Quinn, Laura Johnston, Courtney Astolfi, and Lisa Garvin as they break down the latest news affecting Northeast Ohio. Note: Artificial intelligence was used to help generate this story from Today in Ohio, a news podcast discussion by cleveland.com editors. Visitors to cleveland.com have asked for more text stories based on website podcast discussions. Listen to full Today in Ohio episodes where Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour news podcast, with impact editor Leila Atassi and content director Laura Johnston. 2641 5 41 Google News 1140326 23andMe co-founder Linda Avey took to social media on Wednesday to express frustration about the fate of the once-thriving genetic testing company that spiraled into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this week. Avey helped launch 23andMe in 2006 alongside Paul Cusenza and Anne Wojcicki, who resigned as CEO on Friday. The company went mainstream due to its popular at-home DNA testing kits, but struggled in recent years to generate recurring revenue, stand up viable therapeutics and research businesses and assuage privacy concerns. "My time at the company was cut short in 2009, when my co-founder Anne convinced the board that she should run the company," Avey wrote in a post on social media site X. "And I must be honest, I was frustrated with the direction the company took after that point." 23andMe, which reached a peak market cap of about $6 billion, was worth around $14 million as of market close on Wednesday. "Without continued consumer-focused product development, and without governance, 23andMe lost its way, and society missed a key opportunity in furthering the idea of personalized health," Avey wrote. Last March, 23andMe's independent directors formed a special committee to evaluate the company's potential paths forward. All seven members resigned from the board in September and said they disagreed with Wojcicki about the "strategic direction for the company." "After my departure, she architected a majority vote for herself that eliminated board governance, even as it expanded over the following funding rounds," Avey said. "For better or worse, the buck stopped with her. It came as no surprise when the board resigned last year." Wojcicki submitted multiple proposals to take the company private herself, but all were rejected, even after the company appointed new board members. The special committee "unanimously determined to reject" Wojcicki's most recent proposal earlier this month. If 23andMe's Chapter 11 plan is approved by the court, the company will "actively solicit qualified bids" over a 45-day process. Wojcicki still plans to pursue the company as an independent bidder, she said in a post on X on Monday. "There are many cautionary tales buried in the 23andMe story," Avey said. "Striking a balance between the desire for founder control and board oversight is essential; otherwise, why have a board at all?" 23andMe did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. Every weekday, the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer releases the Homestretch an actionable afternoon update, just in time for the last hour of trading on Wall Street. Market update: Stocks are getting hit Wednesday, putting the S & P 500 on pace to break its three-session win streak. Headlines around President Donald Trump preparing to announce tariffs on autos as soon as Wednesday may have caused the market's losses to accelerate. The S & P 500 has made a nice move off its recent bottom on March 13, but there is still a high level of uneasiness and uncertainty ahead of Trump's reciprocal tariffs expected on April 2. AI sell-off: Stocks tied to the buildout of artificial intelligence infrastructure are getting hit the hardest Wednesday on concerns about tariffs, other trade restrictions, and new environmental rules out of China that would prohibit the use of Nvidia's H20 chips in data centers in favor of more energy-efficient technology. This could spell trouble for chip sales, but the bark is likely worse than the bite because Nvidia's chips have the highest compute power and are best equipped to handle the most demanding workloads. The impact of the rules also is unclear, based on the Financial Times story that first publicized their existence. The article indicated the rules were introduced last year, but to date have not been strictly enforced. The market remains hypersensitive to concerns about an oversupply of data centers. The group, which extends beyond chip makers to industrial companies like Club name Eaton and Vertiv , trades volatilely on every data point both good and bad. On Tuesday, Alibaba Chairman Joe Tsai warned about a potential bubble in the AI infrastructure buildout. Our pushback has been that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has said new reasoning models like DeepSeek's RI consume 100 times more compute than non-reasoning AI models such as those that first underpinned early versions of ChatGPT. But that hasn't stopped fears of oversupply. A new analyst report from TD Cowen on data centers said portfolio holding Microsoft has once again canceled plans for new projects in the U.S. and Europe. It's a similar story from the same analyst who raised flags in late February about Microsoft pulling back its data center footprint. At the time, a Microsoft spokesperson told CNBC the company's plan to spend over $80 billion on infrastructure this fiscal year was on track. This latest report may be stoking fears about oversupply and excess capacity, but the note mentions Club names Alphabet and Meta Platforms took on some of the leases and capacity. Our takeaway from this is that any cancellation by Microsoft may be related to its evolving relationship with OpenAI and not as much as an industry call as the market is making it out to be. As part of Project Stargate , OpenAI is establishing a closer relationship with Oracle for some of its computing needs. If the market was oversold, we would be more interested in buying some of the AI data center buildout stocks like Broadcom or Eaton . However, the S & P Short Range Oscillator was a plus 1.92% after Tuesday's session, meaning the market was closer to overbought territory (plus 4% and higher) than oversold (minus 4% and lower.) The S & P Oscillator is our trusted momentum indicator that helps guide our decision to put money to work, or take some off the table when rallies look extended. Up next: The key earnings report after the closing bell Wednesday is Jefferies Financial Group . The investment bank's results and commentary will provide a look at the state of mergers-and-acquisition activity, as well as other capital markets action. That is all relevant for Club name Goldman Sachs . It's no secret that the rebound in M & A activity we expected at the start of the year has failed to materialize, but trading volumes have been strong. With the first major initial public offering of the year coming later this week from CoreWeave, we will soon see if the market has an appetite for new listings, which could lead to more companies going public. On the data side Thursday, we'll see the final read on fourth-quarter GDP and weekly jobless claims. (See here for a full list of the stocks in Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. (This is a wrap-up of the key money moving discussions on CNBC's "Worldwide Exchange" exclusive for PRO subscribers. Worldwide Exchange airs at 5 a.m. ET each day.) Piper Sandler makes its case for "buying the dip," giving a list of stocks. Also, a trader looks for opportunity in an artificial intelligence play that was recently upgraded. Worldwide Exchange Pick: Cloudflare (NET) Tiffany McGhee of Pivotal Advisors said Cloudflare is a smart buy because of the versatility of its business. "It has the potential to lead in AI and cybersecurity," McGhee said. "It has a user friendly and scalable model as well as strength in network security, particularly with its Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) architecture." Cloudflare was double upgraded by Bank of America with it moving its rating to a buy and raising its price target to $160. Piper Sandler says "buy the dip" Craig Johnson of Piper Sandler said the market is in an "intermediate term low," and now is a time to buy stocks that have been affected by the volatility. "There is no question that the longer-term trend, which is the secular long-term trend, still remains intact," Johnson said. "This to us looks like a correction within the context of a long-term secular uptrend. Keep in mind, it took only 22 days to get a 10% correction in this market and our research shows the faster the slide, the faster the recovery, is what we have seen. I would not be surprised to see a recovery in this market in the next two to three months." Piper Sandler also recommended buying General Electric , CenterPoint Energy , Morgan Stanley , Medtronic , Okta and Netflix . Former commerce secretary on Trump trade policy Carlos Gutierrez, former U.S. Department of Commerce secretary, weighed in on President Donald Trump's latest statement saying he may be more "lenient" on reciprocal tariffs scheduled for April 2. "I think that's smart. Reciprocal may be so dramatic that it's just not worth it. I would expect these to be negotiations focused on market access for U.S. exports," Gutierrez said. "The first 60 days the tariff policy was aggressive. I think he wants to get as much as he can from his tariff policy without doing a lot of damage and then move on to bigger items." "I believe the back half of the year will be less turbulent than the first half," he added. Investors should snap up Playtika shares after a recent sell-off, according to Bank of America. Analyst Omar Dessouky issued a rare double upgrade to buy from underperform for the mobile gaming stock. Dessouky also lifted his price target by 50 cents to $6.50, which suggests shares of the stock can surge 47.7%. With the call, Dessouky stands out on Wall Street. The majority of analysts polled by LSEG have hold ratings. Dessouky pointed out that Playtika has the industry's highest profitability and biggest direct-to-consumer platform. The company, which operates brands such as Bingo Blitz and Caesars Slots, also has "three of the largest and longest running franchises in mobile gaming history," according to the analyst. He said the stock is in an industry that is "mature" but "still growing," with annual growth of at least 4% expected going forward. For Playtika in particular, he said further downside to shares is likely limited given the management's strong reputation. In other words, the stock is a "nice house in (an) undesirable neighborhood on sale," Dessouky said to clients in a Wednesday note. The stock should see valuation upside if the growth strategy goes as planned, according to Dessouky. However, he cautioned that a lack of clarity around intentions from the largest shareholder creates risk for the dividend. Shares surged around 7% before the bell on Wednesday. However, the stock has tumbled more than 36% in 2025, part of a recent decline that Dessouky chalked up in part to concerns about a large investor exiting and traders preferring mobile ad network assets to publishers. PLTK YTD mountain Playtika, year to date Get Your Ticket to Pro LIVE Join us at the New York Stock Exchange! Uncertain markets? Gain an edge with CNBC Pro LIVE , an exclusive, inaugural event at the historic New York Stock Exchange. In today's dynamic financial landscape, access to expert insights is paramount. As a CNBC Pro subscriber, we invite you to join us for our first exclusive, in-person CNBC Pro LIVE event at the iconic NYSE on Thursday, June 12. Join interactive Pro clinics led by our Pros Carter Worth, Dan Niles and Dan Ives, with a special edition of Pro Talks with Tom Lee. You'll also get the opportunity to network with CNBC experts, talent and other Pro subscribers during an exciting cocktail hour on the legendary trading floor. Tickets are limited! Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. ET. Here's a recap of Wednesday's key moments. 1. Markets are lower on Wednesday after three straight positive sessions for the S & P 500 . The energy, consumer staples and financial sectors are outperforming. Tech, on the other hand, is getting slammed with the Mag 7 showing weakness across the board. We want to highlight that the Investing Club's cash position is lower after making our annual contribution to charities. This year, the Charitable Trust donated $113,216. Each year, all portfolio income and realized capital gains are distributed to qualified publicly supported charitable organizations, noted Jeff Marks, director of portfolio analysis for the Club. The trust has donated more than $4.4 million since its inception in 2025. 2. Mag 7 stock Alphabet is taking a hit Wednesday after Melius published a chart showing that ChatGPT's weekly active users now sits at 400 million, up from 300 million in December. Analysts said that young people are increasingly choosing AI models over Google Search. Melius analysts pointed out that this is counter to a recent blog post by Google saying that search handles 5 trillion annual queries and OpenAI is much less than that. But "don't let that fool you," the analysts warned. The Investing Club sold some Alphabet shares late last year "on the idea that these AI models are going to eat into Google's search share" and hurt their advertising business, said Jeff. Jim wants to continue trimming the position, potentially in half, or selling it altogether. 3. Nvidia's also getting knocked down on the heels of a Financial Times report that China has introduced energy efficiency rules for AI chips. According to the report, the move would ban Chinese companies from buying Nvidia's could ban sales of Nvidia's H20 chips. Jim Cramer pushed back on the report, stating that a country that opens two coal plants every week is not "concerned about environmental issues." He emphasized that this is a "chip they can't live without." (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long GOOG, NVDA . 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. The withdrawal of all Russian forces from Ukraine would be one of the main conditions to lift or amend EU sanctions, a European Commission spokesperson said on Wednesday. European Union countries renewed the bloc's two sanctions frameworks on Russia for another six months at the end of January and earlier this month. Any changes to sanctions require unanimity among its 27 member states. "The end of the Russian unprovoked and unjustified aggression in Ukraine and unconditional withdrawal of all Russian military forces from the entire territory of Ukraine would be one of the main preconditions to amend or lift sanctions," the spokesperson said. The United States reached separate deals on Tuesday with Ukraine and Russia to pause their attacks at sea and against energy targets, with Washington agreeing to push to lift some sanctions against Moscow. Russia said on Tuesday the United States had agreed to help it lift a series of Western sanctions and restrictions on food, fertiliser and shipping companies as preconditions for a maritime security deal in the Black Sea. Diplomats told Reuters that most of the curbs listed by the Kremlin related to European Union sanctions and restrictions. New army recruits of the Bundeswehr, Germany's armed forces, during basic training on Nov. 29, 2022 near Prenzlau, Germany. As Europe plans to pour billions of dollars into defense, many regional leaders are pushing for the money to be spent locally but some market watchers say it's inevitable that U.S. companies will benefit from the impending security splurge. "It's only a political willingness to buy more and more from European suppliers rather than suppliers based outside of Europe," he said in an interview. "The U.S. supply their defense equipment systems from U.S. suppliers Australia does the same, the U.K. does the same so why should Europe do it differently?" Meanwhile, Thales CEO Patrice Caine told CNBC earlier this month that Europe should "take its destiny in its own hands" and strive to keep new defense budgets in the region. An official update on the EU's ReArm Europe strategy last week called on member states to "spend better, work together, and prioritise European companies." New spending plans said most non-member state countries including the U.K. and the U.S. would be shut out of procurement processes unless they signed Security and Defence Partnership agreements with the EU. Officials and companies have made it clear they want to keep the money inside European borders. Although the EU appears committed to spending as much of its new defense capital as possible in Europe, keeping procurement solely within the region would require a sizable shift. A number of U.S. defense giants currently occupy a big space in the European military supply chain. Maryland-headquartered Lockheed Martin, for example, has been a supplier to Europe for more than seven decades. In recent years, the firm has partnered with Rheinmetall to provide Germany with a customized rocket artillery system, started production of a HOMAR-A Multiple Launch Rocket System for the Polish government and sold Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles to the Netherlands. U.S. defense giant Northrop Grumman is another major supplier to European militaries that has powered core command and control (C2) systems for NATO and Britain's Ministry of Defense for 25 years. Since the beginning of this year, RTX's Raytheon headquartered in Arlington, Virginia has won a $529 million contract to replenish the Netherlands' Patriot air defense system, as well as a $946 million contract to supply air defense systems to Romania. Michael Witt, professor of international business and strategy King's College London's Business School, told CNBC that defense decoupling between Europe and the U.S. "will be extremely difficult in the short term." "So, some money will certainly go to U.S. suppliers," he said of the new budgets. "But in the longer term, European defense needs to stand on its own feet, with as little U.S. input as possible because security cooperation by U.S. administrations can no longer be assumed." "Of special interest could be spending on nuclear weapons to replace the U.S. umbrella over Europe warheads, delivery systems, and so on," Witt added in emailed comments. The U.K.'s multibillion-dollar Trident nuclear deterrent program utilizes U.S.-built missiles, and it is reliant on the U.S. for maintenance, according to think-tank Chatham House. "Continuing to rely on the US for its deterrent seems a risky option," researchers at the institution said in commentary published Monday. "The first Trump administration might have looked like an aberration, but his second term may reflect deeper long-term shifts in US foreign policy exploring options to develop substitute capabilities with European allies may be the next logical move, despite the challenges." Tobias Ellwood, a former U.K. politician who held a senior position in Britain's Ministry of Defense during his parliamentary career, also said the time has come for the U.K. to consider reducing its reliance on American-made defense supplies. "We have to make this assumption that America isn't going to be there, that they're dialing back," he said on a phone call. "So, what can they deny which we're going to have to fill in?" Earlier this month, the U.S. temporarily halted military aid to Ukraine after a public clash between the nations' two leaders. Washington's support for Kyiv has since resumed. "If things go [down] the trajectory that we're seeing, then we can easily see the closing down of defense markets, even our nuclear deterrent, so there's tough questions for us," Ellwood told CNBC. Perimeter Solutions stands to benefit as wildfires grow more frequent and threaten residential areas, as evidenced by the deadly blazes in Los Angeles earlier this year, according to UBS Securities. Analyst Joshua Spector upgraded shares of the Missouri-based fire retardant producer to buy from neutral. Spector's $14 price target implies shares can climb 54% over the next 12 months from Tuesday's close. "We believe recent memory of L.A. wildfires will increase the call for more ability to fight, contain and prevent wildfires," Spector wrote to clients. "This should catalyze growth in PRM's volumes, absent growth in acres burned, and provide more firepower to PRM's earnings algorithm." "[A]s wildfires wreak havoc around more populated areas (like L.A.), this could drive further demand to contain & prevent wildfires," the analyst wrote, even while acknowledging that the total number of acres scorched by wildfires has not grown much over time. But the total volume of fire retardant used from aircraft should rise given increased investment in drop planes, which require mobile bases for reloading that are owned by Perimeter. Preventative materials made by Perimeter will also see greater demand. Spector believes Perimeter, headed by CEO Haitham Khouri, will benefit from low single-digit volume growth even if the total number of acres burned is little changed. Shares jumped as much as 16% in early Wednesday trading following the UBS upgrade. Perimeter has dropped more than 28% in 2025, creating a buying opportunity for investors, the analyst wrote. PRM YTD mountain Perimeter Solutions, year to date Perimeter Solutions was formed in 2018 when SK Capital Partners purchased the business from Israel Chemicals Ltd., and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in Nov. 2021. Get Your Ticket to Pro LIVE Join us at the New York Stock Exchange! Uncertain markets? Gain an edge with CNBC Pro LIVE , an exclusive, inaugural event at the historic New York Stock Exchange. In today's dynamic financial landscape, access to expert insights is paramount. As a CNBC Pro subscriber, we invite you to join us for our first exclusive, in-person CNBC Pro LIVE event at the iconic NYSE on Thursday, June 12. Join interactive Pro clinics led by our Pros Carter Worth, Dan Niles, and Dan Ives, with a special edition of Pro Talks with Tom Lee. You'll also get the opportunity to network with CNBC experts, talent and other Pro subscribers during an exciting cocktail hour on the legendary trading floor. Tickets are limited! Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaking with CNBC's Sara Eisen (not shown) at the U.S Treasury Department on Jan. 8, 2024. Former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will be joining an advisory board for bond giant Pimco, CNBC has learned. Joining other prominent officials in the world of economics and finance, Yellen, who also served as Federal Reserve chair, will serve on the board that meets several times a year, according to the report from CNBC's Leslie Picker. The advisory board members' mission, according to the Pimco website, is to "contribute their insights to the firm on global economic, political and strategic developments and their relevance for financial markets." Current members include Gordon Brown, the former U.K. prime minister; ex-White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten; Michele Flournoy, former defense policy advisor under two U.S. presidents; and Raghuram Rajan, an economist and former governor for the Reserve Bank of India. In addition, former Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke also served as a senior advisor at Pimco, and Richard Clarida, who had served as the central bank's vice chair, is a managing director in the firm's New York office. Yellen served as head of Treasury during all four years of the Biden administration, and before that was Fed chair from 2014-18. She was the first woman to hold the respective posts. Prior to taking the Treasury post, she served a stint as a distinguished fellow at the Brookings Institution think tank. Pimco, based in Newport Beach, California, manages about $2 trillion for clients and once ran the largest bond fund in the world. Yellen has a past with the firm, reporting once that she collected a $180,000 speaking fee at the firm in 2019. Get Your Ticket to Pro LIVE Join us at the New York Stock Exchange! Uncertain markets? Gain an edge with CNBC Pro LIVE, an exclusive, inaugural event at the historic New York Stock Exchange. In today's dynamic financial landscape, access to expert insights is paramount. As a CNBC Pro subscriber, we invite you to join us for our first exclusive, in-person CNBC Pro LIVE event at the iconic NYSE on Thursday, June 12. Join interactive Pro clinics led by our Pros Carter Worth, Dan Niles and Dan Ives, with a special edition of Pro Talks with Tom Lee. You'll also get the opportunity to network with CNBC experts, talent and other Pro subscribers during an exciting cocktail hour on the legendary trading floor. Tickets are limited! The short answer to how Jay Swanson lives in Paris, France, while paying $0 for rent is that he got lucky. The 39-year-old Washington State native spent time volunteering with a nongovernmental organization from 2010 to 2014, and made friends with a doctor while working in West Africa. In 2012, Swanson went to Paris to serve in a different role with the organization and shared on his blog that he was struggling to find a place to live. The doctor he'd met while volunteering saw the post and connected Swanson with their mother-in-law, who owned an apartment in Paris. She offered Swanson the apartment's former maid's chambers rent-free. "She found out that I was struggling to find a place, took pity on me, let me have this [space] temporarily, and that temporary stay has now lasted for about 13 years," Swanson tells CNBC Make It. The apartment's owner lives in New York, but after having Swanson staying in her Paris home, she realized she liked having someone there, he says, so she welcomed him to stay as long as he liked. Swanson's quarters are small and he has to use a shared bathroom down the hall, but it fits his needs well. "By the end of that [first] year, she was like ...'This is your place, it's yours until I die,' which I didn't really believe her for years, but it turned out to be true," he says. My top 10 things to watch Wednesday, March 26 1. The long knives are still out for Nvidia . Today's example is a story in the Financial Times about environmental rules in China that, if tightly enforced, could ban sales of Nvidia's H20 chips. The rules were put in place last year, but suspiciously are just being reported on now. Certain forces want Nvidia's stock down. 2. Dollar Tree is selling its struggling Family Dollar chain to private equity firms for $1 billion. Dollar Tree, an excellent operator, bought Family Dollar, a terrible entity, for almost $9 billion a decade ago. The integration hasn't worked. Just a bad idea all around. 3. Melius Research likes Cisco here, which makes sense because the enterprise hardware giant has a smart partnership with Nvidia to bring the Club name's AI chips into its network. Win-win. Melius said Cisco could be in the early innings of a stock re-rating. 4. Big call: Baird lowered its price target on ServiceNow's stock to $1,010 a share from $1,200 and now has estimates below the Wall Street consensus. The analysts are worried about the software provider's earnings in an environment where the federal budget is being cut. 5. Transports are lagging, and Susquehanna downgrades J.B. Hunt , the gold standard, to neutral from a buy-equivalent rating. It also lowered its price target to $165 a share from $200. If there are strict or difficult-to-comply-with tariffs, the trucking industry could be hit hard. 6. More price target cuts for RH , the luxury home furnishings company. Bank of America went to $410 a share from $510 and expressed worries on the macro situation. Wedbush went to $350 from $500. Both firms kept their buy ratings, though. We're seeing a reset on everything tied to the home due to a lack of turnover. 7. Wells Fargo starts coverage of Wingstop with an overweight buy rating and price target of $270 a share. The stock has been hit hard in recent weeks, but analysts see easier second-half comparisons working in its favor. I still can't understand the slowdown here so I wouldn't touch this stock yet. 8. GameStop shares are up more than 13% this morning after the video-game retailer officially said it may start investing its cash in bitcoin, a la the company formerly known as MicroStrategy. The meme buyers will lap this up, but who really cares? 9. Barclays lowered its price targets on a bunch of industrial stocks including Club names Honeywell , Eaton and Dover . Analysts kept their hold-equivalent ratings on Dover and Eaton, while reiterating their buy call on Honeywell. 10. Citigroup said it's "very bullish" on Gilead's HIV franchise, arguing that the company's new product cycle focused on long-acting orals is overlooked by investors. The firm maintained its buy rating and pirce target of $125 a share. Sign up for my Top 10 Morning Thoughts on the Market email newsletter for free (See here for a full list of the stocks at Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. A recent move by the Trump administration to substantially lower funding from the National Institutes of Health for research institutions around the country has investors fearing meaningful losses for life science tools companies. The NIH announced in early February that it would cap research funding at 15% for "indirect costs" those that aren't directly tied to specific research projects, such as overhead and administrative costs. The new cap is below the average indirect cost rate of between 27% and 28% and well under the rates of more than 60% that universities such as Harvard, Yale and Johns Hopkins receive. The agency has estimated that the proposed indirect funding cuts would amount to more than $4 billion in savings per year for the federal government. That's relative to the institutes' total budget for fiscal 2024 of more than $47 billion , which makes the NIH the world's largest single public funder of biomedical and behavioral research. However, the steep cuts from the Trump administration are already being challenged in court. Earlier this month, a federal judge blocked the White House from carrying out the reductions. Some lawmakers have spoken out against the cuts, including Republicans such as Sen. Susan Collins of Maine who said in a statement last month that it was "poorly conceived." As uncertainty hangs over the future of NIH-funded research, some on Wall Street are raising the alarm over stocks that could take a hit. "Approximately 60% of U.S. academic research is funded by federal government agencies, and the NIH is the single largest source of A & G (Academic & Government) revenues for Tools companies," Bank of America analyst Michael Ryskin wrote in a Feb. 25 note. "Regardless how it's resolved in the end, capping all indirect costs at 15% could significantly impact the ability of those institutions to provide the facilities and support for certain types of research, as individual scientists / grants are not going to be capable of supporting entire vivariums or complex infrastructure," the analyst continued. 'Bracing for weakness' In the aftermath of the NIH announcement, shares of many notable life science tools companies have lagged the broader market. While the S & P 500 has fallen 4% in the past month, Bruker slid more than 14%, and Illumina has dropped about 10.8%. Agilent and 10x Genomics declined more than 11% and 19%, respectively. Thermo Fisher Scientific has shed more than 3% in that time. Among those names, 10x Genomics, Illumina and Bruker have the highest A & G exposure in BofA's coverage. While direct NIH exposure is "more limited," that could still be meaningful if funding is frozen, Ryskin wrote. That comes as the life science tools space was already coming under pressure over the past couple years. William Blair's Matt Larew told CNBC that this is largely because the space was coming off the Covid-19 pandemic, when clients made significant purchases in areas like equipment and consumables, overstocking many products because of supply chain concerns. "Due to the weak macro in the last couple of years, growth in this space was really challenged, because customers had a lot of the product already," the analyst said. "Finally, you'd gotten through that, and so the space for the first two weeks of the year actually outperformed the market for maybe the first time in a couple of years." Those gains have now just completely disappeared, he pointed out. ILMN TXG,TMO,BRKR 5Y mountain ILMN, TGX, TMO and BRKR in past 5 years "From an investor standpoint, I think people are very frustrated with what historically is viewed as a durable, noncyclical part of the market acting more sensitive to these changing net market conditions," he continued. "It's certainly a problem for the stocks. No question." Larew also said that the current quarter and probably the next quarter are "unquestionably" going to look challenging for companies. Other analysts hold a similar view. "People are bracing for weakness," TD Cowen analyst Daniel Brennan said in an interview with CNBC, adding that the market is preparing for impact particularly on companies' first-quarter earnings results over the next couple of months. "People are trying to figure out: Is it priced in?" Nevertheless, Brennan noted that any pressure on the stocks might offer a silver lining for those on the Street. "If there is weakness, maybe it creates an opportunity for investors to step in," he continued. Longer-term turmoil? If the indirect costs cap is passed, institutions could collectively stand to lose billions of dollars in their research budgets. According to estimates from a calculator designed by Data for the Common Good at the University of Chicago, the total research budget loss would be more than $6.9 billion, based on fiscal 2024 figures. The D4CG also notes that the calculator is likely underestimating the amount of lost indirect costs, meaning the loss may actually be even greater. Tara LeGates, who has been a researcher in biological sciences at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, since 2019, emphasized this will have a massive impact on the research projects she proposes. On top of that, she said the local economy is going to suffer as university staff could be laid off because those institutions won't have the means to support them. "The indirects essentially are providing the infrastructure where I can do the project," she told CNBC. "I can have a building with the lights on and electricity, and the students and the staff there to be able to actually accomplish those research goals. That evaporates." Moving forward, LeGates believes that universities aren't going to have a reason to support research anymore with this policy change, anticipating that more hiring and admissions freezes for staff and students could ensue. Just a month ago, Stanford University, for instance, announced a staff hiring freeze , citing uncertainty around NIH cuts. "We're going to see a huge stalling of scientific progress, because if universities are closing buildings because they can't operate them or they have fewer people to actually do the work, things just aren't going to get done," LeGates added. On that front, analyst Puneet Souda at Leerink said that the long-term impact of these cuts would threaten the U.S.' global position in scientific research, especially when it comes to drug discovery. "We're talking fundamental, novel innovation, and that's what the American biomedical research system is able to do," he said to CNBC. "It doesn't happen like this anywhere in the world, and that's what's at risk if these cuts are implemented." Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra (right) attends the first day of a no-confidence debate, at the Thai Parliament in Bangkok, on March 24, 2025. Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra survived a no-confidence vote today, after the country's main opposition reportedly accused her of being unqualified and allowing her father to wield influence over her administration. The prime minister won the backing of 319 of 488 lawmakers present, according to Reuters. The opposition People's Party said she was taking direction from her powerful father Thaksin Shinawatra, who was Thailand's prime minister from 2001 to 2006. Paetongtarn is also the niece of Yingluck Shinawatra, who was Thai prime minister from 2011 to 2014 before she was removed in a coup. In the censure debate on Tuesday, opposition MPs reportedly questioned the prime minister's knowledge gaps and accused her of avoiding questions from reporters. Paetongtarn was also reportedly accused of failures over the economy and national security, as well as tax evasion. She was expected to survive the vote, with an analysis paper by the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore on March 24 saying that the opposition does not have enough votes to remove her. The motion also comes at a time where public confidence in her government has been low. A poll by Thailand's National Institute of Development in February revealed that just 45.12% of respondents were satisfied with Paetongtarn's first six months in office. Public confidence in her coalition government's capability to resolve national problems is even lower, at only 38.55%. Thailand's full year GDP growth for 2024 came in at 2.5%, the weakest among the ASEAN-6 countries, according to McKinsey, while the country's SET index has plunged over 15% year to date. The ASEAN-6 countries refer to Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. GeneDx may have more room to run even with its monstrous gains over the past year, according to Amy Zhang, Alger's executive vice president and small-cap portfolio manager. She joined CNBC's " Power Lunch " on Wednesday to give her insights on the health-care name and two more under-the-radar stock stories on Wall Street. Here is what Zhang said during the day's "Three-Stock Lunch." GeneDx Shares of GeneDx have soared 1,000% over the past 12 months, and Zhang thinks the genetic testing company is a standout name in the space that can grow even more. "They can do it fast and cheaper than their competitors while still having very high accuracy," the portfolio manager said. "They are really solving a very critical problem in health care, and we think the company still has a very long runway for growth." WGS 1Y mountain WGS, 1-year Zhang also believes its total addressable market, or TAM, could reach more than $40 billion. "Going forward, we're very positive it can continue to deliver robust revenue profitability growth," Zhang added. Natera Similar to GeneDx, genetic testing name Natera could face "tremendous growth ahead," Zhang said. The company's crown jewel is Signatera, its cancer monitoring test, she said. "Overall long term, we think the addressable market can be about $60 billion," the portfolio manager revealed during the segment. "Management's execution is superb and second to none." While Natera has fallen almost 7% over the past month, it has surged more than 66% over the past year. Glaukos For Glaukos , Zhang pointed to the company's launch of its iDose product , a sustained-release implant that aims to reduce fluid pressure in the eye, a condition that can lead to vision loss. "We think this is a game changer and has blockbuster potential," she said. Shares of Glaukos have shed more than 32% over the past three months but have gained nearly 15% over the past year. Here are the biggest calls on Wall Street on Wednesday: Goldman Sachs reiterates Disney as a buy Goldman Sachs says shares of the theme park operator and movie maker are very attractive. "We view DIS as a high quality EPS compounder at an undemanding valuation." Citi upgrades TotalEnergies to buy from neutral Citi says the European petroleum company has growth potential. "We think the inherent value in European Energy sits as a key beneficiary of a lower equity-risk premium in Europe, and with TTE fast emerging as the premium-quality energy name through which to take benchmark weighting." Morgan Stanley reiterates Dell at overweight After meeting with company management, Morgan Stanley says Dell is "hitting its stride." "After spending time digging into key investor debates with DELL's COO and CFO, we remain just as [convinced] that DELL can extend its leadership position in AI systems while rebuilding momentum in storage and PCs and controlling costs to deliver above-plan revenue and EPS growth." Rosenblatt reiterates Coinbase as buy The research firm says to buy the dip in the cryptocurrency company. "With stablecoin legislation increasingly likely in 3Q25, we believe investors underestimate the potential of COIN' s non-trading revenue streams in this political environment and expect the stock to revalue higher as investors grow more comfortable with COIN's business mix. As a result, we view any volume-related weakness in the shares as a buying opportunity and reiterate our BUY rating." Morgan Stanley initiates Tenet Healthcare at overweight Morgan Stanley says the health-care company is "well positioned to benefit from the secular shift toward outpatient and lower cost of care" "A significant business model and balance sheet transformation has yet to be captured in THC's multiple." Morgan Stanley upgrades Global e-Online to overweight from equal weight The Wall Street firm says the e-commerce company that helps with cross-border transactions is an earnings compounder. "We are upgrading GLBE to OW as we believe the company will move to positive GAAP EPS with earnings compounding ahead." JPMorgan upgrades Ashland to overweight from neutral JPMorgan says the specialty materials company's business is "stabilizing." " Ashland is a mostly non-cyclical specialty company that has sharply fallen in value because of negative earnings momentum following a period of customer de-stocking in the aftermath of the post-Covid product scarcity period." Baird upgrades Waters to outperform from neutral Baird says the analytical lab instrumentation company has upside potential. "We're upgrading WAT to Outperform. We gained conviction in WAT's long-term revenue growth and margin outlook at this month's investor day and subsequent discussion with [investor relations] and are raising our outyear model accordingly." Wells Fargo initiates Wingstop at overweight Wells Fargo says the chicken wing restaurant chain offers investors strong free-cash flow. "We view WING among the best-in-class consumer growth stories, w/ superior unit economics, consistent share gains & [an] arsenal of LT growth drivers." Wells Fargo initiates Dutch Bros at overweight Wells Fargo says the coffee chain is well positioned. " BROS is among the best consumer growth stories, w/ a disruptive strategy, sizable white space, margin upside & '25/'26 comp drivers; Our ests. are above Street & we see upside as initiatives unfold & momentum builds." William Blair reiterates Tesla as outperform The investment bank says it is standing by shares of Tesla. "We believe expectations are near a bottom, and as they are reset, shares will bottom and momentum will rebound." UBS upgrades Perimeter Solutions to buy from neutral UBS says buy the dip in shares of the firefighting chemical company. " PRM has proved out execution; Don't miss what's likely next." Melius reiterates Cisco and Nvidia as buy The researcher says it is bullish on the partnership between the two companies. "However, Cisco's latest 2 announcements with Nvidia showcase how its customers can invest in Cisco's front-end networking gear and its software and know it will work on the back-end with Nvidia's [graphics processing units]." Bank of America upgrades Playtika to buy from underperform Bank of America sees "upside to valuation" for the mobile game publisher. "We upgrade PLTK to Buy from Underperform and raise our PO to $6.5 (from $6) for 48% potential upside. PLTK boasts the industry's highest profitability (30% EBITDA margins), the industry's largest [direct to consumer] platform and three of the largest and longest running franchises in mobile gaming history." Bank of America upgrades New Gold to buy from underperform The bank says the Canadian gold miner is well positioned. "NGD = an unfolding operational turnaround that is driving strong gold and copper production growth, falling unit costs and an inflection higher in free cash flow." Stephens upgrades CarMax to overweight from equal weight Stephens says the used car company's valuation is more reasonable and that it will benefit from tariffs. "We believe KMX will likely marginally benefit from most tariff scenarios, at least in year 1." The U.S. on Tuesday added dozens of Chinese tech companies to its export blacklist in its first such effort under the Donald Trump administration, as it doubles down on curtailing Beijing's artificial intelligence and advanced computing capabilities. The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security added 80 organizations to an "entity list," with more than 50 from China, barring American companies from supplying to those on the list without government permits. The companies were blacklisted for allegedly acting contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, the agency said, as part of its efforts to further restrict Beijing's access to exascale computing tech, which can process vast amounts of data at very high speeds, as well as quantum technologies. Dozens of Chinese entities were targeted for their alleged involvement in developing advanced AI, supercomputers and high-performance AI chips for military purposes, the Commerce Department said, adding that two firms were supplying to sanctioned entities such as Huawei and its affiliated chipmaker HiSilicon. It blacklisted 27 Chinese entities for acquiring U.S.-origin items to support China's military modernization and seven firms for helping advance China's quantum technology capabilities. Among the organizations in the "entity list" were also six subsidiaries of Chinese cloud-computing firm Inspur Group, which had been blacklisted by the Joe Biden administration in 2023. China's foreign ministry said late Wednesday it "strongly condemns" the export restrictions while urging the U.S. to "stop generalizing national security," Reuters reported. A Boeing 737 Max aircraft during a display at the Farnborough International Airshow, in Farnborough, Britain, July 20, 2022. A U.S. judge on Tuesday abruptly set a June 23 trial date in the Justice Department's criminal fraud case against Boeing stemming from the planemaker's alleged misrepresentations to U.S. regulators about a key system on the 737 MAX. In July, Boeing agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud conspiracy charge after two fatal 737 MAX crashes and to pay a fine of up to $487.2 million. U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor had previously given Boeing and DOJ until April 11 to come to an agreement on a new plea deal after he rejected the prior deal, faulting a diversity and inclusion provision. In 2023, O'Connor said in Fort Worth, Texas, "Boeing's crime may properly be considered the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history." The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that Boeing is seeking to withdraw the existing plea deal. O'Connor did not indicate why he was setting a trial date or withdrawing the prior April 11 deadline for the sides to reach a new deal. Boeing said on Tuesday that the company and the Justice Department "continue to be engaged in good faith discussions regarding an appropriate resolution of this matter." The Justice Department did not immediately comment. Boeing's plea deal struck last year included spending $455 million to improve safety and compliance practices over three years of court-supervised probation as well as supervision by an independent monitor for three years. Relatives of the victims of the two 737 MAX crashes, which occurred in 2018 and 2019 and killed 346 people, have called the plea agreement a "sweetheart" deal that failed to adequately hold Boeing accountable for the deaths of their loved ones. Erin Applebaum, a lawyer representing 34 families of those killed in the 2019 MAX Ethiopian Airlines crash, urged the Justice Department "to stand on the right side of history, reject any further plea negotiations, and move forward with a full prosecution." She added: "The families deserve their day in court, and this opportunity for justice must not be squandered." An accepted plea deal would brand Boeing a convicted felon for conspiring to defraud the Federal Aviation Administration about problematic software affecting the flight control systems in the planes that crashed during the MAX's certification. In May, the DOJ found Boeing had violated a 2021 agreement that had shielded it from prosecution over the crashes. Prosecutors then decided to criminally charge Boeing and negotiate the current plea deal. The decision followed a January 5, 2024, in-flight blowout of a door panel on an Alaska Airlines' jet that exposed ongoing safety and quality issues at Boeing. Trump administration officials have said regulators must be firm with Boeing after a series of missteps. "We need to be tougher on Boeing. We need to be tougher on the industry," said Steve Bradbury, who was confirmed as deputy transportation secretary this month. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox on Wednesday signed a bill that requires Apple and Google's mobile app stores to verify user ages and require parental permission for those under 18 to use certain apps, the governor's spokesperson told CNBC. The law is the first of its kind in the nation and represents a significant shift in how user ages are verified online, and says it's the responsibility of mobile app stores to verify ages putting the onus on Apple and Google, instead of individual apps like Instagram, Snapchat and X, to do age checks. The App Store Accountability Act, or S.B. 142, could also kick off a wave of other states, including South Carolina and California, passing similar legislation. The law is designed to protect children, who may not understand apps' terms of services and, therefore, can't agree to them, said Todd Weiler, a Republican state senator and the bill's sponsor. "For the past decade or longer, Instagram has rated itself as friendly for 12 year olds," Weiler said at a state senate committee hearing in January. "It's not." Apple and Google will need to request age verification checks when someone makes a new account in the state. That will most likely have to be done using credit cards, according to Weiler. If someone under 18 opens an app store account, Apple or Google will have to link it to a parent's account or request additional documentation. Parents will have to consent to in-app purchases. Neither company immediately returned a request for comment on Wednesday. Meta, X and Snap said on Wednesday they applauded Cox and Utah for passing the bill, and encouraged other states to consider similar approaches. "Parents want a one-stop-shop to oversee and approve the many apps their teens want to download, and Utah has led the way in centralizing it within a device's app store," the companies said in a joint statement. "This approach spares users from repeatedly submitting personal information to countless individual apps and online services." The Utah law is slated to take effect on May 7, but it is expected to be challenged in a legal fight over its validity. The state passed a similar age-verification law related to pornography in 2023, and arguments whether that law violates free speech were heard by the Supreme Court in January. Utah's adoption of the law is also the latest shot in a long-running skirmish between Facebook-parent Meta and Apple. Meta, which supported the bill, argues that app stores are the best place to do age verification on minors, instead of on individual apps. Meta has recently shifted its policy strategy to seek strategic advantages for itself and shift antitrust scrutiny onto Apple, CNBC reported last month. Apple says it makes the most sense for apps themselves to do age verification, and that due to privacy reasons, it doesn't want to collect the data needed for age verification. The "right place to address the dangers of age-restricted content online is the limited set of websites and apps that host that kind of content," according to a paper Apple posted on its website last month. Utah's bill raises privacy and safety risks, Google said in a blog post on March 12. "There are a variety of fast-moving legislative proposals being pushed by Meta and other companies in an effort to offload their own responsibilities to keep kids safe to app stores," Google Director of Public Policy Kareem Ghanem wrote. "These proposals introduce new risks to the privacy of minors, without actually addressing the harms that are inspiring lawmakers to act." The push for age verification comes after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, X CEO Lina Yaccarino, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel and other social media CEOs appeared before Congress in January 2024 for a hearing focused on online child safety. There, lawmakers criticized the companies, saying they failed to stem online child sexual exploitation on social media apps and needed to do more. Zuckerberg appeared rattled during the hearing after senators told him he had "blood on your hands." However, the legislation that came out of the meeting, the Kids Online Safety Act, failed to advance in Congress late last year. Meta has also been hit with a number of lawsuits filed by states relating to the well-being of children on Facebook and Instagram. -- CNBC's Jonathan Vanian contributed to this report. WATCH: Apple delays AI improvements to Siri until 2026: Here's what to know The Web Summit Qatar 2025 brought together global leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors to explore the ever-evolving world of technology. With over 1,500 startups, 700+ investors, and 381 speakers, the summit focused on driving transformation across industries. One of the key topics that emerged was the pivotal role of fintech in empowering small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets.CNBC-TV18's Shruti Mishra hosted a panel discussion featuring prominent fintech leaders: Faisal Toukan, Co-Founder and CEO of Ziina; Islam Shawky, Co-Founder and CEO of Paymob; and Ahmad Coucha, CEO of Flapkap. The conversation delved into how fintech is revolutionising the way SMEs operate, scale, and thrive in emerging markets.The discussion opened with a focus on how fintech is transforming financial access for SMEs. Faisal Toukan emphasized the impact of automation, AI, and self-service in personalising financial services:"With the advent of automation, AI, and self-service, you're really able to provide a personalized experience for every single small and medium business as if they were an enterprise customer."This shift has importantly leveled the playing field, enabling smaller businesses to access sophisticated financial tools that were once exclusive to large corporations.Expanding on this, Islam Shawky underscored the pivotal role of digital transaction tools in this transformation. He explained: "We're at an inflection point between a phase of enablement, where SMEs and consumers lacked the tools to pay digitally, and now we're moving into this activation phase,"However, democratising finance goes beyond simply providing toolsits about ensuring their active use to drive business growth. Fintech companies are increasingly leveraging alternative data sources to assess creditworthiness, offering SMEs access to capital that traditional banking systems often denied them.As a result, financial services are becoming more inclusive, allowing SMEs to compete on a more equal footing with larger corporations.Another crucial aspect of fintech's impact is the expansion of access to finance for SMEs. Despite representing the majority of businesses and employment in many regions, SMEs often struggle to secure traditional financing.Fintech companies use alternative data sources to assess creditworthiness. This opens new opportunities for SMEs to access previously unavailable capital.Ahmad Coucha highlighted this point stating, "The most exciting impact of course for fintech is widening the access to finance for SMEs."He noted that while SMEs represent a significant portion of businesses and employment in the region, they historically received a disproportionately small share of financing.The discussion then shifted to how fintech companies are tailoring their solutions to meet the specific needs of SMEs in emerging markets. The UAE, for example, has seen a significant increase in the number of SMEs, with projections indicating continued growth. This expanding segment requires personalized solutions to support their business growth.Faisal Toukan shared insights on the UAE market noting, "Two years ago, there were 300,000 SMEs in the UAE. Today there's around 610,000, and by 2030 there are set to be around 1 to 1.1 million".This rapid growth underscores the need for fintech solutions that can scale and adapt to the growing needs of SMEs.A significant challenge in fintech adoption is overcoming trust barriers, especially in regions where cash is still predominant. The panelists highlighted two key factors in building trust: licensing and word of mouth. Regulatory compliance and official licensing are taken very seriously in many regions, providing a stamp of approval that helps build consumer confidence.Islam Shawky emphasized the importance of human interaction in building trust stating,"Human touch is very important. That's why we have almost 1,000 people in Egypt, for instance, that every day are onboarding merchants".This method helps fill the gap between traditional cash-based operations and digital financial services.Digital data was highlighted as a superpower for SMEs in the fintech ecosystem. As businesses digitize their operations, they create valuable data trails that can be used to assess creditworthiness and provide more tailored financial services.The panelists emphasized the importance of SMEs embracing digitization to access a wider range of financial products and services.Ahmad Coucha pointed out, "The superpower now of SMEs is that most of the transactional data are within third-party providers."This data enables fintech companies to understand businesses better and offer more appropriate financial solutions.Finally, as Faisal Toukan aptly advised SMEs should, "Raise your expectations from your providers, and if the solution doesn't feel customized to you, then it's probably the wrong solution."This encapsulates the essence of the fintech revolution tailored, accessible, and empowering solutions for businesses of all sizes.Looking ahead, the integration of AI, stablecoins, and other emerging technologies promises to further revolutionize the fintech landscape, potentially reducing costs, expanding access to capital, and streamlining cross-border transactions for SMEs in emerging markets. Amid news reports of a proposed truce between Russia and Ukraine in the ongoing conflict in the Black Sea, sources within the government have indicated that a reduction in tensions may ease the transport of Indian exports to CIS countries. Apart from Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) comprises Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Armenia, and Moldova. India primarily exports gems and jewellery, cotton, coffee, tea, tobacco, machinery and instruments, processed minerals, plastic products, transport equipment, drugs, and pharmaceuticals to CIS countries. The Russia-Ukraine war has already impacted the trade of several commodities from India. Government sources pointed out that Russia supplies 30% of raw diamonds to India, the availability of which has been affected due to its exit from the G7 and economic sanctions on the world's largest country by land area. Attributing the year-on-year decline in merchandise exports to pricing factors rather than volumes, government sources noted that the drop in export value was due to lower prices of petroleum products and challenges in the availability of raw diamonds. With a review underway of the existing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and South Korea, India has sought lower duties on 15 to 20 products, including shrimp exports. Both countries already have a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which they are in the process of reworking. Over the years, India's trade deficit with South Korea has widened, with exports worth $6.41 billion in FY 2023-24 compared to imports worth $21.13 billion during the same financial year. Thats long been a complaint about the way the company does business. European Union regulators last summer charged that Microsoft broke antitrust laws by the way it bundles Teams into its Microsoft 365 productivity suite. Teams rivals like Zoom and Slack dont have the ability to be bundled like that, the EU says, giving Microsoft an unfair advantage. Microsoft began offering some versions of the suite without Teams, but an EU statement about the suit says the EU preliminarily finds that these changes are insufficient to address its concerns and that more changes to Microsofts conduct are necessary to restore competition. AI is a target, too Microsofts AI business is also in the legal crosshairs, though very few details have come out about it. However, at least part of the probe will likely center on whether Microsofts close relationship with OpenAI violates antitrust laws by giving the company an unfair market dominance. The investigation could also focus on whether Microsoft uses its licensing practices for Microsoft 365 and Copilot, its generative AI chatbot, in ways that violate antitrust laws. In a recent column, I wrote that Microsoft now forces customers of the consumer version of Microsoft 365 to pay an additional fee for Copilot even if they dont want it. In January, Microsoft bundled Copilot into the consumer version of Microsoft 365 and raised prices on the suite by $3 per month or $30 for the year. Consumers are given no choice if they want Microsoft 365, theyll have to pay for Copilot, whether they use it or not. Workers shouldnt feel pain. Instead, the client should feel pain, and they should pay you by the hour for the pain you provide them. That rule should hold equally true in the world of filmmaking. But sometimes, everything goes wrong, and the actor finds themselves screaming in agony. And no: Were not just talking about when someone pulls off some impressive physical stunt. The pain can also come from far more unexpected sources. 5 Kenpachiro Satsuma, Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster As a guy who put on a Godzilla costume in half a dozen movies, Kenpachiro Satsuma experienced plenty of painful moments. Most fall under the category of impressive physical stunts, which we said we werent going to be focusing on today. He had concussions. He almost drowned, because he had to linger underwater before popping up as Godzilla. He got electrocuted, because we guess the only way to take down a guy in Godzilla suit is to build pylons for real. Don't Miss But something a little different happened on the set of 1971s Godzilla vs. Hedorah, also known as Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster. Satsuma was playing Hedorah here, the smog monster, wearing a costume that weighed 150 pounds. He had finished filming a scene and had started to take the costume off, which is the point at which a stuntmans chance of injury is usually done. But now came the stabbing pains of something not caused by the shoot appendicitis. Satsuma wound up in the hospital, where doctors had the unusual task of operating on Hedorah. The costume was so unwieldy that they figured removing what remained of it before operating would take too much time and too much trouble. Toho So long his midriff was exposed, they were good. That was a fun day for the surgeons. It wasnt such a fun day for Satsuma, who had the unfortunate condition of being resistant to pain treatment. That means anesthesia didnt work on him. To hear the sounds he made that day, just search online for Godzilla roar. 4 Anne Ramsey, Throw Momma from the Train Sometimes, when a celebrity talks in a trademark manner, that results from some medical condition that few people know about. Emma Stone and Bonnie Tyler both had nodules on their vocal cords, which results in either a husky voice or an extremely husky voice, depending on how well you recover. Anne Ramsey, the Momma from 1987s Throw Momma from the Train, talked with a sort of speech impediment, and this wasnt just acting. This was the result of surgery that Ramsey had just had on her tongue. The condition that made that tongue surgery necessary? Throat cancer. Which would make for a fun enough story if recovering from the cancer was what helped Ramsey put together that memorable character, except she never did recover from it. The cancer killed her in August 1988. Advertisement That was less than a year after the movie came out. It was also exactly four months after the Oscars ceremony for which she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Advertisement 3 Jonny Kennedy, The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off If that last story got you feeling sad, lets go ahead and get the saddest entry of all out of the way right now. Youll know this lead actor was in pain, if you happen to have seen his movie. Its called The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off, and its a documentary about Jonny Kennedy, who suffered from dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. The disease means you have delicate skin kids with it are often called butterfly children because their skin is as fragile as a butterflys wings. Kennedy, though 36, came off as a child because he never went through puberty. His version of the disease was extra severe, and several parts of his body had no skin at all, raising his daily existence from constant pain to constant harrowing pain. Advertisement Kennedy died during the course of the documentary. He had just met the prime ministers wife and was returning home by train. The documentary had already been about his upcoming death, complete with him buying his own coffin, and it now shifted to covering his actual death. The very first scene shows his dead body propped up in a wheelchair. Channel 4 One of the less disturbing scenes is his funeral, because a cheery Queen song plays. When the documentary finally aired on TV, even doctors were like, Uh, maybe this is a little too much. No ones going to learn anything if they change the channel in horror before they even hear the guy speak. Advertisement 2 Charmian Carr, The Sound of Music Lets switch gears and talk about the last movie youd associate with action and injuries: The Sound of Music. Sure, there is that one scene where a boat tips over, and the cast had to scramble to scoop up the little girl since she couldnt swim, but other than that, you dont see much opportunity for danger. But during the Sixteen Going on Seventeen song, where Liesl and Rolf dance in a gazebo, Charmian Carrs foot went through one of the gazebos glass panes. Not only does this make this the clearest example we have on an actor in pane, but it meant that when they sprang up and did the final take immediately after that, Carr had a sprained ankle. Supposedly, you can see the flesh-colored bandage they tied to her if you look really hard. Advertisement Thats impressive because this isnt just another scene but Carrs big dance number. The secret to her pulling it off? The studio injected her with something, which they insisted was vitamin B-12. That weee she gives at the end isnt merely the delight of a girl whos kissed her first Nazi but the reaction of someone whose blood is coursing with a vial of 1960s studio serum. Advertisement Superfan Robin Williams seemed to have all the credentials to land a part in the Harry Potter series of film adaptations. As an actor, hed mastered both comedy and drama, winning an Academy Award for his efforts. He was bankable, with several blockbusters under his belt. And he had an in on the first movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone he was buddies with director Chris Columbus, with whom hed made the hit comedies Mrs. Doubtfire and Bicentennial Man. There were a couple of parts I would have wanted to play, the comedian once admitted. He pitched himself to play Hagrid in the original film, according to Far Out, a part that went to Robbie Coltrane. After missing out on that role, he tried again to land the character of Remus Lupin in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Fans of the series know that part was played by David Thewlis. Turns out, Williams never had a chance. Columbus and future directors were given a casting rule that was rarely broken: No American actors in this film. When Williams pestered Columbus a second time, the director reiterated the commandment. Its all British. Theres nothing I could do. Don't Miss The books author was behind the decree. Jo Rowling and myself said to each other when we first met, Look, we want this cast to be 100 percent British, Columbus told Business Insider. And by the way, I stuck to that. Once Williams was denied, other American actors knew they had no shot at roles in the franchise. It was a British-only edict, and once (Columbus) said no to Robin, he wasnt going to say yes to anybody else, thats for sure, casting director Janet Hirshenson told the Huffington Post. It couldnt be. But there were at least two exceptions. Verne Mini Me Troyer played Griphook in the original movie. Columbus also cast his daughter as a Hogwarts student, but she wasnt allowed to open her mouth. She worked about 80 days, Columbus said. But she never spoke because you know the rule was if youre not British, you cant speak. Advertisement Remus Lupin would have been a different character had Williams gotten his wish to enter Hogwarts. Robin would have been brilliant, Columbus predicted. It would have been a different interpretation I thought David Thewlis was great but Robin would have been brilliant. Williams never completely gave up on the idea of appearing in a Potter film. Maybe one day, he told the New York Post, imagining sequels that have yet to be written. Say if Harry goes to Yale and becomes president. Kevin McDonald, one of the Kids in the Hall, had a memorable turn in Season Nine of Seinfeld, playing a dude in a denim vest who unsuccessfully hits on Elaine. She brushes off Denim Vest by sliding him a fake phone number, only to discover that she needs his help later in the episode. Awkward, especially because now hes wearing even more denim. Its denim on denim on denim. Its a denim epidemic. But Elaine wasnt the only person McDonald annoyed for some reason, he got under the skin of the real-life Jerry Seinfeld, he told The A.V. Club in 2010 (via SlashFilm). The problem began when he was filming the second scene with Julia Louis-Dreyfus (She was super-nice, he explained). Seinfeld wasnt satisfied with the scenes final joke, so he huddled with two of the shows writers to brainstorm some alternative punchlines. I just flashed back to the Kids In The Hall days when wed be on set like this, where its a communal kind of thing, so without thinking, I offered one up, McDonald remembered. And all of a sudden it was like a Western movie, where someone walks into a saloon and everyone goes quiet. It was a stunned silence. Then Jerry Seinfeld turned and looked at me and said, Noooo. Don't Miss McDonald figures he broke an unspoken rule that guest actors shouldnt weigh in with script suggestions. I realized I had overstepped my bounds and I didnt mean to. I had just gotten caught up in the comedy river of it. We were all swimming in the comedy river. To make matters worse, Seinfeld seems to have held a grudge over the years. On the episodes DVD commentary, Jerry groans when McDonald appears onscreen. Oh, that guy. I guess he had a bad taste in his mouth about me, McDonald said. Seinfeld wasnt exactly a cordial host when McDonald was on set, constantly calling him Dave instead of Kevin. Was he thinking of Dave Foley, McDonalds partner on Kids in the Hall? He kept calling me Dave over and over, McDonald explained. I guess he thought I was a jerk. But I didnt mean to be! A nice-guy Canadian to his core, McDonald refused to blame Seinfeld for the strife. I understand his position, I really do, he insisted. I didnt mean any offense, I swear. Advertisement If nothing else, McDonald learned a valuable life lesson from his time on Seinfeld. I actually used to wear jean jackets and jean pants, and thats when I learned that you shouldnt do that, that women think youre a loser, he admitted. Thats what that episode taught me. Its Always Sunny in Philadelphias Jimmi Simpson may not share Liam McPolyes penchant for sleeping with his siblings, but the 48-year-old actor has still managed to ruffle feathers with his personal life, as his 27-year-old girlfriend, filmmaker Kyra Gardner, has had to come to his defense amid accusations of him having groomed her. Gardner, the daughter of Hollywood special effects legend Tony Gardner, found her May-December romance in the hot seat last week after a TikTok video commemorating their 2022 meeting sparked backlash on social media. She doesnt know it yet, but shell meet the love of her life that night, and is actually looking at a photo of him on the paper shes holding, Gardner captioned a clip of her attending the Studio 666 premiere at Graumans Chinese Theatre. Clearly intended as a romantic installment of the viral She Doesnt Know It Yet TikTok trend This trend is so sweet and I realized I actually had footage of this day, The Dollhouse documentarian wrote alongside her post some fans werent feeling the love, taking to the comments to express concerns over the pairs more than 20-year age gap. Don't Miss The love of your life is 2 decades older than you? asked TikTok user TT, while Bkalski took aim at Simpsons previous marriages to Melanie Lynskey and Sophia Del Pizzo. Jimmi Simpson has met the love of his life 3 times, they joked. Gardner wasnt having any of this pushback, though. She quickly began deleting any false comments on the viral clip before pinning the rumor that Simpson had been a longtime pal of her fathers on an unnamed stalker. Advertisement Jimmi and I started dating when I was 26. Our stalker is weirdly claiming Ive known him since I was 16 and he was friends with my dad. FALSE, she explained, clarifying that she first met Simpson during a job interview at age 22 before re-meeting him at the Studio 666 premiere. My dad didnt even know who he was and I had to introduce THEM while at work. Advertisement The star concluded with a message for her naysayers: Its an age gap but certainly not grooming. Every1 wanting to push that false narrative is gross & I dont know why you WANT it to be a grooming story, Gardner continued. Please read more than the 2 minutes of REDDIT gossip before making assumptions about people. There is, however, definitely another issue at hand: To paraphrase badchili_, a thousand years of a pure McPoyle bloodline are about to go down the drain. Are you a Shelby student with some artistic talent? Then this art project is for you! The Shelby Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID), is sponsoring a drawing contest with the theme of What Shelby Means to You. The theme is subjective for all participants, it could be anything from Main Street Shelby to oilfields, agriculture, trains, anything that makes you think Shelby. The winner of this contest will receive $200 in Shelby Bucks. There is no set deadline as of yet for submissions. Contact Shelby Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Shane Adams at the Chamber Office (406) 434-7184, for any questions or more information. Another friendly, art competition for Shelby students sponsored by TBID includes that of a mural painting to be completed by the Shelby High School art class! The submissions from the What Shelby Means to You contest will be considered while determining which art design to use for the actual mural. We believe including the students in the area on these projects is a great way to involve the youth in these great community-minded projects for many reasons, said Adams. I want to thank the members of Shelby TBID for allowing me to coordinate this great community minded project, along with the Shelby School District, for working on this project from the school side of things. Projects like this are fun to work on and one of the many reasons I enjoy doing what I do here at the Chamber! Thank you to all involved. The Shelby TBID helps support many great community events and organizations throughout the year. Members of TBID include Best Western Inn & Suites, Comfort Inn & Suites Gateway to Glacier and the OYO. For any questions or for more information contact Shane Adams at (406) 434-7184 or email [email protected]. The snow geese have been spotted and ice is starting to melt off Lake Frances. Bears are surely stirring as temperatures continue to warm. It's time for the Valier Area Development Corporation to sponsor a fisheries and bear update with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks local biologists. The meeting will be held April 3, 2025 at 6:30 pm in the Valier Public Library. Katie Vivian is the Choteau Area Fisheries Biologist for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. She will provide an update on the status of Lake Frances and Tiber Reservoir fisheries and will be available to discuss any other water bodies along the Rocky Mountain Front. Vivian has had a presence in Valier in recent years organizing annual update meetings, doing a little fishing of her own on Lake Frances, and involving youth in the annual Walleye fingerling stocking at Lake Frances in June. She has incorporated education into the stocking events giving young people an overview of the history and species of fish in Montana. There is a new bear man in town. David Kemp is a Grizzly Bear Management Specialist with FWP based in Conrad. He was born and raised in Great Falls and received a Bachelor's degree in Wildlife Ecology with honors from the University of Providence. Since graduating, Kemp has held numerous wildlife and ecology positions including at the University of Massachusetts Boston and a teaching assistantship at the University of Providence. Prior to becoming a grizzly bear manager with FWP, David spent 8 years as wildlife biologist for the U.S. Forest Service, most recently in Choteau covering the Badger Two Medicine and Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. Kemp will be providing an overview of what took place during the 2024 grizzly bear non-denning season, including human-bear conflict and complaint trends for FWP Region 4. As both fishing and bear management are topics of special interest to farmers and recreationalists in the area, Katie Vivian has invited Asher Margotat, the local game warden, who will also attend and be available for questions. Don't miss this informative event provided by the Valier Area Development Corporation and the Valier Public Library in cooperation with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks on April 3, 2025 at 6:30 pm in the Valier Public Library. The following are the dispositions settled in Toole County Justice Court from March 14 - March 20, by the Honorable Judge Donna Whitt. Derek B. Hofland, reckless driving, first offense, dismissed by prosecution; disorderly conduct, $185 fine; disorderly conduct, dismissed by prosecution. Johnathan W. Hill, driving a motor vehicle while privilege to do so is suspended or revoked, second offense, pled not guilty, deferred imposition of sentence, $525 fine, $400 suspended; operating without liability insurance in effect, first offense, pled not guilty, deferred imposition of sentence, $285 fine, $250 suspended; speeding on interstate, 95/80, pled not guilty, deferred imposition of sentence, $70 fine. Colby R. Johnson, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding daytime limit, 80/70, pled not guilty, dismissed by prosecution. Petr P. Novosad, aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, first offense, operating non-commercial vehicle with alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent BAC or greater, first offense, pled not guilty, found guilty, $685 fine. Harmeet Singh, driver failing to use seatbelt, $60 fine. Tanner M. Baron, interstate/international motor carrier operating without payment of fee required for coop/recip reg, $85 fine. Rayner Molina, no DOT/MVI number/Name of company on vehicle, $135 fine; no log book in possession, $125 fine; Interstate/International motor carrier operating without payment of fee required for coop/recip reg, $75 fine. Cassaundra N. Epperson, careless driving, guilty; seatbelt violation, guilty; failure to carry proof or exhibit insurance in vehicle, owner or operator, first offense, guilty. Braden M. Auclaire, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding daytime limit, 90/70, $70 fine. Emily G. Bellware, operating with expired registration, failure to re-register, $85 fine. Karen D. Burkett, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding daytime limit, 90/70, $70 fine. Karanveer Singh, operating without temporary special fuel permit, $85 fine. Goitom H. Mosazgi, operating without temporary special fuel permit, $85 fine. Aiden R. Walter, seatbelt violation, $20 fine. Melimer Macion, operating without temporary special fuel permit, $85 fine. Doreen L. King, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding daytime limit 80/70, $20 fine. Patrick K. Wheeler, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding daytime limit, 90/70, $70 fine. Frank L. Gourneau, seatbelt violation, $20 fine; speeding on non-interstate, exceeding daytime limit, 80/70, $20 fine. Peter L. Kleinsasser, exceeding the max gross weight allowed any group of axles, bridge formula, $160 fine. Nahom H. Teklemichael, operating without temporary special fuel permit, $85 fine. Michael S. Baney, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding daytime limit, 80/70, $20 fine. James J. Henderson, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding daytime limit, 80/70, $20 fine. Abram B. Friesen, failure to follow conditions and requirements of special permit, $135 fine. Ryan J. Moline, seatbelt violation, $20 fine; speeding on non-interstate, exceeding daytime limit, 85/70, $70 fine. James A. Vanderiet, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding daytime limit, 80/70, $20 fine. Sean M. Dorman, criminal possession of dangerous drugs, not otherwise provided for in Subsection 45-9-102(1) or (2), felony, dismissed by prosecution; criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, dismissed by prosecution. On Jan. 12, 2025, our brother and friend John Dale Horgus passed away peacefully at his home in Kalispell, Mont. He was surrounded by loving family and close friends. There will be a graveside service April 12, 2025, 1:00 p.m., at the Sweetgrass Cemetery where John will be buried beside his son, Shane. Immediately following there will be a celebration of John's life at the Sunburst community center where we can all share a meal. All family and friends are welcome. Donations can be made to Shane Horgus Scholarship Fund and Sweetgrass American Legion. In 1972 John graduated from Sunburst High School and pursued his education at the Montana Vocational Technical Center in Helena, Mont. where he obtained a degree in aircraft mechanics. After living and working in California for a brief time, John returned to the Sweet Grass area where he embraced his roots and worked alongside his father, George, and brother, Roger, on George's farm. In 1995 John took a significant step in his farming journey by leasing Lyle and Loretta Aklestad's farm. Through hard work and dedication, he later purchased the farm in 2020. John continued to expand and develop his farm with passion and perseverance. His commitment to the land was evident in every crop he cultivated and every improvement he made. Throughout his farming journey, John was fortunate to have the unwavering support of Jonathon Wipf, who worked alongside him for 27 years. Braydon Dunk was also hired by the farm in 2015. Unfortunately, health challenges eventually required John to step back from the work he loved so dearly. Despite these challenges, John's legacy of hard work and his contributions to the farming community remain a source of inspiration for all who knew him. In 1986 John's life was forever enriched when he became a father to Shane Anthony Horgus. From the moment Shane was born, John embraced fatherhood with immense love and dedication. Both John and Shane leave behind cherished memories that will forever be held in the hearts of those who knew and loved them. Farming was John's profession, but he was a well-known collector. He spent his whole life searching for antiques of all sorts and acquired an impressive collection. He was always happy to show friends and family his discoveries, from rare Hot Wheels to old pickups. Another pastime John enjoyed was being an active member of Shriners with his many friends. During the challenging times of his health journey, John was blessed to find a loving companion in Cathy. Her unwavering love and care provided him with comfort and strength throughout the final years of his life. Cathy's presence brought joy and warmth to John's days, and her dedication to his well-being was a testament to the deep bond they shared. Her support and compassion were invaluable, and she will always be remembered with gratitude by those who knew and loved John. John is survived by his soulmate, Cathy, whose love and companionship enriched his life immeasurably. He also leaves behind Cathy's daughter, Morgan (Curtis) and children. John's family includes his brother Roger (Janine) Horgus, their children Beth (Ryan) Loomis and family, and Dylan (Laura) Horgus and Trevor Horgus. He is also survived by his sister, Gayle (Tim) Buckley, Michelle Line, and her children, Hunter and Bridger, as well as the children of his late sister, Nancy: Bryan (Tasha) Whitt, Jessica Whitt, and her daughters. John is remembered fondly by his brother-in-law, Randy Whitt, and his lifelong friends, Hank and Jacque Coolidge. Welcoming John to heaven is his parents, George and Marguerite Horgus, and his grandparents, John and Louise Wolanski. Joining them are two people who held a special place in John's heart: his cherished son, Shane, and his dear sister, Nancy. Condolences to www.asperfh.com. Shirley JoAnne Geving Damberger passed away on March 17, 2025 in Cut Bank, Mont. A celebration of her life will be held at the Cut Bank Senior Citizen Center on Saturday, March 29 at 12:30 p.m. She was born on Feb. 19, 1937 in Parshall, N.D. She grew up in Cando, N. D. where she met her handsome (yet stubborn) husband, Frank. They married on Oct. 25, 1954 and shared 57 years together. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank; her parents, John Anderson Geving and Pearl Johnson Davis; sister, Carol Lien; son-in-law, Jimmy Baughman; and grandson, Ryan Damberger. She is survived by her four children, Toni Baughman, Lana (Charles) Waite, Butch (Kathy) Damberger and Peggy (Danny) Nygard; 12 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter and numerous nieces and nephews. Her family was her greatest joy, and she cherished every moment spent with them. She loved nothing more than gathering her family around her, sharing stories, and making memories that will be treasured for generations to come. In her free time, Shirley enjoyed working on puzzles, playing cards with friends at the Senior Center, and exploring her creative side through various crafts. Her hands were always busy, and her love for crafting and creating brought joy to all who received her handmade gifts. Rest in peace, mom. Your love, legacy, and handmade treasures will be deeply missed. Over the last few years, the news headlines have been dominated by tragic shootings such as the one in Connecticut at the Sandy Hook Elementary School and other public places. Since then, there has been an increased and heated debate as to how to stop these awful shootings that are taking place at such an alarming, unprecedented rate. When the experts looked at what happened almost all came back with the same answer, We need to have more gun control and we need more education. We need to get everybody educated and then we wont have these problems anymore. Many years ago, when I was in grade school, these shooting tragedies were unheard of. We had guns and we were educated. Something has changed. Im definitely not opposed to education, but Im convinced its not the answer. Listen to what Paul says in 1st Corinthians 8:1, Knowledge puffs up but love builds up. I dont think we need more knowledge near as much as we need more Bible based love. In the Engle v. Vitale case in 1962, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-1 against New Yorks Regents Prayer, a non-denominational prayer which state education officials had composed for public school children to recite. A year later mandatory Bible reading was taken out of our schools. Since then, a Bible based world view has been taken not only from our schools but also the public arena and has been replaced with godless evolutionary theories. For fifty years now our children have, in essence, been told in school that human beings have evolved from lower life forms and thus by implication, there are no moral absolutes. Is it any wonder why these evil things are happening? Even though some of our founding Fathers were not Christians many of their writings show they were convinced that a free people to remain free must have a moral fiber and that only through applying Biblical principles can we achieve this. This was one of the primary reasons for establishing our educational system in America. It was to teach people to read and understand the Bible. George Washington our first president, said in his inaugural address of 1789, the propriotous smiles of heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which heaven itself has ordained. I believe if George Washington were here today, he would say we need to repent and bring back the smiles of heaven upon our great country. 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. Chinese commerce minister meets president of Boeing Global Xinhua) 10:05, March 26, 2025 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Is Pete Hegseth a knave or a fool? The answer, based on the events of the last 48 hours, seems to be both. On Monday it emerged that Donald Trumps defence secretary had committed one of the most egregious breaches of operational security in United States history, by texting targeting data on upcoming US Air Force strikes in Yemen into a group chat that Jeffrey Goldberg, a journalist at The Atlantic had been mistakenly added to. It was then revealed the messages had been sent via a group on Signal, an app not accredited for transmitting classified data. And finally, that one of the groups members, foreign policy envoy Steve Witkoff, was actually in Moscow when the messages were sent and received. Faced with the evidence of this damning security breach which was confirmed by the White House Hegseth had a number of options. Do the honourable thing and resign. Offer himself up for an independent investigation into the leak. Or simply apologise to the servicemen and women whose lives hed put at risk. He did none of those things. Instead he lied that no leak had occurred, attacked Goldberg for being a discredited journalist and went on an hysterical rant about Russian hoaxes. Its just over two months since the commencement of the second Trump term. For a few weeks the administration managed to hide behind the usual Trump braggadocio and bombast, attended by a bodyguard of disinformation pumped out by his chief propagandist Elon Musk. But Hegseths almost treasonous blunder has finally seen the curtain torn away. Trump and his acolytes arent masters of the deal. They arent brilliant populist strategists. They are incompetent, reckless, crazy men. Dark hints of invasions of Greenland and Canada. A Disneyesque revisionism that has seen the beatification of Putin and vilification of Volodymyr Zelensky. The firing, and frantic rehiring of nuclear safety workers, army veterans and scientists fighting Ebola. Sinister threats to judges, journalists and political opponents. US defence secretary Pete Hegseth, right, said that no leak had occurred, attacked Jeffrey Goldberg for being a discredited journalist and went on a rant about Russian hoaxes Somehow, the Trump administration is managing to simultaneously act like both the Gestapo and the Keystone Cops. And the American people are on to them. Trumps approval ratings are the worst at this stage of a term of office than any other president in history, save for Trump himself. And theyre rapidly heading south. But before we have all finished laughing at the clown-show currently being performed for us by our North Atlantic cousins, we should pause. Because political incompetence and venality are no longer a product of American exceptionalism, but increasingly the Western democratic norm. Earlier this week, polling company YouGov published its latest survey of British opinion. Labour enjoys the support of just 23 per cent of the population. The Tories 22 per cent. Its easy to find an immediate explanation for these dire figures. A backlash against last weeks announcement of an axing of support for the disabled. Kemi Badenochs ongoing inability to decouple herself from 14 years of perceived Tory misrule. But these are merely symptoms of the disease wracking the British body politic. The underlying cause is this: the nations voters have had it with being told their only option is to vote for politicians who are either scoundrels or idiots. Look at some of the recent incumbents of No 10. Tony Blair was a competent leader but whose lies helped lead the world into the quagmire of Iraq. Boris connected with the voters in ways other politicians could only dream of and then betrayed them by partying while they couldnt bury their dead. Liz Truss was commendably honest and open about her strategy for national governance and then had the most disastrous tenure as prime minister since the Earl of Bute introduced the Cider Tax, provoked the War of Independence and got caught having an affair with the Princess of Wales. Editor-in-chief of The Atlantic Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly added to a group chat where targeting data on upcoming US Air Force strikes in Yemen was shared The Tories, led by Kemi Badenoch, enjoy support from just 22 per cent of the UK population, according to a recent YouGov poll For years we have heard the refrain the grown-ups are back in charge. But the grown-ups never actually turn up. They are forever out on the town, leaving Britain a nation Home Alone. Partly the collapse in the stature of our senior politicians is aligned to the broader national decline in political activism. There was a time when the two main parties were a fair representation of the wide constituencies they sought to represent. But now entry to our politics is policed by an increasingly small, narrow minded band of ideologues. Adopt the wrong stance on Palestine or the ECHR and you cant even get through the door. Which in turn has created a cadre of supposedly mature politicians who believe the optimum default position is not to believe in anything at all. Like Blair and his own predecessor Rishi Sunak - Keir Starmer is a relatively competent manager. But his terror of adopting policies he could be held to account for in opposition is now destroying him in government. Seeing him and his ministers desperately lurching from one policy stance to another in an attempt to cobble together some form of coherent programme is like watching trainee surgeons standing over their anesthetized patient with a copy of Grays Anatomy in one hand and a scalpel in the other. Another factor has been the twin-headed hydra of diversity and inclusion. For decades until Margaret Thatcher finally battered the door down with her famous handbag exceptional men and women found themselves excluded from high office solely on the basis of their gender and race. But now in an effort to right that historic wrong the pendulum has swung so far its crushing everyone against a wall of cold, uncompromising virtue. Without the Democrats insistence that Joe Biden balance his ticket with a black, liberal woman, Donald Trump may never have made it back to the White House. And it will be interesting to see if Rachel Reeves seeks to again garner praise for becoming Britains first woman Chancellor while reading out her list of spending cuts, busted borrowing targets and anaemic growth forecasts. But maybe the biggest problem is that in our social media age we now have a new cadre of politicians who no longer feel the need to engage with the British people at all, or even attempt to address the reality of their lives. Instead they prefer to occupy a world of virtual reality, one where their effort is spent seeking to mobilise a small army of fanatical tribunes who will spread the gospel on their behalf. Thereby sparing them from the need to get their hands dirty through gripping actual problems and tearing them up by the roots. A couple of weeks ago, after another dismal PMQs outing by Kemi Badenoch, I was told by one Tory MP: Ah yes, it looked bad live. But she got in the soundbite she wanted for her Twitter feed. This is the precisely the same mantra we used to get from Jeremy Corbyns supporters before he ran headfirst into the electorate. Pete Hegseth is a knave. And he is a fool. But unfortunately, he is not alone in that. Today is the day that Rachel Reeves insisted would never come around. But, after she trash-talked the economy, lied about tax on work and destroyed incentives for enterprise, here we are. She is having to rip it all up and start again. We must remember: none of this would have been necessary if Reeves hadn't decided to pick a fight with Britain's businesses. Going into Government, Labour talked about growth as their number one mission. That was a noble aim. But as with many things they promised on immigration, pensioners and farmers, to name a few words are cheap, and it was a promise they had no intention of acting upon. No matter how much they try and spin it away today, they have failed. With employment figures, growth and business confidence all heading south and many of Britain's best and brightest following Reeves will need to use her emergency Budget to dramatically change course. But she won't. The lesson of a Chancellor planning insufficient headroom won't be learned. Instead, we will see Reeves pathetically point the finger at everyone other than herself. It's been her special skill ever since those years in customer service. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves speaks about her plans for Britain's economy earlier this year Ms Reeves has come under fire over Labour's plan make families pay inheritance tax on the agricultural value of their land Labour have also been criticised for stripping winter fuel payments from millions of pensioners She needs to get real and start telling the truth. The sooner she comes to terms with the fact that she is to blame, the sooner she will be able to fix the mess she has created. Reeves has given us all a timely reminder that Labour governments always leave the economy in worse shape than they found it in. But this Government has gone one further with employment laws that will take the UK back to the 1970s. Their employment Bill could have been handwritten by Arthur Scargill himself. It will allow unions to strangle businesses, bury them in red tape and unleash waves of low-threshold, no-notice strikes. We deserve better Britain is a proud nation of shopkeepers. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They employ more than 16million people and contribute almost 3trillion to the economy. Sadly, Labour's extreme union charter will soon bite and lay waste to these very businesses. If only they hadn't done this, maybe Reeves wouldn't have needed to embark on yet another disastrous Budget. The Conservatives are now under new leadership and on the side of working people. We made mistakes but we are rebuilding trust with the British people by standing up to this dreadful Labour Government. We deserve so much better than Labour's emergency Budget. Plenty of life at the euthanasia committee. One of the paradoxes of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is that it makes everyone's blood pump faster. You go expecting a funeral dirge only to find they're all jumping up and down making furious interventions, eyes glinting. It's more like the last scene in Hamlet than a sad, hushed, end-of-life hospital ward. Yesterday saw the Bill's last committee stages, that part of the legislative process when a small group of MPs chews over details of a proposed law. The meeting was held in a stuffy, oblong room whose flock wallpaper could have made visitors feel they were inside a large coffin. MPs sat at desks using laptops. Kim Leadbeater (Lab, Spen Valley), the weirdly chirrupy proposer of this backbench bill she is any nightmare's notion of a Butlin's Redcoat was sitting at such a machine. The computer's glow lent her face a ghostly tinge. Turned her golden tresses green. Danny Kruger (Con, E Wilts) said that if the Government funded a 'national suicide service' it would alter the principles of the NHS. 'It would take a red pen to Bevan's legacy.' Another strange aspect of this bill is that Mr Kruger, its leading pro-life opponent, is the one with the undertaker's manner. Wind whistles round his sibilants. He is unerringly polite. Ms Leadbeater gave him her most simpering smile but one sensed she was, behind that, fuming. Would willingly have throttled posh Danny, with or without his permission. Labour MP Kim Leadbeater is pictured above in her office in the Houses of Parliament, London File image of MP Danny Kruger speaking in opposition to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, in the chamber of the House of Commons in Westminster, London, on November 29, 2024 Should assisted dying be limited to NHS wards or should private hospitals be able to offer this 'service', as it is already being called? Simon Opher (Lab, Stroud) said the distinction was 'spurious' because private care was already widespread in our state healthcare. Sarah Olney (Lib Dem, Richmond Park) feared the creation of 'a market for end of life services' which could become 'a serious ethical minefield'. Dr Opher, again: 'Spurious.' Ms Olney and Mr Kruger nibbled further at the danger of private clinics being 'incentivised' to bump off patients. Dr Opher: 'A completely spurious idea.' Oh, for Heaven's sake, someone fetch that man a new adjective. Terminal mumbler Daniel Francis (Lab, Bexleyheath & Crayford) said something about, I think, death doctors parading their wares at trade fairs. Mr Kruger, likewise: 'We're setting up incentives that will corrupt doctors.' This drew gasps, tuts, and shaking of the head from young Jake Richards (Lab, Rother Valley), appalled by the idea any medic could be anything but saintly. He's obviously never spent a night drinking with trainee surgeons. I once did that in Dublin and the next day I could have done with a liver transplant. Mr Kruger stuck to his last, challenging 'the automatic assumption of innate goodness of doctors'. He mentioned, by way of evidence, the rackets in cosmetic surgery. Ms Leadbeater scoffed at the thought of anyone making loot out of assisted dying. She should read Evelyn Waugh's The Loved One to see just how tacky the death industry can become. Naz Shah (Lab, Bradford W) chilled the blood further by suggesting that big contracting firms such as Capita, Serco and G4S could go into the assisted-dying business. Aiee. Kim Leadbeater (pictured) is at the centre of another row after being accused of misleading MPs over the depth of public support for her assisted dying legislation Stock image: Man holding hand, giving support and comfort to woman, loved one sick in hospital bed What a terrible thought. Imagine the corporate mission statement boasting 'Death to Your Doorstep When You Want It. Ring for a brochure today.' Support for the bill came from Lewis Atkinson (Lab, Sunderland C), a former hospital manager. Trust me, I'm an NHS bureaucrat. He bridled at Mr Kruger's mention of Labour legend Aneurin Bevan and argued against the inequity of the status quo. At present rich people can fly to Switzerland for an assisted death but the poor must suffer at home. Maybe Bevan would have agreed with him. Or maybe he would have worried about vulnerable souls being bullied into swallowing some fiendish elixir. From what I can remember from my night on the Guinness and Powers whiskey with those surgeons in Dublin, they were pretty persuasive at that. A woman vanished without a trace after her hiking partner turned his back for 45 seconds. Barbara Bolick, from Bitterroot, Montana, disappeared almost 18 years ago while on a hike with a friend near the Bear Creek Overlook Canyon. Her disappearance is a mystery to this day. Her hiking partner Jim Ramaker who was the last to see her on July 18, 2007, told police that she was there one moment, and gone the next as he turned his back to take in the scenery. Although Jim is thought to be the last person to ever see her alive, police say he had no connection with her disappearance. Donna Biles, the cousin of Barbara's husband Carl, was in town visiting that weekend and it was Donna's 58-year-old boyfriend Jim who had joined her on the hike. Barbara Bolick, from Bitterroot, Montana, disappeared without a trace after her hiking partner turned his back for 45 seconds and she was gone The plan was for Barbara, who was 55 at the time, Donna, and Jim to go hiking on Barbara's favourite trail, a moderately challenging 2.6-mile trail, which was a 15-minute drive from her home. However Donna said she was too hungover to hike that morning and decided to stay home. Carl had stopped joining Barbara on hikes after suffering from a heart attack a few years previously. After two weeks of intensive searching and investigation, Ravalli County Sheriff Chris Hoffman said Barbara Bolick's disappearance was 'a mystery.' 'We are perplexed,' Hoffman told the Bitterroot Star. 'We have combed the area in the vicinity of the disappearance very well. No trace at all has been found. We would like to verify, if we can, that Bolick was even on the mountain that day.' Speaking to NBC Montana, the news historian and former news director Jim Harmon said: 'They were only a short distance apart. Yet in a few seconds, he looks back and she's not there. 'It's just amazing to me. How in the world did that happen? How could she not just have been a short distance down the hill? It's absolutely a mystery.' U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana, Jesse Laslovich told NBC Montana that the search was costly, but they are continuing their efforts to find Barbara. He said: 'You can imagine the apparatus that is involved when someone disappears. It's not only local and state authorities. We also have search and rescue involved with some of these volunteer organisations.' Despite the many theories, the extensive search was unable to find any trace of Barbara or her hiking gear and no hiker has stumbled upon them to this day Rock Creek Canyon rises into the Beartooth Mountains in the Custer National Forest of Montana viewed Some conspiracists believe that Bolick faked her death, and ran away to start a new life, but her husband Carl said his wife was very happy with their life together and she was taking pilot lessons and was eager to get her license. Meanwhile others thought she was abducted by two men, who Jim said he saw on the trail, but law enforcement attempted to locate them and no one came forward. Others questioned if shed been attacked by a wild animal but Jim said he didn't hear any screaming, while some claimed she might have fallen suddenly but her husband said she was terrified of heights and would not have gone near the edge. Despite the many theories, the extensive search was unable to find any trace of Barbara or her hiking gear and no hiker has stumbled upon them to this day. Some people have accused Jim of harming Barbara, as he was the last person to see her alive. One theory is that something occurred before they ever arrived at the trail that day, which would explain why the search dogs never managed to pick up Barbara's scent. However, its unclear what Jim's motive would have been and due to his cooperation with law enforcement from the beginning they didn't consider him as a suspect. Carl was so devastated by the mysterious disappearance of his beloved wife that he couldn't eat or sleep for weeks and lost 35 pounds in a few months. He passed away in 2021, at the age of 80. Carl was so devastated by the mysterious disappearance of his beloved wife that he couldn't eat or sleep for weeks and lost 35 pounds in a few months. He passed away in 2021, at the age of 80 A few years ago Montana law enforcement sent out a new post asking for information, the wrote: 'Do you have any information? Barbara Bolick was last seen near the Bear Creek Overlook in the Bitterroot Mountains, west of Victor in Montana on Wednesday, July 18, 2007. 'As of 2023, her current age would be 71. She is 5'0', 115 lbs, Caucasian brown eyes, red/auburn hair, and pierced ears. 'She was last seen wearing a pastel-colored shirt, tan shorts, and had a black colored backpack. 'She was hiking with a partner and when they turned around, she was gone. No sign of her was found in the area which was searched by SAR personnel, volunteers and search dogs.' An influencer who created the 'Gen-Z Playboy Mansion' has hit back at concerned parents who called her a 'bad influence' on today's youth. OnlyFans sensation Sophie Rain shot to fame last year after claiming that she'd made $43million on the platform. The social media star then used her earnings to rent a Miami mansion dubbed the 'Bop House', where she and other OnlyFans models create content together. But while it has become a huge hit online with over three million followers on TikTok and Instagram the venture has concerned some parents, who are worried about the influence that Sophie and her friends are having on their followers. 'I don't think it's fair to blame us for what children and teenagers watch on TikTok and to call us a bad influence,' said Sophie who boasts over 17million followers online. 'We aren't out here trying to be the perfect Gen-Z role models, we are just enjoying our lives and making money,' she continued. 'It's not our responsibility to parent other people's children. They should be monitoring what their children watch and limit their access if they think it's an issue.' Influencer Sophie Rain who created the 'Gen-Z Playboy Mansion' has hit back at concerned parents who have called her a bad influence on today's youth A defiant Sophie added, 'I'm not here to babysit other people's kids.' The Bop House girls usually share videos of themselves dancing or other light-hearted clips on social media, while their raunchier content is saved for OnlyFans. However, parents and parenting experts are arguing that children may still be able to access adult content online. 'In an ideal world, kids wouldn't be accessing social media until they are 16 and better able and mature enough to understand what they are seeing and what it all means, but the reality is that kids are accessing social media platforms from as young as seven years old and parents need to take responsibility for that,' said parenting expert Kirsty Ketley. 'I think parents have to expect that if they allow social media, that kids will come across all sorts of content that isn't age appropriate and they should expect negative consequences because of it.' Giselle Elsom, the managing editor of the London-based social media agency, Truffle Social, added, 'One of the main concerns parents face is accessibility that their children have to content they might otherwise want to limit. 'The women in the Bop House are leveraging their other, more public social platforms, such as Instagram and TikTok, to promote their OnlyFans accounts, making their content even more accessible,' she continued. 'With a combined social media following of over 33 million on these channels, their reach is already massive. 'I don't think it's fair to blame us for what children and teenagers watch on TikTok and to call us a bad influence,' said Sophie A group of young influencers and OnlyFans models have become multimillionaires by creating content in a sprawling Miami mansion called the Bop House 'This makes it increasingly difficult to monitor their content, as engagement will only grow, pushing their posts onto more people's Explore and For You pages.' The current Bop House residents are co-founders Sophie Rain and Aishah Sofey, as well as Camilla Araujo, Julia Filippo, Summer Iris and Ava Reyes. The property, which costs the group $60,000 per month to rent, stretches across 5,173 sq ft with five bathrooms, a private rooftop pool with 180-degree views, floor to ceiling glass windows, marble flooring and a lift. There are also three parking spaces and a 24-hour valet. Sophie added: 'Most of our videos are just trends that millions of other people are doing. 'To see any of our X rated content you have to go onto other platforms which are 18 plus. At the end of the day, we're here to entertain.' She finished, 'People will always have opinions but we don't let them bother us.' Sophie, 20, claims to have hit $50million in net earnings on OnlyFans since joining the site in 2023. 'I post some explicit stuff, but not as explicit as people may think,' she previously explained to DailyMail.com. 'I am still a virgin and don't fit in the regular "porn star" category. I see myself more of the girl next door who happens to have an OnlyFans, but one that has so much more to offer than just my own body.' Sophie's bank balance has raised some eyebrows among other adult content creators, including podcaster Adam22, who accused her of fabricating the figures for clout. 'They're welcome to question and think I'm lying because it just solidifies in my brain that what I'm doing with my career is next level and that I'm insanely successful,' she boasted. 'I'm so lucky to be where I am and I know this is not normal to be earning $50million dollars.' The King and Queen hosted a starry line-up at Clarence House this evening for the launch of the Queen's Reading Room medal. Joined by actors and authors including Sigourney Weaver, Richard E Grant, Helena Bonham Carter, Dame Joanna Lumley, Dame Jilly Cooper, Antony Horowitz and Kate Atkinson, Camilla launched the medal which has been designed to recognise people who are championing literature in local communities. In a speech opening the reception, the King, 76, stood near his wife and listened as Camilla, 77, spoke of how 'making life better is the ultimate aim of my Reading Room' as she praised the gathered authors for their work. 'Through literature, we experience life through another's eyes, we are comforted, strengthened, we laugh, we cry, we travel to different lands, and we escape the real world. 'In short, books and those who create them, make life bettermuch better so thank you!' the Queen said. The Duchess of Gloucester, Sarah and Daniel Chatto, the Queen's children Laura Lopes and Tom Parker-Bowles and her sister Annabel Elliot, also joined Charles and Camilla at the reception, where they viewed the new medal design, crafted by Worcestershire Medals Limited, and Camilla met the judging panel. They include Dame Gail Rebuck, the CEO of Penguin Random House and Jonathan Douglas, the CEO of the National Literacy Trust and will pick the first recipient of the medal next year, which will be personally awarded by the Queen. Nominations will open next month, from April 1st, with anyone over the age of 18 eligible to nominate themselves or someone in their community. The King and Queen hosted a starry line-up at Clarence House this evening for the launch of the Queen's Reading Room medal. Camilla was wearing a silk velvet Isla dress in petrol blue by Sophie Dundas Charles and Camilla at the reception, where the Queen unveiled the medal which has been designed to recognise people who are championing literature in local communities As they came down the stairs from their private apartment and Charles spotted actress Miriam Margolyes seated in a mobile chair, he reached out and held her hand. 'Wonderful to see you,' he said. After Camilla's speech, Margolyes greeted her warmly, joking: 'I've got to try and curtsy without falling down,' to which Camilla laughed, replying: 'Here, let me hold you up!' The Queen was wearing a silk velvet Isla dress in petrol blue by Sophie Dundas which she has worn before but seems to be a favourite. Margolyes, who reminded Camilla she will also see her tomorrow for an engagement at the Dickens Museum where the actress is a patron, told her: 'Don't talk to me for too long, don't let me monopolise you.' Speaking to Dame Jilly, Camilla thanked her for coming and the author told her: 'I'm so proud of you. For all you've done.' During a conversation with Weaver, the actress asked her: 'Is all the Reading Room research online? I must look it out.' The King and Queen also spent time talking to Charles's biographer, Jonathan Dimbleby while other guests included the actor Freddy Fox and actress Adjoa Andoh, best known for her role as Lady Danbury in Bridgerton. At the reception, a selection of items from Jane Austen's house and birthplace in Hampshire and from the Royal Collection were also on display at Clarence House, marking the 250th anniversary of the author's birth. They included a Royal Collection second edition copy of Sense and Sensibility, and a drawing by Austen's sister, Cassandra. In a speech opening the reception, the King, 76, stood near his wife and listened as Camilla, 77, spoke of how 'making life better is the ultimate aim of my Reading Room' as she praised the gathered authors for their work The Queen posing with Dame Jilly Cooper. the author of Rivals She was also seen sharing laugh with English actor Richard E Grant (left) As he and Camilla came down the stairs from their private apartment, Charles spotted actress Miriam Margolyes seated in a mobile chair and reached out to hold her hand King Charles with Sir Derek Jacobi and Helena Bonham Carter at the glitzy reception on Tuesday Camilla is a longstanding campaigner on literacy and encouraging reading, and is patron of organisations including the National Literacy Trust, First Story, Corma Beanstalk and Booktrust. Last year, a report published by the National Literary Trust found that reading rates are the lowest on record, with one in two adults not reading a book at all in the last year. The Queen's Reading Room Medal aims to highlight the work of 'reading heroes' across the country who are working to help their communities overcome that reading crisis. Vicki Perrin, chief executive of the Queen's Reading Room said: 'We are delighted to announce The Queen's Reading Room medal: a special recognition award for those reading heroes across the nation who champion books and reading in their local communities. 'As a charity, we are constantly inspired by the work of individuals and organisations who work tirelessly to get books into the hands of people who will benefit from the transformative effects of reading, which as we know from our own research, are rooted in better mental health and increased social connection.' It comes after the King and Queen were forced to cancel their state visit to the Holy See and meeting with Pope Francis next month. Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday 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. Queen Camilla speaks with David Dimbleby and Bridgerton actress Adjoa Andoh (centre) King Charles III with Lady Sarah Chatto and Daniel Chatto From left to right: Adjoa Andoh, Miriam Margolyes, David Dimbleby, Duchess of Gloucester, Ken Follett, Queen Camilla, King Charles, Donna Tartt, Min Jin Lee, Dame Jilly Cooper, Freddie Fox, Sigourney Weaver and Jim Simpson '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. Meghan Markle is 'craving' fame and a jet-set billionaire lifestyle she thought she would marry into, insiders have claimed. The Duchess of Sussex 'wants to be a billionaire' and was shocked to realise Prince William and Kate would 'ultimately be in charge of her allowance', according to those in royal circles. This is said to have led to the couple moving to the US for sunnier skies and launching one business venture after another in a bid to fund their lavish lifestyle abroad. Meghan and Harry signed a 80million five-year Netflix deal in 2021, which includes her recent show. The Duchess also announced her new podcast on Lemonada Media earlier this month, after the couple's 20million Spotify deal ended early in 2023. The new show launching on April 8 is called 'Confessions Of A Female Founder', in which she promises to discuss turning 'small ideas into billion-dollar businesses'. Those in royal circles are also said to be concerned about Meghan's increasing use of the couple's children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, to promote her business. Meghan who stepped down as a senior royal along with husband Prince Harry in 2020 - posted a glossy picture of her cuddling them on both her personal and official As Ever sites. Just one hour later, the Duchess revealed she now has a 'ShopMy page' which experts say she is likely to cash in on as she rakes in 'millions' with her online shop selling fashion items she endorses in a commercial tie-up. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their wedding day in Windsor on May 19, 2018 Meghan recently announced she is launching a new podcast on smaller start-up Lemonada on April 8. This is Confessions Of A Female Founder, in which she promises to discuss turning 'small ideas into billion-dollar businesses' Meghan Markle was labelled as tacky amid growing discomfort around the Duchess seemingly using her children to promote business ventures The Duchess of Sussex, 43, gave her 2.6million Instagram followers a closer look inside her wardrobe when she launched an online shop A royal insider told The Sun: 'She wants to be a billionaire. She wants a private jet. She wants to live a certain life. 'The assumption is if you marry a Prince of England then you end up with a private jet and the lifestyle she craves. 'But when she realised William and Kate would ultimately be in charge of how much they got in terms of their allowance, she was saying, 'We gotta get out of here'.' When Meghan married the Prince, although Harry had savings and an inheritance, the purse strings were held by Charles via the Duchy of Cornwall. This gave around 5million to share between his sons. But when Charles became King in 2022, control of the funds passed to William. One of the reasons Meghan and Harry parted ways with the Royal Family was the monarchy's refusal to accept commercial endorsements by the couple. The Duchess, 43, 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.' The link opens to a ShopMy storefront and Meghan's first drop includes a 148 white linen shirt and Heidi Merrick's 'Windsor' gown for an eye-watering 1,068 The Duchess of Sussex has faced a critical backlash recently for her Netflix cookery series Her Netflix show was panned by critics, but the Duchess of Sussex is still confident that people want a slice of what she is selling. Meghan has doubled down by launching an Instagram 'shop' flogging clothing and accessories that she has 'hand-picked', earning commission on each item sold. 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. It came as Graydon Carter, the former editor of Vanity Fair, said the duchess was 'adrift on facts and reality'. Meghan was the star of one of Mr Carter's final editions as editor, in October 2017, with the cover line: 'She's just wild about Harry.' He admitted that he had 'no idea' who Meghan was when one of his team suggested her for the cover, asking them: 'Why should we do a story on her?' His colleague replied: 'Because she's going to marry Prince Harry.' This crossbody bag linked on Meghan's ShopMy site costs 712 This oversized linen shirt from the brand Reformation costs 128. White linen pants by J Crew come with a 123 price tag But when a Vanity Fair reporter interviewed Meghan, she apparently snapped: '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.' One of the most expensive items on her ShopMy site is a 1,070 ivory 'Windsor' Heidi Merrick gown the name of the royal estate in Berkshire where she and Prince Harry married and once lived. Then there are the Ariel Gordon 215 'royal signet' stud earrings and a 595 pair of tan Saint Laurent slides. A 271 black 'Storie' linen dress is sourced from California-based designer Tracy James, a new and good friend of Meghan who is helpfully married to the CEO of Paramount Pictures, Brian Robbins. Meghan's Instagram site was launched at the start of the year in advance of her 'With Love, Meghan' lifestyle programme and her soon-to-come As Ever range of merchandise. It now contains a ShopMy link with the message: 'A hand-picked and curated collection of the things I love I hope you enjoy them! Please note, some products may contain commissionable links.' The Duchess of Sussex is launching a new podcast called 'Confessions Of A Female Founder' Lemonada Media co-founders Jessica Cordova Kramer (left) and Stephanie Wittels Wachs Under the terms of Harry and Meghan's agreement with Buckingham Palace when they acrimoniously quit royal duties, there is nothing to stop her selling products as long as she doesn't nakedly cash in on her royal links. However, it is notable that the new scheme has been launched using her full title, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Yesterday, the trailer for her new podcast was released, with Meghan promising 'girl talk' and advice on how to create 'billion-dollar businesses'. 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. The duchess's 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: '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.' Meghan's Spotify contract ended in 2023 after one series of her first podcast Archetypes 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?' 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.' They've turned their back on tradition once again in a 'united' move as a pair Queen Mary and King Frederik of Denmark have diverted from tradition once again - and this time it surrounds their royal portrait. Guests are greeted by the royal portraits at the Danish embassy and for decades couples have always been photographed and hung in separate frames. But the modern royal couple, who have been in power for just over a year now, will appear in a joint portrait hung in the one smoked Danish oak frame. This, many have theorised, cements King Frederik's goal of being a co-leader with his wife and highlights the equality in their partnership. The Danish Royal House has not offered an official reason as to why the duo has veered from tradition, but it wouldn't be the first time. Fie West Madsen, a royal editor at Danish tabloid BT, believes the change reflects what King Frederik wrote in his book, the 'The King's Word'. '[He said] that he and Mary want to be a royal couple and do things together - and he really meant it,' she said. 'Even though King Frederik is the regent, such a combined portrait really signals that we have two equal partners in the royal couple.' For decades the royal couple have always had their individual portraits hung separately, tracing back decades. But now the official portraits of Queen Mary and King Frederik will be hung together in the one frame The Danish Royal House has not offered an official reason as to why the duo has veered from tradition, but it wouldn't be the first time Frederik has described Mary as his 'partner and wing woman' with whom he has a 'super dynamic' (pictured together in February, 2025) In an excerpt from his 110-page memoir Kongeord, King Frederik revealed Mary calls him out on what he learned from his 'patriarchal' father growing up. The surprise 'manifesto' was released in January, 2024, and was co-authored by Jens Andersen who wrote Frederik's biography in 2017. Amid thoughts on his role as king and his plans for the future, he appeared to hint at rumours about his alleged 'affair' with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova after they were photographed on a night out together in Madrid last year. 'I love marriage, my wife, our children and the whole happy base that arises for the people who manage to stay together and persevere,' he wrote. Frederik went on to say Mary is his 'partner and wing woman' with whom he has a 'super dynamic'. Frederik said his mother Queen Margrethe even acknowledged the couple's compatibility when they got married. 'I remember how my mother, Queen Margrethe, said in her wedding speech in 2004 that I had found peace and joy with Mary,' he said. Frederik officially ascended the throne on January 14, 2024, after Queen Margrethe stepped down following her 52-year reign. A psychic who successfully predicted dozens of global events in 2024 has warned of Donald Trump's 'improper management' of the US economy. Athos Salome, 38, from Brazil, is often referred to as the 'Living Nostradamus' as he's correctly predicted past disasters including the coronavirus pandemic, Queen Elizabeth's death and the Microsoft global outage. Now, Salome has issued a chilling warning about the president of the United States- saying Trump will likely create 'global economic instability'. With Donald Trump's return to the White House in January 2025, the US entered a new phase of political and economic transformation. His policies, especially in the technology and energy sectors, reflect a clear attempt to consolidate US dominance in the midst of an increasingly multipolar world. According to the psychic, Trump's decisions could trigger seismic changes in the international order, forcing the creation of new alliances to challenge American influence. Speaking to FEMAIL, Salome said: 'Since taking office, Trump has forged closer ties with tech giants, including Elon Musk (Tesla/SpaceX), Tim Cook (Apple) and leaders from Microsoft and Amazon. 'The government has taken a more flexible approach to regulation, accelerating the development of artificial intelligence and ensuring that big tech operates with fewer legal restrictions.' Athos Salome, 38, from Brazil, who successfully predicted dozens of global events in 2024 has warned of Donald Trump 's 'improper management' of the US economy Salome claimed this partnership further boosts the power of these corporations on the global stage. He added: 'Apple, for example, already exceeds the GDP of countries like Germany, which reinforces the economic influence of the United States. However, this strategy is not without risks. 'The European Union is struggling to impose strict rules on artificial intelligence, while China continues to invest heavily in technology to rival American dominance.' Salome warned that this strengthening of Silicon Valley could generate a global reaction. According the psychic, other nations will look for ways to limit the influence of American big tech, either through regulation or by encouraging the creation of local alternatives. In addition, he predicted that the uncontrolled advance of AI could lead to unexpected consequences, affecting both the economy and world politics. Salome said: 'Economic revamp of the American oil industry remains a priority for President Trump throughout his new presidential term. 'The governmental support for renewable energy has declined because new regulations allow fossil fuels to emerge as primary power sources. With Donald Trump's return to the White House in January 2025, the US entered a new phase of political and economic transformation 'ExxonMobil and Chevron together with other major sector companies now possess greater influence while government negotiations seek to raise domestic oil output in order to reduce import reliance. 'These changes in energy policy are causing increasing stress within the system. The strengthening energy capabilities of the United States create potential diplomatic issues with European nations who maintain their active pursuit of clean electrical sources. He continued: 'This move will create tensions in the global oil balance between the United States and Russia and Saudi Arabia who currently maintain top positions in global oil export.' According to the paranormal the improper management of this transformation has the potential to boost oil prices and possibly create global economic instability. Salome added: 'Populist discourse remains one of the main pillars of Trump's political strategy. To keep his base loyal, he reinforces a nationalist and conservative narrative, often polarising society with attacks on minorities and immigrants. 'His vice-presidential running mate, J.D. Vance, a former military officer and writer, has become a symbol of this rapprochement with the American working class.' But according to Salome, this division is no accident, as he revealed leaders throughout history have used 'internal conflicts' as a way of diverting focus from structural problems. He predicts that this growing polarisation could lead to major protests and social instability, testing Trump's governability in the coming years. On the international stage, Trump has adopted an aggressive stance against the BRICS. BRICS is an intergovernmental organisation consisting of ten countriesBrazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. New tariffs have been imposed on China, and trade tensions with Russia and India have increased. Salome added: 'However, there is a contradiction: even with the harsh tone against Beijing, China was the US president's first international destination after his inauguration, showing that the economic ties between the two powers are more complex than the political discourse suggests. 'At the same time, traditional US allies such as Japan, Germany and South Korea are wary of Trump's isolationist stance.' Salome predicts that this approach could accelerate the formation of new alternative economic blocs, which would weaken the US position in the long term. The big question, according to the psychic, is whether the BRICS will be able to turn this situation into a strategic advantage or whether Trump's moves will divide the group. He concluded: 'The outcome of this dispute could redefine the balance of world power in the coming decades.' A prankster has sparked a furious debate on whether it's acceptable to eat on public transport after staging a row on a London bus. With thousands of Christians currently giving up certain foods for Lent and Muslims fasting for Ramadan across the UK, it might be infuriating to spot others eating while travelling on public transport. In a clip, originally posted on TikTok last year, which has prompted a debate on X today, he can be seen asking a woman sitting nearby on the bus to stop eating her lunch because he could smell the food while he was fasting. The female bus passenger denied his request, telling him that his fast - which is observed by some Catholics on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday during Lent - was 'not my problem'. He once again politely asked her whether she could wait until she was off the bus to continue consuming her lunch, asking 'Don't you think you should have manners?' But the pair did not see eye to eye on the like matter, and the woman said that if he is bothered by her eating on the bus, he should move downstairs to allow her to continue eating in peace. The man continued to answer back to the woman before the video cut out, leaving viewers without a conclusion. While the row may have been staged, it has still raised a huge debate online, with viewers taking to the comment section to share their thoughts on whether it's acceptable to eat in public. A man sparked a debate online after sharing a staged clip where he asked an unnamed woman (pictured) on the bus to stop eating her lunch because he was fasting The exchange started by the fasting passenger saying to the woman eating her lunch, 'I can smell that. Do you mind eating somewhere else? I'm fasting'. The woman, clearly bothered by the request, responded by saying, 'That's not my problem'. When the man reiterated that he's fasting, she asked him 'So, why are you out? If you're fasting, you should be indoors. I'm eating my lunch, and you cannot disturb me.' He responded by saying that he 'can smell' the lady's lunch, but still, she hit back, adding, 'So what? Of course you're going to smell it'. The fasting passenger responded by asking her whether she could wait until she was off the bus to continue eating. She hit back and said: 'Don't tell me what to do. [If] you're fasting, stay indoors, and don't come and bother nobody on the bus.' The woman disagreed with the passenger, and told him to move downstairs if the smell of her lunch was bothering him The fiery conversation continued, and the female passenger told the man to 'go downstairs' if he was bothered by her eating. He responded: 'Don't you think you should have manners?' However, her decision did not budge, and she said: 'Go downstairs and leave me alone, it's my lunch'. Once again, he said: 'Like I said, I'm fasting, and I can smell it.' She responded: 'That's your business, stay indoors.' 'When I fast, I don't go out... Stay indoors, read your Bible, and keep quiet.' The passenger responded saying, 'I don't read the Bible,' before the video cut out. While the pair didn't reach a conclusion, many people on X shared, their opinions on the situation. Viewers took to the comment section to share their thoughts - and opinions were divided on the matter One said: 'Lady could have waited for some time to have her lunch.' Several people questioned whether it's against the rules on public transport to eat food, with multiple commenters saying that eating anything smelly is terrible etiquette. 'Eating on a bus is the sh*****t thing you can do on earth. I would not even stay near such a person. Who wants to smell garlic on a bus? That is disgusting,' one commented. However, others supported the right of the passenger to eat her lunch wherever she wanted. 'I technically fast at work, I generally don't eat lunch there, others do. Do I tell them not to eat? No. Because I choose not to eat a meal at work is not their problem,' one wrote. 'She may be on her way to work. Or from it. If he doesn't like the smell, he should get off the bus and walk', said third. Another added: 'Why should she wait, it's lunch, she's hungry and on a public bus.' Some were convinced that both were in the wrong, saying that the woman shouldn't be eating, and that someone fasting shouldn't expect others to adjust their behaviour. It comes after Windsor Castle made history earlier this month by hosting its first-ever Ramadan event inside St George's Hall. More than 360 guests from all backgrounds arrived for the Iftar - the fast-breaking evening meal for Muslims during the ninth month of Ramadan. The Berkshire-based royal residence welcomed attendees for Iftar for the first time in British history last year, but this year's location of St George's Hall is major upgrade from 2024, when it was held in the Learning Centre. The Royal Collection Trust website reads: 'Break fast with us this Ramadan at Windsor Castle! Open to people of all faiths and none, join us for a visit to the majestic State Apartments, followed by a meal after sunset in the magnificent St George's Hall.' Guests at the free-to-attend event started with a self-guided tour of the State Apartments at Windsor Castle before taking to St George's Hall, where State banquets are often held, for their 'very special Iftar meal'. Open Iftar, organised by the award-winning charity Ramadan Tent Project in collaboration with Royal Collection Trust, hosted similar events across the UK, including at Shakespeare's Globe and Brighton & Hove Albion FC. Omar Salha, Founder and CEO of Ramadan Tent Project, said: 'Breaking our fast and marking the holy month of Ramadan at Windsor Castle, one of the most famous and iconic royal landmarks in the world, is an incredibly surreal and poignant moment to share with people of all faiths and none. 'It serves as a powerful reminder of how proud we are to represent a pillar of Britain's rich cultural ecology celebrating community, belonging and inclusion. 'It is an honour to be welcomed back to host Open Iftar at some of Britain's most iconic and loved venues. 'To receive overwhelming interest from new partners and spaces across the capital and the UK is a beautiful tribute to Ramadan. 'Ramadan holds profound significance for millions observing across the UK and many more across the globe. It is a time of deep introspection, reflection, and self-discipline where we connect and engage in worship with family and friends through acts of service and charity. 'We are incredibly grateful to our partners, sponsors, and volunteers for supporting the work of Ramadan Tent Project in turning strangers into friends.' Meghan Markle had an awkward exchange with the chairwoman of Prince Harry's charity just months before it emerged a boardroom battle had shaken it to its core. The Duke of Sussex last night revealed 'unthinkable infighting' had led to his shock resignation from Sentebale, the charity he founded in 2006 in honour of Princess Diana to help young people in southern Africa living with HIV and AIDS. In a bombshell statement, Harry lamented the 'devastating' decision to quit as patron alongside co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, while his 'second dad' Mark Dyer also resigned as trustee. Several other trustees have left in the dispute with chairwoman Dr Sophie Chandauka who issued a stinging response taking aim at 'weak executive management' and appearing to criticise Harry for 'playing the victim card'. She also hit out at 'abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny and misogynoir [discrimination against black women]' at the charity. It can now be revealed that months ago, Dr Chandauka was involved in an awkward moment with the Duchess of Sussex at a polo event raising funds for Sentebale. In footage from April 2024, Meghan appeared to ask Dr Chandauka not to pose next to Harry as he celebrated the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in Wellington, Florida. The Duchess could initially be seen ordering people around a stage after handing Harry a trophy following the tournament at the USPA National Polo Center. Dr Chandauka, who was stood on the Duke's right, was asked twice by Meghan to move to her left side away from Harry, as he kept his arm around his wife. Others therefore had to shuffle around them to find a place, with Dr Chandauka awkwardly having to duck under the trophy to get into the position Meghan was asking her to stand in. Dr Chandauka then said something inaudible to her. Meghan Markle sparked an awkward moment when she asked Dr Sophie Chandauka not to stand next to Prince Harry for a picture after he won a polo tournament in Florida in April 2024 During the incident Dr Chandauka awkwardly had to duck under the trophy to get into the position Meghan wanted her to stand in next to her, before the group posed for a photograph Zimbabwe-born executive Dr Chandauka, who is based in New York City, has been involved with Sentebale since 2009 when she joined the board of trustees until 2015. The diversity campaigner then became chair in July 2023, succeeding Johnny Hornby who had served 11 years on the board and had been chair since March 2018. At the time, Dr Chandauka was praised by Harry for her 'experience, passion for social change and entrepreneurial spirit' which he said would be a 'tremendous benefit to Sentebale's next chapter'. And Dr Chandauka said upon taking the role that she had benefited from the 'privilege of a world-class education and career specifically because many people took a chance on me, the young girl from Zimbabwe, and gave me air cover when the odds were stacked against me'. Dr Chandauka is also the chair and co-founder of Nandi Life Sciences, a US based biotechnology company which develops therapeutics for rare cancers and auto-immune diseases. Her CV includes senior corporate roles leading strategy, legal and operations in technology, retail and investment banking. Dr Chandauka's jobs have included operating as head of Americas risk management and intelligence at Facebook parent company Meta, and global chief operating officer of shared services and banking operations at Morgan Stanley. Dr Sophie Chandauka stands between Nacho Figueras and Prince Harry, with Sentebale chief executive Richard Miller on the right after the polo tournament in Miami, Florida, in April 2024 Dr Sophie Chandauka poses for a photo by herself as she attends the Royal Salute Polo Challenge for Sentebale at Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida, in April 2024 She was also head of group treasury legal at the Virgin Money Group, and a senior associate at global firm Baker McKenzie, advising companies such as Nike, The Body Shop, Citibank, Macquarie Bank and Alliance Boots. Dr Chandauka is also a founder member of the Boston Chapter of Women Innovating Together in Healthcare (WITH Boston), chairs the Race Equity Group for The 30% Club, serves on the membership committee of The Executive Leadership Council (ELC), and is chair and executive founder of the Black British Business Awards. Dr Sophie Chandauka's statement in full '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 about issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir and the coverup that ensued. I could be anyone. 'I just happen to be an educated woman who understands that the law will guide and protect me. I will say nothing further on this matter at this time. 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. '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. '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.' Advertisement In 2021, Queen Elizabeth II awarded Dr Chandauka an MBE for services to diversity in business. She also serves on the advisory board of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies at the University of Notre Dame. As for more recent developments, Harry and Prince Seeiso last night issued a joint statement backing the trustees departing from Sentebale and said they had resigned as patrons. They said: '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. '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.' In response, Dr Chandauka said: '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.' She also claimed she had reported trustees to the Charity Commission and that the High Court had issued an emergency injunction to prevent her removal. However, a source told MailOnline that no such injunction had been issued. Dr Chandauka added: '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 coverup that ensued. 'I could be anyone. I just happen to be an educated woman who understands that the law will guide and protect me. I will say nothing further on this matter at this time.' Harry spent two months in the kingdom of Lesotho during his gap year when he was 19 in 2004, which inspired him to establish the charity two years later, which now also works in Botswana. He came face-to-face with Aids orphans, met other traumatised young people and visited herd boys living a harsh existence looking after cattle in remote mountain areas. The duke visited Lesotho and the prince as recently as last October, where he talked to a group of young people around a campfire about the 'massive difference' Sentebale was making. Former trustees Timothy Boucher, Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, Dr Kelello Lerotholi, and Damian West also released a statement saying their decision to resign was 'devastating' but was the 'result of our loss in trust and confidence in the chair of the board'. (From left) Sophie Chandauka, Singapore Polo Club president Lawrence Khong, Prince Harry, Nacho Figueras and former All Blacks player Dan Carter at the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup at the Singapore Polo Club in August 2023 (From left) Alix Lebec, founder and CEO of Lebec; Stacey Boyd, founder and CEO of Olivela; Hector Mujica, head of economic opportunity at Google; Prince Harry and chair Dr Sophie Chandauka MBE attend a Sentebale event in Johannesburg, South Africa, in October 2024 Sophie Chandauka and Prince Harry at The Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg in October 2024 (From left) Alix Lebec, founder and CEO of Lebec, Prince Harry and Sophie Chandauka during the Sentebale 'Potential is Waiting' panel at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Miami in April 2024 The statement said: 'We are deeply proud to have supported the visionary work of the Founding Patrons Prince Seeiso and Prince Harry, who founded Sentebale in memory of their mothers. '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.' Dyer had been an equerry to Prince Charles and helped co-ordinate Harry's gap year and travelled with him to Australia, Argentina and, at the invitation of Dyer's friend Prince Seeiso to Lesotho. The experience galvanised Harry into establishing Sentebale, in tandem with Seeiso, its co-founder. From the outset, one of its trustees was Dyer, known as 'Marko' to family and friends. In his memoir Spare, Harry wrote: 'Of all Pa's people there was consensus that Marko was the best. The roughest, the toughest, the most dashing.' Prince Harry and Sophie Chandauka (front right) at Sentebale's Mamohato Children's Centre with Let Youth Lead advocates from Botswana in Maseru, Lesotho, in October 2024 Sophie Chandauka at the Sentebale 'Potential is Waiting' panel in Miami Beach in April 2024 'For two decades, Sentebale has championed hundreds of thousands of children and young people, providing them with care, training and life skills, which not only benefit each individual child they support, but their families and their communities as a whole. '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. When Dyer married Amanda Klein an American in 2012, Harry was an usher. Dyer returned the favour in 2018 when Harry married Meghan at Windsor, with Dyer's son, Jasper Harry's godson on duty as a page boy. It's believed that 'Marko', 59, is a godfather to Archie, the older of Harry and Meghan's two children. The Duke and Prince Seeiso, who are understood to have resigned at the same time as the trustees, said they would be 'sharing concerns' with the Charity Commission. They 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 they've had to follow through with this act. 'What's transpired is unthinkable. We are in shock that we have to do this, but we have a continued responsibility to Sentebale's beneficiaries, so we will be sharing all of our concerns with the Charity Commission as to how this came about. Sophie Chandauka (far left) with Vince Cable, former leader of the Liberal Democrats, at the Black British Business Awards in 2014 Sophie Chandauka at a Sentebale event at The Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg in October 2024 '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.' Sentebale said it had not received resignations from either of the royal patrons and said the 'recalibration of the board is part of Sentebale's ambitious transformation agenda'. In a statement, a spokesperson said: 'We are pleased to confirm the restructuring of our Board on 25 March 2025 to introduce experts with the capabilities and networks to accelerate Sentebale's 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.' Harry's role at Sentebale was one of a small number of private patronages he retained after he was stripped of his royal patronages and honorary military positions by the late Queen in 2021 after his departure from the working monarchy was confirmed for good a year after Megxit. The Charity Commission said it was 'aware of concerns about the governance' of Sentebale. 'We are assessing the issues to determine the appropriate regulatory steps,' the commission said in a statement. The King has paid tribute to local journalism, describing it as a 'cornerstone' of democracy and one the nation would be 'poorer' without. In a message to celebrate the work of the regional media industry, Charles highlighted its importance in 'unifying' the nation, saying: 'I have long believed that regional media, in all its forms, has a unique and vital role to play in society, perhaps even more so in these uncertain times. 'As I said in a speech to mark the tercentenary of Britain's first daily national newspaper, back in 2002, the Press, alongside other long-standing institutions, is at the forefront of 'defining, describing and celebrating the more profound values of our nation'. 'Two decades on, when too much focus is given to that which divides us, that role for your whole industry is more important than ever - and it starts from the ground-up, at local level, in your hands. ' The King said that the work of local Press, television and radio in shining a light on 'injustice and wrongdoing' should also not be underestimated, nor should its role in promoting community cohesion. He said: 'Your reporting, and the work of all those who support you, helps amplify and reaffirm the rights and responsibilities we all share. It shines a light in dark corners, exposing injustice and wrongdoing. Above all, it helps strengthen our communities, in times of joy and at moments of sorrow. The King has paid tribute to local journalism, describing it as a 'cornerstone' of democracy and one the nation would be 'poorer' without. He is pictured earlier today King Charles is pictured visiting Somerset House earlier today The King said that the work of local Press, television and radio in shining a light on 'injustice and wrongdoing' should also not be underestimated, nor should its role in promoting community cohesion Charles and Camilla at Clarence House yesterday, where the Queen unveiled a medal which has been designed to recognise people who are championing literature in local communities 'You won't always get it right. A free media is one that will and does make mistakes. But at its best, it is a cornerstone of our democracy.' He acknowledged that the changing media landscape, including the rise of social media and the internet, had proved challenging for the industry but praised its attempts to diversify and adapt. 'I know how commercial pressures and changing technologies have had a significant impact on your industry,' he writes. 'But as the media landscape has changed, so too many of you have adapted and innovated, finding ways of sharing your journalism and engaging audiences in new and creative ways.' He concluded: 'It is in everyone's interests that you should succeed. For without a thriving and financially robust regional media, we would all be the poorer.' His message came as he and the Queen held a reception at Buckingham Palace for guests working in the sector, including reporters, editors and apprentices, as well as technical operators, producers and presenters. The King has been an Honorary Life Member of the London Press Club for almost 50 years while the Queen is patron of The Journalists' Charity. American Pickers star Mick Wolfe has opened up about whether marriage is on the cards with longtime love Leticia Cline. The History Channel star, 60, and his girlfriend were in high spirits on Monday as they celebrated the premiere of their new movie, Day of Reckoning. The TV personality will be seen acting alongside the likes of Titanic star Billy Zane and The Vampire Diaries actor Zach Roerig in the Shaun Silva-directed flick. As reporters on the red carpet quizzed if the business owner will be taking on any other new roles in life in the future, he made it clear that becoming a husband again wouldn't be one of them. 'Oh no, no,' Wolfe replied when asked by The U.S. Sun whether he was making any plans to propose soon. 'I've been divorced for what, three years now? I'm spending a lot of time with my daughter. She's 13.' He continued: 'But Leticia and I are doing some work with Harley Davidson, and we shot a commercial for them in Port Angeles, Washington. 'And we've been doing some tourism stuff in different parts of the country. So no, we're just enjoying traveling together right now.' Mike's ex-wife Jodi filed for divorce in July 2021, listing their date of separation as June 2020. American Pickers star Mick Wolfe has opened up about whether marriage is on the cards for himself and longtime love Leticia Cline The smitten couple first went public with their romance in August 2021 Elsewhere, his girlfriend - whom he first went public with in August 2021 - confirmed that the pair are focused on 'enjoying our lives.' She gushed: 'We get to travel and we both are very busy people, so it works well for us. We got a thing with Harley Davidson that we're doing later this year.' Leticia also revealed that the couple has no plans on living together as they continue to carry out their romance from different states. Leticia resides in Cave City, Kentucky - where she runs cafe business, Ace Coffee - while Mike lives two hours away in Leipers Fork, Tennessee. She noted: 'I don't know how I'm going to be able to move down there, to be honest, but we're only two hours away, and I need my space. But I don't know. We'll see. We're always together.' Wolfe - who owns two Antique Archeology businesses - will play a character named Mark in the new movie, while his partner will be starring as 'Herself.' The synopsis for the movie reads: 'A struggling sheriff teams up with a tough U.S. Marshal to detain a cunning female outlaw. 'As tensions rise within their posse, they must face an approaching gang led by the prisoner's violent husband.' 'Oh no, no,' Wolfe replied when asked whether he was making any plans to propose soon Mike's ex-wife Jodi filed for divorce in July 2021, listing their date of separation as June 2020 (seen in 2019) Last year, Mike gave fans a sneak peek of his cameo as he shared images of himself and Leticia on a motorcycle. 'Threw my hat in the ring yesterday on the scripted side of things. @shaunmfsilva You want to do a movie? Dude I've never done that before You'll be fine man,' he wrote in the caption. 'When there's bikes @billyzane @thescottadkins @zach_roerig and @leticiacline I'm all in Thanks for an epic day y'all.' Mike found fame after American Pickers debuted in 2010 and became one of the History Channel's most popular programs. The series saw the star and late friend Frank Fritz traveling across the U.S. in search of rare Americana artifacts and national treasures to add to their collections or sell in their antique shops. Frank eventually departed the series in 2020 to undergo back surgery, and then he suffered a stroke in 2022 as a result of cerebral vascular disease. He never fully recovered from his health woes and it was revealed that Frank died on September 30 last year at 60 years of age. However, fans were delighted to learn that Mike and his pal had patched up their differences in 2022. After Frank passed, Mike noted that he 'felt blessed' to be by his side as he 'took one last journey home.' Mike is currently filming the new season of the show alongside Jon Szalay. Jo Cruse can never forget what she went through, giving birth to her three-year-old daughter. Broken physically and mentally, it was the kind of experience every expectant mother dreads. Which makes the word Jo uses when describing it very surprising. Lucky. She feels lucky that, amid the agony, she felt a surge of love holding her daughter for the first time. Lucky that her daughters early years have not been tainted by her birth. And, yes, lucky that they are both alive. I frequently hear women use the word lucky when it comes to giving birth and I often think of myself as lucky, says Jo. Why? Some 18 months after her daughters birth, Jo was reading a report into maternity care in the UK. One line caught her attention. The single biggest killer of mothers between six weeks and 12 months post-partum is suicide. She says: Learning that did something to me because I could see how I could have been one of those women. 'At the most vulnerable moment of our lives, women were being failed in the most profound way. And it felt like no one was doing anything about it. Jo Cruse (pictured) suffered the kind of experience every expectant mother dreads when she gave birth to her daughter Jo is one of the women nominated in the Daily Mails 2025 Inspirational Women Awards That realisation spurred Jo, who lives in Hampshire, on a remarkable mission. Ten months ago, she founded Delivering Better, a campaign group calling for greater continuity of care throughout pregnancy and after birth. The campaigns extraordinary success has seen her nominated in the Daily Mails 2025 Inspirational Women Awards. In December, the group published a survey revealing that one in four new mothers had a negative birthing experience. Overall, 54 per cent said they had physical health problems while 44 per cent had mental health issues. Underneath the statistics are thousands of mothers broken by births, suffering in silence, says Jo, who is now 39 and balances a day job in leadership development with her charity work. She was thrilled when she discovered she was pregnant in early 2021. With her husband, she enrolled in antenatal classes. Jo says: My dad is a doctor and I had a sense of respect and trust for the NHS. I just wanted my daughter to be safe. For myself, I didnt want to be in unmanaged pain. She is all too aware of the irony in these words. Jo, a former teacher, founded Delivering Better, a charity calling for greater continuity of care throughout pregnancy and after birth Jos contractions began on a Saturday evening in October 2021. She laboured at home until the following evening, when she went to hospital. There, she was judged not sufficiently dilated to proceed further and was sent home. By the time she returned to hospital on Monday morning, she had endured two sleepless nights and was almost unconscious with pain. The former teacher begged for pain relief and was given a cannula in preparation for an epidural. But she was then told she would have to wait. Distressed, she told midwives she had not been able to pass urine for hours something that can increase the risk of later bladder problems and make birth more difficult but was ignored. She was not on a labour ward, no monitoring of mother or baby was being done and only her husband was with her when she started to feel the urge to push. When midwives arrived, Jo was told she was fully dilated but there was now no time for an epidural. She would need an episiotomy, an incision through the perineum, to help her baby arrive. Then I was told there was no time for that either, I was basically going to have to split myself in half, say Jo. Midwives realised my daughter was in distress and would need to be delivered quickly. I remember this moment of knowing this would mean doing something terrible to my body. The pain that Jo suffered while giving birth to her daughter would leave her with serious physical consequences for years The pain was extraordinary and indescribable. It would leave her suffering serious physical consequences for years she still experiences bladder issues. The situation worsened when an infection in her stitches was repeatedly missed in post-birth check-ups, meaning multiple courses of antibiotics. The drugs seemed to upset her daughters tummy so she stopped breastfeeding temporarily, only to find her milk supply had dwindled when she tried to resume it. Then there was the debilitating impact of replaying the birth in her mind. Again and again. When I got home I started having hallucinations, says Jo. I started seeing insects crawling out of my bedroom wall. It was the day members of our family came to meet our little girl. I remember telling myself I had to get it together, ignore the creatures coming out of the walls and go downstairs. I needed to smile and show I was a good mum. It was not until 18 months on, when she told a therapist she was still having flashbacks, that she was diagnosed with PTSD. Getting treatment helped but Jo began to wonder what she could do for others in the same situation. She says: I was left feeling that something awful had happened to me, and I was going to live with the consequences for the rest of my life. 'What shifted was when I understood it was avoidable. I just could not understand how this was being allowed to happen. In May last year, Jo posted on Instagram saying she had written a submission to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Birth Trauma. Within 48 hours, she had joined forces with three other mothers to set up Delivering Better If you think about one in four women having a negative birth experience and 600,000 in England and Wales give birth every year, thats 150,000 women. Thats a major public health issue. In May last year, Jo posted on Instagram saying she had written a submission to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Birth Trauma. It triggered an outpouring of support. Within 48 hours, she had joined forces with three other mothers to set up Delivering Better. Today, Jo is a single mother. Her marriage ended suddenly last year and she has no doubt her birth experience played a part. In happier times, she had hoped for a second child. But now shes not sure she will ever feel ready. Still, Jo stresses that she feels profoundly grateful and fulfilled. And she is steadfast in her desire to effect change. Maternal mortality is at the highest it has been for almost 20 years, she says. The only way this is going to change is a coalition effort. Jo couldn't raise the alarm when she was giving birth to her own daughter but now, through Delivering Better, she can I should have been listened to. When I said I think Im going to deliver early. When I went into hospital and said, I feel uneasy, can I stay? but was sent home. When I begged them repeatedly for pain relief. When I said, I think theres something wrong with my stitches and I was told to have a shower and eat more meat when in fact I had a dangerous infection. Jo adds: At the most vulnerable moment of my life, I begged for help but was left to feel completely expendable. As hard as I tried, I couldnt raise the alarm when I was in hospital but I can now. https://deliveringbetter.org/ Do YOU know an inspirational campaigner, carer or activist? Here's how to nominate her for our awards We all know them the women determined to make a difference in their communities. That might be by raising funds, championing underdogs or campaigning for causes. That's why we've launched the Daily Mail's Inspirational Women Awards 2025, in partnership with disability charity Sense, and sponsored by Marks & Spencer. We want you to nominate extraordinary women from every walk of life. Five finalists will be chosen to attend a charity gala on Thursday, June 5. Your browser does not support iframes. Each winner receives a crystal trophy and a 500 M&S gift voucher. There are no cash alternatives to the prizes. Full terms apply. Read before entering at dailymail.co.uk/inspirationalwomenawards2025. There is one thing that couples are doing that could be harming relationships before they even start soft launching. The trend of soft launching is when you post something on social media that subtly hints at a relationship before any kind of announcement. This can be done by posting someone's hand on your leg, someone's back as they walk in front of you, or it can be as subtle as two coffee cups on a table. Though it may seem harmless, it can actually halt the beginnings of a relationship. DailyMail.com spoke with dating and social media experts to understand what this trend means for a relationship. Ashwini Nadkarni MD, the Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, said soft launching on social media can create 'distrust' in the relationship. 'Soft-launching effectively means gauging the world's perceptions of your relationship before you've had a chance to be explicit about its true nature,' she explained to FEMAIL. 'Thus, partners are often assessing how others will react. The influence of others' perception of your relationship can potentially trigger feelings of distrust. DailyMail.com spoke with dating and social media experts to understand what soft launching means for a relationship (stock image) 'For instance, if the world reacts in a negative way, do you trust that your partner won't be bothered by this? Do you trust the strength of your connection to your partner? 'Relying on your partner to be confident in this time period [and sustain confidence in yourself] that you won't get hurt is necessary to both build a sense of safety and vulnerability. 'On the other hand, behaving with distrust can ruin the relationship before it fully starts.' Dr. Marisa T. Cohen, PhD, LMFT, a dating and relationship expert at Hily, argued that a person who is part of a soft launch, but doesn't want to be kept private might feel like they are being intentionally hidden from their partner's friends. 'They may also feel as if their lives are not being completely integrated and may even question the status of their relationship,' she detailed to DailyMail.com. She also added: 'Outside of the relationship itself, friends and family may view it as a manipulative way to gain attention. 'Not that you have an obligation to share your private life with everyone [or anyone for that matter], but you are sharing just enough to pique people's interest, but aren't providing them with any information.' There is also a performative nature that comes with the act of posting an ambiguous picture of someone you're seeing. The trend of soft launching is when you post something on social media that subtly hints at a relationship (stock image) Kintija Sluka, Head of PR & Performance at One March PR, explained the dangers of soft launching from the perspective of a social media expert. 'Soft-launching a relationship might seem harmless or even kind of fun but from a social media perspective, it can actually create way more pressure than people realize,' she revealed to FEMAIL. 'It can become this performance where instead of just enjoying getting to know someone, you're testing the waters with your followers first. 'A sneaky hand in a story, a blurry dinner date, or some cryptic caption it's all designed to spark curiosity and get people talking. But when you're building something new, bringing in that level of outside attention too soon can mess with the natural pace of things. 'You're no longer just dating the person, you're also managing a low-key PR campaign about your love life, and that can be a lot for some people.' She explained that the performative element of the act can make things 'feel less genuine.' 'If you're posting with the hope of getting a reaction, maybe to make an ex jealous, show you've "moved on," or just to get validation, it can often put the focus on how the relationship looks instead of how it feels. 'And even if the person you're seeing doesn't mind the soft launch, there's a good chance they're aware of it too. This can be done by posting someone's hand on your leg, someone's back as they walk in front of you, or it can be as subtle as two coffee cups on a table (stock image) 'That silent pressure to make the "launch" successful, will people care? Will they approve? Which can lead to unnecessary tension or awkwardness really early on. 'It's important to understand that every situation is different, but this is something to always keep in mind.' She said - from a social media expert's point of view - soft launching is 'turning your personal life into content before there's even anything solid to share.' 'We've trained ourselves to think in terms of engagement and audience reaction, but not every part of life needs to be filtered through that lens. Especially not something as personal as a new relationship,' she stated. 'The truth is, if you're already worried about how your followers will respond before you've even defined what the relationship is, it might be worth stepping back and asking who you're really doing it for.' Sydney health expert Sally O'Neil revealed why she never drinks oat milk Oat milk may be the go-to dairy alternative for countless Australians, but one leading nutritionist has issued a warning: it's not as healthy as you think. Sally O'Neil, from Sydney, has called out the popular plant-based milk, claiming that a single cup can pack the same amount of carbohydrates as four slices of white bread - a shocking fact for those who assumed it was a low-carb option. 'Spoiler alert: oat milk is not a healthy alternative,' she wrote, explaining that the processing method involves industrial enzymes breaking down oats into a slurry that's 'anything but natural'. But the problems don't stop there. While some brands are healthier than others, many add vegetable oils to create a creamy texture. O'Neil warns these can become rancid quickly, potentially contributing to inflammation in the body. She also says the manufacturing process strips oats of their natural nutrients, meaning many brands must artificially fortify their products. Worse still, some contain up to 16g of added sugar per serving - which is the same as four teaspoons. Sally O'Neil [pictured], from Sydney, has called out oat milk, revealing that a single cup can pack the same amount of carbohydrates as four slices of white bread For those with sensitive stomachs, oat milk could also be a nightmare. The thickeners and stabilisers used to keep it shelf-stable can cause digestive issues. Even if you opt for an organic brand without additives, O'Neil argues it's still a processed carbohydrate-heavy beverage that's naturally high in sugar. Instead, she recommends unsweetened almond milk for a lower-carb alternative or organic whole milk for those who tolerate dairy. Her warning has already sparked panic among oat milk lovers. 'Yikes, I drink a gallon of this stuff a day!' one shocked commenter wrote. 'I just can't stand the taste of milk and it makes me feel sick,' another dejected Aussie revealed. With oat milk's health halo now under scrutiny, Australians may need to rethink their cafe orders. Oat milk may be the go-to dairy alternative for countless Australians, but one leading nutritionist has issued a warning: it's not as healthy as you think What about other milk alternatives? It's not just oat milk in the spotlight - coconut milk, which is often used in frothy hot milk drinks, is high in saturated fat and can cause cholesterol levels to spike, experts warn. Just one cup of coconut milk makes up almost a quarter of the average adult's daily saturated fat intake. 'While coconut milk sold in a carton in the milk aisle is a more diluted product than the type of canned coconut milk used for cooking, it still can contain more fat than some other milk alternatives and is fairly low in protein,' revealed nutritionist Clarissa Lenherr. While a cup of skimmed milk contains roughly 8g of protein, the same amount of coconut milk contains none. 'Coconut milk can sometimes contain gums that are used as thickeners, and if not, many brands add rice milk to it, so always check the labels,' Ms Lenherr added. Many plant-based milks that are claimed to have no added sugar still contain rice milk as a sweetener. Like sugar, however, rice milk has a high glycaemic index and carbohydrate content, which can impact blood sugar levels. Rice milk is also not recommended for children under the age of five due to the small levels of arsenic it contains. Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more A major UK supermarket has banned shoppers from buying more than two bars of chocolate that has caused online craze. Waitrose added the popular Lindt Dubai Style Chocolate to selected stores on Sunday, and it's become the store's fastest-selling confectionery product. The flavour has proven popular with chocolate lovers in the UK after videos were share of it on TikTok, with stores such as M&S, Lidl, and Morrisons also selling the delicious treat. The bar, filled with pistachio cream and crispy kataifi - shredded phyllo dough - and is inspired by a Middle Eastern dessert called knafeh, was first created by Dubai-based Sarah Hamouda. Hamouda created the bar during her pregnancy as a tribute to one of her favourite childhood deserts. Waitrose have promised to restock on March 31, however the chain advised customers to 'be quick as once they're gone, they're gone'. They have since announced that shoppers are restricted to two bars per person so all their customers have a chance to purchase the popular bar. Steve Dresser, CEO of Grocery Insight, posted a photo of new signage in a Waitrose store on LinkedIn. 'No more than 2 bars per person please because we want everyone to have the chance to enjoy our delicious chocolate. Thank for your understanding,' the sign read. Waitrose has banned shoppers from buying more than two bars of chocolate that has caused online craze A spokesman for Waitrose told The Grocer that the limit was introduced to regulate stock levels of the 10 bars. A representative said: 'Due to the incredible popularity of this product, we want to make sure that as many customers as possible have the opportunity to try it.' The chocolate bar has also landed in Selfridges, shoppers can purchase four different versions, including a bar made in Dubai by Bateel (5) in pistachio and hazelnut flavours, larger bars from Godiva (25), Vivel (25), or Laderach's FrischSchoggi (10.50). Discussing the release, Andrew Bird, Selfridges Head of Food, said: 'Dubai Chocolate is the sweet-treat must-have for 2025; its flying off shelves. 'It's been hugely popular across social media and understandably, our customers have been desperate to try it and find out what the fuss is all about. We can't wait to see what they think of our new range!' Meanwhile, TikTok users have taken to the platform to show the variations they've purchased at different UK supermarkets. UK-based Kieran Slade located Lindt's version in Sainsburys, writing: 'I've been trying to find the Lindt Dubai chocolate bar in UK for ages but it's finally available in Sainsbury's, so be quick before it sells out!' Elsewhere, a user who goes by @vogue_of_phoenix, managed to snag a bar of Lidl's version in Switzerland - and told her followers there's a chance it's available in the UK. Waitrose added the popular Lindt Dubai Style Chocolate to selected stores on March 23, and it's become the store's fastest-selling confectionery product Waitrose have promised to restock on March 31, however the chain advised customers to 'be quick as once they're gone, they're gone' She told her followers: 'Run don't walk to Lidl'. Anni Olivia Tukeva from Stockholm also shared Lidl's version with her followers - and appeared impressed with the taste. Another TikTok user called Niky, who goes by @zazarich1, spotted a Dubai-style chocolate bar in Morrisons. Niky wrote alongside the caption: 'Guys, run to Morrisons [for] 5 chocolates'. Lindt released its 'Dubai style' chocolate bar inspired by the viral treat back in December. Stefan Bruderer, Master Chocolatier at Lindt & Sprungli said: 'We're always tapped into consumer trends. 'After we saw how well the Dubai chocolate craze went down on social media, we knew we had to get involved and put our very own twist on it.' Lindt's Dubai Style Chocolate is available in select stores across the UK, including Bicester Village, Leeds Trinity, McArthurGlen (Cheshire Oaks) and Bluewater, Dartford. BATEEL Dubai Pistachio Kunafa Chocolate Bar 40g British retailer Selfridges is selling the famous Dubai-inspired chocolate bar in multiple variations, including with hazelnut TikTok user Anni (pictured) tried Lidl's variation of the famous chocolate bar - and appeared impressed In November, hundreds of shoppers queued up in the rain for hours in the western German city of Aachen to get their hands on the bar - with only 100 on offer. The most dedicated chocoholics said they travelled over 4,000 miles to get their hands on the sweet treat. With their camping chairs and waterproof jackets in hand, customers entering the store were greeted with staff members in white chef outfits and offered a sample of the Dubai style chocolate. They were then ushered over to buy a single bar bearing a unique number to add an element of exclusivity. Speaking to the Independent after leaving the Lindt store in Aachen with the bar in hand, Zi Cheng Lai, 23, from Malaysia, said: 'It's a hype, a trend on social media, with people waiting in long lines. 'We want to try it out here and be part of it.' Elsewhere in Stuttgart, Leon Faehnle said: 'I waited 10 hours. I've been here since midnight just to taste this chocolate.' Tasting the viral bar in New York, Angelina told her followers on TikTok that it was a 'dream'. The London-based creator said the chocolate featured a swirl design that looked like 'a piece of art painted by Vincent Van Gogh' and was 'creamy milky perfection' that melted in her mouth. But Lindt can't take all the credit as the Dubai style chocolate was created in 2021 by British-Egyptian entrepreneur Sarah Hamouda. The Dubai-based businesswoman founded Fix Dessert Chocolate as a response to her pregnancy cravings and love of dessert, with 'Fix' standing for 'freaking incredible experience'. 'To be honest, not at any point did I think this was going to become global,' Sarah told CNN. 'It's insane what's been happening,' she added in response to the demand for the 'Can't Get Knafeh of it' bar from people all over the world. This is certainly apparent over on X, where people are issuing shout-outs to Dubai residents to help them source a bar. 'Whoever is travelling back from Dubai to London could you get me a fix dessert chocolatier chocolate bar cause I'm dying to try it,' wrote one fan. While another said: 'I need to go to Dubai and try Fix Dessert chocolates immediately.' And a third wrote: 'I'm gonna buy that fix dessert knafeh flavored chocolate bar once I get back to Dubai.' For Hamouda, creating Fix has been a labour of love. She said: 'We take a lot of time and effort, and put a lot of love into our bars. While many of us are able to stop our hiccups by drinking water, an elderly man was left endlessly hiccupping for years until doctors discovered his mysterious condition. A 93-year-old Lebanese man who had been hiccupping for over two years was admitted to his local hospital for fatigue when the hiccups intensified and he was hiccupping nonstop for two weeks. According to the case report, the patient had previously found no relief with any prescribed medication including a muscle relaxant, an antipsychotic medication sometimes used for chronic hiccups and drugs used to treat acid reflux, which can cause chronic hiccups. After a series of blood tests, doctors found his white blood cell count to be 9,000 per microliter of blood, within the typical range, but his level of eosinophils - a type of white blood cell that protects the body from parasites, bacteria and allergens - was 18 percent, well above the normal range. As a result, the man underwent a biopsy of his esophagus, which showed he was suffering from eosinophilic esophagitis, a chronic immune condition that causes an accumulation of eosinophil cells in the esophagus. Without proper treatment, this inflammation can lead to scar tissue and cause the esophagus to narrow - making it difficult to swallow and cause food to get stuck. The experts noted it was possible the buildup of cells in his esophagus may have been sending false impulses to a major nerve in the man's diaphragm, which triggers hiccupping. A 93-year-old Lebanese man was found suffering from eosinophilic esophagitis after he spent two years hiccupping (stock image) Hiccups are repetitive and uncontrolled spasms or sudden movements of the diaphragm, the muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen. The hiccup reflex is often triggered by things like eating or drinking too quickly or irritation of the vagus and phrenic nerves that control the diaphragm. An estimated 472,380 Americans suffer from eosinophilic esophagitis and while it can affect anyone, it is rarely diagnosed in adults above the age of 70. The condition usually causes heartburn, chest discomfort and regurgitation of food. In some cases, it may even lead to abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. However, the Lebanese man did not present any such symptoms. Dr Louis Chaptini, senior author of the new case report said: 'That's the part that makes this case so fascinating. 'The patient didn't have the classic symptoms. No heartburn. No food impaction. Just hiccups that wouldn't go away.' Despite being able to identify his condition through his blood test, the experts involved found it difficult to understand how eosinophilic esophagitis was causing him to constantly hiccup. Ultimately, they theorized the buildup of eosinophils in his esophagus might have triggered impulses in the vagal nerve. Dr. Louis Chaptini, senior author of the new case report noted that the patient did not show any regular symptoms of the condition To test the theory, the doctors gave him a topical steroid to use, which helped cure his hiccups and he found relief within a week. His eosinophil count also dropped back to a normal level. Doctors concluded: 'EoE should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients presenting with chronic refractory hiccups even when the typical symptoms of EoE are lacking, and prompt treatment with topical steroids should be considered.' While there is no cure for the condition, treatments such as steroids and an acid blocker like a proton pump inhibitor can help address the inflammation and manage symptoms. The case was published in the Journal of Medical Case Reports on March 6. READ MORE: Parenting choice that may lower children's autism risk by 30% Rapidly rising autism rates could be due to over diagnosis and poor diagnostic criteria, a study suggests. Using an AI algorithm, researchers in Canada combed through more than 4,000 clinical reports from children being evaluated for autism to measure which criteria was most often used to diagnose autism. The criteria were sourced from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), the gold standard in diagnosing mental conditions. Diagnostic criteria for autism in the DSM-5 includes behavior like avoiding eye contact, highly limited interests, repetitive movements, and trouble forming friendships or having back and forth conversations, among other signs. The study found social-related behaviors like nonverbal communication and forming relationships weren't specific to an Autism diagnosis - they weren't found much more in people diagnosed with autism than people not diagnosed. However, repetitive movements - also called 'stimming' - and hyperfixations were strongly linked to an autism diagnosis. The researchers said the findings suggest doctors are over diagnosing autism based on the social-related factors and aren't spending enough time looking at behaviors like stimming, which are more closely aligned with the condition. They argued streamlining autism evaluations to focus more on non-social behaviors with AI programs used to evaluate language would make diagnosing autism more 'effective and efficient,' as social behaviors are harder to evaluate. It would also help patients get access to appropriate therapies and treatments faster. While there is no cure for autism, there are some therapies like applied behavioral anaylsis (ABA) and medications thought to improve behaviors. A new study suggests autism may be over diagnosed due to diagnostic criteria that needs to be re-evaluated (stock image) Your browser does not support iframes. Dr Danilo Bzdok, a neuroscientist at the Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital and Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute in Canada, said: 'In the future, large language model technologies may prove instrumental in reconsidering what we call autism today.' The new study, published Wednesday in the journal Cell, analyzed 4,200 observational clinic reports from 1,080 children in Quebec being evaluated for autism. The researchers tailored a large language modelling program - a type of AI that processes and understands language - to look through these reports and predict if an autism diagnosis would be given. Of the 1,080 participants, 429 were diagnosed with autism by doctors. Included children were seven years old on average. The researchers fed the DSM-5's seven criteria descriptions into the AI model. These are: difficulties sharing interests with others or having conversations, difficulties in non-verbal communication like making eye contact, difficulties maintaining relationships with other people, repetitive movements and mimicking, rigid adherence to routines or extreme resistance to change, highly restricted interests, and increased sensitivity to sensory stimulation. Using the AI model, the researchers argued patients diagnosed with autism were most likely to exhibit non-social behaviors highlighted in the DSM-5's criteria like repetitive behaviors, echolalia, highly restricted interests, or sensory issues. The experts suggested that, given the findings, it may be more efficient to focus on non-social behaviors when evaluating a child for autism rather than social ones. The above graphic shows the behaviors the AI program found was most often linked to an autism diagnosis They also argued for diagnostic criteria to be re-evaluated to make diagnoses more accurate and it less likely for autism to be over diagnosed. The team noted there were several limitations, including less data on older children who may exhibit different signs. The study comes as the US faces a surge in autism diagnoses. According to the latest CDC data, one in 36 children in the US have autism - just under 2million. In the early 2000s, this number was closer to seven in 1,000. Generally, most with the disorder are diagnosed by age five, though some can be tested as young as two. Research published last year in JAMA Network Open found between 2011 and 2022, autism diagnoses in children between ages five and eight rose 175 percent, from two per 1,000 people to six per 1,000. However, the biggest increase was among young adults ages 26 to 34, with a 450 percent jump, which suggests they were delayed in getting a diagnosis. Along with environmental exposures, experts have noted the rise of autism is partly due to doctors getting better at detecting it. However, autism advocacy groups have said the causes of autism are not fully understood and many experts suggest there isn't one specific cause. Doctors have revealed a health update on Bruce Willis after his family shared rare photos to celebrate his 70th birthday as he battles a debilitating condition. America's favorite action star announced two years ago he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a form of dementia that causes a gradual decline in the areas of the brain linked to personality and language abilities. While the star has mostly stayed out of the spotlight since his diagnosis, photos posted by his ex wife Demi Moore and his five children in honor of his birthday revealed Willis smiling and surrounded by family. Viewing the photos, posted on March 19, physicians who are not involved in the actor's care noted he appeared to have a 'masked expression' and had a 'little less emotion,' both features attributable to his disease. Doctors also said he appeared to be constantly looking away from the camera and off to the side, another symptom of FTD. Comparing the latest images to those from his 69th birthday, they saw only minor changes which may show his treatment regimen is helping to ease symptoms of the disease but doctors pointed out that they would expect to see few physical changes in someone with this form of dementia, saying its impact occurs inside the body, not visibly on the outside. Dr Stuart Fischer, an emergency medicine physician in New York City, told DailyMail.com: 'The tragic thing to me is that these Instagram photos are deceptively normal. That is the real tragedy of Bruce's situation. 'This illness, it really doesn't effect the outside of the body. It is what's going on inside the body that is causing it.' Bruce Willis is pictured above with part of his family in a post shared by ex-wife Demi Moore for his 70th birthday The doctors did not examine Willis in person, and said they were only relying on a few photos which could paint an incomplete picture of the situation. Frontotemporal dementia is one of the less common forms of the disease, with about 50,000 to 60,000 sufferers in the US. Overall, more than 7million people nationwide are estimated to have some form of dementia. Frontotemporal dementia affects the frontal lobe of the brain, crucial for high-level cognitive functions like planning, decision-making and personality and expressive language, and the temporal lobes, crucial for processing sounds and memories. Symptoms start as a loss of empathy, difficulty understanding others and trouble with language, but can progress to being unresponsive to loved ones, becoming mute and having trouble with movement and swallowing. There is no cure for the disease, but some drugs and therapies may be prescribed that can help to ease symptoms by boosting chemicals like dopamine in the brain. The doctors said it was possible he was receiving regular therapy to help with his speech and cognition. However, on average, patients die about seven years after their diagnosis. The latest photos of Willis were shared by ex-wife Demi Moore, who wrote in the caption: 'Happy birthday, BW! We love you.' The post has been liked more than 760,000 times and has been flooded with comments from well-wishers. Assessing Willis' health in the photos, Dr W Chris Winter, a neurologist from Virginia, said: 'He... appears to have a bit of a masked face that has a little less expression. 'He looks good, and it is good to see him surrounded by his family, but he is kind of frozen a little bit.' Bruce Willis is pictured above in another post the following day. America's favorite action hero is suffering from frontotemporal dementia Bruce Willis is shown above in a picture shared on Instagram for his 70th birthday He added: 'I had a family member with this condition, and all the pictures that we took with him he too was looking off to the side. 'He wasn't engaged in the photo-taking process, so he was just a little bit more disconnected.' Dr Ozan Toy, a psychiatrist in New Jersey, added: 'It is very challenging to ascertain how well a patient is doing from photos or video clips alone. '[But] there are ups and downs in patients with FTD, some days can be better than others.' Willis' diagnosis with frontotemporal dementia was first revealed in February 2023, and followed it being revealed he had aphasia, a condition that affects language, in March 2022. Your browser does not support iframes. Experts later said aphasia can be a symptom of his form of dementia, rather than a cause of the disease. In an interview about his health in December, Demi Moore said: 'He's in a very stable place at the moment. 'I've shared this before, but I really mean this so sincerely it's so important for anybody who's dealing with this to really meet them where they're at.' His daughter Tallulah added in September: 'He's doing stable, which, in this situation, is good and is hard. 'There's painful days, but there's so much love.' She added: 'It's really shown me to not take any moment for granted, and I really do think that we'd be best friends. I think he's very proud of me. You have to be in the moment. You have to be present.' Asked in the same interview if Willis was aware of what was going on, his current wife Heming Willis said: 'It's hard to know.' A pig's liver has been transplanted into a human recipient for the first time in a milestone for organ transfers between animals and people. Scientists in China used a liver taken from a seven-month old Bama miniature pig which had been genetically modified to reduce the risk of rejection. Once removed, it was kept alive using a medical solution and chilled to 0-4C. During the nine-hour-long surgery the recipient a 50-year-old clinically dead man whose family had authorised the procedure had the donor liver stitched to his blood vessels in his abdomen alongside his own liver. Over the next 10 days, the donor liver successfully produced bile and maintained a stable blood flow. The team hope that rather than a long-term solution, their procedure could one day be used as a temporary treatment for patients with liver failure while they wait for a human donor. In the UK, there are more than 11,000 deaths due to liver disease each year. Around 700 people are currently on the waiting list for a transplant, and the average wait is three to four months. The announcement follows a slew of recent breakthroughs, including transplanting a pigs heart into a man and a woman currently living with a pigs kidney. The surgery team at Xijing Hospital implanting the genetically modified pig liver into a person as part of a nine-hour procedure Your browser does not support iframes. Professor Lin Wang, one of the studys authors from the Fourth Military Medical University in Xian, said: The liver collected from the modified pig functioned very well in the human body. Its a great achievement. This surgery was really successful. We examined the blood flow in the different vessels and arteries. The flow is very smooth. It functioned very well. The experiment was terminated after 10 days because of requests made by the patients family members. The findings, published in the journal Nature, suggest modified livers can survive and function in human bodies, but further research on long-term outcomes is needed. We have the opportunity in the future to solve the problem of a patient with severe liver failure, Professor Wang added. It is our dream to make this achievement. The pig liver could survive together with the original liver of the human being and maybe it will give it additional support. He also expressed a desire to conduct further research on living, non-brain-dead human beings in the future, but stressed the complications and many rules around this. The seven-month-old Bama miniature pig had been genetically modified to reduce the risk of rejection Earlier this year, a team at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia connected a clinically dead person to a genetically modified pigs liver located outside their body. This is the first time, however, a pig liver has been transplanted into a human. Rafael Matesanz, founder of the National Transplant Organisation in Spain, said: This is the worlds first case of a transplant of a genetically modified pig liver into a brain-dead human. The ultimate goal of the experiment was not to achieve a standard liver transplant, but to serve as a bridge organ in cases of acute liver failure, while awaiting a human organ for a definitive transplant. Ivan Fernandez Vega, Professor of Pathological Anatomy at the University of Oviedo in Spain, described the procedure as a milestone. The clinical implications are highly relevant, as optimising this approach could expand the pool of available organs and save lives in liver emergencies, he said. It is the first study to demonstrate that a genetically modified porcine liver can survive and exert basic metabolic functions - albumin and bile production - in the human body. Liver transplantation is the most effective treatment for end-stage liver diseases, but the demand for donor livers far exceeds the supply, according to the researchers. Over 10 days, the donor liver successfully produced bile and maintained a stable blood flow within the human recipient Pigs are being considered as an alternative source of organs owing to their compatible physiological functions and size. The pig for this surgery was provided by Doctor Deng-Ke Pan at Clonorgan Biotechnology Company. It contained six genetic modifications the deactivation of three pig genes and the introduction of three genes for human proteins. This was crucial to help prevent the recipient from rejecting the pig organ a regular hurdle in animal-to-human transplants. The transplant follows more than 10 years of research into this process on animals. In 2013, scientists performed the first pig-to-monkey liver transplant. Previous studies into kidney and heart transplants from pigs to humans have also been successful. But whilst those organs have mostly one function, the multi-functionality of the liver was a huge obstacle for us to overcome, Professor Wang said. In January 2022, a dying man in the US became the first patient in the world to get a heart transplant from a genetically-modified pig. In 2022, in a medical first, doctors transplanted a pig heart into a patient in a last-ditch effort to save his life Left is Dr. Bartley Griffith, who conducted the heart transplant procedure, with David Bennett (right) after the surgery was completed David Bennett, who was suffering from terminal heart failure, underwent a nine-hour operation at the University of Maryland Medical Centre in Baltimore. The 57-year-old survived for two months following the surgery, with doctors describing him as a brave and noble patient who fought all the way to the end. Meanwhile, in November last year, Towana Looney became the fifth living person to receive a gene-edited pig kidney. She has since made history as the longest-living recipient, and says she feels like superwoman. Advertisement People living in disadvantaged neighborhoods may be more likely to develop dementia, a government-funded study suggests. Using US Census data, researchers in Chicago found people in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods were more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than people in the most well-off areas. Additionally, cognitive test scores among people in poorer areas dropped 25 percent faster with age than those from people in wealthier neighborhoods. The researchers noted this difference was likely due to racial disparities, as Black participants were more likely to live in disadvantaged neighborhoods and are at a greater risk of Alzheimer's disease. Experts believe this is due to a higher likelihood of developing conditions like heart disease and diabetes, which damage blood vessels in the brain and lead to dementia. Dr Pankaja Desai, study author and director of RUSH Biostatistics Core at Rush University in Chicago, said: 'Our findings show that the community in which you live influences your risk of developing dementia. Most studies of risk factors for Alzheimers disease focus on the individual level, not the community level. 'Of course, intervening at the community level is challenging, but prioritizing disadvantaged communities may be an effective way to mobilize resources for older adults and provide avenues for reducing the risk of dementia for the overall community.' A new study from Rush University in Chicago found people living in more economically and socially disadvantaged neighborhoods are up to twice as likely to develop dementia than their wealthier peers (stock image) The above map shows rates of Alzheimer's disease by US county in people over 65 in 2020. This is the latest CDC data available Your browser does not support iframes. However, the researchers note the study only shows an association between neighborhood and dementia and cannot prove location directly causes the memory-robbing disease. The sample size was also small, focused solely on four neighborhoods in Chicago. But given the findings, they encouraged experts to focus more on poor areas to help lower rising rates of dementia. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, a group of neurological disorders that impact memory, language, problem-solving, and other cognitive abilities. According to the Alzheimer's Association, an estimated 6.7 million Americans were living with Alzheimer's disease in 2023. That number is expected to double by 2060. The new study, published Wednesday in the journal Neurology, looked at Census data from 6,781 people living in four communities in Chicago. The average participant age was 72. The researchers tested participants on thinking and memory skills at the beginning of the study and every three years for at least six years of follow-up. Of the participants, 2,534 were evaluated for dementia. Two out of three participants were Black while the remainder were white. The team determined which neighborhoods were more 'disadvantaged' by looking at income, employment, education, and disability status. By the end of the six years, 11 percent of people living in the least disadvantaged of the four communities had developed Alzheimer's disease compared to 14 percent in the second-best area. In the second-worst area, 17 percent of participants had Alzheimer's. The most disadvantaged neighborhood, meanwhile, had a 22 percent Alzheimer's rate. After adjusting for other factors that could increase dementia risk - like age, sex, and education level- the study showed people in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods were more than twice as likely to develop dementia than those in the most well-off areas. The researchers noted race could be a factor in these findings. Projected yearly incidence of dementia on the basis of current rates (solid lines) and projected incidence of dementia assuming continuation of a decreasing trend (dashed lines) Dr Desai said: 'More Black participants lived in areas with greater disadvantage and more white participants lived in areas with lesser disadvantage. 'Once we took neighborhood disadvantage factors into account, there was no longer a significant difference between Black and white people in their risk of developing Alzheimers.' Black Americans are thought to be at an increased risk of dementia due to higher rates of risk factors like heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. They are also statistically more likely to face diagnostic challenges like discrimination from healthcare providers. Older Black Americans have been shown to be twice as likely to have Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia than their white counterparts. One in five Black Americans over age 70 have Alzheimer's, according to the Alzheimer's Association, compared to one in 10 non-Hispanic white Americans around the same age. Additionally, the researchers looked at how much participants' memory and thinking test scores declined over time. The scores of people in the most disadvantaged areas declined 25 percent faster than those of people living in neighborhoods with the lowest levels of disadvantage. However, the team noted the study only shows association rather than causation. The main limitation was the study's inclusion only of people living in Chicago neighborhoods, so the sample size was not diverse. The study was funded by the National Institute on Aging, an arm of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). One of my new year's resolutions for 2025 was to try reformer pilates. I wanted to be one of those reformer girlies with the coordinating athleisure outfit and toned abs, sliding around on a dubious-looking machine, sweating but in that minimalist and sexy way. I had only ever tried reformer pilates once before, in a beginner's class, where it was more about learning the positions and how not to be scared of falling off the machine than it was about getting the most out of your workout. So instead of easing myself into the immensely popular exercise, I dived straight into the deep end by signing up to a Lagree class at FORM Studios. Lagree itself is gaining popularity too over the past year, there's been a 2400% increase in UK Google searches for 'Lagree studios near me'. It's named after creator and founder Sebastien Lagree, and has been dubbed the Rolls Royce of pilates, known for its mind-body connection. When I told my colleague I was trying it, she described it as 'pilates on steroids' and said it was one of the hardest workouts she's done. Eek. Where the 'Magic 10' principles happen at FORM studios The difference is that Lagree is done on a megaformer machine, which is like a reformer machine but a bit bigger and scarier-looking, fit with a 'ring of fire'. The method was originally developed in Los Angeles and combines pilates with strength training for a high-intensity, low-impact, full body workout. According to lagreefitness.com, there's a 'Magic 10' principles to the workout: effective form, range of motion, tempo, duration (endurance), resistance, incline, sequence, transition, cueing and planes of motion. The workout promises to target every muscle group while improving flexibility and cardiovascular conditioning. So I arrived early to my 50-minute class at Form Studios to face the beast, look it in the various arm and foot straps, and brace my body for an attack. I told the instructor this was my first time, so she talked me through the machine and positions, and calmed me down by saying if I needed to stop at any point, I could. The class began and I climbed on to the megaformer, wobbly and wondering why I chose to be so close to the mirror. Ten minutes in, my muscles were on fire, my breath fast, and I had broken into a sweat although it was far from the sexy kind I had hoped for. 'How on earth am I going to get through the rest of this?' I wondered. The megaformer machine aims to provide a full body workout I was more used to quick, high intensity workouts, so the slow and controlled movements felt excruciatingly difficult. But once I got used to them, and made more of a conscious connection between my mind, breath and movement, it was easier to feel the flow of actions. Anyone who's a regular yoga or pilates exercises will understand how key breathing is to help guide you through the moves. After I got used to the fiery feeling in my muscles, I just tried my best to complete every move at a steady pace. I really liked how conscious I was of my body, and tapping into how strong I felt when I completed a sequence. It's a reminder of your power, or potential power, when you can literally feel your different muscle groups engaging to complete a move. By the end of the class I really did feel like I had full body workout. My arms might have been aching for a couple of days afterwards, but I must admit... I enjoyed it. Elissa El Hadj, co-founder of FORM, spent years teaching at Sebastien Lagree's Beverly Hills and West Hollywood studios. 'It wasnt uncommon to have the Hiltons, Kardashians, LA Dodgers and Victorias Secret Angels in my classes regularly,' she says. Other celebrities that love the exercise include Jennifer Aniston, Meghan Markle and Michelle Obama. After my session, I didn't leave with the instant physique of an A-lister, but I did find myself wondering when I could go back. The smugness was a welcome bonus. Former NPR business editor Uri Berliner is fed-up with his old employer. Calling bias in a bombshell opinion piece Wednesday, he says it can't be trusted. He worked there from 1999 until his resignation in April 2024, at which time he penned a separate piece titled, Ive Been at NPR for 25 Years. Heres How We Lost Americas Trust. He was out of a job a week later. In an editorial for the same publication he slammed NPR in the first place, the 69-year-old said the broadcasters claims about being impartial were all but thrown out the window - thanks to perceived propaganda-peddling during the pandemic. His comments came as NPRs CEO and President Katherine Maher is set to appear in front of the House Oversight Subcommittee chaired by Marjorie Taylor Greene on Wednesday, facing the prospect of a loss in federal funding. PBSs CEO and President Paula Kerger will be there as well. Both women maintain their organizations are merely working to create a more informed public. Others claim they consistently skew reporting to favor liberal opinions - Berliner included. Former NPR business editor Uri Berliner is fed-up with his old employer. Calling bias in a bombshell opinion piece Wednesday, he says it can't be trusted. He worked there from 1999 until his resignation in 2024 - a week after writing a separate scathing piece about NPR's bias The broadcaster is facing the prospect of loosing its federal funding - and Berliner says it claims about being impartial were all but thrown out the window during Joe Biden's administration, and perceived propaganda-peddling from NPR at that point 'The broadcasters claims about considering all things and its mission of creating a more informed public were demolished when it unquestioningly repeated the talking points of the Biden administration and the public health establishment during Covid,' he wrote in The Free Press. He went on to explain some of the circumstances of his ouster, which he has already blamed on Maher's negative response to his outside essay. He described how for 'most of the 25 years' he worked at NPR, he felt 'honored' to call himself a staffer, but soon became troubled by instances of bias that he said stemmed from a lack of diversity amongst other NPR journalists. 'Though I tried flagging my concerns to my bosses, it fell on deaf ears,' he wrote. 'And so, nearly a year ago, I wrote my whistleblowing piece in these pages,' he continued, recalling how he had argued 'NPR had morphed from a liberal but open-minded news organization driven by curiosity into a conduit for progressive ideology.' He brought up how in the months since, after his essay went viral on sites like X, NPR said last May it was introducing a new 24/7 vetting process 'to ensure that all coverage receives final editorial review,' the outlet said at the time. But Berliner concluded that so-called 'backstop' was all talk - bringing up reports that emerged from NPR's website when Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was assassinated last September as proof. His comments came as NPRs CEO and President Katherine Maher is set to appear in front of the House Oversight Subcommittee chaired by Marjorie Taylor Greene on Wednesday, facing the prospect of a loss in federal funding. PBSs CEO and President Paula Kerger will be there as well. Both women maintain their organizations are merely working to create a more informed public He noted how when Nasrallah was assassinated, his NPR obituary wrote how his terror group "provides social services". The piece further recalled how Nasrallah studied theology and and had 'admirers' across Lebanon and the surrounding region, with no mention of Hezbollah's history of terrorism. Berliner brought up the group's role in the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut that killed 299, including 220 Marines, 18 sailors, and three soldiers. He noted the strike was 'the largest loss of life in a single day for the Marine[s]', since the Battle of Iwo Jima. 'This is the kind of detail that would presumably be relevant to an American audience,' Berliner wrote - conceding that Hezbollah's terrorism was eventually noted in updated versions of the story, while questioning how such a crucial detail slipped past this new, 24/7 safety net. He then turned to the tone of NPR's interview in January with Rachel Levine, the transgender former assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services. The piece, at the time, billed Levine as having a 'friendly, low-key personality' and being a Joni Mitchell fan who 'brings her lunch from home' - with no mention of what Berliner frames as 'the most newsworthy event of [her] tenure.' the secretary, at the time, had been working on legislation that would allow children access to surgeries designed to change their sex, regardless of age. 'According to court documents, she pressured the World Professional Association for Transgender Health to eliminate minimum age requirements for children from the Standards of Care for transgender medical treatment, including surgery,' Berliner wrote. Others claim they consistently skew reporting to favor liberal opinions. In his piece, Berliner explained some of the circumstances of his ouster - which he has already blamed on Maher's negative response to his outside essay. The CEO is seen here in 2020 He also pointed to the omission of important policy information involving sex-changes for kids in NPR's interview in January with Rachel Levine, the transgender former assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services 'These kinds of omissions wont help Katherine Mahers case that NPR is impartial and transparent,' Berliner wrote - ahead of what's sure to be a showdown later today. Back in April, he also said the network lost its way when it started telling listeners how to think 'These kinds of omissions wont help Katherine Mahers case that NPR is impartial and transparent. He concluded that over the past ten years or so, as NPRs journalistic strategy has narrowed in scope, 'so has its audience.' He went on to advise the station to consider not taking taxpayer dollars - allowing it to 'openly plant its progressive flag without fear, as an opposition force in the Trump era.' Back in April, he also said the network lost its way when it started telling listeners how to think. NPR's CEO has owned up to not giving the Hunter Biden laptop story the coverage it deserved. Katherine Maher, a progressive who previously headed Wikipedia before starting at NPR last year, made the admission after being grilled relentlessly by Marjorie Taylor Greene on Capitol Hill about the broadcaster's alleged bias. 'I do want to say that NPR acknowledges we were mistaken in failing to cover the Hunter Biden laptop story more aggressively or sooner,' Maher said Wednesday, at a hearing centered around whether NPR should receive federal funding. At another moment, Greene confronted Maher - a 41-year-old former tech exec - on some of her more opinionated comments. This included statements to social media penned in the past, like one that slammed Donald Trump as a 'racist' and 'sociopath' in 2020. When asked by GOP Rep. Tim Burchett about such tweets, Maher said: 'I regret [them] today.' The CEO also said she and her team 'has work to do', when it comes to offering access to reliable reporting. Joining Maher was PBS boss Paula Kerger - but due to the makeup of her staff and past comments, Maher appeared to bear the brunt of the beatdown. Katherine Maher, an ultra-progressive who previously headed Wikipedia, to not giving the Hunter Biden laptop story proper coverage on Capitol Hill Wednesday She made the admission after being grilled relentlessly about NPR's practices by Marjorie Taylor Greene on Capitol Hill, during a hearing centered around the broadcaster's alleged bias This led to some bombshell admissions - including the one surrounding the recently pardoned son of the former president. 'Our current editorial leadership thinks that was a mistake, as do I,' Maher said of NPR's failure to immediately cover the the scandal surrounding contents found on his laptop, which surfaced in late 2020. At the time, the owner of a Delaware computer shop, John Paul Mac Isaac, said the laptop had been left by the eventual president's son. Still, the story wasn't taken seriously - that is, until more facts continued to come out that ultimately could not be ignored. Contents seized from the laptop shed light on Hunter's business dealings in Ukraine and China - all while his father was vice president. On March 31, 2021, NPR published an article stating U.S. intelligence had discredited the story, before issuing a correction the very next day - one saying officials actually never made such a statement. It took a federal investigation being called the next year for the outlet to take the story somewhat seriously - after authenticated emails revealed Hunter's vision to help a Ukrainian natural gas company without being a lobbyist. They also unmasked a Chinese energy company with links to the Chinese communist government - one that made Hunter Biden seven figures in a series of business deals. Contents of emails taken from the laptop shed light on Hunter' business dealings in Ukraine and China, when his dad was vice president Mac Issac, meanwhile, previously told DailyMail.com how he was met with pushback from government officials in December 2020 while filing for unemployment - something he perceived as purposeful pushback from the former administration. 'I would open up a case, wouldn't hear anything, then open another case, then open another case - and then I was told to stop opening up cases,' Mac Isaac told DailMail.com in December of 2022. 'And they would keep closing these cases.' In September 2021, Mac Isaac also received what he perceived as threats from the IRS, demanding a supposedly overdue $57 from a 2016 tax return. He told the Post how he sent the agency the $57 almost immediately. The laptop - and its contents - ultimately proved integral in federal prosecutors case against the presidents son, who was charged and found guilty of several felonies last year. Then-President Biden, however, erased any chance of him doing time with his sweeping array of pardons this past January - saving Hunter in the process. The whole ordeal left egg on the figurative faces of outlets like NPR, who, for whatever reason, refused to report on the story. Joining Maher was PBS boss Paula Kerger - but due to the makeup of her staff and past comments, Maher appeared to be the one to bear the brunt of the verbal beatdown With this and more on her mind Wednesday, a visibly disgusted Greene - showing little patience - tore in Maher from the outset. 'Let's walk through some of your statements so the public can understand your personal views,' she began. 'Your fellow Americans selected Donald Trump as president again this past November - you called him "a deranged, racist and sociopath." 'You posted on X that America is "addicted" to white supremacy,' she added, before ad-libbing: 'That's appalling. 'You've publicly chastised using the phrase "boy and girl", which you said "erases the language for nonbinary people",' the 50-year-old Georgia firebrand continued, before again offering her own commentary. 'There's only two genders, by the way.' She went on to point out how NPR's federal funding comes from 'all' American tax-dollars - not just NPR viewers, listeners, and readers. Roughly half, she pointed out, were the 77 million who voted for Trump - 'someone you called a "deranged, racist sociopath,"' she reminded Maher, before loudly sucking her teeth. NPR CEO Katherine Maher: "NPR acknowledges that we were mistaken in failing to cover the Hunter Biden laptop story more aggressively and sooner..." pic.twitter.com/wWkR0ymJGf James Lynch (@jameslynch32) March 26, 2025 'Many find your professorship and anti-free speech views more concerning than your politics,' Greene insisted, telling Maher: 'The only speech you like seems to be speech you agree with.' Greene went on to recall more apparent slip-ups from Maher, whose role at NPR is her first in journalism. 'In 2021, you called the First amendment the "number one challenge" in American journalism because it makes it hard to crack down on bad information,' Greene said - before Maher attempted to clarify those comments were taken out of context. 'You said on a TED talk that "our reverence for the truth might be a distraction",' Greene, in rare form, continued. 'You've also expressed support for deplatforming individuals you view as "facist".' Greene then sarcastically asked the CEO who she believes should be in charge of making such calls. 'Is it NPR? Is it the government? Is it you Ms. Maher?' Maher attempted to thank the congresswoman, but was quickly told off and talked over. 'The only speech you like seems to be speech you agree with,' Greene told Maher at a point, before making fun of her and NPR's high number of lawyers 'Is it up to you and NPR to crack down on bad information or decide the truth - answer the question, Ms Maher,' Greene interjected. 'Absolutely not,' Maher said, after talking up a recent system NPR started in May designed to vet stories more closely. 'I'm a very strong believer in free speech and I believe that more speech,' Maher began before being interrupted by Greene again - this time to be told what she was hearing were her own public statements. Greene then pivoted to ask whether Maher was familiar with Section 99B of the Communications Act - which prohibits non educational broadcast stations from airing commercials for for-profit companies. The FCC is currently investigating such claims when it comes to NPR and PBS. 'Does NPR air commercials for for-profit entities, Ms Maher? Yes or No,' Greene said - to which Maher said NPR is cooperating with the FCC's 'inquiry.' At this point, Greene reminded Maher how she was under oath, as well as the punishments one could face, including prison time, if found flouting the federal law. She went on to ask the same for Kerger, who said no and that PBS 'look[s] forward to delivering the material required in this part of the investigation.' Republicans Tim Burchett and William Timmons grilled Maher about NPR's alleged bias as well To this, Greene offered a characteristic, out-of-the-ordinary clapback, before again sucking her teeth. 'We look forward to that too. I'm assuming both of you are concerned about this,' she said. 'And that's why you brought so many attorneys with you today.' The hearing, as of 1pm ET, is adjourned. Cackles rang out on Capitol Hill Wednesday as NPR's CEO argued her newsroom isn't biased. The response was seen during Katherine Maher's congressional testimony Wednesday, where NPR is facing losing its federal funding. Presiding over the matter is Georgia firebrand Marjorie Taylor Greene, but it was a back-and-forth between Maher and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan that elicited the laugh. The Republican brought attention to what he viewed as bias from NPR unveiled last year, in the form of a report from one of the broadcaster's now former editors. Uri Berliner in April remarked how within its entire DC newsroom, not a single soul was a registered Republican. Eighty-seven, on the other hand, were Democrats, Jordan pointed out. He also brought up the station's waning viewership, which down from some 60million seen in 2020 to just over 43million today. Maher, who was a tech exec before taking over at NPR one year ago this week in is her first job in journalism, said she was proud of increasing the number to where it is. It reached as low as 41million the year she was brought on. Jordan also honed in on NPR's refusal to pick up the story surrounding Hunter Biden's laptop - a decision Maher earlier on conceded had been a mistake. First, though, the politician simply asked whether she believed NPR is biased, as things stand. Cackles rang out on Capitol Hill Wednesday as NPR's CEO, Katherine Maher, argued her newsroom isn't biased The response was seen during Katherine Maher's congressional testimony Wednesday, back-and-forth between Maher and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan. NPR is facing loosing its federal funding REP JORDAN: "Is NPR biased?" NPR CEO: "I have never seen any political bias." JORDAN: "In the DC area, editorial positions at NPR have 87 registered Democrats and 0 Republicans." NPR CEO: "We do not track the voter registration, but I find that concerning." JORDAN: "87-0 pic.twitter.com/AzaWV9BxBm KanekoaTheGreat (@KanekoaTheGreat) March 26, 2025 'Is NPR biased?' he asked outright. 'Um, congressman - I have never seen any instances...' Maher began, before being briefly interrupted. Jordan interjected: 'Never?' Following a brief pause, Maher continued, '...of political bias determining editorial decisions. As Jordan prepared for a follow-up, a laugh could be heard from somewhere in the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency hearing. Jordan, at this point, brought up Berliner, and some of the startling statistics seen in his opinion piece - after which he was forced to resign within a week. He mentioned the disparity in political affiliation and the fact that Berliner found not a single conservative left in the newsroom he had worked at for the past 25 years - leaving Maher to insist that NPR does not track which party its employees belong to. 'Was Mr Beliner lying when he wrote that?' Jordan asked. The Republican brought attention to what he viewed as bias from NPR unveiled last year, in the form of a report from one of the broadcaster's now former editors - something Maher argued does not exist, eliciting a laugh Katherine Maher is lying through her teeth, claiming that she has "never seen any instance of political bias determining editorial decisions." This is like a Soviet commissar claiming that Pravda is a neutral news outlet. pic.twitter.com/ivLWZ9UHrU Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) March 26, 2025 Maher responded: 'I am not presuming such - we just don't track that kind of information with our journalists.' 'Eighty-seven to zero?' Jordan marveled. 'And you're saying you're not biased.' 'Congressman - I do not believe we are politically biased. No, we are a nonpartisan organization,' Maher said, after conceding the numbers were startling 'if true.' Audibly unconvinced, Jordan asked Maher 'what's been happening with [NPR's] listeners' over the past five years. Maher replied by saying 'the number has gone up, then down, then now back up.' Seeking clarification - given the numbers uttered by Maher herself in an opening statement - Jordan said: 'So, 43million now - 60million five years ago. I can do some math,' he joked. 'That looks like it went down.' 'And is now going back up,' Maher said with a smile, adding how she was proud of the 2million-strong hike seen since the start of her reign. Moving on, Jordan brought up how the outlet, today, is spending 'more money' for 'less listeners', after firing 'the only guy pointing that out.' He had been referring to Berliner. Pictured, Reps Tim Burchett and Jordan, both of whom tore into Maher during her testimony, which saw members of congress question her about NPR's journalistic practices and her own political affiliation REP JORDAN: "Is NPR biased?" NPR CEO: "I have never seen any political bias." JORDAN: "In the DC area, editorial positions at NPR have 87 registered Democrats and 0 Republicans." NPR CEO: "We do not track the voter registration, but I find that concerning." JORDAN: "87-0 pic.twitter.com/AzaWV9BxBm KanekoaTheGreat (@KanekoaTheGreat) March 26, 2025 'And you continue to need tax payer money.' He then pointed to the the type of stories the publication, including a reported NPR 25 interviews with Representative Adam Schiff over the past few years, with Schiff being one of Trump's most outspoken critics. 'Those numbers sound accurate,' Maher said, again referring to content published prior to her tenure. When asked about NPR giving credence to the disproven theory that Trump colluded with Russia during his 2016 campaign, Maher again said she could not speak on the matter due to her not being employed by NPR at the time. 'How about this story,' Jordan continued, zeroing in on what was perhaps the exec's biggest admission during her testimony Wednesday. 'October 2020, the NYPost had the Hunter Biden laptop story, and one of those 87 Democrat editors said, "We don't want to waste our readers and listeners' time on stories that are just pure distractions." 'Was that story a pure distraction?' he asked. 'Our current leadership views that as a mistake,' Maher said. 'As do I.' At another moment, Greene herself confronted Maher on some of her more opinionated comments, including statements to social media slamming Trump as a 'racist' and 'sociopath' in 2020. When asked by GOP Rep. Tim Burchett about such tweets, Maher said: 'I regret [them] today' 'The whole country knows that was a mistake. It certainly impacted the election,' Jordan shot back, before turning to NPR's coverage on the prospective origins of COVID-19. NPR erroneously reported the theory it was leaked in the lab had been debunked by scientists. The CIA, in the form of an in-depth investigation, has since cast serious doubt on that theory. 'Sorry sir, is there a question,' Maher said, again with a smile. 'There is,' Jordan shot back, before poking fun at how NPR was '0-3' on the stories he lists. 'And you don't believe your bias?' Maher again maintained she was confident NPR's operations were above board. Maher's past comments on social media were also a hot topic of discussion - one that saw Rep. William Timmons slam her as a 'rabid progressive.' At another moment, Greene herself confronted Maher on some of her more opinionated comments, including statements to social media slamming Trump as a 'racist' and 'sociopath' in 2020. When asked by GOP Rep. Tim Burchett about such tweets, Maher said: 'I regret [them] today.' NPR boss Katherine Maher has squirmed in Congress while being quizzed about a call she made for white people to pay 'reparations' on social media. The 41-year-old former tech tycoon was grilled by Republican Rep Brandon Gill about a post she made on Twitter, now known as X, on January 20, 2020, at a hearing centered around whether NPR should receive federal funding on Wednesday. 'Yes, the North, yes all of us, yes America. Yes, our original collective sin and unpaid debt. Yes, reparations. Yes, on this day,' Maher wrote in the 2020 tweet. Maher initially denied making the comment while being probed by Gill, but after the lawmaker read her tweet aloud, she claimed it had a different meaning. The former Wikipedia boss said she didn't 'believe that was a reference to fiscal reparations' - prompting Gill to push for clarification on 'what kind of reparations' she did mean. 'I think it was just a reference to the idea that we all owe much to the people that came before us,' Maher said. Earlier in the session, Maher also owed up to not giving the Hunter Biden laptop story the coverage it deserved on NPR. She made the admission after being grilled relentlessly by Marjorie Taylor Greene on Capitol Hill about the broadcaster's alleged bias. NPR boss Katherine Maher has squirmed in Congress while being quizzed about a call she made for white people to pay 'reparations' on social media The 41-year-old former tech tycoon was grilled by Republican Rep Brandon Gill about a post she made on Twitter , now known as X, on January 20, 2020 (shown above) The 41-year-old former tech tycoon was grilled by Republican Rep Brandon Gill (pictured) about a post she made on Twitter, now known as X, on January 20, 2020, at a hearing centered around whether NPR should receive federal funding on Wednesday 'I do want to say that NPR acknowledges we were mistaken in failing to cover the Hunter Biden laptop story more aggressively or sooner,' Maher said. Greene also confronted Maher about some of her more opinionated comments. This included statements to social media penned in the past, like one that slammed Donald Trump as a 'racist' and 'sociopath' in 2020. When asked by GOP Rep. Tim Burchett about such tweets, Maher said: 'I regret [them] today.' The CEO also said she and her team 'has work to do', when it comes to offering access to reliable reporting. Joining Maher was PBS boss Paula Kerger - but due to the makeup of her staff and past comments, Maher appeared to bear the brunt of the beatdown. This led to some bombshell admissions - including the one surrounding the recently pardoned son of the former president. 'Our current editorial leadership thinks that was a mistake, as do I,' Maher said of NPR's failure to immediately cover the the scandal surrounding contents found on his laptop, which surfaced in late 2020. Joining Maher was PBS boss Paula Kerger - but due to the makeup of her staff and past comments, Maher appeared to be the one to bear the brunt of the verbal beatdown She made the admission after being grilled relentlessly about NPR's practices by Marjorie Taylor Greene on Capitol Hill, during a hearing centered around the broadcaster's alleged bias Contents of emails taken from the laptop shed light on Hunter' business dealings in Ukraine and China, when his dad was vice president At the time, the owner of a Delaware computer shop, John Paul Mac Isaac, said the laptop had been left by the eventual president's son. Still, the story wasn't taken seriously - that is, until more facts continued to come out that ultimately could not be ignored. Contents seized from the laptop shed light on Hunter's business dealings in Ukraine and China - all while his father was vice president. On March 31, 2021, NPR published an article stating U.S. intelligence had discredited the story, before issuing a correction the very next day - one saying officials actually never made such a statement. It took a federal investigation being called the next year for the outlet to take the story somewhat seriously - after authenticated emails revealed Hunter's vision to help a Ukrainian natural gas company without being a lobbyist. They also unmasked a Chinese energy company with links to the Chinese communist government - one that made Hunter Biden seven figures in a series of business deals. Mac Issac, meanwhile, previously told DailyMail.com how he was met with pushback from government officials in December 2020 while filing for unemployment - something he perceived as purposeful pushback from the former administration. NPR boss Katherine Maher has squirmed in Congress while being quizzed about a call she made for white people to pay 'reparations' on social media 'I would open up a case, wouldn't hear anything, then open another case, then open another case - and then I was told to stop opening up cases,' Mac Isaac told DailMail.com in December of 2022. 'And they would keep closing these cases.' In September 2021, Mac Isaac also received what he perceived as threats from the IRS, demanding a supposedly overdue $57 from a 2016 tax return. He told the Post how he sent the agency the $57 almost immediately. The laptop - and its contents - ultimately proved integral in federal prosecutors case against the presidents son, who was charged and found guilty of several felonies last year. Then-President Biden, however, erased any chance of him doing time with his sweeping array of pardons this past January - saving Hunter in the process. The whole ordeal left egg on the figurative faces of outlets like NPR, who, for whatever reason, refused to report on the story. Democrat Representative Jasmine Crockett has come under fire for her comments referring to Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott - and even progressives aren't coming to her defense. Crockett made the remarks during a speech at a Human Rights Campaign event, where she referred to Abbott, who uses a wheelchair, as 'Hot Wheels.' The comment has drawn widespread criticism for being ableist and Crockett was accused of using a slur. The debacle was discussed on The View on Wednesday and even the panel's resident progressives criticized Crockett for her comments. Sara Hines said that she expected inflammatory language from representatives like Marjorie Taylor Greene, but argued that Crockett was 'better' than her controversial remarks. Hines added that she wished Crockett would apologize for the comments and that they overshadowed the rest of her speech. Even Joy Behar, who is a resident liberal panelist, admitted that Crockett should have left the jokes to comedians. However, Behar did point out that conservatives continued to support Donald Trump after he mocked a reporter for his disability at a rally in 2015. Democrat Representative Jasmine Crockett has come under fire for referring to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who uses a wheelchair as 'Hot Wheels' Texas Governor Greg Abbott has used a wheelchair since an accident in 1984 left him paralyzed The panelists on The View reached a rare consensus when debriefing on Crockett's controversial comments 'You have to be so careful with what you say,' Whoopi Goldberg agreed. Sunny Hostin also offered a rare critique of Crockett, emphasizing that no one should be mocked, including those who are disabled. 'I admire Jasmine Crockett. I do think she's an effective messenger, I think this was a mistake, and I think that when you make a mistake you have to own it, you have to do that because it gives you more credibility,' she said. Hostin added that she didn't know that Abbott was disabled, but since Crockett is a representative from his state, she can't claim ignorance as an excuse. Crockett was met with hesitant applause when she first made the remarks, telling the audience afterward that she was going off script. When referencing Abbott, Crockett quipped, '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.' Abbott has used a wheelchair since 1984 after he was left paralyzed when an oak tree fell on him at the age of 26. Crockett has doubled down on the comments, clarifying on social media that she wasn't referring to Abbott's disability when she called him, 'Governor Hot Wheels.' Whoopi Goldberg, a progressive panelist on The View, acknowledged that politicians like Crockett need to be 'so careful' with their words Sunny Hostin said that although she admired Crockett, the representative shouldn't have mocked Abbott and should apologize for her controversial remarks Joy Behar, who typically expresses liberal views, agreed that Crockett should leave the jokes for the comedians Alyssa Farah Griffin, a conservative panelist, agreed with her progressive colleagues that Crockett's remark was offensive Sara Hines praised Crockett as an effective messenger and expressed that Crockett was better than her 'Hot Wheels' remark '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,' she wrote on X. 'Literally, the next line I said was that he was a Hot A** Mess, referencing his terrible policies,' she continued. Crockett also pointed out that she was 'appalled' that Trump supporters were outraged with her, given the president's history 'racially insensitive nicknames and mocking those with disabilities.' '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 concluded. Despite Crockett's insistence that her controversial remarks were not in reference to Abbott's wheelchair, panelist Alyssa Farah Griffin noted on The View that the representative has used similar language multiple times. Crockett has previously joked about Abbott 'rolling' places, sharing a post last week that said the governor was 'rolling up to the White House.' She also used the phrase when Abbott was running for re-election, writing on X at the time that his opponent, Beto O'Rourke was 'rolling around the state,' and questioned, 'Where is Abbott rolling to?' Abbott responded to the remarks in an interview on Fox News, slamming the Democrats for having another 'disaster' Crockett made the remarks during a speech at an event for the Human Rights Campaign on Saturday Abbott spoke out about the comments during an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, telling the anchor, 'It's another day and another disaster by the Democrats.' 'The reality is they have no vision, no policy. They have nothing to sell but hate, and Americans are not buying it.' The widespread backlash has even prompted talks of a censure against Crockett, which is a formal reprimand for members of the House. Texas Republican Representative Randy Weber filed a censure resolution against Crockett on Wednesday. House representatives will have to vote on the censure and it will formally be filed if a majority agrees with Weber's resolution. Rachel Reeves was today accused of 'tanking the economy' as she laid out a fresh wave of spending cuts to offset stalling growth and balance the government's books. The Chancellor stressed global uncertainties as she outlined the grim realities facing the country in her Spring Statement in the Commons. Admitting the OBR had halved its growth forecast, she said she was 'proud' of her track record despite having a 14illion black hole in the finances to fill, after her huge tax-and-spend Autumn Budget was followed by an economic slowdown. Shadow chancellor Mel Stride accused Reeves of 'tanking the economy' in his response, adding she had taken a 'reckless' approach to the nation's finances. Read below for a recap on today's events Away from the political rhetoric, layered on with a trowel in her Spring Statement, the Chancellor offered the nation two routes to growth. Britain, in Rachel Reevess own words, will become a defence superpower. And Labours planning reforms and housing targets will bolster growth by 0.2 per cent by the end of the forecast period. The choice of defence spending as a growth driver has nothing to do with Labours manifesto ambitions and everything to do with Donald Trump. The Presidents decision to dump on Nato forced Keir Starmer and Reeves to recognise the UKs defence industries as a spearhead rather than a social pariah. In BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and Babcock, Britain already had defence champions. They have been empowered already by Russias war on Ukraine, hostilities in the Middle East and the AUKUS pact bringing together the US, Australia and UK in the Pacific. The bulk of the 2.2billion uplift in spending for 2025-26, as already announced, will come from a severely trimmed budget for overseas development, reduced to 0.3 per cent of output by 2027. Reeves is pledging 400m to unleash UK defence technology from July this year with novel armaments using autonomous systems and AI David Camerons boast of lifting the UKs aid budget to the UN target of 0.7pc, making Britain a powerhouse of international development, is now light years away. Nevertheless, Britains defence spend set against the 3.4 per cent of GDP in the United States and 5.3 per cent in Israel (battling on multiple fronts) is a mere bagatelle. To speed things up, Reeves is pledging 400million to unleash UK defence technology from July this year with novel armaments using autonomous systems and AI. But the UKs benign neglect of defence and national security firms, sold to private equity and foreign buyers, has left a great hole in the ability to gear up high-tech defences. Satellite champion Inmarsat ended up in American hands. Submarine sonar innovator Ultra Electronics was gobbled up by private equity barons Advent (using the Cobham name) and Cambridge-based cyber-security experts Darktrace was sold to another private equity outfit, Thoma Bravo. Recently the future of Chemring, which provides advanced aerospace defences, has come under threat. UK defence technologies finally are to get their day in the sun. But it feels like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. Moreover, in typical Labour fashion, it seems to believe that throwing public money at the mummified Ministry of Defence is the solution. Far better if Reeves were willing to use the tax system to incentivise invention, enterprise, and innovation across the whole economy by deepening R&D tax breaks. The second Labour driver for growth is even more pedestrian. Long-needed planning reforms are welcome. This weeks approval for the Lower Thames Tunnel at a cost of 9bn is the kind of long-term investment which the nation craves. But there are big questions about the Government reaching its target of building 300,000 houses a year as pledged in the manifesto. It is a stretch given that housing starts are forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility to fall from 265,000 in 2023-24, the last year of Tory rule, to just 192,000 in this fiscal year. Overriding planning objections will be a great leap forward. Building on grey land might help, although watchers of the Netflix series Toxic Town, focusing on birth defects on a housing estate in Corby, might have doubts about rushing fences. The biggest barrier of all to people climbing the housing ladder is an unhelpful tax system. The removal of exemptions to stamp duty by Reeves is a great obstacle to easing blockages in the residential market. The abolition of Tory-backed schemes such as Help to Buy wont help. The easy choice is building on greenfield sites, such as rural areas in East Sussex, where there are insufficient jobs. Labours conviction that government can deliver growth by diktat is a fiction. Some nine months into government, industry has yet to unveil Labours much heralded industrial strategy. Omens are not good. Faced with seeding a 450million AstraZeneca vaccine plant in Britain, the Government failed to pony up the cash. Britains biggest listed company decided to double down on the US and China instead. When it comes to using tax breaks to encourage endeavour and entrepreneurship, the Starmer government is clueless. Virgin Wines has announced a new strategy to increase its annual revenue to at least 100million over the next five years. The AIM-listed group, one of the country's largest direct-to-consumer wine sellers, plans to achieve this in part by expanding customer numbers and taking advantage of its commercial partnerships. It also intends to develop a mobile app and invest in its Warehouse Wines discounting operation. It said that the upfront expenditure in Warehouse Wines, which will involve spending on marketing, resources and enlarging ranges, would hit profits during the first phase of the strategy. However, the company believes the initial investment will eventually help it attain the revenue target, along with an adjusted earnings before nasties margin of 7 per cent. Since the 2020 financial year, the London-based firm has listed on the London Stock Exchange, stayed debt-free, and seen its annual sales climb by 45 per cent. Celebration: Online retailer Virgin Wines saw its pre-tax profits increase by a fifth to 1.3million in the six months ending 27 December Jay Wright, chief executive at Virgin Wines, remarked: 'The underlying business is performing well, and we have a unique business model as well as a dedicated and highly experienced team. 'We look forward to executing this strategy to turbocharge Virgin Wines' growth and deliver value for all of our stakeholders.' Alongside this, Virgin Wines has unveiled a share buyback scheme to purchase up to 15 per cent of its share capital, together with resilient half-year results. It revealed turnover dipped to 34.1million in the six months ending 27 December as a smaller customer base at the start of the financial year dampened first-quarter sales. However, revenue recovered strongly over the festive season, rising by 9 per cent in December, a monthly record for the company outside the Covid-affected period. Demand also benefited from significant growth in its commercial arm, whose sales jumped by 17 per cent thanks to partnerships with the likes of Ocado and Moonpig. Virgin Wines also saw its earnings before nasties flatline at 1.6million and its pre-tax profits increase by a fifth to 1.3million due to finance income more than doubling from 161,000 to 372,000. This was despite elevated paper and energy costs and a higher National Living Wage affecting its warehouse and customer service staff. Wright said: 'I am pleased to report a positive first-half performance, with the business delivering encouraging results, particularly during the peak Christmas trading season.' 'Our strategy of acquiring high-quality customers at an industry-leading low cost per recruit, while maximising the quality and value of our wines through our unique open-source buying model, continues to position us well to navigate market headwinds.' Virgin Wines UK shares plummeted by 9 per cent on Wednesday morning before recovering to be just 2 per cent down at 48p by the mid-afternoon. BP bosses received a much-needed boost as an advisory firm backed the re-election of the entire board and management. Institutional Shareholder Services said shareholders should vote to back the board at the energy giants April 17 annual general meeting. Chairman Helge Lund and chief executive Murray Auchincloss have come under pressure from investors over BPs poor performance compared with rival Shell as well as US giants Chevron and ExxonMobil. With many blaming its focus on renewables, Auchincloss last month announced a fundamental reset that saw the oil giant row back on its green targets and double-down on fossil fuels. Activist investor Elliott Management, which has a near-5 per cent stake in BP, is understood to believe the shake-up does not go far enough. Speculation is building that shareholders could seek a change of leadership, with Lund in particular seen as vulnerable. Another activist, Follow This, has called for a vote against the Norwegian-born chairman. Defence giant Babcock yesterday received a 1billion boost as ministers extended a contract to maintain Challenger 2 tanks, artillery guns and Trojan armoured vehicles for the British Army. It came as Rachel Reeves announced an extra 2.2billion for defence in her Budget as governments across Europe ramp up military spending. In a further boost for the sector, UK defence contractor Avon Technologies bumped up its annual sales outlook after receiving an order for equipment for the Ukrainian armed forces. Meanwhile, Britains biggest defence firm BAE Systems told Bloomberg that it was ready to step up capital spending beyond the current record level of 1billion a year as it prepares for a European super-cycle. Arms makers are seeing demand ramp up in the UK and on the continent as leaders wake up to the possibility that Donald Trumps America may no longer be a reliable guarantor against Russian aggression and work out how they can support Ukraine if the US pulls the plug on aid. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced an increase in defence spending to 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). Tank deal: The Ministry of Defence has announced a 1.6bn five-year contract extension for Babcock to maintain military equipment German politicians, meanwhile, have agreed to toss aside borrowing rules in a bid to fire up military preparedness. In Britain, Babcock best known for maintaining the UKs fleet of submarines has been a major beneficiary, with a share price rise of nearly 50 per cent so far this year winning it promotion into the blue-chip FTSE 100 index this week. Yesterday, the Ministry of Defence announced a 1.6billion five-year contract extension for Babcock to maintain military equipment for the Army. It said the deal would support 1,600 UK jobs. The contract is worth 1billion to Babcock, which provides services such as vehicle maintenance while the remaining 600million is accounted for by kit such as spare parts bought from third parties. Defence Secretary John Healey said tanks, armoured vehicles and kit were the backbone of the British Army and the spending would ensure that soldiers are properly equipped and ready to respond to ever-changing global threats. Babcock boss David Lockwood said: In a period of increased global instability, more is being expected of our armed forces. This contract extension ensures that Babcock continues to provide the British Army with the tools to do its job. Avon Technologies, which makes protective helmets and face protection equipment, said it had received two new orders for personal respirators for Ukraines armed forces. Babcock shares rose 1.8 per cent and Avon surged by 8.8 per cent. A Glasgow train ticket examiner has been applauded after going viral for making a handmade 'special train ticket' for a delighted four-year-old boy. Michael Stevens, 30, of Glasgow, revealed to MailOnline he has been making and handing out these wholesome creations for a year now, on a mission to bring joy to Scotland's young passengers. He writes 'special train ticket' on an odd bit of ticket paper that would otherwise be binned and decorates it with stickers - Thomas The Tank Engine and general train ones for all year round, and seasonal ones at Christmas, Easter and Halloween. Though he has worked as a ScotRail ticket examiner for four years and started this project a year ago, his efforts have just recently gone viral, after a post on X from a passenger praising him got nearly two million views. Tagging ScotRail, David Nicol, 42, of the Cathcart area of Glasgow, asked the train company to give Mr Stevens 'a proper bit of recognition': 'My wee boy got his own special ticket and couldn't wait to show all his nursery pals.' Ticket examiner Mr Stevens - who does the crafting in advance, at home and in his own time - recalled the moment fondly, telling MailOnline: '[The boy] was very proud to hold it and he was showing everyone, he was showing his dad who was there and everyone who was on the train.' Mr Nicol's post - showing his four-year-old son James proudly holding his ticket on a Cathcart Circle train on Tuesday - got a response on X from ScotRail, describing the moment as 'beautiful': 'More of this across all social media can only be a good thing. Oh, and I hope he got to show everyone in the nursery!' Mr Stevens said giving the handmade tickets to children makes his day better too: 'When they receive the ticket, theyre dead chuffed, theyre dead happy. When I come back down [the train aisle], theyre showing me and it's a nice experience, just seeing a kid smile, laugh and giggle, so proud just to have got the ticket.' Michael Stevens (pictured), 30, of Glasgow, revealed to MailOnline he has been making and handing out these wholesome creations (pictured) for a year now, on a mission to bring joy to Scotland's young passengers David Nicol, 42, of the Cathcart area of Glasgow, posted on X on Tuesday praising Mr Stevens's kindness, and sharing a picture of his four-year-old son James proudly holding his ticket (pictured) The father got a response from ScotRail (pictured), describing the moment as 'beautiful': 'More of this across all social media can only be a good thing. Oh, and I hope he got to show everyone in the nursery!' ScotRail ticket examiner Mr Stevens told MailOnline he loves to entertain the young passengers on his trains with the tickets: 'I make quite a lot of special train tickets to hand out to all the wee kids and youngsters who travel.' He started making the wholesome crafts months ago because he noticed a lot of children were really interested by train tickets: 'Wee kids, sometimes, would ask their parent to hold their ticket or ask for a ticket printed out the machine. Normally, I'd just give them a receipt or something.' But with this, he saw an opportunity to make these moments more fun for children - and he started using bits of spare, unused ticket paper that would have otherwise gone in the bin to start the lovely project. Since then, Mr Stevens has gathered lots of materials to make the tickets the best they can be: 'I've got a drawer in the house full of different stickers.' With Easter coming up - one of the festive occasions he makes seasonal tickets for along with Christmas and Halloween - he is currently busy preparing new ones, complete with 'Easter bunnies', he said, and already has some 'ready to go'. The ticket examiner hands out a lot of his crafts - to the extent they are now becoming coveted items in nurseries across Scotland, he said: 'I gave one to a kid today and he was actually just so happy to have one, he was actually saying, "Oh, my friend in nursery just showed me that the other day"!' But he was very shocked when he realised his efforts were going viral: 'The next day, it was all over social media and I saw and I thought, "Oh, OK! Alrighty!" It just is getting bigger and bigger and bigger.' He does it because it puts a smile on kids' faces, he explained: 'It makes their day sometimes, just a small gesture.' ScotRail ticket examiner Mr Stevens told MailOnline he loves to entertain the young passengers on his trains by giving them the tickets he makes in advance at home in his own time (pictured) With Easter coming up - one of the festive occasions he makes seasonal tickets for along with Christmas and Halloween - he is currently busy preparing new ones, complete with 'Easter bunnies', he said, and already has some 'ready to go' (pictured) Mr Stevens has gathered lots of materials to make the tickets the best they can be: 'I've got a drawer in the house full of different stickers' Mr Stevens said he likes to put in that extra bit of effort to bring them that happiness: 'It's the thought... a wee personal touch and the stickers on the cards as well instead of just a sticker, "There you go".' Kids always treasure their crafted ticket, the train worker said: 'When children receive them, they're over the moon, they're happy to receive them. It makes everyones day. 'Anytime I walk past them again, I always ask them, "Do you still have it?" They show me again when I come past!' And parents are always really touched by it, he added: 'Theyre surprised that Ive made the effort, to make them, to hand them out.' It helps to keep kids calm and happy on long journeys too, Mr Stevens explained: 'When kids are on the journey for the full ride, it's good to give them that wee ticket, to help them, give them a wee boost or be cheery, just to keep their mind off the long journey.' Mr Stevens said he loves to be able to bring passengers a moment of joy: 'You don't know what people are going through at that moment of time you meet them.' And it is not just children he tries to make happy, he said: 'I always talk to everyone on the train, no matter who they are. It's good to have a laugh on the train... 'It's trying to break that ice so I'm not just going down, just checking tickets, that's it, moving on. The train worker said he likes to put in that extra bit of effort to bring them that happiness: 'It's the thought... a wee personal touch and the stickers on the cards as well instead of just a sticker, "There you go"' Kids always treasure their crafted ticket, he said: 'When children receive them, they're over the moon, they're happy to receive them' But Mr Stevens was very shocked when he realised his efforts were going viral (pictured, Mr Nicol's X post that went viral): 'The next day, it was all over social media and I saw and I thought, "Oh, OK! Alrighty!"' 'I always try to have a wee conversation with people or open up, or talk to people as well, give that wee personal touch as well.' Mr Nicol told Glasgow Live that when they were on the train from where they live in the Cathcart area of Glasgow on Tuesday, Mr Stevens checked his ticket as normal before 'jokingly' asking to see his son's. It was at that point the ticket examiner produced the premade 'special train ticket', complete with train and Thomas The Tank Engine stickers, from his bag - to four-year-old James's delight. The father said: 'James was really pleased and held onto it all the way into town and showed all his friends at nursery. 'In fact, they had put it away safely for him to take home as he was so taken with it.' Mr Stevens recalled: 'He was happy to receive the ticket, he was very happy and chuffed, over the moon.' Mr Nicol's post has more than 13,000 likes and nearly two million views. ScotRail responded to it with their own post, saying: 'I think it's beautiful that a post like this, such a small gesture between two people, can gain over a million views with plenty of likes and comments too. 'More of this across all social media can only be a good thing. Oh, and I hope he got to show everyone in the nursery!' In the comments, Mr Nicol replied (pictured) to confirm James did indeed proudly show all his nursery friends the handmade ticket: 'He was still hanging onto it when I picked him up!' Users rushed to the comments section of Mr Nicol's original post (pictured) to express their delight at the sweet interaction In the comments, Mr Nicol replied to confirm James did indeed proudly show all his nursery friends the handmade ticket: 'He was still hanging onto it when I picked him up! It's a little overwhelming all the views from all over the world.' And another user, determined to know more about the kind Mr Stevens, received a reply from ScotRail saying: 'Rest assured, Michael is very much aware his lovely gesture has been seen by many, many people. 'His manager is also aware and I'm sure he's getting a well-deserved pat on the back.' Users rushed to the comments section of Mr Nicol's original post to express their delight at the sweet interaction. One said: 'This is so thoughtful, fair play to Michael.' Another added: 'This is just the cutest! ScotRail, well done! And I hope he got to show all his pals.' Someone else exclaimed: 'Delightful to see this thoughtfulness for the young passengers!' One more was very impressed by Mr Stevens's customer service: 'That wee boy will always remember this. Well done Michael, you're clearly a star.' Another agreed that this would be a long-lasting memory for the young passenger: 'How kind. Seconds to do, smiles forever.' ScotRail customer operations director Phil Champbell said: 'We are committed to providing customers across Scotland with the best possible experience when they travel on ScotRail services, and this is the perfect example of the role our hardworking staff play in making that happen. 'Michael is a fantastic ambassador for ScotRail, and I am delighted to see the positive impact he had on this young travellers day.' Furious locals have objected to controversial plans for a traveller pitch on land that was used as an orphanage during World War Two. John and Cindy Ayres have applied to put a mobile home on the historic site near Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire - despite their plans being rejected once before. Villagers have branded the proposals 'unsuitable', 'inappropriate' and raised concerns about the site's 'proximity to a local nursery and playing fields'. The area in Sonning Common is part of a former Second World War camp, and is also located in an area of outstanding natural beauty. More than 300 orphans were moved to the site from a London orphanage during the Blitz, with two deteriorating buildings still remaining. Mr and Ms Ayres applied to build two traveller pitches on the land next to Bishopswood recreation ground in 2022, but this was rejected on appeal in January last year. However, their second bid comes as new planning policy announced by Angela Rayner will force councils to release green belt land to travellers if there is an 'unmet need' for pitches. At present neither temporary or permanent travellers' sites are allowed on green belt land as they fail to qualify as 'very special circumstances' - but that is about to change. John and Cindy Ayres have applied to put a mobile home on the historic site in Sonning Common, Oxfordshire - despite their plans being rejected once before (picture shows site) Angela Rayner introduced new planning proposals that will compel local councils to house travellers on greenbelt land if they fail to provide nomadic communities with sufficient land The area, next to Bishopwood recreation ground, is part of a former Second World War camp and is also located in an area of outstanding natural beauty A consultation, published in December, stated that proposals should no longer be considered as inappropriate if there is an 'unmet need for the type of development'. Mr and Ms Ayres have made clear in their application to South Oxfordshire District Council their plans address a shortage of traveller sites in the county. There are currently only ten traveller sites in south Oxfordshire - a shortfall of 34 pitches, the Henley Standard has reported. However more than 20 locals have already objected to the 'inappropriate' plans in Sonning Common, which are also located close to a public footpath. David Phillips wrote on the public planning portal: 'I raise an objection to the application on several grounds. 'The application has been rejected twice previously and also on appeal. Nothing has changed. The proposal is out of settlement and inappropriate given adjacency to nursery school and playing fields. 'The development would hinder the free usage of the public right of way running through the site.' Local Jonathon Edney added: 'The heavy toll the proposed development will have on both the children's nursery and the nearby playing fields is in my opinion too heavy a cost to bear. More than 20 locals have already objected to the 'inappropriate' plans, which are also located close to a public footpath (picture shows the site) An aerial view of the site off Gallowstree Road in Sonning Common, Oxfordshire Mr and Ms Ayres applied by build two traveller pitches on the land in 2022 but this was rejected on appeal in January last year 'The physical and mental health benefits of exercise are well documented, as is the way that open playing space for our young people's recreational pursuits has been eroded in recent years. 'I would therefore urge you not to put the wellbeing of our local youngsters at risk by approving this application.' Little Beeches Nursery which is located close to the development site also objected to the plans. The owners raised concerns about the impact on the 'character of the landscape', the effect on 'biodiversity' and the effect on trees in the area. However, Mr and Ms Ayres said the traveller site will not 'negatively impact' the site and added that it would be 'sensitively designed'. They are also proposing to enclose the pitch with native hedgerows and reinforce the existing boundary shrubs. It comes as a traveller was told in September last year he could continue living in a mobile home in a field in nearby Goring-on-Thames, despite the objections of dozens of residents and the local council. Nelson Rogers, 37, successfully appealed to the Planning Inspectorate after he installed, without planning permission, a static caravan and septic tank on land opposite the village cemetery in September 2022. Two months later, South Oxfordshire District Council issued him an enforcement notice demanding the work be undone within four months. Pictured: A mobile home in a field in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, that was approved as a traveller site following an appeal Pictured: Building work being undertaken at the entrance to a traveller site in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire A general view of the mobile home in a field in Goring-on-Thames that was set up opposite the village's cemetery However, Mr Rogers, appealed, resulting in an inquiry that was heard by planning inspector Thomas Shields in April last year. He argued that he should be granted permission for the mobile home as the district council did not have a five-year supply of traveller pitches. The appeal was granted, despite concerns being raised by dozens of local residents that the development was situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty. One local wrote on the public planning portal: 'The adjacent burial ground is a place for quiet reflection and grieving when needed and any building would disrupt this. 'There should be no change of use and no development on this site and the mobile home which is currently there should be removed.' Another added: 'This is one of the very few areas of outstanding beauty which we must preserve for future generations to experience the peace, tranquility and solemnity, and to escape the pressures of our ever increasing hectic lives. 'The noise created by such a development - with a loud generator running day and night - would be disturbing and intimidating to people at their most vulnerable time and during funerals taking place.' BBC drama This City Is Ours has won rave reviews for its 'edge-of-your-seat' portrayal of a fictional Liverpool crime family - but what is the true-life history that inspired it? The series stars Sean Bean as kingpin Ronnie Phelan, whose decision to retire kicks off a war of succession between his loyal partner Michael (James Nelson-Joyce) and his eldest son Jamie (Jack McMullen). While the events that follow are imaginary, they are a reminder of the very real power that organised crime gangs continue to exert over the city and the oversized role they play in the UK's drugs trade. Understanding how the underworld depicted in This City Is Ours came into being requires going back into the past when Liverpool was one of the world's greatest ports. The opening of the first ever commercial wet dock in 1715 led to a boom in maritime commerce, helped by Liverpool's enviable position on the Atlantic trade route to Britain's colonies in the Americas, West Africa and the Caribbean. The profits from these enterprises, including the slave trade, built much of the handsome city centre we see today. But it would also lay the foundations for another trade that Liverpool would come to dominate - the trafficking of drugs. Peter Walsh, author of Drug War: The Secret History, said it all began with one drug in particular, cannabis. This City Is Ours stars Sean Bean as kingpin Ronnie Phelan, whose decision to retire kicks off a war of succession A general view of the road where nine-year-old schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel was shot dead after becoming the random victim of a gang dispute Curtis Warren (left) is one of the most notorious Liverpool gangsters of recent times, while Vincent Coggins (right) led the Huyton Firm 'Liverpool was the key transatlantic port for the UK and became so at a time when Britain had the biggest empire in the world,' he told MailOnline. 'By coincidence, a lot of the countries that were part of the empire and with which we did a lot of maritime trade also turned out to be areas that became important in the cultivation of cannabis, such as the Caribbean, West Africa, East Asia and South America. 'So it just so happened that at a time when cannabis consumption in the West was growing from the 1960s onwards, UK ports and Liverpool in particular had connections with areas where the cannabis was grown. 'So you can see why Liverpool would become significant as a port of entry.' Merseyside's cannabis trade began to take off in the post-WWII period, as foreign seamen smuggled in small amounts to sell. The local police would go on to establish their first drug unit in 1965 - just as the Beatles were enjoying their heyday. However, it was rare for Liverpool's native crime families to get involved with drug smuggling during this period, with most relying instead on armed robberies. This finally changed in the 1970s with the arrival of a new generation of kingpins who were tempted by the huge profits on offer. This City Is Ours tells the story of a Liverpool crime family and also stars Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Stephen Waters Your browser does not support iframes. They include Tommy 'Tacker' Comerford, a former bank robber who is considered one of the first Liverpudlian gangsters to establish an international drug smuggling network in the form of the 'Liverpool Mafia' in the late 1970s. According to Mr Walsh, it was during this decade that Liverpool's gangs began to dominate the importation of drugs into Britain. 'Organised crime gangs - although that phrase wasn't used at the time - started to take hold of the cannabis trade in the late 70s and were able to corrupt people who worked on the docks, and sometimes also the local police,' he said. 'They established a preeminent position in the importation of cannabis and supply through the rest of the country. 'Another factor was the decline of Liverpool's economy from the later 1960s onwards and the rise of unemployment. 'That created a pool of fairly desperate young people who saw crime as an opportunity - which maybe they would not have done had they been employed. That provided a ready pool of labour for drug gangs.' Poverty and unemployment also made Liverpool particularly vulnerable to the arrival of a far more potent drug, heroin - as Mr Walsh explains. 'Liverpool developed a serious heroin problem in the early 80s before anywhere else in the UK. 'That meant there was a market for heroin in Liverpool that there wasn't in other cities until some time later. As a result, there were customers for smugglers to sell to.' Daniel Dunne was jailed last week over a 1million pile of drug money that was found at his house after he was stopped by police The stash of money that was uncovered by officers after they stopped the 28-year-old for not wearing a seatbelt Your browser does not support iframes. Party drugs like cocaine and ecstasy were also growing in popularity in this period thanks to demand from ravers looking for a 'hit' to get them through the night. This was an opportunity seized with particular vigour by Curtis 'Cocky' Warren, who would emerge as Liverpool's top cocaine importer thanks to his decision to forge links with Colombia's Cali Cartel. Warren would go on to flood Europe with drugs and gain an estimated fortune of 300million, together with an appearance in the Sunday Times Rich List. His jailing in 1996 left a power vacuum that would soon be filled by the Huyton Firm, led by brothers Vincent and Francis Coggins, which the National Crime Agency considers to be 'in the upper tiers of organised crime in the UK'. According to Mr Walsh, Merseyside gangsters have been able to leverage expertise built up in the early decades of cannabis smuggling to play a prominent role in the UK's cocaine trade. 'They developed an expertise in smuggling and created connections throughout the country due to the cannabis trade that they were able to use to achieve preeminence in the trafficking of cocaine too,' he said. 'During the 1990s, the growth of Liverpool Airport and budget airlines made it very easy to get to the Netherlands, which had become a key hub for the international drug trafficking, as well as southern Spain where a lot of cocaine deals were done too. 'So the Scouse gangsters had the connections at both ends - buying and selling - and exploited them better than anyone else did and have continued to this day.' Sian Banks, 25, and Eddie Burton, 23, were recently exposed as the shockingly young couple behind a 20million drug smuggling operation Burton, who like Banks is from Liverpool, pleaded guilty to four charges of importing Class A and B drugs Your browser does not support iframes. A focus of This City Is Ours is the smuggling of cocaine through the Port of Liverpool, with the drama opening with a shipment going missing after arriving from Colombia. While drugs continue to be smuggled through the port, Mr Walsh believes gangs in the city are more heavily involved in distribution rather than importation - developing a reputation as 'logistics specialists'. 'Liverpool gangs have turned themselves into mobile middlemen who specialise in logistics,' he said. 'There are still seizures at Liverpool port, which is where this series begins. But generally the drugs don't come through Liverpool itself.' Despite the best efforts of police, drug smuggling remains business for the Liverpool criminals of today. This was shown by the recent jailing of young Liverpool couple Eddie Burton, 23, and Sian Banks, 25, for overseeing a 20million drug smuggling operation that brought hundreds of kilos of heroin, cocaine, and ketamine concealed in lorries from Europe to the UK. Another gang, based on the Wirral, were handed a combined 44 years in prison at the end of January for using the Royal Mail's postal service to send 2.7million of MDMA, ecstasy, cocaine, magic mushrooms, LSD and ketamine around the country. Another gang, based on the Wirral, used Royal Mail to send 2.7million of MDMA. Pictured are gang members Benjamin Crane, 35, and Bradley Gene Grey, 43 Abbey Crane,24, was sentenced to nine years in prison after she was found guilty after trial, while Kylie Collins, 36, was handed six years Your browser does not support iframes. The group, who included step-siblings Benjamin Crane, 35, and Abbey Crane, 24, stored their drugs in a Birkenhead storage unit, before shipping orders from a post office in a local convenience store. And just last week, 28-year-old Daniel Dunne was jailed over a 1million pile of drug money that was found at his house after he was stopped by police for not wearing a seatbelt. So long as millions of Brits continue to use illegal drugs, Liverpool's drug gangs will continue to make healthy profits - with all the suffering that inevitably causes for ordinary Scousers. As such, don't expect the vicious, blood-soaked world depicted in This City is Ours to end anytime soon. A shotgun which Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev gave the United States to symbolise peace three years before the world came close to nuclear war has emerged for sale. The ornate double barrel weapon was one of two handed over by the Russian dictator during his unprecedented state visit to America in September 1959. Khrushchev gave one gun to President Dwight Eisenhower and the other - the one that is for sale - to secretary of defense Neil McElroy. During his 12-day visit, Khrushchev declared his wish 'to achieve better relations between our two countries and promote peace all over the world'. In thanking the Russian leader, McElroy called the shotgun 'handsome' and expressed his hope that 'the firearms used in the future by our two countries need be no longer than this shotgun for the preservation of world peace.' But, three years later, in October 1962, Khrushchev's decision to put Soviet missiles in Cuba pushed the world to the brink of nuclear conflict in what became known as the Cuban Missile Crisis. A shotgun which Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev gave the United States to symbolise peace three years before the world came close to nuclear war has emerged for sale Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev and his wife Nina (second left) pose with US President Dwight Eisenhower and his wife Mamie during their visit to the US, September 15, 1959 The shotgun, which is described as being in pristine condition, is being sold via US-based dealer the Raab Collection for $125,000 (97,000). The gun was made by craftsmen in the Izhevsk region of Russia. It features ornate engravings of hunting scenes, including a gold fox with prey in its teeth. Nathan Raab, the president of the Raab Collection, said: 'This is a remarkable discovery and a beautiful artifact from a crucial moment in the history of the great 20th-century powers'. Khrushchev's trip marked the first time a Soviet head of sate had received an invitation to the White House. It came just weeks after US Vice President Richard Nixon had been to Moscow. The shotgun, which is described as being in pristine condition, is being sold via US-based dealer the Raab Collection It features ornate engravings of hunting scenes The gun was made by craftsmen in the Izhevsk region of Russia The respective visits came at a time of rising tensions in the Cold War, 14 years on from when the US and Russia ended the Second World War on the same side. Two days before Khrushchev arrived in Washington with his wife Nina, daughters Julia and Rada, son Sergei and son-in-law Alexei, the Soviet Union successfully landed the unmanned Luna II spacecraft on the moon. In the Oval Office, he gave President Eisenhower a model of a metal sphere that was placed on the Luna craft and designed to explode once it reached Space, so that parts inscribed with the 'Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics' would land on the Moon. The delegation also gifted bottles of vodka and traditional Russian nesting dolls. President Eisenhower hosted a state dinner at the White House, whilst Khrushchev and his family also toured the country. The two leaders went on to hold talks at Camp David, the President's retreat in Maryland. Khrushchev's trip marked the first time a Soviet head of sate had received an invitation to the White House Nikita Khrushchev waves as he leaves the United Nations headquarters in New York, September 18, 1959 In the Oval Office, Khrushchev gave President Eisenhower a model of a metal sphere, two days after the Russian spacecraft Luna II had landed on the moon Writing to Khrushchev during his visit, McElroy said: 'Of course, the shotgun is handsome indeed. 'It offers evidence of a quality of craftsmanship of which any country could be proud. 'In thanking you for the shotgun, may I fully reciprocate the wish expressed to me by your representative that the firearms used in the future by our two countries need to be no larger than this shotgun for the preservation of world peace and that even the shotgun be used solely for sporting purposes. 'I hope, as do all our people here, that your trip to the United States may be beneficial to you and to us in improving mutual understanding of our respective nations.' Although there was much optimism for improved diplomatic relations after Khrushchev's successful visit, progress regressed the following year. Soviet forces shot down an American U2 spy plane on May 1, 1960, escalating tensions further. Eisenhower's successor as President, John F Kennedy, was in the White House when the missile crisis came to a head two years later. Contact to appeal Southland Wind Farm decision and re-apply under new Fast-Track consent process Contact Energy Limited (Contact) has today announced its intention to appeal the Environmental Protection Authoritys expert consenting panel decision that saw consent for the companys proposed Southland Wind Farm declined. Contact also intends to re-apply under the new Fast-Track consenting process for this project. The Southland Wind Farm is a crucial project to enhance energy security for all New Zealanders, benefiting both households and the industries that drive our economy and support communities, says Chief Executive Officer, Mike Fuge. We have reviewed, in detail, the recent decision by the consenting panel to decline our application. The panels decision is flawed, with significant legal errors identified. We will lodge an appeal with the High Court, outlining the specific areas of law where the decision is incorrect, says Mr Fuge. New Zealands domestic energy supply is under increasing pressure. Natural gas supplies from offshore fields continue to decline faster than expected, and demand for electricity is growing. There is a pressing long-term need to increase electricity supply, says Mr Fuge. We continue to see a real need for the Southland Wind Farm to provide secure, affordable, and environmentally friendly electricity. This has guided our decision to re-apply for consent under the updated Fast-Track Approvals Act 2024. The Department of Conservation, Ngai Tahu, Environment Southland, Southland District Council and Gore District Council approved of the conditions that Contact put forward for this project. The Southland Wind Farm will have significant economic benefits for local communities, creating up to 240 jobs during construction, with an estimated $230 million to $280 million added into the New Zealand economy. The wind farm would also have a range of environmental benefits due to the extensive pest control,riparian planting and wetland restoration which Contact would undertake. "We are deeply committed to being a leader in the decarbonisation of New Zealand, playing our part to ensure energy security for all Kiwis, and being a good neighbour in the communities in which we operate, says Mr Fuge. The Panels decision can be appealed to the High Court within 15 working days from the decision date, only on points of law either by the applicant or those who were invited to comment during the application process. - ends Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: CDC Independent Valuation - 30 June 2025 TruScreen Group Limited SPP Update THL provides updated guidance CEN - Greymouth gas deal July 4th Morning Report July 3rd Morning Report ikeGPS Chief Financial Officer Transition TWL - TradeWindow announces strategic partnership with FTA BLT - Patent issue settled and new 5 year agreement with BSP July 2nd Morning Report Murdered transgender teenager Brianna Ghey helps to dye her killer's hair in a previously unseen social media video. The chilling film was recorded just weeks before Scarlett Jenkinson lured the 16-year-old schoolgirl to a park, where she was stabbed 28 times with a hunting knife in a sadistic and frenzied attack. Together with 15-year-old accomplice Eddie Ratcliffe, Jenkinson was convicted of Brianna's murder in December 2023, following a three-week trial at Manchester Crown Court. The trial heard Jenkinson, also 15, befriended and became besotted with Brianna after she was placed in her class at Birchwood High School, in Warrington, in October 2022. Jenkinson had a fascination with serial killers and was watching real-life murder and torture on the dark web when she and Ratcliffe plotted, in a series of upsetting Snapchat messages, to kill Brianna. In the video, which will be screened for the first time on a new ITV documentary tomorrow night, Jenkinson is seen reading the instructions of the hair dye while sat on the floor in a supermarket toilet. Brianna, wearing trademark pink bows in her hair, pink lipstick and long pink false nails, films as she helps wash the bright red dye into her killer's brown hair over the sink, before turning to pose for the camera. Just weeks later, on February 11 2023, Jenkinson persuaded her new friend, who suffered from anxiety, to get on a bus on her own for the first time and meet her in Culcheth, a village near to Warrington. Following the brutal murder of Brianna Ghey (left), her mother said to police: 'I knew this was going to happen' Eddie Ratcliffe (left) and Scarlett Jenkinson (right) were convicted of the murder of Brianna Ghey in what has been described as an 'exceptionally brutal' crime Brianna, wearing trademark pink bows in her hair, pink lipstick and long pink false nails, films as she helps wash the bright red dye into her killer's brown hair over the sink, before turning to pose for the camera In the video, which will be screened for the first time on a new ITV documentary tomorrow night, Jenkinson is seen reading the instructions of the hair dye while sat on the floor in a supermarket toilet Soon afterwards, she and Ratcliffe stabbed Brianna to death in a wooded area in nearby Culcheth Linear Park. Her body was found moments later by a couple walking their dog, who saw Jenkinson and Ratcliffe running away across a nearby field. More on Parents vs. The Internet Our children's mental health is under attack. From the age of 11, they're bombarded with information and messages via the smartphones in their pockets. Parents are struggling to protect them from the dangers of the digital world. Parents vs. The Internet is the Daily Mail's unmissable podcast, which asks what we can do to keep our young people safe and better protect their mental health. Hosted by the Daily Mail's Liz Hull and Esther Ghey, whose daughter Brianna Ghey tragically lost her life in an incident that was planned using the internet, this 10-part series explores what caregivers; teachers; and policymakers can do to support young people in leveraging technology for good, and safeguard them from the bad. LISTEN: Parents vs. The Internet is the weekly podcast where Esther Ghey & the Mail's Liz Hull explore how best to protect children online. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts Advertisement Other footage, also due to be screened for the first time as part of the programme, shows the killer pair casually buying bottles of pop and sandwich 'meal deals' in Sainsbury's shortly before meeting Brianna and launching the fatal attack. The 75-minute film, entitled Brianna: A Mother's Story, celebrates the schoolgirl's life and features interviews with her mother, Esther, 38, step-father, Wes Powell, 31, and several of her close friends. Ms Ghey, a former food technologist, tells the programme that what Jenkinson did to Brianna, who had thousands of followers on TikTok, was 'the worst possible betrayal.' She said: 'I didn't want to believe it was Scarlett because she was a friend who Brianna obviously trusted and I trusted, I think it's the worst possible betrayal.' Pictures of Brianna as a baby and a cute, ginger-haired toddler before she transitioned, aged 14, are also included in the documentary. It explores her death and issues around online safety, including Ms Ghey's campaigns to ban social media for under 16s and to introduce mindfulness teachers into schools, which she established in the wake of her daughter's murder. She and Brianna argued about her mobile phone use and interaction with strangers online before her death. Brianna was also briefly hospitalised with an eating disorder which, Ms Ghey later discovered, was likely exacerbated by pro-anorexia sites she was viewing online. Ms Ghey has previously described social media as a 'cess pit' and wants the Government to do more to protect children, saying the new Online Safety Act does not go far enough. The chilling film was recorded just weeks before Scarlett Jenkinson lured the 16-year-old schoolgirl to a park, where she was stabbed 28 times with a hunting knife in a sadistic and frenzied attack Brianna Ghey was stabbed 28 times with a hunting knife in Cheshire in February 2023 Brianna's mother says she can never visit Culcheth Linear Park, where Brianna was killed by Jenkinson (pictured), and has refused the local council's request for a memorial bench in the spot she died She also travels for New York for the film, where she meets a father whose 17-year-old daughter was also stabbed to death by a teenage friend who sent her threatening messages on social media. Mr Powell tells the documentary: 'We spent a lot of time worrying about who Brianna was talking to online and the strangers that she could potentially be meeting up with (but) the fact that Brianna's friend was involved is unbelievable and devastating.' Jenkinson and Ratcliffe were jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum 22 and 20 years, respectively, before being considered for parole in February last year. (2024) Trial judge, Mrs Justice Yip, told Jenkinson '(you) knew (Brianna) was vulnerable and needed friendship and you abused that.' She concluded that, while Jenkinson was motivated by her 'deep desire' to kill, Ratcliffe was driven 'in part by hostility towards Brianna because she was transgender'. 'You both took part in a brutal and planned murder which was sadistic in nature and a secondary motivation was hostility to Brianna because of her transgender identity,' the judge said. Brianna: A Mother's Story will air at 9pm tomorrow, Thursday March 27, on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player. Residents of caravan parks in northern New South Wales say they have 'nowhere to go' after the council terminated their leases to make room for more tourists. Clarence Valley Council issued notices to residents at Brooms Head, Iluka, Minnie Water and Wooli caravan parks that it would be terminating long-term (casual occupation) agreements. In explaining the move, the council said 'holders are permitted to use the site for up to 180 days per year' but they were never intended to be permanent homes. The council's general manager Laura Black said there was now growing demand from visitors for access to the sites and they wanted to free up spaces for tourists. For many of the long-term residents, the parks had become a desperately needed affordable alternative to skyrocketing rents and property prices. One of those is Roger House, who used his life savings to buy a holiday van at Minnie Water Holiday Park nine years ago. But on March 15, the council terminated his lease and gave him 120 days to vacate. 'I'll be homeless. I've got no family close by. Where I can go and live,' he told the ABC. 'What am I going to do, pitch a tent?' Clarence Valley Council issued notice to holders of casual holiday vans in Brooms Head, Iluka, Minnie Water and Wooli Holiday Parks, terminating long-term lease agreements For some Aussies, these parks had become a lifeline in a time of skyrocketing rents and home prices and cost of living pressures (a holiday with extensions is pictured) The military veteran added that with 'the prices of rentals these days you can't get a decent place to live on your superannuation and your pension'. Mr House is one of 131 casual lease holders in the four affected holiday parks who have been issued with notices to vacate. The council said 'casual holiday vans are not primary places of residence', but Mr House presumed his lease allowed him to live there. Andrea and Rod Stone invested their life savings into a campervan parked at Riverside Caravan Park after they were unable to afford their rental home. 'We'll lose $120,000. We'll walk away with nothing,' Mrs Stone said. 'The stress amongst people here is terrible. I can't sleep, I'm so distressed.' Ms Black said the council had been forced to make changes as the demand from visitors for tourist sites has grown significantly over the last decade. 'These sites are on public land and it's important that all visitors to the holiday parks have the same opportunity to use these sites when holidaying with their families and friends,' she said. For some people, these parks had become a lifeline in a time of rising rents, sky high home prices and continuing cost of living pressures 'We've been able to accommodate casual agreements for some time but with greater demand, we have made the decision to return these sites for all to use. 'We are not "evicting" residents, these are casual agreements and cannot be used as a permanent residence. All users are required to have a primary place of residence elsewhere offsite.' Gary Martin, CEO of the Affiliated Residential Park Residents Association, said two different leases govern caravan park tenancies. 'The Residential Land Lease Communities Act is a residential site agreement that allows the home owner to live permanently in that type of dwelling,' he told the ABC. 'The second one is called the Holiday Parks Act, and that is essentially a holiday home where the occupant has the right to stay for up to 180 days at a time.' But Mr Martin said that increasingly, there is 'a grey area where people no longer have that second place to live and have become permanent residents by stealth'. He said that many operators, such as councils, 'have not done their due diligence, and they haven't been able to delineate where the person is actually living'. Clarence Valley Council general manager Laura Black (pictured) said the move was due to growing demand from visitors for tourist sites A statement on the council's website said it is 'working closely with holiday park managers and holders of casual agreements, providing 110 days notice to terminate agreements and waiving all rental fees from 13 March to 30 June. 'Under the Act only 90 days notice is required.' The council's assertion that there is a growing demand from tourists and travellers is backed up by figures released on Wednesday showing NSW has recorded its highest-ever visitor expenditure. Domestic and international travellers spent $53.2billion across the state, up 3.6 per cent year on year, according to new data from Tourism Research Australia for the year ending December 2024. 'Our focus is on unlocking opportunity and driving investment in our visitor economy,' NSW Tourism Minister Steve Kamper said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia. 'These results reflect the strength of our experience tourism approach, which connects visitors to our state's unique offerings.' A Florida woman who was caught using a sneaky trick to steal various items from a local Walmart was found to have her children waiting in the car. Sebastian police were called to the Walmart regarding a shoplifting incident Thursday night, when a Loss Prevention Officer at the store caught Katherine Leone Gordon, 65, of using the so-called 'banana trick' to pay less for her items. She had picked out food, drinks and household items from the store, and allegedly took pre-cut barcodes from lower-priced items that she placed over the original tags to pay less at the self-checkout register rather than the full price of the merchandise, which was valued at $83.67, Sebastian Daily reports. Gordon was then placed under arrest as she left the store, but she refused to speak with officers at the scene, according to CBS 12. That is when the Loss Prevention Officer told cops that Gordon casually mentioned that children were waiting for her in her vehicle, as she bemoaned how ice cream she had purchased was beginning to melt due to the delay. When police then questioned her, Gordon allegedly admitted to intentionally leaving two juveniles in her Ford truck, which was parked in the first handicap spot near the grocery entrance without the engine running. She allegedly claimed she did not think it was hot enough outside that it would be a problem to leave the children in the car without air conditioning or giving the children the keys to open the door or windows - despite temperatures outside hovering between 82 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit at the time. Katherine Leone Gordon, 65, was arrested after a Loss Prevention Officer at a Sebastian, Florida Walmart noticed she was using the so-called 'banana trick' She had allegedly took out pre-cut barcodes from lower-priced items that she placed over the original tags to pay less at the self-checkout register At that point, the officers who were investigating the shoplifting incident dispatched additional cops to check on the children. Those officers reportedly found two juveniles inside the locked vehicle - one in the back seat watching something on a tablet, and the other in the front seat using a cellphone. They also noticed that the Ford truck's windows were rolled up and the engine was off, leaving the children without any air flow. When one of the officers then tried to open a car door and found it unlocked, the child in the front seat unlocked it. As the door swung open, the officer reported feeling a 'rush of heat' from inside and noticed heavy condensation on the windows - which police say is a sign of poor ventilation and carbon dioxide buildup. The children were also sweating profusely, but EMS crews dispatched to the scene found that their vitals were still within normal range. As police continued to investigate, they retrieved surveillance footage from the store - which showed that Gordon had parked the car at 5.52pm and spent over an hour shopping while the children were left inside the vehicle. Officers located the children at around 6.58pm. When police handcuffed her outside the store, they learned she had left two children locked inside her Ford truck. A Walmart in Miami is pictured But Gordon showed little concern when police questioned her, insisting it was not a problem to leave the children inside the truck as long as it wasn't running, according to a police affidavit obtained by Sebastian Daily. It notes that Gordon even remarked that the children's parents 'do it all the time.' She allegedly remained dismissive officers when police tried to explain how dangerous it could be to leave children inside a locked vehicle in Florida's heat. Yet when she was sitting in the back of a patrol car, officers noted that she quickly grumbled about the heat and requested the door or windows be open. One of the officers then decided to point out the irony of her statement - mentioning that the children may not have had the strength to open the doors themselves due to heat-induced impairment. But again, Gordon allegedly insisted, 'They were fine.' She is now charged with two counts of child neglect and one count of second-degree petit theft, and is being held at the River County Jail on a $3,000 bond. The incident comes just one month after a Tennessee woman was banned from every Walmart in America for using the same 'banana trick.' Ashley Cross, 37, has been banned from every Walmart in the country Ashley Cross, 37, is prohibited from entering any of the grocery giant's 4,600 stores after being caught using the barcode for a watch battery to scan multiple items for $1 at self-checkouts. Memphis Police caught Cross in the process of stealing a pair of jeans, a t-shirt some boots and 11 packs of ramen noodles from a Walmart on Elvis Presley Boulevard in February. The total haul was valued at $137.34, according to the police report. She wasnt working alone another woman with her was charged with stealing $57.86 worth of goods, which included two bras. Due to her history of theft, Cross has now found herself on list that bans her from entering another Walmart again. 'We value our customers and associates and want them to have a pleasant shopping experience,' Walmart said in a statement. 'Though rare, there are instances when someone is no longer welcome in our stores.' Cross has been charged for criminal trespass and theft of merchandise less than $1,000. A drunk driver who killed an adored Portland librarian was handed a generous plea deal of just three years in prison, leaving the victim's family devastated. Kevin M. Scott, 49, was criminally charged for slamming his car into beloved youth librarian and mother-of-two Jeanie Diaz, 43, while she was waiting at a bus stop after work on July 15, 2023. Jeanie, known as Miss Jeanie by the library's children, died at the scene - just across the street from the Belmont branch of the Multnomah County Library, where she worked. Scott crawled out of his flipped-over vehicle unharmed, The Oregonian reported. Police noticed Scott was under the influence and found a half-empty flask and marijuana inside his vehicle. The careless driver pleaded not guilty to first-degree manslaughter, driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII) and reckless driving in 2023. But on Thursday, Scott entered a plea deal - he pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide, DUII and reckless endangerment. He was sentenced to three years in prison and has access to sentence reduction programs and transitional leave, meaning this sentence can be slashed even more, according to The Oregonian. Jeanie Diaz, 43, pictured with her daughters, was struck dead by a drunk driver while she was waiting at a bus stop in 2023 Kevin M. Scott, 49, was criminally charged for slamming his car into the beloved youth librarian and mother-of-two Jeanie, known as Miss Jeanie by the library's children, died at the scene of the accident 'It's heartbreaking to hear the pain that I caused,' Scott said during his sentencing. Arturo Diaz, the victim's grieving husband, cannot fathom how such a brief prison stint can be justified, given the fatal nature of Scott's crimes. 'This case does not live on paper alone,' Arturo told The Oregonian. 'Not just family and friends, but a community at large are grieving and asking for justice. 'What hurts the most is that Jeanie's death was totally preventable,' Jeanie's mother, Nancy Miller, said in court on Thursday. Jeanie's family and the library's community remembers her for her free spirit and devotion to helping children develop a love for literacy. The guitar-playing librarian helped start up the library's Storytime program, which encourages literacy among all age groups. 'Her passion for early literacy, her legendary Storytimes, her work with school-aged kids and her involvement in her profession lives on,' her mother explained. Scott's car flipped after the fatal crash. Police later found marijuana and a half-empty flask inside the vehicle Jeanie worked at various libraries in the Multnomah County system, but moved to the Belmont branch location in 2021 Jeanie's impactful career as a librarian began in 2006 in Washington County, Oregon, according to The Oregonian. She went on to work for the Multnomah County Library system and quickly established herself as an essential member of the community. The library wrote in a 2023 Instagram post: 'She made lasting bonds with families and children over Storytimes and was a vitally important part of the Belmont Library community. 'Jeanie will be missed, and her contributions, kindness, and loving spirit will not be forgotten.' Her boss, Danielle Jones, estimated that Jeanie helped more than 7,000 children with their reading skills using her bubbly and interactive tactics. 'She was absolutely committed to children,' Jones told The Oregonian in 2023. 'In addition to her other library duties, Jeanie did six Storytimes a week and two more a week in the summer.' Jeanie worked at various libraries in the Multnomah County system, but moved to the Belmont branch location in 2021. Outside of her work, Jeanie adored her two young daughters and was an accomplished visual artist Arturo Diaz, the victim's grieving husband, cannot fathom how such a brief prison stint can be justified, given the fatal nature of Scott's crimes Outside of her work, Jeanie adored her two young daughters and was an accomplished visual artist, according to a GoFundMe page from 2023. 'Jeanie was literally obsessed with her kids,' Cari Miller, Jeanie's sister, told The Oregonian. 'They should have the best. And that was Jeanie.' A Aussie couple has asked for advice after their landlord moved back in and started sleeping on the living room floor of their Melbourne apartment. They shared a photo of a person they claimed was their landlord sleeping on a thin mattress on the floor of their living room to Reddit this week. 'Got a problem with our landlord,' they wrote alongside the since-deleted post. The couple explained they moved into the apartment in early February with their landlord staying in the second bedroom. They claimed the landlord then moved out of her room and rented it out to another couple. She moved to her friend's place 'but then started complaining about it'. 'She has since slept on the living space floor for at least seven nights and also uses the flat a lot by using the TV and sofa,' the couple wrote. 'We don't know what to do and how to tell her to not do this weird behaviour. 'We have a flatmates contract so there is something on paper that we can rely on.' The Melbourne couple claimed their landlord had moved back in with them and was sleeping on a thin mattress on the floor of the living room (the Reddit photo is pictured) Aussies were quick to share their thoughts on the bizarre living arrangements. 'They are not landlords. What they do is they rent the apartment and once they get accepted they sublet the apartment illegally on Gumtree so that it covers the rent and makes them extra money,' one person wrote. 'I used to live in apartments like these once I was a student and we would have to leave for the day if the real estate agent did an inspection. 'Basically, its richer international students taking advantage of poorer international students and working holiday visa holders.' 'As long as your lease is current, she has no legal right to be sleeping there. There's a legal process for evicting tenants if she'd like her flat back,' another wrote. 'In the meantime, I'd be calling Vicpol (Victoria Police) to have her removed from the premises. Sure, it'll mean that your lease will probably be terminated early because she wants her property back, but at least you all won't have to live with her.' Under the Residential Tenancies Act (1997), tenants have the right to 'quiet enjoyment' of their premises, meaning they are entitled to reasonable peace, comfort, and privacy, free from unreasonable interference by the landlord or other tenants. Tenants are entitled to quiet enjoyment of the premises without interruption by the landlord or anyone claiming through them. The number of homes available for rent in Australia in January dropped from 47,336 to 31,822. Landlords and their agents must not interfere with, or cause or permit interference with, the tenant's reasonable peace, comfort, or privacy. If the terms are breached, it could result in a maximum penalty of 10 units. In Victoria, 10 penalty units currently equates to a fine of $1,975.90 for the 2024-25 financial year. Australia is facing a severe rental crisis with low vacancy rates, rising rents, and increasing rental stress, particularly for low-income households. The rental vacancy data showed the national vacancy rate fell in January to just one per cent, with the number of homes available for rent across Australia dropping from 47,336 to 31,822. Factors contributing to the crisis were the increased population in major cities, a lack of affordable housing and rising construction costs. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has revealed he briefly considered marrying Jodie Haydon in a secret ceremony on Valentine's Day this year. Speaking on Brisbane radio on Tuesday morning, just hours before the Budget was handed down, Mr Albanese said he considered eloping with his fiancee when parliament adjourned last month. 'We did think about it, I've got to say, on the (one-year) anniversary, really quietly, just doing it to stop speculation,' Mr Albanese told B105. 'But we decided that might get some speculation as well, so we didn't. (But) I did think about doing it really quietly. 'The wedding will be in the second half of the year, it won't be elaborate. The only thing that's finalised is our ring bearer. And that, of course, is Toto the wonder dog.' Earlier this year, Mr Albanese told the Australian Women's Weekly that he had asked for the support of his 24-year-old son Nathan prior to popping the question. Nathan is the child of Mr Albanese and his ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt, a former NSW Deputy Premier. 'I respect him and have a good relationship with him, and with his mother. So I asked him to think about it... and he was supportive. He wants me to be happy, and Nathan and Jodie have a really nice relationship as well,' Mr Albanese said. Anthony Albanese said in a new radio interview he has considered secretly marrying Jodie Haydon on Valentine's Day this year but eventually decided against it Mr Albanese is the first Australian leader to get engaged while in office. It's understood he proposed with a ring specifically designed for Ms Haydon He said one major difference between himself and Ms Haydon had became apparent as they discussed the guest list - the size of their extended families. 'Growing up, there was just me and my mum. I haven't got any brothers or sisters. I've got one really close relative, my son Nathan, and I cherish that relationship we're great mates,' the Prime Minister said. He said his six first cousins were vastly outnumbered by those of Ms Haydon who 'has hundreds well, there must be 70 at least'. Mr Albanese and Ms Haydon conceded the pressures of the country's top job had thrown up challenges in their relationship. However he said frequent travel away and long hours were problems faced by many couples, such as those in FIFO jobs, and the important thing was they 'made the most of their time together' when work commitments allowed. Ms Haydon is an executive for Teachers Mutual Bank, which she said has been very supportive of her high-profile role as Australia's de facto 'First Lady'. Her work ethic was learned, she said, through her mother and grandmother who were both schoolteachers. The Prime Minister said Toto would be the ring bearer for his wedding later this year but other than that the couple have not decided on any details Mr Albanese said he asked for the support of his son Nathan, 24, before popping the question to Ms Haydon (pictured with Nathan's mother and Mr Albanese's ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt) She credits them with instilling belief in her potential and that she 'never felt held back as a woman when it comes to the workforce'. It was at a work conference in 2020 where Ms Haydon met Mr Albanese - who was then opposition leader to the Scott Morrison government. He had asked if there were any South Sydney NRL fans in the audience, at which Ms Haydon yelled out the team's catch cry of 'up the Rabbitohs'. 'We met up for a drink... it's a nice relationship,' he said of their first date. The following year he was seriously injured in a car crash when a Range Rover crossed onto the wrong side of the road and smashed into his car in the Sydney suburb of Marrickville. Ms Haydon got a call and raced to the scene to see the car written off, but Mr Albanese alive. 'And I knew then that, yeah, I loved him,' she said. Planning for the pair's wedding has been brief, as Mr Albanese's main focus over the next few weeks will be his campaign for a second term as prime minister. 'Anthony isn't a big fan of unnecessary shopping,' Ms Haydon said. A frustrated tour operator at Kakadu National Park says restricted access to key sites is making it 'impossible' for businesses and discouraging tourists from visiting. Greig Taylor of Charter North 4WD Safaris said visitors to the Northern Territory park have fallen from 250,000 in 1998 to about 160,000, as access to main sites is regularly prevented by the management committee. The committee, made up chiefly of local Aboriginal groups, is unaccountable and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek is unresponsive to tour operators' pleas. 'The biggest problem that we have around Kakadu National Park and the lack of access to key sites is actually designing itineraries,' Mr Taylor said on Wednesday. He told 2GB's Ben Fordham that 'putting itineraries out to the clients that want to make a booking (is) becoming impossible... beyond two months of our tourist season'. Mr Taylor, who has run tours of Kakadu for 30 years, said he is making a plea from the industry that is being financially ruined by the park's regular closures. 'The lack of certainty for tour operators about where they can or can't take visitors means they can't guarantee access to potential clients, which puts many of them off going at all. People want to know what they're going to see,' he said. 'They're coming a long way to see what is essentially a national icon, it's an international treasure, and we can't even guarantee that they're going to see those key sites.' Kakadu tourism operator Greig Taylor (pictured) says he and other businesses need help from the Environment Minister Wurrkbarbar man and traditional owner Joshua Hunter is pictured at Kakadu National Park He said in his three decades in the business, he has witnessed 'the decline of tourism in Kakadu' as more and more sites are ruled off-limits to visitors, even though only a tiny percentage of the park was ever open to tourists. Mr Taylor said this is having drastic financial consequences for tourism and the broader Northern Territory economy. 'It's a huge part of our economy and it supports a lot of businesses like ours and we rely on access to Kakadu National Park,' Mr Taylor said. 'So what we've got in Kakadu National Park is a power base that's basically got a stronghold on the park and they're not being held accountable.' He said the board of management that makes decisions about the park 'is predominantly made up of traditional owners of the area'. 'The reasons that we're given (for the closures) often is either environmental reasons, infrastructure upgrades or... operational reasons. 'So we've seen access to these key sites like Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls and Gunlom over the years decreased significantly to two to three months of the year,' he said. He added that the tourism industry has spent years fruitlessly trying to work with Kakadu National Park management to grow and support tourism. Tourism operators have slammed Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek (pictured), arguing she is unresponsive to the pleas of frustrated tour operators An aerial view of Jim Jim Falls in Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia is pictured He said he has also contacted Ms Plibersek about their problems, but got 'no response... there's been no action whatsoever'. 'The Australian people need to know what's happening because currently we've got a situation where nothing is changing, nobody's taking action,' Mr Taylor said. 'There's no conversation around this whatsoever, and us as business operators and the Northern Territory tourism as a whole, we are continuing to suffer. It's just crazy.' But Ms Plibersek told Daily Mail Australia that 'Access to some of Kakadu National Park's sites is seasonal, due to wet season flooding. Sites are also closed at times for safety reasons, such as flash flooding. 'There are a range of sites in Kakadu which remain open for majority of the year including Yellow Water, Yurmikmik walks and Burrungkuy (Nourlangie).' He claimed the situation has got so bad that international inbound tour agents who sell packaged Australian itineraries to visitors have 'now struck Kakadu off their list'. 'They're not even selling Kakadu. This is an absolute disaster and disgrace for what is a national treasure. It's one of our great World Heritage sites.' She said there was 'chronic underfunding' during the previous Coalition government's nine years in power, meaning that 'park facilities and tourist infrastructure haven't been maintained at the high standard people rightly expect of them. 'At Kakadu, the rangers' station roof was peeling off, crocodile warning signs were broken or missing, and programs to manage feral animals and invasive weeds were not keeping up with the problem.' A young man is pictured fishing at Gunlom Falls, Kakadu National Park, NT, October 22, 2024 Mr Taylor, though, said environmentally conscious visitors to Kakadu do no damage and that just three per cent of the park was ever opened for tourism, so there was little to no impact on its untouched beauty. 'We're calling on the minister... we're calling on anybody that gets into federal government at the next election to start tackling this issue because it's really affecting small business,' Mr Taylor said. 'We're losing visitors year on year, both domestic and international. It's an absolute nightmare.' Fordham agreed, saying 'we've got this beautiful part of Australia that we should be showing off to ourselves and everyone else. 'And it's another example of no-go zones in Australia. It's brain dead crazy if you ask me.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Kakadu National Park for comment. Rachel Reeves will today blame world events for Britain's faltering economy as voters in a bombshell poll say it is her fault. The beleaguered Chancellor will publish official forecasts this afternoon showing the outlook for economic growth has halved to around 1 per cent. Following her controversial tax-raising Budget in October, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is also expected to warn living standards are set to stagnate for the rest of the decade. The gloomy forecasts put Ms Reeves on course to break her own 'fiscal rules' and unveil 15billion in cuts in today's Spring Statement on the economy, triggering a Labour backlash over whether she is pursuing austerity. In a thinly veiled swipe at Donald Trump, the Chancellor last night tried to blame global challenges for the British economy's stuttering performance on her watch. 'We can see that the world is changing, and part of that change is increases globally in the cost of government borrowing and Britain has not been immune from those challenges,' she said. But a damaging poll reveals most voters no longer believe the Chancellor's economic claims and are increasingly blaming her for the country's financial woes. The More in Common survey found Ms Reeves is facing a credibility crisis, with more than half of voters (53 per cent) saying Labour lied about its economic plans to win power and 'always knew they weren't going to keep to these promises'. Rachel Reeves (pictured on March 25) will publish official forecasts this afternoon showing the outlook for economic growth has halved to around 1 per cent In a thinly veiled swipe at Donald Trump (pictured on March 25), the Chancellor last night tried to blame global challenges for the British economy's stuttering performance on her watch More than half of voters think Labour is spending too much time blaming the Tories for the predicament in which the country finds itself (Pictured: Kemi Badenoch on March 25) Just 13 per cent say Labour has stuck to its pledges on the economy. Voters are also tired of Labour's constant attempts to blame the last Conservative government, with only 30 per cent saying they believe the Chancellor has been honest about the scale of the fiscal challenge she inherited. More than half of voters think Labour is spending too much time blaming the Tories. Some 31 per cent now blame Labour for Britain's growth crisis, compared with 27 per cent blaming the Conservatives and 18 per cent citing global events. Remarkably, a majority of voters would now rather have former chancellor Jeremy Hunt or Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride at the Treasury. Voters also fear Ms Reeves will fail in her stated ambition to turn around the economy and deliver a decade of renewal. With tax rises and increases in utility bills set to come in next month, 49 per cent think the cost of living crisis may never end. Almost a third of voters (31 per cent) believe Britain is heading back to austerity, while 23 per cent think it never ended. Seven in ten say Labour will not improve the country's public finances, while three-fifths (62 per cent) think the Government will also fail to improve public services. The damning assessment came as: Ministers were braced for a mutiny when they release figures today showing welfare cuts will cost a million people on disability benefits around 5,000 each. Public health experts writing in the British Medical Journal urged the Chancellor to abandon her welfare cuts, saying they would 'result in more premature deaths'. The Treasury tried to put a positive gloss on today's statement by revealing the Chancellor will find an extra 2billion for defence to fund laser weapons for Navy warships. A separate YouGov poll found that three-quarters of the public think Labour is managing the economy badly. A separate YouGov poll found that three-quarters of the public think Labour is managing the economy badly. Following Ms Reeves' controversial tax-raising Budget in October, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is expected to warn living standards are set to stagnate for the rest of the decade (Reeves, centre, is pictured above with the treasury team on March 25) Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch (pictured on March 18) claimed that in 'any other field of work' Chancellor Reeves would have been sacked Ms Reeves had originally pledged to make no major interventions today. But the plunge in Britain's economic fortunes since the Budget has forced her hand, with the OBR warning her privately that she would break her own fiscal rules unless she acts. The Tories said Ms Reeves had been forced into an 'emergency Budget' by her own mismanagement. Kemi Badenoch said that 'in any other field' of work the Chancellor would have been sacked for presiding over a collapse in Britain's growth prospects. The Tory leader said: '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.' Last night the Chancellor insisted she was acting responsibly to deal with a surge in government borrowing costs which are now higher than in the wake of Liz Truss's controversial mini-Budget in September 2022. She added: 'The OBR will set out their verdicts on growth and on the public finances today, but we will continue to meet the fiscal rules I set out in the Budget last year. 'Economic stability is non-negotiable, I will never play fast and loose with the public finances like the previous government did.' Ms Reeves will confirm plans to trim 5billion from the bloated benefits budget. She is also expected to reduce planned public spending by a further 5billion, triggering a Cabinet row over where the axe should fall. Further savings will be found by laying off thousands of civil servants and deploying Treasury accounting tricks. A maths teacher has not been banned from the classroom after asking a Muslim student if she had a bomb under her hijab, a tribunal heard. Mark Holland made a string of inappropriate comments including calling a student a 'dumb blonde' and telling a female pupil she 'could do better' in reference to her boyfriend. But a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel decided banning Mr Holland from teaching would 'not be proportionate or in the public interest.' Between March and December 2022, the secondary school teacher made several offensive remarks to students at Great Academy Ashton in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside. Other comments include telling a teenager 'Bet you have loads of boyfriends with your looks' and dubbing another 'The Liar.' He worked at the school for almost five years but in September 2023 was forced to leave after a disciplinary hearing. The panel said his comments towards the Muslim student, who he called 'The Nun' were 'not racially motivated but were likely to be religiously insensitive'. They said his conduct 'fell short of the standards of behaviour expected of a teacher, but ruled that it 'did not meet the threshold for serious misconduct.' Mark Holland made a string of inappropriate comments between March and December 2022 including asking a Muslim student if she had a bomb under her hijab (stock) A Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel decided banning Mr Holland from teaching would 'not be proportionate or in the public interest' (stock) He 'willingly apologised' for the allegations against him and said he would 'adjust the manner in which he engaged pupils.' Mr Holland claimed to have 'misjudged the content of the conversations as an easy way way to build a rapport with pupils'. In a written ruling the TRA said Mr Holland's conduct was 'not consistent with behaving as an appropriate role model to students.' Decision maker Sarah Buxcey wrote: 'I have concluded that a prohibition order is not proportionate or in the public interest. 'I consider that the publication of the findings made would be sufficient to send an appropriate message to the teacher as to the standards of behaviour that were not acceptable and that the publication would meet the public interest requirement of declaring proper standards of the profession.' A massive search is underway for a senior Queensland police officer who failed to return after heading out for a surf in Byron Bay. Award-winning detective inspector Jay Notaro is the subject of a full-scale search after his board was found abandoned and his vehicle was left in a carpark. The search for Insp Notaro, 45, was launched at Broken Head about 12.40pm on Tuesday but he was still missing 18 hours later on Wednesday morning. Insp Notaro was instrumental in solving major cases the bikie-linked slaying of Gold Coast victim Greg Dufty. The top cop then served in roles including officer in charge of the Gold Coast water police and Coomera police station. Insp Notaro recently transferred to Ipswich after being promoted to Inspector. He received a 'compassion in policing' award by the Queensland Homicide Victims Support Group last year for his work on the Dufty case. A squadron of emergency services made up of Queensland Police, water police, the Queensland Polair and surf lifesavers will take part in search efforts. The search for award-winning detective inspector Jay Notaro (pictured) was launched about 12.40pm on Tuesday but he was still missing 18 hours later on Wednesday morning Queensland Police, water police, the Queensland Polair and surf lifesavers will take part in search efforts (a surfer in Byron Bay is pictured) 'The search will focus on the areas between Lennox Head and Cape Byron, particularly the Broken Head area,' a NSW police spokeswoman said. Cross-Border Commissioner and former Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers told the Courier Mail he was praying for Insp Notaro to be found safely. Mr Leavers and Insp Notaro have known each other for many years. 'Jay is one of the most competent and capable coppers I know, who has a great future in the police,' Mr Leavers said. 'He is a future leader of the police, especially in the higher ranks. I just hope he is found safely and we have a really good outcome. 'He is not only a friend, he is one of the future leaders of the organisation. I'm praying, he's just a champion. 'If we had more coppers like that we would be a better organisation.' A Queensland Police Service spokesman earlier confirmed a member of the service was reported missing Tuesday afternoon. The search for Insp Notaro was launched at Broken Head about 12.40pm on Tuesday but the decorated was still missing on Wednesday morning 'Officers and the member's family are concerned for their welfare due to the disappearance being considered out of character,' the spokesman said. 'A search is underway in an effort to locate the member. Anyone with information that may be able to assist with the whereabouts of the member is asked to contact police. 'There is no further information available at this time.' Colleagues were rocked by news of the officer's disappearance. 'Everyone is a bit shocked and hoping for the best,' a senior officer reportedly said. NZK - NEW ZEALAND KING SALMON INVESTMENTS LIMITED ANNOUNCES FY25 RESULT New Zealand King Salmon Investments Limited has published its financial result for the year ended 31 January 2025. Please find the following materials attached: 1. NZK - FY25 Media Announcement 2. NZK - Results Announcement 3. NZK - FY25 Annual Report 4. NZK - FY25 Investor Presentation New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd (NZX & ASX: NZK) reports its financial performance for the year ended 31 January 2025 (FY25). Key points include: FY25 net profit for the year of $13.4 million, compared to a net profit for the year of $28.5 million in FY24. FY25 Pro-Forma EBITDA was a profit of $29.7 million, compared to an EBITDA profit of $24.5 million in FY24. Revenues increased from $187.1 million in FY24 to $210.9 million in FY25 (an increase of 13%). New Zealand King Salmon Chair Mark Dewdney said: We have continued to make solid improvement during FY25. Our teams throughout the business have worked incredibly hard during the year, and our strong financial performance is a credit to them. Our strong balance sheet gives us the confidence, and ability to invest in our future growth plans, which are anchored by our Blue Endeavour open ocean farm. Looking toward FY26. We were pleased to announce our entry into a significant, multi-year government partnership under the Ministry for Primary Industries Sustainable Food and Fibres Futures fund. This will greatly assist our growth investments in the years ahead. Unfortunately, on the other hand we have experienced elevated mortality as we start FY26, following two summers of low mortality. This elevated mortality will result in a reduction in both our harvest and earnings for FY26. These events can occur in primary sector businesses, and this is why we need to maintain a strong balance sheet. This combined with a strong focus on risk will ensure we can continue to pursue our growth strategy. We are confident that we can do this. New Zealand King Salmon Chief Executive Officer Carl Carrington said: While we are pleased with the continued improvements to our financial performance, our investment into our new strategy, understanding our organisational capabilities and our risk management framework is designed to prepare our company to achieve further growth and improvements. In terms of our market potential, consumer demand for King salmon remains high. We see major growth opportunities in key markets, such as North America, Australia and China. We are actively planning sales and market development to ensure the increased supply from Blue Endeavour meets growing demand. Acknowledging the above, Carl noted, The foundation of our success will always be our fish. Maintaining our fish come first approach is essential, as healthy, thriving fish are key to both our growth and long-term sustainability. By prioritising their welfare, we safeguard our stable core business and drive steady improvements one eye on the now, and the other on the future. This is underpinned by our new strategic purpose statement towards a healthier tomorrow. FY26 is shaping up to be an exciting year for New Zealand King Salmon with the Blue Endeavour opportunity becoming operational, albeit on a pilot scale. We are scheduled to have our Blue Endeavour fish at the Waihinau site in April, with these fish being transferred to the Blue Endeavor site in October, this represents another important milestone for the Company. The Board is providing Pro-Forma EBITDA guidance in a range of $15m - $24m for FY26. Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: CDC Independent Valuation - 30 June 2025 TruScreen Group Limited SPP Update THL provides updated guidance CEN - Greymouth gas deal July 4th Morning Report July 3rd Morning Report ikeGPS Chief Financial Officer Transition TWL - TradeWindow announces strategic partnership with FTA BLT - Patent issue settled and new 5 year agreement with BSP July 2nd Morning Report A popular yoga instructor in Arizona has been found dead following a month-long search after going on a blind date in February. Marcus Freiberger, 45, was last seen alive in a parking garage as he left to go on a blind date on February 21. Frieberger's sister, Tina Hall, posted on Facebook on Tuesday morning 'with a heavy heart' that her brother 'is no longer with us'. 'Losing him feels like losing a part of ourselves and I know this will be just as difficult for you. 'We thank all of you for the love and support you have given Marcus and our family,' Hall wrote. Frieberger's body was found on the outskirts of Phoenix on March 19. While his cause of death remains unclear, friends told 12 News that they suspect foul play was involved. They added that the truck he was driving around the time of his disappearance is yet to be found. Marcus Freiberger, 45, was travelling to a blind date on February 21 the last time he was seen alive before his body was found over one month later on the outskirts of Phoenix Frieberger's sister, Tina Hall, posted on Facebook on Tuesday morning 'with a heavy heart' that her brother had been found dead. 'Losing him feels like losing a part of ourselves and I know this will be just as difficult for you. We thank all of you for the love and support you have given Marcus and our family,' Hall wrote Frieberger's family grew concerned after a friend checked on his apartment and found his dog, Thomas, alone. 'That's when his friend got really worried about it and thought something's up here because Marcus would never leave that dog,' his father, Dutch, told KPNX-TV. His family hadn't heard from his since his mysterious disappearance and said he 'loved to Facetime' and would frequently check in with his mom. 'Then all of a sudden the calls stopped coming in,' Dutch said. 'There's no reason for him to disappear. Even if he did decide to go somewhere he would've at least called his friend to take Thomas. 'That makes me really think there's something more going on here, foul play of some sort.' Freiberger's father said that he was handsome, young, ambitious, and beloved by his community. What ensued following his mysterious disappearance was a month-long search effort which came to a heartbreaking end. Frieberger hadn't been heard from by family or friends after he was last seen in a local parking garage before a blind date. His family grew concerned after a friend discovered his dog, Thomas, alone in Frieberger's apartment Freiberger's friends and family said that he loved working as a yoga instructor and had found happiness in Phoenix Freiberger had developed a clientele at Melrose Yoga, a popular studio in Phoenix owned by Forrest Kruger. 'Kind of guy all of his friends were coming in here for his classes. I met lots of them. Nothing but positive things to say,' Kruger told KSAZ. 'He was a great guy, is a great yoga teacher, too. I took his class myself.' The yoga instructor had amassed over 5,000 followers on Instagram and frequently advertised his classes. His last post was on January 3, which advocated for his yoga classes. He captioned the photo, 'This month we are setting our intentions on FOCUS!!' 'What is you want for the New Year? How are you going to show up in 2025? Where are you putting your energy? Come figure it out on your mat!!' Phoenix Police told Dailymail.com that Freiberger's family reported him missing on March 14. 'There's no reason for him to disappear. Even if he did decide to go somewhere he would've at least called his friend to take Thomas,' his father, Dutch, said during the search. 'That makes me really think there's something more going on here, foul play of some sort' Freiberger was a yoga instructor at Melrose Yoga, the owner Forrest Kruger said he had a ton of friends who would frequently take his classes 'It was a wonderful season in his life, and it's heartbreaking to think that somebody could have taken that away from him,' said one person who knew him. Another friend posted that he 'was a friend to so many and always so positive and happy.' 'Your smile with brighten the heavens my friend... It's sad that you are gone but I know heaven gained a truly amazing person,' she wrote. One pal described Freiberger as a 'bright light' and a 'kind and beautiful man.' 'His soul will be forever remembered full of love,' they added. 'Truly one of the kindest souls I've ever had the pleasure of crossing paths with. Rest in Heaven sweet boy,' another friend wrote. No further details have been released by Phoenix Police Department or the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner. The Phoenix Police Department did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. Donald Trump's National Security Advisor Mike Waltz admitted that he accidentally added a journalist to a Signal group chat about military strikes. Waltz told Fox News' Laura Ingraham he 'built the group' but claimed the 'mistake' may have actually been an act of subterfuge by the journalist. 'I take full responsibility,' Waltz said during his tortured explanation of the debacle on Tuesday night. 'I don't text him,' Waltz said about The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg. 'He wasn't on my phone, and we're going to figure out how this happened.' The national security advisor was pressed on how the journalist was included in the conversation about military strikes in the Middle East. 'We have the best technical minds looking at how this happened,' he claimed. Waltz then floated the idea that the journalist did something to wiggle his way into the text chain. 'We're going to figure out how this happened,' he reiterated, adding his team is working to determine if the journalist 'did it deliberately or it happened in some other technical mean is what we are trying to figure out.' The conflicting answers did little to shed light on a scandal surrounding the messages among government leaders about planning an attack on Houthi fighters in Yemen, that included details on weapons and strike coordinates. Reacting to the national security advisor's appearance, one U.S. official slammed Waltz as a leaker and a traitor to the administration. 'He never liked the president and he leaks,' they told DailyMail.com. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz told Fox News host Laura Ingraham that he does not know how journalist Jeffrey Goldberg's contact information 'gets sucked into this group' Ingraham appeared confused with Waltz's answers at times, repeatedly asking him whether a staffer put together the group chat on the Signal messaging platform It was the national security advisor's first appearance addressing the scandal since the journalist who was added to the sensitive chat, Goldberg, published a story about being added to the top secret group on Monday. 'Have you ever had somebody's contact that shows their name and then you have somebody else's number there?' Waltz asked Ingraham. 'What I can tell you for certain, wasn't reaching out or talking to him at all,' Waltz said, later adding he doesn't know the reporter, despite Goldberg saying the pair have met. The national security boss said he was so concerned about how the reporter got into the chat that he has spoke to Elon Musk, the president's self-proclaimed tech support, about investigating the matter. Waltz also skewered Goldberg, ridiculing his past reporting and making myriad accusations against him. Trump's advisor made it seem like it was Goldberg's fault for being added to the group chat with Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and more. Waltz told the Fox News host that Goldberg the 'scum' of journalists and said he has a 'horrible reputation.' Waltz struggled to send a clear message about who was exactly to blame for the ordeal, vacillating between saying he was responsible and it was Goldberg's fault. Waltz suggested that Goldberg may Practically all Republicans have tried to explain away the scandal as a non-issue. Waltz noted how the operation was a success and the attack on the Houthis last week was 'an incredible strike.' 'They don't want to talk about the success here,' the national security advisor complained. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton, R-Ark., even suggested earlier in the day that former President Joe Biden bears some blame for the Signal chat fiasco. '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,' Cotton said. CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who was on the group chat, similarly noted in a Senate hearing Tuesday that Biden officials used Signal. He confirmed to congress he was indeed on the controversial chat and that no classified information was shared on the chat. A 92-year-old man died after becoming 'stuck in mud' on his regular walking route just days after Christmas, an inquest heard. William Morris Jones, a retired groundsman, set out on a routine walk around his hometown in Criccieth, north Wales, on the afternoon of December 28 last year. But just a few hours later the 92-year-old was reported missing to the local police force. With appeals for his whereabouts circulating on social media, Mr Jones was last seen walking near Mynydd Ednyfed Country House on Caernarfon Road at around 2.15pm the same day. The pensioner's body was discovered more than a day later in an 'incredibly boggy' nearby field where he is believed to have become 'stuck in mud'. Mr Jones's time of death was confirmed to have been at 6.04pm on 29 December - the day after he set out on his walk, a police inspector said. William Morris Jones (pictured) died after becoming 'stuck in mud' in a 'boggy field' on 28 December 2024 The 92-year-old had set out on a route he had walked 'regularly' in his native Criccieth in north Wales An inquest into his death was opened this week in Caernarfon, north Wales. Assistant Coroner Sarah Riley said: 'He was found in a field which was extremely boggy and waterlogged. 'It appears he became stuck in mud while crossing the field. 'The route was one he would normally take, but conditions at the time were extremely difficult to pass.' An autopsy performed by a pathologist listed tentative causes of Mr Jones's death as bronchopneumonia and hypothermia. Ms Riley adjourned the inquest into the death until further investigations are complete. Fox News star reporter Peter Doocy cracked a joked at the Trump administration for accidentally allowing a reporter into a group chat that revealed war plans. 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. The White House has stood by Waltz and Hegseth, with Donald Trump calling Goldberg a 'total sleazebag' who had made up stories in the past. Doocy, the conservative-leaning network's White House correspondent, was appearing on Tuesday's Fox & Friends, a show co-hosted by his father, Steve Doocy. When asked about the Goldberg report, Doocy quipped: 'Well, they did promise to be the most transparent White House ever. I guess adding a journalist to group chat like that would be consistent with that promise.' His father retorted: 'I don't think that's what they meant.' Doocy revealed that Waltz has no idea how this happened and has never met or spoken to Goldberg. Fox News star reporter Peter Doocy cracked a joked at the Trump administration for accidentally allowing a reporter into a group chat that revealed war plans The White House has stood by Waltz and Hegseth , with Donald Trump calling Goldberg a 'total sleazebag' who had made up stories in the past He added that Waltz claims Signal is permitted to use by some government agencies. Earlier Tuesday, Goldberg 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.' 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. 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 Advisor Michael Waltz denied knowing The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg during an event with ambassadors Tuesday afternoon '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.' 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 next day, Trump doubled down even harder, slamming Goldberg's reputation as a reporter. '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.' Emojis and congratulations appeared in the text chain after a successful mission '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.' 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. 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. 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 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'. '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.' Sir Lindsay Hoyle broke his silence yesterday to defend his lavish travel expenses then backed the right for newspapers to hold politicians to account. The Commons Speaker justified the record bill he has racked up by insisting part of his job is to be an 'ambassador' both 'at home and abroad'. It is the first time Sir Lindsay has spoken about the issue since a string of revelations in the Daily Mail, which are said to have personally stung the Speaker. Earlier this month we revealed how he splurged more than 250,000 in little over two years on 19 foreign jaunts. He racked up a bill of more than 180,000 on first and business class plane tickets alone because he refuses to fly economy, with thousands more spent on chauffeur-driven cars, stays at luxury five-star resorts and dining out in top restaurants. Speaking at the Society of Editors' Media Freedom Conference in London yesterday, he referred to the Daily Mail reports, but said: 'Part of my job is to act as an ambassador for the House of Commons, both at home and abroad.' He insisted that speakers have for many decades 'represented the House on the international stage'. Handout photo of Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, giving the keynote address at the Society Of Editors Media Freedom Conference 2025, in central London. Issue date: Tuesday March 25, 2025 Sir Lindsay Hoyle broke his silence yesterday to defend his lavish travel expenses Taxpayers paid Hoyle's bill at The St Regis hotel in Qatar - totalling more than 800 Hoyle also stayed at Chateau Laurier in Canada's capital Ottawa, where his room cost 893 per night He said that in August 1944, former speaker Douglas Clifton Brown travelled to Normandy to visit the British Forces and that Betty Boothroyd 'spent a good deal of the parliamentary recesses' travelling to give speeches abroad. However, critics have said the extent of his globe-trotting is 'excessive' and that his job is largely to 'sit in a chair and keep quiet' while chairing Commons debates. As Speaker and MP for Chorley in Lancashire, Sir Lindsay receives a pay package of more than 160,000 as well as a grace-and-favour flat in Parliament. The number of staff that Sir Lindsay takes on jaunts abroad has also been questioned, after four travelled with him to the G7 Speakers' Conference in Verona, Italy, last year. In his speech yesterday, Sir Lindsay also praised the role of the media in holding politicians to account. 'Every day, your reporters try to tease out the truth, [to]ensure politicians, such as me, are doing the right thing by our constituents and Parliament. 'Even if we politicians are sometimes at the sharp end of it, I will forever defend your right to free speech and to do what you do, safely and without interference.' Boeing has suffered a massive courtroom blow with a judge ordering a trial after two crashes which left 346 people dead. The airline last July agreed to a plea deal with the Justice Department under then-President Joe Biden which would have seen Boeing pay a $487.2million fine and spend three years on 'probation' with external oversight. But Judge Reed O'Connor rejected the deal at the time, citing concerns over a diversity, equity and inclusion clause. He gave both parties an April 2025 deadline to renegotiate the deal. The Wall Street Journal on Monday reported Boeing intended to scrap the plea entirely in an effort to seek a more lenient deal with the Trump administration's newly appointed Justice Department officials. But when the parties returned to court on Tuesday, Judge O'Connor made the shock decision to set a trial date for June. This means Boeing is facing a scenario in which it may have to plead guilty to a charge in court, or defend against an allegation it already accepted guilt for when negotiating the plea deal. The court battle stems from two plane crashes involving Boeing's bestselling airliner, the 737 Max Jetliner. These crashes occurred just five months apart in 2018 and 2019, leaving 346 people dead off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia. The airline last July agreed to a plea deal with the Justice Department under then-President Joe Biden which would have seen Boeing pay a $487.2million fine and spend three years on 'probation' with external oversight The court battle stems from two plane crashes involving Boeing's bestselling airliner, the 737 Max Jetliner Relatives of the victims called the plea a 'sweetheart deal' and pushed for former Boeing officials to be prosecuted, along with a public criminal trial and more severe financial punishment for the company. Erin Applebaum, a lawyer representing 34 families of those killed in the 2019 MAX Ethiopian Airlines crash, urged the Justice Department 'to stand on the right side of history, reject any further plea negotiations, and move forward with a full prosecution.' 'The families deserve their day in court, and this opportunity for justice must not be squandered.' But prosecutors previously said they did not have evidence to argue that Boeing's deception played a role in the crashes. The rejected plea deal would have labeled Boeing a convicted felon for conspiring to defraud the Federal Aviation Administration about problematic software affecting the flight control systems in the planes that crashed during the MAX's certification. In 2023, O'Connor said 'Boeing's crime may properly be considered the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history.' Boeing intended to scrap the plea entirely in an effort to seek a more lenient deal with the Trump administration's newly appointed Justice Department officials Grieving relatives of the victims called the plea a 'sweetheart deal' and pushed for former Boeing officials to be prosecuted. Pictured: Children surrounding a flower memorial in Ethiopia for victims These crashes occurred just five months apart in 2018 and 2019, leaving 346 people dead off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia. Pictured: Search efforts in Indonesia In May 2024, the DOJ found Boeing had violated a 2021 agreement that had shielded it from prosecution over the crashes. Prosecutors then decided to criminally charge Boeing and negotiate the current plea deal. Trump administration officials have said regulators must be firm with Boeing after a series of missteps. The Department of Justice declined to comment on the judge's action. A Boeing statement shed no light on the status of the negotiations. '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,' the company said. A paedophile who assaulted a teenage girl has been permitted to remain in Britain after a court ruled his deportation would violate his human rights. The Pakistani man was behind bars after being convicted of multiple sex crimes and then, after being released from prison, he attacked the teenager. The Home Office had issued a deportation order, but he appealed the decision, citing the European Convention on Human Rights, according to The Sun. During the appeal, the convicted offender, who has been granted anonymity for his protection, argued that he could face 'inhuman or degrading treatment' if deported to Pakistan because of his alcoholism. He claimed that, as alcohol consumption is illegal for Muslims in Pakistan, he would not be able to access proper treatment for his addiction, which could worsen his condition and potentially lead to further suffering. The court sided with the man, agreeing that deporting him would violate his human rights under the European Convention, particularly his right to not face inhuman or degrading treatment. And he also argued he should be able to stay because he had a 'genuine relationship' with his child in the UK, even though they had not spoken since 2020. The Home Office had issued a deportation order, but he appealed the decision, citing the European Convention on Human Rights, according to the Sun. (File image of Home Office which has appealed the decision) The man, originally from Pakistan , had been convicted of multiple sex crimes, and after being released from prison, he attacked the teenager (stock) That was rejected as the judge found there was a 'lack of evidence' about his family life. The Home Office last week won an appeal and the case will be heard again later this year. This comes after a spate of similar cases including one in February this year when an unnamed judge let a paedophile who messaged 'barely pubescent girls' stay in the UK to protect him from his family's disapproval of his actions back home. The man - granted anonymity for his protection - was caught messaging paedophile hunters, disguised using decoy child profiles, online in August 2022. Horrifyingly, the Pakistani father-of-two had believed he was really speaking to 'barely pubescent girls'. Admitting three counts of attempting to cause a child under 16 to engage in a sexual act, the man was handed an 18-month prison sentence. He had started grooming young girls long before this in March 2021. But an unnamed judge ruled removing him from the UK would be 'unduly harsh', a tribunal heard. The judge explained the paedophile would have 'significant difficulties' in Pakistan because his family there have a 'dim view' of his crimes - and stopped the man from being deported. It meant the paedophile was allowed to stay in the country despite being a registered sex offender. A Home Office spokesperson said: 'We are doing everything in our power to continue contesting this case and have already successfully appealed to have the First Tier Tribunal decision overturned. 'We remain resolute in our commitment to ensuring there are no barriers to deport foreign criminals, as it is in the public interest for these people to be removed swiftly.' A whistleblower has claimed a controversial LGBT charity trained volunteers to ask children if they were using 'clean razor blades' instead of telling them not to self-harm. LGBT Youth Scotland was reported to the Scottish charity regulator after someone wanted to become a volunteer but was then given 'shocking and callous' instructions. They claimed they were told that if a child was hurting themselves as a 'coping mechanism' it is wrong to 'take that away from them'. Shockingly, the would-be volunteer said they were told: 'We have to ask them if they are using clean razor blades.' The volunteer said that when they challenged this in 2023 they were 'dismissed' by managers who 'didn't see the issue'. Those at the charity defended self-harm as children 'might not have any other ways of coping', the whistleblower told The Times. The horrified volunteer thought this 'reckless' advice could interpreted by vulnerable young people as 'a sign of encouragement' to continue hurting themselves. The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator this month dropped an inquiry into LGBT Youth Scotland. LGBT Youth Scotland was reported to the Scottish charity regulator after someone wanted to become a volunteer but was then given 'shocking and callous' instructions Nicola Sturgeon at LGBT Youth Scotland's 'Purple Friday' event in 2020 It said it had 'engaged' with the charity as a result of the complaint and the organisation has 'reviewed' its policies. LGBT Youth Scotland receives more than 1million a year of funding from a variety of sources, including the SNP Government, local authorities - and even the cash-strapped NHS. The charity said it had been 'pleased to work with OSCR recently to confirm that LGBT Youth Scotland is operating within our governance framework and objects'. The charity began life in November 1989 as the Stonewall Youth Project, launched by members of the gay community in Edinburgh, before changing its name to LGBT Youth Scotland in 2003. From humble beginnings, it went on to win the support of Nicola Sturgeon - who visited its Edinburgh headquarters in 2018 to mark the Year of Young People - while equalities minister Kaukab Stewart has praised the charity's work - saying she is 'proud that Scotland is recognised as a good place to live and grow up for LGBT young people'. Ms Stewart and other SNP politicians were pictured at a demonstration in Glasgow in front of a placard which read 'decapitate TERFS' - a derogatory term used towards those who hold gender-critical beliefs - but they claimed not to have noticed what was written on the sign. Yet the continued existence of LGBT Youth Scotland - thanks to millions of pounds from the taxpayer - is remarkable, given that in 2009 its former chief executive, James Rennie, was handed an Order for Lifelong Restriction - a form of life sentence - for child sex offences including carrying out and videoing a horrific sexual attack on a baby boy. Ex-teacher Rennie, who was then 38, was one of eight men exposed as members of Scotland's biggest paedophile ring. For four years, he molested the toddler son of unsuspecting friends while babysitting - recording the abuse and sharing it with other perverts. He was an SNP Government adviser on child sex issues - and his trial heard that he had used computers at the LGBT Youth Scotland's offices in Leith to pursue his sordid double life. Rennie had been the government's most important and influential adviser on gay issues affecting children, advocating the legalisation of same-sex adoption. Yet the Mail revealed that ministers ordered no inquiry, believing that Rennie's conviction drew a line under the matter - and the money kept flowing into the coffers of LGBT Youth Scotland, under a different leadership. In December 2022, the charity referred itself to Police Scotland over historical allegations of links to child grooming and sexual exploitation (unconnected to Rennie) - after Sam Cowie said he had been raped and sexually assaulted by strangers as a result of safeguarding problems at LGBT Youth Scotland more than a decade previously. He said that when he was 15 he was given cigarettes and alcohol by employees of the charity, and alleged that he had been taken to bars where he was assaulted and raped by men. Police Scotland later said 'enquiries were carried out and no criminality was established' - but even the police probe didn't stop the steady flow of income. In January 2023, at a time when the police investigation was ongoing, it emerged that SNP-run Glasgow City Council - Scotland's largest local authority - had agreed funding to LGBT Youth Scotland of more than 190,000. The decision to continue handing it cash was described by the city's Tory MSP, Annie Wells, as 'alarming' and 'irresponsible'. Council bosses, who were considering cost-cutting plans to axe more than 800 teaching posts, said the cash was needed to support four youth groups per week, as well as one-to-one support, and insisted 'monitoring of organisations is carried out by [council] officers for the duration of the grant period'. The charity is largely taxpayer-funded, receiving 447,000 from the Scottish Government, 345,000 from Scottish councils and 154,000 from the NHS in 2023 - huge sums which Scottish Tory MSP Stephen Kerr said amounted to a 'national scandal'. Of its total income of 1.4million [the rest came from trusts and foundations], it spent 1.3million on staffing costs, employing 48 project managers and staff, including chief executive Dr Mhairi Crawford. The total remuneration paid to 'key management' in 2023 was 254,648, while one unnamed member of staff received earnings of more than 60,000. LGBT Youth Scotland said: 'We have been pleased to work with OSCR recently to confirm that LGBT Youth Scotland is operating within our governance framework and objects. We are also grateful for the opportunity to strengthen and clarify our governing documents, particularly to make information more accessible to the wider public. 'LGBT Youth Scotland only provides direct service delivery to individuals in the 13-25 age range. We have never provided direct services to primary-aged pupils. Our work with primary schools has been focused exclusively on offering work-based training for staff to support inclusive environments for LGBT young people. 'It has always been and remains clearly within our objectives to engage with and educate the wider public. This includes supporting staff and leaders across all educational settings, but it does not extend to direct service provision for primary-aged pupils. We believe any misunderstanding regarding this is likely due to the broad scope of our work, which aims to promote inclusivity at all levels of education.' It added: 'Like any responsible organisation supporting young people, we prioritise the wellbeing, safeguarding, and safety of all accessing our services. 'Safeguarding has been a particular area of focus across all aspects of our work over the past five years. LGBT Youth Scotland has had a significant focus on reviewing our Safeguarding policy and practice to ensure that it is comprehensive and has the safety and wellbeing of all who access our services at the forefront. All of our service provision places young people at the centre of everything we do, and we are committed to the protection of all children and young people. 'We have robust measures in place around the safeguarding of young people, which are reviewed at length and updated on an annual basis and additionally in line with any relevant changes in legislation. Our policies have been honed to ensure that they meet and surpass national standards. 'Self-harm is a difficult topic and we follow guidance from specialists such the Self Harm Network for Scotland. LGBT Youth Scotland is not a crisis organisation, but many young people will come to us in crisis as the only place they feel safe. We work hard to keep young people safe when in a crisis and support referrals to specialist organisations who can better support them.' For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support A parenting charity has warned that 'hands-free' breastfeeding is unsafe after a seven-week-old died while being fed in a sling. James 'Jimmy' Alderman was being breastfed by his mother, Ellie, inside a sling that she wore 'snugly', not tightly - she could even see his face when looking down. While she was feeding Jimmy, who was six weeks and six days old, Ellie moved around their home but after five minutes she realised he had collapsed. Resuscitation began immediately, but he sadly died in a hospital three days later on October 11, 2023, from suffocation. The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) and the Lullaby Trust have now announced a 'rapid change' to their guidance on the practice following an inquest concerning his death. Lydia Brown, Senior Coroner for West London, warned that there was 'insufficient information' for parents about the safe positioning of young babies in carriers, particularly when it came to breastfeeding. George Alderman, Jimmy's father, said the move was a 'good first step' but 'mixed with sadness' as it took his son's passing for guidance to be changed. Mr Alderman, 38, added that he was 'grateful' changes were being made and that the family had felt 'strongly' about updated guidance during the inquest process. James 'Jimmy' Alderman (pictured) died in hospital on October 11, 2023, from suffocation Jimmy with his father, George Alderman (left), mother, Ellie (right) and big brother Arthur (right) He said: 'We are really pleased that the Lullaby Trust and the NCT have updated their guidance, it was definitely something that through the inquest process we felt strongly about. 'It is a good reaction to what the coroner said, it is a good first step but we still feel there are other things that need to change that will take a bit longer.' The Aldermans want to see a warning about breastfeeding on sling labels. Mr Alderman said: 'We are really happy that positive changes are starting to happen but obviously it is mixed with sadness. 'Why did it have to be us, why did it have to be Jimmy for something to change? 'We are grateful things are happening but it is just a shame these things weren't being done before it, maybe we would have been more aware.' Last year the Aldermans raised almost 19,000 for St George's Hospital, Momentum Children's Charity and Kingston Hospital Charity by organising events under the name Jimmy's Cuddle. Following the inquest the NCT and the Lullaby Trust issued a joint response promising to make 'rapid change' to their guidance and inform those expecting a baby that hands-free breastfeeding is 'always unsafe'. George Alderman (pictured), Jimmy's father, said the move was a 'good first step' but 'mixed with sadness' as it took his son's passing for guidance to be changed Lydia Brown, a Senior Coroner, concluded that Jimmy suffered an accidental death as a result of hypoxic brain injury, out of hospital cardiac arrest and accidental suffocation In a Prevention of Future Deaths Report, the coroner said: 'Baby Jimmy was being breastfed within a baby carrier worn by his mother. 'After five minutes she found that he was collapsed and although immediate resuscitation was commenced he died three days later on 11 October 2023 in St George's Hospital. 'Jimmy died because his airway was occluded as he was not held in a safe position while within the sling. 'There is insufficient information available from any source to inform parents of safe positioning of young babies within carriers and in particular in relation to breastfeeding.' Babywearing - where a child is strapped into a harness or wrapped in a sling so they can be carried by a parent hands-free, is popular. But critics warn of the risk of suffocation because babies cannot lift their own heads if incorrectly positioned. This risk is increased for babies who are premature or have a low birth weight. The NCT, which provides classes for expecting parents, now say babies should always be taken out of a carrier to feed and that the practice is also a trip hazard. Last year the Aldermans raised almost 19,000 for St George's Hospital - pictured George Alderman (left) and a friend Lewis Maison (right) Their website reads: 'Using a sling for at least an hour a day is linked to more frequent breastfeeding (the baby should always be taken out of the carrier to feed) '"Hands-free" breastfeeding or bottle feeding, where the wearer moves around and does other jobs while the baby is feeding, is unsafe. 'This is especially true for babies under four months old. It also applies to babies born prematurely or those with a health condition. Moving around with loose sling fabric could also be a trip hazard. 'If the baby needs to feed, take them out of the sling. When they have finished feeding, either return them to the sling or put the baby down in a safe space.' Ms Brown concluded that Jimmy suffered an accidental death as a result of hypoxic brain injury, out of hospital cardiac arrest and accidental suffocation. The NCT previously said that you could breastfeed a baby in a sling but that the baby should be supported at all times. This advice was rated as 'unhelpful' by Ms Brown, she also noted there was no guidance in NHS literature on the subject. NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care have responded to Ms Brown's report with the NHS promising to make their advice on safe baby-wearing more accessible and linked to breastfeeding guidance. Ed Miliband's drive towards making the UK Net Zero by 2030 may kill off fish and chip shops across the country, the industry's trade association has warned. The head of The National Federation of Fish Fryers (NFFF) has voiced concerns that the transition to green energy risks exacerbating costs for chippies already struggling after 'years of continued tax pressures'. Andrew Crook told The Telegraph that gas is the 'most effective way to fry' and claimed full electrification of appliances in 'not feasible or affordable.' He urged the Government to 'take care to not further undermine' fish and chip businesses that are often 'at the heart' of local communities. 'They've got to realise there's a lot of small businesses out there that are often the first place people start working,' Mr Cook added. 'It's about time the Government recognises that and supports us, because if they don't we're going to see a lot of small businesses after five tough years decide they've had enough.' The NFFF has previously warned that a third of fish and chip shops they represent could go out of business amid record price rises for fish, batter, fat, wrapping paper and energy. A typical portion of fish and chips rose to nearly 10 last year, marking a 52% rise in prices since 2019 - when the average was a measly 6.48. Ed Miliband's (pictured) drive towards making the UK Net Zero by 2030 may kill off fish and chip shops across the country, the industry's trade association has warned The head of The National Federation of Fish Fryers (NFFF) Andrew Crook who has voiced concerns that the transition to green energy risks exacerbating costs for chippies A typical portion of fish and chips rose to nearly 10 last year, marking a 52% rise in prices since 2019 - when the average was a measly 6.48 (Stock image) Mr Crook runs the Skippers of Euxton chip shop in Chorley, which he says in reliant on gas and could not be powered by green infrastructure alone. He is urging for a 'common sense' approach from Government, claiming it doesn't 'understand' the industry and its specific nuances. The businessman met with Gareth Thomas, the Minister for Small Business and Hospitality, on Tuesday ahead of the Chancellor's spring statement today. Mr Crook is one of several hospitality leaders from over 20 industry associations calling for immediate intervention 'to prevent further economic decline and business closures.' In a letter sent to Rachel Reeves, they urged her to reduce VAT for the hospitality, events, and cultural sectors to 15% alongside the reversal of the recent national insurance contribution increase. The associations claimed that without this support, many business could be forced to close, with costs expected to increases by up to 100,000 from April. Andrew Griffith, the shadow business secretary, told The Telegraph that Labour's was 'condemning' seaside revellers to 'soggy fish and chips'. Greg Smith, a shadow business minister, added the possible extinction of fish and chip shops in the UK was 'another example of the damage Net Zero zealotry does'. Mr Crook met with Gareth Thomas (pictured), the Minister for Small Business and Hospitality, on Tuesday ahead of the Chancellor's spring statement today Rachel Reeves (pictured) has been urged by to reduce VAT for the hospitality, events, and cultural sectors to 15% alongside the reversal of the national insurance contribution increase A spokesman for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: 'Our mission is for clean power by 2030 because clean, home-grown energy is the best way to protect bill-payers and boost Britain's energy independence. 'This will support every local business on the high street, including fish and chip shops, to access clean, affordable power. 'We will also reform business rates to level the playing field on our high streets, recognising small local businesses providing takeaway and home delivery are the thriving hubs of prosperous, vibrant British communities.' Mr Miliband's bid to make Britain a 'clean energy superpower' by 2030 is at the centre of the Government's agenda and seen as central to the goal of decarbonising all sectors of the economy by 2050. The Climate Change Committee estimates that hitting the goal will cost the UK one to two per cent of GDP per year. By 2050, the annual cost could be 50billion. Mr Miliband has insisted that making Britain a 'clean energy superpower' would bring down energy bills in the future. That is despite regulator Ofgem announcing last month that the energy price cap will rise from 1,738 a year to 1,849 6.4 per cent following a spike in wholesale prices. The third consecutive rise will equate to 111 for an average household per year, or around 9.25 a month. It brings the average total rise in energy bills since Labour took power to 281. Auckland International Airport Limited (Auckland Airport) advises that the strike price for the Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRP) operating in respect of the dividend payable on 4 April 2025 has been set at NZ $7.6894 per share. The strike price is inclusive of a 2.5% discount. The strike price will apply in calculating the number of shares to be issued to participants who have elected under the DRP to receive additional shares rather than cash. The strike price has been determined in accordance with the terms of the DRP and is calculated at 97.5% of the volume weighted average sale price of Auckland Airport shares sold on the NZX Main Board over a period of five business days starting 20 March 2025. The company also advises that the foreign exchange rate used for the payment of the dividend on 4 April 2025 to Australian investors in AUD has been set at 0.9099. The company attaches an updated ASX Appendix 3A.1 Notification of Dividend/Distribution released to the ASX. ENDS Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: CDC Independent Valuation - 30 June 2025 TruScreen Group Limited SPP Update THL provides updated guidance CEN - Greymouth gas deal July 4th Morning Report July 3rd Morning Report ikeGPS Chief Financial Officer Transition TWL - TradeWindow announces strategic partnership with FTA BLT - Patent issue settled and new 5 year agreement with BSP July 2nd Morning Report Donald Trump signed an executive order making radical changes to ensure elections are 'free, fair, and honest' and possibly taking millions off the voter rolls. 'Election fraud, you've heard the term,' Trump said while signing the order, 'ended, hopefully,' he continued while he signed the paper with a black sharpie. 'At least this will go a long way toward ending it,' the president added, noting the administration is planning further actions regarding election integrity. The order includes requiring 'documentary proof' of US citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and demanding that all ballots be received by Election Day, include putting a citizenship question on the federal voting form. It would mean voters would have to provide forms of ID - drivers' license, birth certificate, passport - to be able to vote and the federal government would be able to work with state and local officials to verify that information. The order also eliminates 'postmarked by' deadlines on mail voting, a DOGE review of voter registration databases, limiting the use of electronic ballots and plans to withhold federal assistance to non-compliant states. 'Above all, elections must be honest and worthy of the public trust,' the order states. 'That requires voting methods that produce a voter-verifiable paper record allowing voters to efficiently check their votes to protect against fraud or mistake.' It threatens to pull federal funding from states where election officials don't comply. Donald Trump signed an executive order making radical changes to ensure elections are 'free, fair, and honest' and that could take millions off voter rolls Trump signed an order that includes requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and demanding that all ballots be received by Election Day The Trump administration says the sweeping executive order is intended to bolster the integrity of American elections. The move would put a citizenship question on federal voting forms. Though the move will likely face challenges like many other Trump executive actions because many states have broad voter protection laws. Trump famously believes the 2020 election was stolen from him, often calling the contest rigged, and many of his top lieutenants in his administration believe the same. He has also railed against mail in voting and voting machines in the past, questioning whether their results can be trusted. 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. 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. Trump's 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 don't 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. 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 studies 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 studies. 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. Voting rights groups have expressed concerns that the requirement could disenfranchise people 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. Trump's 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. 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. Trump's order calls on the Election Assistance Commission to amend voting system guidelines to protect election integrity, including guidance that voting systems should not use a ballot that uses a barcode or QR code in the vote counting process. Trump's order is likely to face legal challenges, given that the Constitution gives authority over elections to the states 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 It said the commission should condition the funding it distributes to states on those new guidelines. Virtually all in-person voters in Georgia, as well as voters in several other states, use voting machines with a large touchscreen to record their votes. The machines then print a paper ballot with a human-readable summary of the votes selections and a QR code, a type of barcode, that is read by a scanner to count the votes. It is not entirely clear how the executive order would affect Georgia and the other jurisdictions that use these machines. Representatives for Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger did not immediately respond Tuesday evening to messages seeking comment. Raffensperger issued a statement thanking Trump for the executive order, calling it a 'great first step for election integrity reform nationwide.' 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.' Trump's 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. A passenger on a flight from Hawaii jumped to save the life of a doctor mid-air as she suffered a serious heart complication on her return from her honeymoon. Dr. Jacquelyn Lacera, 61, became horribly ill about an hour into her flight home on February 5, only to be saved by a fellow passenger, Emily Haley, who happened to work in an emergency room. Lacera, a doctor at Riverside Medical Clinic in California, had been on a week-long trip for her honeymoon when she began suffering a medical emergency on the flight home. She told Fox 19: 'I became really nauseous. Thankfully, I was very close to the restroom. So, I ran to the restroom and started vomiting. I became very sweaty... and then, I started having very bad chest pains.' Haley, who works at Maryland's Medstar Franklin Square Medical Center as a physician assistant, was flying home with her family when disaster struck. 'We're just getting settled about to go to sleep for an overnight flight, and there was a call overhead for medical assistance,' Haley said. Haley jumped into action on board the flight and worked with the doctor to help save her life. At first, she couldn't get a clear reading on the doctor's condition. Dr. Jacquelyn Lacera, 61, (left) fell ill about an hour into her flight home from Hawaii on February 5 after her week-long honeymoon trip only to be saved by fellow passenger, Emily Haley Haley, who works at Maryland's Medstar Franklin Square Medical Center as a physician assistant, was flying home with her family when disaster struck 'I was kind of a little bit distressed at this point,' Haley told The Baltimore Sun. 'Basically, I had no information. I just knew that she looked terrible.' She checked Lacera's vital signs and soon discovered that she was suffering a type of arrhythmia - an irregularity in heartbeat which requires urgent medical attention. 'Once we had her blood pressure cuff attached, I saw that she was hypertensive. So, at that moment, we both talked, and I knew that I needed to act quickly,' Haley said. Haley gave Lacera fluids and oxygen and laid her down, but her condition was still worsening. 'We talked about it, and I said, "I think I need to shock you. I don't have a choice," and she said, "Let's do it."' Haley said, deciding it was time to use a defibrillator. 'I said "Okay, this is a shockable rhythm." That was a decision that had to be made at that minute, at that second. I just looked at her and she looked at me. She was like, "Okay, says it's shockable," and I said, "Do it,"' Lacera said, People reported. 'That was the most painful thing I've ever been through,' she added. Yet, it worked and Lacera was stabilized enough until they landed in California. 'She was incredibly knowledgeable, incredibly calm and she did everything right. I was so thankful for her. It was like God sent me an angel in this whole situation because it could have turned out very bad,' Lacera said American Airlines sent Haley a letter to thank her, Haley said: 'I'm just so happy [Lacera] is doing well, and again, I hope to stay in touch, hope she's connected to me forever' A physician assistant's role can include managing patients' paperwork, record keeping, ordering medications or laboratory work. However, many can gain qualifications in emergency response medicinal procedures such as wound care, cast and splint application, lumbar punctures and diagnostic procedures. Haley's heroic actions will forever be remembered by Lacera. 'She was incredibly knowledgeable, incredibly calm and she did everything right. I was so thankful for her. It was like God sent me an angel in this whole situation because it could have turned out very bad,' she told the Baltimore Sun. Once the plane landed, the doctor was taken to be assessed by emergency responders. 'I remember walking out and [Lacera] just leaned over and gave me a kiss on the cheek, and I was just touched,' Haley told the outlet. 'It was just a crazy moment.' American Airlines sent Haley a letter to thank her, Haley said: 'I'm just so happy [Lacera] is doing well, and again, I hope to stay in touch, hope she's connected to me forever.' 'We have this in hospitals all the time where there's room to improve,' Haley said. 'I feel like this is probably one of those opportunities where hopefully we can learn from this and hopefully the airline can improve, and we can all take something away from it' While Lacera has some heart procedures ahead, she began another battle and reached out to her congressman to point out the lack of proper medical equipment on board the plane Haley told the outlet she was 'kind of proud' to have 'played such a pivotal role in her life.' 'I just felt touched,' she said While Lacera has some heart procedures ahead, she began another battle and reached out to her congressman to point out the lack of proper medical equipment on board the plane. The Federal Aviation Administration requires all commercial aircrafts are equipped with an emergency medical kit that includes a minimum of 25 items such as syringes, IV fluid and more, as well as a first aid kit and an automated external defibrillator. 'We have this in hospitals all the time where there's room to improve,' Haley said. 'I feel like this is probably one of those opportunities where hopefully we can learn from this and hopefully the airline can improve, and we can all take something away from it.' Lacera began cardiac rehab this week and hopes to return to work soon, the Baltimore Sun reported. Haley told the outlet she was 'kind of proud' to have 'played such a pivotal role in her life.' 'I just felt touched,' she said. EXCLUSIVE An Australian wannabe funnyman has been cancelled on his debut performance at a comedy club after he sparked uproar with vile jokes about domestic violence. Sydney rapper Fortay's new stand-up career crashed on Saturday when he took to the stage of the Drop Bear Comedy Club in Brisbane to read his script off his phone. To wild cheers of fans in the audience, Fortay launched into a sickening routine about NRL star Ben Barba's alleged attack on childhood sweetheart Ainslie Currie in 2019. Barba, then 29, grabbed her by the throat, pinned her against the wall and 'charged her to the ground' at Townsville's Ville Casino, Mackay Magistrates Court was told. He also used a shoe to hit her head and threw rocks near her when she tried to walk into swampland near the venue's staff carpark during a 30-minute ordeal, the court heard. Ms Currie, the mother of his four children, did not press charges, but Barba was sentenced to community service after pleading guilty to a public nuisance charge. Barba's lawyer told the court the star admitted his behaviour was 'abhorrent' but Fortay thought the incident was prime comedy material when he hit the stage. 'Ben Barba, his fairytale NRL return was cut short after the former Dally M medallist was banned,' he said, before launching into a series of defamatory comments. Sydney rapper Fortay's new stand-up career crashed on Saturday when he took to the stage of the Drop Bear Comedy Club in Brisbane to read his script off his phone Ben Barba (pictured with martner Ainslie Currie) admitted his behaviour was 'abhorrent', his lawyer told a court, but Fortay thought the incident was prime comedy material The misogynist remarks are too extreme and disgusting to publish. He briefly appeared to be backtracking before instead launching into a lame punchline about DV thugs getting caught on CCTV. 'But hang on a second, I want to say hitting woman in an RSL is completely wrong and unacceptable,' he added. 'There is way too many cameras in that place. Could have waited for a blind spot in the carpark.' Barba, the former high-flying footy star who played for Canterbury Bulldogs, Brisbane Broncos and Cronulla Sharks before ending his career in the UK with St Helens in 2018, hit back at the sick humour on Thursday. 'DV should be taken seriously and is not a joke,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'But I'd rather not comment on it. I have moved on and am trying to live my life.' Anti-DV campaigner Sherele Moody posted Fortay's clip to her Facebook page and asked: 'What sort of man jokes about bashing woman?' In the wake of the outrage, Fortay's upcoming gigs at a comedy club in Western Australia were promptly cancelled Fortay said he was only sorry to let down his west coast fans, and appeared to imply they should launch reprisal attacks on the club The comment section of the clip was immediately flooded with people condemning the sick jokes. 'This is vile, anyone who jokes about DV is absolutely sick,' posted one user. 'I don't care what anyone says. 'If that's the only thing you can joke about maybe you are not funny.' Others branded it 'putrid behaviour' and another added: 'Absolutely disgusting. I feel sick.' In the wake of the outrage, Fortay's upcoming gigs at a comedy club in Western Australia were promptly cancelled. But Fortay said he was only sorry to let down his west coast fans, and appeared to imply they should launch reprisal attacks on the club. 'Sorry Perth the sad c***s at Jack Rabbits Slims buckled under pressure,' he said. 'What I do is I'm an artist, comedy is an art, music is an art and they want to censor our art. We don't want to work at their venues. Anti-DV campaigner Sherele Moody posted Fortay's clip to her Facebook page and asked: 'What sort of man jokes about bashing woman?' The incident comes just a month after Triple M axed host Marty Sheargold (pictured) over comments about the Matildas that was blasted for being sexist and disgusting 'So look, I'm not telling you to go down there and smash windows and graffiti the place because that wouldn't be very nice, but if that happens it happens.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Fortay for comment. The incident comes just a month after Triple M axed host Marty Sheargold over comments about the Matildas which were blasted for being sexist and disgusting. The comedian, 53, made the remarks on his radio show in March as he reacted to the team's 2-1 loss to the USA at the SheBelieves Cup, which came on the heels of their 4-0 loss to Japan to open the tournament. Sheargold compared the team to 'Year 10 girls' and asked if superstar striker Sam Kerr and her fiancee Kristie Mewis 'play the same position'. When his co-hosts tried to continue discussing the SheBelieves Cup, Sheargold jumped in, exclaiming: 'Oh, she believes? In what? It better be men.' Triple M acted swiftly in the face of the outrage and released a statement saying it had 'mutually agreed to part ways' with the radio star after four years on air. Prince Harry last night announced he would step down from his own charity following 'unthinkable' controversy from within - and now its chair has sensationally hit back. 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 yesterday Harry 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 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. And now, 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 [discrimination against black women]'. She also took a swipe at 'people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people'. Board Chair Dr. Sophie Chandauka MBE, and Prince Harry at a Sentebale reception and panel discussion at The Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa in October last year Nacho Figueras, Dr. Sophie Chandauka, Chair of Sentebale, Prince Harry, and Richard Miller, pictured in April 2024 Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Prince Harry attend a welcome event at Sentebale's Mamohato Children's Centre in Lesotho last year Dr Chandauka blasted that the such people 'then play the victim card and use the very press they disdain'. 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.' The chair 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.' 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 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 '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.' Prince Harry sided with the trustees in a statement, saying they 'acted in the best interest' in asking Chandauka to step down. In an earlier 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.' '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.' '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'. 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. 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. 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 Dr. Sophie Chandauka are pictured with Prince Harry in 2024 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 Sentebale's 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 Sentebale's 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 Sentebale's 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 Sentebale's ambitious transformation agenda.' MailOnline approached the Sussexes for comment. Sarah Everard's parents are campaigning for tougher sentencing for serious violent and sexual criminals as part of a new campaign group being launched in Parliament. Jeremy and Susan Everard said it is 'important that sentences should truly reflect the seriousness of the crime and give victims, their families and society a sense of justice having been served'. Their daughter Sarah was abducted, raped and murdered by serving Met police officer Wayne Couzens in March 2021. The couple are part of Justice for Victims, a new campaign group set up by people who are closely related to victims of serious crimes which is being launched in Parliament on Wednesday. Mr and Mrs Everard said: 'Although nothing can alleviate the sense of loss, it is a relief to us that our daughter's murderer received a whole life order. 'It made us feel that the enormity of his crime was recognised and that our daughter's life was valued. We know of other families in similar circumstances who have not had this small comfort.' Paula Hudgell, the adoptive mother of double amputee Tony Hudgell, 10, is also part of the group. Tony was 41 days old when he was assaulted by his birth parents, an attack which caused multiple fractures and dislocations, and blunt trauma to the face, leading to organ failure, toxic shock and sepsis. Sarah Everard's (pictured) parents are campaigning for tougher sentencing for serious violent and sexual criminals as part of a new campaign group being launched in Parliament Jeremy and Susan Everard said it is 'important that sentences should truly reflect the seriousness of the crime and give victims, their families and society a sense of justice having been served' Their daughter Sarah was abducted, raped and murdered by serving Met police officer Wayne Couzens in March 2021 Paula Hudgell, the adoptive mother of double amputee Tony Hudgell (pictured), 10, is also part of the group. Tony was 41 days old when he was assaulted by his birth parents, an attack which caused multiple fractures and dislocations Jody Simpson (pictured) and her partner Anthony Smith were jailed for 10 years in 2018 He was left untreated and in agony for 10 days and because of the extent of his injuries both his legs had to be amputated. Jody Simpson and her partner Anthony Smith were jailed for 10 years in 2018. Ms Hudgell said: 'When criminals abuse children they are creating a devastating impact for the rest of that child's life. 'Many decades can be spent wrestling with the aftermath. Yet perpetrators can be out of prison living a free life whilst the suffering for the victim goes on for decades. 'We need a justice system that reflects that properly. I have seen so many cases of child abusers that don't get a punishment that fits the crime. Let alone child murderers - they shouldn't get out of prison in my view.' Other victims' families who are part of the group include the parents of four-year-old Violet-Grace Youens, who was killed by a motorist driving at more than 80mph in a 30mph zone in 2017, and Ayse Hussein whose cousin Mihrican 'Jan' Mustafa, was murdered by a convicted paedophile in 2019. Ms Mustafa went missing in May 2018 and her body was found in a freezer in her murderer Zahid Younis's flat in Canning Town, east London. Katie Brett, who is part of the group and whose 16-year-old sister Sasha Marsden, from Blackpool, was stabbed to death in 2013, said: 'You hear about people getting a life sentence. Other victims' families who are part of the group include the parents of four-year-old Violet-Grace Youens (pictured), who was killed by a motorist driving at more than 80mph in a 30mph zone in 2017 Violet-Grace's father, Glenn, and her mother Rebecca are pictured above outside Liverpool Crown Court Also part of the group is Ayse Hussein (far left, pictured with other relatives), whose cousin Mihrican 'Jan' Mustafa was murdered by a convicted paedophile in 2019 Ms Mustafa went missing in May 2018 and her body was found in a freezer in her murderer Zahid Younis's flat in Canning Town, east London 'The people who really get the life sentence are families like mine. In the end most murderers end up getting out of prison - sometimes as after as little 15 or 20 years. 'My sister had decades of life ahead of her. Surely if you take a life the starting point should be spending the rest of your life in prison? That's what we wanted as a family and what would have been respectful of my sister's memory. 'I think that's what most families would want and I think most people would support that.' The group was formed amid ongoing public concern about serious criminals escaping proper punishment, Justice for Victims said. They will meet with cross party MPs and the leader of the opposition Kemi Badenoch on Wednesday. The campaigners were introduced to each other by Kieran Mullan, MP for Bexhill and Battle. Dr Mullan said that the sentencing system did not give enough consideration to what victims and their families would consider to be justice - which left many feeling let down. 'There are plenty of groups speaking up for what's best for the perpetrators and asking for more lenient sentences,' he said, adding: 'Justice for Victims can now play a powerful role in balancing that out. 'It's been a privilege to meet with and support these incredibly brave and strong people who want to do something positive in spite of the horrendous circumstances they have and continue to have to live through. They should be very proud of what they are doing.' An elderly woman has died in hospital after she was spotted struggling in the waters of a suburban lake in the darkness of night. Witnesses noticed the 76-year-old woman in trouble in Shearwater Lake in the northern Adelaide suburb of Mawson Lakes around 8.30pm on Tuesday and alerted emergency services. The first police officers on the scene dived into the water and pulled her to the shoreline where they performed CPR on her but she was unresponsive. The woman, who is believed to be a local resident, was rushed to hospital but died on Wednesday. Resident Josh Page, 17, said the incident sparked a huge emergency response to the lakeside picnic spot and kids play area. 'I came out here last night because of the sheer amount of ambulance, cop cars, and fire trucks that were here,' he told the Adelaide Advertiser. 'There must have been 20 cars out here. Bystanders saw the 76-year-old woman in trouble in Shearwater Lake in Adelaide's northern suburbs (pictured) around 8.30pm on Tuesday and alerted emergency services The first police officers on the scene dived into the water and pulled her to the shoreline where they performed CPR on her but she was unresponsive 'By the time I came out t have a look at what was going on, the woman was already pulled out of the water and surrounded by paramedics trying to warm her up.' Police do not believe there are are any suspicious circumstances and will prepare a report for the coroner. Donald Trump believes that a staffer for National Security Advisor Mike Waltz allowed reporter Jeffrey Goldberg onto an encrypted group chat that detailed the administration's war plans. Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, made the jaw-dropping revelation on Monday that he found himself added to a conversation on Signal that included Waltz and 17 other staffers. Trump has largely stood by Waltz and even suggested the security advisor would lead his own investigation into the incident, while calling The Atlantic's Goldberg a 'total sleazebag' who had made up stories in the past. Speaking to Newsmax Tuesday, Trump attempted to explain how Goldberg was added to the secret conversation. 'What it was, we believe, is somebody that was on the line with permission, somebody that worked with Mike Waltz, worked for Mike Waltz, at a lower level, had Goldberg's number or call through the app, and somehow this guy ended up on the call,' he said. Trump claimed that the chat 'wasn't classified, as I understand it' and noted that the attack on the Houthis the group chat planned out was 'a tremendous success.' 'I can only go by what I've been told, I wasn't involved in it but I feel very comfortable,' Trump told Newsmax. Trump added that he was showing loyalty to his staffers as opposed to former administrations. Donald Trump believes that a staffer for National Security Advisor Mike Waltz allowed reporter Jeffrey Goldberg onto a group text that revealed the administration's war plans Trump has largely stood by Waltz and even suggested he will lead the investigation into the incident, while calling Goldberg a 'total sleazebag' who had made up stories in the past Your browser does not support iframes. He then claimed George W. Bush and Dick Cheney treated Scooter Libby 'horribly' after Libby was convicted in 2007 of perjury and making false statements for interfering with a special prosecutor investigation. Trump told reporters at the White House Monday 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.' On Tuesday, Trump slammed Goldberg's reputation as a journalist. '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.' 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 that included Waltz and 17 other staffers Emojis and congratulations appeared in the text chain after a successful mission 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. 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. 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. 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 '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. 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. 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'. '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.' Hospitality king Maurice Terzini has broken cover just hours after announcing his resignation as director of Bondi's iconic Icebergs restaurant. The celebrity restaurateur, 60, stood down from his position after untested sexual assault claims were levelled against his son, 32-year-old Sylvester Terzini. Mr Terzini, who founded internationally renowned Icebergs in 2002, said on Sunday he would continue to support his son 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 in the Sydney Morning Herald. Mr Terzini looked downcast as he grabbed a coffee and took a phone call in the affluent Sydney suburb of Rose Bay on Wednesday. Maurice Terzini has been pictured looking as if he has the world on his shoulders, just hours after resigning as director of the Icebergs Dining room and Bar business Maurice Terzini (pictured) was wearing a black tracksuit and carrying a large leather bag Maurice Terzini (right) is pictured with his son Sylvester Terzini Wearing a black tracksuit and black sandals and carrying a leather bag over his shoulder, Mr Terzini appeared deep in thought. At one point he answered his phone - one of the great number of calls he has undoubtedly been receiving in recent days. In a statement posted to Instagram on Sunday, Mr Terzini spoke about the impact the allegations had on him and his family. 'Allegations that have been made about one of my family members are devastating claims that have no place in our venues, industry or society,' he said. '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. Mr Terzini appeared deep in thought as he sipped a takeaway coffee in Rose Bay At one point a downcast Mr Terzini answered a phone call during his errands Maurice Terzini founded Sydney's renowned Bondi Icebergs restaurant in 2002 '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. '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. 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 '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 continued to support 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. Despite stepping down as a director, Mr Terzini continues as a shareholder of the business. Coming from working class migrants, he founded Icebergs and has been the driving force behind its success. He will remain on leave until an internal review at Icebergs is complete and he will assess matters with the other shareholders after that. Mr Terzini's other business ventures continue to operate. An heir to the Walmart fortune made a bold move against President Donald Trump by sharing a political message about working with allies and urging voters to attend town halls. Christy Walton, 76, placed a full-page ad in the New York Times and other more local newspapers on Sunday calling on Americans to engage in the political process, according to Fortune Magazine. The ad depicts an image of the Statue of Liberty with the head 'USA, USA, USA' printed near the torch. It then goes into calls for action, including: 'We honor our commitments and stand by our allies,' 'We defend against aggression and dictators,' 'We respect our neighbors and trading partners' and 'We uphold and defend the Constitution.' The political ad ends by saying, 'The honor, dignity and integrity of our country is not for sale. Show up, attend your town halls, be civil.' It then notes that the 'views represented her are solely those of Christy Walton' and directs readers to the email address 4honor.integrity@gmail.com. A person familiar with the billionaire's thinking told Bloomberg it was meant to be a nonpartisan message encouraging people to make their voices heard and actively participate in government. But many Americans quickly drew connections between Walton's message and the actions of the Trump administration - which has imposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico and has stirred international condemnation following a testy meeting with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky. Christy Walton, 76, spoke out against Donald Trump in a full-page ad that appeared in Sunday's New York Times and other newspapers The ad depicts an image of the Statue of Liberty with the head 'USA, USA, USA' printed near the torch The president has vowed to levy 25 percent tariffs against the United States' neighbors to the north and south on April 2. But he hinted on Monday that the tariffs may not be as harsh as he originally promised. 'We may take less than what they're charging because they've charged us so much, I don't think they could take it,' Trump said from the Oval office. 'In other words, they've charged us so much that I'm embarrassed to charge them what they've charged us,' he added, though he did not specify which countries he was considering a reversal for. He also suggested that some of his other tariffs on cars, lumber, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors may wait until later this year. Still, Trump promised that April 2 would be 'Liberation Day,' as they would be taking in enough revenue to lower taxes and create jobs. He has also already increased his 2018 tariffs on steel and aluminum to 25% for all imports and has committed to additional tariffs on autos, pharmaceutical drugs, lumber, computer chips and copper. Canada and Mexico have reacted angrily to the tariffs, with Trump's jabs about making Canada the 51st state only further enraging the newly-elected Prime Minister. A source familiar with Walton's thinking said it was meant to be nonpolitical, but many Americans quickly drew connections between Walton's message and the actions of the Trump administration Trump has also reneged on some of the United States' commitments - pulling out of the Paris climate deal in one of his first acts after he took office. He then ruffled feathers with international leaders when he and Vice President JD Vance held a fiery meeting with Zelensky last month, forcing the Ukrainian leader out of the White House before he could grace the podium with Trump for a planned press briefing. Meanwhile, on the home front, the Trump administration has faced protests for the Department of Government Efficiency's overhaul of the federal government. And despite a source claiming that Walton's message was supposed to be nonpolitical, she had previously co-hosted a fundraiser in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for former Vice President Kamala Harris during her presidential campaign. The tickets for that event ranged from $1,250 to $100,000, according to Bloomberg. Trump ruffled feathers with international leaders when he and Vice President JD Vance held a fiery meeting with Zelensky last month On the home front, the Trump administration has faced protests for the Department of Government Efficiency's overhaul of the federal government She had earlier signed a letter calling on former President Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race. More recently, Walton donated $50,000 to the Lincoln Project - a political action committee whose website describes its 'fight against Trumpism,' - as well as $150,000 to a group supporting Senate Democrats. She is estimated to have a net worth of $17.8 billion after marrying John Walton, the son of Walmart founder Sam. John had died in a plane crash in 2005, leaving his widow with a portion of his shares. Detectives have made a major breakthrough in a Melbourne shooting allegedly linked to an escalating gang street war. A 19-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged following an ongoing investigation into the brazen 'targeted shooting' in Collingwood on January 24. The man was remanded in custody on Tuesday after he was charged with intentionally cause serious injury, recklessly cause serious injury and car theft. He was arrested after police executed search warrants at homes in Narre Warren and Hallam in Melbourne's south-east. The charges are linked to two teenagers who were shot near a Collingwood public housing estate just after midnight on January 24. Police had probed if the shootings were gang-related and linked to previous suspected murders. A 17-year-old boy was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries while a 15-year-old checked himself into hospital following the incidents which occurred near the bustling Smith and Brunswick St precincts. Police swarmed the scene after reports up to 50 people were brawling prior to the shootings, which investigators say were linked. A man has been charged over a shooting in Collingwood (crime scene pictured) on January 24 Victoria Police State Anti-Gang Squad detective Superintendent Jason Kelly (pictured) said it was sheer luck the homicide squad weren't investigating Detectives also believe a mass brawl erupted on nearby Hoddle St. Victoria Police State Anti-Gang Squad detective Superintendent Jason Kelly said it was sheer luck that the homicide squad weren't investigating. 'It's very lucky that 17-year-old is still alive,' Supt Kelly said hours after the shootings. 'The specific motivation has not yet been established and remains unclear [but] investigators from the armed crime squad will keep an open mind. 'The incident is very concerning, we have two young children, shot in a public street in Melbourne. 'It's certainly of great concern to Victoria Police and we will leave no stone unturned to investigate this matter. 'It's certainly concerning when a firearm is used in a public place, it's really only luck that has prevented two people from being killed and the fact the homicide squad is not involved, is pure luck.' Supt Kelly also said an 'avenue of enquiry' was whether the shootings were gang-related. A police investigation into the Collingwood shooting remains ongoing Blood found at the scene of the January 24 shootings 'Whether there's any recent conflicts that may have occurred, often these incidents occur when other incidents have occurred,' he said. Supt Kelly did not rule out the possibility the shootings were a drive-by. Nor did he rule out any possible link to recent suspected gang-related murders in Wyndham Vale and North Melbourne. 'When we have children being shot and potentially being shot by other children Victoria Police will leave no stone unturned,' he said at the time. 'It's an extremely concerning incident and we will continue to investigate and get to the bottom of this matter. It's just unacceptable. 'We suspect the large group who had congregated there were known to each other. 'It's too early to say what the linkages are but we will get to the bottom of this. Those offenders will be arrested, held to account and put before the courts. 'It can only be described as a horrific incident. We will continue to pursue those responsible.' The Collinwood shootings unfolded less than a fortnight after Lino Atem, 24, was allegedly ambushed by at least a dozen males and stabbed to death with a machete at Wyndham Vale on January 13. Lino Atem (pictured) was allegedly ambushed by at least a dozen males and stabbed to death less than two weeks before the Collingwood shootings. Police are yet to rule out whether the incidents are linked The young tradie suffered stab wounds and died just 100m from his home. Two men were also injured in the attack, including Lino's brother Mading, 27. The alleged attackers remain on the run and police believe the 'ferocious' attack also appeared to be targeted. The tragedy comes on top of the family mourning Lino's oldest brother Atem Atem, who was shot and killed at the family's Wyndham Vale home in February 2023. No arrests have ever been made over the murders of Atem, 29, and a friend who was at the home at the time. In November, aspiring rapper Pal Bidong was shot dead on the street after a Halloween rave, prompting a violent brawl in the middle of the night. Mr Bidong, who went by the rap name 'Peezy', was found by members of the public with at least one gunshot wound on the footpath of Langford Street, in North Melbourne, about 3.15am on November 2. In November, aspiring rapper Pal Bidong (pictured) was shot dead on the street after a Halloween rave It's believed Mr Bidong's murder (pictured) was a gang-related execution It's believed Mr Bidong's murder was a gang-related execution. It's understood a huge fight broke out among partygoers after Mr Bidong was fatally shot. Investigators probed the crime scene around the industrial area which is close to a train line, a major road and a creek. The suspected gunman who alleged killed Mr Bidong remains on the run. Police confirmed the investigation into the Collingwood shootings remains ongoing. Any witnesses, or anybody with footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. A senior government minister has come under fire for sending a young female tradie he met at an awards ceremony $500 in cash so that she could keep a strapless black dress. Ron Hoenig made the bizarre boast in a speech at the Tamworth Local Government Conference last November, where he claimed it was one of the 'great pleasures of being the minister for local government'. The NSW local government minister and Leader of the House told council bureaucrats that earlier in the year, he had handed a Young Achiever's Award to a female apprentice carpenter from Newcastle who was wearing a 'black strapless dress'. Mr Hoenig, 71, motioned to his chest with both hands as he described her outfit. Two weeks later, he encountered the 'articulate young lady' - who Daily Mail Australia is choosing not to name - again at a depot for Newcastle apprentices. '...(she was) not in a black strapless dress but in fluoros and cargo work pants with paint all over themlooking completely different ,' Mr Hoenig told the audience. 'She takes me to the carpenter's workshop to show me what she's working on, and she said to me, 'I was so honored to come to Parliament House to be given this award. ''I was so honored. I bought myself a black dress and black heels. It cost me $500 but I think I'm gonna have to sell the dress because I can't afford to, I can't afford to keep her.' NSW local government minister Ron Hoenig made the bizarre boast in a speech at the Tamworth Local Government Conference in November where he claimed it was one of the 'great pleasures of being the minister for local government' (pictured: Mr Hoenig with the award recipient) He told the gathered council bureaucrats that earlier in the year he had handed a Young Achiever's Award to a female apprentice carpenter from Newcastle who was wearing a 'black strapless dress' - before he met her in 'fluoros and cargo work pants' two weeks later (Mr Hoenig is pictured far right ) 'So when I got back to Sydney, I sent her a gift voucher for $500 so that she could keep the black dress and her heels.' Mr Hoenig said the young carpenter wrote back to say thank you but that she spent the money on a grinder instead, which sparked laughter from the audience. But Mr Hoenig's cash gift has now come under scrutiny, with shadow youth justice minister Aileen MacDonald questioning whether it was 'inappropriate' at a recent Senate Estimates hearing. 'Why did you focus on her appearance, describing her black strapless dress at Parliament House and then contrasted it with her work attire?' Ms MacDonald asked. Mr Hoenig said he had sent the $500 gift voucher 'quietly' and that he didn't know whether she kept the dress after she bought the grinder. 'Do you consider whether a personal gift of this nature from a senior male minister to a young female apprentice could be perceived as inappropriate?', Ms MacDonald asked. He denied that it would be and insisted he was just repeating what she had told him. 'I didn't actual recall what she wore when I presented her, one of many women, with an award . I quoted what she said to me when I met her in the depot,' Mr Hoenig said. Mr Hoenig's cash gift to the young tradie has now come under scrutiny The Labor stalwart became increasingly flustered and described the line of questioning as 'ridiculous'. 'I sent a girl $500 as an apprentice so she can keep her dress and quoted what she said to me,' he said. 'I thought it was a nice touch.' He later noted that the $500 came from his own money. 'I think it's fabulous that young women are apprentices in traditional male roles,' Mr Hoenig said. He further described the woman as a 'role model for young women'. Mr Hoenig's office was approached for further comment. The Heffron MP in Sydney's south has also been criticised over the choice of music in some of his TikTok videos. In one video, which appears to now have been deleted, he celebrated the young woman's award on a visit to her Newcastle depot. The accompanying song, by rapper Kehlani, features the lyrics 'I like the way your body is, is that too obvious?'. The Member for Heffron in Sydney's south has also been criticised over the choice of music in some of his TikTok videos (pictured: a now-deleted video celebrating the young carpenter's award featuring a song with the lyrics 'I like the way your body is, is that too obvious?') Another video of a trip to a construction site is overlaid with a song containing the lyrics 'Hey, little mama with that tight dress on, I've got a small proposition for you You look kinda sexy, got it going on here's what I want you to do.' The song lyrics have sparked such outrage that a motion has been submitted about it to be discussed at Bayside Council on Wednesday night. The motion submitted by councillor Fiona Douskou who's also running as the federal Liberal candidate for Barton, alleges the videos are 'demeaning to women'. 'That Council, given Minister Hoenig's seniority in local government and NSW government, calls for the Minister to use more appropriate background music when promoting women in local government,' the motion stated. Daily Mail Australia approached the award recipient for comment. Charles Bronson has 'made history' after taking part in a pub karaoke night while behind bars. The UK's longest serving prisoner appeared from HMP Woodhill to perform for customers at The Hilderthorpe pub in Bridlington on Saturday. The 72-year-old charmed pub goers with a rendition of Frank Sinatra's My Way, which he dedicated to his 'old mate' and notorious London gangster Ronnie Kray. Bronson, who has been locked up for more than half a century, is allowed a phone call each night from the maximum security prison in Milton Keynes. His guest appearance was organised by Julie Shaw, the ghostwriter of Bronsons book Charles Bronson - Inside And Out, who also hosts the pub's karaoke night. Announcing the news on Facebook, Julie wrote: 'For the first time ever, Britains longest serving prisoner, Charles Bronson, is going to sing live from his maximum security prison, over the phone, to entertain the customers. 'Lets have you all down there to show your support. 9.00pm he will sing I did it my way! No prisoner in history has ever done this before and the press will be there to capture it.' Video footage obtained by The Mirror shows the pub descend into silence during the performance before erupting into applause at the end of the song, as Bronson can be heard saying 'all the best to everybody, I love you all'. Charles Bronson (pictured in 1997) has 'made history' after taking part in a pub karaoke night at The Hilderthorpe pub in Bridlington while behind bars Julie Shaw, the ghostwriter of Bronson's book, who also hosts the pub's karaoke night, can be seen performing with Charles as he appeared via video link Pub goers appeared lost for words as Charles performed a rendition of Frank Sinatra's My Way, which he dedicated to his 'old mate' and notorious London gangster Ronnie Kray Bronson, whose real name is Michael Peterson, was first locked up for armed robbery in 1974, aged 22, and since then has developed a reputation for being Britain's most violent prisoner. He was given seven years for the robbery but bad behaviour inside gave him a reputation as a dangerous inmate, and he wasn't release until 1987. Bronson then spent just 69 days as a free man before being rearrested and jailed again after robbing a jewellery shop. He was sentenced to another seven years and, bar another brief spell of freedom in 1992, has been in prison since. During his time inside he has taken 11 hostages in nine prison sieges and has attacked at least 20 prison officers and caused 500,000 in damage in rooftop protests. Eventually, in 1999, he received a life sentence for kidnapping a prison art teacher. His last conviction for a violent offence was in 2014 when he was tried for assault. The appeal was only the second in English legal history to be held in public. Afterwards, Bronson's son, George Bamby, said: 'I would have loved Charlie to have been released, but completely respect the decision of the Parole Board.' In a statement, the board said: 'After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress that Mr Salvador has made while in custody and the evidence presented at the hearings, the panel was not satisfied that Mr Salvador was suitable for release. Bronson (pictured), 72, whose real name is Michael Peterson, was first locked up for armed robbery in 1974 Notorious prisoner Charles Bronson is seen leaving the High Court in London in May, 2001 Bronson seen at his parole hearing in a sketch by the artist Elizabeth Cook 'Nor did the panel recommend to the Secretary of State that he should be transferred to an open prison. 'The panel noted that Mr Salvador has spent most of the last 48 years in custody and that much of this time has been in conditions of segregation. 'The panel accepted that Mr Salvador genuinely wants to progress and that he is motivated to work towards his release. It thought that there was evidence of improved self-control and better emotional management.' Bronson suffers from PTSD because of his 'brutal' treatment in prison, a previous hearing was told. The infamous criminal is set to go before the parole board later this year for the ninth time and final time and there is a prospect that he may be released. Adrian Wallace, 84, the former deputy governor of Hull Prison who was taken hostage there by Bronson in 1994, is supporting Bronson's application. After the last Parole Review hearing in March 2023 Mr Wallace said that the 'safety of the public' is the most important thing and pointed to Bronson's 'total lack of contrition or remorse'. But now, in what he admitted was a 'volte-face', the retired officer says he has given his blessing to Bronson's freedom. In a carefully reasoned statement, he concluded that the authorities should 'grasp the nettle', adding: 'There is no evidence that he poses massive risk to the public, with this thought in mind perhaps it is time he is released on licence which will certainly be a culture shock for him.' An elderly Seattle woman was sent a baffling letter from her bank about the death of her husband - who is actually alive and well. Ned Johnson, 82, was wrongfully declared deceased by the Social Security Administration (SSA), meaning his benefits were mistakenly ceased. His wife, Pam Johnson, was mailed a notice from the Bank of America in February, sending premature condolences about Ned's passing, ABC reported. 'We offer our sincerest condolences and understand this is a difficult time. Knowing where to begin can be overwhelming - we're here to guide you through the process,' the letter read. The message alleged he died in November 2024. At first, Pam was sure it was just a scam. She told ABC: '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. '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 for two months worth of Social Security payments even though Ned was declared "dead" in November and this was the middle of February.' Ned Johnson, 82, was wrongfully declared deceased by the Social Security Administration (SSA), meaning his benefits were mistakenly ceased Pam Johnson, was mailed a notice from the Bank of America in February, sending premature condolences about Ned's passing Ned went over to his local SSA office to try and rectify this matter immediately. He waited on line for more than four hours and described having to jump through hoops to get to the bottom of his absurd dilemma. 'Hey, I've got a problem. I'm declared dead,' he told an office employee, he recalled to ABC. In addition to going to going to the SSA office, he also made several phone calls and wrote letters to government officials, according to ABC. But even after clearing everything up - proving that he is still breathing and able to collect his pension - Ned and Pam have missed out on some of the funds they are entitled to. '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,' Ned told ABC. '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.' The SSA said that more than 3 million deaths are reported to the agency each year and less than one-third of a percent of them are 'erroneously reported.' Ned and Pam noticed the administration has started to deduct checks from their checking account. '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 told ABC. 'And you just have to be patient and persistent if you expect to get anywhere.' Ned's pension debacle comes as Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has made efforts to tackle Social Security fraud. DOGE announced on Sunday that in just over two weeks, the group has found and marked dead nearly 7.1 million Social Security number-holders who were listed as above the age of 120. There are allegedly 5 million more people the department plans to mark as deceased, DOGE has claimed. In a statement, the SSA said that more than 3 million deaths are reported to the agency each year and less than one-third of a percent of them are 'erroneously reported.' The SSA is facing a massive overhaul by President Donald Trump aimed at 'transparency initiatives.' Ned waited on line at his local SSA office to let them know he is still alive, but he is still receiving checks inconsistently and has noticed deductions from his checking account Elon Musk's DOGE is conducting the clean-up of Social Security Administration databases, which includes all those with a SSA number, making them eligible for benefits either now or in the future The reforms includes public disclosures of internal decision-making and reports on customer service metrics such as call wait times. The most notable changes are those to identity verification requirements after DOGE found millions of Americans still in the systems with impossible ages ranging from 120 all the way up into the 300s. 'President Trump has been clear that good government must serve the People,' SSA's acting commissioner Lee Dudek said in a statement on Monday about the overhaul. 'This begins with being transparent in how its government makes decisions and operates as good stewards of the resources entrusted to it.' The Trump administration has quietly begun halting some green card applications as part of a rigorous new vetting system. US Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) has implemented new restrictions in compliance with Trump's executive orders to suspend processing of requests for legal permanent residency for immigrants granted refugee or asylum status, CBS News reports. The Department of Homeland Security said the green card processing pause was necessary to comply with two executive actions issued by the president. 'USCIS is placing a temporary pause on finalizing certain Adjustment of Status applications pending the completion of additional screening and vetting to identify potential fraud, public safety, or national security concerns, in alignment with Mr. Trump's executive actions,' the statement said. According to a presidential proclamation cited by officials, Donald Trump has instructed federal 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.' The administration's tightening of restrictions on immigration policies and procedures are the latest attempts to tackle concerns of national security and fraud. The move comes after Trump questioned the immigration vetting procedures under the Biden administration. US Citizen and Immigration Services has implemented new restrictions in compliance with Trump's executive orders to suspend processing of requests for legal permanent residency for immigrants granted refugee or asylum status A statement from the Department of Homeland Security said the pause on processing some green cards was necessary to comply with two executive actions issued by the president A US Customs and Border police officer stands guard at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in 2020 In another stringent move on immigration, the administration announced Friday that the temporary status of 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans will also be revoked. The order applies to about 532,000 people from the four countries who came to the United States since October 2022 under a program called CHNV that the Biden administration was heavily criticized for. Uncertainty still remains for some 240,000 Ukrainians who sought refuge in the US following the Russian invasion in 2021. Trump was said to be considering ending their legal status even before recent tensions between Washington and Kyiv. The migrants losing legal status arrived with financial sponsors and were given two-year permits to live and work in the US. Department of Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem said they will lose their legal status on April 24, or 30 days after the publication of the notice in the Federal Register. The new policy impacts people who are already in the US and who came under the humanitarian parole program. The decision has already been challenged in federal courts. To more rigorously scrutinize immigrants applying for citizenship status, green cards and asylum, administration officials have also announced plans to review their social media accounts. According to a presidential proclamation cited by officials, Trump instructed federal 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' The increased restrictions on immigration applications come as countries have begun issuing travel warnings for the US after Customs and Border Patrol have detained a number of tourists USCIS said assessing social media accounts is required for 'the enhanced identity verification, vetting and national security screening,' CBS reported. While the review process of an applicant's social media is not a new procedure, under new scrutiny applicants would be required to submit their social media accounts, or handles, to the government for review. The increased restrictions on immigration applications come as countries have begun issuing travel warnings for the US after Customs and Border Patrol have detained a number of tourists. US border officials have been using more aggressive methods with holidaymakers and legal immigrations, with the administrations 'enhanced vetting.' Britain's foreign office issued revised advice for UK citizens travelling to the US to include a warning that anyone found breaking its rules 'may be liable to arrest or detention.' After a French scientist was denied entry after officials discovered 'hateful' messages criticizing the president on his phone, suspicion has led many to believe those expressing anti-Trump views may be more likely to be turned away. The suspicions come as a British artist Becky Burke, 28, was handcuffed and detained in Washington after being classed as an 'illegal alien.' Burke had attempted to cross the border into Canada with an 'incorrect visa' on February 26, US authorities said. Homeland Security Department spokeswoman Tricia Mclaughlin told the New York Times: 'The Trump administration is enforcing immigration laws - something the previous administration failed to do. Those who violate these laws will be processed, detained and removed as required' Becky Burke, 28, was handcuffed and taken to a detention cell in Tacoma, Washington, on February 26 and is now back in the UK Last week, a French space researcher was subject to a random airport search on his way to a conference in Houston. Messages 'which conveyed a hatred toward Trump and could be considered terrorism' were found on the researcher's phone. The French minister of higher education and research, Phillippe Baptiste, condemned US authorities for taking action over a 'personal opinion.' The FBI later informed the academic that they had opened an investigation into the matter, but the agency later dropped charges. After being rejected on March 9, he was sent back to Europe the following day, with authorities confiscating his personal and professional equipment. Homeland Security Department spokeswoman Tricia Mclaughlin told the New York Times: 'The Trump administration is enforcing immigration laws - something the previous administration failed to do. Those who violate these laws will be processed, detained and removed as required.' While US customs officials are allowed to stop and search all people attempting to enter the country, customs agents are not allowed to search people or conduct inspections 'based on your religion, race, national origin, gender, ethnicity or political beliefs'. Canadian actress Jasmine Mooney was also detained by ICE, in her case for nearly two weeks. American Pie actress Jasmine Mooney was also detained by ICE for nearly two weeks The 35-year-old had been denied entry into the US while trying to make her way from Mexico to San Diego, California after her work visa was revoked back in November while traveling from Vancouver to Los Angeles. The American Pie: The Book of Love star landed back on Canadian soil on Saturday as her mother, Alexis Eagles, and friends met her at Vancouver International Airport around midnight. According to her mother, who's been fighting for her daughter's return home, Mooney was detained at the San Ysidro border crossing before being transferred to San Luis Regional Detention Center in Arizona. She was loaded into a prisoner van, she said, and 'put in chains' by border officials. 'That's when I realized they are onboarding me into a real prison,' she said. While she was there, Mooney said she endured some of the harshest treatment there that left her weak and confused. After being arrested and taken to the detention center, Mooney was featured in an emotional interview with ABC10, where she sobbed describing the conditions she and other women faced. 'I've never seen anything like this,' she told the outlet. 'I feel like we have been kidnapped, and we are in some sort of insane social, psychological, social experiment.' Tearing up, Mooney added: 'I really want to be a voice for the women in here, because what is happening is so unjust and I know that there's a better way to do this.' She also noted how her time in custody made her severely confused. 'It's been 11 days now, and I have no idea what is going on, they don't tell you anything, and I have lost so much weight. I'm truly, physically, weak.' The rise in tourists being detained was green-lighted by Trump as part of his 'Securing Our Borders' executive order signed in hours after the inauguration. Lauren Boebert suggested Donald Trump may take his 'Gulf of America' strategy to his current place of residence by renaming Washington D.C. the 'District of America.' The move echoes a rebranding Trump made early in his second term when he chose to rename the Gulf of Mexico. The maritime wonder had held the 'Mexico' moniker for roughly half a millennium - until Trump signed an executive order rechristening it 'the Gulf of America' this year. At the time, Trump said the took the action 'because [the Gulf] has long been an integral asset to our once burgeoning Nation... and an indelible part of America.' While many outlets refused to say the new name and have since faced criticism from the administration, the recent rescuing of the two astronauts in the body of water did see liberal media beginning to budge. Boebert, a close Trump ally and firebrand Colorado Republican, was speaking to a House Natural Resources Committee hearing Tuesday to pass the Gulf of America Act in order to support Trump's executive order renaming the body. She said she was tired of Democrats disrespecting the renaming and warned them of what could come next. 'I would caution my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to refrain from making jokes about the Gulf of America because next up may be the District of America that we are working on,' Boebert said Lauren Boebert suggested Donald Trump may take his 'Gulf of America' strategy to his current place of residence in Washington, renaming the city the 'District of America' Trump ruffled feathers early in his second term by choosing to rename the Gulf of Mexico DailyMail.com has reached out to the White House and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser for comment. The city is called the District of Columbia as a tribute to Christopher Columbus, as the country was often known as 'Columbia,' the feminine form of Columbus. Trump renaming America's capital city would be the latest in a battle he's been waging with Bowser, a Democrat in one of the nation's most liberal leaning cities. The president said in early March that he sent notification to Democrat D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser demanding she 'clean up all of the unsightly homeless encampments' throughout the city. Bowser has set a conciliatory tone ever since Trump was elected again. She traveled to Mar-a-Lago to meet with Trump, and said she looked forward to working with the new administration and emphasized the common-ground issues - such as their mutual desire to get federal workers back to their offices. Workers in Washington on Monday began removing a 'Black Lives Matter' street mural installed during the height of 2020 racial justice protests, bowing to pressure from Trump. Large, yellow lettering reading 'Black Live Matter' has been painted on a roadway near the White House since June 2020, when protests broke out across the nation following the police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man. On January 20, Trump signed an executive order rechristening it 'the Gulf of America' - spawning controversy ever since Trump renaming America's capital city would be the latest in a battle he's been waging with Bowser, a Democrat in one of the nation's most liberal leaning cities City officials in the US capital have credited the art installation with calming tensions near the White House, where violent clashes between protesters and security personnel had occurred in the days prior. Trump, who was president at the time of the unrest, returned to office in January seeking to overturn so-called diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices which spread widely throughout the public and private sectors following the George Floyd protests. Congressional Republicans and Trump aides had eyed the mural as part of their move to force changes in the administration of Washington, an overwhelmingly Democratic city. When asked if it was in response to White House pressure, she said: 'I'm not going to talk about specifics... but I think it's safe to say that people don't like it, didn't like it.' Trump, one month into his second term, has publicly returned to one of his longtime talking points: a federal takeover of the District of Columbia. Activist Republicans in Congress have long used the House Oversight Committee as a forum to employ their power over the local government. During the crime spike in 2023, Bowser and members of the D.C. Council were regularly summoned for inquiries before the committee. That year, Congress also, for the first time in decades, fully overturned a D.C. law when it repealed a rewrite of the D.C. criminal code. Trump renaming America's capital city would be the latest in a battle he's been waging with Bowser , a Democrat in one of the nation's most liberal leaning cities. The president said in early March that he sent notification to Mayor Muriel Bowser demanding she 'clean up all of the unsightly homeless encampments' throughout the city Bowser has set a conciliatory tone ever since Trump was elected again. Workers in Washington on Monday began removing a 'Black Lives Matter' street mural installed during the height of 2020 racial justice protests, bowing to pressure from Trump But that required Congressional Democrats to join in, and then-President Biden to sign off on it. Members of Congress have also repeatedly used budget riders to alter D.C. laws in minor ways, targeting everything from marijuana legalization to the city's use of traffic cameras. As an indication of just how personal and petty this dynamic has become, the bill previously introduced in Congress proposing to repeal D.C. home rule was titled to produce an antagonistic acronym. It's called the Bringing Oversight to Washington and Safety to Every Resident Act or the BOWSER Act. However, Bowser's charm offensive appears to have been working, as Trump praised her actions since he took office in his speech at the Department of Justice. 'So far, they've been doing very well. The mayor has been doing a good job,' he said. However, he warned: 'We're working with the administration, and if the administration can't do the job we're gonna have to take it back and run it through the federal government.' 'We're cleaning up our city. We're cleaning up this great capital, and we're not going to have crime and we're not going to stand for crime, and we're going to take the graffiti down and we're already taken to tents down there,' he added. If he renamed the District of Columbia, he would likely have to dig his heels in for another battle with the media, as well. Tourists and young families at a popular Gold Coast lagoon were appalled by a couple allegedly having sex in the water in broad daylight as kids watched on nearby. One witness revealed on Facebook how they could see the pair's antics visible in the background of the daily 1.30pm pelican feeding at Labrador's Ian Dipple Lagoon, 'We were in disbelief. The couple were engaging in these sexual acts fully knowing there were onlookers, many of whom were families with young children,' they said. The witness said the man later walked up to them and asked for money, saying that he 'doesn't perform for free'. 'He demanded we instantly hand him our phones or give payment for having watched his so-called performance,' they said. 'This is a warning for anyone frequenting the lagoon to please keep an eye out for the man as I got the impression he is a regular,' they said. The witness said they told the man they would give the footage to the police and ducked into the nearby Grand View Hotel to get away from him. There is a large children's playground on the foreshore to the lagoon at Harley Park and commenters labelled the bizarre act 'feral' and the man's follow up as 'creepy'. The couple were allegedly caught having sex in the lagoon not far from where families with kids enjoying the beach The area has playground and a popular pelican feeding activity with the couple appearing to wait until that was underway In November, a similar incident occurred at Coogee Beach in Sydney. The after-dark romp on the sand in full view of onlookers at Coogee Beach, in Sydney's east, about 9pm on Sunday night was filmed by a shocked local, who shared the footage with Daily Mail Australia. The man, who wished to remain anonymous, said the couple performed the lewd act as onlookers walked past and watched. 'They literally thought no one would see them - how stupid are they?' he said. 'I can't believe they did that right next to families walking by in a crowded area.' And back in April last year, another couple were caught in the same brazen beachside act on a sandbar on the Maroochy River on the Sunshine Coast. Dozens of social media users flooded a post exposing the pair with comments. 'Love island?' one person said, while someone else posted: 'Sunny coast is feeling more and more like the Gold Coast every year.' Another added: 'If I had kids and they saw that I'd be furious. It's just respect for other people.' A wheelchair-bound Texas politician has slammed a Democrat who referred to him as 'governor hot wheels' in a 'venomous' personal attack. Governor Greg Abbott said Representative Jasmine Crockett's comments at the weekend highlighted the depth of the problems Democrats are facing. 'It's another day and another disaster by the Democrats,' he told Fox's Hannity. 'The reality is they have no vision, no policy. They have nothing to sell but hate, and Americans are not buying it.' Crockett was speaking at a Human Rights Campaign dinner in Los Angeles when she referred to Abbott as 'Governor Hot Wheels' - attracting shocked laughter from the crowd. '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 cheering audience. Abbott said it was comments like these which would hold Democrats back as they look to reinvent themselves following Kamala Harris' loss to Donald Trump. Trump holds a majority in both houses, having won the popular vote and the electoral college. Governor Greg Abbott said Representative Jasmine Crockett's comments at the weekend highlighted the depth of the problems Democrats are facing acklash to the comments came swiftly as video of the incident spread online, prompting Crockett (pictured) to issue a statement insisting her remarks were taken out of context 'It's one reason why Texas is going to remain red,' he warned, adding: 'Republicans are going to continue winning elections across the country. 'Texas is the vanguard. '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.' But backlash to the comments came swiftly as video of the incident spread online, prompting her to issue a statement insisting her remarks were taken out of context. 'I wasnt thinking about the governors condition,' she said. '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. '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.' Republican Representative Randy Weber was among critics who did not buy her justification. Pictured: Abbott alongside former UK prime minister Rishi Sunak. Abbott said Republicans will continue to have the support of Texans if Democrats continue resorting to insults without showing 'vision or policy' He intends to introduce a censure resolution against Crockett for her 'venomous rhetoric,' he told Fox. Abbott was left paralyzed from the waist down when he was just 26 years old, when a tree fell on top of him as he was jogging. At the time, he was a recent law school graduate and studying to take the bar exam. While campaigning for governor, Abbott shed new light on his condition, and how overcoming his circumstances had made him a better politician. 'Through this experience, Governor Abbott learned that our lives arent defined by our challenges,' his campaign team said at the time. 'Instead, we define our lives by how we respond to those challenges. His triumph over tragedy shows that Governor Greg Abbott doesnt back down from challenges, but uses his lessons in perseverance to overcome them. 'While some politicians talk about having a spine of steel, Governor Abbott actually has one.' An international student has been jailed after she tried to smuggle native Australian wildlife to China. Yinan Zhao pleaded guilty to seven charges after she tried to send nearly $75,000 worth of native lizards overseas between May 12 and November 1, 2023. Brisbane's District Court heard Zhao attempted to ship 10 separate packages containing 15 lizards, with a street value of $74,207, from Queensland to China. The lizards were five shinglebacks, five blue tongues, two geckos, two tree skinks and one Cunningham's skink. They were packed into boxes surrounded by children's toys with some captured by Australia Post in Brisbane while others were found in Sydney after being X-rayed, the court heard. Zhao was sentenced to 18 months in prison with a non-parole period of five months. During her arrest, authorities also found more unlawfully-held wildlife that was being prepared for sale on Chinese markets. Queensland's Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation Department compliance manager Warren Christensen said international students from China were often targeted through social media to make big money by smuggling wildlife. One of the five blue tongue lizards Yinan Zhao tried to smuggle into China Five shingleback lizards were intercepted after they were nearly sent illegally to China 'This prosecution should serve as a warning to others considering smuggling animals to make a quick buck that they will be caught and face very serious life-changing consequences,' Mr Christensen said. 'Sending reptiles in the mail is extremely cruel as they won't have access to food, water or fresh air for weeks and sadly, most of the animals will die before they get to their destination. 'Of those we intercept, many can never be released into the wild because we don't know where they were captured or if they have been exposed to disease while in captivity.' The Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water and the Queensland Government Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) worked together to bring Zhao down. 'This operation was an excellent example of state and Australian government agencies working cooperatively with Border Force and Australia Post to detect and prevent international wildlife smuggling,' Mr Christensen said. 'DETSI wildlife officers seized the packages suspected by Australia Post and Border Force of containing protected wildlife. 'We formally identified all wildlife recovered from the packages and assisted with the identification of Zhao and the execution of the warrant that led to her arrest.' It followed the prosecution of another foreign national, Man Lung Ma, who was sentenced to three years and six months in jail in November after he tried 29 times to send more than $360,000 worth of native lizards from Australia to Hong Kong. A 12-year-old boy in Ohio died after being allegedly forced into ice baths as sick form of 'corporal punishment.' Anthony McCants, 23, has been charged with felony child endangerment following the death of Jadako Taylor in Akron. Police responded to a report of a heart attack at 2.30pm on Saturday. Taylor was transported to Akron Children's Hospital where he was pronounced dead. According to a criminal complaint obtained by KGNS, McCants forced Taylor into two ice baths 45 minutes before his death. McCants and Taylor's relationship remains unclear, but it is said McCants was 'known to the family,' KGNS reported. Between 5am and 2pm, McCants allegedly forced Taylor into the ice baths for more than 30 minutes each time. The first ice bath was allegedly 45 minutes long, People reported. Jadako Taylor, 12, in Akron, Ohio, died after being forced to take two ice baths for more than 30 minutes each time and enduring physical activity in-between the baths before vomiting and seizing Anthony McCants, 23, has been charged with felony child endangerment following the death of Jadako Taylor and his treatment of Taylor was described as 'corporal punishment' A family member posted on Facebook: 'I usually have a lot to say but this has taken my air. I had just made you pizza and then a few hours later you are gone... I don't have any answers so please don't ask... Jadako is Angel and will be forever missed' In between the ice baths, Taylor was allegedly forced to do pushups and more strenuous physical activity before he vomited and seized, according to the complaint. Taylor's body temperature reached a low of 74 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 21 degrees below than when hypothermia occurs in the body at 95 degrees. 'First responders arrived on scene and discovered a 12-year-old boy unresponsive and McCants' treatment of Taylor was described as 'corporal punishment,' the complaint alleged. A family member posted on Facebook: 'I usually have a lot to say but this has taken my air. I had just made you pizza and then a few hours later you are gone. 'I don't have any answers so please don't ask... Jadako is Angel and will be forever missed.' McCants was arrested on Saturday at around 4pm, roughly 15 minutes after Taylor was pronounced dead, according to jail records. He is currently being held in the Summit County Jail and has a bond set of $500,000, according to online records. A court date is yet to be set. The Summit County Medical Examiner did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for further information. Donald Trump said he wants to set up a 'compensation fund' for the people who were imprisoned for their roles in the January 6, 2021 riot at the Capitol, two months after he pardoned them. On his first day back in the White House, Trump said he was pardoning about 1,500 defendants and issuing six commutations, calling them 'hostages.' He also directed the attorney general to seek dismissal of about 450 pending criminal cases against Jan. 6 defendants. The controversial decision fulfilled Trump's promise to release supporters who tried to help him overturn his election defeat four years ago. Speaking Tuesday, Trump said that he's now looking to find a way to help them out after being suggested that he start up a 'compensation fund.' 'There's a lot of talk about that,' he said about the fund. 'A lot of the people that are in government now talk about it because a lot of the people in government really like that group of people.' Trump reiterated that he felt that those imprisoned were 'patriots' and added that Joe Biden had treated them 'very unfairly.' 'A group of people went down there, peacefully and patriotically, remember that,' Trump added. Donald Trump said he wants to set up a 'compensation fund' for the people who were imprisoned for their roles in the January 6 , 2021 riot at the Capitol , two months after pardoning them On his first day back in the White House , Trump said he was pardoning about 1,500 defendants and issuing six commutations, calling them 'hostages' In reaction, liberals melted down over the plan as writer Ron Filipkowski among several others labeled the plan: 'Reparations' Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz, however, added: 'We should vote on this. They should demand a vote on this.' Newsmax host Greg Kelly also asked Trump about Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot by a police officer as she attempted to break through a door while in the Capitol building. The Department of Justice is still fighting a lawsuit filed by her family and Kelly asked: 'Shouldnt that be something that can just be settled at this point?' Trump said that Babbitt 'was a really good person' and said that he would 'look into that.' The president's controversial decision to pardon those involved in the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021 was made with an expletive at the last minute. As his team wrestled with the top issues to tackle on Inauguration Day, during their first hours in office, Trump weighed in, saying: 'F **k it: Release 'em all,' a source told Axios. His decision to sign a blanket pardon for at least 1,500 people charged over the riot in Washington D.C. rankled many on his team and some officials in the Republican Party. Unsurprisingly, liberals melted down over the plan, with writer Ron Filipkowski among several calling it: 'Reparations' Newsmax host Greg Kelly also asked Trump about Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot by a police officer as she attempted to break through a door while in the Capitol building. Trump said that Babbitt 'was a really good person' and said that he would 'look into that' While Trump had talked about pardons for some of the rioters, the blanket dispensation - including those who used violence and attacked police officers - came as a surprise to many. The former leaders of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, who were convicted of seditious conspiracy, were both released from prison hours after Trump signed the clemency order. Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, of Granbury, Texas, was serving an 18-year prison sentence. Enrique Tarrio, of Miami, the former Proud Boys leader, was serving a 22-year sentence. Trump supporters, meanwhile, shrugged off his decision to pardon all those involved. 'He is who he is,' a Trump official told NBC News. 'Expectations are sometimes set as best as can be expected, and sometimes they change quickly.' With a simple swipe of his pen, Trump released from prison his followers who were caught on camera breaking into the Capitol and fighting with police as they attempted to overthrow Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election. His pardon proclamation on day one of his second term offered 'a full, complete and unconditional pardon to all other individuals convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.' Trump's pardon proclamation on day one of his second term offered 'a full, complete and unconditional pardon to all other individuals convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021' The former leaders of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, who were convicted of seditious conspiracy, were both released from prison hours after Trump signed the clemency order The federal Bureau of Prisons, by the next day, had released all of the more than 200 people in its custody for January 6 crimes, officials told The Associated Press. Some critics pounced on Trump's decision. More than 150 police officers were injured on the day of insurrection and many blasted Trump for issuing the blanket get-out-jail-free card to his supporters. Michael Fanone, a former police officer who was among those badly injured during the January 6 attacks, told NBC News the pardons were 'outrageous' but 'shouldn't come as a surprise to any American.' 'The rule of law is dead in this country. We are now in the age of government lawlessness,' Fanone said. But the president defended his decision. He called the prosecutions 'ridiculous and excessive.' Trump said he issued the pardons because in many cases, 'these people have already served a long period of time, and I made a decision to give a pardon.' On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly vowed to pardon those in the Capitol that day. But he also indicated he'd look at cases individually. 'I'm going to do case-by-case, and if they were non-violent, I think they've been greatly punished,' he told Time magazine during the campaign. 'And the answer is, I will be doing that, yeah, I'm going to look if there's some that really were out of control.' March 26, 2025: Drones, or autonomous vehicles, have been around for over a century, since Robert Whitehead created the first self-propelled torpedo in 1866. It was first used in combat in 1878 when a Russian torpedo boat sank an Ottoman Turk minelaying ship. Since 1866 over 100,000 torpedoes have been produced. There are many types of drones that operate in the water. The SeaGlider is a two meter long, 52 kg autonomous drone that monitors underwater conditions for up to six months at a time before being recovered to recharge its batteries. There have been few incidents of torpedoes used in combat since 1945. The most recent one was in 2010 when a North Korean midget submarine used a torpedo to sink a South Korean warship. Aircraft use guided missiles at other aircraft and ground targets. Anti-aircraft missiles, like the American Patriot, have been intercepting aircraft and missiles for nearly half a century. Until the current Ukraine War, the only drones used were military and research models. Wartime pressure to develop more effective weapons led the Ukrainians to develop dozens of military drones. Most of them were cheap and guided by a human operator several kilometers away. These FPV or First Person View drones were a major innovation. The only positive thing to come out of the Ukraine war was the emergence of massive drone warfare. Implementing lessons learned from the Ukraine war, especially the widespread use of drones, forced military leaders worldwide to rethink how their forces are organized, armed and trained. For example a few thousand dollars worth of drones can and have destroyed $4.5 million M1 Abrams tanks. The Americans are not trying to develop and build cheap air-defense drones, which are already being used in Ukraine. The United States could buy them from Ukraine or build them under license in the United States. There are some other issues. In wartime drone designs evolve rapidly. Stockpiling thousands of drones produced in 2024 and 2025 would create a problem when using them a year or more after 2025. The enemy may have built more advanced drones in anticipation of offing them in a surprise attack. The American stockpiled drones would then be less useful because they are older designs. This is especially true with anti-drone drones, a recent development that is still evolving rapidly. American attempts to adopt the new drone tactics and technology developed, and still developing, in Ukraine have encountered problems. First, the U.S. is not at war and the military bureaucracy has a peacetime attitude towards any new technology. This includes the use of drones in Ukraine and the flood of practical experience and solutions passed by Ukraine. Current U.S. Army drones, when used in Ukraine, often encounter problems the Ukrainian drones dont. In a wartime situation, Ukrainians have been quick to make changes until they get the results they need. The American military may want to implement the lessons of drone use in Ukraine, but American defense contractors and manufacturers feel compelled to modify and improve what the Ukrainians have done while they adapt Ukrainian drone tech to something new which United States forces can use and Congress will pay for. This process tends to lower the effectiveness of what the Ukrainians have created, while delaying the product and enriching the contractors and manufacturers. The lesser effectiveness is usually revealed the first time American troops use the U.S. version of Ukrainian drone tech. Something is lost in the tech translation. This is nothing new. Its been happening for over a century. Adapting and adopting Ukrainian drone technology means there will be new drone modifications and upgrades for as long as the fighting in Ukraine lasts. These changes come quickly in wartime and always have. In Ukraine, drone designs can be changed in less than a week. This is usually because the Russians have gained an edge with one of their recent tweaks. While Ukraine has been in the forefront of developing and upgrading drone technology, the Russians have kept up. In war time you either keep up or become an inept underdog that falls farther and farther behind. The Russians have kept most of the time and, when they fail to keep up, suffer heavy losses. The peacetime American military has no such wartime feedback loop. If someone in the defense procurement establishment says the current American drone tech is good, it is considered officially adequate. Sending U.S. drone adaptations to Ukraine for testing takes place, but often over the objections of some U.S. manufacturers. When tested in combat, some of the U.S. drones failed to deliver. When the Ukraine war ends, there will be no way to adequately test American drones. There may be other wars where American troops are involved and able to test the new drones. But it wont be in the intensely competitive atmosphere the Ukrainians and Russians created. Ukraine has been writing the book on drone technology since 2022, with Russia contributing edits in real time. When that atmosphere is not present, the speed of developing new tech or maintaining current drones slows down a lot. This process is at work now as the U.S. Army orders drones based on Ukrainian designs. The American military procurement bureaucracy is infamously slow in adopting and manufacturing new weapons. This is especially true if a weapon was not invented by an American weapons manufacturer. It is feared that the Ukrainian drone revolution will be equally slow in actually reaching Americans soldiers and marines. Many military and Defense Department civilians are aware of this problem and see the drone development and procurement program as an opportunity to show that the United States can do it right and quickly. It is said that the Ukrainians suggested that the Americans have a toy company manufacture their drones because they are more efficient than the usual defense firms. Also, the toy companies have spare capacity for months before they have to start making toys for the holidays. Early in the war Ukraine relied on civilians in home workshops to design and build drones. Now that Ukraine is building millions of drones a year, most are built in underground factories. Drone manufacturing is a prime target for Russian drones and ballistic missiles. In early 2024 Ukraine created a new branch of their military, the USF/Unmanned Systems Force. This is in addition to the Ukrainian Air Force that consists of manned aircraft. The USF does not control the drones which Ukrainian forces use regularly but instead contributes to developing new drone models and organizes mass production for those new models that are successful. The U.S. military took note of this but acting on it takes a lot longer for a peacetime military. Drones were an unexpected development that had a huge impact on how battles in Ukraine's current war are fought. Drones were successful because they were cheap, easily modified, and expendable. Modifications and upgrades could be implemented quickly and inexpensively Both Russian and Ukrainian forces were soon using cheap quadcopter drones controlled by soldiers a few kilometers distant using FPV goggles to see what the drone video camera can see. These drones cost a few hundred dollars each and most carry half a kilogram of explosives. This instantly turns the drone into a flying bomb that can fly into a target and detonate. These drones are awesome and debilitating weapons when used in large numbers. If a target isnt moving or requires more explosive power that the drones can supply, one of the drone operators can call in artillery, rocket, or missile fire, or even an airstrike. Larger, fixed wing drones are used for long range, often over a thousand kilometers, operations against targets deep inside Russia. Ukraine had no problem finding trained drone operators because anyone who plays video games is partially trained already. Ukrainian drone operators tend to use commercial game controllers. This is why when Ukraine recruits new drone operators, they favor those with video game experience. Drones are used for attack or reconnaissance and surveillance. The recon missions are usually survivable and enable the drone to be reused. All these drones are constantly performing surveillance, which means that both sides commit enough drones to maintain constant surveillance over a portion of the front line, to a depth, into enemy territory, of at least a few kilometers. Longer range drones can track Russian operations hundreds of kilometers behind the front lines. Ukrainian drones have attacked St. Petersburg, which is 1000 kilometers aways. This massive use of FPV-armed drones has revolutionized warfare in Ukraine and both sides are producing as many as they can. Military leaders in other nations have noted this and are scrambling to equip their own forces with the most effective drones. Not having enough of these to match the number the enemy has in a portion of the front means you are at a serious disadvantage in that area. These drones are still evolving in terms of design and use and are becoming more effective and essential. One countermeasure that can work for a while is electronic jamming of the drones control signal. Drone guidance systems are constantly modified or upgraded to cope with this. Most drones have flight control software that sends drones with jammed control signals back to where they took off to land for reuse. The jammers on the ground can be attacked by drones programmed to home in on the jamming signal. Countermeasures can be overcome and the side that can do this more quickly and completely has an advantage. That advantage is usually temporary because both sides are putting a lot of effort into keeping their combat drones effective on the battlefield. A budget airline has been blasted for leaving customers in the dark after announcing it would no longer operate flights between Perth and Bali. Citilink Airline has permanently cancelled all flights between the two cities for the remainder of 2025, extending an earlier suspension which was set to end on May 1. A spokesperson for Perth Airport confirmed the suspension on Wednesday, telling Daily Mail Australia: 'A return date [has] yet to be confirmed by the airline'. Passengers who booked flights directly through the Indonesian carrier have or will be notified, PerthNow reported. Those who booked through third parties will be notified once travel agents receive confirmation of the decision. Before suspending flights for the remainder of the year, the budget airline refused to confirm whether services would return as normal beyond May 1. Earlier this month, a Citilink spokesperson told The West Australian that 'no one is sure what will happen after May 1'. Travellers immediately took to a popular Bali travel Facebook page to question whether to cancel their flights amid the uncertainty. Citilink has cancelled all flights to and from Perth for the remainder of 2025 A spokesperson for Perth Airport confirmed the suspension adding it was not yet clear when services would return 'Citilink called me yesterday and they have officially cancelled all flights until end of April and you can receive a full refund,' one user said. 'Apparently, May flights are still scheduled to depart. 'However, if like me, [you] believe they won't depart in May, you will only receive 75 per cent of your ticket for a voluntary refund. 'To receive a full refund, you have to wait for official communication from Citilink that your flight has been cancelled.' A number of customers said they had booked alternative flights while waiting to receive a full refund once Citilink announced the cancellation. The company's TripAdvisor page has been inundated with negative reviews in recent months, with travellers complaining about extended refund periods and short notice periods. One customer said: 'For me, this is more about the unconscionable practice of refusing to be transparent with Australians about their plans. 'Citilink should just call a spade a shovel and formally announce the cessation of the PER-DPS route to allow passengers to re-book alternative.' Citilink customers have complained of extended refund periods for affected flights 'Worst airline I have ever dealt with. Cancelled all flights for whole month less than two weeks after booking,' one reviewer said. 'No offer to reschedule. I had to apply for a refund and was told it would take 30 days'. 'It's all gone very quiet. We are booked for August and they won't tell us anything,' another user said. Other users complained of refund waiting periods of up to two months. Many customers said they were left disappointed by the experience, having previously enjoyed the price point offered by the budget carrier. 'Our son is going in May and his have been cancelled too. Shame as we used them last year and they were great,' one Facebook user said. When Citilink began operating flights to Perth in 2023, then-Premier Roger Cook praised the move as an 'incredibly important part of fostering our economic relationship' with Indonesia. Mr Cook interpreted the decision as 'a sign Indonesia is confident in investing in WA and will ensure we are able to capitalise on the economic, trade and business opportunities that exist with our State's closest international neighbour'. Citilink and Perth Airport were contacted by Daily Mail Australia. A quarry worker who died after falling 18m down a silo at an industrial site had recently celebrated his second wedding anniversary. Lindsay O'Brien, 54, manufacturing operations manager at Boral Victoria tragically died on Saturday afternoon after the workplace accident at the Montrose quarry, which WorkSafe Victoria is investigating. He is survived by his wife Hana, who he married on February 26, 2023, about a year after relocating from Sydney to Melbourne for work, reported 7NEWS. Friends, family and colleagues have shared tributes Mr O'Brien. 'He was a mentor to me and because of him I was given the opportunity to gain years of experience on levels that I never would have achieved otherwise,' one friend and colleague said. 'He was funny, intelligent and generous always made me laugh. I have so much respect and admiration for him and I'm sure he will be missed by many. 'So Lindsay O'Brien this one's for you, one of your favourite oatmeal stouts from that... "grifter" brewery'. 'So sad to hear this news, I have great memories of Lindsay,' another friend said. Lindsay O'Brien and his wife Hana recently celebrated their second wedding anniversary Friend and family shared tributes to Mr O'Brien and WorkSafe said it is investigating the incident Mr O'Brien died after falling into a gap in the top of a silo at Boral's Montrose quarry WorkSafe Victoria said Mr O'Brien was walking on the top of the silo when he fell about 18m though a gap. Emergency crews were called and he was discovered around 3pm. Victoria Police are assisting the WorkSafe investigation. A service for Mr O'Brien was held at Preston Mosque on Wednesday afternoon with a wake to be held at Lulie Taven in Abbotsford in the early evening. Debate over a controversial bill protecting the 'rotten' salmon industry was thrown into chaos when a Greens senator went rogue by brandishing a rotting dead fish in parliament. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has committed to legislate to protect salmon farming in Tasmania's world-heritage-listed Macquarie Harbour, sparking a fiery debate and chaotic scenes in the Senate on Wednesday. Critics of the bill are primarily concerned that pollution from the industry will endangers the at-risk Maugean skate, a ray found only in the state. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young derailed proceedings by thrusting a massive, decapitated salmon in a plastic bag into the air. 'Now that the rotting, toxic salmon industry has a carve out from our environment laws, what toxic industry will be next?' she addressed Labor senator Jenny McAllister. 'Have you sold out your environment credentials for a rotten, stinking extinction salmon?' Senate president Sue Lines repeatedly demanded Senator Hanson-Young to remove the 'prop' from the floor before the Greens member appeared to slap the fish down on the desk. Behind her, Coalition leader Michaelia Cash was seen laughing into her hand as fellow senator waved their hands in front of their noses due to the stench. Greens environment spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young (pictured) went rogue as she accused the Labor government of 'selling out' its environment credentials 'My view is that Australians deserve better from their public representative than stunts,' Senator McAllister said in response. 'The only way that environmental change has ever occurred in this country is through Labor governments.' As she was addressing the Senator, Senator Hanson-Young could be heard interrupting in the background. The proposed bill aims to safeguard salmon farms in Macquarie Harbour on Tasmania's west coat, reducing the ways that the public can challenge approvals. It also removes the environment minister's ability to reconsider Commonwealth environmental decisions when an activity is harming the environment. The law passed in the lower house on Tuesday with Labor and the Coalition voting together while blocking an attempt by the Greens to have the bill considered by a parliamentary committee. Mr Albanese has defended the legislation, saying it provides certainty for salmon workers on Tasmania's west coast. 'The environment protection laws, which we inherited from John Howard, they're not fit for purpose,' he told ABC Radio National on Tuesday. Coalition leader Michaelia Cash (pictured in red) was seen laughing into her hand as the chaos unfolded in the Senate as others watched on bemused 'We need to make sure that we have a proper federal environmental protection authority,' he said. 'We need to make sure that we ensure that industry can function, but also that sustainability occurs.' Earlier this week, Mr Albanese told reporters the government 'makes no apologies for supporting jobs'. However, the law is not favoured by the electorate with The Australia Institute claiming the majority of Australians do not support salmon fishing. A poll in November revealed that nearly three in five Australians (58 per cent) support an end to fish farming in areas where it puts the Maugean skate at risk of extinction. 'Numerous Tasmanian polls show more than 7 in 10 Tasmanians want fish farms out of sensitive inshore waters,' the report read. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) has said the controversial bill on salmon fishing will protect jobs for workers in Tasmania The Environmental Defence Office says bigger salmon farms mean more pollution from nitrogen and nutrients that 'choke' sensitive marine ecosystems, impacting the endangered Maugean Skate. Firebrand Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie told ABC host David Speers the government had backed the 'wrong side' by protecting the salmon industry. 'There are 65 per cent of Tasmanians that do not want salmon farming going on in Tasmania,' she said. The surfboard of a detective who never returned from a surf has washed up on a beach undamaged 24 hours after he went missing. A water, land and aerial search for Queensland Detective Inspector Jay Notaro, 45, continued in far northern NSW on Wednesday, a day after he failed to report for duty at Ipswich Police Station, west of Brisbane. It will enter its third day on Thursday. Officers found his car and keys in a carpark at Broken Head on Byron Bay's southern fringe. Search crews discovered Insp Notaro's surfboard on a beach 500m away. The lack of damage to the board, and the benign conditions of the surf made his disappearance all the more perplexing. 'The condition of that surfboard was unremarkable there was no damage and the leg rope was fully intact,' NSW Detective Inspector Matt Zimmer said. 'The inspector is a very strong swimmer who is a previous officer in charge of the Queensland water police ... and the condition that presented over the past few days were quite calm. The search for award-winning detective inspector Jay Notaro (pictured) was launched about 12.40pm on Tuesday but he was still missing 18 hours later on Wednesday morning Police have found his car, car keys and an intact surfboard at Broken Head 'He would be extremely capable of managing those conditions due to his experience, (he was) an extremely fit man as well.' Insp Notaro quickly rose through the ranks as a homicide investigator after first joining Queensland police in Townsville in 2003. Insp Notaro was instrumental in solving major cases including the bikie-linked slaying of Gold Coast victim Greg Dufty. He received a 'compassion in policing' award by the Queensland Homicide Victims Support Group for support he offered Mr Dufty's partner and family. The top cop then served in roles including officer in charge of the Gold Coast water police and Coomera police station. Insp Notaro was recently transferred to Ipswich after being promoted to Inspector. A squadron of emergency services made up of Queensland Police, water police, the Queensland Polair and surf lifesavers has taken part in the search efforts. 'The search will focus on the areas between Lennox Head and Cape Byron, particularly the Broken Head area,' a NSW police spokeswoman said. The search is focusing on the areas between Lennox Head and Cape Byron both in the ocean and on the land Cross-Border Commissioner and former Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers remains hopeful that Insp Notaro will be found alive. The pair have known each other for many years. 'Jay is one of the most competent and capable coppers I know, who has a great future in the police,' Mr Leavers told the Courier Mail 'He is a future leader of the police, especially in the higher ranks. I just hope he is found safely and we have a really good outcome. 'He is not only a friend, he is one of the future leaders of the organisation. I'm praying, he's just a champion. 'If we had more coppers like that we would be a better organisation.' Insp Notaro quickly rose through the ranks as a homicide investigator after first joining Queensland police in Townsville in 2003 Queensland Police earlier confirmed an officer was reported missing Tuesday afternoon. 'Officers and the member's family are concerned for their welfare due to the disappearance being considered out of character,' a spokesman said. 'Anyone with information that may be able to assist with the whereabouts of the member is asked to contact police.' Colleagues were rocked by news of Insp Notaro's disappearance. 'Everyone is a bit shocked and hoping for the best,' a senior officer said. A university has been fined 585,000 for its failure to uphold free speech after feminist professor Kathleen Stock was hounded out over her belief in biological sex. The University of Sussex was handed the penalty by the higher education regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), which criticised its policy statement on 'Trans and Non-Binary equality'. It comes after Prof Stock, 53, had been 'cancelled' and forced to leave the university in 2021 as she was accused of transphobia. Her offences included stating in 2020 that 'the claim "transwomen are women" is fiction, not literally true' and 'spaces where women undress and sleep should remain genuinely single-sex in order to protect them'. The OfS said Sussex's requirement to 'positively represent trans people' and an assertion that 'transphobic propaganda [would] not be tolerated' could lead staff and students to 'self-censor'. The fine issued is the largest ever given to a University, though Sussex has vowed to challenge the OfS findings legally, Vice-Chancellor Prof Sasha Roseneil told the BBC. It described the judgment as an 'unreasonably absolutist definition of free speech', in a strongly worded statement, warning the ruling left institutions facing 'opposing and irreconcilable duties' which rendered them 'powerless to prevent abusive, bullying and harassing speech'. The OfS was given the power in January to issue fines where freedom of speech was not upheld at a university. Kathleen Stock pictured at the Oxford Union where trans activists also protested her giving a talk Prof Stock was hounded out of the University of Sussex in the face of protests led by trans activists Trans activists celebrate after feminist professor Kathleen Stock quits her University of Sussex job after 'bullying and harassment' campaign over her calls to protect female-only spaces Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson supported the ruling saying free speech and academic freedom were 'non-negotiables' in universities. She explained: 'If you go to university you must be prepared to have your views challenged, hear contrary opinions and be exposed to uncomfortable truths. 'We are giving the OfS stronger powers on freedom of speech so students and academics are not muzzled by the chilling effect demonstrated in this case.' Arif Ahmed, the OfS director for freedom of speech and academic freedom, said the decision to fine the university had followed a thorough investigation. He said it found the existing policy meant staff feared disciplinary action and Prof Stock had changed the way she taught her course as a result. Mr Ahmed added the OfS was 'concerned that a chilling effect may have caused many more students and academics at the university to self-censor'. The regulator said the Trans and Non-Binary Equality Policy Statement issued by the University of Sussex was considered in the context of existing legal duties on freedom of speech as well as the European Convention on Human Rights. Four elements of the policy were found to be 'concerning' in the OfS report. Kathleen Stock at the Oxford Union in 2023. In May 2023 Stock faced a rally led by angry trans activists as she gave a talk at the prestigious Oxford Union debating society Protestors pictured at a gathering in Library Square at the University of Sussex to protest against Prof Stock These included a requirement for course materials to 'positively represent trans people and trans lives' and an assertion that 'transphobic propaganda [would] not be tolerated'. Another aspect of the policy highlighted that 'transphobic abuse' would be a serious disciplinary offence for staff and students. The OfS also took a general look at the management and governance of the university around freedom of speech. Since being hounded from the university in 2021, Prof Stock has been continually pilloried over her views amid claims she is 'transphobic and trans-exclusionary' for opposing gender self-identification and saying biological sex is real. Professor Stock faced protests on the campus after publishing a book on gender identity, an experience she told the BBC was like a 'surreal anxiety dream'. She resigned her position at the university in 2021. In May 2023 she faced a rally led by angry trans activists as she gave a talk at the prestigious Oxford Union debating society. Hundreds of demonstrators chanted and played loud music to try to drown out the academic - while inside the chamber her address was crashed by anti-royal trans activist Riz Possnett, who glued theirself to the floor as others ranted about 'no more dead trans kids'. Posters put up in the tunnel from Falmer station to the University of Sussex's campus said she 'makes trans students unsafe' and 'we're not paying 9,250 a year for transphobia' Protestors gathered in Library Square at Sussex University to rally against Professor Kathleen Stock before she quit her job Sussex's Professor Roseneil has blamed the 'culture wars' and 'libertarian free speech absolutism' for the OfS judgement. She said: 'The OfS's findings mean that it is now virtually impossible for universities to prevent abuse, harassment or bullying on our campuses. 'It means universities cannot protect groups subject to harmful propaganda or determine that stereotyped assumptions should not be relied upon in the university curriculum. 'The OfS is effectively decreeing libertarian free speech absolutism as the fundamental principle for UK universities. In our view, the OfS is perpetuating the culture wars.' She criticised the way the three-and-a-half year investigation was conducted, saying nobody employed by the university was interviewed. 'The circumstances around Professor Stock's departure from the University of Sussex are deeply regrettable,' she said. 'Sussex has consistently and publicly defended her right to pursue her academic work and to express her gender critical beliefs. 'Academic freedom and freedom of speech are the foundational elements of a university, and the university is committed to ensuring that diversity in all its forms, particularly diversity of thought and identity, are able to flourish at Sussex.' This is the moment a man was kicked in the head as he lay on the floor last night - before his attacker was hit by a car. The shocking video, captured by a witness, shows a man in a white t-shirt kicking a man on the ground while another man wearing a black top watches. Then a white Volvo mounts the pavement and drives into the attacker with force. A man behind the camera can be heard saying 'oh s**t' as the car drives onto the footpath. After being hit by the car, the man in the white gesticulates and punches the rear window. Police attended the scene alongside the London Ambulance Service who treated a man before taking him to hospital. It is unclear whether this is the man on the ground or the attacker. His injuries have been confirmed to be non-life threatening. A police cordon was reportedly in place outside St Paul's Way Secondary School in the Bow Common area of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, close to where the incident happened. The video, captured by a witness, shows the man in a white t-shirt kicking a man on the ground A white Volvo is seen mounting the pavement and drives into the attacker with force Police attended the scene alongside the London Ambulance Service who treated a man before taking him to hospital A local resident, who asked not to be named, said: 'It was horrific, people were screaming. It was like something out of a nightmare.' Scattered personal belongings were on the scene. Parents are calling for greater safety measures around the area, especially during school hours. A spokesperson from the Metropolitan Police said: 'On Tuesday, 25 March at 9.01pm police were called to St Pauls Way, E14 following reports of an altercation and road traffic collision. 'Police attended the scene alongside the London Ambulance Service who treated a man before taking him to hospital. His injuries have been confirmed to be non-life threatening. 'Two men were arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving. 'Enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.' Anyone with information should contact the Metropolitan Police on 101. Disturbing footage has emerged of a young woman throwing a dead kitten into the water in front of horrified onlookers. Facebook page Aussies Against Animal Abuse alleges that a 21-year-old woman tortured a 10 to 12-week-old kitten by running it over at Port Lincoln Wharf on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula on Tuesday night. In a video posted by the page, shocked passers-by come to a standstill as the woman swung the kitten by its tail before chucking it into the harbour as she laughed. Authorities are now investigating the incident, which has sparked public outrage. The RSPCA also claimed a rabbit was also allegedly harmed. 'RSPCA SA received a report [on Wednesday] morning about an incident alleged to have occurred in Port Lincoln involving a cat and a rabbit, both deceased,' spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. 'No further comment will be made while investigations are ongoing.' South Australia Police also confirmed it's aware of the incident. A young woman is under investigation after she allegedly tortured a kitten The kitten was filmed being hurled into the water at Port Lincoln Wharf 'Following an investigation police attended at a Port Lincoln address and spoke with a 21-year-old woman,' a spokesperson said. 'She was taken to hospital for an assessment. 'Police are liaising with the RSPCA regarding any alleged offences that may have occurred, and investigations are continuing.' A spokesperson for Aussies Against Animal Abuse posted online that a cat rescuer went out with a torch and discovered the 'traumatising' sight of a kitten and the baby rabbit floating in the harbour. The video was initially posted on a community Facebook group but has since been deleted, news.com.au reported. The group said in a statement that it had been in contact with the woman's parents and 'that direct and decisive action' was taken. The group added that it appreciated that members were outraged but asked them to refrain from posting as police and mental health services carried out their investigations. The woman's mother also commented on the post to defend her daughter's actions while admitting the footage was confronting to watch. Police are liaising with the RSPCA regarding any alleged offences that may have occurred 'It was also not easy for the person going through a mental health crisis,' the mother wrote. Furious Aussies who watched the horrifying footage online swiftly condemned the woman's alleged actions. 'I find this rather sickeningly downright cruel in every aspect!' one viewer wrote. 'Those poor innocent and defenceless creatures.' Another added: 'This is extremely upsetting. That poor kitten that was just a baby and that poor rabbit.' The confronting footage sparked outrage from horrified Aussies RSPCA SA has said it received a report on Wednesday about an incident alleged to have occurred at Port Lincoln involving a dead cat and a rabbit Others took aim at onlookers who appeared to stand by and watch without intervening. 'The people filming should be punished also for condoning that!! Absolute grubs!' one viewer wrote. Another added: 'I think the people recording and standing around in a circle not doing anything should be questioned.' A British Israeli father whose wife and two daughters were murdered in a Hamas terror attack has won a legal ruling to be able to take more than 10.5 million from the Palestinian Authority (PA). Rabbi Leo Dee, originally from London, lost his wife Leah, 48, together with daughters Rina, 15, and Maia, 20, in April 2023, after a Palestinian terrorist brutally sprayed them with bullets in a drive-by attack. The family were travelling through West Bank in separate vehicles, with Rabbi Dee driving just metres ahead. Since then, he has campaigned to help other victims of terror, and opened his case to sue the PA several months ago. Yesterday, Israeli courts granted a temporary garnishee order, meaning a set amount of the frozen funds can be taken by Dee as soon as he successfully sues the PA, and the ruling makes the case stronger. Explaining the legal process, Rabbi Dee said: 'Bagatz [Supreme Court of Israel] gave us the go ahead months ago to sue and secure the funds. 'The way it works is that the Israeli treasury withholds tax funds from the Palestinian Authority. 'So technically, the money is in the hands of Israel, but the question was whether we can withhold these funds to give to victims of terror. The court ruled we can. That was the first step.' Rabbi Leo Dee, originally from London, lost his wife Leah, 48, together with daughters Rina, 15, and Maia, 20, in April 2023 The British Israeli father whose wife and two daughters were murdered in a Hamas terror attack has won a landmark legal ruling The family were travelling through West Bank in separate vehicles, with Rabbi Dee driving just metres ahead when a Palestinian terrorist brutally sprayed their car with bullets in a drive-by attack The case is believed to be the first of its kind, and Dee is now calling for other terror victim families to follow suit, in the hope it will eventually 'bankrupt' terror groups. Rabbi Dee continued: 'I am delighted we are making progress. My desire is for other families to also be suing the Palestinian Authority. 'My hope is we can bankrupt them. Since the UN is intent on continuing to fund them, we have to act independently to stop their funding and save lives. 'I want other families to sue the PA, and secure funds and I want them to know that together we can bring them down. 'We are not directly at war with the Palestinian Authority, but they have built the greatest terror scheme and incentive for terror in the world.' Tax funds secured by the PA are used as part of it's so-called 'Martyr's Fund' - referred to by critics as 'pay-for-slay', a label rejected by Palestinians. The cash pot is used to open an account for terrorists after they are convicted and jailed, and they then pour the equivalent of several hundred pounds in each month. When a terrorist is released after serving their sentence, they then collect the money, in some cases amounting to millions of shekels accumulated during lengthy sentences. From left, Yehuda Dee, his sister Keren, father Rabbi Leo Dee, and sister Tali, at the funeral of Maya and Rina Dee in Kfar Etzion on April 9, 2023. The two were killed in a Palestinian drive-by shooting. Dee's wife, Lucy (Leah) died of her injuries shortly after the funeral Rabbi Leo Dee speaks at the funeral of his daughters, Maya and Rina Dee in Kfar Etzion on April 9, 2023. The two were killed in a Palestinian drive-by shooting. Dee's wife, Lucy (Leah) died of her injuries shortly after the funeral Rabbi Leo Dee (far right) and his children at the funeral of Maya and Rina Dee in Kfar Etzion on April 9, 2023. The two were killed in a Palestinian drive-by shooting. Dee's wife, Lucy (Leah) died of her injuries shortly after the funeral The family of Rabbi Leo Dee pay their last respects at the funeral of his daughters, Maya and Rina Dee in Kfar Etzion on April 9, 2023. The two were killed in a Palestinian drive-by shooting. Dee's wife, Lucy (Leah) died of her injuries shortly after the funeral In February, PA leader Mahmoud Abbas signed a decree vowing to end the scheme, which has not yet come into effect. In a recent letter penned by Rabbi Dee to Yarden Bibas, who's wife Shiri and two infant sons Kfir and Ariel were murdered a month after being taken hostage on October 7th 2023, he described his healing journey. In the emotive piece, he wrote of using his family's memory to do more good deeds: 'Know that Shiri, Ariel and Kfir are in a good placeThey are smiling down on you and want you to be happy 'But for now you, as I, must live with the knowledge that we are here to achieve something more.' Rabbi Dee plans on using the money to continue his campaign to help prevent terror. The two terrorists behind the Dee family murders were killed a month later during an Israeli arrest raid. The case was enabled and spear-headed by Shurat HaDin, an Israeli NGO that aims to combat terror. EXCLUSIVE In his Budget reply speech tonight, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will announce a major cost of living relief measure for millions of Australians by halving fuel taxes for anyone who drives a motor vehicle. 'The Coalition is committed to supporting families and businesses and alleviating the cost of living pressure that everyone, right across the country, is feeling right now,' Mr Dutton told Daily Mail Australia. Fuel excises on petrol and diesel currently cost 50.8 cents per litre. Mr Dutton will use his budget reply speech to announce plans to slash the hated tax down to just 25.4 cents per litre for the next 12 months, dramatically lowering the price of fuel at the bowser. 'If elected, we will halve fuel excise for 12 months. The commute to work, taking the kids to school or sport, the family drive, or the trip to the shops will all cost less under the Coalition. Our plan will save many hundreds of dollars for families across Australia,' the Opposition Leader argued. Mr Dutton also said that the legislation enacting the excise cut would be introduced on the first sitting day of the next Parliament, allowing the cut to come into effect as quickly as possible. 'We will deliver this cost of living relief immediately, whereas people have to wait 15 months for Labor's 70 cent a day tax tweak', Mr Dutton said, referring to Labor's budget announcement of a 1 per cent cut to the lowest marginal tax rate not due to take effect until 1 July 2026. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton (pictured with wife Kirilly) is set to announce a major cost of living relief measure for millions of Australians by halving fuel taxes for anyone who drives a motor vehicle The opposition leader will use his budget reply speech on Thursday night to announce his plan to slash the hated tax down to just 25.4 cents per litre for the next 12 months (stock image) Anthony Albanese (pictured) is predicted to call an election in the coming days The Prime Minister is expected to call the next election as early as this weekend in a bid to take advantage of any momentum the federal Budget might have given Labor. Doing so would thwart any chance of Mr Dutton's cut to fuel taxes taking effect immediately, were Labor to support the measure allowing it to pass through the parliament before an election. That would cost Australian households between $14 and $28 every week until the Coalition is able to legislate the new cost of living relief on the other side of an election, if it wins. A household with one vehicle filling up once a week will save about $14 each week, an average benefit of about $700-750 over the course of a year. That is based on a vehicle with a 55 litre fuel tank. For households with two cars who fill up once a week, they will save around $28 a week on average, or close to $1,500 over 12 months. This is well in excess of the benefit of Treasurer Jim Chalmers' 1 percent income tax cut. Mr Dutton claims the new measure will cost approximately $6billion to implement. 'This announcement is all part of our plan to ease the cost of living pressures facing Australian families and to get our country back on track', Mr Dutton said. The new fuel tax cut will not be means tested, meaning that anyone who drives a motor vehicle will benefit from it. As will Australian businesses that use motor vehicles. 'This will lower costs to small businesses, and means lower costs for goods and services at the checkout,' Mr Dutton said. Amanda Knox has defended her decision to release a new book saying she is looking forward to sharing her story and is absolutely not 'capitalising on her own tragedy'. In an interview with Good Morning Britain today, the 37-year-old was asked why she felt the need to go ahead with the publication amid the danger of 'dragging it all up again'. Ms Knox, a then-20-year-old American student, was arrested in 2007 in connection with the murder of Meredith Kercher, 21, who was found stabbed to death at the bedroom apartment they shared in Italy. After four years imprisonment, Ms Knox's conviction was overturned due to lack of evidence linking her to the crime and she was ultimately exonerated by Italy's highest court in 2015. Police also arrested Rudy Guede, who ran a local bar. His bloody fingerprints and DNA found at the crime scene ensured his conviction for murder, and he served 14 years of his 30-year prison sentence behind bars. During this time, Ms Knox has released a bestselling memoir, Waiting to Be Heard, and in 2018, she began hosting a television series which examined the 'gendered nature of public shaming'. A Netflix series was also released in 2016 telling her story and she has been working on an upcoming show, Blue Moon, with Monica Lewinksy which will air on Hulu. Ms Knox said: 'I would say that my first book was a very different one to this book, Im very proud of Waiting To Be Heard' In an interview with Good Morning Britain today, the 37-year-old was asked why she felt the need to go ahead with the publication amid the danger of 'dragging it all up again' Knox is seen in this picture arriving at court in Perugia in January 2009 after she was charged with the murder of Kercher Speaking to Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid this morning, Ms Knox said: 'I would say that my first book was a very different one to this book, Im very proud of Waiting To Be Heard. 'It was written at a time when I felt like so many people were authoring my experience and saying what it was and I felt like I needed to set the record straight.' Richard Madeley asked the now-37-year-old about the impact of the release on Meredith Kercher's family. He said: 'The obvious danger is you drag it all up again which is bound to disturb Meredith's family and you risk looking as if you're capitalising on your own tragedy.' Ms Knox - a married mother of two - said she hoped the family read her book, adding 'honouring her past and memory does not mean I'm erasing my own'. A statement read about by host Susanna Reid from Ms Kercher's family lawyer, Francesco Maresca, said: 'It seems the initiatives of Knox continue to be inappropriate and disrespectful towards the memory of Meredith. 'Its evident that for Knox the Perugia trial continues to be a source of income and a series of opportunities to maintain her name in the media. Ms Knox, after so many years, should respect the silence and memory.' Ms Knox called Mr Maresca a 'hypocrite' as she accused him of publishing his own book. Meredith Kercher, from Coulsdon, Surrey, was killed just three months after moving to Italy for a study abroad programme at Perugia's prestigious university (pictured: in an undated photo released in November 2007) Amanda Knox, left, and her then-boyfriend Italian Raffaele Sollecito, after they were named as suspects Pictured, Knox and her former lover Raffaele Sollecito reuniting in Italy 15 years after they were arrested and wrongly convicted of the murder of Ms Kercher She added: 'The idea is that in a tragic event, there can only be one victim, and that is simply not true so I think, I don't really care what Mr Maresca thinks, to be frank.' The American activist went on to talk about her collaboration with Monica Lewinsky for a big-budget TV drama that will tell the real-life story of the murder of her roommate. Ms Lewinsky famously had an affair with Bill Clinton from 1995 until 1997, and it eventually led to his impeachment. On August 17, 1998, after multiple denials, the former President appeared on television and finally confessed, insisting he was 'solely and completely responsible' for the relationship. Ms Knox told Susanna Reid: 'Monica came into my life very much at a time when I was very, very lost and beaten down.' The activist - previously dubbed 'Foxy Knoxy' - had been arrested in 2007 alongside her Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito - though both were later exonerated. It was Ms Knox who had discovered Kercher's bedroom door locked and blood in their bathroom, but after cops in Italy noticed her acting oddly she became a suspect. At the time, Ms Knox put the blame on her boss at a local bar she worked at, Patrick Lumumba, who had a solid alibi, which only increased police suspicions. Amanda Knox was falsely convicted of Meredith's murder and served four years in prison Amanda Knox (pictured speaking in 2019, file photo) wrote an article called 'Patrolling the Trolls: The Sorry State of Reporting Online Abuse' - recalling when she received death threats in prison Meredith Kercher's killer Rudy Guede (pictured waving from the window of a volunteer centre in 2016, file photo) was formally released from prison 13 years after the grisly murder After an immense investigation and trial, she was convicted for the crime in 2009. Ms Knox was sentenced to 26 years in prison for faking a break-in, defamation, sexual violence, and murder. The defamation conviction was upheld by Italy's highest court over her comments about Lumumba. Ms Knox shared a video of herself weeping after the conviction was upheld, saying it was 'disappointing'. She also added on X: 'I've just been found guilty yet again of a crime I didn't commit'. Her lawyers said she accused Lumumba during a long night of questioning and under pressure from police, who they said fed her false information. The European Court of Human Rights found that the police deprived her of a lawyer and provided a translator who acted more as a mediator. Rudy Hermann Guede, from the Ivory Coast, was eventually convicted of murder after his DNA was found at the crime scene. Guede was freed in 2021, after serving most of his 16-year sentence. Ms Knox returned to the US in 2011 after being freed and established herself as a global campaigner for the wrongly convicted. March 26, 2025: In the last year Iran has experienced unexpected and colossal losses. The result appears to be the acceptance of less lofty goals. Its not just the hated foreigners like Israel and the United States, the two Great Satans who inflicted most of the damage. The Iranian people are also a threat to the rule of the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei government. Decades of economic sanctions have the Iranian people living in poverty and increasingly angry about it. More recent attacks by Israel destroyed the Iranian air defense system and most of the facilities that produce missile components. Iran tried to attack Israel with hundreds of missiles and drones, but the attack was nullified by Israeli air defenses with some help from offshore American warships. Then there are the local humiliations. At the end of July 2024, Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Islamic terror group Hamas was killed in a government guest house in the Iranian capital. A day earlier, an Israeli air strike in Lebanon killed Fuad Shukr, a senior member of Hezbollah. Shukr was believed responsible for rocket attacks on northern Israel that killed twelve children. The Israeli air strike also killed four nearby civilians and wounded 80 others. The Israelis gained access to Hezbollahs communications and then told Shukr to drive, with his bodyguards, to another location. When the vehicle Shukr and his associates were in a relatively open area, the Israeli aircraft launched a missile and that was the end of Shukr. Israel believes that these attacks on leaders who plan and carry out mass attacks makes these terrorist leaders less eager to act. Attacks like this appear to have some impact. Islamic terrorist attacks diminish when you kill the group leaders, especially if you kill replacements in rapid succession. Iran does not attack its enemies directly but prefers to use non-Iranian organizations to do it for them. This makes it possible for Iran to claim they had nothing to do with violence against people or groups Iran wants killed and often openly backs and supports such violence. American and Israeli intelligence agencies are able to quickly identify who is actually responsible to Islamic terrorist violence. Iranian foreign relations include the goals of Death to Israel and Death to America. This is what the current Iranian religious dictatorship demands, while most Iranians want their government to disappear. Much of the government violence is directed at Iranians who want an elected government. This is considered un-Islamic by the current Islamic dictatorship. This is a conflict that has been going on since the 1980s when a revolution overthrew the Iranian monarchy. The revolutionary groups then fought each other over what the new government should be. Most Iranians wanted a democracy, but the religious parties, and their Islamic militias, demanded a government led by senior religious leaders. The Islamic militants were more violent and got their way. Islam is a religion with some unique characteristics. The Arab word Islam translates into English as Submission. That includes accepting an Islamic lifestyle and rule by religious authorities and Islamic sharia law. This form of law is medieval in its origins and despotic in practice. Sharia in its purest and most extreme form calls for non-believers to be killed or enslaved if they refuse to become Moslem. Non-Islamic nations are to be feared and attacked in any way possible until destroyed. Thats why religiously inspired mobs in Iran call for Death to America and Israel. Most of the people in Iran want to live in the United States or an Iranian version of it. Before the Iranian monarchy was overthrown, Iran had good diplomatic, military and economic relations with the United States and Israel. Since the 1980s, when religious parties seized power in Iran, the economy has been crippled by sanctions triggered by Iranian hostility to non-Islamic states in America and Europe. Israel, an entrepreneurial democracy and the wealthiest, per capita, country in the region, is declared by Iranian religious leaders as a nation of apostates for not acknowledging Islam as the true religion. For the Iranian Islamic readers there is no possibility of compromise with Israelis unless they convert to Islam. For nearly a decade the Iranian government has known that Israeli intelligence operations in Iran involved Israelis unofficially, and often anonymously, working with many Iranians who want to overthrow their religious dictatorship. The Iranian government is also disturbed by increasing protests by the ethnic minorities that comprise half the population. While half the population is ethnic Iranian, an Indo-European people long called Persians, a quarter of Iranians are a Turkic group called Azeris. This group is seen as the most loyal non-Persian group in Iran. The 25 percent of other Iranians who are not Persian or Azeri are less loyal. Many senior members of the clergy are Azeri, including the senior member of the ruling Guardian Council and supreme leader Ali Khamenei. That is no longer an asset because most Iranian Azeris have turned against the religious dictatorship and are calling for the end of religious rule and better relations with neighboring Azerbaijan, which is allied with Israel. This ethnic affinity has long been a problem for Russia and Iran. The Israeli Mossad agents who recruited these Iranians to help carry out sabotage attacks were themselves Iranian in the sense that they often Iranian Jews, or their descendants who Iran over the last half century but had not lost their Iranian customs, like using Farsi, the Indo-European Persian language, and other Iranian cultural practices. These Israelis made excellent Mossad operatives in Iran where they looked Iranian, spoke Iranian and knew Iranian customs. When recruited Iranian scientists safely escaped from Iran after their role in a major attack became known, they discovered the Iranians who recruited them were Israelis. This eventually got back to fellow Azeri Iranians in Iran, which most Iranian Azeris saw as a good thing. Jewish-Iranians were historically one of the smallest Iranian minorities but were always considered Iranians first, something that made an impact on Iranians in general. It also impressed the Russians, who have had a long and often violent relationship with Iran over who should rule the Azeris. Subsequent Israeli revelations confirmed that many of the Iranian scientists and engineers who worked with Israel to sabotage Irans nuclear weapons development thought they were working with fellow Iranian opponents of the Islamic dictatorship. This was terrifying to the regime and is persuading more members of the Guardian Council to oppose the current hardline policy of the Council and willingness to get Iran into a war with Israel and the growing number of Israeli allies, which now includes Azerbaijan and many Arab states. Most Iranians initially backed the idea of Iran having nuclear weapons, because this is seen as justified for the major local superpower in the region. This is a role the Persians have played for thousands of years. But now most Iranians agree that their current religious dictatorship should not have these weapons because all the neighbors and their superpower allies oppose it. Before the 1979 revolution Iran and Israel had long been allies. Given a choice between returning to Israel as an ally instead of Israel being a more powerful neighbor Iranian religious leaders wanted to destroy, Iranians quietly back a return to Israel as an ally. The current religious dictatorship is not just considered corrupt and incompetent, but insane and in dire need of replacement. Israel takes the threat of nuclear attack more seriously than the Iranian religious dictatorship. The Iranians are smart and generally competent. Despite decades of sanctions, they have built ballistic missiles and are close to producing nuclear weapons. Their nuclear development projects are well protected but they are not invulnerable. Israeli espionage and sabotage operations against the nuclear program have proved that. Israel wants to avoid a military strike against the Iranian nuclear weapons program because it might result in widespread nuclear contamination around the nuclear fuel processing sites and kill and injure many Iranians. This would be expensive to clean up and the nuclear contamination could get into the local water supply or, if on the surface, into the air. The Iranian techs who joined the resistance realize this, but their religious dictatorship doesnt care because God is on their side and whatever happens is Gods Will. Israel has the resources to locate the nuclear facilities and the specialized weapons to neutralize them. Details are kept secret but experience demonstrates that whatever the Israelis come up with usually works. Failure is not an option when your worst enemies are seeking nothing less than the extermination of Israel, and Jews in general. Meanwhile Iran is still perplexed at how the Israeli economy continues to thrive while the economies in neighboring Moslem nations, such as Iran, stagnate or decline. Israeli unemployment is the lowest rate in the region. Arabs, especially Palestinians, blame Israel for their poorly performing economies. The real cause of the economic woes is corruption and bad government in general. But few Moslem governments are willing to admit that. The most dangerous Islamic threat to Israel is not even Arab. Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei recently reminded everyone that the official Iranian position is that any Moslem nation, especially Saudi Arabia and Turkey, that improves relations with Israel is betraying Islam. Along those lines Khamenei also repeats his belief that the United States cannot be trusted and he makes a big deal about how the economic sanctions the July 2015 treaty lifted are not the main economic problem Iran has to deal with. The main problem for Iran is the two years of very low oil prices, which is Saudi Arabias way, in cooperation with some other local Sunni oil states, of depressing Irans oil income. One reason for seeking nuclear weapons is to give Iran the ability to threaten the Saudis into shipping less oil and let the price go up. After that there will be the demand to let Iran run the Moslem holy places in Mecca and Medina. The Saudis are not willing to make deals that involve Iranian domination of the region and remain firm on their oil policy. Khamenei regularly lets the Iranian people know that their continued poverty is the fault of the Gulf Arabs and their allies, especially Israel and the United States. What Arabs and Iranians both downplay is that the American fracking technology changed the oil market. Add to that recent natural gas deposits discovered and rapidly developed in Israel coastal waters, and you can see why political relationships are shifting in the Middle East. Seen from the other side, the Gulf Arab nations have been getting closer to Israel for years and are now quite open about it. Arab states, especially Saudi Arabia, created and sustained Islamic terrorism but cant admit that. Israel is the most successful local power when it comes to dealing with Islamic terrorism and is willing to work with Arab states and not make a big deal about where all the Islamic terrorism comes from in the first place. Thats a problem the Arabs in particular and Moslems in general have to deal with. Farmers have ramped up security in the wake of a killing of four alpacas in Cambridgeshire, amid concerns the killer may strike again. Owner Dawn French awoke to the bloodbath on Sunday morning and rushed to what she described as a 'murder scene' at her six-acre field. It is believed the killer may have used a rifle with a silencer and telescopic sight to kill Mrs French's four pets named Calvin, Klein, Martha and Juniper. A fifth alpaca named Phoebe was shot in the face but miraculously survived and a sixth named Frankie was unharmed. An ewe was also torn apart by dogs and had to be put down. The surviving animals have been relocated to a more secure pen, where they are being closely monitored by CCTV cameras. Meanwhile police are still searching for the killer. Mrs Fench and her husband Brian rushed to the scene as soon as they heard about the attack. When they arrived they found their pets dead bodies scattered in different locations. 'It looked like a murder scene when we arrived. The alpacas had all been shot in the head like an execution. It was absolute carnage,' said Mrs French. Dawn French pictured with her Alpaca named Phoebe, who was left paralysed after being shot in the head Four alpacas were 'executed' in a field by shots to the head in the small village farm 'It's something I would never want to see ever again and wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.' One of the sheep was lying badly injured in a ditch and later had to be put to sleep. The other terrified sheep was hiding in a hedge. 'We had a call on Sunday telling us to quickly get to the field and that it wasn't a pretty sight,' Mrs French added. 'We found four alpacas scattered around the field and they all had horrific head injuries. Another alpaca, our oldest, Pheobe, had a surface wound where she was shot in the face. She has survived but her face is paralysed and she is now on strong painkillers. 'There appeared to have been a dog in the field as there were dog footprints everywhere and sheep's fleece on the ground where it appeared to have pulled [at] the sheep.' 'It all seems completely unreal, like something from a movie. We've had scenes of crime here investigating and the police are very concerned because a gun was used. Mrs French told The Times she believed a gun with a scope must have been used, as the marksman would not have been able to get close enough to shoot the animals at point blank range. She added that the killer may have used 'night vision' to shoot her pets in the dead of night. Police are investigating to try and find the killer as farmers now worry they may strike again Pheobe (pictured) survived but four other alpacas were killed in the shooting in a scene described by their owner as a 'massacre' The owner of the farm was at home when the killing took place, but despite being the nearest to the attack, did not hear a thing. This led Mrs French to speculate that the shooter may have used a silencer or dampener on the gun to carry out the attack. In the nearby village of Bourn, Tracey Birch, 64, keeps a 29-strong herd of Alpacas . She said she was terrified for her herd after hearing that a 'sicko gunman' was using alpacas for 'target practice'. Mrs Birch is now spending hundreds of pounds reinforcing the fencing around her fields and installing sophisticated motion sensors that allow her to detect and deter intruders. She has also fitted camera systems with night vision that sends images straight to her phone. The security system also has two-way audio, so she can speak to any intruders who reach her premises. She said: 'So I can say: "What are you doing? If youre not gone within three minutes Im coming down with my gun. I havent got a gun but they dont know that!"' Mrs French and her husband Brian, originally had six alpacas and two sheep, as well as chickens and geese The alpacas were killed on a six-acre field in East Hatley (pictured), which is a few miles west of Cambridge The system is similar to Ring doorbells, but is designed for farms in remote locations. Ms Birch added: 'I had a series of bereavements and when I was in quite a dark place I bought three alpacas. So in a way Ive replaced family with these, so if someone did something like that, it would be like murdering a family member.' 'Theyre gentle souls, theyre not aggressive, theyre not nasty, theres absolutely no reason to target them.' Around 35,000 Alpacas are understood to be living in Britain. Owners often keep the animals to sell their soft wool. The animals are usually worth between 1,000 and 6,000. Officers from Cambridgeshire Police have been carrying out house to house enquiries and are now asking for anyone with information about the incident to get in contact. Sergeant Tom Nuttall, from the Rural Crime Action Team, said: 'This was a highly distressing crime that has caused death and serious injury to defenceless animals. 'I would encourage anyone who knows anything about this offence to get in touch as soon as possible.' A police spokesperson confirmed the weapon used was believed to be '.22 or higher rifle'. A World War II migrant who became one of Sydney's 'most faithful public servants' has been remembered for his long-lasting impact' and 'heart bigger than Phar Lap's'. Former state Labor Cabramatta MP and Fairfield mayor Nickola 'Nick' Lalich died on Tuesday night aged 79 following a battle with throat cancer. Mr Lalich was born in an Egyptian refugee camp in 1945 after his family fled Yugoslavia during World War II. He was three when his family moved to Australia and settled in Bonnyrigg in Sydney's south-west. After he left school, Mr Lalich started off as an apprentice electrician and joined joined his union and the Labor party, where he got to know the local MP and then-Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, who would become a lifelong friend and mentor. His 35 year career in the public service began after he was elected as a Fairfield councillor in 1987 where he enjoyed stints as deputy mayor and mayor. he was still mayor when he was elected as state Cabramatta MP in 2008, where he served four terms until he left politics at the 2023 election. 'His was a great Australian story,' NSW Premier Chris Minns said. Former Labor MP and Fairfield mayor Nickola Lalich died on Tuesday night aged 79 'As a migrant boy born in a refugee camp in Egypt, I could never have fathomed in my wildest dreams the prospect of becoming mayor of a city and a member of Parliament,' Mr Lalich (right) said in his maiden speech to parliament 'Throughout his career, he was always conscious of the opportunities offered by life in Australia. 'Our thoughts are with Nicks family and loved ones at this time.' Mr Lalich is survived by his son Paul, daughter Kerrie, grandchildren and partner Del Bennett, also a former Fairfield councillor. In his first speech to parliament, Mr Lalich said: 'As a migrant boy born in a refugee camp in Egypt, I could never have fathomed in my wildest dreams the prospect of becoming mayor of a city and a member of Parliament'. Former Fairfield MP Guy Zangari has 'fond memories' of shared rides to parliament house, lunches, and community event attendances with his former parliamentary colleague. 'He was a genuine bloke, a proud family man and a son of the Labor movement,' Mr Zangari wrote. 'Nick will always be remembered as the tall, strong and immaculately dressed man that had a heart bigger than Phar Lap.' Federal MP Linda Burney said Mr Lalich's community will 'miss him dearly' Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone extended his condolences to Mr Lalich's family and friends. Mount Druitt MP Edmond Atalla was another who hailed Mr Lalich as a dear friend. 'Life will feel a little emptier without Nick, but Ill hold onto the memories we shared so generously,' Mr Atalla said. Federal Labor MP Linda Burney added:' His was a true Labor story - a migrant, electrician and union member who brought a deep passion for 'the fair go' to high office. 'I know his community and former parliamentary colleagues will miss him dearly.' 'Nick will always be remembered as the tall, strong and immaculately dressed man that had a heart bigger than Phar Lap,' former Fairfield MP Guy Zangari (left) said State Cabramatta MP Tri Vo said his predecessor left a 'vast and lasting impact'. 'He came from humble beginnings but has left a vast and lasting impact on our local area,' he wrote. 'Nick was a warm person and well-liked by many in the Cabramatta community. I had the privilege of working with him, and I am grateful for the lessons I've learnt and memories we shared.' Russia launched an overnight drone attack on a Ukrainian port providing access to the Black Sea, just hours after committing to an effective maritime ceasefire on vessels in the region. The mayor of Mykolaiv said there were emergency power outages early today in the city, following a report by the governor that seven drones were destroyed over the region. It was not immediately clear whether the power cuts were precautionary or a result of the attack on Mykolaiv. The assault came less than 24 hours after Russia and Ukraine settled on a U.S.-mediated partial ceasefire, agreeing separately not to attack vessels in the Black Sea in a bid to facilitate access for commercial shipping. Both parties also agreed to cease attacks on energy infrastructure, after they accused each other of breaching an agreement last week, again within hours of committing to it. It was not immediately clear how and when the deals would come into effect. The initial 30-day pause on attacks on energy infrastructure was also criticised over apparent ambiguity. Ukraine expressed its reservations around welcoming a belligerent Russia back into the world market with terms that seemed to favour Russia, but assured it remains committed to peace. In an apparent change in tone, U.S. President Donald Trump also admitted for the first time that Putin may be looking to delay a pause in the three-year conflict as the Russian president set out his 'conditions' for the Black Sea ceasefire. 'I think that Russia wants to see an end to it, but it could be they're dragging their feet. I've done it over the years,' he told right-wing cable channel Newsmax. 'I think Russia would like to see it end and I think Zelensky would like to see it end, at this point.' The attack submarine Ufa launched missiles in the Sea of Japan today, after Russia outlined its conditions for a ceasefire in the Black Sea - and reportedly attacked a port city Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during the awards ceremony for young cultural figures, March 25, 2025, in Moscow, Russia File photo. Rescue teams work at the site of a Russian strike in Mykolaiv in November 2024 There was no immediate comment from Russia on the attacks in Mykolaiv, but the Russian defence ministry said that its air defence units destroyed nine Ukrainian drones overnight, including two over the waters of the Black Sea. Russia also attacked the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, igniting fires and damaging buildings but causing no deaths, the head of the city's military administration said. The Ukrainian military said its air defence units had shot down 56 of 117 drones launched by Russia in the overnight attack. It noted that 48 drones were lost, referring to the Ukrainian military's redirecting them with electronic warfare. 'Apparently, this is how the occupiers 'want peace',' Oleksandr Vilkul, the head of the military administration, wrote on the Telegram messaging app, describing it as the war's biggest drone attack on the city. 'Most importantly, there were no deaths or injuries.' Vilkul had reported at least 15 explosions in Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's hometown and a frequent target of Russian attacks. Russia separately staged submarine war games today, with a series of missile launches in the east after setting his conditions for the ceasefire in the Black Sea. Submarines launched powerful Kalibr missiles in the Sea of Japan, hitting a target more than 620 miles away in a calculated show of strength to the West. Russia continued to show force in the east after agreeing to a fragile maritime ceasefire The Ufa diesel-electric submarine of the Pacific Fleet launched missiles at targets today File photo. Ukrainian rescuers working at the site of a shelling in a residential building in Mykolaiv in October 2024 Missiles fired from the attack submarine Ufa also struck a surface target in the sea, according to the Russian Ministry of Defence. Drills resumed as Russia outlined a raft of conditions before going ahead with a ceasefire in the Black Sea. Putin demanded the lifting sanctions on Rosselkhozbank and other banks involved in food trade, and reconnecting them to the SWIFT payments system. He also demanded the lifting of restrictions on trade finance operations, and on food and fertiliser exporters along with other measures. Speaking to reporters in Kyiv yesterday, Zelensky gave his backing to the effective ceasefire at sea. But he insisted that a breach of the terms would demonstrate a clear lack of good faith from Russia's side towards ending the war. 'If the Russians violate this, then I have a direct question for President Trump,' he said. 'If they violate, here is the evidence - we ask for sanctions, we ask for weapons, etc.' Continuing the thought later on Tuesday, he wrote on X: 'How Russia behaves in the coming days will reveal a lotif not everything. Admiral Alexander Moiseev, Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, praised the crew for the successful drills in the Sea of Japan A ship travelling from the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara passes through the Bosporus in Istanbul, Turkiye on March 7, 2025 Russia's strike on Odesa, Ukraine, on 21 March 2025 'If there are air raid alerts again, if there is renewed military activity in the Black Sea, if Russian manipulations and threats continuethen new measures will need to be taken, specifically against Moscow. 'Diplomacy must work. And from the Ukrainian side, we are doing everything to make that happen. 'I thank everyone who is helping. I am grateful to the United States for the constructive and effective work of our teams. 'Now, results are needed from Russia. We do not trust them. And franklythe world doesn't trust Russia. And they must prove that they are truly ready to end the warready to stop lying to the world, to Donald Trump, and to America.' For its part, the Kremlin has said that it broadly favours the resumption of the maritime ceasefire. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said in an interview with Channel One that Russia favours a new deal in 'some form, better suited to all'. Moscow will, however, need 'well-defined guarantees', he said, and then can 'only be the result of an order from Washington' to Ukraine. 'The Black Sea initiative was a key topic of discussion in Riyadh. Our position is simple: We cannot take this man at his word,' Lavrov said, echoing Zelensky's concerns. 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. South Korea's worst-ever wildfires have left 24 people dead, destroyed more than 200 structures, and forced 27,000 people to evacuate. The 'unprecedented' blazes have also seen ancient treasures - including a 1,300- year-old Buddhist temple - reduced to smoldering rubble as they continue to tear through the country this morning. The rising death toll includes a pilot of a helicopter fighting the wildfires who was killed in a crash and four victims who burned to death when their car overturned as they tried to escape, Yonhap news agency reported. Flames engulfed the Gounsa temple, in the southeastern town of Uiseong, yesterday and about 20 of the temple's 30 buildings were damaged beyond repair. Two of its most precious structures were burned to the ground while monks battled to save the remaining relics. 'I went there this morning and found they've been reduced to heaps of ashes,' said Doryun, a senior monk who lived at the temple when he was younger. 'I feel really empty. Life is transient.' Fortunately, Doryun said that monks managed to move the temple's third 'treasure,' a stone Buddha statue reportedly built in the 8th century, to a safe place. South Korea's worst-ever wildfires have left 24 people dead, destroyed more than 200 structures and forced 27,000 people to evacuate The 'unprecedented' blazes have also seen ancient treasures - including a 1,300 year-old Buddhist temple - reduced to smoldering rubble as they continue to tear through the country this morning The rising death toll includes a pilot of a helicopter fighting the wildfires who was killed in a crash and four victims who burned to death when their car overturned as the tried to escape the fires, Yonhap news agency reported Flames engulfed the Gounsa temple, in the southeastern town of Uiseong, yesterday and about 20 of the temple's 30 buildings were damaged beyond repair He added: 'Many buildings were burned down, but we moved and protected other sacred assets so that we maintain the temple. We feel it's very fortunate.' Doryun also said about 20 monks and other workers live at the temple, but none have been injured. So far more than 43,000 acres have been ravaged by the brutal blazes and the damage is said to be 'snowballing'. Acting president Han Duck-soo said the crisis remains critical and is 'rewriting the record books for the worst wildfires in our nation's history'. The fires started in Sancheong county on Friday afternoon and later spread to Uiseong county, authorities said. Fuelled by strong and dry winds, they are now spreading to the neighbouring counties of Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang and Yeongdeok. The Gounsa temple was reportedly built in the 7th century during the Shilla dynasty that ruled the area and other parts of the Korean Peninsula at the time. It is nestled at the foot of Deungun Mountain in the southeastern town of Uiseong. So far more than 43,000 acres have been ravaged by the brutal blazes but the damage is said to be 'snowballing' Fortunately Doryun said that monks managed to move the temple's third 'treasure,' a stone Buddha statue reportedly built in the 8th century, to a safe place Firefighters extinguish hot spots at the remains of burnt-out Gaunru Pavilion A Buddha statue, wrapped in cotton cloth and a fire-retardant blanket, remains undamaged after most of the buildings were burned to the ground in a wildfire at Gounsa Temple in Uiseong Ven. Jinwoo (R), chief of the Jogye Order, South Korea's largest Buddhist sect, listens to Ven. Deungwoon (L), chief of Goun Temple, as he visits the temple after buildings were destroyed following a wildfire While it doesn't house buildings constructed in the ancient period, it is home to several famous cultural heritages built later. The temple was destroyed on Tuesday along with the two revered structures: 'Gaunru,' a pavilion-shaped structure built in 1668 overlooking a stream, and 'Yeonsujeon,' another traditional structure built in 1904 to mark the longevity of a king. Both were built during the Joseon dynasty, the last on the Korean Peninsula and were given the status of 'treasure,' by the government. The status is given to old assets with historical and artistic significance that receive state-level protection and maintenance. The Korea Heritage Service said the temple's two other lower-level cultural assets, including a stone pagoda, have also been found intact. Thousands of firefighters and about 5,000 military personnel have been deployed to contain multiple fires, as well as helicopters from the US military stationed in Korea. On Tuesday, the national fire agency said it had raised the crisis to the highest fire response level, the first time this year such an alert has been issued. Wildfires are relatively uncommon in South Korea, and related fatalities are rare. Acting president Han said all available personnel and equipment have been deployed, but strong winds continue to hamper the support efforts. 'We were desperately hoping for rain today or tomorrow to help extinguish the flames,' Han added. Acting president Han said all available personnel and equipment have been deployed, but strong winds continue to hamper the support efforts A fire engine passes by a cracked temple bell that remains after most of the buildings were burned to the ground in a wildfire at Gounsa Temple Evacuees stay at a community hall used as a shelter in Yeongyang, North Gyeongsang Province, southeastern South Korea, on 26 March 2025, after a wildfire broke out in the region Thousands of firefighters and about 5,000 military personnel have been deployed to contain multiple fires, as well as helicopters from the US military stationed in Korea 'This level of wildfire damage is unlike anything we've experienced before.' There was no rain forecast for the region on Wednesday and only a small amount - five to 10mm - expected on Thursday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. Han said the government will thoroughly review all shortcomings in the wildfire response once the crisis is controlled and seek to improve prevention strategies for the future. 'Once a wildfire starts, extinguishing it requires tremendous resources and puts precious lives in danger,' he said. Two men have been killed in a head-on collision on a major highway during the afternoon peak hour. Emergency services were called to a stretch of the Great Western Highway between Linden and Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney at about 5.20pm Wednesday following a collision between a Toyota Camry and Polestar. The driver of the Toyota, 60, and a backseat passenger in the Polestar, 62, died at the scene. The men are yet to be formally identified. A NSW Ambulance told Daily Mail Australia that the male driver, 27 and female front seat passenger, 59, in the Polestar were treated for multiple injuries at the scene. They were taken to Sydney's Westmead Hospital in a serious but stable condition, the spokesperson said, with the woman transported by helicopter. Two rescue helicopters were deployed to the scene, along with and multiple intensive and critical care paramedics and doctors. A crime scene has been established as police launched an investigation into the circumstances of the crash. Two men were killed after a head-on collision between two cars on The Great Western Highway near Linden on Wednesday night NSW Police closed the busy Great Western Highway in both directions for more than hour on Wednesday night The crash sparked traffic chaos with the Great Western Highway closed in both directions at Linden for at least 90 minutes. Footage showed queues of vehicles snaking back for kilometres as emergency services cleared the scene. 'Avoid the area, consider delaying your trip,' a traffic alert stated. One lane of the highway was opened under stop/slow traffic control shortly before 7pm to allow vehicles to pass the crash site in both directions. Drivers have been urged to expect delays, allow extra travel time and exercise caution. A man and woman were also transported to hospital with multiple injuries It was a nightmare commute home for Blue Mountains motorists 'Ongoing police investigations are expected to take some time,' an updated alert read. 'Motorists travelling between Sydney and Lithgow can consider using Bells Line of Rd instead.' Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has dash cam or CCTV is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. A teenage relative of tragic Emile Soleil was dragged out of bed as part of police dawn raids that also saw the toddler's grandparents arrested on suspicion of killing the child, it has emerged. The development further adds to the mystery surrounding the family's possible involvement in two-year-old Emile's disappearance and death. Grandparents Philippe and Anne Vedovini, both 59, were on Tuesday taken into custody along with Emile's aunt and uncle 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 yesterday, police raided the family's permanent home, near Marseille, and arrested them. They have since set up forensics units to examine the property. Simultaneous swoops by police nearby led to the arrests of the other two suspects, who have not been identified by name but were revealed to have been the children of Emile's grandparents. Local media reported that one, an 18-year-old judo instructor, was dragged from his bed in the early hours of the morning. The other is said to be a university student in Aix-en-Provence, slightly older than their sibling. All four are under suspicion of 'intentional homicide' and 'concealing a corpse', said a statement released by Aix-en-Provence prosecutors, and today cops said their detentions at a Marseille police station had been extended. Police today told local media that the grandparents' horse box and SUV are being 'examined in great detail'. Philippe Vedovini at the funeral of little Emile in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume on February 8, 2025 Anne Vedovini (pictured) was arrested alongside her husband yesterday morning 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 Your browser does not support iframes. Today, scores of French reporters were seen in front of the Marseille police station, where four members of the family are being held. Last night, Le Parisien revealed 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 investigative newspaper Le Canard enchaine [The Chained Duck] reported disturbing information about a previous police investigation involving 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. 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. A gendarme stands outside the house of the grandparents of Emile Soleil on Tuesday 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 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 yesterday: '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 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. JD Vance is set to visit Greenland with his wife Usha on Friday - making him the most senior US official to visit the territory amid a growing war of words following threats from Donald Trump to take the island over. Ahead of the visit, the Vice President suggested that the self-governing Danish territory has not received enough defence support from Copenhagen, arguing that global security is at stake. '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,' he said in an online video. In an apparent jibe after a comment he made about Europe 'free-loading' off the US for its defence was revealed on Monday, Vance added: '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 gonna go check it out.' President Trump has irked much of Europe with claims that the US will get control of the mineral-rich territory 'one way or another', with tensions ratcheting up as leaders from Greenland and Denmark condemned the US approach as 'aggressive'. Against this backdrop of widespread backlash against Washington, Denmark has taken changes to the US delegation's itinerary as a diplomatic victory. The Vice President's decision to visit a US military base in northern Greenland, rather than doing a tour of the country, has removed the risk of violating potential diplomatic taboos by sending a delegation to another country without an official invite. JD Vance is set to visit Greenland with his wife Usha on Friday. The couple is pictured during a visit to France in February 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 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 Denmark's foreign minister welcomed the decision to alter the planned visit, which was expected to see Mrs Vance attend a popular dog-sled race. The White House announced that the delegation would instead be headed by JD Vance, but that it would only visit the US Space Base at Pituffik in northern Greenland and not the dog-sled race. '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,' Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told broadcaster DR. Still, Vance's trip is unlikely to go down well, both on the island and with Denmark. Lars-Christian Brask, the deputy speaker of the Danish Parliament, said today: 'Having changed now so they only visit the base is sort of a little bit more acceptable, although still very strange.' Responding to the news of Vance's this morning, the leading Danish politician accused Vance and the US of being 'intimidating', claiming that the visit represented somewhat of 'a provocation' and a 'show of force'. He told BBC Radio 4 that any US effort to take Greenland would be 'Nato against Nato', though said he did not know how that could happen. Ahead of the vice president's announcement that he would join his wife, discontent from the governments of Greenland and Denmark had been growing sharper, with Greenland's government posting on Facebook Monday night that it had 'not extended any invitations for any visits, neither private nor official.' Speaking ahead of Vance's announced visit, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said yesterday that the US is exerting 'unacceptable pressure'. Frederiksen told local broadcaster TV2 on Tuesday: '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.' 'This is clearly not a visit that is about what Greenland needs or wants,' she added. Thule Air Base is the U.S. military's northernmost base located some 750 miles above the Arctic Circle The office of second lady Usha Vance said Sunday that she would depart Thursday for Greenland and return Saturday. Mrs Vance and one of her three children had planned to visit historic sites and learn about Greenland's culture, but her husband's participation has reoriented the trip around national security. The vice president said he didn't want to let his wife 'have all that fun by herself' and said he plans to visit a Space Force outpost in the northwest coast of Greenland. Danish parliamentarian Mr Brask said 'Greenlanders and Danes have been baffled' by his comments in the video, with many seeing the video as 'insensitive' and causing 'some uncertainty'. Vance has repeatedly criticized longstanding European allies for relying on military support from the United States, openly antagonizing partners in ways that have generated concerns about America's reliability. Trump's national security adviser, Mike Waltz, was initially listed among the group of US officials also heading to Greenland - but his name was omitted when it was announced that the vice president was now attending. The White House didn't say Tuesday if Waltz's travel plans had been altered after it was revealed that he had errantly added a journalist to a secure messaging app conversation about a military strike in Yemen. Vance said leaders in Denmark and North America had 'ignored' Greenland for 'far too long.' The visit to Pituffik Space Base will take place instead of Usha Vance's previously announced trip to the Avannaata Qimussersu dogsled race in Sisimiut. But Dwayne Ryan Menezes, founder and managing director of the Polar Research & Policy Initiative, said that the Trump administration's 'intimidation' of Greenland could backfire. Menezes said if Trump was 'smart enough' to understand Greenland's strategic importance that he should also be 'smart enough to know there is no greater way to weaken America's hand and hurt its long-term interests than turning its back on its allies, the principal asymmetrical advantage it enjoys over its adversaries.' 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' Despite officials in Greenland and Denmark becoming more vocal in expressing objections, Vance is allowed to visit the space base, said Marc Jacobsen, a professor at the Royal Danish Defense College, because of a 1951 agreement between Denmark and the U.S. regarding the defense of Greenland. 'What is controversial here is all about the timing,' he said. 'Greenland and Denmark have stated very clearly that they don't want the US to visit right now, when Greenland doesn't have a government in place.' During his first term, Trump floated the idea of purchasing the world's largest island, even as Denmark, a NATO ally, insisted it wasn't for sale. The people of Greenland also have firmly rejected Trump's plans. Trump's return to the White House has included a desire with territorial expansion, with the U.S. president seeking to add Canada as a 51st state and resume control of the Panama Canal. He has also indicated that U.S. interests could take over the land in the war-torn Gaza Strip from Israel and convert it into a luxury outpost. A mother has claimed her daughter was threatened with isolation at school over wearing odd socks as a tribute to her brother with Down Syndrome. Staff at Colne Primet Academy in Lancashire allegedly sent Miley Hargadon home last Friday for wearing the mismatched pair that she had purchased for 8 from a charity. The 12-year-old had been informed her footwear 'didn't adhere to the school's uniform policy' and was told to remove the attire, her mother Caroline Hargadon claimed. It came despite Miley being given an award for the gesture last year. While, Ms Hargadon says the family has worn mismatched socks for seven years in tribute to six-year-old Brody. The mother-of-eight said she was left 'upset' and 'angered' by the call so rushed to the school to avoid Miley being put in isolation for 'doing nothing wrong'. Ms Hargadon, a mental health support worker, added year eight pupil Miley had worn odd socks to the same school last year and was given a teacher's award for raising awareness. But Colne Primet Academy said they have a calendar of charity events celebrated throughout the year and World Down Syndrome Day is not one of them. They added exceptions are made when 'arrangements have been made in advance' but on this occasion no request was submitted. Pictured: Miley Hargadon, 12, wears mismatched socks alongside her brother Brody Hargadon, six Pictured: Left to right: Sienna Hargadon, 11, Brody Hargadon, six, and Miley Hargadon, 12 Miley Hargadon wore odd socks to school for World Down Syndrome Awareness day but was told to remove them Caroline, from Colne, Lancashire, said: 'I was fuming when they rang me up. 'Last year Miley wore odd socks to the same school and she got a teacher's award for raising awareness. 'She went in this year and was told to take them off and that she wasn't allowed to wear them because they're not school uniforms. 'She refused and got her back up and has been a bit rude to one of the staff. 'I explained to the teacher that Miley came in in odd socks because it's World Down Syndrome Day and she got her back up because it's something that's close to her heart. 'She didn't want to take them off because it's for her little brother who she's really close to but they said they know that, but it's not uniform. 'The teachers said she would have to face consequences because she refused [to take them off]. 'It's just a pair of socks. I'd understand if it was a bright wacky t-shirt, but she had her uniform on. A spokesman for Colne Primet Academy said: 'As a school, we celebrate a wide range of charity and national events which are planned throughout the school year. Friday's event was not part of this year's charity calendar of events' Pictured: Left to right: Caroline Hargadon, 45, with daughters Autumn Evans, 16, Miley Hargadon, 12, and Sienna Hargadon, 11 'It's just a pair of socks. I'd understand if it was a bright wacky t-shirt, but she had her uniform on', Caroline Hargadon said Staff allegedly sent Miley Hargadon home from school last Friday for wearing the mismatched footwear she had purchased for 8 from a charity 'I brought her home because she wasn't going to face consequences for not doing anything wrong to be punished for. 'When I was talking to the deputy head, I did get a bit upset but it was more anger than anything. I just think it's silly really. 'I was upset and angry. Miley was quite upset by it when we got in the car. 'Teenage girls don't want to be going into school wearing odd socks and being different, but she's done it every year.' World Down Syndrome Day is celebrated annually on March 21 to raise awareness about Down syndrome. The date, in the third month of the year, was chosen as it signifies the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome. A spokesman for Colne Primet Academy said: 'As a school, we celebrate a wide range of charity and national events which are planned throughout the school year. 'Friday's event was not part of this year's charity calendar of events. The date for world Down syndrome awareness day, the third month of the year, was chosen as it signifies the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome World Down Syndrome Day is celebrated annually on March 21 to raise awareness about Down syndrome A pair of socks can be purchased from charity for 8 to mark the annual occasion A spokesman for Down Syndrome International said: 'Thank you to the many UK schools that marked World Down Syndrome Day' 'While we appreciate that our students and families will have a range of charities and causes which are personal to them and we are happy to support these, this can only happen where arrangements have been made in advance and in agreement with the school. 'In this case, no request had been made from students or their families prior to Friday about this charity event. 'Our policies, including our uniform policy, are available on our website and in our parent handbook.' A spokesman for Down Syndrome International said: 'Thank you to the many UK schools that marked World Down Syndrome Day. 'With approximately 47,000 individuals in the UK living with Down syndrome, it's crucial to recognise their unique identities and contributions. 'Like everyone, they have their own talents and interests, and Down syndrome is only one part of who they are. 'Supporting their inclusion is essential for them to thrive and by discussing disability in schools we build a more compassionate and equitable environment for all.' Donald Trump's team have 'absolutely got a case' when they branded European nations as 'pathetic freeloaders' in private messages, the UK Defence Secretary has admitted. John Healey said he regards comments from his US counterpart Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance as a 'challenge' and that Britain is 'leading the way' in boosting defence spending. Leaked messages on Monday showed Vance lamenting having to 'bail out Europe again' as US officials discussed military action that would unblock trade routes in the Suez Canal, where 40 per cent of European trade runs through compared to three per cent of US trade. Hegseth subsequently said he shared the 'loathing of European freeloading' and claimed the situation was 'pathetic'. Last night Trump agreed with the comments, asking why Europe is 'in for $100billion, and we're in for $350billion' on aid for Ukraine. In January the US President called on all NATO members to ramp up defence spending to five per cent of GDP. Most European leaders see this as unrealistic in the short term, although UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer recently announced the UK would be increasing spending from 2.3 to 2.5 per cent by 2027. The US currently commits 3.7 per cent of its GDP to defence spending. Healey told Times Radio: 'The Americans have got a case, the Americans have absolutely got a case that on defence spending' Vance and Hegseth branded European nations as 'pathetic freeloaders' in private messages The messages were leaked after a journalist was mistakenly added to a group chat with top Trump officials Last night Trump agreed with the comments, asking why Europe is 'in for $100billion, and we're in for $350billion' on aid for Ukraine This morning the Defence Secretary admitted that the Americans have 'got a case' when it comes to demanding Europe does more for its security. Healey told Times Radio: 'The Americans have got a case, the Americans have absolutely got a case that on defence spending, on European security, on our support for Ukraine, European nations can and will do more and the UK is leading the way. 'I'm proud of that on defence spending, on European security and on Ukraine. It's why we're pulling together the coalition. 'The UK is pulling together the coalition of the willing in the circumstances which I hope we can secure of a negotiated peace settlement. 'We're responding to that American challenge for European nations to do more to support Ukraine and we are. 'And we're responding to the requirements of the Ukrainians to say in the circumstances of a ceasefire what security guarantees have we got that we won't have Russia reinvading.' He later told LBC Radio: 'I think the Americans have a point. 'It's actually an argument I've been making for nearly four years, that European nations in NATO have to do more of the heavy lifting. 'And I think you've seen the UK go into the last election with a unique commitment to increase defence spending, which we're doing three years earlier than anyone thought. 'So, we're leading on defence spending, we're leading on European security, we're leading on the support for Ukraine. And this is the challenge the Americans are rightly putting on Europe within NATO.' Starmer recently announced the UK would be increasing defence spending from 2.3 to 2.5 per cent by 2027 Shapps urged the Prime Minister to 'remind the US that the UK led from the front' when it came to taking action against the Houthi rebels and protecting ships in the Red Sea Healey was on the airwaves this morning announcing a 2.2billion defence spending uplift for next year which will go towards 'advanced weaponry' and 'better homes for military families'. His Conservative predecessor Grant Shapps said he 'agreed that Europe must do more on security' but urged the Prime Minister to 'remind the US that the UK led from the front' when it came to taking action against the Houthi rebels and protecting ships in the Red Sea. He added: 'Our forces risked their lives to protect trade. Some in DC need reminding.' Earlier today Liberal Democrat Mike Martin, who sits on the Parliamentary Defence Select Committee, said the Chancellor is being 'forced' into higher defence spending by global events rather than being on the front foot. He said: 'It has been obvious for some time that we should be spending a lot more on defence. 'Ministers themselves say our forces are hollowed out and yesterday the Minister for the Armed Forces told the Defence Select Committee that there was still work to do for the UK to be able to fight a war. 'We need to get real and recognise that the world has changed massively and we have to have a sustained increased in defence spending rather than being dragged into ad hoc increases.' Yesterday Prime Minister's official spokesperson rejected Vance and Hegseth's allegations that the UK and European allies do not pull their weight when it comes to international security. Healey today announced a 2.2billion defence spending uplift for next year which will go towards 'advanced weaponry' and 'better homes for military families' The Defence Secretary held a press conference with other European Defence Ministers earlier this month as they discussed military support for Ukraine He said: 'You can see from the way in which the UK has worked closely with the US for a long time our commitment to working with the US on matters of regional security. 'We'll continue to work with the US and other allies to ensure security and stability in the Middle East.' Yesterday a YouGov poll revealed that almost a third of British voters agree with them, however. Just 35 per cent of Britons, including 46 per cent of Labour voters, feel the continent is pulling its weight, with 30 per cent disagreeing and the remaining 35 per cent unsure. Conservative voters are the most likely to feel Europe is underperforming, with 43 per cent of Tories suggesting leaders must do more in military and financial terms. A popular retailer is set to shut its Oxford Street store in the latest of many closures on the iconic shopping street. The shop specialises in souvenirs and gifts such as clothing and keyrings with a London theme. Cool Britannia has multiple shops across London including stores on Leicester Square, Buckingham Palace Road and Whitehall. There are also stores in Liverpool, Edinburgh, Oxford, Canterbury and Kent. The news was shared by a shopper who posted a snap of the store on Facebook with closing down sale posters on the windows. He wrote: 'Cool Britannia in Oxford Street has a closing down sale, reflecting on what's happening to our great country.' It is unclear why Oxford Street's Cool Britannia is closing down but data suggests more than two per cent of space on Europe's busiest shopping street is vacant. This is the lowest level of occupancy since 2017 and it comes as a number of flagship stores warned they would struggle to remain open on the popular stretch of road. Oxford Street is one of the world's busiest shopping areas, with around half a million visitors each day Oxford Street's Cool Britannia is popular with tourists and specialises in souvenirs and gifts such as clothing and keyrings with a London theme Oxford Street is one of the world's busiest shopping areas, with around half a million visitors each day. Its shopping opportunities were formerly compared with the likes of Paris and New York but the shift to online shopping and the impact of the pandemic have left the street a shell of its former self. Earlier this year MailOnline reported the owners of Park House, home to the likes of Pandora, Swarovski, Urban Outfitters and River Island, said the retailers want to exit their lease on the street 'at the earliest opportunity'. It comes after Sadiq Khan revealed plans to pedestrianise the capital's famous shopping street within two years to boost the experience of shoppers, residents, workers and tourists. In January, it was also announced that Microsoft would be ending its lease early on its flagship Oxford Street location. The enormous store closed for good last month in order to 'focus on digital growth'. As big names such as Topshop, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins, Debenhams, Oasis and Warehouse disappeared, city centres across the country were left with empty windows and people instead searching for their favourite labels online. But it's not all bad news for Oxford Street shoppers. The highly-anticipated IKEA flagship store is set to open on 1 May following an extensive environmental upgrade. China's TB prevention, treatment breakthroughs drive momentum to end global spread Xinhua) 10:10, March 26, 2025 BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Amid persistent challenges in tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis, treatment and prevention, the Beijing Chest Hospital has unveiled a series of landmark innovations, injecting new momentum into global efforts to eliminate the disease. Breakthroughs range from non-invasive sampling and AI-powered diagnostics to shorter treatment regimens and an mRNA vaccine trial -- significant strides in China's fight against TB. TB claimed 1.25 million lives globally in 2023, with 10.8 million new cases reported that year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In China, 741,000 new cases and 25,000 deaths were estimated in the same year. Traditional sputum testing, the current diagnostic mainstay, faces limitations such as difficulties in sample collection among children and HIV patients, and the risk of infectious aerosol exposure. A Beijing Chest Hospital research team has developed a non-invasive, tongue-swab-based molecular detection method, leveraging the finding that Mycobacterium tuberculosis aggregates on the posterior tongue surface. Validated in trials across 10 hospitals, the technique has demonstrated 89.6 percent sensitivity and 96.2 percent specificity. Recognized by the WHO, the method is now a part of community screening strategies in South Africa and Indonesia. In another breakthrough, an AI-driven acoustic biomarker model can analyze cough sounds to detect pulmonary diseases like TB and pneumonia. The tool, which has been integrated into a smartphone app, has achieved 80 percent sensitivity for TB in preclinical trials. "We aim to make smartphones the first line of defense in public health," said Yang Xinting, a doctor in the hospital's TB department. Drug-resistant TB treatment, which has historically required 18 months of therapy, now sees hope in a nine-month regimen involving Bedaquiline. Clinical trials led by the hospital have shown efficacy and safety levels comparable to the WHO's 18-month protocol, promising to halve treatment times while reducing costs. Parallel efforts are exploring repurposed drugs and vaccine innovation. Nintedanib, originally used for pulmonary fibrosis, exhibits potential for use against TB, while an mRNA vaccine candidate has demonstrated an efficacy 20 times higher than BCG in animal trials. The latter has begun clinical trials, with its first participant recently inoculated. "From non-invasive diagnostics to mRNA vaccines, these innovations will reshape TB control strategies," said Li Xiaobei, president of the Beijing Chest Hospital. With 350 million people infected globally, China's scientific strides provide a critical catalyst for a TB-free future, Li added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Families are being urged to beware of a frightening social media craze which can burn holes in children's bowels and leave them dependent on stoma bags for life. Pressure is mounting for tighter rules over the sale of magnetic toys including balls and beads which are increasingly putting in peril youngsters who swallow them. Online petitions have been launched against the products, as campaigners said that unscrupulous internet sellers were operating in an unregulated 'Wild West'. The demands come after cases raised by British parents whose children have been left with severe and lasting health problems - after latching on to what has been compared to 'piercing' and has been encouraged by social media posts and videos. Concerns have been raised about a social media trend in which youngsters film themselves and pretend they have facial piercings before ingesting magnets - prompting a coroner to warn about the dangers following the death of eight-year-old schoolboy Rhys Millum, from Harrogate in North Yorkshire. It has been revealed this week how a baby from Northamptonshire accidentally swallowed magnets from a toy and almost died while needing an operation to remove them from her body. Medics had to remove part of one-year-old Araya Whateley's bowel during seven-hour emergency surgery - and the tot now has a stoma bag. The magnetic beads belonged to Araya's nine-year-old sister Isla who had received them from a classmate in a 'school swapsie'. Hannah Whateley has raised concerns about toys containing magnets after her one-year-old daughter Araya needed hospital treatment after swallowing a cluster Medics had to remove part of one-year-old Araya Whateley's bowel during seven-hour emergency surgery and the youngster from Northamptonshire now has a stoma bag An X-ray at Northampton General Hospital revealed Araya had swallowed several magnetic balls which had clustered in her stomach Consumer group Which? says more than 90 per cent of such magnetic toys bought through online marketplaces should not be sold legally in Britain - and more than half present a risk to children playing with them. A mother of a 12-year-old boy from Hertfordshire has revealed how he nearly died after magnets from so-called 'fidget toys' burned through his bowels, the Sun reported. Hannah Amer told of rushing her son Bobby to hospital, saying: 'The doctor came out and said the magnets were pulling all the way through the lining of the bowel. 'Thank God I kicked off. For one, he might not have made it if it had been a couple more hours. But for two, he could have ended up with a stoma bag. 'It is still happening though and it is crazy. Parents come to me all the time and say, "Oh my God, a similar thing happened to us." 'Another mums daughter swallowed them - even some peoples pets have swallowed them. 'My son said his friends stuck them to the top and bottom of their eyebrows, put them on their tongue and one up their nose as well. It is just so dangerous.' Also raising the alert is Araya Whateley's mother Hannah, 29, had no idea her daughter was ingesting the beads after they had been left on the back seat of the family's car. Another mother Lyndsey Foley (pictured) has also raised concerns about the potentially dangerous toys, after her five-year-old son Jude Foley swallowed 52 magnets Hannah Whateley, mother of stricken baby Araya (pictured), is now joining calls for restrictions on the sale of such toys containing magnets She only realised something was seriously wrong when Araya started throwing up on February 21, before the girl was rushed to Northampton General Hospital and initially treated for gastroenteritis. Araya was discharged but needed returning to A&E when she started choking in the hospital car park. An X-ray revealed she had swallowed several balls cluttering in her stomach and the child was transferred to Leicester Royal Infirmary. Speaking from her daughter's hospital bedside, Hannah Whateley said: 'There were six magnets in total which were stuck together in a clump. 'The magnets have caused Araya's intestine to close and it killed that part of her bowel, which was starving her. 'There was another hole that needed repairing on the other side of her intestine, which is attempting to be done using a stoma bag.' Ms Whateley is now joining calls for restrictions on the sale of such toys containing magnets, saying: 'I don't want anyone to go through this, it is every parent's worst nightmare. 'These awful things need to be banned immediately before any other children are hospitalised.' Araya's mother said: 'I don't want anyone to go through this - it is every parent's worst nightmare' So-called 'fidget toys' which contain magnetic beads or balls have become popular Araya is due to have a total parenteral nutrition (TPN) line fitted - a catheter that will deliver nutrition into her bloodstream as she has not been able to eat anything. Hannah, a care worker, said: 'You don't realise the damage magnetic sculpting balls are capable of. 'The doctor said Araya's very lucky and he's seen worst case scenarios over the past decade. It can cause catastrophic damage.' MailOnline previously told how a five-year-old boy was lucky to be alive after swallowing 52 magnets. Jude Foley, from Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales, needed to have the magnetic beads removed by emergency surgery after putting a toy in his mouth. After he underwent emergency surgery to remove his appendix and had his bowel cut in five places where the magnets were trapped, his mother Lyndsey Foley said: 'If you've got these beads at home, remove them. They are so dangerous.' Also among those campaigning against such products - and tighter regulation of sellers - is the Child Accident Prevention Trust. The organisation today described too many online marketplaces of operating in a 'Wild West' of danger. Hannah Whateley, a care worker whose daughter Araya (pictured) has been suffering, said: 'You don't realise the damage magnetic sculpting balls are capable of' Pamela Prentice, a spokesperson for the charity, told MailOnline: 'We know from clinicians that they're seeing lots more cases, while we're waiting for a study to know the full scale of the problem. 'The incidents we've seen already are probably just the tip of the iceberg. Online marketplaces are awash with products that don't meet toy safety standards and have a flux far greater than they should have.' 'Flux' is a term used judging an item's magnetic force, with concerns raised about the prospect of magnets joining together and doing damage if ingested by children. A government report has said: 'It is possible to still suffer harm in relation to ingesting two or more weak magnets with a flux of less than 50 kG2mm2.' Ms Prentice added: 'We're seeing toys that have ten times that amount of flux. 'The internet is a bit of a Wild West in terms of the products out there. There are reputable retailers who have to meet the safety standards - but there are many online marketplaces who certainly don't do so. 'Parents should stick to products from reputable retailers and, if you're not sure, it's not worth the risk of buying if you've got young children - especially under threes, where everything tends to go in their mouths.' Prof Simon Kenny, paediatric surgeon and national clinical director for children and young people at NHS England, said: 'I would urge parents to be aware of the dangers associated with magnetic toys. Jade Berriman, 31, said her toddler Meliyah-Jayd (pictured together) had to undergo emergency surgery when her body began to poison itself after ingesting 4mm magnetic balls 'But ultimately, the only way we can prevent future incidents is to stop these items being sold all together.' A study published by consumer watchdog Which? last December reported on the scale of potentially hazardous toys available for sale across the internet. The products found online by researchers included a magnetic fishing set from which the magnets detached during testing, bought from an eBay seller. Which? described its 'tiny' magnets as 'a choking hazard' - warning they 'could seriously hurt any child who swallowed them'. Rocio Concha, Which?'s director of policy and advocacy, today told MailOnline: 'Our research shows it's frighteningly easy to find dangerous toys for sale on some of the worlds most popular online marketplaces - including toys with magnets. 'We would recommend that shoppers be careful about buying unbranded toys on online marketplaces, as it is hard to have confidence that they will meet UK safety standards set in law to protect consumers. "The UK government must act fast and use its Product Regulation and Metrology Bill to put much greater legal responsibility on online marketplaces for keeping unsafe items off their platforms. 'This must include tough enforcement action, such as heavy fines, if they breach the rules.' Meliyah-Jayd's condition was initially passed off as gastroenteritis by doctors but a week later her mother rushed her to A&E (pictured is the toddler recovering from her surgery in hospital) Meliyah-Jayd 'almost died' from swallowing six magnetic 'fidget' balls (pictured) - which burned four holes in her bowel WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF SWALLOWING MAGNET BALLS? If a child swallows the small balls, magnets effectively burn holes in their intestines or bowels. The magnets stick together internally and through organs and tissues, and can cut off blood supply causing tissue to die. They are much more complex than button batteries to extract. The child will need emergency surgery, then, depending on the severity of the injuries, they may need numerous operations, bowel resection and time in paediatric intensive care. Source: Child Accident Prevent Trust Advertisement 'If you suspect that your child has swallowed a magnet, take them to A&E and let staff know.' A coroner told last February how an eight-year-old boy killed by swallowing ten magnets may have been following a deadly social media craze. Rhys Millum, described as a 'live-wire' and 'daredevil', died after his small intestine was perforated by ten 3mm silver spherical magnets. They had all stuck together in a 30mm long row in his bowel. He did not tell anyone he had swallowed the tiny balls - 10 days after a discussion with his brother about boosting social media profiles by performing daredevil stunts. But 'the reality of what was inside him' was only revealed by a full body CT scan several days after his life was cut tragically short, a coroner said. His mother Andrea Boyd, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, said that following his tragic death the family had discussed seeing the magnets featured on social media as a 'fake piercing challenge' where the person puts one magnet on the outside of the cheek and the other on the inside of the cheek. Recording a misadventure conclusion at Northallerton Coroner's Court, coroner, Mrs Catherine Cundy said: 'I do note they (the police) found a video of him playing with his brother showing Rhys was a least aware of the concept of social media challenges and would have had had access to social media platforms like YouTube and may have seen people using magnets in this way. An eight-year-old boy killed by swallowing ten magnets may have been following a deadly social media craze (pictured) But other TikTok videos from medical professionals have warned against trying the trend 'This was a wholly tragic series of events. Rhys did not understand the dangers of swallowing these magnets and did not tell anyone he had swallowed them or link them to his symptoms. 'I know these magnetic balls are legal to sell. I hope the tragedy of Rhys's death will at least highlight the dangers particularly to children who might swallow them, accidentally or deliberately, without being aware of the dangers.' Another mother previously told how her two-year-old daughter 'almost died' from swallowing six magnetic 'fidget' balls which burned four holes in her bowel. Jade Berriman, 31, from Hull, said her toddler Meliyah-Jayd had to undergo emergency surgery when her body began to 'poison' itself after ingesting the 4mm beads. Ms Berriman feared her little girl was going to die when she started vomiting litres of dark green liquid, saying: 'It was horrible, and such an awful feeling. It was like a piece of me inside was leaving my body. 'Don't buy these metal balls. I wish I had never bought them for my son. 'Of course, I am partly to blame for purchasing these for my older children and she must have swallowed them when I had my back turned for a second but I want to raise awareness on how dangerous these tiny little balls can be.' Meanwhile, a 12-year-old schoolboy from Prestwich in Greater Manchester underwent life-saving surgery after swallowing 54 toy magnets in what was described as part of an 'experiment'. Rhiley Morrison, from Prestwich, Greater Manchester, underwent life-saving surgery after swallowing 54 magnets as an 'experiment' (pictured after the operation) He ate the magnetic balls (pictured) to see if they would make metal objects stick to his stomach as well as being curious about what they would look like when he passed them Rhiley Morrison ate the magnetic balls across two separate occasions to see whether they would make metal objects stick to his stomach. He was also curious about what they would look like when he passed them. But when the metal balls had still not appeared four days later he told to his mother Paige Ward, 30, that he had swallowed two 'by accident'. She rushed him to hospital where doctors carried out an X-ray and were stunned to discover 54 of the powerful magnet toys in his stomach and bowel. Doctors feared the magnets might burn through tissue or vital organs, which could have caused potentially fatal internal damage. They rushed Rhiley into surgery where the objects were scooped out during a six-hour operation. His mother shared details of 16-day hospital ordeal in a bid to educate parents about the potential dangers of magnetic ball toys - while urging the items to be binned before such scares happen again. She said: 'I don't want other kids or parents going through that. When he did it I thought it was just him, he's just been silly and done it, but the surgeon said they see this all the time. He was rushed to hospital and doctors carried out an x-ray and were stunned to discover 54 of the powerful magnet toys in his stomach and bowel (pictured) Rhiley's mother Paige (pictured) shared details of his 16-day hospital ordeal to educate parents about the potential dangers of magnetic ball toys 'Magnets aren't toys, they shouldn't be sold as toys. My message to other parents is to just put them in the bin, don't buy them in the first place. 'I don't care how nice they look and how many children ask for them because they're 'cool', they're just not worth it. 'The surgeon said that if Rhiley didn't tell me that day he'd swallowed the magnets he could have died. 'They could have clashed and ripped his bowel and he could have ended up with sepsis. Rhiley was lucky but some kids aren't and won't be. Labour is to give quango officials enforcing equal pay laws police-like powers to raid the homes of company bosses. Business groups hit out at an amendment to the Employment Rights Bill that would give bureaucrats at the new Fair Work Agency the right to enter homes as well as business premises. Under changes made to the bill by the government the FWA would be able to apply for a warrant to seize documents and computers if there are 'reasonable grounds' to believe they are inside. The way the amendment is written means it is possible bosses could be subject to dawn raids by 'enforcement officers' making sure they are paying their staff correctly. The FWA has been set up to 'investigate and take action against businesses that do not comply with the law', ministers have said, including the right rates of holiday pay and sick pay. But business groups questioned the extend of the powers, with one suggesting the law could be used to raid owners of firms which fail to provide details of their gender pay gap. Craig Beaumont, executive director of the Federation of Small Businesses, told the Times: 'Small businesses want help to grow, not Captain Clipboard walking into their business premises and homes. 'Government should be specific about the FWA aims and tasks inside these broad and sweeping enabling powers.' Business groups hit out at an amendment to the Employment Rights Bill that would give bureaucrats at the new Fair Work Agency the right to enter homes as well as business premises. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has described the Employment Rights Bill as a 'landmark' piece of legislation, which she said was 'pro growth and pro business and pro worker'. The way the amendment is written means it is possible bosses could be subject to dawn raids by 'enforcement officers' making sure they are paying their staff correctly. Alex Hall-Chen, from the Institute of Directors, said the government's aims 'remain unclear', adding: 'The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) was given exceptionally powerful legal rights, similar to the police, to enter premises and obtain documents relating to modern slavery. 'The bill replicates these rights and technically means that the FWA could use them to, for example, enter premises due to a failure to provide gender pay gap information. 'If the government has no intention that the FWA would be able to use this draconian power in this manner, it should be explicitly stated.' The FWA brings together the various agencies and bodies that enforce employment rights into a new body, described by ministers as a simplified and strengthened system to protect workers and ensure justice in the workplace. It will 'enforce holiday pay for the first time and strengthen statutory sick pay' and 'create a stronger, recognisable single organisation that people know where to go for help with better support for employers who want to comply with the law and tough action on the minority who deliberately flout it.' A Department for Business and Trade spokesman said: 'These are not new powers, we are simply bringing existing powers into one place to ensure businesses know where to turn and spend less time on bureaucracy. 'The Fair Work Agency is there to take action when needed against rogue employers who undercut the vast majority of businesses who comply with the law. That's fair for workers, and creates a level playing field for businesses too.' Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has described the Employment Rights Bill as a 'landmark' piece of legislation, which she said was 'pro growth and pro business and pro worker'. The proposed new law includes a right to guaranteed hours, cracking down on zero-hour contracts without the offer of work, and introduces new restrictions on 'fire and rehire' processes when employees are let go and then re-employed on new contracts. MPs backed the Bill at its third reading 333 votes to 100, majority 233, and it will now undergo scrutiny in the House of Lords. Villagers have won a 'David and Goliath' battle against BT to save their historic red phone box by lining up to use it. Around 30 locals in Sharrington, Norfolk, queued for hours to increase the number of calls from the K6 kiosk after the telecom giant said it was only used nine times last year. It is the second time the village has come together to save the iconic phone box - with BT also trying to remove it in 2016. The company's guidelines state that at least 53 phone calls must be made from a public payphone every 12 months for it to be kept in operation. BT has offered to sell the phone to neighbours for just 1 as part of a scheme which has seen obsolete kiosks converted into everything from art galleries to nightclubs. But campaigners say many elderly residents of the north Norfolk village do not have mobile phones in an area that is blighted by erratic signal strength. The fight to save the phone box in Sharrington has been led by 89-year-old Derek Harris, who previously described the campaign as a 'war'. He said: 'It's a David and Goliath situation. Villagers have won a 'David and Goliath' battle against BT to save their historic red phone box by lining up to use it Local resident Annie Abrams makes a call from the phone box in Sharrington, Norfolk From left: Derek Harris and Steffan Aquarone show their support for keeping the box in Sharrington 'It is a war between the village and BT and we are trying to enlist as much help as we can. 'We want this phone box to remain functioning.' The 89-year-old, who has lived in the village for 50 years, added: 'We are an elderly population who are not great with technology. 'Some of them do not have iPhones and I am not sure they even have land lines.' Locals have claimed some elderly locals still rely on the box, and because mobile phone coverage can be unreliable in north Norfolk, it is a useful lifeline for ramblers. 'Norfolk is bad for phone signal and I think there are people in the village who do not have mobile phones,' a parish council spokeswomen previously said. 'We want a functioning phone and a phone box.' Yesterday, it was announced that the phone, one of only a handful left in Norfolk, would stay in operation. Locals Annie Douglas and Hannah Birley (right) are pictured in Sharrington, Norfolk Local Annie Douglas is seen after making a call from the phone box in Sharrington, Norfolk Steffan Aquarone, Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, said: 'It just goes to show you that communities can achieve incredible things when we stand together to protect what matters to us. 'The K6 phone box is a lifeline in this small, rural village. 'When BT said they were planning to remove it, the whole of Sharrington stood up and said 'absolutely not'. 'It's so heartening to know that this phone box sign will continue to light up this small, rural corner of North Norfolk for many evenings to come.' The K6 was the first red telephone kiosk to be used extensively outside London and many thousands were installed. Now only around 40 remain in Norfolk with many villages seeing their phone boxes disconnected. A BT spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday it had decided not to remove the phone in Sharrington. A grandfather who blocked a police speed camera before calling an officer a 'jobsworth' has been ordered to pay 150 compensation. Richard Arnold parked his lorry directly behind the police van, preventing civilian officer Richard Mackenzie from filming speeding drivers on A348 at Ferndown, Dorset on October 29. Arnold, 61, claimed he only stopped to take an important phone call regarding the health of his newborn grandson, who was in hospital. But when Mr Mackenzie stepped out of the mobile speed camera van and asked the lorry driver to move as he was 'compromising the ability of the camera', Arnold then ignored his pleas as he was on the phone. When the officer then again asked him to move, the defendant then lashed out at him. The grandfather was caught on camera telling Mr Mackenzie: 'You're protecting no one, have a bit of compassion. You're a f****** jobsworth. I will park here for the next hour, and you won't film anyone.' He demanded the officer's collar number, and when Mr Mackenzie responded that he was just trying to do his job, Arnold shouted: 'And I'm doing mine so go f*** yourself.' If that wasn't bad enough, he finished by saying he hoped the officer would go home and find his family dead. Richard Arnold parked his lorry directly behind the police van, preventing civilian officer Richard Mackenzie from filming speeding drivers 61-year-old Arnold claimed he only stopped to take an important phone call regarding the health of his newborn grandson, who was in hospital. Magistrates described the waste removal worker's behaviour as 'diabolical and appalling' as they sentenced him for obstructing an accredited person and using threatening or abusive words or behaviour. Robert Salame, prosecuting, said: 'Richard Mackenzie was operating a safety camera in Ferndown, in a layby monitoring for speed offences. 'At 12.34pm the defendant stopped his Peugeot tipper-type vehicle in the layby to take a phone call, obstructing the view of the camera. 'Mr Mackenzie informed the driver he was compromising the ability of the camera and asked him to move. He ignored this request because he was on the phone. 'He asked again and the defendant told him to "f*** off". The defendant then challenged Mr Mackenzie and he and another male, his brother, launched a tirade of abuse. 'He (Mr Mackenzie) retired inside his van. 'Mr Mackenzie, feeling the stress, radioed the police to attend. The defendant returned to his vehicle and drove away before the police arrived. 'Mr Mackenzie said: "I was simply trying to conduct my duties and get on with my work, I shouldn't be subjected to abuse in this way. It was so unnecessary"'. The incident happened on the A348 at Ferndown, Dorset Arnold, from Bournemouth, told the court his baby grandson had been rushed into hospital on the day of the incident and his behaviour was out of character. Representing himself, he said he was sorry and added: 'The phone went in my truck and my hands-free [technology] wasn't working, so I thought I would do the right thing and pull into the layby. 'There was the speed camera, a gap, then a big van so I pulled into the gap to take this phone call that was really important to me. 'All he said was move, and I explained I'm on the phone to the hospital, please give me five minutes. 'I said things I shouldn't have said, and I apologise to the court for that. It was a foolish mistake and will never happen again.' The court heard Arnold, a father of eight and grandfather of 14, is self-employed in waste removal and a full-time carer for his teenage son. Iain Stevenson, chair of the bench, told him: 'As we saw in the video, this was a pretty horrendous incident. 'It was very frightening and completely unwarranted upon the police support officer. 'There are absolutely no mitigating circumstances in that video. Your behaviour was frankly diabolical and appalling towards somebody doing their duty. 'Your offences are serious enough for us to make a community order.' The magistrates ordered Arnold to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and to pay 150 compensation to Mr Mackenzie. He also has to pay costs totalling 349. The Pentagon has issued a memo warning all staff members to stop using Signal, claiming Russian hackers had found a way to infiltrate encrypted conversations on the messaging app. The OpSec (Operational Security) Special Bulletin, reportedly issued on March 18, came just days after the Trump administration mistakenly leaked war plans to a journalist in a shocking national security blunder. 'A vulnerability has been identified in the Signal Messenger Application,' the memo, first obtained by NPR, read. 'Russian professional hacking groups are employing the ''linked devices'' features to spy on encrypted conversations.' It went on to explain how hackers had figured out a way to embed malicious QR codes in phishing pages or hide them in group invite links, tricking Signal users into granting access to their accounts. Once the target had unwittingly granted access to their account, the attackers could link their own devices, allowing them to read every message sent by the unknowing user in real time. Signal, whose slogan encourages its users to 'speak freely', has long been championed as a more secure alternative to WhatsApp for people concerned about surveillance and intrusion due to its focus on end-to-end encryption. But the technique employed by the hackers completely bypassed Signal's security protocols as the nefarious actors were able to directly link their devices to their target's account. The concerning memo arrived in Pentagon inboxes just three days after Jeffery Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief of the Atlantic, was included in a private group chat in which US Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz discussed Washington's plans to bomb Houthi rebels in Yemen. The OpSec (Operational Security) Special Bulletin, reportedly issued on March 18, came just days after the Trump administration mistakenly leaked war plans to a journalist in a shocking national security blunder US President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth listen during an event in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 21, 2025 US F/A-18 Super Hornet attack fighter jet taking off from the US Navy's Nimitz-class USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier at sea on March 16, 2025 - hours after strikes on Houthi targets 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 Signal, whose slogan encourages its users to 'speak freely', has long been championed as a more secure alternative to WhatsApp for people concerned about surveillance and intrusion due to its focus on end-to-end encryption A Signal spokesman sought to reassure the Pentagon, claiming that the app's security protocols had not been compromised and that developers had introduced increased security measures to protect against further phishing attacks. He also underscored, however, that individual users were responsible for keeping their messages private. '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 said. But the blunder that saw White House officials provide a journalist with war plans has raised questions over why high-ranking individuals were discussing such sensitive topics on the messaging app at all. Initially, it appeared that the Atlantic's Goldberg was added to the private group chat by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. Waltz started the chat which included users identified as Vice President Vance and Defence Secretary Hegseth, as well as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, a CIA representative, Trump adviser Stephen Miller and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. According to Goldberg, who revealed the mishap to the world in an article published Monday, the messages he viewed featured information that could easily have been weaponised by enemies of the US to harm their personnel and assets. '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,' he wrote. But President Donald Trump came out in defence of Waltz, insisting that a low-level staffer was responsible for adding Goldberg to the conversation in an interview with Newsmax yesterday. 'What it was, we believe, is somebody that was on the line with permission, somebody that worked with Mike Waltz, worked for Mike Waltz, at a lower level, had Goldberg's number or call through the app, and somehow this guy ended up on the call,' he said. Trump claimed that the chat 'wasn't classified, as I understand it' and noted that the attack on the Houthis the group chat planned out was 'a tremendous success'. People gather by the rubble of a collapsed building at the site of a reported US air strike on Yemen's Huthi-held capital Sanaa on March 24, 2025 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 Donald Trump believes that a staffer for National Security Advisor Mike Waltz allowed reporter Jeffrey Goldberg onto a group text that revealed the administration's war plans A Signal spokesman sought to reassure the Pentagon, claiming that the app's security protocols had not been compromised and that developers had introduced increased security measures to protect against further phishing attacks Concerns were first raised about attempts to compromise the Signal accounts of high-value targets last month. Google's Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) warned it had observed 'increasing efforts from Russia state-aligned threat actors to compromise Signal accounts used by individuals of interest to Russia's intelligence services'. 'While this emerging operational interest has likely been sparked by wartime demands to gain access to sensitive government and military communications in the context of Russia's re-invasion of Ukraine, we anticipate the tactics and methods used to target Signal will grow in prevalence in the near-term,' GTIG concluded. The report also highlighted concerns about the vulnerabilities of Signal's 'linked devices' feature. 'Because linking an additional device typically requires scanning a quick-response (QR) code, threat actors have resorted to crafting malicious QR codes that, when scanned, will link a victim's account to an actor-controlled Signal instance,' the report stated. 'If successful, future messages will be delivered synchronously to both the victim and the threat actor in real-time, providing a persistent means to eavesdrop on the victim's secure conversations without the need for full-device compromise.' Analysts and commentators have therefore questioned why key members of Trump's administration were openly sharing details of international military operations on the app. 'These are things that are absolutely basic,' John Bolton, former national security adviser during the first Trump administration, told NPR. 'These are Cabinet-level people in our government, and yet not one of them ever said: "Why are we on Signal?"' A baby boy is critically ill after he was given ten times the correct dose of paracetamol in a hospital. The parents of eight-week-old Zohan Ul Hassan say they are now 'praying for a miracle' after the incident at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow. Although doctors administered antidote acetylcysteine, the infant began having seizures and was transferred to the paediatric intensive care unit. He is under sedation and on a ventilator and remains unconscious. His father Ahad Ul Hassan told the STV that Zohan, who was born seven weeks premature on January 24, needed surgery for hernia in early March and was discharged. A week later he started showing symptoms again and the family, from Ayr, were told he needed another hernia operation on the other side of his abdomen. The baby went under the knife on March 18 but Mr Ul Hassan and wife Hira were not worried because they'd been through it before. However, the father received a call at 12.30pm at work to say the couple had to go to the hospital immediately as 'his medical team had made a huge blunder'. Father Ahad Ul Hassan, right, told the STV that Zohan, who was born seven weeks premature on January 24, needed surgery for hernia in early March and was discharged Little Zohan is under sedation and on a ventilator and remains unconscious The parents ofZohan Ul Hassan say they are now 'praying for a miracle' after the incident at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, pictured He told the broadcaster: 'They said he had been poisoned instead of 20g of Paracetamol, he was given 200mg during the surgery.' A full investigation has now been launched. Mr Ul Hassan said his son appeared 'very disturbed' as if he was unable to cry while his heartbeat 'skyrocketed to two or three times the normal rate' with 'cannulas all over his body'. Zohan yesterday remained critically ill with swelling on the brain and doctors are unable to predict the outcome. His parents say their son may have irreversible brain damage and problems with his visions if he pulls through. Mr Ul Hassan said that while NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has apologised to them, they'd 'completely lost all faith' in the health service. He continued: 'Our baby is still sick and an apology is not going to make him well. We just want to hold our poor baby and take him home. 'We are completely destroyed what they have done is unforgivable. We brought our baby to hospital for a routine one-hour surgery, and they've destroyed our lives. 'All we can do now is pray for a miracle.' Dr Claire Harrow, the health board's deputy medical director for Acute Services, said: 'We would like to sincerely apologise to the family of baby Zohan Ul Hassan. 'We are continuing to deliver the best possible care for Zohan and we continue to offer support to his family at this distressing time. 'We have launched a full investigation into this incident and his family will be fully informed of and involved in this process as it continues.' A prominent Russian war correspondent who spread Vladimir Putin's propaganda from the frontline has been killed in a mine explosion near the border with Ukraine, according to reports. Anna Prokofyeva, 35, died on assignment in the Demidovka border area of Belgorod region, where Ukraine has been making incursions, with her death reported by state TV's Channel One where she worked. Multiple major Russian media outlets shared news of her death and reported that cameraman Dmitry Volkov, who was working with her, had been wounded and was hospitalised. Echoing Kremlin propaganda, Prokofyeva had last posted yesterday saying she was 'somewhere on the border with country 404' - indicating her warped view that Ukraine was a country that does not exist. She is the third pro-war propagandist journalist to die in just two days, with another seriously wounded. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Ukraine of targeting Russian state media journalists. 'They are being hunted,' she said. 'These are our journalists, these are war correspondents And the fact that they were wearing vests with 'Press' identification marks speaks once again to the fact that, of course, they have become a target.' Moscow has killed some 20 media workers since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, according to data provided by the Committee to Protect Journalists. Anna Prokofyeva, 35, died on assignment in the Demidovka border area of Belgorod region The channel paid tribute to its staff member, who had been on Channel One since 2023 as a war correspondent Prokofyeva is the third pro-war propagandist journalist to die in two days, with another seriously wounded Announcing her death, Prokofyeva's channel said: 'Channel One war correspondent Anna Prokofyeva died in the line of duty.' 'It happened in the Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine, where the Channel One film crew was blown up by an enemy mine.' The channel went on to pay tribute to its staff member, who had been on Channel One since 2023 as a war correspondent. She was also fluent in Spanish and had worked in the Spanish editorial office of the Rossiya Segodnya agency, it said. A day before her death two Russian war journalists from Vladimir Putin's propaganda media were killed in occupied Ukraine. A third was seriously wounded when their car came under fire in Luhansk region. Their driver was also killed in the strike. Alexander Fedorchak, 28, Izvestia military correspondent, was killed when the car carrying Russian media figures was hit in occupied Luhansk. Izvestia is controlled by pro-Kremlin National Media Group, headed by 72-year-old Putin's lover Alina Kabaeva, 41, a former star rhythmic gymnast. Fedorchak died alongside cameraman Andrei Panov, of Russian defence ministry TV channel Zvezda, and their driver Alexander Sirkeli, 45. Zvezda war correspondent Nikita Goldin was seriously wounded. Members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces fire a 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops in a front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine on March 23 Ukraine has been making incursions into the Russian region of Belgorod in recent weeks. Pictured: A Ukrainian strike on the region in September Prokofyeva was a prominent war propagandist on Putin-backed Russian TV A state news agency TASS war correspondent Mikhail Skuratov was wounded by shrapnel in a separate incident in Kursk region, it was reported. Zakharova alleged the journalists in the car were hit in 'targeted artillery shelling by Kyiv'. 'The strike was carried out by high-precision MLRS munitions on a predetermined civilian vehicle with representatives of the press,' She claimed that 'the Kyiv regime has once again demonstrated its terrorist, bestial nature'. Leading Putin TV propagandist Vladimir Solovyov said: 'This morning, a Channel One film crew's car hit a mine in the region. 'As a result of the explosion, Anna Prokofyeva died, and her fellow cameraman was seriously injured.' 'While carrying out an editorial assignment, Channel One war correspondent Anna Prokofyeva was killed,' said Telegram War channel Romanov Light, run by military blogger Vladimir Romanov. 'A brave, honest, and decent person. A professional.' Her death came as Russia attacked Ukraine with drones in the Sumy region, bordering Belgorod and in Kryvyi Rih city, Zelensky's hometown. Her death came as Russia attacked Ukraine with drones in the Sumy region, bordering Belgorod and in Kryvyi Rih city, Zelensky's hometown The area came under the 'most massive kamikaze drone attack since the beginning of the war' on Tuesday night, the city administration head, Oleksandr Vilkul, wrote on Telegram. Although no people were killed or injured, civilian infrastructure was widely targeted, Vikul said, including an administration building, warehouses, an industrial enterprise and a fire station. Multiple fires were sparked across the city, he said. 'Everyone is alive, thank God. It's truly a miracle. The destruction is significant,' Vilkul said. Civilian infrastructure also came under strike in the Sumy, Cherkasy, and Kirovohrad regions, local authorities said. There were no immediate reports on any injuries. Overall, Russian forces launched 117 Shahed and decoy drones overnight, Ukraine's air force said Wednesday morning, adding that 56 drones were destroyed and 48 more jammed by the defense forces. A National Trust worker who sued the charity and accused her boss of trying to be a 'white saviour' after she was invited to join a diversity group has lost her race discrimination claim. Sewing influencer Abida Jenkins, who is of Indian-Pakistani descent, lashed out after receiving an invite to join the organisation's inclusivity team from boss Wayne Carter. The museum worker said her boss's request was 'inappropriate' because she was a 'person of colour' who was being 'singled out' due to her race. She claimed to have been 'shocked, embarrassed, humiliated and very much degraded' by the invitation which she compared to 'using a sledgehammer to break a vase'. An employment tribunal heard the colleague was 'mortified' when he found out he had 'caused upset' to Mrs Jenkins and said this was not his 'intention'. After resigning from her role, the engineering graduate - who was said to be 'sensitive' to 'diversity issues' - took legal action against the heritage and nature conservation charity, claiming she had been discriminated against. But now, her claims have been dismissed in their entirety by a judge who ruled that the worker had an 'unjustified sense of grievance' which saw her 'exaggerate' evidence to 'suit her agenda'. The tribunal, held in Liverpool, heard Mrs Jenkins started working at Quarry Bank Mill, a heritage site in Styal, Cheshire, in the summer of 2022 as a 'technical demonstrator'. Abida Jenkins, who has a degree in engineering, describes herself as a 'person of colour' with Indian-Pakistani heritage. She is also a YouTuber, posting sewing videos to her 63,000 fans The National Trust-run museum houses industrial factory cotton-making machines where visitors are shown how they work. Mrs Jenkins, who has a degree in engineering, describes herself as a 'person of colour' with Indian-Pakistani heritage. She is also a YouTuber, posting sewing videos to her 63,000-strong fans. The hearing was told volunteer and community manager Mr Carter's role included relaunching a diversity group to 'consider the spectrum of protected characteristics relating to volunteers, employees, and visitors'. Mr Carter would often walk around the Mill and interact with staff, talking to them about their work, the tribunal heard. In early August 2022, Mr Carter explained to Mrs Jenkins that he was setting up a group focusing on 'diversity and inclusion'. During the conversation, he asked the demonstrator whether she was interested in joining. Mrs Jenkins alleged that during her employment, he 'repeatedly' asked her to be part of the group. The employee told the tribunal she 'made it clear from the outset that she had no interest' and she 'politely declined' the invitation. The tribunal heard Mrs Jenkins started working at Quarry Bank Mill (pictured), a heritage site in Styal, Cheshire, in the summer of 2022 as a 'technical demonstrator' It was heard she felt his requests were 'inappropriate' and left her 'shocked' - especially as they were allegedly made in front of visitors. Describing one incident, she said: 'It felt he was using a sledgehammer to break a vase. He spoke so loud*. 'I politely declined - he wasn't taking "no" for an answer, leading me to view him as just another superficial individual presenting himself as a "white saviour" singling me out for his group only because I was an ethnic minority.' She said that she felt as 'if I was singled out as a person of colour by Wayne and no one else was asked to join this group'. But, Mr Carter's evidence differed, and he said the reason he asked more than once was likely because 'I don't believe I received a definitive yes or no answer'. Later that month, Mrs Jenkins told a colleague that she was 'offended' by his requests and said she felt 'embarrassed, humiliated and very much degraded' by Mr Carter. Her co-workers attempted to put her 'mind at ease' by saying that they thought Mr Carter's group was an 'excellent idea' and that he had only approached her as part of his 'duties'. Mrs Jenkins (pictured) told a colleague that she was 'offended' by his requests and said she felt 'embarrassed, humiliated and very much degraded' by her boss She complained to her line manager about the matter and Mr Carter was spoken to. It was heard that he was 'mortified' to have caused upset and said 'it was not his intention and he would respect her request not to speak to her about it again'. Mrs Jenkins said she was 'happy with the outcome and did not intend to take the matter any further'. It was heard in February the following year, Mrs Jenkins met with her manager Clare Brown and made several criticism about the 'performance' of her colleagues. By this point, her relationship with Ms Brown was 'breaking down'. The relationship 'difficulties' between Mrs Jenkins and Ms Brown 'came to a head' on April when they argued during a meeting over issues with the machinery at the site. Ms Brown asked HR to remind Mrs Jenkins about the 'remit of her role' as it was understood that Mrs Jenkins was 'convinced because she had an engineering degree she should advance quickly'. Mrs Jenkins, who was accused of using a 'patronising tone' when speaking with bosses, received a verbal warning in June for using equipment at the museum without supervision. In light of this, she submitted a formal grievance and then resigned. The employee took the trust to the tribunal, making numerous claims of race, sex and age discrimination. Mrs Jenkins' claims were dismissed in their entirety by a judge who ruled the worker had an 'unjustified sense of grievance' which saw her 'exaggerate' evidence to 'suit her agenda' (pictured: Mrs Jenkins' old workplace at National Trust's Quarry Bank Mill site) But they were dismissed Employment Judge Dawn Shotter who said: 'The Tribunal took the view [Mrs Jenkins] had an unjustified sense of grievance, imagining slights and conspiracies when there were none.' On the diversity group claim, she said: 'The Tribunal concluded that [Mrs Jenkins] has exaggerated her evidence with regards to being invited to take part in the diversity group. 'It found she was not pressured by Wayne Carter to join, and his recollection of what transpired has been adversely affected by the passage of time and lack of detail in [her] allegations. 'The Tribunal found [Mrs Jenkins] had not been singled out to join the diversity group on the basis of colour. '[She] had not made it clear from the outset that she had no interest in being part of the diversity group. 'Had [Mrs Jenkins] genuinely felt Wayne Carter's requests were inappropriate especially as he asked her on the Mill floor in front of visitors, she would have raised a complaint at the time or soon after. 'The incident did not take place as alleged by [Mrs Jenkins].' The panel found that Mrs Jenkins was on her own account, 'sensitive to diversity issues'. A spokeswoman for the National Trust told MailOnline: 'We have a duty of care to current and former staff and volunteers, and a legal obligation not to breach individual confidentiality. 'Were therefore unable to go into details about specific cases. Were committed to creating an inclusive place for people to work and volunteer.' MailOnline approached Mrs Jenkins for comment. Police have urged the mother of a newborn baby boy found dead in a Marks & Spencer bag outside a church in west London to come forward. A council refuse worker made the tragic discovery after spotting the dumped black bag with avocados on it by All Saints' Church in Notting Hill at 12.46pm on Tuesday. Today, the Met Police's superintendent Owen Renowden revealed more heartbreaking details about the incident, including that the infant was a newborn boy. Floral tributes have been left at the scene on Talbot Road, where the baby was pronounced dead by paramedics. Superintendent Renowden described the case as 'shocking and tragic', but said his priority remains the mother's 'welfare and support'. Speaking to reporters in Notting Hill, he said: 'I know she will likely be feeling very frightened and going through an extremely difficult time. 'If you are the baby's mother and you see this today, I want to appeal directly to you to come forward and receive help. 'My priority is to help you, to make sure that you can receive medical assistance.' Tributes left outside All Saints' Church in Notting Hill, west London, where a baby's body was found in a bag on Tuesday Flowers and messages of sympathy lie at the entrance to All Saints Church on March 26 Metropolitan Police Superintendent Owen Renowden speaking to the media outside All Saints' Church in Notting Hill this morning A police handout of a black M&S shopping bag with avocados on it The deputy warden at All Saints' church in Notting Hill said she had 'never heard anything like this in my life' after the discovery. 'I came here to prepare for the food bank and I just saw loads of police arriving, and when I came out it was all taped over,' said Marcia Haynes. Ms Haynes said when she found out a baby had died that 'it just freaked me out, and I just I had to abandon what I was doing and go home because I thought I was going to be ill, to be honest'. 'I've been here since 1966, I've never heard anything like this in my life.' She said she let two female police officers into the church on Tuesday. 'Two women officers asked me if they could come in and search the church, and I let them in, and they searched the toilets and all around the church,' Ms Haynes said. 'I presume they were looking for the mother in case she was hiding somewhere or something.' A scaffolder who was working near the scene, who did not wish to be named, said he saw a couple in their late 50s or early 60s near a black grit bin by the church on Tuesday at around 10am. He said the man appeared to be trying to tie a bag, while the woman said 'come on' to him and they left together. A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: 'Investigating officers are aware of this and inquiries are ongoing.' Police officers are seen at the cordon at All Saints Church in Notting Hill on March 26 A police tent close to where the body of a newborn baby was found today. Police are now urgently appealing for the mother to come forward for her own welfare A Metropolitan Police Officer close to the church where a dead newborn baby was found A woman walks past tributes outside the church in Notting Hill where the body of a baby was found In a statement yesterday, Superintendent Renowden said: 'This is an extremely sad and shocking matter and officers are working hard to establish the circumstances around what has taken place. 'This investigation is in the early stages and our immediate priority is to locate the baby's mother, who we believe may have very recently given birth. 'If you are the baby's mother and are reading this, please come forward to police or medical professionals. 'You must feel very frightened but please let us help we are really worried about you and it is vitally important you get medical assistance and support. 'You can walk into any hospital, or a police station.' Anyone who may have any information about this incident should contact police on 101, quoting reference CAD 3431/25March. The Spanish holiday hotspot of Malaga turned white after a freak winter storm covered parts of the region in a blanket of hail and snow amid a spell of wild weather in the country. Striking images and footage emerging show streets submerged in floodwater and heavy hail crashing down from grey skies. On Tuesday afternoon, giant hailstorms were seen hitting cars and leaving the roads covered in white icy rocks in the town of Alhaurin el Grande. Large hail also fell in areas such as Campanillas, Puerto de la Torre and Teatinos after Spain's national weather agency Aemet had extended a yellow warning for heavy rain and hail on Tuesday. Over the weekend, the Sierra de las Nieves National Park in Malaga, and the surrounding areas, were left frosty-tipped after freak winter Storm Martinho swept over the usually-sunny location. Torcal de Antequera, a popular tourist destination, also experienced the heavy snowfall, which made for spectacular scenes. 'If you like the magic of nature in its purest form, this is the perfect time to visit. Don't miss it!,' TorcalAntequera wrote in a post on X, taking advantage of the rare occurrence. The snow-capped mountains are even visible from Malaga Airport, and have left holidaymakers and locals stunned by the weather. Large hail also fell in areas such as Campanillas, Puerto de la Torre and Teatinos after Spain 's national weather agency Aemet had extended a yellow warning for heavy rain and hail. Roads turned into rivers after heavy rainfall fell in Malaga Over the weekend, the Sierra de las Nieves National Park in Malaga, and the surrounding areas, were left frosty-tipped after freak winter Storm Martinho swept over the usually-sunny location The streets of Alhaurin el Grande, a town in Malaga, disappeared under a white blanket after initial rain turned roads into fast-flowing rivers of water Large hail also fell in areas such as Campanillas, Puerto de la Torre and Teatinos after Spain 's national weather agency Aemet had extended a yellow warning for heavy rain and hail on Tuesday The Spanish national park was covered in a blanket of snow in the rare weather phenomenon Further west, Sierra Bermeja, behind Estepona, has also witnessed significant snowfall, offering more Winter Wonderland scenes. It comes as Spain has been experiencing a wave of freak weather this month, with raging floods turning streets into rivers and ferocious storms bringing downpours of heavy rain to popular holiday hotspots across eastern parts of the country just a week ago. Torrential rainfall brought more than 60 litres of water per square meter to the Murcia province last Tuesday, as forecasters warned that more rain is still to come. Video shared online shows how cars being swept away in flash floods that have left shopping centres, city buildings and entire streets filled with murky water. Spanish meteorological agency Aemet issued yellow-level alerts for the Murcia region last week as Storm Laurence pummeled the area with 15 to 22mm of rain per hour. Orange-level alerts were in affect for the southwest and Mar Menor region, with forecasters warning the area could see up to 30mm of rainfall per hour. Emergency crews responded to at least 65 incidents in the seaport municipality of Aguilas, located on Murcia's Mediterranean coastline, last Tuesday due to the extreme weather. Crews in Aguilas rescued nine people who were trapped inside their cars in a ravine. The occupants of several boats were also helped to safety in the same area. This recent bout of horrifying weather came just days after a tornado ripped through Alicante, roughly 50 miles from Murcia, and damaged a British family's overseas home. Water is discharged from the Casasola dam in Almogia, Malaga as the reservoir reaches its limit on March 18, 2025 after heavy overnight rains fell on the province Members of the Civil Guard Special Underwater Activities Group (GEAS) rescue a dog from the flood waters in Cartama, Malaga on March 18, 2025 Locals take part in the cleaning works after flooding in Campanillas, Malaga on March 18 Surveillance camera footage captured the moment a wicked twister tore apart Cathy and Adrien Branders' home in Torremendo, Alicante on March 13. Witnesses said the tornado suddenly appeared out of nowhere during the height of Storm Konrad last week and 'within 10 seconds' had cause extensive damage to the expats' home. Fences, chairs, solar panels and other debris were flung around the property as the tornado touched down. Photos shared online show that an electrical tower and several trees were torn down by the twister, which also caused damage to the property's roof and at least one wall. Although the twister ripped through multiple neighbourhoods, it was initially declared not to be a tornado due to its lack of contact with the ground. But experts soon confirmed that it was in fact a tornado. A Meteorihuela spokesperson said: 'After a visual assessment of the incident, the vortex of condensed air and water vapor has touched land, and therefore it is believed to be a tornado.' At the beginning of the month, cars were washed out to sea after massive floods hit a Spanish island with authorities warning tourists to stay indoors. Heavy rainfall saw the streets of Gran Canaria become raging rivers as water levels rise. Emergency services were on high alert and authorities warned people to avoid unnecessary travel A car is caught up in the swell before it is flushed down the road and out of view on the streets of Gran Canaria A car was swept away by the rain in the Las Bachilleras ravine, in Telde Piles of mud and dirt covered the streets as torrential rain battered the popular holiday island. Brown water aggressively streamed through the archipelago with cars dragged under bridges and into the sea. Dramatic footage posted online showed a woman being rescued from a submerged car and dragged to safety as soil-coloured water rapidly moved down the street. One video showed a car being rapidly swept tens of metres into the sea as strong rain hits the island. In another clip, a car was left caught up in the swell before it was flushed down the road and out of view. A state of pre-alert was issued by authorities across the Canary Islands on Saturday, March 1 after torrential rain hit the archipelago the previous weekend. Wes Streeting has vowed to 'force the NHS to modernise' as the Health Secretary bemoaned how taxpayers are 'paying more and getting less' from the health service. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to announce billions of pounds of spending cuts at her Spring Statement later today as she scrambles to balance the books. And Mr Streeting admitted NHS productivity was a 'serious problem' for the UK economy, the public finances and the sustainability of the health service. In an article for The Times, he highlighted how there had been a 17 per cent growth in hospital staff since the Covid pandemic - but just 4 per cent more elective treatments. The Health Secretary acknowledged that 'patients can see the inefficiency' when they use the NHS. He gave the example of hospitals sending multiple invitations to appointments by letter, phone call and email, as well as via the NHS app. 'The NHS loves the words 'and' and 'more'. It needs to learn the words 'stop' and 'or',' Mr Streeting wrote. He claimed, as Ms Reeves strives for savings, that improving effiency in the health service could be equivalent to a 20billion funding boost without a need to hike taxes. Wes Streeting has vowed to 'force the NHS to modernise' as the Health Secretary bemoaned how taxpayers are 'paying more and getting less' from the health service Mr Streeting admitted NHS productivity was a 'serious problem' for the UK economy, the public finances and the sustainability of the health service 'The good news is that, starting from such a low base, there is huge potential to transform patients care at vastly greater value for taxpayers money, by going further and faster on NHS productivity,' he added. 'If every NHS trust was as efficient as the top performers, it would be equivalent to an extra 20 billion, without having to raise a penny in tax. 'New league tables will soon hold providers properly to account, with incentives and tough interventions to lift up the laggards.' Mr Streeting noted how he was in charge of a department 'with a budget larger than the government of Portugal'. This means he has 'particular responsibility for keeping taxes low, by keeping healthcare costs down', the health secretary added. He pointed to how Ms Reeves, at her Budget in October, increased the NHS capital budget to more than 13billion to 'arm the NHS with the equipment, modern technology and buildings it needs'. 'Alongside that investment, our reform agenda is cutting out wasteful practices,' he wrote. Mr Streeting highlighted how he was taking action to crackdown on missed NHS appointments and to stop hospitals being 'fleeced' by recruitment agencies. He said the NHS had previously been having to pay 5,200 for a single doctor shift as part of a 3billion a year bill for temps. The Health Secretary also claimed Labour's abolition of NHS England 'will halve headcount and end wasteful duplication'. 'The truth is, if the NHS continues on the path it is on, it will have severe consequences for the nations prosperity and the sustainability of the health service,' he wrote. 'But through the radical reform this government is undertaking, we will equip the NHS to cope with our changing society and make it affordable, productive and fit for the future.' Thousands of sensitive court files have been leaked in a major data breach of a NSW government website, amid fears of drastic consequences for protected persons. Cybercrime detectives from the NSW State Crime Command have launched an investigation into the breach involving the state's Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ). Police were alerted of the breach to the NSW Online Registry Website, a secure platform offering access to information in civil and criminal cases on Tuesday. 'Detectives... are working closely with DCJ in order to contain the breach after 9000 sensitive court files were downloaded' a police spokesperson said. Apprehended violence orders and affidavits were among the compromised documents. This means there could be severe consequences for those who have applied for an AVO, according to Redfern Legal Centre Samantha Lee. 'There's a drastic concern around the safety of the protected person,' she told the Sydney Morning Herald. 'People certainly are apprehensive to give statements in terms of AVO proceedings and would be absolutely distraught to find out that information may have become public.' NSW Police said affidavits and apprehended violence orders are among the 9000 files leaked from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (stock image) Names and addresses of victims and offenders, as well as accounts of alleged offending, could be included in these documents. 'There's so much private personal safety information put onto the court registry. 'There needs to be absolute certainty to guarantee privacy... otherwise the trust in that system will quickly erode.' NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley said the department and police were taking the incident seriously and working to ensure the integrity of the system following the 'significant' leak. 'They are also working to urgently identify and contact affected users and the public will be kept updated as more information becomes available,' he said. A Department of Communities and Justice spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia it takes cyber security 'extremely seriously'. 'DCJ has identified a data breach and implemented mitigation strategies to contain it,' they said. 'No data has been made public as a result of the breach.' NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley has said the Department of Communities and Justice and police are taking the major data breach seriously 'DCJ is working to urgently identify and contact affected users and will provide updates as more information becomes available,' they said. All state public sector employees and contractors are required to take mandatory privacy and cyber security training each year. Police said the investigations is ongoing as they attempt to understand the full extent of the breach. People who fear their details have been compromised are urged to make a report to ReportCyber. A hard-hitting new film has been produced by the organisation representing rank-and-file police officers to boost backing for the service after a series of scandals. The Scottish Police Federation (SPF) commissioned the film called Relentless - to show the daily pressures faced by officers who put their safety and lives at risk. It was played to delegates at the SPF annual meeting yesterday - and bosses hope it will improve public and political support for police and lead to a budget increase for the beleaguered force. Controversies which have damaged the reputation of policing in the UK include the 2021 murder of Sarah Everard by Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens. In Scotland, the death of Sheku Bayoh in 2015 amid allegations of police brutality is the subject of an ongoing public inquiry. Relentless - which will be circulated on social media - shows actors as officers dealing with a range of tough situations including a potential suicide. A young female officer is seen trying to talk to and calm down a man who is threatening to take his own life. In another scenario, a male officer comforts a bereaved child - while in another scene a man threatens two officers with a machete. A new film commissioned by the Scottish Police Federation shows the 'relentless' pressures faced by frontline officers The job of a police officer is a tough one, as a new film by the Scottish Police Federation shows The film, which is less than five minutes long, ends with a report of an officer having been attacked, to highlight concern about a rise in officer assaults. SPF general secretary David Kennedy said the film was not about recruiting people but it should hopefully recruit the right people to join the police. He said: We dont want people to think its all sunshine and lollipops when they come through the door because thats just not the reality. Mr Kennedy said when former nurse Lucy Letby was convicted of murdering seven babies, we didnt see people marching in the streets wanting to kill nurses, but weve seen that with [controversies involving] police officers. He said: Were trying to get that narrative back to protect the people behind the uniform because thats exactly what they are. We hope that the film will assist the police service in persuading politicians and to make sure that policing is part of their manifestos, and they actually look at their budgets and realise that the 200million theyve been stealing from the police every year over the past 10 years starts to get put back. Ministers and police chiefs claim the unification of forces back in 2013 led to annual savings of 200million. Mr Kennedy said: Our officers face trauma daily, risking their lives to protect the public. Its crucial that the public understands this reality - officers deal with violence on a daily basis, and the mental and physical toll is immense. Batons and handcuffs provide some defence, but nothing prepares you for the split-second decisions needed in dangerous encounters. One of the most powerful scenes is of a young officer helping a bereaved child. Theres no training for that. Its not just a job; it leaves a lasting impact. These are real people, with families, who are deeply affected by the traumas they witness. Mr Kennedy said the SPF wants the public to understand that officers are members of the community in uniform, adding: Dont shy away from themspeak to them, engage with them. Rachel Reeves today poured 2.2bn more into the UK defence Budget amid pressure from Donald Trump and a heightened threat from Russia. The Chancellor said the UK must 'move quickly in a changing world' to up its defence commitment in her Spring Statement in the Commons. She pledged to 'boost Britain's defence industry and to make the UK a defence industrial superpower'. She also dedicated 10 per cent of the Ministry of Defence's equipment budget to 'novel technologies including drones and AI-enabled technology'. The extra funding is being put on the table as the Government aims to hike defence spending to 2.5 per cent of the UK's economic output by 2027. It will take spending to 2.36 per cent next year, with Ms Reeves saying it was the 'right decision in a more insecure world'. The UK and other Nato members have been facing pressure from the increasingly hostile Trump administration to up their spending and rely less on the US. Earlier this week it was revealed vice president JD Vance said he hated 'bailing Europe out' and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said 'European freeloading' was 'pathetic'. The comments were made in a Signal group chat to which a journalist was mistakenly invited by the US national security adviser. Shadow chancellor Mel Stride urged the Chancellor to 'go further', adding: 'The 3 per cent target should be brought forward to this parliament.' The Chancellor said the UK must 'move quickly in a changing world' to up its defence commitment in her Spring Statement in the Commons The extra funding is being put on the table as the Government aims to hike defence spending to 2.5 per cent of the UK's economic output by 2027 Your browser does not support iframes. 'So, can I ask (Ms Reeves), given the geopolitical tensions that she has raised, what provision has she made in her headroom, in her fiscal plans, for increasing defence spending more quickly in this parliament, if that proves necessary? 'And could I ask her, would she scrap the absurd Chagos deal and put that money behind our armed forces?' In February Sir Keir announced the Government would increase defence spending to reach 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027, with a target of upping that further to 3 per cent in the next parliament. But critics have warned this is not enough to see off the threat from Russia, at a time when the Armed Forces are struggling for manpower and equipment delays. Lib Dem defence spokeswoman Helen Maguire said: 'The Chancellor's announcement of an additional 2.2bn on defence spending is welcome news. However, we believe the Government must go further and faster than 2.5 per cent by 2027. That's why we are calling for cross-party talks on getting to 3 per cent.' Ms Reeves told the Commons today: 'This increase in investment is not just about increasing our national security but increasing our economic security, too. As defence spending rises, I want the whole country to feel the benefits.' The April funding increase will help pay for new technologies, like long range laser and microwave weapons collectively known as directed energy weapons which will be fitted to warships. Homes for military families will, meanwhile, be refurbished, including the 36,000 recently brought back into public ownership from the private rented sector. HM Naval Base Portsmouth will also be upgraded with the extra cash, the Treasury said. Ministers hope to create jobs in manufacturing and technology across the UK as they ramp up defence spending, with the aim of reaching their goal of growing the economy. Demonstrators have gathered on Whitehall to protest against cuts in the Chancellor's Spring Statement, calling for 'welfare not warfare' Asked how he felt about being called a pathetic freeloader, Mr Healey told Times Radio: 'I regard it more as a challenge' Leftie demonstrators gathered on Whitehall to protest against cuts in the Chancellor's spring statement, calling for 'welfare not warfare'. Protesters from groups including Stop The War Coalition, Disabled People Against Cuts and Socialist Worker convened outside Downing Street ahead of the statement's delivery. They held signs that read: 'Cuts kill' and 'Cut war not welfare', as well as a large banner saying: 'Welfare not warfare'. One woman was pictured holding a sign that said: 'You are killing my mum to bomb someone's son'. Asked how he felt about being called a pathetic freeloader, the UK Defence Secretary John Healey told Times Radio this morning: 'I regard it more as a challenge.' He added: 'The Americans have absolutely got a case that on defence spending, on European security, on our support for Ukraine, European nations can and will do more, and the UK is leading the way.' This is the moment a shoplifter was caught with 70 Creme Eggs hidden in his coat. The video shows a police officer unpack box after box of the chocolate eggs from the shoplifter's Superdry jacket. Deon De Groot, 26, was stopped as he tried to make a getaway having stolen the Creme Eggs from a Tesco Express store. In total the shoplifter had 14 five packs of the sweet treats in his coat. Dozens of other boxes were then found nearby in a discarded duffle bag nearby. PC Guy Cunningham said: 'Christ! What have you got in there?' as he unloads them from the crook's coat. De Groot entered Tesco Express in Welland Road, Dogsthorpe, Cambridgeshire, at about 11.40am on March 22 and was seen to pack the chocolate eggs into a duffle bag. He then walked out of the shop without paying. Police captured the shocking moment a shoplifter was caught with 70 Creme Eggs hidden in his coat Deon De Groot, 26, was stopped as he tried to make a getaway having stolen the Creme Eggs from a Tesco Express store. The shoplifter had 14 five packs of Cadbury eggs in his coat with dozens of other boxes then found nearby in a discarded duffle bag nearby A member of staff flagged down officers in a passing police car who followed De Groot and found he had stuffed the Creme Egg multipacks inside his coat. He had dropped the duffle bag nearby which was also found stuffed full of boxes of Creme Eggs. In total De Groot made off with more than 300 of the eggs. De Groot appeared at Peterborough Magistrates' Court on Tuesday March 25 where he was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for a year. He was also banned from entering Cambridgeshire for the next three months, after admitting theft from a shop. PC Cunningham, who made the arrest, said: 'Thanks to the quick reaction by staff who flagged us down, we were able to catch De Groot red-handed and return the stolen items to the store.' It isn't the first time a shoplifter has made a beeline for Creme Eggs. In February 2023 a thief used a stolen lorry cab to make off with a trailer loaded with almost 200,000 Creme Eggs. A member of staff flagged down officers in a passing police car who followed De Groot and found he had stuffed the Creme Egg multipacks inside his coat PC Cunningham, who made the arrest, said: 'Thanks to the quick reaction by staff who flagged us down, we were able to catch De Groot red-handed and return the stolen items to the store' One man, Layton Richards, stole 3,400 worth of goods from 19 different stores across Hampshire, Dorset and West Sussex Joby Pool, whose lorry on false plates was dubbed 'the Easter bunny' by West Mercia Police, pleaded guilty to theft and criminal damage. In March last year prolific Wisbech shoplifter Scott McSpadden, 40, entered Tesco in Kirkgate Street, Wisbech, with his girlfriend Tanya Momot and stole almost 60 worth of the chocolate eggs, which retail for around 85p each. At the time he breached a Criminal Behaviour Order which banned him from entering certain stores with Momot, 31. After admitting the theft he was sentenced to nine weeks in prison and was ordered to pay 30 in compensation to Tesco. Last year a shoplifter with a sweet tooth who pinched nearly 800 Creme Eggs was jailed for eight months. Layton Richards stole 3,400 worth of goods from 19 different stores across Hampshire, Dorset and West Sussex. The 29-year-old was charged with 24 shoplifting offences between January and April last year- which included 798 of the 75p 'How do you eat yours?' treats. Police said 21 of these offences took place in Hampshire (seven in Waterlooville, near Portsmouth), two in the Dorset town of Bournemouth and one in West Sussex. The 'prolific' offender, from Portsmouth, Hampshire, appeared at the city's magistrates' court, where he was jailed for eight months. Police said this is a result of a crackdown on 'persistent, and often intimidating' criminals who repeatedly target shops. A luxury hotel guest was filmed denying he keyed a Tesla Cybertruck just moments after he was caught on camera vandalizing the vehicle in the parking lot of a luxury hotel in New Hampshire. Kerri Pouliot shared security footage of the incident on X, which shows a man getting out of his vehicle and noticing the Tesla before he proceeds to vandalize it outside the Omni Mount Washington Resort. 'Our Tesla cyber truck was vandalized this weekend in NH. While staying at our hotel, our vehicle was keyed within an hour of arriving,' she wrote on X on Monday. Naming the man, whose identity DailyMail.com is working to verify, she added: '(They) either didnt know or didnt care that they would be recorded. Charges pending! Class A felony In NH.' The Tesla owner recorded the moment police approach the vandal, who was wearing bright orange pants, and another man and confronted them. 'I dont know what happened,' the orange panted menace is heard saying. 'You didnt key that Tesla?' the officer asked. 'No,' the vandal replied. Tesla cars have been hit by a spate of attacks in recent weeks over company boss Elon Musk's work with the Trump Administration. But the likely liberal was unable to find the courage to defend his destructive convictions when confronted. An orange pants wearing vandal was caught on camera vandalizing a Tesla Cybertruck in New Hampshire over the weekend The vandal, in orange pants, tried to deny keying the Tesla. He said he 'didn't know what happened' despite cops showing him footage The officer then informed the men the vandalism had been recorded. Carroll Police Chief Tadd Bailey told the New Hampshire Union Leader the incident happened on Saturday, March 22. 'The incident is under investigation by us and the Coos County Attorneys Office,' Bailey said. However, the chief did not say whether there have been any arrests or charges stemming from the incident. Pouliet said on a follow-up X post that the vandal had been banned from the luxury hotel after the vandalism. The alleged vandal's social media accounts have been removed after the incident went viral. ArmorCode, a security firm said to employ the man, commented on X without naming him. ArmorCode has been made aware of an incident where one of our employees allegedly vandalized a Tesla vehicle,' their statement read. 'We of course do not condone violence or destruction of private property in any way, period. This is now in the hands of the proper authorities.' Pouliot's post on X has more than 7million views and has sparked massive outrage amid a series of attacks against Teslas over Elon Musk's work in the Trump administration. The Cybertruck owner, Kerri Pouliot, shared footage of the vandalism on X on Monday, and the post has over 7million views as of Wednesday The Tesla owner said Polis had been banned from the Omni Mount Washington Resort Pictured: A number of Teslas going up in flames after being targeted by attackers Attacks on property carrying the logo of Musks electric-car company are cropping up across the US and overseas. While no injuries have been reported, Tesla showrooms, vehicle lots, charging stations and privately owned cars have been targeted. Theres been a clear uptick since president Trump took office and empowered Musk to oversee a new Department of Government Efficiency thats slashing government spending. Experts on domestic extremism say its impossible to know yet if the spate of incidents will balloon into a long-term pattern. On Monday, multiple incendiary devices were found inside a Tesla showroom in Austin, Texas. Prosecutors in Colorado charged a woman last month in connection with attacks on Tesla dealerships, including Molotov cocktails thrown at vehicles and the words 'Nazi cars' spray-painted on a building. And federal agents in South Carolina last week arrested a man they say set fire to Tesla charging stations near Charleston. An agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives wrote in an affidavit that authorities found writings critical of the government and DOGE in his bedroom and wallet. Four Tesla Cybertrucks were set ablaze at a storage lot in Seattle's industrial SoDo neighborhood Daniel Clarke-Pounder, 24, allegedly vandalized a dealership in Charleston, South Carolina on March 7 by spray-painting messages reading 'f*** Trump' and 'Long Live Ukraine' before lighting three charging stations on fire 'The statement made mention of sending a message based on these beliefs,' the agent wrote. Some of the most prominent incidents have been reported in left-leaning cities in the Pacific Northwest, like Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, where anti-Trump and anti-Musk sentiment runs high. An Oregon man faces charges after allegedly throwing several Molotov cocktails at a Tesla store in Salem, then returning another day and shooting out windows. In the Portland suburb of Tigard, more than a dozen bullets were fired at a Tesla showroom last week, damaging vehicles and windows, the second time in a week that the store was targeted. Four Cybertrucks were set on fire in a Tesla lot in Seattle earlier this month. On Friday, witnesses reported a man poured gasoline on an unoccupied Tesla Model S and started a fire on a Seattle street. In Las Vegas, several Tesla vehicles were set ablaze early Tuesday outside a Tesla service center where the word resist was also painted in red across the buildings front doors. Authorities said at least one person threw Molotov cocktails crude bombs filled with gasoline or another flammable liquid and fired several rounds from a weapon into the vehicles. A woman wanted by police for child neglect after she and a baby allegedly fell from a moving car has fled to Tenerife. Fugitive Raychel Hardingham, 29, and the one-year-old child fell from a blue Volvo opposite a Shell petrol station in Taverham, Norfolk at 9.54pm on April 21, 2023. She appeared before Norwich Magistrates' Court in July last year accused of assaulting, ill treating, neglecting, and abandoning a child to cause unnecessary suffering or injury. But Hardingham did not appear at Norwich Crown Court in September last year and a warrant was issued for her arrest. MailOnline has found that days before her court appearance, on August 23, she posted a picture of herself basking in the sun in Costa Adeje, overlooking the picturesque bay of Caleta de la Fresa. The image was taken on the promenade outside the swanky Iberostar Selection Anthelia, a five-star resort dubbed 'one of Spain's best all-inclusive hotels'. It's unclear if Hardingham was staying at the hotel. The coastal beauty spot is on south side of the island and is about 2,300 miles away from Norwich. It is a popular tourist destination. The news comes after Hardingham claimed she would not be returning to the UK from the island, telling the Eastern Daily Press as she was in 'fear for my safety back home', adding: 'I have had threats'. Fugitive Raychel Hardingham, 29, fled to Tenerife before appearing in court over allegations of child neglect, after she and a baby reportedly fell out of a moving car together MailOnline has found that days before her court appearance, on August 23, she posted a picture of herself basking in the sun in Costa Adeje, overlooking the picturesque bay of Caleta de la Fresa She later told MailOnline: 'I didn't leave because of threats, I came on a five-day holiday that went wrong, and there were subsequent threats that stopped me from returning to the UK.' Norfolk Constabulary has since been in contact with Hardingham and she is now facing extradition back to the UK. A force spokesman said: 'We have asked the Crown Prosecution Service to issue a Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TaCA) warrant and while we await that we remain in contact with Raychel Hardingham.' A TaCA warrant, which replaces the former European Arrest Warrant post-Brexit, is now used for extradition cases from EU countries to the UK. The Taverham incident happened when the car was being driven by another woman. Both Hardingham and the child fell out, while the vehicle was moving. Hardingham was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital, in Cambridge, with life-changing injuries following the incident in April 2023 but was discharged three weeks later. The child received minor injuries and was released from hospital a few days later. Hardingham, pictured, failed to appear before Norwich Magistrates' Court and a warrant has since been issued for her arrest It comes after she and the child fell from a blue Volvo on the A1067 Fakenham Road, opposite the Shell petrol station in Taverham, Norfolk The baby's mother, who has asked not to be named, has revealed that she was in hospital at the time of the incident and had been 'fighting for my life'. After finding out about her child had been admitted to the same hospital, the Norfolk and Norwich, she asked to be taken to 'my little girl'. The woman, 30, said she hoped her daughter, who is now three, would not have much memory of the ordeal. But she said it was more of a hope than anything else as her daughter was a 'very bright child'. Following the incident, people living in Taverham spoke of their shock at what had happened, including Caroline Karimi-Ghovanlou, chairman of Taverham Parish Council. She said: 'I was horrified to hear what happened. 'You don't expect something like this to happen in Taverham. 'I'm shocked and only hope that the woman and child involved are alright.' Meanwhile others spoke of the 'commotion' which occurred that night, after the road was closed as police launched an investigation into what happened. A man attending the first night of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival has tragically died during the opening show. Ambulances were seen outside the Palais Theatre in St Kilda on Wednesday night after the Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow was abruptly cancelled mid-show due to a medical emergency in the venue's upper level. It's understood the man suffered a suspected heart attack early on during the show. Police confirmed the man, who's yet to be formally identified, couldn't be revived and died at the scene. Shocked patrons were informed the show would not continue during the unfolding medical emergency. 'The show was stopped and cancelled. The festival will be in touch with all ticket holders tomorrow,' event organisers posted online. Emergency services were called to the venue after audience members alerted ushers to the unfolding incident. One attendee told Daily Mail Australia that the situation was 'very distressing' and that members of the public initially provided CPR in the dark as headline act Michael Hing continued his performance, unaware of the medical emergency. The opening night (pictured) of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival ended mid-show after a patron suffered a suspected heart attack and died Comedian Michael Hing (above) hosted the the opening night of the festival which featured 'a star-studded line-up' 'It would have been at least 15 mins worth before the show stopping, and it only stopped as patrons yelled to stop performing,' the audience member said. Another attendee claimed that the show continued even after paramedics arrived. 'People started to get up and leave. I saw people in tears and comforting each other,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'No one was laughing for paying real attention to the stage, maybe only to see if someone would come out and stop the show. 'It was only when a few people, who were leaving, got up and were loudly talking or arguing with a staff member before leaning over and shouting at the comedian on stage to stop the show that anything happened. 'The public and paramedics were there for a good 15-20 minutes in the dark doing CPR before the show stopped. 'I can't believe they (the organisers) didn't communicate with backstage to halt the show, and that it took the public to yell out to the comedian to stop for something to happen.' Another attendee told Daily Mail Australia she was further away from the incident but was able to make sense of the situation by the sound of the defibrillator in the dark. Comedians including Dave Hughes (pictured) expressed their shock and sadness '[When the ambulance workers got there] you could hear the defibrillator sounds from across the room. Lighting was dark though still light enough to see that a lady and man were interchanging doing chest compressions,' she said. 'While this was happening, the show was still going on until a man yelled from the audience somewhere from the dress circle to stop the show, followed by another guy yelling, "someone is dying". 'Straight after that is when we started to see those on stage actually take action and pause the show. 'Honestly, the delay in communication from staff is the most disappointing bit. It really robbed someone of their dignity.' Victoria Ambulance, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Palais Theatre were contacted for comment. The 'Supershow' marked the start of the month-long festival, a major event on the Melbourne calendar. The festival attracts 'a star-studded line-up featuring comedy royalty from around the globe', this year hosted by Hing. Well-known comedians took to social media late Wednesday night to share their shock and sadness. 'All performers thoughts are with the family affected,' Dave Hughes said. The iconic Melbourne venue was left empty on Wednesday night as crowds headed home in tears Tahir Bilgic added: 'Sad news but correctly handled all round ... well done everyone and thoughts with those involved.' Other shocked patrons later took to social media to express their distress. 'I was at the other end of the row and can't stop thinking about it,' one wrote. Another added: 'Awful to witness tonight.' Others slammed the venue and event organisers on how the tragic incident was handled. 'Was very distressing for all in attendance. Very poor that the show continued for 15mins while compressions took place with only patrons yelling to stop the show while crew attended to the person,' one wrote. 'Palais should review their emergency management response plans so this is handled better in the future.' Another added: 'There were plenty of staff there. It was poorly handled, and I feel very sorry for the man and his family (and) friends that they had to put up with the inept management while going through the worst possible situation and his last moments.' A man has had his ear bitten off during a mass brawl on a moving train, as police release CCTV images of three men they are trying to trace. The horror attack - which happened in front of shocked passengers - took place on March 14 on a train between Liverpool and Lancaster. The victim has been left 'permanently disfigured' by the incident after his earlobe was torn from his head, a spokesperson for British Transport Police said. Police officers have released pictures of three men they would like to speak to in connection with the incident Officers said the brawl broke out at around 10.50pm between stations Hunt's Cross and Ormskirk, Lancashire Anyone who recognises the men, or has any other information, is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 795 of 14 March The force today released three CCTV images of men their would like to speak to in relation to the incident. Officers said the brawl broke out at around 10.50pm between stations Hunt's Cross and Ormskirk. Anyone who recognises the men, or has any other information, is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 795 of 14 March. Alternatively, people can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. The European Union is pushing for every household in the 27-nation bloc to have a three-day survival kit ready in case of war or natural disasters. EU crisis management commissioner Hadja Lahbib said the proposals will be formally presented today as part of a broader 'preparedness strategy'. Brussels is hoping to ensure every citizen is equipped for 72 hours of self-sufficiency amid the growing threat of continental conflict breaking out. EU citizens will be told to stock up on a dozen key items, including matches, ID documents in a waterproof punch, bottled water, energy bars and a flashlight, as part of their 'resilience' kit. European leaders have said the invasion of Ukraine could soon break out into a 'global' war. Some Scandinavian countries have already stepped up their preparation by distributing war survival guides. The EU has now joined such efforts following a landmark report from Finland's former president Sauli Niinisto last year on strengthening Europe's civilian and military preparedness. Lahbib told AFP: 'Knowing what to do in case of danger, gaming out different scenarios, that's also a way to prevent people from panicking. European leaders have said the invasion of Ukraine could soon break out into a 'global' war 'The Russians have globalized the war in Ukraine,' French President Emmanuel Macron said last month EU leaders believe Vladimir Putin could march further into Europe if Russia's invasion of Ukraine is successful 'All of this comes in addition to national strategies.' This will ensure panic does not set in if disaster strikes, she added, recalling shelves being raided clean of toilet paper in the early days of the pandemic. In a letter to EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, three lawmakers from the European Parliament's centrist group Renew urged the commission to go further by sending a handbook to every household in the bloc on preparing for 'various crises, from potential conflict to climate disasters, pandemics and cyberthreats.' EU leaders believe Vladimir Putin could march further into Europe if Russia's invasion of Ukraine is successful. 'The Russians have globalized the war in Ukraine,' French President Emmanuel Macron said last month. 'There's a conflict in Ukraine, in which Russians, as a matter of fact, have made things global. 'Will [the war] be limited to this theater? Let's hope so.' France is preparing to issue a survival manual to all households advising how to defend the republic in case of an invasion. Your browser does not support iframes. EU crisis management commissioner Hadja Lahbib said the proposals will be formally presented today as part of a broader 'preparedness strategy' A Russian Navy frigate fires a Zircon (Tsirkon) hypersonic anti-ship missile during drills It will also have instructions around creating a survival kit, including directives to stock up on six litres of water, canned food, batteries and basic medical supplies. Norweigan officials are also preparing through mass evacuation drills for citizens in some of the nation's most northern towns, with citizens already provided with survival guides. Swedes have been given pamphlets titled: 'If Crisis or War Comes' while Finland has warned its citizens to prepare 'for incidents and crises'. Last summer, Danish officials warned people about the amount of water, food and medicine necessary to get through three days of crisis. As re-makes go, Disney's second try at Snow White has not gone down well so far. Since being released earlier this month, the 'woke' production has proved to be unpopular with viewers. The absence of a prince, the use of computer-generated dwarves rather than real actors and inflammatory comments made by the film's star, Rachel Ziegler, have all generated bad publicity. But, back in early 1938, when Walt Disney's original film was proving a mega hit with children and adults in the US, there was controversy ahead of its release in Britain. The British Board of Film Censors (BBFC) demanded that scenes it deemed too scary be cut from the film. When Disney's UK distributor refused, saying it would be 'sacrilege' to edit the production, Snow White was released with an 'Adult' rating, meaning children aged under 16 could not go and see it alone. The BBFC was concerned that the Evil Queen's transformation into an 'old hag' witch was too frightening, whilst Snow White's run through the haunted forest was also thought to be beyond what a child could handle. Reacting to the BBFC's position, Walt Disney told the Mail at the time that it was a 'shame' and added: 'I can't understand it'. The original Snow White film was released in the US in December 1937. It proved controversial when it came to Britain because the British Board of Film Censors (BBFC) wanted to cut scenes that were deemed too scary for children The BBFC was concerned that the Evil Queen's transformation into an 'old hag' witch was too frightening Snow White and the Seven Dwarves was Disney's first feature-length animation. The story of the young and innocent Snow White and her search for her prince - whilst coming up against her evil stepmother - was originally an 1812 fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. The film ran way over budget, with its eventual $1.75million cost - more than 100million in today's money - being seven times the original budget. Twenty-five songs were written for the film, but only seven made it into the final cut. Someday My Prince Will Come and Whistle While You Work remain classic melodies. Snow White premiered at the Carthay Circle Theatre in Hollywood in December 1937 and was an instant hit. In New York, the film broke all records. It remained at the Radio City Music Hall for five weeks, with hundreds of thousands of people - many of them children - going to see it. But in Britain, the BBFC were steadfast in their position. Snow White's run through the haunted forest was also thought to be beyond what a child could handle Responding to the news of the film getting an Adult certificate, Walt Disney told the Mail: 'Why, now that's a shame. Walt Disney's comments reported in the Daily Mail in February 1938 'We made this picture for children of all ages. Over here there has been no restriction on ages, and I don't seem to have heard anyone at all saying that there's been anything frightening in it. 'But there, if your people have taken this action - why, I guess there isn't much we can do about it. All the same, I can't understand it.' He added: 'I am not conscious of anything in Snow White right now which could be described as horrible or horrific. 'There is one scene where the Queen turns herself into a grotesque woman, but the children love it.' When the film did make its debut in London in February 1938, it received a rapturous reception. The Mail's Seton Margrave reported from the showing at the New Gallery on Regent Street. He wrote: 'Time and again scenes in the picture aroused happy laughter in the audience and compelled applause, especially the sequences showing the rabbits in the forest as they discover Snow White.' The critic added: 'The applause at the end of the picture showed that "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" has begun a run at the New Gallery likely to equal the record-breaking season it has just completed in New York. 'It was generally agreed by the audience that Walt Disney has made an exquisitely beautiful picture.' Walt Disney showing scenes from his 1937 film Snow White and The Seven Dwarves In 1953, UK distributor RKO Radio Pictures asked the BBFC to reconsider the film's adult classification ahead of a proposed re-release the following year. The BBFC said that a U could be achieved by making cuts in the sequences it deemed scary. It asked for Snow White's journey through the haunted forest to be reduced to a minimum and to cut out screaming sounds and the sight of clutching hands. And it wanted to shorten the scene showing the evil queen's transformation into a witch, and to reduce the accompanying sound. The BBFC also asked for the sight of a skeleton to be removed and for the screams of the witch as she fell from rocks to be removed. However, RKO again refused to make any changes. Instead, they appealed against the BBFC's decision to the local authorities where the film was due to be shown. Some councils allowed the film to be shown uncut with a new U classification, whilst others insisted on keeping the original. When the film was due for another re-release in 1964, Disney did agree to make the cuts suggested in 1953 so that the film could play as a U everywhere. The controversial reboot of the 1937 classic Snow White has been met with overwhelmingly negative reviews In 1987, when the film was classified again for a 50th anniversary release, the previous cuts were reversed and it was given a U classification. A report produced by censors listed the scary scenes but added: 'Disney takes some care to follow nearly all the moments of fear with comic or musical relief and we would be well within current guidelines to pass this 'U' even were it not for the presence of a very young audience who clearly handled the frightening moments very well indeed. 'The company rightly requested 'U' for this masterpiece of animation and we are happy to give it to them.' A British woman saw her dream retirement holiday become a nightmare after her husband died and she was forced to bring his cremated remains home in a rugsack. Gill Dunn, 69, jetted off to Thailand with her husband Paul, 66, for two weeks to celebrate him finishing more than 20 years working for the NHS. The couple described their holiday as 'amazing' and during their visit they saw elephants, toured temples and went on rickshaw rides. However, two hours into their flight home, Paul had a stroke onboard - and the pilot had to perform an emergency landing in Delhi, India. Paul was rushed to hospital, but after two weeks in the ICU, he passed away on March 5, 2025. Gill described her husband's cremation as 'brutal' and after three weeks in Delhi, she had to bring her husband of 31 years home in a backpack. But not before she had to contact multiple different agencies and government departments before being allowed to leave. She paid tribute to her husband as a 'quiet man who was full of kindness and compassion' Gill Dunn pictured with her late husband Paul on their dream Thailand retirement holiday The volunteer advisor with Citizens Advice, from Leicester, said: 'Our dream holiday ended in a bureaucratic nightmare. 'He had wonderful hospital care but the rest of it was not ideal. I had a lot of conflicting information, it was like being in a maze. 'I can't tell you the relief it was to leave India. Every day there was this knife in the back of bureaucracy. 'By the time we had his remains and knew we could fly home was a relief. 'It was this relief of coming home and knowing we could do things properly. 'I wanted to be home to lay my husband to rest the way he deserved.' Paul retired from his role as a director of transplant laboratory services at Leicester Hospital in November 2023. Gill, also retired and Paul flew out on February 3, 2025. She added: 'My husband was invited to a talk in Bangkok with his old colleagues. Paul suffered a stroke during the couple's flight back from Bangkok and they were forced to stop in Dehli, India 'After that, we spent two weeks in Thailand to celebrate his retirement. 'We saw elephants, we visited the most amazing temples and had a ride in a rickshaw going around an old city. 'We did a great variety of things, the people were lovely, they are really kind and gentle people.' After two weeks in Thailand, the couple went back to Bangkok before heading back to the UK. On February 21, 2025, Paul had his stroke on a Thai Airways flight. A GP and A&E nurse were called to help. With nowhere to stay near the hospital, a nurse let her sleep in a room next to Paul. Their son Matthew, and his partner Amy, flew out and found Gill a place to stay near the hospital. Paul died on March 5, 2025, after spending two weeks in ICU. Paul and Gill were together for for 42 years and married for 31 of them Gill said: 'Firstly the doctors thought Paul was doing OK, my son and his fiancee arrived on the Monday. 'Luckily, they were able to say goodbye to him because he started to get worse before he passed away.' After Paul's death, Gill and her family were taken to a cremation ground. 'We had to go in this awful hearse ambulance with Paul's body in the back,' Gill said. 'We ended up at a cremation site, he was shoved on some logs and put in an oven.' Gill said that the three weeks she spent in Delhi were plagued by red tape and bureaucracy. When she first arrived in Delhi, she got an emergency visa but was told she needed to immediately apply for an exit visit instead. She also had to get permission from the police, and the immigration office to bring her husband back to the UK because they said she needed a cremation certificate and a death certificate. Gill said her husband Paul was known for his lovely, quiet sense of humour and a twinkle in his eye Gill said: 'I had to go to the police station to get permission to get home. 'I then went to the British Embassy, who didn't offer me any help. 'They sent me an email telling me how to repatriate someone, with a list of funeral directors.' By March 7, 2025, Gill was sent the exit visa and was permitted to leave the country. She headed home with Matthew, Amy and her husband, Paul the following day. Gill said: 'By the Friday night we got the remains back and all these other certificates saying we could leave. 'We knew we could finally get home, I had to carry Paul's ashes home in a rucksack.' Gill and Paul were together for 42 years and married for 31 of them. She described her husband as a 'gentleman' who loved the countryside. Gill said: 'He was a quiet man who was full of kindness and compassion. 'He wasn't someone who would be in charge of the party, but he was someone that everyone loved. 'Paul was known for his lovely, quiet sense of humour and a twinkle in his eye.' Donald Trump's Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe were subjected to a blistering attack by Democrats in Congress. At a hearing in front of the House Intelligence Committee, Democrats exploded on the pair of Trump officials. It came after the editor in chief of The Atlantic magazine revealed he was added to an unclassified group chat involving several of Trump's most important cabinet members discussing plans to bomb Houthi terrorists in Yemen. Congressman Jim Himes told Gabbard and Ratcliffe that it was only by the 'awesome grace of God that we are not mourning dead pilots right now. DailyMail.com's live blog is now closed. Check below for all the latest updates: A manager of a Tennessee McDonald's was unexpectedly attacked by a customer who climbed through the drive-thru window after complaining that her order was wrong. Kaitlin Brantley, 24, was arrested after she physically assaulted 37-year-old Tiffany Sherrod during a brutal rampage at the fast food restaurant last month, marking her second arrest for attacking a worker within the service industry. 'She told me she was going to beat my a**,' Sherrod told WREG News. On February 7, Brantley became enraged while in the passenger seat of a McDonald's drive-thru, insisting that her order was wrong. Despite Sherrod explaining that, as the manager, she could easily fix the order, Brantley climbed through the window and began attacking the 37-year-old mother, leaving her fearing for her life. 'Whatever she was on, she wouldn't let me go,' Sherrod told the outlet. 'I had to protect myself.' Video footage of the altercation showed Sherrod grabbing a coffee pot and repeatedly striking Brantley in the head, while Brantley tried to grab at Sherrod's hair and face during the chaotic struggle. Once she let go of Sherrod, Brantley began trashing the restaurant, sending computer monitors, food items and displays crashing to the floor before trying to climb back through the window to the car. Kaitlin Brantley, 24, of Tennessee, was arrested after she climbed through a McDonald's drive-thru window and physically assaulted the manager of the establishment, insisting that her order was wrong On February 7, Brantley became enraged while in the passenger seat of a McDonald's drive-thru and climbed through the window to attack a 37-year-old mother, all because she claimed her order was wrong Despite explaining that, as the manager, she could easily fix the order, Tiffany Sherrod, 37, began to fear for her life as Brantley 'didn't want to hear it,' claiming that she was going to 'beat her a**' Footage of the aftermath showed the floor and countertops in disarray, with sauces, bins, carts and food scattered everywhere. Brantley, recently out of jail on bond for a previous assault of a teenager, was booked into the Shelby County Jail following February's attack and charged with assault and vandalism. Sherrod addressed the court on Thursday, resulting in Brantley's bond being revoked after the state argued that she had shown 'a clear and ongoing pattern of dangerous conduct, making her a threat to public safety,' according to the Shelby County District Attorney's Office. 'I let them know that no matter how I tried to fix her order, and, you know, accommodate, she was not going for it,' Sherrod told WREG. 'She didn't want to hear it.' Less than two years ago, Brantley was arrested for the brutal assault of a 17-year-old employee at a Cheddar's restaurant in Cordova. Omarion Ford was hosting at Cheddar's on North Germantown Parkway on a busy Sunday in July of 2023 when he was asked to seat a party of eight people, WREG News reported. When informed that they'd have to wait an hour for a large table, the party instead agreed to split up and sit at two separate tables. The group ultimately went back outside after a woman, believed to be Brantley, expressed distaste with the arrangement of the tables. Video footage of the altercation showed Sherrod grabbing a coffee pot and repeatedly striking Brantley in the head, while Brantley tried to grab at Sherrod's hair and face during the chaotic struggle Once she let go of Sherrod, Brantley began trashing the restaurant, sending computer monitors, food items and displays crashing to the floor before trying to climb back through the window to the car Sherrod addressed the court on Thursday, resulting in Brantley's bond being revoked after the state argued that she had shown 'a clear and ongoing pattern of dangerous conduct, making her a threat to public safety' However, when the high school student seated the party at one large table, an argument quickly broke out. 'The girl in the green said why did it take so long to seat me? You could have sat us down,' Ford recalled to the outlet. 'I said, what's the problem? Why are you so angry? I got you all the table. Why are you still so mad?' As Ford headed back to the host stand amid the woman's complaints, her boyfriend followed him and began punching him. 'He got in my face and said "What did you say to my girl?" Ford said. 'After he punched me in my face, that's when I fell back into the fence, and when I hit back, the whole family started jumping me. That's when I blacked out.' Despite his co-workers efforts to keep him awake on the floor, the next thing Ford remembered was waking up in an ambulance on the way to the hospital. 'It's very sad, and it's very low down,' Ford said. 'I didn't do anything to nobody. All I do is go to work and go home.' Ford slammed his head against a brick wall during the attack, investigators said, resulting in a concussion, bruises, abrasions to the face, a black eye and a bruised lung when he arrived for treatment. Brantley, along with her other family members, Darius Brantley, Brittany Brantley and Carol Brantley, were all arrested, each charged with aggravated assault. Along with his family, Ford was present in court for the group's arraignments, visibly shaken by the abrupt incident. 'He was shaking, and he wanted to cry, and I was just letting him know I was here for him and the family's here for him,' Latisha Ford, his mother, told the WREG. 'I was telling him the world was standing behind him.' Despite working to pay for his senior pictures and other school-related expenses, the attack left Ford fearful to return back to the restaurant. 'I don't want to go back,' he said. 'You never know if I go, one of their family members might come in and kill me. You never know.' 'I think about it a lot. It was very, very scary.' February's arrest marks the second time Brantley has been put behind bars for assaulting an employee of the service industry In 2023, Brantley was arrested for the brutal assault of a 17-year-old employee, Omarion Ford, at a Cheddar's restaurant in Cordova, where she and her other family members beat the high school student until he was unconscious because they didn't like the table set-up Ford slammed his head against a brick wall during the attack, investigators said, resulting in a concussion, bruises, abrasions to the face, a black eye and a bruised lung when he arrived for treatment Latisha requested that Sherrod appear in court on Thursday following February's incident and later praised her on social media for supporting her son throughout the process. 'I love how the news not letting up just like I'm not!!' Latisha shared in a post to Facebook, accompanied by Brantley's recent mugshot. 'Tiffany Sherrod, we thank you so much for being there to help my son get justice.' Similar to the state's stance, both Latisha and Sherrod believe that Brantley poses a significant danger to the community, especially given her pattern of violent behavior towards service industry employees. 'I don't think she needs to be free,' Sherrod told WREG. Brantley, who is charged with three others in the 2023 Cheddar's case, is expected to appear back in court on April 24. PM says Donald Trump is 'welcome' in Australia Anthony Albanese has attempted to smooth things over with Donald Trump after the leaders clashed over US tariffs. The relationship between the pair has been fractious since the Prime Minister failed to get the US President on the phone to secure an exemption to an increase of steel and aluminium tariffs last month. Mr Albanese has said he would welcome Trump to Australia and that he is 'absolutely' planning to make Washington DC one of his first international trips if re-elected in May. 'I have discussed with the president going to the US and I expect that certainly will be very early on in the term,' he told ABC's Afternoon Briefing. 'I have also invited the President to Australia.' However, it remains unclear whether Trump will make a reciprocal visit to Australia, which would be his first trip Down Under as President. 'He did not come in his first term as president but American presidents will always be welcome here as other international visitors,' Mr Albanese said. 'We are likely to host the Quad meeting next year and that will see the Quad leaders the US, Japan and India visit Australia.' Anthony Albanese (pictured with fiancee Jodie Haydon) insists his government has been negotiating in 'good faith' with the Trump administration, despite previous clashes over tariffs With threats of US tariffs being threatened across Australian industries, Mr Albanese's approach to the US President remained a sticking point during his post-Budget media rounds on Wednesday. The Labor government raised defence spending to 2.2 per cent of GDP in the Budget - well short of the three per cent of GDP that the Trump administration has demanded of Australia. Mr Albanese was asked by Sky News host Peter Stefanovic on Wednesday whether he risked raising the ire of his US counterpart with the funding. 'I find it extraordinary that you refer to another nation about what people want,' the Prime Minister replied. 'What we want... is an Australian defence policy consistent with the Defence Strategic Review that we've put forward and the additional investment that we have put forward from the one that we inherited.' Stefanovic then asked whether the Prime Minister was hopeful about Trump's suggestion on Tuesday that he might walk back some tariff threats. 'We're continuing to negotiate in good faith with the US Administration, make representations,' Mr Albanese said 'That's what responsible governments do. US President Donald Trump (pictured) refused to offer Australia an exemption to his hefty 25 per cent steel and aluminium tariffs Mr Albanese congratulated Trump on the phone after his November election win and spoke to him again in February - to argue Australia's case to be exempt from trade tariffs, which Trump said he would give 'great consideration'. But it was revealed on March 12, Mr Albanese repeatedly tried to phone Trump directly ahead of the tariff announcement but the President did not answer his calls. It's understood Mr Albanese isn't closer to securing another phone call with Trump. The Trump administration is expected to announce its next round of sector-specific tariffs next week however the President has hinted that he 'may give a lot of countries breaks' Mr Albanese vowed to continue to 'strongly' engage with the US 'through officials and through the representations'. 'The important fact is what I'm looking for is an outcome, and what happens between leaders is that when things are sorted out by officials, then leaders have discussions,' he told the ABC. In the last week, President Trump has threatened tariffs on Australian wine as well as faced pressure from 'Big Pharma' over Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Regarding the latter, American drug companies wrote to Trump's trade boss, complaining that Australia's PBS was 'an egregious and discriminatory program which cuts prices and blocks American exporters'. Prescription medicines could be the latest to impacted by US trade tariffs (stock image) But, on Wednesday, the head of one of America's largest medicine companies said he did not back economic constraints on Australian pharmaceuticals. 'We do not support tariffs on medications anywhere, and we certainly wouldn't be excited to see a policy like that,' Eli Lilly chief executive David Ricks told ABC's 7.30 program. New US tariffs on Australian agricultural exports are set to come into effect on April 1, alongside new import taxes on Australian pharmaceutical exports unless an exemption is secured. Unlike 2018, the Trump Administration has overlooked how the US has had a trade surplus with Australia dating back to 1952, where Australia bought more goods and services from the United States than it bought from us. A King's Guard horse has lunged towards a tourist's face in the latest incident involving the animals - while she was standing underneath a sign warning people they could bite. The female tourist was trying to pose for a photo outside the Household Cavalry Museum in London when she was forced to dodge the horse as it moved in to nip her in the face. Footage of the close shave shows the woman standing for a picture with the King's Guard in front of a sign which reads: 'Beware, horses may kick or bite. Don't touch the reins. Thank you.' The woman, wearing a bright pink coat and hat, can be seen stroking the horse on the face, which appears to wind the animal up. On this occasion, the horse tries to nip her on the shoulder, forcing her to step backwards. Determined to connect with the horse, the woman then moves back towards the animal but gets more than she bargained for. The horse is seen throwing its head up in the air before this time lunging at the tourist's face, leaving her stunned by the near miss. As the horse returns to its position, the woman can be seen nervously smiling as she became the latest tourist to suffer a mishap with the royal animals in London. The King's Guard horse could be seen lunging at the woman twice after she had been stroking it Last summer, a female tourist was bitten on the arm by one of the King's Guard's horses while standing under the warning sign. The woman quickly approached the animal who grabbed her arm with its mouth and dragged her in closer. The tourist let out a scream and was flung back towards a group of other holidaymakers filming the horse. After being bitten, she fell to her knees and clutched her arm as other tourists surrounded her trying to help. Member's of the King's Guard are usually under strict instruction not to interact with tourists, but the guard on this occasion could be seen gesturing to the cameraman to seek assistance. Meanwhile last June, a woman landed face first on the floor after one of the horses pushed her to the ground while she posed for a photograph. The video shows a curly-haired woman standing and smiling next to a black horse as she poses for photos before the horse nudges her. The woman then dramatically falls to the pavement, landing face down as her bag flies out away from her and a gathered crowd lets out a concerned 'ooh'. Last summer, a female tourist was bitten on the arm by one of the King's Guard's horses while standing under the warning sign The woman screamed as the horse bit her on the arm before she fell to the ground Last June, a woman stood next to the black horse was seemingly unaware of the King's Guard advice to tourists which states that horses may kick or bite The woman was thrown to the ground by a horse and landed on her face in a shocking incident Last May, a tourist could be seen putting her hand on the horse's neck while posing for a photo But the horse reacted angrily, swinging its head around before clamping down on the woman's saree The tourist stumbled back and very nearly fell over but grabbed the wall for support The shocked tourist then lays on the floor for a few moments as worried onlookers rush to her aid. Two men gently help the woman up and she pauses on her knees before a third man comes over to help her back on to her feet. And in another incident, a tourist was thrown backwards by the force of a horse's bite on her chest as she posed for a photo. Footage from May last year shows the woman putting her hand on the horse's neck while posing for a photograph. The horse then swings its head towards the woman before clamping down on her saree. She stumbles backwards in shock after being bitten and very nearly falls over, but steadies herself by putting her hands back on the stone wall. While they are not meant to interact with tourists, there have also been sweet moments where the guards break protocol for young children. They have become known in recent years for their furious commands for tourists to get out of the way or not get too close. A King's Guard broke protocol to make a heart-warming gesture to an eight-year-old blind boy In the video the boy walks over to the guard while guided by a voice off camera and stamps his foot to salute the guard However in a video that went viral, a guard who is wearing his customary plumed helmet, salutes a blind boy by stamping his foot. In the footage, the boy walks over to the guard while guided by a voice off-camera and stamps his foot to salute the guard. The child can be heard saying 'have a good day' to the guard before leaving. The King's Guard is made up of elite serving soldiers who guard Buckingham Palace and St James's Palace. A heroic father-of-three told his children to get out of their burning house before he succumbed to his wounds after their Texas home caught fire. Firefighters were able to pull Troy Scheffman, 57, of Princeton, out of his burning home on Monday morning around 2am, but not before he told his three adult children: 'You all get out!' Scheffman had been instructing his daughter to break the window of the double-wide trailer to get her brothers out. 'She literally was pulling out her younger brothers,' Fr. Eugene Okoli told NBC Dallas, referring to Scheffman's daughter. The three sibling were able to crawl through the window. Unfortunately, Scheffman was not as fortunate. 'Troy stayed behind to get the pets out, but he didn't make it,' Paul Scrivano, a family friend, told Fox 4 News. Firefighters were able to get Scheffman out and take him to a McKinney hospital, where he later died. His wife was out of town when the fire broke out, according to local outlets. Scheffman is remembered for his generous community service and his big heart. A heroic father told his children to get out of their burning house before he perished in the flames after their Texas home caught fire Firefighters were able to pull Troy Scheffman, 57, of Princeton, out of his burning home on Monday morning around 2 am, but not before he told his three adult children: 'You all get out!' Scheffman had yelled at his daughter to break the window of the double-wide trailer to get her brothers out 'Troy would give you the shirt off his back if it was the last shirt he owned,' Scrivano told NBC Dallas. 'That was the kind of man he was.' Scheffman was a part of the Knights of Columbus and also volunteered at Streetside Showers monthly, where he would cook up meals for the homeless. 'Troy was one of my chefs and I have lost count of the number of meals he has prepared for Streetside Showers,' Mike Hanson, also a knight, said in a statement for Streetside Showers. 'He LOVED Streetside Showers with all his heart and supporting you one of the highlights of his amazing life.' 'Troy was always the one to fill in the blanks when someone wasnt able to cook for them,' Scrivano, who is president of their Knights of Columbus chapter, told NBC Dallas. Prior to Scrivano holding the position, Scheffman served as the chapter's president and later encouraged his friend to 'eventually take on the same role.' Scheffman was also active in his church, and Okoli said the 'entire parish is grieving right now.' 'He is somebody you cannot meet and pass by,' the religious father told NBC Dallas. Okoli had seen the father-of-three just the day before for 7:30 am mass. 'He doesn't ever miss.' Scheffman is remembered for his generous community service and his big heart. Scheffman was apart of the Knights of Columbus and also volunteered at Streetside Showers monthly, where he would cook up meals for the homeless His three children were able to crawl through the window of the trailer (pictured) before it burnt to the ground Firefighters were able to get Scheffman (far right) out and take him to a McKinney hospital, where he later perished Scheffman was also active in his church and Okoli said the 'entire parish is grieving right now' Hanson started a GoFundMe to help the family during their time of need. The fundraiser has garnered more than $68,000 toward its $120,000 goal as of Wednesday morning The community filled the church shortly after hearing about his death to honor the man. 'Ive never seen so many grown men cry,' Scrivano told NBC Dallas. 'It was amazing how many people came. It was amazing. 'We are going to miss him. I dont know what were going to do without him.' Hanson started a GoFundMe to help the family during their time of need. The fundraiser has garnered more than $68,000 toward its $120,000 goal as of Wednesday morning. 'Troy was an amazing friend, a Knight of Columbus, and a Catholic with a big, kind heart for helping others in need,' Hanson wrote. Former Biden-era prosecutor Jessica Aber died of natural causes, an initial investigation has concluded. Aber, 43, was found dead in her home in Alexandria, Virginia on March 22, by police who received a report of an unresponsive woman. In a statement released Tuesday, the Alexandria Police Department said they have ruled out foul play in Aber's passing but have not yet established her exact cause of death. 'At this time, detectives have found no evidence suggesting that her death was caused by anything other than natural causes,' the statement read. 'The investigation is ongoing, and the case will remain open until the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) returns a final ruling on the cause and manner of death.' Aber had been in one of the most high-profile federal prosecutorial positions in the country under Joe Biden as she served as US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia from 2021. The district is no ordinary post as it encompasses Northern Virginia, the Pentagon, Langley, the Port of Norfolk, and the corridors of federal power in Richmond, and is known as a hub for legal activity involving terrorism, espionage, public corruption, and corporate crime. She resigned less than two months ago after Donald Trump re-took the White House. Former Biden-era US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Jessica Aber died of natural causes, an initial investigation has concluded Aber, 43, had been in one of the most high-profile federal prosecutorial positions in the country under Joe Biden as she served as US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia from 2021, before her resignation less than two months ago Tributes have poured in for Aber and she was remembered as one of the few women ever to lead the prestigious Eastern District of Virginia, known widely in legal circles as EDVA. Jason Miyares, the Attorney General of Virginia, said he was 'saddened' to hear of her passing, saying her 'work with Ceasefire Virginia saved more lives than we may ever realize.' Aber's successor as US Attorney for EDVA, Erik S Siebert, described the 43-year-old as being 'unmatched as a leader, mentor, and prosecutor, and she is simply irreplaceable as a human being.' 'We remain in awe of how much she accomplished in her all too brief time in this world. Her professionalism, grace, and legal acumen set the standard,' he said. 'Though we are devastated by this loss, each of us in the Eastern District of Virginia will look to her example and endeavor to live up to that standard.' Aber, a longtime federal prosecutor, rose through the ranks of the Justice Department. As US Attorney she led a team of roughly 300 lawyers and staff, prosecuting some of the nation's most sensitive and consequential cases. US Attorney General Merrick Garland is flanked by former Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite and former US Attorney Jessica D Aber of the Eastern District of Virginia in a photo from June 2023 During her tenure she made a point of highlighting transparency, fairness, and rebuilding trust in law enforcement during a time of national reckoning over police violence and institutional accountability. In one of her final interviews before stepping down, Aber told The Washington Post that she logged over 50,000 miles on her Hyundai car, traveling the length of Virginia to meet with students, communities, and local leaders. 'We follow the facts and the law, trying to do it in an entirely apolitical way,' she said. In her resignation letter, Aber said working as a US attorney was 'an honor beyond measure.' 'I am deeply grateful to senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and to President Biden for the opportunity to lead this office and to Attorney General Garland for his steadfast leadership,' Aber said in January. 'I am proud of the work we have done with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to enforce the law and build community trust.' Aber, 43, was found dead at her home in Alexandria, Virginia on March 22 Aber is seen alongside attorney Chris Kavanaugh from April last year Before rising to the top job in the district, Aber had already carved out a distinguished career in federal law enforcement. After earning her undergraduate degree from the University of Richmond in 2003 and her law degree from the William & Mary School of Law in 2006, she clerked for then-Magistrate Judge Lauck in Richmond before joining the US Attorney's Office. Earlier this year she said one of her proudest achievements was the 2023 criminal conviction of Siemens Energy Inc, the US subsidiary of the German conglomerate, for corporate espionage. The company pleaded guilty to stealing trade secrets from competitors General Electric and Mitsubishi. Beyond the $104 million penalty, Aber emphasized that the criminal conviction sent a louder message in an age where deferred-prosecution deals had become the norm. A cargo plane was seen in dramatic footage skidding off the runway after its landing gear collapsed during a horrific crash in sub-Arctic Russia. The clip shows the Antonov An-12 veer off the tarmac track after its landing gear 'buckled' before it veered into the snow-covered ground. It skidded along the tarmac with its left wing touching the ground after the enforced belly landing. The out of control four-engine turboprop Antonov then careered into a snowfield in Novy Urengoy, as it spun around out of control. The left wing wedged into the frozen ground, preventing the aircraft from flipping over but left it tipped to the side in the snow. There were sparks on the runway as it landed - but fortunately the fuel on board did not ignite. There were eight crew on board the Atran airline plane at the time of the crash. Luckily, all of the passengers survived, and only one needed hospital treatment. Footage captured the moment a cargo plane careered off a runway in Russia, into a snowfield The An-12 plane skidded along the tarmac with its left wing touching the ground after the enforced belly landing The left wing wedged into the frozen ground, preventing the aircraft from flipping over but left it tipped to the side in the snow There was a crew of eight on board at the time of the crash. They all survived, but one was left needing hospital treatment There were sparks on the runway as it landed - but fortunately the fuel on board did not ignite The plane had flown in from Sabetta, a key Russian liquified natural gas port above the Arctic Circle. The pilot had signalled to air traffic control before he touched down that his landing gear had not properly deployed, according to reports. Prosecutors said later that the landing gear 'collapsed'. Due to the Antonov's emergency landing, Novy Urengoy airport was temporarily closed, according to reports. The incident came two days after an emergency with the same plane flying from Novy Urengoy to Sabetta, when a cockpit alarm was triggered indicating failure of one of the landing gear struts to lock into place. The crew circled before landing safely. The Ural Transport Prosecutor's Office said: 'On 26 March 2025 at 13:07, an An-12 aircraft operated by Atran performing a commercial flight on the SabettaNovy Urengoy route suffered a collapse of the left landing gear strut upon landing at Novy Urengoy airport, causing the aircraft to veer onto a side strip.' The plane has been in service since October 1970. Russia has been criticised for continuing to fly old planes amid concern over their maintenance. An aspiring lawmaker had his legs deliberately broken as part of an excruciating cosmetic procedure to make him taller. Thomas Keeper opted for the brutal surgery, 'world's most painful operation' to gain four inches on his 5'6' frame. 'It has taken away that insecurity. I don't worry about my height now,' he said. Keeper is a Liberal candidate for Calgary Confederation in Canada. He underwent the procedure in 2010, but details of the surgery have re-emerged amid his election bid. The agonizing, four hour operation costs between $75,000 and $100,000 and involves drilling steel rods into the patient's thighs. But Keeper said the agony is nothing compared to the 'pain' of being short. 'The world treats you differently,' Keeper said in an interview with DailyMail.com's sister publication The Mail on Sunday in 2011. Look at the way people mock Tom Cruise and Nicolas Sarkozy. Thomas Keeper had his legs deliberately broken as part of an excruciating cosmetic procedure to make him taller The agonizing, four hour operation costs between $75,000 and $100,000 and involves drilling steel rods into the patient's thighs The father-of-two explained he met his 5'8" wife Maggie on a dating site not long after receiving the surgery. 'When I told my wife about the operation she said she would never have been interested in a guy shorter than her, he said. Leg-lengthening surgery used to be carried out only on people who had limbs of unequal length or for correcting dwarfism short stature caused by a medical condition. But an increasing number of people are having the operation for cosmetic reasons. Those accepted for the operation, which lasts between four and six hours, can gain up to 6in in height (a maximum of 4in in a single operation) but the average increase is two-and-a-half inches. Almost all patients are in their 20s and 30s. And a third are women, many of whom want to be taller to pursue a career as a model, or because they say being under 5ft means they are treated like children. During the operation, a hole is drilled through the center of the thigh bone from the top. A surgical saw is inserted through the same incision and used to cut the bone in two at the middle of the thigh. Keeper said the agonizing surgery helped him deal with a lifelong insecurity and meet his 5'8" wife Maggie who he said would not have been interested in dating a shorter man Dr Shahab Mahboubian, who owns the Height Lengthening Institute in California, poses with a steel rod which is inserted into the thigh as part of the procedure An 11in telescopic stainless-steel rod is inserted vertically into the channel drilled in the leg bone and secured using screws. After the skin has been closed, each leg is turned inwards and outwards, a movement which makes a clicking sound and lengthens the rod. The leg is elongated by 0.4in during the surgical procedure and the patient does 15 clicks backwards and forwards each day to give daily growth of 0.04in. After two months, the leg grows by two-and-a-half inches. The extra height is determined not by what the patient wants but what the body can accept, according to Dr Jean-Marc Guichet, a pioneer in the procedure. After the post-operative pain, patients also suffer from the clicking procedure and discomfort caused by the remodeling of muscles and tendons. The bone takes up to eight months to grow and fill the gap, or fuse, and at this point many patients can resume all normal activities, including sports. The screws are removed in a second operation after about 18 months. Dr Guichet said he has seen a three fold increase in requests for his services. And it appears that Keeper's decision could potentially be of benefit for his political aspirations, as research suggests that voters in the US at least have tended to plump for the taller presidential candidate. The nails work by breaking at least two leg bones in half. Nails are then drilled into either end of each femur or tibia, which is slowly teased apart with magnets over weeks while it heals naturally, resulting in a longer bone. But it can leave patients in agony and wheelchair-bound during the process, with months of physiotherapy needed afterwards Then and now: After the surgery, Alfonso Flores, 28, from Dallas, Texas, stands at 6ft 1, having grown by two inches as a result of a cutting-edge procedure A study in 2019 found the tallest presidential candidate had won the popular vote in two-thirds of US elections. 'Being short can cause a huge psychological and mental impact on a person's life and can decrease their confidence,' Dr Shahab Mahboubian, who owns the Height Lengthening Institute in California, said. 'Those who undergo the surgery desire an increase in their self-confidence and they are sick of feeling inferior to others.' He added: 'The psychological positive impact and boost in self-esteem after getting taller is tremendous and truly beautiful to witness.' New guidelines for judges which propose watering down punishments for illegal immigration offences risk blowing a hole in Britains border controls, the Conservatives have warned. The Sentencing Council which is already embroiled in a political storm over its two-tier justice measures plans to slash the maximum jail terms for a range of immigration crimes. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said the proposals will lead to hundreds of illegal immigrants a year being handed far weaker punishments than those approved by Parliament. The guidelines could ultimately allow offenders to remain in Britain indefinitely because they will no longer meet a legal threshold to qualify for automatic deportation. The Labour Government will be powerless to act because earlier this month it voted down Tory measures which would have granted ministers a veto over the Councils work. Mr Jenrick blasted the independent Sentencing Council for disregarding Parliaments will on how severely illegal migrants and other immigration offenders should be punished. The guidelines the Sentencing Council have drafted will blow a hole in border enforcement, the Conservative frontbencher said. Migrants cross the English Channel in a dinghy, with the number to have reached Britain so far this year topping 6,000, according to latest Home Office figures Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Yet again they are acting in a way that disregards Parliaments will. Thats why I brought forward a Bill to restore ministerial oversight to the Council, but shamefully Labour opposed it. The Justice Secretary has chosen to be powerless to stop madness like this and the two-tier sentencing rules. An analysis of the Councils draft guidelines, carried out by the Conservatives, showed the offence of knowingly entering Britain without leave - which Parliament said should carry up to four years in jail, and can be used against small boat migrants could receive as little as nine months imprisonment even in serious cases. In cases of lower culpability it could even be dealt with by a community sentence, the guidelines suggest. The offence of deception to enter or remain in Britain can carry up to two years imprisonment under laws passed by Parliament. But under the Councils proposals high culpability cases would get as little as nine months and lower culpability ones would, again, escape with a community sentence. Parliament set out how the offence of possession of false identity documents with improper intention should carry up to 10 years in jail. But the draft guidelines suggest an upper ceiling of eight years for the worst cases, with as little as six months imprisonment for high- and medium-ranking offences, or a community sentence for less serious examples. The proposals would curtail the Home Offices ability to deport hundreds of foreign criminals convicted of immigration offences, the Tories suggested. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has said the Sentencing Council's proposals will lead to 'hundreds' of immigration offenders a year being handed weaker punishments than those approved by Parliament Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood has come under fire for rejecting Tory measures to introduce a ministerial veto over the Sentencing Council's proposals Under laws passed by Tony Blairs Labour government in 2007, the home secretary must pursue automatic deportation of all foreign criminals jailed for a year or more. In practice, many successfully overturn the bid to remove them, often using human rights laws. Remarkably, the Sentencing Councils new proposals suggest that an immigration offender should be given credit by the courts if they have no previous convictions despite many of them having only just arrived in Britain for the first time. Chairman of the Sentencing Council, Lord Justice William Davis, who is also a Court of Appeal judge In another example of how the new proposals undermine Parliaments intentions, the Council said people smugglers found guilty of assisting illegal entry should face a maximum of 16 years in jail, even though Parliament approved a maximum of life imprisonment. A Tory spokesman said: The draft guidelines will reignite concerns that the Sentencing Council is undermining parliamentary democracy and confidence in the criminal justice system by veering so radically from parliamentary statute. Earlier this month it emerged the Sentencing Council issued guidelines which say all ethnic minorities and transgender people convicted of a crime should be treated differently by judges and magistrates. The two-tier justice measures will come into force on Tuesday. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed her displeasure at the moves and said they amounted to differential treatment. She asked the Council to reconsider the imposition of this guideline as soon as possible but was rebuffed, with Council chairman, Lord Justice William Davis, telling her: I do not accept the premise of your objection. The new immigration guidelines were unveiled in March last year but have only been discussed by the Council since Julys General Election. Shabana Mahmoods personal representative was present at all meetings and no objections are minuted, a Conservative spokesman said. Small boat migrants are brought to Dover, Kent, in March. The number to have made it to Britain this year has topped 6,000 Your browser does not support iframes. The number of small boat migrants who have made it to Britain since the start of this year has topped 6,000, according to latest figures from the Home Office. There were 129 arrivals on Tuesday, bringing this year's running tally to 6,049 - a record level for this stage in a calendar year. A Sentencing Council spokesman said: These are draft guidelines which have not yet been published as definitive guidelines. As with all our guidelines they must follow legislation set by Parliament. When drafting guidelines, the Council sets sentencing levels having regard to current sentencing practice as required by statute and generally the Councils aim when producing sentencing guidelines is to maintain current levels of sentencing. This approach was taken when producing the draft immigration guidelines. The guidelines as a whole are designed to cover the full range of offending from the least to the most serious, while leaving headroom for the very most extreme offences. Judges and magistrates can sentence outside guidelines if they feel it is in the interests of justice to do so. A Ministry of Justice spokesman declined to comment. A migrant family from Haiti who are living in South Florida have revealed their fears that Donald Trump will deport them while their three-year-old toddler receives lifesaving treatment for cancer. The family, who wished to remain anonymous out of fear of deportation, is in the country under the CHNV program - a Biden-era protection for migrant sponsorship. The program provided a legal avenue for migrants in Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to migrate to the US temporarily due to an urgent humanitarian need. Trying to give her family a better life, the boy's aunt, from Miami, sponsored the family to come to the US from war-torn and gang-ravaged Port-au-Prince. Now, she's been left fearing the worst because her sick nephew, who is battling blood cancer, needs at least two more years of treatment. If the family gets sent back to Haiti under Trump's new rules, she said she is certain 'he will die.' 'They want to know like, 'Tatie (auntie), are we going to really leave?' You cannot lie to children, they will always remember,' the unnamed woman told local NBC affiliate, WTVJ News. 'Just like I promised them, I would bring them here, and I did, so now I don't want to give them false promises.' The heartbroken woman said the little boy is undergoing chemotherapy treatments for leukemia at Holtz Children's Hospital in Miami. The woman is fearing the worst because her sick nephew, who is battling blood cancer (pictured) needs at least two more years of treatment. If the family gets sent back to Haiti under Trump's new rules, she said she is certain 'he will die' Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office securing the country's borders and directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to end humanitarian parole programs 'He has to get chemo every week, and they said it is going to take like two years he goes to Haiti and he is dead,' the boy's aunt said. She added that it made her 'very happy' to sponsor her family and help them migrate to the US. 'But now to see that they can go away, it is very stressful,' she admitted. The family lives in Little Haiti, a neighborhood in Miami with a population of about 30,000 people, most of which have Haitian ancestry. The US has seen an increase in migrants from Haiti in the past 10 years due to the devastation of natural disasters, widespread gang violence, and political instability. Almost half of migrants from Haiti reside in Florida, with the state making up 49 percent of the country's Haitian immigrants, according to the Migration Policy Institute. The Biden Administration provided a legal pathway for migrants in Haiti to escape the country based on a humanitarian need, but now the Trump Administration is encouraging migrants under CHNV to self-deport. This presents a problem for the over 530,000 Haitians, Cubans, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans in the country under the CHNV sponsorship. The family's sponsor spoke to local news about fears of deportation, citing that her nephew needed to receive treatment to survive Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem released a notice on Tuesday announcing the termination of the program, warning migrants that they must leave the country by April 24. 'These programs do not serve a significant public benefit, are not necessary to reduce levels of illegal immigration, did not sufficiently mitigate the domestic effects of illegal immigration, are not serving their intended purposes, and are inconsistent with the Administration's foreign policy goals,' the notice read. Noem argued that parole for migrants facing an urgent humanitarian crisis will be valued on a case-by-case basis, instead of through the CHNV program. The program began in October 2022, under Biden and extended first to Venezuelans before it expanded to include Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans. Those who participated in the program needed a sponsor in the US who was willing to file a Declaration of Financial Support Form and were legal citizens. Sponsors and applicants both have to pass background checks to qualify for the program. Those in the country under CHNV were granted 'humanitarian parole' for two years, which is a legal status, but isn't permanent and doesn't guarantee full-time residency. Select Haitian migrants were granted legal parole to live in the US under a Biden-era policy The CNHV program has now been suspended and those living in the US under the sponsorship have been advised to self-deport In October, the Biden Administration announced that parole would not be granted to CHNV beneficiaries beyond their two-year permit. They were allowed to stay in the country until their parole was up and were encouraged to apply for asylum or Temporary Protected Status in the meantime. However, the Trump Administration's crackdown on migration has dramatically shifted the timeline for beneficiaries. One of Trump's first Executive Orders was focused on securing the country's borders, encouraging his administration to use 'all available resources and authorities' to stop undocumented migration. The order also directed Noem to end all parole programs for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. DailyMail.com reached out to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security for comment but didn't immediately hear back. A Roman Catholic priest who fell out with those suspected of murdering tragic French boy Emile Soleil is believed to have committed suicide, it emerged today. Father Claude Gilliot, 85, is believed to have 'taken his own life' last Saturday week at his home in Aix-en-Provence, French media reports. This is exceptionally unusual for Roman Catholic clergy, who view suicide as a mortal sin, on a par with murder. An investigating source said the cause of death was a 'massive overdose'. He was said to have left a note telling family he loved them. Warn my sister. Tell her I love her. Tell my brother-in-law, I love them,' the letter reportedly read. Love alone matters. Proclaim the Gospel. God is good and merciful, O sweet Jesus, gentle and humble of heart. Father Gilliot had baptised missing Emile before his disappearance in the Alps in the summer of 2023, aged just two. The priest was once very close to Emile's grandparents, Philippe and Anne Vedovini, who are currently in custody in Marseille, along with two of their 10 adult children. All face criminal charges of 'intentional homicide' and 'hiding a corpse' in relation to Emile's death, prosecutors confirmed following the arrests on Tuesday. Emile's parents have not been arrested in relation to the current investigation. Emile Soleil went missing from a sleepy Alpine village in France in 2023 Father Gilliot (pictured, undated) is believed to have taken his own life last Saturday Grandfather Philippe Vedovini at the funeral of little Emile in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume on February 8, 2025 Anne Vedovini, 59, was arrested with her husband on Tuesday. Emile Soleil had been staying with his grandparents at the time of his disappearance Father Gilliot had frequently expressed his emotional angst during the saga. The Vedovini family are all devout Roman Catholics, and at one stage relied on Father Gilliot for their spiritual guidance, including celebrating Mass and hearing Confessions. But they fell out after Father Gilliot provided a photo of Emile to the media, in an attempt try and find the little boy. There was a very public fallout with Emile's maternal grandfather, Philippe Vedovini. Insults were exchanged, resulting in the family boycotting the Aix-en-Provence chapel where Father Gilliot officiated. Following Father Gilliot's death, his sister, Claudine Vandenbroucke, said: 'I'm very angry with Emile's family, because I think it all started with them.' Mgr. Christian Delarbre, the Archbishop of Aix, called for 'all members of the diocese to join in prayers ' for Father Gilliot, who was a Dominican priest. The custody period for Philippe and Anne Vedovini, both 59, was extended on Wednesday following their arrests on Tuesday, along with two adult children. Gendarme stand outside the house of the grandparents of Emile Soleil on Tuesday Investigators haul off a horse trailer from the property of the grandparents of Emile Soleil French gendarmes take part in a search operation for two-and-a-half-year-old Emile who is reporting missing Emile 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. Enquiry sources have confirmed that the Vedovinis, who were looking after Emile when he went missing, were arrested following months of police wire taps. Conversations between them and other family members were all secretly listened to, while enquiries were conducted around their lives. Mr Vedovini is also under investigation in connection with an entirely different case relating to sex abuse at a Roman Catholic School in the 1990s. Marie and Colomban Soleil, parents of Emile, arrive at the funeral ceremony in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, southern France, on February 8, 2025 Emile (pictured) was last seen wearing a yellow T-shirt and white shorts, investigators said at the time Your browser does not support iframes. He 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. Mr Vedovini, who was known as Brother Philippe at the time, denies any wrongdoing. He gave up his vocation to become a monk, in order to marry his wife, Anne Vedovini. They brought up 10 children, including Emile's mother, who is now known by her married name of Marie Soleil, and she is married to Emile's father, Colomban Soleil, 27. Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha have been accused of 'masterful spin' by the leaders of Greenland after they made changes to a planned visit to the island. The Vances will now visit the U.S. Space Force outpost at Pituffik, on the northwest coast of Greenland, instead of Usha Vance's previously announced solo trip to the Avannaata Qimussersu dogsled race. 'I have to speak diplomatically here, but in many ways it's a masterful spin to make it look like they're escalating when really they're de-escalating,' Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen told Danish broadcaster DR on Wednesday. Lkke also called the visit a 'positive' development after his initial fury at the trip. 'I think it's very positive that the Americans have canceled their visit among Greenlandic society. They will only visit their own base, Pituffik, and we have nothing against that,' he said. It came as President Donald Trump doubled down on his desire to take over the island. 'We need Greenland for international safety and security. We need it. We have to have it,' he told podcaster Vince Coglianese. 'I hate to put it that way, but we're going to have to have it.' Vice President JD Vance and wife Usha Vance visit the U.S. Space Force outpost at Pituffik Vance, in a video posted online, said he was joining his wife because he 'didn't want her to have all this fun by herself.' He added that he would 'just check out what's going on with the security there of Greenland.' 'We want to reinvigorate the security of Greenland because we think it's important to protecting the security of the entire world,' Vance said. The change in plans also will reduce the likelihood that the Vances will cross paths with residents angered by Trump's attempts to annex the island, which is a semi-autonomous Danish territory. 'The cars (from the US advance security detail) that were delivered a few days ago are in the process of being sent back home, and the wife of the US vice president and the national security adviser will not visit Greenlandic society,' Lkke said. 'The matter is being wound up and that's positive,' he added. The couple's visit comes as Trump has doubled down on his determination to annex the island. And after a series of Signal messages published by The Atlantic revealed the vice president called Europe 'freeloaders.' Vance accused Denmark and previous US presidents of 'ignoring' the island 'for far too long.' 'Leaders in America and in Denmark ignored Greenland for far too long and that's been bad for Greenland. It's also been bad for the security of the entire world. We think we can take things in a different direction so I'm gonna go check it out,' he said. Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, where the Vances will visit Apartment buildings and houses are pictured in Nuuk, Greenland Additionally, the decision to visit a U.S. military base has removed the risk of violating potential diplomatic taboos by sending a delegation to another country without an official invitation. Greenland leaders made it clear that the U.S. delegation was neither invited nor wanted Pituffik Space Base Pituffik Space Base is one of the most strategically important military sites in the world. It serves as an early detection site for missile launches. About 150 U.S. Air Force and Space Force personnel are permanently stationed there. Its name changed two year ago from Thule to Pituffik, which means in Greenlandic 'the place we tie our dogs.' Pituffik Space Base Advertisement Greenland is strategically important for the U.S. military and its ballistic missile early-warning system. It holds a commanding position in the Arctic, as a buffer between North America and Russia. The island, which is three times the size of Texas, has no army and relies on Denmark for protection. A 1951 agreement between the United States and Denmark established a U.S. right to move around freely and construct military bases in Greenland as long as Denmark and Greenland are notified. Originally, Usha Vance's office said the second lady would arrive Thursday in Greenland and return Saturday. She and one of the couple's three children had planned to visit historic sites, watch a dog race, and learn about Greenlands culture. Michael Waltz, the national security adviser, was to accompany her. Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede called the trip 'highly aggressive.' Egede noted that 'it has not extended any invitations for any visits, neither private nor official.' Denmark blasted the visit, calling it part of an 'unacceptable pressure' on them. 'It is clearly not a visit that concerns Greenland's needs or wishes. That's why I have to say it's an unacceptable pressure being placed on Greenland and Denmark -- and it's pressure we will stand up to,' Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told Danish broadcasters DR and TV2. 'President Trump is serious,' she said. 'He wants Greenland.' Trump's desire to expand America's territory has triggered a spat between Copenhagen and the White House. Protesters outside the U.S. consulate in Nuuk, Greenland Polls show that nearly all Greenlanders oppose becoming part of the United States, and anti-American protesters, some wearing 'Make America Go Away' caps and holding 'Yankees go home' banners, have been seen on the island with some of the protests outside the US consulate in the capital, Nuuk. Questions remain about why Trump wants the self-governing territory. The president has said Greenland is important to America's national security and poorly protected by Denmark. He's also noted he wants access to its critical minerals. But mainly he talks about owning it - a desire he originally expressed in his first administration. He also has pushed for America to retake control of the Panama Canal and has called Canada the 51st state. 'I think Greenland's going to be something that maybe is in our future,' Trump said at a cabinet meeting Monday. 'I think it's important. It's important from the standpoint of international security.' The Atlantic magazine went on offense Wednesday by publishing more messages from the Signal chat group that editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to as key White House officials discussed war plans against the Houthis. On Monday, Goldberg had published a piece entitled The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans. Goldberg left out some of the messages, including details shared by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, for fear they could endanger American military personnel. President Donald Trump, Hegseth and other key White House officials, in turn, called Goldberg a bevy of names, including a 'total sleazebag,' in an attempt to delegitimize his reporting. On Wednesday, Goldberg came with more receipts - including the exact details Hegseth shared as the U.S. military attacked the Houthis, an Iran-backed group in Yemen who were attacking vessels on the Red Sea. 'The statements by Hegseth, Gabbard, Ratcliffe, and Trump - combined with the assertions made by numerous administration officials that we are lying about the content of the Signal texts - have led us to believe that people should see the texts in order to reach their own conclusions,' wrote Goldberg and The Atlantic's Shane Harris. 'There is a clear public interest in disclosing the sort of information that Trump advisers included in non-secure communications channels, especially because senior administration figures are attempting to downplay the significance of the messages that were shared,' the journalists added. Wednesday's Atlantic story fills in the gap on what was discussed on March 15, the day of the attack. Read all the messages here: NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has issued a stark warning to Vladimir Putin, promising a 'devastating' response should Russia launch any attack on Poland or another member state. 'If anyone were to miscalculate and think they can get away with an attack on Poland or on any other ally, they will be met with the full force of this fierce alliance. Our reaction will be devastating,' the bloc's chief declared in Warsaw today. 'This has to be very clear to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and anyone else who wants to attack us,' he concluded in comments delivered alongside Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Rutte's unequivocal statement comes as nations along the eastern flank of the 32-member alliance, particularly Poland and the Baltic states, expressed concern that US-Russia talks on ending the war in Ukraine could offer Putin a favourable settlement. They fear such an outcome would allow the Russian President to rebuild his country's forces and threaten other countries in the region in the coming years. Such fears are compounded by the knowledge that the American security blanket on which European leaders have relied for decades could be swiftly snatched away by US President Donald Trump. Trump said during a recent meeting with Rutte at the White House that he does not believe that a peace settlement for Ukraine would lead to Russia attacking other countries. But Rutte has in the past warned that Russia could be capable of launching an attack again on European soil by the end of the decade. 'Let's not forget that Russia is and is remaining the most significant and dark threat to our alliance. Let's not forget that Russia is moving into a wartime economy, and that will have a huge impact on their capacity and capability to build their armed forces,' he said. A Swedish artillery team fires a projectile from an Archer self-propelled Howitzer during the NATO 'Exercise Lightning Strike' on November 20, 2024 NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (L) and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (R) during their meeting in Warsaw, Poland on March 26, 2025 Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during the awards ceremony for young cultural figures, March 25, 2025 NATO troops performing war drills as part of Steadfast Defender Recent weeks have seen European leaders announce dramatic spending plans designed to kickstart the continent's defence-industrial base after years of cuts. Sweden is set to increase defence spending by about 300 billion kroner ($30 billion) over the next decade, the prime minister said today, describing the move as the 'biggest rearmament push since the Cold War'. The Nordic country drastically slashed its defence spending toward the end of the 20th century but reversed course following Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea. The aim was to increase defence spending to 3.5 percent of GDP by 2030, up from the 2.4 percent the country currently spends. 'We have a completely new security situation... and uncertainties will remain for a long time,' Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told reporters, adding it marks Sweden's 'biggest rearmament since the Cold War'. The Scandinavian state dropped two centuries of military non-alignment and applied for membership in NATO in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine - becoming the 32nd member in March 2024. Sweden has already decided on investments that are expected to put defence spending at 2.6 percent of GDP in a few years, Kristersson said while noting this already put it well above NATO's two percent spending target. 'That is not enough,' Kristersson said. 'Our assessment is that NATO and especially European NATO countries need to take major steps in the coming years.' The announcement comes less than a week after Germany's parliament approved a historic spending bill that aims to revive growth in Europe's largest economy and scale up the military. Ending decades of German fiscal conservatism, the legislation creates a 500 billion fund to spend on infrastructure and eases strict borrowing rules set in place after the 2008 global financial crisis to allow higher spending on defence. German lawmakers said Russian aggression and doubts over the US' commitment to uphold European security were the primary drivers of the historic move. 'The threat from the East, from Moscow, is still present, while the support from the West is no longer what we were once accustomed to,' said Bavarian Premier Markus Soeder. 'I am a convinced transatlanticist, but the relationship of trust in the United States of America has, at least for me and for many others, been deeply shaken. The Germans are worried.' 'Lets be honest: Germany has, in part, been run into the ground over the course of decades,' said Berlin mayor Kai Wegner. 'Our infrastructure has, in recent years, been more managed than actively developed.' 'For far too long, weve only done the bare minimum - and it cannot, must not, continue this way,' he said. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (L) and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (R) during press conference in Warsaw, Poland on March 26, 2025 Two Swedish Airforce JAS-39 Gripen fighter aircraft in close formation are seen over Sweden German servicemen conduct fire drills with a main battle tank Leopard 2 A7 The drive to boost military capabilities is evident even among Europe's least conflict-minded nations. Spain, which has long languished at the bottom of the continental list when it comes to defence spending as a share of GDP, is expected to increase its budget following an announcement by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez today. Spain dedicated 1.28 percent of its annual economic output to defence last year according to NATO figures - well short of the alliance's longstanding two-percent benchmark and less than all other members. Trump recently insinuated that America would decline to defend any NATO member state deemed to have shirked its responsibilities as a member of the security alliance by underspending. 'The government will launch a major national plan before the summer for the development and promotion of Spanish security and defence technology and industry,' Sanchez said during a debate in parliament. The Socialist leader said the defence plan will build on the experience gained in recent years with the EU's post-Covid recovery scheme, which was financed through common borrowing. But he provided no other details on the spending plan, prompting criticism from the head of the main opposition conservative Popular Party, Alberto Nunez Feijoo. 'What will the deadlines be? How much will we spend each year? Where will this money come from?' he said. Meanwhile, the European Union has begun urging civilians to prepare for a possible future conflict. EU officials issued a public directive to 450 million people, instructing them to stockpile food, water and other essentials to last at least 72 hours as war, cyberattacks, climate change and disease increase the chances of a crisis. 'Today's threats facing Europe are more complex than ever, and they are all interconnected,' said Preparedness and Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib as she unveiled a new strategy for dealing with future disasters. While the commission is keen not to be seen as alarmist, Lahbib said it's important 'to make sure people have essential supplies for at least 72 hours in a crisis.' She listed food, water, flashlights, ID papers, medicine and shortwave radios as things to stock. Lahbib said the EU should build up a 'strategic reserve' and stockpile other critical resources including firefighting planes; medical, energy and transport equipment; and specialized assets against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats, The EU's plans are similar to those in France, Finland and Sweden. Last year, Sweden updated its Cold War-era civil emergency advice 'to better reflect today's security policy reality' such as what to do in case of nuclear attack. Not all EU countries have the same level of crisis preparedness, and the commission also wants to encourage them to coordinate better in case of emergency. 'We can no longer rely on ad hoc reactions,' Lahbib said. Fresh questions have been raised over the independence of a misconduct probe into former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon just days after she was cleared over the SNP fraud investigation. Until now, the Scottish Government has refused to name the officials sent to work for Irish lawyer James Hamilton, who was tasked with determining if Ms Sturgeon misled parliament over when she became aware of sex harassment allegations against Mr Salmond. Yet a probe today reveals a liaison for the Hamilton probe was top civil servant James Hynd. Not only was Mr Hynd on the government payroll, but he is currently being investigated by police for allegedly lying under oath to the Alex Salmond inquiry and was the architect of the policy which led to Mr Salmonds downfall. The development will likely further muddy Ms Sturgeons legacy as she earlier this month announced she was not going to run for re-election in her Glasgow Southside seat at the Holyrood vote next year. She also declared she had done nothing wrong as it emerged she will not face charges over a major fraud investigation into the SNPs finances. Last night, critics demanded answers over the secondment. New leader of Mr Salmonds Alba party Kenny MacAskill said: It gets murkier and murkier. Deliberate obfuscation, inappropriate redaction and now individuals with clear conflicts of interest appointed to critical positions. James Hynd gave evidence to a Scottish Parliament committee examining the handling of harassment allegations against former first minister Alex Salmond. Ms Sturgeon was accused of misleading parliament over when she became aware of sex harassment allegations against Mr Salmond. Lawyer James Hamilton was appointed to carry out an independent investigation into what Ms Sturgeon knew and when. There has to be end to this cover up and individuals must be held to account. Both Ministers and senior officials must be fully held to account and that requires full disclosure. The saga began in 2019 when Ms Sturgeon referred herself to James Hamilton amid claims she had misled parliament over the date she was told about harassment complaints against Mr Salmond, who died last year. New documents revealed under freedom of information laws detail a number of interactions between the secretariat to Mr Hamilton and the Scottish Government. It shows that in August 2020, Mr Hynd wrote to the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints committee, claiming to be working for Mr Hamilton despite being one of the most senior civil servants in government. He wrote: As you know, the Convener wrote to James Hamilton, the independent adviser on the Scottish Ministerial Code on 7 July. Mr Hamilton has asked that I pass on to you his response, as attached. The independence of a probe into Ms Sturgeon has already been called into question after it was revealed ministers ignored legal advice in a bid to cover up a report into her conduct. Mr Salmond was investigated for alleged sex misconduct under a policy drawn up by Mr Hynd. For the avoidance of doubt, I am sending this on Mr Hamiltons behalf as the independent adviser and not on behalf of the Scottish Government. We are planning to put in place a secretariat to support Mr Hamilton during the referral. Until that is in place I am happy to liaise with Mr Hamilton as required. Mr Hynd is at the centre of Operation Broadcroft which is looking at whether he gave a false statement to the Alex Salmond inquiry in 2020. He was also responsible for drawing up the Scottish Governments policy on the handling of complaints involving former and current ministers the policy under which Mr Salmond was investigated. The police probe into Mr Hynd was first revealed during a court hearing in a civil case that Mr Salmond brought against the Scottish Government. Mr Salmonds lawyer Gordon Dangerfield told the Court of Session last year that the Police Scotland investigation was called Operation Broadcroft and that it was looking into claims that a very, very senior civil servant - Mr James Hynd - gave a false statement on oath at the inquiry. It comes as at the end of last year new documents were released about the Hamilton inquiry which critics said shed doubt on the independence of the probe. They also showed that ministers ignored legal advice in a bid to cover up a report into Ms Sturgeons conduct and that some gave inaccurate information to the Scottish Information Commissioner. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'We are investigating a complaint in relation to evidence provided to a Scottish Parliament committee. These enquiries are ongoing and we are unable to comment further.' Scottish Government spokesman said: The Scottish Government does not comment on individual employees. The Treasury has published the Spring Statement in full after Rachel Reeves presented it to Parliament today. All 50 pages were issued as a PDF after the Chancellor blamed 'increased global uncertainty' as the budget watchdog slashed its forecast for economic growth. The Office for Budget Responsibility halved its forecast for growth in gross domestic product in 2025 from 2 per cent to just 1 per cent. The watchdog's assessment also indicated the Chancellor would have missed her goal of balancing the nation's books without action. Responding to the growth forecast, Ms Reeves said: 'I am not satisfied with these numbers. 'That is why we on this side of the house are serious about taking the action needed to grow our economy. Backing the builders, not the blockers.' Despite the dramatic downgrade in 2025, she said the OBR had upgraded its forecasts for subsequent years with GDP expected to increase by 1.9 per cent in 2026, 1.8 per cent in 2027, 1.7 per cent in 2027 and 1.8 per cent in 2029. The watchdog also forecast that the Government's planning reforms will increase GDP permanently by 0.2 per cent in 2029/30, representing an additional 6.8billion and pushing housebuilding to a '40-year high'. Your browser does not support iframes. The Treasury has issued the Spring Statement after Rachel Reeves presented it to Parliament Chancellor Rachel Reeves reads her Spring Statement to MPs in the House of Commons today She was forced to set out measures totalling around 14billion, including a series of cuts, to ensure she met her 'non-negotiable' goal of balancing day-to-day spending against tax receipts, rather than borrowing. Ms Reeves told MPs: 'The increased global uncertainty has had two consequences. First, on our public finances. And second, on the economy.' At her budget in October she set out plans which met that goal with 9.9billion to spare in 2029/30. But she said the updated forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility indicated she would have missed the target by 4.1billion without taking action to restore the 9.9billion of headroom. She confirmed a further squeeze on the welfare budget, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month, with the package now expected to save 4.8billion rather than the more than 5billion in 2029/30 hoped for by ministers. And she signalled cuts in Whitehall, with 'voluntary exit schemes to reduce the size of the civil service', taking advantage of technology to 'make Government leaner, more productive and more efficient', saving 3.5billion by 2029/30. Newly-elected Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman is allowing county prosecutors to seek the death penalty again, reversing a ban put in place by his woke predecessor. Hochman made good on his campaign promise to reinstate the death penalty on Monday. He ousted progressive DA George Gascon in November after residents rejected the state's liberal reforms to the criminal justice system and soft-on-crime policies. Hochman's office said 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,' the district attorney said. California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a moratorium on the death penalty in 2019, and the last prisoner executed in the state was in 2006. 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.' 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. Newly elected Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman (pictured) is allowing county prosecutors to seek the death penalty again Under California law, the death penalty can only be sought if someone is charged with murder with special circumstances The new LA policy will allow defense attorneys to 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. Removing the death penalty was one of the first changes implemented by 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 elected on a platform of reform and restorative justice, which conservative opponents blamed for increased crime and homelessness in LA. In 2022, Gascon requested the reversal of a 1994 death sentence of a 'mentally' ill man who killed two college students, calling the penalty 'racist and morally untenable.' The former DA shocked the family of a slain Los Angeles Sheriff's Deputy when he announced his office would not seek the death penalty. Newly engaged Ryan Clinkunbroomer, 30, was shot dead on September 16, 2023 in an ambushed attack while sitting in his patrol car at a red light. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (pictured) issued a moratorium on the death penalty in 2019, and the last prisoner executed in the state was in 2006 In a special directive, former LA DA George Gascon (pictured) called the death penalty 'inextricably intertwined' with racism and said executions did not deter crime Kevin Cataneo Salazar, a schizophrenic who is charged with killing him, is now facing life in prison. Violent crime rose eight percent over the course of his term, but rose by more in other California counties with DAs not pursuing his type of agenda. Despite this, and Gascon and criminology experts disputing links between his policies and more crime, Hochman hammered him on it throughout the campaign to success in the polls. Opponents of the death penalty slammed Hochaman's decision claiming it is step back for the county. '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 told the LA Times. 'The death penalty doubles down on a system that has disproportionately harmed the poor and communities of color.' When Ronald Reagan was president, the state was ruby red Republican. With a GOP governor, senator and a hefty number of federal and local legislators apart from lefty San Francisco it leaned conservative through the 1980s. Of course, it's quite a different picture today: California is firmly under one-party rule. However, if new polling is to be believed, it may not stay that way forever. A Madison-McQueen survey released on Thursday shows 48 percent of likely California voters say they're likely to vote for a Republican governor in 2026. That's quite a remarkable nearly unbelievable statistic considering GOP voter registration in the state is just 25 percent! But as a lifelong Californian, one of Reagan's former White House pollsters and a political operative who helped President H.W. George Bush win the state in 1988 the last Republican victory there I see the powerful undercurrents that may drive a GOP comeback. Up to the late 1970s, California was neither pure-blue nor red. The state had a liberal governor in Jerry Brown and Democrats controlled the mayor's offices in LA and San Francisco. But certain counties, like Orange in SoCal and the eastern parts of the state, were conservative. The San Francisco Bay area was blue. The rest of the state was politically mixed. Your browser does not support iframes. When Ronald Reagan was president, California was ruby red Republican. (Pictured: Ronald Reagan with his wife Nancy on their Santa Barbara, California Ranch in 1980). But two formidable forces started to shake up California in the late 70s and early 80s. It wasn't a seismic event, but rather a populist scream. Surging property taxes and crime were chasing people out of their homes, thanks to inept politicians spending taxpayer money like drunken sailors while neglecting public safety. The folks who paid the steepest price were middle class folks and seniors like my parents who had little more to their names then their 'nest egg' homes. So, in 1978, Californians rose up and voted for Proposition 13, the Jarvis-Gann tax relief bill, that capped property taxes. This new law was game changer in California politics and its shockwaves were felt across the country. Just two years later, the state overwhelmingly voted for Reagan as president, and two years after that elected a Republican governor . The rising conservative tide rose until the early 1990s, when moderate Democrat Bill Clinton took California seriously and campaigned aggressively in the state, while George H.W. Bush took it for granted. Clinton carried the state and the presidency. And it opened the way for another round of left-wing governance. Democrat governor Gray Davis was elected in 2000 with disastrous results. He blew through a $10 billion surplus, sold out the public energy grid to Enron paving the way for statewide brownouts and jacked up car taxes to stratospheric heights. Once again, California voters revolted and, by popular mandate, recalled Davis and replaced him with Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger. The GOP resurgence was short-lived, and Schwarzenegger was followed by another Jerry Brown term and the incumbent Gavin Newsom. But, none of that means the west's anti-establishment instinct has been extinguished. Democrat governor Gray Davis (pictured) was elected in 2000 with disastrous results. He blew through a $10 billion surplus, sold out the public energy grid to Enron and jacked up car taxes to stratospheric heights. The GOP resurgence was short-lived, and Schwarzenegger was followed by another Jerry Brown term and the incumbent Gavin Newsom. But, none of that means the west's anti-establishment instinct hasn't been extinguished. After years of surging crime (thanks to permissive laws that essentially legalized petty theft, homelessness and public drug use) Californians started throwing out progressive district attornies and began demanding more cops on the streets. President Biden's open border policy, that turned California into a freeway of illegal immigration, further spurned this anger. Even first-generation Hispanic-Americans took offense to the wave migrants who were enrolled in their children's schools and crowded their tight job markets and their neighborhoods, driving rents sky high. Add 'diversity, equity and inclusion' policies - which allowed biological males to use the bathrooms of their choice in elementary schools - and it's not hard to understand why California veered sharply to the right in the 2024 presidential election. While native-daughter Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump by 20 percentage points, Biden had carried the state by nearly 30 points in 2020. Harris won 1.8 million fewer voters than Biden. Of the 58 counties in California, Harris lost a significant voter share in 57 of them, with Trump flipping 10 counties from blue to red, including some very big ones, like Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial. Hispanic Californians typically socially conservative led the charge, with 43 percent voting for Trump in 2024. By contrast, Biden had captured 63 percent of Hispanics in the state in 2020. With a GOP governor, senator and a hefty number of federal and local legislators California leaned conservative through the 1980s. That's all gone now: California is firmly under one-party rule. But if new polling is to be believed that may not last forever Once again, California voters revolted and by popular mandate, recalled Davis and replaced him with Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger (pictured here with George W. Bush) in 2004. While native-daughter Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump by 20 percentage points, Biden had carried the state by nearly 30 points in 2020. Harris won 1.8 million fewer voters than Biden. And it was against this background of simmering political unrest that, in January, the state was hit by one of the worst natural disasters in history a wild fire catastrophe driven by government incompetence, lethargy and arrogance. Rather than ensure the state adequately cleared away flame-fueling debris, or filled it fire-fighting reservoirs or working fire hydrants, California Democrats sank $16 billion into an unfinished high-speed train project that was scheduled to be completed in 2020 and is now projected to cost $106 billion (the original estimate for the project was $33 billion). Rather than develop competent fire department leadership, Los Angeles's mayor was on a junket to Africa, despite fire warnings and on the taxpayer dime no less. You really didn't need a poll to understand the frustration and anger that began foaming through Southern California. Will this all lead to another major political earthquake? Time will tell, but I'll bet a powerful jolt will shake out a good number of the incompetent, ineffective leadership now running state. And, perhaps, history will repeat itself. Acclaimed broadcaster Peter Hitchens has criticised Britain's 'profoundly unfair' honours system on the latest episode of the Alas Vine & Hitchens podcast. Prompted by co-host and Mail columnist Sarah Vine asking Hitchens whether we would ever accept a Lordship, the best-selling author responded by saying he would not want to rub shoulders with the current 'sludge' that sits in the House. The Conservatives are currently in a fight with the government over its plans to totally scrap hereditary peerages, part of wider Labour plans to reform the House of Lords. 'There are people in the House of Lords that I look at and think: why on Earth am I not in it?', Hitchens questioned. 'These are people who I was in the Hampstead Labour party with in the 1970s people with knighthoods used to sit on my sofa in Belsize Park. You must be joking. 'The only reason somebody like me isn't given a peerage is because I am on the naughty list of every major political party. Alas Vine & Hitchens: What's the big idea? Get the Mail's new politics podcast, hosted by columnists Sarah Vine and Peter Hitchens - wherever you listen to podcasts now. 'There are some talented and intelligent people in there, but they are outnumbered by this mass of political sludge.' Hitchens went on to attack the entire honours system, believing it only awards those that are truly worthy with the titles at the 'bottom of the system'. 'The way it operates is profoundly unfair', the broadcaster argued. 'A friend of mine who was very hard working ran a foodbank in my hometown and was awarded an MBE. 'Obviously, awarding people like that is right. But they come in at the bottom of the system, whereas people who frankly are worth very little to anybody are made Barons and Baronesses. It's completely skewed!' Vine then pushed her co-host on whether he'd ever accept a knighthood for services to journalism. Peter Hitchens: 'There are people in the House of Lords that I look at and think: why on Earth am I not in it?' Listen here Sarah Vine: 'I think you and King Charles would really get along.' Listen to Alas Vine & Hitchens here. Hitchens replied that he would never accept an honour from King Charles after the monarch allegedly 'lost his nerve' over a meeting with the author some years ago. He explained: 'The King, when he was Prince Charles, wanted to see me. I waited and then nothing happened. 'Some years later, Tristram Hunt, the former Labour MP revealed in an article that Charles had at that time a couple of Blairite advisors who said to him, you're quite mad, you mustn't meet this man. 'Charles was bullied out of it and that was a failure in my eyes.' Listen to Alas Vine & Hitchens wherever you get your podcasts now. Prince William shared a joke with Clarkson's Farm star Kaleb Cooper before laughing with radio presenter Vick Hope about the aubergine emoji. The labourer and royal bonded today over Mr Cooper's boots at Folly Farm in Pensford, Somerset then went on to discuss some of the challenges currently faced by the industry. It comes after Prince William revealed his new role as patron of We Are Farming Minds, supporting charity aims to help farmers struggling with feelings of isolation and mental health. He reportedly joked his son Prince George of Wales, 11, had told him to tell Kaleb to watch his language. They laughed alongside Charlie Ireland - another star of the show and helper of former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson in the running of his Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire. After the encounter, it wasn't long before the future King was soon chuckling again - this time with TV presenter Vick Hope who brought up a previous comment the royal had made where he stated the aubergine emoji was his 'favourite'. Speaking today surrounded by green pastures and stood on a gravel floor, Prince William said: 'Yes. Thank you for reminding me about that. 'It felt like the environment to do it, not for today maybe.' The labourer and royal bonded today over Mr Cooper's boots at Folly Farm in Pensford, Somerset then went on to discuss some of the challenges currently faced by the industry After the encounter, it wasn't long before the future King was soon chuckling again - this time with TV presenter Vick Hope who brought up a previous comment the royal had made where he stated the aubergine emoji was his 'favourite' Ms Hope affirmed 'that was the Radio 1 capacity' and agreed it was a 'very different setting', while others around her laughed. They were referring to an interview from October 2023 where Prince William joked on BBC Radio 1's Going Home show about his most used emoji - suggesting it was the rather rude aubergine. The royal made the quip while stood next to his wife Kate Middleton, prompting one of the hosts to reportedly say he has a 'dirty mind'. When host Vick Hope asked the Prince and Princess of Wales which of the characters they use most frequently, William quipped: 'Is this a clean thing? Is it a family one?' Meanwhile Kate joked: 'It depends what group, if it's the family WhatsApp group.' William continued: 'I've been told not to pick the aubergine, so I've got to pick something else.' He added: 'It would have been the aubergine, but I'm saying now because I've got to be a little grown up that it's the one with the eyes [that] go up and down, and the mouth.' Revealing her emojis of choice, Kate Middleton said: 'It's got to be the heart, with then the crying emoji, the sort of like hysterical laughing when things go wrong.' The royal appeared to shock the radio hosts by joking about the rather rude emoji during the hilarious interview (pictured: the Prince and Princess of Wales) Show hosts Jordan North and Vick Hope appeared both shocked and delighted at William's response. Jordan said: 'He said the aubergine emoji, this is brilliant.' Meanwhile Vick is reported as saying: 'He knows. He's got a dirty mind.' The conversation then moved on to safer topics, with the royal couple discussing their dinner plans. Mr Cooper and Mr Ireland have ardently protested against Labour's agricultural inheritance tax in the past. Prince William also greeted founders of the We Are Farming Minds charity, Duchy tenants Sam and Emily Stables, who started the organisation in 2020 after Sam attempted to take his own life. The Prince and Princess of Wales had first met the pair in 2023. Prince William, who is landlord to Duchy farming tenants, met with 60 of the landed estate's next generation today and delivered a speech in support of the cause. The new patronage builds on the Duchy's rural mental health strategy, launched in 2023. It comes after Prince William revealed his new role as patron of We Are Farming Minds, supporting charity aims to help farmers struggling with feelings of isolation and mental health Aiming to make the Duchy the leading provider of mental health support to all its tenants, the charity offers a 14-hour support line as well as funding for professional counselling. Speaking last year about the organisation, the Prince stated on his Instagram: 'A conversation for #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek showing just how important the Duchy of Cornwall's Mental Health Strategy is. 'Sam and Will's honest chat about farmers' experiences with mental health highlights the positive outcomes that can be achieved with the right support, whatever form that might take. 'A farmer or not, we hope that you'll be able to take something from this film, Sam's incredible story and his conversation with @farmer_will_ '@wearefarmingminds is being supported by the Duchy Mental Health Strategy to expand, helping more people in rural communities to access the support they need.' A female teacher charged with sexually abusing underage boys raped with one of them while her young son was in the room, police allege. Brittany Fortinberry was also rumored to have been 'having a relationship' with her adopted son, one of her alleged victims told the cops. The depraved behavior forms part of the latest allegations which have been levelled at the Indiana mom. The 31-year-old has already been accused of plying teens with drugs and alcohol, and forcing boys as young as 13 into abusive group sex. One of the most bizarre claims is that she insisted her alleged victims wear a 'Scream' mask during the sessions, a reference to the Ghostface mask worn by the killer in the movie. She was arrested last month and charged with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy and sending explicit messages, pictures and videos to other kids at Eminence High School in Martinsville. Fortinberry now faces a total of 30 counts related to child sex crimes after more alleged victims came forward earlier this month. Among them is a boy who claims he had sex with the teacher while her young son was sleeping nearby. Brittany Fortinberry, a female teacher charged with sexually abusing underage boys had sex with one of them while her young son was in the room, police allege She was initially slapped with five charges, but now faces a total of 30 counts related to child sex crimes after more alleged victims came forward earlier this month Fortinberry, 31, showed her students sex toys and a stripper pole before going on to assault them, court documents allege. Pictured: Fortinberry with her husband Nicholas 'One of her sons was in the room at the end of the bed on a couch,' the boy told police, according to a probable cause affidavit from Morgan County Sheriff's Office Detective Sergeant Patrick Williams. 'Brittanys son really wanted to stay in the room with them [the boy] said, he laid on the couch with Brittanys son while they watched a show and when her son fell asleep he got in bed with Brittany '[The boy] said that Brittany asked him to have sex with her, that he did have sex with her, and that her son was in the room at the end of the bed the entire time.' He described another alleged incident in which Fortinberry's youngest son walked in on the two of them having sex. '[The boy] said it freaked him [Brittany's son] out, and that Brittany didnt care,' the affidavit states. The boy's mom told the police she had previously questioned his relationship with the teacher but that he reassured her there was nothing going on. It was not until weeks later after her son saw the allegations on Facebook that he approached his parents to confide in them. Another boy told police about rumors Fortinberry was involved with her adopted son. 'He mentioned that Brittany wanted him to add her son on SnapChat,' the affidvait reads. One alleged victim told the cops there was a rumor Fortinberry was having a sexual relationship with her adopted son, according to a probable cause affidavit The alleged victims also claimed that Nicholas Fortinberry was aware of the claims about his wife and threatened them if they ever reported them Nicholas has since been charged with intimidation and failure to report The boy claimed that he had sex with Fortinberry whilst her son was asleep on a couch at their home '[The boy] said, there was rumors that Brittany had adopted and she was having a relationship with him. '[The boy said, he was going through a Fortnite phase and thinks that is why Brittany wanted him to add [her son] on SnapChat.' The affidavit contains numerous claims about Fortinberry's online behavior, including allegations she used SnapChat to send nude photographs and videos to her students. Fortinberry was initially charged with three counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, dissemination of matter harmful to a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She was suspended from her position as a substitute teacher with Eminence Community School Corporation after the allegations emerged. After they were made public, five more boys came forward with graphic allegations about Fortinberry and her husband Nicholas Fortinberry, who they claim was aware of what was allegedly taking place in their home. The boys told police that Nicholas threatened to 'slaughter' them if they ever told anyone what was allegedly going on. Nicholas filed for divorce from Fortinberry in February just as the police investigation was beginning, court records show. He has since been charged with intimidation and failure to report. Counselor to the president Alina Habba tore into the press and defended the president's embattled national security advisor minutes after the Atlantic released the full text of the group chat about a military attack that included its editor. Habba, who helped represent Trump in the Stormy Daniels trial and other cases and followed him to the White House and who Trump named to be the next U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, said national security advisor Mike Waltz is doing a 'tremendous' job. 'We're allowed to have communications. That's period the end, and the President spoke to this. We stand by my Mike Waltz, who's doing a tremendous job. I think this is a distraction,' Habba told reporters at the White House. That came hours after Waltz defended himself in an interview on Fox News with Laura Ingraham, while fending off questions about how Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg, who Waltz said he doesn't know, was added to the chat. 'I'm sure everybody out there has had a contact where you - it was said one person and then a different phone number ... if you have somebody else's contact and then somehow it gets sucked in. It gets sucked in. Habba went after the media generally, although she was more restrained than Trump, who called Goldberg a 'total sleazebag' even while acknowledging the weaknesses of using a commercial app by saying 'sometimes somebody can get onto those things.' 'I'm really not going to stand here and answer questions that the better part of yesterday was spent by the people that were actually involved answering,' Habba bristled, pointing to Tuesday's Senate hearing with top intelligence officials. 'We stand by my Mike Waltz, who's doing a tremendous job,' counselor to the president Alina Habba told reporters amid a probe of the group chat being overseen by Trump's national security advisor Michael Waltz 'I was not a part of that conversation, but I will say this: we need to be looking at all the good things that we're doing, and every time to come out and to speak to the press and have it be a negative spin. It's much like what I've done for the better of four years. The negative spin needs to stop.' Habba got asked if Goldberg could be held liable for publishing the contents of the group chat, now that CIA Director John Ratcliffe and others said the information was not classified. 'If you look at it, we have classifications, we have declassified conversations, and we're also allowed to use signal for top level official communications,' the former Trump lawyer said. 'We also have other means of communications that were used. And again, I'll speak to that. But this is, I'm not here to defend the Atlantic. It's a typical thing where a journalist is trying to make a name for himself, and I think he's making quite the name for himself,' she continued. Habba represented Trump during several of his personal legal battles. He is appointing her to be U.S. attorney in New Jersey We stand by my Mike Waltz, who's doing a tremendous job. I think this is a distraction,' Habba told reporters She spoke after the release of the entire text chain released new operational details about the ongoing mission to hit at Houthi targets in Yemen. 'More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package)' Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth,' as the attacks were underway. 'Strike Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier Trigger Based targets),' he wrote five minutes later. 'F-18 2nd Strike Starts also, first sea-based Tomahawks launched,' went another Hegseth update. Her admonitions aside, the story showed no sign of going away, as Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Ratcliffe faced new questions before the House Intelligence panel. In her new prepared answer as the story swirled, Gabbard offered a new description of the material that the administration says was not classified. 'The conversation was candid and sensitive,' she said. The identity of an Arizona man arrested at the scene of a grisly murder was revealed to be the brother of the gunned down victim. Christopher Eaves, 49, is facing first-degree murder and burglary charges in connection to the March 21 death of his brother, James 'Artie' Eaves. James, 51, a high-profile attorney at Sanders & Parks law firm, was found face-down in the driveway of his Phoenix home around 8 am on Friday, according to a probable cause statement. Based on evidence found at the scene and inside Christopher's home, law enforcement officials now suspect it was Christopher who shot and killed the prominent attorney. Officers discovered substantial damage to James' garage door and broken glass from the home's patio door, the statement reads, adding that officers also found five shell casings in the driveway and one inside the home. According to the statement, a witness told police he was walking down the street when he heard a 'single gunshot, followed by several additional gunshots.' 'Within 30 seconds the witness saw a white BMW SUV vehicle driving northbound,' according to the statement. 'The witness described the driver as being either bald or short-haired male.' James 'Artie' Eaves, 51, a high-profile attorney at Sanders & Parks law firm, was found face-down in the driveway of his Phoenix home around 8 am on Friday, according to a probable cause statement The identity of an Arizona man arrested at the scene of a grisly, gun-wielding murder was revealed to be the brother of the bloodied victim, Christopher Eaves, 49. Pictured: Christopher Eaves (left) stands alongside his parents at the scene of his brother's murder Christopher Eaves, 49, is facing first-degree murder and burglary charges in connection to the March 21 death of his brother The witness, who has not been named, was also able to confirm the Arizona license plate number, which was linked to Christopher Eaves. City of Phoenix Police said officers were executing a search warrant at the crime scene when Christopher arrived along with his parents. Home surveillance video allegedly showed a BMW backing into the garage door before pulling forward and coming to a stop. Christopher was then allegedly seen exiting the vehicle wearing a dark hooded shirt with a logo on the left breast, a patch on the right sleeve and a large graphic on the back. He was then seen removing a firearm from his left waistband area, per the statement. Phoenix Police said Christopher then allegedly walked towards the home, near Camelback Road and 44th Street, with the firearm. Investigators later discovered a hoodie, matching the one seen on the home surveillance video, inside Christopher's parent's vehicle, according to the probable cause statement obtained by People. However, another surveillance video details James arriving at his home, noticing the BMW in the driveway and entering the house anyway. Police also allegedly discovered the 40-caliber firearm used in the murder in Christopher's bedroom perched atop his bedside table. 'The firearm was on top of the nightstand,' the statement reads. 'The firearm had one round chambered, the hammer was cocked back, and the safety was on. The headstamps on the chambered cartridge and the magazine matched the headstamps on the casings at the scene.' City of Phoenix Police said officers were executing a search warrant at the crime scene when Christopher arrived along with his parents Investigators later discovered a hoodie, matching the one seen on the home surveillance video, inside Christopher's parent's vehicle, according to the probable cause statement Christopher was detained at the scene and now faces a first-degree murder charge, which if convicted in the state of Arizona, demands a lifetime prison sentence or the death penalty. He was also accused of burglary, according to the document. His parents told investigators that their son suffers from mental illness but did not know if he had been officially diagnosed with a mental disorder. According to the filing, Christopher was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the alleged crime. During his initial court appearance on March 24, a judge set a cash bond for cold-blooded killer at $1.5 million. Christopher claimed he was 'never Mirandized' or read his Miranda rights. However, the judge said that some people have a misconception that not being read Miranda rights can do away with charges. He told Christopher that the 'evidence gathered has nothing to do with Miranda.' Christopher was then ordered by the judge to have 'no contact' with his parents because they are James' next of kin. His next court appearance is set for March 27. James' shocking death struck a chord within the community as many have since aired their grievances online. 'Artie Eaves was a dear friend and colleague to so many of us at the Maricopa County Atty's Office,' Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell wrote on X. 'Today's tragedy has not yet sunk in but one thing is for certain: Artie will be deeply missed. I am praying for his entire family and would ask others to do the same.' 'This tragedy has left us shattered. Words cannot adequately express the depth of this loss,' Sanders & Parks President Robin Burgess said in a statement provided to The Arizona Republic. Four US Army soldiers have reportedly been found dead the day after they were reported missing during a training exercise in Lithuania. The four servicemen, who have not been identified by authorities, were with the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. Early reports indicate that the soldiers may have been traveling in an M88 recovery vehicle, one of the largest armored vehicles used by the US military, which may have fallen into a body of water. The soldiers had been reported missing at around 4:45pm Tuesday following a training exercise near Pabrade, Lithuania, sparking a widespread search conducted by the US Army and Lithuanian authorities. The soldiers were reportedly carrying out a tactical training routine at the General Silvestras Zukauskas training ground in Pabrade, which is less than six miles from the border with Belarus. The Lithuanian Armed Forces said Wednesday that they had identified a 'possible location' of the missing soldiers and their vehicle. The military said in a statement that 'a search and rescue operation is underway, led by the Lithuanian Armed Forces, with additional capabilities from the Fire Protection and Rescue Department and other institutions.' Officials have not offered any details regarding how the soldiers or their vehicle went missing nor the manner of their reported deaths. Four US Army soldiers have been found dead after being reported missing during a training exercise in Lithuania. Military forces are pictured in Vilnius, Lithuania in 2024 Reports indicate that the soldiers may have been traveling in an M88 recovery vehicle (pictured in 2022), one of the largest armored vehicles used by the US military, which may have fallen into a body of water The US military was performing joint-training exercises with Lithuanian forces amid rising tensions between Baltic nations and Russia. Lithuania, along with neighbors Latvia and Estonia, have often had tense ties with Russia since declaring independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. All are members of NATO. Relations in the region worsened following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has been one of the most vocal European leaders supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian President Vladimir Putins forces. In a press release issued before the soldiers were reportedly found, Lt. Gen Charles Costanza said he 'would like to personally thank the Lithuanian Armed Forces and first responders who quickly came to our aid in our search operations.' 'Its this kind of teamwork and support that exemplifies the importance of our partnership and our humanity regardless of what flags we wear on our shoulders,' Costanza added. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda been one of the most vocal European leaders supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia. He is pictured embracing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on March 6, 2025 The search included the deployment of helicopters from the Air Force and State Border Guard Service. The US Army has not commented on the soldiers' deaths, and previously said the soldiers were on a 'scheduled tactical training at the time of the incident.' This is a developing story and will be updated as information is confirmed. A creepy man tried to distract a mother at a Walmart in Georgia by asking her where he could find Tylenol so he could try to snatch her two-year-old son, she claimed. Caroline Miller was shopping with her son Jude and her four-year-old daughter when Mahendra Patel, 56, approached her inside the Walmart in Acworth on March 18. At the time, Miller had allowed her daughter to ride the motorized scooter in the store, but just before they were done shopping, the device stopped working in the pharmacy aisle. That's when Patel approached the mother and her children and asked Miller for help locating the pain medication, but when she released one arm from Jude, Patel tried to take him from her, it is alleged. 'When I pointed my arm out this way to say this is where it was, that is when he reached down, put both of his hands on Jude, and grabbed him out of my lap,' Miller told WSB-TV. Miller quickly realized what the man was really after and immediately fought back, trying to release her toddler from the man's grip. 'Im like "No, no, not a, what are you doing?" He pulled him. I pulled him back. Were tug of warring,' the mother recalled. Patel soon gave up, bought the Tylenol and left the store, Miller said. But bombshell new footage released by Patel's lawyer in April appears to disprove Miller's claims, amid allegations Patel was only trying to help her avoid dropping her child. Caroline Miller was shopping with her son Jude (pictured) and her four-year-old daughter when Mahendra Patel, 56, tried to snatch him from her arms, she alleged Patel (pictured) asked Miller where he could find the Tylenol, but when she raised her arm to show him, he grabbed the child and tried to take him, Miller claimed Miller, who was left in complete shock from the situation, said: 'We saw him checking out, but before we could really do anything, he was gone.' Three days after he fled the store, police tracked Patel down and arrested him thanks to FLOCK cameras - technology that picks up vehicle data, including license plates and physical descriptions of cars - in the parking lot. 'We were able to see what car he got into, we used our flock cameras in the city, was able to get a tag number and track him down,' Sgt. Eric Mistretta with the Acworth Police Department told the outlet. Patel was arrested and is facing multiple charges, including kidnapping, simple assault and simple battery, according to jail records reviewed by DailyMail.com. As of Wednesday, he remains in custody at Cobb County Jail without bond. Jerimiah Walker, Jude's father and Miller's fiancee, told FOX 5 how horrified he was to hear about their experience. 'Terrifying though I can't even imagine not having him. Keep them very close,' Walker said of his family. He said he hopes the terrifying incident makes others more aware of their surroundings. Miller's version of events has since been cast into doubt by bombshell new footage that appears to show Patel was innocent and did not try to snatch her toddler Three days after he fled the store, police tracked Patel down and arrested him thanks to FLOCK cameras in the parking lot (pictured) 'If you see something like that happening, you scream immediately. You call attention, you call for help and scream as loud as you can. 'That way if anything were to happen, people are looking, people are paying attention.' Meanwhile, Miller said she wishes Walmart had stronger security measures in place. She has since taught both her children how to defend themselves if they are ever in that type of situation again. 'She knows to scream now,' Miller said of her daughter. 'He knows to kick and bite to get away,' she added, referring to her son. A spokesperson with Walmart declined to comment on the incident, but told DailyMail.com that the company 'works with local law enforcement' in situations like this. 'The safety of our customers and associates is a top priority and we are continuing to work closely with police through this investigation,' they added. DailyMail.com contacted the Acworth Police Department for comment. Donald Trump dismissed the contents of the messages contained in a Signal chat where his top intelligence, national security and defense officials were discussing attack plans on Yemen. The president insisted nothing was 'compromised' in the group chat, which The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg became privy to before the attack was carried out this month. Goldberg published on Wednesday morning screen grabs of the entire conversation he was inadvertently added to in the encrypted communications app. It showed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sharing a detailed and precise timeline and the weapons systems that would be used to carry out a targeted attack on a 'terrorist threat' in Yemen on March 15. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz was the one who added Goldberg to the chat, but it was later revealed that it was one of his staffers who mistakenly put the journalist into the Signal group. Trump provided a near-real time reaction on Wednesday morning when he joined by-phone conservative podcast host Vince Coglianese to discuss the update. 'It is bizarre,' Trump said of the fact that Goldberg was the one added to the chat. 'And he's a sleazebag at the highest level It's too bad we give him a little boost like this.' 'But somebody in my group he just screwed up or it's a bad Signal,' Trump continued. 'Seems to be maybe came in with a staffer and it was by accident, from what we can tell.' President Donald Trump said a staffer 'screwed up' by adding a journalist to a group chat on Signal where officials were discussing attack plans on Yemen It appears that a staffer for National Security Advisor Mike Waltz was the one who mistakingly added The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeff Goldberg to a the 'Houthi PC small group' chat in Signal Asked about the screen grabs of the 'Houthi PC small group' chat, Trump downplayed the contents of what was revealed. 'There weren't details, and there was nothing in there that compromised and it had no impact on the attack, which was very successful. It was a very, very successful attack and it was an attack that Biden should have done three years ago,' Trump said. He suggested that an 'innocent staffer' was responsible for Goldberg getting access to the chat, but insisted it's 'not a big deal.' 'A thing like that, maybe Goldberg found a way maybe there's a staffer, maybe there's a very innocent staffer, but I think we'll get to the bottom of it very quickly and it's really not a big deal,' he told Coglianese. Hegseth joined a chorus of other officials who were on the chat denying this week that any classified information was shared. Director of National Security Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe told the Senate Intelligence Committee just hours before the latest update that no secret material was shared on the Signal chat. They reiterated those claims at their hearing in the House on Wednesday, with Gabbard saying it was 'sensitive' but not 'classified.' Hegseth, a former Fox News host, on March 15 texted other senior cabinet officials about precise timings and weapons systems used in strikes on Yemen between 31 minutes and two hours before they were carried out. He inadvertently leaked in the chat precision details including when F-18s would launch a 'first strike package', the type of MQ-9 drones that would be deployed and the exact moment 'the first bombs will definitely drop.' The bombshell new messages Goldberg shared in his follow-up article include Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (pictured) detailing the weapons systems and timings of the strikes before they were carried out earlier this month One bombshell message shows Hegseth detailing a timeline and weapons systems to be used in an attack on 31 minutes before the first U.S. warplanes launched and two hours before the window to take out a Houthi 'terrorist target' on March 15 Hegseth ensured they were 'clean on OPSEC' or operational security and said more on the timeline would follow Just moments after Hegseth sent the message with a full upcoming timeline, Waltz changed the setting of the Signal chat so the messages would automatically disappear after four weeks. 'Godspeed to our Warriors,' Hegseth wrote in one message in the chat that mistakenly included Goldberg. Trump's team is already trying to spin and discredit the new report, claiming it's a 'hoax,' and that the update proves that they sensationalized the initial publication of the Signal chat by calling it 'war plans' and are now trying to rebrand as 'attack plans.' 'The Atlantic has already abandoned their bulls*** 'war plans' narrative, and in releasing the full chat , they concede they LIED to perpetuate yet ANOTHER hoax on the American people,' White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich wrote. He added: 'What scumbags!' And Trump's Press Secretary wrote: 'The Atlantic has conceded: these were NOT 'war plans.' 'This entire story was another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well-known for his sensationalist spin,' Karoline Leavitt added. NSA Waltz added Goldberg to the group chat and was appeared to kick-off a discussion on carrying out a Houthi attack. Marco Rubio labeled MAR in the chat was added after Goldberg Hegseth even stunned his former Fox News colleague Brit Hume when he brought into question the authenticity of the group chat messages shared by Goldberg. The Pentagon chief even suggested that the leader of the Atlantic newsroom was completely fabricating the story in continuing to push the 'fake news' narrative. '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 told a reporter as he traveled in Hawaii this week. Hume posted to social media a video of Hegseth's remarks and noted: 'Oh for God's sake, the administration has already confirmed the authenticity of the message.' The veteran Fox News political analyst was referring to a statement from National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes, who in the article commented on the record. 'This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain,' Hughes wrote. He added: '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.' Hegseth claimed that Goldberg has played 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 claims in his follow-up report: 'If this text had been received by someone hostile to American interestsor someone merely indiscreet, and with access to social mediathe Houthis would have had time to prepare for what was meant to be a surprise attack on their strongholds.' 'The consequences for American pilots could have been catastrophic.' Waltz set messages to disappear after four weeks in the Signal chat after Hegseth provided a detailed timeline of the Yemen attack. Shortly after, he updated the team that a building collapsed with the target inside DNI Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe were among those in the Signal group chat they appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday for an aptly-timed hearing on worldwide threats Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, who were both in the already-infamous Signal chat, were part of a Senate hearing on worldwide threats on Tuesday. The timing of the public questioning was right after the initial Atlantic report revealing the use of a communications app to discuss specific plans to bomb Yemen. Gabbard and Ratcliffe alongside FBI Director Kash Patel were asked about the chat during the hearing and repeatedly denied that any classified information was discussed. 'There was no classified material that was shared in that Signal group,' Gabbard told members of the Senate Intelligence Committee. The chat was initiated by National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and inadvertently included Goldberg, who published a story on the chat only after the attack was carried out in Yemen. Waltz, during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Tuesday, vehemently denied that any classified discussions took place in the chat. Trump said he had continued faith in his NSA. President Donald Trump is taking aim at his former foe, MSNBC legal analyst Andrew Weissmann, in a recent bombshell executive order, slamming the lawyer as 'unethical.' The Executive Order, signed on Tuesday, accuses Weissmann's former firm, Jenner & Block, of threatening public safety, limiting constitutional freedoms, and negatively impacting the quality of American elections. The order specifically names Weissmann, who left the firm in 2021 and served as a deputy to special counsel Robert Mueller during the federal investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. The order claimed that Weissmann was recently re-hired at Jenner, but the firm clarified that he hasn't worked there in years. Trump accused Weissman of 'engaging in partisan prosecution as part of Robert Mueller's entirely unjustified investigation,' adding that he had a career 'rooted in weaponized government and abuse of power.' 'The numerous reports of Weissmann'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 read. When signing the executive order, Trump's White House staff secretary Will Scharf explained that the intention was to target law firms engaging in unethical practices, citing the hiring of Weissmann. 'And Andrew Weissmann is the main culprit with respect to this firm?' Trump asked before calling his foe a, 'bad guy.' Andrew Weissmann's former law firm was targeted in a recent executive order, claiming the firm threatens public safety Trump called Weissmann a 'bad guy' when he signed the executive order at the White House The order directed his administration to revoke security clearances for Weissmann and lawyers with Jenner. It also required that government contractors must disclose if they conduct business with the law firm. Trump claimed in the order that Jenner engages in 'obvious partisan representations' and accused the firm of racial discrimination. Jenner was also accused of supporting 'attacks against women and children based on a refusal to accept the biological reality of sex' and obstructing efforts to prevent illegal immigration. The law firm is currently involved in litigation representing an environmental group accusing the Environmental Protection Agency of illegally freezing grant money. Jenner also worked with other firms to block the Trump Administration from preventing healthcare providers from offering gender-affirming care to minors. Weissmann was a partner with the firm before joining Mueller's team in the investigation into Russian interference. He's also served as the Chief of the Fraud Section in the Department of Justice and General Counsel for the FBI. Weissmann served as a deputy to Special Counsel Robert Mueller in the investigation on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election Weissmann's former firm, Jenner & Block, has worked with firms to block the Trump Administration from preventing healthcare providers from offering gender-affirming care and defended an environmental group against the EPA. Pictured: Kyle Freeny (C) and Andrew Weissmann (R) leave court in Washington D.C in 2017 Weissmann was a lead prosecutor in the case against Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort Weissmann led the case against Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who was sentenced to over seven years in prison for conspiring to violate foreign lobbying laws during the 2016 election before he was pardoned. He left the Justice Department in 2019 to become a professor at New York University and a political pundit. Weissmann is frequently featured on MSNBC as a legal analyst and co-hosts a podcast called, Prosecuting Donald Trump. He wrote a New York Times bestselling novel on his time working on the investigation into election interference, titled, Where Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Investigation. Weissmann has been a vocal critic of Trump, appearing on MSNBC earlier this month to criticize the president's politicization of the law. The lawyer even commented on Trump's tirade against law firms, to which MSNBC's Ali Velshi noted Weissmann was 'one of the lucky ones' who hadn't yet been named by the president. A prior executive order, issued on March 14, targeted another law firm called Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. Weissmann recently appeared on MSNBC to discuss Trump's executive orders targeted at law firms before he was named in one Weismann is a legal analyst on MSNBC and has frequently expressed criticism for the president on the network In response to the restrictions set forth by the order, the firm struck a deal with the administration and agreed to provide $40 million in legal aid to support Trump's agenda of eliminating anti-Semitism on college campuses. The executive orders are a part of Trump's agenda to crack down on 'big law' firms that he claims jeopardize 'American interests.' A spokesperson for Jenner & Block said in a statement to DailyMail.com, 'Jenner & Block has had a long history representing clients, paid and pro bono, in their most difficult matters since 1914. '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.' A 'wicked stepmother' accused of abusing her son while keeping him captive for 20 years in her Connecticut home has turned up to court wearing striking make-up and a low-cut blouse. Kimberly Sullivan donned large sunglasses, red lipstick, thick eyeliner and a pearl-colored necklace with a pinstripe blouse for her brief hearing at Superior Court in Waterbury on Wednesday. Dozens of reporters and paparazzi surrounded the 56-year-old, who is charged with assault, kidnapping, and cruelty, as she approached the courthouse beside her attorney Ioannis Kaloidis. She did not respond to their questions. Kaloidis guided her by the hand towards the entrance as she fixed her gaze straight ahead and they marched through the media scrum. Sullivan has said she is not guilty of any offenses and was released on a $300,000 bond this month. The victim, her now-32-year-old stepson, has not been named. She removed her sunglasses while inside the courtroom, revealing thick black eyeliner and rouge cheeks similar to the make-up she wore in her police booking photograph. Sullivan stood beside her attorney and listened with her eyebrows raised as he requested more time to prepare her defense. The judge did not allow Sullivan to enter a plea. He gave her defense team two days to respond to a motion to modify her bail. Kimberly Sullivan donned large sunglasses, red lipstick, thick eyeliner and a pearl-colored necklace with a pinstripe blouse for her brief hearing at Superior Court in Waterbury CT Sullivan, who is accused of abusing her son while keeping him captive for 20 years in her Connecticut home, turned up to court wearing striking make-up and a low-cut blouse She removed her sunglasses while inside the courtroom, revealing thick black eyeliner and rouge cheeks similar to the make-up she wore in her police booking photograph (shown above) 'I have yet to see the motion. It is my understanding they wish to add some kind of electronic monitoring or GPS bracelet,' Kaloidis told the court. Sullivan is accused of subjecting her stepson to a 20-year campaign of cruelty and starvation at their Waterbury, CT home. The alleged victim has accused her of holding him captive in a room there without heat or air conditioning or proper access to food since he was 11 years old. He said Sullivan also deprived him of access to a bathroom, so he devised ways to dispose of his waste, including using a series of straws that led to a hole in a window. The man added that he saved some of his daily ration of two small water bottles to bathe without soap and cut his own hair. Pieces of his teeth would even break off when he did eat because of a lack of dental care. Neighbor Zeffney Guarnera - whose daughter once mistook the victim for a ghost - previously told DailyMail.com he didn't even realize Sullivan had a son. He also slammed her striking appearance when asked what she did for work. I have no clue what she did for work, I just know she dressed like a tramp,' he told DailyMail.com. She just dressed very provocatively for an older woman. Like why are you trying to dress like youre 22? Kimberly Sullivan (pictured on the far right) donned large sunglasses, red lipstick, thick eyeliner and a pearl-colored necklace with a pinstripe blouse for her brief hearing at Superior Court in Waterbury on Wednesday Pictured: Sullivan at a previous court hearing in mid-March. She has said she is not guilty Sullivan's alleged cruelty ended February 17, when her stepson set fire to the house in a deliberate effort to save himself and told his story to responding police and firefighters, according to the arrest warrant. Police are now trying to determine how this could have happened without anyone noticing and whether any warning signs were missed. Investigators want to look at records from city schools and the state child welfare agency, Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said at a news conference earlier in March. Though she is yet to enter an official plea, her lawyer Kaloidis has said that she is not guilty. 'I would encourage people not to rush to judgment,' he said in a phone interview earlier this month. 'This woman is presumed innocent.' The alleged victim's father died last year, while his biological mother has not been part of his life, authorities said. Medical personnel said the man was near starvation and had wasting syndrome, a condition of weight loss and muscle deterioration, when he got to a hospital, the warrant says. At five feet, nine inches tall he weighed only 69 pounds. Pictured: the Waterbury, Connecticut home where the alleged victim said he was held captive He was treated for smoke inhalation and diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Spagnolo said the man faces a long road of physical and mental treatment. He said police are supporting him, including taking up a collection to buy him clothes and other items. The man told police that he was constantly hungry. When he was in school, he would ask classmates for food, steal food and eat out of the garbage. In later years when he was out of school and confined to the house, he would get two sandwiches a day and some water while locked in his room. The police's only interactions with the family were in 2005, the chief said. One was a welfare check after children who attended school with him before he was pulled out expressed concern about him. Sullivan is set to appear in court again on Friday, when she will enter a formal plea. Chancellor Rachel Reeves today announced further welfare cuts as she confirmed changes for personal independence payment (Pip) and Universal Credit. The Office for Budget Responsibility found steps to cut welfare set out earlier in March would save 4.8billion after 'final adjustments' by the Government. But this was short of the 5billion envisaged by ministers and came after Ms Reeves confirmed her original cost-cutting plans would have saved 3.4billion. At her Spring Statement today, the Chancellor said the Universal Credit standard allowance will increase from 92 per week in 2025-26, to 106 per week by 2029-30. It had previously been expected to rise to 107 per week by that year. Meanwhile the Universal Credit health element - sometimes called incapacity benefits will be cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants. As for Pip, this is aimed at helping disabled people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland with the increased cost of living associated with their conditions. But applicants will need to score a minimum of four points in at least one activity to qualify for the daily living element of the benefit from November 2026. Ms Reeves said the Government 'inherited a broken system' on welfare, adding: 'More than 1,000 people qualify for personal independence payments every single day and one in eight young people are not in employment, education or training. 'If we do nothing, that means we are writing off an entire generation. That cannot be right. It is a waste of their potential and it is a waste of their futures.' Separately, the Government is looking at scrapping the Work Capability Assessment for Universal Credit - the process currently used to determine eligibility for incapacity benefit payments based on someone's fitness for work. It will instead be replaced from 2028 by a single assessment considering the impact a person's disability has on daily living, rather than their fitness to work. Here, MailOnline looks at what the changes could mean for you monthly income: Chancellor Rachel Reeves leaves 11 Downing Street in London before today's spring statement What is Pip? Personal Independence Payment (Pip) is a tax-free benefit aimed at helping the disabled with the increased cost of living associated with their conditions. Pip is currently paid to 3.6million across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, a similar benefit is called the Adult Disability Payment. Who can get Pip? Pip is available to those who have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability as well as difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of their condition. Pip can be paid even to people who are working, have savings or are getting most other benefits. It is not means tested. What is changing to Pip? Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall confirmed earlier this month that the Government will legislate for a change to the assessment for the benefit. She said people will need to score a minimum of four points in at least one activity to qualify for the daily living element of the benefit from November 2026. Ms Kendall also promised to consult with disabled people and organisations representing them, to ensure the process is 'fit for purpose now and into the future'. But she added that the Government will not freeze Pip, as had been rumoured. How does Pip work? There are two parts to Pip 1) the daily living part, if someone needs help with everyday tasks; and 2) the mobility part, if they need help with getting around. Whether they get one or both parts and how much they get depends on how difficult they find everyday tasks and getting around. Anyone nearing the end of life such as from a life-limiting illness will automatically get the daily living part but the mobility part depends on their needs. How much can you get from Pip? There is a lower and a higher weekly rate for the daily living part, which is 72.65 and 108.55 respectively. For the mobility part, the rates are 28.70 for the lower and 75.75 for the higher. Pip is normally paid every four weeks. Your browser does not support iframes. What points number will you need to score for Pip? From November 2026, claimants will need a minimum of four points to be scored on one of the 'daily living activities' used to assess Pip claims in order to receive the daily living element of the benefit. What are the criteria for Pip assessment? The Government states that people might get the daily living part of Pip if they need help with: preparing food eating and drinking managing your medicines or treatments washing and bathing using the toilet dressing and undressing reading managing your money socialising and being around other people talking, listening and understanding Advertisement Daily living activities are classed as 'preparing food', 'eating and 'drinking', 'managing your medicines or treatments', 'washing and bathing', 'using the toilet', 'dressing and undressing', 'reading', 'managing your money', 'socialising and being around other people' and 'talking, listening and understanding'. Currently, someone who receives between eight and 11 points in total will get the daily living part of Pip at a standard rate. If they get at least 12 points, they get the daily living component at an enhanced rate. But Labour aims to restrict entitlement to the daily living component to only those who are more severely disabled. For example, to score four points on 'washing and bathing', a claimant 'needs assistance to be able to wash their body between the shoulders and waist'. The Government said their planned changes would mean 'that people who only score the lowest points on each of the PIP daily living activities will lose their entitlement in future'. There will also be no changes to eligibility for the mobility part. How is the assessment done? The Department for Work and Pensions assesses how difficult someone finds daily living and mobility tasks, and will look at four areas for each task. These are 'whether you can do it safely', 'how long it takes you', 'how often your condition affects this activity' and 'whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment'. Your browser does not support iframes. How is the assessment changing? The Government said it will increase face-to-face assessments for Pip to 'improve the quality of assessment decision while ensuring we continue to meet the needs of those with who may require a different method of assessment'. Ministers also intend to set out broader reforms to the assessment, after carrying out a review involving experts and stakeholders to adapt and improve it. What about those who will lose Pip? The Government said Pip will now be targeted more on those with higher needs by requiring a minimum of four points on one daily living activity, in addition to the existing eligibility criteria. The Department for Work and Pensions will work with Department of Health and Social Care on the changes. They say they want to ensure that 'existing people who claim Pip who may no longer be entitled to the benefit following an award review under new eligibility rules have their health and eligible care needs met'. The Government added that it is now consulting on how best to achieve this. The benefits bill has been going up and the Institute for Fiscal Studies expects this to continue Why is Pip being changed? The number of people receiving one PIP has risen rapidly over the past five years and the Government believes this is now becoming unsustainable. The number of working-age people receiving Pip has more than doubled from 15,300 to 35,100 a month since the pandemic. The number of young people aged 16 to 24 receiving Pip per month has also skyrocketed from 2,967 to 7,857. The Government believes that over the next five years, if no action is taken, the number of working age people claiming Pip will increase from 2million in 2021 to 4.3million, costing 34.1billion annually. What is happening to Universal Credit? Universal Credit is a payment to help with someone's living costs, and they may be able to get it if they are on a low income, out of work or they cannot work. The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) is the process currently used to determine eligibility for incapacity benefit payments under Universal Credit based on someone's fitness for work. But the Government said it plans to scrap this in 2028, to be replaced by a single assessment considering the impact a person's disability has on daily living, rather than their fitness to work. Those applying for extra financial support for health conditions including Pip, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit (Health) - will instead therefore only face one assessment, based on the existing Pip system. Your browser does not support iframes. Chancellor Rachel Reeves also said today that the Universal Credit health element - sometimes called incapacity benefits - would be cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants. Elsewhere, the Universal Credit standard allowance will increase from 92 per week in 2025-26, to 106 per week by 2029-30. It had previously been expected to rise to 107 per week by that year. The Government is also consulting on delaying access to the health top-up in Universal Credit until someone is 22 years old 'so every young person is earning or learning, and on a pathway to success'. Your browser does not support iframes. What else is changing? There is also going to be a consultation on raising the age at which young people can move to Pip from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for Children, from 16 to 18. A Harrods stock room controller who stole more than 15,000 worth of designer goods escaped jail after a judge agreed London was very expensive and he could not make ends meet. Marco Taffoni took at least six Bottega Veneta handbags while working at the iconic store between November 2023 and July 2024, and made up to 5,000 selling them on. The 29-year-old had lost his job with Italian high fashion house Fendi before he began working at Harrods, and claimed he stole the bags because of the cost of living crisis. Judge Sarah Paneth agreed that London is a very expensive place and suspended his six-month jail sentence for a year. Taffoni worked at the Bottega Veneta counter at the world famous Knightsbridge store as a stock controller and was caught when he tried to leave with a handbag hidden inside his own rucksack, which was inside a sealed Waitrose bag. He had attempted to leave the store without paying for the bag, Aesha Baral, prosecuting, told Isleworth Crown Court. He then admitted to police that he had taken a number of bags previously, since around November 2023.' Taffoni sold the stolen bags using an online platform named Vestiaire Collective, and his barrister said he was now in a position to repay the store for its losses in full. Marco Taffoni took at least six Bottega Veneta handbags while working at the iconic store between November 2023 and July 2024, and made up to 5,000 selling them on. Harrods is an iconic Grade II listed luxury department store on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge He is willing and able to do so,' Libby Anderson, defending, said. Ms Anderson said her client expressed very real remorse and that he is bitterly ashamed. It was his reaction to finding himself under significant financial pressure. Of course that does not excuse it. He has been brought back to his senses with a sharp jolt, she added. Taffoni has since found work at a different store, the court heard. Judge Paneth told Taffoni: Although this is a very serious offence, what is impressive is that you made an immediate confession. I have no doubt you feel real shame for what you have done. London is a very expensive place and you could not make ends meet having lost your job at Fendi as a store controller, in I believe 2021.' Taffoni was also helping support a friend who had also lost his job at Fendi, the judge said. This was committed at a time of intense stress for you. There are very good reasons to think this is not going to reoccur, she added. I appreciate that you might not have told your future employers. It might come to light. I have every confidence this will not be repeated. I very much hope that I am not wrong about this.' Taffoni, from Barnet, north London, must perform 100 hours of unpaid work and 10 days of rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) and was ordered to pay 11,740 compensation with a victim surcharge of 154. He had previously admitted one count of theft by employee. This is the shocking moment two drivers hit each other with a metal pole during a road rage brawl on a busy high street. Footage which has gone viral on social media shows the pair clashing in the middle of a road in Erdington, Birmingham. A woman wearing a black jacket and grey trousers appears to start the confrontation and wallops a lorry driver with the long stick. He then charges at her, grabs the hood of her jacket and tries to pry the metal pole out of her hands. The pair start wrestling on the ground near the lorry, before the HGV driver manages to snatch the stick and hit her back. At this point, bystanders quickly rushed into the middle of the road to break up the fight. The clash took place on Erdington High Street in Birmingham, with the video posted on X on March 22. West Midlands Police said they have not received a report about the incident, but urged anyone to come forward. This is the shocking moment two drivers hit each other with a metal pole during a road rage brawl on a busy high street Footage which has gone viral on social media shows the pair clashing in the middle of a road in Erdington, Birmingham A spokesperson for the force said: 'We are aware of a social media video showing disorder on Erdington High Street. 'While no one has come forward to report the incident, we are keen to hear from anyone with information. 'Contact Live Chat or 101, quoting log 1094 of 24 March.' It comes after a cyclist wielding a bike lock smashed a car's windscreen on the streets of London during a heated road rage incident last week. Footage shows the man walking around a stationary black vehicle near a bus station in Elephant and Castle with the lock in hand. He then smashes the back windscreen with the metal contraption before swinging it at another man who attempted to approach him. The incident is said to have taken place on Rotherhithe Street in London on Friday, March 22, at around 4.25pm. Several members of the public can be seen surrounding the car as the cyclist appears to chase a man around the vehicle. Footage shows a cyclist wielding a bike lock smashed a car's windscreen on the streets of London during a heated road rage incident last week The incident is said to have taken place on Rotherhithe Street in London on Friday, March 22, at around 4.25pm There are screams and gasps when the rear windscreen is smashed with several people seen filming the incident One person can be heard saying 'can you please stop', while another asks 'what are you doing?' A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: 'Police were called to an altercation between a driver and a cyclist on Rotherhithe Street, Elephant and Castle at 16:25hrs on Friday, 22 March. 'It is reported a cyclist hit the drivers car from behind, and then proceeded to remove a bike tool from his bike and smash the car windscreen. 'We are aware of reports circulating of the altercation. We remain in contact with the victim. 'Anyone who witnessed the incident, or has any information or footage is asked to call 101 or post on X @MetCC quoting CAD 3618/22Mar. The row at Sentebale intensified today as the charity founded by Prince Harry two decades ago issued an extraordinary statement which effectively distanced itself from him, instead praising 'people in the field'. The Duke of Sussex dramatically quit as patron last night amid a boardroom battle, with the chairwoman then appearing to criticise him for 'playing the victim card'. Dr Sophie Chandauka alleged there had been 'poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir'. Now, in its first comment on social media since Harry's departure, the charity has issued a message playing down the importance of trustees, patrons and founders. The loaded statement, entitled 'Led by the Mission', said: 'It's the incredible teams on the ground - our staff and local partners - who bring our mission to life every day, walking alongside the children and young people we serve. 'While trustees are key for governance and regulation, and patrons - especially founders - are an honour to have, it's the people in the field who are advancing the work, no matter what. 'Our commitment to supporting youth in Southern Africa with better health, stronger livelihoods, and climate resilience remains as strong as ever. The work continues because they deserve nothing less.' Harry founded charity Sentebale in honour of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to help young people and children in southern Africa, particularly those living with HIV and Aids. The 'Led by the Mission' statement issued by Sentebale on social media this afternoon Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Prince Harry at a children's centre in Lesotho in October 2024 But several trustees have left the organisation in a dispute with Dr Chandauka, having requested her resignation. The Times reported that the dispute allegedly arose around a decision to focus fundraising in Africa, although a source told MailOnline that the row is in fact due to a loss in trust and confidence in the chair. It comes just under a year after Dr Chandauka was involved in an awkward moment with Harrys wife Meghan Markle at a polo event raising funds for Sentebale. In a joint statement, the duke and Prince Seeiso backed the departing trustees and said they had resigned as patrons until further notice. In response, Dr Chandauka appeared to criticise the duke for going to the press, adding: 'There are people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people.' She said in a statement: 'Everything I do at Sentebale is in pursuit of the integrity of the organisation, its mission, and the young people we serve. Prince Harry and Ntoli Moletsane at the Pointmain Health Facility in Lesotho in October 2024 '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.' She also claimed she had reported trustees to the Charity Commission and that the High Court had issued an emergency injunction to prevent her removal. However, a source told MailOnline that no such injunction had been issued. Dr Chandauka added: '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. 'I could be anyone. I just happen to be an educated woman who understands that the law will guide and protect me. I will say nothing further on this matter at this time.' Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Dr Sophie Chandauka with Harry in Lesotho in October last year Harry meets the community at Matlameng - Ha Mahlehle, in Leribe, Lesotho, in October 2024 In their statement confirming their decision to resign as patrons, the duke and Prince Seeiso said: '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. Full statement issued by Sentebale today 'Led by the Mission' 'It's the incredible teams on the groundour staff and local partnerswho bring our mission to life every day, walking alongside the children and young people we serve. 'While trustees are key for governance and regulation, and patrons - especially founders - are an honour to have, it's the people in the field who are advancing the work, no matter what. 'Our commitment to supporting youth in Southern Africa with better health, stronger livelihoods, and climate resilience remains as strong as ever. The work continues because they deserve nothing less.' Advertisement '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.' Harry spent two months in the kingdom of Lesotho during his gap year when he was 19 in 2004, which inspired him to establish the charity two years later, which now also works in Botswana. He came face-to-face with Aids orphans, met other traumatised young people and visited herd boys living a harsh existence looking after cattle in remote mountain areas. The duke visited Lesotho and the prince as recently as last October, where he talked to a group of young people around a campfire about the 'massive difference' Sentebale was making. He was also pictured with Dr Chandauka at a charity polo event in Florida in April 2024 to benefit Sentebale. Former trustees Timothy Boucher, Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, Dr Kelello Lerotholi, and Damian West also released a statement saying their decision to resign was 'devastating' but was the 'result of our loss in trust and confidence in the chair of the board'. The duke and Prince Seeiso, who are understood to have resigned at the same time as the trustees, said they would be 'sharing concerns' with the Charity Commission. They 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 they've had to follow through with this act. Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso at the Pointmain Health Facility in Lesotho in October 2024 Prince arrives for a visit to Matlameng in the Leribe region with Sentebale in October last year 'What's transpired is unthinkable. We are in shock that we have to do this, but we have a continued responsibility to Sentebale's beneficiaries, so we will be sharing all of our concerns with the Charity Commission as to how this came about. '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.' Sentebale said it had not received resignations from either of the royal patrons and said the 'recalibration of the board is part of Sentebale's ambitious transformation agenda'. Harry's role at Sentebale was one of a small number of private patronages he retained after he was stripped of his royal patronages and honorary military positions by the late Queen in 2021 after his departure from the working monarchy was confirmed for good a year after 'Megxit'. The Charity Commission said it is 'aware of concerns about the governance' of Sentebale. 'We are assessing the issues to determine the appropriate regulatory steps,' the commission said in a statement. Donald Trump's embattled Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired back at Democrats who are demanding he resign over revelations he shared precise details of a military strike on an unsecured group messaging app. The resignation calls came after Hegseth shared details of a planned military strike against Houthi terrorists in Yemen in a group chat that included a journalist from The Atlantic magazine. In a blistering response Hegseth wrote on social media: 'So, let's me get this straight. The Atlantic released the so-called 'war plans' and those 'plans' include: No names. No targets. No locations. No units. No routes. No sources. No methods. And no classified information. Those are some really sh***y war plans.' The Atlantic published the texts after White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz mistakenly added the magazine's editor Jeffrey Goldberg to a discussion about a military strike in Yemen. But Hegseth mocked Goldberg's characterization of the information in the texts as a 'war plan.' 'This only proves one thing: Jeff Goldberg has never seen a war plan or an 'attack plan' (as he now calls it). Not even close,' Hegseth wrote on X. Hegseth said he and his team were currently visiting commanders in the United States Indo-Pacific Command and talking to members of the armed forces. 'We will continue to do our job, while the media does what it does best: peddle hoaxes,' he wrote. A chorus of Democratic senators on Wednesday called on Hegseth to resign immediately after details of the chats emerged. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visits Kane'ohe Bay, Hawaii as Signal scandal escalates Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego claimed he had been careless by sharing sensitive information on Signal, an unsecured messaging platform. 'The Signal incident is what happens when you have the most unqualified Secretary of Defense we've ever seen,' wrote Kelly on X. 'We're lucky it didn't cost any servicemembers their lives, but for the safety of our military and our country, Secretary Hegseth needs to resign,' he added. 'This could have gotten our men and women killed!' Gallego wrote on social media. He added. 'The Secretary of Defense needs to resign. The incompetence and cover up is embarrassing.' On March 15 Hegseth texted a 'Team Update' to the Signal group of senior Trump administration officials revealing in advance the times and weapons systems of the planned military strikes. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) calls for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to resign U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) listens as U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) teamed up to demand Hegseth resign 'This is when the first bombs will definitely drop,' Hegseth texted, revealing the timing of the operations that included F-18s and sea-based Tomahawk missiles. Hegseth has repeatedly claimed that he did not share 'war plans' in the chat, an assertion that the White House again pressed on Wednesday after the texts were published. 'No locations. No sources & methods. NO WAR PLANS,' Waltz wrote on X, adding that, 'foreign partners had already been notified that strikes were imminent.' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt attacked The Atlantic for suggesting that Hegseth had shared 'war plans' in the Signal thread. 'The Atlantic has conceded: these were NOT 'war plans,' she wrote. 'This entire story was another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well-known for his sensationalist spin.' President Trump addressed the issue in a radio interview with host Vince Coglianese on Wednesday morning, describing Goldberg as a 'sleaze bag at the highest level.' 'Somebody in my group, he just screwed up or it's just a bad signal,' Trump said and added, 'There weren't details and there was nothing in there that compromised. A top environmentalist is calling for the remains of mansions along the California coastline devastated by the recent fires to be cleared. Gary Griggs, an oceanographer and coastal geologist, said for those picking up the pieces from the January inferno to think twice about rebuilding their homes. In Malibu alone, there are over 300 families who lost their properties along Pacific Coast Highway and are now in the process of saving their livelihoods. Speaking with the LA Times, Griggs said: 'I think we suffer from what I call a short disaster memory. We want to get in there and build and rebuild as fast as we can. 'But the impermanence of coastal construction is not something most people are interested in hearing about.' According to the outlet, Griggs is the only person willing to actually speak about the alternative idea - remove the homes rather than build again. Those who have decided to stick it out and rebuild include those who inherited the homes, and have most of their wealth tied to the property leaving them with no choice but to start construction. Others in Malibu include the likes of Bella Hadid and Mel Gibson, who both lost their homes in the infernos that killed 29 people. In this aerial view taken from a helicopter, burned homes are seen from above during the Palisades fire in Malibu Slide me The iconic mansion where Bella Hadid grew up, seen here, was tragically destroyed by the wildfires raging across Los Angeles A spiral staircase stands amidst the smoldering skeleton of a house destroyed by the Palisades fire along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, on January 8, 2025 Dean Wenner and his wife Denise had fallen in love with the five bedroom home that overlooked the Santa Monica Bay when they first set eyes on it in 2015. To return it to its former glory however they face significant milestones due to policy in the state. Gary Griggs is calling for those picking up the pieces from the January fires to think on rebuilding their homes Due to the ocean being so close, the tides and waves have been pulling the charred remains of their home into the bay. Seawalls are also now heavily damaged, with fears growing that the iconic Highway 1 could be exposed to even more erosion. On top of this, hundreds of septic systems remain buried underneath the debris, with tanks left unexamined and going unpumped for months. This is compounding fears that human waste could be potentially leaking out into the ocean. Engineers have told those in the area they cannot access the tanks until the remains are cleared. Homeowners are now facing the possibility of installing bigger and better tanks on their properties, which can cost as much as $250,000. On top of this, new fireproofing measures required of homes in the states will be required in the rebuilds. Due to the ocean being so close, the tides and waves have been pulling the charred remains of their home into the bay On top of this, hundreds of septic systems remain buried underneath the debris In order to protect them and their septic tanks from ocean encroachment, the homes will need to propped up higher, and the seawalls made even stronger. Residents have started to band together to call on the city to consider building a sewer network, something which has plagued the local council for decades. Mayor Doug Stewarrt told the outlet: 'Its really top of mind, because its Malibu and protecting the environment is part of our mission statement. 'We want to get people back in their houses, and with the sewer system there are major hurdles. 'Lets not kid ourselves and think we can wait three or four or five years to get a sewer system and then start rebuilding homes.' Wenner told the LA Times: 'The reality is, the fire should have never made it over here. 'Somebody took something from us. That never should have happened. And now we just want it back.' Some homeowners are now resorting to banding together to share the expenses, which includes the likes of seawalls, according to the outlet. Doug Burdge, a local architect, added: 'For all of that, a homeowner might have spent millions before they have spent even one dollar on the house itself. 'Its easy to require all this, but who is paying for it?' Governor Gavin Newsom has took on a bit of the burden when he ordered the waiver of the California Environmental Quality Act and the state Coastal Act. He issued an order to cut red tape and directed the California Coastal Commission (CCC) to not get in the way of permitting requirements following the wildfires. The CCC have looked downed on seawalls which they say has shown to increase erosion, any resistance to seawalls was quashed by Newsom with his order. A SoCal Gas employee looks at the destruction during aftermath of the Palisades Fire along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu Griggs said that current predictions point to only further challenges along the entire coast as time goes on. Some projections put sea level rising as high as 9 feet by the end of the century, with more extreme weather and bigger waves also anticipated. His call for what is described as a 'managed retreat' would not be the first of its kind, with those along the waterfront in Staten Island, in New York, selling up to the government following Hurricane Sandy in 2009. California Senator Ben Allen had also won approval for a bill in 2021 that would have seen low interest loans given to local governments to buy up buildings facing the risk of falling into the ocean. His plan was to then lease out the homes at market rent to help repay the loan and then demolish the buildings once the ocean could no longer be held at bay. The idea had been to convert the land into open space or public parkland. Newsom vetoed the bill. Michael Wellborn, board president of the California Watershed Network, told the Times that he didn't believe in an aggressive approach to buying the land. He added: 'There are some people who will feel its too risky to stay in place. So it might be prime time for [a nongovernmental organization] to acquire some of that land for open space and preservation.' Amanda Knox has been savaged by Instagram critics after she complained that her 'incredible fling' with an Italian lover was cut short - because she was arrested over the murder of Meredith Kercher. She told Interview magazine she was '100 per cent pro a summer fling' and lamented that it was 'tragic' that her romance with Raffaele Sollecito, her co-accused in Ms Kercher's murder, was 'very much cut short'. Knox and Sollecito were arrested and charged with the murder of Leeds student Ms Kercher, 21, who was found dead on the floor of her room in Perugia, Italy in November 2007, her body bruised and her throat cut. It was Knox, then 20, who had discovered Kercher's bedroom door locked and blood in their bathroom, but after police in Italy noticed her acting oddly she became a suspect. American student Knox would later say she had been forced to implicate both herself and Patrick Lumumba, the owner of a bar she worked at under pressure and threat from Italian police. Mr Lumumba was released without charge. An Ivorian migrant, Rudy Guede, was arrested after his bloodied fingerprints were found at the scene; he was convicted of the murder and sexual assault of Ms Kercher, and was released from prison in November 2021. But the now 37-year-old and her Italian lover were also initially convicted of the murder in 2009 - amid a global media frenzy. The press dubbed her 'Foxy Knoxy' and Italian prosecutors suggested the 21-year-old had been killed in a sex game gone wrong. Amanda Knox has lamented that her 'incredible fling' with Raffaele Sollecito (above, with Knox) was 'cut short' when they were arrested over the murder of Meredith Kercher Ms Kercher, an exchange student from Leeds, was found dead in a house in Italy in 2007 with bruises and her throat cut Ms Knox was the subject of intense media scrutiny at the time of the trial (pictured 2011), as Italian prosecutors sought to prove that Ms Kercher died in a sex game gone wrong Knox spent a total of four years behind bars after being convicted of murder, sexual violence and faking a break-in while she and Sollecito, 23 at the time, fought to clear their names. Following a retrial, both were ultimately acquitted in 2015. The European Court of Human Rights found that the police deprived her of a lawyer and provided a translator who acted more as a mediator, breaching her rights. Knox said to Interview of her fling with Sollecito: 'I am 100 per cent pro a summer fling, especially when you're young and discovering yourself. 'And you know what? Raffaele was an incredible fling. I think one of the many, many tragic things about the story is that Raffaele's and my romance was very much cut short.' The interview in the Andy Warhol-founded magazine also discussed her relationship with true crime media ('complicated'), Italian food and prison food, studying abroad ('still pro') and the court of public opinion. 'No rules exist in the court of public opinion and therefore it is the wild west and very, very brutal and capricious,' said Knox, who is now a mother-of-two. Interview posted an excerpt the article to its Instagram, where the story was given a withering reception. 'Totally sucks your summer fling was cut short bc you were arrested for your roommate's murder,' said one commenter. I've never believed that she committed the crime... but she never seems to put a spotlight on her murdered roommate,' said another. 'It always seems to be musings about her relationship or lost youth. Now as a mother you would think her empathy would give her a different perspective on the loss of that young girl.' Knox's comments about her 'cut short' summer fling were shared on Interview Magazine's Instagram - to a dismal reception Rudy Guede, an Ivorian migrant, was found to have been responsible for the murder and sexual assault of Meredith Kercher and served 13 years in prison Meredith Kercher had been living in Perugia, Italy on an exchange scheme from the University of Leeds She became known as 'Foxy Knoxy' during the trial amid intense media interest in the killing Raffaele Sollecito pictured in 2011. He was also exonerated of the killing in 2015 after the murder was pinned on Rudy Guede by way of DNA evidence The house in Perugia where Meredith Kercher had been living - and where she was ultimately found dead The American was also convicted of slander after implicating bar owner Mr Lumumba in the killing. It was upheld after an appeal last summer, and following a ruling by Italy's highest court in January. She maintains she is innocent. Since being released she has since written two books about, as the blurb for one describes, 'the story of her personal growth and hard-fought wisdom'. The latter, Free: My Search for Meaning, promises to recount the 'gripping saga' of her internment while under suspicion of murdering British student Ms Kercher, whose name does not appear in the autobiography's publicity materials. Ms Kercher's family lawyer, Francesco Maresca, has said of the new tome: 'It seems the initiatives of Knox continue to be inappropriate and disrespectful towards the memory of Meredith. 'It's evident that for Knox the Perugia trial continues to be a source of income and a series of opportunities to maintain her name in the media. Ms Knox, after so many years, should respect the silence and memory.' She nevertheless maintains that she is 'haunted' by Ms Kercher's spirit, in a 'benevolent' way, 'reminding me of the value of life'. She told People magazine this month: 'Any expression of life in my life is seen as an offense to the memory of my friend who got murdered.' Elsewhere, she has recently claimed she was 'groped' by a prison guard and forced to strip naked while she was held on remand over Ms Kercher's death. She has also detailed her unlikely friendship with Giuliano Mignini, the Italian prosecutor who fought to have her locked up in the first place. Patrick Lumumba, who owned a bar where Knox worked, was falsely implicated in Meredith Kercher's death by Knox, who has a slander conviction to her name as a result Amanda Knox is now a mother-of-two, and records a podcast on 'getting lost and finding your way again' with her husband Knox told the Guardian they now share personal news, family photographs and send holiday greetings to each other, after developing a friendship. But her real reason for the improbable friendship is to try to extract a confession from him that he got it wrong. Mignini, now 74, still maintains that at the time he was prosecuting her he believed she was guilty. She had initially been jailed for 26 years for her alleged part in the student's death, until DNA evidence placed Guede, a known petty crook, at the scene. Guede has since been investigated by Italian police over allegations he abused a former partner. He, however, claims he has been persecuted by police since the killing. He said on social media last year: 'In a case where investigations are still ongoing, where checks are being made, where the person under investigation has not yet been sent to trial, he is condemned to a media pillory.' Knox and Sollecito have met up several times since they were cleared of Ms Kercher's murder, while Knox returned to the US in 2011 and now campaigns on behalf of the wrongly convicted. She and her husband Christopher Robinson now record a podcast, Labyrinths, described as telling 'stories of getting lost and the resilience and personal growth it takes to find your way again'. She told the Guardian of her reason for continuing to speak about her wrongful conviction: 'People say, why are you continuing to tell your story? Why are you continuing to elevate and platform yourself? And to that I would simply say, "Because this is my story. This is all I have, and I think that it's valuable not just valuable to me, it's valuable to other people."' President Donald Trump publicly lauded National Security Advisor Mike Waltz as a 'good man' who will continue to do a 'good job' during an event at the White House on Tuesday. But behind the scenes, the 47th president wasn't nearly so generous. Trump was upset when he found out it was Waltz who had accidentally included The Atlantic's Editor-in-chief Jeffery Goldberg on a group text chat where top officials planned an attack on Houthi terrorists in Yemen. 'The president was p***ed that Waltz could be so stupid,' a source told Politico. Trump was said to be particularly furious that Waltz had Goldberg's number in his phone, as the president has a particular distaste for the journalist. It was Goldberg who had reported in September 2020 that Trump called fallen American soldiers 'suckers' and 'losers.' A source also said that Waltz's relationship has long been strained with the president's inner circle. MAGA loyalists already view Waltz skeptically as he previously worked for a prominent 'neocon' - former vice president Dick Cheney. President Donald Trump (left) was angrier at National Security Advisor Michael Waltz (right) then he let on during an event with his ambassador picks at the White House on Tuesday, according to a report from Politico Another source told Politico the president has found the entire fiasco 'embarrassing.' Two months and six days into the Trump 2.0 administration and this is the first major scandal involving leaks - an issue that plagued the president's first term. In the hours following The Atlantic's first release of messages on Monday, Waltz appeared most likely to take the fall. Now, Democrats are calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's head over some of the information revealed in The Atlantic's Wednesday release of texts. Trump vouched for Waltz Tuesday at a White House meeting with ambassadors and said not-perfect technology was to blame. '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.' The president also said in an interview with NBC that it was one of Waltz's aides who inadvertently added The Atlantic's editor-in-chief to the war-planning 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 his orders, would have had Goldberg's phone number if they weren't acquainted. Waltz said: '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.' A female prison governor dubbed a 'rising star' had a relationship with a drug dealer who gave her a 12,000 Mercedes after she released him on licence, a court heard. Kerri Pegg, 42, was seen as a promising future leader in the prison service, quickly climbing the career ladder from graduate entrant to jail governor in six years, Preston Crown Court heard. But Pegg 'didn't play by the rules' and while governor at HMP Kirkham in Lancashire began a relationship with an inmate Anthony Saunderson, who gave her the coupe car bought with drugs, it is alleged. When police raided her home in Orrell, Wigan, they found a toothbrush with his DNA on it, jurors heard. Barbara-Louise Webster, opening the case for the prosecution, told the jury of seven women and five men: 'Despite her success she didn't play by the rules that everybody else had to follow. 'Her downfall was two-fold, the first, despite having a good income, she lived beyond her means. 'She spent all her income and more, incurring debts and she had county court judgements made against her. 'As a consequence, she became vulnerable and open to exploitation. Kerri Pegg (pictured), 42, was hailed as a 'rising star' in the prison service. However, she is accused of having a relationship with a drug dealer inmate who gave her a 12,000 Mercedes after she released him on licence Pegg 'didn't play by the rules' and while governor at HMP Kirkham in Lancashire began a relationship with an inmate Anthony Saunderson (pictured) 'The second was that she became emotionally and personally involved with a serving prisoner, Anthony Saunderson and later accepted an expensive car, a Mercedes C class, which was paid for by him out of his proceeds of criminal activity ie. trading in drugs.' Pegg denies two counts of misconduct in a public office, one by having a relationship with Saunderson and the second by failing to disclose county court judgements about her debts. She also denies one count of possessing criminal property, the Mercedes car, from Saunderson. Pegg joined the prison service in 2012 as a graduate entrant, working at prisons including, Risley, Liverpool and Styal and by April 2018, was a governor at HMP Kirkham, where Saunderson was reaching the end of a lengthy sentence for drugs offences. But from the start of her time at the jail there were concerns about Pegg being inappropriately close to prisoners, jurors heard. It was noted she spent a lot of time in her office with Saunderson and in October 2018, he put in a request to be released on temporary licence. Though such requests are routine there are clear and very specific rules for how they should be dealt with - rules which Pegg broke, Ms Webster said. She did not have authority to approve the release, but intervened and approved the application without notifying the official who should have dealt with it, it is alleged. Pegg denies two counts of misconduct in a public office, one by having a relationship with Saunderson and the second by failing to disclose county court judgements about her debts Pegg was a governor at HMP Kirkham (pictured) at the time of the alleged offences Days later she was moved to another jail, later becoming duty governor at HMP Lancaster Farms. Saunderson was released from prison in May 2019 and in early 2020, was using an Encrochat encrypted mobile phone, used by serious, organised criminals to send messages and secretly communicate. When the system was cracked by law enforcement agencies it showed Saunderson was involved in massive drug trafficking. He has since been convicted for those offences. But other messages also showed the 'ongoing nature' of his relationship with Pegg, the court heard. On April 6 2020, Saunderson was sent a message on Encrochat saying 'car her for ya bird 12 quid or work' and a photo of the black Mercedes coupe. The '12 quid' meant 12,000 and 'work' meant drugs. Saunderson asked 'what work they want' and he was told 'top or weed' - that is, cocaine or cannabis. Pictured is Pegg, who is also the deputy chief executive of a homelessness charity in Wigan Pegg (pictured outside of court) joined the prison service in 2012 as a graduate entrant, working at prisons including, Risley, Liverpool and Styal Two days later Saunderson arranged for '17 packs' to be dropped off in Manchester to pay for the car, it is alleged. The Mercedes was then registered to Pegg at her home on April 11 2020 and a message to Saunderson from a friend read: 'where u ya seedy man u and Peggy out floating orrel in the new whip?' Pegg was arrested at her home on November 19 2020, with police finding expensive items of designer clothes. They also found a toothbrush and a pair of flip flops at her flat. Both items were found to have mixed DNA samples on them, matching the DNA of Pegg and Saunderson. And paperwork seized showed Pegg was the subject of a number of county court judgements for unpaid debts. As well as being a prison governor, Pegg is also the operations director and deputy chief executive of homelessness charity, The Brick, in Wigan. The trial continues. Democrats are livid with how the Trump administration has handled the leaked Signal chat on Yemen war plans and have accused top officials of lying to lawmakers and the American people. Trump national security officials have insisted there was no classified information shared in the high level group chat on military strikes after The Atlantic reporter Jeffery Goldberg was accidentally included in the app conversation. But on Wednesday, The Atlantic published the texts that included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sharing an update on timing of strikes and aircrafts. After the chat was published, Democrats seized on the content of the texts and slammed Trump officials for claiming it did not include classified information. They also pointed to the testimony of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and others who went before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday and argued they had lied before the committee. 'Well, more of the texts have been released and its clear: the Trump admin lied in our hearing. Its time for people to resign,' wrote Senate Intelligence Committee ranking member Mark Warner (D-Va.) on Wednesday in a post. 'Well, they lied. Obviously,' former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg posted on X after the texts were released. 'Secretary Hegseth needs to resign. If there is zero accountability for this level of incompetence; if there are no repercussions when our top national security leaders are caught lying to the American public, our nation's credibility is destroyed,' wrote Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). Democrats accused the Trump administration of lying about the Signal group chat after The Atlantic released texts from it In a House Intelligence Committee hearing on Wednesday, Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) slammed Gabbard, Ratcliffe and the top Trump officials to their faces for lying to Americans. The idea that this information if it was presented to our committee would not be classified, you all know is a lie, he said. Thats ridiculous. Ive seen things much less sensitive presented to us with high classification, and to say that it isnt is a lie to the country,' he continued. At the same hearing, ranking member Jim Himes noted that Senator Martin Heinrich asked if the Signal chat included weapons packages, timing or targets the prior day. When Heinrich had asked about the content of the chat Tuesday before it was released, Ratcliffe also said he was not aware of the Signal chat including information about a weapons package, targets or timing. Gabbard said same answer and referred the New Mexico senator to the Department of Defense. Himes then read the message from Hegseth detailing the strikes timing that was released Wednesday morning. He asked the witnesses to reflect on their answers from the previous day. Gabbard insisted her answer on Wednesday was based on her recollection or 'lack thereof' of the details posted. She also argued she was not directly involved in that part of the Signal chat, basically throwing the defense secretary who sent the information under the bus. Himes asked if in two weeks she had just forgot it was in the chat. I did not recall the exact details,' Gabbard pushed back. A text from Hegseth sent to the Signal group chat that detailed the timing of strikes released by The Atlantic on Wednesday It came up multiple times throughout Wednesday's House hearing with Gabbard doubling down as well as noting she was traveling at the time. Congressman Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) asked Gabbard if she stood by her testimony before the Senate, noting she also told Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) she did not recall the discussion including info on targets and timing. 'Yes, I stand by that response, Gabbard said. Obviously the release of the screenshots that came from that chat group today were a refresher on what happened,' she added. As I said earlier, I was not involved with that part or that portion of the chat, so it did not come to my recollection yesterday,' she continued. Gomez noted that the discussion was only 10 days ago. 'Something of this magnitude, it's something you would not forget. It's something that most people if you're taking this job so seriously, that you would not forget,' Gomez said. 'The "do not recall" doesn't pass the smell test,' he argued. 'It's unbelievable that that was the case.' Gabbard was pressed by House Democrats over her testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee the day before after she said she did 'not recall' content of the call. She and other witnesses were repeatedly asked if they stood by their previous testimony It came after Kelly pressed national security officials on the content of the signal chat at the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday. He asked if there was any mention of a target in Yemen. I dont remember any mention of specific targets,' Gabbard said. She said she believes there was discussion around targets in general. Kelly pressed about whether there was mention of a weapon or weapon system. I dont recall specific weapon systems being named,' Gabbard said. I dont recall specific names of systems of weapons being used. Asked the same question, the CIA director agreed. I dont recall, Ratcliffe said. Kelly asked about timing being mentioned in the group chat. I dont recall specific timing, Gabbard said. She said she would not get into the details, but she said there was a significant amount of planning and discussion prior and outside of the chat. However, while Democrats have accused officials of lying about the content of classified material, Republicans in the House hearing repeatedly suggested no classified info was included backing up the Trump administration. They asked if there were 'war plans' or 'sources and methods' discussed on the chat. Trump officials insisted there were not. Thousands of Palestinians marched between the wreckage of a heavily destroyed town in northern Gaza on Wednesday in the second day of anti-war protests, with many chanting against Hamas in a rare display of public anger against the militant group. The protests, which centered mainly on Gaza's north, appeared to be aimed generally against the war, with protesters calling for an end to 17 months of deadly fighting with Israel that has made life in Gaza insufferable. But the public calls against Hamas, which has long repressed dissent and still rules the territory months into the war with Israel, were rare. In the town of Beit Lahiya, where a similar protest took place Tuesday, about 3,000 people demonstrated, with many chanting 'the people want the fall of Hamas.' In the hard-hit Shijaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City, dozens of men chanted 'Out, out out! Hamas get out!' 'Our children have been killed. Our houses have been destroyed,' said Abed Radwan, who said he joined the protest in Beit Lahiya 'against the war, against Hamas, and the (Palestinian political) factions, against Israel and against the world's silence.' Ammar Hassan, who took part in a protest Tuesday, said it started as an anti-war protest with a few dozen people but swelled to more than 2,000, with people chanting against Hamas. 'It's the only party we can affect,' he said by phone. 'Protests won't stop the (Israeli) occupation, but it can affect Hamas.' The militant group has violently cracked down on previous protests. This time no outright intervention was apparent, perhaps because Hamas is keeping a lower profile since Israel resumed its war against it. Thousands of Palestinians marched between the wreckage of a heavily destroyed town in northern Gaza on Wednesday in the second day of anti-war protests In the town of Beit Lahiya, where a similar protest took place Tuesday, about 3,000 people demonstrated, with many chanting 'the people want the fall of Hamas.' Palestinians gather to protest against the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, in Gaza City, 26 March 2025 Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim, in a post on Facebook, wrote that people had the right to protest but that their focus should be on the 'criminal aggressor,' Israel. Family elders from Beit Lahiya expressed support for the protests against Israel's renewed offensive and its tightened blockade on all supplies into Gaza. Their statement said the community fully supports armed resistance against Israel. 'The protest was not about politics. It was about people's lives,' said Mohammed Abu Saker, a father of three from the nearby town of Beit Hanoun, who joined a demonstration Tuesday. 'We want to stop the killing and displacement, no matter the price. We can't stop Israel from killing us, but we can press Hamas to give concessions,' he said. A similar protest occurred in the heavily destroyed area of Jabaliya on Tuesday, according to witnesses. One protester in Jabaliya, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said they joined the demonstration because 'everyone failed us.' They said they chanted against Israel, Hamas, the Western-backed Palestinian Authority and Arab mediators. They said there were no Hamas security forces at the protest but scuffles broke out between supporters and opponents of the group. Later, they said they regretted participating because of Israeli media coverage, which emphasized the opposition to Hamas. One protester in Jabaliya, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said they joined the demonstration because 'everyone failed us' Palestinians protest to demand an end to war, chanting anti-Hamas slogans, in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip March 26, 2025 They said there were no Hamas security forces at the protest but scuffles broke out between supporters and opponents of the group Earlier this month, Israel halted deliveries of food, fuel, medicine and humanitarian aid to Gaza's roughly 2 million Palestinians Palestinians hold signs and chant slogans against Hamas during anti-war protests in a rare show of public anger against the militant group that rules the territory, in Deir al-Balah Gaza Strip, Wednesday, March 26, 2025 Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz urged Palestinians to join the protests. 'You too should demand the removal of Hamas from Gaza and the immediate release of all Israeli hostages. That is the only way to stop the war,' he said. A 19-year-old Palestinian, who also spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution said he planned to join demonstrations on Wednesday. His mother has cancer and his 10-year-old brother is hospitalized with cerebral palsy, and he said the family has been displaced multiple times since their home was destroyed. 'People are angry at the whole world,' including the United States, Israel and Hamas, he said. 'We want Hamas to resolve this situation, return the hostages and end this whole thing.' The protests erupted a week after Israel ended its ceasefire with Hamas by launching a surprise wave of strikes that killed hundreds of people. Earlier this month, Israel halted deliveries of food, fuel, medicine and humanitarian aid to Gaza's roughly 2 million Palestinians. Israel has vowed to escalate the war until Hamas returns the 59 hostages it still holds - 24 of them believed to be alive. Israel is also demanding that the group give up power, disarm and send its leaders into exile. Hamas has said it will only release the remaining captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The war was triggered by Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack into Israel, in which Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251. Children were seen witnessing the protests, with some joining Israel has vowed to escalate the war until Hamas returns the 59 hostages it still holds Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 50,000 people, according to Gaza's Health Ministry Israel's bombardment and ground operations have caused vast destruction and at their height displaced some 90% of Gaza's population Rights groups say both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas violently suppress dissent, quashing protests in the areas they control and jailing and torturing critics Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 50,000 people, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many were civilians or combatants. Israel's bombardment and ground operations have caused vast destruction and at their height displaced some 90% of Gaza's population. Hamas won a landslide victory in the last Palestinian elections, held in 2006. It seized power in Gaza from the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, dominated by the secular Fatah movement, the following year after months of factional unrest and a week of heavy street battles. Rights groups say both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas violently suppress dissent, quashing protests in the areas they control and jailing and torturing critics. A plane passenger has been arrested after he was allegedly caught masturbating during a SWISS Air flight. The suspect, 33, is accused of touching himself in front of other passengers during Flight LX918 from Zurich to Dresden, Germany on Monday morning. A fellow passenger notified cabin crew that the man had his hands in his pants around 7.40am, roughly halfway through the 73-minute flight, Blick reports. The shocked passenger approached a flight attendant and requested that her seat be moved. Crew members issued a warning to the man, but it reportedly took repeated requests before he stopped the engaging in the inappropriate act. The Dresden Federal Police took the suspect, identified only as being a German national, into custody upon landing. He reportedly admitted to having 'been active' in the presence of two female passengers, but told police he was not aware that he had done anything wrong because he 'did not expose his genitals'. He is currently under investigation for causing a public nuisance. A German man, 33, is accused of masturbating from his seat during a SWISS Air flight from Zurich to Dresden, Germany on Monday morning The Dresden Federal Police took the suspect into custody upon landing. He is currently under investigation for causing a public nuisance Police confirmed the incident in a statement to Blick, stating that officers responded to an 'unusual incident that exceeded the bounds of good behaviour' on Monday morning. A SWISS spokesperson also told MailOnline: 'We can confirm that an incident occurred on our flight LX918 from Zurich to Dresden on Monday, 24 March. 'One of the flights passengers behaved in an inappropriately intimate manner during the flight. The crew issued a warning to the passenger concerned. 'On arrival in Dresden the passenger was handed over to the authorities.' MailOnline has approached police for comment. The incident comes just months after the airline was embroiled in scandal after crew members leaked CCTV a footage of a mile-high romp in November. The footage showed a couple engaging in oral sex in the galley of a Swiss Air plane during 12-hour-long flight from the Thai capital Bangkok to Zurich The video was taken by cockpit-controlled security cameras on the flight, but later filmed and shared by members of the crew. A SWISS spokesperson said at the time that crew, upon spotting the session on camera, should have 'intervened directly' and not filmed it. The footage sparked a Swiss Air investigation into privacy 'violations', with airline officials promising to identify and discipline the staff responsible for recording the video without the couple's permission and posting it on social media. President Donald Trump blasted 'left-wing billionaires' for being behind the attacks on Tesla lots as he defended DOGE chief Elon Musk. The president also argued those wealthy liberals were behind his state and federal indictments. He discussed the matter in an interview on NewsMax. Newsmax's Greg Kelly brought up the 'Tesla violence,' asking the president: 'Have you heard anything about billionaires on the left, whether it's Soros or somebody else? Have you heard anything about planning, coordination, funding for these attacks?' 'I believe that is part of it. Yeah,' Trump said. ' There are some of them that were involved with my trials that were, I think, probably involved with that also. And you know, Elon has done a very good job.' President Donald Trump sat down with Newsmax's Greg Kelly Violence and vandalism have been occurring against Tesla vehicles and sales lots for months amid anger over CEO Elon Musk's work at the Department of Government Efficiency, where he has ruthless slashed agencies and fired federal workers. The FBI created a task force intended to 'crack down on violent Tesla attacks,' the agency announced Monday. 'This is domestic terrorism. Those responsible will be pursued, caught, and brought to justice,' director Kash Patel said. Anti-Tesla incidents have happened in at least nine states, according to the bureau. Meanwhile, it's unclear exactly who Trump was thinking of when he blasted liberal billionaires. Billionaire philanthropist George Soros, however, has long been a bogeyman for the far right. And Trump's indictment in New York unleashed a new flurry of conspiracy theories about Soros. Trump supporters claimed the Jewish financier was influencing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who led the grand jury indictment of Trump over a hush money payment to a porn star. The online chatter was sparked by donations Soros made to the criminal justice group Color of Change, which endorsed Bragg for DA in 2021. Michael Vachon, a spokesman for Soros, told AFP the billionaire 'has never met, spoken with, or otherwise communicated with Alvin Bragg.' Tesla CEO Elon Musk is leading Trump's DOGE effort Violence against Tesla lots has occurred in at least nine states - above a Tesla lot in Las Vegas where several vehicles were set on fire Trump has attacked liberal billionaire George Soros on many occasions Trump has attacked Soros on many occasions. When he signed an executive order to punish the law firm Perkins Coie, he said the firm 'has worked with activist donors including George Soros to judicially overturn popular, necessary, and democratically enacted election laws.' Trump has railed about his legal troubles - calling it a 'witch hunt' against him. The cases were dropped when he won re-election. Still, the president filled the Justice Department and FBI with his loyalists, naming Pam Bondi as attorney general and Kash Patel as FBI director. He fired inspector generals across the federal agencies and is shrinking the size of the government. Democrats have their own billionaire boogeyman: Elon Musk. They argue Musk bought the election for Trump and is working to reshape the federal government for his own benefit. Musk's super PAC spent about $200 million to help get Trump elected. Four Royal Navy warships will be fitted with futuristic lasers capable of zapping a 1 coin from a mile away as part of Rachel Reeve's 2.2bn defence spending boost. The spaced-aged 'death ray', dubbed 'DragonFire', is used to blow up missiles, jets and swarms of explosive suicide drones. The formidable 'directed-energy weapon' costs just 10 per shot and can burn unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) out of the sky from three miles away. Military top brass have been eager to rush the devastating lasers into service to meet the threat posed by Russia's UAVs and hypersonic missiles, which have proven alarmingly effective in Ukraine. And the recent surge in the use of cheap drones used to target ships in the Middle East - like the one that Houthi rebels in Yemen used to blast British oil ship Cordelia Moon in October last year - has also left defence chiefs fearful. As part of her Spring Statement on Wednesday, the Chancellor confirmed by 2027 the high-powered lasers would be fitted to four warships. Prior to this, the Ministry of Defence said that just one prototype would be installed onto a single vessel. Admiral Lord Alan West, the former head of the Royal Navy, said DragonFire would stop multi-million pound missiles being used to destroy cheap drones, that cost only a few hundred pounds each. 'These can become war-winners and potentially give us the edge,' the retired Cold War commander told MailOnline of the new lasers. 'You could kill huge drone swarm attacks and defeat them all, again and again. The advanced weapon pictured being trialled at the MoD Hebrides Range. It is hoped the newest weapon will help combat the threat of Russian missiles and drones The laser rollout comes amid a recent surge in the use of cheap drones used to target ships in the Read Sea, like the one that blasted British oil ship Cordelia Moon (pictured) in October 2024 Your browser does not support iframes. 'We have discovered how expensive missiles are in terms of shooting down quite cheap attack platforms like drones. So, theres a lot of merit of in having a system that can deliver a guaranteed kill for a fraction of the price.' Military chiefs have not yet confirmed which ships will be equipped with the deadly new devices, which have already cost about 140million to develop. However, MailOnline understands four of Britain's six Type 45 destroyers - as air defence warships - will now be fitted with the lasers. Britain's two 3billion aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales could also potentially have them installed at a later date, defence sources claimed. Both class of warships will have enough power to run the energy-sapping lasers. Military top brass hope DragonFire could replace multi-million pound missiles like the navys Sea Viper system used against Houthi rebel drones and rockets over the Red Sea, saving millions of pounds for the military. In her speech on Wednesday, the Chancellor said the UK must 'move quickly in a changing world' to up its defence commitment. She pledged to 'boost Britain's defence industry and to make the UK a defence industrial superpower'. Declassified footage released by the Ministry of Defence has shown Britain's DragonFire laser-directed energy weapon (LDEW) system successfully hitting aerial targets DragonFire is Britain's first-ever laser weapon and is now being fitted onto Royal Navy ships The hi-tech new weapons could be fitted to some of the Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyers (pictured is one of the vessels, HMS Diamond in the Bay of Biscay) The weapon system could burn drones and missiles out of the sky. Pictured are replicas of drones made by Houthi rebels in Yemen to attack ships in the Red Sea She also dedicated 10 per cent of the Ministry of Defence's equipment budget to 'novel technologies including drones and AI-enabled technology'. The extra funding is being put on the table as the Government aims to hike defence spending to 2.5 per cent of the UK's economic output by 2027. It will take spending to 2.36 per cent next year, with Ms Reeves saying it was the 'right decision in a more insecure world'. The UK and other Nato members have been facing pressure from the increasingly hostile Trump administration to up their spending and rely less on the US. Earlier this week it was revealed vice president JD Vance said he hated 'bailing Europe out' and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said 'European freeloading' was 'pathetic'. The comments were made in a Signal group chat to which a journalist was mistakenly invited by the US national security adviser. Shadow chancellor Mel Stride urged the Chancellor to 'go further', adding: 'The three per cent target should be brought forward to this parliament.' The Chancellor said the UK must 'move quickly in a changing world' to up its defence commitment in her Spring Statement in the Commons The extra funding is being put on the table as the Government aims to hike defence spending to 2.5 per cent of the UK's economic output by 2027 Your browser does not support iframes. 'So, can I ask (Ms Reeves), given the geopolitical tensions that she has raised, what provision has she made in her headroom, in her fiscal plans, for increasing defence spending more quickly in this parliament, if that proves necessary? 'And could I ask her, would she scrap the absurd Chagos deal and put that money behind our armed forces?' In February Sir Keir announced the Government would increase defence spending to reach 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027, with a target of upping that further to 3 per cent in the next parliament. But critics have warned this is not enough to see off the threat from Russia, at a time when the Armed Forces are struggling for manpower and equipment delays. Lib Dem defence spokeswoman Helen Maguire said: 'The Chancellor's announcement of an additional 2.2bn on defence spending is welcome news. However, we believe the Government must go further and faster than 2.5 per cent by 2027. That's why we are calling for cross-party talks on getting to three per cent.' Ms Reeves told the Commons: 'This increase in investment is not just about increasing our national security but increasing our economic security, too. As defence spending rises, I want the whole country to feel the benefits.' The April funding increase will help pay for new technologies, like long range laser and microwave weapons collectively known as directed energy weapons which will be fitted to warships. Homes for military families will, meanwhile, be refurbished, including the 36,000 recently brought back into public ownership from the private rented sector. HM Naval Base Portsmouth will also be upgraded with the extra cash, the Treasury said. Ministers hope to create jobs in manufacturing and technology across the UK as they ramp up defence spending, with the aim of reaching their goal of growing the economy. Demonstrators have gathered on Whitehall to protest against cuts in the Chancellor's Spring Statement, calling for 'welfare not warfare' Asked how he felt about being called a pathetic freeloader, Mr Healey told Times Radio: 'I regard it more as a challenge' Leftie demonstrators gathered on Whitehall to protest against cuts in the Chancellor's spring statement, calling for 'welfare not warfare'. Protesters from groups including Stop The War Coalition, Disabled People Against Cuts and Socialist Worker convened outside Downing Street ahead of the statement's delivery. They held signs that read: 'Cuts kill' and 'Cut war not welfare', as well as a large banner saying: 'Welfare not warfare'. One woman was pictured holding a sign that said: 'You are killing my mum to bomb someone's son'. Asked how he felt about being called a pathetic freeloader, the UK Defence Secretary John Healey told Times Radio on Wednesday: 'I regard it more as a challenge.' He added: 'The Americans have absolutely got a case that on defence spending, on European security, on our support for Ukraine, European nations can and will do more, and the UK is leading the way.' An undocumented migrant who was convicted of beating a New York Police officer was treated to a hero's welcome by a high-ranking Venezuelan official. Footage showed Darwin Gomez being embraced by Diosdado Cabello, the country's Minister of Interior, Justice and Peace, just moments after he had stepped out of a deportation flight in Caracas on Monday. The 19-year-old made a beeline for Cabello and thanked him. 'I am grateful boss. You don't know,' Gomez said as he shook Cabello's hand and refused to let go. 'Onward, you're already in your land,' Cabello replied before imploring Gomez to embrace his family on his behalf. The giddy teenager then stretched out his arms and said, 'Give me a hug boss,' as he locked arms with Cabello, who is wanted by the United States for drug trafficking. Gomez was among 199 migrants who were deported from the United States to Venezuela via Honduras. The deportation flight landed during the early hours of Monday and was the first after both governments reached an agreement to resume repatriation flights. Darwin Gomez (left) approached to hug Venezuela's Minister of Interior, Justice and Peace, Diosdado Cabello, just moments after stepping out of a deportation flight in Caracas on Monday. The 19-year-old was arrested on January 27, 2024 for the brutal beating of two NYPD cops in Times Square before being sentenced to 364 days after accepting a plea deal New York Police Department detectives escort Darwin Gomez on February 14, 2024, a day after he participated in a violent robbery at a Macy's store, where one of his accomplices beat a security guard U.S. Border Patrol agents had stopped Gomez for illegally crossing the Mexico-United States border near the Rio Grande Valley in Texas on August 23, 2023. He voluntarily returned to Mexico via the Brownsville Port of Entry two days later. Gomez was against busted for illegally crossing the border October 3, 2023. This time, he was released with a noticed to appear before an immigration judge for a hearing in Memphis on June 4, 2024. Gomez eventually settled in New York City and was arrested January 27, 2024, after he and a group of migrants assaulted two NYPD cops in Time Square. He was released without bail two days later but was later nabbed for his role in the February 13 violent robbery at Macy's, where one of his accomplices assaulted a security guard while he was acting as the lookout. Gomez pleaded guilty to second-degree assault in cop assault trial on July 29 and was sentenced to 364 days in prison. The teenager served just eight months of his sentence before being placed in custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement on October 10. Darwin Gomez was also arrested for participating in a robbery at a Macy's in New York in February 13, 2024, just two weeks after he was apprehended for beating two cops in Times Square Darwin Gomez was one of five migrants who were charged for the brutal beating of two NYPD cops in Times Square on January 27, 2024 Venezuelan 19-year-old Darwin Gomez served eight months out of the 364-day jail sentence for beating two police officers in Times Square in January 2024 before he was placed in custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) It's unknown of Gomez was a member of the Tren de Aragua, the Venezuela-based gang that spread its operations to the United States with the arrival of undocumented migrants. The gang was designated as a foreign terrorist group by President Donald Trump when he took office January 20. More than 200 migrants, identified as members of the notorious gang, were transferred from the United States to El Salvador earlier this month. The move was made possible after after the Central American nation's president, Nayib Bukele, offered to house prisoners in his country following a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in February. An estate agent faked a wedding abroad to con family and friends out of thousands of pounds so she could pay off online bingo debts. Charlotte Blackwell, 31, dreamt up the scam after getting engaged to boyfriend Daniel Thomas following a five-year fling. Cardiff Crown Court heard that she forged flight and hotel bookings to persuade friends and relatives, including her future mother-in-law, to hand over more than 12,600 for the bogus nuptials overseas. But she was caught when pal Helen Morse spotted spelling mistakes in travel documents and contacted travel agent TUI directly herself. TUI confirmed they were fraudulent and police were called. Blackwell was arrested and immediately confessed, telling officers: 'I'm sorry, it was to pay off debts and gambling.' The court heard the mother-of-two was carrying out the elaborate scam at the same time as conning a children's cancer charity out of 4,000. Last summer Blackwell narrowly avoided jail and instead was handed a 10-month suspended prison term after she lied to the charity, Morgan's Army, that her daughter needed specialist treatment in Germany. In reality, the youngster had recovered from brain cancer and was in remission. Charlotte Blackwell, 31, dreamt up a scam after getting engaged to boyfriend Daniel Thomas following a five-year fling. She sobbed as she was spared prison Cardiff Crown Court heard that she forged flight and hotel bookings to persuade friends and relatives, including her future mother-in-law, to hand over more than 12,600 for the bogus nuptials overseas The court heard both cases should have been dealt with together but due to an administration error Blackwell's date of birth had been inputted into the records incorrectly so they were not 'linked up.' Prosecutor Anisha Rai said the wedding scam came to light in March last year, a few months before Blackwell was sentenced for the cancer con, in August, when Ms Morse, who handed over 3,300, contacted TUI about the group booking. 'When she provided the booking reference the defendant had given her, she was informed the reference related to a different holiday for an elderly couple that took place the year prior,' Ms Rai said. 'Following this, the defendant sent the victims fake booking confirmations which had been made to look like genuine TUI documents. 'She provided them with fake flight confirmations, fake emails from travel agents and fake bank transactions. She created fake email accounts to make it seem she had been communicating with agents. 'Ms Morse suspected something was not right with the documents from the travel agents as there were spelling mistakes. She took them to the travel agents who confirmed they were fraudulent documents.' In a victim impact statement, family friend Sue Chapman, who handed over more than 3,200, said Blackwell's actions had made her wary of trusting anyone again. 'I cannot believe a close family friend would do this,' she said. 'I find myself unable to sleep at night and anxious paying for anything in case I lose more money. I am unable to trust people.' Last summer Blackwell narrowly avoided jail and instead was handed a 10-month suspended prison term after she lied to the charity, Morgan's Army, that her daughter needed specialist treatment in Germany The court heard the mother-of-two was carrying out the elaborate scam at the same time as conning a children's cancer charity out of 4,000 The other victims were her then-fiance's mother Paula Thomas, who paid around 3,300, and another friend Tracey Roberts, who paid 2,800. Alice Sykes, defending, said her client had been going through a 'difficult time' due to her daughter's cancer diagnosis and was hugely remorseful. 'She gave up work to deal with money issues that came with that and gambled to try to get money back,' the barrister said. 'She (has) placed blocks on websites to prevent gambling and has taken steps to prevent that happening again. 'She has two children aged 10 and three. She works full-time as an estate agent earning 1,700 a month and receives Universal Credit. She is willing to pay the money back and has been doing so.' Blackwell, of Bridgend, South Wales, pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud and wept in the dock throughout the hearing. Sentencing her to 12-months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, Judge Jonathan Rees KC said the admin error had helped her to escape a prison term because she would likely have been jailed if both matters had been dealt with together. He slammed Blackwell's version of events as 'fiction' and claimed she told a 'pack of lies' during the 'shameful' frauds. Pictured here is Little Morgan Ridler with mother Natalie Ridler. Blackwell tried to con children's cancer charity Morgan's Army which was set up by his parents Although she had been open about 'accruing a large amount of debt,' she had 'underplayed the role of gambling,' the judge added. He ordered Blackwell to pay 3,500 compensation each to Ms Thomas, Ms Chapman and Ms Morse, and 3,250 to Ms Roberts, to 'reflect the additional aggravation and distress you caused.' She was also told she must complete 120 hours of unpaid work and five days of rehabilitation activity. Morgan's Army was set up by the parents of Morgan Ridler who died of rare liver cancer aged three, in June 2023. His mother, Natalie Ridler, 33, from Swansea, said Blackwell, who targeted the charity a few months after Morgan died, 'preyed on us at one of our most vulnerable periods.' '(Blackwell) was a parent of a child in remission and it astounds me that someone who has been through it could do it to another cancer family,' she said. A paedophile who is considered a 'significant risk to children' is on the run after he skipped his court sentencing. Nalika Ranasinghe exchanged 1,200 messages with a person he thought was a 14-year-old girl who was in fact a decoy account set up by an online child activist group. The 55-year-old first contacted the 'girl' in February 2023 and despite the 'child' telling Ranasinghe she was only 14 years old from the outset, he proceeded to turn conversations sexual. He also encouraged her to engage in sexual acts both by herself and with her 12-year-old cousin. After exchanging messages, the activist group confronted Ranasinghe at his home on February 14, 2023. They then called the police. On arrest, Ranasinghe, of The Hythe, Littleport, admitted to sending the messages. However, he claimed that he knew he was speaking to an adult man, and that he did not believe the account belonged to a 14-year-old girl. Ranasinghe was released on court bail but did not attend his sentencing on Thursday, March 20. Nalika Ranasinghe (pictured) exchanged 1,200 messages with a person he thought was a 14-year-old girl who was in fact a decoy account set up by an online child activist group Cambridge Crown Court where Ranasinghe had been due to attend his sentencing on Thursday March 20 He had been found guilty of two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and two counts of attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity. The paedophile was jailed for six years and six months in his absence on Thursday, March 20, at Cambridge Crown Court. Detective Sergeant Mike Paget said: 'Ranasinghe was extremely persistent in his pursuit of sexual gratification from this "child", who continually tried to reject his advances. He poses a significant risk to children, which is reflected in the sentence, and we are keen to arrest him as soon as possible so he goes to prison. 'I would urge anyone who knows of his whereabouts to contact police straight away.' CIA Director John Ratcliffe fired back at a suggestion that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was drunk when texting war strike plans on Signal. Democratic Congressman Jimmy Gomez suggested Hegseth's 'drinking habits' could be to blame during a bombshell Capitol Hill hearing on Wednesday. During his confirmation hearing, Hegseth pledged that he wouldn't drink at all in his position as the Pentagon's chief after past allegations he was drunk on the job numerous times on Fox News. It came as the California lawmaker was pressing top Trump security officials about the discussion of Yemen airstrikes in a Signal chat that accidentally included a reporter. 'To your knowledge, do you know whether Pete Hegseth had been drinking before he leaked classified information?' Gomez first asked Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. 'I don't have any knowledge of Secretary Hegseth's personal habits,' Gabbard responded. But when he asked Ratcliffe the same question, the CIA director and former GOP congressman shot back angrily. 'You know, no I'm going to answer that. I think that's an offensive line of questioning. The answer's no,' Ratcliffe said. The exchange continued to devolve into chaos with the two yelling over each other. CIA Director John Ratcliffe fired back that a question from Congressman Jimmy Gomez was 'offensive' when he asked about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's drinking habits at hearing 'You don't want to focus on the good work that the CIA is doing, the intelligence community,' Ratcliffe shouted while Gomez tried to reclaim his time. I have huge respect for the CIA, huge respect for our men and women in uniform, Gomez fired back finally. The congressman had noted accusations regarding Hegseth drinking was a topic of concern back when he was confirmed as defense secretary in January. Gomez argued his question 'was on the top of minds of every American' after it was revealed Hegseth shared war plans on Signal. He stood in front of a podium in Europe holding a drink, so of course we want to know if his performance is compromised, Gomez said. Gomez brought up people asking if former Defense Secretary General Lloyd Austin was compromised 'because of a heart issue.' But he was cut off by Ratcliffe who asked 'was his performance compromised because of a successful strike?' The CIA director kept going, lashing out at Gomez 'you want to talk about accepting responsibility. Do you think you should accept responsibility for a successful strike to make Americans safer?' Gomez cut him off declaring 'this is serious' as his time for questioning the witness was running out, but the exchange did not stop there. Congressman Jimmy Gomez argued Hegseth's drinking was relevant and the question was top of mind for 'every American' as Hegseth is facing backlash for revealing plans on strikes in Yemen in a Signal group chat that included a reporter Hegseth faced accusations of heavy drinking during his confirmation process in January The next lawmaker up gave Ratcliffe time to respond without interruption. The CIA director used that time to give a 'general reflection.' Ratcliffe said for the last few days members of the intelligence community have been asking questions about the Signal group, but he accused Senate and House Democrats of not asking questions on China, Russia, Iran 'or the real threats that are going on to the United States.' He fired back that they can say they care about the good work agencies like the CIA are doing, but he pointed out that no one had asked about the capture of a senior planner of the bombing at Kabul International Airport in August 2021. 'Instead we're getting questions about whether someone has drinking habits,' he later added. He said he wished in an annual threats hearing, that's what they would talk about. Gabbard also chimed in that Hegseth has continued to operate in the best interest of the American people. 'I think it's wrong to impugn him especially at a point where he's not here to defend his own honor,' she added. But Ratcliffe's accusations about Democrats did not sit will with the next Democratic lawmaker up for questioning at the hearing. Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) who served in the U.S. Air Force, responded that Ratcliffe accused her as a Democrat of not caring about national threats was 'offensive' and she needed to 'put him in check.' 'I very much wanted to talk about those, had in fact prepared questions in advance of this hearing about those threats,' she said. 'But I don't have time to ask those questions because the threat is in the house.' 'The threat is across the dais, and I need to ask these questions. It's my job to ask these questions of you,' she said. Houlahan said when she served in the military, had this happened to her, she would have 'walked her resignation in immediately.' 'Communicating these sort of things in Signal is not ok,' she said. Nancy Wilson, the guitarist for the band Heart, has slammed the Trump administration and admitted that she is now more embarrassed to be an American than during the Vietnam War. Wilson, 71, reflected on the band's hit tracks in a recent interview, citing Heart's song, Crazy on You, which was a critique of America's involvement in the Vietnam War. 'We were kind of embarrassed at that time to call ourselves American because of the dirty politics of the Vietnam War,' Wilson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 'To be as subtle as possible, it's more embarrassing now,' she added. Her comments caused a flurry of backlash on social media, with one post on X reading, 'I am embarrassed that Nancy Wilson is an American.' 'Then she can leave too! No matter what side you are on, you should always love America,' another commented. However, some stuck up for the megastar's woke politics, with one tweet reading, 'Nancy Wilson is right. If you spend any time reading international papers or talking to people overseas, the US is a joke right now.' Heart rose to fame in the 1970s with hits Barracuda, Crazy on You, What About Love, and Alone. Nancy Wilson, 71, a guitarist in the band Heart, recently revealed in an interview that she's more embarrassed to be an American now than she was during the Vietnam War Wilson took swipes at Trump during her recent interview, referencing his offensive comments on a hot mic in 2005 and insinuating that she was embarrassed he was her president Nancy (left) and Ann (right) have been members of the rock band, Heart, which rose to fame in the 1970s Crazy on You, released in 1975, detailed the cruelty of the Vietnam War with lyrics like, 'If we still have time, we might still get by. Every time I think about it, I wanna cry. With bombs and the Devil, and the kids keep comin.' Barracuda, which hit the airwaves two years later, also hinted at political themes. Wilson said the song was about 'a real sleazeball with a satin jacket' who 'wanted to make more money out of the sexy chicks in Heart.' She told the Sentinel that the song is, 'even more relevant in the salacious billionaire culture.' In another apparent swipe at Trump, Wilson slammed billionaires who have a 'grab-them-by-the-(expletive) mentality,' referencing the president's past remarks on a hot mic in 2005 while talking to Access Hollywood's Billy Bush. 'These songs will be there long after we are gone,' she added. Wilson did express some optimism for America in her interview, admitting that she hopes she's alive for the next revolution. 'I think for women in the culture the pendulum will come back again, and there'll be another renaissance in the arts to push back against the oppression of the cranky old rich white guys,' she said. Wilson revealed that she was inspired by the new generation of female rock stars, including Chappell Roan and the members of Boygenius. Slide me The Wilson sisters have a history of political activism, speaking out against the Vietnam War and denying conservatives permission to use their songs on the campaign trail Heart is known for their hits including Alone, Barracuda, and Crazy on You. Nancy played guitar in the band and is pictured here at the Oakland Coliseum Stadium on July 4, 1981 She said that when she and her sister, Ann, a guitarist in the band, rose to fame, they didn't have female role models to look to. 'These girls have us and Sheryl Crow and others who influence them and encourage them,' Wilson said. Sheryl Crow also recently came under fire for an 'elitist' activist gesture when she shared a video giving away her Tesla earlier this year. 'My parents always said you are who you hang out with. There comes a time when you have to decide who you are willing to align with. So long Tesla,' she captioned the video. Wilson's most recent explosive interview is not the first time the megastar has slammed conservative politicians. Wilson said she didn't have female rock stars to look to in the 70s and wanted to be a positive role model for the women breaking out in the music industry today Wilson advocated for her followers to vote in the presidential election on social media last summer When John McCain was campaigning for president in 2008, his running mate Sarah Palin used Barracuda as her theme song. The Heart sisters quickly issued a statement declaring that their views in 'NO WAY' coincided with Palin's stances. 'While Heart did not and would not authorize the use of their song at the RNC, theres irony in Republican strategists choice to make use of it there,' the band stated, the Las Vegas Sun reported at the time. Then again in a 2018 interview with The Hill, Ann said that 'anyone but Trump,' could use Barracuda as a campaign theme song. A man killed outside a Sainsbury's in southeast London has been pictured for the first time. Andrew Clark died following an attack on Upper Elmers End Road in Beckenham on March 16. Paramedics raced to the scene on Upper Elmers End Road where they treated Mr Clark for head injuries, before rushing him to a major trauma centre. But he could not be saved and died from his head injuries on Wednesday, three days after he was assaulted. The Metropolitan Police said today that Demiesh Williams, 29, has been charged with Mr Clark's murder. He had been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent prior to Mr Clark's death. It was alleged at Bromley Magistrates' Court last week that the pair became involved in a 'verbal altercation' which then escalated. Williams, of Croydon, south London, appeared before the Old Bailey today and was remanded into custody. He will next appear at the same court on June 10, police said. Andrew Clark died following an attack on Upper Elmers End Road in Beckenham on March 16 It is understood the attack was not connected to Sainsbury's staff. A spokesman said the store was temporarily closed while the supermarket supported the Metropolitan Police's investigation It is understood the attack was not connected to Sainsbury's staff. A spokesman said the store was temporarily closed while the supermarket supported the Metropolitan Police's investigation. Liam Conlon, MP for Beckenham and Penge, praised the force's 'swift response in identifying and apprehending the suspect'. He added: 'I would like to offer my condolences to the victim's family and loved ones at this difficult time and have offered my support to them and the police.' A previous statement from the London Ambulance Service said: 'We were called at 20.21pm on Sunday, March 16 to reports of an assault on Upper Elmers End Road, Beckenham. 'We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, an advanced paramedic and an incident response officer. We also dispatched a trauma team in a car from London's Air Ambulance. 'We treated a man at the scene and took him to a major trauma centre by road.' Music fans have shared their shock after discovering embattled National Security Advisor Mike Waltz's brother-in-law is a part of rock royalty. Waltz made headlines in recent days after reportedly adding the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic to a Signal group chat with Donald Trump's inner circle to discuss intimate details of a military strike against the Houthis. But as the scandal broke out, observers came to realize Waltz's brother-in-law is none other than Creed front man Scott Stapp. The surprising family connection comes through Waltz's wife Dr Julia Nesheiwat, who served as the 10th Homeland Security Advisor in Trump's first term. Her sister Jacyln is married to Stapp, however People reported last year that the couple were divorcing after 18 years of marriage. Their other sister Janette Nesheiwat was recently named as Trump's nominee to become the next Surgeon General. The family connection appears to go deeper than just the sisters, as Stapp had previously performed at fundraisers for Waltz when he was a Florida congressman, according to Florida Politics. The outlet described them as 'friends', and noted that Waltz deployed Stapp on several occasions to help him fundraise when he was representing Florida's 6th Congressional District. While Waltz deals with the backlash to the Houthi group chat scandal, social media was quick to make light of his connection to Stapp. Music fans have shared their shock after discovering President Trump's embattled National Security Advisor Mike Waltz's brother-in-law is a part of rock music royalty Waltz's brother-in-law is Scott Stapp, the frontman of rock band Creed (pictured with his wife and Waltz's sister-in-law Jaclyn) The surprising connection between Waltz and Stapp was first noted by CNN reporter Andrew Kaczysnki, and his X post revealing the trivia gained over a million views. The brothers-in-law quickly became a meme, with many making jokes linked to Creed's most famous songs including 'With Arms Wide Open' and 'Higher.' One X user responded with a GIF of Stapp in a Creed music video, captioned: 'WITH COMMS WIDE OPEN.' 'They're accepting anyone into their Signal group chat with arms wide open,' another joked. Journalist and podcast host Saagar Enjeti waded into the conversation with his own suggestion for how Waltz could repair his reputation after the Signal leak. 'Mike Waltz can redeem himself by arranging for Creed to headline America's 250th birthday,' he said. The surprising family connection comes through Waltz's wife Dr. Julia Nesheiwat (center), who is Trump's nominee to become the next Surgeon General, the sister of Stapp's wife Jacyln (right) Stapp had previously performed at fundraisers for Waltz when he was a Florida congressman It comes as President Trump initially defended Waltz after it was reported that he was the person who accidentally added The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to the Signal group chat discussing a planned attack on the Houthis. But while Trump praised Waltz as a 'good man' who 'learned' from the scandal, Trump was reportedly not as chivalrous behind the scenes. 'The president was pissed that Waltz could be so stupid,' a source told Politico. Trump was furious and his darkest suspicion about Waltz resurfaced. Why did he have Goldberg's number? Indeed, it was Goldberg who had reported in September 2020 that Trump had called fallen American soldiers 'suckers' and 'losers.' Another source said the president has found the entire fiasco 'embarrassing' for the administration. The president also said in an interview with NBC that it was one of Waltz's aides who inadvertently added The Atlantic's editor-in-chief to the war-planning 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.' However, 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 said. Renters are flocking to an Arizona community its developers say is the first town in the US purposely designed to be car free. The development, simply called Culdesac, is in Tempe, a city roughly 11 miles away from Phoenix. The ever-growing area - where residents are expected to walk most of the time - is right in the middle of one of the most car-centric areas of the country. That didn't matter to Culdesac CEO Ryan Johnson, who said he wants to prove that a walkable living model could work even in an unforgivingly hot desert climate. 'It's one of the best things we can do for climate, health, happiness, low cost of living, even low cost of government,' Johnson told The New York Times. 'It's also a better lifestyle. We all become the worst versions of ourselves behind the wheel.' The town, with its white stucco buildings, is compact enough for residents to walk everywhere without any trouble. Free electric scooters are also provided. And they have places to walk to within the community, including 21 local businesses, six food and beverage retailers and as many as 50 courtyards and barbecue areas. To get to Tempe or downtown Phoenix, Culdesac residents are entitled to unlimited free rides on the light rail system. Culdesac Tempe (pictured) is thought to be the only car-free town in the United States. It's a stone's throw away from the sprawling metropolis of Phoenix So far, 288 apartment units have been built on eight of site's 17 acres, with 450 more units coming in the near future Andre Rouhani and Gabriela Reyes, a couple with two young children, have been living in a Culdesac unit since December and have managed to get by without a personal vehicle. Their transportation needs are largely covered by the free light rail passes provided by the apartment complex, but they do borrow a family member's car roughly once a week for errands. Rouhani, 33, a doctoral student at nearby Arizona State University, told The Times that 'the pros outweigh the cons.' 'We do really, really love it here,' he said. 'It's the best place I've ever lived.' So far, 288 apartment units have been built on eight of site's 17 acres, with 450 more units coming in the near future. The two- to three-story residential and commercial buildings were designed very meticulously to maximize the community's potential for comfortable socialization. Developers said the buildings are painted white to reflect as much heat as possible, while also being placed to increase the number of shady areas. Narrow walkways were created as well to promote breezes. Alexandra Vondeling, the lead architect on the project, said Culdesac has no asphalt, reducing the urban heat island effect that can typically make cities as much as 7 degrees hotter than surrounding areas. Awnings were placed over windows facing the sun, while native plants and trees offer even more shade for residents. Apartments at Culdesac range from $1,300 a month for a studio to $2,800 a month for a three-bedroom, which the company says is market rate. At present, nearly 90 percent of available units are being leased. Developers said the buildings are painted white to reflect as much heat as possible. Narrow walkways were added to promote breezes This plaza contains areas to shop, dine and play games such as ping pong Multiple residents say that Culdesac's design allows for a lot more socialization than a car-centric community would Electra Hug, 24, works for the city of Tempe and lives at Culdesac. She is blind, and this is her first time living on her own without the assistance of friends or family. 'In order to have a good time or have fun, I do not have to cross the street,' she said. 'It's just super unique and really just homey.' Rouhani said he likes living in a community where people aren't zipping around in their cars. He's noticed that it has made for a slower pace of life with more opportunities to connect with his neighbors. He said Culdesac is the type of place where people lend each other sugar. In the days after their daughter was born, three different families brought him and his partner a meal, cookies or offered them groceries, he said. Edward Erfurt, chief technical adviser at Strong Towns, a North American nonprofit group that promotes community resilience, told The Times that Culdesac Tempe could be the start of a revolution in residential planning. Since Tempe granted Culdesac an exemption from minimum parking spot requirements, Erfurt believes the town's success could convince other developers to build communities like it in the future. Erfurt says it would go a long way in reducing loneliness and bring people closer to where they work. 'We could do all that simply by decoupling parking from development,' Erfurt said. 'In every market, people are looking for that.' Idaho prosecutors appear poised to use weather records to pour cold water on Bryan Kohberger's bizarre alibi for the night that four students were murdered in a home in Moscow. The 30-year-old criminology PhD student is facing the death penalty when he goes on trial this summer for the murders of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves back on November 13, 2022. The four University of Idaho students were brutally stabbed to death in the early hours of the morning in the off-campus home the three young women shared with two other roommates. To date, Kohberger has only offered up a vague alibi explaining his movements that night. He has claimed, in court filings for the defense, that he was driving around alone late at night on November 12 and into the morning of November 13. According to a court document in April 2024, the defense claimed he would often go out driving alone in the middle of the night 'to hike and run and/or see the moon and stars.' On the night of the slayings, Kohberger 'drove throughout the area south of Pullman, Washington, west of Moscow, Idaho including Wawawai Park,' the defense wrote. But, prosecutors look set to fight back against his alibi. Bryan Kohberger (pictured during his extradition in January 2023) claims he was driving round alone at night at the time of the murders The off-campus home where four University of Idaho students were murdered on November 13, 2022 (seen on November 29, 2022) A new filing in the case revealed that prosecutors plan to introduce National Weather Service records for November 12 and 13, 2022, as evidence. According to Fox Weather meteorologist and digital producer Andrew Wulfeck, the records for those dates will show that the area was shrouded in low clouds, fog and reduced visibility at the time of the murders. 'In addition to the fog, the cloud deck appeared to be fairly low, which again likely contributed to it not being the greatest night for types of activities such as stargazing, if you weren't able to find a break in the clouds,' he told Fox News. Wulfeck added that the fog and clouds had also been forecast prior to that night. Kohberger's defense attorney Anne Taylor has previously admitted in a court filing that there are no witnesses who can corroborate his alternative version of where he was at the time. Instead, the defense plans to provide testimony from a cellphone expert to show he was not in the area around the student home at 1122 King Road when the massacre unfolded. According to prosecutors, Kohberger's white Elantra was captured on surveillance footage circling the student home, then speeding off moments after the murders. Prosecutors are asking that Kohberger be forced to take the stand at his trial if he wants to present his alibi to jurors. Young couple Ethan Chapin (left) and Xana Kernodle (right) were found dead in her room on the second floor Best friends Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen were found dead in the same bed in Mogen's room on the third floor 'The Court should enter an order prohibiting the Defendant from presenting any evidence other than from the Defendant himself, whether by direct or cross-examination, in support of any claimed alibi regarding the specific place or places at which the Defendant claims to have been at the time of the alleged offense,' the state argued in a recent filing. Kohberger's defense, meanwhile, is asking the judge to block the weather records - along with a slew of other evidence from his trial. In a new motion filed Monday, the accused killer's defense attacked a trove of evidence in the prosecution's case, arguing that much of it is too broad and its relevance unclear. As part of this, the defense took aim at surveillance footage from the night of the murders, his Venmo and Paypal activity, and his and the victims' bank records. It is not clear what the contents of these records show or what relevance they may have to the prosecution's case. The filing also points to a purchase made by Kohberger at sportswear company Under Armor on June 24 2022 - five months before the grisly murders. The same month, Kohberger made a purchase from Dick's Sporting Goods, the records show. The document does not reveal what exactly Kohberger bought from either store. Surveillance footage captured a white 2011-2013 Hyundai Elantra around the crime scene at the time of the murders According to the filing, the defense also wants to stop prosecutors from presenting Kohberger's student records from DeSales University in Pennsylvania, where he obtained a Master's degree in psychology. While at DeSales, the accused mass murderer studied under Dr Katherine Ramsland - a leading expert on the notorious BTK serial killer Dennis Rader. There, as part of his thesis, he sent out a questionnaire delving into an individual's thoughts and feelings while committing a crime. After graduating from DeSales, in summer 2022, Kohberger enrolled on a criminology PhD program at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington - just over the border from Moscow, Idaho. Kohberger's legal team has already tried unsuccessfully to have critical DNA evidence and his Amazon shopping history tossed from the case. According to prosecutors, Kohberger broke into the off-campus student home at around 4am on November 13, 2022, and killed the victims in a brutal knife attack. Surviving roommate Dylan Mortensen came face-to-face with a tall masked intruder, dressed all in black and with 'bushy eyebrows' who walked past her bedroom door and headed toward the back sliding door of the home. Mortensen and the only other survivor, roommate Bethany Funke, frantically text and called each other about the incident. Bryan Kohberger snapped this creepy selfie six hours after the brutal Moscow murders Multiple calls and messages were made to the victims - but they all went unanswered. Just before midday - around eight hours later - a 911 call was made and the bloodbath was discovered. Investigators found a brown leather Ka-Bar knife sheath, featuring a US Marine Corps seal, next to Mogen's lifeless body in her bedroom on the third floor of the home. Touch DNA on the sheath was traced back to Kohberger using Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG), according to prosecutors. Following his arrest, testing showed it to be a statistical match. Amazon records show Kohberger bought a Ka-Bar knife, sheath and sharpener from the site back in March 2022 - eight months before the murders, according to court documents. Kohberger's Amazon history also reveals that he searched for a replacement knife or sheath in the days after the murders, according to prosecutors. As well as the DNA evidence, cellphone records also allegedly show that Kohberger may have stalked the King Road home at least a dozen times in the lead-up to the murders - and that he turned his phone off while committing the crime to try to cover his tracks. The off-campus student home at 1122 King Road before it was demolished in December 2023 The home being demolished. Kohberger's trial is due to get under way in August After the judge struck down attempts to get the DNA evidence and Amazon shopping history thrown out, the defense is now expected to argue that the evidence was planted by the real killer at the scene - framing him for the shocking crime. Kohberger's defense is also arguing that there were multiple killers that fateful night, claiming that one individual could not possibly have killed all four within such a short timeframe. His defense also claims he has a physical condition that would have made it impossible for him to kill four in the roughly 13-minute timeframe - as he vows to point to several alternate suspects at his trial. Kohberger's team has previously pointed to other DNA evidence found at the scene that does not belong to the suspect - including the blood from two mystery men, one on the handrail of a stairwell and the other on a glove found outside. A three-person mixture of DNA was also found under Mogen's nails, with testing coming back inconclusive for Kohberger and several other individuals. Kohberger was arrested at his parents' home in the Poconos region of Pennsylvania on December 30, 2022, and was charged with the four murders. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf at his arraignment. After more than two years, his trial is finally set to get under way in Ada County in August. Left to right: Dylan Mortensen, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen (on Kaylee's shoulders) Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Bethany Funke Kohberger faces the death penalty if convicted - an outcome that has been welcomed by some of the victims' families. Due to changes in state law, he could be executed by firing squad. Kohberger is next due in court in April. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt began her press briefing with an angry attack on Atlantic editor Jeff Goldberg and his wife amid the Signal group chat controversy. The tense televised briefing came just hours after the Atlantic published the full text of the group chat that VP JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and other top officials held before the bombing campaign against the Houthis in Yemen. Leavitt was defending difficult terrain, on a day when top intelligence leaders got hit with repeated questions about the weapons systems and attack information that was included on the text chain which included Goldberg as an unintended recipient. The Republican Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker said Wednesday that the information should have been classified. 'Goldberg is an anti-Trump hater,' she stated from the White House podium. 'He is a registered Democrat. Goldberg's wife is also a registered Democrat and a big Democrat donor who used to work under who Hillary Clinton.' The White House unloaded on journalist Jeffrey Goldberg as it faces political pressure over the top level group chat that inadvertently included the Atlantic editor Goldberg's wife, Pamela Reeves (far right) is pictured That jab brought into the fray Goldberg's wife, Pamela. She ran the International Fund for Women and Girls at the State Department when Clinton was secretary. She also served as a human rights officer for the UN in Liberia during the civil war. The personal attacks on Goldberg, who published a detailed account on the 'war plans' group chat, took a cue from President Trump, who called him a 'scumbag'. She said Goldberg 'discredited himself by absurdly claiming that President Trump was Vladimir Putin during the 2016 campaign by peddling the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax that tried to hijack President Trump's first term by inventing the suckers and losers hoax to help Joe Biden in the 2020 election by peddling a hoax about President Trump involving Gold Star families to help Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, which our campaign at the time, vigorously denied.' Goldberg penned a 2020 article in the Atlantic that said Trump skipped a visit to the Aisne-Marne American cemetery in France amid poor weather and complained, 'Why should I go to that cemetery? Its filled with losers.' Karoline Leavitt goes scorched earth on The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg and tears into his wife Pamela Reeves (center) Leavitt tore into journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, calling him a 'Trump-hater' Waltz told Fox News he had never met Jeffrey Goldberg, although the two were pictured next to each other at the French Embassy in Washington in 2021 Waltz has taken responsibility for pulling together the group chat that inadvertently included Goldberg Trump has repeatedly denied it, although former Trump chief of staff Gen. John Kelly corroborated the account in 2023 and 2024. Reporter after reporter tried to press Leavitt on the group chat. At the briefing. She showed signs of frustration told her servicemen and women would face 'consequences' even while Waltz was getting a 'mulligan.' 'I have now been asked and answered the same question using different language multiple times. If anybody has another question, there's a lot of different things going on in the world. We have tariffs possibly being implemented later today, the President is going to talk about that at four o'clock this afternoon,' she said. Then she immediately turned to a conservative TV reporter who's question began: 'I wanted to first and foremost, thank the administration for the election integrity law executive order, because so many journalists for four years were banned from talking about this very subject. Then, about 22 minutes into the briefing, Leavitt decided to cut it short, citing an upcoming speech by Vance. 'I would hate to counter program the Vice President of the United States,' she said. An independent journalist has filed a police report against Democrat Jasmine Crockett after she appeared to try and knock a cellphone out of his hand. The Texas Democrat, 43, is now being accused of assault when she reached for and knocked his cellphone Tuesday afternoon. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene posted to X condemning Crockett, 43, for getting a new Capitol Police escort after she 'assaulted an independent journalist.' The journalist was asking if she condones violence against Tesla, explained Greene. In a video of the exchange, Charles Downs films Crockett walking in a House office building while talking to Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn. Downs can be heard trying to ask Crockett about her participation on an anti-Tesla conference call repeatedly before she looks over and is filmed knocking the camera away from her face. Greene slammed Crockett who she called the 'face of the Democrat party' for hypocrisy with her new security team after she 'assaulted' Downs. The independent journalist, who reports for right-wing commentator Laura Loomer, later filed an incident report with the Capitol Police. He also filed a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics. Downs claims that he was assaulted by the Democrat. 'We are consulting we an attorney over filing a lawsuit for assault, battery and attempted theft against the Congresswoman as well,' Loomer said of the incident. 'Its clear elected Democrats have embraced violence against Trump supporters and members of the independent media, even in the halls of Congress,' she said in another post. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, smacked a reporter's phone after he began filming her in a House office building on Tuesday The journalist and his outlet have filed reports with Capitol Police and the Office of Congressional Ethics Charles Downs claims his freedom of speech was infringed by the lawmaker On Wednesday, Crockett was filmed walking around the Capitol complex alongside a Capitol Police officer. 'Jasmine Crockett, who went out of her way to grab my phone, is now roaming Capitol Hill with additional USCP security,' Downs posted on X on Wednesday. 'Its astonishing that Representative Crockett can attack a journalist, threaten a United States Senator, and still portray herself as the victim.' 'Shes recently attacked me, Sen. Ted Cruz, and Elon Musk publicly,' the reporter said in another post on X. 'Taxpayers shouldnt foot the bill for her security, so Im taking action.' Downs was attempting to ask Crockett about her recent comments urging activists on the 'Tesla Takedown' conference call that she wants 'Elon to be taken down.' Republicans, like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, said the Democrat's words were akin to 'organizing political violence and terrorism.' Her latest imbroglio comes on the heels of her highly-publicized insult of paralyzed and wheelchair-bound Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who she called 'Hot Wheels.' Crockett made the comment during a speech at a Human Rights Campaign dinner in Los Angeles. The group is famous for its support of marginalized communities, like the disabled. The reporter who claims he was assaulted, Charles Downs, works for conservative commentator Laura Loomer Crockett recently grabbed negative headlines after calling paralyzed, wheelchair-bound Texas Gov. Greg Abbott 'Hot Wheels' during a speech to a human rights group Loomer has close ties to Donald Trump and even travelled with him aboard his plane during his most recent campaign '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. The governor was tragically paralyzed from the waist down after an oak tree fell on him while he was jogging in 1984. Despite this paralysis, Abbott has 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. Her slamming Abbott quickly earned her the scorn of Republican lawmakers and conservative commentators who posted their outrage online. 'This woman is trash,' Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk wrote 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 posted. 'She does know the TX Governor is paralyzed... right? Is she making fun of a paralyzed person? This is horrible,' Matt Van Swol wrote. A Turkish university student was seen on camera being detained by ICE agents over her pro-Palestinian views. Rumeysa Ozturk, 30, who is currently studying at Tufts University in Massachusetts, was swarmed by a group of individuals near her off-campus home on Tuesday. According to her lawyer, Ozturk had been on her way to meet with friends for iftar, a meal to break her Ramadan fast, when she was grabbed off the street. Footage of her being taken in shows a group of six people approaching her from angles, all of whom are masked and wearing gold identification badges. As two men approach her she can be heard screaming out in horror, and is visibly shaking in the clip. 'We're the police,' members of the group are heard saying in the video. A man is heard on camera saying, 'Why are you hiding your faces?' The group put in her handcuffs and grab her backpack from her before pulling her towards a black SUV parked across the street. Her lawyer Mahsa Khanbabai said that it was agents from the Department of Homeland Security who had taken Ozturk. Rumeysa Ozturk was swarmed by a group of individuals near her off-campus home on Tuesday In this image taken from security camera video, Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old doctoral student at Tufts University, is detained by Department of Homeland Security agents on a street in Sommerville, Mass., Tuesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo) Khanbabai said: 'We are unaware of her whereabouts and have not been able to contact her. 'No charges have been filed against Rumeysa to date that we are aware of.' Khanbabai said that Ozturk had a valid student visa as a doctoral student with Tufts officials saying they were told her visa had been terminated. University president Sunil Kumar said in an email to faculty on Tuesday evening that the school was 'seeking to confirm whether that information is true'. In a statement on Wednesday, Kumar said: 'The university had no pre-knowledge of this incident and did not share any information with federal authorities prior to the event, and the location where this took place is not affiliated with Tufts University.' U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued an order on Tuesday giving the government until Friday to answer why Ozturk was being detained. Talwani also ordered that Ozturk not be moved outside the District of Massachusetts without providing advance notice. Once notice is given, Ozturk shall not be moved out of the district for at least 48 hours, Talwani wrote. Khanbabai said that Ozturk had a valid student visa as a doctoral student with Tufts officials saying they were told her visa had been terminated Ozturk's detention comes after President Trump signed an order on January 29 that declared a crackdown on anti-Semitism which included university campuses The group put in her handcuffs and grab her backpack from her before pulling her towards a black SUV parked across the street The DHS said in a statement: 'Rumesya Ozturk is a Turkish national and Tufts University graduate student, granted the privilege to be in this country on a visa. 'DHS and ICE investigations found Ozturk engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that relishes the killing of Americans. 'A visa is a privilege not a right. Glorifying and supporting terrorists who kill Americans is grounds for visa issuance to be terminated. This is commonsense security.' Ozturk was one of four students last March who co-authored an op-ed piece in The Tufts Daily. The piece criticized the university's response to its community union Senate passing resolutions demanding that Tufts 'acknowledge the Palestinian genocide,' disclose its investments and divest from companies with direct or indirect ties to Israel. It said: 'These resolutions were the product of meaningful debate by the Senate and represent a sincere effort to hold Israel accountable for clear violations of international law.' It added that the university's response to the resolutions 'has been wholly inadequate and dismissive of the Senate, the collective voice of the student body.' Before attending Tufts, Ozturk graduated with a master's degree from the Developmental Psychology program at Teachers College at Columbia University in New York, according to an alumni spotlight article in 2021. Her focus was childrens media. She was also a 2018 Fulbright scholar at Columbia. Ozturk's detention comes after President Trump signed an order on January 29 that declared a crackdown on anti-Semitism which included university campuses. Mahmoud Khalil, seen here last year, was taken into custody at his university-owned apartment by ICE agents U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued an order on Tuesday giving the government until Friday to answer why Ozturk was being detained The order had said his administration would wield US policy to 'remove' aliens, who engage in 'unlawful anti-Semitic harassment and violence'. Ozturk is the latest student to be taken in by ICE agents following the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student. Khalil, 30, was arrested on March 8 as part of the Trump crackdown, having served as a spokesperson and negotiator for those opposed to Israel's campaign in Gaza at the school. The government is seeking to deport Khalil under a rarely used statute that allows for removing noncitizens who pose 'potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States'. 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 who is eight months pregnant. His arrest has ignited a fierce debate over whether the Trump administration violated his First Amendment rights by detaining him and trying to deport him. 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 A lawyer for Khalil called the allegations 'plainly thin' and said the government would have to prove any omission was willful and materially important. ICE agents are also seeking out Columbia University student Yunseo Chung, 21, who has filed a suit against the government. Chung was arrested following a protest on March 5 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. Trump gestures during a Women's History Month event at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 26, 2025 She has lived in the US since emigrating with her parents at the age of 7 fromSouth 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. 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. 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.' A convicted drug dealer tried to avoid deportation to his native Jamaica after arguing that being sent back would damage his career as a poet. Cocaine dealer Evan Holmes, 46, claimed that being sent back to his homeland would strip him of his creative inspiration and make it impossible for him to find work. The father-of-six had been locked up in prison for selling Class A drugs in Bristol but later insisted his human rights would be breached if he was forced to leave the UK. Holmes, who has 13 convictions for 22 offences, is then understood to have been given Legal Aid to push his case based on claims that he would struggle to find work as a poet in Jamaica if deported. But despite his taxpayer funded attempt to avoid deportation, his protestations were finally overruled - on the basis that his poetry could be just as popular in Jamaica as it has been in the UK because the Caribbean country has its own vibrant poetry scene. Despite losing the case Holmes has yet to be forcibly removed and has already clocked up five additional years in the UK since the Home Office first signalled its intent to deport. Throwing out Holmes' appeal, immigration judge Christopher Hanson said: [Holmes] claim that he could not work in Jamaica as his qualifications have been obtained in the UK was not made out. [He] is an intelligent individual who has skills which are transferable. He has his own website in the UK as a poet and it was not made out he could not utilise the skills he clearly possesses. Convicted drug dealer Evan Holmes has tried avoiding deportation back to his native Jamaica by arguing it would interfere with his career as a poet The father-of-six had been locked up in prison for selling Class A drugs in Bristol There is a Jamaican poetry archive in the National library of Jamaica, a Poetry Society of Jamaica, and World Poetry Day, Jamaica 2024 is available online provided by the National Library of Jamaica, dated 22 March 2024. 'There are also annual Jamaican poetry festivals. 'The appellant is clearly familiar with social media and the internet which will give him an outlet for his work, if required. 'I do not find any merit in the Appellants claim that he could not find work or that he will be destitute if he was returned. Holmes first arrived in the UK in 2001 on a ten-day tourist visa and was later granted leave to remain after his initial asylum claim was rejected. On his website, he describes moving for 'better opportunities' and claims his time in prison inspired his poetry career. 'In 2002, I moved for better opportunities in Bristol, UK, a place with the contrast of both a dark Transatlantic slavery history and a vibrant Jamaican community, a very interesting irony', he wrote. 'Adjusting to the norm in a new society saw me experience a small stint of incarceration. He says his time in prison inspired his poetry career Evan Holmes' poem 'Glen's Kitchen' Glens Kitchen. Located in the heart of St. Paul's Bristol, In the community centre, Clean, modest and naturally exceptional Flavours and seasonings, red, green and gold, Colourfully rich, teasing taste buds, Stimulating and invigoratingly exciting like the St. Paul's Carnival. I mean, the Guinness punch, it's a knockout, Fly like a butterfly and sting like a bee's, Glen's, aka Chef Mohammed Halli, you're out for the count, Flawless victory, impressively splendid, Dazzling, marvelously magnificent, superb, A supremely dominating ending, exquisitely outstanding. The cooking is deliciously finger licking, He's the culinary king, you love the fried plantains. Taste buds come alive, meals are prepared professionally and presented with pride. The legendary legacy, it's bridging history, it's legendary, Spices and herbs travelling through time, Like the empire Windrush, from Santa must Jamaica, Proud and ambitious, Warm and friendly stars, Bless their hearts, Providing a first class service to over 100 hunger patrons on a daily basis. The ideal philanthropist, So if you're seeking that real, authentic, Caribbean, cultural, Jamaican culinary cuisine experience, To put the wing beneath the wings, Then by all means, Without a shadow of a doubt, You need to visit Glen's kitchen. Oh yeah, and he specializes in the finest English queen's cuisine. Yo, Glenn General, Can I have some rice and peas, Ackee and sour fish, Jerk chickens and two fried dumplings to go, please? So come along, we're boiling, Get your taste buds kicking, at Glenn's kitchen, simply tantalizing. Advertisement 'Coping with this understanding of an uncertain future and existing within the penal system allowed me time to introspect, and my introspection led me on the path of spoken word. 'Based on my refined love of the art form, this relationship developed into a career and life calling. Writing under the name Tappis the Poet, Holmes has delivered workshops in conjunction with the University of Bristol and, according to his website, is currently doing a degree course in English Literature and Community Engagement with this institution. His spoken word poetry has racked up tens of thousands of views on TikTok. He was named as an ambassador for Bridging Histories, a project set up by the Bristol History Commission and London Mayor's Office to connect people in the city. Holmes was served with deportation papers in 2020, after being jailed for 26-months for dealing heroin, possessing cannabis and possessing a prohibited weapon. He attempted to block his removal by claiming his past gang connections in Jamaica put him at risk. However, the tribunal found no evidence to support this and ruled that he could return safely. The tribunal, sitting in Cardiff, heard that Holmes - who has six children by three different women - was also convicted in 2022 of driving under the influence of drugs and possessing cannabis. Judge Hanson dismissed Holmes' claims that he was at risk, stating: The appellant presents no real evidence of a direct threat to him, just weak and vague hearsay. The appellant is not shown by personal or objective evidence that his risk remains high and continues so many years after leaving Jamaica. Holmes also claimed his human right to a family life would be breached if deported because he would be unable to support his children, including a two-month old baby. However, the upper tribunal immigration court ruled removing him to Jamaica was not unduly harsh. Rejecting Holmes' plea to remain in the UK, the judge added: The Appellants criminality is set out above which involves Class A drugs. There is a very strong deterrent element in showing those who have no right to remain in the UK, as they are not British citizens, that if they involve themselves in illegal activity involving drugs they may face deportation in addition to the sentence of the criminal courts. Judge Hanson concluded: Having sat back and considered the competing factors, I am satisfied there is nothing on the facts of this appeal sufficient to make the Secretary of States decision unlawful when considering the Human Rights Act. In light of the evidence available, the matters relied upon by the Appellant are not sufficient to outweigh the strong public interest in his deportation and that the legitimate aim of preventing crime and disorder and the economic welfare of the UK are the determinative factors. Holmes was represented by Southampton-based law firm Leonard & Co Solicitors, which describes itself as one of the few law firms on the South Coast to provide legal aid under certain circumstances within immigration law. The firm was approached for comment. The moment that an American couple's dream vacation in Cancun ended in tragedy was caught on camera, as they were arrested by police on fraud charges. Footage released by the Quintana Roo State Attorney Generals Office showed Paul and Christy Akeo flanked by two police officers and another law enforcement official after they had stepped off a flight from Michigan at Cancun International Airport on March 4. The couple is accused of defrauding The Palace Company hotel chain out of more than $100,000. A spokesperson for the prosecutors office told DailyMail.com that Paul and Christy have been placed in pretrial detention for six months while prosecutors investigate. They did not say when the couple is due in court. According to Christys daughter, Lindsey Hull, the couple challenged at least 13 wrongful credit card charges that were made by The Palace Company, also known as Palace Resorts, back in 2021. 'The last 21 days of torture my parents have been through is a direct response of The Palace Companys corruption, extortion, retaliation and blackmail against our parents,' Hull wrote in a Facebook post. Hull insisted that American Express sided with her mother and stepfather when they flagged their concerns in 2022, and that the allegations leveled against her family in Mexican media reports are false. A video showed Paul and Christy Akeo being escorted by police at Cancun International Airport on March 4, moments after they were arrested as they walked out of a flight from Michigan The couple has argued that The Palace Company hotel chain wrongly charged their American Express card and the card company has sided with their claims, which were first made in 2022 The Palace Company is allegedly 'demanding $250,000, the signing of an NDA that does not even guarantee their release, as well as a Facebook post made by our parents to be left up for 1 week claiming all responsibility and fault for the torture they have endured throughout the last 3 weeks,' Hull said. Hull added that her mother and stepfather are living in hell inside a maximum-security prison. 'Despite asking numerous times to speak to Paul, we have yet to have ANY communication with him,' she said. Lindsey said her mother has shed 25 pounds in prison in just 20 days because authorities continue to offer food they know she is allergic to, and that she has developed a severe rash all over her body. 'We have spent thousands of dollars towards Mexican legal representation, but unfortunately that only goes so far when dealing with this level of corruption and extortion,' she said. Hull's stepfather is a United States Navy Chief Petty Officer, who has served the United States for 21 years. Christy and Paul Akeo were placed in pretrial detention for six months by a judge in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo Paul and Christy Akeo were taken into custody after stepping out of an airplane at Cancun International Airport on March 4 The duo allegedly bought 'membership rights' with the hotel chain which guaranteed them preferential rates, but by the end of 2022 had lodged 13 disputes with AMEX about charges Palace Resorts had placed on their card. Pictured: Moon Palace in Cancun, one of the resorts linked to Palace Hull appealed to American officials to intervene to bring her family home and had tagged Donald Trump in posts sharing her parents' plight. There are entire Reddit threads and Facebook groups dedicated to 'falling victim' to the timeshare offer that the Akeo's had allegedly signed up for. One such Facebook group was removed by Hull after she claims to have received reassurances that it would help her parents' case. A plan to create a new specific offence of dog theft is set to become law after impressing the Scottish Government. Proposed by Tory MSP Maurice Golden, the legislation would see thieves jailed for up to five years to reflect the emotional and welfare impact of the crime. The Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill would also allow owners to make victim impact statements in court to explain the effect of losing a family pet or support animal. Stealing an assistance dog such as a guide dog would become an aggravating offence in deciding a sentence. Animal welfare advocates have claimed dogs are treated on a par with objects, as stolen pooches are currently dealt with under the common law offence of theft. But lawyers and prosecutors question the need for a standalone offence, arguing courts can already take a wide range of factors into account. A Westminster law making it a criminal offence to steal dogs or cats in England and Northern Ireland made it onto the statue book last year. The Pet Abduction Act, which also introduced five-year custodial penalties, recognised the animals are not inanimate objects but sentient beings capable of experiencing stress and emotional trauma when stolen. Skye, an 18 month old border collie, was taken from her home in the Highlands this month Mr Golden introduced his members Bill at Holyrood last month, knowing it needed cross-party support to pass. The Mail understands it is likely to succeed, as SNP ministers are minded to support it. Besides being apolitical, the Bill is seen within Government as well drafted and unlikely to create any unwelcome surprises. It already includes a section designed to avoid fights between separating couples over the custody of dogs becoming criminal matters. Right now officials think its a winner, said a Government insider. This one is probably headed for the statute books. Mr Golden said: I have had very positive engagement with community safety minister Siobhan Brown throughout the process of drafting this Bill. I do hope the Scottish Government can get behind it. A Government spokesman said: The theft of a much-loved pet can be a traumatic experience for owners. The Scottish Government has noted the introduction of the Members Bill and are considering its content. It is now for Parliament to scrutinise and decide on. Earlier this month, a dog was reported stolen from a property in Berriedale, Caithness. Police Scotland said Skye, an 18-month-old Border Collie, was taken on the evening of March 3. Tory MSP Maurice Golden proposed the Bill that will make dog theft an offence in Scotland Officers said the dog was not chipped and was not wearing a collar. Holyroods rural affairs committee yesterday began taking evidence on the Bill. The Bill is currently going through its preliminary stage at Holyrood, ahead of a report and vote on its general principles. The Government is then expected to throw its support behind the Bill, hugely increasing the chances of it passing before the 2026 election. MSPs on Holyroods rural affairs committee yesterday began taking evidence on the Bill. Police Scotland Chief Inspector Michael Booker said the 63 recorded dog thefts in Scotland last year was likely an under-estimate of the problem. Bulldogs were the most commonly stolen breed because they sold for a lot of money, he told MSPs, and added: The current legislation, under the common law crime of theft, for me it doesnt sufficiently reflect the impact on families, the impact on children. Its not an item, its a part of the family. But he did not believe the Bill would deter would-be thieves motivated by gain and said: In terms of those organised criminals who are perhaps targeting puppies for sale online - again, I think the monetary value probably supersedes any deterrent. Dr Paula Boyden, veterinary director at the Dogs Trust charity, agreed it was unlikely to act as a deterrent but making it a standalone crime will really reflect the seriousness of it. Gilly Mendes-Ferreira, of the Scottish SPCA, said the Bill was also important for animal welfare as thieves were liable to mistreat stolen dogs. It has been more than eight decades since the pair last walked hand in hand. But now childhood sweethearts Jim Dougal and Betty Davison has been reunited thanks to a school photo from 1936. The pair went to Eyemouth Primary, in Berwickshire, but lost touch after his family moved away three years after the picture was taken. After some sleuthing by Mr Dougals son Alistair, 66, the old friends - both aged 96 - were recently reunited in North Yorkshire. Alistair, a retired fraud investigator, said: To describe it as a magical moment would be a gross understatement. Mrs Davidson, formerly Dougal, remembers growing up across the road from Mr Dougal and said: I used to knock on the door for him in the morning, or he knocked on mine, and we used to walk up to school together. It was nice to get in touch after all these years with my childhood sweetheart. I think he was quite shy, Jim, but we were good pals. Mr Dougal left the town around 1939. He was conscripted and then met his wife Iris Gibbs while at an army camp in Essex, settling down in England. Childhood sweethearts Jim Dougal and Betty Davidson have been reunited after more than 85 years thanks to an old school photograph. The pair used to walk to school together hand in hand in Eyemouth, Berwickshire, in the 1930s, but lost touch But Mrs Davidson remained in Eyemouth until about 1950, when she met her husband Alfred and also moved south of the Border. Alistair was researching his family history when he came across the photo and was adamant to identify each of the 32 pupils in it. He told BBC Scotland: In a final slightly desperate push, I posted a copy of the photo on the Eyemouth Past Facebook group and asked if anyone could help. Within an hour, Bettys niece Maureen Stevenson posted and said, Thats my aunt Betty and, yes, she is alive and well and in North Yorkshire. I wrote to Betty and, as soon as she received the letter, she rang me. Not only that, then she sent me a photo she had, after all those years, of her and my father together, along with her sister Wilhelmina [Elma], taken in about 1936 too. They each have an arm around the others shoulder. My father was completely overwhelmed. He said just three of the children pictured remain and added: That Betty should be one of those feels - as my father has said - like destiny. Mr Dougal, who lives in Rayne, Essex, said the pair used to do everything together, and added: It is just incredible really. She was fantastic. She has still got that glint in her eye and a touch of the fair hair that I remember her by. Aussies behaving badly in Bali have been put on notice by Indonesian authorities, who are planning a crackdown on unruly tourists. Recently re-elected Governor Wayan Koster has warned travellers who don't show respect for the island's people, culture and environment will be fined or even jailed. Mr Koster released an updated list of seven banned acts in Bali in a timely reminder to tourists to follow the rules, or suffer the consequences. 'We issued a similar regulation before, but as things change we need to adapt. This ensures that Bali's tourism remains respectful, sustainable and in harmony with our local values,' he said. It comes after footage emerged of a tourist being wheeled on a trolley through Bali's streets by security staff with his wrists and ankles tied. 'Drunk foreigner causes chaos at Y Sport Bar, Legian starts hitting people,' the caption to the video shared on the bali.info.official Instagram page said. Legian is a popular tourist area of Denpasar located between the bustling hive of Kuta to the south and Seminyak to the north. Aussies behaving badly in Bali have been warned to improve their behaviour or they could be fined, jailed or thrown out of the holiday island The man's nationality was unclear, but the incident followed Australians being caught up in a brawl at the famous Finns Beach Club in nearby North Kuta earlier this year. Five tourists had a fight with about 15 security staff in that incident. The trouble started when a man allegedly harassed a woman inside the club before he was evicted and then turned on security. Bali police claimed he had previously been warned for anti-social behaviour before he was kicked out of the bar. Updated seven regulations No entering sacred temple areas, unless for worship while wearing traditional Balinese attire. No climbing sacred trees or monuments, including taking inappropriate or nude photos at religious sites. No littering or polluting Bali's environment. Australians were caught up in a brawl at the famous Finns Beach Club in nearby North Kuta earlier this year No using single-use plastics, including plastic bags, Styrofoam, and plastic straws. No aggressive or disrespectful behaviour, including swearing, causing disturbances, or being rude to locals, officials or other tourists. This includes sharing hate speech or misinformation on social media. No working or running a business without proper permits. No participating in illegal activities, such as trading in drugs or endangered animals. Along with the list of banned acts, Mr Koster also issued a list of things tourists in Bali should do. Bali's list of 'Dos' for tourists Do respect sacred sites and symbols. Do dress appropriately - 'when visiting temples, tourist attractions, or public spaces, tourists are expected to wear modest and respectful clothing'. Do behave respectfully. Do pay the tourist levy of about $14.25. Do use licensed tour guides. Do exchange currency at authorities' money changers. Do follow traffic laws, including having a valid international or national driver's licence, wearing a helmet, and follow traffic signs. Do use legal transportation. Do stay at licensed accommodation Two tourists, from Australia and Germany, had to be taken back to their hotel rooms in a trolley after a night out in South East Asia (pictured) Speaking at a press conference in Bali, the governor said the rules would be 'strictly enforced' and that tourists who don't pay the levy would be denied access to attractions. Authorities carried out checks in several major tourist areas of Bali in recent days to ensure that tourists had paid the fee. Anyone who chooses to ignore the regulations and laws has been warned they will face the relatively harsh consequences of Indonesian law. 'Bali is a beautiful, sacred island, and we expect our guests to show the same respect that we extend to them,' Mr Koster said. Around 1.5million Australians visit Bali each year, and while the vast majority do nothing wrong, a few incidents have given Aussie tourists a bad name. 'It is only a small minority that misbehave,' Indonesia Institute president Robbie Gaspar told 7News. Anyone who chooses to ignore the new Bali regulations and laws has been warned they will face the consequences of Indonesian law (stock) 'It is just to give everyone a bit of a reminder - respect Bali, respect their rules, you're in a foreign country, just behave, as you would anywhere.' Bali is not the only destination where Australians do things that lead to unwanted encounters with the local authorities. Late last year, Daily Mail Australia reported on an Aussie who had to be wheeled back to her hostel in a trolley by cops after a night out in Thailand. Tahli Benson, 19, a hospitality worker from Geelong, and her German friend Sina Baumann, 23, were partying on Koh Phi Phi, in Krabi, on November 29 when they passed out at a local bar. Viral footage showing Sergeant Major Saneh Jualaong wheeling the pair back to their accommodation in a pushcart that he borrowed from a nearby shop. The wife of the disgraced ex-senator who was caught allegedly trying to rape an underage child tried to help him cover his tracks just before FBI agents swooped in, according to prosecutors. Republican Minnesota 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. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, his wife Brittany allegedly helped Eichorn clean up his St. Paul's apartment by collecting a gun, laptop and cellphone, all before agents could search the property, in an astonishing act of spousal loyalty. Brittany filed a petition for dissolution of marriage on Monday. During his probable cause and detention hearing on Wednesday, Eichorn's attorney, Charles Hawkins, said those accusations were false, and that he and Brittany discussed in jail phone calls that she had left her work computer at the apartment that she wanted to pick up. The couple, from Grand Rapids, manage 138 apartment units across five buildings, the Star Tribune reported. FBI agents were sitting on the St. Paul apartment on March 17 waiting for a search warrant to be signed when Brittany arrived and asked if she could retrieve her computer, but was denied access, the outlet said. According to U.S. Attorney Daniel Bobier, Eichorn 'thought his wife would go in there and clean out the apartment' before officials arrived. The wife of disgraced Republican Minnesota Senator Justin Eichorn allegedly tried to help him cover his tracks after the FBI arrested him last week for allegedly trying to have sex with a minor. (Pictured: Justin and Brittany with their kids) He 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 remained in jail over the weekend after FBI agents discovered a gun inside the property, something that the U.S. Attorney's Office said he lied about to his probation officer, the outlet reported. Special Magistrate Judge Shannon Elkins ordered Eichorn be released from federal jail to a halfway house to await his trial, after stating that the evidence presented by the U.S. Attorney's Office was 'much less clear.' 'The evidence presented here today is much less clear than the governments brief,' Elkins said, noting that it was possible the couple's discussion was about business. 'Time will tell,' she added, referring to the government having possession of his laptop. He is to remain at the halfway house with a GPS on. A court had initially granted him conditional release to a halfway house but that was revoked on Monday after prosecutors revealed the new claims against the disgraced politician. Eichorn was caught in a sting operation, as 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. '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. During the hearing on Wednesday, Matthew Vogel, a special agent with the Minnesota FBI field office, testified and revealed the details of the messages sent between Eichorn and the undercover agent. The couple, from Grand Rapids, manage 138 apartment units across five buildings. The FBI searched one of those units after getting a warrant for his arrest Vogel said Eichorn communicated using a Voice over Internet Protocol, which is typically used by those trying to hide their identity online. He also noted that the politician had knowledge of the shorthand and slang from online ads that are used for sex workers. 'He understands the lingo of these kind of interactions, the idioms,' Vogel said. When Bobier asked if that showed that Eichorn had familiarity with sex work, Vogel said it did. Vogel said that he also knew how to distinguish whether advertisements were fake or part of a police operation. Cops placed ads on websites that are known for sex trafficking, which were then picked up by other sites. Eichorn allegedly made contact with the so-called 17-year-old and asked: 'Whats a guy gotta do to get with the hottest girl online tonight?' The following day he allegedly messaged her again, asking if they could meet for a quick visit and 30 minutes of sex. The undercover cop then sent him rates for the visit of $80-$120. Eichorn was first elected in 2016, according to his senate biography He then asked how old the girl was, and after the cop confirmed, he continued to text her. 'The indication is that hes concerned about making sure this young woman is of legal age,' Hawkins said. Following his arrest, his truck was towed. Officers found $130 in cash inside, condoms and two cell phones. During the home search, they 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. Brittany filed for divorce in Itasca County Court just days after the devastating allegations came to light. Eichorn was first elected in 2016, according to his senate biography. He 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 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. '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. Body-worn video cameras could enable police officers to carry out live facial recognition - raising fears over the rise of dystopian technology. Chief Constable Jo Farrell said use of the devices now being rolled out across Scotland created lots of opportunities in the future, including crowd surveillance. Police hope the cameras will also be used to capture footage of high-profile arrests similar to the images of baby killer Lucy Letby, who was filmed being taken into custody at her home. Around 35million is being spent on the rollout of body-worn video (BWV) cameras within the next 12 to 18 months. The first officers to be equipped with the new devices after years of delays - caused by technical problems and concern over cost - are based in Tayside. The kit is standard for police elsewhere in the UK meaning Scotlands single force is years behind the rest of the country. Around 750 Tayside officers, including road policing officers and dog handlers, will be issued with the new devices over the coming weeks. More than 10,500 Home Office approved Motorola Solutions VB400 cameras will be issued to frontline officers from constable to inspector ranks, and to police custody staff, across Scotland. Body-worn cameras for police officers are being rolled out across Scotland Speaking in Dundee, Ms Farrell told the Mail that a consultation is under way on the use of live facial recognition and she was keen to take small steps in that space. She said we need to make sure that we do it at a reasonable pace and it will need further investment in terms of being able to look across a crowd in live time and use that technology. Ms Farrell said: Clearly the cameras that we have are very high-quality, high-resolution, good in low light, good when the sound is difficult as well; so it does create lots of opportunities for us and will provide the best evidence into courts. We have to listen carefully to what the public say but the resources are finite and if the technology enables us to identify people who are wanted for serious crimes, those who prey on vulnerable people, people who prey on children, then its incumbent on me to make sure that we use the technology for best effect and we derive as much benefit out of the 35million as we can. But I want us to walk slowly into it so that people are reassured by it. Colleagues elsewhere in the United Kingdom use it and I think we can learn from them and ensure that people have confidence and will use it appropriately and professionally, and I have every confidence we will be able to convince people [of its value]. It is understood that the cameras currently being issued do not allow live facial recognition so the technology would need to be upgraded. Mark Johnson, advocacy manager at Big Brother Watch, said live facial recognition is a dystopian mass surveillance technology, which turns us all into walking ID cards. He said deploying the technology in police officers body cams only makes it more intrusive and harder for the public to opt out of. Cameras are focused on a specific area so, when people pass through, their images are streamed to the live facial recognition system. It contains a list of offenders wanted by the police and/or the courts, or those who pose a risk of harm to themselves or others. Police say the current BWV equipment can help to de-escalate incidents, improve public trust in policing and reduce complaints, support officer and staff safety, and bring wider benefits to the criminal justice system. Footage will be shared with courts in a bid to fast-track cases by providing high-quality evidence - potentially cutting the number of trials and reducing pressure on the creaking court system. A national rollout of BWV was a key recommendation of Lady Elish Angiolinis independent review of police complaints, published back in 2020. Ms Farrell said the cameras could be used for high-profile arrests. She said: Weve seen across the UK convictions in the courts for very serious crimes whether its Southport [the mass stabbing of young girls which led to three deaths in July 2024], Lucy Letby and so on. In time, Im hoping that well be able to give more visibility to some of these cases. Last night Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: Providing the appropriate safeguards are in place, facial recognition technology can play an important role in helping the police tackle crime. Given the shameful delay in the rollout of body-worn cameras in Scotland, coupled with officer numbers being at their lowest level since around 2008, our overstretched police force needs all the help it can get to keep our streets safe. Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: Body-worn video can increase public confidence in policing and improve safety for police officers and staff. Nigel Farage has been paid an 'unspecified sum' by NatWest to settle the debanking scandal almost two years after the bank closed his accounts. It is understood that after NatWest agreed to pay the Reform UK leader damages he withdrew the threat of potential civil and criminal proceedings. Coutts', which is owned by NatWest, decision to close Farage's account in June 2023 sparked a major controversy with the politician claiming the decision was politically motivated. The financial institution, which is part of the NatWest Group and whose clients include many members of the British Royal Family, claimed that Farage failed to meet the eligibility criteria following the expiry of his mortgage. But in private the exclusive bank had compiled a 40-page dossier exploring the 'significant reputational risks of being associated with him'. The report concluded that Farage's views were 'at odds with our position as an inclusive organisation.' The then-NatWest CEO Dame Alison Rose later resigned after she admitted she had discussed the details of Farage's bank account with a BBC journalist. Here she inaccurately claimed it was because he held insufficient funds. Farage subsequently launched legal action against NatWest which could have seen him received millions of pounds from the company, for the alleged damage to his reputation. It is understood that after NatWest agreed to pay Nigel Farage damages he has now withdrawn the threat of potential civil and criminal proceedings The debanking scandal led the then-NatWest CEO Dame Alison Rose to resign after she admitted she had discussed the details of Farage's bank account with a BBC journalist A Natwest bank in London. While the terms of the settlement were confidential, a joint statement said: 'NatWest Group and Nigel Farage MP are pleased to confirm that they have resolved and settled their dispute, and the bank has apologised to Mr Farage' However, almost two years later the dispute has finally been resolved. While the terms of the settlement were confidential, a joint statement said: 'NatWest Group and Nigel Farage MP are pleased to confirm that they have resolved and settled their dispute, and the bank has apologised to Mr Farage. 'The terms of the settlement are confidential.' Sky News reported that Nick Candy - Reform UK's treasurer - played a crucial role in ending the dispute after he held meditation talks between both sides at a London law firm yesterday. Following Dame Alison's resignation, the former Coutts CEO Peter Flavel was also forced to step down acknowledging that their treatment of Mr Farage had 'fallen below the banks high standards of personal service'. The debanking scandal then prompted a review and attracted regulatory scrutiny. This led the British government to propose a law last year that required banks to give customers a three-months notice and an explanation before closing their accounts. It also prompted the City watchdog to order a change to the treatment by financial institutions of so-called politically exposed persons (PEPs). A high profile domestic abuse activist has been found guilty of carrying out a shocking campaign of physical and sexual abuse against four children over two decades. Nicola Murray sexually assaulted two victims by forcing her tongue into their mouths and freely talked about her sex life to another child. The 46-year-old forced one youngster to view an explicit sexual image she had taken of a man she was dating and indecently assaulted another after stripping them naked. Murrays campaign of terror also included blaming one child that they had caused her to suffer a miscarriage and restricting the breathing of another by smothering their face with a pillow. She attacked the children by punching, kicking and slapping them to the head and body over several years while she also repeatedly pushed one youngster down a flight of stairs. Further disturbing incidents saw Murray drag a young child out of a top bunk bed onto the floor and brand another child a tranny after they had styled their hair to look like their favourite pop star, Pink. All the abuse took place at addresses in West Lothian and Perthshire over a 20-year period and Murray was arrested and charged after one victim bravely came forward to report her in 2022. She is a prominent domestic abuse campaigner and set up the Brodies Trust support group that advocates for women who have lost babies through domestic violence or forced termination. Charity boss Nicola Murray sexually assaulted two victims Murray set the group up after suffering a miscarriage and introduced a petition to create an offence that enables courts to hand down longer sentences for violent domestic abusers who cause their victims to lose their babies. Conservative MSP Jackson Carlaw, convener of the public petitions committee, chaired a full chamber debate on Murrays petition at the Scottish Parliament in May last year. MSPs unanimously agreed to note the petition but said further consideration would be needed before any amendments to the law are made. Murray, from Stanley, Perthshire, denied all the abuse allegations against her and has been standing trial on indictment at Edinburgh Sheriff Court since last Tuesday. In her closing speech on Monday, prosecutor Cheryl Porter said Murray had systematically physically, emotionally and sexually abused these children over 20 years. She said the victims had been repeatedly struck, slapped and dragged while one child gave evidence they had been treated like a dog by Murray. Ms Porter said Murray had repeatedly engaged in sexual conversations and one victim had been left naked, injured and distressed on the floor following one particularly savage assault. The fiscal said another child had been left so terrified of the repeated assaults at the hands of Murray they had wet themselves. But following five days of evidence the jury took less than two hours to return guilty verdicts on all 10 serious charges at the capital court earlier this week (Tue). Sheriff Gillian Sharp said that due to the number and gravity of offences which you have been convicted sentence on Murray would be deferred for the preparation of social work reports. Murray was placed on the sex offenders register on an interim basis and sentence was deferred to May. She was found guilty of three charges of assault, two sexual assaults, two of indecent communication, one indecent assault and two offences of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, all between December 2002 and August 2022. The charitys Facebook page was taken down mere hours before the sentencing and Murray posted an important announcement on X saying: I am heartbroken to announce that with immediate effect Brodies Trust Support Group will no longer operate. I am truly grateful for all the support for the campaign for Brodies Law and raising awareness of the harrowing issues surrounding domestic abuse in pregnancy. She signed off with her initial and a kiss with words: My undying solidarity with all survivors, always. A Biden-appointed US attorney who resigned on President Donald Trump's first day in office had suffered from epilepsy before she died in her sleep, her family revealed. Jessica Aber, 43, once the top prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia, was found unresponsive in her Washington DC home on Saturday. Police have said she most likely died of natural causes, noting that she had 'a longstanding medical issue.' Aber's case, though, will remain open until the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia rules on the manner and cause of death. In the meantime, Aber's family has told ABC News she suffered from epilepsy and epileptic seizures for many years. Such a condition could cause fatal asphyxiation or heart problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Fatal epileptic seizures, known as Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy, are rare, but are considered a major risk for people who suffer from the disorder. Those episodes most often occur when the victims are asleep, as Aber was. Jessica Aber's family members have revealed that she suffered from epilepsy and epileptic seizures for years, and died in her sleep Aber, 43, once the top prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia , was found unresponsive in her Washington DC home on Saturday. In a statement, Aber's family said they 'expect more information from the medical examiner in the coming weeks. 'Our family is in shock and grieving deeply, and we respectfully request privacy as we attempt to navigate through our unspeakable loss,' they added. Her former colleagues are also grappling with the enormity of the loss. 'Jess was brilliant, but far more important was her sense for justice, her humanity, and her ability to change the world in a positive way even during her brief time with us,' said US District Judge M. Hannah Lauck, for whom Aber once clerked. 'My clerk family has lost its rock, and I have lost a friend. She was a gold soul and I am proud to have known her.' 'She was unmatched as a leader, mentor, and prosecutor,' said Erik S. Siebert, her interim successor. 'She is simply irreplaceable as a human being. We remain in awe of how much she accomplished in her all too brief time in this world. She loved EDVA and EDVA loved her back.' Aber had risen through the ranks of the Justice Department before she was eventually appointed by former President Joe Biden to serve as US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, or EDVA, in 2021 - becoming one of the few women to ever lead the department. During her time in the post, Aber led a team of roughly 300 lawyers and staff, prosecuting some of the nation's most sensitive and consequential cases Aber worked in the investigation of former CIA analyst Asif Rahman, who pleaded guilty to leaking Israel's plan to strike Iran last year The district encompasses Northern Virginia, the Pentagon, Langley, the Port of Norfolk and the corridors of federal power in Richmond. It is also a nerve center of legal activity involving terrorism, espionage, public corruption, and corporate crime. In fact, during her time in the post, Aber led a team of roughly 300 lawyers and staff, prosecuting some of the nation's most sensitive and consequential cases. Aber worked in the investigation of former CIA analyst Asif Rahman, who pleaded guilty to leaking Israel's plan to strike Iran last year. She was also part of several probes into illegal activities by Russia-tied individuals. But when Trump re-entered the White House on January 20, Aber stepped down, saying she felt the incoming administration expected her to resign as a Biden-appointee. 'It's a political job,' she said during the Richmond Police Department's year-end crime briefing, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. 'President Trump hasnt indicated explicitly how long, if it all, he would keep the Biden U.S. attorneys, but I decided that I would leave at the end of President Bidens time.' In her resignation letter, Aber said working as a U.S. attorney was 'an honor beyond measure.' 'I am deeply grateful to senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and to President Biden for the opportunity to lead this office and to Attorney General Garland for his steadfast leadership,' Aber said in January. 'I am proud of the work we have done with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to enforce the law and build community trust.' A Texas woman was left in agony after an unlicensed dentist broke her tooth and severely damaged her jaw. Cesar Augusto Perez Mejia, 47, allegedly performed illegal dental procedures inside of his Houston apartment and charged patients at least $250 for his unauthorized services, his neighbors told Click2Houston. 'He had his little clinic there at his house on the down low,' an anonymous neighbor told the outlet in Spanish. On September 30, 2024, the unnamed woman went to Mejia's home at the La Plaza Apartments complex to get her tooth pulled. Mejia used pliers to rip out her tooth after putting her under anesthesia, according to reports. The woman, who is now pressing charges, said she had to be taken to the hospital due to complications with the surgery, where she learned of her serious injuries. In relation to the botched tooth extraction, Mejia has been accused of practicing dentistry without a license and aggravated assault. As of Wednesday, the fraudulent dentist was in the custody of Harris County Jail on a $90,000 bond, according to Law & Crime. Cesar Augusto Perez Mejia, 47, allegedly performed illegal dental procedures inside of his Houston apartment and charged patients at least $250 for his unauthorized services A Texas woman is pressing charges against Mejia after she said he pulled out her tooth with pliers and left her with a damaged jaw Mejia was allegedly operating an illegal dental practice from his home in the La Plaza Apartments complex in Houston Mejia has a history of run-ins with the law, with records showing he was already in custody on an ICE hold after he was arrested in February for an unrelated assault charge. His neighbor, Alejandra Moncada, told Click2Houston Mejia attacked her with a screwdriver in the apartment complex. 'I was sitting down, and he came out with a screwdriver and was assaulting me,' Moncada said in Spanish. 'We had to call the cops and when the cops came, he was still on a rampage.' She claimed Moncada had made the attempt to harm her because he confused her with a different woman. Mejia allegedly told her during the violent confrontation that her daughter had smashed his car windows. But Moncada was certain this was untrue, as her children are young, she explained to Click2Houston. The mother said she was aware of Mejia performing illegal dental procedures in his apartment and feels safer knowing he is behind bars. These accusations against Mejia come as a New York woman is being accused of running at least two dental practices without a license and seriously injuring several of her unsuspecting patients. Yolany Y. Mejia Carranza, 55, was running a 'fully functioning illegal dental office' out of her home in Bay Shore, a town in central Long Island, according to a statement from the Suffolk County Police Department. Mejia's neighbor, Alejandra Moncada, said he attacked her with a screwdriver in February after he accused her daughter of breaking his car windows Yolany Y. Mejia Carranza, 55, was allegedly running a 'fully functioning illegal dental office.' Police said she's been doing this for eight years from two different locations on Long Island, New York The police commissioner, Kevin Catalina, said the investigation into Carranza began when detectives received several tips claiming she had injured patients. One patient allegedly suffered 'severe nerve damage that led to partial facial paralysis,' Catalina said at a press conference. Detectives believe that Carranza also had a fake dental practice in Huntington Station at one point. Huntington Station is about a 30-minute car ride from Bay Shore. 'She did not use anesthesia, but she used a local anesthesia, but no one was getting the anesthesia for the complex dental procedures she was doing,' Catalina said. Police believe her illegal practice has been operating for eight years, adding that her clientele were mostly low-income people who lacked dental insurance. She accepted cash for her work, police said. 'We think she was targeting the Hispanic community, mostly people who did not have health insurance and many of whom may have been in the country illegally,' Catalina said. 'I think her patients were in grave danger.' A judge Republicans have looked into impeaching as Donald Trump claims he has 'tried to usurp the power of the presidency' will oversee a lawsuit involving the leaked administration group texts. White House National Security Advisor Michael Waltz has faced intense scrutiny for accidentally adding a journalist to a Signal chat in which they were discussing sensitive plans to attack Houthi targets in Yemen. American Oversight, 'a nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog that advances truth, accountability, and democracy by enforcing the public's right to government records,' is suing to find out if officials violated the Federal Records Act. They argue that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other administration officials broke record retention laws by using a messaging app that allows communications to be erased. Judge James Boasberg has been assigned to the case which will likely not sit well with the White House. Boasberg has attempted to block Trump's deportation flights of illegal immigrant gang members. The move has led Trump to accuse Boasberg of trying to 'usurp the power of the presidency' while Republicans have argued for the judge to be impeached. When DailyMail.com reached out to the White House for comment, they cited Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's comments about Boasberg a week ago, calling him 'an activist judge who is trying to usurp the presidents authority.' A judge Republicans have looked into impeaching as Donald Trump claims he has 'tried to usurp the power of the presidency' will oversee a lawsuit involving the leaked administration group texts James Boasberg (pictured), has been assigned to a case that argues White House officials broke the law by holding a war plan group text on Signal Leavitt also called Boasberg 'a Democrat activist' whose wife donated more than $10,000 to the party. 'And he has consistently shown his disdain for this president and his policies, and its unacceptable,' Leavitt added. Boasberg was initially appointed by George W. Bush but promoted to a higher court by Obama. DailyMail.com has reached out to American Oversight for comment. Trump called Boasberg a 'publicity hound' in his latest attack on the judiciary after the judge halted his massive deportation of migrants with a temporary restraining order. 'Judge James Boasberg is doing everything in his power to usurp the Power of the Presidency,' he warned. 'The danger is unparalleled!' Boasberg had issued the temporary order after the administration flew more than 200 alleged gangsters to El Salvador. When DailyMail.com reached out to the White House for comment, they cited Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's (pictured) comments about Boasberg a week ago, calling him ' an activist judge who is trying to usurp the presidents authority' Trump mocked Boasberg as 'a local, unknown Judge' and added that he's a 'grandstander, looking for publicity.' Boasberg on Thursday deemed a court filing from the administration 'woefully insufficient' because it was filed by a low-level staffer. One day earlier, he hosted a contentious hearing with DOJ lawyers and said he wants to find out whether the government 'deliberately flouted' his order. Trump claimed the 'ridiculous' rulings 'cannot be for any other reason' than publicity. He also called the judge 'ridiculous and inept' before exclaiming: 'SAVE AMERICA!' In a separate post, he demanded that nationwide injunctions be stopped permanently and called on the Supreme Court to help. 'Unlawful Nationwide Injunctions by Radical Left Judges could very well lead to the destruction of our Country!' he wrote. 'If Justice Roberts and the United States Supreme Court do not fix this toxic and unprecedented situation IMMEDIATELY, our Country is in very serious trouble!' Roberts, however, issued a stunning rebuke after Trump called for the impeachment of Boasberg. Trump mocked Boasberg (pictured) as 'a local, unknown Judge' and added that he's a 'grandstander, looking for publicity' But Trump insisted that liberal judges are trying to assume the powers of the presidency 'without getting 80 million votes,' saying that the 'danger' they could cause is 'unparalleled.' 'A President has to be allowed to act quickly and decisively about such matters as returning murderers, drug lords, rapists, and other such type criminals back to their Homeland, or to other locations that will allow our Country to be SAFE,' he added. Boasberg expressed his own rage toward the Trump administration Thursday, claiming they missed a court deadline to provide information on the deportation flights. The judge argued that it was filed hours late and that the administration 'again evaded its obligations.' He seemed particularly angry that the staffer who provided the six-paragraph declaration on behalf of the Trump White House was Robert L. Cerna, a regional ICE office director. 'This is woefully insufficient,' Boasberg wrote. Cerna wrote that Cabinet secretaries are 'actively considering whether to invoke the state secrets [act] privileges over the other facts requested by the Court's order.' The ruling that set off the fury came when Boasberg issued the temporary ruling that blocked the deportations of more than 200 people after the administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. Boasberg will have to weigh in on whether Hegseth and Waltz broke the law by allowing reporter Jeffrey Goldberg (pictured) onto their group chat 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 Boasberg's ruling came after a fiery hearing where he demanded the government declare when it thinks his own orders on the deportations took effect after the administration said the deportation flights were underway and over international waters when it learned of the order. Now, he will have to weigh in on whether Hegseth and Waltz broke the law by allowing a reporter onto their group chat. Trump was upset when he found out it was Waltz who had accidentally included The Atlantic's Editor-in-chief Jeffery Goldberg on a group text chat where top officials planned an attack on Houthi terrorists in Yemen. Two months and six days into the Trump 2.0 administration and this is the first major scandal involving leaks - an issue that plagued the president's first term. In the hours following The Atlantic's first release of messages on Monday, Waltz appeared most likely to take the fall. Now, Democrats are calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's head over some of the information revealed in The Atlantic's Wednesday release of texts. Trump vouched for Waltz Tuesday at a White House meeting with ambassadors and said not-perfect technology was to blame. '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.' Trump vouched for Waltz (pictured right) Tuesday at a White House meeting with ambassadors and said not-perfect technology was to blame The president also said in an interview with NBC that it was one of Waltz's aides who inadvertently added The Atlantic's editor-in-chief to the war-planning 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 his orders, would have had Goldberg's phone number if they weren't acquainted. Waltz said: '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.' Hegseth has also claimed there was no wrongdoing and no war plans were ever texted. Goldberg has since released the full contents of the chats he was privy to. Trump ultra-loyalist Marjorie Taylor Greene went nuclear on a British reporter who asked about the Signal chat scandal, warning her: 'We don't give a c**p about your opinion. Why don't you go back to your country'. The Republican firebrand, 50, barracked Sky News' US Correspondent Martha Kelner when she asked if she 'cared about American lives being put at risk'. MTG, as she is known in the United States who once famously told David Cameron to 'kiss my a**', said: 'What country are you from?' And when Ms Kelner quickly answered: 'The UK', the American far-Right politician and conspiracy theorist from Georgia said angrily: 'We dont give a c**p about your opinion and your reporting. Why dont you go back to your country?'. When Martha asked again if she cared about American lives that may have been risked by the leaking of Houthi attack plans, MTG went on: 'You should care about your own borders. Let me tell you something, do you care about people from your country? 'What about all the women that are raped by migrants - do you care? Dont you care about how your women are raped by migrants?' She finished: 'You're done. I dont care about your fake news'. When Martha Kelner tried to ask MTG a question, she told he to 'go back to your country' Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene shamelessly deflected to the past instead of addressing the failings of the current administration when asked about top White House officials adding a journalist to a sensitive group message about impending military air strikes in Yemen Just before Greene went nuclear on the reporter she was in a committee hearing talking about public broadcasters NPR and PBS Greene, 50, had just exited from a DOGE committee hearing examining government funding for public broadcasters and was taking questions from the press when a reporter asked her about Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Ms Kelner's question was intended to get Greene to respond to an ongoing controversy within the White House over how a journalist was inadvertently added to a group chat about air strikes in Yemen with Pete Hegseth and other top US leaders. MTG then only agreed to speak to an American journalist - who then stuck up for Martha. The US reporter appeared to stand up for Kelner, 'I'd like to hear your answer to what she's asking,' the man said, referencing the Sky News correspondent. MTG then began talking over him, not about Hegseth or the group chat controversy, but instead about former President Joe Biden. 'You want to know about complete disregard about operational security? You should talk about the Biden administration and how they ripped our borders open to terrorists, cartel, child sex trafficking, human trafficking, and drug trafficking across our borders for four years,' Greene responded. 'Were talking about NPR and PBS today,' Greene clarified, noting how that was the purpose of her media availability. 'Thats what this is about today, not journalists from the U.K. that should care about their own country,' the Republican finished before walking away from the cameras. But Ms Kelner followed her, asking whether Hegseth should resign. MTG said: 'Absolutely not, he's doing a great job'. She went on, while jabbing her finger at Martha and told her: 'Your country is going to have your military fighting a war in Ukraine that is not even a member of NATO'. Martha then asked if her anger was an 'exercise in deflection'. MTG replied: 'No this is an exercise in you worry about your own country'. Greene had previously told a British journalist to 'go back to your country' in 2022. Top Trump officials already embroiled in the Signal 'war plan' debacle have now had their private data and passwords leaked. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's private phone numbers, email addresses and even some passwords were 'readily available online', according to Der Spiegal. The publication said most of the numbers and email addresses were still in use and actively sending and receiving as recently as a few days ago. A WhatsApp account linked to the phone number for Hegseth still had his shirtless profile picture alongside his two children readily available, but the service had been newly deleted. The leak comes as the trio - particularly Hegseth and Waltz - face intense scrutiny for accidentally adding a journalist to a Signal chat in which they were discussing sensitive plans to attack Houthi targets in Yemen. These numbers and email addresses were 'linked to profiles on social media platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn. They were used to create Dropbox accounts and profiles in apps that track running data,' the publication stated. 'There are also WhatsApp profiles for the respective phone numbers and even Signal accounts in some cases.' According to the publication, most of the intel they received was readily available to the public on the internet, primarily through past dataleaks. A WhatsApp account linked to the phone number for Hegseth still had his shirtless profile picture alongside his two children readily available, but the service had been newly deleted A cellphone number publicly located for Gabbard linked to an active WhatsApp account and an active Signal account Commercial databases which are normally utilized by sales, marketing and recruitment firms were able to easily hand over Hegseth and Waltz's Gmail address and mobile phone number. A stunning 20 publicly accessible data leak servers had Hegseth's data, the publication stated - including an email address and the password associated with it. The publication claimed that the email address was last used just days ago, but they did not attempt to use the password to see if it was correct or still in use. Using similar tactics, they found several of Waltz's passwords, as well as his profiles for Signal, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp and LinkedIn. Simultaneously, WIRED learned that Waltz had failed to properly secure his Venmo account, meaning his friends list was readily available for public viewing. Among his 328 connections were high-profile political figures like Trump chief of staff Susie Wiles, as well as on-air personalities at both Fox and CNN. But it was the revelation of his low-level connections, like several doctors, real estate agents and even a tailor, which are of most concern to security experts. These are the people who are usually targeted for counter-intelligence operations, seen as 'soft targets' and a less obvious way to extract information that may not necessarily seem crucial but can point to patterns or private relationships. Using similar tactics, they found several of Waltz's passwords, as well as his profiles for Signal, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp and LinkedIn 'The first thing you think of is the counterintelligence issue, right? And the security vulnerabilities. It kind of boggles the mind,' former intelligence analyst Michael Ard told WIRED. 'It would be really easy for somebody to spoof a contact, and that is something the security industry has already been issuing notices on.' Gabbard's email address was not as easy to track down as the other two, but was reportedly located on both WikiLeaks and in a Reddit thread. A cellphone number publicly located for Gabbard linked to an active WhatsApp account and an active Signal account. It is unclear if the Signal accounts the publication found are the same which were used in the embarrassing Houthi blunder. 'Exposed data from top politicians can be used by hackers to launch convincing phishing attacks and gain access to devices and various services such as email, chat tools and PayPal,' information security specialist Donald Ortmann told the publication. Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe were subjected to a blistering attack by Democrats in Congress over the Signal slip-up. It is unclear if the Signal accounts the publication found are the same which were used in the embarrassing Houthi blunder At a hearing in front of the House Intelligence Committee, Democrats exploded on the pair of Trump officials. Congressman Jim Himes told Gabbard and Ratcliffe that it was only by the 'awesome grace of God that we are not mourning dead pilots right now. And while Trump publicly lauded Waltz as a 'good man' who will continue to do a 'good job' in his role, insiders say behind the scenes, the 47th president wasn't nearly so generous. 'The president was p***ed that Waltz could be so stupid,' a source told Politico. Trump was said to be particularly furious that Waltz had Goldberg's number in his phone, as the president has a particular distaste for the journalist. Fans watching a Donald Trump Jr. speech were surprised to spot a photo of his former fiancee Kimberly Guilfoyle on his bookshelf. The framed photo of Guilfoyle, 59, was spotted on a shelf behind Trump Jr. sitting on the shelf over his shoulder as he live-streamed into a panel at the DC Blockchain Summit 2025. The photo matches an image of the pair posted from the Ocean Reef Club on Guilfoyles Instagram account in 2021. Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle started dating in 2018 and got engaged in 2020 but ended their relationship in December 2024. Guilfoyle and Don Jr were pictured for a last time together on November 14, when she posted photos from a Trump victory celebration at Mar-a-Lago. As DailyMail.com exclusively reported in December, Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle called off the engagement as the Trump heir was spotted publicly with Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson. In December, Trump nominated Guilfoyle to the next ambassador of Greece. She has yet to receive Senate confirmation for the ambassadorship Donald Trump Jr. streams from the DC Blockchain Summit Donald Trump Jr. just said Blockchain is the future of American financial systems The bull run hasnt event started yet. Download comet, and dont miss on $ADA s run pic.twitter.com/JMH3CZQAsD Comet (@Cometdefi) March 26, 2025 An old 2021 photo of Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle posted on Instagram During the cryptocurrency summit, Trump Jr. spoke about his interest in cryptocurrency that he said developed after his father became president of the United States. He said it was increasingly difficult to get loans approved, after his father became president, citing the 'discriminatory' and 'inefficient' the normal banking and market system was. Although Guilfoyle is less-frequently spotted at Trump Jr.'s side, she continues to appear in the Trump family orbit. Guilfoyle appeared on Tuesday at a White House reception celebrating Greek Independence Day. 'She's really a good person, she represents the Greek culture very well, that I will tell you,' Trump said at the reception. Guilfoyle made remarks thanking the president, describing her new position as 'the honor and privilege of a lifetime.' 'I know the measure of the man and his character and his strength, and I know his love for the people of Greece, the birthplace of democracy,' she continued. Over the weekend, Guilfoyle also made a public appearance to attend the Wags to Riches Gala at the president's club at Mar-a-Lago, a fundraiser for animal welfare and rescue efforts. Residents of Miami-Dade were outraged after scalpers were revealed to be selling free booked slots for the Department of Motor Vehicles for an outrageous $250 profit. A 'network of appointment scalpers' was uncovered by the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector's Office last week, as free appointments are believed to have been scooped up over years and sold for big bucks. The Tax Collector's Office said the network of 'bad actors' who had been 'hoarding' the free appointments were creating 'false demand' and 'unnecessary barriers' for residents in need of essential services. To secure such an appointment could cost from as low as $25 to as high as $250, the office told the Miami Herald. 'We know who they are and how they operate. We will not accept any appointment obtained through system abuse,' said Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez in a press release. 'Our office is committed to ensuring that all residents have fair and equal access to services without interference from those seeking to exploit the system.' Fernandez's office told the outlet that it is believed much of the blame lied with driving schools in the area, which appeared to have been booking appointments under random names to sell them on to customers. 'We are still investigating, but it appears that many of the people scalping appointments were part of driving schools in Miami-Dade and Broward County, which has been collapsing our system,' the Tax Collector's Office told the outlet. A 'network of DMV appointment scalpers' was uncovered by the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector's Office last week, as free appointments are believed to have been scooped up over years and sold on for profit 'We know who they are and how they operate. We will not accept any appointment obtained through system abuse,' said Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez (pictured right) Fernandez's office told the outlet that it is believed much of the blame lied with driving schools in the area, which appeared to have been booking appointments under random names to sell them on to customers 'Some of the residents on the list never showed up to their appointments, possibly because they were simply placeholders for individuals to whom they resold the appointments.' The office further estimated a suspected 200 appointments were made through scalpers in the three weeks since Fernandez's office opened up a downtown Miami DMV. Scalpers were believed to have utilized bots or fake accounts to secure slots on the DMV online booking systems, the office added. Yet, their seemingly profit-driven system of reselling appointments does not appear to be illegal, Fernandez told the outlet. DMV locations in Miami-Dade, which are currently mostly run by the state, are slowly in the process of being taken over by the Tax Collectors Office under a change mandated by state law. Fernandez hopes to begin urging changes in the law to ban appointment scalping. 'We believe this type of activity has been happening for a long time at other DMV state-run locations. We are taking action to make this illegal and enforce the law to stop the fraud,' Fernandez said in a statement to the Miami Herald. 'I'm here to fix it, and in the coming days, we will be working with our local and state partners to find a solution to this problem.' Fernandez hopes to begin urging changes in the law to ban appointment scalping. 'We believe this type of activity has been happening for a long time at other DMV state-run locations. We are taking action to make this illegal and enforce the law to stop the fraud,' Fernandez said Residents in Miami expressed outrage to the scalpers poaching the free appointment slots. One said: 'We got here at 10am on Monday and waited until 5pm before they waived a white flag. I came back at 5 this morning and we are still waiting to see someone' The Tax Collector's Office said the network of 'bad actors' who had been 'hoarding' the free appointments were creating 'false demand' and 'unnecessary barriers' for residents in need of essential services Long have residents known the ordeal of securing an appointment with the DMV, one told CBS News: 'It is not a good idea at all. I have been waiting in line for hours.' 'We got here at 10am on Monday and waited until 5pm before they waived a white flag. I came back at 5 this morning and we are still waiting to see someone,' another told the outlet. A spokesperson said that the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles cancels about 1,000 fake appointments daily. While the agency is working to identify and block bookings made by third-party brokers, it said: 'FLHSMV is not responsible for appointments booked through third parties and cannot guarantee those appointments will be honored.' The selling of DMV appointments was recently moved to be made a civil offense in Miami-Dade by County Commissioner Kevin Cabrera which, if violated, results in a $500 fine and up to 60 days in jail. The new ordinance would require written consent from the Miami-Dade Tax Collector's Office and is due for its second reading on April 1, according to CBS News. Prince Harry has been left reeling after the charity he co-founded issued a stinging rebuke following news that he had decided to stand down from the organisation. Sentebale, which was formed in 2006 in memory of Harry's late mother to help Aids orphans in southern Africa, yesterday issued a statement suggesting 'people in the field' were more important than its trustees. The charity posted a message on social media that many will interpret as a 'P45' to the prince. It read: 'While Trustees are key for governance and regulation, and Patrons especially Founders are an honour to have, it's the people in the field who are advancing the work, no matter what.' The charity also reiterated its commitment to supporting young people in the region without the support of its royal patron, who sensationally stepped back from his role in protest at the 'untenable' actions of the chair of its board, Zimbabwean-born lawyer Sophie Chandauka. Sources say after the board of trustees formally requested Ms Chandauka's resignation she declined and then, when they tried to force the move through with a vote, she filed a legal challenge at the High Court to the prevent their meeting. While there is no formal record of proceedings at the Royal Courts of Justice, it is claimed that the court did not grant an injunction and, as the charity board meeting was ultimately cancelled, the judge decided that no further hearing or court appearance was necessary. It is not clear where this leaves Ms Chandauka's legal challenge. It is also understood that Prince Harry is not personally the subject of any legal action in this matter. Prince Harry meets the community at Matlameng - Ha Mahlehle, in Leribe, Lesotho, in October 2024 Prince Harry dances with deaf children during at visit to the Kananelo Centre for the deaf in Maseru in 2013 Sophie Chandauka (pictured), a Zimbabwe-born lawyer, was appointed to be chair of the trustees last year Ms Chandauka also said she had filed a report to the Charity Commission. And while she did not mention Harry by name, she made no secret of where she feels the blame lies as a 'proud African'. In a highly-charged statement 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.' There was a deafening public silence to the highly-damaging claims by Harry, who co-founded Sentebale with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, younger brother of the country's king. But a source who has known the prince since the charity's inception told the Mail: 'There's no way of sugar-coating the damage of this, regardless of who's in the right. He'll be reeling.' The drama centres around Sentebale's decision last year to centralise its command structure from London to Southern Africa to better 'reflect' the region and its needs. It seemed to spark a wave of departures following what Sentebale describes as a 'restructuring' of its board. This, in turn, appeared to prompt a backlash against Ms Chandauka, who was appointed as chair in July 2023 after serving for six years on the charity's board. The 'Led by the Mission' statement issued by Sentebale on social media Sentebale, which was formed in 2006 in memory of Harry's late mother to help Aids orphans in southern Africa Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Prince Harry at a children's centre in Lesotho in October 2024 Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso at the Pointmain Health Facility in Lesotho in October 2024 Prince Harry meets 15 year old orphan Keneuoe at St Bernadette's Centre in Maseru, Lesotho in February 2013 Citing a 'loss in trust and confidence' in her, the trustees, many of whom are long-term friends and supporters of Harry, demanded she stand down. Instead she retaliated by seeking action at the High Court, forcing them to keep her in post. Matters came to a head this week when Harry and his co-founder, Prince Seeiso, released a joint statement saying they were 'truly heartbroken' about the developments and announcing their resignations as patrons in solidarity with the board of trustees, who were also stepping down. The five former trustees, who include Harry's long-time mentor, Mark Dyer, a former army captain who accompanied him on his first gap year trip to Lesotho, added: '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.' Sentebale say they have not been formally notified of Harry's decision to stand down. However it also issued Ms Chandauka's statement in which she spoke of her decision to join Sentebale 'as a proud African', insisting: '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.' Turning her attentions to the prince and his trustees, she continued her devastating accusations saying: '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. 'I could be anyone. I just happen to be an educated woman who understands that the law will guide and protect me.' The term 'misogynoir' refers to prejudice against black women. The Duchess of Sussex presents the trophy to her husband after his team the Royal Salute Sentebale Team defeated the Grand Champions Team, in the Royal Salute Polo Challenge to benefit Sentebale Board Chair Dr. Sophie Chandauka MBE, and Prince Harry at a Sentebale reception and panel discussion at The Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa in October last year Prince Harry wears a shirt with the Sentebale logo as he holds a small girl while on visit to the Good Shepherd home in 2006 In an apparent further dig at Harry, she added that 'for me, this is not a vanity project from which I can resign when I am called to account'. She said: '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.' And she insisted that she would not step down from her role.One source close to the prince told the Mail that it was a 'hugely sensitive' situation and urged people to see 'the facts play out'. 'The charity commission will investigate. That process needs to happen,' they said. The location of a chest believed to contain the Ten Commandments has long been a mystery, but CIA documents claims the Ark of the Covenant has been found. According to the Bible, the Ark of the Covenant was built by the Israelites shortly after they fled Egypt around the 13th century BC. Moses then placed the Ten Commandments inside. The CIA conducted experiments in the 1980s with individuals who claimed they could perceive information about distant objects, events or other people. The report details one of these tests where Remote Viewer No. 032 was given coordinates to locate a target, and they described the Ark of the Covenant hiding in the Middle East. Some historians believe the Ark of the Covenant was originally kept inside the Holy of Holies, the innermost chamber of the ancient Temple of Jerusalem, before it disappeared during the Babylonian sack of Jerusalem in 586 BC. There is also a legend that the artifact was taken to Ethiopia and now resides in a local church. Evidence that the chest existed has yet to be found, but the CIA document declassified in 2000 claims it was discovered in 1988. 'The target is a container. This container has another container inside of it,' the document states. 'The target is fashioned of wood, gold and silver.... and it is decorated with [a six-winged angel].' The remote viewer continued to say that the coffin-shaped object is 'located somewhere in the Middle East' and saw people in the area speaking Arabic. The remote viewer, however, was not told that they were searching for the lost covenant before the experiment began. This recently resurfaced CIA document claims that the Ark of the Covenant has been found, and it may lie somewhere in the Middle East According to Biblical history, this sacred, gold-covered wooden chest was constructed sometime around 1445 BC. The Ten Commandments are a list of directives given to Moses by God, including rules such as 'thou shalt not kill' and 'honor thy mother and father.' Some historians believe the Ark remained inside the ancient temple of Jerusalem for centuries, and during this time, only the High Priest of the Israelites could see it. Even he was only allowed near it on Judaism's holiest holiday, Yom Kippur. And then, it vanished. But this CIA document a remnant of the mysterious 'Project Sun Streak' suggests the US government has known where the Ark is for years. In the 1970s and 1980s, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and several other intelligence agencies including the CIA employed individuals 'alleged to have paranormal capabilities' as means of acquiring intelligence about 'distant events.' Project Sun Streak attempted to use psychics known as 'remote viewers' to gather intelligence on targets using only coordinates. Remote viewers are supposedly able to project their consciousness beyond their bodies to observe a far-off location. According to Biblical history, the Ark of he Covenant was a sacred, gold-covered wooden chest was constructed sometime around 1445 BCE to hold the Ten Commandments. The covenant was featured in the 1981 film 'Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark The remote viewer claimed the Ark was hidden somewhere underground in the Middle East, and that it is 'protected by entities' who will 'destroy' those who attempt to break into it The CIA tapped these psychics for a wide array of operations, from locating hostages kidnapped by Islamic terrorist groups to tracing the paths of fugitive criminals within the US. The project, known as Sun Streak, has gained public attention after it was featured on a recent episode of the Ninjas are Butterflies podcast. Show host Josh Hooper said he thought Project Sun Streak was 'fake' until he went on the CIA.gov website and found the document. 'I was like... 'what am I looking at?'' he said. The document describes a training exercise conducted on December 5, 1988. The psychic projected their consciousness beyond their body to search for the sacred artifact, writing down his observations as they went. 'What he wrote was bone-chilling,' Hooper said. 'This target is located somewhere in the Middle East as the language spoken by individuals present seemed to be Arabic,' the psychic wrote. According to Biblical history, this sacred, gold-covered wooden chest was constructed sometime around 1445 BC The Ten Commandments are a list of directives given to Moses by God, including rules such as 'thou shalt not kill' and 'honor thy mother and father,' according to the Bible The psychic described nearby buildings that resembled Mosque Domes and individuals 'clothed in virtually all white' with 'black hair and dark eyes.' 'One figure I homed in on wore a moustache,' they wrote. 'The target is hidden underground, dark and wet were all aspects of the location of the target. 'The purpose of the target is to bring a people together. It has something to do with ceremony, memory, homage, the resurrection. 'There is an aspect of spirituality, information, lessons and historical knowledge far beyond what we now know. 'The target is protected by entities and can only be opened (now) by those who are authorized to do so this container will not/cannot be opened until the time is deemed correct.' The psychic goes on to say that when this time comes, the 'mechanics of the lock system will be found to be fairly simple,' and that anyone who attempts to open the container by prying or striking will be 'destroyed by the container's protectors through the use of a power unknown to us.' The remote viewer made this sketch of a 'white mosque' with a domed top and windows They also sketched eight stick figures lined up against a wall, labeling them 'mummies' Toward the end of the document, the remote viewer sketched a winged creature with a tail, beak and talons and labelled it 'seradin' The rest of the report features sketches and scrawled writings that the psyching presumably made during the remote viewing session. These include drawings of what appear to be the features of a building, a mosque with a domed top, eight 'mummies' lined up beside each other, a wheel and a winged-creature called a 'seraphim.' The document also includes multiple lists of seemingly-random but ominous words, such as 'death,' 'forbidden,' 'protected,' 'scared,' 'destroyed,' 'pain' and 'anguish. Some theories suggest that the Ark of the Covenant may reside somewhere in Ethiopia. Although this remote viewer claimed it is somewhere in the Middle East, this African nation is home to a large Arabic-speaking Muslim population and numerous mosques. A long-standing religious legend in Ethiopia describes how the Ark of the Covenant was brought there by a man named Menelik, who was supposedly the son of the Queen of Sheba and Israel's King Solomon. The Queen of Sheba was from Ethiopia, but ruled over a kingdom in modern-day Yemen. According to legend, she gave birth to Menelik in her country of origin, but he later traveled to Jerusalem to study with his father. While there, he supposedly stole the Ark and brought it back to Aksum, Ethiopia. Locals say it has resided in the Church of Out Lady Mary of Zion ever since. British scholar of Semitic languages and Ethiopian studies Edward Ullendorff claimed he saw the Ark inside the church during World War II, but a source close to Ullendorff later revealed that the 'artifact' he saw was nothing more than a replica. 'What he saw was what you find in any Ethiopian church, which is a model of the Ark of the Covenant,' Tudor Parfitt, a British historian, writer and former colleague of Ullendorff, told Live Science in 2018. Apparently, Ullendorff said that 'it didn't differ in any way from many arks he had seen in other churches in Ethiopia,' Parfitt said. 'It wasn't ancient and certainly wasn't the original ark.' Thus, the location of this sacred chest remains a mystery just waiting to be solved. From friendly smiley faces to cheeky aubergines, emoji now form a staple part of many people's daily messages. But despite their prevalence, people are only just realising what one popular character really means. The emoji in question features a hand with a raised pinky finger, index finger, and an extended thumb. At first glance, you'd be forgiven for mistaking this for the 'Sign of the Horns' emoji, which features a hand with the pinky and index fingers extended, and signals 'rock on'. However, the addition of the thumb actually completely changes the meaning. Instead, this popular emoji really means 'I love you'. The news has come as a shock to many emoji users, including one who was left red-faced by her misinterpretation. 'So I sent one of my male friends this emoji today thinking it meant something cool forgetting it actually means I love you...well that was an embarrassing conversation,' she tweeted. From friendly smiley faces to cheeky aubergines, emoji now form a staple part of many people's daily messages. But despite their prevalence, people are only just realising what one popular character really means The emoji in question features a hand with a raised pinky finger, index finger, and an extended thumb The 'I love you' emoji is based on American Sign Language. The pinky finger extended represents the letter 'I', while the thumb and index finger extended together represent the letter 'L'. Meanwhile, the pinky and thumb extended together represent the letter 'Y'. So, when these letters are combined, they represent 'ILY' - or 'I love you'. This meaning has come as a surprise to many users - many of who had mistaken it for the Sign of the Horns emoji. This Sign of the Horns hand sign is often associated with heavy metal culture, and has roots in Italian traditions as a ward against the 'evil eye'. Now, it is commonly used to signify 'rock on' or 'good times' - and importantly, if keeps the thumb clasped against the two middle fingers, rather than extended. 'I've always meant rock on or let's rock something like that lol,' one user tweeted about the 'I love you' emoji. This Sign of the Horns hand sign is often associated with heavy metal culture, and has roots in Italian traditions as a ward against the 'evil eye' The news has come as a shock to many emoji users - including one who was left red-faced by her misinterpretation One user joked: 'I love you! I didn't know that's the meaning. I just saw it on a woman's shirt and I had to know what it means' The surprising meaning has come as a shock to many users - many of which had mistaken it for the Sign of the Horns emoji Another said: 'I thought it meant rock on.' And one joked: 'I love you! I didn't know that's the meaning. I just saw it on a woman's shirt and I had to know what it means.' The 'I love you' emoji isn't the only one you've probably been using wrong. While you might assume that a heart emoji just means love, in emoji slang each different colour actually has its own hidden meaning. In the most common view, a red heart represents classic love or romantic feelings. An orange heart is used for warmth, enthusiasm, or love between friends and family. Meanwhile, a blue heart is used less for romance, and more frequently to express friendship or to say that something is cute. Likewise, a black heart doesn't necessarily have any associations with death or dark emotions and is more often used as an alternative to the red heart for aesthetic reasons. READ MORE: Peer inside this Herculaneum scroll for the first time in 2,000 years The legend of King Arthur has been told to children around the world for centuries. Now, scientists have uncovered lost medieval tales of both King Arthur and Merlin the Magician, hidden inside another book. Scientists at the University of Cambridge have been able to virtually unroll the 700-year-old manuscript to 'unlock its secrets' - without damaging the poorly-preserved document. Described as an 'extremely significant Arthurian text', the priceless document was penned by a medieval scribe sometime between 1275 and 1315. It contains two episodes from 'Suite Vulgate du Merlin' (Vulgate Suite of Merlin), a French-language sequel to the legend of King Arthur. Once a widely read medieval text, fewer than 40 copies survive today. The text is written in Old French, the language of the court and aristocracy in medieval England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The team's amazing 3D model lets web users rotate, zoom and examine the text as if handling the manuscript itself. The text is written in Old French, the language of the court and aristocracy in medieval England following the Norman Conquest of 1066 The team hopes the project will inspire further research into medieval manuscripts hidden in unexpected places The team's amazing 3D model lets web users rotate, zoom and examine the text as if handling the manuscript itself According to the researchers, this particular fragment tells two key episodes from 'Suite Vulgate du Merlin' that belong to the genre of Arthurian romances intended for a noble audience, including women. The first recounts the fight of Gawain, King Arthur's nephew and one of the premier Knights of the Round Table in Arthurian myth. Gawain was noted for his extraordinary strength, his mighty warhorse Gringolet and his special swords including the famed Excalibur. In the legend, Gawain returns the magical sword to King Arthur for his final battle with Mordred, Arthur's treacherous power-hungry son. The second episode tells of Merlin appearing at Arthurs court disguised as a beautifully clothed harpist during the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The arrival of Merlin, dressed in a silk tunic with precious stones, is a moment that highlights his magical abilities and his importance as an advisor to the king. A translation reads: 'While they were rejoicing in the feast, and Kay the seneschal brought the first dish to King Arthur and Queen Guinevere, there arrived the most handsome man ever seen in Christian lands. 'He was wearing a silk tunic girded by a silk harness woven with gold and precious stones which glittered with such brightness that it illuminated the whole room.' The manuscript, first discovered at Cambridge University Library in 2019, is revealed to contain rare medieval stories of King Arthur (left) and Merlin (right) The manuscript was discovered in 2019 but only after a three-year project have researchers been able to reveal its stories Remarkably, it survived the centuries after being recycled and repurposed in the 1500s as the cover for a property record from Huntingfield Manor in Suffolk The two episodes from Suite Vulgate du Merlin The Battle of Cambenic - A dramatic account of the Christians victory over the Saxons, featuring Gauvain (wielding Excalibur, riding his horse Gringalet, and using his supernatural powers), his brothers, and his father, King Loth, as they battle Saxon Kings Dodalis, Moydas, Oriances, and Brandalus. - A dramatic account of the Christians victory over the Saxons, featuring Gauvain (wielding Excalibur, riding his horse Gringalet, and using his supernatural powers), his brothers, and his father, King Loth, as they battle Saxon Kings Dodalis, Moydas, Oriances, and Brandalus. Merlin at Arthurs Court - A courtly scene set during the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, in which Merlin appears at King Arthurs court disguised as a harpist, showcasing his magical abilities and his role as the Kings trusted advisor. Advertisement 'Then Merlin appears transformed as an eight-year-old boy with the attributes of a mad man,' said Irene Dr Fabry-Tehranchi, French specialist in at Cambridge University Library. Each surviving copies of 'Suite Vulgate du Merlin' is unique as they were individually handwritten by medieval scribes valued, literate people who could read and write documents. As every manuscript of the period was copied by hand, it means each one is distinctive and reflects the variations introduced by each person. Totalling about 6,000 words, this one contains small errors, such as the mistaken use of the name 'Dorilas' instead of 'Dodalis', a warrior who participated in the Saxon invasion of Britain at the beginning of Arthur's reign. The sturdy parchment, probably made of sheep skin was discovered in 2019 but only after a three-year project have researchers been able to reveal its stories. Remarkably, it survived the centuries after being recycled and repurposed in the 1500s as the cover for a property record from Huntingfield Manor in Suffolk similar to how students may cover an exercise book with sticky-back plastic today. 'The way it was reused tells us about archival practices in 16th-century England. Its a piece of history in its own right,' said Dr Fabry-Tehranchi. It was folded, torn, heavily rubbed and even stitched into the binding of the 16th century book and attempting to remove it could have damaged it further. This imaging technique, focused on blue, brings out annotations on the left-hand side which were invisible to the naked eye, including the note Huntingfield believed to have been added in the 16th century when the manuscript was repurposed as a binding Cambridge researchers used various techniques to unfold the fragment virtually and access hidden parts of the text Dr Irene Fabry-Tehranchi holding the rare manuscript before inserting it into the micro CT scanner at Cambridge University Therefore, the researchers used various techniques to unfold the fragment virtually and access hidden parts of the text. These included bombarding it with X-rays typically used for scanning fossils or skeletons and capturing it in various wavelengths of light, from ultraviolet to infrared. By manipulating the digital images, the team could simulate what the document might look like if it were physically opened. Other parts of the text were hidden under folds or stitched into the binding, so the team had to use mirrors, prisms and magnets to expose them. The team now hopes their project will inspire further research into medieval manuscripts hidden in unexpected places. 'This project was not just about unlocking one text it was about developing a methodology that can be used for other manuscripts,' said Dr Fabry-Tehranchi. 'Libraries and archives around the world face similar challenges with fragile fragments embedded in bindings, and our approach provides a model for non-invasive access and study.' The digital results of the project are now available for everyone to explore online via the Cambridge Digital Library. Dr Fabry-Tehranchi and colleagues are also describing their findings at this week's Cambridge Festival. The wife of NASA astronaut Barry Wilmore has offered an intimate look at life with her husband after he was stranded in space for 286 days. Wilmore and his crewmate Sunita Williams returned to Earth last week, following more than nine months on the International Space Station (ISS). Since he returned, Deanna Wilmore has noticed a change in her husband. 'Barry does say gravity is not his friend right now. And you know the stamina is not there, and so they do have to rest and relax quite a bit because they're just not strong yet,' she said. Spending that much time in low gravity wreaks havoc on the human body, causing significant muscle and bone loss among other health issues. This is typical for astronauts who complete long-term ISS missions. But because Williams and Wilmore were in space for three months longer than a standard mission, their road to recovery could be particularly long, doctors have told DailyMail.com. Wilmore, Deanna and their two daughters, Daryn and Logan, were reunited hours after he splashed down on March 18 off the coast of Florida. Daryn, 19, shared online that her father is 'doing good, its rough, but hes a trooper.' Barry Wilmore's wife, Deanna Wilmore (R), said her husband has mostly been resting ever since he returned from his extended space mission on March 18 Williams and Wilmore were only supposed to spend eight days on the ISS when they launched aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft in June. But technical issues with their ship ultimately left them stuck up there for more than nine months. When the Starliner crew finally splashed down off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida inside a SpaceX Dragon capsule on March 18, they could hardly lift their arms let alone walk under the punishing weight of Earth's gravity. Since coming home, Wilmore has mostly been resting and spending lots of time on the couch watching March Madness, Deanna told local Tennessee news station WVLT 8. Last Tuesday, his wife and daughters got to watch from mission control as the Dragon capsule returned to Earth. When the family finally reunited with Wilmore, Deanna said there was 'not a lot of talking, just a lot of hugging and enjoying the moment.' During the nine months that he was stuck on the ISS, he missed birthdays, his 30-year wedding anniversary and Christmas. But fortunately, he made it back in time to attend Logan's high school graduation in about a month, and the family is discussing taking a trip this summer to celebrate. NASA Astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore (pictured) splashed down off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida on Tuesday, marking an end to their 286-day space mission Though Wilmore's mission has come to an end, he still faces a long road to recovery due to the impact that living in low gravity had on his body. Both he and Williams may have lost up to half of their muscle mass while on the ISS, and almost a fifth of their bone density. Former astronauts have found that it can take up to 1.5 times the length of the mission to recover. That means the pair may need more than a year of physical therapy before they feel entirely themselves again. Dr Ehsan Jazini, spine surgeon at VSI, previously told DailyMail.com that their rehab program will likely include progressive core and spinal stabilization exercises, stretching and mobility work, slow reintroduction to high-impact activities and monitoring for signs of herniation or chronic pain issues. 'NASAs medical teams are well-equipped to handle this, but given the length of their mission, a longer recovery timeline should be expected,' he said. 'Just like I tell my patients, theyll need a lot of patience and consistency in the rehabilitation process.' Williams (pictured) and Wilmore were helped onto stretchers by NASA's medical crew. This is standard practice for astronauts returning from long-term ISS missions After splashdown, Williams and Wilmore were helped onto stretchers and wheeled away for medical checks, which is standard procedure for astronauts returning from long-term space missions. They then hopped on a flight to NASA's Johnson Space Station in Houston, Texas. Photos of the astronauts taken after they arrived showed them up and walking. Experts suggested that the fact that Williams and Wilmore were already walking less than 24 hours after returning is promising some had feared they may not regain that ability for days. But doctors raised concerns about an image of Williams that showed her looking noticeably frail. The medical experts pointed to Williams' 'visibly thin' wrists, which they said could be a sign of rapid weight loss, muscle wasting and bone deterioration. The experts also noted that the IVs sticking out of both astronauts' wrists were 'most likely' to help restore hydration and electrolytes, as microgravity tricks the body into eliminating necessary fluids, causing dehydration. Like all astronauts, Williams and Wilmore exercised for at least two hours per day while on the ISS to reduce bone and muscle loss. But the longer the human body stays in space, the harder it can be to recover from this damage once they return to Earth. 'Even with pre-landing conditioning practices, their return to gravity is still a major adjustment to their spine, as nothing fully replicates that sudden shift back to Earths gravity,' Dr Jazini said. A potentially violent storm is headed into the Pacific Northwest today that could bring life-threatening tornadoes to states that rarely see them. Idaho, Oregon, and Washington state have been placed under severe weather warning as of Wednesday, with Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver and Portland under the highest threat. Due to unseasonably warm temperatures that are 10 to 20 degrees hotter than normal, meteorologists said there is a chance for these states to see 'severe and violent' thunderstorms into Thursday. These storms are expected to be strong enough to produce tornadoes tonight, particularly in areas west of the Cascade mountain range in Washington and Oregon. Typically, both of these states only see two to three minor tornadoes a year, causing very little damage and few injuries. Forecasters have also warned that the region will likely see heavy rain, hail, and wind gusts reaching 60 mph. AccuWeather meteorologists said that the powerful gusts will be strong enough to snap tree limbs and topple poorly rooted trees - presenting even more danger for anyone outdoors. A similar burst of severe weather in the central US this month killed at least 40 people across several states. Meteorologists warn that Idaho, Oregon, and Washington may all see isolated pockets of tornadoes Wednesday night as a severe thunderstorm moves in (Stock) Forecasters predict that the storm will move in Wednesday afternoon and bring heavy rain, hail, and dangerous wind gusts to the region through Thursday AccuWeather meteorologist Grady Gilman warned: 'As the upper levels of the atmosphere cool while the warmth near the ground peaks, some of the thunderstorms can become severe and violent.' Overall, the tornado risk Wednesday night is lower than it was in the central states two weeks ago, but Gilman cautioned that meteorologists still can't rule out a dangerous twister touching down in these three states. Power outages could also pop up during the storm, which will bring drenching rain to northern California as well. The heaviest rain is set to move in on Thursday and Friday after the severe thunderstorms pass. Forecasters are projecting two to four inches of rain along the Pacific Coast as residents try to clean up the damage from Wednesday's storm system. However, there could be up to eight inches of rainfall in certain areas, with some of that changing over to snow in parts of Idaho and western Oregon and Washington. 'Unlike most storms thus far this year, this storm will have a significant amount of warm air on its front side,' the AccuWeather team explained. 'The warmth will result in snow levels well above the passes for most of the storm,' they added. Forecasters warned that all of this precipitation may also trigger flash flooding and mudslides along the western slopes of the Cascade mountain range - which runs all the way into California. Meteorologists explained that extremely warm temperatures for March could fuel severe thunderstorms in the Pacific Northwest this week Meteorologists added that all of this bad weather is being fueled by temperatures climbing into the 70s throughout the Northwest on Wednesday. This unseasonably warm spring actually broke records in Washington and Oregon on Tuesday. In Portland, Oregon, it reportedly reached 80F in the afternoon - smashing the local record dating back to 1966 (74F). Temperatures in Seattle and Tacoma, Washington were also at or near record-highs for late March. Gilman warned that another Pacific Coast storm is already on AccuWeather's radar for next week. Forecasters believe it will be 'just as dynamic' as Wednesday's thunderstorms and tornado threat, however, it will likely strike further south - in San Francisco starting next Tuesday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has already been warning that Americans should prepare for extreme winter weather starting in mid-March. Experts said a 'polar vortex collapse' will likely plunge the US back into the frigid weather much of the country suffered through in February. This weather phenomenon is expected to bring even more winter weather and extremely cold temperatures later this month and into the spring, possibly leading to widespread travel disruptions for millions. A polar vortex collapse, also called sudden stratospheric warming, is an event that causes cold Arctic air to bleed south - bringing icy conditions to the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe. Scientists on a mission to prove a 'vast city' sits more than 4,000 feet below Egypt's Giza Pyramids have released a new analysis they say proves the findings to be true. Last week, the team in Italy presented bombshell research that claimed to have discovered multi-thousand-foot-tall wells and chambers under the Khafre Pyramid. If true, it would turn Egyptian - and human - history on its head, though independent experts have said the discovery is 'completely wrong' and lacked any scientific basis. Researchers said they determined 'a confidence level well above 85 percent' that the 'structures identified beneath the Pyramid of Khafre, as well as those beneath other pyramids on the Giza Plateau,' exist. The wells and chambers were identified by sending 'high-frequency electromagnetic waves' into the subsurface, and the way signals bounced back allowed researchers to map structures beneath the pyramid. The team used 'a specialized algorithm' to process the data and create the images that showed what looked like wells with spiral formations leading to enormous chambers. They cross checked the structures with known architectural forms, 'specifically those accessible to us today, such as the Pozzo di San Patrizio in Italy,' Niccole Ciccole, the project's spokesperson, shared with Dailymail.com. Professor Lawrence Conyers, a radar expert at the University of Denver who focuses on archaeology and was not involved in the study, said: 'To make correlation confidence levels there needs to be something to correlate to or compare to. 'What could that be here? Without that, these percentages are meaningless scientifically.' Scientists on a mission to prove a 'vast city' sits more than 4,000 feet below Egypt 's Giza Pyramid have released a new analysis they say proves the findings to be true Your browser does not support iframes. However, Professor Conyers suggested that it is conceivable that 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 claimed they found eight wells and two enormous enclosures more than 2,000 feet below the base of the Khafre pyramid and 'an entire hidden world of many structures' another 2,000 feet below those 'I am skeptical of the deeper claims. If their 'algorithms' can do what they say (I can't comment on those), then perhaps this will hold up,' Professor Conyers said. 'A 'well' or 'tunnel' is what I would expect under a pyramid.' 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 sent the analysis to DailyMail.com, where they admitted 'further validation is recommended through additional tomographic scans and in-situ verification.' To determine if anything was hiding below the Pyramid of Khafre, they sent high-frequency waves (similar to how radar works) into the ground beneath the pyramid. Researchers said they determined 'a confidence level well above 85 percent' that the 'structures identified beneath the Pyramid of Khafre, as well as those beneath other pyramids on the Giza Plateau,' exist. Pictured are six of the eight shafts and an underground room found The wells and chambers were identified by sending 'high-frequency electromagnetic waves' into the subsurface, and the way signals bounced back allowed researchers to map structures beneath the Khafre pyramid (pictured) When the waves smashed into something below the surface, they bounced back to the surface, and by looking at how the frequency of these waves changed, scientists could tell what kind of materials were underground. However, Dr Zahi Hawass, Egypt's former minister of antiquities, told The National: '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.' After gathering the data, researchers used a special algorithm that turned the information into vertical images of the ground beneath the pyramid, capturing the first look at the hidden structures. One of the images 'exhibits a vertically elongated feature with varying intensity distributions, suggesting the presence of a deep well-like formation,' said Ciccole who has 25 years of experience in forensics. 'The upper portion of the well reveals patterns indicative of potential helical or spiral formations, which could correspond to a staircase or a sloped passageway.' She added that high-intensity reflections seen in the images suggested 'structured discontinuities that may align with step-like features.' 'Preliminary estimations indicate that the well extends significantly underground, with notable signal variations at multiple depths,' Ciccole said, explaining it could indicate different materials or chambers at various levels. 'The helical feature aligns with descriptions of spiral-descending shafts found in other ancient structures.' Professor Conyers said agreed in that spiral-descending shafts are found in other ancient structures, such as the Pyramid of Unas and certain Middle Kingdom tombs. The team also believes the shafts and enclosures are around 38,000 years old. The pyramids were built around 4,500 years ago After gathering the data, researchers used a special algorithm that turned the information into vertical images of the ground beneath the pyramid, capturing the first look at the hidden structures. Pictured are the eight wells under the pyramid 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 'We estimate a correlation confidence of 85 to 90 percent with the hypothesis of a helical staircase within the well,' said Ciccole. The team also believes the structures were built around 38,00 years ago, which predates the oldest known man-made structure of its kind by tens of thousands of years. They based the claim on ancient Egyptian text that they interpreted as historical records of a pre-existing civilization that was destroyed during a cataclysmic event, but Professor Conyers said: ''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. Pictured are the researchers involved in the work: Armando Mei (left), Nicole Ciccolo (second left), Filippo Biondi (second right) and Corrado Malanga (right) '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.' But researchers explained there was likely a pre-existing civilization that was destroyed during a cataclysmic event. The event is a theory about a massive asteroid hitting Earth around 13,500 years ago, 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. Researchers believe that ancient Egyptian text seen as myths are actually historical records of life before the cataclysmic event. 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. Ciccolo 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.' As the clocks are set to go forwards this Sunday, many of us will be dreading losing an hour in bed. Now, top scientists have called for an end to Daylight Saving Time (DST), amid fears it fuels a rise in cancer, traffic accidents and suicide. 'The shift into Daylight Saving Time is nearly upon us and with it the disturbances of our sleep and other daily rhythms from having to get up an hour earlier for the next seven months,' said Dr Eva Winnebeck, Lecturer in Chronobiology, and Dr Vikki Revell, Associate Professor in Translational Sleep and Circadian Physiology at the University of Surrey. 'While many enjoy the perceived benefits of longer evenings, the scientific evidence strongly advocates remaining on Standard Time all year round. 'Sticking to Standard Time isn't just a matter of preference: it's a crucial decision for the benefit of both our collective sleep and circadian health.' However, not everyone agrees with the scientists. Finn Burridge, Science Communicator at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, said: 'Moving the time ahead reduces the burden on the energy grid as the need for artificial lighting in spring and summer is reduced. 'It is also better for tourism and provides a boost to "PM" activities as the extra daylight in the evenings allows for people to do more after work.' As the clocks are set to go forwards this Sunday, many of us will be dreading losing an hour in bed (stock image) Top scientists have called for an end to Daylight Saving Time (DST), amid fears it fuels a rise in cancer, traffic accidents and suicide The practice of changing the clocks was first introduced in 1916 in a bid to improve workforce productivity by making the most of daylight hours in the summer months. It means the clocks go forward by one hour at 1am on the last Sunday in March, and back one hour at 2am on the last Sunday in October. The argument is that as the days get longer, shifting our schedules forward gives people more sunlight hours during their working day. However, a recent statement by the British Sleep Society highlighted some of the worrying side effects of changing the clocks. Losing an hour of sleep when the clocks move forward can result in the whole population feeling more tired than usual. Some studies have suggested that the risk of fatal traffic accidents increases by around six per cent following the spring daylight savings time transition. There is also evidence of an increased risk of cardiovascular events, increased risk of suicidal behaviours and increased mortality in the days after switching our clocks. Meanwhile, our bodies rely on bright morning sun to keep our body clocks aligned with the normal 24-hour solar cycle. There is a growing although somewhat contested body of evidence that a mismatch between the sun and our bodies can have severe long-term health impacts. Studies have shown that those living in the West of a time zone where the mismatch between the sun time and our body clocks is greatest have higher risks of leukaemia, stomach cancer, lung cancer and breast cancer. Since this mismatch is very similar to those experienced when the clocks go forward, some scientists say daylight savings might be having a similar impact. The British Sleep Society's perspective emphasizes that sleep is central to health and wellbeing and the enforced changes can interfere with our ability to regulate our shuteye. 'What we often don't realise is that DST changes our schedules, moving them forward by one hour while daylight remains the same,' Dr Winnebeck said. 'DST forces us all to get up and go to work or school one hour earlier. In seasons with fewer daylight hours such as now in autumn, it means most of us have to get up and commute in the dark.' The Society argues that natural daylight in the morning is crucial for maintaining an alignment of our body clocks with day and night, which is essential for optimal sleep and overall health. 'Some people even advocate switching to Daylight Saving Time all year around, but we consider this a misguided idea,' said co-author Professor Malcolm von Schantz of Northumbria University. There is also evidence of an increased risk of cardiovascular events, increased risk of suicidal behaviours and increased mortality in the days after switching our clocks (stock image) 'Mornings are the time when our body clocks have the greatest need for light to stay in synch. 'At our latitudes, there simply is no spare daylight to save during the winter months and given the choice between natural light in the morning and natural light in the afternoon, the scientific evidence favours light in the morning.' Mr Burridge agreed that there are 'effects on our health' linked to the clock change, and said that the main reason the UK continues to do it is because of tradition. 'Whilst there are pros and cons to the clocks changing, the main reason we do it is that is tradition, and it is something over 70 countries worldwide continue to practice to this day,' he said. Chinese oil firm hands over renovated secondary school in South Sudan Xinhua) 10:22, March 26, 2025 JUBA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese oil firm China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) on Tuesday handed over a fully renovated secondary school to the Central Equatoria State government in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. Located in the Hai Seminary suburb of Juba, Chinese Friendship Secondary School was built in 2011 with support from the Chinese government after South Sudan gained independence. Cirisio Zakaria Lado, minister of general education and instruction in Central Equatoria State, commended the Chinese government and CNPC for supporting the education sector, which is critical to nation-building. He also said China has provided various assistance to South Sudan, especially in the fields of health, infrastructure, and agriculture. Nelson Wani, headteacher of Chinese Friendship Secondary School, said the institution is a foundation for the long-standing relationship between the two peoples of the two countries. According to Wani, since its inception in 2011, the school, which currently accommodates 600 students, has graduated several students who have gone on to complete their studies at universities in the country. "Over the past three months, we have renovated classrooms, upgraded the school fences, and repainted corridors and exterior walls. Additionally, we have provided tailor-made desks and chairs for over 200 students, along with stationery, shirts, and sporting goods for teachers and students," said Lu Jiangbo, president of CNPC (Nile). Lu noted that their mission is to improve the school's physical infrastructure and create a better learning environment that empowers students to change their futures through education. Ma Qiang, Chinese ambassador to South Sudan, said the Chinese government regards education cooperation as an important sector of the friendly cooperation between the two countries. Ma noted that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Sudan, the Chinese government has assisted in building several primary and secondary schools with grants and provided Chinese government scholarships to local students. "We also successfully implemented the first and second phases of the China-aided Technical Cooperation Project of Education in South Sudan, with millions of carefully compiled primary and secondary school textbooks delivered to Juba, over 920 teachers trained in China, and nearly 150,000 students benefiting," Ma said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) One of the UKs most iconic theme parks has unveiled its brand new makeover that took more than 4,000 hours to create. Legoland Windsor Resort, which first opened to customers in 1996, has undergone an extensive renovation of its Miniland London attraction by reimagining some of the citys most iconic buildings brick by brick. Utilising almost one million LEGO bricks in 18 different colours, seven new buildings have been constructed such as City Hall, 122 Leadenhall Street (The Cheese Grater) and 30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin). At 5.4m tall, The Cheese Grater weighs 395kg and took 1162 hours for 12 Lego Model Builders to construct out of 220,000 LEGO bricks. Meanwhile, One Canada Square is set to be the tallest model on display at 5.5 meters high. If laid on its side, it will be half as long as a London bus. Available for families to enjoy this spring, the permanent display features 25 animated houseboat and bat models, alongside 174 vehicles that include buses, taxis and trains. Particularly acute LEGO fans may also spot some new colour bricks being used for the first time, including reddish orange and vibrant yellows. Legoland Windsor Resort, which first opened to customers in 1996, has undergone an extensive renovation of its Miniland London attraction (pictured) The permanent display features 25 animated houseboat and bat models, alongside 174 vehicles that include buses, taxis and trains Utilising almost one million Lego bricks comprising of 18 different colours, seven new buildings have been constructed such as City Hall, 122 Leadenhall Street (The Cheese Grater) and 30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin) In celebration of the new makeover, the resort is also calling on young builders and LEGO enthusiasts to enter a nationwide competition to become its first Mayor Miniland. Available for those aged five to 12-years-old, applicants must submit ideas on what they would add, design or change to the Miniland London scene. Those successful will see their winning design brought to life and made into a LEGO model that will be put on display during the school summer holidays. Ramesh Ganeson, Vice President at Legoland Windsor Resort, describes the new Miniland attractions models as architectural gems. In a press release he adds: Our continued investment in the Resort has meant the iconic buildings have been updated for a new generation. Our talented team of model makers have skilfully refreshed and maintained the intricate details of the London city skyline, which is set to be a towering success. Day tickets to the 150-acre Legoland resort start at 29 per person and require pre-booking online on their website. Children under 0.9 meters are entitled to free entry. In celebration of the new makeover, the resort is also calling on young builders and LEGO enthusiasts to enter a nationwide competition to become its first Mayor Miniland Day tickets to the 150-acre Legoland resort start at 29 per person Ramesh Ganeson, Vice President at Legoland Windsor Resort, described the new Miniland attractions models as architectural gems Legoland was voted the sixth most-loved UK attraction by Google Maps earlier this year. To rank the top spots, researchers catalogued the places featured on the website with the highest number of reviews and ratings of more than four stars, then assigned scores by combining these two numbers. Buckingham Palace topped the best-loved visitor attraction list. The royal residence has 177,568 reviews on Google with an average visitor rating of 4.5 stars. The Warner Bros. Studio Tour in Watford, which takes visitors behind the scenes of the Harry Potter film sets, came second on the visitor attraction table, with 88,859 reviews and an average rating of 4.8 stars. Over the past couple of years, a growing number of quaint Italian towns have made headlines for selling ancient, vacant homes for less than the cost of a coffee. Thanks to a government-backed scheme, for just 1, homeseekers from far and wide are able to snap up charming properties in picturesque Mediterranean villages, providing the perfect opportunity to truly embrace local customs, culture and cuisine. The 1 scheme was launched in 2017 to help boost local economies and attract new residents to towns and villages with a declining population, with buyers required to renovate the properties within a specified timeframe. From the rolling hills of Sicily to the rustic villages of Calabria, over 100 homes have found new owners through this initiative - and experts suggest that the scheme is only going to grow in popularity. But as more Britons and other internationals flock to these underpopulated towns in search of a slower, simpler way of life, the process isn't as straightforward as one might think. When purchasing a 1 home, buyers must adhere to a series of commitments; such as planning the restructuring project within a year of purchase, as well as 'supporting notarial fees for registration'. Additionally, some properties may come with hidden costs that aren't immediately obvious - issues like structural damage, outdated plumbing, and the need for extensive renovations can quickly escalate costs far beyond the bargain price tag. Take Mussomeli, for example, a hilltop municipality in the heart of Sicily currently offering five 17th century properties for 1. As more Britons and other internationals flock to underpopulated Italian towns in search of a slower, simpler way of life - is the government-backed 1 home scheme all as it seems? Pictured is a two-bedroom, one-bathroom home, situated on the cobbled street of Vicolo Giannino, and up for grabs for just 1 - but there's a catch Among them is a two-bedroom, one-bathroom home, situated on the cobbled street of Vicolo Giannino. Bleak photographs showcase the stark reality of the initiative, as the listing states the derelict property is in dire need of plumbing, air conditioning, heating and electrical wiring. The barren home can be seen stripped of basic interiors, as rooms are left with exposed floorboards, caved-in ceilings, and cupboards hanging by their hinges. The kitchen is, perhaps, the room in most dire need of attention, with torn wallpaper and peeling paint barely clinging on to its crumbing walls. According to the listing on Case 1 Euro, the buyer would need to further invest in a fridge, stove, juicer, dishwasher, grill and coffeepot to turn it into a more functional space. Meanwhile, the bathroom, adorned with discoloured mint-green tiles, features a sink, toilet and bathtub - which can be seen filled with dust and porcelain material. What appears to be the master bedroom is arguably the property's most furnished room, as a double-bed frame with a matching set of bedside drawers, wardrobe and dresser remain in their designated spots in surprisingly well-maintained condition. The final room included in the listing appears to be either a second bedroom or lounge, with darkened, exposed floorboards contrasting against thin, cream-painted doors and white walls. The kitchen is, perhaps, the room in most dire need of attention, with torn wallpaper and peeling paint barely clinging onto its crumbing walls A double-bed frame with a matching set of bedside drawers, wardrobe and dresser remain in their designated spots in the master bedroom in surprisingly well-maintained condition The bathroom, adorned with discoloured, mint-green tiles, features a sink, toilet and bathtub - which can be seen filled with dust and porcelain material The barren home can be seen stripped of basic interiors, as rooms are left with exposed floorboards, peeling wallpaper and caved-in ceilings Along with the overwhelming number of appliances needed to turn the home in a livable space, prospective buyers would need to additionally invest in a computer, a television, cable TV, internet and much more, to fully modernise the rooms. The home is 53 kilometres from the nearby city of Agrigento, 58 kilometres from Caltanissetta, 99 kilometres from Enna, and 199 kilometres from Ragusa. Summer temperatures in Mussomeli are within the 26 to 32 degree range, while minimum temperatures range from 3 to 6 degrees in winter. It comes after a couple revealed they purchased a Sicilian townhouse at auction with a one euro starting bid - and transformed it into a stunning $250,000 Renaissance-style palazzo. The council in the mountain village of Sambuca di Sicilia auctioned 16 abandoned homes in January 2019, with prices starting at a symbolic one euro. Massoud Ahmadi, 70, and his wife Shelley, 60, ended up buying an abandoned 18th century townhouse in the village for just $10,500 at the sale and immediately set to work doing it up. The crumbling internal walls were stained brown and the rooms were packed full of old junk, including a retro pram. They spent $200,000 on the once 'uninhabitable' three-story property, with some of the bigger investments being a new staircase, installing new plumbing and repairing the roof. Massoud Ahmadi, 70, and his wife Shelley, 60, revealed they purchased a Sicilian townhouse at auction with a one euro starting bid - and transformed it into a stunning $250,000 Renaissance-style palazzo They spent $200,000 on the once 'uninhabitable' three-story property. LEFT: The exterior of the house when they bought it. RIGHT: The exterior of the house after The home was in a sorry state when the couple bought it but thanks to their efforts, it slowly took shape and now it looks unrecognisable Initially Massoud 'couldn't fathom' renovating the property within a three year deadline imposed by the council - but he pulled it off thanks to the help of local architects and artisans. 'After' photos show the two-bedroom, 250 square meter house has retained its original wooden windows, majolica tiled floor and vaulted double-barreled ceilings. It also features three bathrooms, a living room and an open-plan marble kitchen. Topping things off, there is a roof terrace serving up mountain views. The couple completed renovations in January last year and now split their time between Sambuca di Sicilia and their home in rural Montgomery County, Maryland near Washington, D.C. An ex-flight attendant has slammed the worst behaviours being popularised by influencers on board flights. Skye Taylor, who worked for Virgin Atlantic for 16 years, took to TikTok to complain about the most annoying 'influencer trends' that infuriate cabin crew. Skye, from Southampton, feared social media influencers were encouraging people to try 'unsafe' trends by posting dangerous behaviours to their thousands of online followers. One of the worst behaviours she slammed as 'absolutely crazy' was letting babies sleep on the floor of an aircraft. She revealed: 'The amount of people that show their babies sleeping on the floor is absolutely crazy. 'You certainly wouldn't go and put your child in the footwell of a car. 'Why would you put them on the floor of an aircraft that could potentially drop 10,000ft within minutes and your child is laying on the floor under metal?' Some people put their babies on the plane floor during a flight - much to the annoyance of flight crew Another trend which left the former stewardess appalled was writing on the bathroom mirror. Skye said this was something 'younger generations' did not realise could result in a 'massive security risk.' 'There was one TikTok and there was writing all over the aircraft mirror. 'There have been quite a lot of occasions in terrorist attacks where writing on a bathroom mirror was quite a horrible thing.' Skye recalled a horrifying incident from April 2010, when a passenger on board a Continental Express flight headed from Houston to Washington scrawled "bomb" on the lavatory mirror. The flight was forced to be rerouted and, after being thoroughly searched, thankfully no explosives were found. The incident highlighted how something 'trivial' to TikTokers like writing in lipstick on a toilet mirror can endanger fellow passengers. More recently, in 2022, a Condor Airways flight travelling from Frankfurt to Seattle made an emergency landing in Iceland after a full-scale terror response was activated by someone graffitiing a bomb threat on the bathroom mirror. Terrified flight attendants informed passengers that they had to land because the bathrooms were out of order. Passengers were then patted down by police and several had their mugshots taken, after an extensive search eventually uncovered the bathroom scrawl as a cruel hoax. Writing on the plane bathroom mirror can spark fear after a spate of bomb threats being left in a similar way, Skye Taylor warned The final trend which Taylor warned flyers against was taking selfies near plane engines. Skye pointed out that travellers breaching security markings on the ground to get influencer friendly holiday snaps next to aircraft engines, which generate tens of thousands of horsepower, was 'not the smartest idea.' Not only can UK passengers get fined tens of thousands of pounds by airlines for breaching civil aviation rules, but getting too close to a plane's engine could be fatal. An operating jet engine is so powerful that it could suck in a person standing near to its 'ingestion zone'. While airport staff are trained to stand at least ten metres away from the engine, first time flyers influenced by uninformed TikTokkers could put their lives at risk by following selfie trends. The former cabin crew also criticised customers who go online to complain about flights, as she claimed that cabin crew faced the brunt of customer's anger when they are told to adhere to safety regulations. Taking photos near the plane engine can be dangerous, and also get in the way of busy airport ground staff as they help with flight preparations She said: 'I saw somebody saying the crew member refused to hold her baby while she went to the bathroom. 'But we are not allowed to hold babies anymore, that is a safety thing that was changed. 'If we do want to hold a baby, we have to find a secure seat, strap ourselves in, and put that baby on our lap.' She also urged passengers not to bring large, unsafe car seats that would block the aisle in case of an evacuation. Skye revealed on her TikTok page, where she hopes to educate the public about flight safety, that crew members get six weeks of safety training and just two days of service training - showing where the staff's real priorities lie. Two airlines have banned an everyday item from being used their planes over fears they could explode in midair. Vietnam Airlines and budget carrier Vietjet Air said that passengers are now not allowed to use lithium-based powerbanks aboard their planes. Many airlines across the world have banned the use of the devices on their planes in recent years due to the risk they carry of igniting unexpectedly. Over the weekend, both airlines said their passengers were not allowed to use them on their planes. Passengers also have to take them out of carry-on bags and place them so they are visible at all times. The ban comes after an AirFrance plane was forced to return home just two hours in to its flight after a passenger lost their phone on board, risking a potential explosion in the cabin. The plane, flying on Friday from Paris to Pointe-a-Pitre in Guadeloupe, in the Caribbean, was forced to turn its 375 passengers and 12 crew members back to France around a quarter of the way into the flight. According to AirPlusNews, the plane was made to turn around as a safety precaution. Vietnam Airlines and budget carrier Vietjet Air said that passengers are now not allowed to use lithium-based powerbanks aboard their planes (File image) Data from FlightRadar24 revealed that the plane looped once off the west coast of France before flying back to Paris' Orly airport, where it began its journey. After landing back at Paris Orly at 3.25pm that day, the plane then took off for Guadeloupe 20 minutes later, arriving at 7.20pm local time that evening. AirPlusNews reported that it came a month after the same plane was made to turn back after a passenger dropped their phone into air vent, significantly increasing the risk of a fire. The plane, which was meant to fly from Paris to Fort-de-France, Martinique, was turned around after 'a passenger's phone slipped through a galley air vent and ended up in an inaccessible area', according to AirPlusNews. 'Fearing that the phone's lithium battery had been damaged, creating a fire risk, the crew decided to divert the flight to Paris as a precaution', it added. Last month, a power bank exploded on an AirAsia flight mid-air, sending passengers into panic. The plane was flying from Bangkok to Nakhon Si Thammarat in the south of the country when flames and smoke were witnessed 30 minutes in. Shocked cabin crew rushed to the middle row of the Airbus A320 to extinguish the flames, as nervous passengers watched on. The plane was flying from Bangkok to Nakhon Si Thammarat in the south of the country when flames and smoke were seen 30 minutes in Those on board rushed out of their seats and flocked to the other side of the aircraft, with some clutching their children Those on board rushed out of their seats and flocked to the other side of the aircraft, with some clutching their children. As fumes filled the cabin, passengers frantically moved their belongings away from the flames. Others rushed to go and get bottled water in an attempt to put out the fire. Flight attendants grabbed fire extinguishers and eliminated the fire. Sayan Srimai, who recorded the video, said: 'The whole plane was in a state of chaos. 'We had been sitting for about 30 minutes when suddenly there was a fire burning and smoke rising in the middle of the plane, in row 15. The Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and attracts millions of tourists each year. But, despite its prestige, one British visitor was left less than impressed by the 146 meter tall structure. TikTok user philc84 had dreamed of touring 'the most special building on the entire planet' but described his experience as 'literally hell'. Taking to the platform to vent his frustration the content creator listed a string of complaints including being 'force-fed into the lump of stone', being hassled by scammers, and a 'lack of decoration'. Footage shows philc84 arriving at the location alongside swarms of fellow travelers before he enters the crowded Egypt pyramid. He says: 'The Great Pyramid is one of the most special and mysterious buildings on the whole planet but for me going inside it is quite literally hell. 'You're force-fed into a giant lump of stone with a load of other suckers just trying to tick something off their bucket list. The scathing review continues: 'Whether the pyramids were built by aliens, the people of Atlantis, or most likely the Ancient Egyptians I wish they'd come back, tidy up and sort the place out. 'The whole complex is an absolute nightmare.' The Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and attracts millions of tourists each year. Pictured: One of the pyramids of Giza But, despite its prestige, one visitor was left less than impressed by the 137m tall structure. TikTok user philc84 had dreamed of touring 'the most special building on the entire planet' but described his experience as 'literally hell' @philc84 How is the most special place on earth also the worst!? AD. Come with me to have a dream ruined. Thanks to @Airalo United Kingdom for keeping my phone data costs low while in Egypt. Down load Airalo now and save a fortune on roaming charges when you travel or go on holiday. Use code PHIL3 for 3 dollars off your first eSIM. #pyramids #gizapyramids #ancientegypt #placestovisit #britishhumour #ukcomedy #satire #learnontiktok original sound - Phil The video then shows the content creator being approached by several salesmen as he complains: 'You're hassled by scammers so much that you forget what a special place you're at.' Philc84 also describes how he spent two hours politely declining when horse and camel operators 'aggressively' tried to convince him to ride their animal. After leaving the pyramids the TikToker reflected on his experience saying it was the 'biggest disappointment' of his life and calling it 'soul-crushing'. Philc84's video has caused a stir online, racking up nearly 120,000 likes and more than 1,000 comments. Some viewers were shocked by his complaints while others shared similar experiences. One comment read:, 'Oh pls say youre lying. This is my dream,' while another person said, 'Such a shame - but these are all the reasons I will never visit'. A third added: 'Im sad to report this is painfully accurate. My whole experience was ruined and I left fuming.' But, someone else challenged the review saying: 'Couldn't disagree more. For me it was a wonderful experience. No hassle nothing, just 2 people in total approached us for a camel ride. That's it'. It comes after a 'groundbreaking' discovery beneath the Egyptian pyramids took the world by storm. Italian researchers claim to have uncovered 'a vast underground city' which stretches more than 4,000 feet directly underneath the Pyramids of Giza, making them 10 times larger than the pyramids themselves. The bombshell claim - which many experts claim to have already debunked - comes from a study that used radar pulses to create high-resolution images deep into the ground beneath the structures, the same way sonar radar is used to map the depths of the ocean. The paper, which has not been peer-reviewed by independent experts, found eight vertical cylinder-shaped structures extending more than 2,100 feet below the pyramid and more unknown structures 4,000 feet deeper. A press release described the findings as 'groundbreaking' and if true could rewrite the history of ancient Egypt. However, independent experts have raised serious concerns about the study. Professor Lawrence Conyers, a radar expert at the University of Denver who focuses on archaeology, told DailyMail.com that it is not possible for the technology to penetrate that deeply into the ground, making the idea of an underground city 'a huge exaggeration.' Professor Conyers said it is conceivable there are small structures, such as shafts and chambers, beneath the pyramids that existed before they were built because the site was 'special to ancient people.' He highlighted how 'the Mayans and other people in ancient Mesoamerica often built pyramids on top of the entrances of caves or caverns that had ceremonial meaning to them.' European countries are warning citizens with a certain type of passport to proceed with 'caution' when travelling to America in a backlash at Donald Trump's 'two gender' decree. A number of U.S. ally nations are urging their trans and non-binary residents, who have 'X' listed as their gender on their passport, to seek guidance from American embassies before entering the country. It comes after Trump banned 'X' gendered U.S. passports and signed an executive order declaring there are only two genders in January. The Republican's declaration has confused countries that allow the passports and sparked fears that some 'X' gendered travelers may be refused entry to the U.S. Many nations have been forced to update their travel advisory pages in response to the stricter entry rules. Germany, Finland, the UK, and Canada have all revised their official guidance for citizens visiting the U.S. - particularly for those who may be affected by the policy change. These countries highlighted risks for transgender and nonbinary travelers, advising caution or in some cases, direct consultation with U.S. embassies before departure. Donald Trump banned 'X' gendered U.S. passports and declared there are only two genders in January A number of U.S. ally nations are urging their trans and non-binary residents, who have 'X' listed as their gender on their passport, to seek guidance from American embassies before entering the country. The Danish government is warning its citizens with 'X' as their passport gender to seek clarity from the U.S. embassy before they travel to America (stock image) Many countries have been forced to update their travel advisory pages in response to the stricter entry rules (stock image) The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office warned British citizens to fully comply with all entry and visa requirements and stressed that any violation -intentional or not - could result in arrest. Meanwhile the French foreign ministry tells nationals to declare their gender assigned at birth when applying for a U.S. visa or through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), to comply with Trump's order. Denmark has gone one step further than France, explicitly warning that transgender people may be barred from entering the United States. The Danish foreign ministry warns that travelers whose passport gender does not match their assigned sex at birth could be turned away at the border. Finland also updated its travel advice. 'If the applicant's current sex on their passport is different from their sex confirmed at birth, the US authorities may refuse entry,' a federal Finnish travel site warns. President Joe Biden's State Department was the first to allow applicants to label their gender as 'X', but that was rolled back quickly by Secretary of State Marco Rubio after Trump's initial order. The German Federal Foreign Office has notified that residents with the 'X' gender on their travel documents may face issues when coming to America. Pictured: A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer uses facial recognition technology in his booth at Miami International Airport to screen a traveler entering the United States 'The policy of the United States is that an individual's sex is not changeable,' the State Department said in a statement at the time. Trump's gender executive order also advised the Department of Homeland Security to implement changes for government issued IDs. The options are either male or female. Even countries with long-standing military and economic ties to the U.S., like Germany, have been issuing warnings. The German Federal Foreign Office has notified that residents with the 'X' gender on their travel documents may face issues when coming to America. Germans traveling to the U.S. must state 'either 'male' or 'female' on ESTA or visa applications,' the travel guidance states. It also advises those with 'X' passports to check their documents with U.S. officials before entering the country. In U.S. customs enforcement, border officials ultimately have the final say over which travelers get to enter the country - which is noted on the German travel site. Coronation Street fans were stunned after discovering soap legend Tina O'Brien's connection to Adolescence's rising star Owen Cooper. The teenage actor has taken Netflix by storm after the British drama hit the streaming platform earlier this month. With each of the four episodes filmed in one continuous take, Adolescence captivated audiences with its tale about how social media and misogynistic influencers can impact young boys. Owen Cooper, 15, was star of the show with his portrayal of Jamie Miller - a teenager accused of murdering a girl at his school. He has stunned viewers with his impressive acting skills and has bagged himself further roles including young Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights adaptation. Another interesting element to the young star is his surprising connection to Coronation Street star Tina O'Brien. Teenage actor Owen Cooper (pictured) has taken Netflix by storm after the British drama hit the streaming platform earlier this month Another interesting element to the young star is his surprising connection to Coronation Street star Tina O'Brien (pictured) Owen attended acting school The Drama MOB in Manchester which was founded by the soap star. The school posted a tribute to the youngster and said: 'Where do we even begin?! We are beyond proud of Owen for absolutely smashing this role and tackling such a challenging and sensitive subject. 'Adolescence, the new Netflix drama, follows the story of a 13-year-old accused of murdering a classmate, leaving his family, therapist, and the detective in charge questioning what really happened. 'Being able to secure such a major role is incredible in itself, but Owen has completely blown everyone away and the reviews say it all! 'Its also a testament to the hard work and dedication of our incredible teaching team, who are committed to nurturing talent and helping our students thrive! You can check it out now on Netflix!' Tina co-founded the school back in 2013 and shot to fame on Corrie in 1999 as Sarah Platt. She also played Bex Fisher in BBC's Waterloo Road. Adolescence became the most streamed series of the week in over 70 countries and saw almost 25million views in just four days after its release. Owen attended acting school The Drama MOB in Manchester which was founded by the soap star Adolescence became the most streamed series of the week in over 70 countries and saw almost 25million views in just four days after its release Despite the success, co-creator Jack Thorne, who wrote the show with star Stephen Graham, has dashed fans' hopes of a second season. Issuing a brutal four-word response when asked about the show's future on Tuesday's This Morning, Jack said: 'Jamie's story is finished.' 'I don't think there's anywhere more we can take Jamie, so I don't think there's a series two,' he added. 'We'd love to explore the one-shot format in another way, we'd love to tell other stories in other ways, but I don't think a series two of Adolescence is quite right for us.' Tina O'Brien recently made headlines after splitting from her husband Adam Crofts after seven years of marriage, after weeks of speculation. According to insiders the pair separated three months ago after growing apart. Tina O'Brien has split from her husband Adam Crofts after seven years of marriage, insiders have revealed after weeks of speculation The Coronation Street star, 41, and her husband Adam first sparked split fears after she shared a snap without her wedding ring last Friday Friends revealed: 'Tina and Adam have ended their relationship and are spending some time apart. They moved house at Christmas and have decided to live separately for the time being. The couple, who share a ten-year-old son Beau, are said to be 'on good terms' for the sake of their son but their differing lifestyles reportedly drove them apart. The insider told The Sun: 'Adam and Tina lead very different lives - he is really into his fitness, while she really enjoys going out with her mates and having a dance, which just isn't for him. 'It wasn't an issue at first because they were head over heels, but as the kids have started to grow up it's become more noticeable. 'Adam likes a quiet life and unfortunately that just isn't Tina.' The forthcoming Harry Potter HBO series has found the actor who will play half-giant Rubeus Hagrid. British actor-comedian Nick Frost, 52, has been tapped to fill the role, originally embodied by the late Robbie Coltrane, who died in late 2022 at age 72. According to a Deadline report, Frost is close to finalizing the deal to sign on for the TV adaptation of the beloved fantasy books. In a statement to the publication, HBO said, 'We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.' Fans initially suspected Nick would join the production last week when he posted in an Instagram caption: 'What a bloody lovely day! It's happening, it's actually happening. Stay cool.' The note, accompanied by a close-up selfie, was void of context. The forthcoming Harry Potter HBO series has found the actor who will play half-giant Rubeus Hagrid, originally embodied by the late Robbie Coltrane But social media users noticed that he'd begun following stars who have already been confirmed in the Harry Potter HBO cast John Lithgow and Paapa Essiedu. Fans were absolutely thrilled by the casting choice as they flocked to X (formerly Twitter) to react to the news. Many called Frost the 'perfect' Hagrid and praised the show's casting director for finding an actor that 'actually fits with the fiction.' One Harry Potter fan boldly declared that Frost as Hagrid is the 'only casting of the new series that fits so far.' Nick most recently starred in the slasher comedy movie Get Away, which he wrote and Steffen Haars directed. Last month it was announced that Lithgow had been picked to play the new Professor Dumbledore. Following the news, the 79-year-old star said stepping into the shoes of the magical headmaster, first played by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon, 'came as a total surprise to me.' He told Screen Rant, 'I just got the phone call up at the Sundance Film Festival, and it was not an easy decision because it's going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I'm afraid.' British actor-comedian Nick Frost, 52, has been tapped to fill the role; pictured in January Fans were absolutely thrilled by the casting choice as they flocked to X (formerly Twitter) to react to the news The veteran entertainer added, 'But I'm very excited. Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to Harry Potter. 'That's why it's been such a hard decision. I'll be about 87-years-old at the wrap party, but I've said yes.' Dumbledore, the fictional headmaster of Hogwarts and a mentor to the titular character, has become one of the most-beloved figures among fans of J.K. Rowling's original books and the film series. In early March it was revealed by Deadline that Emmy-nominated actress Janet McTeer is 'in talks' to take over from the late Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall in the highly-anticipated HBO adaptation. Janet, 63, is best-known for her role as Mary Jo Walker in the 2000 comedy Tumbleweed. She also starred as attorney Helen Piece in the hit TV Netflix drama Ozark. It was also reported that Essiedu, 34, was 'set or in talks' to play Professor Severus Snape, who was originally portrayed by the late Alan Rickman in all eight Harry Potter films. Last month it was announced that John Lithgow (left) has been picked to play the new Professor Albus Dumbledore, a role originally played by Michael Gambon in the last six of eight Harry Potter films In early March it was revealed that Emmy-nominated actress Janet McTeer (left) is 'in talks' to take over from the late Maggie Smith (right) as Professor McGonagall in the highly-anticipated HBO adaptation It was also reported that Gangs Of London star Paapa Essiedu (left), 34, is 'set or in talks' to play Professor Severus Snape, who was originally portrayed by the late Alan Rickman (right) in all eight Harry Potter films. Rumors about casting first began to circulate late last year, with many diehard Harry Potter fans calling some of the choices 'god awful.' There has also been fevered fan speculation about Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy potentially playing Harry Potter villain Lord Voldemort. Fans were particularly irked by the idea of Ted Lasso star Brett Goldstein possibly playing Hagrid due to their being few physical similarities to the beloved half-giant. 'Um Hagrid is supposed to be 8 feet tall and English,' read one angry tweet, with another adding: 'I don't know if the world is ready for sexy Hagrid.' One X user slammed the potential choice as 'a complete joke'. Other rumored casting choices that sparked tense online back-and-forth included: Sharon Horgan and Rachel Weisz vying for the role of Professor McGonagall and Mark Rylance supposedly being in the running to play Albus Dumbledore. In response to speculation over casting, HBO said: 'We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumour and speculation. 'As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finaliZe deals.' All seven of Rowling's beloved books will be adapted by HBO with a fresh group of actors over the next ten years at a cost of more than $200million per season. There has also been fevered fan speculation about Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy (left) potentially playing Harry Potter villain Lord Voldemort/Tom Riddle. The part was most famously played by Ralph Fiennes (right) in the films Months before news of Frost's casing, Harry Potter fans expressed outrage over 'god awful' rumors that Ted Lasso star Brett Goldstein was thought to be first choice to star as Hagrid; Goldstein seen in 2024 Filming starts in the UK this summer and the series is slated for a 2026 release. News of Frost's casting comes after a source exclusively dished to MailOnline that the high-profile series will be a chance for Rowling to 'totally eradicate' the movie memories of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint with a new cast of child stars and millions of new fans. 'For JK, this is a chance to lay the memories of the three leads to rest and start afresh with a whole new cast and fanbase too', MailOnline's TV industry insider revealed. Next month auditions of children aged between nine and 11 to find the next Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Grainger will be held. The show's casting team are still working through an astounding 32,000 audition tapes. Ms Rowling will serve as an executive producer on the series with HBO saying she has been 'very very involved' in the project to ensure will it be a 'faithful adaptation' of her books. She spectacularly fell out with the three young stars of the movies over her views on transgender women. She hinted last year that she could not forgive them even if they apologized to her publicly. The three actors, who owe their fame and fortune to their roles in the Harry Potter films, all responded to her 2020 essay calling transgender identity 'deeply misogynistic and regressive' with statements that were supportive of trans rights. A TV insider with feet in London and Hollywood says Radcliffe, Watson and Grint will be 'expunged' and replaced with new young stars. The Harry Potter television series will come to small screens in 2026; original cast Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe, and Emma Watson pictured L-R in 2001 News of Frost's casting comes after a source exclusively dished to MailOnline that the high-profile series will be a chance for Rowling to 'totally eradicate' the movie memories of Daniel Radcliffe , Emma Watson and Rupert Grint with a new cast of child stars and millions of new fans; seen in 2011 Last week, Rowling appeared to take aim at Harry Potter movie stars Radcliffe, Watson and Grint in a social media post shared to her 14.3million followers 'This is Ms Rowling's opportunity to totally eradicate the memories of the old movies and the old cast with new TV and movie franchises it brings in new leads, lust like with Superman and Batman', MailOnline's industry source said. Last week, Rowling appeared to take aim at Harry Potter movie stars Radcliffe, Watson and Grint in a social media post shared to her 14.3million followers The 59-year-old author penned a biting response to the three stars of the original films in response to the question: 'What actor/actress instantly ruins a movie for you?' Without missing a beat, Rowling cryptically wrote: 'Three guesses. Sorry, but that was irresistible.' She ended her post with three laughing emojis. Many of her followers widely interpreted her response as a nod to the three child stars who played the lead roles in the successful franchise. Advertisement Eagle-eyed Adolescence fans have shared their shock after spotting a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment where one crew member is caught in shot - but did you managed to see it? The four-part Netflix series, which hit the streaming service on March 13, has received rave reviews for a number of reasons - including each episode being filmed in one take. Viewers have loved finding out the behind-the-scenes intel on how they were able to do so successfully. And now it's been revealed that a camera man can be seen at the end of the second episode in an aerial shot. A TiKTok user, @itsjustttjoy, took to her page to explain, after highlighting that The Guardian sat down with creators to spill the beans on it all. She explains: 'You can see a camera operator in episode two. Adolescence fans capture blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment Netflix crew member is caught in shot - but did you spot it? The four-part Netflix series, which hit the streaming service on March 13, has received rave reviews for a number of reasons - including each episode being filmed in one take This is the moment in episode two that TikToker @itsjustttjoy has pointed out 'So when Ashley Walters leaves the car they had a team coming up behind Matthew the cinematographer who clipped the camera to a drone. They then flew that drone over the town and in the meantime Matthew the cinematographer legged into a van, drove to the end scene where we see Stephen Graham. He catches the drone with two other people, disconnects it and starts walking towards Stephens face. Are you insane? He had to literally be a split second accurate, if not the whole thing wouldnt have worked.' She continued: 'If you watch it again you can see his car drive into the car park and you think "Oh it's just a car". 'Then you see the door open and of course, the drone is going faster when we saw the door open. 'We see enough of the door, and that's actually Matthew's van getting ready to get that camera, unclip it and then zoom into Stephen's face. 'Now we don't necessarily see him, but we see [the vehicle]...' iewers have loved finding out the behind-the-scenes intel on how they were able to do to successfully - Owen Cooper and Stephen Graham pictured above She captioned the post: 'Did you spot this camera man in #adolescence?' Many rushed to the comments section to share their shock over the revelation. One wrote: 'So interesting!!!' Another added: 'Love this.' A confused third questioned: 'The camera once went through a window, how did they do that?' It's also been revealed that the camera crew dressed in civilian dress to be able to be classed as extras. Netflix confirmed: 'During rehearsals the cast would also work through the choreography, allowing the DOP to plan the positions of the camera through the whole take, as well as the movements of the crew. 'Sometimes it was necessary for some of the crew to remain in shot, in these instances they were dressed in costume so that they could blend into the show to serve as extras in the shot.' Since airing earlier this month Netflix has revealed the secrets of Adolescence. Adolescence has built on its huge success, topping Netflix's English TV series list this week with a whopping 42 million views. Since its launch, the show has amassed 66.3 million views, making it the most-watched limited series and most-watched UK title ever through its first two weeks, with a huge 161,000,000 hours viewed. Coming in at number two on the English TV list this week was The Residence, the latest series from Shondaland, while The Electric State maintained its hold on the number one slot on the English films list, with 22.5 million views. Over the weekend Adolescence made British TV history, becoming the first streaming show ever to become the most-watched programme of the week. The drama has captivated audiences and critics since it hit Netflix earlier this month, with each episode filmed in a single continuous take. While the show is already being tipped for a string of BAFTA nominations, figures published by ratings body BARB on Sunday showed that the first episode was watched by 6.45 million people in its first week. Adolescence has built on its huge success, topping Netflix's English TV series list this week with 42 million views (pictured Stephen Graham) The number makes it the biggest audience for any streaming show in the UK in a single week, beating the 6.3 million who watched Fool Me Once on Netflix last year. The four-episode programme follows the Miller family, whose lives are torn apart when their 13-year-old son Jamie is arrested for stabbing a female classmate to death after being influenced by online misogyny. The show's protagonist Jamie Miller is played by Owen Cooper in his acting debut, while his dad Eddie is played by Stephen Graham. Top Boy legend Ashley Walters took on the role of DI Luke Bascombe and Erin Doherty plays psychiatrist Briony Ariston. After his devastating performance as schoolboy Jamie, Owen is tipped for silver-screen success and been compared to a young Leonardo DiCaprio. Meanwhile, Stephen Graham, who co-wrote the script, has described finding Owen as the 'biggest achievement' of the four-part series. Despite its huge success, Adolescence's co-creator Jack Thorne has insisted he won't be returning to Jamie's story, telling The News Agents podcast: 'I don't think so and I don't think Stephen [Graham] does either.' 'I think that we've told the story that we wanted to tell. We would like to do another story with the one-shot template, perhaps, and we are thinking how we might be able to do that, with Phil Barantini, our brilliant director.' 'But no, I don't think it's about what happens next to Jamie. I think we've told that as fully as we possibly can.' The feud between two warring Sydney housewives erupted at a star-studded birthday party hosted by socialite Elaine Kwan last week. Terry Biviano and Victoria Montano had an almighty row in front of a Who's Who of eastern suburbs elites, including Ellie Aitken and Alina Barlow, the daughter of Russian billionaire and former Sydney FC owner David Traktovenko. Their falling-out has now become the talk of the ritzy harbourside enclaves, even threatening to overshadow Vanessa Jacobs Fennell's meltdown in Bellevue Hill last Friday. The argument began when Victoria's husband Timothy Odillo Maher confronted Terry for allegedly gossiping about other people's marriages and lifestyles. Now, I know what you're thinking: this sort of petty drama is par for the course for Victoria and Terry on The Real Housewives of Sydney. But without cameras around, the situation escalated far more quickly than anyone could have expected - to the point where shocked guests could hear wild accusations being yelled from across the room. Terry Biviano (left) and Victoria Montano (right) have had an almighty falling-out at socialite Elaine Kwan's star-studded birthday party last week The argument began when Victoria's husband Timothy Odillo Maher (left) confronted Terry for allegedly gossiping about other people's marriages and lifestyles The party incident has caused a huge rift between Terry and Victoria, who sources reveal are no longer speaking. Victoria, of course, has previous when it comes to feuds with RHOS cast members. She recently fell out with fellow housewife Martine Chippendale. The two women, who live on the same street in ritzy Darling Point, used to be inseparable. But their rivalry is now so intense, both women are pulling out of events at the last minute to avoid bumping into each other. Their feud apparently began when Victoria discovered Martine, who is married to retired banker John Wilson, had been gossiping about her to the other Real Housewives stars. If true, it would be quite the betrayal as Victoria had been the one help secure Martine a spot on RHOS by introducing her to influential society types and pulling strings with friends in media. By the time the cast began filming episode three of the new season, Victoria, who is the owner of fashion label Sport Luxe, was left 'fuming' after being told Martine had been bitching about her to the other housewives. The pair held separate viewing parties when the show eventually launched. The situation escalated far more quickly than anyone could have expected - to the point where shocked guests could hear wild accusations being yelled from across the room. (Pictured from left to right: Ellie Aitken, Elaine Kwan and Victoria at the birthday party) The almighty row happened in front of a Who's Who of eastern suburbs elites, including Ellie Aitken and Alina Barlow (right), the daughter of Russian billionaire David Traktovenko Of course, this isn't the first bitter rivalry between two Real Housewives of Sydney co-stars. Victoria (left) also recently had a falling-out with newcomer Martine Chippendale (right) Victoria celebrated the premiere with co-stars Caroline Gaultier, Nicole Gazal O'Neil and Krissy Marsh, while Martine threw a separate party with two friends. Late last year, chaos erupted on the set of RHOS as season three wrapped production on an explosive note. As revealed by Daily Mail Australia at the time, Caroline stole the show for all the wrong reasons during filming of the reunion episode. Insiders claimed the outspoken housewife had thrown a stiletto heel at a producer during a particularly heated exchange. Sources close to production alleged the dramatic incident had unfolded during a behind-the-scenes interview segment, where cast members are instructed to share their unfiltered thoughts. Caroline reportedly lost her temper after being cornered with probing questions she 'couldn't answer' and found herself 'backed into a corner'. 'She did not handle that reunion well, not at all,' an insider revealed. 'The producers were asking her hard-hitting questions and she was visibly rattled. She felt like she was being backed into a corner and instead of owning up to things she just snapped. 'Next thing you know, she kicked off one of her heels and hurled it at the producer.' Mail+ subscribers will recall keen equestrian Victoria caught the eye of our society scribe Lucy Manly in December when she arrived to her 18-year-old godson Aston Looker's funeral wearing supposedly 'disrespectful' attire. 'She was in jodhpurs and [riding] boots - she came straight from horse riding,' a source revealed to The Group Chat at the time. 'You'd think she'd have the decency to put a frock on for the occasion, not wear her equestrian gear.' When contacted for comment, the mother of two could not recall what she wore to the funeral, which was held on September 6 at St Joseph's College in Hunters Hill. Mail+ subscribers will recall Victoria caught the eye of society scribe Lucy Manly in December when she arrived to her 18-year-old godson's funeral wearing supposedly 'disrespectful' attire 'I don't know if that's the case,' she said. 'I got a call from his mother last week saying she didn't want me speaking to any journalists [about Aston]. Sorry, I can't help you, darling.' According to Sydneys society crowd, Aston's mother, designer Amanda Lennon, fell out with Victoria over the outfit faux pas - but the glamorous horse rider was quick to hose down the rumour. 'I'm not sure who has told you this. Amanda and I have been friends since I was 28 years old. We spoke four days ago,' she responded at the time. NEW TO MAIL+? READ MORE SOCIETY AND SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVES by Akim Reinhardt Medieval historians hate it, dontcha know, when people talk about the Dark Ages. Scholars havent used the term in decades, eschewing it as an unfair and inaccurate description of 5001000 years of European history, give or take. The Middle Ages werent just filth, poverty, violence, and ignorance, historians protest. They were actually a series of eras that featured the development of many knowledges and cultural innovations! As someone who studies and teaches Native American history, Im like: Hold my beer. You wanna talk about historical misperceptions unfairly miscasting regions and peoples as backwards, impoverished, and violent? You cant even imagine. The Indigenous Americas featured numerous wealthy, art-laden empires. Large, orderly, planned Indigenous cities made even early modern European cities seem the filthy, disease-ridden, shambolic wreck by comparison. And all of it erased from popular historical memory so that in the aftermath of violent invasion, the colonial consciousness can be eased with lies about primitive savages. But whether histories are erased and ignored, like those of Indigenous empires, or studied to the point of saturation, like much of European history, the truth is we can only imagine the past. We can never relive it. Even if it is recent and filmed, we can never be there, we can never participate. And even if we were there, even if we did participate and remember, memories arent as real as we think; they are reconstructions. Not merely subjective, memories are also limited and faulty. And thus, the past always has at least one thing in common with the future. It must be imagined. Was this time and place a dark age? Is a dark age coming? Look forward or back, we cannot know for sure. And anyway, what do we mean by dark age. Perhaps something about pervasive ignorance, the corruption of truth, and great difficulties in overcoming fallacies? Certainly, some ages have been darker than others. And going forward, some will linger in shadows more so than light. I can imagine a dark age on the horizon. One that brings George Orwells 1984 to mind. Not in terms of the state oversight of individuals, which is a central and memorable feature of that book, and clearly reflected Orwells contemporary understanding of the Soviet Union and recently defeated Nazi Germany. Rather, it is 1984s background geopolitics Im thinking of. In 1984, the world is divided into three large empires: Eurasia, East Asia, and Oceania. We learn about living conditions and governance with any detail in only Oceania, the home of protagonist Winston Smith. However, from the books narrative, we surmise that each of these empires is totalitarian, and locked in a three-way competition of occasionally shifting alliances. Oceania, and perhaps the other two empires as well, constantly pervert the truth and erase history to advance the most recent political agenda. The state that had previously been the bitter enemy was never an enemy after all, but always a loyal ally because they are the loyal ally now. And former allies were never allies, but always bitter enemies because that is what they are now. Ukraine was never a weaker, poorer, smaller nation aggressively invaded by Russia; they were the original aggressor who started the war and is completely at fault for everything that has happened since, because that lie is in line with the new foreign policy of Donald Trump. You get the idea. Fascist state capture of the U.S. republic could lead to a new Dark Age that brings about something reminiscent of 1984s tripartite totalitarianism. It would mean that the worlds two superpowers, China and the United States, are both committed to authoritarian rule and truth-destroying propaganda. And because the United States is by far the worlds wealthiest and militarily powerful nation, the fall (or severe perversion) of its constitutional system would very likely have a domino effect. India, Italy, and Argentina are already in the process of state capture. Turkey, Hungary, and of course Russia seem like lost causes for the foreseeable future. Brazil and the Philippines have recently escaped it, at least for now. France has come agonizingly close to electing a fascist government, and may yet do so. Its difficult to imagine that the rise of fascism in the United States wouldnt lead to, or at least complement, the rise of more fascism in Europe, South America, and Asia. But just because I fear for the future does not mean I pine for the past. The Cold War was never the simple tale of Good vs. Evil that the competing sides, each in their own way, promoted. The United States was afflicted by racism, sexism, and endemic poverty at home, while it eagerly ran roughshod over foreign democracies to secure international capitalism. The West, led by the United States, was hardly the hero of freedom it loved to present itself as. But the Soviet Union and Peoples Republic of China truly were totalitarian states that aggressively denied their citizens all sorts of rights, including the right to speak the truth. Every society puts limits on truth speaking, at least informally, to maintain social cohesion. However, he Chinese and Soviet communist regimes crassly erased truth, spread fact-defying propaganda, and imprisoned, tortured, and killed perhaps millions of their own people for the crime of defying that propaganda. Indeed, such approaches never ended in China, and have returned in Russia under Vladimir Putin. The Cold War wasnt unadulterated awfulness. The communists and the West counterbalanced each other to some degree. The United States imperfect commitment to a free press and free speech pressured, belittled, and exposed communist propaganda; West Berlins existence within the Eastern Block is an obvious example. Meanwhile, communist class consciousness pressured the United States to address some of its worst racial policies; the poor treatment in Washington, D.C. of African diplomats whom the United States wanted to woo is a classic example of generating such pressure. And the West really did create unprecedented wealth and technological innovation, while the communist states made real advances against the worst depths of systemic poverty. However, I would never glorify the Cold War; on the whole, it was a shit show. For starters, the Cold War victory was never more than incomplete. The Chinese governments 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown made it clear that the Chinese government had no appetite for democracy, even as many Western thought- and policy-leaders carried on the century-old delusion that freedom of markets would lead to other freedoms, with economic prosperity magically guiding people to demand rights. As if fascism had never happened. As if empires had never existed. As if there were not ample historical evidence that a society can be restrictive, even totalitarian, while maintaining at least some commitment to free markets. Yes, China embraced elements of free market capitalism. No, it did not become a democracy, or even remotely close to one. Furthermore, the Cold Wars demise in the early 1990s led to a global economic uniformity (neoliberalism) that has not worked out well. Im old enough to remember the exuberant optimism that followed the Soviet Unions collapse. For example, there was talk of a supposed peace dividend (the money saved by ending the arms race). Or the wild popularity of phenomenally stupid books such Francis Fukuyamas The End of History, which whiggishly argued that human history had been a march towards liberal democracy all along. Yup, were all just marching towards liberal democracy. I mean, it would be laughable if it werent so wrong. I believe that the spread of capitalism (or various versions of it) across the globe after the Cold War is one of the important factors leading us to this current moment when right wing authoritarian movements and governments are on the rise. Neoliberalism pushes for profits, not education. It tends to the needs of shareholders, not citizens. It cares only for the freedom of capital; the freedom of voices and presses are secondary to whatever governing system can ensure stable markets and access to resources. Is a Middle Eastern regime a brutal patriarchal monarchy? Thats fine, so long as it keeps pumping oil. Are postcolonial sub-Saharan democracies vulnerable to military coups? Thats fine, so long as the continents rich resources are still available to big business. But if Cuba or Venezuela nationalizes potentially profitable sectors of their economies? Boy, do we have a problem then. Untrammeled markets have led to: the trampling of social and cultural norms around the world; the abandonment of native-born, blue collar workers in developed economies; the displacement of rural populations in developing economies; massive global migrations; environmental degradation; climate change; escalating public health crises amplified by industrial animal farming; and for-profit companies cutting back on low-profit vaccine R&D. Yet even as societies endure more and more social crises that are at least amplified if not created by capitalism, no more left wing solutions are allowed. Only right wing solutions. People are pissed off, and are repeatedly told they can only look to the right for answers; so how far to the right will they go? Were starting to find out. If the United States takes a full fascist turn, which seems increasingly possible, and perhaps even likely, things will go very badly. I say that not simply as an American who frets for his nation, but as someone who recognizes the inordinate influence the U.S. economy and military have on the rest of the world. If Russia, China, and the United States all sport various shades of totalitarianism, and Europe fractures over it, the world may very well enter a new Dark Age. One that could last a few years or many centuries. One that future people will imagine was violent, brutish, and bereft of truth. Whereas we will not have to imagine it. We will be here, watching all the lies cascade down upon us. I was never your friend. I was never to be trusted. *** Akim Reinhardts website is ThePublicProfessor.com Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now. Sara Pascoe has said one of the issues she faced when trying to have children biologically was the stress of her job. The comedian, 43, who is married to actor Steen Raskopoulos, 37, welcomed her sons Theodore, two, and Albie, 13 months, via In vitro fertilization (IVF). And Sara has now admitted that she loves being a 'midlife mum' and feels 'very lucky' she got pregnant quickly and had a healthy pregnancy at 40. Speaking with Prima magazine on Tuesday, she said: 'My partner really wanted to try to have children biologically, whereas I was very open to adopting, as I just didn't think it was going to happen because of fertility issues, age and how stressed I was with my job. 'I would look at my diary and go, "Well, when am I going to have to be pregnant?" And then Covid happened. My diary was emptied and then we started doing IVF. We had the space to do it. 'I remember saying, "Okay, I'll do it for two years," in terms of what we could afford and how much I thought I could put myself through emotionally. Sara Pascoe has said one of the issues she faced when trying to have children biologically was the stress of her job Sara gushed that she loves being a 'midlife mum' and feels 'very lucky' she got pregnant quickly and had a healthy pregnancy at 40 'We're just very, very lucky that we got pregnant quickly and it was a typical, healthy pregnancy at 40. So the fact that we got pregnant with Theodore through IVF, then we managed to have another one, Albie, at 42, that feels to me like, "Oh god, I'm a medical miracle." Like, how incredible.' She added that she is happy she decided to have children later in life as she has managed to make a 'great headway in her career' and feel 'financially stable'. In October 2023, Sara revealed she 'couldn't believe her luck' after welcoming her second child. The comedian, who has been open about her fertility struggles, shared adorable first pictures of her son revealing to her followers that she and her husband Steen had welcomed a son called Albie. Taking to Instagram, Sara shared a slew of snaps of Albie and their elder son Theodore and penned: Ive been in a hormone hole for three weeks so excuse my lateness- allow me to introduce baby Albie.' 'As a 42-year-old infertile woman I cant believe my luck to have had two children (IVF). I also cant believe how much washing there is.' 'Ill see you at gigs later in the year when Ive stopped crying every three minutes, lots of love ps last photo is @steenrasko I think his face sums up the post partum period very well.' The news was announced earlier in the day by The Great British Sewing Bee's social media page, as they tweeted: 'Sending lots of love to Sara and her new baby!' The comedian, who is married to actor Steen Raskopoulos, 37, welcomed her sons Theodore, two, and Albie, 13 months, via In vitro fertilization (IVF) Speaking with Prima magazine, she said: 'My partner really wanted to try to have children biologically, whereas I was very open to adopting, as I just didn't think it was going to happen because of fertility issues, age and how stressed I was with my job' She added: 'I would look at my diary and go, "Well, when am I going to have to be pregnant?" And then Covid happened. My diary was emptied and then we started doing IVF. We had the space to do it' She added that she is happy she decided to have children later in life as she has managed to make a 'great headway in her career' and feel 'financially stable' In April 2023, Sara opened up on her fertility issues impacting her stand-up comedy and her fear of turning down work after her baby was born. Before giving birth, she had struggled to conceive and centred a lot of her comedy around being infertile. After having her baby, she then changed her material to reflect being a mother, admitting to being 'complex'. Speaking to the Radio Times, Sara explained: 'As human beings, we're all inconsistent. Something can be true at one point in your life or career, but not true later on.' 'When I did Out of Her Mind [the BBC2 sitcom in 2020], I was at a stage of my life where I'd got my head around the fact that I was infertile and I really leant into that in the show.' 'Then a year later, I had a baby [via IVF]. People who felt close to my narrative said, 'Who are you, then?' And it was like, 'Sorry, people are really complex!' 'When I was infertile, I was really defensive and now I'm a mummy, I do mum jokes. I'm an over-sharer I'm comfortable with it, and with the discussion that comes after.' The May 2025 issue of Prima is now on sale. Justin Baldoni's motivations for his dramatic image overhaul have been laid bare after his physical and mental well-being were 'severely impacted' by his ongoing legal feud with Blake Lively, sources have revealed. The father-of-two unveiled a surprising new look last week, shortly after admitting he was 'exhausted' from a year of 'emotional stress.' While spending time with his children, Maiya and Maxwell, in Hawaii, the Jane the Virgin star showcased his edgy haircut for the first time - a stark contrast from his character in the controversial movie. Since its release last year, It Ends With Us co-stars Baldoni, 41, and Lively, 37, have been at the center of a scorching legal back and forth. Now, sources have revealed after struggling with the huge toll on his physical and mental health, Baldoni was prompted to make big changes. 'Justin's physical and mental well-being was severely impacted by this,' an insider told DailyMail.com. 'It is extremely disturbing for him to look at photos of himself from last summer when all of this was going on.' Justin Baldoni's motivations for his image overhaul have been laid bare after his physical and mental well-being were 'severely impacted' by his legal battle with Blake Lively, sources say Since its release last year, It Ends With Us co-stars Baldoni, 41, and Lively, 37, have been at the center of a scorching legal back and forth They noted that the Five Feet Apart director hadn't realized the impact the situation was having until he looked back at images from last year. 'He spent endless hours on this project, and for it to end this way really caused him a great deal of pain,' the source continued. 'He lost weight, struggled with poor eating and sleeping habits, and became severely depressed, constantly having to defend himself against false accusations. 'Losing his jobs and watching his career fall apart pushed him into a very dark place.' Though his legal woes are far from over, the source said having his side of the story out in the open offered him a slither of hope. 'Things began to take a turn when the truth started to come to light,' the insider said. 'In response, Justin decided to leave LA and take his family to Hawaii for an extended stay. Being there, he has reconnected with his true self and is now in physical, mental, and spiritual harmony.' In fact, Baldoni couldn't be happier with his appearance. 'He loves the way he looks now, and he knows this will benefit him when this is over, and he begins auditioning for roles again,' they continued. 'Justin is working through all of this and is very confident that, in the end, justice will prevail.' Now, sources have revealed after struggling with the huge toll on his physical and mental health, Baldoni was prompted to make big changes An insider revealed the Five Feet Apart director hadn't realized the impact the situation was having until he looked back at images from last year (pictured on set with Lively in 2024) Another insider claimed Baldoni's family has been a huge source of motivation throughout the turbulent saga. 'The lawsuit has served to reinforce how important family is', they said. 'He can't allow this to consume him and impact his wife and children. 'Emily has been his rock so the least he can do is be equally great to her and their kids. He is putting his health and family first.' The actor's woes kicked off last Fall when speculation of a feud between him and Lively began to make waves online. Lively was the first to file to sue in December, alleging sexual harassment and that Baldoni ordered a 'smear campaign' against her due to tensions on the set of the domestic violence drama. Baldoni retaliated with a $400 million defamation case against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, 48, as well as the New York Times, which ran a lengthy article about her claims. Both Lively and Baldoni have denied each others claims, and the New York Times has denied Baldoni's accusations and requested that his lawsuit against the paper be dismissed. Last week, Reynolds filed a motion to be dismissed from the actor's defamation lawsuit. 'He lost weight, struggled with poor eating and sleeping habits, and became severely depressed, constantly having to defend himself against false accusations,' they said Baldoni's family - wife Emily and their two children - has been a huge source of motivation throughout the turbulent saga, prompting him to look after his mental and physical health Opening up about his mental health in a podcast, Baldoni told Gent's Talk that he had been under a lot of 'emotional stress' In his legal request, Reynolds described himself as a 'supportive spouse who has witnessed firsthand the emotional, reputational and financial devastation' Lively endured. He also claimed in his court paper that Baldoni was attempting to 'shame' him for being 'the kind of man who is confident enough to listen to the woman in his life and stand with her.' Reynolds is seeking dismissal with prejudice, which would bar Baldoni from re-filing the suit in the future. Opening up about his mental health in a podcast filmed last November, Baldoni told Gent's Talk that he had been under a lot of 'emotional stress.' He recalled messaging his best friend Jamey Heath - who is the president of their production company, Wayfarer Studios - to tell him about his 'anxiety' and burnout. 'I told them that I wasn't in the best place,' he said. 'I told them that I was exhausted, that I haven't given myself time to recover or time to heal. I had an intense year a lot of material success and a lot of emotional stress. It was very hard on me and my family.' Taking time to self-reflect, he also discussed falling short, acknowledging he was 'a work in progress'. Baldoni claimed he has always strived to be 'radically sincere and authentic.' 'I can get lost in the same way that everybody gets lost, but healing isn't linear,' he said. It Ends with Us was a box-office hit, earning $351 million worldwide despite a $25 million budget. Based on the best-selling novel by Colleen Hoover, no update has been made about an adaptation of the sequel, It Starts with Us. Advertisement Naomi Watts proved once again that she can do no wrong in the fashion stakes as she stepped out in New York City on Tuesday. The 56-year-old actress exuded elegance in a stylish monochrome ensemble, turning heads as she strutted through the streets with an air of confidence. Dressed in a flowing cream blouse tucked into high-waisted trousers, the Mulholland Drive star layered up in a stylish double-breasted coat with striking gold buttons. She completed the look with oversized sunglasses, a black designer handbag and a pair of sleek open-toe heels. Her signature blonde bob was styled in a sleek yet slightly tousled manner, with a centre part that framed her face beautifully. For makeup, the King Kong star opted for a fresh and radiant complexion, with a dewy base highlighting her naturally flawless skin. Naomi Watts proved once again that she can do no wrong in the fashion stakes as she stepped out in New York City on Tuesday The 56-year-old actress exuded elegance in a stylish monochrome ensemble, turning heads as she strutted through the streets with an air of confidence Dressed in a flowing cream blouse tucked into high-waisted trousers, the Mulholland Drive star layered up in a stylish double-breasted coat She completed the look with oversized sunglasses, a black designer handbag and a pair of sleek open-toe heels Her signature blonde bob was styled in a sleek yet slightly tousled manner, with a centre part that framed her face beautifully In another sighting, Watts opted for a slightly different take on her refined look, swapping out her cream coat for a dramatic black overcoat. The Aussie star carried the same chic black handbag and sported understated black heels. On Monday, Naomi was all smiles 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 and her 16-year-old attended The Cinema Society screening of The Friend in New York City. But while Naomi 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. For makeup, the King Kong actress opted for a fresh and radiant complexion, with a dewy base that highlighted her naturally flawless skin In another sighting, Watts opted for a slightly different take on her refined aesthetic, swapping out her cream coat for a dramatic black overcoat The Aussie star carried the same chic black handbag and sported understated black heels Naomi accessorised with stylish gold hoop earrings It looked to be a fun day out for the esteemed actress Their outing came 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 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. They uploaded a gallery of photos of the catwalk debut, including behind-the-scenes pictures sitting for hair and makeup. 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 lay in bed watching her child model for the huge brand. She looked to be in good spirits as she made her way down the scenic street On Monday, Naomi 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 Naomi shares her children, Kai and Sasha, with American actor Liev Schreiber, who she was in a relationship with for 11 years before they amicably split in 2016 Liev has since married Taylor Neisen while Naomi went on to find love again with Billy Crudup Naomi and American actor Billy 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 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. Hugh Jackman got plenty of attention after debuting a bold physical transformation including from an A-list beauty. The Wolverine hunk, 56, looked completely unrecognizable in behind-the-scenes footage of him preparing for a major new role, which he shared to Instagram on Tuesday. Hugh's video was taken during the making of the upcoming drama The Death Of Robin Hood, in which he plays the legendary title character in a dark spin on the story. In the hair and makeup chair, he was seen sporting a massive handlebar mustache that was then shorn off to leave him totally clean-shaven. It was unclear whether he will be barefaced for part of the movie and have the mustache for another, or whether only one of those looks will be seen in the film. But actress Kate Hudson showed her approval for Hugh's dramatic new looks as she left a flirty comment on his IG post. Hugh Jackman got plenty of attention after debuting a bold physical transformation including from an A-list beauty The Wolverine hunk, 56, looked completely unrecognizable in behind-the-scenes footage of him preparing for a major new role , which he shared to Instagram on Tuesday. Her started off with a bold handlebar mustache that was then shorn off to leave him totally clean-shaven 'Beautiful,' wrote the Almost Famous actress, who is engaged to musician Danny Fujikawa. The comment earned several 'likes' from Hugh's devoted fans. 'There is a depth, a camaraderie and a spirit to the entire cast and crew of The Death of Robin Hood,' he wrote in his caption. 'Thank you for this wonderful experience. It is an honor and a privilege. Thank you Ireland!!! Your beauty knows no bounds.' He leads a formidable cast including Killing Eve actress Jodie Comer, Nosferatu star Bill Skarsgard and The White Lotus alum Murray Bartlett. The Death Of Robin Hood will see Hugh's character mortally wounded, in the care of a mysterious woman as he reflects on his bloody past. Michael Sarnoski, who previously helmed the Nicolas Cage drama Pig and last year's A Quiet Place: Year One, is directing the upcoming movie. He previously teased that the film 'has a sort of different version of the epic Robin that we're used to, while also a very intimate story that's going throughout, as well. So, it'll have a little bit for everyone in that sense,' via Collider. Meanwhile a source recently claimed that Hugh hopes to marry his girlfriend and former Broadway co-star Sutton Foster, 50. Sutton and Hugh starred in a Broadway revival of The Music Man together throughout 2022, and were rumored to have conducted an extramarital affair that led to his split from his wife Deborra-Lee Furness in September 2023. Actress Kate Hudson showed her approval for Hugh's dramatic new looks as she left a flirty comment on his IG post; Hudson seen March 6 'Beautiful,' wrote the Almost Famous actress, who is engaged to musician Danny Fujikawa Hugh's video was taken during the making of the upcoming drama The Death Of Robin Hood, in which he plays the legendary title character in a dark spin on the story It was unclear whether he will be barefaced for part of the movie and have the mustache for another, or whether only one of those looks will be seen in the film He leads a formidable cast including Killing Eve actress Jodie Comer, Nosferatu star Bill Skarsgard and The White Lotus alum Murray Bartlett Meanwhile Sutton filed for divorce from her husband, Ocean's Eleven screenwriter Ted Griffin, in October 2024 after 10 years of marriage. She and Hugh went public as a couple this January, and it has now been claimed that he intends to marry her once his divorce is finalized. 'Hugh had a lot of back and forth while he was in Australia for the holidays but ultimately, he realized how much he missed her,' an insider told Sky News. 'The magic came flooding back when they reunited and ultimately marriage is the end game for these two. Hugh is clear he wants to make Sutton his wife.' Hugh and Deborra-Lee met in 1995 on the Australian television series Corelli, and he proposed four months later, marrying her in 1996. Advertisement Liz Hayes revealed a surprise career move on Monday, following her shock exit from Nine after 44 years. The former Under Investigation host, 68, quietly announced early last month she was leaving the station, confirming mounting speculation she would quit after her eponymous true crime series was axed last year. Now, wellness company Wanderlust has announced on Instagram the journalist is set to host its speaking event True North in Melbourne on June 12 and Sydney on June 15. Liz will be working the event alongside guest speaker American star Jane Fonda, with tickets starting at $79 and platinum VIP tickets going for an eye-popping $549. 'Welcoming the wanderful [sic] @lizhayesofficial as host of the upcoming Wanderlust True North, her gift for deep, inspiring conversations will make for an unforgettable and insightful evening with @janefonda,' the post read. Liz announced her departure from Nine last month after her four decades-long career at the network made her a household name. Liz Hayes, 68, (right) revealed a surprise career move on Monday, as wellness company Wanderlust announced the journalist is set to host its speaking event True North in Melbourne on June 12 and Sydney on June 15 with US star Jane Fonda (left) 'When I arrived at Nine I had little more than a notebook and a typewriter, but like my new and far more experienced colleagues, I carried with me an enormous passion for telling stories,' she said in a statement. 'I was blessed. I had found my tribe. Even Nine's owner at the time, Kerry Packer, seemed to carry the same passionate story telling gene. 'Of course since then much has changed. The media world has evolved as have I. What hasn't changed is the need for good stories to be told, and I will continue to tell them. 'I leave Nine grateful for the decades of experience, the wonderful friendships that have endured and deeply appreciative to the many people who trusted me to tell their stories.' Renowned as one of the better interviewers on Australian television, she has questioned Prime Ministers and politicians, influential business people, Hollywood actors, music legends, and world-class athletes. In a video posted on her Instagram, Liz revealed she had been weighing up the move for some time. 'I made the decision last year because I felt it was time to move to the beat of a different drummy own,' she said. 'I have had the most extraordinary life, telling wonderful stories, working with brilliant people and an audience that, thank you, you have hung in there with me. The former Under Investigation host quietly announced early last month she was leaving the station, confirming mounting speculation she would quit after her eponymous true crime series was axed last year 'And I'm hoping you'll still hang aroundbecause I'm not going anywhere. 'I'm still passionate about telling stories and I plan to tell many more. 'So this is not goodbye this is the beginning of what I see as a great, new exciting chapter in my life. See you soon.' It is understood Nine's influential director of television, Michael Healy, was loath to lose Liz and did everything in his power to keep the highly revered, award-winning reporter at the channel. Although she was offered significant incentives and a sizeable contract to stay on, Daily Mail Australia understands she had grown frustrated by the current set-up at 60 Minutes and did not want to remain on the program. 'Liz Hayes is an Australian television legend and has dedicated most of her career to Nine, she will leave an undeniable legacy,' Mr Healy said. 'Her many accomplishments speak volumes about the type of journalist she istenacious, a truth seeker, and above all, a storyteller. 'I'd like to recognise Liz for the impact she has had on Australian journalism and thank her for all she has done for Nine over the past 44 years.' Elsa Hosk is Vogue Scandinavia's April-May cover star. And inside the pages of the glossy, the 36-year-old Swedish model who just appeared in a scantily clad shoe campaign stripped off for a high-fashion photo spread by Yulia Gorbachenko. One of the stunning looks included a topless Elsa, with her hands covering her modesty, as she wore Prada's metallic pleated leather skirt with black leather mules from her GiaxHelsa collaboration with Giaborghini. The blonde beauty's shoulder-length locks were styled straight and slick, with a precise side part and a portion tucked behind her ear. Sharing outtakes with her 8.6 million Instagram followers on Tuesday, she wrote in a caption, 'Vogue Scandinavia cover story out today in @helsastudio x @giaborghini. So much love to this incredible team @voguescandinavia.' Elsa Hosk is Vogue Scandinavia's April-May cover star. Inside the pages of the glossy, the 36-year-old Swedish model stripped off for a high-fashion photo spread by Yulia Gorbachenko Sharing outtakes with her 8.6 million Instagram followers on Tuesday, she wrote in a caption, 'Vogue Scandinavia cover story out today in @helsastudio x @giaborghini. So much love to this incredible team @voguescandinavia' The official Vogue Scandinavia Instagram account also plugged the new issue, sharing an excerpt of the profile and multiple images And the official Vogue Scandinavia Instagram account also plugged the new issue, sharing an excerpt of the profile by Clare McInerney. 'Its been exactly three years since @hoskelsa last graced the cover of Vogue Scandinavia. 'In the years that have passed, much has changed, with the Swedish style export channelling her chameleonic powers to quietly and steadily build what can only be described as an empire,' read the extracted caption. Elsa was quoted as saying, 'My dream is a home in the Stockholm archipelago. I work hard because I want my daughter, Tuuli, to grow up surrounded by that kind of beauty and peace.' The fashionista played chameleon as she embodied several personas via a range of designer threads. One look saw her looking perfectly at home in a dark gray knitted, wool jumper and black, high-waisted cotton shorts from Prada. She continued the leggy display as she ditched bottoms and slipped into a black turtleneck bodysuit. Elsewhere in the fashion spread, she wore a fitted viscose mini dress from Acne Studios. Hosk put on a leggy display in a black turtleneck bodysuit Her hair was slicked into a playfully greasy ponytail done by Panos Papandriano Elsewhere in the fashion spread, she wore a fitted viscose mini dress from Acne Studios Hosk rose to fame modeling for Victoria's Secret. She appeared in the brand's annual fashion show from 2011 to 2018. She's also posed for Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Ungaro, H&M, Anna Sui, Lilly Pulitzer and Guess. The highlight of her career has been working for the iconic lingerie brand. She opened the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2016 and was chosen to wear the $1 million Dream Angels Fantasy Bra, designed by Swarovski, in 2018. Elsa has been in a relationship with British businessman Tom Daly since 2015 and they share a four-year-old daughter. He's sometimes known as Prince Harry's 'second dad' an epithet which playfully but accurately reflects his steadfast presence in the Duke of Sussex's life, from the heartbreaking moment when, aged just 12, the boy prince lost his mother, through his days at Eton and Sandhurst and his subsequent service in the Household Cavalry and, finally, into his married life in self-imposed exile in California. But I can disclose that Mark Dyer's formal, professional ties to Harry came to an end on Monday when he stood down as a trustee of Sentebale, the charity which Harry co-founded in 2006 to benefit orphaned African children. It seems fair to say that the charity would never have materialised without Dyer's guidance. The former Welsh Guards officer, who, in the 1990s, had been an equerry to Prince Charles, helped co-ordinate Harry's gap year and travelled with him to Australia, Argentina and, at the invitation of Dyer's friend, Prince Seeiso, to the impoverished, land locked country of Lesotho. The experience galvanised Harry into establishing Sentebale, in tandem with Seeiso, its co-founder. From the outset, one of its trustees was Dyer, known as 'Marko' to family and friends. In his memoir, Spare, in which he excoriated several of those from his old life before he and Meghan moved to California, Harry wrote: 'Of all Pa's people there was consensus that Marko was the best. The roughest, the toughest, the most dashing.' When Dyer married Amanda Klein an American in 2012, Harry was an usher. Prince Harry (right) with Mark Dyer (left) at the Sentebale Concert at Kensington Palace in 2016 The former Welsh Guards officer (pictured), was an equerry to Prince Charles in the 1990s When Harry married Meghan at Windsor, Dyer's son, Jasper Harry's godson was on duty as a page boy Dyer returned the favour in 2018 when Harry married Meghan at Windsor, with Dyer's son, Jasper Harry's godson on duty as a page boy. It's believed that 'Marko', 59, is a godfather to Archie, the older of Harry and Meghan's two children. Displaying characteristic discretion, he declines to comment on his departure from Sentebale. The charity resists the chance to pay tribute to him or four other trustees who departed this week two of whom had been in post for only three years. Instead, it explains the changes are part of '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'. Mr Bean star Rowan Atkinson's daughter speaks out about 'darkness' of her parents' divorce Mr Bean star Rowan Atkinson's daughter Lily Sastry has spoken out for the first time about her parents' divorce, revealing their break-up plunged her into 'darkness' and 'chaos'. Rowan separated from her mother, make-up artist Sunetra Sastry, in 2015 after 24 years of marriage. Sunetra was granted a 'quickie' divorce on the grounds of his 'unreasonable behaviour', and he has been in a relationship with actress Louise Ford since. 'I went through so much chaos and loneliness in my twenties. Now I am 30, I can see clearly where I was at and what was happening inside me during the darkest days,' Lily says. 'I was so lost, and only really started to feel vaguely normal in my late twenties. I have always been trapped between worlds; do not belong here, but also don't belong there.' In her early twenties, Lily tried her hand at burlesque dancing and then moved onto singing, which her father was reportedly backed financially. She changed her surname from Atkinson to her mother's, Sastry, in 2017, leading to whispers of a possible rift between Lily and the Blackadder star. Lily, who lives in London, is now a professional artist, and had her debut exhibition at a small independent gallery in the capital last December. Rowan Atkinson's daughter Lily Sastry (pictured) has spoken out for the first time about her parents' divorce Mr Bean star Rowan Atkinson (pictured) separated from make-up artist Sunetra Sastry, in 2015 after 24 years of marriage 'It's hard to find out who you are in the midst of no friends, a broken family, and no idea how to navigate making music and trying to understand the world,' she continues. 'It has taken me years to figure out my life and who I am, as well as become the best person I can be. I have made countless mistakes, and been hurt, lost, and alone many a time.' She adds: 'Art was my guiding light. The thing that made all the suffering worth it; as I was working towards a goal, a dream.' Rowan and Sunetra also have a son, Ben Atkinson, 31, who is an officer in the Royal Gurkha Regiment. Tom aids Hayley's anxiety Tom Cruise attended three high-profile events in one day in 2021: Goodwood Festival of Speed, Wimbledon and the Euros football final. And I hear his outgoing persona has helped his Mission: Impossible co-star Hayley Atwell cope with social anxiety. 'The pep talk Tom gave me helps me a lot,' reveals the Londoner, 42. Pictured: (left to right) Vanessa Kirby, Hayley Atwell, Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie at the UK Premiere of Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One in 2023 'If I walk into a room and I feel the anxiety is coming and it makes me want to retreat into myself, he said, "Try doing the opposite, try to look out and look around the room and go where is it, where is the thing that I've attached my insecurity on?" 'If I keep looking at it long enough, it tends not to be the monster under the bed any more.' Beatrice and her brilliant baby shower The American custom of holding a 'baby shower' a party at which friends 'shower' gifts on the soon-to-be born child has now been given the royal seal of approval. Princess Beatrice has collaborated on a baby shower collection with her friend Alice Naylor-Leyland, who has a business selling themed dining sets. Princess Beatrice (left) has collaborated on a baby shower collection with her friend Alice Naylor-Leyland (right), who has a business selling themed dining sets Featuring storks and wicker balloons, it is in aid of Borne, a medical initiative which provides research into premature birth. King Charles's niece Beatrice was unveiled as Borne's new patron earlier this week and admitted that she had cried 'tears of relief' after her second daughter, Athena, was born prematurely in January. Grayson's tapestry is made to shock Cross-dressing potter Sir Grayson Perry, who joined King Charles at a Windsor Castle dinner last month, happily admits to being 'a pillar of the Establishment', but he has found a way to try to stay edgy. The ceramicist has curated an exhibition at London's Wallace Collection, Delusions Of Grandeur, which includes a new tapestry by him that he has named Fascist Swing. The ceramicist (pictured) has curated an exhibition at London's Wallace Collection, Delusions Of Grandeur, which includes a new tapestry by him that he has named Fascist Swing Sir Grayson Perry (pictured) with 'Heaven's Gate' wool carpet, one of his latest artworks displayed at the Wallace Collection It reimagines Jean-Honore Fragonard's 1768 painting The Swing, the prize piece in the collection, and depicts an angry-looking woman with no fascist imagery. 'As an artist, I thought it would be funny to throw in the word "fascist" because that's the go-to insult for an activist artist,' he declares. Hilarious. David Dimbleby is proud of his third-class degree as it shows how bright he is. The former Question Time host studied philosophy, politics and economics at Christ Church, Oxford. 'When I got a third, it was a very good degree to get if you didn't get a first,' insists Dimbleby, 86. David Dimbleby (pictured) studied philosophy, politics and economics at Christ Church, Oxford 'Getting a third meant you hadn't worked but bright enough for them to say, "He would have got a first if he'd done some work."' If you say so, David . . . Months after revealing he'd bought in an auction the prosthetic nose worn by his hero Laurence Olivier for his 1955 film portrayal of Richard III, Michael Sheen now confirms he's been putting it to good use. Having filmed the final episode of fantasy comedy TV series Good Omens with pal David Tennant, the Welshman says: 'There's a bit in the last part of Good Omens that I've just finished filming where my character has to be in disguise. Michael Sheen (pictured) filmed the final episode of fantasy comedy TV series Good Omens with pal David Tennant 'I wear Olivier's nose from Richard III.' What would the late Larry make of it? Madeleine West is counting down the days until she welcomes her seventh child into the world. The former Neighbours star, 45, took to her Instagram story on Wednesday to share another selfie showing off her growing baby bump. Madeleine was glowing in the hallway snap, wearing a pair of form-fitting lycra bike shorts. She also wore a lilac coloured maternity top that showed off her precious cargo. The actress finished her sporty look with a pair of sky blue Sketchers sneakers. The mum-to-be offered the camera a smile as she posed for the selfie. Pregnant Madeleine West showed off her baby bump in a selfie this week While looking the picture of motherhood, Madeleine revealed some of the tribulations that come with the third trimester in the caption. 'Can't eat, can't sleep,' can't breathe,' Madeleine wrote. 'Everything I wear looks ridiculous AND nothing fits.' Back in January, Madeleine announced she was pregnant with her seventh child - a decade on from her most recent birth. She revealed the surprising news in an Instagram post. In the photo, the brunette displayed her growing baby bump in a tight-fitting tank top that was lifted to reveal her bare tummy. 'WHOOPS!' she captioned her post. 'Thought it was #perimenopause. I thought WRONG!' 'It's not too much Christmas pudding either. I couldn't be happier. The actress is counting down the days until she welcomes her seventh child into the world 'Not too sure about the title "Geriatric mum" but here we are and I'm winding back a little to grow this little surprise package I've dubbed. (Baby number 7, couldn't help myself). 'I don't have much more to say right now, but I've noticed I don't hear much about older parents. l know you must be out there. Seems we are invisible.' The actress sought advice for a mother in her 40s from her followers as she prepares for her seventh birth. 'So if you're expecting later than expected, and tackling early in your 40s or 50s, I'd LOVE hear your stories,' she added. Madeleine already shares six children - Phoenix, 19, Hendrix, 16, Xascha, 14, Xanthe, 12, and twins Xalia and Margaux, 10 - with her ex-partner, celebrity chef Shannon Bennett, 49. The Australian star was most recently linked to Maximo Bottaro, who she dated for more than three years. Madeleine recently took to Instagram to share a glimpse of her bohemian baby shower over the weekend as she awaits the birth of baby number seven. She dressed the part for the baby shower, wearing a bright green boho tie-dye dress which showed off her growing baby bump. Back in January, Madeleine announced she was pregnant with her seventh child - a decade on from her most recent birth She accessorised the emerald green ensemble with large dangly earrings, a matching hairband and a huge smile on her face. The former Neighbours star was simply glowing in a dewy makeup look and she left her hair in natural waves. She captioned the sweet post: 'Blessed. So happy to be surrounded by my incredible tribe. Ive never experienced the magic of a Mother's Blessing before, and it was everything Id hoped it would be. Connection, communion, celebration of all things.' She finished off the post with: 'I feel like an empress, and so very beloved,' adding, 'Cannot wait for you all to meet my little one.' Other pictures included loving notes written to her by her baby shower attendees and a ritual of roses, rose quarts, candles and dried flowers. Advertisement Georgia Love shared a bizarre post to her Instagram account on Wednesday which appeared to take a dig at her ex Lee Elliot. The couple, who first met on the 2016 season of The Bachelorette, announced their split in February after months of speculation they had broken up. Georgia, 35, has posted a cryptic message to her account as she spruiked her two podcasts, Everyone Has An Ex and Not Another Crime Podcast. The former reality TV star shared a note about the hand heart emoji, which depicts two hands coming together to form a heart shape. It read: 'He thinks this [hand heart emoji] is me sending him a heart, but it's really my hands around his neck if he keep playing with me.' Earlier this month, Georgia broke her silence on the split from Lee, 44, with a simple message thanking her fans for reaching out with kind words. Georgia Love, 35, shared a bizarre post to her Instagram account on Wednesday which appeared to take a dig at her ex Lee Elliot, 44 'Thank you for your kind messages,' she wrote. Georgia and Lee said in their breakup messages last month: 'After nine wonderful years together, including four as husband and wife, [we] have made the incredibly difficult decision to lovingly part ways. 'Our relationship has been so special and we will always cherish the memories, love, and laughter we've shared. 'There is no drama, no bad blood. Just two people who have grown in different directions while still holding deep respect and care for each other. 'We remain friends and we'd really appreciate our privacy as we navigate this next stage. Thank you.' Georgia and Lee fuelled rumours they had split for some time as it had been more than four months since they were seen together. They pair spent Christmas apart with their respective families before Georgia jetted off to New York City for a holiday without Lee. They were also both spotted without their wedding bands, which led to a wave of speculation online which suggested they had ended their relationship. The couple, who first met on the 2016 season of The Bachelorette, announced their split with identical online posts in February after months of speculation they had broken up It seemed the pair were still living under the same roof at their marital home in Melbourne as recently as this month. Georgia was spotted making a trip to a nail salon before she headed to their home to prepare for a drinks night. The former reality TV star was not wearing her wedding ring during the outing and had been seen without the diamond sparkler for months. Shortly after, Lee returned home driving a tradesman's Ute while wearing a bright yellow uniform. Earlier this year, a source told Daily Mail Australia the pair were well and truly over after spending Christmas and the new year apart. 'The time apart could be good for them and I think they both have had an opportunity to see what life would be like if they did [officially] separate,' they said. The source added Lee 'has always supported Georgia following her dreams' and 'I think whatever happens, they will remain friends in the long term'. 'Everyone, including them, is hoping they make things work and I guess that's why they have been so reluctant to address anything officially,' they said. Now, Georgia has shared a cryptic message to her account as she spruiked her two podcasts Everyone Has An Ex and Not Another Crime Podcast The pair met and fell in love on the 2016 season of The Bachelorette, which saw Georgia, a former TV news reporter, choose tradie Lee as her winning suitor. They married in 2021 at the Frogmore Creek Winery outside Hobart, followed by an outdoor reception at the Shene Distillery. The lovebirds had been due to marry in Italy the year prior, but were forced to cancel due to Covid travel restrictions. The following year, they moved into their $1.3million townhouse in Melbourne's upmarket suburb of Hampton East. Advertisement Gene Hackman's wife had expressed concerns that a mystery man was following her in the months before their tragic deaths. In newly released bodycam footage, Betsy Arakawa's hairstylist Christopher said she was 'frazzled' when she disclosed two separate incidents which took place in December. The bodies of Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, were tragically found inside their Santa Fe home on February 26. Hackman was found in the homes entryway, and Arakawa was found in a bathroom. It later emerged the star had died from heart disease and Alzheimer's a week after Arakawa, who was his care giver, succumbed to hantavirus. But Christopher told law enforcement the couple were concerned about being followed just two months before their deaths. 'She mentioned to me that there was a man that had parked outside of their gate and followed them,' he said, in footage obtained by Fox. 'On two separate occasions. One occasion is when they went to White Rock. They went and had lunch there and the guy followed them from parked [outside of their gated community], followed them all the way to White Rock.' Arakawa told Christopher she was surprised security 'didn't know how he got there.' In newly released bodycam footage, Betsy Arakawa's hairstylist Christopher (pictured) said she was 'frazzled' when she disclosed two separate incidents which took place in December The bodies of Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65 , were tragically found inside their Santa Fe home on February 26 Mrs Hackman, a pilates-loving 'fitness fanatic', was ruled to have died from hantavirus, which is contracted by inhaling rat or mice faeces (Pictured: Hackman and Arakawa in New Mexico in March 2024) 'When we left, I noticed that this car had followed us from the residence to White Rock,' she revealed. Christopher said Arakawa disclosed that the man had a folder full of photos of Hackman and wanted him to sign them. 'She approached him and said, ''I told him he needed to have more respect'',' Christopher recalled. But that same man later returned on a different day, following the couple to a separate location. In that incident, he tried to offer them a bottle of wine, but they declined. Christopher said Arakawa's ordeal was 'crazy.' 'I said, "Oh my gosh, Betsy, that's crazy. You should not have approached this person. This makes me nervous." He knew what [they] drove. That's the scary part.' Police believe the late actor died around February 18 at from severe heart disease, with advanced Alzheimer's disease as a 'significant' contributing factor. The Hollywood legend, 95, had been with Betsy Arakawa (pictured in 2003), more than 30 years his junior, since 1991 Officials with the New Mexico medical investigator's office said Arakawa died a week before Hackman from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which is a severe respiratory illness caused by contact with infected rodents. The couple were discovered lying dead in separate rooms of their home. Investigators initially ruled the deaths as suspicious, but noted there were no signs of forced entry or anything in disarray. The bodies were discovered in a state of partial mummification at their $3.3 million mansion. A fan had fallen near Arakawa, who was also surrounding by a scattering of prescription pills which suggested a fall to investigators. A New Mexico court last week granted a temporary restraining order against the release of any photographs and video showing Hackman and his wife the inside of their home. Hackman's estate had filed the petition to withhold images, citing the need to protect the family's constitutional right to privacy in grief under the 14th Amendment. Another legal battle could be on the horizon as Hackman's children wait to learn the details of their father's last wishes. Advertisement A Real Housewives of Sydney live video is causing backlash online after a number of members were filmed criticising their fellow castmates. The Real Housewives of Melbourne star Jackie Gillies posted a live watch party of her and fellow castmate Gamble Braux, as well as Sydneysiders Kate Adams, Terry Biviano and Martine Chippendale, watching the latest episode of the reality series on Tuesday. However, the initially light-hearted clip descended into cattiness as the housewives proceeded to insult some of the show's main faces, emphasising a divide between the cast. In the clip, veterinarian Kate called RHOS star Caroline Gaultier a 'liar' and Jackie called out Krissy Marsh's narrative regarding the healing session on the show's fifth episode as 'absolutely, categorically bulls**t'. Furthermore, an insider revealed that several cast members weren't invited to the watch party, which turned into a heated gossip session. Fans who had tuned into the livestream flooded the comment section, with many pointing out the bad blood between the cast members both on and off-screen. A Real Housewives of Sydney live video is causing backlash online after a number of members were filmed criticising their fellow castmates The Real Housewives of Melbourne star Jackie Gillies posted a live watch party of her and fellow castmate Gamble Braux, as well as Kate Adams, Terry Biviano and Martine Chippendale, watching the latest episode of the reality series on Tuesday 'I think Sydney need Dr Phil,' one person wrote. Another person asked: 'Wth is happening here?' 'Some of the comments you ladies [make] mainly Terry is very b*tchy,' one person pointed out. Another wrote: 'I think all the women need to have another healing session, open minded, no egos, own their part and then move on without holding onto the negative if that makes sense.' Caroline, who was mentioned multiple times in the clip and did not attend the watch party, slammed the controversial livestream, saying it was a perfect example of 'emotional immaturity'. 'I haven't watched it,' the housewife told Daily Mail Australia, dubbing it 'cringe'. 'It is an obvious desperate attempt to revive themselves in one way or another,' she sensationally claimed. 'If you need to lie to get your narrative across the line, and you've got to go to these great lengths, that means the foundation of your narrative isn't solid.' Fans who had tuned into the livestream flooded the comment section, with many pointing out the bad blood between the cast members both on and off-screen In the clip, veterinarian Kate called RHOS star Caroline Gaultier (left) a 'liar' and Jackie called out Krissy Marsh's (right) narrative regarding the healing session on the show's fifth episode as 'absolutely, categorically bulls**t' Krissy, who was also approached for comment, chimed in with Caroline's words, saying: 'I dont entertain immature behaviour.' Talk of a rift within the Real Housewives of Sydney cast has long been in the airwaves. Terry returned to the latest season of Real Housewives of Sydney after becoming a polarising figure among the cast, particularly with founding members Krissy and Nicole Gazal-O'Neil. Terry, who joined the show to shake things up, found herself at odds with Krissy and Nicole, the only remaining original Housewives. Sources close to the show told The Daily Telegraph that the producers went to great lengths to accommodate Terry's demands, which included changing filming locations and enduring her habitual lateness. By the end of season two, the rift had reportedly grown so severe that Krissy and Nicole, along with another cast member, issued an ultimatum to the producers: either Terry goes, or they do. In a twist, contract negotiations between Foxtel and Terry reportedly broke down before season three when she failed to return her signed contract, much to the frustration of producers. With no choice but to move forward without her, the show proceeded. However talks later resumed, and it was decided that Terry would return mid-season on a cameo basis, promising to 'set off fireworks' and reignite the drama. Kim Kardashian will testify at the trial of the Paris gang accused of robbing her at gunpoint nine years ago, DailyMail.com can confirm - amid her 'nuclear' war with her ex-husband Kanye West. In a shocking $10 million heist in 2016, Kardashian was bound, gagged and locked in the bathroom of her penthouse hotel suite, before the thieves made off with her lavish jewelry collection, including the $4million engagement ring West gave her. All dozen defendants - who have been dubbed Kardashian's Twelve after the Oceans film series starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt - are currently at liberty, having been released from their high-security remand cells prior to their trial. At the center of the case is Aomar Ait Khedache, 69, a self-confessed career criminal who is affectionately known as Old Omar to French reporters and who has freely admitted to being the leader of the gang. One his key lieutenants, Yunice Abbas, now 72, has even written a book unambiguously entitled I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian. The group, nicknamed the Grandpa Robbers in the French media, are scheduled to begin their trial in April, and Kardashian will deliver her testimony to the jury in May. Kim Kardashian will testify at the trial of the Paris gang accused of robbing her at gunpoint nine years ago, DailyMail.com can confirm; pictured this month Kardashian was bound, gagged and locked in a bathroom, before the robbers made off with her lavish jewellery collection, including a $4million engagement ring from Kanye West (above) The upcoming court date comes in the wake of her dramatic feud with her ex-husband Kanye West, whom she left in 2021 after nearly seven years of marriage. Their battle of wills burst into the public eye earlier this month after West disregarded Kardashian's objections and dropped a song featuring their 11-year-old daughter North along with Diddy, who is awaiting trial on charges including sex trafficking. Sources then claimed Kardashian ended one of North's visits with her father because self-described misogynist Andrew Tate was going to be present with his brother Tristan. The alleged episode with the Tates - who are facing charges in Romania including human trafficking and sex with a minor - is said to have prompted Kardashian to call an emergency custody hearing. West aimed a string of scathing rants at Kardashian on X last week, attacking her parenting and complaining that a white woman was in 'control' of his 'black children.' Kardashian is said to be considering applying for full custody of the four children she shares with West - North, 11, Saint, nine, Chicago, seven, and Psalm, six. A source claimed Kardashian and her children were worried West was 'sinking further down' mentally amid the former couple's explosive clash, via Page Six. The insider alleged West, who maintains he was incorrectly diagnosed with bipolar disorder, was 'obviously not taking his meds, if he was we wouldnt be here.' The upcoming court date comes in the wake of her dramatic feud with her ex-husband Kanye West, whom she is pictured with in 2019 at Diddy's 50th birthday party Kardashian is said to be considering applying for full custody of the four children she shares with West - North, 11, Saint, nine, Chicago , seven, and Psalm, six After his outbursts on X, West, 47, is purported to have flown to Tokyo, where multiple sources said he immediately became calmer, according to TMZ. In February 2017, four months after her Paris robbery, Kardashian spent eight hours testifying to a French judge in New York City, an experience she later recounted on Keeping Up With The Kardashians. 'It was just a really long thing because you have to explain it to a translator and then the translator has to explain it to the judge. Then, she writes it with the clerk and then they have to read what you wrote. You have to do it sentence by sentence,' she said. 'Going in there, I was so worked up wanting to explain it so quickly and you just can't do that,' she recalled. 'You just have to like be really slow and walk through the entire night like second by second and that was just really hard.' Kardashian also explained that she found it 'really interesting to see the faces' of the accused, saying: 'Just by their height and weight, I could tell who from this lineup was in the room with me. I was able to see who confessed.' She continued: 'One of them was the guy that was in the room with me and it was very interesting to hear his story and it was pretty similar to my story.' Kardashian claimed that 'there was like a few things they're not saying to get lesser charges,' but added that the alleged robbers 'were pretty honest and did tell most of the story exactly like how it happened.' It will not be until the end of next month at the earliest that Ait Khedache, Abbas and the other 10 defendants will finally appear in the dock at the Paris Assizes, accused of 'armed robbery in an organized gang', 'kidnap' and 'criminal conspiracy'. Despite the levity of some involved, these are hugely serious charges which could well see the older defendants locked up for the rest of their lives. Kardashian is pictured on October 2, 2016, the day before the heist A french police car is seen outside Kim Kardashian's Luxury Apartment after being robbed at gunpoint by masked men during Paris Fashion Week Yunice Abbas, now 72, has even written a book unambiguously entitled, I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian But delays have been constant throughout the nine years so no one will be surprised if the April date slips. Officers from the elite Banditry Repression Brigade (BRB) of the Paris Judicial Police are particularly angry about this, having caught all of the alleged gang in simultaneous raids back as long ago in January 2017. The detectives were convinced that justice would be swift and decisive, but timetabling problems caused by high-profile terrorist trials caused backlogs. There were also fears that publicity because of the Kardashian connection process would destroy the upmarket Paris tourism industry at a time of prestige five-star events, right up until last summer's Olympics. So nine years on, most of the key defendants are also old and sick, meaning that they were all freed from high-security remand cells where they were originally expected to remain until trial. Frustrated by the continuous adjournments, investigators have meanwhile provided an extraordinary account of the raid to MailOnline. Leaks include a neatly typed document listing Kardashian's married name before her 2022 divorce, reading, VICTIM: Ms. Kimberly Kardashian-West (damage of $10,000,000). Officers from the elite Banditry Repression Brigade (BRB) (pictured) of the Paris Judicial Police are particularly angry about this, having caught all of the alleged gang in simultaneous raids back as long ago in January 2017 The police dossier shows how a combination of DNA and CCTV analysis, phone taps and geolocation, and dogged determination by detectives including the physical tailing of suspects, led to the smashing of Omar & Co within two months of their Hollywood-style heist. The saga began back in the summer of 2016, when Old Omar got a tip that a 'big American star was coming to town' and that she was showing off her fabulous wealth on Instagram. This was a time when old school criminals were abandoning traditional heists for so-called sauccissons 'sausage raids' which involve following rich people into their homes, 'wrapping them up like sausages' and then forcing them at gunpoint to say where they kept their valuables, before stealing them. According to prosecutors, the Kardashian tip came from Florus Heroui, who ran a bar in Le Marais. The central Paris district has always been a hotbed of professional criminals, but is now also populated by wealthy creatives, including actors and fashionistas. Heroui is said to have got precise information about Ms Kardashian's movements during Paris Fashion Week from Gary Madar, a VIP greeter who regularly met stars as they arrived at Paris Le Bourget airport by private jet. Crucially, Madar was trusted and liked by Ms Kardashian, and had close family links to the car company she always used when in France - and they were photographed together many times. Old Omar was fleeing justice at the time, having been arrested for his alleged involvement in a drugs racket, and was relying on his petite blonde mistress, Christiane Glotin, for safe houses to stay in. Heroui is said to have got precise information about Ms Kardashian's movements during Paris Fashion Week from Gary Madar (above), a VIP greeter who regularly met stars as they arrived at Paris Le Bourget airport by private jet Bodyguard Pascal Duvier, Gary Madar and Kourtney Kardashian are seen at Charles-de-Gaulle airport on September 29, 2016 in Paris Michael Madar, Bodyguard Pascal Duvier and Gary Madar are seen at Charles-de-Gaulle airport on September 29, 2016 in Paris Better known simply as Cathy, the Marais-born 79-year-old who was first convicted of drug trafficking in the early 1990s, is on the Kardashian charge sheet as a key organiser of the heist. Back in 2016, she allegedly joined Omar and other gang members 'oggling Kim's jewels after Googling pictures on a computer,' according to a police investigator. 'None of them had much idea who Kim was, but they liked her very expensive bling,' the source added. All were particularly interested in Ms Kardashian's 18.88-carat engagement ring, especially after she proudly announced that she 'did not wear fake jewellery'. Scouting out the star's Paris address was easy, Omar told detectives the gang simply had to follow Ms Kardashian's Mercedes V-Class people carrier to find out that she was staying in the Hotel de Pourtales, a converted mansion close to La Madeleine church. Better known as the 'No Address', Pourtales is a collection of dream apartments which have welcomed multiple Hollywood A-listers, including Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, as well as Madonna and the late Prince. Crucially, the tip was that Ms Kardashian would enjoy some 'me time' alone in the Sky Penthouse at Pourtales, while allowing her staff and family members out on the town. This is exactly what happened in the early hours of October 3rd, when, at 2.20am, three cyclists in fluorescent yellow vests approached the No Address and parked their bikes in the courtyard. A general view of Kim Kardashian's luxury apartment Hotel de Pourtales on Rue Tronchet in the 8th arrondissement, where she was robbed at gunpoint by masked men Kim Kardashian and her bodyguard Pascal Duvier seen out and about in Paris before the robbery on October 2, 2016 Two more arrived on foot, and all of them were also wearing black balaclavas and police armbands before confronting the property's only concierge, Abderrahmane Ouatiki, an Algerian father-of-one and Paris University PhD student then aged 39. Pointing an antique Mauser 7.65mm at his head, the gang led Mr Ouatiki upstairs to the penthouse, where Ms Kardashian was lying on her bed in her bathrobe. The then 35-year-old mother-of-two was alone after her German bodyguard, Pascal Duvier whom she later sacked went out dancing at L'Arc, a nightclub by the Arc de Triomphe, with a group that also included her sister, Kourtney Kardashian. Kim Kardashian recalled hearing noises outside the door, later telling officers: 'I said 'Hello!', but since no one answered, I knew something was wrong.' Two 'aggressive men' in black police uniforms then burst in with the handcuffed Mr Ouatiki. Ms Kardashian intially tried to call 911 the American police emergency number on her iPhone 6, but of course it did not work in France. 'He puts a gun directly to her head,' Mr Ouatiki recalled. 'She's crying, she's screaming. She's saying, "Don't kill me, I have babies, please, I have babies! I'm a mom! Take what you want!" She's wearing just a robe and her hair is tied back.' To prevent Ms Kardashian from screaming too loudly, the robbers taped her mouth shut before locking her in her bathroom. They spent a full 49 minutes in the penthouse, before leaving with a haul estimated to be worth around $10million. As they fled, one accidently dropped a platinum cross adorned with diamonds that was found the next morning. After cutting through her ties herself, Ms Kardashian went to another apartment downstairs, where her stylist, Simone Harouche, had barricaded herself in a bathroom. A suspect in Kim Kardashian West's Paris robbery is brought to BRB building, Brigade de Repression du Banditisme in 2017 A suspect in Kim Kardashian West's Paris robbery is brought to BRB building, Brigade de Repression du Banditisme in 2017 Police were then alerted, and they took statements from Ms Kardashian before she was allowed to travel to Le Bourget at 7.40am, to take her private jet home. In turn, Kanye West ended a concert in New York early, because of 'a family emergency'. He was looking after the couple's young children, Saint and North. Back in Paris, detectives soon gathered two genetic fingerprints on the Serflex ties used to restrain Ms Kardashian and Mr Ouatiki. The samples corresponded to the prints of Ait Khedache and Abbas both of whom had their details all over police forensic databases because of their criminal antecedents. Painstackingly gathering all video recordings in the area, detectives also found plenty of incriminating images. They included multiple sightings of a Peugeot 508 which was driven by Ait Khedache's son, Harminy Ait Khedache. Brigadier Christophe Korrell a police telephone specialist also went through 7,591 cell phone calls made in the Madelaine area around the robbery between October 2nd and 3rd. Among them was a number beginning with 07 50 that Brig. Korrell described as a classic disposal 'war phone' typically used by crime lords. The 'war phone' in question was owned by Old Omar, while others were linked to all the other prime suspects. These included Didier 'Blue Eyes' Dubreucq, who was allegedly the second robber to actually enter the penthouse, along with Old Omar. Dubreucq had served 23 years in prison for a post office robbery and for importing two tons of Colombian cocaine into Europe via a Saudi Arabian prince's private jet. Rather than arrest the suspects straight away, the BRB launched tailing operations, which included placing GPS surveillance devices on suspects' cars. This is when new 'faces' appeared, including Marceau 'Rough Nose' Baumgertner an alleged Paris fence who is charged with 'concealment of stolen gold, jewels and watches'. Known as a gypsy market trader with a pet dog called Al Capone, the 70-year-old is recorded as having made trips to Antwerp the diamond capital of Europe with Old Omar and Glotin to allegedly sell the Kardashian jewellery. Old Omar has told police the gold was melted down and resold, while saying he has 'no idea' where Ms Kardashian's ring ended up. By December 5th 2016, BRB officers were allegedly watching the gang 'sharing the loot' on the terrace of a Marais cafe close to the one where Omar had received his first tip about Ms Kardashian. Long-focus lenses caught them all smoking heavily and sipping espressos in the winter sunshine. A month later on January 9th 2017 the BRB burst into all their homes, handcuffed them, and placed them in custody. Ait Khedache originally denied any wrongdoing, but when he heard about the DNA evidence against him, he made a full confession. It followed one of the detectives telling him in a recorded interview: 'We have your kid [Harminy Ait Khedache] and your girlfriend [Cathy Glotin] in custody, and we're going to make their lives miserable if you don't talk'. Deeply traumatized by the robbery, Ms Kardashian avoided Paris for more than a year, so investigating judge Armelle Briand had to travel to the USA to interview her. The first thing Ms Kardashian told Judge Briand was: 'I have a feeling that it's not the right place for me, I mean Paris. 'I remember that I had an indescribable feeling, as if my heart would leave my body, I thought that I was going to die.' According to her recorded testimony, Ms Kardashian added: 'This experience opened my eyes to the fact that the world was no longer a safe place.' She said her 'relationship with valuables had changed', and that 'it's become a burden to be responsible for such expensive items.' It remains to be seen whether Ms Kardashian arrives in Paris in April to give evidence in court against her alleged assailants. Despite some confessions, and the legal right of police and prosecution to leak information about the case, all officially remain innocent until proved guilty in connection with the largest jewellery theft committed against a single person in France this century. As the days go by, one of the defendants told Mail Online: 'At this rate we'll all be appearing in the dock in wheelchairs or coffins.' Woke BBC bosses on Radio 2 are now playing a censored version of the Spice Girls hit Spice Up Your Life. The 1997 number one hit by the iconic girl band has now had the word 'yellow' removed when playing on Scott Mills' Breakfast show. The band, which is made up of Mel B, Melanie C, Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell and Victoria Beckham, sang: 'Yellow man in Timbuktu. Colour for both me and you.' A music insider told The Sun: 'Spice Up Your Life is a piece of pop music history it's baffling that the Beeb have decided to censor it. 'The [band] are singing in celebration of people from all walks of life. It's clumsy but not insulting. 'There haven't been calls to change it so it's odd they have decided to do so.' Woke BBC bosses on Radio 2 are now playing a censored version of the Spice Girls hit Spice Up Your Life; pictured 2007 The 1997 number one hit by the iconic girl band has now had the word 'yellow' removed when playing on Scott Mills' Breakfast show The Spice Girls, who are the biggest-selling girl group of all time, reportedly considered replacing 'yellow man' with 'happy people' for their 2019 reunion tour but in the end sang the original lyric. The BBC also censored the line during an episode of Doctor Who in 2023 as a character talked over it. A Radio 2 representative told The Sun that the edit was not made by them and is also played on other UK stations. MailOnline have contacted the BBC for comment. The Spice Girls were the biggest girl band of the nineties but hopes of another reformation were thought to have been have been scuppered due to an ugly feud between two members. Reports emerged in November that Geri backed out of a huge Netflix biopic that would have netted each of the five members 1million each . According to The Sun, the streaming service has told the band to make up otherwise, much like controversial drama The Crown, it will make the show without any input from the people featured in it. A source said: 'Executives are keen to have all the group on board providing as much input as possible - after all they are pop royalty. 'But Netflix are the organisation who defied the wishes of real royalty and went ahead and made The Crown, so they aren't afraid to go it alone when they have to. The band, which is made up of Mel B, Melanie C, Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell and Victoria Beckham, sang: 'Yellow man in Timbuktu. Colour for both me and you'; pictured 1997 A music insider said: 'Spice Up Your Life is a piece of pop music history it's baffling that the Beeb have decided to censor it. The [band] are singing in celebration of people from all walks of life. It's clumsy but not insulting' 'The project is in its very early stages so there's plenty of time to get all five Spice Girls involved. In November, Geri's husband Christian Horner was forced to deny claims he was to blame for 'derailing' the band's TV project. He told the PA news agency: 'There is a lot being written about different things, but there are absolutely no plans to do a family documentary. 'Netflix do enough, and you see enough of the behind-the-scenes on that. So where that report has come from, I have absolutely no idea.' The feud began when Mel confessed she had a lesbian fling with Geri during the band's nineties heyday on Piers Morgan's chat show in 2019. Advertisement Gwyneth Paltrow has opened up about coping with the loss of two of her beloved dogs this past year. The Shakespeare In Love actress, 52, reflected on the 'tough year' she had been experiencing following the deaths of her pooches, Nero and Daffodil. Nero died in September 2024 while Gwyneth's family said goodbye to Daffodil just a week ago. The star made the revelation as she answered a question from a fan who asked for advice on coping with the death of a pet. Paltrow said she has continued honoring, loving, and thinking of them since their deaths. She still has a third dog, Gaucho, whom she has been lavishing with extra love in light of the losses. Gwyneth Paltrow has opened up about coping with the loss of two of her beloved dogs this past year; pictured with Daffodil, who recently passed 'Have you ever lost a dog and how did you survive the loss,' the fan asked. 'I'm sorry that you are asking this question,' Gwyneth said during her Instagram Q&A. 'I've lost two dogs recently, one last week only. Our little Maltese, Daffodil, who we had had for like 15 years, and our big Shepherd we lost in September. 'So it's been a tough year on the dog front. We've got one left who's very overprotective. 'But, it's sort of like any other loss, you have to honor them, love them, keep them alive in your mind and love the dog that you have extra hard now, that's what I'm doing.' Gwyneth opened up briefly about Nero's death in a Goop newsletter late last year as she reflected on all the 'goodbyes' she had to make in 2024. 'One of our dogs died, my kids went to school, and I became an empty nester. I had a bunch of goodbyes this year,' she wrote. She does not appear to have publicly revealed Daffodil's death until now. The dogs have made appearances on Gwyneth's Instagram over the years and in 2021 the actress put them on display with a sweet post marking National Dog Day. 'Happy #nationaldogday from Gaucho, Nero and Daffodil and me,' she wrote. Paltrow opened up about the deaths in an Instagram Q&A on Tuesday Nero, pictured, passed last year She still has dog Gaucho, pictured, and has been lavishing the pooch with extra love in light of the losses Meanwhile, in the Tuesday Instagram Q&A, Gwyneth joined forces with Meghan Markle amid speculation they are in the midst of a 'feud.' The Oscar-winner addressed the rift rumors during an Instagram Q&A. One of her 8.7 million followers asked if she was 'comprehending the Meghan Markle beef that social media says you two have?' Paltrow, filming in the kitchen of her sprawling Los Angeles home, replied: 'I genuinely do not understand this at all whatsoever.' She then turned her head to ask someone off screen, 'Do you understand this?' Paltrow admitted it has 'been a tough yeah on the dog front' She shared this photo of Nero last year Gwyneth opened up briefly about Nero's death in a Goop newsletter late last year as she reflected on all the 'goodbyes' she had to make in 2024; Paltrow pictured last year Paltrow quickly panned her iPhone camera to her right to reveal Markle sitting beside her at her kitchen counter. The Duchess of Sussex, 43, playfully shrugged at Paltrow's question while chowing down on a piece of pie. The duo's joint appearance comes amid rampant comparisons between Markle's controversial new Netflix show With Love, Meghan and lifestyle brand Ever and Paltrow's GOOP empire sparking rumors of a potential feud as fans accused Markle of 'copying' Paltrow. Paltrow further fueled the speculation over the weekend by appearing to throw subtle 'shade' as she filmed herself making breakfast in her own kitchen while wearing pajamas. Gwyneth Paltrow and Meghan Markle shocked fans on Tuesday as they joined forces to shutdown ongoing speculation of 'feud' between them. The Oscar-winner, 52, addressed the rift rumors during an Instagram Q&A on Tuesday Paltrow, filming in the kitchen of her sprawling Los Angeles home, replied: 'I genuinely do not understand this at all whatsoever' The Duchess of Sussex, 43, playfully shrugged at Paltrow's question while chowing down on a piece of pie She then turned her head to ask someone off screen, 'Do you understand this?' Paltrow then panned her iPhone camera to her right to reveal Markle sitting beside her at her kitchen counter On Saturday, she posted a clip of herself making scones, bacon and eggs on Instagram. Throughout Markle's series, she looked flawless in luxury designer gear and hired out a kitchen which was not her own. Paltrow, on the other hand, went makeup-free while sporting casual striped pyjamas for her video, and used a soundtrack of This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) by Natalie Cole - which has also been used in promos for Markle's Netflix project. The duo's joiny video comes days after fans were convinced that Paltrow was throwing subtle 'shade' at Markle with her latest cooking video that was shared to Instagram on Saturday Earlier this month, her Netflix series With Love, Meghan dropped on the streaming site and received negative criticism despite being renewed for a second season Fans jumped to X to share their thoughts, with one penning: 'Gwyneth Paltrow continues to throw shade & I'm here for it! No makeup in her actual kitchen!' A fan also wrote, 'Even the music... that's Natalie Cole 'this will be (an EVER lasting love)'!!!!!' Another shared on social media, 'Lol isn't it this the song they keep using in the Meghan Markle promo?' Advertisement Joe Rogan had some strong words for Hollywood 'A-listers' Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds as he sided with director Justin Baldoni in their ongoing legal battle. The podcaster spoke about the legal drama with comedian Brendan Schaub on his Joe Rogan Experience in an episode that aired on Saturday, when the two accused the celebrity couple of 'ruining their reputation'. 'They f***ed up,' Rogan said, noting: 'Ryan's trying to get out of it now. 'He's trying to get out of the lawsuit and they're like "You are a key part of this." 'The whole thing's crazy,' he continued, as he accused Lively and Reynolds of 'trying to take over the movie and the whole franchise' from the 41-year-old . Rogan also noted that the It Ends With Us director is also 'suing the New York Times and he's got a great case there, too,' he claimed. He went on to agree with Schaub, who claimed that Baldoni's only option is to go back to court and go 'hard in the paint' if he wants to salvage his career. 'Especially a guy like that who's, like, known for being [a] really sweet, nice guy and then he's like, "Alright, enough,"' Rogan said, praising the director for releasing what he called 'receipts' like text messages in response to the suit. Joe Rogan had some strong words for Hollywood 'A-listers' Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds as he sided with director Justin Baldoni in their ongoing legal battle He claimed in his podcast on Saturday that too many people are 'afraid' of going against the celebrity couple Amid the text messages that Baldoni released were one in which Lively invited him into her trailer while she was 'pumping' - despite her later accusing Baldoni of walking in on her while she was breastfeeding without her consent. 'You literally have a text exchange back and forth,' Rogan said. 'They just never thought that anybody was going to come out with the receipts,' he said of the celebrity power couple - whom he claimed too many people in Hollywood would be 'scared' to fight. The legal battle began back in December when Lively, 37, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni for his alleged actions on the set of It Ends With Us. Baldoni later followed up by launching a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively, her publicist and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. He also filed a $250 million libel lawsuit against the New York Times for its reporting on Lively's allegations - claiming its feature only included the actress' version of events. Both Lively and Baldoni have denied each others claims, and the New York Times has denied Baldoni's accusations and requested that his lawsuit against the paper be dismissed. The podcaster praised Baldoni for releasing what he called 'receipts' like text messages in response to Lively's suit Baldoni's lawyers are now fighting back as they asked a judge to at least give them to the start of discovery so they can enter their claims. They accused the Times of going 'past merely reporting' Lively's complaint and 'vouched for the veracity of its false narrative,' which they said relied 'heavily on deceptively spliced private text messages,' according to court documents obtained by CBR. Meanwhile, Reynolds has filed a motion to be dismissed from Baldonis $400 million defamation lawsuit. In court documents, 48-year-old The Proposal actor made reference to Nicepool - a mockingly woke character in Deadpool & Wolverine, which premiered last July - which Baldoni claims is based on him even down to the man bun hairstyle. Reynolds claimed that Baldoni's 'thin-skinned outrage over a movie character, the satirical 'woke' Nicepool, does not even pretend to be tied to any actual legal claims. 'Instead, it falls into the general allegation of "hurt feelings" which in reality is nothing more than a desperate effort to advance the same curated "bully" image that (Baldoni) created and disseminated in the retaliation campaign they launched against Ms. Lively in August of 2024.' Reynold's motion came just days after a source exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com that Baldoni's legal team will look into Disney's potential involvement in the alleged smear campaign against him by Reynolds and his wife. Ryan Reynolds has sought to be dismissed from Baldonis $400 million defamation lawsuit, claiming that the director's 'thin-skinned outrage over a movie character, the satirical 'woke' Nicepool (pictured), does not even pretend to be tied to any actual legal claims 'Baldonis legal team is now going to try and do a deep dive into Deadpool and the funding for the film, as well as the actors and producers who were aware of this bullying when filming,' the insider said. They said the fact Reynolds has not disputed the claim that Nicepool was based on Baldoni had 'opened up the scope' of how Baldoni's lawyers may attempt to prove that their client had been under a coordinated attack. 'Being Ryan admitted that the Nicepool character in Deadpool was based on Justin, he not only dragged Hugh Jackman into the forefront and the directors and producers of the film, but also Disney,' the insider continued. 'Essentially, Ryan said in court documents that Disney allowed money to be spent on a film that they knew would be a blockbuster hit on bullying another person.' They noted that the action of creating Nicepool presented further questions: 'Furthermore, why would Ryan who believed that his wife was being sexually abused or harassed at the time create a role for his attacker? 'What was once a theory is now confirmed. This just opened the scope up. There is a massive power struggle here.' They continued: 'Blake and Ryan thought they were untouchable and could get away with anything.' In his recent legal request, Reynolds described himself as a 'supportive spouse who has witnessed firsthand the emotional, reputational and financial devastation' Lively endured. He also claimed Baldoni was attempting to 'shame' him for being 'the kind of man who is confident enough to listen to the woman in his life and stand with her.' Baldoni had claimed the Nicepool character was a spoof of him - down to the man bun hairstyle But in remarks to TMZ, Baldonis lawyer Bryan Freedman said: 'Mr. Reynolds exploitation of his enormous power in Hollywood continues, this time arrogantly asking to be dismissed from the case despite his publicly documented involvement extending far beyond just being a supportive spouse.' Freedman doubled down, accusing Reynolds of playing a central role in what he called a smear campaign. 'Mr. Reynolds was a key player in the scheme, defaming Justin around Hollywood, strong-arming WME into dropping Justin as a client, and trying to destroy Justins career however possible.' Freedman scoffed at Reynolds' attempt to exit the case, and his claims about Baldoni's 'thin-skinned' reaction to the Nicepool character. 'His fingerprints have been all over this smear campaign against Justin and the Wayfarer team since day one,' he said. 'Mr. Reynolds now attempts to reduce plainly cognizable claims to hurt feelings, sending a clear message that bullying is acceptable.' Baldoni's legal team is also trying to fight back against the New York Times' motion to dismiss his defamation lawsuit He didnt stop there, adding: 'After lighting a match, Mr. Reynolds now seeks to run from the flames. It wont work. The Wayfarer Parties claims against him are real, and they are serious. 'Mr. Reynolds can appear on as many sketch shows as he wants and feebly try to make light of his current situation, but we will not stop until he is held accountable for his actions.' The 'sketch shows' dig appears to reference Reynolds SNL 50 appearance, where he seemingly mocked the ongoing legal drama with Baldoni. Reynolds is seeking dismissal with prejudice, which would bar Baldoni from re-filing the suit in the future. Amid the legal drama, Baldoni debuted a new look - with a faux hawk and shaved sides. The Jane the Virgin star, who admitted he was 'exhausted' from a year of 'emotional stress' last month, showed off his edgy haircut for the first time while with his two children, Maiya and Maxwell, in Hawaii, last week. He has said that he needed to 'heal from' last year and acknowledged he's 'a work in progress.' 'I am somebody who is always trying to be radically sincere and authentic to myself, so that I can be of service in the best way possible and have the most impact,' the director noted in an episode of the Gents Talk podcast released last month. Sky News Australia staff appeared to be taking in a Married At First Sight episode on Tuesday night during their 2025-2026 Federal Budget coverage. Journalist Sharri Markson shared images to Instagram of her posing in the Sky News Canberra studios while the controversial Channel Nine series was seen playing in the background. Sharri, 41, appeared oblivious to the huge TV screen behind her, which aired a scene of controversial couple Awhina Rutene and Adrian Araouzou fighting in their apartment bedroom. 'Out of lock-up and onto Sky News for budget analysis in Canberra!' Sharri captioned the reel of photos. Sharri dressed in all red for her coverage, opting for a long scarlet skirt and matching shirt and jacket. She was seen posing with radio star Ross Greenwood in one image, before she moved on to take another picture with Sky News AM Agenda host Laura Jayes. Sky News Australia staff appeared to be taking in a Married At First Sight episode on Tuesday night during their 2025-2026 Federal Budget coverage. Sharri Markson shared images to Instagram of her posing in the Sky News Canberra studios while the Nine series was seen playing in the background Sharri, 41, appeared oblivious to the huge TV screen behind her, which was airing a scene of controversial couple Awhina Rutene and Adrian Araouzou fighting in their apartment bedroom Sharri is an investigations editor at The Australian as well as the host of the Sky News Australia program Sharri, which airs 8-9pm from Monday to Thursday. She is also the winner of numerous awards in journalism, including two Walkley Awards. 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 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. Mr Chalmers has also committed to delivering a $793million women's health package. Sharri dressed in all red for her coverage, opting for a long scarlet skirt and matching shirt and jacket. She is seen posing with Sky News AM Agenda host Laura Jayes Meanwhile, a potential date for the election has been set, with the Prime Minister expected to call the election for May 3, according to Labor insiders, news.com.au reported. Anthony Albanese could call the election as early as Friday. The PM had earlier refused to be swayed on giving an election date, simply saying it would be held in May. New Real Housewives of Sydney star Martine Chippendale has been spotted heading to meeting with a well-known talent agency amid her blossoming reality TV career. The Binge star, 42, was decked out in Chanel as she met up at Double Bay hotspot Indigo Cafe with PR queen Roxy Jacenko's talent team on Tuesday. Martine looked every inch the Eastern Suburbs housewife as she arrived to the meeting in a simple pink T-shirt and black leggings paired with a $3,180 Chanel bum bag and $1,325 sneakers. She showed off her killer figure as she got out of her flashy Porsche SUV. The new addition to the RHOS cast wore her blonde locks down and accentuated her flawless skin with a natural makeup look. Martine could be seen chatting away with the Ministry of Talent agents while seated at an outdoor table. New Real Housewives of Sydney star Martine Chippendale has been spotted heading to meeting with a well-known talent agency amid her blossoming reality TV career The reality star, 42, was decked out in Chanel as she met up at Double Bay hotspot Indigo Cafe with PR queen Roxy Jacenko 's talent team on Tuesday She showed off her killer figure as she got out of her flashy Porsche SUV It comes after Martine's almighty falling out with fellow RHOS star Victoria Montano, which sent shockwaves through Sydney's elite eastern suburbs. The two women, who live on the same street in ritzy Darling Point, used to be inseparable but sources have revealed they are no longer speaking. So intense is their rift, both women are now pulling out of events at the last minute to avoid bumping into each other, leading to all manner of mysterious 'scheduling conflicts'. While bitter rivalries are par for the course on the Foxtel series, this one has allegedly caused more headaches than delight amongst producers. In another twist to their bust-up, it was revealed only months ago that Victoria was pulling strings and calling in favours to get Martine a spot on the reality show. The feud is said to have begun when Victoria discovered Martine had been gossiping about her to the other Real Housewives stars. Martine, a self-styled 'life-size Barbie' and wife of retired banker John Wilson, instantly made her mark during the first episode of the third season with her eccentric behaviour. The new addition to the RHOS cast wore her blonde locks down while flaunting her flawless skin with a natural makeup look It comes after her almighty falling out with fellow socialite Victoria Montano, which has sent shockwaves through Sydney's elite eastern suburbs Martine, a self-styled 'life-size Barbie' and wife of retired banker John Wilson, instantly made her mark during the first episode of the third season with her eccentric behaviour She revealed during her debut that she slathers herself in SPF and avoids the sun at all costs. 'The sun is my biggest nemesis in this life because the sun ruins your skin' she quipped. 'And it's important to me to have a beauty regime because I like to look my best - but I don't have to try very hard' she added. Martine immediately began complaining that there was too much sun in the room when filming began. The other housewives joked that she'd struggle because she's like 'Edward Cullen' - the vampire from the Twilight series. It was revealed that Martine is dedicated to her beauty regime and spends 'two hours a night' on her looks. The Darling Point resident also pushes her dog around in a pram, insisting that he's 'royalty'. Victoria went on to say that Martine 'reminds me somewhat of the guy from American Psycho.' Rowan Atkinson's daughter Lily Sastry has spoken out for the first time about her parents' divorce, revealing their break-up plunged her into 'darkness' and 'chaos'. Mr Bean star Rowan, 70, separated from Lily's mother, former BBC make-up artist Sunetra Sastry, in 2015 after 24 years of marriage. Sunetra, 67, was granted a 'quickie' divorce on the grounds of his 'unreasonable behaviour', and he has been in a relationship with actress Louise Ford, 44, since. Addressing her parents' split, Lily, 30, said she went through a lot of 'loneliness' during her twenties as she discussed the struggles of navigating a 'broken family'. 'I went through so much chaos and loneliness in my twenties. Now I am 30, I can see clearly where I was at and what was happening inside me during the darkest days,' Lily said in a new online post. 'I was so lost, and only really started to feel vaguely normal in my late twenties. I have always been trapped between worlds; do not belong here, but also don't belong there.' Rowan Atkinson's daughter Lily Sastry (pictured) has spoken out for the first time about her parents' divorce, revealing their break-up plunged her into 'darkness' and 'chaos' Mr Bean star Rowan, 70, separated from Lily's mother, former BBC make-up artist Sunetra Sastry (both pictured in October 2011), in 2015 after 24 years of marriage Rowan Atkinson is seen here at an after-party for a screening of the film Johnny English Strikes Again in London in October 2018 In her early twenties, Lily tried her hand at burlesque dancing and then moved onto singing, which her father reportedly backed financially. She changed her surname from Atkinson to her mother's, Sastry, in 2017, leading to whispers of a possible rift between Lily and the Blackadder star. Lily, who lives in London, is now a professional artist, and had her debut exhibition at a small independent gallery in the capital last December. In her new online post, she wrote: 'It's hard to find out who you are in the midst of no friends, a broken family, and no idea how to navigate making music and trying to understand the world. 'It has taken me years to figure out my life and who I am, as well as become the best person I can be. I have made countless mistakes, and been hurt, lost, and alone many a time.' She added: 'Art was my guiding light. The thing that made all the suffering worth it; as I was working towards a goal, a dream.' Rowan and Sunetra also have a son, Ben Atkinson, 31, who is an officer in the Royal Gurkha Regiment. Rowan and his current partner Louise first met in 2013 after appearing together in the West End as he starred in the comic play Quartermaine's Terms. Addressing her parents' split, Lily, 30, said she went through a lot of 'loneliness' during her twenties as she discussed the struggles of navigating a 'broken family' (all pictured in 2011) Sunetra, 67, was granted a 'quickie' divorce on the grounds of Rowan's 'unreasonable behaviour', and he has been in a relationship with Louise Ford (pictured in April 2015), 44, since The actor Rowan Atkinson is pictured here with daughter Lily in London in June 2016 Lily Sastry, seen here in a photo shared on her Instagram account, has now written about going through a lot of 'loneliness' during her twenties Lily has written on Substack: 'I went through so much chaos and loneliness in my twenties' She went on to say: 'Now I am 30, I can see clearly where I was at and what was happening inside me during the darkest days' Lily added: 'I was so lost, and only really started to feel vaguely normal in my late twenties. I have always been trapped between worlds; do not belong here, but also don't belong there' Rowan Atkinson's daughter previously launched a career as a burlesque dancer She has shared photographs of herself on Instagram Lily, who lives in London, is now a professional artist, and had her debut exhibition at a small independent gallery in the capital last December She has written: 'Art was my guiding light. The thing that made all the suffering worth it; as I was working towards a goal, a dream' The couple have kept their relationship relatively low-key and under wraps ever since and are rarely spotted out together. Louise was previously in a relationship with stand-up comedian James Acaster, who later told in a routine of how he found out about being 'dumped' by reading a newspaper report. Rowan and Sunetra were building an 11million home in Oxfordshire at the time of their split in 2014. Following the break-up, Blackadder star Atkinson moved into a 4million cottage in Hampstead, north London, while Sunetra resided in a 21million mansion in the capital, bought for her by Rowan in 2014. After it was revealed in October 2017 that Lily had changed her social media profile surname, a spokesman for her said: 'There is no truth in the idea that Rowan and Lily have fallen out.' A source had told the Daily Mail at the time: 'It's a real mystery. Atkinson has been Lilys name all her life, but she's now dropped it and is styling herself as Lily Sastry.' 'I hope she hasn't fallen out with her dad. The divorce was really hard for everyone in the family.' Lily also set tongues wagging when she decided to eradicate all traces of her father from her public profile. But the father and daughter were seen together the following October as they celebrated the premiere of his film Johnny English Strikes Again at an after-party held at Morton's in Mayfair, central London. Sunetra worked for the BBC as a make-up artist, while Atkinson has starred in TV series including Blackadder, Mr Bean, Not The Nine O'Clock News and The Thin Blue Line. Atkinson, who attracted almost 19million viewers in his role as Mr Bean at its peak, has amassed a fortune of an estimated 70million. Advertisement Madeline Holtznagel is awaiting the birth of her first child. The model, who is expecting a baby with her billionaire boyfriend Justin Hemmes, 52, stepped out in Sydney on Wednesday with her bump on show. The 27-year-old showed off her blossoming belly in a cropped white dress shirt and a pair of jeans. She had on a natural makeup look with a pink lip stain and pulled her blonde hair back in a ponytail. Madeline added to her look a pair of leather sandals and carried a quilted designer shoulder bag. In November an insider confirmed the exciting news of Madeline's pregnancy to Daily Mail Australia and revealed a friend of Justin's recently moved out of his Vaucluse mansion to make room for their growing family. Madeline Holtznagel (pictured) is awaiting the birth of her first child Justin, who has a net worth of $1.39billion, already has daughters Alexa and Saachi with his ex-girlfriend Kate Fowler, from whom he separated in 2018. The business mogul then began dating Madeline the following year, when the model was 22 and he was 47. They have been spotted out together in recent months looking as loved-up as ever, recently attending Pilates queen Bernadette Fahey's wedding to Jordan Sukkar. Justin and Madeline quietly began seeing each other in 2019, a year after his debut on the Financial Review Rich List with an estimated net worth of $951million - which has since risen to $1.39billion. Though they generally keep their romance under wraps, the couple are often seen disembarking from his sea plane after enjoying luxurious family holidays with his two daughters. The couple have gone from strength-to-strength since going public and even sparked engagement rumours in June 2023. Eagle-eyed fans noticed Madeline was wearing a ring on her wedding finger as they questioned whether Justin had popped the question. A picture showed her sporting the jewellery as she cuddled up to Justin while enjoying a bowl of Udon noodles together at a restaurant in Japan. The model, who is expecting a baby with her billionaire boyfriend Justin Hemmes, 52, stepped out in Sydney on Wednesday with her bump on show The 27-year-old showed off her blossoming belly in a cropped white dress shirt and a pair of jeans along with Chanel sandals But the bling appeared to be an emerald and diamond promise ring, and another photograph showed her wearing a different ring on the same finger as she posed for a selfie. In August, Madeline also made a rare public post about Justin as she took to Instagram to mark his 52nd birthday. She shared a series of romantic selfies of them both and gushed over her partner in the caption. In one picture, Madeline flashed a huge smile as she sat on Justin's lap while he lovingly gazed at her. Justin is considered Australia's hospitality king, with more than 80 venues and billions in assets with names like the Ivy, Queen Chow and Establishment under his purview as CEO of Merivale. He is the only son of Merivale Group founder and nightclub mogul John Hemmes and Justin took over the business after his father's death in 2015. Madeline is the younger sister of fellow Aussie model Simone Holtznagel, who welcomed her first child, a daughter called Gia, in March last year, with her now-ex-boyfriend Jono Castano. The shocking five-figure sum Jacqueline Jossa is owed by insolvent fashion firm In The Style has been revealed. The EastEnders star, 32, publicly hit out at the brand to demand an outstanding payment last month and has reportedly consulted lawyers after claiming she failed to get a response from them. Now, the amount Jacqueline's agents are owed by In The Style has been revealed after the fast-fashion brand officially collapsed into administration on March 10 with 11million debt. According to documents filed on Companies House, Jacqueline's representatives InterTalent are owed a grand total of 34,202. Meanwhile, Touch Management - who represent stars including Charlotte Dawson - are owed 4,800 amid the insolvency case. In The Style owes a grand total of 11,373,827.25 to 201 creditors, administration documents filed on March 21 have revealed. The shocking five-figure sum Jacqueline Jossa is owed by insolvent fashion firm In The Style has been revealed MailOnline has contacted In The Style for comment. Jacqueline's representatives declined to comment. A company can be put into administration if it's in debt and can't pay the money it owes. A limited company can then be liquidated if it cannot pay its debts. The people or organisations a company owes money to can apply to the court to get their debts paid. In The Style was founded by Adam Frisby in 2013, but was acquired by UK-based private equity firm Baaj Capital for 1.2million in March 2023. Ben Armstrong, became managing director in December 2023 when Frisby stepped down from his position, but he has since left the business. Jacqueline - who has recently split from her husband Dan Osborne - signed a deal with the online fashion brand thought to be worth 1million back in 2020. However last month, Jacqueline publicly hit out at In The Style as she claimed they owed her an outstanding payment and said she couldn't get a response from their team. Taking to her Instagram Stories, Jacqueline wrote: 'After four glorious years working with In The Style, I never thought my time with the brand would end this way, but in truth since I or my team can't get a response from anyone at the company, the decision has been made for me. The EastEnders star, 32, hit out at the brand to demand an outstanding payment last month and has reportedly consulted lawyers after claiming she failed to get a response from them 'My name and image is still being used all over the website, helping the brand to sell stock, yet I haven't been paid for months.' She continued: 'I see them signing up new faces and continuing to launch new collections and I feel it's my responsibility to let the new girls know that their contract is unlikely to be honoured and they are unlikely to be paid. 'After I threatened to speak out, last week, the MD requested a call with me during one of the busiest weeks of my career for EE live and had the disrespect to not show up leaving me and my team on the call for 20 mins before we logged off. He has since not responded to any emails.' Jacqueline said she has never publicly spoken out about any brand she has worked with but 'at this point I can no longer protect a brand that's disrespecting' her and 'all the other girls that have not been paid'. She pleaded: 'All I wanted to do was part amicably and be paid what I'm owed. Please feel free to DM me if you are affected by the same mistreatment. In the meantime girls, I urge you to think twice before shopping there! 'As you probably are aware I haven't posted about them since before Christmas, they are still using my images and selling my collections.. no idea where the money is going but it's all very odd.' The soap star thanked previous CEO Frisby as well as his partner Jamie Corbett, who was also involved in the company. She wrote: 'But to end on a slightly better note, thank you Adam and Jamie for starting this journey, when you were involved it was a blast and we have four incredible years. According to documents filed on Companies House, Jacqueline's representatives InterTalent are owed a grand total of 34,202 '@ft15by thank you for the memories and incredible experiences. Sorry this had to happen to your beautiful business I'm truly gutted for everyone. 'I had such an incredible time working for In The Style when Adam and Jamie were involved, we went on trips together, did incredible things it really was a dream come true. 'I also really want to thank the whole team (most of which aren't there anymore) you know who you are.' She finished off the series of posts by urging the In The Style team to contact her and 'pay what she is owed'. In The Style has since removed Jacqueline and other celebrities' ranges from its website amid the complaints. It has been a stressful time for Jacqueline as she has also recently split from her husband Dan after eight years of marriage. Despite Jacqueline wanting to give their marriage another go, friends reportedly told The Sun that Dan wants to move on with his life. The source said: 'Dan has fallen out of love with Jacqueline and there's no way back for him. It has been a stressful time for Jacqueline as she has also recently split from her husband Dan Osborne after eight years of marriage 'Jacqueline is absolutely devastated and will do anything to make it work. 'Dan has told friends it's over for him and while he won't be rushing into a divorce, it's not a question of if they will, but when.' Jacqueline is said to be 'putting on a brave face' and the former couple are working on building a positive friendship for the sake of their daughters Ella, ten, and Mia, six. A friend of the actress has claimed that while the couple are no longer together and are living separately, Jacqueline doesn't plan to start divorce proceedings. A source reportedly told The Sun: 'Jacqueline and Dan have effectively ended the marriage but she wants to try to get back on track, things have been very difficult between them but she still has love for Dan. 'He's still not living at the family home but he and Jacqueline are talking things through. There has been no conversation about divorce.' Jacqueline was the sole owner of the couple's 'dream' 2million six-bedroom home, which was put on the market in June and sold earlier this month for a six-figure sum. She previously described the abode as the couple's 'forever home', sharing the moment she collected the keys with her followers. Despite Jacqueline wanting to give their marriage another go, friends reportedly told The Sun that Dan no longer loves her and wants to move on with his life (they are pictured in December) Jacqueline married Dan in June 2017 and last paid tribute to her husband online in July, which coincided with their wedding anniversary and his birthday. It was confirmed this month that the couple had separated following almost eight years of marriage and over 10 years together, with Dan and Jacqueline both having been spotted without their wedding rings. The Sun on Sunday revealed Dan had packed his bags and moved out with the couple uncertain about their future. An official statement said: 'Jacqueline and Dan are handling things privately, choosing to keep their lives and relationship out of the public eye. They kindly ask for respect and privacy as they navigate this together. 'Their children remain their top priority, surrounded by love and care from both parents, something that will never change. 'Above all, Jacqueline and Dan have each other's and their children's best interests at heart. There will be no further comment.' A swastika was painted on the side of Kanye West's Yeezy HQ in Hollywood - in the aftermath of him posted antisemitic comments on X. The photos were taken on Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, California, on March 23 at 7am. The local who spotted the graffiti and took the photos said she was 'shocked' and got a 'cold chill'. It is not known who is responsible for the graffiti. A few hours after the symbol was spotted, a man tried to remove the swastika and the police were called to the scene. Hours later it was seen covered up with grey paint but the faded outline of the shape was still visible. The building was bought by Kanye West - also known as Ye - in March 2023 and has largely been left empty while construction work takes place. A swastika was painted on the side of Kanye West's Yeezy HQ in Hollywood - after he posted antisemitic comments on X The photos were taken on Melrose Avenue near the Adidas store, Hollywood, California, on March 23 at 7am Recently, Kanye West has faced backlash for antisemitic slurs he made on the social media website X Recently, Kanye West has faced backlash for antisemitic slurs he made on the social media website X. Posting on the site, Kanye said 'I love Hitler' and 'I'm a Nazi' - resulting in him being dropped from his talent agency earlier this year. The local - who wants to remain anonymous - said: 'I got a chill down my spine as it is a big old swastika. 'I am from the area, there is always a lot of graffiti as it is an artsy area, but I have never seen anything like this - it was very shocking. 'We have seen Kanye a few times, when he first bought the building, he had a fashion show in there.' Just last week Kanye fans were seen wearing swastika shirts in the line to audition for his revived Sunday Service in LA. The disgraced rapper - who was seen with a mystery Bianca Censori lookalike at the gathering - has praised Hitler and even sold merch featuring the symbol of the German Nazi Party and those ideals seem to be reflected in his supporters as one of the choir hopefuls sported a top with a swastika on it. Weeks ago Kanye was branded 'downright dangerous' in a statement to DailyMail.com by the Anti-Defamation League and condemned by multiple other groups due to his sale of a swastika T-Shirt line. This came after the rapper posted another shock stream of posts, showcasing a new set of shirts and logos emblazoned with swastikas to his 33.3 million followers on the platform. The local who spotted the graffiti and took the photos said she was 'shocked' and got a 'cold chill'. It is not known who is responsible for the graffiti The building was bought by Kanye West - also known as Ye - in March 2023 and has largely been left empty while construction work takes place It was clearly visible on the side of the building as people drove and walked past Traces of the swastika which was painted on the side of Kanye's Yeezy HQ in Hollywood are still visible after it was removed West showcased a new set of shirts and logos emblazoned with swastikas on X Saturday evening, with what appeared to be a reference to the gas chambers used in the Holocaust West was unabashed in his latest line of Nazi-inspired couture - a collection of long and short-sleeve tops in black, white and red with swastikas in the center, adding that the product was 'coming in crispy.' The 'crispy' line was ostensibly a reference to Holocaust extermination camps where Jewish people were gassed and incinerated. ADL CEO and National Director Jonathan Greenblatt told Dailymail.com exclusively in response at the time, 'There is no excuse - none - for praising Hitler. Glorifying a genocidal dictator with swastika merch is not 'edgy' or 'controversial.' 'When someone with Kanye's influence spreads Nazi glorification, it emboldens extremists. It's unacceptable and downright dangerous.' The 24-time Grammy winner himself modeled the shirts in wearing a black t-shirt with silver swastika with the caption, 'never mention money.' Kanye's recent behavior has led to rumors that his aforementioned wife Censori, 30, is planning to divorce the rapper which originally came amid a shocking antisemitic tirade he delivered on Elon Musk's social media platform X (formerly Twitter). West declared 'I love Hitler' and 'I'm a Nazi' in the torrent of offensive posts, and he even announced that he would be selling a shirt decorated with a swastika. West later said that he was deactivating his X account after thanking Musk for allowing him to vent. Little enforcement action appeared to have been taken against West and his offensive posts, many of which appear to have violated the social media platforms terms of service and were reported by numerous users. However, days after West voluntarily logged off, Musk - who has been leading a firing spree against federal employees - said West's account had been shut down. West renewed his attack on the Jewish community last week, referring to himself as a Nazi, claiming he 'loved Hitler,' and insisting that he will never 'trust or work with Jewish people' again. 'IM NEVER APOLOGIZING FOR MY JEWISH COMMENTS I CAN SAY WHATEVER THE F**K I WANNA SAY FOREVER WHERES MY F***ING APOLOGY FOR FREEZING MY ACCOUNTS SUCK MY D**K HOWS THAT FOR AN APOLOGY,' he wrote. Just last week Kanye fans were seen wearing swastika shirts in the line to audition for his revived Sunday Service in LA Hours later he promoted his 'greatest performance art piece thus far' a swastika T-shirt during the Super Bowl. He stated: 'So funny how N****** rapping about killing N****** is not hate but posting a swastika is hate.' His Yeezy site was swiftly suspended by its hosts Shopify, with Isla Fisher and David Schwimmer spearheading a growing number of celebrities condemning him. Censori has yet to publicly address her husband's comments, which she was initially unaware of. 'Bianca was unaware that he was doing this,' a source told DailyMail.com last week. 'They're in LA and he started this in the middle of the night.' Last year a separate insider claimed Censori was 'really sick of his attention seeking' and concerned that his outbursts were 'making her look like she is anti-Semitic which is so far from the truth.' Jared Leto has legions of diehard fans but it appears some celebrities are less than convinced about the Hollywood megastar. The American actor, 53, made headlines this week after British talk show host Alex Jones accused him of being 'so full of himself' while appearing on The One Show. Speaking on the Netmums Podcast, Alex admitted Jared - who appeared on the show in April 2022 - was her least favourite guest to interview. She told hosts Wendy Golledge and Alison Perry: 'Jared Leto was dressed as one of the Three Musketeers and he had all this, I don't know, Gucci, big shirt, sleeves billowing. I mean, he was so full of himself. 'And I thought, no, no, no, no. Our audience are nice people and, they deserve better than this. And, ok, you might be like a huge celebrity star and you've done all these films, but it doesn't cost to be polite and nice. 'Anybody who can't bring those simple skills to the table, I'm out. I'm like, no, sorry, you've not been brought up well, then.' It is not the first time Jared has butted heads with other celebrities during his career, as some notable names have said some very choice words about him in the past. Here, MailOnline takes a look at all of Jared's celebrity feuds and clashes after Alex's shock verdict on his demeanour. Jared Leto has legions of diehard fans but it appears some celebrities are less than convinced about the Hollywood megastar as he has had various clashes with A-listers over the years DAMNING TAYLOR SWIFT REMARKS Jared famously got on the wrong side of Swifties when a video leaked of him saying he didn't 'give a f**k' about Taylor Swift and her music. Back in 2015, video footage obtained by TMZ showed the musician listening to Taylor's 1989 album for inspiration before delivering a damning verdict. 'I don't give a f**k about her. It's whatever works best for us,' he was heard saying, though the video appeared to be heavily edited. During the listening session, he was quick to dismiss Welcome To New York by saying: 'Oh, I don't like this at all. Next,' but appeared to be more won over by Blank Space. Finishing the listening party with Style, Jared called the single an 'interesting little pop song' before making his shock 'f**k her' remark. However, the video appeared to be heavily edited as it jumped around and, as it was a listening session for inspiration, Jared was likely talking about the process as opposed to specifically having an issue with Taylor. Yet the rocker's less than flattering remarks about Taylor's music still sparked a huge backlash from fans at the time. Amid the furore, Jared then took to social media to apologise as he did a U-turn on his remarks and said he only has praise for Taylor. He wrote on Twitter: 'The truth is I think @taylorswift13 is amazing + an incredible example of what's possible. If I hurt her or her fans my sincerest apologies.' Jared famously got on the wrong side of Swifties when a video leaked of him saying he didn't 'give a f**k' about Taylor Swift (both pictured in 2014) and her music, before later apologising SLIDING INTO YOUNG MODELS' DMS Dylan Sprouse seemingly blasted Jared for sliding into younger models' DMs on social media back in 2018. The Disney star appeared to accuse the actor of attempting to hookup with a slew of youthful and good looking girls in a snide Twitter post. 'Yo @JaredLeto now that you've slid into the dms of every female model aged 18-25, what would you say your success rate is?' he wrote. Though it seemed like the actor was voicing his distaste, it's possible he was seeking dating advice from the Thirty Seconds To Mars frontman. In the past, Jared has been romantically linked to famous names including Cameron Diaz and Scarlett Johansson. Dylan Sprouse (pictured in October 2024) seemingly blasted Jared for sliding into younger models' DMs on social media back in 2018 MARGOT ROBBIE RAT CONTROVERSY Jared was previously forced to deny that he had sent Margot Robbie a dead rat while they starred together on Suicide Squad. Jared is known for his wild method acting techniques and rumours circulated that he had sent Margot a love letter with a black box that had a rat in it, as well as gifting his other co-stars presents including a dead hog and Playboy magazines. Amid the rumours, Margot clarified that she was sent a live rat alongside a letter as part of an ongoing joke among the cast, which saw Jared send them gifts he thought The Joker would send. 'I was... surprised! There's an understatement,' she told Shortlist of the prank. Their co-star Viola Davis also commented on the incident and clarified that the rat was very much alive and was not a fearful thing for Margot to receive. 'I was saying loudly, ''Don't open the box!'' I was halfway out the door when [Margot] opened the box and saw the biggest black rat you could imagine,' Viola shared in 2021. 'Then she cooed at it. No fear. Open. Receptive. Full of joy.' Commenting on the rumours, Jared - who starred as The Joker - denied that he ever sent Margot - who played his love interest Harley Quinn - a dead animal. Jared was previously forced to deny that he had sent Margot Robbie (pictured) a dead rat while they starred together on Suicide Squad Speaking to GQ in 2021, Jared bluntly said: 'I never gave Margot Robbie a dead rat, that's not true.' He then remarked that, on the contrary, he did send the actress numerous pastries during the production of the film. 'I actually gave her a lot of I found this place in Toronto that had a great vegan cinnamon bun so that was a very common thing,' he said. 'It's funny how all this stuff takes on a life of its own.' It was also rumoured that he sent condoms, 'sticky Playboy magazines', sex toys, bullets and a dead hog to his co-stars, though Jared has denied some of these claims and clarified that it was all part of an ongoing joke with his colleagues. Adam Beach, who played Slipknot in the film, told how Jared sent Will Smith 'bullets' alongside a letter and posted the cast a dead hog alongside a video message. He said: 'Basically, what he said was, ''Guys, I can't be there but I want you to know I'm doing my work as hard as you guys''. 'The video he showed is in character. It blew our minds away. Then we realized that day, this is real.' Margot herself then confirmed that it was a live rat as she shared her 'surprise' over receiving it, with Jared going on to deny he had ever sent her a dead animal Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, who played Killer Croc, added: 'That was a good gift because it had the effect of unifying us as a group because then it became us against him.' It was also claimed that he sent condoms to his castmates, but Jared has since firmly denied the rumours. 'There were some things that were mentioned about gifts and the fact that I was giving used condoms to people, which was not true. It was not true,' he insisted. However, he did confess to giving his co-stars some wild presents as he explained they had plotted for him to give them presents that he thought The Joker would send. 'I gave wrapped gifts to everyone, and people were thrilled to get them. They were laughing. We were giving whatever The Joker would give was the idea,' he said. 'It was really touching at the end to go and give the gifts. We'd be filming and people would be laughing, and they'd go and open up and there'd be a porno magazine or something, you know, "plus 60". 'It would be whatever would be funny. You know, whatever would be absurd or outrageous.' He insisted the gifts were simply given out 'in good fun' and were never supposed to have become as big of a deal as they did. It was also rumoured that he sent condoms, 'sticky Playboy magazines', sex toys, bullets and a dead hog to his co-stars, though Jared denied some of the claims 'It was kind of like an art project. We were all like, putting together in the trailer,' he clarified. Margot has also revealed what it was like working with Jared, revealing she wasn't supposed to refer to him by his real name because of his method acting techniques. She described him as 'kind of terrifying' but insisted he is also 'really lovely' and said it was an 'incredible' experience to act alongside him. 'When I first heard that he was method (acting), and that we couldn't refer to him as Jared and things like that, I started to panic a bit because I'm in an abusive relationship with this guy who thinks he is the character,' she shared. 'I was worried I'd get beat up on set. But he's respectful, professional, and lovely.' HECKLED OVER PLAYING TRANSGENDER CHARACTER Jared courted controversy when he played the transgender character Rayon in the 2013 hit Dallas Buyers Club. He was heckled by two women during the Virtuosos Awards at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival over his role in the movie. The star was in a Q&A session with Fandango's Dave Karger at the Arlington Theatre, when a woman shouted from the audience: 'Trans-misogyny does not deserve an award.' Engaging with the woman, Jared then asked her what she meant by her comment, to which she answered: 'You don't deserve to play a trans-woman.' Jared courted controversy when he played the transgender character Rayon in the 2013 hit Dallas Buyers Club, though he went on to win an Oscar for the role 'Because I'm a man, I don't deserve to play that part?' Jared replied. 'So you want to hold a role against someone who happened to be gay or lesbian they can't play a straight part?' The woman then argued that 'historically straight-gender people always play transgender people, and all of them received awards and credit for it'. Jared said: 'Then you make sure that people that are gay, people that arent straight, people like the Rayons of the world, would never have the opportunity to turn the tables and explore parts of that art,' and offered to continue with the chat backstage. Though his casting sparked backlash, he went on to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role at the 86th Academy Awards. Advertisement Jo Wood has revealed Rolling Stones front man Mick Jagger used to 'try it on' with her, even while she was dating his bandmate Ronnie Wood. The model, 70, met legendary rock guitarist Ronnie in 1977 and was married to him from 1985, joining the band for their wild tours across four decades. They split up in 2009 but eventually became friends again although the pair, who share Leah, 46, and Tyrone, 41, rarely see each other. Jo still has fond memories of exciting trips across the world with the Stones and told the Living And Living podcast with Lizzie Cundy and Mike Parry that despite Mick's advances, she 'only had eyes for Ronnie'. She said: 'I felt crazy in love with [Ronnie]. He was funny, he was mad, he was great. '[Mick Jagger] certainly did try it on and I did get really mad at him. I said, "in your wildest dreams Mick Jagger". He had Jerry [Hall], I didn't fancy him at all. Jo Wood has revealed Rolling Stones front man Mick Jagger used to 'try it on' with her, even while she was dating his bandmate Ronnie Wood Jo has fond memories of trips with the Stones and said that despite Mick's advances, she 'only had eyes for Ronnie' (pictured L-R: Patti Hansen, Keith Richards, Ronnie, Jo and Mick in 1980) 'I only had eyes for Ronnie. '[Mick] loves women, he does. Doesn't make him a bad person, I just didn't fancy him at all.' MailOnline has approached Mick Jagger's representatives for comment. Jo and Ronnie had a high-profile divorce in 2009, with Jo citing his affair with girlfriend Ekaterina Ivanova. She explained that Ronnie had even brought his new lover back to the family home after a drunken night out. 'I still get on with Ronnie whenever I see him,' he said. 'I was devastated [when we broke up]. He was drinking so much at that time, he'd been in and out of rehab seven times. 'He was a loony. I always thought I'd be able to rescue him and I couldn't. 'My friend said to me, "Ronnie's been seen at a gig [with a woman]", I said, "no he hasn't". I found it was true and he said, "it's just my drinking buddy", and I said, "if it's just your drinking buddy then bring her over", and he did! She told the Living And Living podcast with Lizzie Cundy (pictured) and Mike Parry: 'I felt crazy in love with [Ronnie]. He was funny, he was mad, he was great' The model, 70, met the legendary rock guitarist in 1977 and was married to him from 1985, joining the band for their wild tours across four decades (pictured: the pair in 1984) They split up in 2009 but eventually became friends again although the pair (pictured, in 2000) The star reflected on the hedonistic days as she travelled with the band on tours across the world, including Keith Richards's (pictured, right, in 1985, with the couple) anger at Mick 'Because she was so young I didn't for a moment think he was actually s****ing her. She lit her cigarette on my stove and caught all her hair alight. 'And then he went to Ireland but unbeknownst to me he took her with him and apparently she put on Facebook a picture of her in our house with the dogs.' Jo recalled that she had no clue about Ekaterina's visit to their Ireland home until the press told her about it at her front door. The model then went on a day of family counselling with Ronnie, during which she realised it was over and the rocker told her that they should remain friends in the future. 'I went home [after a family day of counselling] and cried my heart out,' she told the podcast. Jo kicked off her modelling career in the 70s and was The Sun's Face of 1972 before marrying Peter Greene in 1973. The pair divorced three years later, after having son Jamie in 1974, and Jo met Ronnie at a party in London in 1977. They hit it off immediately and the model was soon on her way to Paris to record the Stones's hit album Some Girls with the group. The pair share Leah, 46, (pictured, in 1978) and Tyrone, 41, but rarely see each other after a high-profile divorce in 2009 Jo kicked off her modelling career in the 70s and was The Sun's Face of 1972 before marrying Peter Greene in 1973 The model (pictured, with Kate Moss in 1997) hit it off immediately with Ronnie and was soon on her way to Paris to record the Stones's hit album Some Girls with the group The star reflected on the hedonistic days of the 70s and 80s as she travelled with the band on infamous tours across the world. She said: 'It was me, Keith and Ronnie as the little gang. We used to hang around and stay up all night. 'The only [rivalry] there was was Mick and Keith arguing. They argued a lot about everything. 'Keith used to say, "I can't stand that b****y song", and when Mick did an album Keith was furious and wouldn't talk to him for years. 'There was always groupies and I would like at the girls backstage and think, "I wonder if I'll see her back upstairs later", but I was always nice to them because if I made friends with them it's like, "leave my man alone".' Vogue Williams showed off her sensational sense of style as she stepped out of Global Studios in London on Wednesday. The media personality, 39, looked effortlessly chic in an oversized black jumper with white patterns on, which she teamed with skintight latex trousers. She added a pop of colour to her ensemble with a pair of leopard print dolly shoes and shielded her eyes with brown square shades. Vogue, who is married to Spencer Matthews, toted her essentials in a black shoulder bag and accessorised with a pair of gold earrings. She opted for an eco-friendly mode of transport home as she hopped on her bicycle and rode through London after her morning working at the radio studios. Vogue's podcast Never Live It Down airs on Global while she also hosts another podcast, titled My Therapist Ghosted Me, with Joanne McNally. Vogue Williams showed off her sensational sense of style as she stepped out of Global Studios in London on Wednesday The media personality, 39, looked effortlessly chic in an oversized black jumper with white patterns on, which she teamed with skintight latex trousers The close friends are known for lifting the lid on all topics on their podcast, and Joanne certainly didn't hold back when she recently discussed their holiday. Appearing on The Jonathan Ross Show, Joanne, 41, told how she and Vogue had a bizarre trip to Ibiza for a sex and wellness show which ended up with them steaming their intimate areas. Joanne said: 'We're steaming 'ourselves' crouched over to say it was undignified to what end, I don't know. It's not that creased! 'I will say, all joking aside, it wasn't the most horrible experience of my life. It wasn't an awful experience. It was humiliating.' She also explained the reasoning behind her and Vogue's podcast name - My Therapist Ghosted Me. She recalled: 'For ages, we were trying to think of a clever format. I was of the philosophy that ''Who needs another podcast?'' But my therapist had just conveniently ghosted me. Joanne joked: 'I got a podcast out of it. He was so lovely, he was so nice, I never sl*g him off, you never know what people are going through I really liked him.' On a recent episode of their podcast, Vogue became the latest celebrity to speak out against Meghan Markle. She opted for an eco-friendly mode of transport home as she hopped on her bicycle and rode through London after her morning working at the radio studios Her podcast co-host Joanne McNally, 41, recently told how she and Vogue had a bizarre trip to Ibiza for a sex and wellness show Elsewhere in recent days, Vogue became the latest celebrity to speak out against Meghan Markle as she criticised her new Netflix show - With Love, Meghan The Irish radio star is connected to the royal family herself as her husband, Made in Chelsea alum Spencer, is the brother-in-law of the Princess of Wales's sister, Pippa. Speaking about Meghan's new Netflix show - With Love, Meghan - Vogue made her feelings clear as she discussed the Duchess of Sussex's culinary skills. 'I saw a bit where she was making her kids a rainbow platter of fruit,' Vogue began. 'First of all, I thought I was doing well mixing Rice Krispies and Cheerios - like, you can have two cereals in one! And she's there like... did you see the rainbow [platter]? I personally like that, but who does that?' Vogue added: 'I love the idea of being a tradwife - I was dabbling in it - remember, I made that chicken pie a while ago? 'I am obsessed with that level of perfection. But I'm like, how is she doing that? I just think it's like that bl***y Angel perfume - it's so sickly sweet. 'I bet you she wears Angel. Sorry to anyone who wears Angel, I just wear men's aftershave and that's very sweet to me.' Advertisement The creator of a Disney-inspired horror film has revealed the cast nicknamed a giant prosthetic penis used in the slasher. Filled to the brim with Disney references, Screamboat - which is released next week - sees a monstrous Mickey Mouse kill princesses. It features David Howard Thornton as killer Steamboat Willie who begins targeting passengers on the Staten Island Ferry. The fairytale-inspired horror film sees a group of drunk girls, Cindi, Bella, Jazzy, Arianna and Rory - a play on the Disney princesses - board the boat, before their trip turns deadly. The gory flick is said to feature a lot of dismembered body parts, and its director, writer and producer Steven LaMorte told MailOnline he always knew he wanted one of those to be a giant penis. 'Very early on I knew this was a scene that I wanted to do,' he laughed. And the gory member became such a focus on set that it even received a nickname from the cast. The creator of a Disney-inspired horror film, Steven LaMorte (Pictured), has revealed the cast nicknamed a giant prosthetic penis used in the slasher Filled to the brim with Disney references, Screamboat - which is released next week - sees a monstrous Mickey Mouse kill princesses 'They gave it a name and they're like, "OK, Tom's flying the set", and we're like, OK, we know what that means,' Steven said. He added: 'It's one of the first scenes that I wrote actually because it just made me laugh. 'I thought it was funny. I said, what if? And then once we started taking these meetings and started having these very serious, very professional discussions, we have to bring in the art department, we have to bring in the makeup department, we have to bring in the prosthetic department, we have to bring in the... oh, well, props has to build one too. 'So it just turned into this just like massive meeting after meeting with all of these adult working professionals in the film industry who I have to look in the straight face and say, "Guys, we have to do this", and we have to do it right, and everyone took it really seriously. 'But, you know, it turned into like a a game of of synonyms trying to just like use other words, like, "so when the unit is on set", "well we have to get the large member".' The film is filled with Disney references, as it is inspired by the 1928 original Steamboat Willie - for which the copyright expired last January. It became the first film starring Mickey and Minnie to be distributed, but now media from the 1928 film are available in the US public domain. Not every Disney nod Steven wanted to made it into the film, as he said: 'There's so many references that didn't make it into the script, only because when I approach a script, to me a script is more of a like a battle plan, right? So it's an attack plan, it's a layout for what we're gonna do. The fairytale-inspired horror film sees a group of drunk girls, Cindi, Bella, Jazzy, Arianna and Rory - a play on the Disney princesses - board the boat, before their trip turns deadly The gory flick is said to feature a lot of dismembered body parts, and its director, writer and producer Steven told MailOnline he always knew he wanted one of those to be a giant penis The film is filled with Disney references, as it is inspired by the 1928 original Steamboat Willie - for which the copyright expired last January 'So the script was much longer than the movie because every page I've got alternate versions of jokes. I've got, you know, alternate references. 'I mean, there's a bunch of Pixar references that didn't make it into the flick. There's a bunch of references to rides that didn't make it into the movie.' But eagle-eyed viewers should remain on the look-out, as he assured the film is littered with Easter eggs that did make the cut - and teased ideas for a possible sequel. 'There's some, some characters that ended up more in the background than I think I wanted to have them be in the film,' he said. 'So you kind of have to watch it to see if you spot some of the Easter eggs. But if we get the chance to make a second one I will dust off the old notepad and try to work them back in.' But eagle-eyed viewers should remain on the look-out, as he assured the film is littered with Easter eggs that did make the cut - and teased ideas for a possible sequel As the trailer for Screamboat opens, a voiceover promises a 'journey like no other' before the creepy mouse is seen boarding the boat. A synopsis reads: 'Be our guest on a New York City ferry ride that turns into a hilarious nightmare when a mischievous mouse named Steamboat Willie becomes a monstrous reality. 'As passengers set sail, their trip turns deadly when the tiny terror unleashes murder and mayhem. 'Packed with big kills, big laughs, and a miniature menace, Screamboat is a cinematic thrill ride that reimagines Steamboat Willie like never before!' David Genat has a knack for winning competitions - and that skill has made him an instant multimillionaire. The Australian Survivor star, who won the All Stars series of the competition in 2020, had taken the crown on the USA show Deal Or No Deal Island. The 45-year-old Aussie model walked away with $5.8million from the NBC series, which comes in at AUD $9.2million. His previous top earnings were on Australian Survivor All Stars, from which he netted AUD $500,000. 'I'm rich... I am the Golden God of Deal Or No Deal Island,' he boasted to the Daily Telegraph on Wednesday. 'No one from Australia has done what I've done and no one from Australia has crossed over into American (reality) television, this is the first time it's been done.' David Genat (pictured) has a knack for winning competitions - and that skill has made him an instant multimillionaire The Australian Survivor star, who won the All Stars series of the competition in 2020, had taken the crown on the USA show Deal Or No Deal Island (pictured) He added: 'Not only have I crossed over, I've won the biggest amount of money ever on American reality television, so I hope it opens a lot of doors for Australian talent wanting to do what I've done.' David, who said that the skills he learnt on Australian Survivor helped him win Deal Or No Deal Island, told NBC that he plans to spend the money on his four children, who he shares with wife Pearl Christensen. 'I probably shouldn't be saying this out loud because they're gonna hold me to it, but like, all my kids are coming up to driving age,' David said. 'So I'm probably gonna have to buy a fleet of new vehicles. I mean, hey, that's what I'm gonna do.' He also had some plans for himself, disclosing, 'I'm gonna buy myself a new motorcycle 'cause I love motorcycles. That'll be my little fun spend.' David first found fame in 2002 when he won the Search for a Supermodel contest after he accepted a $50 bet. Later he became successful across the world, and was featured in Vogue and Vanity Fair - most notably photographed by the iconic Mario Testino. David returned to reality TV by starring in Australian Survivor: Champions v Contenders in 2019. The 45-year-old Aussie model walked away with a fortune from the NBC series (pictured), having won USD $5.8million, which comes in at a massive AUD $9.2million His previous top earnings were on Australian Survivor All Stars in 2020 (pictured), from which he netted AUD $500,000 David told NBC that he plans to spend the money on his four children, who he shares with wife Pearl Christensen. Pictured with wife Pearl and their four kids He was the 14th castaway voted out, and then returned to the franchise the following season for Australian Survivor All Stars, which he won. In 2021, he joined the cast of The Celebrity Apprentice, where he was fired in task 7. In 2023, he expanded his career by hosting an adventure reality series for Channel Nine called Rush. 'Are you ready for the rush of a lifetime? I know I am! Rush is an epic new travel adventure series. I am so excited to host this amazing series and can't wait for you to see,' he wrote. After retiring from his distinguished modelling career over a decade ago, Genat also made a comeback to the catwalk. He was inspired to return to modelling when he met fashion designer Camilla Franks on the Celebrity Apprentice, which aired on Channel Nine in 2021. 'I had a long fashion career doing a lot of runway shows, but I probably hadn't done one in about 10 years because I was a bit past my use-by date,' he told 9Honey. After Camilla and David formed a friendship based on their love of fashion, the famed designer asked him to open one of her fashion shows. Advertisement The trailer for Alec Baldwin's controversial western Rust was unveiled on Wednesday - nearly four years after the tragic shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins shut down production. In it, the 66-year-old Oscar nominee's aging outlaw character Harland Rust uttered the ironic line 'Somethings in this life you can't get back, I reckon' to his orphaned 13-year-old grandson Lucas McCalister (Patrick Scott McDermott). Lucas accidentally kills a rancher and is sentenced to hang before Harland breaks him out of jail and takes him on the run to Mexico from US Marshal Wood Helm (Josh Hopkins) and bounty hunter Preacher (Travis Fimmel). 'Heaven ain't waiting on either one of us,' Alec's character warned one of the antagonists. Guns and violence are in practically every shot of the minute-long preview for the action-packed flick set in 1880s Kansas, which feels disturbing considering six real live bullets were discovered on the troubled set. Even Rust Movie Productions rep Melina Spadone described it as 'a story of the ripples that a single violent act can send through generations and the hard-fought redemption to be found in a world where the line between good and evil can often be unclear.' The trailer for Alec Baldwin's controversial western Rust was unveiled on Wednesday - nearly four years after the tragic shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins shut down production At the end of the teaser, Baldwin is not only listed as a producer but received a 'story by' credit while Halyna's widower Matthew Hutchins received an executive producer credit, which was reportedly a stipulation in him dropping the wrongful death lawsuit. In the YouTube comments, user @1TEXASBEACH wrote that Rust looks good thanks in part to Hutchins' work as the DP: 'Can't wait to see it. So incredibly sad all that happened but Halyna Hutchins was/is so talented and you can see that in the trailer.' While on X, user @DickMoves1971 scoffed that 'the snuff film is getting released.' 'Not sure if I'd wanna watch a movie where the star and EP carelessly shot a crew member,' X user @wrexweed tweeted. 'Seems like a cursed enterprise.' X user @moirajm agreed: 'I hate movies where the lead actor/ EP kills their DP and gets away with it.' Rust - which also stars Frances Fisher and Jake Busey - will premiere on digital and select theaters on May 2, according to People. The Baldwins star's involuntary manslaughter trial only lasted three days before being dismissed on July 12 after he denied ever pulling the trigger on the revolver that fired a single bullet into Rust director Joel Souza's arm and punctured Halyna's chest killing her in 2021. Hutchins - who's buried near the pond at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery - also left behind her 12-year-old son Andros. In it, the 66-year-old Oscar nominee's aging outlaw character Harland Rust uttered the ironic line 'Somethings in this life you can't get back, I reckon' to his orphaned 13-year-old grandson Lucas McCalister (Patrick Scott McDermott) Lucas accidentally kills a rancher and is sentenced to hang before Harland breaks him out of jail and takes him on the run to Mexico from US Marshal Wood Helm (Josh Hopkins) and bounty hunter Preacher (Travis Fimmel) 'Heaven ain't waiting on either one of us,' Alec's character warned one of the antagonists Guns and violence are in practically every shot of the minute-long preview for the action-packed flick set in 1880s Kansas, which feels disturbing considering six real live bullets were discovered on the troubled set Even Rust Movie Productions rep Melina Spadone described it as 'a story of the ripples that a single violent act can send through generations and the hard-fought redemption to be found in a world where the line between good and evil can often be unclear' At the end of the teaser, Baldwin is not only listed as a producer but received a 'story by' credit while Halyna's widower Matthew Hutchins received an executive producer credit, which was reportedly a stipulation in him dropping the wrongful death lawsuit In the YouTube comments, user @1TEXASBEACH wrote that Rust looks good thanks in part to Hutchins' work as the DP: 'Can't wait to see it. So incredibly sad all that happened but Halyna Hutchins was/is so talented and you can see that in the trailer' 'Lets goooooo!' YouTube user @DoctorKingSchultz commented. 'Can't wait. A tragic accident happened but to rob these people who worked on this movie for months, now that would be a tragedy' While on X, user @DickMoves1971 scoffed that 'the snuff film is getting released' 'Not sure if I'd wanna watch a movie where the star and EP carelessly shot a crew member,' X user @wrexweed tweeted. 'Seems like a cursed enterprise' X user @moirajm agreed: 'I hate movies where the lead actor/ EP kills their DP and gets away with it' Rust - which also stars Frances Fisher (pictured) and Jake Busey - will premiere on digital and select theaters on May 2 The Baldwins star's involuntary manslaughter trial only lasted three days before being dismissed on July 12 after he denied ever pulling the trigger on the revolver that fired a single bullet into Rust director Joel Souza's arm and punctured Halyna's chest killing her in 2021 Hutchins - who's buried near the pond at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery - also left behind her 12-year-old son Andros (grave pictured in 2022) Fans can catch the Ukrainian blonde's side of the story in Rachel Mason's critically-acclaimed documentary Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna, which premiered March 11 on Hulu On January 9, Alec filed a civil lawsuit against the Rust case prosecutors, investigators, and commissioners for defamation and malicious prosecution and civil rights violations due to 'intentionally mishandling evidence' (pictured March 14) Meanwhile, Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was sentenced to 18 months in New Mexico Women's Correctional Facility on April 15 (pictured) for involuntary manslaughter conviction for her role in the shooting Fans can catch the Ukrainian blonde's side of the story in Rachel Mason's critically-acclaimed documentary Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna, which premiered March 11 on Hulu. On January 9, Alec filed a civil lawsuit against the Rust case prosecutors, investigators, and commissioners for defamation and malicious prosecution and civil rights violations due to 'intentionally mishandling evidence.' Meanwhile, Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was sentenced to 18 months in New Mexico Women's Correctional Facility on April 15 for involuntary manslaughter conviction for her role in the shooting. Lisa Vanderpump and husband Ken Todd enjoyed a fancy dinner for three at E Baldi in Beverly Hills on Tuesday night. Their plus one was a dog. But when the couple left, their fluffy Pomeranian pooch - dressed in a pink outfit - looked annoyed with its famous owners. At one point Ken helped Lisa as she tried to get a strong hold on the pampered canine. Lisa looked ready for a meeting while dressed in a black power suit with a blouse. The Vanderpump Rules star also had on platform-heeled boots. Her glam was on target with groomed lightened brown locks flowing and pink-toned makeup as she carried a black Chanel purse. Lisa Vanderpump and husband Ken Todd enjoyed a fancy dinner for three at E Baldi in Beverly Hills on Tuesday night. Their plus one was a dog At one point Ken helped Lisa as she tried to get a strong hold on the pampered canine Similarly styled to his wife, Todd, 78, looked stylish in dark blue pants and blazer with a black dress shirt and brown boots. Once the pair, who have been married for 42 years, got Puffy's pink ensemble in order they all hopped into the vehicle and made their way seemingly back home to their posh Beverly Hills digs. Vanderpump, 64, initially gained fame as a main cast member on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in 2010, which went on through 2019. She then parlayed her Housewives fame into multiple reality television shows, beginning with Bravo's Vanderpump Rules, which launched in 2013 and was the first spinoff of the Housewives show. It is currently undergoing a complete makeover after axing the cast in favor of a completely new one for the highly anticipated season 12 which is slated to begin production this year. Since 2021, she has also starred in E!'s Overserved With Lisa Vanderpump, Peacock's Vanderpump Dogs, and Vanderpump Villa, that launched on Hulu this past year. During her rise to public prominence, the British restaurateur has also been known for her profound love for dogs demonstrated through her rescue center, Vanderpump Dogs, and her non-profit, The Vanderpump Dog Foundation. The foundation, established in 2016, helps rescue and rehabilitate homeless dogs, with a mission to create a more humane world for dogs. The proud dog lover can typically be seen out with Puffy at many public events; the British born star is pictured with her beloved pooch in New York City in May 2024 The reality mogul's love for dogs extends to her rescue center, Vanderpump Dogs, and her non-profit, The Vanderpump Dog Foundation; she is seen at the foundation's 6th gala in 2024 Its mission extends across the globe, partnering with rescues in various countries and operating rescue facilities in China to help dogs from the Yulin Dog Meat Festival and the dog meat trade. Closer to home, the organization also focuses on the many problems in the U.S. such as 'dog overpopulation, abuse, neglect and lack of education with regards to spaying and neutering pets' through 'education, legislation, and activism.' During her time trying to make a difference with our four-legged friends, Vanderpump has always maintained a pack of her own dog rescues at her home in Beverly Hills. Vanderpump and Todd, who have been married since August 1982, are the proud parents of two children: a daughter, Pandora, who recently welcomed her second child with husband Jason Sabo, and an adopted son, Max. Reese Witherspoon is usually done up to the nines with professional makeup, elegant gowns and stiletto heels when on the red carpet. Even when the Hollywood veteran runs errands she has a stylish look down pat with fun blouses, hipster jeans and wedges with a slick of pink lipstick. But on Wednesday the Morning Show actress posted a very rare makeup-free photo to confirm that she is indeed a natural beauty. 'You are so beautiful!' said one Instagram follower of the makeup free photo while another snipped: 'Damn make up really is false advertising.' The post was dedicated to her 49th birthday that fell on March 22. The glam-free image saw her with not a spec of paint on as she wore her hair down in a casual style while in a black cardigan at a restaurant as she was presented with a birthday cake. 'Spring things *last slide is my new mantra ,' wrote the Oscar-winning actress. Reese Witherspoon is usually done up to the nines with professional makeup, elegant gowns and stiletto heels when on the red carpet; seen in 2021 In her latest post she was glam free with no makeup on as she celebrated her 49th birthday Here the fan favorite was seen in the kitchen with a friend This comes after the mother of three has another hit film on her hands, You're Cordially Invited with costar Will Ferrell. Last month she said that Ferrell is a 'comedy genius'. The actress admitted starring opposite Will, 57, was a 'bucket list' moment for her and Reese couldn't have turned down the opportunity to work with the comedy star. Reese told Britain's HELLO! magazine: 'I loved the script, and then of course I got to work with Will Ferrell. How could I say no? 'It felt like a real bucket list moment for me, because I have been a Will Ferrell fan forever. 'It had been 25 years since we did a sketch together [on 'Saturday Night Live'], so we did do camera tests, but it's just so easy with Will. He's so easy to work with, so generous; I loved working with him. 'The man is a comedy genius. He's funny without even trying. I only have to look at him and I'm laughing.' Reese's favourite moment in their new film comes when Will had to wrestle an animatronic alligator. The Hollywood star laughed: 'That's something I will never forget, Will, an alligator and me on the floor covered in fake blood. 'That was a pretty crazy day.' The 'Legally Blonde' actress thinks her latest work is exactly what audiences need right now. The producer has used her good looks to help make her clothing line Draper James a hit The Oscar-winner was also cute in a casual top and jeans with racy heels as she had on fresh makeup The Oscar-winning star said: 'I don't think we had enough romantic comedies like this for a while. 'We need movies that are fun and relatable and that we can all just enjoy. This is up there with the most fun I've ever had going to work. 'Maybe we all need to learn that sometimes the best things come out of something that didn't initially turn out the way you wanted.' In February, Witherspoon shut down rumors she's had a years-long feud with Kate Winslet. The actress sparked widespread online gossip she and the Titanic star, 49, had been feuding after Reese mentioned in an interview an unnamed actress had stopped speaking to her after she gave her a light-hearted roast at a British awards ceremony after misinterpreting the tone of the serious event. Fans quickly seized on the remark, theorizing the actress in question was Kate but Reese has now taken to her Instagram to laugh off the gossip. She said: 'Hey guys just spoke to my very dear friend for years, Kate W. We laughed about this stupidity. Please do not believe the Internet.' 'We are good friends and have never had any falling out.' Fans had linked Reese's comments about falling out with a fellow actress to a speech she gave in tribute to Winslet at the BAFTA/LA Cunard Britannia Awards in November 2007. Reese with her three children, Ava, Tennessee and Deacon in December 2024 According to JustJared, which sourced parts of the transcript from a Reese fan site, she had joked about Kate's European sophistication at the event saying: 'I always wanted to be a European movie star, wear giant sunglasses, elaborate neck scarves, smoke hand-rolled cigarettes, and have savoir-faire and gravitas.' She continued: 'Imagine my good fortune when Kate Winslet moved into my neighbourhood, rang my doorbell and said, 'Dahling, Sam is off shooting, and I believe our children are the same age. Could they possibly have a play date and oh, by the way, it's almost 9 o'clock and I've had nothing to drink, do you have any wine?' Kate also spoke of Kate's 'fearlessness', referencing her nude scene in the 2001 film 'Iris' by saying: 'When I saw her in it and she took off all her clothes and jumped into that lake, I thought, 'Wow, I bet that lake is really cold.' And then I thought, 'Wow, there's an actor without fear.' She also joked she could not share personal stories about Winslet because 'they're all too bawdy or tawdry or drunken to tell'. According to the fan site, these anecdotes included 'the time (Reese and Kate) contemplated laser hair removal and or that time on the freeway when they pulled over and... or that really funny thing that happened when they were both in their underwear.' Advertisement Matt Damon showcased his muscular frame while joined by another A-list star amidst filming Christopher Nolan's upcoming epic fantasy The Odyssey in Italy on Tuesday. The Good Will Hunting actor, 54 - who was recently spotted arriving to Greece to begin shooting the anticipated project - filmed a scene alongside Zendaya at what appeared to be a rocky shore on Favignana Island. The movie - which is an adaptation of the poem written by Homer - kicked off filming last month in February, with production set to take place throughout Italy, Greece, Morocco and the U.K. Damon - who is taking on the role of Odysseus - was seen going shirtless to show off his ripped physique as he stepped into his character. He sported a pair of brown trousers that contained a torn hem on the bottom and also opted for a gray beard. Matt could be seen walking along the water and also stood next to Nolan at one point while preparing to shoot a take. Matt Damon, 54, showcased his muscular frame while joined by another A-list star amidst filming Christopher Nolan 's upcoming epic fantasy The Odyssey in Italy on Tuesday When he wasn't filming scenes, the star donned a black puffer jacket to help keep himself warm in the cooler temperatures. In between takes, Damon also took a seat on the shore as crew members situated the cameras for additional shooting. Last month, Matt briefly opened up about his casting in the upcoming movie during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. 'I literally have an odyssey in front of me,' The Martian actor stated when the topic was brought up, but did not add any other details of his role. Zendaya was also seen on the set of The Odyssey this week, and donned a sleeveless, cream-colored dress that fell down past her ankles. The Euphoria star's dark locks were parted in the middle, and styled into a stylish up do that was braided at the back. The beauty was guided through a hill filled with yellow flowers by crew members before stepping in front of the camera. After arriving to the set on the shore, Zendaya - who is currently engaged to Tom Holland - could be seen sharing a laugh and lighthearted conversation with one of the staff members. The movie - which is an adaptation of the poem written by Homer - kicked off filming last month in February, with production set to take place throughout Italy, Greece, Morocco and the U.K. He sported a pair of brown trousers that contained a torn hem on the bottom and also opted for a gray beard Matt could be seen walking along the water and also stood next to Nolan at one point while preparing to shoot a take When he wasn't filming scenes, the star donned a black puffer jacket to help keep himself warm in the cooler temperatures In between takes, Damon also took a seat on the shore as crew members situated the cameras for additional shooting Last month, Matt briefly opened up about his casting in the upcoming movie during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter Earlier this year in January, Variety reported that Nolan would be filming scenes for The Odyssey on the island of Favignana located in Sicily Favignana is also known as 'goat island' and it is believed that Homer based some his epic poem on the location Earlier this year in January, Variety reported that Nolan would be filming scenes for The Odyssey on the island of Favignana located in Sicily. Favignana is also known as 'goat island' and it is believed that Homer based some his epic poem on the location. Sources informed the publication that the director also has plans to film scenes at the Eolian Islands in Sicily. Nolan is not only directing the project, but is also writing and producing the fantasy-action film. The Oscar winner is also reportedly using new IMAX film technology when it comes to the production of The Odyssey. Along with Damon and Zendaya, other stars that have been cast in the movie include Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Jon Bernthal, Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron and Lupita Nyong'o. The premise, 'Follows Odysseus in his perilous journey home after the Trojan War, showcasing his encounters with Polyphemus, the Sirens, Circe, and finishing with his reunion with his wife, Penelope,' per IMDB. John Leguizamo - who has also taken on a role in the adaptation - recently opened up about Nolan's vision for the film. During an interview on MSNBC's Morning Joe, the Romeo + Juliet actor stated, 'Dude, you know the thing is, okay he's got a crazy budget, it's not small. Sources informed the publication that the director also has plans to film scenes at the Eolian Islands in Sicily Nolan is not only directing the project, but is also writing and producing the fantasy-action film. The Oscar winner is also reportedly using new IMAX film technology when it comes to the production of The Odyssey Along with Damon and Zendaya, other stars that have been cast in the movie include Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Jon Bernthal, Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron and Lupita Nyong'o The premise, 'Follows Odysseus in his perilous journey home after the Trojan War, showcasing his encounters with Polyphemus, the Sirens, Circe, and finishing with his reunion with his wife, Penelope,' per IMDB John Leguizamo - who has also taken on a role in the adaptation - recently opened up about Nolan's vision for the film The Good Will Hunting actor filmed a scene alongside Zendaya at what appeared to be a rocky shore on Favignana Island The actress was also seen on the set of The Odyssey this week, and donned a sleeveless, cream-colored dress that fell down past her ankles 'But he runs [it] like an indie film because he's not doing it by committee, he's not doing it by what the studio says. He's like an indie filmmaker but with crazy money.' Nolan - who is known for directing other movies such as Oppenheimer and Inception - has a budget of $250 million for The Odyssey. Universal has described the epic fantasy as a, 'mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new Imax film technology. The film brings Homer's foundational saga to Imax film screens for the first time,' per Variety. Nolan's wife and producer, Emma Thomas, has also previously briefly opened up about the upcoming film. During a recent interview with Empire, she told the outlet, 'I would say it's very exciting,' per The Independent. 'This is the moment where the possibilities are sort of limitless, we haven't started thinking practicalities, or anything. Oppenheimer was so absurdly successful and we feel like we have an opportunity.' During a past interview with Time last year, Nolan discussed stepping behind the camera on blockbuster movies. 'I'm drawn to working at a large scale because I know how fragile the opportunity to marshal those resources is.' The Euphoria star's dark locks were parted in the middle, and styled into a stylish up do that was braided at the back After arriving to the set on the shore, Zendaya - who is currently engaged to Tom Holland - could be seen sharing a laugh and lighthearted conversation with one of the staff members The award-winning actress was seen sitting down along the shore as she also awaited to film scenes on Tuesday Nolan - who is known for directing other movies such as Oppenheimer and Inception - has a budget of $250 million for The Odyssey Universal has described the epic fantasy as a, 'mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new Imax film technology. The film brings Homer's foundational saga to Imax film screens for the first time,' per Variety During a recent interview with Empire, she told the outlet, 'I would say it's very exciting,' per The Independent 'This is the moment where the possibilities are sort of limitless, we haven't started thinking practicalities, or anything. Oppenheimer was so absurdly successful and we feel like we have an opportunity,' Thomas added During a past interview with Time last year, Nolan discussed stepping behind the camera on blockbuster movies 'I'm drawn to working at a large scale because I know how fragile the opportunity to marshal those resources is,' the filmmaker said 'I know that there are so many filmmakers out there in the world who would give their eye teeth to have the resources I put together, and I feel I have the responsibility to use them in the most productive and interesting way,' he added. Damon has previously collaborated with Nolan on other movies, including Interstellar and Oppenheimer. Matt's close friend Ben Affleck has also expressed his excitement over Damon's role in The Odyssey. While talking to GQ earlier this month, the actor stated that Matt has made 'wise choices' when it comes to projects he has worked on over the years. At one point he stated, 'If Martin Scorsese called me and told me to play a waiter, I would take it. 'Steven Spielberg is one of the great filmmaking architects to ever live. I feel that way about Chris Nolan. I may go visit Matt on the set just to watch Nolan direct. I'm not even kidding at all.' Damon has previously collaborated with Nolan on other movies, including Interstellar and Oppenheimer Matt's close friend Ben Affleck has also expressed his excitement over Damon's role in The Odyssey I feel that way about Chris Nolan. I may go visit Matt on the set just to watch Nolan direct. I'm not even kidding at all; Matt and Nolan seen in 2024 in NYC Ben continued, 'I was talking to Matt about - he's going off to do this Chris Nolan movie and doing a lot of stunt rehearsal, and it was kind of like, "Boy, it's been a while, hasn't it?" 'You really have to go learn the fights. This is Bourne Identity kind of territory,' the star added. Last month in February, a first look of Matt on the set of The Odyssey was revealed and showed the actor donning armor as he portrayed his character of the ancient Greek King of Ithaca. Nolan's epic fantasy is slated to hit theaters next summer on July 17, 2026. JoJo Siwa has ruffled more than a few feathers with a new exclusive VIP concert experience as part of her upcoming summer tour. Billed as the 'Dream Guest VIP package' for over $900, the experience involves helping her road crew setup for a concert, among other interactions. 'You are actually going to get to come during while were loading in the show, and you're gonna get to kind of help us set it up and make sure things are right and test out the drum with me or the DJ booth with me,' she said, in part, during an interview with Access Hollywood. More details about the top-shelf VIP package, revealed on her website jojosiwalive.com, also include helping Siwa with her song selection, an exclusive invitation to soundcheck, as part of the show preps, and watching the concert from a designated 'audience area of your choice.' Following the announcement, it didn't take long before some fans took to social media to point out that they would be paying more than $900 to be working for the Dance Moms alum. 'So you basically pay to work?' one person shared on X, while another took the comment a step farther, writing, 'If I'm helping you set up then I should be getting in for free Lmaoo!!!' Jojo Siwa, 21, is feeling some backlash from fans after announcing her Dream Guest VIP package for over $900 includes helping her crew setup for shows All the backlash on social media and the internet didn't end there. 'Jojo Siwa having a $900 vip ticket package where you can help set up the stage girl what kinda s**t is that,' someone else shared. 'She cant be serious,' a fan wrote in disbelief, while others made a reference to their economic hardships with a comments like, 'As if people can actually afford to see concerts right nowterrible timing' and 'what stage of capitalism is this.' Another ticked-off fan made light of another important aspect to the expensive VIP offer, posting, 'Shes touring small theaters, what is there to set up?' The JoJo Siwa Live tour is set to begin on July 10 at the House Of Blues in Houston, Texas, and then make stops in such big U.S. cities as Orlando, Nashville, Detroit, Denver, Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, Toronto, Minneapolis, and San Francisco, among others. Ultimately, the summer trek will end with a performance at the House Of Blues in Anaheim, California on August 9. 'Get ready for a Live Concert ft. New Songs, Current Songs, AND My Kids Songs, a GAYPOP Dj Set, & an immersive party. ALL IN THE SAME NIGHT,' she teased the shows in an Instagram post. The Omaha, Nebraska native has already revealed that the tour will feature new and old songs, including when she was just starting out, a DJ set, an immersive party, and audience participation. Siwa took to her TikTok and Instagram platforms to announce the ticket pre-sale starts on Wednesday, March 26, by using the code 'Bulletproof.' Many irritated fans shared about having to pay such a huge price to work for her There were others who just shared their disbelief in the VIP offer Some people pointed out how fans can 'help' her crew setup for concerts Many fans shared about their economic hardships while insinuating greed 'If I'm helping you set up then I should be getting in for free Lmaoo!!!' one fan pointed out on X The Karma star took to her TikTok and Instagram platforms to announce the ticket pre-sale starts on Wednesday, March 26, by using the code 'Bulletproof' The Jojo Siwa Live tour kicks off July 10 and goes through August 9; tickets go on sale to the public as a whole on Saturday, March 9 The concert tickets and various VIP packages will then be going on sale to the public as a whole three days later on Saturday, March 29. Fans should also know that $1 from every ticket sold for her upcoming North America tour will be donated to the Dancers Against Cancer Charity, where Siwa serves as a board member. The Dream Guest VIP package also includes exclusive autographed memorabilia worn by the star on stage, Q&A and a meet-and-greet with Siwa, as well as VIP-exclusive merchandise, a commemorative laminate and lanyard, early entry, pre-show shopping and an on-site host. Siwa started her career as a top-5 finalist and the youngest contestant on the second season of Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition (2013), produced by Abby Lee Miller of Dance Moms. She went on to appear as a dancer on two seasons of the reality television show Dance Moms, signed to Nickelodeon and acted in various shows and films, which led her music career, starting with the EP Guilty Pleasure and the single Karma. Olivia Culpo has showed off her baby bump just weeks after announcing her pregnancy San Francisco 49ers running back husband. The 32-year old announced her pregnancy to Christian McCaffrey, 28, just weeks ago and has shared pictures exclusively with Daily Mail that were taken as part of her her partnership with fashion e-tailer Cupshe. The model and reality TV star chose clothing that 'celebrate every chapter and stage of a woman's life,' a Cupshe spokeswoman told Daily Mail. Culpo was apparently took inspiration from the 'effortless allure' of Italian fashion for her designs. Culpo's sisters Aurora and Sophia will be joining a campaign that the company is selling as a 'celebration of love and connection.' Olivia Culpo has showed off her baby bump just weeks after announcing her pregnancy with husband Christian McCaffrey On Wednesday global fashion e-tailer Cupshe shared its latest partnership: Cupshe X Olivia Culpo's Vacation Edit. Several images were shared exclusively with DailyMail.com 'Vacation season is coming and I want everyone to be ready,' said Culpo. 'Cupshe asked me to hand-select my favorite pieces from their vacation edit. 'They have so many great pieces and styles, I had a hard time narrowing down my selects but I am confident everyone will be able to find something they love. 'Packing for travel can be tough, but this edit gives you everything you need to feel incredible on your vacation - or staycation!' On Instagram it read: 'The wait is over! Cupshe x Olivia Culpo's Vacation Edit has landed! No trip to Italy? No problemwere bringing that Italian-inspired style straight to you.' 'Crafted with versatility at its core, the Cupshe X Olivia Culpo Vacation Edit provides all-day comfort with a flattering fit for every body type. The collection features 30 women's pieces, including bikinis, one-pieces, swim cover-ups, and vacation dresses,' the company said. 'Infused with Italian-inspired elements, the line exudes an effortless, 'just-threw-this-on' vibe. The swim and apparel collection features vibrant pops of reds, oranges, and blues, along with denim, houndstooth, and crochet fabrics. Joined by her sisters, Aurora and Sophia Culpo, this campaign goes beyond fashion; it's a 'celebration of love and connection,' Cupshe said Styles include petal tops, underwire designs, and high-waisted bikini bottoms. 'The Cupshe x Olivia Culpo Edit is now available on cupshe.com, with prices ranging from $25.99 to $41.99 and sizes from XS to XL. Campaign assets are available here. Founded in 2015, Cupshe is a vacation lifestyle fashion brand. 'Cupshe is committed to staying true to its mission of empowering women everywhere to look and feel their best in quality, elevated and accessible swimwear. Celebrity fans of Cupshe include Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Hilary Duff, and more.' Olivia is surprised she got pregnant so fast with McCaffrey, a source told DailyMail.com earlier this month. That is because the star suffers from Endometriosis, a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus which can make it harder to get pregnant, according to the World Health Organization. Her sister looked fantastic in the bikini shoot as they were seen in orange and white 'Olivia was hopeful she would be able to get pregnant in the years following her wedding to Christian,' the source stated. 'She was really shocked that she got pregnant just a few months after marrying Christian because she has Endometriosis. 'Is has been a sweet gift for her to get pregnant right away. She can't wait to become a mom.' Olivia married Christian, 28, in June 2024, she got pregnant around four months later and is now about six months along, the source shared. 'Olivia was hopeful she would be able to get pregnant in the years following her wedding to Christian,' the source stated. 'She was really shocked that she got pregnant just a few months after marrying Christian because she has Endometriosis. Is has been a sweet gift for her to get pregnant right away. She can't wait to become a mom' 'The first four months of her pregnancy were difficult where she could not exercise much, she couldn't even go for power walks in her neighborhood, she had to lay low for the baby. But now she is able to do light exercises in the gym.' Earlier this week DailyMail.com learned that Culpo is about six months along in her first pregnancy. 'She started telling very close family members she was pregnant around Thanksgiving,' a pal told DailyMail.com. 'Olivia has done a very good job at hiding her pregnancy with baggy clothing and covering her tummy with purses. She even used her dog Olive to help cover her bump.' And the source added it is all she and Christian wanted: 'She is thrilled to be having a baby with the love of her life.' The source also said many fans have pretty much known that Olivia was pregnant as she started hiding her midsection in November. 'She used to flaunt her abs on social media and then in November, that was over. Fans were pretty much aware something was up and would ask Olivia constantly on DM if she was pregnant,' said the source. Olivia married Christian, 28, in June 2024, she got pregnant around four months later and is now about six months along, the source shared Culpo made the announcement on social media on Monday morning, posing for pictures where she touched her bump. She captioned the post: 'Next chapter, motherhood'. She also shared a video of her and McCaffrey holding hands and kissing during an outdoor shoot. The couple, who began their romance in 2019, are yet to announce the gender of the baby. McCaffrey is the star running back for the San Francisco 49ers. Culpo has been open about her desire to start a family with McCaffrey before but has also talked about her battle with endometriosis. In a 2022 episode of reality show Culpo Sisters she said: 'I want to have kids, but I want to make sure that I can. It could be really hard for me to have babies. 'Endometriosis can affect your fertility in a lot of different ways. 'You can have endometrial tissue growing near or on your ovaries, it can affect the quality of your eggs, scar your fallopian tubes. 'There is so much that I don't know about what's going to happen in the future with that condition, and I worry all the time about my timeline. I feel like I have to have kids ASAP.' 'Endometriosis wreaked havoc on my life' she said, adding that it took her 'years and years and years to finally get a diagnosis.' The star - pictured 2023 with McCaffrey - has previously spoken about her battle with endometriosis The Rhode Island native said she remembered 'not being able to function' and suffered the 'type of pain that kept [her] in bed all day,' but was not able to get an immediate diagnosis. 'I went to doctor after doctor after doctor, I was told by every single doctor I went to - dozens - that my periods were normal that pain is normal that discomfort is normal that I just need to take medicine,' Culpo said, noting that she 'was prescribed all sorts of things and the pain was not getting any better.' The one-time Miss Universe said she 'was almost made to feel like [she] was making up [her] symptoms and overreacting,' which was 'very painful physically and also emotionally, because [her] pain was never validated.' Geordie Shore favourite Scotty T has reportedly been axed from the series following a recent driving ban and cocaine scandal. The reality star, 36, who made his return to the Paramount+ series last year, pleaded guilty last month to two counts of driving under the influence of a controlled drug, which was above the specified limit. After pleading guilty, Scotty was fined 330 and banned from driving for a year. Despite his big return after a two-year absence, sources report that show bosses have now decided to drop him from the upcoming series. A source told The Sun: 'Scotty T will not be back for the next series of Geordie Shore, which starts filming later this spring. 'While the Geordie Shore cast have never been expected to be squeaky clean, bosses couldnt stand by his recent off screen antics. Geordie Shore favourite Scotty T has reportedly been axed from the series following a recent driving ban and cocaine scandal The reality star, 36, who made his return to the Paramount+ series last year, pleaded guilty last month to two counts of driving under the influence of a controlled drug 'At the end of the day, its not a good look for the show or MTV if they endorse cast members who drive whilst under the influence of illegal drugs.' The source added that bosses had no choice but to not invite him back for the next series. However, if he 'cleans up his act,' there may be a chance for a return in the future. But for now, the show will be moving forward without him. MailOnline has contacted MTV for comment. The Celebrity Big Brother winner was stopped in Newcastle on October 18 last year. According to The Sun, the city's magistrates' court heard that he had 32 micrograms per litre of blood in his system while driving his Land Rover Discovery. The legal limit is 10 micrograms, and he also had 800 micrograms of BZE per litre of blood - well above the legal limit of 50 micrograms. Insiders for The Sun previously teased that Scotty T was set to make a dramatic return overseas. After pleading guilty, Scotty T was fined 330 and banned from driving for a year. Despite his big return after a two-year absence, sources now report that show bosses have decided to drop him from the upcoming series A source told them: 'Scottys been in weeks of talks and is now days away from signing on to officially rejoin the cast. 'He really missed the show and knows it was his own fault he had to leave. 'The cast all still love him so theyre so happy hes set to return. It means next series will be incredible - even though hes done some stupid things in the past, hes fun TV. The source also added that bosses had warned him this was his 'last chance' and not to 'ruin it like he did last time.' Scotty T first joined the cast in 2012 for the fourth series and was continuously on the show until 2018. The reality star then returned in 2022 for series 18, 19 and 23 and in 2019, he opened up about his battle with drugs. According to The Sun, he booked himself into a rehab centre facility in 2017 and spent two weeks recovering. However, months later MailOnline revealed he had been axed from the show by MTV bosses after he was pictured 'snorting a suspicious substance' and exposing himself to a female. Scotty T joined the cast in 2012 for the fourth series and was continuously on the show until 2018 (pictured with Gary Beadle 2012) The reality star then returned in 2022 for series 18, 19 and 23 and in 2019, he opened up about his battle with drugs which led to him previously getting booted from the show The reality star was told by MTV bosses at the time that he couldn't take part in the next season due to his behaviour. A TV insider told The Sun at the time: 'Scotty cannot be trusted filming with the cast; hes a liability and no one needs the stress of minding after him. 'Hes been a great long-running character but his behaviour towards the end of last year proved that he no longer deserves a place on the series. 'The cast are flying out to Australia at the end of this week and he wont be joining them. MailOnline contacted Scotty T's representative at the time and a Geordie Shore spokesperson declined to comment. He's one of the more colourful MPs to grace Westminster, and often found himself at the centre of many a political controversy. And now former Conservative politician Sir Michael Fabricant has signed up to appear on Celebrity Big Brother which begins next month on ITV. He is understood to have signed a lucrative six-figure deal to take part after political stars were banned from the broadcaster's other reality show, I'm A Celeb. The Mail can reveal that network bosses are 'excited' at him agreeing to take part in the reality series, with one source saying: 'He doesn't hold back, he's going to be compulsive viewing, we can't wait. 'We wanted a top politician but one with enormous personality which would entertain the viewers. 'He recently lost his seat so was available, already the execs are excited that he will be a star of the series. Former Conservative politician Sir Michael Fabricant, 74, has signed up to appear on Celebrity Big Brother which begins next month on ITV 'Michael is not only instantly recognisable but also is so likely to say the wrong thing, start some debates and really ramp things up in the house.' Mr Fabricant, 74, served as MP for Lichfield in Staffordshire from 1992 until his defeat in 2024 as well as vice-chairman of the Conservative Party under David Cameron but he is perhaps known best for his blonde mop of hair for which he has been widely ridiculed but has repeatedly denied that it is a wig. Celebrity Big Brother, which begins on April 7, is not Mr Fabricant's first foray into reality television, he starred on Channel 4's First Dates: Celebrity Special for Stand Up To Cancer in 2017. It saw the then MP paired for a date with 61-year-old fantasy novelist Jan, who immediately jumped on the subject of his colourful hair and said he needed to ditch what she assumed was his wig. 'Aggressive, unpleasant and mean,' were some of the kinder comments he called Jan. Mr Fabricant was one of the most controversial politicians in the last Tory government. In 2022, he was criticised for a tweet relating to the arrest of another MP accused of rape and sexual assault. Tory whips told the unnamed MP to stay away from Parliament while police carry out their inquiry but Mr Fabricant tweeted there would be a 'strong turnout' of MPs to 'prove they are not the one told by the chief whip to stay at home' - a comment which Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner called 'grotesque'. Mr Fabricant, 74, served as MP for Lichfield in Staffordshire from 1992 until his defeat in 2024 as well as vice-chairman of the Conservative Party under David Cameron (pictured 2003) The Mail can reveal that network bosses are 'excited' at him agreeing to take part in the reality series, with one source saying: 'He doesn't hold back, he's going to be compulsive viewing' In 2016 he was forced to apologise after shouting out 'b******' loudly in the Commons chamber as MPs discussed the EU referendum, while during lockdown he was lambasted for saying that teachers and nurses enjoyed 'quiet drinks' in their staff rooms. Mr Fabricant also once revealed that he had used sex drugs poppers amid the government's considerations to ban them as part of a crackdown on legal highs. Mr Fabricant is openly bisexual and has spoken in the past of how close he is to former Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street - who is described as his 'life partner'. He said: 'We've got a place together in Wales because we both like walking. We go on holidays together, and we're, you know, we're very, very close. 'But we lead separate lives. If we lived together all the time, I think we'd murder each other. 'There's something special, but I'm not quite sure what it is. One of those indefinable little things.' Mr Fabricant will be joined by Coronation Street actor Jack P Shepherd and Love Island contestant Chris Hughes, among other stars when the show begins later this month. Dr. Phil has weighed in on Kim Kardashian and Kanye Wests escalating 'nuclear war' over their children, warning that Kim could face serious consequences if she doesnt take legal action. Their bitter feud erupted earlier this month when West ignored Kardashian's objections and released a song featuring their 11-year-old daughter North alongside Diddywho is awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Reports later claimed Kardashian abruptly ended one of North's visits with West upon learning that Andrew Tate, who is facing human trafficking charges in Romania, was set to be present. West retaliated with a series of blistering rants on X, slamming Kardashians parenting and accusing a 'white woman' of controlling his 'Black children.' Now, insiders say Kardashian is considering filing for full custody of the four children she shares with WestNorth, Saint, nine, Chicago, seven, and Psalm, six. Dr. Phil cautioned that failing to take legal action could have serious consequences. Dr. Phil has weighed in on Kim Kardashian and Kanye Wests escalating 'nuclear war' over their children, warning that Kim could face serious consequences if she doesnt take legal action Iinsiders say Kardashian is considering filing for full custody of the four children she shares with WestNorth, Saint, nine, Chicago, seven, and Psalm, six, as Dr. Phil cautioned that failing to take legal action could have serious consequences; (Kanye and Kim in 2019) 'If you need an emergency intervention, then you get an emergency intervention,' he said of Kim and Kanye's situation on the 2 Angry Men podcast. 'What we dont want is for these children to wind up in foster care because that system is broken.' He pushed back on the assumption that their wealth would shield them from such a fate. 'If you think, well, with this kind of money, theyre not gonna wind up in foster carewell, thats wrong,' he continued. 'If the DCF (Department of Children and Families) gets involved and thinks one parent isnt reacting while the other is unstable, they will take them. Now, theyre likely to place them with family members rather than strangers, but you dont want these children left hanging out to dry.' Meanwhile, Kim is preparing to take the stand in the upcoming trial of the Paris gang accused of robbing her at gunpoint in 2016, DailyMail.com confirmed. In the shocking $10 million heist, Kardashian was bound, gagged, and locked in a bathroom while thieves ransacked her penthouse suite, making off with her lavish jewelry collection, including the $4 million engagement ring West gave her. The 12 defendantsdubbed Kardashians Twelve in a nod to the Oceans film seriesare currently free, having been released from their high-security remand cells ahead of trial. The comments directed at his ex-wife came in reaction to a planned musical collaboration between his daughter North, 11, and rapper Playboi Carti, 28, which he opposes. Kim and North pictured at a Lakers game last April in LA Dr. Phil cautioned that failing to take legal action could have serious consequences; (Kim in March) At the center of the case is Aomar Ait Khedache, 69, a career criminal known as Old Omar in French media, who has openly admitted to masterminding the robbery. One of his key accomplices, Yunice Abbas, 72, even wrote a tell-all book titled I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian. The so-called Grandpa Robbers are set to stand trial in April, with Kardashian scheduled to deliver her testimony to the jury in May. The upcoming court date comes in the wake of her dramatic feud with her ex-husband Kanye West, whom she left in 2021 after nearly seven years of marriage. Their battle of wills burst into the public eye earlier this month after West disregarded Kardashian's objections and dropped a song featuring their 11-year-old daughter North along with Diddy, who is awaiting trial on charges including sex trafficking. Sources then claimed Kardashian ended one of North's visits with her father because self-described misogynist Andrew Tate was going to be present with his brother Tristan. The alleged episode with the Tates - who are facing charges in Romania including human trafficking and sex with a minor - is said to have prompted Kardashian to call an emergency custody hearing. West aimed a string of scathing rants at Kardashian on X last week, attacking her parenting and complaining that a white woman was in 'control' of his 'black children.' Kardashian is said to be considering applying for full custody of the four children she shares with West - North, 11, Saint, nine, Chicago , seven, and Psalm, six Kardashian is said to be considering applying for full custody of the four children she shares with West - North, 11, Saint, nine, Chicago, seven, and Psalm, six. A source claimed Kardashian and her children were worried West was 'sinking further down' mentally amid the former couple's explosive clash, via Page Six. The insider alleged West, who maintains he was incorrectly diagnosed with bipolar disorder, was 'obviously not taking his meds, if he was we wouldnt be here.' After his outbursts on X, West, 47, is purported to have flown to Tokyo. Louis DeJoys tenure at USPS has officially been returned to sender. Postmaster DeJoy the former businessman who rose to the position during the first Trump administration and led USPS through a pandemic, a surge in mail-in voting, and repeated financial crises officially stepped down on Monday. His departure could spell trouble for the 635,000 postal workers who keep the mail flowing and for the people who depend on its services. During DeJoy's tenure, around 30,000 USPS employees left the agency. It also could spell some major changes to the agency, including President Trump's proposed 'merger.' In some parts of the country, service has slowed due to job cuts, and consolidated delivery routes have extended the time it takes for letters to reach rural mailboxes. The agency announced an early retirement program that USPS expects around 10,000 employees will opt into. But DeJoy's departure is sparking new uncertainty for the millions of Americans who depend on the postal service for prescription meds and birthday cards. And if the White House gets its way, the agency could be headed for its biggest shake-up in 250 years. The USPS might soon deliver mail at an even slower pace As President Trump returns to the Oval Office and Musk pushes DOGEs whack-a-mole approach to cutting the federal governments size, officials have turned their sights on USPSs financial struggles. Trump and Musk have both floated the idea of spinning the postal service out of the federal government and into private hands for the first time in history. The for-profit change would come after mounting yearly loses for the post office. In 2024, USPS reported a $6.5 billion loss. Top brass expect the bleeding to continue, with an estimated $9 billion loss in 2025. To stem the outflow of cash, previous administrators raised the price of stamps. From 2019 to 2025, DeJoy hiked the price of a standard stamp from $0.50 to $0.73 a 46 percent increase. The hikes have been unpopular, driving up shipping costs for small businesses and playing a role in rising consumer prices. President Trump has also suggested moving the agency under Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnicks oversight. 'We want to have a post office that works well and doesnt lose massive amounts of money,' the President said during Lutnick's swearing-in. Postmaster Louis DeJoy, a Trump appointee, headed the agency for five years The USPS has slashed thousands of jobs, leading customers to complain about late packages The agency is going through seismic change - Trump has threatened even bigger adjustments 'Were thinking about doing that, and it will be a form of a merger.' Its unclear whether USPS would function better as a private company or a smaller government agency. USPSs core mission to deliver mail to all Americans, regardless of rural, urban, or island residency has long been a financial drain. That obligation would either put a private company at a severe disadvantage against competitors like FedEx and UPS. In a smaller agency, it could continue to cost the federal government billions or become even less efficient. But, to many outsiders, its clear the agency needed a new direction. USPS has spent billions of dollars to electrify its fleet of trucks a task that multiple private companies have done at a profit only to get a few hundred delivered in years of work. Diplomats from Suriname and South Africa visited Maharshi Panini Sanskrit Evam Vedic Vishwavidyalaya in Ujjain, highlighting the deep-rooted cultural and historical ties their countries share with India. During the visit, they stressed the importance of preserving traditions and fostering academic collaboration. Sunaina Raginidevi Mohan, a diplomat from the Suriname Embassy, expressed her profound connection to India, particularly Ujjain, the city of Mahakal. "Visiting India, especially Ujjain, is a pleasant and unforgettable experience. Despite the passage of centuries, Suriname has preserved its religion, culture, traditions, and language. We must stay connected to our history and roots," she said. Mohan highlighted the enduring historical and emotional bond between Suriname and India, stating that both nations possess rich and glorious cultural legacies. She revealed that Sanskrit and Hindi are part of the educational curriculum in Suriname and proposed establishing an academic agreement to expand Sanskrit education in her country. Kadu Solo Bhagwan, a diplomat from South Africa, emphasized the centuries-old connection between his nation and India, noting that Mahatma Gandhi played a pivotal role in fostering these ties. "Mahatma Gandhi's journey from an ordinary man to a revered global leader began in South Africa," he said. Describing India as a land of knowledge and spirituality, Bhagwan expressed his joy at experiencing the spiritual essence during his visit. Welcoming the diplomats, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Vijay Kumar S.J. shared insights into the universityas mission to promote Indian knowledge systems and Sanskrit education globally. He reiterated the universityas commitment to fostering academic exchanges and cultural preservation. The program began with an introduction of the visiting diplomats by Dr. Shubham Sharma, Head of the Jyotirvigyan Department. Prof. Dilip Soni, the universityas Registrar, delivered a vote of thanks, acknowledging the diplomatsa efforts to strengthen cultural and educational ties. Bangladesh on Tuesday said it was awaiting a response from India to its proposal for a meeting between Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit in Bangkok next week. "From our side, we are fully ready for the meeting. Now, we await a positive response from India," Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin said at a media briefing here, outlining the Chief Adviser's forthcoming visits to China and Thailand. Dhaka earlier sent a letter to India proposing a meeting between Yunus and Modi amid a strained bilateral relation after the August 5, 2024 regime change in Bangladesh when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's 16-year Awami League regime was toppled and she virtually fled to India. Modi and Yunus are likely to visit Thailand to attend the BIMSTEC summit. Dhaka has proposed their meeting on the sidelines of the event. Jashim Uddin acknowledged the existing "strain" in bilateral relations but said this could be overcome if a bilateral meeting is held between the two leaders. Last week in Delhi, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said he had no update on any planned meeting between the two leaders. Yunus will be in Bangkok to attend the BIMSTEC summit from April 2-4. Ahead of the Bangkok visit, Yunus will travel to China on a three-day visit starting Wednesday to attend the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference in Hainan Province, a business summit nearly identical to the World Economic Forum conference in Switzerland. The foreign ministry said Yunus was expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit during which the trans-border Teesta River reservoir issue might be discussed. India earlier expressed its reservations regarding Chinese involvement in the project during the Hasina regime. "Teesta is not on the agenda of this visit. It is a matter of top leadership's will. However, water management is on the agenda, and there is a possibility that Teesta will come up during those discussions," the foreign secretary said. China has previously conducted a survey to assess the scope of the proposed 'Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration' project assumed to be at the invitation of the now-deposed Hasina regime. Later, Hasina said India could carry out the project since the river is shared by the two neighbours. Jashim Uddin said that during Yunus' China visit discussions were expected to be held on Myanmar's internal situation and the possibilities for Rohingya repatriation. The United Kingdom (UK) has imposed sanctions on four Sri Lankans, including three former military commanders who led the campaign that crushed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009, for human rights violations. A UK foreign office statement on Monday said General Shavendra Silva, former head of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, Wasantha Karannagoda, former Navy Commander, and Jagath Jayasuriya, former Commander of the Sri Lankan Army, were among those sanctioned and subjected to UK travel bans and asset freezes. The statement said the UK government also sanctioned Vinyagamurthy Muralidaran, the deputy leader of the LTTE who later turned a rebel of the group and became a deputy minister in the national parliament. "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 statement said.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 continues to have an impact on communities today."He said the sanctions would ensure that those responsible for past human rights violations and abuses were 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," Lammy said. The UK government's sanctions on General Silva follow a similar action against him by the US State Department in 2020. In 2023, Canada sanctioned the two former presidents, Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The two Rajapaksa brothers led the military campaign which crushed the LTTE, ending their three decades of armed struggle to create a separate Tamil homeland in the north and east regions. General Silva and Karannagoda were key commanders in the three-year campaign. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ran a parallel state in the north and east regions of Sri Lanka in their bid to set up a separate homeland for the minority Tamils claiming discrimination at the hands of the Sinhalese. On May 18, 2009, the Sri Lankan Army declared victory with the discovery of the body of the dreaded LTTE leader Velupillai Prabakaran. According to Sri Lankan government figures, over 20,000 people are missing due to various conflicts, including the three-decade war with Tamil militants in the north and east, which claimed at least 100,000 lives. Commissar Rachel Reeves will address the Duma House of Comrades today to proudly announce that since her first Soviet Budget, Britain is now in recession and a Great Depression has fallen over the Soviet Peoples Republic of Britain. The commissars second soviet budget will bring even more horror and misery to the vile proles. RECESSION BRITAIN Comrades, apparatchiks, civil servants, train drivers, union bosses, fat cat council bosses, NHS managers, Bolsheviks, and the everyday working proletariat scum. I am proud to announce that today I will address the Soviet Duma of Britain about how my first budgets policies have ruined the economy and made the lives of Britons a fucking misery. Thanks to my growth policies of heavy taxation, heavy regulation, and punishing business costs, which have reduced the quality of life to never before seen levels, as well as going on a 70 billion spending splurge on useless Big State socialist projects, I have been called forward once again to punish Britons further by announcing Labour will put Britain into a further 6.4 trillion of debt by 2029. Do not worry, civil servants of the Big State, Labour ministers, train drivers, council managers and bosses and union bosses all on vast taxpayer salaries and pensions will be exempt from the horrors I have brought upon the ordinary British taxpayers and the filthy capitalist private sector. The Red Labour government is dedicated to increasing taxes even further, increasing useless regulations that will further inhibit business, and punishing those who work hard and save by confiscating wealth from the bourgeoisie and business community. We are also destroying the vile landed gentry represented by the Kulak farmer class. These parasitical capitalist swine have dared to survive for generations, providing food for the population of Britain. Thanks to my policies, they will be stopped in their tracks and bankrupted as their wealth is siphoned off and redistributed to people who have never worked a day in their lives. Our redistribution of wealth from wealth creators to the feckless subclasses and illegal immigrants is the correct action to implement. Through collectivisation we as a Soviet nation are becoming stronger in poverty, and destitution. Why have a recession when you can have a Great Depression? Comrades, this is my goal as Commissar of the Soviet Peoples Bank. Comrades, I am proud to announce and celebrate our economy shrinking into recession, by cancelling the previous proposed increase of 2.1 grams in chocolate rations that was scheduled for this year, and instead replace it with one rotten turnip for the proletariat filth. INGSOC ORDER 8564324-9076-S COLIN PUMPLESWANK OF 871 URINE ROAD, STAINES WAS TODAY CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTS TO INCREASE HIS WEALTH BY RUNNING A BUSINESS SELLING GRAPES, WHICH ARE A RARE COMMODITY ONLY ALLOWED FOR HIGH PARTY LABOUR MEMBERS. HE HAS BEEN CHARGED AND CONVICTED TO 45 YEARS OF HARD LABOUR BREAKING ROCKS IN GRIMSBY GULAG. HE GLADLY CONFESSED TO HIS VARIOUS CRIMES, INCLUDING SOCIAL MEDIA THOUGHTCRIME, SELLING GRAPES ILLICITLY TO PROLES AND PROFITING OFF THIS EVIL CAPITALIST ACTION. PROLETARIAT SOVIET CITIZENS OF BRITAIN ARE PROHIBITED FROM EATING OR PURCHASING GOODS, WHICH ARE RESERVED ONLY FOR HIGH PARTY COMRADES. IF FOUND SELLING OR CONSUMING RESERVED GOODS, PROLES WILL BE LIQUIDATED AND RECYCLED INTO NET ZERO JUICE (AVAILABLE IN SELECT SOVIETMARKET OUTLETS). The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has halved Britains growth and warned the tax burden will hit a new record under Ms Reeves, from 35.3pc of gross domestic product (GDP) this year to an historic high of 37.7pc in 2027-28. The Workers Rights Charter means that many people will never be employed and will add to the burden on the taxpayer as millions more will claim benefits. This is poverty Britain. The insane policies of Rachel Reeves have choked growth in the UK. The rise in National Insurance, kicking in next month, will cost firms billions, discouraging hiring and investment. Frozen income tax thresholds and higher stamp duty will destroy household finances, along with skyrocketing Net Zero energy costs and Council (poll) tax increases. Poverty will increase in Britain because of Labours inhumane policies, and unemployment will rise due to the delusional policies of Reeves, making employing people an impossibility for many businesses. Reeves has tried to blame Trump for the economic downturn in Britain on multiple occasions, but the UK economy shrank by 0.1% in January before the markets had priced in the Trump tariff wars. Almost 5 billion of welfare cuts will leave an estimated quarter of a million more people, including 50,000 children, in absolute poverty by the end of the decade, according to the Governments own impact assessment. Meanwhile, with no deterrent for illegal Channel crossings, over 30,000 illegal migrants have crossed over from France since Labour took over, and the cost for putting the hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers up in luxury hotels is now costing the taxpayer 6.5 million per day, not including the room service costs. When Reeves opened her mouth today in parliament, the value of the pound slumped further and news came through that the OBR had halved its estimates for growth in the UK economy this year. North Korea has harshly criticized Japans recent establishment of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) Joint Operation Command, alleging that the move signifies the final stages of Tokyos preparation to become a war state aimed at overseas aggression. The condemnation, issued through the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), highlights the escalating tensions in the region and underscores North Koreas sensitivity to any perceived increase in Japans military capabilities. Get alerts: The Launch of Japans Joint Operation Command Japan formally launched the SDF Joint Operation Command on Monday, a significant restructuring of its defense forces. The new command is designed to streamline the coordination of the ground, maritime, and air defense forces, enhancing their ability to respond effectively to emergencies. Furthermore, the command is intended to facilitate smoother collaboration with U.S. troops stationed in Japan, a critical component of the U.S.-Japan security alliance. Japanese defense officials have emphasized that the Joint Operation Command is a necessary step to address the evolving security landscape in East Asia, characterized by increasing regional instability and the growing threat posed by North Koreas nuclear and missile programs. The command aims to improve interoperability and responsiveness, ensuring a more robust defense posture. North Koreas Reaction: Allegations of War State Ambitions In a strongly worded commentary, KCNA asserted that the establishment of the Joint Operation Command is directly linked to Japans pursuit of long-range missile capabilities and its broader ambition to transform into a military power capable of overseas aggression. North Korea alleges that Japan has been systematically preparing for this transformation for the past 80 years, dating back to its defeat in World War II. Such a preparation has entered the final stage, the KCNA commentary stated, painting a picture of a resurgent Japan poised to repeat its past militaristic expansionism. The commentary highlighted Japans continued efforts to modernize its military and expand its operational reach as evidence of its aggressive intentions. Citing Military Drills as Evidence of Militarism North Korea cited Japans participation in joint military exercises as further evidence of its growing militarism. The commentary specifically mentioned Japan-led joint drills involving 11 nations last year and a trilateral naval exercise with South Korea and the United States held in March. Pyongyang views these exercises as rehearsals for future military operations and a demonstration of Japans willingness to engage in frontline combat. North Korea has consistently condemned military exercises involving the United States, South Korea, and Japan, viewing them as provocative acts that escalate tensions in the region. Pyongyang frequently cites these drills as justification for its military activities, including missile tests and nuclear weapons development. Implications for Regional Security North Koreas strong reaction to Japans new military command underscores the fragile security situation in East Asia. The region is characterized by a complex web of alliances and rivalries, with the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, and North Korea all vying for influence. While Japans military buildup is intended to deter potential aggression, North Korea perceives it as a direct threat to its security. This perception could lead to further escalations in military activity, including increased missile tests and heightened rhetoric. The ongoing tensions between North Korea and Japan also have implications for the broader U.S.-Japan alliance. The United States has consistently reaffirmed its commitment to defending Japan, including through the deployment of U.S. troops and military assets in the country. However, North Korea views the U.S. military presence in the region as a source of instability and a provocation. Prospects for Dialogue and De-escalation Despite the current tensions, some analysts believe that there is still room for dialogue and de-escalation. However, any meaningful progress will require a willingness from all parties to address the underlying issues that are driving the conflict. For North Korea, this may involve a willingness to engage in denuclearization talks and address concerns about its human rights record. For Japan, it may include a willingness to address historical grievances and build trust with its neighbors. For the United States, it may involve a desire to engage in direct talks with North Korea and explore alternative approaches to resolving the conflict. Ultimately, the future of regional security in East Asia will depend on the ability of all parties to coexist peacefully and address their differences through dialogue and diplomacy rather than military posturing and provocative rhetoric. The path forward is filled with challenges, but the alternative, a continued escalation of tensions, is considered unacceptable on the world stage. The international community must work together to foster an environment of trust and cooperation in the region, paving the way for a more stable and secure future. A County Derry woman who is accused of benefit fraud has been returned for trial. Georgina Maxwell, of Bovevagh Road, Dungiven, appeared before Limavady Magistrates Court, sitting in Coleraine, earlier today. The accused, whose age was not disclosed on court papers, is charged on December 14 2017 with making a false declaration on a universal credit application that she knew to be false, namely that she had under 6,000 in capital. Maxwell is also charged with five counts of dishonestly failing to notify the Social Security Agency of a change in circumstances. These charges were allegedly committed on various dates between December 2017 and July 2024. Maxwell declined to give evidence or call witnesses during the short hearing. District Judge Peter King said that he was satisfied that a prima facie case can be established based on the papers that were before the court. Maxwell was released on bail of 500 to return for trial at Antrim Crown Court on April 29. Three arrests have been made and suspected drugs with an estimated street value of at least 80,000 seized as part of a joint operation between The Police Service of Northern Ireland and Merseyside Police. The arrests were made after colleagues from UK Border Force intercepted suspected Class A and Class B drugs. Enquiries resulted in a co-ordinated search and arrest operation by police in Derry and in Liverpool yesterday, 25 March. District Support Team officers in Derry arrested a woman, aged 26 years old, on suspicion of attempted possession of Class B controlled drug with intent to supply, attempted possession of Class A controlled drug with intent to supply, possession of a Class B controlled drug, attempted possession of Class B controlled drug and attempted possession of a Class A controlled drug. She remains in custody at this time. Officers made a second arrest - a 25-year-old man, on suspicion of possession of a Class A controlled drug. Both have since been bailed to allow for further police enquiries to be conducted. Drug-related paraphernalia was also seized. A 44-year-old man from Liverpool was arrested by Merseyside Police on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a controlled drug Class A possession with intent to supply a controlled drug Class B, import a Class B drug with intent to evade a prohibition/restriction, produce a controlled drug Class B and abstract/use without authority electricity. He has been released under investigation pending further enquiries. Following a search of a property in Liverpool 45 cannabis plants were located together with a large amount of suspected Class A drugs. READ NEXT: Derry man in possession of imitation firearm returned for trial Enquiries are ongoing. Derry City & Strabane Chief Inspector Cathal Pearce said: "Working with partners, we are doing everything in our collective power to tackle the supply, use and harm caused by illegal drugs. We will continue to do this through Operation Dealbreaker, and with the support of partner organisations, to disrupt and prevent those involved in drug-related activity and who bring nothing but harm to the most vulnerable within our communities. Were grateful for the support of local people, and Im keen to reiterate our appeal for anyone with information, or concerns, to get in touch on 101 or submit a report online via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport Merseyside Police Chief Inspector Steve Robinson said: Following a seizure of a package containing drugs by the Border Force our officers carried out further enquiries which led to a warrant being executed at a property in Liverpool and a 44-year-old man being arrested for Class and B drugs offences and quantities of drugs being seized. Organised crime is hugely damaging to our communities, often involving intimidation, violence and creating fear. Those involved pay no notice to borders so it is vital we share intelligence and resources and work with our colleagues in other police forces, including PSNI, in order to gather intelligence and make arrests. Reports can also be made to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org Derry City and Strabane District councillor Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit) has branded British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves 4.8 billion cut in welfare spending as an attack on an already punitive welfare system. Cllr Harkin made his comments as he brought forward a motion, seconded by Cllr Rory Farrell (SDLP), to Derry City and Strabane District Councils March plenary on Wednesday afternoon; the motion was passed unanimously. After more than a decade of Tory austerity, the Labour Party said it was going to create a more equal society and give people back some hope, said Cllr Harkin. He added: This Government has not fulfilled that promise. It has, I believe, waged a class war and that class war is just getting worse. It began by attacking older people, pensioners, by taking away the winter fuel payment. Then it refused to do anything about the cruel two-child limit. Now it is demonising people on benefits and attempting to dismiss the mental health crisis we have in our society. Starmer talks about saving 5 billion by reducing the amount of money people are able to access. This is disgraceful. It is disgraceful that it is a Labour Government that has allowed these attacks on vulnerable members of our society. At the same time as Starmer announces these cuts to disability payments and the welfare system, he has announced massive increases in military spending, so they are literally taking money that people need to , that keeps people out of hardship , that allows people to have a life, and they are ploughing that money into arms that will allow more corporate profiteering by warmongers. This is very sick, said Cllr Harkin. Cllr Harkins motion read: Council will write to the British government expressing our concern and opposition to proposed cuts to disability payments. Council views this as an attack on the vulnerable and a continuation of austerity policies by a Labour government elected to end years of Tory austerity. Council agrees this is not an attempt to help people back into work but is a cost saving measure following Starmers announcement of a gross 13.4 billion increase in military spending. Council agrees the government should increase taxes on billionaires, corporate profiteers and the super-rich instead of once again launching punitive measures that will push many vulnerable people, including many in our District, into deeper poverty, hardship and isolation. Council will write to all locally based MPs, the Stormont Executive and the Secretary of State calling on them to resist cuts to disability payments and attacks on an already punitive welfare system. Speaking to The Derry News before the Council meeting, Cllr Harkin said: Socialists often make the point when governments claim funding is not available for vital services that there always seems to be money for war. Starmer has just proved this. He has massively increased war spending but says Labour must slash benefits for the sick and disabled. We need to push back against the demonisation of people receiving disability payments and the cynical attempt to dismiss the mental health crisis. Stormont is failing to deliver on housing need, reducing health service waiting lists, or addressing poverty. Under no circumstances should it assist Westminster to deliver cruel disability payments cuts. It is time to build resistance against cuts and the demonisation of vulnerable members of our communities, said Cllr Harkin. Supporting the motion, Cllr Rory Farrell (SDLP) added an amendment which said: Council notes there are over 25,000 Personal Independence Payment claimants living in the Council area; Council will write to the Minister for Communities requesting details on potential impact of eligibility changes to PIP, more specifically to detail the number of people currently in receipt of the benefit who did not score at least four points in at least one of the daily living descriptors; Council will write to the entire Executive to understand the actions it will take to protect the most vulnerable in society from these drastic benefit changes. Cllr Farrell described the cuts as absolutely shameless by a Labour Government. He added: These cuts should be resisted and they should be overturned. Rachel Reeves announced the cuts in yesterdays spring statement delivered in the British House of Commons. #WelfareNotWarfare@DPACNIreland had a brilliant protest in Derry Northern Ireland pictures are here pic.twitter.com/fSdvjjsnix DPAC (@Dis_PPL_Protest) March 26, 2025 Under her new measures, universal credit incapacity benefits for new claimants will be cut by half to 50 a week in 2026 and then frozen until 2030. The basic rate of universal credit will also increase from 92 to 106 a week by 2029. Ms Reeves welfare cuts follow the 5 billion of benefits cuts announced last week by British Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, who said a stricter eligibility test for PIP (personal independence payment) would be introduced in November 2026. Ms Kendall also announced she was freezing the health element of universal credit for existing claimants until 2029. Ms Reeves spring statement announcement extended this to new claimants. Rachel Reeves confirmed, in addition, British defence spending would increase to 2.5% which would be partly met by the recently announced reduction in overseas aid. Legal action is being planned to challenge a Stormont ministers decision to erect Irish language signs at Belfasts new Grand Central Station. Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson from the Unionist Voice Policy Studies (UVPS) group, has lodged legal papers for a judicial review against the Department for Infrastructure, stating the decision was taken without Executive approval. 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. Ms Kimmins said Irish language would be added to wayfinding, passenger information, safety and welcome signage and ticketing machines. It has been reported that the new signs will cost around 150,000. The multimillion-pound 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 include Irish language signage. However, Ms Kimmins announcement has been criticised by some unionist representatives. A statement released by Mr Bryson said the UVPS had served pre-action judicial review papers on the department in respect of the controversial and divisive decision to act without Executive authority in imposing Irish language within the new Belfast Central station. The statement said the decision was clearly significant and controversial. It added: The legal action we have commenced seeks to compel the minister to act lawfully, which requires bringing her decision to the Executive committee for cross-community approval. In the absence of same, there is no lawful authority to impose the decision, and should the minister not concede on this point then we will seek an order of the High Court quashing her decision. The Department for Infrastructure has been approached for comment. Speaking earlier this week, Ms Kimmins said the inclusion of Irish on signs at the station would be a hugely positive development. She said: 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. However, TUV MLA Timothy Gaston has lodged a petition to refer the decision back to the powersharing Executive, saying the power to stop the ministers plans lay with MLAs. Such petitions need the support of 30 members of the Assembly. DUP MLA Deborah Erskine, chairwoman of Stormonts infrastructure committee, has described the ministers decision as misguided. A 2.23 billion package of investment is required in Northern Irelands electricity grid to ensure it is able to meet net-zero targets, MLAs have been told. John French, chief executive of the Utility Regulator, told Stormonts Economy Committee that he had approved the largest investment in the history of Northern Irelands grid infrastructure. The Utility Regulator is the independent economic regulator of NIE Networks, which operates the electricity transmission and distribution network in Northern Ireland. Mr French updated the committee on the RP7 price control final determination for NIE Networks, which will cover the period from April 2025 until March 2031. RP7 sets out how much it is projected NIE Networks needs to operate its business, to maintain security of supply and build new infrastructure. He said: In this price control we have allowed for 2.23 billion worth of investment over the next six years for the operation and expansion of the electricity grid. This is the largest investment in the history of Northern Irelands grid infrastructure. It sets out an investment journey that will pave the way forward for an improved electricity system. But this is a long-term investment journey. He said the regulator had increased the allowances for network investment to ensure Northern Ireland has the grid infrastructure it needs to meet net-zero targets and government statutory emissions and renewables targets. The 2022 Climate Change Act commits Northern Ireland to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The regulator added: We are very aware this is a significant investment in Northern Irelands grid infrastructure. Mr French also told the committee that through scrutiny the regulator had identified 322 million of savings within NIE. This had led to a 12.6% reduction in what the company had originally requested in its business plan. Mr French said that network cost made up around a quarter of the overall consumer electricity bill. He added: The RP7 price control investment will impact on network charges depending on a consumers consumption. Each consumer will be impacted differently depending on their individual circumstances. A domestic customer who does not change their electricity usages or needs shouldnt see any material change in the network element of their bill. But customers who choose to adopt low carbon technologies such as electric vehicles or heat pumps will see an increase in line with their increased consumption. Larger consumers will see the greatest percentage increase as they are connected to the higher voltage transmission network and there will be proportionally a greater investment at this level. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Trump Taps White House Counsel Alina Habba for Top Role In DOJ ( Mary Altaffer/AP) President Donald Trump has appointed his former defense lawyer, Alina Habba, as the interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. Habba, known for her staunch defense of Trump during his legal battles, brings a fierce commitment to justice and the law. Her appointment is a clear message that Trump intends to place capable and loyal allies in key positions, ensuring that the interests of everyday Americans are represented over partisan agendas. In a Truth Social post on Monday, Trump praised Habba as someone who "will lead with the same diligence and conviction that has defined her career." Habba will also "fight tirelessly to secure a Legal System that is both 'Fair and Just' for the wonderful people of New Jersey," Trump wrote. "Additionally, John Giordano, who has done a terrific job as the interim U.S. Attorney in New Jersey, will now be nominated as the new Ambassador to Namibia!" The president's former attorney will replace John Giordano, the outgoing acting U.S. attorney, who will be serving as the U.S. ambassador to Namibia. Habba expressed her honor in continuing to stand by Trump, vowing to fight for the country and combat the ongoing corruption within the United States. She also clarified that she is prepared to handle the corruption under New Jersey's current Democratic Governor, Phil Murphy. "There is corruption, there is injustice, and there is a heavy amount of crime right in [Senator] Cory Booker's backyard and right under Governor [Phil] Murphy. And that will stop," Habba told reporters. "I look forward to working with [Attorney General] Pam Bondi and with the Department of Justice and making sure that we further the president's agenda of putting America first, cleaning up the mess, and going after the people that we should be going after, not the people that are falsely accused." Chinese companies to provide green energy solutions in South Africa Xinhua) 10:29, March 26, 2025 JOHANNESBURG, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Hisense South Africa and China National Building Material Group (CNBM) on Tuesday signed a strategic cooperation agreement to provide smart energy solutions in South Africa. The deal was inked in Johannesburg, where the Solar and Storage Live Africa 2025, one of Africa's largest renewable energy exhibitions, is currently taking place. After the signing ceremony, Jiang Fei, general manager of CNBM Overseas Cooperation, told Xinhua the new partnership will help South Africans access energy-efficient products. "We are looking at providing new renewable solutions to help address the electricity shortages in South Africa. We see a great potential market for many of our smart solutions," said Jiang. She said Hisense South Africa and CNBM will provide smart meters, charging stations, energy storage solutions and other smart solutions for South Africa's transition to clean energy. Starting on Tuesday, the Solar and Storage Live Africa 2025 will run until Thursday, with many Chinese companies, including Huawei, showcasing their products and solutions. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) AI Expo 2025: Taiwan-US experts analyze key developments in AI The fourth AI Expo, organized by DIGITIMES, has officially kicked off. Taiwan's Vice President Bi-Khim Hsiao attended the event, while Minister of Economic Affairs J.W. Kuo delivered a speech during the opening ceremony. AI Fund managing general partner Andrew Ng, industry representatives from AWS, Microsoft, Etron, and Trend Micro were also present at the inauguration. DIGITIMES president on US-China-Taiwan tech relations In his opening remarks, DIGITIMES president Colley Hwang discussed his recent eight-day visit to the US, which included three speeches and meetings with senior executives from the semiconductor industry. Many people are concerned about the development of the US-China trade war and the trilateral relations between the US, China, and Taiwan. Hwang analyzed the situation using a grid chart, stating that American tech giants hold market advantages, while China's actions and innovation plans are reshaping the market landscape. Meanwhile, Taiwan must optimize domestic demand and strengthen overall industrial competitiveness. Taiwan's main industries include semiconductors, computers, servers, and mobile phone manufacturing, with the importance of industrial computers (IPC) increasing daily. Edge computing features a "rural encirclement of cities" characteristic, while the development of electric vehicles, drones, and robotics presents new opportunities for emerging industries. Hwang also revealed that he had previously exchanged views with Ng, sharing his belief that "Taiwan not developing software may be a blessing rather than a curse." However, Ng disagreed, asserting that software is essential for creating greater value, suggesting more room for discussion on this topic. Government initiatives to strengthen AI talent Kuo remarked that Taiwan is at a critical moment in AI development, where talent is the core focus. The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) is promoting various policy initiatives, including training 200,000 AI professionals across diverse sectors, attracting overseas talent, offering tax incentives, and hosting smart innovation awards to ensure Taiwan has sufficient AI expertise. Organizations under the MOEA, such as Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute and the Metal Industries R&D Center, are leading efforts to create AI application demonstration fields while encouraging collaboration between academia and industry. Deputy Minister of Digital Affairs Yi-Jing Lin mentioned that to promote the development of private sector AI companies, the Ministry of Digital Affairs is collaborating with other government agencies to enhance infrastructure resources. This includes providing free computing resources to Taiwanese startups, with the government planning a NT$10 billion (approx. US$302.2 million) investment over ten years into local startups. AI's future and workforce adaptation After the opening ceremony, Ng conversed with Hsiao-Wei Hu, an associate professor at Chung Yuan Christian University. Ng noted that although Taiwan's population is relatively small, it possesses hardware manufacturing advantages, similar to many US startup teams consisting of only a handful of members. An increasing number of open-source models are appearing in the market, facilitating developers in quickly building and testing new products. He stressed that despite many people's fears of AI replacing their jobs, now is actually a great time to learn programming. Understanding how to use AI tools and instructing computers on task execution will become crucial skills for the next generation. Article edited by Jack Wu SEMI Country excerpt 3: How Foxconn redefines manufacturing At the Foxconn 50th anniversary banquet, Apple CEO Tim Cook conveyed his congratulations via video message. He mentioned that products which would typically take several months to complete were accomplished by Foxconn in just a matter of days. (Founder) Terry Gou has redefined the limits of mass production, compelling major brands that have defined products over the past three to four decades to take notice. The "Big Five" electronics companies of Taiwan do not include Foxconn, as their combined revenue amounts to only three-quarters of Foxconn's. However, together with the Big Five, Foxconn has collaboratively shaped a global supply chain that inevitably relies on Taiwan! The host of the banquet is (current Foxconn chairman) Young Liu. How does he define Foxconn in the "post-Gou era?" I often say that definition, positioning, and pricing are the three key elements in running my business. So, how does Liu define his era? Foxconn is a conglomerate with annual revenues exceeding US$200 billion. To truly understand a company, we should return to the essence of the business when analyzing it. ... In the past, industrial development followed a "top-down" approach, where brand owners and technology-leading companies dictated the technical specifications. Contract manufacturers would then follow suit, operating based on orders and contracts. Foxconn originated in the PC era, dodging the numerous pitfalls of the dot-com bubble, and found opportunities in big data and cloud services. Essentially, the "top-down" mindset and solutions, which are very compliant and adept at following instructions, remain highly effective. As we enter the era of AI, business opportunities at the top level still exist. However, they are becoming increasingly concentrated, with fewer companies from other countries having the capability to compete. Taiwanese businesses are like suppliers of picks and shovels to the California gold fields. They earn modestly, without reaping huge profits. However, once they establish economies of scale and accumulate sufficient manufacturing experience, it becomes quite challenging for companies from other countries to surpass them on a large scale. Foxconn and the top five electronics companies are not just facing the challenge of securing orders; rather, they need to find a new position within the IoT ecosystem by adopting a "bottom-up" business model.. About This article is an excerpt from Colley Hwang's new book "SEMI Country: Trump Storm, and the Island of No Significance". The e-book version is now available for purchase on Amazon Kindle and Rakuten Kobo. Article edited by Jack Wu Subscriber content preview Rendering by Schemata Workshop [enlarge] The centers design and layout will build on conceptual designs completed by Schemata Workshop in 2014. King County Parks wants to build a new community center to serve the Skyway neighborhood. . . . Subscriber content preview SEATTLE The Sound Transit Board is scheduled to vote tomorrow afternoon to appoint its new chief executive officer, with King County Executive Dow Constantine the preferred candidate, recommended by the board's executive committee. The appointment requires a supermajority vote at a public meeting. . . . 12 members of an Irish high-risk criminal network have been arrested across Spain and Ireland today as part of an ongoing International drugs trafficking bust. A press release from An Garda Siochana and Europol says the criminals were operating a large scale operation transporting drugs that were hidden in vehicles from Spain to Ireland. "This week, Irish and Spanish law enforcement authorities took decisive action against one of Irelands high-risk criminal networks. In a coordinated series of raids in both countries, An Garda Siochana and Guardia Civil officers arrested 12 suspects (6 in Ireland and 6 in Spain). "The criminals are suspected of involvement in large-scale drug trafficking, mainly by transporting drugs hidden in vehicles from Spain to Ireland. "Law enforcement uncovered the networks activities, including drug-related crimes such as money laundering, when it dismantled the Ghost encrypted communication platform in September 2024. "In an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to evade detection, the criminals had relied on sophisticated encrypted communications and had fragmented their exchanges across multiple platforms. During the action day, however, investigators were able to trace several Ghost user handles back to members of the criminal network. "This high-risk criminal network coordinated the drug trade using these sophisticated communication channels, relying on both encryption and multi-platform distribution. "The sophistication of their communications was in stark contrast to the simplicity of their modus operandi; it consisted of smuggling cocaine and marijuana across the continent in vehicles equipped with custom-made secret compartments and cloned number plates. "Europol has provided support for this investigation since November 2023, with experts from several crime fields contributing to its success. The information gathered during the Ghost takedown not only provided evidence of individual drug shipments but, more importantly, helped investigators piece together the networks organisational structure. "On the action day, Europol deployed two experts with mobile offices to Spain and Ireland to provide immediate support in analysing and securing evidence." READ NEXT: Irish doctor on the horror of pronouncing four-month-old baby dead in Gaza Court proceedings surrounding a secondary school teacher who claims she was falsely identified as the so-called GAA Catfish in a popular Irish podcast series have been pushed back for two weeks. Niamh Farrell, of The Spires, Portadown, Co Armagh was last week granted a temporary injunction against the board of management of the school in which she works in Rathfarnham, Dublin, preventing Colaiste Eanna CBS from progressing disciplinary proceedings against her which could have resulted in her dismissal. In her sworn affidavit, Ms Farrell denies she is the so-called GAA Catfish whose alleged behaviour was documented in multiple podcast episodes. The board of management of the school has been granted a further two weeks to submit a replying affidavit, where it could set out its position on the dispute in open court. In the affidavit, Ms Farrell explained that she became aware of online speculation by unknown individuals in or around 2022 that she was responsible for catfishing activities detailed in a podcast. Catfishing is the process of deceiving someone online using a fictional or assumed persona, often with the intent of luring them into a relationship. The events were outlined in a series of hugely-popular episodes of the 2 Johnnies Podcast, centred around a woman who came to be known as the GAA Catfish, as many of the men who the woman allegedly communicated with were associated with GAA communities. The woman was given the pseudonym of Nikki in the episodes. In the affidavit, the music teacher said speculation online had claimed that she was the GAA Catfish. However, she said she did not engage in the activities discussed on the 2 Johnnies Podcast. She says the speculation remains a significant source of distress to her, had caused her severe distress and anguish, and has affected her physical and mental health and general wellbeing. Ms Farrell said the accusations became known among parents and the student body at the school in 2022. In the affidavit, she said she discussed the matter with the principal in May 2022 who informed her that concerns had been raised by parents. She said she informed the principal the allegations were completely false. Ms Farrell, who is currently head of music at the school, said she believed her explanation was accepted at the time. She said she was declared medically unfit to work for a period of two weeks due to the impact of the situation. Ms Farrell also said An Garda Siochana and the PSNI had been in touch to check on her welfare as a result of the allegations. She said she had never been accused of any criminal wrongdoing of any kind by any agency. In January of this year, she became aware of an upcoming third episode of the GAA Catfish series and informed her principal about the matter. She said she was later shocked to receive a report into her conduct earlier this month, saying it purported to be complied under revised procedures for suspension and dismissal of teachers and principals. She said she has an unblemished disciplinary record at the school, where she has been working since 2019. In the affidavit, Ms Farrell says that the report contains a statement that she confirmed that she is the person in question who the podcast relates to. However, she says that at no time did she accept that she engaged in the activities discussed in the podcast and has always denied she is the GAA Catfish. She said she was gravely concerned that the board of management would dismiss her from her employment during a meeting which was due to take place on Tuesday, March 25. At the High Court in Dublin on Wednesday, Conor Power, senior counsel for Ms Farrell, noted that a temporary injunction had been granted last week restraining the board from taking such an action. He applied for the matter to be adjourned for a further two weeks to allow for the board of management of the school to put in their replying affidavit. He asked Judge Brian Cregan to adjourn the matter for two weeks, replacing the interim injunction on the defendant with an undertaking by the board under the same terms. The board had been previously ordered to restrain from interfering with the performance of the plaintiff of her duties and responsibilities. This was consented to by Barra Faughnan SC, for the board, who said he would endeavour to have a replying affidavit from the board before the matter returns before the court on Wednesday. Judge Cregan agreed to the application. READ MORE | Man jailed for operating brothels from rented homes in rural Ireland The Tanaiste Simon Harris TD today (26 March) met the Lebanese Minister for Defence, Mr Michel Menassah, and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Yousseff Rajji, during his visit to Lebanon where he highlighted the case of Dundalk soldier Private Sean Rooney. He is also visiting members of the 125th Infantry Battalion, who are serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). In the course of both meetings, the Tanaiste conveyed the Governments deep disappointment and dissatisfaction at the slow progress of the legal proceedings in the matter relating to the death of the Irish peacekeeper, Private Sean Rooney. He continued: The continued delay in court proceedings, continues to cause deep concern to myself, to the Irish Government, the family of Private Rooney and the Irish people. Read Next: See the 18 Louth Tidy Town projects getting a share of over 100k My Government has consistently expressed determination that all of the facts and circumstances of the incident are fully established and that there is accountability for the death of Private Rooney. Ireland will continue to monitor developments very closely. The Tanaiste concluded by acknowledging that there are proceedings now before the Lebanese judicial system and expressed the hope that with a newly established Government and court structures in Lebanon, progress will be made in bringing those responsible for the death of Private Rooney to justice. Two researchers from Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dr Adele Commins and Dr Daithi Kearney, recently travelled to the University of Malta to present papers focusing on community arts initiatives in Co. Louth to an international audience. The presentations were part of the 11th Annual Conference of the School of Performing Arts. The conference recognised that the performing arts serve as a powerful medium for participation and engagement, and play an important role in social and everyday life, despite the challenges facing them. Building on the conferences aim to explore the challenges and opportunities that arise when various sectors of the performing arts meet in collaborative processes, Adele and Daithi reflected on events in 2024 for which they were part of the creative teams. Adeles paper reflected on events in 2024 to mark the centenary of the death of Irish-born composer Charles Villiers Stanford. She focused in particular on a community integration project funded by the Government of Ireland that brought together professional and community artists. The lead group in the project, the Oriel Traditional Orchestra, was a voluntary intergenerational cross-border community orchestra who are based at DkIT. As part of the project, DkIT-based composers Adele and Daithi created new arrangements of music from the Petrie collection for the ensemble, which was presented alongside works by Stanford performed by Italian musicians Francesca de Nardi, Davide Forti and Giammaria Tesei, as well as a selection of Ukranian music by the Monaghan-based NOSHI ensemble led by Hanna Schokina. Daithis paper focused on the creative collaborative project that brought together professional and community artists for the production of a stage show entitled Brigid, Lady of Light. Commissioned and funded by the local authority, Louth County Council, the production was staged for three nights in An Tain Arts Centre as part of a nationwide series of events to mark the Brigid1500 celebrations. Read Next: See the 18 Louth Tidy Town projects getting a share of over 100k Involving professional and community-based artists, the production engaged with historical and folkloric ideas and involved the creation of a score by Daithi and Adele. Directed by Paul Hayes, the performers featured local singers, dancers and musicians drawn from throughout Co. Louth, including the Setanta choir. Both presentations reflect the strong interaction and relevance of research undertaken in the Creative Arts Research Centre for both the local region and international audiences. The positive response led to conversations about future international linkages between DkIT and researchers in creative and performing arts in other institutions and communities that will continue to inform activities in Louth. 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. Irelands deputy premier is to reaffirm unwavering commitment to the UNs peacekeeping mission in Lebanon and the nations security and stability. Simon Harris is visiting Lebanon this week against a backdrop of heightened tensions with Israel. His Wednesday itinerary includes talks with the Lebanese foreign affairs and defence ministers in Beirut, and a visit to Irish peacekeeping soldiers serving as part of the Unifil mission. Just arrived in Lebanon. Looking forward to a packed day of meetings, but above all, Im here to meet the incredible men and women of Oglaigh na hEireann serving with integrity and distinction. I want to see firsthand the challenges they face on the ground. pic.twitter.com/GGfm0aXEnN Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) March 25, 2025 The Tanaiste had said Private Sean Rooney, an Irish soldier killed in Lebanon, would be a key feature of his political talks. The 24-year-old from Co Donegal, was killed while on deployment with Unifil on December 14 2022. On Wednesday morning, Mr Harris met Lebanese Defence Minister Michel Menassah where he highlighted Irelands deep concern over the lack of progress in bringing those who killed Pte Rooney to justice and outlined the urgent need for progress. The Irish Government says that lack of progress is particularly distressing for the Rooney family. In a formal letter to Lebanese Foreign Affairs Minister Yousseff Rajji, Mr Harris also raised the matter of Pte Rooneys killing. He outlined how seven Lebanese citizens had been indicted in relation to the incident, noting that only one defendant has appeared before the military tribunal judge. However, he did not attend the most recent hearings, citing a medical issue. At the most recent hearing on February 12, Mr Harris said no medical evidence was provided to support his absence and there has been no significant progress in the trial to date. The Tanaiste told Mr Rajji that the Rooney family intends to attend the next hearing on September 17 and said it was hope that they would see real evidence of an intention of the authorities to see justice enacted. Mr Harris said it was his hope that the current Lebanese government, formed last month, and newly established court structures in the country could bring progress to the case. My government has repeatedly stressed the need for accountability (for) attacks on peacekeepers and the need for justice to be served in this case. Mr Harris also expressed deep concern about the security situation in southern Lebanon. He told the ministers that the Irish Defence Forces have been proud contributors to Unifil for over 40 years and that Irish troops have formed deep ties with the Lebanese Armed Forces and local communities. Later on Wednesday, the Tanaiste will visit Camp Shamrock in south Lebanon where members of the 125th Infantry Battalion are serving as part of the Unifil peacekeeping mission. He is expected to tell the peacekeepers how the Irish public feel a great sense of pride in the work they do. He will also announce a doubling of funding to 80,000 euros (66,724) for Civil-Military Co-operation (Cimic) projects. These include community and health facilities, workshops and education classes for children. This morning I met with Lebanons new Minister for Defence Michel Menassah to reaffirm Irelands strong ties with Lebanon, express solidarity with its people and underline Irelands unwavering commitment to UNIFIL. pic.twitter.com/yxotI5QeVf Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) March 26, 2025 Speaking following the meetings with his Lebanese counterparts, the Tanaiste said: I want to reaffirm Irelands unwavering commitment to this vital mission and to Lebanons security and stability. Ireland remains fully committed to the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which is essential for maintaining stability in South Lebanon, preventing hostilities, and supporting Lebanons sovereignty and security. Gardai have been deployed to Spain as part of an investigation into an international organised crime gang based in Dublin. Five men, aged in their 30s, 40s and 60s, were arrested on Monday and detained under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007. The operation involved the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau as well as armed units. On Wednesday, gardai also announced a sixth man aged in his 50s had been arrested in the Dublin region. Gardai say their operations have been fully supported by Europol, the Guardia Civil in Spain and the Operational Network (@ON), which is funded by the EU Commission, led by the Italian anti-mafia investigation directorate (DIA). Officers from Europol, the Guardia Civil and @ON were present and supporting gardai over the past 48 hours, a spokesperson said. An Garda Siochana has also provided support to the Guardia Civil by deploying Garda officers to Spain. Guardia Civil is understood to have made six arrests directly connected with the international investigation. A young Irish man has tragically died after getting into difficulty while swimming during a holiday in the Dominican Republic. 29-year-old James Gribben, from Armagh, passed away on Sunday after getting into difficulty in the water, having been out for a walk along a beach on the Caribbean island. Tragically, he never returned, and his family have been left heartbroken by his sudden death, describing him as a "wonderful son" and a young man with a "big personality". James's devastated father, John, told The Irish News: "The family is devastated by this unexpected tragedy." "James was a wonderful son with a big personality. He will be sadly missed by his family and circle of friends," Mr Gribben said. The popular Armagh man is survived by his parents John and Aideen and his brothers Tomas, Brendan and Henry. A death notice shared by J.J McArdle & Sons Funeral Directors described him as "very deeply regretted by his sorrowing family and friends". Tributes have poured in for James, who was well-known among the local GAA community. Armagh GAA fan page, Armagh Fans 1889, said in a post on Facebook: "James was a huge supporter of Armagh GAA and followed the team all over the country. Our thoughts go out to his parents John and Aideen, and his brothers Tomas, Brendan and Henry. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam. Friends and former colleagues have also paid tribute online, with mourners remembering him as a "lovely lad" and a "gent of a man". One former colleague wrote: "In utter shock with this sad news. He was such a lovely lovely lad.. I had the absolute pleasure of working with him. "Doesn't matter how long you've known someone, it's the impression they made on you! Life is too cruel. May he rest in peace. Thoughts are with his poor family." Another wrote: "An absolute gent of a man had the pleasure of working with him and attending Armagh games with him, may he rest in eternal peace." A third tribute read: "RIP James, one of the nicest guys I ever worked with and a massive Armagh fan. Sincere condolences to all his family at this very difficult time." The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust is assisting James' family, and funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date. READ MORE | Fundraiser launched to bring home Irish mum who tragically died on trip of a lifetime The speaker of the Irish parliament has committed to reviewing the transcript of Tuesdays disorderly proceedings to confirm if the order of business had been properly agreed. Amid widespread disruption in the Dail on Tuesday as the Government sought to pass new rules on speaking rights, Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy announced that the order of the business had been agreed. However, opposition parties claim that they had called for a division on the matter. In addition, the opposition have also questioned the circumstances around how its amendment to the Government motion was not put to a vote. On Wednesday, Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty raised a point of order with Ms Murphy, who has come under fire for her role in stewarding the contentious proceedings. Mr Doherty questioned whether she had failed in her duty to allow a vote on the order of business on Tuesday, and whether this could have legal implications for the progress of legislation this week. Sinn Fein, having conducted its own analysis of the exchanges, contends that Ms Murphy said the order of business had been agreed despite a TD calling votail or vote. Mr Doherty said: The concern I have is obviously as members of this House, one of the most important functions we have is the passage of legislation. He said he was raising the point of order ahead of a crucial piece of legislation progressing to the next stage in the Dail. He added: I have serious concerns whether the order of business has actually passed yesterday, and I put it to you that I am asking for a direction and a determination maybe on the basis of legal advice as well because I have now reviewed the audio of what transpired yesterday. You clearly put the question. The chief whip agreed the question. You declared the question carried, and there was a clear call for a votail which under standing order 80, subsection two, when a division is called a division has to be carried out. And I question now whether you have failed to fulfil in your independent and partial duty to allow that division to take place, which is clearly now on the Oireachtas website and stands out. The word votail stands out. And therefore, what is the legal basis for legislation that may be passed in this house later on today, never mind what happened yesterday? Ms Murphy said she had reviewed the exchanges, adding she would send the official record to Mr Doherty for further consideration. Mr Doherty said the public written record was abridged and did not contain a lot of what Ms Murphy said. He asked if she would seek legal advice on the implications for legislation passing through the Dail if it transpires that the order of business was not agreed. Ms Murphy replied: I will send you the official record and I will review it post sitting. Asked if she would review the video of the sitting, the Ceann Comhairle said: Yes, I will deputy. Sinn Fein and other opposition parties have expressed a lack of confidence in Ms Murphy following Tuesdays row. It is understood to be considering using its private members time next Tuesday to call a motion of no confidence in the Ceann Comhairle. Central to the row is the affording of new speaking rights for coalition backbenchers and a group of independents who supported the formation of Government, including Tipperary North TD Michael Lowry. Next weeks proceedings could see further disruption, with People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy telling the Taoiseach on Wednesday: If you think that Michael Lowry or members of his group asking Leaders Questions will be accepted here next week, you have another thing coming. The speaker of the Irish parliament has said she intends to continue in her role in the face of a motion of no confidence by the opposition. Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy also categorically rejected accusations of partisanship in how she handled an opposition protest in the Dail on Tuesday. It comes after a motion of no confidence in Ms Murphy was drafted by the opposition. Irish premier Micheal Martin said that the opposition has made life impossible for Ms Murphy and said the parliament cannot work on opposition by veto. On Tuesday, Ms Murphy declared that the rules of the Dail had been amended by Government after opposition TDs repeatedly interrupted and raised their objections. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald told Ms Murphy on Wednesday that her actions were demonstrably partisan and lacked the impartiality and independence demanded of your position. She said her position was untenable and asked her to reflect on this. A drafted motion of no confidence was published on Wednesday evening by opposition parties Sinn Fein, Labour, the Social Democrats, Solidarity-People Before Profit, and Independent Ireland. The motion seeks to note that the Ceann Comhairle no longer retains the confidence of all members of Dail Eireann. The Government is to table a counter motion of confidence in Ms Murphy, Education Minister Helen McEntee told the Fine Gael parliamentary party on Wednesday. In a statement, Ms Murphy said she had loyally, scrupulously and impartially carried out the role as Ceann Comhairle and rejected false accusations of partiality and collusion. Prolonged disorder and obstruction is utterly unacceptable in any democratic parliament, she said. So too is making false accusations of partiality and collusion against its officials and chair. By virtue of the independence of the office of Ceann Comhairle, I am in the unenviable position that I cannot descend at will into debate to defend myself against the entirely false allegations of collusion made against me in the Dail today. I categorically reject these totally unfounded allegations. I have at all times followed the correct procedures of the House and the advice of the impartial officials present. I fully intend to continue to carry out the onerous office to which I was elected, in accordance with the solemn undertakings I gave the Dail upon my election. Taosieach Micheal Martin said the opposition had made life impossible for the Ceann Comhairle. It beggars belief that Sinn Fein, in particular, who shouted and roared during Leaders Questions yesterday in a clearly organised manner, and who refused point blank to co-operate, are now accusing the Ceann Comhairle of bias and failing to follow procedures. The clerk of the Dail has confirmed proceedings were conducted in accordance with procedures. It was Sinn Fein who refused to move their own amendment to the standing orders. It was Sinn Fein who screamed and roared while the Ceann Comhairle called for a vote, rather than moving their own amendment. It was a deliberate strategy. They didnt want to participate in proceedings at all. They didnt want to facilitate a legitimate vote on new standing orders for this Dail. It was undemocratic what Sinn Fein and other members of the opposition did. The Dail cannot work on opposition by veto. Neither can we have a situation where the Ceann Comhairle only stays in office if it obeys the diktat of opposition. The clerk of the Dail, Peter Finnegan, said in a report about Tuesdays proceedings that after Ms Murphy put the Order of Business to the Dail on Tuesday, TDs that said Votail to trigger a division were not audible. He concluded that all decisions taken by Ms Murphy, given the great disorder, were in compliance with the rules of the Dail and her powers as Ceann Comhairle. The Ceann Comhairle cannot allow a situation where disorderly conduct is allowed to frustrate the business of the Dail. Otherwise, the Dail would be unable to discharge its constitutional functions, he said. Ultimately, the Constitution provides that all decisions are made by a majority of the members present and voting. Sinn Fein said the report is deeply flawed and does not tally with footage on the Oireachtas website. Minister for Culture and Media Patrick ODonovan said Ms Murphys position was still tenable, despite losing the confidence of the opposition. She will have the support of the majority of the Dail, we live in a democracy, Mr ODonovan told RTE Radio. None of these people voted for her in the first instance, so Im not surprised that they wouldnt have confidence in her. Im not surprised that they will be looking for the first opportunity to remove her. Who are you codding? Earlier on Wednesday, Ms McDonald and other opposition leaders questioned the Ceann Comhairles role after Tuesdays proceedings. So, who convinced you to play your part in this disgraceful charade, or is it simply that bias for the Government is baked into the very deal that secured your position? Ms McDonald asked the speaker. That is now the question. The Sinn Fein leader continued: Ceann Comhairle, not alone have you lost the confidence of the entire opposition; you have, in fact, decimated it. The Dail cannot function properly whilst you remain in the chair. Above all the Ceann Comhairle must be impartial, fair and independent, and by your actions you have demonstrated that you are not. Your position is therefore untenable. So, I ask you to reflect very carefully on this, because you need to go. Labour party leader Ivana Bacik said she did not believe Dail rules had been applied fairly and impartially by Ms Murphy. That is why this morning, together with my parliamentary party we agreed to ask to reflect on your position over coming days, she said. If not, if necessary, we will have no option to table a motion of no confidence in you. And I regret that it has come to this. There were chaotic scenes of shouting, interruptions and allegations of misogyny on Tuesday as weeks of tension over the speaking rights row boiled over during Leaders Questions. Ms Murphy faced continual interruptions as she tried to continue proceedings as opposition TDs took to their feet and objected to the Governments proposals to change speaking time arrangements. She declared the changes to the standing orders passed before adjourning the Dail. However, opposition leaders insist the vote was not properly conducted. They also accused her of earlier pushing through the Governments proposed order of business for the Dail without acknowledging an opposition request for a vote. The row has its origins in the formation of Irelands current coalition involving Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, supported by several independent TDs. The controversial changes to standing orders 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. Opposition parties are vehemently opposed to the changes, characterising them as 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 dispute 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. Tensions boiled over on Tuesday with the Dail witnessing angry scenes as Ms Murphy presided over a vote on the changes, labelled as unprecedented by both government and opposition. TELL us about yourself; My name is Denis Cronin and Im married to Mags and we have four adult children and a sprinkling of grandkids. I worked for many years in the high-octane world of international business which meant being away from home quite a lot. At the age of 60 I hit a health speed-bump which forced me to change direction and I have since been exploring the world of art, music, languages, and of course writing. Reading has been a constant pleasure in my life and I have previously written short stories and poetry for my own enjoyment. My first book, The Stain was published in 2022 and my new book, Of Land & Greed is now released. Where were you born? Im proud to say that I was born in Spangle Hill on the north side of Cork City. The name allegedly comes from a blacksmiths forge at the top of the hill where they hammered out all things for horses including the eponymous spangles. Our city fathers, in their wisdom (or lack of it), changed the name in the 60s, the first incidence in Cork of the cancel culture. Where do you live? After Mags and I married we moved to Cobh where we lived for 11 years during which time our children were born. We made some great friends in Cobh, but eventually moved to St Lukes to get closer to our families and weve happily lived here for the last thirty-odd years. Family? Im one of five siblings, born in the middle, with a sister and brother symmetrically sitting above and below me, and battering me from all angles. Best friend? I have a couple of best friends (can you have more than one best friend?) who Ive known for years and who always seem to have my back and who I believe would go to the ends of the earth for me or so they say!! Earliest childhood memory? I went to St. Patricks primary school in Dillons Cross and one day I somehow left through the wrong gate and missed my older brother who was meeting me. I panicked and followed other boys until I realised that I was hopelessly lost. I was probably only a few hundred meters from the school but Ill never forget the sheer panic and dread at being lost. My brother found me sitting on the footpath crying my eyes out and I must have had a tuck in my chest for hours afterwards. Person you most admire? Although not very clever in school I won a prize in my religion class and the prize was a book about Martin Luther King. I was in my teens and I had little idea at the time what was going on outside my little bubble and it was a complete eye-opener. It awoke in me a hunger to better understand the bigger picture and the injustices of race. He was my hero and still is to this day. Person who most irritates you? Ha, thats easy, myself. Im probably a control freak and Im sure Id be much more comfortable with myself if I could relax a little. Where was your most memorable holiday? Easy again, our family trip to the US in 1999. First New York for a few days then across the country to the West Coast where we drove from Tijuana in Mexico to San Francisco over two weeks. Were still talking about it and me and Mags are still paying for it. (Second best holiday: New Orleans, what a town, the atmosphere soaked in great food smells, great jazz sounds, great people and a great buzz). Favourite TV programme? I cant pick one but give me the American comedy genre anytime, Cheers, Seinfeld, Fraser. Favourite radio show? Arts House Sunday mornings 96fm. Your signature dish if cooking? Enchiladas, my kids say that I make the best enchiladas this side of Tijuana. Of course I believe them. Favourite restaurant? Elbow Lane, best steak Ive had in years. Last book you read? Kevin Barrys Nightboat to Tangier. Simple stories but his language mesmerises me. Best book you read? I was 15 when I received a present from my uncle of James Micheners Hawaii and I thought he was the most amazing writer ever. I still do to this day. I was in boarding school at the time and not doing very well academically but every night I read Michener and thought he was writing for me. A fabulous storyteller and gifted wordsmith. Last album/CD/download you bought? Van Morrissons New Arrangements and Duets, the guys a genius. Favourite song? Born in Puerto Rico by Paul Simon from the album The Capeman. Do you have a pet? Were currently share-minding (long-term) a beautiful English Setter, Berrie. Morning person or night owl? Morning person, no doubt, happy to be up and about anytime from 6.00am. Your proudest moment? Getting praise from Mags and my kids when I published my first book The Stain. Spendthrift or saver? Spendthrift, cant hang on to money, Ive never understood the value of it. Name one thing you would improve in your area in which you live? Hmm, dog owners not cleaning up poop. What makes you happy? Most things, family, friends, music, writing, learning, being challenged, jamming with my brother, travelling! How would you like to be remembered? As someone who treated others like I would want them to treat me. What else are you up to at the moment? Starting my third novel, very different to Of Land and Greed, and its really challenging me in style and imagination. Cork city has the second highest turnover rate for early years staff in Ireland, with a far higher turnover than the national average, as a Cork preschool owner says she cannot keep staff because they do not make enough to live in the city. The turnover in Cork city was the second highest in Ireland, recent figures from childrens minister Norma Foley show, with rates of 33% in 2022/23 and 31.6% in 2021/22 behind only Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown. The average national turnover rate was 24.7% in 2021/22 and fell slightly to 24.5% in 2022/23. Cork countys rates were largely in line with this at 24.9% in 2021/22 and 22.8% in 2022/23. Ms Foley provided the data to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly and explained that the data is based on responses to the 2021/22 and 2022/23 Annual Early Years Sector Profile surveys. Heartbroken Mairead Davis, owner of Bright Beginnings preschool in Douglas, told The Echo that recruitment and retention is a huge issue. I have a wonderful worker with me who was just told by a mortgage provider that she will need to find another job that pays more. Shes been with me for three years and shes absolutely heartbroken to have to leave, but theyre out of work over the summer and have to sign on to the dole, so theyre going into jobs like SNA when they get paid 52 weeks a year. The biggest issues are the pay and conditions and the cost of living in Cork. We have students in and none of them say theyre planning to stay in early years. We cant blame them because they cant even get a credit union loan as they cant show a permanent payslip. UCC, MTU College of Commerce have 100 early years graduates each a year. I put notices in to all three of them and Ive not got one reply providers are wondering where all these graduates are going. Ms Davis called for the department to take over paying salaries instead of their current model of funding, whereby service providers receive a set amount of funding per child in attendance to cover wages, rent and all other costs. Crisis point Its at a crisis point. Ive had a student who went to work in a shop instead because she was getting more money thats what were up against, she said. Susan Murphy, who owns Spraoi preschool in Ballincollig, said: Its just so hard to get staff. In the 10 years her service has been open, she has lost staff who moved to the UK. One staff member had to quit the job as they were commuting for an hour each day. Ms Murphy said that most staff have attended college for two years, and that many in other sectors are earning more, with less responsibility. We have strict regulations to adhere to, with little regard for us teaching the most vulnerable and most important people in our society. People are leaving the country with degrees in early years or pursuing another profession. The fact that we have to sign on in the summer is another example of how we are treated by the Government. Cork South Central TD Padraig Rice said that low pay is the driving factor behind high staff turnover. These highly skilled workers should be treated the same as other educators, such as primary and secondary school teachers. It is no surprise that the turnover rate in Cork city is the second highest in the country given the rising cost of living. "Average rents in Cork city rose by 10% last year to a staggering 2,097 per month. This is way out of reach of most workers in the sector. A 38-year-old 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 yesterday. Gavin Sheehan 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 Mr Sheehan near the entrance to the emergency department of the hospital at 12pm on Monday, March 24. Charged 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 Gda Hayes said that prior to his arrest, Mr Sheehan was seen interacting with known drug users at the entrance to the emergency department. 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 court heard. The detective said that, by his own admission, the defendant wanted to get out of Cork, and was using crack cocaine and heroin. Det Gda Hayes said the accused was living a chaotic lifestyle. Bail Defence solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher said 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. Mr 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, the most recently a couple of weeks ago in Fitzgeralds Park, as a result of which he was partially blinded. He said: 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 added that the judge would not regret giving him bail. The Office of Public Works (OPW) are assessing tenders for the new Macroom Garda station and hope to issue a letter of intent to a preferred bidder in the coming weeks. The proposed station for Macroom will also serve as a new divisional Garda headquarters for Cork County, replacing the divisional hub in Bandon. The new headquarters in Macroom will include a two-, three- and four-storey building, around a secure courtyard, with adjacent secure car parking on a green-field site on the Millstreet Rd side of the town. Progress Cork North West Fine Gael TD John Paul OShea has welcomed confirmation that progress is being made on the new Garda station. I recently raised the issue with my colleague, Jack Chambers TD, who is minister for public expenditure and has responsibility for the National Development Plan delivery, Mr OShea said. He has informed me that the OPW, who are managing the development of the division headquarters on behalf of An Garda Siochana at Gurtenroe, Macroom, are currently assessing tenders and hope to be in a position to issue a letter of intent to a preferred bidder in the coming weeks. Mr OShea added: This is very welcome news, which I know will be warmly welcomed in Macroom and surrounding areas. Long overdue Local Macroom Fine Gael councillor Ted Lucey also welcomed the progress in relation to Macroom Garda station. This project is long overdue, but I am delighted we are now making real progress in the new Garda HQ for Macroom, Mr Lucey said. I hope we can see the contractor on site here as soon as is practically possible, as the current working conditions for gardai are very poor. It is great to see this project finally coming to fruition. ACORK senator has confirmed her intention to run in the next general election, having lost out on a seat last year. Cork Labour Party Senator Laura Harmon told The Echo she is hoping that her political journey will see her become a TD in Leinster House. Recently elected to the Seanad, the Ballyvourney native also contested the general election in Cork South Central in November 2024. She secured 3,005 first preference votes, trebling the Labour vote from 2020 and placing eighth in the five seater. Prior to that, Ms Harmon was elected to Cork City Council in June 2024, where she served for a total of eight months before her election to the Seanad. Political aspirations Ms Harmon told The Echo her future political aspirations very much lie in the direction of the Dail. Absolutely I hope to run for the Dail again and build on the vote that we got. I got over 3,000 first preferences in the last election and it was a great start. I think at a time when there wasnt any particular wave behind the Labour Party, the seats that we won were won from pure hard work. My goal is to work very, very hard. As a senator, we get half the resources of a TD but I intend to work just as hard I want to be able to show the people of Cork South Central how hard I work and deliver a very high level of public representation. One of my main goals as a senator is to be approachable. I want people to feel they can contact me, that they can pick up the phone to me and Im looking forward to running clinics as well across the city. Ms Harmon said she feels she has hit the ground running in the Seanad. Ive been there a few weeks now and Ive already raised a number of issues and been campaigning particularly in relation to education and disability. My main goal is to be a strong voice for Cork in the Seanad. Im the only public representative in the Oireachtas who is a woman from Cork city between North Central and South Central. Grateful Ms Harmon said she is grateful to the people of Cork South Central who voted for her in the general election, without whom, she may not have been selected to contest the Seanad elections. Laura Harmon was elected to the Seanad Industrial and Commercial Panel. As a senator, my goal will be to be a voice for the issues that Ive been campaigning on for all my adult life in relation to equality and in relation to housing in particular. I feel that Cork has been left behind compared to Dublin, when it comes to infrastructure. Where is our light rail? Where is our event centre? Theres a lot of questions there and I feel Cork needs to have more investment from central Government. Ms Harmon has experience as a board member of Threshold housing organisation, as an executive director of the Irish Council for International Students, and was the national head of mobilisation for the Together for Yes campaign in 2018. She is also a former president of the Union of Students in Ireland the first female USI president in 20 years. It was this early exposure to the political world that convinced Ms Harmon that this was a career path for her to consider taking. Missed opportunity As a woman in the political world however, Ms Harmon saw the decision by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael not to appoint more female cabinet ministers as a missed opportunity. In the Labour Party, we have a strong culture of supporting women and thats something that needs to be continued. We havent had a female Taoiseach in Ireland yet. I think we will at some stage during my lifetime thats the hope that we will have one. Most of the leaders of the opposition parties are women, which is encouraging to see, but ultimately we do need men in senior leadership positions to support women. Among those Ms Horman highlighted as the biggest influences on her political career include Kathleen Lynch, Mary Robinson, Noel Browne, and Dick Spring, with the former tanaiste and Labour Party leader endorsing Ms Harmon during the last general election. Growth Meanwhile, Ms Harmon believes there has been a lot of growth within the Labour Party. Its a very exciting time to be in the Labour Party. Im proud to have been a steadfast member. We stand for more state involvement in terms of house building, in terms of supporting people with disabilities, and in terms of investment in Cork. Labours history is very clear in what we stand for, our commitment to equality and in terms of young people as well , giving them a future in Ireland and giving them a future in Cork. She added: Were exporting too many teachers, guards, and nurses. We need to be ensuring that they can have a life here in Cork and in Ireland. I think the Labour Party has always been committed to taking on responsibility and stepping up. The restoration of Corks public museum will surpass 626,000, according to Cork City Council. The museum, which officially opened to the public in 1945, in the old Shrubberies building in Fitzgeralds Park, will celebrate its 80th birthday this year, with extensive renovations planned to commence this spring/summer. The works, totalling 626,873.50, will see the roof and external render of the mid-19th century building, which is classified as a protected structure, removed and refurbished by HG Construction Ltd, in conjunction with JCA Architects and the City Architects Department. The works come as the external render of the public museum has exhibited signs of cracking, and has contributed to water ingress, which has caused deterioration of the internal walls of the buildings second floor. The works are funded directly by Cork City Council, with additional funding provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage through the Historic Structure Fund (HSF). Improve A spokesperson for Cork City Council told The Echo that the HSF will contribute 114,000 to the project, with the council contributing 512,873.50. These works will secure the external finish of the building, preventing further ingress and [will] allow the museum to re-utilise these spaces to improve our exhibition, education, and research offerings, the spokesperson said. The works will [also] allow museum management to provide better public services and increase public interactions with Corks material heritage. When a building is designated [as] a protected structure, it is then protected under Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000 this means that owners and occupiers must ensure that the structure or any element of a protected structure is not endangered through harm, decay, or damage. Since its opening, the museum has amassed a collection of around 60,000 objects that cover approximately 7,000 years of human habitation in Cork, from pre-history to modern day. Extension In recent decades, a new state-of-the-art extension was added to the building, which once housed the Fitzgeralds Park Municipal Museum between 1910 and 1924, allowing the facility to expand its operational capacity to increase research, training, and visitor facilities. The burning of City Hall during the War of Independence in 1920 meant that the old building in Fitzgeralds Park became the headquarters for municipal affairs in the city until the reopening of City Hall in 1936. Vital Former lord mayor of Cork, Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy, said that while the cost of the renovation does sound high, the works are vital for the preservation of our local heritage and history. Its a positive thing sometimes Im torn between [my] historian hat and councillor hat, but from being up in the museum over the years, the roof was leaking it wasnt pouring down the walls, but it was close to that, said Mr McCarthy. There has been no major discussion to move the museum [so] its one of those questions, we either have a public museum or we dont, and I would be for one. The price does sound high, but the councils expense budget every year is high. You might get questions in terms of closing the museum and putting the money towards homelessness, but the budget for homelessness is between 35m-40m, so if this secures the building for the future, thats great. I think its important to have a public museum in every city you cant just put 60,000 objects in storage and shut up shop. Its a welcome investment heritage and history really matters in Cork. As Cork people, were proud of our history, and the museum is part of the ecosystem of Fitzgeralds Park. Signed guilty pleas were entered yesterday in a case where vacuum-packed cash totalling over 33,000 was found hidden behind a washing machine and 160,000 worth of cannabis was uncovered in the attic of a rented house in Carrigaline earlier this year. Defence solicitor Eddie Burke indicated that the accused man, Gytis Pyplys, aged 36, was pleading guilty to the charges against him. The case was sent forward from Cork District Court for sentencing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court once the pleas of guilty were signed. The accused was remanded in custody until the sessions of the circuit court commencing on April 28. He was charged with having the eight kilos of cannabis for sale or supply at his home, and money-laundering in respect of 33,600. The drugs charges include one related to drugs for sale or supply where the street value exceeds 13,000, which can carry a 10-year minimum sentence unless the judge finds that there are exceptional circumstances. Searched Detective Garda Dermot Crowley previously stated in this case: We searched this address and found eight kilogrammes of cannabis with an approximate street value of 160,000. This was recovered from his bedroom and the attic directly accessed from his bedroom. We found 33,600 in cash, which was vacuum-packed and hidden behind a washing machine in the kitchen. Also in the house there was a vacuum-packing machine and bags and a diary containing information in relation to tick-lists and corresponding cash amounts. There was a separate section in the corner of the tick-list corresponding to the 33,600. He said he had placed cannabis in the attic and recovered one kilo and stored this in his bedroom. He said he hid the money behind the washing machine and acknowledged providing gardai with a false name and address with the intention of disguising his activities. Elaine Audley, defence barrister, said previously that the accused had a drug addiction and was holding the seized items for a third party. The defendant gave evidence in his application for bail, saying that he started taking drugs in Ireland one year ago and became addicted. He said he wanted to get bail so that he could get treatment for this. Its caused a tsunami of concern in the UK. And it should be doing the same here. Ireland has the same toxic childhood culture as the UK, driven by the same social media leaking the same poisoned ideology of misogynism and toxic masculinity. Social media has the same iron grip and the same kind of parenting influence on the minds of Irish kids that the UK is now so fearfully acknowledging is the case, with theirs following the launch of Adolescence, the smash-hit mini-series on Netflix. The drama focuses on the growing culture of aggression and violence towards women as a result of the influence of incels (Involuntary Celibates), an ideology which points the finger at women for male inability to form good relationships or, indeed, any relationships, and for mens perceived lack of opportunities in the world. A worried, even frightened, debate has arisen in Britain as a result of the series, which centres around the fictional story of a 13-year-old Yorkshire lad accused of the fatal multiple stabbing of a fellow student, and what factors may have motivated him to murder her. There have been newspaper headlines, highbrow discussions on TV, a debate in the House of Commons, and discussions on American talk shows. A Labour MP has called for the series to be screened in the British parliament and in schools. It could, she declared, play a role in helping to counter a growing culture of misogyny and violence against women and girls. British Prime Minister Kier Starmer has praised the series, revealing that hed watched it with his own teenagers. The scriptwriter has urged the UK government to take action to tackle the issues that are raised in the series, primarily the issue of the negative influences that social media and incel culture are having on quite young children. The story: an ordinary schoolboy aged 13 from an ordinary family in Yorkshire. During a dawn raid at his home, police arrest 13-year-old Jamie Miller on suspicion of murdering his fellow student Katie Leonard in a frenzied stabbing attack. The boy has been caught on camera stalking, attacking, and killing the girl. The series investigates the possible consequences in this case, the fatal consequences of a culture of toxic masculinity, with the second episode showing a clearly intelligent, experienced, professional, capable detective and sergeant blundering around the dead girls school in the quest for a motive. Finally, the issue is clarified. There is mention of the manosphere. A reference to Andrew Tate. To incels. A statistic comes up; the 80-20 issue. I had to look it up. This is an assertion that 80% of women would only consider 20% of men as good enough to form a relationship with. What is the manosphere, who are incels and who is Andrew Tate? Put very simply, the manosphere is a collection of online mens rights groups. Members are males who see themselves as involuntarily celibate (this is where the phrase incels comes from). These men blame women for the perceived devaluation and loss of their masculine power, and for their failure to form relationships. They believe in masculine entitlement over women and over womens bodies. And an issue that really comes out in the young men in the series there is lookism, an obsession with appearance, and a belief in active discrimination by females based on a males appearance. The belief is that girls wont go for guys who look ugly and are deemed unpopular. This joyless, bleak, finger-pointing ideology of hatred has resulted, authorities in the UK are now increasingly acknowledging, in a frightening tide of resentment and rage amongst young men. The findings of a study published earlier this month showed most young women in the UK are now scared of men their own age. The dark-haired, good-looking lad at the centre of this familial and social nightmare now believes that this is the case for him that the pretty, popular girl he approached dissed him because he is supposedly ugly and unpopular, and this is why he currently has no chance, and never will have any chance, with girls. And he is full of rage. Seething with it. Not yet out of childhood, this schoolboy has images of naked and semi-naked women on his Instagram account. Barely into his teens, Jamie has been indoctrinated by misogynistic influences, bullied online, and called an incel. At one point, his well-intentioned but uncomprehending parents acknowledge that their young son would come home, run up the stairs, and remain in his bedroom on his computer until late at night. They assumed he was safe because he was in his bedroom. However, their complacency was unfounded; it emerges that this child was being radicalised by poisonous online propaganda. Against women. And at 13 he was caught on camera stalking, attacking, and stabbing a girl from his class who had rejected his advances and publicly dubbed him an incel. OK. So, who is Andrew Tate? If you dont know about him, you probably soon will. But in the meantime, he is basically a self-proclaimed and highly influential misogynist. The culture of misogyny online is now a cause of massive concern for authorities in the UK. A police chief recently described as quite terrifying the online radicalisation and influencing of young boys by Tate, who has been banned by social media platforms including YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. This series is openly acknowledging what many people have believed for a long time now. That the internet is parenting children - and that it is parenting children just as much as their parents are. And, possibly, in some cases, even more. It offers a deeply disturbing insight into the rage and hatred driving young male minds, distorted by the continual viewing online of violence against women and girls, and the abuse of women and girls and anti-feminist propaganda and the normalisation of hatred of women. The series is set in a town in England. But it could just equally be set in Cork city, or Carrigaline, or Ballincollig, or Bandon. Or in Limerick, Clonmel, or Dungarvan. In effect, Adolescence is a warning siren for Irish parents, for the Irish government and for the gardai, just as much as it has been for British parents and the UK authorities. We cant afford to ignore the horror of what Adolescence reveals. Nor can we afford the error of assuming that our own young children and teenagers are not being exposed to the same poison on the iPads and smartphones we are so obliviously gifting them for Christmas, birthdays, communions or confirmations. Eimear Dodd Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has said she was afraid after a threat of a coward to shoot her, but would not allow any bully to prevent her from doing her job. Ms McDonald made the comments in a victim impact statement read to the court during the sentence hearing of Richard McGreevy (29). Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that McGreevy posted videos to TikTok on July 16 last in which he made threats towards Deputy McDonald and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. These videos were viewed thousands of times on TikTok, and were also reposted to Facebook and X, formerly Twitter, the court was told. Sentencing McGreevy of Whitechurch Place, Rathfarmham, Co. Dublin pleaded guilty to two counts of making a threat to kill or cause harm. The maximum available sentence for this offence is 10 years. McGreevy was on Wednesday handed a prison sentence of three and a half years, with the final 15 months suspended on strict conditions. James Dwyer SC, defending, said his client is not a political ideologue, but rather an isolated, lonely keyboard warrior who acted from impulse, not malice, and failed to realise the impact of his actions. The Sinn Fein leader and the Garda Commissioner were not in court during the sentence hearing. In a victim impact statement read to the court by Antonia Boyle BL prosecuting, Ms McDonald said like others in the public eye, she'd become accustomed to routine abuse, aggression and causal threats on social media. But this was different. The direct threat to shoot me, to shoot me 'for free', the open willingness to harm me himself, and the implicit willingness to harm me on behalf of another. She said the video presentation was bizarre, maybe even laughable, but the threat was real and chilling. I was afraid and angry. My family were enraged and afraid. Live without fear She said she had the right to live and move without fear, like any other citizen, and this right goes to the core of her personal freedom and her ability to carry out her democratic role. The threat to shoot me 'for free' was the threat of a coward, designed to intimidate me and to encourage others to target me. She said the threat caused her distress, anxiety and anger but she added I will not allow any bully to stop me from doing my job. Commissioner Harris declined to provide a victim impact statement, the court was told, as his view was his statement of complaint captured the impact on him. The clips were played for Judge Martin Nolan from a laptop. In them, McGreevy says Drew Harris, you should be fucking taken out, dragged up to Dolphin's Barn, taken to Dublin Castle and executed. He said the Garda Commissioner should be shot in the head by the IRA, I'm not even joking.....Fuck you Drew Harris , youre next, youre getting it, I dont give a fuck if I get years for it. McGreevy said Drew Harris, I'm coming for you... I'll rip your fucking head off. He also described the garda commissioner as an English bastard, English speccy-eyed bastard, and little prick. McGreevy said he was making a couple of videos about what happened yesterday. Fuck Drew Harris, hed be getting shot, fucking blasted. See Mary Lou, Ill shoot her myself for free, I'll do her for free. Fucking little rats. McGreevy was arrested and after caution, he said this is about those fucking posts to kill Mary Lou. They were fucking stupid. I was expecting you. During the interview, he told gardai he'd never had a video that had been viewed so many times, that he didn't mean for it to go viral and he'd taken it down. McGreevy expressed shame and remorse, saying he didn't mean for anyone to feel hurt or threatened, but had wanted to rant, before acknowledging that he shouldn't have said those things. Part of his letter of apology was read to the court, in which McGreevy described his actions as stupid. McGreevy said he didnt intend to cause distress with his words and expressed his regret. Defence counsel outlined his client's background, adding that McGreevy has been using cannabis since he was a teenager but is drug-free since going into custody. Mr Dwyer noted McGreevy has an acquired brain injury and suffered physical abuse as a child at the hands of a relative. Counsel asked the court to take into account his client's early guilty pleas, expressions of remorse, and personal circumstances. Extreme and frightening threats Imposing sentence, Judge Nolan said these were extreme and frightening threats to two public figures, who were entitled to their peace of mind. He said the videos would have been very disturbing for the injured parties, who would have a very valid belief that contributions like this poison social discourse and give permission to certain individuals to behave in a certain violent way, particularly to public individuals. The judge said the threats made to Commissioner Harris were odious and noted Deputy McDonald's gracious victim impact statement. He said the threats were very serious, and while the court found no intention on the part of this defendant to carry them outnevertheless the injured parties were right to be worried about the contents [of these threats]. He said McGreevy has a long, complicated and sad history and the court inferred on the day in question that the defendant was frustrated with life and had certain complaints. Having considered McGreevy's background and the mitigation, Judge Nolan imposed a three-and-a-half year prison sentence, with the final 15 months suspended on strict conditions. In her impact statement, the Sinn Fein leader noted that the family of the perpetrator of this crime had written to her to express solidarity with her and her family. She thanked them for their decency, noting that the responsibility for the threat and fear caused to her and her family lies with the perpetrator alone. McGreevy has four previous convictions for offences including robbery and public order offences. Detective Sergeant Gareth Kane told Ms Boyle that the Special Detective Unit began an investigation into videos posted on a TikTok account in the name of 'Richard.Mcgreevy2' on July 16 last. These videos featured McGreevy in a blue jacket and balaclava making threats towards both injured parties. The following day, Martin Lanigan, Deputy McDonald's husband, made a complaint, outlining that he and his wife had viewed a video the night before on X in which a person threatened to kill her. He expressed concern and said he was appalled. Ms McDonald made a statement to gardai on July 18th last. She said she was having a cup of tea with her husband, after getting home from a public meeting when she opened her X account and noticed another account had tagged her about this video. Fearful and angry The Sinn Fein leader said she was alarmed, fearful and angry after viewing the video. She expressed fear that it had been posted online and that it might encourage others to do harm to her. On July 26th last, Commissioner Harris also made a complaint about the video. He said he was concerned for his safety, and for that of his wife and family having been shown the footage. The Garda Commissioner said he believed the threat to be real and credible, and due to his professional knowledge, believed the threat could be carried out. A request was made to TikTok to preserve the footage, which was later downloaded by gardai. McGreevy was identified as he was not wearing a balaclava in other clips posted to the account. His house was searched on July 18th last while he was present, and items seized included a homemade balaclava, the blue jacket, a Nokia phone and a set of rosary beads he was seen wearing in a portion of the footage. After his arrest, he was taken to Terenure Garda Station, where he was interviewed three times. McGreevy made full admissions, saying he was silly and shouldn't have done it. He said it was fucking disgraceful and done on the spur of the moment. McGreevy said he didn't mean anything bad for either injured party. He said he didn't expect the video to go viral, and didn't realise how much trouble he could get into. McGreevy also referred to mental health issues, family difficulties and issues with drugs. Det Sgt Kane agreed with defence counsel that McGreevy's offending took place around the same time as public disorder in Coolock, but there is no suggestion his client attended any rallies. It was further accepted that McGreevy's name was contained in his TikTok user handle, that it was not a complex investigation to identify him, and that he was arrested in the room where the video was made. Det Sgt Kane agreed McGreevy was co-operative, admitting to being on TikTok and making the homemade balaclava. The garda also accepted that McGreevy referred to his use of cannabis and his mental health issues during an interview and expressed remorse and shame. A letter from McGreevy, a medical report and other documents were handed to the court. Mr Dwyer noted the medical report outlined his client's history of drug use, including cannabis and benzodiazepines. His client managed to become drug-free but relapsed following the death of his young daughter. He has another child. The report notes that McGreevy made the videos to express frustration and was using the injured parties to represent the systems he was frustrated with, but he has no problem with either of them. Olivia Kelleher A handwritten note in which the writer asked for forgiveness for what he had done was found in a bedroom of a home in Cork where a mother of one was discovered cold and stiff to the touch in a blood soaked bed, a murder trial has heard. Regin Parithapara Rajan (43) of Kerala in India is on trial at the Central Criminal Court in Cork, charged with the murder of his wife Deepa Dinamani. The 38-year-old chartered accountant was found dead by members of the Armed Support Unit (ASU) when they went to her family home in Cardinal Court in Wilton in the city on July 14th, 2023. Regin and Deepa had moved to Ireland from India with their young son four months earlier. Crime scene examiner Det Garda John Paul Twomey on Wednesday told the trial that he visited the house in Wilton the day after Deepa was found dead onsite. Dt Garda Twomey said that a notebook seized from the property contained a note which read: I love you so much. Please forgive me for what I did, as your mum was having something.and his name was Jay. Dt Garda Twomey told the jury that the note was difficult to read. He read out what he could decipher. He stated that he seized and bagged, amongst other items, a knife, a wedding ring, a broken gold necklace and a bloodied T-shirt and shorts. He said that he took various swabs from the body of the deceased. Meanwhile, CCTV evidence was shown of what Dt Garda Dave Hickey described as the buying of the potential murder weapon two days before Deepa was discovered dead in her home. Det Garda Hickey said that CCTV from Tesco in Wilton Shopping Centre was examined and the accused Regin Rajan was captured buying a Go Cook carving knife, a bottle of whiskey and a soft drink. He said that Mr Rajan brought a bag for life to the supermarket on the afternoon of July 12th, 2023 and used a Tesco club card when purchasing the items. Meanwhile, Derek Foley, call handler at the Garda Control Room in Anglesea Street in Cork, gave evidence of answering an emergency call at 9.55 pm on July 14th, 2023. He said that he asked the caller for his name and eircode. He said the man identified himself as Regin Rajan and gave an eircode for a property in Cardinal Court in Wilton in Cork. Mr Foley told the jury the caller said he had killed his wife. He said that he wanted the guards to come around and arrest him as he had killed his wife. Mr Foley asked the caller if there was anybody else in the property and the man replied that his five-year-old son was at home. Mr Foley said that he offered to stay on the line until the gardai arrived. However, the caller opted not to stay on the line. A recording of the 999 call was played to the jury. Meanwhile, Detective Garda Patrick OToole of the ASU said that Ms Dimanani was found dead in an upstairs front bedroom of her home in Wilton shortly after 10 pm on July 14th, 2023. He said that Deepa was wrapped in a duvet on a bed. Det Garda OToole said that she was on her left side, facing the bedroom window. We rolled her on to her back. I checked for pulse. She was cold to touch." He said it looked like she had been there some time. "Her limbs were quite rigid. I observed that there was a large knife in the room. Det Garda Tony Devane of the ASU accompanied Dt Garda OToole at the scene. He said that when they arrived on site Mr Rajan complied with his instructions to get on his knees and to put his hands behind his neck. Mr Rajan was handcuffed. Det Garda Devane said that he asked Mr Rajan if anybody else was in the house, but his reply was incoherent and low. The trial continues on Thursday before Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury of five men and seven women. Former Donald Trump Jr. fiancee Kimberly Guilfoyle is under fire for a daring outfit at the Wags to Riches Gala at Mar-a-Lago over the weekend. As per The Atlanta Black Star, the event raised funds for Furry Friends Humane, a no-kill shelter for abandoned animals, but it was Guilfoyle's striking attire that stole the spotlight. Congratulations to my friend @kimguilfoyle for receiving the CIGO award at the Furry Friends Animal Rescue Gala at Mar a Lago last night! Kimberly is a great defender and supporter of animals and does a lot to help and support local animal rescues in South Florida! pic.twitter.com/kLKBjRxtP5 Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) March 24, 2025 The 56-year-old wore a black dress with a plunging neckline and sheer panels, embellished with lace and feathers which drew mixed reviews from weekend attendees and social media users. While some praised her confidence and glamor, others deemed the outfit inappropriate for her role as an ambassador to Greece. .@kimguilfoyle: "This is the honor and privilege of a lifetime to serve this country... and to do it under the guidance, the leadership the most important, powerful president that this country has ever seen... today, we celebrate and cherish our rich history and our enduring... pic.twitter.com/kPJNJ4YyB5 Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 24, 2025 "This is not the attire one would expect from an ambassador," one critic commented online. "The plunging neckline is grossly inappropriate for such a formal charity event." The gala marked Guilfoyle's first major public appearance since rumors of her split from Trump Jr., 47, began to circulate in December. Following their breakup, which reportedly stemmed from his new relationship with influencer Bettina Anderson, Guilfoyle was appointed to her government role in Greece. LMAO they're shipping Guilfoyle off to Greece right after the article came out about Don Jr. and some other woman pic.twitter.com/OiNLfa7MB4 Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) December 11, 2024 Kimberly Guilfoyle's Transformation Draws Mixed Reactions Supporters took to social media to express admiration for Guilfoyle's transformation post-breakup. "It's her confidence shining through! She's much more than a socialite," one fan wrote. But, some were concerned about the way she looked, with many commenting how thin she looked, sparking health fears. Despite the backlash regarding her dress, Guilfoyle's presence at the gala demonstrated her continued ties to the Trump family and her commitment to charitable causes. She leveraged her relationships to get the prestigious venue. But the night was not without controversy either, with discussions of Guilfoyle's attire overshadowing the philanthropic aim of helping homeless pets. While some attendees celebrated the cause, others remained focused on the former Fox News personality's fashion choices and personal life. Ben Affleck is making headlines for his unexpected remarks about his first ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, just months after finalizing his divorce from Jennifer Lopez. In an interview with GQ magazine, the 52-year-old actor addressed his experiences with both women and emphasized a sense of respect for Garner. The couple, who reconnected in April 2021, wed in a small ceremony in Las Vegas in July 2022. Nonetheless, the pair broke up in April 2024, which led to Lopez filing for divorce two months later on the grounds of "irreconcilable differences." In February of 2025, their divorce was made official. No Scandal, No Soap Opera, No Intrigue In the GQ profile, Affleck insists that there is "no scandal, no soap opera, no intrigue" surrounding his split from Lopez, despite the media frenzy. His personality is definitely quieter than Lopez's boisterousness, and that created a difference of perspective when it came to privacy, he said. "I'm really lucky that I have a really good co-parent and partner in Jennifer Garner," Affleck said. He described their relationship as one that works well for the sake of their three children: Violet, 18; Seraphina, 15; and Samuel, 12. Affleck also addressed his appearance in Lopez's 2024 documentary, "The Greatest Love Story Never Told," stating that he wanted to participate honestly. He clarified that the documentary did not cause any major issues between them. "I think it's important to say that wasn't the cause of some major fracture," he said. "You've got to own what you knew going into any relationship." As per The Atlanta Black Star, Affleck's comments have prompted mixed reactions from fans and social media users. Comments ranged from supportive to critical, with one user stating, "It's great to hear him speak kindly about Garner, but he needs to prioritize himself and his kids now." Another remarked, "Why is he even talking about his exes? He should focus on moving forward." Jennifer Lopez also reflects on her evolution post-divorce. Reflecting on her self-exploration process in an Interview Magazine interview at the end of 2021, she said: "You have to be complete if you want something that's more complete." Recent reports have provided new insights into the tragic passing of Pamela Bach, former spouse of "Baywatch" star David Hasselhoff. The 61-year-old actress was found dead in her Hollywood Hills home on March 5, with her death officially ruled as suicide due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. According to a Los Angeles County death certificate obtained by TMZ, Bach used a revolver and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Her remains have since been cremated. Family members reportedly became concerned after not hearing from her for days, prompting them to check on her at her residence, where they made the heartbreaking discovery. Pamela Bach, former spouse of David Hasselhoff from 1989 to 2006, was the mother of their two daughters, Taylor Ann Hasselhoff, 34, and Hayley Hasselhoff, 32. Following their mother's passing, both daughters took to social media to express their grief. Taylor paid tribute to her late mother on Instagram, sharing childhood photos and expressing her deep longing to embrace her again. She described Bach as her closest companion and the center of her world. Taylor also promised to honor her mother's memory for her seven-month-old daughter, London. According to NYPost, Hayley also penned an emotional message, revealing the depth of her sorrow. "Mom, last night was one of the hardest. I don't know if it's because it's been a week since your passing or the synchronization of the rain tonight, just like the night of. I pray that one day I can find comfort in the sound of rain again," she wrote. The cause of death has been revealed for Pamela Bach, actress and ex-wife to David Hasselhoff. https://t.co/d4ccI7wwhT FOX6 News (@fox6now) March 26, 2025 No Suicide Note Found as New Details Emerge on Pamela Bach's Death The passing of Pamela Hasselhoff has led to an outpouring of support from friends, family, and fans. In response, David Hasselhoff shared a brief statement expressing his family's deep sorrow and gratitude for the love and support they have received. He also requested privacy as they navigate this difficult time. Authorities confirmed that no suicide note was left at the scene, DailyMail said. Bach was last active on social media in December, where she shared a New Year's post expressing gratitude for her granddaughter, London. "Watching her grow and seeing her smile light up my world is truly the greatest blessing," she wrote at the time. Bach was well-known for her work in Hollywood, including roles in "Baywatch," "The Young and the Restless," and "The Fall Guy." She met Hasselhoff on the set of "Knight Rider" before securing her own acting career. Following their divorce, the former couple had a contentious legal battle over alimony, with Hasselhoff reportedly paying her up to $21,000 a month before it was reduced to $5,000 in 2017. Taylor has since filed legal documents to oversee her late mother's estate, which is valued at approximately $840,000. Television icon Oprah Winfrey has been subpoenaed in a legal battle involving hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons. Drew Dixon, one of Simmons' accusers, has called on Winfrey to provide documents and testify in her defamation lawsuit against him. Dixon, a former Def Jam executive, accused Simmons in 2017 of raping her in 1995. In 2024, she filed a defamation lawsuit, arguing that Simmons discredited her claims in a 2023 interview. In that interview, he questioned the motives of his accusers, suggesting they sought "notoriety in the market where people thirst for fame." He also denied ever being "forceful" in his relationships, insisting they were all "consensual." Dixon is also suing over Simmons' remarks about Winfrey's involvement in the case. In the interview, he claimed that Winfrey had abandoned a 2020 documentary, "On the Record," about the allegations against him due to "inconsistencies" in accusers' stories, DailyMail said. He further suggested that Winfrey had recorded conversations that revealed these inconsistencies. After exiting the documentary, Winfrey stated that she still believed Dixon but noted that there were "inconsistencies" in her account that the film had not fully addressed. The filmmakers, however, insisted they had substantial research supporting all of the women's claims. #BREAKING Oprah Winfrey has been DRAGGED into hip-hop icon Russell Simmons' high-profile RAPE CASE The billionaire, 71, has been subpoenaed by Drew Dixon, one of Simmons' alleged rape victims, in her ongoing defamation lawsuit against the rapper, according to Page Six; pic.twitter.com/iCfeWnQBiN SANTINO (@MichaelSCollura) March 26, 2025 Drew Dixon's Legal Team Demands Oprah Winfrey's Testimony According to Page Six, Dixon's attorneys have now subpoenaed Winfrey, demanding that she provide documents, communications, and any other relevant materials related to the case. The subpoena orders Winfrey to submit the requested items by March 18, 2025, either electronically or at a New York law firm. It also requires her to appear for a deposition, which may be videotaped, to give testimony under oath. The legal order states, "You are further commanded to... appear and attend before a notary public or other person authorized by law to administer oaths... to testify and give evidence as a witness on an examination before trial by deposition upon oral questions." It adds, "This deposition may be videotaped and will continue from day to day until complete." It remains unclear whether Winfrey has complied with the subpoena or if her legal team is fighting it. Additionally, the exact nature of the requested documents has not been disclosed. Simmons, who has faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has never been criminally charged. His legal troubles, however, continue to unfold as Dixon seeks to hold him accountable for statements she claims damaged her reputation. Representatives for Dixon and Winfrey have not commented on the matter. Prince Harry is leaving his position at Sentebale, the charity he created nearly twenty years ago, after a dramatic internal fallout. Trustees of the charity said the decision followed an irreparable breakdown in relations between them and the charity's chair, Dr. Sophie Chandauka, that had resulted in resignations and claims of bullying. The Duke of Sussex founded Sentebale along with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 to help vulnerable children affected by extreme poverty and HIV/AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana. However, an unprecedented rift in its leadership ranks has come over a power struggle for the direction of the organization. Scandals Forced Many Out of Sentebale Dr. Chandauka, the Zimbabwe-born former lawyer who was appointed chair of the board of trustees last year, has made allegations of "cover-up" behavior among her colleagues and an environment "where bullying, harassment, misogyny and misogynoir" flourish. In a press release, she called it "weak executive management and abuse of power." Chandauka had a dig at people she felt abused their power but then portrayed the victim when challenged. According to her, some use the media to get back at people who expose what they are doingand the media may, if they so choose, shun these individuals, but that will not stop them from using it as a weapon. She said per the Daily Mail, "There are people in this world who act like they are above the law and treat people like worthless dirt, but when anyone dares to stand up to their behavior, they play the victim and use the press, which they disdain, to do damage on others who dare to stand against their behaviors." The fallout reportedly started after the charity was turned away due to fundraising efforts being moved to Africa, prompting a rift between the prince and his crew. Amid the unprecedented turbulence, which resulted in other major CEOs, including Richard Miller, standing down, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso issued a joint statement saying they were 'disappointed' by the turn of the tide. "What's transpired is unthinkable. We are in shock that we have to do this," the statement read. "Nearly 20 years ago, we founded Sentebale in honor of our mothers. Sentebale means 'forget-me-not' in Sesotho, and it's what we've always promised for the young people we've served through this charity." The two royal founders resigned from the board of trustees, saying that loss of trust is a problem which cannot be mended. They said in a statement, "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." A Charity in Crisis The former trustees, including long-time Prince Harry confidante Mark Dyer, said in a statement that they had all agreed to resign. "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," they said. "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." Chandauka, however, has remained defiant under increasing pressure to walk away from her post, claiming she still believes in the work of Sentebale. "I stand for those other women who do not have the ways and means," she declared. "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." Since then, Sentebale has announced changes to its leadership, saying it was reorganizing its leadership to ensure it "introduce experts with the capabilities and networks to accelerate Sentebale's transformation agenda." WASHINGTON, D.C. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to dismantle the U.S. Education Department, which aims to reduce the department to its "core necessities" while preserving essential responsibilities. The order will maintain Title I funding for low-income schools, Pell grants, and money for children with disabilities. NonStop Local has reached out to the offices of Montana representatives for comment on this significant move. Senator Daines Senator Steve Daines shared his support, stating, "As Montanans voice in DC Im fighting for whats best for our Montana students, and that means empowering parents, teachers and local education leaders to make decisions for our kidsnot far away bureaucrats. Im glad to see President Trump agrees, and support his efforts to reform the Department of Education to better serve Montana students." "Senator Daines leads the A-PLUS Act every Congress to give local leaders and parents more say over how their tax dollars are spent on education. https://www.daines.senate.gov/2023/01/26/daines-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-empower-parents-teachers/" Congressman Zinke Congressman Ryan Zinke also voiced his approval, emphasizing the need for local control. "I think Montana knows better how to deliver a quality education for Montana kids than the bureaucrats in Washington, DC, do," Zinke said. He believes that while federal funding is necessary, the current department structure is failing students. "The President made the right decision; kids deserve better. The next step is to block grant the funding and send it directly to states." Senator Sheehy Senator Sheehy echoed similar sentiments, focusing on the need to prioritize students over bureaucracy. "Its time to put students first, not bureaucracy. Closing the DOE will not cut off funds from students who depend on them - it just means eliminating layers of red tape in Washington, D.C.," he stated. Sheehy emphasized that education dollars are more effectively utilized at the local level to benefit kids, families, and teachers directly. Superintendent Hedalen Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen issued the following statement in response to President Trumps Executive Order: I want to thank President Trump and Secretary McMahon for their historic action today to return education back to the states and local communities. I want to make it clear that President Trump is working to return our education tax dollars to Montanas parents, teachers, and local communities who know whats best for their students. We dont need top-down mandates from DC bureaucrats. With todays actions, and future efforts from the President and Congress, we can get more resources directly to Montanas classrooms, reduce burdensome federal reporting on schools, and get education back to basics. The President and Secretary have made it clear that no formula funding or statutory grants that Montana schools rely on including Title I, Special Education, career and technical education, school nutrition, or others will be eliminated. Montanas Office of Public Instruction is prepared to take the lead and administer these funds at the state level. I am proud that Montana is leading the charge and I encourage my education colleagues to join me in moving forward with a positive vision for the future of education in our state and country. Congressman Downing Montana District 2 Congressman Troy Downing shared the following statement regarding the order: For too long, rampant overregulation and mismanagement at the Department of Education stifled opportunities for our future generations. This move puts states and parents in the drivers seat while preserving funding for programs that Americans rely on. Parents, not DC bureaucrats, are best positioned to make decisions concerning their childrens education. These statements reflect a unified stance among Montana representatives, emphasizing the importance of local decision-making in education funding and administration. One of the Montana State University presidential candidates toured campus Tuesday, holding a public forum in the Strand Union Building where students and faculty asked direct questions to the man who may soon helm Montanas largest university. For over an hour, Kurt Schnier, an established researcher and chief financial officer at the University of California Merced, ran the gamut of university issues while presenting himself as a strong leader ready to build upon the success of outgoing President Waded Cruzado. I have really gravitated toward Montana States mission and its grand challenges, looking at the community itself, looking at being a steward of our environment and the sustainability of Montana resources, Schnier said. They all seem very aligned with my interests. Schnier took to the stage in front of some couple hundred attendees, easily making his way through a variety of topics while leaning on his experience at Merced. A long-time academic, Schnier holds a bachelors in management sciences from the University of California San Diego, a masters in environmental studies from the University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Arizona. He has worked as a faculty member at the University of Rhode Island, Georgia State University and most recently UC Merced, where he is also the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Budget. Schnier has some ties to Bozeman. He said he has vacationed in Montana for some 40 years, has family in Kalispell and has been a senior research fellow at the Property and Environmental Research Center (PERC) since 2010. Im definitely a unique CFO, I dont have a traditional background for a CFO, he said, sharing that during the pandemic he started doing financial modeling on the impacts of the pandemic for Merced. Next thing I know, Im the CFO for the campus, he said, coaxing a laugh from the crowd. From a leadership perspective, Ive learned to respect everybodys expertise, value it, learn from them and work with them collaboratively to solve problems, Schnier said. Higher ed is being challenged right now and I think everybody knows thats the case. With those challenges, (it) means we have to look at things a little differently. On Wednesday, Schnier was scheduled to continue touring MSU, meeting with a variety of MSU affiliates and the MSU Alumni Foundation. Late last week, the university announced Schnier as one of two finalists to take over for Cruzado, who plans to retire in June. The other candidate, Brock Tessman, the president of Northern Michigan University, will tour the campus on Thursday and Friday and hold the same open forum at the Strand Union Building on Thursday from 4:30 to 5:30. The Chronicle will publish a separate article about Tessman later this week. At the forum on Tuesday, Schnier fielded questions on his relationship with PERC, concerns over federal research funding, his leadership style and thoughts on specific departments and Greek life. When it came to a loss or stoppage in research funds especially since MSU recently announced it lost $10 million and 58 federal grants are paused Schnier said part of the solution comes down to working with the system while finding alternative methods to keep programs going. One professor, Roland Hatzenpichler, the associate director of the Thermal Biology Institute got more specific. He asked Schnier what role the president of MSU should have in pushing back against a federal desire to slash education and research funding while referencing what Hatzenpichler believes to be the Trump administration following the guidelines of Project 2025. As president, you have to be careful in pushing back (and) I think what you can do is work with the system in figuring out larger strategies that support the mission of the campus, Schnier said. You wouldnt want the President to unilaterally say something, that has to be coordinated with the system, with the regents as a state response. Instead acknowledging that the campus wouldnt be able to sustain itself without funding Schnier said the university should work with local and state governments to prevent funding issues or seek new ways to ensure research at MSU is maintained. Another student asked him about his relationship with PERC, and although Schnier said hes had internal struggles about PERCs positions on deregulation, he said his research was limited to privatization of fisheries management. I am a strong advocate for privatization of resources and fisheries management for the one particular reason that its an example where privatization of that resource has the highest biomass population and sustainable fish populations on the globe if you did it right. Thats why I gravitated toward (PERC) because I saw it as a way to expand my knowledge and expand my research in a way that I could benefit the environment and also economics. Schnier brought the focus back to learning from MSU students and faculty about their specific goals for the university when highlighting his leadership style. Im a very open person... that will welcome open-door policies... but also open to be challenged, Schnier told the crowd. I would also like to be known for strengthening some student success measures for the institution, helping to support our students, increasing retention rates and graduation rates. What he didnt want to do was get too specific regarding individual departments, saying he didnt have much MSU ground experience to be able to argue one way or another and would prefer to first hear from the departments. Not ignoring the elephant in the room, Schnier later told the Chronicle he was aware that he would be following the legacy of Cruzado, who is generally considered to have had a profound effect on MSU and its growth trajectory. You have to celebrate what she did, Schnier said. But acknowledging, what is it that were building on? What is that foundation that shes built? Thats the real challenge for the next president, to move into that next step. GREAT FALLS, Mont. Western Art Week has once again brought a wave of excitement and economic activity to Great Falls. The event drew thousands of visitors, provided a boost to local businesses, and celebrated the city's artistic heritage. Rebecca Engum, Executive Director of Great Falls Montana Tourism, shared her enthusiasm. I thought Western Art Week was amazing, she said. Engum attended all the shows for the first time and participated in the Russell Live auction and First Strike Friday night. The event spanned from Wednesday to Sunday and featured various art shows, auctions, and special events. Attendance was strong, with many visitors attending multiple shows. In Great Falls it looks like about 8,400 people participated in the activities of Western Art Week, Engum said. We noticed a lot of people attending multiple shows, so that was good as well. The economic impact of the event was significant, with early estimates suggesting over a million dollars contributed to the local economy. Engum noted, We know that there was over $1.5 million infused in our economy because of Western Art Week. She added that the event led to increases in food and lodging demand. Historically, Western Art Week accounts for a significant portion of Great Falls' lodging demand. Engum explained, Room demand for Western Art Week accounts for about 15 to 20% of our total rooms in the Great Falls market. Beyond its economic benefits, Western Art Week has become a key cultural event. Engum described it as a mix of craft shows, high-end art, live music, and food, attracting artists, collectors, and visitors nationwide. When I tell someone that there's 14 shows, ten different locations, over 800 artists exhibiting what they've been working on over the last year, they immediately kind of think it must be some type of art gallery or museum experience, and nothing could be further from the truth, Engum said. The event has its roots in an auction organized by Norma Ashby Smith to support the C.M. Russell Museum. Engum explained, Western Art Week is about 56 years in the making, and it all started when Norma Ashby Smith decided that there was a great way to raise funds to develop and grow the C.M. Russell Museum, and that was with an auction. Next years Western Art Week is set for March 18-22, 2026, aligning with Charles M. Russell's birthday on March 19. The UK's post-Brexit border has been criticised by farming and growing groups as the most expensive and least efficient in the world. The government's ambition to develop the "worlds most effective border by 2025" was sharply criticised in a parliamentary session on Tuesday (25 March). Experts highlighted to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee that growers faced inefficiencies, high costs, and inadequate communication from the government. Nigel Jenney, chief executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC), described the reality starkly: Our world-leading border is currently the most expensive and least efficient globally. "This is a self-imposed crisis creating huge distress and significant additional costs that ultimately consumers must shoulder. Sally Cullimore, technical policy manager at the Horticultural Trade Association (HTA), told MPs who sit on EFRA that the "current blueprint simply doesn't work for our industry". "We are aghast at how things have been managed and deeply concerned about the lack of data provided to experts at the border." Mr Jenney warned the parliamentary committee that exporting fresh produce to Europe had "become nearly impossible." The repercussions of increased phytosanitary (SPS) controls have particularly impacted small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), industry bodies say, as they constitute 80% of businesses importing. Firms face average additional costs of 14,000 per 100 consignments due to the Common Usage Charge (CUC) fees, leading to an annual bill of around 200 million for the industry. Nicola Mallen, head of trade at Logistics UK, highlighted to EFRA the critical role of the 'groupage' model, warning that it had increasingly becoming unviable. "SMEs cannot absorb these spiralling costs, pushing prices higher for consumers," she warned. The issue of costly border delays was underscored: "Every hour of waiting costs businesses an extra 50-60. These cumulative expenses are driving European logistics companies away." A recurring theme during the committee session was the UK government's inadequate communication. Mr Jenney criticised the persistent lack of response from Defra, saying: Questions we've been raising for years remain unanswered. Our proactive planning and suggestions have been knowingly ignored. He expressed particular frustration with the centralised control at Sevington Border Control Post (BCP), noting it monopolises inspections, starving regional facilities of business. We import 65% of our fresh produce and 80% of flowers. Getting this right is imperative, but were investing vast sums without clear benefit, he explained. Mr Jenney also highlighted the urgent need for around-the-clock inspection resources, which despite substantial investment from industry members, remain unauthorised by Defra, compounding inefficiencies. We have offered regional control point inspection facilities for a least cost solution. Our track record demonstrates we can self-manage effectively," Mr Jenney asserted. Katrina Walsh, strategy director at the International Meat Trade Association, cited preparation fatigue to MPs, describing the repeated postponement of deadlines and the lack of expert governmental advice. At the end of the session, Mr Jenney concluded: Enough is enough. We have a self-made crisis on our hands. We need real solutions, not just rhetoric. Detection of bird flu in a sheep in Yorkshire is a reminder for farms to maintain tight biosecurity, particularly those with mixed poultry and livestock, experts say. Earlier this week, Defra confirmed the case of H5N1 following repeat positive milk testing, on a farm where avian influenza had previously been confirmed in captive birds. Although the UK's chief veterinary officer said the risk to livestock remained low, she urged all animal owners to have "scrupulous cleanliness in place". Christine Middlemiss also encouraged farmers to report any signs of infection to the Animal Plant Health Agency (APHA) immediately. While this is the first time this virus has been reported in a sheep, it is not the first instance of influenza of avian origin being detected in livestock, with cases of infection in dairy cows reported in the US. However, Dr Middlemiss called on all livestock keepers to remain vigilant to the clinical signs of avian influenza following recent outbreaks. All keepers must maintain good biosecurity which is essential to protect the health and welfare of their animals and critical to preventing the further spread of disease in the event of an outbreak, she said. Nigel Bennet, manager at biosecurity specialists Roam Technology, said every farm should be reviewing and strengthening its biosecurity protocols following the case. He said: "Prevention is our strongest defence. This means restricting unnecessary visitors, disinfecting clothing and equipment, and closely monitoring animal health. "This case of H5N1 in sheep highlights the need for constant vigilance. Biosecurity isnt just about responding to outbreaks; it should be a year-round priority to protect farm businesses and animal welfare. "Farmers must remain proactive in safeguarding their livestock from potential disease threats." What can I do? Mr Bennet has outlined seven key areas farmers should be aware of to maximise their frontline defences: Develop a biosecurity plan: Work with vets to establish a clear biosecurity plan, including physical barriers, hygiene protocols, and emergency procedures. Cleaning and disinfection: Thoroughly clean and disinfect all vehicles, boots, equipment, and housing using Defra-approved disinfectants. Visitors should use foot baths and dedicated protective clothing. Monitor farm access: Restrict and track visitor access to minimise disease risks. Designate parking away from livestock, use wheel washes, and ensure tradespeople follow hygiene protocols. Mr Bennet said: "A farm should not be an open-door environmentevery entry point carries risk." Quarantine: New or returning stock must be quarantined for at least 21 days, housed separately, and monitored for disease. Use this period for testing and vaccination before integration. Rodent and wildlife management: Secure feed storage and effective pest control help prevent disease transmission from wildlife. Maintain fencing to reduce contact with infected animals and minimise standing water to control disease-spreading insects. Optimise housing: Ensure good ventilation, clean high-traffic areas, and maintain water hygiene. Monitoring: Daily health checks help detect disease early and prevent outbreaks. "Knowing your animals and spotting illness early is crucial for disease control," said Mr Bennet. "Stay vigilant and keep biosecurity tight." Avian influenza is notifiable in all poultry and other captive birds and influenza of avian origin is notifiable in both kept and wild mammals. If you suspect your animals are infected report it immediately to the APHA by calling: 03000 200 301 in England 0300 303 8268 in Wales Contacting your local Field Services Office in Scotland Wales' next steps in tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in animals have been unveiled, including 2m of funding and a new expert advisory group. The Welsh government has published its final review of the 2019-2024 AMR in Animals and the Environment Implementation Plan. Building on five years of progress, this is Wales' first coordinated approach to addressing AMR in the food and farming industry, and in wider society. The next steps of the plan - over the next five years - will include a new Wales AMR Animal Health Group, established to provide expert guidance to farmers and vets. The Animal Health group has recommended a new Animal AMR Control Plan for Wales (2025-2029), aligned with the UK national action plan for antimicrobial resistance. To support the plans, the Welsh government has also awarded 2 million of funding to the Arwain DGC (Defnydd Gwrthfaicrobaidd Cyfrifol) consortium. Arwain delivers AMR controls, and the new phase of the programme will allow Wales to continue addressing AMR and the responsible use of antibiotics. Huw Irranca-Davies, who is Wales' deputy first minister with responsibility for rural affairs, said: "This investment will support vital monitoring, training and engagement work to ensure antibiotics remain effective for future generations." The funding will support phase three of the Arwain programme, which will include several workstreams such as continue the Veterinary Prescribing Champions Network across 44 Welsh veterinary practices. It will also continue collecting antimicrobial usage data from at least 4,500 Welsh farms, as well as monitoring AMR in cattle and sheep through on-farm sampling. Wales' chief veterinary officer, Richard Irvine, highlighted the scale of the challenge ahead for the Welsh farming industry and the economy as a whole. "The effects of antimicrobial resistance continue to be disruptive and costly, not just to animal keepers and veterinarians, but for wider society," he said. "Drug-resistant organisms pose direct risks to both people and animals and can spread through the environment, which is why our One Health approach - bringing together public health, animal health and the environment - is crucial." A man has been arrested after 75 sheep were stolen from a farm in Carmarthenshire, with police calling for more information. The incident happened sometime between 7 March and 17 March on a farm near Newcastle Emlyn, Dyfed-Powys Police said. A man, aged 40, has been arrested on suspicion of theft and remains in custody, while the force have now issued an appeal to the public for any information. "The lamb yearling ewes have gone missing from the Rhydlewis area," a spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said. "The sheep are described as being white faced with clean white wool with a faint yellow spot on them. "They have the appearance of a continental cross ewe similar to a Texel cross." Farmers across the UK have witnessed an increase in both small and large scale livestock thefts, police forces warned last year. The crime causes suffering to animals which are often treated badly by thieves and sometimes even slaughtered out in the fields. Livestock rustling is also a cause of food crime and can present a risk to public health as the quality and safety of stolen meat products cannot be guaranteed. The most recent figures show that the crime cost farmers 2.7 million in 2023, and a number of incidents saw animals butchered in fields. Those with any information on the case in Carmarthenshire can email 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk or call 101. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111 or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org. Bangladesh may stop yarn imports via land ports in the interests of the domestic textile and spinning sector, according to commerce secretary Mahbubur Rahman. Sectoral entrepreneurs have been demanding this for long, and met senior commerce ministry officials recently, reiterating their request, he said. Bangladesh may stop yarn imports via land ports, according to commerce secretary Mahbubur Rahman. Entrepreneurs in the domestic textile and spinning sector have been demanding this for long, and met senior commerce ministry officials, reiterating their request. Textile millers say the yarn sector is struggling to survive as significant quantities of fibre are being smuggled through land ports. The ministry, therefore, will consider the matter further and may take a decision within the next week. Yarn imports through seaports, however, will continue as usual, he was cited as saying by domestic media reports. Textile millers say the domestic yarn sector is struggling to survive as significant quantities of fibre are being smuggled through land ports. However, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association requested that yarn imports through land ports should continue. Yarn imports from India are now allowed through seaports and four land portsBenapole, Sonamasjid, Bhomra and Banglabandha. The government allowed the import of yarn through these land ports in January 2023 to meet the sudden rise in demand for fibre after the COVID-19 pandemic. Bangladesh Textile Mills Association president Showkat Aziz Russell said it takes only two weeks to import yarn from India through seaports, making it a more convenient option. When yarn is imported through land ports, which lack testing facilities, importers and exporters take advantage of misdeclaration, he said. Yarn worth around Tk 10,000 crore is currently stockpiled in mills as India has been dumping yarn at lower prices, he added. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) ICE cotton futures eased on Tuesday due to weakness in the grain market and cautious buying ahead of the USDA planting intentions report. However, several cotton contracts recovered during the early session on Wednesday. Yesterday, the ICE cotton May 2025 contract settled at 65.14 cents per pound (0.453 kg), down 0.28 cent. The contract gave up its gains from Mondays trading and has lost 223 points over the last seven sessions. The December contract settled at 68.80 cents, down 13 points. It had gained 27 points in the previous session. The most recent session marked the sixth lower close in the last seven sessions for active contracts. ICE cotton futures dipped on Tuesday amid weakness in grain markets and cautious sentiment ahead of the USDA planting intentions report. While several contracts recovered on Wednesday, recent sessions have mostly closed lower. Analysts expect cotton prices to remain range-bound until the USDA releases its report on March 31. Trading volumes increased, while futures stocks remained unchanged. Total trading volume reached 39,347 contracts, compared to 35,672 contracts cleared the previous day. As of March 24, ICE deliverable No. 2 cotton futures stocks remained unchanged at 14,488 bales. Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) wheat futures declined due to expectations of increasing Black Sea supplies. CBOT soybean and corn futures also closed lower amid tariff concerns. Market analysts said that weakness in soybean, corn, and wheat futures affected the cotton market. They believe cotton prices will remain range-bound until the report is released next Monday. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will release its grain inventory and planting intentions report on March 31. The report will estimate the US planting area for the 2025 season, which could significantly impact cotton prices. The market has been consolidating within a narrow range, awaiting fresh direction from the upcoming USDA report. Traders are closely monitoring potential shifts in US cotton acreage, which could influence price trends for the rest of the year. Currently, ICE cotton for May 2025 is trading at 65.23 cents per pound (up 0.09 cent), cash cotton at 62.64 cents (down 0.28 cent), the July 2025 contract at 66.85 cents (up 0.10 cent), the October 2025 contract at 68.83 cents (down 0.04 cent), the December 2025 contract at 68.85 cents (up 0.05 cent), and the March 2026 contract at 70.06 cents per pound (up 0.04 cent). A few contracts remained at the level of the last closing, with no trading noted today. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL) He said on a post made on X, "Kim Kardashian is a sex trafficker. I don't like that Twigs has my daughter in her video dressing all grown I would have expected more from Twigs Its fuck all you niggas My soul is black And watch yall dont believe me and just say Im crazy". See Also: Kim Kardashian reacts to the rumours of Kanye West and Irina Shayk dating He said on a post made on X, "Kim Kardashian is a sex trafficker. I don't like that Twigs has my daughter in her video dressing all grown I would have expected more from Twigs Its fuck all you niggas My soul is black And watch yall dont believe me and just say Im crazy".Hitting out at Kim's mother, Kris Jenner, Kanye continued, "The grandmother signed for the sex tape. The Kardashians are sex workers and they sex traffic all of the black children they strategically produce". Kim Kardashian and Kanye West started dating in 2012 and got married in 2014. They share four children - Saint West, Chicago West, Psalm West and North West. In 2020, reports surfaced about strains in their marriage and they parted ways in 2022.Kanye is known for making headlines for controversial reasons. Last month, he was dropped by his talent agency following antisemitic comments. Additionally, a Jewish woman who used to work at Yeezy filed a workplace harassment lawsuit against the rapper and alleged that she was subjected to antisemitic remarks including a text she received which read, "Welcome to the first day of working for Hitler." See Also: Prior to that, he arrived at the Grammys with his wife Bianca Censori, who was almost naked. She donned a nude-coloured, see-through skin-tight dress at the Grammys. She was first seen wearing a long black coat to conceal her look but as soon as she stepped on the red carpet, Censori removed the coat revealing her outfit. Following this, Bianca and their entourage of five people were asked to leave.See Also: Kim Kardashian reacts to the rumours of Kanye West and Irina Shayk dating Kim Kardashian and Ye (formerly Kanye West) might have separated but the drama around them never seems to end. Recently, the rapper levelled some serious allegations against his ex-wife. In his latest rant, Kanye called Kim a sex trafficker and alleged that their children might just be a part of a child sex trafficking ring. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2025) - Luxxfolio Holdings Inc. (CSE: LUXX) (the "Company" or "Luxxfolio") is pleased to announce it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement of common shares in the capital of the Company ( the "Shares") for gross proceeds of $1,163,755 by the issuance of 7,758,367 Shares at a price of $0.15 per Share (the "Financing"). The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Financing to advance its cryptocurrency business strategy as well as for general working capital purposes, and to retire certain current liabilities. In connection with the closing of the Financing, the Company paid a finder's fee of $64,558 in cash and issued 406,119 share purchase warrants (the "Finder's Warrants") to certain arm's length finders. Each Finder's Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Share at a price of $0.15 for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance. Geoff McCord, CFO, commented, "I am very satisfied that Luxx has turned the corner in such a meaningful way. It is now positioned, with the right focus and people, to grow quickly in an exciting and dynamic market for the crypto industry." The Company is also pleased to announce changes to its Board and management team. Geoff McCord has resigned from his position as interim CEO, but will remain as the Company's CFO and a director. In addition, Rodney Stevens has resigned as a director of the Company. The Company thanks Mr. McCord and Mr. Stevens for their service and guidance. Tomek Antoniak has been appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer and Director, effective March 25, 2025. Mr. Antoniak is an accomplished software developer and technology leader with over a decade of experience building and scaling high-performance digital infrastructure across blockchain, fintech, and enterprise software domains. He has a proven track record of delivering innovative solutions that drive operational efficiency, user growth, and long-term value creation. Mr. Antoniak also brings over five years of experience in the venture capital space, where he evaluated emerging technologies and supported early-stage companies through growth and transformation. As CEO of Luxxfolio, Mr. Antoniak is strategically positioned to guide the company into its next phase of growth. His hands-on experience in both the technical and strategic layers of business enables him to bridge the gap between innovation and execution. With a focus on operational excellence, product innovation, and sustainable value, Mr. Antoniak brings a forward-thinking, engineering-first mindset to the executive suite as Luxxfolio enters the next stage of its growth. About Luxxfolio Holdings Inc. Luxxfolio is a publicly traded digital asset and technology company focused on digital asset mining and staking, alongside enabling the next generation of crypto-powered commerce with the intent to actively develop and invest in on-chain technologies that support real-world cryptocurrency use cases, including stablecoin payments, merchant processing, and self-custody wallets. With a foundation in digital asset mining, decentralized systems and digital assets, Luxxfolio aims to help accelerate the mainstream adoption of crypto for everyday payments. The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "aims to", intends", "will", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, or results "will" occur. Forward-Looking statements regarding the Company and its business and strategies are based on the Company's estimates and 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 and its subsidiaries to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including capital expenditures and other costs. 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 will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246111 SOURCE: Luxxfolio Holdings Inc. SINGAPORE, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As stricter regulations, growing sustainable investment, and increasing customer demand for sustainability drive significant change, Asia Pacific is increasingly under the spotlight for global supply chains. Against this backdrop, LRQA was proud to sponsor the FOSUS: Asia Pacific Supply Chain Sustainability Summit 2025, held in Singapore on March 19-20. Bringing together industry leaders and innovators, the summit served as a crucial platform to discuss the evolving supply chain landscape, emphasizing the need for businesses to stay agile, minimize risk, and build transparency to turn sustainability compliance into a competitive advantage. During the event, Katie Yewdall, Director of Sustainability Consulting APAC at LRQA, participated in the panel discussion, 'Global Trends in Sustainable Supply Chains and Innovation Strategies in Asia Pacific.' She shared expert insights on the evolving landscape of ESG regulations and due diligence requirements, highlighting the increasing need for businesses to stay ahead of compliance obligations. Emphasising the role of digital transformation, she discussed how technology can enhance transparency across supply chains, enabling organisations to build trust and improve efficiency. Additionally, she explored strategies for developing resilient, future-proof supply chains, ensuring businesses can adapt to regulatory changes, mitigate risks, and maintain a competitive advantage in a rapidly shifting global market. Reflecting on LRQA's participation, Katie stated: "Responsible sourcing is no longer optional-it's a business imperative. Events like these foster essential conversations that drive real-world impact. We were honored to share our expertise on sustainability trends and innovative solutions that help businesses mitigate risks and strengthen supply chain resilience." As a trusted partner in sustainability and assurance, LRQA remains dedicated to helping businesses achieve their sustainability goals. The connections and conversations at the summit reinforce LRQA's commitment to driving progress and supporting organizations in meeting the growing expectations for ethical and responsible supply chain practices. About LRQA LRQA is a leading global assurance partner, bringing together decades of unrivalled expertise in assessment, advisory, inspection and cybersecurity services. Our solutions-based partnerships are supported by data-driven insights that help our clients solve their biggest business challenges. Operating in more than 150 countries with a team of more than 5,000 people, LRQA's award-winning compliance, supply chain, cybersecurity and ESG specialists help more than 61,000 clients across almost every sector to anticipate, mitigate and manage risk wherever they operate. In everything we do, we are committed to shaping a better future for our people, our clients, our communities, and our planet. For more information, visit https://www.lrqa.com/ For more information, please contact: Hasan Surve Regional Marketing Manager - Asia Pacific (APAC), LRQA hasan.surve@lrqa.com Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2647135/LRQA_at_FOSUS.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1994890/3869267/LRQA_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/lrqa-strengthens-its-commitment-to-supply-chain-sustainability-at-the-asia-pacific-supply-chain-sustainability-summit-2025-302407982.html Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2025) - myBVICharter, a leading yacht charter company with operational headquarters in both the British Virgin Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands, is thrilled to announce its portfolio of award-winning charter yachts offering leading levels of luxury and individualized experiences in the breathtaking British Virgin Islands (BVI). Operating under the umbrella of DMA Yachting, the renowned charter company boasts an impressive fleet of over 400 yachts. myBVICharter Proudly Presents Award-Winning Charter Yachts in the British Virgin Islands To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/245949_c66d6ab474879974_002full.jpg The British Virgin Islands is known for its crystal-clear waters, secluded beaches, and vibrant marine life, making it a haven for sailing enthusiasts and lovers of luxury alike. myBVICharter strives to make each voyage an unforgettable adventure with excellent service and customized itineraries. From power catamarans to sleek motor yachts, myBVICharter's award-winning fleet features a diverse range of vessels tailored to meet the preferences of discerning travelers. "We are honored to offer an exclusive fleet of award-winning yachts, delivering world-class luxury and unforgettable experiences in the heart of the British Virgin Islands. This recognition reaffirms our commitment to excellence, ensuring every guest enjoys the pinnacle of comfort, adventure, and personalized service," said Daniel Asmus, owner of DMA Yachting. Showcasing some of myBVICharter's Award-Winning Yachts OLIVIA CHARLES-Catamaran: According to myBVICharter, Olivia Charles Catamaran swept the awards at the 2024 BVI Yacht Show winning three awards: 1st Place for Best Designer Water, 1st Place for Best Dessert, and Runner-Up for Best Yacht in Show (54-59 ft). This spacious crewed catamaran has four cabins, perfect for eight guests. It features plenty of seating and even a small bar, making it perfect for relaxing. "Emma Clark's Designer Water won 1st Place in the Best Designer Water Competition at the BVI Yacht Show 2024. Her award-winning water was served in a martini glass with fresh mint, a giant ice cube slowly releasing fruity sweetness, and a bubble on top that popped with a delicate puff of smoke," added Daniel Asmus. OMAKASE-Power Catamaran: This impressive award-winning 68-foot charter yacht, placed 1st Place for Best Motor Yacht in Show, and is classified primarily as a power catamaran. OMAKASE features 3 generous cabins with stylish decor, great ensuite facilities, and unbeatable views in the morning, easily accommodating a group of 6 guests. Its massive flybridge is well-protected, has a balcony towards the bow, and a big aft deck with sunbeds. Moreover, there are a variety of seating areas where guests can spend most of their time. ANGELEYES-Motor Yacht: New to the BVI charter fleet ANGELEYES was Runner-Up for Best Motor Yacht. According to the company, the yacht's beauty is best experienced through the exceptional service provided by its fantastic crew. Cannot view this video? Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAETeNxyLCY myBVICharter values the way it does business, with transparency and honesty at the center of its core. The company offers attentive customer service, smooth and straightforward booking, and an attentive and professional team. For more information on myBVICharter's award-winning yachts, please visit the company's website. See the contact details listed to reserve any of the yacht's company' exclusive crewed or captain-only charters. myBVICharter Proudly Presents Award-Winning Charter Yachts in the British Virgin Islands To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/245949_c66d6ab474879974_003full.jpg About myBVICharter Powered by DMA Yachting, myBVICharter is a leading provider of yacht charters in the British Virgin Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands. With an aim for excellence and a passion for delivering memorable experiences to its customers, the company works with an extensive network of suppliers that offer various exclusive yacht options to cater to every traveler's unique preference and budget. myBVICharter's professional team is adept at scrutinizing every aspect of a yacht to ensure it meets its high standards. They also assess the flexibility of the menu, the dynamics among the crew, and how family-friendly the yacht is. Focusing on attention to detail and exceptional customer satisfaction, myBVICharter yacht charter continues to set the benchmark for excellence in the yacht charter industry. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245949 SOURCE: Plentisoft Chengdu, China--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2025) - Amid the vast river of history, Sanxingdui and Jinsha shine like "twin stars" in the brilliant constellation of the ancient Shu civilization, radiating captivating brilliance. On March 20, the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration launched a global call for submissions for the Ancient Shu Civilization Logo, inviting individuals and organizations. The event will run until May 10. Global Call for Submissions for the Ancient Shu Civilization Logo Design To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8457/245782_740d964c24a6daf5_001full.jpg The event seeks to fully inspire to discover a logo that reflects the cultural value and unique charm of the ancient Shu civilization. There are clear requirements for submissions: entries must integrate elements from the Sanxingdui and Jinsha sites, highlighting the unique cultural value and significance of the ancient Shu civilization. The design should reflect an international perspective, Chinese cultural aesthetics, and the distinctive charm of the Ba-Shu region. It should align with the theme, feature an innovative composition and unique creativity, and be visually striking, highly recognizable, and artistically expressive. Submissions must include both an image file and a source file, accompanied by a written description of 300-800 words, and be sent via email to the event's dedicated email address: submit@visitancientshu.com. For more information regarding submission guidelines and the selection process, please visit: www.visitancientshu.com. With its launch, the ancient Shu civilization is to rejuvenate with new vitality and energy in the modern era. For more information, please visit the Ancient Shu Civilization official website www.visitancientshu.com. Host: Sichuan Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245782 SOURCE: The China Box HONG KONG, Mar 26, 2025 - (ACN Newswire) - Wuling Motors (00305.HK), a leading manufacturer of automotive components and commercial vehicles assembly in China, announced its full-year results for 2024 on March 25. Driven by the increased proportion of sales from high-margin products in the automotive components and other industrial services division, Wuling Motors recorded a net profit of approximately 111 million yuan (RMB, same hereinafter) for 2024, representing a 60.2% year-on-year increase. The profit attributable to the owners of the company surged by 115.6% year-on-year to 50.62 million yuan. Core Business Growth Exceeds Expectations with Multiple Notable Breakthroughs in Incremental Markets In 2024, Wuling Motors achieved revenue of 7.95 billion yuan, with the automotive components and other industrial services division, the vehicles' power supply systems division, and the commercial vehicles assembly division accounting for 69%, 22% and 9%, respectively. Specifically, the automotive components and other industrial services division recorded revenue of approximately 5.46 billion yuan. The increase in the proportion of high-margin product sales, coupled with higher government subsidies, led to an operating profit of approximately 154 million yuan, representing a 68.3% year-on-year surge. In 2024, Wuling Motors focused on deepening its existing business with its key customer - SAIC-GM-Wuling, while actively expanding externally. It successfully secured component supply transactions for multiple new vehicle models, serving as the exclusive supporting supplier for products such as electric seat switches and combination switches. Meanwhile, Wuling Motors pursued multiple breakthroughs in external markets, actively expanding its power battery product offerings and securing incremental market opportunities with OEMs such as Dongfeng Mengshi, FAW Jiefang, Chery Automobile, and Geely Automobile. A newly constructed and operational base in Jingmen, Hubei has seized the opportunity presented by Great Wall Motor's production ramp-up to maintain rapid growth. In 2024, the base achieved revenue of approximately 729 million yuan, representing an exceeded 100% year-on-year increase; In terms of product development, the company completed the expansion of its second ultra-high-strength steel tube thermoforming production line within the year and successfully secured incremental customer orders from Great Wall Motor and BYD. Furthermore, Wuling Motors has successively undertaken the production of SAIC Maxus rear axles, BYD FinDreams Powertrain spiral bevel gears, and Dola Vehicle subframes, among other components, with the cumulative production and sales volume of new energy vehicle rear axles exceeding 1.5 million units. At the same time, Wuling Motors has actively capitalized on emerging opportunities in the new energy supporting market, successfully developing and optimizing products such as the new generation of new energy electric rear axles, integrated three-in-one motors and electric control systems, range extenders, power supply systems, and differential locks. Multiple new energy electric car axles have been successfully supplied for the electric drive axle and range extender projects of Great Wall Motor, JAC, and others. Notably, the first commercially deployed axial electric drive axle for the Changan Kaicene market has entered mass production. For the automobile power supply systems business, the division's revenue for 2024 was approximately 1.74 billion yuan. Throughout the year, the power supply systems division maintained proactive communication with customers and enhanced its ability to manage planned orders, taking measures to reduce inventory and improve efficiency while ensuring customer demand was met. The casting business broke through adversity, continuing to expand its growth points, and successfully securing new market supply orders from the customer Changyuan Hero City, with the division's total casting sales reaching 1.18 million units for the year, representing a 25% year-on-year increase. In addition, relying on the project platform management advantages, Wuling Motors' power supply systems business focused on core projects such as the H15TD+DHT hybrid assembly architecture platform, the integrated three-in-one electric drive system, and high-pressure casting, to promote the construction of new energy projects with customers such as Skyworth, DFLZ, Zoomlion, and Senptec Electronics. It actively developed the new energy customer market with companies such as JAC, YC SIMLAN, Hebei Zhongxing, Geely Farizon, Chery Commercial Vehicles, Xpeng Motors, and Leapmotor. At the same time, it seized opportunities in overseas markets, with a focus on advancing projects such as the LJ481Q6 matching JAC M4 export (to Gulf countries), the overseas CLT flexible fuel hybrid project, and the Wuling Technology MSR project, to lay a solid foundation for overseas development. The commercial vehicles assembly business recorded a revenue of approximately 718 million yuan in 2024. Benefiting from the implementation of cost control measures, the operating profit reached approximately 75.92 million yuan. In line with the company's strategy, the division continued to seek business breakthroughs in high-value-added niche markets. The development of the new energy vehicles business from the joint venture Wuling New Energy was favorable in 2024, achieving sales of over 14,000 units, a year-on-year increase of over 41%, and generating revenue of 1.02 billion, a year-on-year increase of 29.5%. Within the year, Wuling New Energy launched multiple products, and the Golden Mini Truck, which was launched in November, ranked third in the market for micro-small trucks with single rear wheels, positioning it among the top in the commercial vehicle market. Overseas, more than 800 units were exported to Japan and South Korea, representing a 58% year-on-year increase. Fully Supporting the Group's Automobile Industry Ecosystem through New Growth Engines Created by Transformation and Upgrading While actively developing its core business, Wuling Motors is also undergoing continuous transformation and upgrading to expand into new businesses and foster new growth momentum. In 2024, Wuling Motors increased its investment in R&D to accelerate the development of its new energy business. The company also established an innovation center in Hong Kong and signed cooperation agreements with Hong Kong Polytechnic University, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute's XR intelligent project to build an innovation ecosystem. 2025 marks the inaugural year of the 'LINXYS Project', formulated by Guangxi Automobile Group Co., Ltd., the parent company of Wuling Motors, for the entire group. Guangxi Automobile Group plans to increase investment between 2025 and 2027 to fully promote the development blueprint centered around the 'LINXYS Project' and the '131 Strategy'. The '131 Strategy' refers to 1 complete vehicle brand - the creation of the 'Linxys' new energy vehicle brand; 3 national-level manufacturing champions: the national champion in small and medium displacement energy-efficient hybrid power systems, the national champion in lightweight drive axles, and the national champion in automotive frames; 1 automotive industry ecosystem: an automotive ecosystem led and operated by Guangxi Automobile Group. Mr. Yuan Zhijun, Chairman of Wuling Motors' board of directors, stated, 'The company will actively cooperate with Guangxi Automobile Group to accelerate the implementation of the 'Linxys Project' plan, speed up the conversion and application of scientific research results, improve the product portfolio, enhance product quality, actively expand domestic and overseas markets, and provide users with more valuable and environmentally friendly products. Under the leadership of the Linxys Project', the company is confident in achieving stable and positive operating results to allow shareholders to share in the development achievements.' Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. 2025 JCN Newswire Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2025) - LithiumBank Resources Corp. (TSXV: LBNK) (OTCQX: LBNKF) ("LithiumBank" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the offering (the "Offering") for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $5,000,000 from the sale of the following: a minimum of 5,714,285 units of the Company ( "Units" ) up to a maximum of 8,571,428 Units at a price of $0.35 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to $3,000,000 from the sale of Units; and ) up to a maximum of 8,571,428 Units at a price of $0.35 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to $3,000,000 from the sale of Units; and up to 5,000,000 flow-through units (the "FT Units") that qualify as "flow-through shares" within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) at a price of $0.40 per FT Unit for gross proceeds of up to $2,000,000 from the sale of FT Units. Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant of the Company (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Share for a period of thirty-six (36) months from the date of issue at an exercise price of $0.50. Each FT Unit will consist of one flow-through common share of the Company to be issued as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (each, a "FT Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole common share purchase warrant, a "FT Warrant"). Each FT Warrant shall entitle the holder to purchase one common share of the Company (each, a "FT Warrant Share") at a price of $0.60 per FT Warrant Share at any time on or before the date which is 36 months after the date of issue. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for brine hosted mineral license payments, environmental assessment studies and community consultation. An amount equal to the gross proceeds form the issuance of the FT Shares partially comprising the FT Units will be used to incur, on the Company's Canadian mineral exploration properties, Canadian exploration expenses that qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures", as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Income Tax Act, including drilling related expenses, reservoir data analysis and metallurgy. The Units will be issued on a private placement basis pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (the "LIFE Exemption") under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"). The FT Units will be offered by way of the accredited investor and minimum amount exemptions provided under sections 2.3(1), 2.5 and 2.10 of NI 45-106, respectively (the "Non-LIFE Exemptions"). Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with NI 45-106, the Units sold under the Offering pursuant to the LIFE Exemption will be offered in all the Provinces of Canada except Quebec, and such securities are expected to be immediately freely tradeable and will not be subject to a hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws. There is an offering document related to the Units issuable pursuant to the LIFE Exemption that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.lithiumbank.ca. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision. The FT Units issued pursuant to the Non-LIFE Exemptions will be subject to a four-month hold period from the closing date of the Offering under applicable Canadian securities laws, in addition to such other restrictions as may apply under applicable securities laws of jurisdictions outside Canada. The Company may pay finder's fees to eligible finders in connection with the Offering, subject to compliance with applicable securities laws and TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") policies. The Offering is scheduled to close on or about April 4, 2025 and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, receipt of all necessary approvals including approval of the TSXV. The securities being offered have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons or persons in the United States, absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Repricing of Options The Company also announces that its board of directors have approved the repricing of the exercise price of an aggregate of 6,059,625 outstanding stock options ("Options") from between $0.80 and $1.29 per common share to $0.40 per common share. The repricing is subject to approval of the TSXV and disinterested shareholder approval. Approval of the repricing of the Options to Insiders (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) will be sought at the Company's upcoming annual general meeting of shareholders to be held on April 30, 2025. About LithiumBank Resources Corp. LithiumBank Resources Corp. (TSXV: LBNK) (OTCQX: LBNKF), is a publicly traded lithium company that is focused on developing its two flagship projects, Boardwalk and Park Place, in Western Canada. The Company holds 1,787,594 acres of brown-field lithium brine licenses, across three (3) districts in Alberta and Saskatchewan. 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. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-Looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things: the expected closing date of the Offering; the anticipated proceeds to be raised under the Offering; the intended use of any proceeds raised under the Offering; the payment of any finder's fees in connection with the Offering; and repricing of the Options. These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things: delays in obtaining or failure to obtain required regulatory approvals for the Offering, including TSXV approval; market uncertainty; the inability of the Company to raise the anticipated proceeds under the Offering; the inability of the Company to utilize the anticipated proceeds of the Offering as anticipated; the inability of the Company to obtain required approvals for the Option repricing, including TSXV approval and disinterested shareholder approval, the potential for delays in exploration, development, permitting, and assembly activities at the Company's projects and lithium brine pilot plant; the possibility that any future development results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price and foreign exchange rate fluctuations; the cyclical nature of the industry in which the Company operates; risks related to global financial markets, including the trading price of the Company's shares and the Company's ability to raise capital may also result in additional and unknown risks or liabilities to the Company. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation: the Company will obtain the required regulatory approvals for the Offering, including TSXV approval; the Company will be able to raise the anticipated proceeds under the Offering and on the timetable anticipated; the Company will use the proceeds of the Offering as currently anticipated; the Company will obtain the required approvals for the repricing of the Options, including TSXV approval and disinterested shareholder approval. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246127 SOURCE: LithiumBank Resources Corp. Bringing Expert Pharmacy Care to Minnesota's Most Vulnerable Children - Ensuring Safer, Smarter Medication Management HealthPartners is joining forces with Perfecting Peds to bring life-changing medication management to Minnesota's sickest children. Many of these young patients, covered by Medicaid and the Health Exchange, manage complex medication regimens across multiple specialists. This partnership ensures they get the safest, most effective treatments-without the guesswork. For families navigating rare and chronic conditions, expert medication oversight is essential. Polypharmacy-commonly recognized in adults-is dangerously overlooked in pediatrics. Too many meds, prescribed by too many doctors, can lead to dangerous interactions. Perfecting Peds' pharmacists cut through the confusion, optimizing treatments, and improving safety. Founded in 2021, Perfecting Peds manages complex drug and nutritional regimens for medically complex and high-risk pediatrics patients. As the first group providing long term comprehensive management to entire populations, all virtually - they are also innovating in care delivery technologies to maximize their outcomes. This isn't just about better care-it's about maximizing impact. A small group of medically complex kids drive a massive share of healthcare costs. By offering expert pharmacy support, HealthPartners is improving outcomes while curbing unnecessary expenses. Their data shows a significant return on investment, proving that smart medication management saves lives and costs. Perfecting Peds' board-certified pediatric pharmacists (BCPPS) work with top pediatric clinicians to ensure every child gets the right meds at the right time. The result? Better safety, improved quality of life, and greater member satisfaction. These pharmacists act as direct-access experts in pediatric therapies, helping families navigate their children's care with confidence. "We're partnering with HealthPartners to give Minnesota's most vulnerable children access to the best pediatric medication experts in the country," said Jena Quinn, PharmD, BCPPS, CEO of Perfecting Peds. "HealthPartners is setting the standard for bringing personalized pharmacy support to those who need it most." To read, HealthPartners' story, click A personalized pharmacist for members. For more information from Perfecting Peds, contact Marry Vuong, PharmD BCPPS, Chief of Staff. About Perfecting Peds Perfecting Peds is the first dedicated solution for long-term pediatric medication management, bridging the gap between pediatric pharmacists and patient care beyond the hospital setting. Before Perfecting Peds, board-certified pediatric pharmacists were primarily limited to hospitals. Now, through an innovative telehealth platform, we connect directly with pediatric patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers to optimize medication management in collaboration with care teams and health plans. Our interactive, patient-centered approach ensures that children receive the safest and most effective treatments, all conveniently scheduled around the needs of families. Learn more at PerfectingPeds.com. About HealthPartners HealthPartners is a nonprofit, integrated healthcare organization committed to improving the health and well-being of its members, patients, and the communities it serves. Based in Minnesota, HealthPartners and its affiliated organizations provide high-quality healthcare services, HMO coverage, and insurance to nearly one million members. With a focus on innovation, collaboration, and patient-centered care, HealthPartners strives to enhance access to affordable, comprehensive healthcare solutions. Learn more at HealthPartners.com. CONTACT: Todd Eury RxPR Eury@RxPR.net (412) 585-4001 SOURCE: Perfecting Peds MUMBAI, India, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alumni Association of N.C.E Bengal and the Jadavpur University Mumbai Chapter hosted its 16th National Conference on March 22, 2025, in Mumbai. The event featured a distinguished lineup of speakers and a series of insightful technical sessions, attracting prominent figures from the fields of Business, Academics and Policymaking. Over 150 participants attended the National Conference, hailing from various cities across India and abroad. Among the attendees were industry leaders, business professionals, educationists and Jadavpur University alumni. The day-long conference, titled 'India @ 2030: Energy, Economy, Employment,' examined India's preparedness to achieve sustainable growth and explored the transformative actions required to realise the nation's Vision of Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047. The day's proceedings commenced with the traditional lamp lighting ceremony, led by Prof. Amitava Datta, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Jadavpur University; Debashis Chatterjee, CEO & Managing Director of LTIMindtree; and Pankaj Kumar, Director of Production at ONGC Ltd. Commenting on the National Conference, Prof. Amitava Datta said, "Alumni are the brand ambassadors of an institute and are one of its most important stakeholders. It was a wonderful experience for me to attend the national seminar arranged by the Mumbai branch of the Alumni Association of N.C.E Bengal and Jadavpur University on 22nd March. The Conference covered thought-provoking discussions and stimulating interactions on Energy, Economy, and Employment-three key pillars on which our country aspires to move forward in its path of development. It is also a privilege for me to get the opportunity to present the current state of our alma mater before alumni. I believe the bonding between the alumni members and the University will grow further in the coming years." Amitava Mukhopadhyay, former Executive Director of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and an alumnus of Jadavpur University, chaired the panel titled 'Energy - Challenges and Opportunities.' The panel featured a distinguished lineup of experts, including Dipak Bharuka, CEO of JNK India; Suparna Singh, Head of Corporate Strategy (Special Projects) at L&T; and Soumyasree Chakraborty, Senior Principal at BCG. The session concluded with an engaging, interactive Q&A, where the panellists shared valuable insights into India's energy transition and offered their perspectives on the country's future trajectory in this critical domain. "India's energy transition is at the heart of our journey toward sustainable growth and economic resilience. As we shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, embrace electric vehicles and green hydrogen, and evolve our hydrocarbon sector towards chemicals and petrochemicals, we must also focus on moving towards a circular economy. The challenges are significant, from diversifying energy sources to overcoming financial barriers, but the opportunity for innovation is immense. By tackling these issues head-on, India can not only meet its climate commitments post-COP-26 but also lead the way in building a cleaner, more sustainable future for generations to come," Mukhopadhyay said. Senior journalist, author, and former Jadavpur University alumnus Rajrishi Singhal chaired a thought-provoking panel on the Economy, featuring Anagha Deodhar, Senior Economist at ICICI Bank India, and Indranil Chakraborty, Chief General Manager at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The final panel of the day, chaired by Aparup Sengupta, Founder and Chairman of Aaj Global Group, focused on the critical issue of Employment. The panel included Prof. Alakh Sharma, Director of the Institute for Human Development (New Delhi); Sujatha Shivsankar, Associate Partner (HR Transformation) at KPMG India; and Prachi Choudhary, Director of People Consulting at EY. Subhojit Bose, an alumnus of Jadavpur University, was pivotal in the success of the conference as the Convener of the Marketing Sub-committee. "I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Conference Management Committee for organizing a national conference on such a highly relevant topic. It was a valuable learning experience for all participants, especially our young alumni, who had the opportunity to hear from esteemed dignitaries across various fields, sharing their insights and expertise. A special thank you goes to our generous donors. This conference would not have been possible without their unwavering support, and we are deeply grateful for their contributions," Bose added. In conjunction with the National Conference, the Mumbai Alumni also organised an Employee Connect, providing alumni with the opportunity to interact with prospective employers seeking talented professionals across various fields and roles at different levels. Boyen Haddin, a globally renowned Executive Search conglomeration, joined this year's National Conference as the Employee Connect partner. Prinkal Shah, Director at Boyen Haddin (Mumbai), said, "The National Conference of Jadavpur University Mumbai Alumni Association provided an invaluable platform for our team to engage with leading industry professionals, academicians, policymakers, and aspiring professionals. One of the key highlights was the Employment module, where experts deliberated on the evolving landscape of human resources amid rapid technological disruptions. The discussions underscored the critical need for skilling and reskilling to meet the demands of the future workforce, offering significant insights into talent acquisition and employability trends. Events like these foster meaningful dialogue and collaboration, reinforcing our commitment to bridging the talent gap and supporting India's progress." Alumni Association of N.C.E Bengal & Jadavpur University (Mumbai): The Mumbai Branch of the Alumni Association of N.C.E Bengal and Jadavpur University was established in 1956 to provide an umbrella under which alumni could meet, interact, and socialise. In the years that followed, the objective was expanded to include knowledge sharing and charitable activities to benefit society as a whole. More than 350 active members in the Mumbai branch are connected to various core and knowledge-based industries, professional organisations, and Government agencies. Jadavpur University, Kolkata is one of India's most prestigious public research institutions. It is renowned for its academic excellence, progressive ethos, and commitment to intellectual freedom. Established in 1955, the University traces its origins to the National Council of Education (NCE), which was founded in 1906 as part of India's Swadeshi movement to promote indigenous education. Over the decades, it has evolved into a globally recognised centre for higher learning, research, and innovation, consistently ranking among the country's top universities. In 1921, former students of the university initiated a movement to establish the National Council of Education Alumni Association (NCE Alumni Association). When the university moved to its present campus in 1924, the NCE Alumni Association moved along with that. The Association celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2021, marking an important milestone for its alumni around the globe. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2649669/JU_Mumbai_Alumni.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2647117/Jadavpur_University_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/jadavpur-university-alumni-national-conference-in-mumbai-focused-on-the-key-issues-influencing-indias-growth-trajectory-leading-up-to-2030-302410768.html NEW YORK , March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Apollo TV, a well-known name in the IPTV streaming space, has issued a formal warning to consumers following a rise in fraudulent websites, unauthorized resellers, and imitation platforms that falsely claim to be affiliated with the brand. As digital piracy and IPTV impersonation schemes continue to evolve, the official Apollo TV company is urging customers to exercise heightened caution when purchasing subscriptions or accessing service portals. Over the last several weeks, Apollo TV's monitoring team has identified a growing number of clone websites-designed to closely mimic the brand's official channels-offering misleading pricing, expired promotional codes, and fake checkout experiences that ultimately leave buyers with no service or support. The announcement, made on March 24, 2025, comes amid a broader investigation into third-party resellers operating outside Apollo TV's verified partner network. Clone Sites Impersonating Apollo TV Are Flooding the Market According to company data, these fraudulent sites have emerged under names deceptively similar to Apollo TV's original domain. These websites often feature graphics stolen from the official brand, false login portals, or subscription bundles that do not exist. The company clarified that no resellers or alternate domains are authorized to collect payments, deliver logins, or offer discounts on its behalf. Many fake versions claim unrealistic plans or app store compatibility-services that are not part of Apollo TV's official offerings in 2025. Apollo TV Clarifies Official Payment Policy to Prevent Fraud As of 2025, the official Apollo TV platform accepts Bitcoin exclusively for all subscription purchases. This policy has been clearly outlined across verified checkout channels to ensure a consistent and secure transaction process for customers worldwide. The company stresses that any third-party website or service claiming to offer Apollo TV with credit card, PayPal, or other payment options is not an authorized distributor. In many of these cases, consumers report paying for a subscription and receiving nothing in return-no access credentials, no support, and no refund. To avoid these scams, customers are urged to double-check that they are on the official Apollo TV website before completing any transaction. Apollo TV Clarifies Official Payment Policy to Prevent Fraud As part of its 2025 compliance structure, Apollo TV has confirmed that it only accepts Bitcoin as the official payment method for all subscription plans. The use of cryptocurrency allows for secure, encrypted transactions across its global user base while minimizing risks associated with fraud and chargebacks. Any website claiming to accept credit cards, PayPal, or bank transfers on behalf of Apollo TV should be treated as unauthorized. Numerous victims have reported sending payments via non-approved methods only to receive no product, support, or refund. To ensure safe and verified transactions, customers should complete their orders exclusively through the official Apollo TV payment gateway . Consumer Reports Highlight Confusion and Lost Payments Apollo TV's customer support division has received a sharp increase in support tickets from individuals who mistakenly purchased subscriptions through unauthorized platforms. Most common complaints include non-delivery of login credentials, broken playback functionality, and no access to customer service once payment is processed. In many cases, buyers have turned to public forums and social platforms to voice concerns after realizing they were misled. Apollo TV Responds With Legal Action and Cybersecurity Partnerships In response to the growing threat of brand impersonation, Apollo TV has initiated formal takedown requests against multiple domains misusing its intellectual property. As of March 21, 2025, several clone websites were removed following DMCA actions and reports submitted through hosting providers. The company is also working with a third-party cybersecurity firm to monitor new domain registrations and IP traffic patterns that may indicate future impersonation attempts. Where to Safely Purchase the Real Apollo TV For uninterrupted access and official subscription support, customers should purchase directly through the verified Apollo TV portal . The brand does not advertise through affiliate pages, paid influencers, or external IPTV forums. Any offers that do not originate from the main site should be considered unauthorized. The official portal provides full onboarding instructions, technical support access, and a secure payment experience that mirrors the terms outlined by Apollo TV's policy team. Support for Victims of Unauthorized Sellers Apollo TV is currently collecting reports from users who may have unknowingly purchased fake services. Affected individuals are encouraged to submit details-such as screenshots, domain URLs, or transaction IDs-through the Apollo TV recovery request page. While refunds cannot be processed for purchases made through fraudulent sites, this data helps fuel active investigations and prevent future scams. As of March 2025, the company has received over 130 individual reports involving more than a dozen fake IPTV sites. Ongoing Commitment to Transparency and Consumer Safety With increasing impersonation across the IPTV sector, Apollo TV is doubling down on its commitment to direct-to-consumer integrity, retail protection, and continuous monitoring. The brand advises all new and returning customers to bookmark the official Apollo TV homepage and to avoid engaging with social DMs, clone apps, or unauthorized discount pages. The company has reiterated that any changes to policy, pricing, or service access will be communicated directly on its official domain-now the only trusted source for real-time updates, technical help, and safe IPTV access. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2650352/Apollo_TV_GROUP.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/apollo-tv-warns-customers-about-fake-clone-sites-and-unauthorized-sellers-in-2025-302411654.html Bryanston, South Africa--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2025) - With global waste management regulations becoming more stringent in response to mounting environmental concerns surrounding mining operations, Geotheta is offering its geotechnical engineering expertise to companies that want to ensure their projects comply with regional standards. The firm is currently accepting projects from Oceania, Africa, the Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand. For more information, please visit https://www.geotheta.com/. Geotheta Announces Geotechnical Engineering For Tailings Storage Facilities To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/246125_12ce1e5984d6e80f_002full.jpg Geotheta can provide its clients with a range of tailings storage facility (TSF) services, including design, construction, and management. With extensive experience in the global engineering and mining industries, its team of professional engineers and scientists can design for mineral residue and all deposition methods, including cycloning, day-wall, paste, filtered, and dry-stacked - ensuring facilities remain stable and will not pollute the environment. The firm can also offer dam break modelling and assessments and GISTM gap analysis to help clients develop risk-reduction strategies and achieve fully auditable compliance. Furthermore, Geotheta is capable of Engineer of Record surveillance according to global industry standards and can monitor facilities throughout their lifetime. Its principal engineers, Ian Hammond and Mike Abbott, each have over 30 years of experience in TSF design, construction, commissioning, and closures; they have also participated on independent review boards for multinational mining companies, allowing them to offer third-party review services for operations as well. "We are tailings experts who assist you in managing your mine waste effectively and sustainably," says Abbott. "We achieve state-of-the-art facilities by applying our professional design and monitoring skills, and we have the knowledge and experience you need to keep your tailings facility compliant with required legislation." Additionally, Geotheta employs technical and administrative staff and specialist consultants on a project-by-project basis. As a result, they can provide return water dam design, light civil structural design, construction site supervision, and coastal engineering, among other services, depending on the project's requirements and the climate and geography of the region. Geotheta has been active in the global mining and geotechnical industry since its founding in 2015. The firm has completed over 107 design projects in the past two years; its most recent projects include an alternate Class C containment barrier for two TSFs in Free State and a trade-off study for a coal discard facility in Mpumalanga. Interested parties can learn more by visiting https://www.geotheta.com/our-team/. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246125 SOURCE: Plentisoft NINGBO, China, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As the photovoltaic industry accelerates into the n-type era, Heterojunction (HJT) technology is reshaping the landscape with its empirical performance. Winter data from Ningbo empirical power station of Risen Energy reveal that HJT modules achieve a 3.85% higher single-watt power generation than BC modules, with a peak daily gain of 9.97%. These findings highlight the superior power generation capabilities of HJT technology. ?Unveiling High Efficiency Through Rigorous Empirical Validation? The Ningbo empirical power station experiences an average annual irradiance of 1268 kWh/m and an average temperature of approximately 15C, with extremes ranging from a high of 39C to a low of -2C. The site has an average annual relative humidity of 79% and is classified as a northern subtropical humid monsoon climate. For this empirical project, 210 HJT and 182 BC modules were installed vertically on fixed racks at a 15 tilt angle and a height of 1.5 m above the ground. A high-precision outdoor photovoltaic module evaluation system, featuring millisecond-level IV curve tracking technology with an error rate of <0.5%, was employed. This system accurately tracked the MPPT maximum power point and real-time IV curves, offering a precise and intuitive assessment of the modules' real-time power generation performance. ?Superior Power Generation Driven by High-Performance Heterojunction Technology? Bifacial Advantage: 90%+ Backside Gain Maximizes Energy Yield HJT modules demonstrate a significant power generation advantage in high-reflectance environments such as snow and sand, achieving a backside gain of 90%-20% higher than BC modules (=70%). For every 1% increase in bifaciality, system power generation increases by approximately 0.12% to 0.15%. This 20% gap translates to a stable gain of 2.4% to 3.0%. -0.24%/C Ultra-Low Temperature Coefficient: Enhancing Power Generation in High-Temperature Conditions With a temperature coefficient of -0.24%/C, HJT modules are 7.7% less affected by temperature compared to BC modules, which have a coefficient of -0.26%/C. Third-party empirical testing shows a daily power generation increase of 1.2% to 1.8% during the high-temperature season. Red Light Band Response Boosts Power Generation in the Morning and Evening The use of high-mobility target materials and the advanced structural design of HJT solar cells enhance their sensitivity to the red light band, resulting in longer power generation durations and greater benefits for customers. These core advantages not only deliver excess green electricity returns throughout the power station's lifecycle but also provide empirical data that validates the superior power generation of HJT technology. This redefines the value benchmark of photovoltaic technology. As n-type technology continues to gain momentum, Risen's HJT modules will drive the industry's shift from a 'cost priority' to an 'efficiency priority,' contributing greater certainty to the global energy transition. Data Sources: [1] Ningbo Empirical Power Station 2024-2025 Winter Monitoring Report; [2] IEC61853-1:2019 Photovoltaic Module Power Temperature Coefficient Measurement and Rating Part 1: Irradiance and Temperature Performance Measurement and Power Calibration. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2649320/Figure_1_Single_Watt_Power_Generation_HJT_BC_Modules.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/silicon-heterojunction-modules-achieve-3-85-single-watt-power-generation-gain-redefining-photovoltaic-value-with-data-driven-insights-302411730.html Regulatory News: CTP, Europe's largest listed developer, owner, and manager of industrial and logistics properties by gross lettable area (GLA), has signed a deal with CIRRO Parcel for 10,000 sqm of logistics space at its state-of-the-art, multi-layered last-mile logistics city hub, CTPark Amsterdam City. CIRRO Parcel, the last-mile delivery division of CIRRO, a leading global e-commerce logistics and fulfilment service provider, has chosen CTPark Amsterdam City as its new home for the strategic expansion of its operations in the Netherlands. It has signed a lease that also includes an additional 600 sqm of office space. With the rise of e-commerce driving demand for faster and more efficient deliveries to consumers, CIRRO prioritises locations close to urban centres to optimise efficiency for its distribution network. The move to CTPark Amsterdam City provides this, giving it a strategically positioned hub that reduces delivery times, mileage and emissions, and aligns with the company's sustainability and fleet optimisation goals at a time when city authorities are placing stricter environmental regulations on vehicle movements. CTPark Amsterdam City is an XXL last mile hub that gives tenants unparalleled access to key transportation networks within one of the most connected hubs in Europe. The Park's location in the Port of Amsterdam the fourth busiest cargo port in Europe allows the opportunity to bundle transport, with direct access to the city centre via canal and the ring Motorway A10. The innovative and sustainable logistics park also offers over 120,000 sqm of highly flexible storage and distribution space, including direct access to cross-dock facilities and self-sufficient energy produced on-site via a 5.7 MWp solar plant to provide CIRRO with energy-efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible logistics solutions. Heiko Koop, Managing Director, CTP Netherlands, said: "We are delighted to welcome CIRRO Parcel as the newest member to CTPark Amsterdam City. We have seen strong demand with over 50% of the space now leased and interest from further prospects underscoring increased need for well-located, high-quality last-mile distribution hubs in the Netherlands. This demand is further driven by the continued growth in e-commerce and urbanisation trends. CIRRO is prioritising locations near thriving city centres to ensure faster and more efficient deliveries, and CTPark Amsterdam City offers more than just location it's a sustainable urban logistics platform designed for the future of last-mile delivery." Mandy Ho, General Manager, CIRRO Parcel Netherlands, commented: "As part of our commitment to tackling last-mile challenges and creating Netherland's own delivery network, we are always looking for strategic locations that enhance our delivery network. CTPark Amsterdam City offers an ideal combination of prime positioning, sustainability, and operational efficiency, all with the highest possible BREEAM sustainability rating for energy to expand our footprint in the Netherlands responsibly. This move strengthens our ability to provide swift, reliable, and seamless deliveries for our customers while reinforcing our commitment to responsible logistics." Maarten Bulstra, Associate Logistics Industrial at Savills, who advised the client, said: "The arrival of CIRRO at CTPark Amsterdam City highlights the park's strategic suitability for companies looking for an optimal location for both inbound and last-mile logistics. The building's sustainable design ensures that CIRRO has secured the perfect long-term solution for its operations, aligning seamlessly with CTPark's philosophy." About CTP CTP is Europe's largest listed owner, developer, and manager of logistics and industrial real estate by gross lettable area, owning 13.3 million sqm of GLA across 10 countries as at 31 December 2024. CTP certifies all new buildings to BREEAM Very good or better and earned a negligible-risk ESG rating by Sustainalytics, underlining its commitment to being a sustainable business. For more information, visit CTP's corporate website: www.ctp.eu. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250325671595/en/ Contacts: CONTACT DETAILS FOR ANALYST AND INVESTOR ENQUIRIES: CTP Maarten Otte, Head of Investor Relations Email: maarten.otte@ctp.eu IR TEAM Email: investor.relations@ctp.eu CONTACT DETAILS FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Patryk Statkiewicz Group Head of Marketing PR Mobile: +31 (0) 629 596 119 Email: patryk.statkiewicz@ctp.eu SEC Newgate James Carnegie Mobile: +44 (0)7827 486 224 Email: CTP@SECNewgate.co.uk BioVersys AG / Key word(s): Annual Results BIOVERSYS REPORTS CORPORATE HIGHLIGHS AND KEY FINANCIALS FOR THE FULL YEAR 2024 26-March-2025 / 07:00 CET/CEST Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR Basel, Switzerland. March 26, 2025, 7am CET BV100: Positive Phase 2 VABP trial read-out with excellent safety and efficacy data Alpibectir: Phase 2a EBA trial delivered very strong proof of concept Preclinical candidates from BioVersys' two proprietary platforms continue to progress Full Year 2024 operating income of CHF 1.2 million and net loss of CHF 18.7 million Successful financing activities in 2024, including Series C financing round of approximately CHF 15 million and USD 6 million investment from GIBF (Guangzhou Israeli Biotech Fund) CHF 32.6 million in cash and cash equivalents plus current financial assets on December 31, 2024 Successful IPO on SIX Swiss Exchange on February 7, 2025, further reinforcing BioVersys' financial position with CHF 76.7 million raised, allowing to finance operations into 2028 Outlook: BV100 Phase 3 program to be initiated in H2 2025; additional alpibectir Phase 2 studies in pulmonary Tuberculosis started in H1 2025 and are to be started H1 2026 in meningeal Tubercolosis Conference call on March 26, 2025 at 2.00 pm CET (8.00 am EST) BioVersys AG (SIX: BIOV), a multi-asset, clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on research and development of novel antibacterial products for serious life-threatening infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, announced today its audited financial results and corporate highlights for the full year 2024, as well as the publication of its 2024 Annual Report. Dr. Marc Gitzinger, Chief Executive Officer and founder of BioVersys: "2024 was a truly transformative year for BioVersys. We made significant progress in developing our two lead assets, BV100 and alpibectir, both delivering strong signs of clinical efficacy and good safety profiles in their respective Phase 2 clinical trials. BV100 was assessed in critically ill patients suffering from ventilator associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP) caused by carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and was able to halve the mortality in comparison with the control group of best available therapy. Such strong clinical results confirmed the belief that our products are high value assets in the fight against anti-microbial resistance (AMR) and must be developed fully in order to benefit patients in need eventually. We were also able to progress our earlier stage pipeline with BV200 and BV500 in their preclinical development." Pipeline Highlights In 2024, for the company's lead candidate BV100 a Phase 2 VABP clinical trial showed strong signs of efficacy by halving the mortality rate in critically ill patients suffering from carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections compared to best available therapy. Besides the strong efficacy, BV100 was also considered generally safe and well tolerated. In Part B of the Phase 2 trial, BV100 also proved effective in patients suffering from totally drug-resistant infections. Furthermore, additional trials were successfully completed for BV100 in 2024: A Phase 1 trial in patients with hepatic impairment and a bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) confirmed the positive read-outs of the five Phase 1 trials that were previously completed. Based on the different Phase 1 trial data, BV100 is generally safe and well tolerated.The data set initially suggests that BV100 does not require any dose adjustments for special patient populations such as renal or hepatic impaired patients. There does not appear to be any strong potential for drug-drug-interactions and BV100 shows very high drug concentrations in the epithelial lining fluid (ELF) of the lung. For alpibectir, the Phase 2a EBA trial was completed in 2024. In this study, alpibectir delivered a very strong proof of concept in humans, by potentiating the efficacy of Ethionamide at all doses tested. Alpibectir was shown to be generally safe and well tolerated. In March 2025, BioVersys announced that the first patient has been dosed in a pulmonary TB Phase 2 clinical trial, evaluating the early bactericidal activity (EBA) and safety of alpibectir-ethionamide (AlpE) in combination with first-line TB drugs for the first time. The study is being conducted under the European Union's IMI2 UNITE4TB project. For the company's preclinical candidate BV200, in 2024 the team identified a topical formulation for the lead compound delivering a good stability and an initial anticipated shelf life of 2 years. For BioVersys' second preclinical candidate, BV500, the lead optimization progressed very well in the course of 2024. Further pre-clinical studies continued to confirm the best-in-class potential for BV500 on NTM (nontuberculous mycobacteria) related diseases. 2024 Financial Highlights In the course of the financial year 2024, BioVersys recognized total operating income of CHF 1.2 million (2023: CHF 1.1 million) and incurred total operating expenses of CHF 19.9 million (2023: CHF 18.8 million). The higher operating expenses were mainly driven by G&A expenditure, as the company prepared its IPO which resulted in a successful transaction in February 2025. This led to an operating loss of CHF 18.7 million for 2024 (2023: Operating loss of CHF 17.7 million). The net loss in 2024 amounted to CHF 18.7 million (2023: Net loss of CHF 18.3 million). The net cash used in operating activities in 2024 was CHF 16.1 million (2023: Net cash used in operating activities CHF 12.0 million). The positive newsflow from the company's pipeline was the base to achieve important financing milestones in 2024. The company raised approximately CHF 20 million as part of the Series C extension, onboarding the long-term partner GSK as investor and including a strategic investment from GIBF (Guangzhou Israeli Biotech Fund). The financing was also supported by multiple existing shareholders, such as the AMR Action Fund. The cash and cash equivalents position increased to CHF 26.6 million as of December 31, 2024 (December 31, 2023: CHF 24.4 million) as a result of successful financing activities in the course of 2024. In addition, the company had short-term deposits of CHF 6.0 million recorded under current financial assets (December 31, 2023: CHF 4.0 million), that together with the cash and cash equivalent position amounted to a total cash of CHF 32.6 million. Total shareholders' equity stood at CHF 10.7 million as of December 31, 2024 (December 31, 2023: CHF 8.6 million). As of December 31, 2024, the company employed 27 FTE (full-time equivalents), up 17% year-over-year. About 75% of the employees are employed in R&D-related functions. Key Figures as of December 31, 2024 CHF million FY 2024 FY 2023 Change Operating income 1.2 1.1 0.1 R&D expenses (12.9) (14.8) 1.9 G&A expenses (7.0) (4.0) (3.0) Operating loss (18.7) (17.7) (1.0) Net loss (18.7) (18.3) (0.4) Basic net loss per share (in CHF) (5.62) (6.13) 0.51 Net cash used in operating activities (16.1) (12.0) (4.1) Cash & cash equivalents 26.6 24.4 2.2 Total shareholders' equity 10.7 8.6 2.1 Number of registered shares 3,692,285 3,059,242 633,043 Number of FTE 27 23 4 Initial Public Offering in Q1 2025 On the back of the promising advancement of the company's promising advancement of the company's pipeline and the related positive clinical data generated, BioVersys successfully completed its IPO on the SIX Swiss Exchange on February 7, 2025. Hernan Levett, CFO of BioVersys, comments: "2024 was a strong year for BioVersys, raising CHF 20 million as part of the Series C extension, and including a strategic investment from GIBF, which led to a cash position at year end of CHF 32.6 million. In February 2025, we successfully completed an IPO on the Swiss Stock Exchange, which added proceeds of CHF 76.7 million, to further strengthen our financial position and funding the company's operations into 2028. In times in which financing of biotech companies and the IPO market continue to remain challenging, the successful listing represented the first IPO of a biotech company in Switzerland in seven years and the largest in the past five years on any European exchange. This achievement is testament to very robust clinical data and the strong team at BioVersys." Outlook BioVersys plans for the initiation of the first global Phase 3 registration trial for BV100 in the second half of 2025. The company also plans to conduct a Phase 1 study in China with BV100. Moreover, the company plans the initiation of additional Phase 2 studies in pulmonary and meningeal Tuberculosis for alpibectir. For BV200 and BV500, BioVersys expects to generate additional pre-clinical data in the course of 2025. In addition, the BioVersys team will continue to engage with industry alliances and will be working with global regulatory and political leaders towards a sustainable policy framework ensuring adequate reimbursement and access mechanisms for novel antibiotics. Financial Outlook 2025 For the full year 2025, the company expects total operating loss to be in the range of CHF 32.0 to CHF 35.0 million. Full Year 2024 Documents This press release, the Annual Report 2024 as well as the webcast presentation are available under the investors section of www.bioversys.com . Full Year 2024 Conference Call & Audio Webcast BioVersys will host a conference call and webcast at 2.00 pm CET (8.00 am EST) to discuss the financial results, provide an update on the company's performance, outline its strategic outlook, and share insights into BioVersys' therapeutic pipeline. Event details for Investors, Media and Interested Parties: Conference Call Registration: Link (Participants will receive dial-in details upon registration) (Participants will receive dial-in details upon registration) Audio webcast: Link Financial calendar June 27, 2025 Annual General Meeting Early September, 2025 Half-year Statement 2025 The scheduled events for BioVersys are also available on the investor section of the company's website. About BioVersys BioVersys AG is a multi-asset, clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying, developing and commercializing novel antibacterial products for serious life-threatening infections caused by multi-drug resistant ("MDR") bacteria. Derived from the company's two internal technology platforms (TRIC and Ansamycin Chemistry), candidates are designed and developed to overcome resistance mechanisms, block virulence production and directly affect the pathogenesis of harmful bacteria towards the identification of new treatment options in the antimicrobial and microbiome fields. This enables BioVersys to address the high unmet medical need for new treatments against life-threatening resistant bacterial infections and bacteria-exacerbated chronic inflammatory microbiome disorders. The company's most advanced research and development programs address nosocomial infections of Acinetobacter baumannii (BV100, Phase 3 ready), and tuberculosis (alpibectir, Phase 2a, in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and a consortium of the University of Lille, France). BioVersys is located in the biotech hub of Basel, Switzerland. BioVersys contact Hernan Levett, CFO, Tel. +41 61 633 22 50; Mail: hernan.levett@bioversys.com For Media: media@bioversys.com Website: www.bioversys.com Disclaimer This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements, such as "believe", "assume", "expect", "forecast", "project", "may", "could", "might", "will" or similar expressions concerning BioVersys and its business, including with respect to the progress, timing and completion of research, development and clinical studies for product candidates. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of BioVersys to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. BioVersys is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. End of Inside Information Facephi Leads NIST Ranking, Outperforming Top Biometric Technology Providers in Accuracy and Efficiency Facephi's latest Software Development Kit (SDK) has achieved a significant boost in precision, securing a leading position in NIST's global ranking. Its biometric engine ensures a security threshold of 1 in a 1,000,000, drastically reducing the risk of identity fraud. The technology excels in challenging conditions, including aging detection and facial recognition at extreme angles. Alicante, March 26th, 2025 - Facephi Biometria, SA (BME Growth: FACE; Euronext Growth Paris: ALPHI) ("Facephi" or the "Company"), a Spanish tech leader in global digital identity protection and verification, announces that it has secured a top position in the latest NIST ranking, surpassing major biometric technology providers and reinforcing its leadership in accuracy and efficiency. The rigorous evaluation conducted by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) -based on blind tests and standardized metrics-confirms the exceptional accuracy of Facephi's biometric engines, further cementing its position as an industry leader. Facephi was assessed as part of NIST's FRTE 1:1 analysis1, which evaluates the performance of facial recognition technology. The latest report highlights that Facephi's new SDK has achieved a substantial improvement in accuracy, securing a prominent position in the global verification technology ranking. The study further revealed that Facephi's latest biometric engine outperforms leading industry providers. This advanced technology ensures an exceptionally high accuracy rate in verifying legitimate users while preventing impostors from gaining access in 99.9999% of cases-equivalent to a 1 in a 1,000,000 security threshold. These results position Facephi as one of the most advanced solutions on the market. Furthermore, Facephi has demonstrated exceptional performance in real-world scenarios, excelling in age variation detection (Aging) and face recognition at angles of up to 45, areas where many competitors face limitations. Javier Mira, CEO of Facephi, commented: "These achievements reaffirm Facephi's commitment to continuous innovation and excellence in digital protection. We strive to provide our clients with faster, more accurate identity verification solutions that reduce fraud risk and enhance the user experience. These outstanding results further solidify our position as a market leader, offering biometric solutions that adhere to the highest international standards." About Facephi Facephi is a technology company specializing in the protection and verification of digital identity, renowned for its focus on security and data integrity. Its solutions are designed to create safer, more accessible, and fraud-free processes, prevent identity theft, and ensure the ethical treatment of personal data. With over a decade of experience in developing technologies aimed at safeguarding digital identity, Facephi is headquartered in Spain, with subsidiaries in APAC, EMEA, and LATAM. The company serves the needs of clients across 25+ countries, delivering innovative solutions that address security challenges in an ever-evolving digital landscape. More information and contact Investors: Facephi - antoniojorge@facephi.com LILLE, France, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) announced an agreement with Federation Studios today at Series Mania in Lille. This strategic alliance would offer a fast track for creators, producers, investors, and distributors from both sides to ensure market access in Asia and Europe. The Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), established in June 2019 and supported by the Ministry of Culture, is a professional intermediary organization working to facilitate the development of Taiwan's content industries including film and TV, publishing, pop music, ACG, and more. Founded by Pascal Breton and co-led by Lionel Uzan and Marco Chimenz, Federation Studios heralds a new breed of independent European studios, focusing on the creation, production, financing and distribution of high-quality original productions for the global market. Federation Studios works with the best talents worldwide and partners on the scene today to create a strong distribution portfolio as well as an array of premium international productions. The group federates 35 production companies located in Paris, Los Angeles, Rome, Madrid, London, Berlin, Cologne and Tel-Aviv and is experiencing a strong and rapid growth, with 40 series and 31 films that will be delivered in 2025. The establishment of this partnership with Federation Studios will accelerate the co-production between Europe and Asia, and strengthen the industry networks so as to build up a Euroasia distribution network while collaborating with both parties on training programs in script development and production. The agreement was signed by Pascal Breton, president of Federation Studios and TAICCA Chairperson Homme Tsai and witnessed by Jeremie Kessler, European and International Affairs director from CNC (Centre national du cinema et de l'image animee) and Laurence Herszberg, General Director of Series Mania. Franck Paris, director of the Bureau Francais de Taipei, congratulates this alliance between Taiwan and France and he looks forward to future collaboration in the Euroasia distribution network. TAICCA chairperson Homme Tsai noted 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. Pascal Breton, president of Federation Studios, noted during the signing ceremony, that 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 Federation's talents and know-how. With this first agreement in Asia, Federation completes its rapidly growing international development in Europe, and which is accelerating in the US, Latin America, and Africa." Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2650417/Homme_Tsai_and_Pascal_Breton_signing_at_the_Series_Mania.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2650418/Homme_Tsai_and_Pascal_Breton_signing_at_the_Series_Mania.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2650419/Pascal_Breton__President_of_Federation_Studios_at_TCCF_2024.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2650422/Homme_Tsai__left___Laurence_Herszberg__Director_of_Series_Mania__Pascal_Breton__President_of_Federat.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/taicca-and-federation-studios-establish-official-partnership-to-deepen-collaboration-and-move-toward-the-global-market-302411759.html March 20th, 2025 Executive order signed to accelerate the domestic production of Copper VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2025 / ZEUS NORTH AMERICA MINING CORP. (CSE:ZEUS)(OTCQB:ZUUZF)(FRANKFURT:O92) (THE "COMPANY" OR "ZEUS") are pleased to announce the historic March 20, 2025, Executive Order signed by United States President Donald J. Trump to accelerate the domestic production of critical metals, including copper. The Executive Order invokes the use of the Defense Production Act as part of a broad U.S. Government effort to expand domestic critical minerals production on national security grounds. 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"). Dean Besserer, President and CEO, stated, "The mandate to accelerate USA based domestic copper further reiterates our current path to making the next copper porphyry discovery in the USA. Our recently announced results at our Idaho, USA based Cuddy Mountain copper-moly-silver project are that much more important. With the nearby Hercules project gearing up for an aggressive 2025 drill season, the geological team at Zeus is eager to follow suit." About the Cuddy Mountain Copper Property (Idaho, USA) The Cuddy Mountain Property is adjacent to Hercules Metals Corp.'s recently discovered Leviathan Copper Porphyry (Cnd$167Million Market Capitalization).* The discovery resulted in Barrick injecting Cnd$23Million in equity while staking a substantial land position in the district along with Rio Tinto. The Cuddy Mountain Property consists of 101 lode mining claims respectively and cover a cumulative area of approximately 2020 acres. Zeus recently announced it's 2024 exploration results which include high-priority drill targets delineated by: a broad 3 by 3 kilometer Copper ("Cu")-Silver ("Ag")-Molybdenum("Mo") soil anomaly; coincidental Cu-Mo-Ag rock grab anomalies; a broad, continuous zone of moderate to strong chargeability, (>20ms up to 60ms) trending NE-SW, indicative of extensive sulphide mineralization potential at depth; and, exposure of the Sevin Devils Volcanics which underly the high priority anomalies. The Seven Devils Volcanics are the host-rock of the recently discovered Leviathan Porphyry Copper discovery*. Historical Drilling at Cuddy Mountain consisted of 7 shallow drill holes in 1977 intersecting anomalous lead and silver. Drill hole Mun 8 contained 90 feet of 2.02 ounces per tonne ("oz/t") Ag (Taylor, 1977). Further historical exploration on Zeus's Cuddy Mountain Project occurred at the Edna May Mine: Mineralized vein with chip samples containing 750 ppm lead ("Pb"), 7.7% zinc ("Zn") and 252 ppm Ag over 4 feet. Underground drilling in 1979 intersected 1.38 oz/t Ag over 7 feet in a breccia zone (Burmeister, 1980). Additional exploration (By Taylor, 1977) at the Rockslide area encountered Malachite-stained outcrops with a grab sample containing 760 ppm Pb, 0.67 % Zn and 36 grams per tonne Silver (Taylor, 1977). *Adjacent Property (www.herculesmetals.com) *All information is derived solely from management of Zeus Mining and otherwise publicly available third-party information which are believed to be reliable, but which have not been independently verified by the Company and as a result are not guaranteed as to accuracy and completeness. Zeus's management cautions that past results or discoveries on properties in proximity to Zeus may not necessarily be indicative of the presence of mineralization on the Company's properties. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dean Besserer, P.Geo., the President & CEO for the company and Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101. On behalf of the board of directors. "Dean Besserer" President and CEO For more information, please contact the Company at info@zeusminingcorp.com FOR INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT: Kin Communications Inc. Ph: 604-684-6730 ZEUS@kincommunications.com About Zeus North America Mining Corp. The Company is in the business of mineral exploration. The Company is focused on its exploration properties in the state of Idaho known as the: Cuddy Mountain; Selway; and Great Western properties, respectively. The Idaho properties consist of 101 (Cuddy Mountain), 57 (Selway) and 38 (Great Western) lode mining claims respectively and cover a cumulative area of approximately 4,200 acres. The Company's flagship Cuddy Mountain Property is adjacent to Hercules Metal Corp's Leviathan Copper Porphyry discovery. Forward-Looking Statements When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of their respective officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the parties can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements and information in this news release include, amongst others, the Company's exploration plans. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: currency fluctuations; limited business history of the parties; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities and development of projects; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general development, market and industry conditions. The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of its securities or its financial or operating results (as applicable). The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. The Company does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. SOURCE: Zeus North America Mining Corp. Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2025) - Defence Therapeutics Inc. (CSE: DTC) (OTCQB: DTCFF) (FSE: DTC) ("Defence" or the "Company"), a Canadian biopharmaceutical company developing radiopharmaceuticals and ADC products using its proprietary platform and drug delivery technologies in addition to novel immune-oncology vaccines, is pleased to announce that Dr. Elias Theodorou is joining the management team as the Chief Operating Officer "COO", effective in April, 2025. Dr. Elias Theodorou, Ph.D., is a molecular biologist with over 25 years of experience in cancer research, stem cell differentiation, and gene delivery. He is the co-founder of Protos Biologics Inc., where he has been developing innovative DNA delivery systems. Previously, he served as the Director of Research at WBC Biosciences LLC, where he co-invented a method to modify innate immune cells for enhanced anticancer properties. Dr. Theodorou earned his Ph.D. from Yale University, focusing on identifying novel drivers of neural differentiation. He has authored numerous publications and holds patents related to gene therapy and protein engineering "Dr. Theodorou's appointment as COO marks a significant milestone for Defence Therapeutics," said Sebastien Plouffe, President, CEO, and Founder of Defence Therapeutics. "His leadership, scientific acumen, and extensive experience in innovative biotech startups will be crucial in accelerating our development programs and strengthening our position in the US market. Based in the Boston area, Dr. Theodorou will spearhead our efforts to tap into the exceptional resources and expertise of the US biotech ecosystem. His ability to translate complex scientific concepts into practical applications aligns perfectly with our mission to advance the Accum technology. We are confident that Dr. Theodorou's expertise, particularly in gene delivery and cancer research, combined with the innovative environment of the US biotech sector, will catalyze the full potential of our platform in the fields of ADCs and radioimmunoconjugates." "I am thrilled to join Defence Therapeutics as Chief Operating Officer at this pivotal moment in the Company's growth," said Dr. Elias Theodorou. "The Accum platform represents a groundbreaking approach in the field of drug delivery. My experience in molecular biology and innovative drug delivery systems aligns perfectly with Defence's mission. From our strategic position in the Boston biotech hub, we are poised to accelerate the development of our technology and forge crucial partnerships that will drive the next wave of cancer therapeutics. I look forward to working with the talented team at Defence to translate our scientific advancements into life-changing treatments for patients." The Company has granted 350,000 incentive stock options to Dr. Theodorou (the "Options"), in accordance with the terms and conditions of Defence's Omnibus Incentive Plan. Of the Options, 100,000 stock option shall vest immediately, and 250,000 stock option shall vest in one year from the date of grant. The Options are exercisable at a price of $1.07 per share for a period of ten years from the date of grant. About Defence: Defence Therapeutics is a publicly-traded clinical-stage biotechnology company developing and engineering the next generation of radio-immuno-conjugate and ADC products using its proprietary platform in addition to novel immune-oncology vaccines. The core of Defence Therapeutics platform is the ACCUM technology, which enables precision delivery of radio-immuno-conjugates or ADCs in their intact form to target cells, and vaccine antigens. As a result, increased efficacy and potency can be reached against catastrophic illness such as cancer and infectious diseases. Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include 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 securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Neither the CSE nor its market regulator, as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE, 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/246072 SOURCE: Defence Therapeutics Inc. Industrial software company renews partnership with Novotek Group, expanding distribution into Germany, Austria, and France HighByte, an industrial software company, today announced an expanded distribution agreement with Novotek Group providing the rights to market, sell, and distribute HighByte Intelligence Hub in Germany, Austria, and France. The agreement follows Novotek's recent announcement of its own expansion throughout the DACH region and France earlier this year. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250326954515/en/ "Novotek brings nearly 40 years of experience delivering innovative solutions and products for manufacturing companies that allow them to connect, digitalize, and optimize their production processes," said Tobias Antius, Chief Executive Officer at Novotek. "Our expansion into Germany and France is a natural extension of our business model and mission to bring digital transformation to our clients. We're excited to offer HighByte Intelligence Hub-a strategic product in our portfolio-to these markets where demand for industrial data management solutions is great and growing." According to independent research firm Verdantix, the industrial data management software market will grow at a CAGR of 19.9% to reach $6.1 billion in 2029. North America and Europe are the most prominent regions in this market, collectively accounting for over three-quarters of global market spend per the firm's Market Size and Forecast: Industrial Data Management Software 2023-2029 (Global) report. The growth is expected to be driven by market need for strong data quality management and increasing awareness of ROI delivered by AI-driven analytics from industrial data. "We are honored to expand our partnership with Novotek. Over the last five years, they have consistently proved themselves to be an extension of our brand in the market for the territories they represent," explained Tony Paine, Chief Executive Officer at HighByte. "They believe in our vision-and they have the experience and leadership to execute on that vision. HighByte is committed to our partnership with Novotek and to the German, Austrian, and French industrial markets." With strong roots in Switzerland and Austria, Novotek's newly formed offices in Germany strengthen their dedication to the entire DACH region, bringing the company's expertise and innovative solution portfolio to manufacturers in this key market. Novotek is approved to distribute and support HighByte Intelligence Hub across Northern and Western Europe, including Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. HighByte Intelligence Hub is an Industrial DataOps solution that contextualizes and standardizes industrial data from diverse sources at the edge to help bridge the gap between OT and IT systems, networks, and teams. Meet representatives from HighByte and Novotek at Hannover Messe, running from March 31 to April 4, in the AWS booth located in Hall 15 Stand D76. Additional Resources View all HighByte partners Meet HighByte customers See all company and product news About HighByte HighByte is an industrial software company addressing the data architecture and integration challenges faced by global manufacturers as they digitally transform. HighByte Intelligence Hub, the company's proven Industrial DataOps software, provides modeled, ready-to-use data to the Cloud using a codeless interface to speed integration time and accelerate analytics. Learn more at https://highbyte.com. HighByte is a registered trademark of HighByte, Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250326954515/en/ Contacts: Media HighByte Torey Penrod-Cambra Chief Communications Officer +1 844.328.2677 x701 torey.penrod-cambra@highbyte.com BAODING, China, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Yingli Solar complies with Certisolis' French Carbon Footprint regulation for four types of solar modules: bifacial and glass-glass (2+2 mm), ranging from 460 Wc and 630 WC to 645 Wc and 725 Wc, respectively. Yingli Solar, founded in Baoding, Hebei province, China, near Beijing, has been a pioneer and pillar in the solar industry for 27 years. Today, Yingli Solar maintains its Tier 1 ranking and global presence, with local employees providing tailored services to customers worldwide. France has unique carbon footprint certification requirements, which can benefit other European and global markets by enabling raw material supply tracing. Mr Xiong, CEO of Yingli Solar, states: "As part of our Environmental, Social, and Governance approach, we are proud to have obtained carbon footprint certification for all our solar modules. Furthermore, we are among the few top 10 solar module manufacturers with a low carbon footprint score for all modules (400 kg eq CO 2 /kWc). This team achievement demonstrates our dedication to our long-standing French and European strategic clients." Hital Wang, Deputy General Manager of International Sales at Yingli Solar, has long advocated for carbon neutrality regulations to make energy production greener: "Our commitment to reducing our carbon emissions to zero throughout the entire value chain is at the core of our strategy. We believe this also supports our clients' development, as they always consider how suppliers are leading in carbon emission neutrality. At Yingli Solar, we consistently improve our analysis of raw material sourcing to achieve a cleaner and better carbon footprint score." Since March 2024, Mr. Larruchon has been leading the French team: "This low carbon footprint achievement will greatly support our long-standing French and European strategic clients. The carbon footprint score influences tender rewards and makes PPA projects more valuable assets for owners. Carbon emissions in our operations are central to our present and future efforts for global carbon neutrality. Our world is under pressure from climate change, and we will not cease these efforts as long as they do not significantly impact the LCOE." Yingli Solar is ranked among the top 10 solar module companies and looks toward the future with a positive vision, aiming to provide clients worldwide with stability in an ever-changing industry. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/yingli-solar-modules-certified-by-certisolis-for-low-carbon-footprint-302411745.html Brand Invites The World to Join the Celebration with Experiences at the Most Epic Beaches on Earth Global "Corona 100" Platform Launches with a Legendary Concert at Copacabana Beach, Featuring One of the World's Top Musical Artists with Millions in Attendance Today, Corona proudly celebrates its 100-year anniversary, a remarkable milestone for the iconic brand that has been synonymous with the beach and enjoyed by consumers worldwide for the past century. Since 1925, Corona has cultivated a deep association with the beach; fully embodying a lifestyle connected to nature and relaxation. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250425804516/en/ Corona 100 This Is Living Since 1925 In honor of the occasion, Corona invites everyone to live their "beach side" a.k.a. their best side at top-tier beach locations across the globe. The Corona 100 platform includes a film highlighting 100 years of beach culture, a definitive list of the top 100 beaches in the world to visit, and a signed multi-year sponsorship of a renowned concert at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro all offering people across the globe opportunities to connect with their beach side. "For 100 years, Corona has fully embodied the 'This is Living' spirit of the beach lifestyle, inspiring people to disconnect from their everyday routine and reconnect with nature and each other," said Clarissa Pantoja, Global VP of Corona. "Enjoyed by millions around the world today and still growing, Corona will always remain unwavering in its commitment to the beach. This anniversary is not just a celebration of our legacy, but also a call for everyone to embrace their best side the beach side both now and for the next 100 years to follow." 100 Years, 100 Iconic Beaches To honor a century of beach side living, the brand has created its CoronaBeach 100list: a curated guide of the world's most iconic beaches that best represent Corona's "This is Living" expression. From hidden coves to legendary coastlines to remote paradises, these beaches aren't just destinations; they're places where people have traveled for centuries to disconnect from the real world and reconnect with nature. The guide includes sandy beaches from famed hotspots within South Africa, Mexico, and Brazil, as well as showcases some lesser traveled shorelines, such as Chile's Punta de Lobos, Iceland's Stokksnes Beach, and Canada's Cox Bay Beach, among many more. Additionally, Corona is offering the chance to visit the iconic beaches featured on the Beach 100 list. Anyone of legal drinking age can enter to win a chance to tap into their beach side at one of the 100 crowned coastlines simply by purchasing the special edition 100 Anniversary pack and scanning the QR code. Other instant win items include Corona merchandise, coolers, towels, and digital vouchers. To build the guide, Corona assembled a panel of beach experts, comprised of oceanographers, surfers, free divers, and other nature enthusiasts to curate the list, all who meticulously rated hundreds of the world's beaches using a carefully curated set of criteria. Each beach in the Corona Beach 100 is "Sun Awarded" rated between one to three suns and recognizes the locations that embody the true spirit of "This is Living" based on three essential elements: Beachside Culture, Connection to Nature, and Scenic Aesthetics. To access the Beach 100 list developed in partnership with experiential marketing agency, WINK and to learn more about how to win Beach 100 prizes, visit Corona.com for more information. Cheers to 100 Years at Copacabana Beach To kick-off the anniversary in grand fashion, Corona will take over one of the most iconic beaches in the world Copacabana Beach in Rio De Janeiro as a marquee sponsor of a global concert that will transform the shores of Copacabana Beach into the ultimate celebration. Taking place on May 3rd, the concert will captivate millions of attendees on the beach where each year the concert will feature some of the world's most popular musical artists and bands. A Century of Beach Culture From its origins in Mexico in 1925, Corona has been dedicated to quality with an emphasis on how the beach lifestyle positively impacts consumers worldwide. Named the World's Most Valuable Beer Brand1 in 2024, Corona has turned every sip into a moment of connection through its premium products brewed with 100% natural ingredients including its iconic lime ritual and continues to bring more "This is Living" moments of social connection and relaxation into the world. To highlight those 100 years of beach culture, Corona has unveiled a branded legacy film, titled "This is Living Since 1925," that brings to life many decades unfolding over the course of a day. From the early beginnings of beach side gatherings during the bikini era to swimming and surfing across the globe today, the archival look and feel across the film sets the tone for each decade, which also depicts a variety of beaches and coastlines from around the world. As seen in the film created in partnership with Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam Corona's integration within the beach culture is effortless in the scenes over time, a testament to the brand's natural place on the beach "Since 1925." The 360 platform also features vibrant new digital, trade, and OOH assets that highlight how Corona has remained a staple for beach lovers from around the world for generations no matter the season or location. The centennial celebrations will continue throughout 2025, so grab a lime, raise a Corona, and join the brand in commemorating a century of vibrant beachside living. Cheers to 100 years under the sun and to the next century of unforgettable "This Is Living" moments. About Corona Global Corona, an AB InBev global brand*, is the iconic beer brand that is synonymous with paradise with a presence in 180 countries. Recognized as the world's most valuable beer brand in Kantar's BrandZ global 2024 rankings, Corona invites the world outside, beckoning you to reconnect with your essential nature and embrace the simple pleasures of life. But it's not just about the beer it's about the ritual. The ritual of adding a slice of lime to your Corona, an experience that elevates the moment. Corona isn't just a beverage; it's nature in a bottle. And we strive to help protect nature and have become the first global beverage brand with a net-zero plastic footprint. This builds on our longstanding ambition to help protect the world's oceans and beaches from plastic pollution. Every sip of Corona is a celebration of nature and the beauty of the world around us. *Corona is not sold by AB InBev in the United States. About AB InBev Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) is a publicly traded company (Euronext: ABI) based in Leuven, Belgium, with secondary listings on the Mexico (MEXBOL: ANB) and South Africa (JSE: ANH) stock exchanges and with American Depositary Receipts on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUD). As a company, we dream big to create a future with more cheers. We are always looking to serve up new ways to meet life's moments, move our industry forward and make a meaningful impact in the world. We are committed to building great brands that stand the test of time and to brewing the best beers using the finest ingredients. Our diverse portfolio of well over 500 beer brands includes global brands Budweiser, Corona, Stella Artois and Michelob Ultra; multi-country brands Beck's, Hoegaarden and Leffe; and local champions such as Aguila, Antarctica, Bud Light, Brahma, Cass, Castle, Castle Lite, Cristal, Harbin, Jupiler, Modelo Especial, Quilmes, Victoria, Sedrin, and Skol. Our brewing heritage dates back more than 600 years, spanning continents and generations. From our European roots at the Den Hoorn brewery in Leuven, Belgium. To the pioneering spirit of the Anheuser Co brewery in St. Louis, US. To the creation of the Castle Brewery in South Africa during the Johannesburg gold rush. To Bohemia, the first brewery in Brazil. Geographically diversified with a balanced exposure to developed and developing markets, we leverage the collective strengths of approximately 144 000 colleagues based in nearly 50 countries worldwide. For 2024, AB InBev's reported revenue was 59.8 billion USD (excluding JVs and associates). 1Kantar BrandZ 2024 Global Rankings View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250425804516/en/ Contacts: AB InBev Media Relations E-mail: media.relations@ab-inbev.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2025) - Thor Explorations Ltd. (TSXV: THX) (AIM: THX) ("Thor" or the "Company") announces that its wholly owned operating subsidiary in Nigeria, Segilola Resources Operating Limited ("SROL") has received a copy of the report of the Inter-Ministerial Fact-Finding Committee on the dispute between SROL and the Osun State Government (the "Report"). Following a meeting held on the 25th of March 2025 in Abuja with all relevant parties, the report has been formally released to SROL. Importantly, the Report affirms SROL's compliance with its legal and regulatory obligations, and that the allegations of wrongdoing were unfounded. Additionally, the report confirmed that the N3.25 billion (USD$2.086M) tax invoice was not valid and unsubstantiated. The Committee recommended that the revised tax invoice of N98,347,105.18 (USD$64.1K), issued on 23rd September 2024, should be subject to a final reconciliation process to be affected by both parties and to facilitate an amicable resolution. Regarding the environmental allegations, the report also confirmed the lack of evidence of any environmental pollution on the part of SROL and thus, no basis for the claim for additional environmental levies. While the report addresses the key concerns, SROL remains open to continued engagement with the Osun State Government to resolve any outstanding matters amicably and in good faith. For full details on the findings and recommendations of the Inter-Ministerial Fact-Finding Committee, please refer to the report available on our website via the following link: https://thorexpl.com/site/assets/files/2835/report_of_the_fact_apds_26_11_2024.pdf Thor would like to take the opportunity to thank the Honourable Minister for Solid Minerals Development and the Inter-Ministerial Fact-Finding Committee for their efforts in resolving these matters. Osun State Government Shareholding in Thor The Company also wishes to clarify the position regarding Osun State Government's shareholding in Thor. In August 2016, when Thor completed the acquisition of the Segilola Gold Project, Thor issued 5,192,869 ordinary shares to the Osun State Government and local community as part of its social responsibility to enable the State and proximal communities to benefit from any success of the project. These shares have since been part of the Company's issued share capital and have no preferential rights. The share certificate, which had remained in the custody of Tropical Mines Limited (the previous owners of the Segilola Gold Project), with the State's knowledge, was formally handed over at the meeting on 25th March 2025. Separately, Thor also issued 20,771,478 in 2016 to the Nigerian Mining Corporation, (currently a 3% shareholder of Thor). The shares of both these entities constitute part of Thor's existing total issued share capital of 664,244,710 ordinary shares outstanding. Further detail on the Report The recommendations can be found on pages 15-19. Segilola reaffirms its commitment to its host communities and strengthening its social license to operate by implementing relevant Corporate Social Responsibility ("CSR") initiatives in Osun State, in addition to its various impactful Community Development Agreement ("CDA") and Livelihood Restoration Programme ("LRP") initiatives. A few of Segilola's community initiatives include: 1. Education and Youth Empowerment Programs Construction and renovation of schools, including provision of scholarships to secondary and tertiary institutions. Sponsorship of skill acquisition workshops for youth and women 2. Healthcare Initiatives Provision of equipment and medical consumables, training of staff at the primary health centres, renovation of community healthcare centers, implementation of health programs, and disease prevention campaigns. In 2024, SROL conducted its second medical outreach, providing consultations, advanced diagnostics, medications, and surgical procedures. 3. Infrastructure Development Ongoing road rehabilitation projects. Provision of mains power transformer to Imogbara and installation of 150 solar streetlights in Iperindo communities. 4. Sustainable Livelihood Restoration Programs (LRP) Provision of materials and equipment for the development and operation of vegetable farm, fish farm and cocoa rehabilitation programme for project affected persons (PAP's). These are provided in addition to compensation payments. By embedding sustainability and community development into its operations, SROL continues to foster long-term positive relationships with local communities while promoting economic and social well-being. The company remains committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure a sustainable future for the company, Osun State and Nigeria's mining sector. About Thor Thor Explorations Ltd. is a Canadian mineral exploration company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties located in Nigeria, Senegal and Burkina Faso. Thor holds a 100% interest in the Segilola Gold Project located in Osun State of Nigeria. Mining and production commenced at Segilola in 2021. Thor holds a 70% interest in the Douta Gold Project located in south-eastern Senegal. Thor trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "THX". THOR EXPLORATIONS LTD. Segun Lawson President & CEO Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release does not constitute an offer to purchase securities. The securities to be offered in the offering 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 or to, or for the benefit or account of, a U.S. person, except pursuant to an available exemption from such registration requirements. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. WIRE SERVICES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246137 SOURCE: Thor Explorations Ltd. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2025) - Independence Gold Corp. (TSXV: IGO) ("Independence Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the discovery of high-grade gold and silver mineralization at the Larry Vein System at its 3Ts Project in central British Columbia. The 3Ts Project is located approximately 185 kilometres ("km") southwest of Prince George, British Columbia and is comprised of seventeen mineral claims covering approximately 8,840 hectares in the Nechako Plateau region of central British Columbia. The project is situated 16 km southwest of Artemis Gold Inc.'s Blackwater Mine and covers a low-sulphidation epithermal quartz- carbonate vein district within which nineteen individual mineralized veins, ranging from 50 m to more than 1,100 m in strike length and with true widths up to 32 m have been identified. Key Highlights: Drill hole 3TS-25-07 intersected a system of two veins with mineralized breccia below the microdiorite sill, returning 19.40 m grading 5.58 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold and 73.76 g/t silver, and 15.00 m grading 3.01 g/t gold and 25.20 g/t silver. True widths are estimated to be 11.00 m and 8.5 m respectively with the intercept occurring 210 m east of the Tommy Vein System. Drill hole 3TS-25-09 returned 8.0 m at 5.89 g/t gold and 25.13 g/t silver above the microdiorite sill, with a true width of 4.75 m. This intercept was 145 m east of the Tommy Vein System. Compilation of historical data has provided sufficient information to directly target the Larry Vein for the first time, with the strike length estimated to be approximately 325 m remaining open to the northwest, southeast and at depth. Additional assay results from the Larry Vein are pending. Potential of the Larry Vein The Larry Vein, located east of the Tommy Vein System, was loosely defined by shallow historical drill intercepts from the 1990s to early 2000s. Due to thick overburden, no surface exposure of the Larry Vein has ever been observed. These latest drill results confirm the presence of a significant vein system, demonstrating that the Larry Vein has been largely overlooked in historical work. The high-grade gold and silver values returned from 3TS-25-09, combined with the complex veining and mineralized breccia observed in 3TS-25-07, suggest that the Larry Vein has the potential to contribute significantly to an updated resource model, planned for the second quarter of 2025. Drill Hole Target From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Gold (g/t) Silver (g/t) 3TS-25-07 including and including and including and including and and and including Larry Vein System 179.00 198.40 19.40 5.58 73.76 182.50 183.00 0.50 10.88 108.00 186.24 190.00 3.76 14.85 273.40 193.00 195.00 2.00 7.33 25.50 214.00 229.00 15.00 3.01 25.20 227.50 228.00 0.50 27.24 38.00 235.00 237.00 2.00 2.77 5.00 251.94 252.91 0.97 2.80 39.18 261.26 268.93 7.76 3.35 36.77 261.26 262.00 0.74 11.85 20.27 3TS-25-09 including Larry Vein System 32.00 40.00 8.00 5.89 25.13 37.00 38.00 1.00 25.57 107.00 Table 1: Larry Vein System assay highlights Randy Turner, President and CEO of Independence Gold, commented: "The discovery of high-grade mineralization at the Larry Vein is an exciting development for the 3Ts Project. This vein was historically ignored due to its lack of surface exposure, but the latest results demonstrate it has significant potential. We await additional assay results not only from the Larry Vein but also other targets we are currently drilling." About Independence Independence Gold Corp. is a well-financed mineral exploration company with holdings ranging from early-stage grassroots exploration to advanced-stage resource expansion in British Columbia and Yukon. The Company is positioned to add shareholder value through systematic project advancement, while management continues to evaluate additional gold and silver projects for possible acquisition. For additional information, visit the Company's website www.ingold.ca. Andy Randell, P.Geo., the Company's Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the technical information in this news release. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF INDEPENDENCE GOLD CORP. "Randy Turner" Randy Turner, President and CEO Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Drill Hole Location Data Drill Hole Easting Northing Elevation (m) Azimuth Dip Length (m) 3TS-25-07 363940 5876982 1150 270 70 330 3TS-25-09 363770 5877066 1151 90 65 102 *All drill hole locations are in NAD83, Zone 10 Datum All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to Independence within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements with respect to the Company's planned drilling and exploration activities. The Company provides forward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to those identified and reported in Independence's public filings under Independence Gold Corp.'s SEDAR profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although Independence has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Independence disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246086 SOURCE: Independence Gold Corp BERLIN/MUNCHEN (dpa-AFX) - Der Energietechnikkonzern Siemens Energy hat einen Mehrheitsanteil von 90 Prozent an seinem indischen Windkraftgeschaft verkauft. Im Zuge dessen geht die eigene Windkraftsparte Siemens Gamesa eine strategische Partnerschaft mit einem Konsortium rund um das Beteiligungsunternehmen TPG ein, wie der Dax -Konzern am Mittwoch mitteilte. Gamesa halte kunftig zehn Prozent an einem neuen Gemeinschaftsunternehmen. Finanzielle Details zu dem Deal nannte Siemens Energy nicht. Auerdem stunden die behordlichen Genehmigungen noch aus. Indien sei ein stark wachsender Markt fur den Windkraftsektor mit einer voraussichtlichen Kapazitat von 57 Gigawatt im Jahr 2032, hie es weiter. Gamesa wolle gemeinsam mit TPG und weiteren Investoren Onshore-Turbinen in Indien und Sri Lanka herstellen, installieren und warten. In das Gemeinschaftsunternehmen will Gamesa rund tausend Beschaftigte und zwei Werke in Indien einbringen. TPG bringe neben der notigen Finanzkraft auch wichtige Erfahrung in der Region mit, hie es weiter. So konne Gamesa seinen strategischen Fokus auf andere wichtige Markte legen./niw/mis Registration is now open for the leading international event for Battery, EV and Energy Storage. The Battery Show Europe and Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo Europe, the region's only dedicated event for battery manufacturing, electric and hybrid vehicle tech industries, announces details for its 2025 edition. The event will introduce a new co-locate with Energy Storage Summit Germany, spotlighting Germany's rapid ascent in the European storage sector. Once primarily driven by residential demand, Germany's energy storage market is now scaling to utility levels, reflecting the growing need for stable and efficient energy management. As renewable energy sources become more widespread, energy storage solutions are essential for balancing grid demand, ensuring reliability and supporting the expansion of EV charging infrastructure. The summit will provide opportunities to explore regulatory policies, investment strategies and technological innovations that are defining the future of large-scale energy storage in Europe. The Battery Show Europe also launches the Battery Tech Theatre, a free-to-attend educational arena located in the exhibition hall that will showcase the latest battery systems and components as well as electric and hybrid vehicle technology. "The European market is at a pivotal moment in energy transition. While last year's EV growth temporarily levelled off, the momentum is shifting as infrastructure and supply chain improvements accelerate adoption," says John Lewinski, Vice President, Informa Markets Engineering. "The Battery Show Europe serves as a key platform for tackling these development challenges, whether it is scaling battery production or advancing energy storage solutions for accessibility, ensuring industry professionals have the insights and resources needed that shape the future of mobility and energy storage worldwide." The extensive conference agenda will explore critical topics currently facing the advanced battery sector including strengthening local supply chains through international partnerships, overcoming hurdles in scaling Europe's battery production as well as pioneering advancements in cylindrical cell technology. The Battery Tech Theatre will also launch this year alongside the already established Open Tech Forum as a secondary free-to-attend educational arena located in the exhibition hall, showcasing the latest across battery systems and components plus electric and hybrid vehicle technology. Attendees may also select additional tailored educational tracks for further focused content discovery within Advanced Battery Technologies, Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Integration and Battery Manufacturing & Supply Chain. With in-depth discussions and practical solutions, The Battery Show Europe is the premier platform to meet growing demand while strengthening supply chains and advancing technology on a global scale. Exhibiting halls dedicated to battery and energy storage will host over 1,100 exhibitors including BECKHOFF, Bosch Rexroth, Dow, Henkel, Schunk, Honeywell, SIEMENS, Lead Intelligent Equipment, Staubli, DUPONT, Lyric Automation Germany GmbH, ZELTWANGER Leaktesting & Automation GmbH, GROB, Parker and more. Register to attend The Battery Show Europe and Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo Europe today at www.thebatteryshow.eu About The Battery Show The Battery Show is the largest and most comprehensive advanced battery technology event, co-located with Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo, the only trade show and conference exclusively dedicated to advanced battery and the electric and hybrid vehicle drivetrain. Visitors to our shows can discover and demo the latest products, technology, and solutions from nearly a thousand suppliers, network with tens of thousands of attendees and access a breadth of education across multiple tracks and technical sessions. The Battery Show is organized by Informa Markets Engineering and includes The Battery Show Europe, The Battery Show North America, The Battery Show India. In 2025, Informa Markets Engineering is set to launch The Battery Show South and The Battery Show Asia. Listed media partners include Informa Market's Battery Technology and DesignNews. For more information, please visit informamarkets.com. About Informa Markets Engineering? Informa Markets' Engineering portfolio, a subsidiary of Informa plc (LON:INF), is the leading B2B event producer, publisher, and digital media business for the world's $3-trillion advanced, technology-based manufacturing industry. Our print and electronic products deliver trusted information to the engineering market and leverage our proprietary 1.3-million-name database to connect suppliers with buyers and purchase influencers. We produce more than 50 events and conferences in a dozen countries, connecting manufacturing professionals from around the globe. The Engineering portfolio is organised by Informa, the world's leading exhibitions organiser that brings a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit informamarkets.com. Media Contact? Informa Markets Engineering? EngineeringPR@informa.com +44 (0) 20 8052 0400 SOURCE:?INFORMA MARKETS - ENGINEERING Ende Mai leitete US-Prasident Donald Trump mit der Unterzeichnung mehrerer Dekrete eine weitreichende Wende in der amerikanischen Energiepolitik ein. Im Fokus: der beschleunigte Ausbau der Kernenergie. Mit einem umfassenden Manahmenpaket sollen Genehmigungsprozesse reformiert, kleinere Reaktoren gefordert und der Anteil von Atomstrom in den USA massiv gesteigert werden. Ausloser ist der explodierende Energiebedarf durch KI-Rechenzentren, der eine stabile, CO-arme Grundlastversorgung zwingend notwendig macht. In unserem kostenlosen Spezialreport erfahren Sie, welche 3 Unternehmen jetzt im Zentrum dieser energiepolitischen Neuausrichtung stehen, und wer vom kommenden Boom der Nuklearindustrie besonders profitieren konnte. Holen Sie sich den neuesten Report! Verpassen Sie nicht, welche Aktien besonders von der Energiewende in den USA profitieren durften, und laden Sie sich das Gratis-PDF jetzt kostenlos herunter. Dieses exklusive Angebot gilt aber nur fur kurze Zeit! Daher jetzt downloaden! TEL AVIV, Israel, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Neurim Pharmaceuticals ("Neurim") announces that the European Commission has approved the extension of the indication to include the treatment of insomnia in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The European Commission decision followed the recommendation of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in January 2025. Slenyto is a child-appropriate prolonged release melatonin formulation that was first approved in the EU in 2018 for the treatment of insomnia in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/ or Smith-Magenis Syndrome. In 2024, the indication was extended to neurogenetic disorders (NGDs). Slenyto is the only authorised medication for insomnia in these disorders. The adopted wording for the newly extended indication is: "Slenyto is indicated for the treatment of insomnia: In children and adolescents aged 2-18 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and / or neurogenetic disorders with aberrant diurnal melatonin secretion and /or nocturnal awakenings, where sleep hygiene measures have been insufficient In children and adolescents aged 6-17 years with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) where sleep hygiene measures have been insufficient "We recognise there is significant unmet need and high demand for addressing sleep maintenance and duration as well as sleep initiation difficulties of children with ADHD, who suffer from impaired sleep.The European Commission (EC) granted marketing authorization (MA) of Slenyto for insomnia in children with ADHD is a major move to satisfy this need." says Prof. Nava Zisapel, CEO of Neurim Pharmaceuticals. Prof. Carmen Schroder, MD, PhD, France, and Prof. Oliviero Bruni, MD, PhD, Italy, comment: " Slenyto is a prolonged-release formulation of melatonin that delivers melatonin over the course of the night, mimicking the endogenous release profile in healthy subjects. Therefore, Slenyto has the potential to treat the pathophysiology of insomnia in the population of children with neurodevelopmental disorders, among which ADHD, improving sleep latency, sleep continuity and total nighttime sleep duration, in particular in those who do not produce sufficient endogenous melatonin. Slenyto has been specifically formulated for use in children and has a favorable safety profile. Subsequent improvements in child behavior (mainly due to longer uninterrupted sleep), parent satisfaction and quality of life (mainly affected by the child's behavior) are expected. The treatment will address a significant need in the medical management of many children and adolescents with ADHD". ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) Sleep impairment is a common comorbidity in ADHD, with up to 70% of children reported to experience disrupted sleep, starting at an early age. Sleep duration and the number of nighttime awakenings in children with ADHD differ from those of typically developing children from a very young age - often before formal ADHD diagnosis. Co-occurring sleep problems in children with ADHD have been shown to predict more severe core symptoms, exacerbate daytime sleepiness, and reduce quality of life in both patients and caregivers. Current practices recommend parent-directed behavioral sleep interventions as first-line treatment for pediatric insomnia in ADHD. Slenyto is a unique pharmacological treatment for insomnia in children and adolescents with ADHD that would address not only sleep initiation but also sleep maintenance and sleep duration disorders. ABOUT SLENYTO Slenyto is an age-appropriate prolonged-release formulation of melatonin, a hormone involved in the regulation of the circadian clock and sleep. The mini-tablet's innovative formulation was specifically designed to facilitate ease of swallowing without resistance in pediatric ASD, NGD and ADHD populations, in response to the unmet need in the field of paediatric insomnia. Slenyto delivers melatonin over the night to mimic the endogenous melatonin release profile in healthy subjects. In Phase III study in ASD and SMS children and adolescents, with and without ADHD, Slenyto improved sleep latency, sleep continuity, and total nighttime sleep duration. The positive effect on sleep maintenance and duration was associated with an improvement in externalizing behavior, which correlated with improvement in parents' well-being. Analysis of Slenyto effect on the primary endpoint, total sleep time, demonstrated the same level of improvement in participants with and without ADHD comorbidity. The mechanism of action of Slenyto on sleep latency, sleep maintenance and total sleep time is independent of the background disorder. Therefore, any patient with a neurodevelopmental disorder with sleep disturbances associated with aberrant diurnal melatonin secretion patterns and/or insufficient nighttime melatonin secretion will benefit from Slenyto. ABOUT NEURIM PHARMACEUTICALS Neurim Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (www.neurim.com) is a neuroscience drug discovery and development company. Its first approved drug, CIRCADIN, is approved for patients over the age of 55 who are suffering from insomnia and is commercially available in 45 countries around the world. Neurim has a strong and innovative product pipeline targeting central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Contact: Guy Manor, VP Commercial Operations, guym@neurim.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/neurim-pharmaceuticals-receives-european-marketing-authorization-for-pediatric-prolonged-release-melatonin-slenyto-for-the-treatment-of-insomnia-in-children-with-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd-302411190.html This innovation presents a non-invasive therapeutic solution supported by robust scientific evidence. On March 26, World Cervical Cancer Prevention Day MADRID, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Key Findings and Scientific Evidence The Paloma 2 clinical trial, conducted in 19 Spanish hospitals, involved 164 women with an average age of 41.13 years. All participants tested positive for high-risk HPV and presented with low-grade cervical lesions. The trial compared two groups: one received intensive treatment with Papilocare, while the other followed standard clinical practice (watchful approach). The results demonstrated that 88% of the women treated with Papilocare cleared the virus after a 6-month treatment period, compared to 46% in the control group. This difference was statistically significant (p=0.0011), reinforcing earlier findings from the Paloma 1 trial, which reported an 81.8% repaired cervical lesions. Additionally, the therapeutic benefit persisted at the 12 months follow up visit, confirming Papilocare's mid-term efficacy in reducing HPV persistence. Mechanism of Action and Safety Papilocare incorporates a unique formulation based on the natural Asian fungus Coriolus versicolor. Its advanced delivery technology utilizes niosomes and phytosomes, ensuring effective absorption and sustained action on cervical tissue. The gel forms a protective barrier over the cervical mucosa, acting as a defensive shield that prevents HPV integration. The trial also confirmed that Papilocare is safe and well-tolerated. The treatment regimen included three months of daily application, followed by three additional monthsof alternate-day use. No significant adverse effects were reported during the study. A Paradigm Shift in HPV Management For years, low-grade HPV-induced cervical lesions were managed with a watchful approach rather than proactive intervention. According to Dr. Luis Serrano, an expert in cervical pathology at HM Gabinete Velazquez, Madrid "The Paloma 2 results mark a significant turning point by offering an effective noninvasive active therapeutic approach to reduce HPV persistence and prevent cervical lesion progression." Impact on Public Health Cervical cancer is a major public health concern, with approximately 3,200 new cases and 850 deaths reported annually in the UK. Current preventive strategies emphasize vaccination, screening, and early treatment of precancerous lesions. While vaccination effectively prevents up to seven high-risk HPV genotypes, Papilocare offers a complementary therapeutic option for patients who have already contracted the virus. Approximately 14% of Spanish women aged 18-65 are HPV-positive. While most clear the virus naturally within two years, persistent infection poses the greatest risk of developing cervical lesions that can progress to cancer. Papilocare's proven efficacy in accelerating HPV clearance offers a valuable tool in reducing these risks. Procare Health's Role Founded in 2012, Procare Health is a Spanish pharmaceutical company specializing in natural, evidence-based solutions for women's health. With over 10 clinical studies involving 1,500 patients, Papilocare is now available in more than 55 countries worldwide. The Paloma 2 trial reinforces Papilocare as a scientifically validated treatment option for reducing HPV persistence and promoting cervical health. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/procare-health-released-results-from-their-latest-clinical-trial-paloma-2-confirming-the-efficacy-of-papilocare-a-vaginal-gel-designed-to-repair-low-grade-cervical-lesions-and-to-clear-human-papillomavirus-hpv-302411163.html EQS Newswire / 26/03/2025 / 17:47 UTC+8 Star-Chained Plan Achieves Remarkable Results Pure Electric Tractors and Trailers Usher in a New Development Chapter (26 March 2025, Hong Kong) On 26 March, 2025, CIMC Vehicles (301039.SZ) held its 2024 Annual Results Conference. The Company demonstrated a positive and steady business performance, with its three major business segments achieving high-quality development. According to the annual report data, in 2024, CIMC Vehicles achieved revenue of RMB21.0 billion (in RMB henceforth), and operating net profit reached RMB1.35 billion. The gross profit margin reached 16.3%, cash reserves amounted to RMB5.8 billion, and net cash generated from operating activities reached RMB2.19 billion, a YoY increase of 22.4%. At the same time, the company disclosed its 2024 profit distribution plan, proposing a cash dividend of RMB0.28 per share (tax inclusive). Combined with the interim cash dividend of RMB0.28 per share (tax inclusive) already distributed, the total annual dividend for 2024 amounts to RMB0.56 per share (tax inclusive). In 2024, the Company, driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, fully advanced its third venture initiative, reshaping its three major businesses: global semi-trailers, EVDTB truck bodies, and pure electric tractors and trailers. The Company sold a total of 101,700 semi-trailers through its production centers and manufacturing plants in China, North America, and Europe. According to the 2024 Global OEM Ranking List published by Global Trailer, CIMC Vehicles ranked first among semi-trailer manufacturers in the world, for the twelfth year in a row. Additionally, the Company supplied 25,000 EVDTB truck body products to China's new energy heavy truck manufacturers and leading fuel/gas-powered heavy truck manufacturers. For the first time, it also introduced pure electric tractors and trailers to the market, with primary practical applications in port transportation and concrete logistics. The Global Semi-Trailer Business Will Leverage the "Star-Chained Plan" and "Big Leap Plan" to Deeply Explore the Value of Each Segment in the Entire-Value Chain In 2024, the global semi-trailers business achieved revenue of RMB14.95 billion, contributing a gross profit of RMB2.661 billion. Amidst the involution-style competition within the semi-trailer industry, CIMC Vehicles vigorously implemented the "Star-Chained Plan" and the "Big Leap Plan" and fully established new productive forces in semi-trailers with significant results. The domestic semi-trailer market saw an overall sales increase of 12% YoY, with a market share reaching 14.04%, ranking 1st in China for the 6th consecutive years. Revenue from the star-chained semi-trailer business saw a 16.8% YoY revenue growth, with sales volume increasing by 20.9% against the trend, and the gross profit margin rising to 14.4%. Capacity utilization reached its highest level in five years, resulting in a 30% boost in production efficiency and a substantial 23% growth in per capita output value. Additionally, the Company fully developed Star-chained marketing operations, and progressed the business model of CIMC-SHAC "Sanhao development". At the same time, the Company launched the "Big Leap Plan" successfully achieving the first-phase construction targets, and establishing preliminary "hard power" and "soft power" in production management. In addition, the Company participated in drafting and released the enterprise standards for "Edible Oil Tank Vehicles for Road Transportation", enhancing safeguards for domestic edible oil safety. The Global South Market experienced remarkable growth in 2024. CIMC Vehicles achieved performance breakthroughs in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, with sales operation extensively covered 50 nations and regions in total, featuring a "three pillar markets + multiple growth markets" sales structure across the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia. Its 2024 revenue increased by 6% and gross profit margin leaping 5.8 percentage points. The European and Australian semi-trailer businesses outperformed market expectations. In Europe, the Company systematically implemented supply chain localization, lifting gross margins by 2.4 percentage points despite challenging conditions. Australia operations focused on product quality and detailing, achieving record-breaking profitability, its market share in Australia has maintained a top-six ranking in the industry for two consecutive years For the semi-trailer business in North America, the Company is actively enhancing the North American governance structure and further strengthening supply chain resilience. Leveraging the cost advantages from its global supply chain, its gross margin remained stable at 20.2%. Deepen the "Excellent Horse with Excellent Saddle" Business Model, Transforming into the Preferred "Truck Bodies Entrusted Installation with Chain Enterprises" for New Energy Heavy Truck-Tractors Chassis Manufacturers As the sole provider of three major categories of DTB products in the industry and the only enterprise capable of comprehensively covering core markets in the Yellow River Basin and middle-lower Yangtze River Basin with six plants, CIMC Vehicles has leveraged its marketing advantages while promoting the business model of "Excellent Tractors with Excellent Trailers", the EVDTB business delivered a total revenue of RMB3.03 billion and contributed a gross profit of RMB150 million, representing an increase in gross profit of RMB70 million as compared to 2023. Over the past two years, the Company made a comprehensive push for the business model of "Excellent Tractors with Excellent Trailers". With annual models as the hold, we carried out yearly iterations on the truck body design, better integrating the sub-frame with the heavy truck underframe to significantly reduce the weight. In 2024, the Company was transitioning the business focus from the "Complete mixer truck business" to the "EVDTB business of mixer trucks", launching a unified design of EV-DTB mixer trucks for pure electric heavy truck-tractors chassis. With unified order handling, centralized procurement, standardized production processes, and delivery from two sites, we have essentially realized the business model of "Excellent Tractors with Excellent Trailers". CIMC Vehicles Pursues "Pure-Electric Integrated Tractor-Trailer Products", Striving to Become an Explorer, Builder, and Promoter Across the Entire-Value Chain Through close cooperation with strategic automotive manufacturers, the Company has established a technology innovation platform for pure electric tractor and trailer (EV-RT). Within the "Excellent Tractors with Excellent Trailers" cooperative framework, the Company was driving continuous advancements in both technology and practical applications for pure electric tractors and trailers. The Company's self-developed J-RT1.0 pure electric tractor-trailer mixer truck has been put into operation in batches in Xi'an, achieving an energy consumption reduction of up to 37.7%. Additionally, the CIMC-SHAC "Excellent Tractors with Excellent Trailers" Initiative for New Energy Vehicles was delivered in bulk to customers in Chongzuo, Guangxi, known as the "Land Gateway to ASEAN", advancing innovative practice of building a green cross-border transportation system. Become an Entire-Value Chain Operator for Semi-trailers to Enhance Long-term Competitiveness To address the various vortices of global geopolitics and strengthen long-term competitiveness, CIMC Vehicles will actively implement the following measures: Firstly, the global semi-trailer business will leverage the "Star-Chained Plan" and "Big Leap Plan" to deeply explore the value of each segment in the entire-value chain. Secondly, it will reshape the global supply chain for semi-trailers. Thirdly, it will establish a parallel and independent governance structure for the North American semi-trailer business. Fourthly, it will deepen the "Excellent Horse with Excellent Saddle" business model, transforming into the preferred "Truck Bodies Entrusted Installation with Chain Enterprises" for new energy heavy truck-tractors chassis manufacturers. Fifthly, it will further advance the CIMC-SHAC "Sanhao Development" to effectively expand applications in Global South market. Looking Ahead, CIMC Vehicles is accelerating the evolution into an "Entire-Value Chain" operator for star-chained semi-trailer. In 2025, the Company targets "Star-chained Semi-trailer" and "Big Leap Tankers" to achieve further increases in gross margin, with profit contributions to double year-on-year. Also, CIMC Vehicles will evolves "Intercontinental Operations" into a "Borderless Enterprise" through its third venture. And the Company will pursue "Pure-electric Integrated Tractor-trailer Products", striving to become an explorer, builder, and promoter across the entire-value chain. Targeting to fully establishing new productive forces and export it to the world to continue high-quality development in the future! - End - About CIMC Vehicles (Group) Co., Ltd In 2024, CIMC Vehicles (301039.SZ) sold a total of 101,700 semi-trailers through its production centres and manufacturing plants in China, North America, and Europe. According to the 2024 Global OEM Ranking List published by Global Trailer, CIMC Vehicles ranked first among semi-trailer manufacturers in the world, for the twelfth year in a row. Additionally, the Company supplied 25,000 EVDTB truck body products to China's new energy heavy truck manufacturers and leading fuel/gas-powered heavy truck manufacturers. In 2024, the Company also introduced pure electric tractors and trailers to the market, with primary practical applications in port transportation and concrete logistics for the first time. 26/03/2025 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Media archive at www.todayir.com CORAS, the integrated automation and AI-driven decision management platform for the Department of Defense (DoD,) announced today that it has been awarded a contract with the DoD's Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). CORAS will support DIU in delivering DoD leadership an Enterprise Workflow and Reporting Modernization Platform (eWARP) Solution for faster and more comprehensive visibility, streamlined financial reporting, and intelligent budget execution and project management. CORAS blue logo "We are honored to support the Defense Innovation Unit in its mission to accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge technologies across the Department of Defense," said Dan Naselius, President and CTO of CORAS. "With advanced Large Language Models (LLMs), agentic AI, and intelligent automation, CORAS will give DIU leadership a real-time, 360-degree view of their portfolios and programs and ensure transparency of their budget for Congressional Reporting - pulling data from multiple sources and making it instantly actionable. CORAS' proprietary AI not only automates workflows and reporting but also connects the dots between projects in ways that weren't possible before, making budgeting, transparency, and strategic planning faster and smarter. At the end of the day, it's about getting the right insights at the right time - so decisions happen at the speed of the mission." CORAS' SaaS solution runs on trusted DoD security environments including FedRAMP High, IL5 through AWS GovCloud, NIPR, SIPR, and others. CORAS integrates multiple capabilities into one proactive live data environment. Its vast data discovery toolset brings disparate data and users together to collaborate on tasks, perform processes, and report in real-time. CORAS enables federal defense and civilian organizations to access data insights and make critical decisions rapidly and efficiently by utilizing AI, NLP, and ML applications. The DIU strengthens national security by accelerating the adoption of commercial technology throughout the military and bolstering allied and national security innovation bases. DIU is the only DoD organization focused exclusively on fielding and scaling commercial technology across the U.S. military at commercial speeds. About CORAS: CORAS is an AI-powered, low-code/no-code SaaS platform designed to transform decision-making across the Department of Defense and federal agencies. With a suite of real-time tools, CORAS streamlines data integration, automates workflows, and delivers live reporting, predictive analytics, and responsive decision intelligence - all in one platform. In just days, it's configured and operational within a DoD cloud or network, unlocking hidden insights, optimizing resources, and enabling faster, smarter decisions at every level - portfolio, program, and project. By integrating LLMs, agentic AI, and machine learning, CORAS makes advanced AI accessible to everyday users. From financial analysts to program managers, anyone can harness the power of AI to automate workflows, identify patterns, and generate real-time insights - all through an intuitive, no-code interface. Already deployed across the DoD, CORAS supports mission-critical challenges while providing one of the most engaged customer experience (CX) teams in government contracting. Available through GSA Schedule, NASA SEWP, SBIR/STTR, Tradewinds AI Solutions Marketplace, and trusted resellers like Carahsoft and AWS Public Sector Marketplace. Visit www.coras.com. SOURCE: CORAS 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! Annual Report and Annual General Meeting In compliance with Listing Rule 6.4.1, the Company announces that the following documents, in unedited full text, have today been filed with the Financial Conduct Authority and are available for inspection via the National Storage Mechanism at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism: Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 (the Annual Report 2024); Notice of 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM); and Proxy Form for the 2025 AGM. The documents will be posted today, and the Annual Report 2024 and the Notice of 2025 AGM have been published on the Company's website at rentokil-initial.com/investors. The 2025 AGM will be held at, and broadcast from, the Company's offices at Compass House, Manor Royal, Crawley, RH10 9PY on Wednesday 7 May 2025 at 2:00pm. Full details of how to participate in the meeting can be found in the Notice of Meeting. In addition, the Company has filed its Annual Report on Form 20-F with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The document is available for viewing on the SEC website at www.sec.gov and also on the Company's website at rentokil-initial.com/investors. If you would like to receive a hard copy of the Annual Report 2024 please contact the Company Secretariat team by email at secretariat@rentokil-initial.com or on +44 (0)1293 858000. Additional note Following the printing of the Annual Report, the Carbon Disclosure Project informed the Company about an error in its scoring infrastructure. Following the recalculation, Rentokil Initial's Climate rating was recalculated to C, rather than D. 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: Rentokil Initial plc Vancouver, Canada and Melbourne, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2025) - Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd (TSXV: SXGC) (ASX: SX2) (OTC Pink: MWSNF) (FSE: MV3) ("Southern Cross Gold" or the "Company") announces results from two drill holes: SDDSC147 and SDDSC151 at the Golden Dyke prospect, part of the 100%-owned Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony project in Victoria (Figure 4). 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS The two drillholes are the deepest east-west oriented holes at Golden Dyke prospect at Sunday Creek. SDDSC151 delivered three significant intercepts exceeding 50 gram-metres AuEq, including 5.4 m @ 29.6 g/t Au. This demonstrates continuing high-grade mineralization that enhances the economic potential of the deposit and contributes to the project's growing inventory of +100 g/t AuEq x m intercepts (61 intersected to date). The discovery of a high-grade zone (3.2 m @ 18.0 g/t Au) in SDDSC151 hosted within a previously unrecognized sub-parallel dyke at 382.2 m depth is geologically significant. This represents a new structural position within the mineralized system, indicating potential for additional parallel structures that could substantially expand the resource footprint. Intercepts including 1.2 m @ 96.7 g/t Au, 0.1 m @ 270.0 g/t Au and 0.4 m @ 129.6 g/t Au, represent extremely high-grade central zones within each vein system. These are characteristic of Victorian epizonal gold-antimony deposits, suggesting similar deposit genesis and potential for additional high-grade shoots at depth. Sunday Creek project is a rare asset, being one of the only Tier 1 independently owned, high-grade, multi-million ounce potential greenfield global projects. Global investors in gold are seeking consolidation and are once again supportive of growth via high-quality acquisitions. Gold companies have suffered from an under-investment in new projects which has materially increased the scarcity value for new projects that deliver high-grade ounces in low-risk jurisdictions - attributes that Sunday Creek is almost unique in holding with limited global peers. The Company is executing an accelerated exploration strategy with six active drill rigs and a planned 60,000 m program through Q3 2025, backed by A$18M in cash reserves. Michael Hudson, President & CEO of SXGC states: "Golden Dyke continues to deliver exceptional high-grade results. The discovery of a new high-grade structure in SDDSC151 has substantial implications for expanding our resource potential, giving an intriguing hint of the parallel mineralized systems throughout the project. Consistent extremely high-grade intercepts across multiple high-grade structures in the same hole including hits like 1.2 m @ 96.7 g/t Au, 1.4 m @ 37.3 g/t Au and 0.4 m @ 129.6 g/t Au, surrounded by broader halos demonstrate the extraordinary richness of this system. "With 61 intersections exceeding 100 g/t AuEq x m from just 75 km of drilling, we're seeing mineralization signatures that place Sunday Creek firmly as globally significant gold-antimony system that Victoria is now recognized for, having produced two globally significant gold discoveries in the last decade. Our six-rig drilling program underscores our confidence in rapidly advancing this strategic asset that combines exceptional gold economics with critical antimony exposure at a time of increasing geopolitical importance. "The Sunday Creek project is the one of the only Tier 1 independently owned, greenfield and high-grade, projects globally with multi-million ounce potential. Gold companies have suffered from an under-investment in new projects which has materially increased the scarcity value for new projects that deliver high-grade ounces in low-risk jurisdictions - attributes that Sunday Creek is almost unique in holding with limited global peers." FOR THOSE WHO LIKE THE DETAILS HIGHLIGHTS Two drillholes SDDSC151 and SDDSC147 were designed to test extensions to depth and strike potential of vein sets at the Golden Dyke prospect. Mineralization was intercepted at depths of 320 m to 620 m vertically from the surface. The two drillholes are the deepest east-west oriented holes at Golden Dyke and represent a 90 m to 120 m down dip extension (from SDDSC141, reported 28 November, 2024). Mineralization was successfully drilled up to 30 m along strike between the two holes in a NW-SE orientation (along the rungs of the ladder) (Figures 1 and 2). SDDSC151 drilled a 120 m zone of mineralization in the footwall zone at Golden Dyke. The hole intersected four vein sets from 382.2 m depth. The hole included nine intercepts >20 g/t Au (up to 270 g/t Au) and one interval exceeding 100 gram-metres gold equivalent ("AuEq g/t x m") and two intervals between 50 and 100 AuEq g/t x m. Selected highlights include: 3.2 m @ 18.0 g/t Au from 382.2 m including: 0.4 m @ 129.6 g/t Au from 382.4 m 5.4 m @ 29.6 g/t Au from 584.3 m including: 1.2 m @ 96.7 g/t Au from 585.0 m 4.2 m @ 13.2 g/t Au from 604.5 m including: 1.4 m @ 37.3 g/t Au from 606.8 m 0.4 m @ 78.7 g/t Au from 641.2 m including: 0.1 m @ 270.0 g/t Au from 641.2 m SDDSC147 drilled a 235 m zone of mineralization in the hanging wall zone at Golden Dyke. This hole intercepted three vein sets at distal/peripheral locations. Highlights include: 1.3 m @ 7.9 g/t Au from 19.3 m 1.3 m @ 9.3 g/t Au from 134.4 m, including: 0.9 m @ 11.3 g/t Au from 134.7 m 3.2 m @ 1.0 g/t Au from 805.0 m Ongoing Exploration: A$18 million in cash and no debt. Fifteen holes currently being processed and analysed. Six additional holes are being drilled. Drill Hole Discussion Mineralization in SDDSC147 and SDDSC151 was intercepted between vertical depths of 320 m to 620 m from the surface (130 m to 445 m below the base of Golden Dyke workings). The two drillholes are the deepest east-west oriented holes at Golden Dyke and represent a 90 m to 120 m down dip extension (from SDDSC141, reported 28 November, 2024) of multiple mineralized structures (Figures 1 and 2). SDDSC151 was drilled to test the footwall (FW) and intersected four distinct vein sets along with a high-grade (HG) zone hosted within a sub-parallel and sub-vertical dyke at 382.2 m depth. This is important as this previously unrecognized host position demonstrates upside to expand mineralization at Golden Dyke in potential parallel zones. The hole drilled a 120 m zone of mineralization in the footwall zone at Golden Dyke. Notably, the hole returned: One interval exceeding 100 gram-metres AuEq 5.4 m @ 29.8 g/t AuEq (29.6 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 584.3 m Two intervals between 50 and 100 gram-metres AuEq 3.2 m @ 18.0 g/t AuEq (18.0 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 382.2 m 4.2 m @ 13.5 g/t AuEq (13.2 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 604.5 m Extended highlights include: 3.2 m @ 18.0 g/t AuEq (18.0 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 382.2 m 0.4 m @ 129.7 g/t AuEq (129.6 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 382.4 m 0.2 m @ 16.1 g/t AuEq (16.1 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 430.7 m 5.4 m @ 29.8 g/t AuEq (29.6 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 584.3 m 4.7 m @ 33.7 g/t AuEq (33.5 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 585.0 m 0.6 m @ 4.2 g/t AuEq (4.1 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 596.2 m 4.2 m @ 13.5 g/t AuEq (13.2 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 604.5 m 1.4 m @ 37.3 g/t AuEq (37.3 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 606.8 m 0.3 m @ 9.0 g/t AuEq (2.8 g/t Au, 2.6% Sb) from 624.9 m 0.4 m @ 78.7 g/t AuEq (78.7 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 641.2 m 0.1 m @ 270.0 g/t AuEq (270.0 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 641.2 m SDDSC147 drilled a 235 m zone of mineralization in the hanging wall zone at Golden Dyke, expanding the potential strike length and demonstrating continuity of mineralization. The broad prospective window reinforces the geological model and provides additional targets for follow-up drilling. Highlights include: 1.3 m @ 8.0 g/t AuEq (7.9 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 19.3 m 1.3 m @ 9.3 g/t AuEq (9.3 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 134.4 m 0.9 m @ 11.3 g/t AuEq (11.3 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 134.7 m 3.2 m @ 1.0 g/t AuEq (1.0 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 805.0 m Pending Results and Update The drilling programme continues to advance with fifteen holes (SDDSC149, 149W1, 152, 154-160, 155A, 157A, 163, 164, 165) currently being processed and analysed. Six additional holes (SDDSC160W1, 161, 162, 163A, 166, 167) are actively being drilled. The drilling strategy employs a systematic approach to intersect both the dyke host structure ("ladder rails") and associated mineralized vein sets ("ladder rungs") at optimal angles, continuing to expand the project's mineralized footprint while improving geological understanding of the system. About Sunday Creek The Sunday Creek epizonal-style gold project is located 60 km north of Melbourne within 16,900 hectares ("Ha") of granted exploration tenements (Figure 3). Southern Cross Gold is also the freehold landholder of 1,054.51 Ha that forms the key portion in and around the main drilled area at the Sunday Creek Project, Gold and antimony form in a relay of vein sets that cut across a steeply dipping zone of intensely altered rocks (the "host"). These vein sets are like a "Golden Ladder" structure where the main host extends between the side rails deep into the earth, with multiple cross-cutting vein sets that host the gold forming the rungs. At Apollo and Rising Sun these individual 'rungs' have been defined over 600 m depth extent from surface to over 1,100 m below surface, are 2.4 m to 3.8 m wide (median widths) (and up to 10 m), and 20 m to 100 m in strike. Cumulatively, 164 drill holes for 75,013.51 m have been reported from Sunday Creek since late 2020. An additional 12 holes for 582.55 m from Sunday Creek were abandoned due to deviation or hole conditions. Fourteen drillholes for 2,383 m have been reported regionally outside of the main Sunday Creek drill area. A total of 64 historic drill holes for 5,599 m were completed from the late 1960s to 2008. The project now contains a total of sixty-one (61) >100 g/t AuEq x m and sixty-nine (69) >50 to 100 g/t AuEq x m drill holes by applying a 2 m @ 1 g/t AuEq lower cut. Our systematic drill program is strategically targeting these significant vein formations, initially these have been defined over 1,500 m strike of the host from Christina to Apollo prospects, of which approximately 620 m has been more intensively drill tested (Rising Sun to Apollo). At least 70 'rungs' have been defined to date, defined by high-grade intercepts (20 g/t to >7,330 g/t Au) along with lower grade edges. Ongoing step-out drilling is aiming to uncover the potential extent of this mineralized system (Figure 3). Geologically, the project is located within the Melbourne Structural Zone in the Lachlan Fold Belt. The regional host to the Sunday Creek mineralization is an interbedded turbidite sequence of siltstones and minor sandstones metamorphosed to sub-greenschist facies and folded into a set of open north-west trending folds. Further Information Further discussion and analysis of the Sunday Creek project is available through the interactive Vrify 3D animations, presentations and videos all available on the Southern Cross Gold's website. These data, along with an interview on these results with Managing Director Michael Hudson can be viewed at www.southerncrossgold.com No upper gold grade cut is applied in the averaging and intervals are reported as drill thickness. However, during future Mineral Resource studies, the requirement for assay top cutting will be assessed. The Company notes that due to rounding of assay results to one significant figure, minor variations in calculated composite grades may occur. Figures 1 to 4 show project location, plan and longitudinal views of drill results reported here and Tables 1 to 3 provide collar and assay data. The true thickness of the mineralized intervals reported is approximately 30-50% of the sampled thickness for other reported holes. Lower grades were cut at 1.0 g/t AuEq lower cutoff over a maximum width of 2 m with higher grades cut at 5.0 g/t AuEq lower cutoff over a maximum of 1 m width unless specified unless otherwise* specified to demonstrate higher grade assays. Critical Metal Epizonal Gold-Antimony Deposits Sunday Creek (Figure 4) is an epizonal gold-antimony deposit formed in the late Devonian (like Fosterville, Costerfield and Redcastle), 60 million years later than mesozonal gold systems formed in Victoria (for example Ballarat and Bendigo). Epizonal deposits are a form of orogenic gold deposit classified according to their depth of formation: epizonal (<6 km), mesozonal (6-12 km) and hypozonal (>12 km). Epizonal deposits in Victoria often have associated high levels of the critical metal, antimony, and Sunday Creek is no exception. China claims a 56 per cent share of global mined supplies of antimony, according to a 2023 European Union study. Antimony features highly on the critical minerals lists of many countries including Australia, the United States of America, Canada, Japan and the European Union. Australia ranks seventh for antimony production despite all production coming from a single mine at Costerfield in Victoria, located nearby to all SXG projects. Antimony alloys with lead and tin which results in improved properties for solders, munitions, bearings and batteries. Antimony is a prominent additive for halogen-containing flame retardants. Adequate supplies of antimony are critical to the world's energy transition, and to the high-tech industry, especially the semi-conductor and defence sectors where it is a critical additive to primers in munitions. In August 2024, the Chinese government announced it will place export limits from September 15, 2024 on antimony and antimony products. This puts pressure on Western defence supply chains and negatively affect the supply of the metal and push up pricing given China's dominance of the supply of the metal in the global markets. This is positive for Southern Cross Gold as we are likely to have one of the very few large and high-quality projects of antimony in the western world that can feed western demand into the future. Antimony represents approximately 21 to 24% in situ recoverable value of Sunday Creek at an AuEq of 2.39. Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd is now dual listed on the TSXV (SXGC) and ASX (SX2) About Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd. (TSXV: SXGC) (ASX: SX2) Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd. (TSXV: SXGC) (ASX: SX2) controls the Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony Project located 60 kilometres north of Melbourne, Australia. Sunday Creek has emerged as one of the Western world's most significant gold and antimony discoveries, with exceptional drilling results including 61 intersections exceeding 100 g/t AuEq x m from just 75 km of drilling. The mineralization follows a "Golden Ladder" structure over 12 km of strike length, with confirmed continuity from surface to 1,100 m depth. Sunday Creek's strategic value is enhanced by its dual-metal profile, with antimony contributing 20% of the in-situ value alongside gold. This has gained increased significance following China's export restrictions on antimony, a critical metal for defence and semiconductor applications. Southern Cross' inclusion in the US Defence Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) and Australia's AUKUS-related legislative changes position it as a potential key Western antimony supplier. Importantly, Sunday Creek can be developed primarily based on gold economics, which reduces antimony-related risks while maintaining strategic supply potential. Technical fundamentals further strengthen the investment case, with preliminary metallurgical work showing non-refractory mineralization suitable for conventional processing and gold recoveries of 93-98% through gravity and flotation. With A$18M in cash, over 1,000 Ha of strategic freehold land ownership, and a large 60 km drill program planned through Q3 2025, Southern Cross Gold is well-positioned to advance this globally significant gold-antimony discovery in a tier-one jurisdiction. NI 43-101 Technical Background and Qualified Person Michael Hudson, President and CEO and Managing Director of Southern Cross Gold, and a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, and Mr Kenneth Bush, Exploration Manager of Southern Cross Gold and a Member of Australian Institute of Geoscientists, are the Qualified Persons as defined by the NI 43-101. They have reviewed, verified and approved the technical contents of this release. Analytical samples are transported to the Bendigo facility of On Site Laboratory Services ("On Site") which operates under both an ISO 9001 and NATA quality systems. Samples were prepared and analyzed for gold using the fire assay technique (PE01S method; 25 g charge), followed by measuring the gold in solution with flame AAS equipment. Samples for multi-element analysis (BM011 and over-range methods as required) use aqua regia digestion and ICP-MS analysis. The QA/QC program of Southern Cross Gold consists of the systematic insertion of certified standards of known gold and antimony content, blanks within interpreted mineralized rock and quarter core duplicates. In addition, On Site inserts blanks and standards into the analytical process. Southern Cross Gold considers that both gold and antimony that are included in the gold equivalent calculation ("AuEq") have reasonable potential to be recovered at Sunday Creek, given current geochemical understanding, historic production statistics and geologically analogous mining operations. Historically, ore from Sunday Creek was treated onsite or shipped to the Costerfield mine, located 54 km to the northwest of the project, for processing during WW1. The Costerfield mine corridor, now owned by Mandalay Resources Ltd contains two million ounces of equivalent gold (Mandalay Q3 2021 Results), and in 2020 was the sixth highest-grade global underground mine and a top 5 global producer of antimony. Southern Cross Gold considers that it is appropriate to adopt the same gold equivalent variables as Mandalay Resources Ltd in its 2024 End of Year Mineral Reserves and Resources Press Release, dated February 20, 2025. The gold equivalence formula used by Mandalay Resources was calculated using Costerfield's 2024 production costs, using a gold price of US$2,500 per ounce, an antimony price of US$19,000 per tonne and 2024 total year metal recoveries of 91% for gold and 92% for antimony, and is as follows: AuEq = Au (g/t) + 2.39 x Sb (%). Based on the latest Costerfield calculation and given the similar geological styles and historic toll treatment of Sunday Creek mineralization at Costerfield, Southern Cross Gold considers that a AuEq = Au (g/t) + 2.39 x Sb (%) is appropriate to use for the initial exploration targeting of gold-antimony mineralization at Sunday Creek. JORC Competent Person Statement Information in this announcement that relates to new exploration results contained in this report is based on information compiled by Mr Kenneth Bush and Mr Michael Hudson. Mr Bush is a Member of Australian Institute of Geoscientists and a Registered Professional Geologist and Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and Mr Hudson is a Fellow of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Bush and Mr Hudson each have sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralization and type of deposit under consideration, and to the activities undertaken, to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Mr Bush is Exploration Manager and Mr Hudson is Managing Director of Southern Cross Gold Limited and both consent to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on their information in the form and context in which it appears. Certain information in this announcement that relates to prior exploration results is extracted from the Independent Geologist's Report dated 11 December 2024 which was issued with the consent of the Competent Person, Mr Steven Tambanis. The report is included the Company's prospectus dated 11 December 2024 and is available at www.asx.com.au under code "SX2". The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information related to exploration results included in the original market announcement. The Company confirms that the form and context of the Competent Persons' findings in relation to the report have not been materially modified from the original market announcement. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original document/announcement and the Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Person's findings are presented have not materially modified from the original market announcement. - Ends - This announcement has been approved for release by the Board of Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd. Forward-Looking Statement This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions and accordingly, actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. You are hence cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements including without limitation applicable court, regulatory authorities and applicable stock exchanges. Forward-looking statements include words or expressions such as "proposed", "will", "subject to", "near future", "in the event", "would", "expect", "prepared to" and other similar words or expressions. Factors that could cause future results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include general business, economic, competitive, political, social uncertainties; the state of capital markets, unforeseen events, developments, or factors causing any of the expectations, assumptions, and other factors ultimately being inaccurate or irrelevant; and other risks described in Southern Cross Gold's documents filed with Canadian or Australian securities regulatory authorities (under code SX2). You can find further information with respect to these and other risks in filings made by Southern Cross Gold with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada or Australia (under code SX2), as applicable, and available for Southern Cross Gold in Canada at www.sedarplus.ca or in Australia at www.asx.com.au (under code SX2). Documents are also available at www.southerncrossgold.com We disclaim any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) or the Australian Securities Exchange accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Figure 1: Sunday Creek plan view showing selected results from holes SDDSC147 and SDDSC151 reported here (blue highlighted box, black trace), with selected prior reported drill holes and pending holes. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11541/246133_202d4edd343d2869_005full.jpg Figure 2: Sunday Creek longitudinal section across A-B in the plane of the dyke breccia/altered sediment host looking towards the north (striking 236 degrees) showing mineralized veins sets. Showing holes SDDSC147 and SDDSC151 reported here (blue highlighted box, black trace), with selected intersections and prior reported drill holes. The vertical extents of the vein sets are limited by proximity to drill hole pierce points. For location refer to Figure 1. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11541/246133_202d4edd343d2869_006full.jpg Figure 3: Sunday Creek regional plan view showing increased IP Geophysical survey outline, soil sampling (including planned/in progress samples), structural framework, regional historic epizonal gold mining areas and broad regional areas tested by 12 holes for 2,383 m drill program. The regional drill areas are at Tonstal, Consols and Leviathan located 4,000-7,500 m along strike from the main drill area at Golden Dyke- Apollo. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11541/246133_202d4edd343d2869_007full.jpg Figure 4: Location of the Sunday Creek project, along with the 100% owned Redcastle Gold-Antimony Project To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11541/246133_202d4edd343d2869_008full.jpg Table 1: Drill collar summary table for recent drill holes in progress. Hole-ID Depth (m) Prospect East GDA94_Z55 North GDA94_Z55 Elevation Azimuth Plunge SDDSC147 977.15 Golden Dyke 330809 5867842 301 278 -57 SDDSC149 970.79 Apollo 331594 5867955 344 266 -47 SDDSC149W1 1041.1 Apollo 331594 5867955 344 266 -47 SDDSC150 638.8 Christina 330340 5867865 277 244 -65 SDDSC151 737.2 Golden Dyke 330818 5867847 301 273.8 -56.5 SDDSC152 1102.7 Rising Sun 330816 5867599 296 328 -65 SDDSC153 639.1 Christina 330333 5867860 277 244.8 -52.5 SDDSC154 392.9 Christina 330075 5867612 274 60 -26.5 SDDSC155 31 Rising Sun 330339 5867860 277 72.7 -63.5 SDDSC155A 896.4 Rising Sun 330339 5867860 277 72.7 -63.5 SDDSC156 755.55 Christina 330075 5867612 274 59.5 -45.3 SDDSC157 1115.7 Golden Dyke 330318 5867847 301 276.6 -58.4 SDDSC157A 219.9 Golden Dyke 330318 5867847 301 276.2 -60 SDDSC158 992.5 Apollo 331616 5867952 347 265.5 -45 SDDSC159 145.2 Gladys 330871 5867758 308 60.5 -28.9 SDDSC160 725.1 Christina 330753 5867733 307 272.5 -37.8 SDDSC161 In progress plan 1020 m Golden Dyke 330951 5868007 314 257 -49.4 SDDSC162 In progress plan 920 m Rising Sun 330339 5867864 277 75.4 -59.6 SDDSC163 In progress plan 1000 m Apollo 331615.5 5867952 347 267.2 -48.5 SDDSC164 336.7 Gladys 330871 5867758 308 78.2 -40 SDDSC160W1 In progress plan 1070 m Christina 330753 5867731 307 272.5 -37.8 SDDSC165 101.4 Christina 330217 5867666 269 350 -40 SDDSC166 In progress plan 500 m Christina 330218 5867666 269 263.1 -31.5 SDDSC167 In progress plan 450 m Christina 331833 5868090 348 218.2 -37.2 Table 2: Table of mineralized drill hole intersections reported from SDDSC147 and SDDSC151 with two cutoff criteria. Lower grades cut at 1.0 g/t AuEq lower cutoff over a maximum of 2 m with higher grades cut at 5.0 g/t AuEq cutoff over a maximum of 1 m. Hole-ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) Sb (%) AuEq (g/t) SDDSC147 19.3 20.6 1.3 7.9 0.0 8.0 SDDSC147 134.4 135.7 1.3 9.3 0.0 9.3 Including 134.7 135.6 0.9 11.3 0.0 11.3 SDDSC147 805.0 808.2 3.2 1.0 0.0 1.0 SDDSC151 382.2 385.4 3.2 18.0 0.0 18.0 Including 382.4 382.8 0.4 129.6 0.0 129.7 SDDSC151 430.7 430.9 0.2 16.1 0.0 16.1 SDDSC151 584.3 589.7 5.4 29.6 0.1 29.8 Including 585.0 589.7 4.7 33.5 0.1 33.7 SDDSC151 596.2 596.8 0.6 4.1 0.1 4.2 SDDSC151 604.5 608.7 4.2 13.2 0.1 13.5 Including 606.8 608.2 1.4 37.3 0.0 37.3 SDDSC151 624.9 625.2 0.3 2.8 2.6 9.0 SDDSC151 641.2 641.6 0.4 78.7 0.0 78.7 Including 641.2 641.3 0.1 270.0 0.0 270.0 Table 3: All individual assays reported from SDDSC147 and SDDSC151 reported here >0.1g/t AuEq. Hole-ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) Sb (%) AuEq (g/t) SDDSC147 14.1 15.4 1.3 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 18.0 19.3 1.3 0.2 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 19.3 20.6 1.3 7.9 0.0 8.0 SDDSC147 20.6 21.9 1.3 0.7 0.0 0.8 SDDSC147 21.9 23.1 1.2 0.2 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 24.4 25.7 1.3 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 25.7 26.2 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 26.5 27.8 1.3 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 27.8 29.1 1.3 0.2 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 73.1 74.1 1.0 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 88.9 90.2 1.3 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 127.0 127.3 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 127.3 127.5 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 127.5 128.0 0.5 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 128.0 128.3 0.3 0.8 0.0 0.8 SDDSC147 134.4 134.7 0.4 4.2 0.0 4.2 SDDSC147 134.7 135.3 0.6 12.7 0.0 12.7 SDDSC147 135.3 135.6 0.3 8.5 0.0 8.5 SDDSC147 135.6 136.0 0.4 0.6 0.0 0.7 SDDSC147 136.0 137.0 1.0 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 143.0 143.5 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 143.5 144.0 0.5 0.6 0.0 0.7 SDDSC147 144.0 144.4 0.4 1.3 0.0 1.3 SDDSC147 144.4 144.8 0.4 1.7 0.0 1.7 SDDSC147 144.8 145.4 0.5 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 146.7 147.2 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 147.2 147.5 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 147.5 148.2 0.7 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 656.8 657.0 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 657.0 657.3 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 657.3 657.5 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 657.5 657.7 0.1 0.6 0.0 0.6 SDDSC147 657.7 659.0 1.3 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 660.2 660.3 0.1 0.7 0.0 0.8 SDDSC147 663.2 663.3 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.4 SDDSC147 666.3 666.6 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 667.9 668.5 0.7 0.5 0.0 0.5 SDDSC147 668.5 668.8 0.3 0.8 0.0 0.8 SDDSC147 668.8 669.1 0.3 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 669.8 670.3 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 671.6 672.0 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 702.1 703.1 1.0 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 703.1 703.2 0.1 1.5 0.0 1.5 SDDSC147 703.2 703.8 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 703.8 704.0 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.5 SDDSC147 710.8 711.6 0.7 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 711.6 712.6 1.1 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 712.6 713.6 1.0 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 713.6 714.8 1.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 714.8 716.0 1.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 716.0 716.6 0.7 0.2 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 717.5 718.1 0.6 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 719.4 720.6 1.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 720.6 721.6 1.1 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 721.6 722.0 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 722.0 722.7 0.7 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 722.7 723.1 0.4 0.6 0.0 0.6 SDDSC147 725.2 726.1 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 726.1 727.4 1.3 0.5 0.0 0.5 SDDSC147 728.7 729.5 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 730.1 730.7 0.7 0.1 0.2 0.6 SDDSC147 737.1 737.7 0.6 1.0 0.0 1.0 SDDSC147 737.7 738.7 1.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 738.7 739.0 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 739.0 739.2 0.3 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 739.2 739.9 0.7 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 743.4 744.2 0.8 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 748.9 749.3 0.4 0.5 0.0 0.6 SDDSC147 750.0 750.9 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 750.9 751.6 0.8 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 751.6 752.3 0.7 0.6 0.0 0.7 SDDSC147 752.3 752.7 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 752.7 753.9 1.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 761.5 762.2 0.7 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC147 762.2 762.7 0.5 0.9 0.0 0.9 SDDSC147 762.7 762.9 0.2 6.6 0.0 6.6 SDDSC147 762.9 763.2 0.3 0.8 0.0 0.8 SDDSC147 763.2 763.9 0.7 1.0 0.0 1.0 SDDSC147 763.9 764.5 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 764.5 765.6 1.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 778.3 778.5 0.2 1.0 0.0 1.1 SDDSC147 792.8 793.0 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 801.8 802.4 0.6 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 802.4 802.8 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 802.8 803.6 0.8 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 804.2 805.0 0.9 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC147 805.0 805.8 0.8 1.1 0.0 1.1 SDDSC147 805.8 806.4 0.6 1.2 0.0 1.2 SDDSC147 806.4 807.3 0.9 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC147 807.3 808.2 0.8 1.1 0.0 1.1 SDDSC147 808.2 809.1 0.9 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC147 809.1 810.0 0.9 0.9 0.0 0.9 SDDSC147 810.0 810.6 0.6 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC147 810.6 811.2 0.6 0.6 0.0 0.6 SDDSC147 811.2 812.0 0.8 0.8 0.0 0.8 SDDSC147 812.0 812.7 0.7 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 817.0 818.3 1.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 826.9 827.1 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 831.6 832.3 0.7 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 845.2 846.0 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 846.7 847.1 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 851.5 851.7 0.2 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC147 851.7 851.9 0.2 1.2 0.0 1.2 SDDSC147 851.9 852.9 1.0 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 852.9 853.3 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 854.8 855.7 0.9 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 855.7 855.9 0.2 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC147 855.9 856.1 0.2 0.9 0.0 0.9 SDDSC147 856.1 856.3 0.2 0.8 0.0 0.8 SDDSC147 856.3 857.3 1.0 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 858.6 859.6 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 859.6 860.9 1.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 860.9 861.6 0.7 0.5 0.0 0.5 SDDSC147 861.6 862.7 1.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 870.8 870.9 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 875.1 875.7 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 878.6 879.9 1.3 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 879.9 880.9 1.0 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 880.9 881.0 0.1 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 881.0 881.4 0.4 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 881.4 882.5 1.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 882.5 883.0 0.5 1.4 0.0 1.4 SDDSC147 883.0 883.3 0.3 1.5 0.0 1.5 SDDSC147 883.3 883.4 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 883.8 884.3 0.5 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 884.3 884.5 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 884.5 885.1 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 885.1 885.7 0.7 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 886.3 886.7 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 886.7 886.9 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 889.0 890.2 1.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 891.7 891.8 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 891.8 892.6 0.8 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 892.6 892.8 0.1 0.5 0.0 0.6 SDDSC147 893.1 893.8 0.7 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 893.8 894.3 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 894.3 895.0 0.7 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 895.0 895.3 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 895.3 895.6 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 895.6 896.0 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 896.0 896.4 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 896.4 896.6 0.1 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 898.3 898.5 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 898.5 899.3 0.8 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 900.7 901.1 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 904.2 904.5 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 908.8 909.4 0.7 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 915.0 915.3 0.3 0.5 0.0 0.5 SDDSC147 915.3 915.5 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 915.5 916.0 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 916.0 916.2 0.2 0.5 0.0 0.5 SDDSC147 925.3 926.6 1.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 949.8 951.1 1.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 958.6 959.9 1.3 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 959.9 961.2 1.3 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 112.4 112.9 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC151 112.9 113.4 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 131.6 131.9 0.2 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC151 374.2 375.2 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC151 382.2 382.4 0.1 3.6 0.0 3.7 SDDSC151 382.4 382.6 0.2 32.6 0.0 32.7 SDDSC151 382.6 382.8 0.2 242.0 0.0 242.1 SDDSC151 382.8 383.1 0.3 0.5 0.0 0.5 SDDSC151 383.1 384.0 0.9 2.7 0.0 2.7 SDDSC151 384.0 384.8 0.8 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC151 384.8 385.4 0.6 1.0 0.0 1.1 SDDSC151 385.4 386.0 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 393.2 394.0 0.8 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC151 394.0 394.6 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 394.6 394.7 0.1 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC151 394.7 395.7 1.0 1.2 0.0 1.2 SDDSC151 395.7 395.8 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 395.8 396.4 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 398.2 399.0 0.8 0.3 0.0 0.4 SDDSC151 399.0 400.2 1.2 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 412.7 413.4 0.7 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 430.7 430.9 0.2 16.1 0.0 16.1 SDDSC151 450.1 450.3 0.3 2.1 0.0 2.1 SDDSC151 452.9 453.5 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 454.7 455.2 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 503.6 504.2 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 504.2 504.4 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 517.3 517.7 0.3 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC151 533.7 533.9 0.2 2.0 0.3 2.7 SDDSC151 538.4 538.6 0.2 0.7 0.1 0.8 SDDSC151 541.8 542.7 0.9 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC151 544.8 546.0 1.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 546.0 546.1 0.1 1.2 0.3 1.8 SDDSC151 548.0 548.6 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 548.6 549.0 0.4 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC151 549.0 549.6 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.3 SDDSC151 549.6 550.2 0.6 0.1 0.1 0.4 SDDSC151 550.2 551.2 1.0 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 551.9 552.7 0.8 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 553.5 554.1 0.6 0.4 0.0 0.5 SDDSC151 554.1 554.5 0.4 1.1 0.0 1.2 SDDSC151 554.5 554.8 0.3 2.9 0.0 2.9 SDDSC151 563.0 563.9 0.8 0.2 0.1 0.4 SDDSC151 564.3 565.1 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.2 SDDSC151 566.2 567.1 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.5 SDDSC151 567.1 567.5 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 569.3 570.6 1.3 1.0 0.0 1.0 SDDSC151 574.4 575.0 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 575.0 576.3 1.2 0.5 0.0 0.6 SDDSC151 576.6 577.9 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.4 SDDSC151 582.7 584.0 1.3 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 584.0 584.3 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 584.3 585.0 0.7 1.8 0.1 2.0 SDDSC151 585.0 586.0 1.0 26.1 0.0 26.2 SDDSC151 586.0 586.5 0.5 11.8 0.0 11.9 SDDSC151 586.5 587.6 1.0 7.5 0.0 7.5 SDDSC151 587.6 587.7 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.5 SDDSC151 587.7 587.9 0.2 1.9 0.2 2.3 SDDSC151 587.9 588.5 0.6 4.2 0.2 4.6 SDDSC151 588.5 589.1 0.5 34.0 0.1 34.1 SDDSC151 589.1 589.4 0.4 207.0 0.3 207.8 SDDSC151 589.4 589.7 0.3 79.5 0.4 80.3 SDDSC151 589.7 590.0 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.3 SDDSC151 590.0 591.3 1.3 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 591.3 591.7 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 591.7 592.7 1.0 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 592.7 592.9 0.2 0.8 0.1 1.0 SDDSC151 592.9 593.0 0.2 1.0 0.0 1.1 SDDSC151 593.0 593.6 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.4 SDDSC151 594.5 595.8 1.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 596.2 596.8 0.6 4.1 0.1 4.2 SDDSC151 596.8 598.1 1.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 598.1 599.0 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 599.0 600.3 1.3 0.2 0.1 0.3 SDDSC151 600.3 601.4 1.1 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 601.4 602.6 1.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 603.8 604.5 0.6 0.1 0.1 0.2 SDDSC151 604.5 604.7 0.3 0.8 0.2 1.4 SDDSC151 604.7 605.3 0.6 1.2 0.4 2.1 SDDSC151 605.3 606.2 0.9 0.9 0.1 1.0 SDDSC151 606.2 606.8 0.6 3.5 0.3 4.1 SDDSC151 606.8 607.3 0.5 10.4 0.0 10.5 SDDSC151 607.3 607.9 0.6 40.6 0.0 40.7 SDDSC151 607.9 608.2 0.3 76.6 0.0 76.7 SDDSC151 608.2 608.7 0.5 1.0 0.1 1.1 SDDSC151 608.7 609.5 0.8 0.1 0.2 0.5 SDDSC151 609.5 610.7 1.2 0.2 0.1 0.5 SDDSC151 610.7 611.9 1.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 611.9 612.9 1.0 0.2 0.1 0.3 SDDSC151 612.9 613.1 0.2 1.6 0.7 3.1 SDDSC151 614.4 615.3 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.5 SDDSC151 615.3 616.4 1.1 0.5 0.1 0.7 SDDSC151 616.4 617.0 0.6 0.5 0.4 1.5 SDDSC151 617.0 618.3 1.3 0.2 0.3 1.0 SDDSC151 619.6 620.1 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 620.1 621.2 1.0 1.3 0.3 2.1 SDDSC151 623.8 624.9 1.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 624.9 625.1 0.3 2.8 2.6 9.0 SDDSC151 625.1 626.0 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 626.0 627.3 1.3 0.0 0.1 0.2 SDDSC151 638.1 638.3 0.1 1.6 0.0 1.6 SDDSC151 639.4 640.5 1.1 0.4 0.0 0.5 SDDSC151 640.5 641.2 0.7 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC151 641.2 641.3 0.1 270.0 0.0 270.0 SDDSC151 641.3 641.5 0.3 2.2 0.0 2.2 SDDSC151 641.5 642.3 0.8 0.9 0.0 1.0 SDDSC151 642.3 643.0 0.7 0.6 0.0 0.6 JORC Table 1 Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Sampling techniques Nature and quality of sampling (e.g. cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc.). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling. Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used. Aspects of the determination of mineralization that are Material to the Public Report. In cases where 'industry standard' work has been done this would be relatively simple (e.g. 'reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay'). In other cases more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralization types (e.g. submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information. Sampling has been conducted on drill core (half core for >90% and quarter core for check samples), grab samples (field samples of in-situ bedrock and boulders; including duplicate samples), trench samples (rock chips, including duplicates) and soil samples (including duplicate samples). Locations of field samples were obtained by using a GPS, generally to an accuracy of within 5 metres. Drill hole and trench locations have been confirmed to <1 metre using a differential GPS. Samples locations have also been verified by plotting locations on the high-resolution Lidar maps Locations of field samples were obtained by using a GPS, generally to an accuracy of within 5 metres. Drill hole and trench locations have been confirmed to <1 metre using a differential GPS. Samples locations have also been verified by plotting locations on the high-resolution Lidar maps Drill core is marked for cutting and cut using an automated diamond saw used by Company staff in Kilmore. Samples are bagged at the core saw and transported to the Bendigo On Site Laboratory for assay. At On Site samples are crushed using a jaw crusher combined with a rotary splitter and a 1 kg split is separated for pulverizing (LM5) and assay. Samples are bagged at the core saw and transported to the Bendigo On Site Laboratory for assay. At On Site samples are crushed using a jaw crusher combined with a rotary splitter and a 1 kg split is separated for pulverizing (LM5) and assay. Standard fire assay techniques are used for gold assay on a 30 g charge by experienced staff (used to dealing with high sulfide and stibnite-rich charges). On Site gold method by fire assay code PE01S. Screen fire assay is used to understand gold grain-size distribution where coarse gold is evident. ICP-OES is used to analyse the aqua regia digested pulp for an additional 12 elements (method BM011) and over-range antimony is measured using flame AAS (method known as B050). Soil samples were sieved in the field and an 80 mesh sample bagged and transported to ALS Global laboratories in Brisbane for super-low level gold analysis on a 50 g samples by method ST44 (using aqua regia and ICP-MS). Grab and rock chip samples are generally submitted to On Site Laboratories for standard fire assay and 12 element ICP-OES as described above. Drilling techniques Drill type (e.g. core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc.) and details (e.g. core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc.). HQ or NQ diameter diamond drill core, oriented using Boart Longyear TruCore orientation tool with the orientation line marked on the base of the drill core by the driller/offsider. A standard 3 metre core barrel has been found to be most effective in both the hard and soft rocks in the project. Drill sample recovery Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed. Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples. Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material. Core recoveries were maximised using HQ or NQ diamond drill core with careful control over water pressure to maintain soft-rock integrity and prevent loss of fines from soft drill core. Recoveries are determined on a metre-by-metre basis in the core shed using a tape measure against marked up drill core checking against driller's core blocks. Plots of grade versus recovery and RQD (described below) show no trends relating to loss of drill core, or fines. Logging Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies. Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc.) photography. The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged. Geotechnical logging of the drill core takes place on racks in the company core shed. Core orientations marked at the drill rig are checked for consistency, and base of core orientation lines are marked on core where two or more orientations match within 10 degrees. Core recoveries are measured for each metre RQD measurements (cumulative quantity of core sticks > 10 cm in a metre) are made on a metre-by-metre basis. Core orientations marked at the drill rig are checked for consistency, and base of core orientation lines are marked on core where two or more orientations match within 10 degrees. Core recoveries are measured for each metre RQD measurements (cumulative quantity of core sticks > 10 cm in a metre) are made on a metre-by-metre basis. Each tray of drill core is photographed (wet and dry) after it is fully marked up for sampling and cutting. The core cutting line is placed approximately 10 degrees above the orientation line so the orientation line is retained in the core tray for future work. Geological logging of drill core includes the following parameters: Rock types, lithology Alteration Structural information (orientations of veins, bedding, fractures using standard alpha-beta measurements from orientation line; or, in the case of un-oriented parts of the core, the alpha angles are measured) Veining (quartz, carbonate, stibnite) Key minerals (visible under hand lens, e.g. gold, stibnite) Rock types, lithology Alteration Structural information (orientations of veins, bedding, fractures using standard alpha-beta measurements from orientation line; or, in the case of un-oriented parts of the core, the alpha angles are measured) Veining (quartz, carbonate, stibnite) Key minerals (visible under hand lens, e.g. gold, stibnite) 100% of drill core is logged for all components described above into the company MX logging database. Logging is fully quantitative, although the description of lithology and alteration relies on visible observations by trained geologists. Each tray of drill core is photographed (wet and dry) after it is fully marked up for sampling and cutting. Logging is considered to be at an appropriate quantitative standard to use in future studies. Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken. If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc. and whether sampled wet or dry. For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique. Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximise representivity of samples. Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling. Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled. Drill core is typically half-core sampled using an Almonte core saw. The drill core orientation line is retained. Quarter core is used when taking sampling duplicates (termed FDUP in the database). Sampling representivity is maximised by always taking the same side of the drill core (whenever oriented), and consistently drawing a cut line on the core where orientation is not possible. The field technician draws these lines. Sample sizes are maximised for coarse gold by using half core, and using quarter core and half core splits (laboratory duplicates) allows an estimation of nugget effect. In mineralized rock the company uses approximately 10% of core duplicates, certified reference materials (suitable OREAS materials), laboratory sample duplicates and instrument repeats. In the soil sampling program duplicates were obtained every 20th sample and the laboratory inserted low-level gold standards regularly into the sample flow. Quality of assay data and laboratory tests The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total. For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc., the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc. Nature of quality control procedures adopted (e.g. standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (i.e. lack of bias) and precision have been established. The fire assay technique for gold used by On Site is a globally recognised method, and over-range follow-ups including gravimetric finish and screen fire assay are standard. Of significance at the On Site laboratory is the presence of fire assay personnel who are experienced in dealing with high sulfide charges (especially those with high stibnite contents) - this substantially reduces the risk of in accurate reporting in complex sulfide-gold charges. The ICP-OES technique is a standard analytical technique for assessing elemental concentrations. The digest used (aqua regia) is excellent for the dissolution of sulfides (in this case generally stibnite, pyrite and trace arsenopyrite), but other silicate-hosted elements, in particular vanadium (V), may only be partially dissolved. These silicate-hosted elements are not important in the determination of the quantity of gold, antimony, arsenic or sulphur. A portable XRF has been used in a qualitative manner on drill core to ensure appropriate core samples have been taken (no pXRF data are reported or included in the MX database). Acceptable levels of accuracy and precision have been established using the following methods duplicates - half core is split into quarters and given separate sample numbers (commonly in mineralized core) - low to medium gold grades indicate strong correlation, dropping as the gold grade increases over 40 g/t Au. Blanks - blanks are inserted after visible gold and in strongly mineralized rocks to confirm that the crushing and pulping are not affected by gold smearing onto the crusher and LM5 swing mill surfaces. Results are excellent, generally below detection limit and a single sample at 0.03 g/t Au. Certified Reference Materials - OREAS CRMs have been used throughout the project including blanks, low (<1 g/t Au), medium (up to 5 g/t Au) and high-grade gold samples (> 5 g/t Au). Results are automatically checked on data import into the MX database to fall within 2 standard deviations of the expected value. Laboratory splits - On Site conducts splits of both coarse crush and pulp duplicates as quality control and reports all data. In particular, high Au samples have the most repeats. Laboratory CRMs - On Site regularly inserts their own CRM materials into the process flow and reports all data Laboratory precision - duplicate measurements of solutions (both Au from fire assay and other elements from the aqua regia digests) are made regularly by the laboratory and reported. - half core is split into quarters and given separate sample numbers (commonly in mineralized core) - low to medium gold grades indicate strong correlation, dropping as the gold grade increases over 40 g/t Au. - blanks are inserted after visible gold and in strongly mineralized rocks to confirm that the crushing and pulping are not affected by gold smearing onto the crusher and LM5 swing mill surfaces. Results are excellent, generally below detection limit and a single sample at 0.03 g/t Au. - OREAS CRMs have been used throughout the project including blanks, low (<1 g/t Au), medium (up to 5 g/t Au) and high-grade gold samples (> 5 g/t Au). Results are automatically checked on data import into the MX database to fall within 2 standard deviations of the expected value. - On Site conducts splits of both coarse crush and pulp duplicates as quality control and reports all data. In particular, high Au samples have the most repeats. - On Site regularly inserts their own CRM materials into the process flow and reports all data - duplicate measurements of solutions (both Au from fire assay and other elements from the aqua regia digests) are made regularly by the laboratory and reported. Accuracy and precision have been determined carefully by using the sampling and measurement techniques described above during the sampling (accuracy) and laboratory (accuracy and precision) stages of the analysis. have been determined carefully by using the sampling and measurement techniques described above during the sampling (accuracy) and laboratory (accuracy and precision) stages of the analysis. Soil sample company duplicates and laboratory certified reference materials all fall within expected ranges. Verification of sampling and assaying The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel. The use of twinned holes. Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols. Discuss any adjustment to assay data. The Independent Geologist has visited Sunday Creek drill sites and inspected drill core held at the Kilmore core shed. Visual inspection of drill intersections matches both the geological descriptions in the database and the expected assay data (for example, gold and stibnite visible in drill core is matched by high Au and Sb results in assays). In addition, on receipt of results Company geologists assess the gold, antimony and arsenic results to verify that the intersections returned expected data. The electronic data storage in the MX database is of a high standard. Primary logging data are entered directly by the geologists and field technicians and the assay data are electronically matched against sample number on return from the laboratory. Certified reference materials, core field duplicates (FDUP), laboratory splits and duplicates and instrument repeats are all recorded in the database. Exports of data include all primary data, from hole SDDSC077B onwards after discussion with SRK Consulting. Prior to this gold was averaged across primary, field and lab duplicates. Adjustments to assay data are recorded by MX, and none are present (or required). Twinned drill holes are not available at this stage of the project. Location of data points Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation. Specification of the grid system used. Quality and adequacy of topographic control. Differential GPS used to locate drill collars, trenches and some workings Standard GPS for some field locations (grab and soils samples), verified against Lidar data. The grid system used throughout is Geocentric datum of Australia 1994; Map Grid Zone 55 (GDA94_Z55), also referred to as ELSG 28355. Topographic control is excellent owing to sub 10 cm accuracy from Lidar data. Data spacing and distribution Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results. Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied. Whether sample compositing has been applied. The data spacing is suitable for reporting of exploration results - evidence for this is based on the improving predictability of high-grade gold-antimony intersections. At this time, the data spacing and distribution are not sufficient for the reporting of Mineral Resource Estimates. This however may change as knowledge of grade controls increase with future drill programs. Samples have been composited to a 1 g/t AuEq over 2.0 m width for lower grades and 5 g/t AuEq over 1.0 m width for higher grades in table 3. All individual assays above 0.1 g/t AuEq have been reported with no compositing in table 4. Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type. If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralized structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material. The true thickness of the mineralized intervals reported are interpreted to be approximately 40% of the sampled thickness. Drilling is oriented in an optimum direction when considering the combination of host rock orientation and apparent vein control on gold and antimony grade. The steep nature of some of the veins may give increases in apparent thickness of some intersections, but more drilling is required to quantify. The steep nature of some of the veins may give increases in apparent thickness of some intersections, but more drilling is required to quantify. A sampling bias is not evident from the data collected to date (drill holes cut across mineralized structures at a moderate angle). Sample security The measures taken to ensure sample security. Drill core is delivered to the Kilmore core logging shed by either the drill contractor or company field staff. Samples are marked up and cut by company staff at the Kilmore core shed, in an automated diamond saw and bagged before loaded onto strapped secured pallets and trucked by company staff to Bendigo for submission to the laboratory. There is no evidence in any stage of the process, or in the data for any sample security issues. Audits or reviews The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data. Continuous monitoring of CRM results, blanks and duplicates is undertaken by geologists and the company data geologist. Mr Michael Hudson for SXG has the orientation, logging and assay data. Southern Cross Gold (SXG) ASX Announcement Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status Type, reference name/number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings. The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area. The Sunday Creek Goldfield, containing the Clonbinane Project, is covered by the Retention Licence RL 6040 and is surrounded by Exploration Licence EL6163 and Exploration Licence EL7232. All the licences are 100% held by Clonbinane Goldfield Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary company of Southern Cross Gold Ltd. Exploration done by other parties Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties. The main historical prospect within the Sunday Creek project is the Clonbinane prospect, a high level orogenic (or epizonal) Fosterville-style deposit. Small scale mining has been undertaken in the project area since the 1880s continuing through to the early 1900s. Historical production occurred with multiple small shafts and alluvial workings across the Clonbinane Goldfield permits. Production of note occurred at the Clonbinane area with total production being reported as 41,000 oz gold at a grade of 33 g/t gold (Leggo and Holdsworth, 2013) Work in and nearby to the Sunday Creek Project area by previous explorers typically focused on finding bulk, shallow deposits. Beadell Resources were the first to drill deeper targets and Southern Cross have continued their work in the Sunday Creek Project area. EL54 - Eastern Prospectors Pty Ltd Rock chip sampling around Christina, Apollo and Golden Dyke mines. Rock chip sampling down the Christina mine shaft. Resistivity survey over the Golden Dyke. Five diamond drill holes around Christina, two of which have assays. ELs 872 & 975 - CRA Exploration Pty Ltd Exploration focused on finding low grade, high tonnage deposits. The tenements were relinquished after the area was found to be prospective but not economic. Stream sediment samples around the Golden Dyke and Reedy Creek areas. Results were better around the Golden Dyke. 45 dump samples around Golden Dyke old workings showed good correlation between gold, arsenic and antimony. Soil samples over the Golden Dyke to define boundaries of dyke and mineralization. Two costeans parallel to the Golden Dyke targeting soil anomalies. Costeans since rehabilitated by SXG. ELs 827 & 1520 - BHP Minerals Ltd Exploration targeting open cut gold mineralization peripheral to SXG tenements. ELs 1534, 1603 & 3129 - Ausminde Holdings Pty Ltd Targeting shallow, low grade gold. Trenching around the Golden Dyke prospect and results interpreted along with CRAs costeans. 29 RC/Aircore holes totalling 959 m sunk into the Apollo, Rising Sun and Golden Dyke target areas. ELs 4460 & 4987 - Beadell Resources Ltd ELs 4460 & 4987 - Beadell Resources Ltd ELs 4460 and 4497 were granted to Beadell Resources in November 2007. Beadell successfully drilled 30 RC holes, including second diamond tail holes in the Golden Dyke/Apollo target areas. Both tenements were 100% acquired by Auminco Goldfields Pty Ltd in late 2012 and combined into one tenement EL4987. Nagambie Resources Ltd purchased Auminco Goldfields in July 2014. EL4987 expired late 2015, during which time Nagambie Resources applied for a retention licence (RL6040) covering three square kilometres over the Sunday Creek Goldfield. RL6040 was granted July 2017. Clonbinane Gold Field Pty Ltd was purchased by Mawson Gold Ltd in February 2020. Mawson drilled 30 holes for 6,928 m and made the first discoveries to depth. Geology Deposit type, geological setting and style of mineralization. Refer to the description in the main body of the release. Drill hole Information A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including a tabulation of the following information for all Material drill holes: easting and northing of the drill hole collar elevation or RL (Reduced Level - elevation above sea level in metres) of the drill hole collar dip and azimuth of the hole down hole length and interception depth hole length. If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly explain why this is the case. Refer to appendices Data aggregation methods In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (e.g. cutting of high-grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated. Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high-grade results and longer lengths of low-grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail. The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated. See "Further Information" and "Metal Equivalent Calculation" in main text of press release. Relationship between mineralization widths and intercept lengths These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of Exploration Results. If the geometry of the mineralization with respect to the drill hole angle is known, its nature should be reported. If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect (e.g 'down hole length, true width not known'). See reporting of true widths in the body of the press release. Diagrams Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported. These should include, but not be limited to a plan view of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views. The results of the diamond drilling are displayed in the figures in the announcement. Balanced reporting Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high-grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of Exploration Results. All results above 0.1 g/t Au have been tabulated in this announcement. The results are considered representative with no intended bias. Core loss, where material, is disclosed in tabulated drill intersections. Other substantive exploration data Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples - size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances. Previously reported diamond drill results are displayed in plans, cross sections and long sections and discussed in the text and in the Competent Person's statement. Preliminary testing (AMML Report 1801-1) has demonstrated the viability of recovering gold and antimony values to high value products by industry standard processing methods. The program was completed by AMML, an established mineral and metallurgical testing laboratory specialising in flotation, hydrometallurgy, gravity and comminution testwork at their testing facilities in Gosford, NSW. The program was supervised by Craig Brown of Resources Engineering & Management, who was engaged to develop plans for initial sighter flotation testing of samples from drilling of the Sunday Creek deposit. Two quarter core intercepts were selected for metallurgical test work (Table 1). A split of each was subjected to assay analysis. The table below shows samples selected for metallurgical test work: Sample Location Sample Name Weight (kg) Drill hole from (m) to (m) Length (m) Au ppm Sb% As% Rising Sun RS01 22.8 MDDSC025 275.9 289.3 13.4 3.18 1.06 0.223 Apollo AP01 16.6 SDDSC031 220.4 229.9 9.5 4.89 0.443 0.538 The metallurgical characterization test work included: Diagnostic LeachWELL testing. Gravity recovery by Knelson concentrator and hand panning. Timed flotation of combined gravity tails. Rougher-Cleaner flotation (without gravity separation), with sizing of products, to produce samples for mineralogical investigation. Mineral elemental concentrations and gold deportment was investigated using Laser Ablation examination by University of Tasmania. QXRD Mineralogical assessment were used to estimate mineral contents for the test products, and, from this, to assess performance in terms of minerals as well as elements, including contributions to gold deportment. For both test samples, observations and calculations indicated a high proportion of native ('free') gold: 84.0% in RS01 and 82.1% in AP01. Samples of size fractions of the three sulfide and gold containing flotation products from the Rougher-Cleaner test series were sent to MODA Microscopy for optical mineralogical assessment. Key observations were: The highest gold grade samples from each test series found multiple grains of visible gold which were generally liberated, with minor association with stibnite (antimony sulfide). Stibnite was highly liberated and was very 'clean' - 71.7% Sb, 28.3% S. Arsenopyrite was also highly liberated indicating potential for separation. Pyrite was largely free but exhibited some association with gangue minerals. Further work The nature and scale of planned further work (e.g. tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling). Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive. The Company drilled 30,000 m in 2023 and plans to continue drilling with 6 diamond drill rigs. The Company has stated it will drill 60,000 m from 2024 to Q4 2025. The company remains in an exploration stage to expand the mineralization along strike and to depth. See diagrams in presentation which highlight current and future drill plans. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246133 SOURCE: Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd. TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2025 / Magna Terra Minerals Inc. (the "Company" or "Magna Terra") (TSXV:MTT) is pleased to announce that it has acquired additional claims at the Rocky Brook Project ("Rocky Brook" or the "Project"), located in the prolific Bathurst Mining Camp of northern New Brunswick. Importantly the additional claims are located immediately adjacent to the Caribou Mine and Mill Property. The additional 6 mineral claims covering 1,590 hectares were acquired under the existing Fossil Hill-Boudreau Brook option agreement and no additional cash or shares were issued as part of the acquisition. Prospect Or Corp. retains a 2% Net Smelter Return Royalty ("NSR") with 1% of the NSR purchasable at anytime by Magna Terra for $1,000,000 on the recently added claims. Magna Terra has a Right of First Refusal on the remaining 1% NSR. The Rocky Brook Project, including the recently acquired Restigouche Property, now comprises 18,694 hectares in 58 mineral claims making the Company one of the single largest strategic landholders in this historic mining camp (Figure 1). The Rocky Brook Project is located adjacent to and along strike from the Williams Brook Project, owned by Kinross Gold Corporation ("Kinross") and Puma Exploration Inc. ("Puma"), where a zone of high-grade gold mineralization was discovered over broad widths including drill intervals up to 5.55 g/t Au over 50.15 m. The Project is located adjacent to a 30-kilometre-long section of the Rocky Brook-Millstream fault and associated McIntyre and Ramsay Brook faults; an important structural zone controlling gold mineralization within the region. The Project also covers volcanic and sedimentary rocks that show strong potential to host polymetallic Cu-Co-Pb-Zn-Au-Ag mineralization, adjacent to the past-producing Caribou Mine and the Murray Brook Deposit; the largest undeveloped VMS project in New Brunswick owned by Canadian Copper Inc. (Figure 1). Rocky Brook Project Highlights The Project covers a 30-kilometre extent of the Rocky Brook-Millstream Fault system as well as a 40-kilometre extent of favourable California Lake felsic volcanic and sedimentary rocks that are host to the nearby Restigouche, Murray Brook, and Caribou Deposits; Strategically positioned along strike from Kinross-Puma's Lynx Zone gold discovery and adjacent to the past-producing Caribou Mine and Murray Brook base metal deposits; Recent discovery in 2023 of high-grade gold assays from grab samples* assaying up to 5.23 g/t Au over a 400 m area at Fournier Lake; Previous work at the Fossil Hill Zone has discovered high-grade copper-cobalt mineralization with grab samples* assaying up to 16.65% Cu and 0.64% Co; Previous work at the Boudreau Brook prospect has discovered copper mineralization assaying up to 3% Cu; The Property covers the Restigouche C-4 and C-5 footwall Cu-rich "feeder" zones where previous historical drilling at the C-4 zone in hole C-4 that intersected 4.36 m grading 0.2% Cu, 1.6% Pb and 6.74% Zn (from 17.3 to 21.6 m). The best intersection in the C-5 area was reported in hole C-5 that intersected 2.06% Cu and 0.57% Zn over 4.5 m (from 51.9 to 56.4 metres); Located within the prolific Bathurst Mining Camp and top-tier mining jurisdiction of New Brunswick; and Year-round accessibility with road access to the majority of the Property. "We are pleased to expand our current footprint in the prolific Bathurst Mining Camp in northern New Brunswick. The strategic positioning of the recently added claims next to the Caribou Mine and Mill adds additional exploration upside to the greater Rocky Brook Project at no additional cost. The large land package that now makes up the Rocky Brook Project gives the Company and its shareholders further exposure to a world-class base - critical metals camp, as well as high-grade precious metals exploration upside. With Canadian Copper advancing development of the Murray Brook VMS deposit along with its bid to acquire the historic Caribou Mine and Mill infrastructure, there is renewed interest in this historic yet underexplored mining camp. The recent discovery of high-grade gold at the Lynx Zone by Puma and subsequent recent strategic investment by Kinross to advance the Williams Brook Project, highlights the growing importance of this area for gold prospectivity as well. We will continue to look at all opportunities to add value and optionality for Magna Terra shareholders and enhance our portfolio of quality, low-cost exploration assets. Magna Terra's technical team has started a full digital compilation of all available exploration data from the Rocky Brook Project and is currently formulating exploration plans for late spring/summer 2025." ~ Lew Lawrick, President and CEO, Magna Terra Minerals Inc. The Bathurst Camp The Bathurst Mining Camp is one of the world's oldest base metal (lead, zinc, copper, gold and silver) mining districts hosting one of Canada's largest volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits, with the past-producing Brunswick No. 12 Mine having operated for 49 years. The Bathurst Mining Camp is host to over 46 mineral deposits, several of which have been mined, including the Brunswick No. 6, Heath Steele, Wedge, Stratmat, Half Mile Lake, Caribou and Murray Brook. A total of 136,643,367 tonnes of ore grading 3.44% Pb, 8.74% Zn, 0.37% Cu, and 102.2 g/t Ag were mined from the Bathurst Mining Camp (McCutcheon and Walker, 2020**). Figure 1: A map showing the location of the Rocky Brook Project, adjacent exploration projects, fault zones and mineral occurrences. Qualified Person and Technical Notes This news release has been reviewed and approved by David A. Copeland, P.Geo., a "Qualified Person", under National Instrument 43-101 - Standard for Disclosure for Mineral Projects. All quoted drill core and rock samples results were compiled from historic assessment and government reports obtained from the government of New Brunswick. The Qualified Person has not completed sufficient work to validate these historic results. * Grab samples are selective by nature and may not represent the true metal content of the mineralized zone. **McCutcheon, S. R., & Walker, J. A. (2020). Great Mining Camps of Canada 8. The Bathurst Mining Camp, New Brunswick, Part 2: Mining History and Contributions to Society. Geoscience Canada, 47(3), 143-166 About Magna Terra Magna Terra Minerals Inc. is a precious and critical metals focused exploration company, headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Magna Terra is focused on acquiring and advancing its high-potential mineral projects in Atlantic Canada and Argentina while generating value for shareholders and minimizing shareholder dilution through option and joint venture partnerships where appropriate; leveraging our ability to explore, grow, and transact projects. The Company is focused on exploring our 100%-owned Humber Copper-Cobalt Project in Newfoundland and Labrador and our 100%-owned Cape Spencer Gold Project in New Brunswick. In addition, the Company has optioned the Great Northern Project in Newfoundland to Gold Hunter Resources Inc. for total cash and share consideration of $9.5 million over a 2-year period. Further, the Company maintains a significant exploration portfolio in the province of Santa Cruz, Argentina which includes its Boleadora Project being advanced by Newmont Corp. under an option to purchase agreement valued at US$1 million in cash over a 6-year period and including a 2% NSR capped at US$20 million; a precious metals discovery on its Luna Roja Project proximal to Cerrado Gold's operating Don Nicholas Project infrastructure, as well as several additional district scale drill ready projects available for purchase or option/joint venture. 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 release. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian legislation. All statements in this news release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations and orientations regarding the future including, without limitation, the ability of the Company to file a report that complies with Regulation 43-101. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable and reflect expectations of future developments and other factors which management believes to be reasonable and relevant, the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "would", "will", "potential", "scheduled" or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, and the ability of the author of the Technical Reports to finalize same. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include the inability of the Company to execute its proposed business plans and carry out planned future activities. Other factors may also adversely affect the future results or performance of the Company, including general economic, market or business conditions, future prices of gold, changes in the financial markets and in the demand for precious metals, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting the mineral exploration industry, and the Company's investment and operation in the mineral exploration sector, as well as the risks and uncertainties which are more fully described in the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis and in other filings made by the Company with Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly, are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, unless required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in these forward-looking statements. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Magna Terra Minerals Inc. Lewis Lawrick President and CEO, Director Email: info@magnaterraminerals.com Website: www.magnaterraminerals.com SOURCE: Magna Terra Minerals Inc. SouthGobi Resources Ltd. (TSX-V:SGQ)(HK:1878) ("SouthGobi" or the "Company") announces that reference is made to the announcements of the Company dated July 31, 2023, August 18, 2023, February 26, 2024, May 22, 2024, June 12, 2024, January 20, 2025 and February 13, 2025 (the "Announcements") in relation to the Mongolia tax audit. Unless otherwise specified, capitalised terms used herein shall have the same meanings as those defined in the Announcements. On March 19, 2025, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary in Mongolia, Southgobi Sands LLC ("SGS"), received a notice from the Administrative Court in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (the "Administrative Court") requesting SGS provide supplemental information and cooperate with a Court proceeding brought by certain officers ("MTA Officials") of the Mongolian Tax Authority ("MTA"), as plaintiff, against the Tax Dispute Resolution Council ("TDRC"), as defendant. Upon further enquiry, the Company obtained a copy of an order dated March 7, 2025 issued by the Administrative Court (the "Court Order") regarding the commencement of Court proceedings brought by the MTA Officials. The Court Order suggests that the MTA Officials are attempting to dispute or overturn the previous decision made by the TDRC regarding the Re-assessment Result, in which the TDRC concluded that the tax penalty against SGS be reduced from approximately US$80.0 million to US$26.5 million. The Company is not a party to the aforementioned Court proceeding. According to the preliminary advice of the Company's independent tax consultant and legal advisers in Mongolia, Court proceedings initiated by individual members of the MTA against the TDRC rarely occurs. Based on the information available to the Company as of the date hereof, the Company is unable to ascertain the time required to conclude, and the likely outcome of, such Court proceeding and its impact to the Company. As of the date of this announcement, the Re-assessment Result remains legally valid. The Company will monitor the progress of the Court proceeding and will make further announcement(s) in order to keep its shareholders and potential investors informed as and when appropriate. Shareholders and potential investors of the Company are advised to exercise caution when dealing in the shares of the Company. About SouthGobi SouthGobi, listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange, owns and operates its flagship Ovoot Tolgoi coal mine in Mongolia. It also holds the mining licences of its other metallurgical and thermal coal deposits in South Gobi region of Mongolia. SouthGobi produces and sells coal to customers in China. Contact: Investor Relations Email: info@southgobi.com Mr. Ruibin Xu Chief Executive Officer Office: +1 604 762 6783 (Canada) +852 2156 1438 (Hong Kong) Website: www.southgobi.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 release. SOURCE: SouthGobi Resources Ltd. In-person event on May 14 15 in Amsterdam to highlight process orchestration and automation innovations, best practices, and success stories to help attendees operationalize AI Camunda, the leader in process orchestration and automation, will host its CamundaCon 2025 Amsterdam conference, at Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam, on May 14 and 15, 2025. The event will highlight why hundreds of global organizations use Camunda to orchestrate and automate their business processes and operationalize AI, improving efficiency and business agility while enhancing the customer experience. Featuring masterclasses and use case presentations, CamundaCon enables attendees to learn actionable best practices, network, and meet face-to-face with Camunda leadership for individual discussions. "Most organizations are eager to expand their AI capabilities, yet 85% admit they face challenges scaling and operationalizing AI across their business," said Jakob Freund, co-founder and CEO of Camunda. "As organizations begin to deploy AI agents to enhance operations and customer experiences, agentic orchestration will be essential to adopt AI in a way that is effective, reliable, and safe. At CamundaCon 2025 Amsterdam, attendees will have the opportunity to hear how Camunda is helping customers maximize their AI and automation investments." The CamundaCon 2025 Amsterdam agenda is led by keynotes from Camunda, automation experts, and top industry analysts. Opening keynote: Camunda co-founder and CEO, Jakob Freund, will begin the conference by outlining his vision for enabling the "AI company of the future," highlighting how process orchestration is key to unlocking the full value of automation and accelerating digital success. Camunda co-founder and CEO, Jakob Freund, will begin the conference by outlining his vision for enabling the "AI company of the future," highlighting how process orchestration is key to unlocking the full value of automation and accelerating digital success. Day-two keynote: During the second day, Bernd Rucker, Camunda co-founder and Chief Technologist, along with Camunda CTO Daniel Meyer and VP Product Management Bastian Korber, will delve into Camunda's most recent and upcoming innovations. During the second day, Bernd Rucker, Camunda co-founder and Chief Technologist, along with Camunda CTO Daniel Meyer and VP Product Management Bastian Korber, will delve into Camunda's most recent and upcoming innovations. Analyst keynote: Also on day two, Bernhard Schaffrik, principal analyst at Forrester, will discuss the current state of automation and AI and how to operationalize AI with a process-oriented approach. Customers, partners, and users from both technical and business sides will also share their insights, use cases, and best practices to maximize the value of process orchestration, including speakers from BT Group, HSBC, Halkbank, Hapag-Lloyd, T-Systems, and Rabobank. Additional event highlights include: Camunda Partner Summit At this exclusive in-person event on May 13 (the day before CamundaCon officially starts), Camunda Connect partners will have the opportunity to hear from Camunda's executives, engage in one-to-one networking opportunities with industry experts, and gain insights into company strategy, go-to-market priorities, and the product roadmap. At this exclusive in-person event on May 13 (the day before CamundaCon officially starts), Camunda Connect partners will have the opportunity to hear from Camunda's executives, engage in one-to-one networking opportunities with industry experts, and gain insights into company strategy, go-to-market priorities, and the product roadmap. Masterclasses: Workshops providing a deep dive into prominent industry topics, including migration, AI, and SAP integration. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss real-world use cases with Camunda experts, partners, and customer speakers. Participants will also gain hands-on experience, ensuring practical insights as well as expert advice. Workshops providing a deep dive into prominent industry topics, including migration, AI, and SAP integration. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss real-world use cases with Camunda experts, partners, and customer speakers. Participants will also gain hands-on experience, ensuring practical insights as well as expert advice. Hackday: Participants have the opportunity to collaborate with other tech-savvy and BPMN business enthusiasts in teams to craft exciting and engaging projects using Camunda. Participants have the opportunity to collaborate with other tech-savvy and BPMN business enthusiasts in teams to craft exciting and engaging projects using Camunda. Unconference: In a participant-driven session, attendees create the agenda, providing space for discussions on technical and business topics not yet on the official event schedule. In a participant-driven session, attendees create the agenda, providing space for discussions on technical and business topics not yet on the official event schedule. Industry-specific content and networking: Industry roundtables will focus on high-level topics tailored to Camunda's most frequent industry users including banking, insurance, and telecommunication. The onsite conference offers many opportunities for networking between speakers, participants, and with representatives of sponsors from Aaseya, apendo, BP3, Cognizant, ilionx, Infosys, Incentro, JIT, Mehrwerk, and MyCubes. Learn more: Click here to register to attend the event In-person attendance: 199 until March 31, 299 starting April 1 Free online participation for selected live-streamed sessions Get the latest on CamundaCon 2025 Amsterdam sessions, speakers, and more in the official agenda. Keep up with the latest from Camunda before the show on LinkedIn. About Camunda Camunda enables organizations to orchestrate and automate processes across people, systems, and devices to continuously overcome complexity, increase efficiency, and fully operationalize AI. Built for business and IT, Camunda's leading orchestration and automation platform executes any process at the required speed and scale to remain competitive without compromising security, governance, or innovation. Over 700 companies across all industries, including Atlassian, ING, and Vodafone, trust Camunda with the design, orchestration, automation, and improvement of their business-critical processes to accelerate digital transformation. To learn more, visit camunda.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250326320425/en/ Contacts: Alex Crawshaw Spark Communications camunda@sparkcomms.co.uk +44 020 7436 0420 Investment addresses the need for disease-modifying therapies targeting the root causes of fibrosis Funding will support the advancement of CCN family inhibitor TRX-44 into clinical trials for treatment of fibrotic conditions including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) Novo Holdings and HealthCap co-created Tribune in 2020 COPENHAGEN, Denmark, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Novo Holdings today announced its participation in a 23 million Series A round for Tribune Therapeutics ('Tribune'). The round was led by new investor LifeArc Ventures and joined by Novo Holdings, HealthCap, Innovestor's Life Science Fund and Inven2 as well as new Series A investors Industrifonden and Investinor. Tribune Therapeutics was co-founded in 2020 by the Seed Investments team of Novo Holdings and HealthCap Ventures to create broadly applicable disease-modifying therapies for fibrotic diseases by targeting downstream, tissue-agnostic gatekeepers of scar formation and tissue remodelling. Through a Pioneer Innovator Grant, the Novo Nordisk Foundation - whose assets Novo Holdings manages - partially funded scientific discoveries at the Oslo University Hospital by Professor Havard Attramadal and Ole J. Kaasbll that led to Tribune's formation. The Pioneer Innovator grant programme is designed to advance science-based discoveries in sustainability and health by funding experiments and activities that push ideas toward proof-of-concept and beyond, in line with Novo Nordisk Foundation's vision of improving people's health and the sustainability of society and the planet. Tribune's lead programme, TRX-44, is currently in development for the treatment of fibrotic conditions including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). TRX-44 prevents scar formation by mimicking the structure and function of CCN5. CCN5 is an endogenous protein that naturally blocks the pro-fibrotic effects of other CCN family members, including CTGF/CCN2 and WISP1/CCN4, on multiple cell types contributing to fibrotic pathology. Joao Ribas, PhD, Principal of Novo Holdings, said: "Tribune's scientific founders have discovered key insights into the mechanism of action of CCNs, leading to an elegant and powerful approach to harness the biology of CCNs to shut down a key pro-fibrotic pathway. The novel path being advanced by Tribune holds potential for meaningfully impacting the treatment of multiple devastating and often terminal fibrotic indications." Georg Vo Beiske, PharmD, Tribune Chief Executive Officer and HealthCap Venture Partner, said: "Tribune's foundational science has far-reaching therapeutic potential, and Novo Holdings has been a great partner in bringing the company to fruition through its early support and extended network. As we advance toward the clinic, having the backing of such a strong investor group increases our confidence in our innovative approach to treat fibrotic diseases." About Tribune Therapeutics Tribune Therapeutics is a biotechnology company advancing novel medicines to treat fibrosis, regardless of the cause, tissue or diagnosis. The company was founded on groundbreaking structural insights into the CCN family of proteins, key drivers of scar formation that have historically been difficult to comprehensively target. Tribune is advancing multiple programs, including CCN5 mimic TRX-44. For more information, visit www.tribunetx.com/ or follow us on LinkedIn. About Novo Holdings A/S Novo Holdings is a holding and investment company that is responsible for managing the assets and the wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The purpose of Novo Holdings is to improve people's health and the sustainability of society and the planet by generating attractive long-term returns on the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Wholly owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Novo Holdings is the controlling shareholder of Novo Nordisk A/S and Novonesis A/S (Novozymes A/S) and manages an investment portfolio with a long-term return perspective. In addition to managing a broad portfolio of equities, bonds, real estate, infrastructure and private equity assets, Novo Holdings is a world-leading life sciences investor. Through its Seed, Venture, Growth, Asia, Planetary Health and Principal Investments teams, Novo Holdings invests in life science companies at all stages of development. As of year-end 2023, Novo Holdings had total assets of EUR 149 billion. www.novoholdings.dk About the Novo Nordisk Foundation Established in Denmark in 1924, the Novo Nordisk Foundation is an enterprise foundation with philanthropic objectives. The vision of the Foundation is to improve people's health and the sustainability of society and the planet. The Foundation's mission is to progress research and innovation in the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic and infectious diseases as well as to advance knowledge and solutions to support a green transformation of society. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/novo-holdings-participates-in-23-million-series-a-for-tribune-therapeutics-to-advance-next-generation-anti-fibrotic-therapies-302411302.html PRESS RELEASE Industry leaders to speak at Wood Mackenzie's Solar & Energy Storage Summit 2025 Join executives from NextEra Energy, EDP Renewables, Advanced Energy United and Wartsila as event covers current market trends and outlook LONDON / HOUSTON / SINGAPORE, 26 March 2025 - The shifting US policy and supply chain landscape for solar and energy storage has created a rapidly changing environment for energy providers to navigate. Join Wood Mackenzie's expert analysts and industry leaders to hear how companies and investors can best address these challenges and produce successful projects at the Solar & Energy Storage Summit 2025 in Denver from April 23-24. As well as exclusive presentations from Wood Mackenzie experts and a top-tier speaker line-up, including representatives from NextEra Energy, EDP Renewables, Morgan Stanley, EPRI, Advanced Energy United and Wartsila, the in-person conference provides the opportunity to connect with more than 400 senior leaders from US solar and storage developers, utilities, IPPs, offtakers, RTOs/ISOs, and state and federal government. Key themes on the agenda include: The rapidly shifting policy landscape and its impact on US solar and storage The shifting dynamics of solar and storage supply-chains: Geopolitical developments from tariffs to anti-countervailing measures - can the industry keep up? Overcoming headwinds to kick start project development: Is there an end in sight to interconnection delays? Demystifying investment tax credits: How will changes to the IRA under the new administration impact solar and storage investment? The impact of broader power market trends: Can renewables meet the increasing demand for clean and secure energy? Community, commercial and industrial scale solar and storage: What are the unique challenges of policy, financing and equity for distributed energy? The Solar & Energy Storage Summit will hear from leading experts from across the industry. Joining Chris Seiple, Wood Mackenzie Vice-Chairman, will be David Carroll - Chief Renewables Officer & Sr. VP, North America, ENGIE North America, to discuss Investment and procurement in a rapidly changing market. More leading experts include: Declan Flanagan - Chairman & CEO, Bluestar Energy Capital Petter Skantze - Vice President of Infrastructure Development, NextEra Energy Amisha Rai - Senior Vice President of Advocacy, Advanced Energy United David Hebert - Vice President of Business Development, Wartsila Joao Salvacao Barreto, Chief Executive Officer NA Distributed Generation, EDP Renewables Kathleen Himber, US CEO, Akuo Energy Abigail Ross Hopper, President and CEO, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) Arshad Mansoor, President & CEO, EPRI Veronique Oomen, Director Division of Clean Energy, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Robin Lunt, Chief Commercial Officer, Guzman Energy Jeff Cramer, President & CEO, Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA) Denise Tait, Chief Investment Officer, Arevon Energy Xizhou Zhou - Executive Vice President, Head of Power & Renewables, Wood Mackenzie To reserve your place at Wood Mackenzie's Solar & Energy Storage Summit 2025 or for further information, please click on this link. ENDS For further information please contact Wood Mackenzie's media relations team: Mark Thomton +1 630 881 6885 Mark.thomton@woodmac.com Hla Myat Mon +65 8533 8860 hla.myatmon@woodmac.com The Big Partnership (UK PR agency) woodmac@bigpartnership.co.uk You have received this news release from Wood Mackenzie because of the details we hold about you. If the information we have is incorrect you can either provide your updated preferences by contacting our media relations team. If you do not wish to receive this type of email in the future, please reply with 'unsubscribe' in the subject header. - About Wood Mackenzie Wood Mackenzie is the global insight business for renewables, energy and natural resources. Driven by data. Powered by people. In the middle of an energy revolution, businesses and governments need reliable and actionable insight to lead the transition to a sustainable future. That's why we cover the entire supply chain with unparalleled breadth and depth, backed by over 50 years' experience in natural resources. Today, our team of over 2,000 experts operate across 30 global locations, inspiring customers' decisions through real-time analytics, consultancy, events and thought leadership. Together, we deliver the insight they need to separate risk from opportunity and make bold decisions when it matters most. For more information, visit woodmac.com. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2025 / Alset AI Ventures Inc. (TSXV:GPUS)(OTC PINK:GPUSF)(FSE:1R60, WKN:A3ESVQ)("Alset AI" or the "Company") an artificial intelligence (AI) venture company advancing innovation through strategic investment and cloud computing solutions, is pleased to announce the successful closing of its strategic investment of approximately CAD$250,000 in Henon Financial Technologies Inc. ("Henon"). Strengthening AI and Fintech Innovation Henon is at the forefront of AI-driven software solutions for private equity and credit firms, making it a key partner for Alset AI's cloud computing platform. This investment expands Alset AI's fintech presence, creating opportunities to power high-performance AI-driven financial applications with scalable, secure, and intelligent cloud solutions. Building a Stronger Talent Ecosystem Beyond the financial investment, this collaboration enhances Alset AI's growing talent ecosystem, aligning both teams in their shared mission to advance AI-driven decision-making in financial markets. Alset AI will actively assist Henon in achieving its strategic objectives, leveraging its expertise in cloud computing, AI infrastructure, and operational scaling. Management Commentary "We are thrilled to officially complete our investment in Henon and deepen our collaboration with their exceptional team," said Adam Ingrao, CEO of Alset AI. "This investment is more than just capital-it's a commitment to fostering innovation and talent in the AI and fintech space. We will continue working towards finalizing a preferred cloud partnership in due course, which would allow us to further integrate our cloud computing capabilities into their AI-driven financial solutions." About Alset AI Ventures Inc. Alset AI is a pioneering AI and cloud computing investment firm, committed to nurturing high-potential technology companies. Through a combination of capital, strategic advisory, and cloud computing alliances, Alset AI is shaping the future of artificial intelligence and building an AI-focused venture capital platform poised for substantial growth. About Henon Financial Technologies Inc. Henon is a leading provider of AI-driven software solutions for private equity and credit firms, offering advanced portfolio monitoring, reporting, and model-driven insights. By blending technical innovation with financial expertise, Henon transforms financial complexity into clarity, providing intelligence to move faster and invest smarter. Henon supports a global network of clients from offices in Toronto, Chicago and Montreal. For further information about Alset AI Ventures Inc., please contact: Investor Relations Adam Ingrao Chief Executive Officer T: 236.312.6744 E: ir@alsetai.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") related to the perceived benefits of the transactions contemplated by the Company's strategic investment in Henon (the "Transaction"), any impacts of the investment made by the Company in Henon, how the Company will support Henon as part of the partnership, the ability of Alset AI to strengthen its presence and create opportunities as a result of the Transaction, the potential finalization of a preferred cloud partnership, the projected growth and strategies of Alset AI, long term value creation for Alset AI and Henon, scalability of Henon, and Alset AI's future business, operations, and financial performance and condition. Forward-looking statements normally contain words like "will", "intend", "anticipate", "could", "should", "may", "might", "expect", "estimate", "forecast", "plan", "potential", "project", "assume", "contemplate", "believe", "shall", "scheduled", and similar terms. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this press release. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, actions, or developments and are based on expectations, assumptions, and other factors that management currently believes are relevant, reasonable, and appropriate in the circumstances. Although management believes that the forward-looking statements herein are reasonable, actual results could be substantially different due to the risks and uncertainties associated with and inherent to Alset AI's business. Additional material risks and uncertainties applicable to the forward-looking statements herein include, without limitation, the impact of general economic conditions, and unforeseen events and developments. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking statements. Many of these factors are beyond the control of Alset AI. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as at the date hereof, and Alset AI undertakes no 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 may be required by applicable securities laws. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in its most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure documents available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. SOURCE: Alset AI Ventures Inc. Texas Walmart shooter killing 23 offered plea deal to avoid death penalty Xinhua) 10:38, March 26, 2025 HOUSTON, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Patrick Crusius, the shooter who killed 23 people in 2019 at a Walmart in El Paso, U.S. state of Texas, was offered a plea deal to avoid the death penalty, El Paso District Attorney James Montoya said at a press conference on Tuesday. The District Attorney office extended an offer to Crusius to plea guilty to capital murder and a sentence of life in prison without parole in exchange for the office not seeking the death penalty. Montoya said he personally believed Crusius should be executed but the death penalty would delay a trial even further. Most of the victim's families just want closure and "they just want this case over with," Montoya said. "I could see this case going to trial until 2028 if we had continued to seek the death penalty," said Montoya. The plea hearing and sentencing is scheduled for April 21. Crusius was sentenced to 90 life terms in 2023 in his federal trial after pleading guilty. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Stillwater Critical Minerals Corp. (TSXV:PGE)(OTCQB:PGEZF)(FSE:J0G) (the "Company" or "Stillwater") is pleased to report multiple large-scale magmatic sulphide targets generated from a property-wide MobileMTm magneto-telluric ("MMT") geophysical survey completed in late 2024 by Expert Geophysics Limited at its flagship Stillwater West Ni-PGE-Cu-Co + Au project in Montana, USA. Data from the 2024 MMT survey was processed and incorporated into the Company's 3D geological model of the lower Stillwater Igneous Complex to prioritize targets with a focus on expanding current mid- and high-grade mineral resources. Highlights Inversion and 3D modeling of results from 2024 MMT geophysical surveys provide multiple coincident multi-kilometer-scale resistivity lows and conductive highs, as shown in the attached Figures. Magnetic inversion processing from the MMT data provides important information for project-wide structural interpretation and highlights relationships between the metasedimentary floor and ultramafic strata. Multiple very low frequency ("VLF") data were also acquired, confirming near surface drilled mineralization and structures. Limited drill testing has been completed on these new targets to date. Where available, drill results confirm polymetallic sulphide-rich Platreef-style mineralization across wide areas of the project, as shown in Table 1, Pictures 2 and 3, and Figure 6. Results have expanded the detailed 3D geological model of the lower Stillwater Igneous Complex that has been developed by the Company from 9.5 kilometers to 20 kilometers, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. Results have provided multiple priority drill targets for expansion of mineral resources with particular focus on mid- and high-grade mineralization. Drill targets are now being finalized and prioritized for planned upcoming drill campaigns. The Company is working with Glencore plc via the Stillwater West technical committee, and ALS Global (formerly GoldSpot) to harness their cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technology and geoscience expertise. Stillwater's President and CEO, Michael Rowley, said "Having relied on globalized supply chains for decades, the United States has now made clear it intends to secure domestic inventories of, and processing capacity for, nine critical minerals that we have inventoried at Stillwater West. Last week's Executive Order from the White House is the strongest directive yet in this regard, building on similar initiatives that date from 2016, and earlier. As the third largest mineralized layered magmatic complex in the world, the Stillwater Igneous Complex is famously well-mineralized and offers both scale and grade, making it a foundational component of this Government- mandated national policy objective. The Stillwater Igneous Complex has provided the United States with critical minerals for over a century, including the on-going production of palladium, platinum, rhodium, nickel, copper and other metals by our neighbor Sibanye-Stillwater. Our Stillwater West project covers the lower Stillwater Igneous Complex, invoking direct comparisons to the parallel geologic setting of Anglo American's world-class Mogalakwena Mine, and Ivanhoe's Platreef Mine, in South Africa's Bushveld Igneous Complex. We are well positioned to bring these large, polymetallic mine models with robust economics to a similar geological setting in the United States. Following our recent meetings with State and Federal officials, we are focused on accelerating our path to mine development and production. We look forward to providing further updates and invite investors to meet the team at the upcoming shows listed below." Dr Danie Grobler, Stillwater's Vice-President, Exploration, commented "The MMT electromagnetic, horizontal magnetic gradient, and TargetEM geophysical surveys performed by Expert Geophysics in late 2024 have imaged large coincident low resistivity, conductive and magnetic anomalies proximal to the footwall contact of the Stillwater Igneous Complex. As a result of uplifting during the Laramide tectonic event, these footwall targets can occur near surface, resulting in high quality drill targets that range in depth from shallow to over a kilometer or more. The most conductive anomalies are located proximal to the footwall contact and correspond with net- textured to massive sulphides, some of which have already been drill tested. For example, all six holes drilled during the 2023 exploration season intersected significant zones of net-textured to semi-massive sulphide within the Chrome Mountain area. The MMT results at Chrome Mountain display a large conductive anomaly extending from the historically drilled area towards the southeast along the footwall contact. A similar anomaly is imaged at Iron Mountain within the Camp Zone (CZ), HGR, and Crescent deposit areas. This particular anomaly is focused below Iron Mountain and is connected to the Camp Zone and Crescent deposit areas, extending at depth to around 1,500 meters below surface. The conductive anomaly displaces the highly magnetic anomalies of the Banded Iron Formation within floor rocks of the Stillwater Igneous Complex. Magmatic sulphide mineralization is known to extend below mafic-ultramafic intrusions either through a process of downward percolation or forming part of an intrusive feeder/conduit system. We look forward to drill testing these compelling targets with a focus on expanding our resources in the higher grade categories in particular in the upcoming planned campaign." Results of Property-Wide Airborne Geophysical Surveys Stillwater contracted Expert Geophysics Limited to perform large-scale geophysical surveys with the objective of providing comprehensive coverage of the highly prospective lower Stillwater Igneous Complex. Particular focus was given to modeling mid- and high-grade mineralization for expansion of existing mineral resources in these categories in upcoming drill campaigns. The surveys totaled 1,322 line-kilometers including test surveys over the Chrome Mountain resource area to compare the TargetEM26 time-domain electromagnetic ("EM") survey with the MMT frequency-domain survey. Evaluation of these test surveys alongside the first generation DIGHEM airborne EM survey flown over the project in 2000, together with smaller surveys and extensive ground-based Induced Polarization and magnetic/VLF by the Company, resulted in the decision to fly the property-wide survey using the MMT system. The MMT system's ability to better distinguish and define multiple conductive targets to greater depths, which is not terrain dependent, was confirmed as a result of the survey. An advanced generation of airborne AFMAG, or Audio-Frequency Magnetic, techniques, Expert's MMT system combines the latest advances in electronics, airborne system design, and sophisticated signal processing techniques to use natural electromagnetic signals in the frequency range of 25 Hz - 21,000 Hz to map resistivity and conductivity in the earth below. Multiple VLF data were also acquired, confirming near surface drilled mineralization and structures. The MMT surveys were completed in three grids, covering Chrome Mountain, Iron Mountain, and the Cathedral target areas at 100-meter line spacing, along with the Stillwater East claim block at 200-meter line spacing. The surveys proved to be highly successful, with preliminary results enabling completion of the first-ever detailed 3D geological model of the lower Stillwater Igneous Complex. As announced October 16, 2024, that earlier version of the model made the important breakthrough of demonstrating continuity of mineralization across the central 9.5-kilometer length of layered magmatic stratigraphy which hosts the Company's current resources in five deposits. Recent analysis, including inversion work, has extended the modeled area to approximately 20 kilometers as shown in Figures 5 and 6, with strong electromagnetic anomalies indicated along the footwall contact zone of the Stillwater West project. These anomalies are consistent with the massive sulphide and contact-style nickel- copper sulphide-rich bodies that the Company is targeting, and form important Platreef- or contact-style targets for drill testing. The high-resolution EM, magnetic, and VLF data provide detailed information about several different lithology contacts, faults, major structures, and conductive geology indicative of nickel-copper sulphide mineralization. This new survey has provided higher resolution of known and unknown targets that occur near surface and now to a depth of 1.5 kilometers. The data maps the nature of the footwall contact and corresponding country rock xenoliths, which act as favorable zones for sulphide trap sites. The lower peridotite contact was also well imaged, which hosts most of the current resources, and shows continuity along strike within all three survey grids covering over 34 kilometers (Figures 1 and 2). Magnetic inversion processing from the MMT data proved useful for project-wide structural interpretation and highlights relationships of the metasedimentary floor and ultramafic strata. Strike-extensive, highly magnetic susceptibility anomalies, attributed to the iron formation interbedded within the hornfels floor, served to improve modelling of the down-dip geometry of the footwall contact. This highly prospective floor contact zone forms the main exploration target for polymetallic mineralization across the 34-kilometer span of the Stillwater West project. Most of the strongest conductive anomalies (< 250 ohm-m) have never been drill tested to date and continue along strike up to five kilometers in the Chrome Mountain area and up to seven kilometers in the Iron Mountain area. Both the Cathedral grid and the Stillwater East grid also have robust conductive anomalies (< 250 ohm-m) that are multiple kilometers in strike length. Southeast trending, southwest dipping, strike-extensive low magnetic susceptibility anomalies correlate to Laramide fore-thrusts within the floor. The low magnetic signature of these structures is thought to be related to alteration and resultant de-magnetization of the metamorphosed metasedimentary rocks. In addition, isolated low magnetic susceptibility anomalies caused by xenoliths are noted within the lower units of the Peridotite zone. In places these are correlated to drill interceptions of hornfels and fine grained norite which, locally, is out of stratigraphic position. From the xenoliths intersected within drilling and following results from the 2024 MMT program, several anomalously low-magnetic xenoliths were modelled with the bulk of these occurring proximally to the footwall of the Peridotite zone, intermittently along strike. Drill holes CM2023-04, CM2023-06, and CZ2021-01 are now recognized to be early drill tests of mineralization under hornfels xenoliths: Table 1 - Past Drill Intercepts of 2025 Target Geophysical Anomalies Highlighted significant intercepts with grade-thickness values over seven percent-meter recovered Nickel Equivalent ("NiEq") are presented above, except as noted. Recovered NiEq are presented for comparative purposes using conservative long-term metal prices (all USD): $8.00/lb nickel (Ni), $4.00/lb copper (Cu), $22.00/lb cobalt (Co), $1,000/oz platinum (Pt), $1,950/oz palladium (Pd), $1,850/oz gold (Au), and $10,000/oz rhodium (Rh). NiEq is determined as follows: NiEq% = [Ni% x recovery] + [Cu% x recovery x Cu price/ Ni price] + [Co% x recovery x Co price / Ni price] + [Pt g/t x recovery / 31.103 x Pt price / Ni price / 2,204 x 100] + [Pd g/t x recovery / 31.103 x Pd price / Ni price / 2,204 x 100] + [Au g/t x recovery / 31.103 x Au price / Ni price / 2,204 x 100]. In the above calculations: 31.103 = grams per troy ounce, 2,204 = lbs per metric tonne, and 100 and 0.01 convert assay results reported in % and g/t. The following recoveries have been assumed for purposes of the above equivalent calculations: 85% for Ni and 90% for all other listed metals, based on recoveries at similar nearby operations. Total metal equivalent values include both base and precious metals. In terms of dollar value, 0.20% nickel equates to a copper value of 0.40%, or a palladium value of 0.48 g/t, using the above metal values. Intervals are reported as drilled widths and are believed to be representative of the actual width of mineralization. Picture 1 - Drill hole CM-2023-06 - High-grade polymetallic sulphide mineralization from near the central portion of the robust 5-kilometer-long conductive anomaly (<250 ohm-m) in the Chrome Mountain deposit area, approximately five kilometers west of the Camp Zone (CZ) deposit and drill hole CZ-2021-01 shown in Picture 2. Interval of drill core from approximately 263 to 272 meters (864 to 892 feet) depth in hole CM-2023-06 showing high-grade nickel and copper sulphide mineralization in an early test of mineralization under hornfels xenoliths. As shown in Table 1, the hole returned a high-grade interval of 5.8 meters at 0.43% Ni, 0.13% Cu, 0.072% Co, plus 1.30 g/t 4E (0.30 g/t Pt, 0.90 g/t Pd, 0.014 g/t Rh, 0.09 g/t Au), within a 25.9-meter interval of mid-grade mineralization at 0.52% total recovered NiEq (0.23% Ni, 0.16% Cu, 0.037% Co, 0.13 g/t Pt, 0.32 g/t Pd, 0.07 g/t Au, 0.009 g/t Rh) which in turn is set within 158.9 meters of bulk tonnage grade mineralization of 0.23% total recovered NiEq (0.11% Ni, 0.06% Cu, 0.017% Co, 0.09 g/t Pt, 0.12 g/t Pd, 0.03 g/t Au, 0.005 g/t Rh), starting at 160.8 meters depth. Updated Geological Model and Current Resource Estimate The 2024 geophysical survey results have been incorporated into the 3D geological model. This new model advances the project as it is the first time the lower portion of the Stillwater Igneous Complex has been modeled in detail. This effectively connects the east and west ends of a large world-class district and providing a roadmap to expansion of the Company's resources and advancement of the overall project, which is focused on the lower Stillwater Igneous Complex. Continuity of mineralization across the entire surface expression of the magmatic layers of the Stillwater Igneous Complex has been demonstrated primarily by Sibanye-Stillwater's J-M Reef deposit, a high-grade PGE-bearing nickel-copper sulphide deposit that spans more than 48 kilometers and supports the highest-grade palladium- platinum mines in the world. Stillwater's current Inferred Mineral Resources of 1.6 billion pounds of nickel, copper and cobalt (1.1 Blbs Ni, 0.5 Blbs Cu, 0.09 Blbs Co), and 3.8 million ounces of palladium, platinum, rhodium, and gold (1.3 Moz Pt, 2.0 Moz Pd, 0.4 Moz Au, 0.1 Moz Rh)1 are hosted in five deposits that remain open for expansion along trend and at depth up to 20-kilometers at the center of the 61-square-kilometer Stillwater West project, which is adjacent to Sibanye-Stillwater along approximately 34 kilometers of strike within the Stillwater Igneous Complex. Picture 2 - Drill hole CZ-2021-01 - High-grade polymetallic sulphide mineralization from the Camp Zone (CZ) deposit area, located on the western edge of the 7-kilometer-long robust (<250 ohm-m) conductive anomaly below Iron Mountain, approximately five kilometers east of the Chrome Mountain deposits and drill hole CM- 2023-06 shown in Picture 1. Interval of drill core from 56.0 to 63.6 meters (184 to 209 feet) depth in hole CZ-2021-01 showing high-grade nickel and copper sulphide mineralization in an early test of mineralization under hornfels xenoliths. As shown in Table 1, the hole returned a high-grade interval of 4.6 meters at 0.96% Ni, 0.49% Cu, 0.073% Co, plus 0.87 g/t 4E (0.11 g/t Pt, 0.58 g/t Pd, 0.10 g/t Au, 0.077 g/t Rh), within a longer 63.7-meter interval of high-grade mineralization at 0.84% total recovered NiEq (0.47% Ni, 0.27% Cu, 0.040% Co, 0.12 g/t Pt, 0.42 g/t Pd, 0.07 g/t Au, 0.027 g/t Rh), which in turn is set within 367.6 meters of bulk tonnage grade mineralization of 0.28% total recovered NiEq (0.15% Ni, 0.06% Cu, 0.015% Co, 0.06 g/t Pt, 0.17 g/t Pd, 0.02 g/t Au, 0.009 g/t Rh), starting at 10.8 meters depth. Upcoming Events Stillwater's President and CEO, Michael Rowley, will be available at the following events in 2025, in addition to other events to be added as the Company rolls out its marketing plans over the coming year: SAFE Summit - Washington, DC, USA, Apr 1-2, 2025. For information, click here. Global Commodity Expo Florida - Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, May 11-13, 2025. For information, click here. Global Commodity Expo Atlanta - Atlanta, Georgia, USA, May 14-16, 2025. For information, click here. The Mining Investment Event of the North - Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, June 3-5, 2025. For information, click here. Precious Metals Summit - Beaver Creek, Colorado, September 9-12, 2025. For information, click here. Precious Metals Summit - Zurich, Switzerland, November 10-11, 2025. For information, click here. About Stillwater Critical Minerals Corp. Stillwater Critical Minerals (TSX.V: PGE | OTCQB: PGEZF | FSE: J0G) is a mineral exploration and development company focused on its flagship Stillwater West Ni-PGE-Cu-Co + Au project in the iconic and famously productive Stillwater mining district in Montana, USA. With the addition of two renowned Bushveld and Platreef geologists to the team and strategic investments by Glencore plc, the Company is well positioned to advance the next phase of large-scale critical mineral supply from this world-class American district, building on past production of nickel, copper, and chromium, and the on-going production of platinum group, nickel, and other metals by neighboring Sibanye-Stillwater. An expanded NI 43-101 inferred mineral resource estimate, released January 2023, positions Stillwater West with the largest nickel resource in an active U.S. mining district as part of a compelling suite of nine minerals now listed as critical in the USA. To date, five Platreef-style nickel and copper sulphide deposits host a total of 1.6 billion pounds of nickel, copper and cobalt (1.1 Blbs Ni, 0.5 Blbs Cu, 0.09 Blbs Co), and 3.8 million ounces of palladium, platinum, rhodium, and gold (1.3 Moz Pt, 2.0 Moz Pd, 0.4 Moz Au, 0.1 Moz Rh)1 at Stillwater West. All of these deposits remain open for expansion along trend and at depth. Stillwater also owns 49% of the high-grade Black Lake-Drayton Gold project adjacent to Nexgold Mining's development-stage Goliath Gold Complex in northwest Ontario, as part of an earn-in agreement with Heritage Mining, and the Kluane PGE-Ni-Cu-Co critical minerals project on trend with Nickel Creek Platinum's Wellgreen deposit in Canada's Yukon Territory. The Company also holds the Duke Island Cu-Ni-PGE property in Alaska and maintains a back-in right on the high-grade past-producing Yankee-Dundee in BC, following its sale in 2013. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Michael Rowley, President, CEO & Director - Stillwater Critical Minerals Email: info@criticalminerals.com Web: http://criticalminerals.com Phone: (604) 357 4790 Toll Free: (888) 432 0075 Footnote: Stillwater West Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate 1) See news release dated January 25, 2023 and associated NI 43-101 Technical Report dated March 14, 2023, entitled "Mineral Resource Estimate Update for the Stillwater West Ni-PGE-Cu-Co-Au Project, Montana, USA", with an effective date of January 20, 2023. The Mineral Resources were estimated by Allan Armitage, Ph.D., P.Geo of SGS Geological Services who is an independent Qualified Person. The Technical Report is available on the company website at www.criticalminerals.com and under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca Quality Control and Quality Assurance 2023 drill core samples were analyzed by ACT Labs in Vancouver, B.C. Sample preparation: crush (< 7 kg) up to 80% passing 2 mm, riffle split (250 g) and pulverize (mild steel) to 95% passing 105 m included cleaner sand. Gold, platinum, and palladium were analyzed by fire assay (1C-OES) with ICP finish. Selected major and trace elements were analyzed by peroxide fusion with 8-Peroxide ICP-OES finish to insure complete dissolution of resistate minerals. Following industry QA/QC standards, blanks, duplicate samples, and certified standards were also assayed. Mr. Mike Ostenson, P.Geo., is the qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101, and he has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release. Mr. Ostenson is a Geologist at Stillwater and is not independent of the Company. Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, historic production, estimation of mineral resources, the realization of mineral resource estimates, interpretation of prior exploration and potential exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, the timing and results of future resource estimates, permitting time lines, metal prices and currency exchange rates, availability of capital, government regulation of exploration operations, environmental risks, reclamation, title, and future plans and objectives of the company are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although Stillwater Critical Minerals 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 the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include failure to obtain necessary approvals, unsuccessful exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, risks associated with regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, uninsured risks, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the companies with securities regulators. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral exploration and development of mines is an inherently risky business. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Stillwater Critical Minerals and the risks and challenges of their businesses, investors should review their annual filings that are available at www.sedarplus.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. Reduced-to-Pole (RTP) magnetic data from the 2024 MobileMTm survey demonstrates: Highly magnetic anomalies are associated with the mafic-ultramafic rocks of the peridotite zone, and with iron formation outside of the peridotite zone. Near surface expression of less magnetic country rock xenoliths and structural offset are additional features highlighted by the high-resolution dataset. Figure 1 - RTP MAGNETIC DATA FROM THE 2024 MMT GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY OVER TOPOGRAPHY WITH OUTLINES OF THE CURRENT DEPOSIT MODELS AND PERIDOTITE ZONE STILLWATER WEST Ni-PGE-Cu-Co + Au PROJECT, Montana, USA Figure 2 - DEPTH SECTION AT 2600 METERS ELEVATION SHOWING RESISTIVITY (CONDUCTIVITY) FROM THE 2024 MMT GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY WITH TRACE OUTLINES OF CURRENT DEPOSIT MODELS AND PERIDOTITE ZONE STILLWATER WEST Ni-PGE-Cu-Co + Au PROJECT, Montana, USA 3D Apparent Resistivity voxel model derived from the 2024 MobileMTm survey. The dual face vertical section shows low resistivity anomalies (priority drill targets) in close proximity to the lower contact of the Peridotite zone, also confirming the orientations and offsets of major faults. Figure 3 - LONG-SECTION SHOWING RESISTIVITY (CONDUCTIVITY) FROM THE 2024 MMT GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY WITH TRACE OUTLINES OF CURRENT DEPOSIT MODELS ACROSS 10.3 KILOMETERS OF THE STILLWATER COMPLEX STILLWATER WEST Ni-PGE-Cu-Co + Au PROJECT, Montana, USA Figure 4 - CROSS-SECTION THROUGH THE LAYERED STRATIGRAPHY OF THE STILLWATER IGNEOUS COMPLEX AT THE CHROME AND IRON MOUNTAIN DEPOSIT AREAS SHOWING LARGE-SCALE CONDUCTIVE ANOMALIES STILLWATER WEST Ni-PGE-Cu-Co + Au PROJECT, Montana, USA Magnetic inversion produced from the 2024 MobileMTm ('MMT') data shows the presence of extensive strike-parallel thrusts within the floor of the Stillwater Complex (shown in black). The low magnetic anomaly is attributed to intense alteration of the adjacent wall rocks of these structures . Isolated low magnetic anomalies are caused by country rock xenoliths (rafts) within the lower parts of the Peridotite zone, some of which have been confirmed in drill intercepts. The highly magnetic iron formation, interbedded within the hornfels as part of the floor to the Stillwater complex, is confirmed by extensive highly magnetic anomalies below the floor contact of the complex. The geological model has been adjusted to account for the position and geometry of the floor contact based on interpretation of these anomalies. Refer to sections A-A', B-B', and C-C' which show the low and highly magnetic anomalies and their correlation to the floor thrusts and stratigraphic contacts respectively. Figure 5 - MAGNETIC INVERSION OF THE 2024 MMT GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY ACROSS 20 KM WITH SURFACE OUTLINES OF CURRENT DEPOSIT MODELS STILLWATER WEST Ni-PGE-Cu-Co + Au PROJECT, Montana, USA A multi-face strike section across the extent of the main claim block at Stillwater West. The strike extensive conductive anomaly derived from the 2024 MobileMTm survey (<250ohm-m resistivity) is shown and can be seen closely underlying the current drill limits within all the target resource areas. Figure 6 - MULTI-FACE LONG-SECTION ACROSS 20 KM OF THE LOWER STILLWATER COMPLEX SHOWING MULTI-KILOMETER CONDUCTIVE ANOMALIES AND DRILL TESTS OF NEW TARGETS STILLWATER WEST Ni-PGE-Cu-Co + Au PROJECT, Montana, USA Strike section A-A' due east of the 2023 MRE area at Chrome Mtn. A highly conductive zone can be seen proximal to the floor contact. The conductive anomaly may be attributed to semi-massive/massive magmatic sulphide which formed by entrapment between the country rock xenolith and floor rocks. Figure 7 - CROSS-SECTION A-A' SHOWING LARGE HIGH-LEVEL CONDUCTIVE TARGET AT CHROME MOUNTAIN DEPOSIT AREA STILLWATER WEST Ni-PGE-Cu-Co + Au PROJECT, Montana, USA Figure 8 - CROSS-SECTION B-B' SHOWING LARGE HIGH-LEVEL CONDUCTIVE TARGET AT THE HGR DEPOSIT AREA, IRON MOUNTAIN STILLWATER WEST Ni-PGE-Cu-Co + Au PROJECT, Montana, USA Figure 9 - CROSS-SECTION C-C' SHOWING LARGE HIGH-LEVEL CONDUCTIVE TARGET AT THE HGR DEPOSIT AREA, IRON MOUNTAIN STILLWATER WEST Ni-PGE-Cu-Co + Au PROJECT, Montana, USA 1: References to adjoining properties are for illustrative purposes only and are not necessarily indicative of the exploration potential, extent or nature of mineralization or potential future results of the Company's projects. 2: Includes current reserves and resources, and over 15Moz of past production. Based on publicly disclosed production statistics of Sibanye-Stillwater including most recent CPR: https://www.sibanyestillwater.com/business/reserves-and-resources/ 3: See news release January 25, 2023. Mineral Resources are reported at cut-off grades of 0.20% NiEq. Figure 10 - STILLWATER DISTRICT - MINES, INFRASTRUCTURE, LAND STATUS STILLWATER WEST Ni-PGE-Cu-Co + Au PROJECT, Montana, USA 1: References to adjoining properties are for illustrative purposes only and are not necessarily indicative of the exploration potential, extent or nature of mineralization or potential future results of the Company's projects. 2: Based on publicly disclosed production statistics of Sibanye-Stillwater including most recent CPR: https://www.sibanyestillwater.com/business/reserves-and-resources/ Figure 11 - CROSS-SECTION THROUGH THE STILLWATER IGNEOUS COMPLEX SHOWING STILLWATER WEST AND SIBANYE'S EAST BOULDER MINE COMPLEX STILLWATER WEST Ni-PGE-Cu-Co + Au PROJECT, Montana, USA SOURCE: Stillwater Critical Minerals Corp. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2025) - Mason Resources Inc. (TSXV: LLG) (OTCQB: MGPHF) ("Mason") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Gregory Duras, B.Admin., CPA, as Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), effective March 26, 2025. Mr. Duras is a seasoned financial executive with over 30 years of leadership experience in senior financial management roles. He has led numerous large-scale corporate transactions and financings and served as CFO for several TSX and TSX-V listed companies. Throughout his career, Mr. Duras has played a key role in corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, debt and capital markets, operations, financial reporting, and human resources. He also brings a strong track record of successfully negotiating and closing a wide range of debt and equity financings, while building lasting relationships with international financial institutions. Mr. Fahad Al-Tamimi, Chairman of Mason, commented: "Gregory brings over 30 years of experience to the Company with particular expertise corporately and in strategic planning and asset evaluation. As Mason continues to focus on making new investments and realising gains on existing investments, we are now setting our sights on new opportunities where we can apply our business strategy. Gregory's unique perspectives and skills will be instrumental to the success of this initiative." Mr. Gregory Duras commented: "I am very pleased to join the Mason team as CFO and I look forward to contributing to its investment strategy, which provides significant opportunities for both organic and non-organic growth. It is an exciting time at Mason and I am looking forward to playing a role in the creation of further value for stakeholders." Mr. Duras' appointment to CFO follows the resignation of Mr. Carmelo Marelli. Mason wishes to thank Mr. Marelli for his contribution and wish him well in future endeavours. About Mason Resources Inc. Mason Resources Inc. is a Canadian corporation focused on seeking investment opportunities. Mason has a number of strategic investments which include the largest shareholder of Black Swan Graphene Inc. (TSXV: SWAN), a company which is focusing on the large-scale production of patented high-performance and low-cost graphene products aimed at several industrial sectors, including concrete and polymers, which are expected to require large volumes of graphene and, in turn, large volumes of graphite. Mason is also a large shareholder of Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. (TSXV: NOU) (NYSE: NMG), an integrated company developing responsible mining and advanced manufacturing operations to supply the global economy with carbon-neutral active anode material to power EV (electric vehicle) and renewable energy storage systems. The company is developing a fully integrated ore-to-battery-material source of graphite-based active anode material in Quebec, Canada. With enviable ESG standards and structuring partnerships with anchor customers, Nouveau Monde Graphite is set to become a strategic supplier to the world's leading lithium-ion battery and EV manufacturers, providing high-performing and reliable advanced materials while promoting sustainability and supply chain traceability. Mason is one of the largest shareholder of NorthX Nickel Corp. (CSE: NIX), a Canadian Ni-Cu-Co-PGE focused exploration and development company with an extensive portfolio of assets in Quebec and Ontario, Canada. The company's flagship asset is the Grasset Project, located within the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, with an indicated mineral resource of 5.5 Mt @ 1.53% NiEq. Mason also holds a number of other strategic investments. For more information: www.masonresourcesinc.com www.blackswangraphene.com www.nmg.com www.northxnickel.com Mason Resources Inc. on behalf of the Board of Directors Peter Damouni, President & Chief Executive Officer 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. Forward-Looking Information The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements or forward-looking information relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information". Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to Mason's investment in Sand Minerals and the likelihood that the investment, for which there is currently no market or liquidity, will result in profitability for the Corporation on the timeline projected or at all, the holding of the NMG, Black Swan and NorthX Nickel shares, risks related to the development of NMG's projects, risks related to Black Swan's and NorthX Nickel's business, risk related to the failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with the industry; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of feasibility studies, and the possibility that future results will not be consistent with Mason's expectations; risks related to commodity prices fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to Mason's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in Mason's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and Mason does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from Mason's expectations or projections. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246077 SOURCE: Mason Resources Inc. The exhibition is conceived by the multidisciplinary design collective including Alaa Tarabzouni , Aziz Jamal , Dur Kattan and Fahad bin Naif , whose design approach questions, disrupts, and reimagines systems of access and distribution of water and our relationship with it. , , and , whose design approach questions, disrupts, and reimagines systems of access and distribution of water and our relationship with it. The Saudi National Pavilion is defined by a sabeel - a free water fountain and symbol of hospitality deeply rooted in the Saudi Arabia. However, within the context of this exhibition, it is no longer just a gesture of goodwill, but a question: Who pays for 'free' water? What does it truly cost? And, crucially, if the burden falls on someone else, does it not, in some form, cost everyone? RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saudi Arabia returns to the London Design Biennale 2025 with an exhibition entitled Good Water, from 5-29 June 2025 at Somerset House. Commissioned by Saudi Arabia's Architecture and Design Commission, this year's pavilion is curated by design collective including Alaa Tarabzouni, Aziz Jamal, Dur Kattan and Fahad bin Naif, who bring together their multidisciplinary backgrounds in architecture, design and the arts, for an exhibition that questions, disrupts, and reimagines systems of access and distribution of water, and our relationship with it. The curatorial concept of Good Water responds to this year's theme for the London Design Biennale, 'Surface Reflections', which explores how ideas are fuelled by our internal experiences, external influences and personal histories. The Saudi Pavilion is defined by a sabeel - a free water fountain, a symbol of hospitality deeply rooted in the Saudi Arabian tradition. Traditionally, these fountains are scattered across the country, providing water to passersby embodying a communal ethos of generosity. Yet, within the context of this exhibition, the sabeel is no longer just a gesture of goodwill, but a question: Who pays for 'free' water? What does it truly cost? And, crucially, if the burden falls on someone else, does it not, in some form, cost everyone? The sabeel, as a concept, carries a deep contradiction: while it offers water freely, the reality is that the water is not free at all. Every sip is made possible by a complex system of labour, energy, and economics. Potable water is extracted through costly processes, imported in plastic bottles, or transported through networks that demand maintenance and oversight. The cost is distributed across various actors - governments, corporations, workers - but ultimately, it is a cost that all must bear. Even those who do not pay for water directly still share in its long-term consequences. The sabeel in the pavilion, therefore, is more than a functional object-it is a symbol of interdependence. It highlights the tension between generosity and cost, between access and consequence. Alaa Tarabzouni, Aziz Jamal, Dur Kattan and Fahad bin Naif comment: "The pavilion uses familiar elements to draw attention to water's hidden economies, encouraging the visitors to drink with awareness, to acknowledge the price, and to understand that while the cost of free (good) water is borne by someone else, it truly costs everyone. In cities where sabeel are commonplace, their presence is often taken for granted, their function seen as a simple act of public service. But by relocating this familiar structure to the London Design Biennale, where water scarcity is not an everyday concern, we reframe it as an object of scrutiny. We aim to force a shift in perception, making the invisible visible, the passive active." The Saudi National Pavilion is a flagship initiative of the Architecture and Design Commission, supported by the Ministry of Culture, reflecting Saudi Arabia's commitment to contributing to international design discourse and promoting sustainable, innovative solutions. Dr. Sumaya Al-Sulaiman, CEO of the Architecture and Design Commission, comments: "Saudi Arabia's return to the London Design Biennale is a new exciting chapter in our commitment to design as a powerful tool for dialogue and cultural exchange and we look forward to engaging in conversations on creativity, innovation, and systems thinking during our fourth participation in the London Design Biennale". Good Water will be showcased at the London Design Biennale 2025, held at Somerset House, London, from 5 - 25 June 2025. The press kit can be found HERE. For further information please contact: Zara Doshi Pelham Communications Zara@pelhamcommunications.com (mailto:Zara@pelhamcommunications.com) Anastasia Lander Pelham Communications Anastasia@pelhamcommunications.com (mailto:Anastasia@pelhamcommunications.com) NOTES TO EDITORS ABOUT THE DESIGN COLLECTIVE Alaa Tarabzouni (1989), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Alaa Tarabzouni has a career that spans over ten years in the arts and culture sector. While Alaa's background in architecture informs her approach, her main focus is context, which she regards as her primary medium and muse. Her work consistently explores the relationship between art, its environment, and the viewer's experience. She holds both a bachelor's and a master's degree in architecture from Newcastle University and Pratt Institute in New York, respectively. She also holds a Master's in Arts and Cultural Enterprise from University of Arts London: Central Saint Martins. Aziz Jamal (1992), Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Aziz Jamal is a multidisciplinary artist known for his incongruous and experimental approach, blending humour, material, and context to create works that merge the individual with the collective. His practice spans sculpture, video, drawing, ceramics, audio, digital prints, and installation, often using found and unconventional materials to provoke new narratives. Jamal's work explores themes of domesticity, time, and consumerism, creating a dialogue between the familiar and unfamiliar. Dur Kattan (1988), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Dur Kattan is a conceptual artist whose passion for non-traditional and interdisciplinary programs has led her on a unique journey as she crafts artwork that establishes deep connections with viewers. She is particularly drawn to public art and art forms that embrace interactivity, enabling individuals to engage actively with the artistic experience. She has a strong academic background with two Master's degrees - one in Communication, Culture and Technology from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and another in Arts and Cultural Enterprise from Central Saint Martins, the University of Arts London. Fahad bin Naif (1989), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Fahad bin Naif is an emerging artist, whose subject matter derives from examining the urban fabric of his home city, Riyadh. Employing multiple mediums in his interdisciplinary practice, Bin Naif creates large-scale installations and interventions, video works, photography and design, all driven by his research of the urban landscape. His innovative design approach earned him the Bartlett's Gold Prize (2017) and in 2020, Fahad won the third cycle of the prestigious Ithra Art Prize. Bin Naif earned a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from Central Saint Martins - University of the Arts London, and has a Master's degree in Urban Design from the Bartlett School of Architecture - UCL. About Saudi Arabia's Architecture and Design Commission The Architecture and Design Commission, established in 2020, is one of eleven commissions under the Ministry of Culture in Saudi Arabia, representing key disciplines including architecture, urban design and planning, landscape architecture, interior design, graphic design, and industrial design. The Commission supports and encourages practitioners, organizes exhibitions and seminars, and stimulates thinking in the sector to build an architecture and design landscape that mirrors the Kingdom's rich and diverse culture. Aligned with the objectives of the Ministry of Culture and Vision 2030, the Architecture and Design Commission promotes excellence in architecture and design, reflects Saudi Arabia's cultural identity and ambitions, empowers local talent, and enhances the quality of life within communities. Find the Architecture and Design Commission on social media: X| Instagram @ArchMOC About the Ministry of Culture, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia has a vast history of arts and culture. The Ministry of Culture is developing Saudi Arabia's cultural economy and enriching the daily lives of citizens, residents, and visitors. Overseeing eleven sector-specific commissions, the Ministry is leading a cultural transformation to develop an abundant ecosystem that nurtures creativity, unlocks the economic potential of the sector, and unleashes new and inspiring forms of expression. Find the Ministry of Culture on social media: X A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b5c7f48b-d02c-4b2a-a81c-e3beb347a696 DealFlow Events, a leader in hosting business and investment conferences since 2003, is proud to announce the launch of its latest initiative, DealFlow Discovery Days. This new series is designed to explore emerging sectors and investment themes, providing professionals with in-depth insights and networking platforms. The inaugural one-day event, DealFlow Discovery Day: Nuclear Energy, is scheduled for May 22, 2025, in New York City. The DealFlow Discovery Days series aims to delve into sectors poised for significant growth and innovation. Each event will focus on a specific industry or investment theme, offering attendees comprehensive knowledge and the chance to connect with stakeholders. The inaugural event's focus on nuclear energy comes at a pivotal time, as the sector experiences renewed interest and investment. Recent commitments by major financial institutions to support the expansion of nuclear capacity underscore the sector's potential. Event Highlights: Date & Location: May 22, 2025, in New York City Comprehensive Agenda: Discussions will cover advances in nuclear technology, investment opportunities, regulatory landscapes, and the role of nuclear energy in achieving global sustainability goals Expert Speakers: Industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators will share their perspectives on the future of nuclear energy Networking Opportunities: Attendees will have the chance to connect with nuclear company executives and other industry professionals across the nuclear energy ecosystem, fostering collaboration and partnerships DealFlow Events has a longstanding reputation for delivering high-quality conferences that address cutting-edge topics. The DealFlow Discovery Days series continues this tradition by spotlighting industries that are shaping the future. Steven Dresner, founder of DealFlow Events said, "We're proud of DealFlow Events' legacy in connecting industry leaders and driving important conversations. With DealFlow Discovery Days, we're taking our commitment even further by highlighting investment themes of particular interest to high-growth investors. Nuclear energy is the perfect starting point for this series, given its critical importance to global sustainability and its role in providing needed infrastructure to power the technological revolution brought about by artificial intelligence. We're excited to facilitate connections that will shape the future of this industry." For more information about 'DealFlow Discovery Day: Nuclear Energy' and to register for the event, please visit https://dealflowdiscoverydays.com/nuclear_energy/. About DealFlow Events: Since 2003, DealFlow Events has been a trusted name in the business and investment communities, organizing conferences that provide valuable insights and networking opportunities. With a commitment to covering innovative topics, DealFlow Events has established itself as a thought leader and trailblazer in the events industry. Media Contact: Phillip LoFaso Managing Director DealFlow Events phillip@dealflowevents.com (516) 876-8006 https://dealflowevents.com/ SOURCE: DealFlow Events The firm is proud to offer Kaleolani Ilac $2,500 to dedicate toward his continued studies. This year's Pilzer Klein's 2024 Fighting Cancer Scholarship goes to Kaleolani Ilac, a Political Science major at UCLA. Ilac received an optic nerve glioma diagnosis when he was fifteen years old, and he is still fighting to prevent the tumor from impacting his day-to-day life. Ilac reports that his fight will continue well through college. However, Ilac has taken strides to make himself more than his diagnosis. The things he's achieved in the wake of his diagnosis speak to a determined heart and a burning desire to make an impact on communities in need. Academically, Ilac completed his high school career with a 4.37 weighted GPA. He graduated fourth in his class. He used his Make-A-Wish wish to visit the United Nations headquarters, where he had opportunities to learn more about international politics and the bodies that oversee them. When he returned home, he immediately threw himself into repaying the Make-A-Wish Foundation for its kindness. He became an ambassador for the organization and raised half a million dollars for other families to use to pursue their wishes. He has also made waves as a member of The Golden Circle of Champions and has since been invited to speak about his optic nerve glioma diagnosis with Day One, a leading biopharmaceutical company. He hopes that his talks "empower families with knowledge and resources, allowing them to navigate the complex and overwhelming world of cancer treatments." It's safe to say that Ilac's achievements have had a concrete, positive impact on the lives of countless families-but the young man isn't done yet. He intends to utilize his undergraduate degree to pursue a career in law. He then wants to leverage his legal education to abolish medical deserts, which can make it harder for people in certain communities to receive essential medical care. What's more, he hopes to make waves on the international stage, where he wants to introduce healthcare policies that increase children's access to medical services. Pilzer Klein is unspeakably proud to help such a driven young man pursue his academic goals. The Fighting Cancer Scholarship offers him $2,500 to dedicate toward his continued education. The team looks forward to watching Ilac change the world and wishes him the best of luck as he continues his battle against cancer. About Pilzer Klein Pilzer Klein proudly offers legal support to anyone struggling to demystify the world of Social Security Disability. Their Disability attorneys want to make advice and assistance accessible to anyone who needs additional support in the face of a life-changing injury or health condition. The team offers each client compassionate and thoughtful legal advice that's rooted in decades of combined professional experience. They believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to keep a roof over their head and food on the table. Anyone in need of help navigating a Social Security Disability claim can book a free case consultation with Pilzer Klein today. SOURCE: Pilzer Klein Karbon-X Corp. (OTCQB:KARX), a leader in full-spectrum carbon solutions, is proud to announce its partnership with Zodiac Gold Inc. ("Zodiac Gold" or the "Company") (TSXV:ZAU), a West-African gold exploration company. This collaboration marks a significant step toward embedding environmental responsibility into the preliminary stages of resource development in West Africa. Through this partnership, Karbon-X will support Zodiac Gold in measuring, managing, and offsetting its carbon footprint. By integrating strategic carbon solutions, the two companies aim to support Liberia's path to sustainable economic development while preserving the natural environment. "At Zodiac Gold, we recognize that the future of mining must be sustainable. Our pledge to achieve net-zero emissions is about leadership and responsibility," said David Kol, CEO of Zodiac Gold. "This partnership with Karbon-X demonstrates that exploration and sustainability can go hand in hand." "This partnership reflects exactly the kind of impact we aim to create," said Chad Clovis, CEO of Karbon-X. "By working with Zodiac Gold at the exploration stage, we're helping to set a precedent for responsible resource development from the ground up. It's about enabling companies to take action in ways that are measurable, meaningful, and sustainable." Karbon-X, known for its innovative and practical approach to full-scope carbon solutions, will support Zodiac Gold by quantifying its emissions and offsetting them. With expertise spanning carbon measurement, reduction and offset strategies, and market mechanisms, Karbon-X works with both individuals and industries to make meaningful climate action accessible and impactful. By integrating sustainability from the earliest stages of development, Karbon-X helps Zodiac Gold pursue its district-scale gold exploration near Monrovia with environmental responsibility at its core. Through accurate emissions measurement and high-quality carbon offsets, Karbon-X ensures that tangible climate action is embedded into the foundation of the project. About Karbon-X Karbon-X Corp. (OTCQB:KARX) is a pioneering organization providing full-spectrum carbon solutions that empower individuals and businesses to take real, measurable climate action. Whether through emissions tracking, reduction planning, or verified projects, Karbon-X offers accessible tools and services rooted in transparency and impact. The company's innovative approach to climate action has gained widespread recognition across industries and regions, as it continues to support organizations on their journey toward a more sustainable future. To learn more visit www.karbon-x.com About Zodiac Gold Zodiac Gold Inc. (TSXV:ZAU) is a West-African gold exploration company focused on its flagship Todi Project situated in Liberia-an underexplored, politically stable, mining-friendly jurisdiction hosting several large-scale gold and iron ore deposits. Strategically positioned along the fertile Todi Shear Zone, Zodiac Gold is developing a district-scale gold opportunity with additional iron ore potential, covering a vast 2,316 km land package. The Todi project has undergone de-risking, showcasing proven gold occurrences at both surface and depth, with five drill-ready targets and high-grade gold intercepts. To learn more about Zodiac Gold Inc. visit www.zodiac-gold.com Highlights of the project include: Located only 13km from the capital city of Monrovia, meaning the project benefits from existing infrastructure, power, and year-round accessibility. District-scale gold exploration potential with proven high-grade mineralization across multiple drill-ready targets along a 20km gold corridor. Strategically located 20km SE of Avesoro's New Liberty Gold Mine (1.8 Moz. resource) with production of 360Koz in 2023 (Avesoro website). Drilling highlights from 32 holes at the Arthington target include 6m at 10.6 g/t Au (including 3m at 20.45 g/t Au), 9.65m at 7.5 g/t Au (including 3m at 20.36 g/t Au), and 9.14m at 4.2 g/t Au. Drilling highlights at the Alasala target include 19.6m at 6.17 g/t Au, 6.0m at 7.69 g/t Au, 9.0m at 4.6 g/t Au, and 4.05m at 13.92 g/t Au (including 1.6m at 34.5 g/t Au). For more information, please contact: Karbon-X Chad Clovis CEO, Karbon-X cc@karbon-x.com +1 778-256-5730 Zodiac Gold Inc. David Kol President & CEO info@zodiac-gold.com SOURCE: Karbon-X Project Inc. SINGAPORE, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SHEIN has been consistently building a program of support for our supply chain partners, the Supplier Community Empowerment Program (SCEP), looking at enhancing physical facilities and developing innovative solutions that contribute towards the development of the entire industry. The company has earmarked a total investment of US$70million till 2028 to empower its ecosystem of third-party manufacturing suppliers and the workers within. Up till the end of 2024, SHEIN has disbursed more than US$33million to SCEP initiatives. The SCEP initiative builds on SHEIN's Responsible Sourcing (SRS) programme, which aims to ensure that employees working for its suppliers are in line with SHEIN's policies on supply chain governance and are not subject to unfair working conditions. Facility Enhancements To date, SHEIN has renovated and upgraded 203 facilities, covering more than 500,000 sqm through SCEP. These upgraded facilities are designed according to SHEIN's model factory standards, and feature improved floor layouts, increased space efficiency and output and allow for the integration of innovative technology, such as the use of autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) for moving unfinished garments between departments. Since it was launched, SHEIN has disbursed more than US$7.5 million for factory upgrading and expansion works in Southern China. Additionally, the SCEP also looks at enhancing non-factory floor facilities as part of its services for the community, with almost US$280,000 going towards the construction or upgrading of canteens for workers, and over US$430,000 towards the construction or enhancements of free accommodation options for migrant workers over the years. Technology Enhancements Through the investment under the Supplier Community Empowerment Program, SHEIN launched its Centre of Innovation for Garment Manufacturing (CIGM). The CIGM is SHEIN's commitment in action to elevating the garment manufacturing industry through research and development, establishing best practices in lean and agile production and imparting key learnings to SHEIN's manufacturing suppliers to drive organizational and process transformation. In April 2023, SHEIN announced that the CIGM will be funded by an estimated US$40 million till 2028. Spread over 58,450 square meters (roughly 629,000 square feet), the CIGM conducts research and development for innovative lean production solutions for garment manufacturing, including advanced lean production management systems and applications, such as the use of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) to promote automation and efficiency throughout the production process. SHEIN has already utilised more than US$23million (Up till end of 2024). In 2024, SHEIN's CIGM also submitted a total of 30 patents for new technology and tools that are specifically used for complex craftsmanship methods, and for working with special fabric. Training and Upskilling In 2024, SHEIN conducted 485 training sessions, covering more than 20,000 session attendees, covering topics including business and operational processes, the latest technologies in garment production, certification courses focusing on quality inspections and assurance, and national vocational skill level certifications. Services for Workers at SHEIN's Manufacturing Partners In reimagining the role SHEIN plays as partner to our manufacturing suppliers, SHEIN has extended its avenues of support to include family members of the workers within supplier communities. Spotlight Program: In 2021, we established the SHEIN Spotlight Program to benefit families within the communities of suppliers we source from. The program offers financial aid to workers within our supplier ecosystem who require assistance with funding medical expenses or their children's education, or other personal challenges. The SHEIN Spotlight Program is available to about 23,000 workers at supplier facilities. Workers simply need to scan a QR code, which are placed at prominent locations around the participating factories and submit their application via their mobile phones. SHEIN's Spotlight programme has extended support to 644 families and 1,329 school-going children and young people from the beginning of the program up till the end of 2024. Summer Camp: Under the program, SHEIN also organizes summer camps for children whose parents work in different cities. During the summer school holidays, SHEIN provides quality enrichment and educational programmes for children aged between 5 and 15 years of age. At the same time, these summer camps also offer various opportunities that promote bonding and communication between parent and child. In 2024, close to 350 children of the workers at SHEIN's supplier facilities attended summer camps. Childcare Centre Services: SHEIN also announced in 2023 that it was committing to building and staffing 60 childcare centres by 2028 to provide free after school care for the children of workers at participating partner facilities. In 2024, there were 25 childcare centres actively operating under this program, ensuring children are looked after during their parents' work hours, in safe, pleasant environments, and in close proximity to their parents. In total, more than 1,000 children have benefitted from the child care services provided. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2650637/Timeline_1_CN_01_01_13_18.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2650638/01_01_19_17.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2650639/01_02_58_19.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2650640/Timeline_1_CN_01_01_39_02.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2650641/Timeline_1_CN_01_01_47_04.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2266792/image_5026813_4105828_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/shein-supplier-community-empowerment-program---continuing-the-drumbeat-of-support-302411941.html LOS GATOS, Calif., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Supira Medical, Inc. (Supira), a clinical-stage Shifamed portfolio company, today announced the successful completion of an oversubscribed Series E financing round, raising $120M to accelerate the company's mission of transforming the percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD) market. The round was led by new investors Novo Holdings and Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), along with participation from two undisclosed strategic investors. Existing investors participated as well, including Cormorant Asset Management and The Capital Partnership (TCP), 415 Capital, AMED Ventures, PA MedTech VC fund, and Unorthodox Ventures. Funds will be used to expand Supira's clinical programs for both high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (HRPCI) and cardiogenic shock (CS). This clinical expansion includes the SUPPORT II U.S. Pivotal Study for HRPCI, which will be used to seek FDA PMA approval. "We are grateful for the continued confidence and support from our current investors and delighted to welcome new world-class investors to this financing consortium," commented Dr. Nitin Salunke, President and CEO of Supira Medical. "This significant capital raise underscores the team's tremendous progress as we look forward to exciting opportunities ahead of us to improve clinical outcomes for both HRPCI and cardiogenic shock patients." Additionally, Supira welcomes Dr. Christopher Shen, Partner, Novo Holdings US to its Board of Directors. "We believe there is a massive unmet need for next-generation ventricular support devices to promote myocardial recovery and improve peripheral organ perfusion in HRPCI and CS patients," stated Dr. Shen. "The Supira team has built a strong clinical foundation to further validate their advanced low-profile, high flow technology platform in two important segments of interventional heart failure, and we are pleased with their excellent progress bringing this therapy closer to market." The company recently completed enrollment of its U.S. SUPPORT I Early Feasibility Study (EFS), enrolling a total of 15 patients across four clinical sites. The prospective, single-arm clinical study evaluated the safety and feasibility of Supira's innovative pVAD in patients undergoing HRPCI. pVADs are important for supporting cardiovascular function during HRPCI, particularly in patients with complex coronary anatomy, compromised hemodynamics, and multiple comorbidities. They are also used in cardiogenic shock, a high-mortality condition where the heart is too weak to pump sufficient blood to vital organs, usually resulting from a heart attack or heart failure. The Supira System is an investigational device and is not approved for sale in the U.S. or anywhere in the world. Piper Sandler acted as exclusive financial advisor and Sidley Austin LLP acted as legal counsel to Supira Medical in this transaction. About Supira Medical, Inc. Supira Medical, a clinical-stage Shifamed portfolio company, is focused on the development of a next-generation pVAD for use in high-risk patients undergoing interventional procedures and experiencing cardiogenic shock. To date, the Supira System has benefited 85 HRPCI patients. To learn more about Supira Medical, please visit www.supiramedical.com. About Novo Holdings Novo Holdings is a holding and investment company that is responsible for managing the assets and the wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The purpose of Novo Holdings is to improve people's health and the sustainability of society and the planet by generating attractive long-term returns on the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Wholly owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Novo Holdings is the controlling shareholder of Novo Nordisk A/S and Novonesis A/S (Novozymes A/S) and manages an investment portfolio with a long-term return perspective. In addition to managing a broad portfolio of equities, bonds, real estate, infrastructure and private equity assets, Novo Holdings is a world-leading life sciences investor. Through its Seed, Venture, Growth, Asia, Planetary Health and Principal Investments teams, Novo Holdings invests in life science companies at all stages of development. As of year-end 2023, Novo Holdings had total assets of EUR 149 billion. www.novoholdings.dk About Qatar Investment Authority QIA is the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar. QIA was founded in 2005 to invest and manage the state reserve funds. QIA is among the largest and most active sovereign wealth funds globally. QIA invests across a wide range of asset classes and regions as well as in partnership with leading institutions around the world to build a global and diversified investment portfolio with a long-term perspective that can deliver sustainable returns and contribute to the prosperity of the State of Qatar. Media contact: media@qia.qa About Shifamed, LLC. Founded by serial entrepreneur Amr Salahieh, Shifamed is a highly specialized medical innovation hub focused on developing solutions that accelerate time to market, reduce risk, increase impact, and forge a path toward a world where patients are able to live longer, healthier lives. To learn more about Shifamed, please visit www.shifamed.com. Media Contact: Craig Brandli VP of Marketing craig@supiramedical.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1754758/SupiraMedical_Logo_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/supira-medical-secures-120m-oversubscribed-series-e-financing-and-completes-enrollment-of-support-i-early-feasibility-study-in-the-united-states-302411646.html Capital Gearing Trust P.l.c. - Result of General Meeting PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, March 26 Capital Gearing Trust P.l.c. (the "Company") Result of General Meeting Renewal of share buy-back authority 26 March 2025 Legal Entity Identifier: 213800T2PJTPVF1UGW53 Following a General Meeting of the Company held today, the Board is pleased to announce that the special resolution seeking the approval of Shareholders to renew the Company's authority to buy back up to 14.99 per cent. of the Company's issued share capital (excluding Treasury shares), was passed on a show of hands. The proxy voting figures are shown below: Special Resolution Votes For % Votes Against % Total Votes Cast Votes Withheld 1. 5,588,470 97.0 174,007 3.0 5,762,477 1,894 Notes: Any proxy votes which are at the discretion of the Chair have been included in the "for" total. A vote withheld is not a vote in law and is not counted in the votes for or against a resolution. At the date and time of the General Meeting, the total number of Ordinary Shares of 25p each in issue (excluding shares held in Treasury) was 18,033,440. The passing of the special resolution has authorised the Company to buy back up to 2,703,212 Ordinary Shares. The proxy voting figures will shortly be available on the Company's website at www.capitalgearingtrust.com The full text of the special resolution passed has been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection at: https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism The special resolution will additionally be filed with Companies House. The full text of the resolution can be found in the Notice of General Meeting contained in the Circular dated 25 February 2025 (the "Circular"), which is available for viewing at the National Storage Mechanism which can be located at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism and on the Company's website, www.capitalgearingtrust.com Capitalised terms used in this announcement shall, unless the context otherwise requires, bear the meanings given to them in the Circular. For further information please contact: Frostrow Capital LLP - Company Secretary Alison Vincent 0203 709 2481 PORTLAND, Ind., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Brigade will be demonstrating its range of vehicle safety solutions to attendees at World of Asphalt 2025 in St Louis, Missouri from March 25th - 27th. According to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1,075 fatalities occurred in the construction industry in 2023, more than any other sector. 22.3% of these were a result of transportation incidents, which were the most frequent type of fatal event. Rough terrain and adverse weather conditions on construction sites greatly increase the likelihood of an incident, and tight deadlines mean work often continues through the night with resulting poor visibility. The chances of front, rear and side blind spots leading to collisions are heightened because many site workers wear ear defenders and are unable to hear approaching vehicles or even audible warnings. At World of Asphalt, experts from Brigade will be available to discuss the complex safety requirements of the construction industry and demonstrate a wide range of products which will prevent collisions and safeguard workers. Brigade's Backsense heavy-duty radar proximity sensor systems are designed to detect both stationary and moving objects in blind spots, providing the driver with in-cab visual and audible warnings. The obstacle detection sensors work effectively in harsh environments and poor visibility, making them ideal for construction sites. Brigade's 360-degree high-definition four-camera system - Backeye360 AI Intelligent detection - is enhanced by state-of-the-art AI technology to identify humans and effectively eliminate all blind spots. Providing a comprehensive view of the surrounding area in a single image, Backeye360 AI audibly and visually alerts the driver when a person is detected. Corey Heniser, CEO of Brigade Electronics INC at Brigade, said: "World of Asphalt is the perfect place to showcase our safety solutions for every type of construction vehicle, and we're looking forward to meeting customers old and new and finding out how we can help meet their objectives. Our experts want to hear about your requirements and demonstrate our range of products. Drop by our booth and find out what we can do to prioritize safety in your fleet." Brigade Electronics will be attending World of Asphalt 2025 in St Louis, MO from March 25th - 27th and exhibiting its range of construction safety systems. Find them at Booth 7046. Notes to Editor Brigade is a global market leader and award-winning provider of commercial and machinery vehicle safety solutions. The company's mission is to save lives, protect vulnerable road users and assist drivers to maneuver safely by creating high-quality products that reduce the risk of collisions and eliminate vehicle blind spots. Founded in 1976 by Chris Hanson-Abbott OBE, Brigade introduced the very first back up alarm to Europe and has been at the forefront of championing vehicle and machinery safety ever since. The company is renowned for pioneering industry-compliant products as well as developing and patenting new and innovative technology. Brigade's product portfolio offers a range of devices suitable for OEM and aftermarket customers. These include the very latest AI-enhanced 360-degree camera systems, camera monitor systems, White Sound reversing alarms, radar and ultrasonic sensors enhanced with AI capabilities, as well as video recording devices and dashcams which are compatible with various telematics platforms, including Brigade Telematics. Brigade's products can be integrated to suit a broad range of applications and requirements. All devices come with generous warranty periods (some lifetime), technical support and expert aftercare. https://brigade-electronics.com/en-us/ Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2650689/Brigade_vehicle_safety.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/brigade-to-showcase-vehicle-safety-solutions-at-world-of-asphalt-2025-302411983.html Hole SN-25-02 intersected 14.00m grading 1.04 g/t PGEs (Au + Pt + Pd) with 0.19% Cu, including 1.86m grading 2.55 g/t PGEs with 0.46% C. Drilling to date indicates a large Midcontinental Rift-style intrusion, suggesting the potential for a sizable mineralized system comparable in scale to the nearby Sunday Lake Discovery. Hole SN-25-03 encountered over 450-metre-thick sequence of rift-related intrusion, with both the upper and lower gabbroic series significantly thicker than intersected in drilling to date. Prominent interval of 'reef-style' mineralization within SN-25-03 with anomalous Ni-Cu intersected within lower gabbroic series indicates proximity to favourable PGM enriched layers at depth along the basal contact that has yet to be tested at this location. Sudbury, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2025) - Transition Metals Corp. (TSXV: XTM) ("Transition" or "the Company") is pleased to share results from its 2025 drilling program at the 100%-owned Saturday Night Project, located 25 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The program included two drill holes totaling 1,417 metres, targeting the basal contact of the mineralized Saturday Night layered intrusion (see news release dated January 15, 2025). CEO Scott McLean commented, "The thick sequence of differentiated rift intrusion encountered at Saturday Night is highly encouraging. The geology, mineralization style, and geophysical characteristics are strikingly similar to those observed at the Sunday Lake and Thunder Bay North Ni-Cu-PGM deposits. With the platinum market facing a significant deficit for the third consecutive year and strong investment interest driving demand, the potential for thicker, concentrated Ni-Cu-PGM mineralization at depth becomes even more compelling. The presence of a thick layered intrusive sequence and basal cumulate phases intersected in these three holes further supports this potential. We look forward to resuming drilling, following up on deeper mineralization intersections in hole SN-25-03 once funding is secured." Discussion of Results The 2025 drill program at Saturday Night (Figure 1) consisted of two holes, totaling 1,417 metres (Figure 2). Hole SN-25-02 was collared at 319,903mE, 5,390,396mN, near the site of Transition's discovery hole SN-16-01, and drilled to a depth of 587m. It intersected a 14.00m mineralized interval grading 1.04 g/t PGEs (Au + Pt + Pd) with 0.19% Cu, including 1.86m grading 2.55 g/t PGEs with 0.46% Cu (see news release dated February 28, 2025). The Company had previously completed hole SN-16-01, the discovery hole, which intersected 6.25m at 1.07 g/t PGEs, including a 0.30m section grading 4.0 g/t PGEs and 0.56% Cu (see news release dated January 23, 2017). Hole SN-25-03, collared 400-metres south of the discovery hole, located at 319,730mE, 5,390,082mN, intersected over 450-metre-thick rift-related intrusion, representing significantly thicker sequence than had previously been observed. It was oriented southwest (azimuth 201, dip -70) and reached a depth of 830-metres. The hanging wall consists of a brecciated, strongly hematite-altered, and magnetic granitic unit identified as the Trout Lake Granite. The alteration intensity increased downhole, beneath which the Saturday Night Intrusion ("SNI") was encountered. The SNI consisted of a fractionated and altered leucogabbro to monzogabbro, identified as the upper gabbroic series, which transitioned into a more primitive monzogabbro to melagabbro, referred to as the lower gabbroic series. Notably, both the upper and lower gabbroic series intersected within this hole were significantly thicker than those intersected in both SN-16-01 and SN-25-02. Near the end of the hole, drilling intersected a sub-unit within the lower gabbroic series, characterized by an exceptionally magnetic, magnetite-plagioclase-phyric monzogabbro. This section within the lower gabbroic series contains Cu and Ni concentrations an order of magnitude higher than surrounding intervals, further suggesting a reef-like feature. Sequential sampling from 790.00 metres to 805.02 metres defines a 15.02-metre interval of sulphur-saturated monzogabbro, grading 472 ppm Cu and 142 ppm Ni, with copper values ranging from 190 ppm to 755 ppm and nickel values from 62 ppm to 220 ppm. Due to the thicker stratigraphic sequence of the Upper and Lower Gabbroic Sequence encountered within SN-25-03, and to stay within budget, the hole was terminated at a depth of 830-metres, before being able to reach the ultramafic series and basal contact, where mineralization was anticipated. Multi-element geochemistry samples were collected at 10-metre intervals throughout the intrusion, confirming a differentiated layered intrusion with striking similarities to the Company's Sunday Lake Intrusion. At Sunday Lake, a similar reef-like feature was commonly intersected within the lower gabbroic series, above the basal contact hosting Ni-Cu-PGE mineralization (see news release dated May 5, 2020). Figure 1: Saturday Night Property Location Map on Regional Total Field Magnetics To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2766/246105_d7810c749489abe3_001full.jpg Overall, these observations and results confirm that the Saturday Night Intrusion exhibits key characteristics associated with prospective magmatic Ni-Cu-PGM systems. The combination of thick, layered intrusive sequences, favorable structural settings, and mineralized basal contacts enhances the project's exploration potential and warrants further investigation. Figure 1 Illustrates the location of the Saturday Night Project relative to the Sunday Lake Project and the City of Thunder Bay, Ontario, and Figure 2 Illustrates an idealized geological cross-section of the Saturday Night Intrusion, depicting the mineralized intervals encountered to date. Note: 3E-PGEs are represented as (Au + Pt + Pd). Coordinates are in UTMs, NAD 83, Zone 16N in metres. Figure 2: Saturday Night Project cross-section, looking west, with interpreted geology and mineralization intersected To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2766/246105_d7810c749489abe3_002full.jpg Next Steps The deepening of drill hole SN-25-03 remains a key priority for further exploration at Saturday Night, with Ni-Cu-PGM mineralization expected at the basal contact. The Company plans to complete the hole in the coming weeks as it advances its understanding of the mineralized system. CEO Scott McLean will present an overview of the Company and the Saturday Night Project at the Ontario Prospectors Association's (OPA) Symposium in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The event will take place at the Valhalla Hotel & Conference Centre (Valhalla Inn) on April 15-16, 2025. About the Saturday Night Project The Saturday Night Project, wholly owned by Transition Metals, comprises 63 staked mining claims situated in Fowler Township, that is located approximately 30 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, Ontario within the Robinson Superior Treaty area. The project has year-round road access to a main highway and is close to infrastructure. The exploration work to date has confirmed that a magnetic anomaly found on Property is linked to an underlying mafic-ultramafic intrusion (SNI), which is interpreted to have originated during the Proterozoic era and is associated with the renowned Midcontinental Rift (MCR). The MCR is a geological feature that extends over 2,000 kilometres across the heart of North America. It formed around 1.1 billion years ago as the North American craton began to rift. Notably, the early stages of this rift (referred to as 'early-rift') are associated with the presence of mafic to ultramafic intrusive rocks that contain significant quantities of platinum group metals (PGMs). Nearby MCR related deposits include the Thunder Bay North and Sunday Lake deposit. The Sunday Lake deposit was discovered by Transition in partnership with Impala Platinum in 2013. Other rift related Ni-Cu and PGM bearing systems include the Eagle deposit located in Michigan, and the Tamarack and Duluth deposits located in Minnesota. The Saturday Night Project is currently in the early exploration phase, with ongoing assessments aimed at determining the potential of the Property to host PGM mineralization of interest. The Property is subject to an underlying 1.0% Net Smelter Return royalty (see new release dated September 8, 2020). Qualified Person The technical elements of this news release have been approved by Mr. Benjamin Williams, P.Geo. (PGO), Senior Geologist of Transition Metals Corp., and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Government Exploration Grant Program (OJEP) Transition Metals Corp. would like to acknowledge financial support from the 2024-25 Ontario Junior Exploration Program (OJEP) for the Saturday Night Project, in Ontario. Through the OJEP program, Transition has been selected to receive up to $200,000 to cover 50% of eligible explorations costs on the project, aimed at facilitating the exploration of Critical Minerals within Ontario. The receipt of these grants represents a meaningful milestone, leveraging government support towards advancing the exploration of this magmatic PGM project. It's important to note that the opinions and views expressed in this announcement are those of Transition Metals Corp., and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Ontario. About Transition Metals Corp. Transition Metals Corp. (TSXV: XTM) is a Canadian-based, multi-commodity explorer. Its award-winning team of geoscientists has extensive exploration experience which actively develops and tests new ideas for discovering mineralization in places that others have not looked, often allowing the Company to acquire properties inexpensively. Joint venture partners earn an interest in the projects by funding a portion of higher-risk drilling and exploration, allowing Transition to conserve capital and minimize shareholder's equity dilution. Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246105 SOURCE: Transition Metals Corp. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2025) - ESGold Corp. (CSE: ESAU) (OTCQB: ESAUF) (FSE: Z7D) ("ESGold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that effective today, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") has approved the Company's request to change its U.S. trading symbol on the OTCQB Venture Market from "SEKZF" to "ESAUF." This change more closely aligns the Company's U.S. market identity with its Canadian listing (ESAU) and reflects ESGold's cohesive brand strategy as it advances toward production at its fully permitted Montauban Project in Quebec. The new symbol ESAUF will begin trading under its updated designation at the open of market today, March 26, 2025. ESGold is also DTC eligible, enhancing trading accessibility and liquidity for U.S. investors - see related news release here. Strategic Alignment with a Clear Forward Vision This symbol change is a step in ESGold's ongoing evolution as it transitions from a development-stage company into a near-term gold and silver producer with district-scale exploration potential. The updated symbol reinforces the Company's unified presence across global exchanges and is intended to improve brand recognition and clarity for investors in the U.S. and abroad. "Aligning our U.S. trading symbol with our Canadian ticker is a subtle but important step that reflects our growth, strategic focus, and brand consistency across all investor platforms," stated Brad Kitchen, President of ESGold. "We remain focused on executing our business plan and delivering near-term production and long-term shareholder value." No Action Required by Shareholders For shareholders, the symbol change requires no action. The change will be reflected automatically in shareholders' brokerage accounts, and there is no impact on the number of shares held or on the rights and entitlements of those shares. About ESGold Corp. ESGold Corp. (CSE: ESAU) (OTCQB: ESAUF) (FSE: Z7D) is a fully permitted, pre-production resource company at the forefront of clean mining and exploration innovation. With proven expertise in Quebec, the Company is advancing its projects toward production while delivering long-term value through sustainable resource recovery and exploration. ESGold's flagship Montauban property, located 80 kilometers west of Quebec City, serves as a model for responsible mining practices, combining near-term production with significant exploration potential. For more information, please contact ESGold Corp. at +1-888-370-1059 or visit esgold.com for additional resources, including a French version of this press release, past news releases, a 3D model of the Montauban processing plant, media interviews, and opinion-editorial pieces. Stay connected by following us on X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and joining our Telegram channel. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246114 SOURCE: ESGold Corp. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2025) - Digital Commodities Capital Corp. (CSE: RIPP) (OTCQB: BCBCF) (FSE: W04) (the "Company"), commends the landmark settlement between Ripple Labs and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 24th, 2025, marking the end of a years-long legal battle that had cast regulatory uncertainty over the XRP token and broader digital asset market. This resolution represents a significant victory not just for Ripple, but for the entire digital asset space - bringing clarity, confidence, and renewed momentum to a market long constrained by regulatory ambiguity. The implications of the decision are far-reaching. It reaffirms the viability of utility-driven digital assets, strengthens the legal foundation for non-security token classifications, and sets a tone for more balanced engagement between innovators and regulators. In light of this development, Digital Commodities confirms it currently holds 103,000 XRP tokens in its corporate treasury and is actively evaluating further exposure to Ripple and Ripple-affiliated assets, technologies, and complementary companies within the XRP ecosystem as part of its broader strategy to build long-term value through diversified digital assets. Brayden Sutton, CEO of Digital Commodities, commented: "This is a defining moment for the crypto space. Ripple's resolution with the SEC provides a roadmap for the kind of clarity and cooperation this industry needs to truly scale. At Digital Commodities, we believe strongly in the future of compliant, utility-based digital assets - and XRP is a prime example. We are pleased to already hold some XRP in our treasury, and we'll continue to explore opportunities that complement Ripple's ecosystem and align with our long-term investment thesis." Digital Commodities Capital continues to target high-conviction opportunities across digital assets, hard commodities, and resource-backed ventures - with a commitment to identifying assets that combine innovation, regulatory alignment, and real-world utility. For more information, please visit www.digitalcommodities.com About Digital Commodities Capital Corp. Digital Commodities Capital Corp. is an investment issuer that invests in digital and physical non-fiat assets, businesses and private and publicly listed entities that are involved in high-growth industries, with a particular focus on hard commodities, cryptocurrencies and the resource sector. Disclaimer Forward-Looking Statements This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements relating to the fact that the implications of the settlement with the SEC are far-reaching and what those implications are; the Company's plans with respect to its involvement in Ripple and particularly that it is actively evaluating further exposure to Ripple-affiliated assets, technologies, and complementary companies within the XRP ecosystem; that the Company will continue to explore opportunities that complement Ripple's ecosystem and align with its long-term investment thesis; and the Company's business objectives and goals including that the Company continues to target high-conviction opportunities across digital assets, hard commodities, and resource-backed ventures - with a commitment to identifying assets that combine innovation, regulatory alignment, and real-world utility. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied certain material assumptions, including without limitation, that the implications of the settlement with the SEC will prove to be in alignment with the Company's expectations; that the Company's future plans and involvement with Ripple will be consistent with management's expectations; that the Company's business plans and goals will remain unchanged, including that it will continue to explore opportunities that complement Ripple's ecosystem and align with its long-term investment thesis and that it will continue to target high-conviction opportunities across digital assets, hard commodities, and resource-backed ventures. These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, that the implications of the settlement with the SEC will differ from the Company's expectations; that the Company's future plans and involvement with Ripple will change and will not be consistent with management's current expectations; there will be a breach or change to the settlement agreement between the SEC and Ripple Labs; adverse changes to legislation, regulations, rules or policies impacting Ripple or digital assets in general; changes in the Company's business plans and/or goals; adverse changes to the cryptocurrency industry; adverse changes to cryptocurrency regulations; general economic, market or business conditions; uninsured risks; other regulatory changes; and other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) 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/246131 SOURCE: Digital Commodities VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Standard Lithium Ltd. ("Standard Lithium" or the "Company") (TSXV:SLI) (NYSE American:SLI), a leading near-commercial lithium company, is pleased to provide a general corporate update demonstrating continuous advancement and derisking of corporate objectives. Principal corporate updates and highlights include: Commencement of a rigorous and disciplined project finance and off-take process for the first phase of the South West Arkansas ("SWA") Project (first phase contemplates 22,500 tonnes per year of battery quality lithium carbonate production). A banking advisor with recent and relevant success has been selected to lead an intensive off-take selection and project finance (debt) process. This two-pronged engagement with potential off-take partners and debt providers started in January and is expected to be completed in Q3 and Q4 respectively. The Company looks forward to releasing additional information as the process advances; The Smackover Lithium JV, in partnership with Equinor, continues the successful mineral leasing program in East Texas ("ETX"). SLI first started extensive mineral leasing in the most prospective areas of the Smackover Formation in East Texas in 2022. Since the formation of the JV in May 2024 (https://www.standardlithium.com/investors/news-events/press-releases/detail/171/standard-lithium-and-equinor-form-partnership-to-develop), it has continued to grow the acquired lease position, and is now actively leasing within a total area of 185,000 acres across several Counties in East Texas; The first ETX project area of approximately 67,000 acres has been identified. This project area is centered on Franklin County, and the Company has previously drilled three exploratory boreholes in and adjacent to this project area and reported the highest known lithium in brine grades in North America (https://www.standardlithium.com/investors/news-events/press-releases/detail/158/standard-lithium-delivers-highest-ever-north-american) (maximum lithium grade of 806 mg/L reported). Some of the existing wells will be resampled during Q2 and Q3 of this year, and it is expected that a maiden Inferred Resource Report for this highly prospective lithium resource will be published in Q3 of this year; The Company, in partnership with Koch Technology Solutions, continues to use the Demonstration Plant in Union County as an essential test and technology development center to not only demonstrate the derisked and commercially ready DLE technology for the first commercial project at SWA, but also as a test-bed to continuously improve the entire flowsheet for future projects; Commercial development at the Lanxess Projects is not ruled out, but the Company's focus on building the next phase of lithium projects in North America is centered on the JV opportunities at the SWA Project and in East Texas. The Company is confident the brine resources that the JV is securing in East Texas will come to be seen as the premier lithium brine assets in North America. David Park, CEO of Standard Lithium said "The Standard Lithium team, in combination with our partners Equinor and Koch Technology Solutions, has been working diligently to keep on moving the projects forward, derisking key workstreams and hitting development milestones. As we've said before, it's time for us to prioritize, focus, and execute. It is now clear that executing on our SWA Project with our partners is our top priority, and that we see incredible potential to build on that foundation and grow with them into East Texas." Six-Month Fiscal Period Ended December 31, 2024 Call and Webcast The Company will hold a conference call and webcast to discuss its six-month fiscal period ended December 31, 2024 on Friday, March 28th at 3:30 p.m. ET. Access to the call is available via webcast or direct dial. Conference Call and Webcast Details Standard Lithium Six Month Fiscal Period Ended December 31, 2024 Results Call and Webcast March 28, 2025 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time (US and Canada) Participant Information: Conference ID: 6644028 USA / International Toll +1 (646) 307-1963 USA - Toll-Free (800) 715-9871 Canada - Toronto (647) 932-3411 Canada - Toll-Free (800) 715-9871 Attendee Webcast Link: https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/457319305 About Standard Lithium Ltd. Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company focused on the sustainable development of a portfolio of large, high-grade lithium-brine properties in the United States. The Company prioritizes projects characterized by the highest quality resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labor, and streamlined permitting. Standard Lithium aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the application of a scalable and fully integrated DLE and purification process. The Company's flagship projects are located in the Smackover Formation, a world-class lithium brine asset, focused in Arkansas and Texas. In partnership with global energy leader Equinor, Standard Lithium is advancing the South West Arkansas project, a greenfield project located in southern Arkansas, and actively exploring promising lithium brine prospects in East Texas. Standard Lithium also holds an interest in certain mineral leases in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California. Standard Lithium trades on both the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American under the symbol "SLI". Please visit the Company's website at www.standardlithium.com. Qualified Person Steve Ross, P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and Vice President Resource Development for the Company, has reviewed and approved the relevant scientific and technical information in this news release. Investor and Media Inquiries Chris Lang Standard Lithium Ltd. +1 604 409 8154 investors@standardlithium.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to intended development timelines, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. CHICAGO, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bounteous, a leading global digital transformation consultancy, announced the appointment of Sudarshan Mandayam as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective April 1, 2025, following the successful completion of its merger with Accolite Digital. This leadership transition signals a new chapter in Bounteous' journey - focused on delivering lasting client impact through Co-Innovation, deeper client partnerships, and execution at scale. Mandayam has extensive global leadership experience across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions, having held senior roles at industry leaders such as Cognizant, Infosys, L&T Infotech, JPMorgan, and Citi. He brings a proven record of driving growth, scaling businesses, leading digital transformation initiatives, and delivering measurable client outcomes through high-performing teams. Most recently serving as President, Americas at Bounteous, Mandayam played a pivotal role in integrating the merged company, sharpening the company's strategic focus, aligning teams, and advancing its ability to deliver differentiated digital solutions. "I am honored to lead Bounteous into its next phase of growth," said Sudarshan Mandayam. "As AI and digital technologies rapidly reshape every industry, we are uniquely positioned to help our clients transform with speed and purpose - combining strategy, experience innovation, and AI-driven execution to deliver measurable, lasting impact." Mandayam succeeds Keith Schwartz, Co-Founder and former CEO of Bounteous and Leela Kaza, Founder and former CEO of Accolite Digital. Schwartz and Kaza jointly led the merged company for the past fourteen months as Co-CEOs and will assume new roles as Vice Chairmen of the Board, where they will continue to support the company's strategic direction and vision. "Sudarshan deeply understands the value of Co-Innovation and has already demonstrated an exceptional ability to deliver impact at scale," said Keith Schwartz. "He leads with clarity and purpose, and his ability to bring together diverse capabilities - across strategy, design, and technology - will ensure Bounteous continues to be the digital transformation partner of choice for leading enterprises." "Bounteous stands apart through its ability to create exceptional digital experiences and deliver enterprise-wide technology transformation," said Leela Kaza. "Sudarshan's strategic vision and commitment to customer success, blended with sharp operational focus and execution, makes him uniquely qualified to lead the business into the next phase of growth and advance our mission to deliver high-impact solutions to our customers worldwide." "Bounteous has redefined how companies Co-Innovate with their partners to stay ahead of disruption," said Prasad Chintamaneni, Managing Director at New Mountain Capital and Executive Chairman of the Board at Bounteous. "With Sudarshan's leadership, we're doubling down on AI-led transformation - bringing together digital strategy, world-class execution, and deep industry expertise, to help our clients compete smarter and lead in an AI-driven world." About Bounteous Bounteous is a premier, end-to-end digital transformation consultancy dedicated to partnering with ambitious brands to create digital solutions for today's complex challenges and tomorrow's opportunities. With uncompromising standards for technical and domain expertise, we deliver innovative and strategic solutions in Strategy, Analytics, Digital Engineering, Cloud, Data & AI, Experience Design, and Marketing. Our Co-Innovation methodology is a unique engagement model designed to align objectives and accelerate value creation. Our clients worldwide benefit from the skills and expertise of more than 4,000 expert team members across the Americas, APAC, and EMEA. Discover more about our impactful work and expertise by visiting www.bounteous.com and following us on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2649882/Sudarshan_Mandayam_Headshot.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2596704/Bounteous__Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bounteous-names-sudarshan-mandayam-as-ceo-to-lead-next-phase-of-digital-innovation-and-growth-302412004.html Dr. Ember Ewings applies specific surgical methods for body contouring to improve patient outcomes following major weight loss at Eau Claire's Plastic Surgery Clinic. With the rising popularity of weight loss medications alongside traditional methods such as lifestyle changes and bariatric surgery, more individuals are achieving significant weight reduction. However, this transformation often comes with new challenges. While major weight loss brings numerous health benefits, it can also leave behind loose or excess skin, which can impact both comfort and confidence. Body contouring procedures are designed to address these concerns, helping patients achieve a more sculpted and proportional appearance. The Plastic Surgery Clinic of Eau Claire offers a range of body contouring options tailored to meet the unique needs of patients following major weight loss. Dr. Ember Ewings Dr. Ewings is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. She performs both cosmetic surgical, non-surgical, and reconstructive procedures. Understanding Body Contouring After Weight Loss When individuals lose a significant amount of weight, the skin may not contract fully to match their new body size. Factors such as age, genetics, and the amount of weight lost influence how much excess skin remains. Body contouring procedures aim to remove this excess skin and reshape the body for a more natural and toned appearance. These procedures are not weight-loss solutions but rather a way to refine the body's contours after the weight loss process is complete. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ember Ewings and her team at the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Eau Claire specialize in body contouring procedures, offering customized treatment plans to help patients feel more comfortable and confident in their bodies. Common Body Contouring Procedures Several surgical procedures can help address loose or sagging skin in different areas of the body. Some of the most common body contouring options after major weight loss include: Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) A tummy tuck removes excess skin and tightens weakened abdominal muscles, resulting in a firmer, flatter stomach. This procedure is particularly beneficial for individuals who experience significant skin laxity in the midsection after weight loss. Liposuction While liposuction is primarily known for removing stubborn fat deposits, it is often used in combination with other contouring procedures to enhance body proportions. Liposuction can refine results by targeting areas where small pockets of fat remain after weight loss. Arm Lift (Brachioplasty) Weight loss can leave patients with sagging skin on the upper arms. An arm lift removes this excess skin, creating a more defined arm contour. Thigh Lift A thigh lift is designed to reshape the thighs by removing excess skin and fat, improving the overall proportion of the lower body. This procedure is often recommended for individuals who experience significant sagging in the inner following weight loss. Breast Lift (Mastopexy) Major weight loss can lead to a loss of breast volume and sagging skin. A breast lift reshapes and lifts the breasts to create a more youthful and proportionate appearance. In some cases, a breast lift may be combined with augmentation or reduction to achieve the desired size. Male Breast Reduction (Gynecomastia Surgery) Men who experience excess skin or persistent breast tissue after weight loss may benefit from male breast reduction. This procedure helps create a more sculpted, masculine chest contour. Ideal Candidates for Body Contouring Not everyone who has lost a significant amount of weight will need body contouring surgery, but for those who experience loose or sagging skin, it can be an effective solution. Ideal candidates for body contouring should: Have maintained a stable weight for at least six months, close to a BMI less than 30 kg/m2 Be in good overall health Have realistic expectations about results Not smoke or be willing to quit, as nicotine use can affect healing During a consultation, Dr. Ewings evaluates each patient's concerns and goals, recommending the most appropriate procedures for their needs. Recovery and Results Recovery from body contouring procedures varies depending on the type and extent of surgery performed. Most patients can expect some swelling, bruising, and temporary discomfort, which can be managed with prescribed medications. Compression garments are often recommended to support healing and reduce swelling. While initial improvements can be seen soon after surgery, final results become more apparent as swelling subsides over the following months. Patients are encouraged to maintain a stable weight and follow their surgeon's post-operative care instructions to optimize long-term results. About Dr. Ember Ewings Dr. Ember Ewings is a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in post-weight-loss body contouring. She is dedicated to helping patients achieve their aesthetic goals through personalized treatment plans that prioritize safety and natural-looking results. With a strong background in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, Dr. Ewings understands the unique challenges that come with significant weight loss and tailors her approach to each individual's needs. Her expertise includes a wide range of body contouring procedures designed to improve both function and appearance. At the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Eau Claire, Dr. Ewings and her team provide compassionate care, guiding patients through every step of the process, from consultation to recovery. With a commitment to helping patients achieve their goals, the clinic provides comprehensive consultations to guide individuals through their options. For those interested in learning more about body contouring procedures, the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Eau Claire provides detailed information on available treatments. Location and Contact Information Plastic Surgery Clinic of Eau Claire 3221 Stein Blvd #2, Eau Claire, WI 54701 Phone: (715) 514-2550 Contact the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Eau Claire Taking the Next Step Toward a Confident You Body contouring after major weight loss can be a transformative step toward achieving a more toned and proportional physique. With various surgical options available, patients can work with an experienced surgeon like Dr. Ewings to develop a personalized plan that aligns with their aesthetic and functional goals. For individuals in the Eau Claire area seeking guidance on post-weight-loss body contouring, scheduling a consultation at the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Eau Claire can be the first step toward achieving lasting results. Contact Information Dr. Ember Ewings info@enza.com 715-833-2116 SOURCE: Plastic Surgery Clinic of Eau Claire New research from Dove reveals that 8 in 10 Black people in the UK struggle to find emojis that accurately reflect their hair - or don't even search, knowing they don't exist Dove and RISE.365 are calling on their communities to help convince decision makers that natural and protective hairstyles should be added to the emoji library for good LONDON , March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Emojis are one of the most universal forms of communication today. They shape how we express emotion, identity, and culture in a digital world. Despite 92%[1] of the world's population using the nearly 4,000 emojis currently available, there is a significant gap in the representation of Black people*. While users can choose from 18 emojis representing mythical characters, there is not a single emoji representing real people with natural or protective hairstyles. Why is there a hair pick emoji, but no hair style to use it on? The importance of textured hair, protective styles, and those who proudly wear them, cannot be overstated. Unicode Consortium, a non-profit that regulates the coding standards for written computer text including emojis, will soon be deciding what new emoji characters will be added to the library in 2025. Today, Dove and RISE.365 invite you to join them in convincing Unicode to introduce four new emojis that accurately depict Black hairstyles. Dove believes every person deserves to see their beauty represented in the world around them with care and accuracy. As a co-founder of the CROWN Coalition, Dove has been working to "Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural hair" by supporting the passage of the CROWN Act since 2019. In 2023, Dove continued its mission by advocating for real impact in the virtual world and launched Code My Crown to educate and empower game developers to create more inclusive representation in gaming around the world. Now, as part of its ongoing commitment to expand beauty representation in digital spaces, Dove is advocating for the introduction of four new emojis to reflect natural or protective hairstyles: afro, locs, braids, and cornrows. "Dove has championed real beauty and inclusive representation for more than two decades," said Marcela Melero, Chief Growth Officer of Dove Personal Care North America and Dove Masterbrand. "Our ongoing support of the CROWN Movement and partnership with RISE.365 aims to highlight the glaring absence in our keyboards and ensure those with textured hair and protective styles see themselves reflected in digital spaces." The lack of representation on our keyboards has real-world consequences, affecting self-perception, confidence and digital inclusion. Additional findings from Dove research reveal the need for inclusive emoji representation: 75% of Black people think it is important for emojis to accurately represent hair features of Black people think it is important for emojis to accurately represent hair features 67% of Black people say they use emojis to represent their identity, physical characteristics, and culture, yet the absence of relevant hair emojis forces them to compromise. of Black people say they use emojis to represent their identity, physical characteristics, and culture, yet the absence of relevant hair emojis forces them to compromise. 61% of Black people report feeling undervalued due to this lack of representation, perceiving their identity as less important. of Black people report feeling undervalued due to this lack of representation, perceiving their identity as less important. 70% of Black people say it would make them feel seen if a diverse range of emojis were available for natural or protective hairstyles. In 2019, New York based writer Rhianna Jones submitted a proposal for an afro hair emoji, backed by over 65,000 signatures, that was declined by the Unicode Consortium, which cited the existing "curly hair" emoji as sufficiently representative. Since then, RISE.365, a London-based community group dedicated to empowering youth and driving lasting, positive change has continued to champion the inclusion of natural textured hair and protective styles in the emoji library. Each proposed emoji was thoughtfully designed by the group's young leaders, celebrating the beauty and diversity of Black hair. Now, Dove and RISE.365 have joined forces to amplify the call for more inclusive emojis, advocating for the representation of Black hairstyles in the emoji library. "Emojis are not just symbols - they influence how we see ourselves and each other," said Joycelyn Buffong, Founder and CEO of RISE.365. "For too long, Black people have been excluded from digital representation, reinforcing the idea that our features and identities are an afterthought. This movement is about more than emojis - it's about recognition, inclusion, and ensuring that Black and mixed race hairstyles are seen, valued, and celebrated everywhere, including in digital spaces." Everyone deserves a chance to see themselves reflected in the digital world. Together, let's call for natural and protective hairstyles to be added to the emoji library. Show your support by commenting CodeMyCrown on this post to strengthen the case and make these four emojis impossible to ignore. Visit Dove.com/CodeMyCrown to learn more and join Dove to help expand the representation of textured hair and protective styles in digital spaces. Contact: DoveGlobal@edelman.com About the research: Online survey conducted by Edelman DXI, a global, multidisciplinary research, analytics, and data consultancy, in the US, UK and Brazil in February 2025 with 900 Black / mixed-race individuals who are emoji users aged 18+ (n=300 in each country). *Please note that while the stats above mainly refer to Black individuals, the survey also included respondents who self-identify as mixed race and are using emojis. About RISE.365 RISE.365 is a dynamic Community Interest Company (CIC) dedicated to empowering young people by providing holistic support, employability training, and opportunities for personal and professional growth. Through our innovative programs, we challenge inequality, advocate for systemic change, and create pathways for a fairer society. Our work has positively transformed the lives of hundreds of young people, many of whom face social and economic disadvantages, experience school exclusions, or are navigating the complexities of the care system. We provide tailored support, mentorship, and practical life skills, ensuring young people develop the confidence, resilience, and independence needed to thrive. From our RISE.365 Community Shop, which fosters workplace readiness and financial literacy, we champion diversity and representation, and we are committed to breaking barriers and creating opportunities. Our programs not only support young people but also work with families, schools, and local authorities to reduce exclusions, prevent youth disengagement, and create lasting, positive change. In addition to our direct youth support services, RISE.365 has led and contributed to various high-impact campaigns for equality and diversity, advocating for representation in industries where people of colour are underrepresented and often face barriers. Our Texturism Emoji Campaign is one example of how we challenge beauty standards and push for more inclusive digital representation. Through strategic collaborations and community-driven initiatives, we continue to raise awareness, influence policy, and drive meaningful change. At RISE.365, we believe in the power of community, the importance of strong relationships, and the potential in every young person to rise and succeed. For more information, visit www.rise365.co.uk or follow us on @rise.365. About Dove Dove started its life in 1957 in the US, with launch of the Beauty Bar, with its patented blend of mild cleansers and moisturising cream. Dove's heritage is rooted in care - proof, not promises grew Dove from a Beauty Bar into one of the world's most beloved beauty brands. Real women have always been our inspiration, and since the beginning, Dove has been wholly committed to providing superior care to all, and to championing real representations of beauty in our advertising, communications, and campaigns. Dove believes that beauty is for everyone, and the Dove mission is to ensure a positive experience with beauty is universally accessible to all. For 65 years, Dove has been committed to broadening the narrow definition of beauty in the work they do. This includes the 'Dove Real Beauty Pledge,' and commitment to: Portray women as they are in real life with honesty, diversity, and respect. We feature women of different ages, sizes, ethnicities, hair colour, type, and style. Represent individuals with zero digital distortion, with all images approved by the women they feature. Help young people build body confidence and self-esteem through the Dove Self-Esteem Project, the biggest provider of self-esteem education in the world with a goal to educate 250 million young people by 2030. [1] Adobe. (2021). Global Emoji Trend Report. Adobe Inc Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2650697/Dove_Emoji.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2650698/Dove_Rise365.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2650696/Dove_logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/dove-and-rise365-call-for-black-hair-representation-in-emojis-302412033.html Madis Toomsalu, the Chairman of the Management Board of AS LHV Group, has informed the company's Nomination Commitee and the Supervisory Board of his will to resign by the fall of this year. Preparations are underway to find a new Chairman of the Board for the financial group. Mr Toomsalu has worked in LHV since 2007 when he arrived as an intern. He became the first credit analyst in LHV Pank and afterwards led the field as Head of Credits and Chairman of the Credit Committee. Since 2016 he has held the position of Chairman of the Management Board of LHV Group. Additionally he is the Chairman of the Supervisory Boards of AS LHV Pank, AS LHV Kindlustus, AS LHV Varahaldus and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of LHV Bank Ltd. Under his leadership LHV's loan portfolio has increased tenfold, reaching nearly EUR 5 billion today. In addition to the rapid growth of LHV Pank in Estonia, LHV Bank, operating in England, and LHV Kindlustus, providing insurance services, have been established during this time. LHV has remained the best bank in Estonia, the most attractive employer, and the company with the best investor relations. The LHV's Nomination Committee has started the process of finding a new CEO. The roles of the group and its CEO need to be re-mapped, taking into account future challenges. A suitable candidate must be approved by the LHV Group's Supervisory Board and also by the financial supervision authorities. "A big thank you to Madis for his invaluable contribution to the development of LHV over the past 18 years. These have been remarkable and successful years. Madis's impact is firmly embedded in today's LHV. We wish him all the best and much success in his new challenges, whatever they may be," Rain Lohmus, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of LHV Group commented. "LHV is a living organism that needs more creativity and inspiration than orders and restrictions. It's thanks to this approach that we've been able to achieve strong results. At the same time, the role of the CEO of LHV Group has changed. Back in 2016, when I started, it was important to understand which regulations needed to be considered when running a banking business. Today, the question is what kind of business can even be done in the context of existing regulations. I believe this role should therefore be redefined, with a new focus on the upcoming technological revolution. Adding to that a previously made personal family commitment, it makes sense to conclude my work and continue observing LHV's rapid development from the position of a shareholder," Madis Toomsalu commented. LHV Group is the largest domestic financial group and capital provider in Estonia. The main subsidiaries of LHV Group are LHV Pank, LHV Varahaldus, LHV Kindlustus, and LHV Bank Limited. The Group employs more than 1,160 people. As at the end of February, the banking services of LHV are used by 462,000 clients, the pension funds managed by LHV have 113,000 active clients, and LHV Kindlustus protects a total of 174,000 clients. LHV Bank, a subsidiary of the Group, holds a UK banking licence and offers banking services to international fintech companies and loans to small and medium-sized enterprises. Priit Rum Communications Manager Phone: +372 502 0786 Email: priit.rum@lhv.ee Factors such as the aging demographic of dealership owners and impending changes in tax laws put the automotive retail industry on the brink of significant transitions. With the average age of a dealer being around 72 years old, the next 5 to 10 years will see a wave of succession planning and ownership transitions. In this month's episode of Up to Speed, Mike Mader, Principal with Baker Tilly's dealership advisory service team, explores the critical aspects of dealership succession planning and estate management with Jeff Bannon, Partner at Rawls Group. They highlight strategies to maximize lifetime exemption amounts for estate taxes, adapt succession planning during organizational changes and ensure board alignment. The urgency of succession planning The dealership space is poised for a substantial transfer of assets, with an estimated $7 trillion expected to change hands over the next decade. This massive shift underscores the importance of strategic succession planning. Currently, the lifetime exemption amount for estate taxes stands at approximately $13.9 million per person, or nearly $28 million per couple. However, this exemption is set to expire at the end of 2025, potentially reducing to around $7 million per individual. This significant reduction creates a narrow window for dealers to transfer assets without incurring substantial estate taxes. Strategic asset transfers Dealers must evaluate their exposure to estate taxes and identify which assets to transfer. The goal is to gift assets that are likely to appreciate significantly over the next decade, thereby removing taxable growth from the estate. Typically, the most effective assets to transfer are those that have not yet reached peak performance, such as newly acquired dealerships. By transferring these assets, dealers can minimize estate taxes and ensure that future growth occurs outside the taxable estate. Balancing financial security and succession One of the many primary concerns for dealers is maintaining financial security while planning for succession. Dealers often hesitate to transfer large amounts of assets to the next generation, fearing the loss of control and financial stability. It is crucial to create a plan that balances the dealer's financial independence with the need to prepare successors for future leadership roles. This involves realistic valuation of the dealership's assets and a clear understanding of the estate tax implications. Mitigating leadership vacancies Unexpected leadership changes, such as the loss of a CEO or CFO, can create significant uncertainty within an organization. To mitigate these risks, it is essential to develop a succession plan that includes the constant development of potential replacements. This approach ensures that the organization can continue to function smoothly even in the face of unexpected leadership changes. Key to this strategy is fostering an environment where knowledge and responsibilities are shared, reducing the reliance on any single individual. Manufacturer approval in dealership succession planning In the automotive retail industry, the approval of the manufacturer is a critical component of succession planning. Dealers can transfer job titles and responsibilities, but the manufacturer must approve the successor to ensure continuity of the franchise. This approval process can be leveraged to ensure that successors are adequately prepared and meet the manufacturer's standards. Dealers should engage in early and proactive conversations with manufacturers to outline the steps required for approval, thereby safeguarding the franchise's future. The role of the board of directors As dealership groups grow, the governance environment becomes more complex, necessitating the formation of a board of directors. A well-defined board can play a pivotal role in succession planning by providing oversight and strategic direction. The board's scope of authority should be clearly defined, allowing the dealer to transition to a role as chairman or chairwoman while delegating day-to-day operations to trusted managers. This structure enables dealers to gradually reduce their involvement in the business while ensuring that strategic decisions are made collaboratively. Managing family dynamics Family dynamics can complicate succession planning, particularly when multiple family members are involved in the business. It is essential to establish a common vision and core values that guide the family's approach to the business. This shared vision helps align the goals of different generations and ensures that everyone is working towards the same objectives. Open communication and a clear delineation of roles can help manage expectations and reduce conflicts. Preparing the next generation The transition of leadership from one generation to the next often involves a shift in risk tolerance and business goals. The older generation may prioritize financial security and legacy, while the younger generation may be more focused on growth and expansion. It is important to create a financial plan that provides independence for the older generation while allowing the younger generation to pursue their vision for the business. This balance can be achieved through careful estate planning and the establishment of clear guidelines for decision-making. Dealership succession planning is a complex but essential process. By strategically managing asset transfers, preparing for unexpected leadership changes and fostering strong governance structures, dealers can ensure the continuity and success of their businesses. Engaging in proactive conversations with manufacturers and aligning the family dynamics with business goals are critical steps in this process. Ultimately, effective succession planning not only protects the dealer's legacy but also positions the business for future growth and stability. Are you ready to begin your succession planning? Connect with a Baker Tilly dealership specialist. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Baker Tilly on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Baker Tilly Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/baker-tilly Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Baker Tilly Dieppe, New Brunswick--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2025) - Colibri Resource Corporation (TSXV: CBI) ("Colibri" or the "Company") is pleased to share the assay results from the next three holes drilled in its recent 10 hole diamond drilling program (1,167.5 metres) at the El Pilar Gold & Silver Project in Sonora Mexico. Colibri holds 49% interest of the El Pilar along side its partner Tocvan Ventures, which holds 51% ownership in this advanced stage exploration project. Tocvan is the operator of the El Pilar. The final three holes from the program will be announced in due course upon receipt of data from the operator. "We are pleased to have discovered high grade gold and silver mineralization along the largely untested North Hill Trend, which lies approximately 300 metres away from the Main Zone Trend. The reported 3.0 metre interval of 21.6 g/t gold, 209 g/t silver, 6.71% lead, and 1.58% zinc (starting 8.3m below surface) among other notable gold and silver intervals in hole JES-25-108 provides further substantial evidence that the gold and silver mineralization at the shared El Pilar project could be expanded significantly and create even more meaningful value for our respective shareholders. We will work with our partners to further evaluate this discovery and potentially add material from this area to our planned 50,000 tonne test mine/bulk sample," commented, Colibri President & CEO Ian McGavney. Figure 1: Planview of Main Zone Area (modified from today's Tocvan release to highlight JV area) - today's results in red boxes. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4269/246154_90b6415844321b50_001full.jpg Figure 2. 3D surface of the shared El Pilar (modified from today's Tocvan release to highlight JV area). Drill results announced today are in red boxes. Note: Hole JES-24-101 is located on Tocvan property and illustrates potential for continuity to border of the zone on the joint venture ground. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4269/246154_90b6415844321b50_002full.jpg Tocvan - News Release - March 26 th , 2025 Highlights: New Discovery of High-Grade Gold-Silver 300m East of Main Zone, On North Hill Trend Highest Grade Interval Ever Outside of Main Zone Near Surface Findings Ideal for Follow-up Trenching and Early Mine Development 1.2 g/t Au and 14 g/t Ag over 64.9 meters, from surface (Hole JES-25-108) including 21.6 g/t Au and 209 g/t Ag over 3.0 meters, from 8.3 meters depth and 2.8 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag over 3.8 meters, from 49.7 meters depth Also, East Expansion of Main Zone with Hole JES-25-107 0.2 g/t Au and 5 g/t Ag over 108.2 meters, from surface Including 0.4 g/t Au and 9 g/t Ag over 56.4 meters Including 0.9 g/t Au and 20 g/t Ag over 12.6 meters And 0.5 g/t Au and 8 g/t Ag over 7.4 meters Also, 0.6 g/t Au and 7 g/t Ag over 4.3 meters Results Pending for Three Additional Holes March 26, 2025 / Tocvan Ventures Corp. (the "Company") is pleased to announce results from the latest core drilling at the Gran Pilar Gold Silver Project in mine-friendly Sonora, Mexico. Ten core drillholes totalling 1,167.5 meters were completed earlier this year within the majority owned (51%) Main Zone held in partnership with Colibri Resource Corp. Today's results are highlighted by 21.6 g/t Au, 209 g/t Ag and 6.7% Pb over 3.0 meters, also 2.8 g/t Au, 38 g/t Ag and 2.3% Zn over 3.8 meters within a broader anomalous zone averaging 1.2 g/t Au starting from surface to a vertical depth of 64.9 meters (JES-25-108). The significance of this hole is its location 300 meters east of the Main Zone Trend in line with the North Hill Trend, making it the first discovery of high-grade gold mineralization along the southern end of this corridor. The high-grade looks to be hosted within a highly fractured near-surface fault zone with associated quartz veining. Given the proximity to surface this area will be selected for future trenching to further evaluate the extent of high-grade mineralization for potential pilot mine feed. In addition, hole JES-25-107, 100 meters east of the Main Zone has returned the best values to date on the eastern flank of the Main Zone. The hole returned 108.2 meters of 0.2 g/t Au and 5 g/t Ag from surface, including 12.6 meters of 0.9 g/t Au, 20 g/t Ag and 0.5% Cu; 7.4 meters of 0.5 g/t Au and 8 g/t Ag; and 4.3 meters of 0.6 g/t Au and 7 g/t Ag. Mineralization is hosted within a silicified brecciated andesite with coarse veins of pyrite and chalcopyrite. Hole JES-25-109 only returned a few isolated zones mineralization, core logging shows the hole intersected a large fault zone that separates mineralization hit in past drilling (JES-22-53, and JES-24-79). Results for seven core drillholes have now been released, results are pending for the remaining three holes which have tested the outer extents on mineralization. "Core drilling has just returned the highest-grade interval ever outside of the Main Zone, located 300 meters away on an emerging trend," commented, CEO Brodie Sutherland. "The best part is that it is only meters below the surface allowing us to easily access the area with trenching we have planned in the next phase of exploration. This provides us with another area to source mineralization for potential pilot mine material. Trends like the North Hill remain largely untested and suggest other areas across the broader expansion area hold significant potential for hosting high-grade gold and silver. We look forward to continued drilling across the expansion area to begin targeting additional resource potential." Table 1. Summary of Drill Results in today's release. Intervals reported are drilled lengths, the Company will update on estimated true thickness once all new drill data has been processed. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4269/246154_90b6415844321b50_003full.jpg Photo 1. Type samples of brecciated andesite with sulphide rich vein stockwork (JES-25-107, 51m to 64m downhole, averaging 0.9 g/t Au and 20 g/t Ag). To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4269/246154_90b6415844321b50_004full.jpg Table 2. Summary of drill collar locations and orientations. Coordinates are in UTM NAD 27, Zone 12N To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4269/246154_90b6415844321b50_005full.jpg Pilar Drill Highlights: 2024 RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 42.7m @ 1.0 g/t Au, including 3.1m @ 10.9 g/t Au 56.4m @ 1.0 g/t Au, including 3.1m @ 14.7 g/t Au 16.8m @ 0.8 g/t Au and 19 g/t Ag 2022 Phase III Diamond Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 116.9m @ 1.2 g/t Au, including 10.2m @ 12 g/t Au and 23 g/t Ag 108.9m @ 0.8 g/t Au, including 9.4m @ 7.6 g/t Au and 5 g/t Ag 63.4m @ 0.6 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag, including 29.9m @ 0.9 g/t Au and 18 g/t Ag 2021 Phase II RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 39.7m @ 1.0 g/t Au, including 1.5m @ 14.6 g/t Au 47.7m @ 0.7 g/t Au including 3m @ 5.6 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag 29m @ 0.7 g/t Au 35.1m @ 0.7 g/t Au 2020 Phase I RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 94.6m @ 1.6 g/t Au, including 9.2m @ 10.8 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag; 41.2m @ 1.1 g/t Au, including 3.1m @ 6.0 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag ; 24.4m @ 2.5 g/t Au and 73 g/t Ag, including 1.5m @ 33.4 g/t Au and 1,090 g/t Ag 15,000m of Historic Core & RC drilling. Highlights include: 61.0m @ 0.8 g/t Au 21.0m @ 38.3 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag 13.0m @ 9.6 g/t Au 9.0m @ 10.2 g/t Au and 46 g/t Ag Pilar Bulk Sample Summary: 62% Recovery of Gold Achieved Over 46-day Leaching Period Head Grade Calculated at 1.9 g/t Au and 7 g/t Ag; Extracted Grade Calculated at 1.2 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag Extracted Grade Calculated at Bulk Sample Only Included Coarse Fraction of Material (+3/4" to +1/8") of Material (+3/4" to +1/8") Fine Fraction (-1/8") Indicates Rapid Recovery with Agitated Leach Agitated Bottle Roll Test Returned Rapid and High Recovery Results: 80% Recovery of Gold and 94% Recovery of Silver after Rapid 24-hour Retention Time Additional Metallurgical Studies: Gravity Recovery with Agitated Leach Results of Five Composite Samples Returned 95 to 99% Recovery of Gold 73 to 97% Recovery of Silver Includes the Recovery of 99% Au and 73% Ag from Drill Core Composite at 120-meter depth. Based on management's strong belief in the project's potential, the Company is outlining a permitting and operations strategy for a pilot facility at Pilar. The facility would underpin a robust test mine scenario with aims to process up to 50,000 tonnes of material. Timelines and budget are being prepared with the aim of moving forward with the development early in 2025. With gold prices hitting all-time highs, the Company believes the onsite test mine will provide key economic parameters and showcase the mineral potential of the area. In 2023, the Company completed an offsite bulk sample that produced important data showcasing the potential to recover both gold and silver through a variety of methods including heap leach, gravity and agitated leach (see August 22, 2023, news release for more details). Quality Assurance / Quality Control Rock and Drill samples were shipped for sample preparation to ALS Limited in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico and for analysis at the ALS laboratory in North Vancouver. The ALS Hermosillo and North Vancouver facilities are ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Gold was analyzed using 50-gram nominal weight fire assay with atomic absorption spectroscopy finish. Over limits for gold (>10 g/t), were analyzed using fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Silver and other elements were analyzed using a four-acid digestion with an ICP finish. Over limit analyses for silver (>100 g/t) were re-assayed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with ICP-AES finish. Control samples comprising certified reference samples and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company's robust quality assurance / quality control protocol. Brodie A. Sutherland, CEO for Tocvan Ventures Corp. and a qualified person ("QP") as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release. ABOUT COLIBRI RESOURCE CORPORATION: Colibri is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company listed on the TSX-V (CBI) and is focused on acquiring, exploring, and developing prospective gold & silver properties in Mexico. The Company holds four high potential precious metal projects: 1) 49% Ownership of the Pilar Gold & Silver Project which is believed to hold the potential to be a near term producing mine, 2) 100% of EP Gold Project in the significant Caborca Gold Belt which has delivered highly encouraging exploration results and is surround by Mexico's second largest major producer of gold on four sides, and 3) two highly prospective interests in the Sierra Madre (Diamante Gold & Silver Project and Jackie Gold & Silver Project. For more information about all Company projects please visit: www.colibriresource.com. Forward-Looking Statements Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements." These statements are based on information currently available to the Company and the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things, results of exploration, project development, reclamation and capital costs of the Company's mineral properties, and the Company's financial condition and prospects, could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with the activities of the Company; and other matters discussed in this news release. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by the Company or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246154 SOURCE: Colibri Resource Corporation Taiwan Demo Day, held on March 15th, 2025 at Plug and Play Tech Center, brought together over 400 industry elites to witness the latest in AI technology. Hosted by Taiwan Next in collaboration with Plug and Play, the event featured top-tier startups from both Taiwan and the U.S., demonstrating groundbreaking products and forging vital connections with Silicon Valley investors and corporations. Taiwan Demo Day 2025 at Plug and Play. Ten brilliant startup teams from the US and TaiwanMetAI, MirWork, Morale AI, Pixel Canvas, Namecard.AI, Dealight, pxcode, TranXform, Athleo AI, and RVI. Photo Provided by Taiwan Next. Katie Hsieh, Founder and CEO of Taiwan Next, explained, "Taiwan Next strives to build a startup ecosystem connecting startups with funding, talent, and technology. By hosting Taiwan Demo Day with Plug and Play, we're opening doors for Taiwanese startups to the U.S. market. Plug and Play's vast experience, evidenced by their successful incubation of companies like Google, PayPal, and Dropbox, and their acceleration of 17,000 startups, provides invaluable resources and opportunities for Taiwan-U.S. exchange." Over 400 elite professionals attended the Taiwan Demo Day. Ten brilliant startup teams from the US and Taiwan demonstrated their innovative AI technology. Photo provided by Taiwan Next. Johannes Rott, Vice President of Plug and Play, commented, "At Plug and Play, we are delighted to support the Taiwan Tech Summit Demo Day 2025 and contribute to the growth of this thriving innovation ecosystem. Taiwan has long been a global leader in technology and entrepreneurship, making it a natural fit for our expansion. We are excited to announce the launch of our first Plug and Play location in Taiwan, in Taoyuan City, where we look forward to partnering with local startups, corporations, and investors to drive meaningful innovation and unlock new opportunities for growth." Johannes Rott, Vice President of Plug and Play, commented, "At Plug and Play, we are delighted to support the Taiwan Tech Summit Demo Day 2025 and contribute to the growth of this thriving innovation ecosystem. " Photo provided by Taiwan Next. Karen Yu, President of ITIC, Industrial Technology Investment Corporation, who delivered the opening remarks, said, "When TSMC announced the expansion of its investment in the United States, it signaled Taiwan's leadership in the global technology sector. ITIC, a venture capital firm founded by ITRI, has invested in Taiwan's deep tech startups for the past 45 years, witnessing and contributing to the robust development of the Taiwanese semiconductor industry. Currently, as Taiwan holds a leading position in the AI-driven industrial revolution, ITIC will effectively leverage its unique resources to actively promote collaboration between Taiwan and the U.S. in the AI field. While the U.S. leads in AI software development, AI also requires data and hardware, areas where Taiwan, a strong partner, possesses significant advantages in research and manufacturing. We firmly believe that close cooperation between Taiwan and the U.S. will mutually benefit and accelerate AI application development." Karen Yu, President of ITIC, Industrial Technology Investment Corporation, who delivered the opening remarks. Photo provided by Taiwan Next. The Spring 2025 Taiwan Demo Day drew numerous applications from Taiwanese startups. After a rigorous selection process, ten elite teams were chosen to present: MetAI, MirWork, Morale AI, Pixel Canvas, Namecard.AI, Dealight, pxcode, TranXform, Athleo AI, and RVI. Six of these teams were from the U.S., and four traveled from Taiwan, showcasing the dynamic energy of US-Taiwan startups. These teams boasted impressive backgrounds and significant commercial achievements, including Y Combinator alumni, Taiwan's leading NVIDIA-backed startup, Harvard incubator teams, experienced professionals from Amazon and Apple, multi-million dollar revenue ventures, and innovators specializing in AI-optimized semiconductor manufacturing, marketing, sports, and HR technology, as well as digital twin technology. Over 400 elite professionals attended the Taiwan Demo Day. Ten brilliant startup teams from the US and Taiwan demonstrated their innovative AI technology. Photo provided by Taiwan Next. The Taiwan Demo Day successfully established a platform for Taiwan-U.S. startup exchange and collaboration, demonstrating the innovative strength of Taiwanese startups and further promoting cooperation and development in the technology sector. About Taiwan Next: Taiwan Next Foundation is a U.S. 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to expanding the technological influence of Taiwanese in North America and building a Taiwan-U.S. technology ecosystem. Through startup showcases, talent training, and trend forums, it actively establishes a platform for Taiwan-U.S. technology exchange and collaboration. Its annual flagship event, the Taiwan Tech Summit, is the largest Taiwanese technology event in North America, attracting over 3,500 technology elites to explore technology trends, talent employment, and cross-border technology cooperation. www.TaiwanTechSummit.com Contact: TaiwanNext Foundation Katie Hsieh katie@sv-if.org SOURCE: TaiwanNext Foundation Slapping smalltime savers in the face for the second time in 12 months, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has again vetoed a bill that would end sales taxes on purchases of precious metals. House Bill 2, introduced by Rep. TJ Roberts, enjoyed overwhelming support in both chambers of the state legislature. Gov. Beshear's veto sets up a showdown a year in the making between the legislature and the state's top official. Last year, Gov. Beshear purported to exercise a line-item veto of a gold and silver sales tax exemption that had been included in a 2024 revenue bill. At the time, he sneered at Kentucky smalltime savers and investors, saying, "if you own gold, you can afford to pay sales tax." At the time, the legislature deemed Beshear's line veto invalid and directed that the provision be formally codified by the Revisor of Statutes (which did so). State Attorney General Russell Coleman declared the governor's veto invalid in a detailed analysis that explained the line-item veto power only exists in the Kentucky constitution with respect to appropriations bills, which the bill at hand was not. Ignoring the state constitution and findings by the state's top lawyer, though, the governor nevertheless directed the Kentucky Department of Revenue to continue collecting sales taxes on gold and silver purchases, threatening Kentucky businesses, savers, and investors with legal action if they did not pay. That's why Roberts, a freshman legislator, introduced his House Bill 2 in January 2025, and the bill passed the state house by an overwhelming 76-17 and the state senate by another overwhelming vote of 30-6. HB 2 also provides a mechanism for victimized Kentucky citizens to reclaim their unconstitutionally seized sales taxes on any gold or silver purchases since last summer. The bill reads, "any aggrieved taxpayer who has had taxes collected from them in any purchase that are exempt under KRS 139.480(37), may maintain an action for a refund on behalf of themselves and others similarly situated, without need to resort to any administrative process, against any person collecting or holding such tax funds, including the Secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet and the Commissioner of the Department of Revenue." In an interview with the Sound Money Defense League, lead sponsor Rep. Roberts noted, "Gov. Beshear's veto is disappointing but in-line with his tyrant tendencies. This governor is fighting tooth and nail to keep violating the U.S. Constitution as it regards gold and silver," The liberty-minded policymaker continued, "Last year, we repealed the gold and silver sales tax, but Andy Beshear persistently stood in the way of the will of the people. This year, I will make sure the legislature fulfills the will of the people of Kentucky." If the legislature overrides the governor's veto as expected and HB 2 becomes law, taxpayers will be entitled to reimbursement of their attorney's fees and legal costs as well whilst seeking recovery of back taxes. The state's GOP supermajority is expected to reconvene March 27th and 28th to override any of Gov. Beshear's vetoes. The Sound Money Defense League and Money Metals Exchange have worked for years in Kentucky to pass sound money legislation. Kentucky aims to become the next state to end this tax on purchases of gold and silver. jp.cortez@soundmoneydefense.org 208-258-2528 SOURCE: Sound Money Defense League Multi-year partnership will help 10,000+ customers securely build and deploy AI agents with Claude over their enterprise data SAN FRANCISCO, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Databricks , the Data and AI company, and Anthropic , an AI safety and research company, today announced a strategic, five-year partnership to offer Anthropic models and services natively through the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform. Combined with Databricks Mosaic AI , the landmark deal brings Anthropic's world-class Claude models directly to over 10,000 companies, alongside their business-critical, proprietary data. As a result, customers can build and deploy AI agents that reason over their own data. Anthropic's newest frontier model, Claude 3.7 Sonnet - the first hybrid reasoning model on the market and the industry leader for coding - is now available via Databricks on AWS, Azure and Google Cloud Platform. Enterprises want to increase returns on their AI investments. Yet, many struggle to build, deploy and evaluate AI agents that can reason over their enterprise data and meet production-level requirements for accuracy, security and access control. Databricks and Anthropic are helping to solve this challenge. Databricks Mosaic AI provides the tools to build domain-specific AI agents on organizations' unique data that deliver accurate results with end-to-end governance across the entire data and AI lifecycle, while Anthropic's Claude models optimize for real-world tasks that customers find most useful. Together, Databricks and Anthropic provide best-in-class solutions for the development, evaluation, deployment and governance of agentic applications. "As demand for data intelligence grows, our partnership with Anthropic allows enterprises to unlock the full potential of their data through AI," said Ali Ghodsi, Co-founder and CEO of Databricks. "We are bringing the power of Anthropic models directly to the Data Intelligence Platform-securely, efficiently, and at scale-enabling businesses to build domain-specific AI agents tailored to their unique needs. This is the future of enterprise AI." "At Anthropic, we're watching AI transform businesses right now - not as some future promise," said Dario Amodei, CEO and Co-founder at Anthropic. "This year, we'll see remarkable advances in AI agents capable of working independently on complex tasks, and with Claude now available on Databricks, customers can build even more powerful data-driven agents to stay ahead in this new era of AI." The Databricks Data Intelligence Platform democratizes access to data and AI, making it easier for organizations to harness the power of their data for analytics, machine learning, and AI applications. The platform is built on a foundation of unified data and governance that helps customers more easily develop agents with domain knowledge drawn from the entirety of their enterprise. Customers use the Data Intelligence Platform to find and treat diseases and cancer earlier, identify new ways to combat climate change, detect financial fraud, develop pharmaceuticals faster, reduce time to mental health intervention, decrease local financial inequality and much more. Key Partnership Benefits Build domain-specific agents on enterprise data : Anthropic Claude provides advanced reasoning, planning and problem-solving capabilities, helping customers build and deploy domain-specific AI agents that can handle large, diverse data sets with a large context window to drive better customization. Databricks and Claude can also support advanced reasoning use cases with complex multi-step workflows. For example, agents in the healthcare field could streamline the patient onboarding process for clinical trials. In retail, agents could analyze sales data alongside seasonal patterns and inventory levels to recommend localized operational adjustments that optimize staffing, promotions and store layouts to maximize revenue. : Anthropic Claude provides advanced reasoning, planning and problem-solving capabilities, helping customers build and deploy domain-specific AI agents that can handle large, diverse data sets with a large context window to drive better customization. Databricks and Claude can also support advanced reasoning use cases with complex multi-step workflows. For example, agents in the healthcare field could streamline the patient onboarding process for clinical trials. In retail, agents could analyze sales data alongside seasonal patterns and inventory levels to recommend localized operational adjustments that optimize staffing, promotions and store layouts to maximize revenue. Integrated natively with the Data Intelligence Platform : Available via SQL query and model endpoint, Claude models seamlessly integrate into the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform, meaning organizations do not need to replicate data manually, reducing costs and creating a more seamless experience. Additionally, enterprises can easily customize Claude models with retrieval augmented generation (RAG) by automatically generating vector indexes or fine-tuning models with enterprise data. : Available via SQL query and model endpoint, Claude models seamlessly integrate into the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform, meaning organizations do not need to replicate data manually, reducing costs and creating a more seamless experience. Additionally, enterprises can easily customize Claude models with retrieval augmented generation (RAG) by automatically generating vector indexes or fine-tuning models with enterprise data. Unified governance and responsible AI development: The partnership combines Anthropic's industry-leading safety research and constitutional AI approach with Databricks' Unity Catalog , the only unified and open governance solution for data and AI. Customers gain unparalleled end-to-end governance across their data and AI assets, and can automatically enforce proper access controls, set rate limits to manage costs and track lineage throughout the entire AI workflow. Enterprises can also implement safety guardrails, monitor for potential misuse and ensure their AI systems operate within defined ethical boundaries-all while maintaining the performance advantages of frontier models. "At Block, we emphasize practical, responsible and secure applications of AI," said Jackie Brosamer, VP of Data and AI Platform Engineering at Block. "Through our strategic partnership with Databricks, we're able to leverage the newest and most advanced models, including Anthropic's Claude, both to support the development and serve as the underlying engine powering our internal deployment of codename goose, our open-source AI agent. This federated approach to deploying models allows us to scale AI capabilities flexibly and seamlessly while maintaining security and user control, ultimately fostering greater efficiency and innovation across our teams." To learn more about how Databricks and Anthropic are helping enterprise organizations securely build and deploy AI agents over their enterprise data, sign up for the upcoming webinar with Databricks Co-founder and CEO Ali Ghodsi and Anthropic Co-founder and CEO Dario Amodei. About Databricks Databricks is the Data and AI company. More than 10,000 organizations worldwide - including Block, Comcast, Conde Nast, Rivian, Shell and over 60% of the Fortune 500 - rely on the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform to take control of their data and put it to work with AI. Databricks is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices around the globe and was founded by the original creators of Lakehouse, Apache Spark, Delta Lake and MLflow. To learn more, follow Databricks on X, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Press@databricks.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1160675/Databricks_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/databricks-and-anthropic-sign-landmark-deal-to-bring-claude-models-to-the-data-intelligence-platform-302411716.html SHANGHAI, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Envision Energy, a world-leading green technology company, continues to solidify its position as a global leader in wind energy, ranking among the top in both turbine orders and installations for 2024. According to Wood Mackenzie's latest Global Wind Turbine Order Analysis, Envision Energy secures a record 30.6 GW of turbine orders in 2024, and took top spot in international wind turbine orders among Chinese OEMs, exceeding 10 GW in total. Additionally, BloombergNEF ranks Envision second globally for new installations at 14.5 GW. This remarkable achievement highlights Envision's robust international market presence and its ongoing commitment to advancing renewable energy solutions worldwide. Expanding its footprint worldwide, Envision Energy is playing a key role in the global wind energy landscape, with significant projects across India, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the Philippines,etc. The company leads in single-market orders, topping Q4 2024 volumes in APeC (Asia Pacific excluding China) with 1.9 GW, including its first offshore wind project in Vietnam. A standout achievement includes the 1.1 GW order for ACWA Power's wind farm in Egypt, featuring Envision's 8 MW turbines, making it one of the largest projects and a first of its kind in the MENA region. This success highlights Envision Energy's strong in-house R&D and manufacturing, demonstrated by its sliding bearings, which have been successfully applied on a global scale with zero failures. Envision also introduced the Model T Pro and Model Z Pro platforms, featuring the EN-202/8.35 MW turbine for land-based markets and a large offshore wind turbine with a fully integrated drivetrain, developed and manufactured entirely in-house, designed for next-gen wind farms with strong typhoon resistance. Both platforms are enhanced with the AI-driven Galileo SuperSense System for full-process monitoring, early warning, and diagnostics, advancing smart wind power into the AI era. Envision Energy's global growth is also driven by strategic partnerships and initiatives. Its joint venture with Saudi Arabia's PIF will manufacture wind turbines and components, supporting the country's 75% localization goal by 2030. In Kazakhstan, Envision is building a renewable energy plant capable of producing 2 GW of wind turbines and 1 GWh of energy storage systems, creating over 3,000 jobs and advancing carbon neutrality by 2060. Additionally, it is collaborating with DHL on SAF, green logistics, and a net-zero industrial park, while investing $1 billion in Spain to develop Europe's first integrated green hydrogen net-zero industrial park, furthering its shared sustainability goals. "In the rapidly evolving global energy landscape, two important forces: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and renewable energy, are unlocking vast opportunities for human progress and reshaping the world. The AI boom will drive surging electricity demand, with Goldman Sachs Research predicting global data center power consumption to rise 50% by 2027 and up to 165% by 2030." said Kane Xu, Envision Energy Senior Vice President and President of International Product Lines, "Envision Energy is leading this transformation by integrating high-performance products, flexible supply chains, and AI-driven innovation, to accelerate renewable energy adoption and secure a scalable, reliable future while reinforcing our role in building a sustainable world." Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2650780/image_805157_47410345.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/envision-energy-strengthens-global-leadership-with-record-30-6-gw-turbine-orders-302412066.html CHICAGO, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global CAR T-cell therapy market is projected to grow from USD 2.7 billion in 2025 to over USD 27.5 billion by 2033, reflecting a robust CAGR of 26.2%. The surge in demand is fueled by the success of FDA-approved CAR T-cell products such as Yescarta and Kymriah, which have demonstrated strong market performance. In 2023, Yescarta generated USD 1.4 billion in sales, with over 1,300 patients treated, while Kymriah achieved USD 443 million in sales in 2024, driven by its effectiveness in paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pALL) and follicular lymphoma (FL) outside the United States. More recently, Carvykti recorded net sales of USD 500 million within its first year of launch, underscoring the increasing demand for CAR T-cell therapies. Download Sample Copy: https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/car-t-cell-therapy-market The therapy plays a critical role in treating relapsed and refractory hematologic cancers. In the U.S., hematologic cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma are diagnosed approximately every three minutes, highlighting an urgent need for innovative treatments. With government support and favorable reimbursement policies, the eligibility of hematologic cancer patients for CAR T-cell therapy increased from 2.7% in 2017 to 3.9% in 2023. Additionally, ongoing research focuses on expanding target antigens beyond CD19 and BCMA to improve treatment efficacy and broaden applications. Despite its potential, high costs and complex manufacturing processes pose significant barriers to broader adoption. The list price for CAR T-cell therapies ranges from USD 373,000 to USD 475,000 per infusion, with total treatment costs exceeding USD 500,000 per patient after factoring in hospitalization and follow-up care. Even with reimbursement programs and patient assistance services, financial burdens persist. Moreover, manufacturing remains a major challenge, requiring specialized equipment, stringent quality control, and substantial investment. Production costs alone can exceed USD 100,000 per patient, and the limited number of certified therapy centers-only 311 in the U.S. as of July 2024-further restricts accessibility. However, industry stakeholders are actively addressing these challenges. Efforts to streamline production, optimize cost efficiency, and expand therapy centers are underway. Additionally, manufacturers offer patient assistance programs, such as Kite Konnect by Gilead, which help with reimbursement support, logistics, and treatment navigation. With continuous research, technological advancements, and increased investment, CAR T-cell therapy is poised for broader adoption, offering new hope to patients battling aggressive blood cancers while also paving the way for future applications in additional therapeutic areas. Market Forecast (2033) USD 27.5 Billion CAGR 26.2 % Top Drivers Rising incidence of haematological cancer Increasing R&D investment & rising healthcare expenditure Expanding applications in oncology and autoimmune diseases Top Opportunities Growing research on solid tumours Increasing focus on developing personalized medicine Recent advances in gene editing and allogeneic therapies Top Challenges High development costs and manufacturing complexities Technological Milestone: Next-Level Innovation Driving CAR T-Cell Therapy's Expansion Breakthroughs in genome editing and cell engineering are driving CAR T-cell therapies to achieve enhanced efficacy and safety. Techniques such as CRISPR-Cas9, TALENs, and Zinc Finger Nucleases (ZFNs) optimize T-cell function, prevent antigen escape, and improve persistence in the body. By facilitating targeted genetic modifications, these tools strengthen the therapeutic potential of CAR T-cell therapies beyond oncology. While single-target CAR T-cell therapies have improved survival rates in hematologic malignancies, relapse remains a challenge due to antigen escape. To address this, dual-targeting CAR T-cell therapies have emerged, designed to recognize multiple cancer markers and mitigate treatment resistance. Clinical studies confirm that these approaches enhance efficacy and safety, though ongoing research is refining bispecific CAR structures and optimizing T-cell transduction efficiency. Researchers are also expanding CAR T-cell applications to autoimmune diseases, where they aim to selectively eliminate overactive B-cells and achieve long-term, drug-free remission in conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. The CAR T-cell therapy market is currently dominated by autologous treatments, accounting for over 90% of therapies. This personalized approach - involving the extraction, modification, and reinfusion of a patient's own T-cells - has demonstrated strong clinical outcomes with established treatments like Yescarta and Kymriah. However, allogeneic CAR T-cell therapies are rapidly advancing as a scalable, off-the-shelf alternative. By utilizing healthy donor T-cells, allogeneic therapies offer faster production timelines and broader accessibility. Researchers are leveraging gene-editing tools such as CRISPR-Cas9 to mitigate risks like graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and immune rejection, enhancing the safety and efficacy profile of these treatments. While CAR T-cell therapy remains a leading monotherapy in hematologic malignancies, combination approaches are gaining traction. Combining CAR T-cell therapy with checkpoint inhibitors - such as PD-1/PD-L1 blockers - is emerging as a powerful strategy to enhance T-cell persistence and reduce immune evasion. These combinations are expanding therapeutic possibilities in both oncology and immune-related conditions. As genome editing technologies advance and dual-targeting strategies continue to evolve, CAR T-cell therapy is poised to achieve transformative growth. The convergence of improved engineering techniques, expanded clinical applications, and combination strategies is driving CAR T-cell therapy's expansion into broader treatment landscapes beyond oncology, paving the way for next-generation healthcare solutions. Global CAR T-Cell Therapy Boom: Regional Forces Driving the Future of Immuno-Oncology The global CAR T-cell therapy market is expanding rapidly, driven by advancements in cancer immunotherapy, growing clinical research, and evolving reimbursement policies. Regional dynamics are crucial in shaping this growth, with North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific playing key roles in driving innovation, access, and commercialization. North America leads the market, driven by early approvals, robust biotech infrastructure, and favorable reimbursement policies. The United States dominates the region, benefiting from Medicare's MS-DRG 018 program, which offers a base reimbursement of $247,939 for inpatient CAR T-cell treatments. Established CPT codes, such as 0537T (for T-cell harvesting) and 0540T (for CAR T-cell administration), further streamline cost management. In Canada, CAR T-cell therapies, often priced at ~$500,000, are covered under Ontario Health funding in eligible cases, though reimbursement remains limited to select provinces. To address these gaps, Canadian authorities are investing in developing domestic CAR T-cell therapies. Europe is following closely behind, with Germany and France leading due to supportive regulatory frameworks and improving reimbursement systems that expand access to CAR T-cell treatments. Ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare policies are further improving patient access. The Asia-Pacific region is witnessing rapid growth, driven by rising investments, accelerating clinical research, and evolving regulations. China and Japan are at the forefront, with domestic biotech firms actively advancing CAR T-cell innovations. In India, CAR T-cell adoption faced early challenges due to infrastructure and insurance limitations. However, in October 2023, the CDSCO approved NexCAR 19 (Actalycabtagene autoleucel), India's first CAR T-cell therapy, developed by ImmunoACT in collaboration with Tata Memorial Centre. Priced at ?30-40 lakhs (~$34,000 - 45,000), NexCAR 19 is significantly more affordable than global alternatives, marking a breakthrough for resource-limited settings. The Middle East & Africa region holds a smaller market share, constrained by limited healthcare infrastructure. However, GCC nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are increasingly investing in CAR T-cell therapy expansion. As reimbursement frameworks advance and global collaborations grow, CAR T-cell therapy is evolving from a high-cost niche treatment to a mainstream cancer immunotherapy, poised to transform the future of oncology care worldwide. Recent Advancements and Key Players in the Car T Cell Therapy Market Several prominent players are driving innovation in the CAR T-cell therapy market, including Novartis AG, Bluebird Bio, Inc., Cellectis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck & Co., Inc., Juno Therapeutics, Inc., Celyad Oncology, Celgene Corporation, Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., Miltenyi Biotech, Intellia Therapeutics, Pfizer, Inc., Autolus Therapeutics, Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Kite Pharma Inc.), Cartesian Therapeutics, Inc., and Caribou Biosciences, Inc. These companies are at the forefront of advancing CAR T-cell therapies, focusing on enhancing treatment efficacy, improving manufacturing processes, and expanding patient accessibility in the field of immuno-oncology. For instance, in February 2025, bluebird bio entered a definitive agreement for acquisition by Carlyle and SK Capital. Under this agreement, bluebird's stockholders will receive USD 3.00 per share in cash, along with a contingent value right (CVR) of USD 6.84 per share in cash, payable upon achieving a specified net sales milestone. Upon closing, David Meek (former CEO of Mirati Therapeutics and Ipsen) is expected to assume the role of bluebird's CEO, strengthening the company's leadership in cell therapy development. Similarly, in February 2024, AstraZeneca completed its acquisition of Gracell Biotechnologies, bolstering its cell therapy pipeline with GC012F, a FasTCAR-enabled BCMA and CD19 dual-targeting autologous CAR T-cell therapy. The upfront cash component valued the transaction at approximately USD 1.0 billion, with the potential to reach USD 1.2 billion through milestone-based contingent payments. Further, Vyriad, Inc. and Novartis announced a strategic collaboration in November 2024 to develop in vivo CAR T-cell therapies. This partnership combines Vyriad's targeted lentiviral vector platform with Novartis' cell therapy expertise to identify and advance innovative CAR T-cell candidates. Under the agreement, Vyriad will receive an upfront payment, along with milestone-based payments and tiered royalties for successful programs. These advancements underscore the rapid progress in CAR T-cell therapy development, improving treatment accessibility and expanding the therapeutic landscape. With ongoing investments, acquisitions, and strategic collaborations, the CAR T-cell therapy market is poised for continued growth and innovation. Future Outlook: Transforming the CAR T-Cell Therapy Market The CAR T-cell therapy market is set for substantial expansion, driven by continuous advancements in cell engineering, personalized immunotherapies, and biomanufacturing innovations. With increasing clinical success and expanding treatment indications, the market presents significant opportunities for biotechnology companies, healthcare providers, and investors to revolutionize cancer care. Industry experts predict a surge in the development of next-generation CAR T therapies, focusing on improved efficacy, reduced toxicity, and broader applications beyond hematologic malignancies. Notable advancements include the exploration of CAR T therapies targeting solid tumors, along with the rise of allogeneic "off-the-shelf" therapies designed to enhance scalability and accessibility. Companies like Novartis AG, Gilead Sciences (Kite Pharma), and Bristol-Myers Squibb are at the forefront, driving innovative research aimed at treating aggressive cancers, autoimmune diseases, and even select viral infections. Technological advancements, such as the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in cell design, automation in manufacturing, and in vivo CAR T delivery platforms, are expected to streamline production, improve consistency, and reduce costs. Additionally, regulatory agencies are increasingly adopting accelerated approval pathways, promoting faster commercialization of novel therapies. By 2030, CAR T-cell therapies are expected to become more widely integrated into oncology care, transforming treatment paradigms for both hem and solid tumors. Achieving this vision will depend heavily on overcoming current challenges like manufacturing bottlenecks, therapy response rates, and side effect management. Enhanced reimbursement frameworks, cost-sharing models, and patient support programs will also play a pivotal role in improving affordability and ensuring broader patient access. As the industry continues to evolve, CAR T-cell therapy is positioned to transition from a specialized treatment option to a widely accessible immuno-oncology breakthrough, redefining cancer care on a global scale. Inquiry Before Buyinghttps://www.astuteanalytica.com/inquire-before-purchase/car-t-cell-therapy-market Key Players in CAR T Cell Therapy Market Novartis AG Bluebird Bio, Inc. Cellectis Bristol-Myers Squibb Merck & Co., Inc. Juno Therapeutics, Inc. Celyad Oncology Celgene Corporation Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. Miltenyi Biotech Intellia Therapeutics Pfizer, Inc. Autolus Therapeutics Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Kite Pharma Inc.) Cartesian Therapeutics, Inc. Caribou Biosciences, Inc. Other Prominent Players Segments Covered in The Report By Indication Leukemia Lymphoma Myeloma By Source Autologous Allogenic By Type of Therapy Monotherapy Combination Therapy By Product ABECMA Breyanzi Carvykti Kymriah Tecartus Yescarta Others By Administration Setting Inpatient Outpatient By Region North America Europe Asia-Pacific Middle East & Africa South America Get Free Customization on this Report: https://www.astuteanalytica.com/ask-for-customization/car-t-cell-therapy-market Explore More Reports: Cancer Gene Therapy Market: By Therapy (Gene-Induced Immunotherapy, Oncolytic Virotherapy, Gene Transfer); End Users (Biopharmaceutical Companies, Hospitals & Research Institutes, Diagnostic centers, Others); Region-Market Size, Industry Dynamics, Opportunity Analysis and Forecast for 2025-2033 Hemophilia Treatment Market: By Type (Hemophilia A, Hemophilia B, Hemophilia C, and Others); Product (Recombinant coagulation factor concentrates , Plasma-derived coagulation factor concentrates, Desmopressin, Antifibrinolytic agents, Gene therapy products, and Others); Patients (Pediatric (0 to 4 yrs, 5 to 13 yrs, and 14 to18 yrs) and Adult (19 to 44 yrs and 45+ yrs); Form (Powders, Liquids & Gels, Tablets & Capsules, and Others)); Treatment Type (On-Demand Treatment, Prophylactic Treatment, and Immune Tolerance Induction (ITI) Therapy); Route of Administration (Intravenous and Subcutaneous); End User (Hospitals, Specialty Clinics, Home Care Settings, and Hemophilia Treatment Centers (HTCs)) and Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, and Online Pharmacies); Region-Market Size, Industry Dynamics, Opportunity Analysis and Forecast for 2025-2033 Herbal Medicine Market: By Product (Ginseng, Ashwagandha, Flaxseed, Ginko, Cinnamon, Cranberry, Horsetail, Horehound, Yohimbe, Black Cohosh, Senna, Echinacea, Valerian, Saw Palmetto, Aloe Vera, Bioflavonoid complex, Milk Thistle, Ginger, Garlic, Horny Goat Weed, Red Yeast Rice, Bromelain, and Others); Type (Western Herbalism, Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Others); Sources (Leaves, Roots, Flowers, Stem, Seeds, Bark, and Others); Form (Powders, Liquids & Gels, Tablets & Capsules, and Others); Form (Powders, Liquids & Gels, Tablets & Capsules, and Others); Application(Pharmaceutical & Nutraceutical (Inflammation & Pain, Digestive Health, Respiratory Health, Skin Conditions, Stress and Anxiety, Immune Support, Cardiovascular health, Cognitive Function, Hormonal Imbalance, and Others), Food & Beverages (Herbal teas and beverages and Functional foods), and Personal Care & Beauty Products (Anti-aging products and Hair and scalp care)); and Distribution Channel (Online (Online Brand Stores, e-market places) and Offline (Hospitals, Retail Pharmacies, and Others)); Region-Market Size, Industry Dynamics, Opportunity Analysis and Forecast for 2025-2033 Stem Cell Therapy Market: By Cell Source (Adipose tissue-derived MSCs (mesenchymal stem cells), Bone marrow-derived MSCs, Placental and umbilical cord-derived MSCs, Other Cell Sources); Type (Autologous stem cell therapy and Allogeneic Stem Cell Therapy); Delivery Method (In Vivo and Ex Vivo); Therapeutic Use (Oncology, Musculoskeletal disorders, Wounds and injuries, Cardiovascular, System diseases, Surgery, Inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, Nervous system disorders, Drug Discovery, Others); End Users (Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies, Academic & Research Institutes, Others); Region-Market Size, Industry Dynamics, Opportunity Analysis and Forecast for 2025-2033 Medical Tubing Market: By Type (Non-sterile Tubing, Sterile Tubing); Material Type (Polyethylene (PE), Silicone, Engineering Plastics, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polypropylene (PP), Polyolefin, Others); Medical Condition (Gastrointestinal, Cardiovascular , Ophthalmic, Urological, Neurovascular, Others); Application (Catheters, Drug Delivery Systems, Disposable Tubing, Dialysis Tubing, Surgical Tubing, Diagnostic Tubing, Respiratory Tubing, Others); End User (Hospitals & Clinics, Home Healthcare, Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs), Diagnostic Laboratories, Others); Sales Channel (Direct Sales, Distributors, Online Sales); Region-Market Size, Industry Dynamics, Opportunity Analysis and Forecast for 2025-2033 About Astute Analytica Astute Analytica is a globally recognized market research and advisory firm, delivering data-driven insights and strategic intelligence to organizations worldwide. We offer comprehensive research solutions across a wide range of industries, including technology, healthcare, chemicals, semiconductors, FMCG, and more. Our reports provide in-depth analysis of market trends, competitive landscapes, emerging opportunities, and technological advancements, empowering businesses to make informed decisions in an evolving global environment. Supported by a team of seasoned analysts, economists, and industry experts, we are committed to delivering accurate, timely, and actionable insights. At Astute Analytica, client success is our priority. We offer customized research solutions that are both cost-effective and tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. Contact: Mr. Vipin Singh Astute Analytica 500 N Michigan Ave, Suite 600 Chicago, Illinois, United States USA: +1-888 429 6757 Email: sales@astuteanalytica.com Visit our Website: https://www.astuteanalytica.com/ Japan Website: https://www.reportocean.co.jp/ Expert Network Platform: https://www.astuteconnect.com/ Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2650633/CAR_T_Cell_Therapy_Market.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2643300/5236003/Astute_Analytica_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/car-t-cell-therapy-market-size-to-reach-27-5-billion-by-2033-owing-to-rising-awareness-and-favourable-reimbursement-policies-says-astute-analytica-302411898.html G&A's Sustainability Highlights ( 03.15.2025 ) The Latin-derived word "ides" refers to the midpoint of a month. The Ides of March - March 15 - is famous for an act of rebellion on that day in 44 BC when a group of senators assassinated the Roman dictator Julius Caesar. The day marked a turning point in Roman history; for Caesar, of course, it was the ultimate turning point. The Ides of March now signals foreboding - in Shakespeare's words "Beware the Ides of March" - but a turning point is often what's needed to improve how people are governed. Throughout history, people have taken action on March 15 - from the 1917 abdication of the Russian throne by Tsar Nicholas II, to a global strike by 1.4 million students to protest inaction around climate change in 2019, to an 1848 revolution in Hungary that brought reforms by the Habsburg rulers. This year on the Ides of March, 50,000 members of the Hungarian public revisited that successful uprising to protest the autocratic leadership of Prime Minister Viktor Orban. What turning points might be upon us in the journey to a sustainable, just world? In the U.S., we are seeing signs that action at the local level could counteract anti-environmental policies by the recently inaugurated federal government. Our top story this week is an analysis from Reuters about the growing importance of such action and the power of sub-national actors to bring about real change. In recent years, state-level leadership has come prominently from California (CA), where certain large businesses are required to publicly disclose their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate-related risks beginning in 2026. Given the size of California's economy, this legislation will have impacts that are nearly national in scale. Building on this legislative precedent, CA State Senator Catherine Blakespear introduced in February a first-of-its-kind state bill, SB 755, to require the largest state contractors to report their GHG emissions and climate-related financial risks starting in 2027. The increase in transparency is aimed at enabling the state to reduce the emissions within its supply chain, supporting the state's goal of carbon neutrality by 2045. "At G&A, we know that transparency ultimately drives action. The introduction of SB 755 is an important first step towards spotlighting the climate-related risks present in California's supply chain, and it will encourage suppliers to take ownership of measuring and managing their GHG emissions." - Annie Roberts, Senior Vice President, Climate Consulting, G&A Institute In other areas of legislation like electric transport and clean air, California is joined by ten other U.S. states in banning the sale of gas-only vehicles by 2035. And Vermont, New York, and California have linked corporate polluters to environmental and health impacts by requiring fossil fuel companies to fund projects that build communities' climate resilience - a state-level version of the U.S. Superfund act of 1980. The authors argue that even without federal action, cities and states could cut U.S. emissions by 54-62%, which is needed to achieve the U.S.' nationally determined contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. This is "a lot of heavy lifting" for sub-national actors, but according to Nate Hultman, Centre for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland, it is possible and indeed was what the Biden administration planned for in the absence of national leadership. The Reuters story highlights an alliance of 24 state governments that have committed to continue taking climate action. It also notes an 11-state Regional Greenhouse Gas initiative (RGGI, pronounced "Reggie"), a cap-and-trade system for the power sector. From a business perspective, a strong case remains for states to enact ambitious climate policies - from operational continuity for businesses in each state facing climate impacts, to controlling climate-related financial risk as a good business model. At G&A, we are ready to support companies in responding to climate and sustainability requirements in the states and local municipalities where they do business, such as California's nation-leading climate disclosure rules. We can also support municipalities in developing or updating climate action plans and reaching their targets. Find us here. This is just the introduction of G&A's Sustainability Highlights newsletter this week. Click here to view the full issue. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Governance & Accountability Institute on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Governance & Accountability Institute Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/governance-accountability-institute-inc Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Governance & Accountability Institute LATAM's betting market is set to triple its gross gaming revenue (GGR) between 2020 and 2025. (1) Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia are driving this expansion, with Brazil alone contributing 50% of the region's gaming revenue (2) and projected to reach an annual turnover of USD 10 billion (3). Meanwhile, LATAM's digital payment ecosystem is equally rapidly evolving, with Brazil's Pix outpacing traditional payment methods (4). However, the rise in digital transactions and gaming activity has also escalated fraud risks, with iGaming fraud rates in LATAM significantly exceeding the global average. Fraud & AML Orchestration Hub LATAM AcuityTec, a leader in risk and compliance solutions, has strengthened its Fraud and AML Orchestration Hub with enriched ID database verifications, biometric re-authentication with liveness detection and fraud prevention capabilities. These enhancements provide greater security for customers and transactions in high-growth LATAM markets, including Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Peru and help businesses comply with evolving regulatory requirements. Enriched Identity Verifications As responsible gaming practices surpass industry standards, operators must implement more sophisticated identity verification measures to combat fraud and meet evolving compliance demands. To achieve this, gaming operators are adopting multi-layered verification strategies. AcuityTec's KYC / AML screening with custom workflows provides a flexible and scalable approach to meeting these challenges. To reinforce compliance with Know Your Player (KYP) standards that continue to expand under stricter Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and fraud prevention frameworks, AcuityTec has expanded its ID database verification coverage across LATAM. "Many regulators now require operators to conduct enhanced due-diligence before granting account access. Incorporating document-based authentication, biometric validation, and liveness detection ensures the integrity of player identities while mitigating fraud risks and aligning with evolving regulatory requirement," said Alfredo Solis, Managing Director of AcuityTec. AcuityTec's platform enables thorough cross-referencing of customer data-name, address, gender, date of birth, email, phone, and document ID numbers-against government, utility and credit sources. The key document ID verifications now include: Brazil: Cadastro de Pessoas Fisicas (CPF) Mexico: Numero de Identificacion Tributaria (NIT) Argentina: Codigo Unico de Identificacion Tributaria (CUIT) Peru, Panama, Paraguay, Ecuador: Registro Unico de Contribuyentes (RUC) Chile: Rol Unico Tributario (RUT) Colombia: Numero de Identificacion Tributaria (NIT) Adaptive Fraud Detection and Live Monitoring The platform integrates advanced fraud detection with adaptive defense, leveraging machine learning to identify and mitigate fraud in real-time. Automatically dynamic fraud scores are generated by analyzing user behaviour, transaction patterns, and history data, enabling business to take immediate action against suspicious activities. Additionally, live monitoring of registrations and transactions ensures continuous Know Your Transactions (KYT) surveillance, enhancing security and helping companies comply with local regulations while protecting operators and customers from emerging threats. "As the gaming industry in LATAM continues to grow, we're committed to equipping businesses with the technology they need to stay secure, compliant, and trusted. Our enhanced Fraud and AML Orchestration Hub empowers LATAM operators to meet regional challenges while protecting both players and operations from emerging threats," adds Solis. For more information, visit www.acuitytec.com. Contact Information SOURCE: AcuityTec The data integration leader's flagship platform, FME, will be formally available in three languages, including French, German, and Dutch Surrey, BC, March 26, 2025(Safe), the leading All-Data, Any-AI enterprise integration vendor with unrivalled support for spatial data, announced that it's planning to launch FME Multi-Language Availability. Powered by artificial intelligence, the product translation will be updated and synchronized with the English version to ensure global FME users have access to the latest features and support. The first three language packs to be formally released will include French, German, and Dutch, with more language releases planned for the future. With this update, all application interfaces and support documentation will be fully translated, enabling users to experience FME in their native language. This update signifies a change from the company's previous partner-based language localization model. Moving forward, all translations will be available directly from Safe Software and users will have equal access, regardless of where they purchased FME. "By introducing FME Multi-Language Availability, we are able to offer a more seamless and accurate translation of the FME platform, removing the burden of having to switch between a user's native language and English," said Don Murray, CEO of Safe Software. FME users accessing this feature can expect more consistent and complete localization, improved accessibility and distribution, and timely future translation releases. Plus, AI-assisted translation and automation will help to ensure the accuracy of the platform, and the company's increased ability to provide oversight will create a better user experience. Stay tuned for more information about FME Multi-Language Availability from Safe Software, please visit: https://community.safe.com/product-updates . This update comes on the heels of various milestone announcements from Safe Software in the lead-up to its largest user conference ever, The Peak of Data and AI, which is set to take place in Seattle from May 6-8, 2025. Last year, the company expanded its global partner ecosystem and announced plans to hire 85 people. These announcements highlight the company's progress toward its growth target of reaching $250M in revenue by 2028. Registration for The Peak of Data and AI is now open. Details on how to register are available at: www.peakofdataintegration.com . To view the full agenda for The Peak of Data and AI, including details on specific sessions and speakers, please visit: www.peakofdataintegration.com/agenda . END About Safe Software: Headquartered in Surrey, British Columbia, Safe Software is the creator of FME, the only All-Data, Any-AI enterprise integration platform with comprehensive support for spatial data. The company was founded in 1993 and has been focused on bringing life to data since its inception. Whether your challenges have to do with spatial data, big data, stream processing, cloud migration, or business intelligence, Safe Software is here to help you spend more time reaping the benefits of information, and less time fighting it. For more information, visit safe.com . About FME by Safe Software: The FME Platform has built-in support for thousands of systems as well as 800+ out-of-the-box transformers allowing users to build and automate custom integration workflows without having to code. Over 20,000 organizations worldwide trust FME technology for their enterprise integration solutions. Through Safe Software's international partner network, FME is used in 120+ countries around the world and has been localized into multiple languages. For more information, visit fme.safe.com . Media Registration: If you are interested in attending The Peak of Data Integration and AI 2025 as a media guest, please reach out for more information using the contact details below. Elan Paris DGPR 778 988 6525 elan.paris@dg-pr.com The award recognizes Chandni Chopra's outstanding leadership in shaping an inclusive workplace culture and advancing LambdaTest's DE&I mission in the tech industry. Delhi/San Francisco, March 26, 2025, a unified agentic AI and cloud engineering platform is proud to announce that Chandni Chopra, VP of People and Culture, has been honored with the DE&I in Tech Leadership Award at The RISING 2025, India's biggest summit celebrating women in tech and AI, hosted by Analytics India Magazine. The award ceremony took place on March 21, 2025, in Bengaluru. The RISING 2025 shines a spotlight on changemakers who are reimagining what inclusive leadership looks like. The DE&I in Tech Leadership Award recognizes individuals who champion equity, actively dismantle barriers and create opportunities for underrepresented communities in the tech ecosystem. Over the past five years, Chandni Chopra has been the heart of LambdaTest's culture journey-moving beyond traditional HR practices to build a workplace where inclusion shows up in daily behavior. She led the creation of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) like The Phoenix Project for women, which provided mentorship opportunities, mental wellness support, and a safe space for honest dialogue. Through carefully curated self-care journals and mental health workshops, women across LambdaTest found new confidence and connection within their teams. Chandni also spearheaded LambdaTest's Diversity & Inclusion Learning Initiative-a comprehensive framework that introduced cultural sensitization workshops, policy reforms for accessibility, and a globally compliant DEI charter backed by a dedicated budget. These efforts have elevated LambdaTest's workplace into one where equity is not aspirational-it's operational. "What began as a vision to create an inclusive, empowering environment has become the very foundation of LambdaTest's culture," said Chandni Chopra, VP of People and Culture, LambdaTest. "This award isn't just a personal milestone-it's a collective win for every voice that's been amplified, every stereotype we've challenged, and every door we've opened for others to walk through." LambdaTest's commitment to DE&I goes far beyond policy. As a company, it believes innovation thrives when everyone belongs. The company's initiatives are embedded in its DNA-whether it's inclusive hiring, equitable growth paths, or safe spaces for open conversations. The result is a workplace where authenticity is valued and diverse perspectives lead to transformative outcomes. "At LambdaTest, we've always believed that building great products starts with building inclusive teams," said Asad Khan, CEO and Founder of LambdaTest. "Chandni's recognition is a testament to the culture we're proud of-a place where people feel seen, heard, and empowered. This award is just the beginning." To learn more about The RISING 2025 and this year's DE&I champions, click here . About LambdaTest LambdaTest is an AI-native, omnichannel software quality platform that empowers businesses to accelerate time to market through intelligent, cloud-based test authoring, orchestration, and execution. With over 15,000 customers and 2.3 million+ users across 130+ countries, LambdaTest is the trusted choice for modern software testing. Browser & App Testing Cloud (https://www.lambdatest.com/?utm_source=media&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=mar26&utm_term=ps&utm_content=pr): Enables manual and automated testing of web and mobile apps across 10,000+ browsers, real devices, and OS environments, ensuring cross-platform consistency. HyperExecute (https://www.lambdatest.com/hyperexecute/?utm_source=media&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=mar26&utm_term=ps&utm_content=pr): An AI-native test execution and orchestration cloud that runs tests up to 70% faster than traditional grids, offering smart test distribution, automatic retries, real-time logs, and seamless CI/CD integration. KaneAI (https://www.lambdatest.com/kane-ai/?utm_source=media&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=mar26&utm_term=ps&utm_content=pr): The world's first GenAI-native testing agent, leveraging LLMs for effortless test creation, intelligent automation, and self-evolving test execution. It integrates directly with Jira, Slack, GitHub, and other DevOps tools. For more information, please visit, https://lambdatest.com press@lambdatest.com Following allegations of human rights abuses raised by media outlets in 2024 that would have been committed by members of Mozambique's Defence and Security Forces in the Afungi Peninsula in the Cabo Delgado province around the summer of 2021, Mozambique LNG (TotalEnergies 26.5%) has asked in November 2024 the Mozambican authorities to open a formal investigation into such allegations, in order to ascertain what happened. On the occasion of his meetings end of January with the new authorities of Mozambique, notably the President Daniel Chapo, Patrick Pouyanne, CEO of TotalEnergies, stressed the importance of such an investigation being conducted in accordance with the rule of law and sovereignty of the Mozambican state. TotalEnergies welcomes the announcement made on 4 March 2025 by the Attorney General of Mozambique who confirmed that a criminal investigation had been opened into these allegations. Mozambique LNG will fully cooperate with the authorities in this respect. In addition, TotalEnergies has also requested the intervention of the Mozambican Commission on Human Rights (CNDH) to conduct its own investigation into these allegations. We are pleased that the CNDH confirmed on 25 March 2025 that it will carry out its own assessment of all relevant information to ensure that the facts are duly ascertained and that the rights of the parties involved are fully respected. In particular, the CNDH has stated that it will follow the investigation launched by the Mozambican judicial authorities to ensure that it is conducted in a transparent, fair and impartial manner. About TotalEnergies TotalEnergies is a global integrated energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to provide as many people as possible with energy that is more reliable, more affordable and more sustainable. Active in about 120 countries, TotalEnergies places sustainability at the heart of its strategy, its projects and its operations. @TotalEnergies TotalEnergies TotalEnergies TotalEnergies Cautionary Note The terms "TotalEnergies", "TotalEnergies company" or "Company" in this document are used to designate TotalEnergies SE and the consolidated entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by TotalEnergies SE. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" may also be used to refer to these entities or to their employees. The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns a shareholding are separate legal entities. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information concerning risk factors, that may affect TotalEnergies' financial results or activities is provided in the most recent Universal Registration Document, the French-language version of which is filed by TotalEnergies SE with the French securities regulator Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF), and in the Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250326954342/en/ Contacts: TotalEnergies Media Relations: +33 (0)1 47 44 46 99 l presse@totalenergies.com l @TotalEnergiesPR Investor Relations: +33 (0)1 47 44 46 46 l ir@totalenergies.com DUBLIN, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Canada Life Reinsurance announced the upcoming retirement of Gabriel Kelly, a cornerstone of the company's success for over three decades. After 33 remarkable years, Gabriel leaves a legacy of resilience, leadership, and growth. Mr. Kelly has served as the CEO of LLCBC in Barbados for the past 19 years, and before that was a senior officer in the company's Dublin office. His determination and vision were instrumental in guiding the P&C business through difficult times in the early 2000s, contributing to the company's robust catastrophe retro business and growing structured P&C portfolio. Known for his experience, candour, and humour, he will be deeply missed by colleagues and clients alike. "We are immensely grateful for Gabriel's unwavering commitment, dedication, and loyalty," said Jeff Poulin, CEO of Canada Life Reinsurance. "His leadership has been a driving force behind our success, and we look forward to celebrating his extraordinary career as he approaches retirement." "It is an honour to have worked with Gabriel over the past 25 years. I could not be more excited about the prospects for the P&C business and team he has built," said Derek Popkes, Global COO Reinsurance at Canada Life Reinsurance. Succeeding Mr. Kelly as leader of the Global P&C Business Unit will be Eamon Loughnane. Mr. Loughnane brings a proven track record of excellence, having transformed the company's Life reinsurance business in Europe. Known for his ability to deliver results, Mr. Loughnane has built a strong framework for developing, assessing, and executing new and innovative structures, positioning him as the ideal successor to Mr. Kelly. "I couldn't be more pleased to have Eamon take on this new role," said Poulin. "I have every confidence he will continue to build on our success and capitalize on the opportunities we have before us." Mr. Kelly will continue to oversee the P&C business until March 30, 2025, and spend the following three months supporting a seamless transition. About Canada Life Reinsurance Canada Life Reinsurance offers a range of innovative risk and capital management solutions covering mortality, longevity, health and lapse risks for insurers, reinsurers and pension funds across the U.S., Europe, Middle East and Asia. Canada Life Reinsurance is a division of The Canada Life Assurance Company and certain of its subsidiaries and affiliates. The Canada Life Assurance Company is a subsidiary of Great-West Lifeco Inc. To learn more, visit canadalifere.com. About Great-West Lifeco Inc. Great-West Lifeco is a financial services holding company focused on building stronger, more inclusive and financially secure futures. We operate in Canada, the United States and Europe under the brands Canada Life, Empower and Irish Life. Together we provide wealth, retirement, workplace benefits and insurance and risk solutions to our over 40 million customer relationships. As of December 31, 2024, Great-West Lifeco's assets under administration exceeded $3.2 trillion. Great-West Lifeco trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the ticker symbol GWO and is a member of the Power Corporation group of companies. To learn more, visit greatwestlifeco.com. For more information, please contact: Jeff Poulin, CEO, Canada Life Reinsurance, jeff.poulin@canadalifere.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/canada-life-reinsurance-announces-new-leader-of-global-pc-business-unit-302412160.html Brighton, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2025) - Ben Rousseau Studio today announced the launch of "Kiss My Art," an innovative luxury art experience that transforms intimate kiss imprints into bespoke 23-carat gold leaf artworks while supporting life-changing surgeries for children with cleft conditions. Through a partnership with international charity Operation Smile, 10% of each purchase will directly fund surgeries that help children regain their ability to eat, speak, and smile confidently. Kiss My Art To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10373/244348_554f1fd8f416cbe7_001full.jpg The concept, which began as a personal gift from Rousseau to his wife, has evolved into a unique artistic service that combines the studio's signature interplay of material, light, and form with a humanitarian mission. Recipients receive an elegantly designed gift box containing premium lipstick and specially crafted cards to capture their kiss imprint, which is then transformed into a one-of-a-kind gold leaf artwork at Rousseau's Brighton studio. "I wanted to create the ultimate luxury gift that demonstrates true creativity and establishes a unique connection between people," said Ben Rousseau, founder and principal creative of Ben Rousseau Studio. "Every kiss is beautiful in its own right, whether through the eyes of the giver or receiver. This sacred moment should be celebrated to the highest order, and if we can help even one person enjoy this precious exchange through our partnership with Operation Smile, we've done something meaningful with our creative talents." The technical creation process involves meticulous craftsmanship. After capturing the kiss imprint, Rousseau traces each unique print at high magnification to create an accurate yet artistic digital representation. Using high-definition glass printing techniques, the studio creates custom backgrounds while leaving the lip print clear for the application of hand-applied 23-carat gold leaf, resulting in a uniquely reflective finish that cannot be replicated. "Operation Smile is delighted to partner with Ben Rousseau on the Kiss My Art Project to raise awareness and funds for our surgical programs worldwide," said David Henry from Operation Smile. "Every three minutes, a child is born with a cleft condition, often struggling to feed, speak, or breathe while suffering severe social stigma. For each beautiful artwork produced, together we will change a child's life forever by providing the safe surgery they need." The initiative has already garnered significant attention following its successful debut at Fred Segal Home in Malibu and a Valentine's Day launch event at The Art Agency in Cobham, UK. Limited edition prints are produced annually, creating an exclusive opportunity for collectors. Ben Rousseau Studio has established an international reputation for innovative design, with projects for prestigious venues including the Ice Hotel in Arctic Sweden, Burning Man in Nevada, and London's V&A Museum. Rousseau's work has earned multiple accolades, including Gold medals at the New York Product Design Awards, The Lit Awards, and The Architecture and Design Awards. "Kiss My Art represents the perfect fusion of exclusivity and inclusivity," added Rousseau. "It's a special exchange between two people that can be as private as they want, yet the experience itself can be enjoyed by anyone. My measure of success is making each person happy - whether they're buying the artwork or receiving a life-changing surgery. If we could achieve equal happiness for both, that would be the ultimate achievement." Limited appointments are available for those wishing to create their own Kiss My Art piece. Each artwork is delivered in 4-6 weeks from receipt of the kiss imprint, with rush options available upon request. High-resolution images of completed artworks are available for media use. About Ben Rousseau Studio Founded in 2001, Ben Rousseau Studio creates custom artistic designs for high-end private collectors, interior designers, and commercial properties including luxury hotels, spas, and restaurants. Based at the Plus X Innovation Hub in Brighton, England, the studio is renowned for its expertise in lighting and innovative use of materials. Ben Rousseau Studio is committed to sustainable practices, using locally sourced materials and working with manufacturers typically within 100 miles of its Brighton headquarters. For more information, visit https://studio.benrousseau.com/kissmyart-vip. About Operation Smile Operation Smile is an international medical charity that has provided hundreds of thousands of free surgeries for children and young adults in developing countries who are born with cleft lip, cleft palate, or other facial deformities. For more information, visit operationsmile.org. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244348 SOURCE: Pressmaster DMCC Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2025) - Governance Professionals of Canada (GPC) celebrates the 3rd Annual National Governance Professionals Day (GP Day) on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Marked as the last Wednesday of March each year, National Governance Professionals Day was launched with an aim to bring awareness and to celebrate Canadian Governance Professionals for their outstanding contributions to ensuring excellence in governance in Canadian organizations. This year's theme, "Connecting in Governance: Empowering Professionals for a Stronger Future," highlights the integral role that governance professionals play in shaping the future of organizations across Canada. In line with this year's theme, GPC is also excited to announce the launch of its new GPC Connect App, designed to foster connections within the governance community in Canada. The app provides users with easy access to GPC's essential resources, networking opportunities, event updates, and much more, all in one convenient platform. Available on both Android and iOS, GPC Connect allows governance professionals to stay informed, engaged, and connected-strengthening the community and empowering professionals for the future. Lynn Beauregard, President, Governance Professionals of Canada (GPC) said, "Governance Professionals Day is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the outstanding contributions of all governance professionals in Canada. We are also launching the new GPC Connect app on this day, to further our commitment to empowering GPC members by providing them with the tools they need to stay ahead of the curve. The app is a perfect representation of this year's theme, 'Connecting in Governance', helping our members to collaborate and thrive in today's complex governance landscape." GPC invites all organizations, stakeholders, and individuals to join us in celebrating the 3rd Annual National Governance Professionals Day by recognizing their efforts and highlighting their significant contributions. Post on LinkedIn and X under the hashtag GovernanceProfessionalsDay and tag us to join in the conversation. Click HERE for more information on National Governance Professionals Day and how to observe it. Our local chapters across Canada are also celebrating National Governance Professionals Day in their respective cities with fun and interesting in-person events. Join in if you are in and around these cities. Click HERE for more details. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246161 SOURCE: Governance Professionals of Canada The "Europe Smart Lighting Market Forecast Report by Offering, Technology, Installation Type, Light Source, Application, End User, Country and Company Analysis 2025-2033" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Europe smart lighting market valued at USD 3.54 billion in the year of 2024, is expected to have a tremendous growth rate and reach USD 15.23 billion by 2033. The compound annual growth rate between 2025 and 2033 for the market will be a spectacular 17.58%. Increase in demand for energy-efficient lighting solutions, ever-evolving IoT technologies, and the adoption of smart home systems across Europe are driving the growth of the market. Smart lighting is an advanced technology that combines IoT to offer customizable, energy-efficient, automated lighting solutions. Users can control lighting systems remotely through smart devices or voice assistants and feature dimming, scheduling, and color. Smart lighting is equipped with sensors and connectivity that can respond to ambient conditions or occupancy/time of day, amplifying convenience, safety, and savings in terms of energy. Most are used in residential, commercial, and industrial zones and therefore fit within the profiles for sustainability and modern living. In Europe, smart lighting usage has exploded rapidly because the region gives serious play to concerns about energy efficiency and green building initiatives. Consumers are increasingly adopting smart lighting solutions in attempts to curtail energy costs and reduce carbon footprints, largely due to government regulations and incentives for sustainable practices. In addition, the rise in popularity for smart home systems and automation technologies is driving adoption further- Germany, the UK, and France are among its key users. Businesses rely on smart lighting technology for optimal working practices and user experience, which has contributed to the growth of the European market. Growth Driver for Europe Smart Lighting Market Energy Efficiency-Driven Demand Energy efficiency is an important driver of the smart lighting market in Europe. The strict regulations, including the European Green Deal and Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), that have led to efforts toward reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption have given a boost to energy-efficient demands. Automated dimming, motion detection, and daylight harvesting are some of the features that allow smart lighting solutions to optimize energy usage in homes, offices, and public places. The increasing electricity cost with the rising awareness among consumers regarding sustainability is further forcing the adaptation of energy-efficient lighting, and smart lighting comes out as a preferred choice for the eco-concerned Europeans. According to EEA's early estimates, at primary energy consumption by end-users in the EU by 2023, that declined 3.8% against 2022, final energy consumption declined by 0.6%. Although the improvement is a trend away from historical trends in energy efficiency, substantial efforts are still in place toward attaining 2030 targets on energy efficiency, revised downwards in 2023. Smart Home Systems Gain in Popularity The increasing adoption of smart home systems in Europe has made an excellent impact on driving the smart lighting market. Smart consumers prefer integrated solutions that improve convenience, security, and lifestyle. Smart lighting, compatible with a voice assistant like Alexa and Google Assistant, seamlessly integrates into this ecosystem, enabling remote and automatic control. The techno-friendly population in Germany, the UK, and France is investing in smart home technologies. This trend is driven by innovation in IoT, better internet access, and rising disposable income, which are all encouraging smart lighting systems. Government Incentives and Sustainability Targets European governments encourage the use of smart lighting to succeed in energy-saving and sustainability targets. Huge financial incentives, subsidies, and tax rebates offered to energy-efficient technologies have driven residential and commercial users to switch to smart lighting. European Green Deal initiatives and smart city development schemes will give healthy demand for advanced lighting systems. These efforts grow the market while accelerating achievement of wider objectives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and for environmental technologies and innovations, therefore making Europe a global leader in smart lighting adoption. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 110 Forecast Period 2024 2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $3.54 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $15.23 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 17.5% Regions Covered Europe Europe Smart Lighting Key Players Analysis: Overview, Key Personnel, Recent Developments Strategies, Product Portfolio Product Launches in the Last Year, Revenue CREE, Inc. Philips Lighting Honeywell International, Inc. Wipro Limited Acuity Brands, Inc. Eaton Corporation Plc. Legrand S.A. General Electric (GE) OSRAM Licht AG Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 2. Research Methodology 3. Executive Summary 4. Market Dynamics 4.1 Growth Drivers 4.2 Challenges 5. Europe Smart Lighting Market 6. Market Share 6.1 By Offering 6.2 By Technology 6.3 By Installation Type 6.4 By Light Source 6.5 By Application 6.6 By End User 6.7 By Countries 7. Offering 7.1 Hardware 7.2 Software 7.3 Services 8. Technology 8.1 Wired 8.2 Wireless 9. Installation Type 9.1 New Installation 9.2 Retrofit Installation 10. Light Source 10.1 LED Lamps 10.2 Fluorescent Lamps 10.3 Compact Fluorescent Lamps 10.4 High Intensity Discharge Lamps 10.5 Others 11. Application 11.1 Indoor 11.2 Outdoor 12. End User 12.1 Commercial 12.2 Residential 12.3 Public Infrastructure 12.4 Others 13. Countries 13.1 France 13.2 Germany 13.3 Italy 13.4 Spain 13.5 United Kingdom 13.6 Belgium 13.7 Netherlands 13.8 Russia 13.9 Poland 13.10 Greece 13.11 Norway 13.12 Romania 13.13 Portugal 13.14 Turkey 13.15 Rest of Europe 14. Porter's Five Forces Analysis 14.1 Threat of New Entry 14.2 The Bargaining Power of Buyer 14.3 Threat of Substitution 14.4 The Bargaining Power of Supplier 14.5 Competitive Rivalry 15. SWOT Analysis 15.1 Strengths 15.2 Weaknesses 15.3 Opportunities 15.4 Threats 16. Key Players Analysis For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ktmwy8 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250326491072/en/ Contacts: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 Originally published on Aflac Newsroom Everyone knows dreams come from the heart, and a 3-year-old Columbia boy recently experienced his dream coming true with a little help, and a big heart, from Make-A-Wish South Carolina and Aflac. Rowan, a Columbia, South Carolina, boy in treatment for cystic fibrosis, received a "wish entry ticket" for him and his family to Walt Disney World last October. "We celebrate Rowan for his strength and courage. He reminds us of the importance of supporting organizations like Make-A-Wish South Carolina," said Bob Ruff, senior vice president, Group Voluntary Benefits. "Aflac is proud to help advance the mission of Make-A-Wish South Carolina and bring joy and hope to local children like Rowan who are facing health challenges." At the end of 2024, Rowan and his family jetted off to Orlando for their trip. Rowan met many happy characters who love to read, went on fun rides with his family, and posed for pictures of his exciting day. "It meant the world to our family and Rowan to be able to go and experience a once-in-a-lifetime trip," said Rowan's mom, Angela. "If it weren't for Make-A-Wish and Aflac, it wouldn't have been possible!" Since 2018, Aflac Group has supported Make-A-Wish South Carolina with nearly $60,000 and has helped grant numerous wishes to local children with health challenges. Additionally, Aflac Incorporated has contributed more than $283,000 to Make-A-Wish since 2001. Make-A-Wish South Carolina is not the only way Aflac and its employees give back to the community. Along with supporting organizations, including the PAWS Humane Society in Columbus, Georgia, Aflac also supports the Boys and Girls Club of America and the United Way. There's also a cuddlier, more feathery way that Aflac and its employees give back. Aflac is proud to support children and their families fighting cancer and blood disorders, having contributed nearly $190 million to the cause, including support for Prisma Heath Children's Hospital-Midlands in Columbia, South Carolina, since 1995. Relive the magic of Rowan's trip with his family by looking through the photos above! Aflac WWHQ |1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999 Aflac New York | 22 Corporate Woods Boulevard, Suite 2 | Albany, New York 12211 Continental American Insurance Company | Columbia, SC Z2500128 EXP: 3/26 View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Aflac Incorporated on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Aflac Incorporated Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/aflac-incorporated Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Aflac Incorporated LONDON, March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Elliott Advisors (UK) Limited ("Elliott," or "we"), which advises funds that together have an economic interest of close to 5% in RWE AG ("RWE" or "the Company"), today issued the following statement: "We welcome RWE's decision to reduce its 2025-2030 investment programme by 10 billion, or 25%, while also implementing stricter investment criteria, raising return targets, and accelerating its farmdown strategy. These measures represent an important first step towards more disciplined capital allocation. However, we share the market's disappointment with the lack of clarity regarding the Company's commitment to enhance shareholder returns. Given the announced capex reduction and RWE's persistent undervaluation, we believe there is a compelling opportunity to significantly increase and accelerate the ongoing share buyback programme. We look forward to continuing our constructive dialogue with the Company." About Elliott Elliott Investment Management L.P. (together with its affiliates, "Elliott") manages approximately $72.7 billion in assets as of December 31, 2024. Founded in 1977, it is one of the oldest funds under continuous management. The Elliott funds' investors include pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, foundations, funds-of-funds, high net worth individuals and families, and employees of the firm. Elliott Advisors (UK) Limited is an affiliate of Elliott Investment Management L.P. Media Contacts London Alice Best Elliott Advisors (UK) Limited T: +44 203 009 1715 abest@elliottadvisors.co.uk Frankfurt Thomas Katzensteiner Charles Barker T: +49 69 79 40 90 25 Thomas.Katzensteiner@charlesbarker.de Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1179754/Elliot_Logo.jpg Aix-en-Provence, 26 March 2025 (6 p.m.) HIGHCO: MANAGED DECLINE IN BUSINESS AND RESULTS IN 2024; PROPOSED DIVIDEND OF 0.25 PER SHARE; SALE OF HIGH CONNEXION Business decline less steep than expected in 2024 2024 gross profit of 69.16 m, down 7%. Sustained annual growth in the Activation division (up 7%), decline in Mobile businesses (down 4.3%) and a sharp decrease in Consulting & In-store media selling (down 28.8%). Decline in businesses in France (down 6.9%) and in International business (down 7.5%). Decline in results and profitability as anticipated Headline PBIT 1 of 11.55 m, down 29.6%. of 11.55 m, down 29.6%. Operating margin 1 of 16.7%, down 540 basis points. of 16.7%, down 540 basis points. Adjusted attributable net income 2 of 7.28 m, down 33.2%. of 7.28 m, down 33.2%. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS)2 of 0.37, down 32.3%. Financial position remains strong Operating cash flow of 12.3 m (excluding IFRS 16), down by 1.13 m. Net cash3 excluding operating working capital of 24.74 m at 31 December 2024, representing a significant increase of 5.35 m compared to 31 December 2023. Sale of High Connexion A HighCo success story. Sales agreement signed with conditions precedent. Proposal of an exceptional dividend of 1 per share as a result of the sale. 2025 Guidance (excl. High Connexion) Decline in gross profit between 3% and 4%. Operating margin of more than 11%. Dividend of 0.25 per share to be proposed at the AGM in May 2025 with respect to 2024. Continuation of the share buyback programme. Continued roll-out of the CSR strategy ( m) 2024 2023 2024/2023 Change Gross profit 69.16 74.35 -7.0% Headline PBIT1 11.55 16.41 -29.6% Operating margin1 (%) 16.7% 22.1% -540 bp Recurring operating income 10.46 15.85 -34.0% Operational income 10.75 15.85 -32.2% Attributable net income 7.46 11.12 -32.9% Adjusted attributable net income2 7.28 10.90 -33.2% Adjusted earnings per share2 (in ) 0.37 0.55 -32.3% Operating cash flow (excluding IFRS 16) 12.30 13.43 (1.13 m) Net cash3 excluding operating working capital 24.74 19.39 +5.35 m 1 Headline PBIT: Profit before interest, tax and restructuring costs. Operating margin: Headline PBIT/Gross profit. 2 Adjusted attributable net income: Attributable net income excluding other operating income and expenses (2024: income of 0.29 m; 2023: virtually none) and excluding the net after-tax income from assets held for sale and discontinued operations (2024: loss of 0.1 m; 2023: income of 0.22 m); adjusted earnings per share based on an average number of shares of 19,686,140 at 31 December 2024 and of 19,963,550 at 31 December 2023. 3 Net cash (or net cash surplus): Cash and cash equivalents less gross current and non-current financial debt at the end of the period. Didier Chabassieu, Chairman of the Management Board, stated, "In 2024, HighCo managed to adapt to the complex market environment due to the evolving situation with Casino Group, while maintaining sound profitability and a healthy financial position. After 15 years of success, the sale of High Connexion was signed, demonstrating HighCo's ability to bring out innovative solutions, create value and reward its shareholders. In 2025, HighCo will continue its shift to refocus on its two main business divisions: Activation and Consulting & In-store media selling. The Group must continue to innovate around its historical businesses, invest in technological solutions and strengthen its role as a key partner to brands and retailers in helping them rapidly return to growth. 2024 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE Business decline less steep than expected in 2024 In 2024, the Group's businesses fell 7% to 69.16 m, with: Healthy growth in the Activation division ( up 7% ; 52.8% of the Group's gross profit) linked to the increase in the number of coupons processed in France and the positive trend in promotion management; division ( ; 52.8% of the Group's gross profit) linked to the increase in the number of coupons processed in France and the positive trend in promotion management; Decline in the Mobile division ( down 4.3% ; 22.8% of the Group's gross profit), with SMS push notifications holding up well but also a slowdown in Mobile consulting businesses; division ( ; 22.8% of the Group's gross profit), with SMS push notifications holding up well but also a slowdown in Mobile consulting businesses; The sharp decline, as expected, in the Consulting & In-store media selling division (down 28.8%; 24.5% of the Group's gross profit) due to Casino. In France, business fell by 6.9% to 60.75 m, accounting for 87.8% of the Group's gross profit. As expected, the sharp decline in Consulting & In-store media selling businesses (down 28.8%), due to the sale of Casino hypermarkets and supermarkets, was partly offset by the double-digit growth in the Activation division (up 12.2%), driven by the strong increase in the volume of coupons processed in France. Meanwhile, Mobile businesses fell over the year (down 4.3%). International business declined 7.5% to 8.41 m, accounting for 12.2% of the Group's gross profit. In Belgium, gross profit fell by 7.9% to 7.56 m, due to the continued decrease in coupon processing as well as the drop in traditional promotion management. Businesses in Spain showed a drop (down 3.9%) to 0.85 m and accounted for 1.2% of the Group's gross profit. Decline in results and profitability as anticipated The business decline came with a drop in headline PBIT, which totalled 11.55 m for the 2024 financial year, down 29.6%, both in France (10.38 m) and in International business (1.18 m). Operating margin (headline PBIT/gross profit) fell by 540 basis points in 2024 to 16.7%, with France at 17.1% and International business at 14%. After deducting the significantly higher restructuring costs (2024: 1.1 m, 2023: 0.56 m), recurring operating income came out at 10.46 m, down 34% (2023: 15.85 m). Operating income totalled 10.75 m in 2024, falling 32.2% compared with 2023. This decrease resulted from the reported 0.29 m in other operating income and expenses, derived from the fair value remeasurement of the 29.2% stake previously owned in RetailTech, valued at 0.18 m. Financial income in 2024 totalled 1.89 m, showing a strong increase of 0.88 m, mainly due to income from cash (2.11 m). The tax expense amounted to 3.31 m in 2024 (2023: expense of 4.72 m). The effective tax rate was down by 180 basis points to come out at 26.2%. Assets held for sale and discontinued operations came out at a loss of 0.28 m for 2024 (2023: profit of 0.45 m), mainly due of the discontinuation of businesses in Italy. Adjusted attributable net income fell 33.2% to 7.28 m (2023: 10.9 m). The reported figure was also down on last year, at 7.46 m (2023: 11.12 m). The Group recorded adjusted EPS of 0.37 for the 2024 financial year, down 32.3% from 0.55 per share in 2023. Financial position remains strong Cash flow amounted to 15.74 m, down by 0.78 m compared with 2023. Excluding the impact of IFRS 16 - Leases, cash flow amounted to 12.3 m, a decrease of 1.13 m from 2023. Net cash at 31 December 2024 amounted to 80.69 m, a strong increase of 14.56 m since 31 December 2023. Excluding operating working capital (55.95 m at 31 December 2024), net cash came to 24.74 m, showing a significant rise of 5.35 m with respect to 31 December 2023. SALE OF HIGH CONNEXION HighCo announced that it entered into an agreement on 19 March, subject to conditions precedent, to sell its subsidiary High Connexion, in which it holds a 51% stake, to a group of investors including Albarest Partners and Guillaume Guttin. This sale covers the entire 51% stake in High Connexion SAS. High Connexion was co-founded in 2008 with Bruno Laurent to anticipate market transformations and support the emergence of mobile services in France. The startup rapidly stood out as one of the industry's major players. In 15 years, High Connexion has generated a cumulative total of nearly 45 m in headline PBIT1 and paid HighCo almost 15 m in dividends. This success story demonstrates the Group's ability to make strategic investments, develop innovative startups, create value and reward its shareholders. High Connexion generated a contribution margin of 8.65 m in 2024, for contribution revenue of 60.18 m, representing 12.5% of consolidated gross profit and 41.1% of consolidated revenue in 2024. The contribution to the Group's headline PBIT1 in 2024 totalled 4.37 m. The company currently has 27 employees. After the consolidation restatements for High Connexion4, the main consolidated financial indicators for 2024 are as follows: ( m) 2024 restated5 2024 reported Restated/reported change Revenue 86.20 146.38 -60.18 Gross profit 61.03 69.16 -8.13 Headline PBIT1 7.56 11.55 -4.00 Operating margin1 (%) 12.4% 16.7% -430 bp Operational income 6.75 10.75 -4.00 Attributable net income 7.46 7.46 - Adjusted attributable net income2 5.56 7.28 -1.72 Adjusted earnings per share2 (in ) 0.28 0.37 -0.09 4 Mainly from intra-Group transactions. 5 Unaudited data. HighCo will inform the market when the conditions precedent are met. These requirements are primarily regulatory in nature and are expected to be satisfied by 30 June. A press release will be published once the deal is complete. The income from this disposal should enable HighCo to propose an exceptional dividend of 1 per share as a result of the sale. HIGHCO: ACTOR IN THE TRANSFORMATION OF RETAIL The deflationary trend seen since May 2024 in consumer goods has not had a significant impact on buying behaviour, and tension remains on the consumer goods market. To meet consumer expectations, large retailers continue to engage in a full-blown price war. The current situation is speeding up the transformations under way on the market: concentration of large retailers, strengthened purchasing hubs, development of retailer private-label brands and a shift towards digital promotions. In this complex retail environment, HighCo is marshalling all of its expertise to support brands and retailers in developing their market share. Clients have focused their efforts on "price" and have leveraged the Group's expertise to consolidate their positions on the market and develop their business: The Mouvement E.Leclerc cooperative maintains its trust in the Group to manage its main retail events and promotions. It has also extended its scope of collaboration with HighCo to its specialised retail chains (automotive, energy, parapharmacies and beauty) to implement promotional campaigns within these distribution sectors. maintains its trust in the Group to manage its main retail events and promotions. It has also extended its scope of collaboration with HighCo to its specialised retail chains (automotive, energy, parapharmacies and beauty) to implement promotional campaigns within these distribution sectors. Carrefour strengthened its partnership with HighCo to reach its target of 10% personalised promotions in 2026. Now, a special HighCo unit centralises and manages access to all Carrefour personalised promotions. strengthened its partnership with HighCo to reach its target of 10% personalised promotions in 2026. Now, a special HighCo unit centralises and manages access to all Carrefour personalised promotions. Leroy Merlin chose the HighCo Merely platform to build and monitor its business action plan. HighCo Group's proprietary technology is being rolled out within this specialised retail chain. chose the HighCo Merely platform to build and monitor its business action plan. HighCo Group's proprietary technology is being rolled out within this specialised retail chain. HighCo teams celebrated their first year of collaboration with Netto . Seven omnichannel communication campaigns were designed to interconnect two key objectives for the retail chain: develop the retailer's business and enhance its brand image. . Seven omnichannel communication campaigns were designed to interconnect two key objectives for the retail chain: develop the retailer's business and enhance its brand image. In continuity with 2023, HighCo is managing a higher volume of promotions. In 2024 in France, HighCo also processed a 25% higher volume of discount coupons and 40% more requests for cashback offers . and 40% more requests for . The commercialisation of HighCo Nifty's mobile discount coupons is picking up in the pharmacy sector. In the second half of 2024, the number of offers available within the sector grew 40% from the previous half-year period. In large food retail, the technology is operational at Monoprix's traditional check-out counters and activation of automatic check-out counters is planned for the second half of 2025. In 2024, the Group's campaigns with brands and retailers pointed to a new trend in promotions. Large retailers are gradually shifting to a more responsible approach, which converges with the Group's CSR strategy: For the launch of its new coffee machine, Philips called on HighCo to manage a cashback offer that was unique, in that it encouraged consumers to adopt circular economy practices, in partnership with Geev. called on HighCo to manage a cashback offer that was unique, in that it encouraged consumers to adopt circular economy practices, in partnership with Geev. As part of its strategy to modernise its concept, Buffalo Grill enlisted the HighCo Group subsidiary Useradgents to redesign its website. The agency's experts provided the restaurant chain with special support in eco-design and accessibility. CSR STRATEGY: MOVING TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE MARKETING In 2024, HighCo further developed its "Impact 2030" CSR strategy by: Defining its targets for each of its three CSR pillars (1. Foster a culture that promotes employee fulfilment and performance 2. Design sustainable marketing and communication solutions 3. Guarantee a high level of data security); for each of its three CSR pillars (1. Foster a culture that promotes employee fulfilment and performance 2. Design sustainable marketing and communication solutions 3. Guarantee a high level of data security); Determining its decarbonisation pathway to 2030; and to 2030; and Continuing its actions to create greater employee engagement. HighCo also continued its actions to improve HR and social performance, highlighting the following examples: Achievement of all its key performance indicators; Maintained balance of women in management (50.2% at end-2024); (50.2% at end-2024); Renewal of the EcoVadis Gold rating (score 73 out of 100), confirming HighCo's ranking in the top 5% of companies in terms of CSR performance and responsible purchasing. The Group's climate commitment continued through ongoing projects: Its full carbon footprint assessment (Scopes 1, 2 and 3), with total greenhouse gas emissions of 7,027 tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2024 (down from 2023); (Scopes 1, 2 and 3), with total greenhouse gas emissions of 7,027 tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2024 (down from 2023); B rating achieved on the CDP Climate SME questionnaire, the best possible score for SMEs in 2024. Lastly, this year was noteworthy for the strong engagement of employees in CSR issues, including: Organisation of the first edition of solidarity half-day events ; ; Initiatives to raise employee awareness to climate action through various "fresk" workshops (climate, plastic, etc.); through various "fresk" workshops (climate, plastic, etc.); The second European Sustainability Week organised by the Group; organised by the Group; Ongoing internal events held by organisations promoting the environment, Hagir, and sports, OHC. 2025 GUIDANCE (EXCL. HIGH CONNEXION) In light of the agreement signed to sell High Connexion, HighCo forecasts for 2025: Decline in gross profit between 3% and 4% (2024 gross profit restated for High Connexion: 61.03 m); (2024 gross profit restated for High Connexion: 61.03 m); Operating margin (headline PBIT/gross profit) of more than 11% (2024 operating margin restated for High Connexion: 12.4%). The Group's financial resources will be allocated to: Shareholder returns with a dividend payout with respect to FY 2024 of 0.25 per share, up 25% (0.20 per share paid in 2024 with respect to FY 2023) and the continued share buyback programme involving approximately 1 m (2024: 0.34 m); with respect to FY 2024 of (0.20 per share paid in 2024 with respect to FY 2023) and the continued involving approximately 1 m (2024: 0.34 m); CapEx, expected at less than 1 m (2024: 0.5 m); Implementation of initiatives relating to the CSR strategy. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF 19 MAY 2025 HighCo's joint Annual General Meeting will be held at the head office in Aix-en-Provence on 19 May 2025 at 11 a.m. (CET). A dividend of 0.25 per share with respect to FY 2024 will be proposed at the meeting, with the payment date scheduled for 27 May 2025 (ex-dividend date of 23 May 2025). The Supervisory Board examined the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. At the time of writing, the audit of the consolidated financial statements has been carried out. The certification reports will be issued once the required specific verifications have been finalised in order to file the universal registration document. A conference call with analysts will take place on 27 March 2025 at 10:00 a.m. (CET). The presentation will be available at the beginning of the meeting on the Company's website (www.highco.com) under Investors > Financial Information > Financial analysts meetings. About HighCo As an expert in marketing and communication, HighCo supports brands and retailers in accelerating the transformation of retail. Listed in compartment C of Euronext Paris, and eligible for SME equity savings plans ("PEA-PME"), HighCo has 450 employees. HighCo has achieved a Gold rating from EcoVadis, meaning that the Group is ranked in the top 5% of companies in terms of CSR performance and responsible purchasing. Your contacts Cecile Collina-HueNicolas Cassar Managing DirectorPress Relations +33 1 77 75 65 06+33 4 88 71 35 46 comfi@highco.comn.cassar@highco.com Upcoming events Publications take place after market close . Conference call on annual earnings: Thursday, 27 March 2025 at 10 a.m. Q1 2025 Gross Profit: Tuesday, 29 April 2025 Q2 2025 and H1 2025 Gross Profit: Tuesday, 22 July 2025 H1 2025 Earnings: Wednesday, 10 September 2025 Conference call on half-year earnings: Thursday, 11 September 2025 at 10 a.m. Q3 2025 and 9-month YTD 2025 Gross Profit: Wednesday, 15 October 2025 Q4 2025 and FY 2025 Gross Profit: Wednesday, 28 January 2026 HighCo is a component stock of the indices CAC Small (CACS), CAC Mid&Small (CACMS), CAC All-Tradable (CACT), Euronext Tech Croissance (FRTPR) and Enternext PEA-PME 150 (ENPME). ISIN FR0000054231 Reuters: HIGH.PA Bloomberg: HCO FP For further financial information and press releases, go to www.highco.com. This English translation is for the convenience of English-speaking readers. Consequently, the translation may not be relied upon to sustain any legal claim, nor should it be used as the basis of any legal opinion. HighCo expressly disclaims all liability for any inaccuracy herein. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2025) - Canuc Resources Corporation (TSXV: CDA) (OTCQB: CNUCF) ("Canuc") and Macdonald Mines Exploration Inc. (TSXV: BMK) (OTC Pink: MCDMF) ("Macdonald Mines" or the "Company") would like to update shareholders ("Shareholders") of Macdonald Mines and provide certain supplemental information with respect to the previously announced transaction with Canuc (see press releases of December 3, 2024 and February 13, 2025). The Meeting The special meeting of Company Shareholders (the "Meeting") is scheduled to be held on March 31, 2025 at 10am (Vancouver time) to approve a statutory arrangement ("Arrangement") under section 192 of the Business Corporations Act (Canada) which involves, among other things, the indirect acquisition by Canuc of all of the common shares of the Company (the "Transaction"). Due to the additional information provided by the Company in this news release, the Company will accept proxies up to 8 AM (Vancouver time) on March 31, 2025, or any adjournment or postponement of the Meeting. A shareholder that has already given a proxy may revoke it at any time before the proxy is exercised by following the steps detailed in the Company's management information circular dated February 19, 2025 ("Circular"). All other details of the Meeting and the Arrangement are as set forth in the Circular, available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile. Supplemental Information Regarding Macdonald Mines The Circular provides disclosure regarding the consulting agreement between Macdonald Mines and its CFO, Fiona Fitzmaurice. Macdonald Mines wishes to clarify that, pursuant to that agreement, Ms. Fitzmaurice is entitled to termination pay in an amount of $120,000 only if her position as CFO is terminated upon a "change of control" transaction having been completed, and that Ms. Fitzmaurice is not already entitled to such payment. Macdonald Mines also wishes to clarify that all stock options granted to Ms. Fitzmaurice have already vested to her. As such, Macdonald Mines confirms that there is no "collateral benefit", as such term is defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") that will be provided to Ms. Fitzmaurice or any other "related party", as such term is defined in MI 61-101, of Macdonald Mines under or as a result of the Arrangement. The Arrangement is not a "business combination" for the purposes of MI 61-101. Separately, Macdonald Mines wishes to confirm that, as set out in the Circular, the 2,305,000 common shares held by companies controlled by Chris Berlet, CEO and a director of Canuc, will be excluded from all voting tallies at the Meeting, in keeping with internal corporate governance objectives. Macdonald Mines also wishes to provide additional background information regarding the Arrangement: The Company first met Chris Berlet, CEO and a director of Canuc, in years previous, as Mr. Berlet provided consulting and technical services with respect to tailings on a portion of the Company's SPJ Property. The Company entered into a tailings recovery and net smelter returns (NSR) royalty agreement with a private company of which Mr. Berlet is a principal, pursuant to which the Company holds a 4.0% NSR; In 2023 and 2024, the Company attempted to secure private placement financing on numerous occasions, but without any success; In 2024, the Company entered negotiations with an arm's length party to discuss funding opportunities. The negotiations did not materialize into any formal offers, particularly as the Company was also addressing issues in its prior technical disclosures occurring between November 27, 2018 and February 11, 2021, during the tenure of Quinton Yarie as CEO (see the Company's news releases dated May 24, 2024, May 31, 2024, and its MD&A dated November 25, 2024 with respect to its September 30, 2024 interim financial statements, all of which are available under its profile on SEDAR+); In the summer of 2024, Mr. Berlet, as a representative of Canuc, met with representatives of the Company to discuss potential business dealings. At the time, the Company was facing serious financial difficulties, both with property maintenance costs and with other mounting indebtedness, and the Company had limited options, if any, as to securing additional financing required to maintain its SPJ Property in good standing; As a result of those discussions, the Company and Canuc entered into a non-binding letter of intent with respect to the Arrangement on December 3, 2024 (see the Company's news release dated December 3, 2024). Management of the Company was, and remains, of the opinion that the Arrangement terms represent a considerably high and fair value, relative to the Company's financial position and outlook at the time (and at present). The offer was reviewed by all members of the Company's board, all being at arm's length to Canuc; In December 2024, Mr. Berlet also participated in the Company's private placement, providing the Company with enough funds to keep the SPJ Property from lapsing, and to fund the Company's work programs; and The Arrangement Agreement was entered and dated effective February 4, 2025, and announced on February 13, 2024. Supplemental Information Regarding Canuc The Company directs Shareholders to refer to the Company's profile on SEDAR+ for recently uploaded continuous disclosure documents of Canuc intended to supplement the disclosure set out in the Circular. Canuc disclosure documents re-filed under the Company's SEDAR+ profile are now incorporated by reference in the Circular. Specifically, the Company directs Shareholders to the following Canuc continuous disclosure documents now filed under the Company's SEDAR+ profile: Early Warning Report dated April 27, 2023 Audited Annual Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 Annual MD&A for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 Interim Financial Statements for the period ended September 30, 2024 Interim MD&A for the period ended September 30, 2024 News Releases dated December 3, 2024, February 13, 2025 and March 7, 2025 Management Information Circular dated February 5, 2024 in respect of Canuc Shareholders meeting held on March 28, 2024 NI 43-101 Technical Report dated August 17, 2016, filed on SEDAR+ November 24, 2016 In addition to the Canuc disclosure documents, the Company provides Shareholders with the information provided in Schedule A regarding Canuc, which is intended to supplement disclosure in Canuc's Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") dated April 29, 2024 in respect of Canuc's year ended December 31, 2023, and Canuc's interim MD&A dated November 29, 2024 in respect of the interim period September 30, 2024. Canuc's Business Canuc is entering the second quarter of 2025 with modest revenue from gas production, and a significant reduction in operating expenses. The Company continues to preserve capital while strategically advancing exploration at its flagship San Javier silver-gold-copper project in Mexico. While Canuc has not yet defined a mineral resource and is not generating revenue from its mining operations, several promising breccia and stockwork zones have been identified at surface, particularly in the northeastern claims and the El Tule area. These targets remain the focus of ongoing and recent geological work, mapping and sampling and are the locations planned for future drilling. Canuc plans to advance its exploration efforts at the San Javier Project in Sonora, Mexico, through a staged program of continued surface mapping, channel sampling, and geochemical analysis, with the goal of refining drill targets in the El Tule and Carranza zones. Subject to financing, Canuc anticipates initiating a focused diamond drilling campaign in late 2025 or early 2026 to test priority breccia structures identified in recent fieldwork. The estimated cost of this next exploration phase is expected to range between $250,000 and $500,000, depending on the scope and depth of drilling. These activities are designed to move the project toward a maiden NI 43-101 resource estimate, representing a key milestone in Canuc's strategic advancement. Canuc Private Placement As a condition of the proposed Transaction, Canuc is required to complete a private placement financing of a minimum of $500,000. Currently, Canuc expects to close on or before the closing of the Transaction, of units ("Units") consisting of one share of Canuc and one half of one common share purchase warrant. The Units are priced at $0.10 per Unit. Each whole warrant exercisable to acquire one common share of Canuc at $0.15 per share for a period of two (2) years. Canuc anticipates minimum private placement of $2,200,000 and maximum $3,200,000. About MacDonald Mines Exploration Ltd. MacDonald Mines is a Canadian exploration company focused on exploring for critical and precious metals in a metasomatic iron alkali-calcic (MIAC) mineral system on its 100%-owned, 19,720 ha (197.2 km2) SPJ Project. MIAC systems are known for hosting IOCG and affiliated deposits. The property is located 20km southeast of the prolific Sudbury Mining Camp in Northern Ontario. The Company's primary exploration focus are the polymetallic and iron-poor to possibly iron-rich Ag-AuCu-Co showings and prospects along the McLaren Lake Fault System that includes the Alwyn CuAu-(Ag-Co) trend and the Ashigami Co-Cu-Au showings, and the iron-rich to iron-poor Glade Au trend recognized to host Au mineralization comparable to the Scadding deposit. In addition, a potential for nickel, cobalt, copper, and platinum group elements in the Nipissing intrusions that are hosting the Candore, Jerome and Glade showings within the SPJ Project. About Canuc Resources Corporation Founded in 1952, Canuc Resources Corporation is a junior resource company focusing on the San Javier Silver-Gold Project in Sonora State, Mexico. The San Javier Silver-Gold Project evidences silver, gold and copper mineralization interpreted to be related to a mineral system that can form silver dominant IOCG and affiliated deposits. The Company also generates cash flow from natural gas production at its MidTex Energy Project located in Central West Texas, USA where Canuc has an interest in eight (8) producing natural gas wells and has rights for further in field developments. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information. All information, other than information of historical fact, constitute "forward-looking statements" and includes any information that addresses activities, events or developments that each of Canuc and/or MacDonald Mines (collectively, the "Corporations") believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including the Corporations respective strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance, and including statements regarding the completion of or the benefits of the Transaction and the Arrangement. When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "believe", "hope", "may" and similar expressions, as well as "will", "shall" and other indications of future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is based on current expectations and applies only as of the date on which they were made. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking information include. Factors such as uncertainties regarding government regulations could also affect the results. Other risks may be set out in the Corporations respective annual financial statements, MD&A and other publicly filed documents. The Corporations caution that there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. There is Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required by law, the Corporations do not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. SCHEDULE "A" SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION REGARDING CANUC RESOURCES CORPORATION MD&A FOR PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 Overall Performance Financial Performance For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2024, Canuc Resources Corporation ("the Corporation") reported a net loss of $742,182, or $0.01 per share (basic and diluted), compared to a net loss of $2,027,129, or $0.01 per share, for the same period in 2023. The improved bottom line in 2024 reflects the Corporation's efforts to reduce discretionary spending and manage operating costs effectively while continuing to support key exploration initiatives. Operating expenditures for the period totaled $739,163, down from $2,053,628 in the comparative 2023 period. The decrease in general and administrative spending indicates an organizational shift toward capital preservation and operational efficiency. The Corporation's exploration and evaluation expenses at the San Javier Project also declined to $185,538 during the period, compared to $446,364 in the previous year. This decline reflects a more targeted approach to geological mapping, drilling, and sampling in newly acquired zones like El Tule, while deferring more capital-intensive activities such as large-scale drilling programs Financial Condition As at September 30, 2024, the Corporation maintained a cash balance of $119,128, down from $964,371 a year earlier. The decline reflects the use of working capital for exploration activities, corporate overheads, and maintenance of the natural gas assets in Texas. The Corporation's total assets stood at $766,429, a decrease from $2,982,302 as at September 30, 2023. The reduction in assets was driven by lower cash balances, reduced receivables, and the full impairment of the MidTex oil and gas properties, reflecting management's conservative assessment of their future economic value. Despite this, the Corporation retained a positive working capital position of $678,526, though reduced from $1,178,500 in 2023. This reflects prudent financial management, including the reduction of current liabilities to $87,903, down from $314,926 in the previous year. The Corporation has no long-term debt and no interest-bearing obligations, preserving flexibility and reducing financial risk. Revenue Comparison - 2022, 2023, and 2024 YTD Period Total Revenue from Natural Gas and Oil Commentary FY 2022 $299,671 Revenue benefited from elevated natural gas prices following global energy disruptions. Production remained stable from existing wells. FY 2023 $162,585 A notable decrease driven by unstained pricing levels through Q1-Q3 and modest decreases in gas sales volumes throughout the year. 9 Months Ended Sept 30, 2024 $59,840 Revenue declined due to weaker natural gas prices and production declines. All assets remain fully impaired. The first three quarters of 2024 show a large decline compared to the same period in 2023. The weakening commodity price environment and lack of reinvestment into the gas field (e.g., recompletion or new drilling) have directly impacted cash flows. Asset Status and Outlook As of September 30, 2024, the Corporation's gas assets continue to generate positive cash flow, but management has maintained a full impairment of their carrying value on the balance sheet. This reflects prudent accounting treatment in light of: Pricing volatility in natural gas markets, The uncertainty of future engineering-led rework programs, And the lack of immediate capital investment plans. The wells currently produce from the lowest of three known productive formations. Should future economic conditions justify investment, the Corporation may explore recompletion into higher formations (Caddo Limestone and Strawn Sand), potentially increasing production and extending well life. However, any such activities will require: A favorable pricing environment, Independent reservoir engineering assessments, and Access to capital. The natural gas segment continues to play a supporting role in Canuc's business model, offering modest revenue to supplement exploration efforts. While revenues in 2022 and 2023 benefited from stronger commodity pricing, 2024 year-to-date results highlight the segment's exposure to pricing pressures and production decline. While the asset remains a non-core component relative to the San Javier mineral exploration focus, it offers latent value that could be unlocked through future engineering work, contingent on improved market conditions and capital availability. Discussion of Key Metrics Revenue Revenue decreased significantly from $299,671 in FY 2022 to $162,585 in FY 2023, largely due to reduced natural gas prices and unstable production from the Midtex assets in Texas. Revenue for the nine-month period in 2024 declined to $59,840, reflecting reduced gas prices and natural production decline without new investment in field operations. Net Income / Loss The Corporation reported a net loss of $1,740,169 in FY 2022, which did not significantly to a net loss of $1,753,039 in FY 2023. For the first nine months of 2024, the Corporation recorded a net loss of $742,182, This improvement was driven by reduced general and administrative expenses, lower promotional and travel costs, and operational efficiency. Earnings (Loss) per Share Earnings per share remained consistent across all periods at $(0.01), reflecting the Corporation's pre-revenue exploration status and stable weighted average share count. Total Assets Total assets grew substantially in FY 2023 to $1.53 million, driven by capital raised through private placements and the temporary increase in cash balances. However, assets declined to $766,429 as of September 30, 2024, as a result of cash usage for exploration activities and operational costs, alongside the continued impairment of oil and gas assets. Total Liabilities Liabilities decreased steadily from $667,474 in FY 2022 to $230,663 in FY 2023, before dropping significantly to $166,440 by Q3 2024. The reduction reflects prudent cost management and the timely settlement of accounts payable and accruals, leaving the Corporation with minimal financial obligations. Dividends The Corporation has not declared or paid any dividends during the periods under review, consistent with its strategy to reinvest available capital into exploration and asset development. As a junior exploration company, Canuc is not expected to pay dividends until it achieves commercial production or secures recurring cash flow from mineral development. Operations of the Business Project Descriptions, Plans, Status, and Expenditures San Javier Silver-Gold-Copper Project (Sonora, Mexico) The San Javier Project is Canuc's flagship mineral exploration asset, located in the state of Sonora, Mexico. The project consists of 26 contiguous concessions covering approximately 1,013 hectares. The Corporation, through its Mexican subsidiaries Minera Stramin S. de R.L. de C.V. and Minera Canuc SA de CV, holds title or pending title on all concessions. Project Plan and Status: Canuc's objective is to consolidate and explore a district-scale silver-gold-copper system. The current phase involves geological mapping, trenching, channel sampling, and targeted drilling, focused on breccia zones that have yielded high-grade silver values at surface. Breccia zones such as Carranza, Cerro Colorado, and the Silver Mountain zone have demonstrated strong surface mineralization and structural significance, particularly where northeast-southwest trending mineral corridors intersect with north-south fault systems. Status vs. Plan: As of September 30, 2024, the project is in the advanced exploration stage but remains pre-resource, with no NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate yet defined. Exploration work has moved toward the northeastern and eastern extensions, including the El Tule concession, where iron-matrixed breccia zones have been mapped over an area of 900 x 1,200 meters, remaining open laterally. Use of Proceeds from Financing The Corporation completed several financings in 2022 and 2023. Below is a comparison of expected use of proceeds versus actual usage: Financing Gross Proceeds Disclosed Use of Proceeds Actual Use Variance / Impact Jan 2023 $680,000 San Javier exploration, G&A Used as intended None Mar 2023 $900,000 San Javier, working capital Used as intended None Jun 2023 $1,285,000 Drilling and exploration Exploration scaled down Slower pace of advancement Jul 2023 $2,000,000 Aggressive northeast claim exploration Activity limited to mapping/sampling Reduced field activity due to market conditions While all proceeds were used in alignment with general exploration and corporate plans, slower-than-anticipated capital deployment has delayed the planned definition of a resource at San Javier. However, prudent use of funds has preserved working capital and minimized dilution. Unusual or Infrequent Events or Transactions No infrequent events occurred or were assessed as significant during the reporting period and no material legal proceedings, environmental incidents, or corporate reorganizations occurred during the period. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements As of September 30, 2024, and the date of this report, Canuc Resources Corporation does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on its financial condition, liquidity, capital resources, or financial performance. The Corporation's financial position and disclosures reflect all known obligations, and no special purpose entities, structured financing vehicles, or contingent funding arrangements exist outside the scope of the consolidated financial statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246189 SOURCE: Canuc Resources Corporation Dieppe, New Brunswick--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2025) - Colibri Resource Corporation (TSXV: CBI) (Colibri or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has closed a second and final tranche of its non-brokered private placement of units (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of $146,500. Combined with the proceeds from Tranche 1 (see the Company's news release from February 13, 2025), the Company has raised a total of $286,900. Each unit (a "Unit") consists of one (1) common share (a "Common Share") and one (1) common share purchase warrant ("Warrants") of the Company. Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional Common Share of the Company at a price of C$0.05 for a period of 24 months following issuance. Pursuant to the second tranche, the Company has issued 5,860,000 Common Shares and 5,860,000 Warrants for aggregate gross proceeds of $146,500. The Company completed Tranche 1 of the Offering on February 11, 2025, resulting in the issuance of 5,816,000 Shares and 5,816,000 Warrants for aggregate gross proceeds of $140,400. In total, the Company has issued 11,476,000 Common Shares and 11,476,000 Warrants under the Offering for gross proceeds of $286,900. In connection with the second tranche, the Company paid an eligible arm's length party (the "Finder") a cash fee in the amount of $500 and issued 20,000 finder's warrants (the "Finder's Warrants"). Each Finder Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one Common Share (a "Finder's Warrant Shares") at an exercise price of $0.05 per Finder's Warrant for a period of 24 months from the date of the issue of the Warrants. Combined with the finder's fees paid on Tranche 1, the Company has paid an aggregate of $2,000 cash and issued 80,000 Finder's Warrants in connection with the Offering. All securities issued in connection with the Offering (including any Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of any warrants) are subject to a statutory hold period expiring on the date that is four months and one day after closing of the respective tranches. Closing of the Offering is subject to customary closing conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. Proceeds from the Offering are expected to be applied as follows: approximately 20% for upcoming exploration expenses at Colibri's highly prospective precious metals projects in Mexico, including the Pilar Gold Project & the EP Gold Project, 65% for arm's length creditors including payment of interest expenses on outstanding loans and up to 15% to non-arm's length parties as reimbursement for expenses paid on behalf of the Company by the non-arm's length parties. No proceeds are being used for investor relations activities. The securities issued pursuant to the Offering have not, nor will they be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons in the absence of U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Three insiders, two officers and a director of the Company, participated in the Offering for an aggregate amount of $82,475 for 3,299,000 Units. The transactions with the insiders constitute 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 under section 5.5(a) and section 5.7(1)(a) from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the Units issued to the insiders and the consideration paid by them under the Offering does not exceed 25% of Company's market capitalization, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101. ABOUT COLIBRI RESOURCE CORPORATION: Colibri is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company listed on the TSX-V (CBI) and is focused on acquiring, exploring, and developing prospective gold & silver properties in Mexico. The Company holds four high potential precious metal projects: 1) 49% Ownership of the Pilar Gold & Silver Project which is believed to hold the potential to be a near term producing mine, 2) 100% of EP Gold Project in the significant Caborca Gold Belt which has delivered highly encouraging exploration results and is surrounded by Mexico's second largest major producer of gold on four sides, and 3) two highly prospective interests in the Sierra Madre (Diamante Gold & Silver Project and Jackie Gold & Silver Project). For more information about all Company projects please visit: www.colibriresource.com. 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. Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements". Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246194 SOURCE: Colibri Resource Corporation Michael Kodari , internationally recognised top-performing investor, philanthropist, and leading financial markets expert, is set to travel to Shanghai to explore offshore investment opportunities in government infrastructure projects. This strategic initiative represents a significant step in strengthening Australia-China investment relations and Michael Kodari's influential role in cross-border financial collaboration. Known for his dynamic leadership at KOSEC - Kodari Securities , Michael Kodari has consistently delivered exceptional performance and strategic insight across global markets. His upcoming visit to Shanghai marks a continuation of his long-standing relationship with China, where he previously achieved remarkable success working alongside senior government officials and institutions. "China's commitment to infrastructure and innovation presents exceptional investment opportunities. I am excited to once again engage with some of the country's most influential decision-makers and explore avenues to contribute meaningfully to long-term economic development," said Michael Kodari. This initiative will see Kodari engage with Chinese government agencies and top-tier financial entities to identify infrastructure investment opportunities that align with sustainable development goals. His presence is expected to foster high-level dialogue around innovation, funding structures, and global economic cooperation, with his reputation as a trusted figure in international finance. Michael Kodari's past engagements in China have earned him both distinction and trust. In 2016, a remarkable chapter in KOSEC's journey unfolded, as the Chinese government extended a prestigious invitation to Michael as the sole representative of the Australian Wealth Management industry. During this visit, he was officially welcomed by senior Chinese ministers and bestowed with the symbolic key to the city of Hangzhou, a rare honour signifying trust and recognition of his expertise. Notably, he was entrusted with a pivotal role as an offshore asset allocation advisor, to help guide over $8 billion in government-managed assets. During this momentous occasion, Kodari held key discussions with prominent Chinese officials, including Zhu Lin, Director of Hangzhou Municipal Commission of Commerce; Yuan Weimin, Vice Director of the Commerce Bureau of Shangcheng Hangzhou; Yu Weiying, Vice Director of the Financial Office of The People's Government of Hangzhou; Tong Guili, member of the standing committee of Hangzhou; and Xu Yunhe, Director of Hangzhou Financial Investment Group. These meetings highlighted KOSEC's growing influence and affirmed Kodari's strategic role in shaping long term cross border investments. "My return to Shanghai builds on a relationship founded on mutual respect and proven results. The confidence that the Chinese government has placed in me over the years is humbling, and I'm honoured to continue playing a role in their global investment initiatives," Kodari added. His past accolades also include a prominent role at Parliament House in Canberra for the Australia China Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum, co-hosted by AUSTRAC and the Chinese government, where he provided valuable insights on international trade and innovation. These experiences have positioned Michael Kodari as a strategic link between Australia and China's financial ecosystems. Upon returning to Australia following the formation of this important alliance with China, Michael Kodari met with the Australian Minister of Trade and Investment, the Honourable Andrew Robb. In a private and highly regarded meeting, they discussed the broader implications of the alliance, Australia's international trade ambitions, and the future of global capital flows into Australia's infrastructure and economic sectors. Kodari's impressive portfolio of achievements further cements his influence. In 2014, he publicly disclosed his proprietary investment strategy live on Sky Business, outperforming the market by 95% with an average portfolio return of 93.81%. The groundbreaking results not only earned him widespread recognition but also demonstrated his ability to deliver in all market conditions. Michael Kodari's influence across Asia continues to grow. In Singapore, he has met with the region's most prominent and affluent families to explore strategic investment partnerships in Australia. This includes meetings with Far East Organization, Singapore's largest private landlord and property developer, led by the Ng brothers, the richest family in Singapore, as well as Pontiac Land Group, a luxury real estate developer and hotel owner privately held by the Kwee family, the seventh richest family in Singapore. These discussions are aimed at forming collaborative pathways for international capital to flow into key Australian industries. As the founder and CEO of KOSEC , Kodari has led one of Australia's most respected investment firms, offering clients cutting-edge tools, expert research, and bespoke financial strategies. His presence on prominent media platforms including CNBC, Sky News, Bloomberg, and other respected financial networks has made him a household name in wealth management. "Investing is about vision, strategy, timing, and trust. In returning to China, I aim to continue building on the foundation of mutual growth and innovation that has defined my work over the past decade," Kodari said. Michael Kodari's upcoming visit to Shanghai is not just a business trip, it is a reaffirmation of his global legacy. As he explores new partnerships and government infrastructure projects, his deep understanding of financial markets and unwavering commitment to excellence will undoubtedly open new doors for international cooperation and economic growth. About Michael Kodari: Michael Kodari shines as a globally acclaimed investment luminary, consistently delivering exceptional performance that sets him apart on the international stage. Beyond being a distinguished philanthropist, he stands as one of the foremost authorities in financial markets, hailed by CNBC Asia as "the brightest 21st-century entrepreneur in wealth management." With an impressive foundation in funds management and stockbroking, Michael has collaborated with leading financial institutions, advised government bodies, and graced international stages as a keynote speaker. His commitment to innovation, strategic foresight, and thought leadership continues to drive KOSEC's global influence and success. Media Contact Organization: KOSEC - Kodari Securities Pty Ltd Contact Person Name: Keely Murphy Website: https://www.kosec.com.au Email: info@kosec.com.au Contact Number: +61299553151 City: Sydney State: NSW Country: Australia SOURCE: KOSEC - Kodari Securities Pty Ltd PPX Mining Corp. (TSX.V:PPX)(BVL:PPX) (the "Company" or "PPX") is pleased to announce that major plant equipment purchased from Shandong Xinhai Mining Technology & Equipment Inc. ("Xinhai") is now ready to ship. As disclosed in previous releases, PPX is currently building a 350 tpd CIL & Flotation plant at its Igor Project, located in Peru. The equipment includes: All crushing plant units, feeder, jaw crusher, cone crusher vibrating screen and conveyors. This equipment will reduce the mined ore to a particle size of less than 12 mm. Metal detectors and an electromagnet. This auxiliary equipment will remove any tramp steel. A belt weigh scale. Two ball mills, 7 feet in diameter and 12 feet long. The order also includes mill overflow pumps, cyclones and a thickener to further reduce the ore particle size to 80% less than 150 microns. The usage of this equipment is to liberate the gold and silver minerals. Oxide ore will be subsequently leached in a carbon in leach circuit, with an expected recovery of 85-90% gold and 50-60% silver. In the case of sulfide ore, the liberated minerals are recovered by flotation producing a high silver and gold content concentrate that has a ready market. Flotation cells have also been purchased, together with a filter press to recover flotation concentrate as a filter cake. Pumps and a thickener are also ready to ship. All major motors (for mills and the crushers) are manufactured by WEG or Siemens. The leach tanks and agitators will be supplied by a Peruvian company with a proven track record for supplying this equipment, with the motors and gearboxes manufactured in Germany. As previously shown in test work, the use of "carbon in leach" technology will reduce the effect of naturally occurring carbon in the ore, maximizing the gold recovery. The recovery of gold and silver from the activated carbon produced on the carbon in leach circuit will use a "Pressure Zadra Elution" process with electrowinning of gold and silver from the elution solution. Smelting precipitated from electrowinning will produce "Dore Bullion", an alloy of gold and silver, which will be further refined to produce "Good Delivery" gold and silver, outside Peru. The equipment produced by Xinhai had already been inspected by a specialized company in China and pictures of some of the equipment are shown below. John Thomas, CEO commented that this is major milestone in our plant planning schedule. Civil construction is progressing and should be largely ready when the equipment arrives at site. Picture 1: 7ft. diameter, 12 ft. long ball mill Picture 2: Cyclone fitted to manifold Picture 3: Cyclone feed pumps, rubber lined Picture 4: Flotation cells Picture 5: Jaw Crusher About PPX Mining Corp: PPX Mining Corp. is a Canadian-based mining company with assets in northern Peru. Igor, the Company's 100%-owned flagship gold and silver project, is located in the prolific Northern Peru gold belt in eastern La Libertad Department. All scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by John Thomas, P. Eng., who is the CEO of the Company and a qualified person under the definitions established by National Instrument 43-101. On behalf of the Board of Directors John Thomas Chief Executive Officer 82 Richmond Street East Toronto, Ontario M5C 1P1 Canada 416-361-0737 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement: This press release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements") as such terms are defined by applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to statements regarding test results, future plans or management estimates. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance and often contain words such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," and "intend,", statements that an action or event "may," "might," "could," "should," or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond the Company's control, and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to many various factors. Such uncertainties and risks include, among others, delays in obtaining or inability to obtain required regulatory approvals in connection with this transaction. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company cannot guarantee that the events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. The timing of events and circumstances and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, one should not place undue reliance on forward- looking statements. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of today's date, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or publicly revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by law. SOURCE: PPX Mining Corp. Successful logistics operation supports government-led infrastructure initiative, reinforcing DP World's role as a key logistics partner for specialized cargo in the region. DP World, a global leader in logistics and supply chain solutions, has successfully delivered three new railcars for the Santo Domingo Metro expansion, reinforcing its position as a key logistics partner in the Dominican Republic's infrastructure transformation. This milestone marks another step forward in the modernization of public transport, enhancing urban mobility for millions of residents. The newly delivered Metropolis 9000 Series 6 railcars, manufactured by Alstom in Spain, will boost the subway's capacity to six cars, effectively doubling passenger capacity and helping to alleviate congestion in one of the Caribbean's busiest transit networks. The railcars arrived at DP World's terminal at Caucedo in Boca Chica before being transported to OPRET workshops for assembly. To date, 16 subway trains - comprising 48 railcars - have been delivered, with a total of 72 scheduled to arrive as part of the government-led initiative to expand and enhance public transport. Handling these railcars required specialized logistics expertise due to their significant size and volume. DP World's facilities at the Port of Caucedo - equipped with modern cranes and a deepwater berth -are designed to accommodate a wide range of cargo types. The port handles 150,000 tons of bulk and project cargo every year, alongside a container handling capacity of up to 2.5 million TEUs. Last year, DP World successfully managed the delivery of four monorail cars from its terminal at London Gateway in the UK to Santiago, Dominican Republic, demonstrating its expertise in handling complex infrastructure shipments. Manuel Martinez, CEO of DP World in the Dominican Republic, said: "DP World's advanced logistics capabilities make us the premier gateway for specialized cargo in the Dominican Republic. The successful handling and delivery of the Santo Domingo Metro cars demonstrates our ability to manage complex, high-value shipments - capabilities unmatched by any other port in the country. Our world-class infrastructure and global reach enable us to facilitate transformative projects that drive economic growth and enhance connectivity, further solidifying the Dominican Republic's position as a regional leader in logistics and trade." Beyond supporting critical infrastructure projects, DP World's advanced infrastructure and logistics capabilities are helping position the Dominican Republic as a strategic gateway for trade across the Americas. The company's ability to handle specialized cargo reinforces its position as the leading logistics partner in the region. By managing high-value shipments, DP World supports the Dominican Republic's increasing demand for complex logistics solutions, strengthening the country's competitive edge. "We are deeply committed to the development of the Dominican Republic and to initiatives that position the country as a prime destination for nearshoring investments," Martinez added. "Every day, we leverage our logistics expertise to ensure that specialized cargo such as these railcars can seamlessly reach our shores. By drawing on our global capabilities, we not only contribute to the modernization of urban transport but also reinforce the Dominican Republic's role as a strategic hub for trade, investment, and economic growth." Visit dpworld.com to learn more. - END - DP World Americas Media Contact: Melina Vissat, Head of Communications M: (+1) 704-605-6159 E: melina.vissat@dpworld.com About DP World DP World is reshaping the future of global trade to improve lives everywhere. Operating across six continents with a team of over 100,000 employees, we combine global infrastructure and local expertise to deliver seamless supply chain solutions. From Ports and Terminals to Marine Services, Logistics and Technology, we leverage innovation to create better ways to trade, minimizing disruptions from the factory floor to the customer's door. In the Americas, DP World operates with a team of over 16,000 people across 12 countries, driving excellence through a robust network of 14 ports and terminals and more than 40 warehouses. By harnessing our global reach and local expertise, we simplify logistics, enhance operational performance, and redefine the boundaries of what's possible in global trade. WE MAKE TRADE FLOW. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from DP World on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: DP World Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/dp-world Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: DP World Fury Gold Mines Limited (TSX:FURY)(NYSE American:FURY) ("Fury") and Quebec Precious Metals Corporation (TSXV:QPM)(FSE:YXEP) ("QPM") are pleased to announce that, following the February 26, 2025, announcement of the arrangement agreement (see news release dated February 26, 2025), the acquisition of QPM is moving forward on schedule with an anticipated completion prior to April 30, 2025. QPM has now secured the required no-objection letter from Corporations Canada as well as the interim order from the Quebec Superior Court in connection with convening the QPM shareholders meeting scheduled for April 22, 2025. Fury has secured the conditional approval of the TSX and NYSE American. QPM's shareholder meeting circular has been filed at www.sedarplus.ca, and provides details of the merger as well as updated information about Fury including disclosure of a non-cash impairment charge expected to be effective December 31, 2024, to align the carrying value of Fury's mineral properties to its prevailing market capitalization. As well Fury announces that director Isabelle Cadieux has resigned from the Fury Board of Directors to pursue other opportunities. Fury thanks Ms. Cadieux for her service over the last 18 months. QPM Precious and Critical Minerals Project Portfolio: Gold and Lithium: QPM holds a highly prospective land package covering approximately 70,900 hectares largely within the emerging James Bay gold camp. The road-accessible Sakami project is host to a 23 kilometre (km) long gold-bearing structural corridor. Drilling to date at the La Pointe and La Pointe Extension targets within this trend has identified gold mineralization across widths of up to 75 m and to a depth of up to 500 m with reported intercepts of 2.51 g/t gold (Au) over 54.65 m from drill hole EX-10; 9.22 g/t Au over 12.55 m from drill hole EX-19 and 2.52 g/t Au over 48.55 m from drill hole PT-16-92. The identified gold mineralization at both La Pointe and La Pointe Extension remains open to depth and along strike. Further south along the same gold-bearing structure lies an intriguing undrilled coincident gold in soil geochemical anomalies and Induce Polarization (IP) geophysical chargeability anomaly with similar signature to the La Pointe and La Pointe Extension targets. The Elmer East project is host to an undrilled 4.2 km long east-west oriented gold and base metal bearing structural trends known as the Lloyd showing where grab samples have returned results of up to 68.10 g/t gold, 7.99% Zinc and 7,660 ppm Copper. Spodumene bearing pegmatites have been identified throughout the QPM land package with a recently completed drilling campaign at the Ninaaskumuwin project where +20 m spodumene bearing pegmatites with vertical continuity of up to 150 m were intercepted in drilling late 2024 (analytical results are pending at this time). Rare Earths The Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREE) Kipawa project (68% QPM, 32% Investissement Quebec), 50 km east of Temiscaming in southwestern Quebec, is host to a historical 2013 Proven and Probable reserves of 19.8 million tonnes grading 0.411% total rare earth oxides (TREO). The road accessible project covers an area of 4,300 hectares with good access to local infrastructure. Normand Champigny, Eng., CEO and Director of QPM, is a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 on standards of disclosure for mineral projects. He has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this press release. About Fury Gold Mines Limited Fury Gold Mines Limited is a Canadian-focused exploration company positioned in two prolific mining regions across the country and holds an approximate 51 million common share position in Dolly Varden Silver Corp. (approximately 16% of issued shares). Led by a management team and board of directors with proven success in financing and advancing exploration assets, Fury intends to grow its multi-million-ounce gold platform through rigorous project evaluation and exploration excellence. Fury is committed to upholding the highest industry standards for corporate governance, environmental stewardship, community engagement and sustainable mining. For more information on Fury Gold Mines, visit www.furygoldmines.com. About Quebec Precious Metals Corporation QPM has a large land position in the highly prospective Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory, Quebec, near Dhilmar Ltd.'s (formerly owned by Newmont Corporation) Eleonore gold mine. QPM focuses on advancing its Sakami gold project and its newly discovered, drill-ready Ninaaskuwin lithium showing on the Elmer East project. In addition, QPM holds a 68% interest in the Kipawa rare earths project located near Temiscaming, Quebec. For further information on Fury Gold Mines Limited, please contact: Margaux Villalpando, Investor Relations Tel: (844) 601-0841 Email: info@furygoldmines.com Website: www.furygoldmines.com For more information about QPM, please contact: Normand Champigny, Chief Executive Officer Tel.: (514) 979-4746 Email: nchampigny@qpmcorp.ca Website: www.qpmcorp.ca Forward-Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events. These particularly pertain to the outlook for completion of the proposed Transaction and synergies that might arise from it. Although Fury and QPM have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information including the uncertainty of the shareholder and regulatory approval process the two companies face and many other risks described in our recent securities filings available at www.sedarplus.ca. There may also be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place heavy reliance on forward-looking information. Neither Fury nor QPM undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. No regulatory authority has approved the contents of this news release. SOURCE: Quebec Precious Metals Corporation European Patent Office received nearly 200 000 patent applications last year, with 10.1% coming from China China ranks 4th globally in European patent applications Huawei is No.2 among top applicant companies China recorded a 0.5% YoY increase in applications Strongest growth globally came from electrical machinery, apparatus, energy inventions Surge in AI and battery technology patent filings MUNICH and BEIJING, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese companies and researchers filed 20 081 patent applications last year at the European Patent Office (EPO), a new record. China ranks 4th worldwide accounting for 10.1% of total applications at the EPO. This demonstrates the strong presence of Chinese companies in the European technology market. Overall, a total of 199 264 patent applications were filed at the EPO last year from around the world. This high level of patenting activity is comparable to the previous year (2023: 199 452), following three years of significant growth. "Despite political and economic uncertainties, companies and inventors from around the world filed a high number of patents last year, underlining their technological prowess and their continued investment in R&D," said EPO President Antonio Campinos. "The EPO's patent data is a clear roadmap for industry, policy, and investment priorities - tracking global innovation trends and offering insights into European patent application activity across industries and regions." China's innovation momentum remains strong In 2024, China ranked fourth worldwide, after the United States (47,787 applications), Germany (25,033 applications), and Japan (21,062 applications), but ahead of Republic of Korea in fifth place (13,107 applications). Notably, patent applications from China have grown consistently over the past decade: While growth slowed in 2024 (+0.5% compared to 2023), applications from China have more than doubled since 2018; and more than quadrupled since 2014. China's European patent highlights: Huawei tops Chinese applicant list The leading Chinese company was Huawei, which was ranked second at the EPO behind Samsung in 2024, followed by LG, Qualcomm and RTX. The top 10 includes four companies from Europe, two from R. Korea, two from the US, and one from each of China and Japan. In addition to Huawei (4,322 applications), five other Chinese companies ranked in the top 50 applicants at the EPO, showcasing China's robust innovation capabilities and active participation in European patent applications. The rankings include CATL at number 14, with 1,163 European patent applications, ZTE at 16, with 999 applications, Xiaomi at number 20, with 763 applications, Vivo Mobile at 28, with 622 applications and finally Tencent at number 49, with 446 European patent applications. (See graph "Top applicants at the EPO from P.R. China") Computer tech tops EPO patent rankings Computer technology, which includes areas of AI such as machine learning and pattern recognition, was the leading global field at the EPO for the first time, with 16,815 patent applications in 2024. Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy posted the strongest growth last year (+8.9% on 2023), driven by advances in clean energy technologies, particularly battery innovation (+24.0%). Meanwhile, digital communication, which encompasses inventions related to mobile networks, saw a 6.3% decrease. Surge in patents from China in battery technologies For China, the three leading technical fields for European patent filings in 2024 were digital communication, electrical machinery, apparatus, and computer technology - mirroring global trends. The strongest growth from Chinese companies was in electrical machinery, apparatus, energy, which increased by +32.2% in 2024 compared to 2023. This was thanks to a surge from China in patent applications for battery-related technologies (+79%), with four Chinese companies now among the top 15 applicants in battery technologies (up from two in 2023): CATL, Eve Energy, BYD and Zhuhai CosMX Battery. Chinese firms are also becoming active in patenting in a range of other areas, including biotechnology (+15.1%), and organic fine chemistry (+16.1%). Unitary Patent gains in popularity among Chinese patent proprietors The Unitary Patent system, launched in 2023, continues to gain momentum, offering innovators from around the world simpler and more accessible patent protection across 18 EU Member States with a single request to the EPO. Unitary protection was requested for 25.6% of all European patents granted by the EPO in 2024 totalling over 28,000 requests. Patentees from EPO member states had the highest uptake rate, with 36.5% of their European patents transformed into Unitary Patents, followed by those from Republic of Korea (18.9%),China (17.9%, up from 10.9%), the US (16.0%), and Japan (7.9%). Further information View the Patent Index 2024 in full Explore and customise statistics in our Statistics & Trends Centre and in our Statistics & Trends Centre Access Unitary Patent statistics via our dedicated dashboard statistics via our dedicated dashboard Download datasets (MS Excel) in the Download data section of our statistics page (MS Excel) in the section of our statistics page Check patent trends on the go with the EPO Data Hub mobile app with the EPO Data Hub mobile app Read studies on innovation trends at the Observatory on Patents and Technology on innovation trends at the Observatory on Patents and Technology EPO's support for SMEs, universities, non-profit organisations and other smaller applicants Follow us on social media: X | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube Official hashtag: EPOPatentIndex About the EPO With 6 300 staff members, the European Patent Office (EPO) is one of the largest public service institutions in Europe. Headquartered in Munich with offices in Berlin, Brussels, The Hague and Vienna, the EPO was founded with the aim of strengthening co-operation on patents in Europe. Through the EPO's centralised patent granting procedure, inventors are able to obtain high-quality patent protection in up to 45 countries, covering a market of some 700 million people. The EPO is also the world's leading authority in patent information and patent searching. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/patent-index-2024-patent-applications-from-china-at-record-level-302412509.html Jaguar Mining Inc. ("Jaguar" or the "Company") (TSX:JAG)(OTCQX:JAGGF) is pleased to announce that on Monday, March 24, 2025, the Company signed an agreement (the "Agreement") with the Public Defender's Office of Minas Gerais for the compensation of local community members affected by the previously announced incident at the Satinoco dry-stacked pile, which occurred on December 7, 2024 at the Company's MTL complex (see the press releases issued by Jaguar on December 9, 2024, December 30, 2024 and January 7, 2025). The MTL complex, which includes the currently suspended Turmalina mine, is located in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, approximately 130 kilometers northwest of the city of Belo Horizonte. As previously announced, there were no reported injuries or significant environmental impacts as a result of this incident. The incident did affect several houses and local infrastructure in the community of Casquilho. Since the incident, the Company has worked closely with community representatives, local authorities, and independent assessors to ensure an equitable resolution that meets the needs of those impacted, reinforcing the Company's commitment to responsible mining and strong community relations. The Public Defender's Office of Minas Gerais has issued a press release, in Portuguese in Brazil, regarding the Agreement, which can be viewed on Jaguar's website https://jaguarmining.com/investors/news-releases. Agreement Highlights: The Agreement sets out the parameters for fairly determining the compensation of individuals and families impacted by the incident in which they have been relocated from their homes since early December 2024. The Agreement guarantees compensation for land, housing, home improvements, expenses resulting from relocation, financial losses in commercial and service activities, interruption of income-generating activities, in addition to specific moral and material damages to the affected people. The Agreement is based on precedents from other mining incidents which have occurred in Minas Gerais. Next Steps Following Signature of the Agreement: The Public Defender's Office will meet with each individual or family affected and then will submit a claim to the Company based on the parameters established in the Agreement. The Company will evaluate each proposal and supporting documentation, considering all realistic facts. If the Company agrees with the claim, the Agreement is formalized between the parties and then sent for approval by a judge. The resident has the prerogative to accept or reject the Agreement under the terms established with the Public Defender's Office. If it is rejected, the resident has the right to file a lawsuit requesting compensation. In this situation, the Company will present its defense. The estimated cost for the compensation of the residents, if all accept the terms, is approximately R$57 million (~$10 million at current exchange rates). Vern Baker, President and CEO of Jaguar, stated: "We deeply value our relationship with the communities in which we operate and are pleased to have come to an agreement with the Public Defender's Officethat allows the residents impacted by this incident to move forward. It is important to mention that we have also been providing support to these people since the incident occurred and believe that this initial support, combined with this Agreement will provide a fair path forward as well as is a positive step towards reopening the Turmalina mine and again providing economic benefit to our local community and all other stakeholders. I would like to thank our legal team and all of those who have worked with them throughout the process of dealing with this incident. A significant amount of time and effort has been spent, in partnership with the dedicated professionals from the Public Defender's Office, to put in place a fair agreement. Our focus remains on addressing the situation responsibly and ensuring the well-being of those affected." The Company will provide further updates regarding the Agreement, as well as information regarding any other legal matters relating to the incident at the Satinoco dry-stacked pile (including any known fines or claims), as soon as there is any material information to report in this regard. About Jaguar Mining Inc. Jaguar Mining Inc. is a Canadian-listed junior gold mining, development, and exploration company operating in Brazil with three gold mining complexes and a large land package with significant upside exploration potential from mineral claims. The Company's principal operating assets are located in the Iron Quadrangle, a prolific greenstone belt in the state of Minas Gerais and include the MTL Mining Complex (Turmalina mine and plant) and Caete Mining Complex (Pilar and Roca Grande mines, and Caete plant). The Roca Grande mine has been on temporary care and maintenance since April 2019. The Company also owns the Paciencia Mining Complex (Santa Isabel mine and plant), which had been on care and maintenance since 2012 and is planned to restart in mid-2025. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.jaguarmining.com. For further information please contact: Vernon Baker Chief Executive Officer Jaguar Mining Inc. vernon.baker@jaguarmining.com 416-847-1854 Alfred Colas Chief Financial Officer Jaguar Mining Inc. alfred.colas@jaguarmining.com 416-847-1848 Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. All of the forward-looking information made in this news release is qualified by the cautionary statements below and those made in our other filings with the securities regulators in Canada. Forward-looking information contained in forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "are expected," "is forecast," "is targeted," "approximately," "plans," "anticipates," "projects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "believe" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might," or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, may be considered to be or include forward-looking information. This news release contains forward-looking information regarding, among other things, the potential outcomes that may result from the Agreement (including, without limitation, the prospect that impacted individuals and families will accept the Agreement and the Agreement will result in compensation claims that are acceptable to the Company and approved by the applicable judge, and the potential outcomes of any additional lawsuits that may result from an inability to agree on any such compensation claims proposed by impacted individuals and families), the estimated cost for compensation for impacted residents, the duration of the temporary suspension of the Company's MTL complex in the wake of the slump at its Satinoco dry tailings pile, the cost of resuming operations at the MTL complex, the future stability of the tailings pile in question and safety of the Turmalina mine, the amount, timing and payment terms of any fines imposed on the Company, as well as any costs and damages arising from any civil or criminal lawsuits, resulting from the tailings pile slump, management's expectations regarding the Company's response to the tailings pile slump and the Company's recovery and remediation efforts at the MTL complex, any information and statements related to expected growth, sales, production statistics, ore grades, tonnes milled, recovery rates, cash operating costs, definition/delineation drilling, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, costs and timing of the development of projects and new deposits, success of exploration, development and mining activities, currency fluctuations, capital requirements, project studies, mine life extensions, restarting suspended or disrupted operations, continuous improvement initiatives, and resolution of pending litigation. The Company has made numerous assumptions with respect to forward-looking information contained herein, including, among other things, assumptions about the future and long-term stability of the Satinoco tailings pile; there will be no unforeseen adverse weather events or other external factors that could delay the Company's recovery or remediation efforts; the current assumptions regarding the extent of the damage and timeline for repairs at the MTL complex remain accurate and will not require significant revision as further assessments are completed; estimated timeline for the development of the Company's mineral properties; the supply and demand for, and the level and volatility of the price of, gold; the accuracy of reserve and resource estimates and the assumptions on which the reserve and resource estimates are based; the receipt of necessary permits; market competition; ongoing relations with employees and impacted communities; political and legal developments in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates being consistent with its current expectations including, without limitation, the impact of any potential power rationing, tailings facility regulation, exploration and mine operating licenses and permits being obtained and renewed and/or there being adverse amendments to mining or other laws in Brazil and any changes to general business and economic conditions. Forward-looking information involves a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including among others: the risk of Jaguar not meeting the forecast plans regarding its operations and financial performance; uncertainties with respect to the price of gold, labour disruptions, mechanical failures, increase in costs, environmental compliance and change in environmental legislation and regulation, weather delays and increased costs or production delays due to natural disasters, power disruptions, procurement and delivery of parts and supplies to the operations; uncertainties inherent to capital markets in general (including the sometimes volatile valuation of securities and an uncertain ability to raise new capital) and other risks inherent to the gold exploration, development and production industry, which, if incorrect, may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described herein. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of gold exploration, development, mining and production, including environmental hazards, tailings dam failures, industrial accidents and workplace safety problems, unusual or unexpected geological formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding, chemical spills, procurement fraud and gold bullion thefts and losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or the inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks). Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. For additional information with respect to these and other factors and assumptions underlying the forward-looking information made in this news release, see the Company's most recent Annual Information Form and Management's Discussion and Analysis, as well as other public disclosure documents that can be accessed under the issuer profile of "Jaguar Mining Inc." on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com. The forward-looking information set forth herein reflects the Company's reasonable expectations as at the date of this news release and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. SOURCE: Jaguar Mining, Inc. Tamarack, Minnesota--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2025) - Talon Metals Corp. (TSX: TLO) (OTC Pink: TLOFF) (together with its subsidiaries, "Talon" or the "Company"), the majority owner and operator of the Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project ("Tamarack Nickel Copper Project") in central Minnesota and the operator of the Boulderdash nickel copper discovery and numerous high-grade nickel-copper prospects in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, is pleased to announce a significant massive sulphide intercept measuring over 8.25 meters at the Tamarack Nickel Copper Project. Figure 1: Photo of drill core from the extension of drill hole 16TK0250 at 707.75 meters depth showing 8.25 meters of massive sulphide To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2443/246253_talon_fig1.jpg Highlights: Since Talon's press release dated February 3, 2025, Talon's in-house exploration team has been 'Infilling' and 'Outfilling' the Tamarack Resource Area for purposes of completing a feasibility study at the Tamarack Nickel Copper Project. This work is in support of Talon's Proposed Action (a highly detailed project description) in its Environmental Assessment Worksheet to support the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement. Historic drill hole 16TK0250 was re-examined and extended from 649m depth in order to evaluate a subtle Borehole Electromagnetic (" EM ") response observed in the data. ") response observed in the data. The drill hole encountered significant mineralization at a depth of 707.75 meters, drilling 8.25 meters that was logged as 95% sulphide content (the higher the percentage of sulphide, the higher the grade of nickel at the Tamarack Nickel Copper Project). Notably, the intercept is located approximately 150 meters below and 50 meters south of the known massive nickel-copper mineralization within the Tamarack Resource Area, where drill hole 13TK0171 intercepted 7.74m of massive sulphide assaying 8.01% Ni, 2.87% Cu, 1.16 ppm Pd+Pt+Au or 9.51% NiEq (see the November 2022 Technical Report for further technical information). The percentage of sulphide content logged over the 7.74m interval was approximately 90%. Its position below the existing resource is significant, as it may represent a potential pathway or pooling of massive sulphides into a new zone that: Could be laterally extensive as it's an area with a lack of drilling (see Figure 2). Based on logging by Talon's in-house exploration team, could host some of the highest-grade nickel and copper mineralization discovered to date at the Tamarack Nickel Copper Project (see Figure 2). A Borehole EM survey conducted on the extension of 16TK0250 has identified a strong off-hole conductor, which is a typical vector to high-grade mineralization. Follow-up drill holes into this Borehole EM anomaly are currently underway. Figure 2: Tamarack Resource Area showing location of the new 8.25m intercept in relation to the mineralized domains. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2443/246253_ee54b59834c4daab_002full.jpg Brian Goldner, COO and Chief Exploration Officer of Talon, commented on the recent results, stating: "Our exploration team has done it again, using borehole EM to guide the in-house drilling capability resulted in an exciting discovery in an area that is outside of the Tamarack resource." Goldner continued, "Our mineralization model for Tamarack is that the nickel mineralization was draining down through the intrusive system and pooled up at the bottom of the MSU near the 14TK0171 intercept. Instead of terminating there, this drilling clearly shows that the MSU continued to drain further down into a new area that currently has a lack of drilling. This type of pooling is also seen at the world's most prolific high-grade nickel producer, in Noril'sk Russia, once again showing similarities that Tamarack shares with the global giants." "The Administration's Executive Order: "Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production" from March 20, 2025, is a clear call to accelerate the discovery and development of America's critical minerals. Talon is uniquely positioned to respond - we operate the only integrated geophysics and drilling team in the United States dedicated to finding new sources of domestic nickel, copper, and cobalt. If exploration were surgery, the drill bit would be the scalpel - and Talon's geophysics team is the MRI that guides it. By combining real-time data with precision targeting, we dramatically shorten the timeline to discovery and delineation. That's the kind of speed and focus America needs right now," said Henri van Rooyen, CEO of Talon. QUALITY ASSURANCE, QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALIFIED PERSONS Please see the technical report entitled "November 2022 National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report of the Tamarack North Project - Tamarack, Minnesota" with an effective date of November 2, 2022 ("November 2022 Technical Report") prepared by independent "Qualified Persons" (as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101")) Brian Thomas (P. Geo), Roger Jackson (P. Geo), Oliver Peters (P. Eng) and Christine Pint (P.G) for information on the QA/QC, data verification, analytical and testing procedures at the Tamarack Nickel Copper Project. Copies are available on the Company's website (www.talonmetals.com) or on SEDAR at (www.sedar.com). The laboratory used is ALS Minerals who is independent of the Company. Lengths are drill intersections and not necessarily true widths. True widths cannot be consistently calculated for comparison purposes between holes because of the irregular shapes of the mineralized zones. Drill intersections have been independently selected by Talon. Drill composites have been independently calculated by Talon. The geological interpretations in this news release are solely those of the Company. The locations and distances highlighted on all maps in this news release are approximate. Dr. Etienne Dinel, Vice President, Geology of Talon, is a Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101. Dr. Dinel is satisfied that the analytical and testing procedures used are standard industry operating procedures and methodologies, and he has reviewed, approved and verified the technical information disclosed in this news release, including sampling, analytical and test data underlying the technical information. Where used in this news release: NiEq% = Ni% + Cu% x $3.75/$9.50 + Co% x $25.00/$9.50 + Pt [g/t]/31.103 x $1,000/$9.50/22.04 + Pd [g/t]/31.103 x $1,000/$9.50/22.04 + Au [g/t]/31.103 x $1,400/$9.50/22.04 ABOUT TALON Talon is a TSX-listed base metals company in a joint venture with Rio Tinto on the high-grade Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project located in central Minnesota. Talon's shares are also traded in the US over the OTC market under the symbol TLOFF. The Tamarack Nickel Project comprises a large land position (18km of strike length) with additional high-grade intercepts outside the current resource area. Talon has an earn-in right to acquire up to 60% of the Tamarack Nickel Project and currently owns 51%. Talon is focused on (i) expanding and infilling its current high-grade nickel mineralization resource prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 to shape a mine plan for submission to Minnesota regulators, and (ii) following up on additional high-grade nickel mineralization in the Tamarack Intrusive Complex. Talon has a neutrality and workforce development agreement in place with the United Steelworkers union. Talon's Battery Mineral Processing Facility in Mercer County was selected by the US Department of Energy for US$114.8 million funding grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the US Department of Defense awarded Talon a grant of US$20.6 million to support and accelerate Talon's exploration efforts in both Minnesota and Michigan. Talon has well-qualified experienced exploration, mine development, external affairs and mine permitting teams. For additional information on Talon, please visit the Company's website at www.talonmetals.com or contact: FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Such forward-looking statements include statements relating to future exploration work, including future drill results and assays. Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Table 1: Collar Location of Drill Hole 16TK0250 Hole # Easting (m) Northing (m) Elevation (masl) Azm Dip End Depth (m) 16TK0250 490999.27 5168292.83 388.43 167.6 -88.18 1017.12 Collar coordinates are UTM Zone 15N, NAD83. Azimuths and dips are taken from the survey record at collar unless otherwise noted. Table 2: Quick Lithology Log for Drill Hole 16TK0250 Hole # From (m) To (m) Length Quick Log % Sulphides 16TK0250 0 648.92 Previously drilled in 2016 648.92 653.31 CGO Traces 653.31 707.75 SED 707.75 716 8.25 MSU 95% 716 717.5 SED 717.5 757.91 CGO 0.5-6% 757.91 826.62 SED 826.62 1017.12 CGO Quick lithology log of drill holes: Meta-sedimentary rocks (SED); Coarse-grained Orthocumulate (CGO); Massive sulphide (MSU). To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246253 SOURCE: Talon Metals Corp. AmberSearch, an Aachen, Germany based provider of an AI-powered enterprise search engine, raised $2.3m in seed funding. The round was led by Ventech. The company intends to use the funds to expand its business reach and development efforts. Led by Philipp Reiel, CEO, Bastian Maiworm, CRO, and Igli Manaj, CTO, AmberSearch provides an AI-powered AI search and automation platform that enables employees to quickly retrieve internal company documents and data through a unified search and chat interface. Over 200 companies across Germany, Austria and Switzerland already use amberSearch to cut down search time, improve decision-making, and streamline collaboration. The investment allows them to expand their enterprise AI assistant and further develop automation capabilities that integrate with existing business processes. FinSMEs 26/03/2025 Catchwise, an Oslo, Norway-based technology platform for the fishing industry, raised NOK 14.5M (1.25M) in its pre-seed funding round. The round was led by Dreamcraft Ventures, joined by Sondo, Ocean Impact, and angel investors from tech companies like Oda, Enode, and Meltwater. The company intends to use the funds to further strengthen its product-market fit and accelerate development of its AI and data platform tailored for maritime operations. Founded in 2023 by Founded by Ludvig A. Lddesl, Tomas Roaldsnes, Jonas Dammen, Kristian Andersen Hole, and Asmund Brekke, and fully operational since March 2024, Catchwise provides a platform combining modern web technology platform, advanced AI, and comprehensive ocean data to allow fisheries to optimize routes and operations, reduce search time, fuel consumption, and carbon emissions. By combining SAT-AIS (satellite ship tracking) data, fisheries data, and extensive ocean measurementslike temperature and salinityCatchwise delivers actionable insights directly to fishing captains. Its integrated solution featuring real-time visualization, predictive analytics, and operational automation promises to reduce vessel search times. Currently, Catchwise is used by over 50 larger vessels daily. FinSMEs 26/03/2025 Olympus Partners, a Stamford, Conn.-based private equity firm, formed its eighth institutional private equity fund, Olympus Growth Fund VIII. Total capital in Olympus Growth Fund VIII, including discretionary pools, is $3.5 billion. Founded by CEO Rob Morris in 1988, Olympus Partners is a private equity firm focused on providing equity capital for middle market management buyouts and for growing companies across a broad range of industries including business services, food services, consumer products, healthcare services, financial services, industrial services and manufacturing. The firm manages in excess of $12 billion mainly on behalf of corporate pension funds, endowment funds and state-sponsored retirement programs. FinSMEs 26/03/2025 Supira Medical, Inc., a Los Gatos, CA-based percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD) company, closed a $120M Series E financing round. The round was led by new investors Novo Holdings and Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), with participation from two undisclosed strategic investors. Existing investors participated as well, including Cormorant Asset Management and The Capital Partnership (TCP), 415 Capital, AMED Ventures, PA MedTech VC fund, and Unorthodox Ventures. Additionally, Supira added Dr. Christopher Shen, Partner, Novo Holdings US to its Board of Directors. Led by Dr. Nitin Salunke, President and CEO, Supira Medical is a clinical-stage Shifamed portfolio company focused on the development of a next-generation pVAD for use in high-risk patients undergoing interventional procedures and experiencing cardiogenic shock. To date, the Supira System has benefited 85 HRPCI patients. The company intends to use the funds to expand its clinical programs for both high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (HRPCI) and cardiogenic shock (CS). Supira recently completed enrollment of its U.S. SUPPORT I Early Feasibility Study (EFS), enrolling a total of 15 patients across four clinical sites. The prospective, single-arm clinical study evaluated the safety and feasibility of Supiras innovative pVAD in patients undergoing HRPCI. FinSMEs 26/03/2025 In an exclusive interview with Firstposts Lachmi Deb Roy, John Abraham talks about his film The Diplomat, the preparation for the role, and whether its going to get nominated for the National Award. read more EXCLUSIVE! John Abraham on The Diplomat: Is it getting nominated for the National award; heres what he had to say | Not Just Bollywood The Diplomat is in fact John Abrahams career best performance. John plays the role of diplomat JP Singh, a man of few words but strong-headed and knows his job like the back of his hand. Serving in Pakistan as a diplomat is not an easy job and he knows exactly how to deal with the rowdy Pakistani crowd and mentions again and again to his colleagues that this isnt India. The movie shows the lawlessness of the country and how some people of Pakistan, not all, are wired differently. Advertisement In an exclusive conversation with Firstpost, John Abraham talks about The Diplomat and more. WATCH the full interview with John Abraham here: An official statement by Max Hospital stated that Sonali Sood, her sister, and her nephew were brought to the Emergency Department at 10:30 PM on Monday read more Bollywood actor Sonu Soods wife Sonali and her two relatives were injured when their car rammed into a truck on a flyover here, police said on Tuesday. The accident occurred around 10 on Monday night when they were travelling to Byramji Town from the Nagpur airport, said an official. The car in which Sonali Sood was travelling with her sister and nephew rammed into a truck from behind on the Wardha Road Viaduct bridge near Sonegaon, he said. Advertisement They were admitted to a private hospital in Nagpur, the official added. The Sonegaon Police have made a police station diary entry based on Medico-Legal Case (MLC) information but have not registered a case due to the absence of a complainant. Officials said Sonali Sood had arrived in Nagpur from Kolkata and was picked up by her relatives Sunita and Siddharth. The accident occurred when their car was tailing another car that overtook a slow-moving truck. Siddharth, who was at the wheel, rear-ended the truck. Fortunately, the airbags deployed, preventing serious injuries, officials said, adding the trio was treated at a private hospital in Mankapur and are stable. An official statement by Max Hospital stated that Sonali Sood, her sister, and her nephew were brought to the Emergency Department at 10:30 PM on Monday. They had allegedly been in a road traffic accident. All three patients were conscious upon arrival and had stable vital signs. They had sustained multiple abrasions and bruises and were thoroughly evaluated for any internal injuries, none of which were found. Her nephew was discharged after first aid. Sonali Sood and her sister remain under observation and are recovering well. Their condition is stable, it stated. Advertisement The protest was held outside a public toilet in Bengali Square where Sena activists shouted slogans against the 36-year-old comic who has stood his ground and refused to apologise following the controversy read more Shiv Sena youth wing activists on Tuesday put up a photograph of stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra outside a public toilet here to protest against his parody song targeting party chief and Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Kamras face will be blackened and he will be paraded on the streets if he visits Madhya Pradesh, threatened a Sena leader. The protest was held outside a public toilet in Bengali Square where Sena activists shouted slogans against the 36-year-old comic who has stood his ground and refused to apologise following the controversy. Advertisement Anurag Sonar, president of the Madhya Pradesh unit of the Shiv Senas youth wing Yuva Sena, told reporters, Kamra serves filth to people in the name of comedy. To protest against his dirty mentality, we have put up his picture here. If he ever visited Madhya Pradesh, Shiv Sena workers will blacken his face and parade him on the streets, he added. Russia and Ukraine have agreed to stop using force in the Black Sea following talks with the US in Saudi Arabia. As per the agreement, this will allow safe navigation in the Black Sea. However, Moscow has laid down caveats to its implementation, raising concerns about whether it would change much on the ground read more A serviceman of Ukraine's coast guard mans a gun on a patrol boat as a cargo ship passes by in the Black Sea. Russia said the ceasefire would only come into force after a number of sanctions against its food and fertiliser trade were lifted. File image/Reuters After 1,126 days, are we seeing a sea change in the Russia-Ukraine war? On Tuesday (March 26), the White House said that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea after three days of talks in Saudi Arabia. In its remarks, the White House said that Kyiv and Moscow 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. Advertisement The United States said it would also look for ways to enforce a ban on strikes on energy infrastructure in the two countries. The Black Sea deal is the next step in US President Donald Trumps efforts to bring an end to the war. However, some note that the Trump team, in its effort to persuade the Kremlin to accept the naval ceasefire, offered more concessions. We take a closer look at whats in the deal and whether it will bring peace to the two warring nations. Whats in the Black Sea deal? As per the different agreements that the US has signed with Russia and Ukraine respectively, the parties involved have agreed to safe navigation in the Black Sea, which had been a key focus of talks this week. Speaking on the same, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters, We first agreed that there could be silence at sea and free navigation. The second point is to stop attacks on the energy system. An official further added to Financial Times that Kyiv would immediately halt deep strikes on Russian targets under the deal. He clarified that the timing had not been agreed. He added that not only ships but Ukrainian ports were also included in the maritime ceasefire. Odesa and other Black Sea ports have continued to be struck by Russian missiles and drones in recent days. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gives a press conference in Kyiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine will do its job and hold up its end of agreements reached with the United States, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on the Black Sea agreement. AFP Ukraines Defence Minister Rustem Umerov added that Kyiv maintains any movement by Russian military vessels outside of eastern part of the Black Sea will constitute violation of the spirit of this agreement. In this case, Ukraine will have full right to exercise right to self-defence, he said. As per the new deal, the White House said it would help restore access to the world market for Russian agricultural and fertiliser exports. Its important to note that while Washington hadnt imposed sanctions on Russian agriculture, it had cut off access to the main international payment gateway, SWIFT. Advertisement However, Zelenskyy described this as a weakening of positions. The Guardian explains that this is because it appears to suggest that Washington would help Russia improve its economic position while the land and air war continued. Another aspect of the Black Sea deal is that the US will remain committed to returning forcibly transferred Ukrainian children. Notably, this deal is a return to the previous Black Sea agreement, signed in 2022, while allowed for the safe passage of commercial ships. Russia withdrew from it in the following year, complaining that its own food and fertiliser exports faced serious obstacles. When does the Black Sea deal come into effect? Heres where the problems arise. Kyiv has said that it would comply with the agreement immediately with Zelenskyy adding that his country would hold up its end of the bargain but expressed scepticism about Russias intentions. Theres no faith in the Russians, he said. But I believe we will act constructively and do our part to implement the outcomes of the US-Ukraine meeting. Advertisement However, Vladimir Putin said the new ceasefire deal would only come into place when international sanctions on Russia are lifted. The Kremlin demanded an end to restrictions on the Russian Agricultural Bank and other financial institutions involved in international trade of food, and only after they are reconnected to the SWIFT international payment system. A serviceman of Ukraines coast guard mans a gun on a patrol boat as a cargo ship passes by in the Black Sea. Russia said the ceasefire would only come into force after a number of sanctions against its food and fertiliser trade were lifted. File image/Reuters A serviceman of Ukraines coast guard mans a gun on a patrol boat as a cargo ship passes by in the Black Sea, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, February 7, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Peter TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Moscow further added that Turkey, which has maintained ties with both sides, could monitor the situation on the Black Sea and that a West Asian nation could look at the energy agreement. Speaking on the same, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Western countries of trying to contain Russia like Napoleon and Hitler. Advertisement Whats the significance of the Black Sea deal? Experts are not wholly convinced that this deal would bring about change in the ongoing war. Sky News security analyst Michael Clarke noted that the deal wont do much to end the war. The deal is one the US can boast about without it changing much on the ground for Ukraine, he said. The Russians will be quite happy about that because theyll just keep going down more and more rabbit holes and theyll present little gains for the US, he explained. Others also noted that the Black Sea deal was a win-win for Russia without having to give up much in return. As Nico Lange, of the Center for European Policy Analysis think tank, told The Telegraph: Russia had already been defeated in the western Black Sea and Ukraine had fought successfully to open up the trade routes from Odesa. With todays agreement, Russia gives almost nothing, but receives relief from some sanctions and new income for its war machine. Advertisement The Ukrainian Armed Forces fires a 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops in a front line in Kherson region, Ukraine. Experts note that its unlikely that the deal will bring any change on the ground. Reuters Others also questioned the Black Sea deal, saying it gave too much to Russia, who in their opinion, is the aggressor. Experts further stated that the deal may not be effective as any sanction relief on Russia would depend on Europe taking similar steps, which seem unlikely at the moment. As Kimberly Donovan, director of the Economic Statecraft Initiative at the Atlantic Councils GeoEconomics Center told Atlantic Council, If the terms that were agreed to are dependent on the lifting of sanctions, the United States needs to coordinate with its G7 coalition partners and seek their agreement on the collective way forward. It is left to be seen if the Black Sea deal comes into effect and if it works. As Ukraines Zelenskyy said, It is too early to say that it will work, but these were the right meetings, the right decisions, the right steps. With inputs from agencies Donald Trump has signed an executive order introducing sweeping changes to US elections, including a requirement for documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote. The order is vast in scope and is expected to face legal challenges since states have the authority to set their own election rules. But can Trump actually implement these rules? read more Donald Trumps executive order seeking broad changes to how elections are run in the US is vast in scope and holds the potential to reorder the voting landscape across the country, even as it faces almost certain litigation. He wants to require voters to show proof that they are U.S. citizens before they can register for federal elections, count only mail or absentee ballots received by Election Day, set new rules for voting equipment and prohibit non-U.S. citizens from being able to donate in certain elections. Advertisement A basic question underlying the sweeping actions he signed Tuesday: Can he do it, given that the Constitution gives wide leeway to the states to develop their own election procedures? Here are some of the main points of the executive order and the questions it raises. ALSO READ | In Graphics: Why is Trump obsessed with Greenland? Proof of citizenship is a must Trumps order calls for the federal voter registration form to be amended so prospective voters must provide documentary proof of citizenship, such as a U.S. passport or a birth certificate. It also says states should turn over their voter lists and records of voter list maintenance to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Government Efficiency for review, and directs federal agencies to share data with states to help them identify noncitizens on their rolls. Trump wants to require voters to show proof that they are US citizens before they can register for federal elections. AP/File Photo If states refuse to collaborate with federal law enforcement to prosecute election crimes, they could potentially lose out on federal grants, the order says. Noncitizen voting, which is already a felony in federal elections that can lead to prison time and deportation, is exceedingly rare. Still, Trump falsely claimed in 2024 that it might happen in large enough numbers to sway the outcome of the presidential race, and it has been a top conservative priority in recent months. Republicans have been trying to get documentary proof of citizenship requirement through Congress, a goal this order seeks to accomplish. Voting rights groups have expressed concern about such a requirement, saying it could disenfranchise the millions of Americans who do not have proof of citizenship readily available. A deadline for mail ballots The order requires votes to be cast and received by Election Day and says federal funding should be conditional on state compliance with that deadline. 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. Perhaps no state is more notorious for drawn-out vote counts than California, the nations most populous. It allows ballots to be counted if they are received up to seven days following the election as long as they are postmarked by Election Day. Advertisement Most California voters cast ballots they receive in the mail, and in the pursuit of accuracy, thoroughness and counting every vote, the state has gained a reputation for tallies that can drag on for weeks or even a month or more. In one Northern California U.S. House primary last year, a recount settled the outcome nearly two months after the election. At the time, Secretary of State Shirley Weber, who oversees elections, said in a statement: I understand that people want finality, but accuracy is of utmost importance. But the extended tallies have raised fears that they could undercut, rather than bolster, voter confidence. In 2018, then-Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan described Californias election system as bizarre in a year when Democrats picked off a string of GOP-held House seats. In a statement, California Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla said Trumps order does nothing to improve the safety of our federal elections what it would do is disenfranchise millions of eligible American voters. Advertisement Padilla, who formerly served as Californias chief elections officer, said Trump lacks the authority to implement many of the changes laid out in this illegal executive order. ALSO READ | Is Trumps $5 million Gold Card a hit? Is US selling 1,000 a day? No more barcodes or QR codes? The executive order instructs the Election Assistance Commission to amend its guidelines for voting systems to protect election integrity. That would include guidance that voting systems should not rely on ballots that use barcodes or QR codes in the vote-counting process. Trump instructed the commission to take appropriate action to review and, if appropriate, re-certify voting systems under those new standards within six months of the order. In Georgia, an important presidential battleground, virtually all in-person voters use voting machines with a large touchscreen to record their votes. The machines then print a paper ballot with a human-readable summary of the voters selections and a QR code, a type of barcode that is read by a scanner to count the votes. It is not entirely clear how the executive order would affect Georgia and other jurisdictions throughout the country that use these machines. Representatives for Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger did not immediately respond Tuesday evening to messages seeking comment. The Georgia Legislature last year passed a law requiring that QR codes be removed from ballots by July 2026. Advertisement Trumps order calls for the federal voter registration form to be amended. AP/File Photo No donations from foreign nationals The order cracks down on foreign nationals contributing or donating in U.S. elections. Its an issue thats been bubbling in recent years in the states, as Republicans seek to dampen the influence of Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss. Wyss, who lives in Wyoming, has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to 501(c) nonprofit organisations that support liberal causes. One of those groups, the Sixteen Thirty Fund, donated a combined $3.9 million to enshrine abortion protections in the Ohio Constitution. It also helped thwart a proposed constitutional amendment advanced by Ohio Republicans the previous summer that would have made passing future constitutional amendments harder. During the run-up to last years presidential election, legislative Republicans linked then-President Joe Bidens appearance on Ohios fall ballot to passing a ban on contributions from foreign individuals, companies, governments or political parties to campaigns for or against proposed amendments to the state constitution. Other states have followed suit, most recently Kansas which passed a nearly identical bill earlier this month after hearing testimony from Ohios secretary of state. Like the Ohio bill, it appears partly a response to a successful campaign to protect abortion rights in Kansas, which received money from the Sixteen Thirty Fund. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has not said publicly whether shell sign it. Advertisement ALSO READ | Trump revokes legal status for 530,000 migrants. Who are they? What does this mean for them? Is Trump allowed to do all this through an executive order? The federal government plays a fairly limited role in American elections. Article I, Section 4 of the Constitution gives states the authority to determine the times, places and manner of how elections are run. The so-called Elections Clause doesnt get into the specifics of voting or ballot-counting procedures - those details are left to the states but it does give Congress the power to make or alter election regulations, at least for federal office. It does not mention any role for the president or the executive branch in regulating elections. Biden issued an executive order in 2021 directing federal agencies to take steps to promote voting access, but Republicans at the time argued that the order was unconstitutional and exceeded the presidents authority. Trump rescinded the Biden order earlier this year. US President Donald Trump holds an executive order, at the White House, in Washington DC. Reuters/File Photo Voting rights advocates have begun to make similar arguments against Trumps order. A president does not set election law and never will, said Virginia Kase Solomon, president and CEO of Common Cause, a grassroots advocacy organisation that supports expanded voter access. Sophia Lin Lakin, the director of the ACLUs Voting Rights Project, called core parts of the executive order a blatant overreach that threatens to disenfranchise tens of millions of eligible voters. Given the nations long history of decentralised, state-run elections, any attempt to change state election laws by executive order is likely to face challenges in court. Marc Elias, a leading Democratic election and voting rights attorney, promised exactly that. Advertisement Moments ago, Donald Trump signed a massive voter suppression executive order," he said in a social media post. This will not stand. We will sue. Ultimately, the courts will decide how far Trump can go in overhauling election procedures. A major controversy has erupted over the Allahabad High Courts ruling in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) case involving an 11-year-old girl, where it stated that grabbing the victims breasts and snapping her pyjama strings did not constitute rape or attempted rape. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court paused the controversial order, calling it a total lack of sensitivity read more The Allahabad High Court ruled that grabbing the victims breasts did not amount to rape. News18/Representational Image A ruling by the Allahabad High Court in an attempted rape case involving a minor has sparked controversy and has now reached the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the controversial ruling of the Allahabad High Court. Notably, the high courts statement was made in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) case concerning the alleged rape of a minor girl in Kasganj. ALSO READ | How huge pile of cash was found at Justice Varmas house and why he calls it a conspiracy Advertisement It has faced backlash from various experts and political figures, including Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi. But what did the ruling state, and what were the details of the case? How did people respond to it? We will answer these questions. What did Allahabad HC say in its ruling? In the Pocso case, the Allahabad High Court ruled that grabbing the victims breasts and snapping her pyjama strings did not amount to rape or attempted rape but constituted serious sexual assault. Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra, who delivered the judgment, stated that after reviewing the facts of the incident involving an 11-year-old girl, it was an assault on a womans dignity but could not be classified as an attempt to rape. The court said, The allegations levelled against the accused, Pawan and Akash, and facts of the case hardly constitute an offence of attempt to rape in the case. In order to bring out a charge of attempt to rape, the prosecution must establish that it had gone beyond the stage of preparation. The ruling was issued in response to a revision petition filed by two individuals challenging an order by a Special Judge in Kasganj, who had summoned them under Section 376 of the IPC along with other charges. The high court modified the charges against the accused, who had initially been summoned under Section 376 IPC (Rape) and Section 18 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, which is punishment for attempting to commit an offence. ALSO READ | Is kanyandan relevant today? Why Allahabad HC said ritual is not essential in Hindu marriage Advertisement What was the case about? According to the case details, an application was filed before the Special Judge, Pocso Act, alleging that on November 10, 2021, at around 5:00 pm, the informant was returning home with her 14-year-old daughter from her sister-in-laws house. On the way, three men from her village, Pawan, Akash, and Ashok, met her on a muddy road and asked where she was coming from. When she mentioned she was returning from her sister-in-laws house, Pawan offered to drop her daughter home on his motorcycle. Trusting his assurance, she allowed her daughter to go with him. However, the accused stopped the motorcycle on the way to her village. They began grabbing the girls breasts, and Akash attempted to drag her beneath a culvert while pulling the string of her pyjama. Two people arrived at the scene after hearing the girls cries. The accused then waved a country-made pistol, threatened them, and fled. Based on the statements of the victim and witnesses, the court initially summoned the accused on charges of rape. Advertisement Upon reviewing the case materials, the court stated, In the present case, the allegation against accused Pawan and Akash is that they grabbed the breasts of the victim and Akash tried to bring down the lower garment of the victim and for that purpose, they had broken string of her lower garments and tried to drag her beneath the culvert, but due to intervention of witnesses they left the victim and fled away from the place of incident. The court ruled that these actions alone were insufficient to establish that the accused were determined to commit rape, as no further steps were taken to further their alleged desire to commit rape on the victim. Advertisement In its order dated March 17, the court further observed that the main allegation against Akash was that he attempted to drag the victim beneath the culvert and pulled the string of her pyjama. However, the witnesses did not state that the act resulted in the victim being undressed or naked. There is no allegation that the accused tried to commit penetrative sexual assault against the victim, it said. It ruled that the allegations against Pawan and Akash, along with the facts of the case, did not amount to an attempt to rape. The prosecution was required to prove that the act had progressed beyond mere preparation to establish such a charge. Advertisement The difference between preparation and actual attempt to commit an offence consists chiefly in the greater degree of determination, the court added. It concluded that, based on the case facts, prima facie charge attempt to rape is not made out against the accused Pawan and Akash and instead they are liable to be summoned for a minor charge of Section 354(b) IPC i.e. assault or abuse a woman with intent to disrobing or compelling her to be naked and Section 9 of POCSO Act provides punishment for aggravated sexual assault on a child victim. ALSO READ | Cash-at-home row: Whats the 2018 CBI case involving Delhi HC judge Yashwant Varma? What the top court said A bench comprising Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice AG Masih strongly criticised the High Courts stance, describing its order as shocking. We are at pains to say that some of the observations made in the impugned judgment, particularly paras 21, 24, and 26, depict a total lack of sensitivity on the part of the author of the judgment, the bench stated in its order. The top court said that the judgment had not been given spontaneously but was delivered nearly four months after being reserved. This indicated that the verdict was issued following careful deliberation and application of mind. The bench further said that since the observations in question were totally unknown to the tenets of law and depict total insensitivity and inhuman approach. It is worth noting that on March 24, a Supreme Court bench of Justices Bela Trivedi and Prasanna B Varale declined to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) petition challenging the Allahabad High Courts order. How people reacted to the Allahabad HC ruling The High Courts ruling faced massive criticism from various quarters. Legal experts condemned the observation, calling for judicial restraint and warning that such remarks could further erode public trust in the judiciary. Senior advocate and Supreme Court Bar Association president Kapil Sibal expressed his dismay on X, stating, God save this country with such judges adorning the Bench! The Supreme Court has been too soft in dealing with errant judges (sic). Sibal later stated that high court judges should avoid making such statements, as they could send wrong message to the society and people will lose faith in the judiciary. Senior advocate and former additional solicitor general of India, Pinky Anand, called for a reawakening. She said, Violators of the law and offenders against women and children cannot get away and the judgment clearly errs by ignoring this. I am sure that appropriate reversals would be made to such a judgment and justice will be done. Meanwhile, Union Minister Annapurna Devi strongly opposed the ruling and urged the Supreme Court to intervene. I am completely against this decision, and the Supreme Court should take serious note of it. Such a ruling has no place in a civilised society, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development told news agency PTI. With inputs from agencies National Security Adviser Mike Waltz inadvertently added Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal chat where senior Trump officials, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, discussed an imminent US military strike on Houthi targets in Yemen. The White House confirmed the chats authenticity, sparking bipartisan outrage. While Trump downplayed the leak, critics argue it was an unprecedented security breach that warrants resignations read more Demonstrator Gary Rush holds a placard showing a picture of US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth outside a Senate office building as US intelligence chiefs appeared before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, US, March 25, 2025. File Image/Reuters The revelation that high-ranking Trump administration officials discussed military plans on a civilian messaging app, inadvertently including a journalist, has sparked widespread outrage and calls for resignations. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz are at the centre of the controversy, with critics labelling the incident as one of the most serious breaches of operational security in recent memory. How the leak happened The controversy began when Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, revealed in an article that he had been mistakenly added to a Signal group chat involving top US officials discussing a planned military operation against Houthi rebels in Yemen. While Hegseth assured the group that they were clean on OPSEC, security experts and lawmakers have argued otherwise. Advertisement New York Times columnist David French described Hegseths conduct as incompetence that gets people killed. Drawing from his experience as a former Army lawyer investigating classified information breaches, French stated that any officer responsible for such an error would likely face immediate consequences, including removal from their position and potential criminal charges. If he had any honour at all, he would resign, he wrote. The National Security Council has since confirmed that the chat was authentic. Some of the other officials named in Goldbergs report have also admitted to being part of the conversation while testifying before Congress. Trump stands by Waltz Despite bipartisan condemnation, Trump has remained steadfast in his defence of Waltz, referring to the incident as a mere glitch. In an interview with NBC News, he insisted that Waltz had learned a lesson and was a good man. During a meeting with US ambassadors, Trump downplayed the severity of the leak, attributing it to technological imperfections rather than an error in judgment. Its equipment and technology thats not perfect. And, probably he wont be using it again. At least not in the very near future, he remarked. The White House communications team has echoed this sentiment. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on X (formerly Twitter) that No war plans were discussed and No classified material was sent to the thread. 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 Advertisement Calls for resignations grow louder Many Democratic lawmakers have demanded resignations. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called the mishap the highest level of f**kup imaginable, while Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin stated, Hegseth should resign, and if he doesnt, he should be fired. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) criticised Hegseths appointment, arguing that his lack of experience made him unfit for the role. Meanwhile, behind closed doors, even some Republicans have expressed doubts about Waltzs future. Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a f***ing idiot, an anonymous source close to the administration told Politico. In an op-ed, National Reviews executive editor, Mark Antonio Wright, stressed the gravity of the situation, urging President Donald Trump to hold someone accountable. He criticised the officials for engaging in sensitive discussions outside government-approved communication channels, calling it a total breach of protocol and operational security. Advertisement Embarrassing, but not malicious In an interview with Fox News Laura Ingraham, Waltz admitted that the incident was embarrassing but insisted he was taking full responsibility. We made a mistake, were moving forward, and were going to continue to knock it out of the park for this President, he said. When asked if a staffer was to blame, Waltz clarified, A staffer wasnt responsible. And look, I take full responsibility. I built the group. Waltz also attacked Jeffrey Goldberg, calling him a loser and the bottom scum of journalists. He maintained that no classified information was leaked but acknowledged that internal deliberations should have remained confidential. He further confirmed that the administration was investigating how Goldberg was added to the Signal chat, though he denied ever speaking to the journalist directly. Who will resign? Congressional scrutiny over the incident is mounting. At a recent Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, intelligence heads, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, were pressed on whether classified details had been compromised. Both insisted that no classified material was shared. The Secretary of Defence is the original classification authority for DOD in deciding what would be classified information, Ratcliffe said. However, Democratic senators cited concerns over the content of the chat, which allegedly included details of targets, attack sequencing, and weapons to be used. Senator Angus King questioned how such information could not be classified, given its sensitive nature. Advertisement Nobody was texting war plans, and thats all I have to say about that, Hegseth told reporters while on an official trip to Hawaii on Monday. Goldberg responded to Hegseths denial in an interview on CNN late on Monday by saying, No, thats a lie. He was texting war plans. Goldberg later told MSNBC that he refrained from publishing some details due to national security concerns but confirmed that the chat contained specifics on targets and timing and weapons. Whether Trump will ultimately dismiss Waltz or Hegseth remains to be seen. With inputs from agencies On March 26, 1953, Dr Jonas Salk announced that he had successfully developed a cure for polio. The year before, there were tens of thousands of cases of polio around the world 58,000 in the US alone. Salk tried the vaccine on himself, his family, and former polio patients before making his announcement. Today, he is remembered as a great scientist and humanitarian read more On March 26, Dr Jonas Salk successfully tested a vaccine for polio on himself and his family. Illustration: Santan Today, March 26, is one of the most important days in human history. It was on this day in 1953 that Dr Jonas Salk announced that he had successfully developed a cure for polio. On March 26, 1971, Bangladesh under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared its independence from Pakistan. On this day in 1995, the Schengen Agreement came into force erasing borders in much of Europe. If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events. Advertisement Lets take a closer look: Dr Salk announces vaccine for Polio As per History.com, in 1952, there were tens of thousands of cases of polio around the world 58,000 in the US alone. The disease impacted the nervous system impacted many children and left them unable to walk. But children werent the only ones who suffered from polio. Years earlier, US president Franklin D Roosevelt was diagnosed with the disease and left partially paralysed. Salk, who was born in 1914 in New York, began studying viruses in the 1930s. Dr Jonas Salk. Image courtesy: SAS Scandinavian Airlines He helped create flu vaccines during World War II. Given a grant to research the polio virus in 1948, he had an early form of the vaccine prepared by 1950. Salk tried the vaccine on himself, his family, and former patients before making his announcement. By 1955, the vaccine was available across America. By 1957, the figure was under 6,000. Today, there are zero polio cases in the United States. India too was certified polio-free by the World Health Organisation in 2014. Today, Salk is known as a great figure in history and a humanitarian. Bangladesh declares Independence On March 26, 1971, the Awami League leaders set up a government-in-exile in India and declared Bangladesh as an independent nation. This came after a series of tumultuous events the previous year. In 1970, dictator Yahya Khan, who was president of Pakistan, declared elections. Advertisement The Awami League under Mujibur Rahman triumphed in what was then known as east Pakistan. Mujibs party won a scarcely believable 167 or 169 seats. In West Pakistan, Zulfikar Ali Bhuttos Pakistan Peoples Party won 81 of 144 seats. It was the Awami League who had the majority in the Assembly and thus the right to form the government. But Khan wasnt about to let the balance of power shift. Instead, Khan delayed the convening of the National Assembly and sent troops in to East Pakistan. Mujib was arrested and sent to West Pakistan. A man is silhouetted as he passes by a graffiti of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Reuters The 1970 elections were a free and fair one, but the Awami League was denied its right, Swedish political scientist Ishtiaq Ahmed was quoted as saying by India Today. Advertisement Meanwhile, the Pakistan military launched a brutal crackdown in East Pakistan killing students, teachers, intellectuals, and artists. Finally, on March 26, 1971, Mujibur sent the falling message by Telegram, This may be my last message, from today Bangladesh is independent. I call upon the people of Bangladesh wherever you might be and with whatever you have, to resist the army of occupation to the last. Your fight must go on until the last soldier of the Pakistan occupation army is expelled from the soil of Bangladesh and final victory is achieved. The message, which was spread far and wide, became a clarion call for the masses to rise up against Pakistan which was ultimately defeated with help from India. Advertisement Schengen Agreement The Schengen Visa allows holders to travel freely within the Schengen area which comprises most of Europe. But it wasnt always this way. It was initially approved by France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg in 1985. Then, on March 26, 1995, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece had joined the agreement. These countries, soon to be joined by Austria, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, opened their borders and eased travel. It has since become the largest free travel area in the world. Representational image. AP Around 3.5 million people cross an internal border each day, and more than 420 million people live within the Schengen area. It currently encompasses 29 European nations. But all may not be well. Several Schengen member countries, including the Netherlands, Austria and Germany, this year reinstated some land border checks over concerns ranging from migration to security. Advertisement Some EU officials warned the re-imposed checks could undermine the schemes goals. Watch this space for more. This Day, That Year 1874: American playwright and poet Robert Front is born 1941: Biologist Richard Dawkins, author of the God Delusion, is born 1979: Egypt and Israel sign a peace treaty bringing to end a long-running war 2000: Vladimir Putin is elected president of Russia Turkeys Istanbul is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. However, the country is witnessing its largest protests in over a decade following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who is seen as the main challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. With demonstrations spreading, is this the right time to visit the country? read more Police officers use pepper spray on a demonstrator wearing dervish clothes, in Istanbul, Turkey. Reuters One of the worlds most popular travel destinations is witnessing its largest protests in more than a decade. In Turkey, tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in escalating protests following the arrest of the main opposition leader to the countrys president. The charges of corruption against him have been widely condemned as politically motivated. ALSO READ | Turkey is trying to quell largest protests in decade. Heres how Amid the unrest, some countries have issued travel advisories. Advertisement Is it safe to visit Istanbul during this period of turmoil? Which nations have issued travel warnings, and which cities are likely to be impacted? Why are protests taking place in the country? Heres a look at the situation. Which countries have issued travel warnings? The UK and Germany have advised their citizens to exercise caution while travelling in Turkey. On Monday, the UK Foreign Office issued a warning about ongoing protests in Istanbul and other Turkish cities, where riot police have clashed with demonstrators on the streets. Authorities said that demonstrations may become violent. The police response has included use of tear gas and water cannons. People take part in a protest against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor, in Istanbul, Turkey. Reuters The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has advised British travellers currently in Turkey or planning to visit in the coming days to stay informed through local media, plan their movements carefully, and avoid large gatherings or protests. It has also urged all UK tourists to avoid all demonstrations and leave the area if one develops. Local transport routes may be disrupted. Meanwhile, Germany has also issued a travel advisory, urging its citizens to steer clear of certain areas in Turkey. German authorities pointed out the unstable security situation, warning of the risk of armed confrontations, cross-border incursions, and sudden military operations. Advertisement The advisory calls for extreme caution and advises German nationals to reconsider non-essential travel to affected regions. ALSO READ | Who is Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul mayor & Erdogans rival whose arrest has triggered protests in Turkey? Which cities will be affected? Germanys travel advisory has urged citizens to avoid Turkeys Kurdish-majority southeastern provinces bordering Syria and Iraq due to serious security concerns. The affected cities include Sanlurfa (Riha), Mardin (Merdin), Srnak (Sirnex), and Hakkari (Colemerg) - regions historically impacted by conflict and military operations. Meanwhile, the UK government has stated, Demonstrations and protests are currently taking place in Istanbul and other cities across Turkey. This suggests that major cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir could see unrest. Also, the UK has advised against all travel within 10km (six miles) of the Syrian border due to fighting and an increased risk of terrorism. Advertisement Is Turkey safe to visit? Many parts of Turkey remain relatively safe for travellers. However, staying informed about the political situation and any potential disruptions is crucial. Tensions in the country are at an all-time high, and protests are widespread. Holidaymakers visiting coastal resorts like Bodrum, Marmaris, and Antalya are unlikely to face major disruptions, as these regions have remained largely unaffected. Despite this, visitors should stay updated through local media, plan their movements carefully, and avoid crowds and demonstrations. A person carries an image of Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu as people flash mobile phone lights during a protest. Reuters Why are people protesting in Turkey? Istanbul Mayor Ekrem 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 largely perceived as politically motivated, leading to widespread protests, some of which have turned violent. The Turkish government maintains that the judiciary is independent and free from political interference. So far, over 1,400 people, including students, journalists, and lawyers, have been detained. Rights groups and the UN have condemned the arrests and the use of police force against demonstrators. Advertisement On Tuesday, students across Turkey staged protests and occupied campuses, boycotting classes. The Media and Law Studies Association, a civil society group, reported that 11 journalists detained for covering banned protests in Istanbul were brought to the Caglayan Courthouse to face charges of violating laws on public gatherings. The governors in Ankara and Izmir have extended bans on protests until April 1 and March 29, respectively, while the ban in Istanbul is set to end on Thursday. These demonstrations are believed to be the largest since the Gezi Park protests in 2013, when around three million people participated. Speaking at a Ramadan fast-breaking meal in Ankara on Tuesday, Erdogan called for patience and common sense, describing the situation as very sensitive days. Advertisement He warned that those trying to turn this country into a place of chaos have nowhere to go, adding that the protesters actions would lead to a dead end. Police officers use pepper spray on demonstrators during a protest, in Istanbul, Turkey. Reuters/File Photo Why Istanbuls mayor has been arrested Imamoglu has been accused of running a criminal organisation, accepting bribes, extortion, illegally recording personal data, and bid-rigging - charges he has denied. He also faces terror-related charges and has been suspended from office as a temporary measure. Alongside Imamoglu, 47 others, including a key aide and two district mayors from Istanbul, have been jailed pending trial. A further 44 suspects in the case, which alleges widespread graft in Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, have been released under judicial supervision. Although Turkeys next general election is not due until 2028, there is speculation that Erdogan may call an early vote to seek another term. Imamoglu, recently confirmed as the CHPs candidate, has performed well in recent polls against Erdogan. His 2019 election as mayor of Istanbul was a major setback for Erdogan and the Justice and Development Party (AKP), which had controlled the city for 25 years. The mayor held onto his position in last years local elections, where the CHP made significant gains against Erdogans ruling party. With inputs from agencies Bangladesh is on edge as rumours swirl that the army is planning a coup against its chief adviser, Muhammad Yunus. The speculation comes as reports state that the countrys military chief, General Wakar Uz Zaman, held a meeting in which he called for the Nobel laureates ouster. Is there any truth to it? read more Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, has urged his people not to heed rumours of a coup that are swirling in the country. File image/Reuters Bangladesh is witnessing a festival of rumours against his administration, said the countrys Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus as rumours continue to swirl over a coup being orchestrated against him by the nations military. The Nobel Laureate said in his nationwide televised address on the eve of Bangladeshs 53rd Independence Day on March 26 that attempts are being made to mislead the people by spreading false information. 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. Advertisement Whats going on? What led Yunus to make these remarks? Is a coup brewing in Bangladesh? We get the full story. Rumours of coup swirl Yunus remarks urging his countrymen to resist rumours come amid speculation that the Bangladesh army is considering removing Yunus and assuming control of the interim government. The speculation, which spread like wildfire, emerged after one news report quoting sources said that Bangladesh may see a military takeover soon, with a possibility of the army removing interim government chief Muhammad Yunus and assuming control. The story said the army held an emergency meeting on Monday that signalled potential major developments in the coming days. As per the news report by an Indian outlet, the Bangladesh armys chief Wakar Uz Zaman called for a meeting on Monday, which was attended by top army officers, including five Lieutenant Generals, eight Major Generals (GOCs), commanding officers of Independent Brigades, and officials from the army headquarters. Chief advisor of Bangladeshs interim government, Muhammad Yunus along with Bangladeshs army chief Wakar-Uz-Zaman. File image/AFP The report added that sources said the army may pressure the president to declare a state of emergency or stage a coup against Yunus. The army is also exploring the option of forming a national unity government under its oversight. Furthermore, the presence of Bangladeshi army units in Dhaka has further fuelled coup rumours. News of Coup is making in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Army Chief mobilises troops, all set to address commanders & troops pic.twitter.com/On8vigkLWl Saravanaprasad Balasubramanian (Modi ka Pariwar) (@BS_Prasad) March 25, 2025 A video of Wakar Uz Zaman from last month also lends to the coup rumours. In February, the countrys army chief made a scathing attack on the political forces, saying that the countrys freedom would be jeopardised if they continued their fighting and squabbling. Advertisement Addressing an event organised by the army in Dhaka, Zaman said, I am cautioning you you may say later that I didnt caution you. If you dont overcome your differences and work together, if you keep flinging mud at each other, fighting and killing each other, the freedom of this country and its people will be endangered. He added, For the last seven-eight months, Ive had enough. I want the military to return to the barracks after leaving the country and the people in a good place. Rumours of a military coup against the Yunus government, which was appointed following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina last August, stem from reportedly escalating friction between the military government and the students movement. Advertisement In fact, earlier in March too, such rumours had circulated when it was reported that Lieutenant General Faizur Rahman, who is a quartermaster general, purportedly made moves to stage a coup to replace General Waqar-uz-Zaman as the countrys Army chief. Yunus and Army deny coup rumours In a nationwide address on Tuesday, Yunus dismissed rumours of a coup against him saying rumours are being spread in all sorts of innovative ways. He also stated that as elections draw closer the country is preparing for polls in late 2025 or early 2026 the intensity of misinformation would escalate. You all know who is behind it and why. We have sought the cooperation of the United Nations to prevent the propagation of these rumors and false theories. The Secretary-General of the United Nations has assured us of his cooperation in dealing with it. Advertisement Meanwhile, the Bangladesh army has also dismissed reports that it was orchestrating a coup, dismissing the news report as false and fabricated information. A member of the Bangladesh Army in Dhaka. File image/AFP A statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of the countrys armed forces, read: It has come to the attention of the Bangladesh Army that India Today has once again published a report based on false and fabricated information regarding a routine meeting held by the Bangladesh Army. It is deeply troubling that India Today continues to publish sensationalist narratives without due diligence or a responsible commitment to journalistic integrity, the army added in its statement. It also urged all media outlets to refrain from publishing unfounded and harmful claims that only serve to create unnecessary divisions and mistrust between people of these two great nations. Advertisement Bangladeshs history of coups The rumours of a coup have brought focus once more to the countrys history of political upheaval. In 1975, Bangladeshs first Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasinas father, was assassinated along with most of his family members in a military coup that brought in a long period of military rule. Two more coups in the same year ended with General Ziaur Rahman seizing power in November. Then, in 1981, Ziaur Rahman was assassinated by rebels who stormed into a government guest house in Chittagong where he was residing. The violence was believed to be the act of a small group of army officers. In the following year, Rahmans successor, Abdus Sattar, was ousted in a bloodless military coup led by Hussein Muhammad Ershad. With inputs from agencies Indias luxury market is in the fast lane. The sales of Germanys Maybach, which costs over Rs 3 crore, saw a record rise in 2024 the carmaker sold 10 units every week. Italian supercar Lamborghini also saw an increase in sales. Young India is revving up the purchases of these cars. Heres how read more A Indian dealership worker mops the floor near a Lamborghini luxury model in New Delhi. Lamborghini sold 113 units in India, a 10 per cent increase over its previous best-ever performance of 2023. File image/AFP Indias luxury market is growing fast and furious all thanks to the growing tribe of young, rich Indians who wish to splurge money on fast cars, driving their sales to record highs. In fact, such is the demand for these luxury cars such as the Lamborghini that as per one report, one will have to wait until 2028 as the Italian supercar maker has been sold out in India until 2027. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Numbers show that premium automobile sales are at their peak in India, with millennials and Gen Z ultra-rich revving up the numbers with their craving for luxury and fast cars. So, whats going on? We get you the full story. Accelerated sales of Maybachs and Lamborghinis If numbers are to be believed, then Indias cravings for luxury cars arent slowing down. In fact, the opposite effect can be seen. In 2024, the Maybach, which sells upwards of Rs 3 crore, sold almost 10 cars every week across the country. Thats a whopping 145 per cent growth from the previous year. According to data from the German carmaker, which is a sub-brand of Mercedez Benz, it sold a total of 21,800 units globally last year, of which over 500 were sold in India. Of 21,800 units sold globally, Maybach sold around 500 of their cars in India last year. File image/Reuters Commenting on this rise, global head Daniel Lescow said, Maybach has a history of over 100 years in India, and it is simply amazing to see how the brand has developed and evolved. Just last year, we saw a growth of 145 per cent in our India sales as numbers crossed 500 cars, making it one of the fastest-growing countries for us globally. And its not just the Maybach which has seen a rise in sales. Italian supercar maker Lamborghini has also seen an increase in its sales in the country. The Italian supercar marque sold 113 units in India, a 10 per cent increase over its previous best-ever performance of 2023. Its global tally was 10,687 units. India, for us, is an asset there is a huge potential for the future. There is the idea of having maybe a fourth dealership but this is still something in the early stages, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann even told reporters at a virtual roundtable. Indias young revving sales So, whos buying up all these cars? According to the two carmakers, young India mostly 35 to 40-year-olds are purchasing Maybachs and Lamborghinis, driving up their sales. Autocar experts note that these luxury cars are even more in demand than others as they hold aspirational value. Bollywood celebrities such as Ranveer Singh and Kriti Sanon own the Mercedes Maybach GLS600, which sells for more than Rs 3 crore. Other celebs such as Shraddha Kapoor also made news when they purchased the Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica, which is priced around Rs 4 crore. As a result of this, millennials and Gen Zs have also lined up to purchase these luxury cars as they are viewed as status symbols. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In 2023, Bollywood actor Shraddha Kapoor bought a Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica worth Rs 4.04 crore. Image Courtesy: @poojachaudhary_9/Instagram In fact, Maybachs Lescow also noted that the average age of an Indian customer is under 40 years - 38, to be precise. Theres a deep interest in the brand, and Indian customers are very knowledgeable about the products. I was impressed by the maturity around luxury here, he was quoted as telling the Times of India. Lamborghinis Winkelmann also noted a similar pattern. He stated that the average age of a Lamborghini buyer in India is below 40 years making it the youngest market after China. Hes quoted as telling Reuters, You have a lot of start-ups in India which are very successful. You have very young, high net worth individuals who are stepping into this type of car. So this is positive for us. Indias growing luxury market The rising sales of these cars are in line with Indias changing attitude towards luxury purchases. The younger generations are spending more with lesser guilt, revving the sales of all things luxury cars, watches, bags and more. For instance, in FY24, Louis Vuitton India Retail saw a 13 per cent jump in income from operations at Rs 811.6 crore. Meanwhile, the maker of the famous Birkin bag, Hermes India Retail and Distributors, sold Rs 316 crore worth of luxury bags and accessories in FY24, growing 27 per cent, as per a Mint report. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Manequins are dressed in designer clothes at the French luxury boutique Chanel in New Delhi. File image/AFP According to Euromonitor International, the luxury market in India climbed to $8.5 billion in 2022 (Rs 70,000 crore), up by $2.5 billion (Rs 20,500 crore) in the preceding year. And according to a June 2024 report by BDA Partners, Indias luxury sector is expected to more than triple by 2030, driven by increasing discretionary spending and a growing number of high-net-worth individuals. And most experts note that this increase is partly owing to young India, who believes in spending rather than saving. Perhaps, it is because of this that several luxury brands have appointed Indians think Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt as their brand ambassadors , hoping it would further seduce Indians to purchase more. With inputs from agencies Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi is living in Belgium after leaving Antigua and Barbuda for medical treatment. He is wanted in India for his alleged involvement in the Rs 13,500-crore Punjab National Bank fraud case. New Delhi has an extradition treaty with Belgium, but theres a catch read more Businessman Mehul Choksi, who is wanted in India for a bank loan fraud case, is reportedly living in a European country. As per reports, he has been residing in Belgium with his wife, Preeti Choksi. Choksi, who was previously in Antigua and Barbuda, left the Caribbean country for medical treatment, as per reports. India has been seeking his extradition after he, along with his nephew, jeweller Nirav Modi, fled India in January 2018 before the Punjab National Bank loan fraud case came to the limelight. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lets take a closer look. Mehul Choksi in Belgium? Mehul Choksi is in Belgiums port city of Antwerp, as per a report by the Associated Times. He has been living in Belgium after securing an F Residency Card, which provides the right to live in the country to family members of a citizen of the European Union (EU). The fugitive businessmans wife, Preeti Choksi, is a citizen of Belgium. The report also mentioned that Indian authorities have approached Belgium to initiate Choksis extradition. India is yet to officially comment on the development. Choksi obtained the residence card by allegedly providing false declarations and forged documents to Belgian authorities. He also failed to disclose his existing citizenship in India and Antigua, Associated Times reported citing sources. Belgium has confirmed Choksi s presence in the European country. David Jordens, spokesperson of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told CNN-News18, 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. The FPS Foreign Affairs continues to closely follow the developments in this important case. Choksi returned to the spotlight after Antigua and Barbudas Minister of Foreign Affairs EP Chet Green, who was recently in India for Raisina Dialogue, revealed that the fugitive businessman has left the island nation for medical treatment. He also said his country is working with the Indian government on the issue. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mehul Choksi is not on the island, I am told he left Antigua for medical attention abroad. He remains a citizen of Antigua and 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. [The] 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, Greene told the news agency ANI. Choksi is an accused in Indias biggest-ever banking fraud case. He and his nephew Nirav Modi allegedly siphoned off Rs 13,500 crore of public money from the state-run Punjab National Bank (PNB) using fraudulent letters of undertaking . Modi is currently in a London jail, with India seeking his extradition from the UK. Can India extradite Mehul Choksi from Belgium? It is possible. India has an extradition treaty with Belgium. The decades-old pact allows for the extradition of fugitive criminals wanted for offences such as murder; manslaughter; bigamy; forgery and counterfeiting; embezzlement, fraud, and so on. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In no case can the surrender be made unless the crime shall be punishable according to the laws in force in both countries with regard to extradition. In no case, nor on any consideration whatever, shall the High Contracting Parties be bound to surrender their own subjects, whether by birth or naturalization, the treaty reads. It also allows for the rejection of extradition requests if the offence involved is political in nature. In 2023, India and Belgium signed Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs) in criminal matters, which require both nations to put into effect each others search warrants and summons against fugitives wanted by their investigating agencies. Arrangements have been made by the Central government with the government of the Kingdom of Belgium for service or execution of summons or search warrant in relation to criminal matters, on any person in Kingdom of Belgium, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said at the time. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In 2020, the Union Cabinet gave a nod to the signing and ratification of the extradition treaty between India and Belgium that allows the two countries to repatriate those accused of or convicted of an extraditable offence. An extraditable offence refers to a crime punishable under the laws of both countries with imprisonment of one year or more. However, Choksis extradition could become complicated as reports claim he plans to move to Switzerland for medical treatment at a renowned cancer hospital. With inputs from agencies As Pope Francis battled for his life, doctors at one point considered giving up treatment and letting the 88-year-old pontiff pass away peacefully. It was during this decisive time, Francis personal health care assistant, Massimiliano Strappetti, stepped in and asked the medical team to Try everything and not give up read more Pope Francis waves from a window of the Gemelli hospital before being discharged, in Rome on March 23, 2025. AFP Pope Francis has faced numerous health challenges in recent years, but his latest battle with double pneumonia brought him dangerously close to death. The head of his medical team revealed that the 88-year-old pontiffs condition worsened so severely that doctors even considered stopping treatment, believing it was best to let him pass peacefully. However, his personal nurse refused to give up. Thanks to his intervention, the Pope defied the odds and made a recovery that many believed was impossible. Advertisement Heres what happened. Five words that helped save the Popes life Pope Francis recent health scare was one of the most severe since he took office in 2013. The 88-year-old pontiff spent 38 days at Romes Gemelli Hospital battling a prolonged respiratory illnesshis longest hospital stay as pope. The most critical moment came on February 28, when Francis suffered a bronchospasm attack and accidentally inhaled his own vomit, leaving him struggling to breathe. There was a real risk he might not make it, lead surgeon Professor Sergio Alfieri told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. Doctors faced a difficult decisionwhether to stop treatment and allow the Pope to pass peacefully or continue aggressive interventions, which carried the risk of organ damage. At this turning point, Pope Francis personal nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, made a decisive call. Try everything; dont give up, he urged. Those five words spurred the medical team into action, leading them to persist with intensive care. Pope Francis recent health scare was one of the most severe since he took office in 2013. The 88-year-old pontiff spent 38 days at Romes Gemelli Hospital battling a prolonged respiratory illnesshis longest hospital stay as pope. For days, we were risking damage to his kidneys and bone marrow, but we went ahead, and his body responded to the drugs and his lung infection lessened, Dr Alfieri recalled. Also read: Pope Francis has pneumonia in both lungs. How serious is his condition? Who is Massimiliano Strappetti? Massimiliano Strappetti, a veteran Vatican nurse, has played a crucial role in managing Pope Francis health since 2022, when the pontiff appointed him as his personal health care assistant after recovering from an illness. A nurse, a man with a lot of experience, saved my life, Pope Francis told Spanish COPE radio after undergoing colon surgery. Advertisement Strappetti had already been advising the Pope before his official appointment. In February 2021, when Francis experienced his first flare-up of diverticulitis, Strappetti urged him to undergo medical tests, La Repubblica reported. Along with the Popes other doctors, he recommended surgery to prevent the condition from worsening. Since then, Strappetti has remained a constant presence by the Popes side, even accompanying him on international trips. During the Popes visit to Canada, he was there as the pontiff made public appearances in a wheelchair. Massimiliano Strappetti (R), briefcase in hand, accompanies Pope Francis in Assisi, Italy. FIle image. AFP Now in his 50s, Strappetti has been part of the Vaticans medical system since 2002. Before that, he spent eight years working in the intensive care unit at Gemelli Hospital, the same facility where Pope Francis has been treated multiple times. He later took on the role of coordinator for Vatican nurses and played an active role in a medical charity supporting the homeless, as per the Catholic news agency. Advertisement Whats next for Pope Francis? Nearly five weeks after his life-threatening battle with double pneumonia, Pope Francis was finally discharged from the hospital. His first public appearance in weeks was met with relief and joy as he waved to the crowd and gave a thumbs-up from a balcony. Dr Alfieri described that moment as deeply moving. I saw him leave the room on the 10th floor of the Gemelli dressed in white. It was the emotion of seeing the man become again the Pope, he said. Pope Francis was finally discharged from the hospital. His first public appearance in weeks was met with relief and joy as he waved to the crowd. AFP Now back at his residence in Casa Santa Marta, Francis continues his recovery with ongoing medical care, including physiotherapy for breathing and voice rehabilitation, along with 24-hour support from his health team. Also read: Can Pope Francis resign due to ill health? Is there a precedent? While he has slowly resumed his responsibilitiessigning documents and dedicating time to prayerhis schedule remains restricted. His planned meeting with Britains King Charles and Queen Camilla, originally set for next month, has been postponed. Advertisement Buckingham Palace confirmed on Tuesday that the trip was postponed by mutual agreement, as medical advice has now suggested that Pope Francis would benefit from an extended period of rest and recuperation. Although he has not led the Angelus prayer for seven consecutive Sundays, Francis continues to offer weekly reflections. Let us pray together for peace, especially in martyred Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, he wrote on X. With input from agencies Portugals golden visa has been adjudged as the third-best programme in the world with a total of 4,455 applicants in 2023. An affordable cost of living makes the European nation attractive to foreigners seeking residency by investment. Moreover, it gives an individual the right to live, study and work in all countries in the Schengen area, which other residency programmes dont offer read more A group of tourists ride bicycles close to the Belem Tower in Lisbon, Portugal. The country's golden visa has been adjudged the third best in the world by Henley & Partners. File image/AFP Golden visa is the buzzword these days. Amid growing interest, Firstpost and Moneycontrol bring a series on the worlds most popular residency-by-investment programmes. Our fifth story looks at Portugals residency scheme and what makes it so attractive. Who wouldnt want to move to Portugal? It has everything medieval castles, cobblestone villages, captivating cities, golden beaches and delectable food and wine, says marketing director Aneesha Hingorani, who has listed the European nation as among her top three choices of countries to retire. Advertisement And the 37-year-old isnt alone. Several people across the world have their eyes on Portugal, with some even opting for its golden visa programme. Henley & Partners recently ranked it the third best in its 2025 Global Citizenship Residence Program index. Emi Silva, the programme director at Henley & Partners and head of its Lisbon Office, told Firstpost, Portugals Golden Visa programme is uniquely structured for different threshold investment amounts and, most importantly, it offers a clear pathway to citizenship. For those who want a quick catch-up, a golden visa is a programme through which individuals obtain temporary or permanent residency in a given country so they can live and work there. The investments may include buying a house, creating a company or making a donation. How does one acquire Portugals golden visa? Formally known as the Portugal Golden Residence Programme, the scheme was launched back in October 2012 to attract foreign capital following the economic collapse of 2008. Since then, it has grown in popularity, with people across the world vying for it. One can get their hands on Portugals golden visa in two ways through a capital transfer or business creation. In October 2023, the country removed real estate investment as a basis, with the hope that it would reduce property speculation. As Joao Pedro Cunha, the founder and marketing director of MFG Consultants Portugal, which specialises in Portuguese and Greek golden visa programmes said, The removal of real estate as a qualifying investment for the golden visa was a policy decision aimed at addressing housing affordability concerns and redirecting foreign investment towards sectors that contribute more directly to economic diversification and innovation. For those who opt for the capital transfer, there are three options: an individual can invest 500,000 (Rs 4.71 crore) for research activities of public or private entities that are part of the national scientific and technological system. Secondly, 500,000 for the acquisition of investment fund or venture capital fund units committed to the capitalisation of companies incorporated under Portuguese law. The third option is to invest 250,000 (Rs 2.35 crore) to support artistic production or the recovery or maintenance of national cultural heritage. Advertisement Individuals can also acquire Portugals golden visa by creating a minimum of 10 jobs or investing 500,000 for the incorporation of a commercial company that is registered and headquartered in Portugal, creating a minimum of five permanent jobs for a period of three years. Its important to note that Portugals golden visa is only applicable to non-EU nationals. Moreover, applicants have to spend only least 14 days in Portugal during the first two years and 21 days for the subsequent three years. Moreover, Portugals golden residence permit is valid for two years and can be extended once for another three years. What are the benefits of Portugals golden visa? Acquiring Portugals golden visa offers huge benefits not only to applicants but to the country itself. For individuals, Portugals golden permit allows visa-free travel in all of Europes Schengen area. This could be highly appealing for business professionals and families, as it allows for easy mobility across Europe. It also allows non-EU residents the right to live, work, and study in Portugal, providing them with access to international and Portuguese schools and universities. Simply put, Portugals golden visa allows individuals a chance to live a high quality of life with a better sense of security. Advertisement People take pictures from a viewpoint in the Alfama neighbourhood in Lisbon. Portugals golden visa programme was launched in 2012 following the economic collapse of 2008. File image/Reuters Henleys Emi Silva explained this better. She told Firstpost, After the five-year residence programme, you are eligible to apply for citizenship, which provides you with the right to live, study and work in all countries in the Schengen area. The other residence programmes dont offer this option, and this has been an important aspect for applicants while deciding between the different European programmes if their objective is long-term access to Europe. Portugals golden residency permit has also served the country well. It has raised more than $7.2 billion (7 billion) since it was first created in 2012. Cunha of MFG Consultants has noted that most of this amount did come from real estate acquisitions, but with the recent shift towards fund-based and business investment options, the programme continues to drive capital into strategic economic sectors. Advertisement What makes Portugals golden visa so attractive? Since its inception, Portugals golden residency scheme has been popular among Chinese, Brazilian, and US nationals. Get Golden Visas Managing Partner Murat Coskun said that in 2023, a total of 4,455 applicants applied for the Portugal Golden Visa. Among these applicants, 2,901 applied as families, while 1,554 applied as individuals. In terms of nationalities, the breakdown for September 2023 was as follows: 567 applicants from the USA, 306 from China, 234 from the United Kingdom, 219 from Brazil, and 199 from India. Such is the demand for Portugals golden visas that in February, the country introduced a digital application system to fast-track applications. The Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA), responsible for issuing golden visas, said it was replacing its paper-based system to speed up approvals. The move came as applicants filed legal cases against AIMA for the delays. Also, Portugals golden visa programme has changed the countrys demographics. As per the National Statistics Institute, foreign residents have risen by 40 per cent. A waiter walks holding a tray in a restaurant in Lisbon, Portugal. The country is a perfect blend of old and new, making it attractive to people across all age groups. File image/Reuters But why is there such a demand for Portugals golden visa? First and foremost, Portugal is known for being one of the most globalised and peaceful nations. As per the Global Peace Index, the European country is the seventh most peaceful nation. One of the oldest countries in Europe, it provides a good mix of history, culture and heritage, making it attractive not only for the young but also for those ageing. Advertisement Portugal is one of the safest countries in the world, has great weather, food and lifestyle benefits, the people are friendly, English is widely spoken, and the cost of living is affordable compared to other European countries, said Silva of Henley & Partners when asked why the golden visa is so popular. The Rua Augusta arch is pictured in Lisbon, Portugal. In recent years, Portugals golden visa has caught the attention of several Indians. File image/AFP Theres also the fact that, unlike other European golden visa schemes, the Portugal one doesnt have an exorbitant price tag. A spend of 500,000 is not much, say experts when it comes to residency programmes. Additionally, it asks little of investors and provides a straightforward path to citizenship. Theres a lot of flexibility too applicants have to spend an average of just a week a year in the country. The golden visa also paves the way for an applicant to acquire Portuguese citizenship. This means that the applicant receives a Portuguese passport, which as per Henley is the fourth most powerful passport, granting its holders visa-free travel to 188 countries. Finally, Portugals golden visa benefits extend to the holders immediate family parents, spouse, and children. Its particularly popular among parents looking to create a Plan B for their children. Once they acquire citizenship, children can retain their EU passports for life even if they dont actively use their residency rights. This is a key advantage over many other programs where residency status is tied to financial dependence, added Coskun of Get Golden Visa. A man enjoys a cigarette standing on a balcony overlooking Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo street in Lisbon, Portugal. The future of Portugals golden visa remains bright. File image/AFP Whats the future of Portugals golden visa? There is growing interest in the Portugal programme. This comes as Spain is officially ending its golden on April 3 2025 because of the housing crisis in the domestic market. So what next for Portugal? Joao Pedro Cunha of MFG Consultants said, The future of Portugals golden visa programme is subject to governmental policies and economic priorities. While the current focus is on attracting high-value investors through fund investments, job creation, and innovation, its possible that future administrations may revise the programmes criteria to address emerging challenges. Given the global issue of housing shortages, it could be beneficial to consider structuring the programme to include accessible real estate options supported by investors, thereby addressing housing needs while attracting foreign capital. However, any such changes would depend on the governments strategic objectives and policy decisions at the time, he added. Get Golden Visas Coskun believes the Portugal visa is here to stay. We expect it to remain popular and relevant in the years ahead," he said. Britains Prince Harry has resigned from Sentebale, the charity he co-founded in Lesotho in 2006 to honour his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, after visiting the country during his gap year. The organisation, focusing on youth welfare, was co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. Harry has claimed he was forced to step down, but what led him to take this decision? read more Britains Prince Harry has chosen to step away from the charity he helped establish nearly two decades ago. The Duke of Sussex founded Sentebale in Lesotho in 2006 to honour his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, after visiting the country during his gap year. The charity, which focuses on youth welfare, was co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. ALSO READ | Meghan says her last name is Sussex. Why is she facing backlash? Advertisement Notably, Harry, who now lives in California with his wife Meghan and their two children, stepped back from royal duties in 2020. He has long been engaged in humanitarian work in Africa and also visited Nigeria last year. But what led him to leave the charity he played a key role in establishing? What causes does Sentebale focus on? Heres what we know. Why Prince Harry quit Sentebale Harry has stated that he was forced to step down due to ongoing internal conflicts between the board of trustees and the charitys chairwoman, Dr Sophie Chandauka. 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 in a statement. Prince Harry during a visit to the Kasane Health Post, run by the Sentebale charity. Reuters/File Photo Notably, Chandauka, a Zimbabwe-born lawyer, was appointed chair of the board of trustees last year. Reports indicate that the dispute revolves around a loss of trust and confidence in her leadership. According to The Times, the charity is in crisis and is now under investigation by the Charity Commission. Chandauka is reportedly suing the trustees after they raised concerns about her suitability to lead the board. The dispute appears to have originated from a decision to relocate the charitys fundraising operations to Africa, leading to the departure of several key figures, Daily Mail reported. Advertisement Prince Harry sided with the trustees, stating they had acted in the charitys best interest in requesting Chandaukas resignation. 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, Harry and Prince Seeiso said in a statement. 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. Advertisement Former trustees Timothy Boucher, Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, Kelello Lerotholi, and Damian West stated that they had made the difficult decision to resign unanimously, but are deeply proud to have supported the visionary work of the founding patrons Prince Seeiso and Prince Harry. They added that they had lost trust and confidence in Chandauka, and her legal action left them with no choice but to step down in the best interest of the charity, as the organisation could not bear the legal and financial burden. What did Chandauka say? In response, Sophie Chandauka released a statement stating that she would not be intimidated by the unexpected resignations, The New York Post reported. For me, this is not a vanity project from which I can resign when I am called to account, she stated, adding that she had reported the trustees to the Charity Commission. Advertisement Chandauka is reportedly suing the trustees. Image courtesy: Sentebale On Tuesday, Chandauka said her actions are guided by the principles of fairness and equitable treatment for all, regardless of social status or financial means, according to The Times. In a statement, she confirmed that she had reported the trustees to the Charity Commission and that the High Court had issued an emergency injunction preventing them from removing her. When asked why she had taken these steps, she said: 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. Advertisement The Charity Commission, in response to queries from BBC News, confirmed that it was aware of concerns about the governance of Prince Harrys charity. ALSO READ | Could Prince Harry be deported from the US over past drug use? What issues does the organisation deal with? Sentebale, which translates to Forget me not, was established to support people in Lesotho and Botswana living in poverty and those affected by HIV and Aids. Harry was inspired to create the charity after spending two months in Lesotho during his gap year in 2004. During his time in the southern African nation, which has one of the highest rates of HIV and Aids globally, he met Aids orphans, spoke with traumatised young people, and visited herd boys who endure harsh conditions while tending cattle in remote mountainous areas. The Duke visited Lesotho and Prince Seeiso again as recently as last October, where he sat with young people around a campfire and spoke about the massive difference Sentebale was making. Britains Prince Harry and Meghan, at a fundraiser event in Lagos, Nigeria. Reuters/File Photo In April 2024, Sentebale announced its transition from a development organisation focused on the impact of HIV/Aids on children and young people to a broader initiative addressing youth health, economic empowerment, and climate resilience in Southern Africa. Since our founding in 2006, we have been driven by solutions informed by children, their caregivers, and the young people we serve, to address both deep-seated systemic issues and individual needs of the moment. Paired with the convening power of our co-founders, this allows us to deliver outsized impact. We call this The Sentebale Way, its website states. The charity clarified that it had not received resignations from either Royal Patron, though it did confirm a restructuring of its board on Tuesday. In 2023, the organisation underwent huge changes following the resignation of advertising expert Johnny Hornby, who stepped down after 11 years as a trustee, five of which he spent as chairman. With inputs from agencies In a shocking case from Haryanas Rohtak district, a man allegedly buried his tenant, a yoga teacher, alive in a seven-foot deep pit after suspecting him of having an affair with his wife. Following an extensive investigation, the police uncovered the victims body three months later. Heres how the gruesome crime unfolded read more Hardeep discovered that his tenant, Jagdeep, a yoga instructor, was allegedly having an affair with his wife. Rather than confronting the situation, Hardeep decided to take matters into his own hands. Image for Representation. Pixabay In a shocking case from Haryanas Rohtak district, a man allegedly buried his tenant alive in a 7-foot deep pit after suspecting him of having an affair with his wife. The gruesome incident, which happened in December last year, remained hidden for months. It was only after a detailed police investigation that the truth finally surfaced on Monday, leading to the discovery of the victims body and the arrest of the accused. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Heres how the crime unfolded and how the police managed to crack the case. How an affair suspicion led to the murder The chain of events began when Hardeep discovered that his tenant, Jagdeep, who lived in a portion of his house and worked as a yoga instructor at Baba Mastnath University in Rohtak, was allegedly having an affair with his wife. Rather than confronting the situation, Hardeep decided to take matters into his own hands. According to an NDTV report citing officials, he hired workers to dig a seven-foot-deep pit in Pantavas village of Charkhi Dadri, claiming it was for a borewell. But in reality, the pit was meant to serve as a deadly trap for Jagdeep. On December 24, after Jagdeep returned from work, Hardeep and a group of accomplices abducted him. Jagdeep, who was originally from Mandothi village in Jhajjar district, had no idea what awaited him. His captors tied his hands and legs, beat him, and transported him to the pit in Charkhi Dadri. Once there, they taped his mouth shut to silence any cries for help before throwing him into the pit and covering him with mudburying him alive. Also read: Merchant Navy officer murder: How wife plotted brutal killing for 4 months, tricked lover How police uncovered the crime Ten days after Jagdeep was murdered, his uncle, Ishwar, who lived in Mandothi village in Jhajjar, grew worried about his disappearance. On February 3, he filed a missing persons report at the Shivaji Colony police station. Despite repeated searches by both the police and Jagdeeps family, there were no immediate leads. The investigation started at Jagdeeps university, where officers reviewed CCTV footage and spoke to colleagues, but his whereabouts remained a mystery. Then, a major breakthrough came when police expanded their search to Janata Colony and its surrounding areas, The Times of India reported. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD CCTV footage from the area showed four men abducting Jagdeep from his rented home, his hands and feet tied, before forcing him into a vehicle. Digging deeper, investigators analysed mobile dump data, which led them to Pentaawas Kalan village in Charkhi Dadri. Examining Jagdeeps call records, they gathered enough evidence to take Hardeep and one of his friends, Dharampal, into custody. After obtaining their custody through the court, police officials interrogated the two men. It was during these sessions that they finally revealed the horrifying details of the murder. #WATCH | Rohtak, Haryana | CIA-1 incharge Kuldeep says, "A missing report of Jagdeep was registered in Shivaji Colony police station. It was filed around 2-2.5 months ago. Later, it was found that after being abducted, his body was kept in Dadri. Accused Hardeep and Dharampal pic.twitter.com/CRuZ1qAWnq ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2025 Acting on their confession, a police team, accompanied by Jagdeeps family, arrived at the crime scene and began excavation. Even though the accused had pointed out the exact location, retrieving the body proved to be a challenge due to the depth of the pit and the tightly packed soil. Hours later, under the dim glow of torchlights, officers managed to dig deep enough to tie a rope around the remains and pull them out. Jagdeeps body was finally recoveredexactly three months after his murder. As of now, two suspects are in custody, while authorities continue their efforts to track down the remaining accused, NDTV reported. There are other accused in the case, who will also be arrested soon. The post-mortem has been conducted and we are waiting for the report, said Crime Investigation Agency unit in-charge Kuldeep Singh. With input from agencies US Second Lady Usha Vance is not visiting Greenland alone. Her husband, Vice President JD Vance, is also joining her. They will visit Pituffik Space Base in Greenland on Friday to receive a briefing on Arctic security and meet with US service members. This visit follows criticism from Greenlandic and Danish officials over what they perceive as US pressure on the territory read more US Vice President JD Vance delivers remarks at the American Dynamism Summit in Washington, DC, US, March 18, 2025. File Image/Reuters United States Vice President JD Vance is set to visit Pituffik Space Base in Greenland on Friday, marking another step in the Trump administrations Arctic strategy. Vance, who has become a prominent foreign policy voice for President Donald Trump, will be accompanied by his wife, Usha Vance, as he meets with US service members and receives a briefing on Arctic security. The visit comes amidst increasing tensions between the US, Greenland, and Denmark. The Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has openly criticised the trip, calling it an example of unacceptable pressure on Greenland and Denmark. Advertisement Greenlands Prime Minister, Mute Egede, also voiced concerns, stating that the visit could not be considered a routine diplomatic engagement given its implications for Greenlands sovereignty. What is the strategic importance of Pituffik Space Base? Formerly known as Thule Air Base, Pituffik Space Base is the US militarys northernmost installation and one of the most strategically important military sites in the world. Established in 1951 under a defence agreement between Denmark and the United States, it provides the US military with a vital Arctic presence. The base is crucial for missile defence and space surveillance. It houses an Upgraded Early Warning Radar system that detects missile launches and provides critical data for US defence operations. It is quite literally the outermost eye of American defence, Peter Ernstved Rasmussen, a Danish defence analyst, told The New York Times. Approximately 150 US Air Force and Space Force personnel are permanently stationed there, playing key roles in Arctic security and global defence operations. A view of Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base) in Greenland, October 4, 2023. The base changed its name earlier in 2023. The reason for the new name is that the base is no longer staffed by people from the US Air Force, but instead from the US Space Force. File Image/Reuters Additionally, Pituffik supports scientific research missions. Each summer, around 70 members of the New York Air National Guard arrive at the base with ski-equipped LC-130 aircraft to transport researchers and supplies to ice camps across Greenland. Despite its small population of about 700 personnel, Pituffik remains a linchpin in US military strategy. How long has US military presence been in Greenland? The US military has had a presence in Greenland since World War II. After Nazi Germany occupied Denmark in 1940, Greenland was left isolated and undefended. The United States struck an agreement with Denmarks ambassador in Washington, allowing American troops to build airfields and weather stations on the island. By 1941, US forces had established defensive positions in Greenland, monitoring North Atlantic routes for German submarines. This arrangement was formally solidified in 1951 with the US-Denmark defence treaty, granting Washington broad rights to operate military facilities in Greenland. Advertisement During the Cold War, Thule Air Base became a key Arctic outpost. The base hosted long-range bombers capable of reaching the Soviet Union and housed massive radar installations to detect missiles crossing the Arctic. One of the more ambitious Cold War projects was Camp Century, a nuclear-powered base built under the ice in the late 1950s as part of Project Iceworm. The plan was to test whether nuclear missiles could be hidden and launched from beneath Greenlands ice sheet. However, unstable ice conditions led to the projects abandonment. A view of Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base) in Greenland, October 4, 2023. The base changed its name earlier in 2023. The reason for the new name is that the base is no longer staffed by people from the US Air Force, but instead from the US Space Force. File Image/Reuters The presence of the US military has also had significant social impacts on Greenlands Indigenous population. In 1953, around 130 Inuit were forcibly relocated from their homes near Thule to a harsher settlement further north, poorly suited for traditional hunting, reported The New York Times. Advertisement Although compensation was provided decades later, resentment over the displacement remains. What are the tensions over Greenland? Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in Greenland, reiterating earlier this month that one way or the other, we will get Greenland. This assertion has sparked strong opposition from both Denmark and Greenland, with officials stressing that Greenland is not for sale. Greenland, a self-governing territory under the Kingdom of Denmark, plays a key role in Arctic security and is rich in natural resources. The Trump administrations focus on Greenland has been met with resistance, particularly regarding concerns over sovereignty and military expansion. While the 1951 US-Denmark defence agreement allows for an American military presence at Pituffik, the Igaliku Agreement of 2004 requires that Denmark and Greenland be informed of any significant operational changes at the base. In recent weeks, Greenlandic officials have been increasingly vocal about the pressure from Washington. We are now at a level where it can in no way be characterised as a harmless visit from a politicians wife, Egede stated, referring to the original plan for Usha Vances visit. Advertisement Danish officials have echoed these sentiments, with Frederiksen stating that it is pressure that we will resist. Pituffik Space Base remains an integral part of the US defence network. With the growing threat of hypersonic missiles projectiles that maneuver at high speeds and are difficult to intercept early warning systems like the one at Pituffik are increasingly critical. Hypersonic missiles dont go into space they fly low, they maneuver, and we have no way to intercept them once theyre launched, The New York Times quoted Troy J Bouffard, a retired US Army officer and Arctic defence expert. That makes early warning more important than everand thats where Pituffik comes in. Advertisement As security challenges in the Arctic evolve, military analysts see Pituffik expanding beyond radar operations. It could also serve as a forward staging base or a key line of communication, Bouffard noted. The more forward these locations are, the more useful they are. With US officials pushing for increased control in the region, Vances visit to Pituffik represents more than just a diplomatic trip it signals Washingtons determination to secure its position in Greenlands growing strategic importance. With inputs from agencies Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez, who are in their 50s, have reportedly been deported after 35 years of living with their three US-born children in California. Immigration authorities have said that the couple moved to the country in November 1989 and have exhausted all legal options to remain in the US read more Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez arrived in the US during a time of continuous terrorism and violence in Colombia, where the government was engaged in a two-front conflict with left-wing guerrillas and drug cartels. Image courtesy: X A regular visit to immigration authorities placed a couple at a tipping point after they were detained and deported back to Colombia earlier this month. The two undocumented immigrants have reportedly been deported after 35 years of living with their three US-born children in California. The couples three adult daughters said the action comes despite their parents never breaking the law after arriving in the US or missing an appointment with immigration authorities. This sudden occurrence has left us in shock, they said. Advertisement The latest action comes as the Donald Trump-led administration cracks down on illegal immigrants and attempts to deport them. Lets take a closer look. The couple deported to Colombia The couple, who are said to be in their 50s, were arrested on February 21 during a routine check-in with US Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE). They were held for three and a half weeks before they were ultimately allowed to return to their home country of Colombia on March 18. Stephanie Gonzalez, their daughter, told CNN via email that her parents showed up before a Santa Ana immigration court last month just like they have been doing since 2000. The couples children, who are all reportedly US citizens, claimed in a GoFundMe post that their parents never violated the law or failed to show up for an appointment with immigration officials. While crossing the border without permission is a criminal misdemeanour, staying in the US without permission is a civil infraction rather than a crime. Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States arrive at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela. AP This sudden occurrence has left us in shock. For nearly four decades, they have built a life here raising three daughters, giving back to their community, and recently welcoming their first grandchild, the daughters wrote. Now, they are being treated as criminals, held in detention centres, 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. They said their parents are kind, selfless people who have always put others before themselves and have asked for generous donations from the public. Advertisement Exhausted legal options to remain in the US An ICE representative verified the cases specifics to The Independent, including the couples clean criminal record. According to the agency, both entered the country in November 1989 near San Ysidro, California, and had exhausted all legal options to remain in the US. " Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez arrived in the US during a time of continuous terrorism and violence in Colombia, where the government was engaged in a two-front conflict with left-wing guerrillas and drug cartels, as per CNN. Nelson applied for asylum in 1992, but his case was dropped in 1998 because he failed to attend an interview, according to ICE. According to authorities, Gladys and Nelson received a voluntary departure order in 2000 after the immigration court determined that there was no valid basis for their continued stay in the nation. This order offers people a set period of time to leave the country at their own expense to avoid a deportation order. Advertisement They were looking for a way to legalise their status in the way that was available to them at the time in the 90s, Monica Crooms, an immigration lawyer in Orange County who began representing the couple in 2018, told CNN. Unfortunately, they fell victim to predatory immigration practices that were pretty flagrant. Crooms claims that the couples lawyer at the time misled them about the possibility of an appeal and eventual legalisation of the order. After seeing other attorneys, they quickly learnt that they were in a very precarious situation with respect to their immigration status, Crooms added. Over the years, the couple have spent thousands of dollars on legal representation, and according to Crooms, some of the people they hired werent even immigration lawyers. Advertisement Gladys and Nelson exhausted all legal options to remain in the US 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. Crooms said they did expect that they would need to depart and were planning to do so, but not in the way that it happened, adding that the couples deportation officer had not pushed for them to depart until 2018, informing them that they would have to leave the country if their status could not be legalised. Advertisement ICE refused to provide information on whether or not the Gonzalezes were allowed to stay after that. However, in the past, a large number of undocumented immigrants who were facing deportation were permitted to stay as long as they fulfilled specific requirements and made frequent ICE check-ins. This could be for health, humanitarian, or just being a low priority for removal. Trumps crackdown on immigration The incident is yet another example of the Trump administrations expansive immigration crackdown, which has allegedly targeted not only violent criminals but also undocumented immigrants with no criminal history, backpackers, visiting scholars, asylum seekers, pro-Palestinian activists with green cards, and permanent residents. According to the cases judge, officials have used a wartime statute from the 18th century to deport hundreds of Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador without following the proper legal procedures, ostensibly in violation of a court order. With inputs from agencies The US Armys Typhon missile system, stationed in the Philippines since early 2024, is equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles and SM-6 interceptors, capable of striking targets up to 2,000 km away. This marks the first land-based deployment of such a system outside the US since the Cold War. Its presence has drawn strong opposition from China, which claims it escalates military tensions in the region read more The recent deployment of the US Armys Typhon missile system in the Philippines has triggered strong objections from China, highlighting the escalating military tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. The Typhon system, capable of launching Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles and SM-6 air-defence missiles, has significantly altered the strategic balance in the area. With the missile system positioned in northern Luzon, its range extends to much of the South China Sea, Taiwan, and parts of mainland China, further exacerbating Beijings security concerns. Advertisement Despite Chinas vocal opposition and calls for the systems removal, US and Philippine officials have defended the deployment, citing the need for enhanced deterrence capabilities amid growing geopolitical tensions. While the US Army has stated that it will not conduct live-fire tests of the Typhon system during upcoming joint military exercises in the Philippines, the system remains a focal point of strategic discussions in the region, reported The South China Morning Post. The controversy surrounding the Typhon deployment underscores broader power struggles between the United States and China, with implications for regional security and alliances. What is the Typhon missile system The Typhon missile system, developed by Lockheed Martin under the US Armys Long Range Precision Fires programme, is designed to fill the gap between the Armys Precision Strike Missile and the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon system. It is capable of firing two types of missiles: the Tomahawk cruise missile, with a range of approximately 2,000 km (1,240 miles), and the SM-6, which can target enemy ships, aircraft, and incoming missiles. The system was first deployed to the Philippines as part of the Salaknib 2024 joint military exercises between the US and Philippine forces. It was transported via a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster to an airfield in northern Luzon, where it was integrated into military drills. While the system has not been used in live-fire exercises, Philippine troops have received training on its operation and maintenance. Advertisement The deployment marks the first time since the Cold War that the US has positioned a land-based missile launcher with such an extended range outside its own territory, reported The Wall Street Journal. The move is part of a broader US military strategy aimed at countering Chinas growing influence in the Indo-Pacific and reinforcing security partnerships with allies in the region. Philippine officials have also expressed interest in acquiring the Typhon system for their own military. Why China is worried China has repeatedly condemned the deployment, arguing that the Typhon system represents an offensive capability that escalates tensions in the region. The Chinese Ministry of Defence has warned of resolute countermeasures and accused the US and the Philippines of fueling an arms race. Beijing has called for the immediate withdrawal of the system, asserting that its presence undermines regional stability and threatens Chinas security interests. The Typhon deployment comes amid ongoing maritime disputes between China and the Philippines over contested territories in the South China Sea. Advertisement China claims sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, a stance that has been challenged by several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia. The region is of critical strategic importance, as it facilitates nearly one-third of global maritime trade. Chinese and Philippine naval forces have engaged in multiple stand-offs in disputed waters, with recent incidents involving water cannon confrontations and vessel collisions. The US has strongly criticised Chinas aggressive and coercive behaviours in the region and has increased military cooperation with the Philippines in response. What the US has in mind The deployment of the Typhon system is a key component of the US militarys evolving Indo-Pacific strategy. Washington has been shifting its defence posture toward a more dispersed and resilient force structure, reducing reliance on large, centralised bases and instead deploying mobile, land-based missile systems across the region. This approach aims to enhance deterrence capabilities against China while strengthening partnerships with allies such as the Philippines, Japan, and Australia. Advertisement US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to visit the Philippines to discuss defence cooperation with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro. His visit is expected to address Chinas assertive actions in the South China Sea and explore ways to bolster Philippine security forces. Japan, another key US ally, has been closely monitoring the situation but has not yet agreed to host similar missile deployments. However, discussions between US and Japanese defence officials suggest that future deployments could be considered as part of broader regional security efforts. Why Typhon system is necessary The deployment of the Typhon system in the Philippines is seen as a strategic move to counterbalance Chinas expanding military capabilities. Beijing has been rapidly modernising its armed forces, developing advanced hypersonic missiles, and expanding its naval presence. Chinas recent construction of a new submarine in Wuhan, reportedly equipped with hypersonic missiles, has added another layer of complexity to the regional security landscape. Advertisement The US withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 2019 has enabled Washington to develop and deploy new intermediate-range missile systems, including the Typhon. Unlike ship-based missile platforms, land-based systems like the Typhon are harder to detect and neutralise early in a conflict, making them a valuable asset in military planning. Despite US assurances that the deployment is defensive in nature, some analysts warn that the presence of such missile systems in close proximity to China increases the risk of escalation. Jennifer Kavanagh, director of military analysis at Defense Priorities, has cautioned that the mere presence of the Typhon system could heighten tensions and potentially lead to unintended conflict, reported The Wall Street Journal. The Trump administration has signalled its commitment to strengthening US military presence in the Indo-Pacific, with Defence Secretary Hegseth stating the importance of power projection. However, concerns remain about the broader implications of such deployments. Some experts argue that moving powerful US missile systems closer to China could trigger an arms race and increase the likelihood of military confrontations. Others suggest that the Typhon system could serve as a bargaining chip in future diplomatic negotiations between the US and China, particularly in discussions related to regional security and military presence. In the Philippines, President Marcos Jr. has indicated that he would be open to removing the Typhon system if China ceased its assertive actions in the South China Sea. However, with tensions continuing to rise and no immediate resolution in sight, the missile system remains a central element of the evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. With inputs from agencies Katie Donnell, the 28-year-old workout queen from Florida, died following a heart attack, which her family blames on energy drinks. While Donnell led a healthy lifestyle, her mother said she was used to the buzz from the energy drinks and used to consume at least three cans before her twice-a-day sessions. Can the consumption of such beverages lead to heart ailments? read more The 28-year-old "workout queen", who was dedicated to maintaining a fit and active lifestyle, suffered a fatal heart attackone that her family believes may have been triggered by her regular consumption of high-caffeine energy drinks. Image for Representation The sudden passing of Katie Donnell, a Florida fitness enthusiast, has reignited concerns about the potential dangers of energy drinks. The 28-year-old workout queen, who was dedicated to maintaining a fit and active lifestyle, suffered a fatal heart attackone that her family believes may have been triggered by her regular consumption of high-caffeine energy drinks. For many, especially athletes and gym-goers, these drinks have become a popular quick fix to fight fatigue and push through intense workouts. Advertisement But with Donnells tragic death, its worth askingcould energy drinks be putting your heart at risk? Heres what we know. What happened to Katie Donnell? Katie Donnell, a Florida teacher, was known for her dedication to fitness and healthy living. Despite her commitment to clean eating and regular workouts, her mother, 63-year-old Lori Barranon, said her daughter had one major viceenergy drinks. She was a workout queen, she ate real clean, she ate organic food, she was the epitome of health other than [having energy drinks], Barranon told The Sun. Katie reportedly drank at least three cans of energy drinks daily and also took energy-boosting supplements to sustain her twice-a-day workout routine. Katie reportedly drank at least three cans of energy drinks daily and also took energy-boosting supplements to sustain her twice-a-day workout routine. Representative Image/Pixabay One of her friends said shed hardly see Katie without an energy drink in her hands, her mother said. When I cleaned out her car after she passed, it was full of cansat least three or four in there. On an August evening in 2021, while out with friends, Katie collapsed suddenly. Her friends initially suspected a stroke and immediately called for an ambulance. But by the time medical help arrived, it was too late. She was without oxygen for too long, and it caused brain damage, Barranon said. They worked on her for three hours, and she never woke up. Katie remained in a medically induced coma for 10 days, but her condition only worsened. Eventually, her family had to make the heartbreaking decision to take her off life support. Advertisement Doctors never officially linked her death to energy drinks, but Barranon remains convinced. Doctors said they see this happen a lot with people that do a lot of pre-workout or energy drinks, but they wouldnt give the cause of death to that, she said. I know for a fact that was what was wrong with her. Katie Donnell, 28, was a teacher from Florida and "workout queen" who drank up to three energy drinks per day before she died from a heart attack in August 2021. Her mother now reveals it was the caffeine that cost her daughter's life. She said her daughter "loved the buzz." pic.twitter.com/AqmpTG48LL Te-Erika (@Te_Erika) March 25, 2025 Advertisement Katie didnt have any major health issues, but she struggled with severe anxiety, her mother revealed. She had horrible anxiety and went to several doctors, Barranon said. I dont think it was real anxietyI think it was her abuse of caffeine and energy drinks. She believes Katie relied on the temporary boost of caffeine to juggle her workouts, full-time job, and school. She thought itd help her work out and give her more energy, she told Daily Mail. I think she got used to the buzz. Advertisement Now, Barranon is warning others about the hidden dangers of energy drinks. If you dont keep your kids away from this stuff, you may be in my situation where your life is ruined, she said. Its so harmful and deadlymy whole family is affected by this. What makes energy drinks harmful? Energy drinks are packed with caffeine, sugar, and other additives like taurine, guarana, and B vitamins. While they promise a quick energy boost, the reality is more complicated. Caffeine levels in these drinks can range from 80 mg to a staggering 500 mg per canfar more than a standard cup of coffee, which contains around 100 mg. In moderation, caffeine has benefits, such as improving alertness and even lowering the risk of Alzheimers and type 2 diabetes. But when consumed in excess, it does more harm than good. Advertisement Energy drinks are packed with caffeine, sugar, and other additives like taurine, guarana, and B vitamins. Image for Representation. Pixabay Another major concern is the high sugar content. Many energy drinks are loaded with refined sugar or artificial sweeteners, which can cause blood sugar spikes followed by sudden crashes, Dr Belinda Griffiths of The Fleet Street Clinic explained to The Independent. Beyond caffeine and sugar, ingredients like guarana, taurine, and ginseng add to the risk. These compounds have stimulant effects that can temporarily enhance alertness, but when combined in high amounts, they may pose serious health concerns. Can energy drinks cause heart attacks? Growing research suggests that energy drinks can have a serious impact on cardiovascular health. A study by the American Heart Association found that consuming just one 900ml energy drink can cause a significant spike in blood pressure and prolong the QT intervalan important measure of electrical activity in the heart. This can lead to a rapid heart rate and increased blood pressure before or during exercise. In some cases, this can disrupt the hearts normal rhythm (arrhythmia), increasing the risk of sudden cardiac arrest, nutritionist Rakshita Mehra told Healthshots. But the risks dont stop at the heart. Energy drinks have also been linked to poor lung health. A 2024 study published in Heart & Lung found a strong connection between caffeine consumption, commonly found in energy drinks, and an increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung function issues. The high caffeine content in energy drinks can cause overstimulation of the nervous system, leading to rapid breathing (hyperventilation) or shortness of breath. Excessive sugar in such pre-workout drinks can contribute to chronic inflammation, which may negatively affect lung health over time, Mehra explained. With potential risks to both heart and lung health, energy drinks may not be as harmless as they seem. With input from agencies India and China held diplomatic talks in Beijing on Tuesday, focusing on border management and resuming cross-border cooperation. Both sides reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and discussed implementing decisions made during earlier high-level meetings. read more India and China held a new round of diplomatic talks in Beijing on Tuesday. The talks focused on better border management and restarting cross-border cooperation, including trans-border rivers and the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra. During the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) meeting, both sides discussed ways to implement decisions made during the December talks between NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Special Representatives (SR) dialogue. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India and China also agreed to work together to make substantial preparations for the next SR meeting, which will be held in India later this year. Advertisement 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 (LAC) 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. Dovals Beijing visit In December, Doval visited Beijing, where he held talks with Foreign Minister Wang under the framework of the SR dialogue on the boundary question. The decision to revive the SR mechanism and other such dialogue formats was taken at a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan on 23 October. In the WMCC talks, the two sides agreed to work together to make substantial preparations 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. Advertisement The two sides explored various measures and proposals to implement 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 added. The two sides agreed to maintain and strengthen relevant diplomatic and military mechanisms towards this end, the MEA said. It added that both sides also exchanged views on the early resumption of cross-border cooperation and exchanges, including trans-border rivers and the 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 headed by Hong Liang, Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Affairs Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Advertisement The Indian delegation leader also met with Chinas Assistant Foreign Minister, Hong Lei. The WMCC meeting took place two months after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Beijing for two days and held talks with his Chinese counterpart. India has repeatedly stated that relations with China cannot be normal without peace in the border areas. After completing the disengagement process in Demchok and Depsang, both Indian and Chinese militaries resumed patrolling in these areas after nearly four and a half years. Interacting with Asia Society President and CEO Kyung-wha Kang, Jaishankar said that India is trying to undo some of the damage which happened as a result of Chinas actions in 2020 read more External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said that the relationship between India and China has seen some improvement from October last year, describing Galwan Valley clash in 2020 as very traumatic for the ties. Interacting with Asia Society President and CEO Kyung-wha Kang, Jaishankar said that India is trying to undo some of the damage which happened as a result of Chinas actions in 2020. #WATCH | Delhi: On India-China ties, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar says "Differences should not become disputes and competition should not become conflict. We do compete on many issues, but because we compete doesn't mean that there should be a conflict between us..." pic.twitter.com/veU06RMYqb ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2025 Advertisement Differences should not become disputes and competition should not become conflict. We do compete on many issues, but because we compete doesnt mean that there should be a conflict between us, said Jaishankar of India and China ties. Reflecting on the historical context of the relationship, Jaishankar said the war with China in 1962 led to a 14-year gap before India sent an ambassador back to Beijing and a further 12 years until the Indian Prime Minister visited China and that from 1988 to 2020, despite incidents along the border, there had been no bloodshed. The last bloodshed was 45 years before 2020. What happened in 2020 was actually very traumatic for the relationship. It wasnt just the bloodshed, it was the disregard of written agreements, he added. Jaishankar said the relationship between India and China has shown signs of improvement since last October. We are working on different aspects of itWhat we are trying is to see if we can undo some of the damage which happened as a result of their actions in 2020, and we can rebuild the relationship. We genuinely, sincerely think that this is in our mutual interest, if one looks at 2020-2025, it was a period which did not serve them well, and it did not serve us well, added the external affairs minister. Advertisement Talking about the shifting global order, Jaishankar said if the US, which has been the most powerful country for the last 80 years and has underwritten global rules and practices, begins to alter its approach to international relations, it signifies a shift in the very foundation of the global order. VIDEO | Delhi: Here's what EAM S Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) said while interacting with Asia Society president and CEO Dr Kyung-wha Kang. "I believe something fundamental is shifting in the world order. What is changing is that if the US, which has been the most powerful pic.twitter.com/OeUl6yYEIs Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 26, 2025 Advertisement There is something deep, profound, and consequential is happening right now. There are many other events and trends which have fed into it, said Jaishankar. Jaishankar emphasised the diverse positions within Asia, asserting that not all nations on the continent share a uniform viewpoint. I know you call the Asia Society, but that doesnt mean all of Asia has a similar position. I think within Asia, there are very diverse, very complex set of reactions, he added. Advertisement He noted that many factors driving current global shifts are likely to affect various parts of Asia. We are looking today at more industrial policy, at tariff impositions. You are looking at much stronger export controls. Its not just a foundation which is shifting. That shifting foundation has a worldview which is significantly different from the earlier foundation on which some parts of Asia particularly profited enormously and may now no longer do so, added the external affairs minister. Discussing recent developments in India-US relations following Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Washington in February, Jaishankar said that talks with President Donald Trump revealed a significant convergence on various issues that could be built upon. Advertisement #WATCH | Delhi: External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar says "When Prime Minister Modi went to Washington in February, the discussions that he had with President Trump, overall our assessment was that we saw many changes which suited us and in some ways formed a convergence on pic.twitter.com/hOY9FrJMIa ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2025 We saw a President who clearly had an interest in ensuring that energy availability was more, energy flows were more diverse and that countries like India could have more choices than we currently do. We had some decades ago started importing LNG from the US but for various reasons, the business stayed at a certain level. We have an interest in increasing it because, you know, the US is a very stable supplier, added Jaishankar. Jaishankar also mentioned productive conversations regarding technology, emphasising the importance of Big Tech in making America great again. Regarding trade relations, Jaishankar confirmed that PM Modi and President Trump agreed to conclude a bilateral trade agreement by fall this year. That is what is currently under discussionTheres a very active and intense trade discussion going on at this point of time, he added. With inputs from agencies American defence major GE Aerospace on Wednesday said it delivered the first of 99 F-404 aircraft engines to the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Tejas light combat jet programme. read more The indigenous Tejas fighter jet can be seen in the skies over the Air Force Station Jodhpur. PTI/File Photo American defence major GE Aerospace on Wednesday said it delivered the first of 99 F-404 aircraft engines to the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Tejas light combat jet programme. State-run HAL is procuring the engines to power the Mk-1A variant of the Tejas jets. In February 2021, the defence ministry sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with HAL for the procurement of 83 Tejas MK-1A jets for the IAF. The deliveries were to begin in March last year. However, not a single aircraft has been delivered yet. Advertisement The start of supply of the F404-IN20 engines by the American aircraft defence major is expected to help the HAL start delivery of the jets to the IAF. Defence sources indicated that delay in the delivery of the engines by GE Aerospace was one of the reasons for HAL to miss the deadline for supply of the Tejas jets to the IAF. It is learnt that the engine has been delivered to the HAL by the American company at its manufacturing facility in Lynn near Massachusetts. The engine is expected to reach India by early next month. GE Aerospaces F404 family is known to be one of the most effective aircraft engines and it powers thousands of combat jets worldwide. On Tuesday, we were excited to deliver the first of 99 F404-IN20 engines to our valued customer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk 1A fighter jet, GE Aerospace said in a statement. It is an important milestone in our 40-year relationship with HAL and in our efforts to ensure a strong future for Indias military by developing next-generation fighters while enhancing the countrys defence manufacturing capabilities, it said. The F404-IN20 engine is a tailored design for Indias single-engine fighter programme with the highest thrust within the F404 family and a higher-flow fan, unique single-crystal turbine blades, and numerous special components, the company said. Advertisement GE Aerospace and Tejas teams collaborated closely for several years to customise the engine for the needs of the Indian Air Force. The F404 demonstrated it was an excellent fit for the Tejas LCA. On its first test flight in 2008, the aircraft climbed to numerous mission altitudes and achieved Mach 1.1 speed, the engine maker said. GE Aerospace said by 2016, it fulfilled its commitment to HAL and delivered 65 F404-IN20 engines for the Tejas LCA. With no additional engine orders on the horizon, the production line for F404-IN20 was shut down. However, when HAL ordered an additional 99 engines in 2021 for the Tejas Mk1A LCA, our team began the complex task of restarting the F404-IN20 production line, which had been dormant for five years, and re-engaging the engines global supply chain, it said. Advertisement Indigenously developed Tejas jets are expected to be the mainstay of the IAF in coming years. In November last year, the defence ministry accorded an initial approval to procure an additional batch of 97 Tejas jets for the IAF. The Tejas aircraft is a potent platform for air combat and offensive air support missions while reconnaissance and anti-ship operations are its secondary roles. GE Aerospace said restarting a jet engine production line is a challenging process. Restarting the F404-IN20 engine line during the COVID pandemic was even more challenging. With a high focus on safety and quality, and a remarkable commitment from our supply chain teams and our suppliers and partners, we have managed to restart the line, the company said. Advertisement Our proprietary lean operating model, flight deck, helped us alleviate bottlenecks and identify solutions to improve manufacturing processes and turnaround time, it said. The company said it is working closely with its suppliers to ramp up production on parts and materials for the F404-IN20. We will continue to work together with our suppliers to keep the production line efficient, maintain the highest standards of safety and quality, and deliver to our customer, it said. This weeks first engine delivery is a testament to what we have accomplished with HAL over the past 40 years, and a symbol of our combined potential to ensure a strong future for Indias military, it added. Advertisement The gravity of the ongoing Baloch insurgency ascertains Pakistans implosion. The logic of incrementalism in demanding Baloch autonomy or independence has not been effective with the Punjabi-dominated failed Pakistani state. The latters deliberate deafness to Baloch anxiety, suffering, humiliation, human rights violations, forced disappearances, unlawful captivity, and poverty, and its uncanny consistency have aggravated the Baloch insurgency and demand for autonomy. Hot pursuits and kinetic options have entered the Baloch itinerary of freedom. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA)s hijacking of the Jaffar Express on March 11 illustrates the Baloch resolve to secede from the shaky patchwork country called Pakistan. It also indicates the Baloch liberation movements depth, expansiveness, and criticality. Its maturing moments have arrived to underline the non-negotiable nature of the demand for autonomy. Advertisement The hijacking of the Jaffar Express on March 11 constitutes a legacy and watershed in Balochs struggle for independence. This will strengthen the collective Baloch imagination to underscore the imperatives of Balochistan independence. The Pakistani military counter-offensive to this hijacking episode may temporarily dent the movement, but the groundswell does not seem to dissipate soon. It may acquire more lethality and speed. The Baloch insurgency underlines sensitive issues of identity, dignity, ethnicity, and sovereignty and builds a compelling logic for a prolonged conflict until the objective of autonomy is met. The root of the Baloch problem goes back to 1948 when the princely state of Kalat (later Balochistan) was annexed with force and fraudulence. Muhammad Ali Jinnahs cunning and duplicity cajoled the Kalat leadership into accepting Pakistan as their homeland. The Baloch realised the mistake in the post-annexation era. They dramatically lost their identity and autonomy under increasing authoritarianism, undemocratic centralisation, and Islamism. Repression became the modus operandi to check dissent, peaceful protest, and equal representation. Militarism characterised the Pakistani state. It specialised in repression. It instrumentalised fear to secure submission. It worked for a while in Pakistans favour. This kind of status quo developed its antithesis. Reactions began to emerge and acquired consistency. East Pakistan unburdened itself from Pakistani top-heaviness and repression in 1971 through secession from Pakistan, denting the latters hubris. The landlocked Balochistan had to wait for its time against the precarity of forced disappearances, tortures, apathy, and indignity. The consistency of fragmented and poorly organised protest and opposition finally evolved into a systematic insurgency in 2004 against the Pakistani state for Baloch freedom. Since then, the Baloch movement has been unstoppable and more defined. Pakistan opened its Pandoras box to curb the gravity of the insurgency. It used its typical tactics of engaging one Baloch group against others for encouraging infighting, false promises, etc., to get temporary ease and then turn its back as usual. Force and fraudulence exacerbated the Baloch problem. It intensified the lethality of the Baloch action and reaction against Pakistani apathy. Advertisement The Jaffar Express hijacking has unearthed the Baloch angst and their collective resolve to secure freedom at any cost. This complicates the Baloch problem. Its irreparability underlines the imminence of the balkanisation of Pakistan. The time for nemesis has arrived. Pakistan will pay for its sins through implosion. The synthetic nation and its terrible body politic guided the destiny of Pakistan to leprotic fragmentation. The infection will spread until it becomes a nonentity. Pakistans attitude towards Balochistan has always been enmity, indifference, and domineering. It needs the Baloch resources and land, not the people. The Gwadar project and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) expose Islamabads hypocrisy. It does not address the Balochistan interest while signing the mega-project deals with China. Advertisement The Baloch interest is sacrificed on the altar of Beijing-Islamabad camaraderie. This has increased the Baloch resentment. The political, economic, bureaucratic, and administrative isolationism of Balochistan has resurfaced Pakistans Janus face. Whitewashing and brazen lying will not improve the condition in any significant sense. The ready shortcut for Pakistan is to blame India for every domestic issue. It specialises in externalising its problem. Introspection has never been its DNA. Ever since it was born as a nation, it sleepwalks into chaos and mismanages everything. It finds military solutions to all problems. It browbeats its military strength and extends its military repression to the Baloch insurgency. Advertisement This one-size-fits-all formula has boomeranged. The Baloch resolve against the military repression has left the Pakistani establishment clueless. The Pakistani state fails to understand that Baloch nationalism is not a law and order problem. It is a collective aspiration for freedom. The Baloch middle class, women, children, and the ageing have also significantly joined the Baloch movement. Therefore, the Baloch movement has become the pulse of the people. Baloch ethnicity also contributes to the formation of this nationalism. Pakistans homogenising tendencies by conveniently foregrounding Islam as a unifying force have neglected ethnic diversity, economic disparity, and provincial differences. This political problem cannot be militarily solved as Islamabad has been trying to. The Pakistani military is never taken into confidence by the Baloch people. It is alleged that the Punjabis are a majority in the Pakistani military. They are always perceived as oppressors by the Baloch. Pakistan is a military state. The civilian government is its subsidiary. Imran Khan upset this arrangement during his tenure from 2018 to 2022, exposing the hollowness of the Pakistani military. Therefore, the Pakistani military has lost its weight in checking the Baloch insurgency. Advertisement The Baloch fight for freedom has acquired an international dimension. It is no longer a local phenomenon. Pakistani repression and human rights violations of the Baloch people have gained global resonance. The Baloch activists have tried consistently to bring their issues of homeland, human rights, and freedom to the knowledge of international institutions. Mahrang Baloch, the face of Baloch activism, has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 2025. Her activism for the Baloch cause has featured her in the BBCs 100 Women list and Time magazines 100 Most Influential People. They illustrate the Baloch formidability. Pakistan can no longer brush the Baloch cause aside as inconsequential. The Global Terror Index (GTI) 2025, prepared by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), has ranked Pakistan second in its assessment of the impact of terrorism in 163 countries. Against this devastating report, the Pakistani militarys crackdown will be directly construed as blatant aggression, repression, and unabated marginalisation against the Baloch peoples fight for freedom. Economic collapse, political chaos, terrorism, and domestic fissures complicate the Pakistani reality. A synthetic nation without a civilisational guide or ethos is on the verge of disintegration. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout is less likely to happen as Europe is caught in the conflict in its backyard between Ukraine and Russia. Transactional Trump finds no interest in Pakistans crisis. China is seemingly the only country that may rescue Pakistan to protect its China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and broader geostrategic game plan. Chinas military support for Pakistan on the Baloch issue will internationalise the matter. It will be constructed as a foreign intervention. India and the US will not remain tight-lipped about Beijings interventions. It will complicate the geopolitics of the region, leading to the conflagration of the issue. Therefore, Pakistan sleepwalks into its disintegration. It does not seem to do anything to avert the inevitable. It leapfrogs from one crisis to another without settling anything. It stands amid chaos, waiting to become a memory. Jajati K Pattnaik is an Associate Professor at the Centre for West Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Chandan K Panda is an Assistant Professor at Rajiv Gandhi University (A Central University), Itanagar. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. India has to take some initiative in market-opening measures to maintain its long-standing relationship with the US. In contrast, the US has to acknowledge the long-term benefits of having India on its side read more The Trump administration has announced that it would raise its import taxes to match the tariffs imposed on American goods by its trading partners on April 2. India could lose $7 billion annually if the reciprocal tariff rate is imposed. Representational image: AP The India-US relationship is taking a new turn as discussions progress to provide a strategic framework for trade relations through the proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). As per the joint statement released during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the US, plans are in place to negotiate the first tranche of a multisectoral BTA by September 2025. While the US is one of Indias biggest trade partners, India has never secured a free trade agreement with the US. However, with the threat of reciprocal tariffs looming over trade relations, it is high time that Washington and New Delhi secure a trade agreement to provide a platform for continued engagement. India may have to make some big promises and abandon its protectionist stances in its sensitive sectors to secure a deal with Washington. Advertisement Since Trump came into power, global trade dynamics have been shifting swiftly. After a series of tariff measures against China, Canada, and Mexico, India faces the pressures of reciprocal tariff threats from the Trump administration. The administration announced that it would raise its import taxes to match the tariffs imposed on American goods by its trading partners on April 2. India could lose $7 billion annually if the reciprocal tariff rate is imposed. Additionally, sector-specific 25 per cent tariffs were imposed on steel and aluminium, which came into effect on March 12. The US is also considering a 25 per cent tariff on pharma imports and tariffs on auto parts and semiconductors. The United States has a trade deficit of $45.7 billion with India as of 2024, a 5.4 per cent increase from 2023. President Trump is pushing India to lower its high tariffs to narrow this deficit. Despite the US being Indias major trading partner and increasing strategic convergences, India and the US have repeatedly failed to secure a comprehensive trade agreement. Although the trade partnership has strengthened over time, a framework for free trade never materialised due to misaligned expectations, protectionism in sensitive sectors, and a lack of sustained will for mutual concessions. While there were some efforts for a mini-trade deal during Trumps first term in 2019, it was too late, as the administration was looking for a bigger and more ambitious trade deal. Back then, India sought to restore its beneficiary status under the US Generalised System of Preferences (GSP). At the same time, Washington pushed for greater market access and lower tariffs. Advertisement However, today, in an increasingly fragmented world order with no WTO system to dictate rules for global trade, India and the US are at a crossroads. They must either quickly build a framework for a trade agreement or face the consequences of tariffs and disengagement. If Trump imposes reciprocal tariffs, India could face steep barriers to its exports and lose its competitiveness in global trade. However, BTA will be a good place to start in a world where Trumps economics mean that tariffs are being used as a legitimate tool for public policy. Although India may have to make specific, significant reductions in tariffs, a trade deal would provide a framework for negotiations and help ensure US commitment to free trade. India can negotiate for reciprocal zero tariffs. Advertisement A few potential contestations remain in a possible BTA between India and the US. Indias simple average tariff rate is 17 per cent compared to the US 3.3 per cent, which is particularly high in agriculture. This will be an area of contention for India-US trade negotiations, as agriculture remains a sensitive area for India while the US wants to push for market access. Additionally, India has been imposing Quality Control Orders (QCOs), expanding bureaucratic control over trade. QCO ensures that even foreign imports adhere to the standards set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), which are sometimes different from international standards. Advertisement India has also been added to the watchlist of intellectual property violators, as stated in Trumps Trade Policy Agenda for 2025. Indias Minimum Support Price (MSP) on rice and wheat, as the subsidy figures are more than the WTO-agreed levels, could be another area for discussion, as Trump is looking for a market for its agricultural exports. Trumps administration is focused on India reducing tariff barriers in several sectors, including medical devices, IT, and agriculture. Trump may push for ambitious negotiation over a gradual, incremental approach, and to achieve a deal, India has to open up some of its closed sectors. India and the US have successful business models in data flow and labour mobility, especially in the IT sector, and these have to remain open for mutual interests. India has to take some initiative in market-opening measures to maintain its long-standing relationship with the US. In contrast, the US has to acknowledge the long-term benefits of having India on its side in the broader Indo-Pacific geopolitical landscape. If the new trade order is based on reciprocity, India must show that it can meet the US on a more nearly equal level of reciprocity in trade. Advertisement Anisree Suresh is a researcher at the Takshashila Institution, which is an independent think tank and school of public policy. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Ukraines presence in the Kursk region was perceived as a leverage point in potential peace negotiations. With the loss of this territory, Kyivs bargaining position will be weakened for any future peace talks read more A still from a video released by the Kremlin shows Vladimir Putin with Russias chief of general staff, Valery Gerasimov, in a visit to the Kursk region. Reuters Kursk has been the strategic Waterloo for many aggressors and traditionally has been a turning point for Russia in its recapture and beyond. The story is the same with Ukraine, which could neither create leverage nor divert the Russian offensive. It proved to be a strategic miscalculation by Ukraine, which could weaken its leverage on the peace negotiating table and expose it to further exploitation. It also exposed the Western reluctance and loss of war material in this graveyard. Advertisement The recent recapture of Sudzha by Russian forces marks a pivotal moment in ejecting Ukrainian forces, who lost precious lives with no tangible gains. This development not only signifies a shift in territorial control but also raises critical questions about the potential future trajectory. Kursk will be remembered as Ukraines symbolic gain yet a strategic blow militarily, psychologically, diplomatically and politically. The Kursk Offensive: Bold But Foolhardy In August of 2024, Ukraine made a bold move, launching an attack on Russias Kursk region. This was the first time Russian soil had been invaded since World War II. The offensive resulted in Ukraine taking control of an area spanning roughly 1,376 square kilometres, including about 100 towns and villages, with Sudzha being the largest. Ukraine had several goals in mind with this operation: to weaken the Russian military, to energise support from Western nations, to push Russian artillery farther away from Ukrainian territory, to interfere with Russian supply lines, and to draw Russian troops away from the fighting in the Donbas region. Additionally, Ukraine aimed to pressure the Russian government into engaging in equitable peace negotiations. None of the objectives have been achieved. Ukraine is now withdrawing, giving an advantage to Russia for the future. The US and Europe have already given up Kursk, and no attempt to stall it by supporting Ukraine is visible. The initial success of the offensive trapped Ukraine with a false sense of victory and a psychological ascendancy. The operation resulted in the overextension of Ukrainian forces beyond their culmination point, weakening their defence against the Russian offensive momentum in Donbas. Advertisement The Ukrainian misadventure may have showcased tactical brilliance, but in effect, it was a Russian trap which compromised Ukraines defensive posture. Kursk was a strategic tragedy played with operational comedy and resulted in dire consequences at the national level for Ukraine. Russias Counteroffensive and Restoration Operations While Kursk was contained, Russia achieved its objectives in the weakened state before the counteroffensive aimed at reclaiming the lost territories in the Kursk region. By March 2025, Russian forces had systematically recaptured 90 per cent of the territory, including the most important objective of Sudzha. This was a classical restoration of adverse situation manoeuvre that encircled the Ukrainian forces, leaving them little option but to perish or surrender. It highlighted the Russian strategic focus, operational agility and tactical brilliance, including the tunnel raid. Advertisement The Russian harassing fires and drone attacks have weakened the morale of Ukrainian forces. The demand by President Vladimir Putin that troops create a buffer zone close to the border suggests a Russian offensive pushing back into Ukraine may be on the cards before the peace negotiations take shape. Strategic Importance of the Kursk Region Historically, Kursk has been a strategic military hub, notably as the site of the largest tank battle during World War II. Geographically, the capture of Kursk has the advantage of operating in the interior lines with force optimisation emanating from a central point. Exterior lines have the disadvantage of covering greater distances to concentrate forces at strategically decisive points. Yet exterior lines of operation also facilitate an envelopment manoeuvre. Advertisement For Ukraine, the incursion into Kursk was an attempt to exploit interior lines of operation, a strategy where forces operate on shorter, more secure supply and communication routes emanating from a central point. This approach aimed to disrupt Russian logistics and command structures, thereby weakening their operational capabilities. Ironically, the Russians exploited the exterior lines to envelop Ukrainian forces in Kursk. For Russia, maintaining control over the Kursk region is vital to safeguard its western territories and ensure the security of critical infrastructure. The region serves as a buffer zone, and its loss could have exposed Russian territories to potential threats. Therefore, the recapture of Sudzha and surrounding areas is a strategic victory for Russia, reinforcing its defensive posture and deterring future incursions. Advertisement Implications for the Conflicts Future Trajectory The miscalculations of the Ukraine offensive have profound psychological and political implications and will have both an impact on the peace negotiations and also the survivability of the Volodymyr Zelenskyy regime. Putins surprise visit to Kursk, during which he donned combat fatigues, has sent a signal of the Russian military prowess to the West and clarity of the goal to eject the Ukrainian forces before any peace negotiation. The recapture of Sudzha by Russian forces thus has several military and political implications for the future. Spurt in Military Momentum: Russias successful counteroffensive in the Kursk region could lead to a spurt in operations for a favourable conflict termination profile. This could further weaken the Ukrainian forces and expose territories beyond the border in areas such as Sumy. This possible spurt in momentum would further weaken the Ukrainian military and embarrass its political leadership. The Russia-Ukraine war has certainly shown Russia coming out better despite the Western narrative information war. Impact on Peace Negotiations: Ukraines presence in the Kursk region was perceived as a leverage point in potential peace negotiations. With the loss of this territory, Ukraines bargaining position will be weakened for any future peace negotiations on its terms, particularly territory. Russia, on the other hand, may feel emboldened to extend till the entire Kursk region falls and pursue further military objectives before negotiations. With the Donald Trump administration reportedly urging Putin to consider a 30-day ceasefire, Kursks recapture could influence Moscows willingness or reluctance to engage in substantive peace discussions. The Psychological and Political Impact: The loss of Kursk territory could deal a significant blow to Ukrainian morale. Military personnel who fought for months to hold the region may feel disheartened by the withdrawal, potentially affecting combat effectiveness on other fronts. Additionally, it may be a setback for Zelenskyy, who is already facing political pressure, and he may lose confidence and credibility, putting his regime under clout. Conclusion The Kursk offensive by Ukraine was bold but lacked strategic direction, thereby creating an operational imbalance on the overall front. Russia did not fall into the trap and continued to exploit this operational imbalance with a clear intent to take back Kursk at the time and place of choosing. It highlights that in war territory will be lost and gained, but territorial integrity is the key. Besides, the importance of ensuring overall operational balance and interplay of strategic forces must be weighed before any misadventure. A lesson for militaries, including the Indian Army. While Ukraines loss of Kursk territory presents new challenges, the broader war is far from over. The question remains: will Russias success in Kursk be a turning point leading to further expansion, or will it be a short-term victory in a prolonged and unpredictable war? Will Russia extend the timeline to complete the Kursk counteroffensive and beyond before accepting a peace plan or use the present gains and future threats to draw mileage for its bargaining chip? Certainly, Russia is calling the shots. The author is former Director General, Mechanised Forces. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. While Justin Trudeaus exit from the post of Canadian prime minister is positive for India-Canada ties, Khalistani influence over Canadian politics can temper expectations of a dramatic rapprochement read more On January 6, Justin Trudeau annouced that he would resign as both PM and leader of Canadas Liberal party after poor approval ratings and losing support within his party. File photo/Reuters As political and economic storms rip through Canada, Justin Trudeaus wrecked prime ministership already in their wake and creating the circumstances for an early election, Canadas problems with India no longer make the front pages. While Trudeaus exit is a positive for ties with India, Khalistani influence over Canadian politics can temper expectations of a dramatic rapprochement. Regardless of who comes to power in April and how bilateral relations shape up going forward, a necessary and useful exercise would be to analyse Canadian governmental and media discourse through the crisis. This analysis can serve as a tool, a filter, to gauge Canadas intent through these elections and into the new dispensation. Advertisement On the surface, Indias Canada conundrum can appear puzzling. Substantial academic and journalistic work exists showing the Khalistan movements umbilical ties to Pakistani intelligence agencies, its links to narcoterror and gunrunning, its misuse of the Canadian immigration system, its sprawling influence empire of nonprofits, lobbyists, and media organisations, and its political clout in Canada and the USA yet, or because of this, the Canadian government and medias moral panics centre on India. As Canada plays victim, the Khalistan-movement-infused dysfunction in its institutions including the media renders it unable to see that it is egregiously guilty of the very actions it accuses India of carrying out. Screenwriting guru Robert McKees schematic describing the Principle of Antagonism may help us better understand Canadas antagonism and therefore its discourse towards India. (Given the Khalistanis malign intent and Canadas cynical support, I have no hesitation assigning her the term antagonist in this particular context.) McKee illustrates how a struggle between protagonist and antagonist over truth would evolve. The antagonists behavioural progression would start off with the use of half-truths, progress to lies, and ultimately end in self-deception. So Canada may well have started off turning a blind eye to the activities of Sikh extremists and Cold War ally, Pakistan (half-truths), but by the 1980s it had progressed to actively giving militants operational space and denying it (lies), and now it rains sanctimony upon India in the defence of inimical forces it has mainstreamed into its political and social life (self-deception). The Rapid Response Mechanism Canadas (RRM) report on Potential Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference following PM Statement on Killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar (September 12, 2024) is a remarkable example of such self-deception. Whats even more striking is the extent to which Canadas free and fair media adhere to the biases in this report. Here, we examine the elements of just one of the seven Indian-media narratives Canada finds objectionable and subject them to the simple tests of equivalency and context: Threats and accusations targeted at Canadian diplomats. Advertisement Element One The first concern mentioned is that some [Indian media] outlets looked to portray specific members of Canadas diplomatic mission to India in an unsavoury light. That Canada views such a portrayal as a grievance must have come as a shock to the Indian government. Posters displaying photographs of Indian diplomats as wanted criminals were widely used by Khalistanis in Canada; these posters also declared Indian diplomatic sites to be war zones (which may be interpreted as threatening if used to justify violence against sovereign diplomatic spaces). Even objectionable depictions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Home Minister Amit Shah were displayed, and a mock trial charging them with Nijjars murder was held in Vancouver. Advertisement The Canadian government and media did not condemn any of these acts. Internally, India tolerates as much or more in the name of freedom of expression, but it doesnt justify them. Similar protests outside the Canadian High Commission could have been organised if the Indian government tacitly lent support, but it chose not to. Canadian media even failed to widely report or condemn something as deplorable as a float showing the assassination of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Brampton. That its unfair to India is a minor concern compared to the disservice to the values and fabric of its own society. Advertisement Element Two The second concern mentioned is that Canadian diplomats were portrayed as haughty, or uncooperative with Indias Ministry of External Affairs. This is rather thin-skinned considering Canada subsequently declared the Indian High Commissioner a person of interest along with other senior diplomats in a murder case! The diplomats were recalled by the Indian government even as Canada rushed to expel them; India expelled Canadian diplomats in response. In the run-up to this event, Canadian media faithfully reported alarmist Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) leaks, unsubstantiated allegations, and Trudeaus rants about Indian diplomats being involved in criminal activities. It is certainly no ones case that these should not have been reported, but shouldnt an independent press have also worried about institutional misuse of the RCMP or Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) if the allegations werent well-founded? Advertisement Trudeau himself admitted later on that he had no hard evidentiary proof before making these allegations in Parliament. The final report this very RRM report was a precursor to, the Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions, inadvertently let slip in its final report that no definitive link to India was found in Nijjars killing. Damage-control statements were then issued that the commission wasnt mandated to probe the killing, but Trudeaus and the commissions admissions taken along with Indias statement that not a shred of evidence of wrongdoing has been produced by the Canadian side incline one to believe that such evidence never existed. The report mentioned above elaborately discusses the challenges in using intelligence in legal proceedings, stating at one point, Courts have rules of evidence to ensure decisions are made on information that is credible and reliable. As explained above, intelligence may not satisfy these requirements. Even if read narrowly as protection of an individuals rights, the care demanded for accusing foreign leaders and diplomats of criminality should only be higher! And this is not even the full extent of the Trudeau governments recklessness. That the RCMPs press conference about Indian diplomats lacked any details of wrongdoing was commented on even by Canadian experts; Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison leaked allegations against Indian Home Minister Amit Shah to The Washington Post; another leak alleged that PM Modi, Minister Jaishankar, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval knew about the Nijjar assassination; PM Trudeau then rubbished it, calling the officials who leaked it criminals. What self-deception blacks out commentary on such mismanagement of international relations and the Khalistani chokehold on the government? On the theme of equivalence, Minister Jaishankar has also questioned why the collection of information and visa-related activities that Canadian diplomats carry out as a matter of right in India are treated as suspect when Indian diplomats do the same in Canada. Indian diplomats have also been subjected to audio and video surveillance, including their private communications. India has protested and described it as being incompatible with established diplomatic norms. Not only does Canadian media not worry about the long-term consequences of such transgressions, it actively partakes of it. A CTV Question Period interview with withdrawn High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma (posted on October 20, 2024) reveals the level of media co-option in Canada. The interviewer absurdly insists that the RCMP is independent and apoliticala laughable claim given its past conduct and even current failures in dealing with Khalistani violenceand she strenuously objects to Verma making an analogous reference to CSIS and vacuously insists he should waive diplomatic immunity and subject himself to RCMP questioning, as though the diminishment of national pride and his high office werent factors. Vermas response is dignified: On what basis? He asks; there is no substantive reply, just more performative aggression. A running theme in Canadian media coverage is the expectation that Indians take their law enforcement and intelligence seriously with no expectation of reciprocation. The Globe and Mail, for instance, regularly trots out former CSIS officer Daniel Stanton to diminish Indias concerns and her security agencies. He plays the same part in a piece on Nijjar as well. The CSIS and RCMPs shameful track record documented by journalists like Terry Milewski, who is an exception in all matters Khalistan explains Indias wariness. But ultimately, if Canadian media expects India to take its concerns seriously, then it cannot do so while treating Indian intelligence concerns, legal processes, security services, and Indian extradition requests with contempt. Element Three [A]nonymous threats to High Commission staff is the last concern mentioned in this section. In the face of the open threats and physical intimidation that Indian diplomats endure, this statement makes sense only ironically. High Commissioner Verma himself faced attempted violence in Alberta, and Canada was forced to provide security cover to Indian diplomats and premises. Even after the release of this report, India was compelled to cancel consular camps after attacks in Brampton (at the Hindu temple) and Surrey and because of the inability conveyed by security agencies to provide minimum security against heightened threats. Jaishankar has commented on how India is expected to stomach cleverly worded threats against its leaders, diplomats, and even airlines. Khalistani protesters even chanted, Kill Modi! Politics! The politics is an afterthought, a mere legal requirement. A Globe and Mail report criticises the Indian media for quoting Indian investigative sources saying grenades were thrown into the Indian High Commission building in Ottawa when they were possibly mere gas canisters. Wouldnt that still be a serious security breach? Jaishankars question is pertinent here: Suppose you were at the receiving end of this threat? Canadian media reporting on High Commissioner Verma having to cancel a March 2023 event in Surrey over security concerns is hard to find, but Globe and Mail promptly publishes a petty hit job gleefully stating that Verma was being booted from Canada. Even attacks on Canadas Hindu community, temples, and Indian diaspora media persons (across ideological lines) are believed to be covered more reliably on social media rather than on legacy media. These acts of commission and omission dont harm India, but they do harm Canadas own people and institutions. The days of Indians worrying about Western media coverage are in the past: their reach and credibility in India are at all-time lows. In fact, Canada categorising Indian media and social media coverage as foreign interference shows that the concerns run in the opposite direction. Even so, this interim RRM report couldnt establish any coordinated activity in the Indian medias coverage, and Indian medias coverage has been more varied. But blinkered by ideological and political considerations, Canadian media avert their eyes from the Khalistan movements malign influence on their institutions and seek to place blame elsewhere: India. It is self-deception of the worst kind. Given Khalistani influence across political parties in Canada, a significant change in discourse during these elections is unlikely, but it is worth watching closely. Its interesting to note that the same RRM report makes brief mention of Godi media, derogatorily referring to sections of Indian media perceived to be supportive of PM Modi. In the same vein, one may refer to the Trudeau governments press enablers as Toady media and observe if, going forward, their line is weakened or reinforced. The writer is the published author of two novels (Penguin, India and Westland, India) based out of the San Francisco Bay Area. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. In September, SpaceX reportedly proposed investing $1.5 billion in Vietnam tied to its Starlink rollout, with the company also exploring partnerships with Vietnamese firms to distribute equipment and deliver services to end users read more Starlink owns around 60 per cent of the roughly 7,500 satellites orbiting Earth and is a dominant player in satellite internet. Vietnam has granted Elon Musks satellite internet venture Starlink permission to operate in the country for a five-year trial period, a significant regulatory shift that allows SpaceX to provide low-orbit satellite services to as many as 600,000 users. The decision, confirmed in a government statement this week, permits SpaceX to invest in telecommunications infrastructure on a pilot basis until 1 January 2031. It comes after Vietnams National Assembly approved legislation in February enabling foreign companies to operate low-orbit satellite technology under certain conditions, Bloomberg reported. Advertisement No cap on foreign ownership In a notable departure from long-standing restrictions on foreign investment in the telecoms sector, the government said there would be no ownership cap for Starlink. The venture will be based on principles that ensure national defense and security, the statement said, reflecting Hanois ongoing balancing act between economic liberalisation and state oversight. The approval is expected to boost Vietnams ambitions to expand internet access across remote and maritime areas, including on commercial flights potentially paving the way for inflight WiFi services on Vietnamese airlines. READ MORE: Elon Musks Starlink is coming to India. Heres how it will work Nguyen Anh Cuong, deputy head of the Viet Nam Telecommunications Authority, said Starlink would be treated like other telecom providers. Strategic timing amid warming US ties The move comes amid deepening economic ties between Vietnam and the US, and just weeks after Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged officials to fast-track the approval process during a meeting with US business leaders. The pilot program aligns with Vietnams broader strategy to attract US investment and insulate itself from potential trade headwinds including the threat of tariffs should Donald Trump return to the White House. In September, SpaceX reportedly proposed investing $1.5 billion in Vietnam tied to its Starlink rollout, with the company also exploring partnerships with Vietnamese firms to distribute equipment and deliver services to end users. A digital leap with geopolitical undertones For Vietnam, the arrival of Starlink could help bridge digital divides in rural areas and reinforce the countrys status as a tech manufacturing hub. But the decision to allow a US-owned satellite internet provider to operate without ownership restrictions also carries geopolitical implications, particularly given the countrys traditionally cautious approach to foreign involvement in sensitive infrastructure. While the pilot scheme provides SpaceX with a toehold in one of Southeast Asias most promising digital markets, full commercial operations are likely to depend on the results of the trial and how effectively Starlink can navigate Vietnams regulatory and political landscape. British Defence Secretary John Healey has said that his US counterpart Pete Hegseth has absolutely got a case in calling European countries pathetic and accusing them of freeloading when it comes to defence spending, according to a report read more Following a leaked Signal conversation among senior officials in the Trump administration, British Defence Secretary John Healey has said that his US counterpart Pete Hegseth has absolutely got a case in calling European countries pathetic and accusing them of freeloading when it comes to defence spending. According to a Politico report, Healey made these comments in an interview with Times Radio on Wednesday when he was questioned about the leak of private messages among senior US government officials regarding plans for air strikes against Houthis in Yemen. Advertisement During the conversation on Signal, where the editor-in-chief of the The Atlantic was inadvertently added to a high-level group chat, Trumps Vice President JD Vance expressed his disdain for bailing out Europe again by initiating military action to safeguard shipping in the Red Sea, primarily to benefit European trade. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth replied to Vance, I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. Its PATHETIC. Healey called the comments a challenge rather than an insult. The Americans have got a case, Politico quoted Healey as saying. On defence spending, on European security, on our support for Ukraine, European nations can and will do more and the UK is leading the way, he added. Later, speaking in an interview on LBC News, Healey said it was for the Americans to address why sensitive conversations had been taking on a third-party app. They know theyve screwed up, and theyre having an investigation, Healey was quoted as saying. And look, its a reminder for all of us that work in this sort of field, foremost in our mind must be the security of the communications that we undertake, and we take great care in the UK to safeguard that, he added. Healey highlighted that the UK is working to lead a coalition of the willing to secure European support for Ukraine, particularly amid uncertainties regarding US security backing. Advertisement Were responding to that American challenge, he said, adding, The focus must be first of all on a successful conclusion of the peace talks and we back President Trump in creating this opportunity. With inputs from agencies In a sharp reversal of fortunes in just weeks, the Liberal Party appears set to win the upcoming Canadian elections as it has an 8 per cent lead over the Conservative Party, according to a survey read more Liberal Party of Canada Leader Mark Carney speaks following the announcement of his win at the party's announcement event in Ottawa, Ontario. AP In a sharp reversal of fortunes within weeks, the Liberal Party now appears set to win the upcoming elections in Canada, according to a survey. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday in the country on April 28. For months, the Conservative Party led the polls for 2025 elections owing to the deep unpopularity of former PM Justin Trudeau. However, since Trudeaus resignation, the Liberals have had a surge in support. Advertisement In its latest survey, the Angus Reid Institute found that the Liberals have a 46 per cent chance of winning the elections compared to Conservatives 38 per cent. This is a sharp reversal within weeks. On December 30, just a week before Trudeau announced his resignation, the Angus Reid Institute found that Conservatives were headed to a landslide victory with a 29 per cent lead over Liberals. Now, the Liberals have now eroded that lead and are ahead by 8 per cent. Credit: Angus Reid Institute The surge in support for Liberals has also been driven by US President Donald Trumps unprecedented territorial and economic aggression to an extent. Trump has vowed to annex Canada and make it the 51st US state. His tariff war on the country is widely seen as a ploy to bring the nation to its knees. In his final weeks as leader, Trudeau mounted a spirited defence of the nation that coincided with a rally around the flag effect, boosting the support for the party in the wake of Trumps threats. Liberals gain as NDP & Conservatives lose Domestically, the Liberals have gained in recent weeks at the cost of Conservatives and their former ally New Democratic Party (NDP). In a press release, the Angus Reid Institute said that the Liberals rise was driven by the collapse of the NDP vote. Half of all those who voted for NDP in 2021 said in the survey that they would now vote for the Liberal Party. The Liberals have also made deeper inroads into Quebec and Montreal provinces. In Quebec, 49 per cent voters said they would for the party. The support has come at the expense of province-based party Bloc Quebecois, whose support has fallen from 11 per cent in December to 6 per cent now. Advertisement ALSO READ: Trumps shadow looms over Canadas election as Poilievre and Carney face off For a long time, it looked like the Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre would lead the party to a landslide victory, but he now appears to be one of the reasons why his party appears set to lose. As per the survey, as many as 37 per cent voters opinion of Poilievres worsened in recent weeks. On the contrary, new Liberal leader Carney lost confidence among just 25 per cent voters and gained confidence among 46 per cent voters compared to Poilievres 13 per cent. In the wake of Trumps threats, Poilievre floated a Canada First platform and Liberals have painted him as a copycat of Trump as a result. The backfiring campaign is believed to be among the reasons for Poilievres declining popularity. Advertisement Credit: Angus Reid Institute However, the survey had at least one positive note for Poilievre: 72 per cent of those who support Poilievre said they were firmly committed to their choice whereas the similar commitment Carney was 51 per cent. ALSO READ: Canada flags foreign interference ahead of elections, names China & India as threats The Conservatives have another problem. While the Liberals base is broader, the Conservatives base is narrower. The survey found that at least two-in-five of every demographic said they would vote Liberal, including three-in-five of women older than 54, but the support for the Conservatives was best among men above 34. BNPs Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir acknowledged that efforts are being made to downplay the significance of the 1971 Liberation War led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman read more Ziaur was the founder of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and husband of current BNP chief Khaleda Zia. File image/Reuters The Bangladesh Nationalist Partys (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday expressed concerns over the erroding history of the country under the interim government which took over after Sheikh Hasinas ouster. The party, which has emerged as an important player in the current political landscape of the Southeast Asian country, took part in anti-Mujibur Rahman protests during the recent student uprising that led to Hasina and her party, the Awami Leagues downfall. Advertisement Some people, parties, and groups are trying to make it seem as if 1971 never happened trying to erase it from memory. My friends, those who once collaborated in the massacre, are now speaking louder than ever, Alamgir said, according to a report by Times of India. He acknowledged that efforts are being made to downplay the significance of the 1971 Liberation War led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The BNP official said that such attempts will undermine the sacrifices made by several individuals in the war. The statement, seemingly aimed at the national elections expected later this year, suggests a possible shift in the partys position. Its members have been actively involved in anti-Mujib protests both domestically and internationally, including taking down his portrait from the Darbar Hall of the Presidents office and demolishing his residence at Dhanmondi 32. The BNP secretary general added that people who were involved in the mass killings during the war of independence are now given a space to speak openly about distorting the countrys history. BNP has, on several occasions, clashed with the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government over the election dates. While the Khaleda Zia-led party has been pushing for early polls, the interim government has announced that elections will be held by the end of this year. This has become the latest point of contention between BNP and the interim government as signs of rift ahead of the polls become apparent. Advertisement Instead of a broader visit to the island led by Second Lady Usha Vance, now the US delegation will be led by Vice President JD Vance and the visit is expected to be limited to the Pituffik Space Base of the US Space Force 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) Denmark has welcomed the change of plans regarding a high-level US visit to Greenland. Originally, Second Lady Usha Vance was supposed to lead a delegation, also comprising National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, to Greenland. However, the White House on Tuesday announced that the US delegation will now be led by Vice President JD Vance. The White House said he will visit the Pituffik Space Base to receive a briefing on Arctic security issues and meet with US service members. Advertisement Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen on Wednesday said that the cancellation of the broader visit to Greenland was very positive. I think its very positive that the Americans have cancelled their visit among Greenlandic society. They will only visit their own base, Pituffik, and we have nothing against that, Rasmussen told Danish broadcaster DR. Instead of a broader visit where the delegation would have engaged with Greenlands society, the visit now appears to be limited to the US military base, according to statements from the White House and Danish Foreign Minister Rasmussen. The visit to Greenland comes at a time when US President Donald Trump has plunged the US-Denmark relations to a new low. He has vowed to annex Greenland at any cost and has threatened to invade the island for the purpose. Amid such threats, the news of Ushas visit to Greenland had enraged the islanders and its leader, Mute B Egede, had dubbed the visit highly aggressive. Preparations had started in the island for protests. The New York Times has reported that Usha was initially supposed to participate in public events, but such participation now stands cancelled. There is also dispute whether she was invited by the organisers or she had decided to attend on her own. Originally, Usha and one of her sons were supposed to watch a dog sled race Greenlands Sisimiut towns, but the organisers of the event said on Sunday that while the race was open to the public, they had not invited Usha or her husband, according to The Times. However, a spokesperson for Usha maintained that she had had received multiple invitations for her attendance to the Greenland national dog sled race. However, the White House on Tuesday said she would not participate in the event. Advertisement The change of plans are being looked at two ways in Denmark. One, some see Vance joining the delegation as an escalation as he is not just senior to both Waltz in the governmental hierarchy but is also seen as Trumps attack dog who berates newfound US adversaries, such as European nations and Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine. Two, some see the limitation of the visit to the US Space Forces bace as a scaling down of tensions for now as it now appears to be a strictly government visit. A majority of judges on Brazils Supreme Court reviewing charges against former President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday voted for him to stand trial for allegedly conspiring to overthrow the government after he lost a 2022 election read more A majority of judges on Brazils Supreme Court reviewing charges against former President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday voted for him to stand trial for allegedly conspiring to overthrow the government after he lost a 2022 election. The first three members of a five-judge panel voted to put Bolsonaro on trial. If found guilty in a trial expected later this year, Bolsonaro could face a lengthy prison sentence stretching over two decades. In his opening remarks on Wednesday, Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the case, screened dramatic footage of Bolsonaros supporters storming government buildings in violent scenes that unfolded just a week after the inauguration of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in January 2023. Advertisement Bolsonaro, a far-right former army captain who served as Brazils president from 2019 to 2022, is accused of five crimes, including an alleged attempt to violently abolish the democratic rule of law and a coup detat. Moraes said that Bolsonaro led a systematic effort to cast doubt on the electronic voting machines used in Brazil, part of his efforts to undermine the election he lost. The Supreme Court began reviewing charges against Bolsonaro and seven of his closest allies on Tuesday in a session that Bolsonaro voluntarily attended, sitting silently in the first row in an echo of U.S. President Donald Trumps trial last year. Ahead of the landmark court hearing, Bolsonaro called a beachfront rally in Rio de Janeiro, hoping to seize on Lulas waning popularity and pressure Congress to pass an amnesty bill favoring him and his jailed supporters. The demonstration, which some allies suggested could draw more than a million backers, was widely considered a flop after two independent polling firms found that only between 20,000 and 30,000 people showed up. Bolsonaro has insisted he will run for president again next year, despite a ruling by Brazils Superior Electoral Court that barred him from running for public office until 2030 for his efforts to discredit the countrys voting system. Advertisement Brazils Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments for and against putting the countrys 2019-2022 leader on trial for allegedly masterminding efforts to wrest power from his leftist successor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva read more Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro attending a session of the Supreme Court as it decides if he will face trial in Brasilia. AFP Brazilian ex-president Jair Bolsonaro will learn on Wednesday whether he faces trial on charges of backing a coup bid after being voted out of office in 2022. Brazils Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments for and against putting the countrys 2019-2022 leader on trial for allegedly masterminding efforts to wrest power from his leftist successor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Lula was sworn in as president on January 1, 2023 after beating Bolsonaro by a razor-thin margin. Advertisement Prosecutors accuse Bolsonaro, 70, of spearheading a plot aimed at keeping himself in power regardless of the outcome of the election. A five-judge Supreme Court panel is expected to announce its decision on Wednesday. Bolsonaro was charged in February with crimes including overseeing a coup detat, the attempted violent abolition of the democratic state of law and armed criminal organization. The ex-army captain risks a sentence of over 40 years if convicted. He insists he is the victim of a political plot aimed at excluding him from making a comeback in 2026 elections. This is the largest political-judicial persecution in the history of Brazil, he said in a statement to the court Tuesday. The referee has blown the whistle before the match even began, he added later on social media platform X. The investigation yielded a dossier of nearly 900 pages. 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 economy. Prosecutors say he backed a plot to seek a correction of the 2022 election outcome, as well as plans to assassinate Lula, his deputy Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes a Bolsonaro arch-foe and one of the judges in the current case. Advertisement They say the alleged plot did not come to fruition due to a lack of support from the army high command. They will kill me Investigations have also linked Bolsonaro to the disturbances of January 8, 2023 in Brasilia, where thousands of his backers stormed the presidential palace, Congress and Supreme Court demanding the military oust Lula a week after his inauguration. Bolsonaro was in the United States at the time, and denies any involvement. He has been disqualified from holding public office until 2030 for having sought to cast doubt on Brazils electronic voting system, but is hopeful the ban will be overturned in time for the 2026 election. Advertisement Throughout the investigation he has compared his fate 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. In an interview with the Financial Times published Tuesday, Bolsonaro claimed Brazil needs support from abroad as it had become a real dictatorship. The Supreme Court is considering whether there is enough evidence to try him and seven alleged co-conspirators, including former ministers and a navy commander, accused of being the core coup plotters. There are 34 accused in the case in total. Canadas Liberal Party revoked the candidacy of MP Chandra Arya in the upcoming parliamentary elections over alleged ties to the Indian government, according to a report read more Firstly, the Liberal Party barred three-time MP Chandra Arya from running for party leadership. Then, last week, the party revoked his candidacy in upcoming elections. On both the occasion, the Liberal Party did not give a reason. While cancelling the candidacy, the party simply told Arya that the decision was based on a thorough review of his eligibility and, after careful consideration, the National Campaign Co-Chair recommended his candidacys revocation that was accepted. Advertisement Now, the Globe and Mail has reported that the Liberal Party barred Arya from running for party leadership and revoked his candidacy over his alleged close relations with the Indian government. In the outgoing Canadian parliament, Arya is an MP from Nepean constituency. He has been a vocal critic of the Khalistan movement and has faced the ire of Khalistani leaders in Canada and the United States, including Sikhs For Justices (SFJ) Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. At times, he has also faced the ire of fellow Liberal Party MPs. The India-Canada ties have been in deep freeze since 2023 when former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of killing Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated Khalistani terrorist, in Canada earlier that year. Later, Trudeau went after Indian diplomats in the country and his government accused India of running an organised crime network in the country. Canadian authorities have also accused India along with China and Russia for political interference. In this backdrop, the Globe and Mail has reported that Aryas alleged ties to the Indian government prompted the Liberals to revoke his candidacy. The newspaper reported a source as saying that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) had briefed the government about Aryas alleged close ties to the Indian government, including to the Indian High Commission in Canada. Advertisement A second source was reported as saying that Liberal Party officials had concerns about Arya as well. However, the newspaper noted that the decision to revoke Aryas candidacy was solely made by the Liberal Party and was not made on the advice of CSIS. In a statement, Arya has rejected the basis of the charges against him. The newspaper reported that Arya did not take permission from the Canadian government when he visited India last year and met Indian PM Narendra Modi. However, Arya said that he had never taken such permission before meeting anyone as an MP. As a Member of Parliament, I have engaged with numerous diplomats and heads of government, both in Canada and internationally. Not once have I soughtnor been required to seekpermission from the government to do so. At no point did former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau or any cabinet minister raise concerns about my meetings or public statements, said Arya. Advertisement Canadian Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre dismissed allegations of Indian interference in his 2022 Conservative leadership win, insisting he secured victory fairly. His remarks come amid criticism from political rivals for refusing a security clearance to access classified briefings on foreign interference. 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 Pierre Poilievre said he won the 2022 Conservative leadership race fairly and without any help from India. This comes amid criticism from the leaders of the Liberals, NDP, and Bloc Quebecois for his refusal to obtain security clearance for classified briefings on foreign interference. Lets be honest, I won the leadership fair and square, Poilievre told reporters on Tuesday. He said The Globe and Mail report was an attempt by the Liberal Party to discredit him. Poilievre also defended his decision to refuse national-security clearance. Advertisement What I will not do is commit to the oath of secrecy that the Liberals want to impose on me. They dont want me to speak about these matters, so they bring me into a dark room and say, Were going to give you a little bit of breadcrumbs of intel, and then well tell you you cant talk about this stuff anymore, he said. Indian interference in Conservative Party of Canada leadership race: Report According to a report from The Globe and Mail, which cited a source with top-secret clearance, Indian agents and their allies allegedly helped raise funds and mobilise support for Poilievre in the South Asian community. This was part of a broader effort to build ties with politicians across parties. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) did not inform Poilievre of this, as he lacks the required security clearance to access classified reports. He is the only federal party leader who has declined to obtain such clearance. Citing The Globe and Mail article, Poilievre said CSIS had no evidence that he or his team knew about Indias alleged interference. The newspaper did not name the source, as they were not authorised to reveal classified information. Meanwhile, Poilievres rivals in the upcoming Canadian elections criticised him for refusing the security clearance, which is handled by CSIS and neutral government officials. The process keeps confidential details away from the prime minister, political staff, and cabinet ministers. The assessment points to Beijings growing willingness to expand its reach through cyberattacks and influence operations. It warns that China is likely to continue pursuing coercive and subversive malign influence activities to undermine the US domestically and on the global stage read more China and US flags are displayed in this illustration picture. Representational Image/Reuters China poses the most significant and wide-ranging threat to US national security, according to an annual report released by the US intelligence community on Tuesday (March 25). The report warns that Beijing is making steady progress toward building the capability to forcibly take control of Taiwan, the self-ruled island it considers a breakaway province. The Annual Threat Assessment, made with the consensus of multiple US intelligence agencies, points to Chinas increasing coercive pressure on Taiwan and its wide-ranging cyber operations against US targets as central components of its threat profile. Advertisement China presents the most comprehensive and robust military threat to US national security, the report concluded. Cyber operations and global influence campaigns The assessment points to Beijings growing willingness to expand its reach through cyberattacks and influence operations. It warns that China is likely to continue pursuing coercive and subversive malign influence activities aimed at undermining the US both domestically and on the global stage. According to the report, the Chinese government is especially focused on countering what it perceives as a US-led campaign to tarnish Beijings global relations and overthrow the ruling Chinese Communist Party. The Taiwan question Beijing is actively preparing to challenge US military operations in the Pacific, the report said and is making steady but uneven progress in acquiring the capabilities needed to attempt a seizure of Taiwan. Yet, US intelligence agencies believe that Chinese leaders remain cautious in their approach. The report suggests Beijing is looking to manage tensions with Washington in the near term, in part to safeguard its core interests and gain time to consolidate its strategic position. Xi Jinpings leadership has its limits While Chinas ambitions are far-reaching, the report also identifies internal vulnerabilities, particularly those stemming from President Xi Jinpings leadership style. Xis focus on security and personal loyalty is undermining Chinas ability to solve complex domestic problems and will impede Beijings global leverage, the report states. It contrasts Beijings caution with the more overtly aggressive approaches taken by other US adversaries such as Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Beijing pushes back on biased assessment China swiftly rejected the intelligence findings, with foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun calling the report irresponsible and biased. The US publishes these kinds of reports year after year, Guo said during a regular press briefing. We have no intention of surpassing anyone or replacing anyone. Our most capable competitor, says US intelligence chief Speaking before a Senate panel on Tuesday, US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard reinforced the reports conclusions, saying, China is our most capable strategic competitor. Beyond China, the Annual Threat Assessment also outlines ongoing threats from Russia, Iran, North Korea, and non-state actors including transnational criminal organisations such as Mexican drug cartels and Islamic extremist groups. With inputs from agencies Classified information is classified for a reason. Sec. Hegseth was openly sharing classified materials on an insecure channel that potentially endangered service members. And then he lied about it. He should resign, said Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois read more US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth speaks to US service members at the Defense Personnel Accounting Agency on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, US on Tuesday. Reuters Hours after screenshots of a chat released by The Atlantic revealed that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth texted plans to kill a Houthi militant leader in Yemen two hours before a military operation that would normally be a closely guarded secret, Democrats on Wednesday called for the resignation of the top Trump official. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois criticised Hegseth for allegedly sharing classified materials on an unsecured channel. Classified information is classified for a reason. Sec. Hegseth was openly sharing classified materials on an insecure channel that potentially endangered service members. And then he lied about it. He should resign, Krishnamoorthi posted on X, just moments after questioning intelligence officials at Wednesdays hearing. Advertisement Colorado Representative Jason Crow echoed these sentiments, declaring it outrageous that administration officials appeared before Congress without facing accountability. The defense secretary must resign immediately. There can be no fixes, there can be no corrections until there is accountability, Crow asserted. Other Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee rejected assertions by Tulsi Gabbard and John Ratcliffe that no classified material was included in the chat. They pointed to chat messages released by The Atlantic on Wednesday as evidence the leak could have jeopardised the missions success or endangered US service members lives. The disclosure that sensitive attack plans were shared on a commercial messaging app, possibly via personal cellphones, has sparked outrage in Washington and led to calls from Democrats for the dismissal of members of Trumps national security team. The Trump administration is working to contain the fallout from a March 15 chat that included The Atlantic editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, on the encrypted messaging app Signal. Hegseth has denied sharing war plans, while Trump and his advisers insist that no classified information was disclosed. This stance has perplexed Democrats and former US officials, who believe that timing and targeting details are among the most sensitive information before a military campaign. I think its by the grace of God that we are not mourning dead pilots right now, Reuters quoted Democrat Jim Himes of Connecticut as saying during a House Intelligence Committee hearing. Advertisement He noted that if Houthi leaders were aware of an impending strike, they could have avoided it by moving to crowded areas, complicating targeting efforts and increasing civilian casualties. While the chat reportedly did not include specific names or precise locations of Houthi militants, critics argue that the mere sharing of such information raises significant security concerns. Meanwhile, the White House on Wednesday said that President Trump still has confidence in his top national security officials. What I can say definitively is what I just spoke to the president about, and he continues to have confidence in his national security team, AFP quoted Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt as saying at a press briefing. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Danish Defence Minister Poulsen described the decision to visit only a US military base, rather than the originally planned broader tour which was criticised as aggressive given Washingtons interests in the self-governing Danish territory as a wise choice, according to a report read more Greenland's flag flies in the Igaliku settlement, on July 5, 2024. In recent weeks, Donald Trump has said time and again that he wants to acquire Greenland, the world's largest island. Reuters File The US delegations scaled-back Arctic itinerary has been received with cautious relief by officials in Denmark and Greenland. According to a Politico report, Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen described the decision to visit only a US military base, rather than the originally planned broader tour which was criticised as aggressive given Washingtons interests in the self-governing Danish territory as a wise choice. I think its a much wiser decision to visit the military installation than to interfere in what is happening in Greenlandic politics in a situation where no government has been formed, Politico quoted Lund Poulsen as saying on Wednesday. Advertisement Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen referred to the change as a positive development, indicating that the Americans have recognised the resistance to US overtures in Greenland. Im relieved, Politico quoted Greenlandic MP Aqqalu Clasen Jerimiassen as saying. I dont mind, if they visit their own military base in Pituffik. Cancelling the tour to Sisimiut is a right decision. But that is also just another sign, how unpredictable Trump administration is, Jerimiassen added. US President Donald Trump has expressed a strong desire to acquire Greenland, labeling it an absolute necessity for national security and suggesting the possibility of military or economic coercion. Vice President JD Vance plans to accompany his wife, US Second Lady Usha Vance, on a revised trip to Greenland, joined by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Danish and Greenlandic politicians sharply criticised the White House following the initial announcement. We are now at a level where this cannot in any way be characterised as a harmless visit, Greenlands outgoing Prime Minister Mute B. Egede said after the visit was announced. What is the national security adviser doing in Greenland? The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us, and the message is clear, he added. Advertisement Neither US official received an invitation to the island, contrary to Trumps claims. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticised the Trump administration for exerting unacceptable pressure on Greenland. The delegation had initially intended to attend a cultural event featuring the national dogsled race, but Vances office announced on Tuesday that they would instead visit the US Space Force base in Pituffik. In many ways, its a masterful spin to make it look like theyre escalating when theyre actually de-escalating, Politico quoted Rasmussen as saying to Danish radio on Wednesday. I think it is wise that they are now respecting the wishes that have been expressed by the Greenlandic side, Lund Poulsen said. Its always wise to visit your soldiers. With inputs from agencies US President Donald Trump has taken a hard line on the EU and China, slapping tariffs on both and threatening more read more Gantry cranes stand near a cargo ship at Yangshan Port outside of Shanghai, China. Trump on Monday imposed an additional tariff across all Chinese goods, hiking the rate to 20 per cent. File image/Reuters EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic is to raise concerns about Chinas policies as he heads to Beijing for two days of talks on Thursday, after visiting Washington this week, Brussels said Wednesday.The 27-nation bloc hopes Sefcovics first visit to China since he became trade commissioner late last year could help improve relations with Beijing amid global trade tensions. The aim of the visit is to foster a more balanced and cooperative trade relationship between the EU and China, with a focus on reciprocity, transparency, and mutual benefit, the European Commission said in a statement. US President Donald Trump has taken a hard line on the EU and China, slapping tariffs on both and threatening more. In Beijing, Sefcovic will meet Vice Premier He Lifeng, a close advisor to President Xi Jinping on economic matters, and Minister for Customs Sun Meijun on Thursday as well as European business executives in China. Advertisement He will then meet Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on Friday. In his meetings, he will address the EUs systemic concerns over the negative impact of Chinas non-market policies and practices, and raise market access barrier issues affecting EU exports and investment in China, the commission said. It added that one of the visits goals would be to align Chinese investments in the EU with EU priorities and policy objectives. Sefcovic visited Washington this week in a last-ditch effort to avert a trade war after US levies on steel and aluminium came into effect this month. The hard work goes on. The EUs priority is a fair, balanced deal instead of unjustified tariffs, Sefcovic wrote on X after talks with US officials including US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick Tuesday. The European Union has given extra time for dialogue, delaying the start of its countermeasures to mid-April, two weeks later than initially planned. A leaked private group chat involving top US national security and defence officials has triggered a diplomatic stir after revealing deep frustration with European allies. The conversation, which included Vice President JD Vance and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, surfaced when a journalist was mistakenly added to the encrypted chat. read more A leaked private chat among top US security and defence officials has exposed the Trump administrations frustration with European allies. Trumps top national security and defence officials took a dig at Europe in a secret group chat that was leaked after a journalist was accidentally added to it. I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. Its pathetic, said US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, describing the continent. European allies are hurt, angry British and European officials reacted with anger and disappointment after the group chat of top security officials was leaked. Advertisement A top European diplomat called the leaked US security officials chat horrific to see in black and white, but hardly surprising. This revealed strong disdain for Americas close European allies. Leaked plan of airstrike on Houthis Besides revealing secret details about airstrikes on Yemens Houthi rebels, the chat also exposed the Trump administrations frustration with Europesomething Vance had first expressed during his speech at the Munich Security Conference. The editor-in-chief of The Atlantic was accidentally added to the high-level group chat. He reported that Vice President JD Vance said he hated bailing out Europe again by launching military action to protect shipping, which mainly benefits European trade. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth replied, I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. Its PATHETIC. Hegseth criticises Europe for free-loading. While discussing a possible Houthi blockade of the Suez Canal, Vice President JD Vance pointed out that only 3 per cent of US trade passes through the canal, compared to 40 per cent of European trade. He and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth then criticised Europe for free-loading. The major security leak has sparked outrage in the US, with Democrats demanding Hegseths resignation. Meanwhile, in Europe, leaders and officials were deeply unsettled, with one EU official saying they felt sick to their stomach. The leaked chat exposed other sensitive discussions. The conversation, held on the encrypted app Signal, included Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. Advertisement It contained detailed plans for airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen. The leak occurred when Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was mistakenly included in the conversation, raising serious concerns about security and the handling of classified information. CDU and SPD, two key parties of the likely coalition, have settled on a broad package of measures aimed at curbing immigration. These include a rise in detention capacity for migrants awaiting deportation, two-year freeze on family reunifications, and expansion of list of safe countries read more Germany is set to usher in its toughest migration policies in decades, as the two parties expected to form the next government, the centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), reached a preliminary agreement in response to the far-rights strongest national election result since the Second World War. Politico, citing a draft negotiating text that has not been made public, reported that the parties have settled on a broad package of measures aimed at curbing immigration. Advertisement Measures to curb immigration These include a sharp increase in detention capacity for migrants awaiting deportation, a two-year freeze on family reunifications, and the expansion of the list of safe countries to which asylum seekers can be returned a list that would now include Algeria, India, Morocco and Tunisia. The deal would also introduce provisions allowing for the deportation of migrants with criminal convictions, and scrap the current requirement for migrants to receive legal counsel before being repatriated. If adopted, the policies would mark a dramatic rightward shift on migration, a reflection of the growing political pressure from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which finished second in the February 23 election and is expected to become an outspoken opposition force in the new Bundestag. Defence spending, migration remain divisive issues Some sticking points remain. While the CDU is pushing for offshore asylum and repatriation centres, the SPD has so far resisted, citing legal and moral concerns. Beyond migration, defence spending is also proving divisive. The CDU, led by Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz, wants to hike military investment to 3.5 per cent of GDP well above Natos 2 per cent target in a move that could place Germany among the worlds top military spenders. The SPD, though acknowledging the need to bolster the Bundeswehr, has balked at such a sharp increase. With US President Donald Trump once again casting doubt on Washingtons commitment to Europes defence, Merzs party is also pushing for the return of compulsory military service, which was abolished in 2011. The SPD, however, remains opposed to conscription, preferring to keep military service voluntary. The draft policies come from a series of cross-party working groups, set up to hammer out proposals ahead of final coalition talks. Leaders of both parties had originally aimed to finalise an agreement by Easter, but that timeline has slipped. Both sides now stress that the quality of the deal takes precedence over speed. Advertisement In a rare public demonstration, hundreds of Palestinians in northern Gaza protested against Hamas, calling for an end to the ongoing war with Israel. It was the largest protest against the group since the 7 October attacks. read more Hundreds of Palestinians join 'Hamas out' protest in Gaza, call for an end to the war. AFP Hundreds of Palestinians in northern Gaza staged a protest against Hamas, demanding an end to the war with Israel, BBC reported. It is the largest demonstration against the Palestinian armed group since the 7 October attacks. Videos of the protest went viral on social media on Tuesday night. The videos showed mostly men chanting Hamas out and Hamas terrorists in Beit Lahia. The protest took place near the Indonesian hospital, just days after Israel resumed heavy bombing following a brief truce. Advertisement Hamas fired rockets at Israel, prompting Israel to accelerate its campaign in Gaza and order the evacuation of large parts of Beit Lahia, which sparked anger among locals. Israel resumes military campaign after breaking of fragile ceasefire Israel resumed its military campaign in Gaza after nearly two months of ceasefire, blaming Hamas for rejecting a new US truce proposal. Hamas, however, accused Israel of abandoning the original deal from January. Since Israel restarted airstrikes on 18 March, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed, and thousands have been displaced. Some protesters held banners saying, Stop the war and We want to live in peace. At least one call to join the protest was shared on Telegram. I dont know who organised the protest, one man told AFP. I joined to send a message: Enough with the war. He also claimed that Hamas security forces, dressed in civilian clothes, tried to break up the protest. Majdi, another protester, said people were exhausted. If Hamas stepping down is the solution, why dont they give up power to protect the people? he said to AFP. October 7 attack The war in Gaza began after Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages. In response to the attack, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza, aiming to destroy Hamas. According to Gazas Hamas-run health ministry, more than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed. Advertisement Most of Gazas 2.1 million people have been displaced, many multiple times. About 70 per cent of buildings have been damaged or destroyed. Healthcare, water, and sanitation systems have collapsed, and there are severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine, and shelter. Will AI replace human jobs? A new look at the debate 11:14, March 26, 2025 By Zhi Chunli ( People's Daily At a primary school in Fuzhou, east China's Jiangxi province, students watch intently as a quadruped robot demonstrates its AI capabilities during class. (People's Daily Online/Zhu Haipeng) In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping everyday life, a familiar question has once again captured public attention: Will AI replace human jobs? The query, often posed on platforms like China's DeepSeek, encapsulates both fascination and apprehension toward a technology that is increasingly integral to modern living. A matter of perception and reality At its core, the concern over AI is not entirely new. For decades, researchers have labored to instill machines with human-like perception and cognition - a quest that dates back to the 1950s. Yet today's AI, driven by breakthroughs in machine learning, big data analytics, and statistical pattern recognition, remains fundamentally different from human thought. Rather than "thinking" in the human sense, these systems execute sophisticated algorithms that mimic certain aspects of decision-making without the nuance of emotion or judgment. Take, for example, the generation of poetry. Where a human poet might invoke the fleeting beauty of spring or the melancholy of autumn, AI assembles words based on probability matrices - a demonstration of computational power rather than creative insight. This distinction is critical: While AI enhances our capabilities, it does so as a tool rather than as a replacement for the uniquely human capacity for empathy, aesthetics, and ethical judgment. An instructor guides an entrepreneur in mastering AI applications at a public employment service center in Licang district of Qingdao, east China's Shandong province. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Ying) The shifting landscape of employment In certain sectors, the integration of AI has already begun to reshape the workforce. Automated systems now serve as drivers, hosts, teaching assistants, and even doctors. Robotic systems perform tasks - from precise weightlifting to comprehensive inspections in challenging environments - with a reliability and stamina that human workers find difficult to match. These developments prompt a reassessment of which roles might eventually be supplanted by machines. However, history offers a broader perspective. Just as the advent of automobiles replaced horse-drawn carts, and printing technology rendered scribes obsolete, the rise of AI is expected to create as many new opportunities as it renders old ones redundant. The decline of certain roles often gives way to a proliferation of new industries and professions - a pattern that suggests a long-term expansion of employment opportunities even as the nature of work evolves. Charting a course for the future According to China's government work report this year, under the AI Plus initiative, the country will work to effectively combine digital technologies with its manufacturing and market strengths. It will support the extensive application of large-scale AI models and vigorously develop new-generation intelligent terminals and smart manufacturing equipment, including intelligent connected new-energy vehicles, AI-enabled phones and computers, and intelligent robots. Just two months into 2025, Chinese AI is already making waves, with breakthroughs ranging from open-source AI models and intelligent robots, and intensified research into elder-care robots and the integration of AI into educational curricula. This sweeping AI Plus revolution is poised to invigorate industries across the nation. Historically, China lagged behind during the steam and electricity revolutions. Today, however, the nation views AI as an important driving force for the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation. The Chinese government takes AI as a strategic sector, channeling investment into industries of the future, computing infrastructure, and real-world testing environments. At the same time, China is actively addressing ethical challenges, ensuring that the rapid pace of AI innovation remains aligned with humanity's broader interests. An AI-driven robot provides a free clinic to residents in Weilou neighborhood, Jinggang township, Hefei, east China's Anhui province. (People's Daily Online/Hu Zhaoqun) "Tech for good" is creating more opportunities for every individual. In China - a civilization with over 5,000 years of history - nearly 250 million people are embracing generative AI, and core AI sectors are producing an economic value of nearly 600 billion yuan ($82.77 billion). From chips and algorithms to data ecosystems, platforms, and apps, every segment of the AI industrial chain is igniting a modern boom. "What's humanity's edge over AI?" I reached out to DeepSeek with a simple yet profound query. The reply was incisive: "AI is an extension of rational capacities, while humanity remains a complex interplay of emotion and logic. The true peril is not that machines think like humans, but that humans work like machines." This striking comparison invites us to consider the delicate balance between technological advancement and the human spirit. As we stand on the cusp of this evolving landscape, the challenge is clear: Can we harness the potential of AI while preserving the essential qualities that make us human? The answer may well depend on how we choose to conduct this unfolding human-AI orchestra. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) New Delhi and Ottawa are planning to send back their respective envoys after they were expelled last year as ties between the two countries hit rock bottom over the Khalistani issue read more With just a week to go before US President Donald Trumps reciprocal tariffs kick in, India and Canada have decided to ease diplomatic tensions and work together to tackle the levies. Trumps reciprocal will go into effect on April 2 as he responds to every country ripping off the US. Sources told Bloomberg that New Delhi and Ottawa are planning to send back their respective envoys after they were expelled last year as ties between the two countries hit rock bottom over the Khalistani issue. Advertisement As the United States imposes higher tariffs set to take effect on April 2, both India and Canada brace for economic disruptions. Amid these challenges, tensions between the two nations have eased, as they, along with other countries, seek to strengthen trade partnerships to counter potential declines in US commerce. Sticking together in trying times? Relations between the two countries took a turn for the worst in September 2023 when former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau blamed India for the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen. Now, as the two nations face a common challenge, India and Canada are taking steps to put aside their differences and counter US tariff threats. Canadas new leader, Mark Carney, took office in March, offering a chance to improve ties with India, a Canadian official told Bloomberg. Ottawa has been working to strengthen relations with New Delhi for months, as long as Canadas laws are respected, and this approach remains unchanged since Trudeaus departure, the official added. A delegation from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police came to New Delhi in January to meet Indias federal anti-terror and anti-money laundering officials, where the two sides discussed organised criminal gangs and the Sikh separatist movement. Trump may provide relief to some countries Meanwhile, earlier this week, as Trump announced tariffs on automobiles, he said that his upcoming levies would not be imposed on a lot of countries. He also said that not all of his threatened tariffs would be imposed on April 2. Media reports earlier indicated that the government was refining its strategy regarding the wide-ranging tariffs that Trump had been announcing for weeks, set to take effect on April 2. Estonias former prime minister has faced criticism from several EU officials over her assertive approach to foreign policy but some say thats exactly why she was hired read more Kaja Kallas, the Vice President of the European Commission, hadnt even finished her first day as the European Unions chief diplomat when controversy struck. While on a visit to Kyiv, the former Estonian prime minister tweeted that the European Union wants Ukraine to win this war a sentiment shared by many in the bloc, but one that jarred some officials for its bluntness. According to insiders, it was an early signal of a leadership style that has since prompted admiration in some quarters and unease in others. Advertisement She is acting like a prime minister She is still acting like a prime minister, Politico quoted an EU diplomat as saying. According to the news outlet, nine other officials and diplomats also voiced concerns about Kallas approach in her early months leading the European External Action Service (EEAS). Those critics cite what they describe as a string of missteps: announcing sweeping proposals without proper consultation, taking liberties with the EUs carefully crafted diplomatic language, and adopting a confrontational tone on Russia that is not universally shared across the bloc. If you listen to her it seems we are at war with Russia, which is not the EU line, one official said. The criticism has surfaced most sharply in response to a recent push by Kallas for member states to urgently scale up military aid to Ukraine including a Sunday (March 23) evening proposal for 5 billion worth of artillery shells and a demand for countries to contribute in proportion to the size of their economies. The intention, according to officials familiar with the move, was to ensure bigger players such as France matched the per-capita commitment of smaller, more hawkish states like Estonia or Denmark. But the proposal, shared just ahead of a foreign affairs meeting, blindsided some capitals. One northern European diplomat admitted the process could have been smoother: This sort of came out of nowhere. The process could have been better managed to avoid taking people by surprise. However, in her defence, they said, but if shed done the perfect process, they would have hated it anyway. Advertisement Taking tough stances There came a flashpoint involving a remark by US Vice President JD Vance dismissing Russia as a threat prompting Kallas to issue an urgent call for more EU aid. Her response, distributing a detailed document calling for over a million rounds of ammunition, was classic Kallas: swift, bold, and unapologetic. The final blow for some came after a heated exchange between Donald Trump, Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. Kallas, echoing the outrage felt in many European capitals, tweeted that the free world needs a new leader a pointed message that did not sit well with member states keen to avoid provoking Washington. Most countries dont want to inflame things with the United States, Politico quoted another diplomat as saying. That just isnt what most leaders wanted to put out there. In Kallas defence Her defenders argue that the criticism says more about Brussels discomfort with urgency than about Kallas herself. They hired a head of state for a reason, said one EEAS official. Not to moderate quietly and find the lowest common denominator, but to push things forward. A second diplomat agreed: Overall, we are very happy with her. Kallas assertiveness reflects her experience leading a Baltic state with a front-row seat to Russian aggression. She has consistently urged EU states to take more decisive steps in backing Ukraine and to treat the war with the seriousness it demands. Advertisement But that same urgency has also put her out of step with countries such as Italy and Spain, which do not share her view of Russia as an imminent threat. And her hawkishness is not the only cause of friction. Kallas is still early in her tenure, and her style may yet evolve. Her appointment came at a time when the EEAS faces budget cuts and diminished influence in a bloc increasingly driven by national leaders such as Frances Emmanuel Macron and Germanys likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz. Her liberal political background and the small size of her home country Estonia has a population of just 1.4 million also place her at the margins of a union now dominated by more conservative, heavyweight capitals. Advertisement But some believe thats precisely why she may be the right person for the job. Its not he time to hide behind processes, said one official. European leaders keep calling for more Ukraine aid OK, time for deeds, not just words. 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 read more Protesters shout slogans during a protest after Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested and sent to prison, in Istanbul, Turkey. AP Almost 1,500 people have been detained including an AFP photographer as tens of thousands continued protests in the Turkish capital 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. Advertisement 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 agencys 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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 cant 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 Imamoglus Republican Peoples Party (CHP) in the Sarachane district, home of the Istanbul city hall that Imamoglu ran since 2019. Advertisement 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 Turkeys use of mass detentions and its unlawful blanket ban on protests, urging the authorities to probe any unlawful use of force. Advertisement 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. Eugenia Gutul, Gagauzias leader, or bashkan, has been detained in the capital for 72 hours, according to Angela Starinschi, a Moldovan Anti-Corruption Centre spokeswoman read more In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state owned agency, Russia's President Vladimir Putin shakes hand with the head of Moldova's autonomous region of Gagauzia Yevgenia Gutsul. AFP Police in ex-Soviet Moldova apprehended the head of the countrys pro-Russian Gagauz ethnic minority at Chisinaus international airport late Tuesday, after the unexplained disappearance of two other sought pro-Russian politicians. Eugenia Gutul, Gagauzias leader, or bashkan, has been detained in the capital for 72 hours, according to Angela Starinschi, a Moldovan Anti-Corruption Centre spokeswoman. The action is being taken within the context of a criminal case, Starinschi told reporters. Gagauzia, a 140,000-strong area in southern Moldova, is populated by ethnic Turks who want tight links with Russia, practise Orthodox Christianity, and have had strained relations with central authorities since Moldovas independence in 1991. Advertisement Moldova, which has been part of the Russian empire, greater Romania, and the Soviet Union for the previous 150 years, is currently governed by President Maia Sandu, who is determined to entering the European Union by 2030. Sandu condemns Russias invasion of neighbouring Ukraine and accuses the Kremlin of attempting to depose her. 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. 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. Advertisement Shor is accused by Moldovan authorities of funnelling large sums of money into the country to influence elections. Of the 251 hostages seized during Hamass attack on October 7, 2023 which triggered the war, 58 are still held in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead read more Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at a memorial ceremony for those killed by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attack, in Jerusalem, on October 28, 2024. AP File Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday warned Hamas that Israel would seize territory in Gaza if the militants refused to release hostages still held in the Palestinian territory. Israel resumed intense air strikes across the densely populated Palestinian territory last week, followed by ground operations, shattering the relative calm of a January ceasefire with Hamas. Of the 251 hostages seized during Hamass attack on October 7, 2023 which triggered the war, 58 are still held in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead. Advertisement The more Hamas persists in its refusal to release our hostages, the stronger the pressure we will exert, Netanyahu told parliament. I say this to my colleagues in the Knesset, and I say it to Hamas as well: This includes the seizure of territories, along with other measures I will not elaborate here. His remarks came days after Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened to annex parts of Gaza unless Hamas freed the remaining Israeli hostages. In a statement Friday, Katz said: I ordered (the army) to seize more territory in Gaza The more Hamas refuses to free the hostages, the more territory it will lose, which will be annexed by Israel. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said on Wednesday that at least 830 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since Israel resumed large-scale strikes on March 18, including 38 in the last 24 hours. The first phase of a ceasefire that took effect on January 19 saw Hamas release 33 Israeli and dual national hostages, including eight deceased, and Israel free around 1,800 Palestinian detainees. The US has added six subsidiaries of Chinas Inspur Group and several other Chinese entities to its export restriction list. The move aims to curb Chinas military advancements, particularly in supercomputing and AI. Beijing has condemned the decision, calling it an attempt to politicise trade and technology. read more The United States has added six subsidiaries of Inspur Group to its export restriction list, along with several other Chinese entities, including some based in Pakistan, Geo TV reported. Inspur Group is a leading Chinese cloud computing and big data company. According to the US Commerce Department, these Inspur units were blacklisted for assisting in the development of supercomputers for Chinas military. Five of them are in China, while one is in Taiwan. Inspur Group was already added to the list in 2023. Advertisement The Inspur units are among 80 companies and institutes added to the US export ban list on Tuesday. According to Geo News, more than 50 are based in China, while others are in Taiwan, Iran, Pakistan, South Africa, and the UAE. The restrictions aim to limit Chinas progress in high-performance computing, quantum technology, and advanced AI, as well as slow down its development of hypersonic weapons. We will not allow adversaries to exploit American technology to bolster their own militaries and threaten American lives, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said. In response to the move, the Chinese embassy in Washington said on Tuesday that it firmly opposes these acts taken by the US and demands that it immediately stop using military-related issues as pretexts to politicise, instrumentalise and weaponise trade and tech issues. The US adds companies to the Commerce Departments Entity List over national security or foreign policy concerns. These companies cannot sell goods without special licences, which are usually denied. Commerce official Jeffrey Kessler said the goal is to stop US technology from being used for high-performance computing, hypersonic missiles, military aircraft training, and drones that pose a security threat. A secretive Chinese tech firm is reportedly using fake consulting and recruitment companies to target recently laid-off US government workers. According to a Reuters investigation, these firms may be trying to gather sensitive information by hiring former officials and AI researchers. Experts warn that the network takes advantage of financial struggles faced by those affected by recent job cuts. read more A secretive Chinese tech firm is behind a network of companies trying to recruit recently laid-off US government workers, news agency Reuters reported, citing job ads and a researcher. Max Lesser, an analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said some of these companies are fake consulting and headhunting firms targeting former government employees and AI researchers. There is little public information about the four consulting and recruitment firms linked to the network. Some shared websites, used the same server, or had other digital connections, according to Reuters and analyst Max Lesser. These companies websites were hosted on the same IP address as Smiao Intelligence, an internet services firm. Advertisement News agency Reuters could not track down the four companies and Smiao Intelligence, facing dead ends such as disconnected phones, fake addresses, unanswered emails, and deleted LinkedIn job listings. Researcher Max Lesser, who uncovered the network, said it follows familiar tactics used in past Chinese intelligence operations. He warned that the group is targeting former US government workers facing financial struggles after recent layoffs. Three intelligence analysts told Reuters that the network is a clear example of how foreign-linked groups are trying to gather information from former US government workers laid off by President Trump and Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency. The analysts said that once hired, these employees could be pressured to share sensitive government information or suggest others who might be targeted. A spokesperson for Chinas embassy in Washington denied any involvement, saying Beijing respects data privacy and security. Challenging a centuries-old tradition, an Italian politician has proposed a law to automatically assign newborns their mothers surname at birth, prompting members of Giorgia Melonis coalition to question his priorities, according to a report read more Challenging a centuries-old tradition, an Italian politician has proposed a law to automatically assign newborns their mothers surname at birth, prompting members of Giorgia Melonis coalition to question his priorities. According to The Guardian report Dario Franceschini, a former culture minister from the centre-left Democratic Party, contends that this legislation would right a historic wrong." His proposal comes in the wake of a 2022 ruling by the constitutional court, which deemed the automatic assignment of a fathers surname to newborns as discriminatory and harmful to the childs identity. The court said that children should receive both parents surnames in the order they choose, unless the parents decide on a single surname. In cases of indecision or disagreement, a judge would have the final authority, added the report. Advertisement To implement this ruling, new legislation approved by parliament was necessary, but the issue was sidelined after the rise of Giorgia Melonis right-wing coalition. Franceschini has now revived the topic, suggesting that instead of creating endless problems with hyphenated surnames or choosing between parents, a law should simply establish the maternal surname as the default, reported The Guardian. It is a simple thing and also compensation for a centuries-old injustice that has had not only a symbolic value, but has been a cultural and social source of gender inequality, The Guardian quoted Franceschini as saying. As in many countries, children born in Italy are typically registered with their fathers surname, while the mothers surname is usually only allowed if the father is not involved in the childs life. Franceschini announced that he would introduce the bill in the coming days, provoking anger among members of Melonis coalition. Here are the great priorities of the Italian left, Matteo Salvini, who leads the far-right League, wrote on X. Of course, lets wipe these fathers off the face of the earth; that way well solve all the problems, he added. Federico Mollicone from Melonis Brothers of Italy party claimed that Franceschinis proposal would represent a shift from patriarchy to matriarchy. However, he expressed openness to the idea of children adopting the surnames of both parents. Advertisement Pierantino Zanettin from the Forza Italia party described the move as a provocation aimed primarily at gaining media attention, while Giulia Bongiorno from the League called for a balanced approach that ensures no parent is rendered invisible. Franceschini received mostly positive responses from other opposition members, although Carlo Calenda, leader of the centrist Azione party, remained skeptical. Dont we have any other priorities? Boh, he said. With inputs from agencies Trump stated that he would look into the usage of the Signal app and presented a united front at a meeting with US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who mistakenly included The Atlantic magazines Jeffrey Goldberg in the discussion read more After a journalist was inadvertently included to a group conversation regarding airstrikes on Yemen, US President Donald Trump downplayed a growing crisis on Tuesday, claiming that any secret material was exchanged and protecting a senior adviser over the incident. Trump stated that he would look into the usage of the Signal app and presented a united front at a meeting with US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who mistakenly included The Atlantic magazines Jeffrey Goldberg in the discussion. Advertisement As Democrats smelt blood for the first time since the Republican took office in January, Trump doubled down, calling Goldberg a sleazebag and said nobody gives a damn about the issue that has shaken Washington. Journalist Goldberg said that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent information in the Signal chat about targets, weapons and timing ahead of the strikes on March 15. Goldberg also revealed highly critical comments by top US officials about European allies. There was no classified information, Trump told reporters when asked about the chat, saying that the commercial app Signal was used by a lot of people in government. Waltz said US technical and legal experts were looking into the breach but insisted he had never met, dont know, never communicated with the journalist. We are looking into him, reviewing how the heck he got in, said Waltz when Trump asked him to comment during a meeting with new US ambassadors at the White House. Sloppy, careless, incompetent Their comments came as part of an aggressive Trump administration pushback against the scandal. US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe who were both reported to be in the chat endured a stormy Senate Intelligence Committee hearing over the leak. Advertisement There was no classified material that was shared, Gabbard, who has previously caused controversy with comments sympathetic to Russia and Syria, told the committee. Ratcliffe confirmed he was involved in the Signal group but said the communications were entirely permissible and lawful. Hegseth, a former Fox News host with no experience running a huge organization like the Pentagon, had said on Monday that nobody was texting war plans. But Democrats on the committee called on Waltz and Hegseth to resign. Senator Mark Warner blasted what he called sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior. Other White House officials also went on the attack. Dont 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. Advertisement Trump and his aides have repeatedly used the same term to dismiss an investigation into whether the Republicans 2016 election campaign colluded with Moscow. Freeloading 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. Trumps 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. Trump said he agreed with Pentagon chief Hegseths reported comments in the chat that European nations were freeloading off the United States. Advertisement Yeah I think theyve been freeloading, Trump told reporters. The European Unions been absolutely terrible to us on trade. In the chat, a user identified as Vice President JD Vance opposed the strikes saying that I just hate bailing Europe out again as countries there were more affected by Huthi attacks on shipping than the United States. A user identified as Hegseth replies: I fully share your loathing of European freeloading. Its 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. Advertisement 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. The US is preparing to impose new tariffs on copper imports, with a decision expected within weeksmuch earlier than initially planned. President Donald Trump had ordered an investigation into potential tariffs, which is now being fast-tracked, according to reports. The news has sent copper prices soaring in New York while widening the gap with Londons benchmark rates. read more US President Donald Trump is likely to impose tariffs on copper imports. These fresh tariffs could be introduced within several weeks, months earlier than the deadline for a decision, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Following the news, copper traded in New York rose to a record high. Trump directs investigation into copper tariffs Earlier, in February, Trump directed the Commerce Department to open an investigation into potential copper tariffs and submit a report within 270 days. However, it is now expected to be resolved sooner, said people who asked not to be identified because the discussions are confidential. Advertisement The investigation already appears to be little more than a formality, some sources said, as Trump has repeatedly stated his intention to impose the tariffs. The administration is moving quickly with the review, and a conclusion could be reached well before the 270-day deadline, according to an official familiar with the process, who spoke on condition of anonymity. In February, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said the investigation would proceed swiftly. You will see our new secretary of commerce, Howard Lutnick, move in what I like to call Trump time, which is as quickly as possible to get the results of the investigation on the presidents desk for possible action, Navarro said. Trump has warned of a possible 25 per cent tariff on all copper imports. This move could disrupt the global market for this essential metal, used in pipes and electrical cables. Copper prices surge in New York, falls in London Copper prices in New York surged 3.1 per cent to a record $5.3740 per pound before settling at around $5.3005. Meanwhile, the benchmark price in London dipped slightly to $10,100 per tonne. This has widened the gap between the two markets to over $1,600 per tonne. 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 read more 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. Advertisement 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 diplomats visit also comes at a critical time for Erdogan, after his main political rival and Istanbuls 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 arms length over what it saw as the fellow NATO members 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. 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. Advertisement During his first term, Trump initially ignored advice from his aides to impose sanctions on Turkey under its Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) over Ankaras acquisition of Russian S-400 air defence missile systems in 2019. He then took the step in 2020. That acquisition also led to Turkeys 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. 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. Advertisement A Turkish official, requesting anonymity, told Reuters ahead of Fidans 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. Since coming back into office on January 20, Trump upended Bidens policy to isolate Moscow and provide unwavering support to Kyiv and instead focused on ending Russias war in Ukraine. His shift spooked European leaders who feared Washington could be turning its back to Europe and bolstered Ankaras role as a potential partner in reshaping European security. Advertisement The Turkish official said discussions between Washington and Ankara had taken a new dimension after Trumps 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. The president had a great conversation with Erdogan a couple of days ago. Really transformational, I would describe it, Trumps special envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff said in an interview with right-wing podcaster Tucker Carlson. Advertisement 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. Russia and Ukraine have agreed to halt military strikes in the Black Sea and on energy sites during talks brokered by the United States, which offered to ease pressure on agricultural exports as a first concrete incentive to Moscow read more The Ukrainian Defence Ministry on Wednesday approved the indigenously manufactured Bird of Prey unmanned aviation system for unmanned operations as the war drags on despite US delegating ceasefire talks between Kyiv and Moscow. The Bird of Prey has already proven its effectiveness in destroying enemy armored vehicles and fortified firing positions, a statement from the defence ministry read. Russia and Ukraine have agreed to halt military strikes in the Black Sea and on energy sites during talks brokered by the United States, which offered to ease pressure on agricultural exports as a first concrete incentive to Moscow. Advertisement In parallel statements, the White House said that each country agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea. About Bird of Prey drones Bird of Prey is an advanced, compact weapon system designed for integration with drone platforms, enhancing infantry capabilities by enabling precise engagement of low-signature targets in complex environments, including urban settings and force protection scenarios. It supports various modular, multi-role, and multi-caliber armaments, maximizing flight time and mission duration. Equipped with advanced algorithms and autonomous target recognition, the Bird of Prey detects, classifies, and tracks targets day and night. On the war front Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys advisor Dmytro Lytvyn has claimed that Russia has struck Ukraines energy infrastructure at least eight times since President Vladimir Putin ordered a halt to such attacks last week. Moscow is a city built on lies, no surprise to anyone in Ukraine. But the reality is since March 18, theyve been hitting our energy sites with bombs, attack drones, and FPV drones, Lytvyn said. Last week, Putin ordered to cease-fire on Ukraines energy facilities for 30 days after Russia rejected Washingtons previous proposal for a temporary halt in fighting. With inputs from agencies Last week, Putin ordered to cease-fire on Ukraines energy facilities for 30 days after Russia rejected Washingtons previous proposal for a temporary halt in fighting read more Russian serviceman guard an area of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station in southeastern Ukraine. File Image/AP Russia has struck Ukraines energy infrastructure at least eight times since President Vladimir Putin ordered a halt to such attacks last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys advisor Dmytro Lytvyn has said. Moscow is a city built on lies, no surprise to anyone in Ukraine. But the reality is since March 18, theyve been hitting our energy sites with bombs, attack drones, and FPV drones, Lytvyn said. Last week, Putin ordered to cease-fire on Ukraines energy facilities for 30 days after Russia rejected Washingtons previous proposal for a temporary halt in fighting. Advertisement In the recently held talks in Riyadh, the White House said that each country agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy on Wednesday denounced the latest attacks from Russia, which launched over a hundred drones overnight, hours after agreeing to outlines of a Black Sea ceasefire. Launching such large-scale attacks after ceasefire negotiations is a clear signal to the whole world that Moscow is not going to pursue real peace, Zelensky said on social media. Russia launched 117 drones over Ukraine overnight, out of which 56 were downed and 48 were lost from radar without causing damage, the air force said. Frontline regions also came under fire, including in the eastern Donetsk region, where three people were killed in the past 24 hours, according to governor Vadym Filashkin. There must also be clear pressure and strong action from the world on Russia more pressure, more sanctions from the United States to stop Russian strikes, Zelenskyy said. Advertisement With inputs from agencies The annual intelligence report said that Putin believes that 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 read more The Ukrainian Armed Forces fires a 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops in a front line in Kherson region, Ukraine. Experts note that it's unlikely that the deal will bring any change on the ground. Reuters An unclassified US intelligence assessment has revealed that Russia and Ukraine would rather drag out the war than settle for a bad peace deal. The latest intelligence report published earlier this week says that despite both the warring parties showing their willingness to participate in a temporary truce, leaders for now probably still see the risks of a longer war as less than those of an unsatisfying settlement." The intelligence report was presented on Tuesday during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on the annual Worldwide Threat Assessment. Top officials, including Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, testified at the session. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has been urging both parties to cease hostilities. Advertisement Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine have agreed to halt military strikes in the Black Sea and on energy sites during talks brokered by the United States, which offered to ease pressure on agricultural exports as a first concrete incentive to Moscow. In parallel statements, the White House said that each country 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 Kremlin, meanwhile, said the agreement to halt strikes on the Black Sea could come into force only after the lifting of restrictions on its agriculture sector. What has the report revealed? The annual intelligence report, according to Bloomberg, said that Putin believes that 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. At the same time, both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are likely aware of the dangers of a prolonged war. The report indicated that an extended conflict could strain Russias economy and increase the risk of unintended escalation with the West. Meanwhile, for Ukraine, Zelenskyy likely recognizes the uncertainty surrounding continued Western support. Officials within the US intelligence community also think that an extended war would lead Putin to resort to nuclear weapons. The report said, 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. With inputs from agencies Advertisement The stunning details, including the times of strikes and types of planes being used, were all laid out in screenshots of the chat, which the officials had conducted on a commercial Signal messaging app, rather than a secure government platform 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 The Atlantic magazine, whose journalist was mistakenly added to a group chat of Trumps top officials, released on Wednesday the full text of the conversations that occurred on the Signal app, laying out plans for an imminent attack on Yemen. The stunning details, including the times of strikes and types of planes being used, were all laid out in screenshots of the chat, which the officials had conducted on a commercial Signal messaging app, rather than a secure government platform. Advertisement Initially, the magazine had only shared a broad outline of the conversation between Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Vice President JD Vance and others. The scandal has rocked President Donald Trumps administration, which for now is reacting defiantly attacking The Atlantic and denying any wrongdoing. Why did The Atlantic publish the chats now? The US magazine, whose editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was inadvertently added to the group chat titled Houthi PC Small Group, said that it decided to go public with the full text of the conversation after the US administration repeatedly denied the information shared on the chat being classified. As a general rule, we do not publish information about military operations if that information could possibly jeopardize the lives of U.S. personnel. That is why we chose to characterize the nature of the information being shared, not specific details about the attacks, the magazine said. It added, There is a clear public interest in disclosing the sort of information that Trump advisers included in nonsecure communications channels, especially because senior administration figures are attempting to downplay the significance of the messages that were shared. What does the group chat show? Goldberg said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent information in the Signal chat also including Vice President JD Vance and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe right ahead of strikes against the Huthi rebels on March 15. For reasons unknown, Goldbergs phone number had been added to the group. Goldberg also revealed disparaging comments by the top US officials about European allies during their chat. The texting was done barely half an hour before the first US warplanes took off and two hours before the first target, described as Target Terrorist, was expected to be bombed. Advertisement The details are shockingly precise for the kind of operation that the public usually only learns about later and in vaguer terms. 1410: More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package), Hegseth writes at one stage. 1415: Strike Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier Trigger Based targets). A short time later, Trumps National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, sent real-time intelligence on the aftermath of an attack, writing Building collapsed. Had multiple positive ID and amazing job. White House reacts Meanwhile, the White House has dismissed The Atlantics leak as a hoax. The magazine mentioned in its report that it had emailed White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday to know whether the administration would object if the publication released the chats. In her reply, Leavitt said, As we have repeatedly stated, there was no classified information transmitted in the group chat. However, as the CIA Director and National Security Advisor have both expressed today, that does not mean we encourage the release of the conversation. This was intended to be an [sic] internal and private deliberation amongst high-level senior staff and sensitive information was discussed. So for those reason [sic] yes, we object to the release. Advertisement Vance said that the magazine oversold the US attack story. With inputs from AFP Rubia also added that the United States supports Bangladesh in its journey toward a bright and democratic future read more Reiterating the USs support for Bangladeshs democratic path, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio greeted the people of Bangladesh on their Independence Day. Rubio wished all Bangladeshis a very happy special day on behalf of the United States. In a statement issued by the US Department of State, Rubio said, This celebration comes at a pivotal point in Bangladeshs history, as the Interim Government prepares the nation for elections that will allow the people of Bangladesh to choose the path forward for their nation. The United States supports Bangladesh in its journey toward a bright and democratic future. We look forward to continuing our partnership promoting economic development and regional security in the Indo-Pacific. Advertisement As Bangladesh marks this special occasion, I extend my warm regards to its people and reaffirm the United States commitment to working together to make both our nations safer, stronger, and more prosperous, he concluded. He also added that the interim administration led by Muhammad was getting ready for elections. Following the student-led insurrection that overthrew former Premier Sheikh Hasina in August, Yunus, who leads the caretaker government put in place following a revolution in August, is coming under growing pressure to announce the date of the nations elections. Earlier, Muhammad Yunus said, Election dates could be fixed by the end of 2025 or the first half of 2026." He had then said that his interim government has launched commissions to oversee a raft of reforms which are needed for the elections to be held. The news came only hours after Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticised the US second ladys planned travel to Greenland, which occurred before the vice president stated that he would accompany his wife, as putting unacceptable pressure on both the region and Denmark read more Vice President JD Vance will visit a US military facility in Greenland on Friday, putting more pressure on the autonomous Danish region that Donald Trump wishes to take over. Vance, who has become Trumps foreign policy attack dog, will go to Pituffik Space Base with his wife Usha to receive a briefing on Arctic security issues and meet with US service members, according to his offices statement on Tuesday. The news came only hours after Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticised the US second ladys planned travel to Greenland, which occurred before the vice president stated that he would accompany his wife, as putting unacceptable pressure on both the region and Denmark. Advertisement 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 Tuesday. Since returning to power in January, Trump has insisted he wants the United States to take over Greenland for national security purposes and has refused to rule out the use of force. In his video announcement, Vance said other countries sought to use the territory to threaten the United States, to threaten Canada, and, of course, to threaten the people of Greenland. Trump has also recently talked about annexing Canada, saying it should become the 51st state of the United States. Speaking for President Trump, we want to reinvigorate the security of the people of Greenland, added Vance. Both US and Danish leaders had ignored Greenland for far too long, he added. We think we can take things in a different direction. According to the Arctic islands outgoing Prime Minister Mute Egede, US national security adviser Mike Waltz will also visit Greenland this week, while US media have reported that Energy Secretary Chris Wright will travel there as well. Advertisement The visits, presented as private, have angered Danish and Greenlandic politicians. You cant organise a private visit with official representatives of another country, Frederiksen told reporters. The visit comes at a time of political flux in Greenland, where parties are still negotiating to form a new coalition government following a March 11 general election. This is clearly not a visit that is about what Greenland needs or wants, Frederiksen told broadcaster DR. Thats why I have to say that the pressure being put on Greenland and Denmark in this situation is unacceptable. And its pressure we will resist. A self-governing Danish territory which is seeking to emancipate itself from Copenhagen, Greenland holds massive untapped mineral and oil reserves, although oil and uranium exploration are banned. Advertisement It is also strategically located between North America and Europe at a time of rising US, Chinese and Russian interest in the Arctic, where sea lanes have opened up due to climate change. So-called tourists The outgoing Greenlandic government posted on Facebook that it had not sent out any invitations for visits, private or official. The current government is a transitional government pending the formation of a new governing coalition, and we have asked all countries to respect this process, it wrote. In his video message, Vance said other countries sought to use the territory to threaten the United States, to threaten Canada, and, of course, to threaten the people of Greenland. Advertisement A self-governing territory that is seeking to emancipate itself from Copenhagen, Greenland holds massive untapped mineral and oil reserves, though oil and uranium exploration are banned. It is also strategically located between North America and Europe at a time of rising US, Chinese and Russian interest in the Arctic, where sea lanes have opened up because of climate change. Greenlands location also puts it on the shortest route for missiles between Russia and the United States. Greenlands likely new prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen of the centre-right Democrats, who won the election has criticised Trumps moves on Greenland as inappropriate. Aaja Chemnitz, a lawmaker representing Greenland in the Danish parliament, denounced the US delegations visit. Advertisement No one from the Greenlandic official system has invited the so-called tourists. Theyre coming, using soft power diplomacy and also focusing on security issues and this is totally unacceptable, Chemnitz told AFP. Trump nonetheless alleged the visit was at the invitation of Greenland. Weve been invited, Trump told reporters on Monday. Were dealing with a lot of people from Greenland that would like to see something happen with respect to being properly protected and properly taken care of, he said. Frederiksen meanwhile said Copenhagen and Nuuk were still open to cooperation with Washington. We are allies, we have a defence agreement on Greenland that dates back to 1951, Frederiksen said. There is nothing that indicates, neither in Denmark nor Greenland, that we dont want to cooperate with the Americans. US President Donald Trump has said that a junior staffer working with National Security Advisor Mike Waltz is believed to have added The Atlantics Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg to the Signal group where top officials, including Vice President JD Vance, discussed last weeks strikes on Houthis in Yemen read more US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz speaks in front of a scale model of the Iwo Jima Memorial as US President Donald Trump meets with US ambassador nominees at the White House in Washington, DC, US, March 25, 2025. (Photo: Reuters) US President Donald Trump appears to have zeroed in on the person who added the journalist, The Atlantics Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, to the Signal group where top administration officials discussed the last weeks attacks on Houthis in Yemen. In an interview with Newsmax, Trump said that a junior staffer with National Security Advisor Mike Waltz is believed to have added Goldberg. Last week, in one of the most scandalous security breaches, Waltz added Goldberg to a Signal group where top administration officials, including Vice Presideent JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, and Waltz, discussed the attacks on Houthis. Hegseth even shared operational plans on the group that Goldberg said contained the timing, weapons package, and specific targets of the operation against Houthis. Advertisement Trump told Newsmax, And what it was, we believe, is somebody that was on the line with permission; somebody that was with Mike Waltz worked for Mike Waltz at a lower level had, I guess, Goldbergs number or called through the app, and somehow this guy ended up on the call. Now, it wasnt classified, as I understand it. There was no classified information. There was no problem, and the attack was a tremendous success. Even as the Trump administration has downplayed the leak, commentators have said that operational plans are always classified. Trump, however, said, he feels very comfortable actually with how the matter was handled. Even if the plans were not formally classified, the leak was damning as such information in the hands of an adversary could have compromised the operation and likely blown up covers of spies or revealed sources of intelligence-collection. In any case, all the participants in the group chat were in violation of government policy that bars the usage of apps like Signal for such secretive government work in-house government systems exist for such communication. Just days before the episode, the Department of Defense had told staffers to not use Signal for official work, according to NPR. Yet the departmental head, Hegseth, not just used the app to discuss the Houthis operation but shared operational plans over the app. Quote: Bushbased Originally Posted by Hi Dave, another little-known use of the Australian 302 Cleveland is to use its longer (6.030 inch) rods with a particular short skirt piston on the 351 crankshafts to effectively give a bigger lever to the crank. The 351 rods are 5.780 inch, and the lighter piston on the longer 302 rod weighs 60 grams less than a equivalent 351 piston on std rod arguably creating less side loading and therefore less stress on the bores and piston. I have one such combo using 2V Australian 72 - 75 cc open chamber heads in a Ford dent side and it appears to give a bigger spread of torque than standard 351 rods. Not an uncommon modification here in Australia, Australian ACL Duratech pistons are the brand I used but I've heard Ross do a similar short piston. The engine does appear to pull better than previous standard 351's in the same trucks and is quite smooth however sounds different, more of a clicking sound from the pistons, hard to describe but I have around 45,00 klm (30 K miles?) now on the engine and it performs and runs very well. regards Ross. In a practical engine you can't change the rod ratio enough to make any real difference. I figured this out for a guy one time who was making a big deal out of it using a 351 C as an example. With a 3.5 inch stroke about the shortest rod that could be used is about a 5.5 inch and the longest is about a 6.250. The greatest difference in the piston motion is when the piston is at maximum velocity and changing the rod length by 3/4 of an inch only changes that point where that occurs by 1.6 degrees. With an engine like a 4V Cleveland having the piston reach maximum velocity more quickly after TDC might be an advantage when it comes to creating velocity in an overly large port but the effect would be minimal to the point of being non existent. I'm not a big believer in rod angularity either because whenever that's at its greatest the cylinder pressure is never high anyway.Making the rod longer and the piston shorter does make the assembly lighter which can be an advantage. Another advantage is that the piston with a shorter compression distance can be more stable in the bore and support the rings better with the same amount of bore clearance. As with most things in an engine it is a compromise. The agreement emphasizes the intent to facilitate collaboration between Israeli and German companies directly as well as across various R&D frameworks like Horizon Europe. This initiative is designed to enhance innovation and strengthen industrial ties, reflecting the shared commitment of both countries to technological advancement. Dror Bin, CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority, stated: "This collaboration between the Israel Innovation Authority and Fraunhofer brings together Israels dynamic tech ecosystem with Germanys world-class applied research expertise. By combining our strengths, we can accelerate the development of breakthrough innovations that address global challenges. This partnership is a testament to our shared commitment to fostering cutting-edge technologies that will not only benefit our industries but also improve lives worldwide." Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, stated: "In today's world, ideas and innovations, along with drive and inventiveness, are more crucial than ever. We are facing significant challenges which call for our future to be shaped by pooling skills and expertise. Ingenuity is both our countries' most vital resource, enabling the transfer of scientific knowledge to commercial use. This partnership marks a pivotal step in enhancing technological collaboration and fostering a vibrant ecosystem for entrepreneurs and researchers." This collaboration is particularly significant as it coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Israel and Germany. Taking into account the depth and diversity of German-Israeli relations, this renewed collaboration aims to promote dialogue and encourage joint engagement in shaping a shared future. The partnership between the Israel Innovation Authority and Fraunhofer exemplifies the enduring bond between Israel and Germany, showcasing a mutual dedication to innovation and progress. 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. Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024. Christopher Firm, 36, was arrested in March for allegedly threatening his 19-year-old son with a firearm after the teen prevented him from possibly shooting another man at a party they both attended. (The son) told me his father got into the car with the firearm and said, I want you to slowly roll out of the driveway so I can shoot this mother f*****r. (The son) told his father he was not going to do that, an arrest affidavit reported. (The son) said at this point Christopher pointed the firearm at him and said, Youre going to do whatever the f**k I tell you to, the affidavit added. According to a criminal complaint filed on March 5, Firm was arrested for three felonies: criminal extortion, menacing and possession of a weapon by a previous offender; and one misdemeanor: possession of a weapon while under the influence. The complaint noted that Firm was not allowed to own a firearm because of a felony conviction he, along with his father, Ronald Firm, received in February 2010. A 2009 arrest affidavit reported that the two broke into an Orchard Mesa apartment, threatened the two residents with guns, assaulted the male resident and stole their electronics as collateral on $200 and pills that the victims allegedly owed. Less than two years ago, Firm was hired into the K9 program at Intermountain Health St. Marys Regional Hospital. The program was established in 2021 to reduce violence against health care workers, a profession that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said accounted for 73% of all nonfatal, violence-related workplace injuries in 2018. According to an Intermountain spokesperson, Firm is no longer with the organization, but the health system did not specify when his employment ended, or if he was terminated. Our commitment to the safety and well-being of our patients and caregivers is paramount, the spokesperson said. Intermountain also told the Sentinel that K9 handlers are not provided firearms, but it could not share specific security practices since doing so could endanger security staff in the future. The spokesperson could not comment on the background check process for Firm specifically, but she said that Intermountain conducts all of its background checks in compliance with the law. She added that Intermountain could not provide additional details because it is a personnel matter and an ongoing investigation. THE INCIDENT According to an arrest affidavit filed in March, the incident stemmed from a party in Clifton that Firm, his girlfriend and his son attended. At the party, it was reported that Firm involved himself in an escalating argument between his son and another party-goer. Firm then allegedly shoved the other attendee to the ground; the man stood up, left and soon returned with a handgun, according to the affidavit. When Firm saw that the other man had a gun, Firm drew a gun of his own and engaged in a standoff, the affidavit said. Firms son reportedly de-escalated the confrontation by pushing his father into their car to leave the party. Once in the car, Firm demanded his son to drive slowly enough that he could shoot the other party attendee, which the 19-year-old declined. At that point, the affidavit said Firm threatened his son with the handgun, identified as a Glock, before saying he would roll out of the car if they didnt pull over. Once Firm opened the moving cars door, the affidavit said his son stopped the vehicle and allowed his father to leave. When law enforcement called Firms phone, it was hung up on. His girlfriend later contacted law enforcement, advising that Firm returned to his home, saying but if any pigs showed up, he would shoot them in the head. Due to the fact that all parties were separated, and Christopher at this point was only threatening law enforcement, Deputies did not attempt contact with Christopher at his residence, the Mesa County Sheriffs Office said in a the affidavit. The affidavit added that his son stated he did not wish to pursue charges against his father, but the severity of the incident, and the fact that multiple people were threatened with a firearm, led to the decision that he would be charged regardless. Firm was arrested by the Mesa County Sheriffs Office March 11, according to jail records. He is set to appear in court for a review hearing on April 22. Nathan graduated with his journalism degree from Auburn University in 2017. After growing up in the flatlands of rural Alabama with his parents and older sister, Nathan enjoys Western Colorado's natural resources and recreational opportunities. He currently covers education and business for The Daily Sentinel. Sat Saturday 95 /64 More sun than clouds. Highs in the mid 90s and lows in the mid 60s. US intelligence agencies carry out cyberattacks targeting global mobile users: report Global Times By Guo Yuandan and Zhang Wanshi Published: Mar 25, 2025 04:20 PM A report released by a Chinese industry alliance exposed the US intelligent agencies' surveillance and data theft activities targeting global mobile smart terminals and communications. Whether they are high-value targets such as government officials and technical experts or ordinary people, all could potentially become subjects of intelligence-gathering operations by US intelligence agencies, according to the report. The China Cybersecurity Industry Alliance (CCIA) released a report on Tuesday titled "Mobile Cyberattacks Conducted by US Intelligence Agencies." An expert told the Global Times that the report aggregates analytical research from global security researchers, academic institutions, and international cybersecurity firms, including Chinese cybersecurity companies, on US cyberattack operations. When asked to comment on a report released by the China Cybersecurity Industry Alliance disclosing the US cyberattacks, wiretapping and data theft activities targeting global mobile smart terminals, mobile supply chains, operators and others, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday that China has taken note of the relevant report. According to the report, the US government has abused its monopolistic advantage in the upstream of the information technology and production and supply chain to carry out large-scale and prolonged malicious cyber activities on a global scale, targeting cell phones and even the entire ecosystem of the mobile industry, which can be said to be pervasive and omnipresent. It is worth noting that the report reveals that the US is the main country in the world conducting cyberattacks through supply chain and mobile operators, Guo said. Over the years, the US has been accustomed to playing the trick of "a thief crying 'stop the thief'" on the issue of supply chain security, manipulating double standards, and tirelessly hyping up the so-called 5G supply chain security issue. Also, it has been working in concert with its own major Internet companies or equipment suppliers to pre-install backdoors in global information equipment products in order to serve its own cyberattack activities. He said that it is believed this report will help the international community recognize the true face of the US. "We are seriously concerned about the malicious cyber activities of the US side exposed in the report, and urged the US side to immediately stop the relevant actions, especially to stop using the global supply chain to implement malicious cyber activities, and give the world an explanation in a responsible manner," Guo added. In 11 chapters, the report thoroughly exposes how the US intelligence agencies relentlessly target global mobile smart terminals and communication systems to build comprehensive attack and penetration capabilities. They have penetrated every corner of network products such as SIM cards, firmware and operating systems, data interfaces such as USB cables, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular networks and GPS, the data centers of major internet and IT vendors, and even the entire mobile industry ecosystem, the report revealed. These intelligence agencies extensively steal personnel data, account credentials, device information, communication links, and geolocation data. These large-scale and long-term eavesdropping and theft activities on global mobile smart terminals have seriously endangered the cybersecurity and national security of countries around the world. The 2023 Facts and Figures report released by the International Telecommunications Union in November 2023 shows that the mobile phone ownership rate among the global population aged 10 and above is 78 percent, and the coverage of mobile broadband with 3G and above in the total global population is 95 percent. Compared with traditional PCs, mobile smart terminals such as cell phones have more network security exposure and attackable surfaces, and are also coveted by US intelligence agencies and targeted for key attacks. The report concludes that US intelligence agencies conduct cyberattacks against mobile phone users by exploiting vulnerabilities in SIM cards, mobile operating systems, and apps, as well as deploying customized Trojans or commercial spyware. Their attack scenarios target mobile terminals, mobile network communication equipment, telecom operators, and other related systems. Xiao Xinguang, Chairman of the CCIA, said that US attacks exploiting SIM card vulnerabilities enable their attacks to bypass mobile operating systems and device brands. US cyberattacks not only directly target smartphones themselves but also launch pre-positioned strikes against the smartphone supply chain. For instance, by infiltrating SIM card manufacturers to steal encryption keys, US side can rapidly decrypt and reconstruct communication data. The US has also established attack footholds by targeting operators' network equipment. It developed the "Quantum System" to attack internet-connected devices such as mobile phones and PCs, enabling Trojan injections by introducing temporary data traffic during key targets' online activities. According to an analysis report by cybersecurity vendor Antiy, US side exploited vulnerabilities in the Safari browser through this "Quantum System" to deliver Trojan to specific individuals' iPhones. The report concludes that whether they are terminal devices or backbone lines, whether they are high-value targets such as technical experts and government officials or ordinary people, they may all become targets of the US intelligence agencies' intelligence activities. The report specifically exposes the dark practices of US intelligence agencies stealing data from iPhone users. The iOS platform, a mobile operating system developed by Apple, powers devices like iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches. It includes Apple-exclusive features such as iMessage, an instant messaging service developed by Apple that supports sending and receiving texts, images, videos, documents, and more. However, such services have become tools exploited by US intelligence agencies. By leveraging vulnerabilities in these services, the agencies send exploit codes to iPhone users through services like iMessage, implanting attack Trojans to achieve long-term data theft from mobile devices. The report cites a report by cybersecurity company Kaspersky, showing that the "zero-click" attack carried out by US intelligence agencies refers to the fact that the implantation into the targeted mobile device can be completed without any interaction from the mobile phone user during the entire attack process. "Zero-click" attacks do not require the user to perform any action on the phone, including clicking a link or opening a file. As long as the mobile phone user receives the relevant content, the malware can be automatically implanted into the mobile phone. In addition, the US intelligence agencies have further strengthened their surveillance and intelligence acquisition capabilities in the area of mobile networks through the use and control of commercial spyware. For example, through the use of the Israeli spyware "Pegasus," the US has carried out wiretapping on a number of heads of state and political figures, including those of France and Pakistan. The report also reveals the IRRITANT HORN project, which is part of the US' vast cyber intelligence operations system, and the technology that supports its theft and wiretapping activities on mobile smart terminals around the world. In particular, the "Network Tradecraft Advancement Team (NTAT)" established by the intelligence agencies of the Five Eyes countries is looking for ways to enter the servers of mobile application stores, and also targets user data collected by Chinese APP software or internet platforms to realize secondary access. For example, a cell phone browser that is widely used in China uploads the user's phone number, SIM card number, and device information to the server. This facilitates the theft of Chinese users' information by the IRRITANT HORN program. With regard to the significance of this report, Xiao said that the US intelligence agencies are like a "giant vulture" spying on the world. It has a large number of established cyber-attack teams, a huge support engineering system and a standardized attack equipment arsenal, and relies on systematic operating procedures and manuals to carry out operations, and this "vulture" is still in the process of continuous enhancement and evolution. "Only by capturing their attack activities and samples, and analyzing their operating mechanisms, can we enhance relevant protection capabilities in a targeted manner. For Chinese cybersecurity technicians, this is not a lonely battle. For a long time, global researchers, academic institutions, and have done a lot of work to uncover the true face of this giant vulture," Xiao said. This report and the Alliance's report "Review of Cyberattacks from US Intelligence Agencies- Based on Global Cybersecurity Communities' Analyses" released in 2023 have similar purposes, and there is a need for global netizens to have a comprehensive understanding of the threats that the US intelligence agencies pose to the world. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. journalist accidentally added to group chat discussing confidential Yemen attack plan People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:03, March 25, 2025 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump administration 'accidentally' texted me its war plans for Yemen: American journalist Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 March 2025 5:42 AM Senior officials within the administration of US President Donald Trump are reported to have inadvertently included Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of the American magazine The Atlantic, in a confidential group chat discussing imminent military aggression against Yemen. As outlined by Goldberg, the outright divergence from security standards that was widely reported on Tuesday saw him receive an unexpected invitation to a Signal group named "Houthi PC small group" on March 11, Houthi referring to Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement. Despite being initially skeptical about the authenticity of the invitation, the journalist was reportedly added to the conversation two days later, where he observed discussions detailing planned bombings on Ansarullah's positions. The group chat, he has said, comprised high-ranking officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Within this forum, they deliberated over specifics such as weapons deployment, target selection, and timing of the aggression, Goldberg has noted. He said he had realized that the officials appeared to be unaware of his presence in the chat, as they continued to share apparently sensitive information without caution. The reported breach has ignited bipartisan concern, with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer condemning it and calling for accountability. Hegseth has denied that war plans were texted, but did not refute the specifics reported by The Atlantic. The National Security Council says it has confirmed the authenticity of the messages and initiated an investigation. The report comes amid US deadly and devastating indiscriminate assaults on Yemen. Most recently, American warplanes conducted fresh bombings against Yemen's lifeline western port city of al-Hudaydah, the northwestern province of Sa'ada, and the central province of Ma'rib. Trump has said he would "annihilate" Ansarullah, which has been contributing essentially to formidable regional resistance operations in the face of the ongoing war of genocide against the Gaza Strip and escalated deadly aggression towards Lebanon by the Israeli regime, Washington's most cherished regional ally. He ordered intensification of the US's attacks on the Arab Peninsula nation earlier this month. The aggression, though, has been taking aim at purely civilian targets so far. In response to the American escalation, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, Ansarullah's leader, has characterized a decision by Washington to deploy a second aircraft carrier off Yemen's coastline as an admission of its disastrous failure in the face of his country's steadfast defensive maneuvers. Observers, meanwhile, say the reported disclosure of military plans to Goldberg underscores significant vulnerabilities within the Trump administration's handling of sensitive information, raising questions about operational security and the potential implications for ongoing military aggression towards the broader West Asia region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Vietnam death row businesswoman in court for second appeal Truong My Lan is trying to pay debts to avoid execution and reduce a separate life sentence. By Mike Firn for RFA 2025.03.24 BANGKOK -- The mastermind of Vietnam's largest corporate fraud, businesswoman Truong My Lan, returned to court Tuesday for her latest appeal, state media reported, while she continued other efforts to repay billions and avoid a death sentence. The 68-year old chairwoman of prominent real estate company Van Thinh Phat was sentenced to death in April last year for the embezzlement of billions of dollars from Saigon Commercial Bank. The death penalty could be reduced to life imprisonment if she repays three-quarters of the estimated US$11 billion of stolen funds. At the end of a second trial on related fraud charges in October, she was sentenced to life in prison for illegal property appropriation, 12 years for money laundering and eight years for illegally transferring money in and out of the country. Lan's appeal, her second, is asking the High People's Court in Ho Chi Minh City to reduce her life sentence. Lan has asked her legal team to focus on securing funds to pay back the defrauded bondholders, according to Bloomberg. She asked prosecutors to recover US$585 million of bond proceeds from banks and also plans to sell some assets, lawyer Giang Hong Thanh said. Vietnam's ruling Communist Party has been cracking down on corruption among party officials and their dealings in key industries such as property and healthcare in response to widespread bribery and embezzlement. The campaign, known as the "blazing furnace" was spearheaded by former party general secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and continued by his successor To Lam. Some 27 co-defendants are also appealing their sentences at the High Court in Ho Chi Minh City in hearings expected to last until April 21. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Affairs Ministry: Saudi Arabia Condemns Israeli Plans to Displace Palestinians from Gaza Saudi Press Agency Monday 24/09/1446 Riyadh, March 24, 2025, SPA -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's condemnation of the Israeli occupation authorities' announcement on the establishment of an agency that aims to displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, as well as the approval of the separation of 13 illegal settlement neighborhoods in the West Bank in preparation for legitimizing them as colonial settlements. The Kingdom reiterates its firm rejection of Israel's continuous violations of international law and international humanitarian law. The Kingdom affirms that lasting and just peace cannot be achieved without the Palestinian people obtaining their legitimate rights in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. -- SPA 20:34 Local Time 17:34 GMT 0040 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Imposing Tariffs on Countries Importing Venezuelan Oil Presidential Actions Executive Orders March 24, 2025 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and in view of the national emergency declared with respect to Venezuela in Executive Order 13692 of March 8, 2015 (Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela), as continued most recently in the notice of February 27, 2025 (Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Venezuela), I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, find that the actions and policies of the regime of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. The activities of the Tren de Aragua gang, a transnational criminal organization originating in Venezuela and designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization, have intensified this threat, as highlighted in Proclamation 10903 of March 14, 2025 (Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act Regarding the Invasion of the United States by Tren De Aragua). Furthermore, Venezuela's ongoing destabilizing actions, including its support for illicit activities, necessitate further economic measures to protect United States interests. In light of these circumstances, and to address the continued national emergency with respect to Venezuela that forms the basis for Executive Order 13692 and subsequent orders, I hereby order: Section 1. Findings. (a) The Tren de Aragua gang, a transnational criminal organization with origins in Venezuela, has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States due to its extensive involvement in terrorist activities such as kidnapping and violent attacks, including the assassination of a Venezuelan opposition figure, that destabilize communities across the Western Hemisphere. The prior administration's open-borders policies facilitated the infiltration of the United States by members of Tren de Aragua, allowing these dangerous criminals to establish a foothold within United States cities and prey upon American citizens. The Maduro regime aided and facilitated the influx of Tren de Aragua members into the United States during the prior administration by failing to control its borders, permitting the gang's operations to flourish within Venezuela, and refusing to take action against its members, thereby exacerbating the illegal immigration crisis. (b) Existing sanctions on Venezuela, including those imposed in Executive Order 13692, Executive Order 13808 of August 24, 2017 (Imposing Additional Sanctions with Respect to the Situation in Venezuela), Executive Order 13850 of November 1, 2018 (Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela), and Executive Order 13884 of August 5, 2019 (Blocking Property of the Government of Venezuela), remain in effect. The actions and policies of the Maduro regime that were the basis for those orders continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. These actions include: (i) The systematic undermining of democratic institutions through the suppression of free and fair elections and the illegitimate consolidation of power by the regime of Nicolas Maduro; (ii) Endemic economic mismanagement and public corruption at the expense of the Venezuelan people and their prosperity; (iii) The regime's responsibility for the deepening humanitarian and public health crisis in Venezuela; and (iv) The destabilization of the Western Hemisphere through the forced migration of millions of Venezuelans, imposing significant burdens on neighboring countries. Sec. 2. Imposition of Tariffs. (a) 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. Duties imposed by this order will be supplemental to duties on imports already imposed pursuant to IEEPA, section 232 of the Trade Expansion of 1962, section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, or any other authority. (b) The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the United States Trade Representative, is hereby authorized to determine in his discretion whether the tariff of 25 percent will be imposed on goods from any country that imports Venezuelan oil, directly or indirectly, on or after April 2, 2025. (c) Once imposed on a country at the Secretary of State's discretion, the tariff of 25 percent shall expire 1 year after the last date on which the country imported Venezuelan oil, or at an earlier date if the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the United States Trade Representative, so determines at his discretion. Sec. 3. Administration and Enforcement. (a) The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the United States Trade Representative, is hereby authorized to impose the tariffs established by this order. (b) The Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General, is hereby authorized to: (i) Determine whether a country has imported Venezuelan oil, directly or indirectly; (ii) Issue regulations, guidance, and determinations as necessary to implement this order; (iii) Coordinate with the heads of other executive departments and agencies to ensure compliance; and (iv) Take any additional actions consistent with applicable law to carry out the purposes of this order. (c) Any prior Presidential Proclamation, Executive Order, or other Presidential directive or guidance that is inconsistent with the direction in this order is hereby terminated, suspended, or modified to the extent necessary to give full effect to this order. (d) Any other Presidential Proclamation, Executive Order, or other Presidential directive or guidance that applies to Venezuela or a country subject to a tariff under section 2 of this order remains in full effect, except to the extent specified in subsection (c) of this section. (e) If the Secretary of State, at his discretion, decides to impose a tariff under section 2 of this order on China, that tariff shall also apply to both the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macau Special Administrative Region, as a measure to reduce the risk of transshipment and evasion. Sec. 4. Reporting and Review. The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce shall submit periodic reports to the President, within 180 days of the date of this order and no less than every 180 days thereafter, assessing the effectiveness of the tariffs described in this order and the ongoing conduct of the Maduro regime. Sec. 5. Definitions. For the purposes of this order: (a) The term "Venezuelan oil" means crude oil or petroleum products extracted, refined, or exported from Venezuela, regardless of the nationality of the entity involved in the production or sale of such crude oil or petroleum products. (b) The term "indirectly" includes purchases of Venezuelan oil through intermediaries or third countries where the origin of the oil can reasonably be traced to Venezuela, as determined by the Secretary of Commerce. Sec. 6. Effective Date. This order is effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 2, 2025. Sec. 7. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) The authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) The functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. DONALD J. TRUMP THE WHITE HOUSE, March 24, 2025. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mozambique: Statement by the Spokesperson on the latest political developments European External Action Service (EEAS) 25.03.2025 EEAS Press Team The EU welcomes the meeting between Mozambican President Daniel Chapo and former presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane on 23 March as a positive step towards reconciliation in Mozambique. The EU encourages all political actors in Mozambique to continue to engage in a meaningful dialogue that leads to restoring trust in public institutions and brings about urgent reforms that meet the aspirations of the Mozambican people: democratic governance, respect for human rights, sustainable development and a prosperous economy whose benefits all Mozambicans can share. The EU is ready to support such dialogue as well as the implementation of reforms agreed among Mozambican stakeholders. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Tsahkna met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington DC Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 25.03.2025 Today 25 March, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna and his Latvian and Lithuanian colleagues met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss cooperation on strengthening transatlantic relations and achieving a lasting peace in Ukraine. It was the first high-level meeting between a representative of Estonia and a member of the new US administration. At the meeting, Foreign Minister Tsahkna thanked the United States for its contribution to the security of our region. "Years of security assistance and the presence of rotating US troops in the Baltic States boost our deterrence and defence posture and help maintain peace in the region and beyond," Tsahkna said. He added that Estonia was serious about defending itself, spending 3.7% of GDP on defence this year and, following a government decision, raising it to 5% of GDP next year. "Right now, we are matching every dollar invested by the USA in Estonia's security with 12 dollars to our defence budget," Tsahkna noted. The foreign minister added that at the NATO summit this June, Allies must agree on a new and ambitious defence spending target. "In the current security situation and considering the fact that Russia is and remains the most serious threat, it is fair to expect European Allies to significantly increase their defence spending," the minister said. He also noted that the strong alliance of Estonia and the United States went beyond defence, referring to the assistance provided by the USA in the process of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania desynchronising from the Russian electricity grid. "Since the start of Russia's full-scale war, Estonia has taken decisive steps to reduce our dependence on Russia. In addition to desynchronising from the Russian electricity grid, Estonia has completely phased out the import of energy carriers, which underpin Russia's economy," Tsahkna said. The meeting included in-depth discussions on Russia's aggression against Ukraine, with Tsahkna highlighting the peace efforts of the United States. "The proposal for a 30-day ceasefire made in Jeddah a couple of weeks ago clearly shows that both the USA and Ukraine are committed to achieving peace," Tsahkna said. "However, Russia has shown it is not ready for peace because it is continuing its brutal attacks against Ukraine." The foreign minister said it was important to continue military assistance to Ukraine on the one hand, and economic pressure on Russia on the other. "A just and lasting peace is possible only if Russia gives up on its goal of destroying Ukraine and restructuring the security architecture of Europe. Sanctions and the mobilisation of the frozen sovereign assets of Russia are key levers here," Tsahkna said. Tsahkna said that a strong transatlantic bond had ensured security and economic prosperity in both Europe and the United States for decades and Estonia was committed to maintaining and developing that bond. "In recent months, Europe has taken decisive steps to increase defence investments and develop defence capabilities, which boosts collective defence and helps us face challenges together," Tsahkna said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US military maintains high-intensity presence in S.China Sea but activities hit bottleneck: Chinese think tank Global Times By Liu Xuanzun and Liang Rui Published: Mar 25, 2025 08:29 PM The US has sustained a high-intensity military presence in the South China Sea and nearby areas, but the number and frequency of deployed platforms have plateaued over the past year, according to a Chinese think tank report released Tuesday. A Chinese military affairs expert warned that overextension of the US military activities may increase the risk of accidents. In 2024, the US military continued to strengthen its military deterrence against China, maintaining high-intensity operations including close-in reconnaissance, Taiwan Straits transits, forward presence, strategic cruising, military exercises and drills, as well as battlefield preparation in the South China Sea and its surrounding areas, the Beijing-based think tank South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI) said on Tuesday in a report on US military activities in the South China Sea in 2024. The US military continued high-intensity aerial close-in reconnaissance operations near China, but saw only limited growth in activity. The cumulative deployment totals about 1,000 sorties, with no significant increase compared to 2022 and 2023, the SCSPI said. In the meantime, the US significantly intensified maritime reconnaissance activities, and continued to leverage the Philippines as a key staging point to increase activity, according to the report. The think tank concluded that, while the US military has gone to great lengths to intensify its presence and activities in the South China Sea, it has hit its peacetime peak due to an "increment bottleneck" in platform quantity and distractions such as the Red Sea crisis. Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that while the US may have reached a deployment bottleneck, its military activities near China remain highly intense and should be viewed in full context. Zhang noted that the US has dispersed military resources to Europe and the Middle East, so it has had limited equipment to further enhance activities in the South China Sea, Zhang said. Under this circumstance, the US' highly intensive military activities including close-in reconnaissance could result in aerial and maritime accidents, as the US forces, including its equipment and personnel, are facing fatigue, Zhang said, citing US military's accidents in the South China Sea in recent years. In October 2021, a US nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Connecticut, struck an uncharted seamount in the South China Sea; In January 2022, a US F-35C fighter jet had a landing mishap on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson while the US aircraft carrier was in the South China Sea. Accidents are also likely to happen if the US military approaches too close to Chinese territories, forcing the Chinese side to track, monitor and drive them away when necessary, Zhang said, noting that the US moves sabotage peace and stability in the region. Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson at China's Ministry of National Defense, said at a regular press conference in September 2024 that the US and its allies and partners' vessels and aircraft have conducted close-in harassment and provocation, illegally trespassed into Chinese territorial waters or sea and airspaces under Chinese jurisdiction, maliciously disturbed normal training activities by the Chinese side, irresponsibly made reckless maneuvers. He said such actions seriously undermined China's sovereignty and security interests, seriously harmed safety of personnel from both sides, seriously sabotaged peace and stability in the region. These fully show that the US side is the true provocateur, disturber and destroyer, the spokesperson said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 33rd Meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (March 25, 2025) India - Ministry of External Affairs March 25, 2025 The 33rd meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was held on 25 March 2025 in Beijing. The Indian delegation was led by Shri Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia), and the Chinese delegation was led by Mr. Hong Liang, Director General of the Boundary & Oceanic Affairs Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2. 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. 3. The two sides 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. 4. The Indian delegation leader paid a courtesy call on Assistant Foreign Minister H.E. Mr. Hong Lei. New Delhi March 25, 2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran welcomes agreement on draft peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 25, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says Iran welcomes an agreement reached between the Republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the text of a historic peace treaty. Araqchi, who is in Yerevan on an official visit, said at a joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, on Tuesday, that the Islamic Republic encouraged Armenia and Azerbaijan to sign the agreement as soon as possible. That, he said, would greatly contribute to the strengthening of peace and stability, as well as economic development, in the region. Armenia and Azerbaijan have been locked in conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region for nearly four decades. In 2020, Azerbaijan launched a military operation that ultimately resulted in taking about a third of Nagorno-Karabakh. Almost all of the nearly 100,000 Armenians in the region fled to Armenia as refugees. Iran backs the territorial integrity of countries Araqchi emphasized that Iran supported the independence and territorial integrity of the countries of the region and opposed any change in their international borders. "We believe regional issues should be resolved within the region, through dialogue and diplomacy, and without resorting to force," the foreign minister said. The Iranian diplomat said the Islamic Republic of Iran also supported the development of economic cooperation, including the opening of communication and transportation routes, between regional states. Araqchi and Mirzoyan held a meeting before the press conference, where they reviewed important bilateral and regional issues. Mirzoyan hosted Iran's foreign minister for a working dinner on Monday night, hours after Araqchi arrived in Armenia's capital. Araqchi has also met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. 6125**4482 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli airstrikes kill at least 23, including children, in Gaza IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 25, 2025 New Israeli strikes have killed at least 23 people in the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian medics, as hospitals are flooded with the dead and wounded since Israel resumed a genocidal war on the territory last week. The latest Israeli strikes were carried out overnight into Tuesday. Among the fatalities were three children and their parents, who were killed in a strike on their tent near the southern city of Khan Younis, according to Gaza's Nasser Hospital. Israel launched the war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. The war was briefly halted with a ceasefire agreement in January. The regime restarted the war on March 18. More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 113,000 wounded in the war, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Oscar-winning Palestinian director attacked, arrested Separately, Hamdan Ballal, a Palestinian co-director of the documentary "No Other Land," was assaulted by masked Israeli settlers in his home village in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. He was then arrested by the Israeli military "for questioning." Ballal was assaulted and beaten in Susya Village by at least 20 settlers, who wielded knives, sticks, and rocks. Witnesses said Israeli soldiers present nearby refused to protect Ballal, and later arrested him. 6125**4482 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Exclusive | U.S. threats won't deter Yemen from supporting Palestine, says senior Yemeni official IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 25, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Secretary of Yemen's Supreme Political Council Yasser al-Houri has renewed his country's position on supporting the Palestinian people and their just cause until they reclaim all their legitimate rights. "The Yemeni nation, leaders and armed forces are steadfast in the commitment they made to the Palestinian nation and resistance," al-Houri told IRNA in an exclusive interview on Tuesday. Referring to Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, he said that Yemen will not stand idly by, like other Arab countries with worthless statements, as the oppressed Palestinian people are being massacred. "The Yemeni nation and armed forces consider defending Palestine as defending themselves and the Islamic Ummah," he said. The official underlined that the Yemeni people and army have been fighting Israel in support of Palestine despite constant attacks by U.S. forces stationed in the region. "On one hand, the Yemeni armed forces are targeting the depth of the Zionist enemy, and on the other, they are confronting American aggression using their field experiences," he said, adding that "the U.S. attacks have had no effect on Yemen's military capabilities." Al-Houri hailed the Yemeni nation's steadfastness, saying that the anti-Israel operations and the clashes with U.S. forces in the Red Sea show their high readiness and capability. Elsewhere in the interview, he warned the regional countries about the Israeli and U.S. plots. In the Middle East under U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, all countries should either have friendly ties with the Israeli regime or they should act in accordance with policies and will of Washington and Tel Aviv, he said. "This is a danger that threatens all countries in the Middle East." Al-Houri also drew attention to the Israeli aggression against Lebanon and said that the country will not be left alone in the face of the attacks of the Zionist regime. "Leader of Ansarullah movement Abdul-Malik al-Houthi announced that Yemen is ready to come to the aid of Lebanon with all its might and resources," he said. The Secretary of Yemen's Supreme Political Council also said that armed forces are waiting signals from their leaders and commanders to launch their operations in support of Lebanon. He once again reaffirmed stance on Palestine, saying the Yemeni people have always supported their leaders on the issue and do not pay attention to the threats of the United States. "The Yemeni people have entered the battle in support the Palestinians with reliance on God." 4399**4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen conducts new attacks on Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, U.S. aircraft carrier IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 25, 2025 Yemen has announced new "successful" attacks on Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport and the United States' USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in response to the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. Army spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced the operations early on Tuesday, saying that they were successful and carried out using drones, cruise and ballistic missiles. He said that the Yemeni armed forces targeted Ben Gurion Airport, near Tel Aviv, with a Zulfiqar ballistic missile and Palestine 2 hypersonic missile. In a separate operation, the spokesman said, the Yemeni armed forces launched an attack on USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier and its accompanying vessels in the Red Sea, using drones and cruise missiles. According to Saree, the attack on the aircraft carrier was the second in 24 hours. He emphasized that Yemen will continue to block the passage of Israel-linked vessels in the high seas, and will keep attacks on positions deep inside the occupied territories until Israel stops its war on Gaza and lifts its siege of the Palestinian territory. Yemen began its anti-Israel operations after the regime on March 11 missed a four-day deadline set by Sana'a to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israel blocked the entry of basic supplies into Gaza on March 1 to pressure Hamas to accept its own terms of conditions to continue a ceasefire that had begun earlier this year. Amid Yemen's ultimatum, the U.S. launched airstrikes on Yemen on March 15, claiming that the aim was to protect international shipping. Yemen has rejected the claim, saying that the ongoing U.S. airstrikes are part of Washington's support for Tel Aviv. Yemen has responded to the U.S. aggression by targeting its aircraft carrier in the Red Sea. The latest U.S. airstrikes hit Yemen early on Tuesday, targeting the northern province of Sa'ada. The strike left a number of civilians injured, Sa'ada's Human Rights Office said, without specifying. Meanwhile, Yemen's Al-Masirah TV said that the U.S. strike in Sa'ada led to the complete destruction of the only cancer treatment hospital there. It said the medical facility had been damaged in another U.S. strike nearly a week ago. 9376**4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Allied assets deploy in preparation for Allied Air Command's exercise Ramstein Flag 2025 NATO Allied Air Command Mar 25 2025 RAMSTEIN, Germany -- NATO's Allied Air Command, in cooperation with the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), is set to conduct Ramstein Flag 2025 (RAFL25) from March 31 to April 11, 2025. The exercise will bring together over 90 aircraft from more than 15 Allied nations, operating from 12 Allied air bases across Europe. This large-scale, tactical-level training exercise aims to bolster multi-domain operations, interoperability, and rapid response capabilities among Allied forces. The RAFL25 exercise, running alongside the Dutch-led Frisian Flag, is designed to enhance NATO's ability to operate in a complex environment. The exercise will focus on further developing Counter Anti-Access/Area Denial (C-A2/AD), Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD), and Agile Combat Employment (ACE) tactics, techniques and procedures. "NATO air power is fundamental to alliance deterrence in the defence of all NATO nations, probably now or than ever" Said Air Marshal Jonny Stringer, Deputy Commander Allied Air Command during a media roundtable. "What you're seeing in Ramstein flag is some of the highest end training we're able to conduct in Europe across a raft of nations, supported by all 32 nations". A critical component of the exercise is the Deployable Air Control Centre, Recognized Air Picture Production Centre, and Sensor Fusion Post (DARS), which has already been deployed ahead of the exercise. The DARS system will provide real-time airspace monitoring, coordination and recognised air picture, ensuring seamless integration between air and ground-based assets. Participating fighter jets, surveillance aircraft, refueling tankers, and electronic warfare assets, will integrate with Land and Maritime assets, the exercise providing a highly sophisticated multi-domain exercise that includes realistic problem sets in a complex operational environment. Ramstein Flag "provides a unique opportunity to train the entire air power team in a multinational setting from our crews on the ground and our crews in the air to our maintenance teams, our logistics crews" said Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, Lieutenant General Andre Steur who also participated in the media roundtable. "This exercise is not just about interoperability and training towards the target set or certain opponent, but it's also providing exposure at all levels" he added. As RAFL25 approaches, the exercise remains a key demonstration of NATO's air power, resilience, and commitment to collective defence; ensuring NATO air forces are prepared to meet the challenges of an evolving security landscape. Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NZ Army Combat Team locked and loaded for major Waiouru exercise New Zealand Defence Force From blowing up bridges to soldiers engaged in trench warfare, anti-tank javelin missiles and combat vehicles in full flight, Exercise Sangro is set to test Army's range of capabilities and pack quite the punch. 25 March, 2025 "It's the first time various units have come together for this kind of live fire exercise and at this scale in a while, so it's incredibly important for us," said Lieutenant Colonel Caleb Berry, Commanding Officer of the Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifled (QAMR) armoured regiment. Over the course of the next week and a half, close to 200 soldiers of Ngati Tumatauenga, the New Zealand Army, will descend on the Argo Valley in the Waiouru Military Training Area, to conduct a series of high intensity exercises. These will see elements of armour, infantry, artillery, engineers, signals and logistics from across the 1st (NZ) Brigade, operating as an integrated Combat Team. "The combat team will be tasked to advance and clear a route with known enemy positions, as well as unknown enemy positions," said Lieutenant Colonel Berry. "They will come under fire from enemy positions and conduct either troop or combat team level quick and deliberate attacks." The exercise will test commanders' abilities to make the right decisions under pressure in the midst of a very realistic scenario, and show the effectiveness of the NZ Army's combat units as they attack, dominate and win various encounters. Beyond the Army's combat capability, Exercise Sangro will also test our units' agility when responding to fast-paced, evolving situations. Included in the combat team are the latest protected vehicle in the NZ Army's arsenal, the Bushmaster - an armoured vehicle that provides a high level of protection and mobility to soldiers. "This exercise is crucial to our journey of bringing the Bushmaster up to full operational readiness." The Bushmaster, which has a mounted machine gun for protection, will be supporting the NZ Army's primary combat vehicle, the Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV), with its 25mm cannon capable of engaging with the enemy at ranges up to 2400m. Exercise Sangro will ultimately conclude with the LAV Motorised Infantry capability being certified at the Combat Team level. This means it can integrate seamlessly within an Australian Battlegroup, on coalition warfighting operations. "Our big exercises coming up later this year are Diamond Strike, with 7th Australian Brigade in June, and Talisman Sabre held in Australia in July, and the Combat Team that we're testing here in Waiouru this week is the one that will be crossing the ditch in a couple of months - so getting this exercise right is crucial for our interoperability with Aussie counterparts, which plays a significant role in our shared focus on the security and stability of our wider region." Exercise Sangro will run from March 24 through to April 4. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Niger: Turk says egregious mosque attack should be wake-up call Press releases Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights 25 March 2025 GENEVA -- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Tuesday condemned the recent attack on a mosque in western Niger, in which at least 44 worshippers were killed and scores injured. Assailants from the so-called Islamic State in the Greater Sahara surrounded Fambita Mosque on 21 March and randomly shot at the worshippers. They then set a market and several homes on fire. "The egregious attack on the Fambita Mosque - during Friday prayers in the last 10 days of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan - was clearly intended to cause as many civilian casualties as possible, in stark violation of international human rights law and humanitarian law," said Turk. "The authorities must institute a thorough and impartial investigation into this horrific attack and to bring those responsible to justice, in accordance with international standards." The attack, in Kokorou village, in the Tillaberi region, came in the context of a general deterioration in the security situation in the wider Sahel region. "The calculated assault on Fambita Mosque at such an important time for Muslims, should be a wake-up call to all, including the international community, as to the seriousness of the situation and the widening risks faced by civilians in Niger," said Turk. "I call on the Nigerien authorities to take concrete and meaningful steps with the assistance of the international community to improve security for civilians and to prevent a repetition of any such attack." The UN Human Rights Chief also called on them to take effective measures to uphold human rights and the rule of law, to protect civilians and to involve the communities affected by the violence in efforts towards finding a durable solution to the ongoing human rights crisis in the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address War against Rubble: Israel Crosses the Line of Massacre to Beyond Death-----3,665 Israeli Crimes in a Week Targeting All Forms of Palestinian Life Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) 25-03-2025 The Organization of Islamic Cooperation's Media Observatory on Israeli Crimes against Palestinians recorded 979 Palestinians murdered between March 18 and 24, 2025, and documented 1,474 others wounded. The deliberate killings perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have not ceased since January 19, continuing until March 23, 2025. This is evident from the attached chart, which shows a significant increase in killings during the period that coincided with the start of the ceasefire, January 19-25, 2025, and in the period of March 18-23, 2025. This indicates that the occupation forces are employing killings as a means of collective punishment to achieve political gains, rather than as a routine military operation. The close proximity of the number of murdered Palestinians to the number of those wounded also reflects a clear intent to inflict fatal injuries on Palestinians. The second wave of Israeli aggression is even more severe, as its missiles target the rubble remaining in Gaza, making the crimes of the occupying forces even more horrific, and crossing the line from genocidal warfare into genocidal acts that extend beyond death. All that was further illustrated in the updates of the last week, where the number of Israeli crimes between March 18 and 24, 2025, reached 3,665 across the Palestinian territories, a record high compared to previous weeks. The number of Palestinians murdered from October 7, 2023, to March 25, 2025, reached 51,943, and 121,448 others were wounded. In a brief review of the crimes of the past seven days, the Israeli occupying forces targeted the United Nations Office for Project Services in Deir al-Balah, murdering one employee and wounding others. Israeli bombardment also targeted the home of Palestinian journalist Hussam al-Titi, who worked for the American ABC News network. He was murdered along with his wife and daughter in western Gaza. Journalist Hussam Shabat, a correspondent for Al Jazeera Mubasher in Beit Hanoun, and journalist Mohammed Mansour of Palestine Today TV were also murdered. The Israeli bombing also included a mosque in the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood in Rafah, Nasser Hospital, and the remaining civilian homes in Khan Yunis, Beit Lahia, al-Tuffah neighborhood, and al-Shuja'iyya neighborhood. The Israeli shells murdered six children at once, amid a lack of medical resources in hospitals in the northern, central, and southern Gaza Strip due to the complete Israeli blockade. The Israeli Defense Minister, Yisrael Katz, also announced the intention of his forces to occupy more territory in the Gaza Strip. His troops launched a ground attack in the Beit Lahia area. This coincided with the establishment of an Israeli agency to displace Palestinians inside Gaza. In the West Bank, the Israeli occupation forces arrested 232 Palestinians and demolished, burned, and occupied 12 homes in the Nur Shams camp in Tulkarm, Al-Quds, Jericho, and Bethlehem. Settlers seized a Palestinian home in the Old City of Hebron, and the occupation forces prevented its Palestinian owners from returning to it. The Israeli occupation forces bulldozed and destroyed roads and lands that had been established and prepared for a university project in the town of Bani Na'im in Hebron. Other acts of destruction by the Israeli forces included, the bulldozing of an area of agricultural land adjacent to Alona Park, the cutting down of dozens of olive trees in the town of Hawara in Nablus, bulldozing a plot of land, and demolishing a stonewall surrounding it in the village of al-Jib in Al-Quds. Israeli forces also demolished a sheep pen and destroyed a solar cell room in the Arab al-Malihat community west of Jericho, and confiscated an agricultural tractor in Bethlehem. Regarding attacks on mosques during the holy month of Ramadan, the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque was subjected to daily raids and attacks by the occupation police and Israeli extremists. They continued to impose strict restrictions on the entry of worshippers from other West Bank governorates to Al-Quds to perform the third Friday prayers of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa, in addition to restricting entry to the mosque from within Al-Quds itself. For the third consecutive week, the Israeli occupation authorities also refused to hand over the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron to the Palestinians, as is customary on Fridays during Ramadan every year. On the settlement activities news, the past week witnessed 10 settlement activities, the most prominent of which was the approval by the Israeli occupation's security council to separate 13 settlements in the West Bank from their neighboring settlements, and the initiation of procedures to recognize them as "independent" settlements. The Israeli occupation forces issued a military order to evacuate approximately 120 dunums of Palestinian agricultural land belonging to the village of Jalbun in Jenin. On the other hand, settlers paved settlement roads in the Ramallah Governorate and the northern Jordan Valley. Settlers also began constructing a pastoral settlement outpost near the Auja Spring in Jericho. Other settlers installed electricity poles to supply electricity to a settlement outpost built on the Palestinian lands of the village of Farkha in Salfit. Meanwhile, settlers bulldozed areas of agricultural land in the village of Umm Safa in Ramallah, and others erected iron awnings near Palestinian residential tents in the Ein al-Hilweh area in the northern Jordan Valley. In total, within seven days, the number of attacks launched by settlers on Palestinian villages reached 30 attacks, concentrated in the category of livestock crimes, where settlers in the village of Al-Badhan in Nablus burned a sheep pen and a tent in Salfit. They also released their livestock in the Nab' al-Ghazal spring area and in agricultural lands in Wadi al-Faw in Tubas, in the town of Al-Auja in Jericho, and in the areas of Sha'b al-Batam and Wadi Ma'in in Hebron. A settler also ran over a herd of sheep with his vehicle in Khirbet Samra in Tubas, while another ran over a herd of sheep near the Al-Burj area in the town of Deir Dibwan in Ramallah. Other settlers stole sheep from the village of Jalud in Nablus, and finally, settlers threw dead sheep into a water collection well in the town of Yatta with the aim of polluting it. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Blast injures 2 policemen, driver in India's Chhattisgarh People's Daily Online (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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese claims on WPS part of efforts to retain power - PH Navy Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno March 25, 2025, 5:50 pm MANILA -- China's continued claims on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and parts of the country's territory are part of its efforts to ensure a continued grip on power, a ranking Philippine Navy official said Tuesday. In a press briefing, Navy spokesperson for the WPS, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, said these messages are possibly targeted at different audiences. "Number one, it could be (the) internal audience of the Chinese Communist Party in order to provide a strong narrative to support their claim of power. Number two, it could be the Filipino patronization, and it could be the international audience," he added. Trinidad, however, said these Chinese claims, including allegations that Palawan is part of China, are easily batted aside by international jurisprudence that also supports the Philippine stand. "We have the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling, we have our Constitution. It is very clear that Palawan is part and parcel of our archipelago. Pronounces like this (that Palawan is allegedly part of China) by a foreign power should be taken (with) a grain of salt," he added. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address AFP anticipates possible US missile deployment to PH Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno March 25, 2025, 4:35 pm MANILA -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) welcomed reports that the United States will be deploying additional units of Medium Range Capability (MRC) Typhon missile systems to the Philippines. A report by US-based Defense News posted March 18 said "the U.S. Army's 3rd Multidomain Task Force unit is standing up its long-range fires battalion over the next year, including readying its Typon battery, for deployment in the Pacific theater," quoting unit chief Col. Michael Rose. "This is a welcome development for the Armed Forces of the Philippines. We can say that the more, the merrier. So the more assets we have, the more that we are able to train more personnel on our part," AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. In the same media conference, Philippine Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said having additional Typhon units will greatly help in the training of soldiers who would be tasked to handle similar weapon systems in the future. Rose said in the same Defense News story that they are "always looking for opportunities to do live-fire with the system." Meanwhile, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said they welcome all opportunities to train using modern weapons. He clarified that the defense posture of the Philippines is done as an action of a sovereign state and not aimed or designed against any country. The first MRC Typhoon missile system was deployed to the Philippines last year. It was used for training purposes during the 2024 iteration of the "Salaknib" and "Balikatan" exercises and initially stationed in Northern Luzon. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Grounding order for fighter jet fleet may be lifted this week Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno March 25, 2025, 2:59 pm MANILA -- The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Tuesday said that the order lifting the grounding of the 11 remaining FA-50PH fighter jets will be issued anytime this week. In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said the "comprehensive inspection" of the FA-50PH fleet is almost done. "And we are committed to bringing back this fleet back to full operational status very soon, hopefully within this week. So that we can get (the FA-50PHs) back to their essential missions of maritime patrol, airspace security, and support to ongoing focused military operations," she added. The PAF's 11 FA-50PHs were ordered grounded following the crash of a similar aircraft during a nighttime tactical operation in Bukidnon on March 5. Two pilots died. Castillo said results of the assessment of tests done abroad are not yet in. "As for the ongoing investigation regarding the mishap, currently we are awaiting the results of the voice and data extraction and assessment, which was done overseas," she added. Aside from this, Castillo said the investigation team is conducting visual interviews of all personnel involved during and after the flight. "At the same time, we are also looking at all the maintenance and history records of our aircraft. And we are committed to come up with a swift, impartial, and thorough investigation regarding this, so that we can assure that our future operations are safe for everyone," she said. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Palace: PCG taking action on Chinese barriers in Panatag Philippine News Agency By Darryl John Esguerra March 25, 2025, 2:24 pm MANILA -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is addressing the presence of floating barriers installed by the Chinese maritime militia in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, Malacanang said Tuesday. In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said details of the PCG operations could not be disclosed to the public. "Naka-usap po mismo natin si Commodore [Jay] Tarriela, at ang anumang operasyon na gagawin nila ay hindi po natin maaaring i-expose (I have talked to Commodore Jay Tarriela and whatever actions they will take, we cannot expose it)," Castro said. Tarriela is the PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea issues. "Pero tiwala po tayo sa ating Coast Guard, sa DND, sa kanilang magiging desisyon patungkol po dito (But we trust our Coast Guard and the Department of National Defense on their decision about this matter)," Castro said. In 2023, the government removed similar installations in the area following the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. When asked if the government would pursue a similar measure, Castro the Palace has not heard of a similar plan. "Hintayin na lamang po natin kung ano ang maaaring maging report at ano ang maaaring maging aksiyon po ng nasabing mga ahensiya (Let's just wait for the report and the action of the said agencies)," she added. In a press briefing in Quezon City, the military said it is ready to assist the PCG in removing the barriers spotted by a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources maritime domain awareness flight on Monday. "In the event that assistance will be needed, the Philippine Navy, the Air Force and the entire Nolcom (Northern Luzon Command) will be ready to respond," Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, said. (With a report from Priam Nepomuceno/PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. National Security Advisor Waltz claims responsibility for leaked chat of Yemen military plan Xinhua) 11:19, March 26, 2025 WASHINGTON, March 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz has assumed "full responsibility" for a leaked group chat discussing an upcoming strike in Yemen. "I take full responsibility. I built the group," Waltz said in an interview with Fox News Channel on Tuesday. "It's embarrassing. We're going to get to the bottom of it," he said on the channel's "The Ingraham Angle." Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, wrote on Monday that he was invited on March 11 to join a group chat named "Houthi PC Small Group" on Signal, a popular encrypted messaging app used by journalists and government officials. Upon joining, he discovered that several high-ranking officials, including Waltz, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, were discussing plans for a forthcoming strike on the Houthis in Yemen. "According to the lengthy Hegseth text, the first detonations in Yemen would be felt two hours hence, at 1:45 p.m. eastern time," Goldberg recalled in his article. "So I 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." The incident is widely considered a major national security breach, prompting Democratic lawmakers to demand answers from the White House in multiple letters. U.S. President Donald Trump defended Waltz in front of reporters at the White House on Monday. "I don't think he should apologize," he said. "I think he's doing his best. It's equipment and technology that's not perfect." According to Fox News, Trump has no plan to fire Waltz over the incident. During an interview with NBC News on Tuesday, Trump said that a staffer from Waltz's office inadvertently included Goldberg in the group chat. He also claimed that this had "no impact at all" on the airstrikes in Yemen. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Hegseth visit highlights strong PH-US defense ties - AFP Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno March 25, 2025, 1:09 pm MANILA -- The scheduled visit of US Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Pete Hegseth to the country on March 28 highlights the strong military ties between the Philippines and the United States, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Tuesday. In a press briefing, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the visit reaffirms Washington D.C.'s announcement of its strong commitment to support Manila. "This visit reaffirms na laging sinasabi ng ating ally for a long time na US na yun commitment nga nila is ironclad itong sa pag-support sa atin (that their commitment to support us is ironclad)," she added. Padilla also said that Hegseth's visit also shows the US is keen on beefing up its existing military alliance with the Philippines. The US DOD chief is scheduled to meet with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Friday at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. This is the first in-person meeting between the two defense chiefs, following a phone conference in February. During the telephone conference, Teodoro congratulated Hegseth on his appointment as DOD chief even as both officials expressed optimism on the deepening defense ties of the two nations. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Genocide in Gaza: Israel kills scores, injures hundreds in 24 hours Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 March 2025 6:10 PM The Health Ministry in Gaza says renewed Israeli airstrikes on the besieged territory have killed dozens of Palestinians and injured hundreds others in the past 24 hours. The ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that 62 dead bodies and 296 injured people were brought to hospitals in the Gaza Strip over the last day. "A number of victims are still under the rubble and on the streets, and ambulance and civil defense crews cannot reach them," it added. According to the ministry, the death toll in Gaza has risen to 792 since Israel renewed its war on the blockaded territory last week. At least 1,663 Palestinians have also been wounded. Israel resumed its war on Gaza on March 18, undermining the fragile two-month-long truce agreement with the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas. The airstrikes have killed mostly women and children, drawing a wave of condemnations worldwide. The overall death toll since October 7, 2023 has risen past the 50,000 mark. Medical sources said at least 26 had been killed in fresh Israeli attacks in southern, central, and northern Gaza since dawn Tuesday. Ten people lost their lives in Israeli strikes targeting tents housing displaced people in the southern city of Khan Yunis. At least eight people from the same family were also killed after Israeli warplanes hit a house in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. In Gaza City, four Palestinians were killed when Israeli warplanes struck a home in the Sabra neighborhood. Another Israeli strike killed at least four people in the northern city of Beit Lahia, the sources added. Separately on Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike targeted a family of six in a so-called humanitarian zone in the Hamad area of Khan Yunis, killing five of them as they were sleeping in their tent. The victims included the 40-year-old father, the 38-year-old mother and three children aged 14, 10 and four. The 13-year-old child was the only survivor who was wounded and taken to hospital. Their deaths came as the family had been preparing for the upcoming Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. Israel launched its brutal war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, but the regime failed to achieve its declared objectives despite killing more than 50,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children. The Tel Aviv regime accepted Hamas's longstanding negotiation terms under the three-phase Gaza truce, which began on January 19. Later, however, Israel refused to move forward to the second stage of the ceasefire, which required it to withdraw troops from Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Denmark blasts US visit to Greenland amid Trump's takeover threats Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 March 2025 3:04 PM Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark says a planned visit by a US delegation to Greenland puts "unacceptable pressure" on the autonomous island, amid President Donald Trump's threats to take over the territory "one way or the other." A delegation led by Usha Vance, the wife of US Vice President JD Vance, is due to travel to Greenland on March 27, according to a statement from the White House. US national security adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright will also be in company. The controversial visits, presented as private, have sparked anger in Copenhagen, with Frederiksen saying on Tuesday that this is "clearly not a visit that is about what Greenland needs or wants." "That's why I have to say that the pressure being put on Greenland and Denmark in this situation is unacceptable." "And it's pressure we will resist," she said. Frederiksen also slammed Washington for having "organized a private visit with official representatives of another country." President Trump said Monday that the visit was no such thing. "It's purely friendship," he said, and claimed that officials in Greenland had in fact invited the US delegation. The island's outgoing Prime Minister Mute Egede, however, described the visits as a "provocation" and "highly aggressive." The government of Greenland said in a statement that it "has not extended any invitations for any visits, neither private nor official." "We are now at a level where this cannot in any way be characterized as a harmless visit from a politician's wife," Prime Minister Egede said Monday. "The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us," he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel abducts, injures more Palestinians in new raids in occupied West Bank Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 March 2025 9:09 AM The Israeli military has carried out new raids in several areas across the West Bank, abducting and injuring people in the occupied Palestinian territory. The WAFA news agency reported on Tuesday that Israeli forces detained eight Palestinians in early morning attacks in Nablus city and the nearby Balata and al-Ain refugee camps. The occupation soldiers also stormed the cities of al-Bireh and Dura, as well as the towns of Birzeit, Beit Rima, Deir Ghasana, Beitunia, and Idhna, searching and ransacking Palestinians' homes, the report added. WAFA also reported an Israeli raid in the town of Beit Fajjar, where the regime's troops opened fire on residents and wounded one Palestinian in the foot. The Israeli military launched its offensive against the occupied West Bank on January 21, claiming that it was targeting the resistance fighters of the Jenin Battalion. Israel has ramped up West Bank violence since October 7, 2023, when it launched a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip. Since then, at least 937 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 7,000 others injured in the attacks by the Israeli forces and settlers across the West Bank. The raids have so far uprooted at least 40,000 people, the largest displacement since the 1967 war that led to the Israeli occupation of the territory, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). On Monday, Doctors Without Borders, also known as MSF, denounced the "extremely precarious" situation of Palestinians displaced by the Israeli West Bank attacks. Tens of thousands of people in the northern West Bank "are without proper shelter, essential services, and access to healthcare," the charity group said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel preparing for 'major assault' on Gaza to occupy huge swaths of territory: US media Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 March 2025 8:56 AM Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his newly-appointed security team are reportedly planning a large-scale ground assault against the Gaza Strip in order to capture and hold swaths of territory that will allow them to defeat the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas. The Wall Street Journal carried the report on Monday, saying the regime sought to stage the assault with the self-proclaimed goal of defeating Gaza's Hamas resistance movement. The regime, the report added, believed that military defeat for Hamas was, according to Tel Aviv, crucial before any political solutions could be even considered. The movement, its allies, and even the regime's own allied states have, however, defined the group as invincible in light of its battleground savvy and strategy, as well as its popularity among Palestinians and the anti-occupation regional peoples and governments. In an interview with the regime's Channel 13 last June, former Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said, "Hamas is an idea, Hamas is a party. It's rooted in the hearts of the people whoever thinks we can eliminate Hamas is wrong." A senior Hamas official says remarks by the Israeli military spokesman on the impossibility of eliminating the group shows that the regime has failed in its war on Gaza. Anyone promising this was "throwing sand in the face of the Israeli public," he had added. Earlier this month, the Israeli military resumed the regime's war of genocide on the coastal sliver that had begun in October 2023, stopping briefly following Tel Aviv's entering a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, which it would regularly violate before re-launching the wholesale brutal onslaught. The escalation is aimed at forcing the movement into releasing those of the regime's captives, who remain in Gaza in one batch, without Tel Aviv's keeping its side of the bargain by letting the ceasefire deal transit into its second phase, releasing thousands of Palestinian prisoners, ceasing its bloodletting in the Palestinian territory, and enacting a complete withdrawal from it. Hagari had, however, emphasized that it would be "impossible" to return all the regime's captives through the offensive, underlining the need for a "scenario," where the captives would be returned in another manner. The WSJ report added, though that the Israeli officials were laying the groundwork for further significant escalation, supposedly aiming to break Hamas's hold on the Palestinian territory. The regime has already restaged the ground assault that it used to conduct against Gaza after the war, deploying infantry forces into Gaza's northern areas and the retaking of the Netzarim Corridor, an area giving Israeli forces an upper hand to step the regime's attacks on central and northern Gaza. Tel Aviv had previously relinquished the area as part of the ceasefire. Additionally, Israeli forces have ramped up airstrikes and assassinated several of Hamas political figures in the territory. The plan, championed by Netanyahu and bolstered by other key warlike figures such as minister for military affairs Israel Katz and General Eyal Zamir, rests on the belief that Hamas had to be militarily defeated on the battlefield before any political resolution could be pursued, the American paper wrote. With the backing of the administration of US President Donald Trump, which has ramped up arms and ammunition supplies to the regime, Netanyahu's team believes they have the necessary resources to press forward with the offensive, it added. The majority of regime's illegal settlers, who have been pressing it with thousands-strong protests into coming to terms with Hamas to enable the release of the rest of the captives, nevertheless, discourage further aggression. They argue, according to polls, that Tel Aviv had to abide by the ceasefire rather than to step up its atrocities. Those against additional aggression include many right-wing voters, who have contributed to Netanyahu's drawn-out political longevity. A survey by the so-called "Israel Democracy Institute" found earlier this month that 73% of the settlers, including a majority of Netanyahu's own Likud party members, supported negotiation with Hamas. Reports have, meanwhile, been emerging pointing to the Israeli premier's efforts at undermining negotiations and firing the officials supporting the talks. Throughout its course, the genocide has claimed the lives of more than 50,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, with many more displaced. Notwithstanding the brutality, Hamas has remained resilient, continuing to recruit fighters and senior leaders and strengthen its defensive capabilities. In January 2025, the group reportedly appointed a new leader, signaling its continued defiance in the face of mounting aggression. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas asserts 'impervious' to Israeli assassinations as regime's genocide rages on Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 March 2025 6:43 AM A senior Hamas spokesman says the resistance movement is deep-rooted in Palestine and that it will be not be affected by Israeli assassination of its leaders. Sami Abu Zuhri made the remarks on Monday, after Israel killed four members of Hamas's political bureau in less than a week since the occupying regime resumed its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip. The assassinations came after Israel unilaterally broke a fragile two-month-long ceasefire agreement with Hamas and conducted deadly airstrikes across Gaza. Abu Zuhri said the Zionist regime used the opportunity of the truce deal to gather information about Hamas officials in order to assassinate them. "The blood of Hamas leaders and commanders is the same as that of the Gaza children and youth, and these assassinations will not prevent us from keeping on the path of struggle," he added. The Hamas spokesman also noted that Israel today carries out filed executions on a daily basis in the besieged territory. "What is currently happening in Gaza is much more horrific than the events over the 15-month genocide," he said. Israel launched its genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, but it failed to achieve its declared objectives despite killing 50,082 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring more than 113,408 others. The usurping entity accepted Hamas's longstanding negotiation terms under the three-phase Gaza ceasefire, which began on January 19. On March 18, however, Israel resumed its relentless bombing of Gaza in blatant violation of the truce. Latest reports said, at least 23 Palestinians, including seven children, were killed in pre-dawn Israeli attacks and artillery shelling. Most of the victims were in south and central Gaza, according to the reports. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni forces hit Israeli airport, US aircraft carrier with ballistic missiles Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 March 2025 2:07 AM The Yemeni Armed Forces have said they carried out more anti-Israel and anti-US operations in retaliation for aggression against the Gaza Strip and the Arab country. Army spokesman Yahya Saree said on Monday night the Yemeni missile force targeted Israel's Ben Gurion Airport in the occupied Yaffa region with two ballistic missiles, including Zulfiqar and hypersonic Palestine 2 types. He added that the attacks were in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza. Saree noted that Yemen's armed forces also targeted the US aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman along with a number of its accompanying warships, in the Red Sea with several ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones. Saree said the attack on American warships was the second of its kind in the past 24 hours. He said the operation was carried out in response to the American aggression against Yemen. "The Yemeni Armed Forces call upon all the free people of our nation to fulfill their religious, moral, and humanitarian duty toward the oppressed Palestinian people and affirm that, with Allah's help, they will continue to block 'Israeli' maritime navigation and target the depths of the occupying entity until the aggression stops and the siege on Gaza is lifted," he said. Saree also stressed that anti-Israel operations will continue until the regime's aggression stops and the siege of Gaza is lifted. According to Yemeni media, on Monday, American warplanes conducted two strikes targeting Al-Rasool Al-Azam Oncology Hospital in Sa'ada province. The SABA news agency reported quoting a Yemeni security source that the latest US attack came less than a week after it was previously hit by thirteen airstrikes in a blatant violation of all international and humanitarian laws. Yemen's Cancer Control Fund strongly condemned that attack as a grave and brutal crime that reflected the moral and humanitarian degradation of its perpetrators. It added that the attack on the hospital constitutes a war crime under international law. Holding the US responsible for this crime, the fund called on the UN, the World Health Organization, and the Red Cross to take urgent action to stop the systematic targeting of Yemen's medical facilities. On Wednesday, the US military's Central Command confirmed "continuous operations" against Yemen. On March 15, the United States announced a wave of airstrikes that left 53 Yemenis killed. The deadly strikes, the first since US President Donald Trump resumed office, came after Yemeni forces pledged to renew operations against Israeli shipping in solidarity with the Palestinian suffering from Israeli attacks. In a further escalation, the United States recently announced plans to deploy a second aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, to the region. The Yemeni Armed Forces started their military operations against the Israeli regime in late 2023 shortly after Tel Aviv launched its genocidal war against the Palestinians trapped in Gaza. The Yeminis stopped targeting ships in the Red Sea in January after a ceasefire was announced between Israel and Hamas, but the operations resumed last week after Israel cut off the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza earlier this month and broke the ceasefire deal brokered by Trump. More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Tel Aviv launched its genocidal war in Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran slams continuation of Israeli genocide in Gaza, aggression against Lebanon Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 March 2025 1:07 AM Iran's foreign minister has strongly condemned the continuation of the Israeli genocide in Gaza, and its repeated aggression against Lebanon. In a telephone conversation with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fawad Hussein on Monday, Abbas Araghchi said the Israeli regime's violations are carried out with the green light of the United States. He called for immediate action by the international community, especially regional and Islamic countries, to stop Israel's crimes and acts of aggression, and prevent further insecurity in the entire region. He also touched on the serious threats posed by the US's abuse of its bases in regional countries and their airspace for aggression against regional nations. Araghchi said all countries in the region should take necessary measures to prevent their territory from being used by foreign military forces to make other countries insecure and take necessary measures to protect their national sovereignty. He urged neighboring and friendly countries to be careful about seditions stoked by the US. Referring to the illegal US sanctions against the Iranian oil industry, Araghchi stated that the claims and accusations made by US officials to exert pressure on Iran have no basis or credibility. On his part, the Iraqi foreign minister also expressed his deep concern about the developments in the region and the serious dangers resulting from the continued aggression against Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. He also emphasized the need for consensus and cooperation among regional countries to help alleviate the suffering of the oppressed Palestinian people and prevent the peace and stability of the entire region from being jeopardized. In a separate phone call with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, Araghchi said what is going on in Turkey is an internal issue. He expressed confidence that the country's authorities would be able to manage the ongoing developments in line with the interests of the Turkish nation. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pentagon chief Hegseth heads to Philippines amid South China Sea tensions Beijing, meanwhile, cautions Manila against security arrangements that target "any third party." By Jason Gutierrez for BenarNews 2025.03.25 MANILA -- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to visit the Philippines this week, the first trip by a top official from the new Trump administration to a long-time American defense ally in Southeast Asia. He is scheduled to arrive on Friday amid heightened territorial tensions in the South China Sea between Manila and Beijing over Chinese coast guard encroachments in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. In Manila, Hegseth is to meet with his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro Jr., to discuss their nations' long-standing defense alliance. "In a few days, my counterpart, the honorable Pete Hegseth, secretary of defense of the United States of America, will be paying a visit to the president and to myself where we will discuss ways to enhance our bilateral and trilateral and squad partnership," Teodoro told reporters on Monday. Apart from its 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with Washington, the Philippines has a year-old trilateral defense pact with the United States and Japan. It is also a member of the "Squad," an informal grouping of countries including the U.S., Australia, and Japan that have staged joint maritime activities in the South China Sea since last year. After a two-day stay in the Philippines, Hegseth will go to Japan to attend the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima and meet with Japanese officials. The American defense chief's first official visit to Asia comes on the heels of controversy over his and other senior U.S. government officials discussing top-secret plans for a military operation on an encrypted messaging app with a journalist present. Critics are calling it a flagrant violation of information security protocols. Hegseth, who was in Hawaii on Tuesday meeting officials of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, will stop in Guam before traveling on to Manila. In the Philippine capital, Hegseth "will advance security objectives with Philippine leaders and meet with U.S. and Philippine forces," Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement last week. Reacting to Hegseth's visit, Beijing warned that any security agreement involving Manila and other nations "should not target any third party" or escalate regional tensions. "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," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday. "Our message to some in the Philippines: [S]top serving as other countries' mouthpiece and no more stunt[s] for personal political agenda[s]." Questions about American commitment Asia-Pacific defense experts have been keeping an eye on the Trump administration's stances on geopolitical developments in Europe, and what this could mean to Manila in terms of Washington's support. However, since President Donald Trump took office in January, both U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Hegseth have separately issued statements to assure Manila that Washington's commitment to the defense of Philippine territorial waters remains "ironclad." Hegseth's visit to Manila is a good opportunity to "reinforce these commitments amid doubts in its security policies," according to Filipino security and geopolitical analyst Sherwin Ona. "For the Philippines, it is crucial to get Washington's renewed commitment and support for its armed forces modernization program," Ona, who teaches at De La Salle University in Manila, told BenarNews. "The U.S. also plays a vital role in strengthening mini-lateral security arrangements." The Trump administration has begun holding talks with Moscow and Kyiv aimed at ending the Ukraine war. "With the shift in U.S. policy in Europe, I think allies in the Indo-Pacific are anxious to hear the secretary's view," Ona said. "For Manila, how does this translate to actual assistance and presence in the SCS [South China Sea], Taiwan and the region." For geopolitical analyst Julio Amador III, Hegseth's trip is a "good sign" showing that the new Trump administration is giving priority to America's close ally in Southeast Asia. Amador noted that President Trump had a "history" of supporting the alliance between the two nations. It dates back to 1951 when both sides signed the Mutual Defense Treaty, which calls on the two allies to support each other in times of war. "Trump 2.0 is a welcome development for the Philippines for two reasons," he said. "First, there is a sense of familiarity as the Philippines already has experience managing relations positively with the previous Trump administration." Amador also said that many of those in the Trump 2.0 cabinet were "hawkish on China" in disposition. The "deterrence umbrella against China is all expected to increase in intensity and volume," Amador said. This includes the joint military drills that are annually carried out between the two nations. Hegseth will arrive in the Philippines as Manila and Washington prepare for their annual large-scale military exercises here next month. The Balikatan, or shoulder-to-shoulder, Exercise, which will kick off on April 21 and last until May 9, will feature a joint sail between the allies and Japan. There will also be live-fire exercises in the north, as well as an amphibious landing drill in the Batanes archipelago to defend it against imaginary invaders. Facing Taiwan, Batanes is the Philippines' northernmost group of islands. This week, the United States and the Philippine armies launched their own exercises, called Sabak. About 2,000 U.S. Army Pacific personnel joined their 3,000 Philippine Army counterparts in various drills designed to showcase their commitment to "safeguarding the Philippines' territorial integrity." Second Typhon system Meanwhile, Filipino military officials welcomed news that the U.S. was sending a second Typhon mid-range missile system to the Asia-Pacific region. While exact details have yet to be released, U.S.-based Defense News said that the U.S. Army's 3rd Multidomain Task Force was "readying its Typhon battery for deployment in the Pacific theater." In April 2024, the missile system was brought to the Philippines as part of joint military exercises with the United States. It was the first time the U.S. had deployed the mid-range system in the Asia-Pacific region - a move that angered rival superpower China. Beijing said the move "gravely threatens regional countries' security, incites geopolitical confrontation and arouses high vigilance and concerns of countries in the region." BenarNews is an online news organization affiliated with Radio Free Asia. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Court Orders USAGM To Halt Moves To Close Radio Free Europe By Todd Prince March 25, 2025 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/RL's 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/RL's 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/RL's request for a preliminary injunction requiring USAGM to provide the approximately $77 million that Congress appropriated for RFE/RL's 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 broadcaster's 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 Lamberth's thoughtful and airtight ruling to prevent USAGM from ignoring the will of Congress. We look forward to further advancing our case that it's 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 world's most repressive societies." The USAGM claimed to terminate RFE/RL's 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/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, 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. 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 won't 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 Committee's 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 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." 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. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/court-tro-usagm-halt-moves- close-radio-free-europe/33358959.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Confirms Attacks on Yemen Sputnik News 20250325 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Yemeni movement Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis, said it launched two ballistic missiles at Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport, the Almasirah broadcaster reported on Tuesday. 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. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Rubio's Meeting with Baltic Foreign Ministers US Department of State Readout March 25, 2025 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce: Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze, and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys today in Washington, D.C. Secretary Rubio emphasized our strong ties to Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia and reinforced our commitment to Baltic security. The Secretary welcomed their earnest contributions to European collective security through increased defense spending and burden sharing. The Secretary also emphasized President Trump's determination to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Geneva Palais briefing note on the situation for children in Yemen after 10 years of conflict UNICEF This is a summary of what was said by UNICEF Yemen Representative Peter Hawkins - to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva 25 March 2025 SANA'A/GENEVA, 25 March 2025 -- "The conflict in Yemen has reached a tragic milestone - over one decade of largely unrelenting conflict, with only brief and fragile periods of reduced hostilities, that has stolen childhoods, shattered futures, and left an entire generation fighting to survive. "Today, I stand before you not only to share numbers but to amplify the voices of millions of children trapped in one of the world's worst protracted humanitarian crisesa crisis defined by hunger, deprivation, and now, a worrying escalation. "1 in 2 children under five are acutely malnourished. Among them, over 537,000 suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM)a condition that is agonizing, life-threatening, and entirely preventable. Malnutrition weakens immune systems, stunts growth, and robs children of their potential. In Yemen, it is not just a health crisisit is a death sentence for thousands. "Equally alarming, 1.4 million pregnant and lactating women are malnourished, perpetuating a vicious cycle of intergenerational suffering. "This catastrophe is not natural. It is man-made. Over a decade of conflict has decimated Yemen's economy, healthcare system, and infrastructure. Even during periods of reduced violence, the structural consequences of the conflictespecially for childrenhave remained severe. More than half of the population relies on humanitarian aid to survive. Food prices have soared by 300 per cent since 2015. Critical ports and roadslifelines for food and medicineare damaged or blockaded. "Despite these incredibly difficult and often dangerous operating conditions, UNICEF remains on the ground, delivering for children. "In 2025, we continue to support 3,200 health facilities, the treatment of 600,000 malnourished children, 70 mobile teams, 42,000 community health workers and 27 therapeutic feeding centres. For this to continue, we need sustained funding. Otherwise, 7.6 million people in Yemen risk not having access to primary health care. Our 2025 appeal is only 25 per cent funded. Without urgent resources, we cannot sustain even the minimal services we are able to provide in the face of growing needs. "Time is of the essence here because, for those 527,000 children with SAM, every minute counts. A child with SAM is 11 times more likely to die than their healthy peers. Without treatment, they will perish silently. Even those who survive face lifelong consequencesimpaired cognitive development, chronic disease, and lost economic potential. This is not just Yemen's loss; it is humanity's failure. "Last month in Taiz, in the south of Yemen, I met 3-year-old Amina. Her mother walked 12 kilometres in search of a UNICEF nutrition clinic, clutching Amina's skeletal frame. Today, Amina is recoveringbut her future hinges on whether we can sustain support. "This hinges on: "One: Funding the Response Fully: We need an additional $157 million for our response in 2025. We need sustained investment in fighting all forms of malnutrition, and the diseases, lack of education and other forms of suffering children in Yemen are forced to endure. "Two: Protecting Humanitarian Access: All parties to the conflict in Yemen must allow unimpeded delivery of aid and allow humanitarians to do what they do best; save lives. We call for the release of detained UN staff and other humanitarian workers. And, importantly, for the conflict to cease. "Yemen's children cannot wait another decade. They need peace. They need justice. But above all, they need us to actnow. Let us not fail them." ##### Notes for editors: UNICEF response in 2024: supported the treatment of nearly 432,000 cases of severe acute malnutrition among children under five. supported around 3,200 primary healthcare facilities and supported provision of lifesaving primary health care services to 7.6 million people including 580,000 children under five provided emergency and sustained water, sanitation and hygiene support services to 1.2 million people. supported over 49,600 teachers to continue providing education through the payment of incentives, provided two rounds of unconditional cash transfers to over 9.6 million vulnerable people across Yemen in 2024 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen: One in two children severely malnourished after 10 years of war 25 March 2025 - In Yemen, a decade of conflict has proved catastrophic for the country's children living under the threat of airstrikes and staggeringly high malnutrition rates, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday. "We need to move fast," said UNICEF representative in the country Peter Hawkins. "I was in Hudaydah over the past three days...I went through the western lowlands, where there are people on the streets, on the side of the roads, begging and looking for assistance. They have given up. We cannot give up." Speaking from Yemen's capital Sana'a, Mr. Hawkins told reporters that the "manmade" disaster has decimated Yemen's economy, healthcare system and infrastructure. "Even during periods of reduced violence, the structural consequences of the conflict, especially for girls and boys, have remained severe," he said, underscoring that more than half of the country's population of close to 40 million people relies on humanitarian assistance. Aid lifeline under threat UNICEF supports life-saving health facilities and malnutrition treatment across the country, but its activities are only 25 per cent funded this year. The agency will not be able to sustain even minimal services without urgent action from donors, Mr. Hawkins warned. Houthi rebels - formally known as Ansar Allah - have been battling Government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition for more than a decade and overthrew the country's President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi in March 2015. While a resumption of large-scale ground military operations in Yemen has not occurred since the UN-mediated truce of April 2022, military activity continues. The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen Hans Grundberg warned on 6 March in a briefing to the Security Council that the cessation of hostilities is increasingly at risk. Earlier this month the United States launched multiple strikes on Houthi-controlled areas in the country, reportedly in retaliation for the Houthis' continued targeting of merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea following the breakdown of the Gaza ceasefire. Mr. Hawkins spoke of the damage he witnessed first-hand in the port city of Hudaydah and stressed that eight children died in the most recent airstrikes across northern Yemen. Food, medicines blocked "Critical ports and roads, lifelines for food and medicine, are damaged and blockaded," Mr. Hawkins said. Food prices have soared over 300 per cent in the past decade, driving hunger and malnutrition. The UNICEF official said that one in two children under the age of five is malnourished in Yemen, "a statistic that is almost unparalleled across the world". "Among them are over 540,000 girls and boys who are severely and acutely malnourished, a condition that is agonizing, life-threatening and entirely preventable," he added. 'Thousands will die' Mr. Hawkins highlighted the dangers facing children who cannot access treatment, as they are "away from service delivery in the most remote areas up on the mountains, and deep down in the in the valleys of northern Yemen...Malnutrition weakens immune systems, stunts growth and robs children of their potential." Furthermore, some 1.4 million pregnant and lactating women are malnourished in Yemen - "a vicious circle of intergenerational suffering", Mr. Hawkins said. In certain areas including the west of the country, severe and acute malnutrition rates of 33 per cent have been recorded. "It's not a humanitarian crisis. It's not an emergency. It is a catastrophe where thousands will die," Mr. Hawkins insisted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address World News in Brief: Alarm over Turkiye detentions, Ukraine update, Sudan-Chad border emergency 25 March 2025 - The UN human rights office (OHCHR) expressed major concern on Tuesday following the detention of at least 92 people by the Turkish authorities over the past week, including Istanbul's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, who has been charged with corruption and removed from office. "These detentions triggered country-wide demonstrations that were met with unlawful blanket bans on protests in three cities," said OHCHR spokesperson Liz Throssell. More than 1,000 people have been detained during the protests, among them at least nine media workers. Turkiye has reportedly seen its largest street protests in more than a decade following the arrest of current Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival, Mr. Imamoglu. Legitimate right of protest Ms. Throssell said that all those detained "for the legitimate exercise of their rights must be released immediately and unconditionally." Those facing charges should be treated with dignity, she added, and their rights to due process while their rights to a fair trial - including access to a lawyer of their own choice - must be fully ensured. "We urge the authorities to ensure that the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly are guaranteed, in line with international law, and that credible allegations of unlawful use of force against protesters are promptly and thoroughly investigated," Ms. Throssell underscored. Ukraine: Dozens injured in Sumy attack; UN welcomes announcement of Black Sea ceasefire More than 80 civilians - including children - were injured following a Russian missile attack on the city of Sumy on Monday in Ukraine's northeast, UN humanitarians have reported. Citing local authorities, more than 20 children were injured with two schools, a hospital and multiple homes suffering extensive damage in the attack, said UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. "Complementing the efforts of the first responders, and immediately after the attack, humanitarian organizations provided first aid and helped transport the wounded to the hospitals. They also distributed shelter materials, blankets and other necessities." UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Mattias Schmale, condemned the attack in Sumy and recent drone strikes in the cities of Zaporizhzhia and Kyiv. Since the escalation of the war in 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion, the Human Rights Monitoring Mission to Ukraine has verified more than 2,500 child casualties in that country, Mr. Dujarric maintained. It also noted an alarming increase in child casualties in 2024, caused by explosive weapons targeting territory inside Ukraine, due to intensified attacks along the frontline in the Donetsk Region and increased use of long-range missiles, drones and aerial bombing. Black Sea announcements The White House on Tuesday said that Russia and Ukraine had reached separate agreements following talks in Saudi Arabia with US negotiators, with both agreeing to a maritime ceasefire in the crucial Black Sea shipping corridor. The US said Moscow and Kyiv had agreed to the principal of safe navigation, eliminating the use of force and preventing the use of commercial vessels for military purposes. Asked for reaction from the Secretary-General, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told the regular noon briefing that the two announcements were a welcome development. "These issues, notably, on the freedom of navigation and Black Sea, are issues that the Secretary-General, his team, notably Rebeca Grynspan [head of trade and development body, UNCTAD] and others, have been working on since almost the start of the conflict. And there continues to be discussions on these issues." Mr. Dujarric said the UN had played no part in discussions in Riyad but noted Ms. Grynspan had been in Moscow for talks Monday on resuming the Memorandum of Understanding between Russia, Ukraine, Turkiye and the United Nations under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which Moscow pulled out of in July 2023. He confirmed talks had also taken place recently in Washington. The UN has been heavily invested in ensuring that Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea can happen safely, along with the transport of Russian food and fertilizer, to halt spiralling food prices worldwide and stave off famine in vulnerable countries. The UN-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative was agreed by Russia, Ukraine, Turkiye and the UN in Istanbul in July 2022. It allowed more than 30 million tonnes of grain and other foodstuffs to leave Ukraine's ports and played an "indispensable role" in global food security, Mr. Guterres said at the time. Sudanese uprooted by conflict drag themselves across Chad's border Finally, to the Sudan-Chad border, where UN teams have said that a humanitarian emergency is underway, with the number of people fleeing to eastern Chad expected to surpass one million by the end of the year. There are already 970,000 refugees in Chad today, the result of almost two years of heavy fighting in Sudan between rival militaries. Many have endured terrible violence and sexual abuse. The refugees are being housed in 18 refugee camps and other shelters, but this has added to pressures on already neglected communities in eastern Chad, according to the UN Development Programme, UNDP. To help, the UN agency's Resident Representative in Chad, Francis James, said that a new centre for women should open in Adre next month. It's an initiative of the UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and its purpose is to strengthen ties between host and refugee communities, Mr. James said: "You have refugees coming over, literally crawling over and stumbling over the border, and you need social protection...but also you need to give them hope." Other UN projects include supporting women and girls to go back to school. UNDP's Mr. James explained that it was key that classrooms are built close to the refugee camps so that schoolgoers can avoid walking "for kilometres through dangerous zones" where they risk being assaulted. Continued attacks in Sudan Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday the UN was "gravely alarmed by continued attacks on civilians" inside Sudan. Dozens of casualties were reported on Monday night when an air strike hit a market around 40 kilometres north-west of Darfur's main city of El Fasher - which remains besieged by the Rapid Support Forces militia who have been fighting Government troops for nearly two years for control of Sudan. "Our humanitarian colleagues are also deeply concerned about escalating attacks on populated areas in Khartoum," Mr. Dujarric continued. There were reports of civilians killed and injured in eastern Khartoum on Monday when artillery struck a mosque during evening prayers. Civilian casualties were also reported on Sunday as a result of heavy shelling in Omdurman - Khartoum's twin city across the Nile. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Emory S. Land Arrives in Darwin US Navy 25 March 2025 From Seaman Apprentice Mario Reyes Villatoro The submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) arrived in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia for a regularly scheduled port call, March 25. Darwin is the 17th port call of Emory S. Land's current deployment, which began May 17, 2024. "It is a fantastic opportunity to return where we first began our deployment," said Capt. Kenneth Holland, commanding officer of Emory S. Land. "We look forward to working with our allies, the Royal Australian Navy, and look forward to all the events that we have during our visit." While in port, the crew will get to reexperience the local culture and visit local attractions, while others that are new to the ship will explore the city for the first time. "I haven't had a chance to enjoy Darwin. I wasn't assigned to the ship until later in deployment, so I'm glad to have the opportunity now," said Yeoman 3rd Class Angel Santiago. "I'm planning to visit the zoos, see the wildlife and explore the city." Previously, the ship visited Darwin from May 28 -June 1, 2024. The crew participated in community relation events such as a community cleanup and assisted with a barbecue to recognize an Australian national holiday. Guam is home to the U.S. Navy's only submarine tenders, USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) and USS Frank Cable (AS 40), as well as four Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarines and one Virginia-class fast-attack submarine. The submarine tenders provide maintenance, hotel services and logistical support to submarines and surface ships in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation. The submarines and tenders are maintained as part of the U.S. Navy's forward-deployed submarine force and are readily capable of meeting global operational requirements. Emory S. Land is on deployment supporting the U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy's largest forward deployed numbered fleet, operating with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni forces confront US warships for 'several hours,' strike Israeli military targets near Tel Aviv Iran Press TV Wednesday, 26 March 2025 2:47 AM Yemen's Armed Forces have engaged US warships in the Red Sea for several hours and launched drone strikes on Israeli military positions near the city of Tel Aviv in continued retaliation for American military aggression against the country and the Israeli regime's war of genocide and siege against Gaza. The forces issued a statement on Wednesday, declaring that their missile, drone, and naval units had jointly executed a military operation targeting hostile warships in the Red Sea, including the American aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, "from which aggression against Yemen was being launched." "The confrontation persisted for several hours," with Yemeni forces actively engaging and managing developments within the operational area, they added. Separately, the troops launched drone strikes against Israeli military sites in the occupied city of Yaffa near Tel Aviv with several armed unmanned aerial vehicles. The latter strikes "successfully achieved their objectives," the statement noted, reminding that the operations took place "in solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian people in Gaza." The forces, meanwhile, emphasized their commitment to resisting American aggression that was targeting the Arab Peninsula nation over its pro-Palestinian operations and reiterated their determination to respond to escalations in kind. Despite underway American attacks on Yemen, which had most recently targeted the city of Sa'ada in the Arab country's northwest, the troops also asserted that they would continue banning Israeli and Israeli-related navigation within key waterways. Yemeni forces began enforcing the ban in October 2023 in response to the Israeli regime's launching the war and its further tightening the regime's already stifling siege on the Gaza Strip. They paused the strikes after the regime entered a ceasefire agreement with Gaza's Hamas resistance movement, but resumed them earlier this month to force Tel Aviv into stopping its violations of the deal and subsequent resumption of the war as well as to make the regime end the blockade. Additionally, the Wednesday statement called upon "all the free people of the Arab and Islamic world to rise and act to stop the genocide being committed against their brothers in the Gaza Strip." On Tuesday, the forces said they had targeted the Israeli regime's Ben Gurion airport in Yaffa with two ballistic missiles, including the Zulfiqar and the hypersonic Palestine-2 projectiles, in solidarity with Gazans. Concurrently, they targeted the USS Harry S. Truman and accompanying warships in the Red Sea with ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones, marking the second such attack within 24 hours in response to American atrocities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lawmakers Urge Trump To Rescind Order To Cut Funding To RFE/RL, Other US Media Outlets By RFE/RL March 26, 2025 Dozens of US lawmakers on March 25 urged President Donald Trump to reverse his executive order to shutter the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), arguing that the move would have a damaging impact on its broadcasters, including RFE/RL, and would only help US adversaries such as Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. A letter to Trump signed by more than 40 members of Congress said shuttering USAGM 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. "We strongly urge you to reconsider this Executive Order and ensure the critical work of USAGM and its broadcasting networks continues." Representative Bill Keating (Democrat-Massachusetts), ranking member of the House Foreign affairs Committee's 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 in which he referred to Trump's executive order from March 14 as "reckless" and said it "emboldens US adversaries who are threatened by credible media." The letter said USAGM networks and grantees collectively serve a historic and pivotal role in providing honest, comprehensive news coverage to countries that lack a free or open media environment. "Shuttering RFE/RL will enable governments in Russia, Belarus, Iran, and Central Asia to spread their own messages of regime propaganda without the fear of being held accountable by RFE/RL's award-winning reporting," the letter said. The letter was sent the same day that a US judge issued an order in favor of RFE/RL in a lawsuit against USAGM seeking a reversal of the termination of RFE/RL's congressionally appropriated funding. US District Judge Royce Lamberth said the agency likely acted "arbitrarily and capriciously" in terminating RFE/RL's grant and that the actions would cause the broadcaster "irreparable harm" if carried out. Lamberth said a temporary restraining order is needed to halt the closure of RFE/RL, which had shown it is likely to win its case in a court hearing. Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya on March 25 also spoke about the threat to RFE/RL. "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. "If these media die, they will be replaced by propaganda media." RFE/RL has had an office in Lithuania from which it covers neighboring Belarus. The office is staffed by Belarusian journalists who went into exile in 2020 after a disputed election in which Belarusian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenko was declared the winner. The opposition and many Western governments and organizations believe the poll was rigged and that Tsikhanouskaya was the real winner. Tsikhanouskaya stepped in as a candidate after her husband, Syarhey Tsikhanouski, was detained to prevent him from registering as a candidate. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison. With reporting by dpa Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/rfe-rl-keating-letter-trump-usagm- lawsuit/33359341.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 25 March 2025 - Day 1126 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The UK Ministry of Defence reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces conducted an Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) attack on an ammunition storage area located at Russia's Engels-2 Strategic Aviation airbase overnight on 19-20 March. Engels-2 is a military base used extensively for strike operations approximately 600 km from Ukraine's border. 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. This strike is Ukraine's 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. It also highlights the continuing struggles that stretched Russian air defence face in protecting its strategic military locations. 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 183 clashes. Russian zagarbniki made 84 aviation strikes, applying 129 cab. In addition, the Russians engaged 764 kamikaze drones and carried out 4106 shells on the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements. In the Kharkiv direction today, the Russian enemy four times attacked in the areas of vovchans k, tihogo and towards Kamenka, currently one fight is still ongoing. An aviation strike by the CAB was suffered by Zolochiv. In the Kupyansky direction, Russian forces carried out five assaults of the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of Zagrizovoye and Petropavlivka, the Russian attacks repelled. In the Lyman direction since the beginning of the day, Russian zagarbniki 24 times attacked the positions of Ukrainians near the settlements of Yampolivka, Nadia, Kopanka and towards Novomikhailivka, Olgivka, Novoy, Katerynivka. At the moment, Ukrainian defenders are still fighting off six attacks of the opponent. Defense Forces stopped four Russian offensive actions near the settlements of Bilogorivka, Verkhnyokamianske and Ivano-Daryivka in the Siver direction, another confrontation is ongoing. In the direction of Kramators komu, there are currently two clashes in the direction of Predtecinyogo and White Mountain. All attacks have been stopped by Ukrainian soldiers. In the Toretsky direction Russians 23 times attacked the positions of Defense Forces. Efforts of the attack of the Russian occupiers concentrated in the area of Toretsk and nearby Diliivka and Crimea. Two clashes are currently underway. Since the beginning of this day in the Pokrovsky direction, Russians 68 times tried to break through Ukrainian defense in the areas of settlements of Sukha Balka, Kalinove, Oleksandropil, Green Field, Lisivka, Tarasivka, Elizabethtivka, Kotline, Udaachne, Shevchenko, Uspenivka, Preobrazhenka, Andriyivka, Bogdanivka and towards Novosergiyivka, Malinivka, Katlyarivka. So far, four clashes are ongoing. Air strikes were suffered by Sergiyivka, Novosergiyivka, Dry Yar, Pokrovsk, Chunyshine. Defense forces deter Russian attacks, the Russian enemy suffers significant losses - today 361 Russian occupants were defecated in this direction, 190 of them - irrevocably. Nine vehicles units, five motorcycles, one tank, two BP control points were destroyed, 10 motorcycles, four cars and three BP control points were also significantly damaged. In the Novopavliv direction, Ukrainian units stopped 18 Russian assaults of the positions of Ukrainian troops near the settlement of Rozliv, Dniproenergy, Konstantinopil, three more clashes are ongoing. The settlement of Komar came under an air strike. In the direction of Gulyaipil, Russian forces once tried to advance in the area of the settlement of Privilne. Also the enemy caused aviation strikes in the areas of populated points of Ternove, Novopil, Novodarivka, Gulyaipole and Zaliznychne. In the Orihiv direction, Russian forces tried nine times to advance in the area of Kamiansky and in the direction of Lobkovy, Stepovy. Six clashes are still ongoing. Aviation strikes of kabama and narama suffered by mala tokmacka. In the Pridniprovsk direction, one battle with the Russian opponent took place. In addition, Russian forces launched air strikes in the areas of the settlements of Vesele, Oleksandrivka and Dudcany. Defense Forces of Ukraine continue its operation in the Kursk direction, where Russian forces carried out 28 attacks of positions of Ukrainian units during a day. Three clashes are currently underway. Russian forces launched 15 air strikes, dropping 19 controlled bombs, and carried out 208 artillery shells, five of which were from reactive systems of open-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 two mechanised brigades, an assault regiment of the AFU, and a territorial defence brigade close to Ugroyedy, Miropolye, and Krasnopolye (Sumy region). The AFU losses were up to 50 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, one motor vehicle, and two artillery guns. As a result of active and decisive actions of elements of the Zapad Group of Forces, Mirnoye (Donetsk People's Republic) has been liberated. The Group inflicted fire damage on two mechanised brigades, one assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and two territorial defence brigades near Malaya Shapkovka, Kamenka, Krasnoye Pervoye, Grigorovka, Tishchenkovka, Kondrashovka (Kharkov region), Torskoye, Novoye, and Yampol (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU lost more than 250 troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles. Four artillery guns, including two Western-made ones, were neutralised. The Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. They inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one territorial defence brigade, and two national guard brigades near Tikhonovka, Katerinovka, Dyleyevka, Novomarkovo, Chasov Yar, Verkhnekamenskoye, Kurdyumovka, and Tarasovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy sustained losses of up to 200 troops, one tank, three armoured fighting vehicles, including one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, one U.S.-made HMMWV armoured vehicle, one Croatian-made Heron MLRS launcher, and three pickup trucks. Two field artillery guns and three ammunition depots were neutralised. Elements of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. They hit two mechanised brigades, two assault brigades, one UAV brigade, one assault regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one marine brigade, and one national guard brigade near Alekseyevka, Yelizavetovka, Kotlino, Dimitrov, Zverevo, Krasnoarmeysk, Novotoretskoye, and Novosergeyevka (Donetsk People's Republic). Ukrainian armed formations lost up to 430 troops, five armoured fighting vehicles, including one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, 12 motor vehicles, and one Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery system. The Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of enemy defences. They inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of one mountain assault brigade, one airmobile brigade of the AFU, and one marine brigade near Veseloye, Razliv, Volnoye Pole, and Novopol (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to over 140 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles. Three field artillery guns, including a French-made 155-mm Caesar self-propelled artillery system and an ammunition depot, were neutralised. With intensive and resolute operations, elements of the Dnepr Group of Forces liberated Malye Shcherbaki (Zaporozhye region). The Group engaged units of one mechanised brigade, two coastal defence brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and a territorial defence brigade near Pridneprovskoye, Sadovoye, Berislav, Antonovka (Kherson region), Novodanilovka, and Novopokrovka (Zaporozhye region). Over 70 troops, two U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, two motor vehicles, and three artillery guns of the enemy have been neutralised. Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack drones, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have inflicted damage on infrastructure of military airfields, UAV command posts, ammunition depots, and repair and recovery base of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, as well as on clusters of enemy manpower and hardware in 148 areas. Air defence systems shot down one U.S.-made JDAM aerial guided bomb and 92 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles. Since the beginning of the special military operation, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised 659 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 48,404 unmanned aerial vehicles, 601 anti-aircraft missile systems, 22,490 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,531 MLRS combat vehicles, 22,961 field artillery and mortar guns, 33,347 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 in offensive inflicted fire damage on elements of one mechanised brigade, three air assault brigades, one marine brigade, one presidential brigade, and one territorial defence brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Gogolevka, Gornal, Guyevo, and Oleshnya. Three enemy counter-attacks were repelled. Operational-Tactical, Army Aviation, and artillery fire hit enemy manpower and hardware close to Basovka, Belovody, Varachino, Velikaya Rybitsa, Veselovka, Vodolagi, Zhuravka, Zapseleye, Loknya, Miropolye, Mogritsa, Obody, Pisarevka, Sadki, Yunakovka, and Yablonovka (Sumy region). In the past 24 hours, the AFU losses amounted to over 260 troops, a tank, an infantry fighting vehicle, three armoured fighting vehicles, 10 motor vehicles, two artillery guns, three mortars, and two UAV command posts. Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk direction, the AFU losses amounted to more than 69,960 troops, 401 tanks, 327 infantry fighting vehicles, 289 armoured personnel carriers, 2,222 armoured fighting vehicles, 2,542 motor vehicles, 585 artillery guns, 53 MLRS launchers, including 13 of HIMARS and seven of MLRS made by the USA, 26 anti-aircraft missile launchers, one self-propelled anti-aircraft system, ten transport-loading vehicles, 121 EW stations, 18 counter-battery radars, ten air defence radars, 56 units of engineering and other materiel, including 23 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, five bridge launchers, one engineering reconnaissance vehicle as well as 15 armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle. The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 26 March 2025 - Day 1127 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 Since the beginning of the day, there have been 208 combat clashes, the Russian enemy launched 47 airstrikes at the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements, using 63 controlled airstrikes, 1112 kamikaze drones strikes, and more than 4,800 artillery shells. Two assault actions of the enemy in the Vovchansk district stopped Ukrainians in the Kharkiv direction. In the Kupyans komu direction, the Russian opponent four times tried to push Ukrainian units from occupied positions near Golubivka and Zagrizovoye, one confrontation is ongoing. Fourteen times Russian forces attacked in the Lyman direction, trying to advance near the settlements of Kopanka, Yampolivka, Novosergiyivka, towards Novoy, Kolodyaziv and Novomikhailivka. Ukrainian defenders repelled 13 attacks of the opponent, ongoing one battle. In the Siver direction, Ukrainian warriors successfully stopped six attacks in the areas of the settlements of Bilogorivka, Verkhnyokamianske and Ivano-Darivka. Five clashes are ongoing so far. In the Kramators komu direction, the Defense Forces stopped four Russian attempts to advance near the Time Lapse, the Antecropolis and the White Mountain. Russian forces tried 19 times to infiltrate Ukrainian defense in the Toretsky direction in the areas of Toretsk, Dachny, Crimea and Diliyivka. Intensely attacks the Russian enemy of Ukrainian defenders in the Pokrovsky direction. Here, during the day, the aggressor carried out 87 assault and offensive actions. Activity of Russian occupiers - in the areas of settlements Oleksandropil, Tarasivka, Elizabeth, Beam, Fox, Novoukrainka, Renaissance, Kotline, Uspenivka, Novooleksandrivka, Novosergiyivka, Pokrovsk and Preobrazhenka. One battle is going on. According to preliminary calculations, for today Ukrainian soldiers in this direction znezkodili 293 Russian occupiers, 177 of them - irrevocably. Ukrainian defenders also destroyed a tank, ten vehicles units, eight motorcycles, six drone control points, two portable radio-electronic combat stations, five satellite terminals and an enemy mortar. In the Novopavliv direction, Ukrainian defenders stopped 25 attacks in the areas of the settlements of Konstantinopil, Rozliv, Skudne and Vesele. In the Gulyaipil direction, Russian forces carried out 16 assault operations in the direction of the settlements of Rivnopil, Novosilka, Privilne, Vilne Pole and Novopil, at the same time, launched air strikes on Novopol. The Defense Forces have successfully stopped 15 Russian attacks, currently one confrontation is underway. Nine battles took place in the Orihiv direction, Russian forces tried to advance in the areas of the settlements of Mali Scherbaky, Stepovo, Lobkove and Scherbaky; one confrontation is ongoing. Russian aviation struck the settlements of Komyshuvakh, Novoandriivka and Kamianske. In the pridniprovs .komu direction, Ukrainian defenders successfully stopped two Russian attacks. Twenty-five combat clashes took place today on the Kursk direction. During the day, Russian forces carried out 340 artillery shelling, including eight - from reactive salvage systems, launching 12 air strikes, dropping 15 controlled bombs. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Belgorod direction, the Sever Group of Forces inflicted damage on manpower and hardware of three mechanised brigades, an assault brigade, an assault regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and two territorial defence brigades close to Krasnopolye, Ugroyedy, Prokhody, Miropolskoye, and Petrushevka (Sumy region). The enemy's losses amounted to up to 55 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, a motor vehicle, and an artillery gun. The units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line, hit units of three mechanised brigades, an assault brigade, and an airborne brigade of the AFU near Lozovaya, Petropavlovka (Kharkov region), Nadiya (Lugansk People's Republic), Kirovsk, and Yampol (Donetsk People's Republic) as well as Serebryansky forestry. The AFU lost up to 250 troops, a U.S.-made HMMWV armoured vehicle, and two pickup trucks. Three artillery guns and three ammunition depots have been neutralised. Units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian troops engaged eight mechanised brigades of the AFU, a territorial defence brigade, and two national guard brigades near Novoolenovka, Romanovka, Minkovka, Chasov Yar, Druzhba, Kalinovo, Zarya, Katerinovka, and Tarasovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to up to 310 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, a U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, and two U.S.-made AN/TPQ-36 counter-fire radars. Two electronic warfare stations, an unmanned aerial vehicle depot, and a fuel depot were also destroyed. Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. The Russian Armed Forces inflicted losses on a mechanised brigade, a jaeger brigade, two assault brigades, an unmanned aerial vehicles brigade, an assault regiment, an assault battalion of the Vostok special operations centre, a marine brigade, and a national guard brigade near Mirolyubovka, Kotlino, Dimitrov, Zverevo, Krasnoarmeysk, Uspenovka, Udachnoye, Grodovka, Alekseyevka, Nadezhdinka, and Novoaleksandrovka (Donetsk People's Republic).The AFU losses amounted to more than 480 troops, two tanks, two Kazak armoured fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, two field artillery guns, and a signal intelligence station. Units of the Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of enemy defence. Russian forces engaged four mechanised brigades, an airmobile brigade of the AFU, a Marine brigade, and two territorial defence brigades near Shevchenko, Voskresenka, Fyodorovka, Novopol, Razliv, Zelenoye Pole of the Donetsk People's Republic, and Gulyaipole The AFU losses amounted to up to 150 troops and three motor vehicles. Three field artillery pieces, including a Swedish-made 155-mm Archer self-propelled artillery system and a supply dump were eliminated. The Dnepr Group of Forces engaged units of two mechanised brigades, a mountain assault brigade, three coastal defence brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and two territorial defence brigades close to Sadovoye, Pridneprovskoye, Antonovka, Vesyoloye (Kherson region), Malaya Tokmachka, Orekhov, and Kamenskoye (Zaporozhye region). Over 65 troops, seven motor vehicles, a U.S.-made MLRS multiple rocket launcher, and two ammunition depots were neutralised. Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack drones, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged the infrastructure of military airfields, a facility repairing military hardware, workshops, control posts of unmanned aerial vehicles, ammunition depots, and clusters of enemy manpower and hardware in 143 areas during the day. Russian air defence systems shot down two JDAM guided bombs, a U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectile, and 58 fixed-wing aircraft. In total, since the beginning of the special military operation the enemy has lost 659 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 48,462 unmanned aerial vehicles, 601 anti-aircraft missile systems, 22,499 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,532 MLRS combat vehicles, 22,987 field artillery guns and mortars, 33,368 units of support military vehicles. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation also reported that he Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise AFU formations on the territory of Kursk region. The Sever Group of Forces in offensive inflicted fire damage on elements of a mechanised brigade, three air assault brigades, a marine brigade, a presidential brigade, and a territorial defence brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Gogolevka, Gornal, Guyevo, and Oleshnya. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and Artillery strikes engaged AFU manpower and hardware close to Gornal, Gogolevka, Guyevo, and Oleshnya as well as Basovka, Belovody, Varachino, Velikaya Rybitsa, Vesyolovka, Vodolagi, Zhuravka, Zapselye, Loknya, Miropolye, Pisarevka, Sadki, Yunakovka, and Yablonovka (Sumy region). For the past 24 hours, the AFU lost over 230 troops, a tank, an armoured personnel carrier, an armoured fighting vehicle, six motor vehicles, an electronic warfare station, a UAV command post, and an ammunition depot. Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk direction, the AFU losses amounted to more than 70,190 troops, 402 tanks, 327 infantry fighting vehicles, 290 armoured personnel carriers, 2,223 armoured fighting vehicles, 2,548 motor vehicles, 585 artillery guns, 53 MLRS launchers, including 13 of HIMARS and seven of MLRS made by the USA, 26 anti-aircraft missile launchers, one self-propelled anti-aircraft system, ten transport-loading vehicles, 122 EW stations,18 counter-fire radars, ten air defence radars, 56 units of engineering and other materiel, including 23 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, five bridge launchers, one engineering reconnaissance vehicle as well as 15 armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle. The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ADF back to Solomons on survey mission By Captain Lyndon Harvey 24 March 2025 Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Reliant deployed to Solomon Islands recently for vital survey work, reinforcing Australia's longstanding commitment to the Pacific. In her first deployment this year, Reliant embarked with a crew including members of 12 Chief Engineer Works (12CEW) and the Littoral Riverine Survey Squadron (LRSS), from the Australian Army's 17 Sustainment Brigade. Personnel from 12CEW and LRSS conducted survey operations in support of a joint Australian-Solomon Islands project to complete construction of an eastern border outpost in Vanikoro. In one of the most challenging areas they surveyed, 12CEW project lead Captain Oliver Phillips said the outpost would strengthen Solomon Islands' multi-agency border security and maritime surveillance. "It will also provide support to disaster relief occurrences, and will bolster logistic support to Temotu Province," Captain Phillips said. "It's rewarding to see the final surveys being conducted after ADV Reliant first commenced support to this task two years ago." Personnel also inspected the construction of key government buildings, including the National Disaster Management Office in Lata. Indo-Pacific Infrastructure Branch project officer Captain Cameron Rue said, as Vanikoro was in the eastern-most part of the country, it was vital to Solomon Islands Government's trade links to Vanuatu and the wider Pacific. "In addition to trade links, the Eastern Border Outpost is critical for Solomon Islands' protection of sovereign borders," Captain Rue said. Reliant also conducted a port visit to Honiara, where she delivered three aluminium long boats to be fitted out before being given to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force later this year. The boats will replace the current fleet to enhance the capability of Solomon Islands police. Reliant will continue her patrol through the Pacific region before returning home to port later this month. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address HMAS Sydney's three-month journey through the region 25 March 2025 Tuesday, 25 March 2025 - 11:00 AM Sydney's next three months of training and cooperation include Exercise Bersama Shield, alongside the Five Power Defence Arrangements nations Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Chief of Joint Operations Vice-Admiral Justin Jones said the deployments strengthened cooperation with partner nations across the Indo-Pacific region. "Regional presence deployments demonstrate Australia's ongoing commitment to supporting regional security and stability and promoting a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region," Vice-Admiral Jones said. "They highlight our contribution to the maintenance of the global rules-based order in line with our partners." HMAS Sydney is one of three Hobart-class air warfare destroyers in service, with a crew of more than 200 and a MH-60R helicopter. Sydney's Commanding Officer, Commander Ben Weller, said deployments such as this allowed the crew to exercise the ship's capability across a range of areas and with different partners, preparing them for future cooperation. "This deployment will coincide with the fifth anniversary of the ship's commissioning into service with the Navy in May, and it's fitting the crew will mark this milestone while embarked at sea," Commander Weller said. This regional presence deployment will conclude in early July 2025. HMAS Hobart recently completed the first regional presence deployment for 2025, including training exercises and activities with Indonesia, France and the Philippines. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lukashenko Sworn In For Seventh Term As Rights Groups Decry 'Unconstitutional' Rule By RFE/RL's Belarus Service March 25, 2025 Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko was sworn in for a seventh term on March 25 as human rights groups said the authoritarian leader's 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. 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 country's 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 Lukashenko's resignation, were met with mass arrests, alleged torture, and violent crackdowns that left several people dead. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-lukashenko-election- protests/33358549.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese Embassy in Canada refutes allegations of China's interference in Canadian elections Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 26, 2025 09:50 AM In response to a media question regarding claims by an official from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) that China might attempt to interfere in Canada's elections, a spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Canada stated that China firmly opposes the baseless slander and defamation of China without factual evidence. It has been reported that an official from the CSIS stated that Canada's elections could face the threat of foreign interference and the CSIS is closely monitoring China, Russia, India, and Pakistan, when questioned on this, the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Canada said that the Chinese side has repeatedly stated its position on the so-called issue of foreign interference, firmly opposing the baseless slander and defamation of China without factual evidence. China follows the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs and has never, nor has any interest in, interfering in Canada's internal affairs. The label of "foreign interference" will never be placed on China, the spokesperson said. The Canadian election is a domestic issue for Canada and is not related to China. However, the Chinese side firmly opposes linking Canada's internal affairs with China-related factors and firmly opposes using China as a topic in this context, the spokesperson added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China releases report on participation in construction, protection of intl communication submarine cables Global Times By Fan Wei and Zhao Yusha Published: Mar 25, 2025 08:35 PM Industry and Planning Research Institute of China Academy of Information and Communication Technology (CAICT) released a report on Tuesday on China's participation in the construction and protection of international communication submarine cables. The report highlights major breakthroughs in China's submarine cable technology in recent years and outlines the role of Chinese enterprises in building and operating international submarine cables. It also details government efforts to protect submarine infrastructure and safeguard national data security, and refutes the groundless smear of some Western politicians and media outlets. Overall, the growth and expansion of Chinese submarine cable enterprises have provided a new option for global submarine cable construction. In the past, global submarine cable construction could only rely on three foreign enterprises. Now, with Chinese submarine cable enterprises joining as a new force, it can greatly accelerate the process of global submarine cable construction and deployment, said a Chinese expert. International communication submarine cables are optical cable systems laid on the seabed and used for transnational communication and data transmission. They are composed of submarine optical cables, submarine repeaters, submarine branching units, terrestrial terminal equipment, power feeding equipment, and other components. International communication submarine cables carry approximately 99 percent of the global intercontinental communication and data traffic. After years of efforts, China has initially established a relatively complete submarine cable industry chain. Chinese enterprises have become important participants in the global submarine cable equipment, submarine cable construction, and submarine cable maintenance sectors. Chinese submarine cable products and services have gained widespread recognition, said the report. China's submarine cable technology started relatively late. However, relevant submarine cable enterprises and scientific research institutions have participated in global cooperation, leveraging the advantages of the communication industry. They have continuously increased their efforts in tackling key technologies in the field of submarine cables, gradually catching up with the global advanced level, said the report. In some aspects, they have reached the world's advanced level and possess the capability to undertake the construction of transoceanic and intercontinental submarine cables. Regarding the ultra-long-distance deep-sea submarine cables, equipment produced by Chinese companies such as submarine cable repeaters and branching units adopt pressure-resistant and corrosion-resistant titanium alloy pressure-bearing cabins, a highly sealed structural design, and a highly reliable redundant backup design, which can ensure stable operation for 25 years at a water depth of 8,000 meters. Chinese enterprises were the first in the industry to introduce the first 32-fiber-pair submarine cable solution and a full range of products. The innovative space division multiplexing (SDM) technology can support the Petabit-level transmission capacity of the ultra-long-distance repeater system, effectively meeting the increasing international bandwidth demand brought about by the rapid development of global digitalization, said the report. In the field of advanced shipborne marine equipment, Chinese marine equipment manufacturing enterprises, in collaboration with submarine cable enterprises, have carried out research and development on the technology of submarine cable operation equipment, such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), ploughs, and cable laying machines. The performance of the submarine cable operation equipment designed and manufactured domestically has reached the international leading level, comprehensively improving the capabilities of submarine cable laying and maintenance. The deep-sea submarine cable equipment developed by Chinese enterprises can meet the laying requirements of the vast majority of seas around the world, Mou Chunbo, chief engineer of the Industry and Planning Research Institute of CAICT, told the Global Times. He noted that in terms of shipborne submarine cable operation equipment, in the past, China relied on imports from abroad for such equipment. However, nowadays, the equipment independently developed by China has reached the international leading level in terms of performance, and it can meet the construction needs of the vast majority of seas. Chinese submarine cable enterprises have secured a share in the global submarine cable system integration market. The enterprises globally with the capability of delivering intercontinental submarine cables mainly include SubCom of the US, ASN of France, NEC of Japan, and HMN Tech of China. The world's submarine cable systems are mainly constructed by these four general contractors, said the report. The report also specifically introduced the efforts made by China to protect international submarine cables and safeguard the data security of international submarine cables. For some time, certain politicians and media outlets in some Western countries have groundlessly claimed that "China deliberately sabotages international submarine cables" and smeared that "Chinese submarine cable enterprises such as the S.B.Submarine Systems (SBSS) carry out espionage and wiretapping activities through international submarine cables." Chinese submarine cable enterprises have long been involved in the protection and maintenance of international submarine cables, making significant contributions to the stable operation of the global international submarine cable network. SBSS is a leading provider of submarine cable installation and maintenance solutions in Asia, and is also one of the three communication submarine cable support service providers in the Yokohama zone. For a long time, one of its submarine cable vessels has participated in the rotation work in the Yokohama zone, said the report. Up to now, SBSS has more than 27 years of maintenance experience in the Yokohama Maintenance Area. It is responsible for the maintenance and emergency repair of more than 80,000 kilometers of submarine cables in the Yokohama Maintenance Area and has participated in more than 200 emergency repair operations of submarine cables. The relevant work fully complies with the standards of the maintenance area, ensuring that submarine cable owners receive high-quality services and effectively maintaining the stability of international internet communication. In addition, the submarine cable construction vessels of FiberHome have also successfully completed multiple submarine cable construction and maintenance projects in countries such as Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Kenya, and Chile. Since last year, some politicians in certain Western countries have started to smear China's submarine cable construction enterprises, baselessly claiming that these Chinese submarine cable enterprises' participation in undertaking international submarine cable maintenance projects poses a threat to network security. In fact, Chinese submarine cable enterprises have long been involved in the protection and maintenance of international submarine cables, and they possess rich maintenance experience and first-class capabilities, said Mou. When Chinese submarine cable enterprises carry out relevant protection and maintenance work, they do it completely in accordance with relevant requirements and standards, Mou stressed. According to the report of the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), there are approximately 200 submarine cable failures globally each year, and more than 80 percent of these incidents are caused by anchoring, fishing, and unknown human activities. The Chinese government and enterprises attach great importance to the safety operation of international submarine cables. They adopt various measures to reduce the damage to submarine cables caused by activities such as fishing and shipping, and promptly organize forces to accelerate the repair of submarine cables failure, in order to ensure the smooth international communication, said the report. Chinese submarine cable manufacturing enterprises and system integrators adhere to the development of neutral and open submarine cable communication technology solutions. They do not possess any technology for submarine cable network surveillance and will not take such technologies as a future exploration direction, said the report. With the increasingly frequent international exchanges, the widely interconnected international submarine cable network has become more and more important. Governments of various countries and international organizations should strengthen cooperation in submarine cable construction and protection instead of engaging in division, so as to provide high-quality network services for global users, said Mou. China regards the submarine cable network as the foundation for jointly building a community with a shared future in cyberspace. The growth and expansion of Chinese submarine cable enterprises have provided new options for global submarine cable construction, which can effectively alleviate the dilemma of limited production capacity of manufacturers in the US, Japan and Europe, and further reduce the cost for developing countries to access the internet, he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun's Regular Press Conference on March 25, 2025 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: March 25, 2025 18:20 Hubei Media Group: The China Development Forum 2025 was held in Beijing. The theme of this year's forum is "Unleashing Development Momentum for Stable Growth of Global Economy." Political figures from many countries and heads of multinationals attended the forum. What's 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 China's vibrancy through its economic growth during the Spring Festival, understand China's 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 China's 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 year's 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 China's 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 Ministry's response to this? Guo Jiakun: I'd refer you to competent Chinese authorities for the specific question. I want to point out that, in disregard of China's repeated persuasion, Canada has insisted on taking discriminatory restrictive measures on some Chinese imports. This seriously violates WTO rules, disrupts normal trade order, and gravely harms China's lawful rights and interests. 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 Venezuela's oil. Will China stop its oil purchases from Venezuela to comply with Trump's 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 Venezuela's 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 China's 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 China's 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 China's conclusion on the case? Guo Jiakun: I'd refer you to competent authorities for anything specific. China News Service: It's 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 China's 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 China's 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 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 Canada's fears? Guo Jiakun: China stays committed to the principle of non-interference in other countries' domestic affairs. China has never interfered in Canada's internal affairs, nor do we have any interest in doing so. Reuters: Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus will start his China visit on Wednesday. What are China's 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 Yunus to attend the conference in China. Let me stress that China and Bangladesh are traditional friendly neighbors and comprehensive strategic cooperative partners. This year marks the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic ties. China stands ready to work with Bangladesh to step up exchange and cooperation, and advance bilateral relations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China frees staff of US consulting firm after 2-year detention The release comes as China seeks to stabilize foreign investment amid US tariff impacts. By Alan Lu for RFA 2025.03.25 TAIPEI, Taiwan -- China has released all employees of a U.S. corporate due diligence firm who had been detained in Beijing for the past two years in a move seemingly aimed at reassuring foreign businesses amid declining foreign investment. In May 2023, Beijing reportedly detained five staff members of Mintz Group after the U.S. firm conducted corporate due diligence investigations into the potential use of forced labor in goods supplied from Xinjiang. China has faced international criticism over allegations of forced labor in Xinjiang, where Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities are reportedly detained and made to work in cotton and manufacturing industries. Beijing has denied the claims, describing them as false and insisting that the facilities are vocational training centers aimed at countering extremism. The detention of Mintz Group staff turned out to be the beginning of a sweeping crackdown on consultancy and due diligence firms, including Bain & Company's office in Shanghai and Capvision Partners. At that time, foreign firms with business in China expressed concern that the crackdown damaged investor confidence in the world's second-largest economy. "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 to Reuters on Tuesday. "We are grateful to the Chinese authorities that our former colleagues can now be home with their families." China has not responded to the company's statement. The release came a day after China's top officials vowed to welcome more multinational companies. The country is eager to stabilize foreign investment and attract new capital as policymakers seek to boost domestic consumption to mitigate the effects of U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods. Since taking office in January, the Trump administration has imposed 20% tariffs on all Chinese imports, accusing Beijing of failing to adequately curb the flow of fentanyl into the United States. Official data show that foreign direct investment in China fell by 27.1% in local currency terms in 2024 compared to the previous year - the steepest decline since the 2008 global financial crisis. "China remains committed to expanding high-level opening-up of market, improving the business environment and welcoming more multinational companies to deepen their investment in China," China's Vice Premier He Lifeng said at the China Development Forum in Beijing. Separately, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, speaking at the forum on Sunday, also urged countries to open their markets to combat "rising instability and uncertainty." U.S. Republican Senator Steve Daines, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, met Li on Sunday with seven senior executives from U.S. companies. Daines called the meeting a chance for them to air their views on the business environment in China directly to Li. Some 86 company representatives from 21 countries came to the business forum this year, with American firms making up the largest group of attendees, China's state broadcaster CCTV reported. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korean troops sent to Russia included relatives of defectors: report Family members of North Korean defectors often face severe penalties imposed by Pyongyang. By Taejun Kang for RFA 2025.03.25 TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Some of the thousands of soldiers North Korea sent to Russia to fight in Moscow's war against Ukraine were family members of defectors and other people with "issues" in the North, South Korean media reported. Candidates were selected primarily from troops belonging to North Korea's Storm Corps, a special forces unit, in October of last year, Seoul-based Sand Times reported on Monday, citing a source inside the North. But during this process, some personnel who had been disciplined for offenses during military service, as well as those from "complex social backgrounds" were also included, the report said. People with "complex social backgrounds" refers to families of defectors who have fled to countries such as South Korea or China, according to the report. Family members of North Korean defectors often face severe consequences imposed by the state, including intense surveillance, forced relocation to remote areas, imprisonment in labor camps, or even public execution, especially if the defector is seen as politically significant or has shared sensitive information. The North punishes families under the principle of guilt by association, holding them responsible for the actions of their relatives who fled the country. In some cases, families may also face social ostracism and lose access to education and employment, according to testimonies from defectors. Separately, the source told Sand Times that death notices for North Korean soldiers who died after being deployed began to be delivered to their families at the end of November last year. South Korea and the U.S. estimate that Pyongyang has sent as many as 12,000 troops to serve in Russia's Kursk region, which was partly occupied by a Ukrainian counteroffensive. Ukraine said that about 4,000 of them had been killed or wounded. Its leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy estimated that an additional 20,000 to 25,000 North Korean soldiers could be sent to Russia. Neither Russia nor North Korea has acknowledged the presence of the North Korean troops on the battlefield. "The bodies of the fallen soldiers started arriving in the homeland via trains from Moscow to Pyongyang," the source said, adding that funerals were conducted secretly as soon as the bodies arrived. North Korean authorities instructed the bereaved families not to disclose the deaths and to remain quiet without expressing grief, the source said. In February, Radio Free Asia reported that North Korean authorities had threatened to punish citizens who spread "rumors" about the country's soldiers dying in Russia's war against Ukraine and ordered people to report such incidents. State media has not reported that North Korean troops are fighting in Russia, but news of the deployment has spread by word of mouth - including reports that some have died and their bodies have not been returned. But the source told Sand Times that news related to the deployment to Russia is rapidly spreading among North Korean residents, fueling growing discontent despite Pyongyang's efforts to suppress it. A French travel blogger who was among the first group of Western tourists to visit North Korea in five years told RFA that his tour guides knew that the country's soldiers were fighting in Russia's war against Ukraine. Edited by Mike Firn and Stephen Wright. Copyright 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. claims against Iran's oil industry baseless, lack credibility: Foreign minister IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 25, 2025 Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, in a telephone conversation with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein, has rejected the pretexts of the United States' sanctions against Iran's oil industry as baseless. "The claims and accusations made by American officials, that are aimed at exerting pressure on Iran, have no basis or credibility," Araqchi told Hussein during the discussion on Monday night, according to a press release by the Iranian Foreign Ministry. The telephone call followed the Iraqi foreign minister's remarks that his country is not part of the Axis of Resistance and Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani's claim that Iranian oil tankers were using forged documents. The top Iranian diplomat called on neighboring and friendly countries to remain "vigilant against the U.S.'s sedition and divisive tactics, which has nothing but to destroy friendly relations among regional countries in line with the sinister plots of the Zionist regime." The Iranian and Iraqi foreign ministers also exchanged views on a number of bilateral issues and the latest developments in the West Asia region, including the resumption of the Israeli attacks against the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, as well as the U.S.'s military aggression against Yemen. While denouncing the killing of innocent women and children, Araqchi said that the Israeli regime's continued genocide in Gaza and repeated acts of aggression against Lebanon "are in flagrant violation of ceasefire agreements" and are carried with "a clear green light from the U.S." He called for immediate international action, especially from regional and Islamic countries, to stop Israeli and U.S. atrocities and prevent further insecurity in the region. Referring to the U.S.'s misuse of bases in the region, Araqchi urged neighboring states to take necessary measures to protect their national sovereignty and prevent the use of their territory and facilities by foreign powers to bring insecurity to other countries. Hussein, for his part, expressed deep concern over some of the regional developments and the serious dangers resulting from the continued aggression against Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. The Iraqi foreign minister emphasized the need for cooperation among regional countries to help alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people and prevent attempts to jeopardize regional peace and stability. 4399**4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's oil sales in accordance with international standards: Ministry IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 25, 2025 The Oil Ministry has rejected accusations that Iran used forged Iraqi documents on its oil tankers to circumvent sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, emphasizing that Iranian oil sales are in accordance with international standards. The ministry's reaction came on Monday after Iraq's Oil Minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani claimed that several tankers with Iraqi bills of lading, which were recently seized by U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf, actually belonged to Iran. "We received some verbal inquiries about oil tankers carrying Iraqi shipping manifests," Abdel-Ghani said on state television late on Sunday, adding there had been no formal written communication. Continuing his claims, the Iraqi minister said that "these tankers turned out to be Iranian and were using forged Iraqi documents", which had been done in similar cases by some businessmen before. Iran was quick to deny the accusations and said that they were leveled by American officials. Assessments show that the Iraqi oil minister's remarks have been reflected incompletely, and he made the allegations based on what American officials had said, Deputy Iranian Oil Minister for International and Commercial Affairs Alimohammad Mousavi said on Monday. "It's obvious that these allegations by U.S. officials, which are in line with this country's illegal policy to level unfounded accusations and exert pressure on the Iranian nation, have no basis or credibility," he said. Mousavi also said that Iran's oil sales are being carried out based on all accepted criteria and regulations related to oil trade, emphasizing that such "negative and malicious maneuvering" will not have any impact on the Oil Ministry's determination to fulfill its legal duties and responsibilities. Recently, a U.S. State Department spokesperson informed that the Trump administration had ended Iraq's sanctions waivers for buying electricity from Iran. He said that Washington will not allow Tehran any degree of economic and financial freedom and asked the Iraqi government "to end its dependence on Iranian energy resources." 4399**4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran seizes ship with 1mn liters of smuggled oil in Persian Gulf Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 March 2025 5:09 PM Iranian border police have seized a ship carrying one million liters of smuggled oil in the waters of the Persian Gulf. The operation on Tuesday was conducted in Hormozgan Province after authorities received intelligence on fuel smuggling activities. Six suspects were arrested and handed over to judicial authorities. Iran, home to some of the world's cheapest fuel due to government subsidies, has long faced challenges with fuel smuggling, particularly in its southern maritime borders. The significant price difference between Iranian fuel and that of neighboring countries has made fuel smuggling a lucrative illegal trade. In recent years, Iranian authorities have intensified efforts to curb fuel smuggling. In 2022, the Iranian Navy intercepted a foreign ship transporting 11 million liters of smuggled fuel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran vows 'severe' response to West's snapback of UN sanctions Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 March 2025 4:28 PM Iran has warned the West against the "unjust" trigger of a "snapback" of sanctions on the Islamic Republic at the United Nations, saying it would draw a dire response. The warning by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi on Tuesday came amid threats by the West to activate the mechanism under the 2015 nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). "The unjust use of the trigger mechanism will ensue an appropriate and severe response from Iran," Kamalvani said. The official said the return of UN sanctions on Iran through the "snapback" mechanism is part of Western countries' pressure on Iran over its peaceful nuclear program. "One of the pressure tools that Western countries are talking about these days is the use of the trigger mechanism. It is truly ridiculous that they want to punish Iran for a violation that others committed," he said. Washington's withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018 and the failure of the Europeans as parties to the agreement to protect Iran from unilateral US sanctions upended the deal's promise of financial normalization for Iran, inflicting severe harm on its economy and people. As a result, Tehran started to reduce its commitments under the JCPOA in a series of pre-announced and clear steps after a year of waiting for the other signatories of the deal to compensate Iran. "If they had fulfilled their commitments and the sanctions had been lifted, and if the US had not withdrawn from the JCPOA, naturally Iran would have fulfilled its commitments," Kamalvandi said. "If Iran has stopped its commitments, it is because it does not benefit from the general rule of the agreement." Kamalvani dismissed the "snapback" of UN sanctions on Iran as a "hollow and empty threat" . "The Islamic Republic of Iran considers the trigger mechanism as a tool of pressure like other economic and military threats and will certainly stand firm against them and defend the country's rights," he said. Iran, Kamalvandi said, is always ready for engagement, but it does not accept pressure under any circumstances. "The general policies of our country have been specified by the Supreme Leader, and naturally, we pursue the country's interests within the framework of those policies," he added. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Friday said threats by Western countries "will get them nowhere," warning of reciprocal measures "if they do anything malign" against Iran. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign minister: Iran preparing response to Trump's letter Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 March 2025 2:20 PM Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Iran has yet to respond to a letter from President Donald Trump of the United States regarding a replacement for the 2015 nuclear deal. "We have not yet responded to the US president's letter, and this response is being prepared and will be presented soon through the appropriate channels and in the appropriate form," he said at a joint news conference with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan in Yerevan on Tuesday. The minister clarified that Iran would not engage in direct talks with the Trump administration under the reinstated maximum pressure campaign. "We do not negotiate directly with the United States under maximum pressure where we are witnessing military threats and increased economic sanctions from Washington," he said. However, Iran has always been eager to discuss its nuclear program to "create greater transparency" and is already holding talks and consultations with three European countries and other interested nations, he added. "We have never left the negotiation table on our peaceful nuclear program and will not do so," Araghchi said, suggesting that the country is willing to engage in indirect talks with Washington. The minister reiterated Iran's belief that regional problems should be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue, opposing any attacks or military conflicts in the region. The Trump administration recently restored the so-called maximum pressure policy, first introduced during Trump's initial term in office in 2016. Under this policy, Trump withdrew the United States from a landmark agreement on Iran's nuclear program in 2018 and reimposed crippling sanctions on Tehran. The 2015 deal, signed between Tehran and world powers, saw Iran commit to temporary confidence-building restrictions on its nuclear activities in exchange for the removal of Western-imposed economic sanctions. On March 7, Trump announced he had written to Iran to call for nuclear negotiations and threaten military action. The letter was delivered to Tehran on March 12 by UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei responded on March 21, stating that US threats "will get them nowhere" and warning of reciprocal measures "if they do anything malign" against Iran. He also dismissed Trump's outreach for talks, accusing him of attempting to deceive global public opinion by portraying the United States as willing to negotiate while framing Iran as unwilling to engage. Armenia-Azerbaijan deal welcome In his remarks, the Iranian minister also welcomed an agreement on the text of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, urging both countries to sign it promptly to strengthen regional peace, stability, and economic cooperation. He reiterated Iran's support for the independence and territorial integrity of regional states, opposing any changes to international borders or geopolitical shifts. Additionally, he said that Iran supports economic collaboration, including the opening of transit routes, provided they respect national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Discussions between Araghchi and Armenia also covered transport and trade facilitation, with agreements reached on cost reductions and infrastructure improvements, including a new bridge over the Aras River. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sanctioning Iranian Intelligence Officers Involved in the Probable Death of Robert Levinson US Department of State Press Statement Tammy Bruce, Department Spokesperson March 25, 2025 Today, the United States is sanctioning three Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) officials involved in the abduction, detention, and probable death of former FBI Special Agent Robert A. Levinson. MOIS has a history of wrongfully detaining U.S. nationals and has been designated across various sanctions programs. Today's action follows the December 2020 designations of Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazai, who acted in their capacity as MOIS officers in Mr. Levinson's abduction, detention, and probable death. The United States will continue to work to identify those involved in this case. The United States will also continue our relentless efforts to secure the release of all U.S. nationals who are held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad and reunite them with their loved ones. We condemn Iran's longstanding record of unjust detentions of and lethal plotting against U.S. nationals. Additionally, since November 2019 the U.S. Department of State's Rewards for Justice program, which is administered by the Diplomatic Security Service, has offered a reward offer of up to $20 million for information leading to the location, recovery, and return of Bob Levinson and the identification of those responsible for his disappearance. Today's action is being taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14078, which implements the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act, and holds to account terrorist organizations, criminal groups, and other malicious actors who take hostages for financial, political, or other gainas well as foreign states that engage in the practice of wrongful detention, including for political leverage or to seek concessions from the United States. For more information, please see the Treasury Press release. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Treasury Sanctions Additional Iranian Intelligence Officers Involved in the Probable Death and Cover-Up of Robert Levinson U.S. Department of the Treasury March 25, 2025 WASHINGTON -- Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), is imposing sanctions on three Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) officials who were involved in the abduction, detention, and probable death of former FBI Special Agent Robert A. "Bob" Levinson. The individuals designated today, 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. This action follows the December 2020 OFAC designations of two Iranian MOIS officers, Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazai, who acted in their capacity as MOIS officers in Mr. Levinson's abduction, detention, and probable death. "Iran's treatment of Mr. Levinson remains a blight on Iran's already grim record of human rights abuse," said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. "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." "Today's action by our partners at the Department of the Treasury demonstrates that we continue to work together to identify additional Iranian officers involved in Bob's abduction," said FBI Director Kash Patel. "Our investigation continueswe will pursue all options to hold Iran accountable. The FBI will not waver in our commitment to provide answers to the Levinson family about what happened to Bob." Today's action is being taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14078, which implements the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act, and holds to account terrorist organizations, criminal groups, and other malicious actors who take hostages for financial, political, or other gainas well as foreign states that engage in the practice of wrongful detention, including for political leverage or to seek concessions from the United States. MOIS was designated pursuant to E.O. 14078 on September 18, 2023 in connection with the MOIS's involvement in the wrongful detention of U.S citizens, including MOIS's abduction and detention of Mr. Levinson with the authorization of senior Iranian officials. Additionally, since November 2019, the U.S. Department of State's Rewards for Justice program, which is administered by the Diplomatic Security Service, has offered a reward of up to $20 million for information leading to the location, recovery, and return of Bob Levinson and the identification of those responsible for his disappearance. MOIS personnel held responsible Gholamhossein Mohammadnia (Mohammadnia) has been a senior MOIS deputy who became the Iranian ambassador to Albania in 2016. He was expelled from Albania in December 2018 for "damaging its national security." Mohammadnia led an effort to blame Mr. Levinson's detention on a terrorist group in Pakistan's Baluchistan region in order to shift blame away from the Iranian government. MOIS has sought to obfuscate its role in Mr. Levinson's probable death by attributing his abduction to Pakistani militants. Reza Amiri Moghadam (Moghadam), also known as Ahmad Amirinia, has been a head of MOIS's operations unit, with MOIS agents in Europe at one point reporting to him in Tehran. Moghadam is the current Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan. Moghadam has held a senior role in the Levinson case and has obfuscated the truth about Mr. Levinson's abduction. Taqi Daneshvar (Daneshvar) has been an Iranian MOIS officer who oversaw the work of Sanai, AKA Mohammad Baseri (Baseri), during the timeframe that Mr. Levinson disappeared from Kish Island, Iran. Baseri, a high-ranking MOIS officer involved in counterespionage activities, was involved in the abduction, detention, and probable death of Mr. Levinson, and was designated in December 2020 for acting for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, MOIS. Mohammadnia, Moghadam, and Daneshvar are being designated pursuant to E.O. 14078 for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, MOIS. SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons. U.S. persons may face civil or criminal penalties for violations of E.O. 14078. In addition, persons that engage in certain transactions with the individuals and entities designated today may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to an enforcement action. Non-U.S. persons are also prohibited from causing or conspiring to cause U.S. persons to wittingly or unwittingly violate U.S. sanctions, as well as engaging in conduct that evades U.S. sanctions. OFAC's Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC's enforcement of U.S. sanctions, including the factors that OFAC generally considers when determining an appropriate response to an apparent violation. The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC's Frequently Asked Question 897 here, and to submit a request for removal, click here. Click here for more information on the individuals designated today. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Junta chief vows to hike defense budget, seeking to expand global presence Min Aung Hlaing reportedly plans to join a regional summit in Bangkok next month on his first trip to Thailand. By RFA Burmese 2025.03.25 -- Myanmar's junta chief said the military would increase the defense budget, while seeking to expand his international presence with a reported plan to join a regional summit in Thailand next month. Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing announced on Monday that the junta would increase the budget for its defense ministry to "enhance the strength and capacity of defense forces" as well as to "maintain peace and stability." He did not provide specific figures. Since the 2021 coup, the junta has tripled its defense budget from 1.746 trillion kyats to 5.635 trillion kyats (US$2.68 billion) by 2023, according to media reports, accounting for about a quarter of the government's total spending. The military has also invested over US$1 billion in weapons, primarily from Russia, China, Singapore, India and Thailand. Despite bolstering its capabilities, the junta faces intense international criticism for human rights violations, including indiscriminate attacks and mass detentions, leading to accusations of war crimes and increasing global isolation. Min Aung Hlaing has been also sanctioned by multiple countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union's 27 member states. These sanctions include asset freezes, travel bans, and prohibitions on transactions, aimed at holding him accountable for human rights violations and the military's seizure of power. However, Min Aung Hlaing appears to be attempting to reshape his international standing, as media reports indicate that he plans to participate in a regional summit in Bangkok next week - marking his first visit to Thailand. According to Thai media outlet ThaiPBS on Monday, Min Aung Hlaing is scheduled to visit Bangkok from April 3 to 4 to attend the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, or BIMSTEC, summit. The summit is expected to be attended by heads of state from member countries, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. BIMSTEC is a regional cooperation organization established in 1997, comprising seven countries bordering the Bay of Bengal: India, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan. Min Aung Hlaing also recently visited Russia and Belarus, where he held meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Separately, he attended the Mekong River Basin Summit held in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China, in November - marking his first visit to China since the coup. Assaults in northern Myanmar As the junta leader looks abroad for support for his unelected government and approval for elections he plans to hold by January, his military's attacks on pro-democracy forces and ethnic armies fighting for autonomy continue in an indiscriminate and brutal fashion. A resident from Mandalay's Natogyi township said that junta forces bombed two villages around 1 a.m. on Sunday morning, injuring two women and six men, including a 13-year-old child. Insurgent groups, which retain control over much of the township, have seen a resurgence in junta offensives, following a series of failed ceasefires between the junta and rebel militias in the country's north. "They were all just civilians, Although most were people avoiding conflict, there were those who couldn't avoid it and were stuck in Let Wea and Myinni villages," said the resident, who declined to be named over security concerns. "When the bomb fell, they ran but they didn't get away." A 65-year-old man was severely injured, and over 10 houses were destroyed by the blast, he added. Most residents from the two villages were sheltering in nearby mountains, but about a third had chosen to remain in their homes, residents said. Junta spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Htun has declined to comment. According to data compiled by RFA, 3,554 people have been killed by junta-led attacks since the coup began in February 2021, and another 7,064 have been injured. Translated by Kiana Duncan. Edited by Taejun Kang and Mike Firn. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran says Syria's interim authorities must ensure safety of civilians in Latakia and Tartus IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 25, 2025 New York, IRNA -- Iran's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Sa'eed Iravani says Syria's interim authorities must take decisive measures to ensure the security of civilians in Latakia and Tartus. Iravani made the remark in a speech to a United Nations Security Council meeting on "The situation in the Middle East: (Syria)" on Tuesday. Below is the transcript of his speech. Thank you Madam President. We appreciate Mr. Pedersen, the Special Envoy, and Mr. Tom Fletcher, the Under-Secretary-General, for their insightful briefings. We have closely listened to the views of Ms. Joumana Seif. With regard to the current situation in Syria, I wish to make the following points: First, we strongly condemn the widespread violence of people in Latakia and Tartus since 6 March, which has led to the mass killing of civilians, particularly among Alawites. The interim authorities must take decisive action to end all violence, protect civilians, and ensure unhindered humanitarian access. All communities' rights must be respected and guaranteed, and any attempts to displace minorities, especially Alawites and Shiites, must stop immediately. We welcome the Security Council's presidential statement of 14 March, which strongly condemns this carnage and calls for a swift, credible, transparent, independent, and comprehensive investigation. The interim authorities must ensure full accountability and swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice. Second, we stress the need to combat terrorism in Syria and the grave threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs), which endanger regional and global security. This transnational threat demands coordinated action. We echo the Security Council's call for the interim authorities to take decisive measures and uphold its counterterrorism obligations. FTFs must be repatriated, held accountable, and prevented from further destabilizing the region. Iran remains committed to fighting terrorism and stands ready to cooperate with legitimate international partners to address this challenge. Third, we express deep concern over Israel's ongoing violations of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Recent Israeli airstrikes, including those on the city of Daraa, have resulted in civilian casualties and heightened regional tensions. Such aggression constitutes blatant violations of international law and exacerbates instability in the region. Furthermore, Israel's continued occupation of the Golan Heights remains a significant obstacle to peace and security. Resolution 497 unequivocally declares Israel's imposition of its laws in the occupied Golan Heights as "null and void and without international legal effect. We call upon the Security Council to take decisive action to halt these violations and to compel Israel to withdraw from all occupied Syrian territories, in compliance with international law and relevant UN resolutions. Fourth, Syria faces severe humanitarian and economic challenges, requiring urgent reconstruction and restoration of essential services. However, U.S. and EU sanctions continue to obstruct recovery, disproportionately harming vulnerable populations. We welcome the recent EU decision to suspend sanctions against Syria in the transport, energy, and banking sectors. This relief is insufficient. All illegal measures must be fully lifted to facilitate Syria's reconstruction and ensure the safe return of refugees. Fifth, the future of Syria must be determined only by its people, free from any external interference or imposition. Iran supports the establishment of an inclusive government through free elections and comprehensive national dialogue, ensuring fair representation for all Syrian communities. To ensure national solidarity, the temporary constitution should also be submitted to a public vote. The constitution must serve to strengthen national unity, rather than sow division or exacerbate ethnic and religious tensions. Iran emphasizes the necessity of a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process, facilitated by the United Nations and grounded in the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015). This resolution outlines a clear roadmap for establishing an inclusive, non-sectarian government through free and fair elections and comprehensive national dialogue, ensuring fair representation for all Syrians. Iran supports the efforts of the UN Special Envoy, and stresses that the United Nations must play a central role in this process. Sixth, we welcome Syria's return to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) after a 13-year suspension. This development allows Syria to resume its role as a significant member of this esteemed body. Iran remains committed to supporting Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity and is dedicated to playing a constructive role in achieving lasting peace and stability in Syria and the broader region. Seventh, in conclusion, we categorically reject the baseless accusations made by the U.S. representative, which are once again intended to distort reality and mislead the international community. For years, under the false pretext of counterterrorism, the United States has flagrantly violated Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, enabling terrorist groups and backing Israel's occupation to advance its geopolitical agenda. We must not overlook the fact that the severe humanitarian crisis and economic hardship in Syria stem directly from Washington's unlawful sanctions and its systematic violations of the fundamental human rights of the Syrian people. These are undeniable facts, and the representative of the United States cannot erase them through deception, misleading, or by leveling baseless accusations against Iran. We seek and support the establishment of sustainable stability and security in Syria and are not involved in any action that would destabilize Syria and the broader region. I thank you, Madam President NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Seven people killed in Israeli strike on Dara'a in southwestern Syria Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 March 2025 10:23 AM At least seven people have been killed and several others injured when Israeli military forces launched an attack against a residential neighborhood in Syria's southwestern province of Dara'a, in the latest act of aggression against the Arab nation since the downfall of president Bashar al-Assad's government. Lebanon's pan-Arab al-Mayadeen television news channel reported that the victims were killed as Israeli forces shelled Kuwaya village, located west of the provincial capital of Dara'a, on Tuesday. There are also reports that Israeli ground forces are operating in the area. Local media outlets are reporting that the assault has caused "a state of fear and panic" in the village. Omar al-Hariri, an independent journalist based in Dara'a, dismissed Israeli military's allegations that the regime troops were attacked in southern Syria, and they returned fire. "The truth is that they (Israeli forces) initiated the aggression by attempting to arrest youths from Kuwaya, who resisted this patrol," he wrote in a post published on X social media platform. The journalist added that the Israeli army has also ordered all residents to evacuate the village immediately. Israeli army strikes two military bases in central Syria Earlier, Israeli warplanes had carried out airstrikes against two military facilities once belonging to ousted president Bashar al-Assad's army but now used by the forces of Syria's new authorities in the central province of Homs. Israeli jets struck the Palmyra Military Airport and the Tiyas Air Base. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The attack came only a few days after Israeli military aircraft launched similar strikes on these same airfields. On December 8, 2024, militant groups, spearheaded by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, overthrew Assad's administration. Following the downfall of Assad's regime, the Israeli military has been conducting airstrikes, targeting military installations, facilities, and arsenals associated with Syria's former army. Israel has faced significant criticism for its decision to terminate the 1974 ceasefire agreement with Syria, and taking advantage of the turmoil in the Arab nation following Assad's ouster, to make a land grab. The United Nations has denounced the persistent Israeli assaults within Syrian territory, as well as the ongoing breaches occurring in and around the buffer zone established by the 1974 ceasefire agreement with Damascus. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel Army Claims Strike on Military Targets at Syrian Bases Sputnik News 20250325 MOSCOW, (Sputnik) - The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed a strike on military targets at Syrian bases Tadmor and T4. 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) Situated in the Homs Governorate, northwest of Tiyas and west of Palmyra, is Syria's largest airbase. The base has been utilized by the Syrian Arab Air Force and Iran's Quds Force for operations. Tadmur Hosts the Palmyra Military Airport. This airbase has been a focal point in the Syrian conflict due to its location and has recently been targeted by Israeli airstrikes. 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. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Diplomacy and dialogue are the best ways to achieve a stable future in Syria: UK statement at the UN Security Council Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria. 25 March 2025 Location: United Nations, New York Delivered on: 25 March 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) I'd like to start by thanking Special Envoy Pedersen and Under-Secretary General Fletcher for your briefings. Thank you also to Ms Seif for your briefing and for your tireless advocacy efforts. We echo your calls for an inclusive political transition that prioritises the participation and leadership of women in Syria. President, I would like to make three points today. First, this month Syrians marked the 14th anniversary of the start of the uprising against the Assad regime. At last, they can see the prospect of a more stable and hopeful future. But horrific events this month demonstrate too that this remains a fragile and critical moment in Syria. We welcome the Interim Authorities' announcement establishing a fact-finding committee to investigate and prosecute individuals who committed crimes during the clashes in Syria's coastal areas. A peaceful and secure country is in the interests of all Syrians and the wider region. Diplomacy and dialogue are the best way of achieving this and we urge all parties to refrain from further violence and to exercise restraint at this critical moment. We are concerned by Defence Minister Katz's declaration that the Israeli presence in the Area of Separation and the Golan Heights could be for an unlimited period. This is unacceptable and Israel must present clear and reasonable timelines for their withdrawal in line with international law. Second, we note the progress made in Syria's political transition. We welcome the Constitutional Declaration's provisions on freedom of expression, religion and women's rights alongside the commitment to establish a Transitional Justice Commission. We call for swift implementation of these actions and hope the Declaration will provide a solid foundation for a transition that guarantees the rights of all Syrians. A clear approach on accountability and transitional justice is essential for national reconciliation and to prevent a recurrence of the violence we saw this month. Progress on this cannot wait. As the Interim Authorities take these next steps, we call for a consultative and inclusive process and for appointments to the Transitional Government to reflect Syria's rich diversity. Finally, we recognise the immense challenges of rebuilding Syria and that this cannot be done without economic recovery and the international community's coordinated support. The UK is committed to Syria's recovery, underlined by our pledge at last week's Brussels conference of up to $207 million in critical humanitarian assistance. This will alleviate some of the suffering in Syria, as well as helping Syrians in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, who generously host so many refugees. In parallel, the UK has relaxed some sanctions on Syria and revoked the asset freezes of 24 entities and institutions in the energy, transport and finance sectors. We have also issued a General Licence to support transactions for humanitarian activities in Syria. In conclusion, President, the UK stands with the Syrian people in building a more stable, free and prosperous future. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Fragility and hope' mark new era in Syria amid ongoing violence and aid struggles 25 March 2025 - UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen briefed the Security Council on Tuesday, pointing to the devastating violence on the coast earlier this month, which marked a grim new chapter in Syria's fragile transition to a lasting peace. On 6 March, armed groups linked to the deposed Assad regime ambushed forces of the caretaker administration led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, targeting military and internal security forces as well as several hospitals. Mr. Pedersen described the violence as "sectarian and retaliatory," with reports of entire families executed and widespread fear among the civilian population. "The coordinated attack on the caretaker authority, the heavy counterattacks against this, and the mass killings of civilians all came against a background of already-fomenting insecurity," said Mr. Pedersen. The Special Envoy noted the "great hopes and huge fears" that have emerged since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024. Calling for transparent, independent and public investigations into the violence, he urged for those responsible to be held accountable, "with a clear signal that the era of impunity in Syria is in the past." Critical underfunding Meanwhile, humanitarian efforts by UN agencies and partners continue, amid a mixture of progress and setbacks. UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher underscored the work being done by the international community. "We are making progress," he stated, noting expanded routes for cross-border deliveries and increased support for vulnerable communities. One recent success saw the Atareb Water Station in Aleppo resume operations, bringing water to 40,000 people. The Syrian Ambassador also expressed gratitude to Qatar and Jordan, alongside the UN Development Programme (UNDP), for the initiative to supply Syria with gas through Jordan and the ability to generate 400 megawatts of electricity. Meanwhile, the European Union has committed nearly 2.5 billion for 2025 and 2026, having raised an overall of 5.8 billion towards Syria's recovery. But despite pledges of support, the humanitarian response remains critically underfunded, Mr. Fletcher explained. "Last year's appeal was only 35 per cent funded - causing us to reduce our humanitarian response by more than half," he stated. Progress on transition On a more hopeful note, Mr. Pedersen highlighted the recent agreement between caretaker authorities and the mostly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which speaks to the future integration of civil and military institutions in northeastern Syria. "We will continue and deepen engagement in support of the process," he said, expressing cautious optimism, warning that the road ahead would not be easy. "The issue of foreign fighters in the senior ranks of the new armed forces, as well as individuals associated with violations, remains a key concern," he added. Echoing this sentiment, representative of Syrian civil society and legal adviser, Joumana Seif, emphasised: "We don't want to build our new country on the back of new massacres." "Syria stands at a historic crossroads, with a rare chance to unite and transition to democracy," she said, calling for the lifting of sanctions on the Syrian government. In response, some ambassadors in the chamber noted that they had already relaxed unilateral sanctions on Syria, including an end to asset freezes. Urgency for Syria's future Both Mr. Pedersen and Mr. Fletcher concluded their statements with calls for urgent action. Mr. Fletcher underscored that humanitarians cannot make the "toughest choices" alone, urging the international community to provide additional resources. "The cost of hesitation is greater than the risk of decisive action," he warned. Finally, Mr. Pedersen highlighted the choice Syria faces: either a return to violence and instability or a path toward a peaceful, inclusive future. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Amid Appalling Civilian Death Toll in Syria, Caretaker Authorities Must Signal 'Era of Impunity' Is Over, Special Envoy Tells Security Council Meetings Coverage Security Council 9885th Meeting (AM) SC/16028 25 March 2025 Several Speakers Urge Lifting Economic Sanctions on Damascus, Condemn Israel's Ongoing Violations of Syria's Sovereignty, Territorial Integrity Meeting today 14 years after the start of the civil war in Syria, four months since the fall of the former regime and weeks removed from harrowing violence along the country's coast the Security Council heard of the need for accountability and economic recovery so that the country can move towards credible, inclusive transition. "The legacies of 14 years of war and conflict and five decades of one-man rule are huge," said Geir O. Pedersen, the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Syria. "So are the immediate challenges facing the Syrians today," he added. While many have rejoiced at their newfound ability to gather in public spaces without fear, many others have faced devastating violence on Syria's coast. On that, he said that "armed groups associated with the former regime" attacked and ambushed caretaker authority forces across that region on 6 March. "Serious armed confrontations ensued, resulting in significant numbers of casualties among the warring factions," he reported. "But far more disturbing was the appalling civilian death toll," he stressed, spotlighting "widespread footage of grave violations of a plainly sectarian and retaliatory nature". Detailing the broader context of fomenting insecurity, hate speech, sense of exclusion and pent-up grievance, he said that further investigation is needed to fully determine the perpetrators of the "shocking" violence against civilians. For their part, the caretaker authorities have announced an independent investigative committee tasked with examining violations by all sides. He underscored that findings must be made public and those responsible held accountable to clearly signal that "the era of impunity in Syria is in the past". He went on to express concern over recent Israeli statements on the intention to stay in Syria "for the foreseeable future", as well as demands for the "full demilitarization of southern Syria", calling on the Council to "hold Israel to its commitment that this is a temporary presence". Additionally, he detailed the caretaker authorities' actions to establish a transitional Government, a permanent Constitution and transitional justice. "Syrians need an economic future," he added, welcoming humanitarian pledges made at the ninth Brussels Conference on 17 March to support Syria's recovery. However, observing that "more resources will be needed", he also urged "fast and broad sanctions easing". Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, cited progress on that front, with expanded cross-border deliveries from Turkiye, engagement with Member States to ease sanctions, the repair of infrastructure to restore access to water and the clearance of over 1,700 pieces of unexploded ordnance. Nevertheless, he underscored: "We need more funding." The 2024 Humanitarian Appeal for Syria was only 35 per cent funded, and in 2025, almost half of organizations funded by the United States have received full or partial stop orders. Stating that $2 billion is needed to reach 8 million of the most vulnerable people through June, he noted that his office has only received $155 million to date 13 per cent of what is needed. Yet, 16 million people nearly three quarters of the Syrian population lack sufficient food, water, shelter and medicine. While stating that there are real reasons for hope after 14 years of conflict and devastation, he stressed that "there is no time to spare". He therefore urged those present to be "problem-solvers, rather than problem-observers". Next to brief was Joumana Seif, Co-founder of the Syrian Women's Political Movement and Legal Adviser at the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, who pointed out that Syrians endured "immense" suffering under the rule of Bashar al-Assad. This led to sanctions, which affected not only the regime, but also ordinary citizens. "Now that Assad is no longer in power, there is no justification for maintaining these sanctions," she stressed, adding that "what Syrians need most" is the immediate lifting of these measures alongside investment, reconstruction and economic revitalization. Turning to the recent coastal violence, she underscored that this has "caused real concern for us Syrians". She stressed: "We don't want to build our new country on the back of a new massacre." Instead, Syrians must create a transparent and inclusive plan for transitional justice, which requires consultation with victims' associations and civil society to ensure fair trials, truth commissions, moral and financial compensation for victims and safeguards to prevent future atrocities. "All of this requires significant financial resources," she observed. Additionally, she underscored the need to form an inclusive Government that "truly represents everyone without exclusion". As the floor opened, Lars Lkke Rasmussen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark and Council President for March, spoke in his national capacity to underscore that the interim Government "must protect Syrians from all religious and ethnic backgrounds". He also underlined the need for an inclusive political transition. "Syrian society, in all its complexity and diversity, must be represented," he urged. And on the issue of sanctions, he noted that the European Union suspended several such measures in February "to send a very clear signal to the Syrian people of our support towards a better future". Also underlining the European Union's commitment to the Syrian people, the representative of France noted the suspension of certain restrictive measures to facilitate financial and bank transactions for the country's reconstruction. Slovenia's representative added that the bloc will consider a further lifting of sanctions depending on developments on the ground. The representative of Greece, meanwhile, emphasized that sanctions should be eased in a gradual, conditional and reversible manner to "ensure that our expectations are met" in terms of an inclusive transition and accountability for recent atrocities. Many Council members also spotlighted the recent Brussels Conference, during which donors pledged nearly $6.5 billion in aid to support Syria's recovery. The representative of the United Kingdom recalled that her country, at that event, promised up to $207 million in critical humanitarian assistance. In parallel, the United Kingdom has relaxed some of its sanctions on Syria and revoked the asset freezes of 24 entities and institutions in the energy, transport and finance sectors. On the topic of assistance, Kang Insun, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, urged stronger international commitment to humanitarian aid and economic recovery in Syria to "overcome the pain and destruction of 14 years of conflict". For its part, Seoul has provided nearly $150 million in humanitarian assistance to Syria and its neighbours over the past decade, and will continue to offer its support. "As [the Republic of] Korea has pledged, 2,400 tons of Korean rice will be delivered to assist food-insecure populations in Syria," she reported. She also took "positive note" of recent developments regarding the suspension of certain sanctions. Many Council members, echoing warnings of Syria's dire economic and humanitarian situation, called for the lifting of unilateral sanctions on the country. Among them were the representatives of Panama and Pakistan the latter of whom stressed that lifting sanctions is "imperative to facilitating reconstruction and aid efforts". Algeria's representative also speaking for Guyana, Sierra Leone and Somalia stressed: "Without rapid economic recovery, it will be difficult to envision a safe and prosperous future for Syrians." Therefore, the swift lifting of unilateral sanctions is essential. Additionally, he like many other Council members today expressed concern over "alarming" statements by Israeli officials regarding the "indefinite" presence of their forces in Syrian territory and their intention to establish a "demilitarized area" in the country's south. Condemning these "irresponsible" statements "which will only exacerbate regional instability" he also joined others in calling for full respect for the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement, including its provisions regarding the area of separation. Similarly, the representative of the Russian Federation pointed to the "destructive role" played by Israeli air strikes against and continued occupation of Syrian territory. Condemning recent attacks by the Israel Defense Forces, he called on Israel to withdraw its units from areas taken since December 2023. Additionally, he expressed concern over the issue of foreign terrorist fighters still present in Syria a point echoed by China's representative, who urged the interim authorities to fulfil their counter-terrorism obligations and take decisive measures to combat all Council-listed terrorist organizations. The representative of the United States also underscored that all foreign fighters "need to be removed from their posts immediately". She also stressed that the interim authorities must embark on a political process that includes Kurdish, Druze, Alawite and Christian communities "something they have not meaningfully done to date". There must also be expansive representation of Syrian voices in the drafting of a permanent Constitution. Otherwise, she stressed, Syria will "remain in the sectarian shadow of the Assad regime, increasing the likelihood of a new civil war". For his part, the representative of Syria reported that, in the wake of recent violence, the Syrian leadership "affirmed that the new Syria will be a State of law and that the law will apply to all". Further, such authorities have emphasized that shedding "the blood of the innocent will not go unpunished regardless of the identity of the perpetrators". Additionally, he urged the "full lifting of sanctions imposed on the Syrian people". And pointing to an Israeli attack on the province of Daraa today, he called on the Council to "compel Israel to cease its ongoing aggression". Several of Syria's neighbours also took the floor, with Iran's representative condemning Israel's ongoing violations of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. So, too, did the representative of Qatar, who additionally called for the lifting of economic sanctions against Syria as "that raison d'etre is no longer there". Jordan's representative echoed that call, adding that countries hosting Syrian refugees cannot bear that burden alone. Therefore, the international community must provide financial and technical support in this regard. The representative of Turkiye, meanwhile, welcomed a "new era" in Syria as the interim authorities work towards political transition. However, he voiced concern over provocations in Latakia and surrounding areas, which are aimed at undermining a smooth transition process. "These attacks should not be mischaracterized as a sectarian conflict between Damascus and the Alawite community," he stressed, as "the international community must recognize that these were coordinated efforts, supported by certain regional actors, to destabilize Syria". NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan should proactively ask to join U.S. military exercises: Expert ROC Central News Agency 03/25/2025 05:47 PM Taipei, March 25 (CNA) Taiwan should proactively ask to participate in military exercises with the United States to strengthen joint deterrence and develop synergy between their forces, a former Pentagon official said Tuesday. "Taiwan should figure out ways to get something for itself on some issues, because the U.S. will not take action," said Tony Hu () at a panel held by the Prospect Foundation, a Taipei-based think tank. They were discussing the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) released by Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) last week. Hu, who served as the first senior country director for Taiwan at the Pentagon, said Taiwan should ask to be an observer at the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise next year and strive toward becoming a full participant in 2028. In the past, countries that participated in RIMPAC had concerns about Taiwan's participation, but he believed that Taiwan now has a better chance at participating as the international climate has changed, Hu contended. "I hope Taiwan has already gotten in touch with the Pentagon and the Department of State to seek approval, and that it will gain the support of the (U.S.) Info-Pacific Command," Hu said. Another opportunity, Hu said, would be whenever a U.S. Navy vessel transits the Taiwan Strait to provide Taiwan's Navy with a great opportunity to engage in passing exercises, or "PASSEXes," with the American vessel, to test their data links and familiarize themselves with radio communication. Through such joint exercises, the two sides could also establish a common operating picture, which would be crucial for data sharing on the battlefield, and define their roles and missions to develop synergy, he said. The QDR included a section dedicated to the MND's plans on deepening military cooperation with the U.S., which it called an "important strategic partner" of Taiwan. Regarding calls from U.S. officials and a recent pledge by President Lai Ching-te () for Taiwan to increase its defense budget, Hu supported the idea, saying the "cost of building a strong defense is but a small fraction of the cost of war, which would be an astronomical figure." Following a high-level national security meeting on Feb. 14, Lai pledged to raise the defense budget from around 2.45 percent to at least 3 percent of the country's GDP. But U.S. Under Secretary of Defense nominee Elbridge Colby said at a Senate hearing this month that Taiwan needed to raise its defense spending to around 10 percent. Prospect Foundation President Lai I-chung (), who moderated the panel, questioned the percentages being floated on how much more Taiwan should spend on its defense, which he said were little more than "political statements." "What the U.S. wants is reassurance from Taiwan that it takes its defense seriously by increasing its defense spending," he said. Lai I-chung argued that GDP is not a suitable metric for measuring Taiwan's commitment to its defense, as the country's general budget makes up only about 15 percent of its GDP, whereas the U.S.' federal budget accounts for around 25 percent of its GDP. Therefore, if Taiwan spent 5 percent of its GDP on defense, or one-third of its general budget, it would seriously crowd out funds for other government functions, he said. (By Sean Lin) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan Coast Guard refutes China Coast Guard 'law enforcement' claims ROC Central News Agency 03/25/2025 09:06 PM Taipei, March 25 (CNA) Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) has refuted a claim made by the China Coast Guard that its ships have been conducting "law enforcement patrols" in the waters near Taiwan's outlying Kinmen County. According to a statement from the CGA's Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch on Tuesday, China Coast Guard incursions into the area recently have not been "law enforcement patrols" but instead are acts of "malicious harassment" that "affect the atmosphere in the Taiwan Strait and undermine regional peace and stability." The CGA was responding to a news release from the China Coast Guard earlier in the day that said its Fujian branch had been "carrying out regular law enforcement patrols in waters near Kinmen according to the law." In the most recent incident, four China Coast Guard vessels -- identified by their serial numbers 14608, 14517, 14605, and 14609 -- sailed into restricted waters south of Kinmen County around 2:50 p.m. on Tuesday, the CGA said. The Chinese ships entered restricted waters in four different places, prompting the deployment of four Taiwanese patrol boats, according to the CGA. The Taiwanese coast guard personnel ignored transmissions from the Chinese ships, and instead broadcast instructions for them to leave the area, the statement added. The CGA reported that the Chinese ships had been successfully "driven out" of Kinmen's restricted waters by 5 p.m. The agency further noted that over the past year, China Coast Guard vessels have entered Kinmen's waters 64 times, with an average of four incursions per month, each lasting about two hours. Since the "Kinmen Incident" on Feb. 14, 2024, the China Coast Guard has made repeated incursions into restricted waters around the outlying island county despite a memorandum of understanding signed by both sides on July 30, the CGA said. In that incident, a Chinese motorboat capsized after colliding with a CGA vessel, resulting in the deaths of two of its four Chinese crew members. The People's Republic of China claims Taiwan -- including the Kinmen islands located just 2 kilometers from China -- as its territory, despite having never ruled it. (By Wu Wen-jung and James Thompson) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Limits on freedom of speech tied to Taiwan's survival: Premier Cho ROC Central News Agency 03/25/2025 05:52 PM Taipei, March 25 (CNA) Premier Cho Jung-tai () on Tuesday defended the government's decision to expel a Chinese influencer from Taiwan, saying it was to protect the country's sovereignty. "What we are doing is to protect the sovereignty and dignity of the Republic of China, Taiwan," Cho told local reporters at the Legislature. "There are limits to freedom of speech, and the limits are the country's survival," Cho said, adding that one could not smear a country while asking for their right to smear the country to be protected. A democratic country can restrict certain freedoms using "reasonable measures" when national security is threatened, he said, noting that there is precedent for this in the United States. According to the Executive Yuan, the premier was referring to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in January that a federal law effectively banning TikTok did not violate the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech. The law - the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act - was promulgated in April 2024 and provided the legal framework for the U. S. government to address national security concerns regarding TikTok. The premier's comments were made shortly before Liu Zhenya (), a Chinese national who stirred public anger over statements she made on social media, protested against her deportation order outside the National Immigration Agency (NIA) building in Taipei. According to the NIA, Liu made "unifying Taiwan through military force" statements on her social media account "Yaya in Taiwan" (), which has around 400,000 followers on the Chinese social media platform Douyin. Liu, who has been a resident in Taiwan through her marriage to a Taiwanese citizen and has three children, argued that she did not advocate for Chinese military actions against Taiwan but was simply calling for "peaceful unification." The NIA on March 15 revoked Liu's family-based residence certificate on grounds that her videos calling for China's annexation of Taiwan through military force risked "endangering national security and social stability." The NIA's decision was upheld by the Taipei High Administrative Court on March 21. (By Teng Pei-ju and James Thompson) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. bill offering funding to friends of Taiwan to be reintroduced ROC Central News Agency 03/25/2025 01:30 PM Washington, March 24 (CNA) A United States congressman on Monday said he is planning to reintroduce a bill to support international development projects in countries with official or strong unofficial relations with Taiwan. Speaking in an online forum hosted by the Atlantic Council, Illinois Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi said he will introduce the bill, known as the Taiwan Allies Fund Act, in the very near future with bipartisan co-sponsors in both the House and the Senate. In his remarks, the Illinois representative noted that China has been engaged in a long-term effort to buy off Taiwan's diplomatic allies, while also using economic coercion to pressure its unofficial friends. Most recently, the Pacific island nation of Nauru established relations with the PRC after Taiwan's presidential election in January 2024, signaling "Beijing's intent to punish Taiwan's democratic choices," Krishnamoorthi said. "This cannot continue until those who recognize Taiwan become zero, which is what Beijing wants," he said. Krishnamoorthi argued that the United States should do everything in its power to advocate for Taiwan's inclusion in international forums and collaborate on projects that reflect the countries' "shared values." The aim of the Taiwan Allies Fund Act, he said, would authorize "key development aid to countries that have official or strong unofficial relations with Taiwan." In doing so, the bill would support Taiwan's international participation, while also promoting a global environment where nations can make sovereign decisions free of coercion," Krishnamoorthi said. Turning to the current situation in the U.S., Krishnamoorthi slammed the Trump administration's cuts to foreign aid and dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as "outrageous, dangerous and self-sabotage." Given that the Chinese Communist Party is increasingly active in "extracting political gains from the developing world," the U.S. also needs to be "stepping up our global position, not kneecapping ourselves," he said. While Krishnamoorthi did not reveal details of the new legislation, a version of the bill he co-sponsored last year would have authorized US$120 million in funds over three years to be distributed by the State Department and USAID. That bill was not passed into law during the previous term of Congress, and thus has to be reintroduced in the current term, which convened on Jan. 3. According to a Reuters report last year, a Taiwan government official claimed Beijing had offered Nauru -- a country with fewer than 12,000 people -- US$100 million per year to cut its ties with Taiwan in favor of China. Taiwan currently has 12 diplomatic allies, down from 22 a decade ago. (By Chung Yu-chen and Matthew Mazzetta) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC Ministry of National Defense 2025/03/25 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1. Date 6 a.m. Mar. 24 (Mon.) to 6 a.m. Mar. 25 (Tue.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities 21 sorties of PLA aircraft, 6 PLAN ships, and 2 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 20 out of 21 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern, and southeastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. 1140325_PLA activities 1140325_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan Affairs Office rejects claims by Lai Ching-te and DPP authorities regarding 'security reforms' Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 26, 2025 11:46 AM In response to a media inquiry regarding Lai Ching-te and the DPP authorities' promotion of what they call "security reforms," which includes plans to amend several laws, and urges other political parties not to act as "agents of the Communist Party of China," Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Wednesday that the intention of Taiwan authorities led by Lai to amend these "laws" is aimed at facilitating the implementation of "green terror" on the island, allowing them to use oppressive laws to further suppress dissidents and incite "anti-China" sentiments, thereby restricting exchanges between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits as well as with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macao Special Administrative Region. Lai's push for "green terror" and "Taiwan independence" is in serious violation of historical trends and the mainstream public opinion on the island, and it is bound to face opposition and ultimately fail, Chen said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA drills around Taiwan deterrence against secessionist attempts, external interference: Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 26, 2025 12:15 PM When asked about the main goal of the Chinese mainland's military drills near the Taiwan Straits, whether a military blockade could become a strategic option in resolving the Taiwan question, and the strategic and security objectives of the mainland's long-term military strategy on the Taiwan island, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a regular press conference on Wednesday that the military drills by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) around the island of Taiwan are an act of deterrence against "Taiwan independence" secessionist attempts and interference by external forces, a necessary move of justice to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The root cause for tensions in the Taiwan Straits is the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority and "Taiwan independence" forces' provocations which collude with external forces and seek "independence," Chen said. "We have a firm will, full confidence and sufficient capability to thwart 'Taiwan independence' secessionist attempts in any form, defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and firmly promote the great cause of national reunification," he said. In response to a question about the Taiwan military's annual Han Kuang exercise, which will simulate the hypothesis of "the mainland launching attacks on Taiwan in 2027," and for the first time launching a "Mini Han Kuang," or so-called "rapid response exercise" to deal with the PLA's potential turning of drills into combat, Chen said that no matter how the DPP authority poses to boost their own courage, such acts are merely the same old stuff in a new guise and a fragile facade ready to crumble at the first blow. The PLA has the will and capability to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and any attempts of "resisting reunification by force" and "seeking 'independence' by replying on external forces" are a dead end. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey 'Has Been Abused': Protesters Target Erdogan As Crackdown Escalates By RFE/RL March 25, 2025 Turkish authorities have detained nearly 1,500 people amid the country's largest antigovernment protests in more than a decade, the country's 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 Erdogan's 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" Erdogan's 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 Istanbul's 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 Turkey's 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 Yerlikaya's characterization, with small business owners stepping outside to greet passing protesters. One souvenir shop owner has placed Imamoglu's 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 don't 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 Istanbul's 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. Erdogan's 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 shouldn't 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 Istanbul's jailed mayor rang through the air. With reporting by Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/turkey-protests- erdogan-imamoglu-arrest-kadikoy-istanbul/33358767.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address "We will repel attacks on our democracy by remaining within legitimate boundaries" Presidency of The Republic of Turkey 25.03.2025 Speaking after an iftar dinner with undergraduates, President Erdogan said: "We will hold those who violate laws to account within the legal framework. We will repel attacks on our democracy by remaining within legitimate boundaries." President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a speech after an iftar dinner with university students in Ankara. President Erdogan said: "We are going through days when we need to bolster our eternal brotherhood, not animosity, enmity, or anger. We are going through very sensitive days when we need to act with patience, wisdom, commonsense and rationality. We will not fall for provocations. We will not succumb to incitements. We will never allow ourselves to be overtaken by anger. We will never take dark paths that can lead to devastation. We will never be deceived by the cheap politics of cowards hiding behind the youth to conceal their dirt. We will never be a pawn, a puppet, or an extra in the despicable plots of fraudsters who cannot look the hundreds of thousands of youth, whose rights they have usurped, in the face. We will hold those who violate laws to account within the legal framework. We will repel attacks on our democracy by remaining within legitimate boundaries." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Five Areas Where Turkey Plays A Key Role In World Affairs By Ray Furlong, Current Time, Hannah Kaviani, RFE/RL's Radio Farda, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service and Arbana Vidishiqi March 26, 2025 As Turkey witnesses its biggest protests in more than a decade, there's 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 Turkey's 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 Ukraine's 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/RL's Current Time. Western Ties -- The EU And Washington Talking of business, Turkey's 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 Turkey's EU accession process on hold in 2018 amid criticism of democratic backsliding. Imamoglu would likely push for better relations and a restart of Turkey's 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, Turkey's armed forces could make it a key player. European leaders face an uncomfortable choice between condemning Erdogan's 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 other's domestic affairs. The two countries often have conflicting interests on various regional issues, such as Turkey's 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/RL's 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 Tehran's preferences." Geography gives Turkey immense regional influence. Early in the Ukraine war, it closed the Bosphorus to Russian naval shipping, complicating Moscow's communications with its forces in Syria. Turkey's 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 Turkey's 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/RL's Kazakh Service in November. Before the Ukraine war, much of Central Asia's 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 region's 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. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/turkey-foreign-policy- global-relations-erdogan-imamoglu/33358741.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A list of energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine covered by the temporary moratorium on strikes against the energy system, as agreed upon by the Russian and American sides March 25, 2025 21:45 1. Oil refineries. 2. Oil and gas pipelines and storage facilities, including pumping stations. 3. Electricity generation and transmission infrastructure, including power plants, substations, transformers, and distribution facilities. 4. Nuclear power plants. 5. Hydroelectric dams. The temporary moratorium will be in force for 30 days, starting on March 18, 2025, and can be extended by mutual agreement. In the event of a violation of the moratorium by either party, the other party has the right to consider itself free from obligations to comply with it. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Main outcomes of the Russia and United States expert groups meeting March 25, 2025 18:55 1. In line with the agreement reached by the presidents of Russia and the United States, the Russian and American sides agreed to provide for the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative, which includes ensuring safe navigation, eliminating the use of force, and preventing the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea, while adopting appropriate control measures by inspecting such vessels. 2. The United States will 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. Note: Clauses 1 & 2 will come into force following: the removal of sanctions imposed on Rosselkhozbank (Russian Agricultural Bank) and other financial institutions involved in ensuring international food trade (including fish and fish products) and fertilisers, their reconnection to SWIFT, and opening of relevant correspondent accounts; the removal of restrictions imposed on trade finance operations; the removal of sanctions imposed on companies producing and exporting food (including fish and fish products) and fertilisers, as well as restrictions banning insurance companies from working with food cargoes (including fish and fish products) and fertilisers; the removal of restrictions on servicing ships in ports and sanctions against ships flying the flag of Russia, if they are involved in food trade (including fish and fish products) and fertilisers; the removal of restrictions on supplies to the Russian Federation of agricultural machinery and other goods used in the production of food (including fish and fish products) and fertilisers. 3. Russia and the United States agreed to develop measures for implementing the agreement between the two countries' presidents to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine for 30 days starting on March 18, 2025, with an option to extend the agreement or to withdraw from it in the event of non-compliance by either party. 4. Russia and the United States welcome the good offices of third countries with a view toward supporting the implementation of the energy and maritime agreements. 5. Russia and the United States will continue working toward achieving a durable and lasting peace. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia, Ukraine agree to Black Sea ceasefire but with caveats Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 March 2025 7:19 PM The US says Ukraine and Russia have agreed to cease fighting in the Black Sea and to hash out the details for halting strikes on energy facilities. Both Ukraine and Russia confirmed the agreement on Thursday, although it appeared to come with some serious caveats. The Kremlin said a maritime ceasefire would start only if it received sanctions relief on agricultural exports. In a statement, it said Russia would honor the agreement only after its state agriculture bank is reconnected to the international payment system and restrictions are lifted on "trade finance operations". The White House appeared to agree with at least some of the conditions, saying it "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 transactions." The agreements came after three days of intense negotiations in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, during which delegations from Ukraine and Russia met separately with US mediators. Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, welcomed the developments but said Kiev did not support weakening sanctions on Russia and voiced concern over talks the US appeared to be having with the Kremlin about territory. "We are worried when they talk about us without us," Zelensky said in a media briefing, responding to comments by Donald Trump on Monday, when the US president said: "We're talking about territory right now." Ukrainian negotiators had had no discussions about the future division of territory, Zelensky added, saying it appeared that the US had talked to the Kremlin team about dividing Ukraine. A further round of negotiations to extend the ceasefire would "take place soon," Zelensky said, although he was not any more specific on timing. A separate statement, released by its defence ministry, said Ukraine would consider "the movement of Russian military vessels beyond the eastern Black Sea" to be a violation of the deal. The ceasefire could begin immediately after the White House released the statements, Zelensky said, although the Black Sea situation remains ambiguous. It would initially be self-policed, although both sides agreed other countries could become involved in safeguarding it. The issue of shipping rights and safety in the Black Sea has created a plethora of issues for the global supply chains that depend on grain, seed oil and fertilizer exports from both countries. The war has halted shipments of grain through the Black Sea, creating fear across the globe about food shortages. Many countries in Africa and West Asia depend on these exports to sustain their food supplies. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Key Takeaways From The US Talks With Ukraine And Russia In Riyadh By Steve Gutterman March 25, 2025 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 Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The agreements appear to be among the most concrete achievements in US President Donald Trump's 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 Ukraine's 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 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 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, Russia's 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 agricultural...products. 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 Trump's 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 "soon"sign an agreement on joint development of Ukraine's 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 Russia's 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 Trump's efforts to end the war continue. What's Russia's Game? Trump said that Putin's 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 Ukraine's 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 Russia's 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." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-russia- ukraine-talks-riyadh/33358825.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's comment on a new series of terrorist attacks by the Kiev regime targeting Russian media professionals 25 March 2025 01:25 462-25-03-2025 Not only has the Kiev regime not ceased its efforts to terrorise Russian civilians and energy sites, as the Foreign Ministry has pointed out many times, but it has once again targeted people working for Russian media outlets. Unarmed, they have a professional duty to cover the developments on the ground. The more the neo-Nazi regime realises that it would never succeed in inflicting any meaningful damage on the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on the battlefield, the more terrorist attacks of this kind it perpetrates. On March 24 alone, three people who worked for Russian media outlets were killed in the Lugansk People's Republic following a targeted artillery strike carried out by the Kiev regime militants. They were Izvestia's frontline correspondent Alexander Fedorchak, Zvezda TV channel cameraman Andrey Panov, and Alexander Sirkeli, the crew's driver. In addition to this, Zvezda correspondent, Nikita Goldin, was severely wounded - he was near Alexander Fedorchak, Andrey Panov, and Alexander Sirkeli who all died in the strike. The Kiev regime used high-precision MLRS munitions to carry out the strike, and it knew in advance that it was targeting a civilian vehicle with media members in it. At about the same time, TASS correspondent Mikhail Skuratov was on an editorial assignment in the Kursk Region's Sudzha District where he suffered fragment wounds in a targeted attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The Foreign Ministry expresses its deep condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in these attacks, as well as to the corresponding editorial teams and their colleagues. We wish speedy recovery to those who were wounded in these strikes by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Once again, the Kiev regime has demonstrated its terrorist and beastly and atrocious nature for everyone to see. These cruel reprisals and assassinations of Russian journalists by the Ukrainian neo-Nazis constitute yet another powerful piece of evidence proving that they are ready to target civilians with any crimes without any qualms or afterthoughts, considering that media representatives are viewed as civilians as per the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocol I. It also proves that you cannot reach any deals with the Zelensky regime. Specialised international entities must respond to the continuing effort to kill Russian media staff in cold blood. This refers primarily to UNESCO Director General, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and all the supra-national human rights bodies advocating the rights of journalists and their ability to freely access information. The fact that these institutions have consistently failed to act, as well as their intentional refusal to speak up and make their voice heard, or their meaningless empty talk - all this can serve as a benchmark when assessing their ability to perform their mandates as tasked by the states in an impartial manner and in good faith. The Foreign Ministry calls on the international community, international professional media organisations and media professionals to firmly condemn these and other bloody crimes by the Zelensky regime and call on the Ukrainian Armed Forces to put an immediate end to their attacks against civilians, including people working for the media. In conclusion, the Foreign Ministry points out that the Russian Federation's investigative agencies will carry out all the required actions to identify and hold accountable those who were involved in perpetrating these crimes. Make no mistake that they will face the inevitable punishment they deserve and will be sentenced to imprisonment, just as it happened with many other crimes by the Kiev regime against civilians, including people working for Russian media outlets. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by Russian Defence Ministry 25.03.2025 (14:50) Amid the expert-level talks between Russia and the United States held in Riyadh on 24 March on resolving the conflict in Ukraine, the Kiev regime continued to deliberately launch strikes using UAVs against Russian peaceful energy infrastructure. As a result of an attack on 24 March by a Ukrainian drone targeting infrastructure of Rosseti Kuban, Krasnodar region, the 500 kV Rostov NPP- Tikhoretsk No. 2 high-voltage line was shut down. With quick and competent actions, the personnel managed to curb the emergency and avoid any negative consequences for consumers. In the Lugansk People's Republic, the Armed Forces of Ukraine used an FPV drone to attack the Svatovo gas distribution station of the LuganskGaz service. On the evening of 24 March, another Ukrainian attack drone was intercepted by Russian air defence systems close to Cape Tarkhankut (Republic of Crimea), which targeted the ground equipment of the Glebovskoye underground gas distribution facility. Ongoing daily attacks on the Russian energy infrastructure once again confirm that Zelensky is unable to come to an agreement with, and that he is beyond the control of those external guarantors ensuring compliance with any possible agreements. Department for Media Affairs and Information NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Continues UAV Attacks on Civilian Energy Infrastructure Amid Russia-US Negotiations Sputnik News 20250325 Kiev continued drone strikes against Russian peaceful energy infrastructure against the backdrop of the Russian-US talks in Riyadh, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday. "Against the backdrop of Russian-US expert-level talks on the topic of settling the conflict in Ukraine that took place in Riyadh on March 24, the Kiev regime continued to deliberately strike Russian peaceful energy infrastructure facilities using UAVs," the ministry said in a statement. Key statements from the Russian MoD: On March 24, the Kiev regime carried out a drone strike against Rosseti Kuban energy facilities in Krasnodar region, disrupting the "Rostov NPP - Tikhoretsk" power line. In the Lugansk People's Republic, Ukrainian forces attacked the "Svatovo" gas distribution station with drones. In Crimea, air defenses intercepted a UAV targeting equipment at Glebovskoye underground gas storage facility. Zelensky's continued attacks on Russian energy infrastructure demonstrate his unreliability as a negotiating partner and lack of control over military operations. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address How Russia Behaves in the Coming Days Will Reveal a Lot, if Not Everything - Address by the President President of Ukraine 25 March 2025 - 20:20 I wish you health! First of all, today my congratulations go to the Security Service of Ukraine, to all our SSU warriors - today is their professional day. So we congratulate and thank all those who protect the security of our state and do absolutely everything to ensure that Russia's plans do not succeed. This is exactly what our Security Service of Ukraine does. It stops the occupier, destroys the occupier, and inflicts the necessary strikes on the occupier. It neutralizes agents and Russian saboteurs. It is very important that the Security Service of Ukraine has truly become a combat-ready special service. Today I honored the warriors with state awards - thanking them personally. Also today, Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi delivered a report on the front, the Kursk operation, and our results. I am grateful to all units for their resilience. Over the past few days, some much-needed things have been achieved at the front. Thank you, warriors. We need Ukraine's strong position in this, in everything - starting with the battlefield. We also need diplomacy to be strong. Today, I have been in touch all day with the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov, the head of our technical delegation at the talks in Saudi Arabia. Good meetings were held with the American side both yesterday and today. I would like to thank Saudi Arabia and the Crown Prince for their mediation and hospitality - everything was done to a high standard. The agreements were reached, and they are quite specific. It has been agreed with the American side that a ceasefire in our energy sector can begin today - we believe that once the respective statement on the results of the meetings and all the work of the teams today is published, the transition to silence regarding the energy sector can begin. The teams also discussed ways to restore greater security to the Black Sea and normal navigation. For Ukraine, the release of our people from Russian captivity - our military, our civilians, as well as our children who were forcibly taken by the Russian occupiers - is of fundamental importance. I am grateful to America for its readiness to assist in these humanitarian issues, and this is reflected in our statement with the American side. Ukraine is ready to work as swiftly as possible and with absolute transparency to end the war. But, unfortunately, right now, right today, right on the day of the talks, we see how the Russians have already started to manipulate. They are already trying to distort the agreements and actually deceive our mediators and the whole world. There are absolutely clear statements published by the White House. Everyone can see what they say. And there is something that the Kremlin is lying about again: that allegedly the silence in the Black Sea depends on the issue of sanctions, and that allegedly the start date for the silence in the energy sector is March 18. Moscow always lies. And it depends on the world - on all those who truly need peace - whether Moscow will be allowed to lie again. We in Ukraine will do everything to ensure that the agreements work out and that there are no strikes. But the Russians must know and must realize: if they carry out strikes, they will face a strong response. And they will bear the responsibility. And if the Russians later try to spin tales, claiming the strikes were not on energy or civilian infrastructure, everyone will see the truth. I also want to remind everyone that since March 11, the U.S. proposal has been on the table for a full and unconditional ceasefire - everywhere, not just on energy infrastructure and in the Black Sea. It was Russia that refused to accept it. It is Russia's stance that is prolonging this war. When Putin didn't say "yes" to an unconditional ceasefire, no new sanctions were imposed on Russia. Now Moscow is making some demands about lifting part of the sanctions, despite having spent the last three years insisting that sanctions are not harmful to them, but rather beneficial. But if this agreement also fails, if Russians do not fulfill the terms of today's agreements and instead try once again to pressure the U.S., Europe, and Ukraine, then I believe there should be only one response: definitely new sanctions, definitely more pressure. How Russia behaves in the coming days will reveal a lot, if not everything. If there are air raid alerts again, if there is renewed military activity in the Black Sea, if Russian manipulations and threats continue - then new measures will need to be taken, specifically against Moscow. Diplomacy must work. And from the Ukrainian side, we are doing everything to make that happen. I would like to thank everyone who is helping us. I am grateful to the United States for the efforts of our teams, for their constructive and effective work. Now, results are needed from Russia. We do not trust them. And frankly, the world doesn't trust Russia. And they must prove that they are truly ready to end the war, ready to stop lying to the world, stop lying to President Trump, and stop lying to America. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Georgetown, Guyana and New York, NY, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- His Excellency Dr. Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, today announced a five-year extension of the national healthcare initiative to transform Guyanas public health system with world-class healthcare services accessible to every Guyanese citizen. This next phase of the initiative, launched in 2022 by the Government of Guyana in collaboration with the Mount Sinai Health System and Hess Corporation, will include establishment of a national cancer center, continued modernization of national health facilities including Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, and the implementation of one of the worlds most advanced digital health systems. The continued collaboration will build on significant progress made in the first phase of the national healthcare initiative, where Mount Sinai supported the Guyana Ministry of Health in rolling out the Governments health system innovations, including over 35,000 child health screenings, the Ministrys training programs that will graduate nearly 900 nursing assistants in 2025, and a new state-of-the-art pathology lab. The initiative will continue to be funded jointly by Hess Corporation and the Government of Guyana and led by the Arnhold Institute for Global Health, the arm of Mount Sinai dedicated to advancing the institution's mission of delivering innovative, high-quality healthcare around the globe, and Mount Sinai International, the international ventures arm of the Mount Sinai Health System. Todays Signing Ceremony The President was joined today by Dr. Rachel Vreeman, Chair of Mount Sinais Department of Global Health and Health System Design and Director of the Arnhold Institute for Global Health at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and John Hess, CEO of Hess Corporation, for a signing ceremony to establish the five-year extension of the national healthcare initiative. "The journey to world-class healthcare is not walked alone it is built through strategic partnerships, bold investments, and a shared vision for excellence. Today, we take another decisive step toward transforming our healthcare system. By uniting the policy, expertise and resources of Hess Corporation, Mount Sinai, and Government along with our local healthcare professionals, we are shaping a future where every citizen has access to cutting-edge, compassionate, and high-quality care. Together, we are not just improving healthcare we are redefining it, President Ali said. CEO John Hess said: We are proud to support the vision of the Government and the work of Mount Sinai to provide world class healthcare to every Guyanese citizen. Access to affordable and high-quality healthcare is central to the countrys future and its commitment to building shared prosperity for the people of Guyana. At Mount Sinai, we believe global health is local health, and with the Government of Guyana and the Hess Corporation, were building a public health system that ensures all citizens of Guyana especially the most vulnerable can live healthier, more productive lives, said Dr. Brendan Carr, Chief Executive Officer, and Professor and Kenneth L. Davis, MD, Distinguished Chair of the Mount Sinai Health System. This unique public-private partnership serves as a global model, and we are honored be part of this transformational effort. We are incredibly proud to work in partnership with the Government of Guyana to improve access to high-quality healthcare for all Guyanese, said Dr. Vreeman. Now, through 2030, we will continue to support and accelerate Guyanas progress to achieving a healthier country and a transformed health system, setting a new regional and global standard for modern health system development. Areas of Focus to Achieve a Healthier Guyana by 2030 The next phase of the national initiative will be organized around the Governments vision for six key pillars: World Class Cancer Care: Establish a first-in-class national cancer center to screen and treat breast, cervical, prostate and other common cancers that cause the most deaths in Guyana. The first phase of cancer services will expand much-needed access to cancer screening, diagnostic and treatment options; the second phase will offer advanced tertiary oncology services to the entire community in Guyana. Womens and Childrens Hospital: Ensure Guyanas new National Womens and Childrens Hospital meets international quality standards, is well-managed, and ready to provide high-quality care for all of Guyanas women and children. Community-Centered Care: Complete the transformation of health systems across Guyanas regions to ensure everyone in Guyana, especially youth and vulnerable people, can receive health screenings, primary care treatment, and supportive services creating a supportive health ecosystem across the country. Quality Improvement: Implement a national program to improve the quality, safety, and delivery of health services from Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), the countrys largest hospital, to regional hospitals to every health center and post. These initiatives will provide a strong foundation for the growth of a high-quality, modern health system that provides unparalleled care for all. Digital Health: Support the implementation of Guyanas first national electronic health records system and complete the foundations for one of the most advanced digital health systems in the region and the world by 2030. Capacity Building: Ensure critical health workforce needs are met by continuing capacity building in health workforce development, resource planning, management, and financing. Key Accomplishments in First Phase of Healthcare Initiative Since this national healthcare initiatives launch in July 2022, significant progress is being made in improving health outcomes. Key accomplishments include: Over 35,000 Guyanese children have had comprehensive health screenings completed by the Ministry of Health, with around a quarter referred on for needed services to address vision, hearing, dental, and developmental problems and more. Nearly 900 nursing assistants will graduate from the Ministry of Healths training programs in 2025 and join the health workforce, beginning to close the nursing shortage. New guidelines and clinical protocols to grow primary care services for diseases like diabetes are launching nationally, across all of Guyanas regions. New digital protection laws are in place to support the rollout of new digital health systems, and a new Guyana digital health training institute will enroll its first class of digital health professionals early next year. A state-of-the-art pathology lab has reduced the time it takes for patients to be diagnosed and receive life-saving treatments. Quality improvements at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation have improved patient safety and are providing a new model for a national quality improvement program. Hess Corporation (NYSE: HES) is a leading global independent energy company engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas. The company is recognized as an industry leader in environmental, social and governance performance and disclosure. More information on Hess Corporation is available at www.hess.com. Mount Sinai Health System is one of the largest academic medical systems in the New York metro area, with 48,000 employees working across eight hospitals, more than 400 outpatient practices, more than 600 research and clinical labs, a school of nursing, and a leading school of medicine and graduate education. Mount Sinai advances health for all people, everywhere, by taking on the most complex health care challenges of our timediscovering and applying new scientific learning and knowledge; developing safer, more effective treatments; educating the next generation of medical leaders and innovators; and supporting local communities by delivering high-quality care to all who need it. Through the integration of its hospitals, labs, and schools, Mount Sinai offers comprehensive health care solutions from birth through geriatrics, leveraging innovative approaches such as artificial intelligence and informatics while keeping patients medical and emotional needs at the center of all treatment. The Health System includes approximately 9,000 primary and specialty care physicians and 11 free-standing joint-venture centers throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida. Hospitals within the System are consistently ranked by Newsweeks The Worlds Best Smart Hospitals, Best in State Hospitals, World Best Hospitals and Best Specialty Hospitals and by U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals and Best Childrens Hospitals. The Mount Sinai Hospital is on the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals Honor Roll for 2024-2025. For more information, visit https://www.mountsinai.org. Media contacts: Office of the President Cooperative Republic of Guyana (+592) 225 1330 opguyana@gmail.com Mount Sinai Health System Stacy Anderson 212-241-9200 Stacy.Anderson@mountsinai.org Hess Corporation Lorrie Hecker 212-536-8250 lhecker@hess.com Middlesex, United Kingdom, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The first choice for investment among global cryptocurrency users Introduction Times are changing rapidly when it comes to passive income, and staking, yield farming, and lending through DeFi are not dominating all other approaches anymore. An innovation breakthrough is outsmarting the traditional methods. There is a new paradigm through which investors can earn passive money without effortcloud mining. XRP investors, in particular, have been stunned by the performance of KSDMiner , one of the best cloud mining services that allow users to receive guaranteed daily returns without trading risks. This groundbreaking mining service is now outperforming all other passive income solutions available in the cryptocurrency world, offering breathtaking returns without requiring technical expertise. The worlds top official platforms: https://investingincryptocurrency.com/ Best stable investment platform Click to download the KSD Miner official app and control your financial freedom anytime, anywhere How to Make Money with Cloud Mining Cryptocurrency mining used to be the exclusive domain of hardware owners with high-end equipment, technical skills, and large initial investment. Cloud mining does away with all these limitations so that users can lease mining power from a distant facility and earn daily crypto rewards with no effort. Why Choose Cloud Mining with KSDMiner ? No costly mining rigs to purchase Complete mining infrastructure taken care of. No electricity and maintenance fees KSDMiner takes care of everything. Daily guaranteed payouts Get steady, passive returns. Perfect for all investors No special skills required. What is KSDMiner? KSDMiner is a world-leading high-performance cloud mining service provider since 2016, and operates over 100 mining farms around the world. It has a record-breaking 8.53+ million investors from 195 nations on its platform, and has flipped cryptocurrency mining on its head to make it simple, secure, and profitable. Why Investors Trust in KSDMiner: AI-optimized mining Profits automatically maximized. Daily regular payments guaranteed No long waits for price spikes. Supports multiple cryptocurrencies Including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), XRP, Dogecoin (DOGE), and USDT. Eco-friendly mining Utilizes renewable energy sources. Top-notch security Advanced encryption and two-factor authentication (2FA). Why XRP Holders Are Shocked by KSDMiner's Performance XRP investors have forever relied on price surges and staking to grow their fortunes, but cloud mining by KSDMiner is now the most lucrative and safest method of doing so. Rather than waiting for XRP to increase in value, investors are now using KSDMiner to collect steady daily dividends. Example: How a Small Investment Grows Over Time Investment Plan Initial Investment Daily Return Earnings After 30 Days Earnings After 60 Days Earnings After 100 Days Starter Plan $100 6% $574.35 $3,299.39 $100,000+ Enhanced Plan $500 6.5% $3,321.94 $21,991.94 $100,000+ Premier Plan $1,000 7% $6,737.00 $45,254.00 $100,000+ Note: These figures are based on compounding reinvestments and are for illustrative purposes only. How to Register & Start Mining with KSDMiner It is very easy to get started with KSDMiner . Just follow these steps: Register: Visit the KSDMiner website and do the one-click registration. Download the App: Available on iOS and Android for convenient mobile access. Choose a Mining Plan: Select an investment plan that suits your financial objectives. Deposit Funds: Finance your mining contract using XRP, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, or USDT. Start Mining: Your automated AI-based mining system will begin running on autopilot. Monitor & Reinvest: Watch your earnings and reinvest to double your rewards exponentially. KSDMiner's Track Record & User Benefits Since it was founded in 2016, KSDMiner has built a robust track record as an early cloud mining pioneer that enables investors to earn consistent passive income without the burden of traditional mining. Key Benefits of KSDMiner: Instant $10 sign-up bonus No hidden fees or maintenance costs Affiliate program offering up to $3,000 in referral bonuses Guaranteed daily payouts and high profitability 24/7 customer support and top-tier security Register or Download the App Today! If youre looking to maximize your XRP holdings and start earning passive income, then KSDMiner is your best option. Join thousands of XRP investors who are making high returns through cloud mining! Sign up now with one-click registration and start mining today! What to expect? Passive income strategies are evolving, and cloud mining now beats all the traditional ways of making money in crypto. XRP holders who have seen the potential of KSDMiner are enjoying daily returns on a daily basis, proving that this is one of the most lucrative and safest passive income options out there today. Don't let your XRP go to wastestart cloud mining today and shape your own economic future! Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involves risk. There is potential for loss of funds. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. RADNOR, Pa., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) informs investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California against Edison International (Edison) (NYSE: EIX) on behalf of those who purchased or otherwise acquired Edison securities between February 25, 2021, and February 6, 2025, inclusive (the Class Period). The lead plaintiff deadline is April 21, 2025. CONTACT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP: If you suffered Edison losses, you may CLICK HERE or copy and paste the following link into your browser: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/edison-international?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=eix&mktm=r You can also contact attorney Jonathan Naji, Esq. by calling (484) 270-1453 or by email at info@ktmc.com. DEFENDANTS ALLEGED MISCONDUCT: The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Edisons claim that Southern California Edison Company used its Public Safety Power Shutoffs program to proactively de-energize power lines to mitigate the risk of catastrophic wildfires during extreme weather events, was false; (2) this resulted in heightened fire risk in California and heightened legal exposure to Edison; and (3) as a result, Defendants statements about Edisons business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all times. THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: Edison investors may, no later than April 21, 2025, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages Edison investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASE OR GO TO: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/edison-international?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=eix&mktm=r ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP: Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries. The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com. CONTACT: Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP Jonathan Naji, Esq. (484) 270-1453 280 King of Prussia Road Radnor, PA 19087 info@ktmc.com May be considered attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Walker Lane Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: WLR, Walker Lane) announces that it has optioned three properties (i.e., Tule Canyon, Cambridge and Silver Mountain see location map Figure 1) located in the Walker Lane of western Nevada and a right-of-first refusal on the Shamrock Property in eastern Nevada from Silver Range Resources Ltd. (Silver Range) (TSX-V:SNG). The original property agreements were signed with the CMC Metals Ltd. now operating as Walker Lane Resources Ltd. and trading under the symbol WLR on the TSX Venture Exchange. Walker Lane has established a solid position in the Walker Lane Gold Trend Area which has a rich history of mining and exploration and remains vastly underexposed to modern exploration methods, offering substantial upside potential. The Walker Lane area is host to notable precious metal deposits such as the Comstock Lode, Round Mountain (Kinross), Silicon and Merlin (AngloGold Ashanti), Mesquite and Castle (Equinox Gold) and many other significant deposits. This popular and emerging district offers junior exploration companies exploration targets at manageable costs. These targets are also attractive in that they are associated with high-grade gold, silver and base metal mineralization, have nearby excellent infrastructure, considerable road accessibility, a local, qualified and competent labor force, a diverse range of supply companies, and are located within one of the best permitting and policy regimes in the world. The 2023 Fraser Institute Mining Industry Survey ranked Nevada second in the world in terms of investment attractiveness index. Kevin Brewer, President and CEO of Walker Lane noted: This package of properties in Nevada, provides us with excellent exposure to the emerging Walker Lane area. In particular, Tule Canyon provides us with a second drill ready property in our diverse property portfolio. We intend to commence drilling at Tule Canyon in Q3-Q4, 2025. Cambridge and Silver Mountain also have considerable exploration prospectivity. All of these properties hold the potential to generate advanced stage exploration projects in the near term. These acquisitions also serve to fulfill a long-standing objective of our Board - - to acquire properties that enable us to conduct exploration activities year-round which will result in a vastly improved flow of exploration activity and results. We are very pleased to be working closely with Mr. Mike Power of Paladin Geosciences Corp. (and who is also the President and CEO of Silver Range) who has a considerable understanding of the geology and mineralization styles in Nevada and will be actively involved in our project undertakings. Tule Canyon Property The Tule Canyon Property lies 95 km south of Tonopah and 80 km northwest of Beatty in Esmeralda County, near the Nevada-California border. Tule Canyon has: Four defined drill targets mapped beneath high grade gold and silver showings; A 5 kilometer-long structural corridor of mesothermal high grade gold and silver mineralization associated on a boundary of an aeromagnetic anomaly with an inflection that may reflect deeper basement mineralization controls; Two former mines (Dark Secret and Eastside) and numerous old workings; Widespread gold and silver mineralization hosted in numerous quartz veins with mesothermal textures. Precious metals are associated with hematite, pyrite, yellow plumbo-jarosite or similar lead oxides, rare galena and copper oxides; Surface grab samples have produced up to 31.8 g/t gold and 4,320 g/t silver and chip samples from hand dug trenches of 40 meters @ 0.469 g/t gold including 20 meters @ 0.695 g/t gold; The western end of the aeromagnetic trend covers the Ingalls Vein and the China Doll zone which are silver-dominant showings with mineralization returning up to 4,320 g/t Ag and up to 31.8 g/t Au (see figures 2 and 3); and, and up to (see figures 2 and 3); and, The eastern end of the trend is gold-dominant (see figures 2 and 3) with assays up to 37.3 g/t Au at surface and 27.6 g/t Au underground. Despite the past history of mining and high-grade surface mineralization on the property, there is little evidence of modern exploration activity and no known drilling. Silver Range and WLR have executed a Letter of Intent (LOI) granting WLR the option to acquire 100% of the Tule Canyon Property (Tule Canyon). WLR has a first option to acquire 80% of Tule Canyon by paying Silver Range an aggregate $480,000 over four years (all amounts in United States currency) and completing 1,500 meters of diamond drilling by March 8, 2028. A second option to acquire the remaining 20% of Tule Canyon may be exercised by WLR identifying a National Instrument 43-101 compliant measured or indicated resource at Tule Canyon (the Tule Resource) by the end of 2033. A milestone payment of $10 per ounce of gold (or the equivalent value in other commodities) as contained in the Tule Resource will be due to Silver Range within six months of the identification of the Tule Resource. Approximately 50% of all cash payment under both option stages may be made in WLR shares. Lastly, following the acquisition of a 100% interest in Tule Canyon by WLR, Silver Range will retain a 2.5% net smelter return (NSR) in the property, which may be reduced to 1.0% by the payment of $500,000 per each 0.5% prior to the commencement of commercial production at Tule Canyon. Cambridge Property The Cambridge Project is located 33 km south of Yerington in Lyon County, NV and is road accessible. Cambridge comprises of: High-grade gold, shear-hosted mesothermal veins hosted in north-trending, steeply-dipping faults or shears up to 1,500 meters in strike length that cut a Cretaceous quartz monzonite; hosted in north-trending, steeply-dipping faults or shears that cut a Cretaceous quartz monzonite; The veins contain coarse grained, ribbon banded white quartz together with visible gold, pyrite, galena, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, lesser tetrahedrite and amorphous black sulphides in disseminations and clots; Three known gold zones the Cambridge Mine, Price Lode and North Trends which have an aggregate strike length of approximately 2.7 kilometers; Initial geochemical surveys have resulted in 29% of 68 grab rock samples grading in excess of 5 g/t gold with highest assay of 93.8 g/t gold (see Figure 4), trench results up to 3.2 m @ 14.65 g/t gold, and silver from trace to 274 g/t Ag is associated with the gold mineralization; with highest assay of (see Figure 4), trench results up to and silver from trace to is associated with the gold mineralization; Strong gold-in-soil anomalies that are coincident with the mineralization (see Figure 5); The former producing Cambridge Mine is noted for its visible gold, that has also been recently recovered from waste dumps. Mineralization in the historic workings at the Cambridge Mine has been traced to a depth 137 meters (450 feet); and, Numerous other historic workings throughout the property. It is expected that with a minimal amount of modern exploration work this project can be elevated to drill-ready stage in 2025. Silver Range, Auburn Gold Mining LLC (Auburn) and WLR have executed a LOI granting CMC the option to acquire 100% of the Cambridge Property (Cambridge). WLR has a first option to acquire 75% of Cambridge for total consideration of $460,000 over four years, incurring $1,500,000 in exploration expenditures and completing 1,500 meters of diamond drilling on the property. A second option to acquire the remaining 25% of the property can be exercised by WLR making an additional aggregate $75,000 to Silver Range and Auburn and by identifying a National Instrument 43-101 compliant measured or indicated resource at Cambridge (the Cambridge Resource) by the end of 2033. Up to 48% of all cash payments under both option stages may be paid in WLR shares. Following the exercise of the second option, a milestone payment of $10 per ounce of gold (or the equivalent value in other commodities) as contained in the Cambridge Resource will be due to Silver Range and Auburn within six months of the identification of the Cambridge Resources. In addition, Silver Range and Auburn will retain a combined 2.5% NSR on Cambridge, which may be reduced to 1.0% by the payment of $500,000 per each 0.5% prior to the commencement of commercial production at Cambridge. Silver Mountain Property The Silver Mountain Property is located in Esmeralda County, approximately 57 kilometers south of Goldfield, near the Nevada-California border. Silver Mountain Deep epithermal to mesothermal-type oxidized quartz veins with high-grade silver mineralization; and Two showings including (i) Hidden Gulch with potential for high-grade narrow vein mining; and, (ii) Old Cabin which is a potential bulk-tonnage silver target (see Photos a-c); At Hidden Gulch, underground chip sampling has returned up to 0.6 meters @ 1,415 g/t silver and 0.48% copper from a sample across the face of a drift in the Silver Bowl Mine, the most significant workings along the principal structure. On surface, chip sampling returned up to 0.4 meters @ 1,245 g/t Ag from a vein exposed in a pit near the southern end of the principal structure. High-grade silver mineralization occurs in a steeply west-dipping normal fault within a structural corridor identified to data as being up to 370 meters in length. West of this principal fault structure, at least one east-dipping antithetic fault parallels the main fault in the hanging wall of the Silver Bowl Mine. Sampling across one of these antithetic veins returned 0.65 meters @ 546 g/t silver Previously reported grab sampling along this structure also returned assays up to 3,270 g/t silver; and, from a sample across the face of a drift in the Silver Bowl Mine, the most significant workings along the principal structure. On surface, chip sampling returned up to from a vein exposed in a pit near the southern end of the principal structure. High-grade silver mineralization occurs in a steeply west-dipping normal fault within a structural corridor identified to data as being up to 370 meters in length. West of this principal fault structure, at least one east-dipping antithetic fault parallels the main fault in the hanging wall of the Silver Bowl Mine. Sampling across one of these antithetic veins returned Previously reported grab sampling along this structure also returned assays up to and, The Old Cabin Showing is located a mile to the southwest of Hidden Gulch and hosts mineralization in an unusual sequence of numerous stacked, tabular extensional quartz veins, exposed over more than 30 meters up a ridge. Grab samples from this zone have returned assays up to 394 g/t silver. Silver Range and CMC have executed a LOI granting WLR the option to acquire 100% of the Silver Mountain Property (Silver Mountain) for total consideration of $200,000, payable in installments of $5,000 per year until 2034 with a final payment of $150,000 by August 1, 2035. Up to half of the final payment may be made in WLR shares. In addition, WLR would be required to complete 1,000 meters of drilling during the term of the option. A milestone payment of $10 per ounce of gold (or the equivalent value in other commodities) will be due to Silver Range within six months of the identification of a National Instrument 43-101 compliant measured or indicated resource at Silver Mountain. In addition, Silver Range will retain a 2.5% NSR on the property, which may be reduced to 1.0% by payment of $500,000 per each 0.5% prior to the commencement of production at Silver Mountain. Shamrock Property The Shamrock property is located 45 kilometers east-southeast of Ely, in White Pine County, eastern Nevada in the Sacramento Mining District. The property comprises of: Gold-rich carbonate replacement deposit (CRD) mineralization in discordant veins and breccias occur in an 800 meter (north-south) by 300 meter (east-west) area and are hosted in Cambrian aged limestone, quartzite and phyllite units; The Gilded Age Mine and the Woodman Mine where gold and silver mineralization wad discovered and produced in the mid to late 1800s. Combined production from the two mines was the 9 th largest in Nevada; largest in Nevada; Numerous vintage workings on the property including adits, shafts and stopes reaching surface where grab samples from dumps have assayed up to 233 g/t gold, 1,520 g/t silver and 4.04% copper. Silver Range and WLR have executed an agreement whereby WLR is granted a right of first refusal (ROFR) to any future sale, option, or other disposition of all or a partial interest in the Shamrock Property at any time prior to October 1, 2025. If Silver Range receives an offer for the Shamrock property up to October 1, 2025, WLR will have 30 days from the offer date, by another party or person, to notify Silver Range in writing that it desires to accept the offer or otherwise terminate the ROFR. Summary Walker Lane Resources Ltd. has optioned three highly prospective gold and silver projects in the Walker Lane Area. Our company intends to aggressively pursue exploration of these properties in 2025 which is expected to include an initial drill program at Tule Canyon. Qualified Person Qualified Person Kevin Brewer, a registered professional geoscientist, is the Companys President and CEO, and Qualified Person (as defined by National Instrument 43-101). He has given his approval of the technical information pertaining reported herein. The Company is committed to meeting the highest standards of integrity, transparency and consistency in reporting technical content, including geological reporting, geophysical investigations, environmental and baseline studies, engineering studies, metallurgical testing, assaying and all other technical data. About Walker Lane Resources Ltd. Walker Lane Resources Ltd. is a growth-stage exploration company focused on the exploration of high-grade gold, silver and polymetallic deposits in the Walker Lane Gold Trend District in Nevada and the Rancheria Silver District in Yukon/B.C. and other property assets in Yukon and Newfoundland and Labrador. The Company intends to initiate an aggressive exploration program to advance the Tule Canyon (Walker Lane, Nevada) and Amy (Rancheria Silver, B.C.) projects through an aggressive drilling program to resource definition stage in the near future. On behalf of the Board: Kevin Brewer Kevin Brewer, President, CEO and Director Walker Lane Resources Ltd. For Further Information and Investor Inquiries: Kevin Brewer, P. Geo., MBA, B.Sc. (Hons), Dip. Mine Eng. President, CEO and Director Tel: (709) 327 8013 kbrewer80@hotmail.com Suite 1600-409 Granville St., Vancouver, BC, V6C 1T2 Cautionary and Forward Looking Statements This press release and related figures, contain certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements as defined in applicable securities laws (collectively referred to as forward-looking statements). These statements relate to future events or our future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words anticipate, plans, continue, estimate, expect, may, will, project, predict, potential, should, believe targeted, can, anticipates, intends, likely, should, could or grammatical variations thereof and similar expressions is intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of this presentation. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning: our strategy and priorities including certain statements included in this presentation are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities laws, including statements regarding the Tule Canyon, Cambridge, Silver Mountain, and Shamrock Properties in Nevada (USA), and its properties including Silverknife and Amy properties in British Columbia, the Silver Hart, Blue Heaven and Logjam properties in Yukon and the Bridal Veil property in Newfoundland and Labrador all of which now comprise the mineral property assets of WLR. WLR has assumed other assets of CMC Metals Ltd. including common share holdings of North Bay Resources Inc. (OTC-US: NBRI) and all conditions and agreements pertaining to the sale of the Bishop mill gold processing facility and remain subject to the condition of the option of the Silverknife property with Coeur Mining Inc. (TSX:CDE). These forward-looking statements reflect the Companys current beliefs and are based on information currently available to the Company and assumptions the Company believes are reasonable. The Company has made various assumptions, including, among others, that: the historical information related to the Companys properties is reliable; the Companys operations are not disrupted or delayed by unusual geological or technical problems; the Company has the ability to explore the Companys properties; the Company will be able to raise any necessary additional capital on reasonable terms to execute its business plan; the Companys current corporate activities will proceed as expected; general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; and budgeted costs and expenditures are and will continue to be accurate. Actual results and developments may differ materially from results and developments discussed in the forward-looking statements as they are subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties, including: public health threats; fluctuations in metals prices, price of consumed commodities and currency markets; future profitability of mining operations; access to personnel; results of exploration and development activities, accuracy of technical information; risks related to ownership of properties; risks related to mining operations; risks related to mineral resource figures being estimates based on interpretations and assumptions which may result in less mineral production under actual conditions than is currently anticipated; the interpretation of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; changes in operating expenses; changes in general market and industry conditions; changes in legal or regulatory requirements; other risk factors set out in this presentation; and other risk factors set out in the Companys public disclosure documents. Although the Company has attempted to identify significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other risks that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Certain of these risks and uncertainties are beyond the Companys control. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurances that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences or benefits to, or effect on, the Company. The information contained in this presentation is derived from management of the Company and otherwise from publicly available information and does not purport to contain all of the information that an investor may desire to have in evaluating the Company. The information has not been independently verified, may prove to be imprecise, and is subject to material updating, revision and further amendment. While management is not aware of any misstatements regarding any industry data presented herein, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made or given by or on behalf of the Company as to the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information or opinions contained in this presentation and no responsibility or liability is accepted by any person for such information or opinions. The forward-looking statements and information in this presentation speak only as of the date of this presentation and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by applicable law. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, prospective investors should not read forward-looking information as guarantees of future performance or results and should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Nothing in this presentation is, or should be relied upon as, a promise or representation as to the future. To the extent any forward-looking statement in this presentation constitutes future-oriented financial information or financial outlooks within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, such information is being provided to demonstrate the anticipated market penetration and the reader is cautioned that this information may not be appropriate for any other purpose and the reader should not place undue reliance on such future-oriented financial information and financial outlooks. Future-oriented financial information and financial outlooks, as with forward-looking statements generally, are, without limitation, based on the assumptions and subject to the risks set out above. The Companys actual financial position and results of operations may differ materially from managements current expectations and, as a result, the Companys revenue and expenses. The Companys financial projections were not prepared with a view toward compliance with published guidelines of International Financial Reporting Standards and have not been examined, reviewed or compiled by the Companys accountants or auditors. The Companys financial projections represent managements estimates as of the dates indicated thereon. Figure 1: Project Locations in Nevada Figure 2: Positive Gold Results in Preliminary Rock Sampling Tule Canyon Figure 3: Positive Silver Results from Preliminary Rock Sampling Tule Canyon Figure 4: Gold in Preliminary Rock Sampling Cambridge Property. Figure 5: Gold in Preliminary Soil Sampling Cambridge Property. Note: in both soil and rock sampling encouraging results are coincident in a majority of cases with historical workings and the former Cambridge Mine. Figure 6: Silver Mountain Property, Walker Lane Area Gulch showing with historic workings indicated by arrows. Stacked, planar veins in a working at the Old Cabin showing, indicated by orange lines. Extensional vein detail Old Cabin Showing. Mineralized quartz grades > 100 g/t silver. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dc07d63a-49d6-4d5b-ad61-03c111d82b97 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/59bf1ec6-6f6a-45d5-9d4c-28b6588c734d https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c38ac1cf-b0bb-4ebb-939b-00faa63fc112 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a1c517e0-ae24-4985-8aa6-473b5cbeea89 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/72cd6f41-c8a2-4964-a701-f85fdbd19bc7 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d3a67ee5-d537-4e31-b891-b7ecc91553ba CORK, Ireland, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The cryptocurrency market has seen major fluctuations recently, causing investors in popular tokens like PI Network ($PI) and Dogecoin ($DOGE) to reconsider their positions. With $PI plunging nearly 30% and Dogecoin shedding close to 5% in value over the past week alone, crypto enthusiasts are shifting their attention towards platforms with stronger fundamentals and substantial real-world utilities. Amid this transition, ExoraPad has emerged as a top-tier alternative, particularly attractive to those seeking safer havens coupled with significant upside potential. Demonstrating robust investor confidence, ExoraPads ongoing presale has already secured over 75% of its softcap target within just a few days. Join ExoraPad Presale Why ExoraPad is Drawing Investors from Speculative Tokens Unlike speculative crypto assets, ExoraPad represents a significant innovation on the XRP Ledger, bringing together sophisticated AI-powered solutions and robust use-case scenarios. Investors moving away from high-risk meme and speculative tokens are finding compelling value in ExoraPads clear vision and well-defined product offerings. With its presale rapidly advancing towards full completion, ExoraPad has clearly captured significant market attention, with investors eager to secure early entry to benefit from future growth. ExoraPads Revolutionary Approach to Fundraising and DeFi on XRP Ledger ExoraPads platform introduces cutting-edge decentralized finance (DeFi) solutions that significantly enhance the XRP ecosystem's functionality. The project distinguishes itself through: AI-Powered Project Vetting: ExoraPad employs advanced artificial intelligence analytics to meticulously evaluate project viability, significantly reducing investor risk and ensuring only premium-quality projects launch on the platform. XRP Liquid Staking: Investors can securely stake their XRP tokens while maintaining liquidity, thus earning consistent passive income through innovative staking protocols. RWA & DePIN Integration: ExoraPad is uniquely positioned as the gateway for tokenizing Real-World Assets (RWAs) and Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN), bringing tangible assets and infrastructure onto the XRP Ledger with unprecedented ease. EXP Token: Essential Utility and High Demand Central to ExoraPads ecosystem is the native EXP token, which unlocks a suite of exclusive utilities: Access Premium Projects: Holders of EXP tokens receive early and exclusive priority access to high-potential, AI-vetted blockchain projects launching on ExoraPad. Fee Sharing Benefits: EXP holders benefit directly from platform growth, receiving a substantial share of generated platform fees, creating an attractive incentive for long-term holding. Staking Rewards: Earn attractive staking rewards with annual yields (APY) of up to 30%, incentivizing passive investment in the ecosystem. Given these strong utility propositions, EXP tokens are rapidly becoming a highly sought-after asset within the XRP community, fueling exponential demand during its presale. How to Secure Your EXP Tokens Before It's Too Late With the presale swiftly approaching its Softcap, investors have limited time to acquire EXP tokens at presale valuations. Post-presale listings are already confirmed at 25% above the presale price, offering an immediate upside for early backers. To join the ExoraPad presale: Purchase XRP from exchanges like Binance, Coinbase, or Bybit. Transfer your XRP to a compatible non-custodial wallet (e.g., Xaman Wallet). Visit the official ExoraPad presale page at https://exorapad.com/presale. Copy and paste the provided presale deposit address to complete your XRP transaction. EXP tokens will be automatically distributed to your wallet after the presale concludes. Buy $EXP Token Position Yourself for the Next Big Wave on XRP As market analysts highlight XRP Ledgers enormous untapped potential, ExoraPad is strategically placed to bridge this gap by providing a revolutionary fundraising platform. With XRPs regulatory clarity now established, ExoraPad stands to significantly benefit from heightened institutional interest and retail investor influx. Investors who act swiftly to secure their EXP tokens stand to gain considerably from the project's growth trajectory and XRPs broader adoption wave. Join the ExoraPad community now and ensure you dont miss out on the most exciting opportunity emerging within the XRP Ledger ecosystem today. Join ExoraPad and seize your share of XRP's future. Contact: Noah Walsh hello@exorapad.com Disclaimer: This press release is provided by the ExoraPad. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sectorincluding cryptocurrency, NFTs, and miningcomplete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an "as-is" basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dc4d6db3-fe6b-44fe-8caf-276de2bf7822 HANOI, Vietnam, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The cryptocurrency market in 2025 is a whirlwind of opportunity and risk, with meme coins driving unprecedented excitement on Solana a blockchain celebrated for its speed and low costs. Enter DEX3.AI, a next-generation decentralized exchange (DEX) launched to empower meme traders with cutting-edge intelligence. As of March 18, 2025, DEX3.AI stands out by offering not just speed and usability, but a suite of advanced tools: Square Pie Chart money flow tracking, scam detection, wash trading alerts, and real-time insights into X accounts and token ownership. Tailored for Solanas meme coin frenzy, DEX3.AI is the ultimate weapon for traders seeking smarter decisions in a chaotic market. Solana: The Epicenter of Meme Coin Mania Solanas appeal to meme traders is undeniable. With over 65,000 transactions per second (TPS) and fees averaging 0.0001 SOL (a few cents), its a dream for those chasing rapid pumps and dumps. The 2024 rise of Pump.fun, which amassed $71.5 million in fees in November, solidified Solana as the meme coin hub. DEX3.AI steps into this arena with a mission: arm traders with the sharpest tools to navigate Solanas wild ecosystem. DEX3.AI: Intelligence Meets Intuition DEX3.AI redefines what a DEX can be, merging AI-driven analytics with a trader-first design. Its upgraded features go beyond trading they protect and inform. Heres what sets it apart: 1. Square Pie Chart Money Flow Tracking DEX3.AIs Square Pie Chart interface transforms complex money flows into a clear, color-coded snapshot. Tracking whales, Smart Money, and KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders), it shows whos buying or selling in real time. This visual brilliance makes market moves instantly digestible, giving traders the edge to act fast. 2. Smart Risk Detection: Scams and Wash Trading Meme coins are rife with scams and manipulation, but DEX3.AI fights back with AI-powered risk detection. It flags potential scams by analyzing token contracts for red flags (e.g., hidden mint functions) and alerts users to wash trading patterns artificial volume spikes designed to mislead. This proactive shield helps traders avoid traps, a leap beyond basic DEXs like Raydium or Bullx. 3. X Account Insights: Transparency in Influence DEX3.AI digs into X accounts tied to tokens, revealing critical details: how many times a name has changed (a scam signal), follower count (influence level), and activity patterns. A KOL with 100K followers pumping a coin gets weighted differently than a renamed ghost account. These insights, updated live, empower traders to gauge hype versus reality. 4. Real-Time Ownership Breakdown Knowledge is power, and DEX3.AI delivers it with real-time token ownership analytics. See how much Devs, Insiders, and Snipers (early buyers) hold. If Devs control 70% of supply or Snipers are dumping, youll know instantly crucial data for deciding whether to jump in or bail out. 5. Seamless PC and Mobile Interface Speed meets simplicity with DEX3.AIs intuitive interface, optimized for PC and mobile. Swap tokens, monitor risks, or check X trends all in a clean, responsive layout. Whether at home or on the move, traders stay in control 6. Deep Signals: AI-Driven Predictions Upgraded with AI, Deep Signals tracks money flows from whales, smart money, KOL and predicts trends by fusing on-chain data with X buzz. It flags tokens gaining traction visualized in the Square Pie Chart and warns of fading momentum, giving traders a predictive edge no rival can match. 7. High-Speed Trading Precision Built for Solanas sub-400-millisecond confirmations, DEX3.AI ensures trades hit the blockchain at lightning speed. This precision is a lifeline in meme coin volatility, letting traders snipe launches or exit pumps before the crash. DEX3.AI vs. The Field DEX3.AI outshines its market competitors with wallet-tracking features that detect token trends and identify scams. Raydium and Jupiter excel in liquidity but fall short in providing risk assessment tools and real-time ownership data. Uniswap and PancakeSwap, constrained by slower chains, cannot match DEX3.AIs Solana-optimized speed and intelligence. This DEX isnt just better its in a league of its own. Empowering Smarter Decisions What ties DEX3.AIs features together is their purpose: better decisions. The Square Pie Chart clarifies money flows, scam alerts protect capital, X insights expose hype, and ownership data reveals risks all in real time. A trader spotting a token with 80% Dev ownership and a suspicious X account can dodge a rug pull, while one seeing whale accumulation can ride the wave. This intelligence turns Solanas chaos into opportunity. The Future of DEX3.AI In March 2025, as Solanas meme coin scene surges, DEX3.AI is poised to dominate. Its blend of AI, risk detection, and trader-friendly design could evolve further think deeper scam forensics or cross-chain meme tracking. DEX3.AI isnt just keeping pace; its setting the DeFi standard. Conclusion DEX3.AI isnt a typical DEX its a meme traders dream on Solana. With Square Pie Charts, scam and wash trading detection, X account insights, real-time ownership breakdowns, and AI-driven signals, it delivers unmatched intelligence. For those navigating the meme coin jungle, DEX3.AI is the compass to profit and safety Website: https://dex3.ai X: https://x.com/dex3_ai Media Contact: Name: PHAM QUOC HUY Website: http://dex3.ai Email: huypq@dex3.ai Address: No2 Nguyen Co Thach Street, Ha Noi, Viet Nam Disclaimer: This press release is provided by DEX3.AI. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector--including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining--complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an "as-is" basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/31f88daf-37c7-41da-b532-61d7057ec7a6 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ff17c795-4aeb-4593-a73f-3299d7b24980 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8aef8042-bc73-4a23-9e34-63f230cc4b76 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0efb273f-8377-401e-a067-0817481e9f16 [26/03/2025] Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful. [ONTEX] Pre-stabilisation Period Announcement BNP Paribas (contact: Stanford Hartman telephone: 0207 595 8222 hereby gives notice, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilisation Manager(s) named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation EU/2016/1052 under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU/596/2014). The securities:1 Issuer: Ontex Guarantor (if any): N/A Aggregate nominal amount: TBC Description: EUR 5yr Offer price: TBC Other offer terms: N/A Stabilisation: Stabilisation Manager(s) BNP Paribas, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, BBVA, Commerzbank, Credit Agricole, ING Stabilisation period expected to start on: 26/03/2025 Stabilisation period expected to end no later than: 03/05/2025 Existence, maximum size and conditions of use of overallotment facility: The Stabilisation Manager(s) may overallot the securities to the extent permitted in accordance with applicable law. Stabilisation trading venue: OTC In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilisation Manager(s) may overallot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities during the stabilisation period at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, stabilisation may not necessarily occur and any stabilisation action, if begun, may cease at any time. Any stabilisation action or overallotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules. This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction. This announcement and the offer of the securities to which it relates are only addressed to and directed at persons outside the United Kingdom and persons in the United Kingdom who have professional experience in matters related to investments or who are high net worth persons within Article 12(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in the United Kingdom. In addition, if and to the extent that this announcement is communicated in, or the offer of the securities to which it relates is made in, the UK or any EEA Member State before the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in the UK or that Member State in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the Prospectus Regulation) (or which has been approved by a competent authority in another Member State and notified to the competent authority in the UK or that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation), this announcement and the offer are only addressed to and directed at persons in the UK or that Member State who are qualified investors within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation (or who are other persons to whom the offer may lawfully be addressed) and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in the UK or that Member State. This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale into the United States. The securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. There will be no public offer of securities in the United States. MONTREAL, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- nesto Group, Canadas largest technology-enabled mortgage lender, is proud to announce nesto has been recognized as a Top Mortgage Employer by Canadian Mortgage Professional (CMP) for 2025. This prestigious award highlights nestos dedication to fostering a supportive work environment and creating a culture that values its employees. The CMP Top Mortgage Employer award is based on a thorough assessment process, which includes an anonymous survey of employees from nominated companies. "We are honored to be named a Top Mortgage Employer by CMP," said Marie-Eve Bernard, Sr. Vice-President Human Resources at nesto Group. We believe talent is the cornerstone of our success. We're committed to listening to and empowering our people through technology as one driver to unlock their full potential and drive innovation." nesto has consistently focused on building a company culture that encourages innovation, collaboration, and professional development. This award underscores the success of these efforts and solidifies nestos position as an employer of choice in the Canadian mortgage industry. About nesto Group: nesto is part of the nesto Group, Canadas third-largest non-bank mortgage lender, with over $63 billion in mortgages under administration. Powered by a best-in-class proprietary technology platform fueled by AI, we provide seamless and efficient mortgage solutions and services to residential borrowers, commercial clients, and financial institutions. nesto groups activities are carried out principally through CMLS, CMLS asset management, nesto and intellifi. The nesto Group is on a mission to build Canadas mortgage ecosystem of the future. For media inquiries, please contact: Martin Aubut Chief Marketing Officer nesto Group martin.aubut@nesto.ca 514-262-6712 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1952b1aa-2725-4652-8a15-4664dfbbbc11 Dublin, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Home Energy Management System Market Size and Share Analysis - Growth Trends and Forecast Report 2025-2033" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Home Energy Management System Market is expected to reach US$ 14 billion 2033 from US$ 3.76 billion in 2024, with a CAGR of 15.71% from 2025 to 2033. The global emphasis on energy efficiency, the spread of smart homes and IoT technologies, and government programs encouraging sustainable living are all driving the market's steady expansion and encouraging a greater use of HEMS for optimal energy use. IoT and smart home growth One major factor propelling the HEMS market is the extensive use of smart home technologies and the Internet of Things (IoT). The need for integrated systems that can control and automate energy use is rising as more houses become networked. By giving users centralized control over numerous connected devices, maximizing energy efficiency, and guaranteeing smooth interoperability, HEMS plays a crucial part in this ecosystem. In addition to improving user convenience, the combination of HEMS and smart home technologies also makes modern homes more sustainable and efficient overall. An increasing focus on energy efficiency One of the main factors propelling the home energy management systems (HEMS) market is the growing emphasis on energy efficiency on a global scale. Customers are actively looking for ways to optimize their home energy consumption as a result of growing awareness of environmental sustainability and the need to lower carbon footprints. By monitoring, controlling, and optimizing energy use, HEMS helps households increase efficiency and reduce energy costs. In response to the increasing demand for ecologically friendly solutions, HEMS's combination of smart technology and data analytics enables customers to make knowledgeable decisions and promotes an energy-conscious lifestyle. Government programs and rewards The main drivers of the HEMS industry are government programs and incentives meant to encourage sustainable living and energy efficiency. Financial incentives, tax credits, and refunds are provided by numerous governments across the globe to promote the installation of energy management systems in households. These programs facilitate the shift to a more sustainable and greener energy landscape and are in line with more general environmental objectives. A favorable climate for the HEMS market is created by the combination of consumer awareness and government assistance, which encourages homeowners to invest in energy-efficient solutions that meet their own and the government's sustainability goals. High Initial Cost One major obstacle is the high initial cost of Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS), which makes many consumers hesitant to invest in smart technology because of the system's installation and purchase costs. Devices, sensors, smart meters, and expert installation are all included in this. Despite the potential for cost and energy savings, widespread adoption is limited for certain homes since the upfront expenditure exceeds the expected long-term gains. Data Privacy and Security One of the biggest obstacles facing the home energy management system business is data privacy and security issues. HEMS raises the possibility of illegal access or cyberattacks by gathering private information on household routines, energy usage, and personal behaviors. Fears of data breaches may prevent consumers from embracing these solutions, which would erode their trust. Strong encryption and safe data processing are essential for increased market acceptance and customer trust. Home Energy Management System Market Overview by Regions The market for home energy management systems, or HEMS, is expanding globally. Due to the widespread use of smart houses and government incentives for energy conservation, North America is the leader. Europe comes next, with a high need for integrated renewable energy and sustainable solutions. Due to rising urbanization and awareness of energy efficiency, the Asia-Pacific area is expanding quickly, particularly in nations like China and Japan. Emerging markets in the Middle East and Latin America are showing increasing interest in HEMS. United States Home Energy Management System Market The market for home energy management systems (HEMS) in the United States is expanding significantly due to rising energy prices, growing customer demand for energy-efficient products, and technology developments. Strong government backing for clean energy and energy management programs helps the market. In an effort to lower energy costs and increase competition for American farmers and agricultural producers, the Biden-Harris Administration committed USD 207 million in renewable energy initiatives in January 2024. Through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), USDA additionally provided more than USD 1.6 billion to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. In addition, Siemens Energy pledged USD 150 million in February 2024 to build a new factory in North Carolina in order to address the lack of power transformers. The industry is further supported by strategic alliances that increase access to data technologies and energy platforms, such as Honeywell's investment in Redaptive in March 2023. These initiatives are making the United States a leader in intelligent energy management systems by speeding up the adoption of HEMS in American homes and companies and raising awareness of sustainability. United Kingdom Home Energy Management System Market The UK's dedication to cutting carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency is fueling the country's fast-growing home energy management system (HEMS) sector. Energy-saving technology adoption is encouraged by government programs like the Green Homes Grant and carbon reduction targets. The market is expanding as a result of rising energy prices and increased demand for smart home solutions. Adoption is also being fueled by the incorporation of renewable energy sources, including solar panels. Customers are looking for HEMS more and more in an effort to maximize energy use, lower utility costs, and support the UK's aspirational environmental objectives. India Home Energy Management System Market India's home energy management system (HEMS) market is growing as consumers look for ways to cut expenses and maximize energy use. Growth is being driven by rising electricity costs, growing sustainability consciousness, and government encouragement of the use of renewable energy. The market is also driven by the integration of solar energy systems and the rising adoption of smart home technology. A growing middle class, urbanization, and a need for energy-efficient solutions all play a part in India's quick adoption of HEMS. Saudi Arabia Home Energy Management System Market The market for home energy management systems (HEMS) in Saudi Arabia is growing as a result of the nation's Vision 2030 emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainability. The need for smart energy solutions is being driven by government programs encouraging the use of renewable energy sources, such solar power. The market is expanding as a result of rising energy prices and increased environmental consciousness. HEMS use is rising nationwide as a result of the integration of smart home technology and initiatives to lower carbon emissions. Key Company Analysis: Overview, Key Persons, Recent Developments & Strategies, Financial Insights Honeywell International, Inc. General Electric Company Comcast Cable (Xfinity) Panasonic Corporation Johnson Controls Schneider Electric SE Robert Bosch GmbH Key Attributes Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 120 Forecast Period 2024-2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $3.76 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $14 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 15.7% 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 Home Energy Management System Market 6. Market Share Analysis 6.1 Product Type 6.2 Component 6.3 Deployment Type 6.4 Country 7. Product Type 7.1 Lighting Controls 7.2 Thermostats 7.3 Self-Monitoring Systems 7.4 Advanced Central Controllers 7.5 Intelligent HVAC Controllers 8. Component 8.1 Hardware 8.2 Software 8.3 Services 9. Deployment Type 9.1 On-premise 9.2 Cloud 10. Country 10.1 North America 10.2 Europe 10.3 Asia-Pacific 10.4 Latin America 10.5 Middle East & Africa 11. Porter's Five Analysis 11.1 Bargaining Power of Buyers 11.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers 11.3 Degree of Rivalry 11.4 Threat of New Entrants 11.5 Threat of Substitutes 12. SWOT Analysis 12.1 Strength 12.2 Weakness 12.3 Opportunity 12.4 Threat 13. Company Analysis 13.1 Honeywell International, Inc. 13.2 General Electric Company 13.3 Comcast Cable (Xfinity) 13.4 Panasonic Corporation 13.5 Johnson Controls 13.6 Schneider Electric SE 13.7 Robert Bosch GmbH For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/b03jd7 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 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Directory of Middle East & North African Libraries 2025" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This edition of the Directory of Middle East & North African Libraries provides essential details on all libraries in the Middle East including universities, public and special libraries and including the libraries of institutes and research centres. Meticulously researched this new edition provides the most up-to-date information available and, to ensure accuracy and reliability, information is provided by the libraries and institutions concerned. Key Features: Provides extensive details on libraries of Middle East and North African universities, public and special libraries and includes the libraries of attached institutes and research centres. Entries list full contact details, including e-mail and internet addresses, and names of chief librarians and other relevant staff. Meticulously researched to provide the most up-to-date information. Provides information on hundreds of libraries. Contents: Entries list full contact details, including e-mail and internet addresses, and names of chief librarians and other relevant staff. Other invaluable information includes: area of specialisation, opening hours, the size and composition of library holdings, online subscriptions and details of the libraries own publications. Fully indexed for easy location of university, public and special libraries. Countries covered: Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The Directory of Middle East & North African Libraries will be of special interest to public and academic libraries, international organisations, embassies, businesses, the media, scientific and professional bodies andanyone with an interest in the Middle East. For up-to-date information on Middle East and North African libraries, Directory of Middle East & North African Libraries is a must! For more information about this directory visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tk1qt2 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 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "AI for Communicators: Creating A Roadmap For AI-Driven Communication, Enhancing Workflow Efficiency, and Leading Organizational Transformation" conference has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Welcome to AI for Communicators! Explore the exciting world of AI-driven communication, where innovation, efficiency, and collaboration redefine the way you work. Unlock AI's potential to transform your organization's communication strategies today! About This AI For Communicators Event Attend this conference designed for communications professionals to stay up to date on how others are using AI to create more efficient, engaging and better communications. Gain Invaluable Knowledge and Connect with Peers at The Forefront of using AI for better and more engaging communications. You will hear practical advice from your communications peers, including how to: Design and implement effective internal communications for diverse workforces, including remote and offline employees Leverage technology to enhance engagement across geographically dispersed teams Craft impactful messages that captivate and retain attention Analyze communication effectiveness using data to refine strategies continuously Address common barriers such as language differences in global communication Promote transparency and foster a culture of open dialogue within organizations Benchmark your strategies against industry best practices and standards Streamline workflows and improve efficiencies by integrating AI tools into communication processes, from content creation to feedback management. Navigate ethics and legalities surrounding AI use, including data privacy, bias prevention, and compliance with regulations. Empower employees with AI training to build confidence, foster adoption, and maximize the benefits of AI-powered tools in the workplace. Benefits Of The 3-Day Pass Maximize your time by signing up for our Pre-Conference Workshops on Tuesday, June 3, 2025! Interactive Pre-Conference Workshops are led by thought leaders and experts on using AI for internal communication efforts. Each small group workshop will prepare you for the conference the next day, provide you with practical answers to questions that keep you up at night, and inspire you to creatively tackle your most pressing internal communications challenges. Benefits Of Attending This Conference Learn from a diverse group of communicators, employee experience specialists, consultants, and technologists about integrating AI into your communication strategies. Engage with leading AI experts to tackle your most pressing questions and challenges in corporate and internal communications. Participate in hands-on sessions to solve common challenges in AI integration, enhance communication workflows, explore ethical considerations, exchange best practices in data-driven strategies, and foster meaningful professional connections. Earn a Certificate of Attendance for CEUs to showcase your commitment to professional growth. Build cross-industry connections with peers who share similar challenges and opportunities in adopting AI. Enjoy post-conference networking opportunities, including access to an attendee LinkedIn list to maintain and grow your network. Who Should Attend: This conference is designed especially for mid to senior-level professionals and their teams responsible for shaping and executing their organization's communications strategy for internal communications audiences, including these job titles and functions: Employee Communications Internal Communications Corporate Communications Employee Engagement Global Communications Public Relations Public Affairs Human Resources Social Media Change Management Corporate Intranets Digital Communications Corporate Affairs Employee Experience Internal Branding Employer Branding Agenda: Pre-Conference Workshops: Find Out Why Workshops Are Consistently Rated As Valuable Time Spent! - 06/03/2025 9:00 am - 9:30 am - Continental Breakfast, Coffee & Registration 9:30 am - 9:45 am - Workshop A: Crafting a Human-Centric Internal Communications Strategy in the Age of AI Preston Lewis, Founder & CEO - Intactic 10:45 am - 11:00 am - Morning Refreshments & Networking Break 11:00 am - 12:15 pm - Workshop B: 5 Tips for Implementing Effective Change Management: Driving Habit-Forming Adoption of Microsoft Copilot Timothy Boettcher, Senior Vice President, Head of GTM Strategy North America - AvePoint 12:15 pm - 1:45 pm - Lunch On Your Own, But Not Alone-Reservations Are Booked! 1:45 pm - 3:00 pm - Workshop C: Leveraging AI for Earned Media Amplification Tiffany Guarnaccia, CEO & Founder - Kite Hill PR 3:00 pm - 3:15 pm - Afternoon Refreshments & Stretch Break 3:15 pm - 4:30 pm - Workshop D: Communicators as Architects: Elevating human excellence in a growing AI landscape Molly Soto, Vice President - Ruder Finn 4:30 pm - 4:45 pm - Close Of Workshops 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Networking Reception for Workshop Attendees, Speakers & Sponsors @ Venue Bar 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm - Dinner With A Group-Reservations Have Been Made To Take In The Sights Of San Francisco Day 1: General Session - 06/04/2025 8:30 am - 9:00 am - Registration: Badges, Breakfast, & Beverages + Visit Your Sponsors 9:00 am - 9:30 am - Chairperson's Welcome & Speed Networking Preston Lewis, Founder & CEO - Intactic 9:30 am - 10:05 am - Mastering the Art of AI: Crafting Effective Prompts and Driving Employee Adoption Shel Holtz, SCMP, Sr. Director of Communications - Webcor 10:05 am - 10:40 am - Harnessing AI in the Workplace: Overcoming Barriers and Maximizing Impact Rosemary Cassie, Sr. Director, Executive and Internal Communications & Employer Brand - Roku, Inc. 10:40 am - 11:10 am - Morning Refreshments, Networking Break + Visit Your Sponsors 11:10 am - 11:45 am - Minding the Gap: How to Use GenAI to Find Communication Gaps so You Don't Miss Opportunities Eric T. Mazzacone, Director, Strategic Communication - RTX BNN Technologies 11:45 am - 12:20 pm - AI in the Workplace: Navigating Evolving Legal Landmines Joy Rosenquist, Shareholder - Littler 12:20 pm - 2:15 pm - Lunch On Your Own, But Not Alone-Reservations Are Booked! 2:15 pm - 2:50 pm - Interactive Group Breakout Session: Overcoming Common Challenges in Adopting AI for Communication Preston Lewis, Founder & CEO - Intactic 2:50 pm - 3:25 pm - Futureproof: Unleashing AI's potential for communicators Sarah Fornia, Director, Organizational Communication - Providence 3:25 pm - 4:00 pm - Afternoon Refreshments, Networking Break + Demo From Your Sponsors 4:00 pm - 4:45 pm - Panel: Balancing Human Creativity with AI Efficiency Moderator: Gabriel Galdamez, Strategic Communications Consultant - Hola Gabriel Libby Spellman, Corporate Communications, Digital Brand and Communications Manager - Valent U.S.A LLC 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Close Of Day 1-Join Us For A Networking Reception @ Venue Bar 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm - Dinner With A Group-Reservations Have Been Made Day 2: General Session - 06/05/2025 8:30 am - 9:00 am - Breakfast & Visit Your Sponsors 9:00 am - 9:30 am - Day 2 Kick Off & Chairperson Address Preston Lewis, Founder & CEO - Intactic 9:30 am - 10:05 am - Strategic Storytelling in the AI Era: Repurposing Content with Integrity Barbara DeLollis, Head of Communications, Institute for the Study of Business in Global Society - Harvard Business School 10:05 am - 10:40 am - Efficiency Unleashed: AI in Marketing Communications & Digital Marketing Michelle Kelly, Director, Digital Marketing Communications, Global Life Sciences - Ecolab Life Sciences 10:40 am - 11:10 am - Morning Refreshments, Networking Break + Visit Your Sponsors 11:10 am - 11:45 am - Interactive Group Breakout: AI in Action: The Ultimate Toolkit for Communicators Andrew Livingston, Founder & CEO - Innovation with AI 11:45 am - 12:30 pm - Panel: Ethics, Transparency, and Trust: Navigating AI in Communications Moderator: Preston Lewis, CEO - Intactic 12:30 pm - 12:45 pm - Key Takeaways, Conference Wrap-Up Speakers Rosemary Cassie Sr. Director, Executive and Internal Communications & Employer Brand - Roku, Inc. Tiffany Guarnaccia CEO & Founder - Kite Hill PR Eric T. Mazzacone Director, Strategic Communication - RTX BNN Technologies Libby Spellman Corporate Communications, Digital Brand and Communications Manager - Valent U.S.A LLC Gabriel Galdamez Strategic Communications Consultant - Hola Gabriel Joy Rosenquist Shareholder - Littler Barbara DeLollis Head of Communications, Institute for the Study of Business in Global Society - Harvard Business School Michelle Kelly Director, Digital Marketing Communications, Global Life Sciences - Ecolab Life Sciences Andrew Livingston Founder & CEO - Innovation with AI Sarah Fornia Director, Organizational Communication - Providence Shel Holtz, SCMP Sr. Director of Communications - Webcor Timothy Boettcher Senior Vice President, Head of GTM Strategy North America - AvePoint Preston Lewis Founder & CEO - Intactic Please note: The recorded online access option does not include the preconference workshop. For more information about this conference visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/hxni8g 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 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "2025 Middle Eastern Power Rental Market" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Middle Eastern power rental market is poised for substantial growth, with market size escalating from over $2 billion in 2024 to over $4 billion by 2031. The construction segment, leads as the largest end user, accounting for over 25% of the market share in 2024, followed by oil & gas and utility sectors, respectively. This Middle Eastern Power Generation Rental market research report includes market size, growth rates, vertical end user split, competitive market share data and revenue forecasts from 2020-2027 for Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, and the rest of the Middle East. The study is a comprehensive analysis including market share splits by fuel type (diesel-based and gas-based), output power (50-300 KVA, 300-500 KVA, 500 KVA-1MW, and >1MW), application (prime, continuous, and stand-by), end user group (construction, oil & gas, utilities, events, military, and others) and rental provider. Furthermore, profiles of key companies, growth drivers, restraints, challenges, and quotations from industry participants are also included in this analysis of the temporary power opportunity. The Middle Eastern Power Rental Market is in the growth stage In the Middle East, the power rental market is experiencing robust growth, driven by the expansion of construction, transportation, and infrastructure sectors. Rising temperatures and extreme heat waves are straining power infrastructure, increasing electricity demand for cooling solutions. As the region modernizes its utilities and accelerates investments in renewable energy, the need for rental generators is expected to grow. Rental power will play a critical role during commissioning, maintenance, and grid transition periods. Additionally, the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources will further drive demand for rental solutions to ensure a stable and reliable power supply. This study aims to provide a detailed analysis of the Middle Eastern Power Rental Market along with competitive intelligence for the year 2024. The market numbers included in this report represent revenues generated by companies operating in the Middle Eastern Power Rental Market. The base year for the study is 2024 and the forecast period is from 2024 until 2031. This study captures the following information on Middle Eastern Power Rental Market: Market Size, Growth Rate, Revenue Forecasts (2024-2031) Growth Drivers & Restraints Market Data Quotes by Key Industry Participants Market Share Analysis Market Trends Some of the key companies covered in this report include: Aggreko Byrne Equipment Rental SES Smart Energy Solutions Al-Faris Group Olayan Energy Ltd. Sudhir Rentals The Kanoo Group Altaaqa Alternative Solutions Company Ltd. (Altaaqa) Rental Solutions Enerco Equipment Rental & Co. Dayim Equipment Rental Key Topics Covered: 1. Research Scope, Methodology, Definition 2. Segmentation by End-user, Application, Fuel Type, and Equipment Output Range 3. Executive Summary Market share by top end user Major data points Major trends Market drivers Market restraints Main market participants 4. Opportunities, Strategic Recommendations, & Future Outlook 5. Market Drivers 6. Market Restraints 7. Market Trends Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Telematics - Aggreko plc Telematics - Mohamed Abdulrahman Al-Bahar Transition to renewable and hybrid energy solutions Rise of district cooling in the Middle East Maximizing value with after sales services Shifting dynamics in the power rental market: Transactional vs. project-based rentals 8. Market Data Total market revenue and forecast Transactional market revenue and forecast Power projects market revenue and forecast Market share by country, general rental Market share by end user Market share by fuel Market share by output Market share by application 9. Competitive Landscape Market share by company 10. Company Profiles Aggreko plc Al-Bahar (Mohamed Abdulrahman Al-Bahar) Byrne Equipment Rental For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/45qgh6 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. RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saudi Arabia returns to the London Design Biennale 2025 with an exhibition entitled Good Water, from 529 June 2025 at Somerset House. Commissioned by Saudi Arabias Architecture and Design Commission, this years pavilion is curated by design collective including Alaa Tarabzouni, Aziz Jamal, Dur Kattan and Fahad bin Naif, who bring together their multidisciplinary backgrounds in architecture, design and the arts, for an exhibition that questions, disrupts, and reimagines systems of access and distribution of water, and our relationship with it. The curatorial concept of Good Water responds to this years theme for the London Design Biennale, Surface Reflections, which explores how ideas are fuelled by our internal experiences, external influences and personal histories. The Saudi Pavilion is defined by a sabeel a free water fountain, a symbol of hospitality deeply rooted in the Saudi Arabian tradition. Traditionally, these fountains are scattered across the country, providing water to passersby embodying a communal ethos of generosity. Yet, within the context of this exhibition, the sabeel is no longer just a gesture of goodwill, but a question: Who pays for free water? What does it truly cost? And, crucially, if the burden falls on someone else, does it not, in some form, cost everyone? The sabeel, as a concept, carries a deep contradiction: while it offers water freely, the reality is that the water is not free at all. Every sip is made possible by a complex system of labour, energy, and economics. Potable water is extracted through costly processes, imported in plastic bottles, or transported through networks that demand maintenance and oversight. The cost is distributed across various actors governments, corporations, workers but ultimately, it is a cost that all must bear. Even those who do not pay for water directly still share in its long-term consequences. The sabeel in the pavilion, therefore, is more than a functional object: it is a symbol of interdependence. It highlights the tension between generosity and cost, between access and consequence. The Saudi National Pavilion is a flagship initiative of the Architecture and Design Commission, supported by the Ministry of Culture, reflecting Saudi Arabia's commitment to contributing to international design discourse and promoting sustainable, innovative solutions. The press kit is HERE. For information contact: Anastasia Lander Pelham Communications Anastasia@pelhamcommunications.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f11301a5-c6f1-4cba-81d8-65b5bfcd50d3 NEW YORK, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a lawsuit has been filed against Atkore Inc. (NYSE: ATKR) and certain of the Companys 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 Revealed On 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 Atkores 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 Companys 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: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/atkore-inc Or contact: Ross Shikowitz ross@bfalaw.com 212-789-3619 Why 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. https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/atkore-inc Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. TORONTO, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Basis Technologies (https://basis.com), the industrys leading advertising automation platform, today announced the availability of political district geo-targeting for Canadian elections. As part of its support for political advertising in Canada, Basis is automating the adoption of political ad disclosure that is required by the Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada (DAAC). Basis provides an omnichannel advertising software with an integrated suite of modular applications for planning, operations, and more across programmatic, publisher-direct, search, and social channels. There are currently more than 300 federal ridings (electoral districts) in Canada. Targeting potential voters from select districts via digital channels previously required identifying the various areas in each of the targeted districts and then manually uploading the data into programmatic ad platforms. This data is now available through Basis, streamlining the discovery, selection and exemption of districts to target. Basis provides political marketers a new level of agility for their campaigns. Key aspects for Canadian elections advertising are agility and precision. With a condensed timeframe to raise funds, build visibility, secure votes and drive turnout, digital advertising is a democratizing force for political campaigns, said Jaime Vasil, group VP of candidates and causes, Basis Technologies. Basis Technologies offers scaled and current experience in political advertising with powerful technology tools that have proven to drive winning outcomes in heated election cycles. Basis mix of technology and managed activation services offers political marketers: Weekly updated Canadian political district geo-targeting Automated adoption of the DAAC Political Ad Icon to assist with disclosure requirements Canadian-based Political Priority customer support with specialized on call team for ad creative/copy reviews and approval within hours to help ensure ads meet publisher guidelines A curated selection of private marketplace inventory approved for political advertising across display, video, and CTV within Canada Basis Technologies has been trusted by agencies and consultants in politics, public affairs, and advocacy for 17 years. Since 2007, Basis Technologies has helped power digital media for thousands of political campaigns, independent expenditure committees, and issue advocacy advertisers. About Basis Technologies Basis Technologies is solving the advertising industrys biggest problems with the most comprehensive advertising automation platform. As a unified command center for agencies and brands, Basis delivers an integrated suite of modular applications, each specializing in unique areas such as planning, operations, reporting, and financial reconciliation across programmatic, publisher-direct, search, and social channels. By closing system gaps, automating workflows, and streamlining data management, Basis empowers leaders to increase efficiency and productivity -- driving financial success for their organizations. Renowned for its dedication to both employees and customers, Basis creates more seamless operations and fosters a happier, more engaged workforce. Learn more at https://basis.com. Contact: Anthony Loredo anthony.loredo@basis.com 917-573-4157 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8c97cef5-db8f-429b-945d-fb1446eebb4d New Order Strengthens Company's European Market Penetration; Company Strategically Positioned to Meet the Growing Demand for Tactical Communications Equipment Netanya, Israel, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Silynxcom Ltd. (NYSE American: SYNX) ("Silynxcom" or the "Company"), a manufacturer and developer of ruggedized tactical communication headset devices, today announced that it has received a new order from a national police agency in a European country for the Companys advanced in-ear communication systems. This order is part of an up to $2 million existing multi-year framework contract with the agency, which was originally announced in December 2024. The order is for Silynxcom's new-generation Tetra-compatible, high-noise protection Clarus systems, combined with the Company's "talking from the ear" technology, which incorporates enhanced situational awareness. "We are pleased to receive this follow-on order, which we believe reflects the confidence our customers have in our advanced communication solutions," said Nir Klein, Chief Executive Officer of Silynxcom. " Silynxcom is strategically positioned to meet the growing demand for tactical communication solutions that provide critical advantages in high-stakes environments. We believe that this order further validates our technology's effectiveness in meeting the demanding requirements of law enforcement agencies." Silynxcom's in-ear communication systems are designed to offer superior hearing protection while maintaining clear communication capabilities in high-noise environments, making them ideal for law enforcement applications. The systems provide exceptional audio clarity, enhanced situational awareness, and reliable performance under demanding operational conditions. The Company continues to strengthen its position in the European market, with accelerating adoption of its innovative solutions by military, police, and security agencies. This order comes shortly after Silynxcom's recently announced $300,000 contract with an elite European special forces unit, and follows other significant orders in recent months from the Israel Defense Forces, U.S. Air Force, and additional European security organizations. About Silynxcom Ltd. Silynxcom Ltd. develops, manufactures, markets, and sells ruggedized tactical communication headset devices as well as other communication accessories, all of which have been field-tested and combat-proven. The Company's in-ear headset devices, or In-Ear Headsets, are used in combat, the battlefield, riot control, demonstrations, weapons training courses, and on the factory floor. The In-Ear Headsets seamlessly integrate with third party manufacturers of professional-grade ruggedized radios that are used by soldiers in combat or by police officers in leading military and law enforcements units. The Company's In-Ear Headsets also fit tightly into the protective gear to enable users to speak and hear clearly and precisely while they are protected from the hazardous sounds of combat, riots or dangerous situations. The sleek, lightweight, In-Ear Headsets include active sound protection to eliminate unsafe sounds, while maintaining ambient environmental awareness, giving their customers 360 situational awareness. The Company works closely with its customers and seek to improve the functionality and quality of the Company's products based on actual feedback from soldiers and police officers "in the field." The Company sells its In-Ear Headsets and communication accessories directly to military forces, police and other law enforcement units. The Company also deals with specialized networks of local distributors in each locale in which it operates and has developed key strategic partnerships with radio equipment manufacturers. For additional informaiton about the company please visit: https://silynxcom.com 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 and other federal securities laws and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "contemplate," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "seek," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "target," "aim," "should," "will" "would," or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. For example, the Company uses forward-looking statements when it discusses: growing demand for tactical communications equipment; that the follow-on order from the European national police agency reflects confidence in the Companys technology, that the Company is strategically positioned to meet growing demand for tactical communication solutions, and the belief that this order validates the effectiveness of the Companys technology in meeting the requirements of law enforcement agencies . Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on April 30, 2024, and other documents filed with or furnished to the SEC which are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. Capital Markets & IR Contact ARX | Capital Market Advisors North American Equities Desk ir@silynxcom.com ATLANTA, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Instant Financial , a fintech company modernizing payments and earned wage access for hourly workers and their employers, today introduced its Financial Wellness program. With 65 percent of Americans living paycheck to paycheck, Instants Financial Wellness program is designed to help frontline employees achieve financial independence through tools that promote saving, build credit, and enhance financial health and well-being. The service is available to workers whose employers already partner with Instant for earned wage access, digital tips, and instant payments via banks, mobile wallets, or paycards. Instants solutions enable these workers to receive their wages at the end of each shift, or whenever they need them, rather than waiting weeks for payday. Instant Financial is proud to offer financial wellness tools to our employers and current and future workers who receive earned wage access through our app, said CEO Tal Clark. Our mission has always been to give frontline employees opportunities for financial freedom, and todays launch is a huge step toward that goal. Benefits in Instants Financial Wellness program include: Health and Well-being Access Powered by Welcome Tech and designed for banked and unbanked individuals, Instants users can access a healthcare package consisting of telemedicine, prescription discounts, mental health support, and discounts on dental and vision care at a monthly cost of $35 per household. Powered by Welcome Tech and designed for banked and unbanked individuals, Instants users can access a healthcare package consisting of telemedicine, prescription discounts, mental health support, and discounts on dental and vision care at a monthly cost of $35 per household. Credit Building Powered by MoneyLion, users may improve their credit scores by making on-time loan or credit card payments, which are then reported by MoneyLion to one or more of the major credit bureaus. Powered by MoneyLion, users may improve their credit scores by making on-time loan or credit card payments, which are then reported by MoneyLion to one or more of the major credit bureaus. Free Rent Reporting Powered by Self, users may improve their credit scores by making on-time rent payments, which are then reported by Self to the three major credit bureaus. Payment history makes up 35 percent of credit scores, but most apartments in the U.S. do not report rent payments to credit bureaus. Powered by Self, users may improve their credit scores by making on-time rent payments, which are then reported by Self to the three major credit bureaus. Payment history makes up 35 percent of credit scores, but most apartments in the U.S. do not report rent payments to credit bureaus. Financial Education Powered by Visa's Practical Money Skills program, users get access to a multitude of financial education resources and can learn about basics on budgeting, saving, banking, and other financial tools. Powered by Visa's Practical Money Skills program, users get access to a multitude of financial education resources and can learn about basics on budgeting, saving, banking, and other financial tools. High-Yield Savings Accounts Powered by MoneyLion, users can choose from the top high-yield savings accounts offered from leading institutions with no monthly fee. Weve partnered with Instant Financial since 2017, offering daily digital tip payouts to thousands of our workers, so its become an integral part of our employee benefits, said Robert Linder, CFO at Lazy Dog. Were always looking for meaningful ways to reduce financial stress for our team members, and we are excited about the potential of Instants Financial Wellness program to provide important tools to save more, improve credit, and take care of mental and physical well-being. This announcement follows the recent launch of Instant Direct, which allows employees to choose between transferring funds to their bank accounts or using the Instant Card, based on their individual needs and circumstances. Today, Instant is the only platform offering an all-in-one solution that includes earned wage access, digital tips, and payroll cards, and it has helped workers in restaurants, retail, hospitality, and beyond access $7.5 billion+ in earnings at no or low cost. Customers like Sun Holdings, Churchs Chicken, and Bloomin Brands rely on Instant for their modern payroll solutions, which helps them better recruit and retain their frontline workforce. Financial security goes beyond just receiving a paycheckits about having access to the tools and resources needed to build a better future, said Amir Hemmat, co-founder and CEO of Welcome Tech. Through our partnership with Instant, were helping workers take control of their financial and personal well-being. For more information about the Instant Financial Wellness program or to explore modern payroll solutions for your business, visit instant.co . About Instant Instant Financial is a fintech company modernizing payments and earned wage access for hourly workers and their employees. We provide earned wage access, digital tips, and instant payments via banks, mobile wallets, or paycards, along with financial wellness servicesgiving frontline workers control over how and when they get paid. As the first company to offer earned wage access through a paycard, Instant has helped workers in restaurants, retail, hospitality, and beyond access over $7.5 billion in earnings at no or low cost. With 79% of employees wanting same-day pay, our award-winning solutions turn every workday into payday, helping employers improve recruitment and retention. Learn more at instant.co . A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/96cc688b-3131-4f19-89d8-1652eca1dc26 Pune, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to SNS Insider, The global Central Lab Market size was valued at USD 3.01 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 4.98 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 5.79% over the forecast period of 2024-2032. The market growth is primarily fueled by the rising demand for clinical trials, increasing pharmaceutical R&D investments, and advancements in laboratory testing technologies. Get a Sample Report of Central Lab Market@ https://www.snsinsider.com/sample-request/4803 Market Analysis The US held a significant position in the market, with a share of 35.4% of the global central lab market in 2023. This dominance can be ascribed to the countrys strong healthcare infrastructure, high spending on research and development (R&D), and the presence of superior pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there was a 12% increase in clinical trial applications in 2023 which has also contributed to the demand for central lab services. As clinical trials become increasingly complex, the demand for centralized, high-quality data drives the central lab market expansion. Central labs have a vital role in supporting clinical research by offering centralized testing services, including biomarker analysis, genomics, and microbiology, to maintain consistency and accuracy across multi-center trials. Increasing chronic diseases and expanding focus on personalized medicines have further augmented the requirement for central lab services. The major investments in R&D by Governments & private organizations are unprecedented, with the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) allocating USD 47 billion for medical research in 2023, a 5% increase over the previous year. Key Central Lab Companies Profiled ACM Global Laboratories Labconnect Cerba Research Eurofins Scientific Medicover Integrated Clinical Services (MICS) (Synevo Central Labs) Versiti (Cenetron) A.P. Mller Holding A/S (Unilabs) Ampersand Capital Partners (Pacific Biomarkers) Lambda Therapeutics Research Ltd Cirion Biopharma Research Inc. Central Lab Market Report Scope Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2023 US$ 3.01 billion Market Size by 2032 US$ 4.98 billion CAGR CAGR of 5.79% From 2024 to 2032 Base Year 2023 Forecast Period 2024-2032 Historical Data 2020-2022 Key Regional Coverage North America (US, Canada, Mexico), Europe (Eastern Europe [Poland, Romania, Hungary, Turkey, Rest of Eastern Europe] Western Europe] Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Rest of Western Europe]), Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Australia, Rest of Asia Pacific), Middle East & Africa (Middle East [UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Rest of Middle East]), Africa [Nigeria, South Africa, Rest of Africa], Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia Rest of Latin America) Segmentation Analysis By Services In 2023, the central lab market is led by the pharmaceutical companies segment with a revenue share of 45.05%. Central labs play a highly significant role in pharmaceutical companies, especially when it comes to clinical trial support in terms of analysis of the samples, regulatory compliance, data management, etc. Central labs offer specialized services such as pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and immunogenicity testing, which are essential for drug development. The increasing number of clinical trials, particularly in oncology and rare diseases, has significantly contributed to the growth of this segment. The outsourcing trend by pharmaceutical companies for operational cost minimization as well as improved efficiency, has also positively impacted the growth of the demand for central lab services. By End-Use In 2023, the biomarker services segment was estimated to hold the maximum share of 38.42% in the market. As such, biomarker services are essential for drug development, disease diagnosis, and patient stratification in clinical trials. The increasing acceptance of precision medicine and the demand for predictive and prognostic biomarkers have propelled the need for these services. Biomarker identification & validation Central labs perform advanced biomarker testing, including genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, which provide researchers access to identify and validate biomarkers more efficiently. The rise in chronic disorders like cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and diabetes has further accelerated the growth of this segment. Also, increasing utilization of biomarker services in the development of companion diagnostics is driving the market, as companion diagnostics are critical for targeted therapies. Need Any Customization Research on Central Lab Market, Enquire Now@ https://www.snsinsider.com/enquiry/4803 Central Lab Market Segmentation By Services Genetic Services Biomarker Services Microbiology Services Anatomic Pathology/Histology Specimen Management & Storage Special Chemistry Services Others By End-use Pharmaceutical companies Biotechnology Companies Academic and Research Institutes Regional Insights North America held the largest share of the central lab market, at 41.18% of the global revenue in 2023. These factors, coupled with the presence of leading pharma and biopharma companies, supportive healthcare infrastructure, and high investments in research and development (R&D), make the region one of the most desirable locations. Most contributing to the North American market is the U.S., where over 50 new drugs were approved by the FDA in 2023, reflecting a 15% growth compared to 2022. In addition to that, with a greater focus on precision medicine, the rising number of clinical trials in the field of oncology and rare diseases has also driven the growth of the market. Further, the regional market is governed by importance-benefactors of major central laboratory service providers, like LabCorp, and Quest Diagnostics. However, the Asia-Pacific region is estimated to register the highest CAGR in the central lab market during the forecast periods. The market is driven by factors such as rapid developments in healthcare infrastructure, a rise in investments in clinical research, and an increasing prevalence of chronic diseases. China, India, and Japan are developing into leading health services research and industry trial sites because of patient numbers and the cost of research. Demand for central lab services in the region is further stimulated by the Indian governments National Health Mission (NHM) and Chinas 14th Five-Year Plan for Healthcare Development. Further, the growing outsourcing of global clinical trials by pharmaceutical companies in Asian Pacific countries has driven the growth of the market. Recent Developments In 2023, LabCorp launched a new biomarker discovery platform, enabling researchers to identify novel biomarkers for cancer and autoimmune diseases. In January 2024, Quest Diagnostics received FDA approval for its next-generation sequencing (NGS) test for oncology, enhancing its central lab service offerings. Buy a Single-User PDF of Central Lab Market Analysis & Outlook Report 2024-2032@ https://www.snsinsider.com/checkout/4803 Table of Contents Major Key Points 1. Introduction 2. Executive Summary 3. Research Methodology 4. Market Dynamics Impact Analysis 5. Statistical Insights and Trends Reporting 5.1 Volume of Clinical Trials Supported, by Region (2023) 5.2 Outsourcing Trends for Central Lab Services, by Region (2023) 5.3 Central Lab Service Demand, by Type (e.g., Biomarker, Genetic, Pathology), 20202032 5.4 R&D Spending on Central Lab Services, by Source (Government, Commercial, Private), 2023 6. Competitive Landscape 7. Central Lab Market by Services 8. Central Lab Market by End-use 9. Regional Analysis 10. Company Profiles 11. Use Cases and Best Practices 12. Conclusion Access Complete Report Details of Central Lab Market Analysis & Outlook 2024-2032@ https://www.snsinsider.com/reports/central-lab-market-4803 [For more information or need any customization research mail us at info@snsinsider.com] About Us: SNS Insider is one of the leading market research and consulting agencies that dominates the market research industry globally. Our company's aim is to give clients the knowledge they require in order to function in changing circumstances. In order to give you current, accurate market data, consumer insights, and opinions so that you can make decisions with confidence, we employ a variety of techniques, including surveys, video talks, and focus groups around the world. CLEVELAND, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ON Partners , a pure-play retained executive search firm building diverse C-level and board leadership teams, has released its 2025 Womens Report in honor of Womens History Month. The report, which analyzes over 1,000 senior-level executive searches over the last few years within ON Partners proprietary database, shows the gap between executive men and executive womens compensation is narrowing and women are gaining ground in senior leadership (SVP) roles. The World Economic Forums June 2024 Global Gender Gap research study found that in North America, it will take 106 years for women to achieve economic parity with men. ON Partners research shows a better outlook in the executive suite. The Report revealed that the average total compensation for executive women was $457k compared to executive mens average of $486k. The $29k difference comes in lower than last years difference of $36k. In addition, compensation for both men and women increased in 2024, with womens compensation increasing at a higher rate than mens. A notable finding is that while the compensation gap continues to narrow, women come in lower than men on total compensation often due to lower bonuses and sign-on bonuses. It is important for women to evaluate their total compensation package, not just their guaranteed base salaries, said Tara Flickinger, partner at ON Partners. Companies are unlikely to offer a sign-on bonus unless there is an ask from the candidate in the negotiation process and the same is true on bonus potential. The latter is crucial because asking for an increase in performance-based compensation signals a candidate is betting on herself, which is music to hiring managers ears. The top senior-level placements of CEO and COO still have a wide disparity with women appointments coming in at 8.1% and 9.1%, respectively. However, a positive trend is that senior leadership roles (SVP level), which are often a pipeline to the C-Suite, show women getting about 25% of the placements with total compensation being slightly higher than their male counterparts. The trendline of more women in pipeline roles is not at all surprising, said Bryan Buck, managing partner at ON Partners. The investment in talent development over the last decade is continuing to show exponential returns not just with more women in positions of leadership today, but in the path theyre creating for the next generation thats having a compounding effect. Women today arent just leading by example, theyre bringing it to life for those who are up next. Other findings include: The CFO role is one in which women are making strides in compensation. Women are just above 20% of CFO placements, and their total compensation is higher with an average of $450k vs. $440k. Women are making strides in tech roles, which have traditionally favored male executives. Among the CTO and CITO positions ON Partners has placed over the past two years, the top earners have been female executives. Chief Product Officer (CPO) compensation is also very comparable between men and women. The CIO and CTO functions have historically been highly technical, requiring deep engineering expertise, but these roles have evolved, said Nina McMaster, partner at ON Partners. Today, these leaders are viewed not just through a technical lens, but as business-critical positions requiring leadership, strategy, communication, and the ability to collaborate across departments. Companies are recognizing that a diverse leadership team brings better decision-making and business outcomes. The result is more negotiating power for women when moving into these positions. About ON Partners Established in 2006, ON Partners is the only pure-play executive search firm building diverse C-level and board leadership teams. We rebuilt the institution of executive search for the way you work, with an approach that includes present partners who engage with clients from the first brief to the final decision, individually crafted solutions unique to each client, and an easier experience overall. Named by Forbes as one of Americas Best Executive Recruiting Firms and to the Inc. 500/5000 List nine times, ON Partners is consistently ranked among the top 20 retained executive search firms in the U.S. Media Contact Jennifer Greene Illuminate-Communications jennifer.greene205@gmail.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/21745159-e6d6-4e46-b785-7aa56116d5ea Washington, D.C, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Lesley Jantarasami as its new Vice President, Research & Industry Strategy, effective March 28, 2025. In this key role, Lesley will lead SEPAs research initiatives and industry engagement efforts, ensuring that the organization continues to identify and share solutions to the biggest challenges facing utilities, technology partners, and policymakers. Her leadership will support SEPAs work at the intersection of technology, policy, and programs, aligning with the organizations new focus areas: Grid, Growth, and Globeadvancing grid modernization, scaling clean energy solutions to meet new demand for electricity, and leveraging global insights to ensure clean, affordable, and resilient electricity for all. Lesley will report to SEPAs Chief Strategy Officer, Emily Fisher. Lesley brings over 15 years of experience in climate and energy policy at both the state and federal levels. She joins SEPA from the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), where she served as Senior Managing Director of the Energy Program, leading research and policy initiatives on electricity, natural gas, carbon markets, and nature-based climate solutions. Prior to her tenure at BPC, Lesley led energy and climate initiatives at the Oregon Department of Energy, where she worked on state carbon pricing legislation and evaluated decarbonization strategies across the electricity, transportation, industrial, and building sectors. She also played a key role in integrating energy resilience into Oregons statewide climate adaptation framework. At the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Lesley contributed to greenhouse gas regulations for the transportation and power sectors and worked extensively on climate impact assessments and adaptation strategies, particularly for vulnerable populations. She was a lead author of the Fourth National Climate Assessment and the U.S. Climate and Health Assessment and has contributed research to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes Fifth Assessment Report. Her insights and expertise have been featured in Utility Dive, GreenBiz, S&P Global, Politico, E&E News, The Hill, the Washington Examiner, and the SiriusXM POTUS channel. Lesleys expertise in climate and energy policy, combined with her deep understanding of regulatory and market dynamics, will support SEPAs efforts to help members strengthen the grid, address demand growth, and share solutions found both here in the U.S. and around the globe, said Sheri Givens, SEPAs President and CEO. Her experience will reinforce SEPAs ability to provide timely, actionable research that bolsters utilities, policymakers, and industry leaders as they navigate the complexities of the clean energy transition. I have spent my career connecting science and policy to drive progress on climate and energy goals, and I am excited to bring that experience to SEPA, said Jantarasami. The energy sector is undergoing profound transformation, and SEPA plays a critical role in supporting stakeholders with the insights and tools needed to adapt and thrive. I look forward to working with SEPAs talented team to advance innovative, data-driven solutions that will shape the future of clean energy. Lesley holds Master of Science and Master of Public Administration degrees from the University of Washingtons School of Environmental and Forest Sciences and the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, as well as a bachelors degree in Environmental Science and Policy from Duke University. About SEPA The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), a 501(c)(3) organization with over 1,000 members, accelerates the transition to a clean, affordable, and resilient electricity system for all. SEPA engages with its diverse membership -- including utilities, policymakers, regulators, and technology companies -- through education, collaboration and convening to advance innovative policy, regulatory, and technology solutions. For more information, please visit www.sepapower.org. Attachment HACKENSACK, N.J., March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Paperclip (OTCMKTS:PCPJ), a publicly traded leader in insurance data management and automation, has announced a strategic integration with White Swan, an AI-powered, no-code platform transforming insurance distribution. This partnership enhances insurance application processing, data workflows, and multi-carrier submissions, reducing administrative friction for agents and financial services firms. Through this collaboration, Paperclips Mojoa cutting-edge solution for processing and automating insurance data managementnow seamlessly connects with White Swans AI-powered sales platform, bringing together the best in data automation and modernized insurance distribution. At Paperclip, were committed to modernizing insurance workflows through automation and intelligent data management, said Bill Weiss, CEO at Paperclip. Partnering with White Swan expands the impact of our technology, bringing seamless front-end digital distribution to our industry-leading back-end automation. This integration enables: Seamless, data-driven insurance sales White Swans marketing, education, and quoting tools help advisors engage clients, while Paperclip ensures structured, accurate data processing throughout the application journey. Faster, more efficient application workflows White Swan enables a frictionless digital application process, while Paperclip automates document structuring and carrier submissions, reducing administrative efforts. Integrated with major agency management systems (AMS) Paperclip ensures smooth data flow to AMS platforms like iPipeline, AgencyBloc, SmartOffice, Salesforce, Agency Integrator, and NetX360. Compliance-ready and scalable White Swans intelligent application system ensures a pleasant client experience, while Paperclip automates processing, compliance, and secure document handling for long-term scalability. White Swans mission is to make insurance sales frictionless, said Pontus Lagerberg, CEO at White Swan. By integrating with Paperclip, were ensuring that the digital experience we provide advisors is backed by powerful automation that simplifies data handling, compliance, and carrier submissions. By bridging AI-powered digital distribution with Paperclips industry-leading data infrastructure, this integration simplifies insurance sales while ensuring compliance, accuracy, and scalability. Learn more about how this integration is empowering financial professionals, streamlining insurance sales, and shaping the future of the industry by visiting https://paperclip.com/white-swan-paperclip/ or https://www.whiteswan.io/integrations/paperclip. About Paperclip With over three decades of customer-centric innovation, Paperclip is a proven strategic partner that continues to revolutionize data encryption, content supply chain, and document management for Fortune 1000 companies worldwide. Paperclips innovative solutionssuch as Mojo, Virtual Client Folder (VCF), and SAFEhave helped the financial and insurance industries automate compliance, streamline carrier submissions, and optimize data processing. Paperclips technology is trusted by insurance carriers, agencies, and financial institutions to securely manage documents and drive operational efficiency. As a trusted leader, Paperclip continues to innovate, adapt and excel within a rapidly changing digital world. Learn more at www. paperclip .com. About White Swan White Swan is an AI-enabled platform that serves as a comprehensive B2B life & LTC insurance solution, designed to simplify insurance automation and sales digitization for businesses and advisors. Through its no-code tools, intuitive client journeys, and seamless partner integrations and white labeling options, White Swan helps businesses serve their clients insurance online with modules to help them research, quote, and apply for insurance. Media Contact: PAPERCLIP Megan Brandow Director of Marketing www.paperclip.com (585) 727-0983 mbrandow@paperclip.com WHITE SWAN Pontus Lagerberg Founder & CEO at White Swan https://whiteswan.io United States pontus@whiteswan.io CORK, Ireland, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crypto whales from Bitcoin, Shiba Inu (SHIB), and Pi Network communities are shifting their attention to ExoraPad, an innovative AI-powered launchpad built on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). Exorapad $EXP Token presale is rapidly progressing, already surpassing 80% of its softcap, savvy investors foresee exponential returns potentially reaching as high as 1000x upon exchange listing. Join ExoraPad Presale ExoraPad: Pioneering AI-Driven Token Launches on XRP Ledger Unlike typical blockchain launchpads, ExoraPad incorporates cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology to meticulously evaluate projects before they're presented to investors. By leveraging advanced analytics, predictive modeling, and robust due diligence processes, ExoraPad ensures that only premium-quality Real-World Assets (RWAs), Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN), and elite Web3 projects receive community funding. This AI-enhanced vetting mechanism significantly reduces investor risk and fosters trust, setting ExoraPad apart as a leader in crypto fundraising and innovation. Why Crypto Whales Are Eyeing ExoraPad Whales from Bitcoin, SHIB, and Pi Network have taken notice due to ExoraPad's extraordinary market potential and unique utility model. The platform's strategic position in the XRP ecosystem aligns perfectly with XRPs bullish trajectory following the recent SEC victory for Ripple Labs. XRPs enhanced regulatory clarity and surging adoption significantly amplify ExoraPads growth prospects. Moreover, ExoraPad is expected to launch top tier projects, thereby giving $EXP holders exclusive and top priority access to the best innovative projects launching on XRP Ledger. The presale's pricing structure provides substantial incentives for early investors. Tokens acquired during the presale are expected to list at a 25% premium on decentralized exchanges (DEXs), ensuring immediate profitability and incentivizing rapid investor action. Buy $EXP Tokens ExoraPads Rapidly Growing Presale: A Sign of Massive Demand The presale has already seen tremendous success, quickly filling over 80% of its softcap, signaling strong investor confidence. ExoraPad isn't merely another token launch, it's an opportunity to participate in the early stages of potentially transformative blockchain projects vetted by advanced AI analytics technology. Given this robust momentum, market analysts project that early participants could see substantial returns, with possibilities of reaching as much as 1000x gains upon broader market adoption and listings. Innovative Tokenomics and Long-Term Sustainability ExoraPads tokenomics are designed to foster long-term value appreciation and sustainability. Its native $EXP token not only grants early and exclusive access to top-tier projects but also delivers lucrative staking rewards, DAO governance rights, and revenue-sharing benefits derived from platform fees. The scarcity created by limited token supply and high-demand usage cases further strengthens the tokens potential for value growth. How to Participate in the ExoraPad Presale Investors looking to capitalize on this unique market opportunity must act swiftly, as the presale nears completion: Acquire XRP tokens via major exchanges like Binance, Coinbase, or Bybit. Transfer XRP to an XRP-compatible wallet, such as Xaman or Trust Wallet. Visit the ExoraPad presale page (https://exorapad.com/presale) and contribute your XRP. Purchased $EXP tokens will automatically be distributed post-presale, ensuring a seamless investment process. Final Thoughts: Why the Time to Act is Now With crypto market momentum returning and major blockchain players like Bitcoin, SHIB, and Pi Network whales backing ExoraPads presale, investors who delay risk missing out on extraordinary early-stage gains. ExoraPads distinctive approach to blockchain funding, coupled with its rapid presale success, positions it as a potentially revolutionary launchpad within the XRP Ledger ecosystem. Secure your participation in ExoraPad now to maximize your investment potential ahead of widespread market adoption. Join the ExoraPad Community: Contact: Noah Walsh hello@exorapad.com Disclaimer: This press release is provided by the ExoraPad. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sectorincluding cryptocurrency, NFTs, and miningcomplete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an "as-is" basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8ab3f4f2-636d-4940-a01c-241c8901dc6b European Company with share capital of 150 042 510 euros Registered office: 22 avenue Montaigne 75008 Paris France 775 670 417 RCS Paris The Shareholders Meeting will be held on Thursday, April 17, 2025 at 10.30 a.m. at Carrousel du Louvre, 99 rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris (France). The Shareholders who wish to attend the Shareholders Meeting must hold an admission card and an identity document, it being recalled that all proxies, including spouses, must provide proof of their power of attorney and present their identity document as well as a copy of that of the principal. The means of taking part in the Shareholders Meeting and the draft proposed resolutions were published in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires (BALO) on Monday, March 10, 2025, in Issue No. 30 ( notice of m e eting ). The convening notice was published in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires (BALO) on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Issue No. 37 ( conven i n g notice ). In accordance with Article R.22-10-23 of the French Commercial Code, shareholders will be able to consult on the LVMH website ww w . l vmh . com . l vmh . com under 2025 A n nua l general meeting the informational documents in preparation for this Meeting. The documents and information concerning the Shareholders Meeting will be made available to shareholders as provided by applicable regulations. Attachment BOULDER CITY, Nev., March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fisher Space Pen Co., the makers of the iconic pen that writes in zero gravity, is relaunching their popular special edition AG7 coated in blue titanium nitride, providing a modern update to a timeless classic while honoring the legacy of American ingenuity and exploration. This special edition of the original Astronaut Space Pen features a cutting-edge blue titanium nitride coating, combining sleek aesthetics with exceptional durability. Adorning the barrel is the NASA logo alongside an elegant stars and stripes laser engraved design, making this pen a tribute to the spirit of space exploration and patriotism. For nearly 60 years, the Fisher Space Pen has accompanied astronauts on every crewed NASA mission, starting with the Apollo program. This latest iteration continues the tradition of precision craftsmanship and innovative design that has made the AG7 a favorite among astronauts, collectors, and enthusiasts alike. Fisher Pen first rolled out this special edition coated in blue titanium nitride in August 2014 to commemorate the 45th Anniversary Apollo 11 and the first manned moon landing. This extraordinary AG7 model celebrates our enduring partnership with NASA and our commitment to creating writing instruments that inspire, said Matt Fisher, Vice President of Fisher Pen Company. The blue titanium nitride finish is not only stunning but also reflects the innovation and durability that define our products. The legend of the AG7 as the Astronaut Space Pen continues to grow with commercial space partners Axiom Space and Blue Origin, with both featuring the AG7 in sleek Black Titanium Nitride along with custom laser-engraved logos and marks. Most recently, it earned another mission patch aboard the International Space Station as part of the Ax-2 Mission for Axiom Space. Designed to perform in extreme conditionsfrom zero gravity to underwater, and from scorching heat to freezing coldthe AG7 Space Pen is more than a writing instrument; it is a symbol of human ingenuity and determination. The blue titanium nitride AG7 Space Pen is now available for purchase on Fisher Space Pens official website. Participants of the upcoming 40th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, April 8-10, can purchase one of their own at the Fisher Space Pen booth #1071. This special edition is an ideal gift for collectors, space enthusiasts, and anyone inspired by the spirit of exploration. Fisher AG7-BLTN-NW Features: Rear click mechanism with side retraction button All-metal composition plated with blue titanium nitride Fisher pressurized PR4 black Ink medium point cartridge Packaged in capsule gift box with sleeve Made in the USA with USA and global materials Fisher AG7-BLTN-NW Specs: Length: 5.06 in. Width: .375 in. Weight: 1oz. MSRP: $89 Fishers AG7 The Original Pen for Every Mission About Fisher Space Pen: Fisher Space Pen Co. is a 76-year-old American manufacturer of ballpoint pens, with the notable distinction of being the only ballpoint pen used on every crewed flight into space since Apollo 7 back in 1968 and most recently with Space X. While pressurized technology made it possible for NASAs astronauts to write in space, it also provided writing capabilities in all weather, underwater, over oil and grease, and from -30 to +250 degrees Fahrenheit. These pens are the perfect tool for trade professionals, first responders, military personnel, rugged outdoor enthusiasts, trekkers, backpackers, industrial manufacturers, underwater divers, and anyone who values a pen that doesnt fail. 711 Yucca St, Boulder City, NV 89005 (702) 293-3011 spacepen.com Media Contacts: Eric Bond Head of Sales Fisher Space Pen Co 702.293.3011 eric@spacepen.com Kevin Neuendorf Fisher Space Pen Co 719.351.1160 kevin@spacepen.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4f3832dc-d210-4de6-b71f-bbf071eaef2f Sonoma, California, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Sonoma Valley Authors Festival (SVAF) is proud to announce its world-class lineup of authors and speakers for the eighth annual event, taking place May 2-4, 2025, at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa . This highly curated, three-day festival is designed to stimulate the minds and nurture the souls of readers. This year's distinguished speakers include: Isabel Allende: A literary powerhouse and master storyteller, Allende will discuss her forthcoming novel, My Name, Emilia del Valle, set to be released on May 6, 2025. Michael Connelly: A master crime fiction author of over 40 novels, Connelly will discuss his new book, The Waiting, and his journey from journalist to bestselling novelist. Percival Everett: Critically acclaimed and fresh off a National Book Award win for James, Everett offers a provocative retelling of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, tackling race and history in bold new ways. Patrick Radden Keefe: Award-winning journalist and best-selling author, whose powerhouse novel, Say Nothing is a new Hulu series Anna Quindlen: Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and bestselling novelist, Quindlen returns with After Annie, a deeply moving novel about love, loss, and resilience. Ruth Reichl: Legendary food writer and former Gourmet magazine editor-in-chief, Reichl explores the intersection of food, culture, and memoir in her latest work, The Paris Novel. See the full line-up of 20+ authors and speakers . About the Festival Founded in 2018 by Ginny and David Freeman , the Sonoma Valley Authors Festival has become a must-attend event for those passionate about literature, science, technology, medicine and life-long learning. The festival features TED Talk-style presentations and engaging breakout sessions, where more than 20 renowned authors share their stories as well as insights on their latest works. "The intimacy of the Sonoma Valley Authors Festival creates amazing synergies, where the audience is as interesting as the speakers!" says Ginny Freeman , co-founder of the festival. "The festival audience is well-educated, well-traveled, and dedicated to lifelong learning and life enrichment. The atmosphere engages speakers and audiences alike, forming connections among audience members that are as equally magical as that of the audience and speakers." The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa provides an intimate environment for attendees to connect with authors and speakerswhether over breakfast and lunch or at one of the many book signings. Return moderator Jeffrey Brown , Senior Correspondent and Chief Arts Correspondent for PBS News-Hour, captures the experience: "One of the nice things for the people who attend the festival is they get to talk to the authors. Not only hear them speak, but actually ask the authors their own questions they can share what they like about the book, and in turn get to know the authors. While the festival pavilion is limited to 400 seats, the generous donations from attending sponsors help fund other free events Students Day , Authors on the Plaza and the Virtual Festival , reaching thousands of community members. Expanding Literary Access to the Community Students Day , a cornerstone of the festival since its inception, aims to inspire intellectual curiosity in the next generation. This May, 1,400 students from Sonoma Valley High School and other local schools will engage with speakers and receive free books by presenting authors. Each year, private donations fund the distribution of 3,000 to 4,000 books to students. Due to campus safety protocols, Students Day is not open to the public. Authors on the Plaza , is a free, open-to-the-public event on Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., under the trees in historic Sonoma Plaza. This years event will feature Michael Connelly, Sal Khan, Wright Thompson, and Dr. Eric Topol. While tickets are not required, attendees are encouraged to register . Attend the Festival VIP Festival Passes start at $3,000 and include access to all presentations, two on-site breakfasts and lunches, an exclusive dinner with the authors, and complimentary access to the Virtual Festival. More than 50% of each VIP pass is a tax-deductible donation. For more information about the 2025 Sonoma Valley Authors Festival and to purchase passes, please visit the festival website . The Sonoma Valley Authors Festival thrives thanks to the generous support of individual donors, corporate sponsors, and dedicated volunteers. Co-founders Ginny and David Freeman have invested their time and personal resources to ensure the continued success of this nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization About Sonoma Valley Authors Festival: The Sonoma Valley Authors Festival (SVAF) was founded in 2018 by Ginny and David Freeman as a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity focused on education and community involvement. This annual event brings together literature enthusiasts and lifelong learners to engage with world-class authors of all genres and speakers in science, technology, and medicine. SVAF is supported by individual donors, corporate sponsors, and dedicated local volunteers. Past authors have included: Isabel Allende, Dave Barry, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Bonnie Garmus, Amor Towles, Billy Collins, Amy Tan and Abraham Verghese. WEBSITE & SOCIAL HANDLES svauthorsfest.org | Press Kit - Photos, Headshots, Logos #SVAF25 FB @svauthorsfestival | IG @svauthorsfest | TW @svauthorsfestival | LI @svauthorsfestival Photo Gallery CONTACT Diana Silvestri | 415.627.8229 | diana@spritzsf.com Beth Schnitzer | 917.287.7064 | beth@spritzsf.com Attachments BROWN DEER, Wis., March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Traffic and Parking Control Co., LLC (TAPCO), manufacturer, distributor and service provider of roadway safety innovations is pleased to announce their latest partnership with Frost Solutions, a leading provider of weather monitoring technology. Through the new collaboration, TAPCO will now distribute Frost Solutions Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS), a mini-weather station designed for managing snow and ice impacts. The mini-RWIS captures photos and crucial data at key locations, such as air and surface temperature, humidity and pavement conditions, to provide highly accurate forecasts specific to the systems micro location. Frost Solutions mini-RWIS technology gives agencies the ability to assess weather impacts in real-time, saving time and resources when it comes to snow and ice management. The system collects data every minute to provide location-specific information on precipitation and road conditions, sent to the Frost Dashboard. With weather impacts on key roadways available remotely, the weather monitoring technology empowers officials to plan better in the face of severe weather. Partnering with TAPCO allows us to enhance roadway safety by providing real-time, reliable weather data and forecasting, said Mike Bott, CEO of Frost Solutions. Our suite of products allow cities, counties and state DOTs to take a more proactive approach to keeping their roads, sidewalks and parking lots safe in the winter. We look forward to working with TAPCO to help their customers maintain safer roads, reduce the environmental impact caused by oversalting and save money on winter weather management. Frost Solutions, like TAPCO, is dedicated to bringing innovative technology to create safer, and smarter roadways across the US, said Aleischa Kronshagen, a Product Manager at TAPCO. Were excited to partner with a company whose products complement the TAPCO mission. The Illinois-based company serves communities across North America, with their weather monitoring technology deployed in 35 U.S. states and 7 Canadian provinces. About TAPCO As an industry-leading innovator, TAPCO manufactures, distributes and services a wide portfolio of traffic safety solutions designed to increase safe travels for all. Since 1956, TAPCOs mission has been to save lives by setting the standard for delivering reliable, cutting-edge traffic safety enhancements. From Wrong-Way Alert Systems and pedestrian crossing enhancements to our leading line of LED-enhanced BlinkerSign solutions, safety is at the heart of all TAPCO innovations. For more information, please visit TAPCOs website and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube. About Frost Solutions Frost Solutions is an innovation leader in the winter weather management and remote monitoring space. Since 2017, Frost has aimed to help municipal and commercial snow professionals take a more proactive approach to ensuring our communities are safe. Winner of APWAs Best Innovation at the 2024 North American Snow Conference, Frost Solutions in dedicated to bringing innovation to snow fighters. For more information, visit frostsolutions.io. Grey Digital Marketing Manager Traffic and Parking Control Co., LLC (TAPCO) grey@tapconet.com 414-248-5753 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/db367f6b-3d31-43dc-9fcf-d88c6d5b8b4c Greenwood Village, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greenwood Village, Colorado - WildHer Expeditions has partnered with Mountaintop Web Design to bring its mission of empowering women through wildlife conservation travel to life with a dynamic new website. As a pioneering company focused on women-led, conservation-based travel experiences, WildHer Expeditions needed an online platform that not only showcased its unique offerings but also reinforced its commitment to sustainability, ethical tourism, and community-driven impact. Through close collaboration, Mountaintop Web Design has delivered a site that captures the essence of WildHer Expeditions, ensuring a seamless user experience and a compelling digital presence. From the outset, the goal of this partnership was to create a website that would serve as a gateway for female travelers eager to engage with conservation-focused expeditions. WildHer Expeditions wanted a site that went beyond traditional travel booking platforms, emphasizing storytelling, community, and accessibility. Mountaintop Web Design worked meticulously to integrate these elements, crafting an interface that balances aesthetics with functionality. The website is designed to immerse visitors in WildHer Expeditions' world, with visually stunning imagery, intuitive navigation, and content that communicates the company's dedication to conservation and women's empowerment. Key features include a seamless booking experience, mobile-responsive design, and search engine optimization to ensure greater visibility. The platform highlights the impact of each expedition, connecting travelers with opportunities to support local women-led businesses, conservation guides, and global sustainability initiatives. A strong digital strategy was a critical component of the collaboration, ensuring that WildHer Expeditions could effectively reach its audience while maintaining a message of authenticity and purpose. Through careful planning and development, Mountaintop Web Design created a platform that reflects the heart of WildHer Expeditionsone that educates, inspires, and motivates women to embark on meaningful journeys. "WildHer Expeditions builds on almost 20 years of experience in the wildlife conservation-based travel industry. My hope is that WildHer Expeditions has a trickle-down effect where there is more revenue going to our network of guides and women-owned businesses, leading to even more collaboration and community. All of this builds on the fact that there is a popularity with women-focused travel. There are companies that have been doing this for years, but these really started from the adventure space. What we're hoping to do with WildHer Expeditions is to be the first company that focuses on wildlife-centric experiences that support conservation initiatives. We're taking women to the world's best wildlife destinations with women, guided by women, empowering women-owned businesses, and showcasing women in conservation," said Sheridan Samano, co-founder of WildHer Expeditions. Mountaintop Web Design's expertise in digital strategy, user experience, and SEO played a crucial role in ensuring that the website effectively supports WildHer Expeditions' business goals. From branding consistency to technical optimization, every aspect of the website was developed with the user in mind, making it easier for travelers to explore expeditions, learn about the company's conservation efforts, and take action. By bringing together a shared commitment to purpose-driven business, Mountaintop Web Design and WildHer Expeditions have created more than just a websiteit is a tool for engagement, education, and impact. This collaboration highlights the power of digital solutions in advancing meaningful missions and connecting communities with experiences that make a difference. This new platform not only showcases WildHer Expeditions' unique conservation-focused trips but also serves as a rallying point for women around the world to connect, explore, and create lasting impact through purposeful travel. For more information on WildHer Expeditions, upcoming conservation-focused travel opportunities, or to explore the new website, visit wildherexpeditions.com. ### For more information about Mountaintop Web Design, contact the company here: Mountaintop Web Design Josiah Bussing (970) 765-8884 info@mountaintopwebdesign.com 8400 East Prentice Ave #1500, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Charleston, SC, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Author Dr. Eric Dion Andrew has spent his career in educationbuilding his skills and experience to lift others up. Along the way, hes realized something important. The educators, politicians, and psychometricians who spent decades and billions of dollars to craft a system that results in a well-educated society have failed. He also poses the questionhow can activating our neural system impact teaching and learning, thus igniting the action potential in each student? In his new book, Dr. Andrew introduces his vision for an education system that helps every individual student, teacher, and leader find their unique gifts. Hinging on strategies around relationships, Dr. Andrew proposes a new way to curate teaching approaches to the individual without sacrificing the accountability that healthy tracking measurements provide. Most educational books pontificate on the importance of being data-driven, said Dr. Andrew. This book emphasizes the importance of using both data and relationships to engage our students and teachers in productive instructional practices using the Andrew Principles. Data Schmatta: Its the Relationships that Matta! An Efficacious Education is available for purchase online at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com. For more information about the author, please visit any of his social media platforms Instagram: ericandrew764 X: @Dr.Eric36283 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/eric-andrew-a291ba246 About the Author: Dr. Eric Dion Andrew is the CEO of Efficacious, LLC, a platform dedicated to helping individuals and organizations develop their personal and collective gifts. He is a nationally recognized leader who has served for more than four decades in public education as a paraprofessional, teacher, principal, cabinet member, and superintendent, holding numerous accolades for his administrative leadership roles. He is a partner with Leadership Associates Executive Search and Development firm and is also an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego. He currently resides in California. Media Contact: Dr. Eric Dion Andrew, diondrew1215@gmail.com Available for interviews: Author, Dr. Eric Dion Andrew Attachment Washington, D.C., March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dr. Irene Butter -- a child Holocaust survivor, educator, peace activist, and author -- is the recipient of the 2025 Anne Frank Award for Human Dignity and Tolerance. Dr. Butter received the award at a ceremony in the residence of Ambassador Birgitta Tazelaar as part of the Dutch Embassys Tulip Days events that this year mark 80 years of freedom and the end of World War II. Acts of antisemitism continue to increase around the world. This is not only worrisome, it calls for action. The Anne Frank Award is presented to an American who has demonstrated a commitment to confronting intolerance, antisemitism, racism, or discrimination while upholding freedom and equal rights to promote an open, pluralistic, and democratic society. Dr. Butter is committed to teaching others about the Holocaust and the lessons she learned during World War II. Her family fled Nazi-occupied Germany for the Netherlands in 1937 and lived in the same neighborhood as Anne Frank in Amsterdam. In 1940, Germany invaded the Netherlands. In 1943, Dr. Butter and her family were sent to the Westerbork transit camp and later deported to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. It was here that Dr. Butter saw Anne Frank one last time, Anne was reported to have died not long after. Dr. Butter, her mother, and brother survived the camp, but her father died two days after the family was released. Dr. Butter eventually arrived (via Algeria) in the United States at age 15. Her mother and brother joined her eighteen months later. She graduated from Queens College in New York City and became one of the first women to earn a Ph.D. in economics from Duke University. She later married Charlie Butter and the two became professors at the University of Michigan. At 94, Dr. Butter continues to educate others about the consequences of antisemitism. She wrote the book, From Holocaust to Hope: Shores beyond Shores, A Bergen-Belsen Survivors True Story, detailing her experience. An economist by training, she has for the better part of the last four decades spoken in public about her experiences during the war. Her words have impacted tens of thousands of people in the United States and around the world. During the ceremony, Dr. Butter said, "Though Anne Frank's life ended tragically in childhood, she had the wisdom to articulate her values. In my much longer life, I have been able to live by our shared commitment to human dignity and tolerance." Ambassador Birgitta Tazelaar said the Anne Frank Award underscores the Netherlands efforts to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive. The Dutch are committed to fighting the rising tide of hatred and antisemitism, and have developed a national strategy to combat antisemitism, including protecting Jewish institutions, holding offenders responsible, and supporting victims. In regards to Dr. Butter, Ambassador Birgitta Tazelaar stated, This year, as we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the liberation of the Netherlands, it is truly an honor to recognize Dr. Irene Butter, a child Holocaust survivor and peace activist. Shes an inspiration, a role model, someone we can all learn from. Her realization that she survived allowed her to speak, unlike Anne Frank, whom she knew. Dr. Butters voice has contributed to more understanding and tolerance. Co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on the Kingdom of the Netherlands Representative Hillary Scholten (D, MI-03) and Dutch caucus member, Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI-02) both Michigan natives, gave opening remarks. Dr. Irene Butter is the living definition of tolerance. She has shown the ability to endureeven the most horrendous of circumstanceswithout herself reverting to a negative reaction, said Rep. Scholten. Rather, she has taken her pain and trauma and turned it into a catalyst for good and healing in the world. It is my honor to celebrate this American hero and fellow Michigander as the co-chair of the Congressional Dutch Caucus. Representative John Moolenaar stated, Eighty years ago, the world was stunned to learn the full extent of the evils of the Nazi regime and the Holocaust as concentration camps like Bergen-Belson were liberated. Dr. Irene Butter experienced the brutality of the Holocaust first-hand as a young girl. After surviving the Bergen-Belson concentration camp and establishing a new life in America, she used her powerful story to teach younger generations about the horrors of the Holocaust and vile prejudices like antisemitism. I applaud Dr. Butter as she receives the 2025 Anne Frank Award. She is fully deserving of this honor, and I pray she continues to tell her story to further combat antisemitism, said Moolenaar. Anne Frank Special Recognition Award Dr. Kathrin Meyer, the former Secretary General of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), was presented with the 2025 Anne Frank Special Recognition Award. The IHRA, founded in 1998, is an intergovernmental organization with 35 member countries dedicated to strengthening and promoting education, remembrance, and research on the Holocaust. In her role as Secretary General, Dr. Meyer helped guide the IHRA Member and Observer Countries as they advance the mission of a world that remembers the Holocaust and combats antisemitism. In her remarks, Dr. Meyer reflected on the legacy of Anne Frank and stated, Anne dreamed of a world where people would simply be people again. It is our responsibility to ensure that her dream does not fade. We will not allow the past to be forgotten. We will protect history, protect truth, and protect each other. Because we owe it to her, and to the generations after us. The Anne Frank Award is a collaboration among the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Congressional Caucus on the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Anne Frank Center USA, the Anne Frank House Amsterdam, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, and the USC Shoah Foundation. The award ceremony is part of the Embassys Holland on the Hill initiative to strengthen the economic, political and cultural ties between the Netherlands and the United States. First presented in 2014, the Anne Frank Award for Human Dignity and Tolerance has been presented to the following recipients: In 2023, Former U.S. Senator Ben Cardin In 2020, Former U.S. Representative Nita Lowey In 2019, Benjamin Ferencz, a prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials In 2017, Father Leo O Donovan of the Jesuit Refugee Service/USA In 2015, Nicholas Kristof, New York Times columnist In 2014, Rabbi David Nathan Saperstein Attachments ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Squaremouth, the nations top travel insurance comparison service, is thrilled to announce the launch of Tin Leg Cruise, a new cruise insurance product. As cruise travel continues to surge, 74% of travelers this season are expected to insure their voyages, a marked increase from 38% in 2024. With coverage options that go beyond traditional travel insurance, Tin Leg Cruise aims to provide cruisers with peace of mind, from departure to return. Exclusively tailored for cruisers, Tin Leg Cruise offers comprehensive coverage with unique cruise-specific benefits, flexible optional upgrades, and robust support for travelers embarking on their voyages. Cruise-Specific Benefits In addition to standard travel insurance coverage, Tin Leg Cruise offers unique, cruise-specific benefits that are tailored to the needs of passengers: Itinerary Change: $250 per person in the event of a schedule change Missed Port of Call: $500 per person after a 3-hour delay at a port Travel Inconvenience Coverage: $100 per person for situations like flight delays, being confined on a cruise ship, missed connections, and missed ports of call Water Level Disruptions: Coverage for a cruise lines cancellation due to water level issues that could impact the scheduled itinerary Base Benefits of Tin Leg Cruise The Tin Leg Cruise product includes several base benefits to ensure comprehensive protection for cruisers, including: Trip Cancellation: 100% reimbursement for covered reasons Trip Interruption: 150% reimbursement for covered interruptions Emergency Medical Coverage: $100,000 (Primary, no deductible) Medical Evacuation: $250,000 for emergency evacuation services Pre-Existing Condition: Covered when purchased within 14 days of initial deposit Travel Delay Coverage: Up to $2,000 per person, with a daily limit of $150 after 6 hours Missed Connection: Up to $500 after 3 hours of delay Baggage Loss: Up to $500 per person ($250 per item) Baggage Delay: Up to $500 per person with a daily limit of $100 after 24 hours Pet Kennel Delay: Up to $400 per person ($200 per day) 24-Hour Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D): $10,000 per person Optional Upgrades for Enhanced Coverage Travelers can customize their coverage with a variety of optional upgrades, including: Increased Emergency Medical Coverage: Up to $250,000 Medical Evacuation Coverage: Up to $500,000 or $1,000,000 Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR): 75% reimbursement if purchased within 14 days of initial deposit Interrupt For Any Reason (IFAR): 50% reimbursement for trip interruptions (must occur at least 72 hours after departure) Rental Car Coverage: $50,000 per person with a $100 deductible 24-Hour AD&D Coverage: Up to $50,000 per person Eligibility and Coverage Details Tin Leg Cruise is available to U.S. residents (excluding New York) with no restrictions on cruise lines. The plan covers trips with a maximum cost of $30,000 per person, up to 60 days in length, and for travelers up to age 85. Travelers can include up to 9 people per purchase, and the trip departure must be at least 5 days and up to 1.5 years away. Janet Yellen served as Treasury Secretary in the Biden Administration and Chair of the Federal Reserve from 2014 to 2018 Raghuram Rajan served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India and as Chief Economist at the International Monetary Fund Gordon Brown, former UK Prime Minister, becomes Chair of the GAB Ben Bernanke, former Chair of the Federal Reserve, retiring from role as Chair of PIMCOs GAB after 10 years service Mark Carney, Canadian Prime Minister, also recently stepped down from GAB NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PIMCO, one of the worlds premier fixed income investment managers, announces the addition of Janet Yellen, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and Chair of the Federal Reserve, and Raghuram Rajan, former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India and Chief Economist at the International Monetary Fund, to its Global Advisory Board. The Board provides PIMCO with insights on global economic, political, and strategic developments and their relevance for financial markets. In addition, Gordon Brown, former UK Prime Minister (2007-2010) and Chancellor of the Exchequer (1997-2007), becomes Chair of the Board. Mr. Brown, who has been a member of PIMCOs GAB since its founding in 2015, replaces Ben Bernanke, who is retiring after serving 10 years as Chair of the GAB. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, previously announced his resignation from PIMCOs GAB in January, when he announced his candidacy for political office. He had served on the Board since 2020. Before serving as the 78th U.S. Secretary of the Treasury from 2021-2025, Secretary Yellen was Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve from 2014 to 2018 and Vice Chair 2010 to 2014. Secretary Yellen has also held positions at Harvard University, the London School of Economics, and the University of California, Berkeley, where she is now professor emeritus. Her extensive contributions to economic policy and research have established her as a leading figure in the field. Dr. Raghuram Rajan's career is distinguished by his influential roles in global economic institutions. He was the 23rd Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 2013 to 2016 where he implemented key reforms to stabilize the Indian economy and was Chief Economist and Director of Research at the International Monetary Fund from 2003 to 2006. He is also a Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Secretary Yellen and Dr. Rajans deep expertise in economic policy make them remarkable additions to our Global Advisory Board, said Emmanuel Roman, PIMCOs Chief Executive Officer. Their insights will be crucial for us as we continue to navigate the complexities of the global economy and assess their potential impact on markets for our clients. Understanding the complexities and impact of central bank policymaking, international governance and economic conditions on fast-moving markets are critical components of our investment strategy. Secretary Yellen and Dr. Rajans invaluable insights and experience, and Prime Minister Browns leadership as chair, will provide PIMCO clients with deep expertise and knowledge in assessing investment risk and opportunity, said Dan Ivascyn, PIMCOs Group Chief Investment Officer. We also want to thank Chair Ben Bernanke and Prime Minister Carney for their leadership and valued perspectives over many years on the Global Advisory Board during their constant presence at our investment forums and in guidance to our Investment Committee. We will miss their thoughtful insights and wish them well, said Mr. Roman. The Global Advisory Board consists of a diverse group of experts who provide strategic insights into global economic, political, and strategic developments. Secretary Yellen and Dr. Rajan will join Gordon Brown, Joshua Bolten, former White House Chief of Staff, and Michele Flournoy, U.S. defense policy advisor in two U.S. presidential administrations. Janet Yellen Janet L. Yellen served as 78th Secretary of the Treasury from 2021 through 2025. Previously, she was a Distinguished Fellow in Residence at the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy at the Brookings Institution. She also served as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from 2014 through February 2018, Vice Chair of the Board of Governors from 2010 to 2014 and president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco from 2004 to 2010. Dr. Yellen previously served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from August 1994 through February 1997, whereupon she was appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve as chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, a post she held until August 1999. Dr. Yellen has written on a wide variety of macroeconomic issues, specializing in the causes, mechanisms, and implications of unemployment. She began her career as an assistant professor at Harvard University and then served as an economist with the Federal Reserves Board of Governors before joining the faculty of the London School of Economics in 1978. In 1980 she joined the faculty of the University of California at Berkeley, where she was named the Eugene E. and Catherine M. Trefethen Professor of Business and Professor of Economics, and where she is currently a professor emeritus. Dr. Yellen graduated from Brown University in 1967 and received her PhD in economics from Yale University in 1971. She received the Wilbur Cross Medal from Yale in 1997, honorary degrees from Brown, Bard College, NYU, the London School of Economics and Political Science, the University of Warwick, Yale, the University of Michigan and the University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has served as President of the American Economic Association and the Western Economic Association and a fellow of the Yale Corporation. She is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Economic Association. Raghuram Rajan Raghuram Rajan is the Katherine Dusak Miller Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at Chicago Booth. He was the 23rd Governor of the Reserve Bank of India between September 2013 and September 2016. Between 2003 and 2006, Dr. Rajan was the Chief Economist and Director of Research at the International Monetary Fund. Dr. Rajans research interests are in banking, corporate finance, and economic development. The books he has written include Breaking the Mold: Reimagining India's Economic Future with Rohit Lamba, The Third Pillar: How the State and Markets hold the Community Behind 2019 which was a finalist for the Financial Times Business Book of the Year prize and Fault Lines: How Hidden Fractures Still Threaten the World Economy, for which he was awarded the Financial Times prize for Business Book of the Year in 2010. Dr. Rajan is a member of the Group of Thirty. He was the President of the American Finance Association in 2011 and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In January 2003, the American Finance Association awarded Dr. Rajan the inaugural Fischer Black Prize for the best finance researcher under the age of 40. The other awards he has received include the Infosys prize for the Economic Sciences in 2012, the Deutsche Bank Prize for Financial Economics in 2013, Euromoney Central Banker Governor of the Year 2014, and Banker Magazine (FT Group) Central Bank Governor of the Year 2016. Dr. Rajan is the Chairman of the Per Jacobsson Foundation, the senior economic advisor to BDT Capital, and a managing director at Andersen Tax. About PIMCO PIMCO is a global leader in active fixed income with deep expertise across public and private markets. We invest our clients capital across a range of fixed income and credit opportunities, drawing upon our decades of experience navigating complex debt markets. Our flexible capital base and deep relationships with issuers have helped us become one of the worlds largest providers of traditional and nontraditional solutions for companies that need financing and investors who seek strong risk-adjusted returns. Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including the performance of financial markets, the investment performance of PIMCO's sponsored investment products and separately managed accounts, general economic conditions, future acquisitions, competitive conditions and government regulations, including changes in tax laws. Readers should carefully consider such factors. Further, such forward-looking statements speak only on the date at which such statements are made. PIMCO undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements. Contact: Michael Reid PIMCO Media Relations Ph. 212-597-1301 Email: Michael.Reid@pimco.com NEW YORK, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Responders Children's Foundation (FRCF), a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting the children of U.S. first responders firefighters, police officers, paramedics, EMTs, corrections officers, and 911 dispatchersnationwide at the local, state, and federal levels, and JPMorganChase are proud to announce a first-of-its-kind financial health education program designed to provide first responder families nationwide with the knowledge and tools needed to secure their financial future. This new partnership offers virtual financial education workshops, at no cost, responsive to the unique challenges faced by first responder families. In addition, JPMorganChase will work with FRCF to help first responders and their families access Chases nearly 5,000 local bank branches to discuss their familys specific financial needs. First responder families face the same challenges as everyone elsemortgage payments, saving for college, and planning for the futurebut with the added burdens that come from their service, such as unexpected emergencies and long shifts leading to childcare costs. These financial challenges are compounded for the heroes in volunteer firehouses and EMS services, said Jillian Crane, President & CEO of First Responders Childrens Foundation. Partnering with JPMorganChase allows us to empower these families with financial knowledge, ensuring they have the stability and security they deserve. We have a moral obligation to protect those who protect us. A study done by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement found that only 51% of first responders surveyed said they had a financial emergency plan in place in case unexpected hardship were to strike. At the same time, more than 65% of first responders nationwide have an annual wage below the U.S. average of $48,060, and over 70% of firefighters nationwide are volunteers. With these added financial burdens comes mental and emotional stress, which can impact job performance. This new initiative aims to help first responder families address those burdens. Virtual workshops will cover topics relevant to first responder families including sessions on saving, budgeting, setting goals, building and maintaining credit, discussing finances with your children, and saving for unexpected emergencies. First responder families will also be able to leverage Chases network of nearly 5,000 local bank branches nationwide to discuss their familys specific financial needs. These conversations will provide an opportunity to discover these families financial needs, like saving, budgeting, building and maintaining credit, and more. Every day, first responders run toward danger to keep our communities safe. We all owe first responders a debt of gratitude, and this partnership is a way Chase can put our expertise into action and help first responder families build stronger financial futures, said Diedra Porche, Head of Community and Business Development at JPMorganChase. Whether youre a student, a parent or guardian, or a retireeit is never too late to further your financial health education. These resources are available at no cost to all first responders and children of first responders, irrespective of if they are a JPMorganChase customer or not. This partnership reinforces FRCFs mission to support first responder families to grow and thrive by equipping them with critical life skills that promote long-term stability and success. Interested first responders and children of first responders can learn more and register here ( 1strcf.org/financial-wellness/ ) ABOUT FIRST RESPONDERS CHILDRENS FOUNDATION: First Responders Childrens Foundation is a national foundation that provides programs and resources that address the specific needs of first responders and their families. The Foundation focuses on four key areas: Scholarships, Financial Assistance Grants; a Mental Health Resilience Program; and Community Engagement. The Foundation was founded 24 years ago in response to 9/11 when 800 children lost a first responder parent. Additional information about FRCF can be found at www.1stRCF.org and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @1strcf ABOUT JPMorganChase: JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading financial services firm based in the United States of America (U.S.), with operations worldwide. JPMorganChase had $4.0 trillion in assets and $345 billion in stockholders equity as of December 31, 2024. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management. Under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands, the Firm serves millions of customers in the U.S., and many of the worlds most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients globally. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com . CONTACT: Joshua Natoli joshua@1strcf.org 845-332-7933 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/21fb9fa7-594f-4f01-b356-81a36917ffa7 Greensboro, N.C., March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Volvo on Demand is a highly flexible, Truck-as-a-Service subscription initiative, designed to drive the adoption of zero-tailpipe emission technology by removing large upfront capital investments. Now, the very first Volvo on Demand customer in the U.S., R&M Trucking has started their subscription with a Volvo VNR Electric truck carrying out local and regional deliveries at OHare International Airport in Chicago. Volvo on Demand is an innovative and highly customizable Truck-as-a-Service initiative from Volvo Trucks North America and Volvo Financial Services (VFS). The service is designed to simplify the acquisition process for battery-electric trucks, reducing the upfront investment required and offering qualified customers flexible term options as short as 12 months. The program includes Volvo Trucks industry-leading Gold Contract, with the option to bundle, route planning and optimization guidance, as well as consultations to identify the best charging solutions. A competitive mileage rate throughout the contract term provides flexibility, with a single monthly invoice encompassing all selected services. Volvo on Demand is designed to remove barriers to adopting battery-electric trucks by offering a flexible, all-inclusive service model, said Logan Andrew, eMobility territory finance manager East, Volvo Financial Services. This deployment helps R&M Trucking integrate electric trucks into its fleet in a way that makes business senseminimizing upfront capital investment while providing predictable operational costs. R&M Trucking operates a fleet of 300 trucks, ranging from Class 6 to Class 8, making daily runs of 70-100 miles from the airport to surrounding Chicago suburbs. The Volvo VNR Electric truck is well-suited for urban deliveries because its near-silent operation and zero-tailpipe emissions are ideal for deliveries in residential areas and busy city streets. Despite initial concerns about Chicagos cold weather, the Volvo VNR Electric has proven successful in several Canadian fleets, demonstrating strong performance in extreme temperatures. The trucks advanced battery thermal management system promotes optimal performance in cold weather, while its ability to run the cabs HVAC system without idling keeps drivers comfortable during rest periods. This feature enhances driver well-being, reinforcing Volvo Trucks commitment to both environmental sustainability and driver comfort. The Volvo VNR Electric also delivers uninterrupted torque, smooth acceleration, and significantly reduced vibration and noise, resulting in a more comfortable and relaxing driving experience. R&M Trucking will operate a 6x4 tractor with a six-battery configuration, offering a range of up to 275 miles and the ability to achieve an 80 percent charge in about 90 minutes. The company is also installing infrastructure at its warehouse to support overnight charging for the Volvo VNR Electric. R&M Trucking has customers who want deliveries made with battery-electric trucks to meet supply chain sustainability goals and has worked closely with VFS and their local Volvo dealership, M&K Truck Centers in Des Plaines, Illinois, to make fact-based decisions about the business impact of purchasing and operating battery-electric trucks. R&M Trucking determined that Volvo on Demand was the most economical way for it to operate a battery-electric Class 8 tractor. Sustainability is a priority for R&M Trucking, with many customers seeking logistics partners that can help reduce their carbon footprint. The Volvo VNR Electric gives us the ability to provide zero-tailpipe emission deliveries while maintaining the reliability and performance our customers expect, said Mike Narvaez, director of safety, R&M Trucking. Volvo on Demand made it easy to get started with battery-electric trucks, ensuring we have the support and flexibility needed to determine the next step of our electromobility transition. Volvo on Demand launched in the U.S. in areas where nearby Volvo Trucks Certified Electric Vehicle (EV) dealerships offer comprehensive support, including preventative maintenance, service, and charging facilities to maximize customer uptime. M&K Truck Centers, a Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealer, will support R&M Trucking in maximizing uptime for its Volvo VNR Electric truck and evaluating opportunities to electrify additional routes. To learn more about Volvo Trucks North America and the Volvo VNR Electric, visit the company website. High-resolution images associated with this press release and others are available at https://press.volvotrucks.us/. For further information, please contact: Emily Dulaney Communications & Content Manager, Volvo Financial Services emily.dulaney@volvo.com (336) 639-9969 Kyle Zimmerman Public Relations Manager, Volvo Trucks North America kyle.zimmerman@volvo.com (704) 677-9757 Volvo Trucks North America, headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, is one of the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturers in North America. Its Uptime Services commitment is delivered by a network of nearly 400 authorized dealers across North America and the 24/7 Volvo Trucks Uptime Center. Every Volvo truck is assembled in the Volvo Trucks New River Valley manufacturing facility in Dublin, Virginia, which meets the internationally recognized ISO 9001 standard for quality, 14001 standard for environmental care and holds a dual ISO 50001/Superior Energy Performance certification at the platinum level, indicating a sustained excellence in energy management. Volvo Trucks North America provides complete transport solutions for its customers, offering a full range of diesel, alternative-fuel and all-electric vehicles, and is part of the Volvo Trucks global organization. Volvo Trucks supplies complete transport solutions for discerning professional customers with its full range of medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Customer support is provided via a global network of dealers with 2,200 service points in about 130 countries. Volvo trucks are assembled in 12 countries across the globe. In 2024 approximately 134,000 Volvo trucks were delivered worldwide. Volvo Trucks is part of the Volvo Group, one of the worlds leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment and marine and industrial engines. The group also provides complete solutions for financing and service. Volvo Trucks work is based on the core values of quality, safety and environmental care. Volvo Financial Services is the global finance arm of the Volvo Group, one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment and marine and industrial engines. Volvo Financial Services supports the Volvo Group's brands with a full range of offerings to customers and dealers, including financing, leasing, and insurance solutions. Attachment West Palm Beach, FL, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Earth Systems announced today the acquisition of Spangler Environmental, a leading environmental and risk management consulting firm based in the Carolinas and Florida. This strategic acquisition expands Earth Systems geographic footprint while enhancing its ability to provide full-service environmental and ecological solutions to clients in the development and infrastructure sectors. With a strong track record in environmental due diligence, regulatory compliance, and risk management services, Spangler Environmental brings decades of experience and expertise to Earth Systems growing portfolio. By integrating Spanglers capabilities, Earth Systems aims to further its mission of delivering comprehensive environmental solutions tailored to the evolving needs of its clients. Jim Spangler, Founder and CEO of Spangler Environmental, expressed his enthusiasm about joining the Earth Systems family. We are excited to bring our environmental consulting expertise in the acquisition, entitlement, and construction phases of development projects to Earth Systems broad and growing list of builder, developer, government, and regulatory compliance clients, while also providing our existing land development and litigation-support clients with expanded environmental services and a bigger team capable of handling greater demands. This partnership allows us to continue our long record of employee and client success by leveraging Earth Systems national reach and technical depth. Sam Pratt, executive chairman of the Earth Systems platform, emphasized the significance of this acquisition. We are thrilled to support Earth Systems continued growth in the environmental engineering and consulting sectors by partnering with Jim and his exceptional leadership team. The addition of Spangler Environmental aligns with our commitment of investing in companies with great management teams that provide client-first environmental consulting and permitting services. Backed by Palm Beach Capital, Earth Systems acquisition of Spangler Environmental underscores the companys dedication to expanding its presence in key markets and enhancing its ability to provide innovative, science-based solutions. This further positions Earth Systems as a premier provider of environmental and ecological consulting services across the United States. About Earth Systems: Earth Systems is a leading environmental consulting firm committed to providing innovative, science-driven solutions to clients in the infrastructure, energy, and development industries. Earth Systems and its subsidiaries deliver a full spectrum of environmental, ecological, and engineering services throughout the United States. [https://earthsys.net/] About Spangler Environmental: Spangler Environmental is a well-respected environmental consulting firm specializing in regulatory compliance, risk management, and ecological solutions for the development and infrastructure sectors in the Carolinas. [https://www.spanglerenvironmental.com/] About Palm Beach Capital: Founded in 2001, Palm Beach Capital is a middle-market private equity investment firm based in West Palm Beach, Florida. Currently investing out of its sixth committed fund, the firm focuses on high-growth investment opportunities and partners with management teams in management buyouts, recapitalizations, and growth equity investments. Since its inception, Palm Beach Capital has made investments in 57 portfolio companies, with a focus on business services, healthcare, and transportation and logistics sectors. For more information, please visit the firms website at [www.pbcap.com]. Attachment Stacy Landis, former public housing resident, leads Property Plus Construction's vision for a $50 million affordable housing project in Kansas City. The company's innovative Rapid Rehab service transforms vacant units in 24 hours, addressing industry inefficiencies. With 30% growth, it aims to revolutionize affordable housing nationwide. Photo Courtesy of Property Plus Construction KANSAS CITY, Kan., March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Property Plus Construction , a leader in affordable housing solutions, has submitted a $50 million development plan to the city of Kansas City, Kansas. The ambitious project, led by company President Stacy Landis, aims to construct 200 affordable single-family homes, with half designed to be ADA accessible. Landis, a former public housing resident turned successful entrepreneur, brings a unique perspective to the project. "I'm a product of affordable housingI've lived it," Landis explains. "I've seen the delays, inefficiencies, and red tape that slow down progress and keep families waiting for homes. That's why we're approaching this differently." Property Plus Construction specializes in preservation, modernization, and new development through strategic partnerships with Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), LIHTC developers, and government agencies. The company's mission is to become the number one leader in affordable housing solutions, a goal that this project brings them one step closer to achieving. The company's signature "Rapid Rehab" service has already made significant waves in the industry. This revolutionary approach transforms vacant units into fully restored, move-in-ready homes in just 24 business hours. In November 2024, they celebrated completing their 1000th "make-ready" unit. "We're leading the charge by integrating AI, automation, and energy efficiencyall designed to cut costs, reduce turnaround times, and create better living environments," Landis states. The company uses technology-driven project tracking, smart material sourcing, and sustainable building practices. Property Plus Construction is rapidly expanding its reach with a 7-figure annual revenue and a 30% growth rate. Currently serving Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Iowa, and Nebraska, the company plans to expand into Oklahoma, Arkansas, South Dakota, and Minnesota over the next 12 months. The $50 million development plan for Kansas City is a notable step toward addressing the housing crisis while setting new standards for quality and efficiency in the industry. The project will create 200 new homes with a focus on accessibility. About Property Plus Construction Property Plus Construction is a leading force in the affordable housing industry, specializing in preservation, modernization, and new development. Founded by Stacy Landis, a former public housing resident, the company brings a unique, personal approach to affordable housing solutions. With innovative services like Rapid Rehab and a commitment to sustainable, efficient construction practices, Property Plus Construction is revolutionizing how America approaches affordable housing. Contact Information: Contact Person's Name: Stacy Landis Organization / Company: Property Plus Construction Company website: propertyplusconstruction.com Contact Email Address: info@propertyplusconstruction.com __________________________ If you like to change any of our drafts, please revise the draft directly in this document. Once approved and published, stories can no longer be updated or edited. Please let us know if you need a different image. Otherwise, the image in this document will be displayed in the release. Publications allow one image only. Article image should be landscape and in high resolution format. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/14572f49-ca2e-46b5-9444-3de2b6963dcc Dublin, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "European University Libraries Directory 2025" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This new edition of the European Universities Libraries Directory provides essential details of the central and other major libraries of European universities and, where appropriate, includes the libraries of attached institutes and research centres. Researched meticulously, this revised edition provides the most up-to-date information available and, to ensure accuracy and reliability, information is provided by the libraries and institutions concerned. Whether you are a student, librarian or researcher, this Directory will save you time and effort in finding the up-to-date information you need. It is also an indispensable guide to all of Europe's Universities Libraries. Key Features: Provides extensive details of the central and other major libraries of European universities and includes the libraries of attached institutes and research centres Meticulously researched to provide the most up-to-date information Provides information on thousands of university libraries Contents: Entries list full contact details, including e-mail and internet addresses, and names of chief librarians and other relevant staff. Other invaluable information includes: area of specialisation, opening hours, the size and composition of library holdings, online subscriptions and details of the libraries own publications Fully indexed for easy location of universities and their libraries Countries Covered: Austria Belarus Belgium Bosnia Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovak Republic Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Ukraine United Kingdom For more information about this directory visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/jwsjgo 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 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "International Directory of Corporate Giving 2025" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The International Directory of Corporate Giving profiles thousands of companies making contributions to non-profits organizations worldwide. Corporations profiled vary from those with specific interests and structured formal giving mechanisms to those with broad purposes and unstructured, informal contributions programs. The Directory is intended for use by grant seekers in locating potential support, grant makers in learning more about other grant makers, scholars researching the field and everyone generally interested in philanthropy. The most comprehensive directory on corporate giving available, it includes only corporations that provided information for which public documents on giving were available. The Directory is arranged alphabetically by company name. Each entry is assigned a sequence number, and references in the indexes which follow the main listings are to entry sequence numbers. Each company's entry is divided into parts: a general description of the company and its activities, and a description of the company's direct giving program and/or foundation. The Giving Statement data element in the company's general description outlines which and how many giving mechanisms - corporate giving, also known as direct giving and/or foundations - the company employs. Each distinct giving entity has a separate description. There are dozens of basic data elements which could be included in an entry. The completeness of an entry varies widely due to the differences in the size and nature of a company's program and the availability of information from the company. This new International Directory of Corporate Giving is intended for use by grant seekers in locating potential support, grant makers in learning more about other grant makers and everyone generally interested in philanthropy. Country Index Argentina Australia Austria Bahrain Bangladesh Belgium Brazil Bulgaria Canada Chile China Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Egypt Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hong Kong Hungary India Indonesia Ireland Israel Italy Japan Korea Kuwait Latvia Lebanon Lithuania Luxembourg Malaysia Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway Pakistan Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russia Saudi Arabia Serbia Singapore Slovakia Slovenia South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Tanzania Thailand Turkey Uganda United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States of America Venezuela For more information about this directory visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2y6px0 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. Today, the BANK of Greenland held its Annual General Meeting in accordance with the Articles of Association and the previously published notice convening the meeting. The Annual General Meeting was attended by shareholders representing 1,165,411 votes, of which 544,852 votes were given by proxy to the Board of Directors and 90,246 votes were covered by instructions to holders of power of attorney. The Board of Directors' Report on the Bank's activities during the past year The Chairman of the Board of Directors Gunnar i Lia presented the Board of Directors' report on the Bank's activities during the past year. The report of the Board of Directors was noted. The Chairman's report can be viewed on the Bank's website at www.banken.gl . The minutes of the Annual General Meeting will also be published on the Bank's website no later than 14 days after the Annual General Meeting is held. Approval of the Annual Report for 2024, notification of discharge of the Board of Directors and Executive Management, approval of the remuneration of the Board of Directors, and allocation of profit or cover of losses in accordance with the approved Annual Report The Annual Report for 2024, which shows a resultat after tax of DKK 209 million, equity of DKK 1,593 million and total assets of DKK 10,021 million, was approved as it was submitted. The Board of Directors and the Executive Management were discharged from their obligations. The Board of Directors' proposal for the allocation of profit or cover of losses was approved, including the Board of Directors' recommended dividend of DKK 100 per share. Proposal from the Board of Directors for authorisation to acquire own shares The Board of Directors proposal, for a period up to 1 March 2030, and within 10% of the share capital, to let the Bank be authorised to acquire own shares, was approved. Proposal for amendments to the Articles of Association: New article 5 concerning capital reserves and amendment to article 9 concerning deadline The Board of Directors' proposed amendments to the Bank's Articles of Association were approved. Proposal for amendment of the Remuneration Policy The Board of Directors' proposal to amend the remuneration policy was approved Proposal to an indicative vote of the remuneration report The general meeting approved the remuneration report for 2024 at the indicative voting. Election to the Board of Directors Gunnar i Lia was re-elected to the Board of Directors for a two-year period. Pia Werner Alexandersen and Gert Jonassen were elected for a two-year period. The Board of Directors also consists of Kristian Lennert, Maliina Bitsch Abelsen and Peter Angutinguaq Wistoft as well as the employee-elected members Peter Fleischer Rex, Pilunnguaq Kristiansen and Tulliaq Olsen. At the subsequent meeting of the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors elected Gunnar i Lia as Chairman and Kristian Frederik Lennert as Vice Chairman. Election of auditor Deloitte, Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, was re-elected as auditor for one year. Any other business There were no items for consideration under any other business. BANK of Greenland Gunnar i Lia Chairman of the Board of Directors Attachment NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Volunteer State Bank has rebranded as Volunteer Bank. A locally owned and headquartered financial provider since 1977, the evolution reflects a new look for the future of banking while embracing the banks continued dedication to its customers and expanding footprint in Middle Tennessee. The rebrand is not the result of a merger or change in ownership, but rather a reflection of the banks commitment to the next 50 yearsensuring it remains a strong, independent, and community-focused financial partner for generations to come. The updated logo pays homage to Tennessee, with one of the arms of the "V" symbolizing the states shape, reinforcing Volunteer Banks pride in serving the region. For nearly 50 years, we have built relationships rooted in trust, service, and local decision-making, said Tony Gregory, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Volunteer Bank. As we evolve into Volunteer Bank, we do so with great respect for our history and an even greater vision for the future. We are thrilled to share our refreshed look with our Middle Tennessee neighbors. Over the coming weeks, customers and communities will soon see the new Volunteer Bank identity come to life across the banks branch locations, digital platforms, and in the cities served throughout Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, Sumner, Robertson and Wilson counties. Middle Tennessee deserves a financial partner who leads with local expertise, serves with purpose and remains genuinely dedicated to giving back to the communities we call home, Gregory added. We are passionate about empowering our neighbors to succeeda commitment we call The Home State Advantage. About Volunteer State Bank Volunteer Bank is a privately owned, Tennessee-based community bank with over $1.5 billion in assets. Founded in 1977, Volunteer State Bank operates 18 full-service branches throughout Middle Tennessee in Davidson, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson counties. Volunteer Bank offers a full suite of financial solutions designed to empower individuals and businesses at every stage of their financial journey. For more information on products, locations, and hours of operation, please visit Volunteer.Bank. Media Contacts: Lindsey Hammons, VP, Marketing, Engagement and Communications Volunteer Bank Lindsey.Hammons@Volunteer.Bank ARAWA, Papua New Guinea, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Island Passage Exploration Limited (IPX or the Company) today received notice from its customary landowner company partner, Isina Resource Holdings Ltd (IRHL), that the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) has approved a five year renewal of the EL02 license. The property spans 250 km2 in the Crown Prince Range of Central Bougainville, approximately nine kilometres southeast from the historic Panguna copper gold mine (Figure 1). EL02 was originally granted in 2017 and this marks the second renewal of the license. IPX is the exclusive technical and financial partner of IRHL for the purposes of assessing and advancing the mineral potential of EL02. EL02 was the first mineral exploration tenure issued under the Bougainville Mining Act of 2015. The area covered by the EL02 tenure had previously been part of an exploration moratorium issued in 1974. IPX has been undertaking systematic mineral exploration over the large tenement since March 2024. Donald McInnes, Co-Founder and CEO of IPX, commented on the renewal We are very grateful to IRHL for entrusting IPX to be its technical and financial partner. We are also very impressed with the rapid and transparent renewal process administered by the Department of Mining and Petroleum of the Autonomous Bougainville Government. We look forward to continuing our systematic exploration of the licence throughout 2025. Glen Tovirika acting CEO of Isina Resource Holdings Ltd., provided the following remarks on the occasion of the renewal, I would like thank the Department of Mining and Petroleum, the ABG, , the parliament members whose constituency includes the EL02 tenement, and of course, the landowners. We must also make special mention of the work of the Bougainville Mining Advisory Committee and the Minister for the prompt renewal and extension of the EL02 licence for five more years. This is a sign of trust for the project and our partners at Island Passage Exploration. Mr. Tovirika continued, For the first time in the history of Papua New Guinea, mineral rights have been granted to the indigenous owners of the land, and the people of Bougainville are made stronger by this renewal. The customary landowners in the Isina region will continue to provide for our employees and support our partners. We will continue to maintain peace and harmony between the project, the landowners, and the people of Bougainville through constant social awareness and open sharing of information and ideas. This partnership will lift up war-torn Bougainville to the next level, bringing hope for a brighter future to the next generations of Bougainvilleans. In presenting the EL02 extension licence, ABG President and Minister for Mining Hon. Ishmael Toroama congratulated IRHL on the renewal and noted the focus of the company in fostering strong local stakeholder collaboration, engagement and local content participation towards successful development of the project. Educational Support In recognition of the widespread community support for the partnership between IPX and IRHL and to celebrate the five year extension of EL02, IPX shall be making a contribution of 2,500 Kina to each primary school within the bounds of EL02 covering Kongara 1 and 2, South Nasioi and North Kokoda. About Isina Resource Holdings Ltd. IRHL was founded in 2009 with the directors drawn from the chiefs of the nine major clans and their subclans in south Central Bougainville. As the custodians of their customary clan-owned land, the forty -three directors represent the customary landowner families. In an exercise of sovereignty over their mineral rights, they applied for and were granted EL02 over their lands. The licence boundary is situated 9 km SE of the Panguna open pit along the Crown Prince Range, and extends a further 26 km to the SE. The tenement contains wholly within it the area known as P.A.7B which was one of the seven BCL (Rio Tinto) exploration tenements that it held surrounding Panguna. About Island Passage Exploration Ltd . A private Canadian company purpose built in 2022 to facilitate the finance, technical, commercial, and business development expertise that will be necessary to drive exploration and development on Bougainville. The Company is founded on the principle of responsible resource development in partnership with indigenous and customary landowners, and its leadership has a long track record of success on multiple such ventures. About Island Passage Development Ltd . The PNG company is 100% owned by IPDC to bring exploration finance and technical capacity from Canada to Bougainville to carry out exploration on EL02. For further information please go to islandpassage.ca Or email Donald McInnes, CEO, at donald@islandpassage.ca Or follow IPDC on Facebook at (3) Island Passage Development | Facebook Figure 1 - Map of Central Bougainville Showing Historic Panguna Licenses and EL02 Back row, left to right: Luke Aramei, Amos Tazie, Willliam Arenkei, Oti Asotau, Simon Kaduu, Peter Muou, Biansi Joe, Aloysius Sinka, Jerry Billy, Sam Kauona Front row, left to right: Merita Ennie, Glen Tovirika, Barbara Mara, Thomas Meeto President Ishmael Toroama presenting the extension document to Aloysius Sinka China advances end-to-end governance of AI-generated content 14:14, March 26, 2025 By Jin Xin ( People's Daily An exhibition displaying AI-generated artworks is held in Jinan, east China's Shandong province. (People's Daily Online/Xu Zhou) When planning an upcoming trip, Li instinctively opened a prominent AI application for recommendations. While the app promptly generated its usual suggestions, a newly added disclaimer caught his attention: "This AI-generated response serves for reference only. Please verify information carefully." The rapid advancement of generative AI and deep synthesis technologies in recent years has fueled economic expansion, diversified digital content, and enhanced daily convenience. However, these innovations have simultaneously facilitated misinformation proliferation and disrupted digital ecosystems. In response, China recently issued "Measures for identifying AI-generated synthetic content," which will take effect on Sept. 1, 2025. A spokesperson from the Cyberspace Administration of China clarified that the measures aim to standardize the labeling of AI-generated synthetic content. Mandatory disclosure mechanisms enables to differentiate authentic from synthetic content while clarifying service providers' responsibilities throughout content creation and dissemination processes. The framework aims to optimize security protocols through cost-effective solutions and foster sustainable AI industry development. AI-generated pictures are showcased in a subway station in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu province. (People's Daily Online/Wang Luxian ) Tian, a user of a knowledge-sharing platform, encountered a film review stating: "This drama features a compelling narrative structure with multidimensional character development. Through episodic storytelling, it provokes critical reflection on contemporary social issues..." The post displayed a header label marked "Suspected AI-Generated Content" and received substantially reduced algorithmic prioritization in recommendation feeds. A platform spokesperson clarified that existing community guidelines mandate disclosure of AI-assisted content creation. Non-compliant posts trigger automated detection protocols, resulting in mandatory labeling, visibility demotion in ranking systems, content collapse mechanisms, or potential account suspension. Such governance protocols will gain strengthened legal foundations under the Measures for identifying AI-generated synthetic content. The regulations require online content distribution services to verify whether file metadata contains embedded identification markers. Upon detecting explicit identifiers or technical signatures of AI synthesis, platforms must apply: automated classification as suspected AI-generated material; prominent warning labels adjacent to content; public notification through standardized disclaimers. Jin Bo, deputy director of the Third Research Institute at the Ministry of Public Security, further emphasized the regulations' expanded accountability framework. Key provisions now explicitly define obligations for application distribution platforms and auxiliary service providers, establishing comprehensive ecosystem governance spanning content creation, modification, and dissemination processes. A pivotal innovation within the AI-generated content identification measures lies in the codified differentiation between explicit and implicit labeling systems. The regulations mandate that metadata associated with AI-synthesized content incorporate implicit identification markers, which systematically encode critical attributes including: content classification category; service provider identification (name/unique code); content serialization identifier. Zhang Zhen, a senior engineer at the National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team/Coordination Center of China, elaborated: "As a supplementary protocol, the cybersecurity technical standard for AI-generated content identification specifies the metadata fields required for implicit labels. These fields are designed to record critical information while minimizing disruption to metadata processing and transmission, ensuring that AI-generated content remains traceable throughout its lifecycle." These regulations not only enhance transparency and security in AI usage but also foster an environment that encourages innovation and responsible AI development. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ValOre Metals Corp. (ValOre) (TSX-V: VO, OTCQB: KVLQF, Frankfurt: KEQ0) and South Atlantic Gold Inc. (South Atlantic) (TSX-V: SAO), today announced that further to the February 17, 2025 joint news release, the companies have entered into an amalgamation agreement (the Agreement) on March 26, 2025, pursuant to which ValOre will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of South Atlantic (the South Atlantic Shares) and other securities of South Atlantic (the Proposed Transaction). Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, South Atlantic and 1529317 B.C. Ltd. (ValOre Subco), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ValOre, will amalgamate under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the Amalgamation). Upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, the company resulting from the Amalgamation (Amalco) will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of ValOre. Jim Paterson, ValOre Chairman and C.E.O. stated: We would like to thank all SAO stakeholders for their efforts to get this transaction to its current stage. Were very excited to start exploration programs on the combined and expanded Pedra Branca project area once the deal has been completed. Prior to this happening, the shareholders of South Atlantic must approve the transaction at an upcoming SAO shareholder meeting, so we encourage their participation and request their support of the deal. Figure 1: Pedra Branca PGE and Pedra Branca Au property map (1) Independent Technical Report Mineral Resource Update on the Pedra Branca PGE Project, Ceara State, Brazil (Effective date: March 8, 2022) (2) NI 43-101 Technical Report - Mineral Resource Estimation for the Pedra Branca Gold Project Ceara State Brazil (Effective date: March 16, 2021) Transaction Details Under the terms of the Agreement, which was approved unanimously by each of the boards of directors of ValOre and South Atlantic, (i) South Atlantic and ValOre Subco will amalgamate under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) to form Amalco; (ii) all outstanding South Atlantic restricted share units and deferred share units, if any, will be settled for South Atlantic Shares immediately prior to the Amalgamation, (iii) each issued and outstanding South Atlantic Share will be cancelled and replaced with that number of common shares in the capital of ValOre (ValOre Shares) equal to the quotient obtained by dividing 38,500,000 by the number of South Atlantic Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Amalgamation (such ratio being, the Exchange Ratio), (iv) all outstanding South Atlantic stock options will be cancelled and replaced with options to acquire such number of ValOre Shares multiplied by the Exchange Ratio, (v) each issued and outstanding common share of ValOre Subco will be replaced by a common share of Amalco, and (vi) as consideration for the issuance of the ValOre Shares to effect the Proposed Transaction, Amalco will issue ValOre one common share of Amalco for each ValOre Share so issued. No fractional ValOre Shares will be issued in exchange for South Atlantic Shares and the aggregate number of ValOre Shares issued to a holder of South Atlantic Shares will be rounded down to the nearest whole ValOre Share. It is estimated that there will be an aggregate of approximately 267,540,439 ValOre Shares issued and outstanding immediately following completion of the Proposed Transaction, resulting in: (i) the holders of South Atlantic Shares immediately prior to completion of the Proposed Transaction, holding approximately 38,500,000 (~14.4%) ValOre Shares (equating to approximately $2.88 million based on the closing price of the ValOre Shares on March 26, 2025), and (ii) current holders of ValOre Shares holding approximately 229,060,439 (~85.6%) ValOre Shares. The Amalgamation Agreement contains customary provisions including non-solicitation and right to match provisions, as well as a $150,000 termination fee payable to ValOre under certain circumstances and, in certain other customary circumstances, expense reimbursement to ValOre or South Atlantic (as applicable). In addition to South Atlantic Shareholder approval (see below for further details), the completion of the Proposed Transaction is subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) as well as other customary closing conditions for transactions of its nature. Subject to the satisfaction of such conditions, the Proposed Transaction is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2025. The Proposed Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approvals are obtained and 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 South Atlantic's management information circular 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. Following completion of the Proposed Transaction, it is expected that the South Atlantic Shares will no longer be listed on any public market and South Atlantic will cease to be a reporting issuer under Canadian securities laws. South Atlantic Shareholder Meeting and Board of Directors' Recommendations In connection with the Proposed Transaction, it is expected that South Atlantic will hold a special meeting of its shareholders (the South Atlantic Shareholder Meeting) to, among other annual items of business, approve the Amalgamation which will require the approval of: (i) two-thirds of the votes cast on the resolution by shareholders of South Atlantic (South Atlantic Shareholders) at the South Atlantic Shareholder Meeting, and (ii) a simple majority of the votes cast on the resolution by South Atlantic Shareholders at the South Atlantic Shareholder Meeting, excluding votes from certain South Atlantic Shareholders, as required under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101). The South Atlantic Shareholder Meeting is expected to be held during the second quarter of 2025. The Amalgamation Agreement has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of each of ValOre and South Atlantic. The South Atlantic board of directors unanimously recommends that the South Atlantic Shareholders vote in favour of the Proposed Transaction. All officers and directors of South Atlantic have entered into voting support agreements whereby they have agreed to vote all South Atlantic Shares held by them in favour of the Proposed Transaction. About ValOre Metals Corp. ValOre Metals Corp. (TSX-V: VO, OTCQB: KVLQF, Frankfurt: KEQ0) is a Canadian company with a team aiming to deploy capital and knowledge on projects which benefit from substantial prior investment by previous owners, existence of high-value mineralization on a large scale, and the possibility of adding tangible value through exploration and innovation. For further information about ValOre Metals Corp., or this news release, please visit our website at www.valoremetals.com or contact Investor Relations at 604.653.9464, or by email at contact@valoremetals.com. ValOre is a proud member of Discovery Group www.discoverygroup.ca About South Atlantic Gold Inc. South Atlantic is an exploration company engaged in acquiring and advancing mineral properties in the Americas. For further information, please visit our website at www.southatlanticgold.com. Additional Information about the Proposed Transaction and Where to Find It Further details regarding the terms of the Proposed Transaction are set out in the Agreement, which will be publicly filed on ValOres and South Atlantics respective SEDAR+ profiles at www.sedarplus.ca. Additional information regarding the terms of the Agreement, the background to the Proposed Transaction and how the South Atlantic Shareholders can participate in and vote at the South Atlantic Shareholder Meeting will be provided in the management information circular which will be mailed to the South Atlantic Shareholders and also filed on the South Atlantics SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. South Atlantic Shareholders are urged to read these and other relevant materials when they become available. No Offer or Solicitation This document does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in any jurisdiction pursuant to or in connection with the Proposed Transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. Qualified Person (QP) The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in NI 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Thiago Diniz, P.Geo., ValOres QP and Vice President of Exploration. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information, as defined under applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively, forward-looking statements). The words will, intend, anticipate, could, should, may, might, expect, estimate, forecast, plan, potential, project, assume, contemplate, believe, shall, scheduled, and similar terms and, within this news release, include, without limitation, any statements (express or implied) respecting: the terms and conditions of the Proposed Transaction, the pro forma capitalization of ValOre following completion of the Proposed Transaction, the South Atlantic Shareholder Meeting; the proposed timing and completion of the Proposed Transaction; the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to the Proposed Transaction; timing, receipt and anticipated effects of regulatory and other approvals; the delisting of the South Atlantic Shares from the TSXV, South Atlantic ceasing to be a reporting issuer and all other statements that are not statements of historical facts. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, actions, or developments and are based on expectations, assumptions and other factors that management currently believes are relevant, reasonable, and appropriate in the circumstances. Although management believes that the forward-looking statements herein are reasonable, actual results could be substantially different due to the risks and uncertainties associated with and inherent to each of ValOres and South Atlantics respective businesses (as more particularly described in each of their continuous disclosure filings available under their respective SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca), as well as the following particular risks: risks that a condition to closing of the Proposed Transaction may not be satisfied; risks that the requisite South Atlantic Shareholder approvals, or other applicable approvals for the Proposed Transaction may not be obtained or be obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; the market price of parties respective common shares and business generally; potential legal proceedings relating to the Proposed Transaction and the outcome of any such legal proceeding; the inherent risks, costs and uncertainties associated with transitioning the business successfully and risks of not achieving all or any of the anticipated benefits of the Proposed Transaction, or the risk that the anticipated benefits of the Proposed Transaction may not be fully realized or take longer to realize than expected; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Agreement; the risk that the Proposed Transaction will not be consummated within the expected time period, or at all. Actual results or events could differ materially from those contemplated in forward-looking statements as a result of, without limitation, the following: the ability to secure the required South Atlantic Shareholder or regulatory approvals; the occurrence of a material adverse effect, the receipt by South Atlantic of a superior proposal, or the failure by either party to satisfy any other closing condition in favour of the other provided for in the Agreement, which condition is not waived; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and the future performance, financial and otherwise, of ValOre and South Atlantic. All forward-looking statements included in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date hereof and neither ValOre nor South Atlantic 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 may be required by applicable securities laws. 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. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5965eded-4e65-4d1c-acb9-f31532c385f6 /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE IN THE UNITED STATES/ VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yukon Metals Corp. (CSE: YMC, FSE: E770, OTC: YMMCF) (Yukon Metals or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Cormark Securities Inc. and Canaccord Genuity Corp. (the Co-Agents) to act as co-agents in connection with a best efforts private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of up to approximately C$5 million (the Offering). The Offering will consist of the issuance and sale of up to 9,090,909 units of the Company (the Units) at a price of C$0.55 per Unit (the Issue Price). Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (each, a Unit Share) and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a Warrant). Each Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company (each, a Warrant Share) at a price of C$0.80 at any time before 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on the date that is 36 months following the Closing Date (as defined below). The Company has granted the Co-Agents an option, exercisable in whole or in part, at any time prior to 48 hours before the Closing Date, to increase the size of the Offering to raise additional gross proceeds of up to C$3,000,000. Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions (NI 45-106), the Units will be offered for sale to purchasers resident in Canada, except Quebec, or other qualifying jurisdictions pursuant to one or more of the following exemptions from the prospectus requirement under National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions (NI 45-106): (i) the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106 (the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption); and (ii) other available exemptions under NI 45-106. To the extent that any Units exceed the maximum value of securities permitted to be sold pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption, such Units shall be offered and sold by way of a concurrent private placement in reliance on other available exemptions from the prospectus requirements under applicable securities laws. The Co-Agents will also be entitled to offer the Units for sale in the United States pursuant to available exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and in certain other jurisdictions outside of Canada and the United States provided it is understood that no prospectus filing or comparable obligation, ongoing reporting requirement or requisite regulatory or governmental approval arises in such other jurisdictions. The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or available exemptions from such registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to acquire securities in any jurisdiction. There is an offering document with respect to the portion of the Offering being conducted pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption that can be accessed under the Companys profile at www.sedarplus.ca and the Companys website at https://yukonmetals.com/. Purchasers of Units issued under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption will have the benefit of the offering document and the rights provided under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption. Prospective investors of Units issued under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption should read this offering document before making an investment decision. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for working capital and general corporate purposes. The Offering is expected to close on or about April 9, 2025, or on such other date as may be agreed to by the Company and the Co-Agents, subject to compliance with applicable securities laws (the Closing Date). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the closing of any Units issued pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption must occur no later than the 45th day following the date of this news release. The completion of the Offering is subject to customary conditions, including, but not limited to, the negotiation of an agency agreement between the parties with respect to the Offering and the receipt of all necessary approvals, inclusive of (if applicable) the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange. ABOUT YUKON METALS CORP. Yukon Metals is well financed and represents a property portfolio built on over 30 years of prospecting by the Berdahl family, the prospecting team behind Snowline Golds portfolio of primary gold assets. The Yukon Metals portfolio consists primarily of copper-gold and silver-lead-zinc assets, with a substantial gold and silver component. The Company is led by an experienced Board of Directors and Management Team across technical and finance disciplines. Yukon Metals is focused on fostering sustainable growth and prosperity within Yukons local communities, while simultaneously enhancing stakeholder value. Our strategy centers around inclusivity and shared prosperity, offering both community members and investors the chance to contribute to, and benefit from, our ventures. THE YUKON The Yukon ranks 10th most prospective for mineral potential across global jurisdictions according to the Fraser Institutes 2023 Survey of Mining Companies and is host to a highly experienced and conscientious local workforce, fostered by a long culture of exploration coupled with deep respect for the land. Recent major discoveries with local roots such as Snowline Golds Rogue Project Valley Discovery, demonstrate the Yukons potential to generate fresh district-scale mining opportunities. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF YUKON METALS CORP. Rory Quinn Rory Quinn President & CEO Email: roryquinn@yukonmetals.com Phone: 604-366-4408 For additional information, please contact: Kaeli Gattens Vice President, Investor Relations & Communications Yukon Metals Corp. Email: kaeligattens@yukonmetals.com Website: www.yukonmetals.com CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the closing of the Offering, the timing of the closing of the Offering, the use of proceeds from the Offering, the receipt of regulatory approvals and future results of operations, performance and achievements of the Company. Although the Company believes that such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are 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. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and risks, including, uncertainties with respect to obtaining all regulatory approvals to complete the Offering, uncertainties of the global economy, market fluctuations, the discretion of the Company in respect to the use of proceeds discussed above, any exercise of termination by counterparties under applicable agreements, the Company's inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities, to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, the Yukon having the potential to generate fresh district-scale mining opportunities and other risks identified in its disclosure documents filed at www.sedarplus.ca. This news release is not, and is not to be construed in any way as, an offer or recommendation to buy or sell securities in Canada or in the United States. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual events, results and/or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new events or circumstances, except in accordance with and as required by applicable securities laws. Press Release VELIZY-VILLACOUBLAY, France March 26, 2025 Publication of the English version of the 2024 Universal Registration Document Dassault Systemes (Euronext Paris: FR0014003TT8, DSY.PA) announces that the English version of its 2024 Universal Registration Document (constituting the Annual Financial Report) is now available on Dassault Systemes website at https://investor.3ds.com/ (sections Regulated information or Events & Publications/Reports). Hard copies of the 2024 Universal Registration Document in English are also available upon request at Dassault Systemes headquarters (10, rue Marcel Dassault, CS 40501 78946 Velizy-Villacoublay, France). ### ABOUT DASSAULT SYSTEMES Dassault Systemes is a catalyst for human progress. Since 1981, the company has pioneered virtual worlds to improve real life for consumers, patients and citizens. With Dassault Systemes 3DEXPERIENCE platform, 350 000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, can collaborate, imagine and create sustainable innovations that drive meaningful impact. For more information, visit www.3ds.com. Dassault Systemes Investor Relations Team FTI Consulting Beatrix Martinez : Arnaud de Cheffontaines: +33 1 47 03 69 48 +33 1 61 62 40 73 Jamie Ricketts : +44 20 3727 1600 investors@3ds.com Dassault Systemes Press Contacts Corporate / France Arnaud Malherbe: +33 1 61 62 87 73 arnaud.malherbe@3ds.com Dassault Systemes. All rights reserved. 3DEXPERIENCE, the 3DS logo, the Compass icon, IFWE, 3DEXCITE, 3DVIA, BIOVIA, CATIA, CENTRIC PLM, DELMIA, ENOVIA, GEOVIA, MEDIDATA, NETVIBES, OUTSCALE, SIMULIA and SOLIDWORKS are commercial trademarks or registered trademarks of Dassault Systemes, a European company (Societas Europaea) incorporated under French law, and registered with the Versailles trade and companies registry under number 322 306 440, or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are owned by their respective owners. Use of any Dassault Systemes or its subsidiaries trademarks is subject to their express written approval. Attachment Walker Lane Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: WLR, "Walker Lane") announces that it has optioned three properties (i.e., Tule Canyon, Cambridge and Silver Mountain - see location map Figure 1) located in the Walker Lane of western Nevada and a right-of-first refusal on the Shamrock Property in eastern Nevada from Silver Range Resources Ltd. ("Silver Range") (TSX-V:SNG). The original property agreements were signed with the CMC Metals Ltd. now operating as Walker Lane Resources Ltd. and trading under the symbol "WLR" on the TSX Venture Exchange. Walker Lane has established a solid position in the Walker Lane Gold Trend Area which has a rich history of mining and exploration and remains vastly underexposed to modern exploration methods, offering substantial upside potential. The Walker Lane area is host to notable precious metal deposits such as the Comstock Lode, Round Mountain (Kinross), Silicon and Merlin (AngloGold Ashanti), Mesquite and Castle (Equinox Gold) and many other significant deposits. This popular and emerging district offers junior exploration companies exploration targets at manageable costs. These targets are also attractive in that they are associated with high-grade gold, silver and base metal mineralization, have nearby excellent infrastructure, considerable road accessibility, a local, qualified and competent labor force, a diverse range of supply companies, and are located within one of the best permitting and policy regimes in the world. The 2023 Fraser Institute Mining Industry Survey ranked Nevada second in the world in terms of investment attractiveness index. Kevin Brewer, President and CEO of Walker Lane noted: "This package of properties in Nevada, provides us with excellent exposure to the emerging Walker Lane area. In particular, Tule Canyon provides us with a second drill ready property in our diverse property portfolio. We intend to commence drilling at Tule Canyon in Q3-Q4, 2025. Cambridge and Silver Mountain also have considerable exploration prospectivity. All of these properties hold the potential to generate advanced stage exploration projects in the near term. These acquisitions also serve to fulfill a long-standing objective of our Board - - to acquire properties that enable us to conduct exploration activities year-round which will result in a vastly improved flow of exploration activity and results. We are very pleased to be working closely with Mr. Mike Power of Paladin Geosciences Corp. (and who is also the President and CEO of Silver Range) who has a considerable understanding of the geology and mineralization styles in Nevada and will be actively involved in our project undertakings." Tule Canyon Property The Tule Canyon Property lies 95 km south of Tonopah and 80 km northwest of Beatty in Esmeralda County, near the Nevada-California border. Tule Canyon has: Four defined drill targets mapped beneath high grade gold and silver showings; A 5 kilometer-long structural corridor of mesothermal high grade gold and silver mineralization associated on a boundary of an aeromagnetic anomaly with an inflection that may reflect deeper basement mineralization controls; Two former mines (Dark Secret and Eastside) and numerous old workings; Widespread gold and silver mineralization hosted in numerous quartz veins with mesothermal textures. Precious metals are associated with hematite, pyrite, yellow plumbo-jarosite or similar lead oxides, rare galena and copper oxides; Surface grab samples have produced up to 31.8 g/t gold and 4,320 g/t silver and chip samples from hand dug trenches of 40 meters @ 0.469 g/t gold including 20 meters @ 0.695 g/t gold; The western end of the aeromagnetic trend covers the Ingall's Vein and the China Doll zone which are silver-dominant showings with mineralization returning up to 4,320 g/t Ag and up to 31.8 g/t Au (see figures 2 and 3); and, The eastern end of the trend is gold-dominant (see figures 2 and 3) with assays up to 37.3 g/t Au at surface and 27.6 g/t Au underground. Despite the past history of mining and high-grade surface mineralization on the property, there is little evidence of modern exploration activity and no known drilling. Silver Range and WLR have executed a Letter of Intent ("LOI") granting WLR the option to acquire 100% of the Tule Canyon Property ("Tule Canyon"). WLR has a first option to acquire 80% of Tule Canyon by paying Silver Range an aggregate $480,000 over four years (all amounts in United States currency) and completing 1,500 meters of diamond drilling by March 8, 2028. A second option to acquire the remaining 20% of Tule Canyon may be exercised by WLR identifying a National Instrument 43-101 compliant measured or indicated resource at Tule Canyon (the "Tule Resource") by the end of 2033. A milestone payment of $10 per ounce of gold (or the equivalent value in other commodities) as contained in the Tule Resource will be due to Silver Range within six months of the identification of the Tule Resource. Approximately 50% of all cash payment under both option stages may be made in WLR shares. Lastly, following the acquisition of a 100% interest in Tule Canyon by WLR, Silver Range will retain a 2.5% net smelter return ("NSR") in the property, which may be reduced to 1.0% by the payment of $500,000 per each 0.5% prior to the commencement of commercial production at Tule Canyon. Cambridge Property The Cambridge Project is located 33 km south of Yerington in Lyon County, NV and is road accessible. Cambridge comprises of: High-grade gold, shear-hosted mesothermal veins hosted in north-trending, steeply-dipping faults or shears up to 1,500 meters in strike length that cut a Cretaceous quartz monzonite; The veins contain coarse grained, ribbon banded white quartz together with visible gold, pyrite, galena, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, lesser tetrahedrite and amorphous black sulphides in disseminations and clots; Three known gold zones - the Cambridge Mine, Price Lode and North Trends - which have an aggregate strike length of approximately 2.7 kilometers; Initial geochemical surveys have resulted in 29% of 68 grab rock samples grading in excess of 5 g/t gold with highest assay of 93.8 g/t gold (see Figure 4), trench results up to 3.2 m @ 14.65 g/t gold, and silver from trace to 274 g/t Ag is associated with the gold mineralization; Strong gold-in-soil anomalies that are coincident with the mineralization (see Figure 5); The former producing Cambridge Mine is noted for its visible gold, that has also been recently recovered from waste dumps. Mineralization in the historic workings at the Cambridge Mine has been traced to a depth 137 meters (450 feet); and, Numerous other historic workings throughout the property. It is expected that with a minimal amount of modern exploration work this project can be elevated to drill-ready stage in 2025. Silver Range, Auburn Gold Mining LLC ("Auburn") and WLR have executed a LOI granting CMC the option to acquire 100% of the Cambridge Property ("Cambridge"). WLR has a first option to acquire 75% of Cambridge for total consideration of $460,000 over four years, incurring $1,500,000 in exploration expenditures and completing 1,500 meters of diamond drilling on the property. A second option to acquire the remaining 25% of the property can be exercised by WLR making an additional aggregate $75,000 to Silver Range and Auburn and by identifying a National Instrument 43-101 compliant measured or indicated resource at Cambridge (the "Cambridge Resource") by the end of 2033. Up to 48% of all cash payments under both option stages may be paid in WLR shares. Following the exercise of the second option, a milestone payment of $10 per ounce of gold (or the equivalent value in other commodities) as contained in the Cambridge Resource will be due to Silver Range and Auburn within six months of the identification of the Cambridge Resources. In addition, Silver Range and Auburn will retain a combined 2.5% NSR on Cambridge, which may be reduced to 1.0% by the payment of $500,000 per each 0.5% prior to the commencement of commercial production at Cambridge. Silver Mountain Property The Silver Mountain Property is located in Esmeralda County, approximately 57 kilometers south of Goldfield, near the Nevada-California border. Silver Mountain Deep epithermal to mesothermal-type oxidized quartz veins with high-grade silver mineralization; and Two showings including (i) Hidden Gulch with potential for high-grade narrow vein mining; and, (ii) Old Cabin which is a potential bulk-tonnage silver target (see Photos a-c); At Hidden Gulch, underground chip sampling has returned up to 0.6 meters @ 1,415 g/t silver and 0.48% copper from a sample across the face of a drift in the Silver Bowl Mine, the most significant workings along the principal structure. On surface, chip sampling returned up to 0.4 meters @ 1,245 g/t Ag from a vein exposed in a pit near the southern end of the principal structure. High-grade silver mineralization occurs in a steeply west-dipping normal fault within a structural corridor identified to data as being up to 370 meters in length. West of this principal fault structure, at least one east-dipping antithetic fault parallels the main fault in the hanging wall of the Silver Bowl Mine. Sampling across one of these antithetic veins returned 0.65 meters @ 546 g/t silver Previously reported grab sampling along this structure also returned assays up to 3,270 g/t silver; and, The Old Cabin Showing is located a mile to the southwest of Hidden Gulch and hosts mineralization in an unusual sequence of numerous stacked, tabular extensional quartz veins, exposed over more than 30 meters up a ridge. Grab samples from this zone have returned assays up to 394 g/t silver. Silver Range and CMC have executed a LOI granting WLR the option to acquire 100% of the Silver Mountain Property ("Silver Mountain") for total consideration of $200,000, payable in installments of $5,000 per year until 2034 with a final payment of $150,000 by August 1, 2035. Up to half of the final payment may be made in WLR shares. In addition, WLR would be required to complete 1,000 meters of drilling during the term of the option. A milestone payment of $10 per ounce of gold (or the equivalent value in other commodities) will be due to Silver Range within six months of the identification of a National Instrument 43-101 compliant measured or indicated resource at Silver Mountain. In addition, Silver Range will retain a 2.5% NSR on the property, which may be reduced to 1.0% by payment of $500,000 per each 0.5% prior to the commencement of production at Silver Mountain. Shamrock Property The Shamrock property is located 45 kilometers east-southeast of Ely, in White Pine County, eastern Nevada in the Sacramento Mining District. The property comprises of: Gold-rich carbonate replacement deposit ("CRD") mineralization in discordant veins and breccias occur in an 800 meter (north-south) by 300 meter (east-west) area and are hosted in Cambrian aged limestone, quartzite and phyllite units; The Gilded Age Mine and the Woodman Mine where gold and silver mineralization wad discovered and produced in the mid to late 1800's. Combined production from the two mines was the 9 th largest in Nevada; largest in Nevada; Numerous vintage workings on the property including adits, shafts and stopes reaching surface where grab samples from dumps have assayed up to 233 g/t gold, 1,520 g/t silver and 4.04% copper. Silver Range and WLR have executed an agreement whereby WLR is granted a right of first refusal ("ROFR") to any future sale, option, or other disposition of all or a partial interest in the Shamrock Property at any time prior to October 1, 2025. If Silver Range receives an offer for the Shamrock property up to October 1, 2025, WLR will have 30 days from the offer date, by another party or person, to notify Silver Range in writing that it desires to accept the offer or otherwise terminate the ROFR. Summary Walker Lane Resources Ltd. has optioned three highly prospective gold and silver projects in the Walker Lane Area. Our company intends to aggressively pursue exploration of these properties in 2025 which is expected to include an initial drill program at Tule Canyon. Qualified Person Qualified Person Kevin Brewer, a registered professional geoscientist, is the Company's President and CEO, and Qualified Person (as defined by National Instrument 43-101). He has given his approval of the technical information pertaining reported herein. The Company is committed to meeting the highest standards of integrity, transparency and consistency in reporting technical content, including geological reporting, geophysical investigations, environmental and baseline studies, engineering studies, metallurgical testing, assaying and all other technical data. About Walker Lane Resources Ltd. Walker Lane Resources Ltd. is a growth-stage exploration company focused on the exploration of high-grade gold, silver and polymetallic deposits in the Walker Lane Gold Trend District in Nevada and the Rancheria Silver District in Yukon/B.C. and other property assets in Yukon and Newfoundland and Labrador. The Company intends to initiate an aggressive exploration program to advance the Tule Canyon (Walker Lane, Nevada) and Amy (Rancheria Silver, B.C.) projects through an aggressive drilling program to resource definition stage in the near future. On behalf of the Board: "Kevin Brewer" Kevin Brewer, President, CEO and Director Walker Lane Resources Ltd. For Further Information and Investor Inquiries: Kevin Brewer, P. Geo., MBA, B.Sc. (Hons), Dip. Mine Eng. President, CEO and Director Tel: (709) 327 8013 kbrewer80@hotmail.com Suite 1600-409 Granville St., Vancouver, BC, V6C 1T2 Cautionary and Forward Looking Statements This press release and related figures, contain certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements as defined in applicable securities laws (collectively referred to as forward-looking statements). These statements relate to future events or our future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "plans", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "should", "believe" "targeted", "can", "anticipates", "intends", "likely", "should", "could" or grammatical variations thereof and similar expressions is intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of this presentation. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning: our strategy and priorities including certain statements included in this presentation are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities laws, including statements regarding the Tule Canyon, Cambridge, Silver Mountain, and Shamrock Properties in Nevada (USA), and its properties including Silverknife and Amy properties in British Columbia, the Silver Hart, Blue Heaven and Logjam properties in Yukon and the Bridal Veil property in Newfoundland and Labrador all of which now comprise the mineral property assets of WLR. WLR has assumed other assets of CMC Metals Ltd. including common share holdings of North Bay Resources Inc. (OTC-US: NBRI) and all conditions and agreements pertaining to the sale of the Bishop mill gold processing facility and remain subject to the condition of the option of the Silverknife property with Coeur Mining Inc. (TSX:CDE). These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to the Company and assumptions the Company believes are reasonable. The Company has made various assumptions, including, among others, that: the historical information related to the Company's properties is reliable; the Company's operations are not disrupted or delayed by unusual geological or technical problems; the Company has the ability to explore the Company's properties; the Company will be able to raise any necessary additional capital on reasonable terms to execute its business plan; the Company's current corporate activities will proceed as expected; general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; and budgeted costs and expenditures are and will continue to be accurate. Actual results and developments may differ materially from results and developments discussed in the forward-looking statements as they are subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties, including: public health threats; fluctuations in metals prices, price of consumed commodities and currency markets; future profitability of mining operations; access to personnel; results of exploration and development activities, accuracy of technical information; risks related to ownership of properties; risks related to mining operations; risks related to mineral resource figures being estimates based on interpretations and assumptions which may result in less mineral production under actual conditions than is currently anticipated; the interpretation of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; changes in operating expenses; changes in general market and industry conditions; changes in legal or regulatory requirements; other risk factors set out in this presentation; and other risk factors set out in the Company's public disclosure documents. Although the Company has attempted to identify significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other risks that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Certain of these risks and uncertainties are beyond the Company's control. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurances that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences or benefits to, or effect on, the Company. The information contained in this presentation is derived from management of the Company and otherwise from publicly available information and does not purport to contain all of the information that an investor may desire to have in evaluating the Company. The information has not been independently verified, may prove to be imprecise, and is subject to material updating, revision and further amendment. While management is not aware of any misstatements regarding any industry data presented herein, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made or given by or on behalf of the Company as to the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information or opinions contained in this presentation and no responsibility or liability is accepted by any person for such information or opinions. The forward-looking statements and information in this presentation speak only as of the date of this presentation and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by applicable law. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, prospective investors should not read forward-looking information as guarantees of future performance or results and should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Nothing in this presentation is, or should be relied upon as, a promise or representation as to the future. To the extent any forward-looking statement in this presentation constitutes "future-oriented financial information" or "financial outlooks" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, such information is being provided to demonstrate the anticipated market penetration and the reader is cautioned that this information may not be appropriate for any other purpose and the reader should not place undue reliance on such future-oriented financial information and financial outlooks. Future-oriented financial information and financial outlooks, as with forward-looking statements generally, are, without limitation, based on the assumptions and subject to the risks set out above. The Company's actual financial position and results of operations may differ materially from management's current expectations and, as a result, the Company's revenue and expenses. The Company's financial projections were not prepared with a view toward compliance with published guidelines of International Financial Reporting Standards and have not been examined, reviewed or compiled by the Company's accountants or auditors. The Company's financial projections represent management's estimates as of the dates indicated thereon. Figure 1: Project Locations in Nevada Figure 2: Positive Gold Results in Preliminary Rock Sampling - Tule Canyon Figure 3: Positive Silver Results from Preliminary Rock Sampling - Tule Canyon Figure 4: Gold in Preliminary Rock Sampling - Cambridge Property. Figure 5: Gold in Preliminary Soil Sampling - Cambridge Property. Note: in both soil and rock sampling encouraging results are coincident in a majority of cases with historical workings and the former Cambridge Mine. Figure 6: Silver Mountain Property, Walker Lane Area Gulch showing with historic workings indicated by arrows. Stacked, planar veins in a working at the Old Cabin showing, indicated by orange lines. Extensional vein detail - Old Cabin Showing. Mineralized quartz grades > 100 g/t silver. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dc07d63a-49d6-4d5b-ad61-03c111d82b97 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/59bf1ec6-6f6a-45d5-9d4c-28b6588c734d https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c38ac1cf-b0bb-4ebb-939b-00faa63fc112 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a1c517e0-ae24-4985-8aa6-473b5cbeea89 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/72cd6f41-c8a2-4964-a701-f85fdbd19bc7 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d3a67ee5-d537-4e31-b891-b7ecc91553ba Edmonton, March 26, 2025 - Peruvian Metals Corp. (TSXV: PER) (OTCQB: DUVNF) ("Peruvian Metals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an agreement with Rio Silver Inc. (TSXV: RYO) to sell for shares and cash an 100% interest in the Maria Norte Au-Ag-Zn-Pb Project ("Maria Norte" or the "Property") located in South-Central Peru. The Property is considered a non-core asset for Peruvian Metals but is highly prospective considering its proximity to several producing assets in the region. This disposition will allow the Company to focus on its intent to move into the Peruvian gold space in Northern Peru while indirectly benefiting in the exploration and development of Maria Norte. The Maria Norte property is in the historic Huachocolpa Mining District in south-central Peru. The Property consists of 4 concessions totaling 384 hectares covering an area that hosts a 600 metre wide mineralized corridor containing several high-grade Au-Ag-Pb-Zn veins. More than 10 veins have been observed on surface with the main trend between E-W and WNW. The lengths of the veins as currently mapped and observed on surface are 40 to 400 metres with variable widths from 0.20 to 4 metres. The Huachocolpa Mining District is host to several producing and past-producing vein-hosted polymetallic, base metal (silver-zinc-lead-copper, plus or minus gold) mines. In the mid 1950's, Compania de Minas Buenaventura opened the Recuperada Mine and Mill ("Recuperada") located 14 kilometres SE of Maria Norte. A second plant called Concentrator de Minerales Huachocolpa SA ("COMIHUASA") located 8 kilometres SE of Maria Norte was constructed in 1960. This plant was established by state owned Banco Minero as a toll mill for all the small miners in the area. Production in the area ceased when Buenaventura closed its Recuperada operation in 2014. During 2015, interest in the Huachocolpa area was renewed and made polymetallic mining and milling the dominant formal economic activity in the district. The area has attracted two established companies that have purchased and made significant investments into the historic Recuperada and COMIHUASA mills. The combined capacity of the two mills is currently more than 2000 tonnes per day with planned expansions to over 3,000 tonnes per day. Transaction Terms Rio Silver will acquire from Peruvian Metals its wholly own Peruvian subsidiary which holds the Maria Norte concessions. Consideration includes a cash downpayment of $15,000 CDN and the issuance of 15 million Rio Silver common shares and 5 million warrants to Peruvian. The warrants will have a strike price of CAD $0.05 per share and an exercise period of 2 years. Cash payments totaling US$250,000 will also be payable over a 5-year period. A net smelter royalty 1.5% will be paid on sales of mineral concentrates. Jeffrey Reeder, CEO and Chairman of Peruvian Metals, commented: "We are very pleased to sell the Maria Norte Property to Rio Silver. Peruvian Metals will have a significant interest in Rio Silver and will indirectly benefit from any exploration or development success. This disposition is another example of the Company's ability to identify and acquire prospective mineral projects and then bring third party capital to develop the projects. More importantly, agreements such as this disposition of Maria Norte will further focus the Company's direction into the Peruvian gold space while gaining upside on its new shareholdings in Rio Silver." Qualified Person Jeffrey Reeder, P. Geo., is the Qualified Person, as defined in National Instrument 43-101, who has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this release. About Peruvian Metals Corp. Peruvian Metals Corp. is a Canadian exploration and mineral processing company. Our business model is to provide clients with toll milling services and produce high-grade marketable concentrates from mineral purchases. The Aguila Norte processing plant has an environmental permit ("IGAC") from the Peruvian government which provides the Company with the ability to expand operations past the current 100 tonnes per day level. The Company continues to acquire and develop precious and base metal properties in Peru. ON BEHALF OF PERUVIAN METALS CORP. (Signed) Jeffrey Reeder Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. We use words such as "might", "will", "should", "anticipate", "plan", "expect", "believe", "estimate", "forecast" and similar terminology to identify forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Such statements and information are based on assumptions, estimates, opinions, and analysis made by management in light of its experience, current conditions and its expectations of future developments as well as other factors which it believes to be reasonable and relevant. Forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements and information and accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on such statements and information. Risks and uncertainties are more fully described in our annual and quarterly Management's Discussion and Analysis and in other filings made by us with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available at www.sedar.com.While the Company believes that the expectations expressed by such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information and the assumptions, estimates, opinions, and analysis underlying such expectations are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be correct. In evaluating forward-looking statements and information, readers should carefully consider the various factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246117 Shear-zone hosted quartz veins with pyrite, chalcopyrite and anomalous gold intersected in four of six holes. The Cu-Au geochemical signature is consistent with an epizonal, intrusion-associated orogenic mineral system. VR Resources Ltd. (TSX.V: VRR, FSE: 5VR; OTCBB: VRRCF), the "Company", or "VR", is pleased to report results from its first winter drill program at the Silverback copper-gold project in Northwestern Ontario. Six holes were completed for a total of 1,342 meters. The drilling tested IP chargeability and DIGHEM conductivity anomalies along inferred structures, and associated with the large mafic-ultramafic body that spans the project area (Figure 1). The Central Zone DCIP anomaly and the six-channel EM anomaly at North Arm located 1,400 metres to the northeast were the focus of this first drill program. Key Results and Geological Observations There is anomalous gold up to 160 ppb in all zones of intense shearing intersected in each drill hole. Gold is associated with disseminated sulfides (pyrite, chalcopyrite) within NE-trending shear zones characterized by strong chlorite, clay, and sericite hydrothermal alteration (Photo 1A). Quartz veins containing pyrite-chalcopyrite and anomalous gold (Photo 1B) were intersected in: Holes 5 and 6 - Mineralization is on trend with the high-grade surface showing in the central CZ zone. Holes 7 and 8 - Mineralization is near a 1980's Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) 6-channel EM anomaly. Gold in veins and shear zones correlates with elevated copper and silver geochemistry, with a strong, epizonal, intrusion-related trace element signature of arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), bismuth (Bi), molybdenum' (Mo) and tungsten (W). Figure 1. Plan map of the recent 3D-array DCIP survey at Silverback, with locations for all drillholes completed to date, and occurrences of anomalous gold. The basemap shows a resistivity depth slice at -200m (purple: conductive, ice blue: resistive). Overlain are pink IP isoshells, and yellow outlines of DIGHEM conductors. Also shown are the magnetic outlines of the large, mafic-ultramafic dykes and intrusions with nickel mineralization which span the entire property. From VR's CEO Justin Daley: "These early-stage results are an important confirmation of the extent and style of mineralization at Silverback. The drill holes provide pierce points for new Cu-Au mineralization in an area of widespread glacial cover, and the geochemistry provides a clear epizonal, intrusion-related signature. First and foremost, the mineral system associated with shear-zone structures is extensive, with anomalous gold observed across more than 3 kilometres along a newly recognized northeast-trending structural corridor at Silverback. The drilling has also expanded the mapped extent of the prospective greenstone belt another 2km north in this glacially covered area and identified new large-scale structural splays from the Quetico Fault System into the Marmion Terrane. This is a meaningful step forward in understanding the regional controls on mineralization in this underexplored part of the belt. Secondly, the mineralization, alteration, and lithologies observed in all drillholes, together with As-Sb-Bi trace element geochemistry, indicate an epizonal, intrusion-associated gold system with a strong deformation overprint. Intrusion-related vectors such as copper, silver, molybdenum and tungsten provide further confirmation that at Silverback we are in a hybrid, orogenic-intrusion mineral system, consistent with known productive gold belts elsewhere in Ontario. The sheer number of targets emerging from this early-stage drilling is encouraging. We've only just started to test this new regional structural corridor at Silverback, and already the results point to a large-scale system with several untested targets remaining, including the heart of the six-channel EM anomaly at North Arm, and West Dyke located nearly 3 km to the southwest where gold in drill core is strongest. As we continue to work through the structural and geochemical data collected, we look forward to providing further updates as we prioritize targets and refine our exploration plans through the spring." Geological Context and Structural Interpretation The large IP chargeability anomalies at the Central Zone reflect widespread, disseminated pyrite and are interpreted as alteration halos surrounding the controlling structures at Silverback. These shear zones have acted as conduits for hydrothermal fluids, which have remobilized sulfur from the large mafic-ultramafic intrusion, and base and precious metals from the porphyritic intrusives observed across the project. Regional mapping by the OGS indicates that tonalite of the Marmion batholith underlies the Silverback project area, however, lithologic units observed in this drilling shows that the Lac des Mille Lacs greenstone belt extends for at least another 2km north from the current contact at the south end of the property. This is significant because greenstone belts, with their higher iron content for precipitation of sulfide and susceptibility to ductile deformation, are typically better hosts for orogenic systems compared with the granitic rocks of the Marmion batholith. The presence of anomalous gold and sulfide-rich veins within these structural zones is consistent with a shear-zone-hosted epizonal intrusion-associated system fingerprinted by Mo and W. This setting reflects a near-surface orogenic gold system where mineralization has been focused along NE-trending structures and focused at fold-nose traps formed by deformation linked to the larger-scale east-west Quetico Fault to the south. This structural environment is characteristic of Marmion and Quetico gold systems, where mineralization is found both within greenstone belt and granitic host rocks. In both cases, the use of trace element vectors in both core and till samples, as well as structural mapping will be utilized to successfully identify high-grade structural traps. Next Steps Detailed structural analysis - Structural measurements from drill core and outcrops will be integrated to identify potential high-grade zones associated with fold noses, flexures, and jogs along shear zones. Geochemical surveys - Where suitable till is present, plans will be made for grid sampling across prospective structural zones to identify gold, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, and tungsten anomalies in order to define detailed targets. Photo 1. Drill core examples from Holes 7 and 8, showing two styles of mineralization with anomalous gold at the 6-channel EM anomaly from a 1980's OGS survey that is coincident with a DIGHEM conductivity anomaly from VR's 2023 survey. The upper photo shows widespread chlorite-sericite-carbonate alteration with finely disseminated sulfides and quartz-carbonate veining related to intense shearing in feldspar porphyry and mafic volcanic rocks of the Lac des Mille Lacs greenstone belt. The lower photo shows a pyrite-chalcopyrite quartz vein breccia with chlorite-sericite selvages. Technical Information Surface grab samples and drill core samples were submitted for geochemical analysis to the AGAT laboratory in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Drill core was logged, cut and sampled at the Holbik Exploration warehouse in Upsala, Ontario, with sample preparation completed by AGAT in Thunder Bay, alongside gold and PGE determination by atomic absorption assay. ICP-MS analyses for base metals, whole rock, and trace elements is performed at AGAT's laboratory in Calgary, AB. Analytical results are subject to industry-standard and NI 43-101 compliant QAQC sample procedures, including the systematic insertion of sample duplicates, blanks and certified reference material (CRM) done both externally and internally at the laboratory by AGAT, as described by AGAT. Technical information for this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101. The content of this news release has been reviewed on behalf of the Company by Justin Daley, MSc, PGeo, President & CEO at VR, and a non-independent Qualified Person who oversees and/or participates in all aspects of the Company's mineral exploration projects. About the Silverback Project The project consists of 86 mineral claims in one contiguous block covering 4,760 hectares. The project is located on Federal Crown Land, with mineral rights administered by the Ontario Ministry of Mines. There is a 2% net smelter royalty on the claims. There are no annual payments, but the Ministry requires certain annual exploration expenditures and reporting (i.e. mineral assessment reports) in order to maintain a mineral claim in good standing. The Project fall within the Lac de Mille Lac First Nation traditional territories. About VR Resources Ltd. VR is an established junior exploration company based in Vancouver (TSX.V: VRR; Frankfurt: 5VR; OTCQB: VRRCF). VR evaluates, explores and advances opportunities in copper, gold and critical metals in Nevada, USA, and Ontario, Canada. VR applies modern exploration technologies, in-house experience, and expertise in greenfields exploration to large-footprint systems in underexplored areas/districts. The foundation of VR is the proven track record of its Board in early-stage exploration, discovery and M&A. The Company is financed for its mineral exploration and corporate obligations. VR owns its projects outright and evaluates new opportunities on an ongoing basis, whether by staking or acquisition. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: "Justin Daley" Justin Daley, MSc, P.Geo President & CEO For general information please use the following: Website: www.vrr.ca Email: info@vrr.ca Phone: 778-731-9292 Forward Looking Statements This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements". Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this document include statements concerning VR's expectations that it will complete a till sampling surveys or structural interpretaions, and all other statements that are not statements of historical fact. Although the Company believes the forward-looking information contained in this news release is reasonable based on information available on the date hereof, by their nature, forward-looking statements involve assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Examples of such assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, assumptions, risks and uncertainties associated with: general economic conditions; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments in the mining sector; the Company's ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; mining industry and markets in Canada; the ability of the Company to implement its business strategies; competition; and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While the company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. This news release may also contain statements and/or information with respect to mineral properties and/or deposits which are adjacent to and/or potentially similar to the Company's mineral properties, but which the Company has no interest in nor rights to explore. Readers are cautioned that mineral deposits on similar properties are not necessarily indicative of mineral deposits on the Company's properties. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. All of the Company's public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedarplus.ca and readers are urged to review them. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f07b6c1f-178e-4e61-9375-d6632fc5b99e https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2f2e68af-f8a5-4578-b72f-40c4ed78ed92 Today the Company published the following reports for the financial year ended 31 December 2024: 2024 UK Annual Report (including its audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the financial year ended 31 December 2024); Sustainability Report 2024; and Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Report 2024. These reports communicate relevant aspects of the Company's operating, sustainability and financial performance in 2024 (from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024) and are available online on the Company's website at www.anglogoldashanti.com and also on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The Company's shareholders may request electronic copies of these reports and also have the ability to receive, upon request, a hard copy of AngloGold Ashanti's complete audited financial statements, free of charge, from the Company Secretarial Department by emailing CompanySecretary@anglogoldashanti.com. The Company's 2025 Annual General Meeting (the "2025 AGM") is scheduled to be held on Tuesday 27 May 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time (which is 4:00 p.m. British Summer Time and 5:00 p.m. South African Standard Time) at 6363 S. Fiddlers Green Circle, Suite 1000, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, USA. The record date is set as Friday 4 April 2025 for the purposes of determining eligibility to receive the notice of meeting and to vote at the 2025 AGM. Posting of the notice of meeting will commence on Monday 7 April 2025 and copies of the 2024 UK Annual Report will be sent to shareholders who have elected to receive a hard copy. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250326005425/en/ Contact Media Andrea Maxey: +61 08 9425 4603 / +61 400 072 199 amaxey@anglogoldashanti.com General inquiries media@anglogoldashanti.com Investors Yatish Chowthee: +27 11 637 6273 / +27 78 364 2080 yrchowthee@aga.gold Andrea Maxey: +61 08 9425 4603 / +61 400 072 199 amaxey@anglogoldashanti.com Westward Gold Inc. (CSE: WG, OTCQB: WGLIF, FSE: IM50) ("Westward" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that due to demand, it is upsizing its previously-announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") (see press release dated March 19, 2025) and now intends to issue up to 45,000,000 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of C$0.08 per Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of up to C$3,600,000. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share of the Company at a price of C$0.12 for a period of 24 months following the closing date of the Offering. Incoming strategic investor Crescat Capital LLC ("Crescat") will be subscribing for 12,500,000 Units for gross proceeds of $1,000,000, with an option to increase their participation to a maximum of 18,750,000 Units for gross proceeds of $1,500,000. Crescat will be subscribing through Crescat Portfolio Management LLC on behalf of its five (5) Pooled Investment Funds. The net proceeds from the Offering will be used primarily for (i) drilling at Westward's flagship Toiyabe Hills Property in Nevada, where a 5,000-meter program across up to 10 holes is planned to test the Company's Campfire Target Complex (see press release dated February 27, 2025, for additional information), and (ii) general working capital purposes. Closing of the Offering is subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including from the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"). The Common Shares and Warrants issued in relation to the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day, in accordance with applicable securities laws. Certain finder's fees may also be payable to qualifying parties in accordance with the policies of the CSE. The Offering will not result in the creation of a new Control Person of the Company (as such term is defined in the policies of the CSE), as the Warrants are not exercisable if such exercise would result in the holder, together with any person or company acting jointly or in concert with the holder, owning, or exercising control or discretion, over 20% or greater of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company. Certain insiders of the Company intend to acquire Units in the Offering. The participation by such insiders in the Offering will constitute a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Such participation is expected to be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101, based on the fact that neither the anticipated fair market value of the Units subscribed for by the insiders, nor the consideration for the Units to be paid by such insiders, will exceed 25% of the Company's current market capitalization. The securities being offered have not, nor will they be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons in the absence of U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About Westward Gold Westward Gold is a mineral exploration company focused on developing the consolidated Toiyabe Hills Project located in the Cortez Hills area of Lander County, Nevada, and the Coyote and Rossi Projects located along the Carlin Trend in Elko County, Nevada. From time to time, the Company may also evaluate the acquisition of other mineral exploration assets and opportunities. For further information contact: Andrew Nelson Chief Financial Officer Westward Gold Inc. +1 (604) 828-7027 andrew@westwardgold.com www.westwardgold.com The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This news release contains or incorporates by reference "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes, or developments that the Company expects to occur are, or may be deemed, to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally, but not always, identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expect", "believe", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "potential", "on track", "forecast", "budget", "target", "outlook", "continue", "plan" or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved or the negative connotation of such terms. Such statements include, but may not be limited to, information as to strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance, such as the Company's expansion plans, project timelines, expected drilling targets, and other statements that express management's expectations or estimates of future plans and performance. Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information, including, without limitation, the need for additional capital by the Company through financings, and the risk that such funds may not be raised; the speculative nature of exploration and the stages of the Company's properties; the effect of changes in commodity prices; regulatory risks that development of the Company's material properties will not be acceptable for social, environmental or other reasons, availability of equipment (including drills) and personnel to carry out work programs, that each stage of work will be completed within expected time frames, that current geological models and interpretations prove correct, the results of ongoing work programs may lead to a change of exploration priorities, and the efforts and abilities of the senior management team. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements or information. These and other factors may cause the Company to change its exploration and work programs, not proceed with work programs, or change the timing or order of planned work programs. Additional risk factors and details with respect to risk factors that may affect the Company's ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are set out in the Company's latest management discussion and analysis under "Risks and Uncertainties", which is available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company's forward-looking statements and information are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations, and opinions of management as of the date of this press release, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements and information if circumstances or management's assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements or information. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION, DISTRIBUTION, RELEASE, OR PUBLICATION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES Autoren Amann, Frank Aschoff, Heiko Baader, Roland Balzer, Horst Dr. Bandulet, Bruno Dr. Barbera, Frank Barisheff, Nick Baudzus, Roman Bauernfeind, Reinhard Dr. Bergold, Uwe Dr. Bernecker, Hans A. Blaschzok, Markus Bock, Robert Dipl.-Kfm. Bocker, Hans J. Prof. Dr. Boehringer, Peter Bogner, Stephan Bonner, Bill Borg, Gregor Prof. Dr. Bozicevic, Falko Brkan, Tiho Brockmann, Claus Browne, John Buchenberg, Wal Buchwalder, Rene Buntrock, Christian Butler, Theodore Buttner, Jurgen Barligea, Ralph Chapman, David Christenson, Gary E. Clark, Jeff DAF Daughty, Richard Dennin, Torsten Dr. Deutsch, Reinhard dottore Droke, Clif DZ Bank AG Eibl, Christoph Eichelburg, Walter K. Eliseo, Jordan Elitebrief Engdahl, F. William Faber, Marc Dr. Feiten, Marco Fekete, Antal E. Prof. Fietkau, Claus-Peter Fischer, Andre Fischer, Martina Flierl, Ralf Foellbach, Paul Dr. rer. nat. Friedrich, Marc Fritsch, Rudy J. Fugger, Horst Furst, Christian Gan, Heiko Gasteiner, Michael Gburek, Manfred Gehrt, Ronald Geyer, Christoph Gilburt, Avi Gleason, Mike Gleason, Stefan Goldberg, Martin GoldMoney Graf, Hans-Wolff Grandt, Michael Dr. h.c. Grass, Claudio Greyerz, Egon von Grummes, Florian Haase, Daniel Hahn, Alexander Hamer, Eberhard Prof. Dr. Hamer, Eike Dr. Hamilton, Adam Hansen, Ole Hartmann, Robert Hedrich, Werner Heibel, Stephan Heidkamp, Bjorn Hell, Sebastian Hellmeyer, Folker Hellwig, Sonia Hemke, Craig Hera, Ron Heuschuch, Oliver Hewitt, Mike Hirsekorn, Alexander Hirt, Walter Hochreiter, Gregor Mag. Hoffman, Andrew Holmes, Frank Hommel, Jason Hook, Captain Hoose, Andreas Hopf, Philip Hurtz, Armin Huster, Hannes Hufner, Martin W. Dr. Hommel, Jason Jubelt, Christian Kagels, Karsten Kamber, Kurt W. Kestermann, Oliver Kilbach, Michael King, Eric Klude, Carsten Klumpp, Frank Kneist Jan Jan, Jan Koning, John Paul Kosares, Michael J. Kuner, Jurgen Kammerer, Christian Kolz, Wilfried Lange, Friedrich A. LBBW Lechner, Christian Leuschel, Roland Lewis, Jeffrey Dr. Lips, Ferdinand Lorch, Matthias Lorenz, Michael Dr. habil. Lundeen, Mark J. Maa, Rudiger Mack & Weise Mahnert, Jorg Malisch, Ralph Manly, Ronan Martenson, Chris Dr. Martin, Paul C. Dr. Mauldin, John Maund, Clive May, Thomas Mayer, Walter Mayr, Richard Meier, Rainer Merk, Axel Meyer, Frank Mezger, Markus Minenportal.de Mittermaier, Christoph Dr. Morgan, David Mross, Michael Muratovic, Tea Muchler, Frank Mullenmeister, Hans Jorg Muller, Johannes Muller, Jurgen Dr. Mohrer, Christian Nef, Rolf Nieuwenhuijs, Jan Nitzsche, Marc Norcini, Dan Nowacki, Jurgen RohstoffRaketen Otte, Max Prof. Dr. OByrne, Mark Paulick, Steffen Pento, Michael Petch, David Pfauntsch, Uli Piepenburg, Matt Polleit, Thorsten Prof. Dr. Proettel, Thorsten Puplava, Jim Porschmann, Thorsten Rabe, Jens Radomski, Przemyslaw Rakhimov, Sean Redaktion Rethfeld, Robert Rettinger, Detlef Dr. Reymann, David Richardt, Florian Richebacher, Kurt Dr. Rickards, James Riemenschneider, Volkmar Dr. Rohstoff-Spiegel Rohstoff-Welt.de Roos, Hubert Roy-Byrne, Jordan Russell, Richard Saiger, Johann A. Salomon, Stefan Savage, Gary Saville, Steve Schall, Lars Schallenberger, Frank Dr. Schiff, Peter Schilbe, Stefan Schiml, Markus H. Schmidt, Mirko Schroder, Robert Schulz, Hans-Dieter Dr. Schafer, Henning P. Senf, Bernd Shedlock, Michael Shepherd, Ceri Siebholz, Dietmar Dr. Siegel, Martin Silberman, Greg Singer, Klaus Smart Investor Smeding, Nadine Smith, David Sobolev, Boris Speck, Dimitri Sprott, Eric St. Angelo, Steve Stahl, Markus Dr. Stanzl, Jochen Steffens, Jochen Steininger, Marius Stemper, Ralph W. Storfner, Sebastian Strehk, Marko Streitmayer, Sven Stoferle, Ronald Peter Mag. Suchecki, Bron Summa, Benjamin Taggart, Adam Taylor, Jay The Gold Report Theuerzeit, Thomas Tiggre, Lobo Todd Stein & Steven McIntyre Torney, Marcel Tschol, Egon Turk, James Ullmann, Werner Vartian, Christian Mag. Vermeulen, Chris Vertrauliche Mitteilungen Vitye, Robert Vogel, Gabor Vogt, Claus von Belang, Nicht Vorndran, Philipp Vronsky, I.M. Waldenberger, Karl-Heinz Warmbein, Uwe Watson, Roland Weber, Wolfgang Weinberg, Eugen Weiner, Keith Dr. West, James Weygand, Harald Williams, Kelsey Williams, Lawrence Willie CB, Jim Wolff, Ernst Wolter, Manfred Wright, Scott Wrzesniok-Robach, Wolfgang Zihlmann, Peter Zimmel, Manfred Zipfel, Hannes Its traditional for state legislators to reach for Congress or statewide office as their next rung up the ladder. But now some of them are deciding they can accomplish more in local office. This year, sitting state legislators are running for mayor in Dallas, Indianapolis and Nashville, among other cities.Being mayor of a big city always holds a certain appeal. Generally, the mayor takes home a good salary, unlike most part-time state legislators. And, after years crafting budgets and policy at the state capitol, its a nice change to execute and manage programs, says Jane Campbell, a former Ohio legislator who later served as mayor of Cleveland. After a period of time saying this is what they should do, youre ready to carry things out, she says.These days, running for mayor may hold an added appeal that federal office doesnt, suggests Michael Berkman, a Penn State political scientist. Polarization and gridlock in Congress are increasingly frustrating the ambitions of individual lawmakers who want to chart a productive policy course. Most cities, by contrast, are healthier economically than they were a generation ago, and theyve proven to be a hotbed for policy innovations in recent years, particularly among progressives. Theres a pull toward cities right now because you can do things in a way that you couldnt before, Berkman says, while theres a push away from Congress, in that its not very interesting or fun.Most big cities are under Democratic control now, which is one reason they appeal to Democrats who find themselves trapped in seemingly unending minority status in red state legislatures. One example is Eric Johnson, a Texas state representative who is leaving that job to run for mayor of Dallas. Its unlikely that his party is going to get back in the majority in the Texas House anytime soon, says Rice University political scientist Mark P. Jones. As mayor, he would have a very nice platform from which to propose initiatives and impact public policy.Not all legislators eyeing city hall are seeking to escape minority status. Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh was majority leader of the Maryland Senate when she ran for her current post. (Pugh is embroiled in controversy regarding interest groups spending thousands of dollars on her self-published book. She has taken a leave of absence, citing pneumonia, but intends to return as mayor.) Jim Merritt hasnt served in the minority during his entire 28-year career in the Indiana Senate -- hes now part of a 40-10 GOP majority -- but hes giving up his power and seniority to run for mayor of Indianapolis.Merritt recognizes he faces an uphill climb in his race against Joe Hogsett, a well-funded incumbent in an increasingly Democratic city, but he says he feels something of a duty to try. The city has broken its record for homicides four years in a row. I grew up in Indianapolis, he says. Thats not the city I grew up in.The idea of becoming mayor of your own hometown has a pull even for politicians who already hold positions that on paper, at least, appear more powerful. Paul Brodeur chairs the Joint Labor Committee in the Massachusetts House, but hes preparing a run for mayor of Melrose, a city outside Boston with a population of just 27,000. Brodeur, who says he didnt necessarily have a huge ambition to make a career in politics, has nonetheless done just that. He started out on the Melrose Board of Aldermen before winning a seat in the legislature in 2010. Now, hes ready to come back to city hall. Echoing Berkmans observation, Brodeur says hes found his visits to Washington stultifying, with the partisanship getting a little unproductive. Losing F1 career cost Mazepin several million Nikita Mazepin claims the way his Formula 1 career abruptly ended ultimately cost him "several million dollars". Nikita Mazepin, Qatar GP 2021 Haas The Russian, backed by his father's company Uralkali, was sacked by Haas at the outset of the Ukraine war - and even prevented from racing elsewhere due to being specifically named in European Union sanctions. Mazepin, 26, subsequently challenged the sanctions - and ultimately succeeded. According to European constitutional law, you can't just sanction a person, he told sports.ru. The wording said that I was connected to my father's business activities. And Dmitry Mazepin, his father, has been closely linked with Vladimir Putin. My father is a successful entrepreneur who started a business from scratch - a major taxpayer in Russia, Nikita insisted. "The (Russian) state, in their (Europe's) opinion, uses tax revenues to finance actions punishable by the European Union. But in two and a half years we have explained that there is me on one hand and my father on the other. We are different individuals, with nothing in common in business. And the existence of family ties does not allow the European courts to impose sanctions on me. That's why they were lifted. Mazepin admits his chances of ever returning to F1 are very slim. So how much has the entire saga cost him, financially? I lost a long-term contract with Haas, he explained. "It contained quite a few sums that would have multiplied every year. I think it would have been several million dollars. Also, I had certain European property that I lost when the assets were frozen and I did not get it back after they were unfrozen. It has been reported that one of Mazepin's lost properties was a villa in Italy. (GMM) Next article: PLAYBACK: Dr Edward Nartey Botchway: Absa MD shares insights on climbing the corporate ladder at PCH Hangouts Dr. Edward Nartey Botchway: Absa Bank Ghana MD shares 8 tips for climbing the corporate ladder Kweku Zurek Business News Mar - 26 - 2025 , 20:44 The Managing Director of Absa Bank Ghana, Dr. Edward Nartey Botchway, has shared invaluable career advancement insights, offering eight essential tips for climbing the corporate ladder. Speaking at the 2025 edition of PCH Hangouts, held on March 26, 2025, at ICGC The New Wine Temple, East Legon, Dr. Botchway emphasized the importance of strategic planning, skill-building, and personal branding in achieving professional success. The event, themed "Climbing the Corporate Ladder: Understanding The Seven Mountains," brought together professionals seeking mentorship and networking opportunities. Dr. Botchway, an accomplished banker with over 20 years of experience in finance, strategy, and leadership, reflected on his career journey, sharing lessons that have shaped his rise to the top. 1. Excel in your current role, but prepare for the next Dr. Botchway stressed the need to balance proficiency in ones current role with preparation for future opportunities. "You must be good at your current role, but it is important also to build the skills required for your dream role," he advised. According to him, demonstrating competence in the present is not enough; professionals must actively develop skills needed for higher responsibilities. 2. Take charge of your career plan The Absa MD cautioned against leaving career progression in the hands of HR managers or supervisors. "Have a plan for yourself. Don't rely on HR to have a plan for you," he stated. He recounted how he transitioned from credit to finance by proactively seeking out responsibilities beyond his designated role. 3. Break stereotypes and challenge labels Dr. Botchway urged professionals to avoid being boxed into specific roles based on their backgrounds. "Do not allow anybody to determine what you can do and what you cannot do," he emphasized. Despite being labeled a "numbers guy," he successfully transitioned from finance to managing a business, proving that adaptability and competence can defy stereotypes. 4. Build meaningful relationships Networking and mentorship were highlighted as crucial elements for career growth. "Having a mentor is extremely important, but don't limit it to just one person," Dr. Botchway advised. He encouraged professionals to build a broad network that includes mentors, peers, and subordinates, as key opportunities often arise from within one's professional circle. 5. Develop a strong personal brand The MD stressed the importance of consistency and credibility in personal branding. "Deliberate about it, consistencya little here, a little theregoing at it again and again to the point where when your name is mentioned, people know what it stands for," he said. 6. Be strategic in career moves Career progression, according to Dr. Botchway, should be guided by long-term goals rather than short-term incentives like salary increments. "Building a career is not like using Google Maps, where you can easily recalculate after a wrong turn. Sometimes, a bad career move can set you back for years," he warned. He encouraged professionals to assess job transitions beyond immediate financial benefits, considering how each move contributes to their ultimate career vision. 7. Have faith Dr. Botchway emphasized the role of faith in career success. While hard work, strategy, and networking are critical, he noted that belief in oneself and divine guidance can provide an added edge in career progression. 8. Just do it! Encouraging a proactive attitude, Dr. Botchway urged professionals to step out of their comfort zones. "Sometimes, we overthink and hesitate too much. If you believe in it, just do it," he concluded. Inspiring journey Dr. Botchways rise to becoming the MD of Absa Bank Ghana in July 2024 is a testament to his principles. With a Doctorate in Business Administration from the Swiss Business School and membership in ACCA (UK) and ICA Ghana, his career has spanned roles at Ecobank, GCB Bank PLC, and Citi Savings and Loans. His insights resonated with attendees, many of whom left the event motivated to take charge of their professional growth. The session, which was livestreamed on GraphicOnline platforms, reinforced the significance of self-driven career development and strategic decision-making in todays corporate world. Watch his presentation below; AMECO students endure harsh cold as college lacks auditorium - Principal renews appeal for infrastructure support Alberto Mario Noretti Education Mar - 26 - 2025 , 14:33 3 minutes read Students of the E.P. College of Education, Amedzofe (AMECO) in the Ho West District of the Volta Region continue to endure harsh weather conditions during formal functions, as the college lacks an auditorium. Amedzofe, Ghanas highest human settlement, is known for its extremely cold climate, with temperatures sometimes dropping as low as 10 degrees Celsius. However, due to the absence of an auditorium, students are compelled to attend formal gatherings in the open, exposing them to the biting cold. The colleges 200-capacity assembly hall, constructed decades ago, is now inadequate for its current enrolment of 1,054 students. At the colleges 18th matriculation ceremony last Friday, the Principal, Dr Dickson Tsey, renewed his appeal to the government and well-meaning stakeholders to support the construction of a modern auditorium for the institution. He emphasised that the lack of an auditorium negatively impacts learning quality and affects the general wellbeing of students and staff. Essential activities such as worship, cultural events, and some academic engagements are conducted in the open, leaving students and staff at the mercy of the harsh weather. Dr Tsey also lamented the stalled construction of a four-storey GETFund female hostel project, which remains at the foundation level with no contractor showing interest in its completion. He called on well-meaning individuals and government representatives to support its completion. He further highlighted the poor road network leading to the college, which he described as a major challenge for accessibility. He noted that the deteriorating condition of the roads has placed an additional burden on management, making it difficult for staff and students to reach the campus with ease. Additionally, he underscored the urgent need for more male hostels, staff accommodation, and additional office spaces to create an environment conducive to excellence. This year, the college admitted 315 students, comprising 143 for B.Ed JHS Education, including 64 females, 128 for B.Ed Primary Education, including 70 females, and 44 for B.Ed Early Childhood Education, including 31 females. Thirty-two applicants were admitted for B.Ed Basic Education (French Specialism). Dr Tsey reaffirmed AMECOs commitment to gender inclusivity, stating that the colleges Affirmative Action Policy and Gender Inclusive Policy continue to provide tertiary education opportunities for women. He noted that the number of female students admitted outweighed their male counterparts, reflecting the colleges effort to bridge the gender gap in education. The principal also stated that AMECO offers admission to talented athletes, ensuring that they meet the minimum academic requirements while also demonstrating sporting ability. This initiative, he explained, aims to provide opportunities for students to develop their sporting talents while pursuing higher education. He encouraged newly admitted students to be resilient and courageous, describing their admission as the beginning of a promising journey. The Member of Parliament for Afram Plains, Worlase Kpeli, an alumnus of AMECO and special guest at the event, urged fresh students to embrace the teaching profession, describing it as a gateway to diverse and rewarding career opportunities. He emphasised that teaching provides a strong foundation that can lead to many other lucrative professions. AG urged to probe into banks linked to $7M cybersecurity fraud case Gertrude Ankah Mar - 26 - 2025 , 08:08 4 minutes read Nana Yaw Sarpong, a political aide to the founder of the Movement for Change, Alan Kyerematen, has urged the Attorney General to launch an investigation into banks allegedly involved in processing transactions linked to a $7 million cybersecurity fraud case. Speaking on TV3s Big Issues on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, Sarpong emphasised the need for scrutiny of financial institutions that facilitated the transactions. He raised concerns over possible breaches of banking regulations, questioning whether the banks were complicit or negligent in allowing such high-value transfers. His remarks followed a press briefing by Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine on March 24, during which he announced the arrest of Kwabena Adu-Boahene, former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB), in connection with the case. According to the Attorney General, Adu-Boahene is accused of mismanaging funds allocated for a national cyber defence project. The contract, signed on January 30, 2020, with Israeli firm RLC Holdings Limited, was intended to enhance Ghanas ability to detect and prevent cyber threats. Dr. Ayine alleged that just days after signing the contract, Adu-Boahene transferred GH27.1 million from the NSBs account at Fidelity Bank to a private account at Universal Merchant Bank (UMB). The funds, meant for the cyber defence system, were reportedly funnelled into a private company linked to the accused. Sarpong called for a deeper probe into these transactions, stressing that such large withdrawals should have raised red flags. "If you examine the records, he was able to make in-person withdrawals amounting to millions. That should be investigated," he stated. Sarpong dismissed criticism against the Attorney General for publicly discussing the case. He argued that transparency is essential, citing Article 1 of Ghanas Constitution, which vests sovereignty in the people. "The Attorney General owes us an explanation. We pay him, and he must provide updates on his work. This is taxpayers money. We are talking about the welfare of Ghanaians, and if something has gone wrong, why should we not demand answers?" Sarpong questioned. He also defended the Attorney Generals role in ensuring thorough investigations, countering claims that his office was overstepping its mandate. "The foundation of every prosecution is a solid investigation. If a private lawyer takes on a case, they do not simply rely on their clients claimsthey investigate. The Attorney General must ensure that all evidence is properly gathered before proceeding to court," he added. Sarpong acknowledged that Adu-Boahene had the right to legal representation, referencing a statement from the Deputy Attorney General, confirming that the accused had been granted access to his legal team while in custody. During the discussion, Edem Senanu, Co-Chair of the Citizen Movement Against Corruption, also weighed in, urging the Attorney General to maintain regular public engagement on corruption cases. He argued that consistent communication is crucial in fighting impunity and restoring public trust in anti-graft institutions. "Public communication is critical. The lack of updates from institutions like the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), and Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) creates the perception that little is being done to combat corruption," Senanu stated. Referencing international best practices, he pointed to the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI, which regularly update the public on high-profile cases. "This is nothing extraordinary. If it becomes part of our culture, it will serve as a deterrent. Everyone, whether a high-level public officer or not, must know that investigations are continuous and the law will take its course," he said. Senanu stressed that the Attorney Generals press briefing should not be seen as a reactionary move but rather as a step towards accountability. He noted that Ghanas declining position on the Corruption Perception Index is partly due to weak responses and a lack of transparency. "We find ourselves slipping in global corruption rankings because there is little information demonstrating that corruption has consequences," he explained. He added, "For something like this to happen, other persons must be involved. There have to be networks. It is shocking that the same names keep coming up in high-profile corruption cases," he noted. Senanu also urged intelligence and anti-graft agencies to strike a balance between keeping the public informed and protecting the integrity of ongoing investigations. "Our intelligence agencies need to find the right time to release information while taking necessary actions to prevent further financial loss. Striking this balance will strengthen public confidence and discourage corruption," he stated. Related article: Government to press charges against 15 suspects in Adu-Boahen case Deputy Attorney-General Next article: Three suspects arrested in Mobile Money vendor murders, Police hunt for fourth accomplice Appiah-Kubi warns AG against prejudicing court in $7M cyber fraud case Gertrude Ankah Mar - 26 - 2025 , 07:55 4 minutes read Legal practitioner Andy Appiah-Kubi has taken issue with Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine for publicly disclosing evidence in an ongoing $7 million cybersecurity fraud case involving former National Signals Bureau (NSB) Director-General, Kwabena Adu-Boahene. Speaking on TV3s Big Issues on Tuesday, March 25, Appiah-Kubi questioned the Attorney Generals decision to reveal details of the case before court proceedings, warning that such actions could undermine judicial integrity and the rights of the accused. During a press briefing on Monday, March 24, Dr. Ayine alleged that Adu-Boahene mismanaged funds allocated for a national cyber defence project. The contract, signed on January 30, 2020, with Israeli firm RLC Holdings Limited, was intended to enhance Ghanas capacity to detect and prevent cyber threats. The Attorney General claimed that days after the contract was signed, Adu-Boahene allegedly transferred GH27.1 million from the NSBs account at Fidelity Bank to a private account at Universal Merchant Bank (UMB). The funds, intended for the cyber defence system, were reportedly diverted to a private company linked to the accused. Appiah-Kubi argued that discussing evidence in the media before presenting it in court could compromise due process. "I have yet to see a situation where evidence is made public before being presented before a court of competent jurisdiction," he said. While acknowledging the need for transparency, he cautioned that such disclosures could infringe on the accuseds rights. "The Attorney General should limit his comments to the charges and those involved. Bringing out evidence before it is tendered in court is not the right approach," he added. Dr. Ayine, however, defended his actions, stating that his remarks were necessary to counter what he described as a "misleading narrative" in the media. The Attorney Generals comments have sparked debate. While some argue that transparency is essential in high-profile cases, critics warn that such disclosures could undermine judicial integrity. Appiah-Kubi also criticised Ghanas approach to law enforcement, arguing that suspects are often arrested before thorough investigations are conducted. "In other jurisdictions, investigators monitor suspects over time to gather sufficient evidence before making an arrest. In Ghana, allegations often lead to immediate arrests, which is not what the law calls for," he stated. On the same programme, Fred Agbenyo, Member of Parliament for Guan, defended the Attorney Generals decision to disclose details of Adu-Boahenes arrest. He stated that the press briefing was necessary to keep the public informed about corruption-related investigations. "We cannot blame the Attorney General for putting these facts out. If you sit where he sits, with the pressure coming from the public, chiefs, and various stakeholders demanding accountability, you would understand the need for transparency," he said. Agbenyo noted that corruption in Ghana has long been a matter of public concern, and citizens deserve to know what is being done to address it. "Before the elections, there was widespread perceptionand now growing evidenceof massive corruption in the country. People have been calling for action, and the government is responding," he added. The MP stressed that individuals in public office should always be prepared to account for their actions. "Once you take public office, you must remind yourself that a day of accountability will come. That is why we must be guided in the decisions we make," he remarked. He further stated that corruption has cost Ghana significantly, asserting that funds allegedly misused by a few individuals could have been used to develop critical infrastructure, including roads, schools, and healthcare facilities. "Look at the amount of money being mentionedfunds that, if channelled properly, could transform our communities," he said. While critics argue that the Attorney Generals press conference could prejudice the case, Agbenyo dismissed those concerns, stating that the Attorney General merely presented facts and did not declare anyone guilty. "The only entity that can pronounce someone guilty is the court. The Attorney General is simply informing Ghanaians about the progress of the investigation," he clarified. He insisted that Ghanaians have a right to know the status of such investigations, particularly when public funds are involved. Related articles: Minority accuses Attorney-General of abuse of power Arrest of Ex-National Signals Bureau boss: A-G warns banks against moving his funds Next article: Government to use blockchain to track gold from mines to export under GoldBod plan - Sammy Gyamfi Businesswoman remanded over alleged fraud Justice Agbenorsi Mar - 26 - 2025 , 11:36 3 minutes read A 62-year-old woman, Nana Ama Nwurueze, also known as Ohemaa, has been remanded in custody for allegedly defrauding another businesswoman of $13,000 under false pretences. Nwurueze, who allegedly presented herself as a wealthy entrepreneur with extensive property holdings, including Ohemaa Plaza in East Legon, fishing vessels in Takoradi, and a house at Airport, is accused of using these claims to deceive the complainant into parting with her money. She was arraigned before the Adabraka District Court, presided over by Abena Asoh Owusu-Omenyo, where she pleaded not guilty to one count of defrauding by false pretence. However, the court denied her bail request, ruling that evidence on record suggested she was a flight risk. Arrest and bail application The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Apewa Achana, revealed that Nwurueze had been on the run since a bench warrant was issued for her arrest in December last year. She was finally apprehended in March 2024 following a petition to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) by the complainant, Dorothy Asare. Counsel for the accused, George Asamani, applied for bail, arguing that his client had been unwell and had no intention of evading justice. He assured the court that she would comply with all court proceedings if granted bail. However, Chief Inspector Achana opposed the application, citing Nwuruezes previous attempts to evade arrest. She always rents apartments for limited periods. If not for the publication we made after the bench warrant was issued, we wouldnt have been able to arrest her, he stated. He further told the court that despite being granted police inquiry bail, the accused had gone into hiding and failed to appear before the court, instead submitting questionable medical excuse duties. Alleged fraud According to the prosecution, the accused was introduced to the complainant through a mutual friend. Nwurueze allegedly convinced Asare that she was a successful businesswoman with multiple properties and over ten shipping containers of goods at the Takoradi port. She reportedly persuaded the complainant to lend her $5,000, promising to refund the money within three weeks after clearing the goods. When the complainant hesitated, Nwurueze allegedly further claimed to be in partnership with Devtracco and showed her an ongoing apartment construction project, which she claimed was on her property. Trusting these representations, Asare handed over the $5,000 at the accuseds residence at Airport. A month later, Nwurueze allegedly requested an additional $8,000, claiming it was needed to resolve an issue at the port, again promising repayment within two weeks. After several weeks, Asare attempted to retrieve her money but was met with excuses. She later discovered that Nwurueze was not the owner of the alleged Airport property and had no partnership with Devtracco. Additionally, investigations revealed that she had no shipping containers at any port in Ghana. The prosecutor insisted that all representations made by the accused were intended to defraud the complainant and that she had successfully obtained $13,000 under false pretences. The case has been adjourned, with Nwurueze remaining in custody pending further proceedings. ECG works to restore power after Tuesday rainfall Jemima Okang Addae Mar - 26 - 2025 , 12:23 1 minute read The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has assured the public that efforts are underway to restore power following outages in parts of Accra caused by a severe rainstorm on Tuesday, March 25. In a statement issued on March 26, ECG attributed the disruptions to damage inflicted by the storm, which affected sections of its power distribution network, leading to electrical faults and service interruptions. "The Electricity Company of Ghana wishes to inform our cherished customers that the heavy rainstorm that hit parts of Accra and its environs yesterday evening (25th March 2025) has caused some outages within our network," the statement read. ECG disclosed that a team of engineers has been deployed to assess the extent of the damage and carry out necessary repairs to restore power as quickly as possible. The company has urged affected customers to remain patient while restoration efforts are completed. Read the full statement below; Previous article: LIST: See the individuals President Mahama has nominated as District Chief Executives so far Energy Minister gives ECG one week to address procurement lapses after 1,300 missing container report Mohammed Ali Mar - 26 - 2025 , 10:35 2 minutes read The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Mr John Abdulai Jinapor, says the procurement unit of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) will be restructured within a week. This follows findings from a ministerial investigation that revealed procurement breaches and the disappearance of more than 1,300 containers linked to the company. Mr Jinapor made this known on Tuesday, March 25 2025, after receiving the final report from the committee set up by the Ministry on January 30th to look into ECGs stranded containers at the Tema Port and other procurement matters. According to him, the committees findings were deeply troubling. Over 1,350 containers meant for ECG and reported to be stuck at the port could not be traced. These containers cannot vanish into thin air, he said. We will work with the Attorney Generals Department and the Police to ensure those responsible are held accountable and to recover either the containers or their value. The 103-page report was prepared by a committee chaired by Professor Innocent Senyo Acquah. Their investigation also pointed to long-standing weaknesses in ECGs procurement systems. Mr Jinapor said the Ministry will not allow the report to sit idle. He announced plans to decouple ECGs procurement unit as a first step in reforming the companys internal processes. It cannot be business as usual, he added. We are not out to witch-hunt anyone, but we will hold whoever is responsible to account. He said the Ministry will act on the reports recommendations and involve the relevant authorities to ensure further investigations are carried out. Mr Jinapor praised the committee for its work and said the government would take all necessary steps to safeguard public resources and improve operational oversight within ECG. Base maps stakeholders meeting held at Yilo Krobo Ezekiel E. Sottie Mar - 26 - 2025 , 09:57 3 minutes read Land Use Agencies (LSAs) have started the process of preparing base maps and local plans to direct physical development at Somanya, Nkurakan, Oterkporlu and Klo-Agogo in the Yilo Krobo Municipality in the Eastern Region. The LSAs include the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA), Licensed Surveyors Association of Ghana (LiSAG), Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL) and the Survey and Mapping Division of Lands Commission (SMD-LC). Efforts have been made in the past to streamline land sector agencies in Ghana to deal with increased land tenure risks, limited documentation, haphazard developments, limited public awareness of land matters and general non-compliance with regulations as well as a disconnect between the state and customary land institution in the country. In 2021, the Land Sector Agencies were inaugurated with the objective of collaborating with metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) to strategically plan for areas where land-based investments were expanding. This involves identifying fast-growing communities and preparing base maps and local plans to ensure orderly development. The Yilo Krobo Municipal Area, the first municipality in Ghana to be piloted under the project, was launched on May 9, 2024 at Somanya. The first phase of the project covers a land size of 6, 400 acres, focusing on some portions of Somanya, especially the University of Environment and Sustainable Development area, New Somanya and Krobo Hills area. Project objectives The project objectives among others are to ensure that institutional structures responsible for development control (through planning and development permitting) are well equipped with spatial data to perform their functions, to establish a working relationship with relevant stakeholders (especially traditional authorities) and develop an efficient system for effective land administration in the plan area. As part of strategies and activities towards the achievement of the project, there were engagements with the traditional authorities and land owners, preparation of base map, designing of local plans, public forum/consultation with stakeholders with interest in the plan areas, draft local consultation, approval of local plans, setting out (pillaring) and set-up of a local plan management team. At the stakeholders meeting held at UESD at Somanya last Tuesday, the Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, stated that the initiative represented a significant step towards enhancing growth, development and sustainability of Somanya, Nkurakan, Klo-Agogo and Oterkporlu. She said, By involving all stakeholders, community members, local leaders, technical experts and government agencies, we ensure that the plans we develop reflect the true needs and aspirations of the people we serve. First municipality The Yilo Krobo Municipal Deputy Coordinating Director, Christopher Teila, said that the assembly was ready to collaborate with stakeholders of the project and stressed the need for the land owners, especially, to also cooperate for the success of the project. The Eastern Regional Land Officer, Alhaji Issah Mahama, lauded the event organisers and the project coordinators for the effort put into the project and gave an assurance that the Lands Commission would help ensure the success of the programme. The Vice-Chancellor of UESD, Prof. Eric Nyarko Sampson, who chaired the programme, expressed the hope that the project would open up the four communities in the Yilo Krobo Municipality in terms of development. Encroachment poses threat to GAEC, encroachers Joshua Bediako Koomson Mar - 26 - 2025 , 11:47 3 minutes read The Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) has cautioned the public against acquiring GAEC lands from encroachers and unauthorised sellers. It has stated that the encroachment of the lands posed serious safety and security risks to both the facility and surrounding communities, given what the GAEC facilities in the catchment area are meant for. In a statement issued by the commission and signed by the Director, Commercialisation and Communication Directorate, Anthony Nana Boateng, GAEC said vast portions of its land, designated for the expansion of nuclear facilities, had been encroached by some individuals believed to be politically exposed persons. The commission said it was increasingly confronted with a surge in encroachments, with activities now dangerously close to the National Nuclear Waste Management Centre. This centre houses hazardous radioactive waste, which is managed in strict compliance with the laws of Ghana and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regulations, GAEC said. GAECs land was legally secured by the government through an Executive Instrument (EI 75) in 1973. It was designated to facilitate comprehensive nuclear science research to support Ghanas national development across various sectors. Encroachment It observed that unknown individuals had illegally broken barricades securing portions of its land behind the Bohye Police Base Workshop and Ga-East Hospital reserved for facilities to boost agricultural sustainability. An encroached portion of the land designated for the construction of an Electron Beam Irradiation facility graded by some individuals It said those individuals had begun grading the areas designated for the construction of an Electron Beam Irradiation Facility along the Bohye stretch of GAEC property. The facility will support sustainable agriculture and enhance national food security by preserving food, reducing post-harvest losses, and controlling contamination in consumer products. Additionally, it will be used for the sterilisation of single-use medical devices, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and other essential products, the statement pointed out. Surge GAEC further emphasised the states obligation to protect its assets under international legal frameworks, to which Ghana is a signatory. It said preventing encroachment was crucial for maintaining a safe research environment and ensuring the peaceful use of nuclear science and technology for national development. Background Ghana currently holds the prestigious position of Chair of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations agency responsible for promoting the peaceful use of nuclear technology worldwide. If the land encroachment issue is not addressed swiftly, it could negatively impact Ghanas international reputation and future opportunities. The countrys positive reputation and good safety record in operating a research reactor for over 30 years could be eroded. GAEC has expressed similar concerns over the illegal acquisition of lands surrounding the Ghana Radio Astronomy Observatory (GRAO) at Kuntunse, Ga West Municipality, Greater Accra Region. Launched in 2017, the GRAO plays a crucial role in global space science, offering a platform for scientists to study the universe. It supports Ghanas participation in space research, fostering the development of scientists and engineers. The land, acquired over 40 years ago to support satellite observation, data collection, research, and training in Space Sciences, has been taken over by private developers, which is now impacting the efficiency of the facility. Purchased on an Executive Instrument in 1979, the 163 hectares of land was earmarked for the Radio Astronomy Observatory. However, the land had been reduced to about 30 hectares over the past four decades, which now threatens the future viability of the facility. Govt suspends Community Mining Scheme - Cites similarities to illegal mining Samuel Doe Ablordeppey Mar - 26 - 2025 , 12:57 4 minutes read The Community Mining Scheme (CMS) introduced by the previous administration was nothing different from illegal mining, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has stated. The government has, therefore, suspended the scheme with the intention to reform it for operation by the middle of this year. Speaking to journalists in Accra last Monday, the Lands and Natural Resources Minister said a report on the CMS submitted to him indicated that for many of the schemes, the community, including the traditional rulers, did not know about the scheme before they started. At a meeting with editors and senior journalists of selected media houses to give them an update, and to court their relentless support to put the spotlight on the fight to rid the environment of illegal mining operations. Mr Buah said the government would reform the space to change the form and its operationalisation. At the meeting were the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Tandoh; a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Professor Jerry Samuel Yaw Kuma, who is the Technical Advisor to the Minister, and the Technical Director of Forestry at the ministry, Joseph Osiakwan. Licences withheld For now, all the licences for the CMS have been withheld because the report on them indicated that the scheme was akin to illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey; communities had not been part of the scheme, Mr Buah said. He explained that the committee would review all the purported licences issued for small scale mining and CMS. We will create the Small-Scale Community Cooperative where the community itself, with the involvement of the chiefs, youth and other stakeholders, will organise themselves, obtain signatures and request to have the licences to engage in a cooperative mine. They will register a company and open their own accounts. The cooperatives must also set aside a percentage of the proceeds for community development. When the regulators are satisfied, then the government will assist them with infrastructure to have the community cooperative small-scale mine, Mr Buah stated. The Lands and Natural Resources Minister explained that by the middle of the year, all the CMS would go through that review with the Licensing Review Committee and those that pass the test would be allowed and supported to operate. Mr Buah also reiterated the changes in the small-scale mining licensing approval process which would now be bottom-up, with the recommendations starting from the District Security Councils (DISEC) expanded to include chiefs and other local stakeholders before the Minerals Commission would work on it. He also touched on the deployment of technology, a shake-up of the police leadership in districts where illegal mining took place and making the fight unpolitical as politicians from all persuasions were being brought on board. Commendation Mr Buah commended the media for the continuous support in the fight against illegal mining. The media is a critical stakeholder in the fight to protect the water bodies, the land and the environment. I thank you for the role you played in the past and your support for the sector and I entreat you to continue to join us in this fight, the Lands and Natural Resources Minister said. Mr Buah recounted the enormity of the challenge, including the destruction of 288 forest reserves, 44 of which had been completely destroyed, and the attendant repercussions on the cleanliness of water bodies as well as the health implications. He referred to the attack on a forest guard, explaining that while that forest had been reclaimed with the support of soldiers, which changed its code from red to amber, the guards were surprised by attempts by armed illegal miners to re-enter the forest. The minister said the military was called in swiftly to contain the situation, adding that the government would support all frontliners in the fight to ensure that they did not lose interest or hope. Personal commitment Mr Buah made a personal commitment to fight illegal mining relentlessly without fear or favour, declaring: If I cant make myself the sacrificial lamb in this fight against galamsey then our country is finished. Parliament approves repeal of Betting Tax GraphicOnline Mar - 26 - 2025 , 16:32 2 minutes read Ghanas Parliament has approved the repeal of the controversial Betting Tax, along with taxes on gaming and lotteries, as well as the 1.5 per cent withholding tax on unprocessed gold. This decision came following the passage of the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025, on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. The Betting Tax, introduced as a 10 per cent levy on gross winnings, was initially implemented to regulate gambling and increase government revenue. However, its enforcement was met with significant opposition from bettors and gaming operators, who argued that it was an unfair burden. During the 2024 election campaign, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had pledged to abolish the tax, branding it a nuisance tax. In keeping with this promise, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson announced its removal in the 2025 budget statement, a proposal that has now been endorsed by Parliament. In addition to scrapping the Betting Tax, Parliament has also approved the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) Repeal Bill, 2025, effectively abolishing the unpopular digital tax. The E-Levy, introduced on March 29, 2022, by the previous government, was a tax on electronic transactions, including mobile money transfers and online payments. It was intended to generate revenue for national development. However, the policy failed to yield the expected financial returns and faced strong opposition from citizens and businesses. Dr Forson, in his budget presentation on Tuesday, March 11, reaffirmed the governments commitment to eliminating burdensome taxes, including the Emissions Tax and the COVID-19 Levy, as part of a broader strategy to streamline the tax system and boost economic activity. Background of the Betting Tax The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) had announced the implementation of the 10% withholding tax on lotto, betting, and gaming winnings in December 2023, under the Income Tax (Amendment) Act, 2023 (Act 1094). After a six-month extension, the tax officially took effect on January 1, 2024. Despite warnings from the GRA that non-compliance would attract sanctions under Section 78 of the Revenue Administration Act, 2016 (Act 915), the tax remained deeply unpopular, with many stakeholders calling for its removal. With the approval of the repeal bills, the tax burden on bettors, digital transactions, and small-scale gold traders is expected to ease, a move widely welcomed by the public. The bills will now be sent to President John Mahama for assent. Three suspects arrested in Mobile Money vendor murders, Police hunt for fourth accomplice Emmanuel Baah Mar - 26 - 2025 , 07:35 2 minutes read The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested three suspects in connection with the robbery and murder of two mobile money vendors in Kumasi. However, a fourth suspect remains at large, with authorities calling on the public for assistance in tracking him down. The arrested suspectsCharles Kwame Danso, 23, also known as Kwame Charles or Miami, Philip Fordjour, 29, and Samuel Addae Mensah, 42were picked up on March 21, 2025, at Pankrono and Atimatim, respectively. They are currently in police custody and will soon be arraigned before court to face the full weight of the law. Police pursue fourth suspect Meanwhile, the police are actively searching for a fourth suspect, identified as Martin Amoah, also known as Augustine Amoah or Baba Macho. He is believed to be hiding in Kumasi, Diaso near Dunkwa-on-Offin in the Central Region, or Accra. During a press briefing in Kumasi on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Emmanuel Teye-Cudjoe, urged the public to assist in tracking down Baba Macho. "Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is urged to contact the Police via Toll-Free number 191,112 (18555 MTN and Telecel)," he appealed. He further reassured the public of the police's commitment to justice. "The Ashanti Regional Police Command remains committed to ensuring justice is served and urges the public to remain vigilant in helping to bring all responsible individuals to justice," he stated. Background The first incident occurred on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at Krofrom, where the victim, Patricia Nimako, was brutally murdered during a robbery. The second attack happened on the night of Monday, March 10, 2025, when another mobile money vendor, Gideon Owusu Sarpong, also known as Junior, was robbed and killed at his residence in Kwadaso. The arrests mark a major breakthrough in the case, but police are determined to ensure all culprits are brought to book. The public is advised to remain vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement in bringing the final suspect to justice. NPP accuses government of failing to stop galamsey Graphic.com.gh Politics Mar - 26 - 2025 , 16:34 1 minute read The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the government of failing to curb illegal mining, claiming that the practice popularly known as galamsey has increased under President John Dramani Mahama, with armed groups now occupying parts of Ghanas forest reserves. At a press briefing in Accra on March 26 2025, the partys Director of Communications, Mr Richard Ahiagbah, claimed the government had relinquished control of several protected areas, particularly in the Ashanti, Eastern, and Western North regions. According to him, some of these areas are now in the hands of armed men operating without resistance from the state. Illegal miners are operating with weapons inside forest reserves. In many of these places, the government has lost its grip. Communities are reporting the presence of armed men, and yet there is no serious response, Mr Ahiagbah said. He claimed satellite imagery and on-the-ground reports show that vast tracts of forest are being destroyed. He blamed the development on the Mahama administrations alleged lack of interest in tackling illegal mining. Mr Ahiagbah also criticised agencies such as the Forestry Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency, accusing them of standing by as Ghanas environment deteriorates. The NPP urged the government to take immediate steps, including the deployment of security forces to protect forest reserves and restore control over environmentally sensitive areas. New York subscribers got exclusive early access to this story in Eating New York, a newsletter featuring food news and advice straight from our critics mouths. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. Photo: Grub Street Its clear we bear some responsibility for the line that has recently begun to fascinate Prospect Heights neighbors. When Grub Street called Radio Bakerys turkey-pesto sandwich the best sandwich of 2024, we werent alone plenty of our fellow omnivores had been singing Radios praises, too. So of course a queue formed outside Radios first location, on India Street in Greenpoint, which led the bakery to specify on its menu when certain items would go on sale (croissants at 7:30 a.m., non-croissaint pastries in the late morning, focaccia at 10 a.m., sandwiches at 11). When each would sell out, of course, was anyones guess. Youd try your luck and bring a book. Finally, after months of anticipation, Radios second location opened in Prospect Heights, taking up the Underhill Avenue space that once housed a Blue Marble Ice Cream. (Radio is far from the only hype bakery to contend with rabid demand and not even the only one to expand on the strength of it; Brooklyn Heightss LAppartement 4F recently opened its second location in the West Village.) Whether doubling its footprint has alleviated pressure on the original I cant say, but I can tell you this: At 12:18 p.m. on a Thursday during opening week, I was the 18th person on the line, which snaked well past the entrance, down to the coin-op laundromat three doors down, from whose window a woman warily eyed the assembled waiters: a dad with two kids and a stroller, another fuzzy-jacketed man with a fuzzy-onesied baby strapped to his chest, a variety of 20- and 30-somethings in carpenter jeans and Birkenstock Bostons, a pretty young woman in a banana clip who stepped away momentarily to take a selfie against the bakerys glass-front doors. This was, comparatively speaking, nothing. The Brooklyn Eagle reported a line 70 strong on the bakerys opening day at the beginning of the month. Im glad to add that my own wait was much shorter: At 12:33 p.m., I was safely out of some drizzle and inside the space, which is larger and lighter than Greenpoints. In the open kitchen at back, a team of bakers piped pistachio cream into and onto hulking croissants. Up front, we formed another line around the counter and ordered cafeteria style. Has it been like this all week? I asked the woman who rang me up. Pretty much, she said. Expansion hasnt affected quality as far as I can tell. I enjoyed the turkey sandwich as I always do, with its fearless embrace of garlic, and a recommended spicy tofu sandwich as well, which had a nice chile spice and maybe a little too much tahini. I generally prefer Radios breads to its pastries: Its locally famous brown-butter corn cake is a little puddingy and underbaked for my tastes, and its chocolate-chunk cookies are good, but standard, coffee-shop fare. All of it comes, understandably if frustratingly, at new-standard prices. I spent $50 and change on two sandwiches and three pastries. If I lived and worked in Prospect Heights, I could easily imagine being a regular visitor, strolling up from Grand Army Plaza for a sandwich treat now and again. And Id never begrudge Radio, or any of its compatriots, its success. But at a certain point, the hype cycle eats away at its victims on both sides, the vendors and the customers. At what point, we have to wonder, is the product being offered the bread or the wait? I took my box of treasures to one of the two sidewalk tables. Good? I overheard from a couple walking by. Supposed to be very good. Another woman trundled by. Theres still a huge line, she said into her cell. Archbishop Ryan P. Jimenez and the Safe Environment Office of the Archdiocese of Agana will be hosting a series of public forums in April discussing the Catholic Churchs Safe Environment Child Protection policies and its work to protect all children under its care. With the exception of April 8 because of Chrism Mass, the forums will be held every Tuesday in April starting April 1 at different vicariates," essentially regions of the archdiocese, the archdiocese said in a release. They are part of archdiocese's activities promoting Child Abuse Prevention Month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Youth Violence Prevention Month, all in April. The forums are among non-monetary commitments the archdiocese has made and is required to meet as part of its court-approved bankruptcy agreement with the victim survivors of clergy sexual abuse. Everyone is welcome to attend the forums. Survivors of child sexual abuse who were part of the numerous lawsuits against the archdiocese have been invited to attend through private, confidential letters signed by the archbishop. For this reason, photography is restricted, there is no registration, and no one will be asked to share their names. Northern vicariate: Tuesday, April 1, from 7 to 9 p.m., Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Social Hall, Yigo Southern vicariate: Tuesday, April 15, from 7 to 9 p.m., St. Joseph Parish Social Hall, Inalahan Eastern vicariate: Tuesday, April 22, from 7 to 9 p.m., Our Lady of Peace and Safe Journey Parish Social Hall, Chalan Pago Western vicariate: Tuesday, April 29, from 7 to 9 p.m., Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica Conference Center, Hagatna Since his installation as archbishop on Aug. 15, 2024, Jimenez has frequently emphasized the importance of safeguarding children and young people, especially in light of the grave sins of sexual abuse and failures by members of the archdiocese in the past. "We are committed to work diligently each day to ensure the safety of children and young people in the parishes and schools," the archdiocese said. John Weisenberger, a former member of the archdioceses Independent Review Board and licensed attorney on Guam since 1977 who retired in 2014, will be the main presenter, along with Tricia Tenorio, the archdioceses Safe Environment coordinator. At the request of then Archbishop Michael J. Byrnes, Weisenberger worked from 2017 to 2019 with other committee members to develop the archdioceses three important policies on the protection of children: AoA Policy on the Protection of Children and Young People from Sexual Abuse AoA Policy for the Independent Review Board AoA Safe Environment Program Besides the presentations, there will be an opportunity for dialogue by participants. The Guam Waterworks Authority on Tuesday night got the approval to take $62.9 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to install sewer and water for a new hospital in Mangilao. Members of the Consolidated Commission on Utilities approved GWAs request to take the funds without objection. Money will be provided as a sub-grant from the Guam Economic Development Authority, which is the lead agency for the Mangilao hospital project. Commissioners also approved GWAs request to take about $1.89 million of that funding for design work on the new sewer and water installations. With the approvals from the CCU, the ball is officially rolling on both power and water installs for the contested Mangilao hospital project, which Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero wants to break ground on this year. Guam Power Authority legal counsel Marianne Woloschuk confirmed Tuesday that GPA has also finalized a separate deal with GEDA to take $35.4 million for underground power and a substation at the new hospital site. Commissioners approved the GPA sub-grant deal late last month. GWA General Manager Miguel Bordallo told commissioners that besides the hospital, the new installs will help support water and sewer across Mangilao and Barrigada. It is crucial to meet projected growth that will come to Mangilao with the medical complex, and to ensure reliable water and wastewater services are available to support those new facilities and any related growth, Bordallo told the CCU. With the sub grant award, well be able to put in infrastructure that would otherwise be challenging for us to do through our own revenue streams or other grants. Because the project lines up with other work GWA is already required to do as part of a 2024 settlement, there is also the possibility for a 50-50 cost share on sewer upgrades, he said. GWA in 2024 agreed to spend some $400 million on sewer upgrades, as part of a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over alleged sewer overflows and other issues. Much of the Mangilao area is eyed for upgrades from septic to sewer systems, in plans previously laid out by GWA. Federal funds for the hospital must be spent by Dec. 31, 2026. Both Bordallo and GPA General Manager John Benavente have said that it will be difficult to get the hospital installs done on that timeline. The waterworks authority will take $1.89 million worth of the ARP funds to add design orders onto an existing indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contracts GWA already has in place, according to Bordallo. That will get about 30% of the design work for the new hospital water and sewer done, enough to go out to bid for the full project, he said. CCU Chairman Francis Santos on Tuesday asked about the involvement of Attorney General Doug Moylan in the process. Moylan is actively suing the governor and the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority in federal court over alleged illegalities involving the condemnation of land for the hospital, and the use of federal money for the acquisition. This will then effectuate a contract, and our friendly AG is going to have to sign off? Santos asked Bordallo on Tuesday. The general manager replied that the design work will be covered by contracts GWA already has in place. But once the bridging documents are prepared and we go out for bid, that procurement will be subject to review, Bordallo said. We got that, right? Santos told the other commissioners present. Under Guam law, contracts worth over $500,000 must be reviewed by the AG. Moylan has vowed not to sign any contract related to the construction of a new hospital in Mangilao. He has also said that the utilities and any potential vendors are on notice that ARP money used for the hospital could be clawed back, and any GovGuam official that approves funds for the project could be subject to prosecution. GHURA and the governor have both dismissed Moylans allegations about illegalities in the Mangilao hospital project, and have motioned for the federal lawsuit to be thrown out. The U.S. Secretary of Defense is scheduled to visit Guam today, but few details of the trip have been released to the public. Pete Hegseth, who has recently been embroiled in controversy after he was accused of sharing U.S. war plans over a messaging app, is expected to tour Guams military facilities and receive capabilities briefs, according to a Pentagon announcement. His arrival and departure times have not been announced to the public, and he is not scheduled to meet with local media while here. He is supposed to meet with Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero at an undisclosed time, and she will provide the media with a briefing afterward, according to her office. On Monday, The Atlantic reported that Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently placed in a Signal messaging app group chat with U.S. officials, and Hegseth shared plans for an attack on Yemen. The editor said he was added to the chat by President Donald Trumps national security adviser, Mike Waltz, and the group included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard. Hegseth told reporters in Hawaii that nobody was texting war plans and thats all I have to say about that, according to the Associated Press. However, the National Security Council said the text chain appears to be authentic. Some Democratic lawmakers have called for Hegseth and Waltz to resign, the New York Times reported. Hegseth began his trip in Hawaii. After Guam, he will visit the Philippines and Japan to meet with senior U.S. military and civilian leadership. While in Japan, Hegseth will participate in a ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, according to the Pentagon. Public Auditor Benjamin BJ Cruz on Wednesday said more than $100 million fronted by the government of Guam may not be reimbursed by federal agencies, on top of federal funding cuts and policy changes coming from the Trump White House. Cruz was the main guest speaker at the Guam Chamber of Commerces Wednesday general membership meeting held at Hilton Guam Resort and Spa. Besides financial challenges, most GovGuam departments and agencies do not have standard operating procedures, SOPs, or adopted rules for most of what they do, the public auditor said. Thats why a residential homeowner or a business owner could be told to submit certain things today by a government agency or official to get a permit, for example, only to be told to submit entirely different things the next time they visit. Its crazy, he said. It cant run this way. He said his office is asked why there are other issues not being reviewed such as the hiring at the Office of the Attorney General. But the governors office already took the AG to court, so it would be redundant for OPA to get involved. Theres bigger fish to fry using limited OPA resources, he added, during a question-and-answer session with Chamber of Commerce members. Im so angry its happening today, said Ray Llaneta, a Chamber of Commerce member, expressing his disappointment that in this day and age, GovGuam agencies havent developed SOPs. Im upset. Cruz said the lack of SOPS is a common finding by auditors from the State Historic Preservation Office to the Guam Memorial Hospital, which has been without SOPs for doctors hiring and compensation. Please read the audits The public auditor asked the business community and the public in general to take the time to go over taxpayer-paid financial and compliance audits to learn whats going on with public funds and findings of fraud, waste and abuse. There are dozens of findings, half of them repeat findings, in the fiscal 2023 GovGuam audit alone, a wealth of information about what the government has been doing with money. Really, seriously guys, you got to sit down and take time to read these things, the public auditor said. The fiscal 2023 GovGuam-wide financial audit alone also cost about $625,000, he said. OPA oversees 28 financial audits that cost about $4 million a year. When OPA issued a report on the government self-insurance needing $38 million more, nobody said anything, Cruz said. It was pretty much the same when OPA initially found out that Guam Homeland Security wouldnt get reimbursed $10 million after not turning in financial reports for years. What happens sometimes is that the government of Guam fronts the money for the program, then asks for reimbursement, he said. In his presentation, he told Chamber members that in 2021, there was some $12 million that was owed from the federal government. It went up to $21 million in 2022, and to $23 million in 2023. Currently, its about $55 million. OPA staff looked into the data. We discovered that (Guam) Homeland Security hadnt turned in their financial reports for some years back and as a result, $10 million is not going to be reimbursed at all, ever. Its lost, Cruz said. More data came in during and after the Legislature held an oversight hearing on GHS/Office of Civil Defense. Another $12 million wont be reimbursed, on top of $10 million-plus already lost. For next year...the amount due and owing from the federal government, its gone over $100 million that we fronted so far and we dont know if were going to get it back. And with the recent closure of the (U.S. Department of Education), Im not sure whos going to receive it? Cruz said. Education funds Trump issued an executive order seeking to start dismantling the USDOE. Getting rid of the department requires congressional action. Cruz cited the $50 million to $60 million that Guam Department of Education requested shortly before Trump issued an executive order to eliminate USDOE. We may end up having to eat that, he said. Cruz recommended that the Chamber of Commerce assign a committee that would go over the financial audits and they could give their insights into what they need to know. But you guys really need to know whats going on because it cant continue to happen, he said. Guam Education Board Chairman Angel Sablan, when asked about updates on GDOEs request with USDOE, said Education Superintendent Erik Swanson is currently in Washington, D.C., to meet with the USDOE secretary. We havent received any new guidelines since the initial one on Feb. 19, Sablan said Wednesday. He said GDOE initiated a $51 million drawdown request in the last week. We are awaiting their response and testing their new procedures, he said. The $51 million in American Rescue Plan funds was obligated for different projects, but there were delays in getting approval by the attorney general. We had to request approval to re-encumber funds prior to the December 2024 deadline, he said. The federal department approved the $51 million for personnel costs, and since Guam already paid the money from the General Fund, the drawdown request was initiated. GDOE is in the middle of a $125 million refurbishment of 12 schools funded by ARP, with a contract awarded to Core Tech. GDOE did not front any funds. It was a drawdown process, Sablan added. He said Guam is asking to be allowed to continue the process. In a brief interview after the meeting, Cruz said theres ongoing uncertainty whether GovGuam would continue to get the level of federal funding its been getting the past years, given the climate in Washington, D.C. In fiscal 2023 alone, that federal funding level was more than $688 million for the GovGuam General Fund. Trending story The public auditor said theres a lot of things that OPA wants to audit and investigate but with limited resources, it has to set priorities. He cited one of the trending stories in the Pacific Daily News about a former Public Health employee who stole more than $100,000 in federal food stamp benefits over six years and recently signed a plea deal. The employee, a food stamp eligibility specialist, used her special access to the Public Health system to unlawfully re-apply for benefits in the names of program beneficiaries who had already left Guam or ended their participation in the program without the beneficiaries knowledge or consent. Guam, he said, receives about $160 million annually in food stamp funding. My office wants to do that SNAP program because we need to know whether or not were going to get hit by the federal government at some point in a later date like we are currently with Guam Homeland Security, Cruz said. Someones got to look into those kinds of things and set priorities of what has to be done in the community. An 18-year-old Tiyan High School student has been accused of sharing a nude photo of a 17-year-old girl on social media, according to a magistrates complaint filed in Superior Court. Alexander Santos, 18, was charged Wednesday with dissemination of child pornography as a first-degree felony, possession of child pornography as a second-degree felony and unlawful distribution of images as a misdemeanor. The girl told police Santos sent a nude photo of her to someone on Instagram. When police questioned Santos, he said he accidentally sent the nude photo to two people. He refused to say who the two people were, according to the complaint. When they asked for his phone, he told them he threw the phone behind his house, the complaint stated. Eventually, he told them the phone was in a classroom, and he retrieved it. Police confiscated the phone and viewed the picture. In a news release issued Wednesday, Police Chief Stephen Ignacio said with the addition of school resource officers, the process for identifying and responding to issues at Guam Department of Education schools has been streamlined with quicker response times. The chief said that in the two days since school resource officers started, they have investigated five incidents that included an arrest and a minor taken into custody. Police also said parents are encouraged to discuss with their children safe ways to use social media platforms, and children should be reminded to think before they post. From voting challenges to financial audits and cybersecurity, election officials from five territories and the U.S. Election Assistance Commission met for two days on Guam to discuss election operations. The EAC-hosted March 19 and 20 Standards Board Territories Region 6 meeting brought together election officials from Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Guam Election Commission invited Palaus executive director as an observer. I think the territories offered a very unique opportunity to compare, contrast and share and I hope it is the first of many conversations, visiting EAC Commissioner Benjamin Hovland said during a board meeting of the Guam Election Commission after the EAC event. I look forward to building from this conversation and fostering more community in the broader territory election community but also utilizing that to help election officials from around the country understand the challenges the territories face. An independent U.S. agency created by the Help America Vote Act of 2002, the EAC administers HAVA grant programs to provide federal funds to states and territories to upgrade voting systems and improve the administration of federal elections. At the two-day meeting and training, local and regional election representatives learned and exchanged ideas about communications and emergency management, cybersecurity, financial audit requirements, grants management and review on the Help America Vote Act, equipping everyone with the skills necessary to improve operations. At the GEC meeting after the EAC event, visiting EAC Commissioner Christy McCormick said the event marked the first time that all the territories were able to meet to discuss elections. McCormick shared her gratitude for the territories being able to make it out to Guam for the monumental meeting. US Virgin Islands Supervisor of Elections Caroline Fawkes and American Samoa Deputy Commissioner of Elections Fiti Tavai, during a GEC meeting, also thanked the EAC and Guam for hosting the event. The networking conference over the last two days has been a success, Fawkes said. The territories are always left out so we are glad this historic event happened and that it happened on Guam. I learned a lot from this meeting. Ill get to share ideas, get to know each other and about elections from each territory, Tavai said. I hope to continue on with this meeting in the future. Among my favorite public officials are judges. As I have mentioned in earlier articles, one of my mentors as a young person was Judge Horace Wood in Jefferson, Georgia. Judge Wood paid for a math tutor for me and encouraged me to learn about the law. He also had a deep enmity for lawyers. When I reminded him he was a lawyer, too, Judge Wood told me he had an informed opinion. In graduate school, one of my three functional areas was judicial policy. I studied this for three years with Professor Bill Thomas at Georgia State University. This also led me to an interest in judicial sociology and judicial temperament. Along with Professor Anita Sukola, who later became a Superior Court judge on Guam, we conducted a major study on trust in the judiciary for Guam. This was a part of a national study and our results were telling. Judges are among the most trusted and revered public officials in our region and their role is quite respected by the public. One of my daughters godfathers, Judge Steven Unpingco, influenced her worldview significantly. As an undergraduate, Athena presented at a conference on how hard it is to be a judge on a small island. The social and political pressure levels are intense. When my daughter interviewed key public officials on Guam for another paper, she spoke to Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood. I asked my daughter how the interview went and she thought it was really cool that Judge Tydingco-Gatewood wanted to touch up her makeup before they took a picture. This really resonated with my daughter because she realized she had a lot in common with Judge Tydingco-Gatewood. While I am a major fan of the Judiciary and judges in general, I also have some worries for the Judicial Branch. I think that in Supreme Court justice nomination hearings, the U.S. Senate needs some boundaries. I was dismayed at how Justice Brett Kavanaughs nomination was handled. I was also saddened to see the major leak of the Dobbs brief and the subsequent threats of violence made toward the justices. I was also disappointed to see all the lawfare shenanigans that have gone on in the last several years. From the very laughable, yet sad efforts by Fani Willis and her boyfriend in Fulton County, Georgia to the nepotism riddled antics of Judge Juan Merchan in New York City, it is as if our court systems have been turned into a twilight zone. The public deserves better and I wont be surprised to see a lot of these folks go to jail. In the last couple of weeks, there has been a showdown between President Trump and the federal courts. This is important because there are some serious separation of powers questions at play. Further, it is very problematic to allow or claim that local federal judges can create strict boundaries for national policy in defense, foreign affairs or security. In my view, the U.S. Supreme Court should have original jurisdiction in these types of cases. Haiti - FLASH : 3 armored vehicles set on fire in Petite Riviere de lArtibonite Tuesday, March 25, 2025, was a dark [and costly] day for the Haitian National Police (PNH) and the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMSS), which lost three armored vehicles in Carrefour-la-Ville, a locality in Petite Riviere de l'Artibonite, after falling into a trap set by the "Gran Grif" gang. Law enforcement officers tried in vain to recover the vehicles, which were set on fire by the terrorists. Jack Ombaka, Spokesperson for the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMSS), summarized the situation in a statement "[...] at approximately 16:30 hrs, a Haitian National Police (HNP) armored vehicle on patrol along the Carrefour Paye-Savien Main Supply Route in the Pont-Sonde area, Artibonite Department, got stuck in a ditchsuspected to have been deliberately dug by gangs. In response, two MSS Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles from Pont-Sonde were dispatched to assist in the recovery. Unfortunately, during the recovery operation, one of the MRAPs also got stuck, while the other developed a mechanical issue. As the rescue teams attempted to resolve the situation, suspected gang members lying in wait launched an attack. As a result of the incident, one MSS Kenyan contingent officer remains unaccounted for. Specialized teams have been deployed to conduct a search and determine his whereabouts. A comprehensive brief will follow [...]" March 26, 2025 SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Port-de-Paix : Construction of a historic roundabout Port-de-Paix, the metropolis of the Northwest region, is undergoing a renaissance thanks to an initiative by Mayor Josue Alusma, who is firmly committed to restoring Port-de-Paix to its former glory. With this in mind, a landmark project is underway: the construction of a "historic roundabout" in the heart of Port-de-Paix, intended as a symbol of the city's growth and its roots in local history. With this new monument, Port-de-Paix intends to assert itself as a modern city, both respectful of its history and resolutely focused on the future. This project has been well-received by the citizens of Port-de-Paix, who see it as a tangible symbol of change. Residents welcome this initiative, hoping it will mark the beginning of a series of investments and development projects that will transform their city into a model of development in the country. Since taking office, Me Josue Alusma has made modernizing the city a priority. The roundabout is one of the cornerstones of this vision. "Port-de-Paix deserves to be a city that lives up to its history and its citizens. This project is a way to give our community back a place of gathering and pride, while improving traffic flow and the city's aesthetics," said Mr. Alusma when the construction began. But the mayor's ambition is not limited to this project alone. The renovation of other infrastructure, the rehabilitation of roads and public spaces, and the enhancement of historic buildings are all part of a plan to redefine the city's image. These efforts aim not only to improve the quality of life for residents, but also to attract visitors and encourage investment in the region. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Trump Signs Executive Order Ending the Biden Program On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, Trump signed the executive order ending the legal status of nationals from four countries, including Haiti, under the Conditional Stay Program (Humanitarian Parole), better known as the "Biden Program." 210,000 Haitians have 30 days to leave the U.S. unless they have another status allowing them to legally reside in the U.S. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44527-haiti-flash-end-of-the-biden-program-210-000-haitians-have-30-days-to-leave-the-usa.html Trump's Advice to Illegal Immigrants "CBP Home App" is an application that allows foreigners illegally in the U.S. to voluntarily leave the U.S. "Make the right choice and go back to your country. Make the wrong choice and you'll never come back." President Donald Trump. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44459-haiti-flash-trump-administration-launches-mobile-app-for-self-expulsion.html Inauguration of the PIM Fire Center On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, Presidential Advisor Frinel Joseph presided over the inauguration ceremony of the Metropolitan Industrial Park Fire and Rescue Center (CIS/PIM), alongside several senior officials from the public and private sectors. This center is essential for the protection of workers and industrial infrastructure. Another step towards an environment conducive to investment and the creation of sustainable jobs. Andre Michel advocates maintaining the Biden Program for Haiti "We have written to Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados and current Chair of CARICOM, asking her to use the meeting scheduled for Jamaica on Wednesday, March 26, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to request special consideration for Haitians currently in the United States as part of the Biden Program. Haiti is currently experiencing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Violence by armed gangs has displaced more than 1.2 million people in the past 12 months, according to United Nations figures. In this fragile context, Haiti is unable to welcome the beneficiaries of the Biden Program, who have already contributed significantly to increasing remittances from the diaspora to Haitian families." Andre Michel. Grand'Anse : Inauguration of the Chambellan Public Market The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was present at the inauguration of the Chambellan public market in Grand-Anse. This project was carried out with the assistance of the International Labor Organization (ILO) in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP). The community's residents welcome this market, through which they will be able to sell their products with dignity. It will also promote local products and promote local economic development. Reminder : FIFA Player Agent Certification The Haitian Football Federation (FHF) reminds all interested parties that the registration deadline for the FIFA Player Agent Certification Exam is April 17, 2025, and that the exam will be held on April 18. Successful candidates will automatically obtain FIFA players' agent status and will also be authorized to practice in Haiti. For further information, please contact the FHF secretariat.general@fhf.ht. Additional information is also available on the official FIFA website, in the section dedicated to players' agents: agents.fifa.com/home HL/ HaitiLibre Artificial intelligence (AI) is associated with extensive political, social and economic expectations. This also applies to increasing productivity with the help of technology. The Cologne Institute for Economic Research (Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft, IW) has now investigated the question of what could be done in this area in Germany on behalf of the Joint Committee of German Industry and Commerce. Hubertus Bardt, Managing Director of Science at the IW Cologne, summarized the results of the report at the presentation in Berlin: AI is leading the local economy "back on the path to productivity". However, the technology will not bring about a new productivity miracle. Anzeige Since 1991, the performance of the economy has declined every decade, particularly due to the bursting of the dotcom bubble and the coronavirus pandemic, explained Bardt. In 2024, it was only 0.4 percent. This applies not only to Germany, but is an international trend. Taking into account the potential effects of AI, the IW projection shows average annual productivity growth in Germany of 0.9 percent for the years 2025 to 2030 and 1.2 percent for the following period up to 2040. A good two thirds of the expected upward trend over the next 15 years can be attributed to AI, explained Bardt. This is "the biggest technological lever we have". At the same time: "If we don't do it, others will." The increase is a "significant order of magnitude": around 3 percent of gross domestic product could be generated in the next ten years. At the same time, Germany must also make more of other production and location factors. This applies, for example, to the tax and energy system as well as the infrastructure. "We must prevent the number of working hours from slipping too much," emphasized the professor. In view of the ongoing demographic change in working life, "longer working weeks and longer working lives" should also be discussed, despite technology. Cost and time savings, but not a job killer According to the study, the use of AI "has the potential to realize productivity gains at the level of the individual workplace". However, the empirical evidence indicates that exploiting this potential is not automatic and that "specific conditions for success" can vary depending on the company, organizational area and workplace. So far, there is little to suggest that "the productivity potential of AI conceals labor-saving technical progress". The researchers do not consider chatbots and highly specialized AI systems in production to be job killers. According to the experts, there is consensus in the assessment"that AI leads to efficiency gains in the form of cost or time savings". However, the framework conditions, such as the AI Act in the EU, play a decisive role. The implementation of the AI regulation must be "manageable" with the help of concrete implementation aids, checklists and proven practical examples. Furthermore, the digital infrastructure and the availability of skilled workers form the decisive environment for AI in Germany. The number of professions that are "close to AI" will have risen to a third in Germany by 2023, explained Bardt. Specialists account for 13.5 percent, specialists for 6.7 percent and experts for 11.7 percent. At the same time, only 1.5 percent of the latter are not AI-savvy. Overall, AI is unlikely to be able to "replace a person that we will no longer have". AI use still restrained Anzeige However, the use of the technology is less pronounced than the potential, criticized the economist and business economist. In 2024, around 58% of dependent employees had not yet worked with AI. Only 10.3 percent considered themselves to be experienced with AI. The use of AI is also worthwhile for employees: AI users tend to earn more, which is partly due to their qualifications, but their salaries are also growing faster. According to the IW employment panel, 45% of AI-related employees have also increased their own work performance. Bardt reported that 80 percent of local companies stated that they did not know the business model for AI. He recommended that they simply get started and have something programmed for a manageable amount of money. The rest would take care of itself and everyone involved could have fun with such solutions. The expert also advised creating the foundations and acceptance for the use of AI, rethinking the culture of innovation and establishing ecosystems, especially between research, start-ups and industry. Just get started A German company does not necessarily have to build a large language model, Bardt illustrated. It is not always necessary to think only in terms of large AI projects. Medium-sized companies in Germany generally have their own IT infrastructure, servers and data, which can be used to scan tenders and filter specific requirements with the help of AI. Considering certain risks of misuse, guard rails or stop signs are necessary. However, AI is "not just a high-risk thing". DIHK Managing Director Helena Melnikov appealed to companies to "get a bit more out of it" by using the technology and gain "that decisive edge". DIHK division manager Rainer Kambeck described the necessary data infrastructure as "challenging for some SMEs". In addition to tax cuts, low energy costs and fundamental deregulation are needed. Polina Khubbeeva from the BDI welcomed the EU approach with AI factories in principle. However, the associated funding sums were not even enough to cover the hourly wage. In general, Brussels should focus more on competitiveness, which could be helped by a new Cloud Development Act, for example. (olb) 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. Amazon.com fails before Luxembourg's administrative court in its appeal against sanctions imposed by the national data protection authority CNPD (Commission nationale pour la protection des donnees). In 2021, the CNPD imposed a fine of 746 million euros on Amazon for violations of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). That was a record at the time. The main issue was Amazon's advertising targeting; the CNPD found that the company had not obtained the necessary consent from users. Anzeige In October 2021, Amazon challenged this decision by the CNPD. At the time, a company spokesperson said: "There was no breach of personal data protection and no customer data was disclosed to third parties." The penalty was disproportionate. At the beginning of 2024, a hearing was held before the Luxembourg Administrative Court. In its ruling of March 18, the court has now fully confirmed the CNPD's original decision. This means that the fine imposed for violations of the GDPR remains in place and Amazon must implement the corrective measures ordered by the supervisory authority. The Luxembourg judges also found that Amazon had also breached transparency and information obligations as well as data subject rights, including the right to access, rectify and erase processed data. Meta must pay more Amazon can appeal again, which would have a suspensive effect, the data protection authority explained. Amazon criticizes the ruling and believes that the CNPD's decision is based on "subjective" interpretations of data protection law, for which there had previously been no clear guidelines. The US company is considering further legal action. It could take the case all the way to the Luxembourg Supreme Court. With this case, Amazon currently ranks second among the decisions issued to date with the highest individual GDPR fines. In 2023, the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) imposed the new record fine of 1.2 billion euros on Meta Platforms for processing data without a legal basis. (ds) 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. More than two-thirds of employees with a higher university or postgraduate degree in Finland belonged to a trade union in 2023, according to Statistics Finland. Among employees with only upper secondary education, the corresponding figure was 48 percent. People with higher education are more likely to belong to a trade union, said Tuomo Heikura, senior actuary at Statistics Finland, in an article published in the organisations Tieto&trendit online journal. The study found that experts and specialists were significantly more likely to be union members than employees in manual roles or agricultural professions. Across all wage earners aged 15 to 74, the overall union membership rate in 2023 stood at 51 percent. In 2009, the share was around 65 percent. The decline in trade union membership has coincided with a steady rise in membership of unemployment funds without union affiliation. Last year, 26 percent of employees were members of unemployment funds only, while 23 percent belonged to neither a union nor a fund. Despite the downward trend, Finlands union membership rate remains high in international comparison. According to Heikura, the overall direction has been declining in other developed countries for decades. Gender differences also remain clear. In 2023, 57 percent of female employees were union members, compared to 46 percent of male employees. Union membership was more common among older age groups, especially those aged 50 to 64. Younger adults were less likely to be members. Employees with foreign backgrounds were also less frequently unionised than those with Finnish backgrounds. The findings are based on data from the Labour Force Survey and Employment Statistics compiled by Statistics Finland. The figures include register data on trade unions and unemployment funds, specifically membership fees that were paid and accepted in tax filings. The data does not include members who did not pay membership fees during the year, such as students or pensioners. The report reflects structural changes in the Finnish labour market and the evolving role of trade unions across different sectors and demographics. HT The Finnish Transport Workers Union (AKT) and the Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) announced the two-hour strike in protest against the governments ownership policies, specifically plans to raise board member compensation at the state-owned airline. Finnair will cancel 70 flights on Thursday 27 March as Finnish transport unions stage a political strike during the airlines annual general meeting. Around 6,500 passengers will be affected. The strike is set to take place from 14:00 to 16:00, coinciding with Finnairs AGM in Vantaa, which begins at 15:00. The disruption will affect services at Helsinki Airport, including check-in, baggage handling, and ground operations. According to the unions, the protest is political in nature and does not target collective bargaining outcomes or employer-specific contracts. The AKT said the proposed increases in board remunerationbetween 30 and 45 percent over two yearswere unacceptable given the states role as Finnairs majority shareholder. Finnairs Chief Operating Officer Jaakko Schildt described the action as disproportionate. We are doing everything we can to offer suitable reroutes for everyone, Schildt said in a statement. Affected customers have been notified and offered alternative routing options or refunds. Finnair has urged all passengers travelling on 27 March to check in early, monitor flight updates, and carry essential items in hand luggage. Finnair advised customers to use the airlines mobile app or Manage Booking service to follow the latest information regarding changes and rebooking. The airline has been in prolonged collective bargaining talks with its pilots for more than six months. Negotiations have included involvement from the National Conciliators office, as well as overtime bans and other industrial action. The employers group Palta suggested that the unions may be using the political protest to exert pressure on the current bargaining process. Finnair has reported improved financial performance in recent months, but the airline said earlier that pilot-led industrial actions had negatively affected its results. The Finnish state owns over 55 percent of Finnair. Proposed board compensation increases include a hike in the chairs annual remuneration from 61,200 to 88,000. Thursdays walkout will be the latest in a series of politically motivated labour protests in Finland, where unions have increasingly voiced opposition to state policy changes through targeted industrial actions. HT A total of 20,668 applicants selected a University of Helsinki bachelors or masters programme as their first choice. The university offers 4,770 places across 62 bachelors and masters programmes. University of Helsinki received 35,383 applications in the 2025 joint university admissions round. The number rose from 31,273 in 2024. The university was the most popular in Finland based on both first-choice applications and total applicant numbers. In bachelors programmes, the most sought-after option was the legal studies programme taught in Finnish in Helsinki, with 5,898 applicants. The second most popular was medicine with 4,181 applicants. Psychology followed with 3,733. In total, 32,984 people applied to the universitys bachelors programmes. The largest increase in applications was seen in the legal studies programme. This rise followed changes in the entrance examination format. Applicants can now apply to multiple programmes with one entrance exam. The Finnish-language legal studies programme in Helsinki grew by 45 percent from the previous year. Applications also rose sharply in the Swedish-language programmes. The legal studies programme taught in Swedish in Helsinki received 432 applications, up 69 percent from 2024. The bilingual programme in Vaasa attracted 2,958 applicants, a 30 percent rise. The Swedish-language programme in Vaasa received 262 applications, an increase of 72 percent. The most popular masters programme was health care development with 633 applicants. Psychology was second with 333, and the pharmacy programme third with 326. Masters programmes drew 2,571 applications in total. Final application numbers may change slightly as authorities check payment obligations for applicants from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland. In addition to joint admissions, applicants may apply through the open university path if they have completed studies in open university. A total of 238 people used this route in 2025, compared to 228 in 2024. The most interest via the open university path was in computer science, with 47 applicants. Social sciences followed with 38. The path also drew 177 applicants to the field of education, which included a new option for early childhood education applicants who already qualify as early childhood social workers. That programme received 51 applications. Anu Haapala, Director of Development at the university, commented on the open university route. It is good to see the steady interest in the open path. Those admitted this way are already familiar with the programme and continue well into their degree, she said. About half of all bachelors students are selected based on their matriculation examination results. These applicants will receive their decisions on Opintopolku.fi by 26 May 2025. Universities will organise nine national entrance examinations in 2025. These allow applicants to apply to multiple programmes and universities using a single test. The exams will take place over six days between 26 May and 6 June 2025. The changes aim to reduce applicant stress and allow broader application opportunities. The amount of pre-exam materials will also be reduced. Materials will be released only a few days before the test dates. Admissions decisions based on entrance exams will be announced by 3 July 2025 on Opintopolku.fi. Masters students are mainly selected based on submitted application documents. Results for all masters programmes will be published by 3 July 2025. The university will release detailed data on applicant numbers and available places on 26 March 2025. More detailed statistics, including gender distribution, language background, and number of first-time and first-choice applicants, will be published later on the same website. HT The ship carried over 110,000 bags of sugar. To allow drydock access, 14,135 sacks were offloaded into a customs shed in San Juan. In 1962 , the CIA contaminated a shipment of Cuban sugar bound for the Soviet Union as part of a covert operation aimed at disrupting the Cuban economy. The action took place in Puerto Rico when the freighter Streatham Hill, a British vessel leased to the Soviets, docked for repairs after damaging its propeller on a reef. During this time, CIA agents accessed the storage facility and adulterated the sugar with a non-toxic but unpalatable substance. The goal was to spoil the cargo and force its rejection by the intended Soviet recipients. The operation occurred in the context of broader U.S. efforts to weaken the government of Fidel Castro following the failed Bay of Pigs invasion. CIA officials viewed economic sabotage as a method to undermine Cuban trade and international alliances without direct military intervention. The sabotage of the sugar was approved within the CIAs Plans Division and apparently supported by a sub-Cabinet group involved in covert policy coordination. While the sugar contamination never became public at the time, the CIA incident later emerged as a clear example of unchecked agency activity. The operation advanced without full awareness or authorisation from the White House. The action raised concern about the CIAs ability to carry out acts with foreign policy consequences independent of Presidential approval. The sugar plot formed part of a wider pattern of CIA activity during the Cold War. Other clandestine operations included the 1954 coup in Guatemala against Jacobo Arbenz, which was supported by U.S. business interests and resulted in decades of instability. The CIA also backed anti-government forces in Indonesia, supplied Tibetan resistance fighters against China, and experimented with mind-control projects under MK-Ultra. In Congo, the agency played a role in efforts to remove Patrice Lumumba, the country's first elected prime minister. These and similar activities exposed a willingness to pursue foreign intervention through deception, sabotage, and manipulation. Within the U.S. government, these operations often bypassed the State Department and even senior National Security Council staff. Political officers were routinely excluded from the planning or execution of covert actions, while ambassadors were kept in the dark about missions taking place in their jurisdictions. Recently declassified JFK documents describe that in the case of the Streatham Hill, a White House official learned of the sabotage after spotting paperwork indicating interference with the cargo. Upon investigation, the contamination was confirmed. When President John F. Kennedy was informed, he reacted with anger. He directed that the adulterated sugar be blocked from leaving Puerto Rico. The combined efforts of the Justice Department, FBI, customs officers, and port authorities ensured the shipment never reached Soviet hands. HT Rutte, speaking during a visit to Warsaw, said he was informed mid-speech of the soldiers' deaths. He described the incident as a terrible tragedy and offered condolences to the victims families. Four US soldiers have died during a military exercise in Lithuania, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed on Wednesday. We dont yet know the details, but this is clearly devastating news, he told reporters, according to statements carried by international media. Lithuanian authorities had earlier confirmed that four US soldiers and an armoured vehicle went missing during a scheduled tactical drill near the town of Pabrade on Tuesday. The area lies roughly 10 kilometres from the Belarusian border. The troops were part of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. They were participating in a planned NATO training operation when contact was lost. Lithuanias Ministry of Defence said the disappearance was reported Tuesday afternoon. Search and rescue efforts began shortly thereafter. By Wednesday evening, officials confirmed the area where the incident occurred had been located. The cause of death remains unclear. Lithuanian national broadcaster LRT reported that the soldiers "may have died", citing defence sources. NATO later confirmed the fatalities, though full details remain undisclosed. The US Embassy in Vilnius stated on social media platform X that the US military was cooperating with Lithuanian police and armed forces in the search operation. The embassy did not initially confirm the deaths but acknowledged the ongoing efforts. Lithuanias President Gitanas Nauseda declined to comment on the specifics of the case but confirmed he had been briefed on developments. Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas travelled to the site of the incident on Wednesday. The missing vehicle was described as a tracked armoured vehicle, though no model was specified. Its current condition has not been reported. NATO forces are regularly stationed in Lithuania as part of the alliances eastern deterrence measures. The Baltic state currently hosts more than 1,000 US troops. Pabrade is a key training location for NATO exercises, situated close to the strategic Suwaki Gap a narrow corridor between Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, considered one of NATOs most vulnerable points. The US and NATO have not indicated whether the incident involved hostile action or equipment failure. Lithuania's Armed Forces have stated that a full investigation is underway. This marks one of the most serious training-related incidents involving US forces in the region in recent years. NATO has not released the names of the deceased soldiers pending notification of next of kin. HT Chinese VP meets Singaporean deputy PM Xinhua) 15:13, March 26, 2025 BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat on Wednesday in Beijing. Han said that over the past year, China-Singapore relations have witnessed steady and in-depth development. Noting that China's development has benefited from reform and opening-up, he said that China will remain committed to high-level opening-up and high-quality development. China is willing to take the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to continue to give full play to the role of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, push for greater development of China-Singapore all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership, and make new contributions to regional and world peace and development, Han said. Hailing China's development achievements, Heng said that under the current situation, all parties should adhere to opening-up and cooperation and safeguard multilateral mechanisms. Singapore is willing to continue to actively participate in China's development process and is full of confidence in the development of bilateral relations, Heng said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Boao Moments: Former Finnish PM praises China's ambitious growth target, importance of Asia in facing global challenges 16:04, March 26, 2025 By Chang Sha, Wang Yuheng, Wu Yanhong ( People's Daily Online "I think times are challenging everywhere, and these global challenges have an impact on China as well," Esko Aho, former Prime Minister of Finland, told People's Daily Online during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025, which runs from March 25 to 28 this year, in Boao town, south China's Hainan Province. Despite all the challenges lying ahead, Aho believes that China's growth target for 2025 is "an ambitious plan." The former prime minister also mentioned three common issues that the international community is facing, namely green transition, new energy and the silver economy. To rise up to these challenges, he stresses the role of technology for sustainable solutions as well as the important role Asia will play in the entire process. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Du Mingming) A tragic accident in Costa Rica has claimed the life of Brett Gardner's 14-year-old son, Miller Gardner. Authorities believe the cause was asphyxiation, prompting an investigation into the circumstances. What exactly is asphyxiation, and what steps can families take to protect their loved ones? Cause of Miller Gardner's Death According to NBC News, initial findings suggest asphyxiation, possibly linked to food consumption. Costa Rican officials stated the death appears to have resulted from asphyxia following suspected intoxication after ingesting food. Statement from Brett and Jessica Gardner: 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. We have so many pic.twitter.com/lBCBVmKGUe New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 23, 2025 With the focus on 'asphyxiation' in this heartbreaking situation, it raises the vital question: what exactly does that term mean, and what measures can be taken to avoid it? What Is Asphyxiation? Essentially, asphyxiation signifies a state where the body lacks adequate oxygen. This oxygen deficiency disrupts breathing and can lead to unconsciousness and, in severe cases, death. Asphyxia and suffocation are other terms used to describe this condition. Asphyxiation is a more frequent occurrence than many realise. Data from the Cleveland Clinic indicates that close to 19,000 individuals in the United States lost their lives to asphyxiation in 2016 alone. Also, between 2018 and 2019, asphyxiation stood as the number one cause of accidental fatalities in children younger than 12 months. Identifying Symptoms And Understanding Causes What are the signs of asphyxiation? Here's what to look for: Struggling to breathe (dyspnea). Rapid or heavy breathing (hyperventilation). Fainting or loss of consciousness. Coughing fits. A rough or strained voice. Trouble speaking. Changes in the face or lip colour (red, purple, blue, or grey). Problems swallowing. Memory issues. Loss of bladder or bowel control. Feeling lightheaded. Headaches Asphyxiation Prevention: Crucial Steps To Take Taking proactive safety measures is the most effective way to prevent asphyxiation. If you observe someone struggling to breathe, calling emergency services (911) without delay is critical. In light of the tragic circumstances surrounding Miller Gardner, it is crucial to emphasise safe eating practices. Always chew food slowly and speak only after swallowing. Additionally, closely monitor young children during meals, encouraging them to take small bites and avoid talking until they've finished chewing. The Cleveland Clinic advises that individuals with food allergies should always carry an EpiPen. It's also vital to meticulously review ingredient labels on all food products. This can also happen during physical activities. For safety, always swim with a companion. If you're not a swimmer, wear a life jacket. In roughly 10% of drowning incidents, a sudden closure of the vocal cords, known as laryngospasm, occurs upon initial water inhalation. This leads to death by asphyxiation, even though water won't be present in the lungs. For those with existing medical conditions, the Cleveland Clinic recommends keeping an inhaler readily available for those with asthma. When you inhale a substance that replaces oxygen in your lungs, it's called chemical asphyxiation. This process blocks oxygen from reaching vital organs. Carbon monoxide, cyanide, hydrogen sulfide, and household cleaning chemicals can cause this. Therefore, it is useful to install carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home. Additionally, ensure a qualified technician conducts annual inspections of all fuel-burning appliances, such as your furnace, water heater, and oven. The Gardner Case: A Reminder Of Asphyxiation's Dangers The discussion of asphyxiation's risks brings us back to the heartrending situation involving Miller Gardner and the continued efforts to understand what occurred. Authorities found the teenager's body in a Manuel Antonio hotel room on Friday. The latest we know on the heartbreaking tragedy that struck former @Yankees player Brett Gardner and his family... @fox5ny pic.twitter.com/WNziCDNKfA Meredith Gorman (@MereGorman) March 25, 2025 As mentioned by Inside Edition, Gardner was lodging at the Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest resort, a premium location. It is reported that the family is collaborating with Costa Rican authorities to return his body to the U.S. In the meantime, officials are waiting on the results of an autopsy and toxicology tests to confirm the cause of death officially. Over the weekend, Gardner and his wife, Jessica, shared the heartbreaking news, stating that their son had become ill 'along with several other family members.' Originally published on IBTimes UK Russia and Ukraine agreed Tuesday to halt military strikes in the Black Sea and on energy sites during talks brokered by the United States, which offered to ease pressure on agricultural exports as a first concrete incentive to Moscow. With President Donald Trump pushing for a rapid end to the war that has killed tens of thousands of people, US negotiators shuttled separately over three days in the Saudi capital Riyadh between delegations from Ukraine and Russia. In parallel statements, the White House said that each country "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 said it would also look for ways to enforce a ban on strikes on energy infrastructure in the two countries. The Kremlin meanwhile said the agreement to halt strikes on the Black Sea could come into force only after the lifting of restrictions on its agriculture sector. It said Russia and the United States agreed that a 30-day energy truce ordered by Vladimir Putin last week applies to pipelines, power stations and refineries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has turned to diplomacy after heavy pressure from Trump including a brief ban on US aid and intelligence sharing, said it was too early to tell if the agreements would work but that they were "the right steps." Zelensky told a news conference in Kyiv that the talks also discussed bringing in third parties to oversee a future truce. He said that Turkey, which has maintained ties with both sides, could monitor the situation on the Black Sea and that a Middle Eastern nation could supervise the energy agreement. Trump spoke directly to Putin after taking office, ending the ostracization of him by the West since he ordered the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In the first concrete step by the United States toward Russia in return for the engagement, the White House said it would "help restore access to the world market" for Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports. The United States never directly put sanctions on Russian agriculture but had restricted access to payment systems used for international transactions. The issue became a major talking point for Russia, which told countries in the developing world that US policies -- not the war itself -- were contributing to higher prices. Moscow said the deal would "come into force" after the "lifting of sanctions restrictions" on the Russian Agricultural Bank and other "financial institutions involved in international trade of food," and only after they are reconnected to the SWIFT international payment system. Zelensky, while saying he did not know full details of the US decision, voiced alarm. "We believe that this is a weakening of the position and a weakening of sanctions," he said. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who took part in the talks, said details on the Black Sea agreement were still being worked out. 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." 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 allowed millions of tonnes of grain and other food exports to be shipped safely from Ukraine's ports, but Russia had complained 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." Zelensky said he was expecting to gain clarity from a coming summit in Paris on which countries might contribute forces to oversee possible truce agreements by sending peacekeepers to his country. The Saudi talks came as both Russia and Ukraine escalate their attacks on the ground, with Kyiv saying its air defense units had downed 78 of 139 drones launched by Russia on Tuesday. In Ukraine's northeastern city of Sumy, officials said the toll from a Russian strike in a residential area a day earlier climbed to 101 wounded, including 23 children, with one adult and one child in serious condition. Russia has advanced in some areas of the front for months and on Tuesday claimed to have captured two more villages in southern and eastern Ukraine. Palestinians staged on Tuesday what seemed to be the largest protest against Hamas, the militant group that rules Gaza with an iron fist. Videos in the territory show large crowds marching through the streets of northern Gaza chanting "for god's sake, Hamas out," "Hamas terrorist" and "we want an end to the war," a CNN reporter on the ground detailed. The protests come after Israel resumed its attacks on Gaza as negotiations to end the war stalled. The Hamas-run health ministry said on Sunday that the death toll since October 7, 2023, when members of the group crossed into Israel killing some 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, surpassed 50,000. The figure represents over 2% of the population, considering some 2.1 million Palestinians live in Gaza. CNN reported that a message shared on social media called for nine protests across Gaza, with organizers saying "our voices must reach all the spies who sold our blood." "Let them hear your voice, let them know that Gaza is not silent and that there is a people who will not accept to be eradicated," the message added. Since rising to power in 2007 in a bloody coup, Hamas has ruled Gaza with an iron fist. Dissidents are often surveilled and beat or executed, and Israel has repeatedly accused militants of stealing most of the aid going into the territory since the war began. As the ceasefire collapses, Israel has threatened o invade certain parts of Gaza which will be "annexed to Israel", according to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, unless Hamas returns all remaining hostages. 59 hostages remain in Gaza, although more than half are believed to be dead. Hamas, which stated that it "remains at the heart of negotiations" with mediators and President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has further stated that its goals are "achieving a prisoner exchange deal that secures the release of prisoners, ends the war, and achieves withdrawal." Originally published on Latin Times The Atlantic published additional text messages Wednesday from a Signal group chat involving top Trump national security officials. This sheds light on a serious breach in operational security regarding a Houthi attack. The newly released messages, according to CNN, outline detailed military plans, including specific timelines and operational strategies, shared among officials before the attack took place. The release of these messages comes after members of the Trump administration criticized The Atlantic and its editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, for their initial report, asserting that the messages did not contain classified information. However, Goldberg and The Atlantic's Shane Harris responded, emphasizing that their findings suggested otherwise. "There is a clear public interest in disclosing the sort of information that Trump advisers included in nonsecure communications channels, especially because senior administration figures are attempting to downplay the significance of the messages that were shared," they wrote. The newly published texts from the Signal group chat contradict claims from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other top officials who had denied that sensitive war plans were discussed. "These are operational plans that are highly classified in order to protect the service members," a US defense official familiar with the operation told CNN. Another source who was briefed on it afterward added: "It is safe to say that anybody in uniform would be court-martialed for this... We don't provide that level of information on unclassified systems, in order to protect the lives and safety of the service members carrying out these strikes. If we did, it would be wholly irresponsible. My most junior analysts know not to do this." At 11:44 a.m. ET, Hegseth sent a message with precise details of the military operation: "Weather is FAVORABLE. Just CONFIRMED w/CENTCOM we are a GO for mission launch." The detailed operational timeline included: 12:15 p.m. ET: F-18s launch (first strike package) F-18s launch (first strike package) 1:45 p.m. ET: Strike drones launch (MQ-9s) Strike drones launch (MQ-9s) 2:10 p.m. ET: More F-18s launch (second strike package) More F-18s launch (second strike package) 2:15 p.m. ET: Strike drones on target (first bombs drop) Strike drones on target (first bombs drop) 3:36 p.m. ET: Second strike begins, sea-based Tomahawks launched This information was shared approximately two hours before the scheduled start of bombing Houthi positions. According to The Atlantic's reporting, had these details been intercepted, American personnelparticularly pilotscould have been exposed to significant risks during the operation. While top U.S. officials have asserted that the details in the messages were not classified, the disclosure of such precise strike timings raises concerns about potential vulnerabilities in operational security. Later in the day, national security adviser Mike Waltz confirmed the success of the strike, while Hegseth assured the group that additional strikes were underway. Following the publication of the messages, the White House sought to discredit The Atlantic's reporting, but the National Security Council has verified the authenticity of the text thread. Goldberg and Harris, standing by their report, emphasized that the public has a right to access this critical information, especially given the attempts to downplay its significance by senior administration figures. Ennismore, the fastest-growing lifestyle and leisure hospitality company, in partnership with Groupe Sebban, proudly announces the signing of an MOU to bring Mama Shelter to Toulon, France. Set to open in late 2027, Mama Shelter Toulon marks the brand's exciting arrival in the Mediterranean city, bringing its signature blend of bold design, playful spirit, and vibrant social scene to the heart of Toulon. The signing took place at a ceremony with the Mayor of Toulon on 20th March 2025, with Jeremie Trigano, the founder of Mama Shelter and Cedric Gobilliard, Brand COO for Mama Shelter at Ennismore. Mama Shelter Toulon will be located on Cours Lafayette, a lively and historic area known for its market and proximity to the city's cultural landmarks. The hotel will be housed within the Ancien Eveche de Toulon, a historic site undergoing a significant renovation that blends heritage with contemporary design. The hotel will offer 100 uniquely styled rooms across five levels, including some with private terraces. Room sizes will range from 21m to 32m for family accommodations. Guests will be welcomed in a double-height lobby, embodying Mama Shelter's signature eclectic and dynamic atmosphere. At the heart of the hotel will be a vibrant restaurant and bar featuring more than 150 seats, set around a preserved plane tree and enclosed within a glass roof. Guests can also enjoy a terrace on Place Paul Conte, reinforcing Mama's commitment to integrating into the local community. The hotel will feature two high-tech seminar rooms for meetings and events, catering to Toulon's growing demand for dynamic and connected meeting spaces. Perfectly positioned near Toulon's bustling city centre and harbour, Mama Shelter Toulon is set to become a new hotspot, reflecting the brand's bold, irreverent, and inclusive approach to hospitality. Founded by Serge Trigano and his two sons, Jeremie and Benjamin, Mama Shelter is a place to live life to the full: it's affordable, irreverent, popular, sassy, and sexy. Mama has created havens for her guests. Much like a mother who cares for her children, Mama looks after travellers as if they were her own. Hotels followed the first Mama Shelter in Paris East in Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Prague, Belgrade, Toulouse, Lille, London, Paris West, Luxembourg, Rome, Lisbon, Paris La Defense, Rennes, Dijon, along with the latest openings in Nice and Dubai. Future hotels include Zurich, Lake Como, Casablanca, Cape Town and Amsterdam. Hotel website Novotel, a global champion of balanced living, proudly announces the opening of Novotel New Delhi City Centre, a haven of modern hospitality in the heart of India's vibrant capital city. Strategically located near key business hubs, shopping destinations and cultural landmarks, Novotel New Delhi City Centre offers exceptional connectivity and convenience. With 124 thoughtfully designed guest rooms, including an elegantly appointed Presidential Suite, the hotel caters to travellers seeking a seamless blend of comfort, functionality and eco-conscious design, in alignment with Accor's global sustainability goals. The hotel's warm and intuitive design welcomes guests with a naturally lit lobby, setting the tone for an energised and comforting stay. For meetings, events and celebrations, Novotel New Delhi City Centre boasts over 10,000 square feet of adaptable venues, including the expansive Ballroom, ideal for weddings, conferences, and social gatherings. Guests can embark on a culinary journey at Food Exchange, the hotel's all-day dining restaurant offering an eclectic selection of Indian and international cuisines. For a more casual experience, the Gourmet Bar serves an enticing range of beverages and light bites, while the rooftop bar, adjacent to the infinity pool, features panoramic views of the city - a perfect spot to unwind. The hotel features state-of-the-art wellness facilities, with the brand's signature fitness centre, In Balance by Novotel, as well as an infinity pool that offers an oasis of calm amidst the bustling city. In 2024, Novotel entered into a three-year agreement with World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) to champion the protection and restoration of the world's oceans, the greatest source of balance for the planet. The brand has built a science-based Positive Impact Plan, rooted in three of the United Nations' priority ocean-related actions: reducing marine pollution and ocean acidification; fighting overfishing and promoting sustainable fishing models; and increasing scientific knowledge and research for ocean health. With a global presence of more than 590 hotels across 60+ countries and 170 additional properties in development, Novotel continues to inspire balanced living while addressing critical environmental challenges. Hotel website The Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India's leading hospitality company, today announced the signing of the Palitana Palace under the Taj brand in Palitana, Gujarat. Further to extensive restoration, the 65-key Taj Palitana will feature luxurious rooms and suites, offering a perfect blend of historical charm and modern luxury. The hotel will include an all-day diner, a specialty restaurant, a lounge, and state-of-the-art facilities such as a gym, pool, and spa. Catering to the growing demand for social and wedding events, the Palitana Palace will house a 3,000 sq. ft. ballroom, flexible meeting spaces, and outdoor lawns. In addition to restoring the Palace to its original grandeur, a collection of royal art and historical artifacts will be displayed within the property. Palitana in Gujarat's Bhavnagar district is a renowned spiritual and cultural destination and its rich history, and architectural marvels make it a must-visit. IHG Hotels & Resorts is pleased to announce the appointment of Yann Gillet as Area General Manager for Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa and Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman. A respected hospitality leader with over 25 years of global experience, Gillet is known for his strategic vision, guest-centric leadership, and ability to elevate luxury properties worldwide. Gillet joins IHG Hotels & Resorts from One&Only Aesthesis on the Athens Riviera, where he played an integral role in shaping the resort's ultra-luxury positioning. Prior to that, he led the iconic Hotel Martinez in Cannes, enhancing its Riviera-lifestyle allure and strengthening its reputation as a premier European destination. His distinguished career also includes leadership roles at Grand Hyatt Sao Paulo, Park Hyatt Chennai, Park Hyatt Johannesburg, and Hyatt Regency Casablanca, where he successfully implemented strategic growth initiatives, navigated complex market conditions, and introduced transformative guest experiences.As he steps into his new role overseeing Grand Cayman's most sought-after resorts, Gillet will lead operations at both Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa and Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman, ensuring each continues to push boundaries in luxury, lifestyle, and guest experiences. A native of Bordeaux, France, Gillet holds a degree in Hospitality Management from the Paris Hotel School, a master's in Hotel Administration from the Hotel Management School of Strasbourg, and an MBA-equivalent in Finance from Sorbonne University. An avid runner and triathlete, he enjoys outdoor adventures with his Beagle and is relocating to Grand Cayman with his wife, Lucile, as they embrace island life. Travellers could opt in for a lower emissions hotel room and go without single-use shampoo and conditioner, daily towels or room cleaning in an innovative plan by University of Queensland researchers to make tourism more eco-friendly. Professor Sara Dolnicar from UQs School of Business said the proposed model could be a game-changer for the tourism industry. It would be similar to how accommodation providers already offer the same room with or without free cancellation, or with or without breakfast, Professor Dolnicar said. 8.8% of all greenhouse gas emissions are generated from tourism - 21% of that from accommodation. Tourism-based emissions are increasing by 3.5% every year. Professor Dolnicar said its as simple as a hotel forgoing single-use shampoo bottles and slippers, eliminating daily towel and room cleaning, or even removing mini bar options. By offering lower emissions rooms, we can provide consumers with affordable, sustainable choices that directly impact the carbon footprint of the tourism industry without decreasing consumer satisfaction, she said. The concept has already been tested with promising results in collaboration with DOMA Hotels. Without targeted marketing, 6% of bookings on the hotels website were for lower emissions hotel rooms and 100% of those who booked this option stated they would do so again. UQ PhD candidate Dorine von Briel, who led the research, said adoption of the model would be easy because it would not need to be orchestrated or coordinated. By empowering tourists to make sustainable choices, we can create a ripple effect that encourages the entire industry to step up its environmental game, she said. Ms von Briel said lower emissions products cut through the noise by providing clear, simple, and affordable options that align with growing demand for greener travel experiences. Consumers are becoming more aware of environmental sustainability but are often overwhelmed by complex eco-certifications and varying labels, she said. Lower emissions products can be monitored through online reviews, reducing the need for complex certification schemes and combating greenwashing with consumer power. The research has been published in Annals of Tourism Research. UQ Communications Hospitality employees are embracing AI to deliver better guest experiences with almost all saying it has had a positive impact on their workplace. New research from The Access Group found that 54% of people who work in hospitality, and who regularly handle information as part of their job, use AI tools, and 91% say its been beneficial. The Access Group surveyed employees in 12 industries and professions. While the hospitality sector was behind the tech industry (with 74% adoption), it was way ahead of not-for-profit, and health and social care sectors at 29% and 30% respectively. Hospitality staff cite better productivity, reduced workloads and cost-savings as the top benefits of AI but nearly two-fifths see it as a way to enhance customer experiences. Top five benefits of AI according to hospitality professionals: Employees are more productive (45%) Reduces workload (42%) Saves the business money (41%) Better customer service (39%) Helps people think outside the box (36%) Generative AI tool, ChatGPT is the most popular application used by nearly half of the respondents, and three-quarters say it has reduced their stress levels. However, the survey also revealed some concerns, with 42% fearing it could replace people. Hospitality is an inherently human industry which might seem at odds with the rise of AI, but we know that the two can work hand-in-hand. Our survey found that 39% of hospitality staff see AI as a way to enhance customer service the highest of any sector analysed, and well above the all-sector average of 29%. Any efficiencies pub or restaurant groups can make, at both a head office and operational level, will free up staff to focus on delivering more personalised guest experiences. Its certainly not about replacing people, especially in a sector like hospitality which has experienced labour challenges for years. Champa Magesh, Managing Director - Access Hospitality Marko Perisic, Chief Product and Engineering Officer at The Access Group, said that the adoption of AI in hospitality was positive but added that employees must be given the right tools and training. There are so many AI tools out there, and hospitality employees are already using them in creative ways, such as developing content and using software to help their venue stand out and deliver that all-important personalised experience. We know that there can also be downsides to AI if left unchecked so its vital that companies choose vendors who understand the specific needs of the hospitality sector and who prioritise data security. This should be underpinned by clear company policies on AI and training on how to use it effectively. The full research can be found here: www.theaccessgroup.com/en-gb/evo/insights. For more information about Access Evo, The Access Groups new AI solution for businesses, visit: www.theaccessgroup.com/en-gb/evo. Methodology: The Access Group commissioned independent researchers GingerComms to survey people across the UK who handle data as part of their job, asking them to share candidly what impact it has had on the quality of their work, their time and their well-being. The survey was conducted between 10 and 17 September 2024 and generated 1,134 responses from employees across 12 UK industry sectors. About The Access Group The Access Group is one of the largest UK-headquartered business management software providers. It provides solutions that empower more than 100,000 small and mid-sized organisations in commercial and non-profit sectors across Europe, USA and APAC, giving every employee the freedom to do more of what's important. Its innovative cloud solutions and integrated AI software experience across multiple Access products transform how business technology is used. Access employs over 7,000 people, continuously driving product innovation and customer service excellence. For more information, visit www.theaccessgroup.com or follow @TheAccessGroup. Asias largest software solution provider for hospitality, IDS Next, recently completed the acquisition of ShawMan Software, further strengthening the formers position as the only global leader in comprehensive ERP solutions for hotels, restaurants, wellness, and banquets & events sectors. This strategic move, which was first initiated in 2022, is now facilitated through the National Company Law Tribunal, India, marking a key moment in IDS Nexts journey as a full-stack enterprise cloud solutions provider for the industry. Since its inception, IDS Next has been at the forefront of hotel ERP solutions. By integrating ShawMans point of sales, table booking, spa management, and club management technology, IDS Next will continue its offerings to multiple verticals not limited to hotels, setting the standard for seamless, end-to-end hospitality technology. This acquisition aligns with our mission to redefine hospitality operations through smart solutions using all-in-one and best-in-breed software. As we move forward, we will continue to invest in leading technologies and innovation, including AI. By creating a seamless ecosystem of hospitality technology, we not only accelerate our growth but also enhance our customers capacities. Binu Mathews, CEO of IDS Next With this acquisition, existing customers of ShawMan Software will gain access to IDS Nexts robust infrastructure, 24/7 multilingual customer support, enhanced disaster recovery, and seamless integrable solutions. Meanwhile, existing IDS Next customers will benefit from an expanded suite of hospitality solutions, catering to multiple hospitality verticals that cover both front and back-end operations. The integration reinforces IDS Nexts commitment to innovation, providing a powerful, unified technology ecosystem for the global hospitality sector. This is an immense opportunity for us to provide enhanced end-to-end solutions. We are thrilled about this new merger, and with our combined expertise, together we can offer our customers and partners better solutions with global reach. Jimmy Shaw, Founder of ShawMan Software and Director at IDS Next With this acquisition, IDS Next is more powerful than everready to redefine hospitality technology and redefine hospitality businesses worldwide with cutting-edge, enterprise-grade solutions. About IDS Next IDS Next is the largest hospitality solutions provider in emerging markets, catering to global customers in over 50 countries with award-winning software. Streamlining both front and back-office hospitality operations, IDS Next provides full-stack ERP solutions for hotels, restaurants, wellness, and banquets & events sectors and integrates with over 350 leading technology partners. Having over 35 years of experience, the company promises the most secure operations with its PA DSS-certified and compliance with global regulations, including GDPR and SOC I and II. Today, the company powers 300,000+ rooms, 220+ hotel chains, 25,000+ POS outlets and 300+ leisure venues across the globe. Spanning across Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim, the company is trusted by renowned hospitality brands, including Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Taj Hotels, ITC Hotels, Choice Hotels and Louvre Hotels Group, for more, visit www.idsnext.com. Tanya Girdhar John Vice President- Marketing View source Pioneer of French luxury hospitality, Sofitel is redefining storytelling with Sofitel Encounters an innovative video series that takes audiences through a unique blend of elegance, humour, and cinematic artistry. Launching on 17th March 2025, the series will be rolled out across the brand's global lnstagram, Facebook and YouTube channels, and, in a first for Sofitel, TikTok. A playful peek inside the world of hospitality Created in collaboration with the leading luxury creative & digital agency, Publicis Luxe, and directed by Spain-based film director Fabio de Frel, Sofitel Encounters takes audiences on a journey of heartfelt encounters experienced between guests and employees. From perfectionist Chefs debating the art of croissant-making in the kitchen to special friendships made between guests and hotel staff the series takes viewers behind the grand lobbies and plush suites to provide a relatable, yet irresistibly chic look at the inner-workings of some of the world's most luxurious hotels. Three episodes, released in three separate parts, each introduce a fresh lineup of eclectic characters including an eccentric bestselling author who entertains the hotel staff with his imaginative story ideas, to a sophisticated woman with a morning routine so elaborate it borders on the surreal. Whether it's an ASMR-style pillow menu review, a delectable croissant tasting ritual, or a silent comedic standoff between guests who refuse to give up their Sofite/ MY BED, Sofitel Encounters delivers a refined yet playful take on what makes a Sofitel stay so unforgettable. Luxury storytelling reimagined> The video-series marks a new era for Sofitel's social media presence with the brand moving towards more snackable and relatable storytelling that reaches its ever-increasing Zillenial audience.Episodes offer an immersive look into behind-the-scenes content that invites viewers to virtually experience a stay in Sofitel's world of luxury. Sofitel's signature French Zest, a nod to the brand's French roots, is the core of the series with each episode highlighting a key tenet of the guest experience including the brand's elevated croissant experience that fuses French tradition with local flavours, La Haute Croissanterie, and its luxurious personalised sleep experience, So fitel MY BED. Celebrating Sofitel's official launch on TikTok The release of the video-series marks Sofitel's official launch onto TikTok, reaffirming the brand's commitment to building connections with a new generation of travellers by prioritising video-first content in a bold and entertaining way. This new campaign marks a bold step in elevating the Sofitel brand through fresh and dynamic content that appeals to a younger and increasing/y important audience for our brand. By blending refined storytelling with engaging and relatable humor, we want to connect all of our audiences in an authentic way on all the platforms they love. Xavier Royaux, Chief Marketing Officer of Sofitel, MGallery and Emblems. 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. limehome, Europe's leading provider of digitized design apartments, has secured strategic new investment projects in Cologne and Stuttgart, further solidifying its presence in key European markets. With these latest signings, the company surpasses 10,000 contracted units across Europe, marking a significant milestone in its rapid expansion. Having added 1,000 new units in the first quarter of 2025, the Munich-based company continues to be one of the fastest-growing hospitality providers in Europe. With its scalable business model and a strong track record in conversion and new development projects, limehome is experiencing strong demand across many primary and secondary cities throughout Europe. 10,000 apartments in just six years are a major achievement that underlines the added value of our innovative concept for our guests and real estate partners. We are particularly proud that this growth is based on the foundation of a sustainably profitable business. From an investment perspective, serviced apartments offer greater flexibility and more stable returns long-term compared to traditional hotel properties. In a competitive market, our predefined standards and streamlined processes enable us to acquire and implement projects with investors in record time. Dr. Josef Vollmayr, Co-CEO of limehome Dr. Josef Vollmayr - Founder & CEO Photo by limehome GmbH Recurring partnerships strengthen pipeline in Europes primary cities Drawing from a strong, established partner network that has both the expertise and the financial resources to realize serviced apartment projects profitably, limehome also announces four recent signings in key European primary cities, Barcelona and Madrid in Spain, as well as Cologne and Stuttgart in Germany. In Barcelona and Madrid, limehome continues its expansion with two significant projects signed with the same partner. The Barcelona property will feature 153 units, while the Madrid location will add another 107 to limehomes portfolio, demonstrating limehomes strong commitment to growth in key Southern European markets. In Cologne, limehome signed a lease for serviced apartments in a refurbishment on Hansaring in collaboration with GARBE Commercial Living. This involves the conversion of an office building, including a new facade design, which will create a total of 90 serviced apartments that meet state-of-the-art ESG standards. The mixed-use project provides for office use and gastronomy on the ground floor, with serviced apartments on the upper floors. The property opening is planned for the end of 2027. In Stuttgart, limehome repeats its successful collaboration with the real estate developer WATZL Group and implements a fourth common project, with 109 apartments planned in Rotebuhlstrasse, Stuttgart West. The follow-up investments in new developments are an absolute vote of confidence for us. Together with our partners, we want to continue to enable comfortable and fully digitalized stays for our guests in the future. The demand motivates us, and we will continue to expand our presence in Europe's major cities and most popular destinations. Daniel Hermann, Chief Growth Officer of limehome Daniel Hermann - CGO limehome Photo by limehome GmbH About limehome limehome is the leading technology-based provider of design apartments in Europe and an operator of fully digitised design serviced apartments. Through the fully digital guest journey from booking to check-out and invoicing, guests can experience maximum comfort with no waiting times, providing flexibility for their travel arrangements. limehome is "designed to stay": The fully equipped suites meet the highest standards in relation to functionality, comfort and design across all locations, and they are designed for short term and long term stays alike. Based on the tech-based operator model, the premium design serviced apartments can be offered at the price of a standard hotel room. The company employs more than 270 people and currently has more than 9.000 suites under contract at 300 locations in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Italy, Greece, and the Czech Republic. www.limehome.com WASHINGTON HSMAI Washington DC Chapter today invited Washington metropolitan area hospitality professionals to register for its next program, Beyond Boundaries: Collaborative Marketing Strategies, to be held April 23 at MGM National Harbor in Maryland. The event will present strategies for engaging with a wide range of audiences to ensure that marketing efforts are inclusive and impactful. Participants will discover how hospitality professionals can work with destinations to create compelling marketing campaigns that resonate with diverse groups. Specific topics will include: Practical ways to create marketing that connects with different audiences How hotels and local attractions can work together effectively Methods to measure campaign performance When to choose between digital and print marketing Communicating clearly during evolving situations This workshop will be a unique opportunity for hospitality sales and marketing executives in the Washington area to gain valuable knowledge from industry leaders who are at the forefront of inclusive marketing practices. Jeremy Huvard, regional director of sales and marketing for Donohoe Hospitality Services, and HSMAI DC chapter president Beyond Boundaries: Collaborative Marketing Strategies will be held April 23 at MGM National Harbor, 101 MGM National Blvd., National Harbor, Maryland. The cost is $50 for members and $65 for nonmembers. Parking is free for attendees during the day of the event. To register, click HERE or go to hsmaidc.org/events. About HSMAI Washington DC HSMAI Washington DC is a chapter of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International, an individual membership organization based in McLean, Virginia, composed of more than 5,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region. HSMAI is committed to growing business for hotels and their partners and is the industry's leading advocate for intelligent, sustainable hotel revenue growth. The association provides hotel professionals and their partners with tools, insights and expertise to fuel sales, inspire marketing and optimize revenue through programs, including the Adrian Awards, HSMAI Commercial Strategy Events, revenue optimization conferences and Sales Leader Forum. Click HERE to join HSMAI. For more information, go to www.hsmaidc.org. About HSMAI The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is committed to growing business for hotels and their partners and is the industry's leading advocate for intelligent, sustainable hotel revenue growth. The association provides hotel professionals and their partners with tools, insights, and expertise to fuel sales, inspire marketing, and optimize revenue through programs such as the Marketing Strategy Conference, Adrian Awards, Sales Leader Forum, and HSMAI ROC. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is a membership organization comprising more than 5,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region. Connect with HSMAI at hsmai.org. Dusit Greenhills Manila Hotel - Image Credit Dusit International Dusit International continues its expansion in the Philippines by signing a hotel management agreement for Dusit Greenhills Manila, set to open in 2026. The hotel will bring Thai-inspired hospitality to San Juan City's tallest skyscraper. Dusit International has signed an agreement with Primex Realty Corporation to manage the upcoming Dusit Greenhills Manila, a new hotel set to open in San Juan City, Metro Manila, by the end of 2026. The new establishment will be part of the Primex Tower, a 50-storey mixed-use development located in a prosperous residential district approximately 45 minutes from Manila International Airport. The hotel will occupy the top 10 floors of the tower, featuring 200 guest rooms and a variety of world-class facilities. The tower is set to be the tallest skyscraper in the area. Guests of Dusit Greenhills Manila will have access to various amenities, including an award-winning Thai restaurant, a rooftop bar with panoramic city views, a rooftop swimming pool, and a gym. The hotel will also feature a ballroom and fully equipped meeting rooms, making it an ideal setting for business and social events. Additionally, the hotel's location provides easy access to Greenhills Mall, a premier shopping and dining destination in San Juan. Gilles Cretallaz, Chief Operating Officer of Dusit International, expressed his delight at the partnership with Primex Realty Corporation. He highlighted the hotel's prime location and easy access to shopping, dining, and business hubs as key factors that will position Dusit Greenhills Manila to effectively serve both travellers and local residents. Advertisement This new venture underscores the Philippines' status as Dusit's second-largest market outside Thailand, with nine more properties set to open in the country over the next five years. Karlvin Ernest L Ang, Executive Vice President & Director of Primex Realty Corporation, also expressed confidence in collaborating with Dusit International. He believes that Dusit's reputation for luxury hospitality and its vision for development will contribute to creating an exceptional destination in San Juan. Dusit International currently operates 296 properties across 18 countries. Its existing portfolio in the Philippines includes Dusit Thani Manila, Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu Resort, Dusit Thani Residence Davao, dusitD2 Davao, and Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort. Image Credit Visit Isle of Man Tourism destinations increasingly adopt AI and data-driven technologies to improve visitor experiences and foster economic growth. This shift is evident in the innovative approaches adopted by the Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board, NYC Tourism + Conventions, and Visit Isle of Man. Jackson Hole, Wyoming, has partnered with Datafy to develop a data dashboard that helps balance economic growth with environmental preservation. The tool allows the tourist board to access critical data in an easy-to-understand format, enabling sustainable tourism management. The dashboard collects real-time data and organizes it to track key performance indicators (KPIs) like waste management, transportation, and wildlife interactions. This has made it easier for stakeholders to make informed decisions based on data rather than speculation. In New York City, AI is being used to enhance visitor interactions and engagement with meeting organizers. NYC Tourism has partnered with GuideGeek to develop an AI-powered tool that assists meeting planners in navigating the city's vast offers. The tool, launched in 2025, has resulted in impressive outcomes, such as a 100% increase in traffic to the meeting planner website and a 150% growth in newsletter sign-ups. At the Isle of Man, an innovation challenge has been launched to find developers who can build AI tools to promote local businesses and make the destination more accessible to visitors. The organization's AI initiatives aim to build brand awareness, optimize visitor experiences, and improve booking systems. This approach is intended to support small businesses, government-owned attractions, and third-sector-run experiences that often struggle with exposure and online bookings. All three examples indicate the transformative potential of AI and data analytics in the tourism industry. By leveraging these tools, destinations can streamline operations, enhance engagement, and build future-focused strategies to ensure competitiveness in the evolving tourism landscape. Integrating AI and data analytics in tourism is not just about pushing out informationit is about listening to the audience and refining strategies to provide better, more relevant content. The role of AI and data analytics in tourism is becoming increasingly crucial. From promoting sustainable tourism in Jackson Hole to enhancing digital engagement in NYC and empowering businesses in the Isle of Man, these tools are reshaping the global tourism industry. Destinations that embrace data-driven decision-making and AI-driven visitor engagement will be better equipped to navigate the future of travel. Discover more at PhocusWire. MGM National Harbor in Maryland - Image Credit MGM Resorts International HSMAI Washington DC Chapter today invited Washington metropolitan area hospitality professionals to register for its next program, Beyond Boundaries: Collaborative Marketing Strategies, to be held April 23 at MGM National Harbor in Maryland. The event will present strategies for engaging with a wide range of audiences to ensure that marketing efforts are inclusive and impactful. Participants will discover how hospitality professionals can work with destinations to create compelling marketing campaigns that resonate with diverse groups. Specific topics will include: Practical ways to create marketing that connects with different audiences How hotels and local attractions can work together effectively Methods to measure campaign performance When to choose between digital and print marketing Communicating clearly during evolving situations This workshop will be a unique opportunity for hospitality sales and marketing executives in the Washington area to gain valuable knowledge from industry leaders who are at the forefront of inclusive marketing practices, said Jeremy Huvard, regional director of sales and marketing for Donohoe Hospitality Services, and HSMAI DC chapter president. Beyond Boundaries: Collaborative Marketing Strategies will be held April 23 at MGM National Harbor, 101 MGM National Blvd., National Harbor, Maryland. The cost is $50 for members and $65 for nonmembers. Parking is free for attendees during the day of the event. To register, click HERE or go to hsmaidc.org/events. About HSMAI Washington DC HSMAI Washington DC is a chapter of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International, an individual membership organization based in McLean, Virginia, composed of more than 5,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region. HSMAI is committed to growing business for hotels and their partners and is the industry's leading advocate for intelligent, sustainable hotel revenue growth. The association provides hotel professionals and their partners with tools, insights and expertise to fuel sales, inspire marketing and optimize revenue through programs, including the Adrian Awards, HSMAI Commercial Strategy Events, revenue optimization conferences and Sales Leader Forum. Click HERE to join HSMAI. For more information, go to www.hsmaidc.org. CONTACT: Ellen Wilson Managing Director HSMAI Washington DC ewilson@hsmai.org 703-908-1021 Halcyon in Cherry Creek - Image Credit Makeready Experience Travel Outlook, the Premier Hotel Call Center is delighted to announce a strategic partnership with Makeready Experience, one of the leading independent hospitality management companies in the United States. This collaboration combines Travel Outlooks industry-leading call center services with Annette, The Virtual Hotel Agent to support Makereadys unique collection of properties. Makeready: Driving Hospitality Innovation with Technology Makeready is recognized for its innovative approach to creating and managing independent lifestyle hotels, restaurants, and retail brands. With properties such as Halcyon in Cherry Creek, The Ryder and The Emeline in Charleston, The Noelle in Nashville, and others, Makeready brings a unique, locally-rooted approach to hospitality that values authentic experiences and personalized service to connect guests to the local culture and unique spirit of each destination. The integration of Annette with Travel Outlooks advanced reservations team will allow Makeready to continue to blend pioneering technology with exceptional customer service to meet the demands of todays guests, all while alleviating the pressures of staffing shortages and rising operational costs. Eric Gavin, Makereadys President, said, at Makeready, we are always looking for ways to enhance guest experiences through thoughtful innovation. Our partnership with Travel Outlook allows us to elevate the level of service we provide by seamlessly integrating AI-driven technology with personalized human interaction. In a rapidly evolving industry, leveraging innovative solutions is key to anticipating our guests needs and delivering personalized, lifestyle-driven hospitality. With Travel Outlooks expertise in guest engagement, we can further our commitment to providing seamless, high-touch experiences that feel both intuitive and unexpected. Annette, The Virtual Hotel Agent: A Game-Changer for Hotel Operations and Guest Engagement Annette, designed specifically for the hospitality industry, is a guest-led conversational AI assistant that offers hotel guests a seamless, pleasant experience. With its AI capabilities powered by PolyAI, Annette can handle multiple calls in real time, clearly understanding guest inquiries and addressing them with personalized responses. From answering questions about hotel amenities to providing local recommendations, Annette manages interactions with human-like conversations, allowing hotel staff to focus on providing exceptional service to guests at the front desk. With software that incorporates Generative AI, Annette is equipped to provide guests with a natural and intuitive experience, around the clock. She can transfer calls to the appropriate department and send follow-up texts, and she can also engage guests in multiple languages, particularly valuable for hotels to deliver a uniform experience to a global audience. Travel Outlook Voice Reservations: Proven to Convert More Reservations Calls to Revenue Travel Outlook is the only call center certified by the Kennedy Training Network, ensuring a consistent, efficient approach that results in the conversion of up to 70% of qualified reservations calls into revenue at higher ADR. Travel Outlooks proprietary sales training, developed in partnership with Forbes and the Kennedy Training Network, ensures that every reservation call is handled with expertise, and with little wasted time. As AI continues to reshape the hospitality industry, we are proud to be at the forefront of this transformation, said John Smallwood, President of Travel Outlook. With Travel Outlooks exceptional talent and Annette's cutting-edge technology, Makeready can expect our team to assist them to continue to streamline operations and manage call volumes with unparalleled efficiency, crucial to staying competitive in todays market. For additional information on Travel Outlook, the Premier Hotel Call Center: John Smallwood President, Travel Outlook Email: jsmallwood@traveloutlook.com Phone: (844) 872-8356 Website: Travel Outlook About Travel Outlook The Premier Hotel Call Center Given its progressive approach to the voice channel in terms of performance, training, transparency, testing, and the AI tools used to measure performance Travel Outlook is the leading voice reservations team in hospitality. Its valued client list includes Viceroy Hotel Group, Curator Hotels and Resorts, Outrigger, Peregrine Hospitality, Proper Hospitality Group, Noble House, HEI, and many others. https://traveloutlook.com/ About Annette, The Virtual Hotel Agent Annette is a guest-led conversational AI assistant designed specifically for the hospitality industry. Annette has been programmed using a breakthrough approach to conversational AI, using natural language understanding software built from human conversations. Using social media, chat forums, and movie dialogue, Annette learns from billions of casual human conversations to understand human inflections and multi-turn queries. This revolutionary approach means Annette understands callers no matter what they say, when they say it, or how they speak. Annette can answer FAQs specific to your property, understand multiple languages, route calls, send follow up texts, and more. For more information, visit https://traveloutlook.com/annette/. About Makeready Experience Designed from the ground up to create truly independent hotel, restaurant and retail brands with individual points of view, Makeready is a different kind of hotel operator, one that provides an opportunity for travelers to connect to the world around them, city by city and person by person. Makeready is passionate about developing independent experiences that are an essential part of each community, cultivating deep, emotional connections across guests, teams and local brands to create sustainable value for investors. Makeready operates notable hotels, restaurants and retail shops throughout the country such as: Noelle, Keep Shop, Hidden Bar and Makeready L&L in Nashville; The Alida and Rhett in Savannah; The Adolphus and Commerce Goods + Supply in Dallas; Emeline, Frannie & The Fox and Hanks Seafood Restaurant in Charleston and its elevated venue space for private events, Hanks Social Hall. Find us online at www.Makereadyexperience.com or Instagram at www.instagram.com/Makereadyexp. Media contact: Caitlin Beveridge Taj Hotels Expands to Gujarat with New Palitana Palace Hotel - Image Credit IHCL The Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) has announced the addition of the Palitana Palace in Palitana, Gujarat to its Taj brand portfolio. Puneet Chhatwal, CEO of IHCL, states that the move is a testament to Taj's ongoing commitment to redefining luxury and preserving India's rich heritage. This partnership with His Highness Thakore Saheb Mandhatasinhji Jadeja of Rajkot is set to bring the historical charm of the Palitana Palace under the Taj brand. Chhatwal believes this addition will also enhance the appeal of Palitana, a revered spiritual destination in Gujarat, and create potential for growth in the region's social and wedding events segment. The 65-key Taj Palitana Palace will undergo extensive restoration to offer guests a unique blend of historical charm and modern luxury. The hotel will feature an all-day diner, a specialty restaurant, a lounge, and state-of-the-art facilities, including a gym, pool, and spa. The palace will also house a 3,000 sq. ft. ballroom, flexible meeting spaces, and outdoor lawns to cater to the growing demand for social and wedding events. His Highness Thakore Saheb Mandhatasinhji Jadeja, on behalf of Trident Developers Pvt. Ltd. and the Jadeja Royal Family of Rajkot, expresses immense pride in the collaboration. He believes transforming the Palitana Palace into a Taj hotel is a significant step towards preserving Palitana's heritage and enhancing its appeal to global travelers. With this latest addition, IHCL expands its presence in Gujarat to a total of 29 hotels, including 10 under development. IHG Hotels & Resorts to Open Crowne Plaza Resort 2027 in India's Jim Corbett - Image Credit IHG Hotels & Resorts IHG Hotels & Resorts signs a management agreement to open Crowne Plaza Resort at Jim Corbett, marking the brand's debut in this region. The resort will cater to leisure and business travelers, with facilities designed for comfort and convenience, and will open in Q1 2027. IHG Hotels & Resorts is set to strengthen its presence in India's leisure destinations with the signing of a management agreement with Girija Land Ventures Pvt Ltd. This partnership will result in the development of the Crowne Plaza Resort Jim Corbett, marking the brand's first entry in this area. The resort, scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2027, will feature 181 well-appointed rooms. The new resort will be in Ramnagar, the gateway to the renowned Jim Corbett National Park. It aims to cater to both leisure and business travelers, offering an array of amenities, including four dining options, banquet halls, and versatile meeting venues. Guests will also have access to a club lounge, spa, swimming pool, fitness center, and dedicated retail spaces for an enhanced experience. Jim Corbett National Park, which attracts over 300,000 visitors annually, is one of India's most popular wildlife sanctuaries and is fast emerging as a prime destination for MICE events and weddings. The hotel's proximity to key attractions, such as the Garjiya Devi Temple and Corbett Falls, makes it an ideal choice for travelers seeking nature and culture. Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts, expressed delight over the Girija Land Ventures Pvt Ltd partnership, emphasizing IHG's commitment to bringing quality branded accommodation to key destinations. Avinash Kumar Jha, Director, Girija Land Ventures Pvt Ltd, also expressed confidence that the hotel, with its prime location and IHG's renowned service standards, will elevate the hospitality experience in the region. IHG currently operates 47 hotels across six brands in India and plans to open 60 more in the next 3-5 years. Omni Parker House Hotel - Image Credit Omni Hotels The Omni Parker House, a historic hotel located in downtown Boston, is undergoing an extensive renovation that includes all 551 guest rooms, 23,000 square feet of meeting and function space, and the hotel's lobby. The project is expected to be completed by summer 2025. As part of the renewal, the hotel's Premier Suites are being transformed into "Legend Suites," each designed to honor Boston's most revered figures, institutions, and landmarks. The Omni Parker House, a historic hotel in downtown Boston, is undergoing a significant renovation that aims to preserve its legacy while enhancing the guest experience. The renovation project, which is expected to be completed by summer 2025, encompasses updates to all 551 guest rooms, 23,000 square feet of meeting and function space, and the hotel's lobby. According to John Murtha, Omni Parker House's general manager, the hotel holds a significant place in the city's history and is deeply connected to both locals and travelers around the world. The renovation project aims to ensure that the hotel remains a vibrant centerpiece of Boston for future generations. The revamped hotel's design draws inspiration from its rich 19th-century heritage, paying tribute to the golden age of travel. The lobby will feature new marble flooring, bespoke furnishings, and custom carpets adorned with the Parker House crest, setting a tone of refined sophistication. The upgraded guest rooms feature redesigned bathrooms with marble surfaces, walk-in showers, and carefully chosen amenities. A key highlight of the renovation project is the transformation of the Premier Suites into "Legend Suites." These suites are uniquely designed to honor some of Boston's most revered figures, institutions, and landmarks. Notable suites include the Harvey Parker Presidential Suite and the Freedom Trail Family Suite, offering guests an authentic experience that encapsulates the essence of Boston. The Omni Parker House's 19 meeting rooms are undergoing a complete transformation. Notable spaces include the Dickens Room, now a sophisticated executive boardroom, and the Rooftop Ballroom, a sought-after venue for weddings, social gatherings, and political events. FKA twigs joins growing list of US Visa Related Tour Cancellations FKA twigs has joined a growing list of US visa related tour cancellations, pulling North American dates of her ongoing Eusexua Tour. FKA twigs joins growing list of US Visa Related Tour Cancellations Cancelled FKA twigs shows include Chicago, Toronto and New York. Her last United States performances were in 2019. Today, I was informed that production did not fill out the correct paperwork in a timely manner for us to have our visas to come to the U.S.A. and perform, she said in a video. By no choice of my own, I will have to pull out of my New York, Chicago, and Toronto shows. Im looking into how and why this happened, and Im making sure that I have the support to correct this, she continued, so with that being said, I will be rescheduling these shows, and information will be coming on that very shortly. I cant wait to bring Eusexua to you. north america tour update pic.twitter.com/IIvbskEa3V FKA twigs (@FKAtwigs) March 26, 2025 Growing List of Tour Cancellations FKA twigs is just the latest artist to cancel or postpone US tour dates because of visa and paperwork delays and outright rejections since President Trump made entering the US much more difficult and gutted related agency staff. Last week three members of the UK Subs were detained and returned to the UK after flying to Los Angeles for a gig. The K-pop group KARD also canceled their entire 2025 US tour due to visa problems. Other artists, including the Canadian metal band Respire and the Swedish rapper Bladee, have also been affected by visa issues, with Respire canceling their tour and Bladee delaying his. Other artists like Hungarian-born pianist Andras Schiff, have also cited political factors as a reason for canceling their U.S. tours. Higher fees hurt small and mid-tier artists Recent changes to the US visa system, including increased fees and longer processing times, are contributing to the problem. Last April, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) introduced a visa fee increase on April 1, 2024, raising the cost from $460 to over $1,615 per musician application. The increased costs and delays disproportionately affect small and mid-tier artists who may not have the resources to expedite visa processing or book tour dates far in advance. Bruce Houghton is the Founder and Editor of Hypebot, a Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, a Berklee College Of Music professor and founder of the Skyline Artists Agency Share on: MCLA Opens Registration for Summer Course Sessions NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) has opened registration for its 2025 summer courses for MCLA students, high schoolers, community members, professionals, and visiting college students. MCLA will host two summer sessions with both in-person and online course options: Session A: May 21 July 3, 2025 Session B: July 7 August 16, 2025 With more than 50 online courses available, MCLA's summer offerings are designed to accommodate the schedules of working adults, undergraduates, and high school students. Courses provide a chance to get ahead on a major or minor, fulfill general education requirements, explore a new subject, catch up on coursework, prepare for graduate school, or even graduate early. Visiting students home for the summer can also take advantage of MCLA's affordable rates to complete prerequisite courses and transfer credits back to their home institution. City Councilor Ashley Shade, flanked by Councilors Deanna Morrow and Keith Bona, speaks to the sanctuary resolution at Tuesday's meeting. Audience members raise their hands when asked if they were uncomfortable speaking out. A dozen rose to speak to the resolution, the overwhelming majority in favor. PreviousNext North Adams Council Votes Sanctuary for Transgender Community Mayor Jennifer Macksey gives Nash MacDonald a hug and a framed proclamation for Transgender Visibility Day at Tuesday's meeting. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. The City Council passed a resolution on Tuesday declaring the North Adams a sanctuary for the LGBTQIA-plus community. The vote was 6-3 with Councilors Peter Oleskeiwicz, Wayne Wilkinson and Bryan Sapienza opposed. "The LGBTQIA plus community is under attack. It is being persecuted at the national level, not necessarily in North Adams," said Councilor Andrew Fitch, who had spearheaded the resolution. "This is an opportunity for us as city leaders to say that we support the community here." More than a dozen residents members and allies of the transgender community spoke in favor of the resolution, and expressing the fear they've felt in the wake of attacks on the transgender community. Just this weekend, a bomb threat was called into an adult drag story hour in Pittsfield. Several in the packed audience spoke of how they'd left other areas of the country and found safety and support North Adams. "A statement can be powerful. It can ripple through a community," said Skyler Brooks. "We need to strengthen our community and protect the most vulnerable people from targeted attacks from this current administration. "I believe that everyone is is owed life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, and that includes transgender people." A woman said she and her family were "ex-pats" from Texas, and had specifically chosen to come to Massachusetts because they thought it would be safer for their daughters. "To know that our hometown, our newfound hometown, our new family, openly supports us and our livelihood matters," she said, with emotion. "It matters every day, and being amongst a room full of support in Massachusetts to me, the most solace I can't even articulate. In a sea and a barrage of hate, we have this. We have the majority of our voices in support." Not all were in support: two speakers advocated for the resolution to be on the November ballot rather than voted on by a small group. "This is a safe community. You said this is the safest it's been," said Robert Lefebvre, referring to a commenter before him. "So why does it have to be a sanctuary? Why do we have to lift up a group of people over other people? I think all people have equality in this in this community." Leah Lefebvre said she opposed the resolution and was sorry if people were hurt by it. "We are already a sanctuary. We do not need to put sanctuary in ordinance in order to clarify that it is. And I'm sorry, you guys feel targeted. That is awful. It should never happen to anybody, ever," she said. "But I do think that it is fair to have everybody have a voice in this, not just the people in this room." Jessica Sweeney, a former city councilor, asked those in the room who were uncomfortable speaking publicly on the resolution to raise their hands and many of them went up. "I don't want to live in a place that won't stand up for us," said one speaker. (The resolution is not an ordinance, or law, but a statement of values and commitment to a policy.) More than 800 bills have been filed at the state level across the country that would affect transgender individuals civil rights, families, civil rights, clothing, education, employment and ability to play sports, use restrooms and access care, and another 35 at the federal level. The resolution notes that transgender people are more likely to experience homelessness and violence, have higher rates of unemployment and more likely to be affected by discrimination. It cites a number of state laws that support equal treatment and protection based on gender diversity. The document "reiterates [the city's] commitment to trans rights and equal protections for trans community members and declares itself a sanctuary city and a place of safety for trans and gender diverse people" and it resolves that the city will not cooperate with state or federal policies that harm gender diverse persons and will ensure equal access to health care, housing, education and employment. "All we have to do is say yes to this," said Fitch. "This is very simple in my mind. I was nervous to submit this because this could be voted against. This could be a no vote tonight. I think we have to do this. I think it's a really simple thing to say yes." Co-sponsors Lisa Blackmer, Deanna Morrow and Ashley Shade took turns with Fitch reading the resolution into the record. "This is not about special rights. This is about equality. It is about protecting the most marginalized and vulnerable people in our community at a time when the most vulnerable people are disparaged and attacked by their own government," said Shade, who is transgender. "It is our duty and responsibility stand up for them and stand by civil rights of all human beings, especially the most vulnerable." Blackmer said she's heard some say passing resolutions was out of their purview, even though it's been done in the past. (In 2017, the council declared the city a "safe and inclusive" community.) "There seems to be a real disconnect between the way things used to be and now. I find these to be extraordinary times calling for extraordinary actions," she said, adding she was not sure how acknowledging someone's human rights takes anything away from someone else. "Honestly, I'm tired of the white male patriarchy thinking they are somehow superior to you, pushing their values, and I put 'values' in quotes, on the rest of us," Blackmer said. Councilor Keith Bona acknowledged he had not always voted for resolutions in the past, thinking they were weak and didn't do much. "This is different," he said. "There's nothing here that I see that says we're giving someone special treatment. This is just saying everyone should have equal health care, equal safety." He pointed out that the council was elected and "when the election comes, if the voters don't like it they can vote me out." The gathering broke into applause a couple times during Blackmer and Shade's comments, and snapped fingers when one speaker reminded the no votes that they would remember come election time. Several in the audience called on the councilors who voted no to state their reasons. During councilor's concerns, Sapienza said he didn't agree with the resolution but wanted "everybody to feel safe to walk the streets of city of North Adams like everybody else." Oleskiewicz said he didn't like resolutions and to not take the no vote as against their lives. "We were all elected to make the city safe as a whole for everybody, not just focused on one particular group at a time," he said. Shade said she appreciated her colleagues willingness to explain their vote. "I will just point out people who voted no never had fear the way that we have," said Shade. "And I think that something to take away, something to think about. Some people have never had that fear." Shade, who defied doctor's orders to attend the meeting after a medical episode, said she was amazed at how so many had spoken out. "The one constant thing that I heard that makes my heart so happy is that so many of you feel safe here. There's nothing more important than feeling safe in your home," she said. "As long as I'm breathing, I will do everything I can to make sure that you are safe, that every person that lives in this city is safe and feels welcome." Mayor Jennifer Macksey also read a proclamation for Transgender Visibility Day on Monday; the council voted without discussion to approve a purchase and sale agreement for Sullivan School ; and Chris Cozzaglio, congressional aide to U.S. Rep. Richie Neal, spoke on the ways the office helps constituents in the Berkshires. Transgender Sanctuary Resolution by iBerkshires.com GCash, the countrys leading finance super app, has signed an agreement with the National Privacy Commission (NPC) to enhance data privacy awareness and provide data privacy-related educational resources across the Philippines in support of the Commissions mandates. In line with its mission to provide secure and accessible financial solutions, GCash aims to inform and educate its users on data privacy by utilizing the apps features to effectively reach more Filipinos. GCash president and CEO Oscar "Renren" Reyes Jr., and National Privacy Commission commissioner Atty. John Henry Naga According to Ren-Ren Reyes, president and CEO of G-Xchange, Inc., This MOA with NPC underscores our commitment to upholding the highest standards of data privacy and security, strengthening the trust and confidence of our users. We look forward to implementing robust measures in increasing awareness on data privacy by providing the tools and knowledge that Filipinos need to make informed decisions in safeguarding their personal information. Through public-private collaborations, we aim to foster a secure digital environment for all, said NPC commissioner Atty. John Henry Naga during the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA). The MOA aims to elevate data privacy education and promote compliance with the Data Privacy Act (DPA). As part of the agreement, GCash will incorporate NPC-provided privacy awareness and educational materials into the app's Privacy Choices feature, allowing its users to learn about the DPA. To further support the mandates of the NPC, the NPCs Registration Portal (https://privacy.gov.ph/pips-and-pics/register/) will be integrated and linked to the GCash app. This will be a game-changing compliance feature, enabling seamless registration for entities processing personal data. The agreement between the NPC and GCash reinforces GCashs vision of creating a secure digital landscape and promoting financial inclusion. By equipping users with privacy tools and educational resources, the collaboration aims to empower individuals to navigate the digital economy securely and confidently. Beyond its collaboration with the NPC, GCash is also working with key government agencies such as the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Department of Information and Communications Technologys Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (DICT-CICC) to fight online fraud and scams. These collaborations further strengthen GCash's commitment to creating a secure digital landscape for its users. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice George Clooney, the 63-year-old Hollywood star known for leading roles in romantic films like One Fine Day and Ticket to Paradise, has declared he is stepping back from the genre. I'm not doing romantic films anymore, Clooney stated, explaining he's not trying to compete with 25-year-old leading men. Clooney is currently captivating Broadway audiences in Good Night, And Good Luck, in which he portrays journalist Edward R. Murrow. The play dramatises Murrows clash with Senator Joseph McCarthy during the "Second Red Scare", a period of intense anti-communist sentiment. The production adapts the 2005 Oscar-nominated film of the same name, which Clooney directed. Commenting on the current state of government-press relations, Clooney expressed concern over the use of government to scare or fine, or use corporations to make journalists smaller. Governments dont like the freedom of the press, they never have. And that goes for whether you are a conservative or a liberal or whatever side youre on. They dont like the press. George Clooney praises Joe Biden for dropping out of presidential race The lifelong Democrat also discussed his request, in 2024, for former president Joe Biden to step down from the race for the White House after he stumbled over his words when he faced now-President Donald Trump during a televised debate. I was raised to tell the truth, he said. 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 cowardice in my party, through all of that, and I was not proud of that, and I also believed I had to tell the truth. Speaking about his career, he added: Look, Im 63 years old. Im not trying to compete with 25-year-old leading men. Thats not my job. Im not doing romantic films anymore. He added: There isnt a single actor alive that wouldnt have loved to have gone on Broadway. So thats the fun of it. Its tricky the older you get. But why not? Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Joe Rogan has sided with Justin Baldoni in the ongoing legal drama between the actor-director and his It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds. Lively sued Baldoni in December, accusing him of sexual harassment and of orchestrating a campaign to destroy her reputation. The pair have since been embroiled in a messy legal battle, with Baldoni countersuing Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for $400 million, with claims they attempted to destroy his reputation and career. Podcast host Rogan weighed in to defend the Jane the Virgin alum in Saturdays episode of The Joe Rogan Experience. They f***ed up, Rogan claimed about Lively and Reynolds. Ryans trying to get out of it now. Hes trying to get out of the lawsuit. And theyre like, You are a key part of this. He then addressed some of Baldonis claims about Lively and Reynolds, alleging that the pair were trying to take over the movie when working on It Ends With Us. The whole things crazy, and hes suing The New York Times, Rogan said, referring to Baldonis $200 million case against the publication, which published Livelys initial lawsuit in December. And hes got a great case going too. Joe Rogan (left) claims Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively f***ed up by suing Justin Baldoni ( Joe Rogan Experience / Getty Images ) The podcast host continued to applaud Baldoni for countersuing Lively and Reynolds, calling the director someone whos known as being this really sweet, nice guy. He also spoke about Baldoni sharing the receipts, including a text where Lively allegedly asked him to come into her trailer while breastfeeding to work out [their] lines. However, the Gossip Girl alum is alleging in her lawsuit that Baldoni came into her trailer without her consent. You literally have a text exchange back and forth. They just never thought that anybody was going to come out with the receipts, Rogan added, referring to Lively and Reynolds. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. The Independent has contacted Lively and Reynoldss lawyer for comment. Rogan also claimed that many people in Hollywood wouldnt sue Reynolds and Lively because theyre scared. Rumors of a feud between Baldoni and Lively started percolating online last year, as they appeared to avoid each other during the films promotional tour. At the time, Lively was called out for a tone-deaf approach to the movie, with fans claiming she failed to treat its heavy subject matter with the appropriate solemnity. Months later, Lively filed her bombshell lawsuit against Baldoni. In January, a New York federal judge informed Lively and Baldoni to prepare for a trial in March 2026. After this, Lively and Reynolds attorneys filed a notice stating that they would seek to dismiss Baldonis counter-lawsuit. Last month, Lively asked a judge for a stronger protective order than the courts model one, after receiving violent messages amid her and Baldonis legal battle. Baldonis team responded to Livelys request by accusing her of trying to shield, from public view, documents and information exchanged herein. He also claimed that Lively wants to prevent the public from accessing material and relevant evidence. Earlier this month, Lively and Reynolds moved to dismiss Baldonis $400 million lawsuit. In the filing, Lively claimed Baldonis lawsuit was vengeful and rambling and urged the court to dismiss all claims against Ms. Lively with prejudice, deny leave to amend, and award Ms. Lively all relief sought, including legal fees and damages for reputational and emotional harm. Meanwhile, Reynolds alleged the suit doesnt prove he defamed Baldoni and is a list of grievances attempting to shame Mr. Reynolds for being the man Mr. Baldoni has built his brand pretending to be. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Model and actor Cindyana Santangelo, best known for her appearances in the seminal sitcom Married with Children and medical drama ER, has died suddenly aged 58. The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department confirmed to The Independent that they responded to an emergency medical call in Malibu, California, on the evening of March 24. The person, later identified as Santangelo, was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Before her death, authorities were advised that Santangelo had received cosmetic shots at her home, TMZ reported. The cause of death is not yet known, though an autopsy is pending and an investigation has been launched. Santangelo made a variety of one-off appearances in shows like ER, CSI Miami and Married with Children. In the latter, she played Sierra Madre, a dancer at The Jiggly Room. open image in gallery Cindyana Santangelo is remembered for having a heart as vast as the ocean ( cindyanasantangelo / Instagram ) She also made an uncredited appearance as Yoga Girl in the 2003 action comedy Hollywood Homicide, starring Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett. In 1990, Santangelo sang the intro to Janes Addictions song Stop. The rock bands frontman, Perry Farrell, later dubbed her the Latina Marilyn Monroe in an interview with Spin Magazine. In a joint Instagram post shared on Santangelos feed before her death, her friend, Cynthia Buanuelos, wished her a happy birthday. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. open image in gallery Cindyana Santangelo appeared to have died days after her 58th birthday ( cindyanasantangelo / Instagram ) Cheers to another amazing year, my Wifey for Lifey, Buanuelos captioned the post, alongside a photo of the two of them dressed up for Independence Day. Buanuelos has since shared a tribute to Santangelo in another joint Instagram post featured on the actors page. My heart aches as I write this. Im still in shock and disbelief. How can you be gone??? Buanuelos wrote. Remembering her as having had a heart as vast as the ocean, a spirit as free as the wind, and a love that ran deeper than the blue depths you adored, she added: I will feel your presence in every crashing wave, every salty breeze, and every shimmering reflection of the sun on the oceans surface. You were my best friend, my wifey, my kindred spirit. The most gorgeous mermaid in human form. Forever drawn to the sea. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. 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. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Nick Frost is reportedly poised to play the half-giant Rebeus Hagrid in HBOs upcoming Harry Potter series, becoming the latest high-profile actor to join the show. So far only John Lithgow has been confirmed as a cast member, playing Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore, while Paapa Essiedu and Janet McTeer are both rumoured to be close to landing the roles of Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall. Deadline is now reporting that Frost, best known for his roles alongside Simon Pegg in Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, is on the verge of agreeing a deal to play Hagrid. Frost appears to have sparked the rumours himself following a cryptic Instagram post he shared on 20 March. The actor wrote: Its happening, its actually happening. Stay cool. In a statement to Deadline, HBO said: We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumour and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalise deals. It comes after Ted Lasso star Brett Goldstein was rumoured for the role in December. open image in gallery Nick Frost in January 2025 ( PA ) Robbie Coltrane famously played Hagrid in the Harry Potter films. The Scottish actor died aged 72 in October 2022. HBO and Warner Bros are behind the new project, which, in their own words, is drawing a lot of rumour and speculation about who will play the shows primary characters. The new series will be another direct adaptation of JK Rowlings book franchise, with each book comprising one season. This means that a new batch of actors will be portraying roles previously played by stars including Daniel Radcliffe, Alan Rickman, and Maggie Smith. An open casting call was launched on Monday for children from the UK and Ireland to audition for the lead roles for HBOs forthcoming television adaptation. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. The TV adaption was confirmed by HBO Max in 2023 and aims to be a faithful adaptation of the beloved Harry Potter book series by author and executive producer JK Rowling. The series is expected to run for a decade, with each season based on one of the seven Rowling books. open image in gallery Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid ( Warner Bros Pictures ) Recently David Tennant appeared to take a dig at Rowling when the Scottish actor was asked about participating in the new 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. 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. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Owen Cooper, the breakout child star of Adolescence, has shared a horrible behind-the-scenes detail that made filming episode three even tougher. Cooper, who is 15, is being tipped for Bafta victory for his debut acting performance as Jamie Miller, a child accused of murder, in the sleeper Netflix hit, which became the most-streamed title in both the UK and the US within its first week of release. Adolescence has received immense acclaim, with episode three in particular being highlighted as a standout. Making the episode even more impressive is the fact that this episode was the first to be shot meaning it was newcomer Coopers first time acting on screen. While the episode goes to extremely dark places, with Jamie slowly divulging his motives for killing a young girl as hes interviewed by Erin Dohertys child psychiatrist, there was one small moment that Cooper particularly struggled with. In the episode, filmed in one shot, Dohertys character brings Jamie a hot chocolate sprinkled with marshmallows, which he sips at while the pair speak. However, Cooper, who hails from Warrington, has revealed that, while the drink initially started out as the chocolatey beverage, it got changed the more takes they had to shoot and the alternative was horrible. Cooper told Netflix upon re-watching the scene: That was minging that. That was horrible. It wasnt hot chocolate cause it had to get changed. The episode sees Jamie angrily throw the drink on the floor and, according to the actor, it mas making the floor sticky for the cameraman. Doherty added: Oh yeah and I remember in one of them it spilt all over the table. I could see people in the cameras that could see into the room like quickly trying to clean it up, so by the time the camera came back in, they had to change it. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Wincing, Cooper said: It was disgusting. Owen Cooper in Adolescence episode three ( Netflix ) Despite the shows impressive one-shot filming technique, Stephen Graham, who appears in the show as Jamies father, has branded Coopers performance as the biggest achievement of Adolescence. The actor was swiftly cast in BBC series Film Club, which stars White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood, and Emerald Fennells forthcoming adaptation of Wuthering Heights, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. Cooper will play Young Heathcliff in the film due for release in 2026. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A British influencer named Ashley Surcombe is reportedly in a critical condition in a South Korean hospital after being found unconscious in her apartment with a black eye and severe dehydration. The 29-year-old from Gloucestershire was reportedly discovered by police on Monday after her worried parents contacted authorities through a friend when she stopped responding to their messages and calls. Ms Surcombe, according to The Times, has been living in South Korean capital Seoul for the last five years, posting about her time in the country for her 465,000 followers on Instagram. According to reports, she is currently in the intensive care unit (ICU) after suffering multiple organ failure. Her sister, Kat Surcombe, 33, an aerospace engineer, described the ordeal as surreal. Speaking to The Times, she said: I keep alternating between breaking down and trying to help my parents. Its heartbreaking because shes my little sister, and I just want her back home. The family said they last spoke with Ms Surcombe on Saturday, when she told her parents she wasnt feeling very well and seemed dehydrated and very confused. Initially we were very concerned because shed recently slipped in her bathroom and hit her head, which is why she got quite a nasty bruise on her eye, but that was a few weeks ago. The way she was behaving, my parents were understandably concerned, said her sister. When Ms Surcombe failed to respond to a previously scheduled call on Sunday evening, parents Karen and Nigel, both 64, reached out to friends in Seoul, who in turn contacted the police. According to her sister and local news reports, the police managed to gain entry into her flat, where they found her unconscious and unresponsive on the bathroom floor. She was found unresponsive and unconscious on the floor; she didnt have any broken bones, but she was severely dehydrated and has major organ failure, Kat Surcombe told Mail Online. Paramedics rushed her to the ICU on Monday, where she has reportedly gained consciousness, but remains under observation and undergoing tests after reporting pain in her head, back, and hands. [The doctors] said that she was severely dehydrated and shes got organ damage but we dont know the extent of the organ damage yet, she said, adding that their father was already on his way to Seoul. The family has launched a GoFundMe to help grapple with the escalating medical costs. Kat Surcombe revealed that Ms Surcombes health insurance had recently lapsed, forcing their parents to pay a 3,000 deposit for her treatment upfront. Theyve had to put it on a credit card, they dont have 3,000 pounds just lying around. The potential financial burden is just on another level. My parents are recently retired. If she spends the week in the ICU thats about 10,000, they dont have that type of money lying around. 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. Based on the information provided on the GoFundMe page, ICU care could cost up to 1,500 per day, with additional tests and general hospital stays pushing expenses even higher. My parents have recently retired, and as a family, we dont have an abundance of money to cover these unexpected and overwhelming costs, Kat Surcombe wrote on the GoFundMe page. The family is aiming to raise 50,000 for Ms Surcombes treatment, and at the time of writing, had raised 6,840. Close South Korea: Raging Wildfire Threatens UNESCO Site in Andong On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Wildfires raging in South Korea doubled in size today, with authorities calling them the countrys worst fire disaster on record. Since Friday, more than 35,810 hectares (88,488 acres) of land in the southeast has been scorched, the disaster response centre said. The fire that began in Uiseong county is now the biggest single forest fire in South Koreas history, surpassing the 24,000-hectare blaze of March 2000. At least 27 people were confirmed dead, including a pilot of a firefighting helicopter which crashed yesterday. Hundreds of structures have been burnt or damaged, including historic 7th-century Buddhist temple that was reduced to ashes as the fire continued to expand. We are nationally in a critical situation with numerous casualties because of the unprecedented rapid spread of forest fires, acting president Han Duck Soo said at a government response meeting. The Uiseong fire spread rapidly on Wednesday, reaching Yeongdeok on the east coast, 51km away, in just 12 hours. While light rain is forecast in the southwest, most affected areas are expected to receive less than 5mm, offering little relief. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A former professional boxer who spent 46 years on death row after he was framed for murder by police has been awarded a record 1 million. A Japanese court has awarded Iwao Hakamada more than 200 million yen in compensation, believed to be the highest ever granted in the country for a miscarriage of justice. Hakamada is thought to be the longest-serving death row inmate in the world. The payment works out at roughly the equivalent of 60 for every day he spent in prison. open image in gallery Iwao Hakamada with his sister Hideko, who has fought for years to clear him ( JIJI Press/AFP via Getty Images ) Now 89 years-old, Hakamada was convicted in 1968 for the murder of his employer, his employers wife, and their two children in Shizuoka, central Japan. The case relied heavily on a confession he later retracted, claiming it was extracted under duress during intense police interrogations. For decades, he maintained his innocence, insisting that the evidence against him had been fabricated. Mr Hakamada was released from prison in 2014 when a court ordered a retrial based on new evidence suggesting that his conviction may have been based on fabricated accusations. open image in gallery Hakamada was a former professional boxer in Japan ( AFP/Getty ) He was then found not guilty on 26 September last year by the Shizuoka court, which concluded that police and prosecutors collaborated in fabricating and planting evidence against him. His sister, Hideko, who had campaigned relentlessly for his freedom, revealed that his prolonged incarceration has left him struggling to distinguish between reality and delusion. Sometimes he smiles happily, but thats when hes in his delusion, she told CNN. We have not even discussed the trial with Iwao because of his inability to recognise reality. open image in gallery Shizuoka Prefectural Police chief Takayoshi Tsuda, left, offers an apology to former Japanese death-row inmate Iwao Hakamada, center, and his sister Hideko Hakamada became the fifth death row inmate to be found not guilty in a retrial in postwar Japan, where prosecutors have a more than 99 per cent conviction rate and retrials are extremely rare. Following his acquittal, Japans Prosecutor-General Naomi Unemoto expressed regret over the prolonged legal battle he faced, saying: We feel sorry for putting him in a legally unstable situation for an extremely long time. The Shizuoka police department also took the rare step of issuing a formal apology, with its chief bowing deeply before Hakamada in acknowledgment of the grave miscarriage of justice. open image in gallery Hakamada has been awarded 200 million yen in compensation ( AFP via Getty Images ) We are sorry to have caused you unspeakable mental distress and burden for as long as 58 years from the time of the arrest until the acquittal was finalised, Shizuoka prefectural police chief Takayoshi Tsuda said, as he stood straight in front of Hakamada and bowed deeply. We are terribly sorry. But Hakamadas legal representative Hideyo Ogawa said the payout was a mere fraction of what he endured. I think the state (government) has made a mistake that cannot be atoned for with 200 million yen, the lawyer said, according to NHK. Additional reporting by agencies This article was amended on 28 March 2025. It originally inaccurately calculated the payment made to Hakamada as being worth 4p per day of his imprisonment, but it was worth closer to 60 per day. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Zalmay Khalilzad, the key negotiator in one of the largest US diplomatic debacles in recent memory, could nonetheless be on track to return as Donald Trumps mediator with the Taliban, experts say. Last week Khalilzad, an Afghan-born diplomat who was responsible for mediating talks that led to Americas chaotic military withdrawal from Afghanistan, was pictured accompanying an American hostage released from Taliban custody. Khalilzad appeared alongside George Glezmann, an airline mechanic from Atlanta who was captured by the Taliban in December 2022 during a tourist visit to Afghanistan. Officially, Glezmann was released in a deal with the Trump administration brokered by Qatari negotiators. But it was Khalilzad who travelled to Kabul, met with the Talibans foreign ministry officials and then accompanied the American back to the US. He then took to Twitter to confirm Glezmanns release, calling it a good day. Experts monitoring Afghanistan say the Trump administration could once again be turning to Khalilzad to deal with the Taliban, including around reported early-stage discussions to reopen the US embassy in Kabul. That would be a major boost in terms of international recognition for the militant regime that has been globally condemned for its assault on womens rights. Khalilzad was the architect of the Trump administrations mistaken belief that the Taliban had changed as an organisation since its misogynistic regime of the late 90s and early 2000s, before it was ousted from power in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, argues David Loyn, author of The Long War. There are talks that Trump might want to send him to Kabul as a full-time envoy. He had an incredibly difficult hand to play in 2019 because Trump wanted an end to the war. It was just like what Americans are doing with Putin now. They are cutting out the main players Afghan nationals in this case, Loyn tells The Independent. Donald Trump is mainly excited and attracted by how Khalilzad was their negotiator and developed the sense that he could talk to the Taliban on behalf of the Americans as a Washington operator, says Loyn. But if they are still listening to his advice now, the Trump administration, in his opinion, are making a mistake, he says. Khalilzad has been wrong and naive about Taliban 2.0 before and there is no reason why his analysis should be any better this time. Khalilzad has served as a negotiator with rulers of Afghanistan for more than four decades, including with the Soviets in 1989 when the Russians withdrew from Afghanistan. He stepped down in October 2021 after serving as the US special envoy for Afghanistan for more than three years under both the Trump and Biden administrations. open image in gallery In this handout photo released by Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs, George Glezmann, center, poses with Adam Boehler, second left, and Zalmay Khalilzad, second right, and Qatari diplomats in Kabul, Afghanistan before leaving for Doha. ( AP ) Khalilzad was brought onboard by Washington in September 2018 by then secretary of state Mike Pompeo to lead negotiations with the Taliban and the Afghan republic government led by Ashraf Ghani. A fluent Pashto and Dari speaker, Khalilzad failed to broker a power-sharing deal between the Taliban and Afghanistans democratically-elected leaders. Where he did succeed was in negotiating an agreement with the Taliban to end Americas longest-running war, which saw US troops leave Afghanistan after 20 years. The agreement was signed in the Qatari capital Doha and paved the way towards a full withdrawal of foreign soldiers from Afghanistan, as Americas Nato allies had little choice but to follow suit. A number of officials from the Biden administration blamed the deal negotiated by Khalilzad for forcing their hands when it came to the speed of the pullout, and allowing the Taliban to swiftly take over the country unopposed. The biggest victims of the Talibans takeover have been Afghan women, whose fundamental rights on matters such as education and employment have been stripped away. An active commentator via his X social media account, Khalilzad is regularly met with disapproving remarks from Afghans under his posts. Last week, he advocated for a longer transition period of power in Afghanistan. You shut up. There is no need (for) your advice, one user angrily replied. Khalilzad has admitted that the Nato withdrawal from Afghanistan had not gone as planned, saying this was because the Taliban did not enter serious peace talks with the Afghan government as had been agreed. But he has repeatedly defended his role in the Doha talks, saying his negotiating position was undermined by public statements and briefings from the White House that America was on the brink of withdrawing from Afghanistan. He told the congressional Committee on Foreign Affairs in November 2023 that military force was the biggest source of leverage the US had over the Taliban. I would say to our leaders here sometimes that, if we keep saying we're getting out regardless, that doesn't give me a lot of leverage. [They would say] Okay. Understood, Zal. But then it would only last a week or two days. The Independent has reached out to Khalilzad for comment. open image in gallery Former US envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad (C) shaking hands with Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi (L) as US official Adam Boehler watches, before their meeting in Kabul ( Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs ) Kabir Taneja, deputy director of strategic studies and a fellow on the Middle East at Indias Observer Research Foundation, says Trump has talked himself into a corner by committing publicly to restoring some form of American influence in Afghanistan. In the past few months, Trump has made loose remarks about not allowing China and Russia to run amok in the Afghanistan and central Asia region without any American presence, and American weapons left back in Afghanistan, says Taneja. So the only one he can tap into right now is Khalilzad someone he is familiar with. It is more about familiarity and Trumps inner circle more than anything else and he is in Trumps inner circle, clearly. Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Milwaukee woman who was deported to Laos by the Trump administration earlier this month is deeply shaken by the prospect of spending more than a decade away from her partner and five children back home in Wisconsin, activists helping the family told The Independent. Ma Yang, a 37-year-old Hmong-American, has been living in a government facility outside the Laotian capital of Vientiane for the past couple of weeks after being forced to leave her family and friends in the U.S. Yang was born in a refugee camp in Thailand but gained legal status as a permanent U.S. resident until she pleaded guilty to cannabis-related charges and served 30 months in 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. open image in gallery Ma Yang was deported in February to Laos, a country she has never set foot in ( Facebook ) The Independent traveled to Laos this week and spoke to a Hmong rights group that has been advocating on Yang's behalf, as well as activists and lawyers with knowledge of her case. Tammie Xiong, executive director of the Hmong American Women's Association, said it was providing support to her family in the U.S., and that she was still processing what had happened to her but doing OK for the most part. Yang declined to be interviewed for this piece and has not spoken out since her story was featured in her local newspaper, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, last week. Despite her ordeal, Yang and her longtime partner, Michael Bub, "have been advised to not talk to anyone," another Hmong-American rights activist said, until she has more clarity about her fate. open image in gallery Tourists, mostly from neighboring China, Vietnam and Thailand at the Buddha Park in Vientiane, Laos ( Alisha Rahaman Sarkar/The Independent ) 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. Her life in America unraveled last month when, more than two years after serving her time in prison, she was told to report to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Milwaukee. She was detained upon arrival and sent to Indiana, then Chicago on commercial flights, and finally shipped off to Laos. After being held in a rooming house for five days, a military officer in charge of her situation told her she could leave the facility if she wanted. Sources told The Independent she has stayed on at a government facility, branded a "school" or "re-education centre" by the Laos authorities, as she is afraid of stepping outside alone in a country of six million people and few English speakers, not knowing who to contact or where to stay. Yang was taken to a military hospital on Monday night by the Laotian authorities after staying for days without insulin for her diabetes and running out of her medication for high blood pressure. While the road ahead in Laos remains deeply uncertain, what's clear is that it will be a long and difficult legal battle for her to return to America and be reunited with her family. open image in gallery Road under construction in central Vientiane, Laos ( Alisha Rahaman Sarkar/The Independent ) Immigration lawyer Jath Shao told The Independent that even if she is successful in overturning her deportation through the U.S. legal system, she would most likely not be allowed back until at least the 2040s. "She would have to wait for at least 10 years outside the U.S. to apply for an I-212 waiver of inadmissibility to come back based on extreme hardship to her U.S. citizen spouse or children," Shao said. He says because the waiver is discretionary, "unless something crazy happens like marijuana becoming federally legal with retroactive effect, she probably has no realistic way back to the U.S. Even if she did, it might be into the 2040s," he says. In her interview last week to her local newspaper, Yang said 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." open image in gallery Patuxay - the victory monument in central Vientiane, Laos ( Alisha Rahaman Sarkar/The Independent ) 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. Kham S Moua, the national deputy director of the non-profit Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (Searac), criticized Yang's deportation, saying that such extreme measures not only harm the individuals involved but tear apart families and disrupt entire communities. open image in gallery The National Assembly of Laos in Vientiane ( Alisha Rahaman Sarkar/The Independent ) Yang's deportation will force her young children in the U.S. to live without their mother. "Ma should have been given a second chance after she served her sentence. Instead, because our enforcement system has few restraints, she was deported and her family shattered," Moua told The Independent. He added: "We must remember that Hmong Americans, like other Southeast Asian refugees, live in the U.S. because our families sacrificed their lives to support this country during the Secret War in Laos and the Vietnam War. "Southeast Asian Americans of refugee backgrounds continue to face significant socioeconomic challenges and their convictions are often directly tied to the barriers they face as survivors of ethnic cleansing, genocide, and war while trying to live the American dream." The Trump administration in 2019 made a verbal agreement to deport a "significant number of individuals" with final removal orders to Laos, according to Searac, although there has been no formal written deal on deportations between the both countries. That year, the Trump administration deported five people to the Southeast Asian nation. open image in gallery Street food on display in downtown Vientiane, Laos ( Alisha Rahaman Sarkar/The Independent ) America has previously funded a reintegration program in Laos for deported individuals who do not speak Lao or have family connections through USAID though it isn't clear whether that is still operational given the Trump cuts to the agency. Others could be destined to follow in Yang's footsteps; more than 4,800 Lao nationals are among the over 1.4 million individuals with final deportation orders in the U.S., according to a November ICE report. "I hear all the time from people that 'Trump is only after the criminals' but if you look at the system, only 11,500 of almost 4 million people in deportation are 'criminals' that's 0.3 per cent of people in deportation compared to one third of American citizens having a criminal record," says Shao. "Given that they're firing immigration judges left and right, it does not seem realistic for them to be able to mass deport millions (the highest ever in a year is less than half a million) within 4 years unless they trample all over the constitution and human rights. open image in gallery Flags of Lao PDR and the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party by the Mekong River in Vientiane ( Alisha Rahaman Sarkar/The Independent ) "That's why they are trying to do things like we see in the cases of Mahmoud Khalil and the Venezuelans deported to El Salvador for having tattoos to eliminate due process and appeals and people's rights." It could also become increasingly difficult for Yang's children and other family in Wisconsin to visit her here in Laos going forward, with reports suggesting Trump is mulling a new travel ban on more than a dozen countries. Laos is one of the five countries that could face partial suspensions that would affect tourist and student visas as well as other immigrant visas. It was 2011 and Elon Musk was laughing. In a televised interview with Bloomberg, the Tesla boss had been tickled by a question suggesting that the Chinese automaker BYD was a rival. Why are you laughing? the interviewer asked, to which Musk replied: Have you seen their car? I dont think they have a great product. At the time, Tesla had just gone public with a multibillion-dollar valuation, and was about to launch the Model S, which would go on to become the worlds best-selling electric car. Meanwhile, BYD was struggling with declining sales in China and making headlines abroad for ripping off the designs of other cars. But one advantage BYD did have was its experience in battery development. Founded in 1995 as a battery manufacturer, the Shenzhen-based company turned its focus to cars in 2003 the same year Tesla was founded with the intention of transforming the auto industry with battery-powered cars that could compete with fuel-powered vehicles. This month, BYD achieved what some industry experts claim is the holy grail for electric vehicles : a battery that can fully charge in the same time it takes to fill up a petrol tank. The Super E-Platform offers a range of up to 400 kilometres (249 miles) from just five minutes of charging thanks to 1,000 kilowatt charge speeds. Most Tesla Supercharger stations have an output of 250kW or less. The new charging performance blows the competition out the water, Ryan Fisher, head of charging infrastructure research at BloombergNEF (BNEF), told The Independent. Its three to four times the charging power Tesla's can consume, and the vehicles will be similarly priced in China as the Model Y. BYD said mass production of the new technology would completely solve users range anxiety when travelling, with plans to introduce the flash-charge battery in its Han L and Tang L models in China as early as next month. The news comes during a period of unprecedented decline for Tesla. The companys valuation has dropped by more than half since December, and it is about to record its ninth consecutive week of falling share prices. BYD has played a considerable part in this downfall, having overtaken Tesla last year as the worlds leading electric vehicle manufacturer a position Musks company held since 2019. The Chinese firms latest charging announcement saw Teslas stock drop a further 10 per cent, with market analysts quick to point out that BYD would be delivering the technology to customers within months, rather than the years it typically takes Tesla to follow through on Musks hubris. (Its been nearly eight years since he announced the new Tesla Roadster, and it is yet to even enter production ). BYDs massive market share in China has also infringed on Teslas, with the US company seeing its Chinese shipments fall by 49 per cent year-on-year in February despite demand for electric vehicles sky rocketing. Tesla sales are plummeting in Europe, too, both as a result of increased competition and the actions of its CEO. Musks allegiance to US President Donald Trump, as well as his support for far right politicians in Europe, has seen Teslas brand suffer significantly. When he delivered what appeared to be a fascist salute during Trumps inauguration celebrations in January, Tesla cars were quickly dubbed Swasticars across social media, while the Cybertruck earned the nickname W*nkpanzer in reference to Nazi-built tanks. There have been protests at Tesla showrooms and charging stations across the UK, Europe and US, as well as acts of arson and vandalism taking direct aim at Musk. Previously-loyal customers have buckled to calls for a boycott and switched to other automakers, with sales across Europe in freefall. Figures from market researcher Dataforce show that Tesla registrations dropped 44 per cent in February, following a decline of 45 per cent in January. But while Tesla suffers from an increasingly toxic brand, BYDs main issue in foreign markets has been brand recognition. Despite the vast number of vehicles that BYD makes, the majority of them are still sold in China. Passenger vehicles are not even available for purchase in the US, which is unlikely to change given Trumps loyalty to Musk and love of tariffs . There are BYD buses in the US, as there are in most of the world if youve been on a London bus in the last decade, theres a chance that it was built by BYD but the company is yet to repeat the success it has reached in its domestic market when it comes to cars. An electric bus, operated by Transport for London (TfL) and made by BYD, in London on 15 March, 2016 ( AFP via Getty Images ) BYD may also face similar issues to other Chinese tech giants like Huawei and ZTE when breaking into foreign markets, with more than a dozen countries around the world restricting or banning their products over national security concerns. But if such fears arise surrounding internet-connected electric cars, then Tesla may find itself caught up alongside BYD due to Musks control of the company. BYD is yet to announce when its new ultra-fast changing system will be available outside of China, though industry experts say that their arrival could happen quickly. In the UK Tesla has been building its supercharger network for years. But BYD's new chargers will incorporate battery storage which means they will require less grid connection to achieve such high power charging, said BNEFs charging infrastructure researcher Fisher. This could also enable the infrastructure to be rolled-out quicker if they do bring the car to the UK." BYD is already seeing a surge in sales in Europe new car registrations were up by nearly 700 per cent in the UK last year which could see the company take advantage of its industry-leading batteries with a push into markets previously led by Tesla. Elon Musks company is now not only losing the brand battle, but also its technological dominance. And the scale of the battery breakthrough means BYD is not just taking on Tesla, but the decades-long dominance of combustion engine vehicles. This actually fits with Musks original aim for Tesla, which he said in 2013 was to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport. So while he may no longer be laughing, he might at least afford himself a smile. Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A new dinosaur species has been discovered in Mongolias Gobi Desert based on two exquisitely preserved long fossil claws, an advance that sheds more light on a less understood family of the giant reptiles. The species, named Duonychus tsogtbaatari, belongs to a group of two-legged dinosaurs called therizinosaurs that lived in central and eastern Asia as well as in western North America during the Cretaceous period around 90 million years ago, researchers say. This family of dinosaurs are known for their long necks, small leaf-shaped teeth, and large hooked claws on their hands. They mostly had three-fingered hands with large claw-like toe bones. Despite their fearsome appearance, scientists say these dinosaurs were largely herbivorous or omnivorous. open image in gallery Artist rendering of two-clawed dinosaur discovered in Gobi Desert ( Masato Hattori/New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science ) However, the newly discovered Duonychus had two clawed fingers instead of the typical three, according to the latest study published in the journal iScience. Its hand orientation was more similar to that of the mighty T rex than its close relatives, researchers say. "The hands, a hallmark of therizinosaurs, are exquisitely preserved with all the finger and wrist bones intact in this specimen," paleontologist Darla Zelenitsky from the University of Calgary told Live Science. During recent excavations, scientists uncovered the dinosaurs hand and well-preserved claw sheaths made out of the protein keratin, which makes up animal feathers, hair, and hooves. Here, we describe a new and unusual species of the therizinosaurid Duonychus tsogtbaatari, recovered from the lower Upper Cretaceous Bayanshiree Formation of the Gobi Desert of Mongolia, scientists wrote. This species is different from other therizinosaurs in that the hand possesses only two fingers, rather than three fingers, they noted. open image in gallery Bones and diagram of newly discovered dinosaur ( Courtesy of NMMNHS ) Duonychus used its claws in ways similar to other therizinosaurs for grappling and grasping vegetation, according to scientists, including those from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. Despite looking fearsome with a 90-degree curve, the claws were adaptations that helped the dinosaur grip and pull branches with a hooking motion similar to claw-use by modern-day chameleons and anteaters, researchers say. The strong curvature of this large claw and high ungual flexion indicate that Duonychus was likely amplectorial (grasping) and an effective grasper of vegetation, despite having only two functional fingers, scientists wrote. Despite having only two functional digits, Duonychus was likely an effective grasper, considering the extreme flexion (near 90) at the ungual joint and the strong curvature of the keratinous claw, they said. Long-necked dinosaur discovered as new species in Patagonia The latest find sheds more insights into the loss of digits in the evolution of some dinosaur groups documented in previous studies. It further shows that digit loss evolved independently in several two-legged dinosaur lineages. The discovery also suggests Chinas Gobi Desert could be home to more diverse dinosaur fossils. This kind of independent evolution of the same trait in multiple lineages highlights the adaptability of these groups of dinosaurs to diverse ecological niches, researchers concluded. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A man who stole more than 300 Cadburys Creme Eggs from a Peterborough petrol station has been banned from Cambridgeshire for three months. Police arrested 26-year-old Deon De Groot after he entered a Tesco Express in Welland Road, Dogsthorpe, at about 11.40am on Saturday (22 March). He was seen packing the chocolate eggs into a duffle bag. He stashed away 220.50 worth of Cadbury Creme Eggs and left the store without paying, weeks ahead of Easter, said Cambridgeshire Constabulary. A member of staff flagged down officers in a passing police car who followed De Groot. They found he had a large number of the stolen goods concealed within his jacket and had dropped the duffle bag filled with boxes of Creme Eggs nearby. De Groot, who is of no fixed address, appeared at Peterborough Magistrates Court on Tuesday where admitted to theft from a shop. He was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for a year, and was also banned from entering Cambridgeshire for the next three months. Police constable Guy Cunningham, who made the arrest, said: Thanks to the quick reaction by staff who flagged us down, we were able to catch De Groot red-handed and return the stolen items to the store. Creme Eggs remain an Easter favourite, cracking the top 50 most popular confectioneries, according to YouGovs latest figures from the final quarter of 2024. Ranked at 49 in the list, it came in just below After Eights, while Maltesers took the crown as the number one most popular confectionery. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The chair of a charity in Africa set up by Prince Harry has appeared to criticise the royal for playing the victim card after he quit as patron amid a boardroom battle. Prince Harry founded Sentebale nearly two decades ago with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to help children in southern Africa, particularly those living with HIV and Aids. Dr Sophie Chandauka has now hit back at the duke, saying she has been targeted because she blew the whistle on abuse of power, bullying, harassment [and] misogyny within the charity. Several trustees have left the organisation, along with Harry and Prince Seeiso, having requested Dr Chandaukas resignation. Dr Chandauka was appointed chair of the organisation last year. The trustees were reportedly unhappy with the decision and wanted her to step down, prompting her to sue. The chair also claimed she had reported trustees to the Charity Commission and that the High Court had issued an emergency injunction to prevent her removal. open image in gallery The dukes departure follows a reported dispute between the Sentebale board and its chair Sophie Chandauka ( PA ) A Charity Commission spokesperson for England and Wales said: 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. The Independent understands the Charity Commission has yet to make any findings on the claims. In a joint statement, the duke and Prince Seeiso backed the departing trustees and said they had resigned as patrons until further notice. They said: 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. open image in gallery The Duke of Sussex, left, and Prince Seeiso co-founded Sentebale in memory of their mothers ( PA ) Dr Chandauka said: 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. She added: 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. I could be anyone. I just happen to be an educated woman who understands that the law will guide and protect me. I will say nothing further on this matter at this time. Harry spent two months in Lesotho during his gap year when he was 19 in 2004, which inspired him to establish the charity two years later, which now also works in Botswana. He came face to face with Aids orphans, met other traumatised young people and visited herd boys living a harsh existence looking after cattle in remote mountain areas. The duke visited Lesotho and the prince as recently as last October, where he talked to a group of young people around a campfire about the massive difference Sentebale was making. He was also pictured with Dr Chandauka at a charity polo event in Florida in April 2024 to benefit Sentebale. open image in gallery Prince Harry looks at a traditional Lesothan blanket with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho at the site of a Sentebale Mateanong Herd Boy School ( PA ) The duke and Prince Seeiso, who are understood to have resigned at the same time as the trustees, said they would be sharing concerns with the Charity Commission. They 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. 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. 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. Sentebale said it had not received resignations from either of the royal patrons and said the recalibration of the board is part of Sentebales ambitious transformation agenda. In a statement, a spokesperson said: 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. Harrys role at Sentebale was one of a small number of private patronages he retained after he was stripped of his royal patronages and honorary military positions by the late Queen in 2021, when his departure from the working monarchy was confirmed for good a year after Megxit. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Landmark reforms to legalise assisted dying have suffered a setback after the timeframe for their rollout was delayed by a further two years. Kim Leadbeater, the MP behind the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which historically passed the Commons in November, proposed the extension until 2029 as backstop, as MPs vote on amendments to the legislation, which has already seen controversial changes. Ms Leadbeater said she was disappointed to propose the extension and acknowledged the upset felt by some supporters of the Bill, but said it was more important to do this properly than to do it quickly. In comments provided to media outlets, Ms Leadbeaters spokesperson stressed the four-year limit was 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 spokesperson said. 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. Kim Leadbeater has acknowledged the upset felt by some supporters of the Bill ( House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire ) Speaking at a Guardian event on Tuesday night, health secretary Wes Streeting - who has voiced his opposition to the reforms - praised Ms Leadbeaters handling of the issue. 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 conversation with The Guardian. Meanwhile, the Isle of Mans parliament became the first part of the British Isles to pass assisted dying legislation. Its Assisted Dying Bill will be sent for royal assent, having had its final reading by members of the legislative council on Tuesday. Ms Leadbeaters bill recently faced controversy when the committee scrutinising the bill voted to scrap the requirement for a High Court judge to approve assisted dying applications - the provision originally touted as the reason the proposed legislation for England and Wales would be the strictest in the world. Anti-assisted dying campaigners said the move was a grave weakening of the bill, but those in favour called it a welcome step forward. Reacting to the news, a group of 26 MPs said in a joint statement that the move breaks the promises made by proponents of the bill, fundamentally weakens the protections for the vulnerable and shows just how haphazard this whole process has become. They said the committee had scrapped judges in favour of an unaccountable quango, and raised concerns that the panel might hear in private. Conservative MP Danny Kruger said on Tuesday the NHS would, if the Bill being considered at Westminster passes into law, become the national health and assisted suicide service. Ms Leadbeater told the committee: Im clear the process must be available as part of the range of services available to patients under the NHS and free at the point of need. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A senior UK government minister has condemned Israeli attacks against Palestinians that cannot be justified as self-defence, warning: It has got to stop. Speaking a week after Israel shattered a two-month ceasefire in Gaza with some of its deadliest strikes since the early months of the war, the UK health secretary Wes Streeting said he found Israels decision to do so soul-destroying. Gaza health authorities say nearly 700 people mostly women and children have been killed in the past week, with the reported Palestinian death toll now surpassing 50,000 since the war was sparked by Hamass cross-border attack on 7 October 2023. open image in gallery Wes Streeting condemned Israels soul-destroying decision to break a two-month ceasefire in Gaza last week ( Jordan Pettitt/PA ) Insisting that the Labour government has used every diplomatic lever available to them since assuming power in July to try to bring an end to the bloody war, Mr Streeting told a Guardian Live event on Tuesday night that he still feels powerless. I find it soul-destroying seeing the breakdown of the ceasefire and the impact we are seeing on innocent human lives, he was reported as saying. Mr Streeting continued: I was looking back at some photos just this morning of a place called Susya in the West Bank, which has been under threat of demolition by the Israelis for many years and now is on the frontline of settler violence. This is completely unjustifiable. It is completely intolerable. It doesnt serve in Israels self interest. It cannot be justified as self-defence, and it has got to stop. He added: Its very frustrating, let me tell you, being a member of the cabinet the United Kingdom and still feeling powerless in the face of this appalling conflict which does nothing for Israelis or Palestinians. open image in gallery More than 700 people have been killed since Israel resumed its strikes, according to Gazas Hamas-run health ministry ( AFP via Getty Images ) Announcing the resumption of Israeli military action on 18 March, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the deadly strikes reported to have killed more than 400 Palestinians that day were only the beginning. Following the breakdown of the ceasefire, Britains foreign secretary David Lammy warned that the decision had resulted in an appalling loss of life and possibly the deadliest single day for Palestinians since the war began. And Mr Lammy warned that it was difficult to see how Israels denial of humanitarian assistance to Gaza civilians can be compatible with international humanitarian law but stopped short of repeating his previous remarks that there had been a breach of international law. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people and abducted 251 in a cross-border attack on 7 October 2023. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The chief inspector of Ofsted has said smartphones should be banned in schools in England. Sir Martyn Oliver said the watchdog will back headteachers who take the tough decision to ban phones as he warned that exposure to online content on devices can be harmful and damaging to children. Sir Martyn, who used to be chief executive of a large academy trust, said he had walked into schools in the past in utter chaos where phones were rife. In a Q&A with parents in London, the Ofsted boss said: Headteachers already have the power to ban them and they should ban them. Ofsted will support schools in banning phones. Speaking at an event run by charity Parentkind on Wednesday, Sir Martyn said children with developing brains do not need to be bombarded by non-human algorithms that might be preying upon them. He added: Its harmful and its damaging. So I do believe they should be banned. Schools in England were given non-statutory guidance under the former Conservative government in February last year intended to stop the use of mobile phones during the school day. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch questioned why the Government opposed a Tory amendment to the Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill to require schools to ban the use of phones. In the Commons on Wednesday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the proposal as completely unnecessary as he claimed almost every school already bans phones. When asked about phone bans in schools, Sir Martyn said: I think its crucial that Ofsted doesnt ask schools to do beyond what the Government asks them to do, but I would absolutely support headteachers to take that tough decision even if it led to a spike in behaviour, for example, in the first instance. He added: Ive walked into I cant remember exactly how many special-measures schools in utter chaos, but its an awful lot. Some of them you could easily describe as in some of the most challenging circumstances in the entire country when I went in to sponsor them and there were phones rife everywhere. And within those schools, within days of banning phones, and as hard as that is initially, you get an immediate sense of calmness across the school. In a speech on Wednesday, the Ofsted chief called on parents to engage with schools in the right way rather than joining a social media pile-on. He warned that social media can hand a microphone to the pub bore, a megaphone to the bully and help the rabble-rouser find his or her rabble without leaving their armchair. Sir Martyn said: The world seems to be getting more antagonistic and adversarial. So you can understand why a school leader might be wary of engaging with parents. But I always found that the way to defuse tensions, tackle rumours and build common purpose with parents is more communication, not less. More openness, not less. And more information sharing, not less. So I say join the PTA, dont join the pile-on. Earlier this month, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said she had tasked officials with exploring how to more effectively monitor what is happening in schools in England around the use of smartphones. In a speech to school and college leaders in Liverpool, Ms Phillipson said: The Governments position is clear, you have our full backing in ridding our classrooms of the disruption of phones. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Rachel Reeves has denied her own government's findings that her welfare reforms will push 250,000 people into poverty while refusing to rule out further cuts. The chancellor wants to save 5 billion from the UK's ballooning welfare bill by making it harder to claim Personal Independence Payments and cutting Universal Credit. An impact assessment, published today by the Department of Work and Pensions, said 3.2 million families including current and future benefit claimants will lose an average of 1,720 a year as a result of the changes. It added: "We estimate there will be an additional 250,000 people (including 50,000 children) in relative poverty after housing costs in 2029/30 as a result of modelled changes to social security." But in an interview with HuffPost UK, the chancellor rejected those findings, claiming they did not take account of what the government is doing to get people back into work. "Those numbers are based on not a single person moving from welfare into work and we are, alongside this package of welfare reforms, putting in 1 billion of targeted, personalised and guaranteed support for anybody on sickness and disability benefits to help them find work thats appropriate for the situation that they are in, Ms Reeves said. open image in gallery Rachel Reeves has rejected DWP findings that 250,000 people will be plunged into poverty ( Richard Gilzene ) I know that there are thousands of people with disabilities who are desperate to work if only they were provided with the support. I understand where these numbers come from, theyre a static set of numbers as if nothing changes, but of course things will change. Disability campaigners have reacted angrily to the welfare cuts, which they say will have a "catastrophic" impact on benefit claimants. Asked whether she can guarantee no one will be pushed into poverty by the welfare reforms, Reeves said: I want more people to benefit from the security, the dignity, the extra money that comes from having a job. Were also increasing the national living wage, which means that if youre working full time youll be earning 1,400 more. We want people to move into secure, well-paid employment [and] were going to give people the support to get there. The chancellor was forced to find another 500 million of welfare cuts on the eve of the Spring Statement after the Office for Budget Responsibility said what had been already been announced would not deliver the savings needed. open image in gallery The chancellor wants to save 5 billion from the UK's ballooning welfare bill by making it harder to claim Personal Independence Payments and cutting Universal Credit ( EPA ) Asked whether she can rule out more cuts to welfare in the future, Reeves said: "Weve set out the welfare reforms that we want to make and, alongside the changes, were also publishing a green paper to consult on more targeted measures to provide support for the most severely disabled, but also looking at how we can incentivise young people not to move on to benefits and never come off them. "We do need to make sure that our welfare system is sustainable for the future and thats what the reforms we have set out will do." Asked a second time whether more cuts were possible, she said: "This is not about cuts, this is about reforming the way the welfare system works." The welfare system should be much more focused on giving people the support that they need to find employment rather than parking people on benefits, which Im afraid was the approach of the previous government." Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A furious row has broken out over the publishing of a report that found ex-Reform MP Rupert Lowe harassed two women who worked in his office. The KC put in charge of investigating Mr Lowe has accused Nigel Farage and Reform of reneging over the agreement about when to publish her report into the Great Yarmouth MP. Jacqueline Perry, who is also Donald Trumps lawyer, sent an email to Mr Lowes lawyer apologising for the way in which her report had been published early on Tuesday. She said: I made it quite clear to the party that I had indicated a deadline to you of Wednesday the 26th, and the report had been released entirely without my input in this at all. In fact, I was informed of this and surprised and disconcerted that the gun had been jumped. open image in gallery The KC put in charge of investigating Lowe has accused Nigel Farage and Reform of reneging over the agreement about when to publish her report ( Joe Giddens/PA ) She noted: I cannot but agree with you that it seems to be reneging on what I had made clear to you and I had emphasised to the party (who by the way had seen the email I had sent to you) that the report could not be released before the 26th, in case Mr Lowe, through yourself, was going to come back to me. She added: As a practitioner, it is not my style at all to ever renege upon agreements, and I hope that you can accept that a) this was not my doing and b) I was and remained independent throughout. Ms Perry, however, did say that her report which found there was credible evidence of bullying or harassment by Mr Lowe and his team against two female employees was based on facts. Mr Lowe, who has described the investigation into him as a witch hunt to discredit him, used the email to hit out at the way Reform has handled the investigation. He was already furious that members of his staff had been publicly identified by a report, which he claims was meant to be internal. The 67-year-old MP, who has also been reported to the police for allegedly threatening Reform chair Zia Yusuf, told The Independent: They released it without her permission and named and shamed my staff. Its outrageous. He said: The report was supposed to be internal, it's labelled as informal and private. open image in gallery Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe has been criticised ( PA ) But Reform has insisted that it has handled the case properly. A spokesperson said Mr Lowe had already declared that he had no intention of engaging with Ms Perry or the investigation, so the deadline had no purpose. They also shared an email Ms Perry had sent to the party ahead of publication where she said: I did say in my last email to Jason Newall [Mr Lowes lawyer] that I would wait until Wednesday (26 March) but in view of RLs public pronouncements on Thursday (20 March) I leave this decision to the party. A Reform spokesperson said: Rupert Lowe has had lawyers be his vehicle to communicate with the KC, and they emailed her that they would not be responding by the deadline. He added: The report points out many instances where the KC has seen demonstrable proof that Rupert has lied on social media. The KC has also had to issue a public statement rebuking him for claiming there was no credible evidence against him. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A young boy has lost his arm after he was attacked by a crocodile on a fishing trip in South Africa. Johandre Blom, 7, was in the shallows of the Roodekopjes Dam, near Brits, on Friday when he was suddenly dragged under the water. His parents were alerted to the surprise attack by the screams of his friend Dylan, 9, who was desperately trying to hold on to Johandres arm to keep him from being pulled under again. open image in gallery Johandre parents are by the boys hospital bedside ( BackaBuddy ) Johandres father Corne rushed into the water to grab the boy who had been spun around in a death roll by the massive reptile thought to be three-metres-long. Jannie Bekker, Dylans father, helped pull the boy from the water. Describing the attack in the Kormorant newspaper, he said: Dylan screamed and grabbed Johandre trying to pull him away from the crocodile. By this time the crocodile had already spun Johandre around three times. Corne is a big man, and while he was holding onto Johandre, he was also spun around. Mr Bekker said that when Corne lifted Johandre out of the water, they saw that his "little arm was gone." open image in gallery The crocodile feared to have ripped off the boy's arm waits in the water ( Supplied ) "I grabbed Johandre and pulled him aside. There were towels lying nearby that I took and pressed to the wound. I then ran to the car with him, he told Maroela Media. "Amanda had already gotten into the car and was shouting 'bring my child'". One of Johandre's friends took a boat back onto the water to see if he could recover his friends arm, and the crocodile attacked again. The reptile has not yet been caught by authorities, a family spokesman said. open image in gallery Johandre is described as a happy boy who loves fishing with his father ( BackaBuddy ) A fundraiser for Johandres hospital bills is looking to raise one million South African Rand (42,000). Organiser Juan van der Merwe told The Independent that Johandre had only just awoken from a medically induced coma as his parents Corne and Amanda kept a close watch at his hospital bed. He said: Johandre is a very strong boy. The whole time he was waiting for an ambulance he was conscious. He is so brave. He loves fishing and going outdoors and has always been a happy child. A crocodile that size could kill an adult. Its a miracle he survived. To donate to Johandre's hospital bills, please click here. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A 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. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A search is underway after four US Army soldiers disappeared during a training exercise outside Lithuania's capital, Vilnius, the US military announced on Wednesday. The soldiers were participating in scheduled tactical training when they went missing, according to a statement released by the US Army Europe and Africa public affairs office in Wiesbaden, Germany. The US embassy in Vilnius also confirmed the soldiers were missing. The embassy said: "The soldiers, all from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, were conducting scheduled tactical training at the time of the incident," it said. "Search and recovery efforts are underway." The military has assured the public that further updates will be provided as new information emerges. Lithuania's armed forces said in a statement they were informed on Tuesday that four US soldiers and one tracked vehicle were missing. "A possible location of the incident has been identified and a search and rescue operation is underway." Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT reported that four soldiers and vehicle were reported missing Tuesday afternoon during an exercise at the General Silvestras Zukauskas training ground in Pabrade, a town located less than six miles from the border with Belarus. The Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are all Nato members and have often had chilly ties with Russia, a key ally of Belarus, since declaring independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. Relations soured further over Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has been one of the most outspoken supporters of Ukraine in its fight against Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The 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. 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. 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 latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Indian agents reportedly attempted to influence Canadas Conservative Partys leadership race, escalating tensions between the two nations. The fresh allegations resurfaced amid an ongoing general election campaign after The Globe and Mail reported, citing a source with top-security clearance, that Indian agents were involved in fundraising and outreach efforts within Canadas South Asian community to support Pierre Poilievres 2022 Conservative Party leadership campaign. Intelligence officials, however, found no evidence that Mr Poilievre or his team were aware of these alleged activities or that they influenced the election outcome. India has faced repeated accusations of election meddling in Canada, though it has consistently denied such claims. Mr Poilievre, who is now the leader of the opposition and a candidate for prime minister, dismissed the allegations and insisted his victory was legitimate, calling the race fair and square. During campaign, Pierre Poilievre argued that he is the strongest candidate to take on US president Donald Trump ( AFP via Getty Images ) He has also refused to obtain a security clearance, arguing that it would limit his ability to discuss national security issues openly. "What I will not do is commit to the oath of secrecy that the Liberals want to impose on me," Mr Poilievre said. "They don't want me to speak about these matters, so they bring me into a dark room and they say: 'We're going to give you a little bit of bread crumbs of intel and then we'll tell you you can't talk about this stuff any more.'" Liberal leader Mark Carney criticised Mr Poilievres refusal to undergo a security clearance process. I find it downright irresponsible that the Leader of the Opposition day-after-day, month-after-month, year-after-year refuses to obtain a security clearance, Mr Carney said. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has also warned that India and China are likely to attempt interference in Canadas upcoming general election on 28 April, while Russia and Pakistan are also considered potential threats. Vanessa Lloyd, deputy director of operations at CSIS, highlighted the growing use of artificial intelligence in foreign interference efforts. 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, Ms Lloyd said during a press briefing, reported Reuters. "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," she added. A previous inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian elections found that both China and India had attempted to manipulate the 2019 and 2021 elections. While the impact of these efforts was deemed minimal, the report warned that disinformation posed a significant threat to Canadas democratic institutions. Relations between Canada and China have also worsened in recent weeks, with Beijing imposing tariffs on Canadian agricultural goods worth over $2.6bn. The move is seen as retaliation for Ottawas earlier levies on Chinese electric vehicles, steel, and aluminium. Additionally, Canada condemned Chinas recent execution of four Canadian citizens on drug-related charges. Earlier, Canadas Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) task force has warned that foreign agents are likely to escalate disinformation campaigns during the current election season. New Delhi in past has rejected the allegations, instead accusing Canada of meddling in Indias internal affairs. Indias Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) criticised Ottawa in January this year for enabling illegal migration and organised criminal activities. It is, in fact, Canada that has been interfering in Indias internal matters, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, adding: "We reject the report's insinuations on India and expect that the support system enabling illegal migration will not be further countenanced. Tensions between the two countries have been high since Canada expelled six Indian diplomats last year, alleging their involvement in a plot against Sikh separatists. India responded by expelling six Canadian diplomats. Relations further deteriorated after Ottawa accused India of links to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh separatist in Canada. In June last year, a report from Canadas National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians ranked India as the second most active country in foreign electoral interference in Canada. The report noted that while Canada and India have long-standing ties, persistent diplomatic challenges have contributed to New Delhis alleged interference activities. The Independent has reached out to Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for Indias Ministry of External Affairs, for comment. Additional reporting by agencies The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Dollar Trees decade-long effort to fold the Family Dollar chain into its business is ending after agreeing to sell the bargain store chain to private equity firms for $1 billion. Dollar Tree Inc. bought Family Dollar with its over 7,000 stores ten years ago for more than $8 billion. Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, said that Dollar Tree struggled with supply chain issues, poor store locations and other operational difficulties ever since making the acquisition. Basically, Dollar Tree bit off far more than it could chew, he said. Following the sale, Dollar Tree plans to open several new stores, CEO Michael Creedon said. We will continue to grow and optimize our Dollar Tree business to maximize value for Dollar Tree associates, customers, and shareholders with an enhanced focus on compelling initiatives, including our expanded assortment, significant planned new store openings across the United States, and transactions that advance our growth strategy," Creedon said in a statement. open image in gallery Dollar Tree is set to sell Family Dollar for $1 billion ( Getty Images ) Last year Dollar Tree announced that it planned to close hundreds of Family Dollar stores. Family Dollar carries a range of household staples, from food to laundry detergent. The stores are largely located in underserved, urban areas. Store closings that are underway, and those that may take place under new ownership, are likely to have an outsized impact on customers living in those areas. Access to affordable, essential goods may become more challenging for lower income families as more Family Dollar stores close, said Marshal Cohen, chief industry advisor at Circana, a market research firm The lower income consumer will be losing a critical place to be able to purchase value products, Cohen said. Theyre losing the breadth of the assortment and the depth of the discount and the convenience. The mom and pop stores found in such densely populated urban areas have less selection and prices are typically higher, Cohen said. Dollar Tree had been scouting options for Family Dollar for a while and said Wednesday that the sale to Brigade Capital Management and Macellum Capital Management will allow it to focus on its core business. This is a major milestone in our multiyear transformation journey to help us fully achieve our potential, Creedon said. During a conference call, Creedon noted how Dollar Tree and Family Dollar are two different businesses with limited synergies. The sale will now allow each one to concentrate on its specific needs, he added. Dollar Tree, whose customer base is about 50% middle-income shoppers, are found in many suburban locations. Its shelves are more likely to feature seasonal goods, party supplies, crafts and snacks. open image in gallery A shopper browses toys at a Dollar Tree in Chicago, Illinois. The chain's customer base is primarily middle-income shoppers in suburban areas ( Getty Images ) The sale will likely free Dollar Tree to focus on its core customers, Truist Securities analyst Scot Ciccarelli believes. Family Dollar turnaround efforts had been consuming massive amounts of both management focus and financial resources and now the company can focus all of its efforts toward growing and optimizing Dollar Tree, he wrote in a client note. Bargain chains like Dollar Tree, which have raised some of their prices in recent years, are finding that they have little room to maneuver. Americans have tightened their spending as consumer confidence in the economy slides. Family Dollar, which moved its headquarters from North Carolina to Chesapeake, Virginia, after the sale to Dollar Tree, will maintain its headquarters in Virginia. Saunders said Brigade and Macellum have to fix several issues at Family Dollar, including pricing that isnt as sharp as many of its rivals and a customer base that isnt as loyal. The deal is expected to close later in the second quarter. Arun Sundaram, an analyst with CFRA Research, said in a client note that the Family Dollar sale is the right move for Dollar Tree, which has historically generated stronger sales, profitability and cash flow. But Sundaram cautioned that Dollar Tree has increased exposure to tariff risks due to its higher concentration in general merchandise categories than Family Dollar. While about half of the chains customer base is middle income shoppers, Creedon said that higher-income customers in store aisles are becoming more frequent. We are seeing stronger demand from higher income customers who increasingly see Dollar Tree as a cost effective source for an expanding range of products, he said. Creedon said Dollar Tree has taken steps like negotiating cost concessions and diversifying where it imports goods from to mitigate more than 90% of the impact of the Trump administrations 10% tariff on Chinese imports announced last month. That tariff would have cost the company $15-$20 million monthly, Creedon said. Another 10% tariff on goods from China that was announced this month, along with 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, would potentially have about another $20 million monthly impact. Creedon said its working to mitigate the impact of the latest round of tariffs, which arent reflected in Dollar Trees 2025 outlook. Higher prices could be possible, Creedon explained. "Were the best in the nation for prayer candles, he said. They're made in Mexico and so we want to make sure we can still offer them. So we will look at targeted pricing on things like that." Shares of Dollar Tree rose 3% Wednesday. --- Additional reporting by AP. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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." The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice New details have emerged during the search for four U.S. Army soldiers who mysteriously vanished in Lithuania during a training exercise after the armored vehicle they operated was discovered submerged in a body of water. The soldiers, all from the 1st Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division, and an M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle were reported missing Tuesday during a tactical training exercise in Pabrade, a town near the Belarusian border and about 30 miles northeast of the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. Hundreds of personnel from the U.S. Army and Lithuanian Armed Forcesalong with other state and private agenciescontinued to search for the missing soldiers through Wednesday night, Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene told reporters Thursday morning. The search and rescue operation involved water pumping and digging through a peat bog after the U.S. Army Europe and Africa announced Wednesday that the Hercules was discovered in a body of water. Sakaliene revealed that the vehicle was found more than 15 feet deep in mud and that enough water had now been drained from the swamp to begin digging for it. open image in gallery Search and rescue teams gather near the training range in Pabrade where the four U.S. soldiers vanished during a training exercise ( AP ) The minister said that other positive signs had emerged during the rescue efforts that give hope for a quicker scenario. He added that there is no guarantee that the soldiers were in the vehicle when it was submerged. Raimundas Vaiksnoras, commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, told reporters: It is not visible from the surface and it is difficult to feel it even with metal rods. Vaiksnoras said that high-pressure gas lines running through the area had complicated rescue efforts and that they needed to be switched off before heavy equipment could be used. President Donald Trump told reporters Wednesday he had not been briefed about the missing soldiers. It sparked anger among members of Congress as the president continued to brush off the Signalgate security breach, which was revealed Monday. open image in gallery President Donald Trump told reporters Wednesday that he had not yet been brief on the missing U.S. soldiers ( AP ) NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has since withdrawn his earlier comments in which he said that the four soldiers had been found dead. Whilst I was speaking the news came out about four American soldiers who were killed in an incident in Lithuania, he initially said. This is still early news so we do not know the details. This is really terrible news and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones. The alliance was then forced to apologize for the confusion caused and said that the deaths were not yet confirmed. At the time of Ruttes comments, the U.S. Army Europe and Africa commands media division told The Independent the secretary general was speaking about seeing reports of deaths and that the U.S. military was unable to confirm the deaths of the missing soldiers at this time. U.S. officials announced a search was underway for the service members earlier Wednesday. The incident took place at a time of heightened tensions in Eastern Europe. Lithuania is a NATO member and ally of nearby Ukraine, while Belarus is aligned with Russia. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Utah has passed a law to protect child influencers after the abuse conviction of mother of six Ruby Franke. Gov. Spencer Cox signed a law on Tuesday that gives adults a path to scrub any digital content they were featured in as minors from any platforms. It also requires parents to set money aside for children featured in online content. Franke posted regular videos of her seemingly tight-knit Mormon family to her now-defunct YouTube channel, 8 Passengers, before viewers raised alarm about her disciplinary methods. She was later charged with and pleaded guilty to four felony counts of child abuse. Frankes now ex-husband Kevin Franke told lawmakers in February that he wished he had never let her post their childrens lives online and use them for profit. open image in gallery Ruby Franke posted videos about her family to her now-defunct YouTube channel 8 Passengers ( Supplied ) Children cannot give informed consent to be filmed on social media, period," he said. Vlogging my family, putting my children into public social media, was wrong, and I regret it every day." Utah is a hotbed for the lucrative family blogging industry, with its large nuclear families and religious lifestyles. The reality show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives brought widespread attention to a group of Utah-based Mormon mothers and TikTok creators known as MomTok who create content about their families and faith. The content-creation industry is largely unregulated, but laws in Illinois and Minnesota allow children to sue parents who do not set aside money for them. Utah's law goes further, allowing content featuring minors to be taken down. open image in gallery Ruby and Kevin Franke ( Hulu ) Son's escape from home leads to investigation The Franke children were featured prominently in videos posted up to five times a week to an audience of 2.5 million in 2010. Two years later, Ruby Franke stopped posting to the family channel and began creating parenting content with therapist Jodi Hildebrandt, who encouraged her to cut contact with Kevin Franke and move her two youngest children into Hildebrandt's southern Utah home. The women were arrested on child abuse charges after Ruby Franke's emaciated 12-year-old son Russell escaped through a window and knocked on a neighbor's door. The neighbors noticed his ankles were wrapped in bloody duct tape and called 911. Officers then found 9-year-old Eve, the youngest Franke child, sitting cross-legged in a dark closet in Hildebrandts house with her hair buzzed off. open image in gallery Ruby Frankes kids were found with silver duct tape around their arms and legs ( Washington County Attorney ) The women were each sentenced to up to 30 years in prison. In handwritten journal entries, Ruby Franke insists repeatedly that her son is possessed by the devil and describes months of daily abuse that included starving her children and forcing them to work for hours in the summer heat without protection. Hoping to strike content gold In a memoir published after her mother's arrest, Shari, the eldest child, described how Ruby Franke's obsession with striking content gold and chasing views led her to view her children as employees who needed to be disciplined. Shari wrote that her mother directed the children like a Hollywood producer" and subjected them to constant video surveillance. open image in gallery Shari Franke in the Hulu documentary Devil in the Family, about her mothers case ( Disney ) She has called herself a victim of family vlogging. Under the Utah law, online creators who make more than $150,000 a year from content featuring children will be required to set aside 15 per cent of those earnings into a trust fund that the kids can access when they turn 18. Parents of child actors appearing in TV or film projects will also be required to place a portion of their earnings in a trust. Eve Franke, the youngest child, wrote in a statement to lawmakers that they had power to protect other kids from exploitation. Im not saying YouTube is a bad thing. Sometimes it brings us together, she wrote. But kids deserve to be loved, not used by the ones that are supposed to love them the most. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The abortion pill mifepristone, used in the majority of U.S. abortions, faces an uncertain future under the new Republican administration. President Donald Trumps pick for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner, Dr Marty Makary, was confirmed on Tuesday by the Senate. Makary has declined to specify his stance on the drug during recent Senate health committee hearings, leaving many wondering about potential restrictions. Mifepristone, often used with misoprostol in medication abortions, accounts for nearly two-thirds of abortions nationwide. While medical experts consider it "among the safest medications" approved by the FDA, a Christian conservative group alleges it has caused "tens of thousands" of "emergency complications." Here is what to know about mifepristone and its status. open image in gallery Mifepristone was approved by the FDA in 2000 for terminating early pregnancies ( AP ) What are the safety limits on the use of the abortion pill? The FDA approved mifepristone in 2000 for terminating early pregnancies. Initially, strict safety protocols were in place due to the rare risk of excessive bleeding. These included mandatory in-person appointments and distribution limited to certified physicians. Current regulations, however, permit mifepristone to be dispensed via mail without in-person requirements. The future of these regulations remains unclear under the new administration. The doctors also had to be capable of performing emergency surgery to stop excess bleeding and an abortion procedure if the drug didnt end the pregnancy. Over time, the FDA reaffirmed mifepristones safety and repeatedly eased restrictions. How often are there serious problems? Abortion opponents say the FDAs 2021 decision allowing online prescribing and mail-order use of mifepristone resulted in many more emergency complications. But that argument lumps together women experiencing a range of issues from mifepristone not working to people who may simply have questions or concerns but dont require medical care. OB-GYNs say a tiny fraction of patients suffer major or serious adverse events after taking mifepristone. open image in gallery People march through Amarillo, Texas, in 2023 as part of a protest against a move to ban mifepristone ( AP ) A legal brief filed with the Supreme Court in 2024 by a group of medical organizations including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says: When used in medication abortion, major adverse events significant infection, excessive blood loss, or hospitalization occur in less than 0.32% of patients, according to a highly regarded study with more than 50,000 patients. The definition that scientists generally use for serious adverse events includes blood transfusions, major surgery, hospital admissions and death, said Ushma Upadhyay, one of the authors of that 2015 study. The prescribing information included in the packaging for mifepristone tablets lists slightly different statistics for what it calls serious adverse reactions. It cites ranges for how frequently various complications occur: 0.03 per cent to 0.5 per cent for transfusion; 0.2 per cent for sepsis and 0.04 per cent to 0.6 per cent for hospitalization related to medication abortions. The ranges reflect findings across various relevant studies, experts said. Why do patients go to the emergency room? Mifepristones labeling lists a complication that most medical groups dont consider a serious or major adverse event: ER visits, which ranged from 2.9 per cent to 4.6 per cent. The current FDA label lists going to the ER as an option if patients experience prolonged heavy bleeding, severe abdominal pain or a sustained fever. But ER visits dont always reflect big problems. Some people may go there after a medication abortion because they want to be checked out or have questions but dont have a doctor, said Upadhyay, a public health scientist at the University of California, San Francisco. Others, she said, dont want to go to their primary care provider about their abortion because of stigma. A study she co-authored in 2018 found that slightly more than half of patients who visited the ER because of abortions received only observational care. open image in gallery Dr Marty Makary is the new commissioner of the FDA ( Getty Images for HBO ) How effective is the pill? Mifepristone results in a completed abortion 97.4 per cent of the time, according to U.S. studies cited in the FDA label. But in 2.6 per cent of cases, a surgical intervention is needed. And 0.7 per cent of the time, the pregnancy continues. Thats compared to a procedural abortion in a clinic, where the chance of the procedure failing to end a pregnancy is extremely, extremely low, probably less than 0.1 per cent, said Dr. Pratima Gupta, a board member for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Any time a procedural abortion is done, the clinicians ensure that it was a complete abortion by examining the tissue that is removed or performing an ultrasound during or after the procedure, she said. Gupta, who has done abortion procedures for more than 20 years, said there are very few complications from abortion any kind of abortion, medication or procedural abortion. One study suggested thats just as true for medication abortions that happen in a clinic, a doctors office or at home with the help of telehealth. How does mifepristones safety and effectiveness compare to other drugs? The FDA makes drug approval decisions on a case-by-case basis, weighing effectiveness, safety and other factors. No drug is 100 per cent effective, and many common medications dont work for a significant portion of patients. Antidepressants typically help between 40 per cent and 60 per cent of people with depression. New antibiotics approved by the FDA often resolve about 70 per cent of infections. Since 2000, roughly 6 million patients have taken mifepristone, according to the FDA. A 2021 review of agency records looking for deaths that were likely related to the drug identified 13, or 0.00027 per cent of patients. Medical organizations supporting mifepristones availability say the drugs safety, given the rate of deaths, compares to ibuprofen, which more than 30 million Americans take in any given day. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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. 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. open image in gallery 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 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. 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. open image in gallery 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Elon Musk issued an ominous message to a veteran Democrat after she was filmed suggesting that First Lady Melania Trump should be investigated and possibly deported from the United States. Rep. Maxine Waters, 86, came under fire from Musk after the video of her making threats about Melania during an anti-Department of Government Efficiency rally at the weekend in Los Angeles, California, went viral. Musk commented on the video of Waters late Tuesday on X writing: At some point, the many crimes of Maxine Waters will catch up to her. In the clip, published by X account End Wokeness and also posted by Fox News host Sean Hannity Tuesday, Waters is heard saying: 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. During the speech, Waters then issues an empty threat on the First Lady, declaring: We dont know whether or not her parents were documented. And maybe we better just take a look. Her comments came in relation to the Trump administrations pledge to stamp out birthright citizenship in the U.S. a bid that has faced multiple hurdles from judiciary officials. The Los Angeles Times pictured Waters amid the fray of hundreds of others protesting at the rally. open image in gallery A video of the 86-year-old Democrat floating the idea that Melania needed to be investigated has been circulating online since the weekend ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Despite Musks remarks about crimes, according to public records, Waters has no criminal record. Melania was born in Slovenia in 1970 and moved to New York in 1996 to embark on her modeling career. While in New York, Melania met Trump at a party in 1998, and seven years later, the pair exchanged vows at Mar-a-Lago. The First Lady was initially granted U.S. entry on an "Einstein Visa," also known as an EB-1, which is traditionally reserved for highly acclaimed people in their field. According to her White House biography, she was granted U.S. citizenship in 2006 and is now the only First Lady to become a naturalized citizen. Melanias parents were able to follow her to the U.S. on green cards that she sponsored in 2018. open image in gallery Melania Trump was granted her U.S. citizenship in 2006 and is the only First Lady to become a naturalized citizen ( AFP via Getty Images ) Before floating the idea of investigating the First Lady, Waters is heard in the video slamming the Presidents calls to rebuke birthright citizenship. When he [Trump] talks about birthright, and hes 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 says. The clip was shared by Hannity on Tuesday, who titled the footage: MAD MAXINE! Crazy California Rep Suggests First Lady Should Be Deported in Unhinged Rant. The Saturday rally is one of several events that have occurred across the nation since Musk began actively participating in the second Trump administration. The Independent contacted Rep. Maxine Waters for comment. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A MAGA activist issued a blunt response to Elon Musk after the billionaire chimed in on the Democrats' shock victory in a Pennsylvania state senate election. Democratic candidate James Malone defeated Republican Josh Parsons by less than one percent of the vote in a tightly-run race in the states 36th district. The Democratic victory in the northern Lancaster County race does not change Republican control of the states Senate. Scott Presler, the conservative political activist who took credit for helping Trump turn Pennsylvania red, appeared to show his dissatisfaction with Musk after asking Republicans for assistance in the district. The activist posted a screenshot of The New York Times projection late Tuesday showing Malone leading Parsons 26,951 votes to 26,469. I asked for help in Pennsylvania & no one helped us, he tweeted. 482 votes, he added, referring to the slim voting margins between the two candidates. Damn, Musk, a MAGA megadonor who spent more than $290 million supporting Trump and his Republican allies during the 2024 election cycle, said in the thread just after midnight on Wednesday. In late August, Musk made a $1 million donation to a Preslers PAC Early Vote Action. Presler issued a blunt response, punctuated by a full stop: Yes. An hour earlier, Presler replied to one of his X posts, which Musk had previously commented on last week, asking to speak with the tech billionaire. Dear Elon. We ended up losing this seat by 482 votes. I tried to warn people. Lets have a discussion. We dont have a lot of help, Presler wrote. open image in gallery Scott Pesler had repeatedly asked Republicans for help in a tightly-run race in the states 36th senatorial district ( AFP/Getty ) Musk has yet to respond to Preslers second message. Earlier on Tuesday, Pelser tweeted that an Illinois-based democrat PAC poured $100,000 into Malones campaign. Republicans, where are you? he added. Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin celebrated Malones expected victory and said that his party is coming for the president. Democrats just SHATTERED a 40-year Republican stronghold in Pennsylvanias State Senate!, he tweeted Tuesday evening. In a +15 Trump district, no less! This is a WARNING, Donald Trumpwere fired up, were mobilized, and were COMING FOR YOU! In November, President Donald Trump cruised to victory in the district by 15 points. Pesler has repeatedly taken credit for helping Trump win Pennslyvania. open image in gallery Elon Musk has been criticized by Scott Presler after the MAGA activist called on support for a key Pennslyvania state Senate race ( AP ) Ryan Aument, the Republican candidate in the 2022 state legislative election, ran unopposed. Augments seat was left open after he stepped down from his senatorial duties to become the state director for Pennslyvania Senator Dave McCormick in December. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Rep. Jasmine Crockett is refusing to apologize for calling wheelchair-bound Texas Governor Greg Abbott Hot Wheels despite immense backlash and threats of congressional censure. The progressive Texas Democrat released a statement following the uproar Tuesday, stating she wasnt thinking about the governors condition and insisted it was not a jibe about Abbott being differently abled. At no point did I mention or allude to his condition, she said. She argued her comments were a reference to the planes, trains, and automobiles he used to transfer migrants in blue states. Not the fact that Abbott, 67, uses a wheelchair. The long-term governor was paralyzed in 1984 after a tree fell and collapsed on top of him while he was out running. The accident severely damaged his spinal cord. Crockett made the remark while speaking at a Human Rights Campaign banquet in Los Angeles at the weekend. Representative Jasmine Crockett mocked Gov. Greg Abbott during a Human Rights Campaign dinner in LA Saturday ( Getty Images ) While taking the stand, she said: We in these hot a** Texas streets, honey. 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 lawmaker added. Crockett addressed the double standards of being called out over the barb in her X statement, claiming that she was even more appalled that Trump supporters who are content with his racially insensitive nicknames. However, her failure to formally acknowledge the faux pas and issue a formal apology has been met with mixed reactions. X user Tristan Thomas wrote: If Elon doesn't have to apologize for a "mistaken" Nazi Salute, you don't have to apologize for anything ever. While another scorned Crockett, writing: This shouldnt turn into a game of well, Trump did something awful, so now I gets a free pass. Bad behavior doesnt cancel out other bad behavior. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it. Stop defending bad behavior and apologize for your actions. Last week, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called Crockett out by accusing her of orchestrating political violence and terrorism and made her concerns known to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel. A Member of Congress is organizing political violence and terrorism, the controversial Georgia congresswoman wrote on X Thursday in response to a live stream titled TeslaTakedown, which discussed peaceful protests against Musk. Attorney General Pam Bondi reacted by calling on Crockett to apologize for her comments against Musk, insisting they be taken down, claiming the comments are driving violence and insurrection. The Independent contacted Abbott for comment. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Vice President JD Vance has said he will join his wife on a trip to Greenland, suggesting in an online video that global security is at stake. Vance will join a high-profile delegation, that includes his wife, in visiting the U.S. Space Base at Pituffik in northern Greenland. Were going to check out how things are going there, Vance said in a video posted to social media. "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." 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. 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. Usha Vance will accompany her husband ( AP ) 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. Denmark's prime minister had said on Wednesday that a planned visit by Usha Vance to a popular dog-sled race in Greenland was part of an "unacceptable pressure" on the semi-autonomous Danish territory. The White House on Tuesday announced that the delegation would instead be headed byJD Vance himself, but that it would only visit the U.S. Space Base at Pituffik in northern Greenland and not the dog-sled race. "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," Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told broadcaster DR. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The 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. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice National security advisor Mike Waltz said he accepted full responsibility for a high-level Trump administration planning chat about strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen being accidentally shared with a top journalist from The Atlantic. "I take full responsibility. I built the group," Waltz told Fox Newss Ingraham Angle on Tuesday. "It's embarrassing. We're going to get to the bottom of it." Waltz went on to call Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who wrote a widely read article reporting that Waltz added him to a Signal group discussing the strikes, was a loser who may have deliberately tricked someone in the administration into getting access to the chat. The administration dismissed Goldberg as a reporter who peddled in hoaxes hours earlier, despite a National Security Council spokesperson confirming the authenticity of the messages. The Atlantic has said it stands by its reporting, which says that Trump administration officials including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance discussed detailed aspects of the strikes including targets and weapons details, breaking with normal protocols (and potentially federal espionage law) that require discussing such sensitive information over secure government channels. "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, a spokesperson for the magazine told NBC News. Our journalists are continuing to fearlessly and independently report the truth in the public interest. US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz is leading probe into Singal leak which has roiled Washington ( AFP via Getty Images ) In a phone interview with the broadcaster Tuesday morning, Trump claimed that Waltz was a good man who had learned his lesson and would not be fired. The president also blamed sharing the messages on an error from one of Michaels people that did not amount to a serious issue. The White House has said Waltz will lead a probe into the leak, and the national security advisor told Fox News some of the best technical minds are investigating what happened. The administration has attempted to downplay the leak scandal, claiming that no classified materials were sent in the thread, though it has maintained elsewhere in a lawsuit regarding deportation flights to El Salvador that reminiscent operational details are state secrets outside the jurisdiction of even federal court scrutiny. The Pentagon warned officials around the time of the leak that government officials shouldnt use Signal, an encrypted messaging app, even for sharing unclassified material because of a vulnerability leaving it open to exploitation by foreign adversaries. Top Democrats have sharply criticized the leak and called for top officials involved to resign. Trump says no apology necessary for Signalgate as Waltz breaks silence 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 of the Armed Services Committee, told The Independent. Andrew Feinberg and Eric Garcia contributed reporting to this story. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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. 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. open image in gallery 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. 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. open image in gallery 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. 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." Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Surveillance footage of the arrest of a Turkish doctoral student shows plainclothes federal agents approaching her from the street outside her off-campus apartment before putting her in handcuffs. A man covered by his sweatshirt hood appears to approach Rumeysa Ozturk without identifying himself and then grabs her arm. Another officer approaches and takes her phone while she is placed in handcuffs. Three officers cover their faces with neck gaiters. Ozturk, a PhD student in the graduate school of arts and sciences at the Massachusetts university who is legally in the United States on a non-immigrant F-1 visa, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on Tuesday outside her apartment on her way to an Iftar dinner to break her Ramadan fast with friends near her home in Somerville, according to her attorney and activists. Her arrest by federal immigration authorities is the latest in a string of arrests targeting international students for their Palestinian advocacy. In an email to the Tufts community, university president Sunil Kumar said the school was told that federal authorities terminated her visa status, and we seek to confirm whether that information is true. The Independent has requested comment from ICE. Ozturks attorney filed a petition of habeas corpus challenging her arrest and detention. Massachusetts District Judge Indira Talwani gave federal officials until Friday to respond to the complaint, and Ozturk cannot be moved outside the state without at least 48 hours of advance notice to the court, according to Talwanis order. We are unaware of her whereabouts and have not been able to contact her, attorney Mahsa Khanbabai said in a statement to The Independent Wednesday morning. But ICE records showed Wednesday night that Ozturk was being held at at a detenction center in Louisiana, despite a judges order blocking her removal from the state. It is unclear when she crossed state lines. open image in gallery Tufts University doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk was arrested by ICE officers on March 25, according to the school ( REUTERS ) Tufts did not have any prior knowledge of the arrest and did not share any information with federal authorities prior to the event, Kumar wrote. Kumar issued a reminder that the university has a protocol for how to respond to federal agents making unannounced visits on or off campus. Ozturk is a student at the universitys doctoral program for Child Study and Human Development, and graduated with a masters degree from the Teachers College at Columbia University, according to her LinkedIn. I am passionate about researching childrens and adolescents' digital media and technologies for caring, kind, and compassionate media environments, she writes. As an interdisciplinary media researcher and developmental scientist in training, I research children's and adolescents' positive development in a media-embedded, globalized, and connected world. Last year, in response to Israels ongoing devastation of Gaza, Ozturk co-authored an op-ed in The Tufts Daily newspaper calling on Kumar to acknowledge the Palestinian genocide and for the university to divest from companies with direct or indirect ties to Israel. Ozturk is among dozens of students and professors identified by Canary Mission, a pro-Israel campaign that maintains a database intended to blacklist and intimidate activists the group accuses of promoting hatred of the USA, Israel and Jews. Efforts to deport students based on their speech or protected activism undermine America's commitment to free expression, Tyler Coward, lead counsel for government affairs for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, told The Independent. If ICE detained Ozturk based on her op-ed or activism, it's a worrying escalation in an already fraught environment for college students here on student visas. Her arrest follows similar actions from federal authorities targeting student activists and students who have merely spoken in support of Palestine, none of whom have been accused of committing any crime. Donald Trumps administration has zeroed in on campus activism at prestigious universities, where Israels war in Gaza has provoked a wave of demonstrations and protest encampments demanding an end to U.S. support for Israels devastation. Students have been accused of supporting terrorism and violating the presidents executive orders directing federal agencies investigate and potentially remove non-citizens who bear hostile attitudes toward its citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles and advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to our national security. open image in gallery Demonstrations across the country have demanded the release of international students detained for their Palestinian advocacy, including Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student and lawful permanent resident accused of pro-Hamas activities ( EPA ) On Tuesday, university professors and academic organizations from across the country filed a lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of 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. 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. On Tuesday, a federal judge in Manhattan blocked the Trump administration from deporting Yunseo Chung, a Columbia University 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. Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident and prominent student activist accused of organizing pro-Hamas attacks on campus, is currently battling his removal from the United States after his shocking arrest in front of his wife, a U.S. citizen who is eight months pregnant, earlier this month. He is currently detained in Louisiana as his case moves jurisdictions to a federal court in New Jersey. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Newly published texts reveal a minute-to-minute breakdown of war plans, weapons and targets in Yemen as Trump administration officials and military leaders discussed the operation with a journalist privy to the entire conversation. The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who was inadvertently added to the Signal group chat discussing sensitive military operations, has published the messages after the White House and senior officials repeatedly claimed the chat did not contain classified information. The messages from Hegseth, sent on the day of the attack, March 15, contain a detailed timeline of when U.S. forces would strike Houthi targets in Yemen. Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME, one of the messages Hegseth wrote that day said. After the messages were published, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt issued another denial: The Atlantic has conceded: these were NOT war plans, Leavitt said in a post on X. This entire story was another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well-known for his sensationalist spin. Hegseth shared the plan approximately two hours before the bombs dropped in Yemen, The Atlantic reported. Some 53 people, including children, were killed in the attacks. open image in gallery Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe at a Tuesday Senate hearing ( Getty ) Those included in the chat included Trumps National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Vice-President JD Vance, all of whom were among those interacting with Hegseth when he shared the plans. There were 19 members in the group chat, according to the screenshots published by The Atlantic. The outlet said it has redacted the name of a CIA official who is named in the messages by Ratcliffe. At 11:44 a.m. on March 15, Hegseth began posting the detailed plans in the chat and announced a TEAM UPDATE. TIME NOW (1144et): Weather is FAVORABLE. Just CONFIRMED w/CENTCOM we are a GO for mission launch, Hegseth said, referring to the militarys Central Command in the Middle East. The head of the Pentagon then shared the timings of the attack. open image in gallery Hegseth shared the attack plans in the Signal chat group two hours before bombs dropped in Yemen ( The Atlantic ) 1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package), Hegseth wrote. 1345: Trigger Based F-18 1st Strike Window Starts (Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIMEalso, Strike Drones Launch (MQ-9s). At 2:10 p.m., more F-18s were to launch, Hegseth wrote. 1415: Strike Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier Trigger Based targets), Hegseth wrote. 1536 F-18 2nd Strike Startsalso, first sea-based Tomahawks launched, Hegseth said. At the end of the plans, he wrote: Godspeed to our Warriors. Vance messaged the group afterwards and said: I will say a prayer for victory. open image in gallery Vice-President J.D. Vance was in the chat and replied to Hegseth and others about the plans. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz then sent real-time intelligence confirming the target building had collapsed ( The Atlantic ) At 1:48 p.m., Waltz sent real-time intelligence about the attack site, confirming one of the targets had been taken out, the outlet reported. VP. Building collapsed. Had multiple positive ID. Pete, Kurilla, the IC, amazing job. The Vice-President appeared confused by the message and responded, What? Waltz then clarified: Typing too fast. The first targettheir top missile guywe had positive ID of him walking into his girlfriends building and its now collapsed. Vance replied: Excellent. Waltz responded with three emojisthe fist-bump, the US flag and a flame. CENTCOM was/is on point. Great job all, Hegseth said. More strikes ongoing for hours tonight, and will provide full initial report tomorrow. But on time, on target, and good readouts so far. In its reporting, The Atlantic notes that if the messages had been received by a hostile actor ahead of time, the Houthis would have had time to prepare for what was meant to be a surprise attack on their stronghold. open image in gallery Senior Trump officials congratulated themselves in the Signal chat group after the strike was carried out ( The Atlantic ) The consequences for American pilots could have been catastrophic, the report adds. In a statement to The Atlantic, the White House said it objected to the release of the messages. Screenshots of the messages were published by The Atlantic and show a contact named Michael Waltz added Goldberg to the group. It also showed that messages in the end-to-end encrypted app were initially set to disappear after one week. After Hegseth sent the plans, the settings were changed by Waltz so that messages would disappear after four weeks. Waltz said he took full responsibility and that he was investigating how Goldberg had gained access to the chat. open image in gallery Messages published by The Atlantic show detailed plans Pete Hegseth shared with the Signal chat group, including details on the target, timings and type of weapons U.S. forces would use ( AP ) I take full responsibility. I built the group, Waltz told Fox Newss Ingraham Angle on Tuesday. It's embarrassing. We're going to get to the bottom of it. Alina Habba, counselor to President Donald Trump, spoke to reporters Wednesday and said journalists were making a big to-do about nothing. We stand by Mike Waltz; he's doing a tremendous job. I think this is a distraction, Habba said. We would love if the press, for once, would focus on the actual facts and actions of the administration. This is justthis is frankly just noise. We're also allowed to use Signal for top-level official communications. We also have other means of communications that were used, she added. Trump claimed that Waltz was a good man who had learned his lesson and would not be fired. The President also blamed the sharing of the messages on an error from one of Michaels people and said it did not amount to a serious problem. The Pentagon warned officials around the time of the leak that government officials shouldnt use Signal, an encrypted messaging app, even for sharing unclassified material, because of a vulnerability that left it open to exploitation by foreign adversaries. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump has pledged to take a look into whether the government should reach a settlement with the family of Ashli Babbit and also into the continued employment of the police officer who shot her dead on January 6. The president has repeatedly praised his supporters who attempted to overturn his 2020 election loss to former President Joe Biden, including Babbitt. The 35-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran, who sported a Trump flag as a cape, was fatally shot while climbing through a broken door barricaded by officers as they attempted to evacuate dozens of Congress members. Last January, Babbitts family filed a $30 million wrongful death suit against the U.S. government. Trump, who in January granted clemency to 1,500 supporters charged with crimes connected to the January 6, 2021 attack, told Newsmaxs Greg Kelly on Tuesday that he will examine whether the Department of Justice should settle the case. Kelly pressed the president on the issue, telling Trump that the government is still kind of fighting that case and that the DOJ is opposing that lawsuit. open image in gallery President Donald Trump has promised to 'look into' the killing of Capitol rioter Ashli Babbitt, who was shot dead on January 6, 2021 ( Newsmax/X ) Youre telling me that for the first time. I havent heard that, Trump responded. Im a big fan of Ashli Babbitt, okay, and Ashli Babbitt was a really good person who was a big MAGA fan, Trump fan, and she was innocently standing there they even say, trying to sort of hold back the crowd. And a man did something unthinkable to her when he shot her, and I think its a disgrace. Im going to look into that; I did not know that, he added. Kelly then probed about Michael Byrd, the U.S. Capitol Police lieutenant who shot Babbitt, who is still on duty and promoted to Captain in 2023. The Justice Department announced in April 2021 that it would not pursue criminal charges against Byrd after determining that the shooting was lawful. I think its a disgrace, Trump, who was endorsed by the largest police union in the U.S. last year, said. Im going to look at that too. His reputation was I wont even say. Lets find out about his reputation, okay? Were going to find out. open image in gallery Ashli Babbitt was fatally shot by U.S. Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd on January 6, 2021 ( X ) The president also teased the idea of a compensation fund for Jan. 6 defendants who were previously imprisoned and who he claimed were treated very unfairly by the Biden administration. Well, theres a lot of talk about that. A lot of people that are in government now talk about it, because a lot of people in government really like that group of people, he said. They were patriots, as far as I was concerned, he continued. A group of people went down there, peacefully and patriotically, remember that. On Friday, the president brought up Babbitts fatal shooting when he compared the vandalization of Tesla dealerships to the storming of the Capitol, stating the level of attacks was greater against Elon Musks company. You didnt have anything like that on Jan. 6, which is sort of amazing because on Jan. 6, the Democrats were talking, Trump said. Nobody was killed other than a very beautiful young woman, Ashli, Ashli Babbitt. Nobody was killed. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trump Jrs attempt to smear The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was swiftly shot down in the fallout of the Signalgate national security scandal. Embattled Republicans scrambled to downplay the severity of the breach after Goldbergs explosive report detailed how White House National Security adviser Mike Waltz mistakenly invited him to an encrypted chat where top officials discussed an impending U.S. strike in Yemen. Hours before President Trump attempted to shift the blame to an unidentified lower level White House employee, his eldest son targeted Golberg on X. Why doesn't Jeffrey Goldberg disclose to readers in his stories that he is a registered Democrat?, Don Jr. tweeted on Tuesday afternoon. His wife also worked for Hillary Clinton and has donated nearly $25k to Democrats. The political scion faced backlash for his attempt to discredit The Atlantic journalist, leaving social media users asking why a registered Democrat was added to the insecure channel in the first place. open image in gallery Donald Trump Jrs attempts to shift the blame for Signalgate away from Trump officials onto Jeffrey Goldberg were quickly shut down ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Isnt it even *worse* that top Cabinet officials added a registered Democrat to their war plan chat on an unsecured app?, Brian Tyler Cohen, a progressive YouTube creator and MSNBC contributor, said. Great question, Don, another X user replied. Why did Pete Hegseth share classified military intelligence with a registered Democrat in an unsecured Signal chat. So the Trump administration is talking about classified information on a commercial app on their private phones and they added a registered democrat to the conversation without noticing it?, a third added. And you blame the registered democrat [sic]? Nice job! The 18 national security and cabinet officials in the Houthi PC small group chatincluding the likes of Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubiohave been sharply criticized for the security lapse by pundits and politicians from both sides of the aisle. 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. open image in gallery Jeffrey Goldberg, besides Nancy Pelosi of Calif in Washington in 2019, released his explosive report Monday ( Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) In his 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 on March 15. Some House Democrats are calling for the most severe repercussions against officials involved in the outrageous security breach, including Pennsylvania Representative Chris Deluzio who stated that heads should roll. Former House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi called the leak the most horrifying incompetence, while embattled Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the officials are clearly not up to the job. Several House Republicans have also condemned those on the Signal group, including Nebraska Representative Don Bacon who speculated that Russia and China are surely monitoring his unclassified phone. Other MAGA Republicans and Trump allies, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Fox News host Sean Hannity have tried to deflect the criticism. The Department of Government Efficiency lead speculated that official government channels werent used because they are shockingly primitive. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Elon Musk and the team at the Department of Government Efficiency will assist the White House and National Security Council in investigating how a journalist was added to a Signal group chat with national security officials, the White House Press Secretary said Wednesday. After the shocking news that the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic was added to a group with cabinet members about a U.S. military operation in Yemen, lawmakers and the public have called for investigations into how the incident occurred. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said those requests would be filled by the National Security Council, White House Counsels Office and Musks DOGE team. The National Security Council, the White House Counsels Office and also yes, Elon Musks team, Leavitt told reporters. Musk offered his technical experts to assist White House lawyers and the National Security Council in investigating Signal-gate ( REUTERS ) Elon Musk has offered to put his technical experts on this to figure out how this number was inadvertently added to the chat. Again, to take responsibility and ensure this can never happen again. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has taken responsibility for the blunder, telling reporters Tuesday that he inadvertently added Jeffery Goldberg, a journalist, to the group chat. However, Waltz has struggled to explain how Goldberg became a contact in his phone, asserting that he doesnt know him nor text him. President Donald Trump suggested that Goldberg may have added himself, saying the technology allows for someone to get onto those things. While an internal investigation may be underway, five of the cabinet members in the Signal group chat, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe face a federal lawsuit. The lawsuit, brought by the nonprofit American Oversight, is asking a judge to order the cabinet member to preserve the Signal messages, claiming the use of Signal an encrypted but commercially available app violates federal law. Although The Atlantic characterized the messages between officials as war plans and attack plans containing classified information, the White House contends that no classified information was exchanged. Messages published by The Atlantic on Wednesday show that Hegseth disclosed the exact time U.S. military personnel were taking off to conduct strikes in Yemen as well as the time of those strikes. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump's executive order demanding sweeping changes to US elections has the potential to significantly reshape the voting process, despite likely legal challenges. The order's broad scope raises fundamental questions about presidential authority over elections, traditionally a domain of state control. The order mandates proof of US citizenship for federal election registration, restricts ballot counting to those received by Election Day, introduces new voting equipment regulations, and bans certain donations from non-citizens. These directives challenge the established balance of power between federal and state governments in managing elections, raising constitutional concerns. Can the President unilaterally impose these changes, given the Constitution's broad delegation of election procedures to individual states? Here is a breakdown of the key changes and whether they are likely to succeed. open image in gallery President Donald Trump throws pens used to sign executive orders to the crowd during an indoor Presidential Inauguration parade event in Washington ( AP ) Voters would need to provide citizenship documents to register The order mandates changes to the federal voter registration form, requiring prospective voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship, such as a US passport or birth certificate. It also directs states to share voter lists and maintenance records with the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Government Efficiency for review. Federal agencies are instructed to assist states in identifying non-citizens on their voter rolls by sharing relevant data. Furthermore, the order threatens to withhold federal grants from states that refuse to cooperate with federal law enforcement in prosecuting election crimes. While non-citizen voting is already a felony in federal elections punishable by imprisonment and deportation, the executive order reflects a renewed focus on this issue by the Trump administration. Despite the rarity of such occurrences, Trump has repeatedly made unsubstantiated claims about the potential impact of non-citizen voting on election outcomes. This issue has also become a prominent focus for conservatives in recent months. The executive order effectively bypasses Congress, where Republicans have been pushing for a documentary proof of citizenship requirement for voter registration. Voting rights advocates have expressed strong opposition to this requirement, arguing that it could disenfranchise millions of Americans who lack readily available proof of citizenship. open image in gallery A person drops off their mail-in ballot in Oregon in 2024 ( AP ) Mail ballots would need to be received by Election Day The order requires votes to be "cast and received" by Election Day and says federal funding should be conditional on state compliance with that deadline. 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. Perhaps no state is more notorious for drawn-out vote counts than California, the nation's most populous. It allows ballots to be counted if they are received up to seven days following the election as long as they are postmarked by Election Day. Most California voters cast ballots they receive in the mail, and in the pursuit of accuracy, thoroughness and counting every vote, the state has gained a reputation for tallies that can drag on for weeks or even a month or more. In one Northern California US House primary last year, a recount settled the outcome nearly two months after the election. At the time, Secretary of State Shirley Weber, who oversees elections, said in a statement: "I understand that people want finality, but accuracy is of utmost importance." But the extended tallies have raised fears that they could undercut, rather than bolster, voter confidence. In 2018, then-Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan described California's election system as "bizarre" in a year when Democrats picked off a string of GOP-held House seats. In a statement, California Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla said Trump's order "does nothing to improve the safety of our federal elections what it would do is disenfranchise millions of eligible American voters." Padilla, who formerly served as California's chief elections officer, said Trump "lacks the authority to implement many of the changes laid out in this illegal executive order." open image in gallery Election workers process mail-in ballots for the general election in Philadelphia in 2024 ( AP ) Ballots could not rely on QR codes to be counted The executive order instructs the Election Assistance Commission to amend its guidelines for voting systems to protect election integrity. That would include guidance that voting systems should not rely on ballots that use barcodes or QR codes in the vote-counting process. Trump instructed the commission to "take appropriate action to review and, if appropriate, re-certify voting systems" under those new standards within six months of the order. In Georgia, an important presidential battleground, virtually all in-person voters use voting machines with a large touchscreen to record their votes. The machines then print a paper ballot with a human-readable summary of the voter's selections and a QR code, a type of barcode that is read by a scanner to count the votes. It is not entirely clear how the executive order would affect Georgia and other jurisdictions throughout the country that use these machines. Representatives for Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger did not immediately respond Tuesday evening to messages seeking comment. The Georgia Legislature last year passed a law requiring that QR codes be removed from ballots by July 2026. open image in gallery Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss has donated hundreds of millions to liberal causes Foreign nationals would be barred from making donations The order cracks down on foreign nationals contributing or donating in US elections. It's an issue that's been bubbling in recent years in the states, as Republicans seek to dampen the influence of Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss. Wyss, who lives in Wyoming, has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to 501(c) nonprofit organizations that support liberal causes. One of those groups, the Sixteen Thirty Fund, donated a combined $3.9 million to enshrine abortion protections in the Ohio Constitution. It also helped thwart a proposed constitutional amendment advanced by Ohio Republicans the previous summer that would have made passing future constitutional amendments harder. During the run-up to last year's presidential election, legislative Republicans linked then-President Joe Biden's appearance on Ohio's fall ballot to passing a ban on contributions from foreign individuals, companies, governments or political parties to campaigns for or against proposed amendments to the state constitution. Other states have followed suit, most recently Kansas which passed a nearly identical bill earlier this month after hearing testimony from Ohio's secretary of state. Like the Ohio bill, it appears partly a response to a successful campaign to protect abortion rights in Kansas, which received money from the Sixteen Thirty Fund. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has not said publicly whether she'll sign it. open image in gallery Voters cast their ballots in California in 2024 ( AP ) Can Trump do all this through executive order? The federal government plays a fairly limited role in American elections. Article I, Section 4 of the Constitution gives states the authority to determine the "times, places and manner" of how elections are run. The so-called "Elections Clause" doesn't get into the specifics of voting or ballot-counting procedures - those details are left to the states but it does give Congress the power to "make or alter" election regulations, at least for federal office. It does not mention any role for the president or the executive branch in regulating elections. Biden issued an executive order in 2021 directing federal agencies to take steps to promote voting access, but Republicans at the time argued that the order was unconstitutional and exceeded the president's authority. Trump rescinded the Biden order earlier this year. Voting rights advocates have begun to make similar arguments against Trump's order. "A president does not set election law and never will," said Virginia Kase Solomon, president and CEO of Common Cause, a grassroots advocacy organization that supports expanded voter access. Sophia Lin Lakin, the director of the ACLU's Voting Rights Project, called core parts of the executive order "a blatant overreach that threatens to disenfranchise tens of millions of eligible voters." Given the nation's long history of decentralized, state-run elections, any attempt to change state election laws by executive order is likely to face challenges in court. Marc Elias, a leading Democratic election and voting rights attorney, promised exactly that. "Moments ago, Donald Trump signed a massive voter suppression executive order," he said in a social media post. "This will not stand. We will sue." Ultimately, the courts will decide how far Trump can go in overhauling election procedures. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trump has shifted the blame for a major security blunder in which details of U.S. military operations in Yemen were leaked to a journalist on a secret group chat to an unidentified, lower level White House employee that worked for his National Security Adviser Michael Waltz. Trump offered the new theory in an interview on Newsmax Tuesday evening on how Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, ended up on the Signal group chat in which the top-secret plans were discussed. What it was, we believe, is somebody that was on the line with permission, somebody that was with Mike Waltz, worked for Mike Waltz at a lower level, had, I guess, Goldberg's number or called through the app, and somehow this guy ended up on the call, the president said. Trumps explanation followed an earlier TV appearance by Waltz, who took full responsibility for allowing Goldberg to gain access to the discussions. "I take full responsibility. I built the group," he told Fox Newss Ingraham Angle in an interview that aired shortly before Trumps. open image in gallery Donald Trump has shifted the blame for a security blunder that shared details of a U.S. military operation in Yemen with a journalist on a secret group chat to a lower level White House employee that worked for his National Security Adviser Michael Waltz (pictured) ( AFP via Getty Images ) "It's embarrassing. We're going to get to the bottom of it, Waltz said. Despite fervent denials by the Trump administration throughout Tuesday that any information had been leaked, The Atlantic backed its reporting, and its insistence that officials including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance discussed detailed aspects of the strikes, including targets and weapons details. Such discussions would break with official protocol typically required when discussing such highly sensitive information. Retired U.S. Army General Barry McCaffery said in a statement on social media Monday that sharing sensitive military information on Signal, a hackable messaging encryption app available to the public, would expose the information to foreign intelligence and would risk lives. He called pending U.S. military operations among the most sensitive intelligence, adding: In this case were talking about the lives of Air Force and Navy fliers. Just days after the Signal chat, the Pentagon issued a warning that Russian hackers had cracked the app. The Pentagon advisory warned that officials should stop using the app, even for sending unclassified information, citing a "vulnerability." "A vulnerability has been identified in the Signal messenger application," warned the advisory, sent out on March 18, NPR reported. The Yemen bombings occurred March 15. The advisory stated that "Russian professional hacking groups are employing the 'linked devices' feature to spy on encrypted conversations." It noted that Google had also identified Russian hackers who are targeting "Signal Messenger to spy on persons of interest." Trump in his Newsmax interview echoed the denials of his administration that there was no classified information shared in the group chat, though he did not address the sensitivity of the information. No it wasn't classified, as I understand it. There was no classified information, he said. open image in gallery Trump also echoed the denials of his administration that there was no classified information shared in the group chat that journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently added to ( EPA ) There was no problem, and the attack was a tremendous success. So only by what I've been told I wasn't involved in it but I was told by and the other people weren't involved at all. But I feel very comfortable, the president emphasized. Trump also attacked The Atlantic in the Newsmax interview. It's a terrible magazine. They made up all sorts of stories about me with standing over the grave of soldiers, he said, referring to a prior piece also written by Goldberg, and published in 2020 which accused the president of referring to dead military members as suckers and losers. Goldberg's a loser. His magazine's a big loser, he said. In a statement shared with NBC News, a spokesperson for The Atlantic said: "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, the statement added. Close Fox Business mocks Peter Navarros reciprocal trade-girl math, urges Trump to sideline him Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trump said in an interview that billionaires on the left are partly to blame for the violence seen against Tesla vehicles and facilities across the country in recent months. The president said on Newsmax Tuesday that the same group of mysterious people were also probably involved in his various legal battles. The Tesla violence. Have you heard anything about billionaires on the left, whether it's Soros or somebody else?Have you heard anything about planning, coordination, funding for these attacks? asked Newsmax host Greg Kelly. Trump replied: I believe that that is part of it, yeah. There are some of them that were involved with my trials that were, I think, probably involved with that also. The president did not elaborate on identities or provide further details. open image in gallery In recent months attacks on Tesla vehicles, showrooms and factories have grown across the U.S. In an interview Tuesday Donald Trump said billionaires on the left are partly to blame ( Las Vegas Sun ) In a statement shared with The Independent, White House spokesman Kush Desai said: While deranged Democrats like Tim Walz are openly calling for the ruin of an iconic American company that employs tens of thousands of everyday Americans, the Trump administration is committed to unleashing prosperity for all of our companies, industries, and workers. Trumps comments follow a spate of attacks against the electric vehicle company whose CEO is Trumps self-proclaimed First Buddy Elon Musk. According to NBC News, at least 80 attacks have been reported against Tesla vehicles since the tech billionaire began gutting the federal government through his Department of Government Efficiency in January. Protests targeting Tesla showrooms have also erupted across the U.S., and charging sites set ablaze, and vehicles vandalized. Others are selling their Teslas and company stocks amid growing unease over Musks political influence and relationship with Trump. open image in gallery Trump described Tesla boss Elon Musk as a wonderful patriot and a legitimate guy ( Getty Images ) Speaking to Newsmax, Trump again defended Musk as a wonderful patriot and a legitimate guy who had never asked him for a favor. Last week, Attorney General Pam Bondi vowed to treat those who vandalize Teslas as domestic terrorists, a label used by the president earlier this month. On Monday, FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed reports that a task force dedicated to investigating the attacks had been established. Sharing an article by a New York 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. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump has claimed it is not a big deal that a journalist was added to a Signal group chat that high-level administration officials used to discuss plans to strike Yemen. The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffery Goldberg, who was inadvertently added to the group chat used to discuss sensitive military operations, published the messages on Wednesday after the White House and senior U.S. officials repeatedly claimed the chat did not contain classified information. Trump responded to the leak during a Wednesday appearance on The Vince Show podcast by Vince Coglianese. There werent details, and there was nothing in there that compromised, Trump said. And it had no impact on the attack, which was very successful. A thing like that, maybe Goldberg found a way, he added. Maybe theres a staffer, maybe theres a very innocent staffer, but well get, I think well get to the bottom of it very quickly, and its really not a big deal. open image in gallery Trump claimed the messages about U.S. strikes on Yemen mistakenly shared with a journalist were not a big deal ( AP ) National Security Adviser Mike Waltz took full responsibility for the snafu on Tuesday night, telling Fox Newss Laura Ingraham that a staffer didnt add Goldberg. The Atlantic reported Waltz added Goldberg to the chat. Well, look, a staffer wasnt responsible, Waltz said. Look, I take full responsibility. I built the group to make my job is to make sure everythings coordinated. He then went on to call Goldberg a loser who may have deliberately tricked someone in the administration into getting access to the chat. open image in gallery Waltz, pictured, took full responsibility for adding Goldberg to the group chat - but branded the editor a loser anyway ( REUTERS ) The administration has dismissed Goldberg as a reporter who peddled in hoaxes hours earlier, despite a National Security Council spokesperson confirming the authenticity of the messages. The messages from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, sent on the day of the attack, March 15 but released Wednesday, contain a detailed timeline of when U.S. forces would strike Houthi targets in Yemen. Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME, one of the messages Hegseth wrote that day said. Hegseth shared the plan approximately two hours before the bombs dropped in Yemen, The Atlantic reported. Some 53 people, including children, were killed in the attacks. open image in gallery Hegseth, pictured, sent a timeline of the planned strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen to the group chat ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Those featured in the chat included CIA director John Ratcliffe and Vice President JD Vance, who were among those interacting with Hegseth when he shared the plans. There were 19 members in the chat group, according to the screenshots published by The Atlantic. The outlet said it has redacted the name of a CIA official who is named in the messages by Ratcliffe. After the messages were published, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt issued another denial. The Atlantic has conceded: these were NOT war plans, she said in a post on X. This entire story was another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well-known for his sensationalist spin. Hegseth also responded to the new report Wednesday, writing on X: So, lets me get this straight. The Atlantic released the so-called war plans and those plans include: No names. No targets. No locations. No units. No routes. No sources. No methods. And no classified information. Those are some really s***** war plans. This only proves one thing: Jeff Goldberg has never seen a war plan or an attack plan (as he now calls it). Not even close, he added. The Independent has contacted the White House for comment. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was in attack mode on Wednesday as she blamed the media, Democrats, and presumably even some Republicans in the House and Senate for trying to sow chaos in the White House with their response to the Signal text chain debacle. Leavitt spoke at a shortened White House press briefing where she battled with reporters over whether top officials including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had lied about whether the information included in the text messages published by The Atlantic earlier Wednesday which included precise attack timings, targets, and information about US assets was or should have been classified. During her remarks, she said that the administrations critics were collaborating in a coordinated campaign to try and sow chaos in the White House. If this story proves anything, it proves that Democrats and their propagandists in the mainstream media know how to fabricate, orchestrate, and disseminate a misinformation campaign quite well. And theres arguably no one in the media who loves manufacturing and pushing hoaxes more than Jeffrey Goldberg, claimed Leavitt. open image in gallery White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt briefs reporters about the Signal debacle ( AFP via Getty Images ) Leavitt repeatedly referred reporters to statements put out by Hegseth in which he denied that any classified information was included in the text messages inadvertently sent to The Atlantics editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, after he was accidentally included in a group chat on the Signal messaging app where senior administration figures were discussing the upcoming bombing of Houthi targets in Yemen. Hegseth, meanwhile, dodged a reporters question about whether he had gone through the formal procedure to declassify any of the information before sending them to other principles. The message chain was formed on the day of the attack, March 15, and involved a detailed discussion about US efforts to combat Houthi aggression against US vessels and merchant ships in the Red Sea, including deliberations over Europes role in the conflict. Messages sent by Hegseth contained a detailed timeline of when U.S. forces would strike Houthi targets in Yemen, while one sent by Waltz in the moments afterwards described a collapsed apartment building belonging to a girlfriend of one of the targets. Leavitt would go on to ask reporters and viewers whether they trusted the word of the secretary of Defense over Goldbergs, in response to a question about why precise details about an imminent US strike would not be classified a sign that the White House plans to lean on an old favorite strategy, attacking the media, while completely ignoring the criticism from experts including current and former officials as well as top Republicans and Democrats on various committees dealing with the intelligence community and armed services. And at one point, the press secretary grew visibly frustrated about questions over whether the president would hold his national security adviser or secretary of Defense accountable for what many experts outside of the administration are calling an unprecedented intel breach. open image in gallery Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under the microscope after sending a text message with details about an upcoming US strike over the Signal platform to other principles in the Trump administration as well as a journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) If anybody has another question, there's a lot of different things going on in the world, an annoyed Leavitt suggested. Those are some really s****y war plans, the secretary wrote Wednesday on Twitter. This only proves one thing: Jeff Goldberg has never seen a war plan or an attack plan (as he now calls it). Not even close. As I type this, my team and I are traveling the [Indo-Pacific Command] region, meeting w/ Commanders (the guys who make REAL war plans) and talking to troops. We will continue to do our job, while the media does what it does best: peddle hoaxes, added the secretary, whose previous employer settled for hundreds of millions of dollars after being accused of knowingly peddling false narratives about the 2020 election. The Defense chief is now facing resounding calls for his resignation from Democrats, who argue that the sharing of such information in the minutes before a strike took place directly put US service members lives in danger. Trumpworld, meanwhile, is circling the wagons while voices on the anti-interventionist right rally in his defense. Some have attempted to center blame on Michael Waltz, the national security adviser to Donald Trump who is seen as a neoconservative by some of Trumps populist supporters; Waltz was the official who initially set up the group chat in which Hegseth shared the allegedly classified information. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice When a miniature dachshund went missing in November 2023 on a South Australian island, her distressed owner cried for days while desperately trying to track her down, assuming she had no chance of surviving on her own in the wild. But 16 months after she disappeared, Valerie has been spotted alive on Kangaroo Island in South Australia, to the surprise of wildlife experts. Valerie went missing while on holiday with her owners, Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock. Though they searched the island for a week with local help, she wasnt seen again recently. We spent probably five days of the rest of our trip looking for her, but without any luck unfortunately, Mr Fishlock told Nine News Today. After futile attempts to find Valeria, they left the island to return to their lives. But he said that in the months following Valeries disappearance, there have been reported sightings of her on the Kangaroo Island. She never left my side. She was not a very outside, rough-and-tough dog. To think that she even went one night outside in the rain, oh my gosh. To think that shes gone a year and a half is incredible, Ms Gardner was quoted as saying by The Guardian. The dog, whose precise age was not available, continues to evade capture despite efforts by volunteers and wildlife experts. The Kangala Wildlife Rescue confirmed her survival through video evidence and set traps with cameras to try to catch her. On their Facebook page, the organisation wrote: Based on first-hand accounts and video evidence we now know that Valerie is alive. She runs at the first sign of humans or vehicles and despite the best efforts of dedicated Island locals, Valerie has been impossible to catch. Mr Fishlock told Nine News: We were initially a bit sceptical of all the sightings, then only probably three weeks ago, we received a photo from one of the locals and that sparked a lot of hope in us. Its given us nearly 100 per cent certainty that shes still alive. However, she reportedly becomes skittish when someone tries to approach her and quickly flees again. Despite being a princess and not suited for the wild, Valeries remarkable resilience has surprised her rescuers. Ms Gardner said: We thought, instead of her surviving out in the wild, maybe someone had kind of adopted her or she was hanging out with some other dogs and getting their food, because she was an absolute little princess. I remember on the first day I was just covered in tears. We barely ate anything, she told The Adelaide Advertiser. My whole world just crumbled. When we left the island without her, I cried for days. Kangala wrote on their Instagram: We are using surveillance and various trapping and luring methods in the area she was last seen to try and bring her home. This is a tiny dog in a huge area, and we will need help from the public to report any sightings and a lot of luck. Experts are amazed by the dogs survival, speculating that she may have eaten roadkill, dam water, or possibly received help from locals. Paul McGreevy of the University of Sydneys veterinary school said that like all dogs, dachshunds were extremely resourceful. He said: Dogs are the greatest opportunists in the animal kingdom: thats one of their core skills. On Kangalas Facebook page, one user wrote: Please put down the owners unwashed clothing down at sighting locations. Ask people who see her to sit down and not make eye contact. Putting out food with liquid smoke trails with trail cameras will help but the clothes are essential. Her owners need to be there asap. They need to walk around but not call out to her as she wont be able to recognise them at first. Dachshunds tend to hide against surfaces to seek comfort. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Actor Gerard Depardieus daughter has been spotted wearing a foul-mouthed hoody to her fathers sex assault trial in Paris. Roxane Depardieu, 33, showed up to the trial on Tuesday wearing a black sweatshirt fully emblazoned with the words "f*** you" dozens of times in white. Her father is defending himself against allegations he denies, from two crew members from the set of 2021 film "Les Volets Verts" ("The Green Shutters"). The pair were seen walking in together and smiling at each other in front of the worlds media on Wednesday. Her 90 hoody was from Rip'n'Dip, a Californian brand specialising in streetwear popular with skateboarders. It is currently sold out on their online shop. The mixed media artist previously wore the provocative sweatshirt at the Longines Paris Eiffel Jumping three years ago. open image in gallery Roxane Depardieu, daughter of French actor Gerard Depardieu, walks during a suspension of hearing as part of Gerard Depardieu's trial ( AFP via Getty Images ) She also revealed a series of new paintings on her Instagram Stories depicting three judges looming over a man with the words: Its a witch hunt and All men will suffer. In an interview with Paris Match last year her mother, Karine Silla, revealed that her daughter had taken refuge in Africa for a few months, unable to bear the medias coverage of her father's allegations. Depardieu, 76, is accused of groping a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant during filming in 2021 of "Les Volets Verts" ("The Green Shutters"). He denies any sexual assault. The third day of the trial focused on the testimony of the younger plaintiff, who said Depardieu first groped her bottom when she was alone with him for a brief moment between the backstage area and film set. open image in gallery French actor Gerard Depardieu (L) leaves with his daughter after a hearing ( AFP via Getty Images ) "Out of the blue, he put his hand on my butt," she said, adding she was "under shock," "petrified," and said nothing. In a second incident, she said Depardieu suddenly put both his hands on her breasts: "I said no, I was scared." She also described telling Depardieu "no" during a third similar incident. The plaintiff said she reported the issue to her direct manager, who then alerted others in charge of the film production, prompting anger from the actor. Depardieu repeatedly denied the allegations Wednesday in court, saying: "I'm not like that." open image in gallery Roxane Depardieu daughter of French actor Gerard Depardieu returns to the courtroom after a recess ( EPA ) "I think that maybe, I don't know, she was wary because of my reputation of being vulgar, crude, rude," Depardieu said. "But I'm not only that. I still respect people." The actor also told the court that he is almost always accompanied by aides on the film set, including his bodyguard, and suggested that he would rarely find himself alone with a film worker. On Tuesday, Depardieu acknowledged that he had used vulgar and sexualized language with the set dresser who accused him of sexual assault. He said he grabbed her hips during an argument, but denied that his behavior was sexual. The four-day trial was to continue Thursday, with the verdict expected at a later date. The actor faces up to five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 63,000 if convicted. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Pope Francis faced a near-death experience during his recent 38-day hospitalisation for pneumonia, according to the head of his medical team. The 88-year-old pontiff's condition deteriorated to the point where doctors considered halting treatment to allow him to die peacefully. A breathing crisis on February 28, during which Francis nearly choked on his own vomit, presented a critical juncture. "There was a real risk he might not make it," revealed Sergio Alfieri, a physician at Rome's Gemelli Hospital. The medical team faced a stark choice: cease treatment or pursue aggressive interventions with the potential risk of organ damage. Ultimately, they opted for the latter course after the pontiffs personal nurse persuaded them, Dr Alfieri explained in an interview with Italy's Corriere della Sera. The harrowing episode marked the most serious health crisis of Pope Francis's 12-year papacy. Admitted to Gemelli on February 14 for bronchitis, his condition worsened into double pneumonia, a particularly dangerous development given his history of pleurisy and the partial removal of a lung in his youth. Pope Francis waves from the balcony of the Gemelli hospital before returning home to the Vatican on Sunday ( AP ) Throughout his hospitalisation, the Vatican offered unusually detailed updates, revealing that the Pope suffered four "respiratory crises"characterised by severe coughing fits stemming from constricted airways, similar to asthma attacks. Dr Alfieri had previously said that two of the crises were critical, putting Francis "in danger of his life". In the new interview, the doctor said it was the pope's personal nurse who, after the vomiting episode, instructed the medical team to keep going with treatment. "Try everything; don't give up," came the message from Massimiliano Strappetti, the pope's nurse, as recounted by Dr Alfieri. "For days, we were risking damage to his kidneys and bone marrow, but we went ahead, and his body responded to the drugs and his lung infection lessened," said Dr Alfieri. Francis has been prescribed a further two-month period of rest since leaving hospital to fully heal. It has not been made clear how much he will be seen in public in coming weeks. Recounting the pope's first public appearance since entering hospital, when Francis appeared on a hospital balcony to greet well-wishers on Sunday, Dr Alfieri said that was the moment of the pope's treatment that struck him the most. "I saw him leave the room on the 10th floor of the Gemelli dressed in white," said the doctor. "It was the emotion of seeing the man become again the pope." On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Russias time wasting and new demands over a ceasefire in Ukraine suit Kyiv just fine the delays help build a non-American alliance and mean it can drive on with campaigns where its dominant in a war that it can win. Vladimir Putins latest demand is that Russias agricultural sector be allowed to use the Swift banking system as a reward for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, allowing it to move its grain and other farming exports. The move is a sleight of hand to end the banking sanctions imposed by the US and Europe following Russias invasion of Ukraine. But a ceasefire in the Black Sea is essential to Putin where his naval fleet has been crippled and now cannot operate. Russia is also keen to stop attacks against energy infrastructure in both countries. That is because Ukraine has been successfully targeting its energy nodes, especially those supplying its forces in the Donbas. Russia has been attacking Ukraines power stations and refineries for three years. Its use of near-blind swarms of drones alongside ballistic missiles mean that if it can get a ceasefire in place its own energy system can be protected while it continues to pound Ukraine with thousands of missiles a month. open image in gallery Newly recruited Ukrainian soldiers during military training on March 13, 2025 in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine. ( Getty Images ) Ukraine is buying time here because Kyiv knows it will take a while for Europe and other reliable allies to replace the military aid that Ukraine gets, on and off, from the US. American support for Ukraine is important. But Europe can fill the gap if Trump again suspends military aid to Kyiv. Between 2022 and 2024, the US provided $114 billion in aid to Ukraine. Europe, including the UK, allocated $132 billion. An analysis by the Kiel Institute concludes that the cost of replacing all US military support for Ukraine would be possible with relatively little additional effort. Currently, European governments contribute about 44 billion annually to Ukraines defence, or roughly 0.1% of their combined GDP, a relatively modest fiscal commitment, the Kiel study found. To replace total US aid, Europe would need to increase its annual support to approximately 82 billion per year, or 0.21% of GDP essentially doubling its current financial effort, It went on to put that financial commitment into context ...the Baltic countries, Sweden or Norway are already contributing more than 0.3% of their GDP each year to Ukraines defence. The UK spends about 0.17 of its GDP on Ukraine while Sir Keir Starmer is leading an effort to establish a coalition of the willing to defend a future peace deal, he has yet to point out the relatively small proportion of GDP replacing US help would entail for his coalition. open image in gallery Soldiers of Ukraine's 5th brigade hold a poster thanking the U.S. for support at the front line near Toretsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 11, 2025 The US has spent less on Ukraines forces ($50 billion) than it did on the Afghan army and air force ($80 billion). The issue of military aid is important when analysing the type of weapons supplied. The US supplies more than 80 per cent of long range HIMARS rocket systems and 155mm Howitzer artillery shells, 70 percent of anti-aircraft missiles, and 70 per cent of armoured fighting vehicles, according to the Kiel report. But on the ground, officers in the Ukrainian forces interviewed by The Independent time and again pointed out that artillery systems in use by Russia had diminished and that Ukraine had switched to using drones to much greater effect. Ukraine is desperate for air defences, especially the US-made Patriot missile system although Germany has supplied three systems compared the US two. The US has not supplied a single modern aircraft to Ukraine. It has given Kyiv 20 Mi-17V5 Soviet era helicopters once destined for Afghanistan but no fighter jets. open image in gallery Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium, have supplied F-16s fighter jets to Ukraine. Pictured in August 2024 ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium, have supplied F-16s while North Macedonia and Slovakia sent Kyiv four Su-25 attack aircraft and over 10 MiG-29 fighter jets. Ukraine has been driven out of most of the Kursk salient it captured inside Russia last year. But it is not losing significant ground elsewhere. It is, however, enfeebling Russia which is unlikely to be able to sustain its war against Kyiv indefinitely even if the US stopped aid to Ukraine. The Russians do appear to have a vast number of people that Moscow is prepared to feed into the Ukrainian meat grinder but it is isolated, its economy is weak and entirely focussed on the war and it has already lost the Black Sea. So the longer Russia delays a ceasefire, which Moscow is certain to quickly break anyway, the better it is for Kyiv and its reliable friends in Europe who, with a little more effort, could help Ukraine win a war that Europe says is existential. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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 On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice As thousands rally in the streets of Istanbul in mass demonstrations against the government, Turkish state media is accused of turning the other way and concealing the reality of the protests from the population. Turkey has been rocked by seven days of widespread demonstrations against president Recep Rayyip Erdogan, following the arrest of his political rival and Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Tens of thousands have faced rubber bullets and tear gas from Turkish authorities, who have arrested around 1,100 people. Pro-government cable channel NTV, according to the Guardian, has instead focused on finance minister Megmet Simseks efforts to stabilise the economy. State television, meanwhile, has shown Erdogan speaking of his governments achievements following an iftar dinner. No footage of the protests or interviews with the demonstrators were broadcast by either channel, opponents say. open image in gallery Riot police officers use pepper spray to clear a protester during a protest after Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested and sent to prison ( AP ) Turkeys broadcasting watchdog RTUK on Saturday threatened to revoke the license of stations airing live coverage of the protests for biased coverage - at which point some channels cut away from coverage of the clashes. But a few independent and opposition stations have had almost non-stop coverage. More than 90 per cent of the media in Turkey is directly or indirectly controlled by the palace, Bulent Mumay, a journalist who was given a suspended sentence for publishing information in defiance of a government order in 2023, told The Independent. The remaining independent media face legal and financial pressure from the state, Mr Mumay, who works for German outlet Deutsche Welle, added. One of the reasons why citizens take to the streets is that they cannot see their problems in the media. They participate in the Imamoglu protests partly to show their own problems and to express their rebellion. open image in gallery A police officer appears to kick a protester during clashes in front of Istanbul's famous Aquaduct on the weekend ( Getty Images ) Press freedom has not deteriorated in Turkey, Mr Mumay said, because we do not have press freedom to deteriorate. Calling for a boycott of the TV stations and businesses failing to cover the protests, Ozgur Ozel, the chairman of Mr Imamoglus Republican People's Party (CHP), said the party is taking note of every television channel that ignores this moment. He accused the advertisers on the channels of serving (Erdogans) palace while catering to opposition voters. "This is not just about not watching their channels - whoever buys their products is complicit," Mr Ozel said. Erol Onderoglu, the Turkey correspondent for Reporters Without Borders (RSF), says the journalist community in Turkey is extremely concerned about the very serious shift to a mindset which is trying to get rid of critical media, and journalists reporting properly about political corruptions, clientelism, wrongdoings. open image in gallery Students burn flares as they walk from the Besiktas district of Istanbul ( AFP via Getty Images ) We are pursuing our effort to defend the remaining 15 per cent of remaining independent media in Turkey, he added. Eighty five per cent is already controlled by the government, by ideological affiliation, or by financial interest. People should not be surprised by this media polarisation and this toxic environment, Mr Onderoglu said. After Erdogan has taken control of much of corporate media ownership over the past two decades, media which is critical of the government has tried to become the mainstream media. We have seen the main damage made in the media sector, to liquidate what we all call editorial independence. Political instruction to courts, political instruction to journalism circles, have deteriorated all kinds of justice in society. open image in gallery Police use water cannon against protesters in Ankara who oppose the arrest of Istanbuls mayor ( EPA ) And it is not just Turkish television that is affected. 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. The Media and Law Studies Association, a civil society group, said 11 journalists who were detained for covering banned protests in Istanbul have been taken to the city's Caglayan Courthouse to answer charges of violating the law on meetings and demonstrations. 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. 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. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice It is harder to deal with Vladimir Putin than a gangster and he cannot be trusted to uphold any ceasefire, Ukrainian officials have said. They also accused the Russian leader of making a mockery of Donald Trumps efforts for a peace deal. Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of flouting a truce on energy strikes brokered by the United States last week, and conditions set by the Kremlin have cast a shadow over a planned ceasefire in the Black Sea announced on Tuesday. Three days of talks culminated in an agreement to eliminate the use of force in the Black Sea and to continue working towards a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure in Russia and Ukraine. But hours after the latest agreement, Russia launched a drone attack on the Ukrainian port of Mykolaiv, which provides the country with access to the Black Sea. The mayor of Mykolaiv said there were emergency power outages early on Wednesday in the city, following a report by the region's governor that seven drones were destroyed overnight. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the US told Kyiv the Black Sea deal was effective as soon as it was announced. But the Kremlin said the Black Sea deal would not enter force until a sanctioned Russian state bank was reconnected to the international payment system, a step that Europe said would not happen until Russia withdraws its troops from Ukraine. The Kremlin also contends it has already been implementing a pause on energy attacks since 18 March, but Kyiv says eight energy facilities have been attacked with drones and missiles since then. And Ukrainian officials say they dont believe such deals can be effective or a broader ceasefire if Mr Putin needs to be trusted to implement them. Oleksandr Merezhko, an MP who chairs the Ukrainian parliaments foreign policy committee, told The Independent that dealing with Mr Putin is worse than dealing with gangsters because you can never trust, you can never rely [on him]. open image in gallery Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Helsinki in July 2018 ( AFP via Getty Images ) Its an illusion to believe you can make a deal with Putin [which will] be followed conscientiously by Putin. Its a total illusion, Mr Merezhko said. Trump should understand that on Putins part, its a mockery. Its a mockery, all this negotiation process. When Trump realises this, maybe he will change his attitude towards Putin. Mr Zelensky, sharing footage of the aftermath of a 117-drone attack by Russian forces, which also hit the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, said the strikes were a clear signal to the whole world that Moscow is not going to pursue real peace. In an X post which called on the US to impose sanctions on Russia due to the continued attacks, Mr Zelensky said: Literally every night, through its attacks, Russia keeps saying no to our partners peace proposal. open image in gallery A substation destroyed by a Russian drone strike in an undisclosed location in Ukraine ( AP ) Meanwhile, the Kremlin hailed the 12-hour Russia-US talks on Tuesday, held in Saudi Arabias Ritz-Carlton hotel, "We are satisfied with how pragmatically and constructively our dialogue is developing and by how it is yielding results," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday. But Mr Peskov added that the Black Sea ceasefire can only be activated after a number of conditions are implemented, demanding the lifting of sanctions particularly on Russian food and fertiliser exports. Kyiv has said it is ready to implement it effective immediately. Mr Merezhko, 54, who is a member of Mr Zelenskys Servant of the People party and has served in the presidents team, said that Mr Putin will never abide by a ceasefire regardless of the deals that are made. Putin can be trusted that he will violate [the ceasefires]. It will be viewed as a weakness if you follow the rules. If you play by the rules, for Russia, it's weakness because they are cheaters and liars. open image in gallery Map of the Black Sea and its surrounding countries ( Getty/iStock ) Mr Merezhko said the Black Sea deal has not brought Kyiv and Moscow closer to a ceasefire, describing the separate statements issued by the White House following its talks with both sides as too abstract, too general. He's using these negotiations for propagandistic purposes and to materialise his interests. One of them is to lift sanctions, the MP added. John Lough, the head of foreign policy at the New Eurasian Strategies Centre think tank, does not believe Tuesdays agreement has brought the two sides closer to bringing about a widespread truce. To make these negotiations move in the direction they want, [the US] are going to have to put pressure on the Russians, and it doesn't look as though, at this stage, that they want to do that. Despite Mr Putins very poor record in upholding ceasefires, Mr Lough nonetheless believes there is incentive for the Russian President to take peace efforts seriously. Moscow, he said, needs to keep Mr Trump onside for its own interests. open image in gallery The Moskva after being hit with cruise missiles in April 2022 ( @Osinttechnical/X ) Putin is sailing close to the wind, because if he doesn't show greater willingness to go along with Trump's peace initiative, then he does risk Trump getting either annoyed and or bored of the whole thing and just walking away. Mr Lough said that he believes this is not in Moscows interest. Putin actually needs a break in this war, because it's not going as well for the Russians as he would like to suggest. There is more pressure on Putin than it would appear. Mr Merezhko said that the only way to pressure Mr Putin is with strength, calling for total economic isolation of Russia. You can get results from Putin, any results to stop him doing something, [but] only under extreme pressure, he said. Close Zelensky condemns Russian strikes on hometown: Diplomacy means nothing to them On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Ukrainian team will visit Washington this week for crunch talks on a minerals deal, the first visit since the deal collapsed in dramatic fashion five weeks ago. Volodymyr Zelensky was set to sign a framework agreement in late February before he was booted out of the White House, when a furious Donald Trump berated the Ukrainian president for not being thankful enough for US war assistance. Since then, teams from Kyiv and Washington have been working to hash out a revised agreement - and to rebuild a broken relationship. Washington has proposed a more expansive minerals deal which could give it access to valuable mineral resources, including titanium, lithium, and uranium, according to economy minister Yuliia Svyrydenko. But the deal has not yet been agreed by Ukraine and it is unclear exactly how close the two sides are to reaching an agreement. Meanwhile, Mr Trump has urged Russia to stop bombing Ukraine, after a ballistic missile strike in Kryvyi Rih killed 20, including nine children., We are talking to Russia. We would like them to stop, Trump told reporters onboard Air Force One. I dont like the bombing, the bombing goes on and on, and every week thousands of young people being killed. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is terminating $420 million in contracts, the space agency says are misaligned with its new core priorities. What is being cut is not clear, but recent moves by NASA might serve as an indication. For example, its chief scientist, who had been set to lead the International Panel on Climate Changes third working group, was fired. Plus, the agency cut off international climate science support. NASA also removed the first woman, person of color language from its Artemis mission websites. Other agencies have reported that reviews of awarded grants were also vetted using a list of keywords, according to a Science report. Climate change and diversity were priorities of the Biden administration and former Administrator Bill Nelson. The Department of Government Efficiency said that the cuts included $45 million $15 million per contract to three separate consultants for Change Management Support Services. Thats a sum just under the $50.3 million launch of the agencys Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer mission, which launched in December 2021. NASA is committed to optimizing its workforce and resources in alignment with the Department of Government Efficiencys initiatives. As part of this effort, NASA has identified and phased out $420 million in contracts that were determined to be redundant or misaligned with our core mission priorities, Press Secretary Bethany Stevens said in a statement provided to The Independent. open image in gallery NASA is terminating $420 million worth of contracts it says are not in alignment with its core mission priorities. What contracts are included currently remain unclear, but the agency is shifting away from the priorities of the former administration ( Getty Images ) This streamlining effort ensures that taxpayer dollars are directed toward the highest-impact projects while maintaining NASAs essential functions at the highest level of execution, she said. In total, we are aiming for these measures to result in considerably more savings for the American people, reinforcing our commitment to efficiency, innovation, and continued leadership in space exploration. It also remains unclear how NASA has decided that contracts were misaligned. A recent report from Space News noted that NASA had awarded $15 million each to consulting firms to provide support services for agency leadership last year before issuing termination for convenience notices to the companies in March. None of them had been funded for work under those agreements, the outlet said. A DOGE website that is updated twice a week lists its savings, including millions in NASA contract terminations. The agency is notably being pushed to focus on Mars: a priority of commercial partner SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who oversees DOGE and serves as an advisor to President Donald Trump. On Sunday, The New York Times reported that Musk is positioned to profit from billions in new government contracts. A request for comment from SpaceX was not immediately returned. open image in gallery SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who oversees the Department of Government Efficiency and serves the Trump administration in an advisory role, wants to shift attention to Mars. Thats something he and President Donald Trump have discussed in recent interviews ( Getty Images ) The terminations come after layoffs hit NASA earlier this month, and amid fears of more. Scientists lamented the move on social media. NASA started terminating grants :(, wrote Johns Hopkins University associate professor of planetary science Sarah Horst. I've now heard from a colleague that one of their awarded NASA grants was terminated, wrote Johns Hopkins University assistant professor Meredith MacGregor. These grants have previously undergone peer review and work has already begun, canceling them is completely unwarranted! We were just about to get a thing going with the new space engineering major at Texas A&M, I was gonna have minions to do my bidding, all up in smoke, said Clark Newman, principal engineer for NASA Gateway Mission Design. Casey Dreier, the Planetary Societys Chief of Space Policy, said he had used public data to find dozens of contracts impacting climate science, DEI initiatives, education, and administration activities. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Good Samaritan's swift action led to the rescue of a pilot and two children who survived nearly 12 hours stranded on the wing of their downed plane in a frigid Alaskan lake. The small aircraft, a Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser, crashed into Tustumena Lake on Sunday during a sightseeing trip. Terry Godes, after spotting a Facebook plea for help with the search, took to the skies Monday morning. Flying near the glacier-fed lake, he noticed what initially appeared to be wreckage. "It kind of broke my heart to see that," Godes said. However, as he descended for a closer look, a glimmer of hope emerged. "I could see that there's three people on top of the wing," he said. He then realized the trio were not only alive but also responsive, waving to him as he approached. Godes, after a brief prayer of thanks, radioed his discovery to other pilots involved in the search effort. Dale Eicher, another pilot in the area, picked up Godes's call and, recognizing his likely better cell service, relayed the information and coordinates to authorities. The Alaska National Guard swiftly responded, rescuing the pilot and his two children from their precarious perch on the submerged plane's wing. 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. open image in gallery The plane was mostly submerged with only the wing and the top of the rudder exposed ( Dale Eicher ) But he said that finding the family within an hour of starting the search and finding them alive "was very good news." The plane had taken off from Soldotna on Sunday for a sightseeing flight to Skilak Lake on the Kenai Peninsula. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The three survivors were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, Alaska State Troopers said. They spent a long, cold, dark, wet night out on top of a wing of an airplane that they werent planning on," Godes said. He said there were many miracles at play, from the plane not sinking, to the survivors being able to stay on the wing, to the three surviving the night in temperatures dipping into the 20s (subzero Celsius). It's a cold dark place out there at night, he said. The plane was mostly submerged in the lake with only the wing and the top of the rudder exposed above the ice and water, Godes said. The 60,000-acre (24,200-hectare) Tustumena Lake is situated about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southwest of Anchorage and has been described by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game as notorious for its sudden, dangerous winds. Conditions around the lake with nearby mountains, a glacier and gusty winds can cause havoc for both boats and planes. The body of water is the largest freshwater lake on the Kenai Peninsula . Even under what would be considered a benign or relatively weak pressure gradient, 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. Alaska is a state with few roads, leaving many communities to rely on small airplanes as the preferred mode of transportation. In February, in western Alaska, 10 people died when a small commuter plane that was overweight by half a ton crashed into sea ice in the Norton Sound, near Nome on the states western coast. Five years ago, a deadly midair collision near the Soldotna airport claimed the lives of seven people, including an Alaska state lawmaker. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Bali authorities have issued new guidelines to address misbehaviour among foreign tourists in a bid to protect the Indonesian islands cultural integrity, including a rule prohibiting menstruating women from entering sacred temple areas. The rules, issued by Bali governor I Wayan Koster on 24 March, include respecting sacred sites, dressing modestly, behaving politely, paying a tourist levy online, using licensed guides and accommodations, following traffic laws, and exchanging currency at authorised outlets. Governor Koster said: We issued a similar regulation before, but as things change, we need to adapt. This ensures that Balis tourism remains respectful, sustainable, and in harmony with our local values. According to the new guidelines, prohibitions include entering sacred temple areas without permission, littering, using single-use plastics, inappropriate behaviour, working without permits, and illegal activities. Mr Koster said: I am implementing this circular as an immediate measure to regulate foreign tourists while they are in Bali. The new guidelines advise that foreign tourists should observe and honour Balinese customs, traditions, and cultural practices, especially during ceremonies and dress appropriately when visiting temples, tourist attractions, or public spaces. Under the new guidelines, tourists are expected to wear modest and respectful clothing. The mayor has also asked visitors to Bali to behave respectfully whether at religious sites, restaurants, shopping areas, or public roads. Mr Koster also said that tourists who fail to pay the tourist levy will be denied access to attractions, and those caught violating the regulations will face legal consequences in accordance with Indonesian law. open image in gallery File. Tourists in Bali are not allowed to climb sacred trees or monuments this includes taking inappropriate or nude photos at religious sites, according to new guidelines ( AFP via Getty Images ) The new guidelines mention that foreign tourists are not allowed to enter sacred temple areas unless they are worshippers wearing traditional Balinese attire. It adds: Menstruating women are also prohibited from entering these areas. Tourists are also not allowed to climb sacred trees or monuments this includes taking inappropriate or nude photos at religious sites. Use of single-use plastics plastic bags, styrofoam, plastic straws, and plastic-packaged drinks have also been banned. open image in gallery File. Performers dance in the rain during a Balinese kecak and fire dance for tourists at the Uluwatu temple in Uluwatu, Bali, on 8 March 2024 ( AFP via Getty Images ) Bali is also banning swearing, and has asked tourists to avoid causing disturbances, or being rude to locals, officials, or fellow tourists. The mayor also said that sharing hate speech or misinformation on social media is also prohibited. Mr Koster said: Bali is a beautiful, sacred island, and we expect our guests to show the same respect that we extend to them. Mr Kosters announcement comes just days before Nyepi Balis sacred day of silence set for Saturday, 19 March 29 this year. During the 24-hour period from 6am on Saturday to 6am on Sunday, everyone, including tourists, must remain indoors. open image in gallery File. Tourists ride their surfboards at the beach in Uluwatu, Badung regency on Indonesias resort island of Bali. Use of single-use plastics plastic bags, styrofoam, plastic straws, and plastic-packaged drinks have been banned on the island by authorities ( AFP via Getty Images ) We have prepared a special team to conduct an operation. Foreign tourists who are naughty will be immediately dealt with firmly, the governor was quoted as saying by The Bali Sun. He also said that Balis civil service police unit will closely monitor tourist behaviour and ensure compliance with the new cultural guidelines. Bali has been struggling with issues of overtourism and misbehaving travellers for years. In 2023, officials considered introducing a tourist tax to discourage cheap tourists who tend to cause a lot of problems. In 2019, Mr Koster suggested that authorities should just send them home after an Instagram influencer couple was caught on camera splashing themselves with holy water at a temple. Also, in recent years, a Russian man apologised after posing semi-naked on a sacred site, while a Russian woman was deported for taking nude photos in front of a sacred tree. In 2024, Indonesia saw a significant rise in international tourism, with 13.9 million visitors compared to 11.68 million in 2023, according to the countrys tourism ministry data. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Passengers on board the Cunard luxury cruise liner, Queen Anne, were warned to stay vigilant while the 113,000-ton vessel passed through waters known for piracy. A TikTok video from user cruisegypsyuk@lillydapink, which has racked up more than eight million views, showed an announcement to passengers as they traveled from Darwin, Australia, to Manila in the Phillippines through the Sulu-Celebes Sea. This area is known for piracy threats, they were told via a loudspeaker in their rooms. As a result, the cruise would be operating at a heightened level of security alertness during this period, which included the external promenade deck being closed overnight and deck lights will be on to reduce the ship's external lighting. Passengers were also asked to turn off their stateroom lights and keep their curtains drawn. I assure you that measures to prevent any unlikely incident have been well planned and the likelihood of this happening on a big ship like Queen Anne is absolutely minimal, the announcement continued. As part of standard maritime procedures, our Captains may make precautionary announcements when sailing through certain regions, a representative for Cunard told Business Insider. There was no specific threat to the ship or its guests, and our onboard experience remained uninterrupted. In a follow-up post, the TikTok user praised the Queen Annes onboard security, writing: So all the blinds were shut, and the lights were down to the minimum last night. The security did an amazing job keeping watch over the ship last night. Well done guys. The Cunard Luxury Cruise Liner, "Queen Anne" sails The Mersey in England. Passengers were recently told to stay vigilant as they passed through the Sulu-Celebes Sea in the Philippines ( AFP via Getty Images ) In another video, she showed off the cruise ships sonic cannon. Many cruise ships are fitted with a Long-Range Acoustic Device, which emits high-pitched, targeted noise that repels attackers. The Sulu-Celebes Sea has previously been a hotspot for kidnapping-for-ransom incidents, particularly involving groups such as Abu Sayyaf a violent Islamic separatist group operating in the southern Philippines. Since March 2016, the Information Sharing Centre of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia has reported a total of 86 abductions. The last significant pirate attacks on cruise ships occurred in 2005 and 2009, both of which were successfully able to escape unharmed. The Queen Anne is currently on its maiden world voyage. The 111-night trip began in Hamburg, Germany, on January 7 and has made stops in England, New York, Hawaii, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia The ship will return to Hamburg on April 29, after stopping in Vietnam, South Africa, Singapore and Malaysia. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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. 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. Mr Imamoglus detention comes after years of legal and political battles, that have ignited protests in the past in support of the mayor. open image in gallery 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. Demonstrations may become violent. The police response has included the use of tear gas and water cannons, the Foreign Office wrote. open image in gallery 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. 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 Donald Trump has blamed a lower-level employee working under his National Security Advisor, Michael Waltz, for the Signal group chat security blunder. It emerged on Monday (24 March) that a journalist had been mistakenly added to a group text involving senior administration officials, reportedly discussing a highly sensitive operation aimed at targeting Houthi positions in Yemen over a group text. Following a TV appearance by Waltz, who took full responsibility, Trump shifted the blame in an interview with Newsmax on Tuesday evening. Somebody who worked for Mike Waltz at a lower level must have had Goldberg's number or contacted him through the app, and somehow this guy ended up on the call, he said. Donald Trump crowned himself the fertilization president as he gave a speech at a Womens History Month event. The US president participated in a special event to celebrate the achievements of women, held at the White House on Wednesday (26 March). Addressing the audience, Trump said: Were going to have tremendous goodies in the bag for women too, between the fertizilation and all the other things we are talking about, its going to be great. Responding to laughter from the crowd, a smiling Trump said: I am still very proud of it, I will be known as the fertilizaion president, thats ok, thats not bad. Donald Trump appears to be entertaining the idea of paying January 6 rioters. During an interview with Newsmax Tuesday (25 March), host Greg Kelly asked the president if the White House was considering a compensation fund for the defendants. Kelly claimed many of them lost opportunity and income after storming the Capitol to prevent Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 election. Well, theres talk about that, Trump responded, later adding, they were patriots as far as I was concerned. Technology Microsoft executive says laid off staff should use AI to help cope with emotional loss The board of the Central Bank appears to be more positive about competition in the banking sector, on the basis that online services are offering new products to the public. See inside the Meath home overlooking Jack Nicklaus golf course on the market for 2.3m Google Irish arm intent on harming creditors, court told Ireland branch of tech giant says the liquidator in Russia is trying to extort $1.3bn to fund the war with Ukraine Google headquarters in Barrow Street, Dublin John Mulligan Wed 26 Mar 2025 at 03:30 A Russian media firm linked with the countrys orthodox church has insisted that it should be added as a party to a case in the US taken by Google Ireland against its subsidiary in Russia, which is now under the control of a liquidator. Its widespread. Every age cohort, every walk of life. Fraud doesnt see the customer, it sees the account, CEO of Bank of Ireland Retail on a scourge of the digital era US owner I Squared Capital acquired power firm in 2016 Energia has a total of 258,600 residential electricity and gas customers in the Republic of Ireland The planned 2bn sale of Energia one of Irelands biggest power firms is back on track after the company secured planning permission in recent days for a new data centre at its Huntstown site in north Dublin. Manna drone delivery firm raises $30m, bringing total to $60m Although the firms drone deliveries are only available in Dublins Blanchardstown, it also has trials underway in Helsinki and Texas Bobby Healy, CEO of Manna Adrian Weckler Wed 26 Mar 2025 at 21:25 Manna, the Dublin drone delivery company founded by Bobby Healy, has raised a further $30m (27.9m) in funding. A doctor has spoken of seeing babies struggling for breath after catching the whooping cough as cases of the life threatening infection are to set to increase over the spring and summer. A particular appeal is being made to pregnant women to protect themselves and their babies by getting the whooping cough vaccine at between sixteen and thirty six weeks of pregnancy. It follows a record number of cases last year with 539 people confirmed with whooping cough, otherwise known as pertussis, which can be difficult to tell apart from a cold initially but go on to lead to the sufferer gasping for breath. Dr Ciara Martin, paediatrician and the national clinical advisor for children and young people in the HSE said newborns can be particularly affected by whooping cough. Babies with pertussis often struggle to breathe. Pertussis can also cause severe coughing fits which affect the babies ability to feed and sleep and some infants will need intensive hospital care. The reality is that whooping cough can be life threatening for young babies, yet a simple vaccine during pregnancy can provide them with vital protection from birth. The whooping cough vaccine given in pregnancy has been shown to be safe and effective for both mother and baby, Dr Martin said. The HSE has said that whooping cough tends to surge in cycles every 5-6 years. Last year, one in four cases were hospitalised. Of those, just over two-thirds were infants five months and younger. While no infant deaths from whooping cough were reported in 2024, tragically, in previous years, some young infants have died from the disease, the HSE said. In the first seven weeks of 2025, there have been 85 cases including 59 confirmed, five probable and 21 possible. Of these seven were in babies five months and younger ,14 in children aged 1-2 years, nine 5-9 years and 11 in 10-14 year olds. Dr Chantal Migone, a consultant in public health medicine at the HSEs National Immunisation Office also warned how young babies are most vulnerable to whooping cough as they do not start their vaccinations against whooping cough until they are two months old. This makes them particularly susceptible to serious complications, including respiratory distress, hospitalisation and sadly in some cases death. By getting vaccinated during pregnancy, mothers not only protect themselves but also pass on critical immunity to their baby, so that they are protected when they are born and, until they are old enough to have protection from the infant vaccines. The vaccine is available free of charge from participating GPs. Dr Scott Walkin, GP and member of the Irish College of GPs pointed out that the vaccine is a simple and effective way to ensure your new-born starts life with strong protection. Women can access the vaccine through their participating GP during the recommended window of pregnancy of sixteen to thirty six weeks. The first signs of whooping cough are similar to a cold, such as a runny nose and sore throat but after about a week the infected person will get coughing bouts that last for a few minutes and are worse at night.They may make a "whoop" sound a gasp for breath between coughs, have difficulty breathing , brining up thick mucus or may get very red in the face . The cough may last for several weeks or months. A south Dublin school taking disciplinary proceedings against a teacher who claims she was wrongly identified as the so-called GAA Catfish has given an undertaking in the High Court to temporarily halt the process. The bitter High Court civil trial involving three co-founders of tech conference giant Web Summit is due to be settled tomorrow after talks between the parties came to a resolution this afternoon. This morning, the court was due to hear evidence from former Web Summit director Daire Hickey but proceedings were put back as lawyers and parties held talks in corridors all morning outside Court 29 in the Four Courts building. What its like to become a millionaire in your 20s: The biggest challenge was the feeling of separation from people my age Latest | Six arrested in Spain as part of major operation targeting The Family drug gang The arrests were made during coordinated raids in Ireland and Spain Six arrests in Spain by Europol connected to The Family Clodagh Meaney Wed 26 Mar 2025 at 12:40 Six people have been arrested in Spain as part of the investigation into The Family, Irelands largest organised crime group. The family of Private Sean Rooney who was killed while on a peacekeeping mission in Lebanon plan to attend the trial of those charged over his death later this year. The news was provided by Tanaiste Simon Harris this morning after he met with Lebanese officials to express the Governments frustration over the lack of progress in the case. Private Rooney, from Donegal, was killed after the armoured vehicle he was driving came under fire near the village of Al-Aqbiyah in December 2022. He was 24 years old. Despite seven people having been indicted over his death, six have failed to attend court while a seventh accused has missed a recent court sitting, purportedly on medical grounds. Private Sean Rooney was killed in 2022. Photo: Defence Forces/PA Today's News in 90 seconds - 26th March 2025 Fine Gael leader Simon Harris this morning met with senior government officials in Beirut to express his dissatisfaction and disappointment in the lack of progress and repeated delays. The formation of a new Lebanese government in recent weeks has restored hope that justice will be served. Mr Harris met separately with Lebanese defence minister, Michel Menassa, and foreign affairs minister, Youssef Rajji, in the Lebanese capital this morning. In both meetings, the Tanaiste conveyed the Governments deep disappointment and dissatisfaction at the slow progress of the legal proceedings" relating to the death of the Irish peacekeeper. In a letter presented to Mr Rajji, the Tanaiste said that during the most recent hearing date, February 12, no medical evidence was provided by one defendant in support of his absence, while the six others have failed to be present at previous hearings. Mr Harris said that despite five hearings having taken place in court so far, there has been no significant progress in the case. He also confirmed that Private Rooneys family intend to travel to Beirut to see justice served when the case is back in court in September. Mr Harris wrote: With this lack of progress, you will understand the frustrations and concerns, especially with regard to Private Rooneys family. The family intend to travel to attend the next trial hearing and it is my hope they will see some ready evidence of an intention of the authorities to see justice being served, including the attendance of the defendants, and that they will not be disappointed by further procedural delays. The Tanaiste also stressed that those who carry out attacks on peacekeepers need to be held accountable, and that justice needs to be served. He also told his Lebanese counterparts that the Irish Government would welcome any assistance they can provide to ensure swift progress in bringing those responsible for the death of Private Rooney to justice. Mr Harris is also set to meet with Irish peacekeepers in south Lebanon and has announced a contribution of 2.5m in humanitarian assistance to the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund. Announcing the funding, the Tanaiste said: The UNs Lebanon Humanitarian Fund is a key partner for Ireland and a vital part of our humanitarian response in Lebanon. The fund has proven itself in recent years to be highly responsive to the critical needs of those most in need in Lebanon including vulnerable Lebanese, Syrian refugees and others. The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has said it was shocked after Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan pushed ahead with plans to introduce new disciplinary regulations for gardai. Mr OCallaghan has received Cabinet approval for the introduction of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 from Wednesday, April 2. Announcing the news, Minister OCallaghan said: This Act was developed to underpin the important recommendations made by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. It provides an extensive new framework for policing and community safety aimed at improving the performance and accountability of An Garda Siochana and ultimately supports their vital work to keep Ireland safe. "I am very pleased that we are now able to introduce the necessary changes to ensure that we have a professional, modern, and effective police service equipped for the times in which we live, but which also respects and upholds the traditions of service to the public and community policing ethos on which it was founded. New disciplinary regulations brought in under the legislation are opposed by the GRA and members of the force. Minister OCallaghans statement comes as quite a shock to the GRA as the Association has as yet to finalise the consultation process with the Ministers Department, GRA general secretary Ronan Slevin said. The GRA only received the updated draft of the proposed Performance Regulations last Wednesday and have yet to have a meeting with the Department regarding further submissions. This timeline will now not allow that to happen. Members of An Garda Siochana are unique and their role and responsibilities are demanding. We are exempt from the Unfair Dismissals Act and are prohibited from forming a union and from engaging in strike action. As such, the GRA would expect that our Minister and this Government would ensure that members of Garda rank would have similar protections as every other employee in the State, at the very minimum. It is disappointing that the Minister is now bringing in legislation that will remove our members protections and dilute their terms and conditions." A new garda board set to be brought in under the legislation will have no employee representative, a move opposed by the GRA. The association has also expressed concerns over allowing civilian staff to hit sworn members with sanctions. It is disheartening for our members to see that the Minister supports and approves that an already demoralised, under-resourced workforce deserves to be treated less favourably than every other employee, Mr Slevin said. "I fear this will simply tell our members how undervalued and underappreciated their role and work ethic truly is. "The GRA is a solution based organisation but whatever legislation is passed must meet the criteria and needs of our Association to protect the terms, protections and welfare of all our membership. No more eroding of our conditions, full stop. "If this legislation is pushed through in its current form we can not and will not support it. We will now meet as a collective, democratic group to decide whatever next steps are necessary to react to these intolerant regulations." Fire chiefs are warning that the 2025 wildfire season between February and April will be more extensive and longer in duration than in any previous year. Battling the increasing number of fires, which often take several days to quell places huge demands on the fire services often leaving towns without emergency cover. Changing weather patterns means less rain falling in spring and summer. This leaves dead vegetation so dry it can easily ignite dramatically increasing the risk of devastating blazes. Today a major multi-agency training exercise involving over 100 personnel, dozens of fire appliances, state-of-the-art technology and three helicopters was held in the Wicklow Mountains to test Irelands response to the growing threat of devastating wildfires. Climate change combined with human error and deliberate acts of vandalism are responsible for an average of 2,500 fires in forests and wild lands across the country every year. The scenario for the operation was the simulation of an out-of-control wild lands fire which had broken out between Turlough Hill and Lough Dan in one of Irelands most beautiful mountain ranges which are particularly at risk. As part of the EUs operational support, Ireland can now call on the deployment of fixed wing aerial water tankers similar to those seen tackling wildfires across Europe and recently in California. These will operate, if required, out of Baldonnel military air base. Wildfires are becoming more prevalent and becoming more ferocious, said Paul Rock, the senior assistant national fire adviser at the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM). They are very dangerous for the public, they are very dangerous for fire fighters so we are trying our best to eliminate them as much as possible. (Today) we have two EU teams in Ireland to look at the way Ireland approaches and handles wild land and forest fire fighting, he added. Aidan Dempsey, the chief fire officer for Wicklow, said that all the fires are started by humans. Research by University College Cork found that we have an average of 2,500 wildfires each year. I would say 100 percent of them are started by people and that breaks down to about 50/50 between those who start them by accident and those who do so deliberately, he revealed. The fire chief said that his staff and their colleagues in south Dublin have seen a big increase in mountain fires in recent years. It is unfortunate how people set fires deliberately with no concern about the devastation that they are causing on several levels. We worry about being up here fighting fires while at the same time leaving towns without emergency cover. These fires present huge risks to property, human live and wildlife. We have seen incidents where smoke have caused serious road collisions due to poor visibility. We are doing the best we can and use international best practice but the public really need to be aware of their responsibility in preventing these disasters in the first place, he added. A team of EU experts were on hand to assess Irelands emergency response capabilities as Wicklow County Council, the Eastern Emergency Response Group and the NDFEM, mounted the countrys first EU backed MODEX exercise. The operation was spearheaded by Wicklow and Dublin Fire Services, and also involved An Garda Siochana, the Defence Forces, Mountain Rescue, Civil Defence, the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Coillte which owns most of the countrys forestry. The exercise also gave experts from Maynooth University a chance to test Wildfire Common Operational Platform software which they have developed in partnership with NDFEM and Wicklow County Council. Using data compiled from such sources as heat seeking drones, weather conditions and AI mapping, the experts can predict the movement of a wildfire in real time and pinpoint the most effective deployment of fire fighters and aerial assets. The MODEX exercise also included three helicopters, including one from the Air Corps equipped with under slung Bambie buckets capable of scooping up to a ton of water at a time from rivers and lakes and dropping it directly on the fire ground. Also on show was the first of five high capacity water pumps which are capable of delivering up to 9,000 litres of water to a fire ground which is several times more than the average fire appliance. The pump which is being used by Cork City Fire Service cuts down on the time required to ferry water to a blaze. These super pumps have revolutionised how we get water to a scene and are a huge asset for our fire fighters on the ground. Another five are being procured and they will be based around the country for quick deployment, said Ger Ryan, who is a senior fire officer in Cork. Portuguese police have confirmed the arrest of an Northern Ireland man wanted in Spain over the Costa Blanca murder of John George last year. They also confirmed Jonny Smyth (26) had been held in the northern Portuguese city of Braga and that he would appear before court tomorrow for an extradition hearing ahead of his expected forced return to Spain in the coming weeks. The murder suspect was held by the Policia Judiciaria in Portugal yesterday on an international arrest warrant. Smyth is currently believed to be in custody at a police station in Braga. John George A spokesman for Portuguese police force said: The Judiciary Police, through the Braga Criminal Investigation Department, located and arrested a foreign national in the city of Braga, against whom the Spanish authorities had issued European and international arrest warrants, because he was suspected of committing a murder offence in Alicante. The 37-year-old victim was reported missing in Alicante on 14 December 2024, but his body was found in the middle of January in an agricultural area in Rojales. Since the beginning of the Spanish authorities' investigation, there have been strong indications of the existence of a murder offence with the concealment of a corpse, and of the suspect's involvement in these events, who, immediately afterwards, fled to third countries, supposedly located in the Middle East and Asia. The suspect's location in Portugal was expedited with the prompt intervention of the Public Prosecutor's Office - the Specialised Violent Crime Section of the DIAP in Guimaraes. In Spain, in addition to this man, another citizen has already been arrested for co-authoring the acts. The events had great public repercussions in Spain and also in Ireland and the United Kingdom, and were widely publicised in the media in both countries. The detainee, aged 26, will be brought before the Guimaraes Court of Appeal with a view to assessing his detention and the request for his extradition to the Kingdom of Spain. Jonny Smyth Today's News in 90 seconds - 26th March 2025 Well-placed sources confirmed only one person had been arrested in Portugal, contradicting earlier reports two had been held. The source confirmed the arrested man was Jonathan Alan Smyth, who goes by the name Jonny Smyth, and said the detention happened yesterday. A Spanish court official, who confirmed on January 21 an international arrest warrant had been issued for the man suspected of murdering John George, said today: I can confirm Court of Instruction Number Two in Torrevieja which is investigating the homicide has received police information about the arrest of the wanted man in Portugal. The court is currently in the process of translating the necessary investigation documentation into Portuguese so that the Portuguese authorities can decide on the personal situation of this detainee and his subsequent handover to the Torrevieja court. It has also been revealed that Smyth was held at an Airbnb in the northern Portuguese city of Braga where he was staying with his girlfriend, it emerged today. Well-placed sources said the 26-year-old was using his own passport but his partner had made the booking. The Airbnb has not been named. The police insider said: We believe he had been at the Airbnb for around a month. We don't know where he was before that. He was travelling on his own passport and wasnt using fake ID but his girlfriend had made the booking and it wasnt made in his name. "While he was on the run he tried to fool the Spanish authorities into thinking he was somewhere in the Middle East with photos he posted online. He was held yesterday morning in his room. He didnt resist arrest. Another well-placed source said: The girlfriend was not wanted by Spanish authorities and she wasnt arrested. I dont know her whereabouts at the moment but the Spanish police did not seek her detention so she is free to go where she chooses. Smyth is expected to be asked tomorrow when he appears in court whether he consents to being extradited. The hearing will take place in private and no press or public will be allowed into the courtroom as is normal in Portugal where only trials take place in public. A court expert in extraditions said: If he consents to being returned to Spain extradition will happen very quickly. After returning to Spain Smyth will almost certainly be remanded in prison pending an ongoing criminal probe after appearing before the investigating judge in Torrevieja. That court appearance would also take place behind-closed-doors. Belfast man John George vanished on December 14 last year and relatives reported him missing when he failed to catch a scheduled flight home four days later. By December 23 his family had launched a GoFundMe campaign to aid a search, voicing concerns he had been the victim of a crime. Johns brother Darren travelled to Alicante to help in the search with their parents, Billy and Sharon, and sister Courtney and Caitlin, along with up to 50 friends and wider family from Northern Ireland. Members of K9 Search And Rescue NI, a volunteer canine search team, also spent several days assisting with the wide-scale operation to find the missing man. His decomposing body was discovered on January 7, hidden under overgrown lemon trees around five miles from the town of Rojales near Torrevieja. A man arrested later the same day on suspicion of homicide was hauled to court on January 10 after nearly 72 hours in police custody. He told the judge he was being scapegoated because Johns family had named him on social media as one of the suspects. His Costa Blanca-based defence lawyer Manuel Ramon Rives also attributed the decision to detain him to his recent friendship with a man he said police were hunting as the alleged perpetrator. Johns dad has named and pictured a 26-year-old British-based expat on his social media he claimed was the main suspect before Spanish authorities confirmed they had issued three separate arrest warrants in January. That man has previously been described as being among the last people to see John George alive. 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. "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. James Gribben (29) from Co Armagh Today's News in 90 seconds - 26th March 2025 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. Handout issued by the University of Hertfordshire of a large glowing spiral which lit up skies on Monday. Photo: PA A large glowing spiral that lit up the skies over Ireland and Great Britain on Monday night is believed to have been caused by a SpaceX rocket launched more than 6,400km away. The growing swirl visible for several minutes was initially confused with aviation and even extraterrestrial activity by some, but it has now been attributed to a launch at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Billionaire Elon Musks company SpaceX held a launch for the US government shortly before 1.50pm local time, and it is understood the Falcon 9 rockets frozen exhaust plume caused the display. The UKs Met Office said on X: The rockets frozen exhaust plume appears to be spinning in the atmosphere and reflecting the sunlight, causing it to appear as a spiral in the sky. The twisting celestial display was visible across much of Europe, with hundreds sharing footage and photos on social media. Dave, from Bristol, who did not wish to share his surname, said he initially thought the blue spiral was a plane. It looked just like a plane with its headlight on, he said. It suddenly went blurry and I thought, Oh, its gone into cloud, but then realised there werent any clouds. I watched this fuzzy light for what felt like about a minute, when all of a sudden it started shooting out these spiral arms and spinning. I realised straight away it was SpaceX because Ive seen it so much on YouTube, but I can totally see how others would have been weirded out by it it really did look alien. Explaining the phenomenon, Lord Dover, a senior technical officer at the University of Hertfordshires Bayfordbury Observatory, said the spiral was visible for around 10 minutes from 7.52pm moving across the sky before dipping over the horizon. The SpaceX rocket dumped fuel in the upper atmosphere to shed weight before returning to Earth, Mr Dover said. This fuel formed an expanding, swirling cloud that developed into a giant spiral shape as it travelled over the Atlantic. These sightings are becoming common in some parts of the world, but its still unusual for rocket launches to be visible like this from the UK. Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy has insisted she will not resign and branded the oppositions claims of her being in collusion with the Government as totally unfounded. Ms Murphy hit out at the entirely false allegations of collusion made against her in a scathing statement after another day of chaos in the Dail yesterday which has now left her facing a motion of no confidence. I categorically reject these totally unfounded allegations, she said. I have at all times followed the correct procedures of the House and the advice of the impartial officials present. She insisted she would not resign despite opposition party leaders tabling a motion of no confidence in her, which is expected to be debated and voted on next week by TDs. I fully intend to continue to carry out the onerous office to which I was elected in accordance with the solemn undertakings I gave the Dail upon my election, she said. I have loyally, scrupulously, and impartially adhered to my solemn undertakings made to the House, and through the House to the Irish people, said Ms Murphy. She said prolonged disorder and obstruction is utterly unacceptable in any democratic parliament as is making false accusations of partiality and collusion against its officials and Chair. But the Ceann said she couldnt defend herself in the Dail today as the Ceann Comhairles office is independent. I call on every member of the House to reflect on and abide by their own constitutional obligations, to refrain from disorder, and to respect the rights and dignity of every other member and of the House itself. Clerk of the Dail Peter Finnegan put together a report independently on the chaos in the Dail yesterday, which has now been published. The opposition specifically have taken issue with Ms Murphy not holding a vote on the order of business on Tuesday. However, Mr Finnegan says it is longstanding parliamentary requirement TDs who arent happy with the order of business ask for a vote - by saying Votail. He said the legal record of the Dail shows the word Votail was not audible and so Ms Murphy declaring the order of business agreed was correct. TDs also voted on the controversial changes to the standing orders to accommodate Michael Lowry as well as other government supporting TDs. The Government won the vote, as it has the majority. Mr Finnegan said: Notwithstanding the unprecedented level of dissent yesterday, once a matter is put to the House, the only remedy for those dissenting is through the voting process in the House. Opposition leaders have agreed to submit a motion of no confidence in Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy this evening. The text of the motion will be jointly signed by Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, Labour leader Ivana Bacik, Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan, People Before Profit leader Richard Boyd Barrett and Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins. The motion will say that "the Dail notes that the Ceann Comhairle no longer retains the confidence of all members of Dail Eireann". Opposition parties now have until the end of the day tomorrow to come up with wording which can be tabled and heard during Sinn Fein's private members time in the Dail next week. The Government is expected to instead put down a motion of confidence in the Ceann Comhairle, which is likely to pass. Opposition TDs have taken issue with Ms Murphy not holding a vote on the order of business during a chaotic day in the Dail yesterday. However, sources in the Oireachtas have pushed back against this assertion, saying it is up to TDs to ask for a vote on the order of business if they want one. The loss of confidence in the Ceann Comhairle by the opposition is viewed as being "totally and utterly different" to the last time a Ceann Comhairle resigned. John O'Donoghue resigned in 2009 after Labour leader Eamon Gilmore told him in the Dail chamber he had no confidence in him. However, the then Ceann was engulfed in controversy for months over his expense claims. Independent TD Michael Lowry, who stuck up his two fingers to members of the opposition, said it was "taken out of context", and claimed he was provoked into making the gesture. Mr Lowry, who was captured sticking up two fingers towards People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, also said it was not made with malicious intent. The gesture, which happened following hours of chaos, shouting and heckling in the Dail, has been widely condemned. Taoiseach Micheal Martin called on Mr Lowry to apologise for the incident, but also criticised Mr Murphy, accusing him of "waving his camera" in the faces of other TDs. Mr Lowry, who was a key negotiator for a group of independents who agreed to support the formation of the Government, 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". In a statement, Mr Lowry said on Wednesday: "The gesture I made in the Dail yesterday was not made with malicious intent. "I made an errant gesture under provocation. "Unfortunately, the gesture has been taken out of context. Unlike others, I have always respected the rules and values of the Dail. "My gesture was not intended to be offensive or to cause any offence, and I regret that it may have been seen in such a way." Taoiseach Micheal Martin says Michael Lowry should apologise over two fingers gesture in Dail amid opposition row Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald accused Mr Lowry of giving the two fingers to the people of Ireland. Speaking to Mr Martin during Leaders' Questions, Ms McDonald said: "(A) man you once described as a rogue politician, who you called on to resign his Dail seat because of the findings of corruption against him, now pulls the strings as kingmaker in your coalition, and gives the two fingers to the opposition to democracy and to the Irish people. "The Ceann Comhairle (Verona Murphy) bulldozed all rules to get the government's plan over the line, to protect the very deal that put her in her position, a deal brokered by her mentor, Michael Lowry, who sat smiling and giving the two fingers to the people of Ireland while the chaos unfolded." Mr Martin told the Dail: "I think anybody who uses two fingers in this House to another person is wrong, and that person should apologise. And that would apply to Deputy Lowry. "I equally think, and you should face up and acknowledge this, that any deputy waving cameras in the face of other deputies is wrong and was never a part or parcel of Leinster House. "Equally, I would say the intimidatory barracking of newly elected TDs, either independent or not, simply because they support the government, is a new low that I've never witnessed before in this house." Michael Lowry accused of giving People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy two fingers in the Dail Labour leader Ivana Bacik said: "In every sense, two fingers have been shown to the opposition and to the people of this country, because as of yesterday, a fundamental principle has been subverted. "That is the simple truth, that you cannot be in government and in opposition at the same time, and you've subverted that fundamental principle of the separation of powers." "I do agree with you on one thing, it was deeply wrong of any deputy, of Michael Lowry, it was deeply wrong of him to give two fingers in the national parliament. Deeply wrong, deeply disrespectful. "You said it was wrong. I hope you're going to call on him to apologise. I hope you, Ceann Comhairle, will call on him to apologise." Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan said the "enduring" image of Tuesday will be Mr Lowry giving the two fingers. "A TD who has been found to be grossly corrupt, laughing it up as you did his bidding, really sums it all up," he said. "The derision and the contempt that is at the heart of this government was clearly exposed. Michael Lowry was cock-a-hoop, and who can blame him? You just ripped up more than 100 years of parliamentary procedure for him. "The question we all want answered is, why? Why are you jumping through the hoops for Michael Lowry." People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger said: "If you've any qualms whatsoever doing business with Michael Lowry, somebody who gave two fingers to the public yesterday and then went and gaslit the population, that he hadn't actually done it, somebody who can lie at the drop of a hat like that. "Have you any qualms at all about doing business with them?" Meanwhile, the Ceann Comhairle is not expected to stand down as the opposition has now said it will put down a motion of no confidence in the Wexford TD. Ms Murphy this afternoon committed to reviewing the transcript of Tuesdays disorderly proceedings to confirm if the order of business had been properly agreed. Amid widespread disruption in the Dail on Tuesday as the Government sought to pass new rules on speaking rights, Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy announced that the order of the business had been agreed. However, opposition parties claim that they had called for a division on the matter. In addition, the opposition have also questioned the circumstances around how its amendment to the Government motion was not put to a vote. On Wednesday, Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty raised a point of order with Ms Murphy, who has come under fire for her role in stewarding the contentious proceedings. Mr Doherty questioned whether she had failed in her duty to allow a vote on the order of business on Tuesday, and whether this could have legal implications for the progress of legislation this week. Sinn Fein, having conducted its own analysis of the exchanges, contends that Ms Murphy said the order of business had been agreed despite a TD calling votail or vote. Mr Doherty said: The concern I have is obviously as members of this House, one of the most important functions we have is the passage of legislation. He said he was raising the point of order ahead of a crucial piece of legislation progressing to the next stage in the Dail. He added: I have serious concerns whether the order of business has actually passed yesterday, and I put it to you that I am asking for a direction and a determination maybe on the basis of legal advice as well because I have now reviewed the audio of what transpired yesterday. You clearly put the question. The chief whip agreed the question. You declared the question carried, and there was a clear call for a votail which under standing order 80, subsection two, when a division is called a division has to be carried out. And I question now whether you have failed to fulfil in your independent and partial duty to allow that division to take place, which is clearly now on the Oireachtas website and stands out. The word votail stands out. And therefore, what is the legal basis for legislation that may be passed in this house later on today, never mind what happened yesterday? Ms Murphy said she had reviewed the exchanges, adding she would send the official record to Mr Doherty for further consideration. Mr Doherty said the public written record was abridged and did not contain a lot of what Ms Murphy said. He asked if she would seek legal advice on the implications for legislation passing through the Dail if it transpires that the order of business was not agreed. Ms Murphy replied: I will send you the official record and I will review it post sitting. Asked if she would review the video of the sitting, the Ceann Comhairle said: Yes, I will deputy. Tanaiste Simon Harris talks to troops during his visit to Camp Shamrock. Photo: Niall Carson/PA The Tanaiste has said he was not intimidated by an Israeli drone flown over the Irish peacekeeping camp in Lebanon while meeting troops there today. Wicklow County Council, as part of a European consortium, support Irelands first EU MODEX Exercise Organised by the Eastern Emergency Response Group, this multi-agency event involved over 100 participants from Ireland and other EU member states, simulating wildfire scenario near Turlough Hill in the Wicklow Mountains National Park. Paul Ryan on the difficulties of cancer outside the medical diagnosis A father of two has spoken about being diagnosed with what was once referred to as the old mans cancer and has urged men to listen to their bodies. Paul Ryan (48), from Portlaoise, Co Laois, first developed a difficulty swallowing food in late 2021. A short time later, both he and his brother were diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). I put the difficulty in swallowing down to that I never really thought too much of it, so it just kept getting progressively worse and worse, he said. His condition was not improving with the prescribed medication, so he was sent for an endoscope in Tullamore. They found something on the scan and they referred me to St Jamess Hospital at this stage. I knew that things were getting more serious, but nobody had mentioned the word cancer to me, he said. The first I heard of cancer was in my first consultation in St Jamess, where the doctor said, Right, heres how were going to treat this cancer. In some ways, the diagnosis being dropped on me like that was good, because I didnt really have time to be upset or worried. It was just on to the next thing and asking about treatment. My wife was with me and really, in that moment, I wasnt thinking of me, I was thinking of her and the girls and how were going to get through this. Cancer survivor Paul Ryan. Photo: Mark Condren Mr Ryan was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in March 2022, when he was 45, and began treatment a month later. Nobody wants to hear that word, its one that strikes fear into the toughest of men, but I was lucky I had my wife Christine with me, he said. Christine has been my rock from the very beginning. She was my strength, having been in the same hospital that her father was diagnosed in and then having her husband diagnosed as well. The family first got involved with the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) in 2010 after Mr Ryans father-in-law died. We decided, as a family, to take on the Daffodil Day for the ICS. Weve been doing it pretty much every year since, Mr Ryan said. I cant thank the hospital enough and the ICS. They were amazing. They put stuff in place for me straight away, they were giving me phone number after phone number, looking to see if I needed this or that in supports. We found out there was a charity for the actual cancer Im suffering from the Oesophageal Cancer Fund (OCF). After five weeks of radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy, Mr Ryan had an eight-hour surgery in June 2022. He said things settled down after the operation. His scan afterwards came back clear and he began to work again that October. Financially, we have found it difficult and we needed the support of the medical social worker to get our medical card application over the line However, a routine scan in February 2023 showed the cancer had returned. They put me on to an extremely hard chemotherapy. Its called Folfox, and its the hardest thing Ive ever had to go through, Mr Ryan said. Cancer had also brought many difficulties outside of the medical diagnosis. As a man in my 40s, working, young children, a wife and so much to live for, going through cancer can throw up a lot of difficulties outside what youre going through medically in terms of your treatment, he said. Financially, we have found it quite difficult and we needed the support of the medical social worker to get our medical card application over the line. Its the sixth-most prevalent cancer on the planet, and it probably doesnt get the recognition it deserves. Its quite a harrowing experience. Its such a new cancer in my age group. Thats quite terrifying, because they used to call it the old mans cancer and now its becoming more and more prevalent. We had put savings by and we were looking at buying a house and looking for a mortgage. Ive been dipping in and out of my savings to keep myself afloat for the last six or eight months. Im basically down two-thirds of a wage every week. He said he cannot emphasise enough how important the support was from his family, including his daughters Molly (8) and six-year-old Alison. My two kids have put smiles on my face when I havent felt like smiling, and Christine the same. In between all that, Im trying to be strong for the girls and Christine and the family, he said. Paul Ryan said his wife and two young daughters keep him positive. Photo: Mark Condren He also said the charitys travel support scheme was a huge help. Travel2Care is a fund to help patients with meeting some of the costs of travelling to their appointments. It was just chemo after chemo and scans the whole time in 2023 and it probably started taking its toll travel-wise, Mr Ryan said. Thats when the ICS came up with Travel2Care. Ive only used it a couple of times for a simple reason that my appointments dont always go to schedule. Its a support thats there and a lot of people dont know about. It was just more and more chemo again in 2024. For a year, there was absolutely no growth in the tumours at all, and then, all of a sudden, they just decided to show a little bit of growth. I had a scan there four weeks ago and theyve seen no sign of it. Actually, its very stable at the moment. I have options there available as well, if it does decide to start growing again. Mr Ryan urged people to always listen to your body. It knows you better than anybody. No doctor is going to turn you away from getting checked out. Cancer has no preference. Itll affect whoever it wants, he said. Im losing good friends as a result of it, so its very important to me that I get the right message across, especially to men we need to stop with the bravado. Were only human, and we do get sick and its OK to admit that youre not well. One thing that has been on my side from day one is the fact that Ive had a good outlook on things. Ive never really let it get me down. For me and my family, the Young Onset Programme is exactly the type of wraparound supports people like me need Professor Maeve Lowery, co-director of the Trinity St Jamess Cancer Institute in Dublin, said there had been a concerning rise in the number of cancer cases in patients under 50 in the last couple of decades. Most notably, cancer of the gastrointestinal tract colon, stomach, pancreas and liver cancer with rising numbers also in breast, lung and other tumours of the solid organs, she said. A cancer diagnosis can be devastating for the person and their families, adding a huge sense of stress. These younger patients require a range of different supports to those diagnosed later in life for example, many have young families or may be caring for their parents. To meet this changing need, the ICS has funded a Young Onset Cancer Programme at the Trinity St Jamess Cancer Institute. This programme supports the holistic needs of this growing cohort of patients and focuses on social work, sexual health and fertility supports, with a team of healthcare professionals employed to work directly with patients to support them and their families across these areas. Mr Ryan said Prof Lowerys team have taken him under their wing. For me and my family going through cancer, the Young Onset Programme delivered by the Trinity St Jamess Cancer Institute, funded by the ICS, is exactly the type of wraparound supports people like me need, he added. The Irish Cancer Societys Daffodil Day takes place on Friday, March 28. Visit cancer.ie to donate. The provost of University of Limerick has expressed her dismay after hearing that a social media influencer living on campus in UL was the target of harassment by men. Last weekend, Ella Deasy published an account of her experience being targeted by a group of young men at her Kilmurry Village student accommodation during last years Freshers Week. She wrote how the house she was sharing with other students was repeatedly vandalised at night. Ms Deasy also recounted how a WhatsApp group, which had over 200 young men in it, was used to target her. It started as a boys chat and then turned into a group where they all wanted to target my house, she said. Influencer Ella Deasy Today's News in 90 seconds - 26th March 2025 The influencer has since dropped out of University of Limerick (UL) and it is understood she did not make a formal complaint about the behaviour of other male students who targeted her. In an email to the entire University of Limerick student body this evening, Professor Ann Ledwith said: As the mother of three daughters, I am really dismayed at issues of student safety that I have seen raised on social media, in media and in Dail Eireann in recent days. I want to assure you that we take these issues and the welfare of all our students extremely seriously. We are committed to getting a full understanding of what happened in the recently reported incident, how our systems reacted and how we can ensure any similar occurrences are effectively and promptly dealt with in the future. The university code of conduct is clear there is no tolerance for anti-social behaviour of any form in residential communities on campus and there are subsequent actions through the disciplinary process for those found to be in breach of same. Prof Ledwith reminded students of the importance of making an official report of any incidence of intimidation or harassment in order that we can then deal with these issues appropriately through the correct channels. She added that UL had recently introduced a new policy on sexual violence and harassment. The campaign is about empowering our community to stand against unacceptable behaviour and act as active bystanders when it is safe to do so, she said, sharing links with support services. The university is fully supportive of governments zero-tolerance strategy to achieve a society which does not accept domestic, sexual and gender-based violence or the attitudes which underpin it. Anti-social behaviour not only affects the immediate community, but also reflects on the entire student body. Lets work together to eliminate it from our campus. In her account, Ms Deasy had spoken about how a group of boys started targeting her student home. On my first day of college, two boys were screaming outside my window at 4.30 in the morning, she said. They were chanting a song, and they knew exactly which room was mine. She said things escalated and her house was egged. Beans, yoghurt and tomato sauce were smeared on the door handle. The next night, I was woken up at 2am to doorbells ringing for five minutes straight, she said. I did cry. I cant lie. People forget that Im still human, and this was my first time in college. After posting about her experience online, Ms Deasy was met with misogynistic comments. One individual wrote on her post: Sorry, Ella, I got carried away, it will happen again. Another said: I will stop at nothing to hunt down and punish the perpetrators, Ella. Any chance of a bit of fun then after? Ian ODoherty: Simon Harriss obsession with Conor McGregor and Andrew Tate is the gift that keeps on giving for both Tanaiste is locked in a fight he cant win and is giving his opponents the oxygen they need to thrive Simon Harris needlessly reignited a flame that had burned down to the embers with his attacks on Conor McGregor and Andrew Tate. Illustration: Michael Gleeson Ian O'Doherty Wed 26 Mar 2025 at 03:30 There are times in life when we all take a step back, look at how our politicians behave and simply say to ourselves: Really? Martin Smyth from Finglas enjoys the sun in St Stephen's Green last week. But factors other than the sun influence our well-being and mental health. Photo: Sam Boal Is there a better feeling than waking up and opening the curtains to a beautiful sunny day, especially after a particularly gloomy winter with a record-breaking storm followed by a record-breaking spell of dark days in February when we went 11 whole days without sunshine? Were conditioned to think that a bright sunny day automatically makes us feel brighter and happier, but the research doesnt really back that up. The influence of the weather on our day-to-day mood is either non-existent or subtle at most if you believe the data. This is surprising, considering it has been drummed into us that we all feel better on a sunny day, and part of the reason for our collective Irish misery, coughs and colds is our dull and damp surroundings. Meanwhile, other research tells us that sunlight can be a natural mood booster. Sunnier, brighter weather is said to be good for us as it helps nudge us outdoors, which encourages us to be more active. Its well-known that regular exercise can help our physical and mental health. It also tops up our vitamin D levels, which is essential for our bones, muscles and immune system. Martin Smyth from Finglas enjoys the sun in St Stephen's Green last week. But factors other than the sun influence our well-being and mental health. Photo: Sam Boal Due to our geographical location and lack of sunshine, the HSE recommends we take a vitamin D supplement during winter, and chances are a lot of us are deficient, which wont help our health either. Psychiatrists have published a multitude of papers over the years telling of the importance of sun and daylight to help regulate the wiring in our brains and our hormones to promote better moods, sleep and mental health. Fewer people seem to suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in sunnier climes nearer to the equator. This is a type of depression that can be triggered by reduced sunlight during the winter months, and its treated in a variety of ways, including with light therapy. We also cant disregard our genetics. Youre more likely to be depressed if your parents were With all this evidence, it would be easy to conclude that living somewhere sunny makes you happier. The Costa del Sol must be full of people joyfully jumping out of bed every morning, raring to go. There cant be any depressed people in Sicily. To assume this removes the human and lifestyle factors from our reasoning. We cant ignore the impact of the world around us on our mental state. We also cant disregard our genetics. Youre more likely to be depressed if your parents were. Ireland has one of the highest rates of mental illness in Europe around 12pc of us have a major depressive disorder like anxiety or depression and this is roughly three times the European average. The reasons for this are multiple, but we cant ignore that we also spend a lot less on mental health care than most of our European counterparts. Maybe this is partly why Scandinavian and other Nordic countries often top world happiness surveys. The Danish lifestyle and well-being concept of hygge seeks joy in the simple things. Photo: Getty This is the conundrum I thought about last week as I sat in despair, staring out the window at the rain. Why, if sunshine is so good for us, are the people of Finland who endure long, dark winters, with some regions going 50 days without any daylight at all regularly the happiest in the world? Hygge was shortlisted by the Oxford dictionaries as word of the year in 2016 following an interiors and lifestyle trend that spread worldwide. Its a Danish term to describe a sense of cosiness, conviviality and contentment. It describes a culture of finding the joy in the simple things and being toasty among friends, and we wanted a bite of that cherry too, adopting it into our lexicon. Maybe, its easier to appreciate the little joys in life in a country where there are no hospital waiting lists, paid holidays are longer, having a child in a creche doesnt come with the risk of bankruptcy, and fathers get decent time off to help with parenting. Another lesson from the Nordic nations is that theres no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes The World Happiness Survey says the Finns are happier due to a multitude of factors including lower income inequality and high social supports. They probably dont have to wait as long as we do to see a psychiatrist or get psychological supports, which may also contribute to a better sense of well-being. On a lighter note, I do wonder whether the Nordic expectations are much more reasonable than ours, that theyre not expecting daily meteorological miracles. Why expect sunlight when you know youre going to have a long winter? Plan to live without it. Meanwhile, were aghast when we have a damp February. If only we had sun, our day would be better. Another lesson from the Nordic nations is that theres no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes. Is it Irish optimism or denial that ensures were never properly dressed for rain and arrive soaked due to a flimsy jacket and a no-show bus? It appears neither warm nor cold climates are better for our well-being. Ireland, where it rarely gets too cold or too hot, should be the ideal. A kind, inclusive society without worries about housing, health and other services with the odd sunny day shouldnt be unattainable. In quantum physics there is a concept called superposition. At its simplest, it means particles can exist in multiple locations at once. Let us just agree it is a bit impenetrable, yet nowhere near as unfathomable as the twisted logic the Coalition is trying to pass off as common sense in order to allow some TDs to be both government supporters and opposition members simultaneously. Both Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris have tried to pivot from special pleading for the Regional Independent Group, and a couple of others, to claim the new arrangements are needed to give backbenchers more time. This is a fatuous diversion tactic to shift attention from the truth. Micheal Martin and Simon Harris in the Dail chamber Michael Lowry seen giving People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy two fingers in the Dail It was a disgraceful fiasco and is a direct result of their agreement to do somersaults to satisfy a select few they wish to keep onside. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said it was staggering just how far the Government has gone to uphold its grubby deal with the Regional Independent TDs. She asked what debt Mr Martin owed Michael Lowry. The Tipperary TD wants to sit in both government and opposition at the same time, she said. Mr Martin and Mr Harris say the opposition is distorting the debate, and their response is disproportionate. But the crux of the issue remains the same. Such scenes serve only to fuel perceptions that Leinster House is aloof from the concerns of ordinary people Some TDs want to be able to claim credit for any good the Government does, and also to attack it with both barrels should a local issue affecting their constituency arise. In this phoney war between parish pump and principle, the pump always seems to come out on top. Dail procedures and traditions are not supposed to bend to the whims of party leaders. Mr Martin claimed the opposition had manufactured a political row, which had reached farcical heights. Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins said the new speaking-rights plan marked a dark day for democracy. In reply, Mr Martin joked: Dark day of Irish democracy? Its eight minutes extra on a Tuesday and a Wednesday, and apparently were on the brink. But voters will despair at seeing new waves of chaos sweeping the Dail, purely because the Government insists on pandering to a privileged few. They will struggle even more to find humour in the belittling of the national parliament and the disrespect to democracy it reflects. Read more Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy says she wont resign as opposition draft motion of no confidence Such scenes serve only to fuel perceptions that Leinster House is aloof from the concerns of ordinary people. Grave existential economic challenges urgently need to be met. At the same time, once-in-a-century international threats are mounting. Far from doing what it was elected for and being paid to do the Government is instead doubling down on sticking by the wishes of a few TDs. Meanwhile, the wider interests of the country must simmer on the back burner at a critical moment. As parliaments across Europe rightly focus on re-engineering their economies and defences to mitigate new risks, ours is convulsed by a stupefying stand-off created by myopia and prolonged by obstinacy. The gloves were off as Leinster House became a political boxing ring today. Opposition parties landed heavy blows against the Government, Ceann Comhairle and political kingmaker Micheal Lowry. Its crunch time for Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy as opposition calls for her to resign grow louder. With the image of Micheal Lowry making a two-fingered gesture towards a fellow TD still making headlines, what, if any, consequences are coming the Governments way? Today, on this Extra episode of the Indo Daily, Fionnan Sheahan is joined from Leinster House by Tabitha Monahan, political reporter with the Irish Independent, to ask if the Ceann Comhairles days are numbered and what this could mean for the stability of the new Government? 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. Follow Independent Waterford on Facebook 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. Greater investment in wastewater treatment infrastructure is required to support housing development in rural County Cork said Cork TD John Paul OShea. Fine Gael TD for Cork North West John Paul OShea said a lack of proper facilities is preventing new homes from being built. Deputy OShea said greater investment in wastewater treatment infrastructure is urgently needed. I have highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by rural communities where housing cannot progress due to inadequate wastewater treatment infrastructure. In towns like Kanturk and Newmarket, wastewater capacity is already stretched. Deputy OShea said other areas in north Cork are also already maxed out. In villages such as Churchtown, Dromahane, Glantane, Lombardstown and Ballydesmond the systems are already maxed out with no new capacity. This is directly limiting growth and regeneration in these areas, despite the demand for housing. Mr OShea reiterated that a clear and targeted strategy is required. While land has been zoned for development under the Cork County Development Plan 20222028, without wastewater infrastructure, these plans remain on paper rather than delivering real homes. We need a clear and targeted strategy to prioritise wastewater investment in areas where housing is needed most. We cannot overlook the basic infrastructure that makes development possible, said Mr OShea. If we are serious about tackling housing supply issues in rural Ireland, wastewater facilities must be part of the conversation. Without them, communities will continue to struggle with housing shortages, school closures and declining local economies. Pilot projects to introduce wastewater treatment in key rural locations would provide a practical solution, enabling new housing, supporting local businesses and sustaining essential services such as schools and post offices. Cork County Council is ready to work with state agencies to advance these necessary projects, but national leadership and investment are required to make them a reality added Deputy OShea. Deputy OShea said he will raise this issue with the Minister for Housing James Browne and Uisce Eireann. The Cork TD will continue to advocate for a targeted investment plan to deliver essential wastewater infrastructure to unlock the full potential of housing development in rural communities. Irish News Is it time for Ireland to copy other visitor hotspots with a tourist tax? Hoteliers hate them. Governments, particularly local governments, love them. Do tourists mind or do they even notice? The names, the rates and the faces might change, but the debate on tourism and visitor taxes follows a similar pattern worldwide. An ongoing protest has seen a large crowd gather outside a hotel in Galway overnight. Dozens have been protesting outside Carna Bay Hotel in Connemara since Tuesday night amid speculation that asylum seekers would be arriving and be housed at the premises. Some locals have opposed any proposed plans to use the hotel as an IPAS centre, claiming that proper consultation with communities has not been carried out. Carna Bay Hotel has been used to house people fleeing the war in Ukraine since 2022. However more recently, the premises was offered to the Department of Integration for use as an IPAS accommodation facility. According to the department, an appraisal of the offer has been paused for three months to allow locals to advance a proposal to develop a community hotel at the site. A meeting took place earlier this month inviting members of the community to voice their concerns over the possibility of using the hotel to house asylum seekers. Local councillors and TDs have spoken out over the issue, attempting to assure locals that a proper consultation process will be followed through. TD for Galway East Mairead Farrell said: I have organised a meeting with the department for tomorrow morning. I have been in constant contact with the department from last night to this morning. They have told me categorically that no one has been moved into Carna and I have organised a meeting, I will give an update at that point. In a statement, the department have confirmed that a pause on the appraisal of the hotel remains in place. They said that there was no current contract in place for IPAS but that some people fleeing the war in Ukraine were still being housed there. Mike OHallorans new production will run in Milltown for three nights from Friday, April 4 A Kerry playwright is looking forward to starring in the upcoming showing of his latest published work which will take a humorous look at Irish funerals when it runs for three nights next month. Ballyduff dramatist Mike OHalloran will be to the fore in the performances of his fourth play Coffin Jockeys, which offers a tongue-in-cheek portrayal of the traditions and characters associated with wakes and funerals. The production will run at Milltown Community Hall and in it, Mike will play the character of Mike Soden, whose rural kitchen provides the setting for the show. In ill health, the leading character Mike makes a will which carries stipulations that may affect what exactly the beneficiaries, including his niece, receive. The show will see audiences relate to practices associated with Irish funerals, performed with comedic exaggeration, from Mike and his friend Davy listening to radio death notices to Davy scheduling funerals he plans to attend into a special diary. The play also promises to feature a host of characters who audiences will recognise. This includes the Coffin Jockey, the person who takes on the role of chief mourner even though they have no connection to the deceased, and Paddy the Pinch, who uses the condolence line to feed his addiction to pinching ladies bums. Mike said he and the cast of the play are delighted to be coming to Milltown because it has held a special place in his heart since he directed Owen OSheas Ballymacandy there a few years ago. Also directing the play, Mike will bring his vast on-stage experience to the stage alongside five others. The Group Theatre Tralee stalwart David Hobbert will play Davy, Dubliner Lorcan Fingleton will provide the voice of a radio DJ and accomplished local actress Lesley Ann Colgan will play Shile. Tralee actor Tadgh ORegan is cast as The Solicitor while Jimmy Kelly, a longstanding member of Rathmore Pantomime group, will play the role of The Chairman. A crew including sound designer Sarah OHalloran, script editor Paula Nolan, assistant to the director Mary Geaney, stage manager Pat Geaney and sound and lighting expert Tom Hannafin will help bring the production to life in Milltown. Coffin Jockeys, presented by Bog Road Theatre, will be performed at 8pm in Milltown Community Hall on April 4, 5 and 6. Tickets will be sold for 15 at the door. Beam is a rapidly expanding digital disruptor in Irelands conveyancing sector that is continuing its major growth and trajectory. It is pleased to announce that it is undergoing a recruitment drive, while also preparing to move its HQ to a larger premises in Tralee, to house its growing workforce. Since launching in September 2023, with just four employees, Beam has grown to a team of 32 and is currently actively recruiting for 15 new positions. With plans to more than double its workforce in the next 12 18 months, Beam is creating exciting career opportunities in technology, legal services, and customer experience, with remote and hybrid roles available. Mike Stack, CEO at Beam, said they are on a mission to revolutionise the home-buying experience, which they say is dated and unnecessarily slow. By integrating seamlessly with key partners, including OnlineApplication, one of Ireland's leading end-to-end mortgage technology providers, and Doddl, one of the countrys largest mortgage brokers, and through faster document exchange, automated compliance checks, and streamlined communication, Beam is reducing home-buying closing times by up to 75pc in some cases. The company will move to a larger headquarters in Tralee this June, reflecting its rapid expansion. Beam also has an office in Cork and plans to open a Dublin office in the second half of 2025, further strengthening its presence across Ireland. "We are growing fast because we are doing things differently. We are bringing real innovation to the home-buying process, making it simpler, smarter, and stress-free. Our new Tralee HQ will support this expansion, as will our growing presence in Cork and Dublin," said Mr Stack. "Weve seen cases where closing times have gone from 16 weeks to just 4 weeks, but on average, we currently complete in 12," said Mr. Stack. "Ireland is an outlier globally in how slow the process is - it typically takes 16 weeks here, compared to 6 - 8 weeks in the US. Our goal is to bring that down to 4 - 6 weeks, he added. Beam is at the forefront of modernising the legal sector, meeting the expectations of digital-first homebuyers who demand transparency, efficiency, and quality service. Brian Stephenson, COO at Beam, said its vision is simple: To make the home-buying process easier, faster, and more transparent for everyone. This investment places the customer at the centre of the process, exactly where they should be, considering this is the biggest transaction most people will ever make, he said. Karl Deeter, CEO OnlineApplication, said its mission is to make mortgages easier, faster and better for everybody. With our digital approach, and network of innovative partners like Beam, we are streamlining the mortgage application process, creating a smoother experience for both homebuyers and lenders, said Mr Deeter. For more information, visit www.letsbeam.ie RTEs Great House Revival: Meet the Kerry man who restored 200-year-old family cottage Knocknagoshel native Kieran Cotter speaks about his journey from emigrant to home renovator, spending 100,000 to breathe new life into his ancestral home with the help of local tradespeople and community support Kieran Cotter outside the 200-year-old family cottage that he restored. Stephen Fernane Kerryman Wed 26 Mar 2025 at 12:37 A 200-year-old family cottage refurbished by Knocknagoshel native Kieran Cotter will feature on RTEs Great House Revival when architect Hugh Wallace gives his views on Kierans restorative talents. There have been calls to rename Kerry Airport in honour of Daniel OConnell The Liberator who was one of Ireland and the UKs foremost politicians in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Councillor John O'Donoghue tabled the motion at Mondays full meeting of Kerry County Council (KCC) asking them to explore with the relevant authorities the possibility of naming the countys airport after Daniel O'Connell. Back in February, Cllr ODonoghue raised a similar motion calling for the 250th anniversary of O'Connells birth to be commemorated countywide this August. I have been contacted by a lot of people since that motion about the need to honour OConnell. A suggestion that has repeatedly come up is the possibility of calling Kerry Airport after him, Cllr ODonoghue said. He told the council he is acutely aware of the Kerry brand but does not foresee a name change as being damaging to the countys global identity among tourists. He cited examples of Liverpool and Belfast airports named after John Lennon and George Best respectively that are still widely referred to by their city name. I realise that much consideration would have to be given to any name change from a marketing perspective. However, if the powers that be are agreeable, I feel it would be an excellent move. It is a huge honour for the individual involved in terms of practical usage and awareness of their achievements, Cllr ODonoghue said. The airport would still, most likely, be called Kerry Airport in much the same way that Liverpool Airport is rarely called John Lennon Airport. People also say they are flying into Belfast Airport as opposed to George Best Airport, he added. Daniel OConnell is the most significant Kerry and Irish person of all time. I feel that visitors arriving to our county, and having an airport called after OConnell, would be a wonderful way to welcome them in a way that is significant, Cllr ODonoghue said. The motion was supported by Fine Gael Councillor Angie Baily. Daniel OConnell was born near Cahersiveen on August 6, 1775, and was instrumental in the Catholic Emancipation Act that granted political and civil rights to Catholics in Ireland. He was also a leading abolitionist who sought to ban the international slave trade in the early 1800s. Kerry businessman leaves lasting legacy as he retires after 45 years in business After 45 years in business, Jack Fitzpatrick hands over the keys to his Cahersiveen supermarket, leaving behind a legacy of community development and loyal customer relationships as he embarks on a well-earned retirement Cahersiveen businessman Jack Fitzpatrick and his family as they mark Jack's retirement after 45 years. Pictured are Front left to right:Ella Clancy, Rosie Casey and Bernard Fitzpatrick Back left to right: Laura and Lynn,Tracey, and Jack Fitzpatrick, Evan Casey, Liam Casey, Triona Fitzpatrick, Jack Clancy and Vicki Clancy. Photo by Christy Riordan. Sinead Kelleher Kerryman Wed 26 Mar 2025 at 08:00 When Jack Fitzpatrick left school at 17 to become a mechanic, little did he know life would drive him down a very different path and now, after 45 years in business in south Kerry, hes hitting the brakes and looking forward to a lengthy retirement. 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. Picture: Fionn McCann A 9,500 chair designed by a Limerick man, made with the same historic Irish slate used in Westminster Abbey, will be among the star attractions at a new art event in Dublin. 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. Involving 70 galleries and artists, it will also feature an installation by street artist Maser, showcasing various chapters of his working life and offering visitors the chance to engage with the artist. 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. 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. Other artists whose work will be shown at the fair include Cork-born painter Tom Climent and renowned Italian artist Sandro Chia. Irish TikTok star Ella Deasy revealed how a group targeted her in her University of Limerick student accommodation home by egging her house, screaming under her window at 4.30am and repeatedly ringing her doorbell at 2am on separate occasions Social media star Ella Deasy has shared a deeply unsettling experience of harassment and misogyny she faced while living in Kilmurry Village Student Accommodation at the University of Limerick. In a recent video, Ella opened up about the distressing events that began shortly after she moved into the student accommodation in September 2024. Having moved to Kilmurry Village excited to start her university experience, and having previously heard positive things about the area from her brother, Ellas excitement quickly turned into fear when an online post she made about moving into the accommodation drew unwanted attention. On August 25, 2024, she posted a TikTok video saying she was moving into Kilmurry Village and looking to make friends. Little did I know at the time, someone had made a TikTok about wanting to egg my house and that exact same guy was the one who saw me move into number 58, she explained. As she started settling in, her safety quickly became compromised. She recalls how a group of boys started targeting her student home. On my first day of college, two boys were screaming outside my window at 4:30 in the morning, she said. They were chanting a song, and they knew exactly which room was mine, she shared. I emailed the student accommodations office, and they said there was nothing they could do. Her ordeal worsened when her house was egged, and beans, yoghurt and tomato sauce were smeared on the door handle. The next night, I was woken up at 2am to doorbells ringing for five minutes straight, she said I did cry. I can't lie. People forget that I'm still human, and this was my first time in college. After finding out about a disturbing group chat that emerged, in which 200 boys appeared to target her, Ella said: It started as a boys chat and then turned into a group where they all wanted to target my house, she said. The harassment escalated further when the boys returned multiple times, throwing bottles at her house another day. I genuinely dont think I slept that night at all because I knew there was going to be lads there, she said. Despite contacting the gardai, Ellas ordeal didn't end. She was eventually forced to email the president of the University of Limerick, stating that she felt unsafe and wanted to be moved. Within 10 minutes, I was moved out of Kilmurry Village, she said. It wasn't until I contacted the President that something was done, she said. Ella Deasy opened up online about her experiences with harassment. Photo: Instagram/@elladeasyy Today's News in 90 seconds - 26th March 2025 After posting about her experience online, Ella was met with further misogynistic and ignorant comments, even when simply sharing her experiences in an effort to bring attention to serious issues. One individual wrote, Sorry Ella I got carried away, it will happen again. Another added, I will stop at nothing to hunt down and punish the perpetrators Ella. Any chance of a bit of fun then after? She hopes her story serves as a wake-up call for UL and other Irish third-level institutions to take harassment cases more seriously. Im not trying to bash UL. Its a great college, but situations like this should not be ignored, she stated. God forbid something actually did happen to me physically, because of these boys, it would be on UL for not addressing it sooner. Limerick Animal Welfare are seeking donations to support the dog and her puppies The dog was abandoned while in labour Staff at Limerick Animal Welfare (LAW) are seeking donations after a dog in labour was abandoned outside their sanctuary gates. The animal welfare group described the scene as unbelievable cruelty, as the dog was found distressed having already lost one puppy while still undergoing labour. The group quickly took action, bringing her to safety in a warm, clean room where she could safely deliver the rest of her puppies. According to the staff, she was reportedly very thirsty and hungry, showing signs of neglect and mistreatment. We were heartbroken this morning to find this poor girl abandoned outside our gates, a spokesperson for Limerick Animal Welfare stated on social media. She is safe now under our care, and we are doing everything we can to help her through this difficult time, they added. As the dog continues to recover, Limerick Animal Welfare is asking for donations to support the care and well-being of both the mother and her puppies. We can only help with your continued support, the post said. Those who wish to donate can do so here. The discovery of over 100 bottles of burned oil along a section of roadway from Thownagh to Edenmore bog in north Longford has come in for stinging criticism and led to renewed calls for tougher penalties to be introduced. There are mounting calls for government bosses to enact tougher illegal dumping laws following the discovery of over 100 bottles of discarded oil along a stretch of a popular midlands-based walkway. It comes after around 130 plastic bottles, containing the leftovers of burned oil, were found strewn across a section of roadway from Thownagh to Edenmore bog on the outskirts of Ballinamuck in north Longford. The popular 4.5km looped walking trail of the north Longford boglands, has become a haven for locals and tourists alike following its development by voluntary based Ballinamuck Community Enterprise Group, through the support of Failte Ireland. Follow Independent Longford on Facebook Local authority crews have since been called in to remove the hazardous waste in a move which has come in for scathing criticism at local political level. These individuals who are fly-tipping have no respect for local communities and its an absolute disgrace, said Fianna Fail Cllr David Cassidy. Thownagh and Edenmore bogs are, unfortunately, a hot spot for this as are many areas around Co Longford. Illegal dumping is a blight on our communities where local organisations and tidy towns are doing trojan work to maintain the natural beauty of our countryside and villages. The Longford businessman and Granard Municipal District local politician is not the first public representative to voice their displeasure at an issue which is continuing to stretch Longford County Councils resources to the absolute limit. Fine Gael Senator Paraic Brady recently called for an increase in the fines handed out to those found guilty of illegal dumping in rural bogs to be set at a minimum of 10,000. Cllr Cassidy said such penalties were very much warranted in light of the financial demands that are placed on local authorities in dealing with what he insisted was now a nationwide pandemic. The hard work the council do in clearing up after illegal dumping is colossal, he said. Between 2020 to 2023, there was 370,000kg of illegal waste collected up and that excludes what has been removed by local community groups. This past week, my colleague Senator Paraic Brady called this out in the Seanad calling for fines up to 10,000 which Id be in complete agreement with. Its a national problem and CCTV needs to be installed at dumping hotspots, but also at crossroads and villages to act a deterrent to criminal gangs targeting rural areas. Sacred Heart mark milestone with Washington DC Preparatory School The programme was first established in 2004 through the vision of former SHS principal Ms Caffery and Ms Forman, Academic Dean at Georgetown Visitation. Over the years, the exchange has allowed students and families from both schools to build lifelong friendships. Despite having a five-year pause because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the bond between the two schools has remained strong, thanks to the continued collaboration between SHS Principal Ms Leoni Carroll and Georgetown Visitations lead teacher, Ms Lisa Singleton. Their efforts ensured the smooth relaunch of the programme in 2024, reaffirming its importance to both schools. In October 2024, 17 Transition Year students from SHS accompanied by Ms Carroll, Ms Farrelly and Ms OHara, travelled to Washington D.C for an unforgettable week of cultural immersion, visiting the White House, Capitol building, Arlington cemetery and Lincoln memorial along with many other bonding experiences. The return leg of the exchange took place in March 2025, when SHS warmly welcomed their American counterparts to Drogheda. On Saturday, March 15, the Visitation students, accompanied by teachers Ms Jewell and Ms Burke, arrived in Ireland to begin a week of shared experiences with their host families and SHS sisters. The visit included a special welcome assembly hosted by Ms Carroll, during which past participants gathered to remember the programmes 20-year anniversary. A tree-planting ceremony was held as a living symbol of the enduring connection between the two schools. The weeks itinerary offered a mix of cultural, educational and social events including a welcome reception, a mass at St. Marys Parish celebrated by Fr John, a family brunch, traditional Irish dancing lessons and excursions to historic and cultural landmarks like the EPIC Museum, Trinity College, Newgrange, Leinster House, Colmcilles GAA Club, Causey Farm and the stunning North Dublin coastline. According to SHS, what makes the SHS-Visi exchange stand out, is the depth of the relationship it fosters. Many of the participants from the early years of the programme remain in contact to this day and some have even crossed oceans for each others wedding and life milestones. The continuing partnership stands as an example of the power of cultural exchange, shared traditions, faith and friendship and both schools are privileged to continue this tradition, strengthening the bond between their communities year after year. Through these connections, students from both sides of the Atlantic gain a deeper appreciation of each others heritage, forging lifelong bonds that reflect the true spirit of Catholic education. The Cardinal Health plant in Tullamore, Co Offaly, is currently in the process of ceasing operations on a phased basis from April 2025 to June 2026 There is a real determination at senior IDA level to attract jobs to Tullamore as around 300 positions in Cardinal Health are being phased out, according to an Offaly TD. Independent TD Carol Nolan said she has met with the IDAs Regional Manager for the Midlands, Carole Green and the IDAs head of Regional Enterprise Development, Ray OConnor, to discuss their ongoing efforts to secure a positive future for the workers of Cardinal Health in Tullamore. The plant is currently in the process of ceasing operations on a phased basis from April 2025 to June 2026. Deputy Nolan said that she was committed to ensuring that all options are being explored and pursued that will enable the site to be retained and utilised as a long-term source of employment. Follow Independent Offaly on Facebook When the announcement came in back in August of last year the entire town of Tullamore was shocked. Unfortunately, it is often the way with these things that they then drop off the political or industrial radar. I was adamant that I would not allow that to happen to Cardinal Health and its workers, said Deputy Nolan. I was impressed with the level of work that the IDA is engaged in with respect to the site and I know following our meeting that there is a real determination at senior IDA level to do everything possible to bring employment back to town. I will continue my engagement with IDA and indeed the Department of Enterprise to ensure that we can achieve the very best outcome from what was very grim decision to close the plant by 2026. I will not forget the workers or their families, said Deputy Nolan. In February, Fianna Fail TD Tony McCormack told the Dail that Offaly is feeling the impact of 300 job losses at Cardinal Health in Tullamore and 40 jobs at Nelipak in Clara - jobs that have now moved abroad. These decisions, made in boardrooms overseas, were influenced by rising costs of doing business, high rates, expensive utilities, and housing challenges, he said. Every lost job represents a family and a livelihood, and we must act now to protect future employment opportunities. When Nelipak announced redundancies, I publicly committed to asking the Minister about supports for affected workers. I asked the Minister, what are we doing to maintain Irelands competitiveness and keep investment here? How can we support workers impacted by job losses, especially those in the later years of their careers? We need solutions for both multinational companies and our small and medium businesses. This means cutting red tape, making it easier to do business, and revitalizing our town centres to attract jobs and investment back to Offaly. I will continue pushing for real action because Ireland cannot afford to slip down the competitiveness rankings. We need a pro-business, pro-worker approach one that ensures our economy remains strong and our communities thrive, added Deputy McCormack. Established in 1911, this day is dedicated to celebrating womens achievements, while reiterating the need for urgent action to address the ongoing systemic barriers women face. A recent Ipsos study revealed that, globally, there is an ongoing commitment to gender equality. However, according to the World Economic Forum, at the current rate of change, we will not reach this goal until 2158. Hence, the theme for this years International Womens Day was #AccelerateAction. In honour of this theme, the Domestic Violence Advocacy Service (DVAS) set up a stall in Queen Maeve Square, Sligo to raise awareness about domestic violence, a pervasive issue that disproportionately affects women. In Ireland, 31% of women have reported psychological violence by a partner since the age of 15, while 14% of women have reported physical violence by a partner since the age of 15 (FRA research). In addition, recent CSO research found that 25% of women have been sexually violated by a partner as an adult. Furthermore, 275 women have died violently in Ireland since 1996, 50% of whom were murdered by a male partner or ex-partner. Any woman or girl can be a victim of violence in an intimate relationship. It cuts across multiple factors including socioeconomic status, religion and ethnicity. At the DVAS stall, we also shared information about the free, specialist services we provide for women subjected to domestic violence emotional and practical support, advocacy, court support and accompaniment, group work. Underpinned by an empowerment approach, our service is a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space for women to share their stories and explore their options. On March 8th, we also invited community members to think about ways in which they can support equality for women and girls, and to post a photograph symbolising their solidarity to social media, with the #AccelerateAction hashtag. Utilising the natural canvas around us, we further produced chalk art messages and images of empowerment, solidarity and resistance. This proved to be a catalyst for discussions with, and among, community members. It also enabled women and girls to share a personal message. One young girl wrote the following: Teach girls maths. Cooking can wait. In the short time we were in the Square, we contributed to making visible an issue that is all too often hidden, by naming domestic violence in a public space. Perpetrators are strategic and manipulative, employing a myriad of tactics to weaponise intimacy and silence survivors. As the vast majority of perpetrators of domestic violence against women are men, this article focuses on the gendered dynamics involved. A criminal offence, coercive control is the heart of domestic violence. Coercive control is a deliberate and persistent pattern of abusive behaviour, designed to entrap its victims. It involves varying combinations and degrees of violence, intimidation, threats, isolation and control. The abusive actions often worsen over time, rendering it insidious and difficult to identify. However, domestic violence against women is pervasive in our community. It is not a private matter and its impacts are far-reaching, having multidimensional consequences for women and children, as well as families, workplaces and communities. So, how can you contribute to eradicating domestic violence against women and girls? Raise awareness by talking about this issue, adopting a zero-tolerance stance. Look beyond its visible and less common impacts the bruises and broken bones - to the subtler signs of control. Widespread understanding of the complex dynamics involved makes it more difficult for perpetrators to hide. Recognise that domestic violence stems from gender inequality, which is underpinned by patriarchal norms of masculinity and femininity. Contribute to dismantling these norms that idealise mens dominance, entitlement and restricted emotionality. Enable children to access their full range of emotions, by challenging beliefs such as boys dont cry and girls are weak. Teach boys to respect girls and women. Recent Womens Aid research shows than an alarming number of young Irish men believe that men should dominate relationships and disregard womens opinions, attitudes that can lead to violence against women. With online influencers, such as Andrew Tate, fuelling such misogyny, the importance of teaching respect is as urgent as ever. Support victims/survivors, while respecting their autonomy and understanding that they tend to be trapped by the time they recognise what is happening. Being trapped in an abusive relationship means being too afraid, cowed or financially unable to escape. In addition, women are often most at risk of serious harm or murder directly after escaping an abusive relationship. Men, despite prevailing attitudes, domestic violence is a mens issue. Not perpetrating such violence is simply not enough. As such, we call on you to speak out against domestic violence. Echoing the sentiment expressed by the North West Mothers for Social Justice, who also gathered in Queen Maeve Square on March 8th, calling for action on all forms of violence against women: We look forward to the day when men organise an event calling for such action. For sustainable change is possible. However, it requires urgent action at all levels of our community, action that translates into political will. In DVAS, we support women to move forward women still trapped in an abusive relationship; women who have escaped, yet continue to face post-separation abuse; women who are continually let down by the multiple inadequacies of our institutional systems in place to address domestic violence; women who are tired of inequality; women who are healing and living better lives. We are honoured to witness what unites each of these women, namely a strength and resilience that can never be extinguished. Stand in solidarity with these women, with all victims/survivors of gender-based violence, so that the change that is so badly needed becomes a reality. - Article by Caroline Forde, DVAS. DVAS, Sligo, Leitrim & West Cavan - https://domesticviolence.ie/ 071 914 1515 or support@dvas.ie https://www.womensaid.ie/get-help/support-services/ - 24-hour freephone helpline https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTvSfeCRxe8 - Violence against womenits a mens issue: Jackson Katz at TEDxFiDiWomen A Wexford man and leukaemia survivor, Mark Molloy, is calling on his local community to go all in against cancer for the Irish Cancer Societys Daffodil Day, which takes place on Friday, March 28. Mark (35), who is originally from Duncannon, was diagnosed with with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) in May 2022. His diagnosis came as a total shock to him and his partner, Emma. His treatment took its toll both physically and mentally but thankfully, he came through his diagnosis. Before beginning his chemotherapy, Mark underwent fertility preservation and in December 2024, he and his partner Emma welcomed their baby girl Isla. Reflecting on his cancer experience Mark said: Everyones cancer experience will be different, but for me, talking to people and getting people around you and having that support network was so important. I was fortunate to have my family and my friends, but people should reach out and and not be afraid to ask for help. Nobody should go through cancer on their own. He continued: Thats why organisations like the Irish Cancer Society are so important. Every euro raised on Daffodil Day is crucial and makes a real lasting difference to patients and families like mine, fuelling life changing cancer research and vital support services. Mark added that he would encourage everyone across the country to please get out there and donate on Daffodil Day, March 28, and show your support for those affected by cancer in your local community. The Irish Cancer Society is there to ensure that every person affected by cancer has a place to turn to, the support they need, and the hope that there will come a day when no one in Ireland dies from cancer. The Irish Cancer Society, with thanks to the amazing generosity of the Irish public, invests in ground-breaking cancer research and delivers crucial free support services for people affected by cancer, throughout Wexford. Mark Molloy with his partner Emma Genockey, baby Isla, and Irish Cancer Society CEO, Averil Power. In 2024, Wexford publics support provided over 670 free lifts to bring Wexford-based cancer patients to their treatment, almost 540 free counselling sessions to people living in Wexford, over 210 nights of free Night Nursing care to allow cancer patients in Wexford to die at home surrounded by loved ones, and The Irish Cancer Societys Cancer Nurses had over 400 conversations with people living in Wexford on their Support Line and in our Daffodil Centres. The Irish Cancer Society CEO, Averil Power, said: One in two of us will hear the words, youve got cancer in our lifetimes. There isnt a family in Ireland that hasnt felt the impact of a cancer diagnosis. Right now, a child is hearing the words, its cancer. A parent is holding on to hope for a treatment that hasnt been discovered yet, and a researcher has an idea that could turn that hope into reality. "Your support on Daffodil Day fuels life changing cancer research and vital free services and supports. We really need this years Daffodil Day to be the biggest yet to ensure we can be there for those who need us most in 2025. And we cannot do this without you, said Ms Power. Your generosity on March 28 means patients and their families will have free supports like counselling, transport to treatment and Night Nurse services. Every year, communities across Wexford show up and paint the town yellow in support of cancer patients and their families. Were urging you to stand with cancer patients once again, by going all in against cancer and getting involved or donating this Daffodil Day, March 28. Your generous support means everyone affected by cancer in Wexford will have access to the support they need, when they need it most, Ms Power concluded. The Irish Cancer Society outlined where the donations will be used and said: 30 can help provide transport for a patient to and from their chemotherapy treatment using the Irish Cancer Societys Transport Service. 50 can help provide vital clinical equipment for an Irish Cancer Society Night Nurse. 55 will help pay for the cost of one hour of Night Nursing, providing end of life care to a patient in their own home. 60 will cover the cost of a counselling session to help a person cope with a cancer diagnosis in their life. 455 will help cover the cost of one night of Night Nursing, providing end of life care to a patient in their own home. More information about Daffodil Day can be found online at cancer.ie/daffodilday, or to support the fundraiser, you can donate on the website, over the phone (0818 10 20 30) or text DAFFODIL to 50300 to donate 4. Texts cost 4. Irish Cancer Society will receive a minimum of 3.70. Tanaiste Simon Harris opened six new classrooms at St Patricks National School, Greystones, in what he called a significant milestone for the school, whose principal led the way on the It Takes a Village project. The new facilities include four new classrooms for students and two purpose-built classrooms for students with additional needs. Speaking at the opening, the Tanaiste commended the staff, and especially principal Rachel Harper for the tireless work in getting the new classrooms across the line. The expansion is a significant milestone in the life of the school and the wider community, he said, as he paid tribute to her leadership and that of the chairperson of the board of management, Canon David Mungavin, as well as to the staff, parents, and students whose commitment has made the development possible. At the heart of everything we do is the children of this school, Mr Harris said. Every decision we make must be about helping each and every child thrive, no matter their background or needs. For years I have been working with the school to make sure we delivered these additional and much needed classrooms. Ensuring we meet the needs of the learners is essential if we want every child to reach their full potential when it comes to education. The Tanaiste also praised the schools holistic approach to learning, citing its involvement in sports, the arts, the Green Schools Programme, and mental health initiatives like the Amber Flag. The challenges facing our children today are evolving, from anxiety to the impacts of social media, he noted. This school, under principal Harpers leadership, is not waiting for change, it is driving it, he added. The Tanaiste emphasised that supporting children to reach their full potential requires more than just infrastructure. Its about investing in people teachers, SNAs, parents, secretaries, and caretakers and in the services that wrap around our schools to make them safe, nurturing spaces. I am deeply committed to making sure that all schools in Wicklow get the funding and resources they need and I will not rest until we provide these supports right across the county, he concluded. The event was attended by local Fine Gael councillor Louise Gaskin Fenelon, as well as parents, students and members of the school and wider Greystones community. French actor says any crude comments were just a bad mood French actor Gerard Depardieu at the courthouse where he is accused of two sexual assaults allegedly committed on a film set. Photo: Reuters French actor Gerard Depardieu admitted in court yesterday that he had grabbed by the hips a woman who has accused him of sexual assault, but denied it was assault. 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. The EUs trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic met with US president Donald Trumps top trade officials yesterday to try to avoid steep US tariffs on EU goods next week, but results of the talks were unclear. How Ukraines success at sea pushed Vladimir Putin towards a ceasefire Russia lost up to 40pc of its navy vessels fighting in the Black Sea, while the rest fled the area as Kyiv appeared to perfect a new form of naval warfare The 2022 sinking of the Moskva by Ukrainian forces was a major blow for Russia. Photo: Twitter/@Capt_Navy Sam Kiley UK Independent Wed 26 Mar 2025 at 03:30 Ukraine is cagey about the size of its navy. Which isnt surprising. In conventional terms it hasnt really got one. But Kyiv rules the waves in the Black Sea with its near invisible fleet. The head of Turkeys main opposition party visited imprisoned Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu yesterday 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. 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. I work three days a week and we have a decent quality of life Irish people living in Europes cheapest and most expensive countries A majority of judges on a Brazilian Supreme Court panel voted to approve criminal charges against Jair Bolsonaro, setting the stage for the right-wing former president to stand trial over allegations that he attempted a coup after his 2022 election defeat. Three of the panel's five justices voted to ratify charges presented by Brazil's top prosecutor in February, a key procedural step that, in criminal cases, is taken by a smaller group of judges instead of the court's full 11 members. Votes from two other judges are still pending. The Oscar-winning director of a documentary on the Israel-Palestinian conflict was released from detention yesterday, 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 neighbours house and then returning to make sure his own house was not attacked. White House scrambles to stop fallout from war chat blunder Donald Trump defends national security team over breach as Democrats call for resignations US president Donald Trump in a meeting with US ambassadors at the White House in Washington yesterday. Photos: Reuters Patricia Zengerle Wed 26 Mar 2025 at 03:30 The Trump administration sought yesterday 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. Netflixs Adolescence is continuing its record-breaking viewership and how. People simply cannot get enough of the Netflix release, which has received the most amazing reviews from all over the world. Everything is excellent, including the acting, the direction, and the camerawork. In the UK, the release has broken records amid all the adoration. With a remarkable 161,000,000 hours viewed in its first two weeks, the show has garnered 66.3 million views since its launch, making it the most-watched limited series and the most-watched UK title ever. The figure surpasses the 6.3 million viewers of Fool Me Once on Netflix last year, making it the largest audience for any streaming program in the UK in a single week. Netflixs Adolescence makes UK ratings history The Residence, the newest Shondaland series, came in at number two on the English TV list this week, while The Electric State, with 22.5 million views, continued to occupy the top spot on the English film list. Adolescence became the first streaming show to ever become the week's most-watched program, making British TV history over the weekend. According to data released by ratings organization BARB on Sunday, 6.45 million people watched the first episode during its first week. What is Adolescence about? The focus of the four-part limited series is the fallout from a horrific act of violence and how it impacts a family, a community, and a school. Stephen Graham portrays Eddie Miller, the family's patriarch, whose 13-year-old son Jamie (Owen Cooper) is suspected of killing Katie (Emilia Holliday), a classmate. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Port Charles is about to experience an array of drama in the upcoming episode of General Hospital. In the previous episode, Carly and Brennan had a deep discussion about their future, while Ava managed to take control of a situation. Liz, on the other hand, was searching for crucial information from Ric. Meanwhile, Tracy was seen questioning Brook Lynn, and Ned finally revealed his plan. As the tension builds, the next episode on March 26, promises even more dramatic developments. Lulu Spencer | Credit: X Lulu is about to make a surprising admission, bringing past secrets back into the spotlight. She holds key knowledge about Brook Lynn and Dantes past relationship, which resulted in a teenage pregnancy years ago. When she meets Cody, will she reveal the truth, or will she choose to keep it buried? If Cody learns about Brook Lynn and Dantes history, how will he react? Will this revelation change his perception of them, or will he keep the secret to himself? Meanwhile, Kristina is fuming, and her anger is directed straight at Ava. Her resentment toward Ava has been simmering for weeks, ever since the heartbreaking incident that led to her losing the baby she was carrying for Molly and TJ. But what has happened now to reignite Kristinas fury? Has Ava done something new, or is this just the breaking point for unresolved emotions? Avas game and Sonnys struggle Elsewhere in Port Charles, Ava is in a tricky position. She recently witnessed Sonny collapse, clutching his chest in pain, with his bottle of pills falling to the ground. The question iswill Ava step in to help, or will she use this moment to gain an advantage in their custody battle over their daughter? If Kristina finds out about this, will it fuel her rage even further? At the same time, Ava updates Ric on the situation, and her next moves remain uncertain. Will she offer her assistance, or will she see this as an opportunity to tip the scales in her favor? The stakes are high, and Ava's decisions could change the course of events. Tense confrontations and unexpected alliances The upcoming episode will also see Jordan pressing Curtis for answers. How will he respond to her interrogation? Meanwhile, Laura and Ezra find themselves at odds, leading to a heated clash. Who will emerge victorious in their power struggle? Drew, on the other hand, is not backing down as he issues a strong threat to Curtis. How will Curtis respondwill he fight back or take a different approach? Meanwhile, Brook Lynn has some advice to share, but who is on the receiving end? Will it be her mother, Lois, her father, Ned, or perhaps her husband, Chase? Additionally, Stella and Tracy will have a crucial conversation. What conclusions will they draw from their discussion? Could this mark the beginning of an alliance against Drew and his questionable tactics? As the drama unfolds, new alliances may be formed, and power struggles will take center stage. What is General Hospital about and where to watch it? Lulu wants assurances that Charlotte won't be a pawn in any games played between Brennan and Valentin. Will she get them? An all-new #GH starts RIGHT NOW on ABC! #AlexaHavins pic.twitter.com/YhWT9IKing General Hospital (@GeneralHospital) March 25, 2025 General Hospital (GH) is one of the longest-running American soap operas, airing on ABC since April 1, 1963. The show, set in the fictional town of Port Charles, originally focused on life within the hospital but has since expanded to explore the interconnected relationships and power struggles among the towns residents. Over the decades, GH has introduced iconic storylines, unforgettable characters, and high-stakes drama, making it a staple in the world of daytime television. The show has won multiple Daytime Emmy Awards and holds the record for the most wins in the Outstanding Drama Series category. Known for its gripping storytelling and surprise twists, General Hospital continues to captivate audiences. One can watch General Hospital on ABC network, Prime video, and ABC.com, where full episodes are available for streaming. With major secrets coming to light, l and unexpected alliances forming, the next episode of General Hospital is set to be an unmissable one. As the residents of Port Charles navigate love, betrayal, and power struggles, fans can expect yet another gripping installment. Belgian authorities have confirmed that they are aware of fugitive Indian businessman Mehul Choksi's presence in the country after he fled Antigua and Barbuda. The Belgian government said it is closely monitoring the case and added that it is being handled with significant attention. What Belgium said David Jordens, the Spokesperson and Head of Service for social media and press at Belgium's Federal Public Service (FPS) Foreign Affairs, said the case involving the PNB scam accused falls under the competence of the Federal Public Service Justice. CREDIT: BCCL "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," he said. Mehul Choksi left Antigua and Barbuda The development comes days after it emerged that the 65-year-old was living in Belgium's Antwerp with his wife, Preeti Choksi, who is a Belgian citizen. Choksi, who fled India in 2018 after the PNB scam surfaced, had been living in Antigua and Barbuda ever since and had acquired citizenship there. He reportedly left the Caribbean island under the pretext of medical treatment and acquired an 'F Residency Card' in Belgium. Choksi was said to be planning to move to Switzerland for medical treatment at a renowned cancer hospital when reports of his presence in Belgium surfaced. CREDIT: BCCL PNB scam Once a celebrated jewellery businessman and the founder of Gitanjali Group, Choksi, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, are the masterminds of the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case. The duo, along with some PNB officials, are accused of siphoning off large amounts of money using fraudulent letters of undertaking. Where is Nirav Modi Choksi and Modi, along with their families, fled India before the scam surfaced. While Choksi took refuge in Antigua and Barbuda and acquired nationality using the island's Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme, Nirav Modi, who also had Belgian citizenship, was hiding in the UK. CREDIT: BCCL However, his luck ran out in March 2019, when he was arrested in London and has remained behind bars ever since. He has lost his appeals against extradition to India, but Nirav Modi has not been handed over to the Indian authorities yet due to an unspecified "confidential" procedure. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Delhi-Gurugram expressway: The Delhi-Gurugram Expressway (NH-48) will face a temporary closure from today on March 26 and 27 due to the installation of a foot overbridge (FOB) at Narsingpur. The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) will carry out the construction work from 12 noon on March 26 until 6 AM on March 27, restricting vehicle movement on the affected stretch. Commuters traveling between Delhi and Jaipur are advised to follow specific diversion routes to avoid congestion. The new 110-foot-long steel FOB, costing 1.6 crore, plans to improve pedestrian safety in the densely populated Narsingpur area. This will eventually reduce accidents caused by unsafe crossings. Delhi-Gurugram Expressway: Which Stretch of NH-48 will be Closed? The Narsingpur stretch of NH-48 (previously NH-8), which is near the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway, will be shut down for traffic movement during the FOB installation. How long will the construction take? As per timesnow, the steel foot overbridge is expected to be installed within eight hours on both sides of the road. The structure is already at the site, and work will be completed overnight to minimize traffic disruptions. Delhi-Gurugram Expressway: Why is the foot overbridge being built? The new 110-foot-long steel foot overbridge (FOB) is being constructed to provide a safe crossing for Narsingpur residents. The village, home to around 50,000 people, is divided by the expressway, forcing many locals to risk their lives by climbing over road barriers. The 1.6 crore FOB will help reduce accidents and improve connectivity between both sides of the village. Delhi-Gurugram Expressway: Alternate Routes for Commuters To manage traffic during the closure, the Gurugram Traffic Police has suggested alternate routes for commuters traveling between Delhi and Jaipur: For Those Traveling from Delhi to Jaipur: Take a left from Hero Honda Chowk. Turn right at Subhash Chowk traffic signal. Take another right at Vatika Chowk signal. Continue straight to join NH-48 via SPR-Dwarka Road. For Those Traveling from Jaipur to Delhi: Cross the Kherki Daula toll plaza. Take the Dwarka Expressway from NH-48. Reach NH-48 and take a U-turn at Elan Chowk. Go via SPR, turn left from Vatika Chowk, and travel via Rajiv Chowk. Many pedestrians, including workers and residents, face challenges crossing the busy expressway. The new FOB will improve road safety and prevent accidents. It will also provide easy access between both parts of Narsingpur. Eventually, it will help pedestrians avoid dangerous road crossings. FAQs 1. Why is the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway stretch closing for two days? Answer: The expressway stretch at Narsingpur on NH-48 will be closed on March 26 and 27 due to the installation of a foot overbridge (FOB). 2. Which part of the expressway will be affected? Answer: The Narsingpur stretch of NH-48 (earlier NH-8), near the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway, will be closed for traffic during the construction. 3. What is the purpose of constructing this foot overbridge? Answer: The new 110-foot-long steel foot overbridge will provide a safer crossing for residents of Narsingpur, which is divided by the expressway. 4. What is the cost of the new foot overbridge? Answer: The foot overbridge is being constructed at a cost of 1.6 crore. 5. How will the new FOB benefit the area? Answer: The foot overbridge will help residents safely cross the busy expressway, reducing accidents. The Narsingpur area is densely populated with industrial units, and the new FOB will better connect both parts of the village. For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. Donald Trump has issued an executive order introducing major changes to the U.S. election process. The order mandates that individuals provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections and requires that all ballots be received by Election Day. The move, which is expected to face legal hurdles, also threatens to withhold federal funds from states that do not comply. Federal crackdown on election procedures Trumps directive states that the U.S. has failed to enforce "basic and necessary election protections" and calls on state and federal agencies to collaborate on voter roll maintenance and prosecution of election-related crimes. Agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, the Social Security Administration, and the State Department have been instructed to share data with election officials to help identify noncitizens registered to vote. In addition, the order directs the Attorney General to prioritize enforcement of election integrity laws, particularly in states that refuse to share information about suspected election fraud with federal authorities. Push for strict voting requirements Let's see how California gets around this...no more using utility bills as a form of ID to vote Trump signs sweeping executive action overhauling US elections, including citizenship requirementhttps://t.co/puzz4Tobof GrumpyRN74 (@GrumpyRn74) March 26, 2025 A key aspect of the executive order is the requirement for voters to provide official proof of citizenship when registering. This provision aligns with the long-standing Republican push for stricter voter ID laws, particularly through the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. While noncitizen voting in federal elections is already illegal and can result in felony charges, Republicans state that stronger measures are necessary to restore public confidence in the electoral system. According to a 2023 report by the Brennan Center for Justice, nearly 21.3 million voting-age citizens in the U.S. do not have immediate access to proof of citizenship. Married women who have changed their names may also face difficulties, as their birth certificates may not match their current identification. Similar issues arose in a recent New Hampshire election after a state law introduced proof-of-citizenship requirements. Ballot deadline and voting machine concerns Trumps order also demands that all votes be cast and received by Election Day, challenging existing laws in 18 states and Puerto Rico that allow mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they arrive later. Critics argue that such a change could disproportionately impact military personnel, overseas voters, and individuals who rely on mail-in ballots. Furthermore, the order calls for changes in voting machine guidelines, specifically prohibiting the use of barcodes or QR codes in the vote-counting process. This directive could impact states like Georgia, where voters use touchscreen machines that print paper ballots with both a readable summary and a QR code that is scanned to count votes. Internet debates To all the women that voted for Trump. His executive order today will eliminate 30% or more of you from voting. He is ordering that people show proof of citizenship. Birth certificates are not allowed, only Passports and some versions of RealID. If married, you will need to larryhostawards (@larryhostawards) March 26, 2025 Trumps executive order has sparked a heated debate across social media. Supporters have hailed it as a long-overdue measure to secure elections, with one user stating, President Trump signed an Executive Order requiring Proof of Citizenship for voter registration in federal elections. Leftist judges will be activated. Mike Johnson announced Congress has the authority to stop funding to federal courts. ITs Happening! Another user expressed skepticism about whether certain states would comply, writing, Lets see how California gets around this no more using utility bills as a form of ID to vote. Others speculated that Democratic states might disregard the order entirely, much like they have in past policy disputes, with one comment reading, Will Blue states ignore this EO like they do for deportation and Title IX? However, many users voiced concerns that the order could disproportionately impact women, particularly those who have changed their names after marriage. One person warned, To all the women that voted for Trump. His executive order today will eliminate 30% or more of you from voting. He is ordering that people show proof of citizenship. Birth certificates are not allowed, only passports and some versions of RealID. If married, you will need to legally change your name, and that costs thousands. "Trump signs executive order requiring proof of citizenship in federal elections: 'An honor to sign this one' Critics immediately said the order will disenfranchise millions of voters" If you are not a citizen you cannot vote, that's how it is. Rene C Fuentes (@Rcfv114747) March 26, 2025 As Trump vows to introduce further election-related measures in the coming weeks, legal battles over the executive order appear inevitable. While Republican supporters view it as a necessary step toward election security, some still state it threatens to disenfranchise millions of American voters. Prince Harry has resigned as a patron of Sentebale, the charity he co-founded in 2006 to support young people affected by HIV and AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana. His departure, alongside co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and the board of trustees, comes after a major fallout with chair Dr. Sophie Chandauka. The conflict arose when the trustees asked Dr. Chandauka to step down, citing governance concerns. She refused and took legal action to retain her position, leading to an irreparable breakdown in leadership. As a result, the board, along with Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso, decided to step away. In a joint statement, Harry and Seeiso expressed their disappointment: "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." Legal disputes and governance issues Dr. Chandauka has taken the issue to the UK Charity Commission, alleging "abuse of power, bullying, and harassment." She described the situation as an attempt to silence her after raising concerns about governance. In response, the former trustees defended their decision, saying they "lost trust and confidence in the chairwoman" and had no option but to resign. They feared the charity could not sustain the "legal and financial burden" of her legal battle. The UK Charity Commission is now reviewing the governance concerns surrounding Sentebale to determine further action. An end to Harrys long association with Sentebale Prince Harry has been deeply involved with humanitarian causes in Africa for many years. He founded Sentebale in 2006 in honor of his late mother, Princess Diana, who had been an advocate for people affected by HIV and AIDS. The name Sentebale means "forget-me-not" in Lesothos local language, symbolizing the charitys commitment to its cause. Since stepping down from his royal duties in 2020, Harry has continued his charity work, frequently visiting Africa and supporting various initiatives. Just last year, he made a visit to Nigeria, further showcasing his commitment to the region. His departure from Sentebale marks a significant shift in his charity work. It also highlights the challenges that organizations face when leadership conflicts arise. The coming months will be crucial for Sentebale as it navigates this transition and works to restore stability. Meanwhile, the UK Charity Commissions findings will be closely watched, as they could determine whether governance issues played a role in the dispute. For now, one thing is clear: Prince Harrys exit from Sentebale is the end of an era, but his legacy with the charity will always remain. Whats next for Sentebale? Despite the resignations, Sentebale remains operational. The charity has confirmed a restructuring plan and aims to bring in experts to accelerate its transformation. It also announced last year that it would expand its focus beyond HIV and AIDS to include youth health, wealth, and climate resilience in Southern Africa. Harry and Seeiso made it clear that while they are stepping back, their commitment to Sentebales mission remains. "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," they said. As Sentebale moves forward, the situation raises questions about charity governance and leadership conflicts. For now, the focus remains on ensuring that its mission continues despite the internal struggles. The Atlantic magazine has published the full text of a private chat among top US national security officials that contained detailed plans for an imminent military strike on Yemen. The conversation, which included attack times and aircraft details, was mistakenly shared with a journalist. How the leak happened As per AFP, the officials conducted their discussions on a commercial Signal messaging app instead of a secure government platform. Journalist Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic was unintentionally added to the chat, allowing him to access sensitive information. The magazine initially refrained from releasing the full conversation but later decided to publish it after repeated denials from the Trump administration that any classified material was involved. Trump administration's response The White House has strongly denied any wrongdoing, dismissing the report as false. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded by stating that The Atlantic itself confirmed these were not "war plans" and called the story another hoax. National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes acknowledged that the chat appeared to be authentic, further fueling the controversy. Key officials involved in the leaked chat The group chat included high-ranking officials such as defense secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. The conversation took place just before airstrikes were launched against Yemens Huthi rebels on March 15. Goldberg, who was mistakenly added to the group, also discovered that officials made disparaging remarks about European allies. Details of the airstrike plans The leaked messages contained highly specific details about the planned attack. The conversation included weather conditions, strike times, and the types of aircraft being used. Messages showed that within 30 minutes of the discussion, US warplanes had taken off, and the first targetreferred to as "Target Terrorist"was scheduled to be hit within two hours. The debate over classified information Initially, The Atlantic refrained from publishing all details to avoid revealing classified information or endangering American troops. However, after officials testified before Congress that the chat did not contain classified material, the magazine asked if there was any objection to publishing the full content. The White House reiterated that no sensitive information was disclosed, and the CIA only requested that one official's name be withheld. Escalating US attacks on Huthi rebels The Trump administration has intensified strikes against the Huthi rebels, a pro-Iran faction that has controlled much of Yemen for over a decade. The group has frequently attempted to disrupt shipping in the Red Sea, prompting US military responses. The leaked chat provides a glimpse into the real-time planning of such operations, a level of transparency rarely seen in military affairs. In a new twist in Kim Soo Hyun's dating scandal with Kim Sae Ron, it has been revealed that the late actress was indeed married. The actress's husband, whose identity has not been revealed, has shared a message through Garosero Research Institute. He also shared his marriage certificate with the YouTube channel to confirm his identity. In his lengthy statement, Kim Sae Ron's ex-husband denied allegations of abuse and blackmail. He said that he was grieving the death of his late wife and wondered if it was the right time for him to step up but finally decided to speak up after 'severe slander of the deceased' by a couple of 'forces' hinting at Kim Soo Hyun, YouTuber Lee Jin Ho, and her alleged ex-boyfriend "K". He confirmed that they got married in January 2025, just three months after they met, but decided to annul their marriage as they realised their decision was made in haste and they had many issues, including long distance and different personalities. Kim Sae Ron's husband on the abuse allegations Kim Sae Ron's husband denied the claims that he abused the late actress. He said that given the weak soundproofing in my apartment complex, any potential incident would have been reported by neighbours. Moreover, assault in America carries severe legal consequences, he added. Kim Sae Ron with her husband| Credit: Instagram He revealed that he met Kim Sae Ron only four times between November 2024 and February 2025. If the allegations were true, it's unlikely she would have voluntarily visited him in America multiple times, he said, adding he made efforts to ensure her comfort during these visits. "Regarding claims of physical abuse, I urge those making these allegations to release any evidence. I'm willing to cooperate with police investigations to clear my name," Kim Sae Ron's husband said. Kim Sae Ron's husband on 'controlling' her He also clarified the situation regarding access to each other's phones and social media accounts. As a married couple in a long-distance relationship, he revealed that they chose to share passwords and other information to build trust. Kim Sae Ron often used his phone to contact people, and they exchanged passwords and made promises to each other through direct messages. They were open with each other and shared everything without secrets. "Whenever she was in America, she was always with me, and we shared everything with each other, without secrets. I am suspicious of how they portrayed this as me 'monitoring her moves, but I think this is a mutually agreeable choice you can make as a couple. I can prove this with a written agreement we made as a couple," he added. Kim Sae Ron's husband denies the late actress was pregnant Kim Sae Ron's husband denied the claims that they married after her pregnancy, while also slamming the allegations that she aborted her child. He also stated that he received threats from an anonymous person claiming to be Kim Sae Ron's cousin. The person reportedly asked him false questions, such as why he assaulted and blackmailed her to provoke him multiple times. The person reportedly stopped contacting them after he threatened them with legal action. Kim Sae Ron with her husband| Credit: X He concluded by urging Lee Jin Ho and others who have come forward to cease spreading alleged misinformation about the late star, seeking to put an end to the harmful rumours. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. The 34th Seoul Music Awards has revealed its list of nominees and opened fan voting. The event dedicated to honoring excellence in K-pop, is set to take place at Inspire Arena on June 21, 2025. Leading the nominations are BTS members RM, Jimin, Jin, Jungkook, and J-Hope, alongside BABYMONSTER, TXT, and several other top artists. While ARMY celebrated seeing so many BTS members nominated just months before their official reunion, many were quick to notice that one member in particularV, also known as Kim Taehyungwas missing from the nominations. BTS V snubbed Kim Taehyung was eligible for multiple categories, including Layover (Vinyl), R&B, K-Wave, and K-pop World Choice (Solo), based on the eligibility period from January 2024 to March 2025, as per Circle Chart data. Additionally, he released the songs FRI(END)S and Winter Ahead during the same time frame. Seeing him excluded from the 34th Seoul Music Awards was shocking to many ARMYs, who quickly voiced their concerns online. While rapper SUGA is also not on the list, but it is to be noted that he did not release any music in the said time frame. ARMY questions BTS V's absence Many fans took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to question why Taehyung was not nominated despite meeting the criteria, with many still waiting for an explanation or any hint of a reason. One fan wrote, "I don't understand why Taehyung (V) was not nominated for the 34th Seoul Music Awards when he perfectly fits multiple categoriesLayover (Vinyl), R&B, K-Wave, and K-pop World Choice (Solo)based on the eligibility period from January 2024 to March 2025." I don't understand why Taehyung (V) was not nominated for the 34th Seoul Music Awards when he perfectly fits multiple categoriesLayover (Vinyl), R&B, K-Wave, and K-pop World Choice (Solo)based on the eligibility period from January 2024 to March 2025 and Circle Chart pic.twitter.com/npf8Tv5tmh (@Moni_vook) March 25, 2025 Another said, "Just saw the SMA nominations, and not even one for Taehyung? His songs performed so well on the charts and met the criteria too. Genuinely wondering why. I can't celebrate others when one is left out." Just saw SMA nominations and not even one for Taehyung when his songs performed so well on the charts and meet the criteria too? Genuinely wondering what? I can not celebrate others when one is left out K | MONA LISA (@tksovers) March 25, 2025 Another wrote, "Hey, genuine questiondoes anyone know why Taehyung is not nominated?" hey genuine question, does anyone know why tae is not nominated? https://t.co/AL6P3dZyZ3 lia (@storyofpjm) March 25, 2025 One fan added, "Did we get any explanation for why Tae didnt receive a nomination despite releasing two songs in 2024?" Did we get to know why Tae didn't get any nomination even after releasing 2 songs in 2024 for 34th Seoul Music awards ? kiwi (@brattaex) March 25, 2025 About voting for the 34th Seoul Music Awards Voting for the awards is taking place through the official K-POP SEOUL app, along with affiliated platforms like My One Pick and Fandom Chart. The process is divided into two rounds: First round: March 24 (12:00 PM KST) April 12 (11:59 PM KST) Second round: April 21 (12:00 PM KST) May 10 (11:59 PM KST) Fans can support their favorite artists in major categories, including the Main Prize, Rookie of the Year, Popularity Award, and Hallyu Special Award. Winners will be determined based on voting results and announced during the ceremony. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. What does it take for a woman entrepreneur to turn her vision into a thriving global venture? Beyond ambition and innovation, access to the right resources, networks, and policies can loom large. Arent they? Across the world, governments are taking steps to support women-led enterprises, and in recent years, several initiatives have emerged to bridge the gap in funding, mentorship, and market access. Among them, Dubai has emerged as a dynamic hub, offering dedicated funding programs like She Wins Arabia, 100% business ownership in free zones, mentorship opportunities via the Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC) and many more. Strengthened by growing India-UAE trade ties and cross-border investments, the city is becoming a strategic launchpad for Indian women entrepreneurs looking to scale their ventures globally. Dubais Commitment to Womens Economic Empowerment Dubai is emerging as a key hub for women entrepreneurs, driven by progressive policies and leadership programs that promote gender inclusivity. The UAE Gender Balance Council plays a vital role in shaping policies that ensure equal opportunities in business and leadership. Initiatives like She Wins Arabia provide targeted financial support to female-led businesses, addressing funding gaps and enabling growth. Government-backed incubators, such as the DBWC, offer mentorship and networking, fostering a supportive community for women entrepreneurs. These platforms provide essential business guidance and create a supportive community for women to connect, collaborate, and grow. Supporting this, Aakanksha Tangri, Founder of Re:Set, stated, "Dubais commitment to gender inclusion is paving the way for more women-led startups. By tapping into these opportunities, Indian women entrepreneurs can establish a strong presence in Dubais thriving business landscape. Veena Munganahalli, an Angel Investor in Dubai, underscored the positive impact of the regions policies and shared her guidance. She said "Through the angel investing network Angel Spark that I am a part of, we have regular pitch events, many of whom are Indian or have deep India connections. Image credit: Dubai Department of Economy & Tourism A thriving startup ecosystem for women entrepreneurs Dubais startup ecosystem is empowering women entrepreneurs through strategic advantages and targeted support. Free zones like Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) offer 100% foreign ownership, tax benefits, and streamlined regulations, reducing bureaucracy and enabling businesses to scale seamlessly. Angana Maheshwari, Founder and CEO of Veganologie, highlights how Dubais global connectivity and thriving ecosystem provide an ideal launchpad for purpose-driven ventures. "After meeting with HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, I know that the government rewards such initiatives and feels proud to call brands like Veganologie homegrown. Beyond policies, Dubai actively nurtures women-led startups through co-working spaces, accelerators, and mentorship programs. Platforms like Womena invest in female founders, while DBWC offers essential networking and business development support. This ecosystem is fostering many inspiring Indian women entrepreneurs. Citing a few examples Munganahalli highlights, Ashna Mehta disrupts luxury jewellery with trendy designs, Nikita and Rhea Patel lead women-centric co-working spaces, and Anisha Oberois Secret Skin champions chemical-free beauty. Meanwhile, Sima Veds Apparel Group stands among the regions top ventures. Tangri highlighted, "Dubais rise as a global startup hub is attracting top talent and fostering valuable partnerships. The focus on employee well-being is growing, with investors and leaders seeing it as a competitive advantage. High-growth sectors like fintech, e-commerce, and sustainability are seeing a surge in women-led ventures, driven by Dubais focus on innovation and strategic investments. Maheshwari emphasised "As a female founder, Ive found Dubais startup ecosystem incredibly supportive. From access to accelerators and funding opportunities to a growing network of female entrepreneurs, the city fosters an environment where innovation thrives. The citis commitment to sustainability and female empowerment has been instrumental in Veganologies growth. The India-Dubai connection! A gateway for women entrepreneurs & investors The India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has opened new doors for Indian women entrepreneurs, making it easier to expand their businesses into Dubai. Tangri noted, "The UAE-India relationship is one of the most powerful economic and social partnerships. With Dubais business-friendly environment, capital access, and strong networks, Indian female founders can set up or scale their ventures here with greater visibility. By reducing trade barriers and enhancing market access, CEPA boosts Dubai as a global gateway, enabling Indian women-led startups to scale across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe through its prime location and world-class free zones. Maheshwari said, "The commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050, along with initiatives like the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy and Dubai Can initiative for clean drinking water, has created an ecosystem where sustainable businesses can thrive. This synergy extends to investment opportunities, with women taking the lead in venture capital and angel investing. Private firms and regulatory hubs like DIFC provide strong financial backing, enabling female entrepreneurs to access funding and expand into high-growth sectors such as real estate, technology, and sustainability. When asked about Dubai's appeal, Tangri highlighted, "We stand out as a beacon of stability and prosperity... well-being is a business imperative, not a luxury. Dubais position as a global innovation hub and ease of doing business has allowed us to scale our impact quickly. She further noted, "The leaderships commitment to forward-thinking policies has made it an ideal base for usprioritising data-driven and science-based scalable solutions. As more Indian women founders and investors establish their presence in Dubai, the city continues to foster an inclusive and dynamic ecosystem that fuels cross-border entrepreneurship and economic diversification. Challenges & The Road Ahead for Women Entrepreneurs in Dubai Dubais progressive ecosystem continues to open doors for women entrepreneurs, who are steadily overcoming challenges like funding gaps and industry perceptions. Munganahalli highlighted, "Many entrepreneurs do not make the effort to equip themselves with the local language and cultural nuances. To overcome these, she suggested proactive networking and mentorship, emphasizing, "Indian female entrepreneurs can reach out to other Indian female business leaders... actively reaching out to relevant mentors is a very effective way to skill up. She also advised leveraging India as a resource hub and stressed that entrepreneurs should not wait for opportunities to come knocking but instead create their own. When asked about potential growth areas for women entrepreneurs in Dubai, Tangri asserted, "It's endless... I would love to see women in AI, gaming, fintech, and health at the forefront of innovation." Maheshwari added, "For sustainable fashion and lifestyle brands, Dubai offers distinct advantagesglobal connectivity, government-backed initiatives, and an eco-conscious consumer base. Munganahalli concluded, "There are numerous peer-to-peer networking platforms and investor-focused accelerator programs that empower women entrepreneurs. Organisations like TiE Dubai provide invaluable female-focused networking and learning opportunities, while industry events such as STEP and GITEX open doors to collaboration, funding, and global exposure." Dubai serves as a powerful springboard for women entrepreneurs, backed by forward-looking policies, robust India-UAE collaboration, and a dynamic startup ecosystem that fuels global growth. A story that sparked global attention. More than a year has passed since the Financial Times first revealed that the ISAB oil refinery in Sicilyformerly owned by the Russian energy giant Lukoilhad been sold to Cyprus-based GOI Energy Ltd, a company with links to Israeli businessman Beny Steinmetz and Alexia Bakoyannis, a Greek businesswoman and niece of the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The story sparked global attention. ISAB is the third-largest oil refinery in Europe and a critical piece of Italys energy infrastructure, responsible for 30% of the countrys diesel consumption and contributing 20% to its overall energy capacity. However, by the time the Financial Times published its investigation, the ownership structure behind the acquisition had already begun to shift. Court documents filed at the District Court of Nicosia in a lawsuit by Alexia Bakoyannis company, Completicos Holdings, against GOI Energy Ltd and its shareholders and executives, offered a clearer look behind the scenes. According to the filings, it was not Steinmetz but Greek shipping magnate George Economou who had initially financed 90% of the ISAB purchase. Steinmetz had only put up 10%. Although Bakoyannis lawsuit was ultimately dismissed by the Cypriot court, it shed light on the actual makeup of the deal and the shareholder dynamics that led to significant internal disputes. According to the lawsuit, on December 31, 2022, GOI Energy Ltd, together with investment funds, acquired 100% of ISAB through a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA). The transaction involved the purchase of all shares in Litascothe Lukoil subsidiary that owned the refinery. The deal was financed, in part, by a 115.7 million loan with a one-year term and 8% interest, provided by Argus New Energy Fund AIF V.C.I.C. Limited, a Cyprus-based private equity fund under the control of George Economous business network. This loan included a conversion clause that allowed Argus to convert the debt into shares. If exercised, this option would raise Arguss equity stake in GOI Energy from 76% to a near-total 99.7%, drastically diluting the ownership of other shareholders. For example, Alexia Bakoyannis 2% stake would be reduced to just 0.0175%. This risk was understood from the outset. In February 2023, GOI Energy Ltd increased its share capital to 1,000,000 shares. Argus held 76%, CEO Michael Bobrovreportedly holding both Russian and Israeli citizenshipretained 20%, while Bakoyannis Completicos Holdings and the Austrian company Sanicula Holdings GMBH (linked to Israeli businessman and former GOI CFO Itzik Gur) each held 2%. On May 4, 2023, a novation agreement was signed between GOI Energy Ltd, its Italian subsidiary GOI Energy Srl, and Litasco. This transferred all rights and obligations from the original SPA to the Italian entity. Under this agreement, the subsidiary committed to pay an additional 150 million to Litasco, known as the Completion Shortfall Sumthe remaining balance of the acquisition price. By mid-September 2023, the 150 million had not been paid. Litasco responded by threatening legal action over the unpaid balance. At the same time, GOI Energy Ltd was also facing urgent financial obligations to the Italian state, including 50 million for environmental projects tied to the refinerys operation. According to the court documents, this financial strain led shareholders and executivesamong them Bakoyannisto seek solutions for raising capital. Bakoyannis offered to explore funding from Greek banks and claimed that one bank had shown interest, although the banks name was not disclosed. However, according to the defendantswhose version was upheld in courtBakoyannis never formally brought any proposal to the companys board. On October 26, 2023, Bakoyannis resigned from GOI Energys board. She claimed she had been pressured to leave. The defense presented emails in court in which she cited other professional obligations requiring her full attention as the reason for her departure. She also never received an indemnity letterstandard legal protection for outgoing executivesdespite requesting one. GOI Energy Ltd alleged that Bakoyannis had authorized payments without board approval, including deals with companies linked to her and other firms that were allegedly detrimental to GOI. Among these was an 8 million payment to Blue Sky, a company owned by Beny Steinmetz. Bakoyannis denied any misconduct, arguing in court that all payments were either board-approved or contractually justified, including the Blue Sky transfer, which she said was based on a board-approved agreement. Following her exit, GOI Energy Ltd once again turned to Argus for funding, this time requesting 175 million by November 3, 2023. Argus asked for more information before responding, citing the need to consult its unit holders. Around this time, CEO Michael Bobrov proposed the appointment of five new board members. According to Bakoyannis claims, this was done to secure George Economous agreement to inject new funds into the company. On November 6, 2023, after the board restructuring, Argus formally notified its investors that without the requested 175 million, GOI Energy Ltd would incur losses and risk forfeiting control of the ISAB refinery. In her lawsuit, Bakoyannis alleged that this figure was artificially inflated by the new management to justify raising capital and diluting minority shareholders through a new share issuance or convertible debt. On November 17, 2023, Bakoyannis succeeded in obtaining a temporary injunction to prevent changes in GOI Energy Ltds share structure. However, the District Court of Nicosia later overturned this decision. Presiding Judge Tonia Nicolaou issued a sharply worded ruling, stating that the legal arguments presented by Bakoyannis were confused and contradictory. On one hand, she claimed shareholder oppression and sought protection from board decisions. On the other, she challenged the legality of board appointments while rejecting the case as a derivative action. The judge noted that the lack of legal clarity permeated the entire case, leaving the court unable to rule in her favor. This article was originally published on Dnews.gr on December 19, 2024. In an exclusive interview with Dnews.gr, Sokratis Famellos, leader of Greeces main opposition party SYRIZAProgressive Alliance, sets out an urgent call for unity among the countrys progressive forces. He argues that the Mitsotakis government has lost legitimacy and that the opposition must act decisivelynow, not laterto offer an alternative that can win elections and govern with purpose. Famellos is clear: this is not just about preparing for the next electoral cycle. Its about building the political momentum and structure to bring about change well before the country returns to the ballot box. There is no room left for delay, he insists. Society is demanding answersand demanding them immediately. At the heart of his proposal is the creation of a broad progressive alliance, rooted in programmatic cooperation, open political dialogue, and coordinated parliamentary action. And for that to succeed, he believes SYRIZA must take the lead. Only a strong SYRIZA-PS can guarantee the progressive way forward, he says, describing his party as both the anchor and the catalyst of a renewed democratic movement. He extends a clear invitation to PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis to join that effort, urging him to move beyond narrow partisan ambitions. Famellos is openly critical of PASOKs current strategy, calling its claim that it alone can defeat the ruling New Democracy party neither viable nor realistic. Whats needed instead, he argues, is a united political front that offers hope, defeats the government, and lays the foundation for a progressive and democratic renewal. But unity, he acknowledges, will not come easily. There are ideological divides and personal rivalries, and theres also the challenge of bridging newer movements with established parties. Famellos signals a willingness to engage with emerging formations on the left, particularly the New Left, formed by former SYRIZA members. He notes many shared values with the group and stresses the need to begin joint initiatives and discussions immediately. What matters now is not to be late, he says. This is the time for action. He is, however, more cautiousif not dismissiveabout potential cooperation with Zoe Konstantopoulou, the former speaker of Parliament and leader of the Course of Freedom party. Her positions, he suggests, are too vague and her record too problematic to justify strategic alignment. How can you engage in programmatic dialogue with a party that has neither concrete proposals nor clear stances? he asks, pointing to her past rhetoric on sensitive national issues and her flirtations with far-right narratives. Famellos also touches on speculation surrounding former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, whose post-leadership role in Greek politics remains a subject of intrigue. While some media reports have hinted at the possibility of Tsipras forming a new party, Famellos plays down the rumors. He portrays Tsipras as a statesman who continues to contribute through his institute, his role as an MP, and his involvement in European political forums. He remains part of the broader effort to reconstruct the Left, Famellos says, but adds that SYRIZA has now entered a new chapter. That chapter, according to Famellos, is focused on regeneration. After a difficult electoral cycle and internal soul-searching, he says the party is stabilizing and actively rebuilding its relationship with the electorate. The people chose us to be the main opposition. That is a mandate we respect, he says, insisting that SYRIZA is neither defeated nor in decline. They tried to write us off. They failed. Were herestronger, more united, and more ready than ever. Famellos spares little criticism for the current government. He portrays Kyriakos Mitsotakis not just as an ineffective leader, but as the face of a delegitimized government plagued by scandals, economic mismanagement, and disregard for democratic norms. Referencing the Tempi train tragedy, the wiretapping scandal, and what he describes as an erosion of rule of law, Famellos is unequivocal: Mitsotakis must resign. He also takes aim at the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), accusing it of entrenching itself in isolationism and refusing to heed the publics demand for change. Its a mistake, he says. Theyve closed the door on any dialogue, and in doing so, they reinforce the status quo they claim to oppose. Famellos dismisses concerns over Greeces electoral system, which currently denies the parliamentary bonus to coalitions. If theres political will, there are always ways forward, he says. We must overcome egos and focus on the bigger picture. As SYRIZA prepares for its upcoming party congress, Famellos outlines plans for a full internal reboot. A new Reboot Committee will lead efforts to open the party to societyactivists, local leaders, professionals, scientists, and artists. The goal, he says, is not simply to grow in numbers but to become a more democratic, participatory, and solutions-driven political force. Famellos closes with a note of urgencyand defiance. The people are calling on us to unite and act. If we dont offer a serious alternative, Mitsotakis will continue presenting the false dilemma of ND or chaos. We wont allow that. We have a plan. We have a vision. And we are ready to fight for it. #ENGLISH_EDITION #GREECE Persons living with disabilities (PWDs) in Benue State have expressed their frustration over being excluded from the 2023 general elections, despite significant federal government efforts to promote inclusive participation. Many PWDs faced challenges such as inaccessible polling units, lack of assistive devices, and inadequate voter education tailored to their needs. Advocacy groups have criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for failing to implement necessary provisions that would ensure equal voting rights for all citizens. Speaking at a town hall meeting on electoral reforms on Wednesday, their leader, Jacintha, had this to say. As a person with a disability, I took it upon myself to visit polling units across Makurdi during the elections to check if our people were being accommodated. To my disappointment, they were stranded, with no provisions made to support their voting process, Advertisement She stressed the lack of essential electoral aids such as magnifying glasses for persons with albinism, Braille materials for the visually impaired, and sign language interpreters for the deaf. She also noted that many polling units were inaccessible to physically challenged individuals. I believe that by working together with the disability community, civil society organisations, and other vulnerable groups, including the elderly, pregnant women, and the media, we can promote a more transparent and accountable electoral process, ultimately strengthening Nigerias democracy The Ogun State Police Command has detained a 30-year-old driver, Olayemi Yusuf, for allegedly abducting a female passenger. The suspect, working as a driver for Indrive car hire services, reportedly veered off the designated route and subdued the victim, binding her hands with two plastic wire clips. Omolola Odutola, the command spokesperson, confirmed his arrest on Tuesday, informing Daily Post that the incident occurred at 3 p.m. on Monday. Advertisement READ MORE: Four Bank Employees Arrested In Lagos For 270m International Fraud According to Odutola, a 22-year-old passenger named Peace booked the ride online from Lekki, Lagos, to a location off Freedom Way in Lekki. However, along the way, the driver, who deviated from the planned route, claimed his navigation system had malfunctioned. She said, On 24 March 2025, at about 1500hrs, officers received information about a suspicious vehicle along Ilogbo Road, Ojuore, Ogun State. A swift police response led to the rescue of the victim, Coutroupis Peace f (22 years old). Preliminary investigation revealed the victim booked a ride through an online car service from Lekki, Lagos, to Off Freedom Way, Lekki. However, during the journey, the driver claimed his navigation system malfunctioned and deviated from the intended route. He subsequently overpowered the victim and restrained her hands with two plastic tyre clips. Odutola stated that when they reached Omowo Filling Station along Ilogbo Road in Ota, the victim raised an alarm, attracting passersby who intervened and attacked the suspect before police officers arrived. She stated that the suspect is being held in police custody while an investigation is ongoing. Both the victim and the suspect were taken to the police station, with the suspect receiving medical attention due to injuries sustained from the mob attack, she added. Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Lanre Ogunlowo has called on the public to refrain from vigilantism and instead report suspicious activities to the authorities for proper investigation and legal measures. Rivers State Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, has suspended all political appointees and office holders in the state with immediate effect. In a statement on Wednesday by Chief of Staff to the Administrator, said that the decision was made under the powers granted to Ibas by President Bola Tinubu. INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that the affected individuals include, Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff, all commissioners, chairpersons and members of boards, agencies, commissions. Advertisement It was gathered that parastatals, as well as all Special Advisers, Special Assistants, and Senior Special Assistants were suspended. READ MORE: Rivers Crisis: Reps Member Urges Tinubu To Restore Fubara, Engage Abdulsalami Committee The statement partly reads: This suspension takes effect from Wednesday, March 26, 2025. The affected officers are to hand over to the permanent secretaries in their MDAs. Where there may be no permanent secretary, they are to hand over to the most senior director/head of administration. If the main issue is that of maintaining law and order in the state, I think for any meaningful activities to take place in Rivers State, that is the utmost task that I have. In the Ajinawo region of the Yewa North Local Government area of Ogun State, a hunter named Taiwo Bolugbe was reportedly killed while on a hunting trip with five other colleagues. According to DAILY POST, the group set out on a hunting expedition near Dangote Cement Company in Ibese around 3 p.m. on Sunday when the incident happened. The victim was said to have been shot when his Dane gun accidentally went off as he attempted to retrieve a hunted animal. Advertisement Omolola Odutola, the Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident to DAILY POST on Tuesday, stating that the victim had been shot in the lower jaw and neck. READ MORE: Bauchi Police Nab Two Suspects Over Killing Of Motorcyclist Odutola disclosed that the command received the information around 6:30 p.m. that day and confirmed that five hunters had been arrested in connection with the incident. She gave the assurance that an investigation is ongoing to uncover the full details of the incident. She said, The Ogun State Police Command has launched an investigation into the tragic shooting incident that claimed the life of a hunter during a group hunting expedition at Ajinawo area, Yewa North Local Government, Ogun State. At about 16:30hrs on March 23, 2025, the police received a report that a hunting trip had turned fatal when a hunter, Taiwo Bolugbe m, was accidentally shot. Five hunters were arrested in connection with the incident. The group embarked on a hunting expedition in the area near Dangote Cement Company, Ibese. The accident occurred around 1500hrs when the victim, Taiwo Bolugbe, attempted to retrieve a hunted animal, his Dane gun reportedly slipped from his shoulder, discharged accidentally, and fatally struck him in the neck and lower jaw. He succumbed to his injuries despite efforts by fellow hunters to save his life. The five hunters are in police custody of the State Criminal investigation Department, the designated IPO and team, will conduct further investigation and all their statements will be reviewed if found culpable they will be charged to court for prosecution she added. However, the Police Command advised the people to use prudence when handling firearms, including during hunting activities, in order to avoid unfortunate accidents. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed uncertainty over his presidential ambition, saying that he does not know if he will be contesting in 2027. Atiku led this out on Tuesday during an interview with popular journalist, Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie. The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party remark is coming few weeks after he announced the formation of a coalition of opposition leaders aiming to unseat President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress, APC government. Advertisement READ MORE: Atiku Announces Opposition Coalition To Unseat Tinubu In 2027 Presidential Poll Speaking over his possibility of joining other candidates in 2027, Atiku said that there it will require better politics platform with good name to unseat current administration. He said: I dont know because there has to be, first of all, a viable platform, more than any other time in the political history of this country, particularly since the return of democracy. I have not seen Nigeria in dire need of, you know, an experienced and credible leadership than this time. We had a similar, you know, what would I say, merger in 2014. About four of us or is it three? We all ran for president and one of us emerged, and we all supported the one who emerged, and he won. The next generation after me, many of them had been governors, had been senators. Instead of me to see an improvement in the level of governance at the state level and so on and so forth, I dont see it. So I feel a little bit distressed. The Independent National Electoral Commission has confirmed that it has received the contact addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of constituents calling for the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the development is coming, following a statement by INEC on Tuesday, noting that the petitioners failed to provide the necessary contact information, as required under the Commissions Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024. Advertisement READ MORE: INEC Rejects Recall Petition Against Senator Natasha, Says Listed Petitioners Had No Contact Addresses Olumekun noted that by the Commissions Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, the INEC has also sent a formal notification to the Senator in question about the receipt of the petition. He said: Further to the statement issued yesterday, Tuesday 25th March 2025, the commission hereby confirms that the contact address of representatives of the petitioners, their telephone numbers and e-mail addresses have now been provided in a letter addressed to the chairman of the commission dated today, Wednesday 26th March 2025. As provided in Clause 2(a) of the Commissions Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, a letter has been written to notify the Senator sought to be recalled about the receipt of the petition and delivered to her official address. The same letter has been copied to the presiding officer of the Senate and published on the commissions website. The next step is to scrutinise the list of signatories submitted by the petitioners to ascertain that the petition is signed by more than half (over 50 percent) of the registered voters in the Constituency. This will be done in the coming days. The outcome, which will be made public, shall determine the next step to be taken by the commission. We once again reassure Nigerians that the process will be open and transparent. Nollywood actor Kunle Remi and his wife, Tiwi, have welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Eemi Oluwa. The couples path to parenthood came with challenges, including a tough medical diagnosis and extended bed rest. Advertisement Kunle, in an Instagram post on Wednesday, reflected on their pregnancy journey, sharing the emotional struggles and their 80-day experience at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). READ MORE: Nigerian Flag Travels The World As Explorer Visits Seven Continents In 71 Hours The movie star expressed appreciation for the journey, describing it as a testament to Gods unwavering faithfulness. From an unexpected and unsettling medical discovery to complete bedrest. From juggling demanding work schedules to hopping on flights, both locally and internationally. From being apart to finally being together. From an early arrival to the unfolding of Gods perfect timing. From waiting, countless NICU visits, and clinging to God for 11 weeks and 3 days (thats 80 days of faith). Our story is living proof that God is God unfailing, unwavering, and faithful till the very end. Weve been blessed with a WONDER. Weve been blessed with EEMI OLUWA the BREATH OF GOD. This isnt a podcast. Its just two people sharing their journey unfiltered, heartfelt, and full of grace to encourage someone out there, he wrote. SEE POST: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHqRtdjuthU/?igsh=OTlkdWxqZ3RnZjJr Some angry traders at the Ogbo-Ogwu Bridgehead Drug Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, have called on National Agency for Food, Drug Administration, and Control to open their shops. The traders, under the aegis of Concerned and Genuine Members of Ogbo-Ogwu Drug Market, protested on Tuesday over continuous closure of the popular market. They lamented that the development has brought hardship and financial burdens upon them. Advertisement The protesters were seen with different placards marching around the market from Oshogbo Park, up to the River Niger Bridge, Onitsha, and back to Uga Junction. They claimed that no fewer than five traders have died and several others have been hospitalised due to depression and hunger. Speaking with newsmen on Tuesday, during the protest, National Convener/Secretary of Concerned Genuine Members of Ogbo-Ogwu Drugs Market, Ifeanyi Chinedu, said that their shops are still under lock and key, contrary to NAFDACs claims that it has reopened them. He said: We, the members of the Ogbo-Ogwu drug market, after our long-awaited first general meeting with the caretaker committee chairman and his executives since the invasion of the market by NAFDAC officials, made the following declarations. READ MORE: NAFDAC Destroys N1trn Worth Of Fake Drugs In Anambra That NAFDAC invaded our various shops in our absence and carted away properly registered goods worth billions of Naira. They also carted away drugs from multinational companies from the USA, Germany, Turkey, and Pakistan, all of international standards and impeccable qualities. The claims by NAFDAC that all the drugs they carted away are fake and substandard are inhumane and malicious lies meant to tarnish the image of thousands of responsible and genuine businessmen and women at the Ogbo-Ogwu drug market. We challenge the Federal Government to set up a high-powered panel of inquiry to investigate the goods carted away in over 60 trailer loads with the aim of ascertaining the veracity of the claims of NAFDAC Director-General and some of her corrupt officials. That the claims by NAFDAC officials that our various shops were being searched in our presence are another set of malicious and fabricated lies meant to carpet their heinous crime of barbaric breaking, entering, searching and looting of someones shop in his absence, including boutiques in the market in this 21st century and democratic world. The Goshen City Division of the Nasarawa State Police Command arrested a suspected armed robber on Tuesday after he and his gang carried out a robbery on residents in Keffi. Ramhan Nansel, the command spokesperson, said in a statement on Tuesday that the arrest was made after the suspects were involved in a car accident after fleeing the crime site. Mr Nansel said. The command wishes to inform the public of a recent breakthrough in the fight against crime, involving the arrest of a robbery suspect, a fatal accident involving the fleeing suspects, and the recovery of stolen vehicles and other items. On March 25, 2025, at about 03:00 hours, the command received a distress call reporting an armed robbery incident at a residential area behind the stadium in Keffi. Advertisement READ MORE: EFCC Arrests Two Women For Allegedly Hawking Naira Notes In Lagos He stated that upon receiving the report, Commissioner of Police Shetima Mohammed ordered operatives to go after the fleeing suspects, who had escaped before police arrived, while their escape route was tracked. He stated, Nemesis, however, caught up with the robbers when the stolen vehicle they had snatched at gunpoint was involved in a fatal accident at Bola Junction, along the Keffi-Abuja Expressway, as they attempted to evade arrest. He said officers rushed the five occupants of the stolen Ash colour Toyota Camry with registration number ABC 621 CV to Johepz Medical Centre, Kuchikau, for urgent medical attention. Unfortunately, four of them were confirmed dead by a medical doctor, while one, identified as Hussaini Mohammed M 25yrs of Uke, was arrested and is currently receiving medical treatment under police watch. Preliminary investigations confirmed that the Toyota Camry was stolen from one Udochi Emeka M, residing behind the stadium in Keffi. Further search led to the recovery of the following items from the suspects: assorted charms, two long knives, screwdrivers, several wristwatches, twelve mobile phones of different brands, one Access Bank ATM card belonging to Lydia Olabode Kemi. The police commissioner instructed the commands operatives to intensify their crackdown on criminals to maintain residents safety and security, urging the public to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police. Former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed a shocking detail about his past, sharing that his late mentor, Shehu Musa Yaradua, asked him to step down for MKO Abiola during the 1993 Social Democratic Party (SDP) primaries. Initially, the contest was expected to be between Atiku and Babagana Kingibe, but Yaraduas intervention changed the course of events, leading to Atikus decision to step down in favor of Abiola. This pivotal moment ultimately led to Abiolas victory in the SDP primaries, setting the stage for his subsequent presidential campaign. Advertisement Spaking in an interview on Wednesday Atiku Abubakar further disclosed: I think there have been some misinterpretation or misrepresentation of what actually happened, even though I had in the past addressed the circumstances surrounding that incident. So I told him, Look, if you dont come to Jos, there is every likelihood that Kingibe is going to be elected, and I know you dont want it. So you better come to Jos, no matter how late. And he drove all the way from Kaduna to Jos. By the time he came to Jos, it was about three or four a.m. And he called for a meeting in Kwandes house. I do not know what he discussed with the late MKO Abiola. I was not privy to the meeting, and he did not tell me. But when we got to the meeting in Ambassador Kwandes house, all he told me was that, Turaki. I said, Yes, sir. He said, Step down for MKO Abiola. I said, Okay, sir. I have stepped down. Atikus decision to step down was a pivotal moment in the 1993 SDP primaries, ultimately leading to Abiolas candidacy. A suspected businessman, identified as Okorie Sunday, who was arrested on 19, 3,2025 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos State, with $578,000 in cash suddenly collapsed in court during his trial. It was gathered that Mr. Okorie appeared before the Federal High Court on Wednesday, where his trial had begun earlier in the morning at 8:30 am. INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that the suspect suddenly collapsed shortly after he was summoned into the dock for the re-reading of charges, just as the court registrar was about to proceed with reading the charges. Advertisement Okorie had been arraigned in court on Tuesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on four counts related to money laundering and a currency scam. He pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment before Justice Deinde Dipeolu. After a brief agreement from both parties for a swift trial, the suspect was remanded in custody and the case was adjourned to Wednesday. READ MORE: Customs Seizes $193,000 Hidden In Yoghurt Carton At Abuja Airport During the resumed hearing, Okories lawyer, Uche Okoronkwo, informed the court that his client wished to change his plea from not guilty to guilty. The EFCCs counsel, Chineye Okezie, confirmed that Okorie indeed wanted to plead guilty to the first two counts, and requested the withdrawal of the third and fourth counts. Justice Dipeolu agreed to the request and directed that the charges be re-read. However, as the registrar began to read the charges, Okorie collapsed without showing any sign of illness. Recall that the Nigerian Customs Service had intercepted the suspect who arrived in Lagos from Johannesburg aboard South African Airways Flight SA60 on March 19, 2025. At the airports currency declaration desk, he declared only $279,000. However, a routine search uncovered an additional $299,000 hidden in several packages, bringing the total amount to $578,000. The customs authorities also said they recovered 100 and a counterfeit $250 note among the undeclared cash. At least two yet to be identified customs officers, including a villager have been killed by gunmen, suspected to be Lakurawa terrorists at Bachaka, a border community in Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. Confirming the horrible incident to newsmen on Wednesday, Spokesman for Kebbi State Police Command, Nafiu Abubakar, disclosed that the criminal elements attacked the village on Tuesday. READ MORE: Kebbi Govt Call For Calm As Meningitis Disease Kills Six Varsity Students Advertisement Abubakar said: Yes, there was an attack, which resulted in the killing of two yet-to-be-identified Customs officers and one native of Bachaka village. Meanwhile, Kebbi State Commissioner of Police, Sani Bello, who visited the scene on Wednesday, reaffirmed the commitment of security forces in facing criminal. He said: These sporadic attacks are signs of desperation from a weakened force. Our sustained onslaught will continue until they are completely decimated. Famous Nigerian disc jockey Florence Otedola often known as Dj Cuppy has expressed hope that Nigeria will one day have a female President. She referenced Namibias recent achievement of becoming the first African country with both a female President and Vice President, saying it could serve as encouragement for Nigerian women. Posting on her X handle on Tuesday, she wrote: Namibia just made history. Advertisement Africas FIRST country with BOTH a female President AND female Vice President. Maybe theres hope for Nigeria one day after all READ MORE: Small Doctor Celebrates Arrival Of Newborn With Partner In Canada Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was recently sworn in as Namibias first female President after emerging victorious in last years election. Lucia Witbooi, who serves as Vice President, makes Namibia the first African nation led by two women. SEE POST: There was drama in the Senate on Tuesday during the hearing of a petition from lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswil Akpabio. It was gathered that former minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili and Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi had a heated exchange of words during the hearing. The clash occurred at the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions hearing on a fresh petition submitted by Senator Natasha. Advertisement INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Mrs. Ezekwesili was present at the hearing alongside Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, and the chief petitioner from Kogi Central, Zubairu Yakubu. The controversy started when the petitioner urged Chairman of the Committee, Neda Imasuen, to step down in the case following the controversial manner in which he had so far handled the alleged sexual harassment allegation against Akpabio. Yakubu said: How can the chairman serve as a judge in a case where he has already publicly taken a position? What is the need for us to present our case when a verdict has already been given before hearing us? He alleged that some committee members had pre-existing relationship with Akpabio, which he said compromised their ability to be neutral. READ MORE: Kogi Govt Sponsoring Senator Natashas Recall Process Lawyer His remarks angered some lawmakers, who accused him of attempting to undermine the committees credibility. Ezekwesili also came under fire for what they saw as her insistence on forcing herself into the proceedings. However, Ezekwesili insisted on being heard out. She said, I asked to be put on oath as a witness. I am a citizen of Nigeria. This led to a heated argument with Nwaebonyi, who said: Youre a fool. What do you mean? Why are you talking to me like that? I will not take it. Youre an insult to womanhood. People like you cannot be here. Ezekwesili replied and called him a hooligan, further escalating the altercation. Reacting to the drama, a legislator representing Imo West, Senator Patrick Ndubueze appealed for calm before addressing the committee. He said: We should stop behaving like people in the marketplace. This is the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is sad to hear you (petitioner) say you dont have confidence in the Senate. What it means is that not everybody here is trustworthy. Yes, we are all citizens of this country. But here, you must be recognised before you speak. That is the rule. We cannot just jump to answer questions because you are a petitioner. This is a Standing Committee. However, Imasuen adjourned the hearing indefinitely following observations that both Akpabios wife and Akpoti-Uduaghan have a case in court and the absence of the Kogi lawmaker to defend her allegation. Visitors record the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ noon concert on March 19, 2025, as the Center City Macy's prepared to close for good. Read more Snapshots of humanity from Saturdays all-day farewell to the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ: A couple quietly cradling each other during a transcription of the slow movement from Mozarts Clarinet Concerto. Advertisement The woman who, several minutes after the end of Great Gate of Kiev from Mussorgskys Pictures at an Exhibition, was still wiping back the tears. An audience erupting into explosive applause and cheers after a fantasy of patriotic tunes that no doubt left many assessing the state of the country. The musicians and others who put together Saturdays event at Macys on the eve of the stores closing knew that there was just one thing they needed to do to make the case for the organ as integral to the citys social fabric: Play it. Well over 10,000 listeners came out for the string of eight recitals over more than nine hours, an extraordinary outpouring of love. No doubt the motivations for attending varied. There were organ aficionados and department store nostalgists. Many said they didnt want to miss what they sensed would be a historic event. But the day was even more than that. It was a rare, beautiful gathering of an incredibly diverse group of people remembering what it feels like to all be in community experiencing the same thing. The Wanamaker Grand Court once again showed that its a civic space in the middle of the city without equal free, accessible to anyone, and a place where the vast and ornate architecture makes you stand a little taller. The organ provides the emotional fuel. And now both the Grand Court and its resident musical instrument will prove their worth by their absence. As of this week, Philadelphia has lost its free, nearly daily recitals, and the city wont be the same until they resume. Its true that Philadelphians do not want for great music. The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and Philadelphia Orchestra have few peers anywhere in terms of quality and ambition, and dozens of other music groups fill out an incredibly lively musicscape. But art palaces like the Kimmel Center and other venues are largely patronized by those who self-identify as arts consumers. Theres an important egalitarian aspect to the Wanamaker Organ recitals; they are a free, aleatory experience, a gift of surprising generosity in parsimonious times (at least, where it involves giving toward the public benefit). You walk into the store to buy a coffee maker or pair of desert boots, and you walk out a half-hour later lifted up by Handel, Sibelius, or Sir Arthur Sullivan. Thats art serving its highest purpose not sequestered in a museum or concert hall, but woven into the real world where it can best regulate perceptions of whats important in life, not to mention spread a little pixie dust of delight. People swoon over the bigness of the instrument and its superlatives, and rightly so. But the reason for its emotional power is its range of colors and special effects as summoned by skillful hands. Those hands embraced multitudes Saturday with particular deftness. Each organist chose pieces designed to speak to a different kind of listener. Carmina Burana, excerpted by organist Jeremy Flood, captured the choral crowd and anyone who has ever heard a car commercial or movie about war. Some pieces were entrance ramps; Id never heard Marcel Dupre's mysterious, fairylike Prelude and Fugue in G Minor, but after Mark Bani played it, I left determined to go down the rabbit hole of the composers work. Im convinced that Peter Richard Contes Love Trio and Finale from Strauss Der Rosenkavalier stopped time and space in the store Saturday evening, its harmonic transformations so touching that, at both its most poignant moments and the astonishing climax, nothing else in the world seemed to matter. And Bach. More Bach, always Bach. The future of all this is uncertain. New York developer TF Cornerstone has said it plans to keep the instrument in place, though it has not commented on what that means how often it would be played, or starting when. But whats notable about this juncture in the life of our Wanamaker Organ is that its not the classic story of an institution in crisis. This is not about obsolescence or irrelevance. And as Saturday showed, it is not about apathy. All buildings need people and a sense of community and common purpose. The lure of the Wanamaker Grand Court and Organ are a lifeline to the buildings next incarnation for anyone smart enough to recognize it. The Philly Shipyard in South Philadelphia pictured in 2019. Hanwha Group bought the shipyard last year from Aker Group and other shareholders. Read more The owner of Philadelphias commercial shipyard is backing a Trump administration proposal that aims to counter Chinas dominance in shipbuilding and subsidize domestic industry following decades of declining production. The Trump administration in February proposed charging Chinese shipping companies and other ocean carriers that use Chinese-built ships millions of dollars in fees every time they enter a U.S. port. Advertisement That has prompted howls from a wide array of American businesses and trade groups representing shipping companies, retailers, farmers, and others who say the fees would increase costs and disrupt supply chains. But Hanwha Group, the South Korea-based conglomerate that bought Philly Shipyard last year for $100 million from Norway-based Aker Group and other shareholders, has emerged as a rare voice of support for the fees. Hanwha Shipping, the companys Texas-based affiliate, said the U.S. Trade Representatives proposal would support the regeneration of the United States commercial maritime capabilities, especially in the emerging area of liquid natural gas (LNG) and crude-oil exports. Hanwha Shipping is committed to supporting the United States in building and operating such a fleet, with plans to deploy state of the art vessels that are economically viable and where needed, militarily useful, company vice president Ryan Lynch wrote in a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer ahead of hearings this week in Washington, D.C. READ MORE: Hanwha Philly Shipyard plans growth after $100 million purchase from Aker Critics warn of higher consumer costs But in a bid to boost domestic shipbuilding, critics said, the administrations plan would harm other U.S. businesses and consumers. A large fee on vessels calling at United States ports will raise the price of shipping and will be passed on from ocean carriers to cargo owners, and thus consumers, Cary Davis, president and CEO of the American Association of Port Authorities, wrote in a letter to Greer. Imposing this fee at our ports could also risk diverting cargo to Canadian and Mexican ports, depriving our coastal communities of cargo throughput that creates jobs and funds infrastructure improvements, Davis said. The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority, a state agency that owns several Delaware River terminals, is monitoring the debate. Ocean shipping lines may start reducing some of their ship calls and skipping some ports, so that one definitely can have an impact on us, Ryan Mulvey, the port authoritys director of government and public affairs, said during a March 19 board meeting. In addition to imposing fees on Chinese vessels, the proposal would also require that in the first year of its enactment at least 1% of U.S. products shipped overseas must be exported by U.S. operators. Within seven years, that restriction would increase to 15% of U.S. goods, of which 5% must be carried on U.S.-built vessels. The National Retail Federation and other business groups warned that timeline was unrealistic, saying the U.S. Trade Representatives proposal would force a reduction in U.S. exports. U.S. ships could not be built quickly enough to meet those goals, the federation argued. Chinas market share The Trump administration proposal came after several labor unions petitioned the Biden administration last year to investigate Chinas targeting of the maritime, shipbuilding, and logistics sectors. That probe led to a report in the final weeks of the Biden administration that found Chinas top-down industrial planning has undercut competition and threatens U.S. economic security. Chinas market share of global ship production has increased from 5% in 2000 to more than 50% today, the report said. The United States built large fleets of naval and commercial vessels during World War II with the help of more than 40,000 workers at the Philadelphia Naval base, the site of the current commercial shipyard and continued to innovate in subsequent decades. But over the past 50 years, the report said, the number of commercial shipyards has plunged, costing tens of thousands of jobs. Today, the U.S. only produces a fraction of 1% of the worlds commercial vessels, according to the trade representative. In addition to the fee proposal, President Donald Trump is reportedly considering issuing an executive order that is similarly aimed at countering Chinas maritime dominance, the Wall Street Journal reported. The South Philadelphia yard continued as a Navy shipbuilding site until it closed in 1996, then became a private, for-profit facility. Since 2000, the partly state-financed Philly Shipyard has delivered about half of all U.S. commercial ships that transport goods between American ports, according to Hanwha. The federal Jones Act requires that U.S. goods shipped to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and other noncontiguous parts of the country must be carried on U.S.-built vessels. Today the yard employs about 1,700 people. Last year Philly Shipyard began construction on the first of three containerships for Matson Navigation Co., a Hawaii-based operator, after winning a $1 billion contract in 2022. Hanwha has said it wants to expand into producing naval vessels as well. SWAT Cpl. James O'Connor, 46, was fatally shot on the 1600 block of Bridge Street on March 13, 2020. Read more Two men accused of leading a violent Frankford drug gang that committed a string of shootings and homicides including the fatal shooting of Philadelphia SWAT Cpl. James OConnor IV in 2020 were found guilty by a jury Tuesday of crimes including racketeering and murder. Kelvin Jimenez and Dominique Parker were not accused of participating in or even being present for OConnors killing, which occurred when he and other SWAT officers were attempting to serve an arrest warrant inside a Frankford apartment for a younger member of the gang who was wanted for murder. Advertisement But prosecutors said Jimenez and Parker were still leaders who called the shots for the group known as SG1700 that they helped supply drugs and weapons to younger members, tried to help members avoid apprehension, and in Parkers case, took part in shootings targeting rival gangs. Because the case was brought as a racketeering conspiracy, Jimenez and Parker were charged in connection with four murders, including OConnors, along with 13 shootings, and a host of drug and firearms offenses. These were men that were working together they were working together to benefit themselves and the group they were a part of, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Stram said during the monthlong trial. It was a coordinated effort with a common goal: To sell drugs and to advance their goals of the SG1700 enterprise. Two of their accused associates pleaded guilty to similar charges earlier this year and are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Juan Sanchez this spring. Prosecutors recommended that Hassan Elliott, the man who shot OConnor, receive a sentence of between 55 and 75 years, and that Khalif Sears who was with Elliott when OConnor was shot and participated in other acts of violence face a sentence of 35 to 50 years. By taking their case to trial, Jimenez and Parker could get the stiffest sentences of all even though they were accused of committing far fewer acts of violence than their codefendants. Each faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. Stram, the prosecutor, told jurors that as gang leaders, Jimenez and Parker benefited directly from the actions of younger gang members in that group younger members that they cultivated, younger members that they recruited. This is true even in instances where they themselves didnt get their hands dirty. A fatal police shooting The sequence of events that led to their arrests began five years ago. Elliott and Sears were arrested on the morning of March 13, 2020, shortly after OConnor was killed inside an apartment building on the 1600 block of Bridge Street. SWAT officers had gone there to arrest Elliott for the 2019 slaying of Tyrone Tyree on the 5300 block of Duffield Street. Authorities had issued arrest warrants months earlier for Elliott and Sears in connection with that crime. Stram, the prosecutor, told jurors that when members of SG1700 found out about the warrants, Jimenez agreed to let Elliott and Sears stay at the Bridge Street apartment as they tried to avoid arrest. But by March 2020, police had begun zeroing in on Elliott. And as SWAT officers sought him out and climbed a flight of stairs inside his apartment building, Elliott grabbed a .22-caliber rifle and began shooting through a bedroom door, striking OConnor in the neck and arm. OConnor was taken to Temple University Hospital, where he was declared dead that morning. He was a son and father of city police officers, his daughter was in the Air Force, and he had also recently become a grandfather. Elliott was taken into custody, along with Sears and two other men who were inside the apartment. Police found 10 guns in the room, as well as crack cocaine and drug packaging materials, prosecutors said. Controversy swirled The case became controversial almost immediately. Then-U.S. Attorney William McSwain blamed District Attorney Larry Krasner for OConnors death, in part because Krasners office had dropped a drug case against Elliott a year before OConnor was shot. Krasner responded by saying the fate of the narcotics case was not significant because his office by then had already approved Elliotts more-serious murder warrant. McSwain later filed federal charges against Elliott and the three others who were inside the Frankford apartment when he shot OConnor, accusing them of murder, possessing illegal weapons, and dealing drugs. And three years after that, McSwains successor, then-U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero, announced an expanded racketeering case against Elliott, Sears, Jimenez, and Parker. In addition to OConnors murder, the men were charged with killing Kaseem Rogers on Dec. 3, 2018; Tyree on March 1, 2019; and Dontae Walker on Aug. 22, 2019. Two of the murders were attempts to target members of rival gangs, prosecutors said, while Tyrees killing was a botched robbery. In two instances, prosecutors said, Elliott and Mitchell coordinated their actions with Jimenez. Attorneys for Jimenez and Parker had argued to the jury that the accusations were built largely on the word of other gang members whose testimony should not be trusted. Jimenezs attorney, Thomas Fitzpatrick, told jurors that the prosecution was an exercise in overreaching by the government, while Parkers attorney, Michael Parkinson, said the trials key witnesses were going to lie to get a good deal in their own cases. Both defendants are now scheduled to be sentenced by Sanchez in July. Transit police and SEPTA workers are at the scene along 40th Street and Girard Avenue, where a 15-year-old boy was shot in the chest on Saturday and later pronounced dead at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. Read more Philadelphia police are searching for a 17-year-old they say shot and killed a 15-year-old boy on a SEPTA bus Saturday in West Philadelphia. Police identified Zayki Davis as the teen who shot Zahkir Whitfield after they and three other juveniles got into a fight in the back of a SEPTA bus just after 1 p.m. on March 22. During the fight, the driver stopped the bus near 40th Street and Girard Avenue, police said. Davis exited through the rear door of the bus and fired a single shot into the bus that hit Whitfield in the chest, said Police Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore. Advertisement Whitfield, of Upper Darby, was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 1:19 p.m. Police did not say what sparked the fight, but released video and images of the four suspects and asked for the publics help in identifying them. Police have not identified the other three juveniles. Video shows three of the suspects gathered at a bodega and boarding the bus. A fourth suspect is seen in surveillance footage boarding the bus. One video clip shows the suspected shooter brandishing a gun once off the bus. Whitfield was a student at Upper Darby High School. In a statement, Edward Marshaleck, assistant superintendent of student services for the school district, lamented the boys death and said the district would be providing resources for staff and students affected by the shooting. Please join me in keeping all involved in your thoughts and prayers, he said. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334. A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Titus Elementary School is one of eight elementaries that the Central Bucks School District is planning to update as part of a project expected to top $200 million. Read more The Central Bucks School District is weighing how to update eight aging elementary schools to upgrade their electrical and plumbing systems, add air-conditioning, and bring restrooms and other spaces into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act a project that will cost more than $200 million. But it has not decided how to proceed. The district is considering two options: constructing a building to replace two of the existing elementary schools and renovating the other six, or renovating all eight. (Central Bucks, Pennsylvanias third-largest district with more than 17,000 students, has 15 elementary schools in total.) Advertisement To field community questions and solicit feedback, district officials have been holding town halls; the third and final event is planned for 7 p.m. Thursday at Central Bucks South High School. Heres what you need to know about the proposal. What will the renovations cost? The project is expected to be the districts largest capital investment in decades, with both options projected to cost around $240 million; the district would borrow the money. Officials have not yet released information on how much taxes would have to increase. A district spokesperson said details would be shared at Thursdays town hall. There will be tax implications for any of these options there just will be, Central Bucks chief operating officer, Tara Houser, said at a town hall last month. She added that the district went almost 10 years without any major renovations and tax increase, and eventually you have to make those changes. At that meeting, Houser said the cost of renovating the eight schools was estimated at about $241 million, while building a combined school for current Doyle and Linden Elementary students and renovating the six other schools Barclay, Buckingham, Gayman, Kutz, Titus, and Warwick Elementaries would cost about $240 million. (The costs are preliminary: No one knows what any of these projects will cost for sure until you actually go out to bid, Superintendent Steven Yanni said at the February town hall.) What other options have been considered? The district had previously proposed an option to combine Doyle, Linden, and Kutz Elementaries the three schools with the greatest needs into one newly constructed school, while renovating the other five. But parents in those communities pushed back with calls to save their local schools, and the district removed what some had dubbed the mega-school option from consideration. District officials say they are limited in their ability to build small elementary schools by a 1973 state law known as the Taj Mahal Act. That law, intended to curb excessive spending on school buildings and ensure transparency for taxpayers, establishes allowable construction costs by square footage, based on the number of students who will be served by the building. As a result of the calculation, it is harder to build small schools with common areas like gyms, cafeterias, and teacher planning spaces, Houser said. (Schools that want to surpass the spending threshold set by the law, Act 34, can do so but must get voter approval first through a district-wide referendum.) Which plan do school officials prefer? While the projected costs of the two options currently before the board are comparable, administrators say the approach that involves replacing Doyle and Linden with a combined school, to be built on the Doyle site, would be more economical. A new school building has about a 75-year life span, district officials say, compared with 20 to 30 years for renovations. And renovating, rather than replacing, Doyle and Linden would not allow for certain structural changes, including the addition of flexible spaces for group learning, according to the district. The district has issued a request for proposals for more extensive gut renovations of Doyle and Linden, but officials say the cost of that option might be prohibitive. If we gut any of these buildings, we need to find a place to put kids for two to three years, Yanni said at last months town hall. He said the district was concerned with how do we move students the fewest number of times. We dont want an entire school year to be an upheaval. What other projects are underway in Central Bucks? The elementary school project comes amid other big changes in the district: Central Bucks is moving to expand its high schools, in preparation for shifting ninth graders from district middle schools to those buildings. Sixth graders, meanwhile, will be shifted from elementary schools to middle schools. And the district is adding full-day kindergarten, with a pilot program launching this fall and expected to expand district-wide in 2026-27. District officials will be seeking a decision from the board on the project this fall, after gathering information about the cost and feasibility of gutting Doyle and Linden. At a school board committee meeting last month, Houser noted the district had spent $785,000 on building assessment and demographic studies since 2017. We cannot study anything any longer. We need to make a decision, she said. Khalid Mumin visits Philadelphia's Anna L. Lingelbach Elementary School as Pennsylvania's secretary of education in November 2023. Mumin, who resigned from the department in December, is returning to serve as Reading's superintendent. Read more Khalid Mumin, who resigned as Gov. Josh Shapiros education secretary in December, is returning to the Reading School District to again serve as its superintendent. Mumin who was superintendent of the Lower Merion School District for a little more than a year before being tapped by Shapiro to lead the Pennsylvania Department of Education in January 2023 is expected to be approved as Readings next superintendent at a school board meeting Wednesday, a district spokesperson said. Mumin led that district from 2014-21. Advertisement Dr. Mumin will succeed Dr. Jennifer Murray on June 16, 2025, after Murray leaves the district, according to Reading spokesperson Nathan Ross. Murray had led the Reading district since Mumins departure for Lower Merion in October 2021. In announcing his December resignation from the education department, Mumin said he would be leaving to transition into a new role. The Goldie Hawn Foundation said at the time that Mumin would be its new chief of strategy/education partnerships and global development. That foundation supplies MindUP, a social and emotional learning program, to schools. Shapiro last month named Carrie Rowe, then the deputy secretary of elementary and secondary education, as his pick to succeed Mumin. A Philadelphia native who attended Olney High School, Mumin was named superintendent of the year in 2021 by the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators for his leadership in Reading. Fergus (a.k.a. Fergie) Carey on the 2024 trip, overlooking Valencia Island, the eastern terminus of the first commercially viable transatlantic telegraph cable. Read more A conversation with Philly barman Fergus Carey is never linear, and a recent chat with the native Dubliner about his second Fergies Pub Tour of Ireland proved no different. Carey was hunting for a parking spot in Center City in between discussing the tours itinerary and his possibly buying a house in Ireland. So I talked to a mortgage guy from PNC today ... He says, Youre the fifth [Philadelphia-area] person trying to buy in Ireland in the last month, Carey recounted, adding that interest in moving abroad has motivated some of the attendees on this falls tour. Somebody was saying, Oh yeah, I want to go on this trip so I can check out Ireland. Advertisement Carey, who co-owns The Jim and The Goat Rittenhouse as well as his namesake Sansom Street pub, said last years inaugural Ireland tour itself a celebration of Fergies 30th anniversary was so much fun, he pretty much knew a second was in order before the first one even wrapped. I had the greatest time. Selfish, selfish, selfish, Carey said. Just music, music, music, music, and at night, beer, pubs, and music. The trip was a showcase of the Irish countryside, with an emphasis on breathtaking sights, great pubs, and live music. Basically, if you enjoy Carey, youll enjoy this, and thats part of Careys recruitment strategy. Some of [last years guests] had been into the pub and met me and said, Oh, my God, that would be a lot of fun, he said. Carey knew about 20 of the 51 guests on last years trip, whose route hugged the islands southern coast, with stays in Dingle (Careys favorite spot in Ireland), Sneem, and Kinsale, as well as a few nights in Dublin. By the end, Carey had befriended everyone. Like these three nurses and a waitress from Bensalem area. What did we call them? The girls at the back of the bus, he said. Careys looking forward to co-piloting this years trip, which will be from Oct. 10-19 and capped at 51 travelers (plus Carey and a few guides). I have a little microphone for telling people stories, and Im sitting up at the front of the bus, but I dont have to drive, he said. (Carey is far from the only Philly restaurant-scene personality to lead trips abroad; its become a trend among some of the citys top chefs, including Kalayas Nok Suntaranon, Cicalas Angela and Joe Cicala, and Osterias Jeff Michaud.) This years tour will be coordinated again by fellow Dublin transplant and Philly musician John Byrne. It will start in Lahinch, on Irelands west coast, before traveling north to Westport and Donegal, and ending with three nights in Dublin. Tentative day trips are planned to Galway City, Killary Fjord, and the Walls of Derry. Careys especially excited for a visit to Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland, which will likely include a stop at the nearby Old Bushmills Distillery. Its a part of the country hes not terribly familiar with but describes as phenomenal. Carey enjoys getting to know Ireland better himself, as he did last year. I felt like a tourist, because I was a tourist, but I was just like, Oh, my God, this is so beautiful. Just seeing more of the country, and also showing the country off, he said before breaking out into made-up song: This is where Im from, this is what I love, I found a parking spot for a half an hour. Fergies Pubs 2025 Tour of Ireland runs from Oct. 10-19. The trip costs $2,750 (double) and $3,476 (single) plus airfare and includes hotels, day excursions, taxes, transfer fees, portage, breakfast, and evening music sessions. A rough itinerary is available on the bars website, fergies.com. The entrance to the Dont Die Summit in Miami last weekend. MUST CREDIT: Elizabeth Dwoskin/The Washington Post Read more Alek Ivanov, president of an HVAC company in Southeast Pennsylvania, gives weekly pep talks to his employees energy drink-chugging air-conditioning repairmen, he calls them on topics like health and longevity. He has a lot more specific advice to dole out after spending the weekend surrounded by fellow biohackers at the Dont Die Summit. The Miami confab was devoted to human longevity and hosted by Bryan Johnson, a wealthy tech entrepreneur and investor turned health influencer who describes himself as the worlds most measured human and a rejuvenation athlete. The thousand or so people drawn to this Florida fountain of youth represent a cultural phenomenon at the intersection of technology and wellness. Advertisement Biohacking was once the province of data-driven Silicon Valley types who tracked their activities, sleep, bone density, and other wellness markers in shared spreadsheets. Johnson grafts that techie mindset onto a broader internet culture obsessed with physical wellness. He has claimed his techniques have pushed his biological age five years below his chronological age of 47. Today, the proliferation of wearable measurement devices and home tests has brought such calibrations to the masses, and to new levels of obsession. Wellness is now no longer enough. One must achieve the more quantifiable longevity, and biohackers have many more choices than ever. Summit-goers entered the Mana convention center in Miamis trendy Wynwood neighborhood through purple doors marked with arrows saying, Longevity ahead. Exit to mortality is closed. This way to a longer life. A man in a grim reaper costume greeted visitors at the reception desk, a kitschy reminder that the enemy must always be kept at bay. The days attendance fee was $349. A year ago, I wrote a story about the boom in DIY testing, and on Saturday, I immersed myself in a battery of tests. During the daylong summit, I had my hair follicles yanked out by a handsome and youthful-looking clinician working for Acorn Biolabs, which called itself a personalized regenerative medicine company. He was going to extract and preserve my stem cells, which would be frozen for use in medical treatments tailored to my needs or just repurposed into serums for a custom facial. I had my blood drawn by a start-up, Mito Health, which said it would use it to measure more than 100 so-called biomarkers revealing the health of my heart, metabolism, hormones, and nutrient levels through lab work far more comprehensive than any offered by standard primary care providers. When results come in, the companys AI software will give me personalized insights and health recommendations, an executive said. The end state is we are building a doctor personalized for you, he said, adding that in the future, everyone will have an AI doctor in their pocket. It sounds like something Ive heard before in my dozen or so years covering the tech world, but each time the far-fetched pitch feels a bit closer to being real. I also did a bunch of red-light therapy and had my DNA sequenced by way of a cheek swab from a health-and-genetics prediction start-up called Nucleus. I skipped out on the morning ecstatic dance rave and the slate of physical tests from Johnsons company, Blueprint, that purport to tell you your biological age based on your fitness level. But I did eat what was billed as the worlds healthiest lunch of plain boiled chicken, broccoli, and lentils a pure example of tastelessness and of Johnsons penchant for superlatives. I couldnt resist taking what Blueprint calls the worlds first microplastics blood test kit. This involved stabbing myself repeatedly with a metal blade until I extracted enough blood to fill a thumbprint-sized circle on a white card; a normal metal syringe, I was told, would contaminate the test results because it contains plastic. One evening, I heard Johnson pitch rapt VIP guests on what he has described as his new Dont Die religion, which he announced recently on X. The former Mormon, who sold his payments company Braintree to PayPal for $800 million in 2013, was holding court in a private area in the Miami Aquarium. Its ecumenical, he stressed. You can be Catholic Dont Die. You can be Chinese Dont Die. You can be American Dont Die. You can be Jewish Dont Die, he said as a hammerhead shark swam above his head. It is the one thing we all have in common. That day, an article in the New York Times had come out about Johnson, detailing his companys extensive use of nondisclosure agreements. Johnson seemed unfazed. He talked about how the company was planning to announce a new effort, Dont Die Certified, in which consumers would pay to test everyday food companies products for toxins and companies would compete for Blueprints measurement-focused certification. The most important thing, Johnson said, was to break the assumption that humans are always mortal. What he didnt really address was the growing gap between who has access to these emerging therapies and who doesnt. Ivanov, the HVAC entrepreneur, tried to ask a question at the VIP dinner, but Johnson didnt see him amid a sea of raised hands. What I was going to ask was how to make this make sense to the people who work at my company, he told me afterward. Biohacker culture has emerged against the backdrop of people feeling let down, and even abandoned, by the traditional medical system. Theres a belief that all these new sensors and data points allow patients to put more information in their own hands rather than have it flow through doctors they might not trust. In the U.S., many of these new approaches exist in regulatory vacuums. Some of the emerging start-ups are founded by well-respected clinicians and researchers and are careful about not overpromising. But others less so. Certain experts have pushed back, arguing that more data doesnt necessarily lead to better health outcomes and that sometimes numbers offer the illusion of a certainty that isnt there. Johnsons religious posturing and internet barbs aside, a growing group of people mostly well-off and under 40 are clearly willing to invest far more in emerging health practices. Theyre pushing the boundaries of whats knowable, opening a new front in the age-old battle against death. Crozer-Chester Medical Center is shown in January, two days after its owner, Prospect Medical Holdings, declared bankruptcy. Read more A lawyer for Delaware County told a bankruptcy judge Wednesday that reaching a deal by the courts April 1 deadline to keep Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Taylor Hospital open was going to be a challenge. Crozers owner, Prospect Medical Holdings, has not provided all the needed financial information, and the county was somewhat surprised by the current terms of the California-based companys proposed sale agreement, Tobey Daluz, of Philadelphia law firm Ballard Spahr, told the judge. Advertisement We cant share more publicly now, but we did want to make your honor aware that we are facing challenges, and we truly hope to be able to move forward on the timeline thats been established by the court and the debtors, Daluz said. A hearing to approve the sale of Crozer to a yet unidentified buyer is scheduled for Tuesday. Daluz also told U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Stacey Jernigan that the county was acting as a facilitator in an effort to form a consortium that would acquire Crozers hospitals, which serve a low-income area of Delaware County that doesnt have many other easily accessible options. But details about a new owner or ownership model have not been publicly disclosed. Daluzs description differed significantly from Prospect attorney Bill Curtins statement in court on Monday that this is going to be a transaction with essentially a partnership between Delaware County and Penn, with support from the Commonwealth and from other parties. The University of Pennsylvania Health System said after the Monday hearing that it is not negotiating an acquisition of Crozer and had no further comment Wednesday. Theres some sensitivity about talking about the specific parties, but there is ample attention to this matter within Delaware County and the larger Pennsylvania community, Curtin said Wednesday. Asked by Jernigan when an asset purchase agreement would be filed in court, Curtin said he had no estimate of when that might happen. Typically during bankruptcy hearings on the fate of Crozer, a representative of the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office has addressed the court, confirming Prospects presentation of events. That didnt happen Wednesday. After the hearing Attorney General Dave Sunday said in an emailed statement: We remain steadfast in our efforts to keep accessible health care for the Delaware County community. These next few days will be crucial to finalizing a purchase agreement that sustains Crozer Health as an economic engine for the community and local source for essential care. Prospect, which acquired Crozer in 2016, has been saying since its Jan. 11 bankruptcy filing that it was on the verge of closing Crozer-Chester in Upland and Taylor in Ridley Park unless outside money was provided to subsidize them. Currently, the for-profit facilities are being kept open by an infusion of $20 million in charitable funds from the nonprofit Foundation for Delaware County. Daluz noted that the Ballard firm has been assisting the county for several years in connection with the Prospect health system. Were prepared and knowledgeable about advancing the interests and keeping the hospitals open, she told the judge. Lawyers for the Philadelphia law firm Duane Morris led by Alan C. Kessler have been representing Prospect locally for years. Anna Epstein, with her daughter, greets her mother, Donna Forsman, through a window at Brookdale Arlington Senior Living in March 2020. MUST CREDIT: Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post Read more Five years later, the memories, though faded, linger. We recall how life lurched to a halt with a cascade of cancellations and postponement. Though our streets once again throng with people, we remember, even if deep in the back of our minds, how a highly contagious virus shuttered schools, stadiums, and worship halls. How places of community took on an unusual hush. Advertisement For some, that time is captured in smells: the hand sanitizer we slathered on our hands and antiseptic wipes we hoped would help us escape an invisible enemy. For others, it is captured in sounds: a shriek of ambulance sirens or an evening cheer for front-line workers. As the world marks the fifth anniversary of COVID-19s unwanted arrival, we revisited photographs from the D.C. region during the pandemic. In the nations capital alone, 1,450 residents have died of COVID. We asked the subjects of these pictures about their enduring memories of that uneasy time. They collect our trash, cut our hair, plan our funerals. Heres how they reacquainted with the world. I can still hear the wailing of family members unable to say goodbye Hari Close, 64, on the responsibility of being a funeral director At the height of the pandemic, even on his birthday, Hari Close began embalming at 2 a.m. There were too many bodies not to, he said. He had bouts of breathlessness and dizziness so intense he had to sit down. When he wasnt in the morgue, he was searching for protective gear at Lowes and Home Depot. Or he was supporting grieving families and worried staff. Or serving as the president of the nations biggest association for Black funeral directors and morticians. So much death left him questioning whether he could continue this work and nudged him to start seeing a psychologist. Late last year, he fell and broke his foot. He needed three surgeries. For the first time in a while, I had to prioritize me. He was forced to pause and rest, to reflect. I can still hear the wailing of family members unable to say goodbye, he said. He worries that people are forgetting the pandemic, or erasing it, and that the country isnt ready for the next one. Hes doing what he can to preserve the history. He donated the gown and shoes he wore while embalming for a museum exhibition. He made a scrapbook for his grandchildren. And he tells them, despite the hardship, it was also a time of solidarity: We came together as neighbors, as colleagues. God always makes sure we come together. Watching her decline while I had to keep an arms length that was hard Anna Epstein, 44, on losing close contact with an elderly parent When the assisted-living center emailed Anna Epstein that theyd figured out a way for families to safely visit, she sobbed. Happy tears, she said. It was late March 2020. Her mom was a resident, then in the early stages of dementia. Staff turned the glass doors between a dining room and an outside courtyard into a meeting space, placing comfortable chairs on each side. Epstein couldnt embrace her mom, Donna Forsman, but at least she could see her. They could touch the glass and know they were separated only by a pane. Watching her decline while I had to keep an arms length that was hard, Epstein said recently. When Forsman was hospitalized, Epstein couldnt stand by her side. When the National Guard visited the center, rattling residents who couldnt quite grasp what was happening, she couldnt hold her hand. Im right here. No one is going to hurt you, Epstein would say on FaceTime. Forsman could operate a phone then. Not anymore. Dementias grip has tightened. When the pandemic pressed the pause on human interactions, it took away time Epstein and a more lucid Forsman couldve spent together. But Anna doesnt like to think that way. There is nowhere productive for me to put that blame, she said. I just tried to make the best of it. When restrictions eased, she brought Mexican food, balloons, and party hats to the center for Forsmans birthday. They ate outside despite the chill. Well always have that memory, she said. Like were back to square one Mike Brown, 53, on dispelling medical misinformation from his barbershop Bit by bit, Mike Brown tried his best to chip away at what he calls the hell no wall. From his barbershop chair, he soothed fears and countered medical misinformation in an effort to encourage his predominantly Black and Latino clientele to consider vaccination. When they see someone they trust, at least they start to listen, said Brown, a certified community health worker and barber at the Shop Spa in Hyattsville which, in 2021, became the first barbershop in Maryland to host a Coronavirus vaccine clinic. Now, feels like were back to square one, Brown said. Distrust of the health-care system continues. Many clients, he said, see doctors rarely, if at all. Instead, they gather advice from social media feeds, where hoaxes spread unchecked. Plus, President Joe Bidens preemptive pardon of Anthony S. Fauci, his chief medical adviser, ignited renewed suspicion, he said. At the barbershop, Brown hung a reminder of the real-world danger of the pandemic on the wall: an obituary of a beloved longtime client who refused the vaccine. Appreciate your workers Octavia French, 32, on not having the option to work from home As the country hunkered down, Octavia Frenchs trash collection route took her across D.C. day in, day out. Mask on, gloves on, windows rolled down for airflow. Every day, she prayed her team wouldnt get sick. She crisscrossed empty streets and tended to bins fuller than usual, noticing more takeout containers and cardboard boxes from online orders. Cant collect trash with the internet, her boss would say. Balancing being safe, being a mom, doing your job. That was tough, said French, who is still a Department of Public Works employee. If I dont do it, then who will? She recalled from those uneasy days of shutdown flashes of joy. People left notes of gratitude, water bottles, and masks. In Capitol Hill, kids scrawled on the ground with chalk: Thank you, DPW. She hopes that spirit lingers. Appreciate your workers, she said. You dont know what someone might be going through, and they still show up to do their job and clean our city. A risk I was willing to take to heal the country Cindy Hoose, 55, a nurse, on vaccines and building trust with the vaccine-hesitant Cindy Hoose remembers the fear. As a nurse, she spoke to crowds all over, from churches to car washes, about getting vaccinated. Some feared needles; others feared the unknown. Some were fearful of the government, Hoose said. Some were fearful that we were trying to round people up and deport them. She graduated from nursing school in 2019, a few months before she turned 50. A pandemic wasnt on her bingo card for her first year in the profession. I can assure you of that, she said. But youre trained for anything. So she got to work trying to educate anyone and everyone about the vaccines. Being with people who were not vaccinated at the height of the pandemic was a risk I was willing to take to try to heal the country, she said. Sometimes she would show pictures from her phone of her and her husband getting the vaccine to build trust. Other times she would just listen. Years later, she tries her best to carry that empathy with her: Some folks have real fears. Even if you cant understand, you can certainly empathize. The only thing I had to be excited about Sherlyn Estrada, 19, on being a teenager in the time of COVID The pandemic ruptured eighth grade and relegated Sherlyn Estradas freshman year of high school to a screen. Gone was the chance meet friends in person. Instead, she logged into class from bed. As her 15th birthday neared, she worried that her quinceanera would become another casualty. It was pretty depressing being home all the time, Estrada reflected recently. The party was the only thing I had be excited about. When May 2021 rolled around and she slipped on her pale purple ball gown to take pictures at National Harbor a few weeks before the coming-of-age celebration, it was as though she was finally emerging from her pandemic cocoon. When strangers nearby learned of the occasion, they burst into a chorus of Happy Birthday! Her family pushed back the celebration by a few months. When restrictions were eased, it was time to party. Her grandparents flew in from El Salvador. After months alone, she sang and danced the night away with a crowd. I could create memories with my friends again, she said. Three Philly suburbs just landed among the best places to live in America and theyre no strangers to the spotlight. Chesterbrook (No. 3), Ardmore (No. 11), and Penn Wynne (No. 13) all cracked the top 15 in Niches latest rankings of the Best Places to Live in America. Thats not just the best in the state thats best in the country. Advertisement The Pittsburgh-based data site, known for its rankings of schools, neighborhoods, and colleges, draws on data from the U.S. Census, FBI, CDC, BLS, and real people who live in these communities. It aims to capture the full picture of what makes a place livable from housing and schools to safety and access to amenities. All three Philly-area towns earned an A+ overall grade and rave reviews for being great places to raise a family but each has its own flavor. Chesterbrook, a Chester County community of just over 5,400 people, continues to rack up wins. It topped Niches national Best Places to Live in America list in 2023, and while it ranks No. 3 overall this year, it still holds the No. 1 spot on the sites Best Suburbs to Live in America list. With top-rated public schools, lots of green space, and easy access to Valley Forge National Historical Park, its long been a favorite for families and retirees. The median home value is around $432,000, and most residents own their homes. It might not have the flash of other top-ranked spots, but thats kind of the appeal its low-key, safe, and consistently delivers on the things that matter most to families: strong schools, quiet streets, and a solid quality of life. What do you get when you combine small-business charm, a thumping food-and-drink scene, and a thriving walkable downtown with a SEPTA stop? Apparently, the Fishtown of the Main Line. Thats how some locals and Inquirer food reporter Jenn Ladd describe Ardmore these days. And they might be onto something. Ranked No. 11 on Niches national list and No. 2 in all of Pennsylvania Ardmore scored high for its public schools, nightlife, and diversity. From bao buns and matcha-tinis at Izzys to saisons at Tired Hands and flaky croissants at Delice et Chocolat, Ardmores food scene brings big city energy to the suburbs. Add in a music venue, high-end boutiques, and some of the regions best thrift stores all within walking distance and its no surprise this is one of the most buzzed-about towns on the Main Line, with development booming around Suburban Square and Lancaster Avenue. As The Inquirer has reported, Ardmore stands out on the Main Line for its variety, accessibility, and relatively diverse population. Real estate moves fast here and a new, fully accessible SEPTA station is in the works. It may be a suburb, but Ardmores got an edge. If Ardmore brings the energy, Penn Wynne brings the calm. Just a few minutes away and also in Lower Merion Township Penn Wynne ranked No. 13 on Niches 2025 list of Best Places to Live in America, and even higher on a key sublist: No. 3 in the country for Best Places to Raise a Family. The Montgomery County neighborhood, home to just over 6,200 residents, is known for its quiet streets, walkability, and top-rated public schools. Niche described it as offering an urban suburban mix feel with a lot of bars, coffee shops, and parks. The area earned top marks for public schools, safety, and its family-friendly feel. Its not flashy, but its beloved and for plenty of Philly-area families, thats more than enough. For the first time in months, Pennsylvania Democrats have reason to celebrate. Democrats claimed victory in a Lancaster County state Senate district where President Donald Trump won by 15 percentage points in November and where no Democrat has won since the south central district was created in the 1980s. Advertisement The Associated Press called the race Wednesday afternoon for Democratic candidate James Malone, who won by just under 500 votes. National Democrats touted the win as a hopeful sign that anti-Trump resistance can win even in traditionally conservative areas, though Republicans suggested the outcome was also the result of a weak candidate and ongoing struggles motivating GOP voters to turn out in off-year elections. The 36th Senate District was formerly represented by State Sen. Ryan Aument (R., Lancaster). Aument resigned from his seat in December, after accepting a job to be U.S. Sen. Dave McCormicks state director. Malone, the mayor of the small borough of East Petersburg outside Lancaster city, defeated GOP County Commissioner Josh Parsons, a staunch Trump supporter who is known in the county GOP for his skilled political maneuvering. A lot of people they did not like the chaos and they didnt like the fact that our leadership in Harrisburg has been silent, Malone, 51, said Wednesday. They really didnt like the fact that no one was listening. Thats all I had to do was be an open ear. Parsons could not be reached for comment Wednesday. In a post on X, he conceded, writing that he called Malone to congratulate him and wish him the best. Again, I truly appreciate those who supported us, contributed, or worked hard in our state senate run, Parsons wrote. Democrats saw an opening in the district, as mail vote totals seemed to give Malone more of an advantage than usual. U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio (D., Pa.) came to Lancaster over the weekend to canvass for him, and Gov. Josh Shapiro made a robocall to voters in the district today, a spokesperson said. Tonight in Lancaster County, Pennsylvanians rejected a candidate who embraced the extremism and division coming out of DC, said Shapiro in a statement. He won the same Senate district in his 2022 gubernatorial bid by two-tenths of a percentage point. In a district carried comfortably by Donald Trump just a few months ago, they chose a better way forward an embrace of competence, commonsense, and a desire to bring people together. But not so fast, Democrats, said Terry Christopher, a local committee chairman in the Republican Committee of Lancaster County. The results were more of a reflection on Parsons, who is the most divisive person in our party and disliked among Democrats, than of Trump. Well defeat [Malone] in a year and a half, Christopher said, noting the strong GOP voter registration advantage in the district. We had a historically bad candidate. Christopher, who has been a critic of Parsons since 2015, when Parsons disapproved of Christophers support of Trump, said Tuesdays results were the worst performance of any politician in county history. We have so much momentum because of President Trump right now that Josh Parsons is the only man that could have actually stopped that momentum and reversed it, Christopher added. Malone acknowledged that he thinks he benefited from some anti-Parsons sentiment in the district, but also said he ran a campaign that pulled in independents and Republicans by talking about local issues, like support for first responders, libraries, and addressing property taxes. A lot of the people who thought it was impossible were underestimating Lancaster. Its not a matter of what party youre in, its what are you wanting to do? Are you willing to listen? That kind of thing ... We can definitely win if were honest decent people. Stella Sexton, who was the co-campaign manager for Malone, said she was able to make the argument to other Democrats that the district was winnable by pointing to Shapiros success there in 2022 against State Sen. Doug Mastriano. There are Republicans in this district who will vote for the right Democrat when theres an incredibly unpopular Trump sycophant, Sexton said. Democrats nationally celebrated Malones success, saying the win indicated that the party could motivate its base in local elections. This is how its done, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez posted on X Tuesday. Focus on local elections ASAP from school board to councils to state legislatures. Ahead of Tuesdays election, the state Senate race garnered the interest of conservative activist and mail voting advocate Scott Presler, and even the attention of Trump billionaire adviser Elon Musk. Presler posted on X late Tuesday that he had warned Republicans that Democrats could flip the seat. I asked for help in Pennsylvania & no one helped us, he added. Sexton said she believed Musks interest in the race helped them turn out more Democrats and independent voters, as well as Malones fundraising ability that kept pace with Parsons campaign spending. Parsons political personality has been built, in part, by his focus on culture war issues. He led early efforts to reopen the county early in the COVID-19 pandemic, he objected to a drag queen story hour last year at the local library that was later shut down due to bomb threats, and he was featured in a Washington Post story for his attacks on the local newspaper. But he wielded control in the local Republican Party and successfully helped his wife, Christina Parsons, get elected to the county Court of Common Pleas in 2023, despite not getting the Lancaster County Bar Associations recommendation. Parsons also had a public argument late last year with Amber Martin, the countys GOP treasurer and wife of Lancasters State Sen. Scott Martin, in which she described his behavior as despicable, LancasterOnline reported. As Malone takes over a politically divided district, he said hes not thinking about an ideological approach progressive or moderate, but how to get results for constituents who will vote on whether he continues to represent them in 2026. Theres gonna be another tough race, and weve got 18 months to prove that we can actually serve our district, he said. Pennsylvania Democrats were also celebrating Tuesday after winning a special election outside Pittsburgh to reclaim House Democrats one-seat majority to again lead the chamber after a Democratic member died in January. Democrat Dan Goughnour, a McKeesport police officer and school board member, won Tuesdays special election to fill a vacancy in the 35th Legislative District created by the late Rep. Matt Gergelys death earlier this year. Gergely, 45, died in January following a health emergency. Cynthia Melton, direct care worker with Ameribest home care, prepares cream of wheat for a client, Marlene Williams. Melton has been providing care for people for 40 years. Read more Six days a week including two overnight shifts Cynthia Melton takes the bus to Marlene Williams home in Olney. Melton, 63, has been a certified nurses aide for 40 years, the majority of which she spent working in nursing homes. She switched over to become a home health aide for agency Ameribest eight years ago, going from 16 to 18 patients at a time in the nursing home to focusing on just one: Williams, 62, who has multiple sclerosis and requires nearly round-the-clock care. Advertisement Melton cares for Williams like her own family, just as she would have wanted someone to care for her late mother. If that means staying several extra hours for little-to-no overtime pay on already low wages or covering another aides shift, so be it. I tell [Williams], Im taking care of you, Melton, of East Germantown, said just before she began a shift last month. We have to work together. Youre putting your life on me. The work is strenuous. When Melton comes in for a morning shift, she helps Williams get out of bed, wash up, and dress before getting her set up in her wheelchair for the day. She prepares her meals, and assists Williams with whatever she needs throughout the day. Melton is one of Pennsylvanias more than 270,000 home care workers, who on average are paid $16.50 an hour on the states $20.63 Medicaid reimbursement rate, earning about the same for the physically demanding care they provide as what their local convenience store or fast food chain pays workers. Pennsylvania lags behind all of its neighboring states by nearly $5 per hour in Medicaid reimbursements, translating to lower wages and increased employee turnover. Its a disparity that has festered for years. But now, the association representing home care agencies has put out a dire warning: If Pennsylvania state lawmakers dont invest $550 million more to increase Medicaid reimbursements for home care workers this year, the crisis for home care will only worsen and endanger Pennsylvanias growing aging population, as more than a third of the states population will be at retirement age by 2030. Seniors who want to stay in their homes, rather than moving into skilled nursing facilities when they can no longer care for themselves, make up a large portion of home care clients. Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, proposed as part of his $51.5 billion budget pitch last month that the state invest an additional $21 million to raise wages and cover vacation time of 8,500 non-agency home care workers, who make up only 6% of the total home care workforce. He did not propose any rate increase for agency home care workers, who represent the majority of home care workers, working for organizations like Ameribest, Bayada, or locally owned agencies. Shapiros Department of Human Services released a rate study after his budget address that acknowledged that Pennsylvanias home care agencies need a reimbursement increase by 23% to $25.42 per hour so that agencies can offer competitive wages above the current $16.50 average. Mia Haney, the CEO of the Pennsylvania Homecare Association, said that due to low pay and worker turnover, 112,000 home care worker shifts go unfilled in Pennsylvania each month. Thats 112,000 times that somebody is waiting for somebody to arrive, and no one is coming, Haney said. That scenario is only going to worsen. More than 3 million Pennsylvanians use the states Medicaid program eligible groups include seniors, children, and people with disabilities who meet specific income guidelines, among others and can receive in-home care through the states insurance. However, the state is only willing to reimburse up to $20.63 per hour for work by a home care agency. That payment is then mostly passed on to the direct care worker on average, $16.50 an hour with the agency keeping some of the pay for administering the health-care program. A spokesperson for Shapiro said in a statement that the governors home care proposal was targeted to the specific subset of the home care field that has fewer resources than agency workers, as part of his efforts to address larger workforce challenges across the state. As the governor made clear in his budget address, we have to be there for home care workers and individuals receiving home care services all across Pennsylvania, and his administration will continue working to bring people together to deliver results on these key issues, said Manuel Bonder, Shapiros press secretary. Home care agencies see the $550 million investment as both necessary and as a long-term cost-savings for the state. The cost of living in a residential facility which, on average, can exceed $10,000 a month is more than double the average cost of remaining in ones home. People who stay in their homes, or age in place, also report better quality of life and health outcomes, Haney added. Lawmakers and Shapiro will begin negotiating the states annual budget this summer, though the challenges in the home care industry was not a core concern among legislators during budget hearings in the state House and Senate earlier this month. READ MORE: Balancing a national profile and a new Trump term, Gov. Josh Shapiros budget pitch toes the line Shapiros budget proposal makes major investments in other parts of the health-care continuum, including a $2.5 billion increase in Medicare payments after underestimating how much costs would rise in the 2024-25 budget year. But Haney and agency leaders say they cant wait any longer for a Medicaid reimbursement rate increase for agency home care workers, which rose by only about $2 over the last decade most of which occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 80% of direct care workers employed by home care agencies in Pennsylvania are women and 46% are people of color, Haney added, which means the low wages disproportionately affect them. We cant sit back and say, Were OK if you skip us, Haney said. Weve been skipped for multiple years. Its scary, and we are genuinely concerned. We want to protect our patients, and we want to protect our direct care workers. More than just seniors affected Home care is not only necessary for senior or physically disabled adults. The industry also plays a critical role in helping pediatric patients transition from a hospital setting to their homes. Andrea Smiths now 3-year-old son Drew was born 100 days early and spent the first nine months of his life in a Philly hospital. He was chosen for a Bayada initiative called the HICU Home Intensive Care Unit specifically designed for medically fragile children who are likely to be hospitalized again within 30 days. But once Drew graduated from the HICU, Smith struggled to find reliable nursing staff to care for her son, who until November had a tracheostomy tube to help him breathe and still requires care during the day and evening. At one point, Smith said she lost her job as a teachers assistant at a Philadelphia charter school, after having to call out of work to take Drew to appointments or when she was unable to find care for him. Some days my nights were covered, but my mornings werent, Smith said. He was literally on a trach. He couldnt be disconnected from the trach all day, and he had to be watched around the clock. You cant even take a shower without someone watching him. Smith, who lives in North Philadelphia, has gone through approximately 15 nurses in her sons short life so far, including one who was afraid of touching his trach. She remembers the best of them, though, and was heartbroken to see some of her favorite nurses leave the home care field for better pay in local hospital systems, she said. Direct care workers are paid by the agencies they work for, and that pay is determined by a states reimbursement rate. They become family once they come in your house, Smith said. When I look back at my cameras, I see them singing to him, reading to him The majority of my nurses that cover me, I wish I couldve done something or had the money to keep them. They were good nurses, but they couldnt just work for Drew and make it enough to take care of their livelihoods. Shea Boland, who handled Drews case and is the director of Bayadas local pediatric home care program, said nurses will often choose to work in home care because they like the flexibility of creating their own schedule and caring for one specific patient. But the low reimbursement rates prevent agencies from increasing their hourly rates, and therefore, the highest-quality Philadelphia-area nurses often look for higher-paying jobs at local hospital systems, or in neighboring New Jersey, where hourly rates top $25.16. Its incredibly competitive, the market in Philadelphia, Boland said. The fact they can cross a bridge and make more money has a negative impact. For Melton, the longtime CNA, she knows she could go back to school if she wanted to, or get a higher-paying job. But she doesnt want to at this point in her life. This is my life. I love what I do, Melton said. We there for them like their own kids. The kids [are] not there for them, so we need to take care of them. The jury in the trial of three former Philadelphia homicide detectives accused of perjury in a murder case that spanned three decades will begin deliberations Wednesday after more than a week of testimony. Detectives Martin Devlin, Frank Jastrzembski, and Manuel Santiago are charged with lying under oath about their 1991 investigation of the rape and killing of 77-year-old Louise Talley in Nicetown. They have denied any wrongdoing and said they followed the evidence in the case and it led to Wright, who they said confessed to the crime. Advertisement At the heart of the trial is the question of whether or not they framed Anthony Wright and helped send him to prison for a quarter-century before his conviction was overturned then lied again on the witness stand at his 2016 retrial before a jury declared him innocent. Prosecutors called DNA experts and others to build their case that Devlin and Santiago fabricated an eight-page confession that the detectives allegedly forced Wright to sign. And Jastrzembski, prosecutors say, lied about the clothing that he said he found in Wrights bedroom. Wrights sentence was vacated after forensic testing, unavailable during his initial trial, implicated another man in Talleys death and exposed what prosecutors describe as flaws in the initial murder investigation. READ MORE: Trial of former homicide detectives charged with lying in a murder case raises questions about evidence Then-District Attorney Seth Williams brought Wright to trial again on the theory that DNA evidence did not exclude him as an accomplice. But that narrative fell short, and a jury acquitted Wright and criticized prosecutors for a case that one juror said featured evidence so compelling for Tony that there really could have been no other verdict. Another jury must now decide whether the detectives testimony was built on lies. In closing arguments Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney Brian Collins said Wrights supposed confession was a work of fiction that caught up to the detectives as the science evolved. It made no sense that Wright voluntarily went to the police station and signed a detail-rich confession that would lead detectives to every piece of evidence they needed to close the case, Collins said, only to later deny the confession for decades. In addition to the lack of Wrights DNA on Talleys body and on the clothes police said they found at his home, a DNA expert testified this week that Wrights DNA was not found on the knife that police said he used to stab Talley. When we talk about the statement this work of fiction that is Anthony Wrights confession this is a key piece of evidence, Collins told the jury. Hes excluded from the murder weapon. Throughout the week, defense attorneys said the detectives told the truth, followed the evidence, and had the right man all along. Much of the weeklong trial resembled a retrial of Wright, and in their closing statements, attorneys for the detectives went further: They accused him of perjury on the witness stand last week, pointing to inconsistencies between the evidence and Wrights testimony about details like his shoe size and his assertions that he had never gotten in trouble in prison. As they defended the three men on charges of perjury and false swearing, the lawyers repeatedly called into question Wrights innocence, casting him as a liar with a history of violence and drug use who had duped the jury that set him free. He gets crazy when he smokes crack, Fortunato Perri, a defense attorney for Santiago, said half a dozen times during his closing statement, a reference to one witness description of Wright in 1991. READ MORE: Perjury trial of former Philly cops accused of lying in a murder case begins week two with a delay They said the retrial was flawed due in part to uncooperative witnesses and suggested that Wright got away with murder. Jastrzembskis attorney, Steven Patton, accused District Attorney Larry Krasner of trying to manufacture a corruption story where his predecessors saw guilt. Its the same evidence they used in 2016 to try Wright for murder, Patton said. But now its 2025 and now [we] dont want them to be Anthony Wrights clothes. The three detectives, now long retired, sat silently behind their defense attorneys for much of the weeklong trial, occasionally shaking their heads as prosecutors laid out the perjury case against them. The perjury trial marks a rare instance in which police officers have been criminally charged for their roles in securing a wrongful conviction. While both Wright trials predated his time in office, Krasner has made overturning wrongful convictions and exposing underlying prosecutorial misconduct a cornerstone of his administration, a campaign that has at times met with resistance from others in law enforcement. Krasners office says it has secured more than 50 exonerations since 2018. Even as the city pays out tens of millions of dollars to settle lawsuits over wrongful convictions, the statute of limitations on criminal charges is often long expired by the time exonerating evidence comes to light, as the police investigations of the crimes often date back decades. In this case, Krasners office filed perjury charges against the detectives just days before the statute of limitations on their alleged crimes was set to expire. Common Pleas Court Judge Lucretia Clemons is to instruct jurors about their deliberations Wednesday morning. Portal viewers in Philadelphias LOVE Park reach out to viewers on screen at the public webcam in Litewski Square in Lublin, Poland, on Nov. 23, 2024. Read more The Philadelphia version of the Portal, the art installation that helps broadcast people in front of the futuristic, circular screen into three different European cities, will be up and running Friday following some vandalism that left it out of commission since early February. Whats more, the Portal will stay in Philadelphia despite recent uncertainty, though the installation is slated to leave LOVE Park to another Philadelphia location in approximately two weeks time, according to one of the projects leaders. Advertisement Joe Callahan, a director of the Portals project, said crews were already at LOVE Park fixing the damage Wednesday a project spokesperson had attributed repair delays to funding hang-ups. Callahan said Portal organizers would whittle down the options for the Portals next home to three locations, which would be announced next week. We identify a location based on its existing footfall and whether or not it has public access, and then we identify the location whether or not it has the capacity to have a celebration in front of the board, he said. Part of the reason for the move is to avoid moving the 3.5-ton behemoth to make room for the Christmas Village, which organizers had to do last year. Callahan did stress one finer point: The Portal, despite the minor incidents of vandalism, will stay in the city for at least the next two years. It will be turned back on at LOVE Park during a ceremony Friday at 7 a.m. Thieves cut out copper wire from the installation and Portal engineers believe rocks caused additional damage that led to the project being covered up with a tarp. While Callahan said vandalism has not been an issue in the handful of Portals organizers have scattered across the globe, he said the issues in Philly amounted to a fraction of a fraction of a percentage in the city. The Portals project was created by Lithuanian artist Benediktas Gylys, who launched the first installation in 2021. Whats now the Philly Portal arrived in October after a stint in New York City. When working, it broadcasts scenes from sister installations in Dublin, Ireland; Vilnius, Lithuania; and Lublin, Poland. Despite speculation that there werent enough sponsors to keep a Portal in Philly, Callahan tried to dispel doubt, saying organizers are always fundraising because of the fact that its a philanthropic mission. Portals organizers are even looking for ways they could collaborate with planners for Phillys Semiquincentennial celebration, he said. There may be multiple portals, said Callahan. On the left, QVC spokesmodel Susanne Thomson demonstrating a cream on her hands. On the right, the exploded San Pellegrino bottle on Thomson's home counter. Read more A threat to Susanne Thomsons on-air career at QVC was lingering in her basement in the form of a San Pellegrino bottle. The glass sparkling-water bottle sat as part of a six-pack in her Bucks County home for three weeks, seemingly waiting for the right moment to strike. And the moment arrived on Aug. 12, 2023. Advertisement Thats when the spokesmodel for the home shopping TV channel placed the six-pack on her kitchen counter and one of the bottles exploded, lacerating her right wrist, according to a lawsuit filed in Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas last week. Thomson and her husband, Blair Thomson, sued the Swiss food-conglomerate Nestle, which owns the San Pellegrino brand, alleging the bottle exploded due to a defect. Since her injury, Thomson has undergone surgeries on her right wrist, the complaint said, most recently in January. But her hand remains scarred, and Thomson continues to experience pain and her ability to move her hand is limited. The injury is particularly devastating considering Thomsons line of work, in which as a spokesmodel she demonstrates products such as lotions and creams on TV, said J.B. Dilsheimer, the Stampone OBrien Dilsheimer Holloway attorney representing her. Her hands are essential to what she does, not just that they work but also how they look, Dilsheimer said. Thomson lost an unspecified amount of income due to her wound. Shes still at QVC, but doesnt work as much as she had before or fulfill the same tasks, Dilsheimer said. The lawsuit asks for damages that exceed $50,000, which is the limit for compulsory arbitration in the Philadelphia court. The complaint also accuses The Giant Company, which owns grocery stores throughout the East Coast, including the one in Quakertown where Thomson bought the San Pellegrino six-pack, of negligence. Nestle and Giant did not respond to requests for comment. Dilsheimer said that Thomson kept parts of the bottle, and that he is working with forensic experts to analyze the glass in an attempt to determine the cause of the explosion. For example, whether some areas of the bottle were too thin to sustain the pressure of the carbonated liquid. The complaint relies on a legal doctrine called res ipsa loquitur, which is Latin for the thing speaks for itself. The doctrine has old roots in European legal systems, but has gained footing in the United States after a 1944 case in which a California server was injured by a bottle of Coca-Cola that spontaneously exploded. Even though attorneys for the server couldnt prove that there was a defect in the specific bottle, the Supreme Court of California sided with her, with then-Chief Justice Phil Gibson saying the conclusion that it was defective was sound because properly prepared bottles of carbonated liquids do not ordinarily explode when carefully handled. The complaint filed on behalf of Thomson argues similarly that the rouge San Pellegrino bottle was properly handled and stored in the Thomson household, so it speaks for itself that a bottle that was not defective shouldnt explode. Had the Product not been defectively manufactured and included the proper warnings, Plaintiff, Susanne Thomson, would not have suffered the resulting injuries, the complaint says. The American Line circa 1880. This is a broadside advertisement for the American Line, showing scenes from the Emigrant Depot, also known as the Washington Avenue Immigration Station. Courtesy of the Independence Seaport Museum, Penns Landing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Read more Washington Avenue Immigration Station opened 19 years before Ellis Island, welcoming more than one million immigrants from Europe into the United States. Its history, however, became somewhat forgotten. After learning about Philadelphias version of Ellis Island through Curious Philly, The Inquirers forum for questions about the city and region, many readers wondered: How can one access immigration records for the Washington Avenue Station? Physical passenger records from the immigration station, which was located along the Delaware River at Washington Avenue, are not available. Most files are digitized by the National Archives and Records Administration. Advertisement They can be accessed through the administrations partnership with paid service Ancestry.com and Familysearch.org, which is free but requires an account. Still, those arent the only options. READ MORE: Philadelphias version of Ellis Island was the Washington Avenue Immigration Station Accessing records in person Pennsylvanians can navigate the digital records, for free, at the National Archives Philadelphia location: 14700 Townsend Rd. Appointments, and patience, are a must, since booking is done via email at philadelphia.archives@nara.gov. Dont expect to have a researcher do all the looking. Access to both microfilm and the computer research room is self-service. Regardless, staff will be available to help find needed resources, said a National Archives spokesperson. Phillys research room is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Names, birthplaces, residences, and birth dates of those who migrated will be needed to find the records. People outside Pennsylvania can access the digital records, at no cost, at their states National Archives location, the spokesperson said. What information is available? The National Archives keeps digitized genealogical records of passengers who docked at the Washington Avenue Immigration Station from 1800 to 1945. The insights can paint a fuller picture of how a person came into the United States, including their nationality, place of birth, ship name, date of entry, and profession. The records also include an immigrants age, height, eye, and hair color, and how much money they brought in, as well as their last place of residence and the names and addresses of the relatives they joined upon arrival. Further digging can even result in finding correspondence, reports, diaries, and case files from the Record Group 85, a collection of files centered on the Immigration and Naturalization Service. In Philadelphia, the most popular immigrant-related documents are passenger manifests and naturalization records, according to the spokesperson. Naturalization was a two-step process that took a minimum of five years, the spokesperson said. After entering the United States, a noncitizen could file a declaration of intention (first papers) to become a citizen. The noncitizen could then file a petition for naturalization (second papers) after a prescribed waiting period. Both the declaration and petition were submitted to a court for consideration. Some of those files can be viewed online at NARA from any computer and at no cost. Physical copies of those records, and many others, can be requested online, taking up to 16 weeks for delivery. U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick at a Donald Trump campaign event in Butler, Pa., in October. Because overdose death rates are falling, the senator's proposals may be a waste of government resources, Christopher E. Kelly writes. Read more One of the first pieces of legislation Sen. Dave McCormick has introduced focuses on stopping fentanyl distribution. Perhaps this topic is not surprising given that Pennsylvanians and Philadelphians, in particular have been hit hard by the opioid crisis. In the two-plus decades Americans have been dying of opioids once upon a time from heroin purchased on the street, and today from fentanyl has no one thought to try the approach of disrupting the supply of these substances and targeting trafficking organizations before? Of course, they have, including long before fentanyl became the boogie man-substance du jour of our failed war on some people who use some drugs. Advertisement The initiative McCormick has proposed, and which is cosponsored by Pennsylvanias senior senator, John Fetterman, will do precisely nothing to turn the tide of the crisis. In fact, there are hopeful signs the overdose death rate is starting to come down, and fast, potentially making this task force a waste of government resources entirely. McCormick, however, is simply repeating the failed history of the drug war that focuses on only half the equation of substance and opioid use disorders. I suspect he is simply looking to score political points by attacking China, Mexico, and immigrants, all with the thin veneer of appearing to help Pennsylvanians. As someone who positioned himself as a savvy businessperson during the campaign, McCormick like all of the antidrug warriors who preceded him is either willfully ignorant of or has simply forgotten the first rule of economics, which very much applies to illicit drug markets: demand drives supply, not the other way around. For decades now, our political and law enforcement leaders have waged a one-sided battle on illegal drugs, only to see the rates of use holding steady, while access to illegal drugs has gotten easier, and the drugs themselves are deadlier than ever. McCormicks proposed task force is simply more of the same. The drug war is nothing if not an exercise in the apocryphal definition of insanity doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different result. Related to the supply-and-demand question in licit or illicit markets is the concept of the Iron Law of Prohibition. Briefly, it is the idea that as authorities crack down on a substance, a more potent and lethal one will take its place because demand for the product will still exist. When the federal government finally began regulating the legal prescription market is when we saw a rapid increase in heroin-related overdose deaths, as those whose prescriptions were suddenly cut off still needed something to avoid the pains associated with withdrawal. Heroin then (or more accurately, because the history of drug panics tends to be cyclical, again) became the focus of law enforcements supply-side interventions, where there were undoubtedly successes in tamping down the production and distribution of heroin, but this gave rise to our current crisis. The first rule of economics very much applies to illicit drug markets: demand drives supply, not the other way around. Fentanyl is much more concentrated, meaning it is easier to smuggle, just like when beer was the most-consumed alcoholic beverage prior to the Prohibition Era, whiskey and other spirits then became Americans drink of choice because it was what was most available at the time. I do not know what is next once fentanyl fades from the scene, but we can be fairly certain something even deadlier will take its place. We may have already seen a glimpse of what it is here in Philadelphia with synthetic opioids called nitazenes. If Sens. McCormick and Fetterman really want to prevent American deaths, they ought to look at the cuts coming to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and not only save the funding of that agency but increase it. SAMHSA and its relatively tiny budget have been at the forefront of the efforts to reduce opioid-related overdoses and deaths through compassionate care, harm reduction, and promoting evidence-based treatment options for those struggling with substance use disorder and opioid use disorder. Notably absent from SAMHSAs portfolio are any sort of law enforcement actions. Christopher E. Kelly is a professor of criminal justice at St. Josephs University. For the second straight day, two top officials in President Donald Trumps administration were grilled on Capitol Hill after taking part in a group chat on Signal with other cabinet members in which sensitive information about airstrikes was mistakenly mentioned in front of a journalist. Testimony Wednesday from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe to the House Intelligence Committee largely echoed their comments Tuesday to a similar committee in the Senate, where they claimed no classified information was mentioned and described the leak as a mistake. Advertisement It was a mistake that a reporter was inadvertently added to a Signal chat with high level national security principals having a policy discussion about imminent strikes against the Houthis and the effects of the strikes, Gabbard testified. The conversation was candid and sensitive, but as the presidents national security adviser stated, no classified information was shared. A full transcript of the chat, published Wednesday by The Atlantic, includes a post by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth providing the exact times of warplane launches, strike packages and targets before the men and women flying those attacks against Yemens Houthis this month on behalf of the United States were airborne, according to the Associated Press. No one is texting war plans, Hegseth told reporters on the tarmac in Honolulu Wednesday ahead of a trip to Guam, the Philippines, and Japan. Theres no units, no locations, no routes, no flight paths, no sources, no methods, no classified information. U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R., Pa.), one of three Pennsylvania representatives on the House Intelligence Committee, did not question Gabbard or Ratcliffe on the Signal group chat during the committees open-door session on Capitol Hill. Instead, Fitzpatrick asked a single question on the reauthorization of Section 702 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which was updated last year to allow the government to collect certain communications between U.S. citizens without a warrant. Fitzpatrick, a former FBI agent who represents Bucks County and a small part of Montgomery County, said Monday he would presume there would be a House investigation of the leak, but stopped well short of criticizing Trump officials or calling for members to resign. That fell in line with other Republicans, who have avoided delving into the controversy have downplayed the leak as a mistake to learn from rather than a national security issue to examine. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that Trump still had great trust in his national security team and just one top Republican Sen. Roger Wicker (R., Miss.), the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee had openly called for an investigation as of Wednesday afternoon. What I think is most important here is not the way this information was communicated, but the action that was taken to actually attack the Yemen rebels who have been targeting our sailors and international shipping Saudi Arabia for more than a year, Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.), the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told reporters Wednesday. U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (R., Pa.), an outspoken supporter of Trump who attempted to overturn Pennsylvanias election results in 2020, also didnt press Gabbard or Ratcliffe on the Signal chat. Instead, Perry used his time Wednesday to ask questions involving immigration and China, including the claim the country was buying up wide-scale swaths of land in the United States. As of the end of 2023, China held 277,336 acres of U.S. land, less than 1% of all foreign-held land within the country, according to a joint report by the Farm Service Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Foreign-held land represents less than 2% of all land in the United States, the report noted. U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D., Pa.) was more willing to question Trumps top intelligence officials, taking issue with Gabbards comment that Hegseth had the ultimate authority over what information in a group chat was classified or declassified. You are the DNI, Houlahan said during the hearing, adding the chat included many cabinet members and did not have the auspice of being a DOD chat. Houlahan, a former Air Force officer who represents most of Chester County, said she believed Hegseth should resign and pressed a reluctant Gabbard to commit to investigating the incident fully. Yes, I will follow the law, Gabbard testified. Houlahan also blasted Ratcliffe, who confirmed he was on the chat, for suggesting Democrats were putting politics before national security by focusing on the discussion of airstrikes on Signal. I find it offensive for you to accuse me, as a Democrat, of not caring about national threats, Houlahan said. Its my job to ask these questions because when I served in the military, and I served in classified environments, had this happened to me, I would have walked my resignation in immediately. Communicating these sorts of things in Signal is not OK, Houlahan added. Targets, times, those kinds of things are absolutely classified, and we all know it. I know it. These people know it. You all know it. Andy Kim among Democrats calling for Hegseth to resign U.S. Sen. Andy Kim (D., N.J.) was among the Democrats who called for Hegseth to resign Wednesday after the shocking details of the Signal chat were published. As someone who worked in the Situation Room before, I cannot believe Hegseth would recklessly text info that could put a target on our pilots and service members, Kim wrote on social media. He needs to resign. Sen. Mark Kelly (D., Ariz.), a retired Navy combat pilot and astronaut, also called on Hegseth to step down, describing the former Fox News host as the most unqualified Secretary of Defense weve ever seen. Were lucky it didnt cost any servicemembers their lives, but for the safety of our military and our country, Kelly wrote on social media. House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries was the highest-ranking Democrats to call for Hegseth to resign telling Trump in a letter the former Fox News host was unqualified to serve as defense secretary. The so-called secretary of defense recklessly and casually disclosed highly sensitive war plans including the timing of a pending attack, possible strike targets and the weapons to be used during an unclassified national security group chat that inexplicably included a reporter, Jeffries wrote in the letter, which was obtained by the New York Times. His behavior shocks the conscience, risked American lives and likely violated the law. City Councilmember Isaiah Thomas questioned Mayor Cherelle L. Parker's spending plans in light of the economic uncertainty being caused by President Donald Trump's administration. Read more President Donald Trumps administration has terminated a $1 million environmental justice grant for Philadelphias Office of Sustainability, city officials said Tuesday, providing new details on what is so far the only federal grant canceled during Trumps second term that directly affects the city government. The grant is a drop in the bucket in the context of a city that spends more than $6 billion a year through its general fund budget and more than $11 billion across all funds, including self-sustaining funds like the aviation department, which oversees city airports. But Philadelphia received a total of $2.8 billion in federal funds in 2024, and Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers administration is bracing for additional cuts. Advertisement The uncertainty over federal funding is likely to loom large over this springs city budget negotiations, and City Council members on Tuesday questioned whether Parkers ambitious plans, including cutting taxes and borrowing $800 million for a new housing initiative, are the right strategy for the moment. READ MORE: Phillys budget negotiations, explained in four charts We are starting this budget process with every finance expert citing uncertainty regarding the federal budget, and we have seen the Trump presidency emboldened by the work of the billionaire Elon Musk to quickly target and dismantle federal agencies, Councilmember Kendra Brooks, a member of the progressive Working Families Party, said on the first day of Councils nine weeks of budget hearings. Brooks questioned why the administration is asking Council to codify 17 years of tax cuts into law referencing Parkers proposal to set a long-term schedule for city wage and business tax cuts given the uncertainty of federal aid. Meanwhile, Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, a more moderate Democrat who supports tax cuts, questioned whether the city was spending too much money given the federal landscape. Were looking to spend a lot of money, a lot of spending this year, Thomas said. Looking at tariffs, looking at cost of goods, looking at what you want to do around housing does it fit the moment that were in? Parker is hoping to toe a line that will allow her to prevent her agenda from stalling while also demonstrating that the city is prepared to handle whatever comes out of Washington. She has sought to steer clear of combative rhetoric that might draw Trumps or Musks ire, and she included a $95 million reserve to deal with federal cuts in her proposal for the next city budget. READ MORE: Mayor Cherelle Parker pitches her $6.7 billion budget plan as Trumps grave threat to cut aid to cities looms City Finance Director Rob Dubow on Tuesday acknowledged that amount wouldnt do much to help the city weather severe cuts, but he said it could help temporarily continue individual grants facing elimination. He noted the mayors proposed budget also includes other reserves such as the $514 million fund balance, which is the amount intentionally left unspent in the budget to help the city navigate unforeseen shortfalls. Were trying to do those things to steel ourselves against what may come, while also not abandoning needed investments to keep the city moving forward, Dubow told lawmakers at the hearing, adding that the city is not being caught flat-footed. Trump has threatened to cut off all funds to so-called sanctuary cities, including Philadelphia, that decline to assist in federal immigration enforcement. And earlier this year, he temporarily froze all federal grants. City Solicitor Renee Garcia said the chaos of the second Trump is teaching me patience, noting that federal funds appear temporarily frozen at unpredictable intervals and that many of the presidents attempts to cut various funding streams get tied up in courts. Sometimes at 8 a.m. we cant draw down funds, but at 8 p.m. we can, Garcia told Council. They do something. Theres a lawsuit. Theres an injunction. The money starts flowing. Heres what else happened on the first day of budget hearings. Questions loom on homeless services office The Parker administration has installed a new leader of the office of homeless services and vowed to clean up operations after the agency overspent its budget for several years in a row, but funding to the department is likely to face continued scrutiny from Council this spring. The biggest question that went largely unanswered Tuesday is why the administration appears to be proposing a $5 million cut to the agencys budget for the next year compared with its current $88.7 million allocation. Im challenged to understand how we can deal with increases in homelessness by chopping the OHS budget, said Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, a Democrat who represents parts of West Philadelphia. Tiffany Thurman, Parkers chief of staff, insisted the budget was not cut but did not elaborate. Budget Director Sabrina Maynard said only that there was some funding that was not needed, and that she would follow up at a later time. The decrease is entirely in the offices fund for outside contracts, which makes up a majority of its budget. The OHS pays third-party agencies and nonprofits to house the homeless, and it was those contracting processes that led in part to the department overspending about $15 million in the aftermath of the pandemic. Cheryl Hill, the offices new executive director, sought to reassure Council that eradicating homelessness is one goal of the mayors $2 billion housing plan, which she unveiled to lawmakers Monday during a special session. READ MORE: Mayor Cherelle Parker unveils housing plan amid Trumps federal funding cuts and Council skepticism We can end homelessness in Philadelphia, and that is our intent, Hill said. Were looking at our processes. Were looking at the services that we provide, and making sure theyre the right ones for the people who are unhoused in Philadelphia. City staffing issues persist despite minor improvement Several Council members asked Parkers top staff to explain why the city has a continued, yearslong short-staffing problem, which spans departments across the municipal government and is most acute in public safety agencies. Administration officials said they have made incremental progress, bringing the government-wide vacancy rate from 19% last year to 17% as of this month. Thats still nearly 5,800 unfilled jobs across the workforce of more than 20,000, said Candi Jones, the citys director of human resources. Jones said the Parker administrations efforts to recruit potential employees have led to an increase in applications for city jobs, jumping from 53,000 in 2023 to more than 60,000 last year. Administration officials said they have hosted two job fairs aimed at hiring federal employees who recently resigned or were laid off by the Trump administration. Councilmember Jim Harrity, a Democrat who represents the city at-large, questioned why so many jobs remain open if tens of thousands of people have applied to work for the city. Jones said that hiring is only slightly outpacing attrition, and that the city is losing about 3,000 workers per year to resignations and retirement. Were looking at our tremendous recruitment efforts. Were looking at new hires. But we are bleeding out, Jones said. Our recruitment efforts are not for naught. We are getting there. But we also have to, where we can, address our separations. City unions have said that Parkers unusually strict policy requiring all city employees to work in person five days a week which the mayor implemented last year after surviving a court challenge is an impediment to recruitment and retention. Many of the vacancies are concentrated in the citys public safety agencies, most notably the prisons department, which has a 42% vacancy rate, according to a recent report by the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority. The vacancy rate is 30% in the sheriffs office, and 16% in the police department. Proponents of major reductions in Philadelphias business and wage taxes have been gaining momentum for several years, culminating in Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers embrace this year of rate cuts in the next city budget. But City Councils progressives are sending a message that they are not giving up without a fight. Advertisement Councilmember Kendra Brooks and Nicolas ORourke, who both represent the progressive Working Families Party, on Wednesday will unveil a three-pronged Peoples Tax Plan in an effort to change the narrative on tax policy in Philadelphia. The Inquirer acquired a memo describing the Working Families Party plan, which calls for: Increasing wage tax refunds for low-income Philadelphians, which would help to make the flat-rate tax on unearned income more progressive, meaning a greater share of its burden would fall on higher earners. Doubling the size of a tax break that helps small businesses and defending it from a legal challenge that the Parker administration does not believe the city can win. Creating a new 0.4% tax on stocks and bonds held by city residents, commonly known as a wealth tax. Brooks first introduced a wealth tax in Councils last term, but it went nowhere. The new version includes tweaks that address criticisms of her initial try, such as excluding retirement accounts and college savings funds. The tax would generate $200 million per year, with 70% coming from the top 5% of earners, according to a Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center analysis cited in the memo. Wealth inequality continues to spiral out of control across the country with billionaires holding even more influence over policymaking decisions, the memo reads. The wealth tax, it says, would reduce income inequality and ensure continued and stable revenue. The release of the plan coincides with Wednesdays high-profile Council hearing on Parkers tax proposal. The mayor wants to cut the wage tax from 3.75% to 3.74% for city residents and 3.44% to 3.43% for people who live outside Philly but commute into the city. READ MORE: What you need to know about BIRT, the Philly business double tax that some city leaders are trying to kill For the business income and receipts tax, or BIRT, which has two separate tax rates, Parker is proposing lowering the net income tax on profits from 5.81% to 5.71% next year, and the gross receipts tax on businesses total revenue from 0.1415% to 0.1410%. Those cuts would cost the city $9.2 million next year. Several members, including Council President Kenyatta Johnson, are likely to suggest the city could go even further than Parker has proposed. But Brooks and ORourke, along with left-leaning Democratic members Rue Landau and Jamie Gauthier, have already begun questioning why Philly is considering tax cuts at a time when President Donald Trump is threatening to cut off federal funding streams cities rely on. READ MORE: Federal cuts, staffing struggles, homeless services: Philly City Council probes Mayor Parkers $6.7B budget proposal A major complication in this years debate over taxes is ongoing litigation over a provision of BIRT that effectively exempts businesses with $100,000 or less in revenue from paying the tax. The Massachusetts-based medical device manufacturer Zoll Medical Corp. has sued the city, claiming that the tax violates the Pennsylvania Constitutions uniformity clause, which prohibits different classes of taxpayers from being subjected to different tax rates from the same levy. The administration is convinced the city is going to lose in court, and Parker is begrudgingly making moves for the city to preemptively get rid of the exemption, which would cause major headaches for small businesses and quadruple the number of businesses that have to pay the tax. City Solicitor Renee Garcia said recent court decisions have made it more likely that the tax break would be deemed unconstitutional. In 2017, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in Nextel Communications v. the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that a provision of the state business tax that was structured similarly to the BIRT exclusion violated the uniformity clause. When the BIRT exemption was adopted, some case law suggested that an income threshold like the $100,000 exemption would be defensible, Garcia said in a statement. In recent years, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has issued a series of cases that made it very clear the BIRT exemption is at risk. It is in Citys best legal interest to sunset the provision because the law has been clarified. READ MORE: Why a popular tax break that helped Philadelphias small businesses may be going away Brooks and ORourke, however, say they do not believe the tax break, which is known as the BIRT exclusion, is a lost cause, and they are proposing that Council double it to $200,000, which would allow thousands more businesses to forgo paying the tax and increase the share of the burden that would fall on the largest firms. We do not agree with the current position held by the Mayor that the small business exemption is unconstitutional, the Working Families Party memo said. We believe the current litigation should be resolved before we drastically raise taxes on nearly two-thirds of small businesses across the City. Increasing the exemption to $200,000 rather than eliminating it ensures that businesses remain competitive while allowing the city to maintain a sustainable revenue stream. Although the wealth tax proposal is likely to be a nonstarter for many moderate Democratic Council members, its notable that two of the three prongs of the plan from the Working Families Party are effectively tax breaks, indicating Brooks and ORourke are trying to find solutions that will be amenable to their more centrist colleagues. Still, the progressives will have their work cut out for them in city budget negotiations this spring as they seek to persuade their fellow lawmakers. Johnson last year convened the business-friendly Tax Reform Commission, which issued a report last month calling for the complete elimination of BIRT in eight to 12 years. And on Tuesday, he used the first question asked on the first day of Councils nine weeks of budget hearings to tee up the administration for a speech touting tax cuts. What are we doing as the city, Johnson asked, to attract more jobs as it relates to us eliminating poverty through job creation and development? After years of globe-trotting alongside a career in hotel management, Frank and Elizabeth Klare decided to plant roots in Delanco, Burlington County. This was in 2002, when Franks last role before retirement, as a general manager with the Warwick Hotel in Philadelphia, was winding down. The couple, who hail from Germany, decided to stay in the Philadelphia area because they found its location strategic, between one of their daughters in New York and Franks mother in Washington, D.C. The house they settled into was different from their digs in the Warwick Hotel. The three-bedroom, three-bathroom home overlooked the Rancocas Creek and they loved the simplicity of its main-floor layout, where the dining area is part of the central, double-height living space. There were aspects of home living, however, that took some adjusting to after many years of hotel living. When I moved here, the first night I realized theres six doors to the outside all of which need to be locked at the end of the day, Elizabeth said. In a hotel you dont worry about any of that. But the Klares adjusted. Their home today deeply reflects their worldly background, dotted with items bestowed with precious memories from their adventures during Franks various hotel-industry roles across Europe, Asia, and North America. In 12 years of work-related travel, the couple lived abroad in Greece; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Moscow; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Narita, Japan. Two items they collected during their travels are on proud display in their great room: a solid brass samovar a vessel used to heat and boil water for tea they purchased in Russia thats stationed alongside a handmade lamp of dried and painted camel skin from northern Pakistan. Frank also stores a khanjar a ceremonial knife that he picked up in Oman nearby. Its interesting to find things because they tell you about the culture and history of a place, Elizabeth, who offered language services and proofreading throughout her career, said. There was probably a time when thats all they had in a simple way. In the sunroom, sliding doors lead toward the creek and a walking path the Klares enjoy in warmer weather. A cactus that theyve had nearly as long as theyve lived there reaches toward the sun. Opposite it, an intricate, chinoiserie-style cabinet draws the eye but has a decidedly less-worldly origin story, compared to their other items the couple acquired it during their time in Indiana. In their years in Delanco, the Klares have settled into their community and taken advantage of its perks. Its clubhouse hosts social events, like Mardi Gras and holiday parties, and has spaces for exercise and mingling. About a decade ago, Frank undertook the new hobby of painting after a resident in the community started offering classes. Hes fond of the work of Van Gogh and, like the famous Dutch artist, is particularly drawn to using yellow and blue. You can express yourself so much in just the two colors, he said. His paintings dot the home and add a modernist flair to the couples otherwise simple aesthetic. Theyve also updated some of the homes flooring to bamboo, because they liked the feel of it underfoot, and added a small, modern gas fireplace in the great room that makes it feel extra cozy on a cold winters day. For Frank and Elizabeth, 85 and 83, the Delanco address where theyve lived now for 23 years is the most long-term home theyve had. After a lifetime on the move, theyre content. Im glad we saw all that, but its also really good to be here, Elizabeth said. In recent years, it has faced criticism from various state insurance regulators and industry stakeholders. Critics contend that state regulators are better equipped to oversee the insurance market and that the FIO's existence leads to unnecessary federal overreach. Before the collapse, this carrier was willing to take on significant portions of coverage, sometimes assuming 40-60% of a placement on a quota-share basis, he told Insurance Business. However, after the incident, they have reassessed their approach. Now, they are cutting back their limitswhere they once provided $250 million in coverage, they may now only offer $100 million. Mr. Finneys conduct in this case has been hostile and harassing and does not serve to advance this case, the court wrote, citing repeated violations of legal standards and failure to comply with show cause orders. A hearing will be held to determine the scope of financial penalties. I think were going to see more movement toward the E&S space, where its easier to get rate and form changes without going through the lengthy state regulatory process. If an E&S insurer realizes a form isnt working, they can modify it in real-time, rather than waiting for state regulators to approve changes months or years later. This flexibility is key to maintaining capacity in a volatile environment. Perhaps the most consequential provision of the legislation is the new exemption from premium license taxes for insurance policies procured on behalf of Virginias commuter rail systems. Beginning in calendar year 2025, brokers will no longer be subject to the tax on policies covering the rail systems operated jointly by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation District. This post is part of a series sponsored by Darkhorse Insurance. Ever wonder how much youre really earning every time you close a deal? Understanding your insurance agent commission structure is the key to knowing where your income comes from and how to maximize it. Regardless of the policies you sell, your revenue depends on how those percentages stack up. Theres no one-size-fits-all answer, but the good news is youre in control of a lot of the variables. Lets break it down so you can take charge of your earnings and build the career you want. What is an Insurance Agent Commission? This is the percentage of the premium you earn for selling an insurance policy. This is the primary way most agents get paid, especially for independent agents. Your commission structure varies depending on the type of insurance product, the company you represent, and sometimes even the volume of policies you sell. For example, commissions on commercial insurance policies are typically higher, and provide more stability because of increased profitability for the insurance carriers. On the other hand, personal lines commissions tend to offer lower commission rates, and the rates tend to be less stable. How Much Do Insurance Agents Make? Lets talk numbers. One of the most common questions new agents ask is: how much do insurance agents make? The answer largely depends on: Policy Type and Structure Different insurance products come with different commission structures. For instance: Commercial insurance policies often generate more revenue due to the fact that premiums are often higher. The composition of the policies required can vary based on the size and type of the business. Personal insurance policies typically generate lower revenue compared to commercial policies. However, the target market usually has more volume. Carrier Compensation Plans Insurance companies each have their compensation model, which affects your commission. Some carriers offer higher initial commissions to attract agents. In contrast, others provide more generous renewal commissions to encourage long-term client retention. Its important to understand how your specific carrier compensates you, as it can drastically impact your overall earnings. Commission Splits For agents who work under an agency or broker, commission splits are common. These splits dictate how much of the commission you earn versus what the agency keeps. As you gain experience or hit performance milestones, you might be able to negotiate a better split, increasing your take-home commission. Sales Volume and Bonuses Some insurance carriers offer bonuses or higher commission rates if you reach certain sales targets. These performance incentives can be a significant boost to your income, especially if you have a strong year or month. Be sure to take advantage of these opportunities to maximize your earnings potential. Plus, by taking advantage of sales and marketing tools, you can make your work a lot easier, helping you hit those targets faster and close more deals. Renewal and Persistency Rates You dont just earn a commission when you make the initial sale. If your clients stay on their policies, you can earn renewal commissions each year. The longer your clients renew their policies, the more money you make over time. Geographic Market Where you sell your policies can impact your commission structure, especially for certain types of insurance. For example, insurance agents in certain states may have different opportunities to sell insurance based on the risk. For example, commercial property insurance rates in Texas are typically three times higher due to weather risks, leading to larger commissions. Similarly, auto insurance rates in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Utah for example are significantly higher because of No-Fault laws, which can result in increased commissions for agents in those states. Experience and Reputation Your experience in the industry plays a huge role in how much you can earn. Established agents with a strong client base and proven track record often command higher commissions or better splits. Furthermore, agents with a good reputation may be able to sell more easily and gain referrals, thus increasing their overall income potential. How Are Insurance Agents Commissions Structured? Your commissions can be broken down into two main categories: Initial Commissions This is what you earn immediately after selling an insurance policy. For commercial insurance, the initial commission can be significant due to the needs of the business and the risk involved.For example, if you sell a commercial property policy with an annual premium of $10,000 and your commission rate is 15%, youll earn $1,500 upfront. The commission structure for commercial insurance is typically higher in the first year because it involves customized coverage and negotiation. On top of standard commission, agents can also charge an additional broker fee as compensation for the work done brokering the account to several different insurance companies. Renewal Commissions Renewal commissions in commercial insurance, for instance, are important for long-term income. These are the percentages you earn when your clients renew their policies. While renewal commissions in commercial insurance can vary, they accumulate steadily over time, providing agents with a steady and growing income stream.Commercial insurance policies (except for builders risk insurance) are typically annual contracts, with a high renewal rate exceeding 80%. This high renewal rate provides a stable and recurring source of income for insurance agents, especially as their client base expands. While commercial insurance often involves more ongoing client relationship management, the focus is still on maintaining renewals, as they cost less to maintain compared to acquiring new clients. Tips to Maximize Your Commission Focus on High-Commission Products Not all policies are created equal. If youre aiming for higher payouts, focus on commercial lines, which often offer more lucrative commissions. Upsell and Cross-Sell Adding coverages to policies or bundling insurance products can increase the premium amountand your commission along with it. For instance, a business that needs workers compensation insurance in addition to their commercial property & liability insurance might bump your earnings significantly. Leverage Technology Using tools like an agency management system can help you determine which policies will offer the best return on your effort. Build Strong Client Relationships Retention is key. By maintaining excellent client relationships, youll not only secure renewal commissions but also increase your chances of gaining referrals. Work With a Supportive Agency Partnering with a forward-thinking platform like Darkhorse Insurance can significantly boost your income potential. Agencies that offer advanced tools, agent training, and a supportive environment can help you close more deals and earn higher commissions. Ready to Take the Next Step? Mastering your insurance agent commission structure is crucial for your success in this industry. Whether youre diving into new types of policies or exploring other niches, understanding your earning potential is key to long-term success. Once you know what you can make, its all about seizing every opportunity to boost your income and unlock your full growth potential. The more you understand your commissions, the better you can plan for your future and expand your business. If youre looking to join an agency that prioritizes agent growth and offers a platform for maximizing your income, its time to consider Darkhorse. Learn more about becoming a Darkhorse agent and work toward building a more profitable career today! Topics Agencies Earlier this month wind damaged the iconic Apex pyramid building in Pawtucket Rhode Island prominently visible from Interstate 95. Now, the city of Pawtucket has removed the remaining exterior panels of the iconic structure, leaving only the skeletal frame. Removal of the exterior panels was prompted by safety concerns said a city official. They stopped short of removing the entire structure, saying that insurance would only cover the removal of the panels. The city says that the pyramids frame as well as the buildings roof is structurally safe and secure. Will the rest of the Apex building be demolished? The short answer? Eventually. Right now, the citys insurance only covered the removal of the exterior panels of the pyramid. However, the city spokesperson said in an email, as we move forward with developing this site, the building will likely need to be leveled. This property is a key part of Pawtuckets waterfront revitalizationconnecting the stadium at Tidewater Landing to future residential and commercial developmentswith the goal of becoming the new state-of-the-art headquarters for Hasbro. Why hasnt Pawtucket repaired the Apex building? Pawtucket officials hope Hasbro will accept a proposal to build a new headquarters on a four-parcel site that includes the historical department store building. Hasbro or another company, if the toymaker decides to leave the city probably would raze the Apex building and start with a clean site, according to spokeswoman Grace Voll. That means the city probably wont fully repair the iconic roof, though Voll wouldnt rule it out. It doesnt make a ton of sense to do a total repair on the roof, Voll said. Why does Pawtucket own the Apex pyramid? In 2021, Pawtucket acquired the unusual ziggurat-roofed Apex building for $17.7 million after protracted negotiations with the former owner led to an eminent domain process and court-approved settlement. Besides the Apex building, which sits on the bank of the Seekonk River just downstream from the Pawtucket Falls, the deal includes two vacant parcels across the street, the tire center and an office building on a triangular lot between the Apex building and the Blackstone River, as its called upstream of the falls. What did the pitch to Hasbro include? The citys rendering of the proposed Hasbro headquarters offered to the company in January shows a campus-style complex of buildings on the crescent-shaped parcel bounded roughly by part of the S-curve on I-95 and the Blackstone and Seekonk rivers as they pass through downtown. (The Seekonk is the brackish tidal continuation of the freshwater Blackstone after the latter plunges down Pawtucket Falls.) Gleaming glass buildings would sit on the Apex site and adjoining parcels, including the longtime home of the Apex Tire and Auto store, a vacant lot between the Apex site and the To Kalon Club, and the vacant site where the former Sawyer School was torn down. The complex would be anchored by a 225,000-square-foot headquarters building for the company. Last fall, CEO Chris Cocks indicated that Hasbro was exploring a new HQ with a collaborative, modern environment that is reflective of our brands and fosters innovation, and Hasbro employees should expect an update in the first three months of 2025. We wouldnt be moving until mid-2026 at the earliest, prioritizing convenience to public transit, and working closely with teams to make sure were building a space that works for our unique needs, Cocks said. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Apex pyramid was dismantled by Pawtucket over the weekend. Heres why. Reporting by Journal Staff / The Providence Journal USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect Top Photo: The wind-damaged roof of the former Apex building in Pawtucket. Delaware lawmakers approved on Tuesday an overhaul of the states corporate law in a bid to keep powerful business leaders like Mark Zuckerberg from moving their companies legal home to another state, although opponents call it a giveaway to billionaires. The law, known as SB 21, was approved by a vote by Delawares House and now goes to Governor Matt Meyer, who has said he will sign it. The bill mostly impacts companies with a controlling shareholder, like Meta Platforms, which is controlled by Zuckerberg. The proposal provides steps that allow for a company and its controlling shareholder to arrange deals, such as selling corporate assets to the controller, that cannot be challenged in court by the companys other investors. Supporters and opponents of the bill both agreed during Tuesdays debate that the state must prevent DExit or a stampede of companies moving their legal home out of one of the countrys smallest and least populated states although they disagreed on the strategy. While other states are trying to attract corporations, Delaware remains home to most large public companies in part because its corporate law protects board directors from being sued if they are independent and act in the companys best interest. The states corporate legal system, which locals refer to as the franchise, generates more than 20% of Delawares budget revenue. We have a million Delawareans who rely on the $2.2 billion that the corporation franchise brings in to the state, Representative Krista Griffith, a Democrat, told lawmakers on Tuesday. What seems permanent can easily vanish. Several companies, mostly with controlling shareholders, have said they might or will leave Delaware, including Dropbox, Meta, Tripadvisor and President Donald Trumps media company. On Friday, Simon Property Group, which is not a controlled company, asked its shareholders to approve moving the real estate investment trusts legal home to Indiana, where it has its headquarters, from Delaware. REITs like Simon tend to be chartered outside of Delaware. The proposed legislation has been labeled the billionaires bill by critics, which include attorneys for shareholders and managers of pension funds. High-profile opposition ads included a billboard truck featuring an image of Elon Musk waving a chainsaw that circled Legislative Hall in Dover before lawmakers voted. Witnesses who testified for opponents said the bill might prompt shareholders to encourage companies to leave Delaware for states with corporate law that better protected their investments. Ive got to tell you, investors reactions to SB 21 have been surprisingly negative, Robert Jackson, a law professor and former commissioner on the Securities and Exchange Commission, told lawmakers. The bill prevents shareholders from challenging deals that are approved by a board committee that has a majority of independent directors or by a vote by public shareholders. The bill also limits records available to shareholders who want to investigate a deal for conflicts. Numerous amendments were rejected, including one that would have eliminated the laws retroactive effective date. The law will be effective back to February 17, which one lawmaker said would eliminate potential legal liability for unspecified claims that he said shareholders were investigating against the board of Meta Platforms. Corporate leaders have expressed frustration in recent years over court rulings that upset certain expectations about the states law. Musk fueled the debate last year by urging companies to follow Tesla and leave the state after a Delaware judge rescinded his $56 billion pay package as CEO of the electric car maker. Topics Legislation Ardonagh Group Ltd. is nearing a deal to raise as much as $2.5 billion from investors to help fuel the private equity-backed insurance brokers rapid growth. The London-based firm is expected to close the capital-raise this summer in an oversubscribed process, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The proceeds will be used to fund growth opportunities including potential acquisitions, the people added, asking not to be identified as the fundraising is not public. The funding round comes after PE firm Stone Point Capital agreed to invest in the business in December in a transaction that valued the company at about $14 billion. A representative for Ardonagh, which is majority-owned by Madison Dearborn Partners, declined to comment. Ardonaghs rapid ascent represents a dramatic change in fortunes for a business that rose from the ashes of Towergate, an insurance broker rescued by creditor HPS Investment Partners after a debt fueled M&A splurge. In 2017, Towergate merged with three other insurance brokers and services businesses to form Ardonagh. With the help of backers Madison Dearborn Partners, and later the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, it has become one of the industrys biggest players under Chief Executive Officer David Ross. Ardonagh has already bought a string of assets in markets including Brazil, Spain and Italy. Last year, it purchased Australias PSC Insurance Group for an implied equity value of A$2.3 billion ($1.5 billion), taking it private and combining it with its Envest business. Photograph: The City of London. Photo credit: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg Related: Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Spains antitrust watchdog said on Tuesday it had opened an investigation into Italian insurer Generali and local health insurance provider Sanitas over potential anti-competitive practices. The CNMC watchdog said the probe focused on an agreement signed in October 2022 under which Generali customers gained access to Sanitas healthcare network. The deal may have involved price-fixing and agreements to limit competition between the insurers, either for specific clients or in unrelated markets, the CNMC said. Generali said it was confident the agreement with Sanitas complied with the law in terms of competition, adding it remained at the disposal of the CNMC to provide all the necessary information. This is a standard service provision reinsurance agreement in the industry, the Italian insurer said in a statement. Sanitas did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A decision is due within 24 months, the CNMC said. (Reporting by Marta Serafinko; additional reporting by Gianluca Semeraro; editing by Inti Landauro and Mark Potter) Allianz Global Investors, the smaller of the two asset managers owned by German insurance giant Allianz SE, is cutting some roles as it looks to make changes to its organizational structure. Some tasks and elements of our operation may no longer be required or can be achieved differently, which will result in some existing roles becoming redundant or leavers not being replaced, a spokesman told Bloomberg in a written statement. He didnt provide a number of possible job cuts. He added that AGI aims to future-proof our set-up and accelerate the growth of our business in a dynamic industry. While Pacific Investment Management Co. (PIMCO), also owned by Allianz, has long been a dominant force in the bond world, AGI has struggled to gain scale and risks falling further behind as rivals in Europe team up. Allianz held on-and-off talks with Frances Amundi SA about a potential deal involving AGI, Bloomberg reported in December. Photograph: Pedestrians climb a flight of steps at Martin Place in the central business district in Sydney, Australia, on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Photo credit: Lisa Maree Williams/Bloomberg. Topics Allianz The Marion, County Indiana Prosecutors Office filed arson charges with Intent to fraud against 22 year-old Gurpreet Singh, the Indianapolis Fire Department announced this week. On April 22nd, 2024, the Indianapolis Fire Department was dispatched at 11:16 PM to a residence fire in the 5700 Block of Tart Boulevard. On arrival, firefighters found heavy fire through the roof and command ordered defensive ops only. Firefighters brought the blaze under control in 50 minutes. The occupant was not home. Fire Investigation Units were requested to the scene to determine the cause and origin of the fire. Fire Investigators determined the cause of the fire was incendiary and an intentional act of arson. The investigation required numerous search warrants, interviews, and continued investigation for several months. Investigators determined the suspect was the homeowner, Gurpreet Singh (22), who intentionally set the fire, to collect insurance money. the value of the loss of the home was $430,000. Gurpreet Singh was arrested in Ohio and transported back to Indianapolis for felony battery charges filed by the Marion County Prosecutor Office. Additionally, he also is charged with Arson. Gurpreet Singh remains innocent until convicted in a court of law. Source: Indianapolis Fire Department The Cincinnati Insurance Companies have grown business for 75 years through relationships with a carefully selected set of regional independent agentsand business in the surplus lines segment is no exception, executives report. That sets the insurer apart from other E&S writers, according to Don Doyle, Jr., the architect of Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters, an operating subsidiary of Cincinnati Financial Corporation he helped to start in 2007. If you look over the last 15 years, a lot has changed in the E&S market. Today, more than 75% of the E&S market is controlled by three large wholesale brokers, he told analysts and investors gathered for Cincinnati Financials first Investor Day. We distribute only through the agents of Cincinnati insurance. No wholesalers, no MGAs, managing general agents, or managing general underwriters, he said, pointing out one of the characteristics that sets the company apart from competitors in the E&S business. Doyle, who led CSU for 17 years before turning the reins over to Dawn Chapel in advance of his retirement later this year, believes that the distribution model and CSUs control of the business has been one of the drivers of consistent profitability. Those three large wholesale brokers have a lot of control on where the business is going. They have a bit of control over the risk takers, yet they take no risk, Doyle said without specifically identifying the big three. Doyle spoke after President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Spray and several executives in sales and marketing described the processes of vetting quality appointed agencies for personal and commercial lines, which now number just over 2,000, and day-to-day activities that build intimate relationships between agents and their Cincinnati field representatives. CSU was formed with a foundational philosophy of creating consistent and manageable growth, as well as consistent and manageable profitability, said Doyle, who reported that despite the ups and downs of E&S business, CSU has posted 12 straight years of combined ratio at 94 or better. The 94 combined ratio was actually the result for the latest full year, 2024, when CSU grew premiums by nearly 15%, according to Cincinnati Financials most recent financial report. CSUs average combined ratio over the last 12 years is 81.8, with ratios averaging about 90 for the more recent years, 2020-2023. Pointing to the distribution model as the first key driver of better-than-breakeven results, Doyle said CSU does not cede underwriting authority to anyone, referring to brokers, wholesalers and MGAs. We are operating only through those independent agentsWe want to eat our own cooking, he said. Technically, according to information in the groups annual report, independent agents have access to Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters product line through CSU Producer Resources, the wholly owned insurance brokerage subsidiary of Cincinnati Financial Corporation. CSU Producer Resources has binding authority on all classes of business written through Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters and maintains appropriate agent and surplus lines licenses. During the Investor Day, Doyle said another contributor to CSUs E&S success is an underwriting appetite focused on accounts with a low risk profile while also maintaining a spread of risk that mirrors the rest of the company. He explained CSUs typical risk has $1 million in limit or less, with the average policy size coming in at about $10,000 in classes of business removed from mass tort. In other words, CSU wont write the toughest long-tail classes of the E&S world, like product liability for pharmaceutical manufacturers or medical malpractice, sticking instead to contracting-type risks or property management firms, hotels, motels, bars and taverns, as well as professional liability other than public company D&O. Doyle characterized the appetite as falling in the low-to-moderate range in the E&S market. Exhibits contained in Cincinnati Financials 2024 10K annual statement filing reveal that the insurer marketed E&S products in each of the 44 states where it offers standard market commercial lines insurance, with the top five statesIllinois, New York, Ohio, Texas and North Carolinaaccounting for roughly one-third of E&S premiums written by CSU. Doyle also said CSU underwriters average over 20-plus years in the business, rounding out his list of reasons why the surplus lines segment of Cincinnatis business has remained profitable. As for the advantages to agents for placing E&S business with CSU, he said eliminating the middlemenwholesale brokersby operating both as the broker and the underwriting companymeans we can provide higher commission to our agent. Doyle estimated that brokers typically pay 8-10% commissions on E&S business. Working with Cincinnati, agents get 15% base commission on E&S business, and they also have an opportunity to earn profit sharing commissions. So, in total they could earn 18-20% or more in commission with us vs. 8-10% with a traditional E&S wholesaler. [Agents] can increase their revenue 50-100% by doing business with somebody they see as a true partner, Doyle said, going on to describe the partnership attributes. This is an excerpt of a larger story from Carrier Management, Insurance Journals sister publication. Click here to read the rest of the story. Topics Excess Surplus Insurers are betting on a suite of new AI-driven techniques to better predict surging losses from climate-driven weather catastrophes ranging from unprecedented wildfires to hurricanes and floods. Less than three months into the year, natural disasters are already causing major economic disruption around the world, including recent fires across Los Angeles, an economy-denting cyclone in Australia, floods in Jakarta and a giant storm that left dozens dead in the US. According to a recent report by broker Gallagher Re, annual insured catastrophe losses of $150 billion have become the new normal. While traditional models apply complex physics and elaborate computer simulations to estimate the probability of future losses, the results often can fall short. Flood models designed to measure the same risk have yielded conflicting outcomes. Wildfire models can struggle to accommodate the dizzying number of variables in playeverything from the role of human intervention to the possible flight path of a wind-borne ember. Some investors in catastrophe bonds expressly shun securities exposed to such perils because they dont trust the modeling. Every model is an imperfect representation of a very complex phenomena, said Firas Saleh, director of product management at Moodys Corp. Thats where artificial intelligence comes in. Its proponents contend it can provide a more accurate estimate of property-level risk for weather calamities. Once an AI model is trained on what its supposed to look for, it becomes part of a modeling process that churns through huge volumes of data from aerial and satellite imagery to create a physical assessment of an individual property, eventually turning it into a risk report. Is the house made of brick or wood? Are there pine needles in the gutters, making combustion more likely? Humans would find it nearly impossible to perform such a detailed model and analysis, especially if a portfolio contains thousands or millions of homes. AI has now become invaluable to insurers seeking to price the risk, set premiums and have enough capital to pay claims from the worst catastrophe losses. Weather and catastrophe losses are running ahead of the ability to manage them, and many insurers are having trouble sustaining their business because theyre not getting the right rates, said Jay Guin, chief research officer of the extreme event solutions team at Verisk, a catastrophe modeling firm. AI changes the equation. Zurich Insurance Group AG, one of the largest insurers in Europe, uses AI powered risk-modeling software to assess catastrophe risk and often tweaks it for its own purpose. If theres fire hazard like vegetation, overhang or debris in your backyard that shouldnt be there, we can tell you to lower the risk otherwise we may not be able to underwrite you, said Ericson Chan, chief information and digital officer of the Swiss company. The demand for granular data has spurred risk modelers to boost investment in AI. Verisks wildfire model has the usual ingredients, such as wind speed, vegetation growth and the impact of climate change. But the company says it also offers clients an extra layer of data: an AI-based analysis of homes, using images taken from satellites and low-flying aircraft. Its rival, Moodys Insurance Solutions, is pursuing a similar path. It recently acquired CAPE Analytics, which also uses AI techniques to provide instant risk insights at the individual address level. Risk experts are increasingly using AI to crack an especially intractable challenge: modeling hailstorms, thunderstorms and tornadoes, collectively known as severe convective storms, or SCS. Insured losses from SCS events totaled $61 billion in 2024, the second-highest level on record, according to Aon Plc. Texas, which receives more hail claims than any other US state, recently approved an AI-driven model for SCS developed by ZestyAI, a San Francisco-based company. SCS losses are hard to model because insurance claims arent always associated with a single, clearcut event like a hurricane or a wildfire. Instead, the damage often occurs from many small, even unnoticeable hail events that gradually impair a roof or home. You dont get a cavity because you ate a large Mars bar, said Kumar Dhuvur, ZestyAIs co-founder and chief product officer. You get it because you ate a lot of candy over a long period of time. The firms SCS model uses a form of AI known as machine learning, bringing together a complex set of variables: local geography, climate effects, a 3-D analysis of each building and roof and accumulated damage from historical storms. The model assembles the data into hail scores ranging from one to 10, which clients can use in the premium-setting process. Insurers need a sharper tool, Dhuvur said. In the US, where there are about 100 million properties, if you do it by hand, it wont computeyou need AI. Amica Mutual Insurance Co. says it uses AI-based models to get an edge in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area of Texas, where hail losses are high. The company uses a ZestyAI model to identify local homes that are at lower risk, based on individual features such as age, pitch and material of the roof. That allows it to price its cover more competitively. We can keep our premiums more stable and that should enable us to grow in areas where other insurers cant grow as profitably, said William Pitts, an Amica managing vice president. Photo: Homes destroyed by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles, California, on Wednesday, Jan. 15. Photographer: Jill Connelly/Bloomberg Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Topics Catastrophe Profit Loss InsurTech Data Driven Artificial Intelligence A jury in Georgia has ordered Monsanto parent Bayer to pay nearly $2.1 billion in damages to a man who says the companys Roundup weed killer caused his cancer, according to attorneys representing the plaintiff. The verdict marks the latest in a long-running series of court battles Monsanto has faced over its Roundup herbicide. The agrochemical giant says it will appeal the verdict, reached in a Georgia courtroom late Friday, in efforts to overturn the decision. The penalties awarded include $65 million in compensatory damages and $2 billion in punitive damages, law firms Arnold & Itkin LLP and Kline & Specter PC said in a statement. That marks one of the largest verdicts in a Roundup-related case to date. Bayer Broadens Effort to Shield Itself From Claims Weedkiller Caused Cancer Bayer Must Pay $78 Million in Latest Roundup Cancer Trial, Jury Finds Judge Cuts Bayer $2.25 Billion Roundup Verdict to $400 Million Related: Bayer Threatens to Stop Roundup Weedkiller Sales in US Over Litigation Costs Plaintiff John Barnes filed his lawsuit against Monsanto in 2021, seeking damages related to his non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Arnold & Itkin attorney Kyle Findley, the lead trial lawyer on the case, said the verdict will help put his client in a better position to get the treatment he needs going forward. Its been a long road for him and he was happy that the truth related to the product (has) been exposed, Findley told The Associated Press on Sunday. He called the verdict an important milestone after another example of Monsantos refusal to accept responsibility for poisoning people with this toxic product. Germany-based Bayer, which acquired Monsanto in 2018, has continued to dispute claims that Roundup causes cancer. But the company has been hit with more than 177,000 lawsuits involving the weedkiller and set aside $16 billion to settle cases. In a statement, Monsanto said Fridays verdict conflicts with the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence and the consensus of regulatory bodies and their scientific assessments worldwide. The company added that it continues to stand fully behind the safety of Roundup products. For a variety of crops including corn, soybeans and cotton Roundup is designed to work with genetically modified seeds that resist the weedkillers deadly effect. It allows farmers to produce more while conserving the soil by tilling it less. Some studies associate Roundups key ingredient, glyphosate, with cancer, although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has said it is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans when used as directed. Still, numerous lawsuits over the weedkiller allege glyphosate does cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma, arguing that Monsanto has failed to warn the public about serious risks for years. Findley said that evidence relating to Barnes case show many years of cover-ups and backroom dealings. He accused Monsanto of ignoring several scientific studies related to the toxicity of Roundup and said the company tried to find ways to persuade and distract and deny the connection between this product and non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Fridays decision marks the fourth Roundup-related verdict that Findleys team has won to date the largest of which was awarded in Philadelphia in January 2024, with damages totaling $2.25 billion. And he said his law firm has many more clients who are similarly situated as Mr. Barnes. Monsanto, meanwhile, also maintains that it remains committed to trying cases and argues its wider record of Roundup-related litigation continues to reinforce the safety of its products. The company said it has prevailed in 17 of the last 25 related trials and jury verdicts were reduced 90% overall in past cases that have been finalized. Bayer has recently renewed and expanded an effort across a handful of U.S. states to protect pesticide companies from claims they failed to warn that a product causes cancer, if labeling otherwise complies with EPA regulations. The company and other industry supports argue that litigation costs are unstainable and could impact Roundups future availability. But opponents stress that such legislation would limit accountability. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Aurora Innovation AUR.O plans to allow its self-driving trucks to operate without a driver in inclement weather ahead of launching commercial trips this year in Texas, the company said on Tuesday. The autonomous trucks are expected to start operating on public roads in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona in 2025, adhering to speed limits ranging from 25 miles per hour to 75 miles per hour. Aurora said in January that it plans to launch the service in Texas in April. The company said on Tuesday it intends to expand operational design domain (ODD) for its autonomous vehicles to include harsh weather. ODD specifies the conditions and areas where self-driving vehicles can operate, taking into account geography, weather and other factors. The trucks will function in suburban and urban areas, dense traffic, day and night, and in highway construction zones with cones and barriers, it said. Aurora said it will enhance testing for the trucks, including simulations in virtual environments, assessments on closed tracks, and performance monitoring on roads before commercial launch. Earlier this year, the Uber-backed company signed a long-term deal with Nvidia and Germanys Continental to deploy driverless trucks. (Reporting by Kritika Lamba in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed) Topics Texas Personal Auto A federal judge in Texas has denied SkyWest Airlines, Inc.s bid for a new trial and upheld an order that SkyWest pay a former parts clerk $300,000 in damages, the the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced. The EEOC filed a lawsuit in which a federal jury found SkyWest liable for subjecting her to a sexually hostile work environment. The court further ordered injunctive relief for a three-year period. In November 2024, following a six-day trial, a federal jury awarded $2.17 million in damages against SkyWest for sexually harassing Sarah Budd, including $170,000 for past and future compensatory damages and $2 million in punitive damages. The court reduced the jurys award to $300,000 based on the statutory caps under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which are applicable to compensatory and punitive damages. According to the EEOC, Budds coworkers and at least one manager made constant offensive and humiliating sexual comments to Budd. These comments included requests for Budd to perform demeaning sex acts and frequent remarks about rape and rape victims. Budd, herself a survivor of sexual assault, experienced physical illness and mental anguish as a result of her work environment. Budd reported the sexual harassment on several occasions to company officials, but SkyWest failed to remedy the situation, the EEOC said. Such alleged conduct violates Title VII, which prohibits discrimination based on sex and retaliation for reporting a hostile work environment. The EEOC filed suit (Civil Action No. 3:22-cv-01807) in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division. In granting the EEOCs motion for injunctive relief, the court enjoined SkyWest from subjecting any parts or maintenance department employee at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to a hostile work environment based on sex in the future. It also ordered SkyWest to create and distribute a protocol for investigating complaints of harassment; conduct annual training for employees at DFW and those who are responsible for employee relations at DFW; post a notice in the DFW parts and maintenance department explaining the protections of Title VII; and notify the EEOC of any complaint of sexual harassment in that department at DFW. Additionally, the court denied SkyWests motion to set aside the jurys verdict and for a new trial. In a separate order, the court awarded the EEOC $24,607 in costs. Source: EEOC Topics Texas Aviation Firefighters in North and South Carolina were battling multiple wind-driven wildfires Monday in rugged terrain that complicated containment efforts, officials said. Millions of trees knocked down by Hurricane Helene last year combined with long stretches of dry weather this spring are making for a long and active fire season in the Carolinas, North Carolina State University forestry and environmental resources professor Robert Scheller said. Helene just dropped tons of fuel on the ground, Scheller said. Then these flash droughts allow that fuel to dry out very fast. Both South Carolina and North Carolina have issued statewide bans on outdoor burning. North Carolina fires Mandatory evacuations continue for about 165 properties in parts of Polk County in western North Carolina, about 80 miles (129 kilometers) west of Charlotte, according to county spokesperson Kellie Cannon. Three fires burned at least 7.5 square miles (19.5 square kilometers) in the county and the two larger blazes were completely uncontained, Cannon said in a social media update Monday morning. The Black Cove Fire, one of the larger ones, was moving toward neighboring Henderson County, Cannon said. Kim Callaway, who lives near one of the evacuated areas in Polk County, has prepared her home, WLOS-TV reported. Weve already actually evacuated everything that we thought that was important, Callaway said. And now were just staying at the house and trying to do what we can to get our house prepared if the firemen need to show up and hold the line. A downed power line sparked the Black Cove Fire, but the causes of the other two fires in Polk County were under investigation, according to North Carolina Forest Service spokesperson Jeremy Waldrop. A number of other wildfires burning across the state including one that damaged 500 vehicles at a salvage yard in Burke County, officials said. South Carolina fires Two fires in the South Carolina mountains have led Gov. Henry McMaster to declare a state of emergency. One fire was in Table Rock State Park in Pickens County and the other was on Persimmon Ridge in Greenville County. Winds and difficult mountainous terrain allowed blazes to grow, the South Carolina Forestry Commission said. The Table Rock Fire expanded to more than 2 square miles (5.3 square kilometers), including several hundred acres that firefighters intentionally burned to try to contain the flames, officials said. The Persimmon Ridge Fire, which started Saturday, spread to more than 1.25 square miles (3.2 square kilometers) despite many dozens of water drops, the commission said. Human activity ignited both the Table Rock and Persimmon Ridge fires. No injuries had been reported, and while no structures were imminently threatened, voluntary evacuations of about 100 homes remained in place. How a September hurricane is creating March fires Scheller, the North Carolina State University professor, predicted this busy fire season if the region saw dry weather following Helene. Scientists saw something similar in 2022 when a fire burned more than 51 square miles (133 square kilometers) of timberland in the Florida Panhandle. The Bertha Swamp Road Fire almost directly followed the eye pattern from 2018s Hurricane Michael and the fallen pine trees left behind. Pines and their waxy needles dry out and become very flammable, Scheller said. The fallen trunks can also block roads and paths used to fight fires, experts said. The last ingredient to fuel wildfires is dry weather. Despite recent rain, the Carolinas are undergoing an extreme drought, according to federal monitors. The common denominator for many fires on the East Coast is human activity, whether people burn debris, light a campfire that isnt well watched or toss out cigarette, Scheller said. And more people living next to areas that can burn make fires a bigger threat, he said. Photo: A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from the 1-111th General Support Aviation Battalion, 59th Aviation Troop Command, McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Eastover dropping fire suppression on the Persimmon Ridge Fire near Greenville, S.C. (Sgt. 1st Class Roberto Di Giovine/U.S. Army National Guard via AP) Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire There was no change in Irish pig prices on Friday, with producers reporting quotes ranging from 2.10-2.14 available from processors, signalling there is good demand for pigs. The EU average price for week 10 for grade E carcass was 182.2c/kg, excluding Vat. This represents a 0.1% decrease in last weeks average prices and is 15% behind prices for the same month last year. Prices across Europe are steady, and small increases are being observed but are slower to come than last year. Nothing has quite sparked public discourse in recent times more than the new Netflix programme, Adolescence. The four part series, inspired by a number of true events in England has hit a nerve with people and families across the globe. The Tanaiste, Simon Harris, said it should be compulsory viewing for every school in the country. The programme explores what has happened to adolescence in recent times. It looks at all aspects of a teenage boy's world; his family, his relationship with masculinity, his school environment, knife crime, his views on girls, technology, misogyny and social media influencers. It is a grim watch. Something myself and others working in this field have been saying for many years. We are watching the greatest experiment ever perpetrated on adolescence and childhood right in front of our eyes. We have been supine, no hands on the wheel, praying it all works out. While this is a dramatization, it is based on real events. Stephen Graham, the Liverpudlian actor, who plays the father in the programme said that he had read the news about a boy stabbing a girl and then read a similar story in a different part of England and wondered: what is happening to our boys that they are attacking girls like this? What indeed? This is a complicated issue but one that requires immediate action by parents and the government. Firstly, while this is a dramatization of a seemingly ordinary young boy and his terrible crime, Jamie is not an outlier. We all need to wake up to that fact. We have had one of our own teenage girls, in this country, murdered by two of her classmates in 2018. Im sure we all remember the heinous murder of Ana Kriegel, a 14-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted and murdered by her classmates. They called for her, she went out with them and she never came home. We have far too many cases of girls going out and not coming home in this country. What has happened that some boys and men view women in such a way that makes them think they can do whatever they want to them? The first part of this complicated issue is pornography. I have been saying this for many years; we have to stop, as a matter of urgency, the easy access children have to hardcore extreme material. They are being swamped with ideas that girls like to have consent taken from them, enjoy being choked, spat on and dominated by men as part of sexual desire. I really dont know what more we need to hear than those words, to motivate us into action and prevent this from happening. We can show Adolescence all we want, like the Tanaiste suggested, but in reality if we want to prevent our boys from developing pathological ideas about girls we have to stop letting them see the pornified view of intimacy that is foisted on them every single day of their lives. In Ana Kriegels case Boy A had consumed thousands of images of bestiality and BDSM hardcore extreme material. Is this a coincidence or a contributing factor? When are we going to put our children first, and say to these companies that create such content; that poison that you are feeding our kids, that gets turned off right now! If we did that, we would be removing from the psychology of our children negative and violent ideas about sexual desire. It would also help to ameliorate the fragile sense of manhood pornography propagates; youre only a man if you dominate and control women. If I was a politician, blocking hardcore material would be the first thing I would be working on. I wouldnt rest until I had shut this stuff down. So boys and girls can explore their sexual curiosity in a healthy way, at a healthy age. We are at a touching point here. This programme has sparked a huge debate. Adolescent male heroes like Andrew Tate and Conor McGregor no longer have the appeal they once had. Now is the time for positive male role models to step in. When I think of my own childhood, I realise I never really had a positive male role model. And I think that is the lived experience of many young men. Thats why people like Tate have such power with teenage boys. They fill this vacuum with their nonsensical misogynistic waffle. I can see that as an adult male, but to a teenage boy who has been excluded and made to feel there is something inherently toxic about being a boy, Tate and others like him are alluring and comforting. I have been warning parents about this for many years. It isnt good enough to simply blame Tate. We have to look at ourselves and say, "Why are our boys leaning into a message like that? What must they be feeling? And what are we doing to help protect our children from grifters like Tate?" Those answers might be a little uncomfortable to hear. I have been talking in schools with young men for many years, listening to them and hearing how they feel about being young men and the messages they receive at home, in school and on social media. There is a deep sense of confusion about what being a man means today. They dont have the skills to process their emotions. Anger and aggression are fear antidotes. We have to educate them on how to process emotional turmoil. Tate is no longer what he was, they are beginning to see through him, they see him as a buffoon now, McGregor too. The whitewashing of the iconic mural in Scully Fitness Gym illuminates that shift. So, what we need now is positive male role models. Men who espouse all that is good about masculinity and being a man in the world. We have to teach boys that being broken up with or rejected by a girl isnt an afront to their masculinity and very identity, but a normal part of early relationships. Emotions are not weaknesses but are healthy and should be expressed. As fathers, we have a responsibility to role model positive masculinity. We need more education in schools and far better digital literacy. There has been a lot of talk about who will be the next President of this great country. Whoever it is, I only hope they have childhood and what has happened to adolescence in recent years at the forefront of their thoughts and actions. We need a positive role model for our boys and girls to look up to more than ever. A study on the experiences of autistic children in Irish schools has found that just a quarter of their parents believe that the Irish education system is inclusive. The study by Dublin City Universitys Institute of Education examined the experiences of autistic pupils in 45 primary and secondary schools. Several parents raised concerns that mainstream contexts that did not meet the needs of autistic students had had significantly adverse effects on their child in terms of experiencing burnout, anxiety or distress, and ultimately exclusion from school, according to the study. It also said parents indicated that resourcing in mainstream schools and classrooms is a significant barrier to autistic childrens full inclusion in their local schools. Parents also highlighted inconsistent attitudes to inclusion among school staff, and inadequate or ineffective bullying policies as barriers to their childs inclusion in education. The study recommended the introduction of system-wide changes to ensure resources and structural supports are in place to facilitate inclusive practices in all schools. It also found that relationships with their teachers was make-or-break for most autistic children and young people. They said the relationship was so pivotal to autistic students that there were seldom any neutral feelings towards teachers. Staff resourcing and specialist in-class resources are needed, according to the authors. The survey found that, in the case of primary schools: Only one in four parents, and just over one third of teachers, viewed the Irish education system as inclusive; Children who received more support reported more positive experiences at school; Many children described difficulties connecting with their classmates and finding shared interests; Homework was noted as a significant stressor for autistic children. In relation to second-level schools: Young people highlighted a fear of exclusion and being discriminated against and stigmatised; Autistic young people described neurotypical expectations (academic, etc) and a lack of flexibility from schools and teachers regarding school rules; Sensory overload was an issue raised for many students in relation to noise, lights, and scents. One of the authors, Dr Sinead McNally, stated: Autistic children and young people in our study shared a wide range of experiences of school. "Some reported thriving in school where they felt supported and valued. They spoke about wanting to pursue their interests in school, for these to be nurtured, and for differences to be valued by teachers and classmates. "However, many autistic students talked of exclusion and significant distress in school, and this needs to be urgently addressed. Our findings indicate that proactive planning is needed for more inclusive physical environments in schools (such as softer lighting, quiet spaces within classrooms and the wider school), and individualised accommodations (including uniforms, which were deeply uncomfortable for many autistic students) will be important for overcoming sensory barriers to school inclusion. The research was supported by AsIAm, Irelands national autism charity, and was guided by an autistic child and youth advisory group and a stakeholder advisory group. Cork County Council collected no money at all from the derelict sites levy in 2023, and failed to issue more than 200,000 worth of invoices for the tax due to a lack of a centralised approach, an audit has found. The report from the Local Government Audit Service told the council to improve performance in this area, after it ended the year with 362,000 owed in the levies. It also identified a risk of significant additional costs, with a multi-million euro project in retrofitting public lighting across the county. Each year, county councils around the country are audited by the Department of Housing to gauge how they are performing and spending public money. Public bodies being accountable to citizens is increasingly important in todays environment to allow trust and confidence to be built upon, an overview of its work says. All local authorities must keep a derelict sites register, and owners of such sites in urban areas are obliged to pay a levy of 7% of the market value of the land concerned. However, in many parts of the country collection of this levy is poor. The audit of Cork County Council said: It has previously been acknowledged that significant work has been undertaken by the council to progress the identification and invoicing of derelict sites across each municipal district. "However, during 2023, invoices totalling just 28,000 were issued, with no amounts collected during the year, resulting in a year-end debtor of 362,000. It added a further 235,000 of derelict site levy invoices should have been issued during 2023, but this was not done due to a lack of a centralised approach across the various municipal districts. The audit said management at the council advised that a full provision was made for these arrears, as it advised further steps in this area. In addressing the issue, the council said it had conducted a comprehensive assessment of its register in 2023, with verifying ownership details a key objective. To facilitate this, the overall management and monitoring of the Derelict Sites Registers for the eight municipal districts in Co Cork has been centralised and there are now 110 properties on the Derelict Sites Register for Co Cork, it said. Responsibility for the issuing of levy demands and for pursuing collection has also been centralised and a new process for the escalation of unpaid levies has been established to flag instances where pursuing defaulters through the courts should be considered. In terms of capital spending, the audit highlights issues with a 57m plan to convert public lighting across southern counties to LED luminaries to improve energy efficiency, cut costs, and reduce C02 emissions. It said several issues, such as the pandemic and difficulties in attracting, recruiting and retaining staff, had emerged with this project, as it recorded a total spend of 28.8m in August 2024, with just one quarter of the work completed. Management advised of significant delays during 2022 and 2023 that have negatively impacted the completion date, which is now estimated to be early 2026, the audit said. Separately, the audit also identified an increase in overtime and allowances for staff by more than 30% to 14.45m. The council said a review of allowances was ongoing. The Tanaiste has said he has received assurance from the Lebanese government over concerns around securing justice after the death of Irish peacekeeper Sean Rooney. Simon Harris was speaking during a visit to Camp Shamrock in south Lebanon where Irish soldiers serving with the UN peacekeeping mission are based. He met personnel and received a briefing from commanders at the facility just eight kilometres from the Blue Line (the demarcation line dividing Lebanon from Israel and the Golan Heights) before thanking the troops on the ground for their work during a visit at a time of heightened tensions with Israel. The Tanaiste also indicated he was unconcerned about the presence of an apparent surveillance drone, believed to be operated by Israeli forces, which hovered over the area during his visit. Ireland is always in this region as a force for good and a force for peace, he said. Ireland is a country and the Irish Defence Forces are a defence force that work for peace, that work every day to make sure that people can live in peace and safety and security in their own country and in their own region, and I hope not just by our words, but by our actions, we have been seen as a force in relation to that. The Tanaiste expressed sympathy with Israel over the October 7 2023 attacks, and his support for a two-state solution to bring peace to the Middle East. Asked whether he felt intimidated by the presence of the drone, he added: Not at all, were here to do our business and I am very proud to be here with our defence forces. Speaking to media, he said he was privileged to visit the camp where members of the 125th Infantry Battalion are serving as part of the Unifil peacekeeping mission. Earlier, Mr Harris met the Lebanese foreign affairs and defence ministers in Beirut where the death of Private Rooney was discussed. The 24-year-old from Co Donegal was killed while on deployment with Unifil on December 14 2022. Mr Harris met Lebanese defence minister Michel Menassah and he highlighted Irelands deep concern over the lack of progress in bringing those who killed Pte Rooney to justice and outlined the urgent need for progress. The Irish Government says that lack of progress is particularly distressing for the Rooney family. In a formal letter presented to Lebanese foreign affairs minister Yousseff Rajji, Mr Harris also raised the matter of Pte Rooneys killing. He outlined how seven Lebanese citizens had been indicted in relation to the incident, noting that only one defendant has appeared before the military tribunal judge. However, he did not attend the most recent hearings, citing a medical issue. At the most recent hearing on February 12, Mr Harris said no medical evidence was provided to support his absence and there has been no significant progress in the trial to date. The Tanaiste told Mr Rajji that the Rooney family intend to attend the next hearing on September 17 and said it was hoped that they would see real evidence of an intention from the authorities to see justice enacted. Mr Harris said it was his hope that the current Lebanese government, formed last month, and newly established court structures in the country could bring progress to the case. Asked about that engagement by media, Mr Harris said he felt there had been a strong understanding from both ministers and their departments in relation to this. I am very conscious that the process is ongoing, that there is a separation of powers but all of that said, we still need to see real progress, and I got a strong assurance that that message was understood, he said. Sean Rooney deserves justice and his family deserves answers. Mr Harris said he believed the assurances had been given in good faith, adding he believes those he met are substantive and serious people. The bitter High Court civil trials involving three co-founders of tech conference giant Web Summit is on the verge of resolution with settlement terms expected to come before the court on Thursday. Hours of talks have taken place and on Wednesday the court was due to hear evidence from former Web Summit director Daire Hickey. However, for the second day in a row proceedings were put back as lawyers and parties held talks in corridors all morning outside Court 29 in the Four Courts building. At around 12.30pm, barrister Michael Cush SC, for another former director, David Kelly, told Mr Justice Michael Twomey that negotiations had not yet borne fruit but that time in the case had not been wasted. Mr Justice Twomey then adjourned the case until 2pm. At around 2.05pm Mr Cosgrave's legal team asked for him outside the court and five minutes later counsel for all three were seated before Mr Justice Twomey. Hours of talks have taken place and on Wednesday the court was due to hear evidence from former Web Summit director Daire Hickey. Photo: Collins Courts Mr Cush said he was pleased to say there had been a beneficial development through talks and that what was discussed between all three parties will be written up overnight and presented to the court on Thursday morning. Mr Cush thanked the judge for the time allowed for the parties to enter into settlement discussions. Mr Justice Twomey then adjourned the matter for finalisation until 11am on Thursday morning. Web Summit majority shareholder Paddy Cosgrave was suing Mr Kelly, who owns 12% of the shares in Web Summit, for alleged breaches of his fiduciary duties as a director of the company. Mr Cosgrave was, in turn, being sued by Mr Kelly and Mr Hickey, who holds 7% of the shares in Web Summit, for alleged shareholder oppression and breaches of a profit-sharing agreement. 'Mediation more preferable than litigation' On Wednesday at the High Court, Mr Justice Twomey urged the parties to resolve their differences, rather than suffer the "real and human" cost of spending months in litigation. Mr Justice Twomey quoted the French philosopher Voltaire, saying: "I was never ruined, but twice - once when I lost a lawsuit, and once when I won one. He urged the three parties not to focus on the rights and wrongs of the history of their business disputes, but to focus on resolution. He said mediation was "a thousand times more preferable than going into litigation" and warned that the three months for which the case is scheduled could mean a judgment from him in the winter which might not satisfy any of them. 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. Mr Justice Twomey said that 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 proceedings, which opened last week, had been scheduled to run for nine weeks. 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. The trial of a man accused of murdering his wife at their home in Wilton heard evidence on Wednesday of her body being found wrapped in a duvet on a blood-soaked bed in the main bedroom while a bloodied knife, a wedding ring and a note were on a desk. Detective Sergeant Michelle OLeary of the serious crime unit at Bishopstown garda station described this scene to Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford and the jury of seven women and five men at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork. 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. Crime scene examiner, Detective Garda John Twomey, read the note which was found on the open page of a spiral notepad. It was addressed to the couples five-year-old child. Det. Garda Twomey said he struggled to read the full note because of the nature of the writing when he first saw it but attempted to read it in the witness box. He said the note read: I love you so much. Please forgive me for what I did as your mum was having The detective said at this point in his reading of the note that it said something he could not make out and he then read, and his name was Jay. There were other words which he said he could not make out and there were some phone numbers, the crime scene examiner testified. CCTV evidence was also given of what Detective Garda Dave Hickey described as the purchase of the potential murder weapon two days earlier. At lunchtime on Wednesday July 12, 2023, he purchased in his local Tesco at Wilton Shopping Centre a Go Cook brand kitchen knife for 16, along with a bottle of Jameson whiskey and a bottle of flavoured water. He brought a re-usable plastic shopping bag, paid by Revolut and tapped his Tesco Clubcard. 999 call The jury heard the testimony of Derek Foley, a call handler at Anglesea Street garda station, who testified that he received a call from a man identifying himself as the defendant and saying he had killed his wife and the guards should send someone to arrest him. A recording of the 999 call was played to the jury. As soon as the 999 call was answered by the person who would allocate it to gardai or other emergency services, the caller is heard saying: I killed my wife, that is why I am phoning you. The call was immediately referred to gardai. When he was put through to garda control room, the caller said: I killed my wife. The reply was: No problem at all, can I check your Eircode can I take your name, caller. Derek Foley said in evidence that as soon as he got the Eircode from the caller, gardai were immediately dispatched to the scene. The call continues: What did you do? The reply came: I stabbed her with a knife. Arrest Two gardai from the armed support unit arrived at the scene, Detective Garda Tony Devane carrying a taser, and Detective Garda Patrick OToole armed with a Sig Sauer, and found gardai and members of the public on the road. The armed officers announced themselves loudly in the house. The accused walked out, he was handcuffed by Detective Garda Brian English and asked to kneel down outside the house before being taken away. He was searched and three mobile phones were recovered from him. Inside the house the two armed officers went upstairs to the main bedroom and found the deceased woman wrapped in a duvet on the bed. Det. Sgt Michelle OLeary said there was bloodstaining on the wall, and the deceased was partially naked with a vest-type top pulled up and tangled. It was clear that she was deceased and that any medical intervention was not going to assist, Det. Sgt OLeary said. The trial continues. President Michael D Higgins completes two terms in office in November. A motley crew is dropping hints that they would be willing to run for the Aras if they got the nod, provoking the thought that if only you and I possessed one whit of that confidence, we could conquer the world. Names as varied as Tommy Tiernan, Linda Martin, Fintan OToole, Michael McDowell, Frances Black, and Simon Coveney, to name but a few, have been mooted or failed to rule themselves out. Last week, Donald Trumps favourite Irish person, notorious 36-year-old UFC fighter Conor McGregor, announced on Instagram that he intended to run. This is the crazy world we live in. Joshing aside, the recent spectacle of blowhard Conor McGregor in the White House purporting to speak for the people of Ireland was stomach-churning. Posing in the Oval Office wont change the fact McGregor was found liable in a civil case for the assault of Nikita Hand, although he is appealing the verdict. Conor McGregor cant nominate himself to run for President. No matter how he is courted in America, the process of running for president is not straightforward. A potential candidate must get the backing of four local authorities or 20 Oireachtas members to be nominated. How likely is that? Its possible but improbable. Assuming he cleared that hurdle, he would have to win a majority of the vote. The coalition parties are moving to block Conor McGregors attempt to gain a nomination by introducing their candidates into the field, making it more challenging for independents to succeed in the council route. McGregor is a profoundly ignorant man in how he conducts himself, including punching an elderly man and driving around on the night he assaulted Nikita Hand trying to get something going with a partner and four children at home. Who can forget Dee Devlins shipwrecked face when she emerged from court with her partner? Who can forget Dee Devlins shipwrecked face when she emerged from court with her partner? File picture: Collins Courts However, its ill-advised, as the American Democrats have done, to exist in an echo chamber and assume that a far-right buffoon with populist policies could never appeal to voters disenchanted with mainstream politics. If America proves anything, its never say never. The Trumpian vote demonstrated that lack of opportunity and relative poverty make for strange times. When people feel they can achieve a reasonable standard of living, advance modestly, and dream of their children doing better than they did, which is what we all hope for, then democracy thrives. In the 1990s, presidents were young and popular, people trusted each other, and we didnt have to prove everything we said. Naturally, the seeds of what would go wrong were already being planted, not least the deregulation of the financial system, which led to a crash that changed the world. The point is that we felt we could be anyone and anything was possible. That no longer feels conceivable as many people struggle and to quote Captain Boyle in Sean OCaseys Juno and the Paycock, Th' whole worl's in a terrible state o' chassis." Theres something about OCaseys work that feels current. OCasey wrote about the chasm between the official republican rhetoric of the time and the reality of life for normal people. When people struggle to find homes or access essential services, such as finding school places for their children with special needs and battling to keep their heads above water, we risk political disruption. No recent White House audiences or interviews with Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, and Robert F Kennedy Jr, the secretary of health (the less said about them, the better) will ever change the fact that McGregor is, despite his athletic prowess, a clown. However, if he was cleverer and with less baggage, somebody as shallow and cartoonish as Conor McGregor could attract support as a potential presidential candidate. A loud-mouthed, provocative bogeyman peddling an anti-immigration, anti-government line. An Irish version of JD Vance who, despite his apparent failings and multiple contradictions, emerged from poverty and is clever. In 2018, wealthy right-wing Donegal businessman Peter Casey won nearly a quarter of the vote after running on an anti-Traveller platform with strong rural support. In 2018, wealthy right-wing Donegal businessman Peter Casey won nearly a quarter of the vote after running on an anti-Traveller platform with strong rural support. Casey is a curious character in that he later volunteered a large property for housing Ukrainian war refugees, something that did not go down well with right-wing groups online who accused him baselessly of "human trafficking". He won his subsequent defamation case. However, his 2018 success proved there are rich seams out there waiting to be mined. He is preparing to run again on a put Ireland first campaign. Sound familiar? Meanwhile, dismissing McGregor is tempting from where I am standing, but others may not see things like that. Witness the outrage and shock when Gerry Hutch nearly got elected to the Dail. I watched the election coverage all day, and nobody appeared to see it coming except Bertie Ahern, who, to paraphrase the late Charles Haughey, is one of the cutest of them all. He didnt engage in the handwringing. He said: Gerry Hutch has been around as long as I have been. I wont get into morals or ethics, but Hutch has indirectly been kind to the Dublin Central community. Whether we like it or not, he is respected by people, which explains his 3,000 votes. "Its not just younger people who voted for him; older people I know voted for him. We can all say the self-righteous things we want, but the reaction is what it is. Indeed. Im sure the former Taoiseach understands that crises or perceived crises provoke a departure from democracy or at least provoke people into voting for populists. Bertie may run for president, although he has not officially thrown his hat in the ring. Reality check needed for politicians Some of our politicians need a reality check because, unbelievably, the Dail speaking rights row rumbles on. Sinn Fein whip Padraig Mac Lochlainn said: We have to stand our ground. As I have written before, ill-advised in-house procedural shenanigans like these lead normal people to vote against highly paid elites squabbling about something that matters little to them, even if that means voting for a disruptive loser. This is precisely why America is saddled with Trump and hillybilly Maga loyalist J D Vance. They did not come from a vacuum and attracted, amongst others, working-class voters in dire economic straits who felt cut loose by the establishment. Their modus operandi, like McGregors, is to attract controversy, spread baseless rumours, and spew anti-system bile, although they are both infinite times smarter than McGregor. Victor Frankl, the Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, coined the phrase Control the controllable. He meant that life is what we make it. Reworking his phrase, we can control the president's nomination procedure. But there are other things we cant ultimately control unless we take notice because its like an underground river you cant see. The damp rises through the ground until suddenly, too late, you realise your feet are sodden. Criticism of boorish Conor McGregor is justified, but disparaging some of the people who would vote for him is a bad strategy. Hillary Clinton made a catastrophic mistake in a 2016 campaign speech when she described Trump supporters as deplorables. Joe Biden compounded it last year when he appeared to demonise Trump supporters as garbage, even if that is not what he meant. Look to America and realise we have been warned. The gunman who killed 23 people in a racist attack at an El Paso Walmart in 2019 in one of the the deadliest mass shootings in US history has been offered a plea deal to avoid the death penalty, a Texas prosecutor said. The announcement by El Paso County District Attorney James Montoya is a significant turn in the criminal case of Patrick Crusius, 26, who was already sentenced to 90 consecutive life sentences after pleading guilty in 2023 to federal hate crime charges. Under the Biden administration, federal prosecutors also took the death penalty off the table, but did not explain why. In addition to the federal case, Crusius was also charged in state court with one count of capital murder of multiple people and also multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon. Mr Montoya said he supports the death penalty and believes Crusius deserves it. But he said he met with the families of the victims and there was an overriding desire to conclude the process, though some relatives were willing to wait as long as it took for a death sentence. The vast majority of them want this case over and done with as quickly as possible, he said. Mr Montoya, a Democrat, took office in January after defeating a Republican incumbent who was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott. Mr Montoyas predecessors supported sending Crusius to death row. Crusius, who is white, was 21 years old and had dropped out of community college when police say he drove more than 700 miles from his home near Dallas to target Hispanics in El Paso. Moments after posting a racist screed online that warned of a Hispanic invasion of the state, he opened fire with an AK-style rifle inside and outside the store. Before the shooting, Crusius appears to have been consumed by the immigration debate, posting online in support of building the border wall and other messages praising then-president Donald Trumps hardline border policies. He went further in the rant he posted before the attack, saying Hispanics were going to take over the government and economy. In the years since the shooting, Republicans have called migrants crossing the southern border an invasion and dismissed criticism that such rhetoric fuels anti-immigrant views and violence. In the US governments case, Crusius received a life sentence for each of the 90 charges against him, half of which were classified as hate crimes. Then-attorney general Merrick Garland said after the sentencing that no-one in this country should have to live in fear of hate-fuelled violence. One of his attorneys told the judge before the sentencing that his client had a broken brain and his thinking was at odds with reality. Federal prosecutors did not formally explain their decision not to seek the death penalty, but they did acknowledge that Crusius suffered from schizo-affective disorder, which can be marked by hallucinations, delusions and mood swings. 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 US border on routine shopping trips. In 2023, Crusius agreed to pay more than five million dollars 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 US district judge. There was no indication that he had significant assets. Russia has convicted 23 captured Ukrainians on terrorism charges stemming from the fighting in Ukraine in a trial that Kyiv denounced as a sham and a violation of international law. The defendants included 14 current or former fighters of the elite Azov brigade, which Russia designated a terrorist group, and nine women and one man who worked as cooks or support personnel, according to Russian media reports and rights activists. Twelve defendants were not in court, 11 had returned to Ukraine in two prisoner exchanges and were convicted in absentia. One more died in custody last year. All had been charged with staging a violent coup detat and organising the activities of a terrorist organisation. Some faced an additional charge of training to carry out terrorist activities. They were given sentences ranging from 13 to 23 years in prison. Memorial, a prominent Russian rights group that won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022, has designated all the defendants as political prisoners. A Russian Army 2S5 howitzer Giatsint-S fires towards Ukrainian positions in Ukraine (Russian Defence MInistry/AP) According to Memorial, some of them were captured in 2022 during fighting in the port city of Mariupol, where they held out at the Azovstal steel mill, besieged by Russian troops. Others were detained as they tried to leave the city after it was overrun by Russian forces, the group said. Ukraines human rights envoy, Dmytro Lubinets, denounced the proceedings when they began in June 2023 as another sham trial held for Russias own amusement. Russia and fair justice have nothing in common. The world must respond to such shameful sham trials of Ukrainian defenders, Mr Lubinets said at the time. It is obvious to everyone that those who should be in the dock are not those defending themselves but those who initiated the aggression, those who invaded foreign land with weapons, and those who arrived with tanks on the territory of an independent state! That same month, Ukraines presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said on X that the trial amounted to an official war crime that warrants a response from the International Criminal Court. Petro Yatsenko, a representative of the Ukrainian Coordination Centre for the Treatment of POWs, echoed his sentiment in remarks quoted by the Hromadske news outlet, saying the proceedings violated the Geneva Conventions on the treatment of prisoners of war. The trial was held in a military court in Rostov-on-Don, where Russias Southern Military District is headquartered, about 60 miles east of the border with Ukraine. Wind-driven wildfires that were among South Koreas worst ever were ravaging the countrys southern regions, killing 24 people, destroying more than 200 structures and forcing 27,000 residents to evacuate, officials said. The death toll included a pilot who died after a helicopter crashed during efforts to contain wildfires in the southeastern town of Uiseong, one of the hardest-hit areas. The aircraft had no other crew members. The National Fire Agency said at least 26 other people sustained varying degrees of injuries. An ancient Buddhist temple, houses, factories and vehicles were destroyed in the wildfires that have burned 43,330 acres (17,535 hectares), the governments emergency response centre said. In a televised address, South Koreas acting President Han Duck-soo said the wildfires that began last Friday were the worst so far. Damages are snowballing, Mr Han said. There are concerns that well have wildfire damages that weve never experienced, so we have to concentrate all our capabilities to put out the wildfires in the rest of this week. Mr Han said crews were struggling to extinguish the wildfires because strong winds swept the areas overnight. Mr Han said about 4,650 firefighters, soldiers and other personnel were working Wednesday with the help of about 130 helicopters. He said that a small amount of rain was expected on Thursday. As of Wednesday evening, firefighters were fighting at least four active wildfires, including in the southeastern coastal town of Yeongdeok, which alerted residents of the nearest village to evacuate to an indoor gymnasium. Strong winds and smoke-filled skies forced authorities in the southeastern city of Andong to order evacuations in two villages, including Puncheon, which is home to the Hahoe folk village, a Unesco World Heritage Site founded around the 14th-15th century. Hikers were advised to leave the scenic Jirisan Mountain, one of the countrys largest national parks, as another fire spread closer. Firefighters inspect the wreckage of a crashed firefighting helicopter (Son Hyung-joo/AP) Observers say the ongoing wildfires are the third biggest in South Korea in terms of land burned. The largest fires were in Andong, the neighbouring counties of Uiseong and Sancheong, and the city of Ulsan. On Tuesday, officials said firefighters had extinguished most of the flames from the largest wildfires in those areas, but wind and dry conditions allowed them to spread again. The blaze in Uiseong destroyed nearly half of more than 30 structures at Gounsa, a temple which was said to be originally built in the seventh century. Among the burned structures were two state-designated treasures, a pavilion-shaped building erected on a stream in 1668, and a Joseon Dynasty structure built in 1904 to mark the longevity of a king. The another state-designated treasure, a stone Buddha statue reportedly manufactured in the eighth century, was moved to a safe place, according to government and Buddhist officials. The Justice Ministry said it protectively removed 500 inmates from a detention centre in Cheongsong, another southern town, but no damages were reported to the facility. The Korea Forest Service said it had raised its wildfire warning to the highest level nationwide, requiring local governments to assign more workers to emergency response, tighten entry restrictions for forests and parks, and recommend that military units withhold live-fire exercises. The 18 dead include four firefighters and government workers who died in Sancheong on Saturday after being trapped by fast-moving flames driven by strong winds, according to officials. Government officials suspect human error caused several of the fires, possibly due to the use of fire while clearing overgrown grass in family tombs or sparks from welding work. The Atlantic magazine has published fresh messages from the Signal chat group, including from top US officials discussing operational details of plans to bomb Yemen. The initial revelations by the magazine and its editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, who was accidentally added to the chat, have created a huge scandal in the US, and the Trump administration has faced withering attacks over the disastrous leak of sensitive information. However, the magazine did not include specific details of the attack, saying it did not want to jeopardise national security. But as part of its response to the scandal, and its attack on Goldberg and the Atlantic, numerous Trump administration officials have said that none of the information on the Signal chat chain was classified information despite the Atlantic describing it as operational details of the US strike on Yemens Houthi militia, which has been attacking shipping in the Red Sea. In a new article published on Wednesday, The Atlantic said it was now releasing that information. There is a clear public interest in disclosing the sort of information that Trump advisers included in nonsecure communications channels, especially because senior administration figures are attempting to downplay the significance of the messages that were shared, the magazine said. The magazine then reproduced numerous messages from the text chat between the Pentagon chief, Pete Hegseth who said on Tuesday that nobody was texting war plans and top intelligence officials, including Steve Witkoff, Trumps special envoy to the Middle East, who was in Russia at the time. They included details of US bombings, drone launches and targeting information of the assault, including descriptions of weather conditions. They also mention specific weapons to be used, timings for attacks and references to a target terrorist, presumably a Houthi militant. There is further discussion of confirmation that a target had been killed, and the use of several emojis. If this text had been received by someone hostile to American interests or someone merely indiscreet, and with access to social media the Houthis would have had time to prepare for what was meant to be a surprise attack on their strongholds. The consequences for American pilots could have been catastrophic, the Atlantic wrote. Trump administration officials yesterday claimed that the messages contained no classified information. Gabbard and Ratcliffe, who were participants in the chat, said the leak contained no classified information. The Atlantic also quoted an email response from the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, after the magazine contacted the Trump administration to say it was considering publishing the entirety of the email chain, in which she said the chat did not include classified information but also that the White House did not want the messages released. As we have repeatedly stated, there was no classified information transmitted in the group chat, Leavitt wrote. However, as the CIA Director and National Security Advisor have both expressed today, that does not mean we encourage the release of the conversation. Donald Trump, when asked on Tuesday about the leak, also said: It wasnt classified information, while adding that the leak was the only glitch in two months. After the story was published, Leavitt once claimed on X that these were NOT war plans. This entire story was another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well-known for his sensationalist spin. Democrats will probably use the intelligence committee hearing to demand an explanation of how operational attack plans are not classified information and how the details included in the messages are not war plans. Last week, NPR reported that the Pentagon warned its staff specifically against the use of Signal because of its security vulnerabilities. In a Pentagon OPSEC special bulletin sent on 18 March, it warned that Russian hacking groups could aim to exploit the vulnerability. The messages in the Signal chat were set to automatically delete in under four weeks. The Federal Records Act typically mandates that government communication records be kept for two years. The Atlantic said it withheld the name of Ratcliffes chief of staff on request, but otherwise published the messages unredacted. It said it did not generally publish information about military operations if it could possibly harm US personnel, but that accusations from the Trump administration that it was lying caused it to believe that people should see the texts in order to reach their own conclusions. There is a clear public interest in disclosing the sort of information that Trump advisers included in nonsecure communications channels, especially because senior administration figures are attempting to downplay the significance of the messages that were shared, the magazine wrote. Palestinians chanted against Hamas during anti-war protests in the Gaza Strip, witnesses said, in a rare show of public anger against the militant group that has long repressed dissent and still rules the territory 17 months into the war with Israel. Videos that appeared to be authentic showed hundreds of people taking part in a protest in the heavily destroyed northern town of Beit Lahiya on Tuesday. People held signs saying Stop the war, We refuse to die, and The blood of our children is not cheap. There were calls for more protests on Wednesday. At least one was held in the hard-hit Shijaiyah neighbourhood of Gaza City, where dozens of men chanted Out, out out! Hamas get out! We are sick of the bombing, killing and displacement, said Ammar Hassan, who took part in the protest on Tuesday. Smoke from Israeli bombardment rises from the Gaza Strip (Maya Alleruzzo/AP) He said it started as an anti-war protest with a few dozen people but swelled to more than 2,000, with people chanting against Hamas. Its the only party we can affect, he said by phone. Protests wont stop the (Israeli) occupation, but it can affect Hamas. The militant group has violently cracked down on previous protests. Family elders from Beit Lahiya expressed support for the protests against Israels renewed offensive and its tightened blockade on all supplies into Gaza. Their statement said the community fully supports armed resistance against Israel. The protest was not about politics. It was about peoples lives, said Mohammed Abu Saker, a father of three from the nearby town of Beit Hanoun, who joined the demonstration. We want to stop the killing and displacement, no matter the price. We cant stop Israel from killing us, but we can press Hamas to give concessions, he said. A similar protest occurred in the heavily destroyed area of Jabaliya on Tuesday, according to witnesses. One protester in Jabaliya, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said they joined the demonstration because everyone failed us. They said they chanted against Israel, Hamas, the Western-backed Palestinian Authority and Arab mediators. They said there were no Hamas security forces at the protest but scuffles broke out between supporters and opponents of the group. Later, they said they regretted participating because of Israeli media coverage, which emphasised the opposition to Hamas. Displaced Palestinians, carrying their belongings, wood and other items, move between southern and northern Gaza(Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) A 19-year-old Palestinian, who also spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said he planned to join demonstrations on Wednesday. His mother has cancer, and his 10-year-old brother is in hospital with cerebral palsy, and he said the family has been displaced multiple times since their home was destroyed. People are angry at the whole world, including the United States, Israel and Hamas, he said. We want Hamas to resolve this situation, return the hostages and end this whole thing. The protests erupted a week after Israel ended its ceasefire with Hamas by launching a surprise wave of strikes that killed hundreds of people. Earlier this month, Israel halted deliveries of food, fuel, medicine and humanitarian aid to Gazas roughly two million Palestinians. Israel has vowed to escalate the war until Hamas returns the 59 hostages it still holds, 24 of them believed to be alive. Israel is also demanding that the group give up power, disarm and send its leaders into exile. Hamas has said it will only release the remaining captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The war was triggered by Hamas October 7 2023, attack into Israel, in which Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251. Israels retaliatory offensive has killed over 50,000 people, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not say how many were civilians or combatants. Israels bombardment and ground operations have caused vast destruction and, at their height, displaced some 90% of Gazas population. Hamas won a landslide victory in the last Palestinian elections, held in 2006. It seized power in Gaza from the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, dominated by the secular Fatah movement, the following year after months of factional unrest and a week of heavy street battles. Rights groups say both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas violently suppress dissent, quashing protests in the areas they control and jailing and torturing critics. Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of breaking the terms of a tentative US brokered deal to pause strikes on energy infrastructure, underscoring the challenges on negotiating a broader peace. Russias Defence Ministry said Ukrainian drone attacks hit an electric facility in the Bryansk region early on Wednesday and a power grid facility in the Kursk region on Tuesday, leading to a power cut affecting thousands of people. The Kyiv regime is doing everything to derail the Russian-US agreements on the gradual settlement of the Ukrainian conflict, the ministry said on Wednesday. Ukraines General Staff denied the allegations, saying Moscows claims were part of a broader disinformation campaign aimed at justifying continued hostilities. Were not going into all the details, but there have already been eight confirmed hits on energy facilities The accusations came hours after Washington announced it had reached a tentative agreement with Ukraine and Russia to pause attacks on energy sites as well as taking steps to ensure safe navigation for ships in the Black Sea. The deal followed three days of separate US-Ukrainian and US-Russian talks in the Saudi capital. The talks were part of efforts by the administration of President Donald Trump to implement a limited, 30-day ceasefire that Moscow and Kyiv agreed to in principle last week. That has so far failed to materialise as both sides continue to launch drone and rocket attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Kyiv had agreed with US negotiators in Riyadh that a ceasefire for energy infrastructure can start today, and expressed his countrys willingness to comply with the agreement while warning Russia would face strong retaliation if it attacked Ukrainian energy facilities. Ukrainian officials have contested claims by the Kremlin that Russian forces have not attacked energy sites in Ukraine since March 18. Mr Zelenskys communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn said Moscow was lying about observing a ceasefire on energy infrastructure. Theyve been hitting our energy sites with bombs, attack drones and FPV drones. Were not going into all the details, but there have already been eight confirmed hits on energy facilities, he wrote. Every night our air defence forces shoot down nearly a hundred attack drones and many of those drones were likely targeting other energy facilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) On Tuesday, the White House said in separate statements that the sides 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. 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 UN and Turkey but was halted by Russia the next year. After the White House issued its statement, the Kremlin warned that a potential Black Sea deal could only be implemented after sanctions against the Russian Agricultural Bank and other financial organisations involved in food and fertiliser trade are lifted and their access to the Swift system of international payments is ensured. Speaking during a visit to Paris on Wednesday, Mr Zelensky accused Moscow of attempting to add extra conditions to what should be an unconditional agreement. We expect the American side to ensure an unconditional ceasefire at sea, he said. Russia wants this war to continue. Russia is prolonging it. Pressure on Russia is needed for the war to genuinely end. He also said it is too early for the US to ease sanctions against Russia, adding that Ukraine continues discussions with international partners, including the United States, Asian countries and the European Union, to prepare new sanctions packages. The White House said in Tuesdays statement 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. US secretary of state Marco Rubio said were going to evaluate the Russian conditions, noting that some of them include sanctions that are not ours, they belong to the European Union. Marco Rubio (Nathan Howard/AP) He said that after analysing Moscows demands, well present that to the president, who will make a decision about the next step. I think everyone should be happy that the United States is engaged in a process of ending a war and bringing about peace, he said. Its not going to be easy. It wont be simple. Itll take some time. But at least were on that road and were talking about these things, and were going to test it and see whats possible. Asked about when Washington might help Moscow achieve those ambitions, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said on Wednesday that contacts between Russia and the US continue quite intensively and that authorities are satisfied with how pragmatic, constructive and productive our dialogue is. Meanwhile, Kryvyi Rih, Mr Zelenskys home town, came under the most massive kamikaze drone attack since the beginning of the war on Tuesday night, said the city administration head, Oleksandr Vilkul. Although no one was killed or injured, civilian infrastructure including warehouses, an administration building and a fire station were widely targeted, he added. Multiple fires were sparked across the city, he said. Everyone is alive, thank God. Its truly a miracle. The destruction is significant, Mr Vilkul said. Civilian infrastructure also came under strike in the Sumy, Cherkasy and Kirovohrad regions, local authorities said. Neptunes glowing auroras have been captured in the best detail yet by Nasas James Webb Space Telescope. Hints of auroras were first faintly detected in ultraviolet light during a flyby by the Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1989. Webb captured Neptunes shimmering lights in infrared light, providing direct evidence they exist. Nasa released the images on Wednesday and the results were published in the journal Nature Astronomy. Neptune was the only giant planet in the Solar System not showing H3+ and aurorae --- until these JWST observations: https://t.co/3BGVMjxBwp . Atmospheric temperatures are found to be half those recorded by Voyager 2 34 yrs ago. @SolarSpaceNU Nature Astronomy (@NatureAstronomy) March 26, 2025 Auroras on any planet occur when electrically charged particles from space enter and collide with molecules in the atmosphere, creating a series of reactions that emit light. On Earth, auroras tend to occur near the polar regions, producing spectacular northern and southern lights. Scientists have studied auroras on Saturn and Jupiter for decades, but Neptune, the farthest planet from the sun, has been harder to see up close. Neptune has always been elusive, said University of Reading planetary scientist James ODonoghue, co-author of the new study. Its auroras had only been seen by Voyager, and weve been trying to see it again ever since. Neptunes auroras occur near the mid-latitudes of the planet, not the polar regions, because of differences in its magnetic field which determine the span of auroras, said Mr ODonoghue. More than three decades after Voyager 2s pass, scientists have seen Neptunes auroras again with the powerful Webb telescope, producing the first robust detection, said co-author Heidi Hammel of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy. The researchers also revealed that Neptunes atmosphere has cooled significantly since the 1980s, which may have dimmed the light of the auroras. Wednesday, Mar 26th, 2025 (8:00 am) - Score 1,320 A new report from the Digital Communities All-Party Parliamentary Group (DC APPG) has been published, which examines the ongoing industry-led switchover from Openreach, BT and KCOMs legacy phone lines to new digital (IP / VoIP based) networks. But it warns that, despite recent efforts, vulnerable users still face a risk to life from the switch. Just to recap. The big switch-off was recently delayed to 31st January 2027 in order to give broadband ISPs, phone, telecare providers, councils and consumers more time to adapt (details). But the main focus of this delay was the 1.8 million UK people who use vital home telecare systems in the UK (e.g. elderly, disabled, and vulnerable people), which arent always compatible with digital phone services. Take note that for everybody else, the switching deadline is still technically Dec 2025. NOTE: Openreach are withdrawing their old Wholesale Line Rental (WLR) products as part of this change, while BT are retiring their related Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). The industry-led shift to digital phones is being driven by two major changes, including the looming retirement of copper lines in favour of full fibre (FTTP) broadband (inc. future exchange closures) and the fact that reliability of the old network is in decline (i.e. its becoming harder for operators to source parts and skills for older technologies). Not to mention that it is not economically feasible to maintain both the old and new networks long term. Advertisement Both the past and present governments have already responded to these concerns by encouraging the industry to adopt various changes (here and here), such as by ensuring that no vulnerable customers are migrated by the major providers (e.g. BT, Virgin Media, Vodafone and Sky Broadband) until their telecare systems have been confirmed to work with the new digital phone service. In addition, many of those same providers have also recently introduced enhanced battery backup solutions, which can help to provide additional protection to vulnerable users during protracted power cuts (here). Not to mention that BT and Openreach are currently also working toward launching their Pre-Digital Phone Line ( PDPL ) product this year (aka SOTAP for Analogue). The PDPL essentially attempts to replicate how the old phone service worked, albeit over a more modern network (i.e. it does NOT require a broadband connection to function or require battery backup). But PDPL is only a temporary solution until 2030 (i.e. when mass exchange retirement starts), and it will only be available to vulnerable and edge use cases (inc. CNI) users on existing lines (not new customers) who would otherwise face challenges in migrating to IP based voice solutions by the deadline. But there is a catch as PDPL is not compatible with lines connected to broadband (i.e. its for voice-only lines). Findings of the DC APPG report However, despite all of the above efforts, the new DC APPG report Care to Connect finds that the current industry-led approach has created a complex landscape in what is a technical project with deeply personal repercussions, while highlighting the previously covered deaths of two vulnerable Virgin Media Phone customers (here) this is partly what led to the government putting more pressure on the industry over the past year. Advertisement The group is now calling for the role of government to be clearly defined in digital transformation projects and has made various other recommendations (see bottom of article), such as calling for Ofcom to require longer-lasting battery backup within broadband and mobile networks (e.g. 6 hours instead of 4 for newly installed street cabinets). The report also supports the plan for a national awareness campaign (National Telecare Campaign), although it fears that industry fragmentation has the potential to undermine the delivery of an effective NTC. Witness evidence is said to have highlighted the critical need for buy-in and support from the voluntary and community sector (VCS) to deliver an effective communication campaign. Concern was also raised about the overreliance of residents to self-identify as vulnerable throughout the PSTN migration. Further evidence raised the potential risk of an increase in scam activity (i.e. fraudsters using the switchover to pressuring customers into parting with financial details etc.), and there is growing concern that this may worsen as a result of the national campaign. Helen Morgan MP (North Shropshire), Chair of the APPG, said: The APPG agreed to fast track an inquiry into the PSTN migration and shine a light on the risks associated. The digital switchover should be known and understood by every resident across the country to ensure the most vulnerable in our communities are protected. Successive governments have not provided leadership or coordination to this programme, and it is now time for this new government to correct course. The risk to life if residents are not safely migrated is real. A digital transformation project of this kind cannot be allowed to be led by industry operatives alone. Unfortunately, whilst a national campaign is essential, DSIT must urgently intervene to ensure coordination and provide clarity to the wider network of stakeholders. This will ensure the campaign has a strong ground-up approach to complement TV and radio adverts. The report makes a lot of fair points and recommendations, although it should be said that Ofcom, broadband ISPs and the government are already in the process of delivering on some of the areas they touch upon. In other cases, such as in terms of battery backup for street cabinets, the regulator has already softened its stance due to the costs involved (here), although it is still considering options for mobile networks (here). But ISPs have also been improving the customer side of things with better protection for homes (here). Advertisement Elsewhere, were not completely convinced that the complex and highly technical project would have been better managed if it was centrally controlled by the government (MPs havent exactly proven themselves to be terribly competent when it comes to modern telecoms networks), although much would depend upon the structure. In any case, this is more of a consideration for future projects than the PSTN switch-off. Weve summarised the reports main recommendations below, although we recommend reading the report itself in order to get the full context. But one of the main problems with this report is that it comes far too late in the process, near the end of what started being planned around a decade ago. China-US think tanks dialogue stresses cooperation, youth exchanges 17:15, March 25, 2025 By Zhong Wenxing, Cui Yige ( People's Daily Online "Dialogue Between China-US Think Tanks" is held in Beijing on March 24, 2025. (Photo/the ACCWS) On March 24, the event "Dialogue Between China-US Think Tanks" was held in Beijing. The dialogue reaffirmed the critical role of people-to-people exchanges, particularly among youth and scholars, to consolidate mutual understanding and address shared concerns. Over 50 scholars and experts from leading Chinese and American think tanks and universities, including the Carter Center, Quincy Institute, University of Illinois, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University, and the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies (ACCWS), gathered to discuss "The Future of China-US Relations and Implications for Global Stability and Development," reaching broad consensus on fostering bilateral ties. Yu Yunquan, vice President of the CICG and President of ACCWS, makes remarks at the "Dialogue Between China-US Think Tanks" in Beijing on March 24, 2025. (Photo/the ACCWS) Yu Yunquan, vice president of the China International Communications Group (CICG) and President of ACCWS, underscored the urgency for think tanks to act as "doers" in stabilizing China-US relations amid rising uncertainties. He outlined three priorities: enhancing objective understanding of China among American communities, building bridges for practical cooperation across sectors, and deepening youth exchanges to cultivate a new generation of "China-US experts" who can champion mutual understanding. Paige Alexander, CEO of the Carter Center, makes remarks at the "Dialogue Between China-US Think Tanks" in Beijing on March 24, 2025. (Photo/the ACCWS) Paige Alexander, CEO of the Carter Center, rejected the notion of a "zero-sum game" in bilateral relations, emphasizing respect-based cooperation and mutual benefit. In terms of think tanks, she highlighted the critical role of track-two diplomacy and persistent efforts in advancing bilateral dialogue. "The power of setting up an example is unlimited," Alexander said, expressing confidence that more exchanges would emerge to showcase shared values and expand channels for collaboration. Scholars agreed that China and the US, as major stakeholders in global governance, must leverage their complementary strengths to address shared challenges such as climate change, global health inequities, economic fragmentation, and regional conflicts. They called for institutionalizing such dialogue platforms to sustain momentum in people-to-people engagement. The dialogue was co-hosted by the ACCWS and the Carter Center. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Du Mingming) 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. An N.C. House Select Committee is recommending that the General Assembly change a state law forcing districts to start school the Monday closest to Aug. 26 and end no later than the Friday clo remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. The Atlantic magazine has released what it claims is the complete text of a chat group that was inadvertently shared with a journalist by senior US national security officials, detailing plans for an imminent attack on Yemen. The specifics, including strike timings and aircraft types, were fully outlined in screenshots from the chat, which the officials held on the commercial Signal messaging app rather than a secure government platform. The magazine, which initially provided only the general framework of the chat, stated it is now sharing the details after the Trump administration confirmed the authenticity and repeatedly asserted that no classified information was included. This controversy has shaken President Donald Trumps administration, which is currently responding defiantly by criticizing The Atlantic and denying any misconduct. Nonetheless, Vice President JD Vance, a participant in the Signal chat, remarked that The Atlantic had oversold the narrative, while White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt referred to the entire story as another hoax. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz also asserted on X that the Signal conversation revealed no locations and NO WAR PLANS. However, the extensive details now published from the chat will likely provoke a strong backlash from Democrats in Congress, who are accusing the Trump officials of incompetence and jeopardizing US military operations. The House of Representatives planned to address the scandal in a hearing today. No locations. No sources & methods. NO WAR PLANS. Foreign partners had already been notified that strikes were imminent. BOTTOM LINE: President Trump is safeguarding America and our interests. Mike Waltz (@MikeWaltz47) March 26, 2025 The story first emerged on Monday when Atlantic journalist Jeffrey Goldberg reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared information in the Signal chat regarding imminent strikes against the Houthi rebels on 15 March. For unknown reasons, Mr. Goldbergs phone number had been added to the group, which also included Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, among others. Mr. Goldberg additionally revealed disparaging remarks made by top US officials about European allies during their conversation. The Atlantic initially refrained from publishing the specific details of the chat, stating a desire to avoid revealing classified material and information that could endanger American troops. However, yesterday, Mr. Ratcliffe and other officials involved in the chat downplayed the scandal, testifying before Congress that nothing critical had been shared, no laws were broken, and that nothing discussed was classified. Mr. Trump himself dismissed the breach as a glitch and asserted there was no classified information involved. Consequently, The Atlantic asked the government if there would be any objections to publishing the remaining material under those circumstances. No firm indications to the contrary were provided. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has faced criticism for messages he allegedly sent in the Signal chat. The chats text reportedly showcases Hegseth detailing the timing of attacks. The Atlantic stated that its complete publication included everything from the Signal chain except one CIA name that the agency requested not to be disclosed. The discussions documented weather conditions, strike timings, and the types of aircraft being utilized. The texting occurred just half an hour before the first US warplanes launched and two hours before the first target, referred to as Target Terrorist, was expected to be bombed. A segment of the conversation published by The Atlantic The details are alarmingly specific for an operation that the public usually learns about only later and in broader terms. 1410: More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package), Mr. Hegseth writes at one point. 1415: Strike Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier Trigger Based targets). A short time later, Mr. Trumps National Security Advisor Mike Waltz sent real-time intelligence regarding the aftermath of an attack, writing, Building collapsed. Had multiple positive ID and amazing job. The Houthi rebels, who have held much of Yemen for over a decade, are part of the axis of resistance comprising pro-Iran groups firmly against Israel and the US. The Trump administration has intensified attacks on this group in response to ongoing Houthi attempts to disrupt and sink shipping through the strategic Red Sea. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has stated that this is not the time for isolation, neither for Europe nor for America, emphasizing that the current global security challenges are too significant to tackle alone. When it comes to ensuring the safety of Europe and North America, there is no substitute for NATO, he remarked. Mr. Rutte delivered these comments during a speech on transatlantic security this afternoon at the Warsaw School of Economics. Nothing can substitute Americas nuclear umbrella, which is the ultimate guarantor of our security, he told a packed audience of professors, students, and analysts from Polish think tanks. Mr. Rutte expressed his belief that the US remains steadfast in its commitment to NATO and Article 5 of the alliances treaty, which states that an attack on one member is regarded as an attack on all. In reference to the current US-led efforts to establish a ceasefire in the ongoing three-year Russia-Ukraine conflict, Mr. Rutte commented: I am pleased that President Trump has broken the stalemate, as we believe it is necessary and beneficial that peace talks are being conducted now under his leadership. The Americans, and all of us, have always been clear that we must secure a durable and lasting peace for Ukraine. Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin must never attempt to attack Ukraine again. He highlighted the importance of ongoing discussions among European nations regarding how to potentially assist in maintaining peace in Ukraine. Regarding Russias maximalist demands for the conflicts resolution, including the withdrawal of NATO multinational battalions from Eastern Europe, Mr. Rutte stated: Putin can propose whatever he wishes, but he has absolutely no influence on how we organize ourselves within the 32-member alliance. Read the latest Ukraine updates He noted that Russias advanced missile technology means that all NATO members are essentially positioned on the alliances eastern flank. The NATO chief asserted that even after the conflict in Ukraine concludes, Russia will continue to pose a significant and direct threat to our security. According to Mr. Rutte, Russias president has not abandoned his aim to reshape the global security order, highlighting that China is also expanding its military and nuclear capabilities without limits or transparency. Putin must understand that if he attempts to seize even a square kilometer of Estonia, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, or Portugal, our response will be devastating, and the full force of NATO will be upon him. Nothing can replace Americas nuclear umbrella, the ultimate guarantor of our security, said NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte during his address at the Warsaw School of Economics this afternoon @rtenews pic.twitter.com/DidaIrfvgH Liam Nolan (@liamnolanRTE) March 26, 2025 The NATO chief indicated that members of the military alliance currently spending less than 2% of their GDP on defense are engaged in genuine discussions to achieve that target by summer. Mr. Rutte mentioned last month that NATO members must increase their defense spending to over 3% of GDP, rising from the current 2% threshold established by the alliance over a decade ago. This spending goal is expected to be a key topic at NATOs annual summit in The Hague in June. US President Donald Trump has consistently criticized NATO members for failing to meet the 2% target and, prior to his return to the Oval Office in January, called for alliance members to escalate defense expenditures to 5% of GDP. Poland is currently the leading European NATO member in terms of GDP spent on defense and security, committing to 4.7% this year. Estonia and Latvia currently allocate more than 3% of their annual GDP to defense. Earlier, Mr. Rutte had meetings with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Polish President Andrzej Duda. In a press conference alongside Mr. Tusk, the NATO Secretary-General affirmed that the alliance would respond with a devastating strike to any Russian attack on Poland or any other ally. ( Tomdispatch.com ) 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 weve 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 dont 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 Trumps 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. Trump 2.0 has already escalated discriminatory policies, focusing on protecting White males at the expense of people of color and women. In fact, his very first executive orders included several measures cracking down on asylum seekers and closing off legal avenues to citizenship, as well as a brazen decree aimed at eradicating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout the country. Executive Order 14173 (Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity) was issued on January 21, 2025, the very day he took office. It ordered organizations and entities from government offices and the U.S. military to schools, businesses, and more to end their DEI policies within 120 days or risk losing government funding. Recently, making good on its threats, the Trump administration canceled $400 million of federal funding in the form of grants and contracts to Columbia University as a sign of disapproval of that universitys supposed tolerance of pro-Palestinian protests, described, as National Public Radio reported, as the schools failure to police antisemitism on campus. Nine other universities are believed to be under similar scrutiny. Meanwhile, according to the New York Times, Trump is planning to issue a new travel ban, including a red list of countries whose citizens will be prohibited from entering the United States and an orange list of those whose citizens would, in some fashion, be curtailed if not completely barred from entry. As yet, the specifics remain unknown. In other words, the discrimination enshrined by federal authorities in law and policy after 9/11 opened the way for a far more widespread governmental embrace of racial and ethnic discrimination now underway. Disappearing the Record Secrecy was likewise baked into the governments response to the war on terror, often to keep what would have been obvious abuses of the law well hidden. Whether it was the use of enhanced interrogation techniques the phrase employed by the administration of George W. Bush for acts of straightforward torture or mass surveillance, the authorization for the targeted killing of an American citizen or the implementation of other policies that deviated from accepted law and practice, all of that and more was initially kept well hidden from the American public. Now, many have described the brazen upheavals decreed by the Trump administration as being the very opposite of secrecy as, in fact, saying the quiet part out loud. In reality, however, in these first days of his second term in office, Trump and crew have taken secrecy to a new level, replacing it with a broad policy of erasure and invisibility. In fact, despite the administrations pledge of radical transparency in areas like spending, a hostile onslaught against the written record has prevailed. This determination to bury the record was apparent during the first Trump administration. He repeatedly asserted his right, for instance, not to document his meetings with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. In 2017, he reportedly confiscated notes that were taken at a meeting with Putin. In 2019, at the G-20 in Buenos Aires, he met Putin without either a translator or a note-taker present. The Washington Post reported, that U.S. officials said there is no detailed record, even in classified files, of Trumps face-to-face interactions with the Russian leader at five locations over the past two years. In other words, on a matter of top national security concern U.S.-Russian relations a cone of seclusion was created, effectively leaving it to the two presidents to make decisions in secret. (Meanwhile, in his first term in office, Trump allegedly flushed down the toilet certain records relevant to the classified documents case against him.) In his onslaught against record-keeping and the publics right to know, the National Archives has become a prime target. Trumps battle with the Archives had its origins in his legal struggle over the classified documents he was alleged to have kept in his possession in violation of the law after his first administration, even supposedly destroying security camera footage taken at Mar-a-Lago that showed boxes of those documents being moved. Now, the president has fired the U.S. archivist, replacing a professional academic with Marco Rubio, despite his duties as secretary of state. His outright refusal to keep a record of his administrations activities is also reflected in his insistence that the records of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) fall under the Presidential Records Act, which applies to the records of the president and vice president, and which comes with the guarantee that they can be withheld from the public for up to 12 years after he leaves office. The Act also allows for the disposal of records, pending the approval of the national archivist. In a further example of denying information as a form of politics, Trumps Office of Professional Management ordered the removal of gender-related content from its websites (as well as the erasure of gender-identifying pronouns from e-mail signatures and an end to all gender-related programs and grants). This led to the removal of pages from the Census.gov website, as well as from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and military websites, and the replacement of the acronym LGBTQ+ with LGB. Under court order, some of these webpages have been put back up, even if with this defiant note: Any information on this page promoting gender ideology is extremely inaccurate and disconnected from the immutable biological reality that there are two sexes, male and female. The Trump Administration rejects gender ideology and condemns the harms it causes to children, by promoting their chemical and surgical mutilation, and to women, by depriving them of their dignity, safety, well-being, and opportunities. This page does not reflect biological reality and therefore the Administration and this Department rejects it. In other words, the Trump administrations claims of legitimacy for its purge of information remain strong. The legacy of state-sanctioned secrecy and a parallel burying of the record, inextricably tied to the post-9/11 era, has already found a secure footing in the second Trump presidency. Undermining the Courts and the Law Time and again in the war on terror, the Department of Justice and the courts deferred to the federal government in the name of national security. As a 2021 Brennan Center report noted, national security deference was apparent in decisions not to hear cases due to states secret claims, as well as in decisions that prioritized over civil-liberties guarantees and human-rights considerations what government lawyers argued were the constitutionally granted powers of the president in national security matters. Under Trump, the second time around, its already clear that theres going to be a full-scale assault on the legitimacy of the legal system. Witness the administrations attacks on judges whose decisions have gotten in the way of his agenda. When a judge ordered the restoration of public health data that had been removed from government websites, he was summarily castigated by Elon Musk as evil and someone who must be fired. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has already moved to squelch independent decision-making by immigration court judges, threatening them with nothing short of dismissal should they rule against the presidents prerogatives. Then there are the attacks on law firms that have opposed Trump. Recently, for instance, security clearances were removed for lawyers at the law firms of Perkins Coie, which represented Hillary Clintons campaign in the 2016 election, and Covington Burleigh, which represented Jack Smith, who investigated Trump in the Biden years. Lawyers from those firms were also banned from federal buildings. And dont forget the all-out attempt to go after officials who investigated and prosecuted January 6th cases. The idea of an independent Justice Department has been severely damaged, with the promise of so much more to come. Evading Accountability More often than not, the significant transformations of law and policy that grew out of the response to 9/11 were relegated to the pages of history with little or no accountability. The Senate, under Senator Diane Feinsteins leadership, did produce a report on the CIAs use of torture. It detailed despicable acts of cruelty and ultimately concluded that such techniques, decreed to be legal by the Department of Justice, were not an effective means of acquiring intelligence or gaining cooperation from detainees. And immediately upon taking office in 2009, President Barack Obama issued an executive order officially ending the use of torture. But he was decidedly against holding any officials accountable for what had occurred, preferring, as he so memorably put it, to look forward, not backward. In addition, Obama refused to call torture a crime, labeling it a mistake instead. Today, in more mundane matters, the distaste for accountability has been institutionalized throughout the government. In his first term in office, Donald Trump dismissed or replaced five inspectors general, officials assigned to departments throughout the executive branch of government to monitor waste, abuse, and fraud. Almost immediately upon taking office this time around, he dismissed roughly 17 of them. For the moment, Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which, from its creation, never included an inspector-general position, is now under review by the Department of Treasurys inspector general. Trumps aversion to accountability clearly reflects a desire to protect his own efforts to totally control executive policy. It should, however, also serve as a striking reminder of the aversion to accountability that followed the legalization and uses of torture in the post-9/11 years, the fabricated decision to go to war in Iraq, the mass surveillance of Americans in that era, and so much more. All of this set in place a grim template for the second Trump era the notion that no one is ultimately accountable for abusing the law when their actions have been ordered (or simply approved) by the president. Lessons (Un)learned Given the magnitude of the most recent antidemocratic actions by Donald Trump and his team, blaming them on the slippery slope created during the war on terror years may seem like a distinct overreach. Yet, given the dangerous excesses were now witnessing, its worth remembering just how vulnerable the loss of certain norms of legality and accountability in those years left this country and how sadly little we seem to have learned from that era. Racism, a lack of deference for the courts, the failure to hold individuals and organizations accountable for informally rewriting the nations laws, the pervasive embrace of secrecy, and an unwillingness to erect strict guardrails to prevent the future manipulation of both laws and norms all those realities of the war on terror years created a distinctly undemocratic template, however different in scale, for this Trumpian moment of ours. An unwillingness to be accountable or to circumvent secrecy during the war on terror led the country straight into todays quagmire. Todays horrific moment should, in fact, be considered to return to that word of mine one last time a true perversification of past misdeeds, made all too possible by a failure in the post-9/11 years to take measures to prevent their recurrence. Copyright 2025 Karen J. Greenberg Via Tomdispatch.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rio Silver Inc. (Rio Silver or the Company) (TSX.V: RYO) (OTC: RYOOF) announces that it has signed a definitive agreement for the acquisition of the Minas Maria Norte (Maria Norte or the Property) high grade polymetallic silver, exploitation / exploitation property, from Peruvian Metals Corp. (Peruvian) (TSX-V PER) being subject to regulatory approval. The Property is located in Southern Peru in the historic Huachocolpa Mining District, Municipality of Huancavelica. The Property has been held by Peruvian for the past 18 years adjacent to significant silver production with announced world class expansion plans. Previous exploration campaigns by Peruvian shows that the property hosts many polymetallic veins with significant gold credits. Located in the heart of the prolific Huachocolpa Silver District, environmentally friendly hydro power, good infrastructure, labor and logistical support is available. Two significant mineral processing flotation plants operate nearby: Compania Minera Kolpa plant at 1440 tonnes per day and SilverX Minings (SilverX) plant called Recuperada at 720 tonnes per day These plants are located 8 km and 13 Km respectively from Maria Norte. In addition, SilverXs Tangana Mining Unit which is part of their Nueva Recuperada project is currently in production and is located 2.5 km to the southwest of Maria Norte. It appears that the sub-parallel mineralized structures on Maria Norte are similar to the mineralized structures on the Tangana Mining Unit. SilverX completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment of the area and is published on Sedarplus in April 2023. The Maria Norte property is 368 hectares in size covering numerous, Au-Ag-Zn-Pb veins that display evidence of historic artisanal exploitation. Five gold-bearing polymetallic structures were mapped by the Companys geologists and remain open along strike. The lengths of the structures as currently mapped are 40 to 400 meters with variable widths from 0.15 to 4 meters and occur in a vein corridor nearly 600 meters wide The main structure at Maria Norte, the Castorindo Zone, has provided the highest-grade gold values from within the land package, having five samples ranging in width from 0.18 to 0.70 meters and assaying 13.5 to 40.3 grams per tonne gold along with 162.9 to 1,128 grams per tonne silver. High-grade silver (1,848 grams per tonne) was also encountered at the Jess structure on a sample 0.3 meter in width. Other veins not yet mapped include five samples with widths of 0.2 to 0.7 meters with gold values ranging from 0.89 to 1.55 grams per tonne, silver values ranging from 82.8 to 682 grams per tonne, and up to 4.3 per cent zinc and 9.7 per cent lead. Also included in the acquisition is a small, isolated concession covering 33 hectares south of Maria Norte main concession block. Sampling and mapping by Peruvians geologists identified a mineralized structured believed to be a small portion of the principal vein structure known as Tangana West, a component of the SilverX Mining Corp.s Nueva Recuperada Project, Huancavelica. Acquisition Terms Rio Silver will acquire from Peruvian its wholly own Peruvian subsidiary which holds the concessions. Consideration includes a cash downpayment of $15,000 CDN and the issuance of 15 million Rio Silver common shares and 5 million warrants. The warrants will have a strike price of CAD $0.05 per share and an exercise period of 2 years. Cash payments totaling US$250,000 will be also payable over a 5 year period. A net smelter royalty will be granted Peruvian in an amount equal to 1.5%, after subtracting the Minimum Royalty Payments semi-annually. Rio Silver CEO Chris Verrico stated, We are very excited for the potential of Maria Norte to drive shareholder value enabling the Company to re-direct its focus to the pursuit of near term cash flow potential and the prospect of significant organic growth, strategically made possible in the very important Huachocolpa Mining District. Maria Norte is directly adjacent to and on trend with active mine production with demonstrated world class silver potential that speaks volumes for the Companys expectations for advancement towards sustainability. We believe that this acquisition and its potential development will be aided by the Companys other royalty streams and is well supported by Perus unique small mines permitting regime which can accelerate the initial development. We remain ever impressed and optimistic by the resilience and ingenuity of our host country as Peru continues to endorse supportive mining policies and continued growth, as is currently evident by the tremendous investment being witnessed, throughout Peru. We remain ever impressed and optimistic by the resilience and ingenuity of our host country as Peru continues to endorse supportive mining policies ensuring continued growth and opportunity throughout Peru. About Rio Silver Rio Silver is a resource company that has been selectively identifying and acquiring precious metal assets that are anticipated to produce near term cashflow to best assist the Companys exploration / development plans, in a non-dilutive, shareholder friendly way. Jeffrey Reeder, P.Geo., a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has supervised the preparation, and approved the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this news release. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF RIO SILVER INC. For further information, Christopher Verrico, President, CEO Tel: (604) 762-4448 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website: www.riosilverinc.com This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results 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, exploitation and exploration successes, the completion of the Acquisition, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. 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 except as required by applicable laws. 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. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2025) - T2 Metals Corp. (TSXV: TWO) (OTCQB: TWOSF) (WKN: A2DR6E) ("T2" or the "Company") is pleased to announce completion of the winter core drilling program at the Sherridon copper-gold project in the Flin Flon-Snow Lake District of west-central Manitoba (Figure 1). A total of 1,120 metres in four holes were completed, utilizing frozen ground to simplify access and reduce impact. Sherridon includes two significant past mines and five historical mineral resources (see Press Release dated November 1 2024), all of which were discovered from surface exposures. Holes tested combined geophysical (VTEM) and geochemical targets, with three holes testing new near surface areas away from historical mineral resources and prior drilling (Figure 2). T2 Metals has reprocessed combined geophysical datasets and see VTEM as a valuable exploration tool at less than 200m vertical depth. Furthermore, completion of this drilling program has enabled T2 Metals to fulfill the expenditure milestones required to achieve a 90% ownership of the Sherridon project, as required under the Option Agreement signed with Halo Resources Ltd ("Halo") in 2022. No further expenditure commitment remains under the Option Agreement and Halo may now elect to fund pro-rata or convert to a 1.5% net smelter royalty that is purchasable by the Company for C$2,000,000 at any time. Mark Saxon, CEO of T2 Metals Corp. commented, "We have now completed our planned winter drilling program at Sherridon and thank all involved for their support. We have utilized winter access to drill new target areas away from the five historical mineral resources and past mining areas. The program has allowed T2 Metals to achieve the next stage of the Option Agreement earn-in, and now own 90% of this exciting advanced copper-gold project. Results from the drilling program will be shared as they become available." Sherridon is a high-grade volcanogenic massive sulphide ("VMS") project with a significant mining history and multiple copper-rich massive sulphide occurrences, in an infrastructure-rich location. Drilling by T2 Metals during 2023 and 2024 intersected high grade copper and gold over significant intervals at the Lost Lake and Cold Lake prospects including: SHN24014 6.49 m @ 1.82% Cu, 3.34% Zn, 0.74 g/t Au, 16.0 g/t Ag from 97.15 m (See press release dated 14th December 2024) SHN23005 23.50 m @ 1.18% Cu, 1.46% Zn, 6.8 g/t Au and 40.4 g/t Ag from 38.00 m; (See press release dated 1st March 2024) Sherridon displays a large alteration system and more than 30 km of strike length of a mineralized target horizon with numerous massive sulphide deposits and occurrences. VMS systems in the Flin Flon - Snow Lake District, have equal prospectivity down dip as along strike. The winter 2025 drilling program was supported by the Kiciwapa Cree First Nation and co-funding from the Manitoba Mineral Development Fund. The qualified person for the Company's projects, Mr. Mark Saxon, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, has reviewed and approved the contents of this release. About T2 Metals Corp (TSXV: TWO) (OTCQB: TWOSF) (WKN: A2DR6E) T2 Metals Corp is an emerging copper and precious metal company enhancing shareholder value through exploration and discovery. T2 is focused on the Sherridon Project in Manitoba, the Lida and Copper Eagle Projects in Nevada, and the Cora Project in Arizona. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, Figure 1: Location of Sherridon Project, Manitoba with competitor projects. Figure 2: Location of Winter 2025 Drilling, Sherridon Project, Manitoba. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain information set out in this news release constitutes forward-looking information. Forward looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based upon the opinions and expectations of management of the Company as at the effective date of such statements and, in certain cases, information provided or disseminated by third parties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, and that information obtained from third party sources is reliable, they can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from results contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such risks include uncertainties relating to exploration activities. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2025 / Infield Minerals Corp. (TSXV:INFD) ("Infield" or the "Company") is pleased provide an update on recent field exploration work and strategy development for its Kings Canyon Gold Project ("Kings Canyon" or the "Property") in Utah. Infield's technical team has identified several exploration opportunities in key untested high-priority zones. These include high-grade feeder structures, known deposit extensions, untested favourable stratigraphic horizons, as well as anomalous geochemical anomalies that have seen limited historical work. Work campaigns dating back to the 1970s have been compiled by Infield for the first time in the history of the district. This data, in addition to new exploration tools, will be leveraged towards the expansion of the known deposits and additional discovery upside. Infield also reports results for seven rock samples collected in 2025. Highlights: Identification of untested high-priority target areas and discovery opportunities 2025 rock sample results up to 1.28 ppm gold (range <0.005 - 1.28 ppm gold) Low-cost surface program planned to advance exploration toward drill hole targeting "The characteristics and continuity of gold mineralization at the Crown and Royal zones provide excellent training ground for additional discovery within the Kings Canyon district," stated Evandra Nakano, President and CEO of Infield. Ms. Nakano continued, "we are encouraged by the exploration opportunities across the Property, which we believe would benefit from a suite of modern exploration methods." The Property is located in Western Utah, with excellent road access and infrastructure. Situated within an emerging sediment-hosted "Carlin-type" gold system, the Kings Canyon mining district boasts numerous mineral occurrences, however, has lacked consistent and sustained exploration. Geological analogies to the Kings Canyon opportunity include Long Canyon (2.2 Moz Au[1]), Alligator Ridge (1.4 Moz Au[2]) and Kinsley Mountain (0.5 Moz Au[3]) gold deposits (Figure 1). In addition to the ease of access, moderate topography and a Carlin-type geological pedigree combine for an excellent mineral exploration opportunity in an emerging gold belt segment. The geology of the Kings Canyon area is characterized by gently dipping favourable/reactive Paleozoic limestone clast breccia and silty limestone units assigned to the Guilmette and Simonson Formations. Jasperoid zones, silicified-clast breccia and limonitic fracture zones are abundant in the area, associated with strong gold signatures at surface. Classic Carlin-style alteration and mineralization define the known oxide gold deposits at the Crown and Royal zones (Figure 2). Limited historical samples were analyzed for arsenic and antimony and, where available, a correlation between gold mineralization and these elements has been observed. Recent rock sampling (Figure 2) conducted in 2025 also supports this observation and will be used in the future to serve as a guide to exploration. Gold and select multi-element results for the seven samples collected are available in Table 1. Figure 1: Property location map featuring sediment-hosted gold deposits of Western Utah and Eastern Nevada[4]. Table 1: 2025 rock sample results[5] Figure 2: Property-scale map showing Crown and Royal zones, and 2025 sample locations. Significant gold mineralization is contained at a key stratigraphic horizon, situated at the upper portion of the Simonson Formation, just below a geological contact with the Devonian Guilmette Formation (Figures 3 and 4). Exploration upside remains in expanding the extent of the known trends. Holes drilled at angles between 45-70 degrees are required to cross cut and test for potential high-grade feeder structures, whereas drilling to date has been largely vertically oriented. Despite the presence of geochemical anomalies throughout Infield's land position, historical drilling campaigns have not sufficiently tested the key stratigraphic horizons beyond the main (known) mineralized footprints. Infield plans to deploy a Carlin-type gold exploration toolkit to unlock new exploration opportunities and shareholder value. Figure 3: Cross-section of the Crown Zone depicting high-tenor, continuous gold mineralization within the upper portion of the Simonson Formation silty limestone, just below the contact with the Devonian Guilmette Formation. Figure 4: Drill core from historical hole KCC07-04[6], displaying mineralized silty limestone, and strong gold tenor and continuity, within the upper portion of the Simonson Formation. Infield is planning a low-cost surface exploration program intended for Q2-Q3, 2025, with the objective of progressing towards drill hole targeting. Main tools to advance exploration include: Geological mapping to constrain the position of favourable Simonson Formation silty limestone, as well as stratigraphic and structural traps within the overlying Guilmette. Property wide evaluation of drainages for the purpose of designing a stream sediment and soil sampling program that tests for gold and other trace element geochemistry. Stable isotope and UV work as a modern toolkit for Carlin-type exploration (subtle alteration and fringes of gold deposits can be detected using carbon-oxygen isotopic geochemistry as well as UV fluorescence of calcite veins). Structural evaluation using LiDar and mapping, seeking favourable fluid flow corridors such as feeder structures. 3D Leapfrog evaluation and modelling of multiple datasets compiled by Infield (historical and newly generated by Infield). Previous exploration has been hampered by: 1) vertical drill holes, 2) lack of gold pathfinder geochemical data, and 3) limited evaluation of consolidated datasets for the district. Infield Technical Advisor, Dr. Alan Wainwright P.Geo., stated: "The district has proven Carlin-style gold zones. We believe we can identify top tier drilling targets using modern geoscience tools and by deploying a systematic approach to the exploration search space." Infield Minerals is committed to building shareholder value with mineral exploration discoveries in the Western United States. The Company is actively evaluating additional base metal and gold exploration opportunities with a view to expanding its portfolio with projects of merit. Potential acquisitions are vetted for optimal exploration discovery odds, combined with favourable commercial deal terms, in Tier 1 jurisdictions. Qualified Person Technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Andrea Diakow, P.Geo., a geological consultant and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. The potential quantity and grade of mineralization described herein is conceptual in nature as there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in targets being delineated as a mineral resource. For more information, please contact Evandra Nakano, the CEO, President and a director of the Company, at +1 (604) 220-4691 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Infield Minerals Corp. Evandra Nakano President, CEO & Director About Infield Infield Minerals is currently exploring for gold within the U.S. Great Basin. Our mission is to grow and deliver value through discovery, acquisitions and sustainable development of high quality, high potential assets for the social and economic benefits of our stakeholders. Founded in 2020, Infield is led by a team of mining entrepreneurs with extensive technical and resource evaluation experience. www.infieldminerals.com Forward-Looking Statements Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning Infield's plans, intentions and expectations, which are not historical in nature, are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, "forwardlooking statements". Forward-looking statements include, among other matters,Infield's exploration plans for its mineral exploration properties, including the option for the Kings Canyon property. Forwardlooking statements may be, but are not always, identified by words including "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "expects" and similar expressions. Infield cautions readers that forwardlooking statements, including without limitation those relating to Infield's future operations and business prospects, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties (including geopolitical risk, regulatory, and exchange rate risk) that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forwardlooking statements. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statement will prove to be accurate or that management's assumptions underlying such statements, including assumptions concerning future developments, circumstances or results, will materialize. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this new release and Infield does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking information included herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. [1]Smith, M.T., Rhys, D., Ross, K., Lee, C. and Gray, J.N., 2013, The Long Canyon Deposit: Anatomy of a New Off-Trend Sedimentary Rock-Hosted Gold Discovery in Northeastern Nevada, Economic Geology, v. 108, pp. 1119-1145 [2]Nutt, C.J. and Hofstra, A.H., 2003, Alligator Ridge District, East-Central Nevada: Carlin-Type Gold Mineralization at Shallow Depths, Economic Geology, Vol. 98, 2003, pp. 1225-1241 [3]Technical Report on the Kinsley Project, Elko County, Nevada, U.S.A., dated June 21, 2021, effective date May 5, 2021, and prepared by Michael M. Gustin and Gary L. Simmons; filed under New Placer Dome Gold Corp.'s issuer profile on sedarplus.ca [4]Gold endowment figures from Visualist Capital "Everything you need to know about Carlin-type gold deposits"; https://www.visualcapitalist.com/sp/everything-you-need-to-know-on-carlin-type-gold-deposits/ [5]Rock samples collected by Infield in 2025 were analysed by multi-element ICP-MS and gold fire assay with an atomic absorption finish, with analysis completed by ALS Global in North Vancouver, British Columbia. ALS Global laboratories are independent and ISO/IEC-17025 accredited. Reports Three +50 AuEq g/t x m Intercepts Vancouver, Canada and Melbourne, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2025) - Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd (TSXV: SXGC) (ASX: SX2) (OTC Pink: MWSNF) (FSE: MV3) ("Southern Cross Gold" or the "Company") announces results from two drill holes: SDDSC147 and SDDSC151 at the Golden Dyke prospect, part of the 100%-owned Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony project in Victoria (Figure 4). 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS The two drillholes are the deepest east-west oriented holes at Golden Dyke prospect at Sunday Creek. SDDSC151 delivered three significant intercepts exceeding 50 gram-metres AuEq, including 5.4 m @ 29.6 g/t Au. This demonstrates continuing high-grade mineralization that enhances the economic potential of the deposit and contributes to the project's growing inventory of +100 g/t AuEq x m intercepts (61 intersected to date). The discovery of a high-grade zone (3.2 m @ 18.0 g/t Au) in SDDSC151 hosted within a previously unrecognized sub-parallel dyke at 382.2 m depth is geologically significant. This represents a new structural position within the mineralized system, indicating potential for additional parallel structures that could substantially expand the resource footprint. Intercepts including 1.2 m @ 96.7 g/t Au, 0.1 m @ 270.0 g/t Au and 0.4 m @ 129.6 g/t Au, represent extremely high-grade central zones within each vein system. These are characteristic of Victorian epizonal gold-antimony deposits, suggesting similar deposit genesis and potential for additional high-grade shoots at depth. Sunday Creek project is a rare asset, being one of the only Tier 1 independently owned, high-grade, multi-million ounce potential greenfield global projects. Global investors in gold are seeking consolidation and are once again supportive of growth via high-quality acquisitions. Gold companies have suffered from an under-investment in new projects which has materially increased the scarcity value for new projects that deliver high-grade ounces in low-risk jurisdictions attributes that Sunday Creek is almost unique in holding with limited global peers. The Company is executing an accelerated exploration strategy with six active drill rigs and a planned 60,000 m program through Q3 2025, backed by A$18M in cash reserves. Michael Hudson, President & CEO of SXGC states: "Golden Dyke continues to deliver exceptional high-grade results. The discovery of a new high-grade structure in SDDSC151 has substantial implications for expanding our resource potential, giving an intriguing hint of the parallel mineralized systems throughout the project. Consistent extremely high-grade intercepts across multiple high-grade structures in the same hole including hits like 1.2 m @ 96.7 g/t Au, 1.4 m @ 37.3 g/t Au and 0.4 m @ 129.6 g/t Au, surrounded by broader halos demonstrate the extraordinary richness of this system. "With 61 intersections exceeding 100 g/t AuEq x m from just 75 km of drilling, we're seeing mineralization signatures that place Sunday Creek firmly as globally significant gold-antimony system that Victoria is now recognized for, having produced two globally significant gold discoveries in the last decade. Our six-rig drilling program underscores our confidence in rapidly advancing this strategic asset that combines exceptional gold economics with critical antimony exposure at a time of increasing geopolitical importance. "The Sunday Creek project is the one of the only Tier 1 independently owned, greenfield and high-grade, projects globally with multi-million ounce potential. Gold companies have suffered from an under-investment in new projects which has materially increased the scarcity value for new projects that deliver high-grade ounces in low-risk jurisdictions - attributes that Sunday Creek is almost unique in holding with limited global peers." FOR THOSE WHO LIKE THE DETAILS HIGHLIGHTS Two drillholes SDDSC151 and SDDSC147 were designed to test extensions to depth and strike potential of vein sets at the Golden Dyke prospect. Mineralization was intercepted at depths of 320 m to 620 m vertically from the surface. The two drillholes are the deepest east-west oriented holes at Golden Dyke and represent a 90 m to 120 m down dip extension (from SDDSC141, reported 28 November, 2024). Mineralization was successfully drilled up to 30 m along strike between the two holes in a NW-SE orientation (along the rungs of the ladder) (Figures 1 and 2). SDDSC151 drilled a 120 m zone of mineralization in the footwall zone at Golden Dyke. The hole intersected four vein sets from 382.2 m depth. The hole included nine intercepts >20 g/t Au (up to 270 g/t Au) and one interval exceeding 100 gram-metres gold equivalent (AuEq g/t x m) and two intervals between 50 and 100 AuEq g/t x m. Selected highlights include: 3.2 m @ 18.0 g/t Au from 382.2 m including: 0.4 m @ 129.6 g/t Au from 382.4 m 5.4 m @ 29.6 g/t Au from 584.3 m including: 1.2 m @ 96.7 g/t Au from 585.0 m 4.2 m @ 13.2 g/t Au from 604.5 m including: 1.4 m @ 37.3 g/t Au from 606.8 m 0.4 m @ 78.7 g/t Au from 641.2 m including: 0.1 m @ 270.0 g/t Au from 641.2 m SDDSC147 drilled a 235 m zone of mineralization in the hanging wall zone at Golden Dyke. This hole intercepted three vein sets at distal/peripheral locations. Highlights include: 1.3 m @ 7.9 g/t Au from 19.3 m 1.3 m @ 9.3 g/t Au from 134.4 m, including: 0.9 m @ 11.3 g/t Au from 134.7 m 3.2 m @ 1.0 g/t Au from 805.0 m Ongoing Exploration: A$18 million in cash and no debt. Fifteen holes currently being processed and analysed. Six additional holes are being drilled. Drill Hole Discussion Mineralization in SDDSC147 and SDDSC151 was intercepted between vertical depths of 320 m to 620 m from the surface (130 m to 445 m below the base of Golden Dyke workings). The two drillholes are the deepest east-west oriented holes at Golden Dyke and represent a 90 m to 120 m down dip extension (from SDDSC141, reported 28 November, 2024) of multiple mineralized structures (Figures 1 and 2). SDDSC151 was drilled to test the footwall (FW) and intersected four distinct vein sets along with a high-grade (HG) zone hosted within a sub-parallel and sub-vertical dyke at 382.2 m depth. This is important as this previously unrecognized host position demonstrates upside to expand mineralization at Golden Dyke in potential parallel zones. The hole drilled a 120 m zone of mineralization in the footwall zone at Golden Dyke. Notably, the hole returned: One interval exceeding 100 gram-metres AuEq 5.4 m @ 29.8 g/t AuEq (29.6 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 584.3 m Two intervals between 50 and 100 gram-metres AuEq 3.2 m @ 18.0 g/t AuEq (18.0 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 382.2 m 4.2 m @ 13.5 g/t AuEq (13.2 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 604.5 m Extended highlights include: 3.2 m @ 18.0 g/t AuEq (18.0 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 382.2 m 0.4 m @ 129.7 g/t AuEq (129.6 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 382.4 m 0.2 m @ 16.1 g/t AuEq (16.1 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 430.7 m 5.4 m @ 29.8 g/t AuEq (29.6 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 584.3 m 4.7 m @ 33.7 g/t AuEq (33.5 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 585.0 m 0.6 m @ 4.2 g/t AuEq (4.1 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 596.2 m 4.2 m @ 13.5 g/t AuEq (13.2 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 604.5 m 1.4 m @ 37.3 g/t AuEq (37.3 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 606.8 m 0.3 m @ 9.0 g/t AuEq (2.8 g/t Au, 2.6% Sb) from 624.9 m 0.4 m @ 78.7 g/t AuEq (78.7 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 641.2 m 0.1 m @ 270.0 g/t AuEq (270.0 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 641.2 m SDDSC147 drilled a 235 m zone of mineralization in the hanging wall zone at Golden Dyke, expanding the potential strike length and demonstrating continuity of mineralization. The broad prospective window reinforces the geological model and provides additional targets for follow-up drilling. Highlights include: 1.3 m @ 8.0 g/t AuEq (7.9 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 19.3 m 1.3 m @ 9.3 g/t AuEq (9.3 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 134.4 m 0.9 m @ 11.3 g/t AuEq (11.3 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 134.7 m 3.2 m @ 1.0 g/t AuEq (1.0 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 805.0 m Pending Results and Update The drilling programme continues to advance with fifteen holes (SDDSC149, 149W1, 152, 154-160, 155A, 157A, 163, 164, 165) currently being processed and analysed. Six additional holes (SDDSC160W1, 161, 162, 163A, 166, 167) are actively being drilled. The drilling strategy employs a systematic approach to intersect both the dyke host structure ("ladder rails") and associated mineralized vein sets ("ladder rungs") at optimal angles, continuing to expand the project's mineralized footprint while improving geological understanding of the system. About Sunday Creek The Sunday Creek epizonal-style gold project is located 60 km north of Melbourne within 16,900 hectares ("Ha") of granted exploration tenements (Figure 3). Southern Cross Gold is also the freehold landholder of 1,054.51 Ha that forms the key portion in and around the main drilled area at the Sunday Creek Project, Gold and antimony form in a relay of vein sets that cut across a steeply dipping zone of intensely altered rocks (the "host"). These vein sets are like a "Golden Ladder" structure where the main host extends between the side rails deep into the earth, with multiple cross-cutting vein sets that host the gold forming the rungs. At Apollo and Rising Sun these individual 'rungs' have been defined over 600 m depth extent from surface to over 1,100 m below surface, are 2.4 m to 3.8 m wide (median widths) (and up to 10 m), and 20 m to 100 m in strike. Cumulatively, 164 drill holes for 75,013.51 m have been reported from Sunday Creek since late 2020. An additional 12 holes for 582.55 m from Sunday Creek were abandoned due to deviation or hole conditions. Fourteen drillholes for 2,383 m have been reported regionally outside of the main Sunday Creek drill area. A total of 64 historic drill holes for 5,599 m were completed from the late 1960s to 2008. The project now contains a total of sixty-one (61) >100 g/t AuEq x m and sixty-nine (69) >50 to 100 g/t AuEq x m drill holes by applying a 2 m @ 1 g/t AuEq lower cut. Our systematic drill program is strategically targeting these significant vein formations, initially these have been defined over 1,500 m strike of the host from Christina to Apollo prospects, of which approximately 620 m has been more intensively drill tested (Rising Sun to Apollo). At least 70 'rungs' have been defined to date, defined by high-grade intercepts (20 g/t to >7,330 g/t Au) along with lower grade edges. Ongoing step-out drilling is aiming to uncover the potential extent of this mineralized system (Figure 3). Geologically, the project is located within the Melbourne Structural Zone in the Lachlan Fold Belt. The regional host to the Sunday Creek mineralization is an interbedded turbidite sequence of siltstones and minor sandstones metamorphosed to sub-greenschist facies and folded into a set of open north-west trending folds. Further Information Further discussion and analysis of the Sunday Creek project is available through the interactive Vrify 3D animations, presentations and videos all available on the Southern Cross Gold's website. These data, along with an interview on these results with Managing Director Michael Hudson can be viewed at www.southerncrossgold.com No upper gold grade cut is applied in the averaging and intervals are reported as drill thickness. However, during future Mineral Resource studies, the requirement for assay top cutting will be assessed. The Company notes that due to rounding of assay results to one significant figure, minor variations in calculated composite grades may occur. Figures 1 to 4 show project location, plan and longitudinal views of drill results reported here and Tables 1 to 3 provide collar and assay data. The true thickness of the mineralized intervals reported is approximately 30-50% of the sampled thickness for other reported holes. Lower grades were cut at 1.0 g/t AuEq lower cutoff over a maximum width of 2 m with higher grades cut at 5.0 g/t AuEq lower cutoff over a maximum of 1 m width unless specified unless otherwise* specified to demonstrate higher grade assays. Critical Metal Epizonal Gold-Antimony Deposits Sunday Creek (Figure 4) is an epizonal gold-antimony deposit formed in the late Devonian (like Fosterville, Costerfield and Redcastle), 60 million years later than mesozonal gold systems formed in Victoria (for example Ballarat and Bendigo). Epizonal deposits are a form of orogenic gold deposit classified according to their depth of formation: epizonal (<6 km), mesozonal (6-12 km) and hypozonal (>12 km). Epizonal deposits in Victoria often have associated high levels of the critical metal, antimony, and Sunday Creek is no exception. China claims a 56 per cent share of global mined supplies of antimony, according to a 2023 European Union study. Antimony features highly on the critical minerals lists of many countries including Australia, the United States of America, Canada, Japan and the European Union. Australia ranks seventh for antimony production despite all production coming from a single mine at Costerfield in Victoria, located nearby to all SXG projects. Antimony alloys with lead and tin which results in improved properties for solders, munitions, bearings and batteries. Antimony is a prominent additive for halogen-containing flame retardants. Adequate supplies of antimony are critical to the world's energy transition, and to the high-tech industry, especially the semi-conductor and defence sectors where it is a critical additive to primers in munitions. In August 2024, the Chinese government announced it will place export limits from September 15, 2024 on antimony and antimony products. This puts pressure on Western defence supply chains and negatively affect the supply of the metal and push up pricing given China's dominance of the supply of the metal in the global markets. This is positive for Southern Cross Gold as we are likely to have one of the very few large and high-quality projects of antimony in the western world that can feed western demand into the future. Antimony represents approximately 21 to 24% in situ recoverable value of Sunday Creek at an AuEq of 2.39. Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd is now dual listed on the TSXV (SXGC) and ASX (SX2) About Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd. (TSXV: SXGC) (ASX: SX2) Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd. (TSXV: SXGC) (ASX: SX2) controls the Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony Project located 60 kilometres north of Melbourne, Australia. Sunday Creek has emerged as one of the Western world's most significant gold and antimony discoveries, with exceptional drilling results including 61 intersections exceeding 100 g/t AuEq x m from just 75 km of drilling. The mineralization follows a "Golden Ladder" structure over 12 km of strike length, with confirmed continuity from surface to 1,100 m depth. Sunday Creek's strategic value is enhanced by its dual-metal profile, with antimony contributing 20% of the in-situ value alongside gold. This has gained increased significance following China's export restrictions on antimony, a critical metal for defence and semiconductor applications. Southern Cross' inclusion in the US Defence Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) and Australia's AUKUS-related legislative changes position it as a potential key Western antimony supplier. Importantly, Sunday Creek can be developed primarily based on gold economics, which reduces antimony-related risks while maintaining strategic supply potential. Technical fundamentals further strengthen the investment case, with preliminary metallurgical work showing non-refractory mineralization suitable for conventional processing and gold recoveries of 93-98% through gravity and flotation. With A$18M in cash, over 1,000 Ha of strategic freehold land ownership, and a large 60 km drill program planned through Q3 2025, Southern Cross Gold is well-positioned to advance this globally significant gold-antimony discovery in a tier-one jurisdiction. NI 43-101 Technical Background and Qualified Person Michael Hudson, President and CEO and Managing Director of Southern Cross Gold, and a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, and Mr Kenneth Bush, Exploration Manager of Southern Cross Gold and a Member of Australian Institute of Geoscientists, are the Qualified Persons as defined by the NI 43-101. They have reviewed, verified and approved the technical contents of this release. Analytical samples are transported to the Bendigo facility of On Site Laboratory Services ("On Site") which operates under both an ISO 9001 and NATA quality systems. Samples were prepared and analyzed for gold using the fire assay technique (PE01S method; 25 g charge), followed by measuring the gold in solution with flame AAS equipment. Samples for multi-element analysis (BM011 and over-range methods as required) use aqua regia digestion and ICP-MS analysis. The QA/QC program of Southern Cross Gold consists of the systematic insertion of certified standards of known gold and antimony content, blanks within interpreted mineralized rock and quarter core duplicates. In addition, On Site inserts blanks and standards into the analytical process. Southern Cross Gold considers that both gold and antimony that are included in the gold equivalent calculation ("AuEq") have reasonable potential to be recovered at Sunday Creek, given current geochemical understanding, historic production statistics and geologically analogous mining operations. Historically, ore from Sunday Creek was treated onsite or shipped to the Costerfield mine, located 54 km to the northwest of the project, for processing during WW1. The Costerfield mine corridor, now owned by Mandalay Resources Ltd contains two million ounces of equivalent gold (Mandalay Q3 2021 Results), and in 2020 was the sixth highest-grade global underground mine and a top 5 global producer of antimony. Southern Cross Gold considers that it is appropriate to adopt the same gold equivalent variables as Mandalay Resources Ltd in its 2024 End of Year Mineral Reserves and Resources Press Release, dated February 20, 2025. The gold equivalence formula used by Mandalay Resources was calculated using Costerfield's 2024 production costs, using a gold price of US$2,500 per ounce, an antimony price of US$19,000 per tonne and 2024 total year metal recoveries of 91% for gold and 92% for antimony, and is as follows: AuEq = Au (g/t) + 2.39 x Sb (%). Based on the latest Costerfield calculation and given the similar geological styles and historic toll treatment of Sunday Creek mineralization at Costerfield, Southern Cross Gold considers that a AuEq = Au (g/t) + 2.39 x Sb (%) is appropriate to use for the initial exploration targeting of gold-antimony mineralization at Sunday Creek. JORC Competent Person Statement Information in this announcement that relates to new exploration results contained in this report is based on information compiled by Mr Kenneth Bush and Mr Michael Hudson. Mr Bush is a Member of Australian Institute of Geoscientists and a Registered Professional Geologist and Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and Mr Hudson is a Fellow of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Bush and Mr Hudson each have sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralization and type of deposit under consideration, and to the activities undertaken, to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Mr Bush is Exploration Manager and Mr Hudson is Managing Director of Southern Cross Gold Limited and both consent to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on their information in the form and context in which it appears. Certain information in this announcement that relates to prior exploration results is extracted from the Independent Geologist's Report dated 11 December 2024 which was issued with the consent of the Competent Person, Mr Steven Tambanis. The report is included the Company's prospectus dated 11 December 2024 and is available at www.asx.com.au under code "SX2". The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information related to exploration results included in the original market announcement. The Company confirms that the form and context of the Competent Persons' findings in relation to the report have not been materially modified from the original market announcement. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original document/announcement and the Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Person's findings are presented have not materially modified from the original market announcement. This announcement has been approved for release by the Board of Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd. Forward-Looking Statement This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions and accordingly, actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. You are hence cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements including without limitation applicable court, regulatory authorities and applicable stock exchanges. Forward-looking statements include words or expressions such as "proposed", "will", "subject to", "near future", "in the event", "would", "expect", "prepared to" and other similar words or expressions. Factors that could cause future results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include general business, economic, competitive, political, social uncertainties; the state of capital markets, unforeseen events, developments, or factors causing any of the expectations, assumptions, and other factors ultimately being inaccurate or irrelevant; and other risks described in Southern Cross Gold's documents filed with Canadian or Australian securities regulatory authorities (under code SX2). You can find further information with respect to these and other risks in filings made by Southern Cross Gold with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada or Australia (under code SX2), as applicable, and available for Southern Cross Gold in Canada at www.sedarplus.ca or in Australia at www.asx.com.au (under code SX2). Documents are also available at www.southerncrossgold.com We disclaim any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) or the Australian Securities Exchange accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Figure 1: Sunday Creek plan view showing selected results from holes SDDSC147 and SDDSC151 reported here (blue highlighted box, black trace), with selected prior reported drill holes and pending holes. Figure 2: Sunday Creek longitudinal section across A-B in the plane of the dyke breccia/altered sediment host looking towards the north (striking 236 degrees) showing mineralized veins sets. Showing holes SDDSC147 and SDDSC151 reported here (blue highlighted box, black trace), with selected intersections and prior reported drill holes. The vertical extents of the vein sets are limited by proximity to drill hole pierce points. For location refer to Figure 1. Figure 3: Sunday Creek regional plan view showing increased IP Geophysical survey outline, soil sampling (including planned/in progress samples), structural framework, regional historic epizonal gold mining areas and broad regional areas tested by 12 holes for 2,383 m drill program. The regional drill areas are at Tonstal, Consols and Leviathan located 4,000-7,500 m along strike from the main drill area at Golden Dyke- Apollo. Figure 4: Location of the Sunday Creek project, along with the 100% owned Redcastle Gold-Antimony Project Table 1: Drill collar summary table for recent drill holes in progress. Hole-ID Depth (m) Prospect East GDA94_Z55 North GDA94_Z55 Elevation Azimuth Plunge SDDSC147 977.15 Golden Dyke 330809 5867842 301 278 -57 SDDSC149 970.79 Apollo 331594 5867955 344 266 -47 SDDSC149W1 1041.1 Apollo 331594 5867955 344 266 -47 SDDSC150 638.8 Christina 330340 5867865 277 244 -65 SDDSC151 737.2 Golden Dyke 330818 5867847 301 273.8 -56.5 SDDSC152 1102.7 Rising Sun 330816 5867599 296 328 -65 SDDSC153 639.1 Christina 330333 5867860 277 244.8 -52.5 SDDSC154 392.9 Christina 330075 5867612 274 60 -26.5 SDDSC155 31 Rising Sun 330339 5867860 277 72.7 -63.5 SDDSC155A 896.4 Rising Sun 330339 5867860 277 72.7 -63.5 SDDSC156 755.55 Christina 330075 5867612 274 59.5 -45.3 SDDSC157 1115.7 Golden Dyke 330318 5867847 301 276.6 -58.4 SDDSC157A 219.9 Golden Dyke 330318 5867847 301 276.2 -60 SDDSC158 992.5 Apollo 331616 5867952 347 265.5 -45 SDDSC159 145.2 Gladys 330871 5867758 308 60.5 -28.9 SDDSC160 725.1 Christina 330753 5867733 307 272.5 -37.8 SDDSC161 In progress plan 1020 m Golden Dyke 330951 5868007 314 257 -49.4 SDDSC162 In progress plan 920 m Rising Sun 330339 5867864 277 75.4 -59.6 SDDSC163 In progress plan 1000 m Apollo 331615.5 5867952 347 267.2 -48.5 SDDSC164 336.7 Gladys 330871 5867758 308 78.2 -40 SDDSC160W1 In progress plan 1070 m Christina 330753 5867731 307 272.5 -37.8 SDDSC165 101.4 Christina 330217 5867666 269 350 -40 SDDSC166 In progress plan 500 m Christina 330218 5867666 269 263.1 -31.5 SDDSC167 In progress plan 450 m Christina 331833 5868090 348 218.2 -37.2 Table 2: Table of mineralized drill hole intersections reported from SDDSC147 and SDDSC151 with two cutoff criteria. Lower grades cut at 1.0 g/t AuEq lower cutoff over a maximum of 2 m with higher grades cut at 5.0 g/t AuEq cutoff over a maximum of 1 m. Hole-ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) Sb (%) AuEq (g/t) SDDSC147 19.3 20.6 1.3 7.9 0.0 8.0 SDDSC147 134.4 135.7 1.3 9.3 0.0 9.3 Including 134.7 135.6 0.9 11.3 0.0 11.3 SDDSC147 805.0 808.2 3.2 1.0 0.0 1.0 SDDSC151 382.2 385.4 3.2 18.0 0.0 18.0 Including 382.4 382.8 0.4 129.6 0.0 129.7 SDDSC151 430.7 430.9 0.2 16.1 0.0 16.1 SDDSC151 584.3 589.7 5.4 29.6 0.1 29.8 Including 585.0 589.7 4.7 33.5 0.1 33.7 SDDSC151 596.2 596.8 0.6 4.1 0.1 4.2 SDDSC151 604.5 608.7 4.2 13.2 0.1 13.5 Including 606.8 608.2 1.4 37.3 0.0 37.3 SDDSC151 624.9 625.2 0.3 2.8 2.6 9.0 SDDSC151 641.2 641.6 0.4 78.7 0.0 78.7 Including 641.2 641.3 0.1 270.0 0.0 270.0 Table 3: All individual assays reported from SDDSC147 and SDDSC151 reported here >0.1g/t AuEq. Hole-ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) Sb (%) AuEq (g/t) SDDSC147 14.1 15.4 1.3 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 18.0 19.3 1.3 0.2 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 19.3 20.6 1.3 7.9 0.0 8.0 SDDSC147 20.6 21.9 1.3 0.7 0.0 0.8 SDDSC147 21.9 23.1 1.2 0.2 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 24.4 25.7 1.3 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 25.7 26.2 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 26.5 27.8 1.3 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 27.8 29.1 1.3 0.2 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 73.1 74.1 1.0 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 88.9 90.2 1.3 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 127.0 127.3 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 127.3 127.5 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 127.5 128.0 0.5 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 128.0 128.3 0.3 0.8 0.0 0.8 SDDSC147 134.4 134.7 0.4 4.2 0.0 4.2 SDDSC147 134.7 135.3 0.6 12.7 0.0 12.7 SDDSC147 135.3 135.6 0.3 8.5 0.0 8.5 SDDSC147 135.6 136.0 0.4 0.6 0.0 0.7 SDDSC147 136.0 137.0 1.0 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 143.0 143.5 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 143.5 144.0 0.5 0.6 0.0 0.7 SDDSC147 144.0 144.4 0.4 1.3 0.0 1.3 SDDSC147 144.4 144.8 0.4 1.7 0.0 1.7 SDDSC147 144.8 145.4 0.5 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 146.7 147.2 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 147.2 147.5 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 147.5 148.2 0.7 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 656.8 657.0 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 657.0 657.3 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 657.3 657.5 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 657.5 657.7 0.1 0.6 0.0 0.6 SDDSC147 657.7 659.0 1.3 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 660.2 660.3 0.1 0.7 0.0 0.8 SDDSC147 663.2 663.3 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.4 SDDSC147 666.3 666.6 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 667.9 668.5 0.7 0.5 0.0 0.5 SDDSC147 668.5 668.8 0.3 0.8 0.0 0.8 SDDSC147 668.8 669.1 0.3 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 669.8 670.3 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 671.6 672.0 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 702.1 703.1 1.0 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 703.1 703.2 0.1 1.5 0.0 1.5 SDDSC147 703.2 703.8 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 703.8 704.0 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.5 SDDSC147 710.8 711.6 0.7 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 711.6 712.6 1.1 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 712.6 713.6 1.0 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 713.6 714.8 1.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 714.8 716.0 1.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 716.0 716.6 0.7 0.2 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 717.5 718.1 0.6 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 719.4 720.6 1.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 720.6 721.6 1.1 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 721.6 722.0 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 722.0 722.7 0.7 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 722.7 723.1 0.4 0.6 0.0 0.6 SDDSC147 725.2 726.1 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 726.1 727.4 1.3 0.5 0.0 0.5 SDDSC147 728.7 729.5 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 730.1 730.7 0.7 0.1 0.2 0.6 SDDSC147 737.1 737.7 0.6 1.0 0.0 1.0 SDDSC147 737.7 738.7 1.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 738.7 739.0 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 739.0 739.2 0.3 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 739.2 739.9 0.7 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 743.4 744.2 0.8 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 748.9 749.3 0.4 0.5 0.0 0.6 SDDSC147 750.0 750.9 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 750.9 751.6 0.8 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 751.6 752.3 0.7 0.6 0.0 0.7 SDDSC147 752.3 752.7 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 752.7 753.9 1.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 761.5 762.2 0.7 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC147 762.2 762.7 0.5 0.9 0.0 0.9 SDDSC147 762.7 762.9 0.2 6.6 0.0 6.6 SDDSC147 762.9 763.2 0.3 0.8 0.0 0.8 SDDSC147 763.2 763.9 0.7 1.0 0.0 1.0 SDDSC147 763.9 764.5 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 764.5 765.6 1.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 778.3 778.5 0.2 1.0 0.0 1.1 SDDSC147 792.8 793.0 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 801.8 802.4 0.6 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 802.4 802.8 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 802.8 803.6 0.8 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 804.2 805.0 0.9 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC147 805.0 805.8 0.8 1.1 0.0 1.1 SDDSC147 805.8 806.4 0.6 1.2 0.0 1.2 SDDSC147 806.4 807.3 0.9 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC147 807.3 808.2 0.8 1.1 0.0 1.1 SDDSC147 808.2 809.1 0.9 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC147 809.1 810.0 0.9 0.9 0.0 0.9 SDDSC147 810.0 810.6 0.6 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC147 810.6 811.2 0.6 0.6 0.0 0.6 SDDSC147 811.2 812.0 0.8 0.8 0.0 0.8 SDDSC147 812.0 812.7 0.7 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 817.0 818.3 1.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 826.9 827.1 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 831.6 832.3 0.7 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 845.2 846.0 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 846.7 847.1 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 851.5 851.7 0.2 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC147 851.7 851.9 0.2 1.2 0.0 1.2 SDDSC147 851.9 852.9 1.0 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 852.9 853.3 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 854.8 855.7 0.9 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 855.7 855.9 0.2 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC147 855.9 856.1 0.2 0.9 0.0 0.9 SDDSC147 856.1 856.3 0.2 0.8 0.0 0.8 SDDSC147 856.3 857.3 1.0 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 858.6 859.6 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 859.6 860.9 1.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 860.9 861.6 0.7 0.5 0.0 0.5 SDDSC147 861.6 862.7 1.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 870.8 870.9 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 875.1 875.7 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 878.6 879.9 1.3 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 879.9 880.9 1.0 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 880.9 881.0 0.1 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 881.0 881.4 0.4 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 881.4 882.5 1.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 882.5 883.0 0.5 1.4 0.0 1.4 SDDSC147 883.0 883.3 0.3 1.5 0.0 1.5 SDDSC147 883.3 883.4 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 883.8 884.3 0.5 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 884.3 884.5 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 884.5 885.1 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 885.1 885.7 0.7 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 886.3 886.7 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 886.7 886.9 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 889.0 890.2 1.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 891.7 891.8 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 891.8 892.6 0.8 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 892.6 892.8 0.1 0.5 0.0 0.6 SDDSC147 893.1 893.8 0.7 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 893.8 894.3 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 894.3 895.0 0.7 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 895.0 895.3 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 895.3 895.6 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 895.6 896.0 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 896.0 896.4 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 896.4 896.6 0.1 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC147 898.3 898.5 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 898.5 899.3 0.8 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 900.7 901.1 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 904.2 904.5 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 908.8 909.4 0.7 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 915.0 915.3 0.3 0.5 0.0 0.5 SDDSC147 915.3 915.5 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 915.5 916.0 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC147 916.0 916.2 0.2 0.5 0.0 0.5 SDDSC147 925.3 926.6 1.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 949.8 951.1 1.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC147 958.6 959.9 1.3 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC147 959.9 961.2 1.3 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 112.4 112.9 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC151 112.9 113.4 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 131.6 131.9 0.2 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC151 374.2 375.2 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC151 382.2 382.4 0.1 3.6 0.0 3.7 SDDSC151 382.4 382.6 0.2 32.6 0.0 32.7 SDDSC151 382.6 382.8 0.2 242.0 0.0 242.1 SDDSC151 382.8 383.1 0.3 0.5 0.0 0.5 SDDSC151 383.1 384.0 0.9 2.7 0.0 2.7 SDDSC151 384.0 384.8 0.8 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC151 384.8 385.4 0.6 1.0 0.0 1.1 SDDSC151 385.4 386.0 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 393.2 394.0 0.8 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC151 394.0 394.6 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 394.6 394.7 0.1 0.3 0.0 0.3 SDDSC151 394.7 395.7 1.0 1.2 0.0 1.2 SDDSC151 395.7 395.8 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 395.8 396.4 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 398.2 399.0 0.8 0.3 0.0 0.4 SDDSC151 399.0 400.2 1.2 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 412.7 413.4 0.7 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 430.7 430.9 0.2 16.1 0.0 16.1 SDDSC151 450.1 450.3 0.3 2.1 0.0 2.1 SDDSC151 452.9 453.5 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 454.7 455.2 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 503.6 504.2 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 504.2 504.4 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 517.3 517.7 0.3 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC151 533.7 533.9 0.2 2.0 0.3 2.7 SDDSC151 538.4 538.6 0.2 0.7 0.1 0.8 SDDSC151 541.8 542.7 0.9 0.4 0.0 0.4 SDDSC151 544.8 546.0 1.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 546.0 546.1 0.1 1.2 0.3 1.8 SDDSC151 548.0 548.6 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 548.6 549.0 0.4 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC151 549.0 549.6 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.3 SDDSC151 549.6 550.2 0.6 0.1 0.1 0.4 SDDSC151 550.2 551.2 1.0 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 551.9 552.7 0.8 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 553.5 554.1 0.6 0.4 0.0 0.5 SDDSC151 554.1 554.5 0.4 1.1 0.0 1.2 SDDSC151 554.5 554.8 0.3 2.9 0.0 2.9 SDDSC151 563.0 563.9 0.8 0.2 0.1 0.4 SDDSC151 564.3 565.1 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.2 SDDSC151 566.2 567.1 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.5 SDDSC151 567.1 567.5 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 569.3 570.6 1.3 1.0 0.0 1.0 SDDSC151 574.4 575.0 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 575.0 576.3 1.2 0.5 0.0 0.6 SDDSC151 576.6 577.9 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.4 SDDSC151 582.7 584.0 1.3 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 584.0 584.3 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 584.3 585.0 0.7 1.8 0.1 2.0 SDDSC151 585.0 586.0 1.0 26.1 0.0 26.2 SDDSC151 586.0 586.5 0.5 11.8 0.0 11.9 SDDSC151 586.5 587.6 1.0 7.5 0.0 7.5 SDDSC151 587.6 587.7 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.5 SDDSC151 587.7 587.9 0.2 1.9 0.2 2.3 SDDSC151 587.9 588.5 0.6 4.2 0.2 4.6 SDDSC151 588.5 589.1 0.5 34.0 0.1 34.1 SDDSC151 589.1 589.4 0.4 207.0 0.3 207.8 SDDSC151 589.4 589.7 0.3 79.5 0.4 80.3 SDDSC151 589.7 590.0 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.3 SDDSC151 590.0 591.3 1.3 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 591.3 591.7 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 591.7 592.7 1.0 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 592.7 592.9 0.2 0.8 0.1 1.0 SDDSC151 592.9 593.0 0.2 1.0 0.0 1.1 SDDSC151 593.0 593.6 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.4 SDDSC151 594.5 595.8 1.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 596.2 596.8 0.6 4.1 0.1 4.2 SDDSC151 596.8 598.1 1.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 598.1 599.0 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 599.0 600.3 1.3 0.2 0.1 0.3 SDDSC151 600.3 601.4 1.1 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 601.4 602.6 1.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 603.8 604.5 0.6 0.1 0.1 0.2 SDDSC151 604.5 604.7 0.3 0.8 0.2 1.4 SDDSC151 604.7 605.3 0.6 1.2 0.4 2.1 SDDSC151 605.3 606.2 0.9 0.9 0.1 1.0 SDDSC151 606.2 606.8 0.6 3.5 0.3 4.1 SDDSC151 606.8 607.3 0.5 10.4 0.0 10.5 SDDSC151 607.3 607.9 0.6 40.6 0.0 40.7 SDDSC151 607.9 608.2 0.3 76.6 0.0 76.7 SDDSC151 608.2 608.7 0.5 1.0 0.1 1.1 SDDSC151 608.7 609.5 0.8 0.1 0.2 0.5 SDDSC151 609.5 610.7 1.2 0.2 0.1 0.5 SDDSC151 610.7 611.9 1.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 611.9 612.9 1.0 0.2 0.1 0.3 SDDSC151 612.9 613.1 0.2 1.6 0.7 3.1 SDDSC151 614.4 615.3 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.5 SDDSC151 615.3 616.4 1.1 0.5 0.1 0.7 SDDSC151 616.4 617.0 0.6 0.5 0.4 1.5 SDDSC151 617.0 618.3 1.3 0.2 0.3 1.0 SDDSC151 619.6 620.1 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.2 SDDSC151 620.1 621.2 1.0 1.3 0.3 2.1 SDDSC151 623.8 624.9 1.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 624.9 625.1 0.3 2.8 2.6 9.0 SDDSC151 625.1 626.0 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.1 SDDSC151 626.0 627.3 1.3 0.0 0.1 0.2 SDDSC151 638.1 638.3 0.1 1.6 0.0 1.6 SDDSC151 639.4 640.5 1.1 0.4 0.0 0.5 SDDSC151 640.5 641.2 0.7 0.7 0.0 0.7 SDDSC151 641.2 641.3 0.1 270.0 0.0 270.0 SDDSC151 641.3 641.5 0.3 2.2 0.0 2.2 SDDSC151 641.5 642.3 0.8 0.9 0.0 1.0 SDDSC151 642.3 643.0 0.7 0.6 0.0 0.6 JORC Table 1 Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Sampling techniques Nature and quality of sampling (e.g. cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc.). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling. Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used. Aspects of the determination of mineralization that are Material to the Public Report. In cases where 'industry standard' work has been done this would be relatively simple (e.g. 'reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay'). In other cases more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralization types (e.g. submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information. Sampling has been conducted on drill core (half core for >90% and quarter core for check samples), grab samples (field samples of in-situ bedrock and boulders; including duplicate samples), trench samples (rock chips, including duplicates) and soil samples (including duplicate samples). Locations of field samples were obtained by using a GPS, generally to an accuracy of within 5 metres. Drill hole and trench locations have been confirmed to <1 metre using a differential GPS. Samples locations have also been verified by plotting locations on the high-resolution Lidar maps Locations of field samples were obtained by using a GPS, generally to an accuracy of within 5 metres. Drill hole and trench locations have been confirmed to <1 metre using a differential GPS. Samples locations have also been verified by plotting locations on the high-resolution Lidar maps Drill core is marked for cutting and cut using an automated diamond saw used by Company staff in Kilmore. Samples are bagged at the core saw and transported to the Bendigo On Site Laboratory for assay. At On Site samples are crushed using a jaw crusher combined with a rotary splitter and a 1 kg split is separated for pulverizing (LM5) and assay. Samples are bagged at the core saw and transported to the Bendigo On Site Laboratory for assay. At On Site samples are crushed using a jaw crusher combined with a rotary splitter and a 1 kg split is separated for pulverizing (LM5) and assay. Standard fire assay techniques are used for gold assay on a 30 g charge by experienced staff (used to dealing with high sulfide and stibnite-rich charges). On Site gold method by fire assay code PE01S. Screen fire assay is used to understand gold grain-size distribution where coarse gold is evident. ICP-OES is used to analyse the aqua regia digested pulp for an additional 12 elements (method BM011) and over-range antimony is measured using flame AAS (method known as B050). Soil samples were sieved in the field and an 80 mesh sample bagged and transported to ALS Global laboratories in Brisbane for super-low level gold analysis on a 50 g samples by method ST44 (using aqua regia and ICP-MS). Grab and rock chip samples are generally submitted to On Site Laboratories for standard fire assay and 12 element ICP-OES as described above. Drilling techniques Drill type (e.g. core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc.) and details (e.g. core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc.). HQ or NQ diameter diamond drill core, oriented using Boart Longyear TruCore orientation tool with the orientation line marked on the base of the drill core by the driller/offsider. A standard 3 metre core barrel has been found to be most effective in both the hard and soft rocks in the project. Drill sample recovery Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed. Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples. Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material. Core recoveries were maximised using HQ or NQ diamond drill core with careful control over water pressure to maintain soft-rock integrity and prevent loss of fines from soft drill core. Recoveries are determined on a metre-by-metre basis in the core shed using a tape measure against marked up drill core checking against driller's core blocks. Plots of grade versus recovery and RQD (described below) show no trends relating to loss of drill core, or fines. Logging Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies. Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc.) photography. The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged. Geotechnical logging of the drill core takes place on racks in the company core shed. Core orientations marked at the drill rig are checked for consistency, and base of core orientation lines are marked on core where two or more orientations match within 10 degrees. Core recoveries are measured for each metre RQD measurements (cumulative quantity of core sticks > 10 cm in a metre) are made on a metre-by-metre basis. Core orientations marked at the drill rig are checked for consistency, and base of core orientation lines are marked on core where two or more orientations match within 10 degrees. Core recoveries are measured for each metre RQD measurements (cumulative quantity of core sticks > 10 cm in a metre) are made on a metre-by-metre basis. Each tray of drill core is photographed (wet and dry) after it is fully marked up for sampling and cutting. The core cutting line is placed approximately 10 degrees above the orientation line so the orientation line is retained in the core tray for future work. Geological logging of drill core includes the following parameters: Rock types, lithology Alteration Structural information (orientations of veins, bedding, fractures using standard alpha-beta measurements from orientation line; or, in the case of un-oriented parts of the core, the alpha angles are measured) Veining (quartz, carbonate, stibnite) Key minerals (visible under hand lens, e.g. gold, stibnite) Rock types, lithology Alteration Structural information (orientations of veins, bedding, fractures using standard alpha-beta measurements from orientation line; or, in the case of un-oriented parts of the core, the alpha angles are measured) Veining (quartz, carbonate, stibnite) Key minerals (visible under hand lens, e.g. gold, stibnite) 100% of drill core is logged for all components described above into the company MX logging database. Logging is fully quantitative, although the description of lithology and alteration relies on visible observations by trained geologists. Each tray of drill core is photographed (wet and dry) after it is fully marked up for sampling and cutting. Logging is considered to be at an appropriate quantitative standard to use in future studies. Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken. If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc. and whether sampled wet or dry. For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique. Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximise representivity of samples. Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling. Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled. Drill core is typically half-core sampled using an Almonte core saw. The drill core orientation line is retained. Quarter core is used when taking sampling duplicates (termed FDUP in the database). Sampling representivity is maximised by always taking the same side of the drill core (whenever oriented), and consistently drawing a cut line on the core where orientation is not possible. The field technician draws these lines. Sample sizes are maximised for coarse gold by using half core, and using quarter core and half core splits (laboratory duplicates) allows an estimation of nugget effect. In mineralized rock the company uses approximately 10% of core duplicates, certified reference materials (suitable OREAS materials), laboratory sample duplicates and instrument repeats. In the soil sampling program duplicates were obtained every 20th sample and the laboratory inserted low-level gold standards regularly into the sample flow. Quality of assay data and laboratory tests The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total. For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc., the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc. Nature of quality control procedures adopted (e.g. standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (i.e. lack of bias) and precision have been established. The fire assay technique for gold used by On Site is a globally recognised method, and over-range follow-ups including gravimetric finish and screen fire assay are standard. Of significance at the On Site laboratory is the presence of fire assay personnel who are experienced in dealing with high sulfide charges (especially those with high stibnite contents) - this substantially reduces the risk of in accurate reporting in complex sulfide-gold charges. The ICP-OES technique is a standard analytical technique for assessing elemental concentrations. The digest used (aqua regia) is excellent for the dissolution of sulfides (in this case generally stibnite, pyrite and trace arsenopyrite), but other silicate-hosted elements, in particular vanadium (V), may only be partially dissolved. These silicate-hosted elements are not important in the determination of the quantity of gold, antimony, arsenic or sulphur. A portable XRF has been used in a qualitative manner on drill core to ensure appropriate core samples have been taken (no pXRF data are reported or included in the MX database). Acceptable levels of accuracy and precision have been established using the following methods duplicates - half core is split into quarters and given separate sample numbers (commonly in mineralized core) - low to medium gold grades indicate strong correlation, dropping as the gold grade increases over 40 g/t Au. Blanks - blanks are inserted after visible gold and in strongly mineralized rocks to confirm that the crushing and pulping are not affected by gold smearing onto the crusher and LM5 swing mill surfaces. Results are excellent, generally below detection limit and a single sample at 0.03 g/t Au. Certified Reference Materials - OREAS CRMs have been used throughout the project including blanks, low (<1 g/t Au), medium (up to 5 g/t Au) and high-grade gold samples (> 5 g/t Au). Results are automatically checked on data import into the MX database to fall within 2 standard deviations of the expected value. Laboratory splits - On Site conducts splits of both coarse crush and pulp duplicates as quality control and reports all data. In particular, high Au samples have the most repeats. Laboratory CRMs - On Site regularly inserts their own CRM materials into the process flow and reports all data Laboratory precision - duplicate measurements of solutions (both Au from fire assay and other elements from the aqua regia digests) are made regularly by the laboratory and reported. - half core is split into quarters and given separate sample numbers (commonly in mineralized core) - low to medium gold grades indicate strong correlation, dropping as the gold grade increases over 40 g/t Au. - blanks are inserted after visible gold and in strongly mineralized rocks to confirm that the crushing and pulping are not affected by gold smearing onto the crusher and LM5 swing mill surfaces. Results are excellent, generally below detection limit and a single sample at 0.03 g/t Au. - OREAS CRMs have been used throughout the project including blanks, low (<1 g/t Au), medium (up to 5 g/t Au) and high-grade gold samples (> 5 g/t Au). Results are automatically checked on data import into the MX database to fall within 2 standard deviations of the expected value. - On Site conducts splits of both coarse crush and pulp duplicates as quality control and reports all data. In particular, high Au samples have the most repeats. - On Site regularly inserts their own CRM materials into the process flow and reports all data - duplicate measurements of solutions (both Au from fire assay and other elements from the aqua regia digests) are made regularly by the laboratory and reported. Accuracy and precision have been determined carefully by using the sampling and measurement techniques described above during the sampling (accuracy) and laboratory (accuracy and precision) stages of the analysis. have been determined carefully by using the sampling and measurement techniques described above during the sampling (accuracy) and laboratory (accuracy and precision) stages of the analysis. Soil sample company duplicates and laboratory certified reference materials all fall within expected ranges. Verification of sampling and assaying The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel. The use of twinned holes. Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols. Discuss any adjustment to assay data. The Independent Geologist has visited Sunday Creek drill sites and inspected drill core held at the Kilmore core shed. Visual inspection of drill intersections matches both the geological descriptions in the database and the expected assay data (for example, gold and stibnite visible in drill core is matched by high Au and Sb results in assays). In addition, on receipt of results Company geologists assess the gold, antimony and arsenic results to verify that the intersections returned expected data. The electronic data storage in the MX database is of a high standard. Primary logging data are entered directly by the geologists and field technicians and the assay data are electronically matched against sample number on return from the laboratory. Certified reference materials, core field duplicates (FDUP), laboratory splits and duplicates and instrument repeats are all recorded in the database. Exports of data include all primary data, from hole SDDSC077B onwards after discussion with SRK Consulting. Prior to this gold was averaged across primary, field and lab duplicates. Adjustments to assay data are recorded by MX, and none are present (or required). Twinned drill holes are not available at this stage of the project. Location of data points Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation. Specification of the grid system used. Quality and adequacy of topographic control. Differential GPS used to locate drill collars, trenches and some workings Standard GPS for some field locations (grab and soils samples), verified against Lidar data. The grid system used throughout is Geocentric datum of Australia 1994; Map Grid Zone 55 (GDA94_Z55), also referred to as ELSG 28355. Topographic control is excellent owing to sub 10 cm accuracy from Lidar data. Data spacing and distribution Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results. Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied. Whether sample compositing has been applied. The data spacing is suitable for reporting of exploration results - evidence for this is based on the improving predictability of high-grade gold-antimony intersections. At this time, the data spacing and distribution are not sufficient for the reporting of Mineral Resource Estimates. This however may change as knowledge of grade controls increase with future drill programs. Samples have been composited to a 1 g/t AuEq over 2.0 m width for lower grades and 5 g/t AuEq over 1.0 m width for higher grades in table 3. All individual assays above 0.1 g/t AuEq have been reported with no compositing in table 4. Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type. If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralized structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material. The true thickness of the mineralized intervals reported are interpreted to be approximately 40% of the sampled thickness. Drilling is oriented in an optimum direction when considering the combination of host rock orientation and apparent vein control on gold and antimony grade. The steep nature of some of the veins may give increases in apparent thickness of some intersections, but more drilling is required to quantify. The steep nature of some of the veins may give increases in apparent thickness of some intersections, but more drilling is required to quantify. A sampling bias is not evident from the data collected to date (drill holes cut across mineralized structures at a moderate angle). Sample security The measures taken to ensure sample security. Drill core is delivered to the Kilmore core logging shed by either the drill contractor or company field staff. Samples are marked up and cut by company staff at the Kilmore core shed, in an automated diamond saw and bagged before loaded onto strapped secured pallets and trucked by company staff to Bendigo for submission to the laboratory. There is no evidence in any stage of the process, or in the data for any sample security issues. Audits or reviews The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data. Continuous monitoring of CRM results, blanks and duplicates is undertaken by geologists and the company data geologist. Mr Michael Hudson for SXG has the orientation, logging and assay data. Southern Cross Gold (SXG) ASX Announcement Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2025) - Kodiak Copper Corp.(TSXV: KDK) (OTCQB: KDKCF) (FSE: 5DD1) (the "Company" or "Kodiak") announces the appointment of Mr. Peter Holbek as a technical advisor of the Company. Mr. Holbek is a former senior executive at Copper Mountain Corp. whose namesake mine is located near Kodiak's MPD project in Southern British Columbia, with many similarities in geology and structural setting. Mr. Holbek has 45 years of experience in geology, base and precious-metal mineral exploration, resource estimation and mine development. He was most recently Vice President, Exploration at Copper Mountain Mining Corp., a post he held from 2007 to 2022, where he directed exploration efforts; initially to define sufficient mineral reserves to advance the Copper Mountain project into production, and subsequently to grow the resources of this major mine. Working with metallurgy, engineering, grade control and environmental professionals, he led the incorporation of geo-metallurgical data into resource models which facilitated the prediction of mine throughput, metal recoveries and tailings characteristics. In 2013, he was awarded the E.A. Scholz medal for excellence in mine development by the Association for Mineral Exploration (AME) of B.C. Mr. Holbek holds B.Sc.(hons.) and M.Sc. degrees in Geological Sciences from The University of British Columbia and is a professional geoscientist registered with EGBC. He has authored, or co-authored, numerous scientific publications on both porphyry copper-gold and volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits. Claudia Tornquist, President and CEO of Kodiak, said, "We are thrilled to welcome Peter Holbek as an advisor to Kodiak Copper. Peter brings a wealth of experience, most importantly his long tenure as VP Exploration at the neighbouring Copper Mountain mine, where he was instrumental in defining the resources and reserves that allowed this large historic copper mine to be put back into production. His deep knowledge of the regional geology and extensive expertise in resource development will provide important insights as we complete our maiden resource estimate for MPD and advance the project towards development. We look forward to benefiting from Peter's technical guidance as we continue to unlock the full potential of MPD." Kodiak also announces the appointment of Mr. Mark Laycock as Corporate Secretary of the Company, in addition to his role as CFO, and the departure of Harpreet Bajaj, the Company's previous Corporate Secretary. The Company thanks Ms. Bajaj for her services and wishes her the best in her future endeavors. On behalf of the Board of Directors Kodiak Copper Corp. Claudia Tornquist President & CEO About Kodiak Copper Corp. Kodiak is focused on its 100% owned copper porphyry projects in Canada and the USA that have been historically drilled and present known mineral discoveries with the potential to hold large-scale deposits. The Company's most advanced asset is the MPD copper-gold porphyry project in the prolific Quesnel Terrane in south-central British Columbia, Canada, a mining district with producing mines and excellent infrastructure. MPD has all the hallmarks of a major, multi-centered porphyry district with the potential to become a world-class mine. Work to date has outlined multiple substantial mineralized zones across the property, including several zones with near-surface, high-grade mineralization. A maiden resource estimate for MPD is planned in 2025 and with known mineralized zones open to expansion and more target areas yet to be tested, Kodiak continues to systematically explore the project to build critical mass and make the next discovery. The Company also holds the Mohave copper-molybdenum-silver porphyry project in Arizona, USA, near the world-class Bagdad mine. Kodiak's founder and Chairman is Chris Taylor, who is well-known for his gold discovery success with Great Bear Resources. Kodiak is also part of Discovery Group led by John Robins, one of the most successful mining entrepreneurs in Canada. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statement (Safe Harbor Statement): This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "expect", "estimate", "objective", "may", "will", "project", "should", "predict", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the Company's exploration plans. 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 conditions in the equity financing markets, and assumptions and risks regarding receipt of regulatory and shareholder approvals. Management has provided the above summary of risks and assumptions related to forward-looking statements in this press release in order to provide readers with a more comprehensive perspective on the Company's future operations. The Company's actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits the Company will derive from them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and, other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Armenia's parliament passed a bill Wednesday launching Yerevan's bid for European Union membership, as the historically Russia-allied country drifts further away from Moscow's orbit. The landlocked Caucasus nation has grown increasingly close to the West, frustrated by what it says was Moscow's failure to protect it from arch-foe Azerbaijan. Adopted in final reading with 64 votes in favour -- all from lawmakers of the ruling Civil Contract party -- and seven opposition MPs voting against, the bill calls on the Armenian government to initiate the process of EU accession. In January, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan backed the bill, but said its adoption "doesn't literally mean Armenia will be joining the EU, because that cannot be done through a law or government decision -- the decision on that can only be made through a referendum." So far, no EU member state has publicly endorsed the idea of Armenia's potential accession to the 27-nation bloc. But the EU's Enlargement Commissioner, Mart Kos, said in January that Brussels "will accept the membership application if it is made". - Russia's warning - Moscow has cautioned that Armenia's push toward EU membership could come at a steep economic cost. Last week, Russia's Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu reiterated the warning, saying Yerevan could lose tariff-free trade with Moscow and face a potential hike in Russian natural gas prices, adding that Russia may also expel large numbers of Armenian migrant workers. Ties between Yerevan and Moscow plummeted dramatically following Azerbaijan's 2023 lightning offensive that routed Armenian-backed separatists in Baku's Karabakh region. Armenia accused Russia, which had almost 2,000 troops stationed in the region, of doing nothing to prevent the fighting and the subsequent exodus of more than 100,000 Armenians from the region. Four days after the offensive, Pashinyan told the nation in a televised address that Yerevan's current security alliances were "ineffective" and "insufficient". In February 2024, he froze Armenia's participation in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation, a defence grouping of several ex-Soviet states similar to NATO. Yerevan also joined the International Criminal Court (ICC), against Moscow's wishes -- a move that means the country would be expected to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin should he visit Armenia as the ICC has issued an arrest warrant for him. It launched visa liberalisation talks with the EU in September 2024 and deepened its defence ties with France. In July 2024, it held military drills with US troops. Moscow has reacted with dismay to the moves, accusing Yerevan of trying to rupture ties. Russia announced it was pulling its peacekeepers from Karabakh last year, and removing some troops and border guards from the Caucasus state. Armenia's parliament passed a bill Wednesday launching Yerevan's bid for European Union membership, as the historically Russia-allied country drifts further away from Moscow's orbit. The landlocked Caucasus nation has grown increasingly close to the West, frustrated by what it says was Moscow's failure to protect it from arch-foe Azerbaijan. Adopted in final reading with 64 votes in favour -- all from lawmakers of the ruling Civil Contract party -- and seven opposition MPs voting against, the bill calls on the Armenian government to initiate the process of EU accession. In January, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan backed the bill, but said its adoption "doesn't literally mean Armenia will be joining the EU, because that cannot be done through a law or government decision -- the decision on that can only be made through a referendum." So far, no EU member state has publicly endorsed the idea of Armenia's potential accession to the 27-nation bloc. But the EU's Enlargement Commissioner, Marta Kos, said in January that Brussels "will accept the membership application if it is made". - Russia's warning - Moscow has cautioned that Armenia's push toward EU membership could come at a steep economic cost. Last week, Russia's Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu reiterated the warning, saying Yerevan could lose tariff-free trade with Moscow and face a potential hike in Russian natural gas prices, adding that Russia may also expel large numbers of Armenian migrant workers. Ties between Yerevan and Moscow plummeted dramatically following Azerbaijan's 2023 lightning offensive that routed Armenian-backed separatists in Baku's Karabakh region. Armenia accused Russia, which had almost 2,000 troops stationed in the region, of doing nothing to prevent the fighting and the subsequent exodus of more than 100,000 Armenians from the region. Four days after the offensive, Pashinyan told the nation in a televised address that Yerevan's current security alliances were "ineffective" and "insufficient". In February 2024, he froze Armenia's participation in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation, a defence grouping of several ex-Soviet states similar to NATO. Yerevan also joined the International Criminal Court (ICC), against Moscow's wishes -- a move that means the country would be expected to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin should he visit Armenia as the ICC has issued an arrest warrant for him. It launched visa liberalisation talks with the EU in September 2024 and deepened its defence ties with France. In July 2024, it held military drills with US troops. Moscow has reacted with dismay to the moves, accusing Yerevan of trying to rupture ties. Russia announced it was pulling its peacekeepers from Karabakh last year, and removing some troops and border guards from the Caucasus state. The Sudanese army said it recaptured Khartoum airport from the Rapid Support Forces and surrounded the paramilitaries south of the capital on Wednesday, in its latest battlefield gains. The army, battling the RSF since April 2023, had "fully secured" the airport from the paramilitary fighters who had been stationed inside, its spokesman Nabil Abdallah told AFP. The takeover comes a day after the army was accused of one of the war's deadliest air strikes on a market in the western region of Darfur, killing dozens according to the United Nations, while eyewitnesses said they counted 270 bodies buried. Following their recapture of the presidential palace in a key victory on Friday, the army has surged through central Khartoum, seizing state institutions captured early in the war by the RSF. "In the south of the capital, our forces have surrounded the strategic Jebel Awliya area from three directions: north, south and east," a military source told AFP, adding that "all axes are advancing steadily". "The remnants of the RSF militia are fleeing" across the White Nile at the Jebel Awliya bridge, he said, requesting anonymity because he is not authorised to brief the media. The bridge is the paramilitaries' only crossing out of the area, linking it to its positions west of the city and then to its strongholds in Darfur. Across Khartoum, eyewitnesses and activists reported this week RSF fighters retreating southwards, ostensibly towards Jebel Awliya. The RSF did not immediately respond to a request for comment. - Civilians celebrate - Since April 2023, the war has killed tens of thousands of people, uprooted more than 12 million and created the world's largest hunger and displacement crises. It has also divided the country in two, with the army holding the east and north and the RSF controlling nearly all of Darfur and parts of the south. Following a year and a half of defeats, the army turned the tide late last year, pushing through central Sudan to Khartoum, from which its government was forced to flee to the Red Sea town of Port Sudan early in the war. The RSF had so far maintained its position in Jebel Awliya, as well as the western and southern outskirts of Omdurman -- central Khartoum's twin city just across the Nile. According to the United Nations, more than 3.5 million people were forced to flee the war-ravaged capital. Millions more, unable or unwilling to leave, were left to face hunger, rights abuses and indiscriminate shelling of their homes by both sides. Footage shared on social media appeared to show residents of central Khartoum celebrating the RSF's retreat. "You have endured so much," one young fighter can be heard saying while embracing civilians, in a video which AFP was unable to immediately verify. "The area has been completely empty of the RSF since last night," Osama Abdel Qader, a resident of central Khartoum's Sahafa neighbourhood, told AFP on Wednesday. - Rights abuses - Abdel Qader and other eyewitnesses said RSF fighters had abandoned the homes they previously occupied, in some areas taking furniture with them. Since the war began, the RSF has been accused of looting and taking over civilian homes, with rights groups documenting systematic sexual violence and other abuses. The United States has placed sanctions on both army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, for war crimes, accusing the latter specifically of genocide in Darfur. The United Nations has expressed grave alarm at "the continued attacks on civilians" across the country, including Monday's air strike on the town of Tora in North Darfur and an RSF artillery attack on a Khartoum mosque on Sunday. "A market -- meant to be a place of daily life and livelihood -- turned into a scene of devastation," the UN's most senior official in Sudan, resident and humanitarian coordinator Clementine Nkweta-Salami, said on Wednesday of the Darfur air strike. "This horrific act is yet another stark reminder of the growing disregard for human life and international humanitarian law in this conflict," she added. Analysts have warned of the RSF's pattern of revenge attacks on civilians, while the army has been accused of allowing its allied groups to persecute civilians thought to have collaborated with the RSF. UN rights chief Volker Turk said on Wednesday he was "deeply shocked" by the deadly Sudanese Armed Forces air strikes on a Darfur market, insisting such conduct must "never become normalised". Turk said that of the hundreds killed, 13 were members of a single family. The SAF regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been locked in a battle for power since April 2023 -- fighting which has plunged Sudan into what the UN calls the world's largest humanitarian catastrophe. "I am deeply shocked by reports that hundreds of civilians were killed and scores injured in airstrikes by the Sudanese Armed Forces on a busy market in Tora village, North Darfur, on March 24," Turk said in a statement. "My office has learned that 13 of those killed belonged to a single family, and that some of the injured are also reportedly dying as a result of the extremely limited access to healthcare. "We have also received reports that in the aftermath of the attack, members of the RSF arbitrarily arrested and detained civilians in Tora." A Sudanese monitor accused the Sudanese military of carrying out one of the deadliest air strikes in the country's nearly two-year war, hitting the rebel-held town of Tora in the western region of Darfur. The Emergency Lawyers, a group of volunteer legal professionals, said "hundreds of civilians" were killed in an "indiscriminate air strike" on the Tora market. Two residents who took part in burial operations said they had counted 270 bodies. Turk said that despite his repeated warnings and appeals to both the SAF and the RSF to protect civilians, they "continue to be killed indiscriminately, maimed and mistreated on a near daily basis, while civilian objects remain an all-too-frequent target". He urged both sides to take every possible step to avoid harming civilians and attacking civilian infrastructure. "Indiscriminate attacks and attacks against civilians, and civilian objects are unacceptable and may constitute war crimes," said Turk. "There must be full accountability for violations committed in this latest attack, and the many other attacks against civilians that have preceded it. Such conduct must never become normalised." Sudan's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan arrived at Khartoum's recaptured presidential palace on Wednesday, declaring the capital "free" of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces after nearly two years of war. "Khartoum is free, it's done," said Burhan, Sudan's de facto leader, in a broadcast aired by state television, capping a multi-day campaign by his forces to retake central Khartoum's state institutions. On his first visit to the former seat of government since the army seized it, Burhan marched through the war-ravaged palace in military fatigues with his fist upheld, flanked by soldiers chanting 'God is greatest' amid shattered windows and halls littered with fighters' cots. When war broke out in April 2023 between Burhan and his former deputy, paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the RSF quickly swept through the capital's government district, forcing authorities to flee to Port Sudan on the Red Sea. Despite the significant blows dealt to the RSF, analysts have warned the war is far from over, with the paramilitary on Wednesday announcing a new rebel alliance in the country's south. The army on Wednesday had cleared Khartoum's airport of RSF fighters, and according to an army source encircled the RSF in its last major stronghold in the Khartoum area, just south of the city centre. The takeover comes a day after the army was accused of one of the war's deadliest air strikes, killing dozens in a market in the western region of Darfur, according to the United Nations. Witnesses said they counted 270 bodies buried. Just south of the capital, "the remnants of the RSF militia are fleeing" across the White Nile, said the army source, requesting anonymity because he was not authorised to brief the media. According to the source, the paramilitaries were using the Jebel Awliya bridge, their only remaining way out of Khartoum, linking it to RSF positions west of the city and then to its strongholds in Darfur. Across Khartoum, witnesses and activists reported this week that RSF fighters were retreating southwards. The RSF did not respond to a request for comment. - Civilians celebrate - Since April 2023, the war has killed tens of thousands of people, uprooted more than 12 million and created the world's largest hunger and displacement crises. It has also divided the country in two, with the army holding the east and north, and the RSF controlling nearly all of Darfur in the west and parts of the south. On Wednesday, the RSF "officially announced a military alliance" with rebel group the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North, led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, which controls key border areas with South Sudan and Ethiopia. Following a year and a half of defeats, the army turned the tide late last year, pushing through central Sudan to Khartoum. The RSF had so far maintained its position in Jebel Awliya, as well as the western and southern outskirts of Omdurman -- Khartoum's twin city just across the Nile. According to the United Nations, more than 3.5 million people have been forced to flee the capital since the start of the war. Millions more, unable or unwilling to leave, were left to face hunger, abuses and indiscriminate shelling of their homes by both sides. Footage shared on social media appeared to show residents of central Khartoum celebrating the RSF's retreat. "You have endured so much," a young fighter allied with the army tells civilians while embracing them, in a video which AFP was unable to immediately verify. In Port Sudan, where hundreds of thousands of people have fled, a crowd of hundreds came out in celebration of the army's victory. They chanted "one people, one army", an AFP correspondent reported. Osama Abdel Qader, a resident of Khartoum's Sahafa neighbourhood just south of the government district, told AFP on Wednesday that "the area has been completely empty of the RSF since last night." - Rights abuses - Abdel Qader and other eyewitnesses said RSF fighters had abandoned homes they had previously occupied, in some areas taking furniture with them. Since the war began, the RSF has been accused of looting and taking over civilian homes, with rights groups documenting systematic sexual violence and other abuses. The United States has placed sanctions on both Burhan and Daglo for war crimes, accusing the RSF chief specifically of committing genocide in Darfur. The United Nations has expressed grave alarm at "the continued attacks on civilians" across the country, including Monday's air strike on the town of Tora in North Darfur and an RSF artillery attack on a Khartoum mosque on Sunday. "A market -- meant to be a place of daily life and livelihood -- turned into a scene of devastation," said UN humanitarian coordinator Clementine Nkweta-Salami. Analysts have warned of the RSF's pattern of revenge attacks on civilians, while the army has been accused of allowing its allied groups to persecute civilians thought to have collaborated with the RSF. With more than 36,300 acres of land consumed by ravaging wildfires in South Korea, some high-profile celebrities have made headlines by donating to help relief efforts. As of Tuesday, over 3,700 firefighters were struggling to control the blazes, with 76 helicopters and 530 emergency vehicles dispatched for the job, while some areas, like Uiseong and Andong, were reported to be nearly 70 percent under control, reported the Yonhap News Agency. Stars Extend Helping Hands Lee Chan Won also donated 100 million KRW ($75,000) to the victims in the Yeongnam region, which has been heavily affected by the fires. "Since this is a disaster that struck his hometown, Lee felt he had to do something to help those affected," his agency said. "I hope this small contribution can be useful to those who are struggling to recover from this tragedy," Lee said in a statement. Another example is comedian Yoo Jae Suk, a celebrity known for his long history of charitable donations, who donated 50 million KRW ($37,500) for relief efforts. He donated to the Hope Bridge Association of the National Disaster Relief, a group that provides aid to communities affected by natural disasters. "I just want to do whatever I can to support the people who are suffering," Yoo said. Actor Im Si Wan also donated 30 million KRW ($22,500), emphasizing that he donated in the hope that his donation could give some comfort to those who were affected by the disaster. "I hope that my donation can deliver even a little bit of warmth to those in distress," Im said in a statement released through his agency. At the same time, WINNER Kim Jin Woo and broadcasting personality Lee Seung Yoon both donated 10 million KRW (approximately $7,500) to help the victims of the continuing wildfires. The government and public response Officials are still evaluating the damage and organizing disaster response efforts. President Yoon Suk Yeol has ordered the full mobilization of emergency resources to avoid additional casualties and property damage. Thousands of residents have evacuated as officials scramble to address the environmental and economic fallout. Kim Sae Ron's family has accused her former management agency of committing financial misconduct by lying about paying her hospital bills and trying to scam them. As concerned groups came to Kim's aide, Kwon Young Chan, head of the Korea Celebrity Suicide Prevention Association, reportedly spoke on Kim's family's behalf in an interview on March 25, rebutting claims made by Kim's ex. This man goes by "K." K accused Kim's family of failing to help her during her personal struggles. Kwon denied the accusations, saying K had only been dating Kim for a year and had little idea of the circumstances. Kwon also expressed worries about payments for Kim's emergency surgery, which her former company allegedly paid with an outflow of 5 million KRW (about USD 3,410). However, critics questioned the amount, saying it was extremely high for a procedure that should have been mostly covered by insurance. Medical documents bearing Kim's legal name, Kim Ah Im, verified her hospital admission but did not offer a detailed account of the charges. The documents also described her as a "100% insurance-covered" patient, adding to the questions about the need for the payments. "A total 5.40 million KRW (around $3,680 USD) has been paid, but receipts do not include itemized charges. That looks like a 'card-kkang' transaction to be exact," Kwon said, a phrase referring to a practice where loans taken out by credit cards are camouflaged as product purchases. Kwon said an investigation with the hospital established that part of the bill had been charged to Kim's mother's credit card. G4S staff at the hospital claimed the person who made the payment later came back to collect leftover money, suggesting Kim's mother had paid part of the bill and that excess funds were handed back to the agency's staff. Kim's family has tried reaching out to her old manager for clarification but has been unsuccessful. Kwon said he suspected the manager was involved in both the financial arrangements and prior leaks about Kim's personal life. "We tried to ask where the 5.40 million KRW was actually used, but we can't contact him," Kwon said. "He was very close to Kim Sae Ron, even taking charge of cooking all her meals. But every time she attempted her comeback, personal information kept leaking. Then, Lee Jin Ho would post videos amplifying unverified claims about her private life, exacerbating public negativity. "I find it hard not to suspect that B was the source of those leaks." The allegations come as Kim Sae Ron continues to face scrutiny during her offscreen life. Her family has always insisted they were there to support her through both her battles and the financial questions and has said they will keep looking for answers related to the money issues. Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - Kenyan actress and socialite Trisha Khalid is reeling from shock after falling victim to a brazen daylight mugging in Nairobi. Sharing her ordeal on Instagram, the curvaceous lass revealed that thugs snatched her gold chain - worth KSh 80,000 - while she was running errands in town. The horrifying ordeal left her with neck injuries. "Yaani mmenikaribisha Nairobi finally? They snatched my gold chain worth KSh 80K in town today. I'm still in shock, they bruised my neck. Yaani, yaani, I'm not fine," she lamented. Netizens have reacted with mixed opinions with some sympathizing with her distressing experience, and others questioned the wisdom of wearing such an expensive piece of jewelry in Nairobis bustling CBD. The Kenyan DAILY POST Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - The tragic passing of David Otieno Oloo (Dr. Oludhe) on August 4th, 2023, has been compounded by a shocking case of financial fraud that has left his family devastated. Over Ksh 23 million held in his ABSA Bank Kisumu dollar account has mysteriously disappeared, despite legal safeguards being in place. The family, aware of the risks, moved to court to place a caveat on the account to ensure a proper succession process. However, unknown to them, an individual filed a civil case in Nyamira, claiming that David owed him over Ksh 21 million and demanding payment from Absa Bank Kenya. Donna, Davids legally wedded wife, and temporary estate administrator appointed by the Kisumu Court, was never informed of this claim or case. She only discovered the fraud this recently (one year later), when she went to ABSA Bank Kisumu to withdraw money for her childrens school fees, as per a court order, only to be told that the account was insolvent. The fraudulent claim was filed by one Simon Peter Wainana Njoroge T/A Miradi Consultancy under civil suit No. E051/2024 at the Chief Magistrate's Court in Nyamira. However, strangely, an order compelling ABSA to release the funds was issued from the Environment and Lands Court (ELC Case No. E051/2024) - a completely different jurisdiction. ABSA Bank had been notified of Davids passing and was legally bound to uphold the succession process in Kisumu. The court had authorized Donna to withdraw funds, proving that the account had a valid caveat. The bank manager who handled this matter quietly transferred to Eco Bank soon after the withdrawal. The entire sum was withdrawn in Nyamira, despite the funds being held in ABSA Bank Kisumu. This case raises serious concerns: How can money from a deceased persons bank account vanish so easily despite legal protections? How does a different court (ELC) interfere in a succession matter without due process? What happens to Davids widow and children, who were depending on these funds for their survival? Davids family deserves justice. The banks, courts, and all involved parties must be held accountable. This cannot be another case of injustice swept under the rug. The Kenyan DAILY POST Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - Dagoretti North Member of Parliament Beatrice Elachi is mourning, following the demise of her son, Elvis, who died in a grisly road accident. Elvis was driving under the influence of alcohol when he lost control of his vehicle - a Mercedes Benz. The car literally flew after hitting a barrier in one of the major roads in Nairobi. Elvis died while undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit. President William Ruto is among the leaders who mourned Elachis son. In a statement on X on Tuesday, March 25, Ruto described the loss as heartbreaking and prayed for strength for the family. May God grant Mheshimiwa Beatrice Elachi and the family strength to bear with the loss of their dear son, Elvis Murakana, said Ruto. Elachis party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), also expressed sympathy, saying it stood with her during this time of mourning. Kileleshwa Ward MCA, Robert Alai, described the loss as devastating. Losing a child is an unimaginable pain. My thoughts are with you during this incredibly difficult time, said Alai. Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - City car dealer, Khalif Kairo, who is facing multiple fraud cases, has accused Deputy Director of Investigations at DCI Paul Wachira of frustrating him. Kairo failed to deliver a car to Wachiras niece and since then, he has been in and out of courts. Read his full statement. Theres a senior officer Directorate of Criminal Investigations - DCI who facilitates the court arrests and frustrates attempts to bail. He is an uncle to a lady called Faith Gitonga who threatened me below in January and records videos inside police stations everytime I am arrested and shares them with bloggers. I am not that powerful or connected, but I demand justice. I am not a criminal, just an honest businessman who is struggling in a tight economy. Vehicle delay is a civil issue that can be solved through civil court and I have been working extremely hard to resolve it. However, subjecting me to the criminal process because your uncle is powerful shows how low we have sunk as a country. Faith was the lady who had me arrested in January when a video circulated of me getting assaulted by an officer at Nairobi area. She was also the individual recording. When I was arrested yesterday, Faith was still present and was giving orders to the officers at Kilimani Police station. She also ensured that a DCI vehicle was present at court to pick me up. She is also allowed to record videos inside police stations while I am being interrogated. 24 hours after arrest, her uncle made a call and I was denied bail despite the officers initially agreeing and up until to this moment, I have not been presented to court. Faith has also been calling other clients and also inciting them to bring the cases to the DCI bragging about how powerful her uncle is. Most clients actually declined to take the criminal option and have been very understanding of our predicament. Its good to also state that after posting KES 2,000,000 Bail in January, we asked Milimani Court to consolidate all three pending cases meaning that any client who wanted to take the criminal route, Kesi zote zingeprocessiwa at once as I try to look for solutions. This would give me time to restrategize, come back and sort this issues once and for all. Yesterday when I was arrested while attending to those matters, the officers responsible refused to immediately present me back to Milimani law courts for plea taking but took me to Kilimani police station then later insisted to forward my matter to Kibera law courts maliciously so that I would pay more bail or end up in Industrial area remand jail. The objective is not justice, the objective is frustrating me to prove a point. I remain committed to delivering cars and offering refunds but this constant harassment by rogue elements within the DCI has ultimately frustrated me to the point of shutting down my offices, firing all my staff and further causing more delays to the clients who have been understanding and patient. I am absolutely fed up and I demand justice. My rights have been infriged and my lawyers have already filed a constitutional appeal for a review of this criminal process. Every time I get arrested, banks and investors end up losing confidence making it harder for us to maneuver and sort issues. Civil courts exist for a reason and I will not allow one person who has a powerful relative in government to ruin what I have built. Faiths uncle is a man by the name Paul Wachira. He is the Deputy Director of investigations at DCI. I also want to request, any person who feels that they want to make a criminal complaint against me, please come to Kilimani police station and file your case. Wacha tu nimalizane na hii mambo mara moja . My life must move on and I will no longer fear. The screenshot below is of a threat Faith made in January and its funny how everything has played out as she predicted. Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - President William Ruto has made significant changes to his Cabinet. In a statement issued by the Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, Ruto nominated Hanna Wendot Cheptumo to a new docket in the Ministry of Gender. Cheptumo, the widow of the late Baringo Senator William Cheptumo, was picked barely a month after her husband's passing while undergoing treatment at Nairobi Hospital. In a major reshuffle, Ruto reassigned Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to head the Ministry of Health. Duale, who also previously served as Defense CS, will be tasked with addressing the ongoing crisis within the Social Health Authority (SHA), which has disrupted healthcare services nationwide. Duale will be replaced at the Ministry of Environment by Dr. Deborah Barasa, who is expected to oversee critical environmental policies and climate action initiatives. The President has also dismissed Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi and nominated Mbeere North Member of Parliament, Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku, as his replacement. "His Excellency the President has congratulated the nominees on their nominations and conveyed his best wishes as they undergo the requisite parliamentary approval process in fulfillment of the legal requirements set under our Constitution," the statement read in part. The Kenyan DAILY POST Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - Nakuru Governor Susan Kihikas conspicuous absence from the countrys affairs in recent months has been a subject of public discussion. Kihika has been running her County from Dallas, Texas, since last year after sneaking out of the country, prompting the residents to file a petition at the County Assembly to demand accountability from her. Although Kihika claims she is on maternity leave, it is now emerging that she is seeking specialized treatment in the U.S. According to blogger Wahome Thuku, some of Kihikas close family members concocted the pregnancy story and delivery of twins to fool the public. Family members who were not part of the script were shocked to hear that she had given birth, but they were quickly silenced. Blogger Aoko Otieno also recently dismissed Kihikas pregnancy and revealed that she was battling blood cancer. Kihika was last seen in public on November 18th, 2024 when she presided over a graduation ceremony. The Kenyan DAILY POST Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - Disgraced city car dealer, who was arrested on Tuesday shortly after attending a court session, will remain in remand after he failed to raise a Ksh 2 million bond. Kairo was arraigned at Kibera Law Courts after another victim accused him of failing to deliver a car despite paying the full amount. The once-celebrated car dealer was released on a Sh 2 million bond without an option of bail. However, he couldnt raise the money. Kairo took to his X account and accused police of frustrating him. I keep trying to rebuild and settle issues but the police frustration is really taking a toll. I will not be able to raise the 2m bond, so its remand for now. We will rebuild, restructure and God will see us through. Am going offline, nawapenda and keep praying for me, he tweeted. Mr Paul Wachira of DCI_Kenya, I am giving you two options. 1. kill me 2.leave me alone. I do not fear anyone under the sun na si wewe umeniweka hii town. Even if you compromise the system to frustrate me, My God is bigger and i will still win, he added. The Kenyan DAILY POST Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has fired back at President William Ruto after the Head of State labeled him fairly incompetent during his tenure as Attorney General. Speaking during an Iftar dinner at State House on Tuesday, President Ruto criticized Muturi for delaying the implementation of the Muslim Endowment Fund (Waqf), a proposal by Muslim leaders. I had a problem with the AG who was there beforehe was fairly incompetent. But now, I have a very competent lady in the position, and I can assure you that the issues of Waqf will be sorted out within months, Ruto stated. In response, Muturi clarified that the Waqf Act No. 8 of 2022 did not contain provisions for a Muslim Endowment Fund. It must be understood that a waqf is a religious, charitable, or benevolent endowment by a person who professes the Muslim faith and is managed by the Waqf Commission, he stated. Muturi has also defended his record as AG, highlighting key achievements in litigation, legal reforms, and government advisory services. He detailed significant accomplishments, including saving the Government Sh17.5 billion in legal claims through successful court defenses. Rutos sharp rebuke underscores an escalating rift between him and Muturi, who has recently criticized the Kenya Kwanza administration over its handling of abductions. The Kenyan DAILY POST Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - Governor Susan Kihikas extended stay in the U.S has sparked widespread debate, with Nakuru residents demanding answers regarding her prolonged absence. Despite Kihikas assurance that she is on maternity leave and will soon resume her duties, concerned Nakuru residents recently filed a petition with the County Assembly seeking accountability. On Tuesday, women leaders rallied behind Kihika, defending her against public criticism. Led by Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda, they urged patience, emphasizing the challenges women face in balancing work and family. As women leaders of Kenya, we stand in solidarity with Governor Susan Kihika. We congratulate her on her newborn baby. We are aware of petitions lodged against her absence, Mutinda stated. However, lawyer Wahome Thuku has cast doubt on the maternity leave explanation, alleging that Kihika was never pregnant and is instead critically ill, undergoing specialized treatment in the U.S. The pregnancy narrative was a well-orchestrated script by her close relatives, Thuku claimed, adding that even some family members were surprised to hear about the supposed birth of twins. With speculation swirling, only the Governors return will undoubtedly bring clarity to the ongoing debate.Top of Form Bottom of Form Read his post below. Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - Kenya discriminates against its own people, claims H.E. Kadri Humal Ayal, the Honorary Consul of Estonia to Kenya. Speaking on the Cleaning the Airwaves (CTA) podcast, she candidly shared her experiences of privilege based on skin color. I have secured jobs where I wasnt fully qualified, yet I was hired simply because of my skin color, she admitted. Her revelation has ignited mixed reactions, with Kenyans sharing personal experiences of racism. Many highlighted how waiters and waitresses in high-end restaurants prioritize white patrons, often ignoring locals or making them wait longer. The discussion has sparked a broader conversation on internalized discrimination and biases in Kenyas social and professional spaces. Watch the video and reactions below. All Kenyans should watch this video. Wale kwanza wa kuserve whites fast more than Kenyans. Listen to this. pic.twitter.com/zvrnrI1SHh Kimuzi (@Kimuzi_) March 25, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - Rogue cops stationed in one of the police stations in Loitoktok are in the spotlight after they were captured on camera misusing the stations official vehicle. The cash-starved cops converted the police Landcruiser into a market stall and shamelessly sold cabbages to the locals. They had parked the vehicle, which was full of cabbages, by the roadside. Locals were seen negotiating for prices before buying the cabbages. The cops were not aware that they were being recorded as they misused the stations vehicle. The video has since gone viral on social media, with Kenyans calling for disciplinary action to be taken against the cops. Watch the video. Police vehicle secretly filmed being misused by rogue cops in Loitoktok - They were selling cabbages to the public pic.twitter.com/CKbubVCDEX DAILY POST (@dailypost_ke) March 26, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - Renowned Political Analyst Joakim Simiyu has stirred a heated debate online with his bold comparison of Kalenjin and Kikuyu thieves. Speaking during an interview with a local media house, Simiyu claimed that the key difference lies in how each group handles stolen money. A Kalenjin thief loots and stashes the money in their bedroom safe, keeping it out of circulation. On the other hand, a Kikuyu thief steals but invests in businesses, creating jobs and boosting the economy, he explained. While condemning both, Simiyu asserted, If I had to choose, Id rather have a Kikuyu thief. He further linked Kenyas current cash crunch to the dominance of Kalenjins in senior Government positions, alleging that they hoard stolen funds instead of reinvesting them. His remarks have sparked a heated debate, with some agreeing that corruption affects economic circulation, while others criticized him for fueling tribal stereotypes. Regardless, his take has ignited important discussions on corruption and its economic impact. Watch the interesting video below. Joakim Simiyu has come up with a difference between Kalenjin thieves and Kikuyu thieves. Very interesting! pic.twitter.com/U5JU4fkkv7 Cornelius K. Ronoh (@itskipronoh) March 26, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - Award-winning rapper and actor Christopher Brian Bridges, better known as Ludacris, has finally addressed the viral trend of his photos being used in barbershops across Africa and beyond. In Kenya, his image is a common sight in men grooming spaces, often used to showcase trendy haircuts. But this isnt just a Kenyan phenomenon - it stretches across Europe, the Caribbean, and beyond. In a recent TikTok post, the 47-year-old responded to a fan who asked if he was aware of his global barbershop fame. "Not only do I know that they got my side beards and my cut plastered all around Africa, Europe, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico," he said. "The only thing Ive been trying to figure out is - whos getting all of my residuals?" Check out some of the reactions below. @Lejo Official: "For real! We grew up seeing you in all barbershops." @Yesisatnglee: "If your photo isnt in a barbershop here in London, they cant cut hair for shit. Thats all I know." @Thabobaqwa: "FACTS I always wondered if he knew!" @mixedeyewonder: "Bro, I used to try to grow my hair out and get sideburns because of you, but that didnt happen, captain . Your cut is untouchable." @Bmgonstage: "Ive been seeing it in Nigeria since the early 2000s as a teenager." @Tonyz97: "Growing up with Ludacris' fade in every damn barbershop." @Kleens18: "I saw Ludas pic in barbershops in Ghana before I even knew him as a rapper. As a kid, I thought he was just a picture created for barbershops!" @Al Kemy: "On God, its all over the world . Since I was a kid, Ive seen your head in every barber shop in Africa." Wednesday, march 26, 2025 - Kenya has lost another police officer serving in the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti after he was shot and killed during a confrontation with armed gang members. The officer was killed on Tuesday, March 25th, during an operation in the Lower Artibonite region, approximately 92 kilometers north of Haitis capital, Port-au-Prince. According to reports, three armored vehicles belonging to the peacekeeping forces were set on fire by the gangs during the confrontation. Jack Ombaka, the Kenyan police spokesperson in Haiti, revealed that the attack occurred after the vehicles got stuck in a ditch, believed to have been deliberately dug by the gang members. In response, two MSS Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles from Pont-Sonde in central Haiti were dispatched for assistance. Unfortunately, during the recovery operation, one of the MRAPs also got stuck, while the other developed a mechanical issue, Ombaka stated. It was during the attempt to repair the armored vehicles that the gang members launched an ambush on the Kenyan officers. As the rescue teams attempted to resolve the situation, suspected gang members lying in wait launched an attack. As a result of the incident, one MSS Kenyan contingent officer remains unaccounted for, he added. The deceased officers body was taken by the gang, and peacekeepers are working to retrieve it. Specialized teams have since been deployed to search for the missing officer. This tragedy comes just six days after Constable Samuel Tompoi was buried in Kajiado following his death in Haiti, highlighting the escalating dangers Kenyan officers face in the troubled nation.Bottom of Form See reactions below. The Kenyan DAILY POST Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - President William Ruto has dismissed Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi and nominated vocal Mbeere North Member of Parliament, Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku, as his replacement. The announcement, made on Wednesday by Chief of Staff Felix Koskei, follows months of growing tensions between Muturi and the President. Muturi has been an outspoken critic of Rutos administration, particularly over allegations of the Governments involvement in abductions and extrajudicial killings of Gen Z protesters in June and December 2024 - incidents in which his own son was a victim. He had even requested to be excused from Cabinet meetings until the issue of police abductions was addressed. Recently, Muturi defended his stance, insisting that calling out his boss was part of his duty as a public servant. "This is my sworn mandate, and I should be applauded, not punished," he asserted. President Ruto, who had remained silent on the matter, finally responded during an Iftar dinner at State House, Nairobi, yesterday. He publicly criticized Muturis tenure as Attorney General, accusing him of incompetence in implementing the Muslim Endowment Fund (Waqf). "I had a problem with the AG who was there before - he was fairly incompetent. But now, I have a very competent lady in the position, and I can assure you that the issues of Waqf will be sorted out within months," Ruto stated. In response, Muturi took to social media, stating: "It must be understood that a Waqf is a religious, charitable, or benevolent endowment by a person who professes the Muslim faith and is managed by the Waqf Commission." His sacking marks a significant shake-up in Rutos Cabinet, further exposing the deepening rift between the President and his former ally. The Kenyan DAILY POST Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - Dagoretti North Member of Parliament, Beatrice Elachi, is mourning the heartbreaking loss of her son, Elvis Murakana, who passed away on Tuesday, March 25th. Murakana succumbed to injuries sustained in a tragic road accident after battling for his life in the Intensive Care Unit. President William Ruto led the political class in offering condolences to Elachi and her family. May God grant Mheshimiwa Beatrice Elachi and the family strength to bear with the loss of their dear son, Elvis Murakana. Be comforted by the word of the Lord in Psalm 147:3: He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds, Ruto shared. Elachis party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), also expressed their sorrow. May God grant Hon. Beatrice Elachi and her family the fortitude and strength to overcome the pain of losing her son. As a party, we stand with her during this difficult moment, ODM stated. However, while many sympathized with Elachi, some Kenyans took to social media with mixed reactions. This comes after Elachi recently dismissed those criticizing President Rutos leadership, telling them to leave the country if they found it unbearable. We must respect the president; he is our father. If Kenya is bad, why not leave? What are you doing here at a bad place? Disappear, she asserted. See some of the posts below. The Kenyan DAILY POST High Court Reporters The High Court has permitted a developer to challenge Dublin City Councils (DCC) refusal to extend the duration of planning permission for an apartment complex, slated for a Ballsbridge site where the former home of 1916 Rising leader Michael Joseph ORahilly once stood. Planning permission granted to Derryroe Ltd in September 2020 for the planned complex at Herbert Park is due to expire in October 2025 after DCC refused to extend the duration of the permission, the developer says. Derryroe, which is owned by the operators of the Herbert Park Hotel, the McSharry and Kennedy families, demolished 40 Herbert Park once home to The ORahilly in controversial circumstances in September 2020. At the time the house was demolished, it was under consideration for addition to the Record of Protected Structures (RPS). DCC took legal action against Derryroe and construction firm Pembroke Place Developments for unauthorised demolition of the house. The case was settled in November 2022 when Pembroke Place Developments accepted noncompliance with planning permission and was ordered to pay 3,000 to charity to avoid a court conviction. In September 2020, Derryroe secured planning permission for a complex of 105 apartments and 10 aparthotels, in blocks of up to 12 storeys, at 36, 38, and 40 Herbert Park and 10 Pembroke Place. The permission was subject to legal challenges but was upheld. In April 2024, the council granted planning permission for certain amendments to the development permitted in September 2020. This permission does not expire until May 2029. On January 16th, the council refused a request from Derryroe to extend the duration of the 2020 planning permission, stating that it was not satisfied that substantial works had been carried out at the site. In a statement grounding its legal challenge, Derryroe argues that the works carried out at the site, and works due to be completed before the permissions expiration in October, are plainly of ample or considerable amount. Derryroe says the council erred in its decision to refuse the extension, by virtue of its alleged failure to give consideration to the works that will be carried out at the site prior to the October expiration date. The company also argues the decision was incorrect because the council allegedly failed to have regard for works completed in the time between local authority officials inspection of the site on or before December 4th, 2024, and the councils issuing of a decision on January 16th. On Monday, Mr Justice Richard Humphreys granted leave for the company to pursue its judicial review proceedings against DCC. The council were not represented in court during Derryroes application for leave. Derryroe are seeking several orders, including the quashing of the councils decision to refuse an extension to the planning permission. A fresh application for an extension of time to the planning permission, submitted by the council to the council in February, remains pending. A MAN who allegedly raped a woman in a cemetery car park has been sent forward for trial to the present sittings of the Central Courts of Justice, which began on 4 March. The man, aged in his 20s with an address in Co Dublin, is charged with two counts of rape and one of sexual assault. On Bail The offences are alleged to have occurred in a Qashqai SUV in the car park of Mainham Cemetry, Clane on the evening of 9 April 2023. And hes not in custody? said a somewhat incredulous Judge Desmond Zaidan. And there was consent to bail? he also asked. Barrister Mark Gibbons began his defence by telling the court that although his client was originally from Somalia, he did not require a translator. Mainham Cemetery The defendant met with the injured party on the evening of 9 April 2023 by consent, said Sergeant Dave Hanrahan, for the state. It is alleged he drove her to Mainham Cemetery outside Clane and raped her twice, said Sgt Hanrahan. There had been some consent earlier, some kissing and touching, acknowledged the sergeant. But she didnt consent to more than that? asked the judge. No, judge, confirmed Sgt Hanrahan. Once the book of evidence was formally handed over to Mr Gibbons, the judge gave the defendant the alibi warning. Legal aid This means that if the defendant intends to use an alibi in his defence, he just has a fortnight in which he must notify the state. The judge also consented to legal aid for a solicitor, as well as a senior and junior barrister for his circuit court trial. The judge allowed for reporting the defendants details, but not to mention the injured party. 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." Mr Ibe, of no fixed abode and formerly of Moore Park, Newbridge, 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 29 April 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. 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 28 April 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. 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 12 May 2020. Giving evidence on Tuesday, Det Gda Seamus Doyle told Mr Carroll that he was present when Sgt Kieran Bruce arrested Mr Ibe on 29 April, 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". 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. 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 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. THIS week a Newbridge-based playwright will stage a play in the Smock Alley Theatre that has only taken 13 years to complete! S.D. Clifford (Seanie), is a 49-year-old writer originally from Killarney who has been living in Kildare for the last three years since moving from Berlin, and he is patently not afraid to big up his work. For the first time since Waiting for Godot was performed in Paris on 5 January 1953, we will all have something to be proud of when talking about Irish Theatre in the 21st century, said Seanie. This will welcome in a brand-new epoch for Irish theatre, moving it away from the car crash that is the Theatre of the Deluded in the Abbey, Gate and Druid." His play is entitled Air, it runs for a little over an hour and premieres on Wednesday 26 March. Air is about grief and the struggle a man has to get through and keep up the face, said Seanie. I was lucky and I was able to express myself from an early age, but for many men the struggle with living, the struggle with loving is massive, he said. Ive been working on this for 13 years, but my last one Dark, I was working on it for 20 years. Seanie shares his time writing with his other gig, writing technical CVs. I have travelled the world writing CVs, so between them both I make a living, he said. This summer he will do a one-week residency in the St Johns Theatre in Listowel, Co Kerry where his first play aired in 1999. I was then mentored by Brian Friel, and that was helpful, it was great, and he encouraged me to go to Paris or Berlin, said Seanie. Berlin was great, and when I got there you could rent an apartment for 250 a month. It was a prime set-up for creatives, but Paris was way too expensive, and not conducive to writers." He was a tad critical of the indigenous scene. Theatre in Ireland is in a terrible state, too much wokeness, nothingness, directors getting humongous amounts of money, and living La Vida Loca, he alleged. The Abbey got 9.5m this year and thats a lot of money. They decided to put on a Brendan Behan play, take all the male actors out, and replace them with non-binary female actors! Taking all the masculinity out of an extremely important working class Dublin play, theres no reason for it. The Druid and the Gate could be doing a bit more too, he said. The Druid (Theatre in Galway) recently put on a Sean OCasey trilogy and they took out the Sean and put in the word Druid! Since Greek time a playwrights name is always on the bill. They got rid of Michael Colgan out of The Gate, hunted out by Me Too, he alleged. He used to get Pinter over, and two or three times a year you would get a great play now its a watered down version of The Abbey, he said. He continued: I dont need a pat on the back. Ive put on plays where nobody was there, Ive put on plays that I thought were brutal, but ended up on the front page of a German newspaper. I look to create new characters with substance, that people can get to know, and I will continue to go to the theatre, because each production is new, with a new team." . A popular shop on High Street in Kilkenny City is temporarily closed from today (Wednesday) to facilitate renovation works. Oxfam Kilkenny, a well-known city charity shop, have posted the following notice on the premises: "Sorry, we are closed for a refit! For updates follow @OxfamKilkenny. See you in a few weeks!" On their social media, the shop stated: "Please note that our Kilkenny store will be closed for refurbishment starting March 26. We are making improvements to enhance your shopping experience. READ NEXT: 'Drive-thru' coffee plans lodged for busy Kilkenny area View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oxfam Kilkenny (@oxfamkilkenny) "In the meantime, we invite you to visit our other locations in Portlaoise, Waterford, Wexford and Tullamore. Donations are also welcome at these stores. "Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to welcoming you back soon." The shop are also asking people not to leave donations while they are closed. "Thank you for thinking of us though," staff said. "In the meantime, Vision Ireland is up the road, Cancer Research down the road, and Samaritans around the corner. See you soon." FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Tipperary North-Kilkenny Northwest TD Michael Lowry, in a post on social media on Tuesday, said he had "returned from a fractious Dail to witness the launch of another important milestone at MIC St Patrick's College". The statement added: "Minister for Education, Peter Burke, was present to launch the new Faculty of Business and Accounting. "This is a most welcome addition to the existing wide range of Courses already available at the College. "The growth trajectory of MIC is a great success story. "The College, through its staff and students, is making an enormous contribution to the Educational, Business and Social life of Thurles and the region." READ NEXT: EXPLAINER: What happened in the Dail on Tuesday and Michael Lowry's 'two fingers'? Opposition leaders have accused Tipperary North TD Michael Lowry of giving two fingers to the people of Ireland after footage was circulated online of him making a gesture towards a TD in the Dail. The video was recorded moments after the lower House was adjourned when an amendment to the standing order to create a new speaking slot for Government backbenchers and a group of independents was pushed through. Video footage taken inside the Dail chamber by People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy shows opposition TDs chanting shame, shame, shame as Government backbenchers left their seats following the controversial vote. READ NEXT: 'Classic Dick Byrne move' - People compare Michael Lowry Dail slip-up to Father Ted The video then pans to behind Mr Murphy where Tipperary North TD Mr Lowry can be seen sitting in his seat. He can be seen making brief remarks towards Mr Murphy before making a gesture in his direction. Labour leader Ivana Bacik accused Mr Lowry of giving two fingers to the Irish people and to the Dail procedure after the footage emerged online. I think that is what the abiding image is, Ms Bacik said of Mr Lowrys gesture. Speaking about the fallout after the speaking rights amendment was pushed through, Ms Bacik said: Were still processing what happened today because it is unprecedented. It was extraordinary to see the way the business was conducted by the Government and by the Ceann Comhairle today. So, were still absorbing that. Were going to be consulting with our own parliamentary parties, and we will be meeting again tomorrow morning to see what we can do about this. READ NEXT: 'Absolutely disgraceful' - TD Michael Lowry caught 'giving the two fingers' in the Dail But it certainly will not end here for us. Speaking about the gesture, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said: Certainly the image of the day is Michael Lowry giving us the two fingers but, much more damningly, giving the Irish people the two fingers, too. Independent TD Michael Collins said: Michael Lowry gives the two fingers up to the people of Ireland aided by his so-called Independent TDs and the Government. Bad day for Ireland. He later questioned whether the Fianna Fail and Fine Gael leadership is talking to their grassroots after stating that some Government backbenchers are not happy with the new arrangements. Are they speaking because the grassroots of this country dont want their two fingers being put up to them, and thats what has happened here today in our Dail, Mr Collins added. There was a full house last night in Bishop Freeman Schoolhouse, Coolagh as one of their own was honoured and feted after completing a massive 47 years at the helm of the Coolagh Pattern Committee. Chairman, elected way back in 1978, when the Pattern was revived by James Neill, Coolaghmore. Billy was the chief organiser of the winter card games for the same period. Joan OKeeffe was elected to replace Billy as the new Chairperson and John Corrigan takes over the task of managing the card games. He is already organising a bumper Progressive 25 Drive for Coolagh Hall on Good Friday. Joan OKeeffe welcomed Billy's Family, Friends and Neighbours to mark the end of an era and said Billy's heart was with the Coolagh Pattern for well over 47 years, and was the driving force behind all the traditions, particularly the Pattern itself. She said Billy was a man of respect and honour and together with his Wife, Eileen gave huge commitment to the Club. Father Willie Dalton, on behalf of the people of the Parish, thanked Billy and Eileen for their leadership, he said they were part of the Coolagh Community 22 years before he arrived in Callan, that in itself is a lifetime in volunteering in the area, and they continue for another 25 years to today! He prayed and hoped the success of the Committee continues and Billy will be there to advise and guide the new members to the Committee. FOR MORE CALLAN NEWS, CLICK HERE Cllr Joe Lyons recalled the humble beginnings of the Pattern days, where meetings were held first in Margaret Fennellys pub, then Billy Mahers on the Cross. A public meeting was held to purchase the old National School on Coolaghflags and over 40 people voted for the purchase and one man Jack Sallenger voted against. He said when there is a structure in place and a commitment to run the building well into the future, he would be in favour. Messages of good wishes were read from Bishop Niall Coll, Bishop of Ossory, who wished Billy and Eileen well and extended his blessings to their entire family. READ NEXT: TD representing Kilkenny constituency caught making rude gesture in the Dail His heartfelt congratulations added a touch of solemnity and grace to the event. Former Councillor Tommy Maher, speaking on behalf of all the cardplayers, expressed sincere gratitude for Billy's unwavering commitment over the years. He highlighted the uniqueness of Coolagh, where, unlike many declining card venues across the country, the community's card games continue to thrive, attributing this success to Billy's exceptional management. He also acknowledged Eileen and the Ladies Committee for their continued dedication in providing refreshments, ensuring that every gathering was met with warmth and hospitality. Read this week's Callan Notes in the Kilkenny People for more 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 Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High around 85F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 67F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Missouri firefighters and their families will be celebrated at the Capitol Rotunda on Thursday in recognition of their efforts in battling an unprecedented number of wildfires this year. The annual Fire Fighters Day ceremony, led by Department of Public Safety Director Mark S. James and State Fire Marshal Tim Bean, will honor the role firefighters play in protecting Missouri communities. This year's event carries special significance due to the challenging fire season characterized by dry vegetation, low humidity and strong winds. WATCH: We rode along with Camdenton-area firefighters to battle a forest fire The Mid-County Fire Protection District chief said there have been more days than usual with fire weather conditions. "Strong mutual aid cooperation among fire service agencies was essential in fighting the fires," the Department of Public Safety wrote in a news release. "Incident support teams organized to relieve overburdened personnel were also played an important role." Mid-Missouri has been no exception to the wildfires. Camden County has seen several natural cover fires that have displaced families in the last few weeks. The event is scheduled for noon Thursday in the Missouri State Capitol Rotunda. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. A MAN who allegedly raped a woman in a cemetery car park has been sent forward for trial to the present sittings of the Central Criminal Court. The man, aged in his 20s, is charged with two counts of rape and one of sexual assault. The offences are alleged to have occurred in a Qashqai SUV in the car park of Mainham Cemetry, Clane, Co Kildare on the evening of 9 April 2023. The man has an address in Co Dublin. And hes not in custody? asked a somewhat incredulous Judge Desmond Zaidan at Naas District Court. And there was consent to bail? he also asked. Barrister Mark Gibbons began his defence by telling the court that, although his client was originally from Somalia, he did not require a translator. Outlining the state case, Sergeant Dave Hanrahan said: The defendant met with the injured party on the evening of 9 April 2023 by consent. It is alleged he drove her to Mainham Cemetery outside Clane and raped her twice. There had been some consent earlier, some kissing and touching. But she didnt consent to more than that? asked the judge. No, judge, confirmed Sgt Hanrahan. Once the book of evidence was formally handed over to Mr Gibbons, the judge gave the defendant the usual alibi warning. This means that if the defendant intends to use an alibi in his defence, he has a fortnight in which he must notify the state. The judge also consented to legal aid for a solicitor, as well as a senior and junior barrister. The judge allowed for reporting some of the defendants details, but not to mention the injured party. On 25 March protesters took to the streets of Paraguays capital Asuncion in the first of three days of planned protest action against the government led by President End of preview - This article contains approximately 401 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 25 March Perus Presidentannounced that general elections will be held on 12 April 2026. End of preview - This article contains approximately 593 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 25 March Mexicos lower chamber of congress voted by 291-158 with 12 abstentions not to lift the immunity from prosecution enjoyed by one of its members,, who faces allegations of attempted rape, corruption, and links with organised crime. End of preview - This article contains approximately 352 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options Three restaurants are opening this summer in the Marquis building in downtown Easton, according to the Marquis developer. The casual Mexican restaurant Amigos will be joined by ZEN bar and lounge and The Joint Coffee Co, according to a news release Wednesday from City Center Residential. Amigos offers standard Mexican fare such as tacos, burritos and quesadillas at its original spot in downtown Allentown. The restaurants are on the ground floor of what City Center is calling the largest residential property in Easton history. Thirty percent of the buildings 264 apartments are leased, the news release says. The first residents will move in in May, it says. The building between Pine and Ferry streets on South Third Street replaces the former Pine Street parking garage. The seven-story building features a covered parking area, an infinity pool and a private dog park. Joint Coffee Co. will occupy 1,300 square feet on the corner of Third and Ferry streets. Amigos will take up 1,200 square feet next door. ZEN will have 700 square feet next to Amigos. The Marquis was built by North Star Construction under a joint venture between City Center Group and Bethlehems Peron Development. Allentown based-City Center has developed 14 buildings with 1,530 apartments in downtown Allentown, the release says. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to Lehighvalleylive.com. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. 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. Desiree Graham is pictured during an interview at Kahikinui homestead on Sunday, July 7, 2024, in Kahikinui, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin) AP KULA, Hawaii (AP) The car tires, propane tanks, gas generators and rusty appliances heaped on the side of a dirt road waiting to be hauled away filled Desiree Graham with relief. That means all that stuff is not in peoples yards, she said on a blustery July day in Kahikinui, a remote Native Hawaiian homestead community in southeast Maui where wildfire is a top concern. In June, neighbors and volunteers spent four weekends clearing rubbish from their properties in a community-wide effort to create defensible space, or areas around homes free of ignitable vegetation and debris. They purged 12 tons of waste. Its ugly, but its pretty beautiful to me, said Graham, a member of Kahikinuis Firewise committee, part of a rapidly growing program from the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association that helps residents assess their communities' fire risk and create plans to mitigate it. Propane tanks and discarded tires are temporarily stored at Kahikinui homestead on Sunday, July 7, 2024, in Kahikinui, Hawaii. Residents were asked to remove unused items to reduce fire risks. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin) AP Unused refrigerators and generators are temporarily stored at Kahikinui homestead on Sunday, July 7, 2024, in Kahikinui, Hawaii. Residents were asked to remove unused items to reduce fire risks. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin) AP Kahikinui is one of dozens of Hawaii communities seeking ways to protect themselves as decades of climate change, urban development, and detrimental land use policies culminate to cause more destructive fires. The state has 250,000 acres of unmanaged fallow agricultural land, nearly all of its buildings sit within the wildland-urban interface, and two-thirds of communities have only one road in and out. But experts say that even with so many factors out of communities control, they can vastly improve their resilience by transforming their own neighborhoods. Fire is not like other natural hazards, it can only move where there is fuel, and we have a lot of say in that, said Nani Barretto, co-executive director of the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO), a 25-year-old nonprofit at the forefront of the states fire-risk mitigation. Neighborhoods all over the United States are wrestling with the same challenge, some in places that never worried about fire before. A recent Headwaters Economics analysis found 1,100 communities in 32 states shared similar risk profiles to places recently devastated by urban wildfires. A Firewise movement Dr. Jack Cohen, a former fire research scientist for the U.S. Forest Service, assesses the condition of the grass with Mike Mundon, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, in Pu'ukapu Homesteads, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin) AP HWMO helps communities like Kahikinui become Firewise. In the 10 years preceding the August 2023 Maui fires that destroyed Lahaina, 15 Hawaii communities joined Firewise USA. Since then, the number has more than doubled to 31, with a dozen more in the process of joining. Everyone was like, My God, what can we do? said Shelly Aina, former chair of the Firewise committee for Waikoloa Village, an 8,000-resident community on the west side of the Big Island, recalling the months after the Maui fires. The development heavily wind exposed, surrounded by dry invasive grasses and with just one main road in and out had already experienced several close calls in the last two decades. It was first recognized as Firewise in 2016. As HWMO-trained home assessors, Shelly and her husband Dana Aina have done over 60 free assessments for neighbors since 2022, evaluating their properties for ignition vulnerabilities. Volunteers removed kiawe trees last year along a fuel break bordering houses. Residents approved an extra HOA fee for vegetation removal on interior lots. Measures like these can have outsized impact as people in fire-prone states adapt to more extreme wildfires, according to Dr. Jack Cohen, a retired U.S. Forest Service scientist. The solution is in the community, not out there with the fire breaks, because those dont stop the fire in extreme conditions, said Cohen. Harriet Parsons, a firewise community support specialist for the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, points to the drylands behind a house in her community, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, in Kamuela, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin) AP Palm trees stand in front of a house in Waikoloa Village, Hawaii, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin) AP Direct flames from a wildfire arent what typically initiate an urban conflagration, he said. Wind-blown embers can travel miles away from a fire, landing on combustible material like dry vegetation, or accumulating in corners like where a deck meets siding. Theyre urban fires, not wildfires, said Cohen. The solutions dont always require expensive retrofits like a whole new roof, but targeting the specific places within 100 feet of the house where embers could ignite material. In dense neighborhoods, that requires residents work together, making community-wide efforts like Firewise important. The house is only as ignition resistant as its neighbors, said Cohen. Communities cant transform alone Dana Aina, a firewise community support specialist for the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, left, poses for a portrait with his wife, Shelly, an NFPA-trained wildfire home assessor, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, in Waikoloa Village, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin) AP Even with renewed interest in fire resilience, community leaders face challenges in mobilizing their neighbors. Mitigation can take money, time and sacrifice. Its not enough to cut the grass once, for example, vegetation has to be regularly maintained. Complacency sets in. Measures like removing hazardous trees can cost thousands of dollars. I dont know how we deal with that, because those who have them cant afford to take them down, said Shelly Aina. The Ainas try offering low-cost measures, like installing metal screening behind vents and crawl spaces to keep out embers. HWMO helps with costs where it can. It gave Kahikinui a $5,000 grant for a dumpster service to haul out its waste, and helped Waikoloa Village rent a chipper for the trees it removed. Its been hard to keep up with the need, said Barretto, but even just a little bit of financial assistance can have an exponential impact. You give them money, they rally, she said. We can give them $1,000 and it turns into 1,000 man hours of doing the clearing. HWMO was able to expand its grant program after the Maui fires with donations from organizations like the Bezos Earth Fund and the American Red Cross. At a time when federal funding for climate mitigation is uncertain, communities need far more financial support to transform their neighborhoods, said Headwaters Economics' Kimi Barrett, who studies the costs of increasing fire risk. If what were trying to do is save people and communities, then we must significantly invest in people and communities, said Barrett. Those investments are just a fraction of the billions of dollars in losses sustained after megafires, said Barrett. A recent study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Allstate found that $1 in resilience and preparation investment can save $13 in economic and property losses after a disaster. Sheep graze at Kahikinui Homestead on Sunday, July 7, 2024, in Kahikinui, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin) AP An aerial view shows the landscape of Waikoloa Village, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, in Hawaii. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin) AP Another hurdle is asking residents to do work and make sacrifices as they watch others neglect their role. The neighbors will ask, What about the county land? Theres no routine maintenance, said Shelly Aina. Her husband Dana Aina said he reminds people that it is everyones kuleana, or responsibility, to take care of land and people. An island is a canoe, a canoe is an island, he said, quoting a Hawaiian proverb. We all have to paddle together. Bigger stakeholders are starting to make changes. Among them, Hawaii passed legislation to create a state fire marshal post, and its main utility, Hawaiian Electric, is undergrounding some power lines and installing AI-enabled cameras to detect ignitions earlier. Meanwhile, Firewise communities have found that doing their own mitigation gives them more clout when asking for funding or for others to do their part. After the 66-residence community of Kawaihae Village on Hawaii Island joined Firewise, they were finally able to get a neighboring private landowner and the state to create fuel breaks and clear grasses. Without that we wouldnt have been on anyones radar, said Brenda DuFresne, committee member of Kawaihae Firewise. I think Firewise is a way to show people that youre willing to help yourself. Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of APs philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy. An event held in Abbeyleix by the Irish Timber Growers Association will put a spotlight on forest health and how to deal with harmful pests. The Laois information session on Friday, March 28 in Abbeyleix Manor Hotel, is being held in association with the Forest Health Section, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The day will begin with an indoor session featuring presentations by DAFM Forest Health Inspectors on forest health in Ireland, followed by questions and answers. The first presentation will provide a general overview of forest health in Ireland and the work of DAFM Forest Health Section including surveillance and official controls. The second presentation will focus on bark beetles and will include updates on the main bark beetles of concern to Ireland. In the afternoon, we will have an outdoor session in Tonduff forest, outside Abbeyleix, to provide the opportunity for participants to view (dead) examples of harmful pests and to demonstrate and discuss some practical aspects of forest health. Irish Timber Growers Association (ITGA) previously expressed concern in light of the finding of the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) on Sitka spruce in England. The bark beetle is considered a serious pest on spruce in Europe. Currently none of the bark beetles in the Ips family are currently found in forests in Ireland, which is reflected in Irelands protected zone status for these pests. READ NEXT: Storm Eowyn destroyed mature trees in Portlaoise housing estate The Irish Timber Growers Association are fully engaging with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marines Forestry Plant Health Stakeholders Engagement Group. Donal Whelan said that the Association is committed to working with the Department on this critical issue and representing and keeping forest owners and growers informed of future developments on this and other potential risks to forest crops. There will be courtesy Tea and Coffee on arrival at the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel, Abbeyleix this Friday and so as to estimate numbers for event attendance pre-booking is kindly requested by emailing office@itga.ie prior to noon this Thursday, March 27. Devolved administrations felt they were politely entertained but not really listened to by Whitehall during the Covid-19 pandemic, Stormonts former finance minister has said. Conor Murphy told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry that there had been a frenzy to secure PPE from China during the early part of the pandemic as he described how his attempt to make a joint order with Ireland floundered. Module five of the public inquiry is examining procurement issues. Last year, Mr Murphy had been unable to give evidence in person to the inquiry when it visited Belfast during a separate module as he had been advised by doctors to rest because of illness. Appearing in London on Wednesday, Mr Murphy described concerns in 2020 that central government in London would not be able to supply enough PPE for devolved areas. He told the inquiry: PPE was proving extremely difficult to acquire. The bulk of it was made in the Far East and that presented logistical difficulties. But also the fact that all countries across the world were basically going to similar buyers to try and secure material. It almost had become a frenzy in trying to procure PPE. The Treasury had undertaken to buy that for all parts for Scotland, for Wales, for ourselves and for England. But given the difficulties that they were having in securing material, were also encouraging us to encourage local businesses to repurpose and supply us with material and to explore options ourselves for procuring PPE across the world. Mr Murphy said there had been a sense that it would be better if the devolved areas were given access to resource to buy their own PPE. He said: In the intensity of the procurement exercises that were going on, then there was a concern that the further you are from the centre, the less your needs are heard or provided for. I think that was the same feeling for Scotland and Wales and that was the sense from our health departments that they had some dissatisfaction with how things were being procured and what was being procured and how much was intended for our specific uses. Asked about engagement with central government, he said: As a finance minister and listening to the experience of other ministers in the Executive and other ministers in other devolved governments, generally we had the sense of being politely entertained but not really listened to in most matters that we brought to central government and Whitehall. I think that kind of sense of how we were treated permeated right across Scotland, Wales and ourselves. The inquiry was then shown a letter Mr Murphy had sent to an Irish government minister in 2020 about a potential joint PPE order which did not proceed. At the time Mr Murphy had faced criticism for claiming a joint order for PPE had been made with the Irish Government, only to later announce it had fallen through. He told the inquiry: I think all administrations had people on the ground in China trying to secure orders on behalf of their administration. Where there was already collaboration taking place between the two administrations and we felt IDA (Irelands foreign direct investment agency) was further ahead in perhaps procuring. We had discussed with them the possibility of adding an order from Northern Ireland into that and having a joint procurement exercise. This was a very rapidly moving situation. This was changing not just day by day but hour by hour in relation to what was happening in China. There were a large number of orders which had been diverted where people had come in with larger chequebooks. It wasnt just ourselves competing in this field. A lot of countries internationally were competing on the ground in China for PPE. He added: We had tried to develop a joint order, we were agreeing we would do that. The IDA were in the lead on the ground in terms of their contacts. They then were of the impression they could only get enough to satisfy their own needs, they couldnt get the additional amount of order that we had asked them to include in ours. We concluded then that that wasnt going to be the case and that our people on the ground for the Northern Ireland bureau in Beijing would pursue their own contacts and try and secure supply for ourselves. A Northern Ireland specific order for PPE from China was agreed later in 2020. The Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary TD, has today announced details of the Intreo Work and Skills events which are taking place across the country from the March 26 to April 11. Over 50 events are taking place nationwide with a huge range of opportunities in a range of sectors including financial services, transport and logistics, hospitality, healthcare, retail and many more. In Kildare, a Newbridge Work and Skills recruitment event will take place in Newbridge Town Hall from 10am to 1pm on Wednesday April 2. The work and skills events provide jobseekers with an opportunity to connect with employers who are actively recruiting. Jobseekers also have the opportunity to learn about the training options available, and avail of job seeking advice to help them take the next step in their career. Speaking of the events, Minister Calleary said: The Work and Skills events provide an important platform to bring employers together with people who are actively seeking job opportunities across the country, as well as highlighting the range of training options currently available. These events also offer an opportunity for people to find out more about the extensive supports and services that are available from my Department to both employers and jobseekers. Employers from a wide variety of industry sectors are recruiting at our Work and Skills events and those attending an event will have an ideal opportunity to meet directly with employers and learn more about the roles on offer. Liam Deeney, Head of Recruitment at EMEIS Ireland said: Our partnership with Intreo ensures that we can identify and recruit candidates who are not only passionate but also equipped with the skills and knowledge needed for a successful career in the healthcare sector. We are excited to meet motivated individuals who are eager to make a positive difference in the lives of our residents. Our nursing homes in Finglas offer a supportive and rewarding work environment, and we are confident that the right candidates will thrive as part of our team. Information on the full range of events open to the public and how to register to attend is available at www.Gov.ie/WorkandSkills. READ NEXT: Kildare woman announced as Artist in Residence for Maynooth University A Kildare based artist is set to unveil a striking new body of work focusing on Irelands offshore islands. Opening at Kilcock Art Gallery on April 26, Ar an Imeall - On The Edge will be a landmark solo exhibition by artist Pamela de Bri which will explore the in-depth story of Irelands offshore islands, encapsulating their history, culture and overall essence. The breadth of work captured over six years includes 58 paintings (oil on board) with 30 paintings to be exhibited at launch and an accompanying book publication in the autumn. Ar an Imeall - On The Edge shows Irelands distinctive outline of offshore islands as seen from the mainland. The artwork attempts to capture the soul and spirit of each island from the artists own sense of the place. Its about language, culture, the stories and the way people lived. This exhibition is unique in that it is the first time that anyone has depicted our offshore islands in painting with supporting stories. The volume of work features offshore islands from the very tip of Northern Ireland - Rathlin Island - to islands scattered around the Irelands south, east and west coasts. The artist has captured over 58 offshore islands, some inhabited and some not. From Achill Island in Mayo, Inishturk west Mayo, Irelands Eye off Dublin, Straw Island off the coast of Galway, Tearaght off the Blaskets to Scariff and Deenish in Co Kerry to one of the smallest - Mew Island in County Down which houses Mew Island Lighthouse. Ive had an enduring love of islands from childhood, that inspired me to research them further and to visually respond to them, said Pamela. My work explores shifts and changes in rural Ireland. I record how images from the past through Irelands landscapes embody cultural memory and characterise the future. I want this work to have relevance to the society from which it evolves and to ensure that these islands will never be forgotten. The exhibition will run from April 26 June 7 2025 and is sponsored by Kildare County Council Arts Office and the Arts Council (Agility Awards 2023). Visit Kilcock Art Gallery, School Street, 11am -4.00pm Tuesday Saturday or view the collection online at www.pameladebri.com and at www.kilcockartgallery.ie. READ NEXT: Plans for a massive 21m solar farm development in Kildare Leitrim has officially joined the map of dementia support, becoming the final county in the Republic of Ireland to receive a dedicated dementia-specific day care centre. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI) opened the doors of its brand-new Day Care Centre at St. Patricks Community Hospital, Summerhill, Carrick-on-Shannon, on Friday, March 22, marking a major milestone in nationwide dementia care. This is a proud day for Leitrim, said Carol Molloy, ASIs Regional Operations Manager for the North West. Were thrilled to finally offer this essential service locally, where its needed most. The Centre provides a safe, welcoming environment designed to enhance wellbeing, promote social interaction, and offer vital respite for carers. For families whove long been waiting for support close to home, its a game changer. Minister for Older People Kieran ODonnell, T.D., praised the opening: The Government is committed to expanding dementia care. This centre is a direct result of that commitment, and I look forward to working with ASI to develop even more services. Siobhan OConnor, ASIs Head of Operations, called the launch a moment of celebration, noting that with Leitrim now on the map, every county in the Republic of Ireland has an ASI Day Care Centre. Its taken time, but today is about the families we can now help, she said. There are currently 64,000 people living with dementia in Ireland, with that number expected to rise to over 150,000 by 2045. The need for community-based services has never been greater. The Leitrim centre is now open and welcoming clients. For more information, visit www.alzheimer.ie or call the Alzheimer National Helpline on 1800 341 341. READ MORE Thousands in Leitrim applied, but less than half got HAS storm grant aid Leitrim pride was on full display in New York this St. Patricks Day, as the County Leitrim Society of New York marked the occasion with a series of vibrant celebrations that brought together hundreds of Irish and Irish-American attendees. The festivities began with a glittering dinner dance that drew a crowd of 260 guests. The evening honoured two standout figures in the communityTom Mulligan and Declan Flynnwhile also highlighting the enduring ties between the Leitrim diaspora and home. Among the dignitaries in attendance were Sean McGowan, Vice Chair of Leitrim County Council, CEO Joseph Gilhooley, and Pat Gallagher, a proud sponsor of the Leitrim GAA team. On St. Patricks Day itself, Noeleen Bohan McGovern, a Cloone native and President of the County Leitrim Society, led a proud and spirited group of Leitrim natives and supporters up Fifth Avenue. They marched under a striking new banner featuring a portrait of Sean MacDiarmadaLeitrims most revered patriot and a leader of the 1916 Rising, who was executed for his role in the fight for Irish independence. While some onlookers were unfamiliar with the image on the banner, they were quickly educated on MacDiarmadas legacy and the pride Leitrim holds in his memory. Officers of the Society wore newly designed sashes, and leading the way were Miss Eire, Avalyn Panzarino, and Uncle Sam, Quinn DuQuayboth descendants of long-time Leitrim supporters. The celebrations didnt end there. The following Saturday, the Society turned out in force once again to march in the Yonkers St. Patricks Parade on McLean Avenuean area affectionately known as the Emerald Mile and "Little Leitrim" due to its strong concentration of Leitrim-owned businesses. This years Grand Marshal for the Yonkers parade was Denis Mulcahy, founder of Project Children, whose wife, Miriam ORourke, hails from Aughnasheelinfurther proof that, no matter the miles, Leitrims heart beats strong across the Atlantic. READ MORE Thousands in Leitrim applied, but less than half got HAS storm grant aid A man who rented out properties in Leitrim and across rural Ireland under false pretences and used them as brothels has been jailed for nine years. One of the properties, a court has heard, was located in Carrick-on-Shannon. Ilamar Rodrigues Ribeiro was arrested by investigating gardai from the Garda Human Trafficking and Co-ordination Unit when he returned to Ireland from his native Brazil after a period of time abroad, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard. Ribeiro, aged 54, of Rua Nely Augusta Gomes, Goais, Brazil, had been under investigation after a number of rental properties being used as brothels around the country were linked to him, along with nearly 800,000 in proceeds of crime across multiple Irish bank accounts. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 19 sample counts, including using false instruments, inducing landlords to rent properties to him, brothel-keeping and possession of the proceeds of crime. They are offences that carry maximum sentences of between five and 14 years, the court heard. He also pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material, known in law as child pornography, which was discovered on his phone when he was arrested at Dublin Airport on November 16, 2023. READ ALSO: Parking shortage in Leitrim town sparks call for action The offending on the 60-count indictment spanned from 2010 to 2023, the court heard. Ribeiro has been in custody since his arrest. Sentencing Ribeiro this Wednesday, Judge Patricia Ryan noted that he has previous convictions for fraud both from France and the UK. She acknowledged that his plea to the charges were valuable to the State. Judge Ryan said that many of the offences involved elaborate planning and pre-meditation and said that considerable sums of money, a total of 788,982, were involved in the money laundering offence. She accepted that Ribeiro accepted ownership of the accounts connected to the money laundering and that the accounts were held in his own name. In relation to the possession of child abuse material, the judge noted that there was no distribution of the images but said that the images did fall into the most serious form of child abuse material. Judge Ryan imposed a global sentence of 10-and-a-half years imprisonment, which involved consecutive terms. She suspended the final 18 months of the term on strict conditions for three years and backdated the sentence to when Ribeiro first went into custody in November 2023. At an earlier sentence hearing, Detective Garda Vanessa Stafford of the Garda Human Trafficking and Co-ordination Unit told Fiona McGowan BL, prosecuting, that the charges against Ribeiro were part of a wider investigation after two women came forward to gardai with allegations of trafficking. These two women identified some rental properties around rural Ireland which were being used as brothels while others were linked to Ribeiro's email address and phone number, the court heard. When investigating gardai knocked on the doors of some of these properties, the women who answered identified themselves as sex workers, the court heard. Gardai linked 10 rental properties to Ribeiro, who used a different name from a fake Italian passport and fake utility bills to rent out the property from unsuspecting landlords and, in one case, a property agent. The court heard the landlords told gardai that they would never have rented the property to Ribeiro if they had known what it would be used for. READ ALSO: Thousands in Leitrim applied, but less than half got HAS storm grant aid The properties which were used as brothels were located in Carrick-on-Shannon in Co Leitrim, Longford town, Kildare town, Ballyconnell in Co Cavan, Enniscorthy in Co Wexford, Ballymahon in Co Longford, Ballaghadereen in Co Roscommon and Tullow, Co Carlow. A further two were located in Roscommon town. The properties were rented out for varying periods of time between 2018 and 2023. Bank accounts in Ribeiro's name or under his control were forensically analysed and found to contain a total of 788,982 which was deemed to be the proceeds of crime. The court heard Ribeiro was out of the country for some years between 2021 and 2023, but was arrested upon flying back in November 2023. The child abuse material on his phone comprised nine images and 16 videos, mostly of pre-pubescent girls and boys being made to engage in sexual activity with adults. The court heard the images and videos all fell into category one, which is the most serious form of child abuse material. Padraig Dwyer SC, defending, told the court his client arrived in the country in 2009. He has two teenage children who reside in Brazil and who he minds at the weekends when he is resident in that country, he said. Defence counsel said there was no evidence in relation to where in the pecking order Ribeiro had in the organisation, and that he was just one part of it. Irelands deputy premier outlined details of the countrys 25 billion euro surplus to the US secretary of commerce, an Irish 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 Irish 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-euro surplus. 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 (deputy premier) 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 Irish 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 Irish deputy premier. 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 in Ireland that the new US administrations protectionist approach could pose a risk to an Irish economy which is significantly sustained by long-standing investment from US multinationals. 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 Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade added: Weve agreed to keep in touch, have close contact and to meet in person shortly. The Irish Government believes it is highly likely that Mr Trump will proceed with further tariffs on the EU on April 2. The EU has delayed until mid-April its countermeasures to the Trump administrations increase in tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports to 25% which was introduced earlier this month. Europe had intended to implement measures on goods from the US worth some 26 billion euros (21.5 billion) in two phases, on April 1 and April 13. 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 2. 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. Irelands 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 Irish 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. 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 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. Irelands deputy premier has said he has received assurance from the Lebanese government over concerns around securing justice after the death of Irish peacekeeper Sean Rooney. Simon Harris was speaking during a visit to Camp Shamrock in south Lebanon where Irish soldiers serving with the UN peacekeeping mission are based. He met personnel and received a briefing from commanders at the facility just eight kilometres from the Blue Line (the demarcation line dividing Lebanon from Israel and the Golan Heights) before thanking the troops on the ground for their work during a visit at a time of heightened tensions with Israel. The Tanaiste also indicated he was unconcerned about the presence of an apparent surveillance drone, believed to be operated by Israeli forces, which hovered over the area during his visit. Ireland is always in this region as a force for good and a force for peace, he said. Ireland is a country and the Irish Defence Forces are a defence force that work for peace, that work every day to make sure that people can live in peace and safety and security in their own country and in their own region, and I hope not just by our words, but by our actions, we have been seen as a force in relation to that. The Tanaiste expressed sympathy with Israel over the October 7 2023 attacks, and his support for a two-state solution to bring peace to the Middle East. Asked whether he felt intimidated by the presence of the drone, he added: Not at all, were here to do our business and I am very proud to be here with our defence forces. Speaking to media, he said he was privileged to visit the camp where members of the 125th Infantry Battalion are serving as part of the Unifil peacekeeping mission. Earlier, Mr Harris met the Lebanese foreign affairs and defence ministers in Beirut where the death of Private Rooney was discussed. The 24-year-old from Co Donegal was killed while on deployment with Unifil on December 14 2022. Mr Harris met Lebanese defence minister Michel Menassah and he highlighted Irelands deep concern over the lack of progress in bringing those who killed Pte Rooney to justice and outlined the urgent need for progress. The Irish Government says that lack of progress is particularly distressing for the Rooney family. In a formal letter presented to Lebanese foreign affairs minister Yousseff Rajji, Mr Harris also raised the matter of Pte Rooneys killing. He outlined how seven Lebanese citizens had been indicted in relation to the incident, noting that only one defendant has appeared before the military tribunal judge. However, he did not attend the most recent hearings, citing a medical issue. At the most recent hearing on February 12, Mr Harris said no medical evidence was provided to support his absence and there has been no significant progress in the trial to date. The Tanaiste told Mr Rajji that the Rooney family intend to attend the next hearing on September 17 and said it was hoped that they would see real evidence of an intention from the authorities to see justice enacted. Mr Harris said it was his hope that the current Lebanese government, formed last month, and newly established court structures in the country could bring progress to the case. Asked about that engagement by media, Mr Harris said he felt there had been a strong understanding from both ministers and their departments in relation to this. I am very conscious that the process is ongoing, that there is a separation of powers but all of that said, we still need to see real progress, and I got a strong assurance that that message was understood, he said. Sean Rooney deserves justice and his family deserves answers. Mr Harris said he believed the assurances had been given in good faith, adding he believes those he met are substantive and serious people. We must leave the past behind and work together to ensure transparency and accountability in our operations, Mr. J. Cyrus Saygbe urged his colleagues. Rev. Torli H. Krua (pictured) and six other Liberian nationals have filed a lawsuit accusing the U.S. federal government of systemic racial discrimination in immigration policy, misuse of U.S. foreign aid to Liberia, and historical injustices. THE CO-OWNER of JC Dalys hardware shop, closing after almost 70 years, says hes looking forward to enjoying more rugby matches on a Saturday. Tony Daly, who, alongside his brother Roger runs the DIY shop on William Street, says that due to the nature of retail, hes never been able to get time off over the weekend. I am looking forward to going and seeing my favourite Garryowen club playing rugby. Ive never been able to go to a Saturday game. Ill go to some Munster games. And Ive never been in the new Lansdowne Road. So maybe Ill go up there, said Tony, who began working full time at JC Dalys in the 1980s. READ MORE: Vintage club to host annual charity run Since Limerick Live revealed the store is to close, Tony says the family have been contacted from as far afield as Barcelona with people expressing their good wishes. Its wonderful, it really is. We come in here and do our days work. We feel small in our way. But it doesnt feel like that any more! You think youre just doing your thing day in, day out. Then you realise - Woah, there is a spread here, he smiled. Tony would love to see more life on William Street. He recalled when he started, the street was full. Everybody knew everybody. All strata of society lived on the street. There was a house owned privately. A grand house, with a professional couple and family living there. Then, two or three doors up, you would have a house sub-divided into five or six different units. Everyone lived together - it was harmonious. Its the way society should be run, said the businessman. There is no closure date for JC Dalys Hardware - it will be when the stock in the retirement sale runs down. It will be the people of Limerick that Tony and Roger will miss the most. Limerick people are great. They are so natural and down-to-earth. No airs and graces, Tony said, adding while the shops closure is on their terms, it is tinged with sadness. AS the world may seem caught in a dark place that is drowning moral and civil rights and liberties, we must look to the many sources of hope and light, Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy said from a diocesan pilgrimage to Rome. In his homily at a Mass in Saint Chrysogonus Church, Rome on the Limerick Diocesan pilgrimage to the city as part of Pope Francis Jubilee Year of Hope, Bishop Leahy said that the concept of hope is something that current generations are crying out for. Speaking separately last Sunday from outside Gemelli Hospital in Rome where Pope Francis made his first public appearance in over five weeks, Bishop Leahy said that the pontiffs recovery is, indeed, a symbol of hope and a timely one. It was, he said, a special moment for the diocesan pilgrimage which travelled to the hospital this morning. Bishop Leahy said we need now to search out the many and glorious signs of hope in the world today and, individually, move to that light and away from darkness of a world that can appear wrapped in turmoil. This was also evident across the past week, he said, including for Irish people as the feast day of St Patrick became embroiled in a conversation on anti-immigration rhetoric. In his homily at Saint Chrysogonus Church, Bishop Leahy acknowledged the concerns many have today. It is a time of great concern regarding how moral and civil rights and liberties seem to be eroding in so many places where heretofore they were acclaimed. Mutual distrust in relationships between people and between states is increasing. READ MORE: Pub book gives Limerick charity huge funding boost We see the diplomatic courtesies, even norms of engagement, vanish with political leaders publicly belittling others. Assaults on the dignity of those whose life is at its most vulnerable stages early life and end of life are on the increase everywhere. The vulnerable and poor continue to be forgotten, he said. Reflecting on the week just gone, Bishop Leahy said: And so, irony of ironies, we can end up with an Irish man stridently voicing an anti-immigration message in the White House on St Patricks Day, the very day of the celebration of our most famous Immigrant who brought us the Christian faith. And with all of that, the continuing background drumbeat of horrible wars. In Gaza, where this week alone almost 600 were killed and in Ukraine, where the bloodshed and occupation continues and now a so-called solution being hammered out by two other States, including the aggressor, whose leaders are exemplars of self-interest. Theres unspeakable atrocities in Congo, over 1,000 more killed recently in Syria; theres Sudan, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Yemen. "It seems to be such a dark time for so much that we hold dear respect and protection of human life. So much so that there is a great need for hope in our world today. Perhaps Pope Francis decision to declare 2025 a Jubilee Year of Hope was entirely prescient to help cast a light in that darkness. Bishop Leahy said that Pope Francis first public appearance in five weeks last Sunday, outside Gemelli Hospital, was an inspiration and source of light for many across the world and certainly for the diocesan pilgrimage. Our entire pilgrimage group of 60 people were there and truly blessed by the moment. Were here on a pilgrimage for the Jubilee Year of Hope and what a symbol of that hope today was. The timing for us on our pilgrimage but, moreover, for the faithful across the world is remarkable. It lifts us all, encourages us all. THE HEARTBROKEN family of a Templeglantine resident who died after suffering a brain hemorrhage while on holiday have been in contact with the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust and are hoping to bring their beloved mother home within seven to 10 days. Maura Heffernan sadly passed away on Sunday night after suffering a brain bleed last Thursday while on holidays in Alberta, Canada. Her daughter Helen will be accompanying her for the final journey home. The 65-year-old had set off on the trip of a lifetime to visit family in Canada but, tragically, suffered a sudden brain hemorrhage just six days into her holiday. The holiday was to surprise her daughter Karen and her grandchildren Aaron, Darren and Susan whom she hadn't seen since before the Covid-19 pandemic. Maura was due to stay in Calgary in Alberta for another three weeks. Stephen Curtin, Maura's son-in-law flew to Canada with Maura and his wife Helen. Last Thursday, 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," Stephen told the Limerick Leader on Monday. At eight in the morning we were awoken to hear Maura. He explained that two hours later, they were informed that Maura had suffered a brain bleed on both sides of the brain. The Kilkee native didn't have any underlying conditions that the family are aware of and had been cleared to travel by her doctor as she underwent surgery on her back last year. READ MORE: Limerick's Fireplace Site set to burn brightly again The family are very shocked by Maura's passing and Stephen said it's still very raw for the family and that they're unable to speak about it. He described Maura as a superstar, a brilliant person and a rock for all the grandchildren. The love that she's shown us is unbelievable. Following Maura's sudden medical episode last week, the family set up a GoFundMe explaining unfortunately, she will not recover from this. As you can imagine with rising costs of the hospital bills, bringing her home and to give her the best send off that she deserves, we are making this plea to help us make this happen... Once again we appreciate & thank everyone who has already helped us to get this far, the GoFundMe page reads. This GoFundMe is for Maura and Maura alone, it's to get her home, added Stephen. He is astonished by the support so far for the fundraiser. I was praying that we'd get close to 5,000 and within 24 hours I think we were at 24,000. To date, over 40,000 has been raised but the family have set a target of 50,000 to help return Maura home. Maura was a huge fan of music, particularly Gary Barlow and Take That and had gone to see them in concert in Musgrave Park in Cork last year. She also loved listening to local radio stations, in Limerick, Cork and Kerry along with Classic Hits. The Clare native loved her family immensely and Stephen said she was always there for everyone else. Maura worked as a shop steward at the Kostal factory in Abbeyfeale for over 20 years before her retirement last year and had lived in Templeglantine for over 20 years. She previously lived in Togher in Cork but moved to Limerick to be closer to her mother Mary O'Gorman who's 94 years old now. Maura Heffernan nee O'Gorman is survived by her mother Mary O'Gorman, husband Gerard Heffernan, four children Helen Curtin, Dominic Heffernan, Karen O'Connor, Lynda Mulvihill and Colin Heffernan and many grandchildren. To donate to the GoFundMe search for Help us bring our Mom - Maura Heffernan (nee O'Gorman) home. A LIMERICK student based in Dublin has spoken of his hurt and outrage at being removed as chairman of his colleges debating society over his political views, citing a massive degree of hysteria. Jamie OMahony, who is from Limerick city, is in his second year of college at Dublin City University (DCU) studying business and French. The society wrote following a meeting, it was decided Jamie will not continue in his role as chairperson. DCU debate society is a non-partisan organisation dedicated to open and respectful discussion. We exist to facilitate conversation, not to take sides. As committee members, we have a responsibility to separate our personal beliefs from our running the society, they wrote. READ MORE: Coffee shop in Limerick closes suddenly Mr OMahony said he is pretty outraged by his removal, and accused the committee of a massive degree of hysteria. He confirmed he did set up a society known as Students Supporting Israel DCU (SSI). But he said the committee were well aware of his support for the state of Israel in its conflict with Palestine - and it never played a part in his chairmanship of the debating society. I made one mistake in that I booked a room for an SSI meeting using my debating society account. That was a mistake from me. But it was a micro-excuse to get me out, Mr OMahony said. He said he is particularly upset because he feels he has been airbrushed from the history of the debate society. We had a whole year of events. We post photos after every event of our speakers. They deleted every single picture of me from Instagram, removing the fact I ever existed, he said. Mr OMahony - who has written an opinion piece for Jerusalem Post - also claimed he feels there is hypocrisy on campus in that BDS, a group which promotes boycotts and sanctions against Israel, openly exists. He says when he held his first meeting of SSI earlier this month, he received death threats, and anti-semitic attacks. The second-year student said: It was by far and away the most vile stuff. Limerick Live has received a screenshot taken from a video of Mr O'Mahony in Berlin. The sender claimed the image shows Mr O'Mahony making a Nazi salute, with his arm outstretched. But Mr O'Mahony has categorically denied he made this salute, which was taken from a split second in a short video. The video was provided in full to this publication. I can assure you, I am the furthest thing from a Nazi. Even when we were in Berlin, we went to Holocaust memorial, as I wanted the group to see the horrors, he said. Mr O'Mahony has also been photographed with a flag of Azov, a formation of war-hit Ukraine's national guard. He said: "People who call them neo-Nazis are absolutely ridiculous. Some of their founding members were Jewish and have been invited to Jerusalem by Israelis." The student pointed out they are fighting for a country led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who himself is of Jewish heritage. He has also claimed that he has not been able to attend lectures on campus in Dublin. The Limerick man said his timetable was posted online, sparking fears for his own safety, as people indicated they were planning to approach him in class. There is no suggestion anybody from the debate society posted his timetable. DCU Debate Society has been contacted for further comment. DCU declined to comment on the matter. A local County Council have been urged to think outside the box to keep an Irish pensioner due to be made homeless at the end of the month in her local community. The Mayo woman, who is in her 60s and lives alone, is due to be made homeless at the end of March after the home she has lived in for the last 15 years was purchased by a vulture fund and she was given notice to quit the property. For the last ten months, she has been searching without success for alternative accommodation in her locality. She now faces the prospect of moving to emergency homeless accommodation in Charlestown provided by Mayo County Council. Aine Maguire, who lives in Lecanvey and is a friend of the pensioner, told The Mayo News that it is inhumane and cruel for this woman to have to move to the other side of the county and she is looking for ways to help her. She has been looking and knocking on every door without success for the last ten months. As she is on the HAP [Housing Assistance Payment] scheme she has to find a one- or two-bedroom place, but they are not available. She wasnt sitting back and allowing this to happen, but all the council say to her is they dont have anything and she has to go to Charlestown. To me that does not seem feasible or fair to remove someone of her age from her community where she is part of the society. She is well known and liked and very involved in the community and it seems so inhumane. I got very upset about it, she said. Site needed for mobile In an effort to keep the woman in her community, Aine set up a GoFundMe page online in the hope of purchasing a mobile home for her friend to live in. Thanks to an anonymous donation of 10,000, Aine believes she will have enough money to purchase a mobile home but she now needs a site on which to place it. She is urging Mayo County Council or a private individual to help her ensure that her friend does not have to leave her community. We need the local authority to think outside the box to help this woman. I have been knocking on doors and no luck yet, but I have faith in the local community. If I can get someone with anywhere to rent between Roonagh and Newport along the edges of Clew Bay to come forward even for say three months to give her a little bit of extra time to find somewhere more concrete. We want to keep her tied to the community. This should not happen to older people. It is so wrong. I know there are many homeless people in Co Mayo but we cannot let this happen to our local people, she pleaded. Vulnerable situation Aine explained that her friend has been living in the Louisburgh area for close to 20 years but does not have any family support close by and the local community is all she knows. She said that she speaks to her every day and the thought of moving away is having a negative impact on her mental health. Without question her mental health will suffer and it already is. I dont want people to think of her as an elderly lady because she is a fighter and strong but no one can take this amount of stress. Just think of the logistics of it. She will have to move to Charlestown so what is she to do with all her stuff and how does she pack things up. Does she just bring a small bag with her? It is inhumane to cut someone off from their community. I think it is terrible and cruel. She is on her own and no matter how strong a woman you are, this puts you in a very vulnerable situation. It is not an easy place to be for your mental health. Aine added that she called her GoFundMe campaign, A Womans Hearth, and she hopes that in the future the mobile home will be able to help other vulnerable women who are made homeless. Once she is housed, the mobile home will be available for another woman in a similar situation. Women on their own, no matter how strong, are left vulnerable and alone when facing homelessness. We can help, one person at a time. To assist Aine Maguire, contact her by emailing maguire.aine@icloud.com. READ MORE | 'Devastated' Irish family pay tribute to 'wonderful son' who died in Carribbean swim tragedy A few years ago, I dreamed of becoming an influencer on one of the world's most prominent social platforms, 'X.' Although it was just a dream, my energy towards this goal was unmatched. Each night in my bed, I would fantasize about being the lone X influencer with the highest number of followers, forgetting life doesn't appear as easy as it does in one's dreams! Haha! I began this journey but got kicked out after years of futile effort. Just imagine the frustration that will set in having just 150 followers after two years of trying to build my X account. It was so depressing that I just had to give up on my influencing dreams. However, after two years and four months that I gave up this dream, I discovered the hidden secrets to seamlessly building my X account, which was to buy X followers from trustworthy websites! This can't be real! So you thought, but sorry to surprise you! Haha! This technique helped me reinvent my dead dream, and today, I have over 350k active followers with three great brands in my portfolio. How did I achieve this? You may be wondering. Stress less, I will be sharing with you a few websites that helped me build my accounts, as well as all you need to know about this magical working hack. Keep your eyes peeled! Take your X game to the next level When it comes to building a strong online presence and visibility on X, you have probably done everything you can think of. You have signed up using a catchy name, uploaded photos and shared them regularly, maybe even posting at optimal times to get more views. You have also posted interesting original content perhaps even exciting or controversial enough to generate some natural followers from people interested in that kind of content. But still, nothing seems to be working. Your account feels stagnant: your reach and visibility are not growing as much as you want them to. Consider investing money to buy X followers! However, if the first thing that comes to mind is buying followers don't stress! It's an instinct when we feel stuck. Let's look at how buying followers can help grow your organic followers. If so, where can you find cheap organic followers that won't hurt your reputation as a business? Look no further! In this blog post, we'll explore some of the best ways to buy X followers and how to use them to your advantage, with tips on how to take your X game to the next level! Why is buying X followers to grow your account so important? This could be the solution for any business or individual needing more X followers. But why is this so important? It is because whenever you buy X followers, you are practically leaping to start the growth of your account. With a large follower base, you will be more likely to attract organic followers simply because your account will appear more popular. In addition, a larger follower base will also give you more social proof, build trust with your organic followers which can help increase your conversions and leads. Not only will it help them see you as a brand to be followed, but it will also open the door for more opportunities to partner with other influencers, brand sponsorships, media opportunities and more. How to Buy X Followers positively affect your X account ? There are many benefits to buy X followers; The most obvious benefit is that it will help increase the visibility of your tweets and, in turn, your X account. With more followers, your tweets are more likely to be seen and shared by others, which can help you attract even more followers. Additionally, buying X followers can help you establish yourself or your business as an authority on a particular niche/topic. If you have a lot of followers, people are more likely to see you as an expert and will be more likely to pay attention to what you have to say. This can be especially beneficial if you use X to market your business or products. Finally, having many followers can make your X account look more popular and attractive to potential new followers. If someone sees that you already have a large and engaged following, they'll be more likely to want to follow you themselves. So, in addition to the other benefits mentioned above, buying X followers can indirectly lead to even more follower growth. How to buy effective X Followers If you're looking to buy effective X followers, there are a few things you need to keep in mind; First, ensure the site you plan to use is reputable and has a good track record. There are a lot of scams out there, so it's important to do your research before handing over your money to any company that promises what they wouldn't be able to deliver. Once you've found a reputable site, the next step is to decide how many followers you want to buy. It's important to remember that quality is more important than quantity when it comes to X followers. A few hundred high-quality followers are worth more than tens of thousands of fake or inactive accounts. Finally, make sure you're clear on what kind of followers you want. There are different types of accounts, from real people with active X profiles to automated bots that will retweet your content. It's up to you which type of follower you want, but the quality is more important than quantity. With these suggestions in mind, you can determine how effective the X followers you consider purchasing will be before you pay. Is it safe to buy X followers? It is safe to buy X followers if you purchase them from a reputable source. There are several advantages to purchasing followers, including the potential to grow your account and generate social validation rapidly. However, it's important to be aware of the potential risks to make an informed decision. When you buy X followers, you're paying someone to establish phoney profiles and follow your account. While there's no risk of these fake accounts stealing your personal information or spamming your followers, they can lower the quality of your X feed and make it less engaging for actual users. Additionally, if X detects that you have many fake followers, they may suspend or delete your account. This is why it is super important you buy from a genuine supplier. But how do I know? Worry less, we have it discussed at some point in this article. Keep reading! The Pros and Cons of buying X followers When it comes to growing your X following, there are several alternatives available. You may expand your following organically by posting extraordinary material, connecting with other users, and using hashtags. This, however, can be discouraging and not assured. Therefore, you can buy X followers; once purchased, you can rest assured that your followers will remain glued to your profile. Unlike your organic followers, they won't unfollow you. You can also purchase a set number of likes, retweets, and other social media interactions. These can help draw attention to your account if you're attempting to get people interested in your account and posts. Also, it can be a quick and easy way to boost your follower count. In contrast, buying phoney or inactive followers can hurt your account in the long run. These followers may not interact with your content, which could lead to lower engagement rates and make it harder for you to reach your target audience. As a result, while buying X followers, you must be strategic. Don't purchase a high number of followers all at once. You can go for the bit-by-bit technique I employed, which involves purchasing a small number of followers and giving it time to sync. At the same time, growing organically, you then purchase another small number of followers, repeating the process until your desired number of followers has been obtained. Rinse and repeat; that way, your account will be fully safe and secured while achieving the engagement you have always wanted. You may also purchase likes and retweets if you want to escape the stress of organic growth while buying followers. That also works since it helps draw attention to your account, providing it the boost it requires. 3 Websites Where You Can Buy X Followers There are many websites that offer to sell followers, likes, and retweets. Most of them are shady and will only take your money and run. Below are five websites that we recommend for buying followers: Twigor - Twigor offers one of the best services when compared to its competitor. And for those looking to buy organic followers, then this site is highly recommended. They offer a method that generates a large number of organic followers. It's the most creative way to reach a larger audience rather than buying fake followers, as the X algorithm favors manually growing accounts over false followers. With this site, you can say No to long months/years of building X accounts. Key Features It is a machine based learning platform that offers organic X followers to its users With their million followers on X, they can help you reach a larger audience, by retweeting your tweets or quoting your tweets AI-backed Twigor 4.0 strategy It offers automatic retweets and likes service With Twigor, you can get at least 500 Followers To 10000 X Followers Monthly Pros Quick delivery Tailored/ personalized followers Its flexible as they provide a 2 days free trial for their customers Real time active users XFollowers - This is a X followers buying site that has been around for so long, 2012 (Started as FollowerSale and they are now Xfollowers.com after Twitter changed its name to X) and still maintaining its relevance in its respective niche. XFollowers is a big brand that never for once compromises on their quality, despite being in existence for over ten years. And this site is recommended for every one who wishes to have their account grow organically without wasting any time. Also, their customer representatives are super responsive, professional and always willing to help. With them, you can not go wrong. Key Features 100% active and engaging followers Amazing customer service Updated tracking system Payment flexibility and easy to navigate website Pros Its like and auto retweet service is super effective It offers a 90 days retention guaranteed, unlike its competitors Safe and secure It functions in accordance with your geographical location Excellent customers support Foify- Foify is a proven effective social media marketing website that assists businesses and individuals with credibility and popularity by providing them with the exposure they deserve at an affordable price! This website has been around for a while and has a good reputation. The site offers 100% real X followers, so you do not have to worry about your account being flagged. One remarkable feature of this service is that it allows consumers to purchase a modest number of followers for a one-time fee of $14. This website provides actual X followers that are delivered within a few days.. Key Features It is User Friendly It provides excellent customer support It provides real-time followers and its likes and auto retweet generator is super effective It has a broader network of 5,000,000+ targeted user that can help to rapidly increase your X audience, and as well grow your accounts Your personal information is secured as they will not be requested from Foify Pros Real time and engaging users Affordable price Satisfactory customer service Cons Foify service is just available in X and Instagram Each of these websites offers different packages of X followers at different price points, so you can choose the one that best fits your needs and budget. The Catch: Is It Worth Buying? You are certainly paying to be followed each time you buy X followers. However, this can be a great way to increase your follower count and grow your account, but there are a few things to keep in mind before you make the purchase; First, it's important to consider whether or not the followers you're buying are real people. There are a lot of fake accounts out there, and if you're not careful, you could spend your money on something that doesn't even exist. Make sure you do your research and only buy from reputable sources. Second, think about why you're buying followers in the first place. It might not be worth it if you're looking to boost your numbers without real engagement. However, if you're hoping to build a real community of engaged users around your brand, buying followers can be a great investment. Finally, consider the cost of buying followers. It can vary depending on how many you want and where you buy them from, but it's important to factor this into your decision-making process. One general point worth mentioning is that before purchasing X followers, thoroughly assess the pros and cons. Consider your goals and whether purchasing followers can help you reach them, and be sure to do your research before making a purchase. Because, X followers purchased from a trustworthy service will be engaged enough to click on your links and retweet your posted content. Conclusion This blog article concludes that buying X followers can help you increase your X account engagement. This is because having more followers increases your chances of receiving more tweets and reposts, which may as well help you reach a wider audience. Furthermore, having more followers might even assist you in attracting new followers and growing your account even further. Amrut Distilleries Pvt Ltd, best known for its namesake single malt whisky, is making a bold bet on rum with the recent launch of what it calls the worlds first single-jaggery rum. The 75-year-old company has been expanding its domestic footprint steadily, with its whiskies now being sold over 20 states. The company expects to close its gross revenue at 550 crore this year (excluding duties which account for another 1,300 crore), growing 14% over last year's 480 crore. Projections for the next fiscal also suggest that we should be growing at a CAGR of 10% at least," joint managing director Thrivikram G. Nikam told Mint. The company began producing its single malt whiskies in 2004, when demand in India was low. At the time, it began to export its variants or "expressions" to overseas markets. Prior to this, the company was largely focused on making sugarcane-based MaQintosh premium whisky. Also Read | Following listing, beer maker Kati Patang plans to acquire and incubate small alcohol businesses to expand It has whiskies ranging from the value segment to the premium and super premium variants. A majority of its whisky sales volumes come from the economy segment, which sells primarily in Karnataka and Kerala and is priced at 500 to 1,000 a bottle. The companys premium whisky and single malts are available across 23 states in India. It has about 50 variants across its entire portfolio including brandy, gin, rum and vodka. Rationing single malts "Today, Karnataka and most of north India are reflecting strong growth in our single malt sales. We are still rationing our single malts because of the spirit stores still being limited. Next four to five years, we will focus on our premium portfolio. This year we are going to launch more premium variants of rum and whisky. Some of these spirits would be a first of their kind," Nikam said. Whisky contributes 68% in terms of volumes and about 75% in terms of turnover. The company sells about 5-6 million cases annually or upwards of 500,000 cases a month across various categories. A case typically contains nine litres or 12 bottles. A little over a third of this business comes from rum, said Nikam. Single and blended malts account for a much smaller 120,000 cases annually. "Single malts need to be matured for around five years. This requires a lot of capacity, and the focus of our new capacity will largely be to cater to premium spirits that need more maturation time," he added. India sold about 675,000 cases of single malt whisky in 2023, marking a 16% increase from the previous year, according to the most recent data from the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies. Domestic brands accounted for over half of this total. Many spirit makers with a portfolio of premium and super premium liquor are now focused on producing high-end variants because input costs in the economy segment are rising, and profit margins are shrinking. Amrut competes with Paul John, Indri, Rampur and GianChand, among others, all of which have tasted success after they started to produce premium spirits. Betting big on rum Amrut makes various types of rums under two brands Two Indies, which it launched in 2012-13, and Old Port. The newest is Bella, a single-jaggery rum or one that is made from 100% jaggery. "Traditionally, rums are made from molasses and cane juice. We have now launched our jaggery rum, which has been matured for six years. This is the world's first such product," Nikam said. Similar to single-malt maturation, which happens faster in India, rum matures faster too, Nikam said. One year of maturation in India would be equivalent to 3-4 years in Scotland. "We plan to add another rum to our portfolio, which we are working on and intend to take our entire rum portfolio to upwards of 22 states," he said. "The demand for premium and high-end spirits is still quite high In the next two months, our capacity will increase from 1 million litres in our production unit to 1.2-1.4 million litres to cater to the additional demand for premium products." All of the company's spirits are produced in Karnataka. View Full Image Bella will be an industry first Nikam said ends New Delhi, Mar 26 (PTI) Fair trade regulator CCI has ordered an investigation against state-owned liquor retailer Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Ltd (TASMAC) over allegations that it is restricting competition in the state's beer market by favouring select brands. TASMAC is a Tamil Nadu government's wholly-owned company registered under the Companies Act. In an order passed on Tuesday, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) directed the Director General (DG) to complete and submit the investigation report within 60 days. The order came after an individual filed a complaint alleging that TASMAC has been purchasing and selling only a few beer brands, while limiting access to other brands in the market and discouraging competition in business. The complainant argued that this practice violates Section 4 of the Competition Act, 2002, which prohibits abuse of dominant position. According to the complainant, TASMAC, which has exclusive rights to sell alcoholic beverages in Tamil Nadu through its 5,000-plus retail outlets, has allegedly formed a nexus with specific breweries, restricting consumer choice and impeding fair competition, the order said. The competition watchdog noted that TASMAC holds a monopoly in the sale of liquor in Tamil Nadu and qualifies as an enterprise under the Competition Act since it is engaged in economic activity. However, TASMAC, in its defence, said that its procurement process is automated and based on a weighted average sales calculation method, the order stated. The orders for beer manufacturers are generated through a software at the beginning of each month, considering past sales and existing stock levels. The corporation argued that sales of a particular brand depend on consumer preference and manufacturers' ability to meet demand, it added. "The Commission is of the prima facie view that TASMAC appears to be abusing its dominant position by limiting market access to certain brands of beer in the state of Tamil Nadu in contravention of Section 4(2)(c) of the Act. "...there appears to be substance in the allegations levelled by the informant (individual) and the same merits investigation by the Director General (DG). Accordingly, the Commission directs the DG to cause an investigation to be made into the matter under the provisions of section 26(1) of the Act," CCI said. CCI also made it clear that nothing in this order will "tantamount to a final expression of opinion on the merits of the case, and the DG shall conduct the investigation without being swayed in any manner, whatsoever, by the observations made herein". Earlier this month, the Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at multiple locations in Tamil Nadu as part of a money laundering probe linked to alleged irregularities in the TASMAC, including the purported role of its minister Senthil Balaji. (Bloomberg) -- Coca-Cola Co.s business in Europe was one of the unidentified targets of European Union antitrust raids earlier this month, according to people familiar with the probe. Without naming the firms, the European Commission announced on March 10 it was carrying out inspections at the premises of companies active in the non-alcoholic drinks sector in several member states. But as usual in such cases it left out the names of the firms. The EUs antitrust arm said drinks firms may have violated competition law by carving up parts of the EU market. In parallel, an unidentified personal care company was also quizzed by regulators. The people, who spoke on condition of anonymity, didnt specify whether it was Coca-Colas main business or its bottling partners that are under inspection. Coca-Cola didnt respond to a request for comment. The European Commission declined to comment. Coke bottlers include Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Plc and Coca-Cola HBC. Neither responded to Bloombergs request for comment. Penalties for breaches of the blocs competition rules can reach as high as 10% of global annual revenue. But the fact raids have been carried out does not presume any suggestion of guilt and there is no legal deadline for the conclusion of the commissions investigation. Regulators often drop probes if their initial concerns cant be backed up. That also happened with Coca-Cola maker of global drinks brands also including Sprite, Fanta and Monster. The Brussels-based commission in 2023 decided to close a preliminary investigation into the company and its bottling units over fears the firms abused their dominance by granting a series of conditional rebates to retailers, with the goal of hindering competition. Before then, the company was under scrutiny from the EU over among other things exclusivity and rebate agreements with customers. That case was eventually closed, with Coca-Cola agreeing to a series of commitments that appeased the EUs concerns. The commission has historically taken a tough stance on firms found to be carving up parts of the supposedly single EU market to make higher profits by charging different prices and curbing competition in different regions. In May 2024, Mondelez International Inc. was fined 337.5 million ($364 million) after it was found to have illegally thwarted cross-border sales of its chocolate, cookies and coffee. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com The board of IndusInd Bank is expected to appoint a search firm to look for a new chief executive officer even as it awaits an audit report on accounting lapses. Some of Indias top executive search firms told Mint that they are scouting for the mandate and have even received calls from senior banking sector officials to be in the race for the top job. A person aware of the development said that IndusInd Bank's board of directors recently met and decided to appoint a search firm this week to kickstart the process of hiring its new CEO. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked the banks board of directors to send a list of external candidates to choose the banks next chief executive, according to reports. Bank boards usually send the list of candidates to the RBI about six months before the incumbent's term ends. The search for a new CEO stems from recent regulatory scrutiny on the private lender. It started with RBI's 6 March letter to IndusInd--a gist of which the bank shared with the stock exchanges a day later. The regulator approved a years term for current CEO Sumant Kathpalia instead of the three-year extension the board sought. That did not prepare the markets for what came three days later after the close of trading hours. On 10 March evening, the bank admitted that in the September-October quarter, it identified discrepancies in its derivatives portfolio. Shares of the lender plunged 27.2% the next day. CXOs show interest RBI has urged the IndusInd CEO and his deputy to step down as soon as replacements are found and the central bank has approved them, Reuters reported on 21 March, citing four people familiar with the conversations. The bank called it factually incorrect" and said the "information circulating is entirely inaccurate and does not reflect the true situation." Mint spoke to partners at India's top search firms and found there is a rush to get the mandate. We have received calls from CXOs in the banking sector who wanted to know more about the IndusInd post," said one of the top headhunters in the BFSI sector. This will be an important search since the new CEO will have a lot of cleaning up to do." Mint mailed queries to the top search firms popularly known as SHREK--Spencer Stuart, Heidrick & Struggles, Russell Reynolds, Egon Zehnder, and Korn Ferry. A spokesperson for Heidrick & Struggles declined to comment, citing client confidentiality", while a spokesperson for Russell Reynolds said it wont be able to contribute". Others have yet to respond to queries. A mix of internal and external candidates For private banks, Egon Zehnder has been the go-to firm to search for CEOs. Lenders, including HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, and RBL Bank, appointed the firm in the past. While I would not be able to comment on specific cases, banks usually send two to three names to the RBI for approval," said Veinu Nehru, managing partner at executive search firm Fynehand Consultants. Nehru said while having external candidates is compulsory, an internal name could also be part of the pitch to the regulator. An internal candidate must have been a director for three to five years before applying for the CEO role, and similarly, an external candidate should have been in a KMP position," she said, adding that while the board proposes compensation for applicants, the final salary is approved by the regulator. While IndusInd Bank didn't respond to an emailed query, its promoter has maintained that it is up to the board to work on the CEO search process. That's not my job. It's the board's job," Ashok Hinduja, chairman of IndusInd International Holdings Ltd the promoter of IndusInd Bank had said on the sidelines of a press conference about the groups acquisition of Reliance Capital on 18 March. Hinduja said that as a policy, no family member holds management positions or is present on the board. Nobody would like any other corporate house or a family member to know their balance sheets. For the growth and the interest of the institution, the family has to be away at arm's length." How hiring mandates work Meanwhile, search firms said such mandates to look for bankers are rolled out in two ways. In some cases, especially for a public sector firm, the mandate is announced, and a bidding war starts. This would be restricted to lateral hires from the market since chief executives and executive directors are appointed by the government on the recommendation of the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB). At private sector banks, the board usually appoints a search firm after ensuring that there is no conflict of interest. The same firm may not take up two similar mandates if two banks are of similar size to prevent any bias, according to a senior partner at one of leading search firms mentioned earlier. IndusInd's CEO hunt has also opened up the race to boutique search firms. There is no guarantee that SHREK firms will get the mandate," said the managing director of a Mumbai-based search firm. It can come to the search firms that are more specialised." And read: IndusInd Bank bears may be about to get a whipping The lobbying powerhouse for the private equity industry was rewarded Tuesday night when a controversial bill overhauling Delawares corporate law was passed, potentially making it harder for shareholders to beat companies and executives in court a long-simmering campaign reignited by Elon Musk. A team of five lobbyists hired by the American Investment Council, which is funded by the likes of Blackstone Inc. and KKR & Co., had pressed lawmakers to support the measure. The billionaires bill, as some detractors called it, eased the standards for insider deals involving controlling shareholders and for rich compensation packages for founders like Musk. An army of professional influencers had been swarming the statehouse, as one legislator put it. The bill, which had advanced out of the state Senate on a 20-0 vote, passed Delawares House of Representatives on Tuesday by 32-7 and was quickly signed into law by the governor. Proponents say the law doesnt represent a radical rewrite but instead creates a road map for companies to follow for better governance. The legislation comes after growing criticism that the states corporate law had become obstructive. But the effort gained new urgency when Musk, the worlds richest person, gave Delaware a scare by reincorporating his companies in Texas and Nevada. He acted after the Chancery Courts chief judge shot down his Tesla Inc. pay package, the largest ever awarded to a business leader. Big Stake Private equity firms had a big stake in Senate Bill 21 because they often retain a significant holding in companies after listing them through initial public offerings, exposing them to potential shareholder lawsuits that can drag on fund returns. Among the PE players, the biggest firms have the most to gain from the law, since it may help contain shareholder suits in take-private or take-public transactions, said Bill ONeil, a partner at Winston & Strawn who advises corporations and private equity firms. There is no bad news here for private equity, ONeil said. Critics of SB 21, including public pension funds and shareholder advocacy groups, say fears of a corporate exodus are overblown and have been conjured up to push through a giveaway to billionaires and powerful corporate insiders at the expense of smaller stockholders. The lobbying over this bill is getting intense, Delaware Representative Sophie Phillips, a Democrat who opposed the bill, said before the House vote. Lobbyists for both sides have been swarming the statehouse. This is the most intense lobbying Ive ever seen on a single piece of legislation. Going Too Far? Phillips said shes concerned that advocates for a less intrusive body of corporate law are going too far in loosening the reins on controlling shareholders and will make Chancery Court unfriendly to shareholders seeking to rectify corporate wrongs. The law defines that control with specific parameters, which could make it harder for an investor to show that an influential founder, for example, owed shareholders a fiduciary duty in vetting an acquisition or pay package. It also strengthens the presumption of director independence so it cant be as readily called into question by shareholders who dont like such a deal. And it cuts down on the range of records smaller shareholders can access in building a case. The private equity industry, like others, had fired a warning shot: It could be part of a wave of companies that might leave Delaware, unhappy with court rulings against controlling shareholders. The bill would provide needed predictability to Delaware law as private equity firms have been considering their options relating to the incorporation of new and existing companies, Will Dunham, executive vice president for government affairs at the AIC, wrote in a March letter to the Delaware General Assembly. Dunham urged the body to adopt the bill because it offered greater predictability for deciding where to incorporate, what directors to select or how to execute a going-private transaction. Meta and Walmart Delaware has long been the preferred corporate home to big companies, including private equity firms, because of its generally business-friendly environment and its Chancery Court judges, business law experts who hear cases without a jury and usually much faster than other courts. More than 60% of Fortune 500 companies are incorporated in the state. But it has proved vulnerable to critics like Musk, 53, who not only left but used his social media platform X to encourage others to follow him. Dropbox Inc. and TripAdvisor Inc. did just that, while fund manager Bill Ackman has said his management company will do the same. After news that Meta Platforms Inc. was also considering decamping, Governor Matt Meyer invited company executives to a Sunday meeting, and the bill ultimately followed, according to records cited by CNBC. Meta, led by controlling shareholder Mark Zuckerberg, has been sued in Chancery Court by a pair of pension funds seeking internal documents to help determine whether its leadership is to blame for a $1.3 billion European Union fine over its privacy practices. The company declined to comment. Meanwhile, Walmart Inc., the worlds largest retailer, lobbied for the bill. Even in deep blue Delaware, where both legislative chambers are controlled by Democrats, a bill favored by big business was signed by the Democratic governor a measure of how important the distinction, and revenues, of the nations premier business court is to the state. Incorporation fees make up about a third of its annual budget. Multiplier Effect Blake Rohrbacher, a lawyer at Richards, Layton & Finger, said he held discussions with private equity firms about possible conversions to other states. His firm helps represent Tesla in the Musk pay case, which is on appeal, and was among various parties that offered suggestions to a panel that drafted the bill. The loss of one significant private equity company to another state represents far more than one corporation, Rohrbacher said. It would mean the loss of tens or hundreds of other corporations, as the entire structure would move and new corporations would not be formed here. The bills adversaries say they were outgunned in the lobbying showdown. The proponents have far more resources, said Joel Friedlander, a plaintiffs lawyer at Wilmington-based Friedlander & Gorris, before the vote. But we are doing what we can to educate the public and the General Assembly about how Delawares governor and legal elite want to rebrand Delaware as a place where the judiciary cannot oversee self-dealing by billionaires. A spokesperson for the governor declined to comment on Friedlanders remarks. With assistance from Jef Feeley and Riley Griffin. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Gangtok, Mar 26 (PTI) Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Wednesday presented in the assembly a budget of 16,196 crore for the 2025-26 fiscal with a focus on empowering youth, uplifting farmers, investing in infrastructure and ensuring financial discipline. The budget comprises 11,028 crore of revenue expenditure and 5,168 crore of capital outlay. The devolution of taxes from the Centre was estimated at 5,519 crore, a leading source of receipts, along with 2,600 crore that the central government will provide to Sikkim as grants and aids in 2025-26, said Tamang, who also holds the finance portfolio. The state government will generate its own tax revenue worth 2,076 crore and non-tax revenue to the tune of 1,007 crore, he said, adding that 2,651 crore will be raised through borrowing. The chief minister said that a provision of 2,896 crore has been made in the next fiscal year's budget for the state government's contributions to the centrally sponsored schemes with a goal to maximise the development of the Himalayan state. At the end of the presentation of his seventh consecutive budget on the second day of the ongoing session, Tamang said that the budget reflects the SKM government's commitment towards fiscal prudence for sustainable development and the welfare of the people of Sikkim. "I presented the 7th consecutive annual budget for the financial year 2025-26 of our government since we took over the governance of Sikkim in 2019. The budget reflects our governments commitment towards fiscal prudence for sustainable development and the welfare of our people," he said. This budget aims to strengthen Sikkims economy, promote inclusive growth, and ensure that development benefits reach all citizens, Tamang said. The chief minister also said that his government's focus remains on empowering youth, uplifting farmers, investing in infrastructure, and ensuring financial discipline. "Through effective governance, we will drive economic growth, social equity, and environmental sustainability while maintaining peace and harmony," Tamang said, adding that the budget will accelerate Sikkims growth while ensuring long-term sustainability and inclusivity. Through strategic investments across key sectorsinfrastructure, education, healthcare, connectivity, environmental conservation, tourism, and social welfare, the government aims to strengthen the state's economy, improve livelihoods, and enhance the quality of life for every citizen, the chief minister said. He said that the state government recognises the challenges posed by the state's unique mountainous terrain, vulnerability to climate change, and uncertainties of the global economic landscape, and implements policies that drive equitable and sustainable development. "We are focused on enhancing resilience, fostering innovation, and leveraging our natural and human capital to build a prosperous future," Tamang said, adding that the investments in infrastructure will improve connectivity, ease transportation bottlenecks, and facilitate economic activities. After the chief minister's 37-minute budget speech, Speaker M N Sherpa said that the discussion on the budget will take place on Thursday. Earlier, Governor OM Prakash Mathur addressed the House ahead of the presentation of the annual budget and hailed Sikkim as an epitome of peace, tranquillity and harmony. The Himalayan state has made a name for itself as a beautiful place where peace and tranquillity prevailed even as rapid strides have been made in terms of development over the past 50 years since the state was integrated into the Union of India, he said. Mathur lauded Tamang for providing good governance in Sikkim along with quality education and health facilities to the people. (Bloomberg) -- A South African state development bank is considering taking a majority stake in the local unit of ArcelorMittal SA as it tries to halt the planned closure of two steel mills crucial to the nations manufacturing sector. The Industrial Development Corp., which already holds 8.2% of ArcelorMittal South Africa Ltd., is willing to inject more capital into the struggling company in exchange for boosting its holding, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified because the plans are at an early stage and not yet public. The IDCs plan would include a later sale to strategic investors, according to the people. ArcelorMittal South Africa, known as Amsa, said it hasnt yet received a bona-fide offer from any potential bidder that requires communication with shareholders. The IDC declined to comment on the matter. The lender and the countrys trade and industry department have engaged in talks with Amsa since the company said in January it would go ahead with previously shelved plans to close mills in the towns of Newcastle and Vereeniging, costing about 3,500 jobs. Those plants, which produce so-called long products, also supply grades of steel crucial to the countrys automotive, mining equipment and construction sectors that local rivals cant currently make. Amsa has said that the mills are unviable because of a flood of cheap imports, surging electricity costs, erratic rail services and government regulations that discount the scrap metal that smaller local rivals use to make steel. Amsa mills iron ore rather than scrap. In response, the government has initiated a review of import tariffs on steel products and on March 19 said it approved 417 million rand ($23 million) from the state-run Unemployment Insurance Fund to sustain 2,982 of the mills 3,500 employees over the next 12 months. The IDC, which paid Amsa more than 1.38 billion rand in support in June and February, may offer a little more money to temporarily keep the mills open, Toby Chance, a lawmaker who sits on a parliamentary committee that oversees trade matters, said in an interview. An interim announcement may be made to keep the mills running temporarily while further talks take place, the people said. The lender carried out a similar plan when it bought Scaw Metals from Anglo American Plc for 3.4 billion rand more than a decade ago to secure the local steel suppliers future. Following that, the IDC unbundled and restructured the business, selling its parts to strategic partners. Amsa has engaged Investec Ltd. to sell certain non-core and non-strategic land assets, but not the Newcastle plant, the lender said in response to questions. You can follow Bloombergs reporting on Africa on WhatsApp. Sign up here. Amsas announcement of its plan to close the steel plants has prompted a number of offers for the mills and the company, but none so far have been deemed credible enough to announce to shareholders, the producer said March 19. Networth Investments Ltd. approached Amsas parent, Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal, in November and the local unit in February about buying either a controlling stake or all of the South African company, Networth Chief Executive Officer Harold Vermaak said. Its now planning a formal offer with the IDCs support at about the companys current share price, he said. Shares of Amsa, which has a market value of about 1.5 billion rand and annual sales of almost 40 billion rand, have plunged 98% in Johannesburg over the past two decades. Vermaak said his company, which has previously made bids for Amsa or its plants, could make the operations profitable by cutting input costs and boosting exports. He didnt give precise details. What was received was correspondence that did not constitute an offer, Amsa said. This correspondence amounted to a vague plan indicating Networths claimed intentions, which was overly simplistic, based on unrealistic assumptions and with no credible financing. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com (Bloomberg) -- Wealth manager Azura hired an heir to a Swiss watchmaking fortune who previously worked for Monacos government to help build up its operations in Europe. Frederic Genta is set to join the firm in the city-state next month as regional head of Europe, according to a person familiar with the matter. The 44-year-old son of the late Gerald Genta, founder of the namesake and Gerald Charles watch brands, was most recently Monacos secretary for attractiveness, development and digital transformation after earlier working for Silicon Valley tech giants including Google. A spokeswoman for Azura, which manages almost $5 billion for wealthy individuals and families, declined to comment. Genta also declined to comment. A Monaco government representative didnt respond to requests for comment. Founded by former Julius Baer Group Ltd. executive Ali Jamal, Azura joins a growing number of money managers channeling European expansions through Monaco, a Mediterranean playground for the worlds rich that offers zero taxes on capital gains and personal income. Well-heeled residents of the city-state, which is smaller than New Yorks Central Park, include UK billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.s Executive Chairman Stefano Pessina. Billionaire Izzy Englanders Millennium Management is preparing to open a trading operation in the city-state, Bloomberg News reported this month. Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Swiss private bank Pictet and real estate broker Knight Frank have similarly opened Monaco offices in recent years. Anne Torrel Izrael is also joining Azuras Monaco team as Europe head of client and business development after previously working as a senior private banker at Pictet, the person said, who asked not to be identified as the details are private. Credit Suisse veteran Tarek Sidky and Gregoire Vaucher, a fomer executive at HSBC Holdings Plcs private bank, started at the firm this year to expand in Switzerland, where it opened an office four years ago. Jamal, 43, a former Kuwaiti army officer, started Azura in 2019 with about $2 billion of advisory assets under management after working as Julius Baers head of key clients for emerging markets. The firm has added more than 20 professionals since the start of 2021 from companies including Citigroup Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co. and UBS Group AG. It opened a New York office in 2023 run by former Credit Suisse executive Anthony Kontoleon, adding to locations in London, Singapore and Dubai. Genta, a Harvard Business School graduate and Monaco national, was appointed to the government position in 2018. He previously served as a member of the management team for Googles France operations and earlier worked for Amazon.com Inc. His father, who died at age 80 in 2011, was one of the modern Swiss watch industrys leading designers, best known for his role in creating watches such as the IWC Ingenieur, the Cartier Pasha and the Omega Constellation. He sold a majority stake in the Gerald Genta watch business in the late 1990s before establishing another brand, Gerald Charles, which he sold in 2003. He remained as designer-in-chief until his death. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com (Bloomberg) -- In the year since Stefan Walter has been in charge of Switzerlands financial regulator, hes made a name for himself among the bankers he oversees. They call him The Sheriff. Walter, 60, a German citizen with decades of experience in top-level regulation including in the US, is using a tumultuous period in Swiss finance to establish a forthright, public presence for Finma that few in Zurich or Geneva are accustomed to. Under his watch, Finma has communicated penalties or investigations against seven banks and fintech firms, including Julius Baer Group Ltd, using the limited powers that the body has to the full. Most conspicuously, hes publicly pushed for the strictest possible stance on the future capital requirements for UBS Group AG, facing off against the bank in a showdown where the stakes are rising rapidly. Executives at the global wealth manager in Zurich are even exploring whether the full introduction of the higher requirement could compel them to move their headquarters out of the country altogether, Bloomberg has reported. In interviews with more than a dozen executives and officials, a picture of a regulator emerges who is bent on disrupting the cozy, consensual atmosphere between Switzerlands financial firms and their watchdog that characterized the years leading up to Credit Suisses collapse in 2023. Walters sometimes-abrupt manner and unexpected demands raised laughs at first among some bankers more used to Swiss politeness but he now inspires a combination of animosity and respect. Im not Swiss, and Im learning about the context here, he told Bloomberg in an interview at Finmas offices in Zurich on March 17. It's a consensus-based country and trying to get the right balance between coming from the outside and having certain perspectives, and understanding how things are going here, is something that I'm still finding my way in. UBS Fight UBS is facing an increase in capital requirements of as much as $25 billion, if Walter gets his way in a revamp of the countrys financial regulation led by Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter after the demise of Credit Suisse. His push centers around the capitalization of UBSs foreign units, which, according to Finma and the Swiss National Bank, ought to be backed 100% by equity of the parent bank. UBS, which bought its rival for just $3 billion two years ago, has said that this is an overreaction to the crisis at its former rival, and is lobbying strongly against it. But a larger issue is also at stake. Switzerlands status as a safe haven for the worlds wealthy has been called into question by the Credit Suisse crisis, and politicians also worry that the new combined bank is simply too large twice the size of the domestic economy. Current geopolitical turmoil and gyrating markets should put a premium on Swiss experience in managing money yet the financial center is at risk of losing ground to the likes of Singapore and Dubai. That helps explain Walters arrival in the first place. Known since his time at the European Central Bank, from 2014 to 2024, as a tough interlocutor with the likes of Deutsche Bank AG and embattled German regional lender Nord LB, he helped rebuild confidence in the regions financial sector following the sovereign debt meltdown.Previously, as the secretary general of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision from 2006 to 2011, he was also a pivotal figure in forging the post-crisis global bank reforms that triggered a step change in banks capital requirements. Before that, he spent more than a dozen years at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in various roles. That track record informed Keller-Sutters view that he is a good choice to run the regulator, according to an official familiar with the matter. His lack of familiarity with the established Swiss ways of operating was seen as an advantage. Risk Lapses The Swiss Finance Ministry and UBS declined to comment for this article. Since Walter took office last April, Finma has announced the confiscation of a total of more than 20 million Swiss francs ($23 million) in profits from two firms Mirabaud & Cie SA and Leonteq AG for weak risk management or lapses in money laundering controls. While the amounts are small compared to revenues and the start of some of those cases pre-date Walters time, they are still indicative of the new chief executives willingness to impose some of the stiffest penalties that the regulator has at its disposal and be open about doing so. In contrast to most major global watchdogs, Finma does not, yet, have the mandate to issue punitive fines on financial firms in the way that officials in the US or the UK can. Walter has called for the body to receive that new power, as well as the ability to intervene earlier if he spots that a bank is steering toward trouble. Hes also seeking more staff, more resources and the establishment of a system in which it is clear who in a bank is responsible for each business decision. In many of these requests, hes echoing the government, and legislation due to start its path through the Swiss parliament this year may tick those boxes. Finma also stepped up its actions against Julius Baer earlier this month, a global wealth manager thats been in the crosshairs since it emerged in 2023 that it had run up a $700 million exposure to a single client bankrupt Austrian property tycoon Rene Benko. As the bank now faces a so-called enforcement procedure from Finma officials, it has been unable to roll out a share buyback program long awaited by investors. Bankers elsewhere have also noticed that the regulator has begun asking them for significantly more documentation and increased the frequency of its on-site inspections, even in branches outside the country. UBSs Chief Executive Officer, Sergio Ermotti, dismissed the offer hours later as not changing the substance of the demands. Its not by design to get in conflict with people, Walter told Bloomberg of his skirmishes. The capital demand ensures the right balance between resolvability and profitability, he added. In the past, Switzerlands financial regulators have had, on paper, tougher standards than many of its global peers. The enforcement, however, was arguably much lighter, partly due to a philosophy of self-regulation where possible. I think that Finma needs to be transparent and vocal about what it thinks about key issues, and thats not something which it traditionally did, Walter said. Financial regulation before was a fair-weather construct that did not work, said Georg Lutz, a professor of political science at the University of Lausanne. The credibility that the banks can solve problems on their own if necessary has been destroyed. Meanwhile, bankers who worked with Walter while he headed the ECBs supervision of systemic lenders reject the notion that hes overly harsh. Executives describe him as tough but fair, making his point very clear, but not acting in a formulaic way. A senior official who worked with him there describes his ability to be demanding, while maintaining good relationships with the firms he oversaw. The question bankers now ask in Zurich is whether the new assertiveness from the countrys regulator will become a permanent feature, or ease as the memory of the Credit Suisse crisis recedes. For the time being, Walter and an emboldened Finma have a tailwind. The Swiss governments decision to send the capital reforms to parliament may be a signal that public appetite for more scrutiny of the banks has risen. In the past, a phone call from Ermotti would have been enough to kill a bill like that, Lutz says. But thats no longer the case. --With assistance from Noele Illien and Nicholas Comfort. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Amid allegations of anti-competitive practices in beer sales, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has ordered a probe against the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC), following a complaint of favouring select breweries, reported Bar and Bench. The CCI passed its order on March 25 under Section 26(1) of the Competition Act, 2002 on the complaint filed by Chakra R Prabakaran, accusing the state-run liquor distribution corporation of favouring select breweries and restricting consumer choice. Also Read | Tamil Nadu increases liquor prices sold at TASMAC. Details here "In consideration of the facts and circumstances of the present case, the Commission is of the prima facie view that TASMAC appears to be abusing its dominant position by limiting market access to certain brands of beer in the state of Tamil Nadu in contravention of Section 4(2)(c) of the Act. On the basis of the material available on record, there appears to be substance in the allegations levelled by the Informant and the same merits investigation by the Director General (DG)," the order said. Some brands neglected Prabakaran alleged that TASMAC disproportionately stocks brands like SNJ 10000 and British Empire from SNJ Breweries and Kals Breweries, while neglecting other brands. TASMAC holds a monopoly over liquor retail in the state through its more than 5,000 outlets. 60-day probe by Director General The CCI has directed its Director General to conduct a 60-day probe to determine whether the company abused its dominant position. The DG will scrutinise procurement policies, brand-wise sales data and manufacturer agreements, the Bar and Bench report said. Madras HC directs ED not to proceed further Last week, the Madras High Court directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) not to proceed further pursuant to its recent searches at the state-run liquor retailer's headquarters in Chennai. The HC also directed the ED to produce copies of FIR and Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) along with any other materials which it relied upon against the TASMAC. TPG, a global alternative asset management firm, has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energys wind turbine generator businesses in India and Sri Lanka. Siemens Gamesa is a wind power subsidiary of Germanys Siemens Energy AG. In a statement on Wednesday, TPG said the transaction was subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals, but didnt disclose the financial details of the investment. Mint reported in May last year that Siemens Energy had put up for sale Siemens Gamesas India wind turbine unit to cut losses and return its global wind turbine business to profitability by 2026. TPG Rise Climate, the global asset management firms climate investing platform, will invest in Siemens Gamesas India and Sri Lanka businesses through its Global South Initiative, launched with climate fund Alterra to scale climate solutions in the region. MAVCO Investments, backed by some Murugappa group family members, and former JSW Energy chief executive Prashant Jain will also make minority investments in Siemens Gamesas India and Sri Lanka businesses. Following the closing of the transaction, a new independent company will be created. Siemens Gamesa will hold a minority stake in this new company and transfer to it about 1,000 employees and its manufacturing infrastructure in India. It will also exclusively license its intellectual property and technology while developing products for the new company, TPG said in the statement. Vinod Philip, Siemens Energy board member overseeing Siemens Gamesa, said India remains an attractive wind energy market with significant growth potential. The new company will serve the Indian market more effectively while also offering a long-term perspective for the employees and customers. This ensures continued support and development in this vibrant market, while Siemens Gamesa can concentrate on other core markets, Philip said in the statement. The new companys board will be chaired by Vellayan Subbiah, who was recently appointed as a whole-time director and designated as executive chairman of Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company, Murugappa Groups non-banking financial company. Jain will serve as executive vice chairman of the new entity and Philip will operate as Siemens Gamesa representative on its board. We believe onshore wind will continue to play an increasing role in Indias green energy mix and this new platform, with Siemens Gamesas world-class product manufacturing and service offering, and the backing of TPG and MAVCO will continue to accelerate the delivery of gigawatts of clean power to millions of Indians across the socio-economic spectrum, said Ankur Thadani, partner and head of climate, Asia, at TPG. Last month, buyers eagerly awaiting their Ola Electric scooters began noticing an unexpected delay. Instead of the usual one-week turnaround, deliveries stretched to nearly a month. Store managers had few answers, and complaints started piling up on social media. At the heart of the disruption was a standoff between Ola Electric and its registration agencies over fees. The dispute stalled scooter deliveries, left customers frustrated, and wiped out nearly 3,000 crore in investor wealth. The fallout has also drawn government scrutiny. Read this | Ola Electrics scooter deliveries hit as it renegotiates contracts with vehicle registration agencies to cut costs The controversy has already claimed a top executiveGeneral Legal Counsel Rohit Kumarwho left the company amid tensions over how the situation was handled, according to two industry executives. This marks one of the biggest challenges for Ola Electric Mobility Ltd since its stock market debut in August 2024. Mint pieces together the story of the entire dispute with the registration agencies after speaking to seven executives aware of the developments. What led to this? The trouble started with a dispute between Ola Electric and two of India's largest vehicle registration agenciesRosmerta Digital Services Ltd and Shimnit India Pvt. Ltd. The agencies had been working with Ola since December 2021, processing vehicle registrations by entering customer details into the governments database and printing number plates. For nearly two years, the arrangement worked smoothly. But by mid-2024, Ola Electrics sales started slipping. While the company hit a peak of 50,000 units in March last year, it never reached that milestone again. According to people familiar with the matter, Ola Electric was paying 1,400-1,600 per vehicle for registrationa rate set based on expected sales volume. As part of a broader cost-cutting drive launched in November 2024, Ola pushed for steep discounts, but the agencies resisted, arguing that lower sales volumes meant higher per-unit costs for them. By February, talks had turned into an outright standoff. One day the company comes and asks for a cost which we did not agree with which resulted in the work being stopped immediately. There was no negotiation involved," one of the executives said on the condition of anonymity. Another executive said Ola sought a price cut of nearly 67%, a demand the agencies found untenable. Unlike traditional automakers that rely on dealerships, Ola Electric operates a direct-to-consumer model through experience centers, making registration agencies critical to its delivery process. With no immediate backup plan, registrations came to a halt. Amid disagreements over costs, Ola failed to pay Rosmerta dues worth 26 crore for three to four months, prompting the agency to file a case in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). The case has since been withdrawn after the dues were cleared. Ola, for its part, believed it could handle the registration process in-house more efficiently and at a lower cost. Ola Electric hired around 200 people to help in its registration process and not rely on the agencies to save costs," a third executive said. Read this | Ola Electric may lose subsidy benefit if e-scooter registration delays spill over to FY26 As per a person aware of the development, some people from Rosmerta were also hired to help with the registration process. Queries sent to Ola Electric remained unanswered. Rosmerta Group did not respond to specific questions about its employees but referred to its statement that all dues had been settled and that it no longer had any relationship with Ola Electric. In a statement on 12 March, Ola said that it had undertaken a Network Transformation and Opex Reduction Programme. This programme has encompassed distribution network transformation projects like shutting all regional warehouses and shipping vehicles, spare parts and accessories from the factory directly to stores, automating registration and other processes," the statement said. The company claimed to have saved around 90 crore per month due to the execution of this programme. A senior executive, who is no longer associated with Ola Electric, mentioned that there were instances when the company was not happy with the performance of Rosmerta. There were sometimes delays which spoiled the customers experience with the company. When the company thought that the registration process could be done inhouse, the decision was taken to stop working with these agencies," this person said. However, another executive close to the matter suggested the decision was primarily driven by Olas store network expansion rather than dissatisfaction with Rosmerta. With around 4,000 stores, the company believed registration could be handled at these locationssimilar to dealershipshelping cut costs, the person said. The fallout: Missed deliveries and market jitters As Ola struggled to transition away from its registration agencies, deliveries slowed. The waiting period for its electric scooters surged to 20-45 days from the usual 5-7 days before February, store managers at seven Ola Electric outlets across New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru told Mint. Under Indian law, vehicles must be registered before delivery, and Ola does not issue temporary registration plates. In February, the company managed to register only 8,652 vehicles, despite claiming sales of over 25,000 for the month. In March, registrations picked up, reaching 16,412 vehicles so far. Ola maintains that it will clear the backlog soon. The companys daily registrations have improved significantly, increasing to over 800 per day and crossing the average daily sales for January and February," it said in a statement 12 March. Despite the disruption, Ola claimed, in the same filing, that average delivery times have improveddropping from 12 days to 3-4 days. Market share and investor concerns The registration crisis comes at a critical time for Ola Electric. While Ola has led the market share race in recent years, it was overtaken in December 2024, with Bajaj Auto capturing 25% and TVS Motor Co. Ltd 23.5%, pushing Olas share down to 19%. The company reclaimed the top spot in January with 26% market share, but investor skepticism over its execution remains. Since 19 February, when the company informed the exchanges about the renegotiations, Ola Electrics stock has fallen over 10%, trading at 53.84 per share on the BSE, compared to a 0.08% decline in the BSE Auto Index. The stock had debuted at around 76 per share. Financially, the company is still deep in the red. Ola Electric reported a loss of 564 crore in the October-December quarter, widening from 376 crore a year earlier. Founder Bhavish Aggarwal has repeatedly emphasized the need to hit 50,000 monthly sales to break even. "We do feel in the next few quarters, we can get to about 50,000 monthly sales, which takes us to an auto segment Ebitda positive," he said. Investors are however questioning the turn of events at Ola Electric which eroded shareholder value. Also read | Ola Electric service crisis: New team to manage backlog as complaints rise to 80,000 a month The events of changing the registration process seem to suggest a lack of planning and reactive management that raise questions among investors. The company could have avoided the dispute with Rosmerta without a full-scale dispute," said Shriram Subramanian, founder and managing director, InGovern Research Services, a proxy advisory firm. Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) on Wednesday announced the appointment of Rajneet Kohli, former chief executive and executive director of Britannia Industries Ltd, as executive director, foods. He will take over from Shiva Krishnamurthy, who will move on from his role to pursue an external opportunity. Kohli will join the companys management committee with effect from 7 April. Kohli had announced his resignation from the biscuit maker on 6 March and stepped down from his active role at Britannia effective 14 March to pursue an external opportunity. Mint reported Kohlis appointment on Wednesday evening. The foods and refreshment division is HULs second largest after home care, following a split last year in the companys beauty and personal care division into beauty and wellbeing and personal care businesses. In fiscal 2023-24, the foods and refreshment division reported a revenue of 15,292 crore, contributing 25% of HULs 59,579 crore turnover, up from a 17% contribution a decade earlier, according to a November presentation by the company. HUL had named Shiva Krishnamurthy as executive director of its foods and refreshment division in February last year. Mint could not verify Krishnamurthys next move. Rohit Jawa, CEO and managing director, HUL said, Under Krishnamurthy's leadership, HUL became the market leader in tea, delivered iconic communications that won prestigious marketing accolades and transformed the portfolio to win in faster growing spaces. Foods is a large business unit for HUL with strong growth potential. Rajneet brings extensive experience in managing large Foods and Beverages businesses and driving high performance. I am confident that he will lead the Foods business to the next phase of growth and transformation. Texts messages and calls to Kohli remained unanswered. HUL sells food brands such as Kissan ketchup, Bru coffee, Knorr noodles, Brooke Bond tea, Horlicks malt drinks, Lipton tea, and Hellmanns mayonnaise. Its home care division includes laundry and home cleaning brands such as Surf Excel and Wheel. The Kwality Walls ice cream unit, which was a part of HULs business in fiscal year 2024, has since been spun off and is set to list as Kwality Wall's (India) Ltd. 25-year career Britannia Industries had appointed Kohli as its executive director and CEO in September 2022, reporting to Varun Berry, its vice chairman and managing director. Britannia's revenue from operations stood at 16,186.08 crore in fiscal 2023-24. Kohli has served in numerous senior leadership roles over a career spanning 25 years, working with Asian Paints and Coca-Cola. He joined Britannia Industries from Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd, which operates pizza chain Dominos in India, where he was president and chief business officer. Bengaluru: Logistics company Delhivery Ltd expects its three-month-old quick-commerce business to end this fiscal year with 100 crore in revenue and its new warehouses catering to online-first brands and e-commerce platforms to break even in a few months. The Gurugram-based firm is also looking to expand its quick-commerce business to major metropolitan cities in a few months, said Milind Sharma, Delhiverys newly appointed head of rapid commerce and direct-to-consumer brands. While there are investments needed to build this business, we are keeping tight control on our costs. Our initial set of dark stores (small warehouses) launched in Bengaluru in January are already at 70% break-even level. The internal target is for many of them to hit break-even in the coming quarter," Sharma said. Delhivery rolled out Rapid Commerce, a sub-two-hour delivery service, in January to cater to direct-to-consumer brands and e-commerce platforms, underscoring the growing demand for ultra-fast deliveries in India. As part of this, the company is setting up a network of dark stores in metro cities to enable such brands and platforms to deliver orders within a few hours or the next day. Also read | Delhiverys growth hits a speed bump, but fixes are in motion Delhivery is also looking to cut the 7-9 months typically needed for a dark store in metro cities to turn profitable. There is scope for each store to break even in 4-6 months. To achieve this, we are ensuring productivity is high by closely monitoring store-level profitability. We are also using our proprietary technology for various functions such as last-mile routing," said Sharma. Sharma, who was on Monday appointed to head Delhiverys Rapid Commerce business, has over 14 years of experience in e-commerce and was a co-founder of logistics firm NuvoEx, which Delhiverys rival Shadowfax acquired in 2017. He had also co-founded PepperTap, an on-demand grocery delivery service that shut its operations a few years ago. The quick-commerce rush As competition in quick-commerce heats up, logistics companies are increasing investments towards expanding dark stores and hiring more personnel to keep delivery timelines short. In February, logistics provider DTDC launched a 2-4 hour express delivery service, with its first dark store in Bengaluru. In May last year, logistics aggregator Shiprocket introduced Quick to assist small- and medium-sized businesses in joining the quick-commerce rush. Third-party logistics companies are finally seeing growing opportunities in quick-commerce," said an e-commerce executive with two decades of experience in logistics and last-mile delivery, declining to be identified. As e-commerce feels the heat of quick commerce platforms like Zepto, Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart, they have to put in the capital to keep up with shorter delivery timelines. This is likely to weigh down their bottomlines in the short term but will see strong prospects in the long run," the executive added. Delhivery is charting plans to expand its rapid commerce servicecurrently operational in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennaito Jaipur, Chandigarh, and Ahmedabad. However, its strategy in these cities may differ, said Sharma. As a last-mile logistics provider, we want to be where the consumers are. Everyone wants their orders super fast these days. If consumer preferences change, we will find a way to cater to them. Its as simple as that," Sharma told Mint. The firm will set up fewer stores in small cities by prioritizing high order volume regions to keep costs and productivity wastage to a minimum. In cities like Ahmedabad and Jaipur we will begin with 2-3 stores. The benefit of doing this is that you can cover the entire city with just a couple of dark stores," Sharma said. Also read | Zepto wants to master its cold supply chain. Path to profit or frozen dreams? Delhiverys profit after tax zoomed 114% year-on-year to 25 crore in the December quarterits third consecutive profitable quarter. Revenue from operations grew 8% to 2,378 crore. The companys express parcel revenue grew 3% on-year to 1,488 crore, while its part truckload revenue grew 22% to 462 crore. Last month, Delhivery appointed Vani Venkatesh, former global chief executive of Bharti Airtel Ltd, as its chief business officer. Venkatesh has over two decades of experience across industries, having served in leadership roles at Airtel, McKinsey, Unilever, and Abbott Nutrition. Delhivery also recently appointed Namita Thapar, executive director at Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd, and Sameer Mehta, co-founder and CEO of boAt Lifestyle, as non-executive independent directors on its board. The Delhivery stock has lost nearly 26% on NSE this year. On Tuesday, the shares ended the days trading down 0.70% at 258.00 each, while the benchmark Nifty 50 closed nearly unchanged. MUMBAI : Bootstrapped upskilling firm Intellipaat Software Solutions Pvt. Ltd has appointed consultancy major EY to advise on its fundraising plans as it targets a revenue of 700-800 crore over the next two years, a top executive of the firm told Mint . To fund the next phase of growth, the company is exploring a pre-initial public offering (IPO) private equity round of about 500 crore, before an approximately 800 crore IPO within 12-16 months, said founder and chief executive officer Diwakar Chittora. While the company has not appointed a banker for its IPO yet, EY will advise Intellipaat on its pre-IPO fundraising. We have multiple business lines, each with significant growth potential. That said, our immediate target for the next one and a half to two years is to reach a revenue of around 700-800 crore," Chittora said. We also have a very clear vision for the future, with plans to go public in the next 12 to 16 months." He added that the company is exploring the private equity round to set a valuation benchmark for its IPO. EY declined to comment on Mints queries. Current business Founded in 2011, Intellipaat reported a revenue of 182.9 crore and a profit after tax (PAT) of 18.5 crore in 2023-24, up from a revenue of 70.5 crore and PAT of 9.9 crore in 2021-22, showed data from analytics firm Tracxn. The sharp growth was driven by a spike in demand for the company's existing suite of offerings in the data science and artificial intelligence space towards the end of 2022 as the buzz around generative AI picked up. We also held back marketing spend during the peak funding years of 2020-21 when other hyper-funded peers were burning cash. When they exhausted their funds, we ramped up marketing, which paid off especially as demand for AI upskilling peaked," Chittora said. The company expects to close 2024-25 with about 220 crore in revenue. Chittora believes the aggressive target of 700-800 crore in revenue in the next two years is achievable due to its multiple new business lines. We were earlier focused only on technology certification courses. Now, we have diversified into management programmes, launched the Intellipaat School of Technology for the undergraduate segment, entered the offline business starting with centres in Bengaluru, and expanded into study-abroad. Each of these verticals will become fully operational in 2025 with their impact visible in the 2025-26 financials," he said. The company is targeting about 450-500 crore in revenue in the coming year with the incremental revenue from the four new lines of business. "We have more than 130-140 crore sitting in the account as cash," he said. But, to grow and expand each of the new business lines, Chittora plans to leverage external capital. "Often entering adjacent opportunities by leveraging ones existing capabilities works out well as you don't have to reinvent the entire wheel. It's always relatively easier and more capital efficient to tap adjacent customer segments for growth. Therefore even though crowded, it's not a bad idea for Intellipaat to tap these adjacencies," said Abhishek Prasad, managing partner, venture capital fund Cornerstone Ventures. "One aspect that stands out for Intellipaat is how they been tackling this opportunity with an approach of building a profitable bootstrapped business rather than a high growth venture backed model, which may not have the stability needed to consistently build in this space. Having said that, reaching 3-4X scale in ~2 years is a tough ask," he said. Performing sector Intellipaat operates in the upskilling space with a focus on delivering courses to graduates and working professionals. Currently, around 90% of its revenue comes from the business-to-consumer (B2C) segment, while the remaining 10% is generated from business-to-business (B2B) clients, Chittora said. The B2B business functions similarly to B2C, except learners access courses through corporate partnerships. The companys enterprise clients include Wipro, Genpact, Adobe, and Cisco. Currently, Intellipaats programmes cater to individuals ranging from 18 years of age to those nearing retirement. The upskilling segment has been a bright spot, as it continued seeing demand and fundraising, in the otherwise gloomy edtech sector over the past two years. When asked why Intellipaat had not raised funds earlier, Chittora said the companys previous attempts were met with concerns about high competition in the sector for a company operating at a low scale. Back then, investors' focus was on revenue growth at any cost, but many companies that raised large sums failed to achieve profitability. We are among the rare edtechs that are operating at this scale with sustainable profits, which is why investors are interested," Chittora said. The company competes with well-funded players like Physicswallah, Eruditus and upGrad in the career upskilling space, as well as other platforms like Simplilearn, Scaler, and so on across various segments. Chittora also believes that it is important to bring in sustainable, like-minded investors, especially in light of how some recent edtech deals have played out. We have seen founders get misaligned with investors who initially push for rapid revenue growth, saying, Dont worry about losses, just scale. Then, overnight, they change their stance and say, Focus only on profitability. This leaves founders struggling," he said. "Raising the PE round should be feasible but with that funding raised, the focus should be on ensuring the business metrics and financial metrics are lining up the IPO in order for the market to under-write the opportunity at appropriate multiples," Prasad said. Tea procurer and cafe owner Vahdam Teas Pvt Ltd has raised 25 crore ($3 million) from Sidbi Venture Capital Ltd to shore up its cash reserves and boost global expansion. The company is focusing on product innovation and manufacturing expansion, founder and chief executive Bala Sarda told Mint. The company, however, has no immediate plans to grow its cafe business beyond a single outlet in New Delhi. We will continue to scale our teas and infusions, botanicals and herbal supplements in core markets," Sarda said. Over the past two years, the company has focussed on identifying key levers for scale. With a sharper focus and a more resilient foundation, we are well-positioned for sustained growth over the next three years." Growth strategy The investment will support Vahdam's efforts to scale operations and strengthen its supply chain, said Arup Kumar, managing director of SIDBI Ventures, an investment management company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Sidbia financial institution for the MSME sector. Read more: Wipro GE Healthcare rolls out $1 billion expansion plan as US tariffs loom Vahdam, which sources most of its products from India but generates nearly all its revenue abroad, expects to close FY25 with over 265 crore in net revenue and turn operationally profitable. It conducts its international business through its subsidiary Vahdam Teas Global Inc. The companys key markets include the US, Canada, Europe, and the UK, where it sells online and through retailers like Walmart and Costco. "We're now in about 2,000 Walmart stores across the US market," Sarda said. Vahdam competes with peers like Newby Teas and, among retail chains, with chains such as TeaBox, Brewhouse Tea, Dorje Teas, Chai Point and Chaayos. The direct-to-consumer brand buys teas, spices, and other superfoods from farms and estates in India. At a consolidated level, the company reported a revenue from operations of 225.2 crore in FY24, growing 10% over the previous year's 203.6 crore, according to its latest annual filings with the ministry of corporate affairs, accessed via business intelligence platform Tofler. The company's net loss narrowed to 17.6 crore in FY24 from 55 crore the year before. This was largely due to lower spends on inventory, finished goods and stock. Read more: Fast and furious: Early-stage startups tweak supply chain operations as they shift to quick commerce lane As of FY24, Sarda owned a majority of the business (in excess of 63%) and the rest was held by investors like Sixth Sense India, IIFL India and others. Sarda said the company had raised 200 crore till date across its various fundraises. It also counts Fireside Ventures; family offices of the owners of Mankind Pharma, SAR Group, and Urmin Group; Abhishek Bachchan and Sachin Tendulkar, among others, as investors. The global tea market, valued at about $80.9 billion in 2024, is expected to grow to $134.96 billion by 2032, driven by a 6.6% compound annual growth rate, according to Statista. China remains the top tea producer, yielding 3.3 million metric tonnes in 2023, while India and Kenya are also major contributors. Finance Bill 2025: The government has proposed strengthening the legal provisions to track digital assets under the new Income Tax Bill 2025, as the previous Income Tax Act, 1961, did not provide adequate legal backing for investigating digital assets. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said while discussing the Finance Bill'25 that because the previous Income Tax Act did not provide legal backing for checking digital assets, it has prompted the government to introduce specific measures in the proposed legislation. Income Tax Law did not give legal backing to check digital assets, so have included it. Added checking of digital elements in the Income Tax Act, Law should give legal backing, said FM Sitharaman on the new Income Tax Bill. Finance Bill 2025: FM gives legal backing to govt accessing digital assets Under the new framework of the Finance Bill 2025, tax officials can access encrypted communications, cloud storage, and digital asset exchanges if they believe a person has concealed taxable income or cryptocurrency holdings. FM Sitharaman highlighted that digital forensics played a crucial role in unearthing unaccounted money. "Encrypted messages on mobile phones led to unearthing 250 crore unaccounted money. Evidence of crypto assets has been detected in WhatsApp messages. WhatsApp communication helped unearth 200 crore unaccounted money," said FM Sitharaman on the new bill. She also noted that Google Maps history was used to determine the locations frequently visited to hide cash, and Instagram accounts were analysed to establish Benami property ownership. As part of the Finance Bill, the step aligns tax enforcement with technological advancements, ensuring that virtual digital assets such as cryptocurrencies do not escape scrutiny. The new tax bill allows officials to access communication platforms like emails, WhatsApp, and Telegram, as well as enterprise software and storage servers businesses use to conceal financial transactions. "Gathering evidence from digital accounts is essential not only to prove tax evasion before a court of law but also to compute the exact amount of tax evaded,'' said the FM. Income Tax Bill 2025 The Lok Sabha passed the Finance Bill 2025 on March 25, along with 35 government amendments, including one abolishing a six 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. New Delhi, Mar 26 (PTI) India's exports are bound to grow in the coming years despite uncertainties over global trade and tariff, a senior government official said on Wednesday. Director General of Foreign Trade Santosh Kumar Sarangi said that exporters should tread the path pragmatically and wisely to navigate the current global trade contours. He also said that the current scenario presents a "golden" opportunity for India to do a variety of things which will propel exports and increase manufacturing competitiveness. Despite the "uncertainties relating to trade and tariff, our exports are bound to grow in future years," he said at the Sourcex India 2025 show. It was organised by the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO). US President Donald Trump has imposed reciprocal tariffs or import duties on countries like China and has pledged to impose these levies on India also on April 2. Certain exporters have raised concerns that imposition of duties by the US on sectors like engineering and pharma will hurt shipments to America, which is the largest trading partner of India. Sarangi said that in the current year, India's exports in goods and services will cross USD 800 billion. Last year it was USD 778 billion. "While we see a temporary blip in exports (in the recent) months, in the longer run, our exporting communities have been giving us an impression that the number of order enquiries which they are receiving is fairly positive and that gives me the confidence that our exports will increase vis-a-vis our current levels," Sarangi said. He added that steps like production linked incentive schemes to promote ease of doing business and boost domestic manufacturing are helping the domestic industry. India's goods exports dipped for the fourth consecutive month by 10.85 per cent to USD 36.91 billion in February. It was USD 395.63 billion during April-February this fiscal. Services exports during the period are estimated at USD 354.90 billion. Speaking at the event, FIEO Director General Ajay Sahai said that despite tariff-related concerns, India's exports will register a healthy growth rate. India and the US will outline the terms of their trade talks, discuss a schedule for tariff cuts, and work towards an early harvest deal at negotiations that kick off in New Delhi today, three officials aware of the matter said. A US delegation led by Assistant US Trade Representative Brendan Lynch will discuss trade and tariff matters with Indian officials over three days beginning Wednesday, advancing negotiations conducted virtually since an Indian delegation visited the US. "Talks have been going on virtually after the Indian delegation's visit to Washington in early March. We are positive about the discussions, and the sentiment is shared by the other side as well," one of the three officials said. India is keen to strike an early harvest deal--an agreement covering a limited range of goods--before the stated plans to tie up a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by fall. According to a second official, the two countries have informally exchanged a list of products where they are keen on securing duty concessions. New Delhi is trying to avoid reciprocal US levies on its key exports such as garments, engineering, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and gems and jewellery. These items together accounted for around 72.7% of the total goods trade between India and the US in FY24, contributing $56.34 billion out of the overall trade of $77.52 billion. Also read | India and US move forward with bilateral trade agreement, but no talks on reciprocal tariffs The US has imposed tariffs on all steel imports, and vowed reciprocal levies on all imports starting 2 April. US president Donald Trump has repeatedly complained that India's tariffs are too high, and that they put American exports at a disadvantage. A key objective of Indian trade officials will be to avoid reciprocal levies. Mint reported on 10 March that both sides are keen on a preliminary trade agreement, with discussions focused on proposed tariff concessions for lentils, almonds, and advanced technology products in the pharmaceutical sector, while sensitive issues such as immigration policies and intellectual property (IP) transfers are being kept off the table. The discussions would revolve around priority sectors where both nations seek greater market access and trade facilitation. The schedule of tariff cuts will also be discussed, including when the first round of reductions will begin. Similarly, the talks will work on deciding the timeline for subsequent rounds of duty cuts and their phased implementation," said the third official. The first part of the BTA will focus on restructuring tariffs on key goods with export potential for both nations to help reduce trade imbalances. The second part will address tariff and non-tariff barriers in services," the official added. Also read | Trump brandishes tariffs, but India and UK are back talking trade The US is seeking technology partnerships, lower duties on key imports, and greater access for its farm products, such as cotton, vannamei shrimp, lentils, and apples. Talks also include reducing tariffs on almonds, quinoa, automobiles, medical devices like pacemakers and stents, and luxury motorcycles, among others. Currently, the duty on US-origin vannamei shrimp is 30%, with exports to India valued at $13.76 million in FY24, while the duty on apples is 50%, with exports to India worth $21.33 million in FY24, commerce ministry data showed. Electronics and industrial goods, such as EV battery and mobile phone components, are also under discussion. However, key farm products like meat, maize, wheat, and dairy are likely to stay protected. The BTA was mentioned in the joint statement issued after Prime Minister Narendra Modis meeting with Trump on 13 February in Washington. The two leaders had announced plans to negotiate the first part of a multi-sector BTA between September and November. On Monday, Reuters reported that India is open to reducing tariffs on 55% of US goods that now attract import tariffs of 5% to 30%. 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 US, the report said. Read this | Bangladesh shifts global textiles export route from India to Maldives amid strained bilateral ties Queries emailed to spokespersons of the ministries of commerce and external affairs remained unanswered till press time. We don't know how the reciprocal tariff will be structuredwhether it will be item-wise or chapter-wise. There is uncertainty among exporters. Even if duties on US products are revised, India will still be in a gaining position," said Pankaj Chadha, chairman, Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC). However, Chadha expressed his concern that the 25% tariff on Indian steel imports is expected to significantly impact Indian steel exporters, particularly micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). As larger steel producers have limited exposure to US exports, MSMEs, which often specialize in niche products like stainless steel and industrial-use steel, are more vulnerable to these tariffs," he said. To be sure, India has revised tariffs on several US products to address trade concerns. The import duty on bourbon whiskey has been reduced from 150% to 100%. Tariffs on Harley-Davidson motorcycles have been lowered from 50% to 30%, and the duty on ethernet switches has been cut from 20% to 10%. On Monday, India decided to drop the so-called Google tax, a levy on multinational companies providing services in India, in an apparent move to placate the US. Also read | Trump's tariffs cloud India's March exports At the same time, commerce ministry data shows that import duties on several high-value American products into India are negligible. For instance, in FY24, petroleum crudethe USs top export to India valued at $5.03 billionwas taxed at 1 per tonne, making it one of the lowest-taxed imports despite its high trade value. Other key exports from the US, including coal (valued at $4.2 billion in FY24), large aircraft ($1.94 billion), and liquefied natural gas ($1.41 billion), face 2.5% tariff. To avoid reciprocal tariffs on key exports like textiles and engineering goods, India must negotiate reduced non-tariff barriers and align product standards. By leveraging the PLI scheme and FTA frameworks, India can push for duty concessions while ensuring market access for US goods. Strategic positioning on value-added exports and clarity on rules of origin can safeguard millions of jobs in the MSME and export sectors. A data-driven, sector-wise negotiation is essential to ensure mutual benefit without compromising domestic competitiveness," said Sunil Kharbanda, co-founder and chief revenue officer of Trezix, a SaaS platform for importers and exporters. Earlier, Mint reported on 7 March that the US has demanded tariff concessions on petrochemicals, while India is looking for greater value addition to be done in Indialess imports from the US of finished goods and more of raw materials to be processed in India. And read | Why Indias electronics sector is least at risk from Trump's reciprocal tariff scrutiny At the same time, Indias textile industry has urged the Centre to push for nil tariffs both ways for textile and apparel trade, Mint reported on 8 March. Trade between the two countries currently shows a healthy surplus for India. Indias merchandise exports to the US in FY24 were $77.52 billion, and imports were $42.19 billion, according to data from the commerce ministry. This fiscal (April to December), Indias exports to the US were $60.04 billion, and imports were $25.75 billion. Mohanlals Sabarimala Puja row: Days after Malayalam superstar Mohanlal performed Usha puja in Sabarimala for his actor-friend Mammootty, it has sparked a controversy as few people pointed out that Mammootty faith doesnt permit worshipping any other God, but Allah, reported News18. According to the report, Mohanlal visited Sabarimala on 18 March before the release of his Prithviraj Sukumaran directorial L2: Empuraan on 27 March. Why the controversy? After Mohanlals visit, Mammoottys birth name, Muhammed Kutty, and his birth star Visakham were written on a puja offering receipt which went viral. According to the report, the receipt was offered by the Devaswom office, which hinted that Malayalam superstar Mohanlal performed the Hidnu rituals for his Muslim friend Mammootty. Several reports also claim Mammootty is currently being treated for cancer, however, his team have dismissed them all. Receipt leaked? Following the controversy, Mohanlal alleged that someone from the Devaswom Board must have leaked the receipt. Also Read | Empuraan advance booking: Mohanlal starrer breaks THIS record ahead of release In its response, the Travancore Devaswom Board on 25 March stated he portion of the receipt which was issued to the devotees was leaked on the Internet. It could be due to a misunderstanding that Mohanlal made such a statement. Hopefully he will correct it," News18 quoted the Travancore Devaswom Board statement. The board further claimed that staff member will only have the counter foil with them. Mohanlal questions why the controversy: Questioning the basis of controversy, Mohanlal said that Mammootty is like his brother. Whats wrong in praying for him? He is doing well. He had a minor health issue, but thats normal for everyone. There is nothing to worry about." He referred the matter as deeply personal What is Usha puja in Sabarimala? Dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple is a Hindu religious temple situated on a hilltop (about 3000 feet above sea level) named Sabarimala in Keralas Pathanamthitta district. Though it is open to people belonging to all religions. In the temple premises, there is a place in the east of Sannidhanam, dedicated to Vavar. Washington DC [US], March 26 (ANI): Gwyneth Paltrow, who is known for her role as Pepper Potts, a love interest of Iron Man, hinted at her possible return to Marvel movies while interacting with her fans through social media, reported Variety. Paltrow was one of the most loved characters in the Marvel franchise, whose character arc initially started as a love interest of Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man but later turned into a superhero who helped defeat Thanos in the "Avengers: Endgame". She appeared in Marvel films, including Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Avengers, Iron Man 3, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. While Paltrow has since leaned into her lifestyle brand 'Goop' and famously blanked on a few of her Marvel credits, the actress's legacy remains in the hearts of Marvel fans. Now, her fans can anticipate her return to Marvel films as she recently hinted at her possible inclusion in the future superhero movies, reported Variety. When asked during the Instagram stories session, "Are you coming back to the MCU, be honest?" Paltrow replied, "The truth is, I don't totally know. I think I might, but I'm not sure. Nothing is confirmed. That is the truth. That's the inside scoop," as quoted by Variety. According to the outlet, Paltrow was also asked in Spanish whether she talked every day to Robert Downey Jr., who is returning to the MCU in 2026 as Doctor Doom. The actress replied, also in Spanish, that while they didn't speak every day, they spoke a lot and that she would most probably be calling him on April 4, which is his 60th birthday. In the same Instagram session, Paltrow also quashed rumours of her beef with Meghan Markle over the latter's newly launched lifestyle brand, As Ever. ' The latest development in the Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron controversy suggests that the late actor's family is planning to hold a press conference as the rumours, allegations, and reports continue to escalate in the matter. On the other hand, it seems like Kim Soo Hyun is avoiding his public appearance as his upcoming fan meet in Thailand was pushed. Kim Sae Ron's family to hold press conference As per Korean news outlet Hankyung, the legal representative of Kim Sae Ron's family will be holding a press conference on March 27 at 1:30 PM KST in Seoul. Reportedly, the family is set to provide evidence, backing their claims regarding Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron's relationship. They will reportedly also announce legal action for false information involving Kim Sae Ron's family. Previously, the late actor's family had said that they would opt for digital forensics on past photos of Soo Hyun and Sae Ron. The family continues to claim that both of them dated since 2015, suggesting the Queen of Tears actor dated Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor. While Kim Soo Hyun's agency Gold Medallist had confirmed their relationship, they claimed that he did not date Kim Sae Ron before she was 18. Kim Soo Hyun event cancelled in Thailand Amid this, Kim Soo Hyun was scheduled to make his first public appearance since the controversy at his fan event in Thailand. The event was slated for March 30. While the event organisers said that they were cancelling the event, the actor's agency published a contradicting reason. Koreaboo quoted Gold Medalist in a statement regarding the event: Kim Soo Hyuns Taiwanese brand event schedule has been postponed for safety reasons.. Gold Medalist On the other hand, Taiwan 7-Eleven who was helming the event, previously announced that the fan meeting was cancelled. They mentioned on Facebook that Kim Soo Hyun would not attend due to a schedule change and allowed fans a refund. 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, their post read. Meanwhile, it seems Kim Soo Hyun is restricting his public appearance. However, it is not his only work that has been impacted due to the controversy around Kim Sae Ron's death. Kim Sae Ron, Kim Soo Hyun controversy Kim Sae Ron, 24, was found dead at her home in Seoul on February 16, Kim So Hyun's birthday. Reportedly, Kim Soo Hyun dated Kim Sae Ron for a long time, even when she was a minor. However, it is claimed that Soo Hyun distanced himself from Sae Ron after her DUI case in 2022 and added to her financial stress, pushing her towards death. An old interview of filmmaker Hansal Mehta commenting on his Simran colleague Kangana Ranaut has resurfaced amid their social media spat over comedian Kunal Kamra's comments targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. In a year-old interview with Mashable India, Hansal Mehta called Kangana Ranaut a really good actor, but he said working with the actor-turned-politician was a massive mistake. Galatee hote hai har insaan se (Every human makes a mistake), the filmmaker said when asked about his experience working with Kangana Ranaut in the 2017 film Simran. Working with Kangana Ranaut was a massive mistake, Mehta said, adding that he did not gel with the actor. In a word of advice for the BJP MP, the Scam 1992 director said, She's a very good actor; a really really good actor. I feel she has limited herself by making films about herself. What are Hansal Mehta and Kangana Ranaut fighting over now? Kangana Ranaut had defended the demolition inside the premises of the comedy club where Kunal Kamra's show was filmed, saying that 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 in Pali Hill, Bandra, by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) back in 2020, following her spat with the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government. The BMC had demolished part of her property on grounds of unauthorised construction. Kangana was not a member of the BJP then. However, the filmmaker didn't like her defence and said: Was her [Kangana Ranaut's] house vandalised? Did goons enter her premises? Did they do this to challenge her freedom of expression or for alleged FSI violations? Please enlighten me. Maybe I dont know the facts. In another post on X, Mehta asked Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok, Since people are talking, I wanted to know how the incident with Kunal Kamra, the venue and the part demolition at Kanganas home are similar or different. @grok, please enlighten me because when I ask those who indulge in whataboutery, they stop responding. The AI chatbox responded to Hansal Mehta saying, Kunal Kamras 2025 incident (Shiv Sena mob vandalized a venue after his joke about Eknath Shinde, followed by BMC demolition) and Kangana Ranauts 2020 case (BMC demolished her home after criticizing the govt) share similarities. Reacting to Hansal Mehta's post, Kangana Ranaut said, They called me names like haramkhor, threatened me, served notice late in the night to my watchman and next morning before courts could open, bulldozers demolished the entire house. The 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, the BJP MP said. Chandigarh, Mar 26 (PTI) Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday presented a 2.36 lakh crore budget, which focusses on tackling drug menace in the state, and allocated a whopping 5,598 crore for the health sector. No fresh taxes were imposed in the budget for financial year 2025-26. It was silent on giving monthly 1,000 to women which was one of the poll promises of the AAP before coming to power. He said the biggest threat to the progress and prosperity of Punjab is the drug problem. "We are taking yet another landmark initiative to effectively fight the war against drugs. We have to fight this war not just with force and weapons, but also scientifically through data and analysis. "We have decided to carry out the first-ever 'drug census' in Punjab next year (fiscal). This census will cover every household of Punjab and will collect data to understand the prevalence of drugs, usage of de-addiction centres, etc, besides collecting data on socio-economic status of the people of Punjab," Cheema said. This data will be used to craft an effective and scientific strategy to eradicate the drug menace. He said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's visionary leadership has been the driving force behind Punjab's remarkable progress over the past three years. Cheema proposed a total budget expenditure of 2,36,080 crore for FY 2025-26. The effective revenue deficit and fiscal deficit are expected to be 2.51 per cent and 3.84 per cent respectively. Cheema said the Punjab government will establish a second line of defence at border by deploying 5,000 home guards alongside BSF. He said tht for the first time in Punjab's history, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's government has decided to extend the state health insurance scheme in the coming fiscal year to make it universal and cover all the 65 lakh families in Punjab. There will be no bar or discrimination--rural or urban, rich or poor--everyone can participate in this scheme, he said. Cheema said the government is extending the insurance cover for all the families of Punjab to 10 lakh per annum. "This includes those enrolled in central government schemes too, they will get an additional top-up cover of 5 lakh from the state government. Further, all families who are covered under Mukh Mantri Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana will receive a 'Sehat Card' next year through which they can avail cashless treatment up to 10 lakh in government and private hospitals across Punjab," he said. Moreover, a budgetary allocation of 5,598 crore has been provided for the health sector, an increase of ten per cent over the previous year. To incentivise crop diversification, a new scheme covering three districts -- Bathinda, Kapurthala and Gurdaspur -- is being introduced for Kharif maize crop. On stubble burning issue, he said it is a national concern and the Punjab government is committed to addressing it. An allocation of 9,992 crore has been made for providing power subsidy to the agriculture sector. A state-of-the-art shrimp processing unit is proposed to support farming in waterlogged areas, Cheema said. Cheema said the cost of availing doorstep delivery of government services is being reduced from 120 to 50. Presenting the fourth budget of the AAP government in Punjab, Cheema said, Chief Minister Mann's "unwavering commitment to the welfare of our people has guided us in delivering transformative change across multiple sectors, laying a strong foundation for a prosperous and empowered Punjab". During his speech, Cheema took a dig at rival parties who ruled Punjab in the past, and alleged they have destroyed and looted the state. "..The only legacy these parties left in Punjab was that of "Udta Punjab," said Cheema targeting them on the drug issue. An entire generation of youth is being eaten hollow from within due to drugs, he lamented adding that the AAP government's resolve is to build a "Rangla Punjab", a Punjab that is inclusive, progressive, and brimming with opportunity for all. "That is why the theme of this budget is going to be 'Badalda Punjab' (changing Punjab)," he said as he presented the roadmap to be undertaken across various sectors in FY2025-26. According to the Advance Estimates provided by Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Punjab's economy is on a strong growth trajectory, registering an impressive 9 per cent growth in the current year, he said. Cheema also announced a 'Rangla Punjab Vikas Scheme' under which funds will be spent on the "most important local everyday developmental needs" of the people of a district. Jeffrey Goldberg, who writes frequently about foreign affairs and domestic politics, became the Atlantics editor in chief in 2016. The journalist the Trump administration inadvertently included in a secret chat about military plans happens to be a familiar target of President Trumps ire. Trump has long criticized Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of the Atlantic, at times referring to him in rallies and on social media as a sleazebag," con man" and slimeball reporter." And that was before Goldberg published a story Monday saying that he had been invited to a group chat for senior national-security officials that included detailed discussions of airstrikes against Houthi militants in Yemen. National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes confirmed the authenticity of the chat. While lawmakers grapple with questions about the legality and security of the Signal communications, Trumps team has focused its attention on Goldberg. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters Monday that Goldberg was a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again." He added, This is a guy that peddles in garbage." White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X Tuesday that Goldberg is well-known for his sensationalist spin." Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Trump called the Atlantic a failed magazine" and said of Goldberg, Hes made up a lot of stories and I think hes basically bad for the country." A spokeswoman for the Atlantic said, 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." Goldberg joined the Atlantic as a national correspondent in 2007 and became its editor in 2016, writing frequently about foreign affairs and domestic politics. Under him, the magazine has won multiple Pulitzer Prizes and boosted its audience dramatically. It has also repeatedly raised concerns about Trumps fitness to lead, saying he has autocratic tendencies and a disregard for democratic norms. In September 2020, Goldberg reported that Trump referred to soldiers killed in battle during World War I as losers" and suckers," citing multiple anonymous sources who said they heard the remarks. Trump contested the reporting, though his chief of staff at the time confirmed he used those words. Soon after, Trump posted on social media that the Atlantic was a failing Radical Left Magazine" and said Goldberg was a con man." (The Wall Street Journal reported last year that the magazine is profitable, with revenue and subscriptions both growing.) In October 2024, Goldberg referenced Trumps singularly corrosive approach to military tradition" in an Atlantic article about the then-nominees comments regarding the armed forces and military service and handling of the death of an Army private. According to that article, Trump told a cabinet official, Vietnam would have been a waste of time for me. Only suckers went to Vietnam." After that article ran, Trump called Goldberg a sleazebag" at a Texas campaign rally. He used the same term again at the White House on Tuesday. Goldberg said on MSNBCs Morning Joe" that he was initially surprised, but pleased, to receive a message on Signal from national security adviser Michael Waltz. It struck me as somewhat unusual because we all, and I in particular, have a somewhat contentious relationship with some people in the Trump administrationnamely, Trump," Goldberg said. Write to Melissa Korn at Melissa.Korn@wsj.com Norwegian politicians have had a shock. Wholesale power prices have been spiking, as wind-powered neighbours rush to import Norwegian electricity when the normally blustery North Sea turns calm. The big political parties are suddenly souring on the idea that Norway should export ever more of its abundant hydropower. Several want some of the cables carrying electricity abroad to be switched off. The Progress Party, which is leading in the polls, also wants to increase already generous subsidies for household bills. One way or another, in the name of reducing domestic prices, exports seem likely to be curbed after elections later this year. Norway would be shootingor zappingitself in the foot. Its transmission links to nearby countries are good for it, Europe and the planet. International cables make electricity cheaper, greener and more reliable. Around the world, less than 3% of all power crosses a border. Some countries, such as Bangladesh and Singapore, are trying to import more. Most others should do the same. Connecting up grids brings a host of benefits. Countries need fewer largely redundant power plants that are used only when demand peaks or when other generation goes offline. The top-up to supply can come down a cable instead. This makes it cheaper to generate electricity at both ends of the wire. Extra connections are especially helpful for cutting greenhouse-gas emissions. Grids with lots of solar or wind power see big fluctuations in generation and prices, depending on the weather. If power can be exported when its abundant, instead of being wasted, investment in renewables becomes more attractive. If the wind dies, power can come from far off, where it is still blowing. Savings are often to be had at one end of the cable or the other, depending on which market has higher prices at any given moment. Power can flow from where it is cheap to where it is costlier, lowering prices overall. True, this means that the price rises in the cheaper market, which is the source of the dismay in Norway. But Norwegians are forgetting that domestically produced power is not always cheaper. Whenever the current in the cables flows towards them, it helps reduce high prices. And even though Norway exports more power than it imports, that is fantastic for domestic energy producers. Norways state-owned power firms have been raking it in, which is one of the reasons the government can afford to subsidise household prices. Governments may worry that the country at the other end will cut the power or that the cables will be sabotaged, as a subsea communications link off Taiwan may have been this month. And so they mightbut the best defence is to have lots of cables to many countries. Diversifying sources of supply multiplies the economic benefits while reducing dependence on each supplier, and hence their leverage. Indeed, international cables help protect against the unpredictable. Although Britain is typically a big power importer, it became an exporter when high natural-gas prices crimped power generation in the EU after Russias invasion of Ukraine. France is usually a big exporter, but when many of its nuclear plants were closed for maintenance, it needed imports. Who knowswater levels may someday sink low enough in Norways reservoirs that it will want more cables, not fewer. Subscribers to The Economist can sign up to our new Opinion newsletter, which brings together the best of our leaders, columns, guest essays and reader correspondence. For more coverage of climate change, sign up for the Climate Issue, our fortnightly subscriber-only newsletter, or visit our climate-change hub. 2025, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com India-US trade discussions that kicked off on Wednesday focused on reducing India's tariff levels on goods imported from the US to the same levels as what US levies on such imports from India, two people aware of the talks said. The effort aims to avert US reciprocal tariffs that US president Donald Trump has promised to roll out on 2 April. Discussions focused on bringing Indian duties on US products in line with the tariff levels imposed by the US on Indian goods. In return, India sought relief from US compliance burden on shrimp, processed food items, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals, among others, the people cited above said on the condition of anonymity. A US delegation led by Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch will hold meetings with Indian officials over three days till 28 March. One of the key points under negotiation is India's 30% duty on US shrimp, which could be lowered to match the 5.77% duty imposed on Indian shrimp in the US. Alongside, discussions are underway to adjust tariff disparities in other sectors. Currently, Indian exports of plastics and related articles face 4.38% duty in the US, while US products face 9.95% duty in India. Machinery and computers are taxed at 1.3% in the US compared to 6.6% in India. Chemicals and pharmaceuticals face a 1.06% duty in the US, while India imposes a 9.68% duty on similar imports. The duty on diamonds, gold, and related products stands at 2.12% in the US but is 15.45% in India. In textiles and clothing, tariffs are 8.99% in the US for Indian goods and 10.37% in India for US merchandise, commerce ministry data showed. This tariff restructuring will help India avoid being included in the US Presidents upcoming announcement on reciprocal tariffs, expected on 2 April," said the first person. On Tuesday, Trump told reporters that he may give a lot of countries "breaks" from his reciprocal tariff move, without giving details. Indias recent trade policy decisionsincluding changes to safe harbour rules, extending these provisions to EV batteries, and scrapping the Google taxwere also discussed to press for greater market access for Indian textiles, engineering goods, gems and jewellery, electronics goods and drugs and pharmaceuticals in the US, by revising the list of goods facing non-tariff barriers imposed by the US, the second person added. Also read | India to drop Google tax from 1 April amid US tariff threats New Delhi is trying to avoid reciprocal US levies on its key exports such as garments, engineering, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and gems and jewellery, which accounted for around 72.7% of the total goods trade between India and the US in FY24, contributing $56.34 billion out of the overall trade of $77.52 billion. As per the second person, discussions hovered around India's average weighted tariff, which stood at 17% in 2023 and was reduced to 10.66% after duty changes in the Union Budget for FY26. As per the commerce ministry, the weighted average agricultural tariff, including textiles, was 39%, while industrial goods faced a tariff of 13.5% in 2023. The average weighted tariff is the actual tax percentage that imported goods face on average, but it gives more importance to products that are imported in large quantities. To be sure, India has revised tariffs on several US products to address trade concerns. The import duty on bourbon whiskey has been reduced from 150% to 100%. Tariffs on Harley-Davidson motorcycles have been lowered from 50% to 30%, and the duty on ethernet switches has been cut from 20% to 10%. On Monday, India decided to drop the so-called Google tax, a levy on multinational companies providing services in India, in an apparent move to placate the US. A day later, India's tax regulator revised income tax rules to offer more benefits to electric vehicle (EV) and EV battery makers. A circular from the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) expanded safe harbour rules by raising the eligibility threshold from 200 crore to 300 crore. Additionally, lithium-ion batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles are now classified as core auto components, making them eligible for tax benefits. These changes are seen as part of India's strategy in ongoing trade talks with the US, where it is seeking better market access for its exports. Read this | Will India press for an early harvest in trade talks with US? At the same time, commerce ministry data shows that import duties on several high-value American products into India are negligible. For instance, in FY24, petroleum crudethe USs top export to India valued at $5.03 billionwas taxed at 1 per tonne, making it one of the lowest-taxed imports despite its high trade value. Other key exports from the US, including coal (valued at $4.2 billion in FY24), large aircraft ($1.94 billion), and liquefied natural gas ($1.41 billion), face 2.5% tariff. A working paper by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister notes that US authorization requirements are complex and time-consuming, leading to higher costs and delays for Indian exporters. Food exports face additional challenges due to strict pesticide rules and labelling requirements. The paper suggests that the US streamline approvals and provide clear reasons for any delays or rejections. It also points out that Indias gemstone cutting & polishing industry has been on the US TVPRA list since the 1990s over child labour concerns. TVPRA stands for Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. However, the industry has changed, with no child labour cases now reported. Many craftsmen have become exporters and follow compliance norms. India can request the US to remove the industry from the list. Also read | Indias US trade deal at risk without fast-track authority: GTRI Queries emailed to the spokespersons of the ministries of commerce and external affairs remained unanswered till press time, while US Embassy spokesperson Christopher Elms, who also responded on behalf of the USTR, said, "We cant share details on any private diplomatic conversations." Trade experts believe that India should not push for an exemption from the proposed reciprocal tariff plan. Instead, they suggest that India should advocate for a zero-for-zero tariff structure, which would be more beneficial for Indian traders. "The zero-for-zero tariff is the best option that India should pursue. If India argues for an exemption from the reciprocal tariff plan, it may end up conceding greater market access to US products without securing equivalent benefits," said Ajay Srivastava, founder, Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI). According to the commerce ministry, India's top 10 exports to the US in 2023-24 included drug formulations and biologicals ($8 billion), precious and semi-precious stones ($6.57 billion), petroleum products ($5.83 billion), telecom instruments ($5.82 billion), gold and other jewellery ($3.3 billion), iron and steel products ($2.78 billion), cotton garments and accessories ($2.74 billion), electronic components ($2.69 billion), cotton fabrics and made-ups ($2.61 billion), and marine products ($2.5 billion). And read | US delegations New Delhi visit set to boost trade talks as Trump tariffs loom Thirty years ago, making a phone call from Somalia meant crossing the border into better-connected Kenya or Ethiopia. Yet by 2004 the lawless nation had more telephone connections per capita than any other east African country. Today, the Somali state is still fragile: insecurity is rife and government services are poor. But mobile data in Somalia is cheaper than in Britain, Finland or Japanand the signal is good, too. Jethro Norman, a Mancunian anthropologist who does research in Somalia, says he gets better mobile coverage in some of the remotest parts of the country than he does in Manchester. How has dysfunctional Somalia managed to develop such an outstanding telecoms network? The answer lies in the states very weakness. Three decades of chaos and conflict have forced hundreds of thousands of Somalis to flee their country. Those who have stayed depend on them: the diaspora sends home around $2bn a year, roughly double the governments budget. An extensive phone network was needed to handle those vast remittance flows. In Somalias radical free market, the invisible hand did the rest. The upside of a lack of government is that there is no need to pay for licences or to bribe corrupt officials to get the job done. If telecoms flourished at first in the absence of the state, cheap internet is now helping to replace it. A recent research paper by Mr Norman shows how clan-based WhatsApp groups are increasingly being used to crowdsource capital from investors in the diaspora, and then to co-ordinate the building of schools, hospitals and roads with the money that is raised. Social media is filling in for the failing state in other ways, too. WhatsApp groups serve as virtual courts, for instance, where clan elders, rather than corrupt or distant judges, resolve disputes. These online groups have revenue-raising powers; members are required to make monthly contributions, which are then used to offer payments if someone is short of money, or as a kind of health insurance to pay if they or a family member are ill. Those who do not pay are blocked from the groups. The rise of this WhatsAppocracy is not without its flaws. Hate speech that deepens clan conflict is common, particularly among the diaspora. And WhatsApp groups can raise money to buy guns as well as schools. Still, for now, governance via WhatsApp seems to beat rule by warlords. Somalis are making do with what they have. Sign up to the Analysing Africa, a weekly newsletter that keeps you in the loop about the worlds youngestand least understoodcontinent. Are you inundated with spam calls? Soon, you will be able to see the caller's name flash on your phone screen without installing a third-party app like Truecaller. Indias private telecom operators Vodafone Idea Ltd, Bharti Airtel Ltd, and Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd have tapped vendors such as HP, Dell, Ericsson, and Nokia for servers and software needed to make this feature possible, according to three senior executives familiar with the matter. We are ready to implement CNAP (calling name presentation) and have ordered the equipment," an executive at one of the three telecom operators cited earlier said. The operators have conducted trials in a few circles as well. The CNAP feature, first recommended by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) in February last year, will be rolled out in stages. Initially, it will display only the callers' names associated with a telecom operator. If a Jio subscriber calls another Jio user, the callers name will be displayed. But not if the same subscriber calls an Airtel or Vodafone Idea user, at least till the government mandates sharing customer data between operators. Feature phone users are also expected to be excluded from the rollout because of hardware and software limitations. Nokia is already actively involved in implementing CNAP solutions for telecom networks in India, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and enhancing the mobile user experience," said Arvind Khurana, regional VP and country head cloud & network services, Nokia India, in response to Mints queries. Indians made 1.51 lakh complaints about spam calls in October 2024 alone, according to the latest data available with Trai. Currently, users need a third-party app like Truecaller to find out the identity of anonymous callers. Now, to display a callers name, telecom operators will use the details available in the customer application form (CAF), which every user fills out when applying for a phone connection. The government has asked operators to expedite on getting the software, which can correlate names and numbers between all the circles of a telecom operators network across the country," a second senior telecom executive quoted earlier. The executive said the software can come from companies like Nokia and Ericsson, and the servers can come from firms such as HP and Dell. In February this year, Trai again asked DoT to urgently introduce CNAP for transparency and avoid financial frauds, at least from businesses who buy bulk connections and often spam users. Complex rollout However, the rollout is complex. Operators require data-sharing within their own networks and circles to enable CNAP. The service typically needs a centralized caller ID database storing the names associated with numbers. When a call is placed, the database is queried to fetch the calling party's name and display it on the recipient's screen. Servers and software are crucial in managing, storing, and processing the data required for correlating caller names with their phone numbers. We are seeing how soon we can get CNAP implemented. The government has also pitched a few names to telecom operators to get the software for implementing CNAP," a government official said, adding that testing is being done on 4G and 5G networks. Queries emailed to DoT, Vodafone Idea, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel did not elicit a response till the press time. Dell, HP, Ericsson and Truecaller did not respond to Mint's queries. Key hurdle to full rollout In February last year, Trai recommended a trial and assessment of CNAP service in one licensed service area (LSA) with the subscriber base of each telecom service provider. DoT then asked telecom operators to conduct the trials. The constraint in full implementation is showing the calling party names of users of other operators, which cannot be possible without having access to each others user databases," the second executive quoted above said. The CNAP can be fully implemented only when the government mandates the sharing of databases within operators. Telecom solutions providers are in touch with carriers for the implementation of CNAP, said an executive at an equipment maker. While conducting trials, the operators also flagged technical issues such as an increase in call set-up time, higher network load, and handset incompatibility. Intraday stocks for today under 100: Despite positive global cues, the Indian stock market witnessed a tumultuous session on Tuesday due to sharp selling in banking, metal, and pharmaceutical stocks. However, the Indian stock market managed to end higher for the seventh straight session. Among frontline indices, Nifty 50 and the BSE Sensex ended marginally higher, whereas the Bank Nifty index shed 97 points and closed at 51,607. The Nifty 50 index finished at 23,668. HDFC Bank shares bolstered the 50-stock index, rising 1.2%, while UltraTech Cement led top gainers with a 3.4% surge. NSE cash market volumes surged by 13% compared to the 10-day average, indicating heightened trading activity. Midcap and Smallcap indices witnessed profit booking after six consecutive sessions of gains. The Nifty Midcap 100 index retreated 1.06%, and the Nifty Smallcap 100 index corrected by 1.56%. The advance-decline ratio on the NSE turned negative at 0.30, signalling more decliners than advancers after six days of positive breadth. Stock market today Speaking on the outlook of the Indian stock market today, Siddhartha Khemka, Head of Research Wealth Management at Motilal Oswal, said, "We expect the market to continue with a gradual upside move on the back of FII inflows, strong INR and positive cues from US stock market." On the outlook of the Nifty 50 today, Nagaraj Shetti, Senior Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities, said, "The near-term uptrend of the Nifty 50 index remains intact. Having bounced back sharply in the last 5-6 sessions, the correction from the highs was due. However, the present consolidation or dip is unlikely to damage the underlying uptrend of the market. Immediate support for Nifty today is around 23,400, and any consolidation or minor weakness could be a buying opportunity. A decisive move above 23,900 on the upper side could open further upside towards 24,200." Asked about the outlook of Bank Nifty today, Hrishikesh Yedve, AVP Technical and Derivatives Research at Asit C. Mehta, said, "Bank Nifty encountered resistance near the 52,000 level and formed a red candle on the daily chart, indicating weakness. On the downside, the 200-Day Simple Moving Average (200-DSMA), placed near 50,980, will support the index as long as Bank Nifty holds above 50,980; a buy-on-dips strategy should be adopted. On the higher side, 52,000 will be a stiff hurdle for Bank Nifty. Intraday stocks for today under 100 Regarding buy or sell stocks for today, market experts Vaishali Parekh, Vice PresidentTechnical Research at Prabhudas Lilladher; Mahesh M Ojha, AVPResearch at Hensex Securities; Sugandha Sachdeva, Founder of SS WealthStreet; and Anshul Jain, Head of Research at Lakshmishree Investment and Securitiesrecommended these four intraday stocks for today under 100: Medico Remedies, Sat Industries, VASCON Engineers, and Sarla Performance Fibers. Vaishali Parekh's stock pick 1] Medico Remedies: Buy at 48.70, target 55, stop loss 45. Mahesh M Ojha's stock to buy under 100 2] Sat Industries: Buy at 88 to 89.50, targets 91, 94, 97, and 100. Sugandha Sachdeva's buy or sell stock 3] VASCON Engineers: Sell at 39.80, target 37.50, stop loss 41. Anshul Jain's share to buy under 100 4] Sarla Performance Fibers: Buy at 82, target 88, stop loss 80 (Closing Basis). Changes to the benchmark Nifty50 index will be effective from 28 March. Jio Financial Services Ltd and Zomato Ltd will replace Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd (BPCL) and Britannia Industries Ltd. The reshuffle will alter the indexs price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple and revive the debate over whether Niftys valuation is expensive or justifiedparticularly among fund managers who rely on index-based valuations for capital allocation to countries. But how useful is index-based valuation? To answer that, it is essential to understand how Nifty constituents are selected and how index valuation is calculated. Read this | Nifty reshuffle: Zomato and Jio Financial could edge out Britannia and BPCL in India's benchmark index The Nifty index includes companies with the highest free-float market capitalizationthat is, market cap excluding the valuation of shares owned by promoters. However, from the index valuation perspective, the total market capitalization of companies should be considered. This means the combined market cap of companies entering the index should be compared with that of the companies being replaced. How is the index valuation arrived at? Unlike individual companies, the indexs earnings per share (EPS) isnt directly available. Instead, Niftys P/E ratio is calculated by dividing the aggregate market capitalization of all constituents by their aggregate net profit. The indexs EPS is then derived by by dividing the Nifty index value by its P/E ratio. This makes the latest reshuffle particularly interesting, as it presents a paradox. While BPCL and Britannias combined market capitalization stands at 2.4 trillion, Zomato and Jio Financials total is significantly higher at 3.6 trillion. As a result, Niftys overall market cap will rise. However, the incoming companies are far less profitable than those they are replacing. According to Bloomberg consensus, BPCL and Britannias combined estimated FY26 net profit is 15,974 crore. In contrast, Zomatos projected FY26 profit is just 1,465 crore, largely driven by interest income on its cash reserves. Meanwhile, Jio Financials business model is still evolving and is yet to be widely covered by brokerages. Still, its 9MFY25 consolidated net profit stands at 1,296 crore, including 241 crore in dividend income from Reliance Industries Ltd. Read this | India needs stronger credit rating to join $29.5 tn global bond index: FTSE Russell This means that the incoming companies will contribute significantly less profit than those exiting, lowering Niftys EPS and making the index appear more expensive after the rejig. Why P/E comparisons can be misleading Index-based valuation has its limitations, as stocks like Zomato and Jio Financial are priced based on their perceived high growth potential, translating into higher profits in the future. Beyond profit expectations, the nature of a business plays a key role in valuation. For instance, Zomato operates in high-growth sectors like food delivery and quick commerce, which often justify higher P/E multiples. In contrast, BPCL, being in the oil refining and marketing businessa commodity-driven sectortypically commands a lower P/E multiple. To summarize, it would not be fair to say that the Nifty is trading at a premium or discount to its historical average in view of the fact that its constituents have undergone substantial changes. Even if some constituents, such as Reliance Industries Ltd., have remained the same, it must be noted that the companys business model is now tilted in favour of retail and telecom from the old economy business of oil and gas. Also read | Popular Bank Nifty index might need a recast if Sebi plan takes off This is why comparing the P/E multiples of the indexes of different countries makes little sense, as much depends on the kind of companies included in the index. For instance, commodity companies Petrobras (oil) and Vale (mining) of Brazil are quoting at 4-6x P/E ratio based on 2025 estimates, which pulls down the overall valuation of Brazils Ibovespa index. The Indian stock market has been on a rollercoaster ride, with recent recoveries failing to erase months of volatility. Even fundamentally strong companies have taken a hit , making investors wary. But for those with a long-term vision, downturns often present rare opportunities. From resilient IT firms to powerhouses in finance, energy, and consumer markets, some high-quality stocks are now trading at attractive valuations. Here are five stocks that could stand out for value investors seeking long-term gains. Persistent Systems Persistent System , a leading digital engineering firm, offers services across cloud, AI, and product development. The company has consistently delivered strong revenue growth, with a focus on BFSI, healthcare, and hi-tech verticals. But despite its solid fundamentals, the stock has corrected from its highs, in line with the broader market decline. The Indian IT sector has been under pressure due to slowing global tech spending and Persistent has not been immune. The Nifty IT index has dropped from its peak, dragging down IT stocks, including Persistent. While the company posted a 19.9% YoY revenue growth in Q3FY25, concerns over valuation and sector-wide demand softness have kept the stock under pressure. View Full Image Source: Equitymaster Between 2020-24, the sales have grown at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.6%, while the net profit at 25%. The return on capital employed (RoCE) and return on equity (RoE) have averaged 26.8% and 21.5% over a 5-year period. The management is confident in achieving its $2 billion revenue target by FY27, with a focus on AI-led services and deeper client engagements. The company is also eyeing $5 billion by FY31. Recent deal wins continue to be robust, including a $150 million, 7-year BFSI transformation deal and a $50 million, 5-year AI-led engagement. Valuations have declined after the correction. The stock is trading at a price to earnings ratio (PE ratio) of 62, lower than its peak PE of 81. With a strong order book, deep hyperscaler partnerships, and AI-driven efficiencies, Persistent looks well-positioned to navigate near-term IT spending pressures while maintaining long-term growth momentum. Power Finance Corporation Power Finance Corporation (PFC) is the backbone of Indias power sector financing. PFC is a key lender for power generation, transmission, and distribution projects. It has also been growing its presence in renewable energy and infrastructure financing. Despite its solid fundamentals, the stock has corrected from its highs, reflecting concerns over valuation and macroeconomic headwinds. The broader market downturn has dragged down even fundamentally strong companies, and PFC was no exception. Investors also worried about potential asset quality risks and delays in disbursals. However, the companys financials tell a different story. View Full Image Source: Equitymaster PFC has done well between 2020-2024. Its interest income and net profit have grown at a CAGR of about 12% and 14.9%. Importantly, its loan book remains strong, with 59% of sanctions from the past 2 years and 9 months still undisbursed. This provides visibility for double-digit loan growth over the next 2 years. PFCs gross NPAs declined to 2.7% as of December 2024. Following the resolution of the KSK Mahanadi case, gross NPAs are expected to drop further to 1.9%. Trading at just 1.2 times adjusted price to book (PB), PFC is reasonably valued compared to its peers. With strong project pipelines, stable margins, and a high dividend yield, it is well-positioned to weather near-term volatility. ONGC ONGC is Indias largest oil and gas explorer, playing a critical role in the countrys energy security. Its a key player in Indias hydrocarbon sector, with vast reserves and ongoing investments in offshore and onshore projects. The company is also expanding into renewable energy and petrochemicals, aiming for a diversified energy portfolio. Despite its strong fundamentals, ONGCs stock has corrected, mirroring the broader market weakness. Concerns over global crude price volatility, declining legacy production, and regulatory risks have weighed on investor sentiment. In Q3FY25, ONGCs standalone Ebitda grew 13% YoY, but net profit fell 17% due to higher recouped costs. Lower crude realisations also impacted earnings, with oil prices slipping from $80 to $72 per barrel. View Full Image Source: Equitymaster Between 2020 and 2024, ONGC has performed consistently, with sales and profit growing at a 5-year CAGR of 6.9% and 11%, respectively. The companys RoCE and RoE have been stable, averaging 14.2% and 13.4%, respectively, supported by higher crude oil prices and growing production. ONGC is on track to ramp up production from its KG-98/2 asset, which has already hit 35,000 barrels per day and is set to peak at 45,000 soon. The company expects gas output to double from 3 million metric standard cubic meters per day (mmscmd) to 10 mmscmd in the second half of FY25. A strategic partnership with BP aims to boost production at its Mumbai High field by 60% over the next decade. Trading at 5-year average price to book of 0.8, ONGC offers strong cash flows, a robust dividend yield, and improving production visibility. Swiggy Swiggy has reshaped how Indians eat and shop. The company has built a dominant consumer platform, from food delivery to quick commerce via Instamart. But the stock has tumbled nearly 60% from its peak, raising concerns about its growth-at-any-cost strategy. The primary issue? Losses remain high. Despite a 31% YoY revenue jump in Q3FY25, Swiggys quick commerce segment continues to burn cash. While GOV surged 88%, the contribution loss widened to 24 per order. Also read: Swiggy eyes multi-app strategy with rollout of 3 standalone apps Rapid dark store expansion and aggressive marketing spending have hurt margins. Meanwhile, competition from Zomatos Blinkit is intensifying. View Full Image Source: Equitymaster Still, the long-term story remains intact. Between 2020-2024, sales have reported a 5-year CAGR of 55%. However, the company is yet to churn out a profit. Swiggys food delivery arm is turning profitable, with its contribution margin improving on higher ad revenue and operational efficiencies. Quick commerce, while loss-making, is a high-growth category, projected to hit $27 billion by FY27. Swiggy expects breakeven by Q3FY26, with mature stores already improving unit economics. The companys strong brand and leadership in two high-growth markets position it well for the future. While short-term pain is inevitable, investors with patience could see meaningful gains once profitability kicks in. Hyundai Motor HMIL is the countrys second-largest carmaker, with a stronghold in the SUV segment and a growing focus on electric vehicles (EVs). It has consistently maintained a premium positioning, with models like the Creta and Venue dominating the market. The company has also made a strategic push into EVs, launching the locally manufactured Creta Electric to tap into Indias growing demand for sustainable mobility. Despite all this, HMILs stock has come under pressure, falling in line with the broader auto sector. In Q3FY25, its Ebitda margin declined to 11.3%, below expectations, due to a combination of higher domestic discounts, one-time employee costs, and sluggish demand. Also read: Ayes vs noes: Hyundai India's resolutions on deals with related cos divide leading proxy advisory firms Export volumes were also hit by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Latin America. Rising raw material costs and increased fixed expenses ahead of its capacity expansion have also weighed on investor sentiment View Full Image Source: Equitymaster However, the long-term outlook remains strong. Between 2020-2024, HMILs sales and net profit grew at a five-year CAGR of 10.4% and 18.6%, respectively. The company has maintained a solid five-year average RoE of 29% and RoCE of 22%. Its upcoming Talegaon plant will add capacity, supporting future growth. Meanwhile, an expanding EV portfolio, a higher SUV mix, and focus on premiumization should help sustain profitability. The stock is trading at a PE of 22, below the industry average of 25. As the industry stabilises, the companys ability to navigate challenges while maintaining pricing discipline could drive a strong rebound. Conclusion Not every beaten-down stock is a bargain. The key lies in identifying companies with strong fundamentals, steady cash flows, and resilient business models. For investors with a contrarian mindset, market downturns can unlock opportunitieswhether in industry leaders with solid balance sheets or high-growth sectors poised for a rebound. However, patience is key. Recoveries take time, and not all stocks will bounce back equally. Aligning investments with risk appetite, time horizon, and market conditions is crucial to avoiding value traps and securing long-term gains. Happy investing! Also read: Mint Explainer: What did Sebi decide at its first board meeting under new chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey? Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It is not a stock recommendation and should not be treated as such. This article is syndicated from Equitymaster.com The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) revoked the trading suspension on the shares of Bharat Global Developers Ltd, a company listed on the BSE. The suspension imposed through an interim order of 23 December, amid concerns of fraudulent activities and misleading disclosures, will be lifted two days after the company disseminates its provisional financial numbers for FY 2024-25 on the exchange, but no later than 15 April 2025. The suspension was revoked on 26 March after the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) directed Sebi to examine the fitness of Bharat Global's new management. While acknowledging the concerns raised in its initial interim order, Sebi noted the hardship faced by the company's significant number of public shareholders. "Having examined the matter, I deem it fit to decide in the interest of investors that trading in the shares of Bharat Global may resume two days after the company comes out with its provisional financial numbers and/ or key financial numbers, including sales/purchases/gross profit/net profit/net worth for the FY 2024-25, which must be disseminated on the exchange before 15 April," stated Ashwani Bhatia, Sebi whole time member, in the order. This order by Sebi allows trading in Bharat Global's shares two days after the company discloses its provisional financials, irrespective of the ongoing investigation, experts clarify. "While Sebi's concerns over Bharat Global's past management persist, the order prioritizes shareholder relief by lifting the suspension. This is positive news for the company, as it restores liquidity and offers investors the opportunity to trade their shares," said Ketan Mukhija, senior partner at Burgeon Law. The suspension of trading in BGDL shares has significantly impacted more than 60,000 public shareholders and their right to trade, said K.C. Jacob, counsel at Economic Laws Practice. "But two days after the disclosure of provisional financial statements, the suspension will be revoked, providing relief to investors," he said. Trading suspension The market regulator suspended trading in Bharat Global's shares until further notice over allegations of fraudulent activities and false disclosures. The suspension followed a probe that found significant irregularities in the company's financials and operations. Sebi received a complaint on 16 December, alongside posts on social media, which raised concerns about Bharat Global's financial disclosures. The BSE-listed Bharat Global saw its share price skyrocket 105 times over the past year, rising from 16.14 in November 2023 to 1,702.95 by November 2024, raising concerns of potential market manipulation. The investigation uncovered a series of concerning developments at Bharat Global, starting with a drastic overhaul of its management in December 2023. Sebi probe found inconsistencies in the company's financial statements. Before 2023-24, the company had negligible revenue, expenses, and assets. However, after the management overhaul and preferential allotments, the company reported a sharp revenue increase and a significantly expanded order book despite a lack of substantiated contracts and business activities. Sebi suspended trading in Bharat Global's shares until further notice. The regulator also imposed restrictions on the preferential allottees, barring them from buying, selling, or dealing in any securities related to BGDL until further orders. In its response to Sebi, Bharat Global claimed a change in management after the interim order, stating, "Post passing of the Sebi interim order, Bharat Global immediately decided to change its Board and key personnel. It took proactive steps to re-establish the company to its core and carry out all the tasks in good faith, in the interests of public investors." The company also explained to Sebi why its managing director, executive director, and non-executive director were removed. However, Sebi found Bharat Global's explanations for not providing certain information unacceptable. "It appears that Bharat Global is trying to take cover of change of management to not provide information about the fictitious deals disclosed by it through stock exchange disclosures as alleged in the Interim Order. The company cannot be allowed to benefit on this account simply by taking this stand to subvert the investigation," the order noted. Preferential allottees restrained Despite lifting the trading suspension, the preferential allottees named in the initial order remain restrained from dealing in their shares. Furthermore, the company will not be permitted to operationalize the stock split and bonus issue approved by its board and shareholders before the interim order. Sebi also highlighted the lack of cooperation from Bharat Global in providing information about its new management, stating, "In the absence of any meaningful response from Bharat Global to Sebi's summons, there is insufficient information before me to arrive at a conclusion regarding the fitness of the new management at this stage. The company has not provided details/resumes of the persons/KMPs actually running the company and taking decisions regarding its business and operations." BSE has been directed to actively monitor the company's disclosures and seek supporting documents for any announcements. The exchange will also ensure that Bharat Global discloses its inability to produce evidence regarding earlier statements on contracts with Tata Agro & Consumer Products, UPL Agro Pvt. Ltd, and McCain India Agro Pvt. Ltd. Sebi has extended its investigation until 30 June 2025, emphasizing that the current order is without prejudice to Sebi's right to take any other action that may be initiated against the noticees in accordance with law. The regulator has also advised investors to exercise caution and understand the fundamentals before investing in the capital market. A quiet policy shift may have just jolted IFB Industries back to life. With the government slapping an anti-dumping duty on Chinese roller chain imports, IFBlong bruised by unfair pricingfinally gets room to breathe. The playing field is levelling, margins are looking up, and investors are watching closely. Could this be the catalyst that powers IFBs long-awaited comeback? In an era when policy interventions are increasingly shaping business destinies, a quiet but decisive move by the Indian government may have just rewritten the script for one of Indias most familiar industrial brands. On 25 March, the ministry of finance imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty on roller chain imports from China. While the policy targets unfair trade practices, its implications reach far deeperpotentially igniting a long-awaited turnaround for IFB Industries Ltd. Shares of IFB jumped over 3% following the announcement, signalling investor enthusiasm. But a quick glance at the charts reveals that the excitement comes with tempered expectations. The stock is still over 45% lower than its peak last year, a reflection of the turbulence it has faced in both its consumer and industrial segments. And yet, this anti-dumping measure could be the catalyst IFB has long neededa trigger for a broader transformation of its financial fortunes, market standing, and competitive outlook. Long battle For years, IFBs engineering divisionan often overlooked but critical arm of the companywas squeezed by an influx of cheap Chinese roller chains that flooded the Indian market. These chains, used in everything from industrial equipment to automotive applications, were imported at prices below their fair market value, making it nearly impossible for Indian manufacturers to compete. According to data from the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), Chinese suppliers at one point accounted for almost 50% of Indias roller chain consumption. Even by FY23, they still held about 28% of market sharean outsized presence for a single countrys exporters. IFB, long a domestic manufacturer of these components, saw its margins and market share steadily eroded. After months of investigation, the DGTR confirmed that the imports were indeed causing material injury to Indian producers. The outcome: an ad-valorem duty of 6.34% on most Chinese roller chain imports, to be enforced for five years unless reviewed earlier. Interestingly, some Chinese companies were exempt due to negligible dumping margins, but the majority will now face costlier access to the Indian market. The verdict, in essence, is a victory for IFBa validation of its complaint and a powerful statement in favour of fair competition. Gaining ground With this duty now in place, IFB Industries is poised to recapture lost ground in its home turf. The price advantage that Chinese imports enjoyed is now significantly diminished, levelling the playing field for domestic manufacturers. This shift isnt just symbolic. It directly reshapes purchasing behaviour among Indian OEMs and industrial buyers, many of whom had opted for Chinese chains due to lower costs despite concerns over quality and service. By narrowing the price gap, the duty improves IFBs appeal to cost-sensitive buyers while enhancing its pricing power. No longer forced to compete with artificially low prices, the company can command better realisation per unit. This should help lift the average selling price across its chain portfolio, boosting revenue without sacrificing margins. Moreover, IFB holds an edge that imported suppliers simply cannot replicatespeed of delivery, local servicing, and better alignment with Indias regulatory and technical standards. In an industry where reliability and after-sales support matter, IFBs proximity to customers becomes an additional competitive advantage. With dumping addressed, these differentiators will begin to carry more weight in buying decisions, particularly in government tenders and private sector contracts where IFB had previously been edged out on cost. Chance to accelerate From a financial standpoint, the implications of this duty are far-reaching. IFBs engineering division, which includes its roller chain operations, generated approximately 19% of the companys total turnover in FY24. With Chinese imports now curbed, this segment stands to benefit significantly. According to analysts, even partial substitution of the 8,700 metric tons of Chinese roller chains imported in FY23 could add hundreds of crores of rupees to IFBs topline. This influx of demand, combined with better pricing, is expected to improve the companys operating margins. Before the duty, IFB was forced to absorb pricing pressure from dumped imports, which inevitably hurt profitability. Now, with the competitive intensity lowered, the company has room to improve margin contribution from its core products. There are already signs of financial momentum. In the third quarter of FY25, IFB reported a 9.36% year-on-year increase in revenue, reaching 1,269.5 crore. Net profit jumped over 78% to INR 31 crore, and the engineering divisionwhile growing at a modest 2.7%is expected to benefit more substantially in subsequent quarters as the impact of the duty is fully realised. The company is also pursuing an aggressive 200 crore cost-reduction plan in partnership with Alvarez & Marsal, which is expected to bear fruit over 12 to 18 months. Recovery in motion Despite the financial improvements, IFBs stock performance has not kept pace. The shares had tumbled from a 52-week high of 2,359 on the BSE to a low of 1,014 earlier this year. At 1,294.20 at the close on 25 March, the stock traded at roughly 46x trailing earningsa level that suggests investors are cautiously optimistic but awaiting clearer signs of a full turnaround. The announcement of the anti-dumping duty injected some much-needed optimism. On the day following the announcement, IFBs shares climbed as much as 3% intraday before cooling off. Analysts at Keynote Capital now forecast that IFBs net profit will more than doublefrom 72 crore in FY24 to 185 crore by FY26on the back of both appliance recovery and engineering growth. Importantly, these forecasts were made before the anti-dumping duty was finalised, suggesting room for upside if the policy boost translates into meaningful market share gains. Competitive landscape IFBs gains dont come in a vacuum. Other Indian manufacturers, particularly those focused on roller chains, also stand to benefit. Among them is L.G. Balakrishnan & Bros (LGB), known for its Rolon" brand of chains and sprockets. However, the nature of LGBs businessprimarily focused on the automotive OEM segmentmeans that it was less exposed to Chinese competition than IFB, which serves the more price-sensitive industrial segment. IFB, having borne the brunt of Chinese dumping, now finds itself better positioned to seize the opportunity created by the duty. While LGB will see modest benefits, IFB could experience a more pronounced uplift in both revenue and margins. That said, both companies are expected to benefit from a more stable pricing environment and stronger domestic demand. Lingering risks While the duty brings clear benefits, it also introduces new challenges. At just 6.34%, the duty is moderatesufficient to increase prices, but not necessarily enough to eliminate all unfair pricing. Moreover, some Chinese exporters have been exempted due to negligible dumping margins. They could potentially capture market share vacated by others, keeping the competitive pressure alive. Theres also the risk of circumvention. History shows that exporters often find ways to bypass duties, either by rerouting shipments through third countries or altering product specifications. The government will need to stay vigilant and ready to extend anti-circumvention measures if needed. Execution risk looms large, too. IFB has ambitious plans to triple its industrial business in three years. To do that, it will need to scale quickly and maintain quality. If it fails to meet rising demand, competitorsdomestic or foreigncould step in. Finally, the duty is time-bound. In five years, it may expire unless extended. That gives IFB a limited window to strengthen its competitive edge and prepare for a time when protections may no longer exist. New chapter Despite the risks, the mood around IFB Industries is changing. The company is executing on multiple frontsnew product launches, plant-level efficiency drives, marketing revamps, and now, benefiting from a favourable policy shift. What makes this moment particularly critical is the convergence of internal reform and external support. IFB is not simply waiting for policy to rescue itit is actively rebuilding its foundations. The anti-dumping duty acts as a catalyst, not a crutch. If the company delivers on its cost-efficiency plans and expands capacity to meet rising demand, the duty could serve as the inflection point that accelerates its turnaround. This isn't just about one company. The revival of IFBs roller chain business reflects a larger trend: India is beginning to act more decisively in protecting and nurturing its domestic manufacturing capabilities. For IFB and other players in the engineering sector, that signals a future where quality and competitiveness, not just cost, determine market success. Road ahead As IFB Industries steps into this new chapter, much will depend on execution. The company now enjoys a rare alignment of policy tailwinds, financial recovery, and renewed investor interest. But the markets are quick to shift, and the onus is on IFB to translate this opportunity into lasting results. If it does, the company could not only reclaim its past glory but also emerge as a symbol of what Indian industry can achieve when strategy, policy, and execution are aligned. The anti-dumping duty may have set the gears in motion. Now its up to IFB to keep the momentum going. For more such analysis, read Profit Pulse. Suchitra Mandal is a proficient financial writer with expertise in delivering well-researched insights and detailed analyses of companies' performance and market trends. Disclosure: The author did not hold any shares of IFB Industries at the time of writing this article. The views expressed are for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult a financial professional before making any investment decisions. An earlier version of this article erroneously said that IFB had filed a petition for anti-dumping duty on imports of roller chains from China. The error is regretted. Over the last six months, the stock of Narayana Hrudayalaya has risen by over 30% against an 8.3% decline in the Sensex, outperforming the benchmark index by a wide margin. The stock has also been an outlier amid the recent correction, bucking the trend. It recently hit its 52-week high of 1,725. Whats behind this rally? Shares of the company have been on the radar of investors for multiple reasons: Expanding capacities, diversification into other fields, and strengthening operational efficiency. Lets examine each of them and assess whether the company has the financials to support them. Scaling up network in key cities Narayana Hrudayalaya has planned a capex of 1,400-1,600 crore for 2024-25. Around 280 crore will be used towards the multi-specialty hospital in the Cayman Islands. The capex for 2025-26 to 2028-29 includes replacement and maintenance capex of around 300-350 crore per year along with 900-1,200 crore per year for brownfield and greenfield expansion. The company is actively exploring brownfield acquisitions, expanding capacity in key cities like Bengaluru and Kolkata, which is expected to boost growth. It recently announced investment plans for a hospital in Kolkata. The company plans to invest 900 crore for the first phase, aiming for a 1,100-bed facility over the next three to 10 years. Once fully operational, the hospital plans to increase Narayana Health's total bed capacity in Kolkata to 2,500, reinforcing the region's position as a hub for advanced healthcare. The company is also planning to add 2,000 new beds in the upcoming four to five years, which will require an investment of 4,000-5,000 crore. The company is currently focused on setting up two greenfield facilities, one in Kolkata (350 new beds in the first phase) and the other one in Bengaluru (220 new beds). Both units are expected to start operations by 2028-29. According to ICICI Securities, the capex phase would be by far the largest in the last 10 years, but it believes the company is far better poised to fathom the impact on the balance sheet as the margins and the return ratios are in good shape. Beyond hospitals The company is building a healthcare ecosystem by launching clinics and insurance services primarily to address the financial barriers that prevent many people, especially those from working-class and poor families, from accessing necessary medical care. It has invested 1,000 crore in the business and will invest more after it sees how it has panned out. It launched Arya, an integrated insurance product, which is expected to enhance patient engagement and retention. While the management has said the hospital-insurer combination could be seen as a conflict of interest, it intends to change the status quo. Strengthening its international presence Beyond India, the company is strengthening its international presence. The company recently disclosed a small investment in the Bahamas, prioritizing this market for growth due to strong medical tourism potential. It is also targeting aggressive growth in the primary health clinic business, aiming for 50 clinics next year. Strong financial performance underpins growth Narayana Hrudayalayas financial resilience continues to support its expansion. Over the last five years, the company has reported a consistent increase (12% compound annual growth rate) in revenue marked by an increase in realizations. The companys average realization per occupied bed (ARPOB), an industry metric to assess a hospitals performance, has supported this performance, jumping from 49 lakh in 2018-19 to 88 lakh in 2023-24. Note that the companys ARPOB is at least 30% lower than that of other organized private hospital chains. However, its effective cost per operational bed is also low due to a better bed mix (the companys hospitals have more general wards than private rooms). This has resulted in lower cost as a percentage of realization, an efficiency and profitability metric, which has fallen from 73% in 2020-21 to 53% in 2023-24. Operating profit margins, too have followed suit, steadily increasing from 10.3% in 2018-19 to 23% in 2023-24. Overall, the companys net profit has grown at a CAGR of 68%. For perspective, these numbers are considerably higher than that of its peers. The companys 5-year sales growth and profit growth are higher than its peers, notably Fortis Healthcare and Global Health. It also has the highest return on equity (RoE) and return on capital employed (RoCE) among them. While the equity debt is on the higher side, given the groups strong earnings capability, the debt metrics are expected to remain healthy. It also has a higher promoter holding than all of them at 63.9%, reflecting the promoters confidence in the company. Final thoughts Narayana Hrudayalaya is set to embark on its most significant capex phase in a decade. For more such analyses, read Profit Pulse. With its robust margins and strong ratios, the company is well-positioned to sustain its growth momentum in the evolving healthcare landscape. Ayesha Shetty is a research analyst registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India. She is a certified Financial Risk Manager (FRM) and is working toward the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. Disclosure: The author does not hold shares in any of the companies discussed. The views expressed are for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Readers should conduct their own research and consult a financial professional before making investment decisions. ADAG Stocks Today: Shares of Reliance Power, Reliance Infrastructure, and other stocks of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) extended their winning streak for the second straight day on Thursday, March 27, 2025, defying the subdued sentiment of the Indian stock market. According to D-Street experts, Reliance Capital's acquisition by IIHL for 9,650 crore boosted the Ambani's group of stocks. Among individual stocks, Reliance Power's share price surged 11 per cent intraday, Reliance Infrastructure's shares jumped 10 per cent yesterday, and Reliance Capital's shares rose two per cent. ADAG stocks refer to the publicly traded shares of companies within the Anil Ambani Group, a conglomerate led by top businessman Anil Ambani, brother of billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani. ADAG Stocks Today: Share Price Trend of RInfra, Reliance Power Shares of Reliance Power (formerly Reliance Energy Generation Ltd) have surged 13.35 per cent in one month but have plunged 12 per cent year-date (YTD). However, shares of the Anil Ambani group's power major have surged 43 per cent in one year. Reliance Power Ltd is the largest power generation portfolio under development in India's private sector. The power major has provided multi-bagger returns to investors of 203 per cent in the last two years. Similarly, shares of Reliance Infrastructure (formerly Reliance Energy Ltd) have surged 14 per cent in one month but have shed 21 per cent year-date (YTD). Reliance Infrastructure is a major shareholder in Reliance Power. RInfra has provided multi-bagger returns to investors of 134 per cent in the last three years. ADAG Stocks Today: Why did Anil Ambani's group stocks surge today? "Shares of Reliance Power and Reliance Infrastructure surged by nearly 7.5 per cent, defying the broader market's subdued sentiment. The key driver behind the rally is the successful acquisition of Reliance Capital by IIHL for 9,650 crores after a prolonged three-year process, during which all outstanding debts were cleared," said Sugandha Sachdeva, Founder of SS WealthStreet. "With IIHL officially taking control and holding its first board meeting, investor confidence has significantly boosted. This has fueled a sharp rally in ADAG stocks, supported by strong trading volumes, signalling renewed optimism in the groups future prospects," added Sugandha Sachdeva. Stock market today The surge in ADAG stocks was registered despite a grim market sentiment today. Domestic equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty 50 snapped their seven-day winning run with investors taking to profit-booking ahead of potential US tariff announcements next week. Banking and IT shares logged profit booking ahead of the monthly expiry of derivatives contracts. Sensex tanked 728 points due to profit-taking in banking and IT shares ahead of the monthly expiry of derivatives contracts. The 30-share BSE Sensex declined by 728.69 points or 0.93 per cent to settle at 77,288.50 as 25 of its components closed in the red. During the day, it slumped 822.97 points or 1.05 per cent to 77,194.22. The NSE Nifty dropped 181.80 points or 0.77 per cent to 23,486.85. In the past seven trading days, the BSE benchmark index jumped 4,188.28 points or 5.67 per cent. The Nifty surged 1,271.45 points or 5.67 per cent during the same period. The benchmark indexes erased their YTD losses earlier this week after gaining 5.7 per cent in a seven-session rally, helped by foreign inflows and optimism over domestic macroeconomic factors. The mid-caps and small-caps fell 0.6 per cent and 1.1 per cent, respectively, dropping for the second straight day after rising nine per cent and 10 per cent, respectively in a six-day rally. Stock Market Today: After smart rebound seen in past few trading sessions the benchmark Nifty -50 index consolidated on Tuesday, ending 0.04% higher at 23,668.65. The Bank Nifty ended 0.19% lower at 51,607.95, while Realty, Oil & Gas, and metal were key losers. It sector gained. The broader indices saw pressure, losing between 1.2% and 1.8% Trade Setup for Wednesday For Nifty 50 index 23,600 would be the key support zone. Above this level, the market could retest the range of 23,850 to 23,900 On the downside, a dismissal of 23,600 could alter market sentiments, said Shrikant Chouhan, Head Equity Research, Kotak Securities. As long as Bank Nifty holds above 50,980, a "buy on dips" strategy should be adopted. On the higher side, 52,000 will act as a stiff hurdle for Bank Nifty said Hrishikesh Yedve, AVP Technical and Derivatives Research at Asit C. Mehta Investment Intermediates Ltd. Global Markets Today The market managed to close in the green for the seventh consecutive trading session on Tuesday, which suggests there is continued buying interest in domestic equities. We expect the market to continue with a gradual up-move on the back of FII inflows, strong INR and positive cues from US market, said Siddhartha Khemka, Head - Research, Wealth Management, Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd. Stocks to buy today Sumeet Bagadia, Executive Director at Choice Broking, has recommended two stock picks for today. Ganesh Dongre, Senior Manager of Technical Research at Anand Rathi, suggested three stocks, while Shiju Koothupalakkal, Senior Manager Technical Research, at Prabhudas Lilladher has given three stocks picks. Sumeet Bagadia's stock pick AU Small Finance Bank Ltd- Bagadia recommends AU Small Finance Bank at 557.9 keeping Stoploss at 537 for a target price of 596 AUBANK is currently trading near 557.9, demonstrating a sharp recovery from lower levels with six consecutive bullish sessions, signaling a strong reversal in momentum. The stock is on the verge of breaking its recent lower high, supported by a significant increase in trading volumes, reflecting strong buying interest 2.Kalpataru Projects International Ltd - Bagadia recommends buying Kalpataru Projects at 1016.90 keeping Stoploss at 981 for a target price of 1088 Kalpataru Projects is currently trading near 1,016.90, demonstrating a sharp recovery from lower levels with seven consecutive bullish sessions, signaling a strong reversal in momentum. The formation of a strong bullish candle further confirms a sustained long-term reversal, while increasing trading volumes reinforce the positive outlook, indicating strong buying interest. Ganesh Dongre's stocks to buy today 3.Castrol India Ltd - Dongre recommends buying Castrol India at 209 Stoploss at 204 for a target price of 230. In the recent short-term trend analysis of the stock, currently stock is into oversold zone. Looking towards the daily chart a notable bullish reversal pattern has emerged. This technical pattern suggests the possibility of a temporary retracement in the stock's price, potentially reaching around 230. At present, the stock is maintaining a crucial support level at Rs.204 level. Given the current market price of Rs.209, a buying opportunity is emerging. This suggests that investors might consider purchasing the stock at its current price, anticipating a rise towards the identified target of Rs.230. 4. Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd - Dongre recommends buying Mahindra & Mahindra at 2730 keping Stoploss at 2680 for a target price 2780 In the recent short-term trend analysis of the stock, a notable bullish reversal pattern has emerged. This technical pattern suggests the possibility of a temporary retracement in the stock's price, potentially reaching around Rs.2780. At present, the stock is maintaining a crucial support level at Rs.2680. Given the current market price of Rs.2730, a buying opportunity is emerging. This suggests that investors might consider purchasing the stock at its current price, anticipating a rise towards the identified target of Rs.2780 5. Avenue Supermarts Ltd (DMART)- Dongre recommends buying Avenue Supermarts at 3998 keeping Stoploss at 3940 for a target price of 4060. In the recent short-term trend analysis of the stock, a notable bullish reversal pattern has emerged. This technical pattern suggests the possibility of a temporary retracement in the stock's price, potentially reaching around Rs.4060. At present, the stock is maintaining a crucial support level at Rs.3940. Given the current market price of Rs.3998, a buying opportunity is emerging. This suggests that investors might consider purchasing the stock at its current price, anticipating a rise towards the identified target of Rs. 4060. Shiju Koothupalakkal's intraday stocks for today 6.Godrej Consumer Products Ltd- Koothupalakkal recommends buying Godrej Consumer at 1129 for a target price of 1200 keeping Stop Loss at 1100 The stock has witnessed a strong pullback from the bottom made near 985 levels and has moved past the important 50EMA at 1085 zone improving the bias and with strength indicated has scope for further rise in the coming sessions. The RSI is steadily on the rise from the oversold zone and with much upside potential visible, it can carry on with the positive move further ahead. With the chart technically looking good, we suggest to buy the stock for an upside target of 1200 keeping the stop loss of 1100 level. 7. Aster DM Healthcare Ltd- Koothupalakkal recommends buying Aster DM Healthcare at 443 for a Target price of 470 keeping Stop Loss 430 The stock has witnessed a gradual rise taking support near the important 200 period MA at 424 zone and shown improvement just moving past the significant 50EMA level at 441 zone to improve the bias and further rise can be expected. The RSI has recovered strongly from the oversold zone and is on the rise, indicating a positive trend reversal to signal a buy. With the chart technically well positioned, we suggest to buy the stock for an upside target of 470 keeping the stop loss of 430. 8. Nippon Life India Asset Management Ltd- Koothupalakkal recommends buying Nippon Life India Asset Management at 601 for a target price of 635 keeping Stoploss at 585 The stock has indicated a steady rise from the low made near 500 zone taking support and has shown strength moving past the important 50EMA zone at 576 level to anticipate for further rise in the coming sessions. The RSI has picked up well with a gradual rise and has further scope for upward movement from current rate. With the chart technically looking attractive, we suggest to buy the stock for target of 635 keeping the stop loss of 585 level. Heres a quick look at stocks likely to be in focus in today's trade. Maruti Suzuki The automobile company has received a draft assessment order from the Income Tax Authority for FY22, proposing certain additions and disallowances totaling 2,966 crore to the income reported in its tax return. NCC The company has secured two advance work orders totaling 10,804.6 crore from Bharat Sanchar Nigam for designing, supplying, constructing, installing, upgrading, operating, and maintaining the middle-mile network of BharatNet in the Uttarakhand Telecom Circle, as well as in the Madhya Pradesh, DNH, and DD telecom circles. Welspun Enterprises Welspun Michigan Engineers, a subsidiary of the company, in partnership with Aaradhyaa & Co., has won a 328.12 crore contract from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for upgrading the Haji Ali Storm Water Pumping Station in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The project also includes a 15-year operations and maintenance period. IREDA State-owned IREDA announced on Tuesday that it has secured 910 crore through bond issuance. The raised funds will strengthen IREDA's Tier-II capital, boosting its net worth and improving its capital-to-risk-weighted assets ratio. Federal Bank Federal Bank is set to acquire a 4% stake in Ageas Federal Life Insurance for approximately 97.4 crore, purchasing 3.2 crore shares. TVS Motor TVS Motor's subsidiary, TVS Motor (Singapore), plans to acquire an additional 8.26% stake in GO Corporation, Switzerland, for CHF 500,000. ONGC The company plans to invest 3,300 crore in its subsidiary, ONGC Green, through a rights issue. The funds will be used to acquire a 100% equity stake in Ayana Renewable Power via ONGC NTPC Green (ONGPL), a 50:50 joint venture between ONGC Green and NTPC Green Energy. Additionally, the company's subsidiary, ONGC Videsh, will invest up to 1,500 crore in Beas Rovuma Energy Mozambique. ONGC Videsh holds a 60% stake in Beas Rovuma Energy Mozambique, with Oil India as the joint venture partner. Brainbees Solutions (FirstCry) The Board has approved a fund infusion of up to 146 crore in Globalbees Brands through the subscription of Compulsory Convertible Preference Shares and AED 9 million (approximately 20.98 crore) in Firstcry Management DWC LLC, UAE, via equity shares. Both entities are subsidiaries of the company. BHEL BHEL has renewed its Technology Collaboration Agreement (TCA) with Vogt Power International Inc., USA, for heat recovery steam generators. Granules India The Board has approved an internal restructuring plan involving its wholly owned subsidiaries in the USA. As part of this process, Granules USA, Inc., a subsidiary of the company, will transfer its business and most of its net assets to Granules Pharmaceutical, Inc. (GPI). This restructuring will not affect the ultimate ownership of the company's subsidiaries or alter the nature of its business operations in the US. The plan aims to streamline the number of legal entities, simplify legal, tax, and operational structures, establish a unified holding framework, and enhance market focus. Waaree Energies Waaree Energies is set to inaugurate its 5.4 GW solar cell manufacturing facility in Chikhli, Navsari, Gujarat, on March 29. After all the facts have been laid on the table, and all the arguments have been made; when the best intentions to save the planet from a fiery future crash against a resolute wall of government apathy and corporate greed, sometimes all thats left to do is to take a resigned look at the omens of impending disaster. Sniff the air, as our hunter gatherer ancestors used to do, and try to prepare the best you can for the dark times that are coming. Because if you were to gather all the different climate signals coming through in the form of seemingly disconnected news stories, then the inescapable picture that emerges is that we are living in a different version of Planet Earth. An Earth that bears very little resemblance to the planet in which human beings have lived, thrived and multiplied in over the past 10,000 years. A planet that is very different from the one of just a decade ago. Here are some omens. It is now late March, and for most people across India, it will seem like a trick of the mind to imagine that in the Himalayan regions, it is still technically winter. And while the country as a whole has suffered from unnaturally hot winter and spring months (both January and February were the hottest ever on record), there has been a decent amount of winter snowfall in the Himalaya. Just not in the months that youd expect. Snowfall season in the Himalaya has shifted from December-January to February-March. While this shift has been ongoing for the better part of a decade now, it is now the norm. Speak to any mountain community, and they will tell you that in the higher Himalayan valleys, there is less snow, and more rain. When it does snow, it occurs at the wrong time. And this shift is turning deadly. Also Read Climate change in 2025: An era of record heat and rising disasters Those of us who have been to Badrinath in Uttarakhand, whether as a pilgrim or for a mountain hike in the Alaknanda Valley, would know Mana, the last village in India". There are many such villages along Indias Himalayan borders, but Mana is arguably the most visited and therefore the most famous. On 28 February, Mana was in the news for a different reason. A group of Border Roads Organization workers were suddenly buried when a massive avalanche hit their camp at 5am on a stretch between Badrinath and Mana. They were in their tents, sleeping. Of the 54 workers buried alive, 50 were rescued by 1 March, but four of them died. By the next day, the missing workers were also found, all dead. In all, 8 workers died during the disaster. When I read about the it in the news, I was reminded of a similar disasterthe notorious avalanche of February 2021 that caused a deadly flash flood in the Rishi and Dhauli Ganga rivers (tributaries of the Alaknanda). That had been an omen: unseasonal winter heat in the high Himalaya causing ice to melt and cause a flash flood. Also Read Climate Change and AI's rising carbon footprint In Mana, the omen was unseasonal snow. In a report in the environment magazine Down To Earth, a Garhwali environmental scientist pointed out that before the climate system was broken, December and January snowfall would accumulate on the cold soil of mountain slopes. But with since snowfall season has shifted, the ground is no longer cold enough to hold the weight of fresh snow, and with additional snowfall, avalanches would be more common. Ironically, the BRO workers had been working near Mana to clear the road of snow. These are the seemingly small seasonal shifts brought about by climate change that ultimately capsize planetary systems. An avalanche warning system is now in place in Uttarakhand. Whether it works or not, it has come too late for those 8 BRO workers. Another omen. February 2025 was Indias hottest February since records began in 1901, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). No wonder then that severe heatwaves have begun unseasonably early in many parts of the country. Towards end February, there were humid heatwaves all along the Konkan coast, from Maharashtra to Karnataka to Kerala. Kannur recorded a daytime high of 40 degrees Celsius, Mumbai hit 38 degrees. Also Read Why 2025 is a do-or-die year for climate action According to IMD data, between end-February and end-March, 9 states suffered from heatwaves, with Gujarat and Odisha experiencing the most severe heatwave days. Not surprisingly, the IMD has predicted a scorching summer for 2025. Where there are dark omens, gallows humour cant be far behind. The source of the latter has been the stock market. Reeling from a pronounced correction since October last year, earlier this month market experts enthusiastically predicted an uptick in domestic spending in consumer goods, led by the sale of big ticket white goods such as air conditioners and refrigerators due to an early and prolonged summer. Watch your FMCG stocks deliver handsome returns while the world burns. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) recently published its annual State Of The Climate report for 2024, currently the hottest year on record. Among its litany of woes, one piece of information stood out. As the Indian Ocean warms faster than other global ocean systems, cyclones are becoming more intense. However, even their timing has shifted. Cyclone Remal which hit West Bengal and Bangladesh on 26 May, was one of the most late pre-monsoon cyclones ever recorded in the Bay of Bengal. Similarly, Cyclone Asna in the Arabian Sea became the first cyclone in 40 years to develop in the middle of the monsoon, in August. More omens. Also Read How global warming smashed all safety barriers in 2024 With nearly $11 billion in funding, India has emerged as the worlds third-largest startup ecosystem. Yet, this growth comes with challengesaround 5,000 startups shut down in 2024 due to funding constraints, scalability issues, market saturation, governance lapses, and policy hurdles. Despite the risks, Indian startups at various stages continue to attract investments from high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) and ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNIs). Read this | From startup founders to athletes: How Indias angel investor landscape is evolving beyond wealthy individuals Angel investors play a critical role in supporting early-stage ventures by providing not just capital but also industry expertise and strategic guidance. Many of Indias most successful startups, including Flipkart and Paytm, owe their early momentum to angel investors such as N.R. Narayana Murthy, Nandan Nilekani, Ratan Tata, and Vijay Shekhar Sharma. However, angel investing comes with inherent risks that require thorough due diligence. Here are critical factors to evaluate before making an investment decision: Adverse media screening: A key component of due diligence, adverse media screeningalso known as negative news screeninghelps uncover past controversies or reputational risks associated with an individual or entity. Identifying negative media coverage early can protect investors from engaging with potential fraudsters. Litigation risk: Regulatory compliance is crucial before releasing funds. Investors should verify that the startup adheres to relevant laws and regulations. It is equally important to check directly with courts for any ongoing civil or criminal cases involving the entity or its founders. Read this | India's fledgling startups are ditching the growth-at-all-costs culture for an old favourite Bankruptcy and financial defaults: Assessing whether a startups founders have a history of bankruptcy or financial default is essential. This helps gauge their financial stability, ability to raise debt, and eligibility for large tenders or bidding processes. PEP/ASF screening: A politically exposed person (PEP) holds or has held a high-profile public role, such as a government official, senior military officer, or executive in a state-owned enterprise. Screening PEPs and their family close associates is critical for identifying risks. Leadership quality: Beyond basic background checks, assessing senior leadership involves evaluating their reputation, ethical standing, reasons for past job exits, and potential conflicts of interest. Strong leadership is crucial for a startups long-term success and competitive positioning. Scalability: A startups ability to scale efficiently is vital. Investors should assess whether its product or service can handle increasing demand without operational bottlenecks. Funding a startup without scalable potential increases the risk of market failure. Angel investing in India is evolving rapidly. By 2025, the country is expected to have over 2,000 active angel investors deploying 5 to 10 crore. This signals a robust and maturing ecosystem. Also read | Small investments surge as new wave of angel investors enters startup scene, seeking lucrative returns However, thorough risk assessments and multiple due diligence checks remain critical to ensure capital flows to startups led by ethical and reputation-conscious promoters. Deepak Bhawnani is founder at Alea Consulting. Budget 2025 gave more tax-saving avenues to taxpayers, which will come into effect on 1 April 2025. Investing options are also likely to widen after the market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), created a new category Specialized Investment Funds (SIFs). The regulator also made changes to protect investor interests from mis-selling of new fund offers, enabling one-stop access to investments via DigiLocker, and the creation of a platform to trace unclaimed investments. These changes take effect in the new financial year. Here are some of the key changes you should be aware of as the new financial year kicks in. New tax slabs The new tax regime has some major changes in terms of slabs, which make it more appealing than the old regime for several taxpayers. Heres how it breaks down: No tax on income up to 4 lakh, 5% on 4 lakh to 8 lakh, 10% on income from 8 lakh to 12 lakh, and 15% on income from 12 lakh to 16 lakh. Income from 16 lakh to 20 lakh will be taxed at 20%, income from 20 lakh to 24 lakh will be taxed at 25%, and anything above 24 lakh per year will be taxed at 30%. If you make up to 12.75 lakh per year, you get a tax break in the new regime. For those earning up to 12 lakh, the 60,000 tax liability will be set off by an equal amount of rebate. Also Read | Maximise your tax savings with an HUF: A smart yet underused strategy The standard deduction for the new financial year has been increased to 75,000 in the new tax regime. Hence, those with income up to 12.75 lakh will also be exempted from tax in the new tax regime. Despite the relaxations under the new tax regime, if you have substantial deductions and exemptions under the old tax regime, you might still be better off with the old tax regime," pointed out Mumbai-based chartered accountant Nitesh Buddhadev. This will vary from case to case, depending on the individuals total income and the tax deductions he or she is eligible for." View Full Image Graphics: Mint Tax collected at source On overseas transactions, if the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) transfer exceeds 10 lakh in a financial year for general purposes, tax collected at source (TCS) of 20% is applicable. Previously, LRS exceeding 7 lakh attracted TCS. There wont be any TCS on remittances made out of loans for educational purposes. However, on other education and medical remittances, 5% TCS would still continue, though with the increased 10 lakh threshold," said Naisar Shah, director at PR Bhuta & Co., a chartered accountancy firm in Mumbai. TCS, TDS corrections Corrections in tax deducted at source (TDS) and TCS statements will be allowed for up to six years from the end of the financial year in which the original statement was filed. For Q1 (April-June), Q2 (July-September) and Q3 (October-December), corrections can be made within six subsequent financial years. For Q4 (January-March), corrections can be filed within six subsequent financial years plus one additional year as the filing due date for Q4 falls in the subsequent financial year. This new six-year window was announced in Budget 2024, which will be available from 1 April 2025. A one-time correction window has been granted for statements pertaining to financial years 2007-08 to 2018-19, with the cut-off of 31 March 2025. As there was no specified time limit for submitting TDS correction statements, this provision was vulnerable to erroneous refund claims and harassment of deductees. The introduction of a six-year time limit for correcting TDS and TCS statements aims to curb any misuse," said Harshal Bhuta, a partner at PR Bhuta & Co. Self-occupied property Previously, two properties could be declared as self-occupied for nil tax only if the owner couldnt live there for work, business, or professional reasons. Starting 1 April, two properties can be declared as self-occupied for nil taxation, regardless of the reason the owner has for not living there. "This proposal benefits taxpayers by only requiring proof that the property is not let out and it is not required to prove that the owner could not occupy it due to employment, business, or profession in a different location," said Prakash Hegde, a Bengaluru-based chartered accountant. Also Read | How to turn stock market losses into tax savings Timeline to update ITR The timeline to file an updated income tax return has been increased to four years from two years, from 1 April. However, additional tax of 60% and 70% is payable if the return is filed between 24-36 months and 36-48 months, respectively, from the end of the concerned assessment year. If filed before 12 months from the end of the assessment year, the additional tax payable is 25%, and if filed after 12 months but before 24 months, it is 50%. New fund offers From 1 April, funds must be deployed within 30 business days of the date of unit allotment of a new fund offer (NFO). If the fund house fails to meet this deadline, it can seek a one-time extension of 30 additional business daysbut only if the mutual funds investment committee approves it after reviewing the reasons for the delay. If the funds remain undeployed even after 60 business days, fund houses will be required to stop accepting fresh inflows into the scheme until the funds are fully deployed. Also, the fund house will have to allow investors to exit without any exit load. To curb mis-selling of NFOs by distributors for commissions, new rules say that when switching from an existing fund to an NFO, the commission rate of the lower-commission scheme will be considered. DigiLocker Users of DigiLocker, a government platform for storing, accessing and sharing official documents in paperless form, will be able to fetch and store their statements of holdings for shares and mutual fund units from their demat accounts, along with their consolidated account statement (CAS). This will expand DigiLocker services, which already include bank account statements, insurance policy certificates, and National Pension System account statements. MF Mitra A platform MITRA (Mutual Fund Investment Tracing and Retrieval Assistant) will be developed and launched by mutual fund registrar and transfer agents to provide investors with a searchable database to find their inactive and unclaimed mutual fund folios. It will enable investors to identify investments made by any other person for which he or she may be the rightful legal claimant. It will also encourage investors to comply with KYC (Know Your Customer) obligations to reduce the number of non-KYC compliant folios. Specialized Investment Funds The regulatory framework for SIFs will become effective from 1 April, enabling a new category of investment products positioned between mutual funds (MFs) and portfolio management services. SIFs will offer investors more sophisticated investment strategies, which MFs cant under current regulations. The minimum investment in SIFs is 10 lakh. Asset management companies are expected to launch funds in this new regulatory framework in the new financial year. NPS Vatsalya The children's welfare scheme NPS Vatsalya Scheme will offer the same tax benefits as the National Pension System (NPS). The parent or guardian contributing to the NPS Vatsalya account can claim deductions on such amounts, subject to a maximum of 50,000. This deduction is available only in the old tax regime. Senior citizens To give relief to senior citizens who depend on interest income for their retirement, the threshold for TDS has been increased from 50,000 to 1 lakh. Additionally, National Savings Scheme withdrawals on or after 29 August 2024 will be exempt from tax as no interest is payable on such accounts. Filmmaker Hansal Mehta and actor-politician Kangana Ranaut engaged in a war of word on social media on Tuesday as a political storm flared up over stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra's comments targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Kunal Kamra case vs Kangana Ranaut bungalow demolition case Kangana Ranaut said on Tuesday that Kunal Kamra's case differs from the demolition case related to her Mumbai bungalow in 2020. The Mandi BJP MP was referring to the demolition of her property in Pali Hill, Bandra, in September 2020. The BMC had demolished part of her property on grounds of unauthorised construction. Kangana was not a member of the BJP then. The incident led to a political upheaval, as the conflict involved the then-undivided Shiv Sena and then ruling Maha Aghadi Vikas (MVA). On March 25, 2025, Hansal Mehta asked in response to a tweet, "Was her [Kangana Ranaut's] house vandalised. Did goons enter her premises? Did they do this to challenge her freedom of expression or for alleged FSI violations? Please enlighten me. Maybe I dont know the facts [sic]." In another post on X, Mehta asked Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok, Since people are talking, I wanted to know how the incident with Kunal Kamra, the venue and the part demolition at Kanganas home are similar or different. @grok please enlighten me because when I ask those who indulge in whataboutery they stop responding [sic]. What did Grok say? The AI chatbox responded to Hansal Mehta saying, "Kunal Kamras 2025 incident (Shiv Sena mob vandalized a venue after his joke about Eknath Shinde, followed by BMC demolition) and Kangana Ranauts 2020 case (BMC demolished her home after criticizing the govt) share similarities. The chatbot explained, ...both seen as retaliation against critics, linked to Shiv Sena, and involve BMC actions. They differ in method mob violence in Kamras vs. direct BMC action in Ranauts and context: 2025 Shinde-BJP rule vs. 2020 MVA govt. Both raise free speech concerns, but Kamras adds illegal mob acts. Also Read | Kunal Kamra summoned by Mumbai Police over Eknath Shinde remarks "Both her & Kamras 2025 cases involve Shiv Sena & BMC, raising free speech & bias questions," Grok said in another response. Kangana Ranaut hits out at Hansal Mehta Reacting to Hansal Mehta's post asking questions, Kangana Ranaut said, 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 [sic]. "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," the BJP MP said. Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi is living in Belgium, the European nation has confirmed to a news channel. Choksi is one of Indias most wanted in connection with Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud The Belgian foreign ministry confirmed to news channel NDTV that they are aware of his presence and "attaches great importance and attention to it". The country, however, said it doesn't comment on individual cases. News agency ANI also carried a report about Choksi's presence in Belgium."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 FPS," David Jordens, Spokesperson and Head of Service for social media and press at Belgium's FPS told news agency ANI. Earlier, Indian authorities requested the Belgian authorities to initiate his extradition to India, Associated Times, a media outlet that focuses on the Caribbean region, reported. There was no immediate confirmation of the report by Indian authorities. Mehul Choksi, 65, is a fugitive Indian businessman and the owner of Gitanjali Group, a retail jewellery firm in India. He is wanted in India in connection with a 13,500-crore bank loan fraud case. Choksi, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, is accused in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam where it is alleged that the Choksi-Modi duo defrauded the bank of more than 14,000 crore, Business Standard reported. Choksi, his nephew Nirav Modi, their family members and employees, bank officials and others were booked by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2018 for perpetrating the alleged fraud in the Brady House branch of the PNB in Mumbai. The businessman fled the country in January 2018. Choksi was previously believed to have lived in Antigua and Barbuda before travelling to Belgium. His wife Preeti is known to be a Belgian citizen. Earlier this month, Antigua and Barbuda's Foreign Minister, EP Chet Greene, clarified that he had left the island for medical treatment abroad but remains a citizen of the country. "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," Greene told news agency ANI. Greene was in India to participate in the Raisina Dialogue, India's annual conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics organised by think tank ORF in partnership with Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Where is Mehul Choksi? Choksi is presently in Antwerp, Belgium with his wife, Preeti Choksi by securing 'F Residency Card' in the country, Associated Times, reported. The report claimed that Choksi gave misleading and fabricated documentation to obtain residency in Belgium to escape extradition to India. Also Read | From Anmol Bishnoi to Nirav Modi - 7 fugitives wanted in India Choksi submitted "false declarations" and "forged documents" to Belgian authorities and misrepresented his nationality in his application process, failing to disclose the details of his existing citizenship of India and Antigua, the report said citing sources. The report added that Choksi grounds of medical treatment at a well-known cancer hospital. I can confirm that the Federal Public Service (FPS) Foreign Affairs is aware of this case and attaches great importance and attention to it. Anil Tiger, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former zila parishad member, was shot dead in broad daylight in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi on Wednesday, March 26. Anil Tiger was also Ranchi rural district general secretary of the BJP. The incident happened early morning on Wednesday. Anil Tiger was gunned down by some motorbike-borne gunmen at Kanke Chowk in Ranchi. In protest against the murder, the BJP and AJSU Party have called for a Ranchi bandh on Thursday, March 27. Police have arrested an accused in the case after chasing him for some time. Also Read | BJP leader Pramod Yadav shot dead in Uttar Pradeshs Jaunpur In a statement, SSP Ranchi said, An accused in the murder of BJP leader Anil Tiger has been arrested after an encounter. He has been shot in the thigh. After being identified, police teams started chasing him. On seeing the police team, he opened fire. In retaliation, the police shot him and arrested him. The investigation is ongoing, the statement further read. BJP demands Hemant Soren's resignation BJP state president Babulal Marandi demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, alleging that the law and order situation has collapsed in the state under the JMM government. I am shocked by the news of BJP Ranchi rural district general secretary and former Zila Parishad member Anil Tiger ji being shot by criminals. Criminals are fearlessly attacking public representatives. The law and order situation in the state has completely collapsed, where neither public representatives nor common citizens are safe, Babulal Marandi posted on X. BJP MLA Navin Jaiswal said, Since their government has been formed in Jharkhand, the criminal activities have increased. The police administration has failed as they are busy looting the lands and coal and are unable to maintain law and order...Hemant Soren should tender his resignation from the post of chief minister. US President Donald Trump highlighted the election process in India and Brazil, where voter identification is linked to biometric databases, in a signed executive order on Tuesday as a measure to reform the election system of the United States. Free, fair, and honest elections unmarred by fraud, errors, or suspicion are fundamental to maintaining our constitutional Republic. The right of American citizens to have their votes properly counted and tabulated, without illegal dilution, is vital to determining the rightful winner of an election, the US President stated in the executive order. Also Read | Trumps tariff war forces allies to choose resistance or surrender What did the order say about India? India and Brazil, for example, are tying voter identification to a biometric database, while the United States largely relies on self-attestation for citizenship, the order reads. Congress reacts With Trump's mention of the biometric database in India, Congress thanked former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for introducing the Aadhar card in India. Reacting to Trump's recognition, Congress MP Manickam Tagore told ANI, "We all know that when the Aadhaar card was introduced by Dr Manmohan Singh's government, PM Modi criticised it. He raised many questions about Aadhaar. In 2013 also, when he was speaking in public meetings, he criticised the Aadhaar...US President Donald Trump's praise for Aadhaar is the praise for the visionary leadership of Dr Manmohan Singh..." What did Donald Trump's executive order say? Trump's executive order claims that the US has failed to enforce basic and necessary election protections and asked states to work with federal agencies to share voter lists and prosecute election crimes. In case of non-compliance, the order threatens to pull federal funding from states. It also directs federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Social Security Administration, and the State Department, to share data with election officials that could help them identify non-citizens on their rolls. India has hit back at United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) after the American agency recommended sanctions against Indias Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). The USCIRF report comes amid allegations that RAW was involved in targeting Sikh separatists on foreign soil. In its recommendations, USCIRF also recommended designating India as country of particular concern, a term New Delhi has strongly objected to. In a press conference, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal labelled the USCIRF an entity of concern, while calling its recent report a biased and politically motivated assessment. Randhir Jaiswal said, We have seen the recently released 2025 Annual Report of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which once again continues its pattern of issuing 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. Such efforts to undermine India's standing as a beacon of democracy and tolerance will not succeed. In fact, it is the USCIRF that should be designated as an entity of concern, the MEA said. In its recommendations to the US, the USCIRF said, Impose targeted sanctions on individuals and entities, such as Vikash Yadav and RAW, for their culpability in severe violations of religious freedom by freezing their assets and/or barring their entry into the United States for their alleged links to the plots to assassinate Sikh separatists. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Wednesday revealed that conducting an election in India requires 10,50,000 booths and 1,00,000 booth-level officers. Gyanesh Kumar was present at the inauguration of the first training session for booth-level officers, organised by the Election Commission at the India International Institute of Democracy & Election Management (IIIDEM) in New Delhi. India's election is the biggest in the world. To conduct this election, the Election Commission sets up 10,50,000 booths, he said, adding that at every polling booth, a booth-level officer assists in preparing the electoral roll and visits households to verify names. Kumar said that the EC has organised a training programme for the first time. In this training, we will train 1,00,000 booth-level officers, ANI quoted Gyanesh Kumar as saying. Also Read | Gyanesh Kumar takes charge as CEC amid Congress protest; SC to hear pleas today Gyanesh said the state governments should nominate SDM-level or equivalent officers as EROs, who then should appoint BLOs giving due consideration to their seniority and who are ordinary residents of the polling station under their charge. Training for over 1 lakh Booth level officers Meanwhile, an official statement issued by the EC said more than 1 lakh BLOs, with an average of one BLO per 10 polling stations, will be trained in such training programmes in the upcoming years. They will constitute a corps of Assembly Level Master Trainers (ALMTs) to bolster the entire network of BLOs in the country, who are the first and most crucial interface between the 100 Crore electors and the Commission. Also Read | Election Commission addresses concerns over duplicate voter ID numbers It added there are109 BLOs from Bihar, Assam and West Bengal who are taking part in this 2-day residential training programme besides 24 EROs and 13 DEOs from Bihar, Assam and West Bengal, Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu. Gyanesh highlighted, according to Article 326 of the Constitution and Section 20 of the RP Act 1950, that only citizens of India above 18 years of age and ordinarily resident in the constituency can be officially considered electors. The training is planned to familiarise the BLOs with their roles and responsibilities as per the RP Act 1950, the Registration of Elector Rules 1960 and instructions of the Commission issued from time to time and to equip them with requirements of filling relevant forms for an error-free updation of electoral rolls. They will be familiarised with IT applications designed to support their work, the release added. Also Read | Who is Vivek Joshi? All you need to know about new Election Commissioner Hours after T-Series reportedly sent a copyright strike on the video by stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, which he used as a reference to link Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde as gaddar" (traitor) in his latest YouTube video Naya Bharat, the comedian took to X and hit out at the music giant asking them to 'stop being a stooge'. Taking to X, Kunal Kamra wrote, Hello @TSeries, stop being a stooge. Parody & Satire comes under fair use Legally. I havent used the lyrics or the original instrumental of the song. If you take this video down every cover song/dance video can be taken down. Creators please take a note of it (sic)." Adding more, he wrote, Having said that every monopoly in India is nothing short of the Mafia, so please watch/download this special before its taken down. According to the details, Kamra uploaded the 45-minute-long video on 23 March, which was allegedly blocked due to copyright strike. Kamra had used songs from Dil Toh Pagal Hai and other films in his satire on Shinde and other ruling party politicians. Following the video was uploaded, outraged Shiv Sena workers stormed The Habitat studio in Mumbai, where the stand-up took place. Even after being asked by Shiv Sena workers to apologise for his remarks, Kamra refused to do so, saying, "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." Later, reacting on the incident, Shinde said in Maharashtra assembly, "Freedom of speech is there, and we understand satire, but there should be a limit." What is copyright strike? According to Google Support, a copyright strike on YouTube is a warning which states that a video violates copyright law and has been requested to be removed by the copyright owner. YouTube removes the video if the request is valid. What does YouTube copyright strike polices say? Under the Super Thanks Policies by Google Support, it says, as quoted by News18, Participating creators (and MCNs) must accept and comply with, YouTube Terms of Service; YouTube Community Guidelines; YouTube channel monetisation policies; all policies that apply to YouTube fan funding features, including the Commerce Product Module; and all applicable laws as required by YouTubes Terms of Service. Money you get from Super Thanks may be treated differently based on laws that apply to you and your activities." Not only this, but the YouTube policies even state that Super Thanks isnt a crowdfunding or donation tool. Youre responsible for understanding and fully complying with all applicable laws," the Google Support FAQs read. Google, which owns YouTube, also states in its policies that Super Thanks is not available for these types of long-form videos and Shorts: a) Age-restricted and unlisted videos b) Private or made for kids c) Long-form videos or Shorts with content ID claims d) Long-form videos or Shorts with YouTube giving fundraisers e) Live streams or Premieres, while live f) Long-form videos or Shorts with comments turned off. Will Kunal Kamra lose his Super Thanks donations? Though being allegedly blocked due to a copyright strike, difficulties may arise for Kamra if takes down the video. According to experts, cited by News18, Super Thanks donations are withheld in these cases. King Stubb & Kasiva, Advocates and Attorneys MD Jidesh Kumar noted to News18 that the donations are usually not refunded and may stay with YouTube if the video is permanently removed. A content creator said that if one gets already paid for past Super Thanks before the strike, that money is safe. But the creator loses the money if the video gets deleted due to a copyright strike before your payment cycle ends. So in this case, if Kamra has received the Super Thanks before the copyright strike, his amount is safe. But the 'Super Thanks donations' remains uncertain if the amount came during the payment cycle of the strike. Former Minister of Andhra Pradesh and YSRCP leader Kodali Nani was admitted to Hyderabad's AIG Hospital due to health issues, said the party on Wednesday. According to reports, Nani was rushed to Gachibowli AIG Hospital in Hyderabad early Wednesday after experiencing severe chest pain. Family members immediately took action, Hans reported. While initial reports suggested that Kodali Nani had suffered a heart attack, doctors at AIG Hospital clarified that his condition is being treated for a gastric issue, the report added. They have not yet confirmed a heart attack, it stated. Former CM YS Reddy expressed concern over the incident, reports said. Who is Kodali Nani? Nani, 53, is a former member of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly who represented the Gudivada assembly constituency for two decades in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative assembly. He was a minister for Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs in the Andhra Pradesh cabinet. He has political affiliations with YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) since 2012. Nani started his political journey with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). Also Read | Hyderabad woman jumps from moving train, she was trying to escape rape attempt He began his career as a film producer in the Telugu film industry prior to shifting to politics. As an MLA, he emphasised on different issues from rural development to education to healthcare. He has been part of numerous controversies. Nani was booked for trespass and property damage case linked to a liquor godown incident in Gudivada. He was alleged for indirectly causing suffering that led to the complainant's mother demise. Also Read | Only Hindus should work at Tirumala Temple: Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu A Delhi Police team, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) on Wednesday visited the residence of Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma in connection with the investigation into the alleged discovery of cash, a PTI report quoting official sources, said. The alleged cash discovery happened following a fire at Varma's Lutyens Delhi residence at around 11.35 pm on March 14, prompting the fire officers to rush to the spot. The team will reportedly carry out an inspection of the place where the fire occurred and may question staff working in the judge's residence. SC refuses urgent hearing of plea seeking FIR Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Wednesday refused an urgent mentioning of a plea seeking a direction to Delhi Police to lodge an FIR in connection with the case. A bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna was urged by lawyer Mathews J Nedumpara that the plea be listed for urgent hearing before a bench as it pertained to larger public interest. The CJI, who has stopped the practice of oral mentioning of cases for urgent listing, said that the plea would come up. Also Read | Judicial work withdrawn from Justice Yashwant Varma, says Delhi High Court On Tuesday, the three members of a Supreme Court-appointed in-house committee visited the residence of Justice Varma, as it commenced its inquiry into allegations. In the wake of the controversy, the apex court Collegium recommended the repatriation of Justice Varma, who was de-rostered by the Delhi High Court following a directive from CJI, to his parent, Allahabad High Court. On March 22, the CJI constituted the three-member committee to conduct an in-house inquiry into allegations and decided to upload the inquiry report of Chief Justice DK Upadhyay of the Delhi High Court in the incident. It included photos and videos of the alleged discovery of a huge stash of cash. What the plea said A plea was filed by Nedumpara and three others on Sunday seeking a direction to police to lodge an FIR in the matter. The plea also challenges the 1991 judgement in the K Veeraswami case, in which the top court ruled that no criminal proceedings could be initiated against a judge of the high court or the top court without the prior nod of the Chief Justice of India. Justice Verma's response In his response given to Chief Justice of Delhi High Court Justice DK Upadhyay, Justice Varma unequivocally denied the allegations against him. He said neither he nor his family members ever placed cash in the storeroom and that the suggestion that this cash was kept or stored by us is totally preposterous. Allahabad HC lawyers on indefinite strike The Allahabad High Court Bar Association on Tuesday began an indefinite strike to protest against the proposed transfer to the high court in Prayagraj of Delhi HC judge Yashwant Varma, who faces a probe after the discovery of a huge amount of cash from his residence. Separately, the Oudh Bar Association (OBA) 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. On the occasion of Ram Navami on April 6, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu where he will inaugurate the new Pamban Bridge and offer prayers at the Ramanathswamy temple. The 2.5-kilometre-long Pamban bridge will allow trains to cross the sea between mainland India and the Rameswaram island in less than 5 minutes, as compared to 25-30 minutes through the old colonial-era bridge. New Pamban bridge can handle faster trains The new Pamban bridge, the first vertical lift bridge in Asia, will replace the old bridge, which was built in 1914 and closed in 2022 due to corrosion problems. It has been built at a cost of 535 crore by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL). In November last year, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw posted on social media platform X about "India's first vertical lift railway sea bridge." "Built in 1914, the old Pamban Rail Bridge connected the mainland to Rameswaram for 105 years. Decommissioned in Dec 2022 due to corrosion, it paved the way for the modern New Pamban Bridge, marking a new era of connectivity!" he had said. "It's designed to handle faster trains and increased traffic. The New Pamban Bridge is not just functional - it's a symbol of progress, connecting people and places with modern engineering," he had said. Speed limits set Trials have been completed on the new bridge and safety certifications have also been received. "The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) has approved a speed limit of 75 kmph for the bridge, except for the vertical lift portion. The new bridge is designed for 80 kmph. Due to a curve, the CRS has approved a speed limit of 75 kmph. For the lift span alone, he has permitted 50 kmph," news agency PTI quoted N. Shrinivasan, senior deputy general manager of RVNL, as saying in February. The new bridge will be operated by an electromechanical system to enable maritime movement and it takes 5 minutes to lift the bridge and just one person can perform it, Shrinivasan had said. Wind velocity remains an issue However, the lifting mechanism cannot be operated when wind velocity reaches 58 kmph or beyond, a frequent occurrence between October and February. The old bridge was the only connection to the pilgrimage destination Rameswaram and the popular tourist spot of Dhanushkodi from 1914 until 1988, when a road bridge was commissioned next to it. The Supreme Court will today hear its suo motu case on a controversial Allahabad High Court order on what constitutes a charge of rape. A bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih is set to preside over the matter. The apex court on Tuesday took suo motu cognisance of the Allahabad High Court's ruling, a day after it dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) filed against the statement. A heated debate has been going on across the country after a judge of the Allahabad High Court observed that mere grabbing the breasts of a minor and pulling the string of her pyjama does not amount to the offence of rape or an attempt to rape. The statement caused widespread backlash, with political leaders and legal experts expressing their unhappiness regarding the same. Legal experts had deplored the observation of the Allahabad High Court on what constitutes a rape charge, calling for restraint by judges and underlining the drop in public confidence in the judiciary due to such statements. Following the backlash, the Supreme Court took note of the matter and registered a suo motu case. Supreme Court dismissed plea The suo motu case comes days after the Supreme Court refused to hear a public interest litigation (PIL) filed against the statement, seeking to issue an order to remove the controversial comment from the judgment. The plea also demanded that the apex court issue guidelines to prevent judges from making such controversial remarks in the future. Also Read | SC seeks Maharashtra govt's response on contempt plea over property demolition What did Allahabad HC judge say on rape? On March 17, the Allahabad High Court ruled that mere grabbing the breasts of a minor and pulling the string of her pyjama does not amount to the offence of rape or an attempt to rape. However, such offence falls under the ambit of assault or use of criminal force against any woman with the intent to disrobe or compel her to be naked. The court noted that this fact is not sufficient to draw an inference that the accused persons had determined to commit rape on the victim as apart from these facts no other act is attributed to them to further their alleged desire to commit rape on the victim. The court observed that there was no material on record to suggest that the accused had a determined intent to commit rape on the victim. The order was passed by Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra on a revision petition filed by two persons who moved the court, challenging the order of a Special Judge of Kasganj by which the court had summoned them under Section 376 of IPC apart from other sections. According to facts of the case, an application was moved before the court of Special Judge, POCSO Act, alleging that around 5:00 pm on November 10, 2021, the informant was returning from the home of her sister-in-law along with her minor daughter, aged about 14 years. Accused Pawan, Akash and Ashok, who were from her village, saw her on the way on a muddy road and asked where she was coming from. When she replied she was coming from her sister-in-law's place, Pawan offered a lift to her daughter, assuring her that he would drop her at her residence. Relying on his assurance, she permitted her daughter to accompany him on his motorcycle. Also Read | Allahabad HCBA seeks impeachment of Justice Varma, calls indefinite strike The accused persons stopped their motorcycle on the muddy way to her village and started grabbing her breasts. Akash dragged her and tried to take her beneath the culvert and pulled the string of her pyjama. Two persons reached the spot on hearing the cries of the minor girl. The accused persons threatened them by pointing a country-made pistol and fled the scene. After recording the statement of the victim and the witnesses, the court summoned the accused. After going through the materials on record, the court found, In the present case, the allegation against accused Pawan and Akash is that they grabbed the breasts of the victim and Akash tried to bring down the lower garment of the victim and for that purpose, they had broken string of her lower garments and tried to drag her beneath the culvert, but due to intervention of witnesses they left the victim and fled away from the place of incident. This fact is not sufficient to draw an inference that the accused persons had determined to commit rape on the victim as apart from these facts no other act is attributed to them to further their alleged desire to commit rape on the victim, it added. The court further noted that the specific allegation against accused Akash was that he tried to drag the victim beneath the culvert and pulled the string of her pyjama. It is also not stated by the witnesses that the victim got naked or undressed due to this act of the accused, the court said. There is no allegation that the accused tried to commit penetrative sexual assault against the victim, the court said. It said the allegations made against the accused Pawan and Akash and the facts of the case barely constitute an offence of attempt to rape in the case. To bring out a charge of attempt to rape, the prosecution must establish that it had gone beyond the stage of preparation, it said. The difference between preparation and actual attempt to commit an offence consists chiefly in the greater degree of determination, the court added. The court further said, On facts of the case a prima facie charge attempt to rape is not made out against the accused Pawan and Akash and instead they are liable to be summoned for a minor charge of Section 354(b) IPC i.e. assault or abuse a woman with intent to disrobing or compelling her to be naked and Section 9 of POCSO Act provides punishment for aggravated sexual assault on a child victim. Tihar jail being shifted: Tihar Jail, the largest prison complex in South Asia, is set to be relocated to national capital's outskirts. In her Budget speech on March 25, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced plans to shift Tihar Jail to the city's outskirts. The chief minister, who is also Delhi's finance minister, set aside 10 crore in the 2025-26 Budget for survey and consultancy services related to the shifting of the jail. Also Read | 10 key highlights of Delhi Budget 2025 by Rekha Gupta "In order to decongest the existing Tihar Jail Complex for the welfare of prisoners, a new scheme for development of a new Jail Complex by shifting the existing Tihar Jail Complex to some other location has been formulated," the Delhi chief minister said while presenting the budget in the assembly. Gupta tabled the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) government's 1 lakh crore budget for this financial year. The BJP returned to power in Delhi after a gap of 27 years in the assembly elections in February. What is the history of Tihar Jail? Established in 1958, Tihar Jail, officially known as Tihar Prisions, was originally supposed to be a small prison in Tihar village near Delhi. The idea was to accommodate convicts from the Delhi region, as the jail infrastructure at that time was inadequate. The jail functioned under the administrative control of Punjab despite being geographically located in Delhi. Established in 1958, Tihar Jail, officially known as Tihar Prisions, was originally supposed to be a small prison in Tihar village near Delhi. In 1966, the administrative control of Tihar Jail was transferred from Punjab to the Delhi administration. Over the years, Tihar jail witnessed expansion with an increasing population of inmates. As the crime rate increased, Tihar was plagued by overcrowding. Today, Tihar is one of Indias largest prison complexes, comprising nine prisons spread over more than 400 acres one prison in Rohini and six prisons in Mandoli. Located in West Delhi, Tihar is close to Tilak Nagar and Hari Nagar areas of the city. Originally designed to house approximately 10,025 inmates, it currently accommodates over 19,000, leading to overcrowding and security challenges. The Delhi government has initiated the development of new prison complexes in Narela to alleviate congestion. Who were the infamous inmates? Tihar jail has housed the country's most high-profile criminals, political figures, and activists. AAP chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his colleagues, Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, and Satyendar Jain, were imprisoned in Tihar jail in connection with the Delhi Liquor Policy case. Gangster Chhota Rajan, once a close associate of Dawood Ibrahim, was also held in Tihar for crimes including murder. Former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav served a 14-year sentence for the fodder scam, and international serial killer Charles Sobhraj was imprisoned in Tihar before escaping and then again arrested from Goa. Black Warrant on Tihar Jail Former Union Minister P Chidambaram, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, Afzal Guru, and Kashmiri separatist Maqbool Bhat, both of whom were executed in Tihar, are other prominent examples. Anti-graft activist Anna Hazare, businessman Subrata Roy, and Olympian wrestler Sushil Kumar are among other famous Tihar jail inmates. Recently, the Netflix series Black Warrant, a crime drama thriller based on the book of the same name, explored the harsh realities of Tihar Jail through the eyes of a jailer. Zahan Kapoor portrayed Sunil Kumar Gupta, a novice jailer at Tihar, in the series. Where will Tihar Jail be shifted? "We had also asked for space in Baprola, but due to encroachment, we couldn't get that. However, we have written to the Delhi government to provide 100 acres of land somewhere else," a source from Tihar jail told news agency PTI. Jail Numbers 1 to 9 are designed to house approximately 5,000 inmates, but these accommodate over 12,000 prisoners at present, the source said. "Jail Number 10 to 16 are designed to house approximately 3,700 inmates, but currently accommodate over 3,900 inmates. Jail Number 4 in Tihar and 12 in Mandoli Jail are known as 'Mulaija Jail' which means first-time offenders. We have a large number of inmates in these two jails, said the source. The chief minister also announced the formation of a society under the aegis of the Delhi Jail in the budget. In order to decongest the existing Tihar Jail Complex for the welfare of prisoners, a new scheme for development of a new Jail Complex has been formulated. The society will focus on the reformation and rehabilitation of prisoners. It will achieve this by developing their overall skills through various skill-imparting programs. Additionally, the society will professionalise the functioning of different factories and manufacturing units within the jails. However, CM Rekha Gupta did not revealed any date of the shifting plans. Commentary By Isaac Garcia-Sitton For decades, international students have contributed to Canadas research enterprise, workforce development and economic growth. Now, as Canada navigates strained relations and an escalating trade war with its largest economic partner, its important that policymakers stop overlooking international education that could be a critical factor in bolstering Canadas resilience. Unlike volatile trade agreements and fragile supply chains, international education provides a stable, long-term economic and social advantage. In 2018, international students contributed $21.6 billion to Canadas post-secondary institutions, local communities and gross domestic product (GDP). By 2022, that figure had grown to $37.3 billion. This represented just over 23 per cent of Canadas total service exports and around five per cent of total merchandise exports. The economic contributions from international education outpaced economic contributions from other industries, such as softwood lumber and auto parts. But their contributions extend far beyond financial impact. International students drive cutting-edge research in artificial intelligence, clean energy, biotechnology and climate science. This strengthens Canadas innovation ecosystem and global competitiveness. International students also serve as vital ambassadors, diversifying trade connections and expanding Canadas global reach. Despite their undeniable value, recent policy shifts risk undermining Canadas position as a top destination for global talent. In early 2024, the federal government imposed a two-year cap on new study permits. The cap would mean approximately 360,000 study permits would be approved in 2024 a decrease of 35 per cent from the previous years. The government plans a further 10 per cent cut in 2025 and 2026 and will cap approvals at 437,000. They will also, for the first time, restrict masters and PhD students, limiting access to Canadas research ecosystem. While a cap may have been necessary to moderate the sectors growth, its rollout created uncertainty for institutions and students. This damaged Canadas reputation for high-quality education. The impact on our global standing as a top destination for international students will take years to repair. International students are more than workers theyre entrepreneurs, innovators and future job creators. For instance, as of 2022, nearly 180 of the U.S.s billion-dollar companies were founded by former international students. Each of these companies created an average of 800 jobs and made up nearly a quarter of all dollar companies. Canada risks losing similarly bright minds to more welcoming countries if clear pathways for them to stay, contribute and build businesses arent established. This would cost the country both talent and billions in economic potential. If Canada is serious about building a stronger, more competitive economy, it must address the systemic issues that stand in the way of international student success. This includes modernizing credential recognition so employers can fairly assess international experience and qualifications, expanding co-op programs, internships and mentorships so international students can gain relevant Canadian experience before graduation and protecting them from misinformation and questionable recruitment practices. Employers need to be educated about immigration pathways to reduce hiring hesitancy. The government also must create a stable and predictable immigration policy framework to give businesses confidence in hiring international graduates. As Canada continues to face labour shortages and growing economic and political volatility, international education remains a strategic asset. It fuels research, diversifies trading partners, supports innovation and supplies the workforce Canada needs for long-term prosperity. The future of Canadas economy depends on its ability to attract and retain the thinkers, creators, and innovators who will define the next generation of progress. At this critical moment, Canada must decide if it will invest in the talent that fuels innovation or close the door on opportunity. Isaac Garcia-Sitton is affiliated with the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), the Council of Ontario Universities (COU), and the Council of International Schools (CIS). The diplomatic talks between India and China on Tuesday emphasised effective border management and the restarting of cross-border cooperation and exchanges, comprising trans-border rivers and the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra. It was the 33rd meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on China-India border affairs, which discussed putting decisions in effect taken between NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Special Representatives (SR) dialogue in December of 2024. It came two months after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Beijing for two days and conducted discussions with his Chinese counterpart. Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia), headed the Indian team, whereas Hong Liang, Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Affairs Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led the Chinese delegation. During a meeting between PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan on October 23, the decision included restoring the SR mechanism and other such dialogue formats. Maintain and strengthen relevant diplomatic and military mechanisms 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, the Ministry of External Affairs said. Both weighed on the situation along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, where each side currently has nearly 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the region. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) added India and China also agreed to work jointly to make substantial preparation for the next SR meeting that will take place in India later this year. It mentioned that peace and tranquillity on the border are "critical" for the better development of overall relations between the two countries. Also Read | How China beat out the US to become the top player in rare-earths refining China's ambassador on WMCC meeting Both sides, adopting a positive, constructive, and forward-looking approach, conducted a comprehensive and in-depth exchange of views on implementing the consensus reached during the 23rd meeting of Special Representatives for the China-India Boundary Question last December, Xu Feihong, China's ambassador to India posted on X. He added, The two sides agreed to take concrete and effective measures to continue maintaining peace and stability in the China-India border areas and actively prepare for the 24th meeting of Special Representatives for the China-India Boundary Question. Also Read | Donald Trump to impose sharp tariff on India, China for buying Venezuelan oil Meanwhile, India has been consistent on its remark that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas. After the completion of the disengagement process in Demchok and Depsang, Indian and Chinese militaries also began patrolling activities again in the two areas after a hiatus of nearly four-and-a-half years. Mumbai Airport News: In a deeply distressing incident, the body of a stillborn male infant was reportedly found discarded in a waste bin inside a toilet at Mumbai's Terminal 2 (T2) International Airport on Tuesday evening. The grim finding was made by housekeeping staff during their routine cleaning at approximately 10:30 pm, prompting an immediate investigation by local authorities. Times of India quoted Sahar Police stating that this unfortunate event marks the first recorded instance of body disposal within the airport premises. The individual responsible for abandoning the infant managed to escape undetected, raising concerns about potential security lapses at the Mumbai Airport. Authorities are now meticulously gathering information on all Mumbai airport visitors, including both arriving and departing passengers, in an effort to identify any pregnant woman who may have suffered a miscarriage. The deceased infant was promptly transported to Cooper Hospital, where medical staff confirmed that the baby was indeed stillborn prior to admission. Sahar police has registered a case under sections 91 and 94 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which address acts intended to prevent live birth or cause death after birth, as well as the concealment of birth through secret disposal of a body. A senior officer from the Sahar Police Station described the incident as unprecedented at Mumbai Airport, highlighting the urgency of identifying the individual responsible for abandoning the stillborn infant. "A team is meticulously reviewing CCTV footage to identify the person who discarded the stillborn. We are also tracing the suspect's movements to determine whether they entered and exited the airport with the stillborn or if a miscarriage occurred unnoticed. This appears to be a significant security lapse, as the person was able to dispose of the infant undetected and leave the airport without arousing suspicion," the officer explained to Times of India. Security Concerns at Mumbai Airport The fact that the individual responsible for abandoning the infant was able to do so without detection has raised significant security concerns for Mumbai Airport. The airport, known for its stringent security measures, faces questions about how such an incident could occur. The police are considering the possibility of unauthorized entry, which, if confirmed, would highlight a serious breach in airport security protocols. Also Read | 2 Mumbai airport staffers among 4 aheld for smuggling gold worth 4.84 crore Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, known for his sharp criticism of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has now sided with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on his freedom of expression stance in the Kunal Kamra controversy. While backing his opposition is rare for Sanjay Raut, it did come with a catch. As Kunal Kamra battles a series of threats and legal action over his parody song about a traitor, Yogi Adityanath said the freedom of expression does not mean that individuals can use it to attack someone else. He said the law should take action against such people who are creating differences in the country. Agreeing with Yogi Adityanath on his freedom of expression remarks in the Kunal Kamra case, Sanjay Raut said while he sides with the Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Kamra did not mention anyone's name. I agree with what Yogi Ji said -- freedom of speech doesn't mean people can say just anything. But what did Kamra say? He didn't mention anyone's name. He commented on a situation that happened in Maharashtra using satire, Sanjay Raut said. I often listen to poets like Kumar Vishwas and Surendra Sharma, and they, too, use satire. Vandalizing property in response to Kamra's words is not justified. What did Kunal Kamra say? Kunal Kamra sparked up a political storm with his controversial 'gaddar' (traitor) joke at a show. While he did not name anyone as traitor, angered workers of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena party ransacked the comedian's performance site. After nearly twenty years, Prince Harry has shut down Sentebale, a charity he co-founded in 2006 in memory of his mother, Princess Diana, to benefit orphaned African children. Harry had co-founded Sentebale with his friend Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. According to media reports, the charity had suffered ego wars amid allegations of harassment and misogyny by board chair Sophie Chandauka, forcing the trustees of the charity to resign unanimously. In a statement to The Times, the Royal duo declared that they are siding with the trustees, who had acted in the best interest of the charity, in a row that has created an untenable situation. What has board chair Sophie Chandauka alleged? Sophie Chandauka, who was appointed as Sentebale's board chair last year, alleged that she was faced with bullying, harassment, misogyny, and misogynoir, along with issues of poor governance, weak executive management, and abuse of power at Prine Harry's charity. She told The Sun that the Sentebale trustees behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people, blaming them for playing the victim card and using the press to harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct. Speaking to The Sun, the Zimbabwean lawyer said she had acted with integrity as a "proud African" despite it all. She is understood to be suing the trustees over calls for her to stand down from the post. Here's what Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso said in their statement: In their statement, which is yet to be publicly released, the founders of Sentebale Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso said: 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. Whats transpired is unthinkable, the Princes' said, adding that they are in shock to 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. What did the trustees say? In a statement to The Times, former Sentebale trustees Timothy Boucher, Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, Kelello Lerotholi and Damian West said that Chandauka's lawsuit had been initiated to block us from voting her out. What's next for Sentebale? A spokesperson for Sentebale said the charity is restructuring the Board on 25 March 2025 to introduce experts with the capabilities and networks to accelerate its transformation agenda, as announced last year. According to The Sun, Sentebale has not received formal resignations from either of the royal patrons. However, the Charity Commission has confirmed that an investigation is underway into the charity, which was set up to support those living with HIV and Aids in Africa. In 2025, United States President Donald Trump imposed significant tariffs on Canadian goods, including a 25 per cent duty on steel and aluminium with a bulk due in early April, accusing its neighbour of ripping off the American land. The move to impose tariffs was perceived by many Canadians as an economic assault on their country, leading to a surge in national unity and a collective pushback against all things American. It did not just happen overnight. The animosity against the United States started to brew when Donald Trump started threatening sweeping tariffs on the country, while mocking then PM Justin Trudeau as Governor and referring to Canada as the 51st state of America. Despite Justin Trudeau's attempts to derail the dumb tariff plans which also included him visiting Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence after his victory in the elections the US president went ahead with his assault plans on what he called an emergency situation. Canada, of course, hit back with retaliatory tariffs. But that was not all. The polite Canadians pushed back together by calling for the fellow citizens to boycott all products American and switch to local products. From reshelving US liquor and replacing them with Canadian booze to cancelling trips to the neighbouring country to opting for Canadianos instead of Americanos to replacing US tech giant Amazon with China's Temu, there is a rage among Canadians to protect their own. Canadiano coffee at $4 CAN is offered among other products at Cafe Belem in Toronto If theres no Canadian lettuce, Ill look for Mexican lettuce, said a Canadian. This happened at a time of growing discontent with Justin Trudeau, ultimately leading to his resignation. Its an attack on Canada. We, as Canadians, dont go out and try to create fights, said a Canadian who runs an online directory store Made in Canada. "I can tell you that Canadians right now are upset, were angry, were dismayed. I know of people who have said, Im never going to step foot on that side of the border again, a Canadian citizen, John Liedtke, was quoted as saying by CNN. The United States was the top destination for Canadian tourists, with 20.4 million visits reported last year by the US Travel Association, pumping some US$20.5 billion into the American economy and supporting 140,000 jobs. But since the Trump tariffs, Canadians are cancelling their plans to vacation in the United States. We don't want to support the United States. It's a matter of principle, said Rosalie Cote who has vacationed in Maine with her parents, according to AFP. Romane Gauvreau cancelled her mountain biking trip to Vermont and a family vacation to Maine over the political happenings in the US. We don't want to go to a place where democracy is in danger, where people suffer great injustices, and where people are being deported, he said. According to Flight Centre Canada, bookings to US destinations in February dropped 40 per cent compared to the same month last year, while 20 per cent of existing reservations were cancelled. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Wednesday that four U.S. soldiers who went missing while training in Lithuania have died, but that he did not yet know the details. A U.S. official would say only that the four soldiers were involved in a training accident. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, would not comment on the status of the soldiers. Rutte said during a trip to Warsaw that he had received word of the deaths of the four soldiers and that his thoughts were with their families and with the United States. This is still early news so we do not know the details. This is really terrible news and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones," Rutte told reporters in Warsaw. U.S. Army Statement A statement from U.S. Army Europe and Africa public affairs in Wiesbaden, Germany said the soldiers were conducting scheduled tactical training at the time. Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT reported that four U.S. soldiers and vehicle were reported missing Tuesday afternoon during an exercise at the General Silvestras Zukauskas training ground in Pabrade, a town located less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the border with Belarus. The Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are all NATO members and have often had chilly ties with Russia, a key ally of Belarus, since declaring independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. US President Donald Trump signed an executive action on Tuesday to overhaul elections in the US. The new order requires people to proof their US citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. It also demanded that all ballots be received by Election Day. 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, the Associated Press reported. What the order says The executive order signed by Donald Trump read, "the United States has not adequately enforced Federal election requirements that, for example, prohibit States from counting ballots received after Election Day or prohibit non-citizens from registering to vote." The order says the US 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 don't comply. Also Read | Zelensky to Donald Trump: Back us with weapons if Russia violates truce What critics say? Voting rights groups reportedly expressed concerns that the requirement could disenfranchise people. A 2023 report by the Brennan Center for Justice and other groups claimed that an estimated 9 percent of US citizens of voting age, or 21.3 million people, do not have proof of citizenship readily available. 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. Legal challenges Trump's 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. Also Read | Donald Trump to impose sharp tariff on India, China for buying Venezuelan oil Meanwhile, Democratic Rep. Joe Morelle of New York said the executive order is not just misguided it is immoral and illegal. 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 was quoted by the Associated Press as saying. He said some federal agencies provide election support, including the US. Election Assistance Commission, which distributes federal grant money to states and runs a voluntary certification program for voting systems. Also Read | Vanessa Trump dating Tiger Woods? Golfer confirms budding affair The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency helps election officials protect their systems. US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz claimed "full responsibility" for mistakenly adding a journalist to a group chat in which top American officials discussed impending strikes in Yemen. "I take full responsibility. I built the group; my job is to make sure everything's coordinated," Waltz told Fox News in his first interview on Tuesday. He said he does not personally know Jeffrey Goldberg, the journalist who was added to the chat. It's embarrassing. We're going to get to the bottom of it, Waltz was quoted as saying. 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. Waltz suggested the leak was the result of him mistakenly saving Goldberg's number under another name. "Have you ever had somebody's contact that shows their name and then you have somebody else's number?" he said. What happened exactly? Questions were raised after Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg was added to a text group of top officials discussing plans for military strikes in Yemen. The Trump team shared the plans on the encrypted messaging app Signal. It's popular encrypted messaging service used by journalists and government officials. 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. Trump downplays firestorm US President Donald Trump downplayed the firestorm on Tuesday after a journalist was accidentally added to a group chat. "There was no classified information," Trump told reporters when asked about the chat, saying that the commercial app Signal was used by a lot of people in government. He said, "I dont know anything about it. Im not a big fan of the Atlantic. He added, "To me, it's a magazine thats going out of business. I think its not much of a magazine, but I know nothing about it." The Atlantic responded to "The Ingraham Angle" in part 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 Trump defends Waltz According to Fox news, Trump defended Waltz, saying the national security advisor will not be fired over the incident despite some Democrats calling for Waltz and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to resign following the apparent national security breach. "Hes not getting fired," Trump told Fox News. The president said the incident was a "mistake," though there was "nothing important" in the Signal text thread. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom on Tuesday recommended sanctions against the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) over its alleged involvements in assassination plots concerning Sikh separatists. The agency also said that minorities in India are facing deteriorating treatment, according to a Reuters report. The panel recommended the US government designate India as a country of particular concern for religious freedom violations and impose targeted sanctions against R&AW and some of its officials. The Indian embassy did not comment on the development immediately, as per the Reuters report. US agency demands sanctions on India Countries like Canada have since 2023 accused India of allegedly targeting Sikh separatists in the US and Canada. This has caused a crack in India-US ties, with Washington charging an ex-Indian intelligence officer Vikash Yadav in a foiled US plot. In India, Sikh separatists who demand a separate country Khalistan, have been viewed as security threats. However, New Delhi has repeatedly denied involvement in plots against Khalistanis. Will US impose sanctions on India and RAW? Analysts quoted by Reuters have said that Washington has long seen New Delhi as a counter to China's rising influence in Asia and elsewhere, and, hence, overlooked human rights issues in India. In such a scenario, it is unlikely that the US government will sanction India's Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) spy service, as the panel's recommendations are not binding. The commission is a bipartisan US government advisory body that monitors religious freedom abroad and makes policy recommendations. US panel accuses India of minority mistreatment The US Commission on International Religious Freedom also accused India of deteriorating treatment towards its minorities. In 2024, religious freedom conditions in India continued to deteriorate as attacks and discrimination against religious minorities continued to rise, Reuters quoted the panel as saying in a statement on Tuesday. In a rare move supporting gun control, the US Supreme Court ruled 7-2 on Wednesday to uphold federal restrictions on ghost gunsuntraceable firearms that can be easily assembled at home. The decision ensures that these weapons, often linked to rising gun violence, must now include serial numbers, background checks, and seller licensing requirements, reported the New York Times. Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, writing for the majority, emphasized that ghost gun kits are designed for combat and should be regulated as firearms. He included photos of Polymer80s Buy Build Shoot kit, illustrating how it contains everything needed to assemble a Glock-style pistol in under 30 minutes. No one would confuse this pistol with a tool or a toy, Gorsuch wrote, pushing back against claims that the kits were harmless hobbyist projects. The ruling is a significant victory for the Biden administration, which tightened ghost gun regulations in 2022 after law enforcement agencies reported a surge in their use in crimes. Crime-related use increases tenfold According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), crime-related use of these kits increased tenfold in the six years leading up to the rule change. However, the decision was met with dissent from Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, who argued that the federal government had overstepped its authority. Justice Thomas contended that the kits themselves do not meet the legal definition of firearms under the 1968 Gun Control Act, stating, The ordinary meaning of weapon does not include weapon-parts kits. The case, Bondi v. VanDerStok, revolved around whether the ATF had the power to regulate these kits. Gun rights groups argued that most crimes still involve traditional firearms and that ghost guns are primarily used by hobbyists. The Court rejected this argument, with Chief Justice John Roberts comparing ghost gun kits to IKEA furnitureTheir intended function is clear, even if some assembly is required. Also Read | How to prepare for a declining US economy Instrument of combat Justice Gorsuch echoed this sentiment, likening ghost gun kits to a partially written novel or an unassembled tableYes, perhaps a half-hour of work is required before anyone can fire a shot. But even as sold, the kit comes with all necessary components, and its intended function as an instrument of combat is obvious. Commentary By Nadeem Esmail Back in 1984, the Canada Health Act (CHA) received royal assent and has since reached near iconic status. At the same time, under its purview, the Canadian health-care system has become one of the least accessible and most expensive universal health-care systems in the developed world. Clearly, policymakers should reform the CHA to reflect a more contemporary understanding of how to structure a truly world-class universal health-care system. Consider, for a moment, the remarkably poor state of access to health care in Canada today. According to international comparisons of universal health-care systems, we endure some of the lowest access to physicians, medical technologies and hospital beds in the developed world. Wait times for health care in Canada also routinely rank among the longest in the developed world. None of this is new. Canadas poor ranking in the availability of services reaches back at least two decades. And wait times for health care have nearly tripled since the early 1990s. Back then, in 1993, Canadians could expect to wait 9.3 weeks for medical treatment after GP referral, compared to 30 weeks in 2024. This is all happening despite Canadians paying for one of the worlds most expensive universal-access health-care systems. And this brings us back to the CHA, which contains the federal governments requirements for provincial policymaking. To receive their full federal cash transfers for health care from Ottawa, provinces must abide by CHA rules and regulations. And therein lies the rub. We can find the solutions to our health-care woes in other countries such as Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Australia, which all provide more timely access to quality care. Every one of these countries requires patient cost-sharing for physician and hospital services, and private competition in the delivery of universally accessible services, with money following patients to hospitals and surgical clinics. And all these countries allow private purchases of health care, as this reduces the burden on the publicly-funded system and creates a valuable pressure valve for it. Unfortunately for Canadians, the CHA expressly disallows requiring patients to share the cost of treatment, while the CHAs often vaguely defined terms and conditions have been used by federal governments to discourage a larger role for the private sector in the delivery of health-care services. At the same time, every new federal commitment to fix health care means increased provincial reliance on Ottawa. In 2024-25, federal cash transfers for health care are expected to total $52 billion, which means theres $52 billion on the line for perceived non-compliance with the CHA. In short, this is why the provinces are beholden to a policy approach thats clearly failing Canadians. So, what to do? For starters, Ottawa should learn from its own welfare reforms in the 1990s, which reduced federal transfers and allowed provinces more flexibility with policymaking. The resulting period of provincial policy innovation reduced welfare dependency and government spending on social assistance (i.e. savings for taxpayers). When Ottawa stepped back and allowed the provinces to vary policy to their unique circumstances, Canadians got improved outcomes for fewer dollars. We need that same approach for health care today, and it begins with the federal government reforming the CHA to expressly allow provinces the ability to explore alternate policy approaches, while maintaining the foundational principles of universality. Next, the federal government should either hold cash transfers for health care constant (in nominal terms), reduce them or eliminate them entirely with a concordant reduction in federal taxes. By reducing (or eliminating) the pool of cash tied to the strings of the CHA, provinces would have greater freedom to pursue reform policies they consider to be in the best interests of their residents without federal intervention. After 40 years, its high time to remove ambiguity and minimize uncertaintyand the potential for politically motivated interpretationsof the CHA. If federal policymakers want Canadians to finally have access to world-class health care, they should allow the provinces to choose their own set of universal health-care policies. The first step is to fix the 40-year-old legislation that has held the provinces back. Nadeem Esmail is a Senior Fellow of the Fraser Institute. Chinese electric vehicle ( EV ) maker BYD, short for Build Your Dreams, has eclipsed Elon Musk s Tesla in annual revenue. It reported a topline of $107.2 billion for 2024, exceeding Teslas $97.7 billion. BYD has logged a 29% revenue jump, alongside a 34% rise in net profit to $5.6 billion last year. Tesla, in contrast, has had a bumpy ride, as Musks role in government layoffs in the US and American trade aggression led consumers to boycott its EVs globally. The Warren Buffett-backed BYD, meanwhile, has seen its stock price soar as sales climbed. Its new super-charger that promises a 400km range on a 5-minute plug-in, overcoming a big deterrent to EV purchases, has brightened its prospects, even though trade barriers in the West could cramp its ability to zip around more of the worlds streets. Its stunning rise makes it evident that Chinese manufacturers lead even consumer-facing clean-tech industries. Although India has significant friction in its relationship with China, maybe New Delhi should soften its disposition towards Chinese companies at the cutting-edge of technologies we would surely benefit from. BYDs expansion in India could help our EV market evolve. Indias government seems set to drop its 6% equalization levy on online advertising services rendered to Indian advertisers by offshore digital businesses. This so-called Google tax since it impacted this US-based web-search company perhaps the most, though also others like Meta and Xwas introduced in 2016, but is abruptly being withdrawn just days before US President Donald Trump s reciprocal tariffs go into force from 2 April. What this move is expected to yield, however, remains unclear. As a giveaway to US Big Tech firms that make money off Indias market through borderless operations, the purpose might be to show flexibility in trade talks with America, expected to revolve around business interests. But are we giving up too much too soon? This would not be Indias first concession. In August, New Delhi axed a 2% levy on e-commerce transactions, while the Union budget for 2025-26 slashed import duty on high-end vehicles that Trump is known to bat for. Given the US presidents latest threat to erect steep import barriers against any country that buys oil and gas from Venezuela, we may be pushed to choke off Venezuelan crude supply. While the Google-tax reversal looks like another peace offering, in going down this path, India must not lowball itself. We still lack clarity on how Trumps tariffs will apply. If the US matches Indian rates item-for-item, there may be little for us to lose, as the items we export to it do not overlap much with what we import from it. As Washington has yet not publicly stated what shape its trade barriers will take, and it has held off punitive levies on the imports of some countries, there may be scope for a reprieveor even a grand bargain. After all, tariffs are not costless for the US, which has been wielding them for leverage over other governments. What exactly Trump expects of India, apart from buying specified US commodities and arms, will only be clear once negotiations proceed. Unfortunately, whether tax relief for Big Tech enables better bilateral ties may be hard to make out even if a trade deal is struck. While the mutual aim is to sign a pact by autumn this year, Indias sweeteners look likely to go into effect sooner. Although an ad-hoc approach to policy would only mirror what the US is doing, Indian autonomy demands that we resist our frameworks being reshaped in an American image. To that end, we must stand by the principles espoused before Trumps ascent. Recall, the Google tax was levied to make up for lost revenues on value generation off Indian eyeballs by global sellers of digital ad-space. There was no reason for only US coffers to gain from their success. This view was shared by other nations, notably in Europe. Such was the outcry over powerful enterprises hovering above national borders and cherry-picking tax regimes that the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development proposed a plan for a fairer split-up of taxes collected from multinational corporations (MNCs). Endorsed by the G20, it had two pillars. The first would let local economies tax MNCs operating in their markets, with taxation rights carved up in a ratio of where they raise revenues from. The second sought a minimum levy on MNCs to stop the flight of their books to tax havens. If the first pillar is adopted, the case for a Google tax would evaporate. But this proposal ran into resistance from the US, which seems wedded to an unfair status quo. For the sake of fairer taxation, though, it should remain on Indias advocacy agenda. Recent reports that Indias production-linked incentives (PLI) introduced in 2020 have been the subject of an exhaustive internal government review must count as welcome news. If true, a Reuters report suggests this programme will not be expanded. This would represent a quick rethink of a major government initiative. It quoted two senior government officials as saying that the scheme will not be expanded beyond its 14 pilot sectors and production deadlines wont be extended in spite of requests from some participating firms. Less emphasis on the PLI scheme ought to create room for a new industrial policy. Lets call it NIP as a marker of the speed needed in rethinking our approach on several issues that bedevil the economy. These include Indias overvalued exchange rate, which should be routinely measured against a basket of our export competitors currencies, and concluding key bilateral trade treaties over which negotiations have dragged on for years. The Reuters report suggests governments need to avoid the temptation of becoming venture capitalists. To be fair, there is hardly a major economy that hasnt made a similar effort to pick winners and determine what is strategic. Every large economy is seeking to boost manufacturing, even as Beijing games the global trading system to its benefit. In response to the Reuters article, the government said that the PLI scheme had been a success and that participating firms had produced $163 billion worth of goods, or 90% of the target for 2024-25. Since its inception, however, the PLI scheme has seemed like a kind of creaky time-machine to travel back to Indias socialist 1970s that we thought we had left behind. In January 2021, I wrote in Mint that PLI procedures to evaluate the eligibility of companies ran the risk of ushering in a limited licence raj. Given the track record of Indias bureaucracy dating back to the 1950s, several commentators had similar views. In a prescient piece for Takshashila Institution five years ago, Pranay Kotasthane pointed out that the PLI scheme for the electronics sector has specific eligibility criteria both on incremental investment and incremental sales a company needs to commit over the next five years" and that this would be evaluated by a project management agency under the ministry of electronics and information technology. In turn, these recommendations would be checked by a powerful panel comprising the CEO of Niti Aayog and several ministry secretaries. Kotasthane observed, The committee is empowered to revise anythingsubsidy rate, eligibility criteria, and target segments." He warned there was a risk that reasonable regulation drifts toward overregulation." In addition, the scheme has come to include home appliances, food products and textiles. None of these can be deemed strategic and this mission creep overburdens government capacity. There is now an opportunity to go for a new industrial policy by making the ease of doing business a genuine goal rather than a cliche. Instead, there is a legal case currently before the Bombay high court in which the customs department accuses Volkswagen of bringing in knocked-down kits of cars and labelling them as spare parts, which attract lower tax rates. These alleged malpractices started in 2012 and the government is seeking $1.4 billion in back taxes. The court will decide who is wrong, but it is hard not to wonder why something that dates back more than a decade has come to light recently. A similar $601 million tax demand of Samsung was revealed this week. These risk generating international headlines at a time when foreign direct investment into India has been weak. Then there are our bilateral trade agreement discussions with the EU, which began in 2007. Progress has reportedly been so slow astonishingly because of an impasse over imports of European cars and wine. Meanwhile, Bangladesh and other countries that have preferential trade arrangements have increased their global share of garments and apparel exports. It would have been more strategic from a job-creation perspective to have speedily concluded a trade agreement years ago than for textile companies, for instance, to be covered by the PLI scheme. Swarajya magazine this week argued that Indias trade bureaucracy is understaffed, with some 150 officers, compared with more than 800 in the US. Interventionist trade policies could have adverse outcomes, however, as companies and consumers in the US will learn on 2 April as the Trump administration goes ahead with tariffs. This is statist industrial policy by another name. A tariff favouring one influential domestic company usually hurts many others that suffer costlier inputs. India, for instance, has several hundred quality control orders (QCOs) playing havoc with supply chains while reducing competition at home. These put foreign factories that export to India under a microscope and subject to inspections. R.P. Goyal, trade advisor to Shahi Exports, Indias largest apparel exporter, observes that while QCOs may be well-intentioned, a thorough assessment of the impact on all stakeholders must be done before they are applied. Foreign suppliers are often not interested in going through the rigours of providing detailed information, conducting inspections and complying with irritating formalities," Goyal said. As a result, supplies (dry) up, and manufacturing activities in India suffer." The author is a Mint columnist and a former Financial Times foreign correspondent. Indias policymakers should be drawing up strategies to deal with the new age of trade barriers. Instead, they seem to be looking forward to it with a certain confidence, even optimism. There is none of the concern or outrage visible in other countries that US President Donald Trump has targeted. Indeed, if anybody nourished a vague hope that Trump would fail to impose tariffs on Indian exports, the man himself dashed them last week. Duties would be imposed on goods coming into the US from 2 April, the US President said in an interview to Breitbart News, adding for good measure that India was one of the highest tariffing nations in the world." Perhaps the Indian government takes comfort from the promise Trump made during Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent visit to Washington that a new trade deal between the two countries would be signed by autumn. It is, of course, possible that the White House wants to use new US levies from April as a spur for Indias famously refractory negotiators. Trump said himself that he believes that New Delhi will be lowering tariffs substantially" as a consequence of his actions. It is not as if Indians dont recognize that duties imposed by the United States might hurt their exporters. Certainly, some in businessparticularly those that have scaled up shipments to American markets in recent yearsare far from happy. But, particularly in recent weeks, as the level of Trumps determination to remake global trade has sunk in, leaders have begun to think that its exporters might have a fighting chance in this new era. But what most outsiders identify as optimism is actually the opposite: A deep pessimism that Indian manufacturing will never be productive and efficient enough to compete on its own terms. Officials in New Delhi are actually quite open about this. Like the American president, they blame previous administrations for signing trade deals that they insist led to de-industrialization, and are nostalgic for a world where bureaucrats, not the bottom line, determined the flow of trade. Indian producers losing out to China was bad enough. But it is the fact that the countrys trade deficit with Southeast Asia expanded manifold after a free trade agreement came into force that many in Indian industry and government have been scarred by. They are now convinced that Indian manufacturing may never be able to produce things more cheaply or with consistently higher quality than its peers. A nation that thinks it cant win on either cost or quality will naturally welcome a third axis. Let other emerging economies worry that tariffs and restrictions will act as a disadvantage for them against the Wests domestic producers. Indians can hope that this additional factor acts as an equalizer for its producers when compared to the rest of the emerging world. After all, India has privileges the others do not and is not afraid to use them. Its economy has size, its policies reliability. It is a geopolitical and geo-economic swing state. All of these add heft to any trade negotiations it enters. Many Indians, both in the business world in Mumbai and in the corridors of power in New Delhi, believe that if we play our cards right in bilateral negotiations with countries seeking our favour, then we can win better deals than anything the multilateral trading system gave us. Our negotiators will win what we have lost on the factory floor. It does not matter, therefore, if Trump raises tariffs on India so long as he is even tougher on everyone else. Any fear felt by those who currently export to the US from India would be temporary. Eventually, Indias global prestige will deliver its exporters the competitive advantage they could never win on their own. I do not know if this attitude will survive the year. There is, after all, another way that India is special: Its domestic market has potential. We do not know if Trump even cares about US companies market access in Thailand or Bangladesh. But there is plenty of evidence that he wants them to be competitive in India. Instead of being better placed than its peers, Indian trade might find itself uniquely disadvantagedfaced with extra-high barriers demanded by leaders who overestimate the efficiency and competitiveness of Indian producers. Export pessimism is a disease in India. It is one that has become so endemic that we appear optimistic when faced with disruptions to trade. In this new age, like in the last, Indians will end up learning the same lesson: Your leaders cannot grant you some kind of shortcut to competitive success. You still have to produce things cheaper and better to win. Bloomberg Accounting conventions require that capital is accounted for in the balance sheet of the enterprise , and expenditures and incomes in the profit-and-loss account. This is universal for all corporate enterprises, be they business ventures, government agencies or non-profit organizations. Businesses account for their assets of land, machinery and money in the bank on their balance sheets. Human beings appear only in profit-and-loss accounts. Wages and other costs associated with their employment are shown as expenditures. Financial investors in a business (who are its owners under the law) expect its managers to produce profits for them. They reward a CEO who generates financial value for them; they have less concern for the lives of its employees. When human effort (whether blue-collar, white-collar or managerial) is no longer requiredin a business downturn, for examplefor the enterprise to produce what it is expected to, or when humans are substitutable by less costly machines, good business management suggests that human beings should be laid off to reduce costs. Adam Smith explained, with his example of the pin factory, that division of labour is required to improve the productivity and output of an enterprise. Frederick Winslow Taylor applied this principle systematically to develop a model of scientific management. He broke down complex work processes into simple repetitive tasks assembled in long production chains. This improved the productivity of workers and efficiency of large factories. This approach enabled more financial capital to be produced from human effort. Henry Ford used Taylors methods to create the worlds first mass-production automobile factories. Taylor and Ford also advised Russias communist government on scientific management when it embarked on its industrialization drive after a revolution in 1917 that threw out its feudal system. Humans are not machines. They can improve their own capabilities if they are motivated and enabled to. Douglass McGregor at MITs Sloan School of Management contrasted two paradigms of management in the 1960s: Theory X and Theory Y. Theory X presumes workers are lazy and must be managed with carrots and sticks. It applies to machines, whose performance must be programmed by external managers. McGregors research supported Theory Y that humans inherently want to do good work and should be enabled to. Theory Y enterprises can be more productive and competitive without paying top wages. Japanese industries proved this theory on a national scale after World War II. Economists today must rethink their concepts of value and the means for creating it by applying a three-model framework. First, they must have a good mental model of the nature of the entitymachine or humanwhose performance they want to improve. Second, a model of how this entity improves itself, if it can. Finally, a model strategy to help the entity self-improve. Strategies that work for machines are not appropriate for humans. In an economy, the only work considered valuable is work that earns money because its value can be measured. The time has come for economists to reflect on the work humans do and reconsider how it is valued. Ever since the dawn of humanity, our mothers have worked to bring us into the world. They have worked to nurture us without being paid for it. This is natural human work, offering fulfilment. The work of our mothers and other caregivers has helped society, even though it adds nothing to GDP. We must honour those whose work has nurtured us throughout history. If we do not, we will not survive much longer. Also Read: Corporate calls to work overtime take home labour for granted For centuries, farmers working with their own hands grew the food that fed us. Masons have built the homes we live in. While we do not pay mothers for their work, we pay farmers for the food they grow and workers for what they build. But how much monetary value do we attach to their work? How is its price fixed in the economy? Owners of stocks have the power to control the prices of resources in markets. Prices of the work done by farmers and workers are fixed in the trade between them and buyers of their produce. One side has its labour, skills and time to give. The other has money to pay. Money can be stored in a vault. Those who have money can wait for a better time to pay, whereas those who work cannot wait. Farmers must be paid before their produce rots. Labourers must be paid before their sweat dries. Their work does not have a shelf life. In an economy, the bargaining power of those who control money is always greater. Indias economy must increase in size. For its growth to be sustainable, many more people must find work and their incomes must rise too. Mahatma Gandhi was neither a communist nor a capitalist. He was concerned about the human condition. He said, To do and die, and not question why" seems to be the life of workers in industrial enterprises in both capitalist and communist economies. He pointed out that while workers theoretically own the capital in a communist country, decisions about the use of surpluses created were not taken by workers but by economists and bureaucrats. Gandhi recommended small human scale enterprises and larger enterprises composed of cooperatives of smaller ones, in which ownership and power remains with the people who create value. The time has come to apply some Gandhian economics, put humanity into capitalism, and to make economic growth more inclusive. The author is a former member of the erstwhile Planning Commission and the author of Shaping the Future: A Guide for Systems Leaders. Delhi Budget 2025: Delhi Leader of Opposition and Aam Aadmi Party MLA Atishi has written to Speaker Vijender Gupta, questioning the newly-elected BJP government's decision to allocate barely one hour time for discussions on the Delhi budget at the House. In the letter shared by news agency ANI, Atishi claimed that the List of Businesses on Wednesday at the state assembly was too large to discuss Delhi budget 2025 for even one hour. Late last night I received the List of Business for today, ie., 26th March 2025 (enclosed). I was astounded to see that the List of Business has so many items that barely one hour of discussion would be possible on the Budget, she said. With the standard discussions and breaks during the six-hour long session from 11 am, Atishi claimed that it left only three hours for legislators to have discussions on the Budget, on the CAG report, a short duration discussion under Rule 55 on water shortage and water logging, a motion under Rule 107, adoption of 2 reports of Assembly Committees, as well as financial papers to be laid down by the Hon'ble Chief Minister. What did Atishi say in her letter to Speaker? Writing further, the AAP MLA from Kalkaji questioned how the legislators were supposed to discuss budget for such a short period of time. How can a Budget be discussed in this manner? Will an Assembly of 70 MLAS spend barely one hour in discussing the Annual Budget? Will it be sandwiched between 5 other agenda items? It almost seems that the Government wants to avoid a detailed discussion on the Budget. This is deeply worrying, Atishi added. What did Atishi ask the Speaker to do? It is beginning to seem as if the Government wants to hide something. What is the economic data and analysis in the Economic Survey that the Government does not want to bring to ligh, Atishi asked. She requested the Speaker to help devote the next two days of the Assembly session to Budget discussions only. Also Read | 10 key highlights of Delhi Budget 2025 by Rekha Gupta Sir: as the Speaker, it is your responsibility to ensure the sanctity of parliamentary procedures and ethos. It is requested that the next 2 days should be devoted solely to the discussion on the Budget. The remaining. discussion and business can be kept on 28th March or the session maybe extended by a day, if needed, she said. What are you hiding? Atishi asks BJP Speaking to ANI later on Wednesday, the AAP leader posed the same questions to the BJP. The budget session is to present budget and hold a discussion on budget but yesterday, when the list of business for today came, only one hour was allotted for discussion on budget, she said. I want to ask BJP, what are you hiding? Why don't you want a discussion on budget? This clearly shows there is something wrong. I have written to Speaker Vijender Gupta and demanded at least two days for discussions on budget, Atishi added. Delhi Budget 2025 Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday presented one lakh crore FY26 Budget with ten focus areas, including Yamuna cleaning, economic empowerment of women, infrastructure, water, and connectivity, asserting that it is a roadmap for making the national capital self-reliant. Gupta presented the budget as a historic step towards transforming Delhi into an investment and innovation-friendly city. With a total allocation of 1 lakh crore, this budget is expected to drive growth, development, and improvement in the quality of life for Delhi's residents. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath assured that people from all religions are safe in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled state. The chief minister said that if Hindus are safe, then Muslims are also safe in his state. "A Muslim family living among 100 Hindu families is safe. It has the freedom to do all its religious deeds. But let alone one, even if 50 Hindu families live among 100 Muslim families, can they be safe? No, Adiyanath said in an interview with news agency ANI when asked if Muslims are safe in his state. Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan are examples before you. If someone is being hit, we should be careful before we get hit...In Uttar Pradesh, Muslims are the safest. If Hindus are safe, then they are also safe. If there were riots here in UP before 2017, if Hindu shops were burning, Muslim shops were also burning. After 2017, the riots stopped. Now, if Hindus are safe, Muslims are also safe, the chief minister said. Adityanath said that he is an ordinary citizen of Uttar Pradesh and a Yogi who wishes for everyone's happiness. I believe in everyone's support and development," the UP CM said in the interview. Yogi Adityanath-led government faced criticism earlier this month for covering the mosques during Holi in Uttar Pradesh with tarpaulin. The chief minister said there were strict instructions not to throw colours at the mosque, but colours do not harm anyone. "If you are playing with colours, it does not harm anyone's existence. You tell me. It is not like that; there are rallies during Muharram. Doesn't the shadow of their flag fall on any Hindu house near the temple? Does it make the Hindu house impure? These were strict instructions not to put anything that is not coloured. But even then, if it has fallen, then the administration is cleaning it and repainting it," Yogi Adityanath said. The day Indian Muslims Understand The chief minister also commented on Hyderabad MPs remarks that Muslims are in danger. "Muslims are not in danger. Their (Asaduddin Owaisi) vote bank politics is in danger. The day Indian Muslims understand their ancestors, these people will have to pack their bags and leave...Indian Muslims will have to remember that they are safe only when Hindus and Hindu tradition are safe, said the Uttar Pradesh chief minister. If Hindus are safe, then Muslims are also safe. On March 17, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi claimed that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is intended to snatch away graveyards, khanqahs, dargahs from Muslims. The Hyderabad MP joined the All India Muslim Personal Law Board's (AIMPLB) protest against the Bill in New Delhi. This Bill is not for saving Waqf property, not for removing encroachers but for ending Waqf property, for snatching away graveyards, khanqahs, dargahs from Muslims, Owaisi said during the protest at the national capital's iconic Jantar Mantar. (With ANI Inputs) Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday moved a privilege motion against Home Minister Amit Shah at the Parliament for casting aspertions on Sonia Gandhi. I hereby give a notice of question of privilege in terms of Rule 188 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) against Shri Amit Shah, Minister of Home Affairs, for casting aspersions on Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Member of Rajya Sabha and Chairperson of Congress Parliamentary Party, the Rajya Sabha MP said in his letter to Chairman Jagdeep Singh Dhankhar. What did Amit Shah say? In his letter to the Rajya Sabha chairman, Ramesh quoted a statement that Amit Shah made during the Parliamentary session on March 25. The Prime Minister's National Relief Fund was established during the Congress' rule, and the PM-CARES Fund was established during PM Narendra Modi and the NDA's rule. Sir, during Congress' rule only one family used to control the country, Shah said. Without naming anyone, the Home Minister noted that a Congress leader was part of the PM's relief fund at the time. A Congress leader was part of the fund. What answer will you give to the people of the country? You think that nobody reads or watches it, Shah said. Also Read | Shah orders action against network helping Bangladeshis enter India illegally Jairam Ramesh's invokes privilege motion Opposing Amit Shah's statement, the veteran Congress MP moved a privilege motion. As may be seen perusal of the above, even though the Home Minister didn't take the name of Smt. Sonia Gandhi but he had categorically by implication referred to her and imputed motives to her vis-a-vis the functioning of the National Prime Minister's Relief Fund (NPMRF), he said. He called Shah's statement a breach of privilege and contempt of the House. It is well established that it is breach of privilege and contempt of the House to cast reflections or make derogatory references to any member of the House. Blatantly false, defamatory Jairam Ramesh said that Shah had made unfounded allegations against Sonia Gandhi to malign her reputation. In the instant case, the Home Minister had made unfounded allegations against Smt. Sonia Gandhi with a premeditated motive to malign her reputation. The Home Minister's statement is blatantly false and is defamatory. This tantamounts to breach of privilege of Smt. Sonia Gandhi. Hence, this matter constitutes a breach of privilege and the contempt of the House as well, he said. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday responded to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra's traitor jibe and said the Supreme Court showed who a traitor is. According to an NDTV report, he further questioned Kamra, Where was free speech for Kangana (Ranaut)? Shinde was referring to when Kamra hailed the action against BJP MP and actor Kangana Ranaut's Mumbai office. What Shinde said today? According to NDTV, Maharashtra Deputy CM, while speaking in the Maharashtra Legislative Council on Wednesday, said, You keep calling me gaddar, gaddar, you will soon have to close the daar (door in Marathi) of your party. Referring to the verdict given by the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker and Kamra's satirical song, Shinde continued, The Election Commission, Supreme Court and the Speaker of the House have said who the gaddar is. More importantly, the people who are above everyone have also given their verdict. No matter how much supari (contract) you give, nothing's going to work. Reminds Kangana's incident: In September 2020, a part of Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut's office in Mumbai's Pali Hill was demolished by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on the grounds of encroachment following her spat with the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government. At the time, the Uddhav Thackeray government was in power in Maharashtra and also controlled the Mumbai civic body. Shinde also pointed to the United Shiv Sena's reaction after popular Radio Jockey Malishka made a satirical song about potholes in 2017. 'Breach of privilege by Kamra' A breach of privilege notice was moved against Kunal Kamra in the Maharashtra Legislative Council on Wednesday. Kunal Kamra performed a song containing personal and insulting references to deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, said BJP legislator Pravin Darekar, leader of the legislative council, while presenting the motion. Kamra's request rejected by Mumbai Police The Mumbai Police on Wednesday rejected the stand-up artiste's request to appear before the authorities for a week. Kamra's lawyer submitted the appeal and reply in person to the Khar Police Station. However, the police have turned down Kamra's request. The Khar Police will issue a second summons to Kunal Kamra on Wednesday under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 35. Earlier, Mumbai Police sent a summons to the stand-up artist, asking him to appear before the investigating officer on Tuesday. What Kamra said 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. On Monday, Kamra released a statement on his official social media handle saying that he would not apologise for his act. A decision on AIADMK'S alliance with the BJP in Tamil Nadu will be taken closer to next year's assembly elections, party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, or EPS, said on Wednesday, a day after he met Union Home minister Amit Shah in the national capital. The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader flew to Delhi on Tuesday, fueling speculation about the partys return to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) fold. Also Read | Will AIADMK join the NDA again? Speculation rife as EPS flies to Delhi Is there an election now? EPS said, adding that a decision on the alliance with the BJP will be taken only close to elections." The AIADMK, the opposition party in Tamil Nadu, had said in its official version that EPS is in Delhi to visit the news party office. EPS inaugurated the party building, constructed for 10 crore, via videoconferencing from Chennai. Our ideology is intact. The alliance will change as per situation and opportunity. Will all allies remain in DMK forever? The next election is only next March. There is a year for us to decide on these things, he said. Is there an election now? Only close to elections, will an alliance be decided. In his 45-minute long meeting with Shah, Palaniswami said, he only discussed problems faced by people and sought the Union governments intervention to solve them. There were no discussions on alliance, her said We spoke to him about peoples problems. We spoke in detail for 45 minutes. Tamil Nadu is heading in the wrong direction, EPS, who is also leader of opposition in the TN assembly, told reporters in Delhi. He said he was in the national capital to visit AIADMKs newly opened office and had sought an appointment with Shah only to raise issues of the state. In February, the AIADMK 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 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. 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 AIADMKs 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. Dmytro Zinchenko, Paralegal Sas and Ing Immigration Law Centre Special to The Post On March 22, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship announced the launch of two new immigration pilots aimed at strengthening rural and Francophone minority communities across the country. These initiativesthe Rural Community Immigration Pilot and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilotare designed to attract and retain skilled newcomers who can help local economies thrive. These pilots build upon the success of the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), which has connected skilled workers with businesses in remote areas since its inception in 2022. As part of its commitment to regional economic development, the Canadian government has also confirmed its plan to transition RNIP into a permanent immigration program. What Are the New Immigration Pilots? 1.Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) The RCIP will assist 14 rural communities across Canada in addressing critical labour shortages by offering a dedicated permanent residence (PR) pathway to newcomers who fill in-demand roles. Employers in these communities will be able to recruit and retain workers with skills essential to their local economies. 2.Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) The FCIP is designed to increase the number of French-speaking newcomers in Francophone minority communities outside Quebec. This initiative not only helps sustain the cultural and linguistic diversity of these regions but also contributes to the long-term economic growth of these communities. Which Communities Will Participate? The Canadian Government has selected a total of 14 rural communities for the RCIP, which are as follows: Nova Scotia: Pictou County Pictou County Ontario: North Bay, Sudbury, Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay North Bay, Sudbury, Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay Manitoba: Steinbach, Altona/Rhineland, Brandon Steinbach, Altona/Rhineland, Brandon Saskatchewan: Moose Jaw Moose Jaw Alberta: Claresholm Claresholm British Columbia: West Kootenay, North Okanagan, Shuswap, Peace, Liard Additionally, 6 Francophone communities participating in the FCIP include: New Brunswick: Acadian Peninsula Acadian Peninsula Ontario: Sudbury, Timmins, Superior East Region Sudbury, Timmins, Superior East Region Manitoba: St. Pierre Jolys St. Pierre Jolys British Columbia: Kelowna Each participating community is represented by a local economic development organization, which will work with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to identify labour shortages, designate trustworthy employers, and recommend eligible candidates for PR. Preparation by their communities regional municipalities has already begun, and communities and IRCC will soon release details about the process and timelines for accessing both programs. What This Means for Prospective Immigrants Rural immigration is expected to play a larger role in Canadas long-term immigration strategy. As set out in the immigration levels plan last fall, nearly 40% of PR admissions in 2025 will come from individuals already residing in Canada; therefore, securing work in one of these communities could be a strategic advantage for those seeking PR. For skilled workers looking to settle in Canada, these pilots provide new opportunities to secure permanent residence while living and working in smaller Canadian communities. The RCIP and FCIP present alternative pathways for skilled newcomers to integrate into the workforce and contribute to local economies. Whats Next? Stay Tuned and Be Prepared! If you are thinking of applying for one of these new programs, it is essential to stay on top of any announcements by IRCC and/or the designated communities about the details of the program, such as eligibility criteria, employer designations and application requirements and timelines. IRCCs newest way of operating is to announce programs first and details later! The latest Caregiver program was announced on February 26, 2025, which takes effect on March 31, 2025, and the program details were only recently announced within the past few days. Prospective applicants are well advised to be prepared! Be sure to have valid Educational Credential Assessments (ECAs), language tests (IELTS, CELPIP, PTE, TEF and TCF) and employment reference letters that conform to IRCC specifications. For more information on taking an IRCC-recognized language test, please see: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/rural-franco-pilots/rural-immigration/eligibility/language-test.html. For guidance on what is required in an employment reference letter, please see our blog Getting the Reference Letter Right. These basic requirements are generally essential for any and all IRCC pathways for PR, and you are well advised to have these steps completed BEFORE the program details are announced. IRCC is routinely announcing new programs and changes to current programs. It is advisable to regularly check IRCCs website for program-specific updates and requirements to ensure you are in a position to prepare and file a complete immigration application. We are here to assist you in determining your best Canadian immigration strategy. For further information, please refer to our recent blogs: Parlez-Vous Francais? The new approach to achieving Canadian permanent residency, and Home Care Worker Programs Reopening: Are you prepared?. The US canceled two aid projects in Cambodia in late February one to encourage child literacy and another to improve nutrition and development for kids under five. A week later, Chinas aid agency announced funding for programs to achieve almost identical goals. Children are the future of the country and the nation, Chinas ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin said at the event, standing next to the countrys health minister and a UNICEF official. We should care for the healthy growth of children together. While Chinas announcement didnt include a dollar figure, the Chinese money essentially funds the same types of initiatives and development goals as efforts terminated as part of the Trump administrations dismantling of USAID, according to two people with knowledge of the US projects, who werent authorized to speak publicly. Both focused on inclusive education targeting the most vulnerable children and used a so-called nurturing care framework, according to news releases and procurement documents. They both provided school supplies, offering hand-washing materials and improving outcomes for vulnerable families and households, newborns and children with disabilities, according to the people. How Trumps USAID Dismantling Will Affect Foreign Aid: QuickTake The price tag for the US programs $40 million was small compared with the $27.7 billion in savings that the Trump administration said this week that it saved by axing thousands of aid contracts. But for Cambodia, whose national GDP is roughly equivalent to that Vermont, it was a big sum, and replacing lost foreign funds has been a priority. The State Department, which oversees USAID and may now absorb the agency entirely, said in a statement that the US was funding aid programs that make Americans wealthier and more secure. At the same time, it said the US had achieved significant progress by investing in Cambodias development over the past 30 years, partnering closely with the government. Despite changes in the US approach to foreign assistance, we hope to see our relationship with Cambodia productively mature as we make America safer, stronger and more prosperous, the department added in the statement. The contracts were terminated on Feb. 26 after President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk launched a sweeping overhaul of US foreign assistance, which included dismantling the US Agency for International Development. Although its only one example, it appears to confirm fears voiced by Democratic and some Republican lawmakers, aid advocates and former US officials: By slashing foreign aid, Trump is giving China an easy opportunity to fill a vacuum and gain a soft-power advantage in countries where the global adversaries compete for influence. Earlier: Rubio Delegates DOGE Staffer to Oversee Whats Left of USAID Thats especially urgent in Cambodia, where the US has spent roughly $1 billion since the 1990s. Washington has long waged an uphill battle with China in Southeast Asia, and Cambodia in particular. The Biden administration raised concerns about Chinese military influence at the countrys Ream Naval Base over the last four years. But more recently, the US has moved to strengthen defense ties with the government in Phnom Penh, which granted an American warship access to Ream for the first time late last year. Diplomatic Gift Its a diplomatic gift to China, said Charles Kenny, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development. In every country where theres a serious USAID cut, if they put a small amount of money into a health and education project and say, Look, were ramping up, that does seem to be a bit of a publicity gift for them. And Im sure theyre smart enough to take it. Since the Trump administration moved to shut down USAID, terminate most of its foreign aid contracts, and furlough or place on leave most of its employees, US lawmakers, development experts and national security professionals have highlighted the geopolitical risks of curtailing US foreign aid in the developing world. Many of those lawmakers and experts have warned that China could move in, gaining further influence over developing nations after wooing officials in Africa, Asia and South America for years with tens of billions in loans focused mostly on infrastructure through Beijings Belt and Road Initiative. And it certainly has. China already announced funding for a Cambodian de-mining initiative that was dropped, and later restored, by the US. In mid-March, Beijing also announced an early childhood development project in Rwanda, where USAID recently curtailed contracts. And Chinese officials have reportedly offered to make up for funding gaps in Nepal, nestled between India and China. Will Parks, the Cambodia representative for the United Nations Childrens Fund, said in a statement that the organization and Cambodia signed a partnership with China in 2024, based on a proposal from 2022. It was launched earlier this month and complements funding from other nations, Parks said. Cambodia has made tremendous progress for children over the past decade, he said. But further reductions of aid budgets could jeopardize these hard-won achievements. Cambodias government was explicit about drawing a link. The Cambodian government works with many partners, and we never rely on any one partner exclusively, government spokesman Pen Bona said via text message in response to questions. So if one partner withdraws support, we seek to find another partner to replace it. China will continue to provide assistance to economic and social development in Cambodia under the framework of South-South cooperation, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Chinas aid policy remains consistent and clear, the Foreign Ministry continued. Chinas principles of non-interference, not attaching any political strings, not giving empty promises remain unchanged. In a closed-door hearing on Capitol Hill this month, Trump appointee Pete Marocco, who led the assault on USAID, was asked about the Cambodia projects and the timing of Chinas swift announcement, according to one person familiar with the session. Marocco brushed off concerns about China increasing its influence, this person said. Marocco didnt respond to a request for comment. While members of the Trump administration have said the canceled projects brought no benefits to Americans, Diana Putman, who retired as USAIDs acting assistant administrator for Africa, said the agencys billions in foreign assistance helped give US ambassadors a crucial advantage. Their leverage and ability to make a difference in terms of foreign policy in that country is backed up by the money that they bring, and in the Global South that money is primarily the money that USAID has, Putman said. And while China may exploit the US withdrawal of aid funding from important markets, Beijing will not step in to replace crucial global health spending in less strategic countries that are at the greatest risk from disease, Council on Foreign Relations experts Thomas Bollyky and Yanzhong Huang wrote in Foreign Affairs this week. I would hope it doesnt get completely lost in the story of the diplomacy that actual people are going to die as a result of this, said Kenny of the Center for Global Development. And thats sad. With assistance from Fran Wang and Jing Li. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. As the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) announced a nationwide agitation against the Waqf Amendment Bill, BJP's Jagadambika Pal criticised the AIMPLB, saying it is trying to mislead minorities and Muslims in the country. He added, What the spokesperson of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board has said is going to create confusion among the minorities of the country. The way AIMPLB is doing politics in the name of Waqf, they are trying to mislead the minorities and Muslims of the country...as per the report of JPC, govt is going to bring in the amended law. Right now, the law hasn't come, but even before, based on planned politics, they are going to Patna ANI quoted BJP's Jagadambika Pal as saying. Pal, who is also the chairperson of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), stated that the government wants to amend the bill so that it can be improved and the poor sections of the minorities can benefit from it. The government wants to amend it so that this law can be made better. The government is trying to amend the Waqf law so that the minorities, especially the poor, can benefit from it..but the bill has not even come yet, and they (the opposition) have already protested at Jantar Mantar, and now they are going to Patna on the 26th and Vijayawada on the 29th, so somewhere in the country they are trying to divide people by creating confusion among minorities and Muslims. What irresponsible thing do they want to do by doing this? ... The law will be made for the welfare of the country, he further mentioned. The AIMPLB and other opposition parties have been protesting against the Waqf Bill and have accused the central government of annihilating the rights of Muslim minorities with the Waqf Bill. BJP's Ramchander Rao on AIMPLB and AIMIM BJP leader Ramchander Rao slammed organisations like AIMPLB and AIMIM for providing a false narrative of the bill to the Muslim community, accusing them of both being scared that Muslims might begin voting for the BJP. All India Muslim Personal Law Board, AIMIM, Muslim League, all these leaders are now worried that poor Muslims may shift towards BJP, and hence they are giving a false narrative and provoking innocent and poor Muslims, Rao said. Bill brought in with a communal intention Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) spokesperson, criticised the central government, saying that they are not doing politics, adding the bill has been brought in with a communal intention. 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. Delta Air Lines plans to expand nonstop flights from Chattanooga To New York with seasonal Saturday flights from June 7 to August 30. The Saturday flight will be in addition to the current Sunday through Friday service for travelers during the summer months. Nonstop flights from Chattanooga to New York City resume in Oct. Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly announced the Delta Airlines Flight would return on October 7 to the LaGuardia Airport. The new Saturday flight will depart from the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport at 7:00am, landing in LaGuardia Airport at 9:12am. The return flight from Laguardia will leave at 10:55am and arrive back in Chattanooga at 1:17pm. Spirit Airlines coming to Chattanooga airport this June In celebration of the new Tennessee market, Spirit is offering travelers one-way flights between the new locations for an introductory fare starting at $50. We are excited that Delta continues to expand its service at the Chattanooga Airport, including even greater connectivity to New York, said April Cameron, President and CEO of Chattanooga Airport. Delta has been a valued and longstanding partner of our airport, and we sincerely appreciate their continued confidence in our city and region. The Tennessee Aquarium is celebrating 32 years of continuously meeting a widely considered "gold standard" in animal care. Within a year of opening in 1992, the aquarium was accredited with the standard by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Thirty-two years later, it upholds its certification of excellence. The AZA accreditation is given after an extensive, on-site peer review that evaluates the aquarium or zoo's operation. Since 1985, accreditation has been a requirement for membership in the association. In January, the Tennessee Aquarium received a "glowing" review after its inspection by a four-person team comprised of three inspectors and one remote "primary reviewer". The aquarium's accreditation was confirmed on Monday, March 24 during an AZA Accreditation Commission meeting in Palm Springs, California. The certification will last for five years. Continuous accreditation by the AZA for 32 years is an exceptional track record, said Andrew Wood, the Tennessee Aquariums new president and CEO. It was an honor to participate in the Aquariums accreditation hearing as one of my first official duties." He continues, The AZA inspection team had extremely positive comments for the entire Tennessee Aquarium team. Im very proud to begin my tenure as President and CEO on such a wonderfully high note. The Aquarium says that during the inspection, no stone was left unturned. They even look at how many benches you have for the guests to sit on. If you can think of it and it has to do with operating a zoo or aquarium, they take it into consideration, said Thom Demas, the Aquariums vice president and chief husbandry and exhibits officer. Demas is also an AZA inspector of 11 years and a current member of the AZA accreditation commission. This inspection is one of the cleanest ones I've ever seen, Demas said. It's nice to be called out by your peers in this industry. There are a lot of things they said we're doing really well at. Specific achievement were highlighted during the most recent accreditation inspection: Aquarium exhibits Commitment to guest and employee safety Employee retention Staff members' dedication and enthusiasm Additionally, special mention was made of the work being done by the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute (TNACI), offering a clean, focused and friendly experience for visitors and the community. The Tennessee Aquarium is one of 15 institutions contending for bragging rights as the nation's top aquarium in Newsweek Magazine's second annual Reader's Choice Awards. The Tennessee Aquarium won Newsweek's inaugural competition in 2024. Voting for the Newsweek contest will end at 12:00pm on Thursday, March 27. Voting can be done once per day and does not require users to register or create an account. To cast a ballot, visit Newsweek's website. For more information about the AZA accreditation process, visit their website. UPDATE: The Hamilton County Health Department and EMS are launching the Tennessee's first overdose prevention team. The team is made up of paramedics, peer support specialists, and a navigator with the health department. The team will operate through unmarked response vehicles to provide confidential care. Because of federal funding, the team's services will be free to anyone who uses them. Katrina Hereford, the overdose prevention manager, says this shows how important partnerships are to helping people in recovery. "Being able to actually have this position of watching EMS and the health department collaborate, we're able to connect these individuals to this wide network throughout the community and it takes a lot of people and a lot of community partners to be able to help that person who does want to be successful on their journey to recovery, said Hereford. They hope to launch the team in mid-summer. If you're interested, you can apply for positions through the Hamilton County Health Department. PREVIOUS STORY: The Hamilton County Mayor's office and Hamilton County EMS have launched a new overdose prevention team, marking a groundbreaking initiative not only for Hamilton County but for the state of Tennessee. This team, the first of its kind in the state, is part of the countys broader effort to combat the ongoing opioid crisis. According to Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp, the new overdose prevention team will play a pivotal role in the county's aggressive approach to addressing opioid addiction. Wamp emphasized the vital role that Hamilton County EMS personnel will play in this initiative, helping to provide immediate care and support to those affected by overdose. Hamilton Co. Mayors Office to launch new Overdose Prevention Team on Wednesday The event will be held at the Hamilton County EMS Administration & Training Center on Volunteer Drive in Chattanooga at 2:00pm. For years, Hamilton County EMS focused on the immediate treatment of overdose victims. Now, with the formation of this new team, the focus has expanded to include long-term care, aimed at guiding individuals through a continued recovery process. Wade Batson, the Director of Hamilton County EMS, explained that the team will not only provide immediate intervention but will also work to connect individuals to treatment options that will help them address their opioid addiction in a more sustained way. We want to get people medicated-assisted treatment for their opioid addiction, and also support their transition into more permanent treatment solutions, Batson stated. Dr. Ron Buchheit, the architect behind the strategy for this overdose prevention team, explained that the teams goal is to eliminate the barriers that often prevent individuals from seeking help. Many people struggling with opioid addiction face challenges such as finding transportation to treatment centers, concerns about privacy, or fears of stigma. By addressing these issues, the team hopes to make it easier for people to access the care they need. The team will provide not just emergency care, but ongoing support to help individuals navigate the recovery process, Dr. Buchheit said. We aim to ensure that everyone who seeks help gets personalized treatment based on their unique needs. In addition to paramedics who will provide immediate care, the team includes peer support specialists who will assist individuals in identifying obstacles to their recovery. A dedicated navigator from the health department will help guide individuals toward community resources and long-term rehabilitation options. The team will operate through two Quick Response Vehicles. These vehicles are unmarked to protect the privacy of patients, helping to eliminate the stigma surrounding addiction treatment. Dr. Buchheit emphasized that this initiative is not just about treating addiction but also about changing the narrative around it. Theres no group of people who are untouched by addiction. What we want to do is go beyond that and find ways to help individuals get back into society and lead fulfilling lives free from addiction, Dr. Buchheit explained. As the program begins, the team will be hiring paramedics, peer support specialists, and navigators to support its efforts. With the help of opioid settlement funding from the state, the initiative will provide treatment at no cost to patients, helping to ensure that everyone who needs assistance can access it. In addition to the launch of the Overdose Prevention Team, the county is allocating funds to several key partners. These are the organizations who would receive proposed funding for the Renewal Project: Launch, CADAS, The McNabb Center, Chambliss Center for Children, Boys & Girls Club of Chattanooga, Partnership for Families, Children and Adults, and End School-Age Homelessness Initiative. National security adviser Michael Waltz, Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, listen to a question from a reporter during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on March 13, in Washington, DC. By Patrick Penner, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Local news is set to become scarcer for about 600,000 Metro Vancouver residents, as three long-standing community publications prepare to shut down. Glacier Medias impending closures of the Tri-City News, Burnaby Now, and the New West Record will eliminate 60 percent of the journalistic workforce across five cities and two villages. The only remaining sources of local news will be two small online newsletters, leaving New Westminster without any dedicated coverage. Richard Dal Monte, the Tri-City Newss longest-serving editor (2001-2020), called the closures heartbreaking. The loss is huge, Dal Monte said. I dont know that Glacier has a sense for the importance of these publications in their communities. Its just their bottom line. On February 21, Glacier announced the three papers would cease operations before the end of spring, citing unsustainable financial challenges. All three outlets had already stopped their print editions on August 10, 2023. The closures are part of a troubling trend in Canada, where the number of news outlets has nearly halved since 2008, according to the Local News Research Project (LNRP), an organization monitoring the decline of community journalism. Over the past 17 years, 529 local publications have shut down across Canada, with 76 percent of them being community newspapers. While 406 new outlets have launched, only 278 are still operational. In B.C., there has been a net loss of 37 outlets. Glacier Media and Black Press, which dominate B.C.s local news landscape, have closed 33 and 32 outlets, respectively. Legacy media companies have struggled to adapt to disruptions of their traditional revenue streams in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis and the rise of big tech companies dominating online advertising. Alfred Hermida, a UBC journalism professor and co-founder of The Conversation Canada, said industry leaders have been slow to adjust to major shifts in media consumption over the last three decades. He pointed out that, rather than investing early in digital journalism from a strong financial position, many companies clung to old business models as their profit margins shrank. As of 2023, Alphabet (Google), Meta (Facebook), and Amazon control 89 percent of Canadas $16.6 billion online advertising market, while Canadian media companies capture only six percent, according to a report by the Global Media and Internet Concentration Project (GMIC). Its almost too late to do anything, the advertising bus has gone now that wasnt the case 10 or 15 years ago, Hermida said. Leadership has been like the three wise monkeys: I close my eyes, I close my mouth, close my ears. This is not happening. Canadas newspaper industry saw major consolidation following the 2008 crisis, leading to the closure of local papers across the country. In the 2010s, Glacier Media and Black Press traded multiple publications in overlapping markets, creating local monopolies that went unchecked by federal competition regulators. Despite assurances from the companies, 17 newspapers including Glaciers Coquitlam Now and Burnaby/New West News Leader were shut down. The argument from big media groups has been, if were facing competition from Facebook and Google, we need to consolidate and get bigger, Hermida said. But that doesnt serve the public interest of journalism. Newspaper revenue has continued to shrink, dropping from a peak of $4.7 billion in 2008 to just $1.7 billion in 2023, according to the GMIC report. April Lindgren, the founder of the LNRP, said the main survival strategy of media ownership has been to cut their newsroom staff. Theres less reason for people to read newspapers, and advertisers are expected to pay the same or more for fewer eyeballs, she said. Its been a huge disaster for journalism, Lindgren said. Glaciers financial statements are consistent with the broader trends across the industry. In 2008, its newspapers and trade publications generated $232.5 million in revenue. By the end of 2023, its community media divisions revenue had dropped to $63.2 million, according to its financial statements. The companys third-quarter shareholder report of 2024 stated they have been rapidly divesting from unprofitable legacy newspaper publications over the previous 15 months, shifting focus to digital content where there is more potential for long-term growth. The three papers transition to digital-only just 18 months ago appeared to be a part of that shift. When Glacier announced the ceasing of print editions, publisher Lara Graham promised readers, Were not going anywhere. Both Glacier Media and Graham did not respond to the Dispatchs inquiries regarding financial challenges at the publications. Unifor Local 2000 President Brian Gibson, who represents staff from the three affected newsrooms, said the closures came as a shock. We thought we were doing okay, Gibson said. They told us switching to digital was part of the plan. We lost a few people, but they thought we had the right mix to keep going. Gibson suspected the closures may be connected to the fact that these three outlets are Glaciers last remaining unionized papers in Metro Vancouver. The union and the company were in the midst of contract negotiations after the previous collective agreement expired in late 2023. In a March 4 press release, Unifor pointed out that Glaciers non-unionized publications newspapers have not been affected by the closures, and North Shore News and Delta Optimist continue to produce newspapers. Gibson expressed surprise that Tri-City Newss print editions were considered financially unfeasible, given the amount of ad space still being filled in the paper. How the heck are we losing money? he said. These things are huge. Dal Monte also noted the paper was still profitable when he was laid off in 2020, and able to staff a team of five full-time reporters. The papers shift to digital had generally been successful, Dal Monte added. In his final year, the Tri-City News saw its online readership grow by 400 percent, generating more than 1 million page views in a single month. We used to cover everything, we had enough staff to do it, Dal Monte said. Its crazy to me that they couldnt make it work, especially considering how little money theyre putting into it. However, Gibson asserted the company had started letting positions go unfilled when reporters left or retired. Over the past five years, Tri-City News was reduced to just two reporters who shared an editor with Burnaby Now and New West Record. Media companies fail to mention that shifts to digital-only formats are usually accompanied by cuts to newsroom staff, according to Lindgren. She said these cuts generally lead to increased news poverty in a given service area. Access to local news becomes increasingly difficult to navigate, especially for older populations. The vacuum left behind is often filled by rumour and false information proliferating across social media, Lindgren warned. Images from around Longford are being preserved in The National Library of Ireland (NLI) as part of a project to document a changing country. The NLI, in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced the first recipient of their inaugural Photographer-In-Residence as Paula T Nolan. Paulas project, titled ReViewing Ireland: A Photo Study of Irelands Environment, involves travelling via public transport to each of the 26 counties over a period of one year. I put together a proposal based on the brief the EPA had prepared, Paula told the Leader. Also Read: Longford motorist fined 1,000 and banned from driving for three years Paulas project saw her travelling via public transport nationwide over the course of a year to capture the changing Irish environment. It will culminate in a collection of photographs of all 26 counties, to be added to the National Photographic collections: The photographs make up an archive that will be in the national library in perpetuity, she said. The photographer used historic photos found in the National Librarys collections and is now retaking photos of the landscape, site or area as it is now. In some places there has been radical change, and in others far less. Also Read: ALERT: Longford motorists are being advised that roadworks will cause delays The photographer used her graphic designer background to inform her choice of image: I've used a lot of archives in the past in book design. That has given me an insight into the interesting aspect of things you pass by every day. The photographs you gravitate to are the ones you would not think of taking at the time; people walking by a shop, Main St Longford. I try to take pictures that people will see as being more than just of environmental interest, ones with added interest as well. Also Read: Jail term for distracting man in Longford retail outlet in order to steal cash from his wallet She is now connecting with EPA scientists and experts to learn more about the landscape she is photographing, and how the changing climate has impacted how they look - or how particular sites are used today. Connecting with local communities and groups is central to her project. In Longford, Paula has visited: Longford Town Mall Walk, Tarmonbarry Weir, and Longford Main Street: When I was a child I visited Longford often, I had family here and I always liked Longford, she concluded. The EPA was founded in 1993 and is sponsoring the programme as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations. The resulting final series of digital photographs will become part of the permanent national collections at the National Library of Ireland. Also Read: It's a Dose: Longford students making the task of livestock dosing much safer and easier Opposition leaders are to meet on Wednesday morning after the Dail was disrupted over controversial speaking time changes. The opposition party representatives are to discuss their response to the disorder in the Dail, the Irish parliaments lower house. There were chaotic scenes of shouting, interruptions and allegations of misogyny on Tuesday as weeks of tension over the speaking rights row boiled over during Leaders Questions. Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy fielded interruptions and tried to continue Dail proceedings as opposition TDs took to their feet and objected to the governments proposals. She declared the order of business and changes to the standing orders passed before adjourning the Dail until after 9am on Wednesday. Speaking about the leaders meeting, Green Party leader Roderic OGorman told The Late Debate they would discuss how the opposition would proceed, as well as the role of the Ceann Comhairle. In a statement on Tuesday, Taoiseach Micheal Martin accused the opposition of trying to bully and intimidate Ms Murphy and said it marked a new low for the opposition. The prolonged barracking and the disgraceful lack of respect for the mandates of elected deputies was shocking in its intensity, he said. 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. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: March 26 2025 Ariel & Kfir Bibas are two children who were held hostage and murdered by Hamas terrorists during the October 7 attacks upon Israel. Nassau County Legislature Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker (D Plainview) joined the greater Plainview community at the Manetto Hill Jewish Center on Sunday, March 16 for a commemorative service for the Bibas family. Ariel & Kfir Bibas are two children who were held hostage and murdered by Hamas terrorists during the October 7 attacks upon Israel. Approximately 100 people attended the community service to honor their memory and demand the release of all hostages that remain in captivity. Many community members wore special Batman t-shirts, created by Jennifer Kolton, to pay tribute to four-year-old Ariels love for the Caped Crusader. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: March 26 2025 Defendant was Paying the Child to Send Him Sexually Explicit Photos and Videos of Herself. This morning, in federal court in Central Islip, David Ibarra was arraigned on an indictment charging him with sexual exploitation of a child, coercion, and enticement. Ibarra, an active-duty senior airman in the United States Air Force, was initially charged by complaint in February 2025 and ordered detained in Anchorage, Alaska, before his transfer to the Eastern District of New York. Todays proceeding was held before United States District Court Judge Joanna Seybert who ordered the defendant detained pending trial. John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Leslie Backschies, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the charges. As alleged, the defendant, a 31-year-old man posing as a 13-year-old boy, manipulated a vulnerable child into producing and sending him sexually explicit images and videos of herself via text message in exchange for money, stated United States Attorney Durham. My Office will continue its relentless pursuit of sexual predators who target children and work to secure lengthy prison sentences in these cases to protect our community and children from such conduct. As alleged in the indictment, this individual targeted and then repeatedly coerced a child into sending him sexually explicit photos and videos of herselfproduced at his specific directionin exchange for money, stated FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Backschies. The FBI is committed to finding and arresting the monsters who prey on vulnerable children, and we will continue to work with our partners to ensure these predators are off the streets and behind bars where they can no longer pose a danger to our communities. As set forth in court filings, law enforcement identified Ibarra from cell phone records obtained for an individual who was communicating, via text message, with a 9-year-old girl living in Suffolk County, New York, and soliciting sexually explicit images and videos from her in exchange for money. During these communications, Ibarra, who claimed to be a 13-year-old boy named Dave living in Texas, repeatedly pressured the victim to send him more images and gave her specific directions as to what sexually explicit poses he wanted her to record (Can we be a little dirty before we go to sleep? Pls and Ill send money). Ibarra made approximately 17 payments to the victims Apple Pay account to induce her to continue producing sexually explicit images for the defendants gratification. This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of the charges, Ibarra faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and up to 30 years in prison. The governments case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Offices Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorney Paul G. Scotti is in charge of the prosecution. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: March 26 2025 14 Landmarks to be Lit Purple on Evening of March 26. Governor Kathy Hochul today announced New York State landmarks will be lit purple this evening for International Purple Day in honor of Epilepsy Awareness. Epilepsy is often a misunderstood and stigmatized condition that can affect people of all ages and backgrounds, Governor Hochul said. New York State is proud to participate in raising awareness by illuminating state landmarks on International Purple Day to support those living with epilepsy. Epilepsy is a disorder of the central nervous system resulting in seizures that may have no apparent cause and that happen more than once. More than half the time, the cause of epilepsy is unknown. When the cause can be determined, it is most often due to head injury, infections or a tumor in the brain, a stroke, degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, substance use or hereditary factors. State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, Epilepsy is a serious condition that can have lifelong impacts, but the good news is it can often be treated by medication and sometimes surgery. By raising awareness during International Purple Day, we are ensuring more people will be able to achieve good seizure control and a better overall quality of life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 215,000 people in New York are living with active epilepsy, a disorder of the central nervous system that results in seizures. Other studies suggest that about 9,000 individuals are diagnosed yearly in the State. Landmarks to be lit include: Largest Gathering of Vietnam Veterans in Suffolk History Come Together for Welcome Home Celebration Local News By Chris Boyle Published: March 26 2025 Event Marks the 50th Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine and the Suffolk County Veterans Services Agency will host an event on Saturday, March 29 at the H. Lee Dennison Building to mark the 50th Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. Hundreds of veterans and their families, veterans groups and local and state officials are expected to attend. The event will serve as a welcome home celebration for local Vietnam veterans who were treated unfavorably upon their return home from service. March 29 is nationally observed as National Vietnam Veterans Day that recognizes the sacrifices made by millions of Americans during the Vietnam War. VISUALS: A temporary museum showcasing artifacts from the Vietnam era will open to the attendees until April 4. Vietnam era machinery and artillery provided by the Museum of American Armor will be on display during the ceremony. WHEN: Saturday, March 29, 2025 The event begins at 11:00 a.m.; official program at 11:30 a.m. WHERE: H. Lee Dennison Building Armed Forces Plaza 100 Veterans Memorial Highway Local News By Chris Boyle Published: March 26 2025 Program aims to improve public health, showcase Suffolks parks. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine invites residents to participate in Suffolk Countys Spring 2025 Nature Walk Series. Residents may attend one or more of the Suffolk Countys Exploring Health and Conservation walks to explore the connection between health and our natural environment. The Suffolk County Nature Walk Series is part of Suffolk Countys Active People, Healthy New York Action Plan to promote physical activity, increase access to public green spaces, and induce residents to improve their overall health. Health professionals will speak about the importance of regular physical activity and environmental specialists will discuss the importance of preserving our environment and its relationship to the health of everyone in the community. We encourage all our residents and visitors to take care of their health by getting out, increasing their physical activity, and explore our beautiful open spaces here in Suffolk County, said Executive Romaine. Walking in nature is a joy in itself, but the added bonus is that participants will have the opportunity to ask health questions, bird watch, and learn about the connection between our environment and our health, said Suffolk County Health Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott. The walks will take place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the following times and locations. There will be no cost for the walks, entrance fees, or parking fees. Participants are advised to mention the walk at the entrance. March 29, 2025: Islandia 176 Johnson Aven. Islandia, NY May 17, 2025: North Babylon Southern State Parkway, Exit 38, North Babylon, NY May 31, 2025: Miller Place Cedar Dr., Miller Place, NY Date to be announced: Riverhead 3675-2815 Lake Ave., Riverhead, NY To register, call or email the Suffolk County Department of Health Services at 631-854-378 OR email OMH@suffolkcountyny.gov. To prepare for the Nature Walk: Wear light-colored clothing, long pants and sleeves. Consider using insect repellent. Bring water. Wear sunscreen with an SPF30 or higher, a brimmed hat and comfortable, supportive shoes (no flip flops). While walking: Stay in the center of the path. Conduct frequent tick checks. The Suffolk County Nature Walk Series is offered in collaboration with the Suffolk County Department of Healths Office of Minority Health, Suffolk County Parks, New York State Parks, the Long Island Sound Study, Sea Grant, Alzheimers Association, SEPA Mujer, Dare to Dream Community Outreach, Belmont Lake Civic Association, Inc., Fidelis Care, and the Suffolk County Alumni Chapter of Delta, Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Belinda Hunt (right) is among those who have been called out by council after she was found sleeping in a van on her Gold Coast driveway. Source: TikTok/lapwithlily/belindaleerose A homeowner has slammed the "ridiculous" council rule that can see an Aussie fined $806 for sleeping in their own driveway after she was issued a warning for doing exactly that. Authorities accused Belinda Hunt of illegal camping but she told Yahoo News she was simply trying to save some money while waiting for her new home to be built the very one that was metres away when she copped the hefty fine. Belinda said she was on her Gold Coast property when a police officer and council ranger knocked on her van door around 1.30 in the morning. She claims they both thought she was homeless and told her to present to the Department of Housing, encouraging her to move on. Despite telling them they had got it wrong and they were currently on her property, she received an illegal camping notice which she believed carried a $806 fine for "unlawful camping in a public place". "I pointed out the address on my driver's licence is the same as my property and also told them to check my registration details... they could clearly see that I owned the property," she told Yahoo News Australia. ADVERTISEMENT "They spoke to me as if I was a criminal and doing something wrong. He [the police officer] said that it is illegal to reside in a vehicle on the Gold Coast." Belinda admitted the interaction "completely scared me to death" and she was unable to sleep afterwards. "I was scared to open the door," she said. Council respond to parking fine claim The City of Gold Coast council told Yahoo News its officers are often on the lookout for illegal camping and this behaviour can occur in many public spaces including "parks, local government roads, and driveways on public land between a private property boundary and the kerb". "People who are found camping illegally or sleeping in vehicles on roads or parks are educated about appropriate places to sleep before being asked to move on. This education includes a small green card which provides details about the offence," a council spokesperson said. It is understood a green card is a warning and does not incur a fine. ADVERTISEMENT "If the person is a repeat offender a fine may be issued to each adult in the vehicle worth $806." In response, Belinda claimed she wasn't told it was only a warning, and she was under the impression she would receive a fine in the mail after making the TikTok. Yahoo News understands she was not fined. Van campers across the country fear 'dreaded knock' on their door Belinda is not the first to get the dreaded knock from council rangers while sleeping in her van. Another camper who is currently travelling the country in a van shared her misery online this month after being fined $312 by the Yorke Peninsula council while camping in South Australia. "I tried to check in at a caravan park ... and they were full," she said in a video revealing the fine and arguing it was wild she was fined hundreds of dollars for "sleeping on a piece of dirt" at a boating ramp. ADVERTISEMENT Footage of council rangers waking up sleeping backpackers in a Perth car park was also captured last week, with tension building within the 'van life' community as councils across the country crack down on people choosing to sleep overnight in their vehicles. Councils get serious on illegal camping crackdown There has been a notable increase in the number of people travelling around the country in campers, and Aussies and tourists are feeling the force of councils tightening regulations around illegal camping. Four-hour parking restrictions were introduced by Noosa Shire Council in Queensland at the end of last year after the popular coastal location was inundated with camper vans and caravans, while the Town of Cambridge council in Perth went as far as turning off the hot water at beach showers in a bid to reduce the number of campers flocking to the amenities. ADVERTISEMENT However, councils say something needs to be done as an increase in illegal camping can give rise to antisocial behaviour and stop making public places accessible to everyone. Snap Send Solve, the council reporting app, has seen an increase in the number of illegal camping reports and CEO Danny Gorog previously told Yahoo News it's been a "widespread issue". Car parks along popular coastal hotspots have been inundated with campers and caravans. Source: Suzanne King via Sunshine Coast News Illegal camping in numbers October, 2024 Victoria: 2,936 reports NSW: 2,048 reports Queensland: 1,610 reports WA: 636 reports SA: 136 reports Tasmania: 34 reports Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. The actor's millions of Instagram followers were alerted to the plight of the Maugean skate as the Albanese government tables new laws that could wipe it out. Hollywood superstar Leonardo Dicaprio and Aussie surfer Mick Fanning have urged Australia's government to shut down industrial salmon farms in a World Heritage area after they were linked to the rapid decline of an endangered native fish. Help save the Maugean skate and prevent the extinction of this unique species and protect this wilderness from destruction, they wrote in messages to social media followers. The Maugean skate has lived in Macquarie Harbour since the time of the Tyranosaurus Rex, and survives nowhere else on Earth. But Dicaprio has warned his 60 million Instagram followers that its days could be numbered. He's shared a petition from local conservation group Bob Brown Foundation, calling on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to force salmon farming out of the Tasmanian harbour. The posts were shared with precision timing, right as the Albanese government works to pass new legislation safeguarding the controversial industrys operations in Tasmanias Macquarie Harbour from a legal challenge over its environmental impact. Large-scale salmon farming in this sensitive marine environment has caused oxygen levels to drop, which scientists have linked to the rapid decline of the Maugean skate. If Labor's bill passes both houses of parliament with support from the Coalition as expected, a planned review of the industry's future in the harbour by the Environment Minister will likely be scrapped. In 2012, the expansion of industrial salmon farms was approved, causing pollution in the water to increase, and between 2014 and 2022 Maugean skate numbers fell by three-quarters. Because its population appears to have rebounded since 2022, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has claimed numbers are at the same level they were a decade ago, but scientists say the reality is more complex and the population is far from stable, and more research is needed to understand what caused the drop. ADVERTISEMENT It's the second time in less than a year that Dicaprio has raised concerns about the Maugean skate. He's also called for an end to logging in Australian forests to help protect native wildlife. Tasmania's Maugean skate has survived in Macquarie Harbour for millions of years. Source: Neville Barrett Macquarie Harbour considered internationally significant On Wednesday, Dicaprios environment charity Re:wild announced it had worked with Australian scientists to assess the global importance of Macquarie Harbour, and designated it an internationally significant Key Biodiversity Area. It describes these regions as some of the "most incredible and diverse places on Earth for nature", arguing their survival is critical to the "planets overall health". ADVERTISEMENT Australia already has the dubious honour of leading the world with mammal extinctions, we must act now to prevent the Maugean skate from becoming the worlds first shark or ray extinction as a direct consequence of aquaculture, said Janice Chanson, from Re:wild. Dr Leonardo Guida from the Australian Marine Conservation Society assisted with the Key Biodiversity Area assessment by providing subject matter expertise. He said the Maugean skate has been relatively undisturbed, swimming around the harbour for millions of years, but it could soon follow the same sad demise of another famous Aussie species. Imagine a dinosaur in a bathtub, thats the Maugean skate-a living dinosaur, having existed since the days of T-rex stomping about, swimming in the relatively enclosed, small glacial fjord of Macquarie Harbour," he said. The animal is unique, its home is unique, but the problem is not, and we could be seeing another thylacine [Tasmanian tiger]. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. The Concord250 lantern is a replica of Paul Revere's lantern used in 1775 to alert troops of a British invasion in Concord. The 10-foot-tall sculpture will be on display in front of the Concord Museum until April 19. David Cifarelli A 10-foot-tall lantern has popped up on the front lawn of the Concord Museum in Concord in honor of a key item from the American Revolution. The Concord250 lantern is one example of how the city is commemorating the semi-quincentennial, or 250th anniversary, of the Revolutionary War this year. The large art installation pays homage to one of the two original lanterns Paul Revere used to warn colonists about the Britishs planned raid on Concord in 1775. Only one of the two lanterns survived and is now housed at the Concord Museum. The museum wanted to highlight the lantern because of its historical significance and local ties. I think the most important part of it is to match that and have the Concord connection, said Bill Crosby, owner of Crosby Design in Concord who also helped create the sculpture. I felt, just being from Concord, thats the most important part, he told MassLive. Thats what we were trying to match. Crosby was instantly on board with building the lantern after the museum first approached him about it last summer. The statue consists of a massive lantern with an illuminated candle inside, sitting on top of a stone base. The Concord250 lantern is a replica of Paul Revere's lantern used in 1775 to alert troops of a British invasion in Concord. The 10-foot-tall sculpture will be on display in front of the Concord Museum until April 19. David Cifarelli The lantern was made through a method called die bonding the process of attaching a die/chip to a substrate or package that is also used for making signs or panels. This was done so that the sculpture could withstand the elements. The lanterns candle and frame were made with a blend of plastic and aluminum while its base is wood. Thanks to several layers of translucent colors and five lights, the solar-powered bulb appears to always be lit. The sculpture was finished with a faux patina coating to resemble a half copper/half bronze exterior, making it look incredibly authentic. It looks real, I think, pretty close, Crosby said. Bill Crosby of Crosby Design in Concord stands next to an unfinished version of the Concord250 lantern. Courtesy Photo Reveres lantern was capable of spreading light at about 7 mph due to the environmental conditions at the time, according to Concord Museum curator David Wood. Boston streets at that time were dark. There were no street lamps. Thats why the light of a single candle could carry across the river, Wood told MassLive. It was really extraordinary. Revere arranged to have a signal lit in Old North Church in Boston the weekend before April 18, 1775, Wood said. One lantern meant the British would come to Concord from Boston by land via Roxbury Neck while two lanterns meant troops were coming by sea or by rowing across the Charles River. This is where the phrase, one if by land, two if by sea, originated. The original Paul Revere lantern used in 1775 to alert militia of an impending raid from British troops. The lantern is housed at the Concord Museum. David Cifarelli Revere began to make preparations for his famous ride on April 18, 1775 to alert the local militias and citizens about the impending attack. He rode to Lexington and convinced Samuel Adams and John Hancock to leave the city and evade possible arrest. Despite later being captured, Reveres efforts prepared the Patriots for the impending attack. The Revolutionary War would commence when the first shots were fired at the Battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775 an instance later referred to as the shot heard around the world by poet Ralph Waldo Emerson in his poem Concord Hymn. The Concord250 lantern will stay on the museums lawn until the citys Patriots Day Parade on Saturday, April 19. Afterward, the piece will travel around to businesses and organizations in Concord. The Concord Museum also has a collection that is dedicated to the events of April 19, 1775, featuring objects that played critical roles on that historic day. The gallery is open year-round. The museum, along with the rest of the town of Concord, is hosting more special programming in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War over the next few weeks. A full list of events being held in Concord can be found online. A lottery player in Massachusetts won a $25,000 a year for life prize during the multi-state Lucky for Life drawing on Tuesday. The winning numbers for the March 25 drawing were 9, 16, 27, 30, 35 and Lucky Ball: 7. The Massachusetts winner matched the first five numbers to win $25,000 a year for life, but did not match the Lucky Ball. They bought their ticket in Hingham at Richdale Food Shop. Lucky for Life drawings are held in 22 states and the District of Columbia. Drawings are 10:38 p.m. every night, and tickets to play cost $2. Players must choose five numbers between 1-48 and one between 1-18. Additionally, a $1 million prize and two $100,000 prizes were won or claimed by lottery players in the state on Tuesday. The $1 million prize was from the Diamond Deluxe" scratch ticket game, which still has five $1 million prizes remaining to be claimed as of March 26. The winning ticket was bought in Hyannis at Corner Food Mart. One of the $100,000 prizes was also from the Diamond Deluxe game, and was claimed from a ticket purchased at the Richdale Food Shop in Canton. The other $100,000 prize was won in the daily Mass Cash drawing, after a players ticket matched all five numbers drawn Tuesday night 10, 12, 15, 18 and 20. They bought their winning ticket in Quincy at the Dairy Farm. Overall, at least 717 prizes worth $600 or more were won or claimed in Massachusetts on Tuesday, including 12 in Springfield, 23 in Worcester and 75 in Boston. The Massachusetts State Lottery releases a full list of winning tickets every day. The list only includes winning tickets worth more than $600. So far, the largest lottery prize won in Massachusetts this year was worth $1 million a year for life. The prize was from the lotterys Lifetime Millions scratch ticket game. The winner claimed their prize through a trust on July 10, and opted to receive a one-time payment of $15.4 million. A juror from the first Karen Read trial was added as her newest defense attorney in the murder case on Wednesday. Victoria George, an alternate juror from last years trial and a Massachusetts attorney, joined the defense team, according to a court filing with Norfolk County Superior Court. George previously identified herself as a juror in a statement with WBZ-TV on March 5. I was a fair-minded juror who left this trial questioning the integrity of the system long before the defense filed a motion to dismiss with allegations of jury tampering, she told the TV station. It is the Read case itself and the fact that it is still being brought that has left many in Massachusetts wary, distrustful, and scared of our system. As a lawyer, this reality saddens me even more because I remember how much faith I had in our system as an optimistic law student." George joins a group of defense attorneys representing Read, with seven total listed in her court docket. At her most recent hearings, shes typically been represented by David Yannetti, a Massachusetts attorney, Los Angeles attorneys Alan Jackson and Elizabeth Little, and New York attorney Robert Alessi. Presiding Judge Beverly Cannone recently denied Read from adding New York attorney Mark Bederow. Bederow already represents Aidan Kearney, a blogger known as Turtleboy, who has covered the case in hundreds of posts and faces charges of witness intimidation related to the Read case. In her denial of Bederow representing Read, the judge wrote, The court cannot permit such conflicted representation and declines to add to the defense team that currently numbers at least four lawyers, three by admission pro hac vice. (Pro hac vice refers to allowing a lawyer not licensed in a jurisdiction to appear for a specific case in that jurisdiction). Reads legal team did not immediately return a request for comment on Wednesday. Earlier this month, Cannone issued a gag order that aims to prevent the defense from making statements that could prejudice the upcoming retrial scheduled for April. George is listed as working for the Yannettis law firm by the Board of Bar Overseers. George previously worked for the law firm Morgan, Brown & Joy, according to an announcement of her hiring in June 2022. She worked with employers on workplace discrimination and other labor-related areas. The building at 120 Front St. in Worcester contains a leased space used by the IRS originally slated to be terminated by DOGE. That has since been reversed. (Adam Bass/MassLive.com) The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) reversed course in terminating two commercial leases in Massachusetts. DOGE terminated leases as a way to reduce federal spending, with the website featuring a list of the leases on its savings page. DOGE was established by an executive order signed by President Donald Trump to cut federal jobs and slash government spending. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been heavily involved in DOGEs operations. The two leases were part of 17 commercial leases in Massachusetts that were listed as terminated on DOGEs website. As of Wednesday, the two leases have been removed from the website. The two leased spaces removed from the termination list are used by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and are located at the Mercantile Center, 120 Front St. in Worcester, and 118 Turnpike Road in Southborough in a building owned by the Ferris Development Group. Two other IRS offices are still slated for closure on DOGEs list in Springfield and Lowell. Ryan OToole, an asset manager for Ferris Development Group and T.K. Skenderian, a spokesperson for the owners of the Mercantile Center, Franklin Realty Advisors, both confirmed to MassLive their companies received notices from the federal government that the terminated leases had been rescinded. The commercial lease in Southborough contains 10,787 square feet of office space that was set to expire in November 2029. The commercial lease in Worcester features 14,511 square feet of office space and was set to expire in June 2028. Ferris Development Group first received a notice in February about the termination of the lease, according to OToole. One month later, they received another notice that the lease was rescinded. The IRS is under a multi-year lease agreement and is expected to fully anticipated to remain in the building for the remainder of its term, which expires several years from now, according to OToole. Skenderian told MassLive that Franklin Realty Advisors received conflicting information from the government about the lease agreement. He told MassLive the company received the notices three to four weeks ago and has not received any updates since then. Both Skenderian and OToole told MassLive they did not know why DOGE rescinded the terminations. DOGEs press office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday. The terminations of leases in Southborough and Worcester are not the only ones that the Trump administration has walked back. The General Services Administration, an agency responsible for managing the federal governments real estate, announced this month they are reversing more than 100 lease terminations, according to the New York Times. On the DOGE website, more than 100 government leases that were listed have since been removed, the Times reported. Musks team did not give a reason for the changes and The White House did not respond to a request for comment to the Times. There are still 15 terminated commercial leases in Massachusetts listed on the DOGE website. The leases are as follows: First responders rescued a hurt tree worker who was stuck in a tree that was over 40 feet above the ground in East Bridgewater on Wednesday afternoon. The incident happened around 10:59 a.m. in the backyard of a home on Northridge Drive, according to the East Bridgewater Police Department. The unnamed tree worker, who was in a safety harness, climbed the tree using shoe spikes and was using a chainsaw when a piece of the tree that was falling kicked back and broke his arm, the department said. The tree worker lost some blood, but was still conscious, the department said. The tree worker was stuck about 47 feet above the ground. The pine tree was isolated in a wooded backyard area. Firefighters initially went to the scene with an engine tower and an ambulance, but when they arrived, they quickly determined that this situation called for a specialized rescue, the department said. Rescue teams used a 35-foot ground ladder, placed it against the tree and then used ropes, pulleys and harnesses to reach the tree worker, the department said. A rescue worker put the tree worker in a harness and lowered him to the ground. The tree worker was treated at the scene and then taken to a nearby landing zone, where he was flown to Tufts Medical Center in Boston, the department said. Officials from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated the scene, the department said. This was great work by all involved police, fire and EMS at the scene, Michael Jenkins, the East Bridgewater chief, said in a statement. We thank everyone involved for their prompt response in helping to rescue this man who was so high up in a dangerous situation. The deep-dwelling marine animal is not typically found on beaches, experts say. Locals were walking along Casuarina Beach in Darwin last week when they spotted a dead white-spotted wedgefish. Source: Jill Huck/Facebook Locals were in awe after stumbling across a rarely-seen sea creature on the shore of a popular Aussie beach. A pair of Darwin residents were going for a morning stroll on Casuarina Beach late last week when they spotted the bizarre-looking animal deceased in the shallow water. Puzzled by the approximately 1.8-metre fish with white spots, and its resemblance to both a shark and stingray, they turned to social media for answers sparking the curiosity of numerous other locals and marine experts. Many responded that they believed the beautiful creature to be a white-spotted wedgefish, otherwise known as a bottlenose wedgefish or a white-spotted guitarfish, deeming it a cool but sad find. What a privilege to come across this! Kirsti Abbott, head of science at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT), commented, urging the beachgoers to report their finding for research. ADVERTISEMENT Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Jeff Johnson, manager of ichthyology at Queensland Museum, confirmed the fish seen on Casuarina Beach is a species of wedgefish, genus Rhynchobatus. This group are also known as guitarfish, or shovelnose rays. The largest of these can reach a maximum of at least 2.7m in total length. Three species of wedgefish are found in Northern Territory waters. Source: Jill Huck/Facebook Bottom-dwelling wedgefish rarely wash up on beaches These are three species of wedgefish, all of which can be found in Northern Territory waters, Johnson explained. The features that separate them, relative position of the dorsal and pelvic fins, and configuration of white and dark spots on the head and pectoral fins, are not clear in the photos supplied. Although impossible to confirm, it is most likely that this one is a white-spotted guitarfish, Rhynchobatus australiae. While aesthetically they do boast features that resemble both sharks and rays, wedgefish are not hybrids, and instead belong to a group of cartilaginous fish known as elasmobranchs, which includes both sharks and rays. ADVERTISEMENT All wedgefishes are bottom-dwelling and feature occasionally in anglers' catches, in estuaries, bays and coastal waters. They are totally harmless to humans, Mr Johnson said. Given they are often found 60 metres below the surface, the creatures do not often wash up on beaches, he added. Wedgefish declining in Australian waters Given there are no obvious wounds on the fish found in Darwin, it is impossible to say what caused its death, Johnson said. Gill nets set for commercial fishing are a significant threat to wedgefishes, unless they are monitored regularly to release any non-target species such as this. Leo Guida, with the Australian Marine Conservation Society, told Yahoo wedgefish are vulnerable to trawl fisheries across northern Australia because of their tendency to live near or on the seafloor. ADVERTISEMENT Fortunately though, trawlers in Australia have an escape hatch in the net called a turtle excluder device (TED) that enables large animals to escape relatively unharmed from being scooped up. While the white-spotted guitarfish is critically endangered around the world largely due to its highly valued meat and fins, Australia is considered a global lifeboat for wedgefish because their numbers are relatively healthy in our waters, Guida said. However, it is estimated that in Australian waters their numbers have declined by around 30 per cent over the last 45 years, demonstrating why conservation measures like TEDs are crucial for these amazing creatures and the environmental performance of our fisheries. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. A 22-year-old man was arrested Tuesday evening in connection with the death of a nearly 2-year-old child in January 2024, according to officials in New Hampshire. Annthoni Bliss is charged with one count of second-degree murder in the death of 23-month-old Luca Hudson, who died on Jan. 17, 2024, said New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella and Keene Police Chief Steven M. Stewart in a joint statement. It is alleged that Annthoni Bliss caused the death of Luca Hudson recklessly under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to the value of human life, by subjecting Luca to abusive violence and not obtaining timely medical assistance for his injuries, the statement reads. Officials did not say what, if any, relationship Bliss had to Hudson. Police and medical personnel went to an apartment in Keene, New Hampshire on the morning of Jan. 14, 2024 for a call reporting an infant experiencing medical distress. When first responders arrived, Hudson was unconscious and not breathing. He was rushed to a hospital, where he died on Jan. 17, 2024, according to the statement. An autopsy determined Hudsons cause of death was homicide resulting from blunt head trauma, officials said. Bliss is expected to be arraigned on the murder charge Wednesday. There was no way to make it pleasant. There was no way to sugarcoat it. If Massachusetts, as expected, loses out on tens of billions of dollars in federal funding under Trump administration cuts, then towns and cities from Brookline to the Berkshires are going to feel the pain, too. Holliston (pop. 15,015), which sits around 25 miles southwest of Boston, is no exception. And theres only one way to describe what thats like: Chaos. The federal funding cuts to services and grants, if even some of it goes through, will have a significant impact on Massachusetts and Holliston, and all of the services and programs that impact our residents, state Senate President Karen E. Spilka, D-Middlesex/Norfolk, who represents the suburb on Beacon Hill, told local officials on Monday night. The three members of Hollistons Select Board, joined by the towns school and finance committees, didnt seem surprised by the news. That also didnt mean they had to like it. I will say that through your comments, its clear that theres a certain amount of whiplash happening at the state level, trying to follow everything and react to everything, proactively or reactively, the boards Chairperson Tina Hein told Spilka, who hails from nearby Ashland. And I think all we can [do is] express our support for you and our gratitude as you continue. The times are challenging, given the amount of change thats out there, and change breeds uncertainty, and uncertainty breeds chaos, Hein said. Spilka, joined by state Rep. James Arena-DeRosa, D-8th Middlesex, made her semi-regular appearance as the 200-member, majority-Democrat Legislature dives headlong into deliberations over Gov. Maura Healeys $62 billion budget proposal for the new fiscal year that starts July 1. Healey, also a Democrat, has made it clear that the state cant make up the difference if the Republican White House follows through on its threats and takes a weed-whacker to the aid that flows from Washington to the Bay State. No state program or agency, from MassHealth, as Medicaid is known here, and road and bridge maintenance to social services and veterans, will remain untouched. The irony, as Spilka said, prefacing her remarks, is that the state is starting to find its way back to financial stability, with tax collections climbing their way back up, even amid other challenges. And then theres the elephant in the room: The White Houses ongoing effort to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, the Carter-era agency disdained by conservatives that nonetheless provides a lifeline to states and school districts. We also get another $2 billion, at least, in education funds that goes to cities and towns like Holliston to help, particularly with special education, transportation [and] school meals, Spilka said. Theres a chance, as Im sure youve seen and heard, we dont know whats going to happen with the [U.S] Department of Education and the funding [there]. Only Congress can officially shutter the agency. And its fate is now tied up in court battles, including one led by Massachusetts Attorney Andrea J. Campbell, who joined with 20 of her colleagues nationwide to halt what shes describing as the White Houses illegal and unconstitutional effort to wind down the department. Holliston received $10.7 million in municipal and school aid from the state in its 2024 ($67.9 million) budget, according to an analysis by its town administrator. Thats not chump change. And Holliston isnt in a position to lose a dime these days. The community passed a $1.17 million tax override last September to help pay for the local schools. Spilka nodded to those problems on Monday, noting that she got a letter from the town detailing its financial headaches. She reassured the local leaders shed do what she could to help out. And theres still the federal picture to sort out. Healey, who sued the Trump White House some 100 times when she was its two-term attorney general, has dropped the conciliatory tone she took when the administration returned to power in January. As the White House has ramped up its attacks on the Bay State and Boston, in particular, the Arlington Democrat has adopted a more pugilistic tone to match. On Monday night, local officials in Holliston, who had Spilka, one of the three most powerful politicians in the state, right in front of them, were looking for reassurances and answers. Im kind of wondering, as legislators, do you have any informal advice for municipalities like ours, as we think about the knock-on effects that that uncertainty might have on our local economy, you know, the white-collar workers who work there, who are also kind of funding the blue-collar and service industry jobs? board member Damon Dimmick mused. He continued, wondering what future steps the town could take in its fiscal planning to help us think ahead, considering that we dont know what things are going to be like six months, let alone four years from now? As rubber-hits-the-road questions go, that one was right up there. The short answer, from DeRosa-Arena, a former local official? War game it out. I mean, I would just look at, you know, whats our worst-case scenario, percentage-wise? he said, referring to the stew of local and state money that keeps municipal budgets flowing. ... People really need to think through that ... You dont want to be negative, but you almost have to be ready for some of that stuff. It was an answer as suited for Hollistons Select Board as it was for the budget writers on Beacon Hill who ride herd over billions of dollars in funding and hordes of competing constituencies. And it also was a reminder that the distance between local elected leaders and their state-level counterparts isnt that vast. And that as goes one, so goes the other. Chaos, is indeed, the word for it. An avid Donald Trump supporter took to social media to express her frustrations with the Republican party justifying screw-ups by incompetent people following the leak of a text group chat with government officials. Laura Loomer, a far-right media personality lamented her grievances with the Republican party over X on Tuesday night. You know why I resent the Republican Party? They will make every excuse to justify screw ups by incompetent people they so desperately want you to believe are competent, but they will go out of their way to slander and sabotage actual competent people because of their own insecurity over being so incompetent, Loomer wrote on her X account. Loomer spent the majority of 2024 using her platform to support President Donald Trumps 2024 election campaign and spreading misinformation about Democrats. Her recent criticism is in relation to the Trump administrations recent leak of its planned military strike in Yemen. Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was accidentally included in a Signal group chat with 18 top government officials including Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz. Goldberg wrote about the experience in a piece published Monday headlined The Trump administration accidentally texted me its war plans. On Wednesday morning, The Atlantic released more details and screenshots from the text conversation after President Donald Trump said the conversation did not contain classified information. Days after the leak, President Trump told journalists it was the only glitch his team had and reaffirmed his support of Waltz whom The Atlantic editor claimed to be the official who added him to the group chat. Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man, President Trump told NBC reporters over the phone Tuesday. In Loomers rant on X, she stated both political parties are the same when you get down to it. We are all just a means to an end for incompetent elitists till the tables turn. Pathetic programming today on TV. Gold medal for the jumping through hoops to make excuses goes to the GOP today. I hate it here. I really do, Loomer wrote. With congressional scrutiny mounting, two Massachusetts lawmakers have joined the ranks of those on Capitol Hill who are calling on senior Trump administration officials to explain how a journalist was included in a sensitive text chain about military action in Yemen. U.S. Reps. Ayanna Pressley, D-7th District, and Stephen Lynch, D-8th District, were among the signatories of a letter that Democrats on the U.S. House Oversight Committee sent to those officials on Wednesday demanding an immediate briefing on the headline-making security breakdown. The revelation prompted great alarm, the letter, led by U.S. Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, of Virginia, the panels ranking Democrat, reads. 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. U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-8th District, speaks at a rally in Boston's West Roxbury neighborhood on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Anne Brennan/MassLive) 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. Connolly and the committees Democrats, who also include U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-7th District, said they wanted to [understand] the extent of the damage and intelligence exposure that this reckless and unrestricted transmission of highly sensitive national security information has caused, as well as the parameters and legality of senior officials using Signal to communicate and delete deliberative messages. Not only "did the use of Signal pose a risk to the lives of men and women of the military, jeopardize the operation, and embarrassingly advertise to our adversaries the reckless attitude of our nations senior leaders, but the inclusion of Mr. Goldberg raises questions as to whether senior government officials in the chat acted in accordance with the Espionage Act," the lawmakers said. On Tuesday, Waltz and Gabbard faced intense questioning from Democrats on the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee about Goldbergs inclusion on the text chain and the sensitive information that was shared there. On Wednesday, The Atlantic published new revelations about the text chain, including information undercutting Hegseths denial that he had shared war plans among his fellow officials. This extraordinary breach of trust also raises questions as to whether Mr. Waltz and the other senior officials have failed to comply with federal record-keeping requirements, given the fact that Waltz set some of the messages in the Signal group to disappear after one week, and some after four," the lawmakers wrote, citing Goldbergs reporting. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, center, listens as Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., right, speaks during a Massachusetts Congressional Delegation press conference regarding the impacts of the Trump administration's actions on communities across Massachusetts, Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.) Accordingly, we request a briefing from each of you regarding the damage or intelligence risks caused by the use of Signal for the operation and the leak of highly sensitive or classified information, the factual timeline of events, the methods, and protocol for handling critical national security information, as well as record-keeping protocol no later than March 28, 2025, they wrote. In a post to X, Lynch, a South Boston Democrat, took aim at the committees Republican majority, questioning why they had not immediately demanded answers from the national security officials. Republicans are holding a sham hearing today to avoid doing their jobs Instead of posting up against Big Bird, [they] should be conducting oversight on senior government leaders who planned missile strikes on an unsecure group chat," Lynch said, referring to the hearing Wednesday held by an Oversight subcommittee on the funding for NPR and PBS. Pressley, also of Boston, sounded a similarly critical note, posting to X on Monday that this level of incompetence is damning and dangerous from our grossly unqualified Secretary of Defense. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., has called on a government watchdog to investigate possible ethics violations by tech billionaire Elon Musk and his chief lieutenants as they gutted the consumer protection agency that Warren first proposed. The Trump administration, abetted by the quasi-governmental Department of Government Efficiency, which is helmed by the tech billionaire, moved to shutter the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in early February. Warren claimed in a Wednesday letter to the agencys inspector general, Mark Bialek, that Musk may have leveraged his government role to benefit his personal business interests, including the Musk-owned social media site X and his Telsa electronic vehicle company. Warren, the ranking Democrat on the Senates Banking Committee was joined on the letter by U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee. In their letter to Bialek, Warren and Schiff pointed out that the CPFB has oversight of the auto-lending industry, where the Musk-owned Tesla could stand to benefit from its demise. Warren and Schiff asked for a full investigation into Musks and DOGE officials conduct, including whether they obtained ethics waivers, received conflict-of-interest guidance, or improperly accessed CFPB data that could benefit Musks business ventures. Musk is whats known as a special government employee, which are temporary positions, with rules in place to prevent them from using their access for personal gain. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., holds a town hall at Nevins Hall in the Framingham Memorial Building in Framingham, Massachusetts on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (John L. Micek) John L. Micek Earlier this year, Warren called on President Donald Trump to beef up federal ethics rules as Musk assumed his unusual, and highly influential role. But despite repeated requests, the Trump Administration has failed to provide any transparency about the legal basis for DOGEs activities or Musks compliance with ethics laws, Warren and Schiff wrote Wednesday. The CFPB plays a critical role in supervising the auto lending industry and protecting consumers from corporate malfeasance and scams. Therefore, actions by Mr. Musk and DOGE at the CFPB have the potential to directly benefit X, Visa, and Tesla and by extension, Mr. Musk, they continued. Matters concerning the CPFB are personal ones for Warren, who first proposed the agency in the wake of the 2008 financial collapse, while still a professor at Harvard Law School. Manager Alex Cora was asked March 19 if he was ready to say Rafael Devers is his everyday DH. " Ill say that whenever I have to say it," Cora said. Cora finally acknowledged it Wednesday, one day before the regular season opener. Boston opens the 2025 season against the Rangers on Thursday at Globe Life Field. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. We had conversations throughout spring training and he was very vocal about how he felt and we made a decision. Alex (Bregman) is going to play third. Raffy is going to DH, Cora said during his weekly appearance on WEEI Afternoons. We all are in the winning business and he understands that. Its like everything. You dont have to agree with it. ... Hes been working hard not only with his swing but the routine. Of course its a little bit different. Cora has no doubt Devers will establish a routine and be a successful DH. Every DH used to be a position player until they were DHs, Cora also told WEEI. J.D. (Martinez) went through the same transition in 2018. He was an outfielder, he became a DH and you saw what happened. So we expect the same thing. The kid is ready to go. Hes going to hit second against lefties and righties. And hes going to DH. I think having Alex behind him (in the lineup) is going to benefit him. Honestly, I expect a great season from Raffy offensively. Devers said early in spring training that he wouldnt move to DH. But hes since made it clear he just wants to help the team win. It was reported by MassLive that Devers debated asking for a trade because of how angry he originally was about the situation. As conditions in Massachusetts remain dry on Wednesday, more unsettled weather is expected to return going into the last weekend of March. While some showers may exit off of the coast Wednesday night, skies should clear up as a dry column arrives, according to the National Weather Service. A deep mixing could also bring about dry air and wind gusts reaching 25 mph. Temperatures on Thursday should reach the low to mid-40s across higher terrain, while the rest of the interior should see temperatures at around 50 degrees, forecasters said. A shortwave trough could bring potential rain or snow showers ahead of a cold front, but forecasters anticipate an increase in cloud cover. Winds should pick back up again to over 20 mph on Friday, with forecasters not ruling out any potential showers. But on Saturday, forecasters expect a backdoor cold front to enter southern New England. These cold fronts are common during the spring and move south along the Atlantic seaboard and the Great Lakes, according to the weather service. Uncertainty is still rather high regarding how far south the front will drop, but it is increasingly likely it may bisect somewhere across southern New England for a period of time, forecasters wrote. While temperatures are likely going to struggle to reach 45 degrees north of the cold front, temperatures south of it could reach around 70 degrees, forecasters said. Widespread rain should also fall on Saturday, but forecasters have not ruled out some snow or ice in higher terrain across the borders between Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire. This backdoor front should lift by Monday as a low from the Great Lakes enters the region, bringing with it a surge of warm air and winds, forecasters said. The middle of next week is also quite tricky to nail down given high uncertainty this far out, forecasters wrote. Regardless, the low over southern Ontario looks to lift out, and a high is likely to build in over the Great Lakes Tuesday and Wednesday. Legislators representing the four western counties of Massachusetts on Wednesday sent a letter to Gov. Maura T. Healey asking her to prioritize the nomination of judges as quickly as possible. There are 11 Superior Court seats for all four western counties. Four seats are vacant, The Republican reportedly previously. In addition to filling the vacant judicial seats in the region, the lawmakers also asked that Healey increase the number of Western Massachusetts residents on the Judicial Nominating Commission. As of now, only one representative from the four western counties sits on the commission, a decrease from four members during the previous term, a statement by the involved legislators says. Video News: [Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 25 mars 2025[Video news] Seance parlementaire du 25 mars en Live[Video News] Soiree litteraire a lICJM[Video News] Gokan Japan @ Grand Baie La Croisette[Video news] Fam pe zwen[Video news] Plus de 60 etudiants recompenses lors de lACCA High Achievers Celebration[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du mars 2025[Video News] Casela Nature Parks fete ses 45 ans dans une ambiance entre heritage et avenir.[Video News] Brand Within 2025 : Faconner lavenir du travail a MauriceRegus Grand Baie, la solution ideale pour les entreprises et startups souhaitant simplanter dans le nord ![Video News] Casela Nature Parks a fete ses 45 ans[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 19 mars 2025[Video news] Conference de presse du Commissaire Electorale[Video news] Conference de presse de Bruneau Laurette[Video News] Rajesh Bhagwan et Joanna Berenger ont dit[Video news] PIM Limited celebre la Journee Mondiale du Recyclage[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 18 mars 2025[Video News] Seance parlementaire du 18 mars en Live[Video News] Shakeel Mohamed: Livraison de provisions par le navire indien INS Imphal a Agalega [Video News] Reconnaissance pour 200 nouveaux experts-comptables face aux defis de la technologie et du developpement durable[Video news] LACCA Mauritius accueille 180 nouveaux membres[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 15 mars 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 14 mars 2025[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 12 mars 2025[Video News] Message de Navin Ramgoolam pour le 12 mars 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 11 mars 2025[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 8 mars 2025[Video news] Le MMM Celebre la Journee Internationale de la Femme[Video News] Jean-Luc Chane-Kane a anime un seminaire sur la socialisation des chiens[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 7 mars 2025[Video News] Seance parlemantaire du 7 mars 2025[Video News] Nouvelle identite de la Turbine: au-dela dun incubateur, un partenaire strategique de linnovation responsable [Video News] Grays celebre son expertise et son heritage lors de son second Corporate Media Breakfast[Video News] Rebranding de La Turbine[Video News] Conference de presse de lUnion of Artists[Video News] 2e Corporate Media Breakfast de Grays a Villebague[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 5 mars 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 4 mars 2025[Video News] Conference de presse du MSM[Video news] Seance parlementaire du 4 mars 2025 en Live[Video News] Message du ministre des Affaires Etrangeres[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 28 fevrier 2025[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 28 fevrier 2025[Video News] Seance parlementaire du 28 fevrier 2025Garance: Treizieme bulletin de cyclone pour Maurice (27-02-2025 : 04h10)Garance: Onzieme bulletin de cyclone pour Maurice (26-02-2025 : 22:10)[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 25 fevrier 2025Garance: Septieme bulletin de cyclone pour Maurice ( 26-02-2025 @ 4h10)[Video News] Elsa Wolinski, Clementine Galey, Shakti Callikan et Cristele de Speville font du podcast un vecteur de proximite et dauthenticiteGarance: Sixieme bulletin de cyclone pour Maurice ( 25-02-2025 @ 22h10)[Video news] Point de presse du NCC du 25 fevrier 2025Garance : Cinquieme bulletin de cyclone pour Maurice (25-02-2025 : 16 h 10)Communique du National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management CentrePremier bulletin de cyclone pour Maurice (24-02-2025 : 16:10)[Video News] Dimans politik[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 22 fevrier 2025[Video News] Attitude Talk Series No 7[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 21 fevrier 2025[Video News] Coup denvoi de Pepcity No 2 avec le concert de Atif Aslam, le 5 avril 2025[Video News] Seance parlementaire du 21 fevrier 2025 en Live[Video News] Vernissage de Cendrine Bolaram[Video news] QBL annonce le concert dAtif Aslam a Cote dOr et Pepcity @ Bagatelle[Video news] Bilan des 15 ans de Lottotech[Video News] Expo peinture a loccasion abolition de l esclavage a Quatre Bornes[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 18 fevrier 2025[Video news] Nando Bodha a dit[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 15 fevrier 2025[Video News] Dimans Politik[Video News] Pravind Rughoo : Fair attention kan sorti dan Sud Moris [Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 14 fevrier 2025[Video news] Atelier de travail de PILS sur la sexualite[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du12 fevrier 2025[Video news] Lancement du livre de Jeremie Brousse de Gersigny[video News] Edition Speciale[Video News] Attitude Foundation offre deux fontaines a eau a lecole Sir Pierre Dalais de Trou dEau Douce[Video News] Conference de presse du Kolektif 420[Video News] Dimans Politik[Video News] MCB Talk Thierry Hebraud [Video News] Action de la Fondation Attitude pour leau potable et moins de plastique a lEcoleTrou dEau Douce[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 8 fevrier 2025{Video news] Atelier de travail An update of the Labour Legislation in Mauritius [Video news] Seance parlementaire du 7 fevrier 2025 en Live[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 5 fevrier 2025[Video News] Collaboration essentielle face au changement climatique[Video News] Pou Mwa Ou SpesialEn Route Vers le Made in Moris : Presentation de la cohorte 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 4 fevrier 2025[Video news]Seance parlementaire du 4 fevrier 2025[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 1er fevrier 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 31 janvier 2025[Video News]Reneworld : Apres 5 000 installations photovoltaiques residentielles, cap sur les entreprises et lindustrie[Video News] Lancement officiel de la Cohorte 2005 dEn Route vers le Made in Moris[Video News] Restrictions deau renforcees a Maurice face a la secheresse[Video News] Reneworld Ltd passe au plan B2B[Video News] LArtigiano ouvre sa premiere franchise a Moka[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 29 janvier 2025[Video News] Nandos Maurice celebre la finale du concours dArt #Feedyourcreativity[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 28 janvier 2025[Video news] LArtigiano ouvre sa premiere franchise a Moka[Video News] The Joint Committee celebrates a strong partnership that goes far beyond fisheries A SENIOR official with the HSE in the west of Ireland has rejected claims there is 'something wrong' with the maternity service in Mayo University Hospital after seven still births were recorded in 2023. The maternity service in Mayo University Hospital (MUH) was discussed at a meeting of the HSE Regional Health Forum which heard that in 2023 there were seven still births recorded in the Castlebar hospital with five of those occurring in the final three months of the year. During the discussion, Castlebar-based Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne and Tony Canavan, the Regional Executive Officer, HSE West and North West clashed over the level of service provided in the hospital. READ: Two people brought to hospital after Mayo car crash When Cllr Kilcoyne suggested that 'it seem to me that there is something wrong with the maternity service within the hospital given the number of still births, Mr Canavan replied, 'No absolutely not'. Before the meeting, Cllr Kilcoyne had submitted a question to HSE senior management querying if the HSE intended to carry out an investigation into the number of still births at Mayo University Hospital in 2023. In a lengthy response, it was revealed that rates for total and adjusted still births in Mayo University Hospital were in line with the national average in 2023. Two of the still births in 2023 were found to have met the definition for serious reportable incidents (SRE) and full external reviews were commissioned on these cases. The HSE stated that there were no indications of commonalities in these cases and that one of these reviews has been completed and shared with the family and the second is underway. Cllr Kilcoyne told the meeting that he noted the reply but it was his view that these deaths should not be occurring in hospitals and the HSE should be aiming for zero still births. This ascertain was rejected by Mr Canavan who said that measures are in place across all Irish hospitals to ensure that the maternity units are performing at acceptable parameters and if they are not they are addressed. He added that outcomes for babies in Irish hospitals were improving and mothers entering hospital should be confident of a positive outcome. There are circumstances in which still births occur and are outside all of our control. It is important to understand that when we have a still birth we review it to make sure that is the case. It is also possible that there is learning from some of these cases as well and we should learn from them and try to improve. Of course the evidence shows our services are improving and the outcomes for babies are improving. One of the things which should be an assurance to people is the level of openness that exists now and the level of scrutiny which exists in our maternity services and how people are using it to improve the level of services across all of our hospitals including in Mayo, he said. However, Cllr Kilcoyne reiterated his belief that five still births in a three month period was not acceptable and it indicated that something was not right in the hospital. Mothers want to be assured that five still births in a three month period is not acceptable in a maternity hospital, he said. Mr Canavan told the Independent councillor that neither of them were qualified to make such a determination. Energy Partners, a leading energy procurement and management company, is pleased to announce the expansion of its operations with the purchase of new offices at 4 and 5 Park Lane, Carrick-on-Shannon. This milestone marks a significant step forward for the company as it continues to help businesses across Ireland secure cost-effective and sustainable energy solutions. Specializing in electricity, natural gas, LPG, and renewable micro-generation projects such as wind and solar, Energy Partners has built a reputation for helping Irish businesses reduce energy costs and improve efficiency. The companys expertise has been recognized with an All-Ireland Business Award, underscoring its commitment to innovation and customer service. Thanks to investment secured last year, Energy Partners purchased and renovated the new premises, now home to a state-of-the-art call center and processing hub. This strategic move strengthens the companys operations and positions it to meet increasing demand from its growing client base, which includes Supermacs, Smyths Toys, and Keegan Quarries. Speaking at the official opening, Minister of State for Small Business, Retail & Circular Economy, Alan Dillon, highlighted the companys role in supporting Irish businesses: It is an honor to be here today in Carrick-on-Shannon for this momentous occasion for Energy Partners. The company not only provides vital employment to the local community but also plays a crucial role in helping businesses manage their energy costs. As a government, we recognize that businesses have faced significant challenges in recent years due to rising energy prices. Ireland remains one of the most expensive energy markets in the EU, making the work of Energy Partners even more essential. Beyond brokering energy costs, Energy Partners is also leading the way in advising businesses on renewable energy strategies. Their success is a testament to their expertise, and it is fantastic to see a company like this establish itself in the West and North West while serving businesses nationwide. Energy Partners directors Aaron McKittrick and Andrew Hanley showing Minster Dillon around the new offices Andrew Hanley, Managing Director of Energy Partners, emphasized the companys long-term vision: Our new offices reflect our ambition and long-term commitment to growth, improving our services, and contributing to the economic development of the Midlands and West. The energy sector is evolving rapidly and offers great opportunities for young professionals. We encourage those considering their career paths to explore this exciting industry, as we plan to double our workforce in the coming years. What makes our industry unique is that it welcomes both highly qualified professionals - some of our team hold masters degrees in energy-related fieldsas well as individuals with a strong work ethic and a willingness to learn. This combination of knowledge and dedication is what drives our success. Energy Partners services are increasingly recommended by accountants, auctioneers, and financial professionals, who recognize the company as a valuable resource for reducing operational costs. By working with all major energy providers, Energy Partners understands the strengths and limitations of each supplier, helping businesses choose the best fit for their specific energy needs. Because suppliers purchase their energy at different times and in varying amounts, pricing and contract options can fluctuate. By analyzing a businesss energy consumption, meter type, and overall strategy, Energy Partners ensures clients select the supplier that best aligns with their needs, delivering long-term cost savings and stability. Beyond securing competitive energy plans, Energy Partners is a trusted advisor for businesses looking to adopt renewable energy solutions. The company collaborates with energy generators, suppliers, and regulators to help businesses integrate micro-generation projects like solar and wind power. With access to government-backed incentives such as feed-in tariffs, businesses can reduce their carbon footprint, lower energy costs, and even generate additional revenue by selling surplus energy back to the grid. Energy Partners' expansion is about more than just business growthits about job creation and investing in local talent. The company has ambitious plans to significantly expand its team in the coming years, ensuring that skilled professionals in the Midlands and West have exciting career opportunities in a thriving industry. We are committed to keeping local talent at the heart of our business. By investing in both people and technology, were ensuring that businesses across Ireland continue to benefit from expert energy solutions. Andrew Hanley Energy Partners would like to sincerely thank the distinguished guests who attended the official opening, including: Minister Alan Dillon Deputy Frank Feighan Cllr Maeve Reynolds Cllr Enda McGloin Fiona McCormack (Department of Social Protection) Finola Armstrong-McGuire (President of Carrick-on-Shannon Chamber) Joe Lowe (Local Enterprise Office LEO) Their presence and support reflect the importance of businesses like Energy Partners in driving regional economic growth and innovation in the energy sector. As the company continues to expand, its focus remains on delivering smarter, cost-effective, and sustainable energy solutions to businesses across Ireland. Whether through negotiating the best supplier contracts or helping companies transition to renewable energy, Energy Partners is committed to supporting businesses on their journey toward greater efficiency and sustainability. For more information about Energy Partners and its services, visit www.energypartners.ie. *Sponsored Content Outback towns have recorded their average annual rainfall in a matter of days, leaving the red-dirt communities isolated by rare floodwaters. Sam Welk and her family (left) have been 'completely cut off' from the rest of the country after Quilpie was inundated with heavy rain this week. Source: Facebook/Quilpie Licensed Post Office & Tony Perrett MP Photos have emerged of outback towns "completely cut off" from the rest of the country after a 2,000 kilometre band of rain swept across the country this week, leaving saturated red-dirt communities living "on an island" as water blocks all road access. Rain has poured from thick blankets of clouds across parts of Queensland and New South Wales, with the wild weather beginning at the start of the week and predicted to continue over the next few days. Quilpie, a town of just over 500 people situated almost 1,000 kilometres inland from Brisbane, has come to a "standstill" according to the local post office owner. Sam Welk told Yahoo New she has no idea when they'll be able to get supplies in and have been forced to shut the town's mail service. "We can't get anything in or out of town," she said. "Hopefully the landing strip will dry up at some stage and we might be able to fly some food or medical supplies in... We've already run out of milk and my husband actually had to bake bread this morning." ADVERTISEMENT A group of locals, who were at the Quilpie post office on Wednesday morning when Yahoo News contacted the store, explained "there's just water everywhere". Despite facing uncertainty over the next few weeks, "no one is freaking out" and they're doing their best to take the days as they come, they said. "It's some pretty impressive water days we have ahead," one local told Yahoo. The majority of Quilpie is under water this week. Source: ABC/Meg Ruteledge The Quilpie Shire Council have called out to landowners online, urging them to get in touch about the impact flooding has had on their property and asking to be notified of what assistance is required. Queensland MP Tony Perrett said one property recorded its annual rainfall, just over 300 millimetres, in less than 48 hours. "There have been some incredible falls recorded in the Channel Country over the last day or so," he said on Tuesday evening, urging locals to contact Disaster Management teams. Normally very dry outback towns have been saturated by heavy rain. Source: Jane Mulligan & Tony Perrett MP 'Exceptionally high' rainfall in 'normally very dry' outback The low pressure system responsible for the rain has created a monsoon-like flow and has impacted outback towns such as Quilpie, Charlesville, Longreach, Winton, Windorah and Isisford with grave fears of flash flooding. However, it's not just inland areas affected, with areas just north of Townsville on the coast recording 145mm of rain in 24 hours. ADVERTISEMENT Road access in many towns has been severely disrupted. Source: Facebook/Red Dirt Tours Outback communities have been inundated by the deluge. Source: Facebook/Tony Perrett MP The Bureau of Meteorology said areas that are considered "normally very dry" have recorded "exceptionally high" rainfall this week. "The rain is still going through these already very wet areas, so there is a broad, severe weather warning covering further rainfall for Central and South West Queensland," Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Angus Hines said. The rain is expected to get "a little bit patchier" and dissipate by the weekend. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, March 25, 2025 Competition is key to Mozillas vision of the internet, but there are remedies being tossed around by a U.S. court judge based on Googles monopoly trial that could threaten a free and open internet Depending on the outcome of the remedy, it could have wide-reaching effects, from the way apps are developed to media buying. Mozilla and Google have been working closely since the nonprofit maker of Firefox ended a default engine partnership with Yahoo in 2017 that began in 2014. Many U.S. and U.K. users were not satisfied with th.e switch and reverted to Google during those three years. The Yahoo experience told us that if we are not able to include Google Search in Firefox it may be more difficult for us to compete, said Kush Amlani, director and global competition and regulation at Mozilla. Users either switched back to Google from Yahoo search or left the Firefox web browser altogether, and mistakenly blamed the browser company for not giving them the search experience they wanted. advertisement advertisement As a result, Mozilla has tried to support competition and choice, also working with engines such as Microsoft, DuckDuckGo and others. We dont think keeping a partnership with Google is counter to the goals of increased search competition given Judge Mehta found that independent browsers like Firefox account for just 1.15% of US search queries, said Mozilla President Mark Surman. Judge Amit Mehta on August 5, 2024 ruled that Google illegally maintained a monopoly in online search and search text advertising. An evidentiary hearing is scheduled for all parties to argue what they deem to be an appropriate antitrust remedy in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. This hearing is expected to last for a couple of weeks, concluding by May 2, 2025. Companies must submit judgments by August. At that time, U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta in Washington, D.C. will announce the remedies for Googles antitrust monopoly case. When asked whether Mozilla has a contingency plan if the company deems the remedies are unexpected or unsatisfactory, Surman said Mozilla -- a nonprofit -- has been working to diversify the companys revenue. It will continue to focus on several search partnerships, but the company also will build out its advertising network in Firefox. It will demonstrate that companies can serve privacy-focused ads. Surman also said the company is working on privacy-focused AI services supported by the browser. A lot of people wonder why a browser engine matters, the software underneath the browser, he said. The browser engine defines what a web developer can do and how the web standards are built out for web developers.Right now, Google defines what web developers can do, and we are the main counterpoint to that by making an independent browser engine inside of Firefox. Most browsers are built on Google Chromium, a free and open-source web browser project, including Microsoft Edge, Brave and others. Take that away from Firefox and you take away competition and choice, Surman said. by Ray Schultz , March 25, 2025 David Kline is stepping down as News Corp.s chief technology officer to accept a position outside the company. Kline will remain on the job through June 30, as News Corp. seeks a successor. At a time of profound transformation, Daves drive and leadership have been crucial to our success as other media companies have floundered and foundered, says Robert Thomson, chief executive of News Corp. His contribution to our company will resonate for many years to come, both in his enduring positive influence and through the strong and talented tech team that he has assembled. Kline joined News Corp. in January 2020, and has led the firms technology operations through the pandemic and up to todays era of generative AI. Kline comments that he is resigning with mixed emotions. Its been a remarkable journey, and while its bittersweet to step away, I do so knowing that the technology organization is stronger than ever with a high-performing, forward-looking team firmly in place. by Danielle Oster , March 25, 2025 For over thirty years, St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch has been a corporate sponsor for St. Louis PrideFest, but the Budweiser brewer will not be supporting the citys annual LGBTQIA+ festival and parade this year. The decision, along with reduced support from other sponsors, has left organizers scrambling to make up for the impact of the lost financial support which has resulted in a deficit of some $150,000 compared to last years funding. We are devastated this year that our hometown brewer, Anheuser-Busch, has declined to sponsor PrideFest after more than 30 years of partnership. At a time when many sponsors have already reduced their contributions, this decision is especially painful, St. Louis Pride, the nonprofit which organizes the event, wrote in a statement, March 25. We are saddened to lose such a historic supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community in St. Louis. advertisement advertisement The brewer had been a sponsor for over two-thirds of the events history. St. Louis PrideFest began in 1980 as the St. Louis Gay and Lesbian Pride Celebration, and is celebrated annually during the last full weekend of June. Anheuser-Busch and parent company AB InBev did not immediately respond to a request for comment. For them to walk away from the table in negotiations, simply to note tha, we just dont see the value in it anymore, its like a bad breakup, Pride St. Louis President Marty Zuniga told St. Louis Public Radio. In addition to the loss of Anheuser-Busch, funding has been coming in well below expectations, and we are currently over $150,000 short of last years total, St. Louis Pride wrote in its statement announcing the news. The Board of Directors is actively working to modify the budget where applicable while ensuring a safe, engaging, and spectacular PrideFest for all, and we are calling on the community to help bridge this gap. The group launched a #45for45 campaign calling on people to donate $45 or more, and has already raised over $17,000, Zuniga told St. Louis Public Radio. 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, Zuniga wrote in a statement. The community and our board are clear: Cancelling PrideFest is not an option. Anheuser-Busch has also withdrawn its sponsorship support for the San Francisco Pride event. San Francisco Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford told NPR on March 24 that Anheuser Busch, as well as longtime sponsors Comcast and Diageo, were no longer sponsoring the event -- one of the worlds largest Pride celebrations. Diageo told NPR it had adjusted its sponsorship budgets but was still sponsoring a smaller Pride event in Long Beach, California. Back in the spring of 2023, Anheuser-Buschs Bud Light faced boycott calls from far right anti-trans extremist influencers and celebrities, as part of a transmisogynist hate campaign aimed at the brand and transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, over the brand partnering with her on a single social media post. More recently, the new administration threatened private companies with investigations and withholding of federal funding or contracts for those who violated an executive order aimed at shuttering DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility) practices. Were still proud. We started 45 years ago as a protest, and now its a parade, Zuniga told St. Louis Public Radio Maybe we need to protest again this year and take it back to what it started with, to remind people of why were where we are today and to make sure we dont go back. by Tony Jarvis , Op-Ed Contributor, March 26, 2025 Day One of the Advertising Research Foundations (ARF) Audience x Science Conference in New York City Tuesday delivered fascinating learnings and guidance on media and advertising measurement and metrics by industry leaders. While covering a broad range of topics, attention, whether from a programming/content or ad perspective, surely dominated. Rishad Tobaccowala provided highlights from his new book, Rethinking Work in the opening keynote interview with ARF CEO Scott McDonald. To help us all survive in the ever faster evolving AI (alien intelligence) and digital world, it is unequivocally worth reading especially when considering oneself as a company of one. NBCUniversals Jorge de la Rosa, Matt Gottlieb and Brian West explained the multiple network, platform and streaming opportunities and values of Olympic coverage and programming for consumers and advertisers. It was a reminder of the sheer media power and impact of the Olympics and the mere 300-plus days until the Winter Games in Milan/Cortina in 2026. advertisement advertisement Cross-platform and cross-media measurement of viewership and impacts have only increased in scope and complexity since being started by Alan Wurtzel, NBCs former President of Research & Media Development. Based on a single CPM across all networks and dayparts and some custom measurement of simulcast events on Peacock by Nielsen this event is ever more compelling. (And yes, as an Olympian myself, I am truly biased!) In a far-reaching interview, Nielsen Chief Data Officer Christine Pierce leaned on extensive international measurement experience to address the integration in the U.S. of Big Data with various Nielsen representative panels as a hybrid ratings solution. Clearly, Nielsen is proud of its advances with the new PPM (portable people meter) wearable meter and associated app to follow the consumer. She appeared to echo the measurement workstream of the Advertising: Who Cares movement, which recently supported the fundamental requirement and priority of person-based media measurement relative to device-based and/or Big Data metrics. In terms of panels first, she reminded that they are representative of a persons actual viewing and cross-platform usage both in and out of home; minimize bias; and fulfill the cornerstones of measurement principles. However, she noted the goal of optimizing the best of both panel and Big Data sources despite the volatility of the latter to provide comprehensive measurement across all TV/video experiences. The use of attention measures continues to raise questions, but its relevance and superiority over so-called viewable impressions appears undisputed. So always insist on the definition and derivation when the term impressions is used. NIQ Vice President Matthew Cottle provided a superb, detailed explanation of the three main levels of attention: eyes-on screen or eyes-captured; fixations or visual focus; and attention processing or cognitive attention. Its complicated as there are many different methods, measures and dimensions of attention producing different results which do not necessarily relate to sales, although emotion and memory are relatively the best predictors. The power of the creative brand message is clear although the context. And the environment of the media vehicle carrying the ad is also important. To help us all, the ARF will be revealing Phase III of its Attention Validation Initiative at a special event June 5th. It will review and assess a comparative evaluation of 10 companies measuring attention for the same array of live campaigns running on TV, digital and social media, and will include validation data. Do these companies align on passive active emotion measurements or is inattention the key, per Media Sciences Duane Varan? It is expected that this Phase III will help the attention arena improve its reliability, validity and transparency while improving practices and audit standards plus help resolve some terminology and definition differences. by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, March 26, 2025 Optical retail company National Vision Holdings has named WPPs VML agency of record for creative, CRM, social strategy, brand identity, design and experiential marketing. The appointment followed a review. The client previously worked with Dallas-based TRG on the account advertisement advertisement The company markets eyeglass brands including America's Best and Eyeglass World. VML is tasked with helping to lead a brand evolution for the client, redefining National Visions communication and brand platforms, and expanding its audience base. First work from the agency is expected in the second half of 2025. The company reported spending $138.6 million on advertising in 2024. Media expenditures were not broken out and are not part of the assignment. Company revenue was $1.8 billion last year, up 3.8% by Ray Schultz , March 26, 2025 The News/Media Alliance has reached an AI licensing deal with ProRata AI to help publishers and creators obtain credit and compensation for use of their content by generative AI. The Alliances 2,200+ members can opt into a content license protocol with ProRata based on its GistAI product. ProRata uses attribution technology to identify when publisher content is used in generative AI answers. It will attribute the information to these publishers and compensate them at a rate of 50% of all revenues from Gist.AI. The Gist.AI website has a dynamic trending guide, and invites visitors to initiate a search. McClatchy, The Atlantic, and the MIT Technology Review are among the publishing brands that already are content partners with ProRata AI. advertisement advertisement This agreement should serve as a model for how the AI industry can continue to grow sustainably, says Danielle Coffey, president and CEO of the News/Media Alliance. AI companies can and must cooperate with publishers and content creators, rather than exploit their work without compensation. Coffey adds that the deal shows a path towards a future in which our industries grow and thrive togetherwith AI companies benefiting from the high-quality content that publishers create, and publishers receiving a fair portion of the revenue that their work produces for AI companies. The announcement comes as several publishers are suing AI companies they accuse of using their content without permission. "Content creators are the backbone of the knowledge economy, especially journalists and specialty publishers, and they deserve fair recognition and compensation for their contributions, says Bill Gross, founder and CEO of ProRata.ai. Generative AI cannot thrive on a foundation of stolen or uncredited contentit's neither sustainable nor just. by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, March 26, 2025 New Zealands Commerce Commission published today a statement of preliminary issues related to Omnicoms proposed acquisition of Interpublic. The country is just one of multiple jurisdictions that will investigate whether the proposed M&A deal would restrict competition in the advertising and/or media buying sectors within their respective territories. advertisement advertisement According to a prospectus filed by Omnicom other countries and jurisdictions it is applying for clearance to proceed with the deal include the U.S., the European Union, Australia, Canada, China, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, India, Japan, Mexico, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey, and the UK. Among the questions the NZ Commision (known as ComCom) will look into is whether the loss of competition between the parties enable the merged entity to profitably raise prices or reduce quality or innovation by itself? Also Would the merged entity engage in any tying or bundling strategies to prevent or inhibit rivals from competing? See the full preliminary issues statement here. Omnicom and Interpublic have responded that they do not believe a restriction of competition would occur in the market because of their combination, noting that competitors like WPP, Publicis, Havas as well as independent agencies aggressively compete in New Zealand. ComCom has invited interested parties to submit comments on the likely competitive impact of the merger. The deadline for doing so is April. 9. It hopes to make a decision on the deal by May 1, but may take more time if it needs to. We will give clearance to a proposed merger if we are satisfied that the merger is unlikely to have the effect of substantially lessening competition in a market, the Commission stated. Omnicom and IPG hope to complete the transaction in the second half of 2025. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, March 26, 2025 Former Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, a Democrat, confirmed to lawmakers on Wednesday that she will challenge President Donald Trump's attempt to oust her from the agency. I am the second FTC Commissioner in 120 years that a president has purported to fire, she said in prepared remarks to a House panel. I will not be the first to go down without a fight, and neither will Commissioner Bedoya, she added, referring to Democratic former commissioner Alvaro Bedoya, who was also fired last week from the five-member agency. Her remarks came at the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing "The World Wild Web: Examining Harms Online." Slaughter noted in her written testimony that the law establishing the FTC calls for a bipartisan board, with no more than three commissioners from the same party. That law also specifies that the commissioners can only be fired for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. advertisement advertisement The Supreme Court upheld those restrictions in 1935, when former President Franklin D. Roosevelt attempted to fire an FTC commissioner. The court unanimously ruled at the time that the president could only expel a commissioner for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. Commissioner Bedoya and I will be challenging our illegal removals and working to vindicate the law passed by Congress and upheld by the Supreme Court because we care deeply about the honesty and integrity of the Commissions work and how it affects the American people, she said. She added that Trump's move sent the clear message to the FTC's two remaining commissioners that they now work under the shadow of arbitrary removal. Slaughter also suggested that expelling Democrats from the commission would result in fewer dissenting opinions, noting that current chair Andrew Ferguson, a Republican, recently boasted that he authored more than 400 pages of dissents during the prior administration. The presence of minority commissioners at the FTC lets us provide you, our Congressional overseers, with views into our work, she said. It is essential for accountability. This was true for the minority Commissioners in the last administration, whose views and dissents shaped our work for the better, just as Congress intended. The Army's elite Ranger School, long regarded as one of the most grueling leadership courses in the military, is rolling out a new physical fitness assessment designed to better measure the endurance and strength required to complete the course. The revised standards will debut with Ranger School class 06-25, beginning April 21, marking the culmination of years of development and refinement. Students will be assessed the first day of the course. While the previous assessment focused on individual graded events, the new version is structured as a continuous evaluation of a candidate's ability to sustain high-intensity physical exertion. Instead of isolated graded events, Ranger School students will have a short time to execute two runs and various movement drills generally aligned with the physical fitness test for expert badges. The assessment concludes with a longer run and chin-ups. Read Next: Senate Confirms Investment Banker John Phelan as Navy Secretary "The new [assessment] will allow Ranger course cadre to assess a potential Ranger candidate's ability to endure the physical intensity involved in the Ranger Course, thus reducing risk during the course," Jennifer Gunn, an Army spokesperson, told Military.com in a statement. The new measurement of fitness will comprise the following events, with students wearing the standard Army Combat Uniform and boots, within 14 minutes: 800-meter run 30 dead-stop push-ups 100-meter sprint An event in which students lift 16 40-pound sandbags onto a 68-inch platform 50-meter farmer's carry consisting of two five-gallon water cans weighing 40 pounds each 50-meter movement drill consisting of a 25-meter high crawl and 25-meter 3-5 second rush Another 800-meter run Once those events are complete, students will change into their physical fitness uniform and run four miles within 32 minutes. After the run, soldiers will perform six chin-ups. Previously, Ranger School students went through a special fitness test that consisted of at least 49 push-ups in two minutes, 59 sit-ups in two minutes, six chin-ups, and a 5-mile run within 40 minutes -- effectively a more demanding version of the Army Physical Fitness Test, or APFT, the service's old universal fitness test that is now obsolete. Meanwhile, the service is in the midst of revamping the Army Combat Fitness Test, or ACFT -- the universal fitness assessment all soldiers are graded on. The Army faces a congressionally mandated deadline to adjust the standards for the test for combat-arms soldiers by June. Service planners are currently mulling various ways of shifting scoring standards and whether to add or take away events, multiple Army officials with direct knowledge of the planning have told Military.com. Ranger School is a 62-day infantry leadership course based out of Fort Benning, Georgia, open to troops from each of the services. Related: How Do You Measure Up? Here's How Soldiers Are Scoring on the Army Combat Fitness Test. The U.S. military wants to keep training at Pohakuloa, so it's ready to quickly send troops to Asia and the Pacific. The use of an encrypted, commercial messaging app to discuss plans for U.S. military strikes in Yemen by top Trump administration officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, represents a significant security breach that could have endangered the service members involved in the operation, experts and lawmakers said Tuesday. "There are people whose lives are literally on the line, whether that's service personnel, whether that's intelligence personnel," Michael Williams, an expert on international relations and a professor at Syracuse University, told Military.com in an interview Tuesday. "These guys are supposed to be leaders of the free world, the responsible leaders of the military, the greatest country in the world, and they can't perform basic operational security." The Atlantic reported Monday that several Cabinet members, including Hegseth, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Vice President JD Vance, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, were part of a group chat on the app Signal, where they conferred about plans for then-upcoming strikes against Yemen's Houthi rebels. The magazine found out because Waltz added its editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, to the chat, apparently by accident. Read Next: Ranger School Is Getting a New Fitness Assessment On the morning of the strikes, Hegseth sent a message to the group that included "operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing," Goldberg reported. Goldberg did not disclose the specific information in Hegseth's message or publish screenshots of that portion of the chat, citing the sensitive nature of the information. While the administration has confirmed the authenticity of the Signal chat, officials are denying that any classified information was shared. Still, they have not directly denied the allegations that specific operational details were sent in the chat. Military.com asked Hegeseth's office whether he declassified the information he put onto the chat before sharing it but did not receive a response in time for publication. Experts who spoke with Military.com on Tuesday said it's highly unlikely that operational details at the level Goldberg described would not be classified. And, they added, sharing the information outside of classified systems is incredibly irresponsible. "It's an extraordinary departure from how we deal with classified information," Eric Carpenter, a law professor at the Florida International University College of Law and a former Army judge advocate, told Military.com in a phone interview Tuesday. Carpenter added that, if a service member were to do something similar, they would be facing a court-martial. Williams and Carpenter both acknowledged that properly dealing with classified information like the specific details of military plans and operations can be burdensome, but the people in the group chat had all the support of the U.S. government behind them. "They have the capacity with them to do this stuff correctly, and they chose not to, and that's what I didn't get," Carpenter said. Dan Grazier, a senior fellow for the National Security Reform Program at the nonprofit Stimson Center think tank in Washington, D.C., told Military.com on Tuesday that issues could have easily arisen had the initial strikes that were apparently being discussed in the chat gone wrong and involved civilian casualties or hit the wrong targets. "Just from self-preservation, the administration would probably like to have a record that shows that, 'No, we didn't intend to strike that target that was not part of the package ... this is just an error,'" Grazier said. Since the Signal chat isn't part of a government system, its contents don't automatically become government records. "And if those records don't exist, then they wouldn't be able to prove that," Grazier said. Lawmakers from both parties with military and national security backgrounds agreed with the experts. "This is all classified information," Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., a former CIA analyst and Defense Department civilian, posted on social media. "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." Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., a retired Air Force brigadier general, similarly said the officials on the Signal chat "were jeopardizing the aviators who were dropping these bombs." "There's the old phrase from World War II: Loose lips sink ships," Bacon told reporters Tuesday. "And so you're doing it in an unclassified way where Russia and China could know about it two hours before the attack? It's not right." While Waltz's mistake in adding a reporter to the chat was understandable, Bacon added, Hegseth needs to take accountability for sharing classified information in an unclassified setting. "It was the putting the classified information in there that was wrong," said Bacon, who declined to say whether he believes Hegseth should resign. "The secretary did wrong there, and he should have known that." At a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday that was scheduled prior to the Atlantic story publishing, Gabbard and Ratcliffe both repeatedly and categorically denied that classified information was shared in the chat. But toward the end of the hearing, they clarified that they meant there was no classified information that originated from the intelligence community they oversee and that they could not speak to whether any information originating from the Defense Department was classified since Hegseth is responsible for overseeing classification at the Pentagon. Under questioning from Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., a former naval aviator, both Gabbard and Ratcliffe also said they could "not recall" specific details about the Signal thread, including whether weapons systems, timing and military units were mentioned. Still, Gabbard acknowledged there was "discussion around targets in general." The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment on the Atlantic report by Military.com's deadline Tuesday, but Hegseth told reporters traveling with him in Hawaii on Monday that "nobody was texting war plans." In a sign of how serious the breach was, even some Republicans who have so far been deferential to the Trump administration have expressed concern. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., told reporters Tuesday that he and the committee's top Democrat, Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, conferred on the issue earlier in the day. While they didn't settle on an exact next step, including whether to make Hegseth testify before the committee, Wicker said he and Reed will "look for some way forward" on a bipartisan committee response. Still, other top Republicans are brushing off the issue as a harmless mistake. "That mission was a success," House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters Monday. "No one was jeopardized because of that. We're grateful for that." Meanwhile, Democrats are hammering the administration, and some have already moved to demand answers without Republicans. Reps. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee; Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Jim Himes, D-Conn., the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee; and Gerry Connelly, D-Va., the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, sent a letter Monday to Hegseth, Rubio, Gabbard and Waltz with a slew of questions, including whether information in the chat "could have compromised the safety of members of the U.S. armed forces or those of a U.S. ally or partner." Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., also organized a separate letter to President Donald Trump demanding to know what disciplinary actions will be taken against those in the chat. "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 adviser," Kaine and 13 other Senate Democrats wrote in the letter. "This is an astonishingly cavalier approach to national security." However, the possibility of accountability seemed remote to some of the experts who spoke with Military.com. "I don't think there'll be any direct political fallout, because this is not an administration that believes in accountability," Williams said. "There may be some poor, low-level staffer who gets fired, but I think that will be it. ... I doubt there'll be any sort of serious accountability." Related: The Last Houthi Attack Was Months Ago. But the US Military Has Now Launched an Open-Ended Campaign in Yemen. This article first appeared on The War Horse, an award-winning nonprofit news organization educating the public on military service. Subscribe to their newsletter. She was the woman in the floppy jungle hat, standing in front of a Hiller 360 helicopteryoung, with a confident smile, dressed in khaki coveralls. Her photo immediately caught my eye the first day I walked into a warehouse in the San Francisco Bay Area that housed the massive collection of helicopter legend Stanley Hillers aircraft and aviation memorabilia. It was 1991, and I was a grad student starting a job as the curator of the Hiller Aviation Museum. There I stood, surrounded by all manner of Hiller aircraftproduction helicopters, experimental Rotorcycles, and even the infamous Hiller Flying Platform. But who was that woman in the floppy hat? I had to know her story. What I would learn became an obsession with the story of a true aviation pioneera story I would eventually travel repeatedly across an ocean to pursue, to a sixth-floor apartment in the Paris suburb of Issy-les-Moulineaux. There, I would sit for hours, quietly soaking up the remarkable memories of Valerie Andre, the woman in the floppy hat. She was a French Army doctor and a trailblazing helicopter rescue pilot. She flew 128 missions and rescued 168 soldiers during the French-Indochina War. Those missions took her to the most dangerous combat zones imaginable. Despite red crosses painted prominently on her aircraft, Valerie was always a target of enemy bullets and mortar fire. She would also become Frances first female Army general. We first met in 2003, after I had finished my first book and finally felt I had enough credentials to contact Valerie to ask if I could tell her story. To my surprise and delight, she wrote back and said she would be happy to meet. I flew to Paris, and I found her waiting at the entrance to the building and discovered our countries and native languages were not the only things that made us different. At six-foot-three, I towered over her by one foot and one inch. So her first impression of me was lasting. To her, I would always be the tall American. Valerie Andre plots the course for a rescue mission during the French-Indochina War. (Photo courtesy of Charles Morgan Evans and the Andre family) Valerie had first moved to this apartment in the 1960s with her late husband, Col. Alexis Santini, Frances first military helicopter rescue pilot and Valeries mentor in Vietnam. The apartment was small but had a sweeping balcony view over Issy. Valerie called it her birds nest. The living room was a testament to her love of aviation and her career in the French Army as a helicopter pilot. I noticed a model of a Hiller UH-12/360 prominently displayed on her mantel. I could tell it was a gift from the Hiller Company, similar to models I had seen in the museum. As with most veterans, Valerie was reluctant to discuss her military career. She seemed more interested in talking about my work at the Hiller Museum. I had read Valeries autobiography, Madame le General, but I wanted to know more about the lives of the people who had intersected with her life. As it turned out, my first visit to see her would turn into a nearly annual trek to uncover the myriad details of her fascinating life. In subsequent visits, I learned that Valerie had dreams of hurtling through air and space at a very young age. At 10, she met the famous French aviatrix, Maryse Hilsz. She proudly showed me the photo taken that day at the Strasbourg airporta little girl clutching a bouquet of flowers to present to Hilsz. It was the photo that captured the moment Valerie Andre knew she would become a pilot. And I would quickly understand how Valeries story would inspire so many other young girls to reach for new heights. She told me about the darkness of World War II, the German occupation of France, when she left her native Strasbourg in defiance of German orders to continue her university studies and was nearly arrested when her university was raided by the Gestapo. She managed to flee to Paris, but others, including her landlord, would perish in concentration camps. Valerie lived underground in Paris while attending the Sorbonne for her medical studies. She was in Paris when de Gaulles army of the Free French, followed by the Americans and British, liberated the city in 1944. It was a moment that she never forgot. We felt like we were able to breathe again. From that point, the military became her new passion. When she graduated in 1948 with her medical degree, she volunteered to serve in Frances military medical corps and was shipped off to Indochina, where the French were engaged in a war against the Viet Minh led by Ho Chi Minh for control over Vietnam. Even though Valerie was commissioned as a captain, many thought the military was no place for a woman. But Valeries skill, dedication, and tenacity always proved her detractors wrong. She trained to become a neurosurgeon in the military hospitals of Saigon and Hanoi to help treat the many soldiers with head trauma wounds in the field. But aviation never left Valeries soul. When the medical corps organized an air-droppable surgical unit to treat wounded at remote French outposts, Valerie was the first to volunteer. On one mission, she parachuted into an outpost in Laos, where she spent several weeks treating not only wounded French soldiers but also the local population and even wounded Viet Minh. Her stamina was incredible, and in that instance, her military legend began to take root. The Meo people called me the woman who came from the sky, Valerie said proudly, showing me a photo of herself in front of the French fort known as Muong Ngat. While researching his book, Charles Morgan Evans regularly visited Valerie Andre in France. (Photo courtesy of Charles Morgan Evans) The war between the French and the Viet Minh was bloody, and casualties were massive by 1950. French soldiers serving far from the major cities of Saigon and Hanoi were often under constant siege, and it was often impossible to transport the wounded to hospitals. However, the situation changed when the helicopter came to Vietnam. When Valerie saw the demonstration of the medevac-equipped Hiller in Saigon, she knew she had to be part of the service. As a doctor, I could help stabilize the wounded men. She added with an impish grin, I only weighed 98 pounds, so maybe I could rescue an extra man, too, since the combined weight would not exceed the payload. She went back to France for flight training, and when she returned to Vietnam, she was placed into service in September 1951. I hated the war, but there was always an exhilaration to flying. Her missions were dangerous, and she often needed to be escorted into combat zones with fighter planes that peppered the surrounding areas with machine-gun fire to clear the enemy from the landing zone. She only had a few minutes to land, load her wounded, and take off before the enemy regrouped. Each mission was grueling. Recognition of Valerie Andres accomplishments came from far and near. She was awarded the French Croix de Guerre and even recognized in the U.S. with a Legion of Merit award from the U.S. Air Force. Her crowning achievement came in 1976 when she was promoted to general, becoming the first woman in the French military to attain that rank. Despite her record of heroism, Valerie always seemed nonchalant about her accomplishments. She was obviously proud of how she had served France, but she never felt a need to boast. Her modest confidence always struck me as her finest quality. But Valerie Andre did take pride in inspiring other female pilots. When she turned 90 in 2012, she told me that she was going on a trip to Washington, D.C., with Catherine Maunoury, the world champion aerobatic pilot, and Patricia Haffner, the pilot of the Air France jetliner who would fly them there. Valerie called the trip a girls weekend. As Valerie approached her 100th birthday in 2022, the civilian heliport in Issy-les-Moulineaux was named in honor of Gen. Valerie Andre. She attended the ceremony in full dress uniform, as a military band and a number of dignitaries honored her on International Womens Day. I was there a month later, on April 21, when Valerie was feted at an elegant birthday celebration at the city hall of Issy-les-Moulineaux. After a decade of conversations, I was finally able to present her with my biography, Helicopter Heroine: Valerie AndreSurgeon, Pioneer Rescue Pilot, and Her Courage Under Fire. There was a bittersweetness to my final encounter with Valerie. A sense of frailty and by-the-moment existence overwhelmed me. I had known my heroine when she was still vibrant and active. Now, we were at the end of a life that I know was well-lived, but she lacked the freedom that was once her hallmark. We spent the afternoon quietly watching a French game show until the orderlies said it was time for me to leave. I knew this would be our final meeting. Valerie Andre had cheated death many times, but her time finally came on Jan. 21, 2025. She was 102. So many people asked me why I devoted so much time to a book that used the backdrop of the French-Indochina conflict. Just as the French War in Vietnam is little known in the U.S., Valeries life and career are even less known. I was struck by the audacity and courage of the woman in the floppy hat. That compelled me to devote more than 10 years to writing her story. I still find it an uphill battle to bring her incredible story to a larger audience. But in the end, do we ignore the accomplishments of those who dared to break the mold and trailblaze so others may follow with less prejudice and fewer obstacles? Should forgotten wars also mean forgotten veterans? I dont think so. More than a half-century later, there are still many lessons to be learned from the period of the French and American wars in Vietnam, and I can truthfully say Valerie Andre taught me these lessons: the strength of character of both the French and Vietnamese people in a dark time and place in history and the ultimate decency of individuals who rise above atrocity and carnage. These things will remain with me from my years spent with Valerie Andre. This War Horse reflection was edited by Kim Vo, fact-checked by Jess Rohan, and copy-edited by Mitchell Hansen-Dewar. Hrisanthi Pickett wrote the headlines. Editors Note: This article first appeared on The War Horse, an award-winning nonprofit news organization educating the public on military service. Subscribe to their newsletter. A Marine Corps staff noncommissioned officer who was accused of being involved in the death of his spouse last year was charged on Friday with premeditated murder -- nearly seven months after the alleged incident took place, according to the service. The Marine Corps charged Staff Sgt. Alonzo Alcantara of Cookeville, Tennessee, on March 21 with five total charges "in the death of his spouse," which include not only premeditated murder, but murder with the intent to kill or inflict great bodily harm, manslaughter, aggravated assault and obstructing justice, a spokesperson for his unit said in an emailed statement Tuesday. According to the charges and previously reported information, Alcantara allegedly killed his spouse Sept. 1 aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, or MCBH; the Naval Criminal Investigative Service launched an investigation into the incident at the time, alongside the Honolulu Police Department. Read Next: Hegseth, Top Officials Violated 'Basic Operational Security' with Signal Chat on Yemen War Plans The service did not release details on the deceased, but the spokesperson for 1st Marine Aircraft Wing based in Okinawa, Japan, Maj. Joseph Butterfield, added that Alcantara remains in the custody of the Marine Corps. "These charges are accusations of wrongdoing, and the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty," Butterfield said. "The Marine Corps extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends affected by this tragic incident." Alcantara is assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 174, a subordinate unit to 1st MAW located in Hawaii. His military occupational speciality, or MOS, is as a small arms repairer/technician, Butterfield said. Alcantara will face a court-martial, though the timing of the legal proceedings was unclear as of Wednesday. His case information was not available on the Navy and Marine Corps trial docket schedule. Military.com previously reported that Alcantara had been in custody for more than a month without charges, and the Marine Corps did not provide details at the time about his name, rank and job, among other information often released after such incidents. A legal expert explained that law enforcement and prosecutors have to balance the integrity of the investigation with public transparency in an effort to ensure the legal process is free from witness bias or other issues. "They don't want to jeopardize their investigation," retired Marine Lt. Col. Gary Barthel, founder of the Military Law Center and a lawyer with years of experience in both military and civilian legal cases, told Military.com last year. "It's not unusual in the military or even the civilian sector that, when an offense is under investigation, law enforcement is usually not going to talk about what information they've recovered or where they are in their investigation because ... there may be witnesses that they interviewed or other witnesses that they have yet to interview, and if they start making comments about the investigation and the facts and circumstances, it may have an impact on the credibility of the information that they get," he said. It was unclear if Alcantara has legal representation. Military.com attempted to reach him via a publicly listed contact Wednesday morning but was unsuccessful. Related: Hawaii Marine Detained After Dependent Death Still Not Charged More than a Month Later WARSAW, Poland NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte appealed for unity on Wednesday as European nations scale up their armed forces and defense industries after the United States warned that Europe must take care of its own security in future. Trust between the 32 member countries is at a new low. NATO was formed 76 years ago to provide stability in Europe; a guarantee underwritten by the United States. But the Trump administration says Americas security priorities now lie in Asia and on its own borders. Let me be absolutely clear, this is not the time to go it alone. Not for Europe or North America, Rutte said in a speech in Warsaw. The global security challenges are too great for any of us to face on our own. Rutte said that there is no alternative to NATO even as some allies worry about the U.S. commitment to the organizations central principle that an attack on one ally must be considered an attack on them all, while Washington demands that European countries stop free-riding on its massive military budget. His warning comes as Europe tries to wean itself off its security dependence on the United States, just as it reduced its reliance on Russian energy after President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops into Ukraine three years ago, amid a drive to buy more European military equipment. Yes, Europe needs to know that Uncle Sam still has our back, but America also needs to know that its NATO allies will step up and play their full part, without restrictions and without capability gaps," Rutte said. "Its only fair. Reassurance is a two-way street. His comments come on the eve of a visit to Greenland by U.S. Vice President JD Vance. President Donald Trump has not ruled out the use of military force to seize control of Greenland, an autonomous territory belonging to NATO and European Union member Denmark and this has deeply unsettled many allies. Still, Rutte said he is absolutely confident about the U.S. commitment to NATO's Article 5 security guarantee. He added that nothing can replace Americas nuclear umbrella, the ultimate guarantor of our security. Britain and France are also nuclear powers but their arsenals are tiny by comparison. Asked on March 13 whether U.S. forces would defend an ally which came under attack from Russia, Trump said: Well make sure it doesnt happen. Trump also said that you have to keep NATO strong. You have to keep it relevant. Rutte said he believes that when Trump and his NATO counterparts meet for a summit in the Netherlands in June, "we will begin a new chapter for our transatlantic alliance where we build a stronger, fairer and more lethal NATO to face a more dangerous world. He said that ambitious new spending targets would be set. Twenty-three NATO member countries are estimated to be meeting the current guideline of more than 2% of their gross domestic product on national defense budgets. Rutte has said that the new target would be well north of 3%. Earlier on Wednesday, at talks with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Rutte warned Russia that the alliance would always stand by Poland or any other member and that its reaction to an attack would be devastating. Tusk said it was important to be prepared for any outcome of talks between Russia and the United States aimed at ending t he 3-year-old war in Ukraine. NATO members along its eastern flank, particularly Poland and the Baltic states, are extremely worried that the talks could end with a settlement that is favorable to Russia. They fear such an outcome would allow Putin to rebuild his country's forces and threaten other countries in the region in the coming years. Rutte said that neither Putin nor anyone else should assume they could get away with something like that. If anyone were to miscalculate and think they can get away with an attack on Poland or on any other ally, they will be met with the full force of this fierce alliance. Our reaction will be devastating. This has to be very clear to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and anyone else who wants to attack us," Rutte said. - Cook reported from Brussels. Welcome to Ask Lacey, an advice column in which accredited financial counselor and MilMo founder Lacey Langford answers your pressing financial questions. Have a question for Lacey? Submit it here. Dear Lacey: I need a cell phone and cannot afford one. How can veterans get free cell phones without going through a bunch of red tape and hassle? Also, I need home repairs and cannot afford them. Rose Hey, Rose! Thank you for reaching out. I recognize how hard it is to need a cell phone and home repairs but not have the cash to cover those expenses. That stress is already heavy enough without getting tangled up in red tape when you don't need another problem. The good news is, there are options to help you without jumping through a bunch of hoops. I have resources for you! Read Next: Ask Lacey: How Service Members Can Stick to a Financial Budget Free Cell Phones There are a few different options to get a free cell phone and services. First, there's the federal Lifeline program, which receives its funding through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). It provides discounted cell phones and monthly plans to low-income earners, including veterans. It's part of the Department of Veterans Affairs' Bridging the Digital Divide program to give veterans access to the internet and internet-connected devices. You can call your local VA office to get additional information about the program or visit its website. Assurance Wireless, TruConnect and Life Wireless all fall under the Lifeline program and provide free monthly data, minutes and unlimited texting plans. If you qualify, Life Wireless will provide you with a free phone. With all of them, you also have the option to use a cell phone you already have with their plans, if it's compatible. To qualify, your income must be below a certain level or you are participating in one of these federal programs: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or food stamps) Medicaid Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) Veterans pension or survivors benefit programs Tribal specific programs Another resource is Cell Phones for Soldiers, which offers free phones and a year of service to transitioning veterans via their Cell Phones for Soldiers Mobile program. You'll need your DD-214 and to fill out a short application. As of this writing, the program is at capacity, so you'll have to join a waiting list. It will also give one-time emergency financial assistance for phone bills through Helping Heroes Home. To apply for this one, you'll need to email details about your situation and the due date of your bill. You can learn more about all of its benefits here. Free Home Repairs There's help available for your home repairs, too. The VA has some programs to help with repairs, but they're more for adaptability repairs for disabled veterans. Those programs are the VA's Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant. For this one, you must own your home and have a service-connected disability. The other is the Home Improvements/Structural Alterations (HISA) program, which helps with minor upgrades for medically necessary improvements to a home. In the state where you are located, the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency has an Urgent Repair Program (URP) that provides financial assistance for emergency home repairs to those who qualify. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Section 504 Home Repair program offers 1% loans or $10,000 grants (if 62+) if you live in a rural area. You can find all the requirements here. Nonprofits are available in North Carolina and nationwide, such as Rebuilding Together, North Carolina Heroes Fund and Habitat for Humanity, which can all help with home repairs or their costs. Other Resources Don't forget to check with your local chapters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the American Legion. They will be tapped into resources and assistance for veterans in their communities. Or donations from local companies and organizations. Another resource that is not veteran-specific but a great way to find local help is FindHelp.org. Type in your zip code, and they will list financial assistance, food pantries and other free help. I wish you the best and hope some of the resources can help you get the support you need to secure a cell phone and home repairs. Have a question about military finances for Lacey? Submit it using the form below. Your personal information will not be shared, and your responses will only be used for editorial purposes. Loading... Get the Latest Financial Tips Whether you're trying to balance your budget, build up your credit, select a good life insurance program or are gearing up for a home purchase, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com and get the latest military benefit updates and tips delivered straight to your inbox. Any service member who is thinking about leaving the military and doesn't know where to start, this message is for you: Believe it or not, the government actually is here to help. The Department of Labor has been collecting information on transitioning service members from a handful of sources in the U.S. government to show that one of its key transition programs, the Employment Navigator and Partnership Program (ENPP), is not only working; it's making life better for those who use it. Using transition information from the Department of Defense, its own data and input from the Department of Health and Human Services on new hires and wages, the Labor Department was able to track the effectiveness of the ENPP and its outcomes between 2023 and 2024. What it found was encouraging news for anyone thinking of leaving the military and is unsure of where to start looking for work. Read Next: Catch the Employment Wave: The Veterans Guide to the Recession Job Hunt Enlisted personnel who left the military during that time period and used the Employment Navigator found work two months faster than those who didn't, finding employment within a median of 90 days as opposed to 153 days. Moreover, the median quarterly wage for an ENPP client was 11% higher than their non-ENPP counterparts. These positive outcomes make sense as a simple, cost-free solution to a post-military job search. The DoL program offers testing, skills matching, apprenticeship opportunities, mentorships, networking, training, community services and even job placement assistance for veterans and their spouses. The alternative is finding all of these services in other places or doing it all on their own. The ENPP network is also expanding. Eight veteran employment-oriented agencies signed on to three-year agreements with the Labor Department in 2024 to provide the above services in various parts of the country: Zero8Hundred in San Diego; VetJobs in Fort Myers, Florida; Hire Heroes USA in Alpharetta, Georgia; American Corporate Partners in New York; Ability ASCEND in Simpsonville, South Carolina; Combined Arms in Houston; Helmets to Hardhats in Washington, D.C.; and Recruit Military in Chesapeake, Virginia. The addition of these eight make a total of 74 veteran service organizations that have partnered with the Department of Labor in helping transitioning service members find work after leaving the military. Eight other groups renewed their partnerships in the program last year. Still, despite its now-proven efficacy, the ENPP is dramatically underutilized by those who leave the military. An estimated 200,000 people leave the armed forces every year, and only 25% say they have a job lined up before leaving. Since the ENPP was created in 2021, it has helped just 19,000 troops and spouses enter civilian life -- and has the capacity to do more. To apply for the Employment Navigator and Partnership Program, you must be a transitioning service member or spouse, be within two years of retirement or 365 days of separation and participate in a transition assistance program at one of the 40 locations listed on the ENPP website. The ENPP is separate from other transitional programs offered by the Department of Labor, which includes transition e-learning, help for spouses and off-base transition training programs. For more information on those programs, visit the Veterans' Employment and Training Service website. Want to Know More About Veteran Jobs? Be sure to get the latest news about post-military careers as well as critical info about veteran jobs and all the benefits of service. Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox. Dan Altavilla exercised an out clause in his minor league deal with the White Sox, reports Jon Heyman of The New York Post. The right-hander was granted his release and is again a free agent. Chicago gave Altavilla a non-roster invite to big league camp in December. He had a solid Spring Training, working 9 2/3 innings of three-run ball with 11 strikeouts. The White Sox nevertheless opted not to carry him on the big league roster, sending him back to the open market. Altavilla made five appearances for the Royals last season. He gave up six runs across 3 2/3 frames before sustaining an oblique strain that knocked him out of action for two months. Kansas City waived him rather than reinstate him onto the MLB roster once he was healthy. That was Altavillas first major league work since he made two appearances for the Padres in 2021. The 32-year-old spent most of last season with K.C.s Triple-A club. He turned in a 3.51 ERA with a 22.2% strikeout rate and a 12.9% walk percentage across 41 innings. The Triple-A and Spring Training numbers should land him a minor league deal somewhere. 1:42pm: The Phillies announced that Phillips was traded to the Marlins for cash. 11:31am: The Marlins are set to acquire righty Tyler Phillips from the division-rival Phillies, reports Robert Murray of Fansided. Philadelphia designated Phillips for assignment on Sunday. Its not clear if Miami has agreed to a small trade or is simply claiming the right-hander off waivers, but hell join the Marlins big league roster either way, as hes out of minor league options. Phillips, 27, made his MLB debut with the Phillies last year, appearing in eight games (seven starts) and logging a 6.87 ERA in 36 2/3 innings. He averaged 93.7 mph on his sinker, fanned 17.5% of his opponents, issued walks at a minuscule 4.4% clip and kept a solid 42.3% of his batted balls on the ground. Hes whiffed 14 of the 50 hitters hes faced this spring (28%) and notched a massive 63% ground-ball rate, but hes also been tagged for nine runs and walked seven batters in 10 2/3 innings. Though Phillips had a tough first look in the majors and a shaky 5.08 ERA in Triple-A, hell come to the Marlins having logged 122 2/3 minor league innings in 2023 and 155 1/3 innings between Triple-A and the big leagues last year. For a Marlins club that has seen a large swath of injuries this spring, hell add some needed rotation depth and a potential long man in the bullpen. Miami lost Braxton Garrett to UCL surgery early in camp. Ryan Weathers went down with a forearm strain just last week. Edward Cabrera struggled in camp while pitching through a series of blisters on his right hand. Ballyhooed prospect Eury Perez is still on the mend from last Aprils Tommy John surgery. At present, the Marlins project to open with a rotation including Sandy Alcantara, Cal Quantrill, Max Meyer, Connor Gillispie and Valente Bellozo. The first three are locked into place, but neither Gillispie nor Bellozo has a long big league track record or Meyers prospect status. Phillips provides length in the pen and a possible alternative in the event that the Fish opt to send Gillispie or Bellozo to Triple-A Jacksonville for further minor league work. Above-ground portion of Enbridge Line 5 at the company's Mackinaw Station on Sunday, May 15, 2022. The oil pipeline travels under the Straits of Mackinac. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse | MLive.com DETROIT, MI Michigan Indigenous tribes will no longer cooperate with the federal environmental review of a proposed oil pipeline tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac in objection to potential fast-tracking of a permit. In a March 21 letter, six tribes formally withdrew from the U.S. Army Corps review of Canadian pipeline giant Enbridges application to construct a utility tunnel under the Great Lakes that would house a rebuilt section of its Line 5 oil pipeline. Two playful Northern American river otters weaseled out of their enclosure at a Wisconsin zoo last week to explore and have fun in a snowstorm. The search continues for Louie and Ophelia, the otters that escaped through a small hole in a buried fence from NEW Zoo & Adventure Park in Green Bay, Wis. They have been out since early Thursday, March 20. Both otters enjoyed the snowfall, romping around, exploring bodies of water and frequently sliding on their bellies, leaving easily recognizable tracks from their characteristic bounce, bounce, sliiiide, the zoo said on Facebook. A professional tracker has been tapped to help with the search and traps have been set for the otters, the zoo said. They have shown up repeatedly on motion-activated cameras but have yet to go into one of the traps. Its likely that the pair will remain close by and could return to their habitat on their own since otters are territorial, the zoo said. Otters are native to northern Wisconsin; nearby waterways provide food and shelter, even in winter. The otters dont pose a threat to the public, but the zoo is asking for the publics help in finding them. Send reports to the zoos Facebook page. Jackson County couple Paul and Christy Akeos have reportedly been held in a Mexican prison since early March over a credit card dispute with a Cancun hotel, according to their daughter Lindsey Hull. Photo used with permission. Photo used with permission. JACKSON COUNTY, MI Federal authorities have remained mum about what steps may be under way to free a Michigan couple imprisoned in Mexico over a hotel credit card dispute. The ordeal that reportedly landed Jackson County residents Paul and Christy Akeo in a maximum-security prison earlier this month first broke on Facebook Monday, March 24, in a post from Christys daughter, Lindsey Hull. According to Hull, her mother and stepfather challenged wrongful credit card charges made by Palace Resorts when she alleged the Cancun hotel demanded $250,000, a public apology on Facebook and a non-disclosure agreement. Once they refused, she said they were arrested and have remained in prison since March 4. Congressman Tom Barrett initially confirmed the couples arrest on social media Monday, adding his team was doing everything we can to help. However, other officials have been tight-lipped on any action that may be in the works to address the issue. Mike Rorke, a spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, whose district includes Jackson County, said their office had been in touch with family, and that officials were actively working to achieve a resolution. The U.S. State Department confirmed the agency was aware of the reports. Its press office said the department takes its commitment to assist U.S. citizens abroad seriously but declined further comment due to privacy considerations. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters office said in a statement it does not publicly discuss ongoing casework matters for the safety and privacy of constituents. Attempts to reach Hull were not immediately successful. On Monday, Hull said her mother and stepdad had been denied medical attention and proper communication to the outside, adding shed spoken to her Christy but not to Paul. By Tuesday afternoon, she wrote on Facebook in hopes to spread awareness of their ordeal as efforts to bring them home continued. Since her initial post, Hull created a Facebook group, Justice for Akeos, aiming to bring the couple home. The public group had garnered over 2,000 members by Tuesday night. MLive reporters Jordyn Pair and Nathan Clark contributed to this story. Kelli Bryant allegedly collected $29,397 in aid while her children were allegedly living along in a Pontiac townhouse. (File photo | MLive.com) MLive file photo PONTIAC, MI -- Another bond has been set for Kelli Bryant, the Pontiac woman accused of collecting state aid while her children lived alone in a townhouse. Bryant is currently being held in the Oakland County Jail on $50,000 bond related to first-degree child abuse charges. On Tuesday, District Court Judge Cynthia Walker set Bryants bond at $29,397 in connection with a separate case related to the alleged abuse. In that matter, Bryant is charged with three counts of welfare fraud. Bryant allegedly collected $29,397 in support payments from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services from January 2022 through February 2025. Related story: Jail call privileges yanked for Michigan mom accused of abandoning 3 kids who lived in squalor The payments were collected during the time period when Bryant is accused of abandoning her kids. The bond set in the Welfare Fraud case reflects the amount of support this defendant denied her children while they were living alone, without hygiene products, limited access to food, and virtually no contact with the outside world, said Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald. Its appropriate that she should have to guarantee that amount to be released while these charges are pending. Bryant was arrested in February after her three children (ages 15, 13, and 12) were found living alone at the home. Piles of trash and feces were found in the townhouse, one of the toilets was overflowing and two of the children reportedly used pizza boxes to sleep on, police say. Related story: Father of abandoned Pontiac children tried to see them, but mother refused, police say Following her arrest, investigators determined Bryant had been collecting aid during a period of time when the children were living alone. While an exact timeline has not been established, police previously said they believe the children began living alone in the summer of 2020. The welfare fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of up to four years in prison, while the child abuse charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. Jackson County couple Paul and Christy Akeos have reportedly been held in a Mexican prison since early March over a credit card dispute with a Cancun hotel, according to their daughter Lindsey Hull. Photo used with permission. Photo used with permission. JACKSON COUNTY, MI A Jackson County couple jailed in Mexico amid a timeshare dispute has met with federal officials three weeks after their detainment, according to the womans daughter. Representatives with the U.S. Consulates office in Mexico had a video visit with Paul and Christy Akeo on Tuesday, March 25, to check up on them and share messages from family members who have been spreading word of their detainment across the world, Lindsey Hull wrote on a Facebook group page dedicated to her parents situation. During the video visit, the agent asked my mom and Paul if they would like to be read the initial post I made at noon yesterday on my Facebook page, to which they said yes. He read the post, and shared with them that it has almost 30,000 shares and over 5,000 comments from all of you showing your support, Hull wrote. He made a point to mention that it was a very emotional moment for them both and they were crying after hearing how many people are invested in their story and are helping to support them. The Spring Arbor couple were arrested in Mexico March 4 shortly after landing in Cancun for a vacation and have been in a maximum security prison since their arrest, Hull wrote on social media Monday, March 24. Hull said her mother and stepfather, a U.S. Navy veteran, challenged wrongful credit card charges made by their hotel, Palace Resorts. The resort allegedly demanded $250,000, a public apology on Facebook and a non-disclosure agreement, Hull wrote. When the couple refused, Hull said the couple was arrested. Authorities in Mexico charged the couple with fraud after they canceled 13 transactions to the hotel chain in a dispute over when the couple could use their timeshare, according to a report on Good Morning America. MLive could not reach Hull for comment. Federal authorities, and several elected officials, stated they are aware of the situation but have not disclosed what actions are being taken to bring the couple back to the U.S. Related: Authorities tight-lipped over efforts to free Michigan couple held in Mexico prison Congressman Tom Barrett initially confirmed the couples arrest on social media Monday, adding his team was doing everything we can to help. Mike Rorke, a spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, whose district includes Jackson County, said their office had been in touch with family, and that officials were actively working to achieve a resolution. The U.S. State Department confirmed the agency was aware of the reports. Its press office said the department takes its commitment to assist U.S. citizens abroad seriously but declined further comment due to privacy considerations. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters office said in a statement it does not publicly discuss ongoing casework matters for the safety and privacy of constituents. My family is forever thankful for all of you and your efforts to continue helping us, Hull wrote to the Facebook group. We will continue to need your help until they are released and home safe. I cant imagine why Palace Resorts continues to hold them hostage, not come forward with a reasonable agreement, and simply will just not let them go. MLive reporters Jordyn Pair and Jackie Smith contributed to this story. Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter. KALAMAZOO, MI-- Oberon Day is an exciting day for many beer enthusiasts across the Mitten state. Whether people call off work, move their shifts or responsibly take a PTO day, patrons descended on Bells Brewery for the unofficial spring holiday on Monday, March 24. People wait in line for the doors to open at 11 a.m. for Oberon Day at Bells Brewery in Kalamazoo, Mich. on Monday, March 24, 2025. Joel Bissell | MLive.com Hundreds of Oberon fans lined up outside the Eccentric Cafe before the doors even opened, eager to reach for the sun as Oberon returned to tap handles. Carrie Yunker was impressed by the length of the line. The Bells Brewery Executive Vice President, who has helped grow the Oberon brand for two decades, wasnt surprised by the turnout. Its truly my favorite day of the year, Yunker told MLive in an exit interview on her departure from the craft brewery. READ MORE: Bells leading woman ready for next chapter after 2 decades at Kalamazoo brewery Scenes from Oberon Day at Bells Brewery in Kalamazoo, Mich. on Monday, March 24, 2025. Joel Bissell | MLive.com Bells officials estimated the crowd was 10% larger than the previous year, despite the snow flurries and cold temperatures. I didnt want a sad slideshow in the back room that felt like a funeral, Yunker said. I wanted it to be a celebration. This place is about fun and its about community. So, there was pretty much no other day that was going to be my last day other than Oberon Day." As the clock struck 11 a.m., the gate was lifted and people joyously flooded into the brewery to have the first Oberon pours of the year. It was also an opportunity for many to try out the newly released Oberon Light. The newly released Oberon Light during Oberon Day at Bells Brewery in Kalamazoo, Mich. on Monday, March 24, 2025. Joel Bissell | MLive.com The new 99-calorie beer was created for drinkers looking for a lighter option that doesnt compromise on flavor. At 4% ABV, Oberon Light will be available in six- and 12-can pack in Great Lakes markets all summer alongside Oberon. RELATED: Bells to introduce Oberon Light on Oberon Day 2025 In addition to the new light option, the brewery offered nine variants of Oberon, crafted by Bells master brewers. The Muskegon Blockhouse at Muskegon State Park in North Muskegon, Mich. on Sunday, February. 2, 2025. Joel Bissell | MLive.com These include Oberon strawberry lemonade shandy, orange vanilla, mango habanero, peach jalapeno, Michigan martini, elephant ear, blueberry lemon and strawberries and cream. This year, the brewery went with a Midwest State Fair theme, offering attendees carnival games and the opportunity to win prizes. Organizers planned for a Ferris wheel to be on site, but opted for a large heated beer tent instead due to the wintry weather forecast. The Insiders perform during Oberon Day at Bells Brewery in Kalamazoo, Mich. on Monday, March 24, 2025. Joel Bissell | MLive.com Attendees enjoyed live music from local bands and DJs throughout the day, creating a lively atmosphere as they celebrated the start of spring People also had the opportunity to celebrate around the United States as Bells held several special beer tappings and special events in multiple states. Oberon will be available nationally from March to September while supplies last. For more information on Bells Brewery, visit bellsbeer.com or follow the brewery on Instagram, Facebook or X. Click here to see the full Oberon Day 2025 gallery or scroll through the gallery below. 83 1 / 83 Oberon Day at Bell's Brewery 2025 Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter. FLINT, MI As Sharon Burdt walked into the library Wednesday morning at Doyle-Ryder Elementary School, she was met with admiration from people throughout her lifetime. The typically silent library filled with cheers as the longtime Flint Community Schools librarian was honored during a surprise ceremony to rename the facility in her honor. This is unbelievable, Burdt, 82, said after being greeted by staff, family, friend, as well as current and former students. I love reading to the kids. I dont care how old they are. Ill read to anybody that will listen to me. It takes a lot of dedication, but I love doing it or I wouldnt be doing it. In the 53 years Burdt has worked as a librarian for the district, she has taken on a number of additional responsibilities, including organizing Doyle-Ryders plays, concerts, and other events. Through her passion for education and steadfast commitment to student success, Sharon has inspired generations by instilling a love of reading, exploration, and lifelong learning, Doyle-Ryder Principal Natoya Coleman said during the ceremony. Her influence extends beyond the pages of books. She has been a guiding force, encouraging curiosity, critical thinking and imagination in every student who has had the privilege of learning from her. Not very many things happen significantly here at Doyle-Ryder without Mrs. Burdt having her hand in it, Coleman said. And when she goes to work to interact with children, you can see the excitement in their eyes. The librarys new name, the Sharon Burdt Library, was unveiled on Wednesday and Burdt was presented with a dedication plaque thatll be placed in the library to remind future generations of the impact she had on the school and the district. Today, we celebrate not only a new space for learning, but the living legacy of a woman whose unwavering dedication to education, literacy and community has inspired generations, Kathy Roberts, Doyle-Ryder Elementarys family engagement facilitator, said. May it serve as a place where curiosity is sparked, imaginations are nurtured, and the futures are shaped. Wednesday also marked the first-ever Sharon Burdt Day which will be held annually on March 26 throughout the district. This day shall serve as a reminder of the importance of education, the arts and the power of community as exemplified by Sharon Burdts life and work, Coleman said. Burdt also received $100 to spend on dinner from Flint Community Schools Superintendent Kevelin B. Jones II. Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson announced hed be gifting the library a childrens book he wrote, The Majik Gopher. I appreciate that youre rising up a next generation, but you have set the tone of what a servant leader is and poured into these kids when they needed it the most, Swanson said. Your work matters. In addition to working with Burdt as the districts superintendent, Jones remembers the impact Burdt had on him and his family when he was a student at Stewart Elementary School, where she worked before it was shuttered. I thank God that I met you when I did. I have to say Im a witness of her impact in the lives of children and not only myself, but in the life of my child, Jones said. You have impacted folks all over Michigan. Jones also said Burdts late husband, Lawrence Burdt, shared her passion for helping others, noting the suit he wore during the ceremony Wednesday was a gift from him. He was a great man, Jones said. Know that this suit today was not only worn by your sweet darling husband, but I wear this suit in honor of him and in honor of you today. Jones presented Burdt with a medal bearing the districts R4 emblem, the districts highest honor and symbolizes its mission of re-energizing the pride, renovating the plans, rebuilding the possibilities, and repurposing for a brighter future. Karla Lawrence, site coordinator at Mott Community College, announced the college will be naming a new literacy initiative with Flint schools after her. Students from the college will be sent to Doyle-Ryder Elementary to read with students as part of the initiative. For over 50 years, Mrs. Sharon Burdt has shared her love of books and learning with students just like me, Mahlya Triplett, a sixth-grader at Doyle-Ryder said of Burdts impact on her and her fellow student. Because of her, this library is more than just a room with books. Its a place where we can go on adventures, learn about the world, and use our imaginations. Your love for reading and learning will continue to inspire us every time we pick up a book. Burdt said she has been working with Triplett since the student was in preschool. Ive watched her and her sister grow into beautiful young ladies that are smart and intelligent, Burdt said. All these young people have been part of my life, and I appreciate you guys being in my life. And I hope the best for you, and I expect the best out of you. Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter. North Morris Estates, the Thetford Township mobile home park accused of operating without a license, will be fined $25,000 and sell the park to one of three possible buyers. (Nico Mendoza | MLive.com) FLINT, MI North Morris Estates, the Thetford Township mobile home park accused of operating without a license, will be fined $25,000 and sell the park. A representative from North Morris Estates, Assistant Vice President Yousef Khalil, pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge of operating a mobile home park without a valid license. He appeared via Zoom in Genesee District Court Judge Mark C. McCabes courtroom for a pretrial hearing on Wednesday, March 26. In accordance with the guilty plea, North Morris Estates will sell the property by approximately Sept. 24, 2025. If a sale is unable to be completed, the mobile home park will declare bankruptcy and the park will be sold by a bankruptcy trustee. There are three potential buyers, including a group made up of residents that includes 15-year resident Theo Gantos, who also spoke in court. The bottom line is that there was going to be new ownership or compliance. The LLC has elected to sell the property, Attorney Michael Manley said on behalf of North Morris Estates. 14 1 / 14 North Morris Estates faces criminal charges from Genesee County Prosecutor The penalty for operating a mobile home park without a valid license is up to one year in jail or a $500 fine per each day of noncompliance. In exchange for a guilty plea, Khalil and North Morris Estates agreed to pay 50 days, or $25,000. The only thing Id like to say is I appreciate the hard work of my clients, especially Mr. Khalil, in trying to resolve this matter. I want to acknowledge Prosecutor (David) Leyton and Chief Assistant Prosecutor John Potbury, who worked diligently to try to resolve this in a manner that was favorable to the residents of the mobile home park, Manley said. North Morris Estates is still working with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to reach compliance, a prerequisite to becoming licensed, Manley said. Gantos, who previously spoken out about the mobile home park, compared this sentence to the one he faced as a teenager for operating a motor vehicle without a proper license. We now have a situation where if I make an LLC, I could operate a mobile home park without a license. But yet, as a young lad, I operated a motor vehicle until I was 19, got a speeding ticket, drove on a suspended license and I spent three days in jail, Gantos said. So to me it means that we have a different standard here. McCabe added this criminal sentencing doesnt remove any civil remedies that residents may seek. The criminal charges issued in August 2024 marked the first time a Michigan prosecutor has filed charges under the Mobile Home Act established in 1987, Leyton said previously. Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter. The Flint Farmers' Market, in downtown Flint, is pictured in this MLive file photo. (Jake May, MLive.com) Jake May | Mlive.com FLINT, MI For nearly three years, the Flint Social Club has provided a voice and kitchen to Flints next big culinary wizards. It has been a space to grow, a space to learn and experiment. It is a place to cultivate new recipes and twists on traditional and international cuisine through conversation. Its a nonprofit organization operating in the intersection of food and entrepreneurship, said founder Tony Vu. And now, the Flint Social Club prepares to close this chapter at the Flint Farmers Market, announcing on social media platforms that its last day open will be April 5. Vu wrote a five-paragraph letter to the public, which was shared out on The Flint Social Clubs social platforms. Tony Vu, founder of The Flint Social Club, announced the upcoming closure of the popular stand at the Flint Farmers' Market. (Jake May | MLive.com) Heres what it said, signed by Vu: With deep gratitude to our supporters and vendors, we regret to share that Flint Social Club will be closing its operations at the Flint Farmers Market. While we would have loved to stay, this decision was not ours to make. Our final day of service will be Saturday, April 5th, and well be open during our regular hours until then. Please come through, grab a bite, and show some love to the crew as we close out this chapter. The Market has been a special home for us. From organizing Night Markets to hosting pop-ups, its a place where we built community, launched small businesses, and showcased the incredible diversity and talent that exists in Flint. Were deeply proud of what weve built together and grateful to our team, our partners, and every person who came through and supported our mission. Though our time here is ending, our work continues. Flint Social Club will keep pushing forward uplifting local talent, building equity in the food system, and creating new pathways for connection and growth. Stay tuned for whats next as we eveolve and explore new ways to serve Flint. Thank you for breaking bread with us. We hope to see you before April 5th. Before the space was known as the Flint Social Club, Vu ran his own popular restaurant and market stand MaMang, which held space in the market and customers bellies for a decade. Vu spoke to the Journal in 2023 about the Flint Social Club, and the market stand known as Heartwood. Related: We Are Flint: Chefs fueled by passion, connect with community through love of food He described it as a teaching kitchen where people are hired interested in the hospitality industry. They get the experience and knowledge of how to run a food business. Not only just best practices to run a kitchen, run a line and work alongside each other, but they are also working on the business side, Vu said in the December 2023 article. On top of all of it, they work on their own brands, showcase their own foods in the stall and pop-ups as well. We want to cultivate the raw talent we have in Flint. I always ask them to find their food identity. What would be the one go-to dish you would cook if you were trying to impress someone? From there, once they answer that, we work on the opportunity to get vulnerable and put themselves and their food out there, and begin their relationship with the community. As they continue, chefs can develop new dishes and things the community hasnt seen before without feeling like its too much of a risk because theyve built a bond and relationship with Flint foodies who will support them. Some of the Flint Social Club chefs at Heartwood in the Flint Farmers Market. From left to right: Nate Campbell, Jessalyn Taylor and Kyle Dyer. Jake May | jmay2@mlive.com In the kitchen, chefs learned how to run a fast, casual food stall, as well as creating food and pop-ups. This is a home base for people to take over a full-functioning kitchen, and run a pop-up successfully, as well as the training and understanding of how a commercial kitchen runs, Vu said in 2023. The heart of our operation is to provide opportunities, he said. A lot of very talented artists lack opportunities, so were really creative to see the unused landscape, repurpose and program a lot of spaces. We have a lot of outreach to make pop-ups in spaces. Read more on MLive.com: Good gourd, almighty! Michigan man surprised after pumpkin picture lands on soda label Michigan university awarded $1.6M for electric vehicle advanced manufacturing Yeah, yeah, yeah! Usher and other celebs shout support for one Michigan school OTTAWA COUNTY, MI Three people were injured Wednesday, March 26, in a four-vehicle crash in Georgetown Township. The three injured people sought their own treatment after being evaluated at the scene. The crash was reported at 7:27 a.m. at 48th Avenue and Van Buren Street, Ottawa County sheriffs deputies said. Police said that a 25-year-old Grand Haven man was driving a Subaru south on 48th Avenue when he struck the back of a 2002 Honda CR-V, driven by a 25-year-old Hudsonville woman, who was stopped while waiting to turn left onto Van Buren Street. Upon impact, her vehicle was pushed across the center line, into the path of a northbound GMC Sierra pickup truck. It then crashed into another northbound pickup truck, a Dodge Ram. The GMC was driven by a 17-year-old Hudsonville resident while a 21-year-old Byron Center resident drove the Dodge. The injured drivers were treated at the scene by sheriffs deputies and Life EMS paramedics. Police closed 48th Avenue for some time for investigation and clearing debris. Conagra Brands has announced the closure of its facility in Fennville, Michigan. The plant will close by the end of June. Provided by Conagra Brands ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI A nearly century-old food packaging plant in Fennville will cease operations by the end of June. The closure will impact 85 jobs, which accounts for roughly 10% of Fennvilles total workforce. Conagra Brands LLC, informed employees of the facility, at 100 Sherman St., last week of the pending closure, said Daniel Hare, company spokesperson. This decision was based on the need to operate our overall operations and facility footprint as effectively and efficiently as possible, Hare said. This will impact approximately 85 jobs at the facility. Hare did not respond immediately to a question regarding whether impacted employees would be offered positions elsewhere in the company. The Chicago-based company employs around 18,600 employees across 42 manufacturing facilities, according to its website. That includes three other facilities in Michigan. Brands in Conagras portfolio include Birds Eye Foods, Duncan Hines, Healthy Choice, Banquet, Reddi Wip, Marie Callenders and more. The Fennville plant specialized in making pie filling, according to a story on the closure reported by industry publication Food Dive. The facility was opened nearly 100 years ago as Michigan Fruit Canners, Fennville City Administrator Katie Beemer told WZZM ABC 13. It has been an important story of Fennvilles story and history as a community, Beemer said. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter. Comstock Public Schools has removed its transgender policy, although district leaders say their support for transgender students remains the same. Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com COMSTOCK TOWNSHIP, MI -- The Comstock Public Schools Board of Trustees has rescinded a policy protecting transgender students. The school board voted to rescind policy 5106 earlier this month. The policy defined gendered terminology and outlined policies on harassment, student records and restroom access for transgender students. Jeff Thoenes, superintendent of Comstock Public Schools, said the policy was rescinded because the district feared legal threats from the Trump administration. Two of the seven board members voted against rescinding the policy after the district discussed an attorney-client privilege communication for an hour-and-a-half at the March 10 meeting. The policy was rescinded to align with an executive order from the Trump administration, said board president Pamela Dickinson. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 20 calling for an end to the use of gender in federal policies, saying sex should be used instead. Dickinson said the executive order has created a ripple of concern among community members. And the board needs to align itself with the framework permitted by law. The rescinding of this policy is not expected to affect the acceptance or respect of our students nor the mental well-being in their educational journey, Dickinson said at the meeting. Dickinson declined to comment for this story. Over a dozen community members spoke about the policy at a Monday, March 24 board meeting, calling on the board to reinstate the policy. Jessica Cagle, a parent of students in the district, said the policy was beneficial because it provided clear, actionable safeguards for transgender students. Under the policy, transgender students were allowed to self-identify and use the name, pronouns and facilities that correspond with their gender identity. The policy also stated transgender students face physical violence and experience a hostile school environment more frequently than other students. Under the policy, the district would develop a gender support plan for students if they needed support in affirming their gender identity. That support plan may include determining what sex-segregated facilities a transgender student uses, which was determined on a case-by-case basis, according to the policy. Thoenes said the district will still develop gender support plans for students and students can still use the bathroom corresponding with their gender identity. The policy also said staff members were prohibited from disclosing a students gender identity to their parents or other staff members in accordance with the Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Removing (the policy) doesnt just strip away guidance from staff, it strips away security from students who need it most, Cagle said. Transgender students are still protected under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, Thoenes said, which was recently expanded to prevent discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. The executive order says there are only two genders, man and woman, and those genders are determined by sex at birth. Medical experts have criticized the order, saying the definitions of sex dont adhere to a scientific understanding of sex. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter. An 8-year-old girl was killed in a crash when an SUV hit the Amish buggy she was riding in, police said. (File photo) The Plain Dealer VAN BUREN COUNTY, MI An 8-year-old girl was killed when an SUV rear-ended the Amish buggy she was riding in, police said. A Ford SUV, driven by a 31-year-old Mattawan woman, was traveling north when it crashed into the buggy around 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 26, on CR 215 near 60th Avenue in Lawrence Township, the Michigan State Police said. The buggy was carrying two people a 12-year-old boy, who was taken to the hospital and is in critical condition, and an 8-year-old girl, who was pronounced dead at the hospital. The horse also died from injuries in the crash, police said. The driver of the SUV was arrested and taken to jail on suspicion of operating under the influence of an unknown substance, MSP said. The three people in the SUV were not injured. The crash remains open pending further investigation, MSP said. The Kalamazoo Gazette/MLive now offers free email news alerts. Click here to sign up for alerts or for the daily 3@3 Kalamazoo roundup of news. Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page here. SAGINAW, MI From Bavarian Inns new indoor waterpark to a new Popeyes in Bay County, heres some recent business news you might have missed: Saginaw bar featured in film Street Boss hits market for $160K A neighborhood bar thats been pouring drinks and making memories since 1983 is up for sale, offering an opportunity to own a piece of local history. Rascals Lounge, 2139 Warwick, between Davenport and State streets on Saginaws West Side, is listed by Wilson Realty, Inc. for $160,000. The listing states, This spot is perfect for anyone looking to take over a beloved neighborhood watering hole with all the essential elements of a great speak-easy style bar without the costs/maintenance of owning the real estate. The 1,500-square-foot bar was featured in the movie Street Boss. Read the full story here. Frankenmuths highly anticipated Bavarian Blast Waterpark announces soft opening After much anticipation, Bavarian Blast Waterpark, Michigans largest indoor waterpark and family fun center, is ready to welcome its first guests with a soft opening on Friday, March 21. Hotel overnight guests and a limited number of day pass holders will be among the first to experience the $80 million expansion at the Bavarian Inn Lodge. The massive new attraction features 16 waterslides, a giant wave pool, a not-so-lazy river, and Michigans first swim-up barpromising thrills and fun for visitors of all ages, according to company officials. The opening marks a significant milestone for the Bavarian Inn Lodge, which has been a staple of Frankenmuths hospitality and tourism industry for decades. Read full story here. Hungry? Check these local places recently featured on MLive Charming roadside market offers freshly baked breads and treats in Midland Miss Ingrids Roadside Market, 657 S. Homer Road, is a family-run cottage bakery offering sourdough breads, cinnamon rolls and cookies, as well as gluten and dairy-free options as well. Read full story here. Halal Munchies brings the flavor to Old Town Old Town has become a bit of a foodies paradise, so when a new spot moves in, it has to bring something different to the table. Halal Munchies, despite having about 30 locations, manages to feel right at home here. Read full story here. Craving fried chicken? Popeyes is now open in Bay County Bay County has a new option for chicken enthusiasts. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is now open for business on Euclid Avenue in Bangor Township. The location at 1000 N. Euclid Ave. opened Saturday, March 22, on the former site of a demolished motel. Read full story here. Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news page or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw. The Yemen strike details were leaked as Vance prepared for a Michigan visit, according to texts released by The Atlantic magazine. (MLive file photo) Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com WASHINGTON, D.C. More excerpts released from a text chain involving U.S. national security officials discussing a military strike in Yemen appeared to coincide with Vice President J.D. Vance preparing for a visit to Michigan. Vance was one of 18 officials included in the group text chat on an app known as Signal, where officials appeared to mistakenly add Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg to the chain of communication. The Atlantic on Wednesday, March 26, released the entire Signal chat, showing that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth provided the exact timings of warplane launches and when bombs would drop before the men and women flying those attacks against Yemens Houthis this month on behalf of the United States were airborne. The disclosure follows two intense days during which leaders of President Donald Trumps intelligence and defense agencies have struggled to explain how details that current and former U.S. officials have said would have been classified wound up on the unclassified Signal chat. The new text excerpts revealed a message sent from Vance, who referenced his planned Friday, March 14, trip to a plastics manufacturing facility in Bay Countys Bangor Township. Team, I am out for the day doing an economic event in Michigan, read the excerpt attributed to Vance by The Atlantic. But I think we are making a mistake. Vance in the text appeared to advocate for patience and confidentiality in considering military action. I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now, read the Vance text, according to The Atlantic. 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. A timestamp on the Vance text read 8:16 a.m. Vance arrived in Air Force Two at MBS International Airport in Saginaw County at about 11 a.m., although its unclear if the text timestamp represented Eastern Standard Time. RELATED: Go here for all of MLives coverage of the Trump administrations second term Vance traveled to Michigan from Washington, D.C. that day. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said no classified information was posted to the Signal chat. 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. has conducted airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen since the militant group began targeting commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea in November 2023. The U.S. began launching a series of airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday, March 15. One day earlier, Vance spent about two hours in Michigan, largely at Vantage Plastics in Bangor Township. There, he hailed an American comeback for businesses. You hear people say, Well, how dare Donald Trump impose tariffs on foreign countries that have been taking advantage of us for four years? Vance said during a gathering at the facility shortly after noon. And the answer is that, unless youre willing to use American power to fight back against what those countries have been doing for a generation, you are never going to rebuild American manufacturing. Dozens of protesters gathered outside Bay Countys UAW Local 362 to offer a cold welcome for the V.P. that day. People with signs reading Tariffs hurt USA and No Fascists lined the streets as Vances motorcade approached the Bay County site. Many shouted insults and obscenities at the long lineup of Secret Service-led vehicles that pulled into the factorys parking lot about 11:30 a.m. The Associated Press contributed to this report. WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin said an incident in which senior national security officials shared military attack plans in a group text chat that included a journalist represented a real crisis of leadership for President Donald Trumps administration. Slotkin, a Democrat from Holly, expressed concern during the Tuesday, March 25, episode of MSNBCs All In With Chris Hayes about the circumstances that led U.S. attack plans against Yemen to be shared via group text seemingly by accident with Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. The Secretary of Defense should never put operationally sensitive details in an open, unclassified forum like that, Slotkin said. Its absolutely unheard of. A former CIA officer, Slotkin said the group-chat incident represented a violation of norms for officials responsible for maintaining the security of U.S. intelligence and military operations. (In) the U.S. military, it is drilled into you that you do not provide sensitive or classified information on an unclassified phone, Slotkin said. You cant even bring it into the workplace in the CIA. You dont bring it in the office. You leave it in a lead box outside, if you even bring it in the building. 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. has conducted airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen since the militant group began targeting commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea in November 2023. RELATED: Go here for all of MLives coverage of the Trump administrations second term Just two hours after Goldberg received the details of the attack on Saturday, March 15, the U.S. began launching a series of airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. The senior national security teams chat group included 18 people. The group, called Houthi PC Small Group, likely for Houthi principals committee, included Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and national security adviser Mike Waltz. The National Security Council said the text chain appears to be authentic. 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. President Trump downplayed the texting of sensitive plans for a military strike. The Republican said it was the only glitch in two months of his administration. On Tuesday, Waltz said in an appearance on Fox News Channels The Ingraham Angle that he built the message chain and that White House technical experts were trying to figure out how Goldbergs contact may have been sucked in. We made a mistake. Were moving forward, said Waltz, who added he took full responsibility for the episode. Slotkin participated in her on-camera interview later Tuesday. She was critical of the Trump administrations efforts to downplay the group-chat incident, calling it a real crisis of leadership. We already had Mr. Waltz apologize just a few minutes ago on Fox News, Slotkin said. So, if theres nothing wrong, Im not sure why hes taking full accountability for what happened. The first-year U.S. senator said spouses of members of the military overseas contacted her to express their outrage. A lot of family members, of folks who are on those missions, are just like, Are you kidding me?, Slotkin said. (They said), We are told we cant even talk to our kids about where our loved ones are for operational security, and youre putting this out as the Secretary of Defense? So, as far as Im concerned, the spouses have better operational security on their Facebook groups than the Secretary of Defense has in providing that (information) to our adversaries or anyone who has the ability to hack him. The Associated Press contributed to this report. U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., supports legislation that would limit the reach of U.S. District Court judges. MLive Media Group WASHINGTON, DC Republican Congressman Tim Walberg said this week he supports legislation that would limit the reach of U.S. District Court judges following attacks on the federal judiciary by President Donald Trump and allies in Congress. Walberg, re-elected last year in a district encompassing multiple counties along Michigans southern border, criticized federal judges who have stymied parts of the Trump administrations agenda through injunctions and other rulings. The judges, especially were talking about district court judges, are overstepping their boundaries, Walberg told NBC News. He voiced support for the "No Rogue Rulings Act," which would bar U.S. District Court judges from issuing nationwide injunctions of the sort which have blocked Trump on issues such as deportation and federal agency workforce cuts. Absolutely, I appreciate the bill, Walberg told NBC, and I may go for more, but right now, thats where I stand. The bill is scheduled for an upcoming hearing in the House Judiciary Committee and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said the chamber would vote on it next week. RELATED: Go here for all of MLives coverage of the Trump administrations second term Republicans in Congress have been introducing articles of impeachment against some federal judges in response to Trumps anger with, most notably, James Boasberg, chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, who blocked an effort to deport Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador under an 18th century law. The case has become a flashpoint amid escalating tensions between the Trump administration and federal courts. The administration invoked a state secrets privilege this week and refused to provide Boasberg any more information about the deportation of people alleged to be gang members without due process. Boasberg is weighing whether the government defied his order to turn planes around. Trump and his allies have called for impeaching Boasberg. In a rare statement of rebuke, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. Other federal judges who have been targeted by hardline Republicans for impeachment include U.S. District judges Paul A. Engelmayer, John Bates and Ami Ali. Speaker Johnson this week floated the idea of Congress eliminating some federal courts altogether, a move unlikely to win the bipartisan support necessary to pass the U.S. Senate. Countrys largest business media house, the Economic Times, has ventured into a new initiative- ETAuto.com to offer in-depth news, views, analysis and global trends in the automotive industry. The new venture is the biggest news caster on automotive industry in the country with coverage encompassing the entire events and segment of business including components, OEMs, policy, Aftermarket, auto technology etc. ETAuto.com is supported by a large number of highly respected journalists tracking the industry at Times Group, all the major global news agencies, and a dedicated editorial team. The initiative has received tremendous support from the top industry bodies and association in the country hence becoming the choicest platform to read industry leaderships opinion in the form of blog, column and interview under Industry Speaks tool. The news initiative brings out exclusive reports and surveys in association with its knowledge partners. It also publishes reviews of various automobile products and manufacturing facilities. The facility visit is intended to highlight the best practices being adopted which are frugal and enhances efficiency thus increasing the profitability. ETAuto.com plays pivotal role in facilitating B2B transactions by publishing relevant data, information, survey, reports and other material on the automotive industry. It also deems to play an interface in establishing communication among various stake holders of the industry through events, round table discussion and seminar. The discussion and seminars are webcast on the ETAuto.com and also have video interviews. The stories and features also bring forth the strategies, decisions which turned into a debacle or a remarkable success for the readers to learn from. India being a country of youths, it is pertinent to enrich them with right skill and employment. The Auto Industry of India has been recording tremendous growth over the years and has emerged as a major contributor to Indias GDP. This industry currently accounts for almost 7% of our GDP and employing about 19 million people both directly and indirectly. Acknowledging this fact ETAuto.com offers an opportunity for the youth, looking to build career in the automotive industry, to interact with various mentors through various activity. It also has a dedicated job section where vacancies at shopfloor, mid-manager, top management levels are directly published by the automotive companies. Daily E-Newsletter ETAuto.com also reaches to its reader through a comprehensive free daily E- Newsletter to subscribers - summarizing days essential news, reports and analysis. The newsletter accomplishes this by linking to stories from all around the web and other media sources. It tracks all the top sources, including news sites, reporters, tweets, news agencies, TV channels and status updates to bring to our subscribers a comprehensive view of the latest updates in the industry. The newsletter attracts a readership of decision makers, policy makers, investors and professionals from Automobile industry in India. The majority of the readers are part of the top management at various organizations. Contact Us Times Internet Limited, FC 6, Film City, Sector 16 A, Noida. contactus@etauto.com What's happening at ETAuto The Economic Times Hydrogen Conclave 2025 The ETAuto Hydrogen Tech Conclave aims to bring together industry leaders, government representatives, technology providers, researchers, and policy t... Wed, 20 Aug 2025 Hyatt Regency, New Delhi Register Now ETAuto Manufacturing Innovation Summit 2025 Gujarat has rapidly emerged as one of Indias most important automotive hubs, attracting major OEMs and component manufacturers with its world-class... Fri, 11 Jul 2025 IACE, Gandhinagar Register Now USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Archisha Yadav is a sub editor with 1.5 years of experience in writing news articles on topics like education, jobs, and politics. She specialises in crafting simple, clear, and engaging stories that are easy to understand and hold the readers interest, making complex topics accessible and relatable to a larger audience. Archisha Yadav USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On March 24, the 46th Bangkok International Motor Show kicked off with GAC Group making three major announcements: the launch of One GAC 2.0, an upgraded version of its global strategy; the official commencement of its "Thailand Action"; and the pre-sale debut of two key models in Thailandthe AION UT global strategic model and the M8 PHEV, a new benchmark for premium new energy MPVs. These developments mark significant strides in GAC Group's global expansion, localized operations, and product innovation. At the Auto Guangzhou 2024, GAC Group outlined its three-year strategic initiative"Panyu Action", aimed at transforming the company through brand leadership, product-driven growth, technological innovation, and international market expansion. As part of this initiative, GAC Group aims to enter 100 countries and regions worldwide by 2027, targeting 500,000-vehicle annual exports. Photo credit: GAC Group In response, GAC INTERNATIONAL is accelerating its overseas strategy by integrating GAC, AION, and HYPTEC brands to build a unified "Global GAC" brand. The company is focusing on branding, global product deployment, localized production and supply chains, integrated sales and service networks, and diversified ecosystem development. Photo credit: GAC Group At this year's Bangkok International Motor Show, GAC INTERNATIONAL introduced One GAC 2.0, its upgraded global strategy anchored in long-term commitment. The initiative is built around one vision, one goal, and one brand image, supported by one localized action plan and five key measures to accelerate international expansion with a more efficient and precise market approach. One vision: To be a value creator for a better mobility experience. One goal: To establish GAC as a globally influential and trusted automotive brand. One brand image: To be recognized as a high-quality, high-tech, and trustworthy mobility partner. One localized action plan: Emphasizing local business integration, service, and contribution. Five key measures: Implement localization in product development, sales channels, customer service, intelligent manufacturing, and energy & mobility ecosystems to deliver a seamless full-lifecycle user experience. Thailand is central to GAC Group's Southeast Asia strategy. In 2024, GAC Group exported over 17,000 vehicles to the region, including nearly 10,000 units to Thailand, with retail sales exceeding 7,500 units. GAC Group's Thailand smart factory is now operational, built on the same technological foundation as its new energy vehicle (NEV) lighthouse factory, ensuring world-class manufacturing quality. Additionally, GAC Group has established 59 sales outlets and 25 charging stations in Thailand. The company has also introduced ES Mobility Services and launched GAC Energy Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd. along with a cutting-edge NEV talent development base, reinforcing Thailand's future workforce for the NEV sector. Photo credit: GAC Group At the motor show, GAC Group officially launched its "Thailand Action", reinforcing its commitment to Thailand's automotive industry. By partnering with local partners, GAC aims to enhance the Thai consumer experience through five key measures: Product expansion: The AION UT global strategic model and M8 PHEV luxury MPV have officially entered pre-sale, joining GAC Groups existing lineup in Thailand, which spans sedans, SUVs, and MPVs to meet diverse market demands. Sales network growth: By 2025, GAC Group will establish 80 new dealerships across Thailand, offering consumers direct access to its latest innovations. Enhanced customer service: GAC Group will accelerate the implementation of its Global Sales Service Standards (GSSW) and enhance digital service capabilities to provide seamless and premium customer support, setting a new benchmark for Chinese automakers expanding overseas. Localized production: The Thailand smart factory will continue introducing new models for localized production, with plans to reach near full capacity by the end of 2025. Energy & mobility ecosystem: GAC Group plans to build an inter-city 300km fast-charging network around Bangkok with 25 stations and 76 fast chargers by 2025. By 2027, the company aims to establish 200 stations and 1,000 chargers across 100 Thai cities. Additionally, GAC Group will open Thailand's first multi-level EV battery service center in the first half of 2025, offering pack, module, and cell-level maintenance, with a vision to build a regional battery service hub covering Thailand and Southeast Asia. Looking ahead to 2025, GAC Group will also establish two mobility service centers, deepen its strategic partnership with Grab, and collaborate with some universities and colleges to create Thailand's first international NEV talent development center, supporting the local automotive workforce. Saurav Pandey is the Deputy Manager of Content at Moneycontrol, specialising in content strategy, execution and performance analysis. He integrates advanced SEO techniques to deliver high-impact, data-driven content formats. His expertise spans various beats, including education, career, science and others, where he adopts a technical approach to optimise visibility, improve search rankings, and drive organic traffic growth. He can be reached out at Saurav.Pandey@nw18.com. Saurav Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 to release in India on THIS date, deets inside M Snehanjali USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Following the success of Girls will Be Girls, Ali Fazal to back more women-led stories in films Sarika Sharma USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Sarika Sharma USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept M Snehanjali USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Santosh, UK's official entry for Oscars, banned by CBFC for release in India M Snehanjali USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Vaishnavi Gavankar USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Viswanath Pilla is a business journalist with 16 years of reporting experience. Based in Mumbai, Pilla covers pharma, healthcare and infrastructure sectors for Moneycontrol. Viswanath Pilla USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Manjiri Patil USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Beijing (Gasgoo)- FAW Group's passenger vehicle brand Hongqi recently launched its H9, HS7, and H6 vehicle models in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and other Gulf nations, the automaker announced on March 25 via WeChat. Photo credit: Hongqi As key markets in the region, the UAE and Bahrain offer strategic advantages with their prime locations, strong economies, and mature automotive markets. These countries have long been pivotal for Chinese automakers expanding internationally. The UAE launch event was held in Abu Dhabi on the scenic Saadiyat Island, where the HS7 and H6 models were introduced. In Bahrain, the H9, HS7, and H6 were unveiled in the capital city of Manama. Photo credit: Hongqi The three models were strategically chosen to cater to the economic and cultural characteristics of Gulf markets. The H9, Hongqi's flagship sedan, offers a bold design and a luxurious driving experience tailored for high-net-worth individuals in the Middle East. The HS7, a mid-to-large SUV featuring a rugged design, spacious interior, and intelligent all-wheel drive, targets families and driving enthusiasts. Meanwhile, the H6, a sporty coupe-style sedan, combines high-performance capabilities, advanced technology, and versatile practicality, making it an appealing choice for young consumers in the region. Hongqi's global expansion has maintained strong momentum, with overseas sales doubling for five consecutive years and achieving a compound annual growth rate of 151% in 2024. Looking ahead to 2025, Hongqi aims to drive growth through both brand development and product innovation. The successful launches in the UAE and Bahrain will further strengthen Hongqi's premium positioning in the Middle East, complementing its existing presence in Saudi Arabia and Oman. Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 13 years. Arindam Roy USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Eli Lilly may manufacture weight-loss drug Mounjaro in India in future, says CEO David Ricks Debaroti Adhikary USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept India can grant more market access to some US farm goods to blunt any reciprocal tariff impact: Ashok Gulati Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years. Shubhangi Mathur USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Manish M. Suvarna is Senior Correspondent at Moneycontrol. He writes on the Indian money markets, RBI, Banks and NBFCs. He tweets at @manishsuvarna15. Contact: Manish.Suvarna@nw18.com Manish M. Suvarna USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Sunil Matkar USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Arindam Roy USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Amara Raja, Exide shares rise up to 5% after lithium-ion batteries included as 'core auto components' Veer Sharma USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Veer Sharma USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Zoya Springwala USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Lovisha Darad USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Beijing (Gasgoo)- Recently, Volkswagen Anhui, the joint venture between JAC Group and Volkswagen, shipped the CUPRA Tavascan via the "Hangtong 01" ro-ro vessel, departing from Paihe Port in Hefei and successfully arriving at Haitong Terminal in Shanghai through inland waterways. Photo credit: Volkswagen Anhui This marks a significant shift in Volkswagen Anhui's vehicle transport strategy, transitioning from road transport to a combined water-land logistics model. As the first joint-venture brand in Hefei to adopt inland waterway transport for complete vehicles, Volkswagen Anhui has established a greener, more flexible, and efficient logistics pathway, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable transportation. Compared to traditional road transport, the ro-ro water transport model reduces carbon emissions by 70%, cutting more than 360 tonnes of CO emissions annually. Additionally, adopting river transport lowers warehouse leasing costs for vehicle exports by approximately 10.7%, further optimizing overall logistics expenses. By easing truck capacity constraints between Hefei and Shanghai, this method provides a crucial supplement to existing transport capacity, ensuring stable vehicle exports. To ensure the safety, professionalism, and efficiency of this river transport solution, Volkswagen Anhui conducted a comprehensive five-day trial, evaluating operational aspects such as business coordination, nighttime vehicle reception, inspections, loading and unloading efficiency, and overall transport security. The successful test validates the feasibility of this model and lays the foundation for large-scale implementation. In 2025, Volkswagen Anhui aims to transport approximately 10% of its vehicles via waterways, with plans to increase the volume as the system matures in the coming years. Debaroti Adhikary USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept L&T secures its largest-ever order of over Rs 15,000 crore in Qatar; shares in green Paras Bisht USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Trent shares surge 3% after Westside expands store count to 244 with 3 new additions Debaroti Adhikary USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Women investors embrace passive investments as gold schemes' share in their AUM grows multifold to 24.9% Anishaa Kumar USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Moneycontrol widens lead as Indias dominant business news platform, cements No. 1 position for highest readership in February Sonalee Borgohain USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept B Kumar USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept 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 Debaroti Adhikary USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On March 25, Chinese smart new energy vehicle (NEV) maker XPENG announced the opening of its first technology brand experience store in Asia, located in the heart of Hong Kong Island. Simultaneously, the company put the right-hand drive XPENG X9 MPV model onto the Hong Kong market at a price of HK$599,900. XPENG's Vice Chairman and Co-President, Brian Gu, described the new store as a major milestone in the company's expansion into Hong Kong and the global market. "Hong Kong consumers have a strong demand for cutting-edge smart mobility solutions. Through this innovative space, we aim to bring them closer to XPENG's latest breakthroughs in intelligent driving, smart cockpits, AI chips, and humanoid robots. With the launch of the X9, we are not only introducing a smarter mobility experience but also leveraging Hong Kong's status as an international hub to accelerate our global strategy. Photo credit: XPENG XPENG said its Technology Experience Store in Hong Kong redefines the traditional 4S dealership model, offering an immersive showcase of the brand's most advanced technologies, including humanoid robots, in-house developed Turing chips, and the latest generation of flying cars. Coinciding with the store's opening, XPENG officially launched the right-hand drive X9, its first all-electric MPV in Hong Kong. The X9's sleek starship-inspired design, rear-wheel steering, modular interior, and three-row independent voice interaction system challenge the traditional perception of bulky MPVs. Building on its expansion into Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Macao, XPENG also announced that blind pre-orders for the X9 have opened in Indonesia, signaling further acceleration of its global strategy. At the event, XPENG also revealed that its first-ever ultra-fast charging station outside the Chinese Mainland is now operational in Hong Kong. According to the company's plan, Hong Kong will be home to XPENG's first global supercharging hub in 2025, marking a key step toward an overseas charging network rollout. XPENG has laid out a two-phase strategy for charging infrastructure development in Hong Kong: Partnering with top local operators to establish brand charging stations at Lai Sun Commercial Center in Kowloon and Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, creating a dual-core charging network across the city. Accelerating the deployment of ultra-fast charging technology to address Hong Kong's charging challenges. By late 2025, XPENG plans to introduce 360kW superchargers, ushering in a new era of ultra-fast EV charging in the region. To enhance charging convenience, XPENG is also integrating a city-wide charging map into its in-car system and mobile app, allowing users to locate nearby charging stations in real-time with a simple tap. The initial rollout will cover nearly 2,000 charging piles, with expansion planned over time. XPENG's charging station launch in Hong Kong not only alleviates range anxiety for local users but also lays the groundwork for further expansion into Europe, Asia, and Australia. By 2025, the company will introduce a global infotainment service platform, offering features such as station discovery, charging reservations, and payment solutions. Additionally, XPENG plans to pilot energy storage solutions, exploring cost-effective and scalable global charging infrastructure. Christin Mathew Philip is an Assistant editor at moneycontrol.com. Based in Bengaluru, he writes on mobility, infrastructure and start-ups. He is a Ramnath Goenka excellence in journalism awardee. You can find him on Twitter here: twitter.com/ChristinMP_ 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 Christin Mathew Philip USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept JM Financial increases stake in JMFCSL, its non-deposit taking NBFC arm to 97% Khushi Keswani USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Surabhi Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Trump's reciprocal tariff deadline nears. India's top 10 exports which could be in crosshairs Surabhi Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept J Jagannath USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept J. Kumar is an author, journalist and a political commentator based in in Mumbai who writes on crime and Maharashtra politics. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Sonalee Borgohain USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Christin Mathew Philip USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Smriti Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Change of heart? What prompted E Palaniswami's dash to Delhi and back Siddharth Chakravorty USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information. Gotion High-tech debuts Gotion Guard intelligent battery protection system From March 21 to 23, the 2025 Anhui Entrepreneur Convention was successfully held in Hefei, where Gotion High-tech made a global debut of its Gotion Guard, an independently developed intelligent battery protection system. The system is designed to provide comprehensive real-time monitoring and early-warning services for both power and energy storage batteries, enhancing safety and reliability across various application scenarios. Photo credit: Gotion High-tech GAC Hino, Yinpai Battery partner to develop batteries for commercial vehicles On March 25, GAC Hino Motors Co., Ltd. and Yinpai Battery Technology Co., Ltd., a battery subsidiary of GAC Group, signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Guangzhou, marking a new step in the advancement of new energy commercial vehicle technology. The partnership, with GAC R&D Center at its core, aims to tackle key industry challenges through full-stack technological innovation. The collaboration will focus on breakthroughs in ultra-long battery cycle life, millisecond-level active safety protection, and ultra-fast charging solutions. Additionally, the two companies will explore hybrid power solutions combining solid-state batteries and hydrogen fuel cells, establishing a multi-pathway R&D strategy for next-generation commercial vehicle energy systems. Hangzhou KINGWAY, GYMD join forces to build "Future Factory" for intelligent chassis systems Hangzhou KINGWAY Technology Co., Ltd. and GYMD Digital Technology Co., Ltd. recently entered a strategic partnership to develop a benchmark "Future Factory" for intelligent chassis systems. The collaboration will center around KINGWAY's Lin'an factory, leveraging advanced digital technologies to enhance automation and innovation in chassis control manufacturing. iMotion establishes iMotion Robot to expand into robotics, embodied AI fields Autonomous driving company iMotion has officially established a wholly-owned subsidiary, iMotion Robot (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., marking its expansion into the robotics sector, according to the company's announcement on March 25. GAC Group launches global strategy 'One GAC 2.0', 'Thailand Action' On March 24, the 46th Bangkok International Motor Show kicked off with GAC Group making three major announcements: the launch of One GAC 2.0, an upgraded version of its global strategy; the official commencement of its "Thailand Action"; and the pre-sale debut of two key models in Thailandthe AION UT global strategic model and the M8 PHEV, a new benchmark for premium new energy MPVs. These developments mark significant strides in GAC Group's global expansion, localized operations, and product innovation. ECARX, Zeekr Group collaborate to advance intelligent driving solutions based on NVIDIA DRIVE AGX On March 25, global mobility technology company ECARX announced a partnership with Zeekr Intelligent Technology Holding Limited ("Zeekr Group") to co-develop intelligent driving solutions based on NVIDIA DRIVE AGX high-performance chips and technology applications. BYD Sealion 05 EV goes on sale with prices starting at 117,800 yuan On March 25, BYD officially put the Sealion 05 EV model onto the market, pricing it between 117,800 yuan and 137,800 yuan. This all-electric SUV features a refined exterior, intelligent cockpit, and enhanced safety architecture, catering to the growing demand for smart and efficient mobility solutions. XPENG opens first Asia-based tech experience store in HK On March 25, Chinese smart new energy vehicle (NEV) maker XPENG announced the opening of its first technology brand experience store in Asia, located in the heart of Hong Kong Island. Simultaneously, the company put the right-hand drive XPENG X9 MPV model onto the Hong Kong market at a price of HK$599,900. BMW Group, Alibaba forge strategic partnership on AI large language model On March 26, BMW Group announced a strategic collaboration with Alibaba Group in artificial intelligence (AI) field, focusing on AI large language models (LLMs) and intelligent voice interaction. Fire at Justice Varma's residence: What took police 8 hours to find out Deblina Halder USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept India dismisses US religious freedom report as biased, deems panel an 'entity of concern' Smriti Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Less than 1% of health claims in India are for mental health, report reveals Viswanath Pilla is a business journalist with 16 years of reporting experience. Based in Mumbai, Pilla covers pharma, healthcare and infrastructure sectors for Moneycontrol. Viswanath Pilla USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept 'Like living in Pakistan': AAP MLA in Punjab puts own govt in dock over 'step-motherly treatment' to Moga Parimal Peeyush USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Man buries tenant alive in 7-foot pit over affair with wife in Haryana Chhabi Kala USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Mehul Choksi, wanted in PNB scam case, residing in Belgium, confirms European nation: 'Aware of his presence' Sonalee Borgohain USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Yeeshu Yadav USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept S Jaishankar on India-China relations: There will be issues but there are ways to address them Smriti Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept This photo taken on Aug. 12, 2024 shows the Drum Tower seen from the Jingshan Hill on the Beijing Central Axis on a sunny day in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Truth ultimately prevails. Western media risk ridiculing themselves unless they stop the fool's errand of smearing China by fabricating false narratives. BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- For years, smearing China has become routine for some Western media outlets. Truth, the holy grail of journalism, can be distorted or discarded when facts don't align with their predetermined narratives. A recent example is a so-called "investigation" aired on France 2 TV channel. Disguised as food vloggers, two reporters traveled to China's Shandong Province and tricked a factory staff member into letting them in under the pretext that they urgently needed the toilet. Inside the factory, they used hidden cameras to film a textile workshop, where they ran into a 12-year-old girl. The girl explicitly said she was visiting her mother because nobody was home to look after her during the summer break. But those reporters asked the girl to perform some task and then branded her a "child laborer" in the so-called documentary. However, that was not the end of their deception. The duo continued to claim that the factory employed workers from Xinjiang and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). This assertion is an outright lie. The truth is that they preposterously mistranslated words spoken by a female worker in a recruitment video of the factory on Douyin. In their production, "full attendance bonus" (pronounced "manqin jiang" in Chinese) was misrepresented as "Xinjiang," while "bonus for extra days" (pronounced "chaotianshu jiang" in Chinese) was twisted as the DPRK (pronounced Chaoxian in Chinese). To legitimize their claims, they turned to "sinologist" Adrian Zenz, a notorious China-basher whose pseudo-scholarly work on Xinjiang has already been debunked repeatedly. The fact that Zenz, who has long been proven to have zero credibility, remains a go-to source for Western media reveals a flagrant disregard for journalistic integrity. Soon after the so-called investigation was posted on YouTube, hundreds of comments condemned France 2's unethical tactics and blatant falsification. This incident is but one example of anti-China disinformation promoted by ideologically driven actors posing as journalists in the West. But these tactics are failing in a world of freer information flow. China's expanding openness to the world is allowing more people to see the facts with their own eyes rather than through the lens of Western propaganda. Numerous first-time visitors express shock at the disparity between Western media portrayals and what they experience. But why do some Western media outlets persist in smearing China? Are they really seeking to damage China's international image, create excuses for political suppression, and ultimately hinder its development? Yet China's achievements speak for themselves: It has lifted 800 million people out of poverty, contributed about 30 percent of global growth for more than a decade, and steadfastly championed multilateral cooperation. No amount of distortion can erase these facts. Truth ultimately prevails. Western media risk ridiculing themselves unless they stop the fool's errand of smearing China by fabricating false narratives. Deblina Halder USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Who is Rahool Kanal, Aaditya Thackerays former aide, in the spotlight amid Kunal Kamra row? Smriti Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Yogi Adityanath's big charge against INDIA bloc: 'Money of George Soros used to influence Lok Sabha polls' Priyanjali Ghose USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Shishir Tripathi is a journalist and researcher based in Delhi. He has worked with The Indian Express, Firstpost, Governance Now, and Indic Collective. He writes on Law, Governance and Politics. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Aurobindo Das USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Chinas military industrial complex has quality issues. Self-reliance is some way off Bhartendu Kumar Singh is in the Indian Defence Accounts Service. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Aurobindo Das USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept It may be premature for India to mandate emissions trading Aurobindo Das USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept India would need over 1,600 parliamentarians if size of a constituency is limited to 1 million people: MC Analysis Ishaan Gera USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Shubhi Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept 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. 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 USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept 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 Arindam Roy USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept 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 Aabhas Sharma USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Signal president claims superior security over WhatsApp; heres what WhatsApp has to say 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. Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Ankita Chakravarti USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept What India needs to do to compete with US, China on AI development? Sanjeev Bikhchandani explains 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 Arindam Roy USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Eravikulam National Park Munnar Reopens on April 1 Everything You Need to Know 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. Priyanka Roshan USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Arishaa Izaj USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Bounties on Sirajuddin, other key Taliban leaders removed: Why US has eased restrictions on the Haqqani network Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Tamal Nandi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept China phonemaker Vivo wants 70% of sales from overseas by 2027, to sell high-end gadgets in India Arindam Roy USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Donald Trump's new social media policy: Why it should concern Indian green card holders in US Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Pradeep Tripathi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept How Trump's call to axe USAID projects has provided a 'diplomatic gift' to China Arindam Roy USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Once revered expert, now on trial: French chair scholar faces charges over high-end fakes Arishaa Izaj USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Russia demands sanctions be lifted before Ukraine maritime ceasefire; Zelenskyy calls for new sanctions on Kremlin Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Thai Prime Minister survives a challenge by rivals who say her father is pulling the strings Sonalee Borgohain USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept The Atlantic releases entire text of chat group discussing 'attack plan' against Houthis in Yemen Yeeshu Yadav USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Multiple allegations that Senate President Matt Regier improperly hired an attorney during the last legislative session using state dollars were all found to be unsubstantiated by the Legislative Audit Division. A coalition of Senate Democrats and Republicans who have rebelled against Regier referred his actions to the Audit Division earlier this month. Sen. Shelley Vance, R-Belgrade, initiated the referral process, claiming the attorney contract was akin to the contract dealings that have ensnared Sen. Jason Ellsworth, R-Hamilton, in his own ethics proceedings over much of the legislative session. Ellsworth is a member of the Senate coalition thats frustrated Regier and Republican leadership across that time. Vance staked her referral on reporting by the Montana Free Press, which noted a bill to allow the speaker of the House and the Senate president to each hire their own special counsel, as Regier had done, died in the final hours of the 2023 Legislature. Legislative auditors found that, through a series of separate bills and spending authority, Regier, who was speaker of the House at the time, had hired a special counsel properly, and the six distinct claims the Senate advanced from Vances motion could not be substantiated. Legislative leadership has authority to obtain outside counsel for legal services, which can include tasks typically performed by nonpartisan legislative staff, read the memo released Wednesday. At a press conference Wednesday afternoon at the state Capitol, Senate Republican leadership flanked Regier and lambasted what they said were attempts to discredit him. Senate Pro Tem Ken Bogner, R-Miles City, called Regier the ethics sheriff of the 2025 Legislature. The unethical actors in this building do not like that President Regier has been holding them to account, Bogner said. They tried to shoot the sheriff, and they missed. Regier thanked the audit staff for clearing his name. It was still unclear on Wednesday whether Senate Democrats and The Nine Republicans, who have the numbers to control the chamber, will still advance the matter to the Senate Ethics Committee. Im glad to see the legislative audit report fully bring to light all the false allegations that have been thrown, Regier said. How we got to the point where were standing at now is astounding. Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers, D-Belgrade, said that he accepts the high-level findings, but wants to read the full memo before deciding on next steps. When asked if she plans to bring another motion on the matter, Vance said, I might, I might not, adding that she is praying about it in the meantime. The audit investigation looked at whether Regier hired an outside attorney with state money without statutory authority, attempted to pass a bill to expand his authority over obtaining that counsel, that Regier split the contracts up to keep the invoice amounts under a certain threshold and that Regier used state money to fund a private lawsuit. The memo said that the division found no indication that state money was used for the lawsuit. The Montana GOP said Tuesday that it funded the suit, and legislative auditors wrote in the report they did not detect any use of state funds went toward the lawsuit. When Abby Moscatel, the special counsel in question, did bill the Legislature for state funds, those sums were either below $10,000 a threshold that requires no contract for lesser dollar amounts or given an exigency exception due a tight deadline in a court case, according to the legislative audit report. In total, the report cites $22,970 Moscatel billed the state. Auditors interviewed legislative staff, reviewed emails and financial data, and examined the legal contracts and invoices related in Vances referral en route to completing their report. Ellsworth on Wednesday called the report a fallacy, taking issue with the conclusion on leaderships authority to hire outside counsel. These developments come in the same week the Senate voted against expelling or censuring Ellsworth; attempts at both failed earlier this week when the chamber came to an impasse over the proper degree of punishment. Ellsworth, former president of the Montana Senate, used $170,100 in leftover committee funds that he had control over at the time to contract his friend and former business associate to track the implementation of a package of bills after the 2025 session. Before the business deal was finalized, the contracts were divided into two separate documents and invoices that summed to $170,100, a move that would have kept the deal out of view due to state rules. The contract was canceled before any money was paid out. The Legislative Audit Division also investigated that contract and found the attempt was unlawful, an abuse of Ellsworths government position and a waste of state resources. Ellsworth is additionally under criminal investigation by the Department of Justice for that attempted business deal. Regier spent much of the news conference criticizing the Montana Free Press's reporting and called for the news outlet to retract the story. Montana Free Press Editor in Chief John Adams said Wednesday the audit report confirmed the outlets reporting that raised questions about legislators spending public dollars. Montana Free Press stands by its reporting, Adams said. Trumps crackdown on law firms sparks fears for legal representation and rule of law 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept US social security in crisis as Musk-led cuts, staffing woes and tech failures threaten services Yeeshu Yadav USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Vacation buzzkill: Why Canadians are avoiding trips to Trump's America this summer Pradeep Tripathi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Yemen war plan 'leak': Donald Trump reveals how journalist was added to group chat, calls it 'only glitch in two months' Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Zelenskiy calls on US to sanction Russia after fresh drone strikes 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept BNSF Railway defended its closure of a popular River Road trail through 2027, citing safety and construction needs, despite pushback from Bismarck city commissioners who questioned the necessity of the disruption. BNSF on Tuesday briefed the City Commission on progress on the new Bismarck-Mandan Rail Bridge, and how work this season might impact the public. But during the discussion, some commissioners questioned why a trail closure along River Road was necessary, leading to an at-times tense discussion between the board and BNSF staff. The discussion comes after Commissioner John Risch asked staff during the board's last meeting to look into options to reopen the trail. Earlier this month, a 400-foot section of the trail was closed by BNSF Railway as it resumes work on Pier 4 of its new bridge over the Missouri River. The railroad company says it expects the trail to be closed through mid-2027. The company has previously said it will look for opportunities to potentially reopen the trail over winter if construction activity allows it. Trail Discussion During Tuesday's meeting, BNSF Director of Bridge Construction Mike Herzog told the board that much of the work so far on the bridge has focused on the Mandan side of the river. While some work will continue on that side this year, Herzog said, the "real focus" will be building Piers 5 and 6 -- the two remaining river piers. These piers, along with work on Pier 4, are on the Bismarck side. But to complete the work, the railroad company will need to build a dock wall extending into the river, Herzog said, and use its entire right of way between River Road and the dock wall to stage equipment. Last August, the railway company discussed a concept with the City Commission to reroute trail traffic onto River Road. However, the idea was later scrapped due to safety concerns, according to Herzog. Instead, Herzog said, the company worked with its contractor to postpone the trail closure. The company had initially planned the closure to begin last September. "We did evaluate (the traffic concept) -- thinking about the operations that would be taking place, the ingress and egress of construction traffic, and made the decision that the commingling of pedestrian traffic and construction traffic just was not going to be a good idea," he told the Commission. Risch criticized the closure, saying he does not understand how the company can keep River Road and the river open while closing the trail. He said the closure "wasn't the message" the board received from the company when the board was briefed about potential impacts last August. A better solution, Risch suggested, is to build a protection covering over the trail to protect trail users. The covering could be three to four feet wide, he said, and placed right next to the barriers along the road when construction is taking place. He said safety is a concern and that he has already received reports of pedestrians bypassing barriers and walking on River Road to avoid the trail closure. "Ames construction, one of the finest construction, biggest construction companies in the world, they can figure that out. All you got to do is decree it," Risch said. Ames Construction, based in Burnsville, Minnesota, is the contractor for the bridge project. Herzog said a canopy, such as those used over sidewalks near building construction projects, wouldnt be effective because the site involves excavation rather than vertical construction. He also argued that the company needs to use its entire bridge property to facilitate river access as it builds the river piers. The construction site on the Bismarck side has much less space than on the Mandan side, he said. Commissioner Michael Connelly also voiced frustration over the plans, saying the railroad company should not have stated last fall that it was exploring options to keep the trail open. Instead, he said, the company should have simply announced that a two-year closure was necessary and moved forward. "I grew up in a railroad community, and in the town, it was 'the railroad does what the railroad does,' and that kind of feels what it is here," he said. BNSF spokesperson Amy McBeth said the company has always worked to be transparent about the project, and has talked about the need for a trail closure for "quite some time." The railroad company, she said, is committed to restoring the path once construction is complete. Pushing back on Connelly's comments, McBeth said if the "railroad does what the railroad does," as he suggested, BNSF would just close the section of trail on its property for good. Instead, the company has begun discussions with Bismarck Parks and Recreation on a formal trail agreement. "We're committed to working with the community on (reopening the trail), and worked really hard to try to minimize the overall impact," she said. "I get it. That's not the answer that anybody wants, that it has to be closed at all, but from a safety perspective, the last thing that we want is somebody commingling in the midst of very heavy construction." Other Updates Herzog said on Tuesday that construction crews will likely begin "around-the-clock" work throughout 2025 to make sure all work on Piers 5 and 6 are done by December. Crews need to be done with pier work by winter to be able to remove cofferdams from the river before it ices over. A cofferdam is a temporary watertight structure built to allow pier construction. McBeth said around-the-clock work is likely to begin in early April. The company will work with its contractors, she said, to conduct "quiet work" overnight. Additionally, as crews work on river piers this season, river passage through the project will be more organized, according to Herzog. Orange navigational buoys, placed upstream and downstream, will guide boat traffic through a narrow route through the construction site. The new 1,554-foot-long rail bridge is being built about 30 feet north of the existing bridge. The structure will consist of 12 spans. Seven concrete spans varying in length from about 70-80 feet will be used for the approach spans -- four on the west side of the river and three on the east. Five steel spans, each about 200 feet long, will be in place over the river. Train traffic is expected to begin crossing the new $100 million bridge in summer 2026. The existing bridge will then be removed, a process that could take about a year. Construction updates can be found at https://bnsfbismarckbridge.com/project-updates/. North Dakota's sole member of the U.S. House of Representatives held her first town hall by phone and Facebook on Tuesday, mostly fielding criticisms of the Trump administration and defending the president's actions. Republican U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak announced the town hall last week after some state residents made complaints about communication from the state's congressional delegation, which also includes Republican Sens. Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven. The town hall lasted just under an hour. Fedorchak, a former state utility regulator, was elected to the U.S. House in 2024. She ran in a five-person primary for the Republican nomination after former Rep. Kelly Armstrong announced his bid to run for governor. She got around 70% of the vote in the general election and has been appointed to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Some people who called for town halls asked specifically for in-person town halls. Since President Donald Trump took office and began major steps to overhaul the functions of the federal government, videos of confrontations between angry residents and Republican politicians at in-person town halls across the country have gone viral. Holding in-person town halls has since been discouraged by national Republican leadership, according to reports from multiple national news outlets. Still, some Republican lawmakers have gone on to do so. When announcing the town hall, Fedorchak said it would give thousands of state residents the ability to participate. According to her office, 2,600-2,700 people had registered as of Tuesday afternoon. One caller specifically asked why she did not hold an in-person town hall when she was in the state last week. Fedorchak pointed to meetings that she had with tribal nations and business groups during that time. She said call-in town halls were the best way to connect with as many people as possible. "Hopefully nobody feels like the hard topics were screened out or I avoided anything. I want to talk to these issues, I want you all to know how I feel and how I'm thinking," she said. Fedorchak provided a five-minute update on her recent efforts before taking questions. She highlighted her recent meetings with power grid CEOs and her efforts to pass a farm bill this year. "I want our farmers to have some certainty before they head into this next growing season," she said. Many of the residents who called in expressed concerns with the major cost-cutting initiatives by the Trump administration and congressional Republicans' plans to cut other programs to pay for the extension of Trump's tax cuts. Only the first names and locations of callers were provided. A caller named Chris-Anna from Bismarck asked Fedorchak what she would do to protect Medicaid for people like her son who has multiple disabilities. Fedorchak expressed support for welfare programs such as Social Security and Medicaid, but said they need to be reformed, calling their growth "unsustainable." She highlighted congressional efforts to audit Medicaid and establish work requirements for people who are of working age and able-bodied. Fedorchak told callers that Social Security is "not on the table for cuts at all." Still, the Trump administration is working to reduce the staff sizes of the Social Security Administration, make identity verification rules tougher and shutter dozens of offices. Critics argue that these policy changes will make the services more challenging to access for the elderly and disabled. Another area of concern was a recent executive order to shutter the Education Department. That can only be done officially by Congress, but Trump's order essentially began the effort to move certain programs to other agencies, as the department head intends to cut staff. "The Department of Education predominately serves rural schools," said Carrie from Mapleton in eastern North Dakota. Fedorchak said she supported Trump's approach and has spoken to school administrators that do, too. "Let's eliminate the middleman as much as we can," she said. Fedorchak argued that overall, reductions in government spending and regulations being pushed by Trump and Republicans will strengthen the economy and lower costs for families. "In North Dakota, 67% of North Dakotans voted for President Trump, because they felt his policies would get us back on track and 77 million Americans (49.8% of voters) voted for President Trump for the same reason, to get us back on track. President Trump was very clear of some of the policies he would initiate to do that," she said. Some callers expressed dislike of Trump and his administration's approach to governing, including his handling of deportations, trade and foreign relations with other countries. "They are destroying America, and you are on the wrong side of history," said Tara from Mandan. Fedorchak said she disagreed. "I think President Trump is fighting many of the issues that have long been ignored in our country," Fedorchak said, praising his efforts to crack down at the border. Tariffs were a big topic too, including U.S. relations with Canada. Fedorchak said that Trump was clear that tariffs would be part of his agenda while running. She said the tariffs will help the business community long-term. "There's no doubt going to be some disruption as we go down this path. My message to Trump is I hope these tariffs are targeted and short-term," she said. A full recording of the town hall is available on Fedorchak's official Facebook page. Bulawayo Zimbabwes second city is in the grip of a violent crime wave, with armed robberies surging at an alarming rate. The latest incident saw a 30-year-old illegal foreign currency dealer fighting for his life after being shot and robbed of a small fortune in Luveve, while fuel service stations continue to be prime targets for brazen gunmen. The escalating violence has prompted a stern warning from police and forced some businesses to take drastic measures to protect themselves. The forex dealer, identified as Mthokozisi Nkomo, was ambushed around 9:30 PM on Monday night near Maplanka Shops in Luveve, shortly after disembarking from a commuter omnibus travelling from the city centre to Gwabalanda suburb. According to Bulawayo acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, Nkomo noticed a suspicious individual who had also disembarked from the kombi. Sensing danger, he allowed the suspect to pass him along Intemba Road. However, the suspect suddenly pulled out a firearm and shot him in the stomach before making off with a bag containing US$5 700, BWP2 000, R1 400, and a Samsung A13 cellphone. The complainant fell to the ground, bleeding profusely, as the suspect searched him and took his belongings before fleeing the scene, said Asst Insp Msebele. Nkomo was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital for urgent medical treatment, where he is currently battling for his life. Asst Insp Msebele said police have since launched a manhunt for the suspect. She warned residents against carrying large sums of money, especially at night, urging them to utilise banking services to minimise risk. Asst Insp Msebele also stated that police are intensifying patrols and urging the public to provide any information that could help track down the perpetrators. Witnesses are urged to call Bulawayo Police on 0292 60358. Fuel Stations Under Fire: A City on Edge The attack on Nkomo comes amid a worrying trend of armed robberies in Bulawayo, particularly targeting fuel service stations and individuals handling large amounts of cash. Just a day before the forex trader was attacked, gunmen stormed a service station along Siyephambili Drive in Kelvin West, getting away with US$1 000 and R7 000. In that case, three masked suspects armed with rifles and a pistol ambushed fuel attendants, firing a warning shot before forcing them into the cash office. The robbers seized all available cash and fled the scene. According to police, the robbers got away with US$1 000 and ZAR 7 000 after raiding Blaze Petroleum, situated along Siyephambili Drive in Kelvin West. Acting Bulawayo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele the incident occurred on March 23 at around 8 PM. She said three unidentified suspects, clad in face masks and armed with two unidentified rifles and a pistol emerged from a nearby maize field near the service station. One of the suspects fired one shot into the air. The fuel attendants tried to run away but were all apprehended. They were force marched to the cash office where the suspects demanded money. The fuel attendants surrendered all the money in their possession and the suspects also took some money which was in an unlocked metal box, said Asst Insp Msebele. She said the robbers ordered the fuel attendants to lie down before fleeing from the scene of the crime. We have witnessed the upsurge of armed robberies at fuel service stations around the city . We urge petrol attendants not to keep large sums of money on themselves or on their premises but to deposit their monies in the safes under lock and key and day sales to be banked, said Asst Insp Msebele. The escalating crime wave has prompted some fuel stations to revise their operating hours, shutting down at night to protect workers and customers. In recent months, a gang made off with a total of US$2 374 and ZAR115 235 after raiding a service station located in the Kelvin industrial area last month. He said that the robbers forced the employees to lie on the ground before stealing the cash. In a separate incident, Commissioner Nyathi reported that the same suspected group targeted a service station in Tshabalala, where they stole US$440 and a Toyota Altezza valued at US$3 200, which they later abandoned in the Pumula suburb. He appealed to the public for information that could lead to the apprehension of the suspects, who were wearing balaclavas. He urged business owners to strengthen their security measures by installing CCTV systems and other electronic security devices, such as trip alarms. We have witnessed an upsurge in armed robberies at fuel service stations. We urge operators to improve security measures, deposit daily earnings promptly, and minimise cash held on-site, said Asst Insp Msebele. Police Vow to Fight Back: Six Suspects Killed in Tollgate Shootout The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has vowed to crack down on the rising tide of armed robberies, sending a strong message to criminals that their actions will not be tolerated. Just a week ago, police intercepted a gang of armed robbers, resulting in a deadly shootout. Six armed robbery suspects were killed at a tollgate on approach to Bulawayo on the Victoria Falls highway early Tuesday last week, police said. The suspects had allegedly robbed a bar in Insuza before jumping into their silver Honda Fit and fleeing. Police at a tollgate 10km north-east of Bulawayo observed the vehicle approaching at around 2AM after a report had been made ordered but the occupants allegedly opened fire and the driver attempted to drive through the tollgate boomgate. In a subsequent shootout, all six suspects sustained gunshot wounds and died on admission at the United Bulawayo Hospitals. National police spokesman Commissioner Paul Nyathi said in a statement: The suspects spent the whole day monitoring and drinking beer at the Young Money General Dealer shop in Insuza. Later, they pounced on on the two bar attendants while armed with pistols, knives and axes. Nyathi said the victims had their hands tied with electric cables and the men covered their heads with blankets while demanding to know where cash and gold was stored. The suspects ransacked the shop, stealing an undisclosed amount of cash, groceries, a 48-volt lithium battery, an inverter, an amplifier, a nine-kilogramme gas tank, and several mobile phones. The shop owner called police after being alerted to the robbery, leading to the attempt to intercept the robbers at the tollgate. Police recovered two pistols with four live rounds and two gas operated pistols, two knives and an axe from the vehicle. The ZRP reiterates that there is no going back in the fight against armed robbery syndicates. Any form of confrontation will be responded to through appropriate measures, Nyathi said. A City Living in Fear: Urgent Action Needed The surge in armed robberies has left residents of Bulawayo living in fear, with many businesses and individuals taking extra precautions to protect themselves. The escalating crime wave is not only impacting the economy but also eroding the sense of security and well-being of the community. The police are urging business owners to strengthen their security measures by installing CCTV systems and other electronic security devices, such as trip alarms. They are also advising residents to avoid carrying large sums of cash and to utilise banking services whenever possible. However, many believe that more needs to be done to address the root causes of the rising crime rate, including poverty, unemployment, and a lack of opportunities for young people. Breaking News via Email Related Pin Share Share 0 Shares Yves here. This post of the collateral damage, as in unnecessary deaths and other damage done to patients when hospitals are overloaded by climate extreme episodes has more general application. This piece shows that excess mortality, resulting from the rationing of hospital care, can be parsed out from the heat effects and are significant. This outcome was evident in New York City during wild type Covid in 2020. Then, patients that wound up hospitalized often were on a 2-3 week path to death as their lungs turned into bloody goo. That is a far longer time of hospital bed occupancy than is normal, hence planned for. And thanks to neoliberalism, cutting the number of hospital beds had become a priority. That means that even if enough doctors and nurses could have been marshaled to handle the horrible surge, the physical plant would constrain how many sick and injured could be handled. In NYC, during Peak Covid, there were many reports of 36+ hour waits merely to be attended to in an emergency room, and these delays were pervasive. This sort of wait for a stroke or heat attack or accident victim is dangerous to deadly. The author point to the obvious need to increase hospital capacity to cope with a higher and set-to-rise level of extreme events. But despite the cost of inaction, what will it take to get this done? By Sandra Aguilar-Gomez, Joshua Graff Zivin, and Matthew Neidell. Originally published at VoxEU As extreme heat events become more frequent and severe, rising temperatures will increase the incidence of heatstroke, kidney damage, and cardiovascular stress. This column considers extreme heat as not only a direct health threat, but also a systems-level shock that will expose and exacerbate existing vulnerabilities in healthcare delivery. To prepare for a future of acute heatwaves, policymakers and healthcare leaders must ensure that hospitals operate effectively during these crises. Addressing the indirect effects of climate change is an essential component of broader climate adaptation efforts. As climate change accelerates, extreme heat events are becoming more frequent and severe, posing substantial health risks. Policymakers and public health experts are well aware that rising temperatures increase the incidence of heatstroke, kidney damage, and cardiovascular stress. Yet, a critical dimension remains underappreciated: how extreme heat strains healthcare systems and compromises patient outcomes. While previous studies have documented the direct effects of heat on morbidity and mortality (Basu 2009, Deschenes 2014, Geruso and Spears 2018), our research highlights a crucial but thus far overlooked spillover effect: the way heat-driven hospital congestion exacerbates health risks, even for patients whose conditions are unrelated to temperature exposure (Aguilar-Gomez et al. 2024). The Overlooked Consequences of Extreme Heat on Healthcare Systems When a heatwave strikes, hospitals and emergency departments (EDs) often experience a sharp rise in patient inflows. A growing body of research has shown that hospital overcrowding can have serious consequences for patient care. For example, studies of flu outbreaks (Gutierrez and Rubli 2021) and pollution-driven surges in paediatric hospitalisations (Guidetti et al. 2024) reveal a troubling pattern: when demand exceeds capacity, delays in treatment, premature discharges, and higher mortality rates follow. Building on this literature, our research (Aguilar-Gomez et al. 2025) examines how extreme heat affects hospital congestion and patient outcomes in Mexico, a country that provides a particularly relevant setting for this study as healthcare resources are often constrained and the frequency of extreme heat events is projected to rise disproportionately compared to higher-latitude nations (Desmet and Rossi-Hansberg 2024, Murray-Tortarolo 2021, Portner et al. 2022, Robert-Nicoud and Peri 2021). Our findings suggest that hospital overcrowding during heatwaves is not just an operational challenge it is a major driver of excess mortality, including among patients whose conditions are unrelated to heat exposure. How Heat Waves Disrupt Hospital Systems We leverage an extensive dataset over an eight-year period (20122019), including records of all emergency department and hospital visits at Ministry of Health (MoH) facilities, which serve two-thirds of Mexicos population. By linking health data with weather records, we examine how spikes in temperature influence hospital admissions, patient transitions within the healthcare system, and health outcomes. The effects are striking. When daily maximum temperatures exceed 34C, ED visits increase by 7.5% (approximately three additional visits per day), and hospitalisations rise by 4%. Faced with this surge, hospitals appear to ration care. Figure 1 shows that as temperatures rise, the likelihood that an ED patient is admitted to the hospital decreases while the share of patients sent home increases, suggesting that hospitals are reaching capacity. Figure 1 Changes in triage of ED patients Further, extreme heat accelerates patient discharges, likely as a response to overcrowding. Our findings indicate that hospitals reduce the average length of stay on extreme heat days, discharging more patients early to free-up beds. More worryingly, patients sent home on these days tend to be less healthy than those discharged on cooler days, raising concerns about their post-discharge health outcomes. The Hidden Toll: Excess Mortality Due to Heat-Driven Overcrowding While some observers might assume that those discharged early or turned away from the ED can seek care elsewhere, our findings suggest otherwise. Using vital statistics data, we find that mortality rates rise both inside and outside hospitals during extreme heat events. Figure 2 shows that deaths outside the hospital increase at a greater rate than those within it, consistent with a scenario in which critically ill patients are discharged prematurely or denied admission due to overcrowding. Figure 2 Share of deaths by location To isolate the role of hospital congestion from direct heat-related effects, we examine excess mortality among patients already hospitalised before a heatwave begins. Even among this group, an additional day with temperatures exceeding 34C increases mortality by 5%, suggesting that hospital crowding, rather than heat exposure itself, is the key driver of these deaths. Additional analyses focused on cancer patients (who should not be physiologically vulnerable to temperature fluctuations) yield similar results, reinforcing the congestion hypothesis. Policy Implications: Adapting Healthcare Systems to a Warmer Future Residential air conditioning has been a key focus of climate adaptation discussions, along with other tools such as changing urban structure or climate-proofing transport systems (Barreca et al. 2016, Costa et al. 2024). Our findings highlight an overlooked avenue for climate adaptation: strengthening healthcare system resilience. Ensuring that hospitals can handle climate-induced surges in demand is equally critical. This may involve expanding hospital capacity, increasing staffing during heatwaves, and improving surge management protocols. The stakes are particularly high for developing countries, where access to air conditioning is limited (Escobar et al. 2025), the mortality impacts from extreme heat are highest (Geruso and Spears 2018), and healthcare systems are already overburdened. Investing in hospital infrastructure and workforce expansion could mitigate not only the direct health effects of climate change but also the spillover consequences of hospital congestion. Moreover, improving patient triage and care coordination could help alleviate pressure on hospitals during extreme heat events, reducing the risk of premature discharges and preventable deaths. Conclusion Extreme heat is not only a direct health threat, it is also a systems-level shock that exposes and exacerbates existing vulnerabilities in healthcare delivery. Our research underscores the importance of recognising and addressing these indirect effects as part of broader climate adaptation efforts. As policymakers and healthcare leaders prepare for a future with more frequent and severe heatwaves, ensuring that hospitals remain functional and effective during these crises will be paramount. Investing in healthcare resilience today could save lives tomorrow. For more details, readers can refer to our full study (Aguilar-Gomez et al. 2025), which provides a deeper dive into the methodologies and data underlying these findings. See original post for references Tapping Into the Sweetness of Spring Barn Raiser The prehistoric psychopath Works in Progress. Life in the state of nature was less violent than you might think. Most of our ancestors avoided conflict. But this made them vulnerable to a few psychopaths. Wall Street is hungry for loans. Enter: burrito bonds Semafor How to Watch the Partial Solar Eclipse on March 29 and Spot the Unique Devil Horns Gizmodo Climate/Environment Pandemics HHS Closing Long COVID Office MedPage Today People in the U.S. are accumulating repeat Covid infections on a linear trend. We should be funding more research on Covid prevention and Long COVID diagnostics and treatments not slashing funds arbitrarily. https://t.co/soBj9KPQi1 pic.twitter.com/CopisV9OiA Mike Hoerger, PhD MSCR MBA (@michael_hoerger) March 25, 2025 Africa India Japan Court orders dissolution of Unification Church in Japan Japan Today China? Old Blighty Syraqistan Oscar Winning Director Attacked By Israeli Settlers and Apprehended by IDF Scheerpost MUST SEE: Journalist @samhusseini presses US State Dept spokesperson Tammy Bruce about Israeli nukes, noting that JFK was pushing for inspections just before he was assassinated. Every president since has adopted Israels policy of refusing to acknowledge the existence of pic.twitter.com/iLzy0az0Ev Decensored News (@decensorednews) March 25, 2025 *** Signs U.S. Massing B-2 Spirit Bombers In Diego Garcia The War Zone Irans IRGC unveils a new underground missile base spanning dozens of kilometers of tunnels. Follow: https://t.co/GKZwI4ehqL pic.twitter.com/rsB3vpXGgN Press TV (@PressTV) March 25, 2025 European Disunion New Not-So-Cold War South of the Border Trump 2.0 This is the biggest financial corruption scandal in presidential history btw. If scandals were still a thing. Nothing else comes close. Jacob Silverman (@SilvermanJacob) March 25, 2025 DOGE Democrats en Deshabille Big Brother is Watching You Watch How to delete your 23andMe data The Verge Police State Watch NEW: The Trump administration is moving to deport a 21-year-old Columbia senior originally from South Korea who has lived here on a green card since she was 7 years old because of her minor involvement in pro-Palestinian protests. They sent FEDERAL AGENTS to hunt her down. pic.twitter.com/rnxDD5ldaV Aaron Reichlin-Melnick (@ReichlinMelnick) March 24, 2025 Healthcare? AI Boeing Trial ordered in criminal case against Boeing stemming from MAX crashes Seattle Times Groves of Academe Imperial Collapse Watch Thats what were trying to figure out. Waltz is hunting for the person who deviously put Jeffrey Goldbergs phone number into his phone pic.twitter.com/kAfj6smDDa Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) March 25, 2025 Chat Room Leak, or Deliberate Misdirection? Ive just read some of the details of the chat room leak of a discussion between Trump admin principals regarding strikes in Yemen. The chat participants want to frame US operations in Yemen as primarily serving European Will Schryver (@imetatronink) March 24, 2025 Another likely possibility that I see almost no-one discussing, given the fact that The Atlantic and Jeffrey Goldberg specifically are indeed a core part of the pro-war propaganda apparatus, is that this is actually a pro-war propaganda psyop. When something is a bit too https://t.co/u4JpDg2c0W Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) March 25, 2025 Class Warfare Antidote du jour (via): See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. The state of play in the Russia-US negotiations after their session early this week in Saudi Arabia failed to get much if any front-page attention. That was thanks to the furor over top US officials accidentally inviting Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeff Goldberg to participate in some Yemen-attack-planning on a Signal chat. The fallout has been revealing, including a Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth self-discrediting rant and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard refusing to answer if the texts were classified and stonewalling on releasing them to the Senate if not. Back to the main event. Three teams traveled to Riyadh, a very senior Ukraine group, and mid-senior level representatives for the US and Russia. Multiple reports said, consistent with the plan agreed on the Putin-Trump phone call to hold bi-lateral talks, the US spent minimal time spent with the Ukraine delegation, only 40 minutes before the Russia-US discussions and 30 minutes after. That means the communication was one way. By contrast, the US and Russian discussions took over 12 hours in one day. The two sides emerged, conveying the impression that theyd made progress, but said it was too late in the day for them to provide a joint statement as promised. Theyd do it the next day. The White House put out its statement on the US-Russia talks. No joint statement has been provided. This points to three possible bad developments, which are not mutually exclusive: 1. Russia and the US thought they had agreed an outline of terms for the supposed accomplishment of the pow-wow, that of a maritime ceasefire. But they amazingly found they had misunderstood each other on points key to one side (presumably the Russian side) and could not agree to a statement since there actually was an unresolved outtrade. Frankly, this looks to have happened with the electricity infrastructure ceasefire. Russia got a readout published in record time. It described the agreement as covering energy infrastructure. The US readout instead said the ceasefire covered energy and infrastructure which is vastly more comprehensive. Ukraine immediately started complaining about Russia violating the pact. To clear up that loose end on March 25, the Kremlin published A list of energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine covered by the temporary moratorium on strikes against the energy system, as agreed upon by the Russian and American sides.1 As reported by Russian officials (more on that soon) , it was an improved version of the so-called grain deal, in which Russia would allow the passage of commercial vessels through the Black Sea for grain and fertilizer transport, along with a select waivers on sanctions so as to allow select Russian banks to receive payments for these products. One of the big reasons Russia refused to renew this grain agreement was the failure to honor the financial components of the deal, which were as important as the transport part but just about entirely ignored in the Western press. A second part was Ukraine allegedly getting shipments of arms on commercial vessels, apparently due to Turkiye not doing adequate inspections of ships (a bug or a feature?). Ukraine even once sent drones along a protected shipment corridor, another agreement-breaching act. So its not as if why the earlier deal failed should be a mystery if the US side was prepared.which seems not. 2. Russia and the US did have a deal. But US officials called the mothership in the morning, and were told to renege on certain elements. This is a non-uncommon bad faith trick in negotiating that I call double-brokering2 (there may be a term of art, if so, readers please pipe up). 3. Some sources claim Ukraine nixed the agreed joint text. This seems like a dog-ate-my-homework for some version of #1 or #2 above. But if true, this is yet another bad sign for negotiations. Russia and the US were supposed to truck bi-laterally. The tacit assumption was that the US could leash and collar Ukraine. But the Russian Ministry of Defense has been publicizing Ukraine violations of the energy infrastructure ceasefire. This confirms my thesis, that Ukraine has agency, and even though weak, still has possession of the vast majority of territorial Ukraine. Even though it will eventually be broken if it does not agree to a settlement, its clearly not about to do that soon (as in at least the next month or two). So shorter: if Ukraine really could nix the joint statement, that vitiates the pretense that it is not a party to a settlement. It may be a very subordinate party that has to shut up and sit in the anteroom most of the time. But as of now, a deal cant be concluded without Ukraine cooperation. I had initially thought it was very clever for Russia to try to revive the grain deal. First, its much simpler to work from existing texts and renegotiate sections than start from scratch. Second, to a significant degree, this pact had been to benefit Africa, as in to get food and fertilizer there; Russia has intended to give it away to countries suffering from food shortages. So at least as of then, the aim was more to elevate Russias stature and less about profit (that may not be as true now given harvests and current market conditions). But third and perhaps most important, going over what happened with this grain scheme would allow Russia to give the US chapter, book and verse on Ukraine bad behavior, and enlist them in problem-solving to prevent its recurrence. But now I wonder if the Americans are just too dumb and lazy. It seems all too possible that the American team arrived in Riyadh, not having even read the text of the earlier grain agreement, and some of what the Russians said went over their heads. It seems hard to fathom how the Russians could have gone into detail on the banking side of the agreement and have the Americans act as if they heard nothing of the kind. From CNN just a few hours ago: US President Donald Trump said he believes Russia wants to end its war with Ukraine, but suggested Moscow could be dragging their feet after the Kremlin disputed accounts of agreements made with the US. His comments came only hours after Russia said it would only implement a US-brokered deal to stop using force in the Black Sea once some of the sanctions imposed on its banks and exports over its invasion of Ukraine are lifted. Following days of separate negotiations with Ukrainian and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia, the White House said on Tuesday that the two sides 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. But while Zelensky confirmed in a news conference that Ukraine had agreed to stop using military force in the Black Sea, the Kremlin released its own statement on the talks, which included far-reaching conditions for signing up to the partial truce. Those included lifting sanctions on its agricultural bank and other financial institutions and companies involved in exporting food and their re-connection to the SWIFT international payments system. The US statements made no mention of the sanctions being lifted as a precondition to the ceasefire. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday afternoon, Trump said his administration was looking at Russias conditions. Were thinking about all of them right now. There are five or six conditions. We are looking at all of them, he said. The White House said that Russia and Ukraine also agreed to implement a previously announced pause on attacks against energy infrastructure. If we are to take the Trump remarks at face value (always an iffy proposition), this looks like double-brokering: the Russian side was authorized to commit within certain parameters, while the US side was either not authorized to, or had undisclosed limits and went beyond them without informing the Russian side. The White House statement is at the 50,000 foot level and only mentions the US making an effort to remove financial impediments, not actually do so: 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. Given that no less than Putin had made a stink about the failure of the Western side to allow the agricultural bank to be reconnected to SWIFT, it is very hard to imagine that the Russian were unclear in Riyadh about their requirements on this point. In fact, the Russian version of what was agreed in Riyadh, posted on the Kremlin site, lists the conditions that Trump alludes to. These items are set forth with such specificity as to make it hard to think Russia made them up after the fact. Russia believes it made clear the deal does not come into effect until these items have all been implemented. So the US can want what it wants or believe what it wants to believe all day, but there will be no maritime ceasefire otherwise. However, the Russians must also have known that their requirements could not be delivered by the US. Its not just a matter of Ukraine opposition. Weve also said that the seemingly weak Europeans have agency. They made clear they wont authorize the sanctions relief needed to make the grain deal, now the maritime ceasefire, go forward. From the Financial Times: Brussels has rejected Russias demand to lift EU restrictions on a key agricultural bank as part of a partial ceasefire deal, saying its sanctions regime will stay in place until the unconditional withdrawal of Moscows troops from Ukraine. In other words, after all the hype about a marine ceasefire, there is none. The US is still thinking about it. And Trump has the temerity to blame Russia for delay. On top of that, there are reasons to think the US got cute. Recall after the Putin-Trump call, the Kremlin was out double-fast with its readout, at least in part to reassure Russians worried about a Putin sellout to the US. Here, the Russians held back, perhaps because they thought the joint statement would be published. Instead, the US punted on that and got its spin out first. Now consider an overarching issue: the unseemly US hurry to get a ceasefire done, as if that were somehow tantamount to a cessation of hostilities. Russian has sensibly and consistently said no to a ceasefire before the underlying causes of the war are addressed. Putin has been playing faux-amenable to Trump trying to do that out of order by describing in detail how extensive the protections of Russian interests would have to be for a naked ceasefire to be acceptable. As I said earlier, the Russians could be in Paris by the time that all was negotiated and put in place. In another not-positive sign for how US-Russia relations are going, Russia felt the need to make a forceful statement about Trump trying to take an interest in Russian assets behind Russias back. First, from the Washington Post on March 20: President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed American ownership of nuclear power plants in Ukraine in a phone call on Wednesday, the White House said. Zelensky offered a somewhat different account Thursday: He said that only one nuclear power plant had been discussed the sprawling Zaporizhzhia plant, which is occupied by Russian forces and that U.S. ownership was not on the table. Andrei Martyanov provided a translation of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs smackdown yesterday: In connection with the speculations circulated in the media on the possible transfer of the Zaporizhzhya NPP (ZNPP) to Ukraine or the establishment of some kind of joint control over the station with Ukraine, the United States or representatives of international organizations, we would like to clarify the following. ZNPP is a Russian nuclear facility. Following the referendums held at the end of September 2022, the DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions became part of the Russian Federation as full-fledged subjects. On October 5, 2022, Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 711 On the specifics of legal regulation in the field of atomic energy use in the territory of the Zaporizhzhya region was signed, securing the status of ZNPP as a facility under Russian jurisdiction. The return of the station to the Russian nuclear industry is a long-standing fact that the international community can only acknowledge. The transfer of ZNPP itself or control over it to Ukraine or any other country is impossible. All the stations employees are citizens of the Russian Federation, their lives cannot be played with, especially considering the atrocities that Ukrainians have committed and continue to commit on the territory of our country. Joint operation of the Zaporizhzhya NPP with any state is also unacceptable. There are no such precedents in world practice. In this case, for example, it is impossible to properly ensure nuclear and physical nuclear safety, or regulate issues of civil liability for nuclear damage. An important aspect is that close cooperation between NATO intelligence services with Ukraine, which have impressive sabotage potential, makes it impossible to even temporarily admit representatives of these states to the Zaporizhzhya NPP. The idea of any international organizations participating in the operation of the station also seems absurd, since neither the mandate nor the competence of any of them allows them to participate in the operation of nuclear facilities. In accordance with international law, including key specialized conventions, the states themselves bear the primary responsibility for ensuring nuclear and physical nuclear safety on their territory. In the case of ZNPP, it is the Russian Federation, and nothing else. Ouch. Recall that we had pointed out that the Trump raw earth scheme, which later had ports and power plants thrown in, would complicate any settlement, since the US would be laying claims to assets in Russian hands. Putin politely drew a line, saying the US could participate in the development of any mineral deposits (as in provide services on a contract basis), but Russia owned the four oblasts it deems to be part of Russia. Russia has now gone into What about no dont you understand? mode. After being so deluded as to say he could end the war in 24 hours, Trump has fallen back, with his latest target date April 20. That is now clearly na ga happen. In keeping, there is no date for a Trump-Putin summit either. Trump foolishly ignored the advice of Steve Bannon, which would have been to declare Ukraine to have been Bidens war, send any remaining authorized cash and arms, and wash his hands of it. The longer this goes on, the more he owns it. He can deal more harshly with Ukraine intransigence by cutting off intel (a penalty box of a week, with longer suspensions for successive infractions?). Yet despite Trump having the fun of beating Zelensky up in the Oval Office, he has still not been brought to heel. So what is the reason for the urgency about a deal with Russia, when Trump could put the US participation in Project Ukraine out of its misery in very short order? Some like Alexander Mercouris contend that its because he intuits Ukraine will collapse soon. Trump would lose any smidge of leverage and also have left himself open to accusations of losing Ukraine. If he had followed the Bannon plan, he would have greatly reduced that attack surface. My guess is the urgency has to do with Iran. Larry Wilkerson, in a new interview with Nima of Dialogue Works, argued that (54:45) that the US is prodding Israel to keep up aggression in Syria despite already being over extended. Both Wilkerson in this clip and Chas Freeman in a new Judge Napolitano talk said that if the Israel were to attack Iran, which would clearly have to have US backing, that Russia would support Iran. From Judge Napolitano at 20:50: Napolitano: Would an American military support of an Israeli attack on Tehran impair American-Russian relationships? Freeman It would affect them very negatively because it would appear to demonstrate that we are prepared to bully and use force as a substitute for diplomacy, and that would discredit the diplomacy.I think this would really bring that to a point of no return. Recall that the US has been laboring under the delusion that Russia would help the US when it is still supporting Ukraine. Bloomberg ran a bizarre article in early March that depicted Russia as willing to do everything in its power Recall that Trump then said he sent a letter to the Supreme Leader, which oddly took a very long time to arrive and was rejected forcefully. For Trump to send a letter means both a lack of mediation and haste from the US side. From a Reuters report about a week after the Bloomberg story ran: The Kremlin, asked on Monday if Russia had held consultations with Iran before or after Tehran responded to a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump urging the country to negotiate a nuclear deal, said Iran formulates its own policy positions. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Saturday that Tehran would not be bullied into negotiations, a day after Trump said he had sent a letter urging Iran to engage in talks on a new nuclear deal. Before the US resumed its attacks on the Houthis, Marco Rubio called Lavrov and depicted Russia as having consented. Lavrov cleared his throat and disputed that characterization, making it clear Lavrov told Rubio the US should negotiate and not use force (I imagine Russia Foreign Ministry also had to make lots of calls to the strong Palestine supporters among its allies to reassure them that no way, no how did Russia support shelling Yemen). Rumor has it that Trump demanded Iran Do Something in two months. Iran is clearly not going to Do Anything. Many many geopolitical commentators believe that the US is serious about wanting to commence a war against Iran in the near future. But perhaps not. One way this war might not happen soon, which could mean not at all, is the Russia negotiations dragging out, which is certain. Russia will not be rushed and will need the US to demonstrate it can leash and collar Ukraine on key issues. It cant do that ex a regime change, and it cant displace the Banderites (theyd find that harder than the Russians would) even if it gets rid of Zelensky. So a good guess for the rush to get a resolution in Ukraine is the barmy US assumption is that if that deal is done, Russia will be so happy with its better status with the US that it wont back Iran. I suspect many readers share my view that that belief is all wet. But if the Trumpies believe that, it will stay their hand until a deal over Ukraine is done and dusted before they take on Iran. One can only hope _____ 1 It is not clear if this is merely clarification of what was agreed in on the Trump-Putin call, or the publication of disambiguation that took place in the Riyadh talks at the start of this week. 2Savvy negotiators NEVER let a principal negotiate with a broker. The reason is that anything the principal agrees to can be treated as a commitment, while anything the broker agrees to is subject to the assent of his principal. So a smart broker will accept the principals position as a starting point and try to ratchet further from that, based on some additional concern his principal has. A less obvious version of that may have been operative here, that Russian side likely had permission to deal within certain set parameters, while the US side did not or otherwise had much more limited authority, and whether out of bad faith or cavalierness, exceeded it. When celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres or Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel want to create their own wines, they turn to vintner Jesse Katz. Its not just because he has experience making wines in some of the finest growing regions around the world. It's not even because Wine Enthusiast named him one of its "40 Under 40 Tastemakers," or that he's the first winemaker on the Forbes "30 Under 30" list. Its because he speaks the language of art. His father is Andy Katz, the legendary art photographer known for his striking images taken in the vineyards with little or no digital manipulation. They have become the subject of renowned coffee-table books, and they're on the labels of Jesses wines from Aperture Cellars. The name, of course, comes from a photographic term for the opening of a lens. Traveling around the world with his father, Jesse became enamored with the craft of winemaking. Youre either born into the industry or you buy into it, he explained to me during an interview last month. Growing up in Boulder, Colo., Jesse knew hed have to move to further his education specifically in California. Jesse has thrown himself into the business, traveling around the world and returning to regions like Bordeaux and Burgundy, where he first tasted wine with his father as a preteen. He spent time at legendary wineries like Screaming Eagle and Petrus, and earned a reputation as a talented winemaker with a nuanced palate. In 2009 he launched Aperture, focusing on Bordeaux varietals. As part of the new generation of winemakers, Jesse saw the ecological changes that were affecting the industry. California is getting warmer and drier, so I was looking for a long-term solution, he recalled. Jesse decided to focus on the Alexander Valley and Russian River areas, with their cooler nights and (slightly) lower land prices than Napa. Through his career, he has produced more than 20 100-point wines from a vineyard property that he owns while still consulting for other brands. Much of his sales come through the direct-to-consumer channel, but he has recently launched in Nashville with Lipman as his distributor. With the acquisition of even more plots for growing, Katz has chosen to design his wines around specific soil types instead of specific sites. Theres a huge diversity of conditions in Sonoma. You have hillside versus volcanic soils, plus clay loam and marine sediment. Not to mention all the individual microclimates, he explains. Managing all these variables is what makes Jesse and Aperture stand out with its broad range of products classified by soil type, vineyard site and single-varietal creations. While Jesse certainly makes some small-lots wines in the $200-to-$550 range, he also offers plenty of options at more affordable prices. I sampled a $75 bottle of his Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (its actually a Bordeaux blend with trace amounts of petit verdot, malbec and merlot), and I would pick it over a Silver Oak from the same valley at twice the price. The intense dark fruit revealed a delicate floral nose but was brawny on the palate, offering notes of leather and tobacco along with plenty of oak until it faded into a long and complex finish that returned to the delicate floral beginning. Now that you should begin to see Aperture wines on liquor store shelves and restaurant wine lists, it might be worth a little mini splurge to try a bottle. You cant miss the gorgeous photography on the labels, and why not experience art you can drink? The road to a college degree was not straight for North Tonawanda resident Elisabeth Williams. After three schools, three majors and a three-year break, the 26-year-old graduated with her bachelors degree from SUNY Buffalo State University in May. Williams, a restaurant manager, said going to college at age 23 versus 18 was the best decision of my entire life. Its a choice she would make again and again. In Western New York, more than 118,000 residents were once like Williams: former students who were unable to finish the college degrees they started at one point in their lives, according to a study by the Center for an Urban Future. The reasons people leave higher education are diverse and personal. Some leave for financial reasons or to care for children or sick family members. Some dont have reliable transportation to get to classes. And many lack the support they need to make it through to graduation day. At a time when enrollment at colleges and universities across the country is starting to bounce back from Covid pandemic decreases, some Western New York schools are turning their focus to this particular demographic those with some college credits but no degree to help them finish their educations. New York has also homed in on this population, with Gov. Kathy Hochul announcing earlier this year her plan to make community college tuition free for adult learners over the age of 25 who are pursing associate degrees in certain high-demand fields, including nursing, teaching, technology and engineering. This population of students has been one that all higher education institutions have been tracking on because weve noticed that its been a growing (population), nationally and within the state, said Bridget Niland, vice president for academic affairs at Canisius University. Students over age 25 are one of the fastest-growing demographics in higher education, said Eli Dvorkin, the editorial and policy director at the Center for an Urban Future. Getting these students re-enrolled in colleges and universities is not only beneficial for schools, but could help Western New Yorks economy, as those with college degrees earn more money over their lifetimes than those without one. When students graduate, they become a critical part of Buffalo, of Western New York and help drive our economics, said Villa Maria Colleges Provost Ann Rivera. The diploma bump In Erie County, more than 86,500 working-age adults have some college credits but no degree, according to the Center for an Urban Future, a New York City-based think tank that focuses on policies to reduce inequality, increase economic mobility and grow the economy. That accounts for nearly 18% of residents ages 25 to 64. Niagara County has the highest percentage of working-age adults who did not finish college, according to the centers report. Twenty percent of residents fall into this demographic, or 21,803 adults. Chautauqua County has 9,725 working-age residents, or 15.7%, with some college but no degree. After graduating from North Tonawanda High School in 2016, Williams attended SUNY Oswego, studied business administration and joined a sorority. At the time, the biggest influence in her life pushing her to go to college was her mother. Williams said her mom had a great college experience, made lifelong friends as part of a sorority and wanted the same for her daughter. Williams, however, said she didnt feel like she fit in with her sorority and wanted to be closer to home. So after finishing her first year at Oswego, she decided to move back to Western New York and enrolled at Canisius University to study communications. During her year and a half at Canisius, Williams said she was dealing with untreated depression and anxiety and addiction issues. She wasnt going to class, so she made the decision to drop out at age 20. Williams eventually completed an in-patient treatment program and focused on her mental health. After leaving college, she worked in the hospitality industry, a field she always loved. At the time, she also thought it was a career she could progress in without a college degree. For most New Yorkers, the path to a better-paying job will be accelerated with a diploma, Dvorkin said, as most of the states high-wage industries require a college degree. Those who obtain an associate degree will earn around $380,000 more over their lifetimes than those who do not have a college degree. Those with a bachelors degree could earn $1.3 million more over the course of their careers than workers who have no degree, according to the Center for an Urban Future. Although the college degree has been under much scrutiny lately, it has not changed the facts of its overall benefits to a wage earner, Niland said. Williams decided to go back to college about three years later, once she had to start paying off her student loans. I was like, Wow, I really dont have anything to show for this, she said. Im going to be paying this money regardless, but I dont even have a degree. So after that, I was like, You know what? Im in a much better position in life. I want to go back to school and I want it to be cheap and fast. She decided to go to SUNY Buffalo State University for hospitality administration. It was the best experience of my entire life, Williams said. I felt better to manage my education and also be interested in education. I finally found an area where I had some background and I thought that I could use this course material and experiences and networking in something I actually wanted to pursue in life. So it was a much better fit. Williams completed her degree in two years. After graduation, she was promoted to manager at the French-style fine dining restaurant Websters Bistro and Bar in North Tonawanda and earns a higher wage. I would do it again if I could, said Williams. Returning students need support Students who return to college after time off typically have different needs than the traditional college student. Often, older adult learners have more demands and responsibilities to balance, Rivera said. Many work full time and require flexible class schedules and online learning choices. Others are parents who need options for child care. And most require financial aid.In its most recent strategic plan, Canisius University committed to making an education at the school more accessible to all. That includes adults who want to return to college to finish their degrees. Canisius new strategic plan reflects its presidents perspective It's experiences like Steve Stoute's that form the foundation of Canisius' new plan, one that includes attracting more international students hoping for an American education. Niland said Canisius plans to reach out to former students who did not graduate with targeted scholarship opportunities and support programs. Canisius also will work with local employers to identify workers who want to return to school to finish their degrees. The university will be launching a student support and success center, where students will be able to work with academic and life advisers who can help them adjust to returning to school and address any life challenges that may have prevented students from finishing their degrees initially, Niland said. At Villa Maria College, officials are working to develop strategies to enroll students with some college credits but no degree, Rivera said. The college has partnered with the Institute for Higher Education Policy through the Yes We Must Coalition to identify and attract this demographic of students and how to address issues like transferring previous credits and accessing transcripts. Villa Maria already has other programs in place that make it a good fit for adults returning to college, Rivera said. For example, the college works with a local personal finance startup called Arbol to help students stay on budget. Many times, students have to leave school for financial reasons, and not because tuition is too expensive. Its the cost of other things, like transportation, textbooks, food, housing and other basic needs, said Dvorkin. When returning to school as an adult, students personal finances can be more complex than that of a traditional student, Rivera said. Arbol helps keep students on track so they can stay in school. Finance startup Arbol aims to help college students stay on budget and in school A new startup is aimed at helping underfunded college students navigate financial challenges that can derail an education. Arbol is piloting its financial tracking app on six campuses. Villa Marias Buffalo campus is accessible via public transportation. The school worked with then-state Sen. Tim Kennedy to get a Metro stop placed on campus, Rivera said. Additionally, Villa Maria has an emergency fund that students can access if they need temporary extra help to meet basic needs while continuing their education. Niland said Canisius is aware that it is not a school that comes to top of mind for adults looking to return to college. About 2% of the universitys student body is made up of students age 25 or older. We recognize that we are not known as an institution that has marketed itself to this group of individuals, Niland said. That is what this pivot is all about. While Canisius may be more expensive than a public college or university, Niland doesnt believe students would get the same kind of personal support at a state school. Canisius focus on a Jesuit education, which is built on the idea of caring for the whole person, positions the university to uniquely support students returning to higher education, Niland said. Working with students who have some college but no degree is a critical investment in people and in our community, Rivera said. Being engaged with students and helping them to overcome some of the challenges so that they can achieve their full potential is not only really rewarding, but it is also a way to give back to the community. And Villa is really engaged with that, because we really believe that kind of access and support is transformational, its life-changing. SUNY Reconnect The Center for an Urban Future is advocating for the state to adopt a policy that focuses on getting working-age adults with some college credits but no degree enrolled in the SUNY system. Called SUNY Reconnect, the policy is modeled after a City University of New York policy launched in 2022 that has since re-enrolled more than 40,000 New York City residents in CUNY colleges. More than 6,400 completed a degree. Weve seen really clearly the power and the impact of this program in New York City and we think its time to bring it to the rest of the state, Dvorkin said. CUNY hired a team of advisers who are focused on conducting outreach with former students who left school within the last five years. CUNY Reconnect pairs returning students with these trained advisers who help them navigate the enrollment process, choose an academic program and create a class schedule that accommodates employment, caregiving and other obligations. The advisers also support students in applying for financial aid. SUNY Fredonia making strides; Buffalo States progress slower, King says Facing belt-tightening and budget-cutting measures due to decade-long financial woes exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, SUNY Fredonia has cut its deficit in half and seen an over 7% increase in first-time undergraduate students. But not all SUNY schools experiencing financial troubles are making progress as quickly. Buffalo State University has cut its deficit at a slower rate by about 25% and the school is also working to overcome low graduation rates. The initiative started with $4.4 million in funding, which was increased to $5.8 million for the current academic year. The SUNY Reconnect policy would operate in the same manner and cost about $15 million annually, according to the Center for an Urban Future. The report suggests implementing the policy could help the SUNY system get its enrollment up. Undergraduate enrollment SUNY-wide is down about 23% since 2013, though it has started to increase over the past two years, the beginning of the decadelong decline. While there are no plans from the state to implement SUNY Reconnect at this time, Dvorkin said he is encouraged to see government leaders are proposing other policies targeted at those with some college credits but no degree, such as Hochuls free community college tuition program. The state is taking a much closer look at policies that could support this growing, but frankly, seriously underserved part of our college-going population, Dvorkin said. 23andMe bankruptcy puts 15 million Americans DNA data at risk 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, putting 15 million users' genetic data at risk of being sold. The company operates outside federal health privacy laws, leaving millions of people's DNA vulnerable to exploitation by unknown buyers, which could potentially include China. A 2023 data breach exposed 7 million users' genetic data, deepening privacy concerns. CEO Anne Wojcicki resigned amid financial struggles and board disputes over her bid to buy the company. Experts warn that genetic data could be weaponized for surveillance or discrimination with no legal protections in place. 23andMe, the genetic testing giant that convinced millions to hand over their saliva for ancestry insights, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Sunday, raising urgent questions about who will control the intimate genetic data of 15 million Americans. The company, which operates outside federal health privacy laws, now plans to sell itself, leaving customers sensitive DNA profiles vulnerable to exploitation by unknown buyers including foreign adversaries like China. The bankruptcy filing in Missouri federal court follows years of financial struggles and a catastrophic 2023 data breach that exposed the genetic predispositions and ancestry reports of nearly 7 million users. Adding to the chaos, CEO Anne Wojcicki, who co-founded the company in 2006, resigned to pursue her own bid for 23andMe, despite repeated board rejections. With no HIPAA protections governing its trove of genetic data, the companys fate hinges on its own malleable privacy policies, sparking fears that new owners could weaponize DNA information for profit or surveillance. A regulatory black hole Unlike hospitals or insurers, 23andMe exists in what is considered a legal gray zone. Its data practices are bound only by its self-written privacy policy, which explicitly warns that user information may be accessed, sold or transferred during bankruptcy or acquisitions. While the company claims it wont share data with insurers or law enforcement without warrants, privacy experts warn such promises could vanish overnight under new ownership. Folks have absolutely no say in where their data is going to go, said Tazin Kahn of Cyber Collective, a privacy advocacy group. How can we be so sure the downstream impact wont be catastrophic? The lack of federal oversight is glaring: HIPAA excludes genetic testing firms, and state laws vary wildly. Only a handful of stateslike Montana and Californiarequire explicit consent before DNA data is transferred. The stakes are existential. DNA isnt like a credit card number; it cant be reset. If hacked or sold to hostile entities, genetic data could expose individuals (and their relatives) to discrimination, blackmail, or even state-sponsored targeting. This involves significant risks not only for the individual who submits their DNA, but for everyone to whom they are biologically related, warned Emily Tucker of Georgetowns Center on Privacy & Technology. The 2023 breach, which leaked Ashkenazi Jewish users data on dark web forums, proved how easily sensitive information can be leaked and spiral beyond control. Now, with 23andMes survival dependent on a sale, California Attorney General Rob Bonta is urging users to delete their data immediately. But even that process is fraught: The company admits some data may linger indefinitely for compliance reasons. A wake-up call for genetic privacy The 23andMe debacle underscores a disturbing reality: Americans most intimate data is a commodity, not a right. While the company insists it will safeguard information, its track record and the absence of legal safeguards offer little reassurance. For the 15 million who trusted the company with their DNA, the lesson is painfully clear: Once genetic information escapes into the wild, theres no taking it back. In an era where data is power, handing your biology to a corporation isnt just risky; it could be reckless. Sources for this article include: ReclaimTheNet.org FoxBusiness.com NBCNews.com Transhumanism: A Grimoire of Alchemical Agendas unravels the hidden threads linking science, alchemy and human transformation "Transhumanism: A Grimoire of Alchemical Agendas" by Dr. Joseph Farrell and Dr. Scott de Hart explores the deep connections between ancient alchemical traditions and modern scientific endeavors, particularly in genetics and transhumanism, suggesting that contemporary technologies are extensions of ancient practices aimed at transcending human limitations. Central to the text is the concept of the "alchemical re-ascent," a process of returning to a primordial state of unity, symbolized by androgyny. This theme is traced across religious and mythological traditions, reflecting humanity's quest to overcome fragmentation and achieve transcendence. The authors draw parallels between the transhumanist movement's pursuit of technological enhancement (e.g., uploading consciousness) and the ancient alchemical quest for the Philosophers Stone, framing both as attempts to achieve ultimate knowledge and transcendence. The book examines how major religions have co-opted alchemical metaphors for social engineering, creating divisions and manipulating human consciousness. This "Tower of Babel moment" reflects a broader agenda to control humanity's future. Farrell and de Hart raise profound ethical questions about the consequences of the alchemical agenda, urging readers to consider the kind of future they wish to create. They emphasize humanity's role in shaping a transcendent existence while cautioning against the moral dilemmas of such transformations. In "Transhumanism: A Grimoire of Alchemical Agendas," Dr. Joseph Farrell and Dr. Scott de Hart delve into the intricate connections between ancient alchemical traditions, modern science and the transhumanist movement. The book challenges readers to reconsider the foundations of science, religion and the human condition, revealing how ancient wisdom continues to shape contemporary thought and technological ambitions. The authors begin by exploring the alchemical roots of modern science, tracing the influence of Renaissance thinkers like Marsilio Ficino. Ficino's interpretation of Plato's "Symposium" introduces the idea of love as a magical force that binds the universe together. This concept is echoed in Mark Booth's writings, which emphasize the vast, mysterious nature of reality. This perspective suggests that science, like mythology, reflects humanity's deepest desires and beliefs rather than offering an objective truth. Central to the book is the provocative claim that modern scientific endeavors, particularly in genetics and transhumanism, are extensions of ancient alchemical practices. The authors highlight the concept of the "alchemo-vegetable man," a fusion of human and plant characteristics, as an example of this continuity. They draw parallels between ancient rituals, such as the Mayan practice of fertilizing crops with human blood, and modern genetic engineering, where human and plant genes are interwoven. This, they argue, is part of a broader alchemical agenda aimed at transforming humanity into a new, transcendent form. The authors introduce the idea of the "alchemical re-ascent," a process of returning to a primordial state of unity and transcending the limitations of the human form. This vision is deeply tied to the concept of androgyny, which symbolizes the union of male and female principles. They explore this theme across various religious and mythological traditions including Hinduism's "primordial trinity" and the Mayan "Popol Vuh" sacred text, which describes humanity's original state as a masculine-androgynous unity. This unity, the authors argue, was fragmented by the gods due to its perceived threat, reflecting a fear of human potential and consciousness. The book then shifts its focus to the transhumanist movement, which seeks to use technology to enhance human capabilities and achieve a state of "singularity" a merging of human and machine intelligence. Farrell and de Hart draw parallels between this vision and the alchemical quest for the Philosophers Stone, a symbol of ultimate knowledge and power. They examine the work of transhumanist thinkers like Ray Kurzweil who envision a future where humans can upload their consciousness into computers, achieving virtual immortality. However, the authors caution that this pursuit is not merely a technological endeavor but a continuation of ancient alchemical dreams of transcending human limitations. The authors also explore the societal implications of this alchemical agenda, particularly how the "Three Great Yahwisms" Judaism, Christianity and Islam have co-opted alchemical metaphors for social engineering. They argue that these religions have inverted ancient symbols to create a fragmented social order, dividing humanity into competing factions. This "Tower of Babel moment," they suggest, reflects a manipulation of human consciousness and society aimed at controlling humanity's future. In the final sections, Farrell and de Hart contemplate the "alchemical apocalypse," a vision in which the cosmos is transformed into a reflection of human consciousness. While this offers the promise of a transcendent existence, it also raises profound ethical and moral questions about the consequences of such a transformation. The authors emphasize that the alchemical agenda is not just a historical curiosity but a call to action, urging readers to consider the kind of future they wish to create. "Transhumanism: A Grimoire of Alchemical Agendas" is a thought-provoking exploration of the intersection between ancient wisdom and modern science. It challenges readers to reflect on humanity's potential for transformation and the ethical dilemmas posed by technological and alchemical advancements. Ultimately, the book serves as a reminder that we are all participants in the ongoing cosmic drama of creation and transformation, tasked with shaping a future that aligns with our highest ideals. Watch this video about the book "Transhumanism: A Grimoire of Alchemical Agendas" by Dr. Joseph Farrell and Dr. Scott de Hart. This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com HATE TRUMP The sole goal, policy, stance and ideology of the sinking Democrat (Communist) Party and every single (Fascist) Liberal in America The Democratic Party and liberals are driven solely by hatred for Donald Trump, rejecting American values like free speech, religion, and prosperity. It alleges they are brainwashed by media and Obama, leading to violent reactions against Trump supporters. Post-2024 election, the Democratic Party is described as directionless, relying on anger rather than policy, causing voter defections. Polling data suggests working-class, nonwhite, and young votersespecially young menare shifting conservative, signaling a generational realignment. Democrats are accused of supporting a "fascist, communist" police state, with blind loyalty to figures like Obama, Biden, or AOC. The text warns of violent left-wing extremism (e.g., attacks on Trump/Musk supporters) and urges preparedness against government "aggression" and propaganda. The Democrats and Liberals do not want peace, prosperity, security, safety, privacy, free speech, free press, freedom of religion, or anything American at all. They reject everything this country was founded on and all in the name of wait for it hating one white male who supports all of this. Trump. Just saying the word set them all into fits of rage, hate, violence and insanity. Democrats and Liberals are willing to sacrifice everything to express their hatred of Trump. The fake news media complex and Obama brainwashed them all so badly over the past 16 years that they are willing to go to prison just to express their hatred for the guy who actually saved us all from a Communist takeover of this nation. Since the 2024 election, Democrats and Liberals have become even more deranged, if that is even possible Since the 2024 election, the Democratic Party has faced a deepening crisis marked by a lack of clear leadership, messaging, and strategy. Instead of presenting solutions, the party has largely relied on anger and protests, alienating key voter blocs. Liberal outlets like Axios have acknowledged the severity of the problem, with analysts warning of significant demographic shifts away from Democrats. Polling data from Democratic strategist David Shor reveals alarming trends. Working-class, nonwhite, and young votersonce reliable Democratic constituenciesare increasingly defecting. Among immigrants, Shor estimates a 23-point swing against Democrats, with Hispanic conservatives shifting away by 50%. Even more concerning is the rise of conservatism among young voters, particularly men. Shor notes that young people, once the most progressive generation in decades, are now potentially the most conservative in 50 to 60 years. These shifts suggest a fundamental failure in Democratic outreach. Rather than addressing economic or cultural concerns, the party has struggled to offer compelling alternatives, exacerbating its decline. Shors findings highlight a generational realignment, with young voters rejecting progressive policies in favor of conservative idealsa trend that could reshape U.S. politics long-term. Critics argue that Democrats reliance on outrage rather than substantive policy has backfired, leaving them without a coherent vision. Without a course correction, the party risks further erosion of its coalition. The data underscores an urgent need for Democrats to reassess their strategy, reconnect with disillusioned voters, and present a forward-looking agendaor face continued electoral setbacks. As it stands, their inability to adapt threatens their viability in future elections. Most Democrats do not realize they are supporting a fascist, communist lifestyle and police-state. They would put Obama or Biden back in charge in a second if they could. They would put Kamala or Bernie Sanders or even AOC as POTUS if they could right now. They are all so brainwashed by Trump Derangement Syndrome that they are ready to go to prison for acts of violence when they hear the name Trump or Musk. They want to blow up electric vehicles, assault anyone wearing a red hat, and firebomb businesses and homes that display a U.S. flag or Trump sign. Tune your apocalypse dial to preparedness.news for updates on real news about surviving the Democrat-led government aggression, lies, and propaganda that comes at us every day now. Sources for this article include: Censored.news NaturalNews.com TheGatewayPundit.com Heathrow Airport shutdown exposes risk of NET ZERO and shift to green energy A fire at Heathrow's North Hyde substation caused a shutdown, stranding 220,000 passengers and sparking debate over renewable energy reliability for Net Zero goals. MP Richard Tice criticized Heathrow's switch from diesel to biomass backup, calling its failure during the crisis "gross negligence." The incident highlights risks of prioritizing Net Zero over proven systems, as renewable backups proved less reliable in critical infrastructure. Over 1,300 flights were disrupted globally, costing the aviation industry 20 million ($25.84 million) daily, likened to major crises like 9/11. Heathrow admitted its renewable systems supported safety-critical functions but couldn't fully meet energy needs, underscoring challenges in transitioning to renewables. The recent shutdown of Heathrow Airport in the British capital London has sparked a fierce debate about the viability of Net Zero climate goals, with at least one lawmaker pointing his fingers at the airport's shift to renewable energy systems for the fiasco. Richard Tice, Member of Parliament (MP) for the Boston and Skegness constituency, put the blame squarely on this Net Zero climate goal during an interview with GB News. The airport was shut down on March 21, following a fire at the North Hyde electric substation the prior evening. Heathrow's sudden closure left 220,000 passengers stranded and caused global travel chaos. "It appears that Heathrow had changed its backup systems in order to be, wait for it Net Zero compliant. They had got rid of their diesel generators and had moved towards a biomass generator that was designed not to completely replace the grid but work alongside it," said Tice, deputy leader of the Reform UK Party." "Their Net Zero compliant backup system has completely failed in its core function at the first time of asking. We know diesel generators work as backup systems. If this is correct, and I have no reason to believe it's not, they are guilty of gross negligence of the highest order." The incident has raised serious questions about the reliability of green energy infrastructure in critical facilities like airports. Tice's remarks suggest that Heathrow's failure may be a harbinger of more disruptions to come as other airports and industries rush to meet Net Zero targets. The MP's criticism underscores a growing concern that the push for Net Zero is prioritizing ideological goals over practical reliability. Diesel generators, long the industry standard for backup power, are proven to work in emergencies. In contrast, Heathrow's biomass system designed to align with its 2022 Net Zero plan failed to provide the necessary resilience when the substation fire knocked out the main power supply. Heathrow's Net Zero dilemma: Renewable energy vs. reliable infrastructure The fallout from the Heathrow shutdown has been staggering. At least 1,357 flights were canceled, diverted or delayed, with planes rerouted to airports as far away as New York, Mumbai and Amsterdam. The disruption has been compared to the aftermath of 9/11 and the 2010 Icelandic volcanic ash cloud, with aviation consultant John Strickland describing it as a "contained version" of those crises. The financial impact is equally dire, with travel consultancy The PC Agency estimating the cost to the global aviation system at 20 million ($25.84 million) per day. (Related: Here's what will happen if the power grid goes down (plus tips on how to survive).) Heathrow's management has defended its backup systems, stating that they worked "as expected" during the fire. However, the airport acknowledged that its backup generators are designed for safety-critical functions, such as landing planes and evacuating passengers, not for maintaining full operations. "As the busiest airport in Europe, Heathrow uses as much energy as a small city," a spokesperson for the airport said. "Therefore, its not possible to have backup for all of the energy we need to run our operation safely." This admission highlights a fundamental flaw in the Net Zero transition: The inability of renewable energy systems to match the reliability of traditional fossil fuel-based infrastructure. Julian Bray, a leading U.K. aviation expert, expressed astonishment that Heathrow relies on the U.K.'s National Grid rather than maintaining an independent emergency power supply. "It's not as if Heathrow is short of money it has a substantial war chest for building the third runway," Bray noted. The Heathrow debacle serves as a cautionary tale for other airports and industries embracing net zero goals. While the transition to renewable energy is essential for combating climate change, the rush to implement untested systems in critical infrastructure risks catastrophic failures. The stakes are too high, and the consequences too severe, to ignore the lessons of this disaster. Watch this clip about the fire at the North Hyde substation that caused the shutdown of Heathrow Airport. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Green energy failure: UK spends over 1 billion this year to turn off wind farms and start up gas plants. Grid down in San Fran, NYC and LA what happens when ALL major cities lose power? 90% of Puerto Rico plunged into darkness on New Year's Eve. Sources include: WattsUpWithThat.com DailySceptic.org DailyMail.co.uk Brighteon.com JFK, RFK, MLK, Epstein. It was the freaking CIA. Shut. It. Down. So, it was the CIA, along with Johnson, assorted bad actors from the Cuban community in Florida, the Silver-boy Texans, and the freaking Joint Chiefs of Staff. And the Bushes? Yes? No? Bush Sr. is suspected to have coordinated the hit, and thought to have been involved with the CIA since Yale. The shadows are deep, and as yet unplumbed. (Article by Elizabeth Nickson republished from ElizabethNickson.Substack.com) Heres Grok on the specific subject of the assassination. No human has had time to go through all 83,000 pages and summarize. Not yet. Not possible. Therefore: Jeff Childers, my morning must-read, summarizes the CIAs activities in the rest of the world: Calling the disclosures remarkable, the Times described how, collectively, the newly unredacted documents described CIA malfeasance on a global scale, including coups and election interference (!). For example, another now-unredacted 1967 report by the CIAs inspector general disclosed the agencys 1961 assassination of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo including the names of all the CIA agents involved in the plot. Other documents revealed CIA efforts to interfere in elections in Finland, Peru and Somalia, which had previously been relegated to conspiracy theory status, or were even entirely unknown before now. There was also new information about CIAs involvement in failed and successful coups in a devils inventory of countries, including Brazil, Haiti (!), and what is now Guyana. The CIA has been meddling in the whole world. Absurdistan is still on break for another week, but this evil, which reaches deep into our culture, needs comment, as in lets not give up now, go further. By the way, many thanks for the flood of paid subscriptions and the wonderful notes of appreciation last week. I was floored by it, it shot me into another world, a world where I can fund my own reporting and travel. I cannot think of anything I want more. We cant rest on this. But what they have done is far worse than destabilizing us, stunting us, ruining our integrity, stealing our wealth. To hide their crimes, they have built a substructure of hatred, destruction and decadence, that reaches into every industry, Their propaganda machine, frankly admitted to by Mossad, has tried to twist the culture into one of predation and evil, and they themselves, the operatives at the center of this, have almost destroyed our humanity. And clearly, they were beginning to kill us off. Mass poisoning was on their agenda for Cuba, why not uppity populist us. Was Covid Operation Mongoose? When I was researching The Monkey Puzzle Tree, I went to D.C. and called down the files on MKUltra in the National Archives. There were five boxes and I went through all of them in a week. Most of the pages had blackouts, some were entirely blacked out but heres the lesson. Given what we know now about MKUltra, the documentation housed under MKUltra in the National Archives was 10% of 10% of what Dulles had wrought. What wasnt in the JFK files? One chapter of Whitney Webbs One Nation Under Blackmail, sticks in my mind and I cannot get it out. She suggests a collaboration between Epsteins billionaire patron, Victorias Secret owner, Leslie Wexner with CIA drugs/human trafficking flights out of Wexners locale near Columbus, Ohio. Epstein victims describe the tunnels under 336 acre Wexners estate as the pits of hell. Wexner had been a notorious gay predator in Chicago, and his success..well, it gave him access to the most beautiful, young ambitious foolish women. From what I can gather about the sexual proclivities of the Diddy/Epstein adjacent, their sexuality becomes so inflamed, they become ambisexual and need more and more stimulation, more perversion, more violence with every encounter. Did the CIA know that about people, and use it ruthlessly? I think so. Where are the Epstein files? Why is the Diddy prosecution being slow-walked? Is it because the Obamas are involved? The rumours about Big Mike are persistent and victims of the Diddy parties say that the whole world will reel when they find out who was involved. From a friend, Elizabeth Hodgson on email: (She writes the hilarious, trenchant No, Srsly on Substack) What if all were revealed about Hollywood? What if people discovered the truth of what happened to the two Corey's or Will Smith or Justin Bieber? What if they found out what happened to the Olson twins and all the 70s and 80s child actors. Hollywood would cease to exist. No more pools or Bentleys or private schools. No more Vail chalets. The Hollywood sign would burst into flames. Exactly. And what if that child predation wasnt only at the heights of the culture, like this daughter of the Gucci Empire, sent by Ginger Breggin, also of Substack. Hers is a reasoned, calm, jaccuse from an educated, cultivated young woman, without any of the ticks, as Ginger says, of the mal-used. There are so many personal testimonies about this dark place, but the story also attracts gadflies with emotional problems, those ancillary involved looking for significance, and no doubt, frauds. The Gucci daughters testimony is unassailable and speaks to that skein at the top that runs the disgusting show, and who traffick on a scale unimaginable. Read more at: ElizabethNickson.Substack.com Khamenei warns U.S. will face severe blow if Iran attacked amid rising tensions Irans Supreme Leader Khamenei warns the U.S. that military aggression will trigger a "severe and crushing blow." Tensions escalate as Trump threatens strikes on Irans nuclear facilities if negotiations fail. Khamenei rejects U.S. ultimatums, citing Trumps past withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal. Iran refuses to negotiate under sanctions, with military leaders vowing a "devastating reaction" to any attack. Experts warn of regional conflict as U.S. and Israel coordinate potential strikes on Iran. In a fiery address marking the Persian New Year, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a warning to the United States: Any military aggression against Tehran will be met with a "severe and crushing blow." The threat was a direct response to President Donald Trump's recent warnings of potential strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities if negotiations fail. The escalating rhetoric has raised fears of renewed conflict in the Middle East, with Iran refusing to negotiate under pressure and the U.S. signaling readiness for military action. Khamenei's speech, broadcast live from Tehran, dismissed Trump's claims that Iran controls Yemen's Houthi rebels, framing the group as an independent resistance movement rather than an Iranian proxy. "Why do you label them as proxies?" Khamenei challenged. "The people of Yemen and the Resistance centers in the region have an inner motive to stand against the Zionists." His remarks came just days after Trump vowed on Truth Social to retaliate with "great force" against any Houthi attacks, blaming Iran for the group's actions. A rejection of U.S. ultimatums The tension stems from Trump's recent letter to Khamenei, demanding Iran agree to a new nuclear deal within two months or face military consequences. According to Axios, failure to comply could trigger U.S. or Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear sites. But Khamenei dismissed the ultimatum, citing Trump's 2018 withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). "This same person tore up the JCPOA," he said. "How can we negotiate with this person? When we know they will not keep their word, what's the point?" Iranian officials have repeatedly stated they will not negotiate under sanctions or threats. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed Tehran would respond to Trump's letter but emphasized that its contents included both "threats and opportunities." Meanwhile, Major General Hossein Salami, commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, vowed a "devastating reaction" to any attack. The diplomatic impasse highlights a fundamental mistrust between the two nations. During his first term, Trump unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal despite international verification that Iran was complying with its terms. Now back in office, Trump has reimposed his "maximum pressure" sanctions campaign while simultaneously demanding new negotiationsa contradiction Iranian leadership finds impossible to reconcile. "The US must know that when facing Iran, threats will never achieve anything," Khamenei declared in his Nowruz address, highlighting Tehran's unwavering stance against what it perceives as American bullying tactics. "The Americans should know that they will receive a severe slap in the face if they commit any evil act against the Iranian people." Regional escalation looms The standoff has intensified concerns over broader conflict. The Pentagon is reportedly updating war plans for Iran, and top U.S. and Israeli officials are coordinating responses should diplomacy collapse. Experts warn that a miscalculation could spark regional violence, particularly given Israel's longstanding threats to strike Iranian nuclear facilities. Khamenei's insistence on Yemeni autonomy further complicates U.S. strategy. While Washington frames the Houthis as Iranian proxies, analysts note the group's actions are largely driven by local grievances. Still, Trump's administration has linked any Houthi aggression directly to Tehran, raising the stakes for potential retaliation. The situation represents the most significant military buildup in the Middle East since Trump returned to the White House in January. U.S. intelligence reports suggest Israel is also "strongly considering" strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities that could come this year, adding another volatile element to an already precarious situation. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is strictly peaceful, aligned with a religious fatwa against weapons of mass destruction, and compliant with its obligations as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. However, Western powers remain skeptical of Tehran's intentions, pointing to its uranium enrichment activities beyond the levels needed for civilian purposes. A dangerous stalemate Khamenei's defiance and Trump's brinkmanship leave little room for compromise, with both leaders seemingly convinced that threats will force the other to back down. With Iran dismissing negotiations under threat and the U.S. unwilling to lift sanctions without concessions, diplomatic channels appear increasingly constrained. Regional allies and adversaries are closely monitoring developments, aware that any military confrontation between the U.S. and Iran would likely draw in neighboring countries and disrupt global energy markets. With such uncompromising positions on both sides, the margin for error continues to shrinkand with it, hopes for a peaceful resolution to this dangerous impasse. Sources for this article include: News.Antiwar.com TheCradle.co MiddleEastMonitor.com Reuters.com Spains workforce crisis: Over 70% of new jobs go to foreign workers as young Spaniards flee abroad, study reveals Over 70 percent of jobs created in Spain between 2019 and 2024 have gone to foreign workers, who now make up 20.7 percent of the workforce, primarily in low-skill sectors like construction and hospitality. Meanwhile, young Spaniards face rising unemployment and emigration. Highly skilled Spanish professionals, including doctors and engineers, are leaving the country for better opportunities abroad, while low-skilled foreign workers fill labor gaps, raising concerns about Spain's long-term economic growth. The Spanish workforce is aging, with workers over 50 increasing by five percentage points, while younger Spaniards (30-44) lost 634,000 jobs. Youth unemployment remains a critical issue, with many young people leaving the labor force or emigrating. In 2022, 220,443 people left Spain, the highest number since 2013, with the majority aged 25-39. This demographic represents the future workforce, exacerbating concerns about Spain's economic and demographic stability. Similar patterns are emerging in other Western nations, where low-skilled migrant labor is driving down wages and increasing housing costs, disadvantaging native-born workers. In the U.S., foreign-born workers have gained millions of jobs while native-born employment has stagnated or declined. A recent Foundation for Applied Economic Studies (Fedea) study has revealed that over 70 percent of jobs created between 2019 and 2024 have gone to foreign workers, while young Spaniards are increasingly pushed out of the workforce or leaving the country altogether. According to the study, foreigners now account for 20.7 percent of all workers in Spain, with the majority employed in low-skill sectors such as construction, hospitality and elementary occupations. Meanwhile, highly skilled Spanish professionals, including doctors and engineers, are leaving the country in search of better opportunities abroad. Moreover, the number of workers over the age of 50 has increased by five percentage points in the last five years, younger Spaniards who are struggling to find stable employment, now accounting for 35 percent of the workforce. In the 30 to 44 age group, 634,000 jobs were lost over the same period. Meanwhile, workers aged 45 to 49 saw only a modest increase of 70,000 jobs. Meaning, youth unemployment, a long-standing issue in Spain, has worsened in recent years. Many young Spaniards are either dropping out of the labor force entirely or emigrating to other countries in search of better prospects. Migration outflow data from the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INE) shows that 220,443 people left Spain in the first half of 2022, the highest figure since 2013, during the peak of the country's financial crisis. (Related: Spain's Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz wants to legalize residency status of 500K illegals.) The majority of those leaving were aged 25 to 39, a demographic that represents the future of Spain's workforce. "We are importing waiters and bricklayers while exporting doctors and engineers, which is a tragedy because we have spent a fortune training them and they represent the great talent on which the countrys growth and the concentration of high-value-added companies depend," said Jesus Vega, former Director of Human Resources at Inditex and Banco Santander, in an interview with El Debate. Furthermore, Vega that the labor policies of Spain "are driving away those salaries that truly contribute to the country." Influx of low-skilled migrants emerges across Western nations Similar patterns are emerging across Western nations, where an influx of low-skilled migrants has contributed to downward pressure on wages. In many instances, this surge in foreign workers has also fueled rising housing costs, making it increasingly difficult for native-born young people to afford homes. In countries such as the U.S. and Canada, this trend has been particularly pronounced, with millions of jobs shifting to foreign workers, often at the expense of native-born citizens. The BLS reported that in January, over a million, or 1,045,000 to be precise, foreign-born workers found a job (and as Standard Chartered explained last June, this is largely illegal or "undocumented" aliens) compared to only 8,000 native-born workers. This means that while the number of record foreign-born (largely illegal alien) workers, at 31.774 million has increased for another month, the number of native-born workers remains unchanged over the past six years, still below levels last hit in 2019, just before the COVID crisis. "This also means that since July 2018, the U.S. labor force has added 4.6 million foreign-born workers, while the number of native-born workers has declined by nearly 700K," Tyler Durden wrote for ZeroHedge in February. Additionally, corporate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have been criticized for disproportionately disadvantaging White males, further intensifying these dynamics. Watch this video when hundreds were arrested in Europe after foreigners lash out on New Year's Eve. This video is from the TNTVNEWS channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Spain and Ireland REJECT calls by Israel to accept Palestinian refugees. Spain cancels $6.48M arms deal with Israeli defense company amid ongoing IDF violence inflicted upon Gazans. Trump: America has become a DUMPING GROUND for the prison populations of other nations under open borders Biden-Harris administration. REPORT: Biden-Harris "deportation program" lets nearly 90% of illegal immigrant families STAY in the U.S. Biden administration speeding up citizenship request processing to bolster Democratic voter base ahead of election. Sources include: RMX.news ZeroHedge.com Brighteon.com UAEs $1.4 trillion bet on America: A strategic win for Trumps economic vision The UAE has pledged $1.4 trillion to the U.S. economy over the next decade one of the largest foreign investment commitments in American history bolstering sectors like AI, semiconductors, energy and manufacturing. The deal signals the UAEs geopolitical alignment with the U.S. under Trumps leadership, countering global tensions with China and Russia while diversifying the Gulf nations oil-dependent economy. Major projects include $25 billion for energy/data infrastructure, expansion in natural gas and low-carbon solutions, and a domestic aluminum production boost to strengthen supply chains. The investment reflects confidence in Trumps pro-growth policies (deregulation, tax incentives) and reinforces the "America First" agenda by prioritizing domestic job creation and industrial growth. The timing underscores U.S. economic competitiveness against Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, positioning America as the top destination for foreign investment despite some undisclosed deal terms. In a landmark announcement that underscores the deepening economic alliance between the United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the White House revealed Friday that the Gulf nation has committed to a staggering $1.4 trillion investment in the U.S. economy over the next decade. The deal, brokered during high-level meetings between President Donald Trump and UAE National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, marks one of the largest foreign investment pledges in American historyand a resounding validation of Trumps pro-growth policies. The UAEs massive financial injection will target critical sectors, including AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy and domestic manufacturing, reinforcing Americas industrial base and technological edge. While the Trump administration has disclosed key components of the agreement, some details remain undisclosed a move likely to fuel speculation about further strategic collaborations. A strategic partnership rooted in mutual interest The UAEs commitment is not merely an economic windfall; its a geopolitical statement. Historically, Gulf nations have funneled vast sums into Western markets to diversify their oil-dependent economies and secure long-term influence. However, this latest investment signals a deliberate alignment with the United States particularly under Trumps leadership amid rising global tensions with China and Russia. These significant investments underscore the close ties between the United States and the United Arab Emirates, the White House declared in its official statement. The sentiment was echoed by Sheikh Tahnoon, who praised President Donald Trumps leadership and economic policies, noting their significant role in stimulating foreign direct investment and fostering robust economic partnerships. The UAEs confidence in the U.S. economy is no accident. Since Trumps return to the White House in 2025, his administration has aggressively pursued deregulation, tax incentives and energy independence policies that have reinvigorated foreign investor confidence. Key investments fueling American growth Among the most notable deals under the $1.4 trillion framework: $25 billion for energy and data infrastructure: UAE investment fund ADQ, alongside U.S. firm Energy Capital Partners, will pour capital into energy projects and data centers, bolstering Americas digital and power grids. UAE investment fund ADQ, alongside U.S. firm Energy Capital Partners, will pour capital into energy projects and data centers, bolstering Americas digital and power grids. Expansion in natural gas and low-carbon solutions: XRG, the investment arm of UAE state oil giant ADNOC, will back U.S. natural gas production and exports, including a major stake in Texas NextDecade LNG facility. The firm also plans investments in gas, chemicals, energy infrastructure and low-carbon solutions. XRG, the investment arm of UAE state oil giant ADNOC, will back U.S. natural gas production and exports, including a major stake in Texas NextDecade LNG facility. The firm also plans investments in gas, chemicals, energy infrastructure and low-carbon solutions. Domestic aluminum production boost: Emirates Global Aluminum will finance a new U.S. smelter, potentially doubling domestic aluminum output a critical move for both defense and manufacturing supply chains. Additionally, Emirati billionaire Hussain Sajwani has pledged $20 billion for data centers across the Midwest and Sunbelt, targeting states like Arizona, Texas and Ohio regions that have thrived under Trumps economic policies. Why this deal matters now The timing of this announcement is significant. With China aggressively expanding its global influence through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative, the UAEs pivot toward the U.S. sends a clear message: America remains the worlds most reliable economic partner. Moreover, the investment aligns with Trumps long-standing America First agenda. By channeling foreign capital into domestic industries rather than allowing it to flow overseas, the administration ensures that American workers and businesses reap the benefits. Critics may question the lack of full transparency regarding all aspects of the deal, but supporters argue that strategic discretion is necessary in high-stakes diplomacy. As Trump noted on Truth Social, the discussions with UAE leaders focused on the advancing of our economic and technological futures a vision that appears to be materializing at an unprecedented scale. Conclusion: A win for American prosperity The UAEs $1.4 trillion commitment is more than just an economic boost its a testament to the success of Trumps pro-business, pro-growth leadership. In an era of global uncertainty, this partnership reaffirms Americas position as the worlds premier destination for investment and innovation. As the details of these deals unfold, one thing is certain: The Trump administrations economic strategy is paying off big time. Sources include: Antiwar.com CNBC.com TheHill.com Arkansas embraces medical freedom with landmark ivermectin law Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a law allowing residents to buy ivermectin without a prescription. The law challenges federal health authorities who opposed ivermectin for COVID-19 despite some evidence of benefits. Pharmacies can now sell human-grade ivermectin over the counter, bypassing doctor approval. Supporters argue the law empowers patient choice, citing early pandemic dismissal of ivermectin by federal agencies. West Virginia and other states may follow, signaling growing distrust of federal health mandates. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed Senate Bill 189 into law this week, allowing residents to purchase ivermectin without a prescription. The decision marks a direct challenge to federal health authorities who have long discouraged the drugs use for COVID-19 despite mounting evidence of its potential benefits. With West Virginia now considering similar legislation, the debate over ivermectins role in pandemic treatment is reigniting, alongside criticism of the Biden administrations handling of early therapeutic options. The new law, which takes effect 90 days after the legislature adjourns, permits pharmacies in the state to sell human-grade ivermectin over the counter, bypassing the need for a doctors approval. Supporters argue that the move empowers individuals to make their own healthcare choices a principle they say was trampled during the pandemic when federal agencies like the FDA and NIH dismissed ivermectin despite promising studies. A big victory for patient choice Ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug with decades of safe use in humans backing it, became a lightning rod for controversy during COVID-19. While the FDA famously warned Americans not to take a "horse dewormer" (a misleading characterization, as ivermectin has FDA-approved human formulations), physicians worldwide reported success using it off-label. Arkansass law now codifies access to the drug, a move backers say could have saved lives had it been implemented earlier. I am happy that Gov. Sanders signed SB189, giving people the choice to use ivermectin, said Brock Thompson, who helped draft the bill. "We don't know what the future holds for the human drug, but to me it validates the doctors that were demonized for using it." State Sen. Alan Clark echoed the sentiment, praising the bipartisan support for the bill as a win for medical autonomy. During the pandemic, the Biden administration and health officials repeatedly downplayed ivermectin, even as studies suggested its efficacy. A 2023 UK clinical trial found ivermectin recipients recovered from COVID-19 two days faster than those receiving standard care, with fewer hospitalizations. Yet the studys authors controversially dismissed the results as not clinically significant a conclusion that critics like Dr. Pierre Kory of the FLCCC Alliance called statistical chicanery. PRINCIPLE was a profoundly positive study that was instead analyzed and written up as a negative one, Kory argued, noting that the FDAs hostility toward repurposed drugs like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine left Americans with fewer early-treatment options. Meanwhile, states like West Virginia are now advancing their own bills to loosen ivermectin restrictions, signaling growing distrust of federal health mandates. Arkansass law reflects a broader movement to decentralize healthcare decisions from Washington bureaucracies. While opponents warn of potential misuse, proponents stress that adults should have the right to weigh risks, just as they do with over-the-counter painkillers or supplements. As the ivermectin debate continues, Arkansas has clearly sided with medical freedom, offering a model for other states to follow. Had such policies been in place during the pandemics darkest days, countless lives might have been spared the toll of federal obstruction. For now, the message to patients is simple: You, not the government, should control your treatment choices. In an era of polarized science, Arkansass law is a reminder that medical autonomy matters and that skepticism of top-down health mandates is far from fringe. As West Virginia weighs similar action, the fight for ivermectin access may just be beginning. Sources for this article include: KATV.com TheEpochTimes.com WestVirginiaWatch.com It has been a while since Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz has held a town hall meeting, and he has never held one in reliably red Concord, where Republican voters vastly outnumber Democrats. But there he was this week, taking questions, promoting his agenda and answering his critics. What we often hear is like, Oh, you guys dont do anything for us down in the Southtowns, Poloncarz said. We do a lot. We do a lot investing in projects, and Im not just talking about roads. Many of the more than 100 people mostly seniors who attended the meeting Tuesday night in the Concord Senior Center gave Poloncarz a respectful and generally kind reception. Only about a dozen asked questions, a majority of which mostly focused on issues like roads, hospitals and parks. Poloncarz vetoes law allowing children ages 12 and 13 to hunt deer with guns The Erie County executive said there was an "inherent danger" in allowing children 12 and 13 years old to shoot deer with a firearm or crossbow. However, Poloncarz did face some critical questions about controversial decisions regarding his veto of a law allowing supervised adolescents to hunt deer with firearms; his willingness to welcome asylum-seekers who crossed the border illegally to be bused to Erie County from New York City; and the countys initial memo now being withdrawn prohibiting fired state correction officers from accepting local government employment. The fact that Poloncarz chose to hold his meeting in a heavily Republican community led to speculation that he might be campaigning for something, given his previous statements that he will not run for another term as county executive. The Buffalo News asked if he had any interest in any political office or judgeship. He said he was happy where he was. Its influential, he said. Its the largest government in all of Western New York, and Im not just talking about the population of our employees or the budget, but it has the most impact of any other government. So I enjoy it. If an opportunity arose, Id certainly consider it, but right now, Im pretty happy. Not campaigning He reiterated that he has no intention of running for re-election as county executive, even though he believes he would win easily. He said he intends to finish his term and would consider other positions, such as Buffalo mayor or state senator, to be a step down. He did note that he has been recently elected as vice chairman of the National Democratic County Officials, which would put him in line for chairmanship. But he cannot hold that position unless he is serving in his current job, he said. 'Difficult in every way possible': Poloncarz reflects on Covid crisis Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz's public profile skyrocketed during the crisis, for better and for worse. Five years since the county confirmed its first three cases of Covid, Poloncarz reflected on all that transpired back then. County Legislator Lindsay Lorigo, R-West Seneca, who represents Concord, speculated that he may have noticed other high-profile Democrats doing similar town halls in largely red districts and chose to follow suit. But she criticized the meeting as having few real opportunities for residents to engage in a back-and-forth with Poloncarz. Speakers were limited to a two-minute question or statement, and follow-ups were not allowed. That was a telling session, she said. That wasnt a listening session. Concord Town Supervisor Philip Drozd, who used to work for the county under four different county executives, said he wasnt surprised at Poloncarzs generally positive reception, because most people care less about political labels in the town, and more about fundamental community issues. Thats good government, he said. Making his case Poloncarz opened the meeting with a slide presentation showing how the county has allocated $178 million in American Rescue Plan funds for a variety of countywide infrastructure, building, parks and broadband projects. He devoted another dozen slides highlighting specific ways that county investment has benefited the Springville/Concord area and the surrounding Southtowns. The slides included images of upgrades made with county money to local parks, streetscape programs, waterline projects, local storefronts, various historical societies and the Springville Center for the Arts. Then, Poloncarz transitioned to slides highlighting how that federal grant money for federal programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, housing for the mentally ill and Social Security may be in danger of being cut, based on the funding directives laid out by President Trumps administration, and the impact on local residents. What theyre doing is not going after waste, fraud and abuse, he said. Theyre going after the core programs, to basically give a tax break to the wealthiest Americans, and thats not right, because were all going to pay for it. Several federal grants have already been blocked by the federal government, including one that has led to a lawsuit by the administration for the restoration of funding to an AmeriCorps-supported volunteer program for senior citizens. He also criticized the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, noting a 13% reduction in vehicle crossings from Canada to the United States, and a decline in Erie County sales tax revenue, which he said are related to decisions by Canadians not to cross the border and spend money in Western New York. Facing critical questions Directive to ban fired corrections officers from future county employment is 'paused' In a news release issued Thursday, Erie County Personnel Commissioner Brian Bray said because of pending lawsuits, the county's previous memo on its "Disqualification Policy" was "temporarily paused," until the issue is taken up by the courts. Of those who asked questions critical of Poloncarz and his administration, the ones that garnered the most audience support were questions critical of the administrations response to the recent wildcat strike by state correction officers, particularly the initial memo from the county personnel commissioner saying that no fired state correction officer could be considered for employment, pursuant to state law. Many audience members applauded the criticism. Some also applauded a speaker upset that the county supported asylum-seekers, who crossed the border illegally and were bused to Cheektowaga from New York City. No direct county money was paid to house any of them, though some tangential expenses were incurred. Some also referred to the heavy toll residents paid during the Covid-19 shutdowns. The last speaker, Peter Harding, who entered the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, riots and attempted to light some media equipment on fire, received some derisive laughter and jeers from audience members when he accused Poloncarz of being investigated for your crimes committed during Covid, and a conspiracy-laden accusation about forced Covid treatments, among other criticisms he made under the umbrella of offering a prayer for Poloncarzs victims. He received a smattering of applause as he walked away. When Poloncarz thanked him for the prayers, Harding responded, You really need it. Make sure you keep carrying that Constitution around. Actually, Poloncarz responded, reaching into the pocket of his suit jacket and pulling out a copy, Im glad you said that, Peter, because I do. Harding then called out that he would talk with Poloncarz later. He did not get that opportunity because two sheriffs deputies and a staffer at the event flanked him when he tried to approach and encouraged him to leave. Bipartisan group of California lawmakers takes aim at ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS in school meals A bipartisan group of California lawmakers introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 1264 on March 19, aiming to phase out ultra-processed foods (UPFs) like pizza, chips and sugary drinks from public school meals by 2032. The bill, led by Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel (D-District 46), addresses concerns about the impact of these foods on childrens physical and mental health. These foods packed with chemical additives and high-fructose corn syrup are linked to obesity, diabetes, heart disease and mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Research shows they are engineered to be addictive, particularly harmful to childrens developing brains. The bill directs California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, in collaboration with University of California experts, to identify harmful ultra-processed foods containing banned or restricted additives. These foods would be phased out starting in 2028, with a complete ban by 2032. The bill has bipartisan backing, with Republican Leader James Gallagher (R-District 3) and Progressive Caucus Chair Alex Lee (D-District 24) as co-authors. California already provides free breakfast and lunch to K-12 students, but the quality of meals varies, with some schools still serving unhealthy options like Domino's pizza. Critics argue the bill could limit food choices and exacerbate health disparities, while proponents emphasize the urgent need to address childhood obesity and addiction to unhealthy foods. The bill aims to set a new standard for school nutrition, prioritizing fresh, minimally processed ingredients and potentially inspiring nationwide change. California is once again at the forefront of a national conversation, this time targeting the food served in public schools. A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 1264 on March 19, aiming to phase out ultra-processed foods (UPFs) such as pizza, chips and sugary drinks from school meals by 2032. The bill, spearheaded by Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel (D-District 46), seeks to address the growing concerns about the impact of these foods on childrens physical and mental health. UPFs are not your average snacks or meals; they are engineered products packed with chemical additives, high-fructose corn syrup and other ingredients rarely found in home kitchens. These foods are designed to be addictive, making it difficult for children (and adults) to stop eating them, even when they know theyre unhealthy. Research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has linked these foods to a host of health problems including obesity, diabetes, heart disease and even mental health issues like anxiety and depression. (Related: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. directs FDA to tighten food ingredient safety rules.) The proposed legislation would direct Californias Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, in collaboration with experts from the University of California, to identify the most harmful ultra-processed foods. These are the products that contain additives banned or restricted in other countries, or those linked to serious health risks like cancer, developmental harm, or food addiction. Once identified, these foods would be phased out of school meals starting in 2028, with a complete ban by 2032. AB 1264 sets new standard for school nutrition What makes this bill unique is its bipartisan support. Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (R-District 3) and Progressive Caucus Chair Alex Lee (D-District 24) are among the co-authors, proving that when it comes to childrens health, party lines can be crossed. Gallagher emphasized the urgency of the issue, pointing to the obesity epidemic among children and the need for schools to provide healthier options. The push for healthier school meals is not new in California. The state already guarantees free breakfast and lunch for all K-12 public school students, serving about one billion meals annually. However, the quality of those meals has come under scrutiny. While some schools have made strideslike the Morgan Hill Unified School District, which reduced sugar intake by 34 pounds per student last yearothers still serve items like Dominos pizza, much to the dismay of health-conscious parents. Critics of the bill, including the Consumer Brands Association, argue that restricting ultra-processed foods could limit choice and exacerbate health disparities. However, proponents of the bill counter that the health risks far outweigh these concerns. Dr. Ashley Gearhardt, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan, has studied the addictive nature of UPFs. She explains that these products hijack the brain's reward system, making it difficult for people to stop eating them. This is especially concerning for children, whose developing brains are more susceptible to addiction. The stakes are high. Without intervention, experts predict that nearly three out of five children in the U.S. will be obese by the time they reach 35. Gabriel, who has already championed two landmark food safety laws in California, believes this bill is a critical step toward protecting children's health. Watch this clip from Fox News about Robert F. Kennedy Jr. assuming the role of health secretary and chairman of the Make America Healthy Again Commission. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Attention RFK Jr. and Trump: A great start to MAHA HEAVILY TAX canola oil, aspartame, MSG and high fructose corn syrup so junk food becomes expensive. Junk food is a cheap drug: Research explores the link between income, obesity, and psychological distress. Junk food triggers a type of addiction that unleashes withdrawal symptoms when you try to quit. Sources include: EpochTimes.com NBCNews.com ABC7News.com Brighteon.com Cartels shift tactics: Kidnappings and organ trafficking surge as border crossings plummet under Trump policies Mexican cartels are moving from migrant smuggling to kidnapping American children for organ harvesting and human trafficking, per counter-trafficking expert Pete Chambers. Cartels exploit domestic security gaps, with Houston now the top U.S. city for child abductions; victims are often shipped overseas in refrigerated containers, many dying en route. Children aged 25 are targeted for their organs, while trafficking networks use "sponsor families" as fronts; recent cases include containers of children sent to North Africa. Strict border policies reduce smuggling but fail to address root causes like drug addiction and black-market demand, allowing cartels to pivot to more violent revenue streams. Chambers emphasizes that defeating cartels requires curbing greed and demand, alongside faith-based and tactical efforts, as "evil never satiates itself" without systemic change. With illegal border crossings down by over 99%, Mexican cartels are pivoting to darker, more brutal revenue streamsincluding kidnapping American children for organ harvesting and human trafficking. According to counter-trafficking operative Pete Chambers, a former Green Beret and founder of the Remnant Ministry of Texas, cartels are exploiting gaps in domestic security, shipping missing children overseas in refrigerated containers. In an exclusive interview with Brighteon.com, Chambers revealed harrowing details of cartel operations shifting from migrant smuggling to high-profit criminal enterprises. Were seeing an increase in drive-by kidnappings, especially in Houstonnow the number one city in the U.S. for child abductions, Chambers said. These kids vanish into the shadows, often ending up in shipping containers bound for Africa or other destinations. From Coyote Fees to Organ Markets For years, cartels relied on coyote feescharging migrants up to $40,000 per person to cross the border. But with Trump-era policies drastically reducing illegal entries, Chambers warns that cartels are turning to more sinister alternatives: Organ Harvesting : Intelligence sources report children between ages 2-5 are being targeted for their organs, believed to be healthier than those from third-world nations. : Intelligence sources report children between ages 2-5 are being targeted for their organs, believed to be healthier than those from third-world nations. Domestic Trafficking Rings : Chambers team uncovered a Houston-based operation where 119 children were held under five sponsor familiesa front for trafficking networks. : Chambers team uncovered a Houston-based operation where 119 children were held under five sponsor familiesa front for trafficking networks. International Shipments: A recent tip revealed a container of children shipped from Charleston, South Carolina, to North Africa. Few survived the journey. The Demand-Side Crisis While militarized border policies have disrupted smuggling routes, experts warn that without addressing root causesdrug addiction, corruption, and demand for illicit goodscartels will only grow more violent. You can bomb buildings, but you cant bomb greed, Chambers said. If Americans stop buying fentanyl, stop fueling the black market, cartels lose power. A Spiritual Battle Chambers, who blends counter-trafficking operations with faith-based outreach, argues that the crisis is as much spiritual as it is tactical. Evil never satiates itself. We need a revolution of the heartnot just more drones on the border. As cartels adapt, the question remains: Will America confront its own complicity in fueling these criminal empires, or will the violence escalate further? For now, the missing childrenand the cartels profiting from their sufferingremain in the shadows. Watch the full episode of the "Health Ranger Report" with Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, and Doc Pete Chambers as they discuss kidnappings and organ trafficking surge as border crossings plummet under Trump policies. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Border crossings DROP BY 94% under Trumps tough immigration policies Bidens new executive order FAILS to stop border crossings San Diego Border Patrol chief: Trumps troop deployments have transformed BORDER SECURITY Sources include: Brighteon.com Theremnantministrytx.org U.S. takes hard line against Chinas military-tech complex with new export blacklist The Trump administration has blacklisted 80 foreign companies, including Chinas Inspur Group subsidiaries, for aiding Beijings military-industrial complex. Targets of the blacklist include firms that are developing supercomputers, hypersonic weapons, and AI for Chinas military, cutting off access to U.S. tech. China condemns the move, calling it politicized trade, while analysts see it as a blow to its tech-acquisition strategy. New restrictions block U.S. firms from selling advanced semiconductors and dual-use tech to the blacklisted companies without strict licenses. The U.S. aims to curb Chinas military-tech pipeline, reinforcing efforts to prevent the exploitation of American innovation for hostile purposes. The Trump administration escalated its campaign to safeguard Americas technological edge and national security this week, blacklisting 80 foreign companies, including subsidiaries of Chinas Inspur Group, for aiding Beijings military-industrial complex. The move, which was announced on Tuesday by the Commerce Department, targets dozens of entities that have been accused of diverting U.S. technology to develop supercomputers, hypersonic weapons, and advanced AI for the Chinese military. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick vowed that the U.S. would not allow adversaries to "exploit American technology to bolster their own militaries and threaten American lives." Chinas predictable objections denouncing the blacklist as politicizing trade only underscore its frustration at being cut off from critical U.S. innovations. The crackdown signals Washingtons resolve to choke off Beijings strategy of stealing or coercively acquiring Western tech to fuel its aggressive military modernization. Targeting Chinas military-tech pipeline The blacklist includes six subsidiaries of Inspur Group, a Chinese cloud computing giant that has already been restricted since 2023 for its ties to the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). The new additions were cited for developing supercomputers to advance Chinas hypersonic missile program and AI-driven warfare capabilities. More than 50 of the listed firms are based in China, with others in Iran, Pakistan, and the UAE all flagged for aiding hostile weapons programs. Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Jeffrey Kessler said BIS is sending a clear, resounding message that the Trump administration will work tirelessly to safeguard our national security by preventing U.S. technologies and goods from being misused for high performance computing, hypersonic missiles, military aircraft training, and UAVs that threaten our national security. The restrictions block U.S. firms from selling goods to blacklisted companies without near-impossible-to-obtain licenses, crippling their access to cutting-edge semiconductors and other dual-use technologies. Chinas defiant response Beijing condemned the move as a violation of international law, with its embassy in Washington accusing the U.S. of weaponizing trade issues. The Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence, another blacklisted entity, called its inclusion shocking and baseless. Yet analysts note such protests are routine when Chinas tech-acquisition pipelines are disrupted. Past blacklistings have forced Chinese firms like Huawei to scramble for domestic alternatives, slowing their progress. Protecting American innovation The administrations latest action builds on years of efforts to curb Chinas predatory practices, from intellectual property theft to forced technology transfers. Inspurs inclusion in 2023 already rattled U.S. chipmakers like AMD and Nvidia, which faced scrutiny over their dealings with the firm. While neither company has commented yet this week, industry insiders suggest the blacklist will further deter risky partnerships. With Chinas military ambitions showing no signs of slowing, the U.S. appears determined to keep its most critical innovations out of reach. As tensions between Washington and Beijing simmer, the Trump administrations latest blacklist reinforces a clear message: America will no longer subsidize its own technological eclipse. By cutting off Chinas access to dual-use advancements, the U.S. isnt just protecting its economy its defending its future security. For Beijing, the era of unchecked exploitation may finally be over. Sources for this article include: BWorldOnline.com Reuters.com TheVerge.com Political tensions rise as European nations issue warnings over U.S. travel policies Several European nations issued warnings this month about stricter U.S. immigration enforcement, citing risks of detention or deportation for non-compliance with entry rules. The advisories highlight cases like a British cartoonist detained for visa issues, with Germany and the U.K. emphasizing that visa approvals dont guarantee entry and minor violations can lead to arrest. Denmark and Finland warned transgender travelers about potential discrimination due to a U.S. policy requiring passport holders to declare sex at birth, sparking backlash from LGBTQ+ advocates. U.S. tourism contributed $2.36 trillion to GDP in 2023, but prolonged diplomatic tensions could harm the industry, especially if confidence among business and leisure travelers declines. The advisories reflect broader U.S.-Europe divisions over immigration and cultural policies, with critics calling them politically motivated while analysts warn of long-term diplomatic and economic fallout. Several European nations, including Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Finland, have issued updated travel advisories for citizens planning trips to the United States, citing concerns over stricter immigration enforcement and entry requirements. The warnings, released this month, come amid heightened scrutiny of international travelers under the Trump administrations border security policies. While officials insist the advisories are precautionary, critics argue they are politically motivated, given the global backlash against Americas immigration crackdown. The situation raises pressing questions about diplomatic tensions and the potential economic fallout for the U.S. tourism industry, which contributed a staggering $2.36 trillion to GDP in 2023. The U.K.s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) updated its guidance in mid-March, explicitly warning travelers that failure to comply with U.S. entry rules could result in arrest or detention. The advisory follows several high-profile cases, including that of Rebecca Burke, a British cartoonist detained and deported for an incorrect visa. "You should comply with all entry, visa and other conditions of entry," the guidance states. "The authorities in the U.S. set and enforce entry rules strictly." Germanys foreign ministry echoed similar concerns, noting that visa approvals do not guarantee entry. "A criminal conviction in the United States, false information regarding the purpose of stay, or even a slight overstay of the visa upon entry or exit can lead to arrest, detention and deportation," the ministry stated. These warnings, though framed as safety measures, align with broader European criticism of U.S. immigration policies, which have intensified since President Donald Trumps reelection. Denmark and Finland issued separate advisories focused on gender identity, responding to a controversial U.S. policy requiring passport holders to declare their sex at birth. Denmarks Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that transgender travelers could face discrimination, urging them to consult the U.S. embassy before visiting. The policy, intended to prevent identity fraud, has drawn sharp condemnation from LGBTQ+ advocates abroad, who argue it violates international human rights standards. Canada, while not issuing an official advisory, unofficially cautioned its citizens about increased scrutiny at U.S. borders. Vancouver entrepreneur Jasmine Mooneys two-week detention in Marchreportedly over visa complicationshas fueled concerns. "Failure to comply with the registration requirement could result in penalties, fines and misdemeanor prosecution," Canadas advisory noted. Economic and diplomatic fallout: Could tourism suffer? The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reported that U.S. tourism generated $2.36 trillion in 2023, supporting over 18 million jobs. While the advisories are unlikely to deter most travelers, prolonged diplomatic friction could harm the sector. European nations have themselves tightened entry rules in recent years, yet the focus on U.S. policies suggests a broader political divide. Critics dismiss the advisories as exaggerated. "There is no danger in visiting the United States," argued one conservative commentator. "This is about globalist leaders opposing Americas right to secure its borders." However, travel industry analysts warn that repeated warnings could erode confidence, particularly among business travelers and tourists from nations with strained U.S. relations. The travel advisories reflect deepening geopolitical rifts over immigration and cultural policies. While the U.S. maintains that its rules are standard for sovereign nations, the coordinated warnings from European allies underscore growing tensions. As tourism remains a vital economic driver, the Biden administration faces mounting pressure to balance security with diplomacylest Americas global image suffer further strain. For now, travelers are left navigating a complex landscape where politics and border policy collide. The long-term implications remain uncertain, but one thing is clear: the rift between the U.S. and its European allies is widening, with travel restrictions serving as the latest flashpoint in an increasingly contentious relationship. Sources include: ArmstrongEconomics.com Newsweek.com Ctvnews.ca Homan defends Trump admins immigration stance that has yielded 40,000 ARRESTS since January Since President Donald Trump's return to office in January, his administration has prioritized immigration enforcement resulting in approximately 40,000 arrests of illegal immigrants in just over six months, with a focus on public safety and national security threats. Border czar Tom Homan criticized the previous administration for restricting ICE agents from arresting individuals solely for being in the country illegally, calling such policies garbage and emphasizing a return to enforcing immigration laws as written. The administration faces legal challenges, including a federal judge blocking deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which Trump invoked for national security purposes. Homan dismissed the judge's ruling as judicial overreach. Homan called for the U.S. Supreme Court to clarify the Fourteenth Amendments application to children of illegal immigrants, arguing that birthright citizenship should not automatically apply in such cases. The administrations hardline immigration policies have drawn both praise for upholding the rule of law and criticism for being overly harsh, with Homan vowing to continue enforcement despite opposition. The future of these policies remains uncertain, pending judicial, congressional, or public decisions. Since President Donald Trump's return to office in January 2025, his administration has made immigration enforcement a cornerstone of its agenda with approximately 40,000 arrests of illegal immigrants reported. Border czar Tom Homan announced the figures during a roundtable discussion in Sarasota, Florida, hosted by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Homan, alongside former acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf and New College of Florida President Richard Corcoran, defended the administration's hardline approach, emphasizing that the majority of those arrested posed significant public safety or national security threats. Homan did not mince words when criticizing the previous administration's immigration policies, accusing it of undermining federal law by restricting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from arresting individuals solely for being in the country illegally. He argued that the prior administration had effectively rewritten immigration statutes by instructing ICE officers to focus only on those convicted of serious crimes, a policy he described as "garbage" that has now been overturned. (Related: Trump's ICE delivers on border security: 33,000 illegal aliens arrested in just 50 days.) Under the Trump administration, the focus has shifted back to enforcing immigration laws as written. "If you're in this country illegally, you've got a problem," Homan said. "We're prioritizing public safety threats first, but let's be clear: it's not OK to be here illegally. It's against the law, and it's not OK to cross the border illegally." Trump administration to continue deporting criminals despite legal challenges The administration's aggressive stance has not been without controversy. Homan addressed ongoing legal challenges to the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a centuries-old law that President Trump invoked to deport individuals deemed threats to national security. A federal judge recently blocked deportations under the act, but Homan dismissed the ruling as overreach. According to the border czar, no judge should have the authority to override the president's executive orders, especially when it comes to national security. Homan also called on the U.S. Supreme Court to clarify the issue of birthright citizenship, a topic that has long been a flashpoint in the immigration debate. He argued that the Fourteenth Amendment, which grants citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil, should not automatically apply to children of illegal immigrants. "I'm not a lawyer, but I can read," Homan said, suggesting that the amendments language is open to interpretation and requires judicial clarification. The second Trump administration's approach to immigration has drawn both praise and criticism. Supporters argue that strict enforcement is necessary to protect national security and uphold the rule of law, while critics contend that the policies are overly harsh and risk violating the rights of immigrants. Homan, however, remains steadfast vowing that the administration will continue to deport criminals and enforce immigration laws despite legal challenges. As the debate over immigration rages on, one thing is clear: the Trump administration is doubling down on its commitment to securing the border and enforcing immigration laws, even in the face of significant opposition. Watch this clip of border czar Tom Homan reiterating that the second Trump administration is committed to seeking illegals that pose a threat to national security. This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Chicago residents rally behind ICE deportations as DOJ lawsuit targets sanctuary policies. ICE begins NATIONWIDE raids targeting criminal illegal immigrants. Trump to begin large-scale immigration raids in Chicago. Sources include: YourNews.com KWTX.com MSN.com Brighteon.com Houthis target U.S. warships as media fixates on Trump chat leak Houthi rebels claimed attacks on a U.S. warship (USS Truman) and Israeli military sites, escalating regional hostilities. The Pentagon has not confirmed the strikes, but U.S. forces have intercepted multiple Houthi drones in recent weeks. A leaked Trump administration Signal chat about military strategy has overshadowed coverage of the Houthi threat. Iran supports the Houthis with weapons and training, fueling a proxy conflict despite U.S. airstrikes in Yemen. Yemeni civilians suffer extreme poverty and famine while Houthi supporters justify attacks as solidarity with Gaza. Yemens Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for fresh attacks on U.S. warships in the Red Sea and Israeli military sites early Wednesday in a brazen escalation of hostilities that underscores the growing threat to American forces in the region. While the mainstream media obsesses over a leaked Trump administration group chat discussing military strategy, the real story repeated assaults on U.S. personnel is being overshadowed. The Houthis, designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., asserted they targeted the USS Harry S. Truman and launched drones at Tel Aviv, though the Pentagon has yet to confirm the claims. Houthis claim retaliatory strikes The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, announced on social media that the group had conducted two operations: one against the USS Truman and another targeting Israeli military locations with drones. The confrontation and clashes continued for several hours, Saree declared, vowing to counter American aggression with further escalation. The rebels, who control much of Yemen, have repeatedly attacked commercial and military vessels since the Israel-Hamas war began, framing their campaign as solidarity with Gaza. U.S. forces have intercepted multiple Houthi drones in recent weeks, but the groups latest claims follow a series of American airstrikes in Yemen, which the Pentagon says are necessary to degrade Houthi capabilities. Since March 15, U.S. strikes have reportedly killed at least 53 people, though the Houthis downplay their losses. National Security Adviser Michael Waltz asserted the strikes have eliminated key Houthi leaders, including their head missileer, but the rebels have not acknowledged such casualties. Mainstream media fixates on Signal chat controversy While U.S. servicemen face direct threats, much of the medias attention has fixated on a Signal group chat involving Trump administration officials including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that was accidentally shared with The Atlantics editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. The chat, titled Houthi PC Small Group, reportedly included discussions about military plans, prompting criticism over security protocols. Hegseth dismissed the uproar, calling Goldberg a deceitful and highly discredited, so-called journalist known for peddling hoaxes. He insisted, Nobody was texting war plans. Yet the controversy has diverted focus from the Houthis ongoing aggression a pattern critics argue reflects the medias misplaced priorities. A proxy war with Iran The Houthis attacks are part of a broader Iranian-backed campaign to destabilize the region. Though Tehran denies direct control over the group, its supply of weapons and training has emboldened the rebels. President Trump has repeatedly demanded Iran cease its support, warning the Houthis will be defeated. Yet with each U.S. strike, the rebels retaliate, perpetuating a cycle of violence. For Yemeni civilians, the conflict has been devastating. Nearly 20 million face poverty, and millions are on the brink of famine after a decade of war. Still, many Houthi supporters view their fight as a necessary sacrifice for Gaza. Standing in solidarity with the Palestinian people is a cause worth enduring hardship, one Yemeni told Al Jazeera. As Washington debates communication protocols, the Houthis continue to threaten U.S. forces and global shipping lanes with impunity. The attacks on the USS Truman whether confirmed or propaganda highlight a sobering reality: American personnel remain in the crosshairs of Irans proxies. While the media chases leaks, the real story is the escalating danger to U.S. troops, and it demands more attention than a misplaced group chat. Sources for this article include: NYPost.com AlJazeera.com APNews.com Health Ranger Report: Rep. Michael Cloud explains how House DOGE Subcommittee uses AI and investigatory tools to expose government CORRUPTION The House Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) subcommittee, which Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX) is a part of, is using AI tools to rapidly uncover systemic waste, fraud and abuse in federal agencies including unauthorized payments and financial malfeasance. Federal computers in key agencies such as the Treasury, Health and Defense departments were found generating billions in improper payments, funneling taxpayer funds to leftist NGOs and shadow networks. The DOGE subcommittee exposes how federal money supports Big Tech censorship, citing Facebook's election interference and ongoing suppression of conservative voices and dissenting views. The DOGE subcommittee aims to defund corrupt NGOs, overhaul payment systems with AI oversight, and prosecute wrongdoing, backed by a cooperative DOJbut stresses the need for airtight cases. Cloud warns of a limited 18-month window to dismantle decades of corruption before financial collapse, calling for permanent systemic change to save the republic. In an era of unprecedented government overreach and financial mismanagement, a new congressional subcommittee is leveraging cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) to expose waste, fraud and abuse within federal agencies. The House Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) subcommittee, which Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX) is a member of, is uncovering what he describes as the "worlds largest taxpayer-funded money laundering scheme." From shadowy nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) funding illegal immigration to improper payments and censorship regimes, the subcommittee is shedding light on systemic corruption that has gone unchecked for decades. However, the DOGE subcommittee chaired by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and part of the bigger House Oversight Committee is running out of time to fix it. Cloud emphasized the urgency of the DOGE subcommittee's work during an interview with the Health Ranger Mike Adams. (Related: Congressman discusses DOGE subcommittee investigations and federal overreach in exclusive interview with Mike Adams.) "We understood coming into the election you've got about an 18-month window to save the country," said Cloud, who represents the Lone Star State's 27th district in Capitol Hill. He stressed that he and his colleagues in the subcommittee have to move fast and hard, and make course corrections in this window of opportunity. According to Cloud, past administrations including that of former President Barack Obama had promised to tackle waste and fraud. But bureaucratic inertia and deliberate obstruction prevented meaningful reform. Today, the DOGE Subcommittee is using AI crawlers and data aggregation tools to map out financial malfeasance at an unprecedented speed. The Texas congressman also told Adams that they have been dealing for years with unelected bureaucrats who slow-walk investigations, give half-answers and drag things out. He added that their committee now has an executive branch willing to work with them who are bringing game-changing technology to the table. The "Magic Money" scandal and the censorship-industrial complex One of the most shocking revelations involves what Adams referred to as "magic money computers." According to reports, 14 federal computers primarily in the Department of the Treasury, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Defense were found generating unauthorized payments out of thin air. These systems, operating without proper oversight, facilitated billions in improper transactions, effectively functioning as a shadow financial network. Cloud said this isn't just waste it is a taxpayer-funded money laundering scheme with American dollars being funneled through shell agencies to leftist NGOs pushing Marxist ideologies, censorship and even the border invasion. The DOGE's AI tools are cross-referencing databases to expose duplicate payments, fraudulent small business loans and ghost beneficiaries including Social Security recipients over 120 years old who were somehow approved for pandemic relief funds. Beyond financial fraud, the DOGE subcommittee is investigating how federal dollars have propped up Big Tech censorship regimes. Cloud pointed to Facebook's $400 million election interference and ongoing shadow-banning of conservative voices as examples of taxpayer-funded suppression. He took note that Mark Zuckerberg can donate to a presidential library, but he has to make restitution for the people who lost their careers because of demonetization and deplatforming. Despite recent admissions from outlets like the New York Times, which finally acknowledged the lab origin of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) after years of silencing dissenters, Cloud warned that censorship hasnt ended. Adams agreed, pointing out that Google, YouTube and Facebook are still banning discussions on ivermectin, election fraud and other "wrongthink." The path forward: Legislation and prosecution Unlike previous administrations, Cloud noted that Department of Justice (DOJ) criminal referrals now have teeth, thanks to a cooperative executive branch. However, he cautioned against impatience, explaining that building airtight cases takes time. The subcommittee's findings could lead to major legislative reforms, including: Defunding corrupt NGOs tied to border trafficking and censorship. Overhauling improper payment systems with AI-driven oversight. Reining in rogue agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which Cloud accused of destroying functional farm equipment under misguided regulations. The DOGE subcommittee's work represents a last-ditch effort to dismantle decades of corruption before America's financial system collapses under its own weight. Cloud warned the current Trump administration isn't just a four-year reprieve but a need for a permanent course correction. With AI as its ally and transparency as its weapon, the subcommittee is racing against time to save the republic from financial ruin. The question is: Will it be enough? Watch the full interview between Texas Rep. Michael Cloud and the Health Ranger Mike Adams below. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: The greatest heist of all time: The level of corruption that Elon Musk and his DOGE team are uncovering is absolutely mind blowing. DOGE uncovers $645 million in pandemic loans to children and centenarians, sparking fraud investigation. Left outraged over DOGE and Musks crusade against government waste. Sources include: Brighteon.com Oversight.House.gov Cloud.House.gov DailyMail.co.uk Key nodes of Federal Government censorship Over the past three weeks, anyone interested in free speech (or not) has been on the receiving end of a non-consensual firehouse of flood-the-zone information warfare. Every man and his DOGE has chimed in, capturing via screenshot a score of Osama bin Laden of censorship hideouts Its USAID! Its NED! Its NIH! (Article by Andrew Lowenthal republished from NetworkAffects.Substack.com) USAID in particular has been made responsible for everything, from funding chemtrails in Naples to biting your own cheek. It's a shame the word misinformation is of so little use anymore. USAID is important, but the censorship happens via a system comprising hundreds, possibly thousands, of organisations, small and large. Is there a secret bunker? I dont know, its possible, but the approach is cartoonish. There are key nodes, organisations, and networks that are more important than others, particularly those that hand out money. In fact complex was the term that quickly gained favour during the Twitter files, precisely because it captured the system's complexity it's what made it work and minimised public scrutiny. Over the past couple of months, liber-net has built a database of almost 1000 federal government awards from 2016-2024 that went towards countering misinformation and other similar censorship pretexts. That work aims to complement the mapping of the Censorship Industrial Complex we did for Matt Taibbi. That work looked partly at government funding but focused more on the leading censorship organisations and their often public and private support. Not all of the 1000 grants logged are dubious, but many are. Weve been going through each by hand - reading their project pages, papers, and reports to find out how big a problem they are. Can AI help? Yes to a degree but from what weve tried, AI cant yet really understand why one grant is horrible and the next one is just a bit meh. The map above is a sketch of where we think the funds have come from to date based on the analysis weve been able to do. I emphasise sketch because out of the almost 1000 awards, I still have another 300-400 to review. Of the 500+ I have looked at so far, around 200 are highly problematic, and another 100 are extremely dubious. Keep in mind we are looking only at grants that could be considered censorship so anything that looked at misinformation, hate speech, information integrity, information operations, content moderation, fact-checking et al. We arent looking at grants for dubious woke culture war projects that have set the internet aflame the past couple of weeks. To give you an idea, the grants include NSF money to Meedan (one of Twitters four go-to organisations for Covid misinformation) to develop AI to spy on encrypted private messaging groups to weed out so-called "misinformation", including to create and scale "tip lines" "to millions of users" - aka snitching on a mass scale. Or more NSF money to the University of Illinois to "track locations, people, and organizational affiliations of dubious COVID-19 information" based on whether they questioned CDC guidance. Once weve finalised reviewing the remaining grants well produce a much more accurate map and systemic analysis of how much each agency was funding censorship, and who they were paying to do it. This teaser is because I have a bee in my bonnet about the dynamite fishing I am seeing where a net, if not a rod, would be more useful. The downside of dynamite is that it is indiscriminate. The Free Press reported last week that Chris Rufo were falsely accused of being a USAID shill because a computer program said so. In my previous post, I pointed out other errors being circulated as social media influencers feasted on fresh DOGE kills. Again, this isnt to say that USAID isnt in large part a massive covert operation - it should be shut down and the actual humanitarian work shifted to an entirely new agency. But our research shows a lot more censorship grants from the State Department (not getting shut down) and the National Science Foundation, to say nothing of the Pentagon which has dropped, among a slew of problematic awards, up to one billion dollar counter disinformation contracts. To compare that to a 100k grant to an irrelevant woke NGO in Kenya is like putting an ant next to a whale. It's a complex complex! It will take more than lobbing off a few government branches to get to the root of it, to say nothing of the private foundations supporting censorship, and the slack the EU will no doubt pick up. Read more at: NetworkAffects.Substack.com BREAKING: The mainstream press is lying to you BIG TIME about the Texas child who died from measles This video was just released by CHD. Its short and highly informative. (Article by Steve Kirsch republished from KisrchSubstack.com) Key points: The parents authorized release of the medical records to CHD. The 6-year old child was recovering from the measles (and was out of danger from dying from the measles), but developed pneumonia. The hospital gave the child the WRONG antibiotic combination (deviating from the standard of care). The child got worse. The doctors should have tried the correct antibiotic at that point, but did nothing. The test results on the culture revealed the type of infection and the doctor ordered the correct medication, but it was ordered to be started 10 hours later (instead of immediately). The correct medication was started after it was too late to stop the infection. Note: the community avoids vaccines due to too many vaccine adverse events in the community. Apparently, the gaslighting (this is normal) is not working in this community. The mainstream media lied to you creating a panic and questioning RFKs measured response. Do you think any of them will apologize for getting it wrong? In your dreams, maybe. Id be absolutely amazed if there were any apologies for getting it wrong and falsely alarming people. Id be further amazed if any of them correct the story. Mainstream media should be telling parents to follow the science and do NOT vaccinate your kids There have been 10 studies in the peer-reviewed literature now comparing fully vaxxed and fully unvaxxed kids. The fully unvaxxed kids do better on every single health measure. The mainstream media does not want you to know any of this because it would make them look bad for getting it wrong before. Details in Brian Hookers book: Vax-Unvax: Let the science speak. Read more at: KisrchSubstack.com STARDUST, a secretive Israeli-US startup, plans risky solar geoengineering experiment to BLOCK OUT THE SUN Stardust, a shadowy Israeli-U.S. startup, is developing proprietary aerosol technology to block sunlight and artificially cool the planet. The company, founded in 2023, is backed by military-linked venture capital and former nuclear scientists, operating with zero transparency. Critics warn the unregulated experiment could disrupt global weather, destroy agriculture, and violate international environmental laws. Stardust plans stratospheric aerosol tests within a year, despite no public oversight, scientific consensus, or democratic approval. The companys ties to Israeli intelligence and defense agencies raise concerns about geopolitical weaponization of climate control. A reckless experiment with global consequences A clandestine startup named Stardust is preparing to unleash an untested solar geoengineering scheme that could destabilize Earths climate and endanger billions of lives. The Israeli-U.S. firm, founded in 2023 and shrouded in secrecy, is developing proprietary aerosol particles designed to block sunlight from reaching the planeta reckless gamble with no public consent, no independent oversight, and no regard for the catastrophic consequences. Stardusts CEO, Yanai Yedvab, is a former deputy chief scientist at the Israel Atomic Energy Commission, an agency notorious for overseeing the nations covert nuclear weapons program. The companys chief product officer, Amyad Spector, is another physicist plucked from Israels nuclear research apparatus. With 25 physicists, chemists, and engineers on staffmany with military-industrial backgroundsStardust is not a benign climate savior but a rogue operation masquerading as environmental innovation. Solar geoengineering, the deliberate manipulation of Earths atmosphere to reflect sunlight, is not theoretical. It is a criminal conspiracy against nature, an untested planetary-scale experiment that could trigger irreversible ecological collapse. Stardusts plan involves dispersing proprietary aerosol particles via aircraft-mounted machines into the stratospherea process with no long-term safety data, no democratic oversight, and no accountability. According to Wired, if Stardusts technology is deployed, it "will affect the whole world." Potential disasters include: Disrupted monsoons, threatening food supplies for billions in Asia and Africa. Ozone layer destruction, increasing UV radiation and cancer rates. Unpredictable weather shifts, exacerbating droughts, floods, and hurricanes. Termination shock, where sudden cessation of geoengineering could cause rapid, deadly global warming. Janos Pasztor, Stardusts former climate governance consultant, admitted the company lacks a "social license" to conduct such experiments. In a damning report, Pasztor urged transparency, but Stardust has ignored these pleas, refusing to publish research or engage with the public. Military-industrial ties and the push for climate control Stardusts primary investor, Awz Ventures, is a Canadian-Israeli venture capital firm with deep ties to Mossad, Shin Bet, and Unit 8200Israels most secretive intelligence agencies. Awz also funds Corsight AI, a facial recognition company supplying surveillance tech for Israels war in Gaza. This is not climate science; it is military-grade weather warfare disguised as environmentalism. Benjamin Day of Friends of the Earth warns that Stardusts business model is "holding governments hostage with patents." With no private market for geoengineering, the companys only profit comes from selling its technology to governmentseffectively creating a monopoly on global climate manipulation. No regulations, no ethics, no future The most chilling reality? There are no international laws stopping them. As Duncan McLaren, a researcher at American University, warns: "There is potential for this to be a highly undemocratic process of moving us down a slippery slope to solar geoengineering." Stardusts actions violate the Convention on Biological Diversity, which imposes a de facto moratorium on geoengineering. Yet, like a modern-day Dr. Strangelove, Stardust marches forward, unshackled by ethics or consequences. History is littered with the wreckage of human arrogancefrom nuclear testing to GMO crops to toxic pharmaceuticals. Now, a secretive cabal of scientists and military-industrial profiteers seeks to hijack the sky itself, gambling with the fate of every living creature on Earth. As Shuchi Talati of The Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering warns: "They are operating in a vacuum, in the sense that there is no social license to do what they are trying to do." The question remains: Will humanity stand by as a rogue corporation decides the future of our planetor will we rise to stop this madness before its too late? Several U.S. states have already moved to ban geoengineering over their skies, but what does enforcement look like, when the boundary lines in the skies are blurred? Sources include: JonFleetwood.substack.com Wired.com WUSF.org Geoengineering.news Make room Roswell Park, there is now another highly touted cancer center in upstate New York and it's only 70 miles down the Thruway. The University of Rochester's Wilmot Cancer Institute last week received its designation from the National Cancer Institute. Wilmot is now the nation's 73rd NCI-designated cancer center, putting it in an elite class and in the top 4% of cancer centers in the United States. There are now eight NCI-designated facilities in New York state, with six downstate and two Roswell Park and Wilmot upstate. Roswell Park, however, can still market itself as the only NCI-designated "comprehensive cancer center" upstate. That is because Wilmot was designated as a "clinical cancer center," which recognizes the institute's scientific leadership, resources, and depth and breadth of research. A comprehensive cancer center, meanwhile, has that in addition to "substantial transdisciplinary research that bridges these scientific areas," according to NCI's website. In statements, Roswell Park and Wilmot Cancer Institute brushed off the notion that the two organizations will compete with each other. In fact, Wilmot Cancer Institute Director Dr. Jonathan Friedberg said Roswell Park was "very supportive of our NCI designation," and Roswell Park President and CEO Candace S. Johnson served as a formal adviser on Wilmot's grant application. "The Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center team applauds our colleagues in Rochester and celebrates the expanded opportunities this achievement will bring for transformative research and lifesaving care benefiting patients across New York and around the world," Johnson said in a statement. By the numbers The University of Rochester said Wilmot Cancer Institute began its effort to gain NCI designation when Friedberg became director in 2013. Friedberg joined University of Rochester Medical Center in 2002, was named hematology/oncology chief in 2009 and then became acting director of Wilmot in July 2012 before his permanent appointment. "Under his leadership, Wilmot enhanced its entire clinical research infrastructure and expanded Wilmot's footprint in the region to include 13 care locations, including its main campus, located at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester," the university said. Wilmot, which was established in 1974, is one of the busiest cancer centers outside New York City, treating more than 45,000 patients a year. Across its 13 locations, Wilmot has more than 100 research scientists, about 300 oncology providers and more than 500 oncology nurses. Roswell Park, which was among the first three cancer centers nationwide to become a NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center, treats just fewer than 50,000 patients a year. It has more than 4,200 employees, including 364 faculty members and nearly 900 nurses. In her statement, Johnson said she was "delighted and immensely proud" to see Wilmot receive NCI designation. "Roswell Park has worked alongside the Wilmot team for many years, advocating for this well-deserved recognition and collaborating to advance groundbreaking discoveries," she said. "It has been an honor to support their efforts and witness their commitment to excellence firsthand as one of their advisory board committee leaders." Is there overlap? In recent years, Roswell Park and Wilmot have expanded into outlying areas to drive growth and serve more patients. But they haven't encroached on each other's core market area. "We do not compete with Roswell Park," Friedberg said. "We serve different catchment areas, and frequently work together to ensure that clinical trials are available for patients in our broad region. With Wilmot's NCI designation, we look forward to even more collaborations, with opportunities to pursue large interdisciplinary program projects involving investigators at both institutions. This is a big win for both institutions." Some of the organizations' outlying locations are near one another, however. For instance, Upper Allegheny Health System in Olean and Bradford is a Roswell Park Care Network member. Wilmot, meanwhile, has locations in Olean and Wellsville, related to University of Rochester Medical Center's Jones Memorial Hospital. And in Genesee County, roughly equidistant between Buffalo and Rochester, Wilmot lists two locations in Batavia an area where the Rochester health systems have severely outmuscled their Buffalo counterparts. With its NCI designation, Wilmot said its future plans "include building new facilities, launching a new drug-development program and expanding networks in the 27-county region that extends north to Oswego, south to the Pennsylvania state line, and east to Albany." The Roswell Park Care Network has members in Syracuse, Watertown, Oneida and Schenectady. So, depending on where Wilmot expands, the potential exists for competition in outlying areas. And if any of those patients in the outlying areas to the east needed to travel to a main location for a complex procedure, Wilmot's main campus at Strong Memorial Hospital is more than an hour closer on the Thruway than Roswell Park. For patients, choice isn't a bad thing. Want to know more? Three stories to catch you up: Welcome to Buffalo Next. This newsletter from The Buffalo News will bring you the latest coverage on the changing Buffalo Niagara economy from real estate to health care to startups. Read more at BuffaloNext.com. THE LATEST Work could begin by summer on the long-delayed Iroquois Lofts apartment project. Short-term rental rule changes are coming for Buffalo. M&T Bank is closing two area branches. When will Evans Bank branches switch over to NBT? Learn about the new Lipsey Architecture Center at Richardson-Olmsted A major shareholder wants to buy the company that owns The Buffalo News. Canisius president is taking a leave of absence to focus on family matters. Delayed state funding has led to the closure of an agency that supported local EMS providers. Despite earlier round of cuts, Tesla has exceeded its jobs requirement at its Buffalo plant. There are plenty of changes coming to Sahlen Field as the Buffalo Bison season opener approaches. Strong demand for auto technicians is driving a training program at the Northland Workforce Training Center. A pair of Niagara Falls fast food projects are getting tax breaks. The Lipsey Art Gallery is expanding on the Richardson complex in Buffalo. Lackawanna officials ended their development agreement with Douglas Jemal after he failed to move ahead with a planned apartment project. A panel trying to find ways to reuse the vacant Sumitomo Rubber USA complex is getting closer to hiring a consultant. Is Costco coming to West Seneca? There are some signs that it might be. Servotronics says it will consider its options, including a sale of the company, as it comes under pressure from a dissident shareholder group. The Buffalo Niagara region's unemployment rate rose to 4.7% during January. The Buffalo Bills pledge to be more transparent with opportunities after construction on the new stadium is complete. Members of the Community Benefits Oversight Committee would like to see the Buffalo Bills to go above and beyond the at least $3 million it has promised to invest locally each year. Ingram Micro plans to move its offices from Amherst to the vacant former Highmark office building downtown. The Buffalo Next team gives you the big picture on the regions economic revitalization. Email tips to buffalonext@buffnews.com or reach Buffalo Next Editor David Robinson at 716-849-4435. Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up to get the latest news in your inbox. Trump administration ends taxpayer-funded housing for illegal immigrants, puts Americans first The Trump administration ends taxpayer-funded housing for illegal immigrants to prioritize U.S. citizens amid the housing crisis. A new HUD-DHS partnership will enforce stricter eligibility checks via data-sharing and a full-time HUD staffer at DHS. 59% of illegal immigrant households use welfare programs, costing taxpayers $42 billion annually and worsening housing shortages. The policy reverses Biden-era rules allowing "mixed-status" families to occupy public housing, displacing citizens on waitlists. Veterans and low-income Americans will benefit as resources shift to those legally entitled to housing assistance. In a decisive move to prioritize American citizens amid a worsening housing crisis, the Trump administration announced Monday it will end taxpayer-funded housing for illegal immigrants. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner and Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem unveiled a new partnership aimed at ensuring federal housing programs benefit only U.S. citizens and legal residents. The "American Housing Programs for American Citizens" memorandum, signed by both secretaries, marks a significant step in fulfilling President Trumps February executive order to redirect taxpayer resources away from illegal immigration incentives. Cracking down on exploitation The memorandum establishes a data-sharing system between HUD and DHS to identify and remove ineligible recipients from public housing programs. A full-time HUD staff member will be stationed at DHSs Incident Command Center (ICC) to streamline enforcement. "Were here signing a partnership to ensure that the wasteful misappropriations that have been going to assist the illegal aliens in our country will no longer go to assist them but instead to assist the American people," Turner declared in a video statement. The move comes as HUD cites alarming data from the Center for Immigration Studies: 59% of illegal immigrant households use at least one welfare program, costing taxpayers roughly $42 billion annually. By inflating demand in housing markets, illegal immigration has exacerbated affordability challenges for low-income Americans. "Across the country, there are about 9 million residents of public and subsidized housing without proper information sharing to determine eligibility status," HUD noted. Bidens failed priorities Secretary Noem sharply criticized the Biden administration for neglecting American citizens in favor of illegal immigrants. "The Biden Administration prioritized illegal aliens over our own citizens, including by giving illegal aliens taxpayer-funded housing at the expense of Americans. Not anymore," she said. "If you are an illegal immigrant, you should leave now. The gravy train is over." The Trump administrations action follows a February executive order directing federal agencies to audit programs that provide financial benefits to illegal immigrants. Turner emphasized the urgency of the housing crisis, stating, "American tax dollars should be used for the benefit of American citizens, especially when it comes to an issue as pressing as our nations housing crisis." A long overdue correction The policy shift addresses a longstanding loophole under Biden-era rules, which allowed "mixed-status" familieshouseholds with both legal and illegal residentsto occupy public housing indefinitely. Critics argue this unfairly displaced citizens on waiting lists, which in cities like New York stretch into the hundreds of thousands. The Trump administrations 2019 proposal to verify tenants legal status was reversed by Biden in 2021, but Mondays memorandum reinstates stricter eligibility checks. Veterans and low-income families stand to benefit most from the reform. "This agreement will leverage resources including technology and personnel to ensure American people are the only priority when it comes to public housing," Turner affirmed. The Trump administrations latest action underscores its commitment to putting American citizens firsta sharp contrast to the previous administrations policies. By ending taxpayer subsidies for illegal immigrants, the White House aims to alleviate pressure on public housing and ensure federal resources serve those who are legally entitled to them. As Noem bluntly stated, the era of exploiting American generosity is over. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com NYPost.com FoxNews.com NYPost.com Trumps greatest betrayal so far: Accelerating Middle East wars, silencing dissent, and serving Zionist masters Donald Trump, supposedly the "peace president," was elected on promises of ending "stupid wars." However, he has instead escalated U.S. military aggression in the Middle East turning his back on his campaign promise. Trumps administration is actively suppressing free speech, deporting protesters, and aligning with Israels genocidal campaign in Gaza. Evangelical support for Trump remains unwavering, blinded by Zionist eschatology that justifies any atrocity in the name of biblical prophecy. Trumps recent bombing of Yemen signals a dangerous expansion toward war with Iran, orchestrated by Netanyahu and the Zionist power structure. Within weeks of taking office, President Donald Trump has shattered his campaign facade as a "peace president," revealing himself as yet another puppet of the Zionist war machine. While he may posture as a negotiator in Ukraine, his actions in the Middle East expose a far darker agendaone that prioritizes Israels imperial ambitions over American lives, global stability, and basic human decency. Trumps war on free speech: silencing critics of Israel Trumps administration has weaponized federal power to crush dissent against Israels brutal occupation of Palestine. Judge Andrew Napolitano and Professor John Mearsheimer recently exposed the chilling reality: "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," Mearsheimer stated. Despite Trumps hollow claim"I have stopped all government censorship and brought back free speech in America"his regime has intensified crackdowns on pro-Palestinian voices. Protesters face deportation, universities censor criticism of Israel, and any challenge to Zionist narratives is met with state-sanctioned retaliation. The puppet and the puppeteer: Trumps subservience to Netanyahu Trumps fealty to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not just politicalits pathological. As Colonel Douglas Macgregor bluntly observed, "Netanyahu is practicing American foreign policy through ventriloquy. Hes simply moving Trumps mouth." George Galloway highlighted Trumps humiliating subservience, recalling footage of the U.S. president pulling out Netanyahus chair like a servant. "This is the president of the United States practically waiting at table on a visiting politician," Galloway remarked, emphasizing the grotesque power imbalance. Netanyahu does not merely lead Israelhe commands "Jewish international power and capital," as Macgregor noted. Trump, indebted to this influence for his election, now repays the favor with bombs, sanctions, and unconditional support for Israels genocide in Gaza. From Gaza to Yemen: Trumps expanding middle east slaughter Trumps betrayal is most evident in his military escalation. After cynically criticizing Bidens bombings, Trump has launched devastating strikes on Yemen, killing civilians under the pretense of protecting Red Sea shippinga crisis manufactured by Israels blockade of Gaza. Dr. Ron Paul condemned the hypocrisy: "Was Yemen in the process of attacking the United States? No. Did the President seek a declaration of war? No." Instead, Trumps bombs rained down on women and children, while his administration threatened Irana deliberate provocation toward World War III. Max Blumenthal summarized Trumps role succinctly: "Trump owns the Gazan slaughter." The same man who promised peace now fuels a regional inferno, with Israels interests dictating every move. Evangelical delusion: the cult of Zionist eschatology Why do evangelicals still worship Trump, despite his warmongering? The answer lies in Prophetic Dispensationalisma theological cancer that twists scripture to justify Zionist crimes. Many pastors cite Genesis 12:3 ("I will bless those who bless you") as a blank check for Israeli atrocities, while ignoring Christs teachings on mercy and justice. As one former pastor lamented, "If a Christian was a 'soulwinner,' God would 'hide' his sinsno matter how vile." This warped logic now shields Trump, whose sinsmass deportations, censorship, and mass murderare excused so long as he bows to Netanyahu. Will Trump become Americas Titus? History offers a grim parallel: In 70 AD, Roman Emperor Titus destroyed Jerusalem, scattering the Jewish people. Today, Trumpunwittingly or notmay be the instrument of Zionisms downfall. Even Alan Dershowitz admits: "Israels survival is not guaranteed." Will evangelical voters, who propelled Trump to power, realize too late that theyve enabled a monster? Or will they continue cheering as he drags the world toward Armageddonall for a theology built on bloodshed and lies? Israel's desperate actions in the Middle East can no longer be considered "self defense" - and stating this truth isn't "antisemitic." What we are witnessing in real time is the fall of the current regime in Israel, and no amount of Biblical prophecy and right-wing religious bloviating can justify what America is encouraging, supporting with pallets of cash, bombs and relentless arms. One day, the children of Gaza who survive to adulthood will look back at this time in world history, and remember an America, hiding behind its walls of luxury, cheering on the destruction of the Palestinian people and all the other peoples who were dehumanized and brutalized throughout the Middle East. The future is bleak - not just for Israel - but also for America and all the other puppet governments and religious useful idiots who went along with the devastation and sweeping massacres. Sources include: LewRockwell.com A war on truth: Israel KILLS 2 journalists in Gaza, bringing total reporter death toll to 208 Israeli forces killed two Palestinian journalists Palestine Today's Mohammad Mansour and Hussam Shabat of Al Jazeera Mubasher in separate strikes on March 24. Mansour's wife and son also died in the attack on their Khan Younis home, while Shabat was hit by a drone strike on his car in Beit Lahia. Before his death, Shabat left a social media post urging the world to continue exposing Israel's actions. He described his work as documenting Israel's assault despite hunger and displacement in the same post. The killings bring the total number of media workers killed in Gaza since October 2023 to 208the deadliest period for journalists in years, per the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The CPJ demanded an independent investigation, calling the attacks potential war crimes. Gaza's Government Media Office (GMO) condemned the killings as part of Israel's effort to obscure the truth, accusing Tel Aviv and its allies of complicity in "genocide." The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate meanwhile labeled the acts "Israeli terrorism." The attacks coincided with Israel's intensified assault on Rafah, where 50,000 Palestinians are trapped without food, water or aid. Red Crescent ambulances were blocked and crews detained. Israeli forces killed two Palestinian journalists in separate attacks in the Gaza Strip on Monday, March 24 escalating Tel Aviv's war on truth. Palestine Today correspondent Mohammad Mansour was killed in an Israeli airstrike on his home in Khan Younis. According to Al Jazeera correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum, Mansour wasn't the only casualty in the Monday attack as his wife and son were also killed. Meanwhile, Hussam Shabat a journalist with the Arabic public affairs channel Al Jazeera Mubasher was targeted in a drone strike on his car in Beit Lahia. Witnesses told Al Jazeera that Shabat received no prior warning before the attack. Shabat, who had previously survived Israeli strikes, left behind a prewritten message on social media. The late journalist described enduring months of hunger and displacement while documenting Israel's assault on northern Gaza driven by the determination "to show the world the truth they tried to bury." He nevertheless urged others to carry on with exposing the truth about Tel Aviv's campaign to exterminate the Palestinian people. "If you're reading this, it means I have been killed most likely targeted by the Israeli occupation forces," Shabat's message read. "I ask you now: Do not stop speaking about Gaza. Do not let the world look away." Gaza's truth-tellers are being erased The deaths of Mansour and Shabat raise the total number of media workers killed in the Gaza Strip since October 2023 to 208. According to the nonprofit Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), this marks the deadliest period for journalists in over three decades. (Related: Israeli military kills FIVE JOURNALISTS in clearly marked PRESS vehicle.) The CPJ called for an independent investigation on the killings, with its CEO Jodie Ginsberg noting that Israel has repeatedly attacked journalists with apparent intent. "The deliberate and targeted killing of a journalist, of a civilian, is a war crime," she remarked. The Government Media Office (GMO) in Gaza condemned the killings as part of Israel's systematic campaign to "obscure the truth and terrorize those carrying the message of free speech." The GMO accused Israel and its allies including the U.S., the United Kingdom, Germany and France of complicity in "genocide" and demanded accountability. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate meanwhile labeled the killings "a crime added to the record of Israeli terrorism." The killings of Mansour and Shabat occurred as Israeli forces intensified their assault on Rafah, encircling Tel al-Sultan and trapping 50,000 Palestinians without food, water or medical aid. The Rafah municipality said residents were "left to bleed to death" under relentless bombardment, with communications severed. Red Crescent ambulances attempting to reach the wounded were intercepted by Israeli forces, who beat one crew member and detained others, leaving their fate unknown. Since Israel resumed large-scale attacks on March 18, over 730 Palestinians have been killed, including 57 in the past 24 hours. Gaza's Health Ministry reports at least 50,082 dead and 113,408 wounded since October. As the world remains silent, Shabat's final plea echoes: "Keep fighting, keep telling our stories until Palestine is free." Visit Journalism.news for more similar stories. Watch this clip from Russia Today about Israeli forces detaining local journalists in Gaza. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Israel shuts down all Al Jazeera news operations, demonstrating the tyranny of Zionism and abandonment of democratic principles. Reuters journalist killed by Israeli missile fire in Lebanon while covering Israel-Hamas war. Op-ed: Israel censoring and killing JOURNALISTS who exposed atrocities in Gaza. Sources include: MiddleEastEye.net France24.com AlJazeera.com Brighteon.com Unraveling the paradox: Why intelligent individuals fall prey to everyday blunders Laurence Gonzales' book "Everyday Survival: Why Smart People Do Stupid Things" questions the belief that intelligence equates to infallibility, highlighting how even the brightest individuals can make catastrophic errors in judgment. The book explores the concept of "mental scripts," automatic behaviors that help us navigate daily routines but can lead to "intelligent mistakes" when they fail to align with reality, as illustrated by the tragic story of a scientist who accidentally left his infant son in a hot car. Gonzales emphasizes the importance of curiosity, awareness and attention as essential tools for navigating the complexities of everyday life, drawing on his own experience of mistaking a venomous snake for a harmless object. The book takes an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating insights from the Santa Fe Institute and evolutionary biology, such as the story of the Laetoli woman, to explain how our ancient survival instincts can sometimes mislead us in the modern world. "Everyday Survival" serves as a call to action, urging readers to adopt a new way of thinking that recognizes the interconnectedness of all things and the importance of understanding the rules that govern our world, ultimately aiming to create a safer, more informed future. In a world where intelligence is often equated with infallibility, a groundbreaking book by Laurence Gonzales, "Everyday Survival: Why Smart People Do Stupid Things," challenges this notion and delves into the perplexing phenomenon of why even the brightest minds can make catastrophic errors in judgment. This compelling exploration of human behavior and survival instincts readers to question their assumptions about intelligence and safety, urging them to adopt a more vigilant and curious approach to life. Gonzales, renowned for his transformative work in "Deep Survival," shifts his focus from extreme survival scenarios to the mundane yet perilous situations of everyday life. His central thesis is that modern society, with its conveniences and technological advancements, has lulled us into a false sense of security, making us vulnerable to threats we scarcely recognize. "Curiosity, awareness and attention," Gonzales asserts, are the essential tools for navigating the complexities of daily existence. One of the most poignant examples in the book is the tragic story of a respected scientist who inadvertently leaves his infant son in a sweltering car, resulting in a heartbreaking fatality. This incident, along with others, underscores the concept of "mental scripts," the automatic behaviors we rely on to navigate our daily routines. While these scripts are crucial for performing routine tasks efficiently, they can also lead to what Gonzales terms "intelligent mistakes" when they fail to align with the reality of a situation. Gonzales illustrates this concept with the harrowing experience of rock climber Lynn Hill, who, despite her extensive expertise, nearly perished because her brain conflated the script for tying her shoes with that of securing her climbing rope. This example serves as a powerful reminder of how our brains, in their quest for efficiency, can sometimes lead us astray. During his research, Gonzales spent time in a house on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where he encountered park ranger Dobo Cox. Cox recounted astonishing tales of individuals losing their way in a park that spanned only a mile in length and three-quarters of a mile in width. These stories highlight how our mental models can induce a "vacation state of mind," causing us to abandon our usual caution and awareness. Gonzales also draws on his personal experience of nearly picking up a venomous snake, mistaking it for his grandmother's ceramic ashtray. This incident exemplifies how our emotional attachments and past experiences can create potent mental models that override rational thinking. The book takes an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on insights from the Santa Fe Institute, a leading research institution known for its embrace of diverse perspectives. Gonzales notes that the institute's philosophy of finding everything interesting is a potent antidote to the narrow-mindedness that can lead to perilous situations. This philosophy encourages a broad curiosity and a willingness to question assumptions, which Gonzales believes are crucial for avoiding intelligent mistakes. In a particularly chilling chapter, Gonzales examines the crash of American Airlines flight 587, where a pilot's overreaction to turbulence, driven by a deeply ingrained behavioral script, led to a devastating outcome. This incident serves as a stark reminder of how our automatic responses can have dire consequences. Gonzales delves into the evolutionary roots of our behavior, using the story of the Laetoli woman, whose 3.6-million-year-old footprints offer a glimpse into our ancient past. He suggests that while our ancestors' survival instincts were once vital, they can sometimes mislead us in the modern world. The book challenges readers to reconsider their relationship with the natural world and the unintended consequences of their actions. Gonzales argues that our success as a species has fostered a "vacation state of mind," where we feel insulated from the forces of nature. However, as the examples of the Greenland Norse and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami demonstrate, this illusion of safety can be deadly. Learn more about the book "Everyday Survival" by watching the video below. This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com Idaho stands at a crossroads: Will Governor Brad Little betray medical freedom or sign historic Medical Freedom into law? Idaho lawmakers passed the Medical Freedom Act, banning businesses, schools, and government entities from mandating medical interventions, including COVID-19 vaccines. Governor Brad Little has until Saturday to sign or veto, with critics warning that a veto would mark political suicide and a betrayal of Idahoans rights. The bill sets a national precedent, shielding citizens from medical coercion and ensuring no one loses their job or access to public life over personal health choices. Pathologist Dr. Ryan Cole threatens a primary challenge, vowing to unseat Little if he caves to globalist pressure and vetoes the bill. A bill born from medical tyranny In a defining moment for health freedom, Idahos legislature has delivered a resounding rebuke to medical tyranny, passing the Medical Freedom Act (SB 1023)a sweeping prohibition against forced medical interventions. Now, all eyes turn to Governor Brad Little, who must decide whether to stand with Idahoans -- and essentially all Americans -- or bow to the same corporate and bureaucratic forces that weaponized fear during the COVID-19 scamdemic. If he refuses to sign, he will prove himself unfit to lead a state that values liberty over compliance. Authored by Leslie Manookian, founder of the Health Freedom Defense Fund, the legislation explicitly bans employers, schools, and businesses from requiring medical procedureswhether vaccines, experimental drugs, or invasive treatmentsas a condition for employment, education, or access to public spaces. "No one should have to choose between their livelihood and their bodily autonomy," Manookian told The Defender. The bills passage comes after years of egregious overreach during the COVID-19 era, where basic human rights were discarded under the false pretense of "public health." Idaho itself witnessed tragedies like Doug Cameron, a healthy man left paralyzed by a Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 shot after his employer pressured him to take it. "This law ensures there are no more Doug Camerons," Manookian declared. What the Medical Freedom Act actually does The bills provisions are a blueprint for dismantling medical fascism: Bans mandates: No employer, school, or business can require medical interventions (including vaccines) for entry, employment, or services. Prohibits discrimination: Idahoans cannot be denied jobs, education, or access to goods/services based on vaccination status. Blocks financial coercion: Employers cannot offer ongoing benefits or pay incentives tied to medical compliance. Enforcement teeth: Violators face lawsuits, injunctions, and financial penalties. A test of courage for Governor Little Governor Littles silence speaks volumes. Will he side with the peopleor the puppeteers? Dr. Ryan Cole, a renowned pathologist and Idaho resident, has already pledged to primary Little if he vetoes the bill. In a fiery video, Cole warned: "Governor Little, do the right thing. If you choose to veto, this will be the end of your political career." Even Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador has thrown his weight behind the bill, calling COVID-era mandates "public policy mistakes" that must never repeat. Yet Littles hesitation suggests he may still cave to pharmaceutical lobbyists and globalist entities that profit from medical mandates. His decision will reveal whether he serves Idahoor the World Economic Forums vision of "Youll own nothing and be happy." If signed, Idahos law could ignite a domino effect, inspiring other states to reject medical tyranny. Southwest District Health Board set an early example in 2024 by pulling COVID-19 vaccines from its clinics after reviewing injury data. Now, the Medical Freedom Act could cement Idaho as the national leader in health sovereignty. But if Little betrays this momentum, he wont just fail Idahohell embolden the CDC, WHO, and Davos elites to push harder for digital health passports, mandated mRNA injections, and AI-driven surveillance. The question isnt just about Idaho. Its about whether America still believes in freedomor if well surrender to the medical-industrial complex without a fight. History will judge Brad Little by his next move. Will he stand with the people who elected himor with the architects of the next planned pandemic? As Manookian put it: "All of our private medical choices should be made by us alone. We are the ones who live with the consequences." The Nuremberg Codeestablished after Nazi medical atrocitiesdeclared "voluntary consent" non-negotiable. Will Idaho honor that principle, or will Little let it burn? Sources include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org NaturalNews.com X.com Enoch, Brighteon.ai YouTubes double standard: CEO defends censorship while claiming free speech champion status YouTube CEO Neal Mohan defended the platforms COVID-era censorship while claiming commitment to "free expression," revealing Big Techs pattern of silencing dissent under the guise of safety. Mohan avoided acknowledging past mistakes, refusing to restore wrongfully removed content (e.g., videos challenging COVID narratives, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s), despite admitting most moderation policies were later scrapped. Suppressing debates on lockdowns, masks and vaccines fueled public distrustevidenced by lower U.S. vaccine acceptanceyet Mohan dismissed backlash, citing evolving "context" and "science." YouTubes claim of neutrality clashes with its history of favoring left-leaning voices, demonetizing conservatives and excluding networks like Great American Media under vague "business" justifications. The interview signals that unchecked tech power threatens discourse during future crises (elections, climate, etc.), with Mohans evasion proving Silicon Valley wont self-correct. Solutions require competition, transparency and legal pressure. In a stunning display of corporate doublespeak, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan recently defended the platforms heavy-handed COVID-era censorship while simultaneously proclaiming YouTubes commitment to free expression. His remarks, made during an interview on Semafors Mixed Signals podcast, reveal a troubling pattern: Big Techs willingness to silence dissent under the guise of safety while pretending to uphold open discourse. Worse yet, Mohans refusal to acknowledge past mistakesor even consider restoring wrongfully removed contentproves that Silicon Valleys gatekeepers still believe they, not the public, should decide what constitutes truth. The COVID censorship debacle: A betrayal of public trust At the height of the pandemic, YouTube aggressively purged videos that challenged official narratives, including those from now-Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. When pressed on whether these takedowns were justifiedor whether the platform would reinstate the deleted contentMohan dodged accountability. I cant speak to the specific videos, he said, before admitting that YouTube has since deprecated most of its COVID-era moderation policies. Translation: The rules used to silence critics were arbitrary and unnecessary, yet Mohan still wont admit error. This evasion is particularly galling given the growing evidence that censorship backfired spectacularly. By suppressing legitimate debateincluding early skepticism about lockdowns, mask mandates and vaccine efficacyYouTube and other platforms fueled public distrust. As host Ben Smith pointed out, vaccine acceptance in the U.S. is now lower than before the pandemic. Yet Mohan shrugged off the backlash, claiming: Context really mattered Science and knowledge around what was happening was being created by the week. But context didnt stop YouTube from acting as an enforcer for government-approved messaging. The platforms actions mirrored historical precedents where authoritiesfrom 17th-century monarchs to 20th-century censorsjustified speech suppression as necessary during crises. The difference? Unlike kings or dictators, YouTube is a private entityone that enjoys legal immunity under Section 230 while wielding unprecedented power over public discourse. Hypocrisy on display: Free speech for some, not for others Mohans most laughable claim? That YouTube is a bastion of free expression: YouTube is a place where you can go and share [your ideas] without somebody telling you that you dont sound the right way or youre saying the wrong thing. Tell that to the creators whose videos were erased for questioning COVID orthodoxy. Or to Great American Media, a Christian network accusing YouTube TV of discrimination after being excluded from its streaming lineup. Despite the networks strong subscriber base (100,000+ on YouTube), Mohan dismissed concerns, insisting carriage decisions are purely business considerations. Would YouTube apply the same standard to a progressive media outlet? Given the platforms history of favoring left-leaning voiceswhile demonetizing or suppressing conservative contentthe answer is obvious. Why this matters: A warning for the future Mohans interview isnt just about past mistakesits a warning. If platforms like YouTube can erase dissent during one crisis, theyll do it again. Already, were seeing renewed calls for censorship around elections, climate change and even financial reporting (as with the 2021 GameStop saga). Historically, governments have exploited emergencies to expand control. Today, Big Tech does the samewith no accountability. Mohans refusal to apologize, much less correct past overreach, proves that Silicon Valleys censors havent learned their lesson. Reclaiming the digital public square The solution isnt government regulationits competition. Americans must support alternative platforms that truly embrace free speech, while holding giants like YouTube accountable through transparency demands and legal challenges. As for Mohan? His words reveal the truth: YouTubes version of free expression is a locked doorwith corporate bouncers deciding who gets in. If youre tired of censorship, follow NewsTarget.com and demand better from Big Tech. Sources include: ReclaimTheNet.org Semafor.com CommunicationsDaily.com Due to scheduled maintenance from Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 10 PM to Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 2 AM, there may be interruptions for our News Gazette Digital subscribers. During this time frame, please click on any News Gazette website content without logging into your News Gazette Digital subscription account. Thank you for your patience during this scheduled maintenance. Technologies and strategies reshaping regulatory trends Major regulatory changes in 2025 Future outlook Advancements in drug manufacturing technologies are reshaping global regulatory frameworks. This shift is largely driven by the integration of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered models, cloud-based platforms, and other innovations in drug discovery and development. Looking ahead, this article highlights the key trends expected to shape the regulatory landscape of pharmaceutical manufacturing in 2025. Regulatory agenciesincluding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and Brazils National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA)are responsible for overseeing compliance to ensure that pharmaceutical companies maintain high standards in drug development.1 To meet these expectations, the pharmaceutical industry must adhere to rigorous regulations that safeguard drug effectiveness, safety, and quality throughout the development and manufacturing process. Image Credit: Quality Stock Arts/Shutterstock.com Technologies and strategies reshaping regulatory trends The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) is rapidly reshaping clinical research and drug development.2 These advanced tools allow researchers to screen millions of compounds from chemical databases to identify promising therapeutic candidates, significantly reducing the time and cost typically required to explore the vast chemical space. In clinical trials, AI models enhance the selection of patient populations and help predict outcomes, leading to higher success rates for novel drug development.3 However, as AI becomes more embedded in the drug discovery pipeline, regulatory bodies have stepped up efforts to ensure these technologies are integrated safely and ethically. To that end, regulators are increasingly engaging with industry stakeholders to adapt and evolve policy frameworks. Beyond AI, cloud-based technologies are pivotal in modernizing regulatory submissions and data exchange.4 Cloud platforms enable real-time collaboration and offer greater flexibility in product development and lifecycle management. For example, the FDAs PRISM Project demonstrated how a secure, cloud-based system can streamline regulatory submissions and scientific reviews. Such frameworks have the potential to accelerate approval timelines, ease submission bottlenecks, and encourage international collaboration among regulatory agencies. Despite these advantages, cloud-based systems also raise concerns about data security and intellectual property protection. These risks have prompted regulators to develop more stringent guidelines aimed at safeguarding sensitive information. To support evidence-based decisions, regulatory agencies are also leveraging real-world evidence (RWE). Multiple studies suggest that incorporating RWE into regulatory evaluations has improved the overall quality of decisions on new drug approvals.5 Standardization is another key focus area. Broader adoption of the electronic common technical document (eCTD) format within the International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) framework is helping bring greater consistency to regulatory submissions.6 Standardized documentation not only reduces duplication and minimizes errors but also provides pharmaceutical companies with a more predictable and streamlined submission process. Market Report 2025: Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Major regulatory changes in 2025 In January 2025, the US FDA published a draft regulatory guidance entitled The Considerations for Use of Artificial Intelligence to Support Regulatory Decision-Making for Drug and Biological Products.7 The regulatory guidance aimed at formulating a risk-based credibility assessment framework to examine the usefulness of AI models in decision-making about the safety and efficacy of drugs and biological products. The 2025 guidelines also emphasize transparency, data quality, and continuous monitoring. From February 2, 2025, pharmaceutical companies in the European Union (EU) region must comply with AI literacy requirements and avoid AI practices that are prohibited under Article 514. By August 2, 2025, obligations for general-purpose AI models will take effect, which might impact AI-driven drug development and regulatory submissions.8 Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), an EU directive mandate effective from 2025, requires pharmaceutical companies to disclose environmental, social, and governance (ESG) activities to strengthen transparency in sustainability efforts. The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) has been applied in both EU and non-EU pharma companies to promote ethical business practices. This policy was established to foster sustainable and responsible behavior within their supply chains by identifying, preventing, and alleviating adverse impacts on the environment and the general population. The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) is an EU regulation, effective from January 17, 2025, that focuses on ensuring a secure financial system in Europe. DORA ensures strong cybersecurity resilience measures for financial entities for higher transparency in financial transactions and supply chain financing in pharmaceutical companies. In January 2025, another EU regulation-Health Technology Assessment Regulation (HTAR), took effect. This EMA regulation promotes collaboration between regulatory and health technology assessment bodies, thereby accelerating patient access to innovative treatments by harmonizing the evaluation process. This regulation also ensures the high quality of new technology, medical devices, and medicines through coordinated assessments. The FDA encourages pharmaceutical companies to adopt advanced manufacturing technologies (AMTs) to improve the reliability and robustness of the manufacturing process. AMTs would be significantly beneficial because they could reduce drug development time and enhance product quality. FDAs AMT guidance could also effectively help maintain the supply of drugs that are life-supporting The FDAs Breakthrough Therapy program and the EMAs PRIME scheme focus on streamlining approval pathways for ground-breaking therapies. These guidelines could reduce the time required to develop new therapy and enable a quick treatment for unmet medical needs. FDA's Latest Guidelines for Pharma Manufacturing | What's New? Play The CDMO Surge: Why Pharma Is Outsourcing More Than Ever Future outlook 2025 presents the pharma industry with regulatory modernization driven by cloud-based technologies, AI-powered tools, and expanded global harmonization efforts. Regulatory agencies will continue fostering innovation while ensuring patient safety, ethical conduct, and data integrity. Many opportunities are awaiting amidst the uncertainties that emerged due to the implementation of new technologies in drug development. Regulatory frameworks are evolving to adopt new ways of scientific thinking and ensure high-quality treatment. Pharmaceutical leaders must anticipate the changes in the regulatory landscape to stay ahead and quickly integrate compliance strategies into their long-term research and development (R&D) and commercialization plans. Pharma companies that enable quick adaptation to regulatory shifts will have a competitive advantage in launching new therapies to the market faster and more efficiently. References Joppi R, et al. Food and Drug Administration vs European Medicines Agency: Review times and clinical evidence on novel drugs at the time of approval. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2020;86(1):170-174. doi: 10.1111/bcp.14130. Niazi SK, Mariam Z. Artificial intelligence in drug development: reshaping the therapeutic landscape. Ther Adv Drug Saf. 2025. doi: 10.1177/20420986251321704. Chopra H, et al. Revolutionizing clinical trials: the role of AI in accelerating medical breakthroughs. Int J Surg. 2023;109(12):4211-4220. doi: 10.1097/JS9.0000000000000705. Khalil R, Macdonald JC, Gustafson A, Aljuburi L, Bisordi F, Beakes-Read G. Walking the talk in digital transformation of regulatory review. Front Med (Lausanne). 2023 Jul 26;10:1233142. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1233142. Burns L, et al. Real-world evidence for regulatory decision-making: updated guidance from around the world. Front Med (Lausanne). 2023;10:1236462. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1236462. Macdonald JC, et al. Digital Innovation in Medicinal Product Regulatory Submission, Review, and Approvals to Create a Dynamic Regulatory Ecosystem-Are We Ready for a Revolution? Front Med (Lausanne). 2021 May 21;8:660808. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2021.660808. Considerations for the Use of Artificial Intelligence To Support Regulatory Decision-Making for Drug and Biological Products. Food and Drug Adminidtration.2025. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/considerations-use-artificial-intelligence-support-regulatory-decision-making-drug-and-biological Commission publishes the Guidelines on prohibited artificial intelligence (AI) practices, as defined by the AI Act. European Comissions. 2025. Available at: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/commission-publishes-guidelines-prohibited-artificial-intelligence-ai-practices-defined-ai-act Further Reading Meniscus tears are common knee injuries that have long frustrated patients and doctors due to limited repair options. A new 3D-printed hydrogel made from cow meniscus could transform how these injuries heal, according to results of a pre-clinical study published in Bioactive Materials from researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The meniscus is a complex structure that serves as a critical shock absorber in the knee and one-size-fits-all treatments aren't always effective. Through creating a treatment adaptable to the different needs of patients, the researchers believe they may have unlocked a better fix no matter where the injury occurs in a meniscus. We developed a hydrogel that can be adjusted based on the patient's age and the stiffness requirements of the injured tissue, which is important because the meniscus has different biochemical and biomechanical properties that vary depending upon the location in the tissue. Current treatments, including graft-base methods, do not fully recreate these complex differences, leading to poor healing." Su Chin Heo, PhD, study's senior author, assistant professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Bioengineering in the McKay Orthopaedic Research Lab at Penn Hydrogels are flexible, water-absorbing materials commonly found in everyday products like contact lenses and baby diapers. The researchers developed a specialized hydrogel by first extracting proteins from donor cow meniscus tissue. Those proteins then directed new cells to become the right types of repair cells for the damaged meniscus and were used as the basis for the treatment's structures. To prevent rejection, the team removed cellular components from the cow tissue while preserving its structural framework. This "decellularization" process reduces the risk of immune reactions when implanted, making the treatment both safer and more effective. To further customize the hydrogels, Heo and his fellow researchers used 3D-printing techniques to account for the variation in the meniscus tissue. That way, they could more closely match the tissue in the areas they were trying to repair. Mismatched tissues might not heal well. "In our animal studies, we've seen the hydrogel integrate well with the surrounding tissue, potentially offering patients a more complete recovery," said the study's first author Se-Hwan Lee, PhD, a post-doctoral fellow in the McKay Lab. "It's a more precise, biologically matched solution. We believe this could outperform current treatments." The team is now transitioning from small mammal studies to large animal models. "Our first clinical goal will be to treat smaller, localized meniscus tears," Heo said. "Once we have success there, I believe we could expand to more complex injuries in the meniscus." The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (K01 AR07787, R21 R077700, P30 AR069619, R01 AR056624, R01 HL163168), the National Science Foundation (CMMI 1548571), and Department of Veterans Affairs' CReATE Motion Center (I50 RX004845) in the United States. It was also supported by the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (HI19C1095) and National R&D Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by Ministry of Science and ICT (RS-2024-00405574) in South Korea. Exposure to antibiotics during a key developmental window in infancy can stunt the growth of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas and may boost risk of diabetes later in life, new research in mice suggests. The study, published this month in the journal Science, also pinpoints specific microorganisms that may help those critical cells proliferate in early life. The findings are the latest to shine a light on the importance of the human infant microbiome-the constellation of bacteria and fungi living on and in us during our first few years. The research could lead to new approaches for addressing a host of metabolic diseases. We hope our study provides more awareness for how important the infant microbiome actually is for shaping development. This work also provides important new evidence that microbe-based approaches could someday be used to not only prevent but also reverse diabetes." Jennifer Hill, first author, assistant professor in molecular, cellular and developmental biology at CU's BioFrontiers Institute Something in the environment More than 2 million U.S. adults live with Type 1 diabetes, an incurable disease in which the pancreas fails to make insulin (the hormone that turns glucose into energy) and the blood fills with sugar. The disease typically emerges in childhood, and genetics play a strong role. But scientists have found that, while identical twins share DNA that predisposes them to Type 1 diabetes, only one twin usually gets the disease. "This tells you that there's something about their environmental experiences that is changing their susceptibility," said Hill. For years, she has looked to microbes for answers. Previous studies show that children who are breastfed or born vaginally, which can both promote a healthy infant microbiome, are less likely to develop Type 1 diabetes than others. Some research also shows that giving babies antibiotics early can inadvertently kill good bugs with bad and boost diabetes risk. The lingering questions: What microbes are these infants missing out on? "Our study identifies a critical window in early life when specific microbes are necessary to promote pancreatic cell development," said Hill. A key window of opportunity She explained that human babies are born with a small amount of pancreatic "beta cells," the only cells in the body that produce insulin. But some time in a baby's first year, a once-in-a-lifetime surge in beta cell growth occurs. "If, for whatever reason, we don't undergo this event of expansion and proliferation, that can be a cause of diabetes," Hill said. She conducted the current study as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Utah with senior author June Round, a professor of pathology. They found that when they gave broad-spectrum antibiotics to mice during a specific window (the human equivalent of about 7 to 12 months of life), the mice developed fewer insulin producing cells, higher blood sugar levels, lower insulin levels and generally worse metabolic function in adulthood. "This, to me, was shocking and a bit scary," said Round. "It showed how important the microbiota is during this very short early period of development." Lessons in baby poop In other experiments, the scientists gave specific microbes to mice, and found that several they increased their production of beta cells and boosted insulin levels in the blood. The most powerful was a fungus called Candida dubliniensis. The team used fecal samples from The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) study to make what Hill calls "poop slushies" and fed them to the mice. When the researchers inoculated newborn mice with poop from healthy infants between 7 to 12 months in age, their beta cells began to grow. Poop from infants of other ages did not do the same. Notably, Candida dublineinsis was abundant in human babies only during this time period. "This suggests that humans also have a narrow window of colonization by these beta cell promoting microbes," said Hill. When male mice that were genetically predisposed to Type 1 diabetes were colonized with the fungus in infancy, they developed diabetes less than 15% of the time. Males that didn't receive the fungus got diabetes 90% of the time. Even more promising, when researchers gave the fungus to adult mice whose insulin-producing cells had been killed off, those cells regenerated. Too early for treatments Hill stresses that she is not "anti-antibiotics." But she does imagine a day when doctors could give microbe-based drugs or supplements alongside antibiotics to replace the metabolism-supporting bugs they inadvertently kill. Poop slushies (fecal microbiota transplants) have already been used experimentally to try to improve metabolic profiles of people with Type 2 diabetes, which can also damage pancreatic beta cells. But such approaches can come with real risk, since many microbes that are beneficial in childhood can cause harm in adults. Instead, she hopes that scientists can someday harness the specific mechanisms the microbes use to develop novel treatments for healing a damaged pancreas-reversing diabetes. She recently helped establish a state-of-the-art "germ-free" facility for studying the infant microbiome at CU Boulder. There, animals can be bred and raised in sterile "bubbles" entirely without microbes, and by re-introducing them one by one scientists can learn they work. "Historically we have interpreted germs as something we want to avoid, but we probably have way more beneficial microbes than pathogens," she said. "By harnessing their power, we can do a lot to benefit human health." 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 new Nature Communications study, led by scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) and UC San Diego shows that these two viruses have vastly different ways of making us sick. Zika virus uses stealth. Zika virus slips into dendritic cells and blocks the dendritic cells from alerting nearby T cells to danger. It's the classic horror movie cliche-the 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 for 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 little-and 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. We think that's a key to its pathogenesis, its ability to spread silently and persist within humans that it infects." Aaron Carlin, M.D., Ph.D., UC San Diego Professor 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. A new study reveals that TikTok's most-viewed ADHD videos often spread inaccurate information, blurring the line between relatable content and real diagnosisraising red flags among mental health experts. Study: A double-edged hashtag: Evaluation of #ADHD-related TikTok content and its associations with perceptions of ADHD. Image Credit: PeopleImages.com - Yuri A / Shutterstock.com A recent PLOS ONE study investigates the psychoeducational quality of TikTok content about attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) based on the perspectives of mental health professionals and young adults. Social media content on mental health concerns ADHD is characterized by hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. Current estimates indicate that 3-7% of adults are diagnosed with ADHD throughout the world. Social media platforms provide easy access to information on mental health conditions like ADHD, depression, and anxiety. Unlike traditional information sources, social media platforms enable individuals with mental health issues to share their experiences with others, which has the potential to reduce stigma and raise awareness of prevalent mental health issues. However, the lack of quality control on social media content increases the risk of misinformation. TikTok for information on mental health TikTok is a social media platform that allows users to post content in short video format. Over the past five years, it has become increasingly popular, with over 50 million active daily users spending more than one hour on it every day. In fact, a recent survey revealed that two out of five Americans prefer TikTok over more traditional search engines, including Google, particularly among Gen Z and Millennials, at 64% and 49%, respectively. TikTok offers an environment where people seek information about mental health while also sharing their experiences and connecting with others with similar conditions. In fact, mental health content, particularly videos about autism and ADHD, are TikToks 10 most-viewed health-related hashtags. Importantly, social media platforms like TikTok are not designed to provide effective psychoeducation to their users. Furthermore, the lack of fact-checking mechanisms for social media content increases the risk of disseminating inaccurate or misleading information. For example, one recent study reported that 41% of the most popular TikTok videos providing psychoeducation about autism were inaccurate, with 32% overgeneralized. About the study The current study investigated the authenticity of information available about ADHD on TikTok while also evaluating how TikTok content on ADHD influenced viewers perceptions of this mental health condition. Study 1 assessed the characteristics of popular ADHD content on TikTok, which was designated as Research Question 1 (RQ1), and evaluated whether these data align with clinical diagnostic criteria and treatment recommendations by mental health professionals (RQ2). Study 2 evaluated how young adults with or without self-reported ADHD perceive ADHD-related TikTok content (RQ3), how psychologist rates the content (RQ4), and the impact of this content on user perceptions of ADHD (R5). At baseline, study participants provided information on their ADHD diagnosis or whether they believed that they were undiagnosed with this condition. The selected participants completed questionnaires about their demographics, diagnostic history, and symptoms. After the initial screening, 224 participants were classified in the no ADHD group, 198 into the ADHD formal diagnosis group, and 421 in the self-diagnosis group. Each study participant was randomly asked to watch the top and bottom five TikTok videos. Then, the participants were asked to rate the videos based on the global score given by psychologists. Study participants were also given the choice to watch or avoid videos by psychologist raters from Study 1, which explained why certain videos received higher scores than others. Those who watched the experts videos were subsequently asked to rate the TikTok content again and report whether their perception of ADHD changed. ADHD on TikTok: Separating facts from misinformation Study participants self-diagnosed with ADHD more frequently watched ADHD-related TikTok content than those without ADHD. This could be attributed to users finding these videos relevant to their lives, or may be reinforced by the TikTok algorithm that learns from the watch history of users. Many videos that claimed to describe ADHD symptoms were transdiagnostic, and some content reflected normal human experience. This observation indicates that certain TikTok creators focus on the breadth over the specificity of their content to attract a larger audience. Clinical psychologists reported that the accuracy of information in TikTok videos was low, which similarly reflects previous reports by health professionals considering ADHD-related content on TikTok to be misleading. In accordance with the psychologist's ratings, young adults provided favorable views on the bottom five TikTok videos than the top five. However, the top five videos were scored higher than the bottom five videos, thus reflecting their critical judgment. A significant proportion of young adults with ADHD were interested in hearing from mental health professionals. As compared to the ADHD-diagnosed group, individuals self-diagnosed with ADHD were assured that they did not have this condition after watching the psychologists explanation videos. Conclusions Psychology experts report that most TikTok content is misleading and inaccurate, which likely contributes to a rise in self-diagnosed cases of ADHD. However, individuals with confirmed ADHD diagnoses with limited access to treatment were found to benefit from content where the creator shared their experience. Yale scientists have discovered a promising way to trigger immune responses against certain tumors, using a lupus-related antibody that can slip, undetected, into "cold" tumors and flip on an immune response that has been turned off by cancer. The research, published in Science Signaling on March 25, offers new findings that could help improve therapies for glioblastoma and other aggressive cancers that are difficult to treat. It turns out when this antibody gets into the cell's cytoplasm [the liquid material inside the cell, excluding the nucleus] and it binds to RNA, it causes this thing called a pattern recognition receptor to wake up and say, 'This isn't supposed to be here,' which triggers an immune reaction. By doing that, the antibody has significantly prolonged survival in brain tumor models by itself-without radiation or chemotherapy." Dr. James Hansen, study's senior author, radiation oncology chief of Yale's Gamma Knife Program, and member of Yale Cancer Center Cold tumors, sometimes called immune deserts, typically do not have many T cells so they don't respond well to cancer treatments, including immunotherapies. However, "hot tumors" typically do respond because they have immune cells, even though they are temporarily disabled by cancer. "We're excited about this new way to engage the immune system to treat brain tumors," Hansen said. "Equally exciting is the discovery that this lupus antibody delivers genes to cells without needing any help from a virus, meaning it could be used to transform gene therapy strategies." The researchers confirmed in lab studies that the antibody did not work in tissue that lacked functional immune cells. If the immune cells functioned properly, the autoantibody could carry and deliver functional RNA into tumor, brain, and muscle tissue. They hope the findings lead to improved strategies for non-viral gene delivery (use of physical forces to deliver genetic material into a cell) and immunotherapy treatment. Yale's Xiaoyong Chen joined Hansen as the study's first author. Other Yale authors include Xiangjun Tang, Ying Xie, Benedette Cuffari, Caroline Tang, Fei Cao, Xingchun Gao, Zhouqi Meng, Philip Noble, Melissa Young, Olivia Turk, Anupama Shirali, and Jiangbing Zhou. Researchers from UCLA and the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System also contributed to this study. 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 wellbeing into adulthood. The findings are embargoed until Tuesday, March 25, at 6 a.m. ET and may be publicly released at that time. Key findings include: Children who have their own smartphones fared better than kids who don't on nearly every measure of wellbeing 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 percent 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 cyberbullying being called a mean or hurtful name online is 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. "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 opposite that 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 of experts from journalism, psychology, public health, political science and communications, as well as a researcher from the Poynter Institute for Media Studies, provide 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." Wendy Rote, Associate Professor, Psychology, University of South Florida 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 wellbeing through an individual's life," said Stephen Song, co-principal investigator and USF assistant professor of journalism. 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. A recent report shows cases of measles across the World Health Organization's European Region, which includes the UK, are the highest they've been for more than 25 years. At the same time, large outbreaks of measles in the US have led to the first measles deaths there since 2015. For our new series, LSHTM Unpacked, we talked to experts at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) about what makes measles so dangerous, the risk measles poses to children and adults in the UK, and common concerns about measles vaccines and vaccination. Why is measles so dangerous? Measles virus is one of the world's most contagious viruses, it spreads easily through coughs and sneezes One person infected with measles will infect another 12 to 18 people People of any age can become ill with measles and spread the virus but children are most likely to catch it Measles can be fatal or cause life-long disability including deafness, pneumonia, meningitis, blindness, seizures and brain damage There are no specific treatments for measles but two doses of the MMR vaccine can prevent it 1 in 5 children with measles will need to visit hospital Around 1 in 15 people with measles will develop serious complications Measles can also severely weaken your immune system and leave you vulnerable to other infections Dr Alexis Robert, an Assistant Professor at LSHTM who studies the transmission of measles in England and Wales, said: "The measles virus is one of the world's most infectious respiratory pathogens and can cause life-long disability or death. In the absence of vaccination measles can spread very rapidly, and it used to cause hundreds of thousands of cases per year in England. Outbreaks we see today in the UK are much smaller, because most people are protected against measles thanks to the two doses of vaccine they received in childhood. "Because measles is so infectious, about 95% of the population need to receive a full course of vaccination to mitigate the risk of outbreaks. If coverage is lower, people who catch measles will infect other people who do not have protection from the vaccine or from having had measles previously. Those who are unvaccinated are then the most likely to be severely unwell and to spread the virus to others. "Studies have estimated that nearly half of childhood deaths from infectious diseases in the UK prior to the introduction of the measles vaccine could have been due to suppressed immune systems caused by previous measles infections." Is there a risk of measles in the UK? In 2024 there were 2,911 laboratory confirmed measles cases in England, the highest number of cases recorded since 2012 To prevent measles outbreaks, the WHO recommends that 95% of people are fully vaccinated with two doses of the MMR vaccine In 2024, 85% of people in the UK received two doses of MMR, well-below the 95% target 127,350 measles cases were reported across the WHO European Region, which includes the UK, in 2024. This is the highest number of cases since 1997 90% of these cases were reported in five countries: Romania, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgystan, and Russia where MMR coverage is low Children under 5 accounted for more than 40% of cases across Europe in 2024 Between 2000-2022, 23 children and adults died in England and Wales from measles or related infections Before routine measles vaccination began in 1968, England and Wales saw large outbreaks with peaks of 600,000 cases in some years Vaccination programmes in the UK and globally have been so successful, it can be easy to forget why we still need them, and many people may not have a memory of the consequences of infections like measles. But history tells us that even a small decline in vaccine uptake can have devastating consequences." Dr Ben Kasstan-Dabush, Assistant Professor, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Why is it important to get the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine? Measles vaccines have saved more lives than any other vaccine in the past 50 years Over 99% of children and adults who have the recommended two doses of MMR vaccine will have life-long protection against measles Measles can spread quickly between those who have not had a vaccine - outbreaks can be prevented if 95% of people in the community have been vaccinated Being vaccinated also helps protect those who are unable to get the vaccine themselves, such as young babies and immunocompromised people It's never too late to get the MMR vaccine Dr Ben Kasstan-Dabush said: "An individual who has recovered from measles will be immune to infection in the future but this should never be considered as a safe alternative to vaccination. "Measles infections are aggressive and the condition of someone infected with measles can suddenly deteriorate. You risk exposing yourself or your child to suffering a severe and preventable illness than can cause life-long disability or even death. "Being vaccinated is the best way to protect you, your child, your family and people who aren't able to get the vaccine, like young babies, from getting sick with measles or spreading it to other people." Dr Alexis Robert said: "Measles outbreaks occur when vaccine coverage is low, as it can spread more easily between those who do not have protection. The latest figures show only 85% of under-5s in England have received two doses of MMR, when the WHO target is 95%, so there's an urgent need to increase vaccine coverage. "The rise in cases of measles we're seeing is not due to a decrease in the effectiveness of the vaccine. "If individuals vaccinated in the 1980s or 1990s had lost all protection (and were "essentially unvaccinated"), then we would expect to see tens of thousands of cases of measles in vaccinated individuals aged 30 to 40 years old, as they would basically have no protection. This isn't the case, as the outbreaks we're seeing have mostly affected individuals who are unvaccinated, especially children. "While it's also still possible to be infected with measles if you've already had the vaccine, it's rare. If it does happen, the symptoms and lasting effects will be significantly milder. "Infants whose mothers have been vaccinated are also protected by their mother's antibodies. While this protection may not be quite as long lasting as from mothers who have survived a measles infection, it will be in addition to the protection given by the high levels of vaccination around them, that wouldn't have been there before routine immunisation. This protects them until they're old enough to get vaccinated themselves. "Analysis of measles data in England has shown that the number and age distribution of cases is in line with a very slow waning of protection from the vaccine: around 0.04% per year, meaning that individuals who gained protection after vaccination will still be 99% protected 20 years after receiving their second dose." Is the MMR vaccine safe? Millions of doses of MMR vaccine have been given to people in the UK since it was introduced in 1988 MMR is a live vaccine, meaning it contains weakened versions of measles, mumps and rubella The weakened versions of the viruses are not enough to cause disease in the person receiving the vaccine, but are enough for the body to produce its own antibodies against them - known as immunity As the immune system is triggered to produce protection against the disease, it is common to experience some mild side effects Serious reactions following vaccination are rare. Should they happen, the healthcare professional giving the vaccine will be trained to treat them immediately The scientific consensus is that there is no evidence to support the false claims of a link between the MMR vaccine and autism - the original claims have been proven to be fraudulent Measles remains far more dangerous than any measles vaccine - an estimated 107,500 people died globally from measles in 2023, mostly unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children under 5 The safety and recommendation of all vaccines in the UK are continually monitored by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) Dr Ben Kasstan-Dabush said: "Vaccines are designed to trigger an immune response against a certain pathogen, without causing the disease itself. 'Side effects' are typically a sign that the immune system is being trained to remember that pathogen, to prevent infection in the future. It's normal to experience general symptoms following MMR vaccination, but these are often milder and much less severe than what you'd experience by catching measles. Your practice nurse will always explain how to care for your child after vaccination and what to do if you're concerned about a reaction. "It's also important to be cautious with vaccine information you see on social media - it may not always be based on scientific evidence and could put you or your child at risk of a serious illness. We learnt from the COVID-19 vaccination programme that misinformation can travel rapidly and can influence people's decisions. My advice would be to always check with credible sources like the NHS website or to call your GP surgery." Dr Alexis Robert said: "The safety of the MMR vaccine and all vaccines in the UK is closely monitored, and it has consistently been proven to be the safest and most effective way to protect yourself and those around you against measles. It provides long-lasting protection and has saved millions of lives since its implementation in routine vaccination." Who can get the MMR vaccine in the UK? Young children are offered two doses of the MMR vaccine through the NHS routine childhood vaccination programme It's recommended that children receive the most vaccines during the first year of life, as this is when they're most vulnerable to the consequences of the disease However, if you or your child haven't had the MMR vaccine yet, it's never too late. To find out more speak to your GP or ask a local pharmacist for advice Different countries also offer different vaccinations - if you were born or brought up abroad, you may still need to get the MMR vaccine to be protected against measles, mumps, and rubella All adults are advised to check their vaccination status Dr Ben Kasstan-Dabush said: "We know that declining coverage is happening amidst an unforgiving cost of living crisis in the UK, characterised by a generational decline in living standards, political austerity and unequal pandemic recovery. There are clear links between deprivation and lower immunisation coverage because uncertainty affects so many aspects of a parent's life. "To reverse the decline in vaccine uptake, it's important that we continue to see immunisation services with sufficient resources to effectively engage communities and ensure capacity. "Childhood vaccinations are typically delivered through General Practice, and this is an acceptable delivery route for most parents. We must ensure that the universal offer is complemented by tailored engagement and outreach clinics when required, to help ensure that all families and communities have equitable access." Ms Choi (first right) visits a primary school in Reykjavik, Iceland. Ms Choi (first right) meets South Australias Minister for Education, Training & Skills Blair Boyer (first left). Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin (first row, third left) joins counterparts from other countries and regions at the International Summit on the Teaching Profession 2025. Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin yesterday discussed global trends in education with representatives from other nations and regions at the International Summit on the Teaching Profession 2025 in Reykjavik, Iceland. Ms Choi was joined in attending the summit, themed Quality Education: The Key to Prosperity & Well-being, by a delegation of Hong Kong principals and educationalists. In her address at a session on kindergarten education, she outlined that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Governments Kindergarten Education Scheme, introduced in the 2017-18 school year, provides quality and affordable kindergarten education that meets the diverse needs of students. She highlighted that at present, about 90% of the half-day programmes offered by kindergartens under the scheme are free of charge, while fees for whole-day programmes are maintained at a low level. She added that the scheme enhances kindergarten education through upgrading teachers professional qualifications and supporting their continuous professional development, improving the teacher-student ratio, and more. During the summit, Ms Choi also met South Australias Minister for Education, Training & Skills Blair Boyer, to explore ways of promoting educational exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and Australia. Ms Choi briefed Mr Boyer on the various government measures to achieve a highly internationalised higher education sector in Hong Kong, and discussed issues of mutual concern with him. The summit was co-organised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development, Education International, Icelands Ministry of Education & Children, and the Icelandic Teachers Union. Education ministers, teaching leaders and educationalists from around the world gathered at the event to discuss promoting quality early childhood education, inclusive and supportive learning environments, and a child-centred education system. On Monday, Ms Choi attended a seminar at the summit exploring the frontiers of artificial intelligence in education. She met Permanent Secretary in Icelands Ministry of Education & Children Erna Kristin Blondal to discuss educational collaboration between Hong Kong and Iceland and the latest developments in vocational and professional education and training. She also visited a local primary school and paid a courtesy call on Chinese Ambassador to Iceland He Rulong. Ms Choi will today depart from Iceland on a scheduled visit to Delhi, India. 8th Pay Commission: Central Govt Employees Likely To Receive Up To 19% Hike In Median Salary, Says Goldman Sachs Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 13:58 IST 8th Pay Commission: Goldman Sachs in its latest note says central government employees could benefit by an additional Rs 14,000 to Rs 19,000 per month, a hike of 14-19% over their existing pre-tax median salary of Rs 1 lakh. The 8th Pay Commission will revise salaries, pensions, and allowances, directly benefiting over 50 lakh central government employees and over 65 lakh pensioners. 8th Pay Commission: Central government employees are likely to receive a hike of Rs 14,000-19,000 per month in their median salary after the implementation of the 8th Pay Commission in 2026 or 2027, according to Goldman Sachs. This is a 14-19% hike over their current median monthly salary (pre-tax) of Rs 1 lakh. In a note on Monday, the financial services company said the 8th Pay Commission is expected to be constituted in April and its report is likely to be implemented in 2026 or 2027. Recommended Stories Goldman Sachs in its broad-scenario analysis for the central government-employee cohort said, While only for illustrative purposes, this analysis suggests the cohort could benefit by an additional Rs 14,000 to Rs 19,000 per month." The financial services company presents three scenarios of the salary hike: Scenario 1: If the central government decides to allocate Rs 1.75 lakh crore for the 8th Pay Commissions implementation and 50-50 is used for salary hike and pension hike, the median salary of central government employees will rise by Rs 14,600 per month. Scenario 2: If allocation is Rs 2 lakh crore, the median salary will be increased by Rs 16,700 per month. Scenario 3: If the Centre allocates Rs 2.25 lakh crore, the salary hike for the employees will be Rs 18,800 per month. Currently, the median salary of central government employees is Rs 1 lakh (before the tax), according to Goldman Sachs. The salary hike could benefit over 50 lakh central government employees and more than 65 lakh pensioners. In the 7th Pay Commission, the central government incurred an estimated cost of Rs 1.02 lakh crore for salary and pension hikes. 8th Pay Commission: What We Know So Far The 8th Pay Commission has already been announced and received the Union Cabinets approval on January 16, 2025. However, its members, chairman, and the terms of reference (ToF) have not been decided yet. Once these are decided, the Commission will hold deliberations with stakeholders and determine the fitment factor and other modalities for the salary and pension hikes. According to Goldman Sachs, the 8th Pay Commission is likely to be constituted in April and its report is likely to be implemented in 2026 or 2027. According to reports, the National Council-Joint Consultative Machinery seeks a fitment factor of at least 2.57 (same as the 7th Pay Commission) or higher. Join Consultative Machinery is a platform to resolve disputes between the central government and its employees through dialogue. I still believe that the fitment factorhas to be at least 2.57, or higher than that," Shiv Gopal Mishra, secretary (staff side) of the National Council-Joint Consultative Machinery, recently told NDTV Profit. How Much Will Minimum Salary Increase For Central Govt Employees On A Fitment Factor Of 2.57? A fitment factor of 2.57 will led to a 157 per cent salary hike for central government employees. It means that the current minimum salary of Rs 18,000 per month will increase to Rs 46,260. It will also lead to a commensurate hike in minimum pension from Rs 9,000 per month to Rs 23,130. The 7th Pay Commission had recommended the fitment factor of 2.57. It had led to a hike of 157 per cent in minimum salary from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000 for central government employees. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Earlier, there was a demand for a fitment factor of 2.86 under the 8th Pay Commission. However, former finance secretary Subhash Garg in an interview with a news channel said that the demand for a fitment factor of 2.86 is like asking for the moon". He said fitment factor could be around 1.92. If the fitment factor of 1.92 is approved, it will increase central government employees minimum salary from Rs 18,000 to Rs 34,560, a hike of 92 per cent. About the Author Mohammad Haris Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to markets, economy and companies. Having a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris has been previously asso... Read More Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to markets, economy and companies. Having a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris has been previously asso... Read More First Published: March 26, 2025, 13:54 IST Will Kunal Kamra Lose 'Super Thanks' Income After T-Series' Copyright Strike? YouTube Income Explained Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: April 03, 2025, 09:29 IST Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra is receiving massive 'Super Thanks' contributions in the comment section of his latest video 'Naya Bharat'. Kunal Kamra is under fire due to his reference to Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde as "gaddar" (traitor) in his latest YouTube video 'Naya Bharat'. (Photo: X) Kunal Kamra Super Thanks Donations: Even as stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra is under fire due to his reference to Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde as gaddar" (traitor) in his latest YouTube video Naya Bharat, music giant T-Series has reportedly sent a copyright strike on the video, which might take it down. If that happens, will Kunal Kamra lose all his income received through contributions in the videos comment section? Hello @TSeries, stop being a stooge. Parody & Satire comes under fair use Legally. I havent used the lyrics or the original instrumental of the song. If you take this video down every cover song/dance video can be taken down," the 36-year-old stand-up comedian said in a post on X. Recommended Stories Hello @TSeries, stop being a stooge.Parody & Satire comes under fair use Legally. I havent used the lyrics or the original instrumental of the song. If you take this video down every cover song/dance video can be taken down.Creators please take a note of it. Having said pic.twitter.com/Q8HXl1UhMy Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) March 26, 2025 Types Of YouTube Income YouTube has various types of incomes for creators per-view income on ads, Super Chats, Super Stickers, Super Thanks, channel memberships, and sponsorships. In case of content ID claim on any copyrighted content (music, clips, etc), contributions via Super Chats & Super Stickers (for live streams), and Channel Memberships are generally not affected. However, as per YouTubes policies, if the copyright owner manually reports your video and YouTube removes it before the payment cycle, you lose all revenue from that video, including Super Thanks. Three strikes can lead to channel termination. What Kind Of Donation Is Kunal Kamra Receiving? Kunal Kamra is receiving Super Thanks donations in his YouTube videos comment sections. What Are Super Thanks Donations? Super Thanks allows viewers to donate money on regular uploaded videos (unlike Super Chats and Super Stickers, which are used during live streams). According to YouTube owner Google, Super Thanks (formerly known as Viewer applause) lets creators earn revenue from viewers who want to show extra gratitude for their Shorts and long-form videos." YouTubes Super Thanks policy enables Indian fans to donate between Rs 40 and Rs 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. With Super Thanks, YouTube takes a 30 per cent cut, while the creator gets the 70 per cent share. Will Kunal Kamra Lose His Super Thanks Income? Jidesh Kumar, managing partner, King Stubb & Kasiva, Advocates and Attorneys, told news18.com, If a YouTube video with Super Thanks donations gets a copyright claim, the video usually stays live. Monetisation may be redirected to the copyright holder. In most cases, creators can still keep Super Thanks donations. These are seen as voluntary contributions, not ad revenue. But, this can vary depending on the claim and YouTubes internal policies." If the video receives a copyright strike and is taken down, Super Thanks donations are withheld. YouTube hasnt clearly stated what happens to that money. Its not clear if it gets refunded, sent to the copyright holder, or kept by YouTube. So far, the donations are usually not refunded and may stay with YouTube if the video is permanently removed, Kumar added. According to a content creator, If you have already been paid for past Super Thanks before the strike, that money is safe. However, if your video gets deleted due to a copyright strike before your payment cycle ends, you lose all revenue from that video, including Super Thanks." So, if Kunal Kamras payment cycle falls before the strike and he received the Super Thanks, that amount would be safe. However, the amount came during the payment cycle of the strike, his Super Thanks donations remain uncertain, the creator added. YouTube Policies On Super Thanks & Copyright Claims Or Strikes? According to Google Support, under Super Thanks Policies, Participating creators (and MCNs) must accept and comply with, YouTube Terms of Service; YouTube Community Guidelines; YouTube channel monetisation policies; all policies that apply to YouTube fan funding features, including the Commerce Product Module; and all applicable laws as required by YouTubes Terms of Service. Money you get from Super Thanks may be treated differently based on laws that apply to you and your activities." It also says Super Thanks isnt a crowdfunding or donation tool. Youre responsible for understanding and fully complying with all applicable laws," reads Google Support FAQs. Google also enlists eligibility for individual long-form videos and Shorts Super Thanks. It says Super Thanks is not available for the following types of long-form videos and Shorts: top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Age-restricted Unlisted Private Made for kids Long-form videos or Shorts with Content ID claims Long-form videos or Shorts with YouTube Giving fundraisers Live streams or Premieres, while live (available on archived long-form videos afterwards) Long-form videos or Shorts with comments turned off. Googles Policies on Super Thanks eligibility and availability can be read here. About the Author Mohammad Haris Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to markets, economy and companies. Having a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris has been previously asso... Read More Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to markets, economy and companies. Having a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris has been previously asso... Read More First Published: March 26, 2025, 19:25 IST News / National by Staff reporter Zimbabwe is set to host the five-day Southern African Development Community (SADC) Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Cooperation Structures meetings, starting tomorrow, March 24, in Victoria Falls. The high-level discussions, running until March 28, will bring together technical experts and policymakers from across the region to shape regional trade policies and inform decisions made by the SADC Council of Ministers.As the current chair of SADC, Zimbabwe aims to leverage the platform to influence the regional trade agenda, strengthen its technical capabilities, and showcase its capacity to host key regional events. The meetings will focus on harmonising standards, removing trade barriers, and enhancing economic cooperation among member states.Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu emphasized the strategic importance of hosting the meetings, describing them as a crucial opportunity for Zimbabwe to contribute to intra-SADC trade and economic growth."Though these are technical meetings, their resolutions directly inform the SADC Council of Ministers' decisions, affording Zimbabwe a vital platform to influence the regional trade agenda," Minister Ndlovu stated."By facilitating crucial discussions on harmonising standards and reducing technical barriers to trade, Zimbabwe actively contributes to fostering a more conducive environment for intra-SADC trade and economic growth. Furthermore, hosting these meetings presents a valuable platform for capacity building, enabling Zimbabwe to enhance its technical expertise alongside other member states."The SADC TBT Cooperation Structures play a pivotal role in eliminating technical trade barriers and ensuring that regulatory frameworks do not impede the movement of goods and services within the region. Discussions during the meetings will center on aligning technical regulations, reinforcing quality infrastructure, and promoting transparency in cross-border trade.Minister Ndlovu further highlighted the broader economic significance of the meetings, stating: "The SADC TBT Cooperation Structures meetings are vital for fostering regional economic progress. They achieve this by streamlining trade processes through the harmonisation of standards and regulations, effectively reducing technical barriers that impede commerce. This creates a more transparent and predictable trading environment, bolstered by robust information exchange among member states."Zimbabwe's hosting of the event is expected to reinforce its leadership role within SADC and contribute to regional trade development. The outcomes of the discussions will directly shape trade policies, ensuring a more integrated and cooperative trading environment within the bloc. AP LAWCET 2025 Application Open At cets.apsche.ap.gov.in, Direct Link To Apply Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 10:59 IST AP LAWCET 2025: Candidates can fill the applications for LLB and LLM by April 27, 2025, at cets.apsche.ap.gov.in. AP LAWCET 2025: The exam is scheduled to be held on June 5, 2025. AP LAWCET 2025: The Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) has commenced the application process for the Andhra Pradesh Law Common Entrance Test (AP LAWCET) 2025 on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. Interested and eligible candidates can now apply for the entrance exam through the official website, cets.apsche.ap.gov.in. The registration deadline for AP LAWCET 2025 is April 27, 2025. The entrance exam is scheduled for June 5, 2025, and is conducted for admission to 3-year and 5-year LLB courses, as well as 2-year LLM programmes for the academic year 2025-2026. Recommended Stories Important Dates For AP LAWCET 2025: Commencement of Online Applications (No Late Fee): March 25, 2025 April 27, 2025 Submission of Applications with Late Fee of Rs 1000: April 28, 2025 May 4, 2025 Submission of Applications with Late Fee of Rs 2000: May 5, 2025 May 11, 2025 Submission of Applications with Late Fee of Rs 4000: May 12, 2025 May 18, 2025 Submission of Applications with Late Fee of Rs 10000: May 19, 2025 May 25, 2025 Correction of Application Data: May 26, 2025 May 27, 2025 AP LAWCET 2025 Hall Ticket Download: From May 30, 2025 onwards Examination Date: June 5, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM AP LAWCET 2025: Eligibility Criteria Candidates applying for the LLB courses must have completed an undergraduate degree from a recognised university with at least 45% aggregate marks. For candidates from backward castes, the minimum required percentage is 42%, while SC and ST candidates must secure at least 40%. AP LAWCET 2025: Application Fees General Category: Rs 900 BC Category: Rs 850 SC/ST Category: Rs 800 Steps To Apply For AP LAWCET 2025: Step 1: Visit the official website of APSCHE: cets.apsche.ap.gov.in. Step 2: Find the AP LAWCET 2025 application link and click on it. Step 3: Fill out the application form with the required details. Step 4: Upload the necessary documents, including photographs and signatures. Step 5: Pay the application fee based on your category. Step 6: Submit the form and take a printout for future reference. Direct Link To Apply For AP LAWCET 2025 AP LAWCET 2025 Exam Pattern AP LAWCET 2025 will be held in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode only on June 5, 2025. The exam paper will consist of three parts with a total of 120 questions. The duration of the test is 90 minutes. Maximum marks are 120. Part A: Consists of 30 questions carrying 30 marks: General Knowledge and Mental Ability top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Part B: Consists of 30 questions carrying 30 marks: Current Affairs Part C: Consists of 60 questions carrying 60 marks: Aptitude for the Study of Law. 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 26, 2025, 10:59 IST Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 11:54 IST BSEB 10th Result 2025: Bihar Board matric result to be declared by March 31, says Anand Kishore. Bihar Board Class 10th Results Date and Time 2025 Live: The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) will soon release the BSEB Matric results 2025. According to BSEB Chairman Anand Kishore, the results are expected to be released by March 31. Our target is to declare the matric result by March 31, and we are doing preparations for the matric result. I am expecting that the matric result will be declared by March 31, said Anand Kishore. This year, around 15.85 lakh students appeared for the Class 10 exams, which were conducted from February 17 to 25. The BSEB has maintained a consistent record of timely result declarations, often releasing results earlier than many other state boards. BSEB Matric Result 2025: How To Check And Download Class 10 Scorecard Students can download their BSEB Class 10 scorecard 2025 by following these steps: Step 1: Visit the official websites results.biharboardonline.com or biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in. Step 2: Click on the Bihar Board 10th Result 2025 link. Step 3: Enter your roll number and roll code. Step 4: The BSEB Class 10 scorecard 2025 will be displayed on the screen. Step 5: Download and save the scorecard. Step 6: Take a printout for future reference. ALSO READ: Bihar Board 12th Result 2025: Topper Priya Jaiswal Shares Secret To Success And Her Next Goal The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) announced the Class 12 (Intermediate) exam results for 2025 on March 25. The pass percentage stood at 89.66% in Science, 94.77% in Commerce, and 82.75% in Arts. Priya Jaiswal secured the top position in Science, Raushani Kumari topped in Commerce, while Ankita Kumari and Shakib Shah jointly secured the top rank in Arts. Delhi Boosts Education Budget By 17% With 60 New CM Shri Schools And Narela Education Hub Published By : PTI Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 07:01 IST The BJP government in Delhi allocated Rs 19,291 crore for education next year, a 17% increase. Initiatives include CM Shri schools, language labs, and startup support centres. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta presents the Budget 2025-26, in New Delhi on March 25, 2025. (Image: PTI) The newly-formed BJP government in Delhi on Tuesday allocated Rs 19,291 crore for the education sector in the next financial year, over 17 per cent higher than last year, and announced a slew of initiatives, including CM Shri schools, language laboratories, modern computer labs, and startup support centres. The previous AAP government which boasted its various reform measures in the field of education during the recent assembly polls had earmarked Rs 16,396 crore for education related expenditure in FY25. Recommended Stories The overall budget outlay of Rs 1 lakh crore for the financial year 2025-26 is 31.5 per cent higher from the previous fiscal. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who also holds the finance portfolio, announced an allocation of Rs 100 crore to set up 60 new CM Shri schools and Rs 500 crore for an education hub in Narela, aiming to strengthen Delhis education infrastructure. The new CM Shri schools will be fully compliant with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and implement the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSC) 2023. Gupta said that the education hub in Narela is set to expand, with the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) allotting 160 acres of land to the Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women (IGDTUW). Additionally, 1,270 flats have been allocated to four universities Delhi Technological University (DTU), Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University (DSEU), Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi (DPRSU), and Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) to help them establish or expand their campuses in the area. While presenting the budget in the state assembly, Gupta highlighted the governments commitment to digital learning by announcing free laptops for 1,200 Class 10 students, and set aside Rs 7.5 crore for the initiative. For the development of multilingual skills, 100 new language labs named after Dr A P J Abdul Kalam will be established, offering courses in French, German, English, Spanish, and other languages. The project has been allocated Rs 21 crore. The chief minister also introduced a new scheme, New Era of Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Vision, designed to instil a business mindset in students, and allocated Rs 20 crore to support this initiative. Besides, several startup support centres will be set up across Delhi to help young entrepreneurs with financial assistance and guidance. Recognising the need for modern infrastructure, Gupta announced the establishment of 175 new computer labs and smart classrooms with an investment of Rs 50 crore. "In many of Delhis existing schools, computer systems are outdated, and this initiative aims to upgrade facilities for students," she said. The budget also emphasised technical education, with a fund of Rs 230 crore for institutions such as Delhi Silk Entrepreneur University, Rs 57 crore for Netaji Subhas University of Technology, Rs 42 crore for Delhi Technological University, and Rs 68 crore for Industrial Training Institutes. "Rs 886 crore has been allocated for training and technical education programmes," the CM announced. The CM allocated Rs 21 crore to launch the Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Vidya Shakti Mission, under which professional guidance will be provided to students preparing for JEE, NEET, CLAT, CA and CUET examinations. She further said that the Rashtraneeti programme will be launched, involving students from KG to Class 12 of the Government of Delhi with the aim to provide practical knowledge of governance, democracy, active citizenship and policy making. The government will also start theScience of Living programme for students from KG to Class 12, she said. To further strengthen technical education, Gupta announced that Rs 20.65 crore has been earmarked for the redevelopment of ITI Pusa and the construction of a new ITI campus in Shahdara. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Under the State Incubation Policy, the government will set up 11 startup incubation centres to encourage entrepreneurship among young people, she said. The chief minister said that Rs 2.43 crore has been proposed for this initiative, which aims to support startups and equip young entrepreneurs with the skills to become job providers rather than job seekers. 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 26, 2025, 07:01 IST Goa HSSC Result 2025 Date And Time: GBSHSE 12th Result Tomorrow At 5 PM Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 13:12 IST Goa HSSC Result 2025: Schools can download the consolidated results from the school login portal starting March 29, 2025. Once released, students can check their results on the official website, gbshse.in. (Representative image/File) The Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) will announce the Goa Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) Result 2025 tomorrow, March 27, 2025, at 5 PM. The HSSC exam 2025 was held from February 10 to March 1, 2025. Once released, students can check their results on the official website, gbshse.in. This year a total of 17,686 students appeared in the HSSC examination in Arts, Commerce, Science, and Vocational courses. This includes 8462 boys and 9224 girls. Recommended Stories The official notice reads, The result of the HSSC Public Examination March 2025 will be declared on 27/03/2025 at 5.00 p.m. in the Conference Hall, Second Floor of the Goa Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education, Porvorim Goa." The examination took place in 20 centers across the state. Schools can download the consolidated results from the school login portal starting March 29, 2025. It can be downloaded from the authorized school login at service1.gbshse.in. GBSHSE 12th Result 2025: Where To Check? Students can check their HSSC exam results on the following official websites: gbshse.in results.gbshsegoa.net How To Check GBSHSE Goa Board 12th Result 2025? Step 1 Visit the official website of Goa Board, gbshse.in. Step 2 Click on the link where GBSHSE Goa Board 12th Result 2025 is written. Step 3 Enter the required details. Step 4 Your result will appear on the screen. Step 5 Check the result and save it for future reference. Goa HSSC Class 12 Results: How To Check Via SMS? Step 1: Go to your phones messaging app. Step 2: Type GOA12SEAT NUMBER in the message body. Step 3: Send the message to any of the following numbers: 56263, 58888, or 5676750. Step 4: The board will send the result, once out. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Goa HSSC Results: What Happened Last Year? Last year, the results were issued on April 22. The Goa HSSC 2024 examinations took place between February 28 to March 18. A total of 85% or 14884 of the 17511 students who took the exam qualified. While 4156 students were from the arts stream, 5194 from commerce, 5736 from science, and 2425 from the vocational stream. The pass percentage among boys stood at 81.59% and among girls, it was 88.06%. Additionally, 2725 students were placed in the improvement exam category. About the Author Sukanya Nandy Sukanya Nandy is a sub-editor at News18.com. She has been writing and reporting for the education and careers section of the website since 2021. She completed her graduation in English followed PG in Journalism... Read More Sukanya Nandy is a sub-editor at News18.com. She has been writing and reporting for the education and careers section of the website since 2021. She completed her graduation in English followed PG in Journalism... Read More First Published: March 26, 2025, 12:54 IST Internship Postings Doubled In India, 103% Increase Over Past Three Years: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 14:47 IST Communication skills is the topmost preference for employers at 31.99 per cent when looking for interns followed by English proficiency at 12 per cent. The data added that the average internship stipend in India stands at Rs 25,432 per month (Representative image/File) Internships have doubled in India, according to data shared by jobs platform Indeed. India has seen a staggering 103 per cent increase in internship postings over the past three years (Feb 2022Feb 2025), the report added. In just the past year, internship postings have jumped by 23 per cent. Delhi, Karnataka, and Maharashtra lead the pack when it comes to internship searches, accounting for 7.2 per cent, 6.8 per cent, and 6.2 per cent of total searches, respectively, the data revealed. Recommended Stories Communication skills most preferred Communication skills is the topmost preference for employers at 31.99 per cent when looking for interns followed by English proficiency at 12 per cent, Keyword research and Analytical skills each 9 per cent, SEO expertise, and Microsoft Excel each 8 per cent. Apart from this, Python programming (7 per cent), Microsoft Office proficiency (7 per cent), HTML, and JavaScript (6 per cent each) continue to be valuable, reflecting the growing demand for digital and web development skills, the report added. Average stipend Rs 25000 The data added that the average internship stipend in India stands at Rs 25,432 per month, but cities like Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, and Gurgaon offer stipends above this national average. While cities like Chennai and Kolkata offer below-average stipend. Furthermore, some of the popular benefits that several companies are offering the candidates include work-from-home options, flexible schedules, health insurance coverage, paid sick time and cell phone reimbursements, the report stated. ALSO READ | UNESCO Internship Programme: Golden Opportunity For Graduates, Check Eligibility, Application Details And More top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Last week, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman encouraged more companies to participate in the PM Internship Scheme (PMIS), emphasising the national interest after the number of candidates accepting internship offers fell short of expectations in the first round. Few corporate firms have come forward to offer internships to students eligible under the recently launched PMIS, possibly due to a supply-demand mismatch," with many applicants needing to acquire the necessary skills for the roles before they can be given the opportunity. About the Author Sukanya Nandy Sukanya Nandy is a sub-editor at News18.com. She has been writing and reporting for the education and careers section of the website since 2021. She completed her graduation in English followed PG in Journalism... Read More Sukanya Nandy is a sub-editor at News18.com. She has been writing and reporting for the education and careers section of the website since 2021. She completed her graduation in English followed PG in Journalism... Read More First Published: March 26, 2025, 14:40 IST Madras University IDE Result 2025 Releasing Shortly At ideunom.ac.in, Steps To Check Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 20:22 IST Madras University IDE Result 2025: To access their scorecards, candidates must enter their login credentials including the application number and password. Once out, the results will be available on the official website, ideunom.ac.in (Representative image/File) The Institute of Distance Education, University of Madras is expected to release the results for the June 2025 Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Diploma, and Certificate courses shortly. Once out, the results will be available on the official website, ideunom.ac.in. To access their scorecards, candidates must enter their login credentials including the application number and password. How to Check Madras University IDE Result 2025? Recommended Stories Step 1 Visit the official website ideunom.ac.in Step 2 Find the June UG/PG Degree & Diploma/Certificate courses Examination results link on the homepage Step 3 Click on the link, and a new page will open Step 4 Enter the required login credentials Step 5 View and download your result Step 6 Take a printout of the scorecard for future use. Madras University IDE Result 2025: Details To Check top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Apart from the marks, the scorecards will contain the personal details of the candidates including their name, roll number, application number, total score, subject-wise percentile, eligibility status, Nationality, PwD status, and parents details. In case of any discrepancy in the results, it needs to be reported to the varsity immediately. About the Author Sukanya Nandy Sukanya Nandy is a sub-editor at News18.com. She has been writing and reporting for the education and careers section of the website since 2021. She completed her graduation in English followed PG in Journalism... Read More Sukanya Nandy is a sub-editor at News18.com. She has been writing and reporting for the education and careers section of the website since 2021. She completed her graduation in English followed PG in Journalism... Read More First Published: March 26, 2025, 20:09 IST Samagra Shiksha Funds For Tamil Nadu For 2023-24 Cleared, Rs 4,300-Crore Approved For 2024-25: Centre To Parliament Reported By : Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 17:03 IST The written reply by Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (MoS) in the Education Ministry, said, There are no pending funds up to FY 2023-24 under the schemes of Samagra Shiksha, PM-POSHAN and ULLAS to be paid to the Government of Tamil Nadu. Additionally, the Government of Tamil Nadu has not signed the MoU for the PM-SHRI scheme despite many requests at the appropriate level. The response comes amid the ongoing tiff between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led Tamil Nadu and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government on implementing the National Education Policy (NEP). (PTI File) All Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) funds to be granted to Tamil Nadu for 2023-24 have been cleared, while a sum of Rs 4,305.66 crore has been approved" for the state under this scheme for the financial year 2024-25, the Centre told Parliament on Wednesday, debunking the claims made by the state. The response comes amid the ongoing tiff between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led Tamil Nadu and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government on implementing the National Education Policy (NEP). Recommended Stories In February, Tamil Nadu school education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi had stated that his department is yet to receive funds to the tune of Rs 2,400 crore under the SS programme for 2024-25 as well as the last tranche of Rs 249 crore under the scheme for 2023-24. The TN government has repeatedly claimed that the Centre has withheld funds to the state under the SSA for not implementing the PM-SHRI scheme under it. Both the SSA and PM-SHRI schemes are aligned with the NEP. News18 has reached out to the TN school education minister for a response to the central governments statement made in the written reply. This story will be updated, once and if, a response is received. SSA was launched in 2001 to make education universal and NEP is indirectly related to Hindi imposition says @dharanisalemPM SHRI Schools scheme will help poor and Dalit students and DMK does not want that says @narayanantbjp @kritsween | #PlainSpeak #DMK #TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/7pg3t7lGQ6 News18 (@CNNnews18) February 10, 2025 THE ALLOCATIONS The written reply by Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (MoS) in the Education Ministry, said, There are no pending funds up to FY 2023-24 under the schemes of Samagra Shiksha, PM-POSHAN and ULLAS to be paid to the Government of Tamil Nadu. Additionally, the Government of Tamil Nadu has not signed the MoU for the PM-SHRI scheme despite many requests at the appropriate level." Further, the MoS stated that an amount of Rs 4,305.66 crore under Samagra Shiksha, Rs 702.12 crore under PM-POSHAN and Rs 9.20 crore under ULLAS have been approved for the state of Tamil Nadu for the financial year 2024-25. Under the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS), funds are not allocated to the state government; instead, the scholarship amount is directly transferred to the beneficiaries bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode," the MoS said. Besides, financial allocation under the SS scheme is based on the Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B) prepared by the states and UTs based on their requirements and priorities and guidelines issued by the Education Ministry. WHAT IS SSA? The SSA is a programme for school education to implement the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. The 60% of funds contributed by the Centre help in payment of teachers salaries, infrastructure and all other major expenses for running state government schools. The SSA was designed in 2018 by the BJP government, while the NEP was launched in 2020. The SSA was aligned with the NEP in 2021. A draft regarding this alignment was shared with all states, none of whom objected to it then. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In 2022, the PM-SHRI scheme was announced and incorporated under the SSA. The Centre asked the states to confirm their participation in the scheme by signing the MoU, which prompted concerns among several Opposition-ruled states. The PM-SHRI scheme aims to develop exemplar model schools that provide leadership to other schools in every block in each district across the country. The scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2022, seeking to develop 14,500 PM-SHRI schools across India, which will showcase each of the objectives envisaged in the NEP 2020. About the Author Vatsala Shrangi Vatsala Shrangi, Assistant Editor at News18, reports on the HRD, Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, and social sector. She has covered the Delhi government, education, transport, environment and various ... Read More Vatsala Shrangi, Assistant Editor at News18, reports on the HRD, Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, and social sector. She has covered the Delhi government, education, transport, environment and various ... Read More First Published: March 26, 2025, 17:03 IST New Zealands Indian Student Enrolments Up 48.9% Since 2021, Set To Double By 2030 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 18:18 IST Student migration in the Oceania region increased from 2.1 million in 2015 to 2.3 million in 2024, says report. In 2023-2024, international education contributed approximately NZD 4.4 billion to New Zealands economy and AUD 47.8 billion to Australias economy. (Image: Getty) Study Abroad Trends: University Living, a global student housing marketplace, has released a new report, Beyond Beds & Benches Decoding ANZs Education System, in an event in Delhi. The report explores how higher education in Australia and New Zealand is changing, with a growing number of international students, especially from India. It highlights key opportunities and challenges for universities, policymakers, and accommodation providers as they adapt to this increasing demand. Saurabh Arora, Founder & CEO of University Living, said, Australia and New Zealand are taking strategic steps to attract international students by introducing policies that simplify the study-abroad journey and enhance post-study career prospects. New Zealands streamlined visa processes and work-rights policies, along with the recently announced NZ$10,000 scholarships for high-achieving Indian students, reflect the governments commitment to global talent. With Indian student enrolments projected to grow by 93.9% from 2025 to 2030from 22,225 to 24,594New Zealand is emerging as a strong alternative to traditional study destinations." Recommended Stories Australia continues to be a top choice for international students due to its world-class universities, strong industry connections, and excellent post-study work opportunities. The international education sector contributes AUD 47.8 billion to the Australian economy. Favourable migration policies and targeted scholarships are helping the country maintain its appeal for Indian students. With these policy changes, more Indian students are choosing Australia and New Zealand for their higher education. As a result, the demand for student housing is also increasing, further establishing these countries as top global study destinations. Australia and New Zealand have introduced major visa reforms to make studying there more accessible. Australias extended post-study work rights and New Zealands simplified visa process are creating better opportunities for students seeking quality education and career growth. Both countries are focusing on industry-aligned education, particularly in STEM, healthcare, and business, ensuring that international graduates gain the skills needed for employment. While the US, UK, and Canada remain popular, Australia and New Zealand are catching up, with India, China, Nepal, Vietnam, and Indonesia being key source countries. To strengthen their positions as global education hubs, both governments are investing in better education infrastructure, student support services, and international partnerships to improve the study-abroad experience. Student enrolments in Australia and New Zealand have bounced back strongly after the pandemic, with continued growth expected through 2030. By 2025, the number of Indian students in Australia is expected to exceed 101,552, while New Zealand is projected to host 22,225 Indian students. ALSO READ: India And New Zealand Strengthen Academic Ties As PM Luxon Announces Scholarships And Collaborations top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Vik Singh, Trade and Investment Commissioner South Asia, Austrade, said at the event: Australias commitment to international education is evident in its world-class institutions, strong support systems, and focus on innovation. The country continues to foster global partnerships, enabling students from diverse backgrounds to access high-quality education and training. With a well-integrated system that connects schooling, vocational training, higher education, and employment pathways, Australia ensures that students are well-prepared for the future." Beyond academics, Australias reputation as a safe, inclusive, and welcoming destination enhances the overall student experience. Its dedication to best practices in education and two-way mobility reinforces its role as a global leader in fostering knowledge exchange and cross-cultural collaboration. As international education remains central to global progress, Australia is well-positioned to build stronger partnerships and expand opportunities for students worldwide," he added. About the Author Archit Gupta Archit Gupta is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com and a seasoned education journalist specialising in reporting on education and employment. He has covered a variety of education-related stories, including high-... Read More Archit Gupta is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com and a seasoned education journalist specialising in reporting on education and employment. He has covered a variety of education-related stories, including high-... Read More First Published: March 26, 2025, 18:17 IST University Of Huddersfield Expands To London, Opens Doors For Indian Students With Scholarships Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 19:43 IST The University of Huddersfield has launched its London campus, providing scholarships and career opportunities for Indian students. University of Huddersfield's new London campus offers merit-based scholarships for Indian students. (Image: london.hud.ac.uk) The University of Huddersfields new London campus offers postgraduate programmes in Management, International Business, Computing, and Marketing. This expansion provides international students, especially from India, with enhanced opportunities for quality education, industry exposure, and merit-based scholarships. The University of Huddersfield has a strong track record of preparing students for the job market. According to the latest data, 94% of its postgraduate students secure employment or pursue further studies within fifteen months of graduation, with an average salary of 36,100 per year. The London campus is expected to provide students with excellent networking opportunities, industry connections, and access to a dynamic job market. Recommended Stories Speaking to News18.com, Ian Crichton, CEO of Study Group, highlighted the growing interest of Indian students in studying abroad. He noted that while Chinese students historically dominated overseas programmes, Indian students have now become the largest international student community in the UK. The UK government recognises the importance of international students, particularly from India. However, policy shifts have been slower than expected, and challenges like restrictions on postgraduate dependents remain unresolved," said Crichton. Crichton highlighted Londons advantages, saying, London combines top-quality education, diverse cultures, and great career opportunities. As a global business hub, it gives students direct access to employers, networking events, and internships." Tuition Fees And Scholarships The tuition fees for the University of Huddersfield Londons postgraduate programmes for the 2025/26 academic year are: Management MSc : 17,600 : 17,600 Management with Entrepreneurship MSc : 17,600 : 17,600 Management with Marketing MSc : 17,600 : 17,600 Management with International Business MSc : 17,600 : 17,600 International Business MSc : 17,600 : 17,600 Computing MSc: 18,700 To support international students, the university is offering merit-based scholarships of up to 4,000: 4,000 for students with a First-Class Honours degree (or equivalent) for students with a First-Class Honours degree (or equivalent) 3,000 for students with an Upper Second-Class (2.1) Honours degree (or equivalent) for students with an Upper Second-Class (2.1) Honours degree (or equivalent) 2,000 for students with a Lower Second-Class (2.2) Honours degree (or equivalent) Scholarship Eligibility And Application Process To qualify for these scholarships, students must: Be international, fee-paying students Apply for a full-time taught postgraduate course Be self-funded (not receiving financial support from other sources) Meet the English and academic entry requirements for the course The scholarships do not require a separate application; eligible students are automatically considered during the admission process. Weighing Study Abroad Options: Challenges And Opportunities The United States has always been a top choice for Indian students because of its prestigious universities and strong job market, especially in tech and business," Crichton said. But lately, concerns around immigration policies and political uncertainty are making students and their families think twice. That said, top US universities still offer great opportunities, and many are taking extra steps to ensure student safety, like Florida Atlantic University." On Canada, he pointed out, The rising cost of education and ongoing diplomatic tensions with India are making some students reconsider their options. Its still a popular destination, but affordability has become a growing concern." Speaking about Australia, Crichton said, Australia has been a long-time favourite for Indian students, but changes in immigration policies have created new challenges. Despite this, it remains a strong contender." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Despite these hurdles, he believes the UK continues to be a promising destination. The UK and India share a long-standing educational and cultural connection. As long as the UK remains open and welcoming to international students, it will continue to be a top choice." At the same time, the UK government faces challenges in balancing its approach to international students. Crichton noted that while universities have stepped up recruitment efforts post-Brexit, student migration is often misrepresented as a general rise in immigration, influencing public perception. About the Author Archit Gupta Archit Gupta is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com and a seasoned education journalist specialising in reporting on education and employment. He has covered a variety of education-related stories, including high-... Read More Archit Gupta is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com and a seasoned education journalist specialising in reporting on education and employment. He has covered a variety of education-related stories, including high-... Read More First Published: March 26, 2025, 19:41 IST Uttarakhand Students In 15 Govt Schools Learn Mandarin, Chinas Official Language Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 09:57 IST Mandarin is known as one of the most challenging languages to master, requiring knowledge of 3,000 to 5,000 characters. 250 students from Class 11 and 12 in 15 government schools are learning Mandarin. (Representative Image/Getty) Doon University has launched an initiative to teach Chinas official language, Mandarin, to over 250 students from Class 11 and 12 in 15 government schools across Uttarakhand. The program, launched to enhance students language skills, aims to open doors to global job markets while also supporting national security in light of ongoing border tensions with China, as reported by the Times of India. Launched in 2023 by Pauri Garhwal DM Ashish Chauhan, the initiative stemmed from discussions between former CDS Gen Bipin Rawat and Doon University VC Surekha Dangwal in 2021. Recommended Stories This is the first time in India that Mandarin is being taught in government schools under such an initiative," said Shanky Chandra, HoD of Chinese Studies at Doon University, reported TOI. He added that the pilot program, which began in 2023, has received a positive response from students, prompting its continuation. Chandra, a Harvard alumnus, emphasised the career opportunities it presents, noting, Learning Mandarin opens doors, especially as China is one of Indias largest trade partners. Three of our Class 12 graduates last year landed lucrative jobs in China because of their language skills." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The initiative also holds promise for national security, with demand for Mandarin-speaking personnel increasing in defence and security sectors due to ongoing border tensions. Mandarin, with its complex characters and tonal nature, is known as one of the most challenging languages to master, requiring knowledge of 3,000 to 5,000 characters. The program is currently being run in 15 PM-SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) schools with online facilities due to the lack of physical classroom resources. 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 26, 2025, 09:54 IST News / National by Staff reporter WHEN vehicles head in the direction of Nkayi on 4 April, where Chief Mbusi Bekithemba Dakamela will be hosting his famed annual Imiklomelo kaDakamela, the traditional leader believes that they will be serving a purpose bigger than most of the ceremony's attendees can imagine.Launched in 2022, the award ceremony has become a highlight on the cultural calendar, drawing people from far and wide to koDakamela, which has become an annual attraction for those who are seeking a taste of culture far from the hustle and bustle of the city.At least once every year, Nkayi becomes the nerve centre of cultural appreciation and the celebration of individuals that are excelling in the local community and beyond.While culture and celebration are the hallmarks of the annual pilgrimage to koDakamela, the lanky traditional leader believes that the growing prominence of the awards might help accelerate the construction of the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road, which, for many years, has been an eyesore.Recently, the rehabilitation of the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road has gained momentum, with the contractor, Difflock Construction, working on a 23km stretch from Inyathi Business Centre, reaffirming the Government's commitment to infrastructure development in Matabeleland North Province.The road is part of the 33 roads designated by the Government as priority projects for 2025 across the country, including the Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road.While authorities forge ahead with the construction of a road that has been a headache for motorists for years, Chief Dakamela told Sunday Life that the interest around the awards could spur them to work even faster."We are also seeing this event enabling the construction of the Nkayi-Bulawayo Road because it has been a hindrance in terms of achieving the numbers that we want to hit. The road is not as smooth as it is supposed to be, but we encourage people to join us all the same. So, the more they come, the more attention will be paid to the road and we believe that this is a good thing," he said.With its fourth edition on the horizon, Chief Dakamela said that this year's award ceremony would see Imiklomelo kaDakamela spread its wings, as it accepted that its growth was now attracting attention even from non-Zimbabweans."If you look at it geographically, you will find that even though this event is happening in Nkayi, koDakamela, you see people coming from everywhere. So, it's not about the area but the idea that we are pushing. All this is important in terms of nation-building, in terms of unity and in terms of renaissance. So, I'm really happy that we have cultivated the interest and appetite for the event among our people and others from diverse areas."This year, we are anticipating people from Zambia, Tanzania and South Africa. I am not talking about our people who are in those countries but Zambians, Tanzanians and South Africans. This shows that true love, appreciation and good ideas know no boundaries. So, we are happy that people are amalgamating around this concept so that we can uplift and catapult each other to greater heights," he said.Chief Dakamela said while the concept was rooted in Nkayi, he believed that the ultimate purpose of the awards was to spearhead a cultural renaissance in the region and beyond."We have acknowledged that this thing should not be limited to Nkayi. It should not be limited to people from Dakamela or Matabeleland because there are people that are doing well elsewhere. So, we are saying our slogan is development without borders, culture without borders and appreciation without borders'. For me, the word foreign' doesn't sit well because even people from Zambia, South Africa and other countries are not foreigners to me. We are one. So, this year, the cherry on top will be rewarding the people who are from beyond our borders," he said.When our sister paper, The Herald, hosted its annual Community Heroes awards in December last year, Chief Dakamela was one of the honourees, crowning a glorious year during which Imiklomelo kaDakamela captured the public's attention.That award served as confirmation for the traditional leader that he was indeed on the right path, he said."For me, being rewarded for something like that is humbling and heart-warming. I don't think I have words to appreciate what has happened. This shows what we are doing in the community. To me, it means we should continue doing what we are doing and also expand the concept so that it is owned by the people. Some people might be saying this is Dakamela's thing, so why should we support it? We want to show that this belongs to everyone."We need our people to support these organic ideas and concepts because they spearhead our cultural renaissance. Remember, we have a concept that says our culture is our humanity, Ubuntu bethu yisintu sethu. So, we envision this thing as a concept that is Pan-African and can recognise people from," he said.While the awards have been a hit, showing steady growth, Chief Dakamela said he hoped to see further growth this year."We showed significant growth in terms of the numbers, the interest from corporates and other factors. We had a bus full of artistes who came and wanted to perform voluntarily because they wanted to propel the event to greater heights. In terms of the interest and uptake from the corporate world, it was very overwhelming, so it is something that we would want to continue having."I would like to say that love, appreciation, and development know no borders. They know no boundaries and they should not know of any. So, this initiative has resonated with many people because they identify with that idea, they identify with the motto 'love and appreciation know no distance,'" he said.Chief Dakamela pointed out that the awards were not only about the gongs given out, but also bringing together a diverse number of people from various fields."The event allows networking because through these awards, Mr B and Mr C can come together and uplift each other. That is the synergy, something that we want to create in Nkayi, whereby people come together and appreciate those who are doing well while at the same time giving attendees a chance to propel and uplift each other," he said.Past recipients of the prestigious awards include the late historian and cultural icon, Pathisa Nyathi, prominent medical doctor, Professor Solwayo Ngwenya, and musician Albert Nyathi. Can India Strike A Trade Deal With US Ahead Of Reciprocal Tariffs? All Eyes On Tax Cuts | Explained Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 10:20 IST It is estimated by New Delhi that reciprocal tariffs, which come into effect from April 2, would hit 87% of its total exports to the US worth $66 billion India did not want to lose the US as a trading partner, but at the same time it will not compromise on 'national interest', an official said. (File Photo: Reuters) A US delegation headed by Brendan Lynch, the US Trade Representatives point-person for South and Central Asia, is in India to discuss a trade deal with New Delhi during their five-day visit starting Tuesday. As the visit comes before the reciprocal tariffs by the Trump administration kick in from April 2, there could be focus on lowering Indian import duties, reports suggest. Recommended Stories Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday to reportedly discuss the upcoming tariff talks. Besides, two high-powered delegations from Washington, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and US Vice-President JD Vance, are also expected to visit India next month, The Hindu reported. Whats Indias Trade Agenda? It is estimated by New Delhi that reciprocal tariffs would hit 87% of its total exports to the US 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 US goods it imports that are now subject to tariffs ranging from 5% to 30%, Reuters reported. 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 US. Overall the US trade-weighted average tariff has been 2.2%, the World Trade Organization data shows, compared with Indias 12%. The US has a trade deficit of $45.6 billion with India. Indian government officials warned that cutting tariffs on more than half of US 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, Reuters reported, quoting an official. 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 US, said one of the officials. Why Trump Is Adamant On Tariffs Trump had said last week that he shares a very good relationship" with India. But the only problem he has with the country is that it is one of the highest tariffing nations in the world." I have a very good relationship with India, but the only problem I have with India is theyre one of the highest tariffing nations in the world. I believe theyre going to probably be lowering those tariffs substantially, but on April 2, we will be charging them the same tariffs they charge us," Trump told Breitbart News, an American news, opinion, and commentary website, in an interview. On March 5, Trump criticised the high tariffs charged by India and other countries, terming them as very unfair" and announced reciprocal tariffs from April 2 on nations that impose tax on American goods. If you dont make your product in America, however, under the Trump administration, you will pay a tariff, and in some cases, a rather large one," PTI quoted Trump as saying. Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades and now its our turn to start using them against those other countries. On average, the European Union, China, Brazil, India, Mexico and Canada have you heard of them? And countless other nations charge us tremendously higher tariffs than we charge them," Trump said. Its very unfair. India charges us auto tariffs higher than 100%," he added. India-US trade, including goods and services, will reach $200 billion, with a trade deficit of about $45 billion in Indias favour, which Trump has asked India to address. In an interview to the All-In" podcast over the weekend, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik said he had raised the sharp divide in deficits and in import duties during PM Modis visit to Washington in February. He said India has an average 50%" tariff on imports compared with the US 4%", and that India protects its farmers". Impact Of Tariffs On India New Delhi estimated increases of 6% to 10% in tariffs on items such as pearls, mineral fuels, machinery, boilers and electrical equipment, which make up half its exports to the US, due to reciprocal tax, Reuters reported. The second official said the $11 billion worth of pharmaceutical and automotive exports could see the most impact due to reciprocal tariff, given their dependence on the US market. The new tariffs could benefit alternative suppliers like Indonesia, Israel and Vietnam, the official added. Tariffs on meat, maize, wheat and dairy products that range from 30% to 60% are off the table, a government official told Reuters. But those on almonds, pistachio, oatmeal and quinoa may be eased. Lutnick asked India to think big" after it cut tariffs on high-end motorcycles and bourbon whisky this year. New Delhi will also push for phased cuts in automobile tariffs, now effectively more than 100%, a fourth official said. Why India Should Be Cautious? India did not want to lose the US as a trading partner, Sunil Barthwal told the parliamentary standing committee, but vowed at the same time, We will not compromise on our national interest," according to two people who attended the closed-door meeting. India must be cautious while negotiating the trade agreement with the US, as the absence of Fast Track Trade Authority in America makes any pact vulnerable to Congressional changes, economic think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said on Tuesday. It also said the certification process allows the US to effectively re-negotiate the trade agreement after it is signed, demanding domestic legal changes, regulatory reforms, and policy shifts that could undermine Indias sovereignty. The US Fast Track Trade Authority (also known as Trade Promotion Authority) is a special mechanism that allows the American President to negotiate trade agreements and present them to Congress for an up-or-down vote, without amendments or procedural delays. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This authority has historically played a key role in finalising and approving FTAs (Free Trade Agreements) swiftly, having enabled major agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement. (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 26, 2025, 10:14 IST First Past The Post, Ridings And Indian-Origin Votes: Canadian Elections Explained Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 14:01 IST Canada follows the "First-Past-The-Post" (FPTP) system, where elections determine the composition of the House of Commons. Canada Election 2025 date is set for April 28. As Canada prepares for its upcoming general elections on April 28, the nations political machinery is in full swing. Conducted under the parliamentary system inherited from Britain, Canada follows the First-Past-The-Post" (FPTP) system, where elections determine the composition of the House of Commons. The country is divided into 338 electoral districts, known as ridings, with each riding electing a single Member of Parliament (MP). The candidate securing the highest number of votes wins the seat, irrespective of whether they achieve a majority. First-Past-the-Post System Recommended Stories In the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) model, the candidate with the most votes in a given riding wins the seat. Unlike proportional representation systems, FPTP does not require candidates to secure a majority (more than 50% of the votes). Instead, the candidate with the highest vote count among competitors wins. While this system allows for straightforward election outcomes, it sometimes results in governments being formed without majority public support, leading to debates about electoral reform. Election Day With elections set for April 28, parties are in the final stages of campaigning, rallying their bases, and making last-minute appeals to undecided voters. As Canada heads to the polls, the outcome will not only shape the nations governance for the next four years but also set the course for its political landscape in an increasingly complex global environment. Key Contenders Canadian politics is largely dominated by two major parties: the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party. However, several other parties play influential roles, especially in minority government scenarios. Liberal Party of Canada A centrist political force focused on social welfare and economic development. Justin Trudeau has been at the partys helm, but following his resignation, Mark Carney has assumed leadership. The Liberals have been in power since 2015 and are seeking another term. A centrist political force focused on social welfare and economic development. Justin Trudeau has been at the partys helm, but following his resignation, Mark Carney has assumed leadership. The Liberals have been in power since 2015 and are seeking another term. Conservative Party of Canada Positioned on the right, this party emphasises tax cuts, smaller government, and traditional values. The Conservatives have performed strongly in recent polls and seek to reclaim governance. Positioned on the right, this party emphasises tax cuts, smaller government, and traditional values. The Conservatives have performed strongly in recent polls and seek to reclaim governance. New Democratic Party (NDP) A left-wing party advocating for social justice, labour rights, and expanded healthcare services. Its leader, Jagmeet Singh, commands substantial influence, particularly among Canadas Sikh population. A left-wing party advocating for social justice, labour rights, and expanded healthcare services. Its leader, Jagmeet Singh, commands substantial influence, particularly among Canadas Sikh population. Bloc Quebecois A party focused on Quebec nationalism, which primarily competes in the province and holds sway in any minority government formation. Historical Trends and Government Formation Canadas political history has largely alternated between Liberal and Conservative rule. The Liberals secured victories in 2015 and 2019, whereas the Conservatives governed from 2006 to 2015. The NDP and Bloc Quebecois, while not forming governments, often play decisive roles when no single party wins an outright majority. In such cases, the party with the most seats can either form a minority government or seek coalition support from smaller parties. Election Process and Governance General elections in Canada are conducted nationwide on a single day, ensuring a uniform electoral process across all provinces and territories. Elections Canada, an independent body, oversees the electoral process, ensuring fairness, transparency, and compliance with spending regulations. The voting age is set at 19, and elections are typically held every four years, barring special circumstances. Canadas parliamentary structure consists of two houses: the House of Commons, which is elected through general elections, and the Senate, whose members are appointed rather than elected. The leader of the party that secures the most seats in the House of Commons becomes the Prime Minister, provided they can command a stable government. Electoral Fairness and Challenges Canada is widely recognised as a strong democracy with fair electoral processes. Observers and political representatives are allowed to monitor voting and counting, ensuring transparency. However, disparities exist in electoral power due to the varying population sizes of provinces. Larger provinces like Ontario and Quebec hold more seats, giving them greater political influence, which smaller provinces sometimes perceive as an imbalance. The Role of Indian-Origin and Sikh Voters top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A significant factor in the upcoming elections is the influence of Canadas Indian-origin and Sikh communities. With a population of approximately 16 lakh, making up around 4% of Canadas total population, these communities wield considerable electoral power, particularly in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta. The Liberal Party has historically enjoyed strong support from Indian-Canadian voters, partly due to policies favouring immigration in the past. However, the recent diplomatic tensions between Canada and India may impact voting dynamics in the 2025 election. The Sikh community, in particular, has played a prominent role in Canadian politics. The 2019 elections saw 18 Sikh MPs elected, surpassing the number of Sikh representatives in Indias own parliament. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh continues to be a key figure in Canadian politics, and his partys performance in 2025 will likely be influenced by Sikh voters. Given this strong political presence, all major parties including the Liberals, Conservatives, and NDP are actively courting Indian-Canadian and Sikh support. Location : Canada First Published: March 26, 2025, 14:01 IST How ChatGPT Is Making Its Frequent Users Lonelier, New Research Explained Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 15:15 IST MIT and OpenAI studies said those with stronger emotional attachment tendencies experienced more loneliness. In contrast, those with a higher level of trust in ChatGPT experienced more emotional dependence ChatGPT may make regular users feel more alone. (Photo Credits: X) A research by MIT Media Lab and OpenAI has shown that frequent users of ChatGPT may tend to feel high levels of loneliness and get more emotionally dependent on the AI tool. The studies underlined that only a small number of users engage emotionally with ChatGPT, but those who do are among the heaviest users. Recommended Stories Overall, higher daily usageacross all modalities and conversation typescorrelated with higher loneliness, dependence, and problematic use, and lower socialisation," the researchers said in an abstract for the two parallel studies. How Does ChatGPT Impact Users Emotional Health? The studies set out to investigate how daily interactions with ChatGPT affect a users emotional health, with a focus on the use of the chatbots advanced voice mode. The research included a randomized controlled trial (RCT) by MIT, in which 1,000 participants used ChatGPT over four weeks, and an automated analysis of nearly 40 million ChatGPT interactions conducted by OpenAI. Both the studies concluded that those with stronger emotional attachment tendencies tended to experience more loneliness. In contrast, those with a higher level of trust in the chatbot experienced more emotional dependence. They also pointed out that power users" tended to consider ChatGPT as their friend or someone with humanlike emotions. Personal" conversations with the AI tool were correlated with higher levels of loneliness among users, the study highlighted. 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 researchers said. Why Are People Using AI For Companionship? With more than 400 million active weekly users worldwide, many people are turning to ChatGPT for advices, suggestions and companionship. According to a 2024 YouGov survey, just over half of young Americans aged 18 to 29 felt comfortable speaking to an AI about mental health concerns. Another study even suggests that OpenAIs chatbot gives better personal advice than professional columnists. While some users say the chatbot help ease their loneliness, there has been increasing scrutiny and research on the ill effects of the interacting with the AI tool. Recently, AI company Character.ai has been sued for its concerning interactions with minors. The researchers said the new findings underscore the complex interplay between chatbot design choices (e.g., voice expressiveness) and user behaviours (e.g., conversation content, usage frequency" and called for further work to investigate whether chatbots ability to manage emotional content without fostering dependence or replacing human relationships benefits overall well-being," as reported by Fortune. How Men And Women Use ChatGPT The researchers found some intriguing differences between how men and women use ChatGPT. After using the chatbot for four weeks, female study participants were slightly less likely to socialize with people than their male counterparts who did the same. While participants who interacted with ChatGPTs voice mode in a gender that was not their own for their interactions reported significantly higher levels of loneliness and more emotional dependency on the chatbot at the end of the experiment. In 2023 MIT Media Lab researchers found that chatbots tend to mirror the emotional sentiment of a users messages, suggesting a kind of feedback loop where the happier you act, the happier the AI seems, or if you act sadder, so does the AI. Why Is This Dangerous? Dr Andrew Rogoyski, a director at the Surrey Institute for People-Centred Artificial Intelligence, told Guardian that because people were hard-wired to think of a machine behaving in human-like ways as a human, AI chatbots could be dangerous", and far more research was needed to understand their social and emotional impacts. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In my opinion, we are doing open-brain surgery on humans, poking around with our basic emotional wiring with no idea of the long-term consequences. Weve seen some of the downsides of social media this is potentially much more far-reaching," he told Guardian. Kate Devlin, a professor of AI and society at Kings College London, told MIT Technology Review, although the research is welcome, it is still difficult to identify when a human is and isnt engaging with technology on an emotional level". She says the study participants may have been experiencing emotions that were not recorded by the researchers. 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 26, 2025, 15:13 IST Justice Varma Case Puts Spotlight Back On Judges Appointment System, NJAC vs Collegium Explained Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 13:08 IST V-P Dhankhar has said he was bothered by the Justice Varma incident, and things would have been different if the NJAC for judicial appointments had not been struck down by the Supreme Court The Third Judges Case, which led to the formation of the collegium system strongly reinforces the concept of a primacy of the highest judiciary over the executive. (Image: PTI) The allegations of cash recovery from Delhi High Courts judge Justice Yashwant Varmas residence has rekindled the debate on the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, which was passed by Parliament in 2014, but was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2015. Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar while addressing the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday said he was bothered by the incident", and referred to the NJAC Act, which was meant to replace the collegium system. Recommended Stories It is not as if executive, judiciary and legislature are pitted against each other," Dhankhar remarked. Dhankhar also held a meeting with floor leaders of parties to discuss the issue. His remarks came on the day a three-member committee was formed by the Supreme Court to inquire into the conduct of Justice Varma. The committee, comprising Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court Justice GS Sandhawalia, and Justice Anu Sivaraman of Karnataka High Court, reached Justice Varmas Tughlak Crescent bungalow at around 1.30 pm on Tuesday and left after nearly 45 minutes. What Is NJAC? Collegium is the system of appointment of Judges of the higher judiciary, which evolved through a series of Supreme Court judgments known as Judges Cases." The Central government has been criticising the opaque nature of the collegium system behind a large number of judicial vacancies. The NDA government in 2003 introduced the Constitution (98th Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha for the formation of the National Judicial Commission (NJC). The NJC would be chaired by the CJI, with two of the senior-most judges of the Supreme Court as its members. The Union law minister would be a member along with an eminent citizen to be nominated by the President in consultation with the Prime Minister. The NJC would decide the appointment and transfer of judges and probe cases of misconduct by judges, including those from the highest judiciary. Thus, in 2014, the NDA government introduced the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act to provide the executive branch a significant role in selecting judges for the higher courts. The NJAC Bill and the Constitutional Amendment Bill were ratified by 16 Indian state legislatures before being signed by President Pranab Mukherjee on December 31, 2014. The NJAC Act and the Constitutional Amendment Act went into effect on April 13, 2015. But the Supreme Court had in 2015 struck down the JAC Act and the Constitution (99th Amendment) Act, 2014, leading to the revival of the collegium system of existing judges appointing judges to constitutional courts. The bench, headed by the then CJI J S Khehar, asserted:"In the matter of appointment of judges to the higher judiciary, as also in the matter of their transfer, the primacy in the decision-making process inevitably rests with the Chief Justice of India." What Is The Supreme Court Collegium? The collegium system, headed by a chief justice, decides the appointment and transfer of judges. The forum consists of four senior-most Supreme Court judges as well. The collegium decides the elevation of Chief Justices/Judges of High Court to the Supreme Court, judges of High Courts as Chief Justices and other judges. In case of a difference of opinion, the majority view will prevail. A High Court collegium consists of the two judges with the next two highest ranks. This collegium suggests candidates for the High Court positions. A collegium of the Chief Justice and Supreme Courts two senior-most judges takes the final call. The Supreme Court had recently agreed to hear a petition against the collegium. The petition sought a new mechanism for the appointment. The matter was mentioned by Advocate Mathews J Nedumpara before a Bench comprising former CJI Chandrachud, Justice Hima Kohli and Justice JB Pardiwala. In the plea, Nedumpara and others asked the court to declare collegium synonym for nepotism and favoritism, as it has resulted in the denial of fair opportunity in the selection and appointment of judges". What Does The Constitution Say About The Collegium? Article 124 mentions that the appointment of Supreme Court judges should be made by the President after consultation with such judges of the High Courts and the Supreme Court as the President may deem necessary. The CJI is to be consulted in all appointments, except his or her own. Article 217 deals with the appointment of High Court judges. It says a judge should be appointed by the President after consultation with the CJI and the Governor of the state. The Chief Justice of the High Court concerned too should be consulted. The Evolution Of The Collegium System The collegium system has its genesis in a series of three judgments, which has been clubbed as the Three Judges Cases. Following the SP Gupta case on December 30, 1981, popularly known as the First Judges Case, it was recommended that the executive branch should have the most influence over judicial nominations. Twelve years later, in 1993, in the Second Judges case, a nine-judge court ruled that the CJI must be given preference in such appointments. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In 1998, President KR Narayanan issued a presidential reference to the Supreme Court as to what the term consultation" really means in Articles 124, 217 and 222 (transfer of HC judges) of the Constitution. The question was if the term consultation" requires consulting a number of judges in forming the CJIs opinion, or whether the sole opinion of the CJI constituted the meaning of the articles. In reply, the Supreme Court laid down nine guidelines for the functioning of the coram for appointments/transfers; this came to be the present form of the collegium. Besides, the Third Judges Case judgment dated October 28, 1998, written by Justice SP Bharucha as the head of the nine-judge bench, strongly reinforced the concept of a primacy of the highest judiciary over the executive. 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 26, 2025, 13:05 IST US Vs China: Who Will Win The Race For Worlds Sixth-Generation Fighter Jets? Explained Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 08:45 IST Trump has described F-47 as the most lethal aircraft ever built, with its test version flying in secret for years. While Chinas J-36 is believed to feature three engines, which is quite an unusual choice for a tactical fighter As per a US military official, Chinas numerical superiority of assets translates into its considerable capacity to launch a full-operation in any region. (Photo: US Air Force via AP) The year 2025 would see the race for worlds first sixth-generation fighter jet hotting up as the United States has announced developing F-47 aircraft while its rival, China, has released pictures purportedly showing its most advanced stealth fighter jet dubbed as J-36. US President Donald Trump on Friday made an announcement recently that Boeing will develop F-47 fighter jet, which will have unprecedented power". Americas enemies will never see [them] coming," he warned. Recommended Stories 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. Let us find out the specs of the two aircraft, the timing of the two events and where both countries stand in terms of aerial superiority. US Sixth-Generation F-47 Fighter Jet It is not a mere coincidence that the plane has been named F-47. Reports suggest that 47 stands for Trump, who is the 47th President of the United States. The generals picked a title, and its a beautiful number," Trump was quoted as saying in the Oval Office. Nothing in the world comes even close to it." As per St Louis Public Radio, the plane will be built at a Boeing manufacturing space in the city. The plane is officially called the Next Generation Air Dominance, which was established as a family of systems" to counter rivals like China and Russia. Trump has called it the most lethal aircraft ever built", with a test version of the plane flying in secret for years, as per the BBC. Theres never been anything even close to it, from speed to manoeuverability, to what it can have, to payload," Trump said. Our allies are calling constantly," Trump added. The planes specifications have not been fully disclosed. But it will have stealth capabilities, advanced sensors and cutting-edge engines. As per an article in AirandSpaceForces.com, While the images show a conventionally stealthy nose and bubble canopy with a chiseled chine and a flattened overall fuselage shape, they also reveal both canards and wings with a distinctive upward angle, features that arent typical of previous stealth designs." The F-47 planes will build on Boeing fighter legacy", which includes the P-51 Mustang, F-4 Phantom, F-15 Eagle, F/A-18 Hornet, and EA-18 Growler. The estimate cost of building the aircraft would be $20 billion initially, as per The Associated Press. X-planes have been testing NGAD technologies for the last five years, flying hundreds of hours, testing cutting-edge concepts, and proving that we can push the edge of technology with confidence," AirandSpaceForces.com quoted Chief of Staff Gen. David W Allvin as saying. Chinas J-36 Fighter Jets The aircraft 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. Though the Chinese government has not fully released the official details, but the J-36 was first spotted publicly on December 26, 2024, during its reported 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 fighter jet is reportedly developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, with distinctive tailless, flying-wing design, which is required to enhance its stealth capabilities by reducing radar cross-section, as per a report by The Independent. The jet is estimated to be 66 to 85 feet long with a wingspan of about 65 feet, and 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. The J-36 is believed to feature three engines, which is quite an unusual choice for a tactical fighter, and can provide the thrust needed for high speeds and heavy payloads, according to The War Zone, a defence news and analysis website. 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, as per The Independent. Bronk stressed that China needs planes that can stay in the air for long missions", and that can defend its airspace or attacking enemy targets over the vast Indo-Pacific region. Are Fighter Jets Necessary At All? Billionaire and DOGE head Elon Musk told Fortune that the F-35 is an expensive and complex jack of all trades and master of none". He had earlier said in November that some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35." And manned fighter jets are obsolete in the age of drones anyway. Will just get pilots killed," he wrote on X. But some experts believe that manned jets would continue to rule the skies. The Strategist claimed that the J-36 represents a significant leap in aviation technology". Meanwhile, Stacie Petty John, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, told The Washington Post, This is one of the US Air Forces core strengths, so continuing to invest in the high-end aircraft that allows us to do this is key to maintaining an edge over China." Retired Air Force Lieutenant General David Deptula told Fox News that no major military campaign can succeed without air superiority. Boeings contract for F-47 means it will make the jet fighter and receive orders worth hundreds of billions of dollars over the contracts multi-decade lifetime. We recognise the importance of designing, building and delivering a 6th-generation fighter capability for the United States Air Force," Steve Parker, who leads Boeings defence business, said in a statement. In preparation for this mission, we made the most significant investment in the history of our defense business." How Does Chinas Fleet Compare To US? US Brigadier General Doug Wickert, commander of the 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base, has warned that by 2027, Chinas modern fighter jet fleet will outnumber US forces about 12 to 1 in key regions of the Western Pacific, as per the Eurasian Times. The warning follows the Peoples Liberation Armys (PLA) introduction of two new combat aircraft on December 26, touted as sixth-generation fighter jets, to celebrate Chinese Communist Party founder Mao Zedongs birthday. Chinas numerical superiority of assets translates into its considerable capacity to launch a full-operation in a region. For example, in mid-December, the PLA navy surrounded Taiwan in an unannounced exercise, the worlds largest naval demonstration since the end of World War II. The exercise was three times larger in number of ships than last Junes vaunted Rim of the Pacific exercise involving 40 US and allied surface ships. How Many Military Aircraft Do US And China Have? As per the World Atlas, the United States has most number of aircraft, with 13,209 combat aircraft. In second place is Russia with 4,255 aircraft, and in third is China with 3,304 aircraft. The US Air Force alone has access to 5,217 aircraft, while the US Army Aviation has another 4,409 aircraft. The US Navy has another 2,464, and the US Marines have 1,157. The US military has so many aircraft that it would take the combined militaries of Russia, China, India, South Korea, Japan, and Pakistan to surpass it in sheer numbers, the World Atlas reported. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Chinas J-20 jets with stealth capabilities really make them stand out. They incredibly difficult to be traced on radar ensuring that it will almost always have the element of surprise in war. Meanwhile, Russia has the Su-35, also known as the Sukhoi Su-35, as its main fighter jet. It was first introduced in 2014, and the current model is an upgrade from the Su-27 aircraft that was designed during Soviet era. 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 26, 2025, 08:30 IST 180km Search, 3 Days & A Number Plate: How Two Brothers Accused Of Mandi Dhaba Firing Were Caught Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 12:08 IST Police resolved a robbery and shootout in Pulgharat, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, arresting brothers Ajmal and Azam from Muzaffarpur. They used a bike without a plate and fired at a dhaba owner The exact motive behind the robbery and shooting remains under investigation. (News18 Hindi) The police have successfully resolved a robbery and shootout case that occurred on the night of March 21 in Pulgharat, Mandi city of Himachal Pradesh. Within three days, the accused were apprehended. The two brothers, Ajmal and Azam, hail from Muzaffarpur in Uttar Pradesh and had been residing in Ratti village for an extended period, working as labourers. Mandi police arrested them from Ner Chowk on March 25, revealing significant details about the case. Recommended Stories Mandi SP Sakshi Verma described the case as initially a blind one for the police. The suspects had meticulously planned the crime, using a bike without a number plate. At the time of the incident, the Dhaba owner did not get a good look at the perpetrators, and they could not be identified through CCTV footage, complicating the investigation. The police began by reviewing CCTV footage from Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) and toll plazas within a 180 km radius, from Manali to the Himachal Pradesh border. When some clues emerged, a special investigation team led by ASP Sachin Hiremath was formed. By March 24, the team had identified the bike used in the crime by analysing various footage. Subsequently, the police connected other pieces of evidence, leading to the identification and arrest of the accused in Ner Chowk. The suspects, 25-year-old Mohammad Ajmal and 19-year-old Azam, both sons of Mohammad Aslam from Muzaffarpur, Uttar Pradesh, were confirmed to be brothers living in Ratti. They worked as aluminium fitters. The investigation revealed that the bike was first spotted in Bhuntar and later, its number plate was removed in subsequent CCTV footage. After committing the crime, the suspects avoided the highway between Mandi and Ner Chowk, escaping through a connecting road. Familiar with the area after living in Mandi for two years, they managed to evade immediate capture. Further investigation into mobile tower dump data revealed active numbers at night, including those of the suspects. This led the police to their rented house, where they were arrested. The police also found a bike at the scene, which had been tampered with, and its number plate was fake. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all SP Mandi stated that the police suspect the bikes chassis number had been altered for the crime, and the investigation is ongoing. The pistol recovered from the suspects is also under examination. Additionally, their criminal history has been requested from Muzaffarpur Police. The exact motive behind the robbery and shooting remains under investigation. The incident in question involved the suspects firing at a Dhaba operator with a country-made pistol near Pulgharat, injuring the owner. The suspects had initially ordered three meals to be packed but later opened fire and stole Rs 6,000. They conversed in Punjabi to create confusion. Location : Mandi, India, India First Published: March 26, 2025, 11:43 IST Cash-At-Home Row: Delhi Cops At Justice Yashwant Varmas Residence, To Seal Store Room That Caught Fire Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 15:06 IST DCP Devesh Mahala's team visited Justice Yashwant Varma's home for the cash-at-home probe The three-judge panel has been formed following the discovery of a large amount of cash at Justice Yashwant Varma's residence during a fire incident.(PTI File Image) New Delhi DCP Devesh Mahala and his team visited Delhi High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varmas official residence at the behest of the three-member Supreme Court panel probing the cash-at-home row. Delhi Police has been asked to seal the scene of crime, the store room where the fire took place. They will also make a detailed video of the things that are present inside the store room. Recommended Stories The panel 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. 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. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all 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. 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 26, 2025, 15:06 IST 'Competition Should Not Become Conflict', Says Jaishankar As India, China Make Efforts To Improve Ties Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 21:49 IST The EAM's remarks came after a fresh edition of talks in Beijing bunder the framework of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar calls USAID funding row "worrisome". (Photo: X/S Jaishankar) External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Wednesday said that India and China compete on many issues but it does not mean that there should be a conflict between the two countries. The EAMs remarks came after a fresh edition of talks were held in Beijing under the framework of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC). Recommended Stories Differences should not become disputes and competition should not become conflict. We do compete on many issues, but because we compete doesnt mean that there should be a conflict between us," he said at an event, as reported by news agency ANI. The EAM said that the violent clash in eastern Ladakh in 2020, in which around 40 Indian troops were killed, was very traumatic" for India-China bilateral ties. We had a war with China in 1962. It took us 14 years after that to send back an Ambassador. It took us 12 more years for the Prime Minister of India to visit that country From 1988 to 2020, while we had incidents in the border areas, we had not actually had bloodshed. The last bloodshed was 45 years before 2020. What happened in 2020 was actually very traumatic for the relationship. It wasnt just the bloodshed, it was the disregard of written agreements," he added. Jaishankar said that the relationship between India and China has seen some improvement from October last year. We are working on different aspects of it. What we are trying is to see if we can undo some of the damage which happened as a result of their actions in 2020, and we can rebuild the relationship. We genuinely, sincerely think that this is in our mutual interest, if one looks at 2020-2025, it was a period which did not serve them well, and it did not serve us well," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all India and China on Wednesday explored ways to rebuild ties and agreed to initiate efforts to promote people-to-people exchanges, including arrangements for resumption of direct flights and resume Kailash Manasarovar Yatra this year. In a meeting in Beijing, the two sides also discussed resumption of dialogue mechanisms in a step-by-step" manner to utilize them to address each others priority areas of interest and concern and move the relations to a more stable and predictable path", according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). 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 First Published: March 26, 2025, 20:05 IST Crude Oil Reserves Found On Freedom Fighter's Land In UP; Farm Owners In 300km Radius May Strike Gold Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 09:32 IST ONGC is exploring crude oil near Sagarpali village in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh, discovering crude oil reserve on land leased from freedom fighter Chittu Pandey's family This crude oil reserve spans an area of 300 km, from Sagar Pali village in Ballia to Phaphamau in Prayagraj. (News18) Crude oil deposits have been discovered near Sagarpali village in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh, and ONGC has initiated exploration efforts. This venture may involve acquiring land from local farmers. Crude Oil Reserve Found Recommended Stories A significant crude oil reserve was found on the land owned by the family of freedom fighter Chittu Pandey in Ballia. The discovery came after a three-month survey in the Ganga basin, revealing oil reserves at a depth of 3,000 metres. ONGC has leased six-and-a-half acres from Pandeys family for three years, paying Rs 10 lakh annually. ONGC officials confirmed the presence of oil reserves at this significant depth, necessitating drilling down to 3,001 metres. The excavation uses 25,000 litres of water daily and is progressing rapidly, with completion expected by the end of April. Drilling At Different Locations In Ganga Basin If successful, similar wells will be drilled at other identified locations in the Ganga basin, potentially transforming the fortunes of local farmers. Landowner and Chittu Pandeys descendant Neel Pandey mentioned ONGCs commitment to paying Rs 10 lakh annually for three years, with a possible one-year extension. Should oil be found, ONGC will acquire surrounding lands at high prices, greatly benefiting the farmers. This crude oil reserve spans an area of 300 km, from Sagar Pali village in Ballia to Phaphamau in Prayagraj. Indias Crude Oil Reserves As of April 2021, India had estimated crude oil reserves of approximately 587.335 million metric tonnes. The western offshore region accounts for the largest share of these reserves, followed by Assam and Gujarat. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is the leading entity in the exploration and production of crude oil in India. Established in 1956, ONGC has played a pivotal role in discovering and developing Indias oil fields. Notable discoveries include the Mumbai High field, which is the largest oil field in India, contributing significantly to the countrys crude oil production. In recent years, ONGC has made several new discoveries to bolster Indias oil reserves. For instance, in 2024, ONGC announced five new oil and gas discoveries, including both onshore and offshore fields. These discoveries are part of ONGCs ongoing efforts to enhance domestic oil production and reduce dependency on imports. Location : Ballia, India, India First Published: March 26, 2025, 09:32 IST Days After ED Raids, CBI Searches Ex-Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's Residences Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 09:24 IST The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday carried out searches at Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's Raipur and Bhilai residences. CBI at the residence of former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel. (Image: ANI) Nearly a month after the Enforcement Directorate raided the residences of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday carried out searches at the Congress leaders Raipur and Bhilai residences. According to sources, CRPF personnel have been deployed outside the house of Bhupesh Baghel in order to prevent stone pelting and a crowding-like situation that ED officials faced. Recommended Stories It is learnt that the investigative agencys action is being taken regarding the Mahadev Satta app, coal, and liquor scam. In addition to this, the action is also being linked to the PSC scam. Bhupesh Baghels Office Reacts Responding to the investigative agencies searches, Bhupesh Baghels office in a post on X wrote that the former Chief Minister was scheduled to travel to Delhi for the meeting of the Drafting Committee" constituted for the AICC meet. However, before he could leave for the capital, the CBI arrived Now CBI has come. Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel was scheduled to travel to Delhi today for the meeting of the Drafting Committee constituted for the AICC meeting to be held in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) on April 8 and 9. Before he could leave, the CBI reached his Raipur and Bhilai residence." CBI . 8 9 () AICC " . CBI . (- ) Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) March 26, 2025 ED Raids Premises Of Bhupesh Baghels Son The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 10 carried out extensive searches at the residence of the son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel in connection with an alleged liquor scam linked to a money laundering case in the state. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The probe agency raided around 15 locations, including the residence of Chaitanya Baghel in Bhilai. The ED earlier said the Chhattisgarh liquor scam" resulted in massive loss" to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of a liquor syndicate with more than Rs 2,100 crore of proceeds of crime. However, following the searches, Congress workers, agitated with the raids, clashed with police personnel deployed outside Baghels residence and raised slogans against the probe agency. The team of ED officials was also attacked and manhandled outside the Congress leaders residence in Durg. 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 : Chhattisgarh, India, India First Published: March 26, 2025, 08:29 IST News / National by Staff reporter Zimbabwe is exploring ways to improve infrastructure at its Dry Port facility in Walvis Bay, Namibia, to enhance its capacity for handling imports and exports. The initiative is part of the government's strategy to strengthen trade through this key route and boost foreign currency earnings.On Wednesday, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, toured the facility to assess its current state and identify areas for improvement.Posting on its official X account, the Ministry stated, "This Wednesday, Hon. Prof Dr Amon Murwira toured the Zimbabwe Dry Port facility in Walvis Bay, Namibia, which was commissioned by H.E. President @edmnangagwa in 2019 to provide trade routes for Zimbabwe to access markets in the European Union, the Americas, West Africa, and parts of North Africa."The Minister's visit explored how Zimbabwe can improve the infrastructure in Walvis Bay to enable the country to handle more imports and exports through this safe route, thereby growing its foreign currency earnings."The dry port, which was commissioned in 2019 by President Mnangagwa, was developed on land donated by the Namibian government. It serves as a critical gateway to the Atlantic Ocean, providing Zimbabwe with direct access to international markets.With its strategic location, the Walvis Bay Dry Port facilitates trade with North and South America, West Africa, and Europe. The transport corridor linking Zimbabwe to Walvis Bay via Botswana and Namibia features a modern highway, offering traders a direct and efficient route for imports and exports.Upgrading the facility is expected to enhance trade efficiency, reduce logistics costs, and position Zimbabwe as a stronger player in regional and international trade. Delhi: Boy, 16, Abducted And Stabbed To Death In Wazirabad; Three Minors Nabbed Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 10:53 IST The accused abducted the victim, and took him to an isolated place where they stabbed him to death. Reportedly, they also tried to cut his body into pieces. The mother of the victim boy (Credits: Screengrab of video shared by PTI) In a shocking incident that took place in Delhis, Wazirabad, a boy, aged 16, was kidnapped and stabbed to death by three minors, reported PTI citing police sources. The deceased, who is a student of class nine, was abducted on Sunday. The victim was taken to a deserted area near Bhalswa Lake, where he was stabbed several times. The accused also demanded a ransom of Rs 10 lakh from the family, however, the family later discovered the body, reported PTI citing a source. Recommended Stories Speaking about the incident, the mother of the deceased told the reporters, My son went out on Sunday evening after receiving a call. He said he would be back in 10 minutes, but there was no sign of him. We received a call asking for a Rs 10 lakh ransom or the kidnappers threatened to kill my son." The police received a call on Monday regarding the missing boy, who studied in Mukherjee Nagar. During the investigation, it was found that the missing/kidnapped boy was last seen with three boys, two of them aged 16 and 17, on a motorcycle on Jharoda Pushta road," the officer said. VIDEO | Delhi: A Class 9 student was reportedly kidnapped and murdered by friends for Rs 10 lakh ransom. Heres what his mother said:My son went out on Sunday evening after receiving a call. He said he would be back in 10 mins, but there was no sign of him We received a pic.twitter.com/YLo8fYy5np Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 26, 2025 The police have apprehended three juveniles in connection with the crime, who confessed during interrogation. The juveniles revealed that they took the victim to hang out with them on a motorcycle to a forested area, where they stabbed him to death and fled the spot. One day later, they dialed the victims father and demanded a ransom of Rs 10 lakh. The call was made using the victims sim. The body of the victim was discovered by a police team at the instance of the apprehended juveniles," the officer was quoted as saying by PTI. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all According to the sources cited by PTI, the accused also tried to cut the body of the victim. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 26, 2025, 10:46 IST Drone Covers 140km In 40 Minutes To Safely Deliver Corneas In Big Breakthrough For Eye Care Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 12:59 IST ICMR, AIIMS-Delhi and Dr Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital tested drone transport of corneal tissue, cutting delivery time from 2.5 hours to 40 minutes to expedite corneal transplants The success of this pilot project paves the way for deploying precision drone logistics for various critical medical applications. (News18) The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) embarked on a pioneering study on Tuesday examining the aerial transport of sensitive ophthalmic materials, such as human corneas and amniotic membrane grafts. This feasibility study, conducted in collaboration with AIIMS-Delhi and Dr Shroffs Charity Eye Hospital, and supported by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, assessed the use of drones to transport ophthalmic bio-materials from peripheral collection centres to tertiary hospitals for transplantation. Recommended Stories They have turned a visionary idea into reality by confirming the use of drones in the countrys medical sector. This step is intended to expedite corneal transplant procedures. Successful Drone Test In this test, ICMR used a drone to transport corneal tissue from Dr Shroff Charity Eye Hospital (Sonipat Centre) to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), AIIMS-Jhajjar, and subsequently to AIIMS-Delhi. The journey, completed in approximately 40 minutes, was far quicker than the 2.5 hours typically required by road. A medical official stated, The drone provided optimal conditions to maintain the quality of the sample. Upon reaching AIIMS, the cornea was examined and found to be of high quality, leading to a successful transplant surgery." He further mentioned that drone transport is revolutionising the medical field by bridging the gap between donors and recipients. This innovation ensures that no useful tissue goes to waste, allowing more patients to regain their vision promptly. Drones In Healthcare Logistics Drones are proving to be transformative tools in healthcare logistics, enabling the swift delivery of critical medical supplies to remote areas. The prompt transport of donated corneas is essential, as delays can compromise tissue quality and reduce the chances of successful transplantation. Drone-based transport offers a rapid, temperature-stable, and efficient alternative to traditional road networks, which can be slow and unpredictable. ICMRs i-DRONE Initiative According to a PTI report, in recent years, the ICMRs i-DRONE initiative has effectively utilised drones to deliver essential medical supplies in North East India, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, and the National Capital Region over recent years. ICMR Director General Dr Rajiv Bahl explained that the i-DRONE platform was initially developed during the Covid-19 pandemic to deliver vaccines to remote areas. Since then, efforts have expanded to include the low-temperature delivery of blood products and essential medicines to high-altitude and sub-zero locations. This cornea transport study enhances patient access, ensures timely transplants, and reduces pressure on overburdened tertiary hospitals, aligning with the Prime Ministers vision of a self-reliant India driven by innovation. This latest test is another successful effort towards promoting technological innovation in healthcare. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Transformative Potential Of Drone-Based Transport AIIMS-Delhi Director Dr M Srinivas highlighted that corneal blindness affects millions in India, with timely donor tissue availability often being a limiting factor. This drone-based transport model could be a transformative step towards ensuring equitable access to vision-restoring surgeries, especially in underserved areas. The success of this pilot project opens the door to deploying precision drone logistics for a wide range of critical medical applications," he stated. Location : Delhi | Haryana, India First Published: March 26, 2025, 12:59 IST 'Feels Like We're Living In Pakistan': Punjab AAP MLA Attacks His Own Govt Over Lack Of Health Facilities Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 21:17 IST AAP MLA Devinderjeet Singh Laddi Dhose on Tuesday alleged "stepmotherly" treatment to Moga, citing a lack healthrelated facilities in the district. Replying to the MLA's question, Singh informed the House that the health staff had been deployed temporarily at the buildings constructed to start dispensaries in Sector 69 and the adjacent Saneta village. (Photo: X/INC TV) AAP MLA Devinderjeet Singh Laddi Dhose on Tuesday alleged step-motherly" treatment to Moga, citing a lack health-related facilities in the district. Why is there discrimination against Moga? I feel like we are living in Pakistan," Dharamkot legislator Dhose said. Recommended Stories Dhose made the remark during the Question Hour of the budget session in the state Assembly. His outburst came after Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh replied to his question that there was no proposal to upgrade the Dharamkot PHC (primary health centre) to a sub-divisional hospital under the consideration of the government. The facility is under the community health centre Kot Ise Khan, located eight km away, replied the minister. Singh also said there was no proposal to open a trauma centre in Dharamkot. There are already five trauma centres functioning in the state of Punjab, which are functioning in Jalandhar, Pathankot, Khanna, Ferozepur and Fazilka," the minister said. After receiving the ministers replies, Dhose said the Dharamkot constituency (which is in Moga district) is a backward area. We are also the residents of Punjab, and our district is Moga. Not even one health-related project has been given to the Dharamkot constituency by our government. In Kot Ise Khan CHC, only two out of eight posts of MBBS doctors have been filled yet. Step-motherly treatment has been meted out to Moga. Earlier, 300 specialist doctors were recruited, and of them, only four doctors were given to Moga. Now, out of 255 MBBS doctors, only four have been given to Moga. Malerkotla is a small district and 28 MBBS doctors have been posted there as compared to four doctors given to Moga," he lamented. I want to ask why this discrimination is against Moga, whether Moga is part of Punjab. I feel like perhaps we are living in Pakistan," the MLA said. The health minister informed the House that the Dharamkot constituency has a population of 24,000 population comprising 50 villages A CHC is set up in an area where the population is over 1.25 lakh, and a sub-divisional hospital is set up if the population is over 10 lakh, he said, adding, Moga doesnt pass the criterion. He also pointed out that Moga has a district hospital. Earlier, AAP MLA from Mohali Kulwant Singh questioned the health minister about the deployment of health staff and other facilities in a new dispensary in Sector 69 and the completion of work on a dispensary building in Sector 79 of Mohali district. Feels like living in Pakistan!AAPs own MLA, Devinderjeet Singh Laddi Dhose, has exposed the reality of their so-called Health model." Two more AAP MLAs have also admitted that not a single health project has been started in their constituencies. The party that won Punjab https://t.co/HkKkeGLzQ6 INC TV (@INC_Television) March 26, 2025 Replying to the MLAs question, Singh informed the House that the health staff had been deployed temporarily at the buildings constructed to start dispensaries in Sector 69 and the adjacent Saneta village. The work of building of Urban Primary Health Centre at Sector 79 is under construction, revised detailed estimates of the remaining work have been calculated at Rs 151.03 lakh. After receiving the funds, the work is expected to start in six months and to be completed in about six months, that is, in about 12 months," the minister said. The Mohali MLA responded by saying he heard otherwise. had my people there (Sector 69 dispensary) till 9 am. No staff member came. Tell me when these dispensaries will be made functional. Till today, they are not operational. The staff strength is not complete. And with temporary staff, better health facilities cannot be provided," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The minister, in his response, said, It is possible that his (MLA) people gave information at 9 am and the staff may have reached 9.05 and 9.10 am." Singh even provided names of the health staff, comprising a doctor, a pharmacist, a lab technician and a staff nurse deployed at the dispensary, to counter the MLAs claims. I have all the whole list. I also got it confirmed from the Director, Health Services and the secretary then I gave the statement," he said. Location : Chandigarh, India, India First Published: March 26, 2025, 21:00 IST Govt Plans Overhaul Of Smuggling Intelligence Network Amid High-Profile Seizures | Exclusive Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 11:20 IST To facilitate easier input sharing, agencies will have a dedicated space to access state-specific smuggling-related intelligence, which will be shared with selected financial and other intelligence agencies Ranya Rao, the stepdaughter of senior Karnataka IPS officer DGP K Ramachandra Rao, is currently lodged in Parappana Agrahara jail. (Image: News18) Amidst a series of high-profile busts targeting gold and drug smuggling rackets, Indian intelligence agencies will soon have a dedicated input-sharing and coordination system to enhance intelligence-based operations. To combat increasing threats, the Union government has planned a comprehensive overhaul of its drug and gold smuggling intelligence-gathering network. The Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) is likely to introduce a standalone input-sharing mechanism and storage facility within the existing system, enabling real-time intelligence sharing among agencies. The government is planning to have periodical weekly or monthly intelligence agency meetings, along with larger biannual meetings involving all central law enforcement agencies to improve coordination and operational efficiency, a top-level official aware of the development told News18. Recommended Stories According to sources, changes have been planned in the Multi-Agency Centres system. To facilitate easier input sharing, agencies will have a dedicated space to access state-specific smuggling-related intelligence, which will be shared with selected financial and other intelligence agencies. Recent seizures of large quantities of narcotics and gold highlight the governments intensified efforts to dismantle smuggling rings operating across the country. In a recent meeting with senior officials from various intelligence agencies, it was proposed to implement an improved input-sharing system alongside other databases. The meeting was convened following the arrest of actor Ranya Rao, who was caught with a large quantity of gold. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) suspects a larger conspiracy behind the case. In another case, 88 kilograms of gold were recovered from a flat in Gujarat after the Rao case. Beyond gold smuggling, intelligence-gathering systems will be strengthened, and real-time sharing will be introduced to enhance coordination between intelligence and law enforcement agencies. The governments four-tier Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism has proven effective in enabling intelligence and operational coordination between central and state drug enforcement agencies. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Efforts to generate intelligence will be intensified, with a particular focus on smuggling through Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and West Bengalstates where large-scale smuggling activities have been observed. Since Kochi, Chennai, Mumbai, and Kolkata airports remain key hubs for gold smuggling, with syndicates employing innovative methods to evade customs and law enforcement, the government is planning to introduce intelligence-sharing measures, including modus operandi databases, to assist agencies on the ground. Additionally, to enhance vigilance at strategic entry points, container scanners have been installed at all of Indias major ports. These advanced technologies will be used to detect and deter sea-borne narcotics trafficking and clandestine gold smuggling. About the Author Ankur Sharma With over 15 years of journalistic experience, Ankur Sharma, Associate Editor, specializes in internal security and is tasked with providing comprehensive coverage from the Ministry of Home Affairs, paramilitar... Read More With over 15 years of journalistic experience, Ankur Sharma, Associate Editor, specializes in internal security and is tasked with providing comprehensive coverage from the Ministry of Home Affairs, paramilitar... Read More First Published: March 26, 2025, 11:20 IST Hands Tied, Mouth Taped: Haryana Man Finds Out Wife's Affair With Tenant, Buries Him Alive In 7-Foot Pit Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 07:31 IST The tenant was murdered in December last year, but his body was recovered on March 24 after accused Hardeep was arrested following a long investigation. The victim was kidnapped by his landlord and his friends in Haryana's Rohtak. (Image: X/@RohtakPolice) In a shocking incident, a man in Haryanas Rohtak kidnapped his tenant with the help of his friends and buried him alive in a 7-foot deep pit in a field after discovering that he was having an affair with his wife. The tenant, identified as Jagdeep, was murdered in December 2024, but his body was recovered on Monday after accused Hardeep was arrested following a long investigation. Recommended Stories According to NDTV, Hardeep found out that Jagdeep, who lived as a tenant with him in a portion of his house and was a yoga teacher at the Baba Mastnath University in Rohtak, was allegedly having an affair with his wife. On finding out, Hardeep paid some people to dig a 7-foot deep pit in Pantavas village of Charkhi Dadri. He told then that the pit was for a borewell. On December 24, Hardeep and some of his friends kidnapped Jagdeep after he returned from work. Before the group took him to the pit in Charkhi Dadri, they tied his hands and legs. On reaching the spot where they planned to bury him alive, Hardeep and his friends taped Jagdeeps mouth so that he couldnt make any noise. How Did The Police Find Out? The police informed that Jagdeeps body was recovered months after the murder took place on basis of the investigation that was launched on a missing persons complaint. A complaint was filed at the Shivaji Colony Police station on January 3, nearly 10 days after the murder took place. The police did not find any evidence until they accessed Jagdeeps call records and found enough evidence to detain Hardeep and one of his friends, Dharampal. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all After receiving the custody of the accused persons, the police officials began interrogating them, who then revealed the details about the killing. Following which the body was recovered on Monday, March 24, exactly three months after the murder. 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 : Haryana, India, India First Published: March 26, 2025, 07:31 IST India, China Discuss Ways To Move Ties To 'Predictable Path' Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 21:41 IST In a meeting in Beijing, the two sides also discussed resumption of dialogue mechanisms in a "step-by-step" manner to utilize them to address each other's priority areas of interest and concern and move the relations to a "more stable and predictable path", according to the MEA In the WMCC dialogue on Tuesday, India and China focused on ensuring effective border management and early resumption of cross-border cooperation and exchanges including on trans-border rivers and Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.(Credits: File image) India and China on Wednesday explored ways to rebuild ties and agreed to initiate efforts to promote people-to-people exchanges, including arrangements for resumption of direct flights and resume Kailash Manasarovar Yatra this year. In a meeting in Beijing, the two sides also discussed resumption of dialogue mechanisms in a step-by-step" manner to utilize them to address each others priority areas of interest and concern and move the relations to a more stable and predictable path", according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Recommended Stories The relations between the two countries came under severe strain following the Galwan Valley clashes in 2020. The meeting was held between Gourangalal Das, the joint secretary in the MEAs East Asia division, and Liu Jinsong, the director general at the Chinese foreign ministrys department of Asian affairs. The MEA said the two sides also made further progress on the modalities to resume Kailash Manasarovar Yatra this year. It said the two sides took positive note of the developments in bilateral relations since the meeting of the leaders of India and China in October last year. In the intervening period, the foreign ministers have met twice, while the Special Representatives on the India-China boundary question have held their 23rd meeting," the MEA said. These high-level meetings have provided strategic guidance to stabilise and further develop relations," it said in a statement. In December, NSA Ajit Doval travelled to Beijing and held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi under the framework of Special Representatives (SR) dialogue on the boundary question. The decision to revive the SR mechanism and other such dialogue formats was taken at a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan on October 23. The Modi-Xi meeting came two days after India and China firmed up a disengagement pact for Depsang and Demchok, the last two friction points in eastern Ladakh. In January, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Beijing and held talks with his Chinese counterpart Sun Weidong. In the meeting, the two sides decided to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and agreed to take certain people-centric steps to stabilise and rebuild" ties. The Wednesdays talks between Das and Liu came a day after India and China held diplomatic talks under the framework of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) in Beijing. Das led the Indian delegation at the WMCC meeting. In todays meeting, the two sides reviewed the action taken by them to implement the strategic direction as also the specific steps agreed in the meeting between the foreign secretary and Chinese vice foreign minister in January to stabilise and rebuild ties," the MEA said in the statement. They agreed to continue efforts to further facilitate and promote people-to-people exchanges, including arrangements for resumption of direct flights, interaction of media and think-tanks, and celebration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations," it said. The two sides have made further progress on the modalities to resume Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in 2025," the MEA said. It said the two sides took stock of the planned exchanges and activities this year. They discussed resumption of dialogue mechanisms in a step-by-step manner to utilize them to address each others priority areas of interest and concern and move relations on to a more stable and predictable path," the MEA added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In the WMCC dialogue on Tuesday, India and China focused on ensuring effective border management and early resumption of cross-border cooperation and exchanges including on trans-border rivers and Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Location : Beijing, China First Published: March 26, 2025, 21:41 IST India Expands Nuclear Power Generation Capacity to 35.3 GW With 25 Operational Reactors, Eyes Private Investment Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 18:21 IST The government said it is also actively pursuing environmental clearances for uranium exploration in Rajasthan, and once secured, it will boost India's uranium reserves Union Minister of State (Science & Technology) Dr Jitendra Singh highlighted that India is keen to expand nuclear power as a clean energy source. (X) India has ramped up its nuclear power generation capacity to 35.3 GW with 25 reactors now operational, the government told Parliament on Wednesday, as it sets its sights on boosting private investment for further expansion. A 700 MW Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS)-7 was recently connected to the grid on March 17 taking the total installed capacity in the country to 8,880 MW almost double from 4,780 MW in 2014. Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Union Minister of State (Science & Technology) Dr Jitendra Singh highlighted that India is keen to expand nuclear power as a clean energy source and has already opened the doors for private players. Recommended Stories MEGA NUCLEAR PUSH While Rajasthan now houses seven of Indias 25 operational reactors, a new reactor has been approved for Gorakhnagar in Haryana to expand the nuclear infrastructure beyond the traditional strongholds in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra. There is currently no operating nuclear power reactor in Madhya Pradesh, but financial sanction has already been granted for setting up a 2X700 MW nuclear power project at Chutka in Mandla district which has completed most procedural formalities, including environmental clearance and land acquisition. But the challenges due to resettlement and rehabilitation are being addressed in consultation with the state government," the minister informed. While in principle approval of the site at Bhimpur in Shivpuri district for locating four nuclear power reactors of 700 MW each has been granted, it is awaiting final arrangements for water supply," Dr Singh told Parliament, hinting at further expansion under the Nuclear Mission could eventually include the Khandwa region as well. Meanwhile, the government said it is also actively pursuing environmental clearances for uranium exploration in Rajasthan, and once secured, the state will contribute significantly to Indias uranium reserves. The statement comes amid the governments renewed push for nuclear energy. The latest Union Budget also announced a Rs 20,000-crore Nuclear Energy Mission aimed at deploying at least five indigenously developed small modular reactors by 2033. The Centre also plans to bring two amendments to the Atomic Energy Act and Civil Liabilities For Nuclear Damages Act for active partnership with the private sector. #LIVE: My reply to the #LokSabha discussion on Nuclear Power Plants in India #DAE https://t.co/lLoRldghd6 Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) March 26, 2025 BUT SAFETY FIRST, EXPANSION NEXT Responding to concerns over safety, the minister told Parliament that nuclear power reactors are constructed to the highest quality standards, and the operations are performed using well-laid-out procedures. The plants are provided with fail-safe design features to ensure there are multiple barriers between the source of radioactivity and the environment," he added. He also assured there is a robust internal and independent regulatory mechanism in place and periodic monitoring is carried out every three months during construction, biannual checks during operation, and a comprehensive review every five years both by NPCIL and Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). Radiation levels in Indias nuclear plants remain significantly below the safety threshold, with a steady decline in radiation generation over the years," he added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all On nuclear waste disposal, the minister told Parliament that each nuclear plant stores its waste on-site for the first five to seven years, after which it is shifted to an Away from Reactor facility for long-term storage and eventual re-use. With major concerns related to Kudankulam and Kalpakkam being used as waste repositories, he said their radiation levels have reduced over the years, and each plant is self-sufficient in waste management. 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 26, 2025, 18:21 IST India, US Kick Off Bilateral Trade Talks As Tariff Deadline Looms Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Karishma Jain Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 19:32 IST The US is looking to engage with India, taking a markedly different approach compared to the trade war brewing with China, Canada, and Mexico. During Modis visit to the US in February, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a mutually beneficial trade pact. (AP Photo) A fresh round of US-India trade talks began on Wednesday in New Delhi, with the US delegation led by Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch and the Indian team headed by Commerce Ministrys Additional Secretary Rajesh Agrawal. Over the next three days, both sides will focus on setting the framework for structured negotiations, as pressure mounts ahead of President Donald Trumps April 2 deadline for imposing reciprocal tariffs. Finalising the Terms of Reference (TOR) will be a key agenda in this round of talks, as both sides aim to establish a roadmap and timeline for negotiating a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). The first tranche will lay the groundwork for future negotiations, with completion targeted for the fall. The US is looking to engage" with India, taking a markedly different approach compared to the trade war brewing with China, Canada, and Mexico. Recommended Stories Tariff Front Developments These trade talks come at a crucial time, as the US prepares to impose reciprocal tariffs on April 2, a move that could significantly impact Indias $66 billion in exports to the US. Reuters has reported that India could be considering slashing tariffs on more than half of US imports, worth around $23 billion, as part of a broader trade arrangement to counterbalance the impact of these tariffs. India is also moving to eliminate a 6 per cent equalisation levy on digital advertising services, which has primarily affected major US tech firms like Google, Meta, and Amazon. This change is part of amendments to the Finance Bill 2025, which has been passed by the Lok Sabha and is awaiting approval from the Rajya Sabha, with implementation set for April 1. The move is aimed at addressing long-standing US concerns and facilitating smoother trade negotiations. These discussions align with the larger vision shared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump to double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. During Modis visit to the US in February, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a mutually beneficial trade pact, focusing on critical areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and securing supply chains for strategic minerals. Indias Trade Concessions and US Market Access Demands top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A recent Reuters report indicated that India is willing to make substantial tariff reductions on US imports as part of ongoing negotiations. This concession is aimed at protecting Indian exports from the potential fallout of the USs planned reciprocal tariffs. Sources say US negotiators are particularly focused on securing greater market access and regulatory clarity for American businesses operating in India. The report also noted that while India is intent on safeguarding its domestic industries, it is open to structured discussions that align with its long-term economic strategy. With the first tranche of trade negotiations set for completion by fall, these talks are expected to play a defining role in shaping the future trajectory of US-India trade relations. About the Author Siddhant Mishra Siddhant Mishra is a Senior Special Correspondent at CNN-News18, covering foreign affairs and international relations. With over 12 years of experience in journalism, he has also reported extensively on crime, ... Read More Siddhant Mishra is a Senior Special Correspondent at CNN-News18, covering foreign affairs and international relations. With over 12 years of experience in journalism, he has also reported extensively on crime, ... Read More First Published: March 26, 2025, 16:19 IST Trump Demands Names, Nationalities Of Campus Protesters; Should Indian Students Be Concerned? Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 22:29 IST This move has sparked concerns that it could be used to deport foreign students amid a crackdown on illegal immigrants as well as student protesters in US colleges and universities Students wait in long security lines outside Columbia University as demonstrators continue to rally in support of Palestine. (Image: SPENCER PLATT/Getty Images/AFP) In a move that may impact Indian students in US colleges and universities, the Trump administration has demanded the names and nationalities of those involved in alleged antisemitic harassment and large-scale campus protests. This move has sparked concerns that it could be used to deport foreign students amid a crackdown on illegal immigrants as well as student protesters in American colleges and universities. The Trump administration has warned of sanctions against 60 universities for allegedly failing to protect Jewish students, and many of these institutions have Indian students. Recommended Stories Indian students make up the largest group of international students in the US. As of 2023-2024, there are 3,31,602 Indian nationals enrolled in the countrys educational institutions. The recent deportation cases of Ranjini Srinivasan from Columbia University and postdoctoral scholar Badar Khan Suri paint a stark picture. Srinivasan self-deported after her student visa was revoked while Suri is facing action for alleged links to Hamas. WHAT IS THE USUAL PROCESS FOR CAMPUS INVESTIGATIONS? According to a report published by The Wall Street Journal, legal experts said this move could be used as a tip sheet" to deport foreign students. They said the focus on names and nationalities of students is concerning because it is different from their investigations into regular campus harassment. My first thought was, This is a witch hunt," an attorney told WSJ. The report said Craig Trainor, the Education Departments acting assistant secretary for civil rights, defended the policy and called it was more of an assessment on how educational institutions were handling antisemitism cases. The WSJ report further said the Education Departments request followed a February 3 notice announcing investigations into antisemitic harassment at five universities: Columbia, Northwestern, Portland State, UC Berkeley, and University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Usually, during investigations federal attorneys request school policies, complaint records, and responses. But, this time they have also asked to include names, ethnicities, and nationalities of students flagged for potential violations even those not convicted or found guilty of misconduct, the report said. There is no investigative reason for us to be asking for that information," a second attorney told WSJ. Some experts said this could violate civil rights laws, while others said a fair probe will need broader data. Bridget A Blinn-Spears, an attorney who represents universities, told WSJ that collecting names likely serves an immigration or national security purpose. The only reason to gather names is if theres an intent to investigate them, take action, or possibly place them on a watch list for future enforcement," she was quoted. If youre compiling names, its because you plan to use them in some way later on." WHERE DID IT ALL START? Trump has targeted US universities that saw significant surges of protests against Israels war in Gaza that followed the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas. Columbia Universitys student movement was at the forefront of the protests. This led to Trump targeting the institution over student protests and alleged anti-Semitism from some demonstrators. The President has cut $400 million in federal funding for Columbia including research grants and other contracts on the grounds that the institution has not adequately protected Jewish students from harassment. The administration had demanded that the university deploys external oversight, but the school stopped short of that with its raft of measures instead vowing to engage with outside academics on the issue. In a recent letter sent to Columbia, the Trump administration gave the university one week to agree to a series of drastic reforms if it wants to open negotiations to recover the $400 million. The letter demanded Columbia codify a definition of anti-Semitism that includes a focus on anti-Zionism, and insists the Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies departments be put under academic receivership." Hence, on March 22, the university unveiled a package of policies in a bid to placate Trump. It announced improvements to our disciplinary processes" as well as making it mandatory that protesters identify themselves when challenged even if they wear masks, as many did during the height of the pro-Palestinian protests. It also announced the expansion of its security team, including the hiring of 36 officers empowered to remove or arrest those that break the prestigious Ivy League universitys rules. In the document titled Advancing our work to combat discrimination, harassment and anti-Semitism at Columbia, the university announced the creation of a new Office of Institutional Equity" as well as updating its anti-discrimination and discriminatory harassment policy for students and groups. The Universitys approach and relevant policies will incorporate the definition of antisemitism recommended by Columbias Antisemitism Taskforce in August 2024," the policy document said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The private university announced a battery of disciplinary measures including suspensions, temporary degree revocations and expulsions aimed at student protesters who occupied a campus building last year. (With AFP 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 26, 2025, 22:15 IST Insensitive: Supreme Court Condemns Allahabad HC Judges 'Grabbing Breasts Isn't Rape' Ruling Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Poulami Kundu Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 12:47 IST The Supreme Court condemned the Allahabad High Court ruling that grabbing the breast and pulling a pyjama string do not constitute rape. Justice BR Gavai called the ruling "totally insensitive." Supreme Court of India judge Justice BR Gavai. (File Image: PTI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday has condemned the Allahabad High Court ruling that mere grabbing of the breast and pulling the string of a pyjama do not amount to offence of rape. The top court took note of the matter on its own and a bench of Justices BR Gavai and Augustine George Masih heard the matter on Wednesday. Recommended Stories Justice Gavai called the ruling insensitive." He said, It is a serious matter. Total insensitiveness on part of the judge. This was at the stage of issuing summons! We are sorry to use such harsh words against the judge." He also urged the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, who is the master of rosters, to take necessary steps. What Legal Experts Said Legal experts had deplored the observation of the Allahabad High Court on what constitutes a rape charge, calling for a restraint by judges and underlining the drop in public confidence in the judiciary due to such statements. What Was The Ruling The high court on March 17 had ruled that mere grabbing of the breast and pulling the pyjama string do not amount to offence of rape but such offence falls under the ambit of assault or use of criminal force against any woman with the intent to disrobe or compel her to be naked. The order was passed by Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra on a revision petition filed by two persons who moved the court, challenging the order of a Special Judge of Kasganj by which the court had summoned them under Section 376 of IPC apart from other sections. Case Timeline According to facts of the case, an application was moved before the court of Special Judge, POCSO Act, alleging that around 5:00 pm on November 10, 2021, she (informant) was returning from the home of her sister-in-law (husbands sister) along with her minor daughter aged about 14 years. Accused Pawan, Akash and Ashok, who were from her village, met her on the way on a muddy road and asked where she was coming from. When she replied she was coming from her sister-in-laws place, Pawan offered a lift to her daughter, assuring her that he would drop her at her residence. Relying on his assurance, she permitted her daughter to accompany him on his motorcycle. The accused persons stopped their motorcycle on the muddy way to her village and started grabbing her breasts. Akash dragged her and tried to take her beneath the culvert and pulled the string of her pyjama. Two persons reached the spot on hearing the cries of her daughter. The accused persons threatened them with life by pointing a country-made pistol and fled the place. After recording the statement of the victim and the witnesses, the court summoned the accused for offence of rape. After going through the materials on record, the court found, In the present case, the allegation against accused Pawan and Akash is that they grabbed the breasts of the victim and Akash tried to bring down the lower garment of the victim and for that purpose, they had broken string of her lower garments and tried to drag her beneath the culvert, but due to intervention of witnesses they left the victim and fled away from the place of incident. This fact is not sufficient to draw an inference that the accused persons had determined to commit rape on the victim as apart from these facts no other act is attributed to them to further their alleged desire to commit rape on the victim," the court said. The court in its order on March 17 further observed that the specific allegation against accused Akash is that he tried to drag the victim beneath the culvert and pulled the string of her pyjama. It is also not stated by the witnesses that the victim got naked or undressed due to this act of the accused, the court said. There is no allegation that the accused tried to commit penetrative sexual assault against the victim," the court said. It said the allegations levelled against the accused Pawan and Akash, and the facts of the case hardly constitute an offence of attempt to rape in the case. To bring out a charge of attempt to rape the prosecution must establish that it had gone beyond the stage of preparation, it said. The difference between preparation and actual attempt to commit an offence consists chiefly in the greater degree of determination," the court added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The court said, On facts of the case a prima facie charge attempt to rape is not made out against the accused Pawan and Akash and instead they are liable to be summoned for a minor charge of Section 354(b) IPC i.e. assault or abuse a woman with intent to disrobing or compelling her to be naked and Section 9 of POCSO Act provides punishment for aggravated sexual assault on a child victim." (With PTI inputs) First Published: March 26, 2025, 11:16 IST News / National by Staff reporter Zimbabwe's push for a National Health Insurance (NHI) system has reached a decisive phase, with government officials and health experts reaffirming the need to implement the scheme this year. Despite past setbacks, stakeholders remain hopeful that the initiative will bring long-term benefits by ensuring universal healthcare coverage for all citizens.Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr. Douglas Mombeshora, recently provided an update on the progress, highlighting that while initial plans targeted 2025 for the scheme's rollout, delays in drafting - mainly due to workload pressures at the Attorney-General's Office - had slowed the process. However, the ministry has since made significant strides in preparing the National Health Insurance Bill, with input from key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion."We are about halfway through reviewing the document and hope to complete it soon before taking it back to the Attorney-General," Dr. Mombeshora stated.The road to establishing an NHI scheme in Zimbabwe has been long and complex. Past discussions have centered on challenges such as funding mechanisms, potential resistance from private healthcare providers, and the government's capacity to implement such an ambitious program. Despite these hurdles, authorities maintain that the long-term benefits of universal healthcare coverage far outweigh the difficulties.Health economist Dr. Takudzwa Marerwa emphasized the potential impact of a well-structured national insurance system, stating that it could ease pressure on overstretched public hospitals while ensuring that even low-income citizens can access quality healthcare. He noted that healthcare costs have been a major financial burden for many Zimbabwean families, and a national scheme could help distribute the financial risk more evenly.The urgency behind the NHI initiative has grown amid increasing concerns over healthcare accessibility and affordability. Zimbabwe's public health sector has faced persistent funding shortages, leading to drug scarcities, deteriorating infrastructure, and frequent healthcare worker strikes. Authorities view the NHI as a sustainable solution to these long-standing issues by creating a more structured financing model for the health sector.Health practitioner Mr. Shingirai Masawi has been a long-time advocate for national health insurance, arguing that it would alleviate the financial strain on patients and improve access to essential medical services. "For years, we have seen cases where patients go untreated because they cannot afford medical fees. Many rely on out-of-pocket payments, which are unsustainable," he said.However, concerns over the implementation of the scheme remain. Some health insurance experts have questioned how the NHI will be funded without placing excessive financial strain on either the government or the working population. Health insurance specialist Mr. Fungai Maravanyika cautioned that the success of the program will depend on effective governance, transparency, and proper utilization of funds. "Without a clear regulatory framework, the system could face operational inefficiencies," he warned.Zimbabwe is also looking to learn from other African countries that have implemented national health insurance schemes, such as Ghana and Kenya. While these nations have made progress in expanding healthcare access, their programs faced early-stage challenges, including enrolment difficulties and funding shortfalls.Dr. Mombeshora indicated that the government plans to present the NHI Bill to Parliament by mid-year. "If everything goes according to plan, we should be able to take it to the Cabinet Committee on Legislation before it reaches Parliament by June," he explained. If the legislative process moves smoothly, the NHI could become operational within eight months to a year.Dr. Marerwa stressed that Zimbabwe must seize this opportunity to achieve health equity, noting that the NHI is not just about expanding coverage but ensuring that all citizens, regardless of income level, can access essential healthcare services.With growing consensus among stakeholders that the country can no longer afford delays, upcoming parliamentary debates will play a crucial role in shaping the future of healthcare financing in Zimbabwe. If successfully implemented, the NHI could mark a transformative shift in healthcare policy, turning access to medical services from a privilege into a right for all Zimbabweans. Lok Sabha Passes Bill To Set Up 'Tribhuvan' Sahkari University, Shah Says Cooperative Insurance Firm On Anvil Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 21:16 IST Shah took a swipe at some opposition members for their demand that the university should have been named after Verghese Kurien, associated with the growth of milk cooperatives in Gujarat, saying that Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel was a Congress leader who gave job to Kurien The proposed university will also address the long pending issue of capacity building of employees and board members in the co-operative sector in a pan-India and focused manner. (Photo: PTI file) Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed a bill to set up Tribhuvan Sahkari University in Gujarats Anand with an aim to create a qualified manpower for co-operative societies. The university has been named after Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel, who was one of the pioneers of cooperative movement in India and instrumental in laying the foundation of Amul, Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah said during a debate on the Tribhuvan" Sahkari University Bill, 2025. Recommended Stories Shah took a swipe at some opposition members for their demand that the university should have been named after Verghese Kurien, associated with the growth of milk cooperatives in Gujarat, saying that Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel was a Congress leader who gave job to Kurien. The Amuls journey started in 1946 has transformed into the one of the worlds biggest dairy brands with a turnover of over Rs 60,000 crore, he said. The proposed university will also address the long pending issue of capacity building of employees and board members in the co-operative sector in a pan-India and focused manner. To further strengthen the cooperative sector in India, Shah said, a cooperative insurance company will be set up soon that will provide insurance coverage to all cooperative societies in the country. He exuded confidence that the insurance company will emerge as the biggest private insurance company in time to come. In the coming days, he said, Sahkar Taxi on the lines of Ola and Uber will be set up which will register two-wheelers and four-wheelers and the money will directly go to the driver instead of the app operator. To expand the cooperative movement, he said, additional 2 lakh Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) will be created before 2029 general elections. With the addition, all villages will have their own PACS, he said, adding, all states have adopted model bylaws whereby 50 economic activities have been brought under their ambit. Once the Bill is passed, India will get its first university for the cooperative sector for capacity building of manpower engaged in the sector. The university will not only train people but also upgrade skills of those working in the sector, he said, adding, it will follow a hub-and-spoke model for imparting training in different states through institutions related to the sector. There are about 8 lakh cooperative societies with 30 crore members in India. Every fifth Indian is attached to any cooperative society. Cooperative not only fosters rural development but creates opportunity for self employment and research and innovation. Citing the successful journey of Amul, Shah said, its turnover was Rs 2,882 crore in 2003 and now it has crossed Rs 60,000 crore which is five times more than HUL and eight times of Nestle India. At the Group level, he said, the turnover is Rs 90,000 crore including non-dairy business. Taking a political swipe at the opposition, he said, Kamal (symbol of BJP) has bloomed in Delhi and time is not far away when it will bloom in West Bengal too. Intellectual bankruptcy is evident in the opposition and it flows from top to bottom, he said without naming anyone. Quoting a Gujarati adage, Shah said if a well is dry how could it provide water to farmland. Sharing various steps taken by the Ministry of Cooperation, he said, income tax rules have been relaxed for the cooperative sector, centralised database has been created, and Urban Cooperative Banks have been permitted to do One Time Settlement, among others. According to the Bill, the present education and training infrastructure in the co-operative sector is fragmented and grossly inadequate" to meet the present and future demand for qualified manpower and capacity building of existing employees in co-operative societies. The bill said it is essential that a comprehensive, integrated and standardised structure is created for education, training and research by establishing a national university to ensure a stable, adequate and quality supply of professionally qualified manpower for different categories of jobs in co-operatives such as managerial, supervisory, administrative, technical and operational. The Tribhuvan" Cooperative University Bill, 2025, aims to provide education and training in the cooperative sector through Tribhuvan Cooperative University, build youth capacity, establish centres of excellence offering degree programmes, distance education, and e-learning courses, and train approximately 8,00,000 individuals annually, while creating sector-specific Schools of Excellence in areas like dairy and fisheries. The Tribhuvan" Sahkari University will ensure a steady supply of trained human resources for new initiatives, unify 284 cooperative training institutes across India, enhance the capacity of existing centres, increase long-term cooperative courses nationwide, and establish a comprehensive and integrated system for education and training in the cooperative sector. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The establishment of Tribhuvan" Cooperative University will realise the governments mantra of Sahkar Se Samriddhi, boosting the rural economy, promoting the growth of dairy, fisheries, and banking cooperatives, and offering valuable career opportunities for youth in the cooperative sector, he said. First Published: March 26, 2025, 21:13 IST Man Fakes Own Kidnapping To Demand 'Ransom' From Father; Held With Friends Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 21:37 IST The main accused, Satish Gupta, and his two friends- Aarush Arora and Tejveer Singh Sandhu- have been arrested based on certain clues, police said on Wednesday The prima facie motive behind the crime is Satish's desperation to settle his debt. (Representative Image) Stuck in the vicious cycle of borrowing for gratifying expensive hobbies, a 24-year-old man from Indore allegedly faked his kidnapping with the help of friends and demanded Rs 1 lakh ransom" from his father, but swift action by police unravelled the conspiracy. The main accused, Satish Gupta, and his two friends- Aarush Arora and Tejveer Singh Sandhu- have been arrested based on certain clues, police said on Wednesday. Recommended Stories Despite expensive hobbies, Satish was prima facie involved in betting on Indian Premier League (IPL) matches. Shreeram Gupta, a resident of Indore, received a call on Tuesday informing him that his son Satish Gupta had been kidnapped. The senior Gupta was told to pay Rs 1 lakh ransom for his sons release," Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Devendra Singh Dhurve told reporters. Based on investigations and clues, police detained Arora and Sandhu. Their questioning blew the lid off the kidnapping" story. Dhurve said Satish involved his two friends in the plan and made them call up his father seeking ransom for his release from kidnappers. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The prima facie motive behind the crime is Satishs desperation to settle his debt. Satish incurred a huge debt due to his expensive hobbies. According to him, he fabricated the kidnapping story to pay off the loan. He was also involved in Indian Premier League betting," the ACP said, adding that a detailed investigation is underway. Location : Indore, India, India First Published: March 26, 2025, 21:37 IST Mere Presence In Room During POCSO Complaint Submission Doesnt Attract Liability For Not Reporting Crime: Kerala HC Reported By : LawBeat Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 14:36 IST The court quashed the case, finding that there was no wilful omission on the part of the petitioner in reporting the crime The court ruled that no offence can be made out against the petitioner and all proceedings against him were quashed. (X) The Kerala High Court recently quashed the proceedings against a 53-year-old teacher, the petitioner, accused of not complying with Section 19 of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which mandates the reporting of offences. A single-judge bench of Justice C Jayachandran ruled that criminal liability under the POCSO Act cannot be imposed on an individual solely because of their presence during the submission of a complaint about an alleged crime unless there is wilful omission on his part to report the offence. Recommended Stories The case pertains to allegations of sexual assault on a school student by the first accused, a teacher. The complaint was filed by the victim on November 17, 2022, a day after the alleged incident on November 16, 2022. The victim informed the school principal about the incident through a complaint forwarded via WhatsApp to the school counsellor. A meeting involving school staff, the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) president, and the municipal vice-chairperson was held on November 18, 2022, during which it was decided to report the matter to the police. The victim alleged that the school principal was reluctant to file the police complaint, however, an FIR was registered later that day by the counsellor. The petitioner (fourth accused), who was present in the principals office when the victim forwarded the complaint, was accused, along with the principal and another teacher, under Sections 19 and 21 of the POCSO Act for failing to report the crime to the authorities immediately. The petitioner maintained that he had no role in handling or forwarding the complaint and was merely present when the victim disclosed the incident. It was emphasised that he had no direct involvement in the reporting process and sought quashing of the proceedings against him. The prosecution, opposing the plea, argued that the petitioner, as a school authority, was legally obligated to report the crime without delay and that his failure to do so constituted a violation of the Act. The court found that there was no evidence of deliberate inaction or wilful omission on the part of the petitioner. The complaint was given by the student against the Principal. Criminal liability cannot be fastened on the petitioner for the mere reason that he was present at the Principals room, when the complaint was forwarded to the latter," the court remarked. The court further clarified that there is a clear mandate to report the commission of the offence by the persons having knowledge of the sameHowever, the statute is silent as to the time frame within which this act must be performed, wherefore, the only logical conclusion possible is that the same should be done within a reasonable time." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The court also pointed out that similar charges against the principal and another school authority had already been quashed, as the FIR was registered just one day after the victims complaint was lodged, noting that No failure to attract the offence can be deduced from the above conduct." In light of these findings, the court ruled that no offence can be made out against the petitioner and all proceedings against him were quashed. Location : Kerala, India, India First Published: March 26, 2025, 14:36 IST PM Modi To Inaugurate Pamban Bridge In Rameswaram On April 6; Why It Is A Modern Engineering Marvel Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 19:09 IST The 2.1-km state-of-the-art bridge is India's first vertical lift railway sea bridge, with a vertical lift span of 72 m. It is a significant improvement over the cantilever system of the 104-year Old Pamban Bridge The ministry of railways said the New Pamban Bridge is a modern engineering marvel, being India's first vertical lift sea bridge. (Image: @RailMinIndia/X) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Indias first vertical lift sea bridge connecting Tamil Nadus Rameswaram Island to the mainland on the occasion of Ram Navami on April 6. Modi will pray at the Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram followed by the inauguration of the New Pamban Bridge, which the ministry of railways has described as a modern engineering marvel. Recommended Stories The state-of-the-art 2.1-km bridge is Indias first vertical lift railway sea bridge, with a vertical lift span of 72 m. It is a significant improvement over the cantilever system of the 104-year Old Pamban Bridge. The Prime Minister had laid the foundation stone for the new bridge in March 2019, following which its construction began next year. It built by the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) for Rs 580 crore, with the construction completed in September 2024. Trial runs were conducted in November 2024. Pamban Bridge: featuring the historic structure alongside its modern iteration, illustrating the remarkable evolution from then to now.#IndianRailways #NewPambanBridge pic.twitter.com/QHKDJe2eMo Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) February 10, 2025 Here is all you need to know: VERTICAL LIFT SPAN OF 72 METRES The main feature of the New Pamban Bridge is its vertical lift span of 72 metres, which allows ships to pass below. The ministry of railways successfully launched the lift span, marking a significant milestone. It operates on an electro-mechanical system and has been constructed to accommodate a double track. The ministry has also conducted successful OMS-engine runs on the bridge. At present, the authorised speed for trains is 75 kmph, which can be changed based on operational feedback, as and when it starts. Watch the video here: New Pamban Bridge: getting closer to commissioning!A successful OMS-engine run showcased the precision and strength of the Bridge, reaching speeds of 121 kmph on the Mandapam-Rameswaram section in Tamil Nadu and 80 kmph on the bridge itself. pic.twitter.com/lDHpi8Rpmc Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) November 8, 2024 When the British designed the Pamban Bridge back in 1914, it would disrupt train operations for one-and-a-half hours every time ships and vessels had to pass through. This was due to the cantilever technology applied on the bridge, which required it to be manually lifted and was a tiresome as well as lengthy process. For the new bridge, this entire process can be completed in only 10 minutes with the use of machines. This will mean more time for trains to run as well as ships. It will allow movement of passenger and freight trains once again after the old one, running parallel to it, was closed in 2022. HOW DOES THE BRIDGE FUNCTION? Before the vertical lifting of the bridge, a siren goes out for those working around it and then the 72-metre section is lifted. It takes five minutes and 30 seconds for the bridge span to lift. The control room for vertical lifting is located on top of the bridge. Raising the Bar of Connectivity!The Lift Span of the New Pamban Bridge has been launched successfully. A modern engineering marvel, it will enhance Rail connectivity to Rameswaram island and allow larger boats to pass underneath.#RailInfra4TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/oOWMiS71sx Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) August 5, 2024 The entire operation is monitored through CCTV cameras. After it is done, it is time to bring the bridge down to allow trains to run. The process is repeated with a loud siren to alert that the bridge is being lowered. The siren is for those involved in bridge operations as well as to avoid any mishaps. The tower located on the bridge is at a height of 34 metres while the total weight of the lift span is 1,470 MT, including tracks. The lifting of the bridge is interlocked with train control systems for smooth operations, which means that trains will not be allowed in case the bridge is being lifted. WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? The New Pamban Bridge is inspired from the Tower Bridge in London. It has been built using 5,800 metric tonnes of stainless steel and 3,40,000 bags of cement. Pile foundation has been used for its construction, and 333 piles were used on the Bay of Bengal in Tamil Nadu. The average depth of the pile below sea bed is 38 metres. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The actual cost of the new bridge is Rs 580 crore, as against the Rs 280 crore sanctioned for it. It was needed so that the route is future-ready for accommodating growing traffic volume, ensuring durability and facilitating smoother maritime navigation. 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 26, 2025, 18:45 IST No Clarity Yet About One-On-One Meeting Between PM Modi And Muhammad Yunus: Foreign Secretary To Parliamentary Panel Reported By : CNN-News18 Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 00:55 IST When asked whether a meeting would occur during the BIMSTEC summit in Thailand, Vikram Misri reportedly told members of the standing committee on external affairs headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor that it was yet to be known Foreign secretary Vikram Misri. (File pic/PTI) During a discussion on Indias relations with Bangladesh on Wednesday, Indias foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, told a parliamentary panel that there is still no clarity on when Muhammad Yunus would have a formal meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. When asked whether a meeting would occur during the BIMSTEC summit in Thailand, Misri reportedly told members of the standing committee on external affairs headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor that it was yet to be known. Multiple members also expressed concerns about the violence against minorities in the neighbouring nation and whether India would formally address it with the caretaker government in Bangladesh. In a meeting last week, external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar also said that no forward discussions with Bangladesh could take place on the matter because there is no elected government, only a caretaker one. Recommended Stories Government officials also informed the committee that the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council released a press statement on March 12 that violence against religious and ethnic minorities and indigenous communities has continued. They also said that from August 4 to December 31, 2024, a total of 2,184 incidents of attacks targeting minorities were reported. It is also learnt that the members wanted to know from Indian officials if they were concerned about or had any knowledge about the pressure Bangladesh is under from nations like the United States that want to see elections conducted. The foreign secretary did not respond to this question. Chief adviser Muhammad Yunus has given indications regarding holding the national elections in December 2025, preparations for which have been started by BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and others. The timeline of reforms before elections still remains unclear, and there is growing pressure from large parties for early elections," the committee was told, sources said. The committee chairman opined that the meeting was satisfactory for all members, with most questions answered in detail by ministry officials. It was a very fruitful meeting, and obviously, you want to focus on bettering the relationship with Bangladesh. There were questions about the fencing, the influx of migrants from Bangladesh because of the porous border, and Indias strait with the neighbouring nation. All these questions were answered in great detail by the FS," Dr Shashi Tharoor, chairman of the committee, told News18 after the meeting. It is also learnt that members from West Bengal, in particular, were concerned about the situation in Bangladesh and its impact on them, given the possible surge of illegal migrants from the neighbouring country. Officials from the ministry of external affairs gave the committee a detailed background on India-Bangladesh ties over the years. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all India-Bangladesh relations are underpinned by historical, cultural, and linguistic ties, apart from shared efforts and sacrifices made during the liberation of Bangladesh. These have been framed in line with mutual interests and priorities since the formation of the interim government in Bangladesh in August 2024, with which we have continued our constructive engagement. India is in favour of a democratic, stable, peaceful, and inclusive Bangladesh, and our approach to bilateral relations is people-centric. We have engaged with the interim government on issues of strategic concern and regional security, as well as addressing rising extremism, attacks against minorities, and economic growth," the government conveyed to the members of parliament. The MPs were also briefed by the government that while India continues to engage with Bangladesh on various issues, including mutual interests and priorities, it is crucial that the government of Bangladesh pays due attention to the security and strategic concerns in the region, on which the GoI continues to work with its neighbours. First Published: March 27, 2025, 00:55 IST Not OK, Please: 44 Lakh Mumbai Traffic Offenders Yet To Pay Rs 369-Crore Fine Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Manjiri Joshi Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 14:06 IST Despite issuing fines under 26 different traffic violation categories, only 20.99 lakh offenders have paid up, while 44.13 lakh violators have not settled their dues amounting to Rs 369 crore Mumbais roads continue to face traffic snarls. (PTI File) In a sign of Mumbais worsening traffic situation, over 65.12 lakh violations were recorded between January 1, 2024 and February 5, 2025. While the Mumbai Traffic Police imposed fines totalling Rs 526 crore, only Rs 157 crore has been collected so far. Data obtained through an RTI query by Mumbai-based activist Anil Galgali highlight that traffic rules are frequently violated across the city, with enforcement spread across 41 traffic divisions and one multimedia department. Recommended Stories Despite issuing fines under 26 different traffic violation categories, only 20.99 lakh offenders have paid up, while 44.13 lakh violators have not settled their dues amounting to Rs 369 crore. UNAUTHORISED FLICKER AND AMBER LIGHTS One striking example of ignored fines is the use of unauthorised flicker and amber lights. The Mumbai Traffic Police penalised 47 vehicle owners, imposing fines amounting to Rs 23,500, but only seven violators paid their fines, amounting to a mere Rs 3,500. Marine Drive recorded the highest number of such violations (32), but only two offenders cleared their dues. NEED STRINGENT ACTION top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Mumbais roads continue to face traffic snarls and reckless driving, with violations such as signal jumping, speeding, illegal parking, and helmetless riding contributing to traffic chaos. The shortage of traffic police personnel has made it difficult to ensure strict enforcement, further encouraging defaulters to avoid paying fines. Activist Anil Galgali emphasised the need for a special recovery drive, including issuing digital notices to defaulters and seizing vehicles of major offenders to improve fine collection. While the Mumbai Traffic Police have taken steps to penalise violators, the high number of unpaid fines suggests that the enforcement needs to be more stringent. Without immediate corrective action, Mumbais traffic violations may continue to rise, affecting road safety and public discipline, say activists. 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 26, 2025, 14:04 IST Mahadev Betting App Case: Bhupesh Baghels Bhilai, Raipur Houses Raided, CBI Says 'Incriminating Evidence' Found Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 16:05 IST While the CBI claimed it found incriminating evidence, Baghel's office posted on X: "He was supposed to travel to Delhi for the drafting committee meeting of AICC scheduled in Ahmedabad on 8th and 9th. Just ahead of that visit CBI has come." Security personnel guard at the Bhilai residence of Bhupesh Baghel during a CBI raid, on Wednesday. (X/PTI) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) claims to have found incriminating evidence after Wednesdays raids on former Chhattisgarh chief minister (CM) Bhupesh Baghel and others in connection with the Mahadev app betting case. The agency has raided 60 locations across Chhattisgarh, Bhopal, and Delhi have been raided in connection with the Mahadev app betting case. The CBI searched the premises of Baghel, bureaucrats, police officials and other politicians. Some key functionaries of Mahadev Book, and other private individuals suspected of involvement in the case were also raided. Recommended Stories The CBI suspects that Rs 6,000 crore were fraudulently transacted as part of the Mahadev booking app scam. In January, the agency clubbed 77 separate first information reports (FIR), including one that named Baghel as an accused, and registered an RC (regular case). The agency sleuths swooped down on the Bhilai and Raipur residences of the former CM on Wednesday morning. As the agency questioned Baghel, his family and staff, the official handle of the former CM tweeted, Now CBI has come. Today former CM Bhupesh Baghel was supposed to travel to Delhi for the drafting committee meeting of AICC scheduled in Ahmedabad on 8th and 9th. Just ahead of that visit CBI has come." Five hours after the searches, the CBI said incriminating digital and documentary evidence had been recovered. In the course of searches, incriminating digital and documentary evidence has been found and seized. Searches are continuing," the CBI spokesperson said. The case pertains to the illegal operations of Mahadev Book, an online betting platform promoted by Ravi Uppal and Saurabh Chandrakar, both of whom are currently based in Dubai. CBI . 8 9 () AICC " . CBI . (- ) Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) March 26, 2025 The CBI took over the case from the Economic Offences Wing, Raipur, earlier this year after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government ordered a CBI probe in August 2022. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Investigations have revealed that the promoters allegedly paid substantial amounts as protection money to public servants to ensure the smooth and uninterrupted functioning of their illegal betting network," the CBI spokesperson said. The agency could summon some senior police officials and bureaucrats for questioning in the next few days. Baghel could also be questioned, once the gathered evidence is scrutinised, officials said. 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 26, 2025, 15:41 IST RTI Series | Seven Student Suicides In Five Years At IIT-Delhi: 'No Closure Report', Says Institute Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 16:42 IST The Supreme Court had on Monday (March 24, 2025) set up a taskforce to look into the students mental health concerns on campuses and pulled up the Delhi Police for not filing a case in the alleged suicides of two IIT-Delhi students in 2023. The response received from IIT-Delhi on March 24, to an RTI query filed by News 18 this January, into suicides at the top-ranking IITs, said, that between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2024, seven deaths took place on its campus. (File Photo) Almost two years since Ayush Ashna and Anil Kumar, BTech students at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Delhi, allegedly died by suicide on campus, the institute said it does not have a closure report with it as to whether these were suicides or not", in any of these cases that took place on its campus since 2019, as per a response received to an RTI query into student suicides at IITs by News18. Recommended Stories The Supreme Court had on Monday (March 24, 2025) set up a taskforce to look into the students mental health concerns on campuses and pulled up the Delhi Police for not filing a case in the alleged suicides of two IIT-Delhi students in 2023 despite their parents alleging caste-based discrimination as the reason for the deaths. The apex courts verdict came on an appeal filed by the parents of these 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. The deaths and the reforms While Ayush was found dead in his hostel room on July 8, 2023, Anil was found dead on September 1, 2023, also in his hostel room at IIT-Delhi. Both the students were from the 2019 batch of BTech in Maths and Computing, which saw two years of the pandemic disrupting their initial years of college life. In addition, both of them belonged to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category. In both cases, the parents alleged that the students had earlier confided in them of facing caste-based discrimination. However, the institute had denied the allegations. News18 had on September 14, 2023, reported that both Ayush and Anil were on extended degrees a six months extension given to complete degrees to students who are not able to complete their credits in due time. According to students from the batch, at least 70-80 students from the math and computing department were on extension degrees every year, which they said was an extremely high number, as compared to other departments where such cases are much less. In case of both student suicides, not being able to complete their degrees and being left behind while others graduated was the common factor cited by students and faculty members. In addition, after the second incident, students protesting the suicides demanded reforms such as academic moderation and a more stress-free environment in an open house held for undergraduate students addressed by the institutes director Prof Rangan Banerjee on September 3. Following these incidents, IIT-Delhi introduced several academic reforms such as constituting an Academic Progress Group for helping those struggling to complete their degrees in time as well as reducing the overall Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) criterion and reviewing its termination policy. In exceptional cases", the institute now also allows students to stay with a family member on campus. For this purpose, hostel rooms have been reserved for those on extended degrees (beyond the regular semester duration) to help them complete their degrees. Seven suicides over past five years The response received from IIT-Delhi on March 24, to an RTI query filed by News18 this January, into suicides at the top-ranking IITs, said, that between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2024, seven deaths took place on its campus of which, two each were in 2024, 2023 and 2021 while one such incident took place in 2019, respectively. However, in 2022, no such incident was reported from the campus. While six of the students were males, only one was a female. The closure report, whether it was a suicide or not, are not available with us and may be obtained directly from Delhi Police," the RTI reply received from IIT-Delhi stated. According to the response, four of these students belonged to the reserved categories while three were from general category. Of two students who died in 2024, one each belonged to general and Other Backward Category (OBC), respectively. In 2023, both students were from Scheduled Caste (SC) category. In 2021 also, of the two students who died, one each belonged to general and OBC categories, respectively. When asked about the reasons behind the alleged suicides as stated in any internal investigation report prepared by the institute, it said, The requisite information is not available with us. The same may be found from the probing agency." The institute did not share any internal investigation carried out by its own administration into the student deaths. Rise in mental health concerns post-pandemic According to the RTI response, 12,289 students on campus sought mental health counselling between January 2020 and January 2025. Of these, 9,776 students availed the in-house counselling services on campus while 2,513 sought help from the online counselling platform Your Dost, facilitated by the institute for students. While 2,701 students availed the in-house counselling services in 2024-25, this figure was 2,276 in 2023-24, 2,630 in 2022-23, 1,474 in 2021-22 and 695 in 2020-21, as per data shared in the RTI response. The institute stated adjustment issues, family and peer pressure, interpersonal relationship issues, and issues with managing time between academics and social life as the most common reasons for students seeking mental health counselling. Currently, it has 10 counsellors available 24X7, five each for in-house services and outsourced counsellors (Disha Kiran), as well as an online counselling platform (YourDost). Our students can avail counselling services from in-house counsellors on campus as well as from YourDost (an external agency). We do not maintain count of calls. Only the count of individual cases is recorded," it stated. According to the institutes response, it has taken a slew of measures to help address mental health concerns of students. This includes guiding freshers, those joining undergraduate (UG) programmes, by a proctorial team of around 10 faculty members in each hostel, who students can approach any time of the day or night, over and above the institutes regular counselling services. Additionally, there is a freshers course with objectives to understand the concept of right and wrong, happiness, success, competition versus cooperation, parental expectations, respecting diversity in society, judicious use of environmental resources, and gender sensitisation," the response stated. IIT-Delhi, it further stated, also has a National Resource Centre for Value Education in Engineering (NRCVEE), which has more than 30 faculty members to impart value-based education to improve overall mental and physical health. Besides, it said, a digital wellness course has been introduced for students to help them understand professional ethics and social responsibility. There is also weekly i-meditate session for those students, faculty and staff members interested and open to learning and practicing meditation as a tool for better mental and physical health. To deal with emergencies related to student wellness or mental health, the Office of Dean Student Affairs, has at least one faculty member and one counsellor available 247. Normally, the response time is within 15-30 minutes for any emergency at any time. Outreach to, and collaboration with, parents of students identified with serious mental health challenges requiring assistance from family is done. We inform them timely in this reference for immediate action/support," it stated. The institute in its response said that besides the already established measures, it has on agenda several plans to address mental health concerns even better. While a psychiatrist is available in IIT-Delhi hospital for students to avail of any kind of psychiatric support, we are also exploring the possibility of having a permanent psychiatrist available at our hospital. Students who are uncomfortable in availing counselling services within campus are given appointments through our centre to listed hospitals for accessing psychiatric and psychological help and support with the first session being reimbursed for the students," it stated. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The institute also plans to create a team of student mental health mentors who would directly work with and report to counsellors and the dean students welfare. We have language assistance, at UG and PG levels, which are both curricular (co- and extra-) in nature and independent of curricula. Proposals for expansion of these from simply linguistic to STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) communication are in preparation," it said. About the Author Vatsala Shrangi Vatsala Shrangi, Assistant Editor at News18, reports on the HRD, Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, and social sector. She has covered the Delhi government, education, transport, environment and various ... Read More Vatsala Shrangi, Assistant Editor at News18, reports on the HRD, Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, and social sector. She has covered the Delhi government, education, transport, environment and various ... Read More First Published: March 26, 2025, 11:13 IST 'I Dig Black': Kerala Chief Secretary Shuts Down Trolls On Dark Skin, Comparison To Husband Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 14:49 IST Kerala Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan called out social media trolls for ridiculing her dark complexion. She also emphasised that "black is beautiful." Kerala Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan (Photo: Facebook) Kerala Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan on Tuesday called out a section of social media users who ridiculed her for her dark complexion and compared her with her husband and predecessor, V Venu. In a lengthy Facebook post, Muraleedharan wrote she needed to own her blackness, and mentioned she had written a post but deleted it later because she was flustered by the flurry of responses". Recommended Stories Muraleedharan reposted it and stated she had been facing such comparisons for the past seven months, ever since she took charge as the Chief Secretary. She also recalled asking her mother to put her back into the womb and bring her out again white and pretty". Heard an interesting comment yesterday on my stewardship as chief secretary that it is as black as my husbands was white. Hmmm. I need to own my blackness. This is a post I made today morning, and then deleted because I was flustered by the flurry of responses. I am reposting it because certain well wishers said that there were things there that needed to be discussed. I agree," Muraleedharan wrote on Facebook. Why did I want to call this particular one out? I was hurt, yes. But then these last seven months have been a relentless parade of comparisons with my predecessor, and I have become quite inured. It was about being labelled black (with that quiet sub text of being woman), as if that were something to be desperately ashamed of. Black is as black does. Not just black the colour, but black the neer do good, black the malaise, the cold despotism, the heart of darkness," she wrote. But why should black be vilified? Black is the all pervasive truth of the universe. Black is that which can absorb anything, the most powerful pulse of energy known to humankind. It is the colour that works on everyone, the dress code for office, the lustre of evening wear, the essence of kajol, the promise of rain," her post read. As a four year old I apparently asked my mother whether she could put me back in her womb and bring me out again, all white and pretty. I have lived for over 50 years buried under that narrative of not being a colour that was good enough. And buying into that narrative. Of not seeing beauty or value in black. Of being fascinated by fair skin. And fair minds, and all that was fair and good and wholesome. And of feeling that I was a lesser person for not being that which had to be compensated somehow," she added. Till my children. Who gloried in their black heritage. Who kept finding beauty where I noticed none. Who thought that black was awesome. Who helped me see. That black is beautiful. That black is gorgeousness. That I dig black," the post read. Meanwhile, her post garnered love and attention from social media users, who told her not to be bothered by petty minds. Black is beautiful," a comment read. I am wondering why a person who had fought against challenges in her very beginning of her IAS cadre to the top of the state civil service is carried away by the petite comment of an absurd mind," another one wrote. Black is fearless and confident, imbibes negativity ..People are bothered about that quality of black and try in their own ways to neutralize it in vainOne is just a reflection of inner self be it black or white" a third comment read. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Sarada Muraleedharan has is a 1990 batch Indian Administrative Services officer. She took over as Chief Secretary of Kerala on August 31, 2024, after Venu retired from service. 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 26, 2025, 14:49 IST Shes The Epitome Of Simplicity, Wrote 50 Books On It: Kunal Kamra Mocks Sudha Murty Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 14:34 IST Comedian Kunal Kamra's 'gaddar' remark against Deputy CM Eknath Shinde has sparked a major conflict in Maharashtra. His show has criticised author Sudha Murty and her her husband and Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy Author Sudha Murty and comedian Kunal Kamra. Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamras gaddar remark against Deputy CM Eknath Shinde has escalated into a major government versus Opposition conflict in Maharashtra. The 36-year-old comedian is now facing FIRs, threats, investigations into his phone records, and scrutiny of his financial data. In his Naya Bharat show, Kamra targeted author Sudha Murty, wife of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, over simplicity and work culture. Recommended Stories During his 45-minute performance, Kamra mocked Sudhas modest lifestyle, saying, Among the rich people who pretend to be middle class, there is a great lady named Sudha Murty. She is an embodiment of simplicity. Thats her claim. She has written 50 books on her simplicityeach books theme is that she is simple." Kamra also criticised Narayana Murthys 70-hour workweek for economic growth advice. He narrated a fictional story where Sudha buys mangoes at a cheaper price compared to a corporate-dressed woman. He said, I simply went to the mango seller, and he told me that the lady had a modern corporate job in this international company called Infosys. Now you understand why Narayana Murthy wants you to work for 70 hours a week." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Kamras show, recorded at The Habitat in The UniContinental hotel in Khar suburbs of Mumbai, went viral, leading to Shiv Sainiks ransacking the venue on Sunday night. The issue caused an uproar in the Maharashtra Legislature on Monday, with the ruling Maha Yuti-NDA demanding action against Kamra. Speaking in the Maharashtra Assembly, CM Devendra Fadnavis stated that Urban Naxals and Left Liberals supporting such acts will be taught a lesson. Fadnavis said, There is freedom to do stand-up comedy, but he cannot say whatever he wants. The people of Maharashtra have decided who the traitor is. Kunal Kamra should apologize. This will not be tolerated. There is the right to comedy, but if it is being done to purposely defame our Shinde, it is not right." 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 26, 2025, 14:32 IST News / National by Staff reporter A Harare magistrate has sentenced 48-year-old Prosper Biziweki to three years in prison after convicting him of forging the title deed of former Cabinet minister Dzingai Mutumbuka's house, which was fraudulently sold in June 2021.Magistrate Ethel Chichera handed Biziweki a three-year jail term, suspending one year on condition of good behavior, meaning he will serve an effective two-year sentence.However, Chichera acquitted co-accused Tatenda Wakatama, ruling that he was only responsible for advertising the property sale and had not actively participated in the forgery.The magistrate also criticized the police for failing to arrest several key suspects involved in the case, stating that the crime was committed by a syndicate, with many of its members being turned into State witnesses by law enforcement officers.According to the ruling, one Lynna Mlambo, a supervisor at the Deeds Office, stole Mutumbuka's title deed and was later brought in as a State witness by investigating officer Tafadzwa Marashe. The police also failed to account for Jonah Ngome, who was allegedly responsible for selling the property and in whose name the forged title deed was created.In June 2021, Biziweki, Wakatama, and Ngome allegedly stole Mutumbuka's title deed and created a fake version in Ngome's name. They then advertised the house - number 90 Harare Drive in Chisipite - on various social media platforms, using the fraudulent title deed.Harrison Marange expressed interest in buying the property, with Kenias Mutyisira facilitating the sale agreement. The purchase price was set at US$140,000, structured as a US$90,000 deposit and the remaining US$50,000 to be paid upon registration and transfer of the property.Marange made an initial payment of US$45,000 in September 2021, with another US$45,000 scheduled for October. However, the transaction was intercepted by the police after an official from the Registrar's Office, identified as Mangwere, confirmed that the title deed in Ngome's name was fake.The case has highlighted growing concerns over property fraud in Zimbabwe, with experts calling for stricter regulations and enhanced security measures at the Deeds Office to prevent similar scams.Authorities are still searching for Ngome, while calls have been made for further investigations into other members of the alleged syndicate. SP MP's Agra House Attacked: The Rana Sanga Remark Trigger To Karni Sena Clash, All You Need To Know Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Manjiri Joshi Last Updated: March 28, 2025, 12:12 IST Samajwadi Party (SP) says aim was not to insult any historical figure, BJP says sentiments hurt. Karni Sena seeks SP MP Ramji Lal Suman's apology, his party says authorities didn't help Broken chairs and damaged cars at SP MP Ramji Lal Suman's residence in Agra on Wednesday. (PTI) The simmering Rana Sanga controversy escalated into violence on Wednesday as Karni Sena activists launched an attack on the residence of Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ramji Lal Suman in UPs Agra district. The controversy arose from the MPs remarks in the Rajya Sabha, where he allegedly labelled Rana Sanga a traitor". This ignited outrage among Rajput groups, particularly the Karni Sena. Recommended Stories ATTACK ON SP MPS RESIDENCE Over a thousand Karni Sena members, armed with a bulldozer, assembled outside Sumans residence in Agra on Wednesday. The mob resorted to vandalism, breaking chairs, pelting stones, and damaging more than 10 vehicles parked near the house. They also attempted to breach the main gate of the residence. The violent clash led to injuries to several police personnel deployed to control the situation. As the mob broke through police barricades, chants of Jai Shri Ram reverberated through the streets. Despite law enforcements efforts, the activists managed to enter the city via the expressway. Authorities were forced to lock both entry gates of the society where Sumans residence is located and imposed strict restrictions, ordering residents to remain indoors. CLASHES BETWEEN SP AND KARNI SENA WORKERS In response to the attack, numerous SP workers rushed to Sumans residence, leading to direct confrontation with Karni Sena members. The situation rapidly deteriorated, necessitating police intervention. Lathicharge was initiated to disperse the crowd, but the violence persisted until additional police forces arrived. The situation was eventually quelled after reinforcements were deployed from multiple police stations. ! ? , , https://t.co/6lYE5XoDNd Samajwadi Party Media Cell (@mediacellsp) March 22, 2025 KARNI SENA LEADER INJURED IN CLASHES Veeru Singh, National President of Karni Sena, took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice his outrage, alleging that he had sustained a fractured leg during the police lathi charge. Singh posted, History has been written today in Agra in honour of Rana Sanga. The police attacked us. I broke my leg." Meanwhile, Karni Sena Youth President Okendra Rana released a video message, vowing not to forgive Suman unless he publicly apologised at the Maharana Sanga Memorial in Rupwas by rubbing his nose to the ground. Rana stated, If anyone insults our ancestors and great warriors, we will not remain silent. Every brick of Sumans house should bear the name of Rana Sanga." WHAT DID SP MP RAMJI LAL SUMAN SAY? The controversy stemmed from Sumans speech in the Rajya Sabha on March 21. Responding to the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) rhetoric about Muslims having Baburs DNA, Suman countered by saying: If Muslims are said to have Baburs DNA, then whose DNA do Hindus have? Babur was invited to India by none other than Rana Sanga to defeat Ibrahim Lodi. If Muslims are Baburs descendants, then Hindus are the descendants of the traitor Rana Sanga. This should be established once and for all." Suman further stated, People criticise Babur, but never Rana Sanga. Those who talk about nationalism should remember that during the freedom struggle, many among them sided with the British." His remarks incensed the Rajput community and Karni Sena, who perceived them as an affront to one of Indias greatest warrior kings. #WATCH | Agra, UP: Stone pelting at the residence of Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman, window panes broken and vehicles parked outside vandalised. More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/AnUnojnBkl ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2025 WHO WAS RANA SANGA? Rana Sanga, formally known as Maharana Sangram Singh, ruled the kingdom of Mewar from 1509 to 1528. A valiant warrior and a unifier of Rajput clans, he fought multiple battles to defend Rajputana against foreign invaders. His most notable battle was against Babur at Khanwa in 1527, where he aimed to expel the Mughals from India. Despite suffering a defeat due to Baburs superior artillery, Rana Sanga remains a revered figure in Indian history for his courage and vision of a united Rajputana. VIDEO | Heres what Karni Sena leader Mahipal Makrana said on Karni Sena vandalising Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Sumans house in Agra.Today, a small protest was staged outside Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Sumans house by Karni Sena members. During the protest, some chairs pic.twitter.com/AjfElsVPeG Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 26, 2025 SP CHIEF AKHILESH YADAV DEFENDS SUMAN Following the attack, SP chief and former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav issued a statement defending his MP while condemning the violence. He said: The Samajwadi Party believes in social justice and an egalitarian society. Our aim is not to insult any historical figure, including Rana Sanga. The BJP has always used selective historical narratives to gain political mileage and divide society along religious and caste lines. History cannot be judged by todays standards, and we cannot let past events dictate our democratic governance." Yadav also criticised the UP government, alleging that the attack on Sumans house was orchestrated with tacit support from the authorities. Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) March 26, 2025 BJP MP SAYS SENTIMENTS HURT BJP MP Jagdambika Pal slammed Sumans statement, saying: His remarks deeply hurt the sentiments of millions. No public representative has the right to make derogatory comments about a respected historical figure. Such statements are made only to create controversy and remain in the limelight by attacking Sanatan Dharma." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all SP MPS SON BLAMES KARNI SENA Ranjeet Suman, son of the embattled MP, accused Karni Sena of orchestrating the attack. He said, We had been receiving threats on social media for the past two days. Today, they finally attacked, injuring several people. Despite the Chief Minister being present just a kilometre away, this incident happened. Its clear who is behind it." First Published: March 26, 2025, 18:53 IST 'USCIRF Should Be Designated As Entity Of Concern': India Slams US Panels Religious Freedom Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 16:52 IST The MEA said the USCIRF attempts to misrepresent isolated incidents and casts aspersions on India's vibrant multicultural society. Randhir Jaiswal said that the Indian government does not expect that the USCIRF will engage with the reality of India's pluralistic framework. (IMAGE: X) The Ministry of External Affairs said that the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) should be designated as an entity of concern" on Tuesday because of its efforts to undermine Indias standing as a beacon of democracy". The remarks came in the form of a press release that came shortly after the USCIRF claimed that attacks against Indias minorities rose in 2024. Recommended Stories We have seen the recently released 2025 Annual Report of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which once again continues its pattern of issuing biased and politically motivated assessments," Jaiswal said in the press release. The USCIRFs persistent attempts to misrepresent isolated incidents and cast aspersions on Indias vibrant multicultural society reflect a deliberate agenda rather than a genuine concern for religious freedom," he further added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all India is home to 1.4 billion people who are adherents to all religions known to mankind. However, we have no expectation that the USCIRF will engage with the reality of Indias pluralistic framework or acknowledge the harmonious coexistence of its diverse communities," Jaiswal further added. Such efforts to undermine Indias standing as a beacon of democracy and tolerance will not succeed. In fact, it is the USCIRF that should be designated as an entity of concern". About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More First Published: March 26, 2025, 16:22 IST With 17 Big Cats In The Wild, Project Cheetahs Next Hurdle Livestock Threats Written By : News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 14:45 IST The recent incident, where local residents threw stones at the African cheetahs while they were hunting calves in a village, has raised concerns about potential future conflicts On Monday, social media went abuzz with videos showed residents of a village surrounding Namibian cheetah Jwala and her four cubs, throwing stones at them. (News18) On Monday, social media went abuzz with videos showed residents of a village surrounding Namibian cheetah Jwala and her four cubs. The people were trying to protect the calves from being hunted, and a few of them also threw stones, leading to commotion. Cheetahs usually prey on chital-sized animals (goats, calves included), and rarely charge at humans, so the concern here was livestock threat. Recommended Stories Unlike their native African landscape, Kuno suffers from a shortage of prey, and a geography that differs significantly from their homeland which the big cats are still acclimatising to. But with 17 cheetahs now in the wild, and more to be released soon, the question arisesis the region prepared for future human-cheetah interactions? MORE SUCH INTERACTIONS LIKELY The Madhya Pradesh government provides compensation for livestock lost due to wild animal attacks. It appears that people were not made aware. More so, it exposed the failure of the Cheetah mitra programme," said MP-based wildlife activist Ajay Dubey, emphasising that three years since the launch, locals are still waiting for improved livelihood opportunities. As many as 20 adult cheetahs were airlifted to Kuno National Park from Namibia and South Africa as part of Indias multi-crore wildlife translocation projectalso the worlds biggest. But only 12 adults survived, along with 14 captive-born cubs. After extended captivity, multiple recaptures, and several tranquilisations later, six adult cheetahs and 11 of their cubs have now been released into the wild. But Kunos prey base has dwindled, as acknowledged in the governments last progress report. In 2021, at least 23 chitals were estimated per sq km in Kuno, but it fell to just 17 per sq km in 2024, as per report. The latest stone-throwing incident has also raised concerns among wildlife experts. Unlike leopards and tigers, these cheetahs, due to their long-term captivity and constant following, are accustomed to human presence. More such interactions are likely in the future. Still, it is very unusual for the cheetahs to attack a prey animal when surrounded by so many boisterous people. This seems to suggest that the cats are desperate for food," said senior wildlife biologist and conservation scientist Dr Ravi Chellam. It has also been quite clear right from the beginning that there is not enough suitable habitat and space for the cheetahs to range free in the wild." Tushar Dash, forest and resource governance expert, pointed out that such conflicts (human-wildlife) are on the rise across states, and could have been avoided if peoples rights over the forest land, which they have inhabited for generations, had not been undermined. Proper implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), which gives Gram Sabhas decision-making power over forest management is crucial," he added. WHAT NEXT? With the governments project already in its third year, preparations are in full swing to bring the next batch of African cheetahs to supplement the current population. Initial challenges notwithstanding, diplomatic talks are on with South Africa, Kenya, as well as Botswana. MPs Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is also being readied for release of the remaining cheetahs. We have learnt from our experiences and acted accordingly. And we will continue to do that to make this project a success," said NTCA member-secretary Dr GS Bhardwaj. Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh forest department has alerted the rest of its cheetah monitoring teams. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A team was present at the spot, but it was not equipped to handle the situation. We will now train our rapid response teams to address such incidents. As we track cheetahs 24X7, we know their location at any given time. Also, since the village was not covered by the Cheetah Mitra initiative, we plan to expand it as the animals roam further," said Subhoranjan Sen, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF Wildlife), Madhya Pradesh. The five cheetahs have since then moved into the forests and all are fully healthy and protected, the environment ministry said in a statement. 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 Location : Madhya Pradesh, India, India First Published: March 26, 2025, 14:43 IST Dogs Aren't Allowed In This Union Territory Of India, Even Tourists Can't Bring Them Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 11:06 IST The Union Territory of Lakshadweep, known for its unique ecological characteristics, does not allow dogs. Visitors to Lakshadweep are also prohibited from bringing dogs Tourists to Lakshadweep must comply with strict regulations, including the ban on dogs. (News18 Kannada) For many, keeping pet dogs as part of the household is a cherished tradition, where dogs are seen not merely as animals but as integral members of the family. This practice highlights the deep bond of mutual love, trust, and coexistence. With time, travelling with pet dogs has also gained significant traction. However, did you know there is a region in India where keeping pet dogs or bringing pet dogs while travelling is banned? India, renowned for its rich biodiversity, sees its people caring for, feeding, and providing emotional support to various creatures. Nevertheless, the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, known for its unique ecological characteristics, does not allow dogs. Visitors to Lakshadweep are also prohibited from bringing dogs. Recommended Stories Lakshadweep, also a snake-free region, is the only place in India without dogs. Studies of its flora and fauna confirm the absence of both dogs and snakes on these islands. The local administration continually strives to maintain this status. Consequently, tourists to Lakshadweep must comply with strict regulations, including the ban on dogs. Despite the absence of dogs, Lakshadweep boasts diverse wildlife. Birds, particularly crows, are plentiful, and Pitti Island houses an important bird sanctuary for the conservation of seabirds. Furthermore, Lakshadweep is home to the Dugong, also known as the sea cow, a rare and endangered marine mammal. Located in the Arabian Sea, off Indias west coast, Lakshadweep comprises 36 small islands, covering an area of just 32 square kilometres and housing approximately 64,000 residents. The population is predominantly Muslim (96%), with the remaining 4% consisting of Hindus, Buddhists, and others. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Of the 36 islands, only 10 are inhabited: Kavaratti, Agatti, Amini, Kadmat, Kilaton, Chetlat, Bidra, Androth, Kalpeni, and Minicoy. Some of these islands have fewer than 100 residents, contributing to their serene and undisturbed environment. Lakshadweep, celebrated for its natural beauty, pristine beaches, and environmental conservation efforts, enforces strict guidelines for visitors to preserve its unique ecosystem. This commitment has established Lakshadweep as an eco-friendly and distinctive destination. fashion, travel, The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , and culture with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Lakshadweep, India, India First Published: March 26, 2025, 11:06 IST Travel Around The World With These Whiskies This International Whiskey Day Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 09:07 IST India too has emerged as a hub for homegrown whiskies, being revered by people across the globe. So stock up on them and celebrate World Whisky Day in a truly global style International Whiskey Day 2025: Celebrate with the best whiskeys Even as the world celebrates World Whisky Day, we can also make it a day to celebrate globalization in true essence. why not do that with whiskies from around the world. While Scotland is known for its Scotch, Irish Whisky is not really far behind. India too has emerged as a hub for homegrown whiskies, being revered by people across the globe. So stock up on them and celebrate World Whisky Day in a truly global style. Indian Whisky Recommended Stories GianChand Premium Single Malt Whisky by DeVANS is distilled in Jammu, that lies at the foothills of Himalayas. Drawing from the climate, water and minerals of the region, this single lets you savour the taste of the ancient town of Jammu with its unmatchable and distinct flavour. Aged in specially designed copper pots that have long swan necks, the whisky has peaty fruit notes, coming together to create distinct taste. This Indian whisky is a global favourite as it was hailed by global whisky critic Jum Murray as the best single from India in recent times. The backbone of vanilla along with a drop of pineapple sweetness and a hint of barley makes it a must have experience, truly showcasing the true spirit of India. Irish Whisky Gold Spot 13 Year Old Generations Edition is a special edition of Gold Spot. This Irish whisky commemorates seven generations of the Mitchell family, the creators of Spot Whisky and one of Irelands most prominent wine dynasties. Once again, Gold Spot promotes the use of wine casks in whisky, with this 13-year-old whisky beginning in both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks before maturing for 16 months in Valpolicella Riciotto Italian wine casks. This enhances the whiskeys mild peppery character, bringing layers of dark fruit, berry compote, and sweet oak to the palate and lingering on the finish. Scotch Whisky Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whisky comes from Scotland, as the name implies. Glenfiddich, a giant, was founded by William Grant in 1876, and the first spirit was distilled in 1887. Today, his descendants control the company, and as the first whisky to market itself as a single malt, Glenfiddich today accounts for around 30% of all single malt sales globally. The distinctive triangular green bottle debuted in 1957. Indian Whiskey Blenders Pride unveils its latest innovation: Blenders Pride Four Elements premium whisky. At the core of the creation of this meticulously crafted blend, Master Blender Kevin Balmforth uses four styles of Scotch Malts along with select Indian grain spirits. The liquid seeks inspiration from the four elemental forces of nature Earth, Air, Fire, and Water each adding its distinct essence to the whisky-making process. Together, these four elements converge to create the vibrancy of flavours in every amber drop and invite to an experience thats a delicate interplay of mellow woody sweetness and fresh, rich fruits. Toast with Blenders Pride Four Elements to elevate your Christmas celebrations with a perfect balance of natures finest flavors. Japanese Whisky Yamazaki 12 Year Old is a Japanese single malt whisky. It is one of the first Japanese single malts to enter the UK market. Suntorys Yamazaki 12 Year Old continues to impress with its well-balanced fruity sweetness, which appeals to both new and veteran whisky lovers. The whisky is a pioneering malt in Japan, and Suntory deserves credit. It was rounded and soft at first, but it has since become more intense, confident, and exquisite. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Canadian Whisky Canadian Club Premium Extra-Aged Blended Whisky is the best in that region. Canadian Club has been bottled since 1858, and was initially known as Club Whisky due to its popularity in gentlemans clubs. Prohibition was the catalyst for Canadian whiskys rise to prominence. While US Spirit production was practically halted, Canadian Club grew in popularity in the United States after being illegally smuggled across the border. Canadian Club is the only recognised Canadian whisky in the UK, as well as the only Canadian whisky that is blended before maturing, resulting in a smooth and mellow flavour unlike any other. It is double distilled and matured in white oak barrels, yielding a distinct, light-flavored, very mixable whisky. About the Author Lifestyle Desk Our life needs a bit of style to get the perfect zing in the daily routine. News18 Lifestyle is one-stop destination for everything you need to know about the world of fashion, food, health, travel, relationshi... Read More Our life needs a bit of style to get the perfect zing in the daily routine. News18 Lifestyle is one-stop destination for everything you need to know about the world of fashion, food, health, travel, relationshi... Read More fashion, travel, The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , and culture with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: March 26, 2025, 06:38 IST When Is Ram Navami 2025? Date, Muhurat, Puja Vidhi, Significance, And Wishes To Share Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: April 04, 2025, 14:36 IST Ram Navami 2025, marking Lord Ram's birth, will be celebrated on April 6. The auspicious Madhyahna Muhurat is from 11:08 AM to 1:39 PM. Devotees perform rituals, fast, and read the Ramayana. Lord Ram is revered as Maryada Purushottam - the epitome of virtue, honour, and dharma (righteousness). (Image: Shutterstock) Ram Navami 2025 Date, Puja Vidhi: Ram Navami is one of the most important festivals in Hinduism, celebrated every year on the ninth day of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Chaitra. It commemorates the birth of Lord Ram, the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu. According to Hindu mythology, during the Treta Yuga, Lord Vishnu incarnated as Lord Ram to defeat evil forces and restore dharma (righteousness) in the world. When Is Ram Navami 2025? Date and Shubh Muhurat Recommended Stories According to the Drik Panchang, Ram Navami in 2025 will be observed on Sunday, 6 April. The Madhyahna Muhurat, considered the most auspicious time for worship, falls between 11:08 AM and 1:39 PM, lasting 2 hours and 31 minutes. The precise Madhyahna moment occurs at 12:24 PM. The Navami Tithi begins at 7:26 PM on 5 April and ends at 7:22 PM on 6 April. Happy Ram Navami Wishes Wishing you a joyous Ram Navami! May Lord Rams divine blessings bring peace, prosperity, and happiness to your life. Jai Shri Ram! On this auspicious occasion of Ram Navami, may Lord Ram guide you on the path of righteousness and shower you with love and wisdom. Happy Ram Navami! May the teachings of Lord Ram inspire you to be virtuous and compassionate. Have a blessed and joyous Ram Navami! On this sacred day of Ram Navami, may your life be filled with the light of righteousness and the love of Lord Ram. Wishing you a blessed festival! Lets celebrate the victory of good over evil on this Ram Navami. May Lord Ram bless you with strength, courage, and wisdom. Happy Ram Navami! Ram Navami 2025: Puja Vidhi Observing the correct rituals and puja vidhi is essential to fully honour the significance of Ram Navami. Heres how devotees typically perform the puja: Prepare for the puja: Commit to observing a vrat (fast), wake up early, bathe and offer water to the sun while chanting sacred mantras. Clean and decorate the puja area with fresh flowers, rangoli and diyas to create a serene atmosphere. Perform Abhishek of Lord Rams idol using Gangajal, Panchamrit and water at 12:00 PM, the auspicious birth hour. Lotus flowers and tulsi leaves are essential for the puja. Conduct the Shodashopachara Puja, a 16-step devotional ritual, to honour Lord Ram with incense, lamps, flowers and offerings. Prepare bhog (sacred offering), including kheer, fruits and traditional delicacies, to present to the deity. Recite sacred texts, including the Ramayana, Sundarakand, or Ram Raksha Stotra, to immerse in devotion and reflect on Lord Rams life. Perform aarti and distribute prasad among devotees to conclude the puja with blessings. Ram Navami 2025: History Lord Ram was born in Ayodhya to King Dasharatha and Queen Kaushalya. Revered as Maryada Purushottam, he is the embodiment of virtue, honor, and righteousness. While Ram Navami is celebrated with deep devotion across the world, the festivities in Ayodhya, Lord Rams birthplace, are especially grand. The city is beautifully decorated, and temples host elaborate rituals, bhajans, and processions to honor him. Devotees from around the world travel to Ayodhya for the occasion. After taking a holy dip in the Sarayu River, they visit the Ram temple to join in the celebrations. Many observe fasts, chant hymns, and listen to readings from the Ramayana, seeking divine blessings. Ram Navami 2025: Significance Ram Navami symbolises the victory of righteousness over evil. Lord Rams life stands as a testament to truth, duty and unwavering faith. He is regarded as the ideal son, king, husband and warrior, embodying selflessness and sacrifice. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The festival is not only a religious observance but also a time for community gatherings, devotional singing, and acts of charity. Many devotees donate food, clothes, and essential items to those in need, believing that serving others is a way to honour Lord Rams values. Whether celebrated through grand temple rituals or simple home prayers, Ram Navami remains a deeply spiritual and uplifting festival that reinforces faith and devotion among millions of Hindus worldwide. About the Author Nibandh Vinod Nibandh Vinod is a seasoned journalist with 26 years of experience, specializing in covering events, festivals, and driving SEO content for News18.com. A tech-savvy person, Nibandh works closely with a young te... Read More Nibandh Vinod is a seasoned journalist with 26 years of experience, specializing in covering events, festivals, and driving SEO content for News18.com. A tech-savvy person, Nibandh works closely with a young te... Read More fashion, travel, The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , and culture with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Ayodhya, India, India First Published: March 26, 2025, 09:19 IST From Manosphere To Red Pill, Decoding Terms, Emojis Used In Netflix's Adolescence Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 19:53 IST Adolescence offers a deeper look on online cultural misogyny that cultural observers say is corrupting teenagers and young men. "Adolescence" is a British crime drama miniseries that premiered on Netflix on March 13, 2025. The series centers on 13-year-old Jamie Miller, portrayed by Owen Cooper, who is arrested for the murder of his classmate, Katie Leonard. (IMAGE: X) Netflixs Adolescence which is based on the fatal stabbing of a young schoolgoing her at the hands of her male classmate has offered a deeper look into the rising normalisation of cultural misogyny. While terms like alpha male and sigma male have become common due to a section of the internet obsessed with hypermasculinity often fuelled by the likes of influencers like Andrew Tate and several others. The four-episode limited drama series shows how these influencers can upend the lives of young teenagers. It also goes on to show how powerless parents are when it comes to understanding what it is that their children are consuming online via their phone and laptop screens. Recommended Stories "Adolescence" is created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham. The series, which premiered on Netflix on March 13, 2025, follows the story of 13-year-old Jamie Miller, portrayed by Owen Cooper, who is arrested on suspicion of murdering his classmate, Katie Leonard. A sequence from the series where Luke Bascombe, played by Ashley Walters, learns that he completely misinterpreted a series of emojis left by Katie on Jamies Instagram profile. His son comes to his rescue. He helps his father decode emojis, revealing a hidden meaning behind them. Frustrated, he tells him hes missing the bigger picture. Showing Katies comments to Jamie on Instagram, Adam asks if they seem nice. When his father says yes, Adam hints theres more beneath the surface. He then proceeds to explain certain terms which the detective had no idea about. Heres a look at what those emojis and terms mean: Red Pill: In the context of online misogyny, red pill" refers to a belief system rooted in the idea that society is fundamentally biased against men and that women manipulate men for their own benefit. The term comes from the movie The Matrix, where taking the red pill actually symbolized waking up to a harsh reality. Online, red-pilled" communities promote anti-feminist, patriarchal views, often blaming feminism for mens struggles in relationships, careers, and society. Manosphere: The manosphere is a network of online communities that promote male-centric perspectives, often in opposition to feminism. It includes groups like Mens Rights Activists (MRAs), who argue that men face systemic bias in areas like divorce and false accusations, and Men Going Their Own Way (MGTOW), who advocate for complete disengagement from relationships with women. Pickup Artists (PUAs) focus on manipulative dating tactics, while Incels (Involuntary Celibates) blame women for their lack of romantic or sexual success, often expressing deep resentment. Incel: An incel (short for involuntary celibate") refers to someone, typically a man, who struggles to form romantic or sexual relationships despite wanting them. The term originally emerged in online discussions about loneliness and dating difficulties but has since evolved into a subculture. Many incel communities express frustration, blaming women and societal changes for their lack of relationships. This has led to misogynistic beliefs, where incels see themselves as victims of an unfair dating system. The 100 emoji: In misogynistic online spaces, the 100 emoji is sometimes used to reinforce the so-called 80/20 rule", a belief that 80% of women are only attracted to the top 20% of men. This idea, popular in manosphere and incel circles, suggests that most men are undesirable to women unless they use manipulation or status to attract them. Kidney bean emoji: The kidney bean emoji has been adopted as a symbol within incel communities, sometimes used for self-identification. This may be connected to its resemblance to the coffee bean meme, which has circulated on platforms like 4Chan and Reddit to demean women and promote misogynistic stereotypes. Nonce: In the British crime drama miniseries Adolescence, the term nonce" plays a significant role in the narrative. In British slang, nonce" is a derogatory term used to describe a person who has committed sexual offenses, particularly against children. In the series, this term is spray-painted on the van of Eddie Miller, the father of the protagonist, Jamie Miller. This act of vandalism suggests that members of the community suspect Eddie of being a sexual offender, possibly implying that he abused his son Jamie. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More First Published: March 26, 2025, 19:15 IST Akshath Gets Candid About NH7 Weekender, Nadaaniyans Success & The Power Of Honest Music: 'I Never Chased Virality | Exclusive Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 18:26 IST From singing in his college dorm to headlining NH7 Weekender, indie artist Akshath has carved a space for himself with emotionally rich songwriting and instinct-driven soundscapes. Indie artist Akshath opens up on performing at NH7 Weekender, his viral hit Nadaaniyan, working with Jonita Gandhi & why vulnerability fuels his music. Before Akshath was standing on the NH7 Weekender stage, he was just another face in the crowdplanning trips with friends, losing his voice cheering for his favorite acts, soaking up the energy that makes Indias most beloved music festival what it is. Fast forward to now, and the indie artist is not just attendinghes headlining. With heartfelt lyrics, intimate melodies, and a voice that feels like a conversation, Akshath has quietly carved out space in the countrys indie music sceneand this moment is more than just a gig. Its personal. In this exclusive interview with News18 Showsha, Akshath reflects on what it means to go from audience member to performer, and how artists like Prateek Kuhad and Jonita Gandhi have inspired, challenged, and collaborated with him. He talks about balancing an engineering degree with a growing music career, why he doesnt believe in chasing virality, and how Nadaaniyan, the breakout track that touched millions, wasnt born from a formulabut from instinct. Recommended Stories Whether hes performing for a massive crowd or writing alone with a guitar, Akshaths goal remains the same: to make you feel something real. From the introspective Tu Hai Kya to the genre-blending Saza, he continues to expand his sonic palettealways staying rooted in emotional truth. Read on as Akshath opens up about vulnerability, bilingual songwriting, the pressure of expectations, and the song hes most afraidand most excitedto release next. Here are the excerpts: NH7 Weekender has become an event where artists and fans create unforgettable moments. What does performing at this event mean to you? NH7 Weekender has always had this magic around it. Its one of the OG festivals in India, and for years, its been the place where music lovers come together to experience something special. Ive been in that crowd, planning trips with friends, hyping up the lineup and just soaking in the vibe as a fan. So now, to be on the other side, performing at the same festival that Ive admired for so longits surreal. What makes it even more special is that Im playing alongside people I used to have these conversations with, people Ive shared that excitement with as an audience member. Its a full-circle moment, and I couldnt be more thrilled. With artists like Prateek Kuhad and Frizzell DSouza sharing the lineup, does performing alongside artists like these motivate you? Oh, 100%. One of the best things about playing at events like NH7 is that youre not just performingyoure also getting a front-row seat to some of the best artists doing their thing. Sharing the stage with musicians like Prateek Kuhad and Frizzell DSouza is inspiring because you get to see up close what makes their acts so special. Their stage presence, their connection with the audience, the little nuances that set them apartits all a learning experience. And at the end of the day, were all here because we love music, so being in that environment, surrounded by so much talent, just pushes you to bring your best. Your music thrives on emotion and connection. How do you create that same intimacy when performing for a massive festival crowd? The key is making every person in the crowd feel like youre singing just for them. Of course, having a tight sound and a great band is the foundation, but beyond that, its about the connection. If, as a performer, you can lock in with the audiencewhether its through eye contact, the way you deliver a lyric or even just the energy you put outyou can create that same intimacy that someone would feel listening to your music alone with their headphones. Its about making a massive festival stage feel personal, and thats something I always try to bring to every performance. Balancing a degree in Information Technology while pursuing music must have been challenging. Did your academic background ever influence your music, either in songwriting or production techniques? IT as a degree doesnt directly tie into music, but in a way, its shaped my journey more than I expected. For one, the people I first got into music production withthe ones I learned alongside, experimented with, and grew withwere all people I met in college. Many of them are still my closest collaborators today, and I wouldnt have crossed paths with them if I had taken a different academic route. And then theres engineering itselfit teaches you problem-solving, adaptability, and what we call jugaadfinding creative solutions with whatevers available. That mindset comes in handy no matter what field youre in, and in music, its been a huge asset, whether its figuring out production tricks, handling live performance challenges, or just navigating the industry. So while IT and music might seem worlds apart, the experiences and skills I picked up along the way definitely shaped the musician I am today. Nadaaniyan became a sensation, resonating with millions. What was the inspiration behind the song, and did you anticipate such an overwhelming response? I was always positive about the song and hoped it would connect with people, but I never imagined it would take off on the scale that it did. Thats the kind of thing you cant predictyou just put your music out there and hope it finds its way to the right ears. As for the inspiration, there wasnt a single moment or story that sparked Nadaaniyan. For me, songwriting often happens in these random burstssometimes Im just sitting with my guitar, sometimes Im messing around with a beat on my computer, and sometimes a melody just hits me when Im driving or taking a shower. It all comes together naturally. What made Nadaaniyan special, was a conscious decision to make it feel deeply personal. At its core, the song is about love and attraction, but I wanted to anchor it in something specificsomething that would make the listener feel like it was written just for them or about someone they hold close. Lines like [insert specific lyric example] give it that intimate touch, and thats what made people connect with it in such a strong way. The songs lyrics feel deeply personal yet universally relatable. Were there specific life experiences or emotions that shaped its narrative? There wasnt one single experience that sparked Nadaaniyan, but rather a collection of moments, memories, and emotions that found their way into the lyrics. Subconsciously, the song was shaped by the people Ive loved, the connections Ive had, and the feelings that linger from those experiences. And maybe thats why it resonates the way it doesbecause even though the lyrics come from a personal space, they tap into emotions that feel familiar to everyone. Its that balance between deeply personal and universally relatable that makes a song special. When a song goes viral, expectations rise. Did Nadaaniyans success put any pressure on you to replicate that magic in future releases? Theres always some level of subconscious pressure when a song does really wellyou cant help but wonder if the next one will connect the same way. But for me, music has always been a dream job, and I try to see it as more of a game than a race. Every song, every gig, every collaborationits all a new challenge, and instead of stressing over expectations, I focus on enjoying the process. At the end of each release, I look back, see what worked, and what I can do better, and then move forward to the next one. That mindset keeps things exciting and lets me keep growing as an artist without getting caught up in the pressure. How did collaborating with Jonita Gandhi on Nadaaniyan Flip reshape your vision for the song? What was it like working with her? So, Nadaaniyan Flip and the version with Jonita Gandhi are actually two different versions of the song. But working with Jonita was an amazing experience for two key reasons. First, we got to explore a female perspective on the song, which wasnt something I had thought about much before. It added a whole new layer to the track and made it feel more complete in a way. Second, just collaborating with Jonita was truly inspiring. Shes incredibly accomplished, yet she remains so grounded and open to creative ideas. There was no pressure, no restrictionswe were just two artists having fun, bouncing ideas off each other like good friends. That kind of creative freedom made the process even more special. Your 2024 release Tu Hai Kya blends indie-folk with introspective lyricism. How did this song challenge you artistically compared to your earlier work? Tu Hai Kya was an interesting challenge for a lot of reasons. One of the biggest was the headspace I was in while writing itit was right after Nadaaniyan, and by then, I had so many voices in my head. Different people from different walks of life had their own expectations, and a lot of that pressure was self-imposed too. So, making this song was also about tuning out that noise and staying true to the music. I had to remind myself why I started writing in the first place and make sure that Tu Hai Kya wasnt about meeting expectations but about creating something that felt honest. Artistically, it pushed me to be more introspective, both in my songwriting and in how I approached the entire creative process. Apart from Tu Hai Kya, you also released Saza and Tu Hai Wajah, both the songs are sonically different from each other. What are the stories behind these two tracks? Tu Hai Wajah was actually a collaboration with a super-talented producer, Soham. A lot of the sonic identity of that track comes from him, which is why it probably stands out from the rest of my music. It was a really interesting process to work on something that wasnt entirely from my usual space and to see how someone elses creative input could shape the sound. As for Saza, that was one of the most fun projects Ive worked on. Before I even started, I made a promise to myself that for this track, Id follow my gut 150%no overthinking, no second-guessing, just pure instinct and fun. Every decision, whether it was the composition, lyrics, or production, came from that mindset. And the result reflects that energyits a song that feels free, unfiltered, and just really fun to listen to and perform. Many of your songs are built around emotional depth and vulnerability. Is there a particular track that was the hardest for you to write or release? The most vulnerable track and the one that was the hardest to write and will probably be the hardest to releaseis actually not out yet. But its coming next. So yeah, stay tuned for that. Your bilingual songwriting in Hindi and English allows you to connect with diverse listeners. Do you find yourself naturally gravitating towards one language when writing, or does it depend on the emotion of the song? Its been a few years since I last wrote in English. Initially, I found it easier because thats how I naturally think. But theres something special about Hindithe language just has a magic of its own. Over time, Ive found myself writing in Hindi much more, and now it comes to me just as naturally. That said, I dont think one language is better suited for any particular emotion. Whether in English or Hindi, you can create something equally compelling. It all depends on what youre feeling at that moment and what the song itself demands. Your music often explores themes of love and longing. Do you consider yourself more of a romantic or a realist when it comes to life and relationships? Id say I like to strike a balance between both. Romance brings the emotions that make life and music feel meaningful, but realism keeps you grounded and helps you navigate everything that comes with it. That balance naturally reflects in my songwriting too. Love and longing arent just about the idealized momentsthey also come with uncertainty, growth, and sometimes, hard truths. I try to capture both sides in my music because, at the end of the day, thats what makes a song truly relatable. Whats next for you? What are you currently working on that you are eager to share with your listeners? I have a song ready, and its probably the most emotional track Ive written so far. Its deeply personal, and Ive only performed it live once or twice in very intimate settings. Ill also be playing it at NH7, which Im really excited about. When I shared it with a small group of fans, their reactions were exactly what I had hoped forsome were tearing up, some shared how it made them feel, and that kind of connection is what makes releasing music so special. I cant wait for more people to hear it and experience it in their own way. About the Author Yatamanyu Narain Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he's breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, hes always on the hun... Read More Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he's breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, hes always on the hun... Read More First Published: March 26, 2025, 18:26 IST Bipasha Basu Introduces Us To Daughter Devi's 'New Best Friend' Rajiv Adatia Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 16:40 IST Bipasha and Karan tied the knot in 2016 in a Bengali wedding ceremony and welcomed their first child, Devi, on November 12, 2022. Rajiv is currently seen on Celebrity MasterChef. (Photo Credit: Instagram) Rajiv Adatia, known for his stint in Bigg Boss 15, shares a close bond with actress Bipasha Basu and her husband, Karan Singh Grover. The trio is often seen partying together and sharing each others posts on social media. Recently, the actress grabbed the audiences attention with an adorable glimpse of her cute daughter, Devi Basu Singh Grover, enjoying her time with her Mama Rajiv. Taking to Instagram, Bipasha shared a video on her stories, which depicted Rajiv adorably hugging and playing with Devi as she sat on his lap, facing her back at the camera. As the clip progresses, we see the kid pulling the Celebrity MasterChef fames cheeks. Sharing the clip, the actress wrote in the caption, Devi with @rajivadatia Mama." Recommended Stories The former model also reshared the post on his stories and wrote, Devi!!! Cutie!!!." Not just this, the Bigg Boss 15 fame also dropped a couple of pictures from his fun evening with the Grover clan, including Karan, Bipasha and Devi. The first post is a happy group picture wherein all of them could be seen exuding their adorable smiles on the camera as the Fighter actor clicks the selfie, while in the next one Bipasha, Devi and Rajiv made a pout expression. Sharing the pictures on Instagram, Rajiv called Devi his new Best friend and wrote, The best evening with my new best friend lil Devi!! The cutest!! sooo much fun!! Thank you, my lovelies @bipashabasu @iamksgofficial love you!!!" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rajiv Adatia (@rajivadatia) Bipasha and Karan tied the knot in 2016 in a Bengali wedding ceremony and welcomed their first child, Devi, on November 12, 2022. On the work front, Rajiv is currently seen captivating audiences with his culinary talent in the cooking-based reality show Celebrity MasterChef. Hosted by Farah Khan and judged by Chefs Vikas Khanna and Ranveer Brar, Rajiv has now reserved his spot in the top 5 contestants. Apart from him, the remaining participants include Tejasswi Prakash, Gaurav Khanna, Faisal Shaikh and Nikki Tamboli. Bipasha, on the other hand, was last seen in the web series Dangerous, which premiered on MX Player. The show also featured her husband Karan. About the Author Akriti Anand Akriti Anand is Chief Sub Editor of the entertainment team at News18. A news writer with over a decade of experience, Akriti loves to keep a close watch on Bollywood celebrities and their social media. A post-g... Read More Akriti Anand is Chief Sub Editor of the entertainment team at News18. A news writer with over a decade of experience, Akriti loves to keep a close watch on Bollywood celebrities and their social media. A post-g... Read More First Published: March 26, 2025, 16:40 IST Did Kim Sae Rons Agency Manipulate Hospital Bills To Exploit Her Family? Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 11:30 IST Kim Sae Ron's alleged boyfriend, known as K, had accused her family of neglecting her during difficult times. Kim Sae Ron went through several surgeries. (Photo Credits: Instagram) Amid the controversies surrounding Kim Sae Rons tragic passing and her struggles, her family has stepped forward to share their side of the story. On Tuesday, they addressed the allegations through Kwon Young Chan, the head of the Korea Celebrity Suicide Prevention Association, presenting evidence to refute claims that they were responsible for her death. Kims alleged boyfriend, known as K, had accused her family of neglecting her during difficult times, suggesting that their actions contributed to her decision to end her life. During their discussion with Kwon Young Chan to counter the claims made by Kim Sae Rons alleged boyfriend, the family also presented a hospital bill receipt. This raised suspicions of a possible financial discrepancy involving Kims former agency and manager, suggesting they may have attempted to exploit the family for money. Kwon also hinted that the agency might have mismanaged or misused funds while Kim was facing hardships. Recommended Stories Reports indicate that Kim underwent multiple emergency surgeries, with her former agency covering the hospital expenses amounting to KRW 5.00 million (approximately USD 3,410). Some critics argue that this amount appears unusually high compared to standard emergency medical costs for suicide attempts, especially given the comprehensive health insurance coverage available to all South Korean citizens. Furthermore, no detailed breakdown of charges was mentioned in the bill receipt, implying a scam by Kims former agency. Kwon Young Chan said, Kim Sae-ron attempted suicide around 20 times. Her parents took her to the hospital 18 of those times. On the day that YouTuber Lee Jin Ho claimed that the agency paid for the surgery." Records obtained by Koreaboo categorize Kim Sae Ron as a 100% insurance-covered" patient, meaning her medical expenses should have been fully covered. However, upon investigating the payment details, discrepancies emerged. While the agency CEOs credit card was initially reported to have been used for the transaction, hospital records suggest otherwise. The documents indicate that the KRW 5.00 million (approximately USD 3,410) payment was actually made using Kim Sae Rons mothers credit card, raising further questions about the handling of funds. Talking about the same, Kwon Yeon Chan said, 200,000 to 400,000 won is enough for wrist sutures and treatment. Kim Sae-rons family also paid around this much. Even for non-covered surgeries performed at plastic surgery clinics, the highest is 1 to 2 million won. The amount is not acceptable." Meanwhile, Kim Sae Rons family tried to reach out to her former manager, who was identified as B, but they have not been able to contact them. About the Author Shrishti Negi Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More First Published: March 26, 2025, 11:30 IST News / National by Staff reporter Vendors and community members at Shangani Business Centre in Insiza, Matebeleland South, are calling for the swift delivery of justice in a fraud case involving local Councillor Nomusa Moyo (Citizens Coalition for Change). The councillor is accused of defrauding vendors of over US$900, which was allegedly collected under the pretext of acquiring vending licences for them.In a statement titled "Justice For Shangani Vendors," residents expressed growing frustration over the delays in the prosecution of the case, with many saying they were losing faith in the country's judicial system. They called for an urgent resolution to the matter."We demand justice for Insiza North Shangani Ward 23 vendors. Our ward councillor, Nomusa Moyo, is implicated in a fraud case where she used her position as a public office bearer to deceive us," the statement read. "She organized a vendors' meeting in May 2024, where she collected money from us, promising to process vending licences by June 1, 2024. However, nothing has materialized until today."The vendors further claimed that the Insiza Rural District Council's payments office had informed Moyo to return the money in June last year. The office allegedly clarified that councillors should not be involved in collecting payments, and that the vendors were supposed to process payments directly with the Filabusi office."The chief executive officer, Shepherd Tshuma, had made it clear that ward councillors were not to collect payments, but Moyo devised her own plan, deceiving vendors for personal gain," they said. "She used the funds for her own business and became evasive when questioned. She even threatened to evict vendors from their trading sites if they continued demanding receipts."It wasn't until October 2024 that the vendors reported the matter to the police, leading to Moyo's arrest. Despite the case being heard in court over ten times, it has yet to be resolved, with witnesses still to testify. The vendors have expressed their dissatisfaction with the situation, citing the cost and inconvenience of traveling over 100 kilometers to attend court sessions in Bulawayo at their own expense.Court records reveal that the vendors from Insiza initiated legal action after Moyo allegedly collected a total of US$933 from 13 vendors, claiming she would procure vending licences for them. However, the licences were never issued, prompting the vendors to report the matter to the police.Moyo recently appeared before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Joseph Mabeza, where she faced charges of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer. Prosecutor Dominic Moyo told the court that between May 1 and October 18, 2024, Moyo had abused her position to collect the money from the vendors, only to convert it to personal use.The councillor, who is represented by Prince Butshe Dube of Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers, denies the charges. She claims that the vendors never gave her the money and has accused them of having political motives, suggesting that they are members of Zanu PF trying to tarnish her reputation.Some vendors testified in court that they handed over the money to Moyo with the expectation of receiving vending licences, but were left empty-handed. The case has been postponed indefinitely, with the remaining witnesses yet to testify.The vendors continue to call for urgent action, emphasizing the need for justice to be served and for accountability to be upheld. As the case lingers in the courts, the community's patience is wearing thin, and they are demanding that the wheels of justice turn faster. Kunal Kamra's Photo Put Outside A Public Toilet By Angry Shiv Sena Workers, Protests Held Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 08:16 IST During a recent show, Kunal Kamra dubbed a parody song of a Hindi film and labelled Eknath Shinde a traitor" for his 2022 rebellion against the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government. Comedian Kunal Kamra said he will not be apologising for his controversial comments about Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. (Image: @kunakamra/X) Comedian Kunal Kamra has been facing massive backlash for his recent comments against the Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. While several Shiv Sena workers went violent recently and expressed disappointment with Kamras comments, party workers in Indore also protested against the comedian recently. As reported by PTI, Shiv Sena youth wing activists on Tuesday put up a photograph of Kunal Kamra outside a public toilet in the city. The protest was held outside a public toilet in Bengali Square, where Shiv Sena activists also raised slogans against Kamra. Recommended Stories Kamra serves filth to people in the name of comedy. To protest against his dirty mentality, we have put up his picture here. If he ever visited Madhya Pradesh, Shiv Sena workers will blacken his face and parade him on the streets," Anurag Sonar, president of the Madhya Pradesh unit of the Shiv Senas youth wing Yuva Sena, said. What Did Kunal Kamra Say About Eknath Shinde? During a recent show, Kunal Kamra dubbed a parody song of a Hindi film and labelled Eknath Shinde a traitor" for his 2022 rebellion against the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government. Weighing on the Maharashtra politics with a musical touch to the song Bholi Si Surat, Kamra mocked Shinde and sang, Meri nazar se tum dekho to gaddar nazar wo aaye. Haaye!" Weighing on the Maharashtra politics with a musical touch to the song Bholi Si Surat, Kamra mocked Shinde and sang, Meri nazar se tum dekho to gaddar nazar wo aaye. Haaye!" After the clip went viral on social media, Shiv Sena warned of legal action and some of its workers vandalised the venue where the show was recorded. 12 party leaders were arrested but were later released on bail on Monday. Meanwhile, a police case has also been registered against Kamra for his comments against Shinde. He has also been summoned by Mumbai police. (With inputs from PTI) 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 26, 2025, 08:16 IST Kunal Kamra Summoned Again, Mumbai Police Rejects Request For More Time Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 13:08 IST Kunal Kamra has been facing backlash from the Shiv Sena for his comments against the Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Kunal Kamra made it clear that he won't apolosige for his comments. (Photo: X) Mumbai police have rejected stand-up comedian Kunal Kamras request for additional time to appear before the authorities in connection to his controversial traitor comment. Reportedly, Kamras lawyer had requested an extension of a week at the Khar police station in Mumbai. However, the request has been rejected. Following this, Police officials have also issued a second summons to the comic. What Was Kunal Kamras Controversial Statement? Recommended Stories For the unversed, Kunal Kamra has been facing backlash from the Shiv Sena specifically for his comments against the Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. During a recent show, Kamra dubbed a parody song of a Hindi film and labelled Eknath Shinde a traitor" for his 2022 rebellion against the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government. Weighing on the Maharashtra politics with a musical touch to the song Bholi Si Surat, Kamra mocked Shinde and sang, Meri nazar se tum dekho to gaddar nazar wo aaye. Haaye!" Weighing on the Maharashtra politics with a musical touch to the song Bholi Si Surat, Kamra mocked Shinde and sang, Meri nazar se tum dekho to gaddar nazar wo aaye. Haaye!" Controversy After Kunal Kamras Traitor Comment After the clip went viral on social media, Shiv Sena warned of legal action and some of its workers vandalised the venue where the show was recorded. 12 party leaders were arrested but were later released on bail on Monday. A police case was also registered against Kamra, who is also facing widespread backlash for his words. Meanwhile, Kunal Kamra has made it clear that he wont apologise for his comments. It was recently reported that the comic told the police that he did not regret his remarks made during the show and would only apologise if instructed by the courts. However, Kamra said that he will adhere to the law. 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 26, 2025, 12:26 IST Mohanlal Says Theres No Competition With Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan: 'Rajini Sir Called Me And | Exclusive Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Shrishti Negi Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 13:09 IST Mohanlal spills the beans on Rajinikanth's reaction to the trailer of L2: Empuraan and the budget of the Prithviraj directorial. Mohanlal's L2: Empuraan is all set to release on March 27. The trailer of Prithviraj Sukumaran and Mohanlals L2: Empuraan has already garnered a lot of appreciation from their peers like SS Rajamouli, Prabhas and Ram Gopal Varma. Rajinikanth too took to X and unveiled the Tamil version of the trailer. Watched the trailer of my dear Mohans and Prithvis film #Empuraan .. fantastic work, congratulations!!! I wish the team all the best for the release. God bless (sic)," he wrote. Speaking to us exclusively, Prithviraj revealed how the megastars words of praises meant the world to him. Now, in an exclusive chat with News18 Showsha, Malayalam superstar Mohanlal says that receiving so much support from his contemporaries only go to show the brotherhood that exists among all of them unlike what one may speculate as competition. While he refers to another Malayalam cinema legend Mammootty as his brother and family, he particularly points to Amitabh Bachchan, his Kandahar co-star, and Rajinikanth, who he worked with on Jailer where he had a cameo appearance, thanking them for genuinely praising the trailer of L2: Empuraan. Recommended Stories Mohanlal tells us, Its not competition but appreciation. I sent the trailer to Amitabh Bachchan saab. Rajini sir called me and I had a chat with him. He told me, What have you done? Oh my god! They genuinely appreciated our trailer. It didnt come from a place of them wanting to make another film thats better than ours. What weve spent on the film is showing and thats a very important thing. As a producer, Rajini sir could easily capture and understand this aspect." The Kaappaan and Drishyam actor further continues, He told me, You all have spent so much on the film and I can see that. Its not like he watched the trailer and just tweeted about it saying how great it is. His compliment was true and came straight from his heart. It came after he watched the trailer." For the unversed, L2: Empuraan marks the third time that Mohanlal has been directed by Prithviraj after Lucifer and Bro Daddy. Sharing his experience of being directed by Prithviraj, he says, Knowingly or unknowingly, a chemistry develops between the actor and the director. Prithvi is very particular about what he wants. In fact, when he tells me that he needs one more shot, it gives me an adrenaline rush because it means that I did something not up to his work and that I can do better. Its a beautiful thing to hear from him or any other director." Mohanlal, who has worked with Prithvirajs father Sukumaran on multiple films, adds, Usually, he gives his commands using a mic but if he has to tell me something, he comes up to me personally and tells me what he wants, so that other people on set cant hear his inputs for me. He tells me, No no Chetta, youve done this but I want something else. We share a beautiful understanding and he has the freedom to tell me anything he wants to. Hes also very naughty but I cant reveal anything about his naughtiness (laughs)." About the Author Titas Chowdhury Titas Chowdhury is a Principal Correspondent at News18 Showsha. She writes about cinema, music and gender in cinema. Interviewing actors and filmmakers, writing about latest trends in showbiz and bringing break... Read More Titas Chowdhury is a Principal Correspondent at News18 Showsha. She writes about cinema, music and gender in cinema. Interviewing actors and filmmakers, writing about latest trends in showbiz and bringing break... Read More First Published: March 26, 2025, 05:00 IST Muslims Can Make Offerings Only To Allah: Mohanlals Sabarimala Puja For Mammoottys Health Sparks Row Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 13:50 IST Mohanlals Sabarimala Puja Controversy: A section of Muslims asked if the puja was done with Mammootty's knowledge, as it is against Islamic beliefs. Mohanlal, however, responded: "He is like a brother to me. What's wrong in praying for Mammootty?" Actors Mohanlal (left) and Mammootty are known to be friends for years. (PTI File) Mohanlals Sabarimala Puja Controversy: Malayalam superstar Mohanlals Usha puja in Sabarimala for his actor-friend Mammootty has sparked a controversy, with some pointing out that the latters faith doesnt permit worshipping any other God, but Allah. The row began on March 18, when Mohanlal visited Sabarimala ahead of the release of his Prithviraj Sukumaran directorial L2: Empuraan on March 27. Recommended Stories THE VIRAL RECEIPT, CANCER RUMOURS Following Mohanlals visit, a puja offering receipt with Mammoottys birth name, Muhammed Kutty, and his birth star Visakham went viral on social media. The receipt was offered by the Devaswom office, hinting that Mohanlal had performed the ritual for Mammootty. It also led to rumours that Mammootty is currently being treated for cancer, but his team dismissed it as fake news". WHAT IS SABARIMALAs USHA PUJA? Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, is situated on a hilltop (about 3000 feet above sea level) named Sabarimala in Keralas Pathanamthitta district and is open to people belonging to all religions. There is a place near the temple; east of Sannidhanam (the abode of Lord Ayyappa), dedicated to Vavar (a close friend of Lord Ayyappa) which is called Vavaru Nada, an epitome of religious harmony. It is said that the pilgrims have to observe celibacy for 41 days before going to Sabarimala. Pilgrims take the traditional forest routes as well as the one from Pamba which is less physically challenging to reach the temple. At the Sabarimala temple, Usha puja refers to the morning worship ritual performed after the opening of the sanctum sanctorum, around 7:30 am, and includes offerings like Neyyabhishekam (pouring ghee) and other rituals. WHO LEAKED THE RECEIPT? At an event in Chennai, Mohanlal said that someone from the Devaswom Board must have leaked the receipt. Responding to it, on March 25, the Travancore Devaswom Board said that the portion of the receipt which was issued to the devotees was leaked on the Internet. They reiterated that the staff member will only have the counter foil with them. It could be due to a misunderstanding that Mohanlal made such a statement. Hopefully he will correct it," read the statement. WHAT IS WRONG IN PRAYING, ASKS MOHANLAL Addressing the controversy, Mohanlal said that Mammootty is like his brother. Whats wrong in praying for him? He is doing well. He had a minor health issue, but thats normal for everyone. There is nothing to worry about." He further added that him praying for his friend is a deeply personal matter. MAMMOOTTY SHOULD SEEK FORGIVENESS IF PUJA WAS DONE WITH HIS KNOWLEDGE While some hailed the act as an example of communal harmony, some objected to it. O Abdullah, an influencer and the former editor of the Madhyamam newspaper, in an audio message on social media said that Mammootty should apologise if he had asked Mohanlal to offer prayers on his behalf. If it was with Mammoottys knowledge, he should seek forgiveness. He should apologise to the Muslim community. It was a serious lapse from the side of the actor. There is nothing wrong if Mohanlal had performed the offering without Mammoottys knowledge. Mohanlals faith in Lord Ayyappa must be that high. He may have done it based on that faith. However, if the offering was performed with Mammoottys directive, then it is a great crime. According to Islamic beliefs, no one should offer anything to anyone except Allah," he said. Abdullah said that Mammootty should issue an explanation and Muslim religious scholars should intervene in the matter. Nasar Faizy Koodathai, too, told News18 Malayalam that Mammoottys religion does not allow the puja and is wrong if done with his knowledge. However, many criticised Abdullah and others, asking who gave them the authority to question peoples actions. MOHANLAL, MAMMOOTTY FRIENDSHIP Even though considered competition, the two Mollywood stars are known for their friendship. At the event, Mohanlal further said, Weve been working together for 45 years and have done over 55 films. Hes like a brother to me. Our families are close. I was at Sabarimala, thought of him, and offered my prayers." In an interview with Showsha, too, Mohanlal said that Mammootty was like family" to him. ABOUT L2: EMPURAAN L2: Empuraan will clash with Chiyaan Vikrams Veera Dheera Sooran in Tamil, Nithiin-Sreeleelas Robinhood and MAD Square in Telugu and Salman Khans Sikandar in Hindi. It features Prithviraj Sukumaran, Tovino Thomas, Indrajith Sukumaran, Manju Warrier, Abhimanyu Singh and Suraj Venjaramoodu in pivotal roles. 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 26, 2025, 12:56 IST OTT Releases This Week: Shahid Kapoor's Deva To Mufasa The Lion King; What You Must Not Miss Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 12:01 IST This week, OTT platforms include many exciting releases, such as Mufasa, a Lion King prequel, and Delulu Express. Heres a list to rely on. Shahid Kapoors action thriller Deva is arriving on Netflix on March 28. (Photo Credit: X) Mufasa, Delulu Express, and other massive releases are among the exciting films and web series that will be released for streaming on OTT platforms this week. Released on January 31 on the big screens, Shahid Kapoors action thriller, Deva, is all set to make its OTT debut on March 28. OTT platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime are coming up with many spine-chilling projects. Lets have a look at the list here. Mufasa: The Lion King Recommended Stories This film is a follow-up to the 2019 remake and a prequel to the 1994 animated original. Mufasa, which is set in Tanzanias Pride Lands, centers on Mufasa and Taka, who grow close and eventually become adoptive brothers before a string of tragic incidents jeopardises their relationship. The film is releasing on JioHotstar on March 26. Deva Directed by Rosshan Andrrews, the Deva is a remake of the 2013 Malayalam movie Mumbai Police. In the film, ACP Dev Ambre, a relentless Mumbai cop, suffers memory loss after an accident, which changes the plot of the film. Starring Shahid Kapoor and Pooja Degde, the film is releasing on March 28 on Netflix. The Studio In this upcoming comedy series, Seth Rogen plays Matt Remick, the recently hired head of a faltering film studio who must balance business demands and artistic aspirations while navigating a changing market. This much-awaited series is set to be released on Apple TV+ on March 26. Delulu Express On March 27 The well-known comedian Zakir Khan will be making a comeback to the OTT platform with another fun standup show, Delulu Express. The audience got a preview of the comedians hour-long stand-up in front of a live audience in the shows trailer. He shares stories of love and friendship throughout the video. This show is arriving on Amazon Prime Video. Jaakirathai Seruppugal Tamil film The tumultuous comedy Serupugga Jaakirathai is around a shoe that has an unusual relationship with several characters. Rathinam, a diamond smuggler, unintentionally gives his loot to an auditor when he conceals it under a slipper out of dread of a raid. When the slipper gets mixed up with other shoes, it leads to a crazy hunt for diamonds and shoes, which makes for an entertaining chase. The film is releasing on March 28, Zee5. Viduthalai Part II It is a follow-up to Part I, released in 2023. Viduthalai Part II is a historical criminal thriller that explores the journey of Perumal Vaathiyaar, a modest schoolteacher who transforms into a militant communist leader as he comes clean about his past. The film is set to be released on Zee5 on March 28. About the Author Shreyanka Mazumdar Shreyanka Mazumdar is Chief Sub Editor of the entertainment team at News18. With an unbridled passion for all things Bollywood, she loves deep-diving into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment world, bring... Read More Shreyanka Mazumdar is Chief Sub Editor of the entertainment team at News18. With an unbridled passion for all things Bollywood, she loves deep-diving into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment world, bring... Read More First Published: March 26, 2025, 12:01 IST Finepoint | Russia Plays Hardball On Ukraine While Sweet-Talking Trump: The Strategy Is Paying Off Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 14:10 IST The Americans, focused on great power politics, are floating the idea of a US and Russia that work together on the global stage, hoping to reverse Russias strong pivot towards China. Russia is showering Trump with flattery while driving a hard bargain on Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held a two-and-a-half-hour long phone call to discuss the war in Ukraine and a 30-day truce proposal. (IMAGE: AFP FILE) Trump himself has further complicated matters by floating the possibility of US ownership of Ukrainian power plants, sending shockwaves through Kyiv. For President Volodymyr Zelensky, the battlefield is no longer the sole challenge he must now contend with shifting American positions on military aid, diplomatic backing at the United Nations, and even intelligence sharing. Recommended Stories The Diplomatic Chessboard in Riyadh The recent talks in Riyadh have aimed at securing a limited ceasefire. On Sunday, the US held discussions with Ukraine, followed by a separate meeting with Russia on Monday, all under the same roof. In effect, Washington has positioned itself as a mediator between the two warring sides. However, early indications suggest that expectations for a breakthrough may be misplaced. Putin has already dismissed a joint US-Ukrainian proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire, instead agreeing only to a pause in aerial strikes against energy infrastructure. How such a partial ceasefire would be implemented remains unclear, especially given that drone and missile attacks continue unabated. Meanwhile, Moscow has made it clear that the negotiations will not be easy, warning of difficult discussions" ahead even as Washington optimistically speaks of real progress." The US seeks a broader ceasefire by April 20, but Russia remains focused on securing guarantees for its energy and agricultural exports. A potential revival of the Black Sea Grain Deal brokered by Turkey in 2022 and abandoned by Moscow last year has emerged as a bargaining chip for Putin. This agreement, which facilitated the safe passage of Ukrainian and Russian agricultural exports, is now a crucial element in Russias broader bargaining strategy. Following the talks, the Russian delegation was reported to be in a good mood. Yet, it is clear that the primary focus of the talks was simply safety of navigation in the Black Sea, and a deal could be finalised in the coming days. There are no breakthroughs when it comes to a larger ceasefire. A Fractured Transatlantic Front The world witnessed as tensions between the US and Ukraine blew up, culminating in a public spat between President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Zelensky. If allies on the same side of the conflict struggle to maintain cohesion, one can only imagine the divide between Washington and Moscow. Talks with Russia remain in their infancy, with Putin holding firm to maximalist demandsincluding the recognition of Russias annexation of Ukrainian territories in Donbas, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, and a formal guarantee that Ukraine will never join NATO. Being on the winning side, with Ukraines position dwindling, the Russian President has no reason not to project strength. While Moscows position remains unwavering, Trump has watered down Ukraines position with his noncommittal treatment. Donald Trump has held two long phone conversations with Vladimir Putin, and even suggested that the two leaders could visit each others nations soon. The Americans, focused on great power politics, are floating the idea of a US and Russia that work together on the global stage, hoping to reverse Russias strong pivot towards China. Russia is showering Trump with flattery while driving a hard bargain on businessand the strategy is working. Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff, who met Putin earlier in March, believes that Putin wants peace, that he does not plan to take all of Europe, and that he is not a bad guy" but hes super smart". He said all this in a podcast with Tucker Carlson. Witkoff also went on to reveal that Putin gave him a portrait of President Trump from a leading Russian artist and that Putin went to Church to pray for Trump when there was an attempt on his life last year. All this left Trump touched, according to Witkoff. These gestures suggest that Trump is pursuing a high-stakes diplomatic gamble one that relieves pressure on Putin while exerting new demands on Ukraine. The US president has turned the screws on Kyiv, conditioning further American support on Ukraine ceding critical mineral resources and energy infrastructure to US ownership. However, whether this strategy will yield tangible results remains to be seen. If Trumps overtures to Putin fail, he risks both personal embarrassment and a diplomatic impasse. If he refrains from pressuring Russia, Washington may find itself unable to secure a meaningful settlement for Ukraine, undermining American credibility. Ukraines Dilemma: War Without Certainty For Ukraine, the situation is fraught with peril. The battlefield remains active, yet American support once a cornerstone of Ukraines resilience has become increasingly unpredictable. In February, Washington voted against Ukraine in a UN resolution, aligning itself with the likes of North Korea, Belarus, and Russia in refusing to condemn Moscow. Even India, which has consistently abstained from such votes, did not go so far. More consequentially, Trump has halted US military aid, a decision that dramatically weakens Ukraines position on the battlefield. With the US having supplied over half of Ukraines total foreign aid including weapons, financial assistance, and humanitarian relief Kyiv now faces a critical shortfall. Furthermore, Washington has paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine, further exacerbating its vulnerabilities. These sudden American policy shifts have left both Ukraine and Europe scrambling to recalibrate their strategies, with transatlantic unity fractured. Moscow, sensing an opportunity, is leveraging this uncertainty, hoping that Western fatigue will ultimately force Kyiv into painful concessions. Limits of Diplomacy The war in Ukraine has entered a new and volatile phaseone where diplomacy is proving to be as contested as the battlefield. Russia continues to dictate the terms of negotiations, demonstrating both a willingness to fight and a capacity to sustain prolonged conflict. Ukraine, for its part, cannot afford to concede ground, yet finds itself increasingly constrained by dwindling manpower as well as firepower. The stakes for Ukraine could not be higher. If Western support continues to erode, Kyiv may be forced into a settlement heavily skewed in Russias favour. Should the conflict persist without resolution, Ukraines economic and military endurance will remain under severe strain. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all For now, one thing is certain: More negotiations have not brought more solutionsonly more uncertainty. The illusion of diplomacy persists, but the war remains as intractable as ever. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. About the Author Shubhangi Sharma Shubhangi Sharma is News Editor - Special Projects at News18. She covers foreign affairs and geopolitics, and also keeps a close watch on the national pulse of India. Shubhangi Sharma is News Editor - Special Projects at News18. She covers foreign affairs and geopolitics, and also keeps a close watch on the national pulse of India. First Published: March 25, 2025, 14:55 IST Opinion | Mahakumbh: A Research Opportunity Unlike Any Other Written By : & News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 19:57 IST There is no doubt that researching the Mahakumbh is both rich and novel in terms of inquiry and outcomes, especially when compared to other pilgrimages worldwide Beyond its religious and cultural aspects, the Kumbh has also provided rich material for academic inquiry, research, and new perspectives. (Image: PTI/File) The 45-day Mahakumbh Mela in India has now concluded. However, this spiritual gathering remains significant in a unique way. Beyond its religious and cultural aspects, it has also provided rich material for academic inquiry, research, and new perspectives. The intersection of academia and research has taken multiple shifts, fostering innovation and novelty. Suffice it to say, the event has opened up diverse research platforms with fresh perspectives. Scholars and researchers have delved deeply into both theory and practice to study this vast spiritual and cultural festival. Research methodologiesincluding ethnography, interviews, focus groups, and experimental approacheshave been applied and reassessed for their validity. Studies on the wide range of rituals and ceremonies have contributed to the development of new research methodologies. Findings and generalisations are forthcoming, with emerging socio-cultural, economic, and management theories set to challenge existing paradigms. Mixed methods, research design, sampling techniques, and interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches have become central points of discussion. Recommended Stories Originally organised in 1870 under British rule, this vibrant cultural festival now rests on strong pedagogical foundations, incorporating integrative, collaborative, reflective, and inquiry-based approaches to comprehend phenomena that often defy description and challenge the imagination. The Mahakumbh, held after 144 years, was not just a spiritual spectacle but also an unparalleled research hub. Scholars from diverse fieldsanthropology, sociology, environmental science, public health, and artificial intelligenceexamined the grand event to understand human behaviour, urban planning, and the impact of faith-driven mobility. Unlike many global pilgrimagessuch as Dajia Mazu, Abrahams Path, Lourdes, Kumano Kodo, and St Magnus Waythe Mahakumbh stood out due to its sheer scale, demographic diversity, and temporary city planning, making it an extraordinary case study. There is no doubt that researching the Mahakumbh is both rich and novel in terms of inquiry and outcomes, especially when compared to other pilgrimages worldwide. The Dajia Mazu pilgrimage in Taiwan remains one of the most well-known spiritual events globally, fulfilling tourists spiritual aspirations while also driving the development of destination tourism. Studies on this event have provided theoretical insights into happiness, marketing, and sustainable development. Abrahams Path, a cultural walking route tracing the journey of Abraham across the Middle East, serves as a model for cultural tourism, inspiring hope for humanity. A Harvard Business School case study has explored ways to revitalise the Abraham Path as a cultural tourism route. Adams Peak in Sri Lanka stands out as a unique pilgrimage site sacred to Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and Christians, reflecting diverse religious interpretations. Research on this site has utilised ethnographic fieldwork, observational studies, archival research, and geographic information systems. Santiago de Compostela in Spain attracts tourists seeking spiritual fulfilment, nature experiences, and sports-related activities. Similarly, the Via Francigenathe oldest and most significant medieval pilgrimage route connecting Northwestern Europe with the Italian Peninsularemains pivotal for its cultural, historical, and religious importance. These are just a few examples of global spiritual events that have been extensively studied. However, the Mahakumbh is unique in its formation of an ephemeral megacity, hosting over 100 million devotees within a few weeks. This is particularly significant for research, given technological advancements and heightened global interest in mass gatherings in the post-pandemic era. Real-time data collection using AI-driven crowd analytics, drone surveillance for security, and biomedical studies on large-scale sanitation and health infrastructure were at an all-time high. With climate change affecting river water levels, environmental researchers are keen to study the impact of millions of pilgrims on the Gangas ecosystem. Additionally, the event provided fertile ground for behavioural economists studying donation patterns and for sociologists exploring caste and gender dynamics in faith-based gatherings. This academic research holds promise, as it is expected to offer deep insights into the logistical, cultural, social, and economic dimensions of the Mahakumbh. From Harvard to the London School of Economics (LSE), and from Kyoto University to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), academics have been deeply engaged in unravelling the myriad aspects of this spiritual congregation. Economists and sociologists at LSE investigated the local economy and the livelihoods of millions of people, while Kyoto University examined how the Mahakumbh managed its environmental footprint and implemented sustainability measures. Harvard University documented academic data on crowd behaviour and the measures taken to ensure public safety. Similarly, IITs, Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), and other esteemed Indian institutions engaged in participatory action research and practical action research. These studies aim to inform action, gather evidence for theoretical frameworks, and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in this field. The integration of cutting-edge technology at the Mahakumbh has opened up new research avenues. Current studies focus on human sciences, the psychological and emotional impact of collective religious experiences, and neurotheological researchoffering rich and novel insights for classroom teaching and experiential learning. Unlike many pilgrimages that primarily emphasise religious aspects, the Mahakumbhs transient city model has direct implications for urban planning, crisis management, and cultural anthropology. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This research holds significant value for academics and researchers in the philosophy of education, as well as in teaching and learning methodologies within this field. It is also likely to attract interest from schools, university educators, policymakers, and prospective teachers by contributing to pedagogical innovations. Santosh Kumar Biswal is an Associate Professor at Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Rama Devi Womens University, Bhubaneswar; Uttam Chakraborty is an Associate Professor at School of Management, Presidency University, Bengaluru. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: March 26, 2025, 19:57 IST Opinion | The Evolving Socio-Political Thinking Of Hindu Americans Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 17:15 IST The socio-political changes in the Indian community slowly saw the fake, make-believe politicians losing steam because they tried to be what they were not. Indians are slowly and surely becoming international citizens Indo-American Community of Scranton celebrate India's Independence Day in 2019. (AP/PTI File) I was in the USA for a month recently, during which I interacted with a cross-section of Americans, including Black people, intellectuals, and Hindu Americans. I even had long chats with Hindu youth in a few cities. My stay everywhere was with my friends from India, i.e. local Hindu families. I could not help, but reflect on my earlier interactions with email groups during the Donald Trump-Hillary Clinton elections, and personal conversations with many Indian Americans, including Muslims, during my earlier trip in December 2019. I experienced a huge upheaval in Hindu society about how they look at American politics as US citizens. Recommended Stories During the Clinton-Trump battle, I saw a big divide between the traditional Democrat supporters among the Hindu community and the new-age Republicans. Democrats, being the vocal majority at that time, were more aggressive. The Democratic Party was the party for all immigrants by default, and Indians were no different. However, the younger citizens and the American-born citizens were no more bound by the reflexive sympathy for Democrats. The political divide was so bitter that once I commented on a group, why were they fighting with each other? Why could they not come up with a Hindu agenda and talk to their respective candidates that this is our agenda, whichever candidate wins. Hindus do not seek any favour because they have risen with hard work without seeking any favours. The only thing that worries and irritates Hindus is the way their religion is presented in education and the way they are misrepresented in public discourse. I was surprised at that time to hear from some senior Hindus that we do not have that kind of lobbying power". However, since I did not have any stakes in American politics, I just let it pass. I had also told my hardcore Democrat friends that unless Clinton came up with a clear stand on Islamic terrorism and radicalism, she would lose. And she lost. In the next election, we had the spectacle of Hindus falling for Kamala Harris, as one of their own, despite her never accepting this ownership, except for a few public shows of Indianness. It was the time when some politicians with Indian ancestry used to show themselves as American Christians, converted for the sake of being successful in politics. People like Bobby Jindal and Nikki Haley tried to shy away from their ex-Hindu and Indian identity, while we Indians insisted that they had strong Indian roots. The socio-political changes in the Indian community slowly saw the fake, make-believe politicians losing steam because they tried to be what they were not. I could sense the changing mood of Hindu American citizens the growing confidence in their American identity, while being open about their affection for their land of origin. They had begun taking an interest in American politics more actively. One saw more Indians in local politics, if not national politics. Some senators and Congressmen/women did come up. But they were either highly anti-Hindu or took one stance in public and another in private. So, there was an element of tentative uncertainty about them and their beliefs. In this election, we saw Hindu politicians comfortable in their skin. No more apologetic, nor did they need to Americanise with a name change, no more need to show themselves to be more American Christian than they were. Their two generations of success based on sheer hard work backed by strong family values in that land have made them more confident and bolder. They profess a strong belief in America without giving up on their identity. Similarly, I also found Hindu youth and younger-generation Indians pitching their political and social views very confidently. In one of the meetings, I met two young Hindu Americans making a strong pitch for the Democratic Party, believing that the youth were being misled by the Republican Party, which can never be theirs. There were also strong Trump supporters there. But, like true Hindus, they did not have any confrontation. I felt very happy to see this transformation of the political landscape within the Hindu community. No more bitter fights within the community, but healthy competition. Another interesting thing I noted was that the Indians in the USA with H1B visas seem to be much less worried about their visa renewal than the Indians in India. They are confident of their skills and knowledge. The pro-Trump Indians and even Democrat Indians feel that what Trump is doing is necessary for the USA to break free of the shackles put in by the extreme Left. A senior Hindu Democrat leader said they were saved from doing this clean-up as Trump is doing it, and they will also reap the benefit from this spring cleaning. There is nothing one can do about hardcore Democrat supporters who were swearing at Trump. But there were objective critics who feared that the aggressive stance of tariffs could hurt the USA badly, as inputs will become costly. In a way, there is a big churn. And like other Americans, Hindu Americans are also equally invested in it. An Atlanta senator, who was incidentally Black, asked me about Modi jis economic policies, which he thought were Leftist, although he was being called a right-wing politician. I responded by telling him how India does not fit into the western binary of Left and Right. And how, economically, Modi ji and Hindu economic philosophy was more left of centre. I also explained the philosophy of Integral Humanism that Modi ji imbibed. It was refreshing to see rising American interest in India without any traditional baggage, with a fresh look. A group of students at Harvard requested me to give a talk about my book Conflict Resolution The RSS Way. Although they got some hate mail from the usual suspects, they stuck to their guns. I am told it was the first talk ever in the Kennedy Centre at Harvard with a subject directly about the RSS. Surprisingly, it was attended by students from five countries from the African continent and Eastern Europe, apart from the Indian students. I met an eminent professor who specialises in democratic institutions. He shared a chapter about the success of India and Indonesia in democracy. When I told him that Indian democratic polity does not flow from the western model and just our Constitution, but from our long tradition of institutions like Panchayat, to my surprise, he had no clue. He was honestly eager to know more. However, his ignorance showed me how the academics references in the west is dominated totally by Left, secular intellectuals. So much so that he could not find any book about these traditions. Though I did send him a list of a few books, I hope the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tries to bridge this gap of lack of books in western institutions. During my earlier visits and even the current one, when Hindu Americans would ask me about problems in Bharat, I used to teasingly tell them, Let us worry about Bharat and Modi. You should just enjoy the spectacle of rising Bharat; but worry about how Hindus are portrayed in your own country." One of the elder Americans was unhappy at this suggestion. He poured forth his love for his country of origin and how he carried his Hindu identity back from his village in Bharat to America, where he had come due to some circumstances, but always thought of Bharat. In the same meeting, when I asked a young, American-born Hindu girl about her views, she went beyond what I had imagined. She said, I am not worried about political developments in Bharat. I think we should focus on where Hindus will be 100 years from now in America, where the community would be in American society." When I look back at the last 10-12 years of Indian and American politics and the evolving thought process of Hindu Americans, especially the new generation, I like the feel of the rising expectations and changing perceptions of Hindus and local Americans about Bharat and their own country, that is, the USA. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Indians are slowly and surely becoming international citizens. The writer is a well-known author and political commentator. He has written several books on RSS like RSS 360, Sangh & Swaraj, RSS: Evolution from an Organisation to a Movement, Conflict Resolution: The RSS Way, and done a PhD on RSS. 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, 17:15 IST Straight Talk | Punjabs Economy At A Crossroads: Protests Cleared, Real Issues Remain Written By : CNN-News18 Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 07:49 IST Punjabs economic woes demand immediate action, not just political manoeuvring. The state must pivot towards a long-term, sustainable recovery plan Bharatiya Kisan Union members burn an effigy during a protest against the recent police action on protesting farmers at Punjab borders, in Meerut, on March 21, 2025. (PTI Photo) Punjab has suffered at the hands of economic disruptors for five years now. What started in 2020 as a state-wide protest against the three farm bills brought by the Narendra Modi government metamorphosed into a larger movement, with farmers primarily from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh camping on the borders of Delhi for more than a year. The Centre then decided to withdraw the contentious agriculture bills, which helped disperse the protesters. While normalcy returned to Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, Punjab somehow found itself caught between a rock and a hard place. Farmer unions, ostensibly worried about losing relevance, continued demonstrations against the Modi government at the state level. For about a year now, some farmer unions have blocked the border between Punjab and Haryana, causing tremendous pain to the states economy. Recommended Stories After its Delhi loss, AAP is in survival mode. A Punjab defeat in 2027 could relegate it to political obscurity. So when Punjab police came cracking down on protesters at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders on March 19, many were quick to connect the dots. Ahead of a crucial assembly bypoll in Ludhiana West, AAP sought to address the fears of Punjabs industrialists and traders, who have suffered extensive losses owing to continuing protests. The prolonged shutdown of key border crossingsShambhu, Khanauri, and Kundlihas led to an estimated economic setback exceeding Rs 1.25 lakh crore for Punjab and Haryana. The regions adjacent to these borders faced immediate financial damages surpassing Rs 1,600 crore, while Punjabs businesses alone bore losses north of Rs 1 lakh crore. Therefore, the Aam Aadmi Party stood a fair chance of losing the battle for Ludhiana West even before the first vote was cast. It is for this reason that the Punjab police was brought in to dismantle the protest sites and detain farmer leaders and hundreds of protesters. From vociferously supporting such protesters when they were camping on the borders of Delhi to now, quite literally bulldozing their protest siteslife has come full circle for Arvind Kejriwals party. Time to focus on Punjabs real issues Another reason why Bhagwant Manns government felt comfortable bulldozing the kisan dharna is the fact that farmer unions have gradually lost support in Punjab. The initial adrenaline rush of 2020-21 is over, and Punjabis want their state to get back on track and focus on issues that really matter. After all, the issues facing Punjab are severe and many. Lets start with the economy. Punjab ranks as Indias second-most indebted state, with its total liabilities estimated at Rs 3,78,453 crore. With a debt-to-GSDP ratio of 46.6%, Punjab holds the second-highest debt burden in the country, effectively owing nearly half of its annual economic output. The state is now relying on borrowing merely to cover routine expenses, trapping it in a risky cycle of debt repayment and fresh loans. Unwise subsidies for farmers, especially the provision of free electricity, have landed Punjab in its present financial mess. In addition, industrial growth has been stagnant, with many manufacturers even moving out of the state for greener pastures. Punjab also faces a crippling water table crisis. The land of the five riversonce known for its water abundanceis now on the path to desertification. In many ways, this is a tragedy of epic proportions. As per data presented by the union minister of state for Jal Shakti, Raj Bhushan Choudhary, in the Rajya Sabha on February 3, groundwater levels in Punjab have been steadily declining. Out of 174 wells monitored over the past five years, 67.2% (117 wells) recorded a drop in water levels. Punjab ranks among the worst-affected states in the country, experiencing one of the most significant groundwater depletions. Punjabs drug problem needs no introduction. Bollywood has made films about it; Punjabis have been made fun of, and Indias enemies have taken advantage of the menace. The Aam Aadmi Party, which vowed to eliminate drugs from Punjab, has evidently failed to keep its promise. Only recently has the party shifted gears and launched an extensive crackdown on the states drug cartels. This, too, has more to do with the setback AAP faced in Delhi than a genuine desire to alleviate the states drug woes. Add to the mix the fact that Punjabis are leaving their state to settle abroad, and you now also have a demographic problem to deal with. As more and more Sikhs fly out, Christian missionaries have been having the time of their lives in Punjab. The lure of money and supposed miraculous healings is driving many low-income residents of the state towards Christianity. According to reports, more than 350,000 people have converted to Christianity in the past two years alone. If you happen to travel through Punjab now, the demographic change is hard to miss. What needs to happen Punjabs economic woes demand immediate action, not just political manoeuvring. The state must pivot towards a long-term, sustainable recovery plan through: Industrial Revitalisation: Punjab must create an investor-friendly climate by cutting bureaucratic red tape, upgrading infrastructure, and offering tax incentives to manufacturers and logistics firms. Reviving Ludhiana, Amritsar, and Jalandhar as industrial hubs will be key to attracting businesses back. Agricultural Reform: Punjabs overreliance on wheat and paddy is unsustainable. Farmers need incentives to shift towards less water-intensive, high-value crops like maize, pulses, and horticulture. The government must also invest in precision farming, irrigation efficiency, and post-harvest infrastructure. Debt Restructuring & Fiscal Discipline: Punjab cannot afford reckless borrowing. The state must streamline subsidies, improve tax collection, and focus on revenue-generating sectors like food processing, renewable energy, and tourism. Water Conservation: With Punjabs groundwater levels depleting at alarming rates, urgent conservation measures are essential. Large-scale adoption of microirrigation, rainwater harvesting, and crop pattern shifts must be fast-tracked. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Tackling Social Decline: Punjabs rising drug abuse problem demands a multi-pronged crackdownstronger law enforcement, stricter border control, and expanded rehabilitation programmes. Additionally, unchecked demographic shifts require the government to invest in skill development and local job creation to stem mass emigration. The bulldozers may have cleared Punjabs roads, but the real cleanup is yet to begin. While the immediate economic relief is welcome, it is only a temporary fix. The AAP government now faces a defining test: will it seize this opportunity to address Punjabs deep-rooted crises, or will it continue firefighting one crisis at a time? Bulldozing protests might win elections, but it wont secure Punjabs future. Only a bold, reform-oriented agenda can do that. About the Author Sanbeer Singh Ranhotra Sanbeer Singh Ranhotra is a producer and video journalist at Network18. He is enthusiastic about and writes on both national affairs as well as geopolitics. Sanbeer Singh Ranhotra is a producer and video journalist at Network18. He is enthusiastic about and writes on both national affairs as well as geopolitics. First Published: March 26, 2025, 07:49 IST 2027 Uttar Pradesh Polls: Caste Alignments And Party Overhauls To Define Election Battle Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Karishma Jain Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 14:27 IST In Uttar Pradesh, the battle lines for the 2027 assembly election are being drawn. Parties are betting on new leadership, caste alliances, and grassroots mobilisation to secure victory. Political parties are actively restructuring their organisational setups to strengthen their electoral prospects. As Uttar Pradesh, Indias most populous state, prepares for the 2027 Assembly elections, political parties are actively restructuring their organisational setups to strengthen their electoral prospects. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress, and the Samajwadi Party (SP) are undergoing comprehensive overhauls, aiming to consolidate their bases and expand their influence across the states diverse political landscape. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the BJP has taken the lead in reshaping its organisation by appointing 70 district presidents. Of these, 44 are new leaders, while 26 have retained their positions, in line with the partys policy of limiting consecutive terms for district chiefs. Caste representation has been a key factor in these appointments, ensuring a balanced mix of Brahmins, Thakurs, OBCs, and SCs. Recommended Stories A senior BJP leader involved in the selection process emphasised, The selection process was done with the aim of ensuring representation from every community while keeping the winnability factor in mind. We have ensured that no single caste dominates the appointments." The BJPs restructuring efforts come in response to its declining seat share in Uttar Pradesh in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where its tally dropped from 62 to 33. Political analyst Shashikant Pandey, head of the Department of Political Science at Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, said, The BJP lost significant ground in UP in 2024 due to caste mobilisation by opposition parties. The new leadership appointments indicate an attempt to regain lost support among OBCs and Dalits while retaining the upper-caste base." Party insiders said that with the zila panchayat elections scheduled for next year and the Assembly elections in 2027, the BJP is focusing on grassroots mobilisation, ensuring its leadership reflects both caste diversity and youth participation. Meanwhile, the Congress, under Mallikarjun Kharge, has also revamped its Uttar Pradesh unit, appointing city and district presidents across 75 districts. The party has increased representation for Dalits, OBCs, and Muslims, though concerns remain about the overrepresentation of upper castes. A senior Dalit Congress leader expressed disappointment, stating, While the Congress has given more representation to Dalits and OBCs than before, it still falls short of their actual population share in the state." Defending the appointments, state Congress chief Ajay Rai said, If you analyse the list, 65 per cent of the appointments are from Dalit, OBC, Muslim, and ST communities. Our focus is on creating a leadership that represents all sections of society." However, despite these efforts, internal debates persist over whether the Congress can effectively position itself as a pro-social justice party while still relying on upper-caste votes. Pandey further said, The Congress has to strike a fine balance. While they need upper-caste support, they must also ensure that OBCs and Dalits feel adequately represented." Whereas the Samajwadi Party, under Akhilesh Yadav, is advancing its PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) strategy, which proved successful in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, helping the party secure 37 seats. SP insiders said the party is set to restructure its organisation in phases, prioritising leaders from backward communities to strengthen its support base. A senior SP leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed, The PDA formula worked well for us in 2024, and we intend to strengthen it further. We are identifying non-performers and ensuring that strong grassroots leaders, especially from backward communities, take charge." The appointment of Shyam Lal Pal as the new SP state president in May last year was a crucial step in this direction, followed by internal meetings in December to finalise the list of new district chiefs. Political analyst Dr Ramesh Dixit remarked, Akhilesh Yadav understands the importance of social engineering. By placing OBCs, Dalits, and Muslims in leadership positions, SP is attempting to cement its position as the primary challenger to the BJP." With zila panchayat elections in 2026 and Assembly elections in 2027, the SP is doubling down on its PDA strategy, believing it to be the key to securing victory. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As Uttar Pradesh heads into a high-stakes electoral battle, each party is working meticulously to strengthen its position. The BJP is banking on a mix of new leadership, caste inclusivity, and Yogi Adityanaths governance model to secure a third consecutive term. The Congress is struggling with internal dissent over representation while trying to build a stronger organisational base for the INDIA bloc. The SP, buoyed by its 2024 success, is focusing on social engineering through the PDA formula. Political expert Pandey summed up the scenario, stating, The 2027 UP election will not just be about party ideologies; it will be a battle of caste alignments, leadership restructuring, and grassroots mobilisation." First Published: March 26, 2025, 14:27 IST News / National by Staff reporter Helen Zille, the federal chairperson of South Africa's Democratic Alliance (DA), has urged Zimbabwean opposition leaders to unite and capitalize on the internal divisions within the ruling Zanu-PF party. Her remarks followed a meeting with Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) chairperson, Stephen Mazanza, last week.Zille emphasized that the political environment in Zimbabwe is "toxic" and does not reflect the people's desires for economic and political stability. She criticized the ruling party for failing to address the needs of Zimbabweans and stressed that it is time for opposition leaders to take action."Zimbabwe's political giants have failed the masses, and sooner rather than later, Zimbabweans need to put enough or necessary pressure on the government, either in the form of petitions, meetings, or demonstrations, so that the Zanu-PF government yields to the people's demands," Zille said.She also criticized the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) for its failure to implement policies that stabilize the economy. Zille suggested that Zimbabwe might need to abandon both the US dollar and the ZiG currencies, instead adopting the South African Rand. She proposed that the RBZ be placed under the administration of the South African Federal Reserve until it could regain stability.Zille called on prominent opposition figures, including Nelson Chamisa, Elisabeth Valerio, and Tendai Biti, to form a united front and work together in a grand coalition to challenge Zanu-PF's grip on power. She warned that the ongoing infighting within Zanu-PF could create a power vacuum, and the opposition must be ready to step in should the ruling party implode."There have been widespread calls for a unity government from within diehard Zanu-PF ranks, which again signals instability," Zille said. "The opposition parties must be cautious, but they should also be proactive in forming a united front to ensure a stable future for Zimbabwe."Stephen Mazanza echoed Zille's sentiments, describing the meeting as "pivotal" and underscoring the urgency of addressing Zimbabwe's "catastrophic situation." He criticized the government for its suppression of freedom of expression, corruption, and growing political purges."The state resources are being plundered for personal gain, enriching a select few while the masses suffer," Mazanza said. "Police brutality and the silencing of dissenting voices are rampant. Vital institutions are being hijacked to serve the interests of the powerful few, undermining the foundations of our society."Mazanza also highlighted the internal instability within Zanu-PF, noting its potential to further destabilize the country. He emphasized that the opposition must prepare for all possible outcomes, ensuring that any power vacuum is filled by a government that truly represents the will of the people.Both Zille and Mazanza urged Zimbabweans and opposition groups to remain vigilant and united in their efforts to bring about meaningful change, as they continue to challenge the status quo in the face of a crumbling political system. Congress Moves Privilege Notice In Rajya Sabha Against Amit Shah For 'Maligning' Sonia Gandhi's Reputation Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 16:53 IST Congress chief whip in Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday gave a notice for breach of privilege against Home Minister Amit Shah for allegedly casting aspersions on Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi during his reply on a bill in the upper house. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi (PTI) Congress chief whip in Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday gave a notice for breach of privilege against Home Minister Amit Shah for allegedly casting aspersions on Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi during his reply on a bill in the upper house. In his notice filed to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, Ramesh said on March 25, Shah, while replying to the debate on the Disaster Management Bill, 2024, had inter alia stated that the PM Relief Fund was created during Congress rule and PM Cares was set up in Narendra Modis tenure. Recommended Stories "I hereby give a notice of question of privilege in terms of Rule 188 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) against Shri Amit Shah, Minister of Home Affairs, for casting aspersions on Smt Sonia Gandhi, member of Rajya Sabha and chairperson of Congress Parliamentary Party," Ramesh said in his notice of question of privilege against Shah. He said Shah during his reply had stated, "During Congress rule, only one family had the control and the Congress president was a member of it. The Congress president was a part of the government fund. What will they reply to the government?." Ramesh said as may be seen on perusal of Shahs statement, even though the Home Minister did not take the name of Sonia Gandhi, "but he had categorically by implication referred to her and imputed motives to her vis-a-vis the functioning of the National Prime Ministers Relief Fund (NPMRF)." "It is well established that it is breach of privilege and contempt of the House to cast reflections or make derogatory references to any member of the House. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all "In the instant case, the Home Minister had made unfounded allegations against Smt. Sonia Gandhi with a premeditated motive to malign her reputation. The Home Ministers statement is blatantly false and is defamatory. This tantamounts to breach of privilege of Smt. Sonia Gandhi. Hence, this matter constitutes a breach of privilege and the contempt of the House as well," the Congress chief whip in Rajya Sabha said. "In view of the foregoing, privilege proceedings may be initiated against Shri Amit Shah, Union Home Minister," he said. First Published: March 26, 2025, 16:01 IST 'Kejriwal Lied': BJP Slams AAP Over Failure To Announce Cash Scheme For Women In Punjab Budget Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 22:58 IST Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP had promised in its 2022 state assembly election manifesto to give Rs 1,100 per month to women aged 18 and above Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema meets Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann before presenting the Budget for the financial year 2025-26. (PTI photo) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday slammed the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab for failing to announce the promised financial assistance to women in the states budget for the 2025-26 financial year. The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP had promised in its 2022 state assembly election manifesto to give Rs 1,100 per month to women aged 18 and above. Recommended Stories Earlier today, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema presented a budget with a total expenditure of Rs 2,36,080 crore. However, the budget did not mention the monthly financial assistance to women, which was one of AAPs flagship promises before coming to power. In response, Union Minister and BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu criticised the AAP government in Punjab for failing to fulfil its promise. Empty vessels make the most noise," Bittu wrote in his post on X. AAP government has utterly failed to deliver on its flagship promise of Rs 1,000 per month for women in Punjab." Punjab Budget 2025:Empty vessels make the most noise."AAP government has utterly failed to deliver on its flagship promise of Rs 1,000 per month for women in Punjab. It has added around Rs 1 lakh crore to the states debta sum nearly equal to the Rs 3 lakh crore accumulated Ravneet Singh Bittu (@RavneetBittu) March 26, 2025 The Union Minister also accused Bhagwant Manns government of increasing Punjabs debt by around Rs 1 lakh crore. It has added around Rs 1 lakh crore to the states debta sum nearly equal to the Rs 3 lakh crore accumulated over the previous 30 years," he stated. Bittu also raised concerns over rising crime and drug trafficking in the state, claiming that the budget offered no practical solutions to improve law and order. The 2025 budget shockingly allocates no funds for Malwa Canal project project. The AAPs pledge to create millions of jobs remains unfulfilled, and unemployment continues to rise as a persistent problem in the state. They have made mockery of the people of Punjab in this budget," he added. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also joined in the criticism, accusing AAP of misleading the people of Punjab and expressed his disappointment over the absence of financial aid for women in the state budget. The Women of Punjab have still not got 1100 Rs in their bank account! No mention in Budget of Punjab tabled today! (26th March, 2025). Arvind Kejriwal has lied to the people of Punjab," Bhandari wrote on X. The Women of Punjab have still not got 1100 Rs in their bank account!No mention in Budget of Punjab tabled today! ( 26th March, 2025 ) Arvind Kejriwal has lied to the people of Punjab. Just like Delhi, women Of Punjab will teach AAP Da a big lesson!#AAPFailsPunjab pic.twitter.com/3gggJV4IdN Pradeep Bhandari( ) (@pradip103) March 26, 2025 He further warned, Just like Delhi, women Of Punjab will teach AAP Da a big lesson!" top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Additionally, Bhandari shared a clip from an interview of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann with a TV channel from early January, in which Mann had confirmed that the promise to provide Rs 1,100 per month to women would be included in the next budget. ALSO READ: Punjab Govt Presents Over Rs 2 Lakh Crore Budget for 2024-25, Accords Special Focus on Health, Education 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 : Punjab, India, India First Published: March 26, 2025, 16:58 IST Supreme Court Showed Who's Real Gaddar: Eknath Shinde On Sena Split Amid Kunal Kamra Row Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 17:44 IST During a recent stand-up comedy show, Kunal Kamra dubbed a parody song of a Hindi film and called Shinde a traitor" for his 2022 rebellion against the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government. Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde (Image: PTI) Shinde-Kamra row: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shine on Wednesday hit out at Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena over the gaddar" jibe and reiterated that Kunal Kamras controversial remark against him was part of a supari (contract) given to him. He further responded to the controversial comments saying that the people of Maharashtra and Supreme Court have showed who a traitor is", reported NDTV. Recommended Stories The 36-year-old stand-up 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. Read More: Like Taking Supari To Speak Against Someone: Eknath Shinde Reacts To Kunal Kamras Remark While speaking at the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Shinde said, You keep calling me gaddar, gaddar, you will soon have to close the daar (door in Marathi) of your party." Referring to the verdict given by the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker and the Election Commission that the faction led by him is the real" Shiv Sena and the Mahayutis victory in the recently held assembly polls, the deputy CM said, The Election Commission, Supreme Court and the Speaker of the House have said who is the gaddar. More importantly, the people, who are above everyone, have also given their verdict. No matter how much supari" (contract) you give, nothings going to work," the report added. He further questioned Kamra, Where was free speech for Kangana (Ranaut)?" while referring to when Kamra had hailed the action taken against BJP MP and actor Kangana Ranauts Mumbai office. Uddhav faction of the Sena and opposition members are talking about the Constitution and freedom of speech now, there have been several instances in the past when they have acted against people who criticised them," he said. In September 2020, a part of Ranauts office in Mumbais Pali Hill was demolished by BMC after she spoke out against the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra governments handling of actor Sushant Singh Rajputs death. What Kamra Said? During a recent stand-up comedy show, Kunal Kamra dubbed a parody song of a Hindi film and called Shinde a traitor" for his 2022 rebellion against the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government. Weighing on the Maharashtra politics with a musical touch to the song Bholi Si Surat, Kamra mocked Shinde and sang, Meri nazar se tum dekho to gaddar nazar wo aaye. Haaye!" After the clip went viral on social media, Shiv Sena warned of legal action and some of its workers vandalised the venue where the show was recorded. 12 party leaders were arrested but were later released on bail on Monday. Kamra Goes Offensive Kamra, in a late night statement on Tuesday said he will not apologise or hide under the bed waiting for the controversy to die down as the row over his comedy act spilled over with Shinde saying there should be limits to freedom of speech. Kamra on Tuesday doubled down on his stand by sharing an edited video of his stand up act where he juxtaposed videos of Shiv Sainiks demolishing the venue and burning his pictures and effigies with the parody song Hum honge kangal, hum honge kangal ek din Mann me andhvishwas, desh ka satyanash" playing in the background. The MIDC police registered a first information report against Kamra for his remarks during a stand-up comedy show, which was then transferred to Khar police for further investigation. 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. However, the request has been rejected. Following this, police officials have also issued a second summons to the comic. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all (With inputs from agencies) About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More First Published: March 26, 2025, 17:35 IST Yogi Adityanath Calls Rahul Gandhi 'Namuna', Explains Why BJP Would Want The Congress Leader Around Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 13:43 IST Yogi Adityanath alleged that the Congress leader was working against India's interests and raised questions on the work done by the Congress party in the last ten decades. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attacks Rahul Gandhi. (Image: PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a scathing attack on Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and called him a namuna", alleging that he deliberately keeps the Ayodhya controversy alive. In an interview with news agency ANI, Adityanath criticised Rahul Gandhis nation-wide march and called it a Bharat Todo Abhiyan". He further alleged that the Congress leader was working against Indias interests and raised questions on the work done by the Congress party in the last ten decades. Recommended Stories Questioning Congress governance over the past few years, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said, Ek Bharat ko Shresht Bharat nahi hona chahiye? You should ask them (Congress), then, what were they doing for six to ten decades? He should have asked his grandfather, grandmother and father. Why didnt they do it at that time?" Further highlighting that today the entire India is getting support from PM Modi, Adityanth pointed towards initiatives such as the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, abolition of triple talaq, and promotion of the Kumbh Mela. They always wanted to let the Ayodhya controversy remain a controversy. In Kashis Sankri Gali, they have been doing politics all their life in the name of Gandhi ji. But in 1916, Gandhi made strong remarks on Kashis Sankri Gali. Why did they not fulfil the dream of Mahatma Gandhi? His dream was fulfilled by PM Modi," Aditynath said. Why did the Congress not abolish the three-talaq? Why did the Congress not promote the Kumbh with so much pride and divinity? Why did Congress fail to provide the world-class model of infrastructure in the country? And in Ayodhya, the construction of the Ram Mandir has also been done. Everyone is getting a glimpse of a new Ayodhya," CM Adityanath added. Yohi Adityanths Namuna Jibe At Rahul Gandhi The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister further dubbed Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra as Bharat Todo Abhiyan and said that everyone was aware of his intentions. The Bharat Jodo Yatra is part of Bharat Todo Abhiyan. He criticises India outside India. The country has understood his nature and intentions. In Indias politics, Bharatiya Janata Party ke liye Rahul jaise kuch namune rehne chahiye jisse ek rasta hamesha ke liye saaf hota rahe aur acha rahe," he added. UP CM Attacks Opposition Intensifying his attack on the Opposition, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister alleged that Congress and its allies in the INDIA bloc used billionaire George Soross money to influence the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Sharpening his attacks, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister even called this alleged involvement an act by a traitor." They did propaganda and they had not only spread propaganda, but foreign money was also involved in it. George Soros had long ago announced it. I am saying that foreign money was involved in the Lok Sabha elections throughout the country in which Congress and other parties of the INDIA bloc were directly or indirectly involved, and through that, they tried to influence the elections. This falls in the category of deshdroh (treason)," he added. Adityanath Slams Shivakumar Over Minority Reservation Adityanath further upped the ante against the Congress-led Karnataka government and criticised the party over the four per cent minority reservation quota bill, stating that the reservation on the basis of religion by the Karnataka government is an insult to Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkars Constitution. DK Shivakumar is saying exactly what he has inherited from Congresss legacy," he said. UP CM On Language Row top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also raised concerns over the opposition to Hindi, especially by Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin. Hindi se nafrat kyu? Bhasha todti nahi hai, jodne ka kaam karti hai (Why hate Hindi? Language brings people closer, does not create a divide)," he said. The country should not be divided in the name of the language or region. We are grateful to PM Modi, who organised the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam in Varanasi. In every Indians mind, there is a feeling of respect for Tamil, and its history is as old as Sanskrit. When these peoples vote banks shift, they try to divide on the basis of territory and language. The people of the country should always be aware of this," he added. About the Author Mahima Joshi Mahima Joshi, Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking team. Covering national stories and bringing breaking news to the table are her forte. She is deeply interested in Indian politics and a... Read More Mahima Joshi, Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking team. Covering national stories and bringing breaking news to the table are her forte. She is deeply interested in Indian politics and a... Read More First Published: March 26, 2025, 10:56 IST Pixel 9a Is Cheaper Than iPhone 16E But Misses Out On These Features: Know Why Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 08:40 IST Pixel 9a supports a wide range of AI features but it seems Google had to cut some corners to keep the price lower than the iPhone 16E in the market. Pixel 9a does support AI features but Google has been forced to cut some corners. The iPhone 16E rival has launched in the form of Pixel 9a from Google that now sits below in the price bracket. The Pixel 9a has more AI features than Apples premium devices but even then most people would have known that the affordable factor from Google was going to come with some caveats. As it turns out, the AI aspect of the Pixel 9a is said to be limited because of some hardware differences compared to the other Pixel 9 series models. Pixel 9a Misses Out For The Price Recommended Stories Reports this week say Google is offering the Pixel 9a with 8GB RAM unlike the 12GB and 16GB RAM that you get on the Pixel 9 and the 9 Pro models, respectively. Because of this change, the report says, Google had to use an extra small Gemini Nano AI model that is not capable of working on-device which is a handy privacy way to use AI on mobile devices. Ars Technica has also mentioned that because of the smaller Nano model, Google is not able to support AI features like Pixel Screenshots, Call Notes on the Pixel 9a version. We cant say these changes for certain but the credibility of the source in the report suggests we could be looking at a skimmed version of Pixel 9a for users that costs less than the iPhone 16E in the market. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Speaking of which, Google has been forced to delay the availability of Pixel 9a across markets. Reports say Google has pushed the sale date of Pixel 9a because of some issues discovered in the units that were about to be shipped later this week. We are currently investigating a component quality issue affecting a small number of Pixel 9a devices," the company was quoted saying earlier this week. Google says Pixel 9a will be available some time in April but has not given a clear date for its availability. 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 26, 2025, 08:40 IST Chennai Boy, Who Mastered English At 4, Now Reads And Writes In 400 Languages Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 15:50 IST Chennai's Mohammad Akram mastered the English alphabet at the age of 4 and by 12, he knew about 400 languages. Now at 14, he teaches globally and aims to translate Tamil literature. Akram dreams of bringing Tamil literature to the world. (Source: Facebook) Chennais Mohammad Akram has been a linguistic marvel since childhood, his insatiable curiousity for languages setting him apart from his peers. His father, renowned sculptor Shilpi Mojipriyan, was his first teacher, instilling in him a deep appreciation for learning. At just four years old, Akram mastered the English alphabet in mere six days. His passion only grew stronger, leading him to study ancient Tamil scripts like Vatteluttu and Grantha. By the age of 6, he had already surpassed his father in linguistic proficiency, a feat that foreshadowed his extraordinary journey ahead. By the time he was 8, Akram had earned the title of Youngest Bilingual Typist after showcasing his ability to type seamlessly in multiple languages. At 10, he achieved another milestone, winning the Yuva Pratibha Award by typing the national anthem in 20 different languages within just one hour. However, it was at the age of 12 that he left even seasoned linguists astounded after demonstrating proficiency in 400 languages, a rare accomplishment that placed him in a league of his own. Experts from Germany, where he showcased his abilities, were left in awe of his unparalleled talent. Recommended Stories Despite his young age, Akrams academic pursuits are as diverse as his linguistic expertise. Although he is only in Class 6, he is simultaneously pursuing a degree in animation from Chennais Alagappa University and another in English literature and linguistics from the Open University of Britain. His teachers recognised his exceptional intellect early on, recommending that he skip several grades to better match his capabilities. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all While studying at the Danube School in Vienna, he further refined his oratory skills, collaborating with students from 39 different countries. His dedication to language education has earned him the title of Global Teacher, a recognition he continues to uphold by conducting workshops in nations such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, and Indonesia. At just 14, he took to YouTube to share his knowledge, and today, he runs both online and offline classes through his Global Language Institute. Akram dreams of bringing Tamil literature to the world, ensuring that classical works such as Tirukkural and Tholkappiyam receive the global recognition they deserve. His goal is to translate these literary treasures into more than 50 languages, making them accessible to audiences worldwide. 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 : Chennai [Madras], India, India First Published: March 26, 2025, 15:50 IST Chinese Woman Finds Out Her Rs 2.84 Crore Breast Implants Contain Animal DNA Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 14:06 IST After the surgery, Lingling, a resident of Jiangxi province, experienced pain and a foreign object sensation in her breasts. Lingling learned about the procedure in 2017. (Freepik/Representative Image) A woman in China suffered severe disability after undergoing a costly breast augmentation procedure that turned out to be a fraud. She spent nearly 2.4 million yuan (approximately Rs 2.84 crore) on implants that were later found to contain animal DNA. According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Lingling, a resident of Jiangxi province, learned about the procedure through a local beauty salon in 2017. The salon owner took her to Beijing Creating Medical Cosmetic Clinic, where the head surgeon, Bai Jin, assured her that the method was safe. The clinic claimed it would extract and cultivate her collagen before reinjecting it into the breasts to create a self-derived, self-used" result with no rejection. After the surgery, Lingling experienced pain and a foreign-object sensation in her breasts. Over the next six years, she had nine more procedures, which included implant replacements and corrective surgeries. She spent nearly 2.39 million yuan on these treatments. Recommended Stories By 2023, she noticed severe deformation and leakage in the implants. There were two lumps on my chest that reached my stomach," Lingling said as quoted by the outlet. She approached the Beijing clinic for corrective treatment but they asked for a medical assessment report. In October 2024, she went to a hospital in Shanghai for implant removal and tests. Doctors found that the injected material had caused severe damage to her body. Tests later showed that the implants contained DNA from moose and cattle which contradicted the clinics claim of self-derived" implants. Linglings breast deformity was classified as a severe disability which caused her both physical and psychological pain. As per the outlet, a beauty insider revealed that the previous patients had also found DNA from camels, bats and gorillas. These non-human materials can cause adverse reactions, like immune rejection," the insider explained. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Lingling tried to get compensation but found that both the beauty salon and the Beijing clinic had closed. The clinics business license was revoked and it had been involved in 398 medical malpractice cases. Bai, the head surgeon, was also not registered with medical authorities. On March 1, Lingling reported the case to the Beijing Municipal Health Commission. Since the clinic and salon had closed, she faced significant challenges in getting justice. The market regulatory department said it would conduct further investigations. 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 26, 2025, 13:35 IST Communication Is Just As Important As Coding: Engineer Talks About First 6 Months At Google Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 15:00 IST In her first lesson, Aashna Doshi mentioned imposter syndrome, which, according to her, is rea,l but so is growth. Aashna Doshi has completed six months at Google in New York. (Representative Image) An Indian-origin software engineer working at Google in New York has shared key lessons she has learned in her first six months at the company. In a LinkedIn post, Aashna Doshi spoke about her journey so far and listed six important takeaways from her experience. The first lesson Doshi mentioned in her post was about imposter syndrome which according to her is real but so is growth." Walking into a team full of Senior SWEs, I definitely felt the weight of imposter syndrome. But I quickly realized that the best way to grow is to ask questionsLOTS of them. The smartest engineers Ive met are also the most generous with their knowledge," she wrote. Recommended Stories She then spoke about the importance of building a community as she mentioned that a strong support system makes a significant difference. Women @ Google, Student panels and Poker club have made me feel part of something bigger," Doshi continued. Another key takeaway for her was the value of coffee chats. She mentioned that she sets up at least one or two casual meetings every week with colleagues from different teams. According to her, some of the best career advice and unexpected opportunities come from these informal conversations. Doshi also talked about the ownership mindset at Google. She explained that employees at Google are not just expected to complete tasks but also to think critically, propose ideas and take responsibility. Working in privacy and security, Ive seen firsthand how even small contributions can have a massive impact in protecting users," she said. In her fifth lesson, Doshi talked about how communication is just as important as coding. Writing great code is important. But being able to explain your work, document your decisions, and collaborate effectively is what makes an engineer truly stand out. Learning how to present ideas in cross-team discussions has been a game-changer," she added. In her final lesson, Doshi spoke about the importance of continuous learning in the ever-changing tech industry. She shared that there is always something new to tackle whether it is security challenges, evolving best practices or improving personal skills. Ive learned to embrace being a student, always," she concluded. Doshis post gained significant attention online and in the comment section, many social media users shared their varied opinions. One user commented, Such insightful takeaways, especially about the ownership mindset and the power of communication!" top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Another wrote, Great insights! Totally agreeimposter syndrome fades when you focus on learning, and communication is just as important as coding. Love the emphasis on ownership and continuous growth." I have experienced that the third point is very effective to gain your knowledge and get amazing opportunities from Chai pe Charcha"," a person shared. 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 26, 2025, 15:00 IST 'Isn't She The One Who Kidnaps Children?': Instagram Reels By Kerala Woman Out On Bail Spark Outrage Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 10:49 IST Anupama's latest reel at Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple received 8,000 likes. Though many comments mentioned her kidnapping case involvement, Anupama has not responded Anupama's latest reel was posted in front of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple. (Instagram/anupamapathman) Anupama Padmakumar, currently out on bail in the child abduction case from Oyoor in Keralas Kollam, is active on Instagram once again. The Kerala High Court had granted bail to Anupama, the third accused in the child abduction case, as she had requested to join an LLB course in Bengaluru. Justice CS Dias approved the bail under strict conditions, including that Anupama must appear before the investigating officer on the third Saturday of every month and must not enter Kollam district for other purposes. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Recommended Stories Anupama is now active on Instagram Reels, sharing daily updates. Her latest reel was posted in front of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple and has garnered around 8,000 likes. Many comments on the video have referenced her involvement in the kidnapping case, but Anupama has not responded to any of them. The kidnapping incident occurred on November 27, 2023, when a six-year-old girl was abducted in Oyoor by a group in a car. Anupamas parents, Mampallykunnam Kavitarajil Padmakumar and Anitha, are also accused in the case. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of Rs 10 lakh but later abandoned the child at an ashram. The incident caused a significant uproar across the state. 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 : Kollam, India, India First Published: March 26, 2025, 10:49 IST Kozhikode Youths Develop AI-Powered 'Coco-Bot' To Solve Kerala's Coconut Farming Woes Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 16:32 IST Four young men from Kozhikode have introduced a groundbreaking AI-powered machine, 'Coco-Bot', designed to revolutionise coconut harvesting. While coconut-cutting machines have entered the market before, 'Coco-Bot' stands apart with its efficiency and ease of use. The once-thriving tradition of climbing coconut trees to harvest the crop is rapidly fading in Kerala, leaving farmers in distress. Despite efforts by the Coconut Development Board, which trained 32,925 individuals in the past 12 years, only 673 remain active in this profession today. To address this crisis, four enterprising youths from Kozhikode have introduced a groundbreaking AI-powered machine, Coco-Bot, designed to revolutionise coconut harvesting. While coconut-cutting machines have entered the market before, Coco-Bot stands apart with its efficiency and ease of use. This semi-automatic device requires only one operator, making it a practical solution for farmers struggling with labour shortages. Coconut farmer K Sadanandan, who has tested the innovation, lauded its performance, stating, With Coco-Bot, harvesting coconuts has become remarkably easier. It saves both time and effort." Recommended Stories The inspiration for Coco-Bot came from an unexpected place the bathroom. In 2020, Ashwin P Krishna, the founder of Coco-Bot, was gazing at a coconut tree from his balcony when a question struck him: Can an automated machine be designed for coconut harvesting? This spark of curiousity led to rigorous research and development, culminating in the creation of Coco-Bot with the support of his dedicated team. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Ashwin and his team put their idea to the test at a hackathon, where their innovation received widespread recognition. Their success attracted financial backing from NABARD and government agencies, propelling Coco-Bot from a concept to reality. NABARD District Development Manager Riyas Muhammad expressed pride in their contribution, stating, We are honoured to support this initiative, which holds immense potential to transform the lives of coconut farmers." Currently, Coco-Bot operates as a semi-automatic device, but its developers have ambitious plans to refine it into a fully automated system, further enhancing efficiency. A pilot trial run is scheduled for the first half of 2025, marking a crucial step in testing its real-world viability. 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 : Kozhikode, India, India First Published: March 26, 2025, 16:32 IST News / National by Staff reporter Vice President Kembo Mohadi was yesterday honoured with the prestigious Induna Matshe Leadership Excellence Award in recognition of his steadfast loyalty to Zimbabwe's liberation struggle, exceptional leadership, and his significant contributions to the agricultural sector.The award was presented to the Vice President at his offices in Harare by Legacy TV's executive leadership, with the event marking a key moment in the annual Legacy Empowerment Awards.Speaking at the handover ceremony, Legacy TV Executive Director Pardon Mangwende emphasized the importance of the award in preserving the rich legacy of Zimbabwe's liberation struggle and recognising individuals who have played pivotal roles in the nation's development."Every year, Legacy TV presents the Legacy Empowerment Awards to individuals who have shown unwavering support for the Government and Zanu-PF," Mangwende said. "These awards serve as a means of safeguarding the legacy of our liberation struggle and ensuring that we continue to honour those who have dedicated themselves to the progress of our nation."Mangwende also delved into the significance of the award title, explaining the historical context of the Induna Matshe title, which he described as a name from the pre-First Chimurenga era. He recalled how King Lobengula's emissaries had been offered material wealth by the UK but remained resolute in their loyalty to the King, symbolizing unshakable dedication to their cause."The name Induna Matshe is deeply rooted in our history. It represents loyalty, leadership, and a commitment to Zimbabwe's sovereignty. Much like the figures who have shaped our past, such as Chaminuka, a great prophet and leader, and Munhumutapa, an influential ruler, Vice President Mohadi exemplifies these same qualities of leadership and loyalty," Mangwende explained.He also paid tribute to revolutionary leaders such as Lookout Masuku, whose efforts were instrumental in Zimbabwe's fight for independence, and reiterated the role the awards play in preserving the history of resilience, patriotism, and leadership excellence that have defined the country's journey.The Legacy Empowerment Awards, which include the Induna Matshe Leadership Excellence Award, are a key initiative of Legacy TV, reaffirming the network's commitment to celebrating Zimbabwe's historical heroes and fostering a sense of national pride.Last year, the Nehanda Nyakasikana Leadership Excellence Award was presented to honour the legacy of Mbuya Nehanda, a central figure in the First Chimurenga. Known as an enduring symbol of female strength and courage, Mbuya Nehanda remains a powerful representation of women's role in shaping society and Zimbabwe's history.Vice President Kembo Mohadi, upon receiving the award, expressed his gratitude and reaffirmed his commitment to continuing his work for the betterment of Zimbabwe, particularly in the agricultural sector, which he emphasized as a key area for national development.The Induna Matshe Leadership Excellence Award is another step in the ongoing recognition of leadership excellence and patriotism, ensuring that Zimbabwe's rich history is never forgotten and that the efforts of its leaders are celebrated for generations to come. Rippling Co-Founder's New Point-By-Point Rebuttal As Domestic Battle Escalates: 'Let's Address Wife's Charges' Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 10:28 IST Prasanna Sankar recently went public about his legal dispute with his wife. In new rebuttal, the Rippling co-founder addressed his wife's statement, calling him a 'sex predator'. He claimed that the wife accused him of 'recording porn videos of her'. Prasanna has accused his wife of cheating and harassment. (Photo: X) The much-publicised divorce and custody feud between multi-billion dollar start-up Rippling co-founder Prasanna Sankar and his estranged wife Dhivya Sashidhar has only escalated, with fresh allegations taking centre-stage. After Prasannas detailed social media post, leading to the accusations against his wife, Dhivya addressed the matter in a press conference outside a police station. Claiming that Prasanna deceived him by making her travel to India under the guise of a property disguise, Dhivya levelled serious allegations of sexual misconduct, kidnapping, and prostitution." As the claims and counterclaims continue to unfold, with the legal battle gaining much media attention, the Rippling co-founder has once again taken to social media and doubled down on his statements. In a long X thread, Prasanna Sankar shared screenshots of WhatsApp conversations, emails and legal documents as evidence of their exchanges. Recommended Stories With a screenshot of a WhatsApp conversation with Dhivya, Prasanna countered his wifes kidnapping claims and wrote, Primarily the complaint says I kidnapped the child. She says I took him by force and threats. PFA she instructs voluntarily when we should pick up the child from her house, as per the terms of the MOU custody agreement." Primarily the complaint says I kidnapped the child. She says I took him by force and threats. PFA she instructs voluntarily when we should pick up the child from her house, as per the terms of the MOU custody agreement. pic.twitter.com/g7Tjc4qFNE Prasanna S (@myprasanna) March 25, 2025 He also shared an email, showing their lawyers negotiating over the MoU agreement, which Dhivya claimed she was forced to sign. After many back and forths, a settlement is reached, voluntarily. I have never spoken to her till date, for many mos, after false cases," he added. Prasanna Sankar also asserted that a federal court judge had instructed his wife to return their child and that he did not force her to come to India. Secondly, she claims I "forced" her to sign the MOU against her will. PFA her lawyer is negotiating with my lawyer regarding the agreement. After many back and forths, a settlement is reached, voluntarily. I have never spoken to her till date, for many mos, after false cases. pic.twitter.com/OlZWSpbEDc Prasanna S (@myprasanna) March 25, 2025 In regard to the shocking claims of sexual misconduct and prostitution, the Rippling founder explained that the police never found any evidence in his phone or computers and that he was cleared of all the fake charges." He also stated how one can conduct a background check on the US public record to confirm the facts. SG police investigated this by seizing my phone and computers. Found no evidence and have cleared me of all these fake charges. She accused me of these again in Washington. Again judge ruled in my favor. Prasanna S (@myprasanna) March 25, 2025 Then she alleges that I committed fraud by transferring matrimonial assets to trusts etc. These are my Rippling shares a co I co-founded and she had zero involvement in. At a certain level of wealth, everyone does tax & inheritance planning. She signed off on all of these. Now I regret it. As usual files fake complaints everywhere. The issue seems to be, she has nothing to lose at this point. She might have as well said, Yes I messed up, but I still want public sympathy and his money". At-least be honest about it," Prasanna continued. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The businessman went on to reiterate his previously-made requests to secure their sons passport to stop his wife from abducting" him and further follow the custody schedule of co-parenting. Earlier this month, Prasanna Sankar went public with his ongoing dispute with his wife Dhivya, claiming on X that she was having an affair, which led to their divorce. 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! First Published: March 26, 2025, 09:58 IST Social Media Post Claims Tobi Lutke Built Shopify Working 40 Hours A Week, CEO Explains Why That's Not True Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 13:19 IST Concerning work-life balance, Shopify CEO Tobi Lutke has changed his mind and now says he works more than ten hours a day and on the weekends. At one point, Shopify CEO Tobi Lutke supported 40-hour workweeks. (Photo Credits: Instagram/@tobi) Tobi Lutke, the CEO of Shopify, appears to have changed his mind about work-life balance. At one point, Lutke was regarded as a brilliant example of how modern man might achieve without working nonstop. After all, the founder of the Canadian e-commerce company Shopify stated in 2019 that he only worked 40 hours per week and that success does not require 80 hours. The tweet has since been removed, which may be interpreted as a reflection of the times. It appears that Lutke has also changed his mind at a time when Silicon Valley is encouraging efficiency above work-life balance. He has removed the 2019 tweet in which he claimed that, despite building his $125 billion e-commerce company, he rarely worked more than 40 hours per week. Recommended Stories The CEO of Shopify, on the other hand, now demands that he work more than ten hours every day, including weekends. Ive never worked through a night," Lutke stated in a tweet approximately five years ago. The only times I worked more than 40 hours in a week were when I had the burning desire to do so. I need 8ish hours of sleep a night. Same with everybody else, whether we admit it or not," the now-deleted post added. At the time, CNBC and Business Insider were among the media sites that highlighted the post. The Shopify CEO now implores us to disagree. Yea, but this is commonly misunderstood. Im at home for dinner, but I work at least 10 or so hours a day and a lot of the weekend. I dont want people to get misguided by this meme," Lutke said earlier this month on X. Yea but this is commonly misunderstood. Im at home for dinner but I work at least 10 or so hours a day and a lot of the weekend. I dont want people to get misguided by this meme. tobi lutke (@tobi) March 3, 2025 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all It appears that Lutkes stance has evolved at a time when Silicon Valley workers are under increased pressure to perform better. For instance, Meta said that it would cut 4,000 workers, focusing on those labelled as underperformers." Previously admired for its more relaxed corporate culture, Microsoft appears to be going through a transformation as well. In addition to replacing its long-time HR chief, the IT behemoth has already let go of 2,000 employees this year due to poor performance. 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 26, 2025, 13:19 IST Soldier Skydives 5,000 Feet To His Wedding, Everything Was Fine Until He Took To The Dance Floor Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 14:28 IST British Army Corporal Eddie Rudd parachuted into his wedding and danced with a broken leg. Despite the injury, he plans another jump during his honeymoon in Hawaii. The soldier orchestrated the high-risk stunt alongside four of his fellow paratroopers on the eve of his wedding. (Source: Instagram) In a wedding spectacle unlike any other, a British Army veteran made a breathtaking entry at his wedding, by skydiving from 5,000 feet only to later discover he had danced the night away on a broken leg. The 31-year-old daredevil, Corporal Eddie Rudd, is a member of the British Armys elite parachute display team The Tigers. Rudd orchestrated the high-risk stunt alongside four of his fellow paratroopers on the eve of his wedding. Determined to make his big day unforgettable, Rudd leaped from the sky, landing in dramatic fashion. But the real twist emerged hours later when an unexpected injury came to light. Recommended Stories The wedding day brought another jaw-dropping moment when the Royal Air Force (RAF) honoured the couple with a surprise flypast, leaving guests in awe. The celebrations continued with Rudd taking to the dance floor for his first dance with his bride, Cassandra. Unbeknownst to him, his right fibula had fractured. I felt fine at the time," Rudd recalled, adding that he had danced all night without any pain. It wasnt until the following morning, when his leg had swollen significantly, that a hospital X-ray confirmed the break. Rudd, who has completed around 1,000 jumps since taking up skydiving in 2015, brushed off the injury with characteristic bravado. This is my first broken bone in ten years of jumping. Its not stopping me!" he declared, already looking forward to another dive during his upcoming honeymoon in Hawaii. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all His wife Cassandra, also 31, admitted she was initially hesitant about the skydiving stunt but ultimately embraced it. Ive watched him do this for three years its just who he is," she said, adding, At a wedding, the bride usually gets all the attention, so this was his moment to shine." The couples love story began aboard a Disney cruise in 2021, and their wedding, true to Eddies nature, was nothing short of cinematic. Even after learning about his injury, Rudd maintained his good humour. My pain tolerance is high I didnt feel a thing," he joked. 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 26, 2025, 14:28 IST This Muslim-Majority Country Has Legalised Prostitution, Even Issues Licences To Sex Workers Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 08:13 IST Prostitution is legal in Bangladesh with regulations, involving about 200,000 women. Despite this, forced prostitution is still an issue. Other countries like Austria, Belgium, and Germany also regulate it Individuals wishing to engage in sex work in Bangladesh must first register and provide an affidavit stating that they are entering this profession of their own accord due to a lack of other employment opportunities. Prostitution, or sex work, is often referred to as the oldest profession in the world, a business involving physical relations in exchange for money. It is generally viewed as immoral with negative connotations. Individuals involved in sex work frequently face physical exploitation and are compelled to work against their will. Many countries enforce strict penalties for crimes related to prostitution, though it is legal in some places. Most Muslim countries impose stringent laws on sex work. However, Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority country, not only recognises sex work legally but also issues licenses for it. Recommended Stories Sex Work In Bangladesh Sex work is legal in around 49 countries globally. While some countries permit it under specific conditions, in India, it remains illegal. Conversely, in neighbouring Bangladesh, sex work is legal under government-imposed regulations. Individuals wishing to engage in sex work in Bangladesh must first register and provide an affidavit stating that they are entering this profession of their own accord due to a lack of other employment opportunities. According to a report by a non-governmental organisation, approximately 200,000 women in Bangladesh are involved in sex work, with Daulatdia being the largest area for this activity, involving about 1,300 women. Despite its legal status, the constitution of Bangladesh includes provisions aimed at curbing gambling and prostitution. The law prohibits child prostitution, forced prostitution, and unlicensed prostitution centres. Although sex work has been legal in Bangladesh since 2000, forced involvement in the profession remains a significant issue. Many young girls are coerced into prostitution, often sold by impoverished parents for a few thousand rupees or deceived by intermediaries with false promises of marriage. An estimated 29,000 underage girls are currently trapped in this situation. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Prostitution In Other Countries Like Bangladesh, Austria has legalised sex work, with the government overseeing the health of the women involved. In Austria, women must be at least 19 years old to enter the profession, and they are required to pay taxes on their earnings. Australia has varying laws regarding sex work across its states, with some recognising it legally and others not. On the other hand, Belgium issues licenses for sex work, considering it an art form. In New Zealand, sex work has been legally recognised since 2003, and sex workers receive social benefits akin to those in other sectors. The Red Light District in Amsterdam, Netherlands, is world-renowned for sex work. This Red Light District, or De Wallen, often seen with curiosity and controversy, serves as a place where sex work is openly acknowledged, regulated, and safeguarded. Germany was the first country to grant legal rights to sex work, implementing a licensing system since 1927. In Germany, sex workers are provided with health care and insurance and are required to pay taxes on their earnings, with a pension system also in place. 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 : Bangladesh First Published: March 26, 2025, 08:13 IST Anti- Elon Musk Jasmine Crockett Mocks Disabled Texas Governor: Only Thing Hot About Him Is... Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 10:43 IST Jasmine Crockett mocked disabled Texas Governor Greg Abbott during an event held by the Human Rights Campaign. Jasmine Crockett and Elon Musk Texas Democrat leader Jasmine Crockett, who earlier said that she wants Elon Musk to be taken down as a birthday gift for her, mocked disabled Texas Governor Greg Abbott during an event held by the Human Rights Campaign. She said, 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," Crockett said. Greg Abott has been paraplegic since age 26. This comes as Attorney General Pam Bondi clashed with Jasmine Crockett for her comments on Elon Musk and warned her to tread carefully". Recommended Stories Turning Point CEO Charlie Kirk posted on X, Jasmine Crockett continues to embarrass herself, the state of Texas, and the US Congress. Gov. Abbott was paralyzed at the age of 26 when an oak tree fell and crushed his spine while jogging. This woman is trash." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Conservative activist Laura Loomer also said that one of her correspondents was assaulted by Jasmine Crockett when he asked her whether she would condemn the violence at Tesla showrooms. She posted on social media, Its clear elected Democrats have embraced violence against Trump supporters and members of the independent media, even in the halls of Congress." Jasmine Crockett is currently serving as the US Representative for Texas 30th congressional district since January 2023. She is a member of the Democratic Party and represents a district that includes parts of Dallas and Tarrant counties. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 26, 2025, 10:43 IST Bottled Water, Energy Bars, Flashlight: Did Europe Sound World War Alarm With Survival Kit Mandate? Published By : AFP Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 20:20 IST EU crisis management commissioner Hadja Lahbib said that the point of the exercise was to ensure that Covid-19-like hoarding should not happen. The EU urged its citizens to prepare for crises with a 72-hour survival kit. (IMAGE: MICROSOFT COPILOT) Bottled water, energy bars, a flashlight and more: the EU is pushing for every household in the 27-country bloc to have a three-day survival kit ready in case crisis strikes be it a conflict or natural disaster. EU crisis management commissioner Hadja Lahbib told AFP the idea would be formally presented Wednesday as part of a broader preparedness strategy" for the bloc. Recommended Stories In practice, Brussels would like every citizen to be equipped for 72 hours of self-sufficiency, said Lahbib, in line with a key report last year on strengthening Europes civilian and military preparedness. Knowing what to do in case of danger, gaming out different scenarios, thats also a way to prevent people from panicking," said Lahbib recalling shelves being raided clean of toilet paper in the early days of the pandemic for instance. Households would be urged to stock up on a dozen key items also including matches and ID documents in a waterproof pouch for instance as part of their resilience" kit. And the EU wants to promote a national preparedness day" aimed at ensuring member states are on track with the plans. All of this comes in addition to national strategies," Lahbib said. Its about better coordinating, supporting member states in their strategies." The preparedness" strategy and the survival kit in particular draws on the recommendations of a report presented to the European Commission by Finlands former president Sauli Niinisto late last year. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all It also takes inspiration from the example of Scandinavia, where Finland, Sweden and Denmark have all stepped up efforts to prepare households for the possibility of a future crisis or conflict as Ukraine fights the grinding three-year Russian invasion. In a letter to EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, three lawmakers from the European Parliaments centrist group Renew urged the commission to go further by sending a handbook to every household in the bloc on preparing for various crises, from potential conflict to climate disasters, pandemics and cyberthreats." 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 : Brussels, Belgium First Published: March 26, 2025, 20:18 IST Canadian MP Chandra Arya Barred From Running Under Trudeau's Party Banner Over Alleged India Ties: Report Published By : PTI Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 00:13 IST Both the Canadian government and Liberal Party have not provided specific reasons for blocking Arya from the leadership race or his re-election bid Indian-origin Canadian MP Chandra Arya with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Image via X/@AryaCanada) Canadas Liberal Party has revoked Indian-origin MP Chandra Aryas bid to run for the party leadership and his nomination for re-election in his Ottawa Nepean constituency. The decision comes amid allegations of his alleged ties to the Indian government, including his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a trip to India last year. Recommended Stories According to a report by The Globe and Mail, citing sources with top-secret clearance, Arya had not informed the Canadian government about his trip to India, despite the tense state of bilateral relations between Canada and India. However, both the Canadian government and the Liberal Party have not provided specific reasons for blocking Arya from the leadership race or his re-election bid, the report added. The sources further revealed that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) had informed the government about Aryas alleged close ties to the Indian government, including its High Commission in Ottawa. Party officials with security clearances also raised concerns about Arya after receiving a general briefing on foreign interference. Despite these concerns, the decision to remove Arya as a candidate for the leadership and Nepean nomination was made solely by the Liberal Party, without direct advice from CSIS, the sources added. Another source told the publication that party officials, responsible for monitoring foreign interference, had found troubling inconsistencies in the information Arya had provided in a confidential questionnaire. Chandra Arya Denies Allegations The Indian-origin MP, however, has strongly denied any allegations of influence from India, stating that as an MP, he has regularly engaged with diplomats and heads of government, both in Canada and internationally. Not once have I sought nor been required to seek permission from the government to do so," Arya stated, according to the report. Arya, who is of the Hindu faith, also believes that his removal from the Liberal Partys leadership race and Nepean nomination is due to his outspoken stance against the Khalistani movement in Canada, which advocates for a separate Sikh state in Punjab. He has been vocal in his opposition to Khalistani extremism, which he argues has led to tensions within Canadas South Asian community. The sole point of contention with the Liberal Party has been my outspoken advocacy on issues important to Hindu Canadians and my firm stance against Khalistani extremism," he noted. Arya, who visited New Delhi on August 12 last year, had met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Canadian MP had also shared pictures of himself with Modi on X. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all We discussed Canada India relations. India is a significant and growing market for Canadas exports and investments, and it serves as a key source for fulfilling our critical talent needs," the Canadian MP had written in his post. (With inputs from agencies) About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More Location : Canada First Published: March 26, 2025, 23:42 IST China Threat, Iran Nukes And Russias Satellite Ambitions: What US Intel Report Said Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 13:57 IST US Intel Report: Tulsi Gabbard said, "The IC continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Khamanei has not authorized the nuclear weapons program." US DNI Tulsi Gabbard (Reuters Image) US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said that American intelligence has assessed that Iran is not actively building a nuclear weapon at the moment. During a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, she said, The IC continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Khamanei has not authorized the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003." Recommended Stories In the past years, US intel has seen that there has been an erosion of a decades-long taboo in Iran on discussing nuclear weapons in public, likely emboldening nuclear weapons advocates within Irans decision-making apparatus", Tulsi Gabbard said, adding, Irans enriched uranium stockpile is at its highest levels and is unprecedented for a state without nuclear weapons." The entire impact of renewed sanctions on Iran is still not in effect, but that the message" has been certainly heard" by the country, she asserted. The DNI released the intelligence communitys annual threat assessment as well which predicted that Irans prospects for reconstituting force losses and posing a credible deterrent, particularly to Israeli actions, are dim in the near-term." China Biggest Threat To US China remains the United States top military and cyber threat, as per the report, which said that Beijing was making steady but uneven" progress on capabilities it could use to capture Taiwan. The report said, Chinas military is fielding advanced capabilities, including hypersonic weapons, stealth aircraft, advanced submarines, stronger space and cyberwarfare assets and a larger arsenal of nuclear weapons. China almost certainly has a multifaceted, national-level strategy designed to displace the United States as the worlds most influential AI power by 2030." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Russia Making New Satellite, Report Says The report also noted that Russia is developing a new satellite meant to carry a nuclear weapon. This could have devastating consequences" for the US and the world, the report warned. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 26, 2025, 13:57 IST Donald Trump Dismisses Uproar Over Leaked Top-Secret Yemen War Plans: Another Question, Please Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 07:11 IST Donald Trump denied any classified information was shared and defended a top aide over the breach. The US President said that he would "look into" the use of the Signal app. US President Donald Trump US President Donald Trump brushed off queries as the White House faced a growing scandal after a journalist was accidentally added to a group chat about air strikes on Yemen. As Donald Trump denied any classified information was shared and defended a top aide over the breach, he said that he would look into" the use of the Signal app. Earlier, it was reported that US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz inadvertently included The Atlantic magazines Jeffrey Goldberg in a conversation about the Yemen war. Recommended Stories Donald Trump resorted to name calling as he attacked Jeffrey Goldberg saying that he was a sleazebag" and said nobody gives a damn" about the story. The journalist said that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent information in the Signal chat about targets, weapons and timing ahead of the strikes on March 15. But Donald Trump asserted that there was no classified information" when asked about the chat. The app Signal was used by a lot of people in government", the US President clarified further before resorting to another question, please". President Trump declines to answer when I asked who told him there was no classified information in the group chat about strike plans on Yemen. Another question, please." pic.twitter.com/mGEZIT3cDv Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) March 25, 2025 Mike Waltz said US technical and legal experts were looking into the breach but insisted he had never met, dont know, never communicated" with the journalist. He said, We are looking into him, reviewing how the heck he got in." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe- who were both reported to be part of the leaked check- were seen at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing. Tulsi Gabbard said, There was no classified material that was shared" while John Ratcliffe confirmed he was involved in the Signal group but said the communications were entirely permissible and lawful." Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 26, 2025, 07:11 IST Hate Bailing Them Out: In Leaked Chat, JD Vance, Hegseth Said They Loathe Freeloading Europeans Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 18:03 IST US Vice President JD Vance said that he hates bailing out Europe because the airstrikes if successful could stop attacks on the Red Sea shipping lanes. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, US Vice President JD Vance and US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz react as US President Donald Trump (not pictured) meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (not pictured), in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS) The leaked Yemen airstrikes group chat was not just a case of a wrong message sent to a wrong person but also ended up showing how the US views its ally Europe. The White House confirmed that the messages, mistakenly sent to Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, and detailed in his March 24 report, appear to be authentic. Recommended Stories Goldberg was added to the Signal group where US Vice President JD Vance, defence secretary Pete Hegseth, director of US national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, US President Donald Trumps national security advisor Mike Waltz and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller was present and discussing airstrikes on Yemen, a civil-war battered nation. A report by the Economist pointed out that the Trump administrations contempt for its European allies was on full display. On March 14, the Trump administration moved forward with plans to bomb the Houthis after the group warned they would start attacking ships passing through the Bab al-Mandab, a key waterway leading to the Suez Canal. The Houthis claimed they were responding to Israel blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza. In the past months, their attacks had already forced many ships to take a longer route around Africa. In a Signal group chat, Vance raised concerns about the planned strikes, pointing out that European countries relied on trade through the Suez Canal much more than the US did. I just hate bailing Europe out again," Vance said. To this, Hegseth replied: 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)". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Then, S. M." who is believed to be Stephen Miller, wrapped up the discussion, confirming that Trump had approved the strikes. However, S. M." stressed the need to clarify what the US expected in return from Egypt and Europe for carrying out the operation. If the U.S. successfully restores freedom of navigation at great cost, there needs to be some further economic gain extracted in return," S.M." 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 : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 26, 2025, 17:36 IST Crafting Thoughtful AI Policy in Higher Education: A Guide for Institutional Leaders As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve at a rapid pace, education institutions find themselves at a crossroads. The integration of AI technologies presents unparalleled opportunities for enhancing teaching, learning, and administrative processes. However, it also raises critical ethical, operational, and strategic challenges. The integration of AI into higher education is not simply a matter of technological adoption; it is an opportunity to enhance institutional mission and amplify core values. However, establishing a thoughtful AI policy that resonates with one's unique institutional mission requires a proactive approach one that avoids simply following in the footsteps of others or adopting policies from peer institutions without careful reflection. This article aims to guide institutional leaders through the process of crafting AI policies that are reflective of their institution's mission and future-forward. Drawing on our dual perspectives agency leadership and institutional leadership as well as insights from a survey of leaders across higher education, we share strategies, best practices, and an actionable framework for developing an ethical AI policy. The Leadership Imperative: Building Trust and Driving Adoption AI initiatives cannot succeed without strong leadership. Institutional leaders play a pivotal role in championing AI adoption by fostering trust, ensuring transparent communication, and making informed decisions. Building trust requires: Transparency in Communication : Leaders should articulate the "why" behind AI initiatives, addressing both opportunities and risks. : Leaders should articulate the "why" behind AI initiatives, addressing both opportunities and risks. Active Stakeholder Engagement : Regularly involve faculty, students, and staff to create a sense of shared ownership. : Regularly involve faculty, students, and staff to create a sense of shared ownership. Training Leadership Teams: Provide education on AI's capabilities and limitations, enabling leaders to make data-driven, ethical decisions. Leadership training should include workshops, expert panels, and scenario planning to build confidence in navigating AI's complexities. Institutions that invest in leadership development are better positioned to drive successful, mission-aligned AI integration. Aligning AI Policy with Broader Societal Trends While this article focuses on higher education, institutional policies must also consider the broader societal implications of AI. Higher education institutions are uniquely positioned to: Prepare Students for the Future Workforce : By integrating AI into curricula, institutions can equip students with the skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven economy. : By integrating AI into curricula, institutions can equip students with the skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven economy. Shape Ethical AI Use for Society: Establishing ethical AI frameworks within institutions sets a standard for responsible AI adoption across sectors. For example, embedding AI literacy and ethical considerations into academic programs ensures that graduates understand both the potential and the pitfalls of AI, preparing them to lead responsibly in their careers. Balancing Policy and Innovation: A Critical Tension One of the greatest challenges in AI adoption is striking the right balance between governance and innovation. Overly rigid policies can stifle creativity, while a lack of oversight risks ethical breaches and inefficiencies. Institutions should: Foster a Culture of Experimentation : Encourage pilot projects that allow for controlled experimentation. : Encourage pilot projects that allow for controlled experimentation. Implement Flexible Governance Structures : Create policies that provide guardrails without hindering innovation. : Create policies that provide guardrails without hindering innovation. Monitor and Adapt: Use feedback from experiments to refine policies and practices. By framing governance as an enabler rather than a constraint, institutions can cultivate an environment where innovation thrives alongside accountability. It Was A Mistake: In A First, US Spy Chief Tulsi Gabbard Admits To War Chat Leak Blunder Published By : Reuters Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 23:20 IST US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard admitted it was a mistake to include The Atlantic's editor in a Signal chat about sensitive war plans. Tulsi Gabbard, DNI, told the Select Committee on Intelligence that the leak of the war plans via group chat where a journalist was mistakenly added was a mistake. (IMAGE: REUTERS) US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said on Wednesday it was a mistake that the editor of The Atlantic was added to a Signal messaging chat discussing sensitive war plans. Gabbard also told a House of Representatives hearing on Worldwide Threats, which was scheduled before the news of the chat, that she would be somewhat constrained in her ability to discuss the incident because of a lawsuit filed over the case. Recommended Stories Gabbard has pledged to crack down on people within the intelligence community who leak information to journalists. Gabbard, who oversees 18 spy agencies, said she would be aggressively pursuing recent leakers" in order to hold them accountable for unauthorized disclosures. Politically motivated leaks undermine our national security and the trust of the American people, and will not be tolerated," Gabbard wrote on Friday in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Gabbard listed recent examples of what she said were leaks of information concerning Israel-Iran, the U.S.-Russia relationship and the National Counterintelligence and Security Center to media outlets including Huffington Post, The Washington Post, NBC News, and the Record. Any unauthorized release of classified information is a violation of the law and will be treated as such," Gabbard said. During his first term, Republican President Donald Trump was angered by leaks to news outlets and his administration pursued both journalists and their sources inside the federal government. His administration secretly secured data on members of Congress, their staffers, journalists and a former White House lawyer as part of a probe into leaks of classified information a move that prompted former Attorney General Merrick Garland to strengthen Department of Justice policies on obtaining records of lawmakers in 2021. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Garlands Justice Department also changed its policy to broadly ban prosecutors from subpoenaing reporters phone and email records after an outcry over its actions during the Trump-era leak investigations. The Justice Departments internal watchdog in 2024 found that prosecutors decision to subpoena phone and email records from members of Congress and their staff during Trumps first term risked a chilling effect on congressional oversight. 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 26, 2025, 22:24 IST Muhammad Yunus Is Preparing For Elections In Bangladesh, US Says As Coup Rumours Swirl Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 08:54 IST Muhammad Yunus is preparing Bangladesh "for elections that will allow the people of Bangladesh to choose the path forward for their nation, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. Muhammad Yunus (Reuters Image) Wishing Dhaka On Bangladesh National Day, the United States said that the interim government of Muhammad Yunus in the country is preparing for elections. Muhammad Yunus, who heads the caretaker government installed after an August revolution, is facing increasing pressure to set a date for the elections in the country after the student-led uprising that toppled ex-premier Sheikh Hasina in August. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate is preparing Bangladesh for elections that will allow the people of Bangladesh to choose the path forward for their nation", US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. Recommended Stories The statement read, The United States supports Bangladesh in its journey toward a bright and democratic future. We look forward to continuing our partnership promoting economic development and regional security in the Indo-Pacific." What Muhammad Yunus Said On Bangladesh Elections Earlier, Muhammad Yunus said, Election dates could be fixed by the end of 2025 or the first half of 2026." He had then said that his interim government has launched commissions to oversee a raft of reforms which are needed for the elections to be held. Throughout, I have emphasised that reforms should take place first before the arrangements for an election," he said, adding, If the political parties agree to hold the election on an earlier date with minimum reforms, such as having a flawless voter list, the election could be held by the end of November." Muhammad Yunus Coup Rumours top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Muhammad Yunus dismissed reports of a possible coup" by the military saying that false information is being spread in an attempt to mislead the people." He said, 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." Location : Bangladesh First Published: March 26, 2025, 08:54 IST Pakistani YouTuber Rajab Butt Might Go To Jail For 10 Years. Reason: A Blasphemous Perfume Launch Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 11:22 IST Rajab Butt 295 Perfume Controversy: The video promoting the perfume, which has now been deleted from Rajab Butt's social media accounts, quickly drew backlash. Rajab Butt 295 Perfume Controversy: Rajab Butt, who has millions of followers, announced the perfume in a now-deleted video, triggering widespread backlash. Pakistani Youtuber Rajab Butt has been charged with blasphemy after he launched a perfume named 295," directly referencing the blasphemy section of Pakistans penal code. The video promoting the perfume, which has now been deleted from his social media accounts, quickly drew backlash. Complaint Against Rajab Butt Recommended Stories The launch of the perfume by Rajab Butt, who has millions of followers, triggered condemnation from Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). A leader of the party- Haider Ali Shah Gillani- filed a formal complaint against the YouTuber accusing him of attempting to normalise" disrespect towards religious laws. There are numerous sections in the penal code, but why did he choose blasphemy-related sections to name a perfume?" Haider Ali Shah Gillani said as per news agency AFP. With this, Rajab Butt has been charged under both blasphemy and cybercrime laws. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison. Rajab Butt Apologises However, Rajab Butt apologised following the backlash in a video, saying, I apologise for the words I uttered during the launch of the perfume." He also announced the immediate discontinuation of the product. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Rajab Butts Earlier Legal Battles Earlier as well, Rajab Butt has faced legal challenges. In January, he pleaded guilty to illegally owning a lion cub, which he had received as a wedding gift. At the time, a Pakistani court ordered him to create 12 educational videos on animal welfare as part of his punishment. Location : Pakistan First Published: March 26, 2025, 11:22 IST Palestinians Join Largest Anti-Hamas Protests In Gaza Since Israel War Began: Were Not Silent Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 08:04 IST Anti-Hamas Protests In Gaza: A message shared on social media appeared to call for nine anti-Hamas demonstrations across Gaza. Anti-Hamas Protests In Gaza: Videos shared widely on social media showed large crowds marching in northern Gaza. (Image Credit: AFP) Palestinians protested against Hamas in northern Gaza the largest against the militant group since its attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Videos shared widely on social media showed large crowds marching in northern Gaza, chanting For gods sake, Hamas out," Hamas terrorists" and We want an end to the war." Recommended Stories A message shared on social media appeared to call for nine anti-Hamas demonstrations across Gaza, it was reported. The message read, Let them hear your voice, let them know that Gaza is not silent, and that there are people who will not accept to be eradicated." Breaking: Large-scale Protests Against Hamas in GazaDown with Hamas, weve had enough, Hamas!" The people are demanding Hamas to release the hostages, to step down from ruling Gaza, and to end this war" pic.twitter.com/c9XzbeE4Hw Eitan Fischberger (@EFischberger) March 25, 2025 Protests in Gaza come as the death toll from the Israel war surpassed 50,000, as per the health ministry in the enclave. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Northern Gaza has been hit hard after Israel launched its response to the October 7 attacks. The war reduced much of Gaza to rubble with aid agencies finding it increasingly hard to even reach the northern part of the enclave. The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said that no food, water, medicines, or fuel had entered Gaza in three weeks. It said in a social media post, Every day without food inches Gaza closer to an acute hunger crisis." Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 26, 2025, 08:04 IST Resign Or Face The Reckoning: Junior Officers Warn Pakistan Army Chief To Step Down | Exclusive Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Karishma Jain Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 14:10 IST Junior officers in the Pakistan Army have issued a scathing letter demanding the immediate resignation of Army Chief General Asim Munir. The officers behind the letter have made it clear: if he does not step aside, they will act. In a scathing letter, the officers accused Munir of turning the military into a tool of political oppression and personal vendetta. (AP) In an unprecedented development, junior officers in the Pakistan Army have openly called for the resignation of Army Chief General Asim Munir. In a scathing letter accessed by CNN-News18, they accused Munir of turning the military into a tool of political oppression and personal vendetta, warning that he must resign immediately or face consequences. The letter, purportedly authored by colonels, majors, captains, and jawans, declares that Munirs leadership has pushed Pakistan into an abyss reminiscent of 1971, when the nation suffered a catastrophic defeat leading to the creation of Bangladesh. Recommended Stories Resign Or Face The Reckoning" This is not a plea. This is not a negotiation," the letter states. This is your 1971, General, and we will not let you bury us in its shadow." The officers accuse Munir of destroying the Armys reputation by suppressing political dissent, silencing journalists, and crushing democratic forces. They highlight the violent crackdown following the removal of Imran Khan in April 2022 and the alleged manipulation of the February 8, 2024, elections as pivotal moments that have tarnished the militarys credibility. This is the voice of the Pakistan Armed Forcescolonels, majors, captains, and jawanswho have watched you drag our institution, our nation, and our honour into the gutter," the letter reads. Your time is up. Resign ASAP, or we will take back what youve stolenby force if necessary." The Nation Suffers Under Munirs Rule The letter paints a harrowing picture of life under Munirs leadership, detailing brutal crackdowns on dissenting voices. This is the roar of a peoplehousewives beaten in the streets, journalists silenced with bullets, students tortured in dungeons, and activists erased for daring to speakwho have borne the brunt of your tyranny since you toppled the last shred of legitimacy in April 2022." The officers accuse Munir of allowing the countrys economic decline to accelerate while securing his own power. The economys a corpseand yet you strut in GHQ like some tin-pot dictator, extending your term to 2027 while we starve." Public anger is at an all-time high, with even children resisting military authority. Children throw stones at our checkpoints. Youve made the Pakistan Army a pariah in its own land, a fascist beast feasting on its own people." A Fractured Institution Top intelligence sources have confirmed the existence of the letter, describing it as not just a rebellion but an existential crisis for Pakistans most powerful institution. The letter warns that if Munir does not step down, the military itself will take action. The officers demand that command be transferred to a council of senior officers who would restore the institutions integrity" and hold Munir accountable for his alleged crimes. However, analysts caution that even if Munir resigns, the deep divisions within the Army have permanently weakened its standing. A Legacy Of Failures The letter specifically points to the recent hijacking of the Jaffar Express in Balochistan by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as a moment of disgrace, highlighting how insurgents successfully seized a train, held passengers hostage, and left unchallenged. We lost Balochistan that day; we lost our dignity," it states. The officers also slam Munirs leadership for failing to uphold the Armys traditional honour: The BLAs taunts echo louder than your hollow untruthful ISPR press releases, and the rank-and-file who once stood proud now hang their heads." It further condemns the Armys role in manipulating Pakistans political landscape, stating: Since it was the Generals who orchestrated the ouster of Imran Khana leader chosen by the peopleyouve plunged Pakistan to depths unseen since Yahyas disgrace." The letter also paints a grim picture of the countrys current state, citing economic collapse, growing public resentment against the military, and the increasing instability in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A Moment Of Reckoning top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Pakistans Army has ruled the country either directly or indirectly since its inception, but this internal revolt signals a deep erosion of authority. With public dissatisfaction at an all-time high and international scrutiny growing, Munirs future remains uncertain. The officers behind the letter have made it clear: if he does not step aside, they will act. As Pakistan grapples with its most significant military crisis in decades, the question remainswill General Munir heed the warning, or will the Armys internal fractures lead to an unprecedented power shift? About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 First Published: March 26, 2025, 14:10 IST 'Second Strike Starts...': After US Blunder, Atlantic Releases Full Chat On Houthi Attack Plans Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 23:44 IST Goldberg has said he asked the White House if it opposed publication and that the White House responded that it would prefer he did not publish US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks next to President Donald Trump, in the Oval Office at the White House, in Washington, DC, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS file) As The Atlantic released the entire Signal chat among Trump senior national security officials Wednesday, US Vice President JD Vance said that Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg oversold" the story. Its very clear (Jeffrey) Goldberg oversold what he had," Vance posted on X, referring to the Atlantic editor-in-chief who was mistakenly included in the group chat of top Trump officials discussing military plans. Recommended Stories Its very clear Goldberg oversold what he had. But one thing in particular really stands out.Remember when he was attacking Ratcliffe for blowing the cover for a CIA agent? Turns out Ratcliffe was simply naming his chief of staff. https://t.co/BUGbX6gZDZ JD Vance (@JDVance) March 26, 2025 The chat thread where US President Donald Trumps administration is seen discussing the airstrikes on Yemeni Houthi militants and which showed that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth provided the exact times of warplane launches, strike packages and targets before the men and women flying those attacks against Yemens Houthis this month on behalf of the United States were airborne. The disclosure follows two intense days during which Trumps senior most Cabinet members of his intelligence and defense agencies have struggled to explain how details that current and former US officials have said would have been classified wound up on an unclassified Signal chat that included the Atlantics editor-in-chief. Hegseth has refused to comment on whether he posted classified information onto Signal and has scoffed at questions, saying he did not reveal war plans". Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe told members of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday that it was up to Hegseth to determine whether the information he was posting was classified or not. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said it was a mistake that the editor of The Atlantic was added to a Signal messaging chat discussing sensitive war plans, when she appeared before the House of Representatives hearing on Worldwide Threats. What was revealed was jaw-dropping in its specificity and includes the type of information that is kept to a very close hold to protect the operational security of a military strike. In the group chat, Hegseth posted: 1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package)" 1345: Trigger Based F-18 1st Strike Window Starts (Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME also, Strike Drones Launch (MQ-9s)" 1410: More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package)" 1415: Strike Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier Trigger Based targets)" 1536 F-18 2nd Strike Starts also, first sea-based Tomahawks launched." MORE TO FOLLOW (per timeline)" We are currently clean on OPSEC" that is, operational security. Godspeed to our Warriors." Goldberg has said he asked the White House if it opposed publication and that the White House responded that it would prefer he did not publish. Trump Has Confidence In His Officials The White House said Wednesday that US President Donald Trump still has confidence in his top national security officials when asked if any would be fired over a leaked chat about Yemen air strikes. What I can say definitively is what I just spoke to the president about, and he continues to have confidence in his national security team," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing. I would characterize this messaging thread as a policy discussion, a sensitive policy discussion amongst high level cabinet officials and senior staff," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a briefing Wednesday. Asked to square how classified information wasnt shared, considering launch times and weapon systems were included, Leavitt cited a social media post by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that said the information wasnt classified. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all She also assailed The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg mistakenly added to the thread by the national security adviser as an anti-Trump sensationalist reporter." Do you trust the secretary of defense who was nominated for this role, voted by the United States Senate into this role, who has served in combat, honorably served our nation in uniform or do you trust Jeffrey Goldberg?" she asked. 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 26, 2025, 19:17 IST Trump Appears To Forget Usha Vance's Name As He Talks About Her Greenland Visit | Watch Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 14:44 IST Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that he wants the US to take ownership of Greenland. Watch what Donald Trump said about Usha Vance's Greenland trip US President Donald Trump. (Photo Credit: X) US President Donald Trump seemingly forgot the name of Vice-President JD Vances wife Usha Vance as he talked about her trip to Greenland. Talking about the upcoming visit, Donald Trump said that the pair were invited" to the country- a claim refuted by Greenland. When Donald Trump talked about Usha Vance, he proceeded without her name and referred to her simply as JD Vances wife. He said, I thought it would be a great I have great respect for, er, the wife of our first of our great vice-president. I think shes doing a shes a brilliant woman. Shes, er, a very nice woman and she loves the concept of Greenland." Recommended Stories Trump cant remember Usha Vances name pic.twitter.com/LRXPi8DzoX Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 24, 2025 The trip comes as Donald Trump has repeatedly said that he wants the US to take ownership of Greenland an autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Donald Trump said, So theyre going there and thats purely friendship People from Greenland are asking us to go. We have many, many requests from many, many people some officials, too." Greenlands PM Mute B. Egede said, We are now at a level where it can in no way be characterised as a harmless visit from a politicians wife. The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us." Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 26, 2025, 14:44 IST Trump NSA Mike Waltz Takes 'Full Responsibility' For Yemen Chat Leak Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 17:01 IST US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said he mistakenly added a journalist to a group chat in which top American officials discussed impending strikes in Yemen US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz speaks during a meeting with President Donald Trump and ambassadors in the cabinet room of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 25. (Image: Mandel NGAN/AFP) US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz on Tuesday claimed full responsibility" for the Yemen chat leak on the Signal app, which has triggered a political firestorm even as President Donald Trump downplayed the growing scandal. Waltz said he mistakenly added a journalist to a group chat in which top American officials discussed impending strikes in Yemen. In his first interview on the security breach, he told Fox News host Laura Ingraham: I take full responsibility. I built the group; my job is to make sure everythings coordinated." Recommended Stories He, however, said he does not personally know The Atlantic magazines Jeffrey Goldberg, the journalist who was inadvertently added to the chat. He added that technical and legal experts were looking into the breach but insisted he had never met, dont know, never communicated" with the journalist. Trumps top aide suggested that the leak was the result of him mistakenly saving Goldbergs number under another name. Have you ever had somebodys contact that shows their name and then you have somebody elses number?" he said. WHAT DID TRUMP SAY? Trump has denied that any classified information was shared and defended Waltz over the breach. He said he will look into" the use of the Signal app as he put on a united front at a meeting with his national security adviser (NSA). As Democrats scented blood for perhaps the first time since the Republican returned to power in January, he doubled down by attacking Goldberg as a sleazebag" and said nobody gives a damn" about the story rocking Washington. Goldberg, meanwhile, said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent information in the Signal chat about targets, weapons and timing ahead of the strikes on March 15. He also revealed highly critical comments by top US officials about European allies. There was no classified information," Trump told reporters when asked about the chat, saying the commercial app Signal was used by a lot of people in government". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He said in an interview with Newsmax later on Tuesday (March 25) that someone who worked for Mike Waltz at a lower level" may have had Goldbergs number and somehow been responsible for him ending up in the chat. (With agency inputs) About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 26, 2025, 16:47 IST Ukraine Ready To Observe Ceasefire Against Energy Targets Following US-brokered Deal Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 16:05 IST Ukraine is ready to proceed with a ceasefire prohibiting attacks on energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, in line with a deal that was brokered by the United States during three days of negotiations with Ukrainian and Russian officials in the Saudi capital. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (AFP File Image) Ukraine is ready to proceed with a ceasefire prohibiting attacks on energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, in line with a deal that was brokered by the United States during three days of negotiations with Ukrainian and Russian officials in the Saudi capital. Speaking in a video address late Tuesday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine had agreed with U.S. negotiators that a ceasefire for energy infrastructure can start today." But, he warned, any strikes on Ukraines energy facilities by Moscow would draw strong retaliation." Recommended Stories The comments underscored the tenuous agreements that came out of the three days of separate U.S-Ukrainian and U.S.-Russian talks in Riyadh. Washington said it had agreed with the warring parties to implement a pause on attacks on energy infrastructure as well as taking steps to ensure safe navigation for ships in the Black Sea. Those talks were part of a broader effort toward a limited, 30-day ceasefire that Moscow and Kyiv agreed to in principle last week but has thus far failed to materialize as both sides continue to launch drone and rocket attacks against the other. While Zelenskyy on Tuesday thanked the U.S. for its efforts to strike an agreement, questions remained over some key details, and a comprehensive peace deal to end the three-year war still looked distant. On Tuesday, the White House said in separate statements that the sides 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." 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. After the White House issued its statement Tuesday, the Kremlin warned that a potential 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. Zelenskyy on Tuesday evening reacted to those demands, casting them as an example of Moscow manipulating, twisting agreements, and lying" about the terms of the agreement. There are absolutely clear statements that have been published by the White House, everyone can see what is stated there," Zelenskyy said. And there is something that the Kremlin is lying about again: that supposedly the (ceasefire) in the Black Sea depends on the issue of sanctions." In an apparent reference to Moscows demands, the White House said Tuesday 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." Kryvyi Rih, Zelenskyys hometown, came under the most massive kamikaze drone attack since the beginning of the war" on Tuesday night, the city administration head, Oleksandr Vilkul, wrote on Telegram. Although no people were killed or injured, civilian infrastructure was widely targeted, Vikul said, including an administration building, warehouses, an industrial enterprise and a fire station. Multiple fires were sparked across the city, he said. Everyone is alive, thank God. Its truly a miracle. The destruction is significant," Vilkul said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Civilian infrastructure also came under strike in the Sumy, Cherkasy, and Kirovohrad regions, local authorities said. There were no immediate reports on any injuries. Overall, Russian forces launched 117 Shahed and decoy drones overnight, Ukraines air force said Wednesday morning, adding that 56 drones were destroyed and 48 more jammed by the defense forces. Location : Kyiv, Ukraine First Published: March 26, 2025, 16:05 IST US Religious Freedom Panel Recommends Sanctions Against India's RAW: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 16:50 IST Since 2023, tensions escalated between India and the US over allegations that India targeted Sikh separatists in the US and Canada. US religious freedom panel recommended targeted sanctions against RAW over alleged involvement in assassination plots against Sikh separatists. (Image: Representative) The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has called for targeted sanctions against Indias external intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), over its alleged involvement in assassination plots against Sikh separatists. In its annual report released on Tuesday, the commission also claimed that the treatment of minorities in India is worsening, according to a report by Reuters. Recommended Stories The panel also urged the US government to designate India as a country of particular concern" due to violations of religious freedom. The commission also targeted Vietnam, governed by a communist regime, for allegedly increasing efforts to regulate and control religious affairs. The panel recommended that Vietnam, like India, which Washington seeks to strengthen ties with due to shared concerns about China, be designated as a country of particular concern." The Trump administration is unlikely to impose sanctions on the R&AW, as the panels recommendations are not binding. Since 2023, tensions escalated between India and the US over allegations that India targeted Sikh separatists in the US and Canada. A wrinkle in the India-US ties appeared after Washington charged ex-Indian intelligence officer Vikash Yadav in connection with a foiled assassination plot of pro-Khalistan leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In 2024, religious freedom conditions in India continued to deteriorate as attacks and discrimination against religious minorities continued to rise," the US commission said in the report. (With inputs from agency) 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 26, 2025, 12:14 IST 'We Need It': Donald Trump Stands Firm On Greenland Acquisition Despite Denmark's Protest Published By : AFP Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 22:34 IST President Trump insists on US control of Greenland for security, despite Danish and Greenlandic opposition. VP Vance's visit to Pituffik Space Base is limited to avoid tensions. US President Donald Trump (IMAGE: REUTERS) US President Donald Trump ramped up his claims to Greenland on Wednesday, saying ahead of a visit by Vice President JD Vance that the United States needed to take control of the Danish island for international security." Since coming to power in January, Trump has repeatedly insisted that he wants the self-governed territory to be a US possession, refusing to rule out the use of force to achieve his goal. Recommended Stories We need Greenland for international safety and security. We need it. We have to have it," Trump told podcaster Vince Coglianese. I hate to put it that way, but were going to have to have it." Greenland, which is seeking independence from Denmark, holds massive untapped mineral and oil reserves, though oil and uranium exploration are banned. It is also strategically located between North America and Europe at a time of rising US, Chinese and Russian interest in the Arctic, where sea lanes have opened up because of climate change. The US presidents latest strident comments come as Vice President Vance is due to accompany his wife Usha on a visit to the US-run Pituffik Space Base in Greenland on Friday. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlands outgoing Prime Minister Mute Egede had earlier harshly criticized plans by a US delegation to visit the Arctic island uninvited for what was initially a much broader visit. Egede had qualified the initial plans as foreign interference," noting that the outgoing government had not sent out any invitations for visits, private or official." On Wednesday, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen welcomed the decision to limit the visit to the US space base. I think its very positive that the Americans have canceled their visit among Greenlandic society. They will only visit their own base, Pituffik, and we have nothing against that," he told public broadcaster DR. Respect this process Greenlandic officials have repeatedly said the territory does not want to be either Danish or American, but is open for business" with everyone. According to opinion polls, most Greenlanders support independence from Denmark but not annexation by Washington. Following March 11 elections, Greenland has only a transitional government, with parties still in negotiations to form a new coalition government. Egede has called for all countries to respect this process." Marc Jacobsen, a senior lecturer at the Royal Danish Defense College, called the decision to limit the US visit a de-escalation," a term also used by Foreign Minister Lokke. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The fact that the Greenlandic and Danish authorities are telling you that youre not welcome is significant," he told AFP. The risk of negative coverage in the media and social networks may have weighed even more," he added, noting that a demonstration was announced in Sisimiut, following an initial anti-US demonstration in the capital Nuuk on March 15. 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 26, 2025, 22:34 IST Who Is Yunseo Chung? Permanent Resident Columbia Student Facing Deportation In US Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 08:34 IST Yunseo Chung Deportation Case: As per the complaint, Yunseo Chung participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus since 2023 and was arrested on March 5. Yunseo Chung Deportation Case: Yunseo Chung is originally from South Korea. She is a junior at Columbia University. Yunseo Chung- a Columbia University-student- is fighting against the Donald Trump administration over her deportation following participation in pro-Palestinian protests on the campus. The White House is attempting to deport the 21-year-old despite her lawful permanent resident status. Yunseo Chung has legally resided in the US since childhood and her deportation is a shocking overreach" and an unprecedented and unjustifiable assault" on her rights, her lawyers said in a complaint. Recommended Stories Who Is Yunseo Chung? Yunseo Chung is originally from South Korea. She is a junior at Columbia University and has resided in America since age seven, when her family immigrated to the country. She became a permanent resident of the US in 2021, according to the lawsuit. As per the complaint, she participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus since 2023 and was arrested on March 5 while protesting the universitys excessive punishments" of student activists. Following this, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) signed an administrative arrest warrant for Yunseo Chung and attempted to remove her from the country, the New York Times reported. Her lawsuit said, 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." The Donald Trump government is seeking to retaliate against and punish noncitizens" who speak out in solidarity with Palestinians, it said, adding, 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." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Other Columbia Students Targeted Earlier, the Donald Trump administration also targeted Mahmoud Khalil- another Columbia student- for his pro-Palestinian views. Ranjani Srinivasan, a Columbia graduate student from India, fled to Canada after the Department of Homeland Security revoked her student visa. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 26, 2025, 08:34 IST Michelle Zimmerman arrived Tuesday at the Wissota Lodge & Event Center to cheer on her pick for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford campaigned in her hometown of Chippewa Falls, and Zimmerman and friends were there to show their support alongside roughly 200 others. Zimmerman said shes not just getting out to vote April 1, shes telling everyone she meets to be sure to get to the polls. I helped put up a billboard on Highway 53 on the bypass for Susan, she said. Zimmerman said Crawford delivers and she likes that Crawford has a hometown connection, too. I have the values that I gained from growing up in Chippewa Falls," Crawford said Tuesday. "That's why I care about people. That is why I've always used my legal education and the experience I've gained over the years to try to protect the rights of Wisconsinites under our laws and under our Constitution." Crawford has been backed by Democratic-supporting groups in the nonpartisan statewide election. Crawford faces Republican-backed opponent Brad Schimel, a Waukesha County Circuit judge. He also campaigned in the area with a stop Saturday in the town of Tilden. President Donald Trump has endorsed Schimel. On Truth Social, Trump said Crawford is the handpicked voice of the Leftists who are out to destroy your State, and our Country And if she wins, the Movement to restore our Nation will bypass Wisconsin. Watching out for people In Chippewa Falls on Tuesday, Crawford said her little sister was born with a medical condition and had special needs. I grew up taking care of her, making sure she got to school safely and got home again, walking up and down Terrill Street, she said. Watching out for people started really early with me, because of my little sister, and watching out for people who need extra help and who are vulnerable is something that I really care about still today. Crawford said as a judge she stands up for Wisconsin families and values when she sits behind the bench. To me, making decisions as a judge is pretty straightforward. First of all, I work hard to get the facts right based on the evidence, because the truth really matters in our justice system, she said. I interpret and apply the laws fairly and impartially, and I never lose sight of the fact that the people in my courtroom are real people with real problems. She said she believes in common sense decision-making that will work in the real world. That's what kind of justice I'm going to be on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, she said. State Sen. Jeff Smith, D-town of Brunswick encouraged Crawford supporters to vote. You may think my vote doesn't matter, or this one's not important, Smith said. Step out of your comfort zone. Talk to people. Make sure they understand how important this is. I'm not stepping back Zimmerman said she has had tough conversations with conservative family members, but she knows where her beliefs lie. I'm not stepping back and withdrawing from the argument, she said. I'm not using name calling. I want to talk about the issues. When you talk to me about the issues, I'll talk about the issue all you want. Yeah, so that's what I'm doing, is just staying in the battle. Crawford said Schimel has always been about politics, partisanship and the special interests. As soon as he launched his campaign, that was back in November 2023, he said, I'm going to nationalize this race. I'm going to exploit the connections I made as a Republican attorney general in Wisconsin, and get those big money conservatives to fund my race. Big money The AP reported last week that America PAC and Building for Americas Future, two groups funded by Elon Musk, have spent more than $13 million trying to help elect Schimel, according to a tally by the Brennan Center for Justice. A group funded by Musk also has offered $100 to Wisconsin voters who sign a petition in opposition to activist judges. Both candidates have benefited heavily from partisan donations. Billionaires such as George Soros and lllinois Gov. JB Pritzker as well as other wealthy liberal donors have poured millions backing Crawford's candidacy, according to the latest campaign finance reports filed with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Total spending on the tight race could surpass $100 million. On the issues He showed us who he was when he was attorney general in Wisconsin. He prioritized all kinds of wrangling causes. Went into court actually to take health care away from Wisconsinites, trying to overturn the protections that prevent health insurance executives from canceling health insurance for people with pre-existing health conditions, Crawford said. Schimel, she also said, is working really hard to take reproductive health care rights away from women. Cyndi Greening was thrilled by what she heard Tuesday from Crawford. Zimmerman and Greening are part of Indivisible, a progressive organization that has endorsed Crawford. Greening said she was on a group call while Crawford answered questions about her platform and she liked what she heard. Someone asked Crawford if she would vote for Planned Parenthood, if she would vote for women's health care, Greening said. She said I will listen to the case and I will follow the law. I'm not voting on an agenda. And for me, it's like, OK, you got me now. That's what I want. I want someone that follows the law, follows the Constitution and looks out for people. The April 1 winner will earn a 10-year term that begins in August and tip the balance of the court 4-3 in favor of either conservative or liberal justices. A Zimbabwe Republic Police Officer stationed at Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Mwenezi who was on suspension for a murder case was involved in another fatal incident during a high speed chase with armed robbers. The incident left questions on the accountability within the police force as to how a suspended officer was found in line of duty. The detective Farai Simudzirai (43) who was suspended in July, 2024 appeared before Masvingo Magistrate Elizabeth Hanzie on March, 24 and was remanded in custody to April 8, 2025 for continuation of trial. Circumstances are that on March 16, Simudzirai teamed up with one Detective Constable Simbabure who was on duty and went to Lundi Business Centre on surveillance and intelligence gathering despite the former being on suspension. At around 2330 hours the two reacted to a highway robbery which had occurred at around 2200 hours at a 120km peg along Masvingo-Beitbridge road. They were using a white Nissan Wingroad that they had been authorized to use. Upon reaching the scene, Simudzirai and Simbabure saw a Mazda B1800 pickup vehicle parked near the scene. Upon approaching the vehicle, the driver of the vehicle sped off before the two police officers could identify themselves. Simudzirai and Simbabure chased the vehicle for about 30 km while the former was firing at the Mazda B1800 using a service AK rifle. As a result, Shadreck Madzore (24) from Runesu Village, Chief Nhema, Zaka was shot with two gun bullets with one of the bullets going through the right side pubic area. The bullet went out through the right side buttock. The other bullet entered through the left breast and went out through the left shoulder thereby sustaining serious injuries. Madzore was taken to Rutenga Clinic where he died while preparations were being made for him to be transferred to Neshuro District Hospital in Mwenezi. In the first case, it was alleged that on April 20, 2024, Simudzirai was at Kutepa Night Club, in Chiedza Karoi drinking beer with Mirirai Chiweza another police officer when he had a misunderstanding with an unknown person leading to a fist fight Chiweza tried to intervene and took Simudzirai outside of the bar where the latter hit the former with a fist once on the forehead. The now deceased Privilege Hove, another member of the police force, tried to stop Simudzirai from assaulting Chiweza. Simudzirai produced an okapi knife from his pocket and stabbed Hove on the stomach who sustained injuries. Hove was rushed to Karoi Hospital by Chiweza and other civilians where he was later transferred to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital. Hove later died from the injuries sustained leading to Simudzirais suspension. TellZimNews Terry Godes, one of a dozen volunteer pilots who joined a search in Alaska for a missing pilot and two children after seeing a Facebook post asking for help, says it "kind of broke" his heart when he saw wreckage partially submerged in a lake. "But as I got closer down and lower, I could see that there's three people on top of the wing," he tells the AP . He says they were "alive and responsive" and waved at him as his plane approached. The Alaska Army National Guard says the man and two children were rescued Monday morning thanks to the sighting by the "good Samaritan aircraft," CBS News reports. The man and the two childrenone elementary school age, the other middle school agewere taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, troopers say. The Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser was reported overdue late Sunday. Godes says most of the plane was submerged in Tustumena Lake, around 80 miles southwest of Anchorage, with only the wing and part of the rudder above the ice and water. "They spent a long, cold, dark, wet night out on top of a wing of an airplane that they weren't planning on," he says. John Morris said his son and two granddaughters were on the plane. After the rescue, he tells KTUU, he has "air in his lungs again." The cause of the crash is unclear, though officials say the Kenai Peninsula lake is "notorious for its sudden dangerous winds." Lt. Col. Brendon Holbrook, commander of the guard's 207th Aviation Regiment, tells the AP that the three were rescued by a helicopter that hovered by plane's wing. "It was literally the best possible scenario and outcome," Holbrook says. "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 hadn't refrozen, it would have sunk." UPDATE Apr 2, 2025 1:00 AM CDT The Hawaii doctor charged with the attempted murder of his wife was on Friday indicted by a grand jury. In newly released details, Gerhardt Konig's wife describes what happened during the Oahu hiking trip that was supposed to be her birthday celebration, Fox News reports. She says Konig tried to get her to take a selfie at the edge of a cliff, and when she refused to step back further, he grabbed her and started screaming at her and pushing her toward the edge. "At first I thought he was joking, but I quickly realized he was seriously trying to make me fall off the cliff," she says. She says he then started beating her in the head with a rock and trying to inject her with two syringes as she fought him off and was ultimately helped by passersby, CNN reports. The couple's children, ages 2 and 4, were back home on Maui with family at the time. Mar 25, 2025 6:24 PM CDT A doctor who allegedly tried to kill his wife on a hiking trail in Hawaii was arrested Monday after a "brief foot pursuit," Honolulu police say. Gerhardt Konig, a 46-year-old anesthesiologist, allegedly tried to push his wife off the trail during a Monday morning hike at Pali Lookout, 1,000 feet above the Oahu coastline, KITV reports. CBS News reports that Konig also allegedly hit his wife in the head with a rock, apparently leaving her for dead. Konig was arrested around eight hours later after police spotted him near Pali Highway. Tensions around a planned trip to Greenland by Usha Vance and two top American officials are unlikely to be eased by the news that Vance's husband has decided to come along. In a video posted on X Tuesday afternoon, Vice President JD Vance said he was visiting Greenland to "check out" the country's security, the Washington Post reports. "There was so much excitement around Usha's visit to Greenland this Friday that I decided that I didn't want her to have all that fun by herself," said Vance, who recently accused Greenland of "not being a good ally" and said the US may need to "take more territorial interest in Greenland." "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," Vance said in the Tuesday video. He plans to visit Pituffik Space Base, a Space Force outpost in northwest Greenland, with national security adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, the AP reports. Usha Vance had been scheduled to visit historic sites and attend Greenland's national dogsled race, but the White House says the itinerary has changed and both Vances will visit the Space Force base, reports NPR. Greenland Prime Minister Mute Bourup Egede has described the visit as "aggressive." In a Facebook post Monday night, Greenland's government said it had "not extended any invitations for any visits, neither private nor official," adding: "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." Egede has strongly criticized Trump's remarks about taking over Greenland, as has Democratic Party Leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who is expected to replace Egede when a new coalition is sworn in, the Globe and Mail reports. The gunman who killed 23 people in a racist attack targeting Hispanic shoppers at a Walmart near the US-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, the AP reports. 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 US history and posted a racist screed just before opening fire, was driven by a majority of victims' relatives who wanted the case behind them. The long-running criminal case against a Texas gunman who killed 23 people in a racist attack targeting Hispanic shoppers at a Walmart in El Paso in 2019 is on the verge of coming to a close. Patrick Crusius, 26, is expected to plead guilty Monday to capital murder and receive a sentence of life in prison with no possibility of parole for the massacre near the US-Mexico border, the AP reports. Crusius is expected to serve his time in a state prison. Crusius initially was arrested by local authorities and will enter the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice if he is sentenced on the state charges, a spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Prisons said. "Now, no one in this community will ever have to hear the perpetrator's 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. 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. story continues below 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. He also must pay more than $5 million in restitution, though it's not clear he has assets approaching anywhere near that amount. 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. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, pushed back Tuesday: "Any shooting like that is what capital punishment is for." National security adviser Mike Waltz, who inadvertently added Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to a group chat discussing plans for strikes on Yemen, says he takes "full responsibility" for the Signal breach, but he's not sure exactly how it happened. "It's embarrassing. We're going to get to the bottom of it," he told Laura Ingraham on Fox News' The Ingraham Angle in an interview Tuesday. Waltz went on to attack Goldberg, calling him "the bottom scum of journalists" and implying that he was somehow to blame for the breach. "I know him in the sense that he hates the president, but I don't text him," Waltz said. "He wasn't on my phone. And we're going to figure out how this happened." Waltz said he's not a conspiracy theorist, "but of all the people out there, somehow this guy who has lied about the president he's the one that somehow gets on somebody's contact and then gets sucked into this group." Prince Harry is resigning from the charity he himself founded in 2006, saying he is "heartbroken" and "in shock" at the decision he feels he must make. Harry and co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho are both stepping down as patrons of Sentebale, a nonprofit Harry founded in honor of his late mother, Princess Diana, aimed at helping people in Lesotho and Botswana living with poverty, HIV, or AIDS, the Guardian reports. Five trustees are also stepping down from the board amid a dispute between the trustees, the co-founders, and the board's chair, Sophie Chandauka, ABC.net reports. The details of the dispute between the board and Chandauka, a lawyer who was appointed to her role in 2023, are vague, but the trustees asked Chandauka to resign and she refused, then sued the charity. Long before President Trump returned to the White House, Florida began cracking down on companies hiring undocumented immigrants. Now, a new dilemma: Who will take on the lower-paying jobs in the state that those immigrants held? The state Legislature has an idea: loosening labor laws so kids can slip into those spots. Per a new bill advanced by the Legislature on Tuesday, teens as young as 14if they're homeschooled or meet other criteriawould be able to work overnight shifts, overturning current state restrictions on them working before 6:30am and after 11pm, reports CNN . Other limits would be removed for 16- and 17-year-olds, including meal break guarantees and other restrictions on work hours. "This is a parental rights issue," Republican state Sen. Jay Collins, the bill's sponsor, told the committee on Tuesday, per the Tallahassee Democrat. The bill squeaked by the Florida Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee in a 5-4 vote and now heads to two other panels before a full Florida Senate vote. And Gov. Ron DeSantis appears poised to sign the bill if it eventually makes its way to his desk. "Yes, we had people that left because of those [immigration] rules, but you've also been able to hire other people," he said at a roundtable last week in Sarasota. "And what's wrong with expecting our young people to be working part-time now? I mean, that's how it used to be when I was growing up." DeSantis added: "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." CNN notes that the state has been slowly easing child labor laws "for years." Meanwhile, according to a recent fact sheet from the Department of Labor, child labor violations in the Sunshine State nearly tripled from 2019 to 2022. story continues below Some are already warning how this could adversely affect young employees. "The teens who will be most harmed by this bill are low-income young people or those without documented status who are compelled by their situation to work," Economic Policy Institute analyst Nina Mast tells the Miami Herald. Alexis Tsoukalas, a labor expert with the left-leaning Florida Policy Institute, says that youngsters working long hours are more likely to suffer accidents and injuries and are at greater risk for doing poorly in school or dropping out altogether. Two days after revealing that its editor-in-chief was included in a group chat where high-ranking members of the Trump administration discussed plans for strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen, the Atlantic has published those attack plans. As Jeffrey Goldberg, said editor-in-chief, and staff writer Shane Harris write, in the first story on the Signal chat, the Atlantic held off on publishing specific details of the attacks that were contained in the text in keeping with a policy of not publishing information related to military operations if it could potentially lead to harm to US personnel. The calculus changed Tuesday, they write. Throughout Tuesday, they explain, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and President Trump all insisted there was not classified information in the messages. "These statements presented us with a dilemma," Goldberg and Harris write. The crux of their decision: "The statements by Hegseth, Gabbard, Ratcliffe, and Trumpcombined with the assertions made by numerous administration officials that we are lying about the content of the Signal textshave led us to believe that people should see the texts in order to reach their own conclusions. There is a clear public interest in disclosing the sort of information that Trump advisers included in nonsecure communications channels, especially because senior administration figures are attempting to downplay the significance of the messages that were shared." Those messages held details on the attacks two hours before the bombing of Houthi positions was due to begin, including "the exact times American aircraft were taking off for Yemen." In the wrong hands, that info could have been used against American pilots and other US personnel, they write. Based on administration officials' insistence that the information was not classified, the Atlantic on Tuesday asked the White House if it objected to the messages being published; in the evening, it got a response from Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who reiterated there was nothing classified within but said the White House objected as it was intended to be a "private deliberation" of "sensitive information." It went ahead, with one detail redacted: the name of Ratcliffe's chief of staff, which appeared in the messages, as CIA intelligence officers are typically not publicly identified. story continues below The texts, which can be seen here, include a "TEAM UPDATE" from Hegseth at 11:44am stating mission launch is a go, with these details: "1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package)" "1345: 'Trigger Based' F-18 1st Strike Window Starts (Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME also, Strike Drones Launch (MQ-9s)" Read These Next Doctor left her Alaskan cruise At least 13 people are dead Kyiv was subjected to 7 He was caught working for 4 Per Goldberg and Harris: "This was [sent] 31 minutes before the first US warplanes launched, and two hours and one minute before the beginning of a period in which a primary target, the Houthi 'Target Terrorist,' was expected to be killed by these American aircraft. If this text had been received by someone hostile to American interestsor someone merely indiscreet, and with access to social mediathe Houthis would have had time to prepare for what was meant to be a surprise attack on their strongholds. The consequences for American pilots could have been catastrophic." (See the texts here .) The University of Maryland says this year's commencement speaker is an environmental advocate, best-selling author, and Peabody Award winner. He's also green. The university says Kermit the Frog will deliver the May 21 address to graduates, a choice that it says "honors the long history" between the university and Muppets creator Jim Henson, the Hill reports. Henson, a home economics major who graduated from the university in 1960, created the first version of Kermit in 1955 from a halved ping-pong ball and one of his mother's coats. "Nothing could make these feet happier than to speak at the University of Maryland," Kermit said in a news release from the university. "I just know the class of 2025 is going to leap into the world and make it a better place, so if a few encouraging words from a frog can help, then I'll be there." Henson died in 1990 and Kermit has been performed by puppeteer Matt Vogel since 2017, the Diamondback student paper reports. A statue of Henson and his creation stands outside the university's student union. Previous University of Maryland commencement speakers have included Al Gore, Michael Bloomberg, and, last year, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. Kermit was the commencement speaker in 1996 at Southampton College of Long Island University, where he was awarded an honorary "doctorate of amphibious letters," the Washington Post reports. "As we say in the wetlands, 'Ribbit-ribbit-knee-deep-ribbit,' which means 'May success and a smile always be yours, even when you're knee-deep in the sticky muck of life,'" he told graduates. A federal appeals court declined Wednesday to lift an order barring the Trump administration from deporting Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador under an 18th century wartime law. A split three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit wouldn't block a March 15 order temporarily prohibiting deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, the AP reports. Invoking the law for the first time since World War II, President Trump's administration deported hundreds of people under a presidential proclamation calling the Tren de Aragua gang an invading force. The Justice Department appealed after US District Judge James Boasberg blocked more deportations and ordered planeloads of Venezuelan immigrants to return to the US. The planes did not turn around. Attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit on behalf of five Venezuelan noncitizens who were being held in Texas. Judges Karen LeCraft Henderson and Patricia Millett voted to reject the government's request to lift the order. Each wrote concurring opinions. Judge Justin Walker, a Trump nominee, wrote a dissenting opinion. Millett, who was nominated by Barack Obama, a Democrat, said Boasberg's order merely froze the status quo "until weighty and unprecedented legal issues can be addressed" in an upcoming hearing. Henderson, who was nominated by Republican George H.W. Bush, said the court's ruling doesn't prevent the government from arresting and detaining migrants under Trump's proclamation. Walker said the plaintiffs' claims belong in Texas, where they are detained, per the AP. Boasberg has vowed to determine whether the government defied his order on the flights. The administration has invoked a state secrets privilege and refused to give Boasberg any additional information about the deportations. TDT | Manama Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com The Kingdom of Bahrain has officially launched its candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2026-2027 term, following approval from the Cabinet. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, welcomed the decision, emphasizing Bahrains commitment to global peace, security, and sustainable development. Dr. Al Zayani stated that Bahrains candidacy reflects the leaderships vision under His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. He highlighted that the Kingdom seeks to reinforce international partnerships aimed at promoting regional and global stability, enhancing human solidarity, and upholding international law. The minister noted that Bahrains foreign policy, guided by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, is founded on principles of mutual respect, non-interference, and cooperation. He stressed that Bahrains diplomatic approach aligns with its long-standing values of peaceful coexistence and dialogue, further strengthened by initiatives such as the "King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence." Expressing appreciation for the support from Arab, Islamic, and Asia-Pacific nations, Dr. Al Zayani underscored the Kingdoms diplomatic credibility, citing its previous tenure on the Security Council from 1998 to 1999. He acknowledged the confidence placed in Bahrain by the international community and pledged to enhance the effectiveness of multilateral cooperation under the UN framework. As part of its priorities, Bahrain aims to advocate for sustainable peace, promote humanitarian relief efforts, combat extremism and terrorism, and strengthen cyber, environmental, food, water, and maritime security. The Kingdom also seeks to bolster the Security Councils efficiency and inclusiveness while fostering transparency in its operations. Dr. Al Zayani reaffirmed Bahrains support for the adoption of an international convention criminalizing religious, sectarian, and racial hate speech, in line with His Majesty the King's call before the Inter-Parliamentary Union. He reiterated the Kingdoms dedication to advancing a culture of peace and understanding on the global stage. With its extensive diplomatic experience and ongoing presidency of the Council of the League of Arab States, Bahrain remains committed to implementing key initiatives, including an international conference for peace in the Middle East and advocating for full recognition of the State of Palestine within the UN. The Kingdom also aims to enhance financial technology cooperation and digital transformation while supporting sustainable development goals. Dr. Al Zayani concluded by reaffirming Bahrains determination to play an influential role in shaping a safer and more prosperous world. Under the leadership of His Majesty the King and the guidance of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Bahrain continues to champion peace, dialogue, and collective action for global stability and development. TDT | Manama Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com Bahrains 20252026 budget lays out BD8.9 billion in planned spending against BD6.4 billion in income, leaving a shortfall of BD2.5 billion, fuelled largely by interest payments that account for nearly a quarter of annual outgoings. Revenue for 2025 is expected to reach BD2.92 billion, rising to BD3.46 billion by 2026. Spending will climb alongside this, from BD4.38 billion to BD4.54 billion. The gap, BD1.45 billion in 2025 and BD1.08 billion in 2026, is to be bridged by borrowing, primarily from financial institutions and regional lenders. Income from oil and gas, still the backbone of the treasury, is gradually giving ground to other sources. After allocating funds to the Future Generations Reserve, oil revenue is set at BD1.49 billion in 2025 and BD1.63 billion in 2026. Meanwhile, revenue from tax and services is quickly rising, from BD1.43 billion to BD1.83 billion over the two years. VAT and excise taxes, managed by the National Bureau for Revenue, will generate BD756.9 million in 2025 and BD866.8 million in 2026. Customs duties will provide just over BD112 million annually. Earnings from state-owned firms including Eskan Bank, Bapco Energies, and Mumtalakat are estimated at around BD185 million each year. Other ministries are also increasing their contributions. Revenue from the general public services sector will triple from BD114.3 million to BD368.2 million, helped by the Survey and Land Registration Bureau (SLRB), expected to bring in over BD17 million annually. Fees and charges Miscellaneous fees and charges will rise from BD90.5 million to BD343.6 million. Public Order and Safety, led by the Ministry of Interior and Customs, is expected to generate nearly BD200 million each year. Economic ministries Transportation and Telecommunications, Industry and Commerce, and Works will collect BD126.7 million in 2025 and BD142.4 million in 2026. Health sector income, including the Supreme Council of Health, will rise from BD43.6 million to BD50.1 million. The Youth, Culture and Media Sector will provide around BD1.4 million annually, with the education sector contributing roughly BD727,000. On the spending side, recurrent expenses dominate, at BD4.1 billion in 2025 and BD4.26 billion in 2026. Allocation Social welfare receives the largest allocation over BD770 million annually. Retirees will receive BD298 million per year, with BD312.6 million earmarked for the Citizen Account and another BD54 million reserved for rent subsidies. Education is allocated BD354 million each year, covering the Ministry of Education, universities, and training bodies. Health follows closely at BD360 million annually, nearly half going to government hospitals. Defence spending remains steady at BD550.8 million, with Public Order and Safety rising slightly to BD471.6 million in 2026. Spending by economic and infrastructure ministries will rise slightly from BD115.4 million to BD118.9 million, driven by the Ministry of Works and the Economic Development Board. Housing and community amenities will receive around BD13 million each year, and environmental programmes will maintain a steady BD6.8 million. The impact of public debt is stark. Interest payments alone will reach BD1.03 billion in 2025 and BD1.16 billion in 2026 making it the largest budget line outside social protection. Higher borrowing costs and accumulated debt have created a significant fiscal burden. A contingency reserve of BD119.6 million in 2025 and BD124.1 million in 2026 is also set aside for unexpected expenses. Despite fiscal pressures, infrastructure investment will continue steadily at BD275 million annually. The Ministry of Works will receive BD60 million each year, with BD81 million allocated to housing. Budget The Ministry of Interior is earmarked BD7.4 million per year for its projects, and the health sector will receive BD2.35 million. Education infrastructure funding is set at BD11 million in 2025, rising slightly to BD11.6 million in 2026. To aid enterprises to identify their security exposure and manage cyber and third-party risks through its proprietary platform and services EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. and BENGALURU, India, March 26, 2025 /CNW/ -- Atlas Systems has partnered with exposure management pioneer Tenable to give companies a quick understanding, in self-service mode, of their exposure to online and digital threats. Atlas is providing three scans Web Application Scan, Attack Surface Management, and Vulnerability Scan with the Tenable One Exposure Management Platform via its website and will help companies remediate and monitor cyber threats on an ongoing basis. Try out Tenable scans on the Atlas Systems website Cybersecurity has become a critical concern in today's information landscape, where advancements like cloud storage and artificial intelligence (AI) have also introduced a variety of new risks for firms of every size. As experts in IT operations, cybersecurity, data and analytics, and more, Atlas is focusing on helping organizations with identifying and managing cyber security risks. Visitors to the Atlas website will be able to conduct 'instant' scans of asset and web app vulnerability by simply entering the addresses of relevant company websites. Companies can also work with Atlas to conduct more in-depth assessments of Active Directory domains and cloud-based platforms. The complimentary scans will allow organizations to understand their security postures and identify vulnerabilities, paving the way for more robust cybersecurity strategies. "Cyberattacks become more powerful and unpredictable by the day posing grave threats to the well-being of every kind of enterprise," said Venu Chalamala, CEO and Founder of Atlas Systems. "Company leaders need to get a clear sense of the hazards they could be facing and how deeply one cyber-event could undermine their carefully built brands. In working closely with clients for decades, Atlas has developed a three-step approach to cybersecurity assess, enable, and manage and our partnership with Tenable greatly expands the tools we can bring to these crucial tasks." "Partnering with Tenable aligns perfectly with Atlas' mission to accelerate digital transformation and address pressing security challenges," said Kaarthick Subramanian, Chief Customer Officer at Atlas Systems. "By offering Tenable's advanced exposure management assessments free of charge, we are enabling organizations to define their existing risks which are often undetected and begin working to fully secure their operations." Atlas Systems, celebrating its 21st year in the industry, continues to drive innovation and excellence in technology solutions. By integrating Tenable's market-leading exposure management capabilities as well as holistic visibility into areas including cloud, operational technology (OT) and identities into its offerings, Atlas is poised to further elevate its offerings, helping businesses navigate the complexities of digital transformation while maintaining robust cybersecurity defenses. About Atlas Systems Atlas Systems is a trusted technology partner delivering AI-driven solutions and IT services to healthcare, life sciences, and allied industries. With three core offerings PRIME, ComplyScore, and AInfinity Atlas enhances provider lifecycle management, cybersecurity and third-party risk management, compliance, data and AI services to organizations, globally. With 20+ years of expertise, Atlas provides scalable and compliant IT solutions, seamlessly integrating with enterprise systems to enhance workflows, efficiency, and overall business outcomes. For more details, visit www.atlassystems.com Media Contact: Anuja K +91 9443099633 [email protected] | [email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2650690/Atlas_Systems_20_Years_Logo.jpg SOURCE Atlas Systems Bell SECaaS hosted on its Canadian sovereign cloud ensures customer data never crosses borders Bell SECaaS delivers advanced security analytics powered by AI-driven SIEM technology Bell Business Enterprise Cyber Intelligence Centre offers 24/7/365 supervision of the cloud-based SECaaS, ensuring real-time threat detection MONTREAL, March 26, 2025 /CNW/ - Bell today announced the launch of its Security-as-a-Service (SECaaS) solution, hosted on its Canadian sovereign cloud. This innovative service provides public and private sector organizations with top-tier cybersecurity solutions while ensuring data remains within Canadian borders, adhering to local privacy and security regulations. Bell Launches Security-as-a-Service (SECaaS) on Canadian Sovereign Cloud (CNW Group/Bell Canada (MTL)) "With the increasing threat of cyber attacks, it's crucial for businesses to have access to reliable and advanced security solutions. Bell SECaaS, hosted on a Canadian sovereign cloud, offers resilient, cost-effective, and scalable security services while safeguarding data under Canadian jurisdiction. This approach ensures uninterrupted service, regulatory compliance, and enhanced control over security and privacy." - John Menezes, President and CEO, Stratejm, a Bell Canada company Bell SECaaS helps businesses to: Safeguard data within Canadian borders: Hosted in Bell data centres across Canada, the SECaaS solution ensures that no data leaves the country. Businesses can benefit from the latest security tools and expert support while maintaining compliance with Canada's strict data sovereignty standards. Hosted in Bell data centres across Canada, the SECaaS solution ensures that no data leaves the country. Businesses can benefit from the latest security tools and expert support while maintaining compliance with Canada's strict data sovereignty standards. Detect, respond and contain threats in real time: Bell SECaaS leverages advanced security analytics powered by AI-driven Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) technology. This cloud solution offers unified security visibility across on-prem, cloud, and hybrid environments. Bell SECaaS leverages advanced security analytics powered by AI-driven Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) technology. This cloud solution offers unified security visibility across on-prem, cloud, and hybrid environments. Operate with continuous data security and threat detection: The service is supported by the Bell Business Enterprise Cyber Intelligence Centre (CIC), based in Canada and staffed 24/7/365. Bell provides innovative and secure solutions that meet the evolving needs of public and private sector organizations across Canada. With Bell SECaaS, Bell continues to lead the way in delivering innovative and reliable cybersecurity services for enterprises. 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 Inc. 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: Tianna Goguen [email protected] Investor inquiries: Richard Bengian [email protected] SOURCE Bell Canada (MTL) BEDFORD, Mass., March 25, 2025 /CNW/ -- Oxipital AI, a leading innovator in artificial intelligence-enabled visual inspection and robotic guidance technologies, will demonstrate its advanced Visual AI platform at the International Pizza Expo, held in Las Vegas, Nevada, from March 25 to 27, in booth 541. Oxipital AI's visual inspection solution provides real-time monitoring to minimize errors, ensure product consistency, and enhance customer satisfaction. Attendees visiting the Oxipital AI booth will experience the company's state-of-the-art AI-powered vision system as it inspects, detects, counts, and classifies pizza toppings precisely. In addition to the live demonstrations, visitors will be able to engage with the company's actionable insights platform, designed to provide manufacturers with real-time and historical data, aimed to improve production efficiencies. "We have successfully assisted multiple pizza manufacturers in reducing operating costs, enhancing product consistency, and improving margins and are excited to engage with other manufacturers to understand their unique challenges," said Corey Merchant, chief revenue officer at Oxipital AI. For one leading frozen pizza manufacturer, Oxipital AI's visual AI inspection solution yielded substantial cost savings, improved product quality, and enhanced operational efficiencies. Read full case study . The International Pizza Exposition has reigned as the industry's biggest event featuring world-class competitions, hands-on demos, and expert-led sessions. About Oxipital AI Oxipital AI is a leader in AI-enabled machine vision technologies for robotic process automation and product inspection in critical industries such as food processing, agriculture, and consumer goods production. The company's mission is to deliver actionable insights through deep object understanding to customers as they embrace Industry 5.0 and unlock previously unachievable levels of resiliency, efficiency, and sustainability in their manufacturing operations. More information can be found at www.oxipitalai.com . Media Contact: Julie Collura Director of Marketing Communications Oxipital AI Email: [email protected] SOURCE Oxipital AI Inc. VICTORIA, BC, March 27, 2025 /CNW/ - The Parkside Hotel & Spa announces a new partnership with Sierra Club BC in celebration of Earth Month this April. This collaboration brings together two organizations committed to environmental stewardship and sustainable practices. "We are thrilled to partner with Sierra Club BC, an organization that shares our deep commitment to protecting our natural environment," said Trina White, General Manager at The Parkside Hotel & Spa. "This partnership allows our guests to directly contribute to meaningful conservation efforts while enjoying their stay with us." Ariel View of The Parkside Hotel and Spa (CNW Group/The Parkside Hotel & Spa Ltd.) Throughout April, The Parkside will donate $1.00 from the EcoFee for each guest's night stay, going to Sierra Club BC to support their mission to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth. Starting in April, The Parkside also introduces a partnership map with Sierra Club BC highlighting local ecosystems, offering guests walkable, bikeable, and day-trip options to explore and appreciate the region's natural beauty. A separate guide will also be available for those looking to visit and learn about the old-growth forests on Vancouver Island. The Parkside Hotel & Spa continues to lead the way in sustainable hospitality, fostering a deep connection between guests and the natural environment. Through innovative practices like a comprehensive waste diversion program, energy-efficient building systems, and locally sourced amenities, The Parkside exemplifies what it means to be an eco-urban hotel. After achieving carbon-neutral status in 2019, the hotel has maintained this certification through continuous improvements and investments in carbon offset projects. At The Parkside, environmental responsibility and immersive guest experiences go hand in hand. For more information about The Parkside Hotel & Spa's environmental initiatives, visit their Sustainability Practices page . ABOUT THE PARKSIDE HOTEL & SPA Located in the heart of Victoria, British Columbia, The Parkside Hotel & Spa combines elevated comfort with West Coast warmth. As Canada's first member of Beyond Green's global portfolio of sustainable hotels, The Parkside proudly upholds its foundational mission of green hospitality and environmental stewardship. An all-suite hotel featuring spacious accommodations, modern amenities, and versatile and unique meeting and event spaces, guests rejuvenate at The Parkside Spa, complete with an indoor pool, hot tub, and fitness center. Savour local flavours at Tre Fantastico, explore the biodiversity in the atrium, including expansive koi ponds and relax on the stunning rooftop patio with gathering spaces and cozy firepits. With Victoria's vibrant city attractions and Vancouver Island's natural beauty just outside the doors, Victoria's premier eco-urban hotel provides an unforgettable stay for business and leisure travellers alike, honouring today's guests and tomorrow's travellers. Learn more at www.parksidevictoria.com . ABOUT BEYOND GREEN Guided by a passion to embrace travel as a force for good, Beyond Green is a global portfolio of some of planet Earth's most sustainable accommodations, representing more than 50 hotels, resorts, and lodges across 22 countries. Dedicated to creating a more purposeful way to explore the world, Beyond Green connects conscientious travellers with properties committed to the three pillars of sustainable tourism: environmentally friendly practices that go beyond the basics; the protection of natural and cultural heritage; and the enhancement of social and economic well-being in local communities. To ensure these standards are met, each member property undergoes a rigorous vetting process based on over 50 sustainability indicators that align with global sustainable tourism standards and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Owned and operated by Preferred Travel Group, the family-owned company that also manages Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Historic Hotels of America, and Historic Hotels Worldwide, Beyond Green offers a new way to experience genuine hospitality, benefiting both people and the planet. For more information, visit www.StayBeyondGreen.com . SOURCE The Parkside Hotel & Spa Ltd. Hotel Media Contact: Lisa Roughley, The Parkside Hotel & Spa, 250.686.4762, [email protected]; Beyond Green Media Contact: Hannah Nelson, Senior Director, Public Relations (Americas), Tel: +1 303 885 7186, [email protected] Two weeks ago, D-Wave System announced a scientific breakthrough using their quantum annealing computers systems. They published in the esteemed journal @ScienceMagazine. Their newest annealing quantum computer outperformed one of the worlds most powerful classical supercomputers in solving a complex magnetic materials simulation problem with relevance to materials discovery. The new landmark peer-reviewed paper, Beyond-Classical Computation in Quantum Simulation validates this achievement as the worlds first and only demonstration of quantum computational supremacy on a useful problem. DWave Systems has superconducting quantum annealing systems but is now also developing the more common gate based quantum systems. Quantum annealing is more like an analog version of quantum computing. The company is publicly traded and has reached a $2.7 billion valuation. It has been fluctuating between $1.5 billion and $3 billion in valuation. This is 6-12 times the valuation DWave was trading at for most of the past two years. An international collaboration of scientists led by D-Wave performed simulations of quantum dynamics in programmable spin glassesa computationally hard magnetic materials simulation problem with known applications to business and scienceon both D-Waves Advantage2 prototype annealing quantum computer and the Frontier supercomputer at the Department of Energys @ORNL . D-Waves quantum computer performed a complex simulation in minutes and with a level of accuracy that would take nearly a million years using the supercomputer. In addition, it would require more than the worlds annual electricity consumption to solve this problem using the supercomputer, which is built with graphics processing unit (GPU) clusters. For decades, scientists have aspired to build a quantum computer capable of solving complex materials simulation problems beyond the reach of classical computers. D-Waves advancements in quantum hardware have made it possible for its annealing quantum computers to process these types of problems for the first time. Magnetic materials simulations, like those conducted in this work, use computer models to study how tiny particles not visible to the human eye react to external factors. Magnetic materials are widely used in medical imaging, electronics, superconductors, electrical networks, sensors, and motors. Quantum annealing is uniquely designed for optimization. With the Advantage quantum system performance update, customers can solve larger and more complex problems and get higher quality answers for real-world problems faster. Our vision is to go even further. Customers expect one, single, trusted cross-platform source for both quantum annealing and gate-model access. The Advantage system is the first quantum computer designed for business and research available on-premises or accessible through the D-Wave Leap quantum cloud service. The Advantage system is the worlds largest annealing quantum computer with more than 5,000 qubits and 15-way connectivity capable of addressing computationally complex problems today. The Advantage system is the first and only quantum computer that enables customers to develop and run real-world, in-production quantum applications at scale in the cloud and on-premises. Using the Advantage system, customers benefit from improved performance over classical approaches for many important real-world problems. The Advantage quantum computer is 30x faster and delivers equal or better solutions 94% of the time compared to the previous generation Dwave system. Beyond-classical computation in quantum simulation Abstract Quantum computers hold the promise of solving certain problems that lie beyond the reach of conventional computers. Establishing this capability, especially for impactful and meaningful problems, remains a central challenge. Here we show that superconducting quantum annealing processors can rapidly generate samples in close agreement with solutions of the Schrodinger equation. They demonstrate area-law scaling of entanglement in the model quench dynamics of two-, three- and infinite-dimensional spin glasses, supporting the observed stretched-exponential scaling of effort for matrix-product-state approaches. They show that several leading approximate methods based on tensor networks and neural networks cannot achieve the same accuracy as the quantum annealer within a reasonable timeframe. Thus quantum annealers can answer questions of practical importance that may remain out of reach for classical computation. D-Wave now has an Advantage2 processor that is four times larger than the prototype used in this work (Journal Science paper) and has extended the simulations of this paper from hundreds of qubits to thousands of qubits, which are significantly larger than those described in this paper. IonQ IonQ has a $6 billion valuation. IonQ is developing a general-purpose trapped ion quantum computer and software to generate, optimize, and execute quantum circuits. IonQs qubits are ionized ytterbium atoms, a silvery rare-earth metal. Each ytterbium atom is perfectly identical to every other ytterbium atom in the universe. IonQ has commercial customers working on their 24 qubit, 30 qubit and 36 qubits systems. They plan a 64 qubit system later in 2025. Rigetti Rigetti designs and manufactures its own quantum processing units (QPUs), builds full quantum computing systems, and hosts a developer-oriented cloud infrastructure platform for quantum computing applications. That vertically integrated approach makes it a full stack play on the quantum computing market. It serves big customers like the Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center (SQMS), Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), and Horizon Quantum Computing in Singapore. Rigetti systems are powered by superconducting qubit-based quantum processors. Rigetti is also publicly traded and has a valuation of about $3 billion. They launched the Novera QPU, a 9-qubit commercial version of its quantum computer that costs about $900,000, in late 2024. It also recently deployed its first 84-qubit Ankaa-3 quantum computing system, which can detect over 99% of its errors (known as its median gate fidelity ratio), to support its cloud-based platform. In 2025, Rigetti plans to launch a new modular quantum computing system that links together four 9-qubit chips to create a 36-qubit system with a median gate fidelity of 99.5%. It also aims to deploy a non-modular system with more than 100 qubits by the end of 2026, and an even more powerful 336-qubit system within the next few years. Leaders Towards Lots of Error Corrected Qubits? Who is in the Lead? QuEra Computing QuEra, a pioneer in neutral atom technology, has achieved a notable milestone in collaboration with Harvard University. In December 2023, they demonstrated 48 logical qubits using 280 physical qubit, executing large-scale algorithms on an error-corrected quantum computer. This demonstration included high-fidelity operations, such as a two-qubit transversal CNOT gate with a fidelity of 0.9993, and a circuit error rate of 0.002 with eight logical qubits11 times better than their physical qubit error rate of 0.023. QuEras roadmap aims for 100 logical qubits by 2026, but their current record stands at 48 logical qubits, making it a significant achievement in the field. Quantinuum Quantinuum, a leader in trapped ion technology, has made significant strides with its H-Series quantum computers. In collaboration with Microsoft, Quantinuum demonstrated 12 logical qubits using ion-trap hardware, achieving an impressive 800-fold reduction in error rates compared to physical qubits. This milestone highlights the high reliability of their logical qubits, making them suitable for fault-tolerant computations. Additionally, in December 2024, Quantinuum announced entangling 50 logical qubits in a specific experiment, creating a Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) state. However, this appears to be a specialized benchmark rather than an indication of 50 fully operational logical qubits for general use. For practical computations, their demonstrated capacity remains at 12 logical qubits. Quantum Circuits has error detecting qubits. They use a superconducting system uses cylindrical chambers that confine a single microwave frequency photon. They use RF frequencies to control the movement and actions of the photon. A coupler connecting the two chambers is used to transfer the photon between the chambers. Currently, the chambers each have a diameter of 5 millimeters. They will shrink those down to microscopic size in later generations. Superconducting Dual Resonator Qubits enhance the fidelity of quantum applications with error detection and correction. There are two superconducting resonators (aka cavities) connected by a so-called coupler. Quantum Circuits error-detecting dual-rail qubits innovation allows errors to be detected and corrected first to avoid disrupting performance at scale. This system will enable about 10-20 physical quantum qubits instead of 200 physical qubits for each error correct logical qubit. PsiQuantum PsiQuantum is developing a photonic quantum computer with an ambitious goal of reaching 1 million qubits. While this target is promising, their technology is still in the development phase, and they have not yet announced any operational quantum computers or demonstrated logical qubits. As a result, PsiQuantum currently has 0 logical qubits in terms of proven achievements. Other companies like IBM, Google, and IonQ have not yet reported logical qubit counts that rival QuEra or Quantinuum. This microsoft work is not talking about a logical error corrected qubit yet. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has fired one of his own appointees to the University of Virginias governing Board of Visitors. Bert Ellis, whom Youngkin appointed in 2022, has been officially removed from the board, according to a letter to Ellis issued by the governors office Wednesday. Youngkin attributed his decision to Ellis conduct, which over the years has been characterized as outspoken and combative. It is with great sadness that I remove you as a member of the University of Virginia Board of Visitors, Youngkin wrote to Ellis. While I thank you for your hard work, your conduct on many occasions has violated the Commonwealths Code of Conduct for our Boards and Commissions and the Board of Visitors Statement of Visitor Responsibilities. In his letter, Youngkin cited a Virginia law that gives the governor the power to remove any member of a governing board for malfeasance, misfeasance, incompetence, or gross neglect of duty. The law also requires the governor, upon removing a board member, to publicly state his reasoning for doing so. Later Wednesday, Youngkin announced his plans to appoint Ken Cuccinelli as Ellis replacement on the board. Cuccinelli, a Republican and UVa alumnus, is a former attorney general who served under Gov. Bob McDonnell. Cuccinelli ran for governor in 2013, but lost to Democrat Terry McAuliffe. During the first Trump administration, he served as deputy secretary of homeland security. In his time as attorney general, Cuccinelli launched an investigation into climate research conducted at UVa. Faculty decried the investigation as infringing on academic freedom, and the Virginia Supreme Court later ruled Cuccinelli had no legal right to specific documents he had demanded from UVa. Kens legal and policy expertise will be incredibly valuable to ensure swift action with the ongoing changes and challenges in higher education, Youngkin said in a statement announcing his appointment. I have full confidence he will help ensure Mr. Jeffersons University remains a place of opportunity, merit, and academic freedom. Ellis did not take his dismissal quietly. In a prepared statement forwarded to The Daily Progress by Republican strategist Keith Schipper, Ellis said he will continue to fight to make UVa a beacon of excellence, the shining city on the hill, and a model for the nation with or without a seat on its governing board. That fight, according to Ellis, means ending DEI for good, stopping antisemitism, and reducing costs at the university. Ellis blamed Youngkins decision on unnamed influences on the governor. Unfortunately, the Governor has been misled by bad actors who dont actually want to see results, Ellis said. On Monday, the Washington Post reported that Youngkin had asked for Ellis resignation, saying his combative style threatened the governors plans to reshape the states flagship public university. The Post reporting cited a Daily Progress interview with Ellis in which Ellis discussed the Board of Visitors decision to dissolve UVas diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Although Youngkin and Ellis share a vision of UVa without DEI, the tension between the two stems from a difference of style, according to unnamed individuals who spoke to the Post. In his interview with The Daily Progress shortly after the Board of Visitors March 7 decision to dismantle DEI at UVa, Ellis said that every aspect of DEI is to be ripped out, shredded and terminated. Youngkin and Ellis were scheduled to meet Tuesday, according to the Post. On Wednesday, the Post reported that Youngkin asked Ellis to step down during that Tuesday meeting. At first, Ellis agreed, the Post reported, citing two individuals who spoke on the condition of anonymity. But on Wednesday, Ellis refused after he was expected to work with Youngkins office to finalize a public statement regarding his resignation, the Post reported. When Ellis refused to step down, Youngkin fired him, the Post said. I never agreed to resign nor would I ever do so, Ellis said in his prepared statement. Ellis is a prominent American businessman: the chairman and CEO of Atlanta-based consulting and investment firm Ellis Capital, a founding investor and board member of the WebMD platform, the owner of Los Angeles television station KDOC-TV and, more locally, the part-owner of the White Spot burger joint on the UVa-adjacent Corner shopping district in Charlottesville. A double Hoo, he earned two degrees from UVa: a bachelors in economics and a masters in business administration. He has been a controversial figure well before his appointment to the board. Ellis is a co-founder of the conservative Jefferson Council alumni association, founded in 2020 in response to UVas ideologically radical vision of equity. Shortly after his appointment, the Post published text messages Ellis had sent to fellow new board members in which he referred to members of the UVa Student Council and staffers at the Cavalier Daily student newspaper as numnuts and promised a battle royale for the soul of UVa. Ellis apologized to the Board of Visitors for the comments, but when asked by The Daily Progress at the time if he intended to apologize to the students, he said, No, that was fine. He has had multiple public confrontations with other board members, including Rector Robert Hardie, regarding reports of antisemitism on UVa Grounds, transparency of board decisions, the cost of new building projects and the price of tuition. During a heated exchange between Ellis and Hardie at a board meeting last spring, Ellis demanded the board discuss the huge antisemitic problem at this university. Hardie instructed him that the matter would be discussed in a closed-door session because it related to student safety. Hardie threatened to reprimand Ellis. Ellis responded, Bring it on. Bring it on, before the board voted to go into closed session. But Ellis is perhaps best known for a 2020 incident in which he carried a razor blade to the Lawn-side dormitory of a UVa student who had hung a sign that read Fk UVA on her door. Under a headline of UVA operating costs the sign also read KKKops, genocide, slavery, disability, black and brown life. Ellis has maintained that he brought the razor blade to tear down the poster and that he respectfully asked her to remove the sign. He has since acknowledged that the student did not appreciate his appearance at her doorstep and she slammed the door in his face. James Bacon, who co-founded the Jefferson Council alongside Ellis and remains a contributing editor there, published a blog post on the groups website Monday claiming Youngkin was undermining his own agenda. Youngkin is making a huge mistake, Bacon wrote. Hell have to answer a very prickly question: why was he willing to give the axe to the board member opposing DEI but unwilling to defenestrate the UVA officials who implemented it? In his prepared statement, Ellis urged Youngkin to complete the work he started reshaping UVa. This is not the time to surrender to these ideological bullies at UVA, Ellis said. They are in retreat. We must dig in and hold the line. This is our moment to restore common sense and integrity to UVA. If we do not stand firm now, we risk losing everything we have fought for. Ellis term was not set to expire until June 2026. 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. For the six years it took to build the Mountain Valley Pipeline, countless opponents hindered work by sitting in trees along its path, standing in front of bulldozers and chaining themselves to heavy equipment. Although the resistance died down after the controversial project went into operation last June, the legal battles it spawned live on. At least seven lawsuits remain pending in the state and federal courts of Southwest Virginia, filed against more than 50 people who took direct action to fight the natural gas pipeline. Mountain Valley is seeking an undisclosed amount of money from the defendants, who it says willfully, intentionally and maliciously interfered with its construction of the underground pipeline. Last week, a federal judge in Roanoke denied a request to dismiss one lawsuit, while striking down part of a second one. In one of the cases, Mountain Valley claimed that 11 people conspired together to enter a posted right-of-way where the pipeline was being constructed through the Jefferson National Forest in Giles County. On the morning of Oct. 16, 2023, Ashley Wagner of Berkley, California, chained herself to an excavator by using a sleeping dragon, a reinforced metal pipe through which she inserted her arms and locked herself to the equipment. The other protesters assisted Wagner and surrounded equipment in the construction zone, refusing to leave until police arrived and broke up the demonstration, Mountain Valley says. In alleging a conspiracy among the opponents, the company argues that Wagner could not have acted alone and that everyone involved was a part of an unlawful plan and agreement. Their attorney, Paul Beers of Roanoke, argued that Mountain Valley had failed to show a common plan. No matter how many times the word plan appears in the lawsuit, Beers wrote in court records, repetition of a legal conclusion cannot compensate for the absence of facts supporting it. Beers also contended that Mountain Valleys conspiracy claim was undermined by its failure to detail its financial losses. In a written opinion March 17, U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Dillon declined the defendants motion to dismiss. In short, although details are not robust, the court concludes that MVP has plausibly alleged damages as a result of defendants actions, the opinion reads. However, Dillon agreed to dismiss conspiracy claims made in a second lawsuit. That case involved the actions of Madeline Ffitch of Millfield, Ohio, who chained herself to equipment that was being used to drill a tunnel for the pipeline to pass below the Appalachian Trail in the national forest. Because Ffitch was the single defendant named in the second lawsuit, Dillon ruled that she could not be found to have participated in a conspiracy. But the judge declined to dismiss a second claim that accused Ffitch of interfering with an easement Mountain Valley held on property through which it was building the pipeline. That allegation, as well as the lawsuit involving Wagner, will proceed to trial. Other lawsuits are pending before Dillon and in the state courts of Roanoke and Montgomery counties. Efforts to reach Mountain Valley for comment last week were unsuccessful. The company has said the 303-mile pipeline which runs from northern West Virginia, through the New River and Roanoke valleys, to connect with another pipeline near the North Carolina state line is needed to meet the countrys growing energy needs. Opponents decry the pipelines environmental impact on scenic land and pristine streams, its contribution to climate change by transporting natural gas that will produce greenhouse gases, and its seizure of private land along its route. Meanwhile, prosecution of criminal charges against pipeline opponents in a variety of cases continues as well. Eleven people appeared in Giles County General District Court on Feb. 25 and were convicted of misdemeanor charges, most of them trespassing and interfering with Mountain Valleys property rights. The defendants including Ffitch and Wagner all received suspended jail sentences and were ordered to perform 50 hours of community service, according to Commonwealths Attorney Bobby Lilly. Lilly said he decided not to prosecute felony charges of abduction in some cases. Those charges were brought on behalf of construction workers who said they were trapped briefly in the cabs of their excavators as the equipment was surrounded by protesters. In some cases, offenders were ordered to pay for the costs of special teams from Virginia State Police who were called in to remove the protesters from their sleeping dragons, a process that can take hours. The most recent prosecutions did not involve tree sits. Those actions, in which people camped out in tree stands along the pipelines path to prevent chainsaw crews from moving in, occurred in the first few years of construction, which began in 2018. In a statement after the Giles County hearing, Appalachians Against Pipelines called the cases part of an escalated wave of repression against people resisting the MVP. Despite MVPs attempts to stifle resistance, people continued to fight the toxic project through to its completion, and there remains sweeping opposition to the pipeline today, the group said. In court documents, Mountain Valley has said Appalachians Against Pipelines organized the protests and recruited participants, many of them from other states. While opponents are free to exercise their First Amendment rights, Lilly said, charges were brought when their words crossed over to illegal actions. We recognize that the defendants felt very strongly about their beliefs, and were willing to stand up for what they believed in, and thats a very admirable thing, he said. But these cases were brought because of the conduct they chose to engage in. DEAR MISS MANNERS: Fifty years ago, when my father was stationed in Vietnam, he sent the military exchange catalog to my mother back home. From it, she ordered a complete bone china set for 12 people, with every possible dinnerware piece. There are dinner plates, salad plates, bread and butter plates, soup bowls, fruit saucers, cups and saucers, and serving pieces. It is a beautiful set in a simple ivory pattern rimmed in gold. My mother passed away almost 30 years ago, and since then, I have used the china for many years when hosting holiday dinners. Now I have downsized and am living in an apartment, and the china is in several boxes in a storage unit. What should I do with it? GENTLE READER: Use it. Do so even if you can only keep on hand the plates that are relevant to your menus, and even if only to feed yourself and your prospective heirs. Miss Manners cannot promise that they will develop the same aesthetic and sentimental attachment to the set that you seem to have. The use of fine china is rare now, especially when it should not be subjected to a dishwasher -- as yours, with its gold trim, should not. Yet your loved ones may acquire a fondness for the set through its association with you, somewhat like yours with your mother. And in any case, you will have had the pleasure of using it. (Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.) Countdown to a Venus Change On the day before a Venus change, you may set out with a specific vision, hoping to capture something precise, but the world is full of currents beyond your control. What drifts into your net is not only what you intended but what was moving in the same direction or stirred by your effort -- perhaps what you didnt even know you needed. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Youll create the boundaries and routines that give you the foundation to thrive in your own unique way. Productivity will rise. Your time is coming. This is just the beginning. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Emotional labor sustains relationships, but when unevenly distributed, it becomes an unseen burden. Encourage everyone to contribute. It will prevent one person from carrying too much and fostering resentment. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). If youre toiling away in a Cinderella situation, surrounded by the spoiled and ungrateful, your sweat and tears arent helping. Dont wait for mice, birds or royalty to rescue you. Break free -- the real fairy tale begins when you take the first step. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Weakness becomes strength when it forces you to adapt in ways that others wouldnt. When a limitation makes you more creative, more empathetic, or more resilient, it stops being a drawback and starts shaping something powerful within you. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Mystery is working in your favor today. Theres power in leaving things unsaid. Keep them curious by sharing just enough, but never everything. Let them lean in. People are drawn to what they cant quite grasp. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You may not feel like youre influencing much, but this is because you dont know whats in the hearts and minds of others and arent aware of how they see you. While others may be caught in the noise, your presence, which is stronger than ever, will quietly make a difference. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Boredom arises when something stands in the way of your curiosity. But once that restriction is lifted, the door will open to the knowledge or experience youve been yearning for. The answers you seek will be there waiting for you. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). There are teachers in the usual places when you need them, though todays best education emerges from your situation. Youre paying attention to the way the world is working and that is a lesson in and of itself. Every encounter is an opportunity to learn. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The chemical flood brought on by anger is a drug, though not all are addicted. The topic comes up today. Youll witness various styles and welcome opportunities to understand people based on how they work through frustration, irritation or anger. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Rest is fuel, water is medicine, and taking care of yourself isnt a luxury -- its foundational. Its hard to chase big dreams when youre running on fumes. Clarity, resilience, and joy come easier when your body has what it needs. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You listen well and figure out what people need. Because youre sensing at a deep level, sometimes people are not even aware they have the sort of needs you address. They feel seen and valued in your presence. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Fear signals that youre on the verge of something important. Your fear is rooted in the awareness that stepping into discomfort is what will unlock deeper layers of your potential and lead to growth. TODAYS BIRTHDAY (March 26). Because youre determined to flesh out your idea, youll make something monumental, something you can look back on with pride. The process wont always be easy, but the result will be a work of lasting impact. The relationship sector gets a major glow-up. A major reunion, a victorious breakthrough and a new source of joy that feels like it was made just for you. Virgo and Pisces adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 11, 13, 50, 34 and 16. CELEBRITY PROFILES: Keira Knightley will be returning to the high seas without the pirates in the upcoming Netflix thriller The Woman in Cabin 10, in which the Aries actress stars as Lo Blacklock, a travel journalist who becomes entangled in a mysterious incident aboard a luxury yacht. Knightley was born when Mercury and Venus were also in the high-energy sign of the ram. Her Gemini moon lends the gift of versatility, style and wit. 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 Police nabbed a Newark man after they say he crashed a vehicle into a Leonia patrol car during the weekend, then led officers on a vehicle pursuit before being arrested. Ibn R. Johnson, 27, was taken into custody Saturday and charged with aggravated assault, eluding police and obstruction of justice, according to a statement released on Tuesday by Chief of Police Scott Tamagny. Tamagny gave this account of the arrest: Sgt. Ray Forsdahl, who was conducting a traffic enforcement detail at 9:45 a.m. Saturday at Fort Lee Road and Grand Avenue, saw a car being driven with no front license plate and tinted windows. Forsdahl followed the vehicle until it turned into the Leonia High School driveway and the officer activated his emergency lights to signal the driver to stop. The driver attempted to go around the marked patrol car, but struck the car on the passenger side. The driver drove away, heading south on Willow Tree Road. Forsdahl pursued the vehicle and requested assistance from neighboring police departments. As the car drove south on Willow Tree Road, it crashed, striking the curb and a street sign, police said. The driver, later identified as Johnson, ran away. Forsdahl pursued Johnson while Officer Nolan Stendor waited with a female passenger, who had remained with the vehicle after the crash. Patrolman Tim Dinnell saw Johnson running, chased him and caught him in the rear of a property on Schor Avenue. Dinnell and Palisades Park Police Officer James Park took Johnson into custody. Johnson is also charged with numerous motor vehicle offenses, and was taken to the Bergen County Jail pending Central Judicial Processing Court. The passenger was released without charges. Palisades Park, Englewood, Fort Lee, Teaneck, the Bergen County Sheriffs Office, and Bergen County Communications assisted in the arrest. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Stephanie Loder may be reached at SLoder@njadvancemedia.com. The entrance to Congregation Keter Torah on Roemer Avenue in Teaneck, where protesters gathered on Monday. Google Maps A protester was arrested Monday after spitting into a passing vehicle during a demonstration outside a synagogue in Bergen County, police said. The incident occurred about 5:45 p.m. near Congregation Keter Torah on Roemer Avenue in Teaneck. About 40 protesters had gathered in Continental Park to oppose a private event showcasing real estate in Israel. A 34-year-old Mexican man serving a four-year prison term for drug distribution died Tuesday morning at Federal Correctional Institution at Fort Dix after being found unresponsive, the prison said in a statement. Prison staffers and an EMS crew performed life-saving procedures on Javier Francisco Villalba-Reyes following the 6 a.m. incident. The prison informed the FBI after he was pronounced dead, the statement said. No employees or other incarcerated individuals were injured and at no time was the public in danger, the statement said. He had been in custody at the prison, known as FCI Fort Dix, since February 19, 2025. The prison is a low-security institution located on the grounds of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. Border Patrol officers arrested Villalba-Reyes at a checkpoint in Falfurrias, Texas in May 2024 after finding 100 pounds of cocaine in the walls of the tractor trailer he was driving. He possessed a work permit visa, court documents show. He told agents he picked up the truck from an unknown man on the side of the road in Monterrey, Mexico a few days prior. The truck was loaded with peppers, and he crossed into the United States at another entry point in Roma, Texas. The peppers were unloaded at a Texas company and the rig was loaded with broccoli, which was headed for Indiana, he said. Villalba-Reyes said he had no idea the 40 bundles of cocaine were inside, documents show. Villalba-Reyes pleaded guilty in July 2024 and a federal judge in Corpus Christie, Texas sentenced him on Jan. 8. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com A furniture rental company in South Jersey has settled federal allegations of fraud related to obtaining a $2 million Paycheck Protection Program loan in 2021, officials with the U.S. Attorneys Office in New Jersey said Tuesday. In January 2021, American Furniture Rentals in Pennsauken received a $2 million, fully forgivable Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, loan after certifying the company had fewer than 300 employees when, in fact, it had more, officials said. One year earlier, on Jan. 20, 2020, American Furniture Rentals had applied for a previous PPP loan of $10 million from the Small Business Administration under the PPP program when guidelines permitted companies with up to 500 employees to apply for the loans, authorities said. Under the eligibility rules in 2020, some companies with more than 500 employees could qualify for PPP loans if they qualified as small under the SBAs alternative standards, according to the settlement. Authorities said AFR was ineligible for the $2 million loan because it had too many employees and no longer qualified under the PPP programs guidelines. The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed by Verity Investigations under the False Claims Acts whistleblower provision, which allows entities to receive a portion of settlements for reporting false claims. AFR cooperated with the federal investigation and agreed to pay just over $2.9 million under the settlement, officials said. Verity Investigations will receive $7,672 to cover reasonable expenses, attorneys' fees and costs, according to the settlement. An attorney for AFR did not immediately return a request for comment Tuesday. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X At least two Tesla drivers in Cherry Hill said they were targeted and harassed by an aggressive driver over the weekend and police are investigating. The incidents happened the same day as a protest near a Tesla dealership on Route 70 in Cherry Hill, one of numerous protests happening across the state and country in a movement dubbed Tesla Takedown" to voice public disdain for Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Boris Hazanov said he was driving his Tesla sedan late Saturday afternoon, bringing his 9-year-old son home from a playdate, when the 37-year-old father said the frightening encounter occurred. The incident was recorded on his cars camera. A red Acura SUV quickly approached from behind and after briefly tailgating the Tesla, the opposing vehicle pulled in front and slammed on its brakes, appearing to intimidate Hazanov. After the behavior repeated for about a minute, the SUV pulled ahead, and turned sideways, blocking the car. Hazanov swerved in the opposite direction to go around the SUV, but the driver followed. Moments later, he met face-to-face with the driver, a man wearing sunglasses and a brimmed hat, who shouted from his car before speeding away. It was just a big scream of f--- you, and then it was like, you know why Im doing that, Hazanov said in a phone interview with NJ Advance Media. The father of three, an Israeli immigrant and Rutgers University graduate, believes the encounter stemmed from the displeasure of Musk. The billionaire tech mogul has been propelled into the spotlight after being appointed to a government-spending initiative by President Donald Trump. Until Saturday, Hazanov and his wife, who both own Teslas, never thought they could be the target of Musk-fueled aggression. Another Cherry Hill resident and Tesla owner told 6ABC Philadelphia the same driver acted aggressively toward her on the same evening. While en route to dinner, the man began driving erratically. Cherry Hill Police Chief John Ostermueller confirmed that an active investigation is underway, but no charges have been filed as of Wednesday. The chief declined to say if a suspect has been identified. The conducts unacceptable, Ostermueller said, adding that hes aware of two reports being filed with police. He noted road rage has been increasingly common since the COVID-19 pandemic, when traffic enforcement dropped. Were going to be diligent about it, and we want our residents to know that the conduct wont be tolerated, Ostermueller said. The protests against Tesla have grown violent in some cases, in which Tesla models have reportedly been vandalized across the country. In a recent instance, authorities in Austin, Texas, were investigating after incendiary devices were discovered at a Tesla in the city. A woman in Colorado faces five years in prison on federal charges after allegedly using Molotov cocktails to ignite Teslas at a dealership. Further west, showrooms in Oregon and Washington have reportedly been vandalized. Its terrible, its gotten out of control, Hazanov said. Im worried every day that when my wife drives to work, is something going to happen on the way to work or on the way back home? Its insane. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com. After he shot and killed Trevor Hill on the front porch of his James Avenue residence in Waynesboro, Jacob Sipe stood over the body, holding a gun and screaming profanities, according to the woman who called 911 after the fatal shooting last summer. Sipe, 24, arrived in Waynesboro Circuit Court Tuesday, where he stands charged with second-degree murder and other charges, including using a firearm in commission of a felony, shooting at or into an occupied dwelling and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Sipe is accused of killing the 33-year-old Hill on July 23 of last year. Hills neighbor, Sklyer Tyler, said testified Tuesday she was preparing for work when she heard gunshots. I wanted to believe he was working on his car, Tyler said of the noises. She estimated five to six shots were fired, and when she looked out her upstairs window, she said she saw Sipe yelling profanities while standing with a gun in his hand over the prone body of Hill. Police testimony Tuesday indicated Sipe emptied a 9-millimeter Beretta handgun, wounding Hill in the cheek, leg, groin, below the belt buckle and the left hip. After standing over the body, Tyler said she saw Sipe walk around the porch of Hills residence and tip over pieces of furniture. She said she then saw Sipe go inside Hills house with a bloody nose, which is when she heard the cries of a child, identified as Hills 2-year-old son. Tyler then called 911. Both the prosecution and defense said it was clear that Hill and Sipe had known each other for a number of years and that they were consuming alcohol and snorting cocaine in the early morning hours of July 23. The shooting happened about 9 a.m. and police responded within minutes. Sipe never left the crime scene, and a trail of blood led police to him sitting inside his silver Lexus. A tape of Waynesboro Police Capt. Alyssa Zulligs interview with Sipe was played for the jury late Tuesday afternoon while Zullig was on the stand. On the tape, Sipe can be heard telling Zullig that the shooting happened after he was repeatedly beaten by Hill after waking up. He tells the investigator he was hit on the head and back and then struck repeatedly when he was pushed into Hills Mazda truck. When asked why he shot Hill, Sipe says, I didnt know what else to do. He says he was fearful. Of the shots fired from the Beretta, he says on the tape, I pulled it until it stopped pulling. He tells Zullig, He didnt understand what happened and why he was attacking me. Among the other admissions made during the interview is that, after the killing, Sipe calmly walked into Hills home to wash off my face and look for a [phone] charger. Augusta County Commonwealths Attorney Tim Martin, called in as a special prosecutor for the case, said Hill slumped to the porch after the third shot, but Sipe kept on firing. Martin said the brutality of the killing included finding a tooth belonging to Hill and a bone fragment that resulted from the wound to his face. The prosecutor said Sipe left blood throughout Hills home and said a trail of blood led police to his Lexus. Sipes defense attorney painted a different picture. Attorney Ben Beliles told the jury that the dazed and confused Sipe didnt flee the crime scene, and even told police where his gun was. Beliles said Hill hit Sipe repeatedly, brutally and violently. He said Sipes nose was severely broken. The defense attorney said the charging of Sipe was a rush to judgment by Waynesboro police that included a flawed investigation. Beliles said the prosecution would be unable to meet the burden of proof needed for a conviction. The trial was set to continue Wednesday. He is accused of killing 33-year-old Trevor Hill on the front porch of Hills James Avenue home on July 23 of last year. Both the prosecution and defense said it was clear that Hill and Sipe had known each other for a number of years, and that they were consuming alcohol and snorting cocaine in the early morning hours of July 23. The shooting happened about 9 a.m. and police responded within minutes. Sipe never left the crime scene, and a trail of blood led police to him sitting inside his silver Lexus. A tape of Waynesboro Police Capt. Alyssa Zulligs interview with Sipe was played for the jury late Tuesday afternoon while Zullig was on the stand. Sipe is heard telling Zullig that the shooting happened after he was repeatedly beaten by Hill after waking up. He told the police investigator he was hit on the head and back and then struck repeatedly when he was pushed into Hills Mazda truck. When asked why he shot Hill, Sipe is heard saying I didnt know what else to do. He spoke of being fearful. Of the shots fired from the Beretta, he said I pulled it until it stopped pulling. He told Zullig he didnt understand what happened and why he (Hill) was attacking me. But another troubling admission on the interview is that after the killing, Sipe calmly walked into Hills home to wash off my face and look for a (phone) charger. Augusta County Commonwealths Attorney Tim Martin, the special prosecutor in the case, said Hill slumped to the porch after the third shot, but Sipe kept on firing. Martin said the brutality of the killing included finding a tooth belonging to Hill and a bone fragment that resulted from the wound to his face. The prosecutor said Sipe left blood throughout Hills home and said a trail of blood led police to his Lexus. Sipes defense attorney painted a different picture. Attorney Ben Beliles told the jury that the daze and confused Sipe didnt flee the crime scene, and even told police where his gun was. Beliles said Hill hit Sipe repeatedly, brutally and violently. He said Sipes nose was severely broken. The defense attorney said the charging of Sipe was a rush to judgment by Waynesboro police that included a flawed investigation. Beliles said the prosecution would be unable to meet the burden of proof needed for a conviction. Markis Nathan Rattling Leaf, 42, was stabbed to death while serving time at a federal prison in New Jersey, according to documents provided by his family. (Provided Photo/Miranda Roubideaux) Authorities are investigating the brutal stabbing death of an inmate at a federal prison in Cumberland County. Markis Nathan Rattling Leaf, 42, of South Dakota, was stabbed in the head, neck and chest with a pencil on March 4 at the Federal Correctional Institution at Fairton and died the following day, according to his death certificate. His death was a homicide, according to a copy of the death certificate his family provided to NJ Advance Media. Federal officials did not publicly announce the killing, but confirmed Rattling Leafs death in response to an inquiry from NJ Advance Media. His family members said they are waiting for answers about how the incident occurred and who is responsible. The family has not heard anything from prison officials or investigators about the status of the case, according to Rattling Leafs sister, Miranda Roubideaux. Rattling Leaf was Native American and a member of the Rosebud Sioux tribe in South Dakota, Roubideaux said. She recalled her brother as someone who tried to support other prison inmates, including other Native Americans. He was a guide, an advisor in the Native American way. Always helping, Roubideaux said. He used his knowledge of tradition to counsel other people, to bring both acceptance and solidarity. He tried to help other people in there to face their own challenges and his own challenges also. Rattling Leaf was an advocate for the queer and transgender communities during his time in prison, his sister said. While in a federal prison in Tucson, Arizona, he co-founded Brave Hearts, a group of LGBTQ+ inmates who focused on financial independence through art and ending violence against LGBTQ+ people in prison. His family members only learned of his death when they were contacted by a friend of Rattling Leaf who was listed at the prison as his emergency contact, Roubideaux said. Prison officials issued a press release this week that said Rattling Leaf was found unresponsive following a perceived altercation at the prison on March 4 and later died. The FBI was notified of the death, the release said. Federal officials declined to comment on how he died or if anyone was charged in his death. FBI representatives told NJ Advance Media the investigation is ongoing. While puncture wounds from the pencil caused his death, he also suffered blunt force trauma to his head and neck, the death certificate said. One of the stab wounds was to his eye, Roubideaux said. The family was told by someone at the prison that Rattling Leaf was trying to counsel the inmate who attacked and killed him, his sister said. She was not told that inmates name and officials have not provided any information about the alleged attacker. In 2012, Rattling Leaf pleaded guilty to a charge of abusive sexual contact with an 8-year-old victim in South Dakota and was sentenced to more than 18 years in prison, according to a press release about the case. He had been held at the federal prison in Fairton since June of last year, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons. He was scheduled to complete his sentence within about six months, his sister said. After Rattling Leaf was found unresponsive on March 4, prison staff initiated life-saving measures and emergency medical services were requested, according to the prisons press release. Rattling Leaf was taken to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, where he died the following day, according to his death certificate. No other inmates or staff were injured in the incident, federal officials said. FCI Fairton is a medium-security prison located in Fairfield Township. Rattling Leafs body was returned to Mission, South Dakota, for his funeral, which was held March 17. He was active in his Native American community and took part in traditional ceremonies, according to his sister. His obituary said he previously volunteered with a group that patrols Native American communities and combats police brutality in indigenous neighborhoods. Roubideaux said her brothers advocacy work in the Arizona federal prison led to a reduction in anti-LGBTQ+ violence at that facility. In a letter, Rattling Leaf told his sister his transfer to the federal prison in New Jersey was so he could continue his violence-reduction work in other federal facilities, Roubideaux said. Rattling Leaf is survived by his two children, his mother and 12 siblings, according to his sister. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Mourners leave funeral for Newark Police Detective Joseph A. Azcona, 26, who died in the line of duty, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, in Newark, NJ, on Friday, March 14, 2025. Ed Murray| For NJ Advance Media The 14-year-old charged with shooting and killing a Newark police detective in the line of duty earlier this month should be tried as an adult despite his age, the officers mother says. Nereida Vargas, the mother of Detective Sgt. Joseph Azcona, has started a Change.org petition calling for lawmakers to critically evaluate and revise current age criteria and laws for serious offenses like homicide. The petition has more than 16,000 signatures as of 8 a.m. Tuesday. Azcona was gunned down by the 14-year-old, who has not been named by police due to his age, on March 7 in the area of Broadway and Carteret streets in the city, authorities said. Juveniles under age 15 cannot be tried as adults for any offense, according to state law. The teen faces a maximum of 20 years in prison if convicted in family court. It is crucial that these laws reflect the belief that every act of homicide, regardless of the offenders age, should be met with an appropriate legal response, the petition states. The justice system is in place to serve and protect citizens like my son, who dedicated his life to doing so. Plead with us for a legal reform that ensures justice for every victim. Newark police Detective Joseph Azcona was gunned down Friday night while investigating a person believed to have illegal guns. His body was escorted by police to a funeral home in Newark on Saturday. Amanda Brown | For NJ.com Azcona, who had been part of the intelligence unit for the past two years, was working with federal authorities to capture someone believed to have a weapon, authorities said. Azcona was shot before he got out of his police vehicle. His partner was also wounded in the shooting. We firmly believe that the gravity of the crime committed should be the determining factor of the proceeding, not the age of the offender, the petition by Azconas mother states. The New Jersey State Fraternal Order of Police posted a letter on social media last week calling for prosecutors to be able to charge juvenile offenders as adults for serious crimes. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Traveling, in general, is a labyrinth of obstacles and annoyances, but a travel companion can help ease rising tensions. As long as they behave themselves. A passenger on a recent United Airlines flight to Newark Liberty International Airport took to social media to complain about another passengers dog barking for hours, according to a report from Fox News. I have never experienced anything like this, the post in the r/unitedairlines Reddit forum says. It woke everyone up, it yapped nonstop from about an hour into the flight. The dog and its owner were asked to move to the back of the plane at one point to see if dog would settle down, according to the post. The poster said they noticed the dog at the airport earlier that day giving its owner trouble after they tried to fit it into a different bag. On the flight, the dog was being held in a carrier that appeared to be too small, the post said. United Airlines pet policy outlines that cats and dogs can ride in the cabin with their owners and must remain in a hard or soft carrier. The carriers must fit under the seat in front, according to the policy. On United flights, pets are no longer permitted to be checked as baggage and only service animals are allowed on flights without a carrier, the policy states. Animals on flights have become more common in recent years. Emotional support animals have appeared on flights, including Dexter the Peacock, Daisy the squirrel and Coco the bunny. Coco made it on the flight. Dexter and Daisy were not so lucky. Airlines have separate policies for pets, service animals and emotional support animals. Passengers bringing emotional support animals on flights have been rising since 2016, with more than one million passengers bringing their emotional support animals on flights in 2019, according to the trade group Airlines for America. About 2 million pets travel on domestic passenger flights each year, with dogs accounting for about 58% of all animals traveling on commercial flights worldwide, according to a 2022 study by the National Institutes of Health. Whether or not a pet is permitted on a flight depends on the airline. The American Kennel Club recommends communicating with airlines about their pet policies while booking flights. Flying can be stressful for dogs with strange sights, sounds and smells, and can also cause dehydration and other gastrointestinal issues, according to the American Kennel Club. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X A state appeals court on Wednesday upheld the firing of Joseph DeMarco, the corrections officer who was present when his brother publicly reenacted the death of George Floyd in the summer of 2020. Joseph DeMarco was a senior corrections officer assigned to Bayside State Prison when he attended a counter protest in June 2020 at his brother James DeMarcos firewood business on Delsea Drive in Franklinville, a section Franklin Township. As protesters walked by the property chanting Black Lives Matter! some on the property yelled back, to no one, the court decision says. And James DeMarco kneeled on his sons prone body, mocking the way a Minneapolis police officer killed George Floyd a month prior. Joseph DeMarco cooly kept videotaping and did not react or condemn the display. Or as the court said, he did not display a genuine experience or expression of shock, surprise, or disapproval. Footage of the incident drew wide rebuke, including from Gov. Phil Murphy. The state Department of Corrections investigated the incident and charged Joseph DeMarco with internal violations of conduct unbecoming a public employee and another charge for failing to report he had a second job at his brothers wood business. The department eventually fired Joseph DeMarco him and hes been contesting the ruling in the state Civil Service Commission, which held a hearing in the Office of Administrative Law - where Joseph DeMarco testified. Those bodies upheld the termination. In late 2024, Joseph DeMarcos lawyer appealed before a two-judge panel in the state courts Appellate Division. His lawyer argued the evidence against DeMarco did not rise to conduct unbecoming a public employee and his occasional assistance at his brothers business did not rise to the level of needing DOC approval. Overall, the punishment was unduly harsh, excessive, and contrary to progressive discipline, his lawyer said. The judges disagreed. Typically, appeals panels defer to an agencys findings when they are supported by credible evidence. The judges, though, examined the case de novo, or from the beginning. After that review, the judges said they are convinced that Joseph DeMarcos conduct did rise to unbecoming of a public employee, finding his prior testimony attempted to minimize the behavior of those around him that day. The judges found Joseph DeMarcos arguments that DOC was trying to attribute his brothers conduct onto him, and that there were no threats or physical violence from the people on the property, miss the mark. Josephs acknowledgment that he would do things differently and that he should have walked away undermines the notion that the behaviors did not require at least his extraction from the offensive environment, the judges wrote. His conduct, indisputably adversely affected DOC morale, tended to destroy public confidence and respect in the DOC, and was offensive to accepted standards of decency. The appeals judges said the evidence that Joseph DeMarco failed to report his job at his brothers business was sufficient, and as for progressive discipline, the judges acknowledged that argument and recognized that Joseph DeMarco had an insignificant disciplinary history. Nonetheless, given Josephs egregious conduct, we are in no way shocked by his removal. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com Drug overdose deaths in New Jersey dropped across all racial and ethnic groups for the first time in a decade, the New Jersey Department of Health announced Wednesday. New Jersey had 2,816 drug overdose deaths in 2023, down from 3,171 in 2022, with meaningful reductions across all racial and ethnic groups, new data from the New Jersey State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System shows. The preliminary numbers show the biggest decline in total annual overdose deaths was 32% in Asian populations, followed by 16% in white populations, 5% in Black populations, and 6% among Hispanic or Latino. State officials and public health experts said the data proves New Jerseys multi-pronged approach to combatting the overdose epidemic is starting to bear fruit. New Jersey has been doing a lot of things all at once over the last several years and I think were starting to see the payoff, said Stephen Crystal, director for the Center for Health Services Research at Rutgers University. The milestone comes as New Jersey approaches its goal of having at least one Harm Reduction Center in all 21 counties. The most recent list of authorized Harm Reduction Centers shows every county is on track to have either a mobile or fixed center. Harm Reduction Centers, also known as Syringe Access Programs, are community programs that provide services to drug users that prevents overdoses and reduce the spread of infections. Harm reduction programs are a pathway for entering into treatment without being coercive, said Crystal. Sometimes you have to be there at the point of opportunity. So, maybe this month theyre only willing to exchange their needle or get a naloxone kit. But next month they return asking about treatment. Once youve established that relationship, its easier to have that conversation. I think those programs are very important in that way. And theyre also sending a message to people that youre a human being, youre worth helping, said Crystal. The centers provide a safe space for people who use drugs to access sterile syringes, needles, injection equipment and the life-saving drug naloxone, along with education on safer use, overdose prevention and safe disposal of used equipment, according to the state Department of Health. The opioid epidemic has had a devastating impact on our nation, and too many families have suffered its consequences. By paying attention to the data and prioritizing harm reduction strategies over the past seven years, we have built a framework of supports to reduce the harms of substance use, streamline access to treatment, and support families in recovery, said Governor Phil Murphy in a press release. These strategies are saving lives. I am heartened to see this reduction in overdose deaths, and I look forward to the impact our growing network of Harm Reduction Centers will have as we work to put an end to the opioid crisis in New Jersey. Despite the decline, officials said overdose deaths remain a serious public health issue in New Jersey. For example, the death rate among non-Hispanic Black residents in 2023 was still twice that of non-Hispanic white residents. Substance use disorders were also the leading cause of pregnancy-associated deaths in New Jersey. Nationally, there were 105,007 overdose deaths in 2023 across the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New Jersey didnt fully embrace harm reduction as an approach to combatting the overdose epidemic until 2022 when Murphy signed the Syringe Access Bill into law. The law authorizes expanded provision of harm reduction services to distribute sterile syringes and provide support services to people who use drugs. Advocates credit the law for a lifesaving increase in harm reduction services statewide. In New Jersey, overdose deaths started to drop right after the harm reduction expansion law went into effect, said Jenna Mellor, executive director of New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition in an interview. Before then, no one was allowed to deliver harm reduction supplies at scale, Mellor told NJ Advance Media. In 2024, New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition alone distributed more than 30,000 doses of naloxone, Mellor said. The group heard back about more than 340 overdose reversals. New Jersey, along with eligible counties and municipalities, is expected to be paid an estimated $1 billion in opioid settlement funds through 2038. An advisory council held public hearings to seek ideas on how the money would be best used to address the damage caused by the wide availability of prescription painkillers since the 1990s. The first round of funding $95 million was announced in February of 2024 and earmarked for housing services, treatment and harm reduction methods designed to make drug user safer. In October, Murphy announced a second installment of $25 million in settlement funds would go toward providing legal services for those in recovery, youth substance use treatment and prevention, and boosting emergency response efforts. In January 2024, Murphy also signed a law that expands the number of harm reduction supplies exempt from criminal penalty when provided by authorized harm reduction centers. Specifically, the bill clarifies the legality of products such as test strips for xylazine, a sedative for animals that has been increasingly present as an adulterant in the illicit drug supply. Harm reduction centers are not without their critics. Some view the facilities as enabling and supporting drug use. However, evidence shows that harm reduction can lessen certain negative outcomes of drug use for individuals and communities, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Harm reduction centers received broad support from public health and social welfare organizations in written testimony previously submitted to the New Jersey Opioid Settlement Advisory Council: First and foremost, the Opioid Settlement Advisory Council should build on the success of New Jerseys recent harm reduction expansion law by prioritizing generational funding to operate harm reduction services in every community. This is how New Jersey will accomplish the foundation of public health infrastructure for drug use, and ensure that no one has a barrier to harm reduction services because of where they live. The testimony was signed by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, the National Center for Advocacy and Recovery, the Newark Community Street Team, the New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition, New Jersey Policy Perspective, and Sandy Gibson, advocacy chair for the New Jersey Addiction Professional Association. When people have access to harm reduction centers, theyre more likely to survive the overdose crisis period," Mellor said. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com. Casio America is planning to move from its Dover campus to two locations, one in Jersey City and another operations center in Rockaway. Google Maps Casio, one of the worlds largest consumer electronics companies, is moving from its Dover campus and opening two new locations, the company said in a statement Tuesday. The company plans to establish a new headquarters in Jersey City and new operations center in Rockaway, according to the statement. This is a strategic investment in Casios future, Tom Kato, chairman and CEO of Casio America, said. By embracing modern work environments, expanding access to key talent, and optimizing operations, we are ensuring Casio remains at the forefront of innovation, efficiency, and long-term growth. A spokesperson for the company said Thursday the reorganization was also designed to align teams more closely with the needs of the business. The company said it plans to hold a series of employee engagement initiatives early this year with transitions to the new locations expected in late summer. The sale of the Dover campus is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, according to the company. The restructuring is designed to modernize operations, enhance innovation, and position the company for long-term success, the company said in Tuesdays announcement. Casios new headquarters will open at 185 Hudson St. in Jersey City and offer more modern and collaborative environment for employees, the company said. The Jersey City location also places the company closer to key business hubs and offers access to customers, vendors and other resources, the statement said. The operations center at 100 Enterprise Drive in Rockaway will centralize finance, legal, IT, customer service and business administration to improve operations, according to the company. This transition is about creating an environment where our employees can thrive, collaborate, and continue to innovate, Pamela Cosmillo, general manager of Human Resources at Casio America, said. We are dedicated to supporting our teams every step of the way, providing the tools and resources needed to navigate this change successfully. The company said it would support employees through the transition, offering commuter benefits, flexible work arrangements and enhanced workplace resources, according to the company statement. A spokesperson for Casio America said there were no plans for company-wide job eliminations at the moment and that their goal was to retain as many employees as possible through the transition. Casio America is a subsidiary of Casio Computer Company based in Tokyo, Japan. The company produces a number of well known consumer electronics including calculators and watches. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X North Bergen Police Chief Robert Farley is accused of numerous complaints of harassment, assault, racial slurs and discrimination. Photo provided READ MORE: Police chief accused of poop pranks, assault cut overtime. Now cops are upset, N.J. town says A police chief in Hudson County is being accused of assaulting and harassing his officers in a lengthy list of complaints that includes defecating on floors, exposing himself, attempting to drug coworkers and sticking a hypodermic needle into an officers penis. Chief Robert Farley , who was appointed chief of the North Bergen Police Department in February 2024, is also accused of retaliating against an officer who attempted to report him to the New Jersey Attorney General, according to court documents. Five police officers in North Bergen said they plan to sue over Farleys alleged behavior, which also includes claims of retaliation, discrimination, sexual misconduct and harassment. In an email on Wednesday, a township spokesperson called the claims false and outrageous. The Township of North Bergen has full confidence in Chief Robert Farleys leadership, the spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that township officials have referred the officers complaints to the Hudson County Prosecutors Office for review to avoid a conflict of interest. The list of complaints ranges from a pattern of ongoing pranks like putting ink on door handles, setting off car alarms, or leaving crumbs on cops desks, to much more serious allegations of using racial slurs, spiking the office coffee pot with Viagra and Adderall, and sending sex toys to an officers home. Ive never seen anything like this in my life, said Patrick Toscano, the attorney who filed the claims on behalf of the police officers. The officers say Farleys toxic and abusive behavior had been ongoing since soon after he became chief. He has been with the department for 26 years and both his father and grandfather served as deputy chiefs. Some of the officers say theyve reported Farley to the Attorney Generals Office and that a state investigation is underway. A spokesperson for the office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Farley, who earns more than $228,000 a year according to pension records, posted a statement to the department website after he became chief saying that hes committed to making sure officers have the support they need to succeed, stay safe, and improve quality of life in the community. I will strive to lead the officers of our department to be an accessible component of our community while maintaining their competency, transparency, and professionalism, Farley said in the statement. But some officers in the 123-member department beg to differ. Jabbed with a needle and fired for speaking out Michael F. Derin, 59, worked as a special captain with administrative duties assigned to Farleys office in 2023, according to court documents. Derin and Farley had been friends and traveled with other high-ranking officers in December 2023 to Saint Barthelemy, in the Caribbean. In August 2024, however, Farleys attitude toward Derrin changed, according to the officers notice of intent to sue. Chief Farley chases me around his office, Derrin wrote in his notice. After cornering me in the filing area with no further room for retreat, he sticks a hypodermic needle through my jeans into the tip of my penis. Derin wrote the needle drew blood and that he was further humiliated when he had to explain the injury to his wife. When another officer filed a notice of intent to sue the department, Farley allegedly blamed Derin for giving the officer information that could be used against him. From this point on, the chief creates a hostile work environment, Derin wrote. The chief would shave his body hair on peoples property, their persons, and their food, Derin wrote. He was also fond of scraping fluids from his underwear onto people seated in the chiefs office. Derin claims he was no his way to report Farley to the state Attorney Generals Office when a captain called him to fire him. North Bergen Police Chief Robert Farley, without a shirt, appears to shave his arm on a police officer's desk. New Jersey Superior Court Drugs in the coffee pot, feces on the floor Four other officers filed allegations against Farley: Derins son, Detective Michael A. Derin; Lt. Alex Guzman, Officer Rasheed Siyam and Officer Christopher Bowen. They each detailed various complaints of harassment, sexual misconduct, discrimination and retaliation. Detective Derin said he witnessed Farley dump a handful of Viagra and Adderall into a coffee pot, stirring the pills until they dissolved, and then waiting for someone to drink a cup. After that, Derin said he would get his coffee from a K-Cup machine because I did not feel it was safe to drink from the pot anymore, he wrote. Guzman claims in his notice that Farley on multiple occasions came out of the bathroom in his office, exposed himself to others in the room, and made inappropriate comments. Chief Farley has, on several occasions, pulled his pants down and defecated on the floor in front of his entire office staff, Guzman wrote. He has also left feces on the bathroom floor, apparently with the intent of having someone unknowingly step on it, the lieutenant wrote. Farley also allegedly was clogging the toilet with paper and other objects, and defecating in wastebaskets near the desks of other officers, the notice says. Police Chief Robert Farley is accused of defecating on the floor, in waste baskets and in front of officers. Photo provided Sex toys sent to homes, firecrackers under the desk Guzman claims his family members were also subjected to Farleys harassment after the chief sent sex toys, intimate lotions and gay pride flags to his home. These items, which were opened by my wife and seen by my children, have caused unnecessary distress, Guzman wrote. The lieutenant says in filings that Farley became convinced Guzman had filed OPRA requests to gain public information to use against him. (Farley) slandered my name in the department, using me as a scapegoat for all the discord in the department that his poor decisions created, Guzman wrote. Guzman wrote that he and his family have suffered from severe emotional distress that can be traced back to Farley. He also says hes been seeing a psychologist due to the alleged ongoing harassment. Among some of the other incidents of harassment the officers had to endure included Farley placing hot sauce in a microwave, which essentially turned the substance into a pepper spray that permeated the office. I rushed to turn off the microwave as fast as possible, but the fumes spread from the chiefs office throughout the entire police department so badly the fire department had to be called in order to vent the building and get the scent out, Derin wrote. He also put firecrackers under officers chairs, once ripped a television monitor off the wall and smashed it to pieces, and yanked a doorbell off a wall because he felt too many people were visiting the office, Derin claimed. Police Chief Robert Farley is accused of smearing egg on door handles, sending a gay pride flag to the home of an officer along with sex toys, and breaking glass in a fit of rage in the office. Photos provided Racial slurs and retaliation Officer Siyam claims Farley and other managers retaliated against him for being a whistleblower who cooperated with an internal affairs investigation over a hostile work environment and civil rights violations. Siyam told investigators that others in the department called him camel jockey and terrorist, and that a detective told him people of his heritage were responsible for the 9/11 attacks. Officer Bowen claims in his notice that he was reassigned to an undesirable shift due to ticket and arrest quotas, in violation of New Jersey law. He also claims he was placed under the direct supervision of an officer who doesnt like him, which has caused undue stress. Toscano, the attorney who filed the claims, said the notices outline the potential for damages or injuries and are required before an employee can sue a public entity. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A jury has convicted a former telecommunications solicitor in the death of an Ocean County homeowner who died after confronting the salesman in the street, prosecutors said Wednesday. After two weeks of hearing evidence, jurors found Michael Tsamas guilty of first-degree manslaughter in the death of 44-year-old Joseph Delgardio, who was stabbed in the neck during an altercation in Jackson Township in 2022. Tsamas, 35, of Laurence Harbor, was also found guilty of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office said. The white lights of a car just kept getting brighter as the vehicle drew closer. That was the moment early Saturday when a Toms River man realized a driver was heading the wrong way on Route 70 in Brick Township. Paul C. Williams, owner of PCW Photography, had just finished an assignment in Brick Township when the wrong-way driver passed him and crashed into another vehicle. The crash was recorded on Williams dashboard camera. Williams was stopped at the intersection of Burnt Tavern Road when he saw the headlights coming toward him. In the distance I saw an unusual bright, white light and when the traffic light changed, the light continues to come down the road at me, Williams recalled. Williams was driving in one of two lanes of Route 70, which separates traffic with a concrete divider. And then I realize its a vehicle and its driving on the wrong side of the road, Williams said. I was flashing my high beams at the car and I got to the right of my lanes to give him plenty of room to go by. Williams said that after the car passed him going in the opposite direction, he looked in his sideview mirror and witnessed a crash. I instinctively wanted to go help. I did a careful U-turn and went back down Route 70 until I came to the wrong-way driver and I sort of boxed him in with my car, Williams said. Williams said he approached the vehicle and asked the driver about his condition. He appeared to be ok and then I called 911 at 12:52 a.m., he said, which is the timestamp on his phone from when he made the call. At one point, Williams said he had to be forceful with the wrong-way driver. Williams said there was a language barrier and the driver acted like he was going to drive away. I reached into the car and put my hands on him and yanked him out of the vehicle and I told him not to leave, he said. The wrong-way motorist and two people in the other car were taken to the hospital, then treated and released, Williams said. NJ Advance Media reached out to Brick Township police about the crash, but they didnt respond as of late Wednesday. Its a concern, said Williams, a Toms River council candidate. Accidents like these are a legitimate concern. But its the reality these days. People should be able to get in their vehicle and drive without having to be concerned about other drivers. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Stephanie Loder may be reached at SLoder@njadvancemedia.com. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth does a television interview outside the White House, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) AP President Donald Trumps administration is facing ridicule for its weak defense of a leaked group chat that discussed upcoming attack plans on Yemen earlier this month. The Atlantics bombshell report on Monday left Washington stunned after it was revealed the magazines editor-in-chief was inadvertently included in a Signal group chat with senior administration officials. The administration has admitted that a mistake was made, but rebuked The Atlantics reporting that said the officials were texting about war plans. Now, the administration is celebrating because The Atlantic labeled the sensitive discussions as an attack plan in its latest report. They backpedaled the whole war plans thing really really fast., the Department of Defense rapid response team wrote on social media platform X. They backpedaled the whole war plans thing really really fast. pic.twitter.com/LFroFp2fHI DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) March 26, 2025 Social media users quickly mocked the administration for downplaying the texts as attack plans instead of war plans. This is REALLY the lame-ass defense they are going with? They were attack plans not war plans?, Trump critic Ron Filipkowski wrote on X. In response to the Defense Departments tweet, another user said: You cant actually be this dumb? The administration was responding to a new report from The Atlantic that released the full texts of the group chat with senior administration officials that included National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, among others. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt doubled down on the administrations claim Wednesday that officials were not discussing war plans. The Atlantic has conceded: these were NOT war plans. This entire story was another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well-known for his sensationalist spin, Leavitt wrote on X. This comes despite the text messages showing Hegseth sent sensitive details about the upcoming strike, including when a strike window would start and when different weapons and aircraft would be used in the attack. Longtime GOP consultant turned never-Trumper Sarah Longwell told Leavitt in response: You dont actually have to be this way. The Atlantic released its report after CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said during a House hearing on Tuesday that no classified information was shared in the chat. After Wednesdays release of the latest report, Gabbard was also accused of lying under oath for saying that the group chat did not discuss weapons packages, targets or timing. These people lied under Oath to the United States Congress to protect their own asses, U.S. Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-Fla.) wrote on X. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. By a show of hands, Virginia Techs governing board approved a resolution Tuesday to dissolve its office of diversity, equity and inclusion. Chants from hundreds of students outside the Inn at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg could not penetrate the walls of Latham Ballroom where the Board of Visitors met on Tuesday afternoon. Hey hey, ho ho, students chanted as they marched across campus. The BOV has got to go. In the face of federal pressure to purge DEI initiatives from publicly funded institutions, the Virginia Tech board voted 12-2 in favor of a resolution to ensure that all programs, policies, practices and actions comply with the law. The university resolution is a response to an executive order issued by President Donald Trump, as well as an ensuing letter penned by the new administration to clarify and affirm the nondiscrimination obligations of institutions receiving federal funds. Rector Ed Baine was one of at least two board members who voted in opposition. Given that it is an executive order, the university and the board have an obligation to comply with the law, Baine said. I voted no, because there are a couple underlying items within the EO that I just dont agree with. Baine said as the university continues through the process of ensuring legal compliance, his focus is on continuing to provide all students with services for success and treating colleagues at Virginia Tech with the utmost respect and civility. Those are and should be the expectations, Baine said. There shouldnt be any disagreement about that. Board member Anna James said she voted no because she is proud of the DEI work that has been done in her eight years on the board. A faculty representative said the Faculty Senate is opposed. Nancy Dye, who heads the Academic, Research, and Student Affairs Committee that brought the resolution, said the resolution is about complying with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. Nothing in the resolution contradicts the "Principles of Community" the board adopted in 2005, Dye said. Those principles affirm the value of human diversity and reject prejudice and discrimination. The resolution calls for dissolving the universitys Office for Inclusive Strategy and Excellence. It also says the university highly values diversity. President Tim Sands said, This is a tumultuous time for higher education, and Virginia Tech is not immune from any of the scrutiny. We are also committed to uphold the law when it comes to discrimination based on protected identities, Sands said. Interpretations of those laws has shifted in recent months. We must shift accordingly. Sands said he will report back to the Board of Visitors and will conduct a listening session with the university community in the first week of April. We are reviewing our programs, several hundred of them, that touch on one or more of our protected classes, Sands said. As soon as we have clarity, we will share that with the community. An accompanying document also says Virginia Tech will not require training, education or coursework, or the signing of any code of conduct asserting that a particular protected class or individuals who identify as such, are inherently or systemically superior or inferior, oppressive or oppressed, or privileged or unprivileged. Outside the Inn, hundreds of students chanted. A bolstered security presence greeted visitors outside the public meeting room. A team checked bags and scanned drivers licenses before letting people inside. Campus police were present in numbers inside and outside The Inn. BOV you are cowards, students shouted. Students have all the power. Tristan Reeves, a senior, said this wont be the last time students unite to fight administrative oversteps. What were seeing with the dissolution of these offices and DEI programs at Virginia Tech is just another expansion of the Trump administrations overstep of their executive power, Reeves said. To destroy higher education, to ensure that students from marginalized and underrepresented identifies do not have a say. Tuition and fees increased Also Tuesday, the board voted to raise tuition, student fees and room and board. Tuition has increased each year since 2021, increasing by 14% over the past five years, university officials said previously. Furthermore, the university board voted Tuesday to rescind plans to create a student life village at the center of campus. The village had been planned since 2022 as a replacement to Slusher Hall, a way to alleviate campus crowding amid growing enrollment. That resolution passed by a vote of 10-3, with Baine, Anna James and Tish Long voting no, according to a university representative. Board member Jeanne Stosser, a Blacksburg developer, abstained from voting. The rescinding resolution is not about restricting housing on campus, but rather about the board being diligent in considering and reconsidering potential housing solutions, Sands said. He said a new agreement with surrounding localities, called the Partnership for Progress, will be signed by the end of the academic year, providing a shared roadmap for future planning and development efforts. I welcome that debate and the creative solutions that will result, Sands said. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives before the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Kevin Lamarque/Pool Photo via AP) AP Hillary Clinton has found common ground with a former ally of President Donald Trump. Conservative media personality Piers Morgan criticized the Trump administration over its response to a leaked group text that discussed sensitive attack plans on Yemen. The Signal group text included senior administration officials and inadvertently included The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg, who reported on the group chat earlier this week. The Atlantic released the full text of the group chat on Wednesday that showed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had divulged details about an upcoming attack. However, the administration has remained adamant that the text messages did not contain war plans or classified information. Morgan was not buying the White Houses explanation. If you dont consider this to be classified info about imminent war plans, it *may* be that youre too partisan to recognise the truth when it slaps you around your tribal chops. If this had happened on Bidens watch, Republicans would have rightly gone berserk, he wrote on social media platform X. Clinton later reposted Morgans comment to agree with him. Never thought Id be retweeting Piers Morgan, but hes right! she wrote. Never thought Id be retweeting Piers Morgan, but hes right! https://t.co/YhoGqVEIY4 Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 26, 2025 Clinton has been thrust back into the national spotlight this week as Republicans defend Trumps administration by pointing to her email scandal during her time serving under President Barack Obamas administration. She was heavily criticized and investigated for using a private email system during her time as Secretary of State. The FBI investigators concluded that Clinton sent and received emails including classified information on that unclassified system, but ultimately decided to not bring charges against her. Morgan responded to Clintons post with a pointed question: Do you know much about classified info breaches? The Atlantic published the full messages of the Signal group text on Wednesday after the White House repeatedly claimed there was no classified information discussed within the chat. The Pentagon and White House have tried to deflect criticism by attacking Goldberg and The Atlantic. The magazine and Goldberg, however, repeatedly reached out to the White House before and after publication to gain additional context on the Signal chat and ensure that publishing the full texts would not cause harm. In a response, Goldberg reported Wednesday, Leavitt described some of the information as sensitive and said the White House would prefer it not be published. In the group chat, Hegseth posted multiple details about the impending strike, using military language and laying out when a strike window starts, where a target terrorist was located, the time elements around the attack and when various weapons and aircraft would be used in the strike. He mentioned that the U.S. was currently clean on operational security. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff attend an interview after meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov, at Diriyah Palace, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Evelyn Hockstein/Pool Photo via AP) AP President Donald Trump and his top advisers received backlash for their excuse of how The Atlantics top editor was included in a group chat discussing sensitive war plans. The Atlantics bombshell report revealed that senior administration officials discussed upcoming military plans to strike Yemen in a text chain on messaging app Signal. In the days since the report on Monday, the Trump administration has scrambled to explain how editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was added to the chat. As @NormOrnstein said, if its that easy to sneak onto a signal chat, that means you DEFINITELY SHOULDNT HAVE USED SIGNAL RIGHT?!?! Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) (@AdamKinzinger) March 26, 2025 New Jersey is one of only two states to have a statewide election since President Donald Trump won re-election last November. And the polling numbers arent in his favor. According to a new Stockton University Poll, a majority of New Jerseyans 54% give Trump a poor job performance compared to 37% who rated him either good (11%) or excellent (26%). Fifty-four percent think the country is headed in the wrong direction, compared to 37% who said its on the right track, per the poll. And a majority 60% said the economy is getting worse, while only 30% think its getting better. New Jersey is a blue state. But it has a history of flipping back and forth between Democratic and Republican governors. The state hasnt elected one party to the governors office for three straight terms since 1961. Incumbent Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy is term-limited this year. Voters go to the polls in June to choose their partys nominee. Trump, meanwhile, lost the state in 2024 by only 6 percentage points to Kamala Harris, compared to his 16-point loss to Joe Biden in 2020. Despite Trumps approval being underwater in New Jersey and among several national polls, CNNs Harry Enten recently broke down data that showed some silver linings for the president. Nearly half of the country currently thinks it is headed in the right direction. More from Enten on Tuesday: 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. 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. OSSOFF: Disagreements between the president and VP about US plans and intentions would be of obvious interest to foreign intelligence services, would it not? RATCLIFFE: Yes OSSOFF: And they were discussing the timing of sending US aircrews into enemy airspace where they faced pic.twitter.com/ckkvalejVx Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. Sometimes the most consequential moments in a familys past are the ones they dont talk about together very often. Decades after it made national headlines, the 1983 kidnapping and murder of Aubrey LaHaye in Evangeline Parish had become one of those events. That is, until his great-granddaughter Jordan LaHaye Fontenot decided to start digging and turn the story into a book thats part memoir and part true-crime. I realize Ive almost never heard anyone speak of Aubrey at all, Fontenot writes in Home of the Happy, out April 1. To me and my brothers and my cousins, it was almost as though he had never existed, much less been killed so spectacularly. The tragedy in which LaHaye, a retired bank owner in his 70s and an influential figure in the rural Acadiana parish, was suddenly taken from his home and killed still affects his family more than 40 years later. PawPaws murder," her dad told her, its changed everything about who we are. All our lives were changed forever. So Fontenot decided she needed to start asking her family about the very thing they avoid talking about while theyre still around to talk. As a journalist and managing editor of Country Roads magazine, she knew that would mean asking her loved ones uncomfortable questions about the darkest chapter of their family history, even in their sometimes declining health. Embarking on this journey, Ive asked myself so many times: Can I resurrect the past without casting darkness onto the present? she writes. Even after law enforcement investigations and nearly a decade of research and interviews by Fontenot, a lot remains unknown about what truly happened in 1983, including the exact time of Aubrey LaHayes death. The day he was kidnapped, the family got a ransom call, but the caller never followed up like he said he would, so they could never pay. Was it ever about money? Many suspects were floated, but ultimately, John Brady Balfa was convicted of LaHayes murder. However, there are valid questions about the timeframe of the killing, the evidence used against Balfa and claims from Balfas lawyer that the state withheld information from her that would have helped his case. Fontenot examines it all closely, even connecting with a lawyer fighting for a post-conviction appeal for Balfa all these years later, putting her in an interesting position. In the book, Fontenot wonders what her great-grandfather would think of her asking and writing about his murder. She thinks about the family tragedies that followed his death, including deaths, divorce, illness and troubles with the feds over his bank. Would these events have happened if Aubrey LaHaye didnt die? But the thing about changing the past is that you cant remove the bad without creating a ripple effect. Ultimately, her father says, his grandfathers death changed where he went to college, which led him to decide to become a doctor instead of a veterinarian. That then brought him to Galveston, where he met Fontenots mom. If PawPaw Aubrey hasnt been killed, he tells her. Im not sure you would exist. But Home of the Happy is not just a thorough examination of the murder itself and its impact on the LaHaye family. Its also interwoven with Louisiana history, as Fontenot adds context that paints the backdrop of Louisiana before and after her great-grandfather's murder. He and her great-grandmother MawMaw Emily were Cajun and spoke French before they spoke English, part of a generation that was beaten in school yards when they forgot English words, as part of the persecution of Cajuns. Aubrey LaHaye also grew up during the Black Codes following the Civil War, which required all Black people to have a white employer that not only controlled their work but also their movements, living arrangements, businesses and whether they had access to firearms. Aubreys father had almost all Black workers on his farm. Also, Balfa, related to the famous Cajun musicians in the band the Balfa Brothers, was sentenced to life at the notorious Angola State Penitentiary, and Fontenot spends time in the book discussing the abuses and reforms there over the decades, including its prison seminary program. The title of the book might not be the most expected choice for a book about a murder, but its taken from Henry Wadsworth Longfellows poem Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie, which Fontenot remembers reading in school. In that classroom, we did not learn of the Acadians Mikmaq allies, or of Halifax, or the names of our ancestors, she writes. We learned only of an idyllic, ever-faithful woman, vanished from her home into a wanderer's existence, spending the rest of her life searching, without rest, for her lost love. Fontenot will talk about "Home of the Happy" and sign copies at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, at Garden District Book Shop. Find more information on Eventbrite.com and at gardendistrictbookshop.com. The number of Louisiana students who have applied for federal financial aid for college is down 12% so far this year, even as FAFSA applications are up nationwide. VALPARAISO The City Council gave final approval to an ordinance that places requirements on businesses seeking economic incentives from the city, passing it with a 4-2 vote on Monday. Prior to its passage, the ordinance was amended to include a somewhat narrower scope and clearer guidance for when the council should grant developers exemptions from the newly created obligations. Its critics on the dais were not won over. Mayor Jon Costas, who has been skeptical of the legislation throughout a now months-long period of debate, told The Times that he has not yet decided whether to veto it. Ordinance No. 6 mandates that businesses seeking tax abatements or other economic incentives for construction projects send the city payroll data, information on their subcontractors and a list of past regulatory infractions, among other information. It also requires that they provide an apprenticeship program for the building trades involved in the project. The new rules mirror requirements placed on city contractors by Valparaiso's 2016 responsible bidder ordinance, which applies to any company seeking a public works contract worth $150,000 or more. Individual tax abatements and other economic incentives issued to developers are already subject to the case-by-case approval of the City Council. A version of Ordinance No. 6 was introduced by Councilman Robert Cotton, D-2nd, in November, reopening debate on a proposal that the councilman had previously put forward in 2018. The ordinance was tabled before being reintroduced by Cotton at the council's Feb. 23 meeting. It was approved on the first reading with four votes in favor. Councilwomen Emilie Hunt, D-at large, Ellen Kapitan, D-at large, and Barbara Domer, D-3 joined Cotton in support. The council rejected a resolution proposed by Councilmen Jack Pupillo, R-4th, and Peter Anderson, R-5th, which provided only that the council "may require an applicant commit to certain requirements" rather than imposing binding standards, with the same vote split. The ordinance was up for approval on second reading during the council's meeting on Mar. 10, but the council agreed to delay final approval of the bill at Costas' urging. The mayor, who relayed that his office had been in touch with union leaders and other stakeholder groups, told the council that he believed a "compromise ordinance" was a possibility. In the ensuing weeks, Costas met with Kapitan and Hunt, the council's respective president and vice president, but the mayor and council went into Monday's meeting without a version of the ordinance that left all parties satisfied. Costas reiterated his concern that the "untested" policy could discourage developers from doing business in the city. He was echoed by Council members Anderson and Diana Reed, D-1st, who stood by their earlier votes against the ordinance. Pupillo was absent from the meeting. "If the ordinance were to pass in its current form, there would be no formal way to know if the city were losing out on projects, as developers likely wouldn't notify us that they bypassed Valparaiso," Anderson, who attended the meeting virtually, told his colleagues. Reed said that she was "not agreeable to the entirety of the project involving private monies being dictated by this ordinance," and voiced interest in re-considering the scuttled resolution. Following the language of the RBO, Ordinance No. 6 originally set the threshold for the new requirements at $150,000 worth of city incentives. A set of amendments proposed by Hunt and approved unanimously on Monday raised it to $350,000. The amendments also add language meant to bring more clarity to the process by which developers can seek exemptions from the disclosure and apprenticeship requirements set out in the ordinance. Among other changes, the new version of Ordinance No. 6 directs the council to consider requests for exemptions favorably when they come from developers based in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties, as well as to weigh "whether requiring these conditions will have a positive or negative effect on the economic viability of the Project," when mulling exemptions. Hunt and Costas clashed over whether, in light of the council's existing discretion over financial incentives, the city would benefit from codifying an across-the-board set of criteria. The Mayor argued that the council can rely on the authority it already has to enforce high standards on developers, while the councilwoman said that the ordinance presents a clear-cut set of expectations that will make protecting the interests of local workers easier. "Ultimately at the end of the day, this ordinance says that this city requires skilled local labor when you're asking for local taxpayer dollars to pay for your project," Hunt said. Within 10 days of the ordinance's passage, Costas is obliged to either approve the ordinance or invoke his veto power and send it back to the council. The body can override a mayoral veto with two-thirds approval five "yes" votes in Valparaiso's case. "Ordinance 6 is an ordinance that I am very conflicted on. We've had some great conversations with all those affected and I really appreciate that there's been a lot of give and take," Costas told The Times. "It's just it could have a profound effect on investment in the city and so over the next 10 days I'll be getting a lot of input as to whether or not that I should let it stand or consider a veto." Asked about the prospect of a mayoral veto, Cotton told the paper that "the chips will have to fall where they may." He warned Costas against pushing back on a policy that the councilman believes enjoys broad popular support in Valparaiso, and pointed to the hostile reception that news of a potential east side data center on currently city-owned land received from Valparaiso residents. Costas initially defended the possibility that the new facility in the early stages of planning and still without a concrete proposal might prove a boon to Valparaiso, and urged constituents to wait for more details to be presented by the prospective developers. Less than a day after a barrage of anti-data center public comments were delivered at the city council's Mar. 10 meeting, however, he announced that the city would ask the developers to pull out of an option agreement for the parcel in question. "I would be surprised if he chose to offend a very large cross-section of his constituencies on the heels of having done so in a matter just three weeks ago," Cotton said. "I would be surprised if he feels like he's all that mighty or all that much more wise." 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 Grassy knoll. Conspiracy theories. Dealey Plaza. Texas School Book Depository. Zapruder film. Warren Commission. These terms have been part of the American lexicon for almost all my life, as well as these lingering questions: Was Lee Harvey Oswald the lone trigger man? Was the mafia involved? Was there a government coverup? Did police officials botch the investigation? Although I didnt have to tell you what Im talking about with those familiar terms, you already knew the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963. This is how ingrained his death and its surrounding circumstances have become in U.S. history. And in our pop culture history. Last week, the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration posted on its website more than 63,000 pages of records and unredacted secret documents from the governments JFK assassination files, following an executive order from President Donald Trump. The previously classified records are available to access online, in person, via hard copy or on analog media formats, the agency states. In an effort to maximize transparency, these records were released without redactions and some of these records contain the personal identification information of living individuals, the site states. To me, this controversial aspect turned out to be the most interesting disclosure from the long-awaited release of those dusty documents. A former campaign lawyer for Trump has already threatened to file a lawsuit for violating privacy laws by releasing his personal information. Besides that issue, I didnt expect any serious or shocking secrets to be revealed in the JFK files. As with most things in life, I expected something between hysteria and disappointment. As I wrote in 2017 when the government was required to release the files, The documents would be interesting to historians, intriguing to conspiracy theorists, but boring to the rest of us. This prediction remains true today. Most of us likely shrugged at the findings or didn't bother to do any research on our own. And why should we at this point? The President believes that these documents should be made available in the interests of full transparency, the White House told Americans in October, 2017. This is another overused term in the American lexicon full transparency regarding our federal government. Not because it actually happens but because it rarely does, regardless of administration. Imagine the conspiracies and mysteries that will continue to linger a half century from now about the current presidential administration. There are things taking place behind the scenes of public view that we know nothing about and its rare if its revealed. For example, when top national security officials texted war plans for upcoming military strikes in Yemen to a group chat in a commercial messaging app that included the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic, as the magazine reported in a story posted online Monday. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a crackdown on leaks of sensitive information, including the potential use of polygraphs on defense personnel to determine how reporters have received information. There will always be lies, leaks and whistleblowers in every administration, but so many things will never be revealed or released. The newly released JFK assassination files serve as a reminder that much of what is taking place in our federal government today and in our lifetime will never be known even after it becomes declassified for public view. The massive JFK document dump did little to quell decades-old conspiracy theories about Lee Harvey Oswald, Jack Ruby, CIA coverups, and other remnants from that infamous case. The chase for the truth will go on forever, I suspect, Philip Shenon, who wrote a book about JFKs assassination, told The Associated Press. The same result will happen decades from now when our children and grandchildren look back on todays lies, mysteries and conspiracies. Fortunately, history has its eyes on the current administration, just as it did with former President Joe Biden and his contemporary predecessors from this era. For a moment, take a step back from everything taking place these days the divisiveness, the polarization, the propaganda. We should broaden our scope of the bigger picture by using the time capsule of the JFK files as a reminder that too much of what is taking place in our federal government will never be known. Clandestine meetings, classified documents, whispered conversations, secret directives, and more. This may be maddening to Americans, or reassuring to those in power, but its most certainly true. Imagine how the chase for the truth will unfold in coming years and decades about Trump, Biden, partisan politics and the current state of our nation. The chase will continue indefinitely. The truth is assassinated repeatedly. Ethio Telecom has announced a meeting with financial giant Mastercard to explore how the two companies can leverage technology to upgrade digital financial services. The state-owned operators CEO, Frehiwot Tamru (pictured), met with a Mastercard delegation led by Mastercard Africa President Mark Elliott. The potential partnership aims to integrate Ethio Telecoms mobile finance platform, Telebirr, with Mastercards technology to enhance financial solutions further, significantly expand financial inclusion, and promote sustainable growth. Neither company provided further details on how Mastercards technology would enhance Telebirr. With 52 million customers as of January, Telebirr presents a significant opportunity for Mastercard to expand its reach in Ethiopias fast-growing digital payments market. In recent years, the Ethiopian government has opened its economy to international investment. In 2022, Safaricom entered the market as the countrys second mobile operator, competing against incumbent Ethio Telecom. An Indonesian man loves his workplace so much that he has named his son after it. His 5-month-old boys name is Statistical Information Communication Office Even before he got married, Samet Wahyudi knew that if he ever had a son, he wanted to name him after the department he worked in as a civil servant. He made that very clear to his fiance before they got married, and she accepted his condition. Their first child was a girl, so Samet agreed on a more conventional name for her, but when his wife, Linda, gave birth to their second child, a boy, in December of last year, he knew exactly what his name would be Statistical Information Communication Office. Indonesian media reported on the childs unusual name earlier this month, after checking the countrys name registration database. Samet Wahyudi told reporters that he got a job as a civil servant in the city of Brebes in 2003, and he has been working Statistical Information Communication Office ever since. This place has become like a second home for him, so he wanted it connected to his son somehow. Born on December 23, 2020, Statistical Information Communication Office will probably have a tough time introducing himself with his full name, which is why his parents have already chosen a nickname for him, Dinko. Asked if he has given any thought to how his son will feel about his name when he grows up, the Indonesian civil servant said that he is sure the boy will get used to it eventually. Samets wife, Linda, accepted the bizarre name right away, but her parents had some objections that they eventually dropped, after hearing about the deal the parents had even before they were married. Hopefully, Statistical Information Communication Office doesnt end up taking his parents to court for ruining his childhood with this weird name. A German man has been unable to find employment for the last four years after having his ID card stolen during a trip to London and waking up with a lengthy criminal record to his name. 24-year-old Rami Battikhs nightmare began five years ago, following a short holiday in London in 2019. He had traveled to the UK with his passport and ID card, but at one point realized that he no longer had the latter. He assumed that he had lost it or had it stolen but didnt think much of it and used the passport to return to Germany, where he simply applied for another ID card. The young man carried on with his life, finished his studies, and after completing his vocational apprenticeship at Vodafone finance in Bonn, he was offered a job opportunity at the corporation and another one with the local tax office. Rami had a brilliant career in front of him, but before he could make up his mind about what job offer to accept, both opportunities evaporated because a routine check revealed that he had a criminal record in the UK. Photo: generic photo (Unsplash) I couldnt believe it, Battikh recalls. I told my employers that it was not true that for sure it was not me, that I had proof I wasnt in the UK at that time as I was in Tunisia at the time and had stamps on my passport to prove it. But they just said they couldnt just take my word over a police record. Rami Battikhs bizarre criminal record can be traced back to 2021, when someone fraudulently using his ID was jailed by Wood Green Crown Court in London for 18 months over a number of offenses, including driving without a licence or insurance, fraud by false representation, and possession of a false or improperly obtained identity document. Battikh hired a solicitor in the UK to try and remedy the situation, and although the mixup was first acknowledged by a Wood Green Crown Court and their successor, the UK Metropolitan Police Department did not erase his criminal record. To make matters worse, 14 months later, more crimes were added to his criminal record, including possession of a knife in a public place. I was in disbelief, I thought what is wrong with the UK? They have already said I am not the criminal and my ID was stolen because the court confirmed this. But why can they not delete my name from the record? I was really upset, the 24-year-old told The Guardian newspaper. Desperate to have his UK criminal record erased, Rami Battikh has written to the Met, which appears to be the only authority with the power to modify the online database, offering to provide DNA or fingerprints which he had taken at a German police station to prove that he was not the person who had committed the offences in his criminal record. This fraud destroys my life. I cant get any jobs. Please, if you need I will give you my fingerprints, a hair strand I cant live like this any more. I am innocent, and I never did any of those criminal acts, the young man pleaded. Unable to find anyone willing to hire him with a criminal record, Rami has had to sell his car to cover bills and is sharing his nightmarish experience because he doesnt know what else to do. Unfortunately, the Met has yet to fix its blunder and give Battikh his life back. We are aware of this case and we continue to work with other agencies to progress this with a view to having the situation rectified, the Met said in a recent statement on the issue. We understand that the length of time this has taken has added to the concern and upset, but aim to provide an update to the applicant in the near future. HUNTER, which announced its integration with KWT Global in January, is representing Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Tripadvisor. The agencys team will be led by former KWT global head of consumer Matthew Levison, who now heads HUNTERs travel & hospitality practice. For Fairmont, the agency will be responsible for generating earned media to enhance brand awareness, affinity and positioning, along with crafting and executing a communications strategy to bring Fairmonts vision to life in the US. Travel guidance platform Tripadvisor is bringing on HUNTER as AOR for the United States, tasked with developing and executing results-driven PR campaigns in support of wider brand building efforts and promoting priority products and services. Magrino adds The Ocean Club Residences, Four Seasons, Bahamas, to its client roster. The agencys efforts will focus on earned media outreach for the project, targeting luxury lifestyle, real estate, travel and design publications. Magrino has a long history with The Ocean Club, having represented the property for a number of years including the resorts initial development and launch. The new project is a joint effort from luxury hospitality company Four Seasons, investment firm Access Real Estate, and Two Roads Development. Anticipated to open in 2028 and set within an oceanfront enclave on Paradise Island in The Bahamas, the residential community will have 67 turnkey private residences. Merlot Marketing is named AOR for Swedencare, a provider of premium pet health products and supplements. Merlot is working with Swedencare to drive key public relations and communications efforts. Its efforts will include Digitally Integrated News Releases (DiNR), MAT releases and targeted outreach to increase brand awareness and industry engagement within the product category. Swedencare specializes in dental and wellness products for dogs and cats. "We've seen impressive results from Merlot Marketing's work with our subsidiary NaturVet," said Swedencare global marketing manager Sara Ahlstrom. Mike Johnson Foreign leaders, who have stood up to Donald Trump, have been rewarded by jumps in their popularity at home, according to a story in the Financial Times. Trump bootlickers in Americas Republican Party would be wise to take a look at the article. It might encourage them to grow spines that are necessary to curb King Donalds attack on the US Constitution. Trumps ridicule of Canada as the 51st state has done wonders for its Liberal Party and new prime minister Mark Carney, who has basically told the president to take a hike. The Liberals were slated to be swamped by the Conservatives until Trump went into full tariff mode against Canada. They are now favored to beat the Conservatives in the upcoming election. Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky also is riding high these days after he was bludgeoned by Trump and VP JD Vance during their televised Oval Office meeting. His approval rate shot up to 67 percent, which is the highest level since 2023. The FT article is especially a must-read for Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who has totally abdicated the responsibilities of his position, which is supposed to the No. 3 most powerful one in the US government. Its high time for Trumps No. 1 fanboy, Johnson, to start acting like a leader. Greenland did not invite Second Lady Usha Vance to attend the March 29 running of the Avannaata Qimusserua, which the New York Times dubbed the Super Bowl of dogsled races. It blasted her upcoming visit, accompanied by national security advisor Michael Waltz, as highly aggressive. The Danish territory definitely did not invite the obnoxious JD Vance to swing by to check out the security of Greenland. The guy just has a knack of saying the wrong thing and pissing people off. His security comment comes after he participated in one of the biggest national security breaches in recent US history: the infamous Signal group chat, in which former and future Fox News talking head Pete Hegseth discussed battle plans to take out the Houthis of Yemen. "I just hate bailing Europe out again, whined Vance. Hegseth said he fully shared Vances loathing of European free-loading. Usha is now skipping the dogsled derby, and will join her husband in touring a US military base in Pituffik. Its really important: a lot of other countries have threatened Greenland, have threatened to use its territories and waterways to threaten the United States, to threaten Canada, and of course to threaten the people of Greenland, the VP posted on X. Bingo, JD. Thats pretty funny. The only person threatening Greenland these days is your boss. Can they really be that crass? There is still time for the White House to call off plans to transform the Easter Egg Roll into a sleazy corporate sponsorship shindig. According to a nine-page pitch, sponsorships can be had from $75K to $200K, covering things like booths, logo placement, product giveaways, and tickets for a brunch with Melania Trump. The April 21 event provides an opportunity for the First Lady to expand her grifter catalog to the Easter season. Shes still hawking a $90 USA Christmas ornament that features her signature. But alas, the $75 Vote Liberty, Let it Snow, and Love & Freedom ornaments have been sold out. Just like Melania has sold out the dignity of her office. The Offaly family of a young woman have set up a GofundMe page in the hope to help with the growing costs of life extending treatment being received in Germany. Teri Daly, 39, a young mother originally from rural Offaly now living in Co Wicklow, was diagnosed with Anaplastic Ependymoma an aggressive form of brain and spinal cancer in January 2025. Mary Daly, Teri's sister in law said, "We were all devastated when we received the news. Teri is always busy, always on the go involved in so many great things, she's a great mother, friend and sister. She just loves life." After undergoing two major surgeries in Beaumont Hospital the next step is Proton Treatment which she will receive in Essen Germany. The HSE will fund the cost of this treatment. Her family have set up a GofundMe page in an attempt to help with the growing costs of travel, accommodation and living expenses whilst she is receiving treatment. There is no cure for this aggressive form of cancer the treatment aims to extend Teri's life allowing more time with her beautiful daughter Skye. The family wish to extend their deepest gratitude to all that have donated to date saying the are overwhelmed by the generosity of people. The page has already received nearly 7000 out of a 10,000 goal. You can donate to Teri's GoFundMe page HERE READ NEXT: THROWBACK TUESDAY: Out and about for a night on the town across Offaly from the archives THE well known Shinrone centenarian Mabel Wallace passed away on Saturday March 8 last, peacefully in her home, at the age of 101, bringing in a number of tributes from those whose lives she touched. Among them was the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland in Bellefield House Shinrone. The RHSI pointed out that Mabel was a very independent lady, driving herself over to Bellefield in February to the snowdrop weekend. She often came to have coffee with the volunteers on Wednesday mornings and the documentary about her life, 100 Years of Change was a great conversation piece, giving insight into rural life as told by Mabel. The RHSI presented her with a very special tree (Quercus dentata Karl Ferris Miller) which she planted herself in the grounds to mark her 100th birthday. Community was central to Mabels life, said the RHSI. She was involved in many local activities and will be greatly missed by her many friends in RHSI Bellefield and the wider Shinrone and Birr community. Our thoughts go to her children Julian, Kathy and Edwina, her god-daughter Joanna and her extended family. The Royal British Legion Republic of Ireland also paid tribute: It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Mrs. Mabel Wallace of Shinrone, Co. Offaly, at the remarkable age of 101. Mabel was a wonderful woman and a dedicated Poppy volunteer, whose kindness and commitment touched many lives. She will be deeply missed. May she rest in peace. The Legion recalled that in September 2019 RBL ROI District Officers and members of the Limerick and Midlands & Kildare Branches were privileged to join the congregation of St Marys Church Shinrone in a celebration of 40 years of dedicated service to the Poppy Appeal in Ireland by Mabel. "Mabel was presented with her 40 year Legion medal by Col Darren Doherty, UK Defence Attache and a letter of congratulations to her from local TD & Minister of Justice Charlie Flanegan was read out. Mabel, whose uncle Lt John Cecil Kenny of 3 Bn RIR (18th Foot) was killed in WW1 near San Quentin, took over the Poppy collection from the wife of Col Lloyd about 1978. Every year following she travelled the breath of her county distributing poppies to local churches and homes in Offaly, collecting donations for veterans' welfare from local villages including Borisnafarney, Aghancon, Shinrone, Modreeney, Cloughjordan, Kinnitty and Dunkerrin. "In 2019 Mabel passed the baton to her niece, Rowena Kenny. We cannot say how much Mabel has contributed to the work of the Legion over the decades but it must be considerable. The veterans of Ireland were very grateful to her for her support. In 2023 local filmmaker Nicholas Ryan Purcell produced an excellent documentary which focused on the life of Mabel. The documentary was called 100 Years of Change and hundreds of people saw it and loved it in venues across the midlands. Using details from interviews and archival material, Nicholas successfully brought to life an era long gone. This was a sometimes poignant documentary which celebrated a life fully lived. It focusses on a resilient woman, said Nicholas, who inspires us. Many topics were discussed during the film, drawing back the veil on a world of decades ago, a world which felt very different indeed. For example Mabel recalled the old agricultural methods, such as a horse-drawn reaper and binder pulled by horses, making butter and watching a neighbour making bread in an open hearth fire. She also talked about learning essential household methods in school such as sewing and cooking, the significance of the Birr to Roscrea railway line (including loading cattle at the Sharavogue siding), and getting on the train at Brosna station near Shinrone. Throughout the decades Mable engaged in extensive community work, including being involved with Meals on Wheels and Daffodil Day. The Church of Ireland tradition in the rural parish of Shinrone was discussed, as well as experiencing the thrill of the Ormond Hunt and the exhilarating world of point-to-point racing. In 2022 the weekly coffee morning held in Cloughmoyle Old schoolhouse Shinrone was filled to capacity to celebrate Mabel's 99th birthday and to honour this remarkable Christian woman. Family and friends from near and far were present to hear praises led by Rev. Janet White Spunner, Canon Arthur Minion and, making the trip from Dublin, was Fr Peter McVerry, who spoke of the Christian generosity shown by Mabel to the Peter McVerry Trust for many years. Also present were Canon Ruth Gill, Rev Tom Kingston, with apologies from the Lord Abbot, who was on pilgrimage. Right up until the end, in spite of her lofty age, Mabel still possessed an impressive level of mental acuity. In 100 Years of Change Mabel and the narrator John Kenny take us on a tour deep into the past, into the world of the 1920s and the decades following which were so vastly different compared with today. This was a world with many difficulties and challenges, of course, but it was also a world of fun, colour and elegance. The film was in fact a vital historical document which recalled what living on a farm was like in the South Offaly / North Tipperary area during the early and middle decades of the 20th Century. Mabel was born on September 18, 1923 to Harry and Winifred Kenny who lived in a lovely house with a large farm called Prospect, which was near Shinrone. Her mother was the only child of Major Henry Shepherd from Ballingarry. Her Dad grew up in Clyduff House Roscrea. His world growing up, she told me, when I interviewed her a few years ago, was dominated by horses. Horses could make money for a person; they could be dangerous and had to be treated with due respect; but they also gave much enjoyment to their riders. Harry, Mabel said, felt and understood all these things. Above all, he loved being around horses and he passed on this love to his daughter who saw horseriding throughout her life as being not just a practical thing but also a wonderful way to pass one's recreational time and to detach for a while from the demands and difficulties of life. Mable loved growing up in Prospect. Looking back on it she felt blessed to have had a childhood like that, a childhood with loving parents, a childhood surrounded by beautiful Irish countryside and lots of horses. Prospect was a large, attractive farmhouse with about 300 acres and their lives growing up in the 1920s and 1930s were fun-filled, hardworking and, of course, so very different. There were so many things in our lives which we take for granted now which we didn't have back in the 1920s and 1930s, she says. We didn't have electricity. We didn't have a car. We used a horse and trap. We acquired our first motorcar sometime in the 1930s at a time when not many people owned a car. In 100 Years of Change she recalled the great excitement the whole family felt when they surveyed their new motorcar, an acquisition which opened up a whole world of new possibilities. Among many other things it meant we could drive to Dublin for various events, including the Spring Show in the RDS. They loved attending the Spring Show during which pure bred cattle were displayed, farm machinery was on sale, and there were show jumping and pony jumping events. I started riding at the age of three and a half and my first steed was a donkey. My brothers, Henry and George, and I pretty much ran feral across the farm and countryside until I was six or seven when a Governess, a Ms Aitkens, came into our lives and much of our freedom was curtailed. They didn't go to the local national school in Shinrone, but instead were schooled at home by their Governess, a regime which was punctuated by meals with their parents. The large farm at Prospect was a mixed enterprise, incorporating cattle, sheep and tillage. Six men were employed to carry out the many daily tasks on the farm. We had a herd of beef cattle which were taken to fairs once a month to be sold. There were no trucks of course to load them up. They had to be walked to the fairs. At the age of 12 she was sent to boarding school, the French School in Bray which was a top class boarding school for many years but closed its doors in the mid 1960s. The school was initially a huge shock to Mabel because for the first time she had left the confines of her Offaly home, but she soon settled in and eventually grew to enjoy her schooldays. After leaving school she met Hume Wallace, and fell in love. They got married in 1945. Hume's Dad was a GP in Roscrea. The couple moved into Ballincor House, a big house with 450 acres, near Shinrone. Hume was an Agricultural Science graduate from Trinity. Hume passed away in 2000 at the age of 85. After his death Mabel ran the farm in Ballincor for six years until she downsized and moved to a nearby bungalow near decent neighbours, friends and family and surrounded by the Offaly pastoral countryside which she loved so much and which she spent so much time in, still in the parish of Shinrone where she lived most of her life. A woman accused of being involved in a fuel scam that netted over 4,000 from fuel stations in the midlands in a two day period will return before Longford District Court on May 20. Julie Nevin (27) of 114 MacEoin Park, Longford faces a total of 30 charges. The first charge is that on dates unknown in November 2023 at Circle K Head Office, Beech Hill Office campus, Clonskeagh, Dublin 4 she dishonestly issued details for a business account for Julie's Carpet Cleaner to make gains. Prior to the substantial charges Ms Nevin is accused of stealing diesel worth 137.78, on December 10, 2023 from Corrib Oil Racecourse road, Roscommon and on March 11, 2025 taking diesel valued at 81.26 from Circle K Lanesboro. READ NEXT: Leading Offaly hotel given green light for extension and other works The bulk of the charges stem from December 9, 2023 and December 10 2023 when the defendant is accused of taking fuels ranging in price from 9.52 to 891 from fuel stations in Athlone, Mullingar, Roscommon, and Longford. Sergeant Enda Daly said the DPP had consented to summary disposal of the matter on a plea of guilty only. Sgt Daly told the court there was no objection to bail on conditions that were set out. Judge Owens then adjourned the matter to a sitting of the District Court on May 20, 2025. READ NEXT: Green light for new tourist accommodation in Offaly An Offaly man was convicted of assaulting a garda after Judge Andrew Cody viewed CCTV footage from inside Tullamore Garda Station during the March 19 sitting of Tullamore District Court. The footage was screened in the courtroom, where the defendant, James Shanley, Ballycrumlin, Ballinagar, appeared on a charge of assaulting Garda Mark McCallon, causing him harm, on June 2, 2024 at Tullamore Garda Station. He was also charged with public drunkenness and a breach of the peace at O'Connor Square, Tullamore on the same date. The CCTV captured a corridor in the Garda Station where a man suddenly emerged from a doorway and a scuffle followed involving himself and Gardai. Judge Andrew Cody did not accept a defence from Patrick Martin, solicitor, that Mr Shanley had fallen forward off a chair and had been handcuffed at the time and hadn't intentionally assaulted the Guard. Judge Cody said the accused had been standing up. It was a deliberate assault. There was nothing accidental about it. Sergeant Brendan Kearns told the court that Mr Shanley had been ejected from a premises in town and had been shouting abuse in O'Connor Square. "In the station, when he was handcuffed, he drove his head into Garda McCallon's face which caused a swollen lip, a headache and nausea to Garda McCallon. READ NEXT: Much admired daffodils destroyed along canal bank in Tullamore "There was no permanent damage but Garda McCallon couldn't attend at the station and do his job for the following two months. Sergeant Kearns said the defendant had 13 previous convictions, including assault and possession of drugs. Mr Martin said his client is 36 years of age, is in part-time employment and suffers from epilepsy. He apologises for his behaviour. The solicitor added that the defendant was pleading guilty to the offences. The Judge said he would be ordering Mr Shanley to pay 5,000 in compensation. READ NEXT: Leading Offaly hotel given green light for extension and other works Mr Martin told the judge his client had 1,400 in court and would come up with the remainder if given time. His client had not drunk alcohol since the incident, added the solicitor. Judge Cody said he would give three months for the compensation to be paid and added that the Garda had been doing his duty when the assault happened. He remanded Mr Shanley on continuing bail to appear in court again in three months time. A former Tipperary Sinn Fein TD has spoken out about the chaotic scenes in the Dail yesterday and about the accusation of lewd gestures against Tipperary Independent TD, Deputy Michael Lowry, "The strokes pulled by the Government and the Regional Independents in the Dail on Tuesday are deeply concerning and deserve widespread condemnation", representatives of Tipperary's Sinn Fein group said this morning (Wed Mar 26). "The Government's decision to change Dail rules with the backing of the Ceann Comhairle, to create another member's slot stinks of stroke politics just to appease Government-supporting TDs like Michael Lowry and his grouping during Taoiseach's Questions", the statement sent to Tribune signed on behalf of Tipperary Sinn Fein, Martin Browne and Dean McGrath says. "The events of the past few months, begs the question, what has Michael Lowry over Micheal Martin and the Government that they are going to such lengths to facilitate him in such a fashion. This again led to the Dail being adjourned amidst cries of shame from Opposition TDs, It is essential that all members of the Dail, pledge to uphold the principles of democratic accountability, and the proper functioning of our legislative institutions. The people of Ireland deserve nothing less", they said. "Since the idea of a technical group made up of TDs who were involved in the negotiation of the Programme for Government was suggested, opposition parties have been outraged, and they came together and insisted that any TDs involved in government formation talks should not be given speaking time which would otherwise be given to them, and the Ceann Comhairle ruled in favour of the opposition on this, but has since reneged on her ruling. "Its clear that the Ceann Comhairle is as much a part of the government as Michael Lowrys group apparent in the way she rammed through yesterday votes without following the usual procedure. As the Government refuse to make public the contents of the deal, we are calling on Deputy Lowry to come clean and to inform the public. "Furthermore, the incident involving Deputy Michael Lowry making an offensive gesture towards opposition benches, is reprehensible and falls far below the standards of conduct expected within our national parliament. We also call on Deputy Mattie Mc Grath to explain why he voted to push this deal through despite the widespread opposition to it. "For decades, no government was worried about how much speaking time the back benchers got. Michael Martin claiming that it is only eight extra minutes is a smokescreen for reducing the 90 minutes to 45 minutes speaking rights during Leader's question time on Wednesday. "This is not democracy", Martin Browne said. READ NEXT: Controversial IPAS centre in Midlands town will not go ahead If youve ever swiped your card at a store or entered your payment details online, you expect that transaction to be safe. Starting March 31, 2025, businesses in Australia that process credit or debit card payments will be required to strengthen their security systems. These changes come from the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS), a global set of guidelines designed to prevent fraud and protect sensitive financial data. The latest version, PCI DSS v4.x, introduces stricter security measures. One major change? Businesses must now use a Web Application Firewall (WAF)a technology designed to block cyber threats before they can access payment systems. Companies that dont comply could face serious penalties, with fines ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 per month. Whats changing? One of the biggest updates is the mandatory use of a Web Application Firewall (WAF). If youve ever installed antivirus software on your computer or phone, you know it scans for potential threats. A WAF works similarly, but for websites and online payment systems. Before this update, businesses had another option: instead of using a WAF, they could conduct periodic security checks. Thats like only checking your homes security system once a year instead of having an alarm that constantly monitors for break-ins. With cybercriminals becoming more advanced, that approach is no longer enoughhence, the requirement for continuous protection through a WAF. These changes directly impact how safely your payment information is handled. Stronger security means your card details are less likely to be stolen or misused when you shop online or in stores. John Yang, Vice President, APJ for Progress, explains: PCI DSS is an extensive standard, but theres one change that any organisation can start adopting today, and thats implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF). Up until now, the standard offered an alternative to deploying a WAF. But from March 31, 2025, as per the section 6.4 and specifically requirement 6.4.2 the use of a WAF will be a mandatory requirement. In simple terms, this means businesses can no longer take shortcuts when it comes to protecting customer transactions. But beyond just meeting compliance requirements, WAFs actually make businesses more secure. Yang highlights that as cyber threats become more sophisticated, this extra layer of defense will protect both companies and customers from fraud, identity theft, and financial losses. The good news is that beyond simply ticking a compliance box, WAFs can greatly improve an organisations security. What does a WAF actually do? Think of the internet like a crowded airport. A WAF acts as security screening, checking every visitor before letting them through. If someone suspicious tries to enterlike a hacker trying to steal credit card detailsthe WAF stops them at the door. A WAF helps block a variety of cyber threats. One major risk is cross-site scripting (XSS), where hackers inject malicious code into a website to steal login details or manipulate transactions. Then theres the threat of denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, where hackers flood a website with traffic until it crashes, making it impossible for customers to make purchases. Botnet attacks and web scraping are another concernautomated programs can steal or manipulate data, sometimes even using fake transactions to exploit security weaknesses. Lastly, data leaks and cookie tampering put sensitive user information at risk, potentially exposing credit card numbers or personal details. Without a WAF, businesses are wide open to these types of attacks, which can result in stolen payment details, website crashes, or fraudulent transactions. How will businesses adapt? Some companies already have WAFs in place, but othersespecially smaller businessesmay need to upgrade their security systems. Experts recommend starting with a risk assessment to determine how vulnerable a website or payment system is to cyber threats. From there, businesses must select a WAF that fits their needs; a small online store wont require the same level of protection as a major bank. To ensure proper setup, the OWASP Core Ruleset is a valuable free resource that helps businesses configure WAFs effectively and strengthen their defenses against cyberattacks. Yang advises businesses to act now, rather than waiting until the deadline approaches: Businesses can start by assessing the specific security requirements of the web application for which the WAF will be handling access requests, and select a WAF that aligns with those needs. I also recommend looking at the OWASP Core Ruleset which is a very helpful resource to help effectively configure and manage WAFs. The push for stronger security is part of a larger global trend. Cyberattacks on financial systems are increasing, and regulators worldwide are tightening security requirements to keep up. For businesses, failing to comply means fines and potential reputational damage. For consumers, it means safer transactions and a reduced risk of fraud. So, whats next? Over the coming months, businesses will be working to meet these requirements, making the shopping experience more secure than everboth online and in-store. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. A man accused of the brutal rape of a young woman in Letterkenny last year will stand trial at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin in January, 2026. A trial date has been fixed commencing on January 12, 2026. The accused man is in his 20s and cannot be named at this point. The man has appeared at various sittings of Letterkenny District Court both in person and by videolink. Garda Sergeant Jim Collins recently told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had consented that the accused be sent forward to the current sitting of the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. Details of the direction were given in court by a translator in the Arabic language. Detective Garda Lorna Doherty told the court she had served a book of evidence on the accused man's solicitor, Mr Patsy Gallagher. The court had previously heard how the accused was arrested following an incident on Sunday, October 20, 2024, which left a woman with horrendous and brutal injuries. The woman did not know her alleged attacker. Detectives later conducted door-to-door enquiries and witnesses told of hearing a woman scream. The defendant was later arrested by Gardai. During a swoop of the suspects address, Gardai found items of clothing heavily stained in blood. The accused man is now facing four charges arising out of the alleged incident off Lower Main Street in Letterkenny. He was charged with a count of the rape of a woman, contrary to section 4 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act, 1990. He was also charged that he did intentionally or recklessly strangle the woman. The charge is contrary to section 3A (1) (a) and 3 (3) of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 (as inserted by section 21 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023). Previously, he was charged another count of the rape of a woman, contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act, 1990, and with assault causing harm, contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. An application for bail for the accused was turned down by Judge Eiteain Cunningham. Gallagher, said he was requesting two counsel for the trial and said he was reserving his request for bail, noting that bail had already been refused in the High Court. READ NEXT: Six arrested in Spain as part of Irish and International drug trafficking bust Running a small business in Australia has never been easy, and right now, small business owners are facing an added challenge: a growing skills shortage. From managing cash flow and keeping customers happy, to now dealing with the need for skilled workers, the pressure is mounting. The Small Business Skills and Training Needs Survey 2024, conducted by the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA), brings these issues to light, showing that many small businesses are struggling to meet their workforce needs. A growing skills gap The survey results show a concerning trend: 56% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) say they have a moderate skills gap, and 13% consider it an acute crisis. Even more concerning, 21% predict this problem will get worse in the next three to five years. Only 8% of SMEs feel fully prepared for the future. The survey covered a range of industries, including retail, healthcare, and construction, and found that businesses across these sectors are struggling with the same core issues. When it comes to the most crucial skills, soft skillslike communication, time management, and leadershiptop the list for 87% of business owners. Following closely are sales, marketing, and industry-specific skills, which are important to 78% of business owners. However, the problem is that many job applicants lack these skills, along with additional qualities like self-management and accountability. Many business owners feel they cant find workers who meet their basic needs. On top of this, hiring skilled workers has become even harder since the COVID-19 pandemic, with fewer skilled migrants coming to Australia. The Temporary Skills Migration Income Threshold has also made it more difficult to bring in overseas talent. This has made the hiring process a nightmare for many SMEs. Training staff to fill these skills gaps is equally difficult. Over 54% of SMEs say that training costs are just too high, and 64% say they cant afford to take time away from the business to train employees. Many also point out that the available training programs are outdated or lack the flexibility that small businesses need. One business owner explained it simply: Small businesses dont have the luxury of big budgets for staff trainingwe need programs that provide real value for every dollar and minute spent. The tech challenge The role of new technology in business is another issue. The rise of AI, modern machinery, and other digital tools means that businesses will need even more tech skills in the near future. According to the survey, 90% of SMEs say they will need these skills soon. Specifically, 28% need training in digital literacy, and 23% need to understand how to use new equipment. But the current training programs just arent cutting it52% of SMEs say the available training is either outdated or irrelevant to their needs. One business owner pointed out that the emphasis on Bachelors degrees is often too expensive and doesnt work well for mature workers looking to upskill. SMEs need practical, short-term training options instead of long university degrees. When it comes to what they need most, financial support is at the top of the list. 86% of SMEs want training subsidies from the government, while others are asking for wage subsidies (48%), tax breaks (43%), and payroll tax exemptions (35%). Beyond money, flexibility is essential. 71% of business owners prefer a mix of on-the-job training combined with classroom learning, rather than rigid, one-size-fits-all programs. Apprenticeships, however, get a mixed response. Only 25% of SMEs rated apprenticeships as a positive experience, while 58% were neutral and 8% found them to be negative. Business owners highlighted that apprenticeships often offer limited pathways and are not always aligned with industry needs. One owner explained: We need more certificate-level options and training thats tailored to the needs of our specific industries. How SMEs can address these issues The surveys findings provide clear guidance for SMEs looking to improve their workforce skills and tackle the challenges ahead. Here are three key actions SMEs can take right now: The government offers several funding opportunities, including training grants and wage subsidies. Many SMEs are already accessing these resources through industry associations (45% of respondents), and its important for businesses to explore these options. A free training course or subsidized apprenticeship could make a huge difference in reducing costs and filling skills gaps. Many business owners are moving away from long, costly degrees and opting for micro-credentials, which are short, focused courses that teach practical skills. These are cheaper and faster, and 71% of SMEs say they prefer a mix of on-the-job learning combined with classroom-based training. SMEs should check with their industry bodies to find out what options are available. Since over 90% of SMEs agree that tech skills will be crucial in the future, its time to work with training providers to demand more courses on AI, cybersecurity, and other essential tools. Training programs need to evolve quickly to meet the needs of todays businesses, and SMEs should advocate for faster updates to ensure that the courses remain relevant. Small businesses arent large corporations with dedicated HR departments and training budgets. SMEs are lean, flexible, and often stretched thin. As one owner put it: We dont have time to send staff away for lengthy courses, and mental health is suffering due to cash flow problems and an inadequate online presence. The survey makes it clear that SMEs need affordable, flexible, and tech-savvy training optionsnot in the future, but right now. With the cost of living rising and economic uncertainty ahead, investing in training and upskilling is no longer optionalits a matter of survival for small businesses. So, start small: check with your industry association, look for subsidies, or try out a micro-course. Your businessand your peace of mindcant afford to wait. More here. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. I want to recommend three new books about abolishing police and prisons. And I want to recommend multi-issue abolitionism beyond those two institutions. What else would I abolish? Well, a list might start with war, fossil fuels, militaries, prisons, nuclear energy, police, nuclear weaponry, campaign bribery, health insurance companies, the death penalty, the livestock industry, Wall Street, borders, poverty, the NSA, the CIA, the United States Senate, Fox News, MSNBC, the Star Spangled Banner, the cyber truck. I could go on. Lists will vary around the world. By abolitionism I mean, primarily, persuading masses of people of the superiority of a new way of doing things, and effecting the political changes to create that new way of doing things. You can't get rid of police or prisons or wars or Fox News by blowing up a building or zeroing out a budget, if people are all left believing that they need or want those institutions. The darn things will quickly be back stronger than before. Persuading people that there is a better way than police or nukes or oil is a major project. Persuading them of several of these things at once may sound dramatically and senselessly more difficult. On the other hand, many of the same arguments that apply to one topic apply to several others. The survival of life on Earth actually requires a sort of panabolitionism. And if we were ever to combine the energies of all the people who each want one destructive, counterproductive institution abolished, together we'd have a lot of power. The new books I have in mind are Talking About Abolition: A Police-Free World Is Possible by Sonali Kolhatkar; Skyscraper Jails: The Abolitionist Fight Against Jail Expansion in New York City by Jarrod Shanahan and Zhandarka Kurti; and No Cop City, No Cop World: Lessons from the Movement by Micah Herskind, Mariah Parker, and Kamau Franklin. These books are not the persuasive case for abolition, so much as accounts of the struggles of activists who work for abolition or for steps toward abolition. There are such things as partial steps toward abolition, just as there are such things as false steps that do not lead in that direction (even if they pretend to). In Talking About Abolition, Cat Brooks is quoted as saying that "the data and the logic" establish that housing, mental health support, living-wage jobs, healthcare, and education reduce violent crime more than police and prisons do. But of course that doesn't strike some people as "logic" at all. So the data becomes very important, including international and regional comparisons. One good source of data -- here -- establishes overwhelmingly that moving at least part of what gets spent on prisons and police into other programs would accomplish more, not less, of what prisons and police claim to be for, namely reducing violent crime -- programs such as trauma assistance, hospital case workers, mentoring, training, jobs, courses on preventing sexual violence, and such as summer jobs, financial support, sports, positive parenting, early childcare, etc. The reason why it's "logical" that general investment in better lives reduces crime more than police and prisons do, is in part because so many crimes arise out of misery, and in part because places that have made those investments tend to have less violent crime than places that have invested instead in police and prisons. This is not a new discovery, or a truth that simply sets us free. There are a couple of major longstanding hurdles. First, U.S. city budgets often devote a huge percentage to police, and the primary reason seems to be antidemocratic corruption by profiteers, moneyed interests, and police unions. All of this is, of course, a perfect parallel to a national government's war spending and its causes. Second, just as when someone hears about war abolition they want to know what to do when Hitler comes to get them, when someone hears about police abolition, they want to know whom they should call in an emergency. Cat Brooks' answer that you should deal with it yourself or "hush" is not likely to persuade everyone. As with war, so with police, a major part of the answer will strike the skeptic as evasive. If you demilitarize the world, if you establish the rule of law, if you create nonviolent conflict resolution mechanisms, if you set up populations with training in unarmed civilian defense, if you get rid of the weapons, etc., life on Earth might survive and even prosper with the redirection of resources, and Hitler (long since dead, by the way) won't get you. If you eliminate poverty, create universal public healthcare, provide free quality education from preschool to college, and ensure safe and stable lives for all, not to mention -- and, surprisingly, it is hardly ever mentioned in abolish-police books -- getting rid of the hundreds of millions of guns in the United States alone, the kind of emergency in which you'd want to call the police won't come up. But what if it does? Even if it's as rare as lightning? What if it does and I have nightmares about it until it does? That's where unarmed civilian defense, and nonviolent interrupters and de-escalators, come in. There are, in fact, other ways to non-destructively prepare to confront that which may no longer need confronting. And these other methods will become both more understandable and less needed as partial steps toward abolition are taken. In fact, one of the successes underway by police abolitionists is the establishment -- already achieved in a number of U.S. cities -- of alternative numbers to dial in emergencies, at which you can reach skilled providers of assistance with mental health, de-escalation, and other needs, and to which you can specify what kind of assistance you do or do not want. Other paths to success would seem clear if we had democracy. As with the federal budget and the Pentagon, so with local budgets and the police: when you show people what budgets look like, the majority of people want to move money out of the police and the Pentagon into useful things. The trick lies in building the power to make that majority will into governmental action. While Talking About Abolition provides inciteful interviews with a dozen remarkable activists and academics, Skyscraper Jails and No Cop City each focuses on a particular campaign, respectively the efforts to close the jail on Rikers Island in New York City and to prevent the construction of the Cop City militarized police training facility outside Atlanta. The two campaigns have faced fierce opposition. To grossly oversimplify, the New York opposition has been slicker, slimier, more dishonest, and more successful. An astroturf campaign has been created in New York, not to oppose prison closures or abolition, but to claim the title of Abolitionist, even while pushing for new multi-billion-dollar jails in skyscrapers to "replace" Rikers, even while not closing Rikers at all, even while maintaining that these are all steps toward eliminating prisons. As you might have guessed, not everyone has fallen for that sales pitch, and a good deal of corrupt anti-democratic action has been required as well. Nonetheless, the project of building a New York skyline of humans in animal cages stacked into the clouds has generally operated under the banner of "Close Rikers," generating -- it is my impression -- less indignation around the country and world than has been merited and than has been gained by the resistance of the forest defenders opposing the creation of Cop City. False steps that lead not toward abolition but often toward the strengthening of a destructive institution sometimes rely on distinguishing good prisons or wars or whatever from bad. In the case of wars this habit is strong even among passionate opponents of wars. The problem with Rikers is not that it is an improper prison -- though who wouldn't choose a prison in Scandinavia if they had a choice? -- just as the problem with Gaza is not that it is an improper war -- though you might take your chances in Yemen if forced to pick. The problem with Rikers is not that it's on an island or that it lacks some new technology. The problem is that Rikers puts people, some convicted of crimes and many (83% in 2023) not, in cages to dehumanize and brutalize them to no useful purpose. As Rikers began as a humane reform of an older prison, skyscraper prisons are now marketed as a humane reform of Rikers. But the whole system is incapable of humaneness. One of the best features of Skyscraper Jails is that it quotes some of the powerful comments residents of New York City submitted to public officials who were required to pretend to seek public input but listened not a bit. Now we can listen for them. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). 1. Most trusted Academic assistance by experts online 2. Affordable and reliable assignment services for Malaysian students 3. Professional academic assistance tailored according to your needs As a student, it is normal to burn out or be exhausted by the never-ending academic pressure on your shoulders. When things start to pile up, it starts to get hard for students to work under pressure, which leads to anxiety and stress. Well, students, don't you worry as GREENSBORO, NC - March 24, 2025 - Triad Web Design Service, a premier Greensboro web design and development agency, is celebrating 15 years of providing custom digital solutions to small businesses throughout the Triad area. Since 2010, the downtown Greensboro-based firm has helped hundreds of local businesses establish and strengthen their online presence through custom-coded websites and targeted local SEO strategies. "When we moved into the Triad 15 years ago, many A new book on a british government scandal (non fiction). In the book the author puts the following question, in two parts, to Mr Starmer (the british Prime Minister). (i) Why was a prosecution not started in 1987 when the police had said they had forged documents? (ii) Why did the government censor this affair (from the 1980s to the date of publication of this book)? http://resartonbooks.com 132 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester, M4 6DE, Britain. Book Dear Eric: My best friend from high school moved to town again and weve been hanging out more. Her sister-in-law asked me if I can be the godmother of her child, which Ive agreed to. But ever since Ive agreed Ive been involved more in their family drama. Recently, the sister-in-law vented to me about some family drama, but also told me that my friend and her were talking badly behind my back this whole time theyve moved back in town and that they didnt want me to attend their Christmas party. I told her I was upset and needed some time to process this because I feel lost and betrayed. I genuinely offered my friendship to them and had no idea. Im not sure why she decided to tell me this but now she messages me every now and then asking for forgiveness and asks to continue being friends after this. Im not sure what to do or feel. I do want to be present for her child because I did promise in front of God to guide her on a good path, but Im not sure how to separate my feelings/actions between the sister-in-law and my goddaughter. Godmother Drama Dear Godmother: Perhaps the best way to guide your goddaughter on a good path is to set an example of how healthy friendships work, and how we take care of ourselves when the bond of trust is breached. To that end, I dont think you owe it to the sister-in-law or your goddaughter to jump back into a close relationship. She has made that impossible, at least for now. Frankly, I dont know why theyd ask someone they consistently gossip about to be the godmother. Youre likely wondering the same thing. Try telling your friend that directly. I want to be there for your daughter, as I promised, but the way you two talked about me and to me makes me doubt your intentions. Ask her if this is really the kind of situation she thinks will produce the best care and guidance for her daughter. Depending on your faith traditions, the specific promises that you made will vary. But many traditions include the promise to pray for the godchild. Even if your relationship with your goddaughters mother is irrevocably severed, prayer for her daughter might be a path that works for you. Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com. Portland police responded to a fatal stabbing Friday, March 21, 2025, at the Sojourn Suites hotel. It was the third homicide recorded this week. Zaeem Shaikh/The Oregonian Police arrested a 42-year-old man on allegations of first-degree murder in connection with a fatal Friday stabbing at a Northeast Portland hotel this month. Officers arrested Mitch Schoonover on Tuesday in the stabbing of 26-year-old Drew Hayden Courtright inside the Sojourn Suites hotel. In addition to the murder charge, Schoonover faces unlawful use of a weapon and third-degree assault charges. Police did not release details on what led to the stabbing or how the two knew each other. Officers responded to the stabbing about 8 a.m. Friday and found Courtright dead at the scene. Portland police said Drew Hayden Courtright, 26, was fatally stabbed inside a Northeast Portland hotel on Friday, March 21, 2025. Courtesy of Portland Police Bureau In 2006, Schoonover was sentenced to 15 years in prison by a Multnomah County judge after pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter in connection with a Gresham fatal shooting. Prosecutors said then that he was high on methamphetamine when he shot and killed another man with an assault rifle. Police said Schoonover had suspicions about the mans intentions when he was helping move his girlfriends belongings. The stabbing Friday was Portlands seventh homicide in March. Zaeem Shaikh covers the Portland Police Bureau and criminal justice issues for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-221- 4323, zshaikh@oregonian.com or on X @zaeemshake. The Department of Human Services convenes critical incident review teams to investigate its role when a child dies after its family has been in contact with the agency. A baby born in a tent on a rural homestead last July received no medical attention and died before reaching three months old, the Oregon Department of Human Services said in a report designed to evaluate whether child welfare workers did everything they could to prevent the tragedy. How exactly the baby died is unclear in the states report. The childs parents said at one point that the infant was stillborn. Then the father said he woke to find the baby, who had health problems, had died during the night of Oct. 2. The childs mother told a relative, however, that the father broke the infants leg while helping during delivery, then threatened the mothers life if she called 911. The relative also said mother told them that the father had suffocated the infant. The baby was cremated, the parents said, its grave under a burn pile on their property. The report does not identify the family or where they lived. Less than a month before the baby was born, a caseworker with the Department of Human Services met with the family, after receiving reports that other children in the family were neglected. The states critical incident review team, which scrutinizes state involvement in cases where a child dies, found missed opportunities in that July child welfare assessment. Police in the unspecified community had heard from several residents about their concern for the couples children, ages 1, 3 and 10, the report said. When police checked in, the children said they hadnt eaten breakfast and the 3-year-old had urinated on their clothes the day before but hadnt been cleaned or changed. The 1-year-old was wearing a moldy shirt. The children did not appear to have bathed in over a week, though the family reported they showered the day prior, the report said. The mother told the caseworker she was pregnant but she didnt need or want prenatal care, it said. She and the rest of the family did not have access to hygienic care, as they were living had no running water. The parents had purchased a piece of land and were living in a tent until they could fix up a structure, the report said. The building had electricity but no running water and an outhouse for a bathroom. The parents told caseworkers they used a community tap for drinking water and showered at a truck stop or, occasionally, a motel. The 10-year-old child was not enrolled in school, the caseworker found, and the children received medical care rarely if ever. Only one child was born in the hospital, and the 1-year-old had not received any routine infant care. The caseworker gave the family pull-ups and diapers, clothes and a carseat, the report said. But child welfare officials wrote that they were unable to determine whether the parents had in fact neglected the children. Caseworkers didnt know at the time that the father had a pattern of violent behaviors toward infant children, the state said. The review team, convened after the state learned in December of the babys death, found that a delayed communication with child welfare officials in Washington and possibly elsewhere prevented caseworkers from realizing sooner that the father had a history of biting and harming infant children. It also suggested the state develop a more standard process for following up on time-sensitive child safety decisions and indicated that child welfare advocates had some dispute over whether to intervene with the family. The report recommends that the local child services agency come up with a process to arbitrate when child safety consultants and the local branch do not agree whether legal intervention is required or necessary. Our hearts go out to the family, community and others who are impacted by this heartbreaking loss, Department of Human Services spokesperson Jake Sunderland said in an email on Wednesday. He declined to provide specific information about the family, citing child privacy rules. The family had first come on the states radar in January of 2024, when the Department of Human Services got a tip that three children were living in an RV with their parents. They had recently moved to Oregon from another state when their motorhome broke down, the report said, and the father appeared to be burning trash with the windows open to warm the RV yet prevent carbon dioxide poisoning. The report didnt reach the threshold of a child protective services screening, the state determined, and child safety workers didnt follow up. In July, the state got the second tip, alleging the children were being neglected. This time a child protective services worker followed up. The parents were traveling from out of state back to their rural property when the caseworker tracked them down, the report said. The family claimed to live a homesteading lifestyle. The first caseworker, who noted the mothers pregnancy, living conditions and childrens lack of routine medical care, transferred the case to another worker in the county where the family lived, the report said. That caseworker made many attempts to try and reach the family over the phone, through contacts and home visits, but these attempts were unsuccessful, and contact did not occur again in this assessment, the report said. State employees also requested child welfare records from Washington, where the family had previously lived. Those didnt come in immediately, but they eventually revealed that the father had been criminally charged for harming a child in a previous relationship. The child welfare records also revealed that the 3-year-old child, the only one born in a hospital, had tested positive for methamphetamine at birth. An out-of-state child welfare agency attempted to intervene and safety plan for the children, however, the intervention did not lead to a legal removal of the children, the critical incident report said. Instead, the family was assigned an ongoing caseworker to help provide services. After discovering that concerning information about the familys child welfare history, a child protective services safety consultant recommended that the agency get a protective custody order for the children, the report said. The report states that attempts were made to contact the family, but those were unsuccessful and another check-in never happened. A protective custody order was not pursued, the report said it doesnt specify whether child protective services didnt ask for one or if law enforcement couldnt find the family to carry that out. The Department of Human Services heard again about the family in December, when police again fielded concerns about the children. Police and a caseworker went to the family property and found the state of the home and the condition of the children was significantly concerning. Police arrested the parents and the state took custody of the three surviving children. It was during that December visit that authorities learned the youngest child, born in July just three weeks after the family first met with a child protective services worker, had died. The father told police that the babys tongue was fused to the bottom of its mouth and it had a hard time keeping down formula. The baby was thin and unresponsive to sight and sound, the dad said, but he didnt feel the concerns warranted medical attention. The mom told authorities that she should have put her foot down and obtained medical attention, but was afraid to argue with the father, who she alleged was physically abusive. The mother told a relative that after the father broke the babys leg while helping to deliver the infant, he stuck a gun in the mothers mouth and told her not to call 911, the report said. The parents were charged with neglecting the three surviving siblings, the report said. State evaluators also recommended that the Department of Human Services reevaluate a memorandum of understanding with the state of Washington and look for faster ways of sharing information. If you know anything about this case, please contact reporter Sami Edge, who covers state government for The Oregonian. You can reach her at sedge@oregonian.com or (503) 260-3430. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong held talks in Hanoi on Wednesday, agreeing on decisive and timely measures to enhance political trust and create new breakthroughs for the countries' comprehensive strategic partnership. The Vietnamese Government leader highlighted the significance of his guest's official visit, saying that this is the first high-level trip since the two countries upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership during Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam's official visit to Singapore. It is also a highlight for 2025, which marks the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day and the 60th anniversary of Singapore's, sending a strong message about the two countries' determination to realize the new cooperation framework, he said. The host congratulated Singapore on its development achievements and wished the country success in organizing its general election in 2025. He expressed his belief that the city state will successfully implement the Forward Singapore (Forward SG) and "Singapore Dream" initiatives, thus building a fair, harmonious, and increasingly prosperous society. Chinh said that Vietnam is implementing a strategy of speeding-up and making breakthroughs to reach the finish line, striving to achieve double-digit growth from 2026 onwards, towards entering a new era that of the nation's rise and prosperous, civilized, and thriving development. For his part, Wong expressed his delight at his first visit to Vietnam as the PM of Singapore, stressing that his trip aims to promote the implementation of cooperation outcomes between the two countries. He affirmed that Vietnam is one of Singapore's most important partners in the region, and congratulated Vietnam on its remarkable achievements after 40 years of the "Doi moi" (renewal) process to become one of the leading economies in ASEAN. The Singaporean PM emphasized the historic significance of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership, stating that Vietnam being Singapore's first comprehensive strategic partner in ASEAN reflects the trust, close-knit ties, and aspirations of both countries' leaders and peoples to develop the Vietnam Singapore relations more extensively, intensively, and effectively. Both leaders expressed their satisfaction with the robust development of the bilateral relations. Singapore has maintained its position as the second-largest foreign investor in Vietnam, with two new Vietnam Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) getting investment approval, expanding their network to 20 facilities across 14 cities and provinces. The bilateral trade volume demonstrated steady growth, reaching US$10.3 billion in 2024, with Vietnam emerging as Singapore's largest rice exporter. The PMs also acknowledged considerable advancements in defence, security, education, technology, tourism, labour, and people-to-people exchanges. They committed to decisive and timely measures to bolster political trust, creating breakthroughs for the comprehensive strategic partnership. They aim to swiftly complete and effectively carry out an action programme, bringing in full play their new cooperation framework for 2025-2030. The two sides concurred to enhance the exchange of delegations at all levels, effectively implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and reinforce defense and security collaboration on the basis of mutual confidence and understanding, contributing to peace, stability, and development in the region and the world. They pledged to enhance economic connectivity through five key pillars of the Vietnam Singapore Connectivity Framework Agreement and the Green Economy-Digital Economy Partnership, positioning the bilateral cooperation as the regional exemplar. Chinh proposed Singapore to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese agro-forestry-fishery products and processed food to hit the shelves of its distribution system. Besides, he suggested developing the VSIP 2.0 network with a focus on sustainability and smart technologies to optimize high-quality investment attraction. His Singaporean counterpart agreed to clarify key aspects of upgrading the VSIP network, ensuring greener and more intelligent and efficient development. He also endorsed the Vietnamese leader's "six major goals" proposal, which encompasses deeper political trust, more substantive defense cooperation, more effective economic connectivity, stronger people-to-people exchanges, more breakthrough science-technology collaboration, and closer international regional cooperation. Wong highlighted the need for substantive development in offshore wind energy export, carbon credit exchange, and fintech collaboration through the cross-border retail payment connection project using QR codes and data transmission, helping facilitate enterprises' business operation. The two leaders agreed to deepen cooperation in key areas, including education, workforce training, food security, cultural and art exchanges, tourism, and aviation, business-to-business and people-to-people connectivity. PM Chinh proposed that Singapore receive Vietnamese workers under its labor visa scheme, expand the range of accepted professions, facilitate Vietnamese language education in schools with a significant number of Vietnamese students, and help promote the role of the Vietnamese expat community there. On regional and multilateral cooperation, both host and guest commended their nations' close coordination and mutual support in their candidacies for posts within UN organizations. They agreed to work with other ASEAN member states to maintain the bloc's solidarity, unity, and centrality, as well as to advance sustainable development in subregions, including the Mekong subregion. The two PMs agreed to maintain the shared stance of ASEAN on the East Sea, underscoring the importance of maritime and aviation freedom and safety. They said there is a need to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and foster an environment conducive to the development of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the waters (COC) in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Following their talks, the Vietnamese and Singaporean leaders witnessed the signing of several cooperation agreements, including a letter of intent on developing an action programme for the countries' Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Other pacts cover offshore wind power trade, cross-border QR code payments, digital development and innovation, and people-to-people exchange. North Bergen Police Chief Robert Farley is accused of numerous complaints of harassment, assault, racial slurs and discrimination. Photo provided UPDATE: Lawyers call on state to take over police department A police chief in Hudson County, New Jersey is being accused of assaulting and harassing his officers in a lengthy list of complaints that includes defecating on floors, exposing himself, attempting to drug coworkers and sticking a hypodermic needle into an officers penis. Chief Robert Farley , who was appointed chief of the North Bergen Police Department in February 2024, is also accused of retaliating against an officer who attempted to report him to the New Jersey Attorney General, according to court documents. Five police officers in North Bergen said they plan to sue over Farleys alleged behavior, which also includes claims of retaliation, discrimination, sexual misconduct and harassment. In an email on Wednesday, a township spokesperson called the claims false and outrageous. The Township of North Bergen has full confidence in Chief Robert Farleys leadership, the spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that township officials have referred the officers complaints to the Hudson County Prosecutors Office for review to avoid a conflict of interest. The list of complaints ranges from a pattern of ongoing pranks like putting ink on door handles, setting off car alarms, or leaving crumbs on cops desks, to much more serious allegations of using racial slurs, spiking the office coffee pot with Viagra and Adderall, and sending sex toys to an officers home. Ive never seen anything like this in my life, said Patrick Toscano, the attorney who filed the claims on behalf of the police officers. The officers say Farleys toxic and abusive behavior had been ongoing since soon after he became chief. He has been with the department for 26 years and both his father and grandfather served as deputy chiefs. Some of the officers say theyve reported Farley to the Attorney Generals Office and that a state investigation is underway. A spokesperson for the office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Farley, who earns more than $228,000 a year according to pension records, posted a statement to the department website after he became chief saying that hes committed to making sure officers have the support they need to succeed, stay safe, and improve quality of life in the community. I will strive to lead the officers of our department to be an accessible component of our community while maintaining their competency, transparency, and professionalism, Farley said in the statement. But some officers in the 123-member department beg to differ. Jabbed with a needle and fired for speaking out Michael F. Derin, 59, worked as a special captain with administrative duties assigned to Farleys office in 2023, according to court documents. Derin and Farley had been friends and traveled with other high-ranking officers in December 2023 to Saint Barthelemy, in the Caribbean. In August 2024, however, Farleys attitude toward Derrin changed, according to the officers notice of intent to sue. Chief Farley chases me around his office, Derrin wrote in his notice. After cornering me in the filing area with no further room for retreat, he sticks a hypodermic needle through my jeans into the tip of my penis. Derin wrote the needle drew blood and that he was further humiliated when he had to explain the injury to his wife. When another officer filed a notice of intent to sue the department, Farley allegedly blamed Derin for giving the officer information that could be used against him. From this point on, the chief creates a hostile work environment, Derin wrote. The chief would shave his body hair on peoples property, their persons, and their food, Derin wrote. He was also fond of scraping fluids from his underwear onto people seated in the chiefs office. Derin claims he was no his way to report Farley to the state Attorney Generals Office when a captain called him to fire him. North Bergen Police Chief Robert Farley, without a shirt, appears to shave his arm on a police officer's desk. New Jersey Superior Court Drugs in the coffee pot, feces on the floor Four other officers filed allegations against Farley: Derins son, Detective Michael A. Derin; Lt. Alex Guzman, Officer Rasheed Siyam and Officer Christopher Bowen. They each detailed various complaints of harassment, sexual misconduct, discrimination and retaliation. Detective Derin said he witnessed Farley dump a handful of Viagra and Adderall into a coffee pot, stirring the pills until they dissolved, and then waiting for someone to drink a cup. After that, Derin said he would get his coffee from a K-Cup machine because I did not feel it was safe to drink from the pot anymore, he wrote. Guzman claims in his notice that Farley on multiple occasions came out of the bathroom in his office, exposed himself to others in the room, and made inappropriate comments. Chief Farley has, on several occasions, pulled his pants down and defecated on the floor in front of his entire office staff, Guzman wrote. He has also left feces on the bathroom floor, apparently with the intent of having someone unknowingly step on it, the lieutenant wrote. Farley also allegedly was clogging the toilet with paper and other objects, and defecating in wastebaskets near the desks of other officers, the notice says. Police Chief Robert Farley is accused of defecating on the floor, in waste baskets and in front of officers. Photo provided Sex toys sent to homes, firecrackers under the desk Guzman claims his family members were also subjected to Farleys harassment after the chief sent sex toys, intimate lotions and gay pride flags to his home. These items, which were opened by my wife and seen by my children, have caused unnecessary distress, Guzman wrote. The lieutenant says in filings that Farley became convinced Guzman had filed OPRA requests to gain public information to use against him. (Farley) slandered my name in the department, using me as a scapegoat for all the discord in the department that his poor decisions created, Guzman wrote. Guzman wrote that he and his family have suffered from severe emotional distress that can be traced back to Farley. He also says hes been seeing a psychologist due to the alleged ongoing harassment. Among some of the other incidents of harassment the officers had to endure included Farley placing hot sauce in a microwave, which essentially turned the substance into a pepper spray that permeated the office. I rushed to turn off the microwave as fast as possible, but the fumes spread from the chiefs office throughout the entire police department so badly the fire department had to be called in order to vent the building and get the scent out, Derin wrote. He also put firecrackers under officers chairs, once ripped a television monitor off the wall and smashed it to pieces, and yanked a doorbell off a wall because he felt too many people were visiting the office, Derin claimed. Police Chief Robert Farley is accused of smearing egg on door handles, sending a gay pride flag to the home of an officer along with sex toys, and breaking glass in a fit of rage in the office. Photos provided Racist slurs and retaliation Officer Siyam claims Farley and other managers retaliated against him for being a whistleblower who cooperated with an internal affairs investigation over a hostile work environment and civil rights violations. Siyam told investigators that others in the department called him camel jockey and terrorist, and that a detective told him people of his heritage were responsible for the 9/11 attacks. Officer Bowen claims in his notice that he was reassigned to an undesirable shift due to ticket and arrest quotas, in violation of New Jersey law. He also claims he was placed under the direct supervision of an officer who doesnt like him, which has caused undue stress. Toscano, the attorney who filed the claims, said the notices outline the potential for damages or injuries and are required before an employee can sue a public entity. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Cheryl Campos, 61, of Dayton, is accused of one count of wire fraud in federal court in Portland. VFW The former quartermaster of Oregons Veterans of Foreign Wars stole nearly $2 million from the nonprofit organizations bank accounts over two years to support her gem and mineral collection, according to federal allegations. Cheryl E. Campos, 61, of Dayton, was responsible for managing the groups financial records and budget, paying bills and depositing income and had access and control over its bank accounts, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Trisotto. From January 2022 until at least June 24, 2024, Campos is accused of abusing her position to defraud the private organization called the Department of Oregon Veterans of Foreign Wars by transferring $1.8 million from the organizations bank accounts into her personal bank accounts, Trisotto wrote in a criminal information filed in U.S. District Court in Portland. She attempted to conceal the fraud by doctoring the groups financial records, Trisotto wrote in the charging document. Campos, who studied accounting at Chemeketa Community College and had formerly worked as a document specialist for a Newberg dental equipment company, was fired from her quartermaster position in April 2024 after an audit was done, according to court records. She also had served in the U.S. Army. Shes accused of one count of wire fraud and has not made an appearance yet in federal court. Campos' lawyer Jeff Jorgensen said his client is an Army veteran who honorably served her country, was employed at the Oregon VFW office for over 18 years and volunteered her time at the Dayton Post VFW. During her time at the Department Office, she was encouraged to get her associates degree in accounting and become the Quartermaster, Jorgensen said by email. There is more to every story than what a criminal charging document suggests, and we intend to tell Ms. Campos' side at the appropriate time. Veterans of Foreign Wars provides support to U.S. veterans of overseas wars, service members and their families in the form of scholarships for education, emergency financial relief and professional help to obtain veterans benefits. In some cases, Campos used Adobe Acrobat Pro to delete a fraudulent transfer from the groups bank statements, according to Trisottos criminal information. At other times, she inserted fake transactions in QuickBooks to offset the money she transferred out of the groups balance sheet, according to the information. She used most of the money to buy crystals, semi-precious rocks, marbles, stones, statutes, a Toyota Tundra for a family member and for other personal credit card payments and retail purchases, according to the federal charging document. Campos also lied to the Veterans of Foreign Wars finance committee during its quarterly meetings, asserting falsely that the fabricated financial documents she provided were true and correct statements of the groups financial status, according to the federal allegations. These were false certifications and misleading half-truths, because the records were manipulated to conceal that she had transferred large amounts of money to her personal bank accounts, Trisotto wrote. She was charged separately last fall in Yamhill County Circuit Court, accused of stealing about $114,000 from the Yamhill County VFW Post 4015, with 10 transfers of $10,000 at different times. The amount represents a fraction of the total $1.8 million shes accused of stealing from VFW districts across the state. The Yamhill County VFW post brought the allegations to light after discrepancies were identified in financial reports, according to its members. The state criminal case led to the ousting of the posts commander in November for his alleged failure to supervise Campos. In October, Campos pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of first-degree aggravated identity theft and first-degree theft in the Yamhill County Circuit Court case. Though a trial is set for April in that case, the state charges are expected to be dropped in the wake of the new federal allegations. George Edmonston Jr., current commander of the Greater Yamhill County VFW Post 4015, said he took over the post after much of Campos alleged fraud had been detected. The money is used for the posts community service events and scholarships to help veterans in need. We pretty much have been left dead in the water, he said. Joseph Hogue, who was named interim chief of St. Helens police on March 19 after serving as acting chief, is seeking at least $500,000 in economic damages for alleged intentional interference with his promotion to the full chief's position. Maxine Bernstein | Staff Joseph Hogue, the now-interim police chief in St. Helens, has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the mayor, alleging she has blocked his promotion to the permanent job for accusing her and the former police chief of colluding to influence the mayoral election. Hogues suit alleges Mayor Jennifer Massey also has tried to drum up dirt on him by sending text messages to several police officers under his command to ask if they had an opinion about Hogue. Jordan Beyer, 22, was indicted last week, police said. File photo. The Oregonian/File Police on Tuesday arrested a 22-year-old Washington County man wanted on rape and other charges. A grand jury last week indicted Jordan Beyer on rape in the first degree, sexual abuse in the first degree, luring a minor and other charges, according to the Washington County Sheriffs Office. Over the past month, detectives have interviewed multiple women who said they had been raped or sexually assaulted by Beyer, the sheriffs office said in a statement. Booking photo of Jordan Beyer, released by the Washington County Sheriff's Office. Detectives are looking for additional victims, police said. Washington County Sheriff's Office Beyer and some of the victims knew each other, authorities said. The alleged assaults happened in and near Banks police said Beyer lives near Banks as well as in Forest Grove and Beaverton. Officers arrested Beyer after pulling him over on Highway 26. Investigators said they believe there are more victims and ask anyone with information to call the Washington County Sheriffs Office at 503-846-2500. -- The Oregonian/OregonLive The Scout Wine Bar and bottle shop opened December 2024 in historic downtown Gresham. You can build your own charcuterie board from a selection of cheese, crackers, meat, olives and nuts. Teresa Mahoney | The Oregonian/OregonLive In the last installment of our occasional series to visit and share some of the coziest experiences in the Portland area, we headed to Greshams historic downtown district and The Scout Wine Bar. Opened in 2024, this wine bar looks and feels like the sitting room at your grandparents house, decorated with antiques and upcycled furniture, and well stocked with books and games. The bathroom is a charming detour to the dark side of Victoriana, complete with a cabinet of dark academia curiosities. The vintage Scrabble set, with gilt metal tiles, was an eye-catching feature on our visit. There was also a beautiful chess set on offer, among the varieties of board and card games. The Scout Wine Bar and bottle shop opened December 2024 in historic downtown Gresham. Youll find moody lighting, vintage furniture and art, all with a dark academia aesthetic. You can also pick up a board game to play or read from a selection of books while sipping wine on a Victorian settee. Teresa Mahoney | The Oregonian/OregonLive The Scout Wine Bar and bottle shop opened December 2024 in historic downtown Gresham. Youll find moody lighting, vintage furniture and art, all with a dark academia aesthetic. You can also pick up a board game to play or read from a selection of books while sipping wine on a Victorian settee. Teresa Mahoney | The Oregonian/OregonLive The Scout offers wines by the glass, rotating local beer and cider on tap, and build-your-own charcuterie boards. Food from nearby restaurants is also welcome the area has options ranging from pho to Italian to Lebanese to gourmet burgers. Diners can bring their entree of choice to pair with a drink from the bar. The space is also a wine shop, with a library of unique wines, vermouths and sherries. The Scout Wine Bar and bottle shop opened December 2024 in historic downtown Gresham. Youll find moody lighting, vintage furniture and art, all with a dark academia aesthetic. You can also pick up a board game to play or read from a selection of books while sipping wine on a Victorian settee. Teresa Mahoney | The Oregonian/OregonLive The Scout Wine Bar and bottle shop opened December 2024 in historic downtown Gresham. Youll find moody lighting, vintage furniture and art, all with a dark academia aesthetic. You can also pick up a board game to play or read from a selection of books while sipping wine on a Victorian settee. Teresa Mahoney | The Oregonian/OregonLive We have wines from all over the world, said beverage director Cassondra Bird, with a focus on Oregon. Our wines in general come from small producers, sustainably minded producers. We dont work with any huge distributors or any huge producers. Bird said theres usually at least one sherry on the glass menu as well. If youre looking for an adventure, wines from some lesser-known regions can be found on offer at The Scout. Weve also poured a couple wines from Mexico, which I think has surprised a lot of people. Were so proud to be opening up peoples eyes to the fact that Valle de Guadalupe is an amazing region for wines. Why The Scout? Birds co-owners, Brandon Smith and Matt Robinson, met while cavalry scouts in the U.S. Army, serving in Iraq. We were 19 Delta Cavalry Scouts, Smith said. And thats what kind of created the origin for the name and then it also kind of has other meanings such as scouting for things unfound searching, finding wines and tastes. If you go: Settle in with a book from one of the wine bars many bookshelves while enjoying your beverage and snacks and if the story hooks you, all the books are available for purchase. The Scout Wine Bar, 25 N.E. Third St, Gresham, 2-8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 12-8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. 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. Subscribe to The Best Thing I Ate This Week newsletter Each week, restaurant critic Michael Russell takes Oregonian/OregonLive subscribers along on his culinary explorations. Not a subscriber? You can receive a few weeks of The Best Thing I Ate This Week newsletter as a free trial. Sign up here. Reporting by OPB reporter Joni Auden Land relied on contemporaneous accounts including diary entries, ticket stubs and yearbook entries, plus interviews with former students, their friends, family members and a teacher from that period, to show how Gene Evans allegedly abused his photography position at St. Helens High School to groom and sexually assault two students. Maxine Bernstein | Staff For nearly two decades, Gene Evans was the top spokesperson for two Oregon agencies charged with doing right by children. But, as OPB reported this week, two former students say he sexually abused them when he was an Oregon teacher in the 1980s, including one who said he began an intense sexual relationship with her when she was just 17 and he was 31. Evans was never charged with a crime. And he told OPB by email, These are stories and allegations from nearly 40 years ago. I have never been questioned, investigated or charged with any wrongdoing like this during my years as a teacher or anytime since. Evans did not respond to a phone call from The Oregonian/OregonLive but emailed the news organization the same statement he previously sent OPB. Reporting by OPB reporter Joni Auden Land relied on contemporaneous accounts including diary entries, ticket stubs and yearbook entries, plus interviews with former students, family members and a teacher from that period, to show how Evans allegedly abused his photography position at St. Helens High School to groom and sexually assault two students. In 1988, OPBs reporting shows that Evans resigned from the high school and divorced his wife, moving to Eugene to continue to see one of the students, who by then had enrolled at the University of Oregon. OPB found no evidence that any adult ever reported Evans alleged actions to police despite widespread rumors, and the woman told the news outlet she still feels let down by the inaction all these years later. In this 2003 photo, Gene Evans, then the Oregon Department of Education's communications director, visits an Oregon high school as part of the state's teacher of the year announcement. Marv Bondarowicz/The Oregonian Evans, 68, was the spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Education from 2001 until 2008 and then for the Oregon Department of Human Services from 2008 until his retirement in 2017, when he earned $118,295. The Public Employees Retirement System pays him about $40,000 annually, as of 2024. The accusations against him surfaced late last year, OPB wrote, after police arrested a St. Helens teacher and a retired teacher on charges of sexually abusing students. The November 2024 arrests sparked an ongoing public reckoning over the school districts failures to act on students complaints about teachers sexual misconduct, and OPBs reporting suggests the pattern is decades old. This month, the St. Helens School District superintendent resigned after four months on paid leave amid the roiling controversy. Betsy Hammond oversees coverage of state politics and government as well as education, Portland City Hall, Multnomah County and homelessness. Reach her at betsyhammond@oregonian.com. Beth Slovic is an editor on the public safety and breaking news team. Reach her at 503-221-8551 or bslovic@oregonian.com. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com/subscribe. Silkroad Ensemble brings its Uplifted Voices tour to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on April 1, 2025. The ensemble features cellist and vocalist Karen Ouzounian. Noir Prism Studios I love the Silkroad Ensemble because it feels like a musical extension of my own experience, said cellist and vocalist Karen Ouzounian during a Zoom call. It reflects my familys immigration and growing up in a diasporic community. Ouzounian, who is of Armenian heritage, is one of the stellar performer-composers from the Silkroad Ensemble who will roll into Portland to perform April 1 in the groups Uplifted Voices program at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. The concert will feature musical storytelling by women and non-binary members of the group that draws on homeland, ancestors, community, and family to present a fresh take on under-represented music from around the world. The concert program fits perfectly with the groups mission to exchange ideas, traditions, and create a fresh, innovative experience that collaborates across borders. Founded by Yo-Yo Ma in 1998, the Grammy-award-winning Silkroad Ensemble is a collective of stellar musicians from around the world who are making a positive impact through their cross-cultural music. Since 2020, the group has been led by Artistic Director Rhiannon Giddens and recently released a CD entitled American Railroad, which celebrates the stories of those who built the Transcontinental Railroad and connecting railways across the nation. In addition to Ouzounian, the Uplifted Voices program will feature five members of the Silkroad Ensemble: Celtic harpist and vocalist Maeve Gilchrist, violinists and vocalists Mazz Swift and Layale Chaker, percussionist Haruka Fujii, and special guest lap-steel slide guitarist Pura Fe from the Tuscarora Nation in North Carolina. They met in Seattle to rehearse the music, which will touch on their personal journeys to make a distinctive and powerful concert. Born to Lebanese-Armenian parents in Toronto, Karen Ouzounian went to an Armenian school before becoming a classically trained cellist with bachelors and masters degrees from Julliard. The Silkroad Ensemble has been a fertile place for me to explore my Armenian heritage, said Ouzounian, and that is something that I have been bringing much more to my own work. Its been an excellent catalyst for me over the years. During Uplifted Voices, concertgoers will hear Ouzounians Der Zor. This piece refers to the Syrian desert of Der Zor, explained Ouzounian. During the Armenian genocide in 1915 and 1916, hundreds of thousands of Armenians were forcibly marched to the desert by the Ottoman government. This song was sung by Armenians during those marches. It was a way for Armenians to say what they were witnessing. It is painful to read. I got a recording from the archive of the Library of Congress, including a man singing this song. Theres a number of Armenians who live in Fresno, California, where he lived. I took the melody and created a piece with it. I had learned that song in Armenian school. If you go to that area, the bones of your ancestors are there. Ouzounians Imagined Anatolian Dance will also be performed. I took a part of a larger piece called Dear Mountains that I had written with my husband Lembit Beecher, who is also a composer. My grandmothers life is woven into this music. It has an imagined idea of mine about Anatolia and Armenian villages where she grew up. I took rhythmic and melodic modes from this region and reimagined them. This is the third time that the group has taken Uplifted Voices on tour. But according to Maeve Gilchrist at least two-thirds of the songs on the program will be new, including some arrangements from her native Scotland. I am bringing a suite of two tunes, said Gilchrist over Zoom. The first tune reimagines a Gaelic song, Fonn Gun Bhi Trom which means I am disposed to mirth. I coupled it with playful lyrics from an Irish childrens song. That transitions to my piece called Ancestral Mud, where the cello, violins, marimba and harp toss phrases around. That piece was inspired by a Samuel Beckett monologue that has a lot of repeated words: my mothers mother, my fathers father. A murky, ancestral piece of music. Even though she now writes music for classical musicians, Gilchrist initially learned by ear and heard lots of folk music. Many of the best harpists in Scotland and Ireland play folk music, commented Gilchrist, for playing around the kitchen table and the pubs. I went to the Berklee School of Music in Boston at age 17 as a vocal major. Then I switched to harp, and met people from countries that had their own harp traditions like Venezuela, Colombia, and Paraguay. Those countries have a tradition to use the harp in a more rhythmic way. So Ive learned a lot from them. Silkroad Ensemble brings its Uplifted Voices tour to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on April 1, 2025. The ensemble features Mazz Swift on violin and vocals. Sean D. Elliot Another ultra-talented performer on the program is the Juilliard-trained violinist and composer Mazz Swift. Swift, who identifies as non-binary, started playing violin when they were six. Apparently, I was going around telling everyone that I was a violinist, recalled Swift. I took to it very quickly when I finally got one. The Uplifted Voices program includes Swifts O Shout, which is based on a slave/work song/spiritual called O Shout Away, and it is in the American Railroad album. All of the performers will be singing, said Swift. I love to sing, and it has become as important to me as playing the violin. The Silkroad Ensemble performances are very special, remarked Swift. We perform with love full of grace. We love each others music and learn more about each other every time we get together. Its amazing. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 S.W. Broadway; $25, orsymphony.org. The new TLC reality show, "Polyfamily," follows two married couples who live together in a "closed quad." Michael Rowe/TLC The TLC channel has for years followed the adventures of Oregons Roloff family in the series, Little People, Big World. Now, another group of Oregonians are getting the cable spotlight in the new TLC reality show, Polyfamily. According to a press release from TLC, Polyfamily dives deep into the world of polyamory and non-traditional family structures. The show follows two married couples, Alysia & Tyler and Sean & Taya, who have chosen to live together as a closed quad. In this unconventional family set up, Tyler is dating Seans wife, Taya, and Sean is dating Tylers wife, Alysia. With four children already and another on the way, the quad is redefining what it means to be a family. The release also says, Alysia & Tyler have been married for 11 years and came into the quad with two school-aged children of their own. Since joining the quad, Alysia gave birth to her third child. Meanwhile, Sean & Taya, married for six years, welcomed her first baby after becoming a quad, and now Taya is about to give birth to her second child. With five kids in the picture, things are bound to get complicated, especially since the biological father of the three younger kids remains unknown. The quad has intentionally chosen not to find out who the father is to avoid jealousy and remain committed and equal parents which they discover is much easier in theory than in practice." The TLC release doesnt go into details about where the families live, but they have already been covered by some national media. A 2023 story on the Today show website, for example, reported: Alysia Rodgers, 34, says her and her husband, Tyler, were not looking for polyamory the term for when a person has one or more romantic partners at the same time, with the enthusiastic consent of everyone involved when they met Sean Hartless, 46, and his wife, Taya." We didnt even know what polyamory was, Alysia Rodgers told Today.com. The story goes on to say that Soon, Sean and Taya, 28, were driving nearly two hours to see Alysia and Tyler, 35, in their home in Oregon. Exhausted by the commute and fueled by a desire to see everyone more frequently, the couples moved into a new house together in February 2020. A story on The New York Post website says the couples and their children live in Lebanon. Taya Hartless has an Instagram account called polyfamory, which features photographs of the couples and the children. Polyfamily premieres at 10 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, on TLC. To stream TLC programs, options include Philo; and Max. Kristi Turnquist covers features and entertainment. Reach her at 503-221-8227, kturnquist@oregonian.com and @Kristiturnquist and https://bsky.app/profile/kristiturnquist.bsky.social Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe Portland design reporter Damon Johnstun will cover the 63rd edition of Salone del Mobile, the prestigious furnishing and design show, April 8-13 at Fiera Milano Rho in Milan, Italy. The trends and products that debuted during Milan Design Week last year are now in showrooms. Here is a look at what Johnstun calls designer Giacomo Moors passion and precision in Italian design. Giacomo Moor, a name that has become synonymous with refined craftsmanship and innovative design, continues to push the boundaries of contemporary furniture. His designs are characterized by their clean lines, geometric forms and an almost obsessive attention to proportion. His studio team consists of carpenters and designers who work together to create custom interiors for private individuals to limited-edition pieces for prestigious design galleries. His clients, Acerbis, Desalto and Living Divani and others, are among the most respected design brands. One of his standout collaborations was with Memphis Milano, where in 2013, he introduced a collection of oak furniture pieces, from a minimalist desk to bookcase, that marked the beginning of Moors design ascent. His design philosophy embodies a unique fusion of technical expertise, artisanal sensibility and avant-garde vision. Born in Milan in 1981 and a graduate of the Polytechnic University of Milan, Moors journey from a young designer fascinated by wood defects to an internationally recognized name is a testament to his meticulous attention to detail and an unwavering commitment to his craft. His work, rooted in a deep understanding of materials, particularly wood, has always focused on simplicity and the expression of natural elements. This austere approach, though sometimes compared to Japanese or Scandinavian minimalism, carries a distinct Italian character, one that reflects the elegance, precision and rigor for which Italian design is known. Moor founded his studio in 2009 in Milan, where he creates furniture and design objects that blurred the lines between art and function. Unlike most young designers, he never worked for another firm. What else sets Moor apart from many of his contemporaries is his ability to merge craftsmanship with modern design. Giacomo Moor and Aurelie Callegari at the Living Divani Booth. Damon Johnstun This multidisciplinary approach is uncommon in Italy, where design studios often specialize in either design or carpentry. By integrating both disciplines under one roof, Moor and his team offer clients a holistic, turnkey solution, allowing for greater creative control and a seamless execution of their projects. Moors wife, Aurelie Callegari, plays a crucial role in this integrated approach. Though not a designer herself, she manages the studio, ensuring that Moor and his team can focus on the creative process. Over the years, Moors reputation has grown far beyond Italy. He has exhibited his work in Paris, London, New York, Singapore and Porto, cementing his status as a global design visionary. One of the most defining professional relationships of Moors career has been his collaboration with Carola Bestetti, the art director of the renowned Italian furniture brand Living Divani. Bestetti, known for her eye for timeless yet contemporary designs, entrusted Moor with the challenge of creating a family of storage units for the brand. The project was a natural fit, as both Moor and Living Divani share an aesthetic vision rooted in minimalist design and the celebration of material purity. Bestetti gave Moor the brief to design a series of versatile storage units that could be used in various environments such as the bedroom, living room or kitchen. True to his design ethos, Moor focused on proportion, geometry and functionality. The result was a collection that seamlessly integrates into any space. The collaboration with Living Divani allowed Moor to stay true to his ideas while delivering a product that fit perfectly within the brands style, one that emphasizes quiet elegance and minimalist sophistication. The partnership with Living Divani exemplifies how Moors designs go beyond mere aesthetics. His creations not only serve a functional purpose but also provoke thought about how we interact with the objects around us. The storage units, like much of his work, are elegant yet understated, balancing form and function in a way that enhances the users experience of living spaces. Despite the minimalist nature of his work, Moor never compromises on the integrity of materials. Wood, in particular, remains a central element in many of his creations. His deep knowledge of carpentry is evident in the craftsmanship of his pieces, where every joint, every surface is meticulously crafted. Its this commitment to both the technical and the aesthetic that has earned Moor a loyal following among design enthusiasts and collectors alike. As Moors studio continues to grow, so do his ambitions. Recently, Moor has expanded his scope to include architecture, designing furniture for a school in Nairobi that can be manufactured onsite. The design incorporates a special carpentry joint, allowing for local artisans to easily produce the furniture. This project reflects Moors desire to create designs that are not only beautiful but also practical and sustainable. Moor and Callegari have also expressed interest in exploring new areas of design, particularly in lighting and outdoor furniture. However, as Moor has often said, the secret to successful design lies in balance, whether that be the balance between creativity and practicality, aesthetics and function, or tradition and innovation. As he continues to navigate the ever-evolving world of design, Moor remains committed to creating work that is both elegant and meaningful. Giacomo Moors success is not without its challenges. In todays world, where marketing plays an increasingly important role in the success of a product, Moor has had to find a balance between creative freedom and commercial viability. He often reflects on the relative freedom designers had in the 1960s and 1970s, compared to todays more market-driven landscape. Yet, Moor remains optimistic about the future of design, believing that true design will always find an audience, even if it takes time. Working with family-owned companies like Living Divani has allowed Moor to maintain his creative integrity while still meeting the demands of the international market. Bestettis deep understanding of design and her commitment to authenticity have been pivotal in allowing Moor the space to explore his creative instincts without compromising on commercial goals. Its this ability to navigate between art and commerce that has made Moor one of the most respected designers of his generation. Giacomo Moors journey is one of passion, precision and perseverance. From his early struggles to his current success, he has remained true to his vision, one that places craftsmanship at the heart of design. Whether working on a custom interior for a private client or creating a new piece for a design gallery, Moor approaches each project with a high level of dedication and care. As he continues to explore new territories, both creatively and geographically, one thing is certain: Giacomo Moor will remain a defining figure in the world of contemporary design, inspiring future generations with his commitment to craftsmanship, innovation and the art of balance. Damon Johnstun @damonjohnstun A rendering for the planned reconstruction of the Portland Mercado. Courtesy of Scott Edwards Architects & Hacienda CDC. Scott Edwards Architects There was never any doubt about reconstructing the Portland Mercado after a fire destroyed the 7,000-square-foot Market Hall in January 2024, said Ernesto Fonseca, CEO of Hacienda CDC, the Latino-led organization that owns the Portland Mercado. The colorful marketplace and food cart pod in Southeast Portland started as a launchpad for Latino entrepreneurs but quickly evolved into a vital community hub. Since its opening in April 2015, the Mercado provided an affordable space to open and grow small businesses while also becoming a cherished gathering space for launching campaigns, celebrating holidays and community organizing. It was really a beautiful thing to see how much the community can love a place, Fonseca said. It was a place that managed to create community and to bring people together, which is something that people learned to love. Inside Barrio, the business at Portland Mercado that was destroyed by the early morning fire at the popular dining destination. Extensive damage occurred throughout Mercado from the early morning blaze. Beth Nakamura After vowing to return stronger than ever, Fonseca has announced plans to begin construction on Portland Mercado 2.0 in May, 10 years after the Mercado officially opened. The plans include a larger and more colorful building with a terrace bar, improved commissary kitchen, updated amenities and equipment, and more structured programming. The aim is to open during the first quarter of 2026. I had to take this tragedy as an opportunity to redesign the Portland Mercado, Fonseca said. Keeping the Mercado, obviously, as the Mercado with the essence, but with some significant color changes. The Portland Mercado's current colorful design. Beth Nakamura With the new design in place, Hacienda CDC is raising money to support construction, which is estimated to cost from $2 million to $3 million. As of January, Fonseca said the organization has raised over $1 million with donations and partnerships from Prosper Portland, Oregon Community Foundation and the Harbourton Foundation. Fonseca said he was touched by the community that came in support of the Mercado in droves, and they helped absolutely everyone following the fire. In response to the fire, supporters quickly rallied, raising $255,726 to help affected businesses. Among those who lost their storefronts were Barrio, a beer and wine bar; Xocotl, a cold-pressed juice and smoothie bar; and a commissary kitchen dedicated to incubating small food businesses. We utilized money for the affected business owners so they could have a transition cushion to relocate and to give a little bit of severance to their employees, Fonseca said. That was our way to help them out. While the interior Market Hall has been closed since the fire, the outdoor food cart pod reopened in late January. As construction progresses, vendors will have the opportunity to apply for a spot in the Mercado again. Were going to do everything that we can to bring back as many people as we can, so we dont have to start from scratch in terms of institutional knowledge, Fonseca said. I expect, for example, Tierra Del Sol to definitely come back. They have been one of the most important success stories. Amalia Sierra, owner of Tierra Del Sol, said she will definitely apply to rejoin the Mercado early next year. My business was born and raised in that project, Sierra said in Spanish. Ive met a lot of people through that Portland Mercado project, which has given me the opportunity to expand further as a business. Sierra operates another Tierra Del Sol location in Montavilla and plans to open another food cart at Brooklyn Carreta, a food cart pod opening in Southeast Portlands Brooklyn neighborhood in April. Weve been paused for a while, at the Mercado, Sierra said. We want to see that joy that existed before, when it was full of people the diversity that came from people who visited us in the market. The Mercado was truly the heart of Southeast Portland, Fonseca said, and was fully supported by its patrons and vendors. The project will depend on their support as reconstruction continues. We are counting on them to keep an eye on the Portland Mercado reconstruction, Fonseca said. Were counting on them to come back with a bang when the Portland Mercado is fully open. As the project moves forward, Sierra said she is excited for the opportunity to return to the place where business began in 2015. Hopefully we can return, Sierra said. Were more than happy to come back. And were asking the universe to let us return to what we were before. Lea este articulo en espanol: El Portland Mercado iniciara su reconstruccion tras el devastador incendio de 2024 Chiara Profenna covers religion, faith and cultural connections. Reach her at 503-221-4327; cprofenna@oregonian.com or @chiaraprofenna. The Oregonian/OregonLive receives support from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to bring readers stories on religion, faith and cultural connections in Oregon. The Oregonian/OregonLive is solely responsible for all content. This photo provided by the Alaska National Guard shows an airplane partially submerged into the ice of Tustumena Lake at the toe of a glacier on Monday, March 24, 2025, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Alaska National Guard via AP) AP ANCHORAGE, Alaska A pilot and two children 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 in his own airplane headed out to scour the rugged terrain for the missing plane. 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 theres three people on top of the wing, he told The Associated Press on Tuesday. After saying a little prayer, he continued to get closer and saw what appeared to be a miracle. They were alive and responsive and moving around, he said, adding they waved at him as he approached. The missing Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser, piloted by a man with two immediate juvenile family members aboard, flew Sunday on a recreational sightseeing tour from Soldotna to Skilak Lake on the Kenai Peninsula. The three were rescued on the eastern edge of Tustumena Lake on Monday by the Alaska Army National Guard after Godes alerted other pilots searching for the plane that he had found it. Another pilot, Dale Eicher, heard Godes' radio call and alerted troopers since he was closer to Skilak Lake and figured he had better cell reception. He was also able to provide the planes 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 he said that finding the family within an hour of starting the search and finding them alive was very good news. The three survivors were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, Alaska State Troopers said. They spent a long, cold, dark, wet night out on top of a wing of an airplane that they werent planning on, Godes said. He said there were many miracles at play, from the plane not sinking, to the survivors being able to stay perched atop the wing, to the three surviving the night in temperatures dipping into the 20s. Its a cold dark place out there at night, he said. The plane was mostly submerged in the lake with only the wing and the top of the rudder exposed above the ice and water, Godes noted. Alaska is a state with few roads, leaving many communities to rely on small airplanes as the preferred mode of transportation. Last month, in western Alaska, 10 people died when a small commuter plane that was overweight by half a ton crashed into sea ice in the Norton Sound, near Nome on the states western coast. Five years ago, a deadly midair collision near the Soldotna airport claimed the lives of seven people, including an Alaska state lawmaker. The Alaska Army National Guard dispatched a helicopter from its base in Anchorage to rescue the three people on Monday morning. The initial plan was to use a hoist to pull the three up and off the wing, but it proved to be 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 guards 207th Aviation Regiment. So, instead the helicopter hovered to the side of the planes wing and pulled the three people on board. He said his personnel reported the two girls were surprisingly dry but the adult male had been in the water at some point. We dont know to what extent, but he was hypothermic, Holbrook said. Holbrook said he was told the three people had basic clothing one would wear in Alaska on small planes without very good heating systems, but nothing sufficient to keep a person warm outside in winterlike 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. There is no indication why the plane crashed. The National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday that it is investigating with the Federal Aviation Administration. The 60,000-acre Tustumena Lake is situated about 80 miles southwest of Anchorage and has been described by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game as notorious for its sudden, dangerous winds. Conditions around the lake with nearby mountains, a glacier and gusty winds can cause havoc for both boats and planes. The body of water is the largest freshwater lake on the Kenai Peninsula . Even under what would be considered a benign or relatively weak pressure gradient, 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 fresh water can kick up with the wind and turn 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. Its just a recipe for chaos and for turbulence, he said. Joshua McCoy, 5, was found dead last November in the woods near his unincorporated Coos County home. A new state report provides bleak details about Joshuas homelife, noting one report from last May that described squalid conditions in Germans house and concerns about the childs gaunt and unkempt appearance. Courtesy of Amos McCoy Oregon child welfare authorities had extensive contact with a Coos County woman, her family and friends in the months leading up to the death of her young son but they didnt intervene because she twice left the state with plans to get help caring for the boy, a state review found. Both trips were brief and ended with Angela German, 43, returning to Oregon. On Nov. 9, Germans 5-year-old son Joshua James McCoy went missing from their home on Stage Road in the unincorporated community of Hauser. German told authorities she woke up from a nap she had taken with her son only to discover he was gone. His body was found four days later partially under a bush about 20 feet from the road not far from home. Investigators saw no scratches, bruises or marks on his body. A deputy medical examiner examined Joshuas body at the scene and found no signs of trauma, according to court records. The Lincoln County district attorney reviewed the investigation into Joshuas death and declined to file charges against German. The Oregon Department of Human Services reviews child deaths in cases where abuse may be a factor and where child welfare authorities have been involved with the family. The 18-page report does not identify German or her son, but the circumstances match those surrounding Joshuas death. It concluded that the caseworker and supervisor were not negligent in their handling of the complaints against German. German did not respond to a voicemail Tuesday. The report noted that the Department of Human Services previously determined that an allegation in May that German neglected her son was unfounded; it drew the same conclusion after receiving a threat of harm allegation in July. The report provides bleak new details about Joshuas homelife, noting one report from last May that described squalid conditions in Germans house and concerns about the childs gaunt and unkempt appearance. According to the states review, a caller who is not identified said Joshua was autistic and non-verbal and that German was failing to meet the childs needs. The caller claimed German left the boy unsupervised and drank heavily, the review said. Joshua, the caller told the state, threw food around the house that the mother did not clean. It was reported the child had once spilled a potty chair on the floor and the mother just threw a paper towel over the feces and urine and did not clean it up for days, the review stated. The child was said to be a picky eater, and the mother would typically feed them pizza, chicken nuggets, cookies, candy, marshmallows, dry cereal, and chocolate milk. The report documents an estimated 20 instances between May and July when Oregon child welfare authorities either spoke with German, tried to reach her or spoke with or tried to reach friends, a babysitter, a pediatrician, a co-worker and relative. At some point last year, a caseworker saw the state of the home and concluded that although it was messy, the conditions were not a safety threat to the child. German told a caseworker that she planned to leave Oregon and she did, according to the review. Over the summer, a child welfare worker talked to a relative of Germans who said the mother and son were staying with them and that the boy had been isolated and had special needs that required extra attention. The report does not give the state where German moved. The relative described the child as very smart and said they could spell several words on their own and would often speak to themselves, the review stated. German soon returned to Oregon and concerns about her parenting persisted, the report stated. Last July, the state received a report that Germans home was unsafe and unsanitary, with food and furniture strewn across the floor. The mother suffered from depression and anxiety and, according to the caller, was abusing alcohol, the review stated. She isolated herself from her support system, the caller said. That month, a caseworker met with German and Joshua, noting that the child seemed happy. German then left again, telling a friend that she was leaving Oregon over child welfare authorities interference. Court records show German left for Utah, where child welfare authorities also opened an investigation of German. A friend she stayed with in Utah told authorities that German was inattentive to Joshua and failed to enroll him in school or obtain medical care. German returned to Oregon in October, according to the report. German told police that she fell asleep about 1 p.m. on the last day she saw her son alive. She woke up four hours later to find the door open and ducks wandering in the home, the report said. Police would later note that the home was filthy, with garbage, moldy food and duck feces throughout. German searched for the boy, worried he had become lost in the woods. His body was later found about two miles from home. Citing the high number of deaths involving children with intellectual and developmental needs, the agency ordered a systematic review of its inquiries in those cases assess potential barriers to the quality of care and support provided to families, the report stated. An agency spokesperson said six of the 20 child deaths reviewed last year by the agency involved children with special needs. The states review also suggested that potential biases may have factored into the states response to complaints about German. The parents socio-economic and professional status may have influenced the (Oregon Department of Human Services) staffs assessment of the parents ability to meet their childs needs without ODHS support, the report said. German is a registered nurse, according to the Oregon State Board of Nursing. Her license was issued in 2019 and remains active. Noelle Crombie is an enterprise reporter with a focus on criminal justice. Reach her at 503-276-7184; ncrombie@oregonian.com Official ballot return envelopes are stacked at the Multnomah County Elections Office in Southeast Portland on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian President Donald Trump signed a far-reaching executive order Tuesday that would require individuals to provide proof of citizenship to register to vote and prevent states like Oregon from counting mail-in ballots received after election day. Oregon officials are analyzing how specific provisions in the order would impact voting here. But Secretary of State Tobias Read, whose office oversees Oregon elections, said the fundamental aim of Trumps order was to make it more difficult for people to vote. He said it was almost certain to be challenged, either by Oregon or other states. We know voter ID laws have a pretty chilling impact on voter registration, including inequitable impacts on rural residents and women who change their name after getting married, he said in an interview Tuesday. Oregon is a national leader in voter turnout, he added, but what worries me is that we should be trying to make it more convenient for people to vote. Likewise, Attorney General Dan Rayfield said in an emailed statement that if President Trump or anyone else takes action that threatens the integrity of how we vote in Oregon, we will use all the legal tools we have to defend our states values and elections. Trump has a long history of railing against election validity and fairness. 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. The U.S. Constitution gives states authority over elections. 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. Oregon has been a national leader in getting out the vote since it established vote-by-mail as the standard mechanism for voting in 1996. The measure has proven popular among voters and led to some of the highest voter turnout rates in the country. In 2024, turnout was 75% of the 3.1 million eligible voters in the November election, according to figures compiled by the Secretary of States Office. Oregon was also the first state to adopt automatic voter registration when Gov. Kate Brown signed the Motor Voter Act in 2015, which led to a surge in voter registrations. Read said the vast majority of Oregon voters register under to vote under that automatic registration option at the DMV. The law makes voter registration automatic when eligible unregistered voters visit the Department of Motor Vehicles to apply for, renew or replace an Oregon drivers license, ID card or permit. Eligible Individuals are already required to provide documentation to demonstrate they are U.S. citizens. But that program has not been without missteps. It was suspended in October 2024 after errors led DMV employees to improperly register about 1,600 people to vote, including individuals who had no documentation proving citizenship or showed foreign passports. Only a handful of people were found to have voted after being improperly registered and the program was reinstated in February after DMV put steps in place to eliminate the errors. Oregon Republicans introduced a bill this year that would require Reads office to verify the documentation that the DMV and the Oregon Health Authority use to confirm citizenship before voters are added to the rolls. A separate bill was introduced to eliminate automatic voter registration altogether. Neither bill has received a vote in the House Committee on Rules, and its not clear that Republicans have any hope of passing them given Democrats grip on the Legislature. Voters can also register online with the Secretary of States My Vote site. That system typically requires a valid Oregon Drivers license permit or ID number, though individuals can provide other forms of identification and self-attest to their citizenship. There is no evidence of active fraud in that sense or use of that mechanism, Read said. His office did not respond to questions about the percentage of voters registering at the DMV versus online. The presidents directive also orders the U.S. attorney general to take action against states that accept absentee or mail-in ballots after Election Day in their final tabulation of votes for president and members of Congress. It also directs the Election Assistance Committee to block election funding for states that dont set a ballot receipt deadline on Election Day. 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. Oregon requires ballots to be received within seven days of the election if they are postmarked on or before Election Day. State figures show that there were 13,596 ballots received in the seven days after the general election on Nov. 5. That was about 0.6% of the 2.3 million ballots cast. Kamala Harris won 55% of the presidential vote in Oregon, versus 41% for Trump. 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 to vote because their birth certificates list their maiden names. Barbara Klein, the acting president of the League of Women Voters Oregon, said the organization is confident that elections administrators in Oregon abide by the rules and that the states vote-by-mail system is secure and beneficial for all voting residents. We have every confidence that our current system provides for all Oregon voters, she said in an email. Further, we strongly believe that voters do not need MORE obstacles in having their voices heard. - The Associated Press contributed to this story - Ted Sickinger is a reporter on the investigations team. Reach him at 503-221-8505, tsickinger@oregonian.com or @tedsickinger Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe The Department of Health and Human Services building is seen in Washington, April 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) AP WASHINGTON 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. 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. 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. -- The Associated Press The Oregonian/OregonLive reported last week that executives from Washington County's sewer agency, Clean Water Services, traveled to annual business conference in Hawaii. It cost $42,000 to send six sewer officials to the 2023 conference at the Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island. Getty Images Washington Countys elected watchdog said Tuesday that the public sewer agency should be audited in response to an investigation by The Oregonian/OregonLive that uncovered lavish travel spending and sky-high food expenses. In fact, Auditor Kristine Adams-Wannberg said shes long wanted to review the agency but doesnt have the authority to do so, raising questions about how best to provide independent oversight of Clean Water Services. Norman City Council approved a preliminary plat for a groundwater facility and a resolution for temporary housing on properties impacted by wildfires at its regular meeting Tuesday. During public announcements, multiple council members thanked first responders following their response to wildfires earlier this month. Ward 5 Councilmember Michael Nash said he would like firefighters to receive formal recognition. Temporary housing for lots affected by fires NEWSLETTERS * required Thank you for subscribing! Email * Please enter a valid email address First Name Last Name When major news breaks + a few times a week FREE SIGN UP Subscribing... The news: Council approved a policy that allows residents affected by recent wildfires to live in temporary dwellings on the same lot as impacted permanent dwellings. According to a staff report, temporary dwellings include mobile homes, recreational vehicles, travel trailers, tiny homes and other structures fastened to the ground. The report adds temporary dwellings must have adequate water, wastewater disposal systems and electricity. The report notes property owners must apply for and receive a building permit within a year of the permanent dwellings destruction, but building and associated permit fees would be waived. Earlier this month, multiple wildfires hit Norman, prompting several areas of the city to evacuate. At the same time, over 130 wildfires across the state prompted Gov. Kevin Stitt to issue a state of emergency in 12 counties, including Cleveland County. According to the staff report, six dwelling units in Norman were destroyed as a result of fires. The vote: Council unanimously approved the resolution in the consent docket. Proclamations The news: Mayor Larry Heikkila proclaimed April as Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month and May 3 as Cultural Unity Day. (I) urge all citizens to dedicate ourselves to the task of improving the quality of life for all children and families and to recognize that prevention starts with each of us, Heikkila said. What theyre saying: Gregory Roberts, president of Exchange Club of Norman, a nonprofit organization aimed at child abuse prevention, said the organization will host a lighting ceremony on April 1, where participants will illuminate a light for every confirmed case of child abuse in Cleveland County. Richard Baxter, founder of #racismstinks, a nonprofit designed to alleviate racial divides, requested the proclamation for Cultural Unity Day. NO PAYWALL, NONPARTISAN Students pay about $14 in fees that support the Daily. If you're not a student, please join those invested in OU and Norman who have given more than $110,000 to support our trustworthy, independent journalism. SUPPORT OUR LOCAL JOURNALISM Baxter said the nonprofit will host a Norman Cultural Unity Parade on May 3. The parade will feature 10 floats honoring different subjects, nationalities and ethnicities, including Native Americans, Latin Americans, African Americans and law enforcement, according to the proclamation. According to the proclamation, the parade represents a commitment to rebuilding public trust in law enforcement, along with unifying communities. The cultural unity parade isn't just an event. It's a declaration that Oklahoma stands together, Baxter said. This parade is about more than celebration. It's about rebuilding trust in our law enforcement and the communities that they serve. It's about uniting people of all backgrounds under a shared belief that public safety belongs to all of us. Baxter took multiple pictures with council and city employees alongside an individual in a skunk costume, the nonprofits mascot. Norman Groundwater Facility The news: Council approved a preliminary plat for Norman Groundwater Facility at 4020 E. Tecumseh Road. According to a staff report, the property contains 28 acres and one lot. The report adds the property will contain one access point on to Tecumseh Road and is expected to generate less than 100 trips on an average weekday. The vote: Council unanimously approved the preliminary plat. Tri-annual audit plan The news: Council heard a presentation by City Auditor Shaakira Calnick regarding the citys tri-annual audit plan, which includes fiscal years 2025-27. According to the plan, the city auditors office estimated 5,592 hours will be available during the plans period. The plan notes 3,520 hours were allocated to scheduled audits and 2,072 hours were allocated to other audit services, such as unscheduled audit requests, investigations, audit plan development, committee participation and a fraud training program. Calnick said there are eight high-risk audits throughout the citys departments that should be audited within the next year, including one city-wide audit, three human relations audits, three finance audits and one utilities audit. This story was edited by Ana Barboza. 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. 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. NEWSLETTERS * required Thank you for subscribing! Email * Please enter a valid email address First Name Last Name When major news breaks + a few times a week FREE SIGN UP Subscribing... 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. 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. 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. 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. NO PAYWALL, NONPARTISAN Students pay about $14 in fees that support the Daily. If you're not a student, please join those invested in OU and Norman who have given more than $110,000 to support our trustworthy, independent journalism. SUPPORT OUR LOCAL JOURNALISM 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. 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. 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. 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. Oklahoma Voice is an affiliate of States Newsroom, a nation 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and donationsfocused on delivering state government news. The Voice maintains full editorial independence. For more stories by Oklahoma Voice go to oklahomavoice.com. 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. It would allow churches to open homeless shelters regardless of distance from a school. NEWSLETTERS * required Thank you for subscribing! Email * Please enter a valid email address First Name Last Name When major news breaks + a few times a week FREE SIGN UP Subscribing... 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. 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. NO PAYWALL, NONPARTISAN Students pay about $14 in fees that support the Daily. If you're not a student, please join those invested in OU and Norman who have given more than $110,000 to support our trustworthy, independent journalism. SUPPORT OUR LOCAL JOURNALISM 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. 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. 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. On Tuesday, the Undergraduate Student Congress voted to impeach OU Student Government Association President Carter Strickland on five impeachment charges. Strickland will now face a trial at the Graduate Student Senate presided by the chief justice. Impeachment basically means that Congress has agreed that these charges are public and that theyre trying to publicly hold you accountable for those things, said Congress Chair Hope Rhoads, who presided over the meeting. NEWSLETTERS * required Thank you for subscribing! Email * Please enter a valid email address First Name Last Name When major news breaks + a few times a week FREE SIGN UP Subscribing... Rhoads said Strickland now stands an impeached president. The Graduate Student Senate will meet at a later date which has yet to be determined to hold a trial to consider whether the charges will warrant Stricklands removal from the position of president. According to the SGA Constitution, the Undergraduate Student Congress has the sole power to bring impeachment charges against and vote to impeach the executive branch members, and the Graduate Student Senate has the sole power to try all impeachments. The trial will be presided over by Chief Justice Claire Grace of the Superior Court. If Strickland is removed, SGA Vice President Avery Dunlap will become president and recommend a candidate for vice president to Congress for consideration. Five impeachment charges Created a hostile workplace environment while serving as SGA president. NO PAYWALL, NONPARTISAN Students pay about $14 in fees that support the Daily. If you're not a student, please join those invested in OU and Norman who have given more than $110,000 to support our trustworthy, independent journalism. SUPPORT OUR LOCAL JOURNALISM 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. The Oklahoma Meetings Act is an Oklahoma state law that requires all meetings of public bodies state, local boards and commissions must be open to the public and the public must be given advance public notice of such meetings, including information on the time, place and purpose of the meeting. All SGA meetings are subject to the Open Meetings Act, per the SGA Code Annotated, and agendas and notices for special meetings must be posted at least 24 hours before a meeting. The SGA Code Annotated is the governing laws of OUs SGA and outlines rules, regulations and functions for each branch of the government, elections, finances and more. Congress found all five charges to be impeachable offenses. This story was edited by Peggy Dodd and Ana Barboza. Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story. The three daughters of a Colombian couple who have lived in the United States for 35 years are speaking out on their parents' deportation and want them back with them. The couple was identified as Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez, who have been in the country since 1989 and were able to raise three kids, all born in California. In a GoFundMe page, one of the daughters, Stephanie Gonzalez, talked about the matter at hand. Colombian Couple Deported From the U.S. Stephanie said that for nearly four decades, her parents built a life in the U.S., raised their kids, gave back to the community, and recently welcomed their first grandchild. However, she said that the couple was now being treated like criminals. The parents checked in at an immigration court in Santa Ana last month, which is something they have been doing since 2000. However, the most recent check-in ended with the couple having a much different result than they expected, according to CNN. During their Feb. 21, 2025, appointment, the couple was arrested, handcuffed, and later put in federal custody. There, they spent the next three weeks waiting for the time that they would be deported back to Colombia. Read more: ICE Agents Arrest Immigrant Palestinian Student for Leading University Protests Monica Crooms, an Orange County-based immigration attorney, said that the couple did expect they would be forced to depart and were already planning to do so. However, what they did not plan on was how they would be forced to leave the U.S. In an interview, Crooms said that the parents did not expect they would suddenly be arrested and taken into federal custody. What makes things worse is that their case is no longer unique following President Donald Trump's taking office. Looking for a Path Towards Citizenship The couple's arrest and deportation come as in the U.S., staying in the country without authorization is a civil infraction and not a crime. On the other hand, crossing the border without authorization is a criminal misdemeanor, the Independent reported. The daughters said that their parents' sudden arrest and deportation had left them in shock, and they called the situation cruel and unjust. A spokesperson for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed the details of the latest case, adding that the couple who were deported did not have any criminal history. Crooms, who has been working with the Colombian couple for years now, said they were looking for a viable path to citizenship and made sure to pay their taxes. She noted that the parents were trying to legalize their status in whatever way they were able to during the 1990s, as per India Today. A Florida bill proposes that teens should get parental consent before they can gain access to contraception or STI testing services. However, survivors of childhood sexual assault are overwhelmingly against the proposal, saying it would cause unintended teen pregnancies. They also argued that the bill could prevent or delay minors from receiving the medical care that they need. Teen Access to Contraception in Florida A University of Florida student, 20-year-old Anna Jones, said that her parents were safe, present, and good parents. She then shared that she was raped at 16 years old by a close friend and she was not comfortable sharing what happened to them. The proposed bill, entitled "Parental Rights" (SB1288), was crafted by Sen. Erin Grall. During a read of the bill in a Senate Education Pre-K-12 committee on Tuesday, it was found that the proposal would nullify an existing state law that allows physicians to prescribe birth control or STI treatment. This is a decision that can be made if the physician believes that the minor would "suffer probable health hazards if such services are not provided." Grall said that the bill would not expand parents' rights but instead take them back, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. The senator said that the situation has always been all about the systems that devalue parents' role in safeguarding their children from abuse. She noted that they are the first people whose priority is their kids' safety. However, many Florida residents spoke out about their experiences of abuse one after the other at a lectern in the Knott Building at the state Capitol. Some of those who spoke include parents, who argued that the proposed bill would only put more children at risk. State Laws on Sex Education Grall's bill comes as the state last year told school districts that they could no longer teach teenagers about contraception, show them images that depict human reproductive anatomy, or talk about topics such as sexual consent and domestic violence, the Orlando Sentinel reported. The argument for this was that instruction on these particular topics is perceived as inappropriate for adolescents and teenagers. It came as Florida law did not require the instruction of kids regarding sexual education, but schools are allowed to teach it if they wish to do so. However, schools are mandated to emphasize the "benefits of sexual abstinence as the expected standard and the consequences of teenage pregnancy" in grades six through 12. Before they can teach the topics, districts need to submit their proposed lesson plans for review or make use of state-approved textbooks, as per Jezebel. + Ten Protestant Commentaries in Support of Peters Healing Shadow (Acts 5:15): Which Rev. Wright Denied Charles Henry Hamilton Wright (1836-1909) was an Irish Anglican clergyman. He graduated from Trinity College, Dublin, in 1857, was the Grinfield lecturer on the Septuagint at Oxford (189397), vicar of Saint Johns, Liverpool (189198), examiner in Hebrew at the University of London (189799), and clerical superintendent of the Protestant Reformation Society (18981907). He authored a number of books, including The Intermediate State and Prayers for the Dead (1900) and the volume I will be examining, Roman Catholicism, or The Doctrines of the Church of Rome Briefly Examined in the Light of Scripture (London: The Religious Tract Society, revised 5th ed., 1926). His words will be in blue. I use RSV for biblical citations. *** In favour of the veneration due to relics, the case of the man raised up to life on touching the bones of Elisha (2 Kings xiii. 21) is quoted. But that incident, if part of the original book, stands completely isolated, and even that miracle did not lead to the worship of the prophets bones. (p. 190) First, Rev. Wright casts doubt on whether the passage is actually part of Holy Scripture, sinking to the methodology of the most radical biblical critics (up to and including atheists), who habitually are suspicious of the text of canonical Scripture, rather than holding to biblical inspiration, inerrancy, and infallibility, as consistent Christians of all stripes do. This is the length that this Anglican will go in order to reject Catholic, biblical teaching. Its very telling, isnt it? Then in his next desperate move to avoid the clear implication of the text, he says that the occurrence was completely isolated. Whether something is mentioned once or a hundred times is irrelevant as to whether it is inspired (as part of God-breathed revelation) or true. The Annunciation, for example, was a one-time event in Scripture: mentioned only in Luke, and that was the announcement of the incarnation. This is simply an unworthy debate tactic. Moreover, whether veneration of Elishas bones was mentioned in this place or occurred in history (whether recorded or not) is irrelevant to the conclusions that we draw from what happened. It is what it is. Then he uses the usual tactic of irrationally and cynically collapsing all reverence and veneration into worship so that it sounds like idolatry. But even his own citation, drawn from the Council of Trent uses the phrase veneration and honour. This is all standard playbook anti-Catholicism: fundamentally silly and a gross misrepresentation of what Catholics believe. We believe that physical matter can be a conveyor of spiritual grace. This is the foundation for the use of relics (objects associated with saints) and sacramentals (sacred or devotional objects). Veneration of the saints and their relics is essentially different from the kind of worship or adoration reserved for God alone, in that it is a high honor given to something or someone because of the grace revealed or demonstrated in them from God. The relic (and the saint from whom it is derived) reflects the greatness of God just as a masterpiece of art or music reflects the greatness of the artist or composer. Therefore, in such veneration, its God being honored. The saint or his or her relics reflect Gods grace and holiness. To worship as divine a saint or relic is not following Catholic teaching, which fully agrees with Protestantism with regard to the evil of idolatry. In the passage about Elishas bones, from 2 Kings, matter clearly imparts Gods miraculous grace. That is all that is needed for Catholics reasonably and scripturally to hold such relics in the highest regard and honor (veneration). It is not necessary for the entire doctrine of veneration to be spelled out in the verse, only the fundamental assumption behind it (matter can convey grace), which is the basis for the Catholic belief and practice. We are physical creatures; God became man, and so by the principle of the incarnation and sacramentalism, the physical becomes involved in the spiritual. What we believe about relics is based on these biblical presuppositions. Many Protestants (including Martin Luther himself, Lutherans, Methodists, Anglicans, Churches of Christ) accept this principle with regard to the waters of baptism, which, so they hold, cause spiritual regeneration to occur, even in an infant. That is, again, matter (water) conveying grace (regeneration). And so Elishas bones raised a man from the dead. Why would anyone wish to downplay or minimize that? Its because they are irrationally unbiblical. The touching of the hem of Christs garment (Matt. ix. 20) was a sign of faith in Christ, but not a proof of any virtue in His clothes. (pp. 190-191) Again, he misses the fundamental point. The woman did have commendable faith. But its not the clothes themselves. Its the fact that they were connected with Jesus. They conveyed grace and healing for that reason and no other. Lets do a quick thought experiment. Imagine a scenario in which somehow we could verify that a shirt was worn by Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and came into the possession of Rev. Wright. Do you think he (or anyone) would make a rag out of it, for use in cleaning a cow stall or grease from a car? I think not. It would be reverenced and cherished for its association with Christ. Thats 90% of the way towards the Catholic understanding of a relic. Protestants enjoy visiting Israel as much as anyone else. And they reverence the holy places there, and do things like touch the star where Jesus was born or the white hill underneath where He was crucified. Thats reverence for holy places. They may not think that they literally receive grace in doing so, but its close. They wouldnt ever consider for even a moment, bulldozing any of these holy places and making a parking lot or a McDonalds. Yet they inconsistently fight against the idea of relics and veneration given to them. Part of the antipathy, no doubt, is because many have this false notion that we are worshiping them as if they are equal to God Himself. Its not true. They might represent or be associated with God or a saint, but that doesnt make them equal to them. It doesnt make them idols. Theyre neither replacing God nor placed above Him. Extraordinary was the faith of the people in Peter after the awful deaths of Ananias and Sapphira. But although they imagined Peters shadow could heal the sick, the text does not state that as a fact (Acts v. 15, 16). (p. 191) This is very interesting. In his rush to immediately discount any Catholic biblical argument in favor of relics, he is led to the conclusion that this didnt refer to healing as a result of Peters shadow. But even his own Protestant commentators massively disagree with him. They generally hold that healings likely did occur. I provide ten examples below. Acts 5:12-16 Now many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomons Portico. [13] None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high honor. [14] And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, [15] so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. [16] The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. Insomuch that they brought forth the sick . . . The tense implies habitual action. For some days or weeks the sick were laid all along the streetsthe broad open streets, as distinct from the lanes and alleys (see Note on Matthew 6:5)by which the Apostle went to and fro between his home and the Temple. Ellicotts Commentary for English Readers: (15)The tense implies habitual action. For some days or weeks the sick were laid all along the streetsthe broad open streets, as distinct from the lanes and alleys (see Note on Matthew 6:5)by which the Apostle went to and fro between his home and the Temple. * That at the least the shadow of Peter . . . . It is implied in the next verse that the hope was not disappointed. . . . Christ healed sometimes directly by a word, without contact of any kind (Matthew 8:13; John 4:52); sometimes through material media the fringe of His garment (Matthew 9:20), or the clay smeared over the blind mans eyes (John 9:5) becoming channels through which the healing virtue passed. All that was wanted was the expectation of an intense faith, as the subjective condition on the one side, the presence of an objective supernatural power on the other, and any medium upon which the imagination might happen to fix itself as a help to faith. So afterwards the hand, kerchiefs and aprons from St. Pauls skin do what the shadow of St. Peter does here (Acts 19:12). In the use of oil, as in Mark 6:13, James 5:14, we find a medium employed which had in itself a healing power, with which the prayer of faith was to co-operate. Benson Commentary: . . . in order that, if they could neither have access to Peter, nor he come to them, at least the shadow of him passing by might overshadow some of them Though it could not reach them all, and they had faith to believe this would be the means of healing them. And it is probable that they were not disappointed, but that some, at least, were thus healed, as the woman mentioned in the gospel was, by touching Christs garment. According to their faith it was done unto them. And in this, among other things, the promise of Christ, (John 14:12,) The works that I do, shall ye also do, and greater works than these, &c., was eminently fulfilled. And if such miracles were wrought by Peters shadow, we have reason to think some were wrought in some such way by the other apostles; as by the handkerchiefs from Pauls body, Acts 19:12. Expositors Greek Testament: The further question arises in spite of the severe strictures of Zeller, Overbeck, Holtzmann, as to how far the narrative indicates that the shadow of Peter actually produced the healing effects. Acts 5:16 shows that the sick folk were all healed, but Zockler maintains that there is nothing to show that St. Luke endorses the enthusiastic superstition of the people (so J. Lightfoot, Nosgen, Lechler, Rendall). On the other hand we may compare Matthew 9:20, Mark 6:56, John 9:5, Acts 19:12; and Baumgartens comment should be considered that, although it is not actually said that a miraculous power went forth from Peters shadow, it is a question why, if no such power is implied, the words should be introduced at all into a narrative which evidently purports to note the extraordinary powers of the Apostles. . . . as Blass says, Luke does not distinctly assert that cures were wrought by the shadow of Peter, although there is no reason to deny that the Evangelist had this in mind, since he does not hesitate to refer the same miraculous powers to St. Paul. Henry Alford, Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary: We need find no stumbling-block in the fact of Peters shadow having been believed to be the medium (or, as is surely implied, having been the medium) of working miracles. Cannot the Creator Spirit work with any instruments, or with none, as pleases Him? And what is a hand or a voice, more than a shadow, except that the analogy of the ordinary instrument is a greater help to faith in the recipient? Where faith, as apparently here, did not need this help, the less likely medium was adopted. [John] Calvins Commentaries: the apostles were endued with such power for this cause, because they were ministers of the gospel. Therefore they used this gift, inasmuch as it served to further the credit of the gospel; yea, God did no less show forth his power in their shadow than in their mouth. F. F. Bruce, New International Commentary, Book of Acts (revised version, Eerdmans, 1988, p. 109): Peters shadow was as efficacious a medium of healing power as the hem of his Masters robe had been. No wonder that the people in general sounded the apostles praises and that the number of believers increased. C. Peter Wagner, The Book of Acts: A Commentary (Baker, 2008): Apparently Peter, at the time, was ministering in the role of what some would call a faith healer today. Others were doing miracles as well, but it seems that Peter had a special anointing. David W. Pau, Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary, Acts: [Peters] shadow reminds one of Jesus own magnificent power (Luke 8:44) . . . Eckhard J. Schnabel, Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Zondervan Academic, 2016, p. 293): Some, not all, of the sick were healed through Peters shadow . . . Ben Witherington, The Acts of the Apostles (Eerdmans, 1998, p. 227): It is not clear whether Luke also holds this belief, but v. 16b probably suggests he did (cf. Acts 19:12 [Pauls handkerchiefs]). Aprons were, indeed, on one occasion brought from the body of Paul ( Acts xix. 11 , 12); but if ever extraordinary miracles were required, it was at Ephesus, the great stronghold of magical arts. (p. 191) I see. Its almost like Rev. Wright begrudgingly concedes that a relic-like miracle did occur; but only on one occasion, mind you! Then he tries to irrationally water it down or minimize its strength as a Catholic proof for relics by making the odd comment that it was especially needed at Ephesus. Thats simply an irrelevant diversion; what is called a non sequitur. Rev. Wright has not succeeded in disproving the fact that the principle behind the Catholic belief in relics and their power is clearly taught in the Bible. He belittles, attempts to minimize, is dismissive, and doesnt even seem to take the topic seriously (all traits very common in anti-Catholic polemics), but he doesnt disprove our view; not even within a million miles. * *** * * *** * Photo credit: St. Peter Healing the Sick with His Shadow (1425), by Masaccio (1401-1428) [public domain / Get Archive] Summary: I reply to several weak mini-arguments from the Anglican, Charles Henry Hamilton Wright (1836-1909), against the biblical conception of the spiritual power of relics. Humans arent infallible, as much as wed like to be. That includes security experts, as Troy Hunt revealed yesterday. Turns out, the legend behind HaveIBeenPwned (a site that lets you see which data breaches youve been in) got phished when trying to log into Mailchimp. In a post titled A Sneaky Phish Just Grabbed my Mailchimp Mailing List, Hunt runs down the situation, starting with how it began (jet lag and fatigue while traveling) and how it ended (the phisher capturing his credentials, logging in, and then exporting all 16,000 email addresses associated with his newsletter). If youve been affected, Hunt has already loaded those email addresses into the HaveIBeenPwned database. The list includes people who already unsubscribed from the newsletterMailchimp does not delete these email addresses from its databases. You can read the full details of what happened in the post, but I was most struck by the lessons to take away from Hunts clear account of the incident. Not just the things to watch out for, but how to set up your digital life so youre still safe if you slip up. Lets dig in: Dont rely on warning signs Walking through Hunts tale, you can see that scams do signal what they are. In Hunts case, multiple small warning signs existed: False urgency in the email Sender of the email was fake Autofill from 1Password didnt trigger on the illegitimate site A security expert of Hunts level normally would be sensitive to these details. But he was tired while travelinga situation any of us could find ourselves in. A copy of the phishing email that tripped up Hunt. Troy Hunt / HaveIBeenPwned The lesson here: If you receive an urgent email or message, skip the link providedinstead, log into your accounts directly. (Similarly, return phone calls using official phone numbers from a bank statement or the back of your bank cardor at the very least, Google the provided number to verify its authenticity.) This strategy gives some cushion against having to be 100 percent sharp about spotting scams, 24/7. Passkeys are also the better method for logging in, as theyre phishing resistant. So are stronger methods of 2FA, like hardware keys (e.g., Yubikeys or a Google Titan Security Key). Leaving a service wont protect you from data breaches As Hunt discovered while parsing his lost data, not all companies delete your data if you leave them. In fact, in the case of Mailchimp, they appear to purposely retain email addresses of unsubscribers so that they cant be readded to a list. Most services have a way to delete you from their databases. (Various state and national governments have laws requiring an easy way to be deletedalso known as the right to be forgotten.) Unless you make that request, though, you could be part of any number massive troves of data, ripe for stealing by bad actors. And the more data that hackers have about you (what your interests are, where you shop, etc), the easier it is for them to target you. Masked emails keep your real address hidden from websites. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry The lesson here: To truly sever a relationship with a website, you have to request the deletion of your data. Such a step can be worthwhile for extremely sensitive data, like genetics testing. For everything else, consider using email masks instead. Youll have a unique email alias for each service, so if anyone of them is breached, the data cant be easily used to build a profile of you. It can happen to anyone Hunts experience is a reminder that scams can prey on just about anyoneand that if you do, its not because youre stupid. Sometimes youre just busy, stressed, or otherwise too preoccupied to realize whats in front of you. But you shouldnt stop being vigilant. A security guru falling for a phishing scam doesnt mean were all doomed. On the contrary, you have just as much chance of successfully evading schemes as everyone else. When I write about security, its not from a place of authoritative expertise. I know Im just as susceptible as everyone elseand so I share whatever useful info I have, so that we can all watch our tails. Microsoft may be readying a new wave of smaller Surfaces to launch at or soon after Microsofts 50th anniversary next month, according to a report. Windows Central reported earlier this year that Microsoft is prepping a smaller version of Surface Pro tablet and Surface Laptop. Certifications for what could be those devices have popped up in China, indicating that they could be nearing production, the site reported. The new versions would have displays of about 12 inches, the site said. Currently, the Surface Pro 11th Edition boasts a 13-inch display, while the current Surface Laptop 7th Edition is available in both 13.8-inch and 15-inch sizes. Adding a 12-inch screen to the lineup would offer a third option, the first time Microsoft has ever presented three different screen-size Laptop options from which to choose. Windows Central suggests that the new Surface Laptop could be a replacement for the Surface Laptop Go, which sounds like a good guess. Microsoft, of course, hasnt confirmed that new Surface hardware is planned. Nor has it confirmed whether these new Surfaces would be offered to businesses, either. For now, however, Microsoft seems committed to the Qualcomm Snapdragon X platform for its consumer devices, while offering traditional X86 processors from Intel for its more risk-averse business customers. That seems likely to continue. However, smaller Surfaces probably do not mean updated hardware. Qualcomm showed off its second-generation Oryon CPU core late last year, which the company says can outperform Intels Lunar Lake chip under smartphone power levels. Smaller laptops and tablets typically mean less powerful hardware, however, so Qualcomms Snapdragon X Plus would seem to be a likelier candidate. In any event, Microsoft celebrates its 50th anniversary on April 4, when the company is expected to reflect on its past and project into the future which should be heavily based upon AI. Will it announce new Surfaces then, too? Well have to wait and see. Calls for closer cooperation resonate at Asian forum amid global uncertainties Xinhua) 08:01, March 26, 2025 BOAO, China, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Political and business leaders worldwide are gathering in Boao, a coastal town in southern China's Hainan Province, for the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 running from March 25 to 28. Amid rising global economic fragmentation and geopolitical tensions, the forum, themed "Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future," serves as a critical platform for fostering regional cooperation, driving global economic growth and strengthening the region's role in global governance. As Asia plays a bigger role in global growth, discussions are centering on how the region can help navigate challenges and drive sustainable development, with participants recognizing Asia as the world's growth engine and highlighting regional coordination, economic inclusivity and technological advancements as key drivers in addressing economic uncertainties and building up momentum for growth. This photo taken on March 24, 2025, shows a view of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) International Conference Center in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) GROWING INTEGRATION Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Hainan, the forum has long been a platform for regional dialogue, but its role is evolving as Asian economies become more integrated. "Fast-growing South-South trade and investment is making the Boao Forum for Asia relevant beyond the boundaries of Asia," said Denis Depoux, global managing director at Roland Berger, a Germany-based consultancy. Often referred to as the "Asian Davos," the forum brings together political and business leaders to discuss trade, investment and technology, with growing participation from Global South countries in recent years. "The forum highlights the power of partnership through its ability to create space for exchanging ideas, building relationships and collectively shaping the future of Asia," said Dino Otranto, CEO of Australia's mining giant Fortescue Metals. In an increasingly uncertain economic environment, Asia remains a key growth engine for the world economy. According to a report released by the forum, real GDP growth in Asia is projected to rise from 4.4 percent in 2024 to 4.5 percent in 2025, while the region's share of global GDP is expected to increase from 48.1 percent to 48.6 percent at purchasing power parity in the same period. The growth not only highlights Asia's economic dynamism but also its role as a stabilizing force in a world where traditional economic powerhouses face mounting challenges. Given complex geopolitical and economic dynamics, multilateralism, governance and development have become hot topics of discussions at the forum. "These terms are critical in shaping a more stable and prosperous regional landscape amid evolving global challenges," said Anna Malindog-Uy, vice president of Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, a think tank in Manila. This photo taken on March 19, 2025 shows the logo of Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) at BFA International Conference Center in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu) ASIA'S POTENTIAL The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), comprising 15 Asia-Pacific countries, has emerged as a powerful force in bolstering regional economic integration. The International Monetary Fund has projected that from 2023 to 2029, the RCEP region's GDP will grow by 10.9 trillion U.S. dollars, contributing over 40 percent to global economic growth. The integration of Asian supply chains has accelerated, driven by the need for greater competitiveness and resilience, Depoux said. "Asia's future in the shifting global landscape is incredibly exciting and full of promise," Otranto said. "It's not just about economic growth, but also about Asia leading the way in areas like innovation, technology and sustainability." As global trade and supply chains evolve, Asia's role in driving advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), green energy and digital transformation will undoubtedly be critical, he added. Take DeepSeek, a representative Chinese startup in the AI sector that attests to Asia's growing innovation capacity. Its latest R1 model outperforms many of the world's top AI developers across a variety of benchmarks, drawing significant attention from Silicon Valley. This breakthrough showcases Asia's growing technological prowess in advanced fields, notably AI. Technological innovation has become a key driver of Asia's sustainable transformation. From solar panels stretching across China's western Gobi Desert to smart city networks leveraging digital twin technology in ASEAN countries, Asia is reshaping its development model with cutting-edge technologies, said Wu Xiaochen, vice president of the Hainan Research Academy of Environmental Sciences. Meanwhile, experts at the forum stressed the importance of attuning technological progress to environmental responsibility. They called for stronger policies to ensure that businesses align their innovations with sustainable growth objectives. A person uses DeepSeek app on a mobile phone on Feb. 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi) CHINA'S ROLE Asia, particularly China, is seen as a key driver of global growth. The world's second-largest economy is restructuring by prioritizing high-end manufacturing, digital development and green industries, bringing new opportunities for Asia and beyond. As a key pillar of Asia's development, China is pivotal to rebalancing globalization, inclusive growth and regional economic integration, said Zhang Jun, secretary general of the Boao Forum for Asia. "China's rapid advancements in digitization, green transition and AI have positioned it as a key driver of global sustainable development," said Malindog-Uy. "Through cutting-edge research, large-scale industrial transformation and international collaboration, China's innovation-driven approach benefits global cooperation and economic progress." By fostering global partnerships in green energy, digital infrastructure and smart industries, China plays a crucial role in shaping a more resilient and interconnected global economy, she added. Through multilateral cooperation, China is injecting "Asian momentum" into global growth, translating regional experiences into viable ways for global governance, said Chi Fulin, head of the China Institute for Reform and Development. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) ELKO Elko County schools are short at least 15 special education teachers and district leaders agreed the shortage is a critical need, giving human resources officials greater heft through state assistance when it comes to recruiting. The school districts trustees were given a persuasive presentation on Tuesday evening by Cody Krenka, the HR director, illustrating just how far behind the curve Elko schools are in hiring special education teachers. Its the third time in recent years the county listed special ed teachers as a critical need. Krenka said there are 15 open special ed slots now, but that constantly changes daily. He said the district can hire teachers who would have three years to get a special needs certification. We find that we have found a few more like in the last two weeks. In fact, I think weve hired or offered positions to three licensed special ed teachers, Krenka said. But still, when we only have about 60-some in the district, were missing 15, thats a pretty high percentage. So I do think that with your approval, well get the state approval to designate this as a critical need again. Discussion at the trustees special meeting on Tuesday then moved to broader human resources recruiting issues. Krenka presented a chart showing open academic positions in the district showing 75 spots posted and 11 hired. But he immediately had to offer a correction. I screwed up and put current, but that was current last week when I did this, he said. Always hesitate when we talk about current because it changes by the hour, quite literally. He said the open positions are from teachers deciding early they dont plan to return the next school year, and more are likely to come in May once theyre offered their positions for the following year. He said the district has nearly two dozen student teachers who are working as long-term substitutes or as paraprofessionals for principals who are helping them work toward a teaching certificate. The district has a grow your own program, and some principals have been doing that on their own, Krenka said. They recognized talented individuals in their community and then they assist them in getting their degrees. We work with a lot of universities. He said the best source, clearly, is Great Basin College across the street, and others include UNLV, Western Governors University and Grand Canyon University. We have 21 student teachers in our school district this spring, which is a lot, normally, he said, noting the usual number is eight or nine per semester. So thats a good thing. Recruiting often involves going to career fairs six or seven a year in Idaho, Utah, South Dakota and Wyoming, he said as well as other, more creative, means. One is Patriots to Education. We used to call it Troops to Teachers, now its Patriots to Education, he said. And now that that the Department of Ed, yeah, is questionable, Im curious how this will work. But the Elko school district is one of six districts in the state that participates in this. Basically, when people leave the military, they go through an exit process with the Department of Defense and then theyre presented with various options for what they can do and we are doing our best to make sure that they know that were available to them, not only for teaching, but bus driving, mechanics. All those types of things. Beyond the money and the benefits offered in Elko and Nevada, there are other intangibles that attract some educators, he said. The thing Ive noticed the most in the few years Ive done this is that the thing that draws teachers to schools is geography and the principal, Krenka said. Theyre basically, once that door shuts into their classroom, wherever theyre at, the important parts are: Are you happy where youre living? And are you happy with your boss? We do a pretty good job on both of those things. Microsoft is currently testing a pair of new apps including one that the company previously decided to stop using due to a lack of interest. The two new apps are People and File Search. If People rings a bell, it should: People is a decades-old app that Microsoft originally launched for Windows 8, then gave up on. Now, its back. Though the new apps appear in Windows, theyre only available for those who also have Microsoft 365 applications installed, such as the Word/Excel/PowerPoint trifecta that accompanies a Microsoft 365 subscription. Right now, Microsoft is testing the new apps as part of the Microsoft 365 Insider program, and for those who have signed up for the Business or Enterprise license. In a blog post describing the new apps, Microsoft calls these mini-apps, which may be just an incidental descriptive term or may signal a new wave of smaller, lightweight applications or widgets. Youll recognize familiar flows in these apps, but in a lightning-fast and streamlined format, Microsofts Shilpa Patel wrote. Plus, you can pin both apps to your taskbar so you always know where to access them, no matter how busy your workspace gets. Both of these applications appear to be twists on existing functionality within Windows and Microsoft 365. Microsofts existing Office application, for example, includes a list of files that youve worked on and has been shared with you. The new File Search app also focuses exclusively on your Microsoft 365 files, but with various filters to narrow it down, plus the ability to search by contents. It might not be quite the semantic search that Microsoft is readying for Windows, but it sounds similar. Microsoft File Search in action. Microsoft Microsoft says that you can use File Search to preview a document, and then share it. Thats a feature that you should be able to do via other means as well, such as right-clicking the file in File Explorer. People, back from the dead People has also been a function that weve seen surface repeatedly in the Microsoft ecosystem. Originally, Microsoft developed it as a standalone Windows app for Windows 8, believing that people needed a contact list to store email addresses, phone numbers, and so on. Then there was Windows 10, and the People app that sat alongside Windows Mail and the Calendar app, too. Microsoft then planned to include a My People app in 2016s Windows 10 Creators Update, killed it, then brought it back in 2017, where I talked more about People at length. People was predicated on the thought that youd want access to five or so friends in your taskbar, where you could send shoulder taps and essentially wave hello with little pop-out emoji from the Taskbar. As it turned out, basically no one (even my colleagues, who I asked to help test) wanted to be part of People, and Microsoft said it would kill off My People in 2019. The new version of Microsoft People allows you to hunt down a colleague in the org chart. Microsoft In the meantime, however, Microsoft was moving more purposefully into business. For a time, Outlook became a hub of business activity, where you could track your contacts and calendars. Over time, that evolved into the need to discover where you fit on the org chart, and what colleagues could be used as a source of information for collaboration or just a question. Meanwhile, Microsoft Teams became an avenue for business collaboration. Its that angle that Microsofts latest revision of the People app addresses. Again, People presents a list of colleagues, who can be clicked on for more information or just to find out what their responsibilities are. You can also search by job title or department. Peoples real purpose is to message colleagues via Teams. Microsoft However, People is designed to be able to select a coworker and to then send them a quick Teams message. The idea is that youll prefer to do this from your Taskbar instead of navigating to another dedicated applike Teams. Will these new mini-apps take off, or will Peoples 2025 update fizzle like it did before? History isnt optimistic. A former University of Pittsburgh professor and UPMC doctor has been arrested after police said he tried to kill his wife while they were hiking along a trail in Hawaii. Gerhardt Konig, 46, was taken into custody by Honolulu Police Department on Monday, news reports said. Police said Konig, who is currently an anesthesiologist on Maui, was with his wife at Pali Lookout on Oahu when he hit her in the head with a rock and tried to push her off the trail. He also attempted to prick her with syringes. Police said he became violent after his wife refused to take a photo with him. The wife was taken to a hospital, where she is in critical condition. Konig left the area after the attack but was later apprehended by police. Charges against Konig are pending, ABC News reported. Konig has worked as an anesthesiologist at UPMC and was an assistant professor of anesthesiology and bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh Schools of Medicine and Engineering. A UPMC spokesperson told WTAE that he has not worked there for over two years. Singer Lou Koller of Sick of It All performs on stage during the Hellfest Open Air Festival on June 19, 2022 in Clisson, France. (Photo by Aldara Zarraoa/Redferns) Aldara Zarraoa/Redferns Sick Of It All frontman Lou Koller returned to social media on Tuesday to update fans on his battle against esophageal cancer. How you doing, everybody? Koller said in a video on the bands Instagram page. A little update for you. I havent done one in a while because theres really not much to tell. Im in the healing stage, as they say. Its about five or six weeks out from the chemo, my last chemo, and Im doing pretty good, much better than last month. I feel a lot better than last month, but Im dealing with a lot of the side effects, as in my fingers are still numb, my feet are numb, my taste buds dont work right. I think now I can taste salty stuff and really bitter things. Everything else is bland. Other than that, Im trying to gain weight. Im down 30 pounds. Thats not good for me. Ive been trying to gain it, but with my new stomach shape, and its still healing, its going really slow. Im not really gaining weight, but Im trying. I thought that would be the easiest part just stuff your face. But I cant. Koller said that besides his issues with eating he is doing pretty good. Im still sleeping a lot, he said. Trying to break that. Trying to get my energy up. All those things are good. No word yet from the doctors. I get the full scan in May to find out if Im completely cancer free. So we will see. Koller thanked all his fans for their support. Its good to hear from everybody and hopefully soon, soon Ill have some good news for you, he said. Other than that, the bands doing OK. Everybodys doing their own thing. Trying to stay alive. He said there were plans for the group to get together in the spring and hammer out some new songs. Koller announced last June that he had cancer. Whats up everybody? Koller said in a video posted to the bands Instagram page back then. Lou here. As you may or may not know, we had to cancel our full European tour this summer. Theres some rumors going around as to why, and we are here to set the record straight, but we wanted to wait until we got all the information before making an announcement. That is when he got right to what he is dealing with. The reason that it is cancelled is because they found a tumor in my esophagus that goes into my stomach, and Ill have to be getting treatment all summer, he said. Of course, I had full support of the band. As soon as they heard it, they were like forget the tour. Just get healthy. The Hot Ones, Los Calientes hot sauce in flavors verde (pictured above) and rojo has been recalled, according to the FDA. (Courtesy of Target) Target A popular hot sauce made famous on a YouTube show has been recalled due to a possible foreign contamination. The Karma Sauce Company in Rochester, New York, has recalled over 400 gallons of its Verde and Rojo flavored Hot Ones-branded Los Calientes Hot Sauces due to a plastic contamination, the Food and Drug Administration said in a release. The sauces were distributed to stores in North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, and include 5-gallon, 1-gallon, and 5-ounce sizes. The items being recalled are: Hot Ones Los Calientes Verde Hot Sauce 5-Gallon Bucket UPC: 8-51444-00803-5 Best-By Date: Feb. 7, 2028 Hot Ones Los Calientes Verde Hot Sauce 1-Gallon Jug UPC: 8-51444-00803-5 Best-By Dates: Feb. 3, 2028; Feb. 4, 2028; and Feb. 7, 2028 Hot Ones Los Calientes Verde Hot Sauce 5-Ounce Bottles UPC: 8-51444-00803-5 Best-By Dates: Dec. 18, 2027; Dec. 19, 2027; Feb. 3, 2028; Feb. 4, 2028; Feb. 5, 2028; Feb. 6, 2028; Feb. 7, 2028; Feb. 11, 2028; Feb. 12, 2028; and Feb. 13, 2028 Hot Ones Los Calientes Rojo Hot Sauce 1-Gallon Jug UPC: 8-51444-00810-03 Best-By Date: Feb. 7, 2028 Hot Ones Los Calientes Rojo Hot Sauce 5-Ounce Bottles UPC: 8-51444-00810-03 Best-By Date: Feb. 10, 2028 No other Los Calientes hot sauces are affected by this recall. Hot Ones is a popular YouTube show hosted by Sean Evans. The show features interviews with popular celebrities who answer questions while attempting to eat spicy chicken wings. The FDA did not provide any instructions on what to do if you have purchased one of the sauces, but the best precautionary measure would be to dispose of the sauces or request a refund from the place of purchase. Consumers can reach out to ilovehotsauce@heatonist.com to request a refund or ask any questions about the recall. Of all of Pennsylvania's female winemaker, Bonnie Pysher tops the list in seniority (and undoubtedly lifetime gallons made). Pysher started with Franklin Hill Vineyards in 1982 at a time when there were only 15 wineries across the state. Franklin Hill Vineyards There are somewhere around a dozen women winemakers in the state of Pennsylvania. While the exact number would require more reporting, one fact that doesnt need more research is the name of the woman who leads all the others in seniority, and thats Bonnie Pysher at Franklin Hill Vineyards in Bangor, in the Lehigh Valley. She began working there in 1982 when there were only 15 wineries in Pennsylvania and her twins were 3 years old, she told PennLive. Owner Elaine Pivinski, herself a winemaker, asked Pysher, a neighbor, to help label the bottles for the winerys opening, which, she says, was the start of a wonderful relationship with FHV. At the time, Franklin Hill was the first Lehigh Valley winery, and through the years has continued to source a vineyard that goes back even further, to 1976. Some of its best-known wines include Red Head, Sir Walters Red and Katies Creek. Recognizing Pysher during Womens History Month is the best place to shart these profiles of a few of Pennsylvanias female winemakers. Its a list that includes several others who are well-known for their work in the cellar, including: Sarah Troxell, a former chemist turned winemaker whose accolades include winning best woman winemaker at the International Womens Wine Competition in 2014 and whose winery possesses among the highest profiles of the 400 or more operating in the state. Galen Glen Winery, located in Andreas, Schuylkill County, is known internationally for its Gruner Veltliner (the first commercial U.S. planting of the grape east of the Rockies in 2003) and its Riesling. Erin Troxel, also at Galen Glen, a graduate of Cornell and the Vinifera EuroMaster program in Germany and France who interned in Nahe, Napa and New Zealand and worked for several years at E. & J. Gallo before returning home. She has been forging her own identity with an Erin Elizabeth line of sparkling that includes Gruner and Riesling Joanne Levenberg left her job as an environmental engineer in 1994 and moved to California to study winemaking at the University of California at Davis and to work at several wineries. In 1997 she returned to the family farm outside Amity Township, Berks County, to start Manatawny Creek Winery , where she continues to make wines and a line of beers Bonnie Pysher Pysher said she considers herself fortunate to have a mechanical mind. Elaine allowed me to try fixing things around the winery. If I couldnt figure something out, my husband would assist, she says. Growing up, I was instilled with a strong work ethic. When I started at FHV, I understood the mechanics of making everything happen, from running pumps and filtering wine to operating the tractor for vineyard work and unloading bottles. Elaine handled the winemaking aspects, and we collaborated closely. She says that she quickly learned that there were a select few people in the industry whom she could turn to for advice. I also learned that winemakers typically share about 90% of their knowledge, and its up to you to figure out the last 10%, she says, which prompted her to take classes. After 29 years of winemaking, I attended an online course at HACC [Harrisburg Area Community College] and confirmed that we were on the right track, she says. As Franklin Hill expanded over the years, she says that she transitioned from vineyard work to focusing solely on the winery, which I love. The temperature in the winery, typically between 55-68F, is perfect for managing menopause! As my twins grew up and had children, I became a grandmother to four grandsons. This job has allowed me to spend time with my family while continuing to make wine. I live just 2 miles from the winery, where traffic jams involve tractors or flocks of turkeys. Now, my job also allows me to care for my 86-year-old mother while still making wine." Shes also helping to train what she calls two talented individuals to take over my responsibilities. They bring a wealth of knowledge and are a great help to me and FHV. Do I plan to retire? I cant imagine not being here every day, surrounded by the stainless steel tanks. When I eventually do retire, Ill be leaving the winemaking in capable hands. People often ask me which wines I think are the best. My response is simple: There are only two kinds of wines the kind you like and the kind you dont." Hilary Gary got her start as a winemaker in 2010 beginning in the Lehigh Valley, coming out of a career as a financial advisor. 'One of the main reasons that I got into this career is because it is such an interesting combination of sensory, science, culture, and history,' she says. Hillary Gary Hillary Gary Not only is she the full-time winemaker at Weathered Vineyards & Winery in Lehigh Countys New Tripoli, but she also started her own label called Lime Hill Wines a few years ago. I actually got my start as a winemaker in 2010 beginning in the Lehigh Valley coming out of a career as a financial adviser, she says. My first employer acknowledged that I had a special skill set and granted me the opportunity to go back to school to obtain a second degree in enology/viticulture. After earning her degree, she started consulting for startup wineries throughout the Lehigh Valley while also working full-time as a winemaker. In 2019 I started my own private label, Lime Hill Winery, as a passion project and creative kitchen to serve my more creative side while pushing the envelope with interesting blends, techniques and varietals, she says. In this arena, I am able to have the autonomy and freedom to create a product that is crafted based on interest and character, not consumer demand, which is where I personally feel that the best products originate. I use skin contact, sur lie ageing, batonnage, multiple layers of yeast to add dimension and only French oak aging for our reds. I source from Pennsylvania when possible [Riesling, Gruner, and Frontenac Gris have been sourced from the state], however, my focus is utilizing Washington State fruit ... we pull from several distinct AVAs Horse Heaven Hills, Wahluke Slope, and Walla Walla Valley, to name a few for our reds and our fruit is all hand-harvested." Lime Hill Wines has a small, appointment-only tasting room at its Lime Hill/Wyalusing production facility, instead building its business mainly through wine club membership and local collaborations in the Bethlehem area as well as private parties and tastings, she says. Meanwhile, Weathered Vineyards is planning to build a new tasting room in addition to collaborating on a satellite tasting room on the York County-Cumberland County line that is scheduled to open next month. One of the main reasons that I got into this career is because it is such an interesting combination of sensory, science, culture, and history, she says. The concept of terroir has always been amazing to me, and to be able to bring that to consumers and share it with friends and family is an art in and of itself. Brittany Vittor started at Nissley Vineyards as a sales associate but found her career interests in a different location at the Lancaster County winery. Erica Sterner, Nissley Vineyards Brittany Vittor Vittor began at Nissley Vineyards, another of the states oldest wineries, as a sales associate. From there, she moved to cellarmaster and then into her current role as winemaker. What I enjoy best about the job is that I get to create a product over [a period of months] to then bottle and share with my friends and family, she says. Ive always had a creative, artistic side so this job helps me bring that into reality. Every harvest is different, and the wine profiles change year to year, so its a fun challenge to continue to make the staple wines that customers expect from Nissley Vineyards while also creating something new for them to enjoy. Per the contacts made through eight East Coast summits, here are profiles of some other women winemakers making a difference on the East Coast, in alphabetical order: Beachgoers are being warned to stay away from the sea creatures. (Getty Images) Getty Images If youre headed to the beaches of Southern California, please take note. Sea lions, along with other ocean-dwelling mammals, have fallen victim to poisoning. And its changing their behavior. The Los Angeles Times reports how these sea creatures have been ingesting whats known as domoic acid, a naturally-occurring neurotoxin thats produced by algae blooms. Roughly 140 sea lions have been taken in and treated by the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro after eating this algae; at least 50 dolphins, too, fell ill. The Marine Mammal Center explains how domoic acid which is caused specifically by the algae Pseudo-nitzschia australis attacks the brain and the heart, causing seizures and heart failure. It also causes sea lions to act aggressively. One surfer, according to CBS Local Los Angeles, was attacked on Friday by one such feral, almost demonic sea lion afflicted by the toxin. The animal bit and dragged the man off his board, and even continued to follow him as he attempted to paddle away. As such, local experts and area officials are urging people to stay away from sea lions on beaches all along the Californian coast. Marine Mammal Care Center Chief Executive, John Warner, informs the Los Angeles Times how large domoic acid blooms tend to occur every three to seven years. However, they appear to be worsening over time due to human activity plus the warming of the ocean as well as nitrate runoff thats exacerbating such stranding events. I liken it to a bloom put on steroids from human-caused factors that make these blooms worse every time we see them, he tells the publication. The last time a bloom of this scale was seen was in 2023. Unfortunately, experts state there is not much they can do to mitigate the bloom until they go away naturally in roughly four to eight weeks. Several of the Bhutanese men being detained by ICE are believed to have been moved to a New Jersey facility in advance of deportation, according to Tilak Niroula, chairman of the board of the Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg. PennLive has received no response for confirmation from ICE. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com At least six Bhutanese men who are being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in a Pike County Prison have been moved to a New Jersey facility and told they would be flown to an unknown destination in 72 hours. PennLive, which learned of the news midday Wednesday from Tilak Niroula, head of the Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg, has not been able to confirm the information with ICE. PennLive reached out to the federal agency for comment but did not immediately hear back. Niroula, who has been in constant contact with family members of the men, said he learned of the update from them. According to family members the men were moved to a facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey, ahead of deportation. Niroula said the men have not been told where they are being taken to; Niroula fears that if they are taken to Bhutan, they will be permanently imprisoned. The men are among more than a dozen Bhutanese men who settled in the Harrisburg area as part of a refugee resettlement program years ago. They are believed to have been granted legal refugee status in the U.S. at one time but were detained by ICE in recent weeks. At least five men were arrested in the Harrisburg area about 10 days ago. U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, in whose 10th Congressional District a number of the men reside, said in an email statement late Wednesday afternoon: I was updated on the situation and understand that ICE has acted legally with regard to individuals who have broken the law. The offices of U.S. Senators Dave McCormick and John Fetterman did not respond to requests for comment. On Monday, Niroula met with Gov. Josh Shapiro and other elected officials. Neither Niroula nor the governor released details about the discussion that took place. At a media event on Tuesday in Harrisburg, Shapiro was asked about what, if any, recourse he had to assist the men held under federal law. We welcome them here in Pennsylvania, Shapiro said, underscoring that the Commonwealth is home to about 70,000 Bhutanese, including 40,000 in the south-central region. They are an important part of the social fabric, the economic fabric, the educational and cultural fabric of our communities. I want to make sure that anyone who has been rounded up by the federal government is given full due process, said Shapiro. I expect the Trump administration to honor the law, to respect the law and ensure those who they have come in contact with receive due process. The detention of the Bhutanese men has also garnered the attention of members of the Legislature. Some of the men being detained had an order of removal that is, an immigration judge ordered their removal from the country but were unaware of that fact, PennLive has previously reported, citing information from Niroula. Niroula on Saturday traveled to the Pike County facility with Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas and relatives of the men being detained. The apprehension of the Bhutanese men comes amid a crackdown on immigration by the Trump administration. Bhutanese leaders earlier this year had expressed concerns that members of their community might be swept up in the immigration crackdown. PennLive has submitted multiple requests for information from ICE but has received no official response. PennLive has been unable to confirm whether ICE issued removal orders and why. ICE did inform PennLive that the men were not lawful permanent residents. PennLive has repeatedly asked ICE officials about the mens situations, including why they are being detained or what lies ahead for them. All of the men have had some type of encounter with the law, PennLive has previously reported. Some had previously been incarcerated but had been released after serving their time, and were believed to have been living and working without incident for years, Niroula said. At least one man has an open criminal case, but has not yet been found guilty of a crime. At least three of the men are from Dauphin County and two are from Allegheny County. Two additional men from Dauphin County are being detained in Pearsall, Texas. The men, who are Nepali-speaking Bhutanese in their 30s and 40s, arrived in the U.S. legally starting in the 1990s amid a wave of refugees fleeing the south Asian nation, which was carrying out an ethnic cleansing campaign. The refugees entered through an extensive refugee vetting process and are believed to hold permanent resident green cards. Marlene Morales, a Harrisburg-based immigration lawyer, said detainees are not always afforded a hearing before being deported. And thats the scary part right now, she said. So even before Trump, you didnt always have a right to a hearing. It really just depends. Its on a case-by-case kind of thing. Morales, however, noted that the Trump administration has pushed the bounds of federal immigration law, most recently seen in the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador. The Trump administration recently invoked a state secrets privilege and has refused to give a federal judge any additional information about its operations, invoking an 18th century wartime law. The case has raised the question of the protection of due process in deportation cases. What they did with the Venezuelans, usually theyre not allowed to do something like that, yet they did it, Morales said. Thats where the fear is. We dont know what to expect with this president. Most times people do have a right to a hearing, but that isnt always the case. Typically, in situations like the one the Bhutanese men are in, an attorney would have to work as fast as possible to stop any deportation, Morales said. It also depends on whether they have a criminal history or not, whether theyve had immigration or an immigration judge has ordered them to purge in the past or whether theyve had an immigration proceeding in the past, what their current status is right now, Morales said. So theres a few things at play there. Staff writer J.D. Prose contributed to this report. Seifullah Abdul-Salaam, seen here during his 1995 trial, is awaiting a new sentence this week for the Aug. 19, 1994 murder of New Cumberland Patrol Officer Willis Cole. 1995 PennLive file photo PennLive files Gov. Josh Shapiro on Tuesday threatened to sue the Trump administration if funding for a farm program that provides critical food to food banks was not restored. The Trump administration earlaier this month terminated the Local Food Purchasing Assistance program. Joe Arthur, head of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, joined Shapiro at the podium. Ivey DeJesus/PennLive Gov. Josh Shapiro on Tuesday said he is appealing to the Trump administration to reinstate a federal program that provides millions to local food banks, threatening to take legal action if the White House fails to respond. Appearing alongside agricultural stakeholders at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Shapiro said he wants the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reverse its termination of the Local Food Purchasing Assistance program, which provides funds to Pennsylvania farmers who supply local food banks with fresh produce and dairy. People plant trees in the forests near Apace, a small village in northeastern Slovenia, March 21, 2025. (Vida Tos/STA/Handout via Xinhua) LJUBLJANA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- In the forests near Apace, a small village in northeastern Slovenia, a group of volunteers, students, and forest rangers gathered on Friday morning with spades in hand, ready to plant a new generation of trees beneath the light of early spring. This scene marked Slovenia's celebration of International Forest Day on March 21. Though more than 60 percent of the country is cloaked in forest - making it the third most forested nation in the European Union after Sweden and Finland - the need for reforestation has grown urgent. The planting of 2,000 trees, including oak, linden, wild cherry, wild pear, and wild apple, is part of a broader mission to restore an area ravaged by a powerful windstorm in July 2023. The storm has left behind a wounded ecosystem. These selected tree species are expected to enhance biodiversity and provide an abundant food source for bees. "Through initiatives like this, we help mitigate the negative effects of climate change," Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar said at the tree-planting event. "Forests are the lungs of our world, and we must strive to keep them healthy and thriving," she added. That climate threat has loomed large over Slovenia in recent years. In July 2022, the country experienced its worst-ever wildfire, which burned for days and devastated approximately 2,000 hectares of forest. One year later, in August 2023, Slovenia faced unprecedented floods that claimed six lives and caused immense damage to nearly 8,000 buildings. In response, Slovenia's Forest Service has been actively working on conservation and reforestation projects. Over the past five years, the agency has overseen the planting of about 5.7 million young trees across the country. "Effective and sustainable forest management is crucial to preserving biodiversity and ensuring that future generations can benefit from our rich natural heritage," the Forest Service stated. As part of the celebrations, Slovenia also highlighted the connection between forest and human experience through its network of European paths (E-paths) - long-distance hiking trails that pass through the country's lush forests. Slovenia hosts three of the 12 E-paths, drawing trekkers eager to explore the country's natural beauty on foot. One of these trails, the E6 European footpath, celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025. Spanning approximately 6,400 km, the E6 links Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and Greece. It's a journey that can take months to complete and offers hikers breathtaking scenery from Nordic forests to Alpine peaks and Mediterranean shores. "European footpaths reflect our relationship with the environment and encourage responsible environmental stewardship," Joze Prah, head of Slovenia's Commission for European Footpaths (KEUPS), said during a lecture in Slovenj Gradec, "They are among the most vital indicators of a society's commitment to sustainable development." The KEUPS, which has the Forest Service as a key member, oversees the maintenance and promotion of E-paths in the country. Back in the classroom, Slovenia's commitment to forests is also taking root. Workshops across the country marked International Forest Day by teaching children about the role forests play in sustaining life. In the dappled woods near Apace, every planted tree, since today, has started its mission by filtering air, storing carbon, supporting wildlife, and anchoring communities in times of change. Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar (L) plants trees in the forests near Apace, a small village in northeastern Slovenia, March 21, 2025. (Vida Tos/STA/Handout via Xinhua) Editor: WXY The Trump administration on Friday sent a notification to more than a hundred groups across the country, including several in Pennsylvania, that the legal services they provide to unaccompanied minors would no longer be funded. This decision could leave hundreds of children, whose lives may be at risk if they are deported, without adequate legal representation. The nonprofits that have been supporting these children are now scrambling to find funding to continue their work. Hundreds of children are brought to Pennsylvania every year to stay in federal shelters if border agents determine there is a reason for them to stay in the country, such as abuse, abandonment or persecution in their home country. A handful of nonprofits have been tasked by the federal government with meeting with those children in their shelters to teach them about their rights and provide legal support as their cases go through immigration courts. In Western Pennsylvania, the nonprofit, Jewish Family and Community Services of Pittsburgh, provides know your rights presentations to about 500 unaccompanied minors in the area, according to Dana Gold, the chief operating officer, although they only end up representing about 10% of these children in court. The children come from a variety of countries, such as Afghanistan, Congo and Ukraine, in addition to countries along the southern border. Gold estimated that there are about 4,200 unaccompanied children across Pennsylvania who were being provided legal services though the federal program that was just ended. They dont know what their rights are. They are children, so we have to do very specific kinds of work to help them understand, she said. Sometimes its getting down on the floor and drawing pictures and asking them, When there is a problem in your village, who do you go to? Okay that person, in our language, is called a judge and in our system you can go to the judge if bad things have happened. Nationally, about 26,000 children received representation through the past year, according to federal records. Some national advocates say the end of the $200 million legal program to serve them, will leave children, some as young as 2, in an almost comically dark predicament. That young child is supposed to find their local courthouse, walk up the steps, go through security, find the courtroom, sit in the chair on a booster seat maybe, and defend themselves before a judge and a trained government attorney whose only job is to deport them, said Vilal Askaryar, the director of communications at the Acacia Center for Justice, during a Zoom call on Monday. Since 2023, the Acacia Center has administered the federal legal services program through a network of local and national nonprofits, like the ones in Pennsylvania. Artwork shared during a zoom presentation put on by the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights on March 24, 2025. Courtesy image A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the unaccompanied minors program, declined to answer questions but wrote in a statement to PennLive that, HHS continues to meet the legal requirements established by the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. Church World Services in Lancaster currently serves around 200 children in central Pennsylvania, according to Rachel Helwig, the associate director of development. These cases take months or years to resolve, Helwig said, meaning advocates are ethically obligated to continue representation of their clients despite the termination of government funding. Cathryn Miller Wilson, the executive director of HIAS Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, said her organization is losing its $1.5 million contract to support 589 children. The government in recent months has also begun asking for the immigration status of family members who can house these children, Wilson said. As a result, many children are languishing in shelters, she said, because family members are afraid to come pick them up. Ryan Brunsink, the managing attorney for immigration defense cases at Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center in the York County area, said his nonprofit just began taking cases with unaccompanied minors in the last two years because they had been receiving so many requests for help. They are serving 15 to 20 children now, as they were ramping up the program, he said, but now they are having to turn children away. We cant responsibly continue to take on cases, he said. These kids are all out there and were continuing to get requests. Gerson Navidad, a program associate with Immigrant Defenders Law Center, said the now-canceled legal program for minors helped him successfully apply for political asylum as a 16-year-old fleeing persecution from gangs in El Salvador. Without it, he said, he believes he would have ended up back in harms way. The constant intimidation and fear would have probably caused me to sign my own deportation papers, Navidad said. Many of the groups that serve children like Navidad, have also recently lost funding for other programs they administer, including programs designed to help refugees get settled in the United States. Gold said her nonprofits contract for supporting unaccompanied minors was for $730,000. HIAS Pennsylvania has already had to lay off staff, said Wilson, the executive director. She expects her staff to shrink further after Fridays news, from 88 at its height to about 50 employees. The groups already tight budget could get even more challenging, Wilson said, as they find ways to continue to serve the children they are already helping without funding for it. Gold said a group of nonprofits is planning to file a lawsuit to restore the funding because they believe canceling the program would cause irreparable harm to the affected children. Wilson, the director of HIAS PA, said she was still evaluating whether the group would be in a position to join the lawsuit. HIAS Pennsylvania has been able to weather downturns in the past when the government stopped providing as much support for immigrants and refugees services, Wilson said. I have a lot of confidence that well be small and mighty again and still help a lot of people, she said. Well sustain ourselves until people understand how critical immigrants are to our society and the pendulum will swing back. By TARA COPP, The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) The Atlantic released the entire Signal chat among Trump senior national security officials Wednesday, showing that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth provided the exact times of warplane launches, strike packages and targets before the men and women flying those attacks against Yemens Houthis this month on behalf of the United States were airborne. The disclosure follows two intense days during which President Donald Trumps senior-most Cabinet members of his intelligence and defense agencies have struggled to explain how details that current and former U.S. officials have said would have been classified wound up on an unclassified Signal chat that included Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, file) AP Hegseth has refused to say whether he posted classified information onto Signal. He is traveling in the Indo-Pacific and to date has only scoffed at questions, saying he did not reveal war plans. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe told members of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday that it was up to Hegseth to determine whether the information he was posting was classified or not. Clintons emails The response to the chat stands in stark contrast to Republicans reaction to Hillary Clintons use of a home server when she was secretary of state. This time, Trump administration officials have largely focused their ire not on sweeping potential security lapses, or punishments as a result, but on the journalist, Goldberg, who was errantly added to the group text and reported on it. Some of the texts participants who spoke out against Clinton havent commented publicly at all about the Signal leak. One of the chief concerns about Clintons email server was that it was insecure, and that sensitive information could fall into the wrong hands. But former FBI Director James Comey said in recommending that no charges be brought against Clinton that there was no evidence that her email account had been hacked by hostile actors. Trump insisted Tuesday that no classified information was divulged in the group chat. The White Houses National Security Council has said it is investigating. For her part, Clintons reaction to Goldbergs reporting was one of astonishment: You have got to be kidding me, she wrote on X. What it says What The Atlantic revealed about the chat was jaw-dropping in its specificity and includes the type of information that is kept to a very close hold to protect the operational security of a military strike. In the group chat, Hegseth posted: 1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package) 1345: Trigger Based F-18 1st Strike Window Starts (Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME also, Strike Drones Launch (MQ-9s) 1410: More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package) 1415: Strike Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier Trigger Based targets) 1536 F-18 2nd Strike Starts also, first sea-based Tomahawks launched. MORE TO FOLLOW (per timeline) We are currently clean on OPSEC that is, operational security. Godspeed to our Warriors. Goldberg has said he asked the White House if it opposed publication and that the White House responded that it would prefer he did not publish. According to The Hill, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Monday dismissed any potential disciplinary action for national security adviser Mike Waltz and Hegseth over the text chain. The New York Times reported that the full chat included comments that painted Europeans as geopolitical parasites. This story has been updated. MANHEIM, Pa. (AP) Democrat James Andrew Malone narrowly won a special election for a Pennsylvania state Senate seat in Republican-leaning suburbs and farming communities, scoring an upset in a district that a Democrat hasnt represented in the chamber for 136 years. Malones victory over Republican Josh Parsons in Tuesday nights election might provide a light in the darkness for Democrats struggling to unify around a strategy to counter President Donald Trump. Malone said the chaos around Trumps first two months in office helped him. If President Trump were trying to accomplish his agenda in a very methodical and cohesive and by-the-book way, we wouldnt have as much vitriol as we do right now, Malone said in an interview Wednesday. But hes chosen to do it the way he does everything, right? Throw a brick in the basket and see what comes out, said Malone, the mayor of East Petersburg, population 4,500. One of the top Democrats in the state Senate said Malones victory shows the national party the value of talking about protecting Social Security and health care access, amid what he sees as the chaos and pain that Trumps administration is sowing. As much anger that people have, they have anxiety too, Sen. Vince Hughes of Philadelphia said. And last nights election sends a message that people are going to respond. The Associated Press called the race Wednesday after receiving information from county officials that there were fewer ballots left to be counted than the margin in the race. Parsons conceded Wednesday. Malones victory narrows GOP control of the state Senate to a 27-23 seat advantage. Pennsylvanias Republican Party chairman, Greg Rothman, said he didnt think Trumps performance in office hurt Parsons. The prices of gas and eggs are dropping and the federal government hasnt cut Social Security or Medicare, he said. Rather, Democrats did a better job at getting their supporters to vote early by mail, he said, while the more traditional Republican campaign apparently didnt work. We need to take this as a wake-up call to the Republican Party that we cant be complacent and we cant just run campaigns like weve always run campaigns, Rothman said. We need to embrace early voting. Malone, 51, said he also was helped by Parsons confrontational and secretive style that alienated some Republican voters. That got around, you know. I have a contingent that literally just dont want to see Parsons at the state level, Malone said. Parsons is a Lancaster County commissioner, military veteran and former prosecutor who has talked about having visited the White House four times and working with Trump staff on policy issues. A Democratic flip of that district is a major upset. Trump won the district with 57% of the vote in Novembers presidential election over former Vice President Kamala Harris. He went on to win the battleground state of Pennsylvania by almost 2 points. A Democrat last represented Lancaster County in the Senate in 1889, Democrats say. The election comes amid Democratic infighting and a torrent of frustration and anger over Senate Democrats in Washington, led by Sen. Chuck Schumer, ensuring the passage of a Trump-backed spending measure that rank-and-file Democrats had opposed. Schumer said the bills passage avoided a government shutdown that would have been worse. Following the vote, internal dissension burst into the open, with tension unusually high following the disastrous November election in which Democrats lost control of the White House and Congress. FILE - Frank Bisignano, right, then Chairman and CEO of First Data, smiles after the company's IPO at the New York Stock Exchange, Oct. 15, 2015. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) AP By Fatima Hussein, The Associated Press WASHINGTON President Donald Trumps 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? Mary Weaver reflects on changes to the Social Security Administration while visiting the McDowell County Commission on Aging Senior Center in Welch, W.Va., Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Leah Willingham) AP 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. Republicans were largely in favor of Bisignanos 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. Demonstrators gather outside of the Edward A. Garmatz United States District Courthouse in Baltimore, on Friday, March 14, 2025, before a hearing regarding the Department of Government Efficiency's access to Social Security data. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) AP 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 agencys 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. Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, said Tuesdays 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. A sign outside the U.S. Social Security Administration advertises its online services in downtown Welch, W.Va., Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Leah Willingham) AP 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 groups 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. This undated photo provided by Chili's shows actors Brian Baumgartner, left, who played Kevin Malone, and Kate Flannery, who played Meredith Palmer in the TV series "The Office," posing in a soon-to-be opened Chili's in Dickson City, Pa. (Ben Rosenzweig, Chili's via AP) AP By JONATHAN MATTISE, The Associated Press It has been nearly two decades since the workplace mockumentary The Office first set an episode inside a Chilis, where Michael Scott handed out Dundie awards to his ever-tolerant employees, including trophies for the whitest sneakers and for stinking up the bathroom. Over nine seasons, The Office regularly name-dropped real places and products associated with Scranton, where the Emmy-winning show was set. Theres the big pirate ship restaurant known as Coopers Seafood House and Poor Richards Pub inside a bowling alley. But in 2005, there was no Chilis in the Pennsylvania city. So, at last, the chain is filling a hole in Office lore by opening a Chilis in Dickson City, about 6 miles north of Scranton. New Chilis, old look The restaurant will be decorated as it would have been in the mid-2000s with old signs and chalkboard art. It will also feature direct nods to the shows fictitious paper company, Dunder Mifflin. In one episode, Scott, played by Steve Carell, orders an awesome blossom a deep-fried onion with a cheese dipping sauce while trying to win a new client over lunch at Chilis. That item, long struck from the Chilis menu nationwide, is being reintroduced in the Scranton-area restaurant only. An Chili's restaurant under construction in Dickson City, Pa., Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) AP The new Chilis will open April 7, when a Scranton marg will be available nationwide for the day. Two Office actors are appearing in commercials for the restaurant: Brian Baumgartner, who played the dimwitted accountant Kevin Malone; and Kate Flannery, whose character Meredith Palmer was a party-loving divorced mother working in supplier relations. Other actors, including Melora Hardin, Andy Buckley and Amy Pietz, also feature in a promotional video. It seems like a wrong was righted here at around the 20th anniversary of the show to finally have a Scranton branch of Chilis, Baumgartner told The Associated Press. Beauty in ordinary things Decades ago, when word got out that an American version of the British show The Office would center on Scranton, some locals feared their hometown would be the butt of the joke. The Rust Belt town had its heyday generations earlier with anthracite coal mining and steam trains. The show wound up celebrating Scranton and the characters, not poking fun at them, Baumgartner said. Flannery, who is from Philadelphia, said shes happy The Office helped to reinforce local pride in the city. Scranton has hosted large Office parties, including one that drew many cast members and some 10,000 people around the 2013 series finale. Streaming services have boosted the shows popularity. Its kind of like what Pam Beesly says in the last episode: theres beauty in ordinary things. And Scranton can feel ordinary to some people, Flannery told the AP. But its really special. It really is. A mural of Dwight Schrute is seen in Scranton, Pa., Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) AP The show banked on residents and businesses to donate Scranton swag, and gave shout-outs to local landmarks. John Krasinski, who played Jim Halpert, filmed scenes for the opening montage in Scranton, making the citys Penn Paper tower recognizable around the world. The Scranton welcomes you sign from Krasinskis footage was moved to a downtown mall because people kept stopping on a highway to take photos. I feel God in this Chilis tonight For Chilis, building a themed eatery that is expected to draw tourists isnt the normal course of business, said George Felix, Chilis chief marketing officer. In 2005, the nearest Chilis was about 19 miles away from Scranton. It has since closed. Given the ties that this brand has to Scranton, this one was definitely special for us, Felix told the AP. Baumgartner, who analyzed the show in a podcast and book, said the new Chilis calls back to a crucial episode The Dundies that kicked off Season 2, Baumgartner said. We were a failing show, quite frankly, with really bad ratings that first season and barely got brought back for a second, Baumgartner said. But some tonal things were changed. We decided to open that second season with kind of a bang, and left the office for the first time. In that episode, Pam Beesly, played by Jenna Fischer, won the whitest sneakers Dundie and declared tipsily, I feel God in this Chilis tonight. Pam was subsequently banned from Chilis nationwide for stealing peoples drinks. In 2017, Chilis pardoned the character, saying she was welcome back. Its going to feel like theyre actually on the show because its going to look exactly the same, Flannery said of the Scranton-area Chilis. So its like a fan destination. Its kind of awesome. An aerial drone photo taken on March 13, 2025 shows farmland of Musa Darboe, in the Central River Region, The Gambia. (Xinhua/Si Yuan) CHANGSHA/BANJUL, March 22 (Xinhua) -- In The Gambia, where rice is a staple of daily life, a quiet agricultural transformation is taking root, driven by technological innovations and international cooperation, helping farmers achieve record-breaking yields and reduce reliance on imports. The West African country's agricultural productivity has been steadily increasing, with rice production surpassing 48,000 tonnes in 2024, marking a historic high. "We have never achieved such a yield before, which shows that Gambian agriculture is improving. Development partners like China have played a crucial role," Minister of Agriculture Demba Sabally said in a recent interview with Xinhua. Innovations in infrastructure and the introduction of high-yield agricultural technologies by Chinese teams have been instrumental in reaching this milestone, he said. For a long time, The Gambia has relied heavily on rice imports due to traditional farming methods, limited mechanization and small-scale rice cultivation. "In The Gambia, you cannot live without rice," said Gambian farmer Musa Darboe. Originally a telecommunications engineer in the United States, Darboe returned to The Gambia in 2018 to manage the farm left by his father. However, harsh realities quickly hit him. "I had no knowledge of rice planting techniques at the time, and agricultural mechanization in The Gambia was low. No one taught me what to do, and at one point, I even considered giving it all up," Darboe recalled. Soon, things took a turn for the better. In July 2019, he met Huang Zhi, country manager of Longping High-Tech, a Chinese agricultural company named after Yuan Longping who was known as the "father of hybrid rice," and his team, who were in The Gambia for agricultural cooperation. From seed selection to planting, Chinese experts provided hands-on assistance and introduced professional equipment such as rice transplanters and harvesters, machines that Darboe's father's generation had never even dreamed of. "After more than five years of development, Darboe's farm has now achieved near-complete mechanization in four key stages: plowing, transplanting, harvesting and processing," Huang said. According to him, the team has achieved a yield of 10.8 tonnes per hectare, two to three times higher than that of local rice varieties. "I am deeply grateful for China's support in The Gambia's agricultural development. Without the guidance and assistance of Chinese agricultural experts, we would not have been able to produce high-quality rice," Darboe said. Rice yields and field management standards at Darboe's farm continue to improve. Through a cooperative model, he now provides seeds, fertilizers, mechanization services and agricultural processing support to more than 2,000 nearby farmers. Other farm owners are also gradually adopting Chinese agricultural machinery and rice planting techniques. "The Chinese technical team has introduced various high-quality rice varieties, including high-yield and hybrid seeds, which are essential for the development of Gambian agriculture," Sabally said. Huang Zhi (L) and Musa Darboe exchange rice farming experiences at Darboe's farmland in the Central River Region, The Gambia, on March 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Si Yuan) Editor: WXY A Veteran Story JORDAN This week, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) visited with members of the Wyoming Army National Guard's 115th Field Artillery Brigade, including members of the 2-300th, deployed to the Middle East. Wyoming has more than 100 service members serving with the 115th who are currently stationed in Jordan. They provide long-range precision fire support for conventional and special operations forces in Iraq, Jordan, and Syria. "Wyoming is proud to have our state's finest soldiers deployed across the globe with the Wyoming National Guard. This week, I was honored to visit with more than 100... LCCC Helps Out High School Welders Laramie County Community College (LCCC) advanced welding instructor Corey Morgan visited the class of welding students last Wednesday. The class is part of the FFA Ag Program that not only includes welding but auto class and wood working class. This class, taught by Sally Wheeler teaches beginning welding. The students are working to compete at the state level in the FFA Ag Mechanical Competition. The winner will qualify for the National Competition. The students, Jesus Castillo, Jace Golding, Shawn Shmidl, Cash Burnett and Jake Macy have advanced far enough in the class that Mrs. Wheeler need... BATON ROUGE, LA (03/21/2025)-- Jasmin Becerra of Pine Bluffs, Wyoming, was recently elected to membership into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society, at Montana State University. Becerra is among approximately 20,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 perc... Casper, Wyo. - March 20, 2025 - The University of Wyoming Extension will host the Central Wyoming Tree Care Workshop Saturday, April 5. This conference is designed for anyone who wants to learn more about trees and their care. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at 4 p.m. It will take place at the Agricultural Resource and Learning Center in Casper, located at 2011 Fairgrounds Road. Certified arborists may be able to earn International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) continuing education units (CEUs) by attending the event. Speakers include ISA Master Arborist Bill Scott Jr. He will pre... Chen Wei (L), leader of the 34th batch of the Chinese medical team in Zanzibar, and Rashid Hassan Ali (R), a cardiothoracic surgeon at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, check a tuberculosis (TB) patient in Zanzibar, Tanzania on March 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman) by Xinhua writers Hua Hongli, Lucas Liganga DAR ES SALAAM, March 24 (Xinhua) -- "Today I am able to join people from around the world in celebrating World Tuberculosis Day, thanks to the life-saving intervention of the 34th batch of the Chinese medical team in Zanzibar," said a beaming Seif Hassan Mbarouk, a tuberculosis (TB) patient in Tanzania's Zanzibar. Observed annually on March 24 since 1993, World Tuberculosis Day aims to raise awareness and urgency in ending TB, the world's deadliest infectious disease. Mbarouk, 25, was diagnosed with drug-resistant TB five months ago when his condition was already critical. The cosmetics trader's symptoms have since eased significantly, thanks to timely intervention by Chinese doctors. Mbarouk received standardized treatment at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, the region's main public healthcare facility, where members of the 34th batch of the Chinese medical team are based. "Mnazi Mmoja" means "one coconut tree" in Swahili language. The progress in his treatment has also restored hope among fellow patients and local health workers in battling TB, especially drug-resistant strains. A resident of Miembeni on Unguja Island, Mbarouk recounted how his ordeal began last August. Persistent coughing and headaches led him to seek help at a nearby health center, where he was initially diagnosed with pneumonia. "They gave me medication for several weeks, but nothing changed," Mbarouk said. "I was overwhelmed with fear and anxiety. I didn't know what was wrong with me." Encouraged by friends, Mbarouk eventually turned to Chinese doctors at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital. "They diagnosed me with drug-resistant tuberculosis," he said. "After five months of treatment, I feel much better." Mbarouk urged others to act early if they notice symptoms. "Don't fear the disease. With proper medication, TB is curable," he said. Rashid Hassan Ali, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, said TB remains prevalent in Zanzibar, affecting people of all ages, from children to the elderly. The main challenge, he said, is late diagnosis. "Most TB patients first seek care in remote health centers that lack experts and diagnostic equipment," said Ali, who trained in cardiothoracic surgery at Jiamusi University in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. "By the time they arrive here, their conditions are often critical." Members of the Chinese medical team in Zanzibar have stepped in to help. They treat patients and train local medical personnel to improve the diagnosis of various illnesses, including TB. "They've introduced bronchoscopic diagnosis for respiratory complications, a technology we didn't have before," said Ali. "In fact, the first bronchoscope used in Zanzibar was brought by the Chinese doctors." He said medical cooperation with China has significantly improved healthcare across Zanzibar's Indian Ocean islands. Chen Wei, leader of the 34th batch of the Chinese medical team in Zanzibar, said Tanzania, one of the countries hardest hit by TB, has made much progress in recent years, thanks to government and international investment in TB prevention. But challenges remain, he said. "Case detection rates are still low. In some areas, limited medical resources prevent timely diagnosis, leading to delays in treatment or worsening of the disease," Chen said during an interview at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital. Drug-resistant TB is another growing concern, he said, primarily caused by irregular use of antibiotics. "It complicates treatment and increases costs." Chen also highlighted a lack of specialized diagnostic equipment and TB medications in some grassroots clinics, which affects treatment outcomes. "Public health awareness must improve," he added. "Many people don't recognize TB symptoms or delay seeking care. Others interrupt treatment, which increases the risk of spreading the disease." The Chinese medical team plays a vital role in TB prevention and treatment, offering clinical support and introducing advanced technologies, including precision tools for lung biopsies from China, which have boosted detection rates and improved diagnostic accuracy, Chen said. "We're also conducting TB prevention training for local healthcare workers to enhance their skills," he said. Beyond hospital walls, the team organizes free clinics and community health education campaigns to raise awareness and promote early detection. Chen noted that TB treatment in Tanzania differs from that in China, where prevention systems are more mature. In China, screening, diagnosis and treatment are well-integrated and supported by national health insurance. "Over the past year, I've seen firsthand the challenges posed by unequal access to medical resources and the vital role of healthcare in global development," he said. "It's deepened my appreciation for China's healthcare system and strengthened my commitment to serving people as a physician." According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Report 2024, Tanzania's TB incidence rate has fallen 40 percent, from 306 cases per 100,000 people in 2015 to 183 in 2023. TB-related deaths, including HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients, have dropped by 68 percent, from 58,000 in 2015 to 18,400 in 2023. This places Tanzania among three high-burden TB countries on track to meet the 2025 milestone of a 50 percent reduction in incidence and one of 13 countries projected to achieve a 75 percent reduction in TB deaths. The theme of this year's campaign is "Yes, We Can End TB - Commit, Invest, Deliver." The WHO calls for renewed global efforts to eradicate the disease, urging governments to invest in strengthening healthcare systems to expand TB services, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas. Measures include infection control, contact tracing, broader screening and early diagnosis, effective treatment, and psychosocial and nutritional support, focusing on protecting vulnerable groups. Chen Wei, leader of the 34th batch of the Chinese medical team in Zanzibar, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Zanzibar, Tanzania on March 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman) Rashid Hassan Ali, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Zanzibar, Tanzania on March 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman) Seif Hassan Mbarouk, a tuberculosis (TB) patient, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Zanzibar, Tanzania on March 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman) Editor: WXY Can the 2025 Irish Open Main Event Break Another Attendance Record? Matthew Pitt Senior Editor Copy link The 2025 Irish Open is a mere couple of weeks away. Players from all over Ireland, the United Kingdom, and much further afield will descend on the Royal Dublin Society from April 10-21, sharing a common goal: to become the Irish Open Main Event champion. Some players will have won their 1,150 Irish Open Main Event seat for peanuts at Paddy Power Poker, others will try their luck in live satellites or perhaps buy-in directly. Regardless of how they find themselves in the Main Event, they will be going all out to capture as much of the 2,500,000 guaranteed prize pool as possible. The 2025 Irish Open is the 45th edition of this long-running festival, the longest-running tournament series outside of the World Series of Poker (WSOP). Colette Doherty won the inaugural Irish Open back in 1980 and captured her second title ten years later in 1990. Doherty and the legendary Noel Furlong, who won in 1987 and again in 1989, are the only two players to become the Irish Open champion more than once. Significant Growth Year-on-Year Since Moving to a 1,100 Buy-in Between 2010 and 2015, the Irish Open Main Event commanded a buy-in of either 2,250 or 3,500. Two years prior, Neil Channing won a 4,200 buy-in edition of the 2008 Irish Open and scooped 801,400, the largest first-place prize ever awarded in the festival's history. The Irish Open's field size fell from 709 when James Mitchell won in 2010 to 321 in 2015, when Greece's Ioannis Triantafyllakis won. Paul O'Reilly and JP McCann took over the organisation of the Irish Poker Open in 2016 and set the buy-in at a more affordable 1,150. The move proved successful with 802 players turning out in force in 2016, all outlasted by Patrick Clarke. Griffin Benger The following two years saw a slight increase of the buy-in to 1,275 but that didn't deter punters. Griffin Benger came out on top of a 1,129-strong crowd in 2017, with Ryan Mandara's victory coming after 1,339 players fell before him. The Irish Open Main Event's attendance continued growing in 2019, with 1,807 players paying 1,150 to enter. Weijie Zheng triumphed that year, banking 300,000, the largest first-place payout since 2011. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic happened and put the breaks on all live poker. The Irish Open called PartyPoker home in 2020 and 2021, again seeing bumper crowds. Brazil's Pablo Silva had to navigate through 2,954 opponents in 2020, with 1,880 grinders turning out in 2021; Pavel Veksler came out on top on that occasion. With the pandemic out of the way and live poker resumed, the 2022 Irish Open saw over 2,000 entrants for the first time. Some 2,040 players bought in, and Steve O'Dwyer clinched the title. O'Dwyer is proud of his Irish roots and put on a scintillating final table display, eliminating all eight of his opponents before collecting a 318,700 top prize. David Docherty David Docherty won the 2023 Irish Open after weaving his way through a field of 2,491. Docherty won his seat via a $109 satellite at PokerStars, turning that into a career-best 365,000. Last year's Irish Open was a record-breaking affair. Some 3,233 players bought in and created a 3,152,175 prize pool, making the 2024 Irish Open Main Event the richest tournament ever held in Ireland. Finnish star Tero Laurila was the last man standing; he banked 292,735 after a three-way deal involving Ninh Van Hiep and Mark Johnston. Past 15 Years Irish Open Main Event Results Year Buy-in Entrants Prize Pool Champion Country Prize 2024 1,150 3,233 3,152,175 Tero Laurila Finland 292,685 2023 1,150 2,491 2,428,725 David Docherty Scotland 365,000 2022 1,150 2,040 1,989,000 Steve O'Dwyer Ireland 318,700 2021* 1,100 1,880 1,880,000 Pavel Veksler Ukraine 265,999 2020* 1,100 2,954 2,945,000 Pablo Silva Brazil 462,099 2019 1,150 1,807 1,805,870 Weijie Zheng Ireland 300,000 2018 1,275 1,340 1,347,164 Ryan Mandara United Kingdom 210,000 2017 1,275 1,129 1,128,295 Griffin Benger Canada 200,000 2016 1,150 802 801,500 Daniel Wilson Ireland 150,000 2015 3,500 321 1,027,000 Ioanis Triantafyllakis Greece 209,500 2014 2,250 441 822,000 Patrick Clarke Ireland 200,000 2013 2,250 505 1,010,000 Ian Simpson United Kingdom 265,000 2012 3,500 502 1,,606,400 Kevin Vadnersmissen Belgium 420,000 2011 3,500 615 1,968,000 Niall Smyth Ireland 550,000 2010 3,500 708 2,265,200 James Mitchell United Kingdom 600,000 *Main Event held online at PartyPoker due to COVID-19 pandemic The 2025 Irish Open Main Event has its work cut out if it wants to surpass last year's record-breaking prize pool, but it is not outside the realms of possibility. Paddy Power Poker continues running online satellites awarding seats and packages. Those packages include the 1,150 Irish Open Main Event entry and 1,100 for travel and accommodation expenses. Freerolls aside, Irish Open satellites start at only 0.25 and increase to 150. The 150 buy-in satellites are the ones that award the 2,250 package. They are multi-day tournaments where players surviving 16 levels progress to Day 2 on March 30. Four packages are guaranteed to be won in that particular satellite. Irish Open satellites are also available at PokerStars Those reading this who only want to get their hands on a 1,150 Irish Open Main Event seat should look no further than the Irish Open Sat 25 Seats GTD at 8:00 p.m. BST on April 9. It costs 100 to enter unless you satellite in, but at least 25 entrants will turn their 100 into a 2025 Irish Open Main Event seat. Share this article Poker-Playing SCOTUS Lawyer Loses Bids to Ease Pretrial Monitoring Conditions Connor Richards Senior Editor U.S. Copy link This story was updated on March 27 to include Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby's memorandum opinion. A federal judge on Tuesday sustained a bail condition requiring Tom Goldstein's electronic devices to be monitored after the embattled high roller attorney appealed the "drastic" terms of release. In February, Chief US Magistrate Judge Timothy Sullivan modified Goldstein's release conditions to require electronic device monitoring, saying he was "highly suspicious that Mr. Goldstein has used cryptocurrency while on conditions of release." Attorneys for Goldstein challenged that ruling and called the device monitoring a "drastic condition of release" that "creates a significant risk of the disclosure of privileged information." US District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby sustained the court's monitoring condition on Tuesday while also denying Goldstein's motion to appeal the monitoring condition, according to court documents uploaded on Wednesday. Judge Griggsby wrote in her ruling, which was uploaded on Thursday, that the monitoring requirement "is the least restrictive condition" to assure Goldstein's court appearance and to "protect the public from the economic danger posed by the Defendants cryptocurrency-related activities." The judge further wrote that Goldstein poses "a significant risk of flight" given the charges against him involving "significant international travel and contacts with gamblers and other wealthy individuals located in foreign countries." "The Government also persuasively argues that the Defendant poses an economic danger to the community, due to his past online gambling activities and cryptocurrency transactions," wrote Griggsby, who noted that the government's accusations that Goldstein engaged in witness tampering and accessed undisclosed crypto wallets to not factor into her decision. Additionally, Judge Griggsby denied an emergency motion by Goldstein to compel production of grand jury testimony related to a witness whom prosecutors allege Goldstein had tried to bribe. Feds Say Goldstein Made "Outright Falsehoods" This week's ruling follows a contentious back-and-forth between prosecutors and Goldstein, who in January was charged with tax evasion related to millions in poker winnings. Responding to accusations that he had offered cryptocurrency and other things of value "to a potential witness in the case who has intimate knowledge of his and his law firm's finances and income," Goldstein asked prosecutors to turn over grand jury testimony and alleged they had "intentionally misled the court." Tom Goldstein Prosecutors, who have not charged Goldstein with witness tampering, pushed back on Monday, accusing Goldstein of "trying to illicitly circumvent Rule 6(e) to discover additional details of presumptively secret grand jury testimony of a witness who rebuffed his repeated offers of cryptocurrency and money under circumstances that demonstrate the lengths to which Defendant will go to conceal his crimes and wrongdoing from the Government." Also on Tuesday, Judge Griggsby set dates for pre-trial proceedings and the trial. Jury selection is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2026, and a jury trial is set to begin on Jan. 13, 2026. The case is being heard in the US District Court for the District of Maryland. Goldstein has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Tom Goldstein Trial Schedule Date Event May 16, 2025 Pretrial motions June 18, 2025 Responses to pretrial motions July 2, 2025 Reply briefs TBD Hearing on pretrial motions October 24, 2025 Motions in limine November 14, 2025 Responses to motions in limine November 21, 2025 Reply briefs December 12, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. Hearing on motions in limine December 22, 2025 Final pretrial status conference January 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Final pretrial status conference January 12, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. Jury selection January 13, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. Jury trial *Lead image courtesy Legaleagle22/WikiCommons Share this article Aiken Standard reporter Dede Biles is a reporter for the Aiken Standard. She covers Aiken County government, business and horse industry. To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers Reporter Carl Dawson covers education for the Aiken Standard. An Aiken County resident since 1990, his work has appeared in the Charleston News & Courier, the Tampa Tribune, the Atlanta Constitution and the Augusta Chronicle. He holds a B.A. in English from the University of South Carolina. Aiken Standard reporter Matthew Christian is a reporter for the Aiken Standard. He covers the Savannah River Site, city of Aiken, politics and public safety and courts. Matthew previously covered government and politics for the Morning News in Florence. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law and the University of Charleston in West Virginia. To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers Summerville, SC (29483) Today Cloudy with showers. High near 85F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Showers this evening then scattered thunderstorms developing overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 73F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Kingstree, SC (29556) Today Partly cloudy early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain this afternoon. High 84F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Showers this evening then thundershowers developing overnight. Potential for heavy rainfall. Low 71F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch. 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) Editor: WXY Charleston, SC (29403) Today Tropical storm conditions possible. Heavy rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers and windy conditions developing for the afternoon. High 84F. Winds NE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall possibly over one inch.. Tonight Tropical storm conditions possible. Rain early...then remaining cloudy with thundershowers developing overnight. Low 74F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Charleston, SC (29532) Today Partly cloudy skies during the morning giving way to a few showers late. High around 90F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Potential for heavy rainfall. Low 73F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a half an inch. 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) Editor: WXY PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-26 03:37:24 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 831 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA / ACCESS Newswire / March 25, 2025 / Chemlite Innovation Berhad("Chemlite Innovation" or the "Company"), an established engineering support services provider specialising in surface finishing treatment services, officially listed on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad ("Bursa Securities") today. The listing marks a significant milestone in the Company's journey as it seeks to further strengthen its operational capabilities and support its long-term growth initiatives. Chemlite Innovation's shares opened at RM0.23 per share, following its initial public offering (IPO) price of RM0.25 per share.From L-R:Mr. Tan Meng Kim , Managing Director, Capital Markets of UOB Kay Hian Securities (M) Sdn BhdLee Kooi Hoon, Independent Non-Executive Director of Chemlite Innovation BerhadChoo Yih Woei , Independent Non-Executive Chairman of Chemlite Innovation BerhadChong Yuen Fong , Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Chemlite Innovation BerhadHeng Chee Khiang , Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of Chemlite Innovation BerhadLim Paik Nee , Independent Non-Executive Director of Chemlite Innovation BerhadWong Wan Chin , Independent Non-Executive Director of Chemlite Innovation BerhadMs. Anne Leh Geok Meng, , Deputy Chief Executive Officer of UOB Kay Hian Securities (M) Sdn BhdChemlite Innovation is listed under the stock name "CLITE" and stock code "0348".Established in 2007, Chemlite Innovation has grown into a trusted and recognised provider in the engineering support industry, offering both metal and non-metal plating services to key industries such as semiconductors, electrical and electronics, machinery and equipment industries. Over the years, the Company has built a reputation for its strong technical expertise, stringent high-quality standards, and ability to meet the evolving needs of multinational and local customers.Through its IPO, Chemlite Innovation successfully raised RM30.0 million. The proceeds will be allocated towards:RM7.8 million to purchase a parcel of industrial land for the construction of an additional operating facility in Penang Science Park North to expand its operational capabilities.RM7.0 million to set up 2 cleanrooms to provide cleanroom cleaning and packaging services to support customers who require contamination-free environments.RM1.0 million to invest in automation machineries and equipment to upgrade and strengthen its operational capabilities.RM0.5 million to establish a dedicated Research & Development (R&D) department to drive innovation in its surface finishing treatment services.RM5.5 million to repay bank borrowings to strengthen the Company's financial position.RM4.2 million for working capital to support ongoing operational growth.RM4.0 million to cover costs related to the IPO process.Mr. Choo Yih Woei, Independent Non-Executive Chairman of Chemlite Innovation Berhad, stated, "Today's listing is a defining milestone for Chemlite Innovation, representing culmination of years of dedication, strategic foresight, and collective perseverance. Our entry into the capital markets opens an exciting new chapter for Chemlite-a chapter filled with greater opportunities, broader horizons, and higher expectations. This IPO enables us to enhance our capabilities, expand our reach, and deliver greater value to our customers. We remain committed to advancing our technical expertise, maintaining the highest industry standards, and positioning Chemlite Innovation as a leader in surface finishing treatment solutions." He added that, "This listing serves as a vital platform for Chemlite Innovation to create greater value for our customers and stakeholders. We are confident that the proceeds raised will enable us to implement our strategic objectives and meet the evolving demands of our global customer base with our enhanced capabilities and innovation." Deputy Chief Executive Officer of UOB Kay Hian Securities (M) Sdn Bhd, Ms. Anne Leh added, "Chemlite Innovation's successful listing is a testament to the Company's strong fundamentals and strategic direction. Its commitment to innovation and quality has positioned it well for sustained growth, and we are proud to support its journey in becoming a publicly listed entity." The listing provides Chemlite Innovation with a strong platform to accelerate its growth trajectory, capitalising on the increasing demand for high quality surface finishing treatment services. With its solid foundation and forward-looking strategies, Chemlite Innovation is well-prepared to scale new heights in the engineering support industry.UOB Kay Hian Securities (M) Sdn Bhdserves as the Principal Adviser, Sponsor, Underwriter and Placement Agent for Chemlite Innovation, ensuring a smooth and successful listing process.ABOUT CHEMLITE INNOVATION BERHADChemlite Innovation Berhad ("Chemlite Innovation" or the "Company") is a leading engineering support services provider, specialising in surface finishing treatment services. Incorporated in Malaysia, Chemlite Innovation focuses on delivering innovative metal plating and non-metal plating solutions for diverse industries, including semiconductor, electrical and electronics, machinery and equipment, life science and medical technology and automotive sectors. With its advanced technical capabilities, state-of-the-art facilities in Penang Science Park, and a commitment to quality and innovation, Chemlite Innovation has earned its reputation as a trusted global vendor, catering to both local and multinational clients.For more information, visit https://www.chemlite.com.my/ Issued By: Swan Consultancy Sdn Bhd on behalf of Chemlite Innovation BerhadFor more information, please contact:Jazzmin WanEmail: j.wan@ swanconsultancy.biz William YeoEmail: w.yeo@ swanconsultancy.biz SOURCE: Chemlite Innovation Berhad PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-26 11:00:23 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 518 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 MCLEAN, VIRGINIA / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2025 /CORAS, the integrated automation and AI-driven decision management platform for the Department of Defense (DoD,) announced today that it has been awarded a contract with the DoD's Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). CORAS will support DIU in delivering DoD leadership an Enterprise Workflow and Reporting Modernization Platform (eWARP) Solution for faster and more comprehensive visibility, streamlined financial reporting, and intelligent budget execution and project management. CORAS blue logo"We are honored to support the Defense Innovation Unit in its mission to accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge technologies across the Department of Defense," said Dan Naselius, President and CTO of CORAS. "With advanced Large Language Models (LLMs), agentic AI, and intelligent automation, CORAS will give DIU leadership a real-time, 360-degree view of their portfolios and programs and ensure transparency of their budget for Congressional Reporting - pulling data from multiple sources and making it instantly actionable. CORAS' proprietary AI not only automates workflows and reporting but also connects the dots between projects in ways that weren't possible before, making budgeting, transparency, and strategic planning faster and smarter. At the end of the day, it's about getting the right insights at the right time - so decisions happen at the speed of the mission." CORAS' SaaS solution runs on trusted DoD security environments including FedRAMP High, IL5 through AWS GovCloud, NIPR, SIPR, and others. CORAS integrates multiple capabilities into one proactive live data environment. Its vast data discovery toolset brings disparate data and users together to collaborate on tasks, perform processes, and report in real-time. CORAS enables federal defense and civilian organizations to access data insights and make critical decisions rapidly and efficiently by utilizing AI, NLP, and ML applications.The DIU strengthens national security by accelerating the adoption of commercial technology throughout the military and bolstering allied and national security innovation bases. DIU is the only DoD organization focused exclusively on fielding and scaling commercial technology across the U.S. military at commercial speeds.About CORAS: CORAS is an AI-powered, low-code/no-code SaaS platform designed to transform decision-making across the Department of Defense and federal agencies. With a suite of real-time tools, CORAS streamlines data integration, automates workflows, and delivers live reporting, predictive analytics, and responsive decision intelligence - all in one platform. In just days, it's configured and operational within a DoD cloud or network, unlocking hidden insights, optimizing resources, and enabling faster, smarter decisions at every level - portfolio, program, and project. By integrating LLMs, agentic AI, and machine learning, CORAS makes advanced AI accessible to everyday users. From financial analysts to program managers, anyone can harness the power of AI to automate workflows, identify patterns, and generate real-time insights - all through an intuitive, no-code interface. Already deployed across the DoD, CORAS supports mission-critical challenges while providing one of the most engaged customer experience (CX) teams in government contracting.Available through GSA Schedule, NASA SEWP, SBIR/STTR, Tradewinds AI Solutions Marketplace, and trusted resellers like Carahsoft and AWS Public Sector Marketplace. Visit www.coras.com Contact InformationRebecca ChurchillChurchill Communications & Marketing, LLCrc@ churchillcommunicationsllc.com 917-518-9789SOURCE: CORAS PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-26 15:01:45 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 770 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SUNNYVALE, CA / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2025 / Taiwan Demo Day, held on March 15th, 2025 at Plug and Play Tech Center, brought together over 400 industry elites to witness the latest in AI technology. Hosted by Taiwan Next in collaboration with Plug and Play, the event featured top-tier startups from both Taiwan and the U.S., demonstrating groundbreaking products and forging vital connections with Silicon Valley investors and corporations.Taiwan Demo Day 2025 at Plug and Play. Ten brilliant startup teams from the US and TaiwanMetAI, MirWork, Morale AI, Pixel Canvas, Namecard.AI , Dealight, pxcode, TranXform, Athleo AI, and RVI. Photo Provided by Taiwan Next.Katie Hsieh, Founder and CEO of Taiwan Next, explained, "Taiwan Next strives to build a startup ecosystem connecting startups with funding, talent, and technology. By hosting Taiwan Demo Day with Plug and Play, we're opening doors for Taiwanese startups to the U.S. market. Plug and Play's vast experience, evidenced by their successful incubation of companies like Google, PayPal, and Dropbox, and their acceleration of 17,000 startups, provides invaluable resources and opportunities for Taiwan-U.S. exchange." Over 400 elite professionals attended the Taiwan Demo Day. Ten brilliant startup teams from the US and Taiwan demonstrated their innovative AI technology. Photo provided by Taiwan Next.Johannes Rott, Vice President of Plug and Play, commented, "At Plug and Play, we are delighted to support the Taiwan Tech Summit Demo Day 2025 and contribute to the growth of this thriving innovation ecosystem. Taiwan has long been a global leader in technology and entrepreneurship, making it a natural fit for our expansion. We are excited to announce the launch of our first Plug and Play location in Taiwan, in Taoyuan City, where we look forward to partnering with local startups, corporations, and investors to drive meaningful innovation and unlock new opportunities for growth." Johannes Rott, Vice President of Plug and Play, commented, "At Plug and Play, we are delighted to support the Taiwan Tech Summit Demo Day 2025 and contribute to the growth of this thriving innovation ecosystem. " Photo provided by Taiwan Next.Karen Yu, President of ITIC, Industrial Technology Investment Corporation, who delivered the opening remarks, said, "When TSMC announced the expansion of its investment in the United States, it signaled Taiwan's leadership in the global technology sector. ITIC, a venture capital firm founded by ITRI, has invested in Taiwan's deep tech startups for the past 45 years, witnessing and contributing to the robust development of the Taiwanese semiconductor industry. Currently, as Taiwan holds a leading position in the AI-driven industrial revolution, ITIC will effectively leverage its unique resources to actively promote collaboration between Taiwan and the U.S. in the AI field. While the U.S. leads in AI software development, AI also requires data and hardware, areas where Taiwan, a strong partner, possesses significant advantages in research and manufacturing. We firmly believe that close cooperation between Taiwan and the U.S. will mutually benefit and accelerate AI application development." Karen Yu, President of ITIC, Industrial Technology Investment Corporation, who delivered the opening remarks. Photo provided by Taiwan Next.The Spring 2025 Taiwan Demo Day drew numerous applications from Taiwanese startups. After a rigorous selection process, ten elite teams were chosen to present: MetAI, MirWork, Morale AI, Pixel Canvas, Namecard.AI , Dealight, pxcode, TranXform, Athleo AI, and RVI. Six of these teams were from the U.S., and four traveled from Taiwan, showcasing the dynamic energy of US-Taiwan startups. These teams boasted impressive backgrounds and significant commercial achievements, including Y Combinator alumni, Taiwan's leading NVIDIA-backed startup, Harvard incubator teams, experienced professionals from Amazon and Apple, multi-million dollar revenue ventures, and innovators specializing in AI-optimized semiconductor manufacturing, marketing, sports, and HR technology, as well as digital twin technology.Over 400 elite professionals attended the Taiwan Demo Day. Ten brilliant startup teams from the US and Taiwan demonstrated their innovative AI technology. Photo provided by Taiwan Next.The Taiwan Demo Day successfully established a platform for Taiwan-U.S. startup exchange and collaboration, demonstrating the innovative strength of Taiwanese startups and further promoting cooperation and development in the technology sector.About Taiwan Next:Taiwan Next Foundation is a U.S. 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to expanding the technological influence of Taiwanese in North America and building a Taiwan-U.S. technology ecosystem. Through startup showcases, talent training, and trend forums, it actively establishes a platform for Taiwan-U.S. technology exchange and collaboration. Its annual flagship event, the Taiwan Tech Summit, is the largest Taiwanese technology event in North America, attracting over 3,500 technology elites to explore technology trends, talent employment, and cross-border technology cooperation.Contact:TaiwanNext FoundationKatie Hsiehkatie@ sv-if.org SOURCE: TaiwanNext Foundation PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-26 11:00:33 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 666 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 OAKLAND, CA / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2025 / An extraordinary gathering of renowned experts in psychedelics, entheogenic plants, and spirituality will speak on Easter weekend at the Spirituality & Beyond 5 + Oakland Psychedelic Conference at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts.The event on April 19 and 20 is expected to draw a record number of visitors and feature an adults-only' 420 Easter egg hunt bearing over $10,000 worth of vouchers issued by the church."We're thrilled to present this groundbreaking conference with keynote presentations by multiple notable psychedelic researchers and industry leaders," said Pastor Dave Hodges of the Church of Ambrosia.Visitors will also have an opportunity to join Hodges outside the center in a toke and a bit of talk' about spirituality, psychedelics, and cannabis.Hodges named the top three speakers, with more to come: Dr. Carl L. Hart, esteemed neuroscientist and Professor of Psychology at Columbia University, will headline our Saturday 4/19. Renowned for his groundbreaking research on psychoactive substances and his advocacy for evidence-based drug policies, Dr. Hart brings unparalleled expertise and insight to the event. His acclaimed works, including High Price and Drug Use for Grown-Ups, have profoundly influenced the discourse on drugs and society. Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris, Director of UCSF's Neuroscape Psychedelics Division, is a world-renowned neuroscientist pioneering groundbreaking research on psychedelics and mental health. Recognized by TIME as a transformative thinker reshaping psychiatry, Robin's studies on psilocybin and LSD have revitalized psychedelic science, offering profound insights into human consciousness and innovative treatments for depression. He is celebrated globally as a leading voice in advancing the psychedelic renaissance and will speak on Sunday, 4/20. Mistah F.A.B., renowned Oakland rapper, entrepreneur, and community activist, will share his insights on cultural evolution and mental health on Sunday, April 20. As a pivotal figure in the Bay Area's hyphy movement and founder of the Dope Era clothing line, his dedication to community empowerment and mental health advocacy resonates deeply. He founded the nonprofit Liberty and Legacy Era to teach, help unite, and guide community members to achieve excellence. Through initiatives like "Thug Therapy," Mistah F.A.B. promotes mental health awareness and support. Pastor Dave Hodges, founder of Zide Door and the Church of Ambrosia-now recognized as the world's largest psychedelic church with over 120,000 members-and creator of the annual Spirituality & Beyond Conference, is a visionary leader dedicated to spiritual growth through sacred cannabis, mushrooms, and other entheogenic practices. On Easter Sunday, 4/20, attendees will join Pastor Hodges as he delivers an inspirational sermon guiding seekers toward healing, higher consciousness, and a profound connection to the divine.The Church of Ambrosia and Oakland Hyphae, a psychedelic culture organization dedicated to sharing knowledge about plant medicine, cultivators, and enthusiasts, are co-hosting the conference.Attendance at a portion of the event - outdoors adjacent to Lake Merritt where some Easter eggs are to be hidden - will be free.Tickets are already on sale for the indoor events: https://bit.ly/sb5tix Here's a brief breakdown of the two-day event:A Free Psychedelic arts and crafts fair will be held outside Henry J. Kaiser Center's parking lot from 10 am - 6 pm on both days.On Day 1 (April 19), the Oakland Psychedelic Conference will feature expert-led workshops, scientific advancements, and business and networking opportunities in the psychedelic space.Day 1 coincides with Bicycle Day, which commemorates the first intentional LSD trip by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann in 1943. The day's events are hosted by Oakland Hyphae.Day 2, Easter Sunday (April 20), will focus on the intersection of spirituality, psychedelics, cannabis, magic mushrooms, DMT, ancient traditions, and modern breakthroughs. Since Sunday coincides with the annual worldwide cannabis culture celebration 420, the event is expected to be Cannabis heavy - and attendees may consume cannabis in the outdoor areas.For more information:Church of Ambrosia: http://Ambrosia.Church/ Oakland Hyphae: http://OaklandHyphae510.com/ Videos from past Spirituality and Beyond: http://youtube.com/ChurchofAmbrosia Vendors and Sponsors can apply here: https://www.oaklandpsychedelicsconference.com/ Media Contact:Loretta KalbPRxDigitalText: 916-835-4043Email: loretta_kalb@ prxdigital.com SOURCE: Church of Ambrosia PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-26 22:00:36 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 957 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 MONTREAL, QC AND TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2025 /Fury Gold Mines Limited (TSX:FURY)(NYSE American:FURY) ("Fury") and Quebec Precious Metals Corporation (TSXV:QPM)(FSE:YXEP) ("QPM") are pleased to announce that, following the February 26, 2025, announcement of the arrangement agreement (see news release dated February 26, 2025), the acquisition of QPM is moving forward on schedule with an anticipated completion prior to April 30, 2025. QPM has now secured the required no-objection letter from Corporations Canada as well as the interim order from the Quebec Superior Court in connection with convening the QPM shareholders meeting scheduled for April 22, 2025.Fury has secured the conditional approval of the TSX and NYSE American. QPM's shareholder meeting circular has been filed at www.sedarplus.ca , and provides details of the merger as well as updated information about Fury including disclosure of a non-cash impairment charge expected to be effective December 31, 2024, to align the carrying value of Fury's mineral properties to its prevailing market capitalization. As well Fury announces that director Isabelle Cadieux has resigned from the Fury Board of Directors to pursue other opportunities. Fury thanks Ms. Cadieux for her service over the last 18 months.QPM Precious and Critical Minerals Project Portfolio:Gold and Lithium:QPM holds a highly prospective land package covering approximately 70,900 hectares largely within the emerging James Bay gold camp. The road-accessible Sakami project is host to a 23 kilometre (km) long gold-bearing structural corridor. Drilling to date at the La Pointe and La Pointe Extension targets within this trend has identified gold mineralization across widths of up to 75 m and to a depth of up to 500 m with reported intercepts of 2.51 g/t gold (Au) over 54.65 m from drill hole EX-10; 9.22 g/t Au over 12.55 m from drill hole EX-19 and 2.52 g/t Au over 48.55 m from drill hole PT-16-92. The identified gold mineralization at both La Pointe and La Pointe Extension remains open to depth and along strike. Further south along the same gold-bearing structure lies an intriguing undrilled coincident gold in soil geochemical anomalies and Induce Polarization (IP) geophysical chargeability anomaly with similar signature to the La Pointe and La Pointe Extension targets.The Elmer East project is host to an undrilled 4.2 km long east-west oriented gold and base metal bearing structural trends known as the Lloyd showing where grab samples have returned results of up to 68.10 g/t gold, 7.99% Zinc and 7,660 ppm Copper.Spodumene bearing pegmatites have been identified throughout the QPM land package with a recently completed drilling campaign at the Ninaaskumuwin project where +20 m spodumene bearing pegmatites with vertical continuity of up to 150 m were intercepted in drilling late 2024 (analytical results are pending at this time).Rare EarthsThe Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREE) Kipawa project (68% QPM, 32% Investissement Quebec), 50 km east of Temiscaming in southwestern Quebec, is host to a historical 2013 Proven and Probable reserves of 19.8 million tonnes grading 0.411% total rare earth oxides (TREO). The road accessible project covers an area of 4,300 hectares with good access to local infrastructure.Normand Champigny, Eng., CEO and Director of QPM, is a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 on standards of disclosure for mineral projects. He has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this press release.About Fury Gold Mines LimitedFury Gold Mines Limited is a Canadian-focused exploration company positioned in two prolific mining regions across the country and holds an approximate 51 million common share position in Dolly Varden Silver Corp. (approximately 16% of issued shares). Led by a management team and board of directors with proven success in financing and advancing exploration assets, Fury intends to grow its multi-million-ounce gold platform through rigorous project evaluation and exploration excellence. Fury is committed to upholding the highest industry standards for corporate governance, environmental stewardship, community engagement and sustainable mining. For more information on Fury Gold Mines, visit www.furygoldmines.com About Quebec Precious Metals CorporationQPM has a large land position in the highly prospective Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory, Quebec, near Dhilmar Ltd.'s (formerly owned by Newmont Corporation) Eleonore gold mine. QPM focuses on advancing its Sakami gold project and its newly discovered, drill-ready Ninaaskuwin lithium showing on the Elmer East project. In addition, QPM holds a 68% interest in the Kipawa rare earths project located near Temiscaming, Quebec.For further information on Fury Gold Mines Limited, please contact: Margaux Villalpando, Investor RelationsTel: (844) 601-0841Email: info@ furygoldmines.com Website: www.furygoldmines.com For more information about QPM, please contact: Normand Champigny, Chief Executive OfficerTel.: (514) 979-4746Email: nchampigny@ qpmcorp.ca Website: www.qpmcorp.ca Forward-Looking InformationThis press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events. These particularly pertain to the outlook for completion of the proposed Transaction and synergies that might arise from it.Although Fury and QPM have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information including the uncertainty of the shareholder and regulatory approval process the two companies face and many other risks described in our recent securities filings available at www.sedarplus.ca There may also be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place heavy reliance on forward-looking information. Neither Fury nor QPM undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.No regulatory authority has approved the contents of this news release.SOURCE: Quebec Precious Metals Corporation PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-26 08:01:23 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1020 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 THE INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS DEEMED BY THE COMPANY TO CONSTITUTE INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED UNDER THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014 AS IT FORMS PART OF UK DOMESTIC LAW PURSUANT TO THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018, AS AMENDED. UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INFORMATION IS CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.Genflow Secures 434,083 from a Leading Institution and Launches a Gene Therapy Trial in Aged DogsLONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2025 / Genflow Biosciences Plc (LSE:GENF)(OTCQB:GENFF) ("Genflow" or "the Company") the only longevity company listed in Europe, is pleased to announce it has received a binding offer from a major institution for an equity investment totalling 434,083 (before expenses).The investor has applied for 41,341,324 Ordinary Shares of 0.0003 each at a price of 1.05p (the "New Ordinary Shares"). The number of New Ordinary Shares applied for by the subscriber is the maximum number of shares (on a fully diluted basis) available to the Company to issue without the need to produce a Prospectus. These New Ordinary Shares cannot be issued until after 9 April 2025 when the Company's headroom, under the Prospectus Rules, increases.An application will be made to the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, and admission of the New Ordinary Shares to trading is expected on or around 10 April 2025 ("Admission"). The New Ordinary Shares will, when issued, rank pari passu with the Company's existing Ordinary Shares.Director's Intended ParticipationEric Leire, a Director of the Company, intends to invest 50,000 on the same terms as the investment outlined above on the basis that such participation falls under the employee offer exemption under Article 1(4)(i) and 1(5)(h) of the UK Prospectus Regulation, and further, subject to the Company not being in a Closed Period at the time of such investment and the same being subject to the Company's share dealing policy.A further announcement will be made in relation to this in due course.Total Voting RightsFor the purpose of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, following Admission the enlarged issued share capital of the Company will comprise 391,047,942 ordinary shares. For the avoidance of doubt, this excludes any intended equity participation by Eric Leire.The Company does not hold any shares in treasury. The above figure may be used by Shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company, under the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.Tamara Joseph, Chair of the Company, commented "We are extremely pleased to have been approached by an institution who wishes to support Genflow in its journey in pioneering gene therapies to decelerate the aging process. The use of these proceeds will accelerate the Company's proposed studies and trials in aged dogs, an issue which has attracted a great deal of press coverage,including in recent weeks." Use of ProceedsThis investment, combined with previously awarded government grants, will accelerate the Company's planned 2025 programs including launching a clinical trial in aged dogs.Genflow has commenced a proof-of-concept clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of its proprietary SIRT6-centenarian gene therapy targeting age-related decline in dogs.The Company will treat the dogs for 6 months and assess the safety and efficacy of our therapy for the following 6 months. This is a randomized, controlled trial with 28 dogs aged 10+ years, conducted with the renowned CRO, Syngene. Genflow will compare recipient dogs of intravenous injections of proprietary SIRT6 gene therapy versus untreated control group. Endpoints will include biological age estimation (via GRIM methylation clock), muscle strength, muscle mass, mitochondrial function, coat quality and overall health indicators."As a devoted dog owner myself, I have a 9-year-old golden retriever, I know firsthand the desire we all share for more happy, healthy years of with our beloved pets," said Dr. Eric Leire, CEO of Genflow. "Our goal is not just to extend their lifespan, but to enhance their quality of life. By targeting biological aging in dogs, we also can unlock groundbreaking insights that could revolutionize both veterinary and human medicine. This research has the potential to reshape the way we approach aging, offering hope for longer, healthier lives for all." Further updates on the progress of the study will be provided in due course.ContactsGenflow BiosciencesHarbor AccessDr Eric Leire, CEOJonathan Paterson, Investor Relations+32-477-495-881+1 475 477 9401Corporate BrokerCapital Plus Partners LtdJon Critchley, +44 0203 821 6168About Genflow BiosciencesFounded in 2020, Genflow Biosciences Plc. (LSE:GENF) (OTCQB:GENFF), a biotechnology company headquartered in the UK with R&D facilities in Belgium, is pioneering gene therapies to decelerate the aging process, with the goal of promoting longer and healthier lives while mitigating the financial, emotional, and social impacts of a fast-growing aging global population. Genflow's lead compound, GF-1002, works through the delivery of a centenarian variant of the SIRT6 gene which has yielded promising preclinical results. Expected to begin in 2025, Genflow's clinical trial aims to explore the potential benefits of GF-1002 in treating MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis), the most prevalent chronic liver disease for which there is no effective treatments. Please visit www.genflowbio.com and follow the Company on LinkedIn and Twitter/X.DISCLAIMERThe contents of this announcement have been prepared by, and are the sole responsibility of, the Company.This announcement may contain forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's or the Directors' expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statement that refers to projections, forecasts or other characterisations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, is a forward-looking statement. The words "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "could", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "might", "plan", "possible", "potential", "predict", "project", "seek", "should", "would" and similar expressions, or in PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-26 23:10:14 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1018 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2025 /Jaguar Mining Inc. ("Jaguar" or the "Company") (TSX:JAG)(OTCQX:JAGGF) is pleased to announce that on Monday, March 24, 2025, the Company signed an agreement (the "Agreement") with the Public Defender's Office of Minas Gerais for the compensation of local community members affected by the previously announced incident at the Satinoco dry-stacked pile, which occurred on December 7, 2024 at the Company's MTL complex (see the press releases issued by Jaguar on December 9, 2024, December 30, 2024 and January 7, 2025). The MTL complex, which includes the currently suspended Turmalina mine, is located in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, approximately 130 kilometers northwest of the city of Belo Horizonte.As previously announced, there were no reported injuries or significant environmental impacts as a result of this incident. The incident did affect several houses and local infrastructure in the community of Casquilho. Since the incident, the Company has worked closely with community representatives, local authorities, and independent assessors to ensure an equitable resolution that meets the needs of those impacted, reinforcing the Company's commitment to responsible mining and strong community relations.The Public Defender's Office of Minas Gerais has issued a press release, in Portuguese in Brazil, regarding the Agreement, which can be viewed on Jaguar's website https://jaguarmining.com/investors/news-releases Agreement Highlights:The Agreement sets out the parameters for fairly determining the compensation of individuals and families impacted by the incident in which they have been relocated from their homes since early December 2024.The Agreement guarantees compensation for land, housing, home improvements, expenses resulting from relocation, financial losses in commercial and service activities, interruption of income-generating activities, in addition to specific moral and material damages to the affected people.The Agreement is based on precedents from other mining incidents which have occurred in Minas Gerais.Next Steps Following Signature of the Agreement:The Public Defender's Office will meet with each individual or family affected and then will submit a claim to the Company based on the parameters established in the Agreement.The Company will evaluate each proposal and supporting documentation, considering all realistic facts.If the Company agrees with the claim, the Agreement is formalized between the parties and then sent for approval by a judge.The resident has the prerogative to accept or reject the Agreement under the terms established with the Public Defender's Office. If it is rejected, the resident has the right to file a lawsuit requesting compensation. In this situation, the Company will present its defense.The estimated cost for the compensation of the residents, if all accept the terms, is approximately R$57 million (~$10 million at current exchange rates).Vern Baker, President and CEO of Jaguar, stated: "We deeply value our relationship with the communities in which we operate and are pleased to have come to an agreement with the Public Defender's Officethat allows the residents impacted by this incident to move forward. It is important to mention that we have also been providing support to these people since the incident occurred and believe that this initial support, combined with this Agreement will provide a fair path forward as well as is a positive step towards reopening the Turmalina mine and again providing economic benefit to our local community and all other stakeholders.I would like to thank our legal team and all of those who have worked with them throughout the process of dealing with this incident. A significant amount of time and effort has been spent, in partnership with the dedicated professionals from the Public Defender's Office, to put in place a fair agreement. Our focus remains on addressing the situation responsibly and ensuring the well-being of those affected." The Company will provide further updates regarding the Agreement, as well as information regarding any other legal matters relating to the incident at the Satinoco dry-stacked pile (including any known fines or claims), as soon as there is any material information to report in this regard.About Jaguar Mining Inc.Jaguar Mining Inc. is a Canadian-listed junior gold mining, development, and exploration company operating in Brazil with three gold mining complexes and a large land package with significant upside exploration potential from mineral claims. The Company's principal operating assets are located in the Iron Quadrangle, a prolific greenstone belt in the state of Minas Gerais and include the MTL Mining Complex (Turmalina mine and plant) and Caete Mining Complex (Pilar and Roca Grande mines, and Caete plant). The Roca Grande mine has been on temporary care and maintenance since April 2019. The Company also owns the Paciencia Mining Complex (Santa Isabel mine and plant), which had been on care and maintenance since 2012 and is planned to restart in mid-2025. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.jaguarmining.com For further information please contact:Vernon BakerChief Executive OfficerJaguar Mining Inc. vernon.baker@jaguarmining.com 416-847-1854Alfred ColasChief Financial OfficerJaguar Mining Inc. alfred.colas@jaguarmining.com 416-847-1848Forward-Looking StatementsCertain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. All of the forward-looking information made in this news release is qualified by the cautionary statements below and those made in our other filings with the securities regulators in Canada. Forward-looking information contained in forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "are expected," "is forecast," "is targeted," "approximately," "plans," "anticipates," "projects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "believe" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might," or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, may be considered to be or include forward-looking information. This news release contains forward-looking information regarding, among other things, the potential outcomes that may result from Some insurance companies may leave the market as they work to meet the requirements of the Solvency II Directive, meaning consolidation will continue, said Kateryna Rozhkova, First Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. "The new Insurance Law took effect in January 2024. It is significantly more complex and stringent than the previous one and aims to implement the EU Solvency II Directive," she emphasized. Rozhkova clarified that a three-tier structure for insurers' regulatory capital is now in place, with each level having its own limits. Additionally, regulatory capital requirements have increased, including minimum capital thresholds. "And that's not all. The Solvency II Directive, which we are implementing as part of European integration, introduces a more sophisticated approach to asset quality. There will no longer be a direct list of acceptable assets. Instead, market valuation and risk assessment of investments will be required. This will necessitate advanced technological solutions and personnel training," she added. Rozhkova noted that when the NBU became the insurance market regulator, it initially focused on disclosure of insurance companies' ownership structures and the formation of insurance reserves, marking the beginning of market cleanup. "Next, when we introduced additional asset requirements removing questionable securities and limiting real estate holdings some companies either left voluntarily due to their inability to comply or were removed by the regulator. This was the first wave of market cleansing," she explained. According to Rozhkova, companies leaving the market are those that did not engage in traditional insurance. Instead, they were involved in certain optimization schemes or lacked development, realizing they could not meet the new requirements and that their shareholders would not achieve the expected profits. Companies without the financial capacity to operate in this new environment will be forced to consolidate. As an example, she cited the Nuclear Insurance Pool, which includes 15 insurance companies. "According to an international nuclear insurance convention, a nuclear facility operator must insure its liability for 150 million SDRs, approximately UAH 8.3 billion. Ukraine has four nuclear facility operators. The companies in the pool cover only 6.3% of this liability, while foreign nuclear pools cover 70%. However, some risks remain uninsured, raising the question of how the state will address this issue. This is an international convention, and we must find the resources to cover the uncovered portion," she said. "Consolidation is not always a bad thing. Statistics show that despite a two-thirds reduction in the number of insurers, the segment's total assets have not decreased," Rozhkova said. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-26 13:01:15 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 643 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 CALGARY, AB / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2025 / Karbon-X Corp. (OTCQB:KARX), a leader in full-spectrum carbon solutions, is proud to announce its partnership with Zodiac Gold Inc. ("Zodiac Gold" or the "Company") (TSXV:ZAU), a West-African gold exploration company. This collaboration marks a significant step toward embedding environmental responsibility into the preliminary stages of resource development in West Africa.Through this partnership, Karbon-X will support Zodiac Gold in measuring, managing, and offsetting its carbon footprint. By integrating strategic carbon solutions, the two companies aim to support Liberia's path to sustainable economic development while preserving the natural environment."At Zodiac Gold, we recognize that the future of mining must be sustainable. Our pledge to achieve net-zero emissions is about leadership and responsibility," said David Kol, CEO of Zodiac Gold. "This partnership with Karbon-X demonstrates that exploration and sustainability can go hand in hand." "This partnership reflects exactly the kind of impact we aim to create," said Chad Clovis, CEO of Karbon-X. "By working with Zodiac Gold at the exploration stage, we're helping to set a precedent for responsible resource development from the ground up. It's about enabling companies to take action in ways that are measurable, meaningful, and sustainable." Karbon-X, known for its innovative and practical approach to full-scope carbon solutions, will support Zodiac Gold by quantifying its emissions and offsetting them. With expertise spanning carbon measurement, reduction and offset strategies, and market mechanisms, Karbon-X works with both individuals and industries to make meaningful climate action accessible and impactful. By integrating sustainability from the earliest stages of development, Karbon-X helps Zodiac Gold pursue its district-scale gold exploration near Monrovia with environmental responsibility at its core. Through accurate emissions measurement and high-quality carbon offsets, Karbon-X ensures that tangible climate action is embedded into the foundation of the project.About Karbon-XKarbon-X Corp. (OTCQB:KARX) is a pioneering organization providing full-spectrum carbon solutions that empower individuals and businesses to take real, measurable climate action. Whether through emissions tracking, reduction planning, or verified projects, Karbon-X offers accessible tools and services rooted in transparency and impact. The company's innovative approach to climate action has gained widespread recognition across industries and regions, as it continues to support organizations on their journey toward a more sustainable future. To learn more visit www.karbon-x.com About Zodiac GoldZodiac Gold Inc. (TSXV:ZAU) is a West-African gold exploration company focused on its flagship Todi Project situated in Liberia-an underexplored, politically stable, mining-friendly jurisdiction hosting several large-scale gold and iron ore deposits. Strategically positioned along the fertile Todi Shear Zone, Zodiac Gold is developing a district-scale gold opportunity with additional iron ore potential, covering a vast 2,316 km land package. The Todi project has undergone de-risking, showcasing proven gold occurrences at both surface and depth, with five drill-ready targets and high-grade gold intercepts. To learn more about Zodiac Gold Inc. visit www.zodiac-gold.com Highlights of the project include:Located only 13km from the capital city of Monrovia, meaning the project benefits from existing infrastructure, power, and year-round accessibility.District-scale gold exploration potential with proven high-grade mineralization across multiple drill-ready targets along a 20km gold corridor.Strategically located 20km SE of Avesoro's New Liberty Gold Mine (1.8 Moz. resource) with production of 360Koz in 2023 (Avesoro website).Drilling highlights from 32 holes at the Arthington target include 6m at 10.6 g/t Au (including 3m at 20.45 g/t Au), 9.65m at 7.5 g/t Au (including 3m at 20.36 g/t Au), and 9.14m at 4.2 g/t Au.Drilling highlights at the Alasala target include 19.6m at 6.17 g/t Au, 6.0m at 7.69 g/t Au, 9.0m at 4.6 g/t Au, and 4.05m at 13.92 g/t Au (including 1.6m at 34.5 g/t Au).For more information, please contact:Karbon-XChad Clovis CEO, Karbon-X cc@ karbon-x.com +1 778-256-5730Zodiac Gold Inc. David Kol President & CEOinfo@ zodiac-gold.com SOURCE: Karbon-X Project Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-26 19:47:05 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 937 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SYDNEY, AU / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2025 / Michael Kodari , internationally recognised top-performing investor, philanthropist, and leading financial markets expert, is set to travel to Shanghai to explore offshore investment opportunities in government infrastructure projects. This strategic initiative represents a significant step in strengthening Australia-China investment relations and Michael Kodari's influential role in cross-border financial collaboration.Known for his dynamic leadership atKOSEC - Kodari Securities , Michael Kodari has consistently delivered exceptional performance and strategic insight across global markets. His upcoming visit to Shanghai marks a continuation of his long-standing relationship with China, where he previously achieved remarkable success working alongside senior government officials and institutions."China's commitment to infrastructure and innovation presents exceptional investment opportunities. I am excited to once again engage with some of the country's most influential decision-makers and explore avenues to contribute meaningfully to long-term economic development," said Michael Kodari.This initiative will see Kodari engage with Chinese government agencies and top-tier financial entities to identify infrastructure investment opportunities that align with sustainable development goals. His presence is expected to foster high-level dialogue around innovation, funding structures, and global economic cooperation, with his reputation as a trusted figure in international finance.Michael Kodari's past engagements in China have earned him both distinction and trust. In 2016, a remarkable chapter in KOSEC's journey unfolded, as the Chinese government extended a prestigious invitation to Michael as the sole representative of the Australian Wealth Management industry. During this visit, he was officially welcomed by senior Chinese ministers and bestowed with the symbolic key to the city of Hangzhou, a rare honour signifying trust and recognition of his expertise. Notably, he was entrusted with a pivotal role as an offshore asset allocation advisor, to help guide over $8 billion in government-managed assets.During this momentous occasion, Kodari held key discussions with prominent Chinese officials, including Zhu Lin, Director of Hangzhou Municipal Commission of Commerce; Yuan Weimin, Vice Director of the Commerce Bureau of Shangcheng Hangzhou; Yu Weiying, Vice Director of the Financial Office of The People's Government of Hangzhou; Tong Guili, member of the standing committee of Hangzhou; and Xu Yunhe, Director of Hangzhou Financial Investment Group. These meetings highlighted KOSEC's growing influence and affirmed Kodari's strategic role in shaping long term cross border investments."My return to Shanghai builds on a relationship founded on mutual respect and proven results. The confidence that the Chinese government has placed in me over the years is humbling, and I'm honoured to continue playing a role in their global investment initiatives," Kodari added.His past accolades also include a prominent role at Parliament House in Canberra for the Australia China Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum, co-hosted by AUSTRAC and the Chinese government, where he provided valuable insights on international trade and innovation. These experiences have positioned Michael Kodari as a strategic link between Australia and China's financial ecosystems.Upon returning to Australia following the formation of this important alliance with China,Michael Kodarimet with the Australian Minister of Trade and Investment, the Honourable Andrew Robb. In a private and highly regarded meeting, they discussed the broader implications of the alliance, Australia's international trade ambitions, and the future of global capital flows into Australia's infrastructure and economic sectors.Kodari's impressive portfolio of achievements further cements his influence. In 2014, he publicly disclosed his proprietary investment strategy live on Sky Business, outperforming the market by 95% with an average portfolio return of 93.81%. The groundbreaking results not only earned him widespread recognition but also demonstrated his ability to deliver in all market conditions.Michael Kodari's influence across Asia continues to grow. In Singapore, he has met with the region's most prominent and affluent families to explore strategic investment partnerships in Australia. This includes meetings with Far East Organization, Singapore's largest private landlord and property developer, led by the Ng brothers, the richest family in Singapore, as well as Pontiac Land Group, a luxury real estate developer and hotel owner privately held by the Kwee family, the seventh richest family in Singapore. These discussions are aimed at forming collaborative pathways for international capital to flow into key Australian industries.As the founder and CEO ofKOSEC , Kodari has led one of Australia's most respected investment firms, offering clients cutting-edge tools, expert research, and bespoke financial strategies. His presence on prominent media platforms including CNBC, Sky News, Bloomberg, and other respected financial networks has made him a household name in wealth management."Investing is about vision, strategy, timing, and trust. In returning to China, I aim to continue building on the foundation of mutual growth and innovation that has defined my work over the past decade," Kodari said.Michael Kodari's upcoming visit to Shanghai is not just a business trip, it is a reaffirmation of his global legacy. As he explores new partnerships and government infrastructure projects, his deep understanding of financial markets and unwavering commitment to excellence will undoubtedly open new doors for international cooperation and economic growth.About Michael Kodari:Michael Kodarishines as a globally acclaimed investment luminary, consistently delivering exceptional performance that sets him apart on the international stage. Beyond being a distinguished philanthropist, he stands as one of the foremost authorities in financial markets, hailed by CNBC Asia as "the brightest 21st-century entrepreneur in wealth management." With an impressive foundation in funds management and stockbroking, Michael has collaborated with leading financial institutions, advised government bodies, and graced international stages as a keynote speaker. His commitment to innovation, strategic foresight, and thought leadership continues to drive KOSEC's global influence and success.Media ContactOrganization: KOSEC - Kodari Securities Pty LtdContact Person Name: Keely MurphyWebsite: https://www.kosec.com.au Email: info@ kosec.com.auContact Number: +612995531 PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-26 17:32:30 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 462 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 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=138905&wire=1 to learn about your rights to seek a recovery. There is no cost or obligation to participate.WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-26 09:00:29 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1075 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 STOCKHOLM, SE / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2025 / Vicore Pharma Holding (STO:VICO)The shareholders of Vicore Pharma Holding AB (publ), Reg. No. 556680-3804 ("Vicore Pharma" or the "company"), with its registered offices in Stockholm, are summoned to the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 6 May 2025 at 15.00 in the premises of the law firm Vinge at Smalandsgatan 20, SE-111 46 Stockholm, Sweden. Registration starts at 14.45.Shareholders can participate in the Annual General Meeting by attending the venue or by voting in advance.Right to participate in the Annual General Meeting and notice of participationParticipation in the Annual General Meeting at the venueA shareholder who wishes to participate in the Annual General Meeting at the venue in person or represented by a proxy must (i) be recorded as a shareholder in the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB relating to the circumstances on Friday 25 April 2025, and (ii) no later than Tuesday 29 April 2025 give notice by post to Vicore Pharma Holding AB (publ), att. Nina Carlen, Kornhamnstorg 53, SE-111 27 Stockholm, Sweden, or via e-mail to nina.carlen@vicorepharma.com . When providing such notice, the shareholder shall state their name, personal or corporate registration number, number of shares held, address, daytime telephone number, and information about any accompanying assistant(s) (maximum two), and, if applicable, information about any proxy. Information submitted in connection with the notification will be computerized and used exclusively for the meeting. See below for additional information on the processing of personal data.If a shareholder is represented by proxy, a written, dated proxy for the representative must be issued. A proxy form is available on the company's website, www.vicorepharma.com . If the proxy is issued by a legal entity, a certificate of registration or equivalent certificate of authority should be enclosed. To facilitate the registration at the Annual General Meeting, the proxy and the certificate of registration or equivalent certificate of authority should be sent to the company as set out above so that it is received no later than Monday 5 May 2025.Participation by advance votingA shareholder who wishes to participate in the Annual General Meeting by advance voting must (i) be recorded as a shareholder in the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB relating to the circumstances on Friday 25 April 2025, and (ii) give notice no later than Tuesday 29 April 2025, by casting an advance vote in accordance with the instructions below so that the advance vote is received by the company no later than on that day.A shareholder who wishes to participate in the Annual General Meeting at the venue in person or represented by a proxy must give notice thereof in accordance with what is set out under "Participation in the Annual General Meeting at the venue" above. This means that a notification by advance vote is not sufficient for a person who wishes to participate at the venue.A special form shall be used for advance voting. The advance voting form is available on the company's website www.vicorepharma.com . The completed and signed voting form must be received by the company no later than Tuesday 29 April 2025. The completed and signed voting form may be submitted by post to Vicore Pharma Holding AB (publ), att. Nina Carlen, Kornhamnstorg 53, SE-111 27 Stockholm, Sweden or via e-mail to nina.carlen@vicorepharma.com . The shareholder may not provide special instructions or conditions in the voting form. If so, the vote (i.e. the advance vote in its entirety) is invalid. Further instructions and conditions are included in the form for advance voting.If a shareholder votes by proxy, a written and dated proxy shall be enclosed with the advance voting form. A proxy form is available on the company's website www.vicorepharma.com . If the shareholder is a legal entity, a certificate of registration or equivalent certificate of authority should be enclosed. If a shareholder has voted in advance and then attends the Annual General Meeting in person or through a proxy, the advance vote is still valid except to the extent the shareholder participates in a voting procedure at the Annual General Meeting or otherwise withdraws its casted advance vote. If the shareholder chooses to participate in a voting at the Annual General Meeting, the vote cast will replace the advance vote with regard to the relevant item on the agenda.Nominee-registered shares To be entitled to participate in the meeting, in addition to providing notification of participation, a shareholder whose shares are held in the name of a nominee must register its shares in its own name so that the shareholder is recorded in the share register as of 25 April 2025. Such registration may be temporary (so-called voting right registration) and is requested from the nominee in accordance with the nominee's procedures and such time in advance as the nominee determines. Voting right registrations completed by the nominee not later than the second banking day after Friday 25 April 2025 are taken into account when preparing the share register.Number of shares and votes As per the date of this notice there are a total of 234,579,119 shares in the company. Each share is entitled to one vote at the Annual General Meeting. As of the date of this notice, the company holds no treasury shares.Proposed agendaOpening of the meetingElection of chairman of the Annual General MeetingPreparation and approval of the voting registerApproval of the agendaElection of one or two persons to verify the minutesDetermination of whether the Annual General Meeting was duly convenedPresentation of the annual report and auditor's report and the consolidated financial statements and auditor's report for the group, and the auditor's statement regarding the company's compliance with the guidelines for remuneration to the executive management in effect since the previous Annual General MeetingResolutions regardingadoption of the income statement and balance sheet and the consolidated income statement and consolidated balance sheetallocation of the company's profit or loss according to the adopted balance sheet, anddischarge from liability for board members and the CEODetermination of the number of board members and auditorsDetermination of fees for the Board of Directors and the auditorsElection of members of the Board of DirectorsElection of the chairman of the Board of DirectorsElection of auditors and, where applicable, deputy auditorsResolution on guidelines on remuneration to members of group management and board membersPresentation of the Board of Directors' remuneration report for approvalResolution to authorize the PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-26 20:30:29 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 879 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2025 / PPX Mining Corp. ( TSX.V:PPX)(BVL:PPX) (the "Company" or "PPX") is pleased to announce that major plant equipment purchased from Shandong Xinhai Mining Technology & Equipment Inc. ("Xinhai") is now ready to ship. As disclosed in previous releases, PPX is currently building a 350 tpd CIL & Flotation plant at its Igor Project, located in Peru.The equipment includes:All crushing plant units, feeder, jaw crusher, cone crusher vibrating screen and conveyors. This equipment will reduce the mined ore to a particle size of less than 12 mm.Metal detectors and an electromagnet. This auxiliary equipment will remove any tramp steel.A belt weigh scale.Two ball mills, 7 feet in diameter and 12 feet long. The order also includes mill overflow pumps, cyclones and a thickener to further reduce the ore particle size to 80% less than 150 microns. The usage of this equipment is to liberate the gold and silver minerals. Oxide ore will be subsequently leached in a carbon in leach circuit, with an expected recovery of 85-90% gold and 50-60% silver. In the case of sulfide ore, the liberated minerals are recovered by flotation producing a high silver and gold content concentrate that has a ready market.Flotation cells have also been purchased, together with a filter press to recover flotation concentrate as a filter cake. Pumps and a thickener are also ready to ship.All major motors (for mills and the crushers) are manufactured by WEG or Siemens.The leach tanks and agitators will be supplied by a Peruvian company with a proven track record for supplying this equipment, with the motors and gearboxes manufactured in Germany. As previously shown in test work, the use of "carbon in leach" technology will reduce the effect of naturally occurring carbon in the ore, maximizing the gold recovery.The recovery of gold and silver from the activated carbon produced on the carbon in leach circuit will use a "Pressure Zadra Elution" process with electrowinning of gold and silver from the elution solution. Smelting precipitated from electrowinning will produce "Dore Bullion", an alloy of gold and silver, which will be further refined to produce "Good Delivery" gold and silver, outside Peru.The equipment produced by Xinhai had already been inspected by a specialized company in China and pictures of some of the equipment are shown below.John Thomas, CEO commented that this is major milestone in our plant planning schedule. Civil construction is progressing and should be largely ready when the equipment arrives at site.Picture 1: 7ft. diameter, 12 ft. long ball millPicture 2: Cyclone fitted to manifoldPicture 3: Cyclone feed pumps, rubber linedPicture 4: Flotation cellsPicture 5: Jaw CrusherAbout PPX Mining Corp:PPX Mining Corp. is a Canadian-based mining company with assets in northern Peru. Igor, the Company's 100%-owned flagship gold and silver project, is located in the prolific Northern Peru gold belt in eastern La Libertad Department.All scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by John Thomas, P. Eng., who is the CEO of the Company and a qualified person under the definitions established by National Instrument 43-101.On behalf of the Board of DirectorsJohn ThomasChief Executive Officer 82 Richmond Street EastToronto, Ontario M5C 1P1Canada416-361-0737Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Cautionary Statement:This press release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements") as such terms are defined by applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to statements regarding test results, future plans or management estimates. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance and often contain words such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," and "intend,", statements that an action or event "may," "might," "could," "should," or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond the Company's control, and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to many various factors. Such uncertainties and risks include, among others, delays in obtaining or inability to obtain required regulatory approvals in connection with this transaction. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company cannot guarantee that the events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. The timing of events and circumstances and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, one should not place undue reliance on forward- looking statements. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of today's date, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or publicly revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by law.SOURCE: PPX Mining Corp. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-26 13:00:52 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 482 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 A new tool to discover the hidden forces shaping public opinionLONDON, UK / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2025 / Pulsar, the London-based audience and narrative intelligence company, today announced the launch of Narratives AI, the world's first search engine for public opinion. Narratives AI The first AI search engine for public opinionIn an age where data abounds and attention is scarce, our behaviors are increasingly influenced by the narratives we're exposed to. That's why narrative intelligence - the ability to understand, create, and leverage stories for strategy - has become the hidden advantage for marketers, strategists, comms and research professionals.Narratives AI helps them understand the undercurrents shaping public opinion, reveal the beliefs taking hold in society, and predict which behaviors we'll see emerge. All of this, in a UX that's as simple as a web search."While everyone obsesses over analytics on things like sentiment and topics, the real competitive edge lies in spotting and leveraging the narratives flowing through public opinion," said Francesco D'Orazio, Founder & President of Pulsar. "Narratives AI combines quantitative precision with qualitative storytelling: it captures the direction of travel AND puts a number on it".Narratives AI analyzes billions of posts and stories from social and news media to help strategists, researchers, communications experts, and brand professionals detect, understand, and act on the beliefs shaping society and consumer behaviour. The platform processes both real-time and historical data, clustering and indexing billions of social posts and news articles daily.Key features of Narratives AI include:Instant Answers - Simple as a web search, delivering full Narrative Briefings in secondsNo Data Wrangling - No Boolean or complex analysis skills required for operationComprehensive Data Analysis - Examines the entire firehose of news and social data to surface narratives from the ground upMedia vs Public Narratives - Compares narratives in traditional media to those emerging directly from the publicUnlimited Access - Provides unlimited data and queries for thorough narrative explorationRecently previewed at CES and SXSW 2025 with Pulsar partner McCann Worldgroup, Narratives AI is already generating significant industry interest."This tool finally delivers what I've always wanted from social listening-unbiased categorization of broad cultural narratives, without the limitations of traditional boolean queries," said Elly Dembo, SVP, Global Head of Data & Intelligence at McCann Worldgroup.As Europe works to make headway in the global AI landscape, Pulsar's innovation leverages over a decade of commercial success in the marketing & research space, and shows how European tech companies can develop sophisticated AI tools addressing complex business challenges, while maintaining the region's standards for responsible technology development.Narratives AI is available as a cloud-based service starting today: a freemium version will be made available in the near future. Organizations can discover the platform and request a free trial at https://audiences.pulsarplatform.com/pulsar-narratives-ai-social/ Contact Information:Davide BerrettaVP Brand & Content Marketing, Pulsardavide.berretta@pulsarplatform.com SOURCE: Pulsar PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-26 22:40:31 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1033 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VIENNA, VA / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2025 / For over 25 years, Sage Consulting Group has been committed to making a difference in both the business world and the local community. This holiday season, Robert Pfleghardt and Sage is proud to continue its support of the Committee for Helping Others (CHO) in their annual Holiday Bike Drive, an initiative that brings joy and essential transportation to those in need.Every year, CHO, a dedicated nonprofit organization based in Vienna, Virginia, collects, repairs, and donates bicycles to underprivileged children, teenagers, and adults. With a special focus this year on providing bikes for students and workers who rely on bicycles for transportation, CHO's efforts are more impactful than ever. Sage Consulting Group is honored to contribute to this cause, helping to restore and distribute these bikes to ensure recipients have access to safe, reliable transportation.A Tradition of Giving Back: The Holiday Bike DriveThe CHO Holiday Bike Drive has been a longstanding tradition in Vienna, Virginia, operating each year from October 1st to November 25th. During this period, community members generously donate bikes at designated drop-off locations throughout the town. These locations include:Antioch Christian Church (1860 Beulah Rd.)317 Church St. NE218 Elmar Dr. SE9807 Wintercress Ct.After collection, a dedicated team of volunteers, including Dan Larkin, Jim Burggraff, Charlie Strunk, Rob Pfleghardt, and Kent Fielden, work tirelessly to repair, clean, and restore the bicycles. They ensure that each bike is in excellent working condition before it is donated to a deserving recipient. The initiative not only provides children with the simple joy of owning a bike but also supports teenagers and adults who rely on bicycles for commuting to school or work.Sage Consulting Group's Commitment to the CommunityFounded in 1998, Sage Consulting Group has built a reputation for delivering expert-driven solutions in financial management, consulting, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) for businesses and government agencies. Initially focused on serving commercial companies, Sage shifted its focus to the Department of Defense (DoD) in 2008, where it has since provided critical support in financial improvement, audit readiness, and risk management.While Sage has made a significant impact in the professional world, community involvement remains at the heart of its mission. Partnering with CHO for the annual Holiday Bike Drive aligns with Sage's core values of service, responsibility, and making a positive difference. The company strongly believes in giving back to the community and supporting initiatives that improve the lives of others, especially during the holiday season."Sage Consulting Group is honored to support CHO's Holiday Bike Drive," said Robert Pfleghardt, Founder of Sage Consulting Group. "This initiative is about more than just donating bikes-it's about providing freedom, mobility, and opportunity to those who need it most. We are proud to work alongside CHO and the incredible volunteers who make this effort possible every year." Why Bicycles Matter: More Than Just a GiftFor many people, a bicycle is much more than a recreational item-it's a lifeline. With the rising cost of transportation and limited access to public transit in certain areas, bicycles serve as an affordable and practical mode of transportation for students, workers, and families.For children, a bicycle provides independence and the joy of outdoor activities.For teenagers, it offers an essential means to travel to school, part-time jobs, and extracurricular activities.For adults, it serves as a vital mode of transportation to work, grocery stores, and essential services.CHO has recognized this growing need and, in recent years, has expanded its efforts to focus on providing bikes for teenagers and adults who rely on them for daily commuting. With over 150 bicycles donated annually, this program directly improves the lives of many individuals and families in Vienna, Virginia.How the Community Can Get InvolvedThe success of the CHO Holiday Bike Drive depends on community support. There are several ways for individuals, businesses, and organizations to get involved:Donate a Bicycle - If you have a used bike in good condition, consider donating it at one of the official Vienna drop-off locations between October 1 and November 25.Volunteer for Repairs - If you have mechanical skills or a passion for bicycles, join the CHO repair team to help fix up and restore donated bikes.Spread the Word - Help CHO and Sage Consulting Group raise awareness about the initiative by sharing information on social media, local newsletters, and community boards.Make a Monetary Donation - Contributions help purchase replacement parts, tools, and safety gear for the donated bicycles. Donations can be made directly through the CHO website ( CHO-VA.COM ).Making an Impact: A Shared ResponsibilityOver the years, the CHO Holiday Bike Drive has transformed lives by providing people with access to transportation, independence, and a sense of empowerment. This initiative reflects the spirit of the holiday season-compassion, generosity, and community support.Through the collaboration between CHO, Sage Consulting Group, and dedicated volunteers, more individuals in Vienna, Virginia will have access to reliable transportation this holiday season. A simple donation can make a lasting impact-whether it helps a child experience the joy of their first bike ride or supports an adult commuting to work."Every year, we see firsthand the life-changing impact of these donations," said Dan Larkin, a longtime volunteer with CHO. "A bicycle can mean the difference between getting to work on time or missing a shift, between attending school or staying home. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who contributes to this cause." Looking Ahead: A Commitment to ServiceAs Robert Pfleghardt and Sage Consulting Group look toward the future, community engagement remains an essential part of its mission. The company continues to seek opportunities to partner with local organizations, nonprofits, and government agencies to create meaningful change."Our company is built on the values of excellence, service, and integrity," said Robert Pfleghardt. "While we are proud of the work we do in consulting, we are equally committed to giving back to the community. The CHO Holiday Bike Drive is a perfect example of how businesses and nonprofits can come together to make a real impact." As the 2023 Holiday Bike Drive approaches its final collection days, Sage Consulting Group encourages everyone in Vienna, Virginia, PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-26 03:16:43 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 591 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 25, 2025 /WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM) between February 22, 2024 and October 23, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important April 1, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you purchased Newmont securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Newmont class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=34541 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 1, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, during the Class Period, defendants provided overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning Newmont's ability to deliver increased gold production at its Tier 1 operations, specifically, Lihir and Brucejack, in addition to lowering overall costs throughout its mining operations. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Newmontclass action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=34541 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-26 21:00:31 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 977 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2025 / StimCell Energetics Inc. (OTC PINK:STME) ("StimCell" or the "Company"), a biotech pioneer targeting cellular energy to enhance wellness, anti-aging, and longevity, is pleased to provide a progress report on the redesign of its flagship eBalance microcurrent therapeutic device. StimCell also announced the settlement of outstanding indebtedness owed to an arms-length third party for shares of its common stock and the engagement of a third party investor relations provider.Next-Generation eBalance: Smaller, Smarter, and Consumer OrientedStimCell Energetics is excited to offer a sneak peek at v.1 of the redesigned eBalance microcurrent therapy device, now tailored specifically for home users. The updated eBalance promises a smaller, more compact form factor than the original, with operation streamlined through a custom iOS/Android app that will be available on mobile and tablet devices. This app will deliver personalized health information, track each treatment session, and support multiple profiles for family members. It will also track biofeedback from the device and store treatment data for future reference. This early look at the revamped eBalance highlights StimCell's commitment to bringing cutting-edge, user-friendly wellness technology into homes everywhere.eBalance prototypeeBalance is unique in the microcurrent therapy market in that it is the only preventative therapeutic device designed as a lifestyle treatment to be implemented two to three times per week for fifteen minutes per session."We're thrilled to bring a more intuitive and consumer-oriented version of eBalance to market," said David Jeffs, CEO of StimCell Energetics. "By combining cutting-edge microcurrent technology with smart app integration, we're empowering users to take charge of their health from the comfort of home." Debt Settlement Enhances Financial StabilityIn a move to strengthen its balance sheet, StimCell has settled $15,000 in outstanding debt through the issuance of 75,000 shares of the Company's common stock (the "Debt Settlement"). This transaction, completed at a deemed price of $0.20 per share, reflects the Company's commitment to improving its financial position and creating value for shareholders.Strategic Partnership with Rain CommunicationsStimCell has engaged Rain Communications Inc., a premier investor relations and public relations firm based in Vancouver, British Columbia, to provide comprehensive services for an eight-month term commencing on March 18, 2025. Rain Communications will endeavor to increase awareness of StimCell, its eBalance product, and its securities. Services will include the creation and distribution of marketing materials, as well as potential paid advertising campaigns, aimed at amplifying the Company's visibility among investors and consumers alike. Rain Communications is an independent service provider and, except as disclosed below, does not directly or indirectly have an interest in the securities of the Company."Partnering with Rain Communications marks a pivotal step in sharing our vision with a broader audience," noted Mr. Jeffs. "Rain's expertise will help us highlight the transformative potential of eBalance and drive long-term growth." Under the agreement, Rain Communications will receive 125,000 shares in the Company's common stock per month for services rendered at a deemed price of $0.20 per share.The shares of common stock to be issued in connection with the Debt Settlement and to Rain Communications are being issued pursuant to exemptions from the prospectus requirements of applicable Canadian securities laws and will be subject to a four-month hold period from the date of issuance. Such shares may note be traded in or from any jurisdiction in Canada except in compliance with the conditions set forth in Canadian Multilateral Instrument 51-105 Issuers Quoted in the U.S. Over-the-Counter Markets. Such shares are also being issued pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act"), as amended and applicable state securities laws. Such shares may not be offered or sold except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements thereof.About StimCell Energetics Inc.StimCell Energetics Inc. is a biotech company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of therapeutic and non-therapeutic products that enhance cellular function, promote general wellness and alleviate health complications including, but not limited to: aging, insulin sensitivity, high blood pressure, neuropathy and kidney function. The Company's main focus is on continued research and development of its eBalance Technology and its eBalance Home System.On behalf of the Board of Directors of StimCell Energetics Inc.David JeffsCEO, DirectorFor further information:info@ stimcell.comwww.StimCell.com Forward Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are identified by words such as "expects", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "anticipates", "believes", "could", and other similar words. All statements addressing product performance, events, or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Because the statements are forward-looking, they should be evaluated in light of important risk factors and uncertainties, some of which are described in the Company's Quarterly, Annual and Current Reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the Company's underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those currently anticipated. In addition, undue reliance should not be placed on Company's forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, StimCell Energetics Inc. disclaims any obligation to update or publicly announce any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. 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. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory body has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Investors are PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-26 08:05:13 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 996 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 March 20th, 2025 Executive order signed to accelerate the domestic production of CopperVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2025 / ZEUS NORTH AMERICA MINING CORP. (CSE:ZEUS)(OTCQB:ZUUZF)(FRANKFURT:O92) (THE "COMPANY" OR "ZEUS") are pleased to announce the historic March 20, 2025, Executive Order signed by United States President Donald J. Trump to accelerate the domestic production of critical metals, including copper.The Executive Order invokes the use of the Defense Production Act as part of a broad U.S. Government effort to expand domestic critical minerals production on national security grounds. 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").Dean Besserer, President and CEO, stated, "The mandate to accelerate USA based domestic copper further reiterates our current path to making the next copper porphyry discovery in the USA. Our recently announced results at our Idaho, USA based Cuddy Mountain copper-moly-silver project are that much more important. With the nearby Hercules project gearing up for an aggressive 2025 drill season, the geological team at Zeus is eager to follow suit." About the Cuddy Mountain Copper Property (Idaho, USA) The Cuddy Mountain Property is adjacent to Hercules Metals Corp.'s recently discovered Leviathan Copper Porphyry (Cnd$167Million Market Capitalization).* The discovery resulted in Barrick injecting Cnd$23Million in equity while staking a substantial land position in the district along with Rio Tinto. The Cuddy Mountain Property consists of 101 lode mining claims respectively and cover a cumulative area of approximately 2020 acres.Zeus recently announced it's 2024 exploration results which include high-priority drill targets delineated by: a broad 3 by 3 kilometer Copper ("Cu")-Silver ("Ag")-Molybdenum("Mo") soil anomaly; coincidental Cu-Mo-Ag rock grab anomalies; a broad, continuous zone of moderate to strong chargeability, (>20ms up to 60ms) trending NE-SW, indicative of extensive sulphide mineralization potential at depth; and, exposure of the Sevin Devils Volcanics which underly the high priority anomalies. The Seven Devils Volcanics are the host-rock of the recently discovered Leviathan Porphyry Copper discovery*.Historical Drilling at Cuddy Mountain consisted of 7 shallow drill holes in 1977 intersecting anomalous lead and silver. Drill hole Mun 8 contained 90 feet of 2.02 ounces per tonne ("oz/t") Ag (Taylor, 1977). Further historical exploration on Zeus's Cuddy Mountain Project occurred at the Edna May Mine: Mineralized vein with chip samples containing 750 ppm lead ("Pb"), 7.7% zinc ("Zn") and 252 ppm Ag over 4 feet. Underground drilling in 1979 intersected 1.38 oz/t Ag over 7 feet in a breccia zone (Burmeister, 1980). Additional exploration (By Taylor, 1977) at the Rockslide area encountered Malachite-stained outcrops with a grab sample containing 760 ppm Pb, 0.67 % Zn and 36 grams per tonne Silver (Taylor, 1977).*Adjacent Property ( www.herculesmetals.com) *All information is derived solely from management of Zeus Mining and otherwise publicly available third-party information which are believed to be reliable, but which have not been independently verified by the Company and as a result are not guaranteed as to accuracy and completeness. Zeus's management cautions that past results or discoveries on properties in proximity to Zeus may not necessarily be indicative of the presence of mineralization on the Company's properties.Qualified Person The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dean Besserer, P.Geo., the President & CEO for the company and Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101.On behalf of the board of directors. "Dean Besserer"President and CEOFor more information, please contact the Company at info@ zeusminingcorp.com FOR INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT: Kin Communications Inc. Ph: 604-684-6730 ZEUS@ kincommunications.com About Zeus North America Mining Corp. The Company is in the business of mineral exploration. The Company is focused on its exploration properties in the state of Idaho known as the: Cuddy Mountain; Selway; and Great Western properties, respectively. The Idaho properties consist of 101 (Cuddy Mountain), 57 (Selway) and 38 (Great Western) lode mining claims respectively and cover a cumulative area of approximately 4,200 acres. The Company's flagship Cuddy Mountain Property is adjacent to Hercules Metal Corp's Leviathan Copper Porphyry discovery.Forward-Looking Statements When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of their respective officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the parties can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements and information in this news release include, amongst others, the Company's exploration plans. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: currency fluctuations; limited business history of the parties%3 The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) has rated the transition of the Mandatory Third-Party Liability Insurance (MTPL) market to new conditions from January 1, 2025, as excellent, said Kateryna Rozhkova, First Deputy Governor of the NBU, in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. "The transition went excellently. The process was smooth and transparent for everyone. Both old policies (issued last year under the previous law) and new ones are functioning in parallel," she stated. Rozhkova noted that the Motor (Transport) Insurance Bureau of Ukraine (MTIBU) had prepared well in terms of corporate governance and internal procedures. "We do not see any issues at this time. To make a final assessment, we need to operate under the new rules for at least a year. However, in my opinion, both the insurance market and vehicle owners have transitioned smoothly," she added. Discussing the MTIBU's operations under the new MTPL law, Rozhkova pointed out that the NBU has effectively become the regulator of the MTIBU, making the bureau its supervised entity. The MTIBU now has a two-tier corporate governance structure. The NBU no longer performs the role of the Bureau's Coordinating Council but has the authority to approve and demand the replacement of top management if violations occur. MTIBU members elect their executive body, and the NBU reviews and approves these candidates, with the power to demand their dismissal if necessary. Additionally, mandatory reporting on fund formation and utilization has been introduced, along with an annual independent audit, similar to banking regulations. If funds fall below a critical level, the MTIBU has the right to increase contributions from member insurance companies but must report on fund utilization. The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has dismissed a suit First Bank instituted against energy company General Hydrocarbons. Details seen by this newspaper showed that the court laid aside the entire lawsuit, noting that it lacks the jurisdiction required to hear the case while upholding General Hydrocarbons preliminary objection challenging the courts jurisdiction. The energy company is owned by Nduka Obaigbena, the chairman of THISDAY Group. Justice E.A. Obile dismissed the case for being an abuse of court process and a breach of the orders issued by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of Federal High Court Lagos on 12 December 2024 in Suit No FHC/L/CS/1953/2024. According to the court, First Bank stated in its counter affidavit opposing the defendants notice of preliminary objection that the order issued by Justice Lewis-Allagoa prevented it from enforcing any receivables pertaining to the facility agreement reached by the two parties. The court stated that the banks attempt to distinguish the instant suit from Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1953/2024 could not remain valid, given that the subsequent agreement entered into by both parties was in accordance with the memorandum of understanding between them, which First Bank breached many times over. 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 By the instant suit, the court said, First Bank approached the court to do what Justice Lewis-Allagoa restrained it from doing, making the lenders action an abuse of court process. The court equally upheld General Hydrocarbons contention that the ex-parte orders of 9 January 2025 had lapsed by the operation of law and dismissed them on that ground. The orders comprised an order to arrest and/or attach or lien the entire oil cargo on board the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel Tamara Tokoni and an order requiring the officers of the Nigerian Navy, NUPRC, NIMASA, and the harbour master of the Nigerian Ports Authority to provide necessary assistance to the admiralty marshal of the court in enforcing the order of arrest. General Hydrocarbons said in its statement Tuesday night that the courts decision now clears the path for proceedings to be held at the Lagos Court of Arbitration, where the energy company is seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages against First Bank. Background First Bank and FBN Quest Trustees approached Federal High Court Lagos on 27 December 2024 with an ex-parte application to seek an order of Mareva injunction in respect of a total claim of $225.8 million, which is alleged outstanding indebtedness on General Hydrocarbons account with First Bank as of 30 September 2024. The court had granted the order restraining all commercial banks in Nigeria from releasing or dealing in all monies and assets up to $225.8 million due to Mr Obaigbena from any account maintained by him. The court also blocked all commercial banks from releasing or dealing in all monies and assets up to the said amount belonging to Efe Damilola Obaigbena, Olabisi Eka Obaigbena and General Hydrocarbons Limited in which all three are directors and shareholders. Another order restraining the banks from dealing in or releasing such monies and assets due to the company, its agents, privies, subsidiaries and sister companies with the banks up to the same sum was issued. In reaction, General Hydrocarbons and some of the defendants requested the court to cancel the order, asserting that the court was misled in granting it in the first place. The energy firm claimed First Bank and FBN Quest Limited secured the order through fraudulent misrepresentation and concealment of material facts. In January, the Lagos court reversed the Mareva injunction order, ruling that it contravened an existing order from a court of concurrent jurisdiction. General Hydrocarbons later said its directors, who are among the defendants in the case, had initiated legal proceedings against First Bank, demanding $1 billion each in damages for defamation and the wrongful freezing of their accounts. It also disclosed that it would launch a case in the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee against First Bank lawyers Babajide Koku (SAN) and Victor Ogude (SAN) for unprofessional conduct. In February, First Bank issued a statement saying it had appealed against the discharge of the Mareva order against General Hydrocarbons, adding that it had also applied for an injunction and/or suspension of the order pending the appeals determination. Appeal Meanwhile, First Bank has filed an appeal against the decision of Federal High Court Port Harcourt dismissing the suit it initiated against the energy firm. The lender observed in a statement Tuesday night that the court held that the matter is not a maritime claim but rather a debt recovery case. It expressed its dismay at the courts declaration that the arrest order against the cargo on the FPSO expired by effluxion of time within 14 days of its issuance, considering that it was ex-parte in nature. Given its dissatisfaction with the ruling of the court, the bank has appealed against the decision. Likewise, First Bank said it filed an appeal against General Hydrocarbons, pending the determination of the appeal. It insisted that the cargoes of crude oil on the FPSO Tamara Tokoni remain arrested. While First Bank has great respect for the courts, it strongly disagrees with the ruling, which, in our view, constitutes a miscarriage of justice, the statement said. First Bank remains committed to protecting and securing the interest of its members and will relentlessly pursue justice against mischievous debtors seeking to use the machinery of the law to perpetuate mischief and evade their responsibility to offset outstanding obligations, it added. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Pension Commission (PenCom) on Wednesday disclosed that only 11 states across Nigeria have fully implemented the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), warning that continued delays by others risk exacerbating long-term pension liabilities and placing unsustainable financial burdens on future administrations. In a statement Wednesday, the commission expressed concern over the sluggish adoption of the scheme by most subnational governments, despite its clear provisions under the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014. The Act mandates that all public sector employeesincluding those in the Federal Capital Territory, states, and local governmentsbe enrolled under the CPS. However, under Nigerias federal structure, state governments are required to domesticate the scheme by enacting enabling laws and putting relevant administrative structures in place. As of 31 December 2024, only 11 statesLagos, the FCT, Osun, Kaduna, Ekiti, Edo, Ondo, Delta, Benue, Anambra, and Jigawahave fully implemented the CPS. These states have set the benchmark for effective pension management, consistently remitting both employer and employee contributions and ensuring that retirees receive their benefits without delay. Jigawa State, although operating under a hybrid Contributory Defined Benefits Scheme (CDBS), was included among the commendable performers for its structured remittance. 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 By contrast, PenCom identified several statesincluding Abia, Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, and Zamfarathat have passed laws to adopt the CPS but are yet to make meaningful progress in implementation. Six other statesAkwa Ibom, Borno, Kwara, Plateau, Cross River, and Yobehave not commenced any aspect of the scheme. It is imperative that States adopt the CPS to avoid the accumulation of pension liabilities and ensure that public servants receive their retirement benefits promptly. The CPS ensures that funds are available at the point of retirement to pay benefits, thereby eliminating the challenges of the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS), where retirees wait for months or years before receiving their entitlements. PenCom warned that reliance on the old Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS)which has been largely unsustainablecontinues to generate unfunded pension liabilities across many states. In contrast, the CPS provides a structured, transparent, and forward-looking approach that ensures funds are available at the point of retirement, thereby guaranteeing timely benefit payments. To assist states in transitioning, PenCom developed a Model State Pension Law and offers ongoing technical support. Full implementation, however, requires more than legislation. States must establish a Pension Bureau, register employees with Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), begin monthly remittances, carry out actuarial valuations, fund accrued pension rights, open a Retirement Benefits Bond Redemption Fund Account with the Central Bank or PFAs, and provide group life insurance for workers. The Commission reiterates its commitment to the effective regulation and supervision of the pension industry to ensure that retirement benefits are paid as and when due. While PenCom reaffirmed its commitment to working with state governments through guidance and engagement, it stressed that the responsibility for decisive action rests with the political leadership in each state. Without reform, states risk not only entrenching intergenerational debt but also undermining trust in the public pension system. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print HNigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening cultural ties with Uganda to promote pan-African unity and regional integration. The Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja when she received a 27-member delegation of senior military officers from Uganda on a courtesy visit. Represented by the Department of Cultural Industries and Heritage Head, Canon Anamah, the Minister emphasised the long-standing relationship between Nigeria and Uganda, dating back to the 1960s. She noted that both nations share similar historical experiences, including struggles with colonialism, ethnic conflicts, and religious differences. The Ministry is pleased to be one of the locations you chose for your study tour because it is our mandate to present, preserve, and promote Nigerias rich cultural heritage, she stated in a press statement issued by Nneka Anibeze, special assistant, media and publicity for the Ministry. The relationship between Nigeria and Uganda is one of cooperation, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to regional and international development. We have a long-standing relationship that dates back to the 1960s. Both countries were formerly ruled by Britain and share similar historical experiences, including struggles with religion, ethnic civil crises, and more. 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 In terms of cooperation, Nigeria and Uganda have signed several bilateral agreements, including a Technical Aid Corps agreement in 1988, a Bilateral Trade Agreement in 1990, and Technical Cooperation in 1990, among others. The two countries have also collaborated on regional and international issues related to peace, security, trade, and economic development. Ms Musawa also outlined Nigerias plans to expand its creative economy, focusing on innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation. She stressed the importance of cultural exchange in strengthening ties between the two nations. Our mandate is to present, preserve, and promote Nigerias rich cultural heritage. In line with President Tinubus Renewed Hope Agenda, the Ministry is committed to achieving economic growth and job creation through skill acquisition and capacity-building programs across the six geopolitical zones of the federation, she said. The Minister further revealed that the Ministry had completed work on a revised Nigerian cultural policy aimed at driving the creative economy through an eight-point agenda. This initiative, she noted, is designed to position Nigeria as Africas creative capital by 2030. Ugandan delegation seeks deeper engagement George Igumba, a major general leading the Ugandan delegation, described the visit as a significant milestone in the bilateral relations between Nigeria and Uganda. We are here to study a variety of issues, but most importantly, those bordering on international affairs and relations, General Igumba said. We have used local lessons to trace, despite our abilities and capabilities, the factors impeding our objectives related to national security. We have overcome our traditional challenges like poverty, disease, and failing insecurity. We have come to Nigeria for you to help us expand what we have and enrich our understanding of the problem. During the visit, the delegation was presented with a paper on The Effects of Colonialism on Cultural Heritage, which provided insights into Nigerias history, geography, traditions, and cultural heritage. The ongoing collaboration between Nigeria and Uganda is seen as a step towards strengthening pan-African affiliations, fostering cultural exchange, boosting tourism, and enhancing economic cooperation between the two nations. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nollywood actor Kunle Remi and his wife, Tiwi, have welcomed their first child following a challenging medical journey. The couple shared their emotional path to parenthood, revealing the hardships they endured, including a difficult medical discovery, prolonged bed rest, and over 80 days of faith-driven visits to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). In an emotional video post on Wednesday, the actor via his official Instagram page, @kunleremiofficial, expressed gratitude, reflecting on the trials and triumphs of their journey. Remi wrote: From an early arrival to the unfolding of Gods perfect timing. From waiting, countless NICU visits, and clinging to God for 11 weeks and three days (thats 80 days of faith). Our story is living proof that God is God unfailing, unwavering, and faithful till the very end. 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 From an unexpected and unsettling medical discovery to complete bed rest. From juggling demanding work schedules to hopping on flights, both locally and internationally. The couples love story has been in the public eye, since the actor surprised Tiwi with a marriage proposal during a visit to the United States in early 2024. They later held a grand wedding in January 2024, attended by top Nollywood celebrities Fans and colleagues have since flooded social media with congratulatory messages, celebrating the couples resilience and the arrival of their baby. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Veteran Nollywood actor Jide Kosoko has narrated how he lost three wives under different circumstances. The 71-year-old, who gained prominence during the video film era and produced Asiri N La in 1992 during an interview on the Honest Bunch podcast, said he did not marry four wives simultaneously. Recalling the painful experiences, the Yaba College of Technology business administration graduate said: They died in different circumstances. I lost three wives, and Im still with one; by Gods grace, I hope I wont lose her. But there is no doubt about it: losing a person, especially your wife, you know what it means. I didnt have four wives at the same time. Dont get it wrong because people are not getting it. I had two; I lost them. Then I married another two, then lost one. I do not support polygamy. Not everybody can be this lucky. Why would I say Im lucky when I even lost my wives? I know its not in the polygamous thing that causes that because all my wives cooperated. The Lagos-born actor further emphasised the importance of husbands and wives consistently showing love to each other. Mr Kosoko, who began acting as a child actor in 1964 on the television production Makanjuola noted, The truth is, whatever you have, try as much as possible to show love at all times. When I lost my wives, I started thinking in different directionswas it because of the job I was doing? I was already popular then. 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 I believed that whatever would happen would happen until I met a woman older than me who said she lost her husband and five children on the same day. Is that not worse? You use that as consolation. Polygamy Additionally, Mr Kosoko condemned the practice of men taking multiple wives after acquiring wealth. The actor insisted that such behaviour was improper and stated: There are some stupid idiots. They had a wife while growing up, but when money comes, they suddenly realise, This woman is too low for them. Dont they think its wiser to lift her? Its vice versa because women do it, too. Theyll say, This man I marriedmaybe hes a tailor, and he was using his small money to support themthey now feel hes too small. Who is small when theres money, care, and love? Who is dirty or unworthy when theres love, care, and money to care for them? Mr Kosoko, who recently appeared in Funke Akindeles Everybody Loves Jennifer, defied age and showcased his singing talent in the movies soundtrack. Dressed in a Father Christmas outfit, he delivered his lines with flair, effortlessly dropping some rap bars. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has directed Adedolapo Fasawe, the mandate secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, to oversee the establishment of a Primary Healthcare Centre in Sauka, FCT. A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Secretary, Bola Ajao, on Wednesday, highlighted that the initiative aimed to strengthen healthcare services in the region. It also emphasised the goal of combating tuberculosis (TB), with support from FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. According to the statement, Mrs Tinubu, who also serves as the Global and National Stop TB Champion, made the announcement at an event in Sauka, FCT, to commemorate World Tuberculosis Day 2025. The event was organised by the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with the FCT Health Services Secretariat, Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and other partners. During her speech, the First Lady emphasised the importance of grassroots interventions in the fight against TB. 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 She noted that the event themed, Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver, had been locally translated to We Fit Run Am; A Collective Call for Action Against TB to better resonate with the community. To support the fight against this communicable disease, I will not only donate N1 billion but also approve the establishment of a Primary Healthcare Centre in Sauka Community. This initiative aligns with President Tinubus Renewed Hope Agenda for an efficient healthcare system, she stated. The first lady added that Mrs Fasawe would oversee the projects implementation with the backing of Mr Wike. She further explained that the new facility would serve as a critical hub for TB detection, treatment, and general healthcare services, ensuring that residents received timely and quality medical care. In spite of TB being preventable and treatable, the first lady pointed out that it remained a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, which ranked among the countries with the highest TB burden globally. This underscores the urgent need for improved healthcare services and stronger community-based interventions. In her response, Mrs Fasawe commended the First Lady for her unwavering dedication and strong support in the fight against TB elimination. She also acknowledged the efforts of FCT healthcare workers, whose hard work had contributed to significant improvements in the health system. The establishment of the new Primary Healthcare Centre in Sauka is a significant step toward enhancing healthcare services, improving TB control, and ensuring accessible healthcare for all in the FCT, Mrs Fasawe affirmed. READ ALSO: Foundation donates to Police Hospital The event also featured an exhibition stand by the Public Health Department of the FCT, where attendees were provided with free TB testing. Key stakeholders in attendance included Nana Shettima, wife of the Vice President; Members of the National Assembly; Iziaq Salako, minister of state for Health; and Adekemi Nanpad, comptroller general of the Nigeria Immigration Service. Also present were wives of the Federal Executive Council members, Walter Mulombo, WHO Country Representative, and many others. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Enugu State Government has designated 549 health facilities for free malaria treatment across the state. Ifeoma Otiji, a medical doctor and the Enugu State Malaria Elimination Programme coordinator, disclosed this during the Advocacy, Communication, and Social Mobilisation Core-Group Quarterly Meeting on Tuesday in Enugu. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that officials from the National Malaria Elimination Programme, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, the media, and health officers attended the meeting. The meeting focused on strategies for malaria control and elimination. Ms Otiji explained that the health facilities were designated to help eliminate malaria in Enugu. She encouraged residents to visit the centres for free malaria tests and anti-malaria medications. According to her, malaria treatment is now available at 549 primary, secondary, and private health centres across the state. 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 She emphasised that the state government was prioritising malaria treatment and noted improvements in the availability of anti-malaria medicines in health facilities compared to the past. If you have a fever, we first test you, and if the result is positive, we treat you, Ms Otiji said. She warned that malaria should not be downplayed, especially in pregnant women and babies, as it could have severe consequences, including death. Nnenna Ogbulafor, a medical doctor and national coordinator of the Malaria Elimination Programme, stated that malaria continued to be a significant burden, particularly on vulnerable populations like pregnant women and children under five. She stressed that combating malaria requires commitment, innovation, and stakeholder collaboration. Ms Ogbulafor lauded Enugus government for its proactive approach but urged the state to intensify efforts to eliminate malaria, noting that statistics showed a high prevalence of the disease in the state. Uchechukwu Okenwa, the director of Public Health and Disease Control in Enugu, highlighted the importance of Advocacy, Communication, and Social Mobilisation in raising awareness and engaging communities in the fight against malaria. Hope Obokoh of the National Malaria Elimination Programme urged Nigerians to practice environmental cleanliness by eliminating stagnant water and cutting bushes, emphasising that these measures helped reduce mosquito breeding sites. NAN reports that the meeting also served as a platform for sub-committees to discuss malaria control strategies. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The First Bank of Nigeria said it has appealed the Federal High Court Port Harcourts decision to dismiss the suit it initiated against General Hydrocarbons, an energy firm. In a statement Tuesday night, the lender disagreed with the courts decision, which determined that the matter in contention is not a maritime claim but a debt recovery case. The bank expressed dismay at the courts declaration that the arrest order against the cargo on the FPSO expired by effluxion of time within 14 days of its issuance, considering that it was ex-parte in nature. Given its dissatisfaction with the ruling of the court, the bank has appealed against the decision. It insisted that the cargoes of crude oil on the FPSO Tamara Tokoni remain arrested. While First Bank has great respect for the courts, it strongly disagrees with the ruling, which, in our view, constitutes a miscarriage of justice, the statement said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later First Bank remains committed to protecting and securing the interest of its members and will relentlessly pursue justice against mischievous debtors seeking to use the machinery of the law to perpetuate mischief and evade their responsibility to offset outstanding obligations, the bank added. BELOW IS THE FULL STATEMENT BY FIRST BANK In a surprising twist of events, its decision delivered today, the Federal High Court, in a surprising shift from the true nature of FirstBanks claim, held that the matter is not a maritime claim but, rather, a simple case of debt recovery. This is quite surprising considering the fact that the order sought is to prevent further fraudulent sales of crude on the FPSO. Shockingly, the court also held that the Arrest Order against the cargo, because it was exparte in nature, expired by effluxion of time within 14 days of its issuance. Aggrieved by the decision, FirstBank lodged an appeal against the decision of the FHC. Also, FirstBank filed an application for an injunction of the court against GHL, pending the determination of the appeal. The Cargoes of Crude Oil on the FPSO TAMARA TOKONI remain arrested. While FirstBank has great respect for the courts, it strongly disagrees with the ruling, which, in our view, constitutes a miscarriage of justice. FirstBank remains committed to protecting and securing the interest of its members and will relentlessly pursue justice against mischievous debtors seeking to use the machinery of the law to perpetuate mischief and evade their responsibility to offset outstanding obligations. First Bank Vs General Hydrocarbons: A Background First Bank and FBN Quest Trustees approached the Federal High Court Lagos on 27 December 2024 with an ex-parte application to seek an order of Mareva injunction in respect of a total claim of $225.8 million, which is alleged outstanding indebtedness on General Hydrocarbons account with First Bank as of 30 September 2024. The court granted the order restraining all commercial banks in Nigeria from releasing or dealing in all monies and assets up to $225.8 million due to General Hydrocarbons and its Chairperson, Nduka Obaigbena, from any account maintained by them. The court also blocked all commercial banks from releasing or dealing in all monies and assets up to the said amount belonging to Efe Damilola Obaigbena and Olabisi Eka Obaigbena, of which the named directors and shareholders. Another order restraining the banks from dealing in or releasing such monies and assets due to the company, its agents, privies, subsidiaries and sister companies with the banks up to the same sum was issued. In reaction, General Hydrocarbons and some of the defendants requested the court to cancel the order, asserting that the court was misled in granting it in the first place. The energy firm claimed First Bank and FBN Quest Limited secured the order through fraudulent misrepresentation and concealment of material facts. In January, the Lagos court reversed the Mareva injunction order, ruling that it contravened an existing order from a court of concurrent jurisdiction. First Bank later issued a statement saying it had appealed the discharge of the Mareva order against General Hydrocarbons, adding that it had also applied for an injunction and/or suspension of the order pending the appeals determination. However, on 9 January 2025, the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt granted some orders against General Hydrocarbons as requested by First Bank. READ ALSO: Court dismisses First Banks suit against General Hydrocarbons Justice E.A. Obile granted orders to arrest and/or attach or lien the entire oil cargo on board the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel Tamara Tokoni and an order requiring the officers of the Nigerian Navy, NUPRC, NIMASA, and the harbour master of the Nigerian Ports Authority to provide necessary assistance to the admiralty marshal of the court in enforcing the order of arrest. The court vacated the orders Tuesday, but First Bank says it has since appealed the decision. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The United States Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has urged the US government to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) due to persistent religious violence and the governments failure to protect religious minorities. In its 2025 annual report released on Tuesday, USCIRF condemned Nigerian authorities for failing to prosecute perpetrators of religious violence, warning that this inaction fuels reprisals, deepens sectarian tensions, and weakens religious freedom. If Nigeria is officially designated as a CPC under the US International Religious Freedom Act, it could face diplomatic and economic consequences, including sanctions and restrictions on US foreign aid. Meanwhile, Nigeria was designated as such before, with the US government accusing it and other countries in the category of violating religious freedom, and ignoring the recommendation from the USCIRF. In November 2021, the US government removed Nigeria from the list, but it did not take long when the push to redesignate the country as a CPC country resumed. In July 2022, five American senators asked the then-Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, to redesignate Nigeria as a CPC country over the deteriorating state of religious freedom in the country. 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 Given the abysmal state of religious freedom in Nigeria, it is incumbent upon you to reverse last years decision and redesignate the country as a CPC. The moment demands that you do so without delay, the senators said in a 29 June 2022 memo. The Republican senators informed Mr Blinken that religious violence and intolerance directed toward Nigerian Christians has worsened in recent years, hence their request. Apart from attacks on Nigerian Christians, the senators also said, the Nigerian authorities also restrict and crack down on religious minorities and detain individuals indefinitely on blasphemy-related charges. The 2025 annual report of the USCIRF recommending Nigerias redesignation came on the heels of a call earlier this month of the US House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa for Nigeria to be re-tagged a CPC country. The Chairman of the Subcommittee, Chris Smith, urged President Donald Trump to impose harsh sanctions on Nigeria over the killing of Christians. At the hearing of the subcommittee, Mr Smith condemned the former Secretary of State, Mr Blinken, for reversing Nigerias CPC status in 2021. One Nigerian Bishop challenged Blinken and said Christian persecution is more intense than ever. That was Bishop Mamza. And Genocide Watch has called Nigeria a killing field of defenceless Christians, he said. Mr Smith also stated that the Nigerian government has failed to tackle religiously motivated persecution of Christians despite religious freedom being enshrined as an essential human right in its Constitution. The Nigerian legal framework supports pluralism at both federal and state levels, but glaring contradictions exist, especially with laws that criminalise blasphemy some even carrying the death penalty. While in office, Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari confirmed that during his visit to the US in 2018, he was confronted by US President Donald Trump, during first term in office, with the allegation of killing of Christians. Nigeria denies targeted attacks on religious communities Earlier this month, the Nigerian government, through the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, denied allegations of targeted killings of Christians in the country. The ministry said reports promoting the allegations were misleading and intended to pressure the United States into designating Nigeria a CPC. It described any attempt to portray these attacks as religious persecution as inaccurate and misleading. While the federal government acknowledges the security challenges confronting the nation, it is imperative to clarify that these negative activities are not driven by religious bias, nor targeted against any particular religious group, the statement read in part. The agency further noted that the Nigerian government has deployed security forces, enhanced intelligence gathering, and strengthened community engagement in an effort to tackle the crisis. To bring an end to such security challenges, both the Federal and State authorities have embarked on kinetic and non-kinetic methods and expedited the implementation of the national livestock plan. To this end, a Ministry of Livestock Development has been established, while a Special Adviser and Coordinator of Livestock Reforms has been appointed to find sustainable solutions to pastoral farming, with a view to ending contestations over land between farmers and pastoral herders, the agency further noted. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the international community to verify information carefully before drawing conclusions that might escalate tensions within Nigeria. USCIRF report cites cases The USCIRF report cited continued attacks on religious communities by Boko Haram (Jamatu Ahlis Sunna Liddaawati wal-Jihad, JAS), Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and armed bandits, who operate with little resistance from security forces. In 2024, religious freedom conditions in Nigeria remained poor. Federal and state governments either tolerated religious violence or failed to respond adequately to extremist groups seeking to impose their interpretation of Islam on communities, The USCIRF Chair, Stephen Schneck, stated. The commission documented several major attacks targeting religious minorities, including a January 2024 incident when suspected Boko Haram insurgents killed 14 people in Yobe State, including a local pastor. The report stated that in May 2024, an Al-Qaeda-linked Ansaru militant kidnapped 160 mostly Christian children in Niger State, killing eight before later releasing the rest. Also, the USCIRF said in August 2024, some armed bandits raided Christian-majority areas in Benue State, killing at least 70 people and abducting 20 students. In November 2024, the USCIRF explained that the extremist Lakurawa group, enforcing their interpretation of Sharia, reportedly executed 15 people in Kebbi State. Despite these repeated attacks, Nigerian security forces have been slow to respond, leaving churches, mosques, and religious schools vulnerable to further violence. International pressure mounts The USCIRF report aligns with increasing international scrutiny. In February, the European Parliament passed a resolution (RC-B10-0101/2025) demanding Nigeria abolish its blasphemy laws and immediately release Yahaya Sharif-Aminu. Blasphemy laws violate international human rights standards and contradict Nigerias constitutional guarantee of religious freedom, the resolution stated. Since his 2020 conviction, Mr Sharif-Aminu has drawn global condemnation. He was sentenced to death by hanging without legal representation, sparking criticism from Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the United Nations. The European Union reported that Mr Sharif-Aminus health is deteriorating due to harsh detention conditions, malnutrition, and lack of medical care. In a separate statement, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention declared his imprisonment a violation of international human rights law, urging the Nigerian government to immediately secure his release. Religious violence, blasphemy Religious violence remains a worsening crisis. Amnesty International reported that over 7,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria in 2023 alone. From 2012 to 2023, at least 555 cases of mob violence resulted in 57 deaths, including victims burned or buried alive. The authorities failure to investigate and prosecute these crimes highlights a shocking neglect of their duty to protect citizens, said Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria. In one of the religious violence in 2022, a Christian college student, Deborah Yakubu, was beaten and burned to death by a mob in Sokoto State over allegations of blasphemy. Her death sparked global outrage, but many Nigerian political leaders, particularly northern governors, called to condemn the killing but never consistently demanded justice for her. The report noted that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar initially called for the arrest of those responsible in a social media post but later deleted it after facing backlash from his northern supporters. Additionally, the then-Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Bellowhere Ms Yakubu hailed fromnever issued a statement condemning her killing nor attended her burial, reinforcing perceptions of government indifference to religious violence. USCIRF warned that such political silence emboldens religious extremists and sends a troubling message that perpetrators will not face consequences. Beyond extremist violence, USCIRF also condemned Nigerias harsh blasphemy laws, which impose up to two years imprisonment for insulting religion at the federal level. In several northern states, where Sharia law applies, blasphemy convictions carry death sentences. At least five individuals remained imprisoned for blasphemy at the end of 2024, including Mubarak Bala, a humanist sentenced to 24 years in 2022, later reduced to five years in May 2024. Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a Sufi Muslim sentenced to death in 2020 for singing a religious song deemed blasphemous. After a retrial order, his fate remains uncertain as he awaits a Supreme Court ruling. In addition, Abdulazeez Inyass, Sheikh Abduljabar Nasiru Kabara, and Ismaila Sani Isah, all facing death sentences under Sharia law. USCIRF also criticised the suppression of indigenous religious practices. In July 2024, the Anambra State government demolished an indigenous shrine following pressure from Catholic bishops, raising concerns about religious intolerance beyond Islamist extremism. USCIRFs recommendations to the US Government To address the crisis, USCIRF recommended the U.S. government take immediate diplomatic action, including redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act. The report called for classifying Boko Haram and ISWAP as Entities of Particular Concern (EPCs) for their systematic religious persecution. The commission demanded increasing support for Nigerian civil society organisations advocating religious freedom, and redirecting U.S. foreign aid toward conflict resolution, security sector reform, and law enforcement training. The report recommended pressuring Nigerian authorities to end impunity for religious violence and ensure justice for victims. Additionally, the commission called on the U.S. Congress to investigate whether U.S. assistance to Nigeria has effectively reduced religiously motivated violence. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Norway is providing an additional NOK 1 billion ($95 million) to finance gas imports to Ukraine to ensure its adequate supply to the population, enterprises and industry in the country, the Norwegian government said on its website on Wednesday. "A more secure energy supply is essential to Ukraine's resilience. This was one of the topics discussed during President Zelenskyy's visit to Norway last week. There is an urgent need for increased funding for gas imports to provide power and heating for homes, businesses and public institutions. Norway is doing its part to meet this need," Prime Minster Jonas Gahr Stre said. The new funding will be channelled through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and will be used for procurement of gas from Western sources. The Ukrainian state-owned company Naftogaz will be the recipient of the gas. The imported gas will be used to meet consumption needs and to increase gas reserves in the event of further attacks on the gas infrastructure. The funding is being provided under the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine and the NOK 1 billion is being taken from the 2025 allocation for Ukraines energy sector. "Access to electricity is essential to safeguard the security of the Ukrainian people and ensure that society can continue to function. Attacks on the Ukrainian power supply are, and have been, an attack on the very core of Ukrainian society. They are part of an attempt to weaken the Ukrainian economy and undermine the Ukrainian peoples trust in their Government. This is why it is both crucial and of strategic importance to help to maintain access to gas," Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide said, who is visiting Ukraine this week. The additional allocation will increase Norway's total contribution to gas purchases for Ukraine from 2022 to NOK 3.6 billion ($342 million). In 2023, NOK 635 million was allocated for gas purchases. The funds have already been released and can be used to increase the total contribution. Thus, the total amount of the agreement is NOK 1.635 billion ($155 million). "We do not yet know how much gas Ukraine will need to import this year, but Norways contribution will put Ukraine in a better position to tackle the impacts of renewed attacks from Russia and make the necessary preparations for the next winter," Mr Eide said. The EBRD has been working with Naftogaz for a number of years, among other things on corporate governance. Channeling of funds through the EBRD helps to reduce risks, such as the risk of corruption and financial irregularities, the report reads. As reported, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal on Wednesday discussed with Norwegian Foreign Minister Eide and Norwegian Minister of Labor and Social Integration Brenna joint humanitarian programs and sanctions against Russia. The Prime Minister also thanked Norway for its assistance in the energy sector, in particular for its readiness to contribute EUR 140 million through the EBRD for the purchase of gas for Ukrainian gas storage facilities. The UN International Organisation for Migration (IOM) says 2024 marks the deadliest on record for migrants in Asia. It said 2,514 lives were lost on the regions perilous migration routes. This represents a staggering 59 per cent increase from the 1,584 deaths recorded in 2023, highlighting the worsening dangers faced by people on the move, according to new data from IOM. No one should lose their life in pursuit of safety or a better future, Iori Kato, IOM Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, said. Every life lost on migration routes in Asia, or anywhere else, is a stark reminder of the urgent need for safe and regular migration pathways these are preventable tragedies, Mr Kato said. The spike in migrant deaths was primarily linked to two of the regions most vulnerable populations: the minority Muslim Rohingya fleeing Myanmar and Afghans escaping conflict and instability. 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 increase in deaths across Asia of people fleeing conflict and persecution in the region is of grave concern, Mr Kato said. In 2024, at least 1,517 Afghan migrants lost their lives while in transit up 39 per cent from 2023. Deaths among Rohingya migrants more than doubled, reaching 889 compared to 436 the previous year. On 5 August, 2024 alone, over 150 people were reportedly killed by artillery fire while attempting to cross the Naf River from Myanmar to Bangladesh. IOM also highlighted that the risks facing migrants extended beyond conflict-related violence. Many are vulnerable to perilous conditions en route, including overcrowded and unsafe boats, abuse by smugglers and extreme weather conditions. Lack of identification of migrants was also a major concern, with over 1,000 of those who died in 2024 unidentified. Among the documented deaths, 1,086 were men, 205 were women and 217 children. A lack of official reporting of data on missing migrants means we know our data do not fully capture the true number of lives lost during migration in Asia. And even within the records we have, so few identifying details are known, meaning there are immeasurable effects on families searching for lost relatives, he said. Migration in Asia is complex, driven by economic inequality, conflict and environmental factors, worsened by climate change. However, limited legal pathways have forced many to rely on irregular and highly dangerous routes. One of the deadliest corridors remains the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, where stateless Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants embark on treacherous sea journeys in search of refuge. Many pay smugglers for passage, only to find themselves trapped on overcrowded boats with insufficient food and water, facing violence from crew members and the risk of being turned away at their destination. Meanwhile, overland migration routes across South and Southeast Asia such as those from Nepal to India, or from Afghanistan and Pakistan through Iran and Turkey also pose serious risks. Migrants frequently endure extreme environmental conditions as well as exploitation by traffickers, and border violence. READ ALSO: Nigeria Immigration Service arrests 40 illegal immigrants in Oyo State Sea crossings to Australia, once a significant migration route, had sharply declined in recent years due to strict border controls, according to IOM. While official data on boat interceptions remains scarce, the closure of this route had left many stranded in transit countries with little access to healthcare, education or legal protection, increasing their vulnerability to exploitation. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Combined security operatives have killed an alleged notorious kidnapper in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigerias South-east. The police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday. He said the combined security team comprising the police, military and vigilante personnel- killed the kidnapper on Monday. How it happened Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, said the combined security team, during a routine patrol in the area, intercepted a black shuttle bus being driven in a suspicious manner. The police spokesperson said the team attempted to stop the vehicle, which prompted the occupants of the vehicle to open fire on the security operatives. He said there was a shootout between the security team and the armed men, which led to the killing of one of the armed men, later understood to be kidnappers, while four others abandoned the vehicle and escaped with gunshot injuries into a nearby bush. 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 operatives, on searching the vehicle, found a blindfolded victim, suspected to have been kidnapped and who was tied on the hand and legs while his mouth was sealed. The victim was successfully rescued, given first aid and debriefed by the Police Operatives, Mr Ikenga said. He said the vehicle was recovered and that the joint security team was still carrying out further operations to track down the fleeing kidnappers. The spokesperson said the police authorities have appealed to all proprietors of private and government-owned hospitals to report to them individuals in their hospitals with bullet wounds of suspicious nature. READ ALSO: Three suspected kidnappers arrested after collecting N2 million ransom Police This measure is critical to the ongoing effort to apprehend the fleeing suspects and prevent further escalation of criminal activities in the state, he said. The (Anambra State Police) Command remains committed to maintaining security dominance through sustained patrols and targeted security operations in the state. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nasiru Haladu Foundation (NHD) donated various food items and antenatal kits to patients during a visit to the Muhammadu Buhari Police Hospital on Tuesday in Abuja. PREMIUM TIMES reported the foundations visit to the National Hospital and Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja earlier on Monday. The foundations Chairperson, Nasiru Danu, said its humanitarian services at the hospitals were not its first. He said, We have been doing this for some time. The delegation to the hospital was led by Mr Danu, his wife, Amne Danu, and Ibrahim Mato, a board of trustee member. Mr Danu said the choice of the Muhammadu Buhari Police Hospital was in recognition of the polices services to the nation. Most of the patients at the hospital were police officers and their relatives. Stressing the polices crucial role in ensuring internal security, Mr Danu said no sacrifice is enough to compensate the officers. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Danu said his foundation wants to build a strong partnership with the force. Distribution of donations to patients and staff The hospitals Head of Public Health, Solomon Tanko, received the delegation. Members of the foundations delegation and hospital staff went around the wards, distributing 50 cartons of food items to patients and maternity packages to mothers. Mr Danu inquired about the patients health conditions before presenting them with the gift items. He told some patients that the donations were part of Ramadan packages and wished them a quick recovery. Staff and patients expressed appreciation A police officer, Okparachi Chijoke, expressed his appreciation for the gesture. Having no prior knowledge of the foundation, Mary Abobo, the midwife in charge of the hospitals Maternity, expressed surprise at its generosity. READ ALSO: Pledges remain unfulfilled six months after Jigawa tanker explosion I am excited to know that such a foundation even exists. For your generosity and this act of kindness, I pray the Almighty God will reward you. Mr Tanko, who received the delegation on behalf of the hospitals management, thanked the foundation for choosing the hospital. On behalf of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the force medical officer, and the Medical Director of this hospital, we want to thank you. He said the visit and gift would boost the morale of the patients and staff. He disclosed that most staff were police officers, while others included interns and corporate members. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room, a coalition of civil society organisations, has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubus recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as an unconstitutional overreach that threatens Nigerias democracy. Speaking through its Co-convener, Yunusa Yau, at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the group said Mr Tinbus action represents a blatant misrepresentation of the 1999 Constitution and constitutes a dangerous precedent for democratic governance in Nigeria. It stated that Mr Tinubu is not empowered by section 305 or any other part of the constitution, to unilaterally remove elected officials or impose an unelected administrator. The Constitution remains the supreme law of the land, and any action inconsistent with it is null, void, and of no effect. The declaration of a state of emergency must not be a pretext for subverting democracy or bypassing constitutional governance, it stated. The coalition called on the judiciary to urgently determine the constitutionality of the presidents actions, urging it to defend Nigerias constitutional democracy. The judiciary has a chance to redeem its image by delivering rulings that uphold truth, justice, and equityNigerias democracy must be protected at all costs. No individual, regardless of office, is above the Constitution, it said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later State of Emergency in Rivers Mr Tinubu had cited section 305 of the constitution on 18 March, when he declared a state of emergency on Rivers State and suspended elected officials, namely the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu and all elected lawmakers of the state House of Assembly for an initial period of six months. Mr Tinubu also appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice admiral and former chief of naval staff, as the administrator of the state for the next six months. The president cited as the basis for his action the disturbing violence in the state, including explosions and vandalisation of petroleum pipelines linked to the political crises in the state. The National Assembly has approved the presidents request to declare a state of emergency on Rivers state. Even though the constitution requires two-third of the each of the chamberss of the National Assembly to ratify the presidents decision, the lawmakers adopted voice vote when considering it. This prompted many to doubt the integrity of the process. An Assault on Democracy However, the coalition stated that Mr Tinubus action was an assault on the countrys democracy. It also criticised the National Assembly for endorsing what they termed an anti-constitutional declaration. They accused the lawmakers of failing in their duty to protect democracy by hastily approving the presidents action through a voice vote, which they described as lacking transparency and accountability. Even if the National Assembly had mustered the necessary two-thirds majority vote to endorse the presidents declaration, it would still have been a nullity. You cannot sanctify an illegality with a seeming legality, the coalition added. The coalition also warned that allowing this action to stand would set a dangerous precedent, potentially paving the way for similar executive overreaches in other states. This reckless disregard for due process raises serious concerns about the independence of the legislature and the erosion of democratic norms in Nigeria, the group stated, adding that the move contradicts the principles of constitutional governance, including the separation of powers and respect for the rule of law. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Ebonyi State Government has confirmed the detention of Emmanuel Acha over alleged offensive comments against security operatives in the state. Mr Acha, a social media influencer, was also accused of constituting a security threat and spreading fake information about the killings in Effium and Ezza-Efium communities in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state. Tobias Ogbonna, Governor Francis Nwifurus special adviser on Security, confirmed Mr Achas arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki. NAN recalls that both communities were engulfed in a communal clash between 2021 and 2024. Governor Francis Nwifuru brokered peace between the communities. In February, the governor granted amnesty to some people from the area who had been imprisoned because of their roles in the crisis. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Ogbonna told NAN that Mr Acha, who was arrested on 18 March, had been involved in making offensive comments and ill-statement on social media, especially on the already ended and settled Effium and Ezza-Efium communal war. He was detained and charged to court, after which he was taken to the Correctional Centre, Abakaliki, the Ebonyi capital. We must support the government and its policies. It is not good if we continue to spoil our own. Let us continue to promote peace and tranquillity in the state. We owe it a duty to work towards promoting the people-orientated programmes of the present State Government because the governor is committed to sustainable development, Mr Ogbonna said. The Commissioner for Internal Security, Etta Uka-Ude, said he was not involved in Achas detention and declined further comments. NAN recalls that an anonymous individual on made a post on Sunday on a WhatsApp platform, announcing Mr Achas detention by security operatives in the state. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, commended President Bola Tinubu for assenting to the South-south Development Commission and South-west Development Commission Bills. The Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary, thanked the president for ensuring that all geo-political zones have their respective development commissions. Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday announced that President Tinubu had signed the two bills into law. Mr Kalu said that the creation of development commissions for all the geo-political zones would engender development at the grassroots. He particularly commended the president for being just and fair in the creation of the development commissions. The development commissions for all the zones will now impact positively the renewed hope of this administration on the local people. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr President has done well by giving all zones the opportunity to leverage their development opportunities, he said. The deputy speaker urged all the zones to drive development of their zones with the platform offered by Tinubu. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that development commissions are expected to improve governance, security, law and order as well as engendering more efficient and effective use of resources. They are also expected to promote social harmony and conducive business environment for growth. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions has again dismissed a petition by Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, accusing the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of sexual harassment. The petition, signed by one Zubairu Yakubu, who described himself as a concerned Nigerian citizen from Kogi Central Senatorial District, accused Mr Akpabio of sexually harassing Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan. The petition also alleged abuse of office and obstruction of legislative duties by the senate president. The petition was presented on the floor of the Senate by Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan on 5 March, minutes before she was controversially suspended from the upper legislative chamber. It was, thereafter, referred to the ethics committee chaired by Edo South Senator, Neda Imasuen, for review. The hearing On Tuesday, Mr Yakubu appeared before the committee, in company of his legal counsel, Abiola Akiyode, and a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili. However, he refused to proceed with his testimony unless his principal witness, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, was allowed to be present at the National Assembly. 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 petitioner accused the committee chairman of bias, making reference to previous public statements where Mr Imasuen reportedly described the petition as dead on arrival. If the chairman has already declared the petition dead before even hearing it, how can we expect fairness? One of the committee members even went on national television to claim that he was a principal witness for the Senate President. How then can we trust this process, Mr Zubairu said. Committee dismisses petition Following heated verbal exchanges between committee members and Mr Yakubu, the Senate committee dismissed the petition on the grounds that the matter was already before a court. This decision generated further heated argument as Mr Yakubu questioned why he had been summoned if the committee already knew the case was pending in court If they knew the matter was in court, why did they invite me in the first place? This only confirms their bias and lack of respect for due process. His legal counsel, Mrs Akiyode, echoed his sentiments and criticised the inconsistency in the Senates handling of the petition. If the committee had already dismissed Natashas initial petition as dead on arrival, why did they entertain this one, only to throw it out again? It clearly shows a lack of consistency and due process, she said. Ezekwesili and Nwebonyi trade words Meanwhile, a few minutes before the panel adjourned, Mrs Ezekwesili and Ebonyi North Senator, Onyekachi Nwebonyi, engaged in heated verbal exchange. The altercation began after Mrs Ezekwesili accused the committee of bias, prompting Mr Nwebonyi to confront her over her choice of words. Mrs Ezekwesili told the senator to shut up which led him to flare up, demanding to know why the former minister should be talking to a senator in such a manner. Why should you talk to a senator like that. You can never be a senator. You are an insult to womanhood, Mr Nwebonyi said. Ezekwesili accuses Senate of violating constitution Speaking to journalists after the committee adjourned indefinitely, Mrs Ezekwesili criticised the Senates handling of the case, accusing it of prioritising its internal rules over the Nigerian Constitution. The Nigerian Senate keeps telling citizens they are subject to Senate rules, even when those rules violate the Constitution. This is unacceptable in a democracy, she said. She further argued that Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan had been denied a fair hearing, in violation of constitutional provisions guaranteeing due process. The Senate placed its own rules above the laws of the land. Now, with this petitioner, they have done the same thingusing procedural loopholes to avoid addressing critical issues. Independent panel Mrs Ezekwesili called for an independent panel to review Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans petition. If a petitioner says they do not believe the Senate committee will give them a fair hearing due to clear bias, it is only just that an independent body reviews the matter. She also warned that the Senates actions could set a dangerous precedent, where internal procedural rules are used to override constitutional rights. The Senate must respect the Constitution. Otherwise, we risk turning our democracy into a system where powerful individuals manipulate processes to silence opposition and suppress justice, Mrs Ezekwesili said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The bill seeking the creation of State and Local Governments Police and the bill seeking Special Legislatives Seats for Persons With Disability (PWD) and Special Interest Groups scaled second reading in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. The bills were among the 39 constitutional amendment bills seeking judicial and legislative security as well as electoral reforms, sponsored by different members of the House and passed without debate. Some of the bills, according to the House, are as listed below: Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution to provide for special seats for the physically challenged persons in Nigerias Federal, State and Local Government Areas and Legislative Houses and for related matters, sponsored by Tajudeen Abbas and Marcus Onobun; Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution to provide for six special seats for special interest groups in the House of Representatives and for related matters, sponsored by Akintunde Rotimi (APC-Ekiti); Bill for An Act to Alter the Constitution to provide for the establishment of State Police and Local Government Police and for related matters, sponsored by Francis Waive (APC-Delta) and Akintunde Rotimi (APC-Ekiti); 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 Bill an Act to Alter the Constitution to permit public servants to engage in healthcare education, production and services beyond farming and for related matters, sponsored by Ahmed Wase (APC- Plateau); Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution to ensure gender equality in the composition of the Federal Character Commission and for related matters, by Kaftlat Ogbara (APC-Lagos); Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution to establish and empower the Political Parties Registration and Regulatory Commission to register, regulate and monitor the organisation and operation of political parties, and for related matters, by Aminu Daura (APC-Katsina); Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution to confer jurisdiction on the Federal High Court to try offences arising from violations of the Electoral Act and any other Related Act of the National Assembly, Muktar Shagaya (APC-Kwara); Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution to provide for transition of substantive heads of Courts in Nigeria and to strengthen the procedure for removal of judicial officers in order to guaranteed the independence of the judiciary; and for related matters; and Bill for an Act to alter sections 68(1) (g) &109(1)(g) of the Constitution to require the official resignation from a political party before defection by members of the National Assembly and State House of Assembly and for related matters, by Adebayo Balogun (APC-Lagos). In his ruling, the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary, referred all the 39 bills to the Committee on Review of the Constitution for further legislative actions. Mr Kalu is the chairman of the committee. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Tuesday condemned the recent attack on a mosque in Kokorou village, western Niger. No fewer than 44 worshippers were killed and 20 injured in the attack on Friday. Assailants from the so-called Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) an ISIL affiliate had surrounded Fambita Mosque and randomly shot at worshippers, according to a statement from Nigers defence ministry. They then reportedly set a market and several homes on fire. The egregious attack on the Fambita Mosque during Friday prayers in the last 10 days of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan was clearly intended to cause as many civilian casualties as possible, Mr Turk said. This is in stark violation of international human rights law and humanitarian law, he said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He said an impartial investigation should be instituted to bring those responsible to justice. The attack came in the context of a general deterioration in the security situation in the wider Sahel region. In recent years, the Sahel had seen a major uptick in violence. This followed the expansion of armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL terrorist groups which took over territory in north Mali following the 2012 Tuareg rebellion there. Since then, the violence has spread into neighbouring countries, Niger and Burkina Faso, and more recently into some other coastal West African nations. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed had characterised the Sahel as ground zero for one of the most brutal security crises in the world. In spite of efforts by member states, terrorism-related deaths in the region reportedly soared past 6,000 for three consecutive years, making up more than half of all global fatalities. Mr Turk said the calculated assault on Fambita Mosque should be a wake-up call to all including the international community as to the seriousness of the situation and the widening risks faced by civilians in Niger. Governments in the region have continued to struggle with restoring security. This contributed to two military coups in Mali, two in Burkina Faso and one in Niger between 2020 and 2023. They all remain under military rule in spite of regional and international pressure to hold elections. The High Commissioner called on the Nigerien authorities to take meaningful steps to improve security for civilians. He also called on them to take effective measures to uphold human rights and the rule of law. Mr Turk said it was essential that authorities involve the affected communities in efforts to find a durable solution to the countrys ongoing human rights crisis. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print On Tuesday, the Senate suspended a motion seeking to immortalise Humphrey Nwosu, a former chairman of the National Electoral Commission (now the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC), who died last year. The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, announced the decision to suspend the motion after most senators opposed its presentation. The motion was jointly sponsored by Abia South Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), Orji Kalu (APC, Abia North), Austin Akobondu (PDP, Abia), Adamu Ailero (PDP, Kebbi Central) and Victor Umeh, (LP, Anambra Central). Others are Okechukwu Ezea (LP, Enugu North) Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West), Onyekachi Nwebonyi (AP, Ebonyi North) Anthony Ani, Osita Izunaso (APC,Imo West) Patrick Ndubueze (APC, Imo North). Mr Nwosu, a professor, died in the United States on 24 October 2024, at 83. Background of the June 12 election and Nwosus role The 12 June 1993 presidential election, held 32 years ago, was generally regarded as Nigerias freest and most credible election. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later However, the winner, Moshood Abiola, candidate of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), was never installed after the military regime of Ibrahim Babangida annulled the election. The former military president officially announced the annulment of the election in a national broadcast on 24 June 1993. In his recently launched autobiography, A Journey in Service, Mr Babangida, a retired general, claimed that the annulment was orchestrated by the late military ruler Sani Abacha, who was then the chief of defence staff. The former Nigerian leader insisted that he never authorised the annulment and acknowledged the election as credible. However, despite Mr Nwosus role in organising the election, opinions on his legacy remain divided. Some see him as a hero for conducting a transparent poll, while others blame him for failing to resist its annulment. Senate proceedings and controversy on the motion During the plenary session, Mr Abaribe said he had secured prior approval from the deputy senate president to present the motion. However, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, disagreed, arguing that senators had not been provided copies of the motion as required. A few seconds later, the sergeant-at-arms distributed the copies. Following the distribution, Mr Abaribe requested to proceed, but the senate leader maintained his objection. During the argument, Mr Jibrin said the motion was controversial because some see the late INEC chairperson as someone who truncated the June 12 election, while others see him as a hero of the June 12 election. Of course, this motion is very controversial, but we are in a democracy; we will allow our colleagues to table their views, and it is left for the Senate to decide on what to do on such views. It is a bit controversial; some see him as someone who truncated June 12, and some see him as a hero of June 12. So, it is up to you, he said. Mr Jibrin thereafter put the presentation to the vote, and most senators opposed it. Abaribes persistence and further debate A few minutes later, Mr Abaribe attempted to reintroduce the motion, which led to another procedural debate between him and the senate leader. Mr Bamidele cited Senate Order 38, which outlines the order of legislative items. He argued that the session had moved past motions of urgent importance. Personal explanation cannot be raised at any time. The only time a personal explanation can be made is if we, by our own collective consent, come under Order 1b to regulate our proceedings to the extent that our procedure is regulated by this rule book. Order 9 comes before 10, we are on 10, he said. Kebbi North Senator Yahaya Abdullahi interjected and warned against setting a precedent that could restrict senators from raising important issues. Let us not raise a bad precedent. A point of order can be raised at any point in the proceedings of the Senate. Dont make it a rule because if you do so, then you will be denying a lot of us, almost the entire Senate, any opportunity to interject when things are going wrong. Its absolutely wrong, he said. Amid the argument, the deputy senate advised Mr Abaribe to reintroduce the motion on the next legislative day after the Rules and Business Committee has reviewed it. You may wish to propose your motion against tomorrow; bring it to the rules and business (committee), and then we will look at it again, he said. After the ruling, Mr Abaribe took his belongings and walked out of the Senate visibly angry. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print US Presidential Special Envoy Richard Grenell has said that the nuclear weapons that were on Ukrainian territory belonged to Russia. Lets be clear about the Budapest Memorandum: the nukes were Russias and were leftovers. Ukraine gave the nukes back to Russia. They werent Ukraines. This is an uncomfortable fact, he said on X. At the same time, former US Ambassador to Ukraine (1998-2000), expert on nuclear weapons Steven Pifer responded by stating that Grenell is "flat wrong." I helped negotiate Budapest Memorandum. Grenell is flat wrong. Nuclear warheads in Ukraine were ex-Soviet, not Russian. Warheads in storage were in sole Ukrainian custody. ICBMs and bombers were eliminated in Ukraine except small number sent to Russia for debt relief, he said on X. He added that Ukraine decided to send the nuclear warheads to Russia for destruction in large part because Moscow had committed to respecting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and not to use force against Ukraine. He advised Grenell to study history in its entirety. Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has directed the immediate establishment of three camps for those displaced in Ifon, Ilobu and Erin-Osun communal clashes. The directive is contained in a statement by Olawale Rasheed, the spokesperson for the governor, on Wednesday, in Osogbo. The statement said that the governor gave the directive after confirming the implementation of his earlier directive for the distribution of food and relief materials to the displaced persons. Now that the distribution of food and relief materials has commenced, I have directed the state emergency agency to proceed to set up camps for displaced people. Each town is to have a camp, probably in their town halls or any place of their choice. Security agencies are to screen displaced people for transportation to the camps. 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 state emergency agency will be providing food materials and accessories for the displaced people until the situation normalises. The agency has also reached out to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for further support, it said. According to the statement, the governor commends security agencies for promptly implementing his directive for the grilling and prosecution of ringleaders in the communal crisis. All the culprits must be brought to book. There must be accountability. I expect suspects to be charged to court as soon as possible, it said. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Ifon, Ilobu, and Erin in Orolu and Irepodun Local Government Areas, respectively, have engaged in bloody clashes that led to killings and destruction of property in recent times as a result of land dispute. In response to the conflict, Mr Adeleke imposed a 24-hour curfew on the affected communities. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A civil society organisation, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), has said it tracked over N2 billion spent by political parties and their candidates during last years governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states. It also reported tracking N9.7 billion and N3.7 billion spent on election expenses in Edo and Ondo states, respectively. The governorship elections took place on 21 September 2024 while it held on 16 November 2024 in Ondo State. The Head of Research and Strategy, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), Oluwafemi Adebayo, disclosed this information on Tuesday during the public presentation of the Campaign Finance Tracking Report for the Edo and Ondo State 2024 Governorship Elections. Mr Adebayo said, Vote buying was obvious and done with impunity. According to the breakdown provided by the report, the group tracked N699,505,363 allegedly spent on vote buying by the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Edo State, N402,997,980 spent for the same purpose by Nigerias leading opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In Ondo State, APC spent N790,956,100 and PDP spent N121,688,280 on vote buying, the report said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The APC won and the PDP emerged the first runner-up in both elections held in Edo State on 21 September 2024 and in Ondo State on 21 November 2024. The campaign finance tracking report is a project organised by KDI with the support of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). However, the report is likely to have severely understated the amount of money political actors expended during the elections, as KDI said it captured only what eyes could see. According to KDI, an organisation focused on advancing good governance, democratic rights, public policy, and public engagement, the report provides an in-depth analysis of campaign expenditures by political parties and candidates and highlights key trends in political finance. The report also offers recommendations aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and fairness in Nigerias electoral process. Incidence of vote buying in Ondo and Edo States PREMIUM TIMES reported vote buying during the Ondo State governorship election last year. Officers of the State Securities Services (SSS) apprehended a man with bags of money found in the booth of his car outside St Stephens Primary School in Akure, the state capital. Another report by the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room also revealed how party agents openly exchanged votes for cash. The party agents were seen giving money to voters ranging from N10,000 to N20,000. The police service commission also released a statement noting the occurrence of vote buying in the Ondo State election. It persisted despite the deployment of officers from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Edo State to prevent vote buying. In Edo State, the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) arrested eight persons for alleged vote buying. The police identified two of the arrested persons, Emotingham Godspower (25) and Farawei Isaac (27), as members of PDP both from Ufunama community, Ovia South West LGA. Meanwhile, the six others were arrested at Aibotse Secondary School near Meremu Hotel in Auchi. Yiaga Africa also observed that agents of the APC and PDP were seen buying votes with N10,000, especially in Ikpoba/Okha, Igueben, Esan West, Akoko Edo, Owan West and Uhunmode LGAs. Parties deny vote-buying Despite these incidents, political parties and political figures have refuted claims of vote buying. A member of APC and former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, denied APCs involvement in vote buying at the 2024 governorship elections in Edo State. Mr Oshiomhole dismissed the vote-buying allegations as laughable, attributing his partys victory to voters desire for good governance. Similarly, another member of APC and former member of the House of Representatives, Eziohuwa Agbonayinma, dismissed Yiagas allegations of vote buying and demanded proof. The governorship candidate of the PDP in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo also denied buying votes instead he accused the APC of the offence. Similarly, PDPs governorship candidate in the 2024 Ondo State election claimed to have lost the election due to the APCs alleged vote buying. However, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, APCs candidate and winner of the Ondo State governorship elections, said that he did not pay money for any votes, and was unaware of any party member engaged in vote buying on his behalf. Known income generated by political parties in Ondo and Edo According to the KDI, the APC received N200 million in donations and N600 million from the sale of forms in Edo State. KDI said it could not track the donations received by the PDP, but noted that the party generated N650 million from the sale of forms. The Labour Party (LP) received N750 million from the sale of forms and N250 million in donations, which were mostly in kind, the report said. In Ondo State, KDI said it could not track any donations received by both the PDP and the APC. But it said, while PDP generated N350 million from the sale of forms, APC raised N800 million from similar venture. There were no figures available for LP. They also noted the presence of third-party involvement in political finance is a breach of Section 221 of the Nigerian constitution. The amount expended by candidates According to KDI, Monday Okpeholo, the APC governorship candidate and winner of the election in Edo State, spent over N3.8 billion, Asue Ighodalo of the PDP, N3.5 billion, and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party, over N2.3 billion. In Ondo State, Mr Aiyedatiwa of the APC and winner of the election, spent over N2.6 billion, Agboola Ajayi of the PDP, a former deputy governor of the state, spent over N1 billion and Olorunfemi Festus of LP spent over N7.6 million. Mr Adebayo said it was glaring that higher spending correlates with electoral success. Those who spent more won the elections in both the Ondo and Edo States. Breach of legal provisions Section 121 of the Electoral Act, 2022 criminalises the offence of offering or receiving any item or cash to influence voting. The provisions of Section 88 (3) of the same Act stipulate that a governorhsip candidate must not expend more than N1 billion naira in an election. The findings by KDI reveal that most political parties breached the provisions of this law. The chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Adebayo Balogun, said during the presentation stated that there was a need for political financing to remain within the conduit of the law. I believe there is a compelling need to ensure that political financing remains within the legal limit and does not become a tool for unruly freedom, both by you or the subversion of democratic principles, he said. Challenges and recommendations by the KDI Some of the limitations outlined by Mr Adebayo during the presentation include the reluctance of political candidates and media organisations to disclose financial aid they have received. Also, political candidates operated independent campaign organisations outside their administrative structures which made it cumbersome for KDI to track the finances. The KDI recommended strengthening financial disclosure mechanisms, regulating media spending transparency, and amending the Electoral Act. The presentation culminated in the launch of PoliMoney, a site dedicated to tracking political finance and campaign spending. Methodology of findings The findings of the report presented by the CSO were derived from the deployment of six media organisations and 39 community monitors in Edo State and seven media organisations and 36 community monitors in Ondo State. The data were collected within the period of July and November 2024. Mr Adebayo, however, stressed that the organisation only tracked what eyes can see. While giving the welcome address at the presentation, on Tuesday, the Team Lead, KDI, Bukola Idowu, said, We have observed a significant presence of dark money in Nigerian political campaigns with political parties operating under opaque structures. Mr Idowu hoped that the findings of the organisation would be valuable for shaping policy recommendations and advocacy and promoting accountability in campaign finance. Acknowledging the core problem of democracy as lack of data, the Governance Adviser at FCDO, Mathew Ayibakuro, commended the KDI for their efforts in compiling the data. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Vice President Kashim Shettima has cautioned against judicial blackmail, urging the judiciary to remain steadfast in upholding justice without succumbing to political or personal pressures. Speaking at the inaugural Body of Benchers Annual Lecture in Abuja on Wednesday, Mr Shettima described the judiciary as a critical pillar of Nigerias sovereignty and warned against any attempt to manipulate the law. Laws are not mere technicalities; they are the scaffolding of civilisation. Without laws, there is no order. Without order, there is no society. Every time justice is delayed, every time the law is bent to serve the interests of agents of anarchy, and every time institutions waver in the face of blackmail, we erode the very foundation of our nation. And if that foundation crumbles, no matter how high we have built, everything falls apart, Mr Shettima said. Criticism Vs blackmail Mr Shettimas remarks came at a time of growing criticisms of the judiciary over perceived perverse decisions given by judges, embarrassing conflicting court rulings and corruption as well as bias within the system. Amid crashing public confidence in the Nigerian courts, it is increasingly becoming difficult to distinguish between outright blackmail inspired by vested interests from criticisms that arise from genuine concerns about the state of affairs of the judiciary. The National Judicial Council (NJC) recently sanctioned and warned some judges over various acts of misconduct. 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 Top judiciary officials believe that many critical reviews of the Nigerian judiciary are informed by malice. In December last year, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, said failed lawyers and litigants were responsible for the attacks on the judges of the court. Mr Shettima emphasised the judiciarys role in national stability and cautioned lawyers against succumbing to external pressure. That is why we recognise that the mandate entrusted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was affirmed by a judiciary that did not yield to the weight of vested interestsa judiciary that understood that the fate of a nation is too sacred to be intimidated by any party or bartered for compromise, he said. Calls for legal reforms to regain public confidence Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Kudirat Kekere-Ekun commended the Body of Benchers for organising the lecture, describing it as a crucial platform for assessing the legal profession. The sanctity of our profession rests on our ability to uphold ethical standards, Mrs Kekere-Ekun said, expressing optimism that the forum would drive meaningful reforms. Former Lagos State Governor and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Babatunde Fashola called for urgent legal reforms to restore public confidence in the justice system. He explained that the legal system must demonstrate self-correcting mechanisms to ensure justice is speedy, credible, and reliable. Concerns over legal education Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Adegboyega Awomolo, also SAN, raised concerns about declining standards in legal education. He suggested that law should be a second-degree programme to improve the quality of training. Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, had previously mentioned the urgent need to overhaul Nigerias legal education curriculum. Our law schools continue to produce graduates who struggle to meet global standards. A well-articulated curriculum review is essential to ensuring Nigerian lawyers can compete favourably on the international stage, Mr Osinbajo stated. Renowned legal scholar Afe Babalola (SAN) echoed this concern, criticising the proliferation of law schools without proper facilities. He called for a centralised legal education system with standardized training and examinations. The Nigerian Law School (NLS) has recently rejected students from unaccredited institutions, highlighting ongoing concerns about quackery in the profession. Mr Shettima reassured the judiciary of the President Tinubu administrations commitment to strengthening judicial independence and fostering cooperation between the three arms of government. For our democracy to thrive, we must not see one another as adversaries but as partners in progress, Mr Shettima said. The event concluded with the public presentation of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committees report. Also, the Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Solicitor General of the Federation Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, echoed calls for judicial integrity, expedited case resolution, and modernised legal education. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Community and religious leaders have called for an end to gender-based violence across West African countries. The leaders, drawn from Nigerian communities, spoke at an event in New York, US, on 17 March, organised by the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice, the foundation said in a statement on Monday. The event, entitled Traditional, religious, and community leaders driving meaningful change, was held as part of the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. It was organised to mark the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The event highlights Ford Foundations ongoing commitment to preventing gender-based violence and advancing justice and equity for women and girls. The culture of silence During a panel discussion at the event, the leaders shared their insights and experiences in challenging harmful norms and advocating for change. 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 According to them, various forms of gender-based violence include physical violence, sexual assault, harmful widowhood practices, and the violence women sometimes face from other women, particularly in polygamous families. They called for stronger cultural and political institutions that would protect womens rights and enable them to actively contribute to lawmaking and policy decisions. Speaking during the event, one of the participants and the Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Achebe noted that gender-based violence thrive because of what he called the culture of silence which is a tendency to conceal incidents of violence within families and communities. Mr Achebe stressed the need for creating context-specific approaches to transform harmful social, religious, and cultural practices that restrict womens participation. To combat gender-based violence, we must address socio-economic root causes poverty, unemployment, substance abuse which fuel gender-based violence in communities, he said. The traditional ruler suggested efforts like economic empowerment programmes, strengthening female leadership, and conflict mediation as part of a broader approach to reducing violence. Another participant, George Ehusani, a Nigerian Catholic priest and author, stressed that religious leaders play crucial roles in shaping societal attitudes. Mr Ehusani, who is the executive director of Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, urged religious leaders to join forces against gender-based violence. Religious leaders must challenge harmful interpretations of scripture and lead the way in promoting gender justice, he said. The executive director said that, with support from Ford, his foundation has trained over 500 Christian leaders to address gender-based violence by creating Centres of Excellence in churches and organisations that advocate zero tolerance for violence. He said the centre also supports legal advocacy for womens rights. On his part, Awwal Nasir, from the Development Research and Projects Centre, argued that shifting societal norms begins with empowering local leaders to speak out against violence and engage communities in meaningful dialogue. Mr Nasir narrated how the Muslim Opinion Leaders project, funded by the Ford Foundation, helped raise awareness about gender-based violence in sermons and community dialogues. He said the programme successfully shifted attitudes in northern Nigeria while respecting cultural and religious traditions. For Priscilla Usiobaifo, founder of BraveHeart Initiative, grassroots advocacy is central to fighting gender-based violence. Grassroots advocacy is the key to changing deeply rooted cultural practices and ensuring womens rights are upheld, Ms Usiobaifo said. She said that by engaging local leaders through town hall meetings and community dialogues, her advocacy has led to reforms in harmful traditions like female genital mutilation and widowhood rites, promoting gender equality and womens rights. Why we organised the event Ford Sarita Gupta, vice-president of the US programme at the Ford Foundation, said the foundation organised the event because of the influence community and religious leaders wield in the fight against gender-based violence. We recognise the influence that traditional, religious, and community leaders have in shaping societal norms. By joining forces with local leaders who hold the respect and authority necessary to inspire transformation at the grassroots level, we can create lasting change that prevents violence and promotes gender equality, Mr Gupta said. The vice-president said the foundations efforts are part of a broader initiative to address and eliminate gender-based violence, a persistent issue in many parts of the world. He said by promoting collaboration and supporting the critical voices of community leaders, the Ford Foundation strives to create a more just and equitable society for women and girls everywhere. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Police Command in Rivers State has arrested four suspects for allegedly murdering two children for ritual purposes. The victims, Chizaram Onuche and Chidinma Onuche, both seven years old, were brutally killed, and their bodies dismembered for money rituals. Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the command, who disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said the Ant-Kidnapping Unit of the command arrested the suspects. She disclosed that the suspects, including a native doctor, lured and drugged the minors before killing them. Aniekan Uko, 27, a native of Akwa Ibom State, lured the children to an uncompleted building in the second Pipeline area of Rukpokwu, Port Harcourt, where he drugged them. After sedating them with a drink known as Black Bullet, he proceeded to slaughter and dismember them, collecting their blood in a bottle, she said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mrs Iringe-Koko, a superintendent of police, said that following his arrest, Mr Uko confessed to the crime, stating that he was introduced to ritual killings by a native doctor whom he had previously seen performing rituals for other individuals. Subsequently, on 23 March, operatives arrested the native doctor, Kingsley Opurum, 43, a native of Etche area, Rivers State, for his alleged role in the killings. Preliminary investigations revealed that the native doctor instructed Aniekan to provide human body parts and blood to perform a ritual intended to make him wealthy, Mrs Iringe-Koko added. She further disclosed that the police also arrested Mr Ukos girlfriend and one Friday Silas, 47, who allegedly allowed the killings to take place in his uncompleted building in Rukpokwu. Officers who visited the crime scene recovered several incriminating items, including photographs of unidentified individuals and a bottle filled with the minors blood. Other items include an empty can of Black Bullet drink and a spoon used to scoop the blood of the victims. The police spokesperson said the bodies of the children have been deposited at the morgue for an autopsy. She said the Commissioner of Police in Rivers, Olesegun Adepoju, assured the public that the police would prosecute the perpetrators of the gruesome killings. Investigations are ongoing to uncover further details and identify any additional accomplices, she added. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senate on Wednesday condemned the increase in the cost of mobile data and called on the federal government to engage telecommunications providers in order to review the pricing and make internet services more affordable for Nigerians. The upper chamber also urged the Federal Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Economy to develop a policy framework to ensure sustainable and fair pricing for internet services across the country. The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Cross-River South Senator, Asuquo Ekpenyong, during the plenary. Many Nigerians depend on internet services for business, education, and employment. However, they have been expressing concern over the sudden increase in the price of mobile data charged by major telecommunications providers operating in the country. In January, telecommunications companies requested a 100 per cent increase in tariffs basically because of the rising operational costs and an unfavourable exchange rate. Although the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) approved a 50 per cent adjustment, the increase has significantly impacted millions of users. 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 motion During the plenary, Mr Ekpenyong expressed concerns that the hike is imposing a heavy financial burden, particularly on young Nigerians who rely on digital platforms for income generation. Young Nigerians have embraced the digital economy, leveraging the internet for various income-generating activities, including freelancing and remote work, digital marketing and social media management, e-commerce and online trading, software development, web design, and mobile app creation, content creation on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, online education and professional skill development, cryptocurrency trading and financial technology innovations, and customer support services amongst others, he said. The senator expressed concern that the increase in the data has contributed to poor infrastructure, multiple taxation, high import duties on ICT equipment, and unreliable power supply. He stated that he is also concerned that the reasons provided by Telecom providers for the data price hike, including high operational costs, and unfavorable exchange rates are untenable and appears that instead of addressing the root causes of the high cost of doing business in Nigeria, the burden is being unfairly transferred to end users. The high cost of doing business in Nigeria is driven by multiple challenges, including poor infrastructure, unreliable power supply and road networks, high import duties on ICT equipment and other essential business tools, multiple taxation and excessive regulatory charges on telecom operators, security concerns that increase operational risks and insurance costs, bureaucratic bottlenecks that slow down business operations and innovation, and the high cost of diesel and alternative energy sources due to unreliable national grid power supply. Ekpenyongs demands In the motion, Mr Ekpenyong demanded that the ministry of telecommunication and digital economy engage with network operators to review data pricing and ensure affordability. He requested that the Senate should encourage the federal government to establish tech hubs across the country, providing free or subsidised internet access for young entrepreneurs, students, and innovators. He called for an investigation into the increase by urging the Senate Committee on Communications to investigate the circumstances behind the high data prices and recommend sustainable solutions. Mr Ekpenyong also urged the Senate to encourage the federal government to address issues affecting the ICT sector, including multiple taxation, high energy costs, and regulatory bottlenecks. Debate Most of the senators supported the motion during debate. Titus Zam (Benue North-west) who seconded the motion said he supported the motion including its prayers. Victor Umeh (LP, Anambra Central) decried the trend of increasing prices across different sectors, including electricity and cable TV subscriptions. He also noted that the cost of telecommunications services is affecting all Nigerians, not just the youth. Everything has gone up. In the communication sector, if you buy airtime or data, within minutes youll be out of data . If we continue to live under this condition where the citizens have no other way of seeking redress..Even DSTV has changed their tariff three times, the same thing with electricity. If you buy energy, within minutes youre out of units. Not only young people, everybody makes use of internet and everybody is suffering from it because theres nobody who doesnt use internet, even here in the chamber. And something has to be done to regulate this absurd increase. Nigerians cannot afford this high increase. Something must be done to check the incessant increase, he said. Sadiq Umar (Kwara North) also emphasised the impact of rising costs on everyday life. The high cost of data affects everybody, including my humble self. It is very important we ensure that these service providers make life easier for the young, he said. Resolution When the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, put the motion to vote, it was overwhelmingly supported. It will not only affect the young people, it would also affect the elders and it will also ensure that people are not thrown out of business because those who are self employed utilise data, Mr Akpabio said after the motion was adopted. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has written to the presiding officers of the Senate and the Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, kick-starting the process of recalling the senator. The commission disclosed this in a statement by its Spokesperson, Sam Olumekun, on Wednesday. Akpoti-Udughans recall PREMIUM TIMES reported that some voters, under the aegis of Concerned Kogi Youth and Women, on Monday, submitted a petition for the recall of Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan at the commissions headquarters in Abuja. In a letter addressed to INEC chairperson, Mahmood Yakubu, members of 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. INEC, however, said on Tuesday that the petitions submitted did not include the contact address, telephone numbers and email addresses of the petitioners. INEC receives contact details In the Wednesdays statement, Mr Olumekun, INEC said it has now received the phone numbers and email addresses of the petitioners which were missing in the initial petition submitted to the commission. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He said the commission has written to the presiding officers of the Senate and Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan whom the petitioners sought to recall, to inform them of the commencement of the process. As provided in Clause 2(a) of the Commissions Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, a letter has been written to notify the Senator sought to be recalled about the receipt of the petition and delivered to her official address. The same letter has been copied to the presiding officer of the Senate and published on the Commissions website, the statement said. INEC noted that the next step is to scrutinise the list of signatories submitted by the petitioners to ascertain that the petition is signed by more than 50 per cent of the registered voters in the constituency. This will be done in the coming days. The outcome, which will be made public, shall determine the next step to be taken by the Commission, the statement added. INECs Recall Process The commission had 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). 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 INEC said. 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. Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged 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 Yakubu, who described himself as a concerned Nigerian citizen from j 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. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki and three others before FCT High Court in Abuja over an alleged N33.2 billion arms procurement fraud. Mr Dasuki, who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan, was re-arraigned alongside a former General Manager at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Baba-Kusa; Acacia Holdings Limited; and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited. In a statement by the EFCC on Wednesday, their re-arraignment took place before Judge Charles Agbaza, following the reassignment of the case by the FCT Chief Judge, Hussein Baba-Yusuf. Background Mr Dasuki was initially arraigned on 14 December 2015 before Mr Baba-Yusuf on 19 counts involving the alleged mismanagement of N15.5 billion meant for arms procurement. The case was later amended, and the name of a co-defendant, Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), was removed for him to serve as a prosecution witness. On 11 May 2018, the EFCC re-arraigned Mr Dasuki and others on a fresh 32 counts increasing the alleged misappropriated sum to N33.2 billion. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The trial, however, stalled after the prosecution presented only one witnessthe investigating officerwho had not concluded his testimony before the case was indefinitely adjourned. The EFCC had also filed a separate case against Mr Dasuki in 2015, where he was charged alongside former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda; former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa; his son, Sagir Bafarawa; and their company, Dalhatu Investment Limited. They were accused of criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of N19.4 billion. Following several adjournments, the case was transferred to a judge, Yusuf Halilu. Fresh arraignment and charges At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Mr Dasuki and his co-defendants pleaded not guilty to the 32 counts read to them. The charges include criminal breach of trust, dishonest misappropriation, and money laundering. Some of the counts detail how funds were allegedly diverted from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to private entities and political activities. Key charges In count one, the antigraft agency alleged that on 27 November 2014, Mr Dasuki misappropriated N10 billion from the ONSA account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). EFCC said he converted it into $47 million and 5.6 million euros. The funds were allegedly used for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary election. In count five, EFCC alleged that between 9 October 2014, and 17 April 2015, Mr Dasuki transferred N1.45 billion to Acacia Holdings Limited, controlled by Aminu Baba-Kusa, under the guise of organising prayers. Meanwhile, in another count, EFCC stated that between 4 April 2014, and 30 November 2014, Mr Dasuki allegedly transferred N4.68 billion to Sylvan McNamara Limited, purporting it to be payment for security infrastructure, whereas the funds were allegedly diverted for PDPs gubernatorial campaigns in Ekiti and Osun States. Court proceedings Following the defendants not guilty pleas, EFCC counsel Oluwaleke Atolagbe requested the court to fix a trial date. However, defence lawyers A.A. Usman (representing Mr Dasuki) and Richard Ibiye (representing Mr Baba-Kusa) urged the court to allow their clients to remain on their existing bail, emphasising that they had consistently attended court proceedings. The prosecution did not oppose the request but insisted that the defendants must be available for the trial. Mr Agbaza ruled in favour of the defence, permitting Mr Dasuki and his co-defendants to continue on their existing bail conditions. The court then adjourned the matter to 1 July, for the commencement of trial. History of adjournments and bail controversy The trial has suffered multiple adjournments, largely due to the State Security Services (SSS) refusing to release Mr Dasuki on bail despite multiple court orders. Mr Dasukis case is one of Nigerias longest-running high-profile corruption trials, reflecting systemic delays in the countrys judicial system. Mr Dasuki, a retired Nigerian Army colonel, served as NSA between 2012 and 2015 during the administration then-President Goodluck Jonathan. It was a period of virulent Boko Haram attacks in the Nigerias North-east. An audit panel set up by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, who came to office after defeating Mr Jonathan in the 2015 presidential election, revealed that about $2 billion entrusted in the office of the NSA then led by Mr Dasuki for procurement k could not be accounted for. The EFCC, which instituted multiple charges against diverse persons who received fund from the NSA office, alleged that the arms funds were doled out to friends, relatives, political allies, particularly members of the then-ruling Peoples De.ocratic Party for purposes unrelated to purchase of arms. Mr Dasukis prolonged detention despite bail repeatedly granted by trial courts had drawn criticism from human rights groups, including Amnesty International and the United Nations Human Rights Committee, who classified it as a violation of his fundamental rights. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print As Wagners evolution continues, legal and investigative efforts remain crucial in exposing and dismantling its operations. Whether through courtroom battles or diplomatic pressure, the fight against Russian mercenary influence in Africa is far from over. Russian mercenaries, particularly the Wagner Group, have played a destabilising role in conflicts across Africa, employing the same brutal tactics they honed in Ukraine. Since the groups inception, it has acted as a hybrid arm of the Kremlin, securing strategic resources, propping up authoritarian regimes, and committing war crimes with near-total impunity. However, following the death of its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagners operations are undergoing a transformation, raising questions about Russias future military presence on the continent. As Moscow moves to solidify its grip on Africa through new military partnerships, Wagners influence continues to cast a long shadow over fragile states, from the Sahel to the Central African Republic. Wagners Financial and Strategic Foundations According to Ukrainian military expert, Ivan Stupak, Wagners influence rested on two key pillars: unlimited state funding and Prigozhins personal charisma. No other private military company in Russia gained the same level of authority, visibility, and respect, he said. Before Prigozhins death, Wagner had an annual budget of around $2 billion, funded through a mix of state transfers and revenue from catering contracts and illicit resource exploitation. This financial backing enabled Wagner to establish operations beyond Russias borders, notably in Africa. In exchange for military support, Wagner gained access to lucrative natural resources, including gold and diamonds, often under highly favourable agreements brokered at the state level. 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 African Footprint: Security and Resource Extraction Wagners most entrenched presence in Africa has been in the Central African Republic (CAR) and Mali, where it provided regime protection and counterinsurgency operations, while securing economic benefits. Lou Osborn, an investigator from INPACT (formerly All Eyes on Wagner), detailed how Wagner established a deeply embedded structure in CAR. They began by providing training to the National Guard and protecting the president, she explained. From there, they expanded into strategic communications, mining, and even local industries like beer and coffee production. Osborn identified patterns in Wagners expansion: the group often conducted geological surveys before launching information campaigns to shape public perception. This was followed by government-to-government negotiations that allowed Wagner to enter under the guise of official Russian support. Wagner was never just about military operations, Osborn noted. They were about economic dominance and political control. While Wagners presence is most pronounced in CAR and Mali, Osborn pointed out that its influence has also extended to West Africa, including Nigeria, though in a more subtle manner. We havent identified Wagner fighters on the ground in Nigeria, but we have seen disinformation campaigns, troll farms, and influence operations aimed at shaping public opinion, she revealed. There have been attempts to manipulate narratives and sway public discourse, even if there is no confirmed physical presence of Wagner operatives. Osborn emphasised the importance of African nations maintaining the ability to choose their own partners freely. We believe its great that African countries have choices in who they work with, she said. We dont advocate for them to pick one type of partner over another. Whats important is that they retain bargaining power and dont lock themselves into dependency on just one actor, as weve seen in CAR, where they moved from France to Russia and lost flexibility. War Crimes and Civilian Atrocities Wagners military campaigns in Africa have been marked by widespread human rights abuses. The group has been implicated in mass killings, torture, sexual violence, and ethnic targeting, mirroring its actions in Ukraine. Weve documented cases where they used explosives inside corpses, took disrespectful photos of dead bodies, and systematically targeted ethnic minorities like the Fulani and Tuareg, Osborn revealed. One of the most notorious incidents was the 2022 Moura massacre in Mali, where Malian forces and Wagner mercenaries allegedly executed between 300 and 600 civilians. Despite international outcry, the Malian government has refused to cooperate with investigations, allowing Wagner to operate with impunity. Legal Efforts to Hold Wagner Accountable Renowned human rights lawyer, Jason McCue, is at the forefront of legal efforts to dismantle Wagners financial network. He emphasised that targeting Wagners financial enablers is the most effective way to neutralise the group. Wagner is a business. Without money, it dies, he said. Thats why we need to hammer its financial backers both state and private sector actors who enable its operations. McCue is pursuing legal cases that draw parallels between Wagners looting of Ukrainian industries and its resource exploitation in Africa. Companies that knowingly or even recklessly facilitate Wagners transactions must be held liable under international laws, he explained. Turning a blind eye is no excuse. His strategy includes using universal jurisdiction to issue arrest warrants of Wagner commanders and leveraging asset seizure mechanisms to compensate victims. African governments that collaborate with Wagner could also be held accountable if its proven they facilitated war crimes, McCue added. The Post-Prigozhin Era: A Shift in Strategy Since Prigozhins death, Russia has sought to maintain continuity in Wagners African operations. When you speak to officials in CAR or Mali, they dont refer to Wagner, said Osborn. They talk about Russian instructors. Russia has rebranded its presence, replacing Wagner with Africa Corps or Wagner Legion, entities linked to the Russian Ministry of Defense. While Wagners structure may have changed, its objectives remain the same. The Kremlin now openly negotiates security agreements, sending Russian defence officials on official visits to Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, Osborn noted. This is a shift from the previous deniability strategy Russia now fully owns its role in Africa. Future Challenges and Growing Competition Despite Russias deepening involvement, Wagner faces new challenges. Turkey is emerging as a major competitor, Osborn highlighted. They offer cutting-edge drone technology, come with an economic package, and appeal to African governments with their Muslim-world solidarity. Internally, Wagner-backed regimes in Mali and Burkina Faso are struggling to contain growing insurgencies. There is more terrorism now than before Wagner arrived, Osborn said. At some point, public dissatisfaction could lead to political shifts that undermine Russias influence. A Call for Strategic Legal Action McCue believes the best path forward is a comprehensive lawfare approach targeting Wagners finances, legal enablers, and political clients. We have to make it painful for governments and corporations that work with Wagner, he insisted. If you deal with Wagner, you shouldnt be able to buy property in London or shop in Paris. Its that simple. As Wagners evolution continues, legal and investigative efforts remain crucial in exposing and dismantling its operations. Whether through courtroom battles or diplomatic pressure, the fight against Russian mercenary influence in Africa is far from over. Alyona Martyniuk writes from Ukraine. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The newly built 12MW LGS2 Data Centre by Rack Centre, West Africas leading Tier III Carrier and Cloud Neutral Data Centre facility, is hyperscale & AI-ready, and one of the most energy-efficient facilities in the West African region. The Chief Executive Officer of Rack Centre, Lars Johannisson, disclosed this during a special media briefing and experiential tour of the facility held at the companys head office in Lagos on Tuesday, 18 March, 2025. Mr Johannisson revealed that the facility, a multi-million-dollar investment, was intentionally designed and built to be energy efficient with the lowest PUE (Power Usage Efficiency) in the region and based on its use of a sustainable power generation mix of predominantly gas power, diesel and eventually solar, to manage the facilitys sustainability footprint. Rack Centre has taken the innovative approach to embark on an energy sufficiency drive by installing gas turbines for our operations to complement the diesel-powered generators and now, with the upcoming solar power installation within our LGS2 Data Centre, we are the most energy sustainable data centre within the region, he said. Mr Johannisson explained that there is a massive growth opportunity in Nigeria for investment in data centres, adding that internet penetration and data centre presence in the country is on the rise. He expressed satisfaction with the level of investment in data centres in Nigeria over the last few years, stating that this further confirms the huge opportunity in the entire data centre ecosystem. The decision to build this state-of-the-art 12MV IT load data centre, LGS2, was to help businesses experience seamless connectivity and cloud adoption while providing reliability, resilience and redundancy for business continuity. We know that our shareholders believe in Nigeria, and they know it is a good investment to propel the country forward regarding digital transformation, he added. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He reaffirmed Rack Centres commitment to continue providing the necessary infrastructure and security architecture to help the country close the digital gap. He stated that the company has excelled in the last 12 years of operation in Nigeria to establish itself and excel in performance as the leading data centre facility in Nigeria and West Africa. In his remarks, the Chief Operating Officer of Rack Centre, Ezekiel Egboye, remarked that the facility was designed with critical features to meet what is required today, and in readiness for the future. Mr Egboye noted that the facility represents the huge infrastructure workload needed to provide the required energy for future work, driven by AI. He explained that the company remains committed to its sustainability goals, noting that the awareness of ESG-related pollution continues to drive its energy mix. Also speaking during the media briefing, the Sales Director, Rack Centre, Folu Aderibigbe, described the newly built facility as a pivotal investment that would help to drive economic growth and promote innovation. Mr Aderibigbe stated that with such a facility, Nigeria will be positioned as a significant digital hub alongside South Africa on the African continent. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Photo: MFA of Ukraine Ukraine seeks to implement the results of talks with the United States in Saudi Arabia regarding freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and a ceasefire at energy facilities, as well as to promote just peace, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said. Ukrainian and American teams worked constructively in Saudi Arabia, achieving significant results in terms of freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and a ceasefire on energy objects. Ukraine is committed to putting them into action and advancing a fair and lasting peace together with the U.S. and our European allies, he said on X. Sybiha stressed that we are grateful to the U.S. for advancing this process and Saudi Arabia for hospitality and facilitation. Unfortunately, we can already see Russia attempting to manipulate and condition agreements on sanctions relief or anything else. But this is only reflected in Russias own statements. Russia always lies, but now it will be especially visible for the entire world if Putin will continue to prolong the war. Ukraine agreed to U.S. proposal of a full 30-day ceasefire back on March 11th. Russia rejected it, Sybiha recalled. The head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stressed that Ukraine does not believe Russian words. And nobody should. Everyone should focus on the Russians' actions, not their statements, he said. The coming days will be critical in determining whether Russia is serious about peace or whether it is out to deceive the United States and the world. Pressure is the only cure for Russian lies. Moscow must face appropriate consequences for any manipulation or breach of agreements. We continue to work with our partners to ensure this, Sybiha summed up. As reported, the United States and Ukraine agreed to develop measures to implement the agreement banning strikes on energy facilities in Russia and Ukraine. Amnesty International has condemned the arrest of two Kano journalists by the police on the order of the state government. The police arrested Buhari Abba, an online publisher, and Ismail Auwal, a freelance journalist, over a report deemed critical to the states Commissioner of Information, Ibrahim Waiya. Amnesty International said the harassment and intimidation of the journalists must end and their safety guaranteed. Buhari Abba, an Online Editor with Kano Times, was invited by the Kano State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID) of the Kano Police Command, where he was detained for hours. All these bizarre acts of intimidation are connected to an opinion article published by Kano Times. Plan to charge both journalists with defamation is unacceptable and shows utter disregard for freedom of expression and unlawful intolerance of dissenting voices. Kano State government and the Nigeria police must uphold their obligation to respect and facilitate everyones right to freedom of expression. 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 Attempts to use the police to punish Buhari Abba Rano and Ismail Auwal must end, and their human rights and safety guaranteed, the rights organisation warned. Background On 24 February, the Kano Times published an article authored by Mr Auwal titled Dear Governor Yusuf, Beware of Kano Information Commissioner Ibrahim Waiya. The article is an open letter to Governor Yusuf, warning him about the potential political and administrative consequences of retaining Mr Waiya as Commissioner of Information. Mr Auwal highlighted the historical support civil society organisations (CSOs) provided to the governor, particularly during the 2019 and 2023 elections. However, he raises concerns over a growing rift between the CSOs and Mr Waiya, which has led to legal disputes. In the article, Mr Auwal argued that Mr Waiya is unfit to mediate between the government and CSOs due to his past conflicts with them, warning that his involvement could further alienate key supporters. Instead, he suggested Muhyi Magaji or Nura Maaji to replace Mr Waiya, saying they possess the credibility and temperament to perform the role better. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Six months after a petrol tanker explosion in Jigawa State, the state government says some who pledged financial support for the victims were yet to redeem the pledges. The tanker exploded in Majia town in Taura Local Government Area on 14 October last year. A panel set up by the state government to investigate the incident said 209 persons were killed and 99 others injured in the accident. On Tuesday, the governments spokesperson, Sagir Ahmed, told reporters that the government directed the disbursement of the N839,686,580 redeemed while awaiting the remaining pledges. He said over N1.6 billion was pledged, but just over N839 million has been redeemed. Mr Ahmed said the redeemed pledges from individuals, groups, corporate organisations and institutions would be distributed to the 210 victims, including those injured and the families of the deceased. When the incident occurred, various individuals came and sympathised and so many pledges were made. 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 Its very easy to announce a donation. For some, its even impossible to get them. Mr Ahmed said the delay was a result of that. The official said a committee chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, Bala Ibrahim, was tasked to follow up with those who have yet to redeem their pledges. However, he didnt name those who were yet to fulfil their pledges. But PREMIUM TIMES understands that the 19 northern state governments pledged to donate N50 million each, but Kano and Sokoto donated N100 million each. The donation was announced by Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, the chairman of the Northern Nigeria Governors Forum. Also, the Dangote Foundation donated N1 million to each family that lost a member and N250,000 to each of the Injured victims. The President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, announced the donation at the Presidential Lodge in Government House, Dutse. Also, the Emeka Offor Foundation donated N150 million, while members of the House of Representatives announced the donation of N100 million. Several other individuals, including the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, also pledged to donate various sums. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has accepted the resignation of Muhammad Idris, his commissioner for Internal Security and Special Service, from his cabinet. The governor appointed Mr Idris, a retired Nigerian Army major-general, as the ministrys pioneer commissioner in August. The governors spokesperson, Sunusi Bature, announced the development in a statement late Tuesday. He said Governor Yusuf expressed his appreciation for Mr Idriss services as the pioneer head of the ministry. We thank Major General Muhammad Inuwa Idris (Rtd) for his unwavering commitment and contributions to the development of Kano State right from his days in the military career. We wish him a peaceful and fulfilling retirement as he transitions into a well-deserved rest from public service, the governor said. Despite his brief tenure, Mr Idris is credited with laying a strong foundation for the ministry. Governor Yusuf expressed confidence that his successor would build on these efforts to establish a clear operational framework for the ministry, the statement stated. 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 READ ALSO: Pledges remain unfulfilled six months after Jigawa tanker explosion His resignation comes barely four months after Mohammed Diggol, the states former commissioner for Project Monitoring and Evaluation, resigned last January. No reason was given for the two commissioners resignations, but Mr Diggol was seen with the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, alongside others soon after his resignation, raising speculation that he will join the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print At least 102 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have asked President Bola Tinubu to reverse the state of emergency and suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the state house assembly. In a statement on Tuesday, the CSOs also asked Mr Tinubu to consider withdrawing the military from the Rivers State Government House to de-escalate the tension in the state. The emergency rule declaration PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Mr Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the South-southern state on Tuesday. The president 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. He cited the recent disturbing incidents in the state, including explosions and vandalisation of petroleum pipelines linked to the political crises in the state, as the basis for his action. 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 disturbing incidents also included the political crises in the South-southern state triggered by a rift between Mr Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, the minister of the FCT. On Thursday, Nigerias House of Representatives approved the declaration of a state of emergency in the south-southern state. The Senate would later follow suit, approving the emergency rule with minor changes. Knock on Supreme Court Before now, the rift between Messrs Fubara and Wike had split members of the state assembly into two factions 27 lawmakers loyal to the FCT minister and three to the now-suspended governor. Mr Fubara began to rebuff the 27 lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhule after they defected from the PDP to the APC, which the governor argued amounted to losing their seats as lawmakers. A state high court initially declared the lawmakers seats vacant, prompting Mr Fubara to forward all executive communications, including bills and nominees for appointments, to the three-member faction for consideration and approval. But on 28 February , the Supreme Court restored Mr Amaewhules position as the speaker, reinstated the others as legitimate members of the assembly, and nullified the local election organised by Mr Fubaras administration. In the Tuesday statement, the CSOs criticised the Supreme Court for restoring Mr Amaewhule-led assembly despite initially declaring otherwise in 2015 in Hon. Ifedayo Sunday Abegunde v. The Ondo State House of Assembly & 11 Others. This (28 February) ruling by a five-person panel (of the Supreme Court) contradicts the seven-person panels earlier stance (in 2015), raising questions about judicial consistency and the courts susceptibility to political influence, the CSOs said They noted that the 1999 Nigerian Constitution provided in Section 68 that any legislator who defects from the party under which he was elected forfeits his seat unless there is a division in the party. On the emergency rule, the organisations admitted that Mr Tinubu is empowered by Section (305) of the constitution to declare a state of emergency in cases of war, natural disaster, or a breakdown of public order and safety beyond the state governments control. The groups, however, argued that the crises in the South-south state were inadequate for declaration of emergency rule. While Rivers State is undeniably turbulent, the declarations legality hinges on whether the situation meets this threshold, they said. Solutions for Rivers crises The CSOs said, as part of the solutions to the crises, the Supreme Court must reverse the 28 February ruling, which restored the Amaewhule-led Rivers assembly to align itself with its previous rulings in similar cases of the defection of lawmakers. The defected lawmakers should vacate their seats, triggering by-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission to restore legitimate representation. This upholds the electorates mandate and the constitutions sanctity, the groups said. They said apart from reversing the emergency rule and suspension of Mr Fubara, a neutral mediation panel and civil society leaders led by the National Peace Committee should facilitate dialogue between the governor, Mr Wike, and their factions. This panel must focus on de-escalation and prioritise governance over personal ambitions and a commitment to democratic processes, potentially brokering Wikes withdrawal from active interference in Rivers State politics, the groups said. The CSOs also suggested that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, should set up a judicial panel to investigate allegations of bias against the judiciary in the Rivers crises. This, they said, will ensure that future rulings in Rivers State adhere to legal principles, not expediency. Media outlets and civil society should amplify this crisiss implications for democracy, urging all actors to prioritise the public good over power struggles, the CSOs said. The crisis in Rivers State is a litmus test for Nigerias democracy. Left unchecked, it risks setting a precedent for constitutional subversion and federal overreach, with ripple effects nationwide. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Police Command in Delta State says it has killed five suspected members of a kidnap syndicate in the state. The spokesperson of the command, Bright Edafe, disclosed this to reporters in Warri on Wednesday. Mr Edafe, a superintendent of police, said the suspects were killed on Friday during a shootout with the operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT). He said the incident occurred inside the Uwiamughe forest in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta. Mr Edafe said the CP-SAT was led in the operation by Julius Robinson, an assistant superintendent of police, following credible information. Acting on credible information, the police team trailed and arrested the leader of a kidnapping syndicate at the DSC roundabout in Warri. 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 arrest and interrogation of the suspect led to the arrest of two other suspects at Otovwodo Park in Ughelli, he said. Mr Edafe said a preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects were allegedly responsible for a series of kidnappings and armed robberies in Uwiamughe, Otu-Jeremi, Warri, Ughelli, and the environs. Acting on the strength of their confessions, the suspects led the operatives to Uwaimughe forest, where they hid their weapons. Upon exit from the forest, some hoodlums suspected to be members of the syndicate engaged the police in a gun duel. READ ALSO: Police speak on Kano Durbar procession plans During the gun duel, five of the hoodlums sustained gunshot injuries while others escaped, he said. The police spokesperson said the injured suspects were taken to the hospital and later died while receiving treatment. Mr Edafe said that items recovered from the suspects included one AK-47 rifle, one pump action gun, and three locally made guns. Others were two magazines, 60 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition and 17 rounds of live cartridges. Mr Edafe said the three arrested suspects and the recovered weapons were in the custody of the police. He added that the police were making an effort to arrest the fleeing members of the gang. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State on Tuesday praised President Bola Tinubu for his administrations commitment to the second phase of the Nembe-Brass Road project. Mr Diri made the commendation during a courtesy visit by the projects contractors, A.I.L Infrastructure Limited, in Yenagoa. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the project had been on the drawing board for over 60 years. It was initiated by the Diri administration in 2022, with 60 per cent of the 21km first phase already completed. The governor expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for mobilising the contractor to the site, saying the Nembe-Brass Road was not just an infrastructure project but vital to the states economic development. In spite of the projects high cost, Mr Diri said his administration started it because of its significance not just for the local communities but for Bayelsa and Nigeria as a whole. The governor stated that the road construction was long overdue, given the contributions of Nembe and Brass local government areas to the national economy. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He expressed optimism that, based on the contractors timeline, the project would be completed before his second tenure ends. Diri assures contractor of cooperation Mr Diri assured the contractor of cooperation and directed the states Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and the chairpersons of Brass and Nembe councils to work closely with them. He said, You might not fully understand the level of joy this project brings to Bayelsa, particularly to the people of Nembe and Brass local government areas. I want this on record and for the media to highlight what is happening in our state. There is a lot of misinformation, and this event will help set the record straight. Bayelsa has three senatorial districts, and each one leads to the Atlantic Ocean. This project has been discussed for years, but now, it is becoming a reality. Let me express my sincere gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering support and commitment to Bayelsas development. To me and the people of Bayelsa, this project reaffirms the Presidents vision for inclusivity in national growth and development. The people of Bayelsa deeply appreciate this milestone, which the president has approved for our state. This road is not just an infrastructure project but a long-overdue economic lifeline. Our government took the bold step to begin the Nembe-Brass Road despite its financial demands. But we were driven by the need to enhance connectivity, stimulate economic growth, and unlock the economic potential of the Atlantic Ocean. Earlier, the chairperson of A.I.L Infrastructure Limited, Biodun Otunola, said the second phase was awarded in July 2024, and preliminary work had already begun. He explained that, due to Bayelsas swampy terrain, the project would use concrete road technology, which was the best option for the job. Mr Otunola assured that the project would meet high standards and be completed on schedule. He requested the state governments support in community liaison and security and asked for a date to be set for the projects flag-off. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo State Chapter, alleged on Wednesday that it had uncovered a planned protest across the state to destabilise the government of Monday Okpebholo. The APC State Chairperson, Jarrett Tenebe, claimed the protests were being sponsored by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mr Tenebe alleged that intelligence reports indicated that the demonstrations were not driven by genuine public concerns but rather a deliberate attempt to incite unrest. We have observed a pattern of misinformation and falsehoods leading to these planned protests. Their real goal is to create tension, sow discord, and undermine the progress made under Governor Monday Okpebholo, he said. While reaffirming Governor Okpebholos commitment to citizens constitutional rights to peaceful assembly, the APC chairperson warned that any attempt to disrupt the states peace and stability would not be tolerated. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He said law enforcement agencies had been placed on high alert to prevent any breakdown of law and order. We will not allow any individual or group to derail the progress of Edo State, Mr Tenebe said. He urged Edo residents to be vigilant and avoid being used as pawns in politically motivated protests. According to him, the government remains open to addressing genuine concerns through appropriate channels. We encourage citizens with grievances to engage with government agencies rather than partake in protests designed to serve selfish political interests, he said. The APC chairperson reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Governor Okpebholo in delivering good governance and urged residents to remain calm, law-abiding, and focused on development efforts. PDP reacts to allegation Reacting, PDPs Publicity Secretary in Edo, Chris Nehikhare, said the APC must learn to differentiate itself from the government. Mr Nehikhare said the APC could not assume the authority to issue security alerts unless the government had officially transferred its security responsibilities to the party. We are not surprised by this development, as Edo State is currently under siege. The government has provided no clues or indications that it can address the state of insecurity it has imposed on Edo State. Unfortunately, in Edo, we have a case of a butterfly that thinks of itself as a bird, he said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Kidnappers of John Ubaechu, the parish priest of Holy Family Catholic Church, Izombe, Imo State, are demanding N20 million ransom. Mr Ubaechu was abducted in Ejemekwuru on Sunday evening while on his way to attend the annual retreat of priests of the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese in Imo. His abduction was confirmed by the Owerri Catholic Archdiocesan Chancellor and Secretary, Patrick Mbarah, also a priest, on Monday in Owerri in a statement. A source in the church, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria on condition of anonymity on Wednesday in Owerri, said the kidnappers contacted some persons through whom they first demanded N50 million before they later reduced the amount. Most parishioners are extremely worried about the safety of the priest since Fr. John was kidnapped, and his abductors are still keeping him up till today, Wednesday, he said. The source said though there were conflicting reports on the kidnappers demand, nobody was sure if the demand was coming from the abductors. 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 Some people are saying that the kidnappers are demanding N50 million, some N20 million and some N10 million. The fact remains that Fr. John is still with the kidnappers. We keep praying for his safe release. The source pleaded with the Imo State Government and security agencies to intervene and help rescue the priest, because he is a missionary who does not have anything yielding money for him. Another parishioner, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, noted with regrets that the abductor forced the priest to remove his cassock and forced him out of his official vehicle before they took him away. Naval personnel at Izombe later recovered the vehicle, he said. He, however, appealed to the abductors to have a change of heart and release the priest. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, on Tuesday, flagged off the construction of the 4.32-kilometre Orpet-Umuafai-Lodu-Ahiaeke Road and the 3.79-kilometre Ahiaeke-Okwuta-Bende Road. In a speech at the ceremony in Umuahia, Mr Otti said the roads form part of a broader effort to expand the Umuahia area, support local businesses, and create new economic opportunities. The successful completion of these roads will end the daily struggles of thousands of residents and businesses that depend on them. Farmers, traders, students, property developers, and transporters will all benefit from these projects, which will ease mobility and drive economic growth, he said. The governor also said the Abia Urban Mass Transit Initiative will be launched soon, which will modernise public transportation in Umuahia and Aba. He said the scheme, driven by private sector operators, would introduce clean-energy-powered transit vehicles, reduce commuting costs, and improve passengers safety. 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 Our goal is to seamlessly move tens of thousands of people across different parts of the state at minimal cost. The modern bus terminals and road networks under construction will provide the necessary infrastructure backbone for this transport system, he said. He assured residents of the capital town that the contractors handling the projects are expected to deliver the highest quality work, while minimising traffic disruptions and environmental impact. Mr Otti also said he had directed the Ministry of Works to ensure strict supervision of the projects. He further mandated the Commissioner for Works, Otumchere Oti, to assess the Ofeke-Ahiaeke-Ndume Road in the area for possible inclusion in the states infrastructure plans. I know the road is not in the current budget, but we will approach the House of Assembly for either a virement or a supplementary budget to accommodate it, the governor said. He affirmed his administrations commitment to transforming Umuahia into a modern, functional city that caters to the aspirations of its residents. He said that through strategic infrastructure development, the government aimed to stimulate economic growth, attract investment, and enhance the quality of life for all Abians. Lawmakers speak on Ottis development drive In separate speeches, the lawmaker representing Umuahia/Ikwuano Federal Constituency, Obi Aguocha, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Okezie Meregini, commended the Abia State Government for its commitment to infrastructure development. According to them, these projects will play a crucial role in enhancing the areas socioeconomic development by improving accessibility, boosting commercial activities, and attracting investment. They also said such initiatives have strengthened public confidence in the current administrations commitment to good governance. In an address, the commissioner for works described the project as a game-changer that would mark the beginning of a new era of hope and progress. He said the roads, which had long posed serious challenge to commuters, particularly during the peak of the rainy season, would undergo full reconstruction to enhance accessibility and connectivity. He acknowledged the difficulties faced by the areas residents, including the loss of productive manhours and the negative impact on economic activities. The President-General of Ndume Otuka Federated, John Onuiro, said the government, through the projects, had placed itself on a steady path toward economic transformation and improved living standards for the residents. Mr Onuiro thanked the government and urged it to evolve programmes and policies that would transform the state continually. Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Onyebuchi Chukwu, said the road links key markets, agricultural institutions, hotels, and other business hubs in the city. Mr Chukwu emphasised that the road would significantly boost economic activities in Umuahia upon completion. Also, the lawmaker representing Isiala Ngwa North Constituency, Collins Iheonunekwu, said Mr Ottis administration has exceeded expectations in delivering key projects. Mr Iheonunekwu promised that the legislature remained committed to supporting the administrations developmental initiatives. Traders commend Otti In separate interviews with reporters, Raphael Ihefo and Nnamdi Okwuazu, traders at Umuahia Timber Industrial Market, commended the governor for his determination to improve connectivity in the area. They said the deplorable state of the road made it difficult for trucks to move goods in and out of the market. They also said that reconstructing the road would alleviate the suffering of the people in the area and greatly impact businesses positively. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Over the past 24 hours, Russian occupiers carried out 116 airstrikes in Ukraine, dropping 184 guided bombs, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Facebook on Wednesday morning. This is more than any day in the past week, when the number of airstrikes per day remained between 74 and 94, with between 81 and 151 bombs dropped daily. However, the enemy carried out 5,500 artillery attacks in 24 hours, while since Wednesday there have been at least 6,000. Also, over the past 24 hours, the Russian occupiers have not launched missile strikes on Ukraine - the last time they were recorded was on Friday last week. LONDON, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tom's Studio, the stationery brand challenging throwaway culture, has launched The Wren Write Off, a writing pen crafted with lids made from upcycled plastic waste primarily discarded pens. This marks a new chapter in the brand's mission to create high-quality, refillable tools that inspire creativity worldwide, whilst leaving the planet better than we found it Wren Write Off Wren Write Off close-up Every year, an estimated nine billion disposable pens are discarded globally[1], contributing to plastic pollution and landfill. For over 70 years, billions of plastic pens have been tossed aside, leaving a toxic legacy of microplastics. At Tom's Studio, waste isn't the end of the story it's just the beginning. After years of creating refillable pens designed to last a lifetime, Tom's Studio saw an opportunity to go further closing the loop and giving single-use pens a second life. Working with UK schools to collect discarded stationery, and Brothers Make, an independent design duo specialising in repurposing plastic waste, the team has transformed used pens, DVD cases, and other plastics into beautifully unique pen lids for the Write Off range. Each lid is one of a kind crafted through a meticulous process of sorting, chipping, and injection-moulding rescued plastic in small batches. The result? A pen that not only writes beautifully, but also rewrites the story of waste. "The stationery industry has a huge plastic problem," said Tom Gyr, Founder of Tom's Studio. "We launched the Wren last year as an infinitely refillable alternative to throwaway pens. With Write Off, we're taking waste that's already out there and turning it into something better." The Wren Write Off maintains the features of the original bestselling Wren: Infinitely refillable ink reservoir ink reservoir Replaceable fibre tip for smooth, effortless writing for smooth, effortless writing Lightweight design for everyday use for everyday use Durable anodised aluminium pen body pen body Mix & match lids and bodies for custom colour combinations The lids come in five colourways each made from a different blend of waste plastic, ensuring every single lid is unique. Just like the original Wren, Write Off delivers a premium writing experience while ensuring fewer pens end up in landfill. The Wren Write Off launches 27th March at tomsstudio.com (35). About Tom's Studio Tom's Studio was founded with a simple mission: to create better tools for creativity beautiful, refillable, and designed to last. The idea for Tom's business came from watching his wife, a professional calligrapher, use a plastic mass-produced pen which he felt didn't match the quality of her beautiful work. With his background in product design and experience working in a blacksmith's forge, Tom decided to make a better pen that she'd love using every day. From that first handmade pen, the brand has grown into a fast-growing online stationery company, shipping to over 80 countries and stocked by major retailers and independents, including John Lewis (UK), Fortnum & Mason (UK), Dick Blick (US), Boston General Store (US), and Paper Tree (Japan). [1] Source: UN Website: www.tomsstudio.com Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2649461/Tom_s_Studio.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2649462/Tom_s_Studio_1.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2497501/5233474/Toms_Studio_Logo.jpg The number of combat clashes on all fronts of the Russian-Ukrainian war over the past day reached 207, while during the past week it fluctuated between 140 and 166 per day, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Facebook on Wednesday morning. The most difficult situation remains in Pokrovsk direction in Donetsk region, where 69 enemy assaults took place on Tuesday (a third of the total), while in previous days there were between 37 and 61. Also, a significant increase in the number of Russian attacks is noted in Novo-Pavlivsk direction, where there were 23 clashes on Tuesday, and in the previous days during the week - from 9 to 17, as well as in Kursk region of the Russian Federation, where 29 enemy attacks were recorded, and during the week from 17 to 25 were recorded daily. An increase in the number of clashes is also recorded in Lymany and Toretsk directions. In addition, the occupiers became significantly more active in Orikhiv direction, where nine enemy attacks were repelled in one day, and during the week there were days when the enemy did not attack there at all. BAD SHABBOS Opens, MATCHMAKING 2 Closes One of the Largest and Most Respected Jewish Film Festivals in North America WASHINGTON, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- JxJ: DC Jewish Film & Music (JxJ), a leader of Jewish cultural arts in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region, unveiled its full line up for the 2025 JxJ Festival. Presented by the Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center (EDCJCC), the JxJ Festival is the capstone on a full year of film and music programs. Running from May 8-18, 2025, the festival will feature 25+ international screenings and concerts. Screenings will take place at the EDCJCC's two state-of-the-art theaters, Landmark's Bethesda Row Cinema in Maryland, and Cinema Arts Theatre in Fairfax, Virginia. The full Festival program and online ticket purchases are available now at www.jxjdc.org. "Film and music have the power to nourish the soul and lift the spirit," says Edlavitch DCJCC CEO Jen Zwilling. "This year's festival, which celebrates Jewish joy and resilience within our community, feels more vital than ever and is core to the mission and values of the EDCJCC." "As one of the last remaining independent movie theaters in DC, we are thrilled to present our 35th edition of the JxJ: DC Jewish Film & Music Festival," says Artistic Director Yael Luttwak. "The films and shorts we'll screen this year, along with our incredible lineup of dynamic concerts, celebrate the universal themes of love and joy; the forces that bind us as humans and transcend all boundaries." A new addition to the festival for 2025 is the premiere of two short films made possible by the Matthew Harris Ornstein JxJ Short Film Fund. The first of its kind in North America, this fund creates new opportunities for filmmakers to tell stories that provide unique angles into Jewish life, history, and culture. The Festival's Opening Night on Thursday, May 8 at the EDCJCC's Goldman Theater will feature BAD SHABBOS, winner of the 2024 Audience Award for Narrative at the Tribeca Film Festival, by director Daniel Robbins. Hailed by Variety as a film with "a strong ensemble cast [that] nails the tasty dialogue and increasingly frantic action without falling into shtick," Bad Shabbos is a wild ride. MATCHMAKING 2, a romantic comedy from Israeli director Erez Tadmor, will close the festival on Sunday, May 18 in the Goldman Theater. This emotional roller coaster of a film is "endlessly witty, visually rapturous, and sweetly romantic," - The Miami Jewish Film Festival. The closing weekend will also highlight an exciting lineup of concerts, including Gili Yalo, one of the most captivating artists on the Israeli music scene, whose concert on Saturday, May 17 will celebrate 2025 World Pride. Additional artists include Grammy Award-nominated clarinetist and saxophonist Anat Cohen; swing, jazz, and klezmer king Seth Kibel performing Gershwin; and multi-talented a cappella group The Maccabeats. Rounding out the closing festivities will be screenings from the third annual Richard Solloway JxJ Teen Film Contest winners short films submitted by high-school aged students from all areas of the DMV, answering the question, "What does identity mean to me?" OPENING NIGHT BAD SHABBOS, Dir. Daniel Robbins Thursday, May 8, 7:30 PM | EDCJCC | Goldman Theater David and his fiancee Meg expect a quiet Shabbat dinner with his family on New York's Upper West Sidebut when an accidental death (or murder?) derails the evening, chaos ensues. With Meg's Catholic parents about to meet David's Jewish family, the night quickly spirals into a comedy of biblical proportions. The Opening Night reception will immediately follow the screening at 9 PM on May 8th. CLOSING NIGHT THE MACCABEATS Sunday, May 18, 1:30 PM | EDCJCC | Goldman Theater Often traveling with little more than shirts on their backs and the ties around their necks, the Maccabeats have wowed audiences across the globe from Alabama to New Zealand and everywhere in between. Blending sharp harmonies, a polished style, and a dose of Jewish humor, this dynamic a cappella group creates an unforgettable experience that resonates with fans of all ages and backgrounds. ANAT COHEN JAZZ DUET Sunday, May 18, 4:00 PM | EDCJCC | Goldman Theater Charismatic, prolific, and endlessly inspired, Grammy Award-nominated clarinetist and saxophonist Anat Cohen has captured the hearts of audiences worldwide with her expressive virtuosity and captivating stage presence. The New York Times raves, "Ms. Cohen on the clarinet was a revelation. In her upper register, she evoked pure joy; in the lower, a soulful melancholy." MATCHMAKING 2, Dir. Erez Tadmor Sunday, May 18, 7:30 PM | EDCJCC | Goldman Theater Saturday, May 17, 7:30 PM | Cinema Arts Theatre Baruch, a Yeshiva man past his prime for marriage, is tasked with picking up Shira from the airport. When a flight delay traps them in the airport over Shabbat, Baruch falls for her despite knowing he has no chance. An emotional rollercoaster forces him to confront his past and open his heart to the love he never expected. The festival's Closing Reception will precede the screening at 6:30 PM. ADDITIONAL SELECTED PROGRAMMING AND EMBASSY PARTNERSHIPS In the emotional drama COME CLOSER, directed by Tom Nesher and winner of the Tribeca Film Festival's 2024 Viewpoint Award, Eden's world is turned upside down after the tragic death of her beloved younger brother. Devastated by grief, she spirals into increasingly desperate actions to cope with her loss. A conversation with Tom Nesher one of Variety's '10 directors to watch in 2025' will follow all three screenings. In partnership with the Embassy of Germany, THE ZWEIFLERS, a fantastic dramatic comedy set in a Jewish deli in Frankfurt Germany, will be shown in two parts. Directed by David Hadda, and Winner of Best Series and Best Music at the prestigious Canneseries festival, The Zweiflers follows family patriarch Symcha Zweifler (Mike Burstyn) who wants to sell his delicatessen empire when he is suddenly confronted with his past in Frankfurt's red-light district. THE TRUE STORY OF TAMARA DE LEMPICKA & THE ART OF SURVIVAL by director Julie Rubio will screen at the festival in partnership with the Embassy of Poland. A visually stunning and sweeping feature documentary, the film traces the life and survival of the renowned painter through her powerful paintings. A conversation with Rubio will follow the screening on May 11th at the EDCJCC. MAZEL TOV, a drama from acclaimed Argentinian actor and director Adrian Suar, showcases the heartfelt hand humorously touching tale of family, forgiveness, and the ties that bring us back home. Screened in partnership with the Embassy of Argentina, Mazel Tov captures the strength it takes to forgive, let go, and find joy amid the tears. For the full 2025 JxJ: DC Jewish Film & Music Festival, please visit www.jxjdc.org To view the 2025 JxJ festival trailer, please visit JxJDC Youtube ABOUT JxJ DC Presented by the Edlavitch DCJCC, JxJ: DC Jewish Film and Music is the leader of Jewish film and music cultural arts in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region, with a state-of-the-art venue at the Edlavitch DCJCC. Between the Festival and year-round programming, JxJ gives exposure to independent filmmakers and musical artists working in the Jewish and/or Israeli space. It annually attracts 30,000 patrons across 180+ events and has been an arts hub in the DC area for over 30 years. JxJ encompasses the Washington Jewish Film Festival (WJFF) and the Washington Jewish Music Festival (WJMF). The lead sponsor of the WJMF is the Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation. ABOUT THE EDLAVITCH DCJCC Guided by Jewish values and heritage, the Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center engages individuals and families through its cultural, recreational, educational, and social justice programs by welcoming people of all backgrounds to connect, learn, serve, and be entertained together in ways that reflect the unique role of the Center in the nation's capital. The Edlavitch DCJCC is located at 1529 Sixteenth Street, NW in Washington, DC, 4 blocks east of Dupont Circle. SOURCE JxJ DC Jewish Film and Music HARRISBURG, Pa., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AARP Pennsylvania commends the reintroduction of the Credit for Caring Act, legislation that would provide financial relief to eligible working family caregivers. The bill, co-sponsored by U.S. Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) and Mike Kelly (PA-16), offers up to a $5,000 nonrefundable federal tax credit to help offset caregiving expenses, addressing the significant personal and financial sacrifices caregivers make to support their loved ones. On average, family caregivers spend over $7,200 annually26% of their incomeon out-of-pocket expenses. "Family caregivers play an essential role in supporting their loved ones and keeping our communities strong, yet they often face steep personal and financial challenges," said AARP Pennsylvania State Director Bill Johnston-Walsh. "The Credit for Caring Act represents an investment in our families, our economy, and our values. We thank Pennsylvania's U.S. Representatives Fitzpatrick and Kelly for co-sponsoring the bill and we urge Congress to pass this legislation to ease the challenge on family caregivers and help them continue their vital work." Nearly 1.5 million Pennsylvanians are caregivers who dedicate themselves to caring for aging parents, spouses, and others in need, enabling them to remain in their homes and communities. However, caregiving often comes at a steep personal cost. Sixty-one percent of family caregivers nationwide work either full- or part-time, but many have had to cut back on work or leave their jobs, sacrificing income, retirement savings, and financial security. The Credit for Caring Act addresses these challenges by providing a nonrefundable federal tax credit of up to $5,000 for specific caregiving-related expenses, such as home care aides, adult day services, home modifications, and respite care. Caregivers provide immense economic value by delaying or avoiding costly institutional care. Collectively in Pennsylvania, they contribute an estimated 1.4 billion hours of unpaid care annually. An AARP analysis estimates that if caregivers aged 50 and older received better workplace support, the U.S. GDP could grow by an additional $1.7 trillion in 2030. About AARP AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates on social media. MEDIA CONTACT: TJ Thiessen | [email protected] | 717-381-7420 SOURCE AARP Pennsylvania - Company to highlight recent significant progress made with its Actimab-A and Iomab-ACT clinical programs, leading-edge R&D and radiopharmaceutical manufacturing infrastructure - Revitalized clinical programs focused on 3 separate multi-billion-dollar market opportunities in myeloid malignancies, solid tumors and cell & gene therapy conditioning with clinical data expected in 2025 supporting each addressable market - Presentation follows Investor KOL Event and Company Update on March 25th NEW YORK, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE AMERICAN: ATNM) (Actinium or the Company), a pioneer in the development of targeted radiotherapies, announced it will be presenting a business update today at Trump Mar-a-Lago Club, Florida. This presentation follows an Investor KOL Call and Company Update hosted by Actinium on Tuesday, March 25th highlighting its revitalized clinical programs and expanded market opportunities. Actinium's Investor KOL Call and Company Update can be accessed for replay here. Sandesh Seth, Actinium's Chairman and CEO, said, "We are honored to have this opportunity to present Actinium Pharmaceuticals and highlight the significant progress we have made in the last several months at the Mar-a-Lago Club. We have great enthusiasm for our revamped clinical programs and expect to achieve significant milestones in 2025. If successful, we will have the opportunity to address multiple potential blockbuster market opportunities with Actimab-A in myeloid malignancies and solid tumors and with Iomab-ACT for cell and gene therapy conditioning." Actinium has outlined its expanded market opportunities and expected 2025 milestones for each of its clinical programs as well as its R&D and radiopharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities as follows: Actimab-A as a mutation agnostic, backbone therapy for myeloid malignancies including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) across multiple treatment settings Initiate Phase 2/3 trial in combination with CLAG-M in relapsed or refractory AML and seek potential partners or collaborators Generate initial clinical data in frontline AML in first trial under CRADA with NCI Initiate additional clinical trials in myeloid malignancies Actimab-A as a pan solid tumor therapy in combination with PD-1 inhibitors including KEYTRUDA and OPDIVO by depleting myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) Generate clinical proof of concept data in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer Explore additional solid tumor indications for future trials Iomab-ACT as a universal targeted conditioning agent to increase patients access to cell & gene therapies and improve patient outcomes Present initial data from commercial CAR-T trial at University of Texas Southwestern Southwestern Generate clinical data in first non-malignant indication from sickle cell disease allogeneic stem cell transplant trial at Columbia University Pipeline Expansion Leveraging Targeted Radiotherapy R&D Capabilities Present abstract at AACR highlighting Actinium-225 targeted radiotherapy for novel radiotherapy cancer target Establish In-house Radiopharmaceutical Manufacturing & Production Advance build-out of manufacturing facility Explore strategic partnerships leveraging proprietary Actinium-225 cyclotron manufacturing technology Mr. Seth continued, "In addition to the multitude of milestones that lie ahead for our clinical programs, we are excited to highlight our expanding capabilities. As a pioneer in targeted radiotherapy, we are leveraging our robust know-how and intellectual property to develop new pipeline programs to address indications with high unmet needs. In addition, we are investing in our infrastructure and are thrilled to be moving ahead with the build-out of our manufacturing facility starting next quarter in anticipation of future clinical success. Finally, we look forward to fully leveraging our proprietary Actinium-225 cyclotron manufacturing technology to meet our projected demand given our expanding Actinium-225 programs as well as facilitate strategic partnerships. With our strong balance sheet providing runway into mid-2027, our team is focused and committed on execution and value creation." About Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Actinium is a pioneer in the development of targeted radiotherapies intended to meaningfully improve patient outcomes. Actinium is advancing its lead product candidate Actimab-A, a CD33 targeting therapeutic, as potential backbone therapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and other myeloid malignancies leveraging the mutation agnostic alpha-emitter radioisotope payload Actinium-225 (Ac-225). Actimab-A has demonstrated potential activity in relapsed and refractory acute myeloid leukemia (r/r AML) patients in combination with the chemotherapy CLAG-M including high rates of Complete Remissions (CR) and measurable residual disease (MRD) negativity leading to improved survival outcomes and is being advanced to a pivotal Phase 2/3 trial. In addition, Actinium is engaged with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) under the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) for development of Actimab-A in AML and other myeloid malignancies. The first clinical trial under the CRADA will evaluate the triplet combination comprised of Actimab-A, Venetoclax (Abbvie/Roche) an oral Bcl-2 inhibitor and ASTX-727 (Taiho Oncology, an Otsuka holdings company) a novel oral hypomethylating agent (HMA) in frontline acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. Additionally, Actinium is developing Actimab-A as a potential pan tumor therapy in combination with PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors including KEYTRUDA and OPDIVO by depleting myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), which represents a potential multi-billion-dollar addressable market. Iomab-ACT, Actinium's next generation conditioning candidate, is being developed with the goal of improving patient access and outcomes for potentially curative cell and gene therapies. Iomab-B is an induction and conditioning agent prior to bone marrow transplant in patients with r/r AML, which Actinium is seeking a potential strategic partner for the U.S. In addition, the company's R&D efforts are primarily focused on advancing several preclinical programs for solid tumor indications. Actinium holds 230 patents and patent applications including several patents related to the manufacture of the isotope Ac-225 in a cyclotron. For more information, please visit: https://www.actiniumpharma.com/ Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain projections or other "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe-harbor" provisions of the private securities litigation reform act of 1995 regarding future events or the future financial performance of the Company which the Company undertakes no obligation to update. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated or estimated future results, including the risks and uncertainties associated with preliminary study results varying from final results, estimates of potential markets for drugs under development, clinical trials, actions by the FDA and other governmental agencies, regulatory clearances, responses to regulatory matters, the market demand for and acceptance of Actinium's products and services, performance of clinical research organizations and other risks detailed from time to time in Actinium's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including without limitation its most recent annual report on form 10-K, subsequent quarterly reports on Forms 10-Q and Forms 8-K, each as amended and supplemented from time to time. Investors: [email protected] SOURCE Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. SARASOTA, Fla., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- All Glass & Windows Holdings, Inc. ("All Glass & Windows" or the "Company") announced today that it has completed an equity recapitalization of the Company by an affiliate of Cross Rapids Capital LP ("Cross Rapids Capital"). Prospect Partners ("Prospect") has exited its investment, after initially recapitalizing the Company alongside management in September 2016. Founded in 2009 by Mr. Christopher Harris and Mr. David Fleeman, All Glass & Windows is a value-added dealer and installer of impact-resistant window and door solutions for general contractors, builders and homeowners across Florida. The Company's product offering includes windows, doors and commercial storefront and curtain walls, and the Company offers consultative design services and full-service project management within the residential, commercial and industrial end-markets. Cross Rapids Capital said, "The All Glass & Windows team serves Floridians' building, replacement and remodeling needs with differentiated service and availability of best-in-class products. We look forward to supporting the Company's management team in the execution of their organic and inorganic growth plans to achieve their long-term strategic goals." Mr. Harris, co-founder of the Company, said, "We'd like to thank Prospect Partners for their support over the past 8 years, as they guided us in making investments in our team and systems to help us grow substantially and develop into a leading impact window platform. They understand how to build leading middle-market companies." He added, "We are excited to partner with Cross Rapids Capital to support the next phase of growth for our Company. They will help us to scale our business, while continuing to serve our customers with the reliable and personal service that they expect." "Chris and David are the premier operators in the industry, with an unparalleled reputation," said Mr. Rick Tuttle, Founder at Prospect Partners. "Helping Chris, David, and the exceptional All Glass team build the business into a unique platform within the impact-resistant category has been rewarding. During our partnership, we built out the leadership organization, opened a dedicated distribution facility, launched a direct-to-homeowner remove and replace offering, and expanded geographically throughout south Florida," added Mike McInerney, Partner at Prospect Partners. Mr. Fleeman, co-founder of the Company, concluded, "We thank our customers, manufacturers and employees for their trust and partnership. Our dedicated and experienced team is committed to providing the highest quality products and service, and we will continue to execute our mission with an owner-operated, family-first approach to doing business." TM Capital Corp. served as financial advisor and DLA Piper LLP as legal counsel to All Glass & Windows. Greenberg Traurig LLP served as legal counsel to Cross Rapids Capital. About All Glass & Windows Holdings, Inc. Headquartered in Sarasota, FL, All Glass & Windows provides impact-resistant window and door solutions to the residential, commercial and industrial markets. Our team of experienced estimators, project managers and installers are here to ensure your projects run smoothly and you receive top-quality products and service at a competitive price. For more information, please visit: www.allglasswindows.com. About Cross Rapids Capital LP Cross Rapids Capital LP is an operationally-driven investment firm, dedicated to North American middle-market industrial and services companies. We partner with owners and management teams to accelerate companies, and we bring decades of sector, operational, and investing expertise and a hands-on, collaborative approach to empower their business success. For more information, please visit: www.crossrapids.com. About Prospect Partners Founded in 1998, Prospect Partners is an active investor and builder of pre-middle market companies. Prospect focuses on partnering with management teams to complete recapitalizations, build-ups, carve-outs, and generational transitions. The Prospect team brings deep domain expertise building high potential companies through both operational improvements and acquisitions. For more information, please visit: www.prospect-partners.com. SOURCE All Glass & Windows Holdings, Inc. A NEW CAMPAIGN ACROSS 7 CITIES AIMS TO ENERGIZE BLACK COMMUNITY LEADERS TO REDUCE OVERDOSE DEATHS NEW YORK, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In the wake of a decade-long surge in drug overdose deaths among Black Americans nationwide, a coalition of Black community leaders, government officials, and health experts across seven cities today launched a campaign to promote the use of overdose-reversing naloxone in Black communities. Engaging in the campaign are Louisville, KY; Durham, NC; Milwaukee, WI; Newark, NJ; Albuquerque, NM; Philadelphia, PA; and Detroit, MI A ZOOM press conference/rally was held today with community, civic, and government leaders. The press conference video will be available after the event HERE. The campaign also released a report consolidating recent evidence that illustrates the need for urgent action to save lives, finding: Supported by public health organization Vital Strategies, with funding from the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the "You Have the Power to Save Lives" campaign includes more than a dozen community groups, health organizations, and local government agencies. Their efforts focus on establishing new naloxone distribution points in Black communitiesincluding firehouses, neighborhood gathering spaces, and local health providersto reduce the stigma around carrying naloxone and empower individuals to save lives in the event of an overdose. Additionally, the campaign will promote community champions who speak out through ads on radio and digital media across the seven cities. The personal appeals of people directly affected by overdose are a powerful plea to keep naloxone readily available to save friends and loved ones who may overdose on opioids, such as heroin and fentanyl, or from prescription medications like oxycodone or codeine. At the heart of the campaign is a new website YouCanSaveLives.org where people can find out where to obtain naloxone nearby, hear powerful, real-world testimonials, and take action to spread the word about the importance of naloxone. "We are cautiously optimistic about declining overdose death rates nationally, but after years of skyrocketing rates, the wide disparities experienced by Black communities are raising the alarm," emphasized Daliah Heller, Vice President for Overdose Prevention Initiatives at Vital Strategies. "Rates are higher among Black adults than their white counterparts; we urgently need equitable and focused strategies. The campaign is making lifesaving naloxone more widely available in Black communities in seven states and mobilizing Black people to carry it to protect friends, family, and community." Tracie M. Gardner, Executive Director of the National Black Harm Reduction Network, said the "You Have the Power to Save Lives" campaign is urgently needed to engage these community and grassroots leaders as advocates for naloxone. "To bring persistently high overdose rates in Black populations down, we can draw upon the strengths, values, and beliefs within our communities." In a video message at today's press conference, Marc Morial, President of the National Urban League, applauded the "You Have the Power to Save Lives" campaign. "The needless death of so many, both young and old, from drug overdoses is an issue that demands our immediate attention. "Black and Brown communities must be made aware that this life-saving medicine is available for free in many communities. We do have the power to stop preventable overdose deaths. Each of us listening today can play a crucial role in this fight by passing this knowledge on." Anne Aslett, Chief Executive Officer at the Elton John AIDS Foundation, said: "Recognizing the inequities Black communities face in accessing naloxone, the Elton John AIDS Foundation is proud to support the 'You Have the Power to Save Lives' campaign. This initiative unites trusted community leaders to expand naloxone access where it's needed most. By investing in evidence and compassion-driven solutions and ensuring the power to act remains in the hands of the community, we're seeking to turn the tide on the current overdose crisis." About the Elton John AIDS Foundation: The Elton John AIDS Foundation was established in 1992 and is one of the leading independent AIDS organizations in the world. The Foundation's mission is simple: an end to the AIDS epidemic. The Elton John AIDS Foundation is committed to overcome the stigma, discrimination and neglect that keeps us from ending AIDS. With the mobilization of our network of generous supporters and partners, we fund local experts across four continents to challenge discrimination, prevent infections and provide treatment as well as influencing governments to end AIDS. www.eltonjohnaidsfoundation.org, @ejaf on Instagram. About Vital Strategies: Vital Strategies is a global health organization that believes every person should be protected by a strong public health system. Our overdose prevention program works to strengthen and scale evidence-based, data-driven policies and interventions to create equitable and sustainable reductions in overdose deaths in several U.S. states and local jurisdictions. About the National Black Harm Reduction Network: The National Black Harm Reduction Network is dedicated to advancing harm reduction principles that optimize health and wellness for Black people who are disproportionately harmed by public health initiatives, the criminal legal system, and drug policies. Contact: Tony Newman: [email protected] 646-335-5384 Michael K. Frisby: [email protected] 202-625-4328 SOURCE Vital Strategies DELRAY BEACH, Fla., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Assisted Reproductive Technology Market, valued at US$4.02 billion in 2024, is forecasted to grow at a robust CAGR of 7.0%, reaching US$4.29 billion in 2025 and an impressive US$6.02 billion by 2030. The assisted reproductive technology market has been segmented by type, technology, patient type, care settings, and region. Increased levels of infertility caused by stress, lifestyle changes, and medical conditions are among the key drivers affecting the assisted reproductive technology (ART) market. The sector has expanded due to technological advancements such as preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), embryo freezing, and enhanced in-vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques that have significantly improved success rates. Industry growth is prevented by ethical and regulatory issues, including legal bans, expensive processes, and the ethical debate over the handling of embryos and surrogacy. Government backing from the state, a change in social perception, and rising public awareness all drive market growth. Improved healthcare infrastructure and greater disposable incomes in the developing world can spur developments in ART therapy. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=91934243 Browse in-depth TOC on "Assisted Reproductive Technology Market" 200 - Tables 100 - Figures 300 - Pages By Based on type, Equipment maintains the largest market share in the assisted reproductive technology (ART) market because they are at the forefront of fertility treatment and because reproductive technology is constantly changing. Incubators, micromanipulators, imaging equipment, and cryopreservation equipment are needed for procedures like in-vitro fertilization (IVF), embryo culture, and freezing sperm or eggs. Also fueling the use of sophisticated instruments is demand for higher accuracy, automation, and efficiency in ART laboratories. This segment is also fueled by the increase in the number of fertility clinics, ART success rates, and research in reproductive medicine. Demand for superior-quality instruments is increasing steadily as ART procedures become more complicated and prevalent, solidifying their market leadership. By Based on technology, IVF accounts for the highest market share in the market for assisted reproductive technology because it has high success rates, universal usage, and ongoing technological progress. As the most effective method of treating fertility, in vitro fertilization can address different causes of infertility, including older mother age, male factor, and unexplained infertility. Because of the huge success provided by advances such as time-lapse imaging, freezing of the embryo, and preimplantation genetic screening, IVF is increasingly becoming the preferred treatment compared to other types of ART. Conception delay, rising infertility levels, and the rising awareness of fertility treatment are all contributing factors to the global demand for IVF. Increased growth of medical tourism, government encouragement for ART treatment, and the development of fertility clinics across the globe are other contributors to IVF's market leadership. By Based on care settings, the fertility clinics segment is the largest assisted reproductive technology (ART) market share in care settings due to the increasing need for improved reproductive treatments, sophisticated medical infrastructure, and an increase in the number of cases of infertility worldwide. Fertility clinics offer the entire range of ART services, including in-vitro fertilization (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI), egg and sperm freezing, and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), and therefore are patients' preferred destinations for fertility treatment. Fertility clinics are armed with the best technology, highly skilled professionals, and specialty labs, which give improved success rates for ART treatments. Moreover, increasing awareness about fertility treatments, government subsidies, and the mushrooming of private fertility centers also contributed to the growth of this segment. The increasing trend of medical tourism for low-cost ART treatments in India, Thailand, and Spain also contributes to the dominance of the fertility clinics in the ART market By geography, Asia-Pacific is forecasted to grow at the highest rate in the assisted reproductive technology (ART) market in the next five years with the rising rate of infertility, increased awareness of fertility treatment, and an enhanced healthcare infrastructure. Lifestyle changes, postponed childbearing, and stress-related infertility are significant drivers of demand for ART procedures in the region. Government policies for infertility treatment, increased number of fertility clinics, and innovation in reproductive technology are propelling the market growth. Cost-effectiveness of ART procedures compared to Western nations and increasing medical tourism also fuel the growth of the market in the region. Increased acceptability of fertility preservation technologies such as egg freezing and surrogacy, and an increased number of middle-class individuals with improved disposable income, is expected to fuel long-term market growth in Asia-Pacific. Request Sample Pages : https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=91934243 Key players in this market are adopting several organic and inorganic growth strategies (such as product launches, agreements, collaborations, acquisitions, and expansions). Prominent players in this market include CooperSurgical Inc. (US), FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific (Japan), Vitrolife (Sweden), Hamilton Thorne (US), Cook Medical Inc. (US), Esco Micro Pte. Ltd. (Singapore), Genea BIOMEDX (Australia), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (US), LENUS Pharma GesmbH (Austria), Zita West (UK), Kitazato Corporation (Japan), Exeltis USA, Inc. (US), Vitabiotics Ltd (UK), FertiPro NV (Belgium), and AdvaCare Pharma (US), among others. COOPERSURGICAL INC. CooperSurgical Inc. is the global healthcare leader in providing innovative medical devices and solutions for women's health and fertility. It is a part of a larger healthcare company, The Cooper Companies. This business unit markets its products under various brand names, such as ORIGIO (IVF products), Reprogenetics (genetic testing solutions), and Life Global (media products as well as IVF laboratory air filtration products). CooperSurgical Inc. operates in over 100 countries worldwide. This vast geographic reach makes them a major player in the global healthcare market. FUJIFILM IRVINE SCIENTIFIC FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific provides advanced culture media, embryo transfer solutions, and diagnostic tools to enhance the success rates of IVF and embryo cryopreservation. Its strategies focus on continuous innovation and research to improve clinical outcomes, global expansion to meet the growing demand in emerging markets, and forming strategic partnerships with fertility clinics and research institutions. By investing in acquisitions and maintaining a customer-centric approach, FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific strengthens its position as a key player in the ART sector, offering solutions to support fertility treatments and improve patient outcomes worldwide. VITROLIFE Vitrolife develops, manufactures, and markets instruments, systems, and cultivation media related to assisted reproduction techniques. The company offers various products for procedures, such as sperm preparation, oocyte retrieval, conventional IVF, ICSI, embryo culture, embryo transfer, vitrification, and slow freezing. Vitrolife is one of the first companies to provide high-standard, ready-to-use culture media to IVF clinics. The fertility segment develops, produces, and markets nutrient solutions (media), products for cryopreservation, advanced disposable instruments such as needles and pipettes, and offers time-lapse technology for assisted reproduction. For more information, Inquire Now! Related Reports: In Vitro Fertilization Market In Vitro Diagnostics Market Clinical Trial Services Market Immunoassay Market Biologics Safety Testing Market Get access to the latest updates on Assisted Reproductive Technology Companies and Assisted Reproductive Technology Market Size About MarketsandMarkets: MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's Best Management Consulting Firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. With the widest lens on emerging technologies, we are proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients across the globe. Today, 80% of Fortune 2000 companies rely on MarketsandMarkets, and 90 of the top 100 companies in each sector trust us to accelerate their revenue growth. With a global clientele of over 13,000 organizations, we help businesses thrive in a disruptive ecosystem. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion in new revenue streams that are replacing existing ones within this decade. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we collaborate with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies to keep them future-ready. Our insights and strategies are powered by industry experts, cutting-edge AI, and our Market Intelligence Cloud, KnowledgeStore, which integrates research and provides ecosystem-wide visibility into revenue shifts. In addition, MarketsandMarkets SalesIQ enables sales teams to identify high-priority accounts and uncover hidden opportunities, helping them build more pipeline and win more deals with precision. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter , LinkedIn and Facebook . Contact: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 1615 South Congress Ave. Suite 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1868219/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets MIRAMAR, Fla., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aveva Drug Delivery systems (A DifGen company), a leader in transdermal drug delivery systems based out of Miramar - Florida is proud to announce that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for its generic Lidocaine 1.8% Patch, a non-opioid topical treatment for post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), providing patients suffering from localized nerve pain with a more affordable, effective, and accessible treatment option. Annual market sales for the 12 months ending December 2024 were approximately $116 million as measured by IQVIA. The generic Lidocaine 1.8% Patch is a topical non-hydrogel patch product that delivers a local dose of lidocaine, offering relief directly at the site of pain. By offering a generic version of the branded lidocaine patch ZTlido, DifGen aims to improve patient access to quality pain management options while also contributing to the ongoing effort to reduce healthcare costs. Key Benefits of the generic Lidocaine Patch: Targeted Pain Relief: The patch delivers lidocaine directly to the site of pain, allowing for localized treatment. Non-invasive Treatment: The patch provides a non-oral, non-invasive solution, reducing the risk of adverse reactions generally associated with oral medications. Ease of Use: The patch is easy to apply and offers continuous relief for up to 12 hours, allowing patients to go about their daily activities with minimal disruption. According to the FDA approval letter, Aveva was the first applicant to submit a substantially complete ANDA containing a Paragraph IV certification for this product. Therefore, Aveva may be eligible for 180 days of generic drug exclusivity, but FDA has not made a formal determination on exclusivity at this time. "We are thrilled to receive the first FDA approval for the generic Lidocaine 1.8% Patch, as it marks a significant milestone in our mission to provide comprehensive pain management solutions," said Ramandeep Singh Jaj, Founder and co-CEO of DifGen. Dr. Santhanakrishnan Srinivasan, Founder and co-CEO added, "This approval underscores our superior understanding of the transdermal technology, where we used our innovative approach to develop this complex product with a superior IP position, resulting in a new option to patients for managing their symptoms in a safe, effective and affordable manner. The intricate process developed by Aveva ensures that the patches are consistently produced to meet strict safety, efficacy, and compliance standards." The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida previously dismissed the patent infringement case in favor of Aveva Drug Delivery Systems. About DifGen: DifGen is a US based Global Pharmaceutical company with a primary focus on developing complex high barriers to entry Generics and Specialty Pharmaceutical products that would help increase accessibility to high quality medication thereby leading to the creation of next generation healthy communities. DifGen consistently aspires to challenge standard thought processes to arrive at dependable solutions that create a paradigm shift in product development, quality, clinical affairs, regulatory sciences, and commercial strategy. The firm has a talented team with some of the brightest minds who have developed a holistic understanding of the nuances associated with the development of unique, commercially viable and difficult product lines across varying therapeutic areas and a broad array of dosage forms such as Injectables, Ophthalmic, Topicals, Biologicals, Drug Devices, Soft Gels, Solid Orals & Suspensions. About Aveva: Aveva Drug Delivery Systems (a DifGen company) is a fully integrated developer and manufacturer of Sterile products, Transdermal Delivery Systems (TDS) and Oral Dissolvable Films (ODF). Aveva is licensed to manufacture, package and market OTC & Rx TDS and ODF products and is DEA approved for Schedule II & III controlled substance storage & handling. Aveva's licensed facilities located in Miramar, FL are spread across 4 sites totaling 210,000 sq. ft. Media Contact: Dr Srinivasan Vedantham 954-430-3340 [email protected] SOURCE Aveva Drug Delivery Systems Inc Solid Revenue Growth Coupled with High Gross Profit Margin (73%) and Non-IFRS Profit (RMB 376 Million) BEIJING, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bairong Inc. (the "Company", "we" , "us" or "our" ; HKEX: 6608), a leading cloud-based AI turnkey service provider, today announced the consolidated results of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2024. Bairong Invitation to the 2024 Annual Results Presentation Mr. Zhang Shaofeng, our founder, chief executive officer and chairman of the Board, commented: "As a leading cloud-based AI turnkey service provider, Bairong achieved revenue growth and sustained profitability in 2024 when the industry as a whole was weak. We also generated an operating cash flow of RMB 303 million in 2024, which fully demonstrates the resilience of our business. In terms of technology and products, our VoiceGPT continues to iterate rapidly, and at the same time, new products such as the digital human All - in - One Machine AvatarGPT and Cybotstar Agent Platform have been further implemented. In 2025, we will increase our investment in new businesses and new scenarios, especially in the two fields of Pan-financial AI and Pan-industry AI, so as to achieve a vertical and horizontal business layout supported by AGI." Financial Summary Year ended December 31, 2024 2023 Change (RMB in thousands, except percentages) Revenue 2,929,267 2,680,915 9 % Model as a service ("MaaS") 932,473 891,248 5 % Business as a service ("BaaS") 1,996,794 1,789,667 12 % BaaS Financial Scenario 1,410,695 1,184,728 19 % BaaS Insurance Scenario 586,099 604,939 (3 %) Gross profit 2,141,712 1,954,532 10 % Operating profit 285,234 346,886 (18 %) Profit for the period 266,029 335,259 (21 %) Non-IFRS measures Non-IFRS profit for the period 376,051 375,064 Non-IFRS EBITDA 486,176 463,782 5 % Revenue Our total revenue increased by 9% from RMB2,680.92 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 to RMB2,929.27 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, primarily attributable to our enhanced capabilities of providing products and services despite a challenging macroeconomic and consumption environment. For the year ended December 31, 2024, our MaaS business reported revenue of RMB932.47 million, representing an increase of 5% year-over-year. During the Reporting Period, the number of Key Clients reached 211, while average revenue per Key Client was RMB3.37 million. Our Key Client retention rate was 97%. Key metrics of MaaS Year ended December 31, 2024 2023 Change (%) (unaudited) (unaudited) (RMB in thousands, except percentages) Revenue from MaaS 932,473 891,248 5 Revenue from Key Clients(Note) 711,328 744,489 (4) Number of Key Clients 211 213 (1) Average revenue per Key Client 3,371 3,495 (4) Retention rate of Key Clients 97 % 99 % (2) pct Note:"Key Clients" are defined as paying clients that each contributes more than RMB300,000 total revenue to the Company year-to-date. In 2024, our BaaS - Financial Scenario business reported revenue of RMB1,410.70 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 19% from RMB1,184.73 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. During the Reporting Period, we maintained growth against the industry's downturn, with our brand gaining increasing recognition from more and more partners. A significant number of institutions prioritize choosing us as their partner of choice, indicating that the brand effect has been established. In 2024, our BaaS - Insurance Scenario reported revenue decrease by 3% year-over-year to RMB586.10 million. Total premiums increased by 63% year-over-year to RMB5,442.43 million, with first year premiums increasing by 86% year-over-year to RMB3,641.10 million and renewal premiums increasing by 31% year-over-year to RMB1,801.34 million. The persistency rate of life insurance premiums continued to exceed 90%, ranking among the top in the industry. Key metrics of BaaS Insurance Scenario Year ended December 31, 2024 2023 Change (%) (unaudited) (unaudited) (RMB in thousands, except percentages) Revenue from BaaS Insurance Scenario 586,099 604,939 (3) Revenue from first year premiums 486,964 508,207 (4) First year premiums 3,641,095 1,952,887 86 Revenue from renewal premiums 99,136 96,732 2 Renewal premiums 1,801,335 1,377,605 31 Cost of sales Our cost of sales increased by 8% from RMB726.38 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 to RMB787.56 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, in line with the growth of our business scale. Gross profit and gross margin As a result of the foregoing, the Group's gross profit increased by 10% from RMB1,954.53 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 to RMB2,141.71 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The Group's gross margin were approximately 73% for both the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. Research and development expenses The Group's research and development expenses increased by 34% from RMB378.79 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 to RMB509.29 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, primarily attributable to the increase in the staff costs of our research and development personnel to support product offerings and technology development about various AI application technology, algorithm-driven machine learning platform and underlying database performance. Research and development expenses as a percentage of revenue increased by 3pct to 17%. General and administrative expenses The Group's general and administrative expenses increased by 26% from RMB259.28 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 to RMB327.72 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, primarily attributable to the increase in share-based compensation expenses from the grant of share options and restricted share units by the Company during the year ended December 31, 2024. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue increased slightly by 1pct to 11%. Sales and marketing expenses Our sales and marketing expenses increased by 4% from RMB1,072.99 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 to RMB1,118.94 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, primarily due to an increase of RMB74.62 million of promotion, advertising, information technology services and other related expenses, which was mainly due to the increased branding and business promotion to enhance our brand recognition and our continuous efforts to obtain high-quality traffic to improve conversion efficiency. Sales and marketing expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased by 2pct to 38%. Other income Our other income decreased by 28% from RMB183.01 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 to RMB130.90 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. This is primarily due to a decrease of RMB37.00 million of government grants. Profit for the year As a result of the foregoing, the Group's profit for the year decreased by 21% from RMB335.26 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 to RMB266.03 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. Cash, cash equivalents and time deposits The Group had cash and cash equivalents and time deposits of RMB3,176.39 million and RMB3,301.84 million as at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. Purchase, sale or redemption of the Company's listed securities During the Reporting Period, the Company repurchased a total of 25,490,000 Class B Shares on the Stock Exchange at an aggregate consideration (including transaction cost) of approximately HK$237.51 million including expenses. In addition, 10,331,500 Class B Shares were purchased by trustees of the Company's share award schemes on the market during the year ended December 31, 2024 to satisfy share awards to be vested in subsequent periods. Conference Call Our management will hold a conference call at 17:30p.m. Beijing / Hong Kong Time on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 to discuss the financial results and answer questions from investors and analysts. For participants who wish to join the call, please complete online registration using the link provided below prior to the scheduled call start time. Participant Online Registration: https://webcast.roadshowchina.cn/b2hMVjJranVjWXRBMVR4R1ExcWIwdz09/meet Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows: International: +86-23-62737100 Mainland China: 023-63623333/4008-063-263 HK China: +852-30183602/+800-961505 English Dial-in Password: 290534058 Chinese Dial-in Password: 297236054 Please scan the QR code in the poster below to register for the conference: Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.brgroup.com/earnings About Bairong Inc. Bairong Inc. is a leading artificial intelligence (AI) technology services company. The Company applies natural language processing (NLP), privacy computing, machine learning, cloud computing and other technologies to provide services to enterprises through model-as-a-service (MaaS) and business-as-a-service (BaaS). The MaaS services leverage discriminant AI to digitalize the know-your-customer (KYC) and know-your-product (KYP) process for enterprises, by analyzing users' risk, willingness, and capability. The BaaS services use discriminant AI to analyze and stratify users into groups and develops generative AI-powered VoiceGPT using human natural languages to interact with users. The Company's products and services are widely used by enterprise customers in banking, consumer finance, insurance, e-commerce, automobiles, logistics, ticketing, energy, construction and other industries. For more information, please visit: http://ir.brgroup.com Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminologies such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "aims," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "likely to," and the negative of these words and other similar expressions or statements. Bairong may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the HKEx, in its annual and interim reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors, or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Bairong's beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the following: Bairong's strategies, future business development, and financial condition and results of operations; Bairong's limited operating history; risks associated with the financial service industry, Bairong's ability to develop and deliver services of high quality and appeal to clients; Bairong's ability to generate positive cash flow and profits; Bairong's ability to compete successfully; Bairong's ability to build its brand and withstand negative publicity; and changes in client demand and government incentives, subsidies, or other favorable government policies. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Bairong's filings with the HKEX. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Bairong does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required under applicable laws. For investor inquiries, please contact: Bairong Inc. Ms. Sandy Qin, CFA, CMA, FCG HKFCG Email: [email protected] For media inquiries, please contact: Bairong Inc. Email: [email protected] SOURCE Bairong Inc. BCS announces its latest benefits innovation with an integration into leading benefits administration platform Employee Navigator CHICAGO, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- BCS Financial today announces a new partnership with Employee Navigator, a leading benefits administration platform. The partnership will allow brokers and their employer clients the ability to seamlessly enroll in and administer BCS's award-winning EssentialCare accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity product lines. Partnership benefits include: Announcing a new integration between BCS and Employee Navigator A simple, easy-to-set-up integration that establishes a carrier connection to BCS Automated enrollment processes that reduce billing issues and eliminate dual entry Access to first-of-their-kind optional riders, and other innovative features and benefits, on BCS EssentialCare products "Whether we are crafting simple benefit plan designs, or building robust products with innovative, first-of-their-kind riders, our goal has always been to provide easy-to-use and flexible supplemental health solutions for employers," said Andrew Neslin, Head of Supplemental Health Solutions at BCS. "This partnership represents another step to simplify the experience for our broker partners, and improve the benefits experience for customers." More than 7,000 brokers already use Employee Navigator for benefits administration, real-time payroll integrations, and more. BCS EssentialCare accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity products, which provide lump-sum benefits to help cover the costs of unexpected health events, will be available on the platform in March, at no cost to brokers / agencies. "At Employee Navigator, our goal is to reduce the administrative burden facing brokers and make administering benefits easier for HR. This partnership with BCS Financial provides seamless, integrated benefits administration and will lead to a positive enrollment experience for brokers, employers and participants," said George Reese, CEO, Employee Navigator. BCS is wholly-owned by all Blue Cross Blue Shield licensees and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, and has more than 75 years of experience delivering a wide range of insurance and financial services. For more information about BCS and its supplemental health solutions, visit bcsf.com or essentialcare.com. About BCS Financial BCS Financial Corporation has more than 75 years of experience delivering a wide range of insurance and financial solutions for Blue Cross and Blue Shield organizations and commercial markets nationwide. Through its subsidiaries, BCS Insurance Company and 4 Ever Life Insurance Company, BCS is licensed in all 50 states and is rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best. BCS Financial is headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. Learn more at bcsf.com. About Employee Navigator Founded in 2008, Employee Navigator is a trusted benefits and HR software company integrated with over 500+ of the nation's leading insurance carriers, payroll companies, and TPAs. Serving over 170,000 companies and 6,000+ brokers across the country, Employee Navigator simplifies benefits management for businesses of all sizes. For more information, visit http://www.employeenavigator.com/ MEDIA CONTACT Nathan Post Phone: 630.472.7860 SOURCE BCS Financial SHANGHAI, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Blokees Global Partner Conference, was held on March 25. Themed "New Beginnings, New Journey", it brought together global partners to witness the launch of its "Product Ecosystem" framework. This initiative underscores Blokees's commitment to deepening product R&D, creating a diversified product matrix, and laying a solid foundation for sustained growth over the next decade. In his opening speech, Zhu Weisong, founder of Blokees, stated that in the next decade, it will focus on business innovation, customer value, partner collaboration, talent accumulation, and social responsibility. At the Blokees Global Partner Conference 2025, President Sheng Xiaofeng introduced Blokees' strategic vision for the next decade in his keynote speech, "Building an Innovative Blokees System and a Comprehensive Product Ecosystem." Blokees pioneered the concept of a holistic product ecosystem, vividly illustrating it through the metaphor of a thriving tree: innovation and R&D serve as the strong roots, a diverse global IP portfolio and robust product matrix form the branching structure, and global users and the BFC community represent flourishing leaves. At the event, Blokees presented its six classic series, including Hero5, Hero8, and Champion, alongside new releases from Transformers, Ultraman, and Marvel's Infinite Saga. The brand also unveiled three upcoming series featuring major IPs such as Harry Potter and Hatsune Miku, with promotional materials featuring "Adorable" and "Sweetheart," signaling expansion into new consumer segments. At the event, Blokees prominently highlighted its core brand valuethe BFC (Block Figure Creator) culturethrough global player showcases and the annual creator awards ceremony, reinforcing its philosophy of "user-driven innovation," as emphasized by Ye Shanshan, Vice President of Brand Marketing. This event represents a significant milestone in upgrading Blokees' product ecosystem, marking another breakthrough in deepening product development, strengthening foundational capabilities, and pursuing diversified innovation. Looking ahead, Blokees remains committed to an open, collaborative, and win-win approach, working closely with global partners to drive industry progress and usher in a new chapter for the next decade. SOURCE Blokees Air Force: 56 out of of 117 enemy UAVs shot down overnight, 48 lost from location Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/ Last night, units of the Defense Forces shot down 56 enemy UAVs, 48 drone simulators were lost, the press service of the Ukrainian Air Force reported. "As of 9:00, the downing of 56 Shahed-type attack UAVs (drones of other types) in the south, north, east and center of the country has been confirmed," the message says. In particular, 48 enemy drone imitators were lost (without negative consequences). It is reported that on the night of March 26 (from 20:00 on March 25), the enemy attacked with 117 Shahed-type strike UAVs and various types of drone imitators from the following directions: Millerovo, Kursk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk of the Russian Federation, 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. Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad and Cherkasy regions suffered as a result of the Russian attack. New Location Marks Key Milestone in Rapid Expansion and Ongoing Commitment to Drowning Prevention VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- British Swim School, North America's leading "learn to swim" provider, is proud to announce its 200th owner, marking a major milestone in the brand's growth and unwavering commitment to drowning prevention. As demand for water safety education reaches new heights, British Swim School continues to set the standard for high-quality swim instruction, equipping children and adults with life-saving skills. "This is an incredible achievement for British Swim School, a reflection of our franchisees' dedication, the strength of our proven business model, and the increasing demand for quality swim instruction," said Ashley Gundlach, President of British Swim School. "As we celebrate our 200th owner and over 500 locations throughout the US and Canada, we remain committed to providing every community with a fun, safe, and effective way to learn how to swim." British Swim School is making waves with historic levels of growth, welcoming 49,300 students so far in 2025an impressive 13% year-over-year increase. In 2024, the brand taught life-saving swim skills to 110,800 students, which is well over 1 million lessons, reflecting a remarkable 16% surge from the previous year. This momentum is driven by passionate franchisees, an industry-leading curriculum, and a commitment to drowning prevention, solidifying British Swim School as the premier choice for water safety education. Strategic Expansion and Growing Demand The brand's latest expansion includes new locations in Oregon, New Orleans (LA), Cleveland (OH), and Houston (TX), with continued growth planned in Los Angeles, Denver, Detroit, and Dallas-Fort Worth. As drowning remains a leading cause of accidental death for childrenespecially those ages 1-4 the urgency for swim education has never been greater. But the benefits extend beyond childhood, building confidence, safety, and skills for a lifetime. As more families prioritize swim education, British Swim School has become a top choice for anyone seeking lessons and entrepreneurs looking to invest in a mission-driven, high-demand business. Looking Ahead: Franchise Growth and Impact Looking ahead, British Swim School plans to further their reach with current owners across the United States and Canada, additionally growing the brand to 400+ sold territories over the next 24 months. Unlike traditional swim schools, British Swim School partners with underutilized pools in hotels, fitness centers, and retirement communities, eliminating the costly and time-consuming build-out of a dedicated facility. With established partnerships across North America, franchisees gain access to a network of potential pool partners, making expansion seamless. Combined with a proven track record of success, comprehensive training, and affordable start-up costs, British Swim School offers an accessible and scalable opportunity for aspiring business owners. As the company grows, it remains committed to delivering top-tier swim instruction and strengthening water safety education nationwide. To learn more about British Swim School and its franchising opportunities, visit https://britishswimschoolfranchise.com/. About British Swim School British Swim School, the nation's most established swim school franchise, with over 40 years in business, believes that every individual, regardless of age or ability, should have the opportunity to become a safe and happy swimmer. Offering lessons for babies, children, and adults, the brand is dedicated to its mantra, "Survival of the Littlest," focusing first on the survival skills needed to survive a water accident, then moving on to stroke development and more advanced skills. Not only does British Swim Schools give peace of mind to countless families who seek the essential life skills the brand offers their children, but the purpose-driven franchise also offers an exceptional opportunity for entrepreneurs who seek a fulfilling business venture with a sound foundation, low investment, and an easily scalable model. Part of the Buzz Franchise Brands family, British Swim School currently operates over 500 locations across the United States and Canada. For more information about British Swim School, visit www.britishswimschool.com. Contact: Alyssa Newman 609-970-4994 [email protected] SOURCE British Swim School 12 Charter Schools from Nine States Recognized for Excellence in Community Engagement, Educational Innovation, Student Empowerment, and Leadership $160,000 in Grants to be Awarded at Nonprofit's IMPACT Summit Awards Gala in Miami on May 7 WASHINGTON, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Building Hope , the non-profit leader in charter school facilities, financing, and services, has unveiled the twelve winners of the fourth annual Building Hope IMPACT Awards. These schools have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to the charter school community across the nation. Each of the four award categoriesCommunity Engagement, Educational Innovation, Student Empowerment, and the S. Joseph Bruno Model Charter Awardfeatures three outstanding public charter schools that demonstrate the transformative power of education to change lives and communities. In total, $160,000 in grants will be awarded, including one $20,000 grant and two $10,000 grants in each of the four categories, on May 7, 2025, in Miami. "We are proud to announce our fourth cohort of exceptional charter schools which demonstrate the powerful impact great education has on the lives of students," said Building Hope President and CEO William D. Hansen. "Building Hope is honored to support these twelve, inspirational schools and celebrate their dedication to student success, educational excellence, and community impact." The twelve 2025 winners represent nine states: S. Joseph Bruno Charter Leadership Award Community Engagement Award Educational Innovation Award Student Empowerment Award "These inspiring educational models with passionate, dedicated leaders are beacons of hope for the future of education," said Chief Impact Officer and Chair of the IMPACT Selection Committee Sherilyn Moore. "We are honored to shine a light on their amazing work to uplift students, families, and communities." The IMPACT Award winners will share their unique stories and discover their grant award amounts during Building Hope's fourth annual IMPACT Summit, May 6-7, 2025, in Miami. The summit is open to charter school leaders nationwide. To register or for additional information about the IMPACT Summit, visit https://impactawards.buildinghope.org. Building Hope wishes to thank the sponsors of the 2025 IMPACT Summit: Title Sponsor Platinum Sponsors Gold Sponsors Silver Sponsors About Building Hope Building Hope is a national nonprofit that empowers advancements in education through our work with charter schools providing unparalleled facility financing, real estate development, and operational services. We believe a facility should never be the barrier preventing a child from attending a great school. During our 21-year history, Building Hope has supported over $1 billion in the development of school facilities. For more information, visit www.buildinghope.org. Media Contact ShinePR for Building Hope [email protected] SOURCE Building Hope The Annual General Meeting of AB Electrolux was held in Stockholm on March 26, 2025. STOCKHOLM, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Shareholders and others had the opportunity to follow the Annual General Meeting live via Electrolux Group's website. A recording from the Annual General Meeting of the reflections by President and CEO, Yannick Fierling, on the past year, and the strategy going forward will be available on Electrolux Group's website, www.electroluxgroup.com/agm2025. The Company's Income Statement and Balance Sheet and the Consolidated Income Statement and Balance Sheet for Electrolux Group were adopted. The Board of Directors and the President and CEO were discharged from liability for the financial year 2024. In accordance with the Board's proposal, the Annual General Meeting resolved to not distribute any dividend for the financial year 2024 and that available funds will be carried forward in the new accounts. The Annual General Meeting adopted remuneration to the Board in accordance with the Nomination Committee's proposal. Geert Follens, Petra Hedengran, Ulla Litzen, Torbjorn Loof, Daniel Nodhall, Karin Overbeck, David Porter and Michael Rauterkus were re-elected as Directors of the Board, and Yannick Fierling was elected as new Director of the Board, for the period until the end of the Annual General Meeting 2026. Torbjorn Loof was re-elected as Chair of the Board of Directors. Ohrlings PricewaterhouseCoopers AB was elected as auditor for the period until the end of the Annual General Meeting 2026 and fee to the auditor will be paid as incurred. The Board of Director's Remuneration Report for the financial year 2024 was approved. The Annual General Meeting authorized the Board of Directors to resolve on transfers of own shares of series B in connection with or as a consequence of company acquisitions and for the purpose of covering costs related to social security charges, that may arise as a result of the company's obligations under the previously adopted share program for 2023. These authorizations are effective during the period until the Annual General Meeting 2026. The Board's proposal for a performance based long-term share program for 2025 was approved. Furthermore, the Annual General Meeting resolved that the company's expected financial exposure of the program shall be hedged by the company entering into an equity swap agreement with a third party. Full details on the proposals adopted by the Annual General Meeting are available at Electrolux Group's website, www.electroluxgroup.com/agm2025. CONTACT: For further information, please contact Electrolux Press Hotline, +46 8 657 65 07. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/electrolux-group/r/bulletin-from-the-annual-general-meeting-of-ab-electrolux,c4123909 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/1853/4123909/3348139.pdf 250326 Bulletin AB Electrolux AGM 2025 SOURCE Electrolux Group HOUSTON and TUPELO, Miss., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cadence Bank (NYSE: CADE) (the Company) today announced that it has adjourned its special meeting of shareholders originally convened on Dec. 30, 2024 (the Special Meeting), that reconvened on Jan. 27, 2025, and this morning, until Friday, April 25, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time. The Special Meeting was adjourned to allow the Company additional time to solicit proxies from preferred shareholders in favor of a proposal (Proposal 2) to authorize the Company's Board of Directors to implement repurchases of stock in accordance with Regulation H. At its meeting today, the board of directors of the Company declared a special cash dividend of $0.34375 per share of Series A Preferred Stock (NYSE: CADE/PA) to be paid if Proposal 2 receives the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding preferred stock at the Special Meeting. The preferred stock dividend would be payable on May 7, 2025, to preferred shareholders of record at the close of business on April 30, 2025, in the event Proposal 2 receives the requisite two-thirds vote at the Special Meeting. Proposal 2 is described in more detail in the Company's proxy statement dated Nov. 19, 2024, furnished to the Company's shareholders in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Company's Board of Directors for use at the Special Meeting. The Company's common shareholders approved Proposals 1, 2, 3 and 4 at the Special Meeting on Dec. 30, 2024, prior to adjournment, which was all of the business to be voted upon by common shareholders at the Special Meeting. The Company's preferred shareholders approved Proposal 4 prior to adjournment. The record date for determining shareholders eligible to vote at the Special Meeting will remain the close of business on Nov. 8, 2024. Valid proxies submitted by Company preferred shareholders will continue to be valid for purposes of the reconvened Special Meeting scheduled for Friday, April 25, 2025. Company preferred shareholders as of the close of business on Nov. 8, 2024, who have not voted on Proposal 2 but wish to do so should contact Okapi Partners, the Company's proxy solicitor, at [email protected] or (855) 208-8902 (Toll-Free). Attending the Virtual Special Meeting The reconvened Special Meeting of the Company's preferred shareholders to vote on Proposal 2 will be held virtually on Friday, April 25, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time. Preferred shareholders may attend and participate in the reconvened Special Meeting virtually by visiting the following web address, meetnow.global/MLVC22S, and entering the 15-digit control number found on the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (Notice) received. Preferred shareholders who hold shares through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker, must register in advance using the instructions in the Notice materials. About Cadence Bank Cadence Bank (NYSE: CADE) is a $50 billion regional financial services company committed to helping people, companies and communities prosper. With more than 350 locations spanning the South and Texas, Cadence offers comprehensive banking, investment, trust and mortgage products and services to meet the needs of individuals, businesses and corporations. Accolades include being recognized as one of the nation's best employers by Forbes and U.S. News & World Report and a 2025 America's Best Banks by Forbes. Cadence maintains dual headquarters in Houston, Texas and Tupelo, Mississippi, and has dutifully served customers for nearly 150 years. Learn more at www.cadencebank.com. Cadence Bank, Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. Additional Information This communication may be deemed to be additional solicitation material with respect to the special meeting. On November 19, 2024, the Company filed a definitive proxy statement with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") in connection with the Special Meeting. SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY THE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER SOLICITING MATERIALS THAT ARE FILED WITH THE FDIC OR FEDERAL RESERVE WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THESE DOCUMENTS CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THE PROPOSAL TO BE VOTED UPON. The Company's proxy statement and any other solicitation materials filed by the Company with the FDIC and Federal Reserve can be obtained free of charge on the Investor Relations section of our website at ir.cadencebank.com. Shareholders may also request a copy of these materials at no cost by contacting the Company at 201 South Spring Street, Tupelo, Mississippi 38804, or 1-800-368-5948. The Company has engaged Okapi Partners LLC to aid in the solicitation of proxies. Detailed information regarding the identity of participants, and their respective interests in the Company by security holdings or otherwise, are set forth in the definitive proxy statement for the Special Meeting. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" including statements concerning plans, objectives, future events or performance and assumptions and other statements, which are statements other than statements of historical fact. The Company cautions readers that certain factors may have affected and could in the future affect actual results and could cause actual results for subsequent periods to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made by or on behalf of the Company herein. For a list of factors which could affect the Company's results, see the Company's filings with the FDIC and Federal Reserve, including "Item 1A. Risk Factors," set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of this filing, even if subsequently made available by the Company on its website or otherwise. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release. SOURCE Cadence Bank SHENZHEN, China, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- When cameras illuminate solar PV, inspiring interactions between technology and nature emerge. On March 20, 2025, Huawei FusionSolar Creators' Cup was launched, calling for creative works from global PV installers. The event is designed to demonstrate the technical value, aesthetic effect, and positive impact of PV and energy storage systems (ESSs) in residential, commercial, and industrial scenarios through the language of lens. The top award is worth of US$100,000. Submissions will be accepted from April 1 until July 31. Capture Green Lifestyles and Win Exciting Prizes Creating your solar stories Five sessions: Capturing the world of PV & ESS in your eyes "Listen! What They Say": Installers can communicate deeply with home owners, and record their original intentions of choosing Huawei FusionSolar and the changes that solar energy brings. "Look! My Masterpieces": Installers also create vlogs or images to unveil the impressive installation details and great moments of the PV & ESS solution in real-world sites. "Shh! The Winning Formula": Installers can demonstrate their technical strengths by presenting the performance advantages and customer benefits of FusionSolar products. "Experience! It Makes Our Day": Installers can capture fresh stories and interesting moments during their daily work. Moreover, the contest encourages breakthroughs to unlock more fresh and cutting-edge expressions and show their creativity. Recording PV & ESS products with cameras Inviting global installers to tell their solar stories Awards in the contest include the "Best Creation of the Year," "Best Video/Image of the Year," and "Top Picks of the Month." Award winners will be granted customized trophies and gifts. The creations should focus on Huawei FusionSolar products. A video should be no longer than 5 minutes. An image should be storytelling and contain product elements. Participants can join the contest on YouTube and Facebook, and mark the specified topics to facilitate assessment. PV installations keep growing around the world, presenting significant opportunities for development. As an indispensable role in the PV industry ecosystem, installers not only put technologies into play, but also act as a bridge between customers and the industry. Installers are encouraged to join Huawei FusionSolar Creators' Cup and record their solar stories with cameras on the journey toward a sustainable future. For more information, please visit the Huawei FusionSolar official website or follow its official account on social media. https://solar.huawei.com/en/community/huawei-fusionsolar-creators-cup Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2649497/Capture_Green_Lifestyles_and_Win_Exciting_Prizes.jpg The CZ Biohub San Francisco and CZ Imaging Institute will join together to develop novel imaging technologies that provide entirely new insights into human biology, led by Dr. Scott Fraser REDWOOD CITY, Calif., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) announced a new grand challenge to develop groundbreaking imaging technologies to transform how scientists observe, measure and understand living cells and organisms. CZI's two powerhouse institutes, CZ Biohub San Francisco and CZ Institute for Advanced Biological Imaging, will leverage their complementary expertise to form a new Biohub unmatched in the field of life science imaging research. They will combine their teams at a new science campus in Redwood City, Calif., adjacent to CZI headquarters. "These institutes are leveraging their complementary strengths at a critical moment in biological discovery when the right combination of technological and scientific expertise can create novel tools to illuminate hidden dynamics of complex systems, like the brain and immune system, to fully understand how they function," said co-founder and co-CEO of CZI, Priscilla Chan. Scott Fraser, CZI's vice president of science grant programs, has accepted the role of president of the Chan Zuckerberg Imaging Institute effective April 1. He will lead the new grand challenge and work with the CZ Imaging Institute, CZ Biohub San Francisco and CZI leaders to lay the groundwork for the two institutes to form a new Biohub, which will join existing institutes in the CZ Biohub Network. Dr. Fraser is renowned for innovative work in biological imaging as a professor of biological sciences and biomedical engineering. His achievements include developing techniques to visualize biological processes in living organisms, advancing 4D imaging for embryonic development, and creating methods to track cells and molecules. Building on the successful Biohub model The San Francisco Biohub was one of CZI's first big bets in science, including CZI's powerful model for enabling research that brings different disciplines together to tackle large scientific challenges. At the San Francisco Biohub, scientists and engineers are developing cutting-edge tools that advance understanding of dynamic cell systems across scales in healthy and diseased states. Their work has resulted in a first-of-its-kind complete map of zebrafish embryo development and a first-draft human cell atlas of over 1.1 million cells . The success of the Biohub's collaborative model inspired the approach of two other Biohubs in Chicago and New York, as well as the Chan Zuckerberg Imaging Institute, which is focused on building novel imaging technologies and visualization tools to reveal the inner workings of cells and cell systems. Working closely with the bioimaging community, the CZ Imaging Institute has already sped the cryo-ET pipeline by almost 100-fold, and addresses critical research challenges through initiatives like the cryo-ET data portal and an ML challenge designed to automate molecular labeling in 3D cellular imagesdirectly tackling a major bottleneck in in-situ structural biology research. Illuminating the dynamic architecture of living systems The vision for the new Biohub is to develop novel imaging systems to illuminate the dynamic architecture of living systems, making what was invisible visible, measurable and understandable. Living systems are in constant motion, with cells, tissues and organs continuously changing in complex and interconnected ways. Current imaging technologies provide only static snapshots or limited views of these dynamic processes, leaving scientists and physicians with an incomplete understanding of how biological systems function, and what goes wrong in disease. To change this, the combined teams will develop breakthrough imaging technologies integrated with molecular analysis methods that can capture biological processes across multiple scalesfrom individual proteins to whole organisms. These new capabilities will validate virtual cell models, guide cell engineering strategies, and reveal organizing principles for tissue engineering. "Leading a grand challenge and a research institute of this magnitude is an honor," said Scott Fraser, incoming president of the Chan Zuckerberg Imaging Institute. "By fusing the San Francisco Biohub and the Imaging Institute together, both leaders in their respective fields, we will have the ability to revolutionize how scientists explore, understand and ultimately harness the fundamental processes of life. This is an exciting time for science and for CZI." To support this transformative research, the unified Biohub will be based in Redwood City in 2027, creating a new science campus at Elco Yards, currently under construction. This campus will foster collaboration across disciplinesbringing together a world-class team of scientists, engineers, and artificial intelligence and machine learning expertsto build novel tools and technologies that will make new discoveries possible and accelerate progress toward curing, preventing or managing diseases in this century. "Since its inception, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has made bold, long-term investments in scientific research and technology to advance understanding of human biology," said Joe DeRisi, president of the CZ Biohub San Francisco. "Having the San Francisco Biohub and the Imaging Institute join together for this grand challenge is a natural fit and is an example of CZI continuing to make big bets in science. I look forward to working with Scott Fraser and our colleagues over the next two years on this exciting work." The San Francisco Biohub launched in 2016 with a 10-year commitment to address some of the most important questions in science. Joe DeRisi will continue to lead the organization through its initial commitment and support the evolution of its work as it joins with the Chan Zuckerberg Imaging Institute. About the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative was founded in 2015 to help solve some of society's toughest challenges from eradicating disease and improving education, to addressing the needs of our local communities. Our mission is to build a better future for everyone. For more information, please visit chanzuckerberg.com. About the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Network The Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Network is a group of nonprofit research institutes that bring together scientists, engineers, and physicians with the goal of pursuing grand scientific challenges on 10- to 15-year time horizons. The CZ Biohub Network focuses on understanding underlying mechanisms of disease and developing new technologies that will lead to actionable diagnostics and effective therapies. To learn more, visit www.czbiohub.org. SOURCE Chan Zuckerberg Initiative PHILADELPHIA, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Berger Montague PC advises investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed against Arconic Corporation ("Arconic" or the "Company") (NYSE: ARNC) on behalf of sellers of Arconic securities between April 19, 2022 through May 3, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Investor Deadline: Investors who sold ARCONIC securities during the Class Period may, no later than MARCH 31, 2025 , seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. To learn your rights, CLICK HERE . Arconic, headquartered in Pittsburgh, was a provider of aluminum sheets and architectural products to the ground transportation, aerospace, building and construction, and industrial markets. According to the suit, Arconic and its senior executives failed to disclose offers to purchase all of the outstanding shares of Arconic common stock at a material premium, far above the Company's then-current stock price, and at the same time repurchased millions of Arconic shares at significantly below the offer price. These failures to disclose material non-public information kept the price of Arconic common stock artificially low. Arconic had an obligation to either disclose that it had received a formal acquisition offer from Apollo Global Management, Inc. or abstain from trading in its own securities. From April 19, 2022 through the Company's announcement that it had entered into an agreement to be acquired by Apollo at $30 per share, Arconic repurchased millions of Arconic shares at an average price of below $23 per share. To learn your rights or for more information, CLICK HERE or please contact Berger Montague: Andrew Abramowitz at [email protected] or (215) 875-3015, or Peter Hamner at [email protected] . A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not, however, affected by the decision whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. Communicating with any counsel is not necessary to participate or share in any recovery achieved in this case. Any member of the purported class may move the Court to serve as a lead plaintiff through counsel of his/her choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an inactive class member. Berger Montague, with offices in Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Delaware, Washington, D.C., San Diego, San Francisco and Chicago, has been a pioneer in securities class action litigation since its founding in 1970. Berger Montague has represented individual and institutional investors for over five decades and serves as lead counsel in courts throughout the United States. Contact: Andrew Abramowitz, Senior Counsel Berger Montague (215) 875-3015 [email protected] Peter Hamner Berger Montague PC [email protected] SOURCE Berger Montague TORONTO, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Collective Mining Ltd. (NYSE: CNL), (TSX: CNL) ("Collective" or the "Company") has today filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") its SEC Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2024. This includes the Company's Annual Information Form, audited Financial Statements and Management's Discussion & Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2024. Collective's shareholders may receive a hard copy of the Company's complete audited Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, free of charge, upon request. For further information, please visit the Company website at www.collectivemining.com. About Collective Mining Ltd. To see our latest corporate presentation and related information, please visit www.collectivemining.com. Founded by the team that developed and sold Continental Gold Inc. to Zijin Mining for approximately $2 billion in enterprise value, Collective is a gold, silver, copper and tungsten exploration company with projects in Caldas, Colombia. The Company has options to acquire 100% interests in two projects located directly within an established mining camp with ten fully permitted and operating mines. The Company's flagship project, Guayabales, is anchored by the Apollo system, which hosts the large-scale, bulk-tonnage and high-grade gold-silver-copper-tungsten Apollo system. The Company's objectives are to improve the overall grade of the Apollo system by systematically drill testing newly modeled potentially high-grade sub-zones, expand the Apollo system by stepping out along strike to the north and expanding the newly discovered high-grade Ramp Zone along strike and to depth, expand the Trap system and drill a series of newly generated targets including Tower and X. Management and insiders own approximately 33.4% of the outstanding shares of the Company and as a result, are fully aligned with shareholders. The Company is listed on the NYSE American and TSX under the trading symbol "CNL" and on the FSE under the trading symbol "GG1". Information Contact: Follow Executive Chairman Ari Sussman (@Ariski73) on X Follow Collective Mining (@CollectiveMini1) on X, (Collective Mining) on LinkedIn, and (@collectivemining) on Instagram FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). 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 discussion with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often, but not always using phrases such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: anticipated use of proceeds from the Offering and the exercise of Warrants; the anticipated advancement of mineral properties or programs; future operations; future recovery metal recovery rates; future growth potential of Collective; and future development plans. These forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding future events including the direction of our business. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: planed use of proceeds from the Offering and the exercise of the Warrants; risks related to the speculative nature of the Company's business; the Company's formative stage of development; the Company's financial position; possible variations in mineralization, grade or recovery rates; actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of future economic evaluations; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold, precious and base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets; change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formation pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the annual information form of the Company dated March 27, 2024. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements and there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. SOURCE Collective Mining Ltd. MONTREAL, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Congruence Therapeutics, a computationally-driven biotechnology company building a unique pipeline of correctors for diseases of protein misfolding, including MC4R-deficient genetic obesity, GBA-driven Parkinson's disease and AAT-deficient lung and liver disease, announced today its participation in the 24th Annual Needham Virtual Healthcare Conference taking place April 7-10, 2025. This event is being held in a virtual format during which Company management will deliver a presentation and participate in one-on-one meetings with investors. Dr. Clarissa Desjardins, Chief Executive Officer of Congruence, will present on Monday, April 7, 2025, at 10:15 am ET. About Congruence Therapeutics Congruence is a computationally-driven biotechnology company building a unique pipeline of transformative small molecule correctors rationally designed to rescue aberrant protein function. Our proprietary scalable platform, Revenir, captures the biophysical features of proteins across their conformational ensembles, in order to identify novel allosteric and cryptic pockets which are virtually screened to generate novel chemical matter. Congruence has leveraged its proprietary discovery engine to launch a pipeline of wholly owned drugs directed to high-value, genetically validated, difficult-to-drug targets spanning a variety of indications including genetic obesity, GBA Parkinson's Disease, and 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency. Congruence is further deploying its discovery platform to support two recently executed multi-target research collaborations with large pharmaceutical companies focused on the discovery of small molecule correctors for the treatment of solid tumors and metabolic diseases. For more information, please visit www.congruencetx.com. Company Contact Charles Grubsztajn Chief Operating Officer [email protected] Media Contact Amy Conrad Juniper Point [email protected] 858-366-3243 SOURCE Congruence Therapeutics NEW YORK, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The new VR design agency Customer XR launched this month with a mission to build custom virtual and augmented reality solutions to help major US brands harness the power of Extended Reality (XR) and the greater Metaverse to connect with customers. Founded and headquartered in New York and with a team of Virtual and Augmented Reality application designers who are committed to helping major US brands connect with their customers using the power of Extended Reality. Additionally, Customer XR is an approved independent Software Vendor (ISV) for Meta and an approved development partner for Apple as a way of working as an ambassador between major brands and these two powerful VR ecosystems. "With over 22 Million active VR headsets in use globally, many organizations are now looking to utilize the massive impact of Virtual and Augmented Reality applications via the Meta and Apple platforms, but do not know where to begin," reported Customer XR Co-Founder and President Kevin Sheehan. "What Customer XR is hoping to become is that single source for starting that journey," he added. "By having a team of developers in-house to build low-cost proof of concept applications and then the strategic partnerships with the most talented developers around the country, we can build any XR idea as an enterprise grade application." Here are some of the current projects currently in flight for the boutique agency working from New York: A VR design application for Kitchen Savers that allows users to see their current kitchen in augmented reality and then select from their portfolio of finishes and accessories. Experience the frightening impact of a basement fire in VR without an escape door for Egress Pros and then see how it would function to allow a safe exit in case of a fire. A proof of concept for a global luxury hotel chain that would allow potential guests to feel in full 360-degree 8K virtual reality the experience of being throughout their luxury resort from the lobby to the rooms out to all of their amenities. virtual reality the experience of being throughout their luxury resort from the lobby to the rooms out to all of their amenities. An innovative VR application for managers of the largest Asian American Quick Service Restaurant based exactly on their test kitchen at their CA headquarters, which will save the time and expense of bringing staff out for training and testing. Customer XR was founded with Investment from Cloudlinx which is one of the nation's leading experts delivering technology to further greater customer experiences and is a two-time Inc 5000 winner for being one of the fastest growing companies in America. SOURCE Cloudlinx Zelenskyy on night strikes: Launching such large-scale attacks after ceasefire talks is clear signal to whole world that Moscow not going to pursue real peace Strong steps and more pressure on Russia are needed to stop Russian strikes, such large-scale shelling shows that Moscow is not going to make real peace, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to the night shelling of UAVs. Last night, there were another 117 proofs in our skies of how Russia continues to drag out this war 117 strike drones, most of them Shaheds. A significant number were shot down by our air defenders, Zelenskyy said on X Wednesday. He noted that Dnipro, Sumy, Cherkasy, and other regions came under Russian attack. There was a massive drone strike on Kryvyi Rih targeting a local enterprise and civilian infrastructure. In Okhtyrka, Sumy region, homes, stores, and civilian infrastructure were damaged. Communities in Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhia regions also came under fire. Everyone who was affected must be given assistance. But there must also be clear pressure and strong action from the world on Russia more pressure, more sanctions from the United States to stop Russian strikes. Launching such large-scale attacks after ceasefire negotiations is a clear signal to the whole world that Moscow is not going to pursue real peace, the President stressed. He recalled that since March 11, there has been a U.S. proposal for a total ceasefire, a complete halt to strikes, and literally every night, through its attacks, Russia keeps saying no to our partners peace proposal. As reported earlier, Defense Forces units shot down 56 enemy UAVs last night, and 48 drone simulators were lost. RESTON, Va., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cyberhill Partners, in partnership with data.world and KUNGFU.AI, has been awarded a contract with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to develop a modernized platform to enhance Department of Defense (DoD) biosurveillance capabilities using artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced data analytics. The program will be led by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs. The selection follows a rigorous evaluation process in which 78 companies submitted solutions. The program, led by the Chemical and Biological Defense (CBD) program in partnership with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), aims to enhance the DoD's ability to detect and respond rapidly to emerging biological threats. "DoD must provide the Joint Force with revolutionary capabilities to deter or prevail against adversary's biological weapons," said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Ian Watson for CBD. "Leveraging AI, machine learning, and big data analytics will transform biosurveillance into a predictive and responsive capability during competition, crisis, and conflict." Cyberhill is working in partnership with data.world and KUNGFU.AI to deliver an integrated solution combining secure software infrastructure, knowledge-graph-based analytics, and AI-powered threat detection. Cyberhill brings deep experience delivering secure enterprise technologies in classified and mission-critical environments. "At Cyberhill, we have seen how important it is to get leading-edge commercial software in the hands of the warfighter," said Jake McAndrew, Partner at Cyberhill Partners. "We are proud to stand alongside our partners to drive private-sector innovation at the speed and efficiency required to meet the mission's demands." The prototype will undergo evaluation in simulated threat environments to measure its performance in providing real-time decision support and operational readiness. "The ability to rapidly identify and assess biological threats is critical to national security," said RDML Brandon Taylor, DHA Public Health Director. "By incorporating commercial innovation, we will strengthen our biosurveillance infrastructure and ensure we stay ahead of emerging threats." This initiative represents a critical advancement in integrating commercial innovation into national security operations. Through its role in strengthening biosurveillance capabilities, Cyberhill helps ensure the DoD remains prepared to detect and respond to emerging biological threats before they escalate into significant risks. About Cyberhill Partners Cyberhill Partners delivers secure, scalable, and smart software solutions through expert implementation services in cybersecurity, cloud, AI, and data analytics. With over 800 successful implementations and trusted partnerships across the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community, we help enterprise, mid-size, and government organizations operationalize their data, strengthen their cybersecurity posture, and accelerate digital transformation. Media Contact: Carolyn Hassan, Marketing Director Cyberhill Partners, LLC [email protected] SOURCE Cyberhill Partners, LLC BEIJING, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 24, 2025, Delixi Electric, in cooperation with Xinhua Publishing House, hosted a press conference in Beijing to unveil "Towards Net Zero: A Practical Guide to Green and Sustainable Development Strategies." The event marked the official release of the industry's first comprehensive model guide on green and sustainable development practices. Addressing Business Transformation Challenges: A Blueprint for Sustainable Practices Delixi Electric unveils Towards Net Zero Guide, paving the way for a Zero-Carbon future Delixi Electric unveils the industrys first carbon neutral product Amid escalating global climate change and resource limitations, manufacturing companies are under mounting pressure to transform and upgrade their operations. As a leader in the low-voltage electrical industry, Delixi Electric acknowledges that adopting green and low-carbon practices is not only a corporate social responsibility but also essential for ensuring sustainable growth. Consequently, the company is leading efforts to drive change and exploring pathways for green transformation. The Guide covers multiple areas such as green product research and development, low-carbon supply chain management, and cultivating a green culture among employees. It features real-world cases from Delixi Electric, offering a comprehensive view of the company's top-level design strategy and practical transformation efforts. The release of the Guide aims to provide both theoretical support and practical guidance for companies seeking sustainability transformation, ultimately enhancing the quality-driven development of the industry. Advancing Green Ecology: Showcasing the Latest Innovation at Launch Event Delixi Electric has long implemented its green growth strategy by expanding its practical efforts since 2018, focusing on initiatives such as zero-carbon factories, green supply chains, and the integration of solar storage and charging. These efforts have yielded impressive results. At the launch event, Sun Guangqing, Vice President of Supply Chain at Delixi Electric, announced that the company achieved full operational carbon neutrality by the end of 2024. The event also included a certification awarding ceremony by the Ti Testing and Certification Group, during which Delixi Electric unveiled the industry's first carbon neutral product. This milestone signifies a new phase in the company's ongoing efforts to develop green technologies. Lou Feng, President of Delixi Electric, stated, "The Practical Guide is not merely an overview of Delixi Electric's green initiatives in recent years; it aspires to serve as a methodology that can be shared and adapted by our industry peers. We place significant emphasis on collaborating with partners from all sectors, leveraging technological expertise to support and accelerate sustainable growth. Our goal is to collectively build a green ecosystem and, through our influence, lead the industry in advancing towards a greener, low-carbon future." Delixi Electric remains committed to its sustainability philosophy, driven by innovation, and will continue to deliver comprehensive, high-quality and eco-friendly solutions to its users. Simultaneously, the company is calling on industry partners to engage in open collaboration to expedite the construction of a sustainable ecosystem. SOURCE Delixi Electric DOWNTOWN FREDERICK, Md., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Downtown Frederick Partnership is dedicated to fostering a vibrant, thriving downtown that serves as the heart of the Frederick community. As a nationally recognized Main Street organization, the Partnership works year-round to support local businesses, enhance public spaces and create engaging events that bring people together. Through strategic initiatives in business development, design, events and community engagement, the Partnership ensures that Downtown Frederick remains a dynamic place to live, work and visit. Downtown Frederick Partnership Showcases Growth and Announces Future Plans Downtown Frederick Partnership Downtown Frederick Partnership is pleased to share key accomplishments and announce upcoming initiatives that will further enhance the vitality of Downtown Frederick. The following updates were presented to the City Council on March 20, 2025. Business Development The Business Development Committee provides Downtown Frederick's new and existing businesses with the incentives, tools and resources they need to thrive. The committee focuses on creating a supportive environment for the entrepreneurs and innovators that drive the downtown economy. Highlights from the past year and upcoming projects include: Retail Incubator: In February 2025 , the Partnership was one of 88 Main Street organizations nationwideand the only one in Marylandinvited to apply for a $100,000 Hartford Small Business Accelerator Grant. If awarded, the Partnership plans to use the funds to launch a Retail Incubator that will support diverse entrepreneurs by providing a shared retail space, business training and mentorship. If the project moves forward, applications to participate in the incubator are expected to open later this year. In , the Partnership was one of 88 Main Street organizations nationwideand the only one in Marylandinvited to apply for a Hartford Small Business Accelerator Grant. If awarded, the Partnership plans to use the funds to launch a Retail Incubator that will support diverse entrepreneurs by providing a shared retail space, business training and mentorship. If the project moves forward, applications to participate in the incubator are expected to open later this year. Mission: Interior Grant Program: Supported by funds from the State of Maryland's Community Legacy program, Mission: Interior provides capital support for downtown businesses to improve the interior of their historic spaces. To date, more than $186,000 has been awarded through the program. The 2025 application is open now through April 9 , with a new rolling application process launching in FY26 to provide up to $1,000 in funding for new downtown businesses. Supported by funds from the Community Legacy program, Mission: Interior provides capital support for downtown businesses to improve the interior of their historic spaces. To date, more than has been awarded through the program. The 2025 application is open now through , with a new rolling application process launching in FY26 to provide up to in funding for new downtown businesses. Business Training & City Visit: The annual City Visit took local business owners to Annapolis to explore parking redevelopment. In 2025, the visit will focus on Downtown Harrisonburg, VA , studying accessibility, events, and marketing strategies. Additionally, the Partnership introduced micro-trainings on key topics, including the Youth Apprenticeship Program, Google Business Profile setup and customer engagement with ASL users. The annual City Visit took local business owners to to explore parking redevelopment. In 2025, the visit will focus on , studying accessibility, events, and marketing strategies. Additionally, the Partnership introduced micro-trainings on key topics, including the Youth Apprenticeship Program, Google Business Profile setup and customer engagement with ASL users. 2024 Business Performance Survey: The Partnership's 13th annual survey captured insights into downtown businesses' financial health, economic outlook, and challenges. Key findings from the 93 responding businesses include: The Partnership's 13th annual survey captured insights into downtown businesses' financial health, economic outlook, and challenges. Key findings from the 93 responding businesses include: 47% of businesses reported profits as "much better" or "slightly better" in 2024 (up from 42% in 2023). The most valued Partnership services were ranked as communication of city news (90%), downtown marketing (80%), and streetscape improvements (65%). The top challenges for 2025 include rising costs, foot traffic, and employee retention. The Partnership is taking these challenges into account as it plans initiatives to support downtown businesses in the months ahead. The full report can be found here: downtownfrederick.org/wp-content/uploads/2024-Business-Performance-Survey-Report.pdf Design & Infrastructure Enhancements The Design Committee works with numerous community partners to address key planning issues that set Downtown Frederick apart. Key projects include: Downtown Ambassador Program: Since 2021, this initiative, with support from the City of Frederick and other funders, has significantly contributed to Downtown Frederick's cleanliness and hospitality. Ambassadors are full-time paid employees who work 5 days a week. In the past year, they have cleaned 11,758 block faces as well as 4,779 public infrastructure items, and collected 1,660 bags of trash. Since 2021, this initiative, with support from the and other funders, has significantly contributed to cleanliness and hospitality. Ambassadors are full-time paid employees who work 5 days a week. In the past year, they have cleaned 11,758 block faces as well as 4,779 public infrastructure items, and collected 1,660 bags of trash. Bring A Broom Saturday: This annual volunteer cleanup event mobilizes 350-400 volunteers to clean and beautify downtown. The 2025 event is scheduled for Saturday, April 26 register to help at bringabroom2025.eventbrite.com This annual volunteer cleanup event mobilizes 350-400 volunteers to clean and beautify downtown. The 2025 event is scheduled for register to help at bringabroom2025.eventbrite.com Downtown Streetscape Improvements: The Partnership submitted its first-ever $2 million Congressionally Directed Spending request to support future streetscape upgrades. The Downtown Frederick Streetscape Study conducted by Downtown Frederick Partnership and the City of Frederick in 2021 can be found here: downtownfrederick.org/streetscapestudy The Partnership submitted its first-ever Congressionally Directed Spending request to support future streetscape upgrades. The Downtown Frederick Streetscape Study conducted by Downtown Frederick Partnership and the in 2021 can be found here: downtownfrederick.org/streetscapestudy Seventh Street Fountain Park: The Partnership is leading efforts to renovate this historic public park in collaboration with the City of Frederick , the African American Resources, Cultural Heritage Society and the Ausherman Family. The Partnership is leading efforts to renovate this historic public park in collaboration with the , the African American Resources, Cultural Heritage Society and the Ausherman Family. Carroll Creek Wayfinding: Collaborating with the City of Frederick and Visit Frederick, the Partnership is helping to coordinate the design of improved wayfinding signage for Carroll Creek Linear Park , Frederick County's most-visited tourism destination. Collaborating with the and Visit Frederick, the Partnership is helping to coordinate the design of improved wayfinding signage for , most-visited tourism destination. Facade & Fire Suppression Grants: Downtown Frederick Partnership is committed to protecting and restoring its historic architecture. In 2024, the organization granted $58,448 for facade improvements to downtown businesses, and $50,000 was allocated for fire suppression system installations. Community Engagement & Organizational Growth The Partnership is dedicated to fostering a connected and engaged community through innovative programs and sustainable funding strategies: Downtown Light Walk: Part of the Partnership's efforts to enhance the vibrancy of our Main Street district include placemaking initiatives like the Downtown Frederick Light Walk. The Light Walk features 6 unique lighting installations, including the iconic "Disco Garage" stairwell in the Carroll Creek Parking Garage and "Kaleidoscope" light tunnel in Everedy Square & Shab Row. Part of the Partnership's efforts to enhance the vibrancy of our Main Street district include placemaking initiatives like the Downtown Frederick Light Walk. The Light Walk features 6 unique lighting installations, including the iconic "Disco Garage" stairwell in the Carroll Creek Parking Garage and "Kaleidoscope" light tunnel in Everedy Square & Shab Row. Fundraising & Community Support: Downtown Frederick Partnership is celebrating its 35th year in 2025. The organization has continued to evolve and grow over the years establishing beloved local events, providing critical support to our small businesses, and so much more. None of this would have been possible without the community's support. In FY24, more than 50% ($644,000) of the Partnership's operating budget came from fundraising and grants, and more than 3,000 hours of volunteer service were provided to support the Partnership's work. Marketing & Events The Partnership continues to promote Downtown Frederick as a premier destination through strategic marketing and engaging events. To this end, the Promotion Committee spends hundreds of hours organizing and executing events like First Saturday, Alive @ Five and Frosty Friday that make Downtown Frederick a vibrant destination and a fun place to live. Marketing Investment: To promote Downtown Frederick as a thriving Main Street district with unique shopping, dining and experiences, the Partnership implements a robust marketing campaign by committing more than $115,000 annually to advertising and promotional efforts. To promote as a thriving Main Street district with unique shopping, dining and experiences, the Partnership implements a robust marketing campaign by committing more than annually to advertising and promotional efforts. Events: The Partnership organizes over 60 events annually, including monthly First Saturdays and Artwalks that showcase local shops, restaurants, galleries and small businesses, while seasonal events like Halloween in Downtown Frederick ( October 25 ), Fall Fest (September 2628), Frederick @ Night ( November 7 ), Frosty Friday ( November 28 ), and the Love Local Tour (December) create festive community experiences. Alive @ Five (kicks off May 8 this year) provides a stage for a diverse lineup of musicians all summer long and Bites & Bevs ( March 2026 ) highlights the city's vibrant food and beverage scene. Unique experiences like the Lawn Party at the High Wheel ( July 12 ) and Uptown Salsa Night (October) offer memorable moments, while the annual Fire in Ice event ( February 6 7, 2026) draws over 25,000 visitors each February, making it one of Downtown Frederick's most anticipated traditions. The Partnership organizes over 60 events annually, including monthly First Saturdays and Artwalks that showcase local shops, restaurants, galleries and small businesses, while seasonal events like Halloween in ( ), Fall Fest (September 2628), @ Night ( ), Frosty Friday ( ), and the Love Local Tour (December) create festive community experiences. Alive @ Five (kicks off this year) provides a stage for a diverse lineup of musicians all summer long and Bites & Bevs ( ) highlights the city's vibrant food and beverage scene. Unique experiences like the Lawn Party at the High Wheel ( ) and Uptown Salsa Night (October) offer memorable moments, while the annual Fire in Ice event ( 7, 2026) draws over 25,000 visitors each February, making it one of most anticipated traditions. Frederick Gift Card Program: Since its inception in 2006, the Downtown Frederick Gift Card program has generated nearly $3 million in spending at downtown businesses. More than 200 businesses accept the card this fiscal year, and more than $250,000 worth of gift cards have been sold. "We are incredibly proud of the progress made over the past year and look forward to another year of collaboration, business support, and community growth," said Kara Norman, Executive Director of Downtown Frederick Partnership. "With strong backing from local businesses, government, residents, and stakeholders, Downtown Frederick will continue to thrive as a vibrant destination." About Downtown Frederick Partnership Founded in 1990, Downtown Frederick Partnership is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to enhancing, promoting, and preserving the vitality, livability, and diversity of Downtown Fredericka nationally recognized Main Street community. The Partnership has managed Downtown Frederick's Main Street program since its designation in 2001. For more information, visit downtownfrederick.org. SOURCE Downtown Frederick Partnership SHANGHAI, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Everest Medicines (HKEX 1952.HK, "Everest", or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization of innovative medicines and vaccines, today announced its financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2024, along with a corporate update. "In 2024, Everest continued to strength the execution of our 'Dual-Engine' strategy, having evolved from a license-in model to a balanced approach that combines in-house discovery with global partnerships and in-licensing, with a focus on high-value programs and the development of first-in-class or best-in-class assets," commented Rogers Yongqing Luo, CEO of Everest Medicines. "Our total revenue reached RMB706.7 million, representing a 461% year-over-year increase and exceeding our revenue guidance of RMB700 million. Operating expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased significantly by 562%. Notably, our non-IFRS net loss narrowed by 25%, and our gross margin, excluding non-cash items, reached 83%. We ended the year with a strong cash balance of RMB1.6 billion. Importantly, we achieved commercial-level profitability for the full year of 2024. The highlight of our commercial execution in 2024 was the successful launch of NEFECON in mainland China in May, marking the beginning of a new era in the treatment of IgA nephropathy (IgAN). The product generated RMB353.4 million in revenue for the year, representing a year-over-year increase of 1,581%. NEFECON was also included in China's National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL), helping to address a significant unmet medical need among Chinese patients. In addition, it received regulatory approvals in Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan region, and South Korea during 2024, expanding its regional footprint in Asia. We also delivered robust growth with XERAVA (eravacycline), a first-in-class fluorocycline antibiotic, which generated RMB352.8 million in revenue in 2024, representing a 256% year-on-year increase. This strong performance was driven by its differentiated clinical profile and rising market demand. In our autoimmune portfolio, we achieved significant progress with VELSIPITY (etrasimod), which received regulatory approvals in Macau SAR and Singapore in April 2024. The product was subsequently commercially launched in December in Guangdong province under the 'Hong Kong and Macau Medicine and Equipment Connect' policy. In parallel, New Drug Applications (NDAs) for VELSIPITY have been officially accepted in both mainland China and Hong Kong in December 2024." "We continued to advance our pipeline of assets with global rights, focusing on creating value in high-potential therapeutic areas. EVER001, a covalent reversible BTK inhibitor, delivered positive results from the preliminary analysis of our Phase 1b/2a trial and is progressing steadily through global development. We also achieved a major milestone by advancing our mRNA platform from early-stage research into global clinical development, underscoring both our innovation capabilities and the strategic potential of our AI-powered mRNA technology. EVM16, our personalized therapeutic mRNA cancer vaccine, completed first patient dosing in an investigator-initiated clinical trial (IIT) in March 2025. EVM14, our off-the-shelf tumor-associated antigen (TAA) vaccine, received Investigational New Drug (IND) approval from the U.S. FDA, and we plan to submit an IND application to China's NMPA in the first half of this year. The in vivo CAR-T program is expected to achieve preclinical candidate milestone later this year. These programs are supported by our commercial-scale, GMP-compliant manufacturing facility in Jiashan, Zhejiang, which provides integrated R&D, production, and commercialization capabilities across mRNA and other pipeline platforms. In 2025, we will continue to enhance our commercial excellence and advance our first-in-class and best-in-class assets with global rights to maximize synergies. A key priority will be accelerating the sales of NEFECON, leveraging its unique position as the only approved IgAN therapy in China and successfully included in the NRDL. With global rights to EVER001, we will actively explore partnership opportunities outside of China to leverage international expertise and optimize commercial value, while further enhancing Everest's global visibility and presence. Our 'Dual-Engine' strategy has entered a new chapter. Under the Board's guidance, Everest will leverage its established efficient commercial platform to solidify our position in key therapeutic areas, advance innovation on our mRNA platform, and strive to become a leading biopharma in the Asia-Pacific region by 2030delivering greater value for shareholders and breakthrough therapies for patients worldwide." Luo concluded. Recent Key Product Highlights and Anticipated Milestones RENAL PRODUCTS PORTFOLIO Nefecon 2024 - In March 2024, the Company's partner Calliditas Therapeutics AB ("Calliditas") (which was acquired by Asahi Kasei Corporation in September 2024 ) announced the U.S. FDA has granted an Orphan Drug exclusivity period of seven years for NEFECON, expiring in December 2030 based on Calliditas obtaining full approval for this drug product in December 2023. - In March 2024, the Singapore Health Sciences Authority ("HSA") approved NEFEGAN, known in other Everest territories as NEFECON, for the treatment of primary IgAN in adults at risk of disease progression. Singapore marks the third region in Everest territories that received NDA approval after Macau and mainland China. - In April 2024, Calliditas published additional sub-analyses of NEFECON's Phase 3 NefIgArd study. One of the sub-analyses showed that during the 2-year period (9 months of treatment with NEFECON, followed by a 15-month observation period after discontinuation), significant benefits in estimated glomerular filtration rate ("eGFR") were observed regardless of baseline UPCR levels (<0.8 g/g or 0.8 g/g). This study also showed that patients with UPCR <0.8 g/g who received NEFECON achieved an eGFR slope of -0.25 mL/min/1.73 m3 per year, supporting the treatment target of <1 ml/min/1.73 m3 per year with the objective to avoid kidney failure in their lifetime. Another sub-analyses demonstrated that, irrespective of baseline UPCR levels and use of rescue medication, time to confirmed 30% eGFR reduction or kidney failure was significantly delayed. - In April 2024, Calliditas announced that the global open-label extension (OLE) study to the Phase 3 NefIgArd study showed a treatment response consistent with the NefIgArd study for the endpoints of urine protein to creatinine ratio ("UPCR") and eGFRat 9 months in all IgAN patients, including those who had previously received NEFECON in the NefIgArd study. The safety data after 9 months of treatment or retreatment with Nefecon in patients who completed the NefIgArd study were consistent with previously reported safety data. - In May 2024, the Hong Kong Department of Health had approved NEFECON for the treatment of primary IgAN in adults at risk of disease progression. Hong Kong marks the fourth region in Everest territories where Nefecon has received NDA approval after Singapore, Macau and mainland China. - In May 2024, Everest announced the successful launch of NEFECON in mainland China, which has the highest prevalence of primary glomerular diseases in the world. The commercialization of NEFECON in the Chinese market represents a significant milestone for Everest and a breakthrough for IgAN patients in China. The first prescription of NEFECON was issued through an internet hospital, enhancing speed and convenience of delivering medication to patients and improving accessibility to the treatment. - In June 2024, Calliditas announced an additional efficacy analysis of NEFECON in IgAN at the 61st European Renal Association Congress. An anchored matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) was performed to estimate the relative effect of NEFECON or sparsentan on the absolute eGFR change from baseline at 9, 12, and 24 months, with common comparators of optimized renin-angiotensin system inhibition for NefIgArd and irbesartan from the phase 3 PROTECT study. Using patient-level data from NefIgArd and trial-level data from PROTECT, the study demonstrated that treatment with NEFECON 16 mg/day for 9 months was associated with greater eGFR benefit compared with continuous treatment with sparsentan 400 mg/day over 2 years. - In July 2024, China's NMPA accepted the submission of a supplemental New Drug Application seeking full approval of NEFECON based on the complete clinical data from the global Phase 3 NeflgArd study. - In September 2024, NEFECON was included in the "KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Immunoglobulin A Nephrophthy (IgAN) and Immunoglobulin A Vasculitis (IgAV)" draft for public review. The draft guideline notes that NEFECON is the only treatment to date proven to reduce the levels of pathogenic forms of IgA and IgA immune complexes and recommends treatment with a 9-month course of NEFECON for IgAN patients who are at risk of progressive kidney function loss. - In October 2024, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration approved NEFECON indicated "to reduce the loss of kidney function in adult patients with primary IgAN who are at risk for disease progression". Taiwan was the fifth region in Everest Medicines' authorized area to approve NEFECON after Macau, Mainland China, Singapore, and Hong Kong. - In October 2024, "Kidney 360" magazine published the complete two-year subpopulation data from Chinese patients in the Phase 3 NefIgArd clinical trial of NEFECON under the title "Efficacy and Safety of Nefecon in Patients with Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy from Mainland China: 2-Year NefIgArd Trial Results". The article states that during the 2-year treatment and observation period, the Chinese subpopulation data showed improvements in kidney protection, proteinuria reduction, and microhematuria that were numerically greater than the outcomes of global population. - In October 2024, additional analyses of the NefIgArd study for NEFECON were presented at the 2024 American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week (ASN Kidney Week 2024). One of the analyses showed that the ability of NEFECON to specifically modulate pathogenic Gd-IgA1 production in the GALT while leaving systemic IgA responses and total IgA and IgG levels unchanged, supports its use as a generally well tolerated, targeted, locally-acting treatment option for IgAN. Another analysis demonstrated that real-world use of NEFECON was well-tolerated and can reduce loss of kidney function in patients who receive 9 months of treatment. - In November 2024, NEFECON received full approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety ("MFDS") in South Korea, indicated for the treatment of adults with primary IgAN with a urine protein excretion 1.0 g/day (or urine protein-to-creatinine ratio 0.8 g/g). - In November 2024, NEFECON was included in NRDL in mainland China which takes effect on January 1st, 2025. NEFECON's inclusion in the NRDL acknowledges its significant clinical value in improving patient care and with approximately 5 million IgAN patients in China and over 100,000 newly diagnosed patients annually, there is a significant unmet clinical demand in the country. - In December 2024, the first prescription for NEFECON was issued at Hong Kong Gleneagles Hospital, marking a new era for the targeted treatment of IgAN in the region. It represents the third commercial launch of NEFECON in the year, following its launch in Mainland China and Singapore. 2025 - On January 1, 2025, with the official implementation of the latest update of NRDL, NRDL pricing now applies to NEFECON which will benefit more IgAN patients. NEFECON is the only approved treatment for primary IgAN in adults at risk of disease progression in China. - In March 2025, the HSA has granted full approval of NEFEGAN indicated "to reduce the loss of kidney function in adults with primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) who are at risk for disease progression with a urine protein excretion 1.0 g/day (or urine protein-to-creatinine ratio 0.8 g/g)". - We expect to commercially launch NEFECON in Taiwan region and South Korea in 2025. - We expect to receive NEFECON full approval from NMPA in 2025. - We expect inclusion of NEFECON in the KDIGO 2025 guidelines as well as in the first Chinese guideline for IgAN in 2025. EVER001 is a next-generation covalent reversible Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor with potentially best-in-class characteristics for the treatment of autoimmune renal diseases. Compared to covalent irreversible BTK inhibitors, EVER001 offers improved selectivity while maintaining high potency, thereby potentially avoiding many of the side effects associated with earlier-generation BTK inhibitors. Everest Medicines holds global rights to EVER001 for the treatment of renal diseases. 2024 - In December 2024, Everest announced positive results in the ongoing Phase 1b/2a clinical trial for the treatment of pMN with EVER001. In an analysis of the data available as of September 13th, 2024, we observed that of the patients in the low-dose cohort who have completed 36 weeks of treatment, 9 out of 11 (81.8%) achieved overall clinical remission and 10 out of 11 (91%) achieved immunological complete remission (ICR). In the high dose cohort, 6 out of 7 (85.7%) patients achieved overall clinical remission and all patients achieved ICR by week 24. EVER001 was generally safe and well tolerated. No clinically significant adverse events typically associated with earlier-generation BTK inhibitors, such as bleeding, arrhythmia, severe infection, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, or severe liver function impairment, were reported. 2025 - We expect to report one-year follow up data of the Phase 1b/2a clinical trial in 2025. INFECTIOUS DISEASE PORTFOLIO XERAVA (eravacycline) 2024 - In January 2024, eravacycline's clinical breakpoint was officially approved by the Expert Committee of the National Health Commission on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing and Standard Research (ChinaCAST) for clinical use in China. - In November 2024, data on eravacycline (XERAVA), were presented in Los Angeles, California at IDWeek 2024. The first study evaluated the in vitro antimicrobial activity of eravacycline against Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB). Using the recently approved, ChinaCAST breakpoint of 1 g/mL the results showed a high susceptibility rate of eravacycline against CRAB. The second study evaluated the in vitro activity of eravacycline against 23,127 global clinical isolates of major Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including drug-resistant strains collected from various regions such as Asia, Europe, and North America from 2018 to 2022. Since its approval in 2018, eravacycline has consistently maintained a high level of susceptibility against clinically relevant pathogens across diverse geographic regions and infection sites which supports eravacycline's use in treating complicated intra-abdominal infections caused by both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. - In November 2024, in a real-world clinical evaluation led by the National Health Commission's Expert Committee on Clinical Use of Antimicrobials and Evaluation of Antimicrobial Resistance, the final report showed that the overall efficacy rate of eravacycline treatment for 3 days was 91.1%, and the overall treatment efficacy rate at the end of treatment was 90.1%. Cefepime-taniborbactam is an investigational agent that is a combination of cefepime, a fourth-generation cephalosporin, and the novel beta-lactamase inhibitor (BLI), taniborbactam, that exhibits broad coverage of both serine- and metallo-beta-lactamases. In combination with cefepime, taniborbactam is under development as a new treatment option for patients with serious bacterial infections caused by difficult-to-treat drug resistant gram-negative pathogens, including carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) and carbapenem-resistant or multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA/MDR-PA). 2024 - In February 2024, The New England Journal of Medicine ("NEJM") published the results of the CERTAIN-1 Phase 3 clinical study of the investigational agent cefepime-taniborbactam for the treatment of adult patients with complicated urinary tract infections ("cUTI"), including acute pyelonephritis. The results showed that cefepime-taniborbactam was superior to meropenem for the treatment of complicated UTI that included acute pyelonephritis, with a similar safety profile to meropenem. 2025 - We expect to submit an NDA for cefepime-taniborbactam in cUTI to China NMPA in 2025. AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE PORTFOLIO VELSIPITY (etrasimod) 2024 - In February 2024, our licensing partner Pfizer Inc. announced that the European Commission ("EC") granted marketing authorization for VELSIPITY in the European Union to treat patients 16 years of age and older with moderately to severely active UC who have had an inadequate response, lost response, or were intolerant to either conventional therapy, or a biological agent. - In March 2024, the Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau of the Macau Special Administrative Region, China, accepted Everest's NDA for VELSIPITY for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active UC. In April, the bureau approved the NDA, marking the first approval of VELSIPITY in Everest territories. - In July 2024, Everest announced positive topline data results of the maintenance period from a multi-center Phase 3 clinical trial of VELSIPITY in Asia for the treatment of subjects with moderately-to-severely active UC. The data of maintenance treatment confirmed that, after 40 weeks of treatment of 2mg once-daily VELSIPITY or placebo, VELSIPITY demonstrated significant clinical and statistical improvements over placebo in the primary and all key secondary endpoints (p<0.0001), and other secondary endpoints (including mucosal healing and endoscopic normalization, both p<0.0001). The safety profile of VELSIPITY was consistent with previous studies, with no new safety signals observed. - In October 2024, Everest announced that, through the "Hong Kong and Macau Medicine and Equipment Connect" policy, VELSIPITY was officially been approved for patients with moderately to severely active UC by the Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration and the first prescription for VELSIPITY was written at Foshan Fosun Chancheng Hospital in Guangdong in December. VELSIPITY is now Everest's third commercialized product. - In November 2024, the full induction period data results from a multi-center Phase 3 clinical trial of VELSIPITY in Asia on the treatment of moderately to severely active UC with etrasimod was presented in an oral presentation at the 32nd United European Gastroenterology Week (UEGW 2024). The induction period results showed that all primary and key secondary efficacy endpoints in the etrasimod treatment group achieved statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements compared to the placebo group. The treatment differences in clinical remission, endoscopic improvement, and clinical response rates were 20.4%, 28.6%, and 32.0%, respectively (all P-values <0.0001). Patients treated with etrasimod achieved clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvements in mucosal healing (P<0.0001) and endoscopic normalization (P=0.0003). - In December 2024, the Department of Health of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, accepted Everest's NDA for VELSIPITY for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active UC. - In December 2024, the first prescription of VELSIPITY in Macau was issued at Kiang Wu Hospital and VELSIPITY was included in the Catalog of Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Imported from Hong Kong and Macau for the Nine Municipalities in Guangdong Province within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, published by the Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration and Health Commission of Guangdong Province. - In December 2024, the NMPA of China accepted the NDA for VELSIPITY for the treatment of patients with moderately to severely active UC. We expect to receive NDA approval in 2026. 2025 - In February 2025, Everest announced the presentation of maintenance data from its multi-center Phase 3 clinical trial of etrasimod in Asia at the 20th European Crohn's and Colitis Organization Congress (ECCO 2025). The results demonstrated that treatment with etrasimod 2 mg resulted in a clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvement in the primary and all secondary endpoints at the end of maintenance period. A statistically significant greater proportion of etrasimodtreated patients achieved clinical remission at Week 40 compared with placebo. A statistically significant greater proportion of etrasimod-treated patients achieved endoscopic improvement and clinical response at week 40 compared with placebo. Other secondary endpoints of mucosal healing, endoscopic normalization, and histological remission also significantly favored patients treated with etrasimod compared with placebo. Notably, mucosal healing as measured by a central read endoscopic subscore 1 (excluding friability) with a Geboes Index score <2.0, was achieved in 51.9% of the etrasimod treated patients compared to 8.8% in the placebo group (2-sided p-value <0.0001). The safety profile of etrasimod during the maintenance period was consistent with previous studies, with no new safety findings observed. - In March 2025, Everest announced the launch of a construction project for etrasimod's local production at Jiashan factory. The project is expected to achieve an annual production capacity of 50 million tablets upon full operation. The planned supply regions include mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, South Korea, and Singapore, covering Everest's licensing regions in Asia. - We expect to receive VELSIPITY NDA approval in UC in Hong Kong in 2025. - We expect to submit NDA for VELSIPITY in UC in Taiwan region and South Korea in 2025. - We will continue to expand VELSIPITY's accessibility in the Greater Bay area through the "Hong Kong and Macau Medicine and Equipment Connect" policy in 2025. Zetomipzomib is a novel, first-in-class, selective immunoproteasome inhibitor currently being evaluated for immune- mediated disorders. It was licensed from Kezar Life Sciences in 2023. Everest and Kezar collaborate on the development of zetomipzomib in autoimmune diseases such as autoimmune hepatitis. - In February 2024, Everest announced that the Center for Drug Evaluation ("CDE") of China's NMPA approved Kezar's IND application for initiation of the Phase 2b PALIZADE trial in China of zetomipzomib in patients with lupus nephritis ("LN"). - In July 2024, Everest announced that the first patient had been dosed in China with zetomipzomib in the global Phase 2b PALIZADE trial for the treatment of active LN. - In September 2024, PALIZADE was placed on clinical hold following the recommendation of the Independent Data Monitoring Committee. In October, Kezar made the strategic decision to terminate the PALIZADE trial and focus clinical development efforts on zetomipzomib in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). - Zetomipzomib is currently being tested in PORTOLA, a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind Phase 2a clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of the molecule in patients with AIH. AIH is a rare chronic disease in which the immune system attacks the liver and causes inflammation and tissue damage, severely impacting patients' physical health and quality of life. The study has completed enrollment of 24 patients, and Kezar expects to report topline results in 1H 2025. mRNA PLATFORM Everest has built end-to-end capabilities across its proprietary mRNA platform. Our R&D team is developing multiple mRNA-based therapeutic products including personalized cancer vaccines, tumor-associated antigen vaccines, immunomodulatory cancer vaccines, in vivo CAR-T program, as well as next generation lipid nanoparticle ("LNP") delivery systems to enhance cell-mediated immune response. Our mRNA manufacturing facility in Jiashan, Zhejiang Province in China is designed to comply with global good manufacturing practice ("GMP") standards and is able to produce at clinical- and commercial-scale. Everest owns full global intellectual property rights to its mRNA therapeutic programs. In 2024, the Company advanced its self-developed mRNA pipeline products, the first of which is EVM16, a novel personalized therapeutic mRNA cancer vaccine independently developed by Everest. It contains neoantigens with high immunogenicity potential, predicted based on the unique tumor mutations of each patient using Everest's proprietary AI-based neoantigen prediction algorithm, EVER-NEO-1. The vaccine is designed to encode dozens of tumor neoantigens. This platform will be an important part of our discovery efforts going forward. 2024 - In Feb. 2024, Everest announced the termination of the collaboration and license agreements with Providence Therapeutics Holdings Inc. Everest continues to develop its own therapeutic vaccine products utilizing the mRNA platform. - In August 2024, Everest announced the launch of an IIT for a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, EVM16, under the study EVM16CX01, at the Peking University Cancer Hospital and Fudan University's Cancer Hospital. This trial is designed to assess the safety, tolerability, immunogenicity, and preliminary efficacy of EVM16 injection as a monotherapy and in combination with PD-1 antibody for patients with advanced or recurrent solid tumors. EVM16CX01 is the first-in-human ("FIH") trial for EVM16. 2025 - In March 2025, Everest announced that the first patient has been dosed with the Company's internally developed personalized mRNA cancer vaccine EVM16 at Peking University Cancer Hospital in the investigator-initiated clinical trial (IIT) EVM16CX01. - In March 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for EVM14, a TAA vaccine. EVM14 is Everest's first internally developed mRNA therapeutic vaccine to receive FDA IND approval, marking a significant milestone in the Company's efforts to develop innovative mRNA therapeutics in oncology. - We expect to submit IND application for EVM14 in China in 2025. PRODUCT PIPELINE Everest has built a strong product pipeline across renal, anti-infective, and autoimmune diseases that are all potentially first-in-class treatment or best-in-class assets. These programs encompass short-term, mid-term and long-term opportunities which are collectively expected to generate significant revenue growth for the Company and create value for its shareholders. Pipeline Outlook 2025 promises to be a year of important data readouts and significant advancement in our best-in-class programs which carry global rights. In 2024 we were pleased to report positive data from a preliminary analysis of a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial of EVER001, a novel BTK Inhibitor for the treatment of primary membranous nephropathy. We expect to advance this trial further in 2025 and plan to report one-year follow-up data in the second half of 2025. Among our self-developed programs, the first patients have been dosed in our IIT for personalized cancer vaccine and preliminary data on safety and immunogenicity are expected this year. In parallel, we have received FDA's IND approval for EVM14, our off-the-shelf TAA cancer vaccine. We also plan to submit IND application to China's NMPA for EVM14 in the first half of this year. It marks the first U.S. IND submission and approval for Everest, and the first IND applications for Everest's self-developed pipeline. With respect to our late-stage programs, we plan to submit the NDA for cefepime-taniborbactam to the NMPA in mainland China for the treatment of cUTI in 2025. We will also submit NDAs for VELSIPITY in South Korea and Taiwan and expect to receive NDA approval for this product in Hong Kong in the second half of the year. Commercialization Our commercial organization continued to flourish in 2024 as we launched and grew three commercial products, NEFECON, XERAVA, and VELSIPITY. In our renal franchise, our team successfully launched our leading drug product, NEFECON in mainland China in May 2024. We employed a broad array of sales channels, including traditional in-person detailing of hospitals as well as the innovative channel of online prescribing, to meet the urgent and significant unmet needs of an estimated 5 million IgAN patients. Our 150-person sales team had penetrated more than 600-700 hospitals by the end-of 2024, which encompass over 60% of the addressable IgAN population. To further broaden IgAN patient access, NEFECON was included in China's 2024 NRDL which went into effect on January 1, 2025. We expect this significantly increased affordability to drive rapid penetration of NEFECON throughout its patient population. Another highlight for NEFECON in 2024 was its inclusion in the "KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Immunoglobulin A Nephrophthy (IgAN) and Immunoglobulin A Vasculitis (IgAV)" draft for public review. The draft guideline points out that NEFECON is the only treatment to date proven to reduce the levels of pathogenic forms of IgA and IgA immune complexes and recommends treatment with a 9-month course of NEFECON for patients who are at risk of progressive kidney function loss with IgAN. It also suggests that many patients may need either repeated 9-month treatment cycles or a reduced-dose maintenance regimen in order to produce a sustained clinical response in terms of proteinuria reduction or stabilization of eGFR. The safety and efficacy of repeated treatment was also supported by our partner Calliditas' global OLE study which showed consistent treatment response across endpoints of UPCR and eGFR at 9 months across all IgAN patients, including those who had previously received NEFECON in the NefIgArd study. In our anti-infective portfolio, Everest continued to grow XERAVA sales through deeper penetration of our covered core hospitals and we began partnering with Contract Sales Organizations to benefit patients outside of our core target hospitals, although we still anticipate our own commercial team to generate the majority of sales for XERAVA. Eravacycline's clinical breakpoint was officially approved by ChinaCAST for clinical use in China, and more than 100 hospitals in China have already adopted the new breakpoint in 2024, facilitating wider use of the drug in clinical practice. Inclusion of eravacycline in the Catalogue of Hierarchical Management of Clinical Application of Antimicrobial Drugs in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangdong last year underscores recognition of the drug's clinical benefits by China's key opinion leaders. In addition, eravacycline was included into The Surgical Infection Society Guidelines on the Management of Intra-Abdominal Infection: 2024 Update and China's Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines for Multidrug-resistant Bacterial Infections in Renal Transplantation, Infectious Diseases Society of America 2024 Guidance on the Treatment of Antimicrobial-Resistant Gram-Negative Infections and Chinese Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pneumonia in the Elderly (2024 Edition). Inclusion in these guidelines is expected to broaden physician awareness of XERAVA while also encouraging broader product utilization. With the accumulation of clinical experience and the conduct of clinical studies by Chinese doctors, the following articles were published in 2024. These publications have significantly enhanced awareness and provided more references for broader clinical applications. Title Publication Name Publication Date Clinical Analysis of Eracycline in the Treatment of Neurologically Critically Immunosuppressed Patients with Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii Pneumonia Chinese Journal of Critical Care & Intensive Care Medicine(Electronic Edition) 2024/3/18 Comparison of Efficacy and Safety of Eracycline and Ertapenem in the Treatment of Complicated Intra-abdominal Infections in Chinese Adults Chinese Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy 2024/5/20 Establishment of epidemiological cut-off values for eravacycline,against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae,Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus aureus J Antimicrob Chemother 2024/06/14 Research progress of a new antibacterial drug eravacycline Chinese Journal of New Drugs and Clinical Remedies 2024/07/01 Dynamic evolution of ceftazidime-avibactam resistance from a single patient through the IncX3_NDM-5 plasmid transfer and blaKPC mutation International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents 2024/08/01 In vitro antibacterial activity of cefotaxime/avibactam and eravacycline against CRKP Chinese Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science 2024/8/28 Efficacy of eravacycline on pulmonary infection Caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumanni 2024/10/06 Comparison of the efficacy and safety of eravacycline and polymyxin in the treatment of multidrug-resistant complex abdominal infections Natl Med J China 2024/10/15 Efficacy and safety of eravacycline (ERV) in treating infections caused by Gram-negative pathogens: a systematic review and meta-analysis Expert Review Of Anti-infective Therapy 2024/10/22 In vitro activities of the essential antimicrobial agents including aztreonam/avibactam, eravacycline, colistin, and other comparators against carbapenem-resistant bacteria with different carbapenemase genes: a multicenter study in China, 2021 International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents 2024/11/1 Comparative evaluation of eravacycline susceptibility testing methods in 587 clinical carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates: broth microdilution, MIC test strip and disc diffusion Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 2024/11/21 We were pleased to have launched our first autoimmune therapeutic, VELSIPITY which was approved in Macau in April and in Singapore in May, and successfully launched for sales in those regions. Under the "Hong Kong and Macau Medicine and Equipment Connect" policy ("the Connect Policy"), VELSITPITY was qualified for early access in nine cities in Guangdong province and its first prescription was written at Foshan Fosun Chancheng Hospital in December. To date, VELSIPITY has been made available at five designated medical institutions in Guangdong (First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Foshan Fosun Chancheng Hospital, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou United Family Healthcare and Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital) to benefit patients in mainland China with urgent needs for advanced innovative medicines in UC. In 2025 we will continue to build on the strong commercial foundation established in 2024. In our renal franchise, we will work to rapidly ramp NEFECON sales after its inclusion on the NRDL which makes the medicine much more affordable and broadly accessible to patients. We are targeting rapid progress in NRDL implementation through either hospital listing or dual-channel pharmacies in the first quarter of 2025. We are also aiming to expand our list of core coverage hospitals to about 800 in 2025, which includes over 80% of the potential NEFECON market with about 200 sales representatives. Everest also anticipates official inclusion of NEFECON in the 2025 revised Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines as well as the first Chinese guideline for IgAN as a first-line treatment for IgAN patients. This is expected to help further grow our sales volumes by giving treating physicians an industry standard reference which instills in them more confidence in NEFECON. While we focus on maximizing the NRDL opportunity in mainland China, we also plan to expand availability of this first-in-disease medication to more IgAN patients across other valuable Asian regions including Taiwan and South Korea. Within our anti-infective portfolio, we will continue to drive penetration of XERAVA among our core hospitals by enhancing doctors' awareness, which would lead to more prescriptions at hospitals with significant growth potential. We will also drive early and appropriate use of XERAVA to establish the medicine as a fundamental option in empirical multi-drug resistant bacteria infection therapy. In addition to our own sales network, we will further optimize promotion through the contract sales organization model in non-core markets where we believe XERAVA prescription can be broadened. VELSIPITY is our newest launch and in 2025, while we will facilitate the NDA review by NMPA with approval expected in 2026, we will also accelerate its availability in designated medical institutions under the Connect Policy for early access to VELSIPITY in mainland China. Additionally, VELSIPITY's real-world study is planned in Greater Bay to provide physicians with more clinical guidance with the product. Discovery 2024 marked a remarkable year of progress in our mRNA platform as we started the first in-human trial with an investigator-initiated program for our personalized cancer vaccine, EVM16 in two top cancer hospitals in China. EVM16 is independently developed by Everest which contains neoantigens with high immunogenicity potential, predicted based on the unique tumor mutations of each patient using Everest's proprietary AI-based neoantigen prediction algorithm, EVER-NEO-1. The vaccine is designed to encode dozens of tumor neoantigens, and uses an LNP delivery system to efficiently deliver neoantigen-encoded mRNA in vivo, activating neoantigen-specific tumor-killing T cells and inhibiting tumor growth. In preclinical studies, vaccination with EVM16 stimulated a strong neoantigen-specific T cell response in different mouse models and showed significant tumor growth inhibition in the syngeneic B16F10 mouse melanoma model. EVER-NEO-1, the AI-based neoantigen prediction algorithm developed in-house by Everest, can identify the majority of reported tumor neoantigens, as well as several previously unreported neoantigens. Furthermore, the neoantigen prediction capability of EVER-NEO-1 was shown to be either comparable to or superior to leading industry algorithms in multiple independent validation studies. We are expecting a catalyst-rich 2025 with a preliminary human data readout from EVM16, for which we achieved first patient dosing in March. Additionally, we have received U.S. FDA's IND approval for EVM14, our off-the-shelf tumor-associated antigen vaccine, marking Everest's first internally discovered program and the first mRNA therapeutic cancer vaccine to be cleared for global clinical development. With IND application to China's NMPA expected in the first half of this year, this asset is designed to treat various cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer and head and neck cancer. In preclinical studies, EVM14 induced a dosedependent antigen-specific immune response in mice and significantly inhibited tumor growth in multiple syngeneic tumor models. Lastly, the in vivo CAR-T program is also expected to achieve preclinical candidate milestone later this year, which may create a pathway to future global partnership opportunities. Business Development With the promising data generated by EVER001, our most advanced product with global rights, we will look to potentially engage in out-licensing activities to create value for all our early-stage assets with global rights. For these assets, we plan to pursue global partnership opportunities and seek ways to maximize shareholder value with entities who have global expertise and deals that offer attractive economics. Our business development strategy for in-licensing remains focused on first-in-class or best-in-class assets in less crowded, high value therapeutic areas such as renal diseases, autoimmune disorders, and anti-infective categories. We intend to leverage the strength of our existing commercial platforms to pursue commercial-stage or near-commercial-stage assets in China to create operational synergies and build scale. In parallel, we plan to evaluate earlier-stage assets with global rights, where we can deliver clinical proof-of-concept results and build substantial shareholder value. Financial Highlights IFRS Numbers: Revenue for the year ended 31 December 2024 increased significantly by RMB580.7 million , or 461%, to RMB706.7 million , compared with RMB125.9 million for the year ended 31 December 2023 . The revenue growth was primarily driven by the strong ramp up of XERAVA sales and the successful launch of NEFECON in mainland China . Additionally, in markets outside of Mainland China, XERAVA sales continued to build in Hong Kong and Singapore , NEFECON was successfully launched in Hong Kong and Singapore , and VELSIPITY was first launched in Macau and made available in Guangdong province through the " Hong Kong and Macau Medicines and Equipment Connect" policy. increased significantly by , or 461%, to , compared with for the year ended . The revenue growth was primarily driven by the strong ramp up of XERAVA sales and the successful launch of NEFECON in mainland . Additionally, in markets outside of Mainland China, XERAVA sales continued to build in and , NEFECON was successfully launched in and , and VELSIPITY was first launched in and made available in province through the " and Macau Medicines and Equipment Connect" policy. Gross profit margin rose from 72.7% for the year ended 31 December 2023 to 74.6% for the year ended 31 December 2024 . Excluding the amortisation of intangible assets, the gross profit margin increased from 79.9% in 2023 to 82.9% in 2024. The improvement was mainly due to the commercial launch of NEFECON and the optimisation of product costs. to 74.6% for the year ended . Excluding the amortisation of intangible assets, the gross profit margin increased from 79.9% in 2023 to 82.9% in 2024. The improvement was mainly due to the commercial launch of NEFECON and the optimisation of product costs. R&D expenses for the year ended 31 December 2024 amounted to RMB528.0 million , decreasing slightly from RMB540.1 million for the year ended 31 December 2023 . The Company remains committed to strategic R&D investments across various product pipelines to support long-term sustainable growth. amounted to , decreasing slightly from for the year ended . The Company remains committed to strategic R&D investments across various product pipelines to support long-term sustainable growth. General and administrative expenses increased by RMB84.9 million , from RMB165.2 million for the year ended 31 December 2023 to RMB250.1 million for the year ended 31 December 2024 . This increase was primarily due to higher remuneration expenses and professional service expenses in order to support the Company's business expansion and continued pipeline growth. , from for the year ended to for the year ended . This increase was primarily due to higher remuneration expenses and professional service expenses in order to support the Company's business expansion and continued pipeline growth. Distribution and selling expenses increased by RMB276.7 million from RMB231.4 million for the year ended 31 December 2023 to RMB508.1 million for the year ended 31 December 2024 , primarily due to expansion of the commercial team and additional commercial activities, which helped the successful launch of new products and encouraged the growth of existing product sales. Our commercial operational efficiency increased as commercialization expenses-to-sales ratio decreased by 111.9%, with our continued efforts to build a more efficient and focused commercialization model. from for the year ended to for the year ended , primarily due to expansion of the commercial team and additional commercial activities, which helped the successful launch of new products and encouraged the growth of existing product sales. Our commercial operational efficiency increased as commercialization expenses-to-sales ratio decreased by 111.9%, with our continued efforts to build a more efficient and focused commercialization model. The ratio of total operating expenses (including general and administrative expenses, research and development expenses, and distribution and selling expenses) to sales decreased by 561.8%, showing operational efficiency improvement. Net loss for the year increased by RMB196.9 million from RMB844.5 million for the year ended 31 December 2023 to RMB1,041.4 million for the year ended 31 December 2024 . This increase was primarily due to a one-time, non-recurring impairment loss from an intangible asset related to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in the first half of 2024. Excluding this impairment loss of an intangible asset, net loss narrowed by RMB107.5 million, from RMB792.5 million for the year ended 31 December 2023 to RMB685.0 million for the year ended 31 December 2024. This was primarily due to the strong product sales and improvements in operational efficiency. Cash and cash equivalents and bank deposits amounted to RMB1,603.3 million as of 31 December 2024 . Non-IFRS Measure: Adjusted loss for the year narrowed by RMB176.1 million , from RMB713.6 million for the year ended 31 December 2023 to RMB537.6 million for the year ended 31 December 2024 , primarily excluding the one-time and non-recurring loss on impairment of an intangible asset, and non-cash expenses of share-based compensation and amortization of intangible assets. About Everest Medicines Everest Medicines is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, manufacturing and commercializing transformative pharmaceutical products and vaccines that address critical unmet medical needs for patients in Asian markets. The management team of Everest Medicines has deep expertise and an extensive track record from both leading global pharmaceutical companies and local Chinese pharmaceutical companies in high-quality discovery, clinical development, regulatory affairs, CMC, business development and operations. Everest Medicines has built a portfolio of potentially global first-in-class or best-in-class molecules in the company's core therapeutic areas of renal diseases, infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders. For more information, please visit its website at www.everestmedicines.com. Forward-Looking Statements: This news release may make statements that constitute forward-looking statements, including descriptions regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company or its officers with respect to the business operations and financial condition of the Company, which can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, or other factors, some of which are beyond the control of the Company and are unforeseeable. Therefore, the actual results may differ from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and assumptions, such as future changes and developments in our business, competitive environment, political, economic, legal and social conditions. The Company or any of its affiliates, directors, officers, advisors or representatives has no obligation and does not undertake to revise forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or circumstances after the date of this news release, except as required by law. SOURCE Everest Medicines CLEVELAND, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Evergreen Cooperative Laundry (ECL) is excited to announce the completion of its expansion in Cleveland's Glenville neighborhood with a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the official opening of the new facility. The expansion includes the addition of a 5,000 square foot building and the acquisition of eight adjacent vacant lots, enhancing ECL's capacity and bolstering its commitment to the local community. Since its establishment in October 2009, ECL, a worker-owned cooperative, has been dedicated to providing high-quality laundry services while promoting sustainability and job creation. Known as the first commercial-scale LEED Gold certified laundry in Northeast Ohio, ECL continues to prioritize environmental responsibility and positive community impact. With support from the City of Cleveland's Land Bank, the expansion project has enabled ECL to better serve its clients, including healthcare providers requiring linen supply services, while also creating 10-15 new jobs. These positions offer competitive starting wages, comprehensive benefits, and profit-sharing - providing opportunities for economic growth within the Glenville neighborhood. "As a worker-owned cooperative, ECL's success is built on the strength of our employees, and we are thrilled to open this expanded space to create even more economic opportunity for our community," said John McMicken, CEO of Evergreen. "This project reflects our ongoing commitment to building a stronger, more vibrant Cleveland and ensuring that job creation and community wealth-building go hand in hand." The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place on April 3, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at 540 E. 105th St., Cleveland, OH 44108. Community members, local leaders, and the press are invited to attend this special event to celebrate the successful completion of the expansion and the continued growth of Evergreen Cooperative Laundry. About The Evergreen Cooperatives: Launched in 2008 by several Cleveland-based institutions, Evergreen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to creating quality jobs, vibrant communities, and thriving businesses through employee ownership. The Fund for Employee Ownership, an Evergreen initiative, supports local job preservation, wealth building for employee-owners, and business transitions. For more information, visit www.evgoh.com. Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Evergreen Cooperatives Strategic move signals the firm's continued growth in the Pacific Northwest COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Fennemore, a leading full-service Am Law 200 business law firm, is advancing its strategic vision in Idaho with the addition of attorney Peter J. Smith IV as a Director based in Coeur d'Alene. Smith's arrival represents a defining step in the firm's continued expansion across Idaho and the Pacific Northwesta region emerging as a hub for economic growth and innovation. Licensed in both Idaho and Washington, Smith brings deep experience in business transactions, commercial real estate, mining, and corporate law. He is a trusted advisor to entrepreneurs, developers, and business leaders building the future of the West. "This is a firm that doesn't just talk about innovationit's executing on it," said Smith. "Fennemore has a real business-driven strategy, a forward-looking vision, and the courage to act. The opportunity to join a team that's investing in Idaho and delivering for clients in high-growth markets positions me to offer an even higher level of service." Smith added: "Fennemore's retention and employee satisfaction statistics lead the industry for a reason. This is a firm that actually walks the talkputting people first and building careers that are both high-performing and sustainable. You don't have to choose between doing great work and living a meaningful life outside the office. It's a rare combination that many discuss, but few deliver on in practice." James Goodnow, CEO of Fennemore, emphasized the significance of the move. "Idaho is one of the fastest-growing states in the countryand we're planting a flag with purpose. Peter's arrival signals the next phase of our strategic expansion in the Northwest. At Fennemore, we bet on bold leaders. Peter brings the energy, experience, and forward-thinking spirit that align perfectly with where we're going as a firmand where Idaho's business community is headed." To learn more about Peter J. Smith IV, visit his professional bio here. About Fennemore Since 1885, Am Law 200 law firm Fennemore has been blazing a trail of legal entrepreneurship. With an unrelenting commitment to innovation, collaboration, and people, Fennemore partners with businesses across the country to position them ahead of the competition. From pioneering the use of cutting-edge AI to building platforms that supercharge its teams, Fennemore is not just keeping paceit's accelerating ahead. With a storied history of client success and industry-leading job satisfaction, Fennemore is redefining what's possible in the legal industry. For more information, visit FennemoreLaw.com. SOURCE Fennemore "How Innovations in Minimally Invasive Techniques, Robotic-Assisted Surgeries, and AI Integration Are Transforming the Surgical Equipment Market" BOSTON, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest study from BCC Research, "Surgical Equipment: Technologies and Global Markets" is expected to grow from $40.0 billion in 2024 to $56.6 billion by the end of 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2% from 2024 to 2029. The report examines the leading companies, technology trends, market dynamics, and regional trends in the surgical equipment market. The report also examines the impact of COVID-19 on the market and the supply chain, taking into consideration economic factors such as healthcare spending and medical tourism. It covers the use of emerging technologies such as AI and machine learning in surgeries. The market is segmented by usability (disposable and reusable), product category, technology, end user and region. The regions covered are North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World. The markets in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Japan and China are also examined. The factors driving the market include: Minimally invasive procedures: These procedures cause less pain and have quicker recovery times, increasing the demand for specialized equipment such as laparoscopic instruments and robotic systems. Demand for surgical equipment: The world's increasingly elderly population and the accompanying rise in chronic diseases drive the need for advanced surgical tools and technologies. Outpatient surgical procedures: More surgeries are being performed on an outpatient basis, reducing costs and increasing the need for equipment to support these procedures. Technological advances: Innovations such as robotic surgery and advanced imaging improve the precision and safety of surgeries, expanding treatment options. Request a sample copy of the global market for surgical equipment and technologies report. Report Synopsis Report Metric Details Base year considered 2023 Forecast period considered 2024-2029 Base year market size $37.6 billion Market size forecast $56.6 billion Growth rate CAGR of 7.2% from 2024 to 2029 Segments covered Usability, product category, technology, end user, and region Regions covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW) Countries covered U.S., Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, the U.K., Italy, Spain, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea and China Market drivers Increase in minimally invasive procedures. Increased demand for surgical equipment and technologies. Rising number of outpatient surgical procedures. Technological advances. Interesting facts: Surgeons at Washington University performed the first robotic liver transplant in the U.S. at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis in July 2023 . This surgery used robotic technology to make smaller cuts, reduce pain, and speed recovery. The robots' precision helped perform this complex surgery more accurately and improved patient outcomes. performed the first robotic liver transplant in the U.S. at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in in . This surgery used robotic technology to make smaller cuts, reduce pain, and speed recovery. The robots' precision helped perform this complex surgery more accurately and improved patient outcomes. German researchers introduced a technique called Small-Scale Magneto-Oscillatory Localization (SMOL) in April 2024 . This method uses moving magnets to track tiny robots inside the body in real-time. It can be used with current medical devices and has potential applications in endoscopy and radiotherapy, making surgeries more precise. The report addresses the following questions: 1. What is the market's projected market size and growth rate? The global market for surgical equipment and technologies was $37.6 billion in 2023. It is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2%, reaching about $56.6 billion by the end of 2029. 2. What are the key factors driving the growth of the market? Increase in minimally invasive procedures; increased demand for surgical equipment; technological advances; and replenishment in developed economies. 3. What market segments are covered in the report? The market is segmented by usability, product type, technology, end user and geographic region. 4. Which product type will be dominant in the market in 2029? Reusable surgical equipment will account for the largest market share. 5. Which region has the largest market share in the market? North America holds the largest share of the market. Market leaders include: Abbott B. Braun SE Boston Scientific Corp. Intuitive Surgical Johnson & Johnson Medtronic Olympus Corp. Smith+Nephew Stryker Zimmer Biomet Related reports: Health and Medical Insurance Providers: Global Markets: This report segments the health and medical insurance provider market by type. These types include agents and brokers, direct writing and bancassurance (a partnership between banks and insurance companies). Medical Robotics and Computer-assisted Surgery: The Global Market: This report examines the global market for medical robotics and computer-assisted surgery and determines its size by estimating current revenues by product, indication, end user and region. Purchase a copy of the report direct from BCC Research. For further information or any of these reports or to purchase one, please contact [email protected]. About BCC Research BCC Research market research reports provide objective, unbiased measurement, and assessment of market opportunities. Our experienced industry analysts' goal is to help you make informed business decisions free of noise and hype. Contact Us Corporate HQ: 50 Milk St., Ste 16, Boston, MA 02109, USA Email: [email protected] Phone: +1 781-489-7301 For media inquiries, email [email protected] or visit our media page for access to our market research library. Any data and analysis extracted from this press release must be accompanied by a statement identifying BCC Research LLC as the source and publisher. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2183242/5236886/BCC_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE BCC Research LLC WASHINGTON, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- HCI Equity Partners ("HCI"), a leading lower-middle-market private equity firm, is pleased to announce the sale of its portfolio company, MSI Express ("MSI"), to Nonantum Capital Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm. The sale was completed on March 24, 2025 and the financial terms were not disclosed. Founded in 2008, MSI is a contract manufacturing and packaging partner for leading food and beverage brands. Today, the company has 15 locations strategically located in six states and is one of the largest food co-manufacturers in the United States. MSI CEO Charles Weinberg stated, "MSI Express has experienced significant growth and success over the past six years with the support of HCInot only with respect to M&A, but also from HCI's in-house operations team. In partnership with HCI, we have created a leading player in our industry that will thrive well into the future." HCI Managing Partner Doug McCormick commented, "It has been our honor to work with the top-notch MSI team over the past six years. MSI is illustrative of HCI's mandate to partner with an exceptional management team to deliver transformational growth: topline growth in excess of 10x, consummating three strategic add-on acquisitions, and growing our production capabilities from 450k sq. ft. to a national footprint of over 2.5 million sq. ft. We wish MSI well in its next chapter of growth in partnership with Nonantum." Houlihan Lokey served as financial advisor and Quarles & Brady LLP served as the legal advisor to MSI Express and HCI. About HCI Equity Partners Based in Washington, DC, HCI is a lower middle market private equity firm focused on driving transformational growth of distributors, manufacturers, and technician-based service companies that serve large, stable, fragmented industries. HCI typically partners with family- and founder-owned businesses and supports management teams in this journey. Its investment professionals provide strategy, finance, and M&A support; its in-house operations team provides functional expertise to drive profitable organic growth; and its outside advisors provide relevant industry expertise and relationships. For more information, please visit www.hciequity.com. About MSI Express Founded in 2008, MSI Express is a leading food and beverage manufacturing and packaging company. MSI provides engineering solutions to America's well-known food and beverage brands. For more information, please visit www.msiexpress.com. Contact: Caroline Luz Lambert by LLYC 203-570-6462 [email protected] SOURCE HCI Equity Partners TORONTO, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Hydro One Limited announced today that Susan Wolburgh Jenah was selected by the Board of Directors to serve as Interim Chair of the Board. The current Chair, Timothy Hodgson, has taken an unpaid leave of absence to run in the federal election for the Liberal Party of Canada. Susan Wolburgh Jenah joined the Board of Directors on January 1, 2020 and serves as the Governance and Regulatory Committee Chair, and as a member of the Indigenous, Peoples, Safety and Operations Committee. Susan Wolburgh Jenah biography Susan Wolburgh Jenah is a corporate director with four decades of experience as a senior regulator, chief executive officer, lawyer and director. Throughout her career, she has served on numerous corporate, Crown corporation and notforprofit boards and expert advisory committees. Ms. Wolburgh Jenah currently serves on the board of Aecon Group Inc. (TSX) and is Chair of the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Compensation Committee. She recently served as ViceChair of Humber River Hospital and as a member of the Independent Review Committee of Vanguard Investments Canada. Prior directorships include serving as a Public Governor of the U.S. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, as Chair of the NEO Exchange, and as a director of Laurentian Bank of Canada, Aequitas Innovations, The Global Risk Institute, the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), and the Institute of Corporate Directors. Ms. Wolburgh Jenah was the founding President and CEO of IIROC and held numerous executive roles at the Ontario Securities Commission, including ViceChair, Acting Chair, General Counsel and Head of International Affairs. Ms. Wolburgh Jenah holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto and a Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School. She is also a member of the C.D. Howe National Advisory Council and served as Mentor to the Catalyst Women on Board Program. She is a prior Fellow and Adjunct Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School and recipient of the Osgoode Hall Gold Key for Achievement in 2011. Ms. Wolburgh Jenah holds her ICD.D. Hydro One Limited (TSX: H) Hydro One Limited, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is Ontario's largest electricity transmission and distribution provider with approximately 1.5 million valued customers, approximately $36.7 billion in assets as at December 31, 2024, and annual revenues in 2024 of approximately $8.5 billion. Our team of approximately 10,100 skilled and dedicated employees proudly build and maintain a safe and reliable electricity system which is essential to supporting strong and successful communities. In 2024, Hydro One invested approximately $3.1 billion in its transmission and distribution networks, and supported the economy through buying approximately $2.9 billion of goods and services. We are committed to the communities where we live and work through community investment, sustainability and diversity initiatives. Hydro One Limited's common shares are listed on the TSX and certain of Hydro One Inc.'s medium term notes are listed on the NYSE. Additional information can be accessed at www.hydroone.com, www.sedarplus.com or www.sec.gov. SOURCE Hydro One Limited Recognized at IGEL Now & Next 2025, these standout partners were honored for their innovation, impact, and commitment to customer-centric solutions through the IGEL Ready program MIAMI, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- IGEL, the global leader in secure endpoint OS solutions for now and next, proudly announced the winners of the 2025 IGEL Ready Partner of the Year Awards at the IGEL Now & Next 2025 event. As the world's premier end-user computing (EUC) event, IGEL Now & Next unites industry innovators, technology leaders, and visionaries to drive the future of secure cloud workspaces. The event, hosted at the iconic Fontainebleau Miami Beach from March 24-27, serves as the ultimate platform to recognize the exceptional contributions of IGEL Ready partners. Omnissa honored as the IGEL Ready Partner of the Year for 2025 "These awards reflect the strength of our partner ecosystem and the power of purposeful collaboration," said Jim Airdo, SVP of Strategic Alliances at IGEL. "At IGEL, we know that delivering secure, flexible digital workspaces at scale requires more than just great technologyit takes trusted partners who are aligned on vision, execution, and customer impact. We're proud to recognize this year's IGEL Ready award winners for driving innovation that truly moves the industry forward." Now in its fourth year, the IGEL Ready Partner of the Year Awards celebrate the partners who are shaping the future of secure and flexible work environments. These awards recognize outstanding partners who have demonstrated exceptional innovation, customer impact, and strategic engagement within the IGEL Ready program. Honorees not only deliver powerful joint solutions but also drive business success and enhance the customer experience through their collaboration with IGEL. "The IGEL Ready ecosystem is a powerhouse of leading technology innovators, working together to deliver seamless, secure, and future-proof solutions," said Divya Saggar, Director, IGEL Ready. "By fostering deep collaboration and validating technology compatibility, we enable our customers to accelerate the adoption of secure cloud workspaces with confidence. We are proud to recognize this year's IGEL Ready Partner of the Year Award winners for their exceptional contributions, and we thank them for their unwavering commitment to innovation and customer success." This year's IGEL Ready Partner of the Year winners represent the best in innovation, growth, and customer-centric solutions. The winners are: IGEL Ready Partner of the Year 2025 Omnissa IGEL Ready Accelerated Growth Partner of the Year 2025 HP IGEL Ready Application Excellence Partner of the Year 2025 Island IGEL Ready Cybersecurity Excellence Partner of the Year 2025 Zscaler "We are excited to celebrate our long-standing partnership with IGEL and honored to be recognized as the IGEL Ready Partner of the Year for 2025," said Bharath Rangarajan, Senior Vice President of Products and Technology Alliances at Omnissa. "Our collaboration with IGEL continues to expand with deeper product integrations that help customers streamline endpoint management, enhance security, and improve end-user productivity. The integration of Omnissa Horizon and Workspace ONE with IGEL's secure endpoint OS is a strong example of how we're delivering a seamless and secure experience for DaaS and VDI environments." "Being named IGEL Ready Accelerated Growth Partner of the Year reflects the strength of our ongoing collaboration," said Cory McElroy, Vice President of Commercial Portfolio at HP. "Together, we're helping customers accelerate their digital transformation with powerful, secure, and cost-effective solutions that support the evolving future of work." "Being recognized by IGEL for Application Excellence highlights the innovation and simplicity we strive to bring to the enterprise browser experience," said Richard Greene, Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnerships at Island. "By integrating with IGEL's secure endpoint OS, we're delivering seamless, secure, and policy-enforced access to web-based appsempowering organizations to fully embrace the future of secure, flexible work." "At Zscaler, we're proud to partner with a company that shares our passion for enabling healthcare organizations to deliver secure, seamless digital experiences," said Tamer Baker, Healthcare CTO, Zscaler. "By embedding the principles of 'Zero Trust Everywhere' and leveraging the power of AI-driven innovation, we work together to ensure that security is not just robust but also invisibleoperating effortlessly in the background. This empowers healthcare teams and businesses to focus entirely on what matters most: delivering exceptional care and services to their communities." To join the fast-growing ecosystem of IGEL Ready partners and drive secure digital transformation, explore the IGEL Ready Showcase or connect with our team at [email protected]. Apply today and be part of the future of secure endpoint computing. IGEL Now & Next 2025 is made possible through the generous support of IGEL Ready partners, including Diamond Sponsors: HP, Lenovo, and Omnissa; Platinum Sponsors: AWS, Island, LG, and Microsoft; Gold Sponsors: Cherry, ControlUp, Nerdio, Nutanix, Vasion, Workspot, and Zscaler; Silver Sponsors: Alludo, Apporto, Arrow, Carahsoft, eG Innovations, Ingram Micro, Liquidware, LoginVSI, and UltrArmor; and, Next Up Partner: SentryBay. Their commitment to innovation and secure cloud workspaces underscores the importance of collaboration in today's digital-first world. For more information, visit IGEL Now & Next. About IGEL IGEL is the leading secure endpoint OS for enterprises now and next. Designed for secure browser, SaaS, DaaS, and VDI, IGEL OS delivers a first-class user experience that is seamless to manage saving money, fueling growth, advancing sustainability, and driving organizations forward. IGEL OS takes a zero-trust approach to security through the unique IGEL Preventative Security Model, removing the attack vectors often exploited by bad actors. Trusted by leading healthcare, financial services, retail, manufacturing, and government leaders worldwide, IGEL has a growing ecosystem of more than 100 integrated IGEL Ready ecosystem partners in more than 50 countries. For more information on what IGEL can do for you, visit IGEL. SOURCE IGEL Technology Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/news/all On Tuesday, on the eve of the National Guard Day of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the National Guard servicemen, presented them with state awards and congratulated them on the 11th anniversary of the creation of the National Guard. National Guard warriors carry out combat missions on par with other elements of Ukraines Defense and Security Forces. NGU units and heroic fighters are steadfastly defending Ukraine and delivering crucial results in eliminating the occupiers, said Zelenskyy. He noted that during a full-scale war, the National Guard units are implementing and developing the experience of using drones and intelligent systems for analyzing the combat situation. The President thanked everyone who makes the National Guard more modern. He separately noted the assault units of the National Guard of Ukraine and the courage of each soldier who not only defends, but also restores Ukrainian positions. Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine remembers all its warriors currently held in Russian captivity and continues working at all levels of diplomacy to free them and bring them home. According to the President, 11,608 National Guard members have been honored with state awards for defending Ukraine 2,919 of them posthumously. Those present honored all fallen heroes with a moment of silence. The President presented state awards to 20 National Guard members. In particular, Hero of Ukraine, Major Maksym Nebylytsia received the Order of the Golden Star. The Head of State also honored three warriors with the Cross of Military Merit. President Zelenskyy also awarded the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky I and III class, the Orders For Courage IIII Class, the Orders of Princess Olga III Class. He presented the battle flag to the NGU Training Center and For Courage and Bravery ribbons to the Special Operations Center, the 5th Slobozhanska Brigade, and the 13th Operational Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine. Additionally, Zelenskyy reviewed military equipment currently in service with NGU units, including UAVs, small arms, and combat, evacuation, and medical vehicles. NEW YORK, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- IPv4.Global, the world's largest, most trusted and transparent IPv4 marketplace, today announced it has joined Internet2, a non-profit, member-driven consortium delivering advanced technology initiatives among research and higher education institutions. This collaboration underscores IPv4.Global's ongoing commitment to help colleges and universities uncover hidden assets that can fund their future growth and innovation. As an Internet2 industry member, IPv4.Global will support research and education institutions in managing their IP address space, with the potential to enhance routing security and help institutions reinvest in networking and services that further their missions. IPv4.Global works with customers regardless of size across a variety of industries worldwide and has built a specialty within the education space. "Joining forces with the Internet2 community allows us to make a direct and meaningful impact on the higher education community," said Lee Howard, senior vice president of IPv4.Global. "We've assisted numerous universities and colleges in identifying underutilized IPv4 assets, unlocking critical funding that enables network expansion and upgrades. This can be a useful funding boost when needed." Most higher education institutions have unused IPv4 address blocks that are potentially valuable, untapped resources that could generate significant capital. By bringing these dormant assets to light, IPv4.Global is helping colleges and universities unlock essential funds that can be reinvested into technology infrastructure, network upgrades, or other vital initiatives. "The Internet2 community continues to collaborate on optimizing network resources and enhancing routing security," said George Loftus, associate vice president of Internet2 Network Services. "IPv4.Global joining as an Internet2 industry member brings expertise that can help the community manage IPv4 resources while preparing for an IPv6-enabled future for research and education networks." IPv4.Global is the world's leading marketplace for IPv4 addresses and a trusted partner in IPv4 consultancy. The company is the only platform to disclose and publicly share pricing for every transaction conducted through its marketplace, ensuring unparalleled transparency and trust in a market often clouded by uncertainty. About IPv4.Global IPv4.Global, a division of Hilco Streambank, is the most trusted IPv4 marketplace in the world. We operate the only transparent, public marketplace to ensure our buyers and sellers get the most value for their transactions. Our multi-tiered platform, backed by the most experienced team of transfer analysts, facilitates transactions of varying IPv4 block sizes, ranging from small public to large private transactions. IPv4.Global provides credible, transparent services to our buyers and sellers, making it the most trusted marketplace worldwide. For more information, please visit https://ipv4.global/. About Internet2 Internet2 is a non-profit, member-driven advanced technology community founded by the nation's leading higher education institutions in 1996. Internet2 serves 337 U.S. universities, 58 government agencies, 46 regional and state education networks and through them supports more than 80,000 community anchor institutions, over 1,000 InCommon participants, 60 leading corporations working with our community, and 70 national research and education network operators that represent more than 100 countries. Internet2 delivers a diverse portfolio of technology solutions that leverages, integrates, and amplifies the strengths of its members and helps support their educational, research and community service missions. Internet2's core infrastructure components include the nation's largest and fastest research and education network that was built to deliver advanced, customized services that are accessed and secured by the community-developed trust and identity framework. For more information, visit https://internet2.edu. SOURCE IPv4.Global CHENGDU, China, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (the "Company") announced that the Company has received a clinical trial notice approving the investigational new drug application for a radionuclide-drug conjugate (RDC) drug SKB107 (formerly TBM-001) from the Center for Drug Evaluation of the National Medical Products Administration. SKB107 is the first company RDC drug clinical project. SKB107 is jointly developed by the Company and Professor Chen Yue's team of the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University (the "Affiliated Hospital of SMU"). It utilizes a small molecule as the targeting ligand, combined with a suitable conjugation technology, chelator, and therapeutic radionuclide, and is intended to be used for treatment of bone metastases in solid tumors. Compared with traditional external radiation therapy, the RDC drug SKB107 can benefit patients with systemic multiple bone metastases and is highly targeted, which can reduce the damage to normal tissues, and is expected to show good safety; and compared with traditional bone-modifying drugs, it can effectively kill tumor cells with bone metastases, and is expected to have potential for the treatment of bone metastases efficacy. The Company entered into an exclusive license agreement with the Affiliated Hospital of SMU for a RDC drug SKB107 on Sept. 14, 2023. About Bone Metastasis of Malignant Tumors Bone is the most common site of metastasis in advanced malignant tumors, and about 70%~80% of patients with advanced malignant tumors will eventually develop bone metastasis. Among common tumors, prostate cancer, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, lung cancer and kidney cancer have a higher incidence of bone metastasis, accounting for more than 80% of all bone metastatic tumors[1]. Bone metastasis can lead to serious complications such as severe bone pain and bone-related events, such as pathologic fracture and spinal cord compression, which can seriously reduce patients' quality of life and increase the risk of death. Currently, treatments for bone metastases of malignant tumors mainly include comprehensive treatments such as analgesic therapy, radiation therapy, bone-modifying drug therapy, and surgery. However, these treatments are still limited in improving patients' quality of life, delaying or avoiding the occurrence of SREs, and prolonging patients' survival, and the development of new mechanisms of action and safer and more effective drugs is imminent. About Kelun-Biotech Kelun-Biotech (6990.HK) is a holding subsidiary of Kelun Pharmaceutical (002422.SZ), which focuses on the R&D, manufacturing, commercialization and global collaboration of innovative biological drugs and small molecule drugs. The company focuses on major disease areas such as solid tumors, autoimmune, inflammatory, and metabolic diseases, and in establishing a globalized drug development and industrialization platform to address the unmet medical needs in China and the rest of world. The Company is committed to becoming a leading global enterprise in the field of innovative drugs. At present, the Company has more than 30 ongoing key innovative drug projects, of which 3 projects have been approved for marketing, 1 project is in the NDA stage, and more than 10 projects are in the clinical stage. The company has established one of the world's leading proprietary ADC platforms, OptiDC, and has 1 ADC project approved for marketing, 1 ADC project in NDA stage, and multiple ADC or novel ADC projects in clinical or preclinical research stage. For more information, please visit https://kelun-biotech.com/. Reference [1] [Bone Tumour Group of the Chinese Orthopaedic Association2009] Expert consensus on the surgical treatment of bone metastases. Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics;29(12):1177-1184. SOURCE Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Created by UMD Alum Jim Henson '60, Beloved Muppet Will Address Graduates at Campus Ceremony on May 21, 2025 COLLEGE PARK, Md., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Maryland announced today that Kermit the Frog will deliver the university's commencement address on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. The beloved Muppet and legendary frog will address summer 2024, winter 2024 and spring 2025 graduates, family and friends during the ceremony at SECU Stadium. After a sold-out visit to campus in fall 2024 as part of the College of Arts and Humanities Dean's Lecture Series, Kermit the Frog returns to the university from The Muppets Studio, part of the Magic of Disney, to share an inspiring message with this year's graduates. Kermit the Frog's appearance honors the long history between UMD and Muppets creator Jim Henson, who graduated from UMD in 1960. Henson, a home economics major, invented Kermit by building the original frog puppet out of one of his mother's coats and a ping-pong ball cut in half. "I am thrilled that our graduates and their families will experience the optimism and insight of the world-renowned Kermit the Frog at such a meaningful time in their lives," said UMD President Darryll J. Pines. "Our pride in Jim Henson knows no bounds, and it is an honor to welcome Kermit the Frog to our campus, 65 years after Mr. Henson graduated from the University of Maryland. I sincerely thank The Muppets Studio, Disney and their creative teams for making this possible." "Nothing could make these feet happier than to speak at the University of Maryland. I just know the class of 2025 is going to leap into the world and make it a better place, so if a few encouraging words from a frog can help, then I'll be there!" said Kermit The Frog. More details about the campuswide ceremony are available at commencement.umd.edu. About the University of Maryland The University of Maryland (UMD) is the state's flagship university and a leading public research institution, propelled by a $1.3 billion joint research enterprise. Located four miles from Washington, D.C., the university is dedicated to addressing the grand challenges of our time and is the nation's first Do Good campus. It is driven by a diverse and proudly inclusive community of more than 50,000 fearless Terrapins. UMD is a top producer of Fulbright scholars and offers an unparalleled student experience with more than 300 academic programs, 25 living-learning programs and 400 study abroad programs. Spurred by a culture of innovation and creativity, UMD faculty are global leaders in their field and include Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners and members of the national academies. For more information about the University of Maryland, visit umd.edu. SOURCE University of Maryland La Vida Golden Visas has announced a significant 47% year-on-year increase in enquiries for overseas residency through investment, as a growing number of high-earning UK residents seek to mitigate rising domestic tax burdens. LONDON, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The sharp uptick in demand, recorded in Q1 2025, reflects ongoing momentum in the global investment migration industry a trend that has accelerated since the UK's departure from the European Union. While initial interest in golden visa programmes stemmed largely from the desire for flexible European travel rights, today's enquiries are increasingly driven by long-term relocation strategies and wealth preservation in low-tax jurisdictions. "We're seeing a clear shift in motivation," said Paul Williams, CEO of La Vida. "For many UK entrepreneurs and high earners, tax policy has reached a tipping point. The direction of travel is clear taxes are increasing, and investors are responding by seeking greater control over their financial and personal futures through alternative residence options." UK Tax Burden Exceeds European Norms La Vida's internal analysis, drawing on data from the OECD, reveals that UK-based business owners now face a marginal combined tax rate of 54.5% comprising 25% corporation tax and 39.35% dividend tax. This places the UK among the most heavily taxed jurisdictions in Europe, surpassed only by Ireland and Denmark. By comparison, the average combined tax burden across Europe for business owners stands at 41.0%, highlighting a 13.5% gap that continues to widen. Tax on business owners rose significantly when corporation tax climbed from 19% to 25% in April 2023. The increase in National Insurance rates in April 2025 will further tighten the fiscal environment for business and wealth generators. "The British government seems unaware of the agility of today's businesses," Williams added. "The companies choosing to leave the UK are often digital, mobile, and scalable. These are exactly the kinds of enterprises the UK should be nurturing not driving away." Investment Migration: A Global Wealth Strategy La Vida offers access to 18 major investment visa programmes, partnering with governments across Europe, the Americas, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Collectively, these programmes generate over $20 billion annually in foreign direct investment and provide individuals and families with secure residency or citizenship status in exchange for passive investments. Among the most popular golden visa options for low taxation are: Portugal where a 500,000 investment in regulated private equity funds grants full EU residency and Schengen access. where a 500,000 investment in regulated private equity funds grants full EU residency and Schengen access. United Arab Emirates ( Dubai ) where investing AED 2,000,000 (~420,000 / USD $540,000 ) secures long-term residency with zero personal income tax . where investing AED 2,000,000 (~420,000 / USD ) secures long-term residency with . Caribbean nations such as Grenada or Antigua , offering full citizenship from as little as $230,000 , with no tax on overseas earnings. In parallel, the rise of Digital Nomad Visas has enabled businesses to relocate UK-based employees to more favourable tax jurisdictions. Over 60 countries now offer digital nomad pathways, including Spain, Portugal, Barbados, and Antigua, allowing individuals to live and work remotely while legally avoiding many domestic tax obligations. High Earners and Employees Alike Affected High-income employees in the UK are also under pressure, with a 47.0% marginal tax rate including social security slightly above the European average of 45.0%. Additionally, employers face a rising cost of employment, with National Insurance contributions increasing from 13.8% to 15% in April 2025. "Owner-run businesses in the UK are seen as low-hanging fruit for increasing tax demands," Williams noted. "But these are highly mobile, digitally focused, high growth businesses. Many feel they were the goose that kept laying the golden egg for too long. They've been pushed too far and are now turning to golden visas. Governments around the world are eager to welcome them." A Win for Host Countries While the UK and other high-tax nations may be losing some of their most dynamic business creators, host countries are benefiting enormously. Investment migration provides critical funding for housing, infrastructure, innovation, and economic diversification. Programmes are increasingly professionalised, regulated, and transparent a testament to their strategic value and long-term sustainability. And now the United States may be joining the race to attract wealthy entrepreneurs. Former President Donald Trump recently announced plans for a Trump Gold Card residency initiative, designed to attract high-net-worth individuals with a proposed $5 million investment threshold and zero tax on overseas income. A potential game-changer for many countries competing for global wealth. About La Vida Golden Visas La Vida is a leading advisory firm specialising in residency and citizenship by investment (RCBI). With clients in over 150 countries, La Vida has successfully assisted thousands of investors and their families in securing second residency or citizenship through its global network of government-approved programmes. For more information, visit www.goldenvisas.com. Media Contact: Elizabeth Edwards ***@goldenvisas.com +442070601475 Photo(s): https://www.prlog.org/13068374 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE La Vida Golden Visas NEW YORK, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Levy Konigsberg attorneys Anna Kull and Shaunna Lazzaro filed seven lawsuits today on behalf of survivors who endured childhood sexual abuse at Hawthorne Cedar Knolls Residential Treatment Center ("Hawthorne") and Linden Hill Residential Treatment Center ("Linden Hill")facilities once owned and operated by the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services, Inc. ("Jewish Board"). Although these centers were intended to provide safe housing and social and mental health services for at-risk youth, they are now permanently closed amid allegations of pervasive sexual abuse perpetrated and enabled by staff. Both Hawthorne and Linden Hill existed within the Hawthorne Cedar Knolls Union Free School District campus in Westchester County. While the Jewish Board continues to operate other programs and residences across New York State, it has long maintained that its residential programs offer a supportive environment for youth with complex psychiatric and behavioral needs. Yet these lawsuits allege a stark reality: many former residents suffered sexual abuse that has left lasting trauma. Our legal team is leading the way in investigating sexual abuse claims from survivors of sexual abuse committed at Hawthorne and Linden Hill and other youth serving residential foster care facilities in New York. The seven sexual abuse lawsuits against Hawthorne Cedar Knolls Union Free School District and the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services were filed today in Westchester County Supreme Court. Leading the Way for Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Levy Konigsberg and its team of dedicated trial attorneys are at the forefront of childhood sexual abuse litigation, having filed thousands of lawsuits nationwide on behalf of survivors. In announcing this week's filings, Levy Konigsberg Partner Anna Kull stated: The lawsuits filed for sexual abuse at Hawthorne Cedar Knolls and Linden Hill Residential Treatment Centers shine a harsh light on a systemic failure where institutions entrusted with the welfare of vulnerable children have instead allowed abuse to fester. These young people were promised safety and support, yet they endured neglect, sexual violence, and an egregious breach of trust. By bravely coming forward, survivors are not only seeking justice for themselves, but also demanding the accountability and reform necessary to protect future generations of at-risk youth. Levy Konigsberg represents hundreds of survivors of sexual abuse at residential foster care facilities and plans to continue fighting tirelessly on their behalf. Levy Konigsberg is a nationwide trial law firm with a proven track record of representing survivors of sexual abuse. We have the strength, size, and resources needed to file lawsuits against government agencies, religious groups, medical institutions, and more. If you want to know if you can file a claim for sexual abuse that occurred at Hawthorne Cedar Knolls Residential Treatment Center and/or Linden Hill Residential Treatment Center, or another residential foster care facility in New York, then speak with our team today. Please call 800-315-3806 now and request a free, initial consultation with our firm. Media Contact: Attorney Anna Kull; [email protected] SOURCE Levy Konigsberg FORT WASHINGTON, Pa., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC (Lincoln Investment) President and CEO Ed Forst announced in December 2024 that Chief Operating Officer Kathy Leckey will succeed him as president effective immediately. Forst will remain in his role as CEO. Leckey holds the distinction as the first president in Lincoln Investment's history who is not a member of the Forst family. Ed Forst held the position since 1992 succeeding his father, Nick Forst, who founded the company in 1968 with a vision to bring the power of investing to all people. Starting her career at Lincoln Investment after high school in 1993, Leckey returned to the company in 2020 as chief of staff to President and CEO Ed Forst and was promoted to chief operating officer in 2022 to support the business with a defined lens on the client and advisor experience. Leckey has a reputation for building best-in-class leadership teams and is responsible for leading the organizational growth strategy of the firm. Leckey has over 30 years of experience in financial services, strategic planning, sales, distribution, talent recruitment and transformational initiatives for Fortune 100 companies. She has held leadership roles at PLANCO/Hartford, Equitable, MetLife, Lincoln Financial Distributors and Prudential. She is a graduate of LaSalle University with a BS in business administration and earned an MBA in organizational strategy from St. Joseph's University. Leckey is currently attending Columbia University focusing on her CEO certification. Leckey was at the helm of Lincoln Investment's largest transformation in its 56-year history moving off a self-clearing and custody platform to a fully-disclosed platform with BNY Pershing last November. The new strategic arrangement, which includes BNY Pershing Wove, addresses the company's need for enhanced technology, product solutions and a unified platform to meet advisor/consumer demands that supports Lincoln's ability to deliver on strategic enterprise initiatives into the future. "Kathy is an employee who possesses many exceptional traits dedicated, hard-working, collaborative and is a hands-on, authentic leader focused on culture," said Ed Forst. "My father would be very pleased that an employee he knew and hired many years ago has been selected as president." Leckey's appointment aligns with the company's support and advancement of women in the financial services industry. In addition to Leckey, its executive suite includes Chief Compliance Officer Maureen Mattson and Chief Financial Officer Diane McCarthy. The company ranked #6 for the most female financial advisors in the independent broker-dealer space (2024 Financial Planning's Independent Broker-Dealer list ranking*) and is committed to actively recruiting female professionals in the industry. "I am deeply honored and humbled to be the first non-family member to be named President. This opportunity fills me with a profound sense of responsibility to continue a legacy of excellence that this company is renowned for. I am eager to lead such a talented and dedicated team into a future brimming with potential and possibility. My vision for the company's future is anchored in three core pillars: transformation, growth and a focus on culture." About Lincoln Investment With over 55 years of proven industry leadership and experience in delivering investment strategies, Lincoln Investment is a leading broker-dealer. Its network includes over 1,000 financial professionals nationwide. The company serves the diverse financial needs of over 315,000 clients representing over $51 billion in assets. Lincoln has been voted one of the Top Workplaces in the Delaware Valley for the 15th consecutive year. For more information, visit www.lincolninvestment.com or follow on LinkedIn, X or Facebook. * Rankings are not indicative of future performance and are no guarantee of future financial success. Issued 8/14/24, Financial Planning's annual IBD Elite Rankings are based on 41 companies using data from Jan-Dec 2023. Firms do not pay a fee to be included in the IBD Elite Rankings list. Lincoln Investment Media Contact: Linda Heist 215-881-4611 [email protected] SOURCE Lincoln Investment Experienced leader has helped improve patient outcomes and workplace satisfaction ST. LOUIS, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Stephanie Clements is Mercy's new top nurse. Clements, a longtime leader and executive with decades of experience in health systems across three states, is stepping up from a vice president role at Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City to be Mercy's chief nurse executive (CNE). "Nurses are the lifeblood of every hospital and clinic." Post this Stephanie Clements named Mercy chief nurse executive. "It's a humbling and exciting opportunity to lead the most compassionate and dedicated group of nurses I've ever worked with," said Clements, who will be based in St. Louis, but works across Mercy's multi-state footprint, as she takes on the new position. "Nurses are the lifeblood of every hospital and clinic, and the work they do makes all the difference in the overall patient experience. I'm looking forward to working even more closely with the talented health care professionals across Mercy to ensure our nurses have what they need to be the best in the world at what they do, while working at the top of their license." In Oklahoma, Clements also served as community chief nursing officer with strategic oversight of more than 2,400 nurses at Mercy hospitals across Oklahoma. As Mercy's CNE, she will now lead more than 15,000 nurses across Mercy hospitals and clinics in five states. "Stephanie has extensive experience and a strong commitment to our mission and heritage," said Dr. John Mohart, Mercy executive vice president and chief operating officer. "Her background as an evidence-based bedside nurse informs every operational and strategic decision she makes, ensuring that our nursing practices remain at the forefront of excellence. And her experience as a hospital CEO and chief nursing officer illustrates her exceptional leadership capabilities." Clements' nursing career dates to 1994 as a registered labor and delivery nurse in Texas. Her career also took her to Colorado before joining Mercy in Oklahoma, and her patient care experience includes outpatient infusion, perioperative services, neonatal intensive care and medical-surgical nursing. She has held every nursing leadership position from floor nurse to charge nurse, house supervisor to unit manager before leading all nursing for Mercy in Oklahoma. She has worked in executive roles since 2015. Clements joined Mercy in Oklahoma City last year after serving as CEO of Baylor Scott & White Surgical Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. Clements and her husband, Scott, have two grown sons. They spend their free time doting on their grandsons when they aren't walking their dog, Jet, or enjoying the outdoors. About Mercy Mercy , one of the 15 largest U.S. health systems and named the top large system in the U.S. for excellent patient experience by NRC Health, serves millions annually with nationally recognized care and one of the nation's largest and highest performing Accountable Care Organizations in quality and cost. Mercy is a highly integrated, multi-state health care system including 50 acute care and specialty (heart, children's, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, convenient and urgent care locations, imaging centers and pharmacies. Mercy has over 1,000 physician practice locations and outpatient facilities, more than 5,000 physicians and advanced practitioners and more than 50,000 co-workers serving patients and families across Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In fiscal year 2023 alone, Mercy provided more than half a billion dollars of free care and other community benefits, including traditional charity care and unreimbursed Medicaid. SOURCE Mercy Introducing South Korea's Premium Aesthetic Dental Technology under the subject "The Future of Veneers" LOS ANGELES, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MINISH Technology, the provider behind MINISH Veneers a minimally invasive, highly aesthetic, and durable veneer technology that is transforming modern dentistry, with over 160,000 successful clinical cases over 16 years, will host its first official seminar in Los Angeles, on May 10th. The seminar titled "The Future of Veneers," will take place on this 10th of May, from 12 PM to 6 PM at The West Hollywood Edition Hotel, LA. Topics to be addressed at the MINISH seminar include: The Future of Veneers The Development, Foundations, and Features of MINISH Veneers Facial aesthetic analysis techniques Clinical Case Reviews Aesthetic enhancements to full-mouth restorations using MINISH Introduction to MINISH Academy and MMC ( MINISH Membership Clinics) MINISH Veneers treatment workflows and protocols Latest trends in aesthetic dentistry industry in the US MINISH Veneers are a premium aesthetic dental treatment that goes beyond just simple cosmetic corrections. Based on over 160,000 successful clinical cases MINISH Veneers offer personalized dental treatments emphasizing the overall balance of the face while preserving natural teeth . . Rather than just simply changing the color, size, and shape of teeth, MINISH Veneers offer a comprehensive aesthetic approach that considers overall facial balance. Additionally, MINISH Veneers are a minimally invasive treatment that requires minimal tooth preparation and doesn't require anesthesia or the use of temporary teeth, meaning there is no pain involved and the procedure time is much shorter. With 16 years of clinical data and a 10-year warranty system, MINISH Veneers are known for its high reliability. For these reasons, MINISH Veneers have become synonymous with high-end premium aesthetic dental treatment in Korea, chosen by over 500 celebrities, K-pop idols, actors, and High profiles. MINISH Veneers are also expanding to several other countries all over the world. MINISH Technology successfully held a seminar in Tokyo this February, with 130 dentists in attendance. MINISH Veneers Course - a MINISH Veneers training / education program was first held for Japanese dentists Last November 2024, and secondarily scheduled for April 2025. Currently, MMC (MINISH Member Clinics) are operating in 35 clinics in South Korea, 10 in Japan, 1 in Los Angeles, and 1 in Vancouver, for a total of 47 clinics worldwide. Dr. JeongHo Kang, Founder of MINISH Veneers and CEO of MINISH USA, stated, "MINISH Veneers have earned its reputation as a premium aesthetic dental treatment because MINISH Veneers never compromise natural teeth just for cosmetic corrections. This makes MINISH Veneers the perfect choice for clients looking for luxury advanced veneer treatments." Dr. Kang further commented, "Starting from this upcoming MINISH seminar, MINISH USA aims to expand MMCs in North America and implement a variety of supporting programs. By adopting MINISH Veneers treatment systems, dental clinics will be able to perform exceptional veneer treatments, increasing patient satisfaction, continuous growth and boosting business profitability Those interested in attending the MINISH seminar can register through the official MINISH Veneers website at https://minishveneers.com/2025-may-seminar-los-angeles/ SOURCE Minish Technology Inc. BEPPU, Japan, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Mixed Bathing World Executive Committee" based in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, southeastern Japan, has just installed its two latest artworks in "ALTERNATIVE-STATE," an art project that started in 2022 to enhance the hot spa-rich city's brand loyalty. As one of the world's leading hot spring resorts, Beppu not only boasts a unique culture centered around hot spas, and with them the evocative image of steam rising mysteriously from the earth, but also is proving itself as a hub in the art world, with both local and overseas artistic endeavors gaining steady attention. The combination of these two points of appeal -- natural hot springs and the world of art -- makes Beppu a truly unique travel destination. Photo1: Yukemuri (steam rising from hot springs) https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M107359/202503185886/_prw_PI2fl_1O38wk0B.jpg "ALTERNATIVE-STATE" is an art project started in 2022 to enhance the city's brand loyalty and organized by the "Mixed Bathing World Executive Committee" based in Beppu. Installing art pieces throughout the city, ALTERNATIVE-STATE invites artists from all over the world, from virtuosos to the up-and-coming, to participate in its goal of installing eight works of art in a four-year period. Introduced below are two newly installed artworks. #5 Bluebird Sign This work is a dispersed installation, inviting viewers to explore the downtown area of Beppu. It consists of stories created from interviews with people who live in this town. As if searching for a bluebird, visitors can look for the artworks scattered throughout the daily life and savor the town's scenery and the stories. Photo2: Bluebird Sign https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M107359/202503185886/_prw_PI3fl_5K6oPf4J.jpg #7 Distorted "JIKU" #023D-1 / BEPPU A single ray of light appears in the sky above the main street in front of Beppu Station after sunset. This is an artwork that makes visible the unique historical or geographical axis of a locality. Photo3: Distorted "JIKU" #023D-1 / BEPPU https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M107359/202503185886/_prw_PI1fl_VhBnhPLk.jpg About Beppu City, Oita Prefecture Beppu is home to a number of additional art spots dotted throughout town. What's more, every autumn Beppu will be not only Art Fair Beppu, where visitors have the chance to meet up-and-coming artists from September 27 (Sat.) to 29 (Mon.), 2025, but also a venue of Beppu Art Month -- a cultural art festival that takes place all over the city from September 27 (Sat.) to November 16 (Sun.), 2025. Photos from Art Fair Beppu 2024: https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M107359/202503185886/_prw_PI4fl_Br2Pn20L.jpg https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M107359/202503185886/_prw_PI5fl_Px5C3P90.jpg ALTERNATIVE-STATE https://alternative-state.com/?lang=en Art Fair Beppu https://artfairbeppu.com Beppu Art Month https://www.beppuartmonth.com Tourist Information WANDER COMPASS BEPPU https://wandercompass.jp/beppu SOURCE Mixed Bathing World Executive Committee BOSTON, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Whistleblower Law Collaborative LLC is pleased to announce that the United States has settled a False Claims Act case brought by one of its clients. Under the terms of the settlement, MORSECORP, Inc. will pay $4.6 million, plus interest, to resolve allegations that it made false representations concerning compliance with required cybersecurity controls for safeguarding sensitive government information. This settlement is particularly notable because it represents the first major False Claims Act settlement with a defense contractor based on failures to implement required cybersecurity controls. MORSECORP d/b/a MORSE (Mission Oriented Rapid Solution Engineering), which is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a defense contractor in the U.S. National Security Ecosystem. MORSE performed multiple contracts for the Department of the Army and the Department of the Air Force, among other government customers. Our Client's Lawsuit Reveals the Cybersecurity Failures The case was brought by our client in January 2023 based on his concerns that MORSECORP had not fully implemented cybersecurity controls required under NIST SP 800-171 for protecting sensitive government data and information. Our client was also concerned that MORSECORP did not have a consolidated system security plan and that MORSECORP was using third-party cloud-based services that did not meet the relevant Federal security requirements. In addition, our client was concerned that MORSECORP had posted improperly inflated SPRS assessment scores with the Defense Department for its internal cybersecurity practices and policies. Our client brought the MORSECORP cybersecurity failures to the attention of the government by filing a cybersecurity qui tam complaint under the False Claims Act. Under the False Claims Act, a private citizen (known as a "relator") who suspects or knows of fraud against the government can act as a whistleblower and file a sealed complaint on behalf of the government. If the case is successful, the relator is entitled to a share between 15% and 30% of the government's recovery. The government investigated the allegations brought to light by our client and, on March 17, 2025, filed a notice of its intention to intervene against MORSECORP for the purpose of settlement. The Department of Justice further described the case and the $4.6 million settlement on March 25, 2025. "Federal contractors must fulfill their obligations to protect sensitive government information from cyber threats, We will continue to hold contractors to their commitments to follow cybersecurity standards to ensure that federal agencies and taxpayers get what they paid for, and make sure that contractors who follow the rules are not at a competitive disadvantage." -- United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. "Protecting the integrity of Department of Defense (DoD) procurement activities is a top priority for the DoD Office of Inspector General's Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS). Failing to comply with DoD contract specifications and cybersecurity requirements puts DoD information and programs at risk. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice to investigate allegations of false claims on DoD contracts." -- Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty, DCIS Northeast Field Office Recognition of Outstanding Government Efforts Our client expresses his admiration for, and appreciation of, the outstanding efforts of the Commercial Litigation Branch of the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts, and the relevant investigating agencies for conducting a thorough and prompt investigation which led to the settlement announced yesterday. "In uniform and out, protecting the national security of the United States has been the focus of my professional career. Becoming a whistleblower was not an easy decision and one I only took when I felt I had no remaining option to protect sensitive government information. The Department of Justice should be commended for acting promptly to investigate and put an end to practices that placed sensitive government information and data at risk of loss or compromise." --WLC Client Whistleblower Law Collaborative commends the outstanding efforts of their client and the government prosecutors. Attorney Bruce C. Judge praised his client's willingness to stand his ground on protecting sensitive government information. Mr. Judge also cited his client's courage in coming forward without regard to the professional and personal risks that can attach to being a whistleblower. Mr. Judge continued, "our client drew on his extensive knowledge of the applicable cybersecurity requirements and was able to identify numerous cybersecurity gaps clearly and persuasively to government prosecutors and agents." A New Era of Cybersecurity Enforcement in the Defense Industrial Base The settlement announced today marks an important milestone in the government's long-running efforts to bring about cybersecurity compliance in the Defense Industrial Base. After many years of issuing warnings and relying on self-certifications, the MORSECORP settlement sends a clear signal that government contractors who fail to implement required cybersecurity controls can expect to face significant financial penalties. It also signals that individuals who bring cybersecurity violations to the government's attention can receive a share of the government's ultimate recoveries. In 2021, the Department of Justice launched its Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative aimed at federal contractors who fail to comply with government cybersecurity requirements. In addition, the initiative targets contractors who fail to report breaches or other cybersecurity incidents. We expect the Department of Justice, the Department of Defense, NASA, and other government agencies to continue to investigate and prosecute matters involving failure to implement required cybersecurity controls to safeguard sensitive government information and data. If you are aware of situations in which a government contractor: Has failed to implement the cybersecurity controls required under NIST SP 800-171; Has failed to develop and implement a system security plan for any system or network used to process, store and/or transmit CUI or other sensitive government information or data; Is using third-party cloud-based services which services do not meet the relevant FedRamp security requirements; or Has posted misleading or inaccurate SPRS scores for its cybersecurity compliance. We urge you to contact us for a free, confidential consultation. Whistleblower Law Collaborative devotes its practice entirely to representing whistleblowers. For more information, contact the firm at 617.366.2800 or email Bruce Judge at [email protected] or David Lieberman at [email protected]. Follow Us on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook SOURCE Whistleblower Law Collaborative LLC URCS-KHERSON-DRILLS URCS instructors conducting field sessions on mine risk in Kherson region KYIV. March 26 (Interfax-Ukraine) Instructors of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) are teaching residents of remote settlements of Kherson region the rules of safe behavior when detecting explosive objects. To reduce risks and prevent tragedies, mine risk specialists from the Kherson Regional Organization of the Ukrainian Red Cross conducted a series of field information sessions in remote villages of the region. Residents were told about the dangers of explosive objects and the rules of safe behavior in case of their detection, the URCS reported on Facebook. The URCS recalled the algorithm of actions in case of detection of explosive objects. If you come across an explosive object, you must stop and do not approach the find or examine it. Suspicious objects must not be touched, as they may be camouflaged or unstable. You must not move randomly, as steps in a minefield can trigger an explosion. You must leave a dangerous place by the same footsteps you entered. You must immediately report a dangerous find to the rescue service by calling 101 or 102. Specialists of the URCS conduct classes for people of all ages. Kherson region remains one of the most dangerous regions of Ukraine - after the fighting, the threat of explosive objects does not disappear. It can lurk on roads, in yards, fields, and even near residential buildings. WASHINGTON, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA and the Department of Defense will host a media event on the recovery operations that will bring the Artemis II astronauts and the agency's Orion spacecraft home at the conclusion of next year's mission around the Moon. The in-person event will take place at 3 p.m. PDT on Monday, March 31, at Naval Base San Diego in California. Artemis II crew members and U.S. Navy personnel practice recovery procedures in the Pacific Ocean using a test version of NASA's Orion spacecraft in February 2024. Credit: NASA A team of NASA and Department of Defense personnel are at sea in the Pacific Ocean where splashdown will take place. The team currently is practicing the procedures it will use to recover the astronauts after their more than 600,000 mile journey from Earth and back on the first crewed mission under the Artemis campaign. A test version of Orion and other hardware also will be on-hand for media representatives to view. Interested media must RSVP no later than 4 p.m. PDT Friday, March 28, to Naval Base San Diego Public Affairs at [email protected] or 619-556-7359. The start time of the event may change based on the conclusion of testing activities. Participants include: Liliana Villarreal , NASA's Artemis II landing and recovery director, Exploration Ground Systems Program, NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida , NASA's Artemis II landing and recovery director, Exploration Ground Systems Program, NASA's in Capt. Andrew "Andy" Koy, commanding officer of USS Somerset (LPD 25), U.S. Navy Lt. Col. David Mahan , commander, U.S. Air Force's 1st Air Force, Detachment 3, Patrick Space Force Base , Florida Several astronauts participating in the testing will be available for interviews. Artemis II will be the first test flight of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, Orion spacecraft, and supporting ground system with crew aboard. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen will venture around the Moon and back. The mission is another step toward missions on the lunar surface and helping the agency prepare for future astronaut missions to Mars. Learn more about Artemis II at: https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii/ SOURCE NASA WASHINGTON, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- National Press Club President Mike Balsamo today called on Chinese authorities to overturn the conviction of journalist Dong Yuyu, whose appeal could be heard as soon as April in Beijing. Dong, a respected journalist and longtime editorial writer at Guangming Daily, was sentenced to seven years in prison for espionage last November. His family recently learned that a court hearing may be scheduled as part of his appeal a rare development in China's legal system, where most criminal appeals are resolved without public proceedings. "China still has one last chance to correct a grave injustice," Balsamo said. "Letting this conviction stand would send a dangerous message: that honest dialogue and international engagement are now considered crimes." According to Chinese law, a hearing on appeal indicates that facts and evidence are in dispute, and that a reduced sentence or full acquittal is possible. In a newly disclosed letter to Dong's family, Japanese Ambassador to China Kenji Kanasugi formally disputed China's claims that the Japanese diplomats Dong met with were intelligence agents. The ambassador wrote that none of the diplomats referenced in Dong's verdict were involved in espionage, and that the Japanese foreign ministry departments cited in the verdict have no intelligence functions under Japanese law. "The Ministry of State Security offered no evidence and the trial court never asked for any," Balsamo said. "No credible system of justice operates that way." Notably, China has not expelled any of the eight Japanese diplomats it identified in Dong's case including the former Japanese ambassador to China and the current chief diplomat in Shanghai. Dong's attorneys including renowned rights lawyers Mo Shaoping, Shang Baojun, and now Zhang Dongshuo argued at trial that the Ministry of State Security provided no evidence that Dong received any material benefit or that the Japanese diplomats he met were spies. The court accepted the espionage charge without scrutiny. The lawyers will continue arguing for Dong's innocence. The National Press Club has repeatedly warned that upholding Dong's conviction could have significant consequences for foreign journalists, scholars, and diplomats in China, many of whom routinely engage in the kind of international dialogue now being criminalized. "If this verdict is allowed to stand, it will set a dangerous precedent not just for journalists, but for anyone who believes in diplomacy, openness, and the rule of law," Balsamo said. The National Press Club urges: The Beijing High Court to overturn Dong's conviction and reject unsupported claims made by the Ministry of State Security. The Japanese government to publicly clarify the wrongful designation of its diplomats in this case. The U.S. government to continue its support and advocacy for Dong and his family. Dong has been in detention since February 2022. His final appeal may represent the last chance to avoid further harm to his health, his family, and China's international credibility. For background and family statements, visit: https://www.press.org/newsroom/family-statement-verdict-case-chinese-journalist-dong-yuyu https://www.press.org/newsroom/follow-family-statement-verdict-case-chinese-journalist-dong-yuyu Contact: Bill McCarren, Director of the Press Freedom Center, [email protected] SOURCE National Press Club Judges honor 10 FABI Favorites elevating global flavors, clean ingredients, and plant-based excellence CHICAGO, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show today announced the 39 recipients of the 2025 Food and Beverage (FABI) Awards, celebrating products redefining menus, driving consumer demand, and helping restaurant operators enhance profitability. This year's standout products10 of which earned the prestigious designation of FABI Favoritesreflect growing trends in globally inspired flavors, clean-label ingredients, innovative plant-based alternatives, and convenience-driven solutions that simplify kitchen operations. Attendees can experience these acclaimed products firsthand during the National Restaurant Association Show, taking place May 1720, 2025, at McCormick Place in Chicago. "The FABI Awards put the spotlight on products shaping today's menus and consumer experiences," said Tom Cindric, President of Exhibitions for Informa Connect Foodservice. "This year's selections demonstrate how suppliers are creatively responding to key operator needsmenu versatility, sustainable sourcing, and products that resonate with consumers. Attendees can count on the Show as their source for discovering standout solutions and uncovering the products and trends they'll bring back to their businesses." The FABI Awards help foodservice operators discover impactful food and beverage products selected by an independent panel of judges. These expertsrepresenting renowned brands such as Wendy's, Aramark, and Buffalo Wild Wingsevaluate submissions based on taste, operational impact, profitability potential, consumer appeal, and the ability to address real-world challenges for operators. "One of my favorite things about working in the culinary space is the constant evolution of our industry," stated Becky Davis, Director of Culinary Innovation at The Wendy's Company and 2025 FABI judge. "My time as a judge for the 2025 FABI Awards has only solidified my belief that working with quality food and beverage products is the key to enhancing the guest experience and overall restaurant efficiency. The 2025 awardees push the boundaries and improve on traditional flavors, taking familiar favorites to new levels and I think that foodie fans are going to agree." The FABI Favorites, introduced in 2023, highlight those products judged to have the most significant impact on industry-wide trends and consumer expectations. These elite selections, prominently featuring innovative uses of global ingredients, clean-label standards, and creative plant-based alternatives, will be showcased in dedicated tastings and demonstrations throughout the Show. "In an industry spoiled for choice, to thrive and survive, brands need a shining light to stand out in the crowd. It's that simple, winning a FABI award for our game-changing foodservice innovation is that industry-leading spotlight!" said Miranda Reid, SHOTT Beverages Chief Marketing Officer and a 2025 FABI Favorite. THE 2025 FABI AWARDEES ARE: FABI FAVORITES Locatelli Crema di Cacio E Pepe The Ambriola Company, Inc. Wildbrine Spicy Kimchi Sriracha FFH Frozen Kumquat Puree 100% Les vergers Boiron Creme Clouds Mochi Love 50CUT Bratwurst Sausage Mush Foods US, Inc. Plant-based Jalapeno and Cheese Stuffed Chicken Meatballs No Meat Factory Marinated Quartered Artichoke Hearts - Pouch POSHI Roland Sofrito with Aji Amarillo Roland Foods Fire Roasted Green Garbanzos Sevillo Fine Foods Blackcurrant and Lime Caffeine Concentrate SHOTT Beverages FABI AWARDEES Wagyu Beef Patties Guinness Flavored 2 Pint Provisions Golden Tiger Kimchi Chicken Potstickers Ajinomoto Foods North America Posada Birria Cruncheros Ajinomoto Foods North America Posada Mexican-Style Hot Chocolate Cruncheros Ajinomoto Foods North America Sushi Spring Roll (California Style) AMOY ASIAN FOODS NORTH AMERICA Wild Ahi Tuna Shoyu Retail Poke Kit Annasea Wild Ahi Tuna Wasabi Bulk Poke Kit Annasea bibigo Gochujang Hot & Sweet Sauce CJ Schwan's Company bibigo Steamed Dumplings CJ Schwan's Company MINH(R) 3.0 oz Breakfast Egg Roll CJ Schwan's Company Sprite + Tea The Coca-Cola Company Brown Sugar Simple Syrup Crafted Cocktails Dairy-Free Mozzarella Shreds Daiya Foods Inc. S'Mores Cheesecake Eli's Cheesecake Co. A1 Steakhouse Butter Epicurean Butter Fable Pulled Shiitake Mushrooms Fable Food Co. Avocado Hummus Grecian Delight Kronos Pre-Cooked Chickpea Bites - Spanakopita Grecian Delight Kronos Pre-Cooked Chickpea Bites - Zucchini Grecian Delight Kronos WORTHINGTON VEGAN PEPPERONI SLICES Heritage Health Food MyBacon MyForest Foods Nitrogen Infused Chopped Garlic Nate's Fine Foods Seaweed-ish Kelp Meatballs North Coast Seafoods Exotic Mousse OVERSEAS FOOD TRADING PINEAPPLE PEPPER SAUCE Querendona Gochu Sauce Seoulfully! Sauce Smoky Sauce Seoulfully! Sauce Tajin Twist Tajin International Corp Broccoli Cheddar Breakfast Potato Bake Veggies Made Great Awardees and Favorites will be prominently featured across the Show floor, highlighted through tastings and specialized programming designed to showcase these standout food and beverage products. Attendees will have exclusive opportunities to sample award-winning products at these featured events within the Culinary Experience's Connections space, located in McCormick Place's Lakeside building: For more details on the FABI Awards and to register for the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show, visit nationalrestaurantshow.com. Connect with the Show online on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for event updates. The National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is owned and operated by Informa Connect in partnership with the National Restaurant Association. Media Contact: Julie Franks, [email protected] SOURCE Informa Connect Even with Medicare, High Costs Impact Access to Treatment, Research Finds GERMANTOWN, Md., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The largest survey yet to examine seriously ill patients receiving charitable copayment assistance found high out-of-pocket costs impact access to health care, adherence to medication, and quality of life even for those on Medicare. The independent research, funded by the HealthWell Foundation, found that 31 percent of the 1550 respondents from across the United States said they would be forced to go without treatment if they lost their charitable copay support. Nearly all the patients in the study, published in Cancer, a journal published by the American Cancer Society, were insured by Medicare. "Many older Americans assume that Medicare will shield them from exorbitant costs if they become seriously ill," said Jeffrey Peppercorn, MD, MPH, an oncologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and principal author of the study. "Yet many of the people we surveyed were not aware of the potentially catastrophic cost of care or that cost could be a barrier to receiving medication prescribed by their doctor for a serious illness like cancer or autoimmune disease." The survey focused on patients with cancer or serious autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). It showed deep financial distress, with many patients with Medicare saying they had delayed important aspects of care because of the costs or were paying nearly 10 percent of their income on health costs, meeting the definition of being "underinsured." Some skipped medical visits, scans or x-rays, and 37 percent reported reducing spending on food because of their health costs. Of those surveyed, 53 percent reported mild financial distress and 31 percent reported moderate to severe financial distress even after receiving charitable copayment assistance. Dr. Peppercorn said the survey shows that charitable copay assistance plays a critical role in enabling many Medicare patients with serious illnesses to gain access to treatment. Ninety percent of recipients worried about what would happen if they lost copay assistance. The research surveyed HealthWell grant recipients who consented to being surveyed and met HealthWell's financial eligibility requirements. Sixtynine percent of respondents in the survey reported annual income of less than $60,000 per year; and 42 percent reported income less than $40,000. The survey helps illuminate the role of charitable copay assistance foundations in providing a safety net for patients with serious chronic illness. These foundations are non-profit and are regulated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG), and are supported largely by donations from pharmaceutical manufacturers. The pharmaceutical funding has led some critics to question the impact of charitable copay assistance on overall costs of health care. Dr. Peppercorn said the survey was conducted to provide a better understanding of the experience of people receiving charitable copay assistance to inform the ongoing public policy. He is a consultant for HealthWell and receives research grant support to his institution. Suzanne Miller, Ph.D., an author of the study and Professor of Cancer Prevention and Control and Director of the Patient Empowerment and Decision-Making Department at Fox Chase Cancer Center/Temple University Health System, said little has been known about the role charitable copay assistance plays in access to care and financial distress. "The experience of patients needs to be part of the public discussion about charitable copay assistance," said Dr. Miller. "This research adds considerably to the still sparse literature describing recipients of charitable copay assistance grants and shows the important role this assistance plays for patients in the American health care system." Dr. Miller serves as the Vice Chair and Secretary to the HealthWell Board. HealthWell Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer, Michael Heimall, FACHE, called the research valuable. "This research shows in a powerful way what we at HealthWell regularly hear from our grant recipients: that without our support they would not be able to pay for the life-sustaining, and often lifesaving, medications they need," Heimall said. "We are a critical safety net for underinsured Americans facing financially and emotionally challenging times." Since 2003, HealthWell has provided over $2.4 billion in financial assistance to nearly 400,000 cancer patients. In addition to providing support for medications, HealthWell has a fund to help cancer patients with the costs of home care services and durable medical equipment, and one to support behavioral health services for oncology caregivers. The Foundation has provided more than $4.8 billion in financial support for cancer and other serious illnesses, including MS, since its founding. To learn more about HealthWell programs and our robust portfolio of disease funds, visit HealthWellFoundation.org. About the HealthWell Foundation A nationally recognized, independent non-profit organization founded in 2003 and a resource to the White House Cancer Moonshot Initiative, the HealthWell Foundation has served as a safety net across over 90 disease areas for more than 1.1 million underinsured patients. Since its inception, HealthWell has provided over $4.8 billion in financial support through more than 1.8 million grants to access life-changing medical treatments patients otherwise would not be able to afford. HealthWell provides financial assistance to adults and children facing medical hardship resulting from gaps in their insurance that cause out-of-pocket medical expenses to escalate rapidly; HealthWell assists with the treatment-related cost-sharing obligations of these patients. HealthWell ranked 24th on the 2024 Forbes list of America's Top 100 Charities and was recognized for its 100 percent fundraising efficiency. For more information, visit HealthWellFoundation.org. CONTACT: Ginny Dunn 240-632-5309 [email protected] SOURCE HealthWell Foundation NEW YORK, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Nayya today announced that it is working with Mercer to introduce its cutting-edge Nayya Claims service to a set of Mercer's voluntary benefit clients in the US. Nayya's innovative offering helps employers empower their employees. By analyzing claim data, Nayya's service, built on advanced technology, uncovers potential opportunities and identifies instances where employees may be eligible for additional voluntary benefits that might have been previously overlooked. "Our mission has always been to empower employees with the knowledge and tools they need to maximize their benefits," said Sina Chehrazi, CEO at Nayya. "By introducing Nayya Claims to select employers, Mercer is offering their clients' employees the ability to take control of their healthcare finances, ensuring they receive every dollar of benefit from their voluntary plans." The Nayya Claims service operates on a simple yet powerful premise: the platform scans medical claim records to detect potential supplemental health claim reimbursement opportunities. This proactive approach helps employees recover money they might have missed, and enhances overall satisfaction with their benefits packages. "Mercer is committed to offering innovative solutions that improve the employee experience," said Simon Camaj, Mercer's Life, Accident, Disability, and Voluntary Benefits Practice Leader. "By introducing this benefit to select clients, we are helping them make the most of the benefits they offer their employees." Key benefits of the Nayya Claims service: Proactive Claims Analysis: Utilizes state-of-the-art technology to review medical claims for potential opportunities. User-Centric Design: Secure, confidential outreach to members to assure they receive the benefits they deserve. Financial Empowerment: Helps employees uncover missed benefits and recoup funds from voluntary plans. Streamlined Experience: Simplifies the claims review process, reducing the administrative burden and improving overall satisfaction. Nayya's agreement with Mercer marks a significant step in advancing employee-centric benefits solutions. Both companies are dedicated to ensuring employees not only understand but fully leverage the benefits available to themultimately helping employers foster a more financially secure and engaged workforce. For more information about Nayya Claims, please visit nayya.com or contact [email protected]. About Nayya: Founded in 2019, Nayya is on a mission to connect people's most important information, so they can thrive in their health and wealth. Powered by AI and advanced analytics, Nayya's platform transforms complex benefits experiences into intuitive, seamless, and ongoing interactions meeting people's real world needs. As a trusted platform and partner to leading employers, benefits solutions, and HR tech providers, Nayya unlocks long-term value through helping employees live more resilient lives. Backed by strategic investors like ICONIQ, Felicis Ventures, SemperVirens, Workday Ventures, MetLife Nextgen Ventures, and ADP Ventures, Nayya is ushering in the future of health and wealth for all. Learn more at www.nayya.com. Media Contact: Alana Kanter Director of Communications Nayya [email protected] SOURCE Nayya NEWARK, N.J., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII), and Cognome are pleased to announce a strategic partnership to transform patient care with AI and ML solutions. This partnership leverages Cognome's ethical AI tools, developed at two leading academic healthcare systems, with NJII's professional services to deliver next-generation clinical intelligence, operational efficiencies and outcomes improvement. Healthcare Innovation Solutions (HCIS), the Quality and Performance Improvement subsidiary of NJII, will play a key role in bringing these innovative and cutting-edge AI solutions to the marketplace. "We are thrilled to partner with Cognome to advance AI and Machine Learning in healthcare," says Jennifer D'Angelo, NJII's COO and CEO of HCIS. "By aligning stakeholder initiatives, we can ensure all hospitals and providers benefit from AI-driven innovation, enhancing research, patient care, safety and operations." NJII, an NJIT corporation, is dedicated to accelerating healthcare technology and fostering innovation throughout New Jersey and beyond. Cognome, formed through a joint venture between Montefiore Health System and the University of Texas at Houston, offers advanced AI and Machine Learning models, as well as the first-of-its-kind AI Governance platform, ExplainerAITM, purpose-built for healthcare. For over a decade, NJII has been a trusted leader in healthcare technology, data interoperability, and care transformation. NJII aims to drive AI adoption starting with proper governance, model implementation and co-development with our healthcare partners. "This partnership aligns with our commitment to accelerate innovation in key sectors such as healthcare," says Tom Villani, PhD, NJII's VP of AI and Machine Learning. "All of our AI models integrate seamlessly with EHRs, delivering real-time insights to physicians. The Sepsis reduction model has demonstrated the lowest flag rate in the industry. AutoChart AI reduces manual chart abstraction by over 90%, providing significant ROI through operational efficiencies and prospective attribution." The ExplainerAI platform, built on the NIH AI Governance framework, enhances trustworthiness and transparency while reducing bias through responsible AI modelscrucial for clinician adoption. It also aligns with NIST's AI Risk Management Framework addressing the need for proper privacy, auditability, cybersecurity and compliance for AI models including those from third parties." "Partnering with NJII combines our 15 years of building proven AI and ML capabilities with their deep knowledge and collaboration throughout NJ's healthcare ecosystem," says James Green, Cognome's CEO. "Size and diversity in patient data are the 'fuel' for intelligent, accurate, and responsible AI models." The partnership will bring together healthcare delivery stakeholders including researchers, technology leaders, AI/ML practitioners as well as operational and quality teams to collaborate on high-value use cases. NJII will also provide data science expertise and custom model development services to meet the growing demand for advanced analytics and purpose-built AI solutions. To learn more about this partnership, focused on delivering high-value operational and clinical use cases, join our upcoming Webinar: Accelerating AI Adoption in NJ Healthcare: Collaboration & Real-World Impact on April 29th at 12pm EDT. Register now. For more information, visit NJII New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII) | An NJIT Corporation HCIS - Healthcare Innovation Solutions, Inc. (HCIS) Cognome - AI-Powered Healthcare and Clinical Decision-Making | Cognome About NJII and Healthcare Innovation Solutions (HCIS): NJII, a 501c3 non-profit subsidiary of NJIT, turns ideas into workable solutions in healthcare, strategic partnerships, defense, and education. NJII combines NJIT's resources and strong industry ties to drive innovation that impacts the economy and public welfare. HCIS, a wholly owned subsidiary of NJII, provides quality and performance improvement solutions that help providers succeed with population health and value-based care programs such as MIPS/MVPs, QIP-NJ, TEAM and others. About Cognome: With 15+ years of R&D, seven patents, and real-time AI and ML models deployed across 20+ hospitals, Cognome is revolutionizing how healthcare data transforms care delivery, clinical operations, and medical research. SOURCE New Jersey Innovation Institute The classic marshmallow treat just got even more decadent with two new fan-inspired flavors CHICAGO, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Nothing unlocks childlike joy quite like a Rice Krispies Treats bar and now the brand is turning up the indulgence with all-new Rice Krispies Treats Bliss bars. For the first time, the iconic marshmallow treat will feature multiple toppings including a salty snack to create a delicious multi-textural experience complete with a satisfying crunch. It's a sweet-and-salty match made in snacking heaven. New Rice Krispies Treats Bliss available in Chocolate Sea Salt Pretzel and Caramel Sea Salt Pretzel offerings New Rice Krispies Treats Bliss available in Chocolate Sea Salt Pretzel and Caramel Sea Salt Pretzel offerings Available in two crave-worthy flavorsChocolate Sea Salt Pretzel and Caramel Sea Salt PretzelRice Krispies Treats Bliss takes luxe to new levels. Imagine the perfect balance of crispy rice and chewy marshmallow topped with semi-sweet chocolate chunks or caramel-flavored chips, and candied sea salt pretzels, all in one bite. Inspired by homemade creations, this is Rice Krispies Treats like you've never experienced before. "The new Rice Krispies Treats Bliss flavors reimagine our bars as a canvas for gourmet topping combinations," said Danielle Rappoport, Brand Director for Rice Krispies Treats. "More and more, we're seeing fans elevate their Rice Krispies Treats bars at home with over-the-top mix-ins, from candy to pretzels. With Rice Krispies Treats Bliss, we are bringing those confection-inspired creations straight to shelves, making it easier than ever to enjoy a next-level treat whenever the craving strikes." Ready to embrace your indulgent side? Rice Krispies Treats Bliss bars will hit snack aisles nationwide starting in April for an SRP of $3.99 for a 6-count box. The two new flavors are the first of many offerings still to come from the brand that will layer decadent textural ingredients atop the beloved bar. Follow Rice Krispies Treats on TikTok and Instagram to keep up with the latest snack drops, inspiration, and all things marshmallow magic. About Kellanova Kellanova (NYSE: K) is a leader in global snacking, international cereal and noodles, and North America frozen foods with a legacy stretching back more than 100 years. Powered by differentiated brands including Pringles, Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts, Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats, RXBAR, Eggo, MorningStar Farms, Special K, Coco Pops, and more, Kellanova's vision is to become the world's best-performing snacks-led powerhouse, unleashing the full potential of our differentiated brands and our passionate people. At Kellanova, our purpose is to create better days and ensure everyone has a seat at the table through our trusted food brands. We are committed to promoting sustainable and equitable food access by tackling the crossroads of hunger, sustainability, wellbeing, and equity, diversity & inclusion. Our goal is to create Better Days for 4 billion people by the end of 2030 (from a 2015 baseline). For more detailed information about our commitments, our approach to achieving these goals, and methodology, please visit our website at https://www.kellanova.com. Kellanova's Media Hotline (269) 961-3799 [email protected] Weber Shandwick Jasmine Williams (314) 681-9722 [email protected] SOURCE Kellanova New Technology Enables Store Associates to Track and Locate Inventory with a High Level of Accuracy to Drive a Seamless and Intelligent Shopping Experience SAN FRANCISCO, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- RADAR , the technology platform that combines RFID, AI and computer vision technology to track and locate in-store inventory with a high level of accuracy in real-time, today announced a partnership with Old Navy, the largest brand in Gap Inc.'s (NYSE: GAP) house of iconic American brands. Old Navy's multi-year plans include a phased roll out of RADAR's AI-powered RFID technology across its nationwide store fleet to help empower the brand's store associates with real-time inventory information to locate items anywhere in the store and deliver an improved customer experience. The move is part of Old Navy parent company, Gap Inc.'s ongoing commitment to continuous improvement as it looks to unlock value over time through new capabilities that strengthen its operating rigor and scaled platform. "We're excited to partner with RADAR, which offers a sophisticated platform and analytics that will give our teams greater real-time inventory visibility to provide an even better in-store shopping experience," said Haio Barbeito, Old Navy President & CEO. "Building on the rigor and discipline that is now core to how we operate, this new technology can place power in the hands of our frontline teams to better serve our customers an important factor in our long-term strategy to make Old Navy the most loved apparel brand in North America, standing for on-trend style, consistent quality, and frictionless experience, all at an accessible price." "In 2025, we are focused on innovating as we pave the way for momentum in the years ahead. This partnership brings proven capabilities that can generate value over time as we take a strategic, multi-year approach to merging technology and retail to deliver a human-centered, digitally led shopping experience," added Sven Gerjets, Gap Inc. Chief Technology Officer. "With Radar's always-on RFID technology, we will look to transform our stores into truly connected spaces, starting with Old Navy. Continuous product tracking can help us optimize inventory replenishment, improve customer and team member experiences, and give us more real-time insights that can support product design and innovation." As retailers and brands look to operate more efficiently, being able to track and locate every item in every store is critical. RADAR's RFID & AI platform enables leading brands like Old Navy to precisely manage inventory and give store associates the real-time information they need to instantly find productsno matter where they are on the sales floor or in the backroom. The solution empowers employees to not only serve their in-store customers better but also replenish products on the sales floor and fulfill omnichannel orders being picked up in-store more quickly and easily. "Old Navy is one of the most iconic American brands and we could not be prouder to officially launch this partnership following pilots across select stores to ensure that Old Navy brand fans are even better served," said Spencer Hewett, Founder and CEO of RADAR. "We will provide store teams with ecommerce-level inventory and product insights, enabling them to manage physical stores with the same precision as their online operations. This will help them optimize operations and ensure customers find what they want, when and where they need it." RADAR's AI & data-science analytics will also help inform inventory decisions, so companies can stock the right products in the right locations at the right times while minimizing shrinkage, stockouts and overstocks. Hewett continues, "RADAR's platform enables granular measurement of product movement down to the shelf which enables retailers to optimize their floor sets and item locations for more effective sell-through. This is something that has been happening for decades in eCommerce and RADAR is excited to finally bring the same capabilities to physical stores, with Old Navy at the forefront." About RADAR RADAR's technology currently powers inventory optimization in nearly 600 stores nationwide and in Canada across three billion-dollar brands with a pipeline of over 30 other top brands. To date, RADAR has raised over $100mm+ from key retailers, funds, and strategic investors. RADAR has offices in the Bay Area, New York and San Diego. RADAR offers a proprietary hardware and software AI-platform that uses RFID and computer vision to turn physical stores into websites. RADAR for the first time enables retailers to measure everything that happens inside their stores including what their inventory level is down to the second. RADAR demystifies what is happening inside retail stores all while eliminating the consumer pain point of the item you want being out of stock, or hearing "I think we might have it, let me go check in the back". Headquartered in New York, RADAR is backed by some of the biggest global retailers, including American Eagle, Gap Inc., Lojas Renner and several Fortune 500 companies; leading funds such as Align Ventures, Founders Fund, Y Combinator, Sound Ventures, Beanstalk, Gideon VC, and the Agnelli family; and the family offices behind Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger, American Eagle, Gap Inc. and other leading brands. For more information, visit goradar.com. About Gap Inc. Gap Inc., a house of iconic brands, is the largest specialty apparel company in America. Its Old Navy , Gap , Banana Republic , and Athleta brands offer clothing, accessories, and lifestyle products for men, women and children. Since 1969, Gap Inc. has created products and experiences that shape culture, while doing right by employees, communities and the planet. Gap Inc. products are available worldwide through company-operated stores, franchise stores, and e-commerce sites. Fiscal year 2024 net sales were $15.1 billion. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com . About Old Navy Old Navy is a global apparel and accessories brand that makes current American essentials accessible to every family. Originated in 1994, the brand invites customers to come play with style through on-trend, playfully optimistic, affordable and high-quality products. A division of San Francisco-based Gap Inc. (NYSE: GAP), Old Navy brings a fun, energizing shopping environment to its customers in more than 1,200 stores around the world. For more information, please visit www.oldnavy.com. MEDIA CONTACTS For RADAR: Michael McMullan / Felicia Kane Berns Communications Group [email protected] / [email protected] For Gap: [email protected] SOURCE Gap Inc. LOS ANGELES, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Discover how Oregon Charter Academy is revolutionizing online education with a dynamic, student-centered approach, ensuring every learner thrives in a flexible and supportive virtual environment. All Access, hosted by Andy Garcia, will soon showcase Oregon Charter Academy's innovative approach to online learning, highlighting how they're "Raising the Bar for Online Learning." This segment explores how ORCA provides a rigorous, inclusive academic environment with daily live interaction with teachers, continuous curriculum access, and vibrant social opportunities. ORCA partners with families to support each student's unique educational journey. The segment is set to film later this year. "At Oregon Charter Academy, we are dedicated to meeting students where they are at in the academic journey," says Dr. Allison Galvin, Executive Director of ORCA. "Students can find their unique path to success through individualized support, unique programs, rigorous academics, and social opportunities, like clubs and field trips. We are excited to work with All Access to showcase virtual education to a wider audience." In today's fast-paced world, students need educational experiences that adapt to their individual needs. Oregon Charter Academy's dynamic curriculum allows teachers to adjust instruction pace and provide supplemental materials, ensuring engagement and comprehension. Their Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, ASCEND, prepares students for college or careers in diverse pathways with industry-specific coursework. The AVID program fosters college and career readiness, while the College Now Dual Credit program allows students to earn college credits at no cost. ORCA's virtual model offers unparalleled flexibility, enabling students to learn at their own pace and from any location. Transparency is paramount, with guardians having access to student progress, grades, and curriculum. Safety is also a key focus, providing a secure learning environment free from the challenges faced by traditional schools. Safe socialization is encouraged through virtual clubs and in-person field trips, fostering a sense of community. Oregon Charter Academy is actively impacting the future of education by offering safe schooling, a robust CTE programs, comprehensive college and career readiness initiatives, and expanding esports opportunities. They collaborate with the broader educational community, sharing their expertise and advancing the virtual learning landscape. About All Access with Andy Garcia: All Access with Andy Garcia is a Public Television program that explores diverse industries and compelling stories, providing viewers with insightful and educational content. The program aims to highlight innovation and excellence across various sectors, offering a unique perspective on the advancements shaping our world. Learn more at: https://www.allaccessptv.com/ About Oregon Charter Academy: Oregon Charter Academy is a leading virtual public charter school committed to providing a personalized and rigorous education for all students. With a focus on flexibility, transparency, and safety, ORCA empowers students to achieve their academic and career goals. Learn more at: https://www.oregoncharter.org/ SOURCE All Access AUSTIN, Texas and NEW YORK, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Orijin, a technology leader in evidence-based learning and workforce development programming for correctional jurisdictions, and Interplay Learning, the leading provider of immersive skilled trades training, have expanded their partnership to provide greater access to workforce development opportunities for justice-impacted individuals. This expansion introduces pre-apprenticeship pathways and additional skilled trades training options to better prepare individuals for sustainable careers post-release. Building on the success of their initial partnership, which provided Interplay's career exploration and foundational training through Orijin's secure platform, this new phase extends the offering to include 15 comprehensive learning pathways from Interplay Learning. These learning tracks feature expanded course hours and industry-relevant training, enabling learners to develop in-demand trade skills in fields such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and facilities maintenance. Delivered on safe and secure digital tablets, these expanded pathways include options for pre-apprenticeship opportunities, designed to help individuals transition more seamlessly into the workforce. These structured programs provide hands-on skills training that aligns with industry expectations, increasing employability and reducing barriers to job placement post-incarceration. "This partnership expansion represents a significant step in breaking down employment barriers for justice-impacted individuals," said Arti Finn, Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder at Orijin. "By integrating pre-apprenticeships and deeper training opportunities, we are not only providing education but also real pathways to sustainable careers that lead to long-term success." Orijin's secure managed learning platform ensures that learners in correctional facilities can access Interplay Learning's hands-on training in a controlled environment. The expanded training catalog complements Orijin's existing educational content, which includes employability readiness, ESL courses, and financial literacy, providing a holistic approach to re-entry preparation. "Through our partnership with Orijin, we are making high-quality skills training more accessible to justice-involved individuals who are eager to build stable careers," said Doug Donovan, CEO of Interplay Learning. "By expanding our learning pathways and introducing pre-apprenticeships, we're equipping more individuals with the tools they need to successfully re-enter the workforce." Orijin and Interplay Learning remain committed to fostering career readiness among justice-involved individuals, helping them gain the skills and confidence needed to secure meaningful employment upon release. About Interplay Learning Interplay Learning, the leader in immersive learning for the skilled trades, now includes Industrial Training International (ITI), the global leader in specialized industrial learning solutions. Leveraging instructor-led training, online simulations, AI, and VR, Interplay helps organizations and educational institutions upskill faster, reduce risk, and increase operational readiness. With nearly 600,000 people trained, Interplay is shaping the future of workforce development, building better careers and better lives. Visit www.interplaylearning.com to learn more. About Orijin Founded in 2014, Orijin breaks the cycle of incarceration by preparing every justice-impacted individual for a sustainable career. Orijin provides a robust, cloud-based learning and communications platform delivered on secure devices in hundreds of correctional facilities across the country. As a public benefit corporation and Certified B Corporation, Orijin does not charge incarcerated individuals nor their families for its solutions. For more information, visit www.orijin.works. MEDIA CONTACT: Heather Ripley Ripley PR (865) 977-1973 [email protected] SOURCE Interplay Learning Photo: MFA of Ukraine Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha stated that there can be no easing of pressure on the Russian Federation as long as Russian aggression continues. "We separately touched upon the topic of strengthening sanctions against the Russian Federation. We share the position that pressure on the aggressor must be maintained and increased. Moscow will engage in deception, not negotiations, until it feels real power: diplomatic, military, sanctions. There can be no easing of pressure as long as Russian aggression continues," he said at a press conference with his Norwegian counterpart Espen Barth Eide and Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion Tonje Brenna in Kyiv. Sybiha stressed that Russia is existential for Europe, and "our common goal is protection from this threat." The Ukrainian minister informed his Norwegian colleagues about Ukraines steps towards just peace and about the results of the meeting in Saudi Arabia. "Ukraine has proven that it is not an obstacle to peace. Now the Russian Federation must demonstrate through concrete actions, not manipulation, a real desire to end the war. Otherwise, it will be necessary to increase pressure on Moscow," said Sybiha. PHILADELPHIA, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Intellectual property law firm Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP is pleased to announce that Liliana Di Nola-Baron, Ph.D. has joined the firm as Counsel. Her practice encompasses drafting and prosecuting U.S. and international patents, managing patent portfolios, performing due diligence analyses, and preparing patentability, infringement, and freedom-to-operate analyses. Liliana Di Nola-Baron, Ph.D. "We are excited to welcome Liliana to our life sciences patent team," said Panitch Schwarze partner Travis W. Bliss, Ph.D. "She has tremendous technical credentials, and her background as a patent practitioner and patent examiner gives her valuable insight into the processes our clients must navigate. An insider's perspective is of tremendous value in the patent space, and we look forward to working with her to secure the best possible outcome for our clients." Di Nola-Baron leverages her experience as a patent practitioner and as a former patent examiner at the United States Patent and Trademark Office as well as her background in molecular biology, immunology, and plant biochemistry to advise clients on intellectual property issues and coordinate national and international patent prosecution strategies. Di Nola-Baron has worked extensively with start-ups and established companies across the life sciences sector and in the food and beverage, agriculture, clean tech and renewable, artificial intelligence, and other industries. "Building a strong patent strategy requires a keen understanding of the client's unique needs and an insightful and deep knowledge of and relevant expertise in the patent application process. I am thrilled to join the team at Panitch Schwarze and provide clients with patent strategies that drive their business forward," said Di Nola-Baron. "With a deep understanding of the unique challenges in the life sciences sector, I am eager to collaborate with innovators to maximize their success and turn their ideas into a lasting impact." Di Nola-Baron has extensive experience prosecuting patents in a broad spectrum of areas related to life sciences, including small and large molecule pharmaceuticals, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, immunology, gene therapy, molecular biology, biochemistry, stem cells, medical treatments, medical devices, and diagnostic methods and equipment. She also has extensive experience in the fields of food and drink science, transgenic plants, crop improvements, biofuels, cannabinoids, chemical processes, microbe purification systems, cosmetics, coatings, and biologics integrated with artificial intelligence and software. Prior to joining Panitch Schwarze, Di Nola-Baron worked as an in-house attorney. She also has built her own practice as a solo practitioner and served as an attorney in global law firms. After earning her Ph.D., she worked as a scientist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Di Nola-Baron earned her J.D. from George Washington University School of Law. She received a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where she also earned a master's degree in botany and a bachelor's degree in agriculture. About Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP is a boutique intellectual property law firm with offices in Philadelphia, Wilmington, Delaware, and Alexandria, Virginia. The firm's IP law practitioners provide strategic litigation, licensing and counseling services relating to patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets, domain names, and internet issues domestically and internationally. The firm's long-standing relationships with a network of associates worldwide enable its attorneys and advisors to provide clients with global intellectual property advice and protection. Contact: Sarah Larson [email protected] / 215.340.0480 SOURCE Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP LINK TO IMAGERY Credit: Jeremie Dupont NEW YORK, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Brazilian luxury ready-to-wear brand PatBO announced today the appointment of Isabella Baboury as President. Baboury brings well over a decade of experience in the luxury fashion space, having held roles as the Director of Christian Louboutin, Chloe, and Burberry in Canada, as well as one of the first executives at Saks Fifth Avenue during their expansion into the Canadian market. During her most recent tenure at Christian Louboutin, Baboury was well known for forging creative collaborations and partnerships for brands in order to strategically expand their growth. PATBO APPOINTS ISABELLA BABOURY AS PRESIDENT Post this "Joining PatBO felt like a natural evolution for me," said Baboury. " the brand embodies everything I believe in: bold femininity, craftsmanship, and global vision. What excites me most is the opportunity to build a deeper connection with the North American audience while honoring the brand's Brazilian roots. PatBO is more than fashion it's a movement, and I'm truly honored to help lead its next chapter alongside such an incredible woman." Baboury's entry comes at a time when PatBO is focused on expanding their retail business on a global scale. Founded by Patricia Bonaldi in 2005, PatBO has historically been viewed strictly as a resort wear brand. However, following their official entry into the American market in 2017, the brand has exponentially expanded their ready-to-wear and couture-like offerings, capturing a wider audience; both in their wholesale and direct to consumer markets. "We are so thrilled to welcome Isabella and to have her be a part of the next stage of PatBO," said Founder and Creative Director Patricia Bonaldi. "Her extensive background in the luxury market is an asset, but her fresh approach to this ever-changing market will be where she shines and is most valuable to my brand. Together we will build this new and global chapter in PatBO's story." ABOUT PATBO Founded by Patricia Bonaldi in 2005, PatBO is a Brazilian luxury fashion brand known for its hand-embroidered ready-to-wear and swim collections that blend vibrant Brazilian culture with bold designs. After launching her label in 2005, Patricia created a school in her hometown of Uberlandia, to empower local women by teaching embroidery skills, in turn, providing them with the ability to make their own income in a cultural environment that isn't traditionally structured to support them. In 2017, PatBO softly launched in America through the wholesale market. Since then, the brand has quickly become a celebrity favorite with stars including Beyonce, Tate McRae, Alicia Keys, Anitta and Paris Hilton regularly wearing. The brand is sold in over 20 countries and 150 stores globally, including Net-a-Porter,Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, MyTheresa, Neiman Marcus, FWRD and Revolve, PatBO continues to grow while staying true to its Brazilian heritage. SOURCE PatBO OSLO, Norway, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Photocure ASA (OSE: PHO), the Bladder Cancer Company, today announced the appointment of Jane Healy as Vice President and General Manager EMEA. Ms. Healy joined Photocure in March 2025 to lead the European Organization. Her extensive international experience in the medical device field covers sales, marketing, general management and functional leadership. Over the past 30 years she has worked for three major medical device organizations; St Jude Medical, CR Bard and over 20 years for Boston Scientific. In her most recent role, Jane Healy was VP EMEA for the Peripheral Interventions Division for Boston Scientific, responsible for driving the growth strategy for the region. She brings a blend of strong commercial acumen, results orientation and a passion for enabling and driving results through her teams. Jane Healy holds a BA (Hons) in Modern Languages from Cambridge University and she speaks English, French, German and Italian. "I am pleased to welcome Jane to the Photocure team at such an important time for us. Her background and extensive experience in healthcare and medical devices will be instrumental in achieving our growth ambitions in uro-oncology. Her track record of building successful international teams make her the ideal fit to lead Photocure's European Organization, at a time when the Uro-Oncology world is experiencing tremendous innovation and attention in healthcare. Jane will report directly to me in her role as GM EMEA and will be a member of Photocure's executive leadership team," says Dan Schneider, President and Chief Executive Officer of Photocure. Photocure's European Organization was launched following the agreement to regain the Hexvix sales, marketing and distribution rights in Europe and other markets from Ipsen Pharma SAS on 1 October 2020. The European team has gained momentum since re-introducing BLC to the European market. "I am pleased with the ongoing developments in Europe and look forward to Jane's leadership as we continue pursuing our ambition to lead the change that will improve the lives of bladder cancer patients. We know the importance of using Blue Light Cystoscopy in the precision diagnostic pathway for bladder cancer, where accurate staging and resection helps determine the optimal treatment decisions," Schneider concludes. Note to editors: All trademarks mentioned in this release are protected by law and are registered trademarks of Photocure ASA. This press release may contain product details and information which are not valid, or a product is not accessible, in your country. Please be aware that Photocure does not take any responsibility for accessing such information which may not comply with any legal process, regulation, registration or usage in the country of your origin. About Bladder Cancer Bladder cancer ranks as the 8th most common cancer worldwide the 5th most common in men with 1 949 000 prevalent cases (5-year prevalence rate)1a, 614 000 new cases and more than 220 000 deaths in 2022.1b Approx. 75% of all bladder cancer cases occur in men.1 It has a high recurrence rate with up to 61% in year one and up to 78% over five years.2 Bladder cancer has the highest lifetime treatment costs per patient of all cancers.3 Bladder cancer is a costly, potentially progressive disease for which patients have to undergo multiple cystoscopies due to the high risk of recurrence. There is an urgent need to improve both the diagnosis and the management of bladder cancer for the benefit of patients and healthcare systems alike. Bladder cancer is classified into two types, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), depending on the depth of invasion in the bladder wall. NMIBC remains in the inner layer of cells lining the bladder. These cancers are the most common (75%) of all BC cases and include the subtypes Ta, carcinoma in situ (CIS) and T1 lesions. In MIBC the cancer has grown into deeper layers of the bladder wall. These cancers, including subtypes T2, T3 and T4, are more likely to spread and are harder to treat.4 1 Globocan. a) 5-year prevalence / b) incidence/mortality by population. Available at: https://gco.iarc.fr/today, accessed [February 2024]. 2 Babjuk M, et al. Eur Urol. 2019; 76(5): 639-657 3 Sievert KD et al. World J Urol 2009;27:295300 4 Bladder Cancer. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/bladder-cancer.html About Hexvix/Cysview (hexaminolevulinate HCl) Hexvix/Cysview is a drug that preferentially accumulates in cancer cells in the bladder, making them glow bright pink during Blue Light Cystoscopy (BLC). BLC with Hexvix/Cysview, compared to standard white light cystoscopy alone, improves the detection of tumors and leads to more complete resection, fewer residual tumors, and better management decisions. Cysview is the tradename in the U.S. and Canada, Hexvix is the tradename in all other markets. Photocure is commercializing Cysview/Hexvix directly in the U.S. and Europe and has strategic partnerships for the commercialization of Hexvix/Cysview in China, Chile, Australia, New Zealand and Israel. Please refer to https://photocure.com/partners/our-partners for further information on our commercial partners. About Photocure ASA Photocure: The Bladder Cancer Company delivers transformative solutions to improve the lives of bladder cancer patients. Our unique technology, making cancer cells glow bright pink, has led to better health outcomes for patients worldwide. Photocure is headquartered in Oslo, Norway and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: PHO). For more information, please visit us at www.photocure.com/news For further information, please contact: Dan Schneider President and CEO Photocure ASA Email: [email protected] Erik Dahl CFO Photocure ASA Tel: +4745055000 Email: [email protected] Media and IR enquiries: Geir Bjrlo Corporate Communications (Norway) Tel: +47 91540000 Email: [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com. https://news.cision.com/photocure/r/photocure-appoints-jane-healy-as-vice-president-and-general-manager-emea,c4124088 The following files are available for download: Premier Indoor Pickleball Club Enters South Carolina as Part of National Growth Strategy CHARLESTON, S.C., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- PickleRage, a premier indoor pickleball club franchise, is thrilled to announce their newest location, bringing a top-tier pickleball facility to South Carolina. Located at 5101 Ashley Phosphate Rd, North Charleston, SC, the club will deliver the ultimate pickleball experience, offering dedicated indoor courts, community events, and opportunities for players of all levels to engage in America's fastest-growing sport. PickleRage at Festival Centre Situated in a prime retail area in North Charleston at the intersection of Ashley Phosphate Rd and Dorchester Rd, the location draws significant attention from both residents and visitors. It offers excellent visibility and accessibility, seeing over 71,000 vehicles a day. PickleRage at Festival Centre is anticipated to open in Q3 of 2025, marking the club's first location in the state. "Expanding into South Carolina represents an exciting step for PickleRage as we continue to grow nationally," commented David Smith, COO at PickleRage. "We're excited to become part of the community and provide a welcoming space where players can connect, compete, and improve their game." The 40,195-square-foot cutting-edge facility will include 13 indoor CushionX courts designed for optimal player performance and comfort. The joint-friendly courts will boast excellent visibility and sightlines in a temperature-controlled environment. Additionally, the club will offer a fully stocked pro shop with high-quality equipment and apparel, along with advanced technology solutions for seamless court bookings and check-ins. A range of programs, lessons, and clinics will be offered that aim to nurture a vibrant community and foster connections among players of all skill levels. "North Charleston is an ideal market for PickleRage," said Chris Daiss, VP of Real Estate and Construction at PickleRage. "Festival Centre's high traffic and central location make it the perfect spot to introduce our state-of-the-art facility. The growing enthusiasm for pickleball in the community aligns perfectly with our mission to provide a world-class playing experience for all skill levels." The club will be located at Festival Centre, a nearly 330,000-square-foot shopping center, providing ideal access for the community of North Charleston to visit PickleRage. For more information about PickleRage at Festival Centre, please visit: https://picklerage.com/locations/north-charleston-sc/. About PickleRage Founded in 2023, PickleRage is one of America's fastest growing indoor pickleball clubs that gives novice & advanced players alike a place to play and connect. PickleRage was founded by a group of pickleball enthusiasts who saw a need for dedicated indoor facilities where players could enjoy the sport year-round. Recognizing the sport's rapid growth and community spirit, they set out to create the ultimate indoor pickleball experience. PickleRage offers a dynamic environment for both novice and advanced players to play, connect, and enjoy the sport. For more information on franchising with PickleRage, please visit https://picklerage.com SOURCE PickleRage Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council Reflects on America's Past and Future as the Nation Approaches Its Historic Milestone TENNESSEE RIVER VALLEY, Tenn., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In just under 18 months, the United States will mark its 250th anniversary since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. As the nation prepares to celebrate this monumental milestone, it's a time to reflect on the principles that have made America a beacon of freedom, democracy, and cultural diversity. From early settlers seeking refuge from persecution to the Emancipation Proclamation that freed millions of enslaved people, America has been shaped by pivotal moments that continue to influence the country today. Bison at Land Between the Lakes grasslands Fort Loudoun State Historic Park The upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States invites Americans to look back at the journey of a nation founded on the ideals of liberty and equality. Today, 13.5% of the U.S. population is foreign-born, contributing significantly to the country's social, cultural, and economic fabric. As we approach this anniversary, it is essential to reflect on the most significant events that have shaped America's history and identity. The signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 marked the beginning of a long and arduous journey toward a united, democratic nation. The Founding Fathers, after crafting the Constitution a decade later, set in motion a democratic experiment that would grow to become one of the largest and most influential in the world. From conflicts like the French Indian Wars to transformative events such as the Louisiana Purchase and the Civil War, America faced numerous trials that tested its core principles of freedom, justice, and equality. As the nation expanded, it faced economic and social challenges, including the Great Depression of 1929. This period of national hardship led to the implementation of the New Deal, which reshaped the role of the federal government and introduced significant protections for Americans. The post-war period marked a new era of prosperity and global influence, but struggles for civil rights and equality have continued, shaping the country into a resilient nation that continues to evolve. An important part of preserving America's history is the work of organizations like the Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, which has spent over fourteen years raising awareness about the cultural and natural beauty of the Tennessee River Valley. This region, spanning seven states, is an integral part of both American and Appalachian heritage. Launched in partnership with National Geographic, the Council has helped thousands of small businesses share their unique histories through an interactive map guide and online storytelling. The Tennessee River Valley is home to natural wonders such as the Smoky Mountains, the Tennessee River, and expansive national parks that protect some of the oldest geological formations in the country. Beyond its natural beauty, the region is steeped in historical significance, including events such as the French and Indian War and the Trail of Tears. Julie Graham, Volunteer Executive Director of the Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, underscores the importance of preserving this region: "The Tennessee River Valley has been at the intersection of some of the most pivotal moments in American history. Whether referencing great authors like Wilma Dykeman, the natural wonders of the Bankhead National Forest, or the Tennessee Valley Authority's role in the New Deal, this region has been central to many historical movements. It is essential that we preserve it for future generations. Each month, we publish a '250 Blog' highlighting a significant story that reflects America's journey." As America's 250th anniversary approaches, the Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council encourages all Americans to reflect on the nation's past, honor its diversity, and look ahead to the future. This historic milestone provides an opportunity to acknowledge both the triumphs and challenges that have shaped the country and to honor the legacy of past generations while creating new traditions for the future. For more information about the Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council and its efforts to preserve and share the region's history, please visit https://tennesseerivervalleygeotourism.org/ or contact Julie Graham SOURCE TRV Stewardship Council Presidential lecture to be delivered by Robert Langer at Rice followed by RBL LLC launch event with keynote presentation by Robert Ruffolo at Helix Park HOUSTON, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rice Biotech Launch Pad and RBL LLC will hold an event to celebrate the official launch and lab opening of RBL LLC on May 5, following a Rice University presidential lecture on the significance of innovation at Rice delivered by Robert Langer Jr. , ScD, biotech entrepreneur, Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor and founder of tissue engineering in regenerative medicine. RBL LLC is the pioneering biotech venture creation studio designed to rapidly build companies based on lifesaving medical technologies developed out of the Launch Pad, a Houston-based accelerator focused on expediting the translation of the university's health and medical technology discoveries into cures. The launch event will also feature a keynote presentation by Robert Ruffolo Jr. , Ph.D., FCPP, chief innovation officer of Versicolor Technologies, former president of research and development and corporate senior vice president at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals (now Pfizer) as well as senior vice president and director of drug discovery research worldwide at SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals (now GlaxoSmithKline) and chairman of the cardiovascular research committee at Lilly Research Laboratories. Ruffolo's portfolio of clinical innovations includes multiple marketed drugs such as carvedilol (Coreg), the first beta-blocker approved for the treatment of congestive heart failure, and ropinirole (Requip), a landmark in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease, among others. A fireside chat with Langer and Ruffolo moderated by Matt Herper , senior writer at STAT , will follow Ruffolo's keynote presentation. The full day of events will include: Presidential lecture from Langer to celebrate his significant contributions to biotech and share his vision for the future of biotech innovation hosted by Rice . . Keynote presentation by Ruffolo focused on the discovery and development of the groundbreaking drug carvedilol hosted by Rice Biotech Launch Pad and RBL LLC. Fireside chat with Langer and Ruffolo covering the future of biotech innovation, challenges and opportunities in translational research and Rice's advancements to the field. "Rice University is pleased to host Robert Langer in our presidential lecture series as an opportunity to recognize his phenomenal contributions to scientific innovation and the field of biotechnology as a whole," Rice President Reginald DesRoches said. "Langer has been an incredible leader in translational medicine, pioneering breakthroughs that have transformed drug delivery, tissue engineering and biotechnology and improved countless lives worldwide. At Rice, we share Langer's commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation to solve some of the world's most pressing challenges, and we are honored to celebrate and share in his achievements through this presidential lecture." "The Rice Biotech Launch Pad and RBL LLC are honored to host both Robert Langer and Robert Ruffolo for a day of reflection on groundbreaking achievements that have fundamentally shaped the biotech landscape and forward-looking discussions on the future of clinical care," said Omid Veiseh, faculty director of the Launch Pad and professor of bioengineering at Rice. "Langer and Ruffolo exemplify the ability to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real-world patient impact, a primary goal of the Launch Pad. We are thrilled to celebrate their contributions and explore what's next in biotechnology and translational medicine." Click here to see the agenda and information on how to attend: https://biotechlaunchpad.rice.edu/lecture-open-chat About the Rice Biotech Launch Pad: The Rice Biotech Launch Pad is a Houston-based accelerator focused on expediting the translation of Rice University's health and medical technology discoveries into cures. This initiative is designed to help advance internally discovered platform technologies from concept to clinical studies and commercialization. The Rice Biotech Launch Pad will identify and support highly differentiated projects while driving the expansion of Houston as a world-class medical innovation ecosystem. The accelerator will bring together local researchers with a network of industry executives. For more information, please visit https://biotechlaunchpad.rice.edu/ . About Rice: Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of architecture, business, continuing studies, engineering and computing, humanities, music, natural sciences and social sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. Internationally, the university maintains the Rice Global Paris Center, a hub for innovative collaboration, research and inspired teaching located in the heart of Paris. With 4,776 undergraduates and 4,104 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 7 for best-run colleges by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by the Wall Street Journal and is included on Forbes' exclusive list of "New Ivies." Media Contact: Russo Partners David Schull or Liz Phillips (347) 956-7697 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Rice University Median overall survival not yet reached with projected improvement of more than one year versus osimertinib RARITAN, N.J., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) today announced results for the gold standard endpoint in cancer treatment of overall survival (OS) from the Phase 3 MARIPOSA study. Head-to-head comparison data versus osimertinib showed RYBREVANT (amivantamab-vmjw) plus LAZCLUZE (lazertinib) significantly extended OS in the first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletions (ex19del) or L858R substitution mutations. Median OS is projected to exceed one year beyond the median of three years observed with osimertinib and has not yet been reached. This is the first and only study to show a statistically significant and clinically meaningful OS improvement over osimertinib. New compelling data were presented during a proffered paper session at the 2025 European Lung Cancer Congress (ELCC) (Abstract #4O).1 "The survival curve tells a clear story. RYBREVANT plus LAZCLUZE helps patients live longer, and the benefit keeps growing over time," said trial investigator Professor Nicolas Girard*, M.D., Ph.D., Head of Medical Oncology, Institut Curie, and Professor of Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory Medicine at the Paris-Saclay University, France. "We see the gap between the survival curves continue to widen, which is exactly what we want to see in lung cancer treatment to improve outcomes for patients. These results reinforce that we are entering a new era for EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer; with this evidence in hand, we need to ensure every patient gets the most effective treatment in the first line for the best possible chance at longer survival." Unlike progression-free survival (PFS), which tracks the time a treatment keeps a patient's cancer from progressing, OS helps patients understand the impact therapy could have on the ability to live longer from the start of treatment. Extending life expectancy is the most meaningful indicator of a treatment's impact. At a median follow-up of 37.8 months, patients treated with the chemotherapy-free regimen of first-line RYBREVANT plus LAZCLUZE had a significantly longer OS compared to those receiving osimertinib (hazard ratio [HR], 0.75; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.61-0.92; P<0.005). Median OS for RYBREVANT plus LAZCLUZE has not yet been reached, indicating that survival benefits continue to extend beyond the measured follow-up period (not reached [NR]; 95 percent CI, 42.9-NR). Comparatively, median OS for osimertinib-treated patients was 36.7 months (95 percent CI, 33.4-41.0) and consistent with prior studies with osimertinib. Fifty-six percent of patients treated with RYBREVANT and LAZCLUZE were alive at three and a half years compared to 44 percent of patients on osimertinib. Projections based on survival data suggest RYBREVANT plus LAZCLUZE could extend median OS by at least 12 months compared to osimertinib.1 The RYBREVANT combination also prolonged multiple secondary endpoints vs osimertinib, including intracranial PFS, intracranial duration of response (DOR) and intracranial overall response rate (ORR). Notably, RYBREVANT plus LAZCLUZE prolonged time to symptomatic progression (TTSP) the time from treatment randomization to the onset of lung cancer symptoms by more than 14 months compared to osimertinib (43.6 months vs 29.3 months; HR, 0.69; 95 percent CI, 0.570.83; P<0.001). This is a key patient-centered measure, highlighting how long quality of life can be preserved before lung cancer symptoms emerge.1 "Right now, only twenty percent of patients with EGFR-positive NSCLC survive beyond five years. These MARIPOSA results suggest that RYBREVANT plus LAZCLUZE can change this dire statistic that has been stagnant for far too long," said Joshua Bauml, M.D., Vice President, Lung Cancer Disease Area Stronghold Leader, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. "This regimen isn't just extending survival, it's offering hope. By using RYBREVANT plus LAZCLUZE first, we're delaying the need for chemotherapy and giving patients and their families more time." The safety profile of RYBREVANT plus LAZCLUZE was consistent with the primary analysis, with adverse event (AE) rates comparable to other RYBREVANT regimens. No new safety signals were identified with the additional longer-term follow-up. Most AEs occurred early during RYBREVANT and LAZCLUZE treatment.1 RYBREVANT research findings suggest that implementing prophylactic measures during the first four months of RYBREVANT and LAZCLUZE treatment may significantly reduce the risk of skin reactions, infusion-related reactions and venous thromboembolic events.2,3,4 The MARIPOSA study met its primary endpoint in October 2023, showing a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in PFS compared to osimertinib. RYBREVANT plus LAZCLUZE is approved in the United States, Europe and other markets around the world for patients with first-line EGFR-mutated NSCLC. These OS results will be shared with health authorities globally. About the MARIPOSA Study MARIPOSA (NCT04487080), which enrolled 1,074 patients, is a randomized, Phase 3 study evaluating RYBREVANT in combination with LAZCLUZE versus osimertinib and versus LAZCLUZE alone in first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with EGFR ex19del or substitution mutations. The primary endpoint of the study is PFS (using RECIST v1.1 guidelines**) as assessed by BICR. Secondary endpoints include OS, ORR, DOR, PFS2 and intracranial PFS.5 About RYBREVANT RYBREVANT (amivantamab-vmjw), a fully-human bispecific antibody targeting EGFR and MET with immune cell-directing activity, is approved in the U.S., Europe and other markets around the world as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations, as detected by an FDA-approved test, whose disease has progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy.6 RYBREVANT is approved in the U.S., Europe and other markets around the world in combination with chemotherapy (carboplatin and pemetrexed) for the first-line treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations, as detected by an FDA-approved test. RYBREVANT is approved in the U.S., Europe and other markets around the world in combination with LAZCLUZE (lazertinib) for the first-line treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with EGFR exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R substitution mutations, as detected by an FDA-approved test. RYBREVANT is approved in the U.S., Europe and other markets around the world in combination with chemotherapy (carboplatin-pemetrexed) for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with EGFR exon 19 deletions or L858R substitution mutations, whose disease has progressed on or after treatment with an EGFR TKI. In February 2025, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended the approval of SC amivantamab and LAZCLUZE in Europe for the first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced NSCLC with EGFR exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R substitution mutations, and as a monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with advanced NSCLC with activating EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations after failure of platinum-based therapy. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for NSCLC prefer next-generation sequencingbased strategies over polymerase chain reactionbased approaches for the detection of EGFR exon 20 insertion variants. The NCCN Guidelines include: Amivantamab-vmjw (RYBREVANT ) plus lazertinib (LAZCLUZE) as a Category 1 recommendation for first-line therapy in patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with EGFR exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R mutations. 7 ) plus lazertinib (LAZCLUZE) as a Category 1 recommendation for first-line therapy in patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R mutations. Amivantamab-vmjw (RYBREVANT ) plus chemotherapy as a Category 1 recommendation for patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with EGFR exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R mutations who experienced disease progression after treatment with osimertinib. 7 ) plus chemotherapy as a Category 1 recommendation for patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R mutations who experienced disease progression after treatment with osimertinib. Amivantamab-vmjw (RYBREVANT ) plus chemotherapy as a Category 1 recommendation for first-line therapy in treatment-naive patients with newly diagnosed advanced or metastatic EGFR exon 20 insertion mutation-positive advanced NSCLC. 7 ) plus chemotherapy as a Category 1 recommendation for first-line therapy in treatment-naive patients with newly diagnosed advanced or metastatic exon 20 insertion mutation-positive advanced NSCLC. Amivantamab-vmjw (RYBREVANT) as a Category 2A recommendation for patients that have progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy with or without an immunotherapy and have EGFR exon 20 insertion mutation-positive NSCLC.7 In addition to the Phase 3 MARIPOSA Study, RYBREVANT is being studied in multiple clinical trials in NSCLC, including: The Phase 3 MARIPOSA-2 (NCT04988295) study assessing the efficacy of RYBREVANT (with or without LAZCLUZE) and carboplatin-pemetrexed versus carboplatin-pemetrexed alone in patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with EGFR exon 19 deletions or L858R substitution mutations after disease progression on or after osimertinib. 8 (with or without LAZCLUZE) and carboplatin-pemetrexed versus carboplatin-pemetrexed alone in patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with exon 19 deletions or L858R substitution mutations after disease progression on or after osimertinib. The Phase 3 PAPILLON (NCT04538664) study assessing RYBREVANT in combination with carboplatin-pemetrexed versus chemotherapy alone in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations. 9 in combination with carboplatin-pemetrexed versus chemotherapy alone in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC with exon 20 insertion mutations. The Phase 3 PALOMA-3 (NCT05388669) study assessing LAZCLUZE with subcutaneous (SC) amivantamab compared to RYBREVANT in patients with EGFR -mutated advanced or metastatic NSCLC. 10 in patients with -mutated advanced or metastatic NSCLC. The Phase 2 PALOMA-2 (NCT05498428) study assessing SC amivantamab in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors including EGFR -mutated NSCLC. 11 -mutated NSCLC. The Phase 1 PALOMA (NCT04606381) study assessing the feasibility of SC amivantamab based on safety and pharmacokinetics and to determine a dose, dose regimen and formulation for SC amivantamab delivery. 12 The Phase 1 CHRYSALIS (NCT02609776) study evaluating RYBREVANT in patients with advanced NSCLC. 13 in patients with advanced NSCLC. The Phase 1/ 1b CHRYSALIS-2 (NCT04077463) study evaluating RYBREVANT in combination with LAZCLUZE and LAZCLUZE as a monotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC with EGFR mutations. 14 CHRYSALIS-2 (NCT04077463) study evaluating RYBREVANT in combination with LAZCLUZE and LAZCLUZE as a monotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC with mutations. The Phase 1/2 METalmark (NCT05488314) study assessing RYBREVANT and capmatinib combination therapy in locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC. 15 and capmatinib combination therapy in locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC. The Phase 1/2 swalloWTail (NCT06532032) study assessing RYBREVANT and docetaxel combination therapy in patients with metastatic NSCLC. 16 and docetaxel combination therapy in patients with metastatic NSCLC. The Phase 1/2 PolyDamas (NCT05908734) study assessing RYBREVANT and cetrelimab combination therapy in locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC. 17 and cetrelimab combination therapy in locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC. The Phase 2 SKIPPirr study (NCT05663866) exploring how to decrease the incidence and/or severity of first-dose infusion-related reactions with RYBREVANT in combination with LAZCLUZE in relapsed or refractory EGFR -mutated advanced or metastatic NSCLC. 18 in combination with LAZCLUZE in relapsed or refractory -mutated advanced or metastatic NSCLC. The Phase 2 COPERNICUS (NCT06667076) study combining developments in treatment administration and prophylactic supportive care in representative US patients with common EGFR -mutated NSCLC treated with SC amivantamab in combination with LAZCLUZE or chemotherapy. 19 -mutated NSCLC treated with SC amivantamab in combination with LAZCLUZE or chemotherapy. The Phase 2 COCOON (NCT06120140) study assessing the effectiveness of a proactive dermatologic management regimen given with first-line RYBREVANT and LAZCLUZE in patients with EGFR-mutated advanced NSCLC.20 For more information, visit: https://www.RYBREVANT.com. About LAZCLUZE In 2018, Janssen Biotech, Inc., entered into a license and collaboration agreement with Yuhan Corporation for the development of LAZCLUZE (marketed as LECLAZA in South Korea). LAZCLUZE is an oral, third-generation, brain-penetrant EGFR TKI that targets both the T790M mutation and activating EGFR mutations while sparing wild-type EGFR. An analysis of the efficacy and safety of LAZCLUZE from the Phase 3 LASER301 study was published in The Journal of Clinical Oncology in 2023.21 About Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Worldwide, lung cancer is one of the most common cancers, with NSCLC making up 80 to 85 percent of all lung cancer cases.22,23 The main subtypes of NSCLC are adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma.24 Among the most common driver mutations in NSCLC are alterations in EGFR, which is a receptor tyrosine kinase controlling cell growth and division.25 EGFR mutations are present in 10 to 15 percent of Western patients with NSCLC with adenocarcinoma histology and occur in 40 to 50 percent of Asian patients.22,23,26,27,28,29 EGFR ex19del or EGFR L858R mutations are the most common EGFR mutations.30 The five-year survival rate for all people with advanced NSCLC and EGFR mutations treated with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is less than 20 percent.31,32 EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations are the third most prevalent activating EGFR mutation.33 Patients with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations have a real-world five-year overall survival (OS) of eight percent in the frontline setting, which is worse than patients with EGFR ex19del or L858R mutations, who have a real-world five-year OS of 19 percent.34 IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION6,35 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Infusion-Related Reactions RYBREVANT can cause infusion-related reactions (IRR) including anaphylaxis; signs and symptoms of IRR include dyspnea, flushing, fever, chills, nausea, chest discomfort, hypotension, and vomiting. The median time to IRR onset is approximately 1 hour. RYBREVANT with LAZCLUZE RYBREVANT in combination with LAZCLUZE can cause infusion-related reactions. In MARIPOSA (n=421), IRRs occurred in 63% of patients treated with RYBREVANT in combination with LAZCLUZE, including Grade 3 in 5% and Grade 4 in 1% of patients. The incidence of infusion modifications due to IRR was 54% of patients, and IRRs leading to dose reduction of RYBREVANT occurred in 0.7% of patients. Infusion-related reactions leading to permanent discontinuation of RYBREVANT occurred in 4.5% of patients receiving RYBREVANT in combination with LAZCLUZE. RYBREVANT with Carboplatin and Pemetrexed Based on the pooled safety population (n=281), IRR occurred in 50% of patients treated with RYBREVANT in combination with carboplatin and pemetrexed, including Grade 3 (3.2%) adverse reactions. The incidence of infusion modifications due to IRR was 46%, and 2.8% of patients permanently discontinued RYBREVANT due to IRR. RYBREVANT as a Single Agent In CHRYSALIS (n=302), IRR occurred in 66% of patients treated with RYBREVANT. Among patients receiving treatment on Week 1 Day 1, 65% experienced an IRR, while the incidence of IRR was 3.4% with the Day 2 infusion, 0.4% with the Week 2 infusion, and cumulatively 1.1% with subsequent infusions. Of the reported IRRs, 97% were Grade 1-2, 2.2% were Grade 3, and 0.4% were Grade 4. The median time to onset was 1 hour (range 0.1 to 18 hours) after start of infusion. The incidence of infusion modifications due to IRR was 62% and 1.3% of patients permanently discontinued RYBREVANT due to IRR. Premedicate with antihistamines, antipyretics, and glucocorticoids and infuse RYBREVANT as recommended. Administer RYBREVANT via a peripheral line on Week 1 and Week 2 to reduce the risk of infusion-related reactions. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of infusion reactions during RYBREVANT infusion in a setting where cardiopulmonary resuscitation medication and equipment are available. Interrupt infusion if IRR is suspected. Reduce the infusion rate or permanently discontinue RYBREVANT based on severity. If an anaphylactic reaction occurs, permanently discontinue RYBREVANT. Interstitial Lung Disease/Pneumonitis RYBREVANT can cause severe and fatal interstitial lung disease (ILD)/pneumonitis. RYBREVANT with LAZCLUZE In MARIPOSA, ILD/pneumonitis occurred in 3.1% of patients treated with RYBREVANT in combination with LAZCLUZE, including Grade 3 in 1.0% and Grade 4 in 0.2% of patients. There was one fatal case (0.2%) of ILD/pneumonitis and 2.9% of patients permanently discontinued RYBREVANT and LAZCLUZE due to ILD/pneumonitis. RYBREVANT with Carboplatin and Pemetrexed Based on the pooled safety population, ILD/pneumonitis occurred in 2.1% treated with RYBREVANT in combination with carboplatin and pemetrexed with 1.8% of patients experiencing Grade 3 ILD/pneumonitis. 2.1% discontinued RYBREVANT due to ILD/pneumonitis. RYBREVANT as a Single Agent In CHRYSALIS, ILD/pneumonitis occurred in 3.3% of patients treated with RYBREVANT, with 0.7% of patients experiencing Grade 3 ILD/pneumonitis. Three patients (1%) permanently discontinued RYBREVANT due to ILD/pneumonitis. Monitor patients for new or worsening symptoms indicative of ILD/pneumonitis (e.g., dyspnea, cough, fever). For patients receiving RYBREVANT in combination with LAZCLUZE, immediately withhold both drugs in patients with suspected ILD/pneumonitis and permanently discontinue if ILD/pneumonitis is confirmed. For patients receiving RYBREVANT as a single agent or in combination with carboplatin and pemetrexed, immediately withhold RYBREVANT in patients with suspected ILD/pneumonitis and permanently discontinue if ILD/pneumonitis is confirmed. Venous Thromboembolic (VTE) Events with Concomitant Use of RYBREVANT and LAZCLUZE RYBREVANT in combination with LAZCLUZE can cause serious and fatal venous thromboembolic (VTE) events, including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. The majority of these events occurred during the first four months of therapy. In MARIPOSA, VTEs occurred in 36% of patients receiving RYBREVANT in combination with LAZCLUZE, including Grade 3 in 10% and Grade 4 in 0.5% of patients. On-study VTEs occurred in 1.2% of patients (n=5) while receiving anticoagulation therapy. There were two fatal cases of VTE (0.5%), 9% of patients had VTE leading to dose interruptions of RYBREVANT, and 7% of patients had VTE leading to dose interruptions of LAZCLUZE; 1% of patients had VTE leading to dose reductions of RYBREVANT, and 0.5% of patients had VTE leading to dose reductions of LAZCLUZE; 3.1% of patients had VTE leading to permanent discontinuation of RYBREVANT, and 1.9% of patients had VTE leading to permanent discontinuation of LAZCLUZE. The median time to onset of VTEs was 84 days (range: 6 to 777). Administer prophylactic anticoagulation for the first four months of treatment. The use of Vitamin K antagonists is not recommended. Monitor for signs and symptoms of VTE events and treat as medically appropriate. Withhold RYBREVANT and LAZCLUZE based on severity. Once anticoagulant treatment has been initiated, resume RYBREVANT and LAZCLUZE at the same dose level at the discretion of the healthcare provider. In the event of VTE recurrence despite therapeutic anticoagulation, permanently discontinue RYBREVANT and continue treatment with LAZCLUZE at the same dose level at the discretion of the healthcare provider. Dermatologic Adverse Reactions RYBREVANT can cause severe rash including toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), dermatitis acneiform, pruritus, and dry skin. RYBREVANT with LAZCLUZE In MARIPOSA, rash occurred in 86% of patients treated with RYBREVANT in combination with LAZCLUZE, including Grade 3 in 26% of patients. The median time to onset of rash was 14 days (range: 1 to 556 days). Rash leading to dose interruptions occurred in 37% of patients for RYBREVANT and 30% for LAZCLUZE, rash leading to dose reductions occurred in 23% of patients for RYBREVANT and 19% for LAZCLUZE, and rash leading to permanent discontinuation occurred in 5% of patients for RYBREVANT and 1.7% for LAZCLUZE. RYBREVANT with Carboplatin and Pemetrexed Based on the pooled safety population, rash occurred in 82% of patients treated with RYBREVANT in combination with carboplatin and pemetrexed, including Grade 3 (15%) adverse reactions. Rash leading to dose reductions occurred in 14% of patients, and 2.5% permanently discontinued RYBREVANT and 3.1% discontinued pemetrexed. RYBREVANT as a Single Agent In CHRYSALIS, rash occurred in 74% of patients treated with RYBREVANT as a single agent, including Grade 3 rash in 3.3% of patients. The median time to onset of rash was 14 days (range: 1 to 276 days). Rash leading to dose reduction occurred in 5% of patients, and RYBREVANT was permanently discontinued due to rash in 0.7% of patients. Toxic epidermal necrolysis occurred in one patient (0.3%) treated with RYBREVANT as a single agent. Instruct patients to limit sun exposure during and for 2 months after treatment with RYBREVANT or LAZCLUZE in combination with RYBREVANT. Advise patients to wear protective clothing and use broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen. Alcohol-free (e.g., isopropanol-free, ethanol-free) emollient cream is recommended for dry skin. When initiating RYBREVANT treatment with or without LAZCLUZE, administer alcohol-free emollient cream to reduce the risk of dermatologic adverse reactions. Consider prophylactic measures (e.g. use of oral antibiotics) to reduce the risk of dermatologic reactions. If skin reactions develop, start topical corticosteroids and topical and/or oral antibiotics. For Grade 3 reactions, add oral steroids and consider dermatologic consultation. Promptly refer patients presenting with severe rash, atypical appearance or distribution, or lack of improvement within 2 weeks to a dermatologist. For patients receiving RYBREVANT in combination with LAZCLUZE, withhold, reduce the dose, or permanently discontinue both drugs based on severity. For patients receiving RYBREVANT as a single agent or in combination with carboplatin and pemetrexed, withhold, dose reduce or permanently discontinue RYBREVANT based on severity. Ocular Toxicity RYBREVANT can cause ocular toxicity including keratitis, blepharitis, dry eye symptoms, conjunctival redness, blurred vision, visual impairment, ocular itching, eye pruritus, and uveitis. RYBREVANT with LAZCLUZE In MARIPOSA, ocular toxicity occurred in 16% of patients treated with RYBREVANT in combination with LAZCLUZE, including Grade 3 or 4 ocular toxicity in 0.7% of patients. Withhold, reduce the dose, or permanently discontinue RYBREVANT and continue LAZCLUZE based on severity. RYBREVANT with Carboplatin and Pemetrexed Based on the pooled safety population, ocular toxicity occurred in 16% of patients treated with RYBREVANT in combination with carboplatin and pemetrexed. All events were Grade 1 or 2. RYBREVANT as a Single Agent In CHRYSALIS, keratitis occurred in 0.7% and uveitis occurred in 0.3% of patients treated with RYBREVANT. All events were Grade 1-2. Promptly refer patients with new or worsening eye symptoms to an ophthalmologist. Withhold, reduce the dose, or permanently discontinue RYBREVANT based on severity. Embryo-Fetal Toxicity Based on its mechanism of action and findings from animal models, RYBREVANT and LAZCLUZE can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to the fetus. Advise female patients of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment and for 3 months after the last dose of RYBREVANT. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with LAZCLUZE and for 3 weeks after the last dose. Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with LAZCLUZE and for 3 weeks after the last dose. Adverse Reactions RYBREVANT with LAZCLUZE For the 421 patients in the MARIPOSA clinical trial who received RYBREVANT in combination with LAZCLUZE, the most common adverse reactions (20%) were rash (86%), nail toxicity (71%), infusion-related reactions (RYBREVANT, 63%), musculoskeletal pain (47%), stomatitis (43%), edema (43%), VTE (36%), paresthesia (35%), fatigue (32%), diarrhea (31%), constipation (29%), COVID-19 (26%), hemorrhage (25%), dry skin (25%), decreased appetite (24%), pruritus (24%), nausea (21%), and ocular toxicity (16%). The most common Grade 3 or 4 laboratory abnormalities (2%) were decreased albumin (8%), decreased sodium (7%), increased ALT (7%), decreased potassium (5%), decreased hemoglobin (3.8%), increased AST (3.8%), increased GGT (2.6%), and increased magnesium (2.6%). Serious adverse reactions occurred in 49% of patients who received RYBREVANT in combination with LAZCLUZE. Serious adverse reactions occurring in 2% of patients included VTE (11%), pneumonia (4%), ILD/pneumonitis and rash (2.9% each), COVID-19 (2.4%), and pleural effusion and infusion-related reaction (RYBREVANT) (2.1% each). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 7% of patients who received RYBREVANT in combination with LAZCLUZE due to death not otherwise specified (1.2%); sepsis and respiratory failure (1% each); pneumonia, myocardial infarction, and sudden death (0.7% each); cerebral infarction, pulmonary embolism (PE), and COVID-19 infection (0.5% each); and ILD/pneumonitis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and cardiopulmonary arrest (0.2% each). RYBREVANT with Carboplatin and Pemetrexed For the 130 patients in the MARIPOSA-2 clinical trial who received RYBREVANT in combination with carboplatin and pemetrexed, the most common adverse reactions (20%) were rash (72%), infusion-related reactions (59%), fatigue (51%), nail toxicity (45%), nausea (45%), constipation (39%), edema (36%), stomatitis (35%), decreased appetite (31%), musculoskeletal pain (30%), vomiting (25%), and COVID-19 (21%). The most common Grade 3 to 4 laboratory abnormalities (2%) were decreased neutrophils (49%), decreased white blood cells (42%), decreased lymphocytes (28%), decreased platelets (17%), decreased hemoglobin (12%), decreased potassium (11%), decreased sodium (11%), increased alanine aminotransferase (3.9%), decreased albumin (3.8%), and increased gamma-glutamyl transferase (3.1%). In MARIPOSA-2, serious adverse reactions occurred in 32% of patients who received RYBREVANT in combination with carboplatin and pemetrexed. Serious adverse reactions in >2% of patients included dyspnea (3.1%), thrombocytopenia (3.1%), sepsis (2.3%), and pulmonary embolism (2.3%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 2.3% of patients who received RYBREVANT in combination with carboplatin and pemetrexed; these included respiratory failure, sepsis, and ventricular fibrillation (0.8% each). For the 151 patients in the PAPILLON clinical trial who received RYBREVANT in combination with carboplatin and pemetrexed, the most common adverse reactions (20%) were rash (90%), nail toxicity (62%), stomatitis (43%), infusion-related reaction (42%), fatigue (42%), edema (40%), constipation (40%), decreased appetite (36%), nausea (36%), COVID-19 (24%), diarrhea (21%), and vomiting (21%). The most common Grade 3 to 4 laboratory abnormalities (2%) were decreased albumin (7%), increased alanine aminotransferase (4%), increased gamma-glutamyl transferase (4%), decreased sodium (7%), decreased potassium (11%), decreased magnesium (2%), and decreases in white blood cells (17%), hemoglobin (11%), neutrophils (36%), platelets (10%), and lymphocytes (11%). In PAPILLON, serious adverse reactions occurred in 37% of patients who received RYBREVANT in combination with carboplatin and pemetrexed. Serious adverse reactions in 2% of patients included rash, pneumonia, ILD, pulmonary embolism, vomiting, and COVID-19. Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 7 patients (4.6%) due to pneumonia, cerebrovascular accident, cardio-respiratory arrest, COVID-19, sepsis, and death not otherwise specified. RYBREVANT as a Single Agent For the 129 patients in the CHRYSALIS clinical trial who received RYBREVANT as a single agent, the most common adverse reactions (20%) were rash (84%), IRR (64%), paronychia (50%), musculoskeletal pain (47%), dyspnea (37%), nausea (36%), fatigue (33%), edema (27%), stomatitis (26%), cough (25%), constipation (23%), and vomiting (22%). The most common Grade 3 to 4 laboratory abnormalities (2%) were decreased lymphocytes (8%), decreased albumin (8%), decreased phosphate (8%), decreased potassium (6%), increased alkaline phosphatase (4.8%), increased glucose (4%), increased gamma-glutamyl transferase (4%), and decreased sodium (4%). Serious adverse reactions occurred in 30% of patients who received RYBREVANT. Serious adverse reactions in 2% of patients included pulmonary embolism, pneumonitis/ILD, dyspnea, musculoskeletal pain, pneumonia, and muscular weakness. Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 2 patients (1.5%) due to pneumonia and 1 patient (0.8%) due to sudden death. LAZCLUZE Drug Interactions Avoid concomitant use of LAZCLUZE with strong and moderate CYP3A4 inducers. Consider an alternate concomitant medication with no potential to induce CYP3A4. Monitor for adverse reactions associated with a CYP3A4 or BCRP substrate where minimal concentration changes may lead to serious adverse reactions, as recommended in the approved product labeling for the CYP3A4 or BCRP substrate. Please read full Prescribing Information for RYBREVANT. Please read full Prescribing Information for LAZCLUZE. About Johnson & Johnson At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com or at http://www.innovativemedicine.jnj.com/. Follow us at @JNJInnovMed. Janssen-Cilag International NV, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Janssen Biotech, Inc., Janssen Global Services, LLC and Janssen-Cilag, S.A. are Johnson & Johnson companies. Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding product development and the potential benefits and treatment impact of RYBREVANT and LAZCLUZE. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Janssen-Cilag International NV, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Janssen Biotech, Inc., Janssen Global Services, LLC, Janssen-Cilag, S.A. and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in Johnson & Johnson's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at http://www.sec.gov, http://www.jnj.com, or on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of Janssen-Cilag International NV, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Janssen Biotech, Inc., Janssen Global Services, LLC, Janssen-Cilag, S.A. nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments. ### *Nicolas Girard, M.D., Ph.D., has served as a consultant to Johnson & Johnson; he has not been paid for any media work. **RECIST (version 1.1) refers to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, which is a standard way to measure how well solid tumors respond to treatment and is based on whether tumors shrink, stay the same or get bigger. See the NCCN Guidelines for detailed recommendations, including other treatment options. The NCCN Guidelines for NSCLC provide recommendations for certain individual biomarkers that should be tested and recommend testing techniques but do not endorse any specific commercially available biomarker assays or commercial laboratories. The NCCN Content does not constitute medical advice and should not be used in place of seeking professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment by licensed practitioners. NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way. _________________________ 1 Yang J, et al. Amivantamab Plus Lazertinib vs Osimertinib in First-line (1L) EGFR-mutant (EGFRm) Advanced NSCLC: Final Overall Survival (OS) from the Phase 3 MARIPOSA Study. 2025 European Lung Cancer Congress. March 26, 2025. 2 Johnson & Johnson. COCOON study meets primary endpoint demonstrating statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in dermatologic reactions with easy-to-use prophylactic regimen for patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC. January 14, 2025. Accessed February 13, 2025. 3 Spira AI, et al. J Thorac Oncol. 2025. In press. 4 Leighl N, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2024;42(30):3593-3605. 5 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study of Amivantamab and Lazertinib Combination Therapy Versus Osimertinib in Locally Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (MARIPOSA). https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04487080. Accessed March 2025. 6 RYBREVANT Prescribing Information. Horsham, PA: Janssen Biotech, Inc. 7 Referenced with permission from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer V.3.2025 National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. All rights reserved. To view the most recent and complete version of the guideline, go online to NCCN.org. Accessed March 2025. 8 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study of Amivantamab and LAZCLUZE in Combination With Platinum-Based Chemotherapy Compared With Platinum-Based Chemotherapy in Patients With Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-Mutated Locally Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer After Osimertinib Failure (MARIPOSA-2). Available at: https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT04988295. Accessed March 2025. 9 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study of Combination Amivantamab and Carboplatin-Pemetrexed Therapy, Compared With Carboplatin-Pemetrexed, in Participants With Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Characterized by Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Exon 20 Insertions (PAPILLON). Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04538664. Accessed March 2025. 10 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study of LAZCLUZE With Subcutaneous Amivantamab Compared With Intravenous Amivantamab in Participants With Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-Mutated Advanced or Metastatic Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (PALOMA-3). https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05388669. Accessed March 2025. 11 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study of Amivantamab in Participants With Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors Including Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-Mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (PALOMA-2). https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05498428. Accessed March 2025. 12 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study of Amivantamab Subcutaneous (SC) Administration for the Treatment of Advanced Solid Malignancies (PALOMA). Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04606381. Accessed March 2025. 13 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study of Amivantamab, a Human Bispecific EGFR and cMet Antibody, in Participants With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (CHRYSALIS). https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02609776. Accessed March 2025. 14 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study of LAZCLUZE as Monotherapy or in Combination With Amivantamab in Participants With Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (CHRYSALIS-2). https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04077463. Accessed March 2025. 15 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study of Amivantamab and Capmatinib Combination Therapy in Unresectable Metastatic Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (METalmark). https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05488314. Accessed March 2025. 16 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study of Combination Therapy With Amivantamab and Docetaxel in Participants With Metastatic Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (swalloWTail). https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06532032. Accessed March 2025. 17 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study of Combination Therapy With Amivantamab and Cetrelimab in Participants With Metastatic Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (PolyDamas). https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05908734. Accessed March 2025. 18 ClinicalTrials.gov. Premedication to Reduce Amivantamab Associated Infusion Related Reactions (SKIPPirr). https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05663866. Accessed March 2025. 19 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study of Amivantamab in Combination With Lazertinib, or Amivantamab in Combination With Platinum-Based Chemotherapy, for Common Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-Mutated Locally Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) (COPERNICUS). https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06667076. Accessed March 2025. 20 ClinicalTrials.gov. Enhanced Dermatological Care to Reduce Rash and Paronychia in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGRF)-Mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Treated First-line With Amivantamab Plus Lazertinib (COCOON). https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06120140. Accessed March 2025. 21 Cho BC, et al. Lazertinib versus gefitinib as first-line treatment in patients with EGFR-mutated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: Results From LASER301. J Clin Oncol. 2023;41(26):4208-4217. 22 The World Health Organization. Cancer. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer. Accessed March 2025. 23 American Cancer Society. What is Lung Cancer? https://www.cancer.org/content/cancer/en/cancer/lung-cancer/about/what-is.html. Accessed March 2025. 24 Oxnard JR, et al. Natural history and molecular characteristics of lung cancers harboring EGFR exon 20 insertions. J Thorac Oncol. 2013 Feb;8(2):179-84. doi: 10.1097/JTO.0b013e3182779d18. 25 Bauml JM, et al. Underdiagnosis of EGFR Exon 20 Insertion Mutation Variants: Estimates from NGS-based Real World Datasets. Abstract presented at: World Conference on Lung Cancer Annual Meeting; January 29, 2021; Singapore. 26 Pennell NA, et al. A phase II trial of adjuvant erlotinib in patients with resected epidermal growth factor receptor-mutant non-small cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol. 37:97-104. 27 Burnett H, et al. Epidemiological and clinical burden of EGFR exon 20 insertion in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic literature review. Abstract presented at: World Conference on Lung Cancer Annual Meeting; January 29, 2021; Singapore. 28 Zhang YL, et al. The prevalence of EGFR mutation in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Oncotarget. 2016;7(48):78985-78993. 29 Midha A, et al. EGFR mutation incidence in non-small-cell lung cancer of adenocarcinoma histology: a systematic review and global map by ethnicity. Am J Cancer Res. 2015;5(9):2892-2911. 30 American Lung Association. EGFR and Lung Cancer. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer/symptoms-diagnosis/biomarker-testing/egfr. Accessed March 2025. 31 Howlader N, et al. SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2016, National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, https://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2016/, based on November 2018 SEER data submission, posted to the SEER web site. 32 Lin JJ, et al. Five-Year Survival in EGFR-Mutant Metastatic Lung Adenocarcinoma Treated with EGFR-TKIs. J Thorac Oncol. 2016 Apr;11(4):556-65. 33 Arcila, M. et al. EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations in lung adenocarcinomas: prevalence, molecular heterogeneity, and clinicopathologic characteristics. Mol Cancer Ther. 2013 Feb; 12(2):220-9. 34 Girard N, et al. Comparative clinical outcomes for patients with NSCLC harboring EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations and common EGFR mutations. Abstract presented at: World Conference on Lung Cancer Annual Meeting; January 29, 2021; Singapore. 35 LAZCLUZE Prescribing Information. Horsham, PA: Janssen Biotech, Inc. Media contact: Investor contact: Oncology Media Relations Lauren Johnson [email protected] [email protected] U.S. Medical Inquiries: +1 800 526-7736 SOURCE Johnson & Johnson PISCATAWAY, N.J., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sampled, an integrated analytical biorepository and multiomics company, is proud to announce its selection as a Genomic Characterization Center for the Genome Characterization program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health. This prestigious Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract has a funding ceiling of $150 million, positioning Sampled as a key contributor to supporting the advancement of cutting-edge cancer research and genomic discovery. Under the award, Sampled will participate in all four contract pools, leveraging its state-of-the-art technologies and expertise to deliver comprehensive genomic solutions: Pool 1 DNA Sequencing: Whole Genome Sequencing and Whole Exome Sequencing using DNA extracted from FFPE or fresh frozen samples to support researchers comprehensive understanding of cancer biology by identifying mutations, structural variations, and genetic abnormalities that drive tumor progression critical for advancing precision oncology, uncovering novel therapeutic targets, and supporting large-scale cancer genomic studies. Pool 2 RNA Sequencing: RNAseq and microRNAseq using RNA extracted from FFPE or fresh frozen samples for transcriptomic analysis which will support researchers to analyze gene expression and regulatory pathways, revealing how genetic changes affect tumor development and behavior, essential for to identify biomarkers, study tumor microenvironment interactions, and potentially monitor responses to cancer therapies. Pool 3 Epigenome Characterization: Methylation and Chromatin Accessibility Characterization with array and sequencing based assays using DNA extracted from FFPE or fresh frozen samples to support NCI researchers to investigate critical changes, such as methylation patterns and chromatin remodeling, that drive cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. Pool 4 Single Cell/Spatial Characterization: Single-cell RNA, ATAC-seq, Spatial, and In Situ Analyses from FFPE or fresh frozen samples allowing a detailed understanding of tumor heterogeneity and the tumor microenvironment by analyzing individual cells and their interactions, for studying treatment resistance, advancing immunotherapy, and personalizing cancer care. "Being part of the NCI Genome Characterization contract is a testament to Sampled's unwavering commitment to delivering innovative and reliable solutions for cancer research," said Greg Morrissey, Sr Director Government / Public Sector at Sampled. "Our participation across all four contract pools underscores our diverse capabilities in supporting the scientific community to uncover the complexities of cancer and drive precision medicine forward." "Sampled's selection for this contract is a significant milestone in our mission to support cancer researchers with cutting-edge multiomics tools," said Shareef Nahas, Chief Scientific Officer of Sampled. "Our team is deeply committed to advancing human health and medicine. This partnership with the NCI allows us to contribute directly to advancing oncology research, accelerating the discovery of novel cancer therapies, and improving patient outcomes through comprehensive genomic and molecular insights." As a trusted partner to the NCI and the broader research community, Sampled's contributions will enable groundbreaking discoveries in cancer genomics and epigenetics. The company's integrated approach, combining cutting-edge technologies, robust infrastructure, and unparalleled expertise, ensures that researchers have access to the highest quality data and insights. About Sampled: Sampled is a fully integrated laboratory and biorepository with industry-leading storage, sample management, multiomics, cellular services, and custom clinical kitting. Founded in 1999 as RUCDR Infinite Biologics at Rutgers University, Sampled operates laboratories in the US and UK and is CAP accredited and CLIA licensed. Sampled is committed to providing the highest quality sample processing and analysis services that enable researchers to make new discoveries and advance human health. When combined with state-of-the-art biobanking facilities, these capabilities provide comprehensive scientific solutions that speed time to quality data. Media Contact: Caroline Mitchell Director, Content & Creative Strategy [email protected] +1 732-273-0699 SOURCE Sampled Since we launched Savvas five years ago, we have made it a priority to foster a caring, people-first culture. Post this "To be named a Top Workplaces USA for the fourth year in a row is a significant achievement as it reflects our commitment to all of our employees. They are our greatest assets," said Bethlam Forsa, CEO of Savvas Learning Company. "Since we launched Savvas five years ago, we have made it a priority to foster a caring, people-first culture in which all of our employees feel inspired, engaged, and valued. Each and every one of them is vital to helping us fulfill our mission of helping all students achieve their full potential. Together, they make Savvas what it is a special place to work." Top Workplaces USA, the premier employer recognition award sponsored by USA TODAY and issued by Energage, showcases organizations for their commitment to a people-first culture. In addition to producing Top Workplaces USA and regional recognition programs in 60 major U.S. markets, Energage also recognizes companies for aspects of their culture that are critical to an organization's success. Selection for all of these programs is based solely on anonymous employee feedback gathered through Energage's confidential, research-backed, employee engagement survey. Savvas has also received, for four years in a row, Energage's Top Workplaces Woman-Led Culture Excellence award, which honors outstanding woman-led businesses. Top Workplaces USA celebrates organizations with 150 or more employees that have built great cultures and strong workplace environments. Winners were selected based on employee survey responses from participating organizations nationwide, on 15 aspects of workplace culture such as direction, values, innovation, and leadership. "Earning a Top Workplaces award is not just an accolade; it's a celebration of excellence," said Energage CEO Eric Rubino. "It serves as a reminder of the vital role a people-first workplace experience plays in helping a company achieve success." ABOUT SAVVAS LEARNING COMPANY At Savvas, we believe learning should inspire. By combining new ideas, new ways of thinking, and new ways of interacting, we design engaging, next-generation K-12 learning solutions that give all students the best opportunity to succeed. Our award-winning, high-quality instructional materials span every grade level and discipline, from evidence-based, standards-aligned core curricula and supplemental and intervention programs to state-of-the-art assessment tools and the industry's most innovative portfolio of college and career readiness solutions all designed to meet the needs of every learner. Savvas products are used by millions of students and educators in more than 90 percent of the 13,000+ public school districts across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, as well as globally in more than 125 countries. To learn more, visit Savvas Learning Company . Savvas Learning Company's products are also available for sale in Canada through its subsidiary, Rubicon . SOURCE Savvas Learning Company TUSTIN, Calif., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As federal lawmakers consider tax reforms that could impact credit unions nationwide, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, the largest credit union in California and the largest serving school employees and their families, is taking a stand to protect its Members. With key tax provisions set to expire in 2025, there is an effort to revoke credit union's tax-exempt status, a move that could significantly affect millions of Members who rely on these not-for-profit financial institutions for better savings rates, lower loan costs and fewer fees. SchoolsFirst FCU is joining the national "Don't Tax My Credit Union" campaign, urging Members to act by contacting legislators with a clear message: A tax on credit unions is a tax on you. More information and a call to action can be found here. "As a Member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative, our mission is financial security of our Members," said Bill Cheney, chief executive officer of SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union. "SchoolsFirst FCU pays employment, property and other taxes, but has been exempt from paying federal income taxes since our founding in 1934. Losing this tax exemption would mean fewer benefits for our Members and higher costs for hardworking school employees and their families. We stand with credit unions across the country in advocating for the financial well-being for all." Credit unions are not-for-profit cooperatives that leverage their tax-exempt status to offer Members competitive loan rates, higher dividends on savings and low to no fees. The tax-exempt status underscores their unique mission to serve everyday Americans. SchoolsFirst FCU is encouraging its team members and Members - and all credit union supporters - to get involved in the "Don't Tax My Credit Union" campaign by reaching out to their legislators and making their voices heard. Click here to take action. About SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union is the largest credit union serving school employees, recognized by Forbes as the top Credit Union in California. Serving school employees and their families, the organization is dedicated to delivering World-Class Personal Service and improving the financial security of its Members. Today, they nearly 1.5 million Members with a full range of financial products and services. SchoolsFirst FCU was founded in 1934, when 126 school employees pooled $1,200 and established a Member-owned cooperative to help improve each other's lives. In 2024, the Credit Union reported nearly $32 billion in assets and is the largest credit union in California and the third largest credit union in the United States. For more information about SchoolsFirst FCU, visit schoolsfirstfcu.org. Insured by NCUA. SOURCE SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Norwegian FM: There should be no compromises on Ukraine's sovereignty, alliance membership or size of its army Photo: https://mfa.gov.ua Norway is unwavering in its support for the Ukrainians and fully agrees with the "red lines" that Ukraine has defined, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said while visiting Kyiv on Wednesday. "We are on Ukraine's side. We support Ukraine at all stages. We agree with the red lines that Ukraine has defined. There should be no compromises on Ukraine's sovereignty or its ability to make independent decisions, either on the size of its armed forces or on its future alliances or membership in political clubs," he said at a press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiha and Norwegian Minister of Labor and Social Inclusion Tonje Brenna in Kyiv. These are positions that Norway "very strongly supports" and is also engaging others to support, Eide said. "Despite the fact that a brutal war is still underway, despite the fact that there is still a long way to go, I see a level of European unity that I have almost never felt," the minister noted. According to Eide, "there is no more important issue on the European security agenda than Ukraine and how we can make sure that Ukraine wins the war." He assured that Norway's commitment to supporting Ukraine is unwavering and will remain so in the long term. Built a differentiated portfolio and accelerated revenue growth with its independently developed reusable and automated design platform Secured key semiconductor IP and laid the foundation for long-term growth through next-generation technological innovations SEOUL, South Korea, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SEMIFIVE, a leading design solution provider and pioneer of platform-based custom silicon solutions, announced that it has achieved the remarkable feat of surpassing KRW 100 billion in revenue within just five years of its founding. The company's consolidated revenue for 2024 reached KRW 111.8 billion, marking a significant increase of approximately 57% (56.8%) compared to the previous year (KRW 71.3 billion). The company demonstrated consistent growth, with KRW 123.8 billion in orders, marking an increase of approximately 42% (42.3%) compared to the previous year (KRW 87 billion). SEMIFIVE, a company specializing in SoC platforms and ASIC design solutions, was founded in 2019 by Brandon Cho, CEO and co-founder of SEMIFIVE. He earned a bachelor's degree from Seoul National University's Electrical Engineering department and a master's and doctoral degrees in Computer Architecture from MIT. The has company successfully attracted more than KRW 240 billion in investment from domestic venture capital (VC) firms, including Pavilion Capital, a subsidiary of Temasek which is Singapore's sovereign wealth fund, Mirae Asset Venture Investment, Korea Investment Partners, and Korea Development Bank. At the time of its founding, Steve Park, former Executive Vice President of Samsung Electronics' System LSI Division, was appointed as co-president, and a team of experts with more than 20 years of experience from leading domestic and foreign companies and master's and doctoral-level engineers joined the company, drawing significant attention within the industry. Differentiating Competitiveness with Low-Cost, High-Efficiency Design Platform, Revolutionizing the SoC Semiconductor Design Paradigm SEMIFIVE's independently developed design platform is an innovative solution that can reduce semiconductor development costs and timelines by more than half. The key distinguishing feature of SEMIFIVE's solution is the substantial enhancement in design efficiency through the reuse of design assets (IP) and automation solutions, setting it apart from traditional design houses. As the demand for AI semiconductors is rapidly expanding, prominent AI companies such as Google and Meta are prioritizing the development of their own chips in collaboration with companies such as Broadcom and MediaTek. SEMIFIVE's design platform solutions, which are designed to maximize efficiency at low cost and low risk, have attracted considerable attention from both domestic and international customers. Diversifying Portfolio with Leading K-Fabless Companies, Expanding Global Business Scope Major domestic and foreign semiconductor companies are developing customized semiconductors based on SEMIFIVE's SoC platforms. Some companies have already completed mass production, while others are planning to start mass production. New projects are underway, ensuring the sustained growth of mass production revenues. SEMIFIVE strategically consolidates its leading position in the customized AI semiconductor market by expanding collaboration with prominent domestic fabless companies that possess advanced technology capabilities and eager to develop cutting-edge AI semiconductors such as FuriosaAI, Rebellion, HyperAccel, Mobilint, and XCENA. Since last year, the company has secured customers not only in South Korea but also overseas, including in the U.S. and China, establishing the foundation for a full-scale entry into the global market and accelerating its global business expansion. SEMIFIVE has developed three SoC platforms for AI Inference, Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT), and High Performance Computing (HPC), and the company has completed tapeouts of more than 10 Big Die semiconductor projects. Securing Key Semiconductor IP and Advancing Technology with Advanced Chiplet Platforms In 2022, SEMIFIVE acquired Analog Bits, a global IP company, to strengthen its IP capabilities. Analog Bits is a global leader in low-power mixed-signal IP, supplying core IP such as clocking, sensors, and SERDES to the world's leading foundry ecosystems, including TSMC, Samsung Foundry, and Intel. Since its establishment in 1995, the company has developed over 1,000 products based on more than 75 distinct process technologies and has collaborated with over 400 customers, including prominent global technology companies. SEMIFIVE is focused on enhancing its position in the global IP market by internalizing IP technologies linked to its own SoC platforms. SEMIFIVE's expertise in the field of chiplet design, encompassing the full spectrum of chip design, including software development and system-level engineering, is a key differentiating factor. SEMIFIVE is accelerating the development of Premier, a CPU chiplet platform based on the ARM architecture, to proactively respond to the demands of the rapidly changing AI semiconductor market. Premier is a high-performance platform that utilizes various IPs such as Synopsys' UCle high-speed interface and OPENEDGES Technology's LPDDR6 memory interface, as well as Samsung Foundry's advanced 4nm process (SF4X). In response to the growing demand from AI technology companies for chiplet-based dedicated semiconductor development, SEMIFIVE is enhancing its platform to provide proven solutions based on its secured IP assets and in-house expertise. This strategic initiative empowers customers to swiftly develop the semiconductors they require, while minimizing costs and risks. "Achieving over KRW 100 billion in revenue in just five years is an exceptional and noteworthy accomplishment," said Brandon Cho, CEO and co-founder of SEMIFIVE. "In the rapidly growing AI semiconductor ecosystem, the custom silicon (ASIC) market will become a key pillar. Under the founding vision of becoming the 'New Global Hub of Custom Silicon', we will strengthen our category leadership as the leader in low-cost, high-efficiency design platforms and aggressively target the global market." Media Contact Robin Kim, Senior Director, [email protected] About SEMIFIVE SEMIFIVE is the pioneer of platform based SoC design, working with customers to implement innovative ideas into custom silicon in the most efficient way. Our SoC platforms offer a powerful springboard for new chip designs and leverage configurable domain-specific architectures and pre-validated key IP pools. We offer comprehensive spec-to-system capabilities with end-to-end solutions so that custom SoCs can be realized faster, with reduced cost and risks for key applications such as data center or AI-enabled IoT. With a strong partnership with Samsung Foundry as a leading SAFETM DSP partner, as well as the larger ecosystem, SEMIFIVE provides a one-stop shop solution for any SoC design needs. For more information, please visit www.semifive.com. SOURCE SEMIFIVE Siemens extends leadership in simulation and industrial AI as it closes acquisition of Altair Engineering Inc. Acquisition strengthens position of Siemens as a leading technology company and expands its industrial software portfolio Addition of Altair technology to the Siemens Xcelerator open digital business platform will create the world's most complete AI-powered portfolio of industrial software and further enhance the most comprehensive Digital Twin Acquisition is a cornerstone of Siemens' ONE Tech Company program MUNICH, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Siemens announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Altair Engineering Inc., a leading provider of software in the industrial simulation and analysis market, for an enterprise value of approximately USD 10 billion. With this acquisition, Siemens extends its leadership in simulation and industrial artificial intelligence (AI) by adding new capabilities in mechanical and electromagnetic simulation, high-performance computing (HPC), data science and AI. The addition of the Altair team and technology to Siemens will further enhance the most comprehensive Digital Twin and make simulation more accessible, so companies of any size can bring complex products to market faster. Siemens has completed the acquisition of Altair Engineering Inc., a leading provider of software in the industrial simulation and analysis market, for an enterprise value of approximately USD 10 billion. "We welcome the Altair community of customers, partners and colleagues to Siemens. Adding Altair's groundbreaking innovations to the Siemens Xcelerator platform will create the world's most complete AI-powered design, engineering and simulation portfolio. Together, we will help our customers to innovate at the scale and speed that today's complexity-driven world demands," said Roland Busch, President and CEO of Siemens AG. "Through the ONE Tech Company program, we will extend our leadership in industrial software. This enables all industries to benefit from the revolution driven by data and AI." Integrating Altair's capabilities in the areas of simulation, HPC, data science, and AI enhances the ability of Siemens to drive more efficient and sustainable products and processes. Now, all Siemens customers, from engineers to generalists, will have access to new simulation expertise, can optimize their high-performance computing processes, create new AI tools and perform data analytics to help accelerate innovation and digital transformation for companies of all sizes. The acquisition of Altair is part of Siemens' ONE Tech Company program and will meaningfully increase Siemens' digital revenue share. This growth program enables Siemens to further expand its strong market position and reach the next level of performance and value creation. Through acquisitions like this, as well as R&D investments into areas including software, AI-enabled products, connected hardware and sustainability, Siemens is clearly prioritizing capital allocation to strategic growth fields. With the completion of the acquisition of Altair as well as the recent expansions of Siemens' factories in California and Texas, Siemens has now invested over USD 100 billion into the United States in the past 20 years. This press release is available at: https://sie.ag/sEnMi Follow us at: www.x.com/siemens_press Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a leading technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, mobility, and healthcare. The company's purpose is to create technology to transform the everyday, for everyone. By combining the real and the digital worlds, Siemens empowers customers to accelerate their digital and sustainability transformations, making factories more efficient, cities more livable, and transportation more sustainable. Siemens also owns a majority stake in the publicly listed company Siemens Healthineers, a leading global medical technology provider pioneering breakthroughs in healthcare. For everyone. Everywhere. Sustainably. In fiscal 2024, which ended on September 30, 2024, the Siemens Group generated revenue of 75.9 billion and net income of 9.0 billion. As of September 30, 2024, the company employed around 312,000 people worldwide on the basis of continuing operations. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com. Notes and forward-looking statements This document contains statements related to our future business and financial performance and future events or developments involving Siemens that may constitute forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by words such as "expect," "look forward to," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seek," "estimate," "will," "project" or words of similar meaning. We may also make forward-looking statements in other reports, in prospectuses, in presentations, in material delivered to shareholders and in press releases. In addition, our representatives may from time to time make oral forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on the current expectations and certain assumptions of Siemens' management, of which many are beyond Siemens' control. These are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and factors, including, but not limited to those described in disclosures, in particular in the chapter Report on expected developments and associated material opportunities and risks in the Combined Management Report of the Siemens Report (siemens.com/siemensreport), and in the Interim Group Management Report of the Half-year Financial Report (provided that it is already available for the current reporting year), which should be read in conjunction with the Combined Management Report. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, should decisions, assessments or requirements of regulatory authorities deviate from our expectations, should events of force majeure, such as pandemics, unrest or acts of war, occur or should underlying expectations including future events occur at a later date or not at all or assumptions prove incorrect, actual results, performance or achievements of Siemens may (negatively or positively) vary materially from those described explicitly or implicitly in the relevant forward-looking statement. Siemens neither intends, nor assumes any obligation, to update or revise these forward-looking statements in light of developments which differ from those anticipated. This document includes in the applicable financial reporting framework not clearly defined supplemental financial measures that are or may be alternative performance measures (non-GAAP-measures). These supplemental financial measures should not be viewed in isolation or as alternatives to measures of Siemens' net assets and financial positions or results of operations as presented in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework in its Consolidated Financial Statements. Other companies that report or describe similarly titled alternative performance measures may calculate them differently. Due to rounding, numbers presented throughout this and other documents may not add up precisely to the totals provided and percentages may not precisely reflect the absolute figures. Reference number: HQCOPR202503247128EN SOURCE Siemens "Kittrich, LLC has been a valued tenant at 5070 Phillip Lee Drive for many years, and we are excited to continue this special partnership and supporting their operations with this long-term lease renewal," said Marc Civitillo, Managing Director at SkyREM. "We are committed to and actively expanding in the Southeast, with approximately 2 million square feet of new acquisitions in Georgia alone in 2024". As part of the lease renewal, SkyREM will fund significant capital improvements at the property, including new asphalt parking lot, office and bathroom renovations, LED lighting upgrades, new perimeter fencing, exterior painting and new loading dock packages. The 5070 Phillip Lee Drive facility is strategically located within the Fulton Industrial submarket, one of Metro Atlanta's most prominent and sought-after industrial hubs. The property offers unparalleled access to major highways like I-20, essential for efficient distribution and manufacturing operations. Additionally, the facility is rail-served, a key feature for companies requiring seamless freight transportation and last-mile delivery solutions. About SkyREM, LLC SkyREM, with offices in New York City and Philadelphia, is a privately funded and managed real estate company that owns and operates a large, diversified portfolio of properties across the United States. As a principal for its own account, SkyREM is actively acquiring properties throughout the country. Known for its strategic investments in industrial, commercial, and residential real estate, SkyREM continues to grow its presence with a focus on value creation and long-term success. For more information on SkyREM, follow us on LinkedIn or at https://skyrem.com/. For SkyREM Investment and Development, inquiries, please contact: Acquisitions/Development: Jacob Dembitzer, James Pancetti For more information on SkyREM and its properties, please visit https://skyrem.com/. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2650789/SkyREM.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2643045/SkyREM_Logo.jpg Media Contact: Marc Civitillo SkyREM [email protected] SOURCE SkyREM SAN DIEGO, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SOF (Special Operations Forces) Support Foundation Chair Dominique Plewes announced today that the 2026 application window is now open for SOF Support's Congressional Fellowship Program. Applications are being accepted at https://sofsupport.org/sof-resources/fellowship-programs/. The 2026 application window is now open for the SOF Support Foundation's Congressional Fellowship Program. Post this Dominique Plewes, SOF Support Foundation Chair, joins a member of the SOF Support Congressional Fellowship Program at the U.S. Capitol Dominique Plewes, founder of the SOF Support Foundation, created the Fellowship Program to provide a unique platform for America's elite operators to showcase their talents and afford them the opportunity to work directly with our elected representatives. "Congressional Fellows bring a unique set of skills and experiences derived from their military service," explained Dominique Plewes. "Through this program, former members of the special operations community have the ability to lend a much-needed perspective to lawmakers based on their specialized expertise and life experiences." The SOF Support Congressional Fellowship Program facilitates conversations between various stakeholders, ranging from policymakers to military veterans. It enables Fellows to actively participate in substantive policy discussions and provide nuanced solutions to many of the Gray Zone challenges posed by our adversaries' shifting strategies. The Congressional Fellowship Program also helps members of Congress to understand military perspectives first-hand and make decisions based on factual data. Participating Fellows are in a position to directly influence legislation and advance our country's national security interests. By seamlessly providing fresh SOF ideas and experiences into Congress, the program ensures that policymakers gain a deeper understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities facing the SOF community. This collaboration leads to more informed decisions, stronger policies, and better outcomes for the United States, enhancing national security and strategic readiness. For more information about the SOF Support Foundation and its Congressional Fellowship Program, visit https://sofsupport.org. https://sofsupport.org SOURCE SOF Support Foundation HOUSTON, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SPL, a leading provider of compliance and testing services for Energy, Environmental, and other end markets, is pleased to announce the appointment of Colin Duncan as its new Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Duncan brings extensive experience in business services, including consulting, safety, engineering, and technical services. As CEO of SEAM Group, he led significant growth, creating an industry leading platform before its successful acquisition by ABB Inc. Previously, he scaled and sold occupational safety consulting firm BST to DEKRA, where he subsequently managed safety consulting, lab testing, and technical advisory services across a global division. With a strong background in safety and technical services, Mr. Duncan's leadership aligns seamlessly with SPL's commitment to excellence in delivering best-in-class laboratory, metrology, and data management services to the environmental and energy sectors. His expertise in market focused growth, operational efficiency, and employee-driven culture will be instrumental in furthering SPL's mission to provide accurate data to clients that supports compliance, efficiency and optimization across their operations. "I am honored to join SPL and excited to lead a company with such a strong reputation in compliance and testing services," said Mr. Duncan. "I look forward to working alongside the talented SPL team to expand our service offerings, enhance operational efficiencies, and continue to elevate customer experience." About SPL Established in 1944, SPL is a premier provider of compliance and testing services for Environmental, Energy, and other end markets. Through its ISO and NELAP-certified laboratories, industry-leading test methods, and a team of nationally recognized scientists, SPL ensures accurate and defensible data for its clients and communities. SPL's expansive network of laboratories and service centers supports best-in-class laboratory, metrology, and data management services, helping customers efficiently track and optimize their operations. The company remains committed to empowering clients with the data they need to drive transparency, fairness, and sustainability in their industries. Learn more at www.spllabs.com SOURCE SPL, Inc. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Squaremouth, the nation's top travel insurance comparison service, is thrilled to announce the launch of Tin Leg Cruise, a new cruise insurance product. As cruise travel continues to surge, 74% of travelers this season are expected to insure their voyages, a marked increase from 38% in 2024. With coverage options that go beyond traditional travel insurance, Tin Leg Cruise aims to provide cruisers with peace of mind, from departure to return. Exclusively tailored for cruisers, Tin Leg Cruise offers comprehensive coverage with unique cruise-specific benefits, flexible optional upgrades, and robust support for travelers embarking on their voyages. Cruise-Specific Benefits In addition to standard travel insurance coverage, Tin Leg Cruise offers unique, cruise-specific benefits that are tailored to the needs of passengers: Itinerary Change: $250 per person in the event of a schedule change per person in the event of a schedule change Missed Port of Call: $500 per person after a 3-hour delay at a port per person after a 3-hour delay at a port Travel Inconvenience Coverage: $100 per person for situations like flight delays, being confined on a cruise ship, missed connections, and missed ports of call per person for situations like flight delays, being confined on a cruise ship, missed connections, and missed ports of call Water Level Disruptions: Coverage for a cruise line's cancellation due to water level issues that could impact the scheduled itinerary Base Benefits of Tin Leg Cruise The Tin Leg Cruise product includes several base benefits to ensure comprehensive protection for cruisers, including: Trip Cancellation: 100% reimbursement for covered reasons 100% reimbursement for covered reasons Trip Interruption: 150% reimbursement for covered interruptions 150% reimbursement for covered interruptions Emergency Medical Coverage: $100,000 (Primary, no deductible) (Primary, no deductible) Medical Evacuation: $250,000 for emergency evacuation services for emergency evacuation services Pre-Existing Condition: Covered when purchased within 14 days of initial deposit Covered when purchased within 14 days of initial deposit Travel Delay Coverage: Up to $2,000 per person, with a daily limit of $150 after 6 hours Up to per person, with a daily limit of after 6 hours Missed Connection: Up to $500 after 3 hours of delay Up to after 3 hours of delay Baggage Loss: Up to $500 per person ( $250 per item) Up to per person ( per item) Baggage Delay: Up to $500 per person with a daily limit of $100 after 24 hours Up to per person with a daily limit of after 24 hours Pet Kennel Delay: Up to $400 per person ( $200 per day) Up to per person ( per day) 24-Hour Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D): $10,000 per person Optional Upgrades for Enhanced Coverage Travelers can customize their coverage with a variety of optional upgrades, including: Increased Emergency Medical Coverage: Up to $250,000 Up to Medical Evacuation Coverage: Up to $500,000 or $1,000,000 Up to or Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR): 75% reimbursement if purchased within 14 days of initial deposit 75% reimbursement if purchased within 14 days of initial deposit Interrupt For Any Reason (IFAR): 50% reimbursement for trip interruptions (must occur at least 72 hours after departure) 50% reimbursement for trip interruptions (must occur at least 72 hours after departure) Rental Car Coverage: $50,000 per person with a $100 deductible per person with a deductible 24-Hour AD&D Coverage: Up to $50,000 per person Eligibility and Coverage Details Tin Leg Cruise is available to U.S. residents (excluding New York) with no restrictions on cruise lines. The plan covers trips with a maximum cost of $30,000 per person, up to 60 days in length, and for travelers up to age 85. Travelers can include up to 9 people per purchase, and the trip departure must be at least 5 days and up to 1.5 years away. About Tin Leg Tin Leg was founded by Squaremouth in 2014 to fill a void in the market left by other travel insurance products. The company is committed to offering the most in-demand coverage for travelers at the best possible value, while providing exceptional service. Available Topic Expert: Ned Tadic is available for comment and interview [email protected] SOURCE Squaremouth New partnership strengthens cryptographic security for government, healthcare, and finance while preparing for post-quantum cybersecurity challenges MIAMI, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- IGEL, the global leader in secure endpoint OS solutions for now and next, has partnered with wolfSSL, a premier provider of military-grade cryptographic solutions, to achieve FIPS 140-3 Level 1 certification. In an era of escalating cyber threats and tightening regulatory requirements, this milestone reinforces IGEL's position as the most security-forward endpoint OS for enterprises in highly regulated industries, including government, healthcare, finance, and critical infrastructure. Raising the Bar for Endpoint Security Compliance IGEL partners with wolfSSL, a premier provider of military-grade cryptographic solutions, to achieve FIPS 140-3 Level 1 certification FIPS 140-3 certification ensures that IGEL's cryptographic modules meet the most rigorous federal and international security standards. As regulatory demands evolve, organizations in compliance-driven sectors require endpoint solutions that align with: Government FedRAMP, NIST Cybersecurity Framework FedRAMP, NIST Cybersecurity Framework Healthcare HIPAA HIPAA Finance PCI DSS, SEC cybersecurity mandates PCI DSS, SEC cybersecurity mandates Critical Infrastructure IEC 62443, CMMC IEC 62443, CMMC Global Compliance GDPR, ISO 27001 By integrating wolfSSL's high-assurance cryptographic libraries, IGEL OS becomes the only endpoint security solution built for today's zero-trust architecture and tomorrow's post-quantum security landscape. Preventative Security Model: A Zero-Trust Approach Unlike traditional endpoint security solutions that react to threats after they occur, IGEL's Preventative Security Model proactively eliminates attack vectors. Built with zero-trust principles, IGEL OS: Is Read-Only Preventing unauthorized installations and malware execution Preventing unauthorized installations and malware execution Removes Local Attack Surfaces Eliminating endpoint vulnerabilities caused by local storage Eliminating endpoint vulnerabilities caused by local storage Enforces Strict Application Control Allowing only trusted applications to run in IGEL's secure environment Allowing only trusted applications to run in IGEL's secure environment Seamlessly Integrates with Enterprise Security Frameworks Ensuring continuous compliance in regulated industries "With cyberattacks growing in sophistication, organizations can no longer afford to take a reactive approach to security. Partnering with wolfSSL ensures IGEL OS delivers the strongest cryptographic protections available today, while remaining adaptable for future security challenges," said Klaus Oestermann, CEO of IGEL. "This partnership is a game-changer for customers operating in highly regulated environments." Preparing for the Post-Quantum Security Era As cybersecurity landscapes shift toward post-quantum cryptography, IGEL is leading the charge in future-proofing endpoint security. In partnership with wolfSSL, IGEL is committed to: Reducing cryptographic vulnerabilities with the latest encryption standards with the latest encryption standards Ensuring compliance with evolving global security mandates with evolving global security mandates Delivering long-term cryptographic agility to defend against next-generation threats "High-assurance markets have been asking for a partnership like this, and IGEL and wolfSSL are delivering," said Larry Stefonic, CEO of wolfSSL. "With IGEL's Preventative Security Model and our advanced cryptographic capabilities, we are setting a new benchmark for security in zero-trust environments." Next Steps: Secure Your Endpoints Today IGEL and wolfSSL are redefining endpoint security for the most compliance-driven industries. To learn more about how this partnership enhances zero-trust security, visit IGEL or contact IGEL for a security assessment. About IGEL IGEL is the leading secure endpoint OS for enterprises now and next. Designed for secure browser, SaaS, DaaS, and VDI, IGEL OS delivers a first-class user experience that is seamless to manage saving money, fueling growth, advancing sustainability, and driving organizations forward. IGEL OS takes a zero-trust approach to security through the unique IGEL Preventative Security Model, removing the attack vectors often exploited by bad actors. Trusted by leading healthcare, financial services, retail, manufacturing, and government leaders worldwide, IGEL has a growing ecosystem of more than 100 integrated IGEL Ready ecosystem partners in more than 50 countries. For more information on what IGEL can do for you, visit IGEL. SOURCE IGEL Technology Premier Assisted Stretching Franchise Welcomes Newest Location Under Local Leadership WEST BOYLSTON, Mass., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Stretch Zone, the nation's premier assisted stretching brand featuring a patented strapping system on proprietary tables, is proud to announce the opening of its newest location in West Boylston, Massachusetts. This marks Stretch Zone's 386th location in the United States, and is owned and operated by Fernando Zengotita and Michael Scott, first-time Stretch Zone franchisees. Fernando enters the recovery and wellness space with the mindset and experience of an athlete himself. As the owners of the Integrated Martial Arts facility in the Worcester/ West Boylston area, Fernando and Michael are familiar with the structure and tradition of mixed martial arts, and the physical strength necessary to practice. With years of training and the physical toll that comes with that, Fernando recognizes the value and need for the body to recover, and the mobility training necessary to further excel in his craft. With that in mind, Fernando and Michael made the move to incorporate practitioner-assisted stretching into their martial arts gym. Introducing Stretch Zone West Boylston to their community of fighters and the locals of the West Boylston area was a natural addition in their minds, and they are excited to introduce a new perspective of wellness that would be complimentary to their established facility. Stretch Zone welcomes members eager to improve their mobility, offering personalized memberships tailored to their specific abilities and goals with the help of certified and trained practitioners. The West Boylston location will serve as an exciting extension of Stretch Zone's footprint, offering a prime space where people can experience the transformative benefits of assisted stretching. "Having Stretch Zone as another avenue of wellness expanding into our community allows me and IMA to enhance the recovery options for those looking to build a strong foundation of growth and mobility training," shares Zengotita. Stretch Zone is the only nationally accredited stretch franchise, thanks to its patented equipment and proprietary training methodology. The brand takes a scientific approach to stretching, focusing on re-educating muscles to achieve optimal resting muscle tone and enhance range of motion. With a welcoming environment and an open studio layout, Stretch Zone emphasizes a gradual, personalized approach that helps members safely increase their mobility and range of motion over time. With several membership options, there's a plan that suits every lifestyle and price point. Stretch Zone West Boylston is located at 342 W Boylston Street, West Boylston, MA, 01583. Operating hours are M-F 7am-8pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am-5pm. The studio phone number is (774) 261-4238. The first visit is free for any new Stretch Zone member. For more information, visit www.stretchzone.com. About Stretch Zone Founded in 2004 by Jorden Gold, Stretch Zone was created with a deep passion for improving lives. The brand has redefined how we approach stretching, with a mission to enhance the quality of life in communities nationwide. By utilizing our proprietary tables and patented strapping system, Stretch Zone helps individuals achieve long-term results in flexibility and mobility. With over 380 locations across 41 states, the brand has experienced remarkable growth and continues to gain national recognition, ranking on the 2024 Inc. 5000 and Franchise Times' 2024 Top 400 List. Stretch Zone is seeking experienced franchisees who share a passion for health and wellness and are dedicated to making a lasting impact on their communities. To learn more, visit stretchzone.com Media Contact: Stephanie Hall, Pitch Public Relations [email protected] SOURCE Stretch Zone The Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), established in June 2019 and supported by the Ministry of Culture, is a professional intermediary organization working to facilitate the development of Taiwan's content industries including film and TV, publishing, pop music, ACG, and more. Founded by Pascal Breton and co-led by Lionel Uzan and Marco Chimenz, Federation Studios heralds a new breed of independent European studios, focusing on the creation, production, financing and distribution of high-quality original productions for the global market. Federation Studios works with the best talents worldwide and partners on the scene today to create a strong distribution portfolio as well as an array of premium international productions. The group federates 35 production companies located in Paris, Los Angeles, Rome, Madrid, London, Berlin, Cologne and Tel-Aviv and is experiencing a strong and rapid growth, with 40 series and 31 films that will be delivered in 2025. The establishment of this partnership with Federation Studios will accelerate the co-production between Europe and Asia, and strengthen the industry networks so as to build up a Euroasia distribution network while collaborating with both parties on training programs in script development and production. The agreement was signed by Pascal Breton, president of Federation Studios and TAICCA Chairperson Homme Tsai and witnessed by Jeremie Kessler, European and International Affairs director from CNC (Centre national du cinema et de l'image animee) and Laurence Herszberg, General Director of Series Mania. Franck Paris, director of the Bureau Francais de Taipei, congratulates this alliance between Taiwan and France and he looks forward to future collaboration in the Euroasia distribution network. TAICCA chairperson Homme Tsai noted 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. Pascal Breton, president of Federation Studios, noted during the signing ceremony, that 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 Federation's talents and know-how. With this first agreement in Asia, Federation completes its rapidly growing international development in Europe, and which is accelerating in the US, Latin America, and Africa." SOURCE Taiwan Creative Content Agency WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED Union-Busting Corporate Attorney Poses Serious Threat to Workers WASHINGTON, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters opposes the recent nomination of union-busting attorney Crystal Carey to serve as the next general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). "As the General President of the Teamsters Union, I've always promised to call balls and strikes, and to be straightforward with our 1.3 million members on contracts, organizing campaigns, and politics," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien. "This is a strike that must be called. Crystal Carey is a bad choice for the National Labor Relations Board. Carey has spent her entire professional career backing Big Business to the detriment of working people. On behalf of her corrupt corporate clients, she wants to decimate labor unions and destroy American families and she has no place serving as NLRB general counsel." Carey is a partner at Morgan Lewis, one of the most notorious union-busting law firms in America. Representing mega-corporations like Amazon and Apple, she spearheaded efforts to gut workers' rights across the country, including by urging the Supreme Court to declare the NLRB unconstitutional. At Morgan Lewis, Carey has advocated for captive audience meetings and defended corporations that exploit "independent contractors." She has advised companies on how to bust unions and supported firms that try to avoid responsibility for their workers by abusing joint-employer schemes. "Why should someone who actively believes the NLRB is unconstitutional be allowed to serve as its general counsel?" O'Brien said. Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters. Contact: Kara Deniz, (202) 497-6610 [email protected] SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, who is paying a visit to Kyiv, noted the importance of the participation of European countries and Ukraine in the peace negotiation process so that a "new Yalta" does not occur. "We think a lot about the experience of what happened in Yalta, Crimea, which is Ukrainian. Eighty-five years ago, the great powers of that time actually met only to agree on how the Second World War would be ended. But the result was a very long division of Europe, and we do not want to see another Yalta in this sense. This is a truly European issue, not just a Ukrainian one," he said at a press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiha and Norwegian Minister of Labor and Social Inclusion Tonje Brenna in Kyiv. Eide stressed that "we do not want to allow Putin to set conditions that will resemble Yalta" [agreements between the leaders of the USA, Great Britain and the USSR in 1945]. "The times when great powers decided the future of European countries without their presence are over. Since this only leads to new wars," he stressed. The association's biennial advocacy at the Texas Capitol event mobilizes real estate professionals and spurs conversations with policymakers. AUSTIN, Texas, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 3,000 Texas Realtors will gather at the Texas Capitol for Realtor Day at the Texas Capitol, the association's largest grassroots advocacy event. Held biennially, this event provides Realtors with the opportunity to meet directly with lawmakers and advocate for policies that support Texas property owners. During the event, Realtors from across the state will discuss critical issues, including property tax relief, infrastructure improvements, and housing affordability, as part of Texas Realtors' Legislative Priorities for the 89th Legislature. "Every legislative session, Texas Realtors demonstrate their commitment to protecting property rights by taking time away from their businesses to engage directly with policymakers," said Christy Gessler, 2025 Texas Realtors Chair. "This year, with property tax reform at the forefront of legislative discussions, we are eager to help shape solutions that benefit all Texans." As demand for housing remains strong across Texas, increasing the state's housing supply is key to improving affordability. Through advocacy and collaboration with lawmakers, Texas Realtors plays a vital role in ensuring policies support a thriving real estate market and preserve the American dream of homeownership. With more than 140,000 members, Texas Realtors is the state's largest professional association, dedicated to advancing homeownership and private property rights. Realtor Day at the Texas Capitol WHAT: This features a discussion on property taxes, infrastructure improvements, housing affordability, and real property rights. WHEN: 10 AM CT, Wednesday, March 26, 2025 WHO: Media members looking for additional information can email David Gibbs . About Texas REALTORS With more than 140,000 members, Texas REALTORS is a professional membership organization that represents all aspects of real estate in Texas. We are the advocates for REALTORS and private property rights in Texas. SOURCE Texas Realtors Early Bird Ticket Pricing on Sale Now LAS VEGAS, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The world's largest sky lantern festival, RISE , returns to the Mojave Desert October 3-5, 2025, celebrating its 10th anniversary with its most breathtaking and transformative event yet. Every year, thousands make the journey to the Mojave Desert just outside Las Vegas for an experience that is both deeply personal and profoundly communal. For one night, the desert sky becomes a living canvas, illuminated by thousands of floating lanternseach carrying a story. RISE Festival stands apart-not for its spectacle, but for its soul. Early Bird tickets are available now at www.RISEfestival.com. In a world of festivals promising bigger crowds and louder stages, RISE Festival stands apartnot for its spectacle, but for its soul. RISE isn't about headliners or excessit's about elevation. At its core is a singular moment unlike anything else on Earth: 20,000 hand-lit lanterns, each carrying messages of hope, remembrance, and dreams, rising in unison into the night sky. This is not a festival where you simply watchit's one you create. Guests decorate their lanterns with reflections, aspirations, and tributes before releasing them into the vast desert sky. It is one of the largest and most breathtaking community art projects in the world. Beyond the lantern release, RISE is an immersive, participatory experience. Thoughtfully curated music performances, large-scale interactive art installations, and tranquil lounges create an environment designed to foster connection, reflection, and joy. It is a place to pause, be present, and share something meaningful. The artist lineup will be announced in early May. Early Bird tickets are available now at www.RISEfestival.com . Media kit can be found HERE About RISE Founded in 2015, RISE is a global celebration of art, music, and light. A non-profit charitable event, RISE is dedicated to advancing the arts through education, appreciation, and financial support for emerging artists around the world. Visit www.RISEfestival.com for more information. SOURCE RISE Festival Torsten Hoefler Awarded ACM Prize in Computing for Facilitating Breakthroughs in Research and Industry NEW YORK, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery, today named Torsten Hoefler, a Professor at ETH Zurich, the recipient of the 2024 ACM Prize in Computing for fundamental contributions to high-performance computing and the ongoing AI revolution. Hoefler developed many of the core capabilities of modern supercomputers and defined key aspects of the algorithms for distributing AI models on them. (PRNewsfoto/Association For Computing Machinery, Inc.) Torsten Hoefler will receive the ACM Prize for fundamental contributions to high-performance computing and the ongoing AI revolution. The ACM Prize in Computing recognizes early-to-mid-career computer scientists whose research contributions have fundamental impact and broad implications. The award carries a prize of $250,000, from an endowment provided by Infosys Ltd, a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Overview High-performance computing (HPC) plays a critical role in AI applications, which require a great deal of computing power. The work of Hoefler and his colleagues to scale network design and programming in supercomputers has revolutionized the capabilities of these large systems. For example, AI algorithms can now be processed on hundreds of thousands of nodes (computers or servers). Hoefler's advances in interconnection networks, programming, and parallel algorithms broke new ground in facilitating the use of large-scale massively parallel clusters. His numerous innovations across the whole supercomputer stackincluding key contributions such as MPI-3 nonblocking collective operations, foundational parallelism strategies for AI models, and high-performance networking systemshave pushed the boundaries of parallel systems design and translated into dramatic improvements in supercomputer performance and scalability. Many of those innovations are incorporated into the largest and most powerful machines today. Key Contributions Message Passing Interface 3 Hoefler played a major role in the evolution of the Message Passing Interface (MPI), an informal industry standard for exchanging messages between numerous individual nodes throughout an HPC network. A messaging standard allows synchronization of the activities of each individual computer, sharing data between nodes, and direction and control of the entire parallel network. The MPI-3 standard, in which Hoefler played a leading role, was adopted in 2012 and made possible many of the critical advances in HPC for simulations and AI applications over the past several years. For MPI-3, Hoefler chaired both the "Process Topologies" and "Collective Operations" working groups. His nonblocking collective operations such as Allreduce, Allgather, Bcast, and their respective blocking versions are included in various collective communication librarieseven beyond MPI-3. These operations power the core of distributed deep learning today. 3D Parallelism Hoefler was among the first to develop and discover the now well-known notion of "3D parallelism," which drives infrastructure design for the whole AI industry. Subsequently, he and his collaborators continued to develop many innovative techniques for efficient pipelining, sparse communication, model sparsity, and quantization. This work has enabled a cumulative 10-1000x acceleration of AI workloads in modern computers. Routing Protocols and Network Topologies The low-level network routing protocols and network topologies that Hoefler and his colleagues developed for networks such as Myrinet and InfiniBand power thousands of AI and HPC supercomputers. These contributions form central pieces of modern high-performance AI systems that are used to train large-language models such as ChatGPT. "The capacity of high-performance computers has become mind-boggling," said ACM President Yannis Ioannidis. "In just the last two years, we have ushered in the era of exascale computers which can perform a billion billion calculations per second. But high-performance computers could do little without the underlying algorithms and standards that allow them to process massive influxes of data. While Hoefler introduced many of these innovations while he was still a student, they remain the definitive way to program massively parallel systems today. The resulting capabilities of these systems have allowed significant advances in AI, the natural sciences, and many other areas." Salil Parekh, Chief Executive Officer, Infosys, said, "We're in the middle of an exciting era of AI, with great promise for the future. Torsten Hoefler played an important role in advancing high-performance computing, which in turn, fuelled the current AI revolution. The ACM Prize in Computing is intended to recognize 'early to mid-career professionals,' whose work has depth and impact. With much of his important work being done in his 20s, Hoefler is an example for young people that age is not an obstacle to achievement in computing. Infosys is proud to be the sponsor of this award since it was founded in 2007." Biographical Background Torsten Hoefler is a Professor of Computer Science at ETH Zurich (the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), where he serves as Director of the Scalable Parallel Computing Laboratory. He is also the Chief Architect for AI and Machine Learning at the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS). Hoefler received a Diplom Informatik (Master of Computer Science) from Chemnitz University of Technology and a PhD in Computer Science from Indiana University. Hoefler's honors include the Max Planck-Humboldt Medal, an award for outstanding mid-career scientists; the IEEE CS Sidney Fernbach Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions in the application of high-performance computers; and the ACM Gordon Bell Prize, which recognizes outstanding achievement in high-performance computing. He is a member of the European Academy of Sciences (Academia Europaea), a Fellow of IEEE, and a Fellow of ACM. Hoefler will be formally presented with the ACM Prize in Computing at ACM's annual Awards Banquet, which will be held on Saturday, June 14 at The Palace Hotel in San Francisco. About the ACM Prize in Computing The ACM Prize in Computing recognizes an early to mid-career fundamental innovative contribution in computing that, through its depth, impact, and broad implications, exemplifies the greatest achievements in the discipline. The award carries a prize of $250,000. Financial support is provided by an endowment from Infosys Ltd. The ACM Prize in Computing was previously known as the ACM-Infosys Foundation Award in the Computing Sciences from 2007 through 2015. ACM Prize recipients are invited to participate in the Heidelberg Laureate Forum, an annual networking event that brings together young researchers from around the world with recipients of the ACM A.M. Turing Award, the Abel Prize, the Fields Medal, and the IMU Abacus Medal. About ACM ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery , is the world's largest educational and scientific computing society, uniting computing educators, researchers, and professionals to inspire dialogue, share resources, and address the field's challenges. ACM strengthens the computing profession's collective voice through strong leadership, promotion of the highest standards, and recognition of technical excellence. ACM supports the professional growth of its members by providing opportunities for life-long learning, career development, and professional networking. SOURCE Association For Computing Machinery, Inc. CHICAGO, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tricoci University of Beauty Culture today announced the launch of Tricoci Forward, a new brand designed to inspire and engage high school students who are curious about the world of beauty. The program offers a supportive entry point for young creatives to explore the career paths the beauty industry has to offer from haircare and skincare to nails, wellness, and entrepreneurship. Tricoci Forward connects students to events, educational resources, scholarship opportunities, and hands-on experiences to help them visualize a future in the beauty industry. Whether students are just beginning high school or preparing for graduation, Tricoci Forward provides a roadmap for turning passion into a profession. "Tricoci University is not just a beauty school," said Angela Howard , Regional Director of Admissions and Education Partnerships at Tricoci University of Beauty Culture. "This is a university with a holistic approach that is not only skill-based but focused on teaching students how to start a business, build a brand, and grow as confident communicators. Tricoci Forward is about helping the next generation discover their power, creativity, and potential." Tricoci Forward offers a variety of ways for students to get involved now, including: School Visits Meet Tricoci University reps at your local high school to learn more about the programs and ask questions. Meet Tricoci University reps at your local high school to learn more about the programs and ask questions. Events Attend open houses, fashion shows, and beauty expos to see students in action and explore the campus. Attend open houses, fashion shows, and beauty expos to see students in action and explore the campus. Student & Alumni Connections Talk to current students and alumni to hear firsthand what a Tricoci University education is really like. For the first time ever, Tricoci University will host its Next Gen Beauty Camp, a three-day experience for high school juniors and seniors with a passion for beauty. Participants will receive training and mentorship from industry professionals and have the opportunity to showcase their work in a culminating showcase. Applications for the camp will open April 21, 2025 with limited spots available. The camp will be offered at the following Tricoci University campuses: Although the camps are hosted at specific locations, everyone in the surrounding areas is warmly welcome to participate. Camp dates will be announced soon. To support students pursuing beauty education, Tricoci University is also proud to offer the TUBC High School Scholarship: Amount: $3,500 toward TUBC tuition toward TUBC tuition Deadline: 11:59pm CST on March 31, 2025 on Eligibility: Open to students graduating high school in 2025. Applicants must be conditionally accepted into a 2025 start date and begin classes by December 31, 2025 . Winners will be announced May 1, 2025 . "The beauty industry is more than just hair and makeup; it's a powerful space for creativity, innovation, and self-expression," added Howard. "With Tricoci Forward, we're not just preparing students for jobs we're preparing them for lifelong careers they'll love." For more information about Tricoci University of Beauty Culture and its programs, please visit https://www.tricociuniversity.edu/ or connect with us on social media: Instagram: @tricociuniversity Facebook: @TricociUniversity, TikTok: @tricociuniversity and YouTube: @TricociU . About Tricoci University of Beauty Culture Tricoci University of Beauty Culture is a premier beauty education provider with 15 campuses throughout Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Tricoci University is focused on producing salon-ready graduates who are prepared for successful careers in the beauty industry. Founded by international beauty industry leader Mario Tricoci, Tricoci University is developing a new type of beauty professional by using innovative teaching methods, an interactive learning platform, and upscale facilities. All guest services are provided by students under the supervision of licensed instructors. For more information about Tricoci University of Beauty Culture please visit https://www.tricociuniversity.edu/ . SOURCE Tricoci University of Beauty Culture CSA Educators to Join Elite Group of Teachers Nationwide for Immersive NASA-Supported Space Education Experience ENGLEWOOD, Colo., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Colorado SKIES Academy is proud to announce that two of its outstanding educators, Mary Gispan and Craig Kemper, have been selected to participate in the LiftOff Summer Institute 2025: Flight Path to Innovation, hosted by NASA's Texas Space Grant Consortium and the Center for Space Research at The University of Texas at Austin. NASA Bound #LiftOff2025 This nationally recognized professional development opportunity will take place in Houston, Texas, from June 2327, 2025. It will bring together exceptional educators from across the country for a week-long, immersive experience focused on space exploration and innovation. Participants will connect directly with NASA scientists and engineers, tour cutting-edge facilities, and explore hands-on STEM activities and curriculum resources to bring real-world aerospace experiences back to their classrooms. Thanks to support from the Colorado Space Grant Consortium, Mary and Craig's accommodations, meals, local transportation, and tours will all be fully covered. "Mary and Craig exemplify the spirit of innovation and curiosity we strive to cultivate in our students," said Meredith Motley, Campus Director at Colorado SKIES Academy. "We are incredibly proud of their dedication to advancing STEM education, and we can't wait to see how they bring this inspiring experience back to enrich our learning community." As #NASABound educators, Mary and Craig join a select group helping to shape the future of science and engineering education through real-world space exploration connections. Follow their journey on social media using the tags @CSREducationAndOutreach on Facebook, @CSR_Education on Instagram, and @utcsr on LinkedIn. About Colorado SKIES Academy Colorado SKIES Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school serving grades 6-8 in Englewood, Colorado. The school's mission is to ignite a passion for learning through an aerospace-focused curriculum, preparing learners for success in high school, college, and careers in STEM fields. CSA offers a supportive and engaging learning environment where learners are encouraged to think critically, collaborate effectively, and pursue their dreams. For more information about Colorado SKIES Academy, please visit https://coloradoSKIESacademy.org or contact [email protected] This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com. SOURCE Colorado SKIES Academy World's only high energy architecture rocket delivers to the country's most exotic orbits CENTENNIAL, Colo., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Following years of development and completing a comprehensive certification plan including two successful certification missions, the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan rocket has been certified by the United States Space Force to fly National Security Space Launch (NSSL) missions. ULAs Vulcan Rocket Certified to Launch National Security Space Launch Missions Ushering in New Era of Space Capability for our Country "Thank you to all our customer partners who have worked hand-in-hand with us throughout this comprehensive certification process. We are grateful for the collaboration and excited to reach this critical milestone in Vulcan development," said Tory Bruno, ULA's president and CEO. "Vulcan is uniquely designed to meet the challenging requirements demanded by an expanding spectrum of missions for U.S. national security space launches. Moreover, this next-generation rocket provides high performance and extreme accuracy while continuing to deliver our customer's most challenging and exotic orbits." In September 2016, ULA entered into an agreement with the U.S. Air Force and outlined the plan to certify Vulcan according to the Air Force's New Entrant Certification Guide. Over the last few years, the collective ULA and Space Force team have completed 52 certification criteria, including more than 180 discrete tasks, two certification flight demonstrations, 60 payload interface requirement verifications, 18 subsystem design and test reviews, and 114 hardware and software audits. "The SSC and ULA teams have worked together extremely closely, and certification of this launch system is a direct result of their focus, dedication, and teamwork," said Gen Panzenhagen, Program Executive Officer for Assured Access to Space. "The Vulcan rocket's inaugural launch marked the beginning of a new era of space capabilities, providing higher performance while offering the world's only high energy architecture rocket," said Bruno. Vulcan leverages the world's highest-performing upper stage extending ULA's industry-leading legacy of precision. Centaur V's flexibility and extreme endurance enables the most complex orbital insertions providing unmatched industry capabilities. This industry leading capability enables large NSSL spacecraft direct injection into Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO) a critical requirement supporting the country facing evolving threats from China and Russia. "Vulcan's Centaur upper stage is a high-velocity and maneuverable platform to address evolving on-orbit threats in this new space warfighting domain and will offer extreme on-orbit endurance and flexibility for complex orbital insertions to meet the changing landscape and requirements of our nation," said Bruno. Vulcan is available in four standard offering configurations including zero, two, four and six solid rocket booster (SRB) variants. Booster propulsion is provided by a pair of BE-4 engines, which are the most powerful liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled oxygen-rich staged combustion engine ever flown, each capable of producing 550,000 pounds of thrust. ULA's move to this American-made engine for Vulcan concluded the United States' reliance on the RD-180 Russian rocket engine. About United Launch Alliance All rockets are not created equal. ULA is the nation's most experienced and accurate launch service provider delivering unmatched value, a tireless drive to improve, and commitment to the extraordinary. Vulcan's inaugural launch marked the beginning of a new era of space capabilities and provides higher performance and extreme precision while offering the world's only high energy architecture rocket to deliver any payload, at any time, directly to any orbit. For more information on ULA, visit the ULA website at www.ulalaunch.com and join the conversation on social media @ulalaunch. SOURCE United Launch Alliance (ULA) The American distribution platform is amplifying its presence in Brazil with an exclusive event in partnership with The Coca-Cola Company, featuring selected artists performing at the event and at Coke Studio at Lollapalloza Brasil. SAO PAULO, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- UnitedMasters, one of the leading software and services platforms for independent artists, is celebrating three years of operation in Brazil. Through its unique mix of music distribution services, innovative technology, and first-of-its-kind artist marketing solutions, UnitedMasters acts as the operating system that enables artists to own their futures. Founded by American entrepreneur Steve Stoute, the company fuels the careers of artists like Brent Faiyaz, BigXThaPlug, Floyymenor, and Tobe Nwigeand unlike traditional record labels, UnitedMasters artists retain full ownership of their careers and the master recording rights to their music. The company connects over 2M+ independent artists on its platform with global brands like ESPN, NBA, NFL, Visa and Coca-Cola. "Brazil is at a cultural tipping pointits artists and creatives are shaping global culture like never before. At UnitedMasters, we see the power of this movement and are here to amplify it. Brazil is one of the fastest-growing music markets in the world, and independent artists have a massive opportunity to take control of their careers on a global stage. By stepping into this space, we're not just entering a marketwe're building a bridge for Brazilian artists to connect with international audiences, brands, and opportunities that will define the future of music," says Steve Stoute, UnitedMasters' founder and CEO. In Brazil, UnitedMasters has already attracted tens of thousands of artists to its platform and directly supports over 150 partner artists. Among them is Veigh, the first Brazilian artist to reach the top spot on Spotify's Global Debut chart, with Novo Balanco, the most-streamed Trap song in Brazilian history. Veigh has amassed over 3 Billion streams with his albums and headlined major festivals such as Rock in Rio. The company also represents artists such as Mahmundi, Nagalli, Slipmami, Zudizilla, JOCA, Ashira, and Nego Gallo. UnitedMasters' is also spearheading an ongoing local initiative called Sala Vermelha. The audiovisual project is in partnership with Rock Danger, featuring exclusive live sessions showcasing the best of Brazilian urban music. The project releases new singles and videos every two weeks, featuring UnitedMasters artists like Major RD, Sain, Cynthia Luz, and Froid. As part of a joint effort with The Coca-Cola Company, UnitedMasters will celebrate Brazil's independent music scene in March with a major event in Sao Paulo. This partnership reinforces UnitedMasters' commitment to supporting promising artists in their careers while demonstrating its ability to connect artists with brands and audiences worldwide. Additionally, Coca-Cola and UnitedMasters have selected independent artist Alee to perform at Coke Studio at Lollapalooza Brasil, in addition to Zudizilla confirmed to take the main stage. UnitedMasters was created by Steve Stoute, one of the most influential music executives in the U.S., known for helping shape the careers of artists such as Jay-Z, Mariah Carey, and Nas, and also played a crucial role in the rise of hip-hop in the 1990s. As music transitioned to streaming and disrupted traditional models, UnitedMasters emerged as an alternative to major labels, giving artists control over their releases and copyrights. The company has attracted global talent by providing access to distribution tools, licensing, and strategic partnerships. Independent artists need new opportunities to monetize their music while maintaining ownership of their future and their records. UnitedMasters' mission is to help musicians reach new audiences and explore brand partnerships and alternative revenue streams. This model aims to strengthen the independent scene and make careers more sustainable in the long run. "We're thrilled to celebrate this new chapter in UnitedMasters' journey in Brazil, with Coca-Cola as our partner in the mission to amplify voices, tell stories, and bring independent artists to new stages. This is also a milestone for Brazil's independent music scene, which now has more than just a distributorit has a business platform that connects artists with brands and fans," says Taisa Renno, Country Manager for the Brazilian market. Brazil highlights: VEIGH The first Brazilian artist to reach #1 on Spotify's Global Debut Chart. His song Novo Balanco is the most-streamed Trap track in Brazil's history. He is also the top hip-hop artist on Amazon Music Brazil and has headlined major festivals like Rock in Rio. The first Brazilian artist to reach #1 on Spotify's Global Debut Chart. His song is the most-streamed Trap track in history. He is also the top hip-hop artist on Amazon Music Brazil and has headlined major festivals like Rock in Rio. NAGALLI Over 250 million streams with his debut album Magic Show . He is currently the most sought-after Brazilian music producer on social media. Over 250 million streams with his debut album . He is currently the most sought-after Brazilian music producer on social media. SLIPMAMI Over 50 million streams with her debut albums Malvatrem and Malvatrem Deluxe, which achieved Gold Record status. She also performed at Rock in Rio 2024. SOURCE UnitedMasters New office leases along West Coast reinforce the firm's belief human connection is essential to innovation, mentorship, and delivering value in an AI-driven world LOS ANGELES and SAN FRANCISCO and SEATTLE, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- While many companies are scaling back their real estate footprints, West Monroe is securing more dynamic, collaborative spaces and reinforcing its commitment to in-person connection as a competitive advantage. That's why today, the global business and technology consulting firm announced three new office leases in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. As AI reshapes industries, West Monroe is doubling down on what makes a professional services firm truly successful: human connection. The firm has capitalized on a shifting commercial real estate market, negotiating new leases in three key West Coast markets to secure larger, purpose-built spaces while optimizing costs. This approach ensures room for growth while maintaining efficiency, reinforcing the firm's long-term commitment to these markets without unnecessary overhead. Designed to foster deeper engagement with clients and colleagues, the new office spaces better support West Monroe's hands-on learning approach and highly collaborative work across industries such as technology, financial services, private equity, healthcare, consumer & industrial products, and energy & utilities. Los Angeles : In February 2025 , the firm agreed to lease 700 South Flower Street, Suite 3000, expanding its footprint to 24,750 square feetnearly three times the size of its previous office. The Los Angeles team, led by Senior Partner Jordan Sternlieb , outgrew its former space and is now set up for long-term growth. The new office offers 360-degree views of the city, including the Hollywood sign, Griffith Observatory, and the Pacific Ocean, while the open floor plan enables teams to work together. : In , the firm agreed to lease 700 South Flower Street, Suite 3000, expanding its footprint to 24,750 square feetnearly three times the size of its previous office. The team, led by Senior Partner , outgrew its former space and is now set up for long-term growth. The new office offers 360-degree views of the city, including the sign, Griffith Observatory, and the Pacific Ocean, while the open floor plan enables teams to work together. San Francisco : Last February, West Monroe moved into 45 Fremont Street, Suite 3200, expanding to 19,552 square feetnearly double the size of its previous office. This location, in the heart of the city, improves accessibility for employees and clients. The office consistently generates the highest in-person attendance rate of any West Monroe office. The space includes state-of-the-art collaboration areas, a dedicated "library" for quiet work, and a welcoming "living room" environment to foster teamwork. The office is led by Senior Partner Steven Kirz . : Last February, West Monroe moved into 45 Fremont Street, Suite 3200, expanding to 19,552 square feetnearly double the size of its previous office. This location, in the heart of the city, improves accessibility for employees and clients. The office consistently generates the highest in-person attendance rate of any West Monroe office. The space includes state-of-the-art collaboration areas, a dedicated "library" for quiet work, and a welcoming "living room" environment to foster teamwork. The office is led by Senior Partner . Seattle : In October 2024 , the firm's Seattle office, led by Senior Partner Amy Fletcher , transitioned to a larger space with 18,761 square feet at 1201 2nd Avenue, 31st floor. The new location is blocks from Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle , offering greater convenience for employees and clients. The office boasts advanced technology, designed with unique meeting areas that enhance productivity and support hybrid teamwork. Employees and clients also benefit from access to a rooftop deck, creating a premium environment for connection and events. Across all three offices, West Monroe's new leases provide full-floor footprints, which offer greater flexibility, branding rights, and an optimized environment for recruiting and co-creating with clients. "We are making a long-term investment in these markets while others are scaling back because we believe that collaboration is at the heart of effective consulting," said Brian Paulen, head of offices and global enterprise services at West Monroe. "Consulting is a people business, and we've seen firsthand that working side-by-sideboth with our clients and each otherleads to stronger relationships and better outcomes. These new office spaces are designed to bring people together to innovate and solve our clients' most complex challenges." With a West Coast presence for over a decade, West Monroe brings deep expertise in AI, data & analytics, M&A, operations, people, customer experience, and more. The firm's newly designed spaces reflect its commitment to co-creation innovation, and mentorshipfeaturing modern amenities, adaptable workspaces, and upgraded technology to support seamless teamwork and client engagement. West Monroe operates 11 offices worldwide. The firm's offices are consistently recognized as top workplaces, with its Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle offices named a Built In Best Place to Work for 2025. Nationally, West Monroe has been recognized as a Great Place to Work for Consulting & Professional Services by Fortune for eight consecutive years. About West Monroe West Monroe is a global business and technology consulting firm that partners with clients to accelerate value through technology. We stand out by not just working for, but with our clientsengaging in the journey of co-creation and aligning our goals with theirs. Our expertise spans industry, strategy, people, process, and technology, ensuring rapid and impactful outcomes. Our employee ownership structure and mindset drive this mutual success. We are consistently celebrated as a top workplace by Fortune and USA Today, and as a leading consultancy by Forbes and Forrester. Learn how we can help accelerate your business at WestMonroe.com. Media Inquiries Christina Galoozis Director, Communications & Public Relations [email protected] 847-302-1762 Shira Cohen Manager, Public Relations [email protected] 443-841-6879 SOURCE West Monroe Partners POOPH, Inc. Announces Official Sponsorship of Best Friends Animal Society at the Global Pet Show in Orlando HUNTINGTON, N.Y., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, POOPH, Inc. announced its official sponsorship of Best Friends Animal Society, a national organization committed to saving homeless pets by connecting them with loving homes. POOPH, Inc., a leading manufacturer and distributor of pet odor eliminating products, is committed to supporting the organization's "Bring Happy Home" fundraising campaign, slated for National Pet Month in May 2025 and hosted by Walmart stores nationwide, as well as throughout the year. A proud sponsor of Best Friends Animal Society and the Bring Happy Home campaign, POOPH is helping pets find their forever homes and spreading happiness along the way. For more information, visit POOPHBrand.com/BFAS Statistically, 415,000 adoptable pets are killed in shelters every year. Best Friends Animal Society, its sponsors and affiliate organizations, are working to change that statistic and invite you to join the cause in 2025. Said Jane Pak, chief executive officer of POOPH, Inc., "We are so grateful to POOPH product users. It was their support in 2024 that enabled the provision of Best Friends and the 'Bring Happy Home' campaign in 2025." There's still more to be done, noted Pak, adding, "Here's how you can get involved:" Give: Donate directly to Best Friends Animal Society at bfas.org/donate Donate directly to Best Friends Animal Society at bfas.org/donate Purchase with Purpose: Purchase products from companies who pledge a percent of their 2025 sales to Best Friends Animal Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Purchase products from companies who pledge a percent of their 2025 sales to Best Friends Animal Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Volunteer: Join volunteer opportunities at local shelters or participate at upcoming in-store events. Join volunteer opportunities at local shelters or participate at upcoming in-store events. Adopt: Add a furry friend to your family through an adoption and help bring happy home. "At POOPH," said Pak, "we are committed to creating meaningful change in the plight of abandoned pets and are proud to support Best Friends Animal Society." In addition, she noted that POOPH continues to provide pet household products that are free of harsh chemicals and fragrance, and designed to be safe for pets, people, plants and the planet. For more information on the POOPH product line visit the 2025 Global Pet Show Booth #5827, at the Orange County Convention Center, in Orlando Florida from March 26 28, or go to www.POOPHBrand.com. For more information on how you can help the cause, go to: POOPHBrand.com/BFAS ABOUT POOPH, Inc. After more than a decade of extensive commercial research and development, POOPH was born, tested, and perfected as a consumer product, safe and proven effective for eliminating any organic odors in your home without harsh chemicals or tacky and toxic fragrances. POOPH products are available direct-to-consumer at Amazon, Chewy, and Walmart.com, as well as in stores at Ace Hardware, PetSmart, Petsense, Petco, Tractor Supply, Target, Walmart, and more. Headquartered in Nevada, the POOPH product line currently includes: POOPH Odor Eliminating Spray, POOPH Litterizera, POOPH Potty Padsa, POOPH Pure Wipesa, POOPH Laundry, and POOPH Skunkless Wondera. ABOUT BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY Best Friends Animal Society is the most impactful animal welfare organization working to end the killing of cats and dogs in the U.S. Best Friends has a network of more than 5,000 local shelter partners. In 40 years, the organization's work has reduced the number of animals killed in shelters each year from 17 million to more than 400,000. That number is still too high, and that's why your partnership matters. SOURCE Pooph, Inc. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. Harvard University recently made headlines because its number of Black students has decreased following the U.S. Supreme Court decision that determined Harvard's affirmative action program had to come to an end. Harvard also made news when it announced that it was returning to standardized testing. More recently: Some of Harvard's protesting professors have been denied library privileges. And what will be the effect of President-elect Donald Trump's administration's policies on Harvard? If a being from outer space or just someone from another country based their views of American higher education solely on major news reports, they might conclude that the only schools that exist are Ivy League institutions and a few outliers such as Stanford, Duke and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In short, the academic equivalent of the wealthy one percenters in the U.S. Why is it that whenever some journalist wants to take the pulse of the nation's higher educational system, they look toward Harvard? Diversity, students with challenges, political currents or apathy: How is that playing out at Harvard? What steps or at least hand-wringing is happening? And if a news outlet needs to interview a pundit in any field from political science to literature, the short list stops at the Ivy League. Whereas, in fact, plenty of eminent, soundbite-worthy experts work elsewhere. I teach at Montclair State University, a large state school whose enrollment is now more than 24,000. Many of our students are first in their family to attend college. They're often working one or more jobs to make it through. When our students graduate, they've learned useful skills and will do markedly better than they would have without that degree. What they've achieved is in some ways more noteworthy than the work of one more Ivy League graduate who has gone into high finance. We read a great deal about the upper-class schools' attempts to admit those from the ranks of the underrepresented, but they don't read much about ours. I have no quarrel per se with what are billed as elite schools, i.e., those with a dramatically low acceptance rate and top-notch research facilities. I also understand that the multimillion-dollar bequests will go to those places rather than to our school. After all, we do receive state funding, though when a school such as Princeton has an endowment equal to that of a small country, it does give one pause. Such an exalted position also makes a school oblivious to what's outside the fabled gates, no matter how many scholarships these schools award. During the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Brown University launched its Healthy Brown initiative. As the university president announced, "Our success in maintaining very low infection rates among students, faculty and staff, even as rates increase across the country, gives us the confidence that it is possible to safely increase density on campus." The success included ample accommodations for quarantine and isolation and "our commitment to single rooms in residence halls and limiting in-person class sizes to 19 students." Unmentioned was the cost money that most schools could never raise. Of course, publicity surrounding the elite schools is part of a larger issue, just as people would rather read about celebrities than those who aren't. Wealth and power tend to hog center stage and crowd out the supporting cast. The audience buys into that image. Particularly irksome is the behavior of families that mourn when one of their children didn't get into Harvard, though in fact you can get an excellent education at plenty of other colleges. But you wouldn't know it from what's in the news. David Galef is a professor of English and the creative writing program director at Montclair State University in New Jersey. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine officially denies the statements of the Russian Defense Ministry about the alleged violation of the ceasefire conditions regarding energy facilities by Ukraine, which do not correspond to reality. "So, on March 25-26, the Defense Forces of Ukraine did not launch UAV strikes on Russian energy facilities in Kursk and Bryansk regions, as well as on energy facilities in the territory of Crimea temporarily occupied by the Russians," the General Staff reported on Telegram on Wednesday. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine emphasizes that the military department of the aggressor country is spreading false and baseless accusations in order to "prolong the war, continue false propaganda and typical Russian attempts to deceive the world." The Minister of Defense of Ukraine announced that he had begun a working trip to France and discussed with Minister of Defense of France Sebastien Lecornu the strengthening of the Ukrainian army, the status of military assistance and further strengthening of security support, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported on the social network X on Wednesday evening. "We focused on key areas: air defense; missiles; ammunition; aviation; armored vehicles; development of the defense industry and the launch of joint production of weapons. We separately discussed security guarantees for achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and Europe, as well as preparations for the summit at the level of heads of state under the leadership of France," Umerov said. As reported, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy also arrived in France. He is scheduled to have a working meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday evening, and a "coalition of the willing" summit is scheduled for Thursday in Paris, with the participation of leaders and delegations from about 30 countries, including European states, the United Kingdom, and Canada. 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 Budapest, March 26 : Hungary is hosting a major military exercise of the European Union (EU), involving more than 900 troops from 11 member states, the Hungarian defence ministry said. The exercise, dubbed MILEX 2025, runs from March 25 to April 10 and aims to test the EU Battlegroups' land-based operational capabilities under real-life conditions. Hungary's media described it as "the largest" of the bloc. Training is taking place at the Papa Air Base and Hungary's Central Shooting and Training Range, where soldiers conduct live-fire drills and tactical operations using advanced technology and procedures, Xinhua news agency reported. The exercise is overseen by the multinational EUROCORPS command. Participating troops come from Hungary, Poland, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Ireland, Spain, France, Croatia, Lithuania, and Latvia. According to Lieutenant General Ferenc Kajari, the deputy chief of the Hungarian Defence Staff, the exercise underscores Hungary's commitment to strengthening the EU's defence capabilities. "Effective rapid response and international cooperation are vital to addressing future security challenges," he said in a statement. MILEX 2025 follows the EU's Strategic Compass adopted in 2022 and is intended to align the bloc's military strength with its strategic ambitions. The first phase of the exercise, held earlier in March, focused on computer-assisted command and control. The current phase shifts to live operational scenarios. United Nations, March 26 : Continuing attacks on civilians in Sudan, including a deadly air strike on a North Darfur market, has "gravely alarmed" the United Nations, a UN spokesman said. Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on Tuesday said, "Last night (Monday) in North Darfur, dozens of casualties were reported when an air strike hit a market located about 40 km northwest of El Fasher. The UN is also deeply concerned about escalating attacks on populated areas in Khartoum." Dujarric also said that on Sunday, there were reports of civilians killed and injured when artillery struck a mosque in east Khartoum during evening prayers. Civilian casualties were also reported as a result of heavy shelling in Omdurman, Khartoum's twin city, Xinhua news agency reported. "The UN reminds all parties to the conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to take all possible measures to avoid harm to civilians," he said. The spokesman said the hostilities and recent funding cuts by major donors severely disrupted health services in Sudan, including in the Darfur region. Last month alone, nearly half of all reported attacks on healthcare facilities in Sudan occurred in Darfur. He said health partners report that most regional facilities have only one to two months of supplies, with acute shortages in North and South Darfur states. "The UN and its partners continue to do all they can to meet the rising needs, despite funding shortfalls and access constraints, including due to the ongoing hostilities," the spokesman said. Cairo, March 26 : Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez rejected the ongoing Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip. During a phone conversation on Tuesday, they emphasised the necessity of an immediate ceasefire, an end to the Israeli ground incursion into the Strip, and the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid, Xinhua news agency reported quoting a statement from the Egyptian presidency. Sisi reaffirmed Egypt's opposition to any attempts to displace Palestinians from their land. Sanchez backed an Arab-led plan to rebuild Gaza and aligned Spain's position with Egypt in rejecting the forced displacement of Palestinians or any move to undermine their cause, the statement said. Sanchez, in a brief statement on X, confirmed his discussion with Sisi and called for "the immediate restoration of the ceasefire and a return to the negotiating table to achieve peace and stability in the region based on the two-state solution." "This tragic spiral of destruction and death must end," he added. The two leaders also discussed the situations in Syria and Lebanon, emphasising the need to maintain both countries' stability and territorial integrity. Israel resumed strikes in Gaza on March 18 after its ceasefire deal with Hamas that began on January 19 unraveled. Israeli forces subsequently launched ground operations across southern, northern, and central Gaza. The death toll from this new escalation has topped 792, according to the Gaza-based health authorities. Hazaribagh, March 26 : Several people were injured in stone pelting after two groups clashed during a 'Mangala procession' in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, late on Tuesday night. The incident occurred between Jhanda Chowk and Jama Masjid Road in the city, leading to tension in the area. The clash reportedly began over a dispute regarding a song played during the procession. According to eyewitnesses, an argument between members of the two groups quickly escalated, resulting in stone pelting from both sides. Several people sustained injuries in the chaos. Police fired four to five rounds in the air and used tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. Senior police officials, including SP Arvind Kumar Singh, arrived at the spot and brought the situation under control. "There was a clash between two groups during the Mangala procession. The situation is now under control," said SP Singh, urging people not to believe in rumours. He said the police are in the process of registering FIR against those involved in the violence. Following the incident, police and security forces have been deployed in sensitive areas, including the city's main road and Jama Masjid Road, to prevent further clashes. The Ram Navami festival is celebrated on a large scale in Hazaribagh, attracting thousands of participants from the city and nearby areas. As part of the tradition, Mangala processions are taken out from various Akharas with drums, Mahaveeri flags, and other religious symbols every Tuesday evening during the Chaitra month. Members of the Ram Navami Mahasamiti and community leaders also intervened to restore peace. Authorities have also appealed to the public to maintain harmony and avoid spreading misinformation. Security has been heightened across the city, with additional personnel stationed in key areas to prevent further incidents. Investigations are ongoing to identify those responsible for instigating the violence. Bhubaneswar, March 26 : In a dramatic turn of events, security personnel forcibly evicted agitating Congress MLAs from the Odisha Assembly late at night. The legislators were protesting the suspension of 12 members who were barred from the Assembly for seven days for allegedly engaging in unruly behaviour and disrupting House proceedings. Following their eviction, the Congress MLAs, along with senior party leaders, including AICC in-charge Ajay Kumar Lallu and Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das, staged a sit-in protest near Master Canteen Square, close to the Congress Bhawan. They accused the ruling BJP government of suppressing the opposition's voice. Speaking to reporters, Congress MLA Sagar Charan Das alleged, "We were forcibly removed by security personnel and police around 2 a.m. We were assaulted and misbehaved with. The BJP government has crossed all limits -- this is nothing less than a murder of democracy." The Congress MLAs vowed to intensify their agitation, claiming that their eviction was a deliberate attempt to silence the opposition. The standoff between the government and the Congress party has further escalated, heightening tensions in the state. For the past few days, Congress MLAs have been staging noisy protests inside the Assembly, using gongs and other traditional musical instruments, leading to repeated adjournments. They have been demanding the formation of a House committee to investigate rising cases of atrocities against women. The party has alleged that crimes against women have significantly increased under the BJP government during the past nine months. On Monday, Deputy Speaker Rajanikant Singh warned the Congress legislators to desist from disrupting House proceedings. However, the protest continued unabated on Tuesday, prompting Speaker Surama Padhy to suspend 12 of the 14 Congress MLAs. The Congress party has announced plans to intensify their agitation, including a proposed gherao of the Odisha Assembly over the issue of women's safety. Notably, this is not the first time Congress legislators have faced suspension. On March 11, Speaker Surama Padhy suspended Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati for seven days following a scuffle with BJP members inside the House. Hyderabad, March 26 : Police in Telangana's Nalgonda district have registered two cases against Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K. T. Rama Rao for social media posts about the 10th class examination paper leak case. The police have also booked BRS social media in-charge Manne Krishank, former digital media director Dileep Konatham and others. Krishank has been named accused number one, while Rama Rao and Dileep are listed as accused number two and three, respectively. They have been booked under sections 353 (1) C and 353 (2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for allegedly circulating fake news. Rama Rao, a former minister and Dileep reposted a post by Krishank on his 'X' handle, alleging involvement of Congress leaders in the leak of 10th class (SSC) exam paper by the management of a private school in Nakrekal town. Krishank alleged that while 15 persons were involved, only six have been arrested. He also claimed that an aide of a Congress MLA is not named in the First Information Report (FIR) due to the government's pressure. Nakrekal Municipal Chairperson Chougoni Rajitha lodged a complaint with the police that two channels telecast fake news linking her to the paper leak case. She told police that KTR, Krishank and Dileep circulated the fake news on social media, damaging her reputation. Another case was registered against them on a complaint by one Uggadi Srinivas. Meanwhile, Krishank has termed the cases false. He said Congress Municipal Chairman Rajitha was not named in his posts on X, but the Congress government "arranged" this leader to file the complaint. Krishank also stated that they had collected images of the accused with the Congress leaders from their Facebook handles, but all the images were removed and the accounts were locked on Wednesday morning. He alleged that false police cases against them were only to hide the facts in the SSC paper leak case and protect the Congress leaders involved. Los Angeles, March 26 : Hollywood actress Denise Richards has seen a massive turnaround as far as acting offers are concerned. While preparing to shoot photos for her OnlyFans account in an episode of 'Denise Richards & Her Wild Things', the actress shared how her success on the platform has impacted her career, reports 'People' magazine. Denise first joined in 2022, shortly after her daughter Sami Sheen, who has been a creator on the site since she turned 18, did so, and said she quickly realised "how lucrative" it could be. "I will say that I'm in the top 1% of creators on OnlyFans, so I am very grateful", the 54-year-old said. "It's very empowering, especially for someone my age, that people still want to see me that way". "When I joined OnlyFans, I was very concerned that I possibly could lose some jobs, but it was the opposite", she went on to reveal. "I got more offers. I get roles where I'm like, the trophy wife or the sexy one". As per 'People', during the photoshoot, Denise stripped down to a red swimsuit, her husband, Aaron Phypers, took the pictures. "He's so supportive", Denise gushed, noting that he helps throughout the entire process. "He knows what men love, and he'll go through all the photos and say, 'This is good. Do this. This is what guys like'". When it comes to her presence on the subscription service, which is popular among sex workers, Denise said she uses it to connect with her fans. "People think that I'm just doing whatever, that's not true", she explained. "I actually look at it as a way of communicating with fans, and not the way that you're thinking". Later in the episode, Denise went to visit Sami, 20, while she took new headshots. However, she revealed that her OnlyFans page has had an entirely different effect from her mom's. "I really want to get headshots done to transition into modeling", Sami said. "I've met with a couple agencies, and they don't like that I do OnlyFans. It's so frustrating because it's like, that's how I pay my rent. If you'll take me seriously, I won't have to do it anymore". Denise agreed, calling their contrasting experiences "a double standard". -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Naftogaz Group received critically important energy equipment from the Norwegian government in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). As noted in the Group's release, the official transfer of the equipment, the certificates for which were accepted by head of Naftogaz Roman Chumak and head of JSC Ukrgazvydobuvannia Serhiy Lahno, took place on Wednesday in Kyiv. It is noted that NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy received 16 gas-piston generating sets with a total capacity of 150 MW, which will provide backup electricity and heat supply to critical infrastructure and residential areas. "This support would strengthen the energy security of two major Ukrainian cities and provide electricity and heat to over 500,000 residents of Dnipropetrovsk region during the next heating season," Chumak said. JSC Ukrgazvydobuvannia has received equipment to enhance natural gas production, which is critically important for the country's energy security. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, whose words are quoted in the release, emphasized that the transferred equipment is not only a short-term solution, but also a strategic investment in a more sustainable and secure energy future for Ukraine. "We understand the critical role of reliable energy in rebuilding communities and fostering economic recovery, and we are committed to standing with Ukraine as it navigates these challenges. Were confident that this investment will contribute significantly to a more prosperous and secure Ukraine," he commented. It is also reported about assistance with the delivery of equipment to NPC Ukrenergo - two 330 kV autotransformers with a capacity of 200 MVA, which will increase the stability and reliability of the Ukrainian power system. UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine Jaco Cilliers noted that UNDP is proud to partner with Norway in the supply of this important equipment, which, according to him, will have a significant impact on the lives of millions of Ukrainians. Naftogaz clarified that the Norwegian government and UNDP are closely cooperating in the following key areas: the supply of backup generators, solar power plants and AC generators, support for civil infrastructure in Odesa, Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, Dnipro and Lviv, as well as ensuring stable power and heat supply for schools, hospitals and critical facilities. Jammu, March 26 : The search operation to trace terrorists hiding in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district entered its fourth day on Wednesday, with the villagers also joining hands with the security forces. Jammu, March 26 (IANS) The search operation to trace terrorists hiding in Jammu and Kashmiras Kathua district entered its fourth day on Wednesday, with the villagers also joining hands with the security forces. A local woman informed the police on Tuesday that two men in army uniform asked her for water while they were having food in the area. This prompted the area to be cordoned off. Security has been tightened along the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway in the Samba-Kathua section, with increased vigilance on border roads, officials said. The search operation is underway in multiple areas from Sanyal to Ding Amb and beyond, covering several kilometers. The operation involving the Army, NSG, BSF, police, Special Operation Group, and CRPF armed with technical and surveillance equipment, is supported by helicopter, UAVs, drones, bulletproof vehicles, and sniffer dogs. Security agencies have questioned several persons in various areas and picked up three suspects for questioning, they said. During the search operation on Tuesday, security forces recovered two grenades. The tracksuits found among a large cache of ammunition and other materials in the Sanyal forests were identical to those worn by the four JeM terrorists killed in the Assar forests and Doda in June and August last year. Locals of the areas have joined the operation by security forces and urged people in other areas to remain vigilant and inform of any movement of suspected persons in their areas. Several villagers have requested people to come forward with information about the movement of terrorists in their areas. The operation, led by DGP Nalin Prabhat, was launched on Sunday evening in the Hiranagar sector following an encounter between security forces and terrorists hiding in a nursery. The Special Operations Group of police (SOG) initiated the operation after receiving intelligence about terrorists hiding inside a ''dhok'' (local enclosure) in a nursery in Sanyal village, approximately five km from the International Border with Pakistan, officials said. The hiding terrorists opened fire on the police team, resulting in a gunfight lasting over half an hour. Reinforcements were promptly dispatched as a manhunt began to apprehend the terrorists believed to have infiltrated on Saturday via either a ravine route or a newly constructed tunnel. Initial firing did not cause any casualties, and the area remained under tight security overnight before security forces moved in at dawn, officials said. Although there have been no further encounters with the terrorists, search parties on Monday discovered four loaded magazines of M4 carbine, two grenades, a bulletproof jacket, sleeping bags, tracksuits and several packets of food. The International Border between India and Pakistan is situated in the district, and in the past, terrorists have attempted to sneak into the Indian side over the border. Recently in Kathua, three civilians -- Darshan Singh, 40, Yogesh Singh, 32, and Varun Singh, 14, - went missing on March 5 while returning from a wedding in Marhoon village. Their bodies were discovered on March 8 near a waterfall on the edge of an escarpment in a wooded area following an extensive search involving the Army, police, drones, and sniffer dogs. "The brutal killing of three relatives by terrorists in the Bani area of Kathua is extremely sad as well as a matter of great concern," Union Minister Jitendra Singh said in a post on X. In the wake of the incident, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan came to Jammu on March 9 and chaired a high-level security meeting regarding safe and peaceful Amarnath Yatra beginning on July 3 and the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), which is shortly being inaugurated. The Home Secretary laid emphasis on the security situation in the Jammu division while giving detailed directions on the overall security situation in UT. Initially confined to the Poonch and Rajouri districts, terrorist activities have spread to other areas of Jammu, including those that were relatively free from such incidents until a few years ago, like the Chenab Valley, which was declared militancy-free and Udhampur and Kathua. In the past, highly trained terrorists have been ambushing vehicles and using grenades and armour-piercing bullets, as well as M4 assault rifles. Sources said the use of sophisticated weapons by terrorists indicated a significant escalation in the threat level. Analysts say that over the last couple of years, the Pir Panjal region dividing Kashmir Valley from Jammu has witnessed a surge in militancy as anti-terror operations in Kashmir have pushed terrorists to the mountains where they hide and wait for the right moment to carry out attacks on security forces. New Delhi, March 26 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the Allahabad High Court judgment holding that grabbing breasts and breaking pyjama string was not enough for charge of attempt to rape. A Bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and A.G. Masih said that the impugned observations depict a total lack of sensitivity and inhumane approach on the part of the author of the judgment. It recorded that the controversial ruling was not at the spur of the moment but delivered four months after reserving the order. The Justice Gavai-led Bench issued notices to the Centre, Uttar Pradesh government and the parties before the Allahabad High Court, including the accused persons. The apex court asked Attorney General (AG), R Venkataramani and Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta to assist it in adjudication of the suo-moto case. The matter will be heard next after two weeks, along with the Special Leave Petition filed by the victim's mother. The Supreme Court has registered a suo moto case titled 'In Re: Order dated 17.03.2025 passed by the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad in Criminal Revision No. 1449/2024 and ancillary issues' following a letter from senior advocate Shobha Gupta, who urged the Chief Justice of India (CJI) to take cognisance of the observations made by a single-judge Bench of the Allahabad High Court while modifying a summoning order. In its decision, a Bench of Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra of the Allahabad HC altered the charges against the two accused, who were originally summoned by the trial court for commission of offences under Section 376 IPC (rape) and Section 18 (punishment for attempt to commit an offence) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Partly allowing the revision plea of the accused persons, the Justice Mishra-led Bench of the Allahabad HC said that they are instead liable to be summoned for a minor offence under Sections 354(b) IPC i.e. assault or abuse of a woman with intent to disrobing or compelling her to be naked, read with Section 9/10 of the POCSO Act. Under the POCSO Act, Section 9 provides punishment for aggravated sexual assault on a child victim, and Section 10 provides punishment with imprisonment up to seven years, which shall not be less than five years and shall also be liable to a fine. According to prosecution version, two accused, namely Pawan and Akash, grabbed the breasts of the victim and one of them broke the string of her pyjama and tried to drag her beneath the culvert and in the meanwhile on interference of passersby/witnesses, the accused persons fled from the spot leaving the victim behind. Saying that prima facie a charge of attempt to rape was not made out against the accused, the Allahabad High Court said, "There is no allegation that the accused tried to commit penetrative sexual assault against the victim. The allegations levelled against the accused Pawan and Akash and facts of the case hardly constitute an offence of attempt to rape in the case." "In order to bring out a charge of attempt to rape, the prosecution must establish that it had gone beyond the stage of preparation. The difference between preparation and actual attempt to commit an offence consists chiefly in the greater degree of determination," it added. Interestingly, a coordinate Bench of Justices Bela Trivedi and Prasanna B Varale of the Supreme Court, on Monday, declined to entertain a public interest litigation filed against the March 17 ruling of the Allahabad HC. Mumbai, March 26 : Actor Gurmeet Choudhary has made an impressive investment, purchasing a luxurious new home in the upscale area of Andheri West. The stunning property, located in the popular Windsor Grander complex, is valued at an astounding Rs.16 crore. Known for his remarkable performances in television and OTT shows, Gurmeet's new residence adds another milestone to his successful career. A source close to the development revealed that the actor's new house boasts modern amenities and expansive interiors, offering a blend of elegance and comfort. Situated in one of Mumbai's most sought-after neighborhoods, Windsor Grander offers breathtaking views and high-end facilities. Reflecting on his journey, Gurmeet shared how he came to Mumbai with nothing more than a suitcase, a heart full of dreams, and an unshakable belief in hard work. Despite the struggles he faced along the way, he never let them break his spirit. The 'Geet Hui Sabse Parayi' actor stated, "I came to Mumbai with just one suitcase, a heart full of dreams, and an unshakable belief in hard work. There were struggles, but I never let them break my spirit. Today, as I step into my new home, I carry with me the lessons from my past and gratitude for everyone who stood by meespecially Debina, who has been my rock through it all." The insider revealed that when Gurmeet first arrived in Mumbai, his journey toward achieving his dreams was filled with challenges. Struggling financially, he often had to skip meals just to save money, and there were times when he couldn't even afford petrol for his bike. His living situation was far from ideal, as he shared a cramped space with 10 to 12 people and frequently had to sleep on the floor. Throughout this difficult journey, his wife, Debina Bonnerjee, was his constant pillar of support. Together, they faced numerous obstacles, celebrated small victories, and kept their dreams alive. Work-wise, Gurmeet Choudhary is known for his stint in shows like "Ramayan," "GeetHui Sabse Parayi," and "Punar Vivaah." He made his Bollywood debut in 2015 with the psychological thriller "Khamoshiyan," where he portrayed the character of Jaidev. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Ahmedabad, March 26 : Three people, including two personnel from Ahmedabad's Ramol Police Station, were killed in a road accident near Dabwali in Haryana, officials said on Wednesday. The incident occurred when a government Bolero vehicle carrying the police team collided with the rear of a truck on the Bharatmala Highway near a petrol pump near Sakta Khera village in Haryana. The deceased have been identified as police constable Sunil Gamit, Home Guard Ravindra, and the vehicle's private driver, Kanu Bhai Bharwad. PSI J.P. Solanki, who was also in the vehicle, sustained serious injuries and has been admitted to a nearby hospital for urgent medical care. The police team was on its way to Ludhiana, Punjab, to investigate a POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses) case when the accident took place. According to initial reports, the crash occurred due to the Bolero colliding with a stationary truck. As soon as news of the accident reached Ahmedabad, senior police officials, including the local Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), rushed to Haryana to assess the situation and provide necessary support. Meanwhile, Haryana Police have launched an investigation into the accident's cause. The tragic incident has sent shockwaves through the Ahmedabad police force. PSI Solanki remains under intensive medical supervision, and further updates on his condition are awaited. Senior officials have extended their condolences to the families of the deceased and assured that all possible assistance will be provided. The investigation will also examine whether factors like driver fatigue contributed to the crash. Between 2013 and 2022, Gujarat recorded 75,738 road accident deaths, according to official data, ranking it eighth among Indian states for fatalities during this period. In Ahmedabad, a positive trend emerged in 2024, with a reduction in road accidents and fatalities. Mumbai, March 26 : Reserve Bank Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Wednesday said that considering the evolving landscape of money laundering, regulators will need to continuously augment artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) risk assessment framework to make appropriate system enhancements. Addressing the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Private Sector Collaborative Forum 2025 event here, the RBI Governor pointed out that technology has enabled greater ease of doing business, but at the same time, it has also facilitated and fostered new and very sophisticated means of money laundering and illicit financing. This makes it imperative to refine and improve risk assessment models. He also urged the central banks to understand the latest trends and developments in the financial world that can be exploited by criminal elements. By understanding this, he said, central banks should develop rules and frameworks which detect suspicious transactions early, and take pre-emptive action. At the same time he also had a word of caution for policymakers. "While we continue to make our financial systems safe and secure against money laundering and terrorist financing, we as policymakers need to be mindful that our measures are not overzealous and do not stifle legitimate activities and investments," Malhotra observed. "Therefore, we need to have laws and regulations, which with surgical precision, target only the illegitimate and the illicit, rather than use very broad and blunt tools, which unintentionally hurt even the honest," he said. He also highlighted the need to improve the quality of data that is received, and the need to harness the evolving technologies that are coming in, whether it is artificial intelligence or blockchain technology or machine learning. "This will help us in improving the screening of transactions and detection of suspicious activities, thereby reducing errors, false positives, false negatives," he added. Malhotra further stated that the RBI will continue to work towards fulfilling the commitment to effectively implement the next phase of the G20 roadmap towards inclusive cross-border payments by 2027. "We are all aware that a lot of work needs to be done over there. It's only a matter of time, I think that cross-border payments will also become much easier and cost-effective. To meet the G20 objective of making cross-border payments faster, cheaper, convenient and transparent, it would be desirable to make the travel rules technology neutral," he added. The RBI Governor also said that regulations should not create unintended barriers to financial inclusion. "We need to be mindful of customer rights and convenience while fulfilling due diligence requirements," he remarked. New Delhi, March 26 : Maharashtra Minister Yogesh Ramdas Kadam has strongly condemned comedian Kunal Kamra's recent video after the controversial "gaddar" one that sparked a furore in political circles. New Delhi, March 26 (IANS) Maharashtra Minister Yogesh Ramdas Kadam has strongly condemned comedian Kunal Kamraas recent video after the controversial "gaddar" one that sparked a furore in political circles. The comedian came out with another video titled "Hum Honge Kangaal", interspersed with footage of the recent destruction of the studio by Shiv Sena workers. Kadam stated that making fun of Hindu deities, disrespecting the Supreme Court, and mocking state leaders during comedy shows is unacceptable in Maharashtra. He warned that such actions would not be tolerated and would lead to strict legal actions. "It is not acceptable to repeatedly insult Hindu deities in your comedy shows, disrespect the Honorable Supreme Court, or insult state leaders. If Kamra calls this comedy, it will not be tolerated in Maharashtra. "Just as a song created controversy, if he intentionally targets someone in a second song or makes fun of the government or administration, legal action will be taken. He is not above the law, not above the Supreme Court, and not above the government. Therefore, actions will be taken according to the law," he said. Kunal Kamra has been under fire for his controversial remarks, especially in his recent video, which allegedly targeted Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande also responded to Kamra's statements, saying, "Kunal Kamra is not refraining from his actions and is repeatedly displaying his perverted mentality. We will handle this matter legally, through the police, and in every possible way. We will give a strong response to his actions." Following Kamra's earlier video, the Mumbai Police issued a summons on Tuesday for the comedian to record his statement in connection with the case registered against him. According to police sources, a team from Khar police station delivered the summons to Kamra's residence in Mumbai, where his parents reside. However, as Kamra is currently out of Mumbai, the police sent the summons through WhatsApp. Kamraas video, which includes critical comments about Maharashtra's political leadership and the current state of affairs, has sparked outrage, with both political leaders and law enforcement preparing to take necessary legal steps against him. EPFO to allow instant PF withdrawals via UPI, ATMs by mid-2025. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, March 26 : The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is likely to introduce a major change that will allow its members to withdraw their provident fund (PF) instantly through UPI and ATMs by the end of May or early June 2025. With this update, employees will no longer have to go through long and time-consuming procedures to access their PF savings. The initiative is being implemented with the support of the Ministry of Labour and Employment and has received approval from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). This move is expected to bring greater convenience to millions of EPFO members across the country. Sumita Dawra, Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, said employees will be able to withdraw up to Rs 1 lakh instantly. She mentioned that members will also be able to check their PF balance directly on UPI platforms and transfer funds to their preferred bank accounts without delays. This will make it easier for employees to access their money in times of need. Currently, withdrawing PF funds involves submitting online claims and waiting for approvals, which can take several days or even weeks. However, with the upcoming UPI integration, withdrawals will become instant and hassle-free. Employees will not only be able to withdraw funds quickly but also check their balances and make transactions instantly. EPFO is also expanding the reasons for which members can withdraw their PF savings. Apart from medical emergencies, employees will now be able to withdraw funds for housing, education, and marriage. This step aims to give more financial flexibility to employees. "EPFO has made significant improvements in its digital infrastructure by integrating over 120 databases," Dawra said. "These efforts have reduced claim processing time to just three days, with 95 per cent of claims now being processed automatically. Further upgrades are also in progress to make the system even more efficient," she stated. Pensioners have also benefited from EPFO's digital initiatives. Since December 2024, around 78 lakh pensioners have been able to access their funds from any bank branch without restrictions. Earlier, withdrawals were allowed only from specific bank branches. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Mumbai, March 26 : Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi are all set to star in Dinesh Vijan's upcoming romantic comedy, "Bhool Chuk Maaf." Mumbai, March 26 (IANS) Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi are all set to star in Dinesh Vijan's upcoming romantic comedy, "Bhool Chuk Maaf." On Wednesday, the makers announced the new release date of the film with a poster featuring the actors on social media. For the caption, they wrote, "Apni haldi mein hi atak gaye Ranjan aur Titli! Kya unki shaadi ka din aayega kabhi? Pata chalega 9th May ko. Bhool Chuk Maaf sabhi cinema-gharon mein!" In the poster, Rajkummar and Wamiqa are seen posing together at the forefront, while other actors make appearances in the background. The vibrant yellow theme of the poster hints at the traditional Haldi ceremony, setting a lively and festive tone for the romantic comedy. The makers also unveiled a new motion poster that read, "Baar baar wahi din, wahi haldi, wahi bhasad! Kab aur kaise hogi Ranjan aur Titli ki shaadi? Pata chalega 9th May ko!" Directed and written by Karan Sharma, "Bhool Chuk Maaf" pairs Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa for the first time. Set against the lively backdrop of Varanasi, the film, presented by Dinesh Vijan in association with Amazon MGM Studios, tells the story of Ranjan, a passionate romantic who secures a government job in a bid to win over his love, Titli. However, just before their wedding, fate takes an unexpected turn, disrupting his plans in ways he never anticipated. What ensues is a heartfelt and comedic adventure exploring love, destiny, and the unexpected opportunities life offers. Previously, the makers dropped an intriguing teaser showing Rao and Gabbi portraying a couple eagerly preparing for their wedding. The clip began with the two seated alongside their families, discussing possible dates for the big day. The 'Stree 2' actor suggested the 30th as the ideal date, and the scene transitioned to their vibrant haldi ceremony. Rajkummar, beaming with joy, was playfully coated in haldi by his relatives. He excitedly told Wamiqa that only one more day stands between them and their wedding. However, the next morning, Rajkummar wakes up to find that it's still the 29ththe same day as the haldi ceremony. "Bhool Chuk Maaf," which was earlier slated to release on April 10, will now hit theatres on May 9, 2025. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Ranchi, March 26 : The Jharkhand Assembly witnessed a heated uproar on Wednesday over the stone-pelting incident during a 'Mangala procession' held on Tuesday night ahead of Ram Navami in Hazaribagh. As soon as the proceedings began on the 19th day of the Budget Session, BJP MLAs stormed into the Well of the House, raising slogans and demanding strict action against those responsible for the stone-pelting. Even before the session commenced, Hazaribagh BJP MLA, Pradip Prasad protested by holding a placard condemning the incident. Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi questioned the government asking, "Why do riots happen only on Hindu festivals?" He accused the administration of shielding criminals and claimed that the government had lost control over law and order in the state. Marandi also demanded the installation of CCTV cameras in sensitive areas and the use of drones during festivals and processions. He urged the government to strengthen security on procession routes and ensure adequate lighting to help identify miscreants. Despite appeals from Assembly Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato to maintain decorum, BJP MLAs continued their protest. Mahato reminded the Opposition that the Budget Session was nearing its end, with only two days remaining, and urged them to cooperate in conducting the proceedings smoothly. Responding to the allegations by the MLAs, Parliamentary Affairs and Finance Minister, Radha Krishna Kishore, assured the House that the government was aware of the Hazaribagh incident and that strict action was being taken against the culprits. He emphasised that the administration was committed to maintaining communal harmony in the state. Agriculture Minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey accused the Opposition of politically instigating violence to create grounds for imposing President's Rule in Jharkhand. She alleged that the BJP was promoting unrest for political gains. Several people were injured in stone pelting after two groups clashed during a 'Mangala procession' in Hazaribagh on Tuesday night. The clash reportedly began over a dispute regarding a song played during the procession. According to eyewitnesses, an argument between members of the two groups quickly escalated, resulting in stone pelting from both sides. Several people sustained injuries in the chaos. Police fired four to five rounds in the air and used tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. Prague, March 26 : The Czech Republic dispatched a team of 16 firefighters to neighbouring Slovakia to assist in efforts to contain the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). According to the Czech Fire and Rescue Service, the firefighters will support their Slovak colleagues with decontamination operations as part of the emergency response. The Slovak government declared a state of emergency on Tuesday after confirming additional FMD cases at a fourth farm. The latest case was identified in the Dunajska Streda district, near the previously affected southern villages of Medvedov, Narad, and Baka, where the disease was first confirmed last Friday. In response to the outbreak, the Czech Republic last week reinstated border controls with Slovakia. Czech police and veterinary inspectors are enforcing a ban on livestock imports from affected areas at four major border crossings. Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral illness that primarily affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats. It causes fever, loss of appetite, excessive salivation, and blisters on the mouth and feet, Xinhua news agency reported. In the Czech Republic, the disease was last detected in 1975. According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of livestock that has a significant economic impact. The disease affects cattle, swine, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed ruminants. It is a transboundary animal disease (TAD) that deeply affects the production of livestock and disrupts regional and international trade in animals and animal products. Members that are currently free of FMD without vaccination remain under constant threat of an incursion. FMD is caused by an Aphthovirus of the family Picornaviridae. There are seven viral serotypes (A, O, C, SAT1, SAT2, SAT3, and Asia1). FMDV serotype C has not been isolated by the network of WOAH/FAO Reference Laboratories for FMD since 2004, and no serotype C events have been reported to WOAH since then. The remaining serotypes are present in different countries and territories worldwide. Each serotype requires a specific vaccine to provide immunity to a vaccinated animal. The prevention of FMD is dependent on the presence of early detection and warning systems and the implementation of effective surveillance among other measures. Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal discussed joint humanitarian programs and sanctions against Russia with Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide and Norwegian Minister of Labor and Social Integration Tonje Brenna. "We discussed joint humanitarian programs, in particular those implemented together with the Norwegian Agency for Development and Cooperation [Norad]. We talked about national initiatives to support IDPs, we count on the help of partners in financing such programs," Shmyhal wrote on the Telegram channel. The Prime Minister also thanked Norway for its assistance in the energy sector, in particular, for its readiness to contribute EUR 140 million through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to the purchase of gas for Ukrainian gas storage facilities. "We appreciate Norway's support for sanctions against Russia. It is important to continue to increase pressure to force the aggressor to peace. In particular, in such areas as the nuclear industry, the banking system and the shadow fleet. An equally important element of pressure is frozen Russian assets. We must find a mechanism for their confiscation and redirection to the benefit of Ukraine," he added. New Delhi: Fifty-four years ago, Pakistan's President General Yahya Khan came to Dhaka and held a series of meetings with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman between March 16-24, none of which brought about any resolution. However, this was probably a time-buying decoy, a deception manoeuvre when a dangerous plan was being hatched by the armed forces in order to crush aspirations of the Bengali people forever. On the midnight of March 25, the Pakistan army along with its collaborators launched a campaign of genocide and rape against the civilian masses of East Pakistan codenamed 'Operation Searchlight'. Thousands were butchered in the first few days and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the early hours of March 26 proclaimed complete independence of Bangladesh. He was swiftly arrested by the Pakistani army and taken to Karachi in West Pakistan where he was held in captivity during the entire war of liberation. As conceived by the West Pakistani Generals, the operation aimed at eliminating the Awami League top brass, influential civilians and personnel of the armed forces supporting the Awami League. Guile, surprise, trickiness and speed were emphasised, as the critical ingredients for annihilation. Use of free and whatever force necessary was authorised by the army and its collaborators to achieve this heinous intention. Search, assault, arson and rape in all civilian areas also were abundantly deployed. After a gruesome nine-month-old war of liberation, the people of Bangladesh snatched freedom from the jaws of death and destruction. It was a phenomenal achievement in the history of the sub-continent, where hundreds of thousands of martyrs, including women, children, paid the penultimate price in blood. However, as the irony of fate, the situation has completely overturned, and the country is at a critical juncture. The very fact of liberation from Pakistan, including its collaborators, is being deliberately erased. The interim government has failed to provide bare minimum security to the citizens, especially the minorities. The law and order situation is constantly deteriorating. The situation in the capital Dhaka has also worsened. Theft and robbery incidents are increasing. Jail-escaped terrorists have now started using sophisticated firearms in broad daylight. Fear has completely evaporated from criminals. The situation is so grave that in public transport buses, women passengers are being violated unchallenged on the motorways. Almost every day we hear testimonials of women and young children who are the victims of sexual assault and are being exterminated to erase all traces of evidence including family members like husbands and fathers. A significant proportion of the rape victims are from minority communities unfortunately, which is a disturbing trend. Forced religious conversions are also taking place across the country unabated. Extortion and extra judicial property seizure have also escalated. Anarchy has surged across the country phenomenally. Woman organisations have marched on the streets of Dhaka demanding justice for the barbaric rape of a minor child, which resulted in her death, and the situation remains extremely volatile. Women's safety and freedom is a critical keystone in the Bengali society and culture, which is non-negotiable, it was not in 1971 and it will not be in the future as well. Therefore, criminals are getting the courage to attack key security infrastructure like Air Force base like the one in Cox's Bazar recently. In one word, the law and order situation has deteriorated exponentially during the rule of Muhammad Yunus and is on the verge of collapse. Therefore, the common people have been forced to take to the streets to vent out their frustration. Instead of increasing trust and cooperation between the government and the people, the gap in distrust is deepening and the division between the state and its citizens is rapidly plummeting. Many convicted criminals and members of proscribed terror organisations are roaming freely, forcing ordinary citizens not to venture out of their homes. They do not have security even at home as calls to form a new 'Caliphate' are echoing in Bangladesh. A state of panic has been created in Bangladesh during the current interim government's tenure. The security situation on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, known as the economic lifeline, has deteriorated drastically. This road has now become a nightmare for commuters. This road has become one of the most dangerous routes in the country. Expatriates, businesspersons, drivers and even garment workers are being robbed at gunpoint. The degeneration of the law and order situation across the country is a symptom of a much deeper problem. The caretaker government must immediately take measures to restore law and order by reforming the police force, ensuring proper accountability for state violence and cracking down on terrorist networks. There are multiple traps that lie ahead for Bangladesh. The defeated forces of 1971 want to avenge their loss. They want to transform Bangladesh to a monolithic state, completely undermining the pluralistic principles and negating the diverse composition of the social fabric. Bangladesh was once labelled as the real Asian tiger when the country was transformed economically and in most of the globally recognised social indicators, to have made tremendous progress over the last decade. The threat of Bangladesh slipping into chaos, retrogression will not only influence her citizens but will have ramifications not only in the neighbourhood but also globally as the risk is too high for the country to fail. (The writer, who recently published a book on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, is based in London. Views expressed are personal) Patna, March 26 : The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Wednesday launched a nationwide protest against the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, from Gardanibagh Dharna Sthal in Patna. RJD chief Lalu Prasad and former Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav joined the protest. Muslim organisations and community leaders have also appealed to all political parties in Bihar to oppose the bill. With Lalu and his party members actively participating, the movement has gained significant momentum. AIMPLB spokesperson Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas accused the central government of pushing the bill with "communal intentions." "This bill is an attempt to seize Waqf properties. It is designed to mislead and capture the assets of the minority community. AIMPLB is not playing politics; we are standing for the rights of the community," he said. The spokesperson urged political leaders advocating secularism to take a firm stance against the bill. The protest coincided with a chaotic day in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, where opposition parties raised slogans and demanded a resolution opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill. CPI-ML MLA Mehboob Alam strongly criticised the central government, alleging it is trying to "snatch the rights" of Waqf properties. "We want the Bihar government to pass a resolution unanimously against the bill during this Budget session and convey it to the Centre. If they fail to do so, we will continue our protest and not let the House proceedings run smoothly," Alam stated. All eyes are now on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has maintained a secular image despite his alliances. The minority community is expecting him to join the movement or at least issue a statement opposing the bill. Political analysts believe CM Nitish's stance on this issue could significantly impact the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, where minority votes could prove crucial. Lalu, a vocal opponent of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, reiterated his support for the minority community. He was joined by maulanas and ulemas from across the country who gathered at the protest site to voice their opposition. The opposition has also accused the ruling party of "diverting" attention from critical state issues by bringing the "controversial" bill to the forefront. As the Budget session of the Bihar Assembly is underway, protests inside and outside the House are expected to intensify. The minority community and opposition leaders have vowed to sustain the movement until the central government reconsiders the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. New Delhi, March 26 : BJP leader Danish Azad Ansari on Wednesday defended the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill, stating that those opposing it are actually working against the development of the Muslim community. Speaking to IANS, Ansari emphasised that the Bill aims to improve the welfare of the Muslim community by enabling the establishment of schools, hospitals, and other institutions on Waqf land, and providing free education and healthcare to the underprivileged Muslims. "Opposition to the Waqf Amendment Bill is opposition to development of the Muslim community. The Narendra Modi government wants to build hospitals and schools on Waqf land, providing free education and healthcare to poor Muslims. What is wrong with that?" "Whenever we have spoken about the development of Muslims, some Opposition leaders and specific individuals have opposed it because they don't want poor Muslims to prosper. But under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, we are working towards the prosperity of the common Muslim in an honest manner," he added. The Waqf Amendment Bill, which has stirred national controversy, has been met with strong opposition from several Muslim organisations, including Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind. They argue that the amendments could lead to the mismanagement of Waqf properties and diminish the autonomy of the Muslim community in managing their own charitable assets. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has also expressed strong dissent, announcing plans to hold large-scale protests against the Bill in different parts of the country. Ansari further spoke about the upcoming Eid festival and the government's efforts to support the Muslim community. He said, "Eid is a joyous festival, and like a son, PM Modi ji has considered every Muslim as part of his family. To ensure that every Muslim, especially the underprivileged, celebrates Eid with happiness, the government is distributing 'Modi Kits,' which will include sevaiyan (vermicelli), dry fruits, dates, and gifts for our poor brothers and sisters." He highlighted the government's ongoing efforts to ensure the progress and welfare of the Muslim community, stating, "This is the agenda of our Modi government, and we are working honestly to fulfill it." New Delhi, March 26 : The Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) on Wednesday hailed the recommendations of a Parliamentary Standing Committee to merge the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under a single umbrella. According to a COAI statement, the recommendations of the panel are expected to improve coordination in handling issues related to technology convergence. "In whatever format this is implemented, it will lead to a focussed and composite handling of issues, thereby formulating policies which are equally applicable to all the concerned ministries, as cited above, and reduce multiple policy formulations on the same subject, thus improving transparency and compliances," said Lt Gen Dr SP Kochhar, Director General, COAI. Taking the same logic into the operational domain covering spam/fraud messages and calls spanning over both telecom networks and OTT channels, it is necessary to apply one set of policies and regulations to both components telecom service providers (TSPs) and OTTs. While telcos are currently being governed by the Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulation (TCCPR) 2018 and noticeable results have been observed in the spam/unwanted forms of communication via the TSPs, the app-based communications currently not under the same regulation, remain unchecked and are becoming a growing concern for the consumers and the government. The COAI said that while it is encouraging to note the recent announcement of DoT collaborating with one of the top OTT Communication Players in the country to prevent spam and scam communications in India through a safety and educational campaign, "we believe that it would be proper for regulatory and security measures to be put in place for all players, including OTTs and TSPs, to be governed by the same regulatory framework". The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology has recommended that the government constitute a media council for various forms of media, including print, broadcasting, and digital, to ensure better implementation of laws governing these services. This recommendation was part of the committee's report on the demand for grants for 2025-26, which was presented in the Lok Sabha on March 21. Furthermore, it suggested that the government consider "bringing the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the MIB under one umbrella for better coordination for issues emerging due to convergence of technologies." According to Kochhar, "we are hopeful that this step will help in uniformly addressing the issue of spam, telemarketing, etc. to a very large extent across all communication channels and help remove/restrict the scourge of unwanted/fraud communications, thus providing much needed relief to the consumers." Sanaa, March 26 : Yemen's Houthi group said on Wednesday that it had launched fresh attacks on a US aircraft carrier in the Red Sea and "military targets" in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv. "Our forces launched missile and drone attacks over the past few hours, targeting American warships in the Red Sea, including the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, from which the aggression against our country is launched," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV. "The confrontation and engagement continued for several hours," he said, vowing to confront the ongoing US airstrikes on Houthi-held areas in northern Yemen. There was no comment yet from the US military, Xinhua news agency reported. The Houthi military spokesperson said that his group also launched a fresh attack on Israel in the past few hours. "In support of the Palestinian people in Gaza, we targeted military targets in Tel Aviv, using several drones," he said, pledging to continue targeting Israeli cities and Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea until "the war on Gaza stops." Late Tuesday night, al-Masirah TV reported seven US airstrikes on Saada province, the Houthis' main stronghold in northern Yemen. There were no reports of casualties. The airstrikes are part of an ongoing US campaign against Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, launched in mid-March. Earlier on March 23, the US military stationed in the Red Sea conducted airstrikes on Yemen's northern province of Saada, according to Houthi-run al-Masirah TV. The strikes targeted areas around the province's namesake central city, Saada, a stronghold of the Houthis, the television reported, without providing further details. The airstrikes followed claims by the Houthis, made a few hours earlier, that they had launched fresh attacks on the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in the northern Red Sea and the Ben Gurion airport in central Israel. The latter attack was reportedly intercepted by the Israeli army. The exchanges of fire took place amid an ongoing air campaign launched by US forces in mid-March against Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen. The Houthi group, which controls much of northern Yemen after a civil war since 2014, has vowed to continue striking Israeli targets in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and to respond to what it describes as "American aggression." Chandigarh, March 26 : A legislator of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab stirred a major controversy as he stated that the 'step-motherly' treatment by the state government was making Moga district as well as his constituency residents 'feel like living in Pakistan'. Devinderjeet Singh Laddi Dhose, AAP MLA from Dharamkot constituency, was breathing fire against his own government during the Budget Session on Tuesday, accusing it of neglecting and discriminating against this region by not allotting adequate funds for health infrastructure projects. AAP MLA's outburst against own government made the situation embarrassing for the Bhagwant Mann dispensation and also gave fodder to the BJP and Congress to mount an attack on the state government, already reeling under financial crises. BJP MP Kiran Choudhry, speaking to IANS, mocked the AAP government for allowing its legislator to wash the party's dirty linen in public. "Such an irresponsible statement from an elected representative is uncalled for," she said. Objecting to AAP MLA invoking Pakistan's reference while cornering his own government on the condition of hospitals and scarcity of doctors, she said, "It doesn't behove any elected representative to speak in such manner." She also advised the party's Punjab unit to discuss and debate the problems and hammer out solutions. Congress MP Sukhdev Bhagat was equally critical of AAP MLA over drawing an analogy with Pakistan. He lashed out at both the AAP, ruling party in state and BJP, the ruling party at Centre over mistreatment of farmers and said that if they can't respect the food-producers, what could one expect from them on other issues. Earlier on Tuesday, Mann government was roasted by some of his own MLAs, as they claimed that their constituency was being discriminated against. Dharamkot MLA claimed that his constituency didn't get one health-related project in the past three years and asked, "Why is this discrimination against Moga... whether Moga is part of Punjab. I feel like perhaps we are living in Pakistan." Kulwant Singh Bazigar, another AAP MLA from Shutrana, pointed fingers at the Punjab health minister and claimed that as many as three hospitals lacked doctors in his constituency. New Delhi, March 26 : India has sufficient domestic coal reserves to contribute to the country's energy security with coal and lignite resources at 389.42 billion tonnes and 47.29 billion tonnes, respectively, as on March 1 this year, according to the latest estimates of the Geological Survey of India, the Parliament was informed on Wednesday. The existing coal reserves of the country are being effectively utilised with the fuel accounting for 55 per cent of the country's energy needs, Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy told the Lok Sabha in a written reply to a question. Lignite, also known as brown coal, is a type of coal that has a lower carbon content, lower energy value, and higher moisture content than other types of coal and is therefore listed separately. The focus of the government is on increasing the domestic production of coal to meet the energy requirements of the country. The country has witnessed highest highest-ever coal production in the year 2023-24 at 997.826 million tonnes (MT) which represents an 11.71 per cent increase over the corresponding figure of 893.191 MT in 2022-2023, the minister said. In the current year 2024-25, the country has recorded a 5.45 per cent increase in coal production to 929.15 MT up to February 2025, from 881.16 MT in the same period of 2023-24, he added. Reddy further stated that to enhance extraction and processing efficiency, coal companies have introduced mass production technologies with minimal manual intervention to boost productivity, reduce costs, and enhance safety. Continuous Miners in underground mines and Surface Miners in opencast mines are also deployed for coal-cutting and large-sized Heavy Earth Moving Machinery for overburden removal. The minister said that the government has taken several steps to increase coal production in the country to ensure energy security, including regular reviews by the Ministry of Coal to expedite the development of coal blocks. The enactment of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2021 (MMDR Act) for enabling captive mines owners to sell up to 50 per cent of their annual mineral production in the open market after meeting the requirement of the end use plant linked with the mine has helped to augment production. Additionally, the single window clearance portal for the coal sector and the project monitoring unit for hand-holding of coal block allottees for obtaining various approvals have helped to speed up operationalisation of coal mines. Besides, the auction of commercial mining on a revenue sharing basis was launched in 2020. Under the commercial mining scheme, a rebate of 50 per cent on the final offer has been allowed for the quantity of coal produced earlier than the scheduled date of production. Further, incentives on coal gasification or liquefaction (rebate of 50 per cent on final offer) have been granted as incentives to enhance production, the minister added. Mumbai, March 26 : The playful yet heartwarming poster of veteran star Rakhee Gulzar and actor Shiboprosad Mukherjee-starrer "Amar Boss" was unveiled on Wednesday and has been locked for a May 9 release. Mumbai, March 26 (IANS) The playful yet heartwarming poster of veteran star Rakhee Gulzar and actor Shiboprosad Mukherjee-starrer "Amar Boss" was unveiled on Wednesday and has been locked for a May 9 release. Offering a glimpse into a mother-son bond, the poster features Rakhee affectionately playfully pulling Shiboprosad Mukherjee's ear. Speaking about the film, Shiboprosad shared: "Aamar Boss is a deeply emotional story that celebrates the intricate bond between a mother and her son. This poster perfectly captures that playful yet profound relationship. Rakhee Di even recreated this moment during the IFFI stage event, making it all the more special." Directed by Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee, the film is set to hit theaters on May 9, 2025. The film was selected for the 55th International Film Festival of India's (IFFI) Indian Panorama. It had also received a nomination for the UNESCO Gandhi Medal, and was included in the Chennai International Film Festival by NFDC. "Aamar Boss" marks the comeback for Rakhee after 22 years. It was on March 10, when the makers unveiled the first song from the drama "Bawshonto Dekeche Amake". The song brings together a stellar female cast featuring the legendary Rakhee alongside Shruti Das and Souraseni Maitra. Kanchan Mallick and Gaurav Chatterjee also join the frame, adding further charm to this vibrant celebration of life and relationships. "Bawshonto Dekechhe Amake" marks the first time Anupam Roy and Prashmita Paul are working together on a film after their marriage, making the song even more special. Earlier, filmmakers Shiboprosad and Nandita Roy shared that Rakhee preferred hanging out with the cast and crew during the shoot of "Amar Boss". The makers had told IANS, "Throughout the shoot of 'Amar Boss', Rakhee di's presence served as a source of inspiration and encouragement." "Whether engaging in heartfelt conversations between takes or sharing light-hearted moments of laughter, Rakhee di's genuine warmth and approachability endeared her to the entire cast and crew, who were in tears on the last day of her shoot... She has given us all memories of a lifetime." Hyderabad, March 26 : A court in Hyderabad on Wednesday sentenced a temple priest to life imprisonment for killing a 30-year-old woman with whom he was having extramarital relations. Ayyagari Venkata Surya Sai Krishna, a priest of a temple in Saroornagar, had killed the woman in 2023 when she began demanding he marry her. He had dumped her body in a manhole behind the Maisamma temple, where he was working as a priest. The Rangareddy district court found Venkata Sai guilty of the crime and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The court also sentenced him to seven years for wiping out the evidence and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000. Shamshabad police produced all the evidence in the court, leading to the priestas conviction and sentence. The shocking murder of the young woman came to light on June 9, 2023. The accused, who was already married and the father of two children, was having extramarital relations with Apsara, a resident of Saroornagar. As the woman was exerting pressure on the priest for the marriage, he hatched a plot to eliminate her. According to police, he took Apsara to Sultanpalli in Shamshabad mandal on the city outskirts in a car on June 3. They had a heated argument over her marriage proposal, and the priest killed her by smashing her head with a boulder. He bundled the body in a bag, kept it in the car and brought it back to Saroornagar, where he dumped it in a manhole. The accused then lodged a complaint with Shamshabad police that his relative Apsara had gone missing after he had dropped her off at the airport. He told police that she stopped taking calls from June 4 and her phone was later switched off. Police registered a case and took up investigation. After checking the CCTV footage and mobile signals of Sai Krishna, police found that the complainant himself was the killer. He was arrested, and during the questioning, confessed to killing the woman. Chennai, March 26 : AIADMK General Secretary and Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition (LoP), Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), clarified that his meeting with Union Home Minister, Amit Shah on Tuesday was focussed solely on various state-related issues, and not on political alliances. In a statement issued on Wednesday, EPS said the meeting held at Amit Shah's residence on March 25 lasted about 45 minutes and the discussions covered multiple people-centric matters, including the deteriorating law and order situation in Tamil Nadu. Addressing speculation around the meeting, EPS stated, "There was no discussion regarding an alliance. The elections are still a year away, and there's no need to talk about alliances now. Our ideologies are different. Alliances may change depending on the situation." EPS emphasised the need to continue the two-language policy in Tamil Nadu and urged the Centre to release pending funds under key schemes like Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). He also flagged delays in the release of funds for various development schemes, including railway projects. The AIADMK leader expressed concerns over the proposed delimitation exercise, stressing that it should not adversely affect Tamil Nadu. He also raised the issues of drug trafficking, irregularities in TASMAC operations, and requested a probe into the matter. Water disputes and interlinking of rivers were also on the agenda. EPS sought expedited action on the Godavari-Cauvery river linking project and raised the ongoing Mekedatu and Mullaperiyar dam issues. The meeting sparked a political buzz, especially with the 2026 Assembly elections just over a year away. It came at a time when the ruling DMK has been actively campaigning on contentious issues like the two-language policy and delimitation. It's worth noting that AIADMK and BJP were allies during the 2021 Assembly elections, in which the BJP won four seats. However, the alliance fell apart on September 21, 2023, amid rising tensions under BJP state president K. Annamalai's leadership. Now, amid the rise of new players like actor-turned-politician Vijay and his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the AIADMK is seemingly reassessing its strategy. Political observers believe the meeting between EPS and Amit Shah could mark the beginning of a realignment potentially contingent on the BJP leadership making internal changes, especially regarding Annamalai's role. IANS aal/rad Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov held meetings in Paris with representatives of leading French defense companies whose products are used on the battlefield in Ukraine, the website of the Ukrainian defense ministry reported on Wednesday. "We focused on the development of our cooperation. A special focus is on direct purchases, localization of production in Ukraine and the creation of joint ventures. This will allow us to strengthen the capabilities of the Ukrainian defense industry and ensure sustainable support for our Defense Forces," Umerov said. As reported, during the visit, Umerov had already discussed with French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu the strengthening of the Ukrainian army, the status of military assistance and further strengthening of security support for Ukraine. New Delhi, March 26 : BVR Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog, on Wednesday said that MSMEs cannot exist in isolation and their challenges must be tackled in clusters and groups. Speaking at an event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here, Subrahmanyam said that medium enterprises of today (or MSMEs) are going to be the large enterprises of tomorrow. He said that the government "must handhold them and transform them from micro to small, small to medium and medium to large enterprises". The NITI Aayog CEO underlined the three main challenges MSMEs face: improving technology, skilled workforce and issues related to quality certifications. He said that India cannot become a developed nation until it raises its standards and manufacturing systems across the country. "Education and skills and MSMEs are the two most important areas in India's journey to become a Viksit Bharat," he stressed. Subrahmanyam also launched the 'Digital Excellence for Growth and Enterprise', or Dx-EDGE, a platform to empower MSMEs with the tools, knowledge and ecosystem needed to become future-ready, competitive and resilient. "By establishing a nationwide network of digital transformation facilitation centres, this initiative democratizes access to skills and innovation, enabling MSMEs to scale sustainably, enhance global competitiveness, and play a pivotal role in realizing the Viksit Bharat vision," he noted. According to SCL Das, Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, frontier tech, digitalisation and technology have become a necessity to survive the global headwinds and emerging challenges and grow to become a developed nation. He said that MSMEs have to be at the centre of the journey towards domestic growth, exports growth, adaptability for climate change, for having the required resilience and technological growth. Debjani Ghosh, Distinguished Fellow, NITI Aayog and Chief Architect, NITI FTH, said that future-proofing MSMEs through digital adoption is no longer a luxury; it's a necessity for realising Viksit Bharat. "With Dx-EDGE, we are building an exciting ecosystem-led approach to empower MSMEs to embrace technology, strengthen resilience and thrive in an increasingly digital world," she mentioned. Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII, underlined the significance of MSMEs in the Indian economy and noted that Dx-EDGE will help bridge the gap in technology adoption in the segment. Sindh, March 26 : Pakistan's ruling coalition party Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has joined ongoing demonstrations and rallies across Sindh province in protest against the government's plan to construct six new canals on the Indus River. Addressing a rally, PPP's Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro stated that sit-in demonstrations will be held in all talukas of the province in the next phase of their protest. Khuhro threatened to block the National Highway if the Centre does not scrap the project. "The protest movement will continue until the federal government withdraws the plan to build Cholistan and other canals," Khuhro was quoted as saying by Pakistan's leading newspaper, The Express Tribune. Amid rising internal conflicts in the coalition and contradicting stances, PPP-Sindh President also criticised the Pakistani government, labelling it as a "dictatorial federal government". He said that the federal government has revived the memory of dictatorship by starting the construction of the Cholistan Canal in Punjab province without the approval of any constitutional forum. Meanwhile, thousands of people from all walks of life took part in widespread rallies held in all major and smaller towns of the Sindh province. They took to the streets of their respective areas with banners and raised slogans against the 'anti-Sindh' project. The senior party leaders of PPP, including Mian Raza Rabbani, Waqar Mehdi, and Sadia Javed, also organised a huge rally outside the Karachi Press Club. Addressing the participants, they highlighted the ongoing water shortages in the coastal regions of Sindh, such as Sujawal and Badin, where sea intrusion has already consumed large swaths of farmland. Raza Rabbani condemned the plan of new canals, calling it a "death sentence" to Sindh, and warned that these canals would obliterate millions of acres of Sindh's fertile land. "If these canals are constructed, Sindh will turn into a desert, driving millions into starvation and displacement," Rabbani said. Activists, members of various political parties, civil society outfits, trade unions, and literary associations are up in arms against the government, which is constructing six canals on the Indus River. They have been continuously demanding that the federal government of Pakistan should shelve the canal project. The protests, echoing demands to "let the water flow," have been held across the province with the citizens describing such projects as "anti-people policies" and a "violation" of Sindh's rights. Wellington, March 26 : New Zealand wrapped up a 4-1 series win against Pakistan after securing an eight-wicket win in the fifth and final T20I here at Sky Stadium on Wednesday. Riding on Jimmy Neesham's five-wicket haul, New Zealand restricted Pakistan to 128-9. In reply, Tim Seifert smashed an unbeaten 97 off 38 as New Zealand needed just ten overs to chase down the target. Winning the toss and opting to field first, New Zealandas bowlers immediately put Pakistan under pressure. Will OaRourke and Jacob Duffy struck early, reducing the visitors to 24/3 within the powerplay. Pakistanas innings never gained momentum, with Neesham wreaking havoc in the middle overs as his spell saw Pakistan slump to 52 for 5 at the halfway mark. Then, skipper Salman Agha and Shadab Khan stitched together a 54-run partnership in 35 balls before Pakistan lost their last five wickets for just 22 runs, finishing on a modest 128. Chasing 129, New Zealand's opening duo, Finn Allen (27) and Seifert, were once again all guns blazing and propelled the hosts to their highest-ever powerplay total in T20I history at 92/1. Sufiyan Muqeem soon after removed Allen and Mark Chapman. But, Seifert, who was also adjudged Player of the Series, took Pakistanas bowlers apart, finishing the match by smashing four sixes off Shadab Khanas final over, including three in a row to wrap up the match and the series. "There was only one way to play. I wanted to play the way I wanted to play. The wickets were bouncy. Tonight, few shots got me away. You look at the match ups. Finn helped. We have played together. He is a great mate. It is great fun with him. Couple of weeks with the family and then off to the PSL. Few of these players would be my mates there," said Seifert. Brief scores: Pakistan 128/9 in 20 overs (Salman Agha 51, Shadab Khan 28; James Neesham 5-22) lost to New Zealand 131/2 in 10 overs (Tim Seifert 97, Tim Seifert 27; Sufiyan Muqeem 2-6) by eight wickets Patna, March 26 : The protest launched by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Bihar's capital, Patna, on March 26 has sparked significant political discourse. Shamim Akhtar, the state Secretary of the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), declared that the protest against this Bill would become a bigger movement than the anti-CAA and NRC protests in Independent India. Speaking to IANS, Shamim Akhtar emphasised the growing potential of the movement, asserting that it would eventually have a considerable impact on the government. "So far, the government has not felt any major impact, but this protest will soon evolve into a mass movement. The CAA-NRC protests were a landmark moment for Muslims in Azaad Bharat, and it shook the government. But after that, the pandemic came, and the momentum slowed down. However, I believe this movement will be even more powerful than the anti-CAA/NRC protests in Independent India," he remarked. Akhtar further stated that the protest would galvanise a larger section of the population and bring the government's policies into sharper scrutiny. He also criticised Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, for not participating in the protest. "Rahul Gandhi is far away in Delhi, a thousand kilometres from Patna. When the protests were taking place at Jantar Mantar, he was absent. Even Sonia Gandhi, who is only three to four kilometres away from the protest site, did not attend," Akhtar pointed out, questioning why the Congress was silent on such an important issue. "The Muslims of the country, and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, want to know why Congress is not showing any support. Why are they not opposing the Bill openly, and why aren't they speaking up against it, considering it undermines both Muslims and the Constitution of India?" he added. As the protest continues to gain traction, Akhtar further said that it would intensify over the coming weeks. "I can't predict the exact course of events, but I hope that after Ramzan and Eid, this movement will gain momentum. There is talk of a nationwide movement, with Gardani Bagh-style protests expected in every district of Bihar and across the country, similar to the indefinite sit-ins during the CAA-NRC protests," Akhtar said. Asked whether the protest could garner attention and support from Islamic countries, Akhtar emphasised the importance of focussing on the issue within India. "I will speak about Islamic countries later. But as for the situation within our own home India, it is our responsibility to address the fire within before seeking help from outside," he explained. He further stated, "This country belongs to all its citizens, regardless of their religion, class, or community. There are people from various social organisations and political parties, including the Bhim Army, Jan Suraaj, RJD, and others, who are supporting us. This shows that the issue transcends just the Muslim community it's about protecting the Constitution and safeguarding the rights of all people." "The Modi government is trying to marginalise minorities. The Waqf Board issue is one that directly concerns Muslims. It is our right to manage our own Waqf properties and make decisions about them," he said. He used the analogy of a temple to illustrate his point, stating, "If I were to give the keys of a temple to someone from another community instead of a Hindu priest, how could I expect the temple's interests to be protected? Similarly, the Waqf Board is a Muslim matter, and we have the right to decide on it." Akhtar also criticised the introduction of the triple talaq Bill, accusing the Modi government of interfering with Muslim personal law. "When the triple talaq Bill was passed, Modi Ji didn't tell us how to maintain our marriage, but he wanted to dictate how we should divorce. Our Shariat already provides a clear framework for marriage, divorce, and other personal matters. Now, with the Waqf Bill, the government is trying to interfere in our community's affairs, and this attempt will fail," Akhtar claimed. He concluded by stressing that the Waqf Bill was a larger conspiracy to undermine the Constitution, which would be resisted by people across India. Meanwhile, the RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, joined the AIMPLB's demonstration against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. New Delhi, March 26 : Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused Speaker Om Birla of running the House in an "undemocratic manner" and denying him the opportunity to speak. New Delhi, March 26 (IANS) Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused Speaker Om Birla of running the House in an "undemocratic manner" and denying him the opportunity to speak. He claimed that his repeated requests to address key issues like unemployment and the Maha Kumbh Mela in the House were ignored. "I requested him (the Speaker) to let me speak, but he just ran away. This is no way to run the House," Rahul Gandhi told reporters outside the House. Gandhi stated that despite sitting quietly, he was consistently prevented from speaking, which he described as a tactic to muzzle the Opposition. The Speaker, Om Birla, defended the proceedings, emphasising the importance of maintaining decorum in the House. He referenced Rule 349, which outlines the expected conduct of members, and urged Gandhi to adhere to these standards. Birla also invoked Rule 372, which allows the Prime Minister or any minister to make statements without taking questions during a session, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the Maha Kumbh Mela. Before he adjourned the House in the day, the Speaker said members are expected to maintain decorum on the floor. "Several instances have come to my notice in which the conduct of members is not up to the high standards of this House. This House has seen father-daughter, mother-daughter and husband-wife as members. In this context, I expect that the Leader of the Opposition behaves in the House in line with Rule 349," the Speaker said. Rule 349 lays down the rules of conduct for members to observe in the House. A week earlier, the House witnessed an uproar during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address on Maha Kumbh. PM Modi highlighted the event's cultural significance and its role in showcasing India's capabilities, but Opposition members protested, raising concerns about the stampede deaths at the gathering. Amid the din, Speaker Om Birla invoked Rule 372. Speaking to the media later, Gandhi had said, "I wanted to support what the Prime Minister (Modi) said. Kumbh is our tradition, history and culture. Our only complaint is that the Prime Minister did not pay tribute to those who died in Kumbh." Gandhi reiterated his dissatisfaction with the Speaker's approach, stating that the Opposition was being systematically excluded from parliamentary discussions. The incident underscores ongoing tensions between the ruling party and the Opposition, with Gandhi accusing the government of stifling democratic debate. The Speaker's emphasis on decorum and rules, juxtaposed with Gandhi's allegations of unfair treatment, highlights the challenges of maintaining balance and inclusivity in parliamentary proceedings. New Delhi, March 26 : Congress party on Wednesday moved a privilege motion against Union Home Minister Amit Shah for 'casting aspersions' on its Rajya Sabha MP and former party president Sonia Gandhi. Jairam Ramesh, Congress communications-in-charge, in a letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, claimed that there was a 'premeditated move' to malign Sonia Gandhi, in connection with the functioning of National Prime Minister's Relief Fund (PMNRF). He accused Amit Shah of making blatantly false and defamatory statements against party MP Sonia Gandhi and demanded that privilege proceedings be initiated against the Home Minister. Jairam's demand for privilege motion followed Amit Shah's statement during debate on Disaster Management Bill 2024 in the House on March 25. "A family controlled the fund when Congress was in power. The Congress president was a member of this committee. Congress president was part of a government fund. What answer will we give to people? They think nobody reads, nobody notices it," Jairam quoted Shah as saying in his letter. Jairam, also the Congress chief whip claimed that though Home Minister didn't take the name of Sonia Gandhi, it was imperative that he referred to her and "imputed motives" to her on the functioning of NPMRF. "It is well established that it is a breach of privilege and contempt of the House to cast reflections or make derogatory references to any MP. In the instant case, the Home Minister has made unfounded allegations against Sonia Gandhi with a premeditated motive to malign her reputation," he said. "The Home Minister's statement is blatantly false and is defamatory. This tantamounts to breach of privilege of Sonia Gandhi," he further stated. Jairam's move for privilege motion against Amit Shah comes close on the heels of similar notices against Leader of the House (Rajya Sabha) JP Nadda and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju over their 'misleading' remarks on Karnataka Deputy CM. Both ministers had stated that Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar spoke about changing the Constitution to facilitate 4% reservation for Muslims. --IANS mr/ March 26 : Superstar Nani has raised the stakes for his much-awaited film The Paradise by revealing its official release date alongside a brand-new poster. Taking to social media, Nani shared the caption, 365 Days #TheParadise, signaling the countdown for this highly anticipated project. The film is slated for a grand release on March 26, 2026, and fans couldnt be more excited. The Paradise marks the second collaboration between Nani and director Srikanth Odela, following their successful partnership in previous ventures. Set in the 1960s, the film is already generating immense buzz, and the recently released first look teaser has only added to the intrigue. The raw, electrifying teaser is an intense and haunting introduction to the world of The Paradise, setting the stage for what promises to be a visually stunning and emotionally charged narrative. The teaser opens with a striking narration about crows, creatures often overlooked and silenced throughout history, before shifting to the story of a fearless leaderan unlikely warrior emerging from the heart of a community to fight for them. Nani, in a never-before-seen avatar, is nearly unrecognizable, sporting a controversial Son of B**ch tattoo on his hand, long ponytails, and a meticulously sculpted physique. His face remains hidden, adding an air of mystery and leaving audiences curious about his characters role in the forgotten story of the crows. The technical brilliance of The Paradise stands out, with Anirudhs gripping sound design and Avinash Kollas intricate production design creating an eerie, immersive atmosphere that enhances the film's ominous tone. The unsettling visuals and the overall dark vibe of the teaser are sure to leave audiences on the edge of their seats, pushing expectations to new heights. Interestingly, the teaser was released without a single line of dialogue from Nani, heightening the mystery surrounding the character. It was launched in multiple languages, including Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, English, and Spanish, ensuring that the film reaches a global audience. Produced by Sudhakar Cherukuri under SLV Cinemas, The Paradise promises to be a grand theatrical spectacle, catering to fans worldwide with its release in eight languages. As the countdown to March 26, 2026, begins, anticipation for Nanis intense transformation and the films dark, thrilling plot continues to build. Prayagraj, March 26 : The indefinite strike by lawyers of the Allahabad High Court against the transfer of Delhi High Court judge, Justice Yashwant Varma, to the Allahabad High Court entered its second day on Wednesday. The protest, led by the Allahabad High Court Bar Association (AHCBA), intensified following allegations of a cash scandal involving Justice Varma. The controversy erupted after a huge pile of unaccounted for cash was allegedly discovered at Justice Varma's residence in Delhi during the Holi festival. This incident has sparked outrage among the legal fraternity, with lawyers demanding the immediate revocation of his transfer. A large number of lawyers assembled near Gate No. 3 of the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday, raising slogans and expressing their strong opposition to Justice Varma's appointment. The striking lawyers have completely boycotted judicial proceedings, disrupting normal court operations. Speaking to IANS, the AHCBA Secretary Vikrant Pandey reiterated the association's firm stance, stating, "We have made it abundantly clear that until our demand to remove Justice Varma is met, we will not call off the strike. Our movement against corruption will continue unabated." He further said that the association has urged other Bar Associations across Uttar Pradesh to join the protest and boycott judicial work. "Several Bar Associations have already extended their support, and we expect more to follow. This is not just a local issue -- it is a fight to uphold the integrity of the judiciary," Pandey told IANS. The AHCBA has also demanded that the Chief Justice of India (CJI) recommend initiating impeachment proceedings against Justice Varma. The lawyersa protest has disrupted court proceedings thereby affecting case hearings and caused inconvenience to litigants. The Supreme Court has already formed a three-member panel to probe the cash recovery at the residence of Justice Varma. After the reports of cash recovery, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended Justice Varmaas transfer to Allahabad High Court, his parent institution. However, the Allahabad Bar Association has opposed the move and demanded action in the case. Agra, March 26 : Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ramji Lal Suman's residence was attacked by hundreds of Karni Sena activists on Wednesday as they went on a rampage and even clashed with the police personnel, leaving many of them injured. Several policemen are reported to have been injured as the unruly mob turned violent and pelted stones at the cops, who were already stationed outside SP MP's residence in Agra, since morning. The chaos outside Ramji Lal Suman's residence turned violent this noon, as hordes of Karni Sena activists pushed through the barricades, in a bid to enter his residence. As the police resisted their advancement, clashes broke out. The mob got aggressive when blocked by the police and resorted to stone pelting. Chairs were hurled and parked vehicles were vandalised by the crowd. They smashed the windshields of parked cars with rods and even broke the police barricades. Police retaliated and baton-charged to disperse the protestors and also took many of them into custody. The police-Karni Sena face-off comes on the back of SP MP's statement on Rana Sanga. SP's Ramji Lal Suman recently hogged headlines and also invited flak from multiple quarters. While speaking in Lok Sabha, he said that it was Rana Sanga, a Rajput warrior, who 'invited' Mughal invader Babur into the country. The lawmaker's remarks raised the hackles of the Rajput community, which warned of a national stir if the SP MP didn't retract his remarks and apologise. Akhilesh-led SP called it a BJP-sponsored attack and said that it was the ruling party which was behind such a brazen display of vandalism outside its MP's residence. BJP rejected the charge and said that SP has a habit of deriding the country's valiant warriors. "This protest shows simmering anger among youths against demonisation of India's national icons," said a BJP spokesperson. Bokaro, March 26 : A team of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was attacked on Wednesday while conducting a raid at the residence of a bank recovery agent in the Harla police station area of Bokaro district, Jharkhand. Three officers sustained injuries during the assault. The raid was carried out following a complaint lodged with the CBIas Anti-Corruption Branch in Dhanbad by a villager. According to the complaint, the villager had taken a loan from Gramin Bank to purchase a tractor. After defaulting on the loan, the tractor was seized. Despite later clearing the outstanding dues, the recovery agent, identified as Dhanraj Chaudhary, allegedly refused to release the tractor. He demanded a bribe of Rs 15,000 for this. Acting on the complaint, the CBI team reached Dhanraj Chaudharyas residence in Sector 9 on Wednesday for interrogation. During the raid, officials searched the premises and seized several documents. The situation escalated when the CBI officers, after questioning Dhanraj and placing him in their vehicle, began interrogating him regarding the seized documents. An argument broke out between Dhanraj and the CBI officers, drawing the attention of local residents. Soon, a crowd gathered and launched an attack on the CBI team, which resulted in the injuries to three officers. In connection with the case, the CBI also conducted a raid at the residence of Sushil Chaudhary, who is reportedly in possession of the seized tractor. However, he was not found at home and is currently absconding. According to sources, Dhanraj Chaudhary has been arrested by the CBI. Dhanbad ASP P.K. Jha confirmed the arrest and said that an investigation was underway. Anil Kashyap, the officer-in-charge of Harla police station, stated that an FIR had been filed based on a written complaint from the CBI team. Efforts are being made to identify the attackers, and appropriate legal action will be taken against those responsible. Relations between Kyiv and Washington have returned to normal and Ukraine has demonstrated to the American side that it is seriously determined to achieve peace, said head of the presidential administration of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak. "I think we have great conversations with the Americans," Yermak said in an interview with Reuters in Kyiv late on Tuesday. "I think we are back on track." He said two rounds of talks in Saudi Arabia on a possible ceasefire had given Kyiv an opportunity to demonstrate to US officials that it was ready to work with US President Donald Trump in his quest to end the three-year war between Russia and Ukraine. He noted that this contradicted the Russian approach to negotiations, which he said involved putting forward conditions for a peace deal. Describing the talks in Saudi Arabia, where US officials tried to reach an agreement with Russia and the Ukrainian delegation on a ceasefire, Yermak said: "We demonstrated we are very serious, the Americans understood." In contrast, he said: "Russia is just playing games." Russia made a Black Sea truce conditional on an easing of sanctions so it can regain access to international export markets for its fertiliser and agricultural products. Yermak said this was indicative of Russia's approach to peace talks overall. "It shows that they (Russia) did not accept an unconditional ceasefire, which is nonsense," he said. "Our logic is that we need to go in without any conditions." "President Trump wants to end this war, this is great. Russia does not want to end this war. The best way to believe otherwise would be Russias strict adherence to the agreements reached in Saudi Arabia at the very least, the initial agreements on an unconditional ceasefire. And then move forward toward a truly sustainable peace," Yermak said. Chennai, March 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the newly constructed Pamban railway bridge in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, on April 6, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami. In a statement released on Wednesday, R.N. Singh, General Manager of Southern Railway, confirmed that senior railway officials have been conducting extensive inspections of the bridge and Rameswaram railway station in preparation for the event. April 6, which falls on a Sunday this year, is celebrated across the country as Ram Navami, marking the birth of Lord Rama. The occasion adds a spiritual dimension to the Prime Ministeras visit, as he is also expected to visit the renowned Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram. According to sources in Southern Railway, the ceremony will be attended by a host of dignitaries, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Governor R.N. Ravi, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Members of Parliament and Legislative Assembly from Tamil Nadu, senior BJP leaders, and party workers. Later in the day, Prime Minister Modi is expected to address a public gathering before departing for Delhi from Madurai Airport. To ensure the smooth execution of the high-profile event, authorities have already conducted three full-scale rehearsals. On March 22, a high-level team led by Additional General Manager Kaushal Kishore conducted a comprehensive assessment of key locations in Rameswaram and Pamban, evaluating both logistical and security arrangements. The team, which included Madurai Divisional Railway Manager Sharad Srivastava and other top officials, inspected various critical locations, such as the Rameswaram temple premises, Mandapam camp helipad, Kunthukal, Mandapam railway station, and the Pamban Road bridge. The inspections were aimed at ensuring that all arrangements were in place for a seamless inauguration. Following the site visits, Kishore chaired a high-level review meeting with senior railway officials, law enforcement agencies, and state and central intelligence personnel. The meeting focused on finalising security protocols, crowd management strategies, and event logistics to ensure a safe and successful inauguration. The new Pamban railway bridge stretches 2.1 km in length and is a remarkable feat of engineering. Originally commissioned in February 2019, construction was completed in November 2024. One of the key features of the bridge is its vertical lift span, which weighs 660 metric tons and is capable of rising vertically to allow ship passage -- an innovation developed entirely through indigenous technology. The bridge stands as a symbol of Indiaas growing infrastructure prowess and will enhance connectivity to the sacred island of Rameswaram, making travel more efficient for thousands of pilgrims and tourists. Mumbai, March 26 : Shiv Sena legislator Sanjay Gaikwad on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Shiv Sena-UBT MLA Aditya Thackeray in connection with the Disha Salian death case. Gaikwad raised the issue after Disha Salian's father, in his complaint to the Mumbai Police Commissioner, named Thackeray, Dino Morea and Suraj Pancholi. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Bhavana Gawli raised the issue in the Legislative Council and demanded Thackeray's narco test in connection with the case. Gaikwad demanded that Thackeray should resign while appealing to the state government to make its stand clear on this issue. Even before Gaikwad was to conclude his speech, the Mahayuti legislators entered the Well of the House demanding that Thackeray should resign. Amid din, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar adjourned the House for 10 minutes. After the House reassembled, the members from the treasury benches continued to demand Thackeray's resignation. Shiv Sena Minister Sambhuraj Desai stood up and told the Assembly that Disha Salian's father filed a complaint with the Police Commissioner in which he named Thackeray. "In the case of the killing of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, the state government since day one has said that it would not spare anyone. Similarly, the government is quite clear that no one will be spared in the Disha Salian death case," said Desai. He added that a SIT probe is underway, and the petition has been pending in the High Court for hearing. The government will submit the SIT report to the court, and based on it and the court order, necessary action will be taken in this case, the minister added. After the minister's statement, the ruling alliance members did not pursue the issue, and thereafter, the proceedings started smoothly. On Tuesday, lawyer Nilesh Ojha, appearing for Disha Salian's father, told reporters that a written complaint to the police commissioner's office was accepted by the Joint Commissioner of Police (crime). The complaint was incorporated in the FIR. He further stated, "Aditya Thackeray, Dino Morea, Suraj Pancholi and his bodyguard, Parambir Singh, Sachin Vaze and Rhea Chakraborty are all accused in the FIR." He claimed that Parambir Singh was the main mastermind for the "cover-up" in the case. New Delhi, March 26 : NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has reported Rs 3,026.09 crore in revenue in FY25 to date, an impressive 43 per cent growth from Rs 2,116.12 crore in FY24, the Parliament was informed on Wednesday. NSIL, which has launched 135 international customer satellites and three Indian satellites on commercial basis (as of now), reported Rs 1,242.12 crore in profit before tax (PBT) this fiscal to date, up a robust 54 per cent from Rs 803.59 crore in FY24, informed Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Department of Space, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha. NSIL enables Indian industries to take up high-technology space-related activities. It has signed a contract with HAL for end-to-end manufacturing of 5 Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLV). The first fully Indian industry-manufactured PSLV would be launched during the second half of this year. According to the minister, NSIL has plans to expand its commercial space business through public-private partnerships (PPPs) model as well. Towards this, NSIL is considering realising ISROas heavy lift launcher LVM3, under a PPP partnership approach, due to its large commercial potential in the global launch service market. According to the minister, the space economy is expected to increase fivefold from $8 billion to $44 billion in the next few years. This growth will make a value addition to the Indian economy and move towards Viksit Bharat in 2047. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the space budget has almost tripled -- from Rs 5,615 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 13,416 crore in 2025-2026, reflecting the governmentas commitment to fostering growth in the space sector. The space industry has been opened up for private sector participation and for bringing in foreign direct investment (FDI). The strategic approach is creating synergy between the government and non-government sectors through frameworks such as the NSIL and In-SPACe, boosting innovation and opportunities across the space industry. New Delhi, March 26 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Atomic Energy, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Wednesday said that India's nuclear power generation capacity has increased from 22,480 MW in 2014 to 35,333 MW currently, while installed capacity has doubled from 4,780 MW to 8,880 MW. New Delhi, March 26 (IANS) Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Atomic Energy, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Wednesday said that Indiaas nuclear power generation capacity has increased from 22,480 MW in 2014 to 35,333 MW currently, while installed capacity has doubled from 4,780 MW to 8,880 MW. Responding to a discussion on nuclear power plants in the Lok Sabha, he emphasised the unprecedented growth in reactor installations and advancements in nuclear energy generation over the past decade. "Before 2014, the total budget of the Department of Atomic Energy stood at Rs 13,889 crore. This year, it has expanded to Rs 23,604 crore, marking a 170 per cent increase," he said in the Lok Sabha, underscoring the government's focus on nuclear energy growth. He also pointed to the 2017 decision by the Union Cabinet, which granted bulk approval for 10 new reactors in a single sitting - an unprecedented move in Indiaas nuclear history. The recent Union Budget has further bolstered the nuclear sector with the announcement of a dedicated nuclear mission, which includes significant budgetary allocations. Dr Singh highlighted Rajasthan's significant contribution to India's nuclear energy sector, stating that the state houses seven of the countryas 25 operational reactors. He noted that a previously non-functional unit has been revived, further strengthening the stateas nuclear output. Additionally, he announced the establishment of a new reactor in Gorakhnagar, Haryana, marking a geographical expansion of Indiaas nuclear infrastructure beyond its traditional strongholds in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to nuclear energy expansion, safety protocols, and private sector participation in India's nuclear power sector. The Minister stressed that India's nuclear energy policy is moving towards greater private sector involvement. "The Prime Minister has decided to open up the nuclear sector to private players, ensuring a larger resource pool and faster development," he stated. This move aligns with global best practices, allowing India to enhance its nuclear power capabilities while reducing dependency on public funds. On safety measures, Dr Singh assured the House that stringent protocols are in place to safeguard plant workers and nearby communities. He emphasised that India follows a "safety first, production next" approach, with periodic monitoring every three months during construction, biannual checks during operation, and a comprehensive review every five years. He cited a Tata Memorial study, which found that radiation-related health concerns such as birth defects and cancer prevalence around nuclear plants remain below the national average. He also stated that radiation levels in India's nuclear plants remain significantly below the safety threshold, with a steady decline in radiation generation over the years. Addressing concerns about nuclear waste disposal, Dr Singh clarified that India follows global best practices for safe storage. "Each nuclear plant stores its waste on-site for the first five to seven years. After that, it is shifted to an 'Away From Reactor' (AFR) facility for long-term storage and eventual reuse," he said. He also dispelled rumours about Kudankulam and Kalpakkam being used as central waste repositories, reiterating that each facility is self-sufficient in waste management. He highlighted that the Kudankulam plantas radiation levels have reduced from 0.081 micro-sieverts in 2014 to 0.002, while the Kalpakkam plantas levels have decreased from 23.140 micro-sieverts to 15.96 micro-sieverts. Regarding uranium exploration in Rajasthan, the Minister acknowledged that environmental clearances are pending but assured that the process is being actively pursued. "Once clearances are secured, Rajasthan will contribute significantly to Indiaas uranium reserves, further boosting the countryas atomic energy programme," he said. Dr Singh also provided updates on the progress of nuclear projects in Madhya Pradesh. He stated that the Chutka Nuclear project has completed most procedural formalities, including environmental clearance and land acquisition, while challenges related to resettlement and rehabilitation are being addressed in consultation with the state government. The Shivpuri project, meanwhile, is awaiting final arrangements for water supply, and discussions are ongoing. He hinted that further expansion under the nuclear mission could eventually include the Khandwa region. With Indiaas nuclear energy capacity rapidly expanding and strict safety measures in place, Dr Singh reiterated the governmentas vision for a robust, safe, and self-sufficient nuclear sector. "We are committed to expanding nuclear power as a clean energy source, ensuring safety, and embracing private sector participation to achieve self-reliance in nuclear technology," he said. Mumbai, March 26 : Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who also holds the finance portfolio, on Wednesday presented a Gender Budget Statement and Child Budget Statement for 2025-26 in the state Assembly. Of the total expenditure worth Rs 7,57,576 crore the gender budget is to the tune of Rs 64,008 crore which comes to 8.45 per cent. The child budget is Rs 100,605 crore which is 13.28 per cent of the total expenditure. According to the Gender Budget Statement, the allocation for 2025-26 has been reduced to 8.45 per cent from 8.63 per cent in the revised budget of 2024-25. In the case of the child budget, it has been increased to 13.28 per cent in 2025-26 against 12.99 per cent in the revised budget of 2024-25. Ajit Pawar explained that Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) provides a tool and mechanism to close the gender gap in public finance, assuming that these economic policies affect women, men and others alike. "It is an innovation in public finance that helps to mainstream and prioritise gender equality and related issues," he said. He clarified that GRB does not mean a separate budget for women or a separate provision for women in the budget, but a broad sense of implementing gender equality, sensitivity and awareness of women's issues in the entire budgeting process on the income and expenditure side. "It includes not only strengthening administrative processes and setting targets in the budget for the uplift of women, but also gender scrutinizing, the financial provision made, evaluating its impact and restructuring the provision made," he said. Ajit Pawar on March 10 presented the annual budget for 2025-26 with an estimated revenue deficit of Rs 45,891 crore and fiscal deficit of Rs 136,000 crore. The finance minister has estimated revenue receipts of Rs 560,963 crore and revenue expenditure of Rs 606,855 crore. He claimed that the government has been successful in keeping the fiscal deficit below 3 per cent of the gross state domestic income under the Fiscal Responsibility and Fiscal Management Act. Also, Maharashtra's revenue deficit has been consistently less than 1 per cent of the gross state income. New Delhi, March 26 : The integration of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and Jan Aushadhi Kendras are helping small and marginal farmers reduce their medical expenses, said the government on Wednesday. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah stated PACS is empowering the farmers and boosting their productivity as well as generating employment. "The integration of PACS and Jan Aushadhi Kendras economically empowers small and marginal farmers by reducing their medical expenses, allowing them to allocate more resources to agricultural productivity," Shah said. "This initiative creates employment opportunities at PACS level, and enables them to generate additional revenue," he added. To provide generic medicines at affordable prices to rural citizens, the Government has enabled PACS to operate Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras (PMBJK) under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana. To establish and operate Jan Aushadhi Kendras, PACS utilise their widespread rural network of over 13 crores of small and marginal farmers and existing infrastructure, such as land, building, and storage facilities. "This allows them to serve as affordable medicine hubs in remote areas where such access is limited. Established trust of PACS and its relationship with rural populations further aid in ensuring the success of these Kendras," Shah said. The scheme provides incentives to the Kendras at the rate of 20 per cent of monthly purchases made from the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), subject to a ceiling of Rs. 20,000 per month, subject to conditions of stock mandate. Further, the Kendra owners are provided a 20 per cent margin on the MRP (excluding taxes) of each drug. The Kendras are also allowed to sell allied medical products commonly sold in a Chemist shop. The initiative aligns with the National Health Policy's goal of equitable access to quality healthcare ensuring that affordable medicines reach underserved rural populations, thereby addressing broader public health objectives. New Delhi, March 26 : At least seven lakh visitors have explored "The Energy Revolution: The Adani Green Energy Gallery" at the Science Museum in London, in its first year of operation, the Adani Group company said on Wednesday. The Adani Green Energy Gallery aims to explore options that will help generate energy sustainably, decarbonise and fight climate change. The gallery, sponsored by Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL) and curated by the Science Museum, was inaugurated on March 26 last year by Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group. "The gallery explores how the world can generate and use energy more sustainably to urgently decarbonise to limit climate change," the Adani Group company said in a statement. The gallery hosted over 40 curator-led tours for various organisations in the last year, including the Climate Change Committee, the Met Office, the World Energy Council, Universcience, and several UK Government departments. "These tours have provided in-depth insights into the rapid energy transition and decarbonisation efforts needed to combat climate change," it said. The gallery has also won the prestigious '2024 Brick Awards' in the innovation category for its low-carbon brick bench exhibit. The Energy Revolution: The Adani Green Energy Gallery recently updated a unique decarbonisation tracker exhibit that shows the carbon intensity of Britain's electricity supply by tracking how many grams of carbon dioxide (CO2) were released into the atmosphere for every unit of electricity supplied in each of the years shown. It is a free gallery that "shows how the past, present and future are shaped by human imagination and innovation and explores how we all have a role to play in deciding our energy future". In 'Future Planet', visitors can take a look at how complex computer-based models are used by scientists to understand the planet Earth, and how they can explain the future of the climate. At the centre of the gallery stands a moving sculpture called 'Only Breath'. It signifies the power of nature to inspire technological change. New Delhi, March 26 : Trashing the latest United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) report, India on Wednesday once again urged the US agency - "that should be designated as an entity of concern" - to desist from its agenda-driven efforts by misrepresenting facts and peddling a motivated narrative. "We have seen the recently released 2025 Annual Report of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which once again continues its pattern of issuing 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," said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal while responding to media queries. "India is home to 1.4 billion people who are adherents to all religions known to mankind. However, we have no expectation that the USCIRF will engage with the reality of Indiaas pluralistic framework or acknowledge the harmonious coexistence of its diverse communities. Such efforts to undermine India's standing as a beacon of democracy and tolerance will not succeed. In fact, it is the USCIRF that should be designated as an entity of concern," he added. It is not for the first time that India has slammed USCIRF, the US federal government agency which monitors the universal right to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) abroad and makes policy recommendations to the country's President, Secretary of State and US Congress. Last October, while responding to media queries regarding the 'Country Update' on India in the USCIRF report, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had made it clear that New Delhi's views on the agency are well known. "It is a biased organisation with a political agenda. It continues to misrepresent facts and peddles a motivated narrative about India. We reject this malicious report, which only serves to discredit USCIRF further," Jaiswal had stated then. "We would urge USCIRF to desist from such agenda driven efforts. The USCIRF would also be well advised to utilise its time more productively on addressing human rights issues in the United States," he had added. India has repeatedly and "regrettably" stated over the years that USCIRF continues to "misrepresent facts" time and again in its statements and reports "in pursuance of its motivated agenda". From Covid-19 and Delhi riots to the Citizenship Amendment Bill and religious freedom, the MEA has trashed various USCIRF reports and observations. "The USCIRF is known as a biased organisation with a political agenda. They continue to publish their propaganda on India masquerading as part of an annual report. We really have no expectation that USCIRF will even seek to understand India's diverse, pluralistic and democratic ethos. Their efforts to interfere in the largest electoral exercise of the world will never succeed," the MEA had stated in May 2024. Jaipur, March 26 : Rajasthan's Leader of Opposition (LoP) and senior Congress leader, Tika Ram Jully, on Wednesday, welcomed the BJP's 'Saugat-e-Modi' initiative, saying that it will foster communal harmony and brotherhood in the country. However, he also questioned the BJP's opposition to the four per cent reservation for the Muslim community in Karnataka, calling it a display of the "two faces of the Modi government". LoP Jully accused the BJP government in Rajasthan of violating constitutional norms in the Assembly. He criticised the Rajasthan Ministers for coming unprepared for discussions and noted that the BJP government made history by having to send three crucial Bills to a select committee due to a lack of homework by its leaders. Here are excerpts from his exclusive interview with IANS: IANS: The BJP recently launched the 'Saugat-e-Modi' initiative, under which Eid gift packs will be distributed to 32 lakh economically disadvantaged Muslim families. What are your views on this move? Tika Ram Jully: We welcome this initiative, as it will strengthen communal harmony and brotherhood in the country. However, we question its intent -- is it politically motivated, or is there a genuine reason behind it? Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in Banswara was against the minority community, and several BJP leaders have delivered hate speeches in the past. This sudden announcement is surprising. When the Congress government in Karnataka announced reservation for Muslims, the BJP opposed it and continues to protest against it. This shows the double standards of the BJP. The reservation in Karnataka falls within the constitutional framework, yet they oppose it while simultaneously launching a Muslim outreach programme. Our country is known for its unity in diversity, and this identity should always be preserved. IANS: The budget session of the Assembly recently concluded, but Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Chief Govind Singh Dotasra has been boycotting the session due to his rift with the Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani. How do you see this situation unfolding? Tika Ram Jully: I want to question the Assembly Speaker on why he allowed discussions on topics that were not officially tabled. Moreover, why did he make a derogatory remark to a four-time MLA, suggesting that he was not worthy of being in the House? In our democracy, it is the people and the Constitution that determine whether a person is an MLA. I had requested in writing that these remarks be expunged from the record, but they have not been removed. If they had been, PCC Chief Dotasra would have attended the session. I am still awaiting a response to my request. It was highly undemocratic to hold discussions about an absent MLA. The House discussed issues that were not on record, violating parliamentary norms. Furthermore, the state government made no efforts for a mutual settlement when the Opposition walked out. IANS: Veteran leaders like former CM Ashok Gehlot and former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot did not raise any questions during this budget session. Do you think this is appropriate from the opposition's perspective? Tika Ram Jully: They (Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot) are senior Congress leaders, and perhaps they chose to give an opportunity to new faces. Interestingly, veteran BJP leader and former CM Vasundhara Raje also did not ask any questions. Maybe the same logic applies there as well. IANS: You accused the state government of deliberately avoiding a debate on the power supply arrangement. Why? Tika Ram Jully: This is a failure of the state government that they did not allow a debate on power supply even at a time when the discussion on the power crisis had been approved, yet it was later cancelled. The Speaker was ready for the debate, but the state government was not, so it did not take place. Key issues like power, water, and law and order should be discussed. Last time, they avoided a discussion on law and order; this time, they cancelled the debate on power. This is particularly concerning as Rajasthan is facing a severe power crisis. Last year, the BJP government blamed the Congress for the power crisis, citing an agreement signed during our tenure. However, that agreement has now expired, so why are farmers still receiving only five hours of power supply, with frequent outages? The government could have used this opportunity to clarify the state's power supply arrangements for the summer, but they chose to remain silent. In fact, it's clear that the ruling BJP government came unprepared for budget session as for the first time in history ever since 1952, three Bills were sent to the Select Committee in one session. IANS: This year, Rajasthan Day is being celebrated according to the Hindu calendar on Hindu Nav Varsh (New Year). What are your thoughts on this? Tika Ram Jully: The decision to celebrate the Rajasthan Day based on the Hindu calendar will create confusion for students and educators, as the date will keep changing each year. Moreover, beneficiaries of various government schemes have been asked to wait until Rajasthan Day to receive their benefits. Such schemes should be implemented in a timely manner rather than being delayed for symbolic celebrations. IANS: PCC Chief Dotasra has accused the state government of delaying panchayat elections. Why did your party hold a press conference on this issue? Tika Ram Jully: The 'One Nation, One Election' initiative is beyond our understanding. The Chief Minister talks about 'One State, One Election,' yet the post of Jila Pramukh in his own hometown has been vacant for more than a year. The Constitution mandates that elections be held within six months of the due date. If the government wants to change the law, it should do so. Otherwise, elections must be conducted on time. Panchayat elections should have been held by now, but the state government has extended the tenure of sarpanches, violating constitutional norms. We will take this matter to court, and we are confident that the government will face legal consequences for this delay. New Delhi, March 26 : The BJP on Tuesday launched its nationwide outreach program for the minorities, starting with the distribution of 'Saugat-e-Modi' kits to the Muslim community, ahead of Eid celebrations. The initiative, steered by the BJP's Minority Morcha, saw 200 individuals from Navi Mumbai receiving their 'Saugat-e-Modi' kits on the first day of launch. The unique initiative has been welcomed by Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), an independent Muslim organisation aligned with nationalist ideas. MRM Convenor and National Spokesperson Shahid Sayeed welcomed the unique initiative and termed it 'historic and exemplary' He said that in the last 11 years, the Modi government has taken more historic decisions for Muslims, Sikhs and Christians than any other government since independence. "This initiative is also part of the same vision and should not be seen from a narrow political perspective. This is not limited to any one festival but is another important link in taking forward the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas," he added. Under the 'Saugat-e-Modi' (gifts from Modi), gift packs will be provided to at least 32 lakh economically disadvantaged families. The gift packs will be distributed at various programs, to be held in collaboration with mosques. Meanwhile, the Opposition has dubbed the move as a political gimmick and a brazen attempt to garner votes from the minority communities. MRM convenor rebuked the Opposition for its reservations on 'Saugat-e-Modi' kits and called out its double standards on issues related to the minorities. "These kits are not appeasement tactics but an honest attempt to help the poor and marginalised families. Every government should adopt this approach in helping the needy and deprived," he said. He further said that all regional parties, including RJD, SP, TMC and NCP made tall claims about minorities' welfare but did nothing on the ground. "All they did was to practice politics of fear. They didn't do anything for the poor but instilled fear among minorities from the right-wing outfits," he added. The mega reach-out drive is seen as a big public-connect campaign via which the BJP will seek to build and cement ties with all sections of minority communities, including Sikhs and Christians. Similar kits will be provided to the poor and downtrodden members of these communities on the occasion of Baishakhi and Easter. Ukraine needs a serious contribution from European countries in the form of troops ready to fight, not a peacekeeping contingent after any cessation of hostilities with the Russian Federation, said Deputy Head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva. "We do not need a simple presence to demonstrate that Europe is present... We do not need peacekeepers, blue helmets, unarmed, or anything else," Zhovkva said in an interview with AFP on Wednesday on the eve of the Coalition of the Willing summit in Paris. He noted that Kyiv expects a strong presence of European countries in Ukraine and military personnel who are ready for various scenarios, including missile or drone strikes. "If European countries are serious about their contribution, they should be really serious," said the Deputy Head of the President's Office. Zhovkva did not say how many European troops Ukraine needs after the war or where they could be deployed, but noted that "we don't need just five or ten thousand." "The number is not important... What is also important is their readiness to fight, their readiness to defend, their readiness to be equipped, their readiness to understand that Ukraine is an integral part of European security... Every soldier must be ready to participate in a real battle... That's what Ukrainians have been doing for more than three years," the official said. Zhovkva suggested that European forces could help protect Ukraine's border with Belarus, freeing up Ukrainian troops to deploy in more dangerous regions, adding that "we don't need an international presence somewhere in Lviv." Hyderabad, March 26 : The Telangana government will constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to curb betting apps and online betting, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced on Wednesday. Speaking in the Assembly, he asserted that the government has decided to not only be alert about betting apps, online betting and online Rummy games but also act tough against them. He said the SIT would decide on the required steps to be taken to curb or ban the betting apps. Revanth Reddy was responding to a demand by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) member T. Harish Rao that the government should take stringent action against online betting and betting apps, as poor people were suffering. Harish Rao voiced concern that the menace of online betting was leading to suicides by many youngsters in the state. Revanth Reddy recalled that the previous government in 2017 brought a law to ban online gambling and betting, but it failed to effectively implement the same. He noted that in recent times, online betting has grown rapidly. Stating that various individuals and organisations at the national and international level were part of the crime, he said the problem couldnat be addressed with an investigation by a police station. Hence, the state government decided to constitute the SIT. The Chief Minister said he would constitute the SIT after talks with the officials concerned. As the existing legislation provides a maximum sentence of only two years for those found involved, he said, if necessary, the law will be amended in the next session to ensure stringent punishment to organisers and all others involved. He believes that harsh punishment would act as a deterrent to crime. Referring to the cases registered against some actors and social media influencers for promoting betting apps, Revanth Reddy said that merely questioning those promoting online betting would not help in finding a solution. The Chief Minister also voiced concern over the supply of gutka and other banned products and said the government has decided to act firmly. Chennai, March 26 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced that 72 new police stations and 23 fire stations have been established across the state since the DMK government assumed office in 2021. Addressing the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, Stalin said the government is committed to strengthening the stateas law enforcement and emergency response infrastructure. Responding to various MLAs who requested new police and fire stations in their constituencies, the Chief Minister assured that their proposals would be considered based on financial feasibility. During the discussion on the demand for grants for the Home Department, Stalin stated that further announcements would be made addressing the specific requests of legislators. In reply to a request by Aranthangi MLA, T. Ramachandran, for a new building for the fire and rescue services station in Aavudaiyarkovil, Stalin revealed that the government has sanctioned Rs 2.59 crore for the project. Construction, to be undertaken by the Tamil Nadu Police Housing Corporation, is scheduled to begin in May 2025 and is expected to be completed within a year. The Chief Minister also informed the House that a parcel of land in Kangayampalayam village has been identified for the construction of a permanent building for the fire and rescue services station in Sulur, Coimbatore district. The process of transferring land ownership to the Fire and Rescue Services Department is underway, and construction will begin shortly. Meanwhile, Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa informed the Assembly that tenders have been floated for the expansion of Coimbatore International Airport. This follows the Tamil Nadu government handing over lands acquired for the project. Rajaa criticised the previous AIADMK government for delaying the project, noting that although the airport expansion was proposed in 2010, significant funding was only allocated starting in 2018. Between 2018 and 2021, the AIADMK regime sanctioned Rs 572 crore, far short of the estimated project cost of Rs 2,088 crore. He added that within a year of taking office, the DMK government, under Chief Minister Stalinas leadership, allocated Rs 1,185 crore for the project. Echoing the importance of the project, AIADMK leader and former minister S.P. Velumani said the airport expansion would boost Coimbatoreas industrial profile and attract more IT companies to the city. Electricity Minister V. Senthilbalaji confirmed that land acquisition for the airport expansion has been completed and it has been handed over to the appropriate authorities by the District Collector. Charkhi Dadri, March 26 : Praveen Sangwan, a farmer from the village of Mirch in Charkhi Dadri of Haryana, has proven that with determination and hard work, any path can lead to success. Leaving behind a lucrative teaching career with a salary package worth lakhs, he ventured into mushroom farming - a decision that has not only changed his life but is also inspiring other farmers in the region. Praveen, a trained educator with a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) and Junior Basic Teacher (JBT), taught hundreds of students, many of whom have gone on to secure government jobs. Despite his qualifications and several attempts at competitive exams like Haryana Teaching Eligibility Test (HTET) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Praveen was unable to land a government job. Unfazed by these setbacks, he took a bold step to start his own venture in mushroom farming, driven by his passion for entrepreneurship and his desire to make a difference. After quitting his well-paying job in a private school in Gurugram, Praveen invested his time in learning the ropes of mushroom farming. He underwent specialised training at a research centre in Karnal to ensure he was equipped with the right knowledge and skills. Today, he runs a successful mushroom farming operation, earning substantial profits annually. His future ambitions are even more impressive - Praveen plans to expand his business by adding more sheds, increasing production, and exploring international markets to export his organic mushrooms. His ultimate goal is to achieve a turnover in the crores. Praveen is not just focused on his own success but is also dedicated to empowering others. He actively trains unemployed individuals in mushroom farming, helping them gain skills and find employment. Alongside his farming venture, he is looking to diversify his income by creating mushroom-based products like pickles and soups. IANS spoke to Praveen and shared his vision. "If a farmer shifts from traditional farming to organic farming, they can earn lakhs of rupees. Mushroom farming has been extremely profitable for me, and I plan to scale it further. With the right resources, I want to not only produce more but also help other farmers by educating them about government subsidies and schemes available for organic farming," he added. Mushroom farming is experiencing a global boom due to increasing demand and profitability, with projections suggesting significant market growth in the coming years, and India is a key player in this industry. Mumbai, March 26 : Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Wednesday that Maharashtra is now moving strongly on the path of the Constitution and will not stop. He appealed to the opposition parties to contribute to the progress and prosperity of the state. In his reply to a debate on an opposition motion in the state council, Deputy CM Shinde said: "Our government is a progressive government. Maharashtra is now moving strongly on the path of the Constitution, and it will not stop now." "Maharashtra is moving towards the peak of success. Let us take Maharashtra forward with one heart and one vote," he said. "Maharashtra is at the top in GDP, in exports, industrial production, GST collection, startups and attracting Foreign Direct Investment. It has also secured the first place in cleanliness. The highest number of infrastructure projects worth Rs 10 lakh crore are underway in Maharashtra," he said. He further added, "Maharashtra, which has the second largest population in the country, is the richest state in the country. The debt ratio in Maharashtra compared to GDP is only 18 per cent, and this is the lowest in the country." Deputy CM Shinde said that the state needs to strengthen connectivity through metro, internal metro, pod taxi, air, road, rail, and waterways, adding that a comprehensive policy is being implemented for tourism development. "We will effectively implement policies like Agri-tourism policy, Adventure tourism policy, Caravan policy and Beach Shack policy. The wellness centres will be set up in the state to provide facilities to tourists in the forts and a big tourism festival will be held in Mahabaleshwar in May," he said. "The government recently held a war room meeting in which we reviewed 19 ambitious projects in the metro, railway, highways, airports, ports, irrigation, water supply, sanitation tourism sectors. The government is accelerating the Wainganga-Nalganga river linking project for irrigation facilities in Vidarbha and Marathwada. Each department has shown what they will achieve in the next five years in the first hundred days," said the Deputy Chief Minister. Speaking on law and order in the state, he said, "The role of the government is that none of our sisters in the state should face atrocities; they should be able to move fearlessly in society. The police have been instructed to maintain 'zero tolerance' regarding incidents of atrocities on women. We will ensure that my beloved sister is safe. Due to the efforts made by the government in the last few years, the conviction rate is increasing every year. In 2015, it was 33 per cent, while in 2024, this rate has reached 50.5 per cent. It will further go up to 75 per cent." He further added that artificial intelligence will be used extensively in crime detection. Jaipur, March 26 : Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde, on Wednesday, emphasised that education is the key to development. Governor Bagde made this statement while addressing the ninth convocation ceremony of Maharaja Ganga Singh University in Bikaner district. Highlighting India's rich knowledge tradition, Governor Bagde urged students to integrate ancient wisdom with modern advancements to contribute to the nation's progress. He called for collective efforts to build a developed India. Referring to Bikaner as the 'Tapobhoomi' (a place of spiritual practice) of Maharishi Kapil, the founder of Sankhya philosophy, he stressed the need for introspection at all levels on how the younger generation can connect with India's heritage under the New Education Policy. Governor Bagde urged graduates to utilise their education for the reconstruction and development of the nation. He said that a convocation is not the end of education but a new beginning. Students should apply their knowledge for personal growth, societal upliftment, and national development, the Governor added. The Governor highlighted that education instills wisdom and knowledge, describing books as the foundation of education and culture. He emphasised that books make individuals knowledgeable, imaginative, thoughtful, and sensitive. Learning, the Governor asserted, has no age limit, with books being the greatest source of knowledge. Discussing the New Education Policy, he said that skill development is a crucial focus. This policy, he noted, is not just about securing jobs but also about creating employment opportunities. He encouraged students to develop skills that would make them self-reliant in the future. The Governor lauded Bikaner's cultural heritage, calling it 'Choti Kashi', a place of deep-rooted traditions and unity. He praised Maharaja Ganga Singh as a visionary ruler who established the Chief Court in Bikaner, making it the first state in Rajasthan to take such a progressive step. Governor Bagde commended Maharaja Ganga Singh University for adapting to the evolving landscape of information technology. He urged teachers to stay updated with the latest knowledge and contribute to shaping India's future. He also appreciated the university's implementation of the 'Choice Based Credit System' and the establishment of laboratories in affiliated colleges, underscoring that a university's identity is built on the quality of education and its tradition of knowledge dissemination, rather than just its infrastructure. Special guest and editor of The Organiser, Prafulla Ketkar, stressed that universities should not only impart education or award degrees but also inspire students to develop values such as humanity, tolerance, acceptance, logic, critical thinking, and the pursuit of truth. Maharaja Ganga Singh University Vice-Chancellor, Acharya Manoj Dixit, expressed his gratitude to all attendees at the university convocation ceremony. During the ceremony, the Governor congratulated female students for excelling academically. Of the 63 gold medals awarded for the 2022 examination, 50 were received by female students, while in 2023, they secured 47 out of 62 gold medals, Governor Bagde. He highlighted this achievement as a testament to women's empowerment. Additionally, the Chancellor Medal and Vice-Chancellor Medal were also awarded to female students. Out of 84 Vidya Vachaspati (Ph.D) degrees awarded in 2022, 33 were conferred upon female scholars, while in 2023, 26 out of 50 recipients were women. The Governor awarded degrees to 1,26,949 students for 2022 and 1,21,020 students for 2023, along with gold medals to 125 students. A total of 134 candidates received Ph.D degrees. On this occasion, Governor Bagde also inaugurated the university's Art Gallery, adding another milestone to the institution's academic and cultural journey. Kolkata, March 26 : A single-judge Bench of the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday granted permission for a rally in Baruipur-Paschim, the Assembly constituency of Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay. The rally is scheduled to be held on Thursday afternoon. The High Court also granted permission to Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari to hold a protest in front of the office of the superintendent of Baruipur Police District on Thursday afternoon after the rally. Being denied police permission to conduct the rally and the demonstration, Adhikari had approached the single-judge Bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh on Tuesday. In the petition, Adhikari accused the district police of denying him permission to conduct the rally on March 27. The matter was heard on Wednesday and at the end of the hearing, Justice Ghosh granted the LoP permission to go ahead with his scheduled programmes on Thursday. However, the Bench also imposed several restrictions on the rally and demonstration. First, the rally and demonstration have to be conducted between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Second, there should not be more than 1,000 participants in the scheduled protest. The judge also ruled that the maximum number of microphones to be used in the protest cannot exceed 25 and the microphones should not be used in hospital zones. Earlier on March 19, Adhikari reached the Baruipur-Paschim Assembly to hold a rally there. However, that rally by the BJP coincided with a programme of the ruling Trinamool Congress. There were several spats followed by slogans and counter-slogans between the Trinamool Congress and BJP legislators in the area over the two programmes being held at the same time in the area. Following the violence that erupted over the issue, the LoP had to retreat and cancel his scheduled protest. On Wednesday, Justice Ghosh also asked the police to submit to his Bench a report on the attack on the convoy of the LoP on March 19. The protest by Adhikari in the Baruipur-Paschim constituency on that day was against alleged discrimination faced by BJP legislators within the Assembly when the House was in session. The LoP accused the Speaker of adopting a one-sided approach in conducting the proceedings of the House by suspending the Opposition legislators, including him, from attending the proceedings. Thereafter, the LoP planned a similar protest at the Baruipur-Paschim Assembly on March 27. However, after being denied permission by the police, he approached the Calcutta High Court. Ranchi, March 26 : Jharkhand BJP leader and former Zila Parishad member Anil Tiger was shot dead in broad daylight in the Kanke area of Ranchi on Wednesday, officials said. The incident, which occurred around 4 p.m. on Wednesday at the busy Kanke Chowk, triggered panic among the people. According to eyewitnesses, Anil Tiger was sitting in Thakur Hotel at Kanke Chowk when two assailants on a motorcycle dropped in and shot him in the head. The sound of gunfire caused chaos as people fled the scene. Upon receiving the information, the Kanke police arrived and rushed Anil Tiger to the hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. In a swift operation, the police arrested the shooter shortly after the incident. While the exact motive remains unclear, police suspect a land dispute could be the reason behind the killing. The accused is being interrogated to uncover further details. The incident has sparked outrage among local residents, who gathered at Kanke Chowk to express their anger and demand justice. Police officers at the scene have begun questioning witnesses and collecting evidence. Ranchi Rural SP Sumit Agarwal confirmed the incident, stating, "A person has been shot dead in Kanke. The investigation is going on, and further details will emerge soon." Interestingly, the shooting occurred while Jharkhand DGP Anurag Gupta was holding a video conference with district SPs to discuss law and order in the state. Reacting to the incident, the DGP called it "unfortunate" and stressed that it is the police's responsibility to ensure criminals are caught and punished to prevent future crimes. The incident follows the recent attack on businessman Bipin Mishra in Ranchi, which police claim to have successfully solved with the arrest of the perpetrators. Ranchi BJP MLA CP Singh strongly criticised the state government, saying, "Law and order in Jharkhand is in complete disarray. How long will the state continue to echo with the sound of bullets?" Patna, March 26 : In a setback to the RJD, the Bihar Assembly on Wednesday rejected a proposal to recommend Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, for the veteran leader. Patna, March 26 (IANS) In a setback to the RJD, the Bihar Assembly on Wednesday rejected a proposal to recommend Bharat Ratna, Indiaas highest civilian award, for the veteran leader. The demand for awarding Bharat Ratna to Lalu Yadav has been a long-standing demand of the RJD, often raised by his loyal supporters within the party. On Wednesday, RJD MLA Mukesh Roshan once again brought the proposal to the Assembly, urging the Bihar government to recommend Lalu Yadavas name to the Central government. Responding to the proposal, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary clarified that the state government makes recommendations for the Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards each year, but there is currently no proposal for Lalu Yadav. "As of now, the Bihar government does not have any proposal to recommend Bharat Ratna for Lalu Yadav," Vijay Chaudhary said. He also urged Mukesh Roshan to withdraw his proposal. However, when Roshan refused to comply, Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav proceeded with a voice vote. The proposal was ultimately rejected by the majority. The rejection came as a blow to RJD members who were visibly disappointed by the outcome. With the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections approaching, the demand for Bharat Ratna is being seen as a political strategy to build public sentiment and garner support for Lalu Yadav, who remains a towering figure in Bihar politics despite his health and legal troubles. RJD leaders and supporters expressed their discontent outside the Assembly. "Lalu Yadav has made significant contributions to social justice and the empowerment of backward classes. He deserves the Bharat Ratna. This rejection is disappointing," said Mukesh Roshan, the RJD MLA of Mahua Assembly constituency in Vaishali district. Hyderabad, March 26 : The Telangana Assembly on Wednesday witnessed angry exchanges between the ruling Congress and main opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) after BRS leader K. T. Rama Rao claimed that Congress leaders were taking 30 percent commission in government contracts. Rama Raoas allegation evoked a strong reaction from Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and other members of the ruling party, who demanded that the BRS leader withdraw his remark. Trouble started during the debate on the state Budget when KTR, as Rama Rao is popularly known, asked if it was not a fact that contractors staged a dharna at the state Secretariat over being asked to pay 20 per cent commission. The Deputy Chief Minister dared KTR to prove his allegation or apologise. He also asked BRS members to be careful about what they say. Vikramarkaas remark triggered strong protests from the BRS. Terming the Deputy CMas remark as inappropriate, the BRS members demanded that he withdraw the same and apologise. There was pandemonium in the House due to protests and slogan-shouting by the opposition members. Taking exception to Deputy CMas remark, KTR said that the treasury benches, especially ministers, should have more restraint. He said they could also make provocative remarks. The House witnessed uproarious scenes with members of both the ruling party and the main opposition standing on their feet and shouting at each other. The BRS members later staged a walkout. After coming out of the House, they raised slogans in the lobbies, calling the Congress government a a20-30 percent commission governmenta. They squatted at the entrance to register their protest. Later, when the BRS members returned to the House, KTR said that he had a relationship with Bhatti Vikramarka for 16 years and respects him like an elder brother. The BRS leader made certain comments about Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy over his alleged involvement in the cash for vote case and reiterated his allegations that the ruling party leaders are taking commission. It once again caused an uproar in the House. Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar announced that KTRas remarks would be deleted from the Assembly record. When BRS members wanted the remarks of the Congress member Adi Srinivas to be deleted, the Speaker said he would examine the same and take a decision. Thiruvananthapuram, March 26 : The support base, for Kerala Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan's post in her social media page over the body shaming remarks made against her, rose hugely on Wednesday with numerous people coming to her support. Her Facebook post came on Tuesday evening where she said, "Heard an interesting comment yesterday on my stewardship as Chief Secretary a" that it is as black as my husband's was white. Hmmm... I need to own my blackness. This is a post I made today morning, and then deleted because I was flustered by the flurry of responses. I am reposting it because certain well wishers said that there were things there that needed to be discussed. I agree. So here goes, once again. Why did I want to call this particular one out? I was hurt, yes. But then these last seven months have been a relentless parade of comparisons with my predecessor, and I have become quite inured. It was about being labelled black (with that quiet sub text of being woman), as if that were something to be desperately ashamed of." The Facebook post further reads: "Black is as black does. Not just black the colour, but black the ne'er do good, black the malaise, the cold despotism, the heart of darkness. But why should black be vilified? Black is the all pervasive truth of the universe. Black is that which can absorb anything, the most powerful pulse of energy known to humankind. It is the colour that works on everyone, the dress code for office, the lustre of evening wear, the essence of kajol, the promise of rain. As a four year old I apparently asked my mother whether she could put me back in her womb and bring me out again, all white and pretty. I have lived for over 50 years buried under that narrative of not being a colour that was good enough. And buying into that narrative. Of not seeing beauty or value in black. Of being fascinated by fair skin. And fair minds, and all that was fair and good and wholesome. And of feeling that I was a lesser person for not being that -- which had to be compensated somehow. Till my children. Who gloried in their black heritage. Who kept finding beauty where I noticed none. Who thought that black was awesome. Who helped me see. That black is beautiful. That black is gorgeousness. That I dig black." On Wednesday, Chief Secretary Muraleedharan said that first she posted it and then she withdrew it, but when her husband V. Venu, the previous Chief Secretary from whom she took over, asked her to stay strong so she reposted it. "I do get huge support from my children who are everything to me and they are my source of strength and I rely on them for everything," she added. However, she is silent on who made this remark against her. Among those who came to her support was the Kerala Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan, former State Congress President K. Muraleedharan, Ramesh Chennithala and numerous others. Incidentally, Chief Secretary Muraleedharan is set to retire next month when this controversy surfaced. Interfax-Ukraine to host discussion 'Peace deal prospect. Is there one?' On Monday, March 31, at 12.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a discussion entitled "Peace deal prospect. Is there one?" Participants include political expert Kostiantyn Matviyenko; PhD in Political Science, expert of the United Ukraine Think Tank Ihor Petrenko; political scientist, co-founder of the National Platform for Resilience and Cohesion Oleh Saakian (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. Kolkata, March 26 : The Kolkata Police, on Wednesday, arrested seven persons including one inspector, one head constable, and three constables of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on charges of robbery at the residence of a deceased real estate promoter earlier this month, by posing as Income Tax Department officials. The CISF inspector arrested in this connection has been identified as Amit Kumar Singh, currently posted at Farakka Barrage in Murshidabad district. The other CISF personnel arrested in this connection are head constable Ramu Swaroj, constable Bimal Thapa, constable Janardan Shaw, and constable Laxmi Kumari. Deepak Rana, the driver of the vehicle in which these miscreants reached the residence of the deceased promoter for robbery, and one of his associates, have also been nabbed by the police. On March 18, the daughter of the deceased promoter filed a complaint at the Baguiati Police station, mentioning that some people posing as Income Tax officials reached their residence at 2 a.m., and reportedly started a search operation. In the complaint, it was also mentioned that at the end of the purported search operation, they left with around Rs 30,00,000 of cash and gold ornaments worth over a crore of rupees. While leaving the residence, they also got the signature of the widow of the deceased promoter on some paper. Sources said that the Kolkata Police started an investigation into the matter as it was apparently certain that those who came were imposters as Income Tax officials always conduct raids by informing the local police station, and along with police personnel as escorts. Thereafter, the Kolkata Police started the investigation into the matter by checking the footage of the CCTV cameras installed at the residence at the adjacent areas. Thereafter, the investigating officials first arrested the driver, Deepak Rana. During questioning, he revealed the names of those involved in the robbery, and thereafter, his associate and the five CISF personnel, including the Inspector were arrested. Kolkata Police insiders hinted that certain other individuals were also involved in the robbery and the investigating officials are trying to track and arrest them. The investigating officials doubt that some associate of the family might be the actual mastermind and are carrying out the investigation in those lines. Kolkata, March 26 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday launched raids and search operations in at least five places in and around Kolkata in connection with its ongoing investigation against the Mahadev Book betting app. At the same time, sources aware of the development said, there are charges of bank loan forgery against one of the kingpins of the betting app who had been operating from Kolkata. Each team of CBI officials was escorted by central armed police force (CAPF) personnel. Sources added that the main raid and search operations are being conducted at the residence of a local businessman at Salt Lake in northern Kolkata. Besides the charges of being part of the betting app rackets against the businessman and his son, they also face allegations of purposeful bank loan default and forgery. Last year, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials also conducted raids and search operations at the same place in connection with the alleged betting app scam. Raids and search operations by the CBI sleuths were ongoing at the time the report was filed. However, no arrest in the matter has been reported so far. Besides checking different documents at the five places in and around Kolkata where the raids and search operations are being conducted, the CBI officials are also interrogating a number of persons in connection with the betting app scam. As per the CBI, it was conducting searches at 60 locations across Chhattisgarh, Bhopal, Kolkata, and Delhi, "including premises linked to politicians, senior bureaucrats, police officers, key functionaries of Mahadev Book, and other private individuals suspected of involvement in the case". "The case pertains to the illegal operations of Mahadev Book, an online betting platform promoted by Ravi Uppal and Saurabh Chandrakar, both of whom are currently based in Dubai," the agency said. Investigations have revealed that the promoters allegedly paid substantial amounts as "protection money" to public servants to ensure the smooth and uninterrupted functioning of their illegal betting network, it said. Initially registered by the Chhattisgarh's Economic Offences Wing (EOW), the case was subsequently transferred to the CBI by the state government for a comprehensive probe into the role of senior public officials and other accused persons, the agency said. Mumbai, March 26 : Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Wednesday in the State Legislature that the government has crafted a new policy to build iconic buildings in Mumbai, especially when the city has a unique identity due to some specific buildings from the British era. He added that the state government boost tourism to help in creating a unique identity of Mumbai. "It is seen that various cities in the world have developed a unique identity due to their specific urban planning methods and specific buildings. Mumbai city also has a unique identity as there are some specific buildings from the British era. Mumbai is a world-class city and our country has a great architectural heritage. It is necessary to preserve it. Therefore, there is a need to encourage the construction of such distinctive iconic buildings in Mumbai city so that it will contribute to the beautification of the city and increase its tourism potential and thus create a unique identity for Mumbai city," said the Deputy Chief Minister. "Since the provisions of the Development Control and Promotion Rules currently in force in Mumbai for certain types of buildings are restrictive, the government has prepared a new policy for iconic buildings to enable the construction of such distinctive buildings and promote architectural class." "In order to make necessary amendments to the rules to include a separate provision in the Development Control and Promotion Rules of Mumbai for the construction of iconic buildings, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has been directed to amend the said rules under Section 37 (1) of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act," Deputy CM Shinde added. Meanwhile, Deputy CM Shinde announced in the State Legislature that a separate provision has been made in the Development Control and Promotion Rules-2034 to promote the redevelopment of buildings affected by height restrictions in the funnel zone of the airport in the Santacruz, Parle and Kurla areas of Mumbai. This will facilitate the redevelopment of old buildings in the restricted areas of the Brihanmumbai area, he said. "Since there is a limit on the height of buildings in the funnel zone, construction and redevelopment of buildings can be done up to that height. Therefore, while redeveloping old buildings in this area, it is not possible to redevelop using the entire permissible area at full capacity and this has been repeatedly demanded by local representatives and citizens. Approval has been given to make a separate provision in the Development Control and Promotion Rules-2034 to make specific provisions in the regulations to facilitate the redevelopment of old buildings in the airport funnel zone, which has height restrictions in the Greater Mumbai area," the Deputy Chief Minister added. Accordingly, a notice of modification is being issued under Section 37(1A) of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966, he said. This modification will facilitate the redevelopment of old buildings in the funnel zone, as well as other affected areas of Greater Mumbai where such restrictions apply, the Deputy Chief Minister added. Bhopal, March 26 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth Rs 92.07 crore belonging to former Madhya Pradesh Transport Department constable Saurabh Sharma in connection with its probe into a money laundering case, an official said on Wednesday. These assets, both movable and immovable, allegedly represent proceeds of crime amassed by Saurabh Sharma. The ED has claimed that these properties were acquired in Sharma's name, or in the names of his relatives, associates, and entities controlled by them. The investigation unfolded after a First Information Report (FIR) was filed by the Lokayukta Police Establishment, Bhopal, accusing Sharma of accumulating assets vastly disproportionate to his known sources of income. It was revealed that cash and gold seized from an Innova vehicle belonging to one of his associates, Chetan Singh Gaur, were directly linked to Sharma. Entities involved include Sharad Jaiswal and firms like Aviral Building Constructions Pvt Ltd, Aviral Enterprises Pvt Ltd, and U R Infrastructures Pvt Ltd. The ED's probe unveiled an intricate network where Sharma purchased numerous properties using funds allegedly laundered through unsecured loans from unidentified sources. These funds were reportedly derived from criminal activities tied to scheduled offenses. Sharma, alongside associates Gaur and Jaiswal, was previously arrested and remains in judicial custody. Earlier enforcement actions also led to the seizure of cash worth Rs 14.20 lakh, silver valued at Rs 9.17 lakh, and frozen bank accounts holding Rs 8.29 crore. The cumulative value of assets attached or seized now stands at Rs 100.36 crore. As the investigation progresses, further developments are anticipated. Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh Police have also lodged an FIR (first information report) against Saurabh Sharma and his mother for allegedly furnishing "false affidavit" that none of their family members were in government job at the time of his appointment and secured the government job on compensatory grounds as his father died on duty. The complaint was filed on complaint of a senior officer of state transport department. Saurabh was appointed on October 29, 2016, and took voluntary retirement on June 9, 2023. In another development the ED, Indore Sub-Zonal Office has provisionally attached immovable properties amounting to Rs 95 lakh (approx.) on 25/03/2025 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 in an investigation related to disproportionate assets case against Ashok Sharma, the then Deputy Director, Urban Administration Development Department, Indore and Ujjain. The ED initiated investigation on the basis of FIR registered by the Special Police Establishment Lokayukta, Ujjain under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for alleged possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income to the tune of Rs. 1.64 crore, during the check period, from April 1, 1998 to January 17, 2010. Aden, March 26 : Yemen's Houthi militants said that the ongoing US military attacks will not deter their operations in support of Gaza, as tensions in the Red Sea continue to escalate. In a televised address on Tuesday night marking "National Resilience Day", commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Saudi-led coalition's initial airstrikes, Mahdi Al Mashat, chairman of the Houthis' Supreme Political Council, delivered a defiant message challenging the ongoing US military operations in Yemen. Al Mashat directly addressed US President Donald Trump, asserting that "the entirety of your presidential term would be insufficient to dissuade us". "Your decision to attack our country will not succeed in halting our operations supporting Gaza," he said. Al Mashat criticised US foreign policy, describing the military actions against Yemen as "reckless" and lacking legitimacy. He called on the international community to adopt a unified stance against what he termed "American aggression" and "Zionist crimes". The Houthi leader emphasised the group's preparedness to respond to potential attacks, saying they have multiple options to protect their territorial integrity. The Houthi-controlled media reported that US warplanes conducted 17 airstrikes in the past 24 hours, targeting their strongholds in Saada and Amran provinces in northern Yemen. The Houthis claimed these strikes caused material damage to civilian property, though specific casualty details were not provided, Xinhua news agency reported. In mid-March, Trump ordered the US military to launch "decisive and powerful military action" against the Houthi militia, after the latter announced their plans to resume attacks on Israeli ships in the Red Sea, citing Israel's blockade of aid to the Gaza Strip. The Houthis on Wednesday said that they had launched fresh attacks on a US aircraft carrier in the Red Sea and "military targets" in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv. "Our forces launched missile and drone attacks over the past few hours, targeting American warships in the Red Sea, including the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, from which the aggression against our country is launched," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV. "The confrontation and engagement continued for several hours," he said, vowing to confront the ongoing US airstrikes on Houthi-held areas in northern Yemen. There was no comment yet from the US military. Aizawl/Silchar, March 26 : The Assam Rifles and other agencies in five separate operations have seized various drugs, foreign e-cigarettes and fake Indian currencies worth Rs 18.66 crore in Mizoram and southern Assam and apprehended five drug peddlers including two Myanmarese nationals, an official said on Wednesday. A Defence spokesperson said that in a significant success in its efforts against drug smuggling, Assam Rifles, in a joint operation with the officials of Excise and Narcotics Department, seized 50,000 highly addictive methamphetamine tablets also known as Yaba or party tablets, valued at Rs 15 crore. The drugs, smuggled from Myanmar, recovered from Bualpui in Mizoramas Lawngtlai district and apprehended a 53-year-old Myanmarese, who is a resident of Lungrang village, Hakha District of the neighbouring Myanmar. In the second operation, the para-military force along with the officials of Excise and Narcotics Department officials, in a joint operation have seized 386 bottles of Phensedyl cough syrup and apprehended another Myanmarese from Iron Bridge areas of Zokhawthar in Mizoramas Champhai district. During the routine checking of goods at the India-Myanmar friendship bridge, a suspicious consignment was detected and on the spot search revealed contraband concealed inside juice packages meant to be smuggled from Myanmar into India. Myanmar national identified as Lang Ngaih Lian (45), a resident of Tahan in the neighbouring country, was taken into custody by the Excise and Narcotics Department. The seized contraband is said to be valued at around Rs 2 crore. Smuggling of phensedyl, widely abused as a narcotic substance, poses a significant threat to public health, the spokesperson said. In the third operation, Assam Rifles, in a joint operation with the Customs have seized huge quantities of foreign e-cigarettes, contained in 14 boxes, from Zokhawthar in Champhai district. The recovered contraband, valued at Rs 16.43 lakh, was handed over to the Customs for further investigation and legal proceedings. In the fourth operation, Assam Rifles in association with the officials of Excise and Narcotics Department have intercepted a vehicle and seized 151.7 grams of heroin valued at Rs 1.13 crore and apprehended three individuals from Zokhawthar in Champhai district. The apprehended individuals, identified as Rashid Ahmed (28), Imran Khan (27) and Kanrul Islam Laskar (27) are all residents of Assam. The seized contraband, valued at Rs 1.13 crore, along with the vehicle and individuals, were handed over to the Excise and Narcotics Department. In the fifth operation, the Assam Rifles seized fake Indian currency notes worth Rs 37,28,500 at Rongpur in southern Assamas Silchar and arrested a person. Mumbai, March 26 : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs 75 lakh on HDFC Bank, the country's largest private sector lender, for not complying with directions in the RBI's Know Your Customer (KYC) master direction, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday. Mumbai, March 26 (IANS) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs 75 lakh on HDFC Bank, the countryas largest private sector lender, for not complying with directions in the RBIas Know Your Customer (KYC) master direction, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday. After considering HDFC Bank's reply to a showcause notice for violation of norms and additional submissions made by it, THE RBI found, inter alia, that the charges against the bank were sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty. The RBI found that the bank did not categorise certain customers into low, medium or high risk category based on its assessment and risk perception. The bank also allotted multiple customer identification codes to certain customers instead of a Unique Customer ldentification Code (UCIC) for each customer, the RBI statement said. The statutory inspection of the bank was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2023. Based on supervisory findings of non-compliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the said directions, according to the RBI statement. The RBI said that this action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers. Further, imposition of monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the bank. HDFC Bank reported a 2.2 per cent year-on-year growth in standalone net profit for Q3FY25 at Rs 16,736 crore. On a sequential basis, the net profit was marginally lower than the corresponding figure of Rs 16,821 crore in Q2FY25. The bank's interest earned increased 7.6 per cent year-on-year to Rs 76,007 crore, while interest expenses rose 7.7 per cent to Rs 45,354 crore during the quarter. Rajouri, March 26 : The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), a flagship scheme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, is bringing unprecedented changes in the people's lives and their living standards by providing them with pucca houses. In Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, more than 55,000 families have shifted from kuccha to pucca houses while many more houses are under construction. As IANS team visited Dasal village in Rajouri to make ground assessment of the scheme's success, it found many heartwarming stories of despair turning into hope. From Sarpanch Kewal Sharma to village residents, all thanked the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing them with the opportunity to shift into permanent homes. Rajouri ACD Vijay Kumar, entrusted with the responsibility of implementing the scheme and also see its penetration in the district told IANS that till date more than 55,000 have been made under the PMAY scheme. "About 62,000 houses were sanctioned, out of these more than 55,000 have already been built. There are some who have taken government aid but are yet to begin construction," he said. Further sharing eligibility criteria for availing scheme benefits, he shared: "Those people whose income is less than Rs 15,000 monthly and has no three-wheeler vehicle can apply for the scheme." Pradeep Kumar, BDO Rajouri, said that recovery process has been initiated against some defaulters also. Ranjeeta Devi, a beneficiary of scheme recalled her harrowing experience of living in kuccha house and shared how the PMAY has proved to a boon for her and family. Speaking to IANS, she said: "Our house was porous, we faced lot of difficulties during rainy season. We lived in a state of constant fear. We would shudder at the fear of falling roof during rainy season. But, that is no longer the case." "We are very thankful to PM Modi. We never thought we would have our permanent house. Not just us, many families benefitting from this scheme," she also said. The PMAY scheme is transforming lives across Rajouri and other districts of Jammu and Kashmir as people are being provided with a dignified life under the vision of "Housing for All". Madrid, March 26 : Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday pledged that increases in defence spending would not mean cuts to social services or the Welfare State. Speaking in the Spanish Congress, Sanchez addressed the need for Europe to raise its spending on defence due to doubts over the United States' commitment to European defense under a Trump Presidency. He explained that "the development of global peace is more necessary than ever," insisting that "the leadership of the EU is vital," while lamenting that at the moment "Europe lacks a common policy for defence and security." The Spanish leader believes it is vital to "establish the basis for a European army," an "armed forces with the same flag and interests," which is able to deal with military and cyber threats, as well as the consequences of climate change, Xinhua news agency reported. "We aren't going to attack any territory, but we are going to protect our way of life," said the Spanish leader, adding that this also meant defending the Welfare State. "I want our citizens to be clear that while I am Prime Minister, this effort in security will not be made to the detriment of our Welfare State," said Sanchez, who also made an appeal for the US government to change its mind over defense and tariffs. "We ask for the United States to reconsider and to talk. Europe is a World power and will respond like a power. We don't want a trade war, but we are negotiating an intelligent joint response," he said. Meanwhile, Hungary is currently hosting a major military exercise of the European Union, involving more than 900 troops from 11 member states. The exercise, dubbed 'MILEX 2025', runs from March 25 to April 10 and aims to test the EU Battlegroups' land-based operational capabilities under real-life conditions. Hungary's media described it as "the largest" of the bloc. Training is taking place at the Papa Air Base and Hungary's Central Shooting and Training Range, where soldiers conduct live-fire drills and tactical operations using advanced technology and procedures. The exercise is overseen by the multinational EUROCORPS command. Participating troops come from Hungary, Poland, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Ireland, Spain, France, Croatia, Lithuania, and Latvia. New Delhi, Mar 26 : The Centre on Wednesday notified the appointment of 4 judges of the Rajasthan High Court, though the Supreme Court Collegium had approved the proposal to elevate 7 advocates to the Bench. "In exercise of the power conferred by clause (1) of Article 217 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint S/Shri (i) Anand Sharma, (ii) Sunil Beniwal, (iii) Mukesh Rajpurohit and (iv) Sandeep Shah to be Judges of the Rajasthan High Court, in that order of seniority, with effect from the date they assume charge of their respective offices," said a notification issued by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice. In its meeting held on March 5, the SC Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, recommended the appointment of 7 advocates as judges of the Rajasthan High Court. "The Supreme Court Collegium in its meeting held on 05th March, 2025 has approved the proposal for appointment of the following Advocates, as Judges of the Rajasthan High Court: (i) Shri Anand Sharma, (ii) Shri Sunil Beniwal, (iii) Shri Sandeep Taneja, (iv) Shri Mukesh Rajpurohit, (v) Shri Sandeep Shah, (vi) Shri Baljinder Singh Sandhu, and (vii) Ms. Sheetal Mirdha," said a statement uploaded on the website of the apex court. The proposal to elevate advocates Taneja, Sandhu, and Mirdha is yet to be acted upon by the Centre. Earlier in the day, the Union government notified the appointment of three permanent judges to the Punjab and Haryana High Court and extended the term of three additional judges of the Chhattisgarh High Court for a year following the recommendations made by the apex court Collegium. In November 2023, the Supreme Court had remarked that the Centre's selective 'pick and choose' approach in appointments of judges to the higher judiciary "doesn't send a good signal". A bench headed by Justice S.K. Kaul (now retired) had said that if a candidate did not know what seniority they would have on becoming a judge, it became difficult to persuade other eligible and deserving candidates. Earlier, the top court had warned the Centre of "an unpalatable order" if it delayed and continued to have the selective 'pick and choose' approach in notifying the appointment or transfer of judges after recommendations were forwarded by the SC Collegium. It had said that selective appointments as the delays create huge anomalies in the system and disturb inter-se seniority. --IANS pds/vd Members of the Board of Directors of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine signed the Veteran Friendly Business Principles with the support of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine. These include such companies as Avrora Multimarket, Baker McKenzie, Bunge, Cargill, Carlsberg, Cisco, Citi, Horizon Capital, KPMG, McDonald's, Sayenko Kharenko, Unilever, Winner Group. This document was created by Starlight Media with the expert support of Veteran Hub in cooperation with Forbes Ukraine and with the support of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, and combines 12 key principles that define practical steps for companies to create inclusive workspaces and support veterans in their adaptation to civilian life. They have become a powerful public agreement for businesses operating in Ukraine to act in the interest of fairly supporting our defenders and their families in all areas of activity: in the workplace, in products and services, in procurement, communications, marketing, and in community engagement. "Supporting female and male veterans is not only about gratitude, but also about creating opportunities for a decent return to civilian life, including creating employment opportunities and fostering a culture among employers based on an understanding of the veteran community, their preferences and needs. Today we are signing the Veteran Friendly Business Principles together with the Board of Directors of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine. This is an important step towards shaping the corporate culture of employers. We appreciate the willingness of business community leaders to take on this mission and expand opportunities for female and male veterans, said Natalia Kalmykova, Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine. Supporting veterans, reintegrating them into the workplace, and encouraging employers to hire female and male veterans is one of the key priorities of the American Chamber of Commerce Human Capital Management Committee. "The opportunity to hire a person who has served their country should be a priority and an honorable mission for every company operating in Ukraine. 84% of Chamber Member Companies have employees serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It is important to create as many conditions as possible for defenders to become economically active again and to realize their knowledge and skills in civilian life. The member companies of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine are ready to provide veterans with decent employment and development opportunities, using their skills and experience for the benefit of the Ukrainian economy and Ukraine's reconstruction," - commented Andy Hunder, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine. Mumbai, March 26 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday that as long as there is a moon and a sun, no one will be able to change the Constitution of India. He asserted that there is no threat to the Constitution, saying that it has weathered all odds and has become mature. No one can meddle with it. In his reply to a two-day debate in the state Assembly on 'The glorious journey of the Indian Constitution', the chief minister accused the opposition of defaming the country's institutions because they cannot come to power. He asked the opposition to set a new narrative for the next elections, as their narrative of change in the Constitution played up during the Lok Sabha elections won't work in future. Fadnavis highlighted the history of the creation of the Constitution and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's contribution to it. "As long as there is a moon and a sun, no one will be able to change the Constitution of India. Therefore, there is no threat to the Constitution." Recalling that his father was imprisoned for two years during the Emergency, he stated, "During the Emergency, my father and aunt had to endure two years in prison. More than one lakh people from the opposition parties were imprisoned." He said that during the Emergency, the then government had suspended the fundamental rights of the people and removed the freedom of expression. "The situation was created as if the country were not run based on law but by diktat. By freezing the Constitution written by Dr Br Ambedkar, the then government had decided to put the entire opposition in jail," he remarked. "During the Emergency period, the Indira Gandhi-led government included socialist and secular words which are not there in the original Constitution. Dr Ambedkar knew that secularism is the soul of the country," said the chief minister. He said that the Centre took back the powers given to the states through the 42nd amendment, accordingly, the central agencies and police can intervene in the states. However, now they cannot do so. Without the state government's consent, the central police and agencies cannot enter the state. He further commented that after the 42nd amendment, the President was made a puppet as it was made binding to send the government decisions back merely by signing them. Speaking about the criticism being levelled against the country's institutions, the chief minister said, "You want to tarnish all the institutions of the country, point fingers at them, and somehow lead those institutions towards anarchy. We cannot come to power and then defame the institutions of the country in this way. When we defame these institutions, we show distrust in the Constitution. Because this Constitution has created these institutions. These institutions have been made so strong that no one can break them. Therefore, nothing bad can happen to the institutions created by this Constitution." The chief minister said that during the Congress-led government, the Constitution was amended to overturn the Supreme Court judgment in the Shah Bano case in 1985. However, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government amended the Constitution to ban the practice of instant triple talaq. Further, the Constitution was also amended to scrap Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, NCP SP legislator Jayant Patil, Congress legislator Nana Patole, among others, participated in the debate. Bengaluru, March 26 : Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, BJP MLA from Bijapur City in Karnataka, has been expelled from the party for six years due to his repeated violations of party discipline and controversial remarks against senior party leaders, including former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa. The expulsion was announced by the BJP's Central Disciplinary Committee in a letter issued on Wednesday. The disciplinary action came after a review of Yatnal's "response to the show cause notice" sent to him on February 10, 2025. The committee took "serious note" of his continuous breaches of party conduct despite earlier assurances of good behaviour. "Despite previous warnings and assurances, you have repeatedly violated party discipline," the committee stated in its letter. As a result, Yatnal was expelled from the BJP with immediate effect and also removed from any party positions he had previously held. The expulsion order, signed by Om Pathak, the member secretary of the disciplinary committee, marked the culmination of ongoing internal conflicts within the BJP. Recently, Yatnal made a crude remark about Kannada actor Ranya Rao, who was arrested in a gold smuggling case earlier this month in Bengaluru. This led to an FIR being filed against him in the High Grounds Police Station in Bengaluru. The MLA's provocative comments and behaviour have caused significant embarrassment within the party. Yatnal's criticisms were not limited to external figures but also targeted his own party colleagues. Just a day before he was served the expulsion notice, Yatnal questioned his potential candidacy for the position of Chief Minister or party state president, saying: "I haven't looted anyone, haven't badmouthed anyone, and haven't broken anyone's house. I haven't engaged in anti-party activities," a remark that appeared to indirectly target his party peers. In response to his expulsion, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal claimed that the party had targeted him for "calling a spade, a spade". In a post on X, he wrote: "The party has expelled me for 6 years for speaking against dynasty politics, corruption, reforms within the party, removing one-man upmanship & request to develop North Karnataka. The party has rewarded me for 'Calling a Spade, a Spade'." Yatnal also lashed out at the BJP leadership, accusing them of engaging in "dynasty politics" and claimed that certain vested interests had successfully advanced their own agenda at the cost of his position. "Certain vested interests have played their part in furthering their agenda successfully. The decision to suspend me will not deter my fight against corruption, family politics, development of North Karnataka & Hindutva," he added. Johannesburg, March 26 : Following US President Donald Trump's nomination of Leo Brent Bozell III as Ambassador to South Africa amid tensions between the two countries, some analysts view this swift appointment as a sign that the Trump administration is ready to engage with South Africa. Local political analyst Sandile Swana on Wednesday described Bozell as someone who would be on the ground to "challenge South Africa" on policies the US administration opposes. "The speed of this appointment, coming right after former Ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasool's expulsion, sends a message to South Africa that the US wants to engage with us. However, when the Americans negotiate, they do so while throwing punches at the same time," he said. This nomination has been notably quick compared to Trump's previous appointment of an Ambassador to South Africa. Trump took office in January 2017 but only nominated Lana Marks in November 2018, with her official confirmation coming in September 2019. Since January, tensions between the United States and South Africa have escalated. This has resulted in US officials skipping G20 meetings in South Africa and the expulsion of South Africa's Ambassador to the United States. Swana said there were several issues that the United States wanted to engage South Africa on. "South Africa currently has two cases in progress, one of them being the genocide case against Israel, and it has made favourable progress. My estimation is that the Americans do not want that case to reach a judgment. Even with the prima facie ruling, they have already lost the moral high ground," he said. Bozell III has no diplomatic experience and is primarily known as a conservative writer and media critic, Xinhua news agency reported. On Monday, the White House formally submitted his nomination to the US Senate for approval. Patrick Lukusa Kadima, an expert in international law, global geopolitics, international cooperation, and multilateralism at Wits University, told Xinhua that he did not believe the nominated Ambassador would be effective in defusing tensions between the two countries. "I think the appointment of Leo Brent Bozell III was expected, given that he is publicly known as a conservative and has been pretty much involved in the conservative movement. Such an individual might not be a good choice to defuse the tensions between the two countries," he said. Kadima said this nomination would not lead to improvements in relations between South Africa and the United States. "I don't think his appointment will improve the relations between the two countries. We are dealing with a well-known conservative and media critic here. I don't think it helps anyone. It is a difficult terrain to navigate for Pretoria," he added. John Stremlau, a visiting professor of international relations at Wits University, shared Swana's sentiments on the swiftness of the nomination. "It was quite fast compared to the previous appointment. They have chosen someone who is a pro-Zionist in the Middle East, while South Africa is strongly committed to Palestinian self-determination," he told Xinhua. Speaking to the media on Tuesday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said there would be no rush in replacing the recently expelled ambassador to the United States. Gandhinagar, March 26 : During the discussion on the budgetary demands for the Energy and Petrochemicals Department in the Gujarat Assembly, State Energy Minister Kanu Desai said on Wednesday that the four electricity distribution companies in the state received 'A+' ratings from the Union Power Ministry, with the Dakshin Gujarat, Madhya Gujarat, and Uttar Gujarat companies ranking first, second, and third, respectively. He also highlighted that Gujarat's JETCO (transmission Company) was awarded the Best Transmission Utility Award 2024 by the Central Board of Irrigation and Power (CBIP). Discussing the state government's focus on clean and green energy, Minister Desai emphasised the country's vision to reduce reliance on coal and gas-based power and promote renewable energy. India has set a target of 500 GW of green energy capacity by 2030, which will drive Gujarat's sustainable development and ensure affordable electricity for all, the Minister said. Gujarat aims to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2047, aligning with India's Net Zero goal for 2070, he added. Gujarat is at the forefront of renewable energy, contributing 26 per cent of India's total wind power capacity with an installed capacity of 12,584 MW, he said. The state also accounts for 18 per cent of the country's solar power generation with 18,125 MW of installed capacity, the Minister added. The total renewable energy capacity in Gujarat stands at 32,924 MW, which is 15 per cent of India's total renewable energy capacity of 2,14,677 MW, he said. The Minister proudly announced that Gujarat received the Highest Achiever State Award at the Global RE-Invest Summit 2024 for its contribution to wind and solar power. To streamline renewable energy projects, the state launched the Akshay Urja Setu Portal, enabling a single-window clearance system for investors, Minister Desai added. Gujarat is also playing a key role in Mission Green Hydrogen, aiming to contribute significantly to India's target of producing 5 million metric ton of green hydrogen by 2030, he said. The PM Surya Ghar Yojana was also highlighted as an initiative to encourage solar rooftop installations, with Gujarat leading the country by installing solar rooftops in more than three lakh homes, accounting for 40 per cent of India's total installations, Minister Desai said. Under the Surya Gujarat Yojana, 5.21 lakh homes in the state have installed solar rooftop systems, generating 2073 MW of electricity -- the highest in India, he added. The Minister also said that Gujarat has been providing significant electricity bill relief to consumers. In March 2024, the state reduced fuel charges by 50 paise per unit, benefiting 1.5 crore consumers, saving Rs 1,057 crore, he added. A further reduction of 40 paise per unit in December 2024 provided an additional relief of Rs 947 crore, he said. Gujarat's per capita electricity consumption has surged from 953 units in 2002 to 2,479 units in 2024, significantly higher than India's average of 1,331 units, the Minister added. Over the last 22 years, Gujarat's maximum electricity demand has grown by 329 per cent, from 7,743 MW in 2002 to 25,502 MW in 2024, he said. The state government has also focused on farmers, allocating Rs 2,175 crore under the Kisan Suryodaya Yojana to provide daytime electricity to 97 per cent of Gujarat's villages, the Minister added. Additionally, under the PM Kusum Yojana, farmers in off-grid areas are being provided solar-powered irrigation pumps to replace diesel pumps, he said. Gujarat's transmission and distribution network is also being upgraded with a Rs 6,830 crore allocation for 96 new substations and 3,170 circuit transmission lines, he added. To enhance disaster resilience, Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for underground cabling in cyclone-prone coastal areas, he said. The state is also focusing on electric vehicles (EVs), with Rs 50 crore allocated for expanding EV charging stations under the Viksit Gujarat 2047 initiative, the Minister added. Gujarat also leads in natural gas distribution, with GSPC (Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation) ranking as India's second-largest gas trading company, he said. Cairo, March 26 : Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani held phone talks on Wednesday, during which they discussed efforts to resume and implement the Gaza ceasefire deal. According to a statement published by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, the two sides exchanged opinions over paving the road to an early recovery and reconstruction of Gaza to ensure settling the Palestinians on their land. They agreed to continue coordinating to ease the regional escalation and prevent further regional tensions, the statement said. The two sides also stressed the importance of joint work to reach a political settlement that ensures regional stability, by establishing a Palestinian state as a final solution to the conflict, the statement said, Xinhua news agency reported. A phased ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas 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. On Tuesday, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez rejected the ongoing Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip. During a phone conversation, they emphasised the necessity of an immediate ceasefire, an end to the Israeli ground incursion into the Strip, and the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement. Sisi reaffirmed Egypt's opposition to any attempts to displace Palestinians from their land. Sanchez backed an Arab-led plan to rebuild Gaza and aligned Spain's position with Egypt in rejecting the forced displacement of Palestinians or any move to undermine their cause, the statement said. New Delhi, March 26 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking an independent probe into Karnataka Minister for Cooperation K.N. Rajanna's claim that political rivals tried to "honey trap him". Refusing to entertain the plea, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sanjay Karol and Sandeep Mehta asked the PIL litigant's counsel to explain as to how a non-Karnataka resident was concerned with the affairs of Karnataka. Ultimately, the apex court dismissed the PIL seeking an investigation into the alleged honey trap scandal to be either monitored by the Supreme Court itself or by a committee headed by a retired top court judge. Last Thursday, Senior Minister Rajanna, on the floor of the state Assembly, admitted that he had fallen victim to a honey trap, further claiming that over 48 politicians across Karnataka and the country had been trapped similarly. On March 24, the PIL was mentioned for urgent hearing before Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, who assured listing the matter in a day or two. After Rajanna's claim and the state opposition BJP's demand for an investigation into the issue, state Home Minister G. Parameshwara announced that a high-level probe would be conducted. "This is a question of the honour of every member of this House. We must put an end to it," Parameshwara emphasised. "Minister Rajanna has stated that he will file a written complaint. Based on that, I will order a high-level inquiry. Let the truth come out. The facts must be known," he added. Subsequently, the Home Minister, when asked about the controversy, stated on Monday that he had not yet received a complaint from Minister Rajanna. "Without a complaint, we cannot initiate action. There must be a cause for action. Without an FIR, no action can be taken," he stated. The issue sparked a heated debate in the Legislative Assembly, leading to dramatic developments as members became emotional while discussing the matter, and BJP member N. Munirathna even alleged that Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is behind the honey trap network in Karnataka. It also led to the suspension of 18 BJP MLAs from the Assembly for six months with immediate effect, on charges of showing disrespect to the Speaker's Chair on Friday. The suspension came following the disruption of the proceedings while staging a protest in the Well of the house while demanding a judicial or CBI probe into the alleged honey trap attempt involving Minister Rajanna The Karnataka BJP has slammed the Congress-led government's move to suspend its MLAs, saying that they were suspended for demanding justice in the alleged honey trap scandal. Chennai, March 26 : The makers of director Buchi Babu Sana's upcoming action entertainer, featuring Telugu star Ram Charan in the lead, on Wednesday announced that they would be releasing the first look of the film, which is tentatively being referred to as RC16, on Thursday on the occasion of Ram Charan's birthday. Chennai, March 26 (IANS) The makers of director Buchi Babu Sanaas upcoming action entertainer, featuring Telugu star Ram Charan in the lead, on Wednesday announced that they would be releasing the first look of the film, which is tentatively being referred to as RC16, on Thursday on the occasion of Ram Charanas birthday. The makers, however, chose to treat fans to a tantalizing pre-look poster that shows the intensity of the character that the actor plays in the film. The poster released on Wednesday features Ram Charan in a captivating back pose, embodying a rugged and raw persona. His hair, beard, and serious expression add layers of intensity to his character, while the subtle yet powerful inclusion of a cigar held behind his back enhances the sense of intrigue. Produced by Venkata Satish Kilaru, the film, which is being billed as a pan-India spectacle by its makers, is being presented by the powerhouse production house Mythri Movie Makers, alongside the creative brilliance of Sukumar Writings. Sources close to the unit of the film claim that #RC16 is being crafted on an unprecedented scale, with a colossal budget, breathtaking visuals, world-class production values, and cutting-edge technical excellence. The movie features an ensemble of renowned actors from various film industries, creating an exciting blend of talent and star power. Kannada superstar Shiva Rajkumar plays a pivotal and powerful role in the film. The highly anticipated film will feature an ensemble cast including Ram Charan, Janhvi Kapoor, Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapathi Babu, and Divyendu Sharma. The film's music is being composed by Academy Award-winning composer AR Rahman while its visuals are being shot by ace cameraman R. Rathnavelu. Avinash Kolla is serving as the production designer of this film. --IANS Mkr/ Guwahati, March 26 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said that the state administration has been working towards providing equal opportunities to women and as a result of this, women's participation in the labour force in the state is higher than the national average. According to Sarma, the share of women workers in the total labour force is 52.8 percent in rural areas and 31.5 percent in urban areas in Assam. The CM shared data in which it was shown that the national average of women's labour force is 47.6 per cent in urban areas. The share of women in the rural labour workforce is 28 per centboth these figures are less than that of Assam. Taking to X, Chief Minister Sarma wrote, "Equal Partners in growth. In Assam, due to our safe environment, empowering policies and a thrust on skilling women, their participation in the labour force has steadily increased over the years and is now above the national average at 52.8 per cent in rural areas and 31.5 per cent in urban areas." The Assam government has been running a slew of schemes targeting the upliftment of females in the state. Recently, the government launched a financial support initiative -- the Nijut Moina scheme to help the education of girl students in the state. The latest government initiative aims to cover 10 lakh girl students with an outlay of Rs 1,500 crore, and in the first year, over 1.6 lakh girls will get Rs 240 crore. Speaking about the scheme, Sarma said, "Assam has started a big initiative by launching Nijut Moina. Under this scheme, the girl students who study at the graduation level will receive a monthly scholarship of more than Rs 1000, and those who pursue post-graduation are set to get Rs 2500 per month to bear the education expenditure. In this way, we want that girl students should not depend on their parents to continue higher education." The Chief Minister argued that with the launch of this initiative, the child marriage cases will come down in Assam. "We are anticipating that Nijut Moina will be able to eradicate the evil of child marriage from the state," he said. Sarma further said that one of the primary conditions to avail this scheme is that the girl students will remain unmarried till they reach the post-graduation level. "As the aim of this initiative is to eradicate child marriage, the girl students studying at the graduation level must remain unmarried till they finish their undergraduate curriculum. Once they reach the post-graduation level, there is no bar in remaining unmarried to avail the Nijut Moina scheme. At that point, they will reach their minimum age of marriage, and we also desire that the girls get married in a specific period and lead a happy life," he stated. The Chief Minister also laid down another condition that no daughter of MP, MLA or minister can get the benefits of this financial support initiative. Amaravati, March 26 : The Andhra Pradesh government plans to collaborate with renowned Japanese developers to establish a dedicated SME Park near Sri City. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu held a meeting with a Japanese delegation led by Ambassador Keiichi Ono here on Thursday to explore avenues for strengthening collaboration and growth. During the meeting, he mentioned the history of strong ties with Japan and highlighted the state's thriving Japanese ecosystem in Sri City, which has been instrumental in attracting Japanese firms. The discussions focused on strengthening economic ties, expanding Japanese investments in Andhra Pradesh, and exploring collaborations across various sectors such as shipbuilding, electronics, chemicals, automobiles, and education to drive new opportunities for growth. Meanwhile, Industries, Commerce and Food Processing Minister T.G. Bharath has invited the Japanese companies to invest in Andhra Pradesh. Addressing programme 'Japan's connect with Andhra Pradesh' at Vijayawada on Wednesday and attended by the Japanese Ambassador and a Japanese business delegation attended the programme, the minister, speaking on 'investment, infrastructure, people to people exchange & education', urged the representatives of various companies to come forward to invest in the state. He said that Andhra Pradesh is an ideal destination for investment. Bharath termed Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu as the biggest ambassador of Andhra Pradesh. He recalled how Naidu's vision led to the rapid development of Hyderabad. The Minister said that Andhra Pradesh is marching ahead with the speed of doing business, with the government extending all the support to investors. He claimed that in just nine months, the government headed by Chandrababu Naidu secured investment of Rs 8.5 lakh crore. The government is also planning to provide pending incentives. Bharath stated that everyone knows what happened in the state during the last five years."Now we have given confidence to investors with the CBN brand," he said. Highlighting the immense investment potential the state offers, the Minister said that investment can be made across sectors. New Delhi, March 26 : Sber has been ranked 78th among the Top 500 banking brands and 22nd in the ranking of the 25 most valuable bank brands in Europe. Sber also outperformed Norwayas DNB, Italyas UniCredit, and the Dutch ABN AMRO. Sber has maintained its leadership among the most valued Russian banking brands in 2025. According to Brand Finance, Sberas brand value reached $4.8 billion, climbing from $4.4 bn in 2024. Despite the sanctions and the challenging geopolitical environment, the bank is strengthening its positions thanks to the trust of 110 million individual and 3.3 million corporate clients. Sber creates high-tech, user-friendly, cost-efficient, safe, and secure products and services that help people address their day-to-day issues, set long-term goals, and attain them. aSber is a major global bigtech creating innovation-driven solutions for different aspects of life. Dozens of Sberas R&D departments work on hundreds of high-tech projects and undertake applied research in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, blockchain, and robotics, to name a few," said Alexander Vedyakhin, First Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board, Sberbank. "These projects enable the transformation of the lessons weave learned into cutting-edge technology and products, positioning us to remain the most valued brand of all Russian financial institutions. We will keep driving our technology for people to use the worldas best services easily and securely," Vedyakhin added. Sberbank was the first in Russia to launch a biometric payment solution, called Smile to Pay, for all Russian citizens over the age of 18. Over two million people in Russia used the service in 2024. Sber is a global merchant acquiring leader and Europeas biggest acquirer, according to The Largest Merchant Acquirers Worldwide by Nilson Report. Sberbank has also been a socially responsible market player for years, pursuing initiatives in education, healthcare, and infrastructure. For instance, thanks to Sber, the city of Gorno-Altaisk will soon have a super-modern air harbour that meets the high requirements of air traffic management, which will replace an outdated and now-defunct airport. Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 26. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Bangladesh Mohammed Shahabuddin on the occasion of the country's Independence Day, Trend reports. "Esteemed Mr. President, On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I sincerely congratulate you and your entire nation on the occasion of your countrys national holiday Independence Day. We attach great importance to expanding Azerbaijan-Bangladesh relations and enriching our cooperation with new content. The friendship established between our countries has created favorable opportunities for this. I believe that we will continue our joint efforts to strengthen interstate relations and realize the full potential of our cooperation for the benefit of our peoples. Taking this opportunity, I extend my sincere congratulations and best wishes to you and the friendly people of Bangladesh on the upcoming holy Ramadan holiday," the letter reads. Jaipur, March 26 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, on Wednesday, emphasised the crucial role of farmers in the nation's development. During the event, the state government transferred a grant of Rs 137 crore to 30,000 farmers. Addressing the Farmers' Conference and Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) programme in Bikaner, he said that a prosperous farmer ensures a prosperous country. He added that the vision of the BJP-led state government extends beyond 'agricultural development' to 'agricultural pride', aiming to make Rajasthan's farmers exemplary on a global scale. He encouraged farmers to join the FPO initiative for increased profitability and empowerment. Several key initiatives were also announced, including an increase in the amount allocated under the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana and Chief Minister Thar Border Area Development Program; expansion of the beneficiary base under the Mangala Pashu Bima Yojana; enhancement of the free medicines and vaccines provided under the Pashudhan Free Arogya Yojana to 200 varieties; issuance of various agricultural and horticultural department guidelines; announcement of an incentive of Rs 30,000 for farmers engaging in organic farming with bulls; and distribution of grants to three FPOs under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme and share capital to one FPO. The event, organised under the Rajasthan Day Program Series, saw the Chief Minister extending his greetings for the Rajasthan Day and the Indian New Year 2082. Chief Minister Sharma noted that, starting this year, the Rajasthan Day will be celebrated on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada and urged citizens to mark the occasion with enthusiasm. The Chief Minister paid tributes to the relentless efforts of farmers, who brave extreme weather conditions to ensure food security. Their sacrifices, he said, are the backbone of India's agricultural strength, making the country self-reliant in food production. CM Sharma highlighted the importance of the FPO as a transformative initiative. He stressed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi envisions empowering small and marginal farmers by encouraging collective farming through FPOs. This initiative enables farmers to access subsidies, affordable seeds, and fair prices for their crops, the Chief Minister said. The state government is actively promoting FPOs to safeguard farmers' interests, CM Sharma added. The Chief Minister reiterated the government's unwavering commitment to improving farmers' livelihoods. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, Rs 1,400 crore has been transferred to more than 72 lakh farmers in Rajasthan, he said. Additionally, Rs 29,000 crore in interest-free crop loans has been provided to about 47 lakh farmers and more than Rs 3,000 crore in insurance claims has been disbursed under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, he added. CM Sharma acknowledged the challenges farmers face and reaffirmed his commitment to resolving them. By 2027, the government aims to ensure uninterrupted daytime electricity for farming, the Chief Minister said. Addressing the issue of examination paper leaks, the Chief Minister assured strict action against culprits and emphasised that no such incidents have occurred during his tenure. He urged the youth to focus on hard work and assured continued recruitment and appointment processes in the state. With a robust vision for agricultural and rural development, the Rajasthan government continues to take decisive steps to uplift farmers and ensure sustainable growth in the sector, CM Sharma added. Patna, March 26 : In a shocking incident, unidentified men allegedly assaulted journalist Krishnandan inside Magadh Mahila College on Wednesday. The incident took place when the journalist was on campus covering news related to the Patna University Studentsa Union (PUSU) Election. The Gandhi Maidan SHO confirmed the incident, stating that the victim filed an application against unknown persons. "We have registered the FIR, and action will be taken to identify and apprehend the anti-social elements involved," the SHO said. Krishnandan was interviewing students who were expressing concerns about security issues on campus. According to the journalist, students complained about feeling unsafe due to the frequent visits of politically affiliated youth groups amid the ongoing PUSU election campaign. "While I was taking interviews of students, some youths belonging to a particular political organisation, who were present, attacked me," Krishnandan said. The journalist sustained injuries to his hand and was admitted to the hospital for treatment. The Patna University Studentsa Union (PUSU) elections are scheduled for March 29, with multiple student groups affiliated with major political parties actively campaigning on campus. The presence of political groups has led to rising tension within college premises. "The police assured us that they are working to identify the individuals responsible for the incident," Krishnandan said. "We will soon release the identity of the individuals involved. Strict action will be taken against them," the Gandhi Maidan SHO added. Earlier, a firing incident occurred outside the Patna Womenas College on Tuesday, in which one person sustained injuries. Earlier on March 5, Patna University witnessed a chaotic scene when a bomb exploded inside the campus. The incident occurred outside the library of the Economics Department near Darbhanga House inside the campus of Patna University. Imphal, March 26 : In a series of operations, the Indian Army, in a series of joint operations with the other security forces, have recovered 32 weapons, some improvised explosive devices, grenades, various other ammunition and war-like stores from various districts of Manipur, officials said on Wednesday. A defence spokesman said that in a series of operations during the past few days, Indian Army, Assam Rifles, CRPF, BSF, ITBP and Manipur Police during their ongoing operations have recovered 32 weapons, some improvised explosives devices, grenades, various other ammunition and war like stores from five districts -- Kakching, Imphal West, Senapati, Imphal East and Bishnupur. The recovered arms included AK 47 rifle, Self Loading Rifle, 0.303 rifle, 0.22 Rifle, Carbine Machine Gun, Single Barrel Rifle, bolt action rifles, improvised mortars, Carbine Machine Gun and INSAS rifles. The recovered arms and ammunition have been handed over to the Manipur Police. These coordinated efforts by the Army and other security forces highlight their unwavering commitment to maintaining peace and security in Manipur, the spokesman said. Meanwhile, Assam Rifles had initiated a comprehensive week-long rehabilitation programme for village volunteers in Churachandpur District. The defence spokesman said that the initiative aimed to reintegrate them into mainstream society by equipping them with essential skills that would enable them to secure employment and contribute positively to their communities. Under this programme, volunteers were provided training in various fields, including musical instruments, masonry and carpentry, as well as computer skills. These vocational courses were designed to provide them with practical expertise and hands-on experience, ensuring sustainable livelihood opportunities both within and beyond the region, the spokesman said. He said that this rehabilitation effort is a crucial step in steering the youth away from the influence of anti-national elements and channelling their potential towards constructive and nation-building activities. The initiative has garnered widespread appreciation from the local population, who acknowledged the importance of such programmes in rebuilding lives and strengthening the socio-economic fabric of society. New Delhi, March 26 : Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, citing his studies in Harvard, said that he had always tried to embrace challenges and advised students to move out of their comfort zones and explore new things, if they wanted to grow. Addressing the NDTV Yuva Conclave, the Union Minister also spoke of the crucial role of young Indians in building a developed India (Viksit Bharat). "I have always tried to embrace challenges. If I am here to give you any advice, I will give you just one - always step out of your comfort zone. The environment where you feel comfortable, the job where you feel settled - your exponential growth will happen only when you step out of your comfort zone," said the Union Minister while addressing the conclave. Reflecting on his time at Harvard, he recalled how his parents were initially hesitant about him studying abroad, fearing the challenges he might face. "My father and mother were not very keen on me going abroad. They feared I might struggle or feel distant from home. I had a curiosity within me, but I was also scared; it was a different country. Though I had been in a boarding school before, this was even farther away. I applied on my own, and I was fortunate to get into one of the world's best institutions," he said. Scindia also pointed out that in India, students memorised textbooks for marks, while abroad, professors focused on students' analysis and thoughts. Recalling an eye-opening moment in his first International Relations class, the Union Minister said: "We had to write a paper on the Congo Crisis. I did what we usually do in India - I took four primary sources, opened all four books, picked one paragraph from each, and compiled what I thought was an excellent paper. I submitted it confidently." "After the class, my professor, Akhilesh Ji, asked to speak with me. I thought I had topped the class. Everyone left, and then he said, 'Listen, I don't need to know what's written in these books. In fact, I have written one of these books myself. What I need to know is your analysis. What do you think was right or wrong? Take back your paper and rewrite it'. That was the concept-not just learning what to think, but how to think," he said. "So always stay outside your comfort zone. Try and explore things you have never explored before," he advised. Scindia also described the death of his father, Madhavrao Scindia, as the most transformative challenge of his life. "For me, it was a very challenging time-fulfilling his hopes and aspirations, walking on a new path. Public service was new to me. I was an economist by training and an investment banker. But now, I had to step into public service. I had experience with him, as I had been involved in his campaigns since the age of 13 or 14. But that was just an episode. My entire way of life changed." He recalled a piece of advice his father always gave him: "Politics should never be the ultimate goal. Flip through history, and you'll see-every major shift, revolution, or innovation, whether thousands of years ago or in today's digital world, was driven by the youth." With 70 per cent of India's population under 35, he called it the country's demographic and democratic dividend. "We're talking about nearly 90 crore people-three times the US population and twice the combined population of Eastern and Western Europe," he noted. Highlighting India's booming startup ecosystem, he said, "Earlier, we had only a handful of startups. Today, we have nearly 1.75 lakh startups and over 100 unicorns." Scindia further spoke of key government initiatives to empower India's youth. He spoke about the PM Internship Programme, which connects young professionals with the top 500 companies, with 8,000 enrollments this year and a Rs 2,000 crore budget. He emphasised a Rs 6,000 crore investment in research and development to give universities access to global research, helping India move from a "services nation" to a "product nation." The Union Minister said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi: "We are transitioning from Amrit Kaal to Shatabdi Kaal - from a developing nation to a developed India, from a dependent India to a self-reliant India. This is our vision, and this is our commitment," he said. Amaravati, March 26 : The Andhra Pradesh government has ordered a probe into the death of pastor Praveen Pagadala under suspicious circumstances. With Christian organisations suspecting foul play, the state government ordered a probe by an executive magistrate, while the East Godavari Police have also formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The body of Praveen Pagadala (45) was found next to his motorbike by the roadside at Kontamuru near Rajahmundry on Tuesday. While police stated that he died in a road accident, his family members and followers suspect that he was murdered as he had recently spoken about a threat to his life. For a second consecutive day, tension prevailed near the Government Hospital in Rajahmundry where representatives of several Christian groups gathered to demand a thorough probe into the incident. Praveen, a resident of Hyderabad, was coming to Rajahmundry on his Royal Enfield bike after attending a programme at a church in Kovvur town on Monday night. His body was spotted by passersby near Kontamuru on Tuesday morning. East Godavari Superintendent of Police (SP) Narasimha Kishor told media persons in Rajahmundry that Praveen's mobile phone was found near his body. He had made the last call to one Rammohan RJY. The police informed Rammohan, who rushed to the spot and identified the deceased as Praveen. The police then informed Praveen's family, which resides in Hyderabad. On a complaint by Praveen's brother-in-law, police registered a case of death under suspicious circumstances. Police gathered evidence from the spot with the help of a dog squad and a clues team. The SP said a team of doctors conducted the postmortem, and the entire process was video recorded. The body was handed over to Praveen's family on Wednesday. The police collected CCTV footage of Praveen riding the motorbike near the Kovvur toll gate and near Kontamuru. Praveen's bike and a red colour car were seen moving at the same time. Police suspect the accident occurred at 11.43 p.m. "We are analysing the evidence and trying to find out what happened between 11.31 p.m. and 11.42 p.m. We are using the latest technology to identify the car," the SP said. A Special Investigation Team has been constituted for the probe. The SIT, headed by Kovvur DSP Deva Kumar, includes two circle inspectors and two sub-inspectors. The SP said the case would be investigated from all angles. If anybody has any evidence with regard to the incident, they should share the same with the police, he said. IT Minister Nara Lokesh has condoled the death of Pastor Pagadala Praveen. He posted on X that the preliminary investigation by the police identified a road accident as the cause of his death. He, however, said in view of the doubts being expressed by various groups, a thorough investigation will be conducted. Well-known evangelist and Praja Shanti Party President K. A. Paul said that the position of the bike near the body does not suggest that it was an accident. Former chief minister and YSRCP President Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy described the death of Pastor and religious preacher Praveen Pagadala as deeply saddening. Amid suspicions raised by Praveen's close associates and relatives, Jagan Mohan Reddy demanded that the government conduct an impartial inquiry into the matter. Mumbai, March 26 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Wednesday, directed the state administration to submit a proposal for the establishment of a Public Health Infrastructure Corporation to make maximum schemes and health facilities of the health department available online and to build state-of-the-art infrastructure in the health sector. This is necessary as the citizens should get quality health facilities within at least 5 km, the Chief Minister added. He was speaking at the meeting to review the functioning of the public health department. State Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif, Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar, Minister of State for Health Meghna Bordikar and Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik were present on this occasion. The Chief Minister said that more emphasis should be placed on coordination between the internal working of the Public Health Department and the Medical Education Department. "Things that are outdated should be improved. Efforts should be made to ensure that maximum treatment is provided in the primary health centres in the state. On the lines of Tamil Nadu, 13 various health services should be made available in primary health centres. The state government is trying to ensure that citizens get health services easily and at affordable prices. The agencies should conduct all the studies and submit comprehensive information immediately to implement this. The adequate attention be paid on increasing the number of specialist doctors, starting new facilities in the health department and the modernisation of district and sub-district hospitals," he added. Chief Minister Fadnavis said that emphasis will have to be placed on improving drug supply and equipment management, increasing the use of digital technology for healthcare, increasing the number of government and private hospitals under Ayushman Bharat and state government insurance schemes. He insisted that strict measures will have to be taken to keep the cost of treatment under control. "Special health centres, mobile health units and telemedicine should be expanded in tribal and remote areas with emphasis on reforms in rural and remote areas. Health services should be delivered in coordination with the local administration. Rules regarding private hospitals should be strictly implemented. Health education and awareness campaigns should be conducted for citizens," he said. He also directed that a separate system should be set up for data management of the health department. Jalpaiguri : , March 26 (IANS) The tea industry in the country is expanding continuously, as in the year 2024, tea exports increased to a record 254.67 million kg, and India remained the third largest tea exporter in the world. Despite going through a difficult phase in last two to three years, the tea industry is back on track. Vijay Gopal Chakraborty, Secretary of the Small Tea Producers Association in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district, praised India's growing stature in the tea industry. He told IANS, "The tea industry witnessed a very steady growth in the year 2024, which was not seen in the previous two to three years. If we look at the last year's figures, India exported a record 254.67 million kg of tea in 2024, which is the highest in the last decade. A revenue of Rs 7,111 crore was obtained from such high exports, i.e. the average price was Rs 280 per kg. At the same time, 23.169 crore kg of tea was exported in 2023, the average price of which was Rs 265.91 per kg." "According to a recent report by the International Tea Committee, India has now overtaken Sri Lanka to become the third largest producer of global tea exports. India is now only behind China and Kenya," Chakraborty said. Speaking about new countries entering the India tea market, he said, "Russia was our traditional tea partner, but new doors have opened in the world market for Indian tea. About 70 per cent of India's tea exports go to countries like The UAE, Russia, the US, the UK, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, China, Germany and Turkey. It is surprising that in Turkey every person drinks up to six kg of tea in a year. The Turkish market is also new for us." Regarding the future target for the tea industry, Chakraborty said, "We have set a huge target in the tea industry. We want to export 30 crore kg of tea to the whole world by 2030. A total of 140 crore kg of tea is produced in the country, of which 110 crore kg is sold in the domestic market. The recent trend seen in the tea industry in the country is very encouraging. There will be further growth in this industry in the future." Jalpaiguri : , March 26 (IANS) The tea industry in the country is expanding continuously, as in the year 2024, tea exports increased to a record 254.67 million kg, with India surpassing Sri Lanka, becoming the third largest tea exporter in the world. Despite going through a difficult phase in last two to three years, the tea industry is back on track. Vijay Gopal Chakraborty, Secretary of the Small Tea Producers Association in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district, praised India's growing stature in the tea industry. He told IANS, "The tea industry witnessed a very steady growth in the year 2024, which was not seen in the previous two to three years. If we look at the last year's figures, India exported a record 254.67 million kg of tea in 2024, which is the highest in the last decade. A revenue of Rs 7,111 crore was obtained from such high exports, i.e. the average price was Rs 280 per kg. At the same time, 23.169 crore kg of tea was exported in 2023, the average price of which was Rs 265.91 per kg." "According to a recent report by the International Tea Committee, India has now overtaken Sri Lanka to become the third largest producer of global tea exports. India is now only behind China and Kenya," Chakraborty said. Speaking about new countries entering the India tea market, he said, "Russia was our traditional tea partner, but new doors have opened in the world market for Indian tea. About 70 per cent of India's tea exports go to countries like The UAE, Russia, the US, the UK, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, China, Germany and Turkey. It is surprising that in Turkey every person drinks up to six kg of tea in a year. The Turkish market is also new for us." Regarding the future target for the tea industry, Chakraborty said, "We have set a huge target in the tea industry. We want to export 30 crore kg of tea to the whole world by 2030. A total of 140 crore kg of tea is produced in the country, of which 110 crore kg is sold in the domestic market. The recent trend seen in the tea industry in the country is very encouraging. There will be further growth in this industry in the future." Agartala, March 26 : Various crimes along the India-Bangladesh border villages in Tripura have significantly reduced due to the numerous efforts of the Border Security Force (BSF), border area residents claimed during their interactions with top BSF officials on Wednesday. BSF Additional Director General (ADG), Eastern Command, Ravi Gandhi - as part of his three-day visit to Tripura - had an interactive session with residents of Bhagalpur, Narsingharh, Bamutia, and Kalkalia villages in western Tripura. The residents expressed their deep appreciation for the BSFas unwavering commitment to border security and community welfare. A large number of men and women residents during the interactions acknowledged the significant reduction in crime along the border due to BSFas proactive efforts and praised the forceas responsiveness in addressing key concerns, including connectivity, lighting in border areas, and border-gate management, which have significantly improved their quality of life. Gandhi listened to the residentsa suggestions and assured them that BSFas support in resolving critical issues would continue. The ADG further assured the residents that the BSF remains committed to assisting them and would coordinate with concerned authorities to address their issues effectively. Recognising the need for essential services, the senior BSF official assured that the paramilitary force would organise educational and medical camps to ensure healthcare and learning opportunities reach the grassroots level. Additionally, the ADG encouraged the youths to consider careers in the BSF and announced specialised training programs and skill development camps to help them prepare for recruitment. A BSF spokesman said that the interaction reaffirmed BSFas commitment to fostering strong ties with the border communities and positioning them as key stakeholders in the development of remote border areas. On Tuesday, the ADG visited Border Outpost (BOP), Khantalang and BOP Pushparampara, the first all-women Prahari post in Tripura. The spokesman said that during the visit, the ADG reviewed the operational preparedness of the outposts and interacted with the Mahila Praharis, including Post Commander (Sub-Inspector rank-woman) Sanju Ghasal. He commended the women personnel for their dedication, professionalism, and resilience in managing security operations in one of the toughest terrains along the India-Bangladesh border. During his three-day tour to Tripura, the ADG arrived in Tripura on Monday, separately met Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, Chief Secretary J. K. Sinha and Director General of Police Amitabh Ranjan and discussed the India-Bangladesh border-related issues. Jaipur, March 26 : Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa received a death threat here on Wednesday, the police said. An unidentified man called the Jaipur Police Control Room and issued the threat. The duty officer immediately informed senior police officers about the incident. Upon investigation, the call was traced to a mobile phone located inside the Jaipur Central Jail. Following this, the East District Police and Line Force, in coordination with the Jail Department, launched a search operation inside the prison. Rajasthan Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Congress leader, Tika Ram Jully, has said, "It is deeply concerning that the Deputy Chief Minister of the state, Prem Chand Bairwa, has received a death threat from Jaipur Central Jail. Following the earlier threat to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, this latest incident once again highlights the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. When senior public representatives are receiving threats from behind the jail, it raises serious concerns about the safety of the common people." LoP Jully also added: "The matter is grave and demands immediate attention. Criminals operating from within jails with such impunity indicate a major security lapse. How are inmates gaining access to mobile phones? Who is facilitating these breaches? A thorough and urgent investigation is needed to address these critical issues." This is not the first such incident. Earlier, on the night of February 21, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma also received a death threat. The call originated from the Dausa Jail, where an inmate convicted under the POCSO Act made two threatening calls to the Jaipur Police Control Room within a span of 10 minutes, between 12:45 and 12:55 a.m. Additionally, on July 27, 2024, another threat call was made from Shyalawas Jail targeting CM Sharma. In response, the Jaipur Police conducted a special search operation inside the prison, seizing multiple mobile phones. A case was registered at the Papada police station against the prisoner involved, and another individual attempting to smuggle a SIM card into the jail was arrested. Authorities are now intensifying surveillance measures inside jails to prevent such security breaches. In the aftermath of the 2024 July incident, the jail administration took strict action, suspending three officials -- Acting Jail Superintendent Kailash Daroga, Jailer Bihari Lal, and chief guard Awadhesh Kumar -- for negligence. This was not the first such incident. Around 13 months earlier, in January 2024, a prisoner convicted under the POCSO Act and serving a five-year sentence in Jaipur Central Jail had also threatened to shoot the Chief Minister. The call was abruptly disconnected, and the mobile phone used in the threat was switched off. A police investigation using technical surveillance led to the identification of the accused, and further searches in the jail resulted in the seizure of multiple mobile phones. Authorities are now tightening security measures inside prisons to curb such recurring threats. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) came under fire from Republicans on Tuesday for referring to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), who uses a wheelchair, as "Governor Hot Wheels." Crockett made the remark Saturday at a Human Rights Campaign dinner in Los Angeles as part of a broader dig at the Texas governor. "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," Crockett said to applause from the audience. Abbott, 67, was paralyzed at the age of 26 after a tree fell on him while he was on a run, damaging his spinal cord. On Tuesday, Crockett did not directly respond to reporters' questions about her remarks as she walked onto the House floor, saying only that her comment at Saturday's event "speaks for itself." "Y'all saw the video," she added. The National Republican Congressional Committee, which works to elect Republicans in the House, shared the video of Crockett's remarks on social media earlier Tuesday and called on two vulnerable Texas Democrats in the House - Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez - to condemn what she said. "Jasmine Crockett is the perfect spokesperson for today's Democrats - out of touch and completely unhinged. When you've got no message and no agenda, all that's left is hate," NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella said in a statement. In a post shared on X on Tuesday - hours after her brief comments to reporters outside the House floor - Crockett sought to clarify her remarks about Abbott, saying that she "wasn't thinking about the governor's 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." "Literally, the next line I said was that he was a Hot A** Mess,' referencing his terrible policies," Crockett wrote. "At no point did I mention or allude to his condition. So, I'm 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." Spokespeople for Abbott and the Human Rights Campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Neither did spokespeople for Cuellar or Gonzalez. Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas) said Tuesday evening that he intends to file a resolution that seeks to censure Crockett for her comments, saying in a statement that the congresswoman's behavior "is a disgrace to everything Texas and the United States stands for." "The story of our great Governor of Texas is one of unwavering resilience and perseverance," Weber said in a statement Tuesday. "Meanwhile, the actions of Jasmine Crockett - stooping to vile levels of discrimination and despicable political attacks - are nothing short of reprehensible. She must be censured and held accountable for the venomous rhetoric she spews as a representative of the Democratic Party." Censure is one of three options the U.S. House utilizes for disciplining its members, along with the more severe expulsion and the less harsh reprimand. While censuring a lawmaker used to be rare, the House has been using the admonishment more regularly in recent years. The Texas Democrat, first elected to the House in 2022, has built a reputation for going viral for animated and unfiltered moments in Congress. Last year, she got into a spat with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) during a House Oversight Committee meeting after Greene attacked Crockett's physical appearance. Greene suggested that Crockett's "fake eyelashes" got in the way of her reading. And in response, Crockett said Green has a "bleach-blonde, bad-built, butch body." At another Oversight hearing in January, a conflict with Rep. Nancy Mace led the South Carolina Republican to ask Crockett if she wanted to "take it outside." Moments like these elevated Crockett's profile among Democrats, with many seeing her as a rising star of the party who has been able to connect with voters through her candid approach to politics. But it's that same spotlight that Republicans targeted as they criticized the Texas Democrat for her mockery of Abbott. In a post on X Tuesday evening, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) called Crockett's comments "shameful and completely out of line." He also suggested there was a link between the remark and her involvement in calls for nonviolent protests against Tesla, which is owned by billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk. "This type of reckless rhetoric has already led to the vandalism of private property, firebombing of cars, and targeting of Tesla owners," Johnson wrote. "The nonsense needs to stop now before someone gets hurt." Crockett's comments were also condemned by several of President Donald Trump's allies, including Rudy Giuliani, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who said Crockett's comments were "disgraceful." "Can you imagine if a Republican said something like this?" he asked in an X post. In her social media posts to explain her "Governor Hot Wheels" comment, Crockett pointed out that the Republicans who criticized her have also openly supported Trump, who has frequently mocked people with disabilities. "Keep that same energy for all people, not just your political adversaries," Crockett said. Trump has a history of mocking the disabilities of a variety of individuals, including President Joe Biden's stutter and the physical disabilities of a reporter who has joint limitations. On the 2024 campaign trail, Trump referred to his Democratic opponent, then-Vice President Kamala Harris, as "mentally impaired" and compared her actions to those of "a mentally disabled person." Musk, who's tasked with leading the U.S. DOGE Service to cut the federal government's size, has also repeatedly used a slur that refers to a person with mental handicaps on X, his social media platform, since Trump won the election. He's deployed it in reference to actor Ben Stiller, Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen and historian Timothy Snyder. Spokespeople for House Democratic leadership did not immediately respond to requests for comment. But on Tuesday, some House Democrats appeared split on their reactions to Crockett's remarks. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan) - who chairs the House Democrats' messaging arm and also leads the Bipartisan Disability Caucus - rejected Crockett's remarks. "I'll just say - it's not who I am," Dingell said after being asked if she thought Crockett's comments were appropriate. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) - who, like Crockett, is also seen as one of the Democratic Party's most successful messengers - said Republicans' criticism of Crockett was another attempt by the party to intimidate their opponents. "It's very clear that they want to punish anyone who disagrees with them," she said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 26. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recently released its annual report on the state of religious freedoms worldwide. For several years, the commission has openly exhibited bias against Azerbaijan, and this years report continues to include baseless and subjective claims directed at the country, the Western Azerbaijan Community said in a statement, Trend reports. "As in previous years, the authors of the report base their allegations on fabricated reports prepared by radical Armenian nationalists, funded by extremist organizations like the 'All-Armenian Charitable Union' and the 'Aragats Foundation' (L. Khachaturyan, H. Gulyan, S. Bokcheryan), and documents from the disreputable 'Freedom House,' which has been an instrument in the hands of the radical Armenian diaspora, notorious for its anti-Azerbaijani activities. Another major point proving the commissions bias is its complete disregard for Armenia, a country that is a primary violator of religious freedoms. According to the commission, Armenia has 'fully ensured religious freedom' despite the country's history of ethnic cleansing, the destruction of over 300 mosques, and hundreds of cemeteries during its occupation of Azerbaijani territories," the statement reads. The community further emphasized that it is more appropriate for the commission to focus on Armenias actions, including the refusal to allow a UNESCO mission to assess the condition of Azerbaijani cultural and religious heritage in the occupied territories. "We would like to emphasize that such a mission should be directed to Armenia, not Azerbaijan. It would be more appropriate for the Commission to focus on the issue of the Armenian government's refusal to permit a UNESCO mission to assess the cultural and religious heritage of Azerbaijan within Armenia," reads the statement. The report also includes the disrespectful use of terms like 'Nagorno-Karabakh,' a violation of Azerbaijans territorial integrity and sovereignty. "We condemn the USCIRF's racist actions, which hinder peace and reconciliation in the region. We call on the U.S. side to take appropriate measures regarding the commission's biased and double-standard approach," the statement concludes. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Patna, March 26 : Jan Suraaj chief Prashant Kishor said on Wednesday that if the Waqf Amendment Bill is passed in Parliament, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar must be held directly responsible. While interacting with media persons in Patna on Wednesday, Kishor extended his support to the All India Muslim Personal Law Board's (AIMPLB) protest against the amendments in the bill. "I have supported the protest of AIMPLB against the Waqf Bill. This bill has been introduced multiple times in Parliament, creating discomfort among the Muslim community. If the bill is passed, Nitish Kumar will be responsible for it," Kishor said. In a sharp attack on the BJP, Kishor emphasised that only a Gandhian ideology-based political system could counter the ideological framework of the ruling BJP in the country. "Jan Suraaj is not campaigning to capture power by contesting elections in Bihar. It is a movement to revive the Congress system based on Mahatma Gandhi's ideals before independence," he added. Kishor further claimed that the Jan Suraaj is steadily gaining support, with hundreds of people joining daily, motivated by the vision of a better future for Bihar. In the latest development, former IPS officer Muhammad Abdullah and social worker Amjad Hasan joined Jan Suraaj on Wednesday. "Truth has a unique power. No matter how much mud is thrown on it, it remains unchanged. Over time, people in Bihar will realise which party and system are best for their children's future," Kishor remarked. Earlier in the day, AIMPLB organised a massive protest against the Waqf Amendment Bill at Gardanibagh Dharna Asthal. The protest of AIMPLB was supported by several political parties, including RJD, Congress, CPI-ML and others, while a massive protest was also seen inside and outside the Bihar Assembly. Raipur, March 26 : After CBI's reported departure from Raipur, former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has come down heavily on the agency and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government. In a series of posts on X, he said: "It has come to my attention that the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) visited my 'government residence' in Raipur. I was neither informed about this visit nor was I notified by the officers who arrived at my Bhilai residence. Entering my official residence without my knowledge or consent is a blatant overreach. Is the BJP orchestrating a conspiracy through the CBI?" The former chief minister further said on his post, "the CBI claims their visit was linked to the Mahadev Satta App. Interestingly, this app was virtually unknown across the country until our Congress government took decisive action against it during my tenure as Chief Minister". He also told reporters that the CBI took away three of his mobile phones. "We registered 74 FIRs, made over 200 arrests, and froze more than 2,000 bank accounts. It was under our government that the app was removed from the Play Store after we formally requested Google to take action. If we were the ones to crack down on this app, how can we now be accused of shielding it? The ED even spread false reports claiming that Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal were arrested in Dubai, only for it to emerge that they were actually involved in organising Shiv Katha events. What kind of investigation is this?" Baghel said. Earlier, he said: "The CBI has now left my residence. Coincidentally, the Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Chhattisgarh on the 30th. It seems these raids are being conducted to provide 'content' for his upcoming speech. "On Wednesday, the CBI raided my residences in Raipur and Bhilai, as well as the homes of senior police officers and a close associate of mine, in connection with the alleged Rs 6,000 crore Mahadev App scam." The Congress has already stated that these raids are politically motivated and "we will not be intimidated by such tactics". Sources reveal that the CBI also searched the premises of Congress MLA Devendra Yadav and IPS officers in Bhilai, Durg district. The raid lasted over 12 hours, and it is being claimed that several key documents were seized. Last year, the state government handed over 70 cases related to the Mahadev App scam, including one registered by the Economic Offences Investigation Branch (EOW), to the CBI. The CBI in a statement on Wednesday said it had recovered digital and documentary evidences in the case in raids conducted at 60 places in Bhopal, Raipur, Kolkata and Delhi including premises linked to politicians, senior bureaucrats, police officers, key functionaries of Mahadev Book, and other private individuals suspected of involvement in the case. The case pertains to the illegal operations of Mahadev Book, an online betting platform promoted by Ravi Uppal and Saurabh Chandrakar, both of whom are currently based in Dubai. Initially registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Raipur, the case was subsequently transferred to the CBI by the government of Chhattisgarh for a comprehensive probe into the role of senior public officials and other accused persons, the ace investigation agency said. Investigations have revealed that the promoters allegedly paid substantial amounts as "protection money" to public servants to ensure the smooth and uninterrupted functioning of their illegal betting network. Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is also investigating the case, has alleged that several top political leaders and bureaucrats from Chhattisgarh are involved. The ED estimates that the proceeds of crime in this case amount to approximately Rs 6,000 crore. Redevelopment of two shopping centers owned by Broad Reach Retail Partners ANNAPOLIS, Md., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Broad Reach Retail Partners is proud to announce the ongoing redevelopment of Eagle Village Shopping Center following a fire that impacted a portion of the property. This revitalization effort reflects the company's commitment to strengthening retail destinations that serve as vital community hubs and gathering destinations. Eagle Village is a high-traffic, grocery-anchored shopping center that has been a retail cornerstone of the Fredericksburg area. Situated across from the University of Mary Washington and adjacent to Mary Washington Hospital, the center plays a critical role in serving students, medical professionals, and local residents. While the fire posed challenges, Broad Reach Retail Partners remained dedicated to not only restoring but enhancing the property to better serve the community. "Our approach to redevelopment goes beyond rebuilding," said Mike Castellitto, COO & Partner at Broad Reach Retail Partners. "At Eagle Village, we are focused on revitalizing the affected area to create an even stronger shopping experience for tenants and visitors alike." While redevelopment efforts at Eagle Village are still underway, Broad Reach Retail Partners has already demonstrated its expertise in property transformation through the successful redevelopment of another retail center named Henderson Pointe in Henderson, North Carolina. This 188,647-square-foot shopping center has been fully reenvisioned and remerchandised. Anchored originally by top national retailers, including Food Lion, , and Harbor Freight Tools, the newly redeveloped center now includes national powerhouse retailers Five Below, Ross Dress For Less, Burlington Coat Factory and Mattress Warehouse. Located within the high-traffic Dabney Drive retail corridor, Henderson Pointe has become a thriving retail destination, with easy access to major highways and a strong mix of national and local tenants. "The transformation of Henderson Pointe showcases our ability to reposition and strengthen retail centers to better serve their communities," said Castellitto. "We are bringing the same dedication and strategic vision to Eagle Village, ensuring it remains a premier shopping destination for years to come." Leasing opportunities are available at both Eagle Village and Henderson Pointe. Broad Reach Retail Partners is committed to fostering dynamic retail environments that drive tenant success and enhance the customer shopping experience. For leasing inquiries or more information about Broad Reach Retail Partners' redevelopment initiatives, please visit their website at BroadReachRetail.com or email [email protected]. About Broad Reach Retail Partners Founded in 2006, Broad Reach Retail Partners, LLC is a privately held, fully integrated owner and operator of shopping centers. Since its inception, Broad Reach has owned, leased, or managed 66 centers, representing over 5 million square feet. The company's mission is to create value for its partners, properties, and people by maximizing the full potential of underutilized shopping centers through focused leasing, disciplined buying, and meticulous management. For more information, visit BroadReachRetail.com. Media Contact Emily Roberts Marketing & Communications Broad Reach Retail Partners [email protected] Media Contact Emily Roberts, Broad Reach Retail Partners, 1 4432254808 1013, [email protected], www.broadreachretail.com Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn SOURCE Broad Reach Retail Partners "Every woman suffering from OSA deserves a solution that is not only effective but also tailored to her unique needs" Susie McCullough, EVP Operations and Co-founder of Vivos Therapeutics. Post this Key reasons why OSA uniquely affects women include: Hormonal Influences on Breathing: Estrogen and progesterone help keep airways stable, reducing the risk of sleep apnea. However, fluctuations in these hormones during key life stages can increase vulnerability to OSA. During menopause, declining estrogen levels substantially increase OSA risk by affecting metabolism, thermoregulation, and circadian rhythms. (2-3) Pregnancy-related hormonal and physical changes can also increase OSA risk, with up to 27% of pregnant women affected. (4) Additionally, OSA symptoms may worsen during certain phases of the menstrual cycle, particularly around menstruation. (5) Research shows a 56% prevalence of OSA in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). (6) Atypical Symptoms: Women with OSA often experience symptoms such as chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, and insomnia rather than loud snoring or excessive daytime sleepiness. (1) They are also more likely to report restless legs, nightmares, and palpitations, leading to frequent misdiagnosis. The societal stigma around snoring and attending medical visits alone may further hinder proper diagnosis, contributing to lower referral rates and underrepresentation in clinical studies. (7) Sleep Stages: Women with OSA experience more breathing disturbances during REM sleep, when the airway is most vulnerable to collapse. (1) These episodes tend to be longer and more de-saturating than those in non-REM sleep, increasing risks for systemic hypertension and cardiometabolic issues. Despite its significant impact, REM-related OSA often occurs in mild to moderate cases and may go unnoticed, contributing to delayed diagnosis and treatment. (8) Gender Disparities in Sleep Apnea Diagnosis and Screening Limitations Bias in sleep apnea diagnosis extends beyond outdated screening toolsit also influences how healthcare providers interpret symptoms. Research indicates that even when women present with hallmark OSA symptoms, they are significantly less likely to receive appropriate treatment compared to men. This discrepancy persists despite women facing similar risks for hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. (9) A key factor contributing to this gap is the reliance on screening tools that were primarily developed based on male-centric symptoms. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), a widely used assessment for daytime sleepiness, evaluates an individual's likelihood of dozing off in various scenarios. However, this tool may not accurately capture the experiences of women with OSA, who are more likely to report insomnia and anxiety rather than excessive daytime sleepiness. Since the ESS prioritizes sleep propensity over sleep fragmentation or quality, it may fail to help providers identify cases of OSA in women. This male-oriented approach to screening may contribute to the underdiagnoses of OSA in women, further delaying access to necessary care and treatment. (1) Empowering Women to Lead the Charge in Sleep Health Raising awareness about the gender disparities in OSA diagnosis and treatment is a critical step toward improving women's overall health. Vivos is dedicated to addressing this issue by educating both patients and healthcare professionals on the unique ways OSA presents in women. As part of this ongoing effort, Vivos hosts an Empowering Women to Champion Airway conference at the Vivos Institute in Denver, CO. This event brings together healthcare professionals, industry leaders, and advocates to discuss the latest research, treatment advancements, and strategies for overcoming gender disparities in airway health. Held every fall, the conference fosters collaboration and education, empowering attendees with the tools to enhance patient outcomes and drive innovation in sleep medicine. "The more we talk about it, the more lives we can change," says Susie McCullough, EVP of Operations and Co-founder of Vivos Therapeutics. "Women should not have to fight for recognition of a condition that science has already proven exists." Revolutionizing Sleep Apnea Treatment for Women with Non-Invasive Solutions Vivos is transforming sleep apnea treatment by offering dentists and medical providers an innovative, non-invasive oral appliance that addresses the needs of all their patients. The Vivos C.A.R.E oral appliance is the only FDA-cleared device designed for use in mild, moderate, and severe cases of obstructive sleep apnea. By targeting the anatomical root cause of airway obstruction, it improves sleep quality and overall health. In many cases, treatment can resolve sleep apnea in under 12 months. To ensure providers are equipped to deliver the best care, Vivos offers comprehensive training and support for dental and medical professionals across the United States and Canada. This includes advanced education on sleep testing, screening, diagnosis, and treatment protocols, empowering providers to offer the most effective, patient-centered solutions. "Every woman suffering from OSA deserves a solution that is not only effective but also tailored to her unique needs," says Susie McCullough, EVP of Operations and Co-founder of Vivos Therapeutics. "We are dedicated to empowering women to make informed decisions about their options and live healthier, more fulfilling lives, while ensuring that providers have the knowledge and tools they need to make a difference in patient care." About VIVOS THERAPEUTICS Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects over 1 billion people worldwide, yet 85% remain undiagnosed and unaware of their condition. This chronic disorder is not just a sleep issueit's closely linked to nearly every modern chronic health condition. While the medical community has made strides in treating sleep disorders, breathing and sleep health remain areas that are still not fully understood. As a result, solutions are often mechanistic and fail to address the root causes of OSA. Vivos Therapeutics, founded in 2016 and based in Littleton, CO, is changing this. Through innovative technology, education, and partnerships with dentists, functional medicine doctors, and sleep specialists, Vivos is empowering healthcare providers to more thoroughly address the complex needs of patients. Their groundbreaking device is the only FDA 510(k) cleared technology for treating severe OSA and the first to receive clearance for treating moderate to severe OSA in children. The Vivos Method offers a unique, clinically effective solution that is nonsurgical, noninvasive, and nonpharmaceutical, providing hope for patients with mild to severe OSA. Vivos: Breathe New Life. For more information, visit http://www.vivos.com. References 1. Vera Summer, Jay . "Sleep Apnea in Women." SleepApnea.org, 5 Nov. 2024, sleepapnea.org/sleep-health/sleep-apnea-in-women/. 2. Kruger, Markus, et al. "Menopause Is Associated with Obstructive Sleep Apnea in a Population-Based Sample from MecklenburgWestern Pomerania, Germany." Journal of Clinical Medicine, vol. 12, no. 6, 1 Jan. 2023, p. 2101, mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/6/2101, https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12062101. 3. Pacheco, Danielle. "How Can Menopause Affect Sleep?" Sleep Foundation, 22 Jan. 2021, sleepfoundation.org/women-sleep/menopause-and-sleep. 4. Maniaci, Antonino, et al. "Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Pregnancy: A Comprehensive Review of Maternal and Fetal Implications." Neurology International, vol. 16, no. 3, 7 May 2024, pp. 522532, doi.org/10.3390/neurolint16030039. 5. Pacheco, Danielle, and Abhinav Singh. "Sleep Apnea Symptoms in Women." Sleep Foundation, 1 June 2023, sleepfoundation.org/sleep-apnea/sleep-apnea-symptoms-in-women. 6. Liu, Peijun, et al. "Association of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome through Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization." Frontiers in Medicine, vol. 11, 28 June 2024, doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2024.1429783. 7. Wimms, Alison, et al. "Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Women: Specific Issues and Interventions." BioMed Research International, vol. 2016, 2016, pp. 19, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5028797/, https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/1764837. 8. Bonsignore, Maria R., et al. "REM Sleep Obstructive Sleep Apnoea." European Respiratory Review, vol. 33, no. 171, 31 Jan. 2024, err.ersjournals.com/content/33/171/230166#:~:text=Obstructive%20sleep%20apnoea%20(OSA)%20can, https://doi.org/10.1183/16000617.0166-2023. 9. Lastra, Alejandra Carolina, and Hrayr Pierre Attarian. "The Persistent Gender Bias in the Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea." Gender and the Genome, vol. 2, no. 2, Apr. 2018, pp. 4348, doi.org/10.1177/2470289718787107. Media Inquiries: Karla Jo Helms JOTO PR 727-777-4629 jotopr.com Media Contact Karla Jo Helms, JOTO PR, 727-777-4629, [email protected], jotopr.com SOURCE Vivos Therapeutics Its safe to say that no one looks forward to dental check-ups. But a new childrens book designed for young patients receiving community-based care may make their first experience a little less frightening. The Night Before the Virtual Dentist (Grosset & Dunlap, Apr. 29), the latest title in Natasha Wings Night Before picture book series, is the collaboration of an entrepreneurial Maine bookseller and a local outreach program coordinator who turned a promising idea into an educational opportunity. Open Wide In late 2023, Kenny Brechner, owner of DDG Booksellers in Farmington, Maine, was chatting with Head Start coordinator Danielle Hamlin, who had purchased 100 copies of Wings The Night Before the Dentist on behalf of the Childrens Oral Health Network of Maine. When Hamlin posed the idea of creating a similar book about the virtual dentist experience, it gave Brechner pause. I had no idea what virtual dentistry was, and the idea that a book on the subject could be successfully pitched to Random House seemed like a long shot, he told PW. Intrigued by the prospect, however, Brechner did some research and learned not only that Maine suffers from a shortage of dentists, but that the virtual dentist model would be expanding throughout the state and into other areas of the country, allowing students to receive preventive dental treatments in schools and other community-based settings. His newfound knowledge prompted a call to Deb Lewis, then- director of BTB trade sales at Penguin Random House (since retired). To pique her interest, I said to her, Im going to tell you an idea. When you hear it, your first thought is going to be, You cant be serious, but after I explain it, youre going to think, Wow, thats really worth pursuing, Brechner recalled. It didnt take much convincing before Lewis embraced the proposal. After Brechner secured a commitment for a 5,000-copy order from the Childrens Oral Health Network of Maine and Head Start, Lewis arranged a meeting in January 2024 between Brechner and the Penguin Random House team. He acted as a liaison for the local chapters, which supplied him with a virtual dentistry video to illustrate the services benefits during his meeting with PRH. Three options were then put on the table: adding an information sheet to The Night Before the Dentist, updating the existing book, or publishing a new title devoted to virtual dentistry. I knew that my institutional partners really wanted to see an entirely new book produced, and I was very pleased that the PRH team came to that conclusion themselves and totally got behind the project, Brechner said. Development for the new book was soon underway, and, at PRHs request, Brechner connected Emilie Knight, program development manager at the Childrens Oral Health Network of Maine, with Wing. By last July, the book had been drafted and a publication date had been set. The Night Before the Virtual Dentist is the first of its kind to depict community-based oral health care, which is becoming more and more common around the country, Knight said. Having a nationally recognized childrens author capture [this type of] care and teledentistry in her book supports our work with providers, partners, families, insurers, and policymakers. Brechner believes this new title is a natural addition to the Night Before series, helping to support children and their families with new life experiences. Its well-illustrated, accurate, fun, and is just the right mix of playful and informative, he said. Kids enrolled in the Childrens Oral Health Network of Maines Virtual Dental Home program will receive Wings book to prepare them for dental hygiene visits. Though Brechners behind-the-scenes work is uncredited in the book, he was praised by the PRH team, including account marketing manager Eric Bliss and senior publishing manager, brands and licenses, Casey Nugent. The real celebration will be the distribution of the 5,000 copies to the children enrolled in the Virtual Dental Home program in our communities, he said. Not to mention all those pearly white smiles. Graphic novelist Matt Kindt was watching a whodunit with his mother, Margie, when Margie came up with a clever solution to the murder. I think thats too smart for what this show is trying to do, Matt said, but he added: If they dont use that idea, lets take that twist and make our own book out of it. Matt was rightthe show had a different solutionand Margie held him to his word. The result is Gilt Frame (Dark Horse, Mar.), a murder mystery that takes its main characters, 70-year-old Merry and her 24-year-old great-nephew Sam, and a mysterious pair of armchairs on an action-filled trip to Paris, with a flashback to a mysterious female thief at the 1904 St. Louis Worlds Fair. By the time we meet Merry and Sam, they have already wound up a number of cases, and Margie and Matt have more adventures in mind for them. While Margie has written several prose novels, this was her first graphic novel; Matt, on the other hand, is an old hand at the medium, with an oeuvre that includes the Eisner-nominated Super Spy and his recent collaboration with Keanu Reeves on BRZRKR. PW talked to them about the special sauce that each of them brought to this mother-and-son collaboration. Margie, you hadnt done a graphic novel before. What was it like for you? Margie: I like to be descriptive, and Matt said, Mom, I don't think you realize how few words you're going to get here. But it was all right, because I could see that Matt picked up in the art what had to be cut in the words. Matt: What was a bummer for you was actually great for me, because I had to cut all of your words out, but it was in my head. The challenge was to translate that into art. Matt, how did you come up with the visuals for this story? Matt: When we were kids, we had these picture books with crime scenesthe clock is on the mantel, the window's brokenand you're supposed to figure out, by looking at it, who did it. I always loved those, so to translate that into a graphic novel was kind of a no brainer to me. It was fun to create visual clues, where it wasn't just in the text. That made it more three dimensional. How did you work together? Margie: We were at a partner table, he on one side, and I on the other, and we each took on the persona of one of the characters, and we just started throwing dialogue back and forth. The more we started going back and forth, the wilder it got, and the more fun it got. Matt: We wanted to have the craziest crime scene you could have and then worked our way backwards. Now we needed every character in the book to have a reason to have done it, and that means trying to make that plausible. Making all the motives plausible, that's where the real story is. The problem I have with all whodunits is that once Ive read it, I don't feel the urge to read it again, because I've solved the riddle. The challenging thing in any book like this is to make it so that the riddle satisfies but also you want to read it again for the characters or for the story. How did you come up with a story about armchairs in Paris? Margie: I won a pair of chairs at an auction, and when I got them home and did some research, I found out that they were carved around 1900 by a master carver who was using a model of Louis XVI's chairs at Versailles. So we took out a wooden carved mantelpiece and put the chairs in, and the story just took off in a different direction. And it took us to Paris because I actually did contact a Parisian expert on their provenance. Matt: The part about the 1904 Worlds Fair, in St. Louis, with the woman in blackthats all true. Thats a real mystery. Margie: Based on what we know, I think the chairs were carved to be shipped here in 1903 and were actually in their model of the Palace of Versailles in St Louis. We did have one little problem, when we were writing about 1904, about how the woman should be dressed. Matt: I drew her in an evening gown. Margie: Which was totally inappropriate for a woman outside. I said That needs to be changed, and he said, Ive already drawn it. So I said You can do it if you want to, but its going to be wrong. Matt: Theres no better note than that kind of note. You can do whatever you want, but it will be wrong. Margie: So he got it right. And she had to have a hat. She wouldnt go outside without a hat. I know his friends dont know that, but my friends would know it. Matt: Thats true. My readers dont care, but yours do. This book seems like it would appeal to mystery readers who dont usually read comics. Are you going to try to reach out to them? Matt: That was the plan, especially when we started working together. Margie: I grew up with Little Lulu. I was a great comics reader, but then I got to a certain age where my parents thought I should grow up and put them aside. I don't think graphic novels were really part of our life, until [Art Spiegelman's] Maus came out, and our generation really hasn't taken to them. We didn't grow up with them, and they're new to us, so we are hoping that it can have some cross generation appeal. Matt: Ideally, this book would sit right next to all the other cozy mysteries and whodunits that came out this year. That's the hope, that it finds that audience. Publisher Herman Graf, who died this month at 91, was the last of a breed. He came up in publishings heydaya wild, chaotic time when the industry was driven by sheer force of personality and reputation rather than SEO and algorithms. It was 2007 when my path first crossed with Herman's. Id answered a Craigslist ad for a job with a new start-up publisher and, after an interview at their modest office near the Port Authority Bus Station on 8th Avenue, was hired. I did the sort of things those first jobs in publishing entail: I opened brown envelopes from hopeful writers, got the bosss watch fixed at Macys, ate sad desk salads, went out with my underpaid coworkers to drink at bars called Concrete and Wakamba Lounge and Port 41. It was Port 41 where, to my good fortune, I met Herman. Tall, grey-haired, suntanned, sharp dresser. The older I get, the more I resemble a mafia don, he said once. If youve worked in publishing long enough, youve likely met him. A born entertainer, a book lover, a natural salesman, a friend. Unless you crossed him. Does anyone ever forget meeting you? someone asked him once. Some people resent meeting me, he joked. He stood alongside the likes of Roger Strauss Jr., Peter Workman, Nat Wartels, Peter Mayer, Roberta Grossman, Walter Zacharius, Nick Lyons, Ian Ballantine, Barney Rossetpeople who made publishing feel like an art form rather than a corporate hustle. I would go on to work as Herman Grafs assistant for about eight yearsbecause he didnt use computers and, in his late seventies at the time, had no interest in learning. He preferred chatting on the phone, which he did at our shared desk for hours at a time. Who did he call? Everyone. His friends from Grove Press, where he was the former EVP and sales director. His friends Claiborne Hancock and Philip Turner and Tina Pohlman from Carroll & Graf, the publishing house he founded with Kent Carroll and sold to Avalon Publishing Group in 1998. His friend Nick Robinson at Constable Robinson in London. The B&N sales reps like Matty Goldberg. His brother on Long Island. His favorite niece and nephew. Literary agents. His buddies from Hunter College and from the Bronx, where his German-Jewish family immigrated in 1936, when he was three. (Just in time, noted his friend Stu Abraham, at Hermans funeral service.) He called his old boss Barney Rossetdespite having been fired by him three times and rehired twiceand when Barney died he took care to ring his widow, Astrid, to check in. Phone cheering, he called it. He was great at it. His 61-year career in publishing began with a classified ad for a sales rep at Doubleday. Love to read? Love to sell? the ad asked. As it happened, he did. From there, his career spanned decadeswith notable accomplishments. His talents, taste in nonfiction and fiction alike, and sheer persistence made million-copy international bestsellers out of Endurance by Alfred Lansing and A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. His one-man publishing house, Herman Graf Associates, was the first to publish the Senate Watergate Committee Report, as the New York Post noted in a 1974 profile. The report was released on a Friday morning, he told the Post. I had the book in bookstores by Monday. He did it in classic Herman fashionhe got in touch with committee member Sam Dash on the phone, and impressed him. Or rather, this was the story Herman told. He was a salesman, after all. Having an introduction written by CBS journalist Daniel Schorr also helped. I asked him because he was on [Nixons] enemies list, Herman explained. His was the first independent publisher to do a mass market edition of a public reporta success he repeated with an edition of the Mueller Report in 2019 as an acquiring editor and consultant for Skyhorse Publishing. When he acquired a book, he fought for it. The jacket design, the jacket copy, the press release, the sell-through into bookstores. He was relentlessly opinionated. I think he's overpaid, he said once of a colleague, whatever he's getting paid. He was an advocate of the art of selling. If someone says, no, I dont want it, you dont shake their hand and say fine, he said. He was full of wisdom, witticisms, and one-linersso much so that I asked if hed mind me setting up a place to collect them all. He agreed, and said once he was gone I could put his name to them. These quotes reflect his passions, his sense of humor, his hard-headedness, his kindness, his sense of justice, and his insatiable curiosity. Each day hed recount a conversation hed had with a stranger on the train, at a deli, in the elevator. A new planet was discovered, he told me one afternoon. Another universe. Im anxious to make travel plans. Herman also appears in the documentary Obscene: A Portrait of Barney Rosset and Grove Press. In 2012 he was the recipient of a surprise party honoring his 51 years in publishing hosted by Skyhorse Publishing founder Tony Lyons. He took on difficult titles. Controversial titles. But always with an eye for what would sell. Im not a moralist, he insisted. Im a publisher. Hed learned the book trade at Grove where he once got into hot water, selling Tropic of Cancer into a bookstore in Philadelphia, despite the booksellers hesitations about obscenity laws. Youre the reason I nearly went to jail, the guy supposedly told him upon their next meeting, years later. The store had been raided. He was an avid reader of the New York Times, and had no patience for anyone that wasnt: anyone in publishing, he once said, "should read the goddamned Times. He had a wife, a daughter, a grandson, and a partner, who preceded him in death. A deeply private person, despite his extroverted personality, he spoke rarely, and with great, great sadness, of his lost loved ones. In the office, he was there to work and talk books. Well, books, politics, and film, in that order. His was a life shaped by literature. One of his favorites was Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann, a copy of which hed gift people he deemed book-worthy. Of his rent-controlled apartment in Queens, where he'd lived for decades, he said, I look straight ahead I see books. I look to the left I see books. I look to the rightbooks. It gives me pleasure. On February 27th, 2025, he died there, surrounded by books, with his dedicated companion at his side. I will be here until lunch and then I will disappear, he said once. Not in a real sense. You know, maybe just from here. Jennifer McCartney is a bestselling author and writer. Her books have been published by the Running Press and W.W. Norton in the U.S. and Hamish Hamilton HarperCollins UK in the U.K., and she has written for the Atlantic, Architectural Digest, the CBC, Publishers Weekly, and Vice, among others. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 26. Chairman of the Presidential Council of the State of Libya Mohamed Younis Al Menfi has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports. "Dear Mr. President, It is with great pleasure that I extend my sincere congratulations and best wishes to Your Excellency on the occasion of the blessed Ramadan holiday. I pray to Allah the Almighty to grant you good health and bless the Muslim Ummah with abundance and well-being. Happy holidays!" the letter reads. Taylor & Francis has announced plans to use AI to translate books into English from languages that the U.K.-based academic publisher said would otherwise have too small of an audience to justify the time and resources needed for human translation. The decision comes after what T&F described as a yearlong "program of rigorous testing" to assess the viability of the technology and ensure its accuracy. "Taylor & Francis has a proud history of making outstanding books available in English for an international readership," said Jeremy North, Taylor & Francis Books managing director, in a statement. "Our China Perspectives series is a good example of this, which now includes over 350 titles by leading Chinese scholars. However, we have always been aware that our translations program represented just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we were keen to explore whether AI could help." The move will allow the publisher to increase its range of translated titles published under its CRC Press and Routledge imprints across various fields. All AI-translated manuscripts will undergo copyediting and review by T&F editors and the books' authors before publication and will typically be published in print and ebook editions. The publisher will accept work in over 30 languages and use comprehensive glossaries to train the AI on technical terminology to maintain accuracy of meaning. "We are interested in publishing translations of high-quality books across a broad range of advanced learning topics and formats, including academic monographs, textbooks and resources for practitioners," Mark Robinson, corporate media relations manager for T&F, told PW. T&F argued that the new approach eliminates the need for authors to arrange translations before submitting proposals to T&F, reducing upfront costs. The publisher expects this will increase the impact of authors' work and create new research collaboration opportunities. "This new initiative, which we will be working on hand-in-hand with our regional publishing partners, is a very positive use of AI technology," North added. "It promises to promote better understanding between cultures and accelerate awareness of the knowledge required to meet today's challenges, regardless of where it is first published." T&F has confirmed that no AI-translated books have yet been published and told the Bookseller that the testing phase used traditionally translated books to "compare the quality and accuracy of the AI-produced translations." As reported by the Bookseller last year, T&F was among the first publishers to publicly announce that it had licensed work to AI companies, including Microsoft, for training, and did so without asking for permission or a promise of compensation for authorsa move that "shocked" the U.K. industry. T&F has since told the Bookseller that "rightsholders" including authors will be paid a share from its AI partnerships, although it hasnt disclosed how much, in accordance with their contracts. It is unclear at this time whether T&F holds translation rights for the works it intends to bring into English using AI, how those authors might be compensated, and how many titles this might cover. "The majority of translated titles are expected to be books that have already been published in their original language by a regional publisher," Robinson explained. "We will be working very closely with our regional publishing partners and the authors of those books to bring their work to a global readership. In all cases we will follow the contractual process for securing English-language publishing rights." The U.K.'s Society of Authors quickly criticized T&F following the announcement, with Society of Authors CEO Anna Ganley telling the Bookseller that "AI-generated translation is just one of the ways that AI is presenting an existential threat to creators." She continued: "The 'advanced AI' that Taylor & Francis is using is likely to have been trained on unlawfully scraped data. We do not agree with the ethics of using AI that has not been fairly trained. Ian Giles, chair of the Translators Association at the Society of Authors, added, "Last year, the SoA found that one third of literary translators are already losing work to AI. Where work itself is not lost, translators struggle to increase their prices in the face of the AI challenger." Consternation about the threat of AI taking translators jobs has been building since last year, and T&Fs news doesnt come in isolation. For example, last year Dutch publisher Veen Bosch & Keuning (VBK), which Simon & Schuster acquired last year, revealed it had been experimenting with AI translation. At last year's Frankfurt Book Fair, S&S CEO Jonathan Karp said of the project, "VBK really has been innovative in the audio end. They've been a leader in that market in developing audio, creating podcasts, and books. The translation part of it really didn't factor into our thinking very much, except in the general sense that as AI gets better, translation will get easier, and that could be a very exciting thing for all of our publishing companies." Noting that many VBK authors control their own rights, Karp continued: "There are a lot of potential benefits down the line. The larger question about innovation in the publishing business is about servicing the authors in a really clear, fair-minded way and communicating with them well enough so that they trust us." This article has been updated with further information. Livres Canada Books, the Ottawa-based organization that supports Canadian book exports, is maintaining a measured approach to the potential tariffs threatened by the Trump administration while affirming its commitment to the U.S. market. The nonprofit, which helps Canadian-owned publishers with international exports through financial support, promotional activities, and collective stands at major book fairs, told PW that it is closely monitoring developments while continuing to engage with its largest trading partner. "We're not stopping to promote the U.S. as a good market," Gabrielle Etcheverry, deputy executive director of Livres Canada Books, said. "We're just keeping our ear to the ground." Lisa Quinn, executive director of McGill-Queen's University Press and a board member of Livres Canada Books, emphasized that the relationship with the U.S. remains crucial despite current uncertainties. "At the moment, there is both an element of wait and see, and the need to continue pushing forward with engaging with the U.S., Quinn said. "The fact is that the U.S. is the largest English-language market in the world. The threat of tariffs has raised concerns throughout the Canadian industry and drawn a variety of reactions from publishers, booksellers and advocacy organizations alike. Some are calling for Canadian publishers and authors to cancel events in the U.S.as bestseller Louise Penny recently didand to boycott American books in favor of a buy Canadian mindset, while others are more measured. "We're seeing a lot of nuance, a lot of different approaches, depending on the type of publisher, the size of publisher, and the type of audiences and communities that they engage with in the United States," Etcheverry explained. Quinn was more direct. "Our strong preference would be that the current status quo be maintained," she said. "There's a very good argument, both culturally and economically, that books remain tariff-free." Knock-on effects While the direct impact on finished books remains unclear, tariffs are likely to affect the broader supply chain. Where tariffs may fall on paper, on materials, on other points in the chain, we're expecting there will be an increase in cost, Quinn said. Among those voicing strong opposition to potential retaliatory tariffs is Mark Champagne, president and CEO of Login Canada, who sent an open letter to the Canadian government yesterday warning that imposing a 25% tariff on textbooks and educational materials would severely impact student affordability, adding CDN $125-250 to annual educational costs that already range from CDN $500-1,000 per student. The company argues that such tariffs would primarily harm Canadian students rather than effectively targeting the U.S. government. He emphasized there is no domestic textbook publishing industry large enough to replace U.S. imports, making the tariffs "purely punitive to Canadian students and institutions." He also suggested publishers might accelerate their shift to digital materials to avoid tariffs, "further entrenching U.S. private equity control of educational content," while post-secondary institutions facing budget constraints would be forced to either reduce resources or increase costs for students. Market diversification In response to these developments, Livres Canada Books is working to provide support where it can and where it feels it can be most impactful. "We're having conversations [not only] with publishers, but other granting organizations and government organizations, to see what kind of flexibility we can offer," Etcheverry said. "How we can pivot quickly to update our programs if they can be more supportive of new initiatives or new conditions on the ground." The organization is simultaneously pursuing a strategy of market diversification that predates the current tensions. This includes increasing outreach to European markets and exploring opportunities in Latin America. "We're seeing a lot more interest in English-language books in Latin America," Etcheverry, who is originally from Chile, said, noting particular interest in Indigenous-themed works and other areas where there are cultural commonalities. Quinn emphasized that diversification efforts complement rather than replace U.S. engagement. "That can be in combination with increased support for diversification of markets internationally," she said. "These should be complementary activities." For the Canadian publishing industry, avoiding a binary "us vs. them" posture and maintaining a strong national identity while engaging internationally is the key to resolving this conflict, Quinn said: "We can engage with the U.S. market and be proud Canadians at the same time." Its true, you can turn any fanny pack into a cross-body bag. And you can put some sort of gun into either one. But the fact of the matter is that with many of the so-called carry bags on the market (we covered an awful lot in a Buyers Guide in Issue 39) the gun seems to be a secondary concern. Not so with this. Developed as a collaboration between Bastinelli Knives and Paladin 33, the FBAG isnt quite a monotasker but certainly not a full-blown fanny. Though you can wear it at any position, its best from the chest. When you combine the clever pull-loop design with a little practice, for most its a faster draw from the FBAG than clearing a cover garment. You put the thumb of your support hand in the loop and simply push forward and the entire thing rips open in a split second your dominant hand going in for the draw. The back is a breathable mesh, the inside is covered in loop ready for any number of simple universal loop holsters or a Kydex affair with hook attached on the back. Practicing is mostly about hand placement and movement to maximize the effect; many want to swing their support hand down, which brings the FBAG with it. Whereas a straight push out keeps it in place while ripping it open in a split second. About all wed like to see is a little loop inside for attaching something like the likes of a Raven Concealment VanGuard 2 or Armordillo Concealment X-FER on the inside. Because its from Bastinelli, the FBAG also has the ability to mount a fixed blade fighter in two different angled positions between the bag and your body. Of course, you dont want to only carry your gun if youre out on a run. Theres a zippered front pocket that easily fits a cellphone and slim wallet for just the essentials instead of a full purse European carryall, meaning its easy to tuck under a jacket for concealment or between backpack straps on the trail. There are currently two sizes: an XL appropriate for a G17-sized pistol and a standard for the stagger-stack nines and revolvers (shown). And left- and right-handed draw models are available. You can see more here. The toppling and subsequent re-installment of the Iron Horse garnered a significant amount of attention from across Athens, particularly from University of Georgia students. The sculpture, a historic Athens and UGA landmark, was toppled by severe winds in north Georgia on Feb. 16. The sculpture fell just months after it underwent an extensive restoration project in 2024. The sculpture was swiftly re-installed at its home along Highway 15 in Greene County, Georgia where it has stood for over 65 years two days after the storm. The winds, some reaching 60-70 mph, were strong and sustained enough to knock the 12-foot, 2,000 pound structure to the ground. However, it wasnt only wind. As the warm weather brings with it a new season of florals and tank-tops, many Athens residents are searching for the perfect spring wardrobe. On Sunday, March 23, Athenians looked no further than Dawg Fest: Drabas vintage market that occurs once per semester and brought in over 40 vendors for visitors to shop and explore. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 26. President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports. "Dear Ilham Heydar oglu, It is an honor for me to extend my sincere congratulations and best wishes to you on the occasion of the holy Ramadan holiday. I sincerely believe that this radiant holiday, which celebrates the greatest values of humanityspiritual purity and high moral qualitieswill continue to contribute to the development of relations between our countries and to the strengthening of friendship, mutual support, and the unity of the entire Muslim Ummah. I wish you robust health and happiness, and the people of Azerbaijan peace, prosperity, and welfare. May all your prayers and good deeds be accepted by Allah the Almighty," the letter reads. JSW Steel, owned by Sajjan Jindal, has emerged as the worlds most valuable steelmaker, boasting a market capitalisation (mcap) of nearly $30.31 billion, according to Bloomberg data. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters The milestone sees the Indian major outpacing industry titans such as L N Mittal-owned ArcelorMittal, the worlds biggest steelmaker, at $27.14 billion, and Nucor Corporation of the US at $29.4 billion. While JSW Steel leads in mcap, ArcelorMittal remains appreciably ahead in revenue, reporting $62.4 billion over the past 12 months compared to JSWs $21.1 billion. The disparity in valuation metrics is striking: JSW Steel trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.5x, markedly higher than ArcelorMittals 20.3x. Founded in 1907, Tata Steel, a subsidiary of Tata Sons, ranks fifth in mcap at $23 billion, according to Bloomberg data. The shift in rankings reflects the evolving dynamics of the global steel industry, where Indian producers are increasingly asserting their presence, industry experts say. Parth Jindal, managing director of JSW Cement and JSW Paints, took to social media platform X to express his pride: Extremely proud to share that JSW Steel has become the largest steel company in the world in terms of mcap so proud of all the hard work put in by papa @sajjanjindal, Ma @SangitaSJindal, and the entire @TheJSWGroup family we are humbled and will not stop at this. Over the past three decades, JSW Steel has evolved from a single manufacturing unit in Karnataka into Indias largest integrated steel producer, with a total capacity of 35.7 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) across India and the US, including 6 mtpa currently under commissioning in India. The company has expanded through strategic acquisitions, including Ispat Industries and Bhushan Power & Steel, cementing its position in the steel industry. ArcelorMittal has a capacity of 81 mtpa, while Nucor Corp has a capacity of 27 mtpa. Looking ahead, JSW Steel plans to increase its production capacity to 51.5 mtpa by the financial year ending March 2031, with 50 mtpa located in India. The companys rapid expansion aligns with broader industrial growth in the country, driven by infrastructure investments and a burgeoning domestic market. The steelmakers stock has surged over 17 per cent since the start of the year, buoyed up by rising steel prices and the prospect of government intervention to curb imports. On March 18, Indias Directorate General of Trade Remedies recommended a 12 per cent safeguard duty for 200 days on certain non-alloy and alloy steel flat products. If approved by the Department of Revenue in the finance ministry, the measure is expected to benefit domestic producers such as JSW Steel and Tata Steel by enhancing margins amid a flood of low-cost imports. In a separate development, JSW Steel informed stock exchanges on Tuesday that it will tender over 220 million shares in its Italian subsidiary, Piombino Steel, under a proposed buyback offer worth ?1,676.45 crore. The move is part of the companys broader strategy to optimise its global operations. JSW holds 5.08 billion equity shares in PSL, constituting 83.28 per cent of its total equity shareholding. The move is aimed at strengthening the balance sheet, JSW mentioned in the notice. Piombino has approved a buyback of 222,636,000 fully paid-up equity shares of ?10 each at a price of ?75.3 per share, aggregating to a total consideration not exceeding Rs 1,676.45 crore. The JSW Steel board also approved a proposal to transfer its Salav unit in Maharashtra, which has a direct reduced iron capacity of 0.9 mtpa, to JSW Green Steel, its wholly owned subsidiary, on a slump sale basis. Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients. Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. 'We don't have to compete with Maharashtra or Gujarat. We have to now start thinking about how we compete with the United States or China.' IMAGE: Vehicles pass through the security check at the entrance of Tata Electronics Plant in southern India which makes Apple AAPL.O iPhone component in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. Photograph: Haripriya Suresh/Reuters Tamil Nadu is the second largest contributor to India's gross domestic product and it is expected to be a key beneficiary of the so-called China plus one trade, getting investments from international manufacturers of electronics, automobiles, and consumer goods. At a panel discussion on 'Redefining Manufacturing: The Power of Policy' during the Business Standard Tamil Nadu Round Table 2025 in Chennai on March 12, experts spoke about the sector's future in the state and the changes it is going through. The panellists argued that Tamil Nadu should not compete with Indian states, but with the United States (US) and China to realise its ambition of being a knowledge economy. Manufacturing contributed around 24 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in FY24. The panel discussion comprised R Srinivasan, full-time member of the State Planning Commission; Gopala Krishnan C S, chief manufacturing officer of Hyundai Motor India; Brajesh Kumar Singh, executive director of Indian Bank; Mahesh Babu, chief executive officer of Switch Mobility; and Anil Jain, managing director of Refex Group. One suggestion the panel had for the state was to promote research and development to create manufacturing products over the next decade. Strengthening manufacturing Tamil Nadu's urban infrastructure makes it attractive to global investors. "Non-farm activity spread throughout the state even a thousand years ago. We found in the 2011 Census that, on average, a village in Tamil Nadu is hardly 10 km from a town. So, almost every village is as much a town in terms of the non-farm employment within that village itself," said Srinivasan. The state will have to improve the share of labour in manufacturing. "When it comes to the actual distribution of income that comes from this value addition of about 24 per cent of the GSDP, it is what worries us more. We have somewhere around 47 million people in the age group of 15 to 59, of which only around 3 million are employed in the organised sector within manufacturing. About 6-7 per cent of the working population creates about 24 per cent of our value addition. This creates a huge inequality in the system," said Srinivasan. The state has around 45,000 factories, which is 15 per cent of the national share and the largest. One-third of the country's textiles, 36 per cent of two-wheelers, 25 per cent of four-wheelers, and 40 percent of electric vehicles are manufactured in Tamil Nadu. Refex executive Jain said India has distinguished itself in manufacturing but must change its thinking to compete internationally. "The whole mindset has to shift 360 degrees in the country. I am not specifically talking about Tamil Nadu as a state. We don't have to compete with Maharashtra or Gujarat. We have to now start thinking about how we compete with the United States or China." Babu, of Switch Mobility (the electric vehicles arm of Ashok Leyland), said Tamil Nadu has 17 per cent of engineers graduating in India annually: Talent is the state's advantage. "The good thing in Tamil Nadu is we have software as well as good engineers available today. What I anticipate going forward is we will have to look at the labour codes and see how we can integrate software engineers into mechanical engineers' way of working. "We are no longer behind either China, the US or Europe because we have embedded system engineers in India, good automobile industry designers in India, and we can create products and patents out of here," Babu said. Making technology work "We have been talking about developing IPRs [intellectual property rights] in the state, particularly in automobiles. I think we need to push it more because design, development and manufacture, and serving the world is the theme we need to look at rather than just manufacturing for the country or the state," Babu said. Manufacturers will have to speed up the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to improve production. "AI can augment productivity and improve quality," said Hyundai India's Gopala Krishnan. "Similarly, in maintenance, to reduce downtime, we have a dedicated IoT (Internet of Things) network. We are liberating data to control the entire plant. Through data analytics, if you're able to fetch parameters like torque, pressure, and current of the motors, you can identify potential failures and replace the parts upfront, reducing downtime," he said, explaining how his company's Chennai unit is adopting technology. "We have been maintaining the capacity utilisation right from day one, above 90 per cent, and these kinds of technological solutions are really helping us to improve our efficiency in all verticals." Singh, of Indian Bank, said India has to increase investments in technology to progress in manufacturing. "We have an aspiration to go to a $5 trillion economy. Again, there is a distinct thought process of Make in India -- import substitution also. You need more investments. All those investments should come in technology and education," said Singh. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com EPS has had its way on most things, alliance-wise. A week earlier, he reiterated that he would not re-admit OPS and Sasikala Natarajan back in the party. It was a message not just to detractors in the AIADMK. It was even more so for the BJP leadership in Delhi. Even more important for the AIADMK was their demand for accepting EPS as the chief ministerial candidate of any alliance that the party would form, observes N Sathiya Moorthy. IMAGE: AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami meets Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, March 25, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo Even those who had hoped for the revival of the AIADMK-BJP alliance for the Tamil Nadu assembly polls did not expect the early signs to appear so early in the day. The Tuesday, March 25, 2025 meeting between Union Home Minister and BJP strategist Amit Shah and AIADMK boss and former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) has already set the ball rolling, and tongues wagging. Together, the meeting in which EPS made sure to have his key lieutenants and kept out rebels, real and imaginary, means that a BJP-AIADMK alliance has put the ruling DMK and the DMK-Congress INDIA combine on notice. Shah also set the tone and tenor of their campaign-platfor, when he posted his Rajya Sabha response to AIADMK interlocutor and former Lok Sabha deputy speaker Thambidurai, on his social media platform. Shah said that the illicit liquor and corruption in Tamil Nadu would come to an end when the NDA came to power in 2026. If he meant that there is already an agreement for a coalition government if they won, he did not mention it. Yet, it was becoming increasingly clear that EPS has had its way on most things, alliance-wise. A week earlier, he went bold to reiterate that he would not re-admit estranged three-time chief minister OPS and his one-time benefactor and Jayalalithaa's confidante Sasikala Natarajan back in the party. It was a message not just to detractors in the party who were clamouring for strengthening the party through such re-admittance, including that of another faction under former MP/MLA, T T V Dhinakaran. It was even more so for the BJP leadership at Delhi. The Delhi meeting with Amit Shah thus seems to be confirmation that EPS has had his way on this count. Even more important for the AIADMK as a party and EPS as the leader was their demand for accepting him as the chief ministerial candidate of any alliance that the party would form, or join in. Again, the Delhi meeting is said to be proof thereof. As may be recalled, the alliance from two past elections in 2019 and 2021 floundered after state BJP chief K Annamalai began targeting EPS, and the AIADMK in turn decided not to have anything to do with his leadership. It's also a fact that the BJP was ready to risk the alliance, if only to test its own strength as the leader of an NDA without any strong ally like the AIADMK, in the Lok Sabha polls of 2024. Together in 2019, and separately five years later, the two parties learnt that the rival DMK alliance was too big to trounce on their individual steam. An alliance for 2026 made sense, and needed to be made plausible early on, if only to repair the grassroots-level ruptures that had shown up in the interim. Yet, EPS too has to do some compromise. By available accounts, the BJP leadership has refused to meet his demand for replacing Annamalai as the state unit chief. Rather, it used to be customary for national allies, particularly, the Congress and/or BJP in the past to signal their shifting of gears by changing the TN unit boss when they decide to cross over from the AIADMK to the DMK or vice versa. That was also because having been told to fire against the existing ally on all cylinders, whether to snap existing ties, or only to send out a message, the incumbent often would go overboard, to impress those in Delhi. Over time, the local bosses of these parties understood that they were only pawns in a game that they were not fully aware of until it became too late for them. A raw hand to politics (he was earlier an IPS officer in neighbouring Karnataka), Annamalai did not understand the nuances. Nor was he in a mood to take advice from more experienced party leaders in the state. IMAGE: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin addresses the Joint Action Committee meeting for Fair Delimitation in Chennai, March 22, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo However, to Annamalai's credit, it should be said that the BJP high command has ensured that EPS and the AIADMK accepted him as their alliance leader in the state, even if not as chief minister. Plain and simple, Shah & Co was sending out a message to EPS that the latter does not run the state BJP, too. But that is only a face-saver for Annamalai, it seems. According to reports, the BJP high command may set up a separate committee comprising state party leaders other than Annamalai to coordinate election work with EPS & Co. There is no firm word on it, and the suggestion/expectation flows from the high command setting up a similar committee to run the state party affairs when Annamalai was away for 'political education' in the UK, at the invitation of the host-government last year. There are others in the state BJP who still hope that for better coordination with the AIADMK, Annamalai may be drafted to the nationalscene, possibly as a minister of state in Modi 3.0, in addition to his predecessor, Dr L Murugan, who was similarly accommodated. Of course, there are two vibrant Tamil ministers at the Cabinet level, Dr S Jaishankar in external afairs and Nirmala Sitharaman, as the longest-serving finance minister of the country. As has become her wont, Sitharaman, in this Budget session of Parliament, has begun taking on the ruling DMK rival in the state, as she had done in the long run-up to past elections in the state since she joined Modi 1.0. Likewise, there is still speculation that the BJP may not desert their past friends from 2024, including the three breakaway AIADMK factions. It is not unlikely that the BJP may retain them into the NDA and allot seats for one or more of those factions without the AIADMK having to re-admit them. How functional such an arrangement can be is a question as the NDA will have to commence by counting out the seats allotted to these parties as 'lost' ones, if the AIADMK refuses to cooperate. Such a proposition may encourage the BJP high command to try and dissuade them all from wanting to contest the 2026 poll on an NDA ticket. However, the BJP's distractors in the state say that EPS and Annamalai should worry about whatever Nirmala Sitharaman says inside Parliament or in her visits to the state, which is expected to become as frequent as on the eve of previous elections. According to them, more there are in the rival camp, it would be merrier for the DMK leadership. It is not as simple as they want to make one believe. There is definitely an anti-incumbency trend in the state though it cannot be said to have reached wave-like proportions. How participant-actors play it out, between now and the elections, would decide if anti-incumbency could become a show-stealer or not. The reasons are not far to seek. Independent of anti-incumbency, in any election in the state, it is the electoral arithmetic that has worked on the ground. This means the 'strongest alliance' won, especially in the absence of a charismatic leader like AIADMK's MGR or his political heir, Jayalalithaa. Of course, the latter also single-handedly lost elections in 1996, 2004 and 2006, while in power. A lot of the pre-poll calculations for 2026 will depend on the kind of alliance that Amit Shah is able to stitch -- whether the NDA is going to keep it small and sweep, the BJP, AIADMK and (some of) their existing allies, who would be given the minimum number of seats. Included in the list is the Vanniar-strong PMK with a proven five per cent vote-share, but they are not going to yield small time on seat-sharing, with hopes of a share in post-poll government. IMAGE: Tamil Nadu BJP President Kuppusamy Annamalai and supporters protest against the Joint Action Committee meeting for Fair Delimitation in Chennai, March 22, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo The big question however is if actor-politician Vijay's TVK would join this alliance, especially if he is promised the job of deputy chief minister. Of course, such a course would involve state BJP leaders demanding one for the party, and the PMK, for instance, would not want to keep quiet, either. A lot will depend on Vijay's decision, which he cannot until he begins touring the state. He is still busy with his swan song of a film, due for release only later this year. There is no doubt that he has lost a lot of time, and strategic initiative by entering the scene, if at all, too late, in the day, the AIADMK and BJP having consolidated their posturing, if not official positions towards a poll alliance, a year ahead. The same applies to another actor-politician Seeman's NTK, which has been witnessing very many second-line leaders leaving the party -- but not all of them are joining the TVK, as expected. Many of them were waiting for clear political signals to emerge, and now they may begin evaluating their positions. Where does it all leave the ruling DMK combine? On paper, the alliance remains strong, particularly counting on the 'women votes' that had once belonged to the AIADMK under MGR and Jayalalithaa, but not possibly so, any more. DMK strategists seem to have concluded that Chief Minister M K Stalin's women-oriented welfare programmes like free bus travel, free breakfast for school children along with the existing free noon-meal scheme, and monthly monetary allowance of Rs 1,000, now also for college-going boys, will all see them through. Though not intended to be an election issue, even if it were a diversionary tactic against anti-incumbency, the consolidation of the new-generation 'pan-Tamil vote-bank' in the state has now been ensured after talks of a BJP-AIADMK alliance. Needless to point out, it was only the anti-Hindutva, anti-BJP youth sentiment of the time that caused the historical/apolitical 'Jallikattu protests' in January 2017, after decades of waning pan-Tamil electoral plank. The DMK's revival of issues like delimitation and 'Hindi imposition' has had a receptive constituency, infused as it was also by the AIADMK's support for what was seen as the 'larger Tamil cause'. EPS submitting a memorandum on delimitation to Amit Shah at their Tuesday meeting was nearly ignored by the media, as they were already talking about a probable poll alliance and its possible fallouts. However, the visible restlessness among the urban middle class cannot be ignored. They feel the economic pressures day in and day out, even otherwise. To this, the Stalin government has added higher power-tariff, property tax and the like. There is also a real concern about the declining law and order situation, though not to the levels that the DMK's detractors want the new generation voters to believe that it is as much a legacy issue as 'family rule'. The claims are that such issues have not impacted on rural and semi-urban voters, both men and women. The issue of corruption, however magnified, has never been a game-changer in the state, it is further argued. IMAGE: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Narendra Modi during a roadshow for the Lok Sabha polls in Coimbatore. Photograph: ANI Photo Beyond political administration and anti-incumbency, the DMK leadership too will be saddled with demands for a post-poll coalition government and more seats, especially from allies like the Congress and VCK. While state Congress leaders have been quiet about it outwardly until now, VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan has been making all the noise for months. The question is if the DMK would be ready to swap VCK's place with that of the PMK, if the latter too is ready, as according to some assessments, Thiruma may have lost some of his increasingly decreasing vote-share to the BJP in its traditional northern strongholds (if they are any still) and possibly to Vijay's TVK, elsewhere. The other candidate, who is keeping her decisions to herself is the DMDK boss, Premalatha Vijayakanth, whose party's vote-share may have shrunk, but would still be useful for 'denying' a rival alliance those votes. NDA strategists in the state too would be interested in the DMDK, however limited their real use will be. Of course, it is too early to draw conclusions, but as elections in the past have proved, stronger the alliance with identifiable vote-shares of individual partners, greater are the chances of electoral success. As the late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi told his anti-AIADMK, anti-Jaya allies during poll talks in 2004, 'Either each of us demand as many seats as you want and all of us lose everything, or we downsize our ambitions in terms of each one's share, but together we win all.' Karunanidhi was proved right. Despite being in power in the state and at the Centre, the AIADMK-BJP combine lost all 40 seats, including the Union Territory of Puducherry that too by huge margins, and the DMK combine swept them all. There was a caveat. Apart from the 'alliance calculations', there was also the unprecedented anti-Jaya, anti-incumbency factor, after she had sacked over a hundred thousand state government officials overnight, denied higher procurement prices for paddy farmers, and interfered with the religious beliefs of some of the communities that were traditional supporters of the party. That she however remained a believer did not help. Once again, the government employees and pensioners may hold the key to victory in Elections 2026, especially for the ruling DMK. There are a total of 14 lakh government employees and six lakh pensioners in the state, and they are upset over the Stalin leadership not keeping its promise on pay-rise and perks, made in the DMK poll manifesto of 2021. On an average of four votes per family, the total of 20 lakh government employees and pensioners account for around 80 lakh dependent-voters, who are equitably distributed across all 234 assembly constituencies, unlike caste and minority religious concentrations. That accounts for 13 per cent of the 6.18-crore electorate -- and that is saying a lot in terms of the final outcome, especially if they were to vote en masse as in 2004, and the sympathetic employees of the central government and central PSUs, too, do so, as on that occasion. N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and author, is a Chennai-based policy analyst and political commentator. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com Besides the not-so-hidden unease between Modi and Adityanath, Modi chose to address the Lok Sabha to ensure that he could personally claim all the kudos, observes Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks in the Lok Sabha, March 18, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo/Sansad TV Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unscheduled speech on the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj in the Lok Sabha on March 18, was at the first level, intended as the last of political spectacles, witnessed recurringly through fifty-odd days of the Sanatani congregation which saw its spiritual character being relegated to the background more than ever before. The second framework for examination of his suo motu address, delivered under Rule 372 under the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of Lok Sabha -- which disallows any questions or debate -- would be to assess its content and contentions. The third level in which his speech has to be evaluated is its purpose -- why was it delivered now and what Modi hopes to gain from this. These questions emerge because the prime minister is not known to do or say anything, without definite purpose or reason. Rendering the Kumbh Mela into political spectacle or venue began markedly from 1989 when during the festival in Allahabad (as known then), the Vishwa Hindu Parishad convened the Dharam Sansad, a forum established to provide religious veneer to the Ram Janambhoomi agitation. This movement, it may be recalled was launched by it with the ideological fountainhead of the Sangh Parivar, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, providing chartachaya or canopied-patronage. At this convention, the programme on the Shilanyas -- the foundation-laying ceremony -- was set for November 9 1989. This event, in the middle of the electoral campaign for the parliamentary polls for the ninth Lok Sabha, played a crucial role in leapfrogging the BJP from its humiliating strength of just two Lok Sabha members in the eighth House, to an astounding tally of 85. This time, several political spectacles were staged in the city during the Mela. These ranged from the Uttar Pradesh government's cabinet meeting followed by a ceremonious dip by all ministers led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at the 'holy' confluence. Other visits included those of several Union ministers, ruling party and Opposition leaders, besides, of course, Modi. Significantly, even the contentious 'Hindu Code of Conduct' was released during the Mela. This compilation of do's and don'ts for followers of the Sanatan Dharma was prepared by the Varanasi-based Kashi Vidvat Parishad, but the venue was Prayagraj, certainly to secure greater prominence given that the entire national and international media was in attendance at the festival, recording every minor detail with an element of political and societal exotica. Importantly, 'success' stories of the Kumbh Mela had already been publicised by the UP government and Adityanath while underplaying the stampede(s) on January 29. Despite awkwardness of ties between the two, palpable from 2017 itself when Yogi became chief minister, he thanked Modi profusely for providing guidance. He also praised the 'collective effort' indicating that he was not aiming to garner all credit for the successful hosting. IMAGE: Modi takes a dip in the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, February 5, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo In a post on X, on conclusion of the Mela, Adityanath wrote: 'Respected Prime Minister, it is the result of your successful guidance that the 'Maha Yagya of Unity, Equality, Harmony' Maha Kumbh-2025, Prayagraj has been concluded today by setting new standards of security, cleanliness and good governance along with grandeur and divinity.' Given his traits, Modi had to have the last word and thus the statement for the sacrosanct political pedestal of the country. Modi's penchant for being the (chosen) one to pull down the curtains (also unveiling if possible) on every event apart, it is necessary to examine what he stated. By asserting right in the beginning that everyone knew 'bringing the sacred Ganga to Earth required an extraordinary effort,' he made it amply clear that only Hindu Indians were part of his category of 'we all'. This raises a logical question -- is its politically acceptable for the premier of a secular nation to present the mythological belief of the majority community as historical reality and worldview of the entire citizenry? This question is particularly relevant given the Kumbh Mela's evolution over decades into a ritualistic gathering with little or no element of meditation or contemplation. This time, because of the lavish scale of mounting the Maha Kumbh Mela with the involvement of big players in the hospitality, tourism and aviation sectors, being at the Kumbh became a fashion statement and photo opportunity among the selfie and reel-obsessed lot among the affluent. Ahead in his speech, the prime minister stated that the Kumbh Mela showcased 'the awakening of our national consciousness on a magnificent scale in the grand Maha Kumbh.' Although he used the adjective 'national', if the Kumbh Mela stirred any consciousness, then it was nothing but a sense of Hinduness. This is undeniably contentious usage in a multi-faith nation. Modi also gave a combative character to the Maha Kumbh by asserting that the event had 'provided a fitting response to the doubts and uncertainties that some may have had regarding our strength.' Few words in this formulation are problematic and it is necessary to flag these. The following two word combinations particularly need to be highlighted -- 'fitting response' (uchit jawab) and 'that some may have' (kuch logon ke man mein). The latter word combo singles out 'some' people as the 'other(s)' who are not part of 'us' and always have 'antagonistic thoughts' about 'us', custodians of the nation. Likewise, uchit jawab is an act of offence targeted at a group (or individual) who are part of (our) society but ranged against 'it' or 'us'. IMAGE: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and members of his cabinet takes a dip in the Triveni Sangam during the Maha Kumbh Mela. Photograph: @myogiadityanath/X The prime minister also drew parallels with the consecration of the Ram temple in January 2024. Both events, he contended, led to the people 'experiencing how the nation is preparing itself for the next 1,000 years.' Modi virtually took ownership rights for the successful delivery of the temple and did the same for an event over whose scheduling he had no part. Here too, he ignored the fact that the consecration of the Ram temple was not an inclusive development because there had been no sense of progress in constructing the mosque which the Supreme Court simultaneously directed in its November 2019 judgment. The PM asserted that there were occasions similar to the temple consecration and the Maha Kumbh in the past which 'witnessed such moments that have given it a new direction and awakened its people.' He gave an example -- the Bhakti movement which triggered a 'spiritual awakening spread across the country.' Importantly, on February 28, Modi inaugurated the two-day Jahan-e-Khusrau in New Delhi, a programme that has underscored India's cultural pluralism since 2001. Barely mentioning the Bhakti movement, the PM focussed completely dwelled on the Sufi tradition (no mention in his Lok Sabha speech) and emphasised commonality of beliefs within India's diversity (missing again in the Lok Sabha speech). Clearly, the speech at the function hosted by the Rumi Foundation, anchored by filmmaker and cultural icon, Muzzaffar Ali, was tailor-made for the occasion. The address in the Lok Sabha undeniably furthered the continuing political view of the Sangh Parivar that everyone in this country is essentially Hindu, although many follow different faiths. They further contend that believers of other faiths are welcome to continue living in India and practice their religion. However, they must perceive their identity as Hindu, at least culturally, which is synonymous with religion. The prime minister also likened this Maha Kumbh with a series of historical events -- the Revolt of 1857, the martyrdom of Veer Bhagat Singh, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's clarion call of 'Delhi Chalo', and Mahatma Gandhi's Dandi March. IMAGE: 1930, Mahatma Gandhi and 78 others embark on the historic Dandi March to break the salt law. The march was the first act in an even-larger campaign of civil disobedience that Gandhi waged against British rule in India. Photograph: Nationl Archives Of many other watershed agitations in the course of the national movement, only these were listed because the Sangh Parivar has appropriated Bhagat Singh, Bose and Gandhi among others. Modi did not refer to the epochal Quit India Movement which neither the RSS nor the Hindu Mahasabha joined and instead sided with the British -- at least the latter. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, founder president of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951, was part of the Mahasabha then and minister in the Bengal government, and among the few Indians who did not resign from office immediately after the call for the British to leave India was given in August 1942. Besides the not-so-hidden unease between Modi and Adityanath, Modi also chose to address the Lok Sabha now to ensure that he could personally claim all the kudos. It is also essential to provide a sense of accomplishment to the people to ensure that day-to-day issues and livelihood concerns which triggered the BJP's slide visibly below the majority mark in the Lok Sabha do not make a comeback in mass consciousness. These issues have been relegated to the background once again partly due to strategic errors by the Opposition parties, including the Congress in assembly elections in Haryana, Maharashtra and Delhi. The BJP has been successful in conveying the perception of being on the comeback trail due to the RSS burying the hatchet with Modi and returning to campaign for BJP candidates after staying away the parliamentary polls. The factors behind the rapprochement are, however, a different story. Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay is an author and journalist based in Delhi-NCR. His latest book is The Demolition, The Verdict and The Temple: The Definitive Book on the Ram Mandir Project. He is also the author of Narendra Modi: The Man, The Times. 'If it is not reversed, it will set a dangerous precedent.' Photograph: ANI Photo On March 17, the Allahabad high court, in a ruling delivered by Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra, watered down the charges against the accused in an attempted rape case involving a minor. The court held that actions such as grabbing the victim's breast and breaking the string of her pyjama amounted to 'aggravated sexual assault' rather than an 'attempt to rape.' This judgment has sparked widespread outrage, with legal experts and activists warning that it could set a dangerous precedent by diluting protections for minors under India's sexual assault laws. Recognising the severity of the issue, the Supreme Court of India has taken suo moto cognisance of the ruling, signaling its intent to review the decision and ensure that justice is served in accordance with the law's spirit. This intervention underlines the judiciary's responsibility in maintaining the integrity of laws designed to protect survivors of sexual violence. In this interview with Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore, former additional solicitor general Dr Pinky Anand, discusses the implications of the high court's ruling, the legal loopholes it may create, and the broader impact on the confidence of survivors in the justice system. The Allahabad high court ruling stated that actions like grabbing a minor's breast and breaking the string of her pyjama amount to 'aggravated sexual assault' rather than an attempt to rape. Do you believe this interpretation aligns with the intent of India's sexual assault laws, particularly the POCSO Act? I think it completely contradicts the ethos of the law as it stands, as well as the reason for its amendment. The interpretation of the law has been repeatedly laid down by the Supreme Court. The court emphasised the distinction between preparation and attempt in sexual offences. In your view, does this delineation protect victims adequately, or does it create legal loopholes that could be exploited by perpetrators of such sexual offences? It does create legal loopholes. In this case, the test is ultimately whether a person has done everything necessary to commit the act of penetration but was interrupted. The culprits were interrupted by passersby and who then fled the scene. It's like loading a gun, pointing it, and ultimately not being able to shoot because someone intervened. The perpetrator had already done everything required to commit the crime. Therefore, in this case, the attempt is absolutely clear. Attempt means doing everything necessary for that purpose. Attempt and intention... The intention is also apparent. There can hardly be a stronger case of attempt in a sexual offence. This should categorically fall under the category of attempt to rape. We have always been concerned about the dilution of offences, and this is one such instance. How might this judgment impact the confidence of sexual assault survivors, particularly minors, in seeking justice when the severity of charges is reduced? My belief is that criminal law is meant to give confidence to victims. While it may not repair what has happened, it ensures that similar offences are prevented in the future. It deters not just the same offender but also others. It provides solace to victims by ensuring justice. Justice is not only for the victim but also for the State, which represents society as a whole. How important is it for the judiciary to consider the psychological and emotional trauma inflicted on victims, particularly minors? It is absolutely imperative today. Mental health has taken centre stage and is just as important as physical harm. Courts must recognise this. In fact, when we introduced victim compensation guidelines in the Supreme Court, mental trauma and harassment were considered in addition to penalties and punishments. There has been widespread public outrage over this ruling, first from the public and then from the political class. In your experience, how does public opinion influence legal reforms in cases of sexual offences? Public opinion plays a significant role. The Nirbhaya case, for example, led to widespread legal reforms after mass protests at India Gate. While some delays in the system hinder change, public pressure can definitely act as a catalyst for legal and judicial reform. Do you see this ruling setting a precedent that could weaken protections for minors? I'm certain this ruling by the Allahabad high court will be reversed. And if it is not reversed, what could be the potential ramifications for the prosecution of sexual offences in India? If it is not reversed, it will set a dangerous precedent. We follow a common law system, meaning that judgments shape future legal interpretations. Would it embolden potential criminals? Absolutely. It would embolden perpetrators, making them feel that they can commit such acts and get away with them, which is a significant problem in cases of sexual assault. Should there be mandatory sensitisation and training for judges handling sexual crime cases, especially those involving minors? How effective would such training be in preventing judgments that appear to trivialise serious offences? I strongly support this. When the infamous 'skin-to-skin' judgment came out, the Supreme Court reversed it. Training judges is essential. I generally believe judges are sensitive to these matters, so I am surprised that such a ruling (where Allahabad high court Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra ruled that grabbing a girl's breasts, breaking pyjama strings 'is no attempt to rape') was issued in this case. That is why there has been nationwide outrage. Given this judgment, do you think there is a need for legislative amendments to provide clearer definitions of what constitutes attempt to rape versus aggravated sexual assault? It could certainly help. What legal mechanisms exist or should exist to ensure accountability for judicial decisions? This is a complex issue. Currently, there is little direct accountability for judges except for the possibility of their rulings being overturned. Judges are protected by Constitutional provisions. However, public scrutiny serves as an important accountability mechanism. Today, the public acts as a watchdog, and that is a significant form of accountability. What legal remedies are available to challenge this judgment? How can the Supreme Court ensure consistency and justice in sexual offence cases? Article 142 of the Constitution allows the Supreme Court to establish binding law. I strongly believe that institutional accountability must be established. Accountability measures have been introduced in other areas of law, such as food and supplies regulations. If officials fail to act, there must be consequences. Similarly, the police system must also be held accountable. Judicial accountability is a more complex issue due to Constitutional protections. However, we need to have broader discussions about judicial responsibility. At the very least, a wider consultation is required to assess what is happening in the country and to determine the best course of action moving forward. Editorial Note: Article 142 of the Constitution empowers the Supreme Court to pass any order necessary to ensure complete justice in any case before it. This provision grants the court extraordinary powers to override procedural constraints and legal gaps to deliver justice. Complete Justice: The Supreme Court can issue directives or orders that may go beyond existing laws to achieve justice. Binding Authority: The orders under Article 142 are binding on all courts and authorities across India. Broad Applicability: It has been used in landmark cases, including those related to environmental protection, human rights, and criminal justice reforms. In cases involving sexual offences, Article 142 could be used to rectify inconsistencies in lower court rulings, ensuring justice for victims. 'We have already prejudged the issue. And now things have reached a point where it is very difficult for a person to say that he could be innocent.' 'But if you look at the facts, what has happened then there is no recovery memo.' 'We have been told that money was found in his house.' 'But if money is found, the first thing you do is prepare a recovery memo.' 'There's no recovery memo.' 'The question then immediately comes to mind is 'What happened to the money then?' IMAGE: Allahabad high court lawyers stage an indefinite strike over Delhi High Court Justice Yashwant Varma's transfer to his parent court in Prayagraj, March 25, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo Former Allahabad High Court Bar Association president Rakesh Pande discusses with Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore the legal and judicial impact of Justice Yashwant Varma's transfer from the Delhi high court back to Allahabad. The transfer followed a fire at Justice Varma's Delhi residence on March 14, where burnt cash was reportedly found, sparking public outrage and prompting the Supreme Court Collegium's decision. Pande believes that the Collegium's back-and-forth decisions surrounding Justice Varma's transfer back to his parent court since the day the cash was discovered at his residence has led to more questions being asked then answered. "Some believe he should be punished immediately, while others want due process to be followed. Emotions have taken over reason," laments Advocate Pande. How long will the strike by members of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association continue? How long this indefinite strike will continue depends. The AHCBA will have to organise a meeting to decide whether to continue it on a day-to-day basis. What's the reason for this strike? They are basically resisting the transfer of Justice (Yashwant) Varma. The Allahabad High Court Bar Association has opposed Justice Varma's transfer to the Allahabad high court, stating that the court is not a trash bin. Could you elaborate on it? Basically, what the association is saying is that if there are allegations against the man (Justice Yashwant Varma), then transfer is not the remedy. If you believe that the man is wrong, then take appropriate action. It is not proper to transfer him from one place to another because suppose he is wrong, then he continues his wrongs at the other place as well. But the Supreme Court Collegium has justified the transfer as a routine administrative move. In normal circumstances, it could be a routine transfer. But there is such a nexus between all that has happened that it's very difficult to believe that this transfer is routine. What reforms would you suggest to improve the process so that such transfers are transparent? You have to address all these issues at the time of appointment (of the judges). Unless you become very, very, careful about appointments, these things will keep happening. What are your specific concerns regarding Justice Yashwant Varma? See, we have already prejudged the issue. And now things have reached a point where it is very difficult for a person to say that he could be innocent as well. But if you look at the facts, what has happened then there is no recovery memo. We have been told that money was found in his house in a storeroom. But if money is found, the first thing you do is prepare a recovery memo. There's no recovery memo. The question then immediately comes to the mind is 'What happened to the money then?' If it was found and there is no recovery memo, then how do you trust that money was actually found and was unaccounted for? And if there's no money, then on what basis is he being accused? But the media has taken up the case, and public perception is already against the judge. That's exactly the problem. The media has already prejudiced the public. But as a lawyer, I am trained to question things. If the allegations are true, then obviously it is a serious issue. But we ought to be careful about how we go about it. There's an inquiry committee. Let the committee come up with its final report. We are not aware of the full facts. But one fact is very clear -- there is no recovery memo about the money that was supposedly found. And that leads to more suspicion? Yes, it does. There is a video claiming that money was found burning. If that was the case and the police and fire department were there, then the first thing to do was prepare a recovery memo. That's fundamental. If there's no recovery memo, then how do you convict a person? What is the evidence? How do you think this transfer affects the credibility of the judiciary in the eyes of lawyers, litigants, and the public? Over the last week, the public has convinced itself that something is wrong. That belief may be debatable, but it exists. People now see this one man as representative of the entire judiciary, and the entire judiciary is being painted black. That is fundamentally wrong and worrisome. Even if the allegations are true, we have over 500 judges at the high court level who are Constitutional functionaries. These kinds of allegations are rare and should not be generalised. So you believe the judiciary is being turned into a punching bag? Yes. The long-term consequences are being ignored. This is shaking people's faith in the entire judicial system, and that is deplorable. Now every litigant who loses a case will think they lost not on merit but due to some external influence. This mindset is dangerous. How should the judiciary handle cases where a judge faces allegations while ensuring due process, transparency, and institutional integrity? The judiciary has already stopped allotting work to Justice (Yashwant) Varma. That is akin to suspension. If he were a government servant, he could have been suspended. But since he is a Constitutional functionary, he cannot be suspended, so they have stopped allotting him work. Now, if the inquiry committee finds him guilty, they will proceed with impeachment. If they find no basis to the allegations, the matter should end there. But this is a process, and all processes take time. But despite this, he has been transferred to the Allahabad high court. What do you think about that? That, I don't understand. That was uncalled for. Why do you think the Supreme Court Collegium took this decision? Now that he is not being allotted work, there was no reason to transfer him. What purpose does it serve? It appears to be a decision taken under media pressure rather than any real necessity. Hasn't this transfer complicated the issue further, raising more questions than answers? Yes, it has. It has strengthened suspicions rather than resolving them. What kind of response have you received from the broader legal fraternity regarding your position on Justice Varma's transfer? Have you seen support from other Bar Associations or judicial bodies? I have not talked to other Bar Associations. But within my Bar, I have seen that people are split. Some believe he should be punished immediately, while others want due process to be followed. Emotions have taken over reason. The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday launched a nationwide programme to reach out to the members of the minority community, starting with distribution of 'Saugat-e-Modi' kits with eatables and clothes for women among Muslims ahead of Eid celebrations. IMAGE: BJP Minority Morcha distributes 'Saugat-e-Modi' kits to poor Muslims in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI on X BJP Minority Morcha national president Jamal Siddiqui, who rolled out the initiative, said similar kits will be distributed among economically weaker members of other minority communities during their festivals under the 'Saugat-e-Modi' programme next month. Prime Minister Narendra Modi always says that he is the guardian of 140 crore Indians and he takes part in all festivals. He participates in Christmas, Easter, Baisakhi and sends 'chadar' for offering at Nizamuddin Dargah and Ajmer Sharif, he said. So we decided that we will give kits with food to our brothers and sisters, who are poor. Each kit will also have a cloth for our sisters, he said. Siddiqui said as many as 32000 BJP Minority Morcha workers, including office bearers of its state, district and mandal level units have been engaged to implement the programme. Our karyakartas will meet people (Muslims) in their respective areas across the country and give them kits, greeting Eid Mubarak on behalf of the prime minister, he said. The programme was launched in Delhi and other states in the country today. We have set a target that each of our karyakartas should reach out to at least 100 people with 'Saugat-e-Modi' kits under the programme, greeting Eid Mubarak on behalf of the prime minister, he added. Siddiqui said the programme will continue beyond Eid to greet members of other minority communities, including Sikhs and Christians, on their respective festivals like Baisakhi and Easter to be celebrated next month. Opposition MPs called the 'Saugat-e-Modi' kits programme as a tactic to get votes. Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav said the Bharatiya Janata Party would do anything for votes. "The BJP and its people should celebrate every festival. Samajwadis have always believed that all festivals should be celebrated be it of any religion. "It is a matter of happiness that the BJP is now celebrating festivals on a large scale. The BJP is such a party that it would perform anything to get even a single vote," said Yadav. Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kirti Azad called it "the joke of the day". "Have you seen crocodile's face? It appears as if the animal is smiling but when you go near, it will swallow you. "The same scenario is with the BJP. The world knows about their acts, they have nothing to show. This is the biggest joke of the day," the TMC MP said. Congress MP Ranjit Ranjan called it "crocodile tears". "These are crocodile tears. Bihar elections are coming and they are asking for votes in 'saugat'. If he is so keen, he should provide employment in Bihar. This is just for the sake of votes," she said. Azad Samaj Party (ASP) MP Chandra Shekhar said the government is giving Muslims a "token", adding that there may be a "hidden agenda". "I am very surprised. There may be a hidden agenda, they brought the waqf amendment (bill) to loot the Muslims, and now they are bringing Saugat-e-Modi... "You are snatching away everything from them and giving them a token? I believe it is not Saugat-e-Modi, but Barbaad-e-Musalman," he said. Independent MP Pappu Yadav also took a jibe at the ruling party and said, "Is this politics or change of heart? Is it Arab love, Gulf love or Bangladesh love? May god give them wisdom, and they may quit the politics of hatred". Canada's Liberal Party revoked Indian-origin MP Chandra Arya's bid to run for the party leadership and his nomination in his own Ottawa Nepean constituency over his alleged ties to the Indian government, a media report said on Wednesday. IMAGE: Canadian Liberal Party's Indian-origin MP Chandra Arya. Photograph: ANI Photo Citing a source with top-secret clearance, the Globe and Mail daily reported that Arya, who visited India last August and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had not informed the government of that trip even though bilateral relations are in a deep freeze. The Liberals have never revealed why they barred the three-term Liberal MP from the party's recent leadership race or from running again in Nepean constituency, the paper said. Citing the source, the daily reported that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service had briefed the government about Arya's "alleged close ties to the government of India, including its High Commission in Ottawa". Liberal Party officials who have security clearances and had received a general CSIS briefing on foreign interference also had concerns about Arya, a Liberal source said. The decisions to remove Arya as a candidate for the leadership and Nepean nomination were solely made by the Liberal Party and were not on the advice of CSIS, sources said. Party officials, in charge of monitoring foreign meddling, found troubling inconsistencies in information that Arya had put in a confidential questionnaire, the second source said. Arya rejected the allegations that he has been influenced by India. "As a Member of Parliament, I have engaged with numerous diplomats and heads of government, both in Canada and internationally. Not once have I sought -- nor been required to seek -- permission from the government to do so," he said in a statement to The Globe. "At no point did former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau or any cabinet minister raise concerns about my meetings or public statements," he said. Arya, who is of the Hindu faith, said he believes he was removed from the leadership and Nepean nomination because he's spoken out against the Sikh Khalistani movement in Canada that promotes a separate state in Punjab. The sole point of contention with the Liberal Party has been my outspoken advocacy on issues important to Hindu Canadians and my firm stance against Khalistani extremism, he said in the statement. The voting for the general election will take place on April 28. Last week, Arya released a letter from the Liberal Party that informed him it decided to disallow his Nepean nomination after a thorough review of your eligibility to serve as a candidate in the riding and based on new information made available to the party's Green Light committee. The relations between India and Canada plummetted to a new low after the then Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau alleged in September 2023 that India was behind the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a charge trashed by India. The allegation led to the expulsion of six Canadian diplomats by New Delhi, which also withdrew six Indian diplomats from Canada in October 2024. Ottawa, however, said it had expelled them. The Central Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday conducted searches at the residence of former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel in connection with the alleged Rs 6,000 crore Mahadev app scam, officials said. IMAGE: Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel. Photograph: @bhupeshbaghel/X The agency teams swooped down at Baghel's residences in Raipur and Bhilai, as well as the houses of a senior police officer and a close associate of the former CM, they said. The CBI has taken over the investigation from the Economic Offences Wing of the Chhattisgarh Police, which had earlier named Congress leader Baghel, promoters of the app, Ravi Uppal, Saurabh Chandrakar, Shubham Soni, and Anil Kumar Agrawal, and 14 others in its FIR. Reacting to the action, Baghel's office in a post on X said, "Now CBI has arrived. Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is scheduled to go to Delhi today for the meeting of the "Drafting Committee" constituted for the AICC meeting to be held in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) on April 8 and 9." "Before that, CBI has reached Raipur and Bhilai residences," it added. State Congress communication wing head Sushil Anand Shukla slammed the BJP over the action and claimed the ruling party was scared of Baghel. Ever since Baghel has become the party in-charge of Punjab, the BJP is scared. First, the Enforcement Directorate was sent to his residence and now, the CBI has been sent. This shows the BJP's fear. When the BJP fails to fight politically, it uses central agencies against its opponents," he alleged. "Neither Bhupesh Baghel nor the Congress party is scared, Shukla said. The people of the country and the state are well aware of these "oppressive" policies of the BJP, he said. The Enforcement Directorate, which is also probing the case, has alleged that its probe revealed the involvement of several top politicians and bureaucrats from Chhattisgarh. The app was an umbrella syndicate arranging online platforms for illegal betting websites to enrol new users, create user IDs and launder money through a layered web of 'benami' bank accounts, it claimed. The projected proceeds of crime are about Rs 6,000 crore, the ED earlier said. Earlier also, the CBI had lodged a case against Baghel in connection with an alleged seven-year-old (sleaze) CD matter, but the court recently discharged him of all charges, Shukla added. The state government last year handed over to the CBI 70 cases related to the alleged Mahadev scam lodged with different police stations and one case registered with the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in the state. A team led by the deputy commissioner of police (New Delhi) on Wednesday visited the residence of Delhi high court judge Yashwant Varma and questioned the staff and security personnel as part of an investigation into the alleged discovery of a cash pile at his residence here, official sources said. IMAGE: A security jawan at the residence of high court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma, in New Delhi, March 26, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo The police team, comprising six members, including DCP (New Delhi) Devesh Mahla, an ACP and other officials, reached Justice Varma's residence at 30, Tughlaq Road bungalow at around 1.50 pm and left about two hours later. The visit was part of an in-house inquiry by a three-judge panel constituted by the Chief Justice of India for a "deeper probe" into the discovery of "four to five semi-burnt sacks of Indian currency notes" in Varma's Lutyens home following a fire incident on March 14, according to the sources. The in-house committee went to Varma's residence on Tuesday and is learnt to have inspected the site. During the visit on Wednesday, the police questioned the staffers, security personnel and others who were present on the night of the fire to ascertain the sequence of events, sources said. The sources said that the officials were accompanied by a videographer and they inspected the outhouse where the alleged cash stash was found. The team also reviewed CCTV footage from cameras installed at the judge's residence and may question police and fire personnel who responded to the emergency call in the coming days, they said. Justice Varma had said he was in Madhya Pradesh at the time of the incident. He has denied the allegations, saying that no cash was ever placed in the storeroom by him or any of his family members. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 26. Azerbaijani Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev met with UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education Stefania Giannini as part of UNESCO's "Global Ministerial Dialogue on Science Diplomacy", Trend reports. The information was shared by the Permanent Delegation of Azerbaijan to UNESCO on its official X account. During the meeting, the two sides discussed ongoing cooperation and future prospects for expanding collaboration in the field of education. Earlier, the Azerbaijani delegation, led by Amrullayev, also held discussions with UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences Lidia Brito. A 16-year-old boy was abducted and killed for a Rs 10 lakh ransom in the Wazirabad area of north Delhi, a police officer said on Wednesday. IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo Three juveniles have been apprehended in connection with the murder, he said. The class 9 student was taken to a deserted area near Bhalaswa Lake, where he was stabbed multiple times, he said. "The family members of the boy had received a call regarding a ransom of Rs 10 lakh. Later, they discovered his body," said the officer. On Monday, a complaint was filed at the local police station about a boy missing since Sunday. The boy studied in Mukherjee Nagar. "During investigation, it was found that the missing/kidnapped boy was last seen with three boys, two of them aged 16 and 17, on a motorcycle on Jharoda Pushta road," the officer said. The sighting was confirmed through CCTV footage from the area. Police apprehended all three boys, who, during interrogation, revealed they had kidnapped the boy for a ransom of 10 lakh. They said that on Sunday, they took him with them on a motorcycle to hang out. They took him to a forested area near Bhalaswa Lake, where they stabbed him and fled, leaving him dead. The next day, they called the boy's father, a driver by profession, using the boy's SIM and demanded a ransom of Rs 10 lakh. "The body of the victim was discovered by a police team at the instance of the apprehended juveniles," the officer said. Police sources said that the accused also tried to cut the boy's body into parts. The mother of the deceased told reporters that the boys who allegedly killed her son lived nearby. "My son left on Sunday around 7.30 pm after receiving a call, saying he will come back in 10 minutes. Later, we got a call with a demand for Rs 10 lakh," she said. The father of the boy added, "Two boys came to our house to pick my son. After that, his mother kept calling him but it went unanswered. Around 9 pm on Sunday, his phone went off. I started a search for him and then went to the police station to register a complaint." He said around midnight he got a call with the demand for a ransom, to be paid within three days, or else his son would be killed. "He was killed so brutally. His throat was slit and he was stabbed multiple times. I want them to go through the same pain that my son did," he said. A relative of the boy blamed the Delhi police for the slow action and law and order situation in the capital. "They waited so long to investigate the matter. If this continues, no kid would be safe in this neighbourhood. What are the police doing?" Delhi's infamous 'Potty Badmash', a 27-year-old knifer and pickpocket who evaded arrest on multiple occasions by defecating in his pants to keep police personnel off him, has finally landed in police net, an official said on Wednesday. IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo Deepak deployed his "filth plan" to flee on March 24 as well, but the officers -- "equipped with gloves and masks" -- were prepared this time. Police said a patrolling team spotted him near the Eidgah Park behaving suspiciously on Monday. As soon as he saw the police personnel, he attempted to flee. "Teams gave him a chase and pinned him down. As expected, Deepak deployed his infamous 'filth plan' but the officers, equipped with gloves and masks, thwarted his last-ditch effort and took him in custody," said an officer. A search led to the recovery of a knife on him which Deepak claimed to be his "lucky charm", the officer said. He said Deepak evaded arrest multiple times in the past by deploying his strategy of defecating in his pants to create a stench so unbearable that officers hesitated to apprehend him. After he was finally nabbed, a case was registered against him under the Arms Act at the Sadar Bazar Police Station. During interrogation, he admitted to multiple mobile thefts and knife-related crimes in the area, police said. Deepak has a long criminal history with over half-a-dozen cases against him across various police stations in North and Central Delhi. Maharashtra minister Shambhuraj Desai on Wednesday said in the state assembly that no one will be spared if found guilty in the case of death of former celebrity manager Disha Salian. IMAGE: Shiv Sena-UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray. Photograph: @AUThackeray/X Desai's comments came after Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad asked what action will be taken against Shiv Sena-UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray since Salian's parents have accused him of being "directly involved in her murder". Gaikwad raised the issue in the assembly through a 'Point of Information', seeking Thackeray's resignation as a member of the House and asked whether the speaker will take action against him. "When accusations were made against a close aide of (then) minister Dhananjay Munde over the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh (in Beed in December 2024), Munde's resignation was sought," he said. Members of the treasury benches rushed to the well of the House shouting slogans against Aaditya Thackeray, the son of Shiv Sena-UBT head and former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. NCP-SP member Jayant Patil reminded the House members that the Italian embassy officials were seated in the guest gallery. Amid slogan-shouting, speaker Rahul Narwekar adjourned the House for 10 minutes. After the House reassembled, Gaikwad reiterated his demand for Aaditya Thackeray's arrest in the Salian death case. Minister Shambhuraj Desai said Salian's father has met the Mumbai police commissioner and made serious allegations against Aaditya Thackeray. "Whether to resign on moral grounds is up to him and his party. But as government, I want to state that no one will be spared if found guilty. We will seek a report from the Mumbai police commissioner on Salian's allegations and forward it to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case," he said. Disha Salian, former manager of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died on June 8, 2020, after falling off the 14th floor of a residential building in Mumbai's Malad area, six days before Rajput allegedly committed suicide in his apartment in Bandra. Her father Satish Salian on Tuesday submitted a complaint to the Joint Commissioner of Police in Mumbai, demanding registration of a case against Aaditya Thackeray and others in connection with his daughter's death in 2020. Satish Salian has also moved the Bombay high court, seeking a fresh probe into the circumstances surrounding the death of his daughter and former manager of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in June 2020. The HC petition stated that "Disha was raped and murdered, and there was a politically-orchestrated cover-up to protect certain influential persons". The petition demanded the registration of an FIR against Aaditya Thackeray and transferring the probe to the CBI. The petition is likely to come up for hearing in the first week of April. Aaditya Thackeray has said he would respond to the allegations in court. A strong demand was made in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday to eliminate online betting and gambling applications that keep mushrooming under new names to bypass government controls. IMAGE: YSR Congress Party member Maddila Gurumoorthy. Photograph: ANI Photo/Sansad TV Raising the issue during Zero Hour, YSR Congress Party member Maddila Gurumoorthy urged the government to set up a dedicated task force under the cyber crime department to take action against betting and gambling apps. Gurumoorthy also wanted the government to draft regulations for such applications which are often found to be endorsed by influencers and celebrities. The idea of making quick money through these platforms is inspiring frauds, thefts and other illegal activities. Incidents of youngsters committing suicide due to serious losses are also increasing, said the Lok Sabha MP from Tirupati. He also asked the government to launch awareness campaigns across the country about the dangers of online betting. BJP member Tejasvi Surya urged the government to amend the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) Act to cover bank deposits above Rs 5 lakh in banks facing financial trouble. Surya said nearly 78 percent depositors of the Sri Guru Raghavendra Cooperative Bank in Bengaluru had received insurance payouts up to Rs 5 lakh as per the DICGC Act. However, the remaining 22 percent depositors having more than Rs 5 lakh in their accounts were yet to be compensated. The scam involving the cooperative bank came to light in 2020 when the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed withdrawal restrictions on the bank, revealing misappropriation to the tune of Rs 2,500 crore by the bank management. Surya said there was a dire need to increase the deposit insurance coverage to cover 100 percent of the deposits made by senior citizens. He urged the government to ensure full deposit protection for senior citizens, extend the DICGC Act to cover all banks and cooperative banks, and also bring NBFCs under its purview to protect depositors. Congress member K Suresh said the Kerala government did not have a single representative from the Scheduled Castes and the community was facing discrimination under the Left Democratic Front in the state. The absence of an SC minister is a clear deviation from the constitutional assurance of fair representation in governance. This decision silences the voice of SC communities and weakens their access to policymaking, welfare programmes and affirmative action incentives, Suresh said. Another Congress member K C Venugopal raised the issue of challenges faced by nurses, which affect their work and the quality of healthcare in the country. Currently, if a nurse is registered in one state, they must go through a separate registration process in every other state where they wish to work. This makes it difficult and time-consuming, and creates unnecessary hassles for skilled nurses to move across states, Venugopal said. He proposed a single National Registration System for nurses, eliminating the need for separate registrations in each state. Venugopal said the National Unique Identity Number (NUID) process must be expedited and hospitals must be mandated to follow the Supreme Court's salary guidelines to ensure nurses are treated fairly. BJP member Manish Jaiswal raised the issue of recent communal violence in Jharkhand and demanded that the government deploy paramilitary forces in the state during the upcoming Hindu festivals such as Ram Navmi on April 6. Trinamool Congress member Sharmila Sarkar wanted the government to posthumously award the revolutionary Rashbehari Bose, considering his contribution to the Independence movement. The ATAGS has a range of 35 to 45 kilometres, depending on the ammunition used, and achieved a 47-km firing range during trials. IMAGE: The Made-in-India Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) howitzer. Photograph: ANI Photo In a bid to speed up the lengthy defence procurement process, the central government on March 20, 2025 approved new guidelines to shorten timelines, along with granting preliminary approvals for military procurement proposals worth over Rs 54,000 crore (Rs 540 billion). This comes a day after final approval was granted for procuring 307 indigenous artillery guns at a cost of nearly Rs 7,000 crore (Rs 70 billion). Guidelines to reduce timelines at 'various stages of the capital acquisition process to make it faster, more effective, and efficient' were approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the ministry of defence (MoD) said in an official release. This move is part of the MoD's decision to observe 2025 as the Year of Reforms, with the initiative aimed at transforming the armed forces into a 'technologically advanced, combat-ready force capable of multi-domain integrated operations'. The DAC also granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for eight capital acquisition proposals worth over Rs 54,000 crore. These include more powerful engines for the Indian Army's T-90 tanks to improve battlefield mobility, particularly in high-altitude areas; procurement of the indigenous Varunastra ship-launched anti-submarine torpedo for the Indian Navy; and acquisition of Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft systems for the Indian Air Force. AoN signifies the official recognition of the armed forces' need for specific equipment or capabilities and marks the initial step in the procurement process. A day earlier, in a significant step towards India's push for aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in advanced artillery, the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the procurement of the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) for the Indian Army, sources told Business Standard. The contract -- covering 307 artillery guns and 327 gun-towing vehicles for 15 artillery regiments -- was signed on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. The ATAGS, developed in 2013 and tested through extensive field trials, will enhance the army's long-range firepower -- a priority reinforced by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The deal also comes as the armed forces continue expanding their induction of howitzers, rocket artillery, and missiles. The ATAGS has a range of 35 to 45 kilometres, depending on the ammunition used, and achieved a 47-km firing range during trials in 2017. The 155mm/52-calibre ATAGS was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation in collaboration with Bharat Forge and the Tata Group. After bids were opened in late October, Bharat Forge emerged as the lowest bidder. The MoD added on Wednesday: The ministry of defence has signed contracts with Bharat Forge Limited and Tata Advanced System Limited for the procurement of 155mm/52 Calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) and High Mobility Vehicle 6x6 Gun Towing Vehicles respectively at a total cost of about Rs 6,900 crore. The contracts were signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh at South Block in New Delhi on March 26, 2025. With the signing, total contracts worth Rs 1.40 lakh crore have been signed by MoD for capital procurement till date in the current Financial Year 2024-25. During the contract signing, the Project Director of ATAGS from DRDO's Armament Research and Development Establishment, Pune, who played a pivotal role in the realisation of the project was felicitated by the defence secretary as an honour for his immense contribution. The 155 mm/52 calibre ATAGS will replace the vintage and smaller calibre guns and enhance the artillery capabilities of the Indian Army. The procurement of this gun system marks a significant milestone in the modernisation of the Artillery Regiments, enhancing operational readiness. ATAGS, renowned for its exceptional lethality, will play a crucial role in bolstering the Army's firepower by enabling precise and long-range strikes. Being the first major procurement of towed guns from the private sector by the Indian Army, the project will provide a boost to the Indian gun manufacturing industry in particular and the indigenous defence manufacturing eco-system as a whole. This project is a proud flag-bearers of Aatmnanirbhar Bharat by significantly contributing to employment generation and economic growth in consonance with the Make-in-India initiative. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com India and China on Wednesday explored ways to rebuild ties and agreed to initiate efforts to promote people-to-people exchanges, including arrangements for resumption of direct flights and resume Kailash Manasarovar Yatra this year. IMAGE: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri (left), in Beijing, January 27, 2025. Photograph: NI Photo In a meeting in Beijing, the two sides also discussed resumption of dialogue mechanisms in a "step-by-step" manner to utilize them to address each other's priority areas of interest and concern and move the relations to a "more stable and predictable path", according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The relations between the two countries came under severe strain following the Galwan Valley clashes in 2020. The meeting was held between Gourangalal Das, the joint secretary in the MEA's East Asia division, and Liu Jinsong, the director general at the Chinese foreign ministry's department of Asian affairs. The MEA said the two sides also made further progress on the modalities to resume Kailash Manasarovar Yatra this year. It said the two sides took positive note of the developments in bilateral relations since the meeting of the leaders of India and China in October last year. "In the intervening period, the foreign ministers have met twice, while the Special Representatives on the India-China boundary question have held their 23rd meeting," the MEA said. "These high-level meetings have provided strategic guidance to stabilise and further develop relations," it said in a statement. In December, NSA Ajit Doval travelled to Beijing and held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi under the framework of Special Representatives (SR) dialogue on the boundary question. The decision to revive the SR mechanism and other such dialogue formats was taken at a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan on October 23. The Modi-Xi meeting came two days after India and China firmed up a disengagement pact for Depsang and Demchok, the last two friction points in eastern Ladakh. In January, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Beijing and held talks with his Chinese counterpart Sun Weidong. In the meeting, the two sides decided to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and agreed to take certain people-centric steps to "stabilise and rebuild" ties. The Wednesday's talks between Das and Liu came a day after India and China held diplomatic talks under the framework of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) in Beijing. Das led the Indian delegation at the WMCC meeting. "In today's meeting, the two sides reviewed the action taken by them to implement the strategic direction as also the specific steps agreed in the meeting between the foreign secretary and Chinese vice foreign minister in January to stabilise and rebuild ties," the MEA said in the statement. "They agreed to continue efforts to further facilitate and promote people-to-people exchanges, including arrangements for resumption of direct flights, interaction of media and think-tanks, and celebration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations," it said. "The two sides have made further progress on the modalities to resume Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in 2025," the MEA said. It said the two sides took stock of the planned exchanges and activities this year. "They discussed resumption of dialogue mechanisms in a step-by-step manner to utilize them to address each other's priority areas of interest and concern and move relations on to a more stable and predictable path," the MEA added. In the WMCC dialogue on Tuesday, India and China focused on ensuring effective border management and early resumption of cross-border cooperation and exchanges including on trans-border rivers and Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. The residence of Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman was attacked in Agra on Wednesday allegedly by workers of the Karni Sena, days after the lawmaker's remarks in Parliament on Rana Sanga triggered a row. IMAGE: Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman. Photograph: ANI Photo The Karni Sena demanded apologies from Suman and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav for "insulting" its hero and said its protest would continue in a peaceful manner, with its chief asking the group's workers to not take law into their hands. Yadav slammed the Uttar Pradesh government over its claims of "zero tolerance" against crime, following the attack at Suman's house and questioned Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's authority, alleging that despite his presence in Agra on Wednesday, the house of the SP lawmaker was vandalised. Uttar Pradesh Women Commission Vice Chairperson Aparna Yadav has sought an apology from Suman over his remarks on Rana Sanga. Aparna, a BJP leader, is also Akhilesh Yadav's sister-in-law. Scores of activists and supporters of Karni Sena, a caste-based group advocating Rajput pride, vandalised the lawmaker's house located near Hariparvat Chauraha here around 1 pm. Multiple cars parked outside the house were damaged, chairs were broken and the house's glass windows were shattered. Videos showed a handful of police personnel confronting the mob as it went on a rampage in the posh neighbourhood. A policeman was also seen getting injured in the skirmish. Speaking about the incident, the MP's son Ranjit Suman said, "For several days, abusive language has been used on social media and threats were being made. For the past two days, there were talks of surrounding the house. "The police administration was aware of this but no action was taken. Instead, they (attackers) were patronised. They attacked with sticks, rods, and swords," he said. The incident took place on a day Chief Minister Adityanath was in the city for a public event. A video of the Rajya Sabha MP surfaced recently in which he is purportedly heard saying that Rana Sanga was a "traitor" who brought Babur to defeat Ibrahim Lodi. Rana Sanga or Sangram Singh I was the ruler of Mewar from 1508 to 1528. Referring to Ramji Lal Suman's remark, Karni Sena chief Suraj Pal Singh Amu demanded that he and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav tender an apology. He claimed the remarks insulted a hero who defeated the Mughals. "The Karni Sena workers should not take the law into their own hands, keep their protest democratic and extend support to police and the administration. As for the damage at the Rajya Sabha MP's home, we will provide him with new chairs and get windshields of the damaged cars replaced," he said in a video shared on social media. "Akhilesh Yadav and Ramji Lal Suman must immediately apologise. We will peacefully continue our protest. If lawmakers have freedom of speech, we also have the right," he added. In light of the attack, Akhilesh took to X to condemn it. He questioned the CM's authority and his government's claims of zero tolerance against crime in the state. "When a violent attack on a PDA MP's house cannot be stopped even in the presence of the chief minister, then 'zero tolerance' is bound to become zero," Yadav wrote. By PDA, Yadav referred to Pichhde (OBCs), Dalits (SCs) and Alpsankhyak (minorities), a term he frequently uses to describe his party's voter base. He also described Adityanath as an "outgoing CM". Yadav further mocked the government's use of AI technology which was recently highlighted during the Maha Kumbh to estimate the number of pilgrims through AI-enabled cameras. "If the CM is still in charge, he should take immediate action and use AI to identify and punish the culprits. Otherwise, it will be assumed that this attack on a PDA MP happened with his approval," he wrote, condemning the incident. Separately, talking to PTI, Aparna Yadav said, "Whatever he (Suman) said on Rana Sanga lacks historical evidence. It appears to be more of an attempt to project himself. He should either apologise or resign for claiming that Rana Sanga invited Babar to come here and rule India." Aparna is the daughter-in-law of SP founder and former chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. "There is no historical evidence to support the SP MP's claim. I think he and the entire opposition should brush up their knowledge of India's history which is full of stories of many such kings who sacrificed their lives for their land and protected the sovereignty of India. He must apologise," she said. The Karni Sena, which is active in states like Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, has been involved in violent protests during the making of Hindi films 'Padmavat' and 'Panipat' over what they called the wrong depiction of history, and for demanding caste-based reservations for the Rajput community. Additional Commissioner of Police Sanjeev Tyagi said several people from the mobs have been taken into custody. He claimed that the police had tried to stop the attackers at multiple spots in the city and its efforts helped avert a bigger incident. "The group was outraged with a statement of the SP MP. The people under the banner of the Karni Sena had reached the MP's house, the police had set up barricades at various places to stop them and they were stopped at different spots, some were taken into custody also," he told reporters. "There was a police team deployed at the MP's residence, where some people reached by hiding their identities and hurled stones at the honourable MP's home, vandalising it. The police used mild force to stop them, take them into custody and send them back. Further legal proceedings are underway," Tyagi said. On the number of people taken into custody, the officer told reporters that their counting was yet to be done as the detainees were held at different spots. "The police tried to stop them at various spots but they reached the house by hiding their identities, sneaking through different ways. It was because of the police effort that a major incident was averted," he claimed. A massive multi-tier combing operation to track down a group of infiltrating terrorists continued for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday in forested areas of Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district. IMAGE: Security forces continue the cordon and search operation in the Saniyal area of Hiranagar after receiving input regarding the presence of terrorists, in Kathua. Photographs: ANI Photo A local woman informed the police on Tuesday that two men in army uniform asked her for water while they were having food in the Ding Amb belt of the district, prompting the area to be cordoned off. "They took water and headed towards the nearby forest area," Darshana Devi said. Security has been intensified along the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway in the Samba-Kathua section, with increased vigilance on border roads, officials said. The search operation is concurrently underway in multiple areas from Sanyal to Ding Amb and beyond, covering several kilometres. The operation involving the army, NSG, BSF, police, Special Operation Group, and CRPF armed with technical and surveillance equipment, is supported by helicopter, UAVs, drones, bulletproof vehicles, and sniffer dogs. Security agencies have questioned several persons in various areas and picked up three suspects for questioning, they said. During the search operation on Tuesday, security forces recovered two grenades. The tracksuits found among a large cache of ammunition and other materials in the Sanyal forests were identical to those worn by the four JeM terrorists killed in Assar forests and Doda in June and August last year. Locals of the areas have joined the operation by security forces and urged people in other areas to remain vigilant and inform any movement of suspected persons in their areas. Several villagers have requested people to come forward with information about the movement of terrorists in their areas. IMAGE: Security personnel carry out search operations to track down terrorists in Kathua. The operation led by Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat was launched on Sunday evening in the Hiranagar sector following an encounter between security forces and terrorists hiding in a nursery. The Special Operations Group of police initiated the operation after receiving intelligence about terrorists hiding inside a 'dhok' (local enclosure) in a nursery in Sanyal village, approximately five kilometres from the International Border with Pakistan, officials said. The hiding terrorists opened fire on the police team, resulting in a prolonged gunfight lasting over half an hour. Reinforcements were promptly dispatched as a manhunt began to apprehend the terrorists believed to have infiltrated on Saturday via either a ravine route or a newly constructed tunnel. Initial firing did not cause any casualties, and the area remained under tight security overnight before security forces moved in at dawn, officials said. Although there have been no further encounters with the terrorists, search parties on Monday discovered four loaded magazines of M4 carbine, two grenades, a bulletproof jacket, sleeping bags, tracksuits and several packets of food. The police on Wednesday issued a second notice to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra in connection with a case filed in Mumbai for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, an official said. Photograph: / Rediff.com IMAGE: Comic Kunal Kamra performs at Habitat Studio. According to the official, in the notice, the 36-year-old comic has been asked to appear before the investigating officer of the case filed at the Khar police station in suburban Mumbai on a complaint lodged by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel. It was not clear when Kamra's appearance has been sought as the official did not provide further details. The police issued the first notice to Kamra on Tuesday and sought his presence, citing start of probe into the defamation case against him. After the first notice, sources said the comic had sought one week's time to appear before the police. The comedian has kicked up a major political storm in Maharashtra by making caustic remarks against Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena, in his show recorded at a studio in Mumbai a few days ago. Kamra, without taking Shinde's name, targeted the Deputy CM over his political career, including the 2022 rebellion against then-Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray which brought down the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. 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 cracked jokes about recent political developments in Maharashtra, including the split in the Shiv Sena (2022) and the NCP (2023). On Sunday night, Shiv Sena members damaged the Habitat Comedy Club in Khar, where Kamra's show took place, as well as the hotel in whose premises the venue is located. Based on a complaint of Shiv Sena MLA 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 workers of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena for vandalising the venue of the comedian's show. 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. The maiden Africa India Key Maritime Engagement exercise will be held from April 13 to 18 off the coast of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. IMAGE: The INS Sunayna. Photograph: ANI Photo The Indian Navy will deepen engagement with several East African navies in April through the maiden edition of a multilateral maritime exercise and the deployment of a navy ship jointly crewed by personnel from India and nine other countries. Both efforts aim to strengthen maritime security and reinforce India's role as a preferred security partner and first responder in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), as 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the government's Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) policy. The maiden Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) exercise will be co-hosted by the Indian Navy and the Tanzania Peoples Defence Force, and held from April 13 to 18 off the coast of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The six-day exercise will see participation from Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa, alongside the co-hosts. Including Tanzania, ten African nations will take part, with all but South Africa belonging to the continent's eastern region. Interestingly, Djibouti also hosts China's first known overseas military base -- a naval facility. "This large-scale multilateral maritime exercise with African countries, titled 'AIKEYME' -- meaning 'Unity' in Sanskrit -- is an initiative to enhance interoperability with their navies and maritime agencies," said a naval officer. The exercise, the officer added, underscored the shared importance India and African nations place on maritime security and their continued commitment to co-operate against threats such as piracy, trafficking, and unregulated and unreported fishing through sharing of information and surveillance. The harbour phase of the exercise will feature table-top and command post exercises on information sharing and counter-piracy, along with training in seamanship and visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) operations. The sea phase will include seamanship drills, search and rescue, VBSS, small arms firing, and helicopter operations. "With SAGAR entering its second decade, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth across Regions (MAHASAGAR) during his visit to Mauritius, the Indian Navy is launching the maiden initiatives of Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar and AIKEYME to consolidate its position as the preferred security partner and first responder in the IOR," said the officer. Aimed at continuing co-operation with IOR nations, the IOS Sagar initiative will see an Indian Navy ship, INS Sunayna, deployed to the South West IOR with a combined crew from India and nine friendly foreign countries (FFCs) -- Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and South Africa. The plan is for the ship's deployment, which will commence in April, to last over a month. IOS Sagar is slated to undertake port calls at Dar es Salaam, Nacala (Mozambique), Port Louis (Mauritius), Port Victoria (Seychelles), and Male (Maldives). It will also conduct joint surveillance of the exclusive economic zones of Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius, and Seychelles. The FFC personnel will undergo a two-week training capsule at various naval professional schools in Kochi, including training at sea. Plans also call for the crew of IOS Sagar to witness the harbour phase activities of Exercise AIKEYME at Dar es Salaam. Over the past ten years, the Indian Navy has deepened its partnerships with maritime agencies of the IOR in consonance with the SAGAR vision. It has also been collaborating with the navies of IOR countries through joint naval exercises, coordinated patrols, information sharing, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, and capacity building. The continued focus on the IOR and African countries comes at a time when China has significantly expanded its economic and military presence in both regions. A report published by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies -- an academic institution affiliated with the US department of defense -- found that Chinese State-owned enterprises are involved as builders, financiers, or operators in an estimated 78 ports across 32 African countries. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 26. Azerbaijan exported non-oil products worth $52.9 million to Georgia in the period from January through February this year. The data obtained by Trend from the country's State Customs Committee shows that this is by $10 million, or 23.3 percent more than for the same period of 2024. During the reporting period, the export of non-oil products to Georgia amounted to 10.92 percent of Azerbaijan's total exports. Thus, Georgia ranked 3rd among the countries that imported the largest amount of non-oil products. Moreover, the volume of trade operations between Azerbaijan and Georgia totaled $148.6 million in the period from January through February of 2025, which is $21.2 million or 16.7 percent more than in the same period of 2024. The export of products from Azerbaijan to Georgia amounted to $130.2 million in the period from January through February of the current year. This is by $15.1 million or 13.1 percent more than in the same period of 2024. Azerbaijan imported $18.3 million worth of goods from Georgia in the period from January through February of this year, which is $6.1 million or 50.5 percent more than a year earlier. Azerbaijan's foreign trade turnover reached $8.9 billion in the period from January through February of the current year. The data indicate that this is by $1.7 billion, or 23.2 percent more than in the same period last year. In the reporting period, $4.8 billion of trade turnover was accounted for exports, and $4.1 billion - for imports, which is $13 million or 0.3% less and $1.7 billion or 69.2% more, respectively, in annual comparison. Furthermore, foreign trade generated a surplus of $628 million in the reporting period, which is $1.7 billion or 3.7 times less than a year earlier. As his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah has set off speculations regarding electoral tie-up, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday asserted that alliances are formed only at the time of elections and declined to categorically say if his party would align or not with the Bharatiya Janata Party for the 2026 assembly polls. IMAGE: Former Tamil Nadu CM and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (third from right) meets Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in New Delhi, March 26, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo He also wondered if any party had maintained a 'permanent' stand applicable to all times. Briefing reporters in New Delhi on meeting Shah on Tuesday along with party leaders, Palaniswami said his party brought to the notice of the minister several issues faced by Tamil Nadu. "We have urged expeditious release of funds, the release of which is delayed." The former chief minister said he sought release of pending funds to Tamil Nadu from the Union government under schemes including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and those related to education (SSA). "Tamil Nadu is continuously following the 2-language policy and it should be continued. Also, the proposed delimitation of Parliamentary constituencies should be done in a manner that does not adversely impact Tamil Nadu," he said. The Godavari-Cauvery river linking plan should be expeditiously implemented and funds must be released for the Nadanthai Vazhi Cauvery scheme. The Centre should not allow the construction of Mekedatu dam across Cauvery river and must act only as per the Supreme Court order. Raising the water level in Mullaiperiyar dam to 152 ft by strengthening the reservoir, expediting railway projects in Tamil Nadu, a thorough probe into the Rs 1,000 crore "TASMAC scam" to bring to justice the guilty were among the demands made to the Centre, Palaniswami, the top leader of Tamil Nadu's principal opposition party said. Deterioration of law and order situation in the state and crimes against women and children were the other issues underscored in a representation presented to Amit Shah on AIADMK's behalf, Palaniswami said. Be it the "prevalence" of drugs, Rs 1,000 crore TASMAC 'scam' being probed by the Enforcement Directorate, Shah listened to such issues patiently and has assured all necessary support to Tamil Nadu, Palaniswami said adding the Centre was persuaded to put a full stop to such travails of Tamil Nadu. When asked about his meeting with Shah on Tuesday and the possibility of an electoral alliance with the BJP, he wondered if election has been announced and asked the need to answer 'yes' or 'no' to the question of forming alliance. A decision on alliance would be taken only at the time of elections, he said and asked scribes to recall the timing of announcement on forging of alliances for past elections; be it the 2019 Lok Sabha or the 2021 Assembly election. AIADMK and BJP had faced both elections as allies. "Alliances change as per the demands of circumstances and these are different from ideology and policies, which are permanent," he said. He wondered if the parties that form part of the DMK-led alliance would be part of the ruling party-led bloc for all the time and underscored that it was not so. He affirmed that alliances change as per the political situation. Elections are due only next March, he said and asked if a comment on alliance was needed now "one year before," and blamed "sensationalism" in media. Against the background of the AIADMK leaders including him, time and again dismissing the scope for an alliance with the BJP, ever since it snapped ties with the Saffron party in 2023, the former CM said the state assembly election is due only after a year and it was hence, premature to comment about alliances. Asked whether an inference could be drawn that the AIADMK had concluded a poll deal with the BJP, he said: "Only the media is saying that, there is nothing of its sort; we are here out and out for the sake of addressing the people's problems and one year is left for the election and claims related to alliances are mere speculations." The 45-minute meeting was about the people's issues and projects including the Nadanthai Vazhi Cauvery were individually taken up for discussion. The Delhi visit was primarily to inspect the newly inaugurated (through video conferencing by Palaniswami from Chennai) AIADMK office. "We thought we will meet him (Amit Shah) if we get an appointment and we got and we discussed people's issues." Whether the party is in power or in Opposition does not matter and the goal is to serve the people and address their issues and the AIADMK is fully committed to it, he said. On Palaniswami meeting Shah, expelled AIADMK leader and former CM O Panneerselvam said: "Ellam Nanmaikkey (Everything is for good)." AIADMK leaders including M Thambidurai and C Ve Shanmugam accompanied Palaniswami when he called on Shah in Delhi. On his arrival in Chennai, when reporters pointed to his statement that there would be no electoral tie-up with the BJP and whether the AIADMK would stick to its commitment, he wondered if any party had maintained a 'permanent' stand applicable to all times. He asked if parties aligned with the DMK had a permanent stand and ruled out possibility for an all-time stand. "This is politics and changes may be there based on political situation," he said and asked how a definitive stand could be spelt out now. "Our only goal is to defeat the anti-people DMK and the party will take all steps for that," he said. The Enforcement Directorate Wednesday said cash and gold worth about Rs 52 crore seized from an abandoned SUV in Madhya Pradesh last year "belonged" to former state transport department constable Saurabh Sharma, who is being investigated on corruption charges. IMAGE: Former RTO constable Saurabh Sharma (second from left) comes out from the district courtroom after being arrested by Special Establishment Police in connection with a corruption case, in Bhopal, January 29, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo The ED's declaration has ended months of speculation over the ownership of the cash and gold stash. The ED, I-T Department and the Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta Police are the three agencies probing Sharma and the cache recovered from the vehicle on December 20 last year from an area in Bhopal. The case began with the Lokayukta raiding Sharma first and recovered assets worth more than Rs 3 crore, including Rs 2.85 crore in cash, from his premises in Bhopal. "In this case, Income-Tax Department had seized cash and gold from an Innova car belonging to Chetan Singh Gaur. The ED investigation has revealed that the said cash and gold seized from Innova car belonged to Saurabh Sharma only," the federal probe agency claimed in a statement. The statement did not elaborate further. The vehicle was registered in the name of Gaur and he is stated to be linked to Sharma. The tax department seized 52 kg of gold bars worth Rs 40 crore and more than Rs 11 crore in cash from the vehicle. Sharma or his legal representatives could not be contacted immediately for a response on the charges made against him by the ED. The issue has snowballed into a political controversy in the central state with the opposition Congress and the ruling BJP trading charges on rampant corruption in the transport department during their respective regimes. The ED also said it has attached assets worth Rs 92.07 crore. A provisional order for attachment was issued on Tuesday under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), it said. The assets represent the "proceeds of crime" derived and obtained by Saurabh Sharma in his name or in the name of his relatives, associates apart from firms, companies, society, etc. "owned or controlled" by them, the agency said. The linked associates or entities include Sharad Jaiswal, Chetan Singh Gaur, Aviral Building Constructions Pvt Ltd, Aviral Enterprises Pvt Ltd and U R Infrastructures Pvt Ltd, it said. The ED said probe found that Saurabh Sharma "had purchased various movable and immovable properties in the name of his family members, friends, associates and also in the name of companies, firms, society by arranging unsecured loans from various unknown persons by laundering of ill-gotten money obtained and derived by him by commission of criminal activity relating to scheduled offences". Sharma, Gaur and linked person Jaiswal were arrested in the case by the ED and they are currently lodged in jail under judicial custody. The ED case of money laundering stems from the Lokayukta Police FIR. As per the Lokayukta Police, Sharma got appointed as a constable in the state transport department on compassionate grounds in 2015 and took voluntary retirement in 2023. His father, a government doctor, died in 2015, as per the special police establishment of the MP government. The Lokayukta also alleged that Sharma earned money through corrupt means including setting up a school and hotel in the name of his mother, wife, sister-in-law and close associates Gaud and Jaiswal. 'As negotiations continue, the path forward demands not only diplomatic skill, but also vigilance against legal asymmetries embedded in America's trade playbook.' Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters US President Donald Trump is weighing a two-step approach to implementing his new tariff regime, potentially invoking rarely used emergency powers to impose immediate duties on imports while formal investigations into trading partners unfold, the Financial Times newspaper reported. While Trump has long railed against foreign trade practices, some administration officials see tariffs not just as a negotiating tool but also as a way to bolster revenue for planned tax cuts, the report said, citing sources. Officials, the FT reported, are scouring legal avenues to expedite tariff implementation, with Section 301 investigations, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and Section 338 of the 1930 Tariff Act among the options under review. These measures could allow the administration to slap duties of up to 50 per cent on certain imports. Trump may also revive a national security probe into the auto industry, a move that could trigger tariffs on vehicle imports as soon as April 2, the report said, citing lawyers and sources familiar with the plan. Another, albeit less likely, alternative is Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which permits temporary tariffs of up to 15 per cent for 150 days. The administration has yet to finalise its approach, with the scope and purpose of the tariffs still under discussion. Soon after taking office, Trump vowed to unveil new tariffs on April 2, branding the date 'liberation day'. The pledge set off a wave of diplomatic efforts, with foreign governments lobbying senior US officials for exemptions. He initially imposed a blanket 25 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium imports, extending duties to a range of products made with the metals. He later announced tariffs on allies, including Mexico and Canada, only to reverse course following intense pressure from businesses. On Monday, Trump reaffirmed his intent to impose 'substantial' tariffs on trading partners, though he signalled that some nations might secure exemptions. 'They have charged us so much that I am embarrassed to charge them what they have charged us, but it will be substantial,' he said. Hours later, he unveiled a new 25% tariff targeting countries purchasing oil and gas from Venezuela, including India and China. 'Venezuela has been very hostile to the United States and the freedoms we espouse,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'Any country that buys oil and/or gas from Venezuela will be forced to pay a tariff of 25% on any trade they do with our country.' A presidential order signed Monday stipulates that the tariff will take effect as early as April 2 and will apply broadly to both direct and indirect buyers of Venezuelan crude. How Should India Respond to Trumps Tariff Threats? Shreya Nandi, Business Standard India must remain focused on negotiating only industrial goods tariffs during the talks with Assistant US Trade Representative Brendan Lynch this week, Delhi-based think tank Global Trade Research Institute said on Tuesday. Lynch, along with a team of US government officials, is in India for a five-day visit, starting March 25 for meetings with the Indian side, as part of the ongoing bilateral trade discussions between the two countries. The discussions will hammer out the details of the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA), with the aim to finalise the contours of the deal. Both sides hope to finalise the first tranche of the agreement by the fall of 2025. It recommended that India should eliminate tariffs on 90 per cent of industrial tariff lines, if the US does the same. This strategy would cover over 90 per cent of India-US bilateral merchandise trade. GTRI further recommended that India should not engage in discussions around intellectual property, digital trade, agricultural tariffs or subsidies, or government procurement. That apart, talks about easing regulations for US giants like Tesla, Starlink, Amazon, and American pharma firms raise serious concerns around national security, IPR, and the long-term impact on Indian businesses, it stated. Last month, India tried to address US President Donald Trump's concerns by cutting basic customs duties on a bunch of items in its Union Budget, as well as on bourbon whiskey before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Trump. 'India's recent unilateral reduction of tariffs on US products like whiskey and motorcycles has gone unacknowledged by the US side,' GTRI said. In another report, GTRI said that India must be cautious while negotiating the proposed BTA with the US since the absence of 'Fast Track Trade Authority' (FTTA) in America makes any pact vulnerable to Congressional changes. FTTA is a special power that the US Congress gives to the president to help speed up and simplify trade negotiations with other countries. However, the US currently lacks FTTA. 'In addition, the US uses a one-sided certification process pressurising the partner countries after a trade deal is signed. These two factors create serious uncertainty. 'They can allow the US to change the deal later or demand more than what was originally agreed,' the GTRI report said. It also said that the absence of FTTA exposes any finalised agreement to unpredictable legislative intervention in Washington. 'As negotiations continue, the path forward demands not only diplomatic skill, but also vigilance against legal asymmetries embedded in America's trade playbook. 'Without Fast Track Authority in place and with the precedent of post-agreement certification allowing the US to impose additional demands, the risk of asymmetric obligations is real,' it said. Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com March 21 marked the 16th death anniversary of Major Mohit Sharma, one of India's bravest military officers who died fighting terrorists in Kashmir. IMAGE: Captain Mohit Sharma, Ashok Chakra, was killed in action in Kashmir. Photograph: Kind courtesy Sabarivinayak/Wikimedia Commons Major Mohit Sharma, a Special Forces paratrooper from the elite Parachute Regiment, was awarded the Ashok Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry decoration in 2010. New Delhi's Rajendra Nagar metro station was renamed after him in 2019. His ultimate act of valour Major Mohit was 31 and on his third posting to Kashmir when he was killed in action battling terrorists in a forest in Kupwara. He was leading his team of commandoes amid a heavy fire from three directions. Four of his team members were seriously wounded. Major Mohit without concern about his personal safety crawled through the hail of bullets to pull two of his team members to safety. He continued fighting fearlessly and killed two terrorists. Unfortunately, he was struck by a bullet in his chest, but kept directing his men in the battle against the terrorists. Seriously wounded and bleeding profusely, he charged at the terrorists and killed two other terrorists in close combat. In doing so, he saved the lives of his brothers in arms and prevented the terrorists from escaping. In the deadly operation, he sacrificed his life in the finest traditions of the Indian military. Four of his fellow soldiers were also killed in action in the operation. Among them Paratrooper Shabir Ahmad Malik was awarded the Kirti Chakra, the second highest gallantry award in peacetime. How Major Mohit became Iftikhar to infiltrate Hizbul Mujahideen Major Mohit had already been awarded two gallantry decorations before receiving the Ashok Chakra. In a daring operation he went undercover to infiltrate Hizbul terrorists. He took the name Iftikhar, grew a long beard, spoke Kashmiri and befriended two terrorists. He ultimately gunned them down and was awarded the Sena Medal in 2004. A film on Major Mohit had been announced in 2021. A statue of Major Mohit Sharma is in Ghaziabad, his hometown. His wife is a serving army officer. 'The Pakistani government's growing fear of Dr Mahrang's rising popularity is evident.' 'Her defiance is inspiring.' IMAGE: Dr Mahrang Baloch, Baloch activist. Photograph: Kind courtesy Mahrang Baloch/X Dr Mahrang Baloch, 32, a medical doctor is the brave symbol of resistance against the suppression, enforced disappearances and extra judicial killings conducted by Pakistani security forces against the people of Balochistan. A tireless human right activist, she has peacefully campaigned against the atrocities of the Pakistani State after personally experiencing its brutality. Her father, a Baloch nationalist leader, was abducted, tortured and killed. A few years later, her brother was arrested for three months by security forces. Dr Baloch was named among Time magazine's 100 Next list of emerging leaders last year. Pakistan barred her from flying out of the country to attend the event. She was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Last weekend, Dr Mahrang Baloch was once again arrested and imprisoned by the Pakistan government. She was picked up while protesting the killing of three Balochis gunned down by Pakistani troops at a protest site. Pakistani forces have detained several Baloch national activists after the hijacking of the Jaffar Express by the Baloch Liberation Army earlier this month. Dr Baloch has been denied access to family and her lawyers in prison. She has been kept in isolation. Journalist and Balochistan specialist Malik Siraj Akbar, who lives in asylum in the USA, tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih why Dr Mahrang is a thorn in the eye of the Pakistani State. IMAGE: Women supporters of the Balochistan Yakjehti Committee at a protest in Karachi, March 24, 2025, demanding Dr Mahrang Baloch's release. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters 'Dr Mahrang's arrest demonstrates that Pakistan's conflict is no longer limited to Baloch insurgents -- it is waging a broader war against every Baloch who dares to challenge the establishment's narrative, policies and actions. If the State claims it cannot negotiate with the BLA because of its armed struggle, then what justification is there for targeting the leader of a peaceful protest rally? The Pakistani government's growing fear of Dr Mahrang's rising popularity is evident. Her defiance is inspiring more young Baloch to join the resistance movement against enforced disappearances, torture, extrajudicial killings, and systemic oppression. Yet, the crackdown extends beyond state violence. Pakistani media and social media activists are engaged in a relentless campaign of character assassination and disinformation against her -- one of the most vicious of its kind.' IMAGE: Police officers detain women at the protest in Karachi demanding Dr Mahrang Baloch's release. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters 'Dr Mahrang's arrest also marks a historic turning point for Balochistan. Pakistan now finds itself forced to fight on two highly proactive fronts: One is the long-standing armed insurgency, and the other is the unprecedented public mobilisation led by Dr Mahrang across the province. This level of public resistance -- unified, determined, and widespread -- is something Balochistan has never witnessed before. It signals a new and transformative chapter in the region's struggle. Dr Mahrang is planting the seeds of a more rebellious, assertive, and politically conscious Baloch generation -- one that refuses to live as third-rate citizens without basic rights. While the State finds it relatively easier to target and eliminate insurgent commanders, it faces a far greater challenge when dealing with peaceful demonstrators whose resistance is harder to silence.' Part IV of the Interview: 'India Has No Need To Support Baloch Movement' Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com The Palestine Film Series continues at the Latchis Theater this Sunday with "From Ground Zero." Aimee Parnell has been on the job at the Waypoint Center for about a month, and her enthusiasm as the new executive director of the Great Fall ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 26. On March 31April 1, 2025, an official visit of the President of Slovenia, Natasa Pirc Musar, to the Republic of Kazakhstan will take place, Trend reports. During the visit, strategic dialogues with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev are slated, focusing on pivotal aspects of bilateral collaboration encompassing trade, economic frameworks, investment portfolios, transportation logistics, and cultural-humanitarian initiatives. Focused emphasis will be allocated to the enhancement of commercial affiliations. In conjunction with the visit, a Kazakh-Slovenian business symposium will be convened. Slovenia is strategically advancing multifaceted initiatives aimed at ecosystem preservation and sustainable development paradigms. This engagement will serve as a pivotal milestone in fortifying bilateral synergies, encompassing domains such as ecological sustainability, economic collaboration, and humanitarian endeavors. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel New Zealand security leaders believe their organisations are cyber ready, but employees are divided when many lack the necessary training and awareness, according to IT service provider Datacom. The providers newly released State of Cybersecurity Index 2025 report, which was based on surveys conducted by Tech Research Asia, highlights a critical gap between leadership confidence and employee readiness. The survey found that while most security leaders (71 per cent) believe employees are well-informed about cyber risks, only half of employees agree (51 per cent), indicating most staff may not recognise or know how to respond to a cyber threat accordingly. There is a real risk that businesses are operating with a false sense of security. Leaders believe their teams are ready to tackle threats, but this disconnect is leaving businesses exposed, Datacom chief information security officer Collin Penman said. Cyber security is only as strong as the organisations weakest link and if employees dont have the right training or awareness, security strategies wont hold up when theyre most needed. AI imperative The assumption that employees are well-prepared to handle threats when they feel theres a lack of necessary training and awareness could lead to potential risk when it comes to the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), Datacom claimed. The Index found that four in 10 employees are using AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot, but fewer than one in four have read their organisations AI security policies. Additionally, six in 10 employees are unsure whether their organisation has safeguards in place. AI is proving to be a transformative force for businesses, said Penman. The challenge now is to ensure security and governance keep pace with its adoption. A recent report projects an economic boost of $76 billion by 2038 from generative AI, reinforcing its role in shaping the countrys future economy. Leveraging open-source technology could be effective in meeting productivity challenges in Australia and New Zealand (A/NZ), while also giving channel partners an opportunity to modernise their offerings and adapt to the evolving cloud-native landscape. In an interview with Reseller News sister publication ARN, SUSE A/NZ general manager Ben Henshall said organisations in the region are looking at ways to drive productivity. You either do that by increasing your top line, which is your revenue, and/or improving the way you do that work, getting more output per input of cost, he said. From an IT point of view, the digital transformation and digitisation of things continues and is a key strategic enabler for organisations to do that. Henshall added however that this hasnt delivered the level of productivity in region that is being seen at the macro level. As such, organisations need to leverage more out of their digital infrastructure and applications and their digitisation to get more bang for buck. Managing compute demands Generative AI [artificial intelligence] ; the next frontier needs a lot of infrastructure and compute and thats expensive, he said. It needs to be stable, secure and highly efficient infrastructure to make those large language models on-premises work well. SUSE partner HPE has developed a mechanism under GreenLake, its edge-to-cloud platform, to address cloud modernisation, hybrid cloud and multi-cloud solutions to address these issues. This mechanism lowers the barriers to cost and onboarding, offers a great commercial model and manages a lot of the complexities involved, said Henshall. Additionally, it ensures high security and resilience. HPE South Pacific vice president and managing director Chris Weber recognises that software-as-a-service (SaaS) deployments in hyperscalers are great, while platform-as-a-service (PaaS) offerings are often ideal as well. YEREVAN Armenias parliament took another step in the countrys westward march, approving a bill calling for the government to seek European Union membership. Adoption of the bill in the second and final reading was the latest move away from the orbit of Russia, as historical ties fray over what Yerevan says has been Moscow's glaring failure to support it in its conflict with neighbor and longtime adversary Azerbaijan. The bill calling on the South Caucasus nations government to begin the EU accession process passed on March 26 with 64 yes votes, all from the ruling Civil Contract party, against seven no votes from opposition lawmakers. We submitted this bill so that the Republic of Armenia can express its political will for movement in the direction of the European Union. This process is irreversible. The people are calling for it, said Artak Zeynalian, a former justice minister who represents a group advocating membership to the 27-nation bloc. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian backed the bill in January but noted that joining the EU would require a referendum. Armenia would also need to conduct major reforms in the justice system and other areas to have a chance of joining the 27-nation bloc. Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought several wars in the past three decades over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which had been a majority ethnic-Armenian enclave since the Soviet collapse and is internationally recognized as Azerbaijani territory. After Baku took full control over the region as the result of a lightning, one-day military offensive in September 2023, nearly 100,000 ethnic Armenians fled Nagorno-Karabakh for Armenia. Yerevan accused Russia, which had almost 2,000 troops stationed in the region, of doing nothing to prevent the fighting and the subsequent exodus. Days after the assault, Pashinian said in a televised address that Armenias existing security alliances a reference to Russia and the Moscow-dominated Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) were "ineffective" and "insufficient. In February 2024, Pashinian froze Armenia's participation in the CSTO. It has also joined the International Criminal Court, meaning it would be expected to comply with an ICC arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin if he were to visit, and has deepened its defense ties with France. Armenia held military drills with US troops in June 2024 and signed a strategic partnership agreement with the United States this January, a week before US President Donald Trump took office. Russia has warned Armenia that a turn toward the EU could harm it in various ways, in particular economically. Russias deputy prime minister for Eurasian integration, Aleksei Overchuk, said in January that starting the process of joining the EU means starting the process of leaving the Eurasian Economic Union, a Moscow-led customs and trade alliance, adding that a country cannot be member of both blocs. Last week, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu said Armenia risks losing tariff-free trade with Russia and a potential hike in Russian natural gas prices, and that Russia could expel large numbers of Armenian migrant workers. Armenia and Azerbaijan announced last week that they had finalized the text of the historic peace deal, though it remains unclear exactly when their leaders would sign it. With reporting by AFP A Russian court has convicted 23 Ukrainians who were captured in the siege of the city of Mariupol on terrorism charges and sentenced them to prison terms ranging from 13 to 23 years after a trial that Kyiv has described as a violation of international law and a "war crime." The verdict and long prison terms came nearly two years after most of the defendants went on trial in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, near Ukraine's border, in June 2023. Eleven of the initial 24 defendants were convicted in absentia after returning to Ukraine in prisoner exchanges, and one died in custody last year. Photo Gallery: The Last Days Of Azovstal And The Fate Of Ukraine's Mariupol Defenders A charity exhibition recently opened in Kyiv of photographs taken by Dmytro Kozatskiy of fellow soldiers holed up in the Azovstal complex under siege in Mariupol this spring. The images have become symbolic for many in Ukraine of resistance to Russia's invasion. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email to a Friend Share on LinkedIn According to Russian media reports and rights activists, the defendants included 14 current or former members of Ukraine's elite Azov Brigade, formerly known as a battalion and a regiment, which Russia has labelled a terrorist group, and nine women and one man who worked as cooks or support personnel. The defendants were captured during Russia's bloody siege of the Azov Sea city of Mariupol months into the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Azov fighters battled Russian troops for months before around 2,500 surrendered in May 2022. Many of them had held out at the Azovstal steel plant, whose capture cemented the Russian takeover of the ruined city. The defendants were charged with staging a violent coup and organizing activities of a terrorist organization. Some were also charged with training to carry out terrorist activities. In 2023, Mykhaylo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, wrote on Twitter that the trial amounted to "an official war crime." A lawyer for one of the defendants said the 12 defendants who were in Russian custody would all appeal the verdicts. Acquittals and successful appeals are extremely rare in Russia. With reporting by AP Ukraine reported multiple Russian drone strikes overnight, including the largest such strike on the city of Kriviy Rih since the start of Moscow's full-scale invasion, while Russia claimed it downed two Ukrainian drones over the Black Sea and seven in other locations. The Kremlin, meanwhile, repeated that Russia would adhere to a Black Sea cease-fire agreement only "after a number of conditions are met." And Ukraine and Russia traded accusations of attacks on energy facilities, the subject of another agreement the United States said it had reinforced separately with Kyiv and Moscow. US President Donald Trump said his government was considering the Russian conditions and also allowed that Moscow "could be" dragging its feet as the United States seeks to broker a full cease-fire and an end to Russia's war in Ukraine as soon as possible. The mayor of Mykolayiv, a Ukrainian port city near the Black Sea sea, said emergency power cuts were implemented following reports of a Russian drone attacks on the region. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said drone attacks also damaged infrastructure in the northeastern Sumy region, which borders Russia. In all, Ukraine's air defense units shot down 56 of 117 drones launched by Russia overnight, the Ukrainian air force said. It said 48 of the drones were lost, suggesting the military used electronic warfare to redirect them. The reports on March 26 came amid questions about when and how separate agreements the United States reached with Ukraine and Russia a day earlier to halt attacks over the Black Sea would come into force, with doubts stemming in part from conditions set by Moscow. "Launching such large-scale attacks after cease-fire negotiations is a clear signal to the whole world that Moscow is not going to pursue real peace," Zelenskyy wrote on X. The statement by the Russian Defense Ministry could not be independently verified, and it did not say whether the drones were aimed at targets on the Black Sea, a focus of fighting in its war against Ukraine, now in its fourth year since the full-scale invasion of February 2022, or were only flying over its waters. The Defense Ministry said the Russian military had also destroyed two drones over the Kursk region and five over the Belgorod region, both of which border Ukraine. The Belgorod regional governor said one civilian was hospitalized with head injuries and a drone caused minor damage to an apartment building. In Mykolayiv, it was not immediately clear whether the power outages were a precaution or a result of the overnight attack. Peace Agreements In addition to the Black Sea cease-fire, the White House said separate talks with Ukrainian and Russian representatives in Saudi Arabia this week produced an agreement "to develop measures for implementing" recent commitments to halt strikes on energy facilities. In a further sign of potential trouble for the agreements, Ukraine and Russia accused each other of mounting attacks on energy facilities. On March 26, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that Ukraine tried to attack civilian energy infrastructure in three locations, including a gas storage facility in Russian-occupied Crimea. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, meanwhile, claimed that Putin ordered a 30-day moratorium on attacking energy infrastructure in Ukraine on March 18 and that it was being fulfilled. Ukraine cried foul. Zelenskyy's deputy chief of staff, Ihor Zhovkva, said on television that Russia has attacked at least eight Ukrainian energy facilities since March 18. The head of the military administration in Kryviy Rih, Oleksandr Vilkul, said that the overnight the drone attack there sparked fires and damaged buildings but caused no casualties. "Apparently, this is how the occupiers 'want peace'," he wrote on Telegram. The agreements reached at the separate US talks with Ukraine and Russia in Riyadh on March 23-25 appeared to be among the most concrete achievements in Trumps efforts to broker an end to the war since he took office on January 20, but they left plenty of things unclear. The White House said in two separate statements about the talks that the Black Sea 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. Russian Caveats 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 Europe, the international payment system, and some trade restrictions are lifted that were imposed on Moscow following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peskov told reporters on March 26 that the Black Sea agreement "can be activated after a number of conditions are implemented." The White House said in its own statement on March 25 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. "We're thinking about all of them right now," 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. Reconnecting Russian banks to the SWIFT network could require approval from European countries. A European Commission spokesperson said on March 26 the withdrawal of all Russian forces from Ukraine would be one of the main conditions to lift or amend EU sanctions. "The end of the Russian unprovoked and unjustified aggression in Ukraine and unconditional withdrawal of all Russian military forces from the entire territory of Ukraine would be one of the main preconditions to amend or lift sanctions," the spokesperson said. Later in the day, European Commission spokeswoman Anitta Hipper said that the EU had taken note of the US talks with Ukraine and Russia. "Russia must now demonstrate genuine political will to end its illegal and unprovoked war of aggression," Hipper said in a statement, adding: "Experience has shown that Russia must be judged by its actions, not by its words." Zelenskyy also commented on the agreements, 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. Iran's military officials toured a massive underground missile facility filled with a cache of high powered weaponry. The footage, shared on March 25, showed Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Mohammad Baqeri and Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Aerospace Force commander, showing off what Iranian media said was an "underground missile city." According to a defense researcher, Iran wants to signal its military strength to its rivals but is leaving the door open for deescalation. Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. Iran has released video showing a massive underground missile facility filled with a cache of high-powered weaponry. The footage, shared by Iranian state media on March 25, showed Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Mohammad Baqeri and Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Aerospace Force commander, showing off what Iranian media said was an "underground missile city." Some of Irans most advanced weapons are seen mounted on vehicles parked in the underground tunnels. The release of the video comes at a moment of high tensions between Iran and the United States. Farzan Sabet, a researcher specializing in nuclear nonproliferation and Middle East politics at the Geneva Graduate Institute, said the Islamic republic has made similar displays of its military strength in the past. During times of tension, they'll find various ways to signal their offensive military power, their defensive military power, and their deterrence capabilities. And so, one of the things they do, for example, is test missiles or carry out military exercises, Sabet told RFE/RL. One of the other things they do is to tour military facilities, and among those are missile facilities. On March 15, the United States launched large-scale air strikes on Yemen targeting the Iran-backed, US-designated terrorist group Ansarullah, better known as the Huthis. Some defense observers consider the strikes to be intended in part as a warning to Iran. Meanwhile, Iranian hard-liners have renewed a push for the development of nuclear weapons in the new Iranian year, which started on March 20. US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said on March 25 that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon. But she noted that US intelligence agencies are monitoring Irans nuclear activities closely. As European leaders attempt to organize a Ukraine peacekeeping mission amid a push by US President Donald Trump to clinch a cease-fire deal between Moscow and Kyiv, reports have spread that Beijing may want to play a role in maintaining the peace. The German newspaper Die Welt quoted anonymous European Union diplomats on March 22 as saying that their Chinese counterparts have reached out to explore whether their peacekeepers could work as part of the broader force being considered in European capitals. The idea was raised earlier this year at the World Economic Forum and Munich Security Conference. The EU diplomats told the German newspaper that Chinese participation in such a mission could potentially increase Russia's acceptance of peacekeeping forces in Ukraine. But Beijing rebuffed that claim, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun calling the report false on March 24. Three EU diplomats who spoke to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity in order to discuss internal matters also said that there have been no discussions with Chinese officials about Beijings participation in a peacekeeping force. Zero contact on that, said one EU diplomat. Another EU diplomat speaking anonymously was not aware of Beijing raising the issue of Chinese peacekeepers, adding that we dont know where the Welt articles information comes from. This comes as European leaders try to hammer out details of how the so-called coalition of the willing led by Britain and France could help Ukraine deter Russia from reinvading once a peace agreement is reached. French President Emmanuel Macron will host leaders of the coalition -- including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy -- in Paris on March 27 for the next round of talks as they explore a variety of options to secure a lasting peace in Ukraine. Theresa Fallon, director of the Brussels-based Center for Russia Europe Asia Studies, says that there's "a lot to question" about the latest rumor about Chinese peacekeepers and that it reflects the uncertainty facing Europes security framework as the Trump administration pivots to accommodate Russia while rejecting requests to contribute US troops to enforce any peace deal. Why would Russia want Chinese troops there? How would China benefit from this?" Fallon told RFE/RL. "It might score points with Europeans, but the fact that China denied this perhaps points to the larger strategic picture that Moscow has different plans for Ukraine and also prefers to limit Chinas influence in the region. Why Do Chinese Peacekeepers Keep Getting Mentioned For Ukraine? This isnt the first time that a Chinese peacekeeping force has been floated for Ukraine. Zhou Bo, a former senior colonel in the Chinese armed forces, suggested on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in February that China could lead a UN-backed peacekeeping force in Ukraine should one get launched, saying that Beijing and other non-Western powers like India could play a role. The Economist also reported in January that the potential role of Chinese peacekeepers in Ukraine was also mentioned by US Vice President JD Vance, who allegedly told European officials a force made up of only European troops would be less effective in preventing Russia from launching further attacks on Ukraine. A Chinese peacekeeping contingent was also mentioned as an option at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January by Wolfgang Ischinger, the former German diplomat who serves as the president of the foundation that runs the Munich Security Conference. Part of Ischingers argument at the time was that Europe may simply not have enough troops to maintain peace along the more than 1,000-kilometer line of contact. And those discussions are still playing out as European leaders aim to put together their own peacekeeping proposal that could see them send 10,000 to 30,000 troops to Ukraine. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said in a recent report that a force of up to 30,000 troops backed by long-range artillery with broader air and maritime support would be able to handle more than one Russian incursion should Moscow look to break a peace deal. But IISS estimated that 60,000 to 100,000 troops would be needed to conduct sustained high-intensity land combat, adding that European militaries may not be able to raise such as force as it would drain resources from across the rest of NATOs borders with Russia. Could Chinese Peacekeepers In Ukraine Work? Another major concern is that European troops deployed to Ukraine could get sucked into a hot war with Russia without substantial US support to back them up. Moscow has also categorically refused to accept troops from a country that is a member of NATO in any future peace deal. Analysts see the deployment of Chinese peacekeeping troops -- along with those of other nations like India or Brazil that have warmer ties with Moscow -- as one solution to this problem, saying Russian forces would be less likely to fire on them. But analysts also say that adding Chinese peacekeepers into the conversation around Ukraine also raises new difficult questions: Would Beijing, which views itself as a superpower on the global stage, accept being part of a European-led force? China would also need to bear in mind that contributing peacekeepers to a Western mission could also strain its valued relations with Moscow, which have grown closer since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Yurii Poita, an expert on Ukraine's relationship with China at the Kyiv-based Center for Army, Conversion, and Disarmament Studies, says that Ukraine may not oppose Chinese peacekeepers because it has a weak hand in negotiations. Nevertheless, Kyiv has little trust in Beijing given it supports Russias war effort. The most decisive factor is the United States. If Washington were to suggest that China could be part of this security arrangement, then Kyiv doesn't really have many other options, Poita told RFE/RL. But when it comes to Chinese troops, there are also so many vulnerabilities from Kyivs point of view. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine three years ago, China has mostly ignored Ukraine and been a vital backer of Russia. Beijing has professed neutrality and even proposed its own peace outline in February 2023, but it has also aided Russia by buying oil and gas and selling technology for weapons. Would China provide information to Russia? Would China say that this deployment is in exchange for access to military tech or telecoms networks? Poita asked. There is a lot of risk here. Dozens of US lawmakers on March 25 urged President Donald Trump to reverse his executive order to shutter the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), arguing that the move would have a damaging impact on its broadcasters, including RFE/RL, and would only help US adversaries such as Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. A letter to Trump signed by more than 40 members of Congress said shuttering USAGM 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. We strongly urge you to reconsider this Executive Order and ensure the critical work of USAGM and its broadcasting networks continues. 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 in which he referred to Trumps executive order from March 14 as reckless and said it emboldens US adversaries who are threatened by credible media. The letter said USAGM networks and grantees collectively serve a historic and pivotal role in providing honest, comprehensive news coverage to countries that lack a free or open media environment. Shuttering RFE/RL will enable governments in Russia, Belarus, Iran, and Central Asia to spread their own messages of regime propaganda without the fear of being held accountable by RFE/RLs award-winning reporting, the letter said. The letter was sent the same day that a US judge issued an order in favor of RFE/RL in a lawsuit against USAGM seeking a reversal of the termination of RFE/RLs congressionally appropriated funding. US District Judge Royce Lamberth said 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. Lamberth said a temporary restraining order is needed to halt the closure of RFE/RL, which had shown it is likely to win its case in a court hearing. Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya on March 25 also spoke about the threat to RFE/RL. "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. "If these media die, they will be replaced by propaganda media." RFE/RL has had an office in Lithuania from which it covers neighboring Belarus. The office is staffed by Belarusian journalists who went into exile in 2020 after a disputed election in which Belarusian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenko was declared the winner. The opposition and many Western governments and organizations believe the poll was rigged and that Tsikhanouskaya was the real winner. Tsikhanouskaya stepped in as a candidate after her husband, Syarhey Tsikhanouski, was detained to prevent him from registering as a candidate. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison. With reporting by dpa ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 26. The members of the Majilis have given the green light to the intergovernmental Kazakhstan-U.S. Agreement, paving the way for the U.S. Government to lease land for its consular office in Almaty, Trend reports. "The provisions of the agreement define the procedures and conditions for the land lease. The area of the land is 70,593 square meters, with a lease term of 49 years. The rent is set at $25.3 million and must be paid in a lump sum within 30 calendar days from the date the document enters into force," the Majilis press service said in a statement. It was also highlighted that, as per the Agreement, the U.S. Government is off the hook for paying taxes and other fees tied to the land and consular building, save for the rent. "At the same time, the U.S. Government is obliged to pay for all expenses incurred related to the construction of the consular building, its maintenance and repair, as well as the payment of utilities in accordance with the applicable regulations and tariffs in Kazakhstan," the statement reads further. The general contractor will be a U.S. contractor, who may use materials, supplies, and goods produced in the U.S. for the construction and furnishing of the building. These will be exempt from customs duties, import taxes, and permit requirements. The instrument was executed on the 27th of September, 2024, within the jurisdiction of New York City. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel By Cate McCurry, Cillian Sherlock and Grainne Ni Aodha, PA The Ceann Comhairle has said she intends to continue in her role in the face of a motion of no confidence by the opposition. Verona Murphy also categorically rejected accusations of partisanship made by the opposition. A motion of no confidence in Ms Murphy was drafted by the opposition after they called into question her handling of a protest in the Dail on Tuesday. Taoiseach Micheal Martin has criticised the conduct of the opposition parties during Tuesdays disrupted proceedings in the Dail (Brian Lawless/PA) Ms Murphy declared that the rules of the Dail had been amended by the Government as opposition TDs stood and repeatedly raised their objections. Leaders of the main opposition parties met on Wednesday morning to discuss their response. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald later told Ms Murphy that her actions were demonstrably partisan and lacked the impartiality and independence demanded of your position. She said her position was untenable and asked her to reflect on this. A drafted motion of no confidence was published on Wednesday evening and is to be submitted by opposition parties Sinn Fein, Labour, the Social Democrats, Solidarity-People Before Profit, and Independent Ireland. The motion seeks to note that the Ceann Comhairle no longer retains the confidence of all members of Dail Eireann. In a statement, Ms Murphy responded to say she had loyally, scrupulously and impartially carried out the role as Ceann Comhairle and rejected false accusations of partiality and collusion. Prolonged disorder and obstruction is utterly unacceptable in any democratic parliament, she said. So too is making false accusations of partiality and collusion against its officials and chair. By virtue of the independence of the office of Ceann Comhairle, I am in the unenviable position that I cannot descend at will into debate to defend myself against the entirely false allegations of collusion made against me in the Dail today. Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said Verona Murphys position was untenable (Liam McBurney/PA) I categorically reject these unfounded allegations. I have at all times followed the correct procedures of the House and the advice of the impartial officials present. I fully intend to continue to carry out the onerous office to which I was elected, in accordance with the solemn undertakings I gave the Dail upon my election. The clerk of the Dail, Peter Finnegan, in a report about Tuesdays proceedings, said that after Ms Murphy put the Order of Business to the Dail on Tuesday, TDs who said Votail to trigger a division were not audible. He concluded that all decisions taken by Ms Murphy, given the great disorder, were in compliance with the rules of the Dail and her powers as Ceann Comhairle. The Ceann Comhairle cannot allow a situation where disorderly conduct is allowed to frustrate the business of the Dail. Otherwise, the Dail would be unable to discharge its constitutional functions, he said. Ultimately, the Constitution provides that all decisions are made by a majority of the members present and voting. Minister for Culture and Media Patrick ODonovan said Ms Murphys position was still tenable, despite losing the confidence of the opposition. She will have the support of the majority of the Dail, we live in a democracy, Mr ODonovan told RTE Radio. None of these people voted for her in the first instance, so Im not surprised that they wouldnt have confidence in her. Im not surprised that they will be looking for the first opportunity to remove her. Who are you codding? Earlier on Wednesday, Ms McDonald and other opposition leaders questioned the Ceann Comhairles role after Tuesdays proceedings. So, who convinced you to play your part in this disgraceful charade, or is it simply that bias for the Government is baked into the very deal that secured your position? Ms McDonald asked the speaker. That is now the question. The Sinn Fein leader continued: Ceann Comhairle, not alone have you lost the confidence of the entire opposition; you have, in fact, decimated it. The Dail cannot function properly whilst you remain in the chair. Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy in Leinster House, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) Above all, the Ceann Comhairle must be impartial, fair and independent, and by your actions you have demonstrated that you are not. Your position is therefore untenable. So, I ask you to reflect very carefully on this, because you need to go. Labour party leader Ivana Bacik said she did not believe Dail rules had been applied fairly and impartially by Ms Murphy. That is why this morning, together with my parliamentary part,y we agreed to ask to reflect on your position over the coming days, she said. If not, if necessary, we will have no option but to table a motion of no confidence in you. And I regret that it has come to this. There were chaotic scenes of shouting, interruptions and allegations of misogyny on Tuesday as weeks of tension over the speaking rights row boiled over during Leaders Questions. Ms Murphy faced continual interruptions as she tried to continue proceedings as opposition TDs took to their feet and objected to the Governments proposals to change speaking time arrangements. She declared the changes to the standing orders passed before adjourning the Dail. However, opposition leaders insist the vote was not properly conducted. They also accused her of earlier pushing through the Governments proposed order of business for the Dail without acknowledging an opposition request for a vote. Labour leader Ivana Bacik speaking to the media at Leinster House in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA) The row has its origins in the formation of Irelands current coalition involving Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, supported by several independent TDs. 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 controversial changes to standing orders 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. Opposition parties are vehemently opposed to the changes, characterising them as 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 dispute 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. Tensions boiled over on Tuesday with the Dail witnessing angry scenes as Ms Murphy presided over a vote on the changes. Mr Martin has accused the opposition of trying to bully and intimidate Ms Murphy, and said it marked a new low for the opposition. Responding in the Dail on Wednesday, Mr Martin accused Sinn Fein of pursuing a destructive model of opposition and trying to bring the loudhailer politics of the street into the Dail. He told Ms McDonald: Your stated objective here is to undermine this institution, to undermine the Government, to reduce the Government majority and to create mayhem. That is what you are about. Tanaiste Simon Harris speaking to the media as he arrives at Government Buildings, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) Fianna Fail leader Mr Martin said the oppositions intimidatory barracking of newly-elected TDs marked a new low for behaviour in the Dail. He expressed concern that the Dail would never be the same again after the scenes witnessed on Tuesday. Social Democrats deputy leader Cian OCallaghan said it was essential that the Ceann Comhairle enjoys the confidence of both government and opposition. Clearly, this is no longer the case. I do think you need to reflect on that position, he told the Dail. Sarah Slater Eight Irish-English words have been added to the Oxford English Dictionary in its latest update. A number of new words including eight Hiberno-English/Irish-English words have been added to mark popular words and phrases. Blaa, the name of a soft white bread roll dusted with flour, regularly associated with Waterford, is one of the words included. It is said that the bread roll was introduced to the city in the 17th century by Huguenot immigrants. The next word is mineral - a carbonated soft drink, still currently used in Irish English and West African English. The OED states that the earliest use was recorded in 1893. The right of passage for Irish teenagers once they finish their Leaving Certificate are the Debs. It is short for debs' ball which is a formal social event held for students in their final year of school. The OED said it wanted to incorporate "loan words" - words that would be coined as "untranslatable" but are used with enough frequency by people who speak English alongside other languages that they have become part of "the vocabulary of their variety of English. Other words include Ludraman - from the Irish liudraman or ludraman, a colloquial and derogatory term for lazy or unproductive, featured in James Joyce's Ulysses where it was spelt loodheramaun. There are 11 different spellings of this word recorded in the OED. Class, viewed by the OED as a general term of approval which was used regularly by the character Erin in the popular sitcom Derry Girls, with the script quoted in the dictionary's entry. It is also used in northern English. To act the maggot - to behave foolishly. First recorded by the OED in 1946, morto which to be extremely embarrassed with the earliest recording of this dates to 1991. Finally, the hungry persons go to, spice bag, which the Oxford English Dictionary call a well known Irish takeaway option, consisting of chips, shredded fried chicken, fried onions, red and green peppers, chilli peppers and occasionally jalapeno peppers, tossed in a bag with spices and commonly served with curry sauce. The OED states that the takeaway option was invented in a Dubin restaurant called Sunflower in 2006. The launch of an energy master plan for Roscommon Town, aimed at promoting a sustainable energy future, will take place tomorrow evening, Thursday, in the Abbey Hotel. Roscommon Town Sustainable Energy Community (SEC), which is launching the plan, is a community led initiative promoted with the assistance of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and Roscommon County Council. The first step is how we use our energy as a town, looking for that fingerprint and what can we do to actually use energy sustainably, said Jonathan Larkin, Chairperson of Roscommon Town SEC. There is a big opportunity here in not sending investment abroad or paying for energy costs that go abroad and try and keep it in the local community," he said. Along with the discussion on a master energy plan, the evening will comprise several features. They will include an energy bill clinic where people can bring along their electricity bill for a free review by an independent expert; a vendor showcase where local providers will offer cutting-edge sustainable energy solutions, and the provision of grant information where people can learn about SEAI grants available for homeowners and small businesses. During the evening, Roscommon County Council will also make a presentation on the towns decarbonisation zone. The launch of the energy master plan takes place in the Abbey Hotel on this Thursday, March 27th at 6 p.m.. By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA Opposition leaders are to meet on Wednesday morning after the Dail was disrupted over controversial speaking time changes. The opposition party representatives are to discuss their response to the disorder in the lower house of the Oireachtas. There were chaotic scenes of shouting, interruptions and allegations of misogyny on Tuesday as weeks of tension over the speaking rights row boiled over during Leaders Questions. Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy fielded interruptions and tried to continue Dail proceedings as opposition TDs took to their feet and objected to the governments proposals. She declared the order of business and changes to the standing orders passed before adjourning the Dail until after 9am on Wednesday. Green Party leader Roderic OGorman said the meeting would be to decide how the opposition proceeds after Dail resumes at 9am. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Speaking about the meeting, Green Party leader Roderic OGorman told The Late Debate they would discuss how the opposition would proceed, as well as the role of the Ceann Comhairle. In a statement on Tuesday, Taoiseach Micheal Martin accused the opposition of trying to bully and intimidate Ms Murphy and said it marked a new low for the opposition. The prolonged barracking and the disgraceful lack of respect for the mandates of elected deputies was shocking in its intensity, he said. 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. Farmer Unions Organize Statewide Protests Against Police Actions The March 28 protest will give a strong message that farmers will not retreat." Farmer Unions Organize Statewide Protests Against Police Actions: Farmer unions in Punjab have called statewide protests on March 28, against police actions against farmers by the Punjab government. Protests will be held outside the offices of Deputy Commissioners in all districts. It is the first big protest since the 2020-21 Delhi border agitation against the now-repealed farm laws. In another appeal for unity, a meeting under the "Sadbhavna Ekta" banner is planned for March 27 at 10 AM at Gurdwara Nathana Sahib, Jandmangoli village, Patiala. The rally is intended to bring people together against government repression. Advertisement Tajveer Singh, a key farmer leader, said, "The government is attempting to create fear, but we will react with determination and unity. The March 28 protest will give a strong message that farmers will not retreat." The Shambhu border protest, initiated on February 13, 2024, was tear-gassed and broken up by police on March 19, 2025, after a 401-day agitation came to an end. Farmers have been agitating for legal assurances regarding the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and waiver of loans. The protest plans were finalised in a meeting of the six-member unity committee of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) in Barnala. SKM has also issued a call for a countrywide anti-repression movement, calling upon outfits such as the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and SKM (Non-Political) to join. Advertisement While protests have increased in SKM (Non-Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal's village Dallewal, he is currently on the 120th day of hunger strike. The farmers of Dallewal pledged to intensify their agitation till arrested farmers were freed. (For More News Apart Farmer Unions Organize Statewide Protests Against Police Actions stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 26. Member of the Majilis (Lower House of Parliament) of Kazakhstan, Azat Peruashev, has initiated a proposal to establish a national cryptocurrency bank in the country, Trend reports. In his opinion, the creation of such a financial institution would help reduce the shadow market for cryptocurrencies and increase tax revenues to the state budget. Peruashev pointed out that in recent years, cryptocurrency has become an integral part of the global financial system, and more and more Kazakhstanis are becoming interested in digital currencies, viewing them as an investment tool. "An effective regulatory instrument for the industry could be the creation of a crypto bank, an institution that would take on the functions of monitoring, exchanging, and storing digital assets within the legal framework," underscored Peruashev. The establishment of a cryptocurrency bank in Kazakhstan would protect citizens from fraudsters and ensure government control over the circulation of cryptocurrencies. Currently, the proposal is under discussion, and its potential impact on the country's economy and financial system is yet to be assessed. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Silver and Gold Prices Soar, Sarafa Market is in Crisis, As the prices of jewelry are on the increase, the buyers are avoiding making the purchases, which results in less footfall. Silver and Gold Prices Soar, Sarafa Market is in Crisis, latest news: Prices of silver and gold are still on a sharp hike, 10 grams of gold going beyond Rs 89,000 and a kilogram of silver selling for more than Rs 98,000. The dramatic hike is causing a major slump in the Sarafa (jewelry) market, forcing traders to reel under it. As the prices of jewelry are on the increase, the buyers are avoiding making the purchases, which results in less footfall. The shopkeepers are standing idle and their revenues have been badly hit. Businessmen such as Somnath Swarnkar, Anoop, and Pankaj Singh of Civil Lines Katra have cited disappointment over the slump in business. Advertisement The Maha Kumbh Mela, which was supposed to bring huge volumes of customers, has not been of any use because of barricades and congestion in the city, deterring customers from reaching the market. Also, gold and silver jewelry from other districts and states has not been coming, thus adding to the problem. Dinesh Singh, president of the Allahabad Sarafa Sangh district, said the unabated hike in gold and silver prices has taken a toll on the business. Traders might be compelled to close shops by February 26 if the situation continues. He stressed that the constant dip in business is resulting in heavy losses, and unless things improve, the trade in ornaments would suffer a major setback. (For more news, apart from "Silver and Gold Prices Soar, Sarafa Market in Crisis," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.) Optimism for the digitization of Romania A recent study shows that 59% of Romanians consider digitalization to be beneficial, and 52% believe that it has a positive impact on the quality of life. Optimism for the digitization of Romania Iulia Hau, 26.03.2025, 13:07 A recent study shows that 59% of Romanians consider digitalization to be beneficial, and 52% believe that it has a positive impact on the quality of life. However, Romania continues to rank last in the European Union in almost all areas related to digitalization. For example, if in 2024, 70% of European citizens had used, on average, at least once a government website or application in the previous 12 months, the average in Romania was only 25%. Moreover, in 2023, the European average of the percentage of citizens who had above-average digital skills was 55.6%, while in Romania it remained below 28%. We also rank last in terms of the level of business digitalization, with 72% of the Romanian businesses having a very low level, against a European average of 41%. Edge Institute is the first Romanian think tank that aims to support the digital transition over the next decade, with the aim of Romania reaching the European average. During the institutes launch event, it was frequently mentioned that digitalization is not about technology, but about people, because it offers predictability and transparency, giving citizens equal access to information and, above all, to institutions. Victor Guzun is a digital transformation consultant, former ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to Estonia and member of the Edge Institute board. Having lived in Estonia, the most digitalized country in the world, for 16 years, Guzun explains why he believes this word has been abused and why the citizen must always be at the center of any digitalization efforts. Victor Guzun: Digitalization is about how we can use the available technologies, each of us the Internet, our phone or our computer or about the possibility for us to connect with anyone in the world, about how to use all these technologies that are available to everyone, and which are cheap, sometimes costing nothing, in our interest and to make processes simpler, more efficient for everyone. So how do we put machines to work so that we can make our lives as simple as possible? There is probably no consensus on digitalization, it is something for absolutely every citizen. So every citizen of Romania must and can benefit from this digitalization. And why I say that this word digitalization has been abused, in a way, because I think there is a preconception that digitalization is only for a certain category. Or that only someone can benefit or only someone can deal with digitalization, and other people are not part of this equation, which is totally wrong. Digitalization is about people and people must be put at the center of this process. And what is probably missing is that digitalization is only handled by ministries or specialized departments or someone who has some super deep knowledge about the subject, which is again wrong. Because if only ministries deal with digitalization and, what Im saying is not taken into account, namely the citizen at the center, then those digital solutions that ministries will develop will not meet peoples needs. And consequently, people will not use them, because people, as I said, want to simplify, to streamline processes. Instead of simplifying things, they will actually complicate things. Victor Guzun believes the internet should be a social right, from which all citizens can benefit, and that the digitization of a society must go hand in hand with ensuring universal and non-discriminatory access to high-quality internet. Among the benefits enjoyed by a 100% digitized society like Estonia, the expert mentions online voting, through which all citizens can exercise this right regardless of where they are; immediate access to complete medical and pharmaceutical history, which can be essential in emergencies; access to childrens school reports, with graphs showing developments over time; and managing a business 100% online, without the need for face to face contact with any public institution. And while Estonia offers the option of concluding real estate, marriage or divorce contracts exclusively online, all these procedures can also be carried out in physical format, at the counter, if so desired. Victor Guzun believes that what matters is for citizens to have the chance to choose. Edge Institute experts are optimistic about Romanias chances of becoming a digital society. Moreover, they give the example of Ukraine, which developed a quick solution for creating online passports at the beginning of the Russian invasion. Victor Guzun: I want to give you just one example. When Russias direct military aggression started, as you probably know about seven million Ukrainians left Ukraine, many of them for Romania. Many forgot their passports, their documents at home, because the enemy was advancing very quickly. And then, virtually in a few weeks, this whole concept of legally accepting digital documents, including on the phone, was developed. Romania has a chance to make progress in this area, our guest says: Victor Guzun: Romania can make a huge leap if all these elements are taken into account, and, once again, thats what I want Edge to do. It aims to be a facilitator to help public institutions take this leap, if you will. This is possible if we have very good cooperation. We have this ambition, I know that we have worked in an optimistic scenario, but we have good reasons for this. There are arguments why Romania, could do this. Romania has all the necessary elements to grow into a digital society. More coordination and more cooperation are needed. Edge will try to do this with various partners: public partners, private partners, the education system, the healthcare system and many, many other areas. Victor Guzun insists that any digitization effort must start from the specific problems and needs that society has, rather than import the solutions identified by other states, such as Estonia. (LS, AMP) Romanians still need visas for the US The Visa Waiver Program for Romanians is postponed. Photo: JoshuaWoroniecki / pixabay.com Bogdan Matei, 26.03.2025, 14:00 The US has suspended the visa waiver program for Romanians, which, according to a decision by the former Democratic administration of Joe Biden, was to take effect at the end of this month. A statement from the Department of Homeland Security, issued on Tuesday and quoted by Radio Romanias Washington correspondent, announces that Romanias inclusion will be revised until the strict security requirements set out in the program are met. During the reviewing process, the US is suspending the application of the electronic travel authorization system for Romanian citizens. Thus, Romanian citizens wishing to travel to the United States must apply, as before, for a B non-immigrant visa at the United States embassy or consulate. The Department of Homeland Security statement also explains that participation in the Visa Waiver program requires beneficiary states to intensify their cooperation with the United States in combating terrorism and illegal migration. Meanwhile, nine European countries, including France, Germany, Norway, Slovakia and Slovenia, have updated their travel advice to the United States for their citizens under the Republican administration of Donald Trump, warning about the strict application of entry policies and the risk of detention at the border. The Romanian Foreign Ministry has already modified, on its website, the conditions for travel to the United States, to reflect Washingtons decision. The Romanian diplomacy warns Romanians who have scheduled trips in the coming period, including after March 31, to contact the American embassies in the countries where they reside, with a view to obtaining entry visas. The ministry also states that the authorities in Bucharest remain in close coordination with the American ones, to ensure that the Visa Waiver program will be implemented as soon as possible. The social-democratic prime minister heading the coalition government (PSD-PNL-UDMR), Marcel Ciolacu, says he is convinced that the review of Romanias inclusion in the program is a strictly technical measure and, in turn, hopes that it will be short-lived. The nationalist opposition Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR)) accuses the government of incompetence and considers the Americans decision as a shameful failure of the Ciolacu government. Also in opposition, Save Romania Union (USR) suggests changing the Foreign Minister, Emil Hurezeanu. From the governing coalition, the leader of the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), Kelemen Hunor, notes that in the United States, with Trumps taking office at the White House, there is a radical change of approach in the migration policy, which does not only targets Romanias entry into the Visa Waiver program. The idea is also shared by the Romanian press, which states however that, for the Trump team, there are no credible interlocutors among the political decision-makers in Bucharest. (LS) Tesla Inc. (TSLA) sales in the European Union (EU) dropped for a second consecutive month in February, even as overall new electric vehicle registrations increased. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, Tesla EU new car registrations, which serve as a proxy for sales, slipped 47% year-over-year to 11,743 cars in February, a month after they dropped 50%. Meanwhile, battery-electric vehicle (BEV) registrations in the bloc jumped nearly 24% overall. Tesla has faced criticism for its aging vehicle lineup, along with growing backlash against CEO Elon Musk. In the U.S., his ties to the Trump administration have sparked controversy, while in Europe, his recent endorsement of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany party during last month's national election was widely condemned. Tesla is facing growing competition from major automakers ramping up their EV production, including China's BYD. On Tuesday, BYD reported a record 777.1 billion yuan ($107 billion) in revenue for 2024, driven by a 40% surge in electric and hybrid vehicle sales. Earlier this month, BYD unveiled an ultra-fast EV charging system, claiming it offers recharge speeds nearly on par with refueling at a gas pump. The company claims this breakthrough enables EVs to gain a 400-kilometer, 249-mile range with just five minutes of charging. This innovation intensifies BYD's competition with Tesla and other automakers investing in fast charging . Tesla's latest superchargers currently offer up to 500 kilowatts, providing 270 kilometers of range in 15 minutes, while Mercedes-Benz recently announced its all-electric CLA could recharge up to 325 kilometers in 10 minutes. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Wacker Neuson SE (WKRCF.PK) on Wednesday posted lower profit for fiscal 2024, impacted by lower revenues and the ongoing weak market environment. The company remains optimistic about the year ahead, and also provided fiscal 2025 outlook. For the full year the company posted result of 70.2 million euros, down from 185.9 million euros a year ago. On a per share basis, the construction machinery manufacturing company earnings fell 62 percent to 1.03 euros from 2.73 euros last year. EBIT for the year came in at 122.5 million euros, a 55 percent decline from 273.2 million euros recorded in the prior-year. EBIT margin was 5.5 percent, down from the 10.3 percent in fiscal 2023. The company posted revenues of 2.23 billion euros in the year, a 16 percent drop from last year's 2.65 billion euros. Revenues were impacted by low sales in the European region, mainly Germany, France, Switzerland and the UK. The company said that its Supervisory Board will propose a dividend of 0.60 euro per share at its Annual General Meeting on May 23. This is lower than last year's dividend of 1.15 euros. Looking ahead, for fiscal 2025, the company said that the incoming order intake has been positive since the beginning of the year. After experiencing a weak first quarter, the company expects revenues and EBIT to perform better over the course of the year. For the year ahead, Wacker Neuson expects revenue between 2.10 billion euros and 2.30 billion euros and an EBIT margin in the 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent range. For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Oil prices edged higher on Wednesday to touch a three-week high after industry data showed a bigger-than-expected drop in U.S. crude inventories - signaling healthy demand for fuel in the world's largest . Renewed efforts from the U.S. to limit Venezuelan and Iranian oil exports also boosted prices. Benchmark Brent crude futures jumped 0.6 percent to $72.83 in European trade while WTI crude futures were up 0.7 percent at $69.45. Data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) showed U.S. crude inventories fell by 4.6 million barrels for the week ending March 21, while analysts had expected a 2.500-million-barrels draw. Official U.S. government data on crude inventories, from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), is due later in the day. The EIA report is considered to be more accurate and comprehensive than the survey from the API. Meanwhile, supply concerns persist after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on countries importing oil and gas from Venezuela. Last week, the Trump administration imposed new Iran-linked sanctions on one individual and several entities, including a Chinese "teapot" oil refinery for purchasing and processing Iranian crude oil. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis China will on Thursday release February figures for industrial profits, highlighting an extremely light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In January, profits were down 3.3 percent on year. Thursday is also the last day before a lengthy break for the Indonesia stock market; it's off Friday for Saka New Year and then all next week for Eid-ul-Fitr. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 26. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Liu Jianchao, Head of the International Department of the Communist Party of Chinas Central Committee, to discuss the ongoing development of the bilateral relationship, Trend reports. During the meeting, President Tokayev emphasized that the Kazakhstan-China "eternal comprehensive strategic partnership" is progressing on a positive trajectory and looking toward the future. He expressed confidence that the upcoming visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Astana, for the second "Central Asia-China" summit in June 2025, would open new avenues for strategic cooperation. The Kazakh president also expressed support for President Xi Jinpings global initiatives aimed at building a just world order based on the principles of international law and the UN Charter. Tokayev reaffirmed Kazakhstans unwavering commitment to the "One China" policy. Liu Jianchao, for his part, underscored Chinas recognition of Kazakhstans strategic importance and highlighted the priority China places on deepening the "eternal comprehensive partnership" with Kazakhstan. The discussion also touched upon ways to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries in trade, economics, investment, and cultural and humanitarian exchanges. President Donald Trump has signed an Executive Order to protect the integrity of American elections. The Order strengthens voter citizenship verification and bans foreign nationals from interfering in U.S. elections. The Election Assistance Commission will require documentary, government-issued proof of U.S. citizenship on its voter registration forms. The order requires agencies like the Department of Homeland Security, Social Security Administration and Department of State to provide states with access to Federal databases to verify eligibility and citizenship of individuals registering to vote. The Attorney General will prioritize prosecuting non-citizen voting and related crimes, including through use of DHS records and in coordination with state attorneys general. In future, Federal election-related funds will be disbursed only to those states which use the national mail voter registration form that will now require proof of citizenship. The Order directs the updating of the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 and security standards for voting equipment and prioritizing federal grant funds accordingly. This includes requiring a voter-verifiable paper ballot record and not using ballots in which the counted vote is contained within a barcode or QR code. It directs the Attorney General to enter into information-sharing agreements with state election officials to identify cases of election fraud or other election law violations. Trump ordered the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to prevent non-citizens from any involvement in administering elections. The order empowers the Attorney General to take action against states that count ballots received after Election Day in Federal elections. The Attorney General has been instructed to enforce laws prohibiting foreign nationals from contributing to or donating in U.S. elections. "All agencies must report on compliance with undoing Biden Executive Order 14019, which turned Federal agencies into Democratic voter turnout centers," the order says. The United States lags behind other nations in enforcing basic and necessary election protections, according to the White House. India and Brazil tie voter identification to a biometric database, while the United States largely relies on self-attestation for citizenship. Germany and Canada require paper ballots when tabulating votes, while the United States has a patchwork of methods that often lack basic chain-of-custody protections. Denmark and Sweden limit mail-in voting to those unable to vote in person, and late arrivals do not count, while American elections now feature mass voting by mail, even after Election Day. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News For Thailand, Creta N Line facelift is available in a striking red colour (Dragon Red Pearl), which is not available in India Hyundai had launched the Creta facelift in India in January 2024. It was followed by the launch of Creta N Line variant, based on the facelift model, in March 2024. Hyundai has now showcased the Creta N Line at the ongoing 2025 Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS) which will be launched in Thailand via CBU route from Indonesia. Lets take a closer look. Creta N Line Without Turbo For Thailand Exteriors and interiors are mostly the same as that of the Creta N Line model available in India. However, one can see the Thai version with a lovely red paint. The Creta N Line currently on sale in India does not have a red colour option. It is likely that this red shade is the Fiery Red colour option that is available in India with the standard Creta and the Creta Electric. In India, the Creta N Line is available with three dual-tone and three monotone colour options. While the red exteriors ensure a captivating profile, this variant does not get the red accents seen with the Creta N Line in India. All 6 colour options available with Creta N Line in India create an exciting contrast with the red accents. For the Thai version, the only place to apply the red accents is on the brake callipers. Creta N Line facelift will be imported into Thailand from Indonesia as a CBU. Initially, only 2 colour options are available in Thailand. In addition to the red, users can choose the Creamy White Pearl colour option. Both these are dual-tone colour options with black roof. We wish Hyundai launched this shade in India as it looks rather nice. While the exteriors miss out on the exclusive red accents, they are fully available inside the cabin. New Creta N Line for Thailand has the red accents on dashboard, touchscreen, steering wheel and gear selector. The seats get red stitching, which further enhances the sporty flair. Creta N Line utilizes an all-black interior theme, which works as a perfect combo with the red accents. No Turbo for Thailand Talking about performance, the Creta N Line facelift in Bangkok is available with a 1.5-litre MPI petrol engine that generates 115 PS and 144 Nm of torque. It is paired with an IVT transmission, essentially a CVT unit. In comparison, the Creta N Line sold in India is offered with the more powerful 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine. It generates 160 PS and 253 Nm of torque. Transmission options include 6-speed manual and 7-speed DCT. Hyundai Creta N Line in Thailand will be available in a single high-spec variant. Equipment list is largely the same as seen with the Creta N Line sold in India. Key features include premium 8-speaker Bose sound system, dual 10.25-inch screens and a panoramic sunroof. Other highlights include ambient lighting, wireless charger, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and automatic AC. As the Creta N Line will be imported into Thailand as a CBU, it will be available at a premium pricing of 1.199 million baht (approx. Rs 30.35 lakh). In India, the Creta N Line is available at a starting price of Rs 16.82 lakh. 1 of 4 Source TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 26. Uzbekistan and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) discussed investment opportunities, Trend reports. The matter was reviewed at a meeting between Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov and the Head of the EBRD representative office in Uzbekistan Andi Aranitasi to discuss ongoing projects and new initiatives in line with the Uzbekistan 2030 strategy. During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation and expanding joint efforts. A key initiative presented involves direct engagement with major regional entrepreneurs looking to scale their businesses and enter developed markets. Andi Aranitasi stressed the importance of direct interactions with entrepreneurs to identify investment opportunities and establish sustainable business connections. He also expressed strong interest in EBRD representatives participating in upcoming visits to regional businesses. The discussion also addressed organizational matters regarding the upcoming Foreign Investors Council (FIC) session under the President of Uzbekistan. Laziz Kudratov emphasized the FIC's crucial role in fostering open dialogue between government entities and international financial institutions. He welcomed the EBRD's active participation in the session and its contributions to enhancing Uzbekistan's investment climate. Both sides concluded the meeting by reaffirming their commitment to strengthening collaboration and expanding their strategic partnership across various sectors. Meanwhile, the EBRD forecasts a stable 6.0 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth for Uzbekistan in 2025 and 2026. Compared to earlier projections, the EBRDs outlook for 2025 is still singing the same tune as it did back in September 2024, and the 2026 projection is also holding its ground at a steady 6.0 percent. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 26. Uzbekistan and Mastercard discussed cybersecurity measures in payment systems and strategies to prevent fraud involving bank cards, Trend reports. The news follows a meeting between representatives of Mastercard and the CERT-CBU cybersecurity center of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan. During the meeting, experts exchanged insights on strengthening cybersecurity in financial transactions and mitigating risks associated with digital payments. Mastercard representatives also provided an overview of emerging global cyber threats linked to the rapid development of cashless payment systems. At the end of the day, both sides saw eye to eye on joining forces to beef up cybersecurity know-how, nip fraudulent transactions in the bud, and cook up solid solutions to tackle todays cyber threats. Earlier, General Director of Mastercard in Uzbekistan Denis Filippov said that Mastercard pays great attention to convenience and speed of payments, cybersecurity, and the introduction of innovative solutions. "We also conduct active informational work. Often, the residents of Uzbekistan perceive our cards exclusively as cards for traveling. We strive to make people aware that Mastercard cards are convenient to use in the country too, he said. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Using the NIRCam and MIRI instruments onboard the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have produced a high-resolution image of Herbig-Haro object 49/50 (HH 49/50), which is located about 630 light-years away in the constellation of Chamaeleon. Herbig-Haro objects are small bright patches of nebulosity associated with protostars in star-forming regions. These structures were first observed in the 19th century by the American astronomer Sherburne Wesley Burnham, but were not recognized as being a distinct type of emission nebula until the 1940s. The first astronomers to study them in detail were George Herbig and Guillermo Haro, after whom they have been named. Herbig-Haro objects are formed under very specific circumstances when hot gas ejected by a newborn star collides with the gas and dust around it at speeds of up to 250,000 kmh (155,000 mph), creating bright shock waves. They come in a wide array of shapes, the basic configuration is usually the same: twin jets of heated gas, ejected in opposite directions from a forming star, stream through interstellar space. When NASAs Spitzer Space Telescope observed it in 2006, scientists nicknamed HH 49/50 the Cosmic Tornado for its helical appearance, but they were uncertain about the nature of the fuzzy object at the tip of the tornado, said Webb astronomers in a statement. With its higher imaging resolution, Webb provides a different visual impression of HH 49/50 by revealing fine features of the shocked regions in the outflow, uncovering the fuzzy object to be a distant spiral galaxy, and displaying a sea of distant background galaxies. HH 49/50 is part of the Chamaeleon I Cloud complex, one of the nearest active star-forming regions. This cloud complex is likely similar to the environment that our Sun formed in, the astronomers said. Past observations of this region show that the HH 49/50 outflow is moving away from us at speeds of 100-300 km per second and is just one feature of a larger outflow. Webbs NIRCam and MIRI observations of HH 49/50 trace the location of glowing hydrogen molecules, carbon monoxide molecules, and energised grains of dust, represented in orange and red, as the protostellar jet slams into the region. The new Webb observations probe details on small spatial scales that will help astronomers to model the properties of the jet and understand how it is affecting the surrounding material. The arc-shaped features in HH 49/50, similar to a water wake created by a speeding boat, point back to the source of this outflow, the researchers said. Based on past observations, scientists suspect that a protostar known as Cederblad 110 IRS4 is a plausible driver of the jet activity. Located roughly 1.5 light-years away from HH 49/50, CED 110 IRS4 is a Class I protostar. Class I protostars are young objects (tens of thousands to a million years old) in the prime time of gaining mass. They usually have a discernible disk of material surrounding it that is still falling onto the protostar. Scientists recently used Webbs NIRCam and MIRI observations to study this protostar and obtain an inventory of the icy composition of its environment. These detailed Webb images of the arcs in HH 49/50 can more precisely pinpoint the direction to the jet source, but not every arc points back in the same direction. For example, there is an interesting outcrop feature (at the top right of the main outflow) which could be another chance superposition of a different outflow, related to the slow precession of the intermittent jet source. Alternatively, this feature could be a result of the main outflow breaking apart. The galaxy that appears by happenstance at the tip of HH 49/50 is a much more distant, face-on spiral galaxy. It has a prominent central bulge represented in blue that shows the location of older stars. The bulge also shows hints of side lobes suggesting that this could be a barred-spiral galaxy. Reddish clumps within the spiral arms show the locations of warm dust and groups of forming stars. The galaxy even displays evacuated bubbles in these dusty regions, similar to nearby galaxies observed by Webb as part of the PHANGS program. Webb has captured these two unassociated objects in a lucky alignment. Over thousands of years, the edge of HH 49/50 will move outwards and eventually appear to cover up the distant galaxy. 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," said senior author Mark Albers, MD, PhD, of the Laboratory of Olfactory Neurotranslation, the McCance Center for Brain Health, and Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system. "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." 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. Authorship: In addition to Albers, Mass General Brigham authors include Benoit Jobin, Colin Magdamo, Daniela Delphus, Andreas Runde, Alysa Alejandro Soto, Beyzanur Ergun, Sasha Mukhija, Alefiya Dhilla Albers. Additional authors include Sean Reineke. Disclosures: M. Albers and A. Albers has a financial interest in Aromha, Inc., a company developing scent-based screens for neurodegenerative disorders and COVID-19. Reineke and M. Albers are co-founders and own shares in Aromha, Inc. Reineke is the CEO of Aromha, Inc. Madamo and A. Albers are consultants for Aromha, Inc. M. Albers' and A. Albers' interests was reviewed and is managed by MGH and Mass General Brigham in accordance with their conflict of interest policies. M. Albers is a consultant for Sudo Bioscience Limited, Transposon Therapeutics, and has received in kind donations from IFF and from Eli Lilly. He has received speaking fees from Biohaven and Incyte. Funding: The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (R41AG062130, NIHR42AG 062130, U01DC019579). The standard model of particle physics is our best theory of the elementary particles and forces that make up our world: particles and antiparticles, such as electrons and positrons, are described as quantum fields. They interact through other force-fields, such as the electromagnetic force that binds charged particles. To understand the behaviour of these quantum fields and with that our universe, researchers perform complex computer simulations of quantum field theories. Unfortunately, many of these calculations are too complicated for even our best supercomputers and pose great challenges for quantum computers as well, leaving many pressing questions unanswered. Using a novel type of quantum computer, Martin Ringbauer's experimental team at the University of Innsbruck, and the theory group led by Christine Muschik at IQC at the University of Waterloo, Canada report in a publication in the journal Nature Physics how they have successfully simulated a complete quantum field theory in more than one spatial dimension. A natural representation of quantum fields The crux that makes simulations of quantum field theories challenging for quantum computers comes from the need to capture the fields that represent the forces between particles, such as the electromagnetic force between charged particles. These fields can point in different directions and have different degrees of strength or excitations. Such objects do not neatly fit into the traditional binary computing paradigm based on zeros and ones, which is the basis of today's classical and quantum computers. The new advance was possible through the combination of a qudit quantum computer developed in Innsbruck, and a qudit algorithm to simulate fundamental particle interactions developed in Waterloo. This approach is based on using up to five values per quantum information carrier, rather than just zero and one, to efficiently store and process information. Such a quantum computer is ideally suited to the challenge of representing complex quantum fields in particle physics calculations. "Our approach enables a natural representation of the quantum fields, which makes the computations much more efficient," explains Michael Meth, lead author of the study. This enabled the team to observe the fundamental features of quantum electrodynamics in two spatial dimensions. Huge potential for particle physics Already in 2016, the creation of particle-antiparticle pairs was demonstrated in Innsbruck. "In that demonstration, we simplified the problem by restricting the particles to move on a line. Removing this restriction is a critical step to use quantum computers to understand fundamental particle interactions," says Christine Muschik. Now the teams have presented the first quantum simulation in two spatial dimensions, "In addition to the behaviour of particles, we now also see magnetic fields between them, which can only exist if particles are not restricted to move on a line and bring us an important step closer to studying nature," explains Martin Ringbauer. The new work on quantum electrodynamics is just the beginning. With only a few qudits more it will be possible to extend the current results not only to three-dimensional models, but also to the strong nuclear force, which holds atoms together and contains many of physics' remaining mysteries. "We are excited about the potential of quantum computers to contribute to the study of these fascinating questions," says Ringbauer enthusiastically. The research was financially supported among others by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research, the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), the European Union, and the Canada First Research Excellence Fund. 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 surface -- which 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 phosphorus -- about 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 just 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 Centre 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. 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 the 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. Plastic is everywhere. And many products we use in everyday life, such as cutting boards, clothes and cleaning sponges, can expose people to tiny, micrometer-wide plastic particles called microplastics. Now, chewing gum could be added to the list. In a pilot study, researchers found that chewing gum can release hundreds to thousands of microplastics per piece into saliva and potentially be ingested. The researchers will present their results at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). "Our goal is not to alarm anybody," says Sanjay Mohanty, the project's principal investigator and an 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." Animal studies and studies with human cells show that microplastics could cause harm, so while we wait for more definitive answers from the scientific community, individuals can take steps to reduce their exposure to microplastics. Scientists estimate that humans consume tens of thousands of microplastics (between 1 micrometer- and 5 millimeters-wide) every year through foods, drinks, plastic packaging, coatings, and production or manufacturing processes. Yet, chewing gum as a potential source of microplastics hasn't been widely studied, despite the candy's worldwide popularity. So, Mohanty and a graduate student in his lab, Lisa Lowe, wanted to identify how many microplastics a person could potentially ingest from chewing natural and synthetic gums. Chewing gums are made from a rubbery base, sweetener, flavorings and other ingredients. Natural gum products use a plant-based polymer, such as chicle or other tree sap, to achieve the right chewiness, while other products use synthetic rubber bases from petroleum-based polymers. "Our initial hypothesis was that the synthetic gums would have a lot more microplastics because the base is a type of plastic," says Lowe, who started the project as an undergraduate intern at UCLA and the presenter of this research. The researchers tested five brands of synthetic gum and five brands of natural gum, all of which are commercially available. Mohanty says they wanted to reduce the human factor of varied chewing patterns and saliva, so they had seven pieces from each brand all chewed by one person. In the lab, the person chewed the piece of gum for 4 minutes, producing samples of saliva every 30 seconds, then a final mouth rinse with clean water, all of which got combined into a single sample. In another experiment, saliva samples were collected periodically over 20 minutes to look at the release rate of microplastics from each piece of gum. Then, the researchers measured the number of microplastics present in each saliva sample. Plastic particles were either stained red and counted under a microscope or analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, which also provided the polymer composition. Lowe measured an average of 100 microplastics released per gram of gum, though some individual gum pieces released as many as 600 microplastics per gram. A typical piece of gum weighs between 2 and 6 grams, meaning a large piece of gum could release up to 3,000 plastic particles. If the average person chews 160 to 180 small sticks of gum per year, the researchers estimated that could result in the ingestion of around 30,000 microplastics. If the average person consumes tens of thousands of microplastics per year, gum chewing could greatly increase the ingested amount. "Surprisingly, both synthetic and natural gums had similar amounts of microplastics released when we chewed them," says Lowe. And they also contained the same polymers: polyolefins, polyethylene terephthalates, polyacrylamides and polystyrenes. The most abundant polymers for both types of gum were polyolefins, a group of plastics that includes polyethylene and polypropylene. Most of the microplastics detached from gum within the first 2 minutes of chewing. But Mohanty says they weren't released because of enzymes in saliva breaking them down. Rather, the act of chewing is abrasive enough to make pieces flake off. And after 8 minutes of chewing, 94% of the plastic particles collected during the tests had been released. Therefore, Lowe suggests that if people want to reduce their potential exposure to microplastics from gum, they chew one piece longer instead of popping in a new one. The study was limited to identifying microplastics 20-micrometers-wide or larger because of the instruments and techniques used. It's likely, Mohanty says, that smaller plastic particles were not detected in saliva and that additional research is needed to assess the potential release of nano-sized plastics from chewing gum. "The plastic released into saliva is a small fraction of the plastic that's in the gum," concludes Mohanty. "So, be mindful about the environment and don't just throw it outside or stick it to a gum wall." If used gum isn't properly thrown away, it's another source of plastic pollution to the environment, too. The research was funded by UCLA and the University of Hawaii Maximizing Access to Research Careers program, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health and the California Protection Council. The study's experimental approach was approved by the Internal Review Board at UCLA. In 2010, University of Oklahoma researcher David Fields, Ph.D., was pouring over research data when he discovered something he thought was odd: His data showed that at 6 months of age, formula-fed babies born of mothers who were categorized as medically obese weighed about 5% units less fat than breastfed babies in the same dataset. That discovery struck him as unusual and led him on a research journey to better understand breast milk. Now, he's studying the connections between maternal gestational diabetes, breastfeeding and infant health. Fields is part of the research team behind a recent study in The Journal of the American Medical Association that examines the effects of breast milk on the children of mothers with gestational diabetes. "Gestational diabetes is a big deal," said Fields, an associate professor of pediatrics in the OU College of Medicine. "It's bad for the mother because, while it goes away after giving birth, it usually portends that later in life, the mother will get diabetes." Fields and his colleagues began studying mother-infant pairs with gestational diabetes in 2019, when the National Institutes for Health renewed funding for his 2015 project with University of Minnesota researcher Ellen Demerath, Ph.D., called the Mothers and Infants LinKed for Health Growth (MILK) study, one of the largest and longest-running studies on breastfeeding in the country. At that time, Fields suspected the breast milk composition of mothers with gestational diabetes would be different from mothers without the disease. When they began digging into the compositional differences between breast milk for mothers with and without gestational diabetes, the results told an unexpected story. While nine differences existed between the breast milk of mothers with gestational diabetes and those without, three were significantly associated with growth and body composition. Those differences benefitted the children of mothers with gestational diabetes. Babies of mothers with gestational diabetes had faster linear growth: They were longer and growing faster. They also had a lower fat percentage in one month to three months. "They weren't putting on fat as much, which is totally opposite of what we would think. We thought that these babies would be gaining more fat, but they're not," Fields said. When the MILK study began, very little was known about the composition of breast milk. "We didn't know much beyond macronutrients, simply how much fat and how much protein is in the milk," he said. And while there is still more to learn about the differences between formula and breast milk, and their effects on children, Fields and his team are at the forefront of making those discoveries. "Our ultimate take-home message is milk is medicine. Milk is the interface between the baby and the mother. What a mother eats and how they live, either good or bad, is being signaled and transferred to the infant," Fields said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 26. If sanctions against Iran are lifted, Europe could become a favorable market for Iranian crude oil, petroleum products, and petrochemicals, Ali Majedi, former Deputy Minister of Petroleum of Iran and former Ambassador to Japan and Germany, told local media. Trend reports. According to Majedi, Iran would be able to easily sell crude oil, petroleum products, and petrochemical goods in the European market. If the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) related to Iran's nuclear program is implemented as it was in the past, Iran could export up to 600,000 barrels of crude oil daily to Europe. However, Majedi pointed out that the gas sector is a whole different ball game, as no fresh investments have been poured into Irans gas industry. Yet, cooperation with European companies could help develop Irans gas fields. Regarding whether Iran and Russia would be competitors in the European market if sanctions are lifted, Majedi stated that in the oil market, Iran and Russia are not considered competitors. This is because, during the implementation of the CJAP, Iran exported only about 20-25 percent of its crude oil to European countries. However, Iran and Russia are seen as serious competitors in the gas sector. To recall, on January 16, 2016, the JCPOA came into force between Iran and the P5+1 group (US, Russia, China, the UK, France, and Germany) regarding Irans nuclear program. However, on May 8, 2018, the US withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the 5+1 group (Russia, China, the UK, France, the US, and Germany) and imposed new sanctions on Iran starting from November 2018. The US imposed new sanctions against Iran in November 2018 over Iran's nuclear program. Since then, the sanctions have affected Iranian oil exports and more than 700 banks, companies, and individuals. By the end of 2020, the Iranian parliament decided to pursue a strategic plan in the nuclear sector to counter the sanctions, leading to a suspension of additional steps and the Additional Protocol as per the nuclear agreement. Consequently, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) faced a reduction in monitoring capabilities by 2030 percent. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 26. During a two-day visit to Azerbaijan, Iran's Minister of Roads and Urban Development, and Co-Chair of the Iran-Azerbaijan Intergovernmental Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation, Farzaneh Sadegh, will discuss joint projects between the two countries, the Iranian Embassy in Azerbaijan told Trend. The minister will be in Azerbaijan on April 10-11. During the visit, she is scheduled to meet with Azerbaijan's Deputy Prime Minister, Shahin Mustafayev. The dialogues will center on optimizing synergies in domains including transit systems, energy frameworks, and additional sectors. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 26. Iran's inclusion in the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) blacklist is one of the main reasons behind the lack of foreign investment interest in the country, Hadi Khani, Secretary of Irans Prevention and Combating of Money Laundering and Terrorism Supreme Council, told local media, Trend reports. Khani pointed out that at the moment, foreign investors are sitting on the fence when it comes to investing in Iran, owing to the sanctions laid down by the United States and the red tape set forth by FATF. He emphasized that removing Iran from FATF's "high-risk" list would have a significant positive impact on the countrys economic situation. The Basel (Basel III) index and FATF reports, which are essential factors in calculating investment risks, are important in managing these issues. The official further pointed out that in the past Iranian year (from March 20, 2024, through March 20, 2025), several special and technical meetings were held with various sectors in Iran regarding FATF conventions. Due to Iran being on the high-risk countries list, China's Sinosure export insurance company is paying more attention to the risk calculations of investing in Iran. If this situation persists, the country's investment plans will face serious obstacles, Khani added. Khani also noted that two remaining FATF conventions (CFT and Palermo) are expected to be reviewed and approved soon, as Irans removal from the blacklist could take a long time. To note, Iran's Expediency Discernment Council is currently re-examining the two conventions (CFT and Palermo) that have not been ratified in Iran. He explained that there are differing opinions within the country about the approval of these conventions, with some seeing them as detrimental, while others believe they align with the country's interests. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is an intergovernmental body that regulates the rules for combating money laundering and terrorist financing. At the last meeting of this organization, Iran was warned that if the country's program of steps is not improved, Iran may be added to the list of non-cooperative countries. Iran has complied with 37 out of 41 FATF steps. The remaining four steps or conventions fall under the scope of the legislation. "Amendments to the Law on Combating Money Laundering," "Amendments to the Law on Combating the Financing of Terrorism," "Accession to the International Convention on Combating Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo)," and Accession to the International Convention on Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) have been drafted by the Iranian government and sent to the parliament. Although the four conventions were approved by the parliament and sent to the Advisory Council, the CFT conventions and the Palermo Convention have not yet been approved by the mentioned council. The G7 group founded the FATF in 1989 to address money laundering. The entity is constituted of 37 stakeholders, with its governance framework centralized in the Parisian locale. The Financial Action Task Force classified Iran as a high-risk jurisdiction in 2007 and implemented formal sanctions against Tehran in 2009. As a result, sovereign entities were compelled to implement due diligence in their fiscal and banking operations involving Iran. Since 2016, strategic diplomatic maneuvers have effectively deferred the execution of countermeasures against Iran. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) classified Iran as a non-compliant jurisdiction (blacklist) on February 21, 2020. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Mark Bugnaski for Bridge Michigan Whitney Wardell, president and CEO of the housing nonprofit Neighborhoods Inc. of Battle Creek. Mark Bugnaski for Bridge Michigan Housing nonprofit Neighborhoods Inc. of Battle Creek was one of 12 housing organizations across Michigan to participate in a homelessness diversion pilot program. John Grap Briette and Greg Ramos are seen with River, their oldest son, inside their home in Marshall. John Grap Skyler Ramos pauses while playing a video game at his familys home in Marshall. John Grap Seen in their familys home in Marshall are, from left, Greg Ramos with daughter Serenity, and Briette Ramos, with son Skyler. John Grap Formerly living in the shelter at the Haven Quinton Bozell was able to get financial assistance from Neighborhoods, Inc. to help secure an apartment. John Grap Quinton Bozell sits on a sofa in his apartment at the Arbors of Battle Creek. John Grap Quinton Bozell reflects on his life while sitting on a sofa in his apartment. John Grap Quinton Bozell holds one of the many motivational posters he has. to learn more. John Grap Quinton Bozell has several motivational posters on the walls of his apartment. Avon Technologies raised its full-year guidance on Wednesday after reporting continued strong trading momentum in the second quarter, underpinned by robust demand across its defence and protective equipment businesses. The London-listed company said it now expected revenue growth in excess of 10% for the 2025 financial year, ahead of prior mid-single-digit expectations, and an adjusted operating margin above 12%, up from earlier guidance of around 11.5%. It said the upgrade came after a solid first-half performance to 31 March, driven by the ramp-up of ACH Gen II helmet deliveries at Team Wendy to the US Department of Defense and strong sales of FM54 respirators and underwater rebreathers at Avon Protection. The company also secured two new NATO-backed orders for FM50 and C50 respirators to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine, with deliveries set for 2025 and some extending into early in the 2026 financial year. In addition, Avon Protection signed a new 12-year framework contract with two European navies for its MCM100 Multi-Role Rebreather systems. While specific delivery volumes and timing were yet to be finalised, the agreement was expected to support long-term growth across accessories, training, and maintenance services. Operating profit margins at Avon Protection were meanwhile benefiting from favourable product mix and ongoing efficiency improvements. While costs related to the production ramp-up and factory closure at Team Wendy would weigh on first-half profitability, the group remains confident that margins will strengthen as the year progresses. Management noted that scaling production for the US Department of Defense at Team Wendy continued to present both a risk and an opportunity, but efforts remained focused on mitigating challenges and unlocking further margin gains into the 2026 financial year. All other guidance for 2025 remained unchanged. We are proud of the contribution that Avon continues to provide to the security of NATO nations, said chief executive officer Jos Sclater. The additional orders for provision of respiratory protection to Ukrainian war fighters and rebreathers for military divers allows both users to operate with confidence, knowing they are protected against increasingly prevalent threats in the harshest and most demanding environments. Sclater said the company was continuing to deliver in accordance with its STAR strategy. Our growing order book, progress closing our California facility and the culture, capability change and pace we are seeing as we implement continuous improvement across the group all give us confidence for the medium term and beyond. Avon said it would report its half-year results on 21 May. At 0847 GMT, shares in Avon Technologies were up 6.4% at 1,457.59p. Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 26. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone talk with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, said Spokesperson for the Department Tammy Bruce, Trend reports. "Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan discussed shared interests as strategic partners," the statement reads. Marco Rubio also welcomed the agreement on a text of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia and underlined the importance of a lasting peace in the South Caucasus. On March 13, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the completion of negotiations on the draft text of the Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. "We once again reaffirm Azerbaijans long-term and principled position that the main condition for signing the agreed text is the amendment of Armenia's constitution to remove claims to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. We also stress the need for the official dissolution of the outdated and non-functional OSCE Minsk Group and related structures. We are ready to continue bilateral dialogue between the two countries on these and other issues related to the normalization process," the MFA stated. Evoke shares were sliding on Wednesday after it swung to an adjusted loss after tax for 2024, despite second-half adjusted EBITDA surging 71% versus the first half, helping it exceed the top end of its earnings guidance. The London-listed gambling operator, which counts William Hill among its brands and was formerly known as 888 Holdings, said the second-half improvement followed a period of extensive transformation, with management reaffirming expectations for further growth and margin expansion in 2025. Full-year adjusted EBITDA rose 4% to 312.5m on revenue of 1.75bn, up 3% year-on-year, marking the companys first return to growth in three years. The adjusted EBITDA margin for the year reached 17.8%, with second-half margins of 22.1% reflecting operating leverage gains. Reported EBITDA fell 9% to 230.6m due to 79.3m in exceptional charges, largely tied to the exit from the US B2C business and ongoing integration costs. On a reported basis, the group posted a loss after tax of 191.4m, compared with a 65.2m loss in 2023, driven by lower EBITDA, higher finance expenses, and a swing to a tax charge. Adjusted losses after tax came in at 28.8m, versus a profit of 39.3m in the prior year. The strong second half performance was underpinned by revenue growth in core markets, up 6% at constant currency, with UK and Ireland online returning to growth, up 5% for the full year and 10% in the second half. International online grew 10% at constant currency, with 25% growth across international core markets. UK retail declined 5% against strong comparatives, although a sequential improvement was noted in the second half, supported by the rollout of new gaming cabinets, completed in March. Evoke highlighted the successful execution of its cost optimisation programme, which delivered over 30m in recurring savings, with an additional 15m in savings identified and realised in the second half. Cash at year-end stood at 147.1m, with total liquidity exceeding 260m. Leverage declined from 6.7x to 5.7x in the second half, with the group targeting a reduction to below 5.0x by the end of 2025 and below 3.5x by 2027. Strategic progress included the rebranding to Evoke in May last year, the acquisition of Winner.ro in Romania to establish a fifth core market, and the ongoing repositioning of the William Hill and Mr Green brands. The group also reported a 6% year-on-year increase in average revenue per user, driven by enhanced data-driven customer segmentation and improved product offerings. Evoke said it expected first quarter 2025 revenue growth to be in the low single digits, reflecting temporary factors including the impact of new safer gambling measures, racing cancellations, and tough prior-year comparatives. However, first quarter adjusted EBITDA was expected to rise by 18m ti 28m versus the prior year, with trailing 12-month adjusted EBITDA projected at 330m to 340m. The board reiterated its full-year guidance for 5% to 9% revenue growth and an adjusted EBITDA margin of at least 20%, with further cost savings of 15m to 25m expected in 2025, more than offsetting anticipated UK cost headwinds. 2024 was a pivotal year for Evoke as we launched and implemented our new strategy for success, radically transforming almost every area of the business, and moving decisively to create a more sustainable, profitable and cash generative company, said chief executive officer Per Widerstrom. I was delighted to see the results of our transformation start to materialise during the year, with the business returning to revenue growth in the third quarter for the first time in almost three years, in turn delivering a step change in profitability as a result of our increasingly efficient operating model. Whilst a transformation of this scale is never easy, I am pleased with the strong progress we made during the year as we built a winning team and delivered a consistently great customer experience. Widerstrom said the company was laser focused on its core markets of the UK, Italy, Spain, Romania, and Denmark. These markets - where we have strong brands and market positions - now represent approximately 90% of our revenue with each boasting attractive long-term growth potential, high barriers to entry, and established regulatory frameworks. 2025 is shaping up to be another exciting year for Evoke. While first-quarter revenue growth was expected to be low single digit, Per Widerstrom said the firm remained highly confident in its full year expectations of 5% to 9% growth in addition to driving further margin expansion as a result of its more efficient operating model. Our exciting product pipeline, continued UK retail optimisation programme, and ever-improving capabilities around data and personalisation all reinforce my confidence in making further progress in 2025 as we continue to execute against our plans to create significant shareholder value. At 0839 GMT, shares in Evoke were down 13.73% at 61.6p. Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com. Marianne Richmond (photo: Shoott Photography) Author and illustrator Marianne Richmond has published dozens of picture books and board books, centering on messages of encouragement and love for young children and their families. She and her husband, Jim, spent 16 years co-running a greeting card company focused on her designs. If You Were My Daughter: A Memoir of Healing an Unmothered Heart, her memoir, is her first book for adults. It will be published by Sourcebooks on March 18, 2025. Richmond lives in the Nashville area. What was the inspiration for If You Were My Daughter? This book has been about 15 years in the making. For all my children's books, the "why" behind creating them was to put loving messages into the world--to create these connections between parent and child that I felt like I didn't have. For many years, I was telling the story of my complicated relationship with my mother as part of my career. But it wasn't until I got into therapy, as my greeting card business was wrapping up, that I learned to name some of my experiences. I also wanted to take on the challenge of writing a nonfiction book that would stretch me as a writer, and force me to think differently about theme, structure, and dialogue. You had a complex, even traumatic, relationship with your mother. I had misdiagnosed epilepsy as a young child, and for years, adults were telling me that I wasn't telling the truth. The combination of that and having a mom who was parenting out of her own fear--it was not great. It upended me and hollowed me out. There was no internal safety, and no external safety. It's the ultimate in vulnerability to have your body lose control when you don't know what it will do. A lot of people can relate to that journey of misdiagnosis and being misunderstood in that medical capacity. For years, I was operating in fear and anxiety and hypervigilance. I was in fight or flight mode for decades. My mother was the only link between me and any kind of meaningful help. But because of her own history with electroshock therapy [at a veterans' hospital], she didn't have the capacity to be there for me. We were living parallel lives, in a certain way. I kept thinking: Can't you see how I'm hurting? And that's what we're all looking for, to be witnessed. No one could witness her, and no one could witness me. It led to a sense of deep aloneness. How did you try to address those emotions through your children's books? My children's books are all about helping witness the deep emotions of life. A lot of them are about parenthood. For example, Be Brave, Little One, is about trying to live a courageous life. For me, it's been about understanding that courage is a choice. It can look really small and quiet, or it can look really big and loud. My first books were aspirational: I was writing what my ideal experience of being loved by a parent would feel like. Now I have my own model with my children. I was giving my kids what I wanted them to know, but also what I wanted for myself. As a young mom, I think I was overcompensating. I thought, I'm just going to let them know they're the greatest, all the time. But the result of that is an exhausted, depleted mother. Because I was coming at it from a place of lack in my own soul, rather than coming from a place of wholeness. How did you get to that place of wholeness? Going to therapy was pivotal for me. This therapist was the first person who was able to name some of my experiences. I remember her saying, right off the bat, You've had some huge nurturing gaps in your life. She started to educate me about the natural attunement between parent and child. That's secure attachment, and it's what gives the child the inner safety to understand how to handle life. Understanding what didn't happen for me was very helpful. I remember the therapist talking about the goal of inner alignment: head, heart, body. I remember she said, When your soul feels heard, you can move forward. What was it like to delve into this story and put it on the page in a more direct way? I started writing pieces of this book long ago, but I was still so angry that it started to sound bitter. It took me a long time to figure out what story I was telling. I'd read so many things on how to write a memoir, and someone delivered this equation: This is a story of X, as told through Y. The X becomes your universal, as told through Y, which is your personal story. So: this is a mother-daughter story, of coming to terms with what you never got. And either letting that stay in you as bitterness or finding some sort of resolution and acceptance. I had to look back at my mom's story and get to a place where I could realize that we were looking for the same thing. I still wish my experience could have been different, but I got to a place of acceptance, and a little more understanding and compassion. The subtitle mentions "healing an unmothered heart." I specifically landed on that word unmothered. I think my mother thought she was doing a decent job: I was provided clothes and food and physical essentials. The unmothered heart gives voice to the fact that what she was able to give and what I needed were a mismatch--because of who I am, and because of who she was. I think my brothers got what they needed from her, because they didn't need her in the same way. The unmothered heart is such a personal experience that people can dismiss [it] as You were so sensitive. It comes back to validation--that it's okay to need and desire in certain ways. We're quick to dismiss and diminish ourselves and our valid needs. And it's okay to want. And it's okay to grieve that we didn't get it. What do you hope readers gain from this story? I recently got my master's in mental health counseling. I'm struck by this idea that we are all born into a story in progress, and that story is pivotal to what our journey becomes. And we have to choose: Do we carry this story forward--the pain, and the frustration--or are we actively trying to re-narrate what it becomes? The stories we're born into end up shaping the ones we tell about ourselves. As I sit in the counseling chair now, and hear people tell their stories, it's often negative about themselves. So often, it comes back to What's wrong with me? I want to give people an invitation to examine that story, and say, What am I carrying forward that I don't want to, or that's not even true? In a lot of ways, the book is about choosing to re-author that narrative for ourselves. I think we could take the same plot points or material and mix and match them to tell a different story. You could tell a business story, or a marriage story, or a story in which I'm the victim. But I think it's an invitation. I think it's also for women who can relate to the unmothered heart. I want them to let this book be that healing witness. --Katie Noah Gibson Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella highlighted wide AI skill diffusion as a core driver of economic growth in his keynote address to the 'Microsoft AI Tour 2025' in Seoul. He highlighted the strong human capital and AI competencies of South Korea, which he believes would be the engine of the future economy. "You get to see huge productivity benefits from AI. And this is not specific to Microsoft. It is happening here in Korea, with all types of customers everywhere", Nadella mentioned, pointing to how South Korean businesses have used Microsoft's AI offerings, including Copilot, to improve productivity and customer care. He cited the nation's various industries, ranging from gaming to retail and manufacturing, that are using AI for concrete returns on investment and productivity increases. Nadella specifically highlighted Microsoft's 2.4 trillion-won ($1.65 billion) deal with South Korean telecommunications giant KT Corp., inked last year. He called the partnership a shared vision to tap the potential of AI in changing everyday life and the economy. "We are also very conscious that one of the most critical things for us to all do together is to make sure the diffusion of skills about AI is broad", he added. "It's the human capital of Korea and the AI capability of Korea, that combined, will build an economy that thrives way into the future". Nadella also sat down with KT CEO Kim Young-shub prior to the event to address their alliance's expansion, particularly the creation of AI models specific to the Korean culture and language. The partnership also seeks to roll out additional cloud services targeting local companies. Emphasizing optimism about South Korea's AI future, Nadella reaffirmed that Microsoft's initiative with KT will speed up the country's economic growth. "We teamed with KT to actually make sure that we can deliver that next level of capability that is being developed locally around our platforms to power the rest of the Korean economy", he said. India and Singapore have taken a crucial step in maritime cooperation with the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) on Green Shipping and Digital Corridor Collaboration. The pact was signed in the presence of Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), and Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and Ministry of Transport, Singapore. The LOI was signed on behalf of R Lakshmanan, Joint Secretary, MoPSW, and Teo Eng Dhi, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. The agreement is centered on maritime digitalization and decarbonization activities and is meant to increase cooperation between the two countries in these areas. Under the initiative, India and Singapore will work together to identify stakeholders relevant to the initiative and towards developing a memorandum of understanding for a Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC) between the two countries. The collaboration is likely to promote the development and use of zero or near-zero greenhouse gas emission technologies and digital solutions in shipping. India's technology in information and green marine fuel manufacturing, combined with Singapore's position as a world transshipment and bunkering center, presents a strategic partnership for driving sustainability and efficiency in the shipping industry. Addressing the ceremony, Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted the importance of this partnership in upgrading maritime operations and encouraging initiatives in green shipping. He said that the Singapore-India Green and Digital Shipping Corridor would fuel innovation, speed up the use of low-emission technology, and deepen digitalization in the maritime sector. Acknowledging India's technological prowess and green fuel opportunity, he was optimistic that the collaboration would create new standards for maritime sustainability. The minister again assured that India would develop a future-proof maritime ecosystem for both countries and the world at large. On the fringes of Singapore Maritime Week, Sonowal also had a bilateral meeting with Brigit Gijsbers, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Netherlands, with a view to enhancing the existing Memorandum of Understanding for Maritime Cooperation. The issues ranged across areas such as dredging, inland vessel technology, and water management where Dutch expertise could be utilized to make India's inland waterways more efficient. Both leaders discussed possible partnerships with Dutch maritime schools and training facilities to reskill India's inland waterways employees in sustainable navigation techniques, digital waterway management, ship maintenance, and dredging activities. Another major subject of discussion was the potential development of a Green Shipping Corridor between the Port of Rotterdam and India's main ports, including Deendayal Port (Kandla) and VoC Port (Tuticorin). Sonowal was upbeat about deepening maritime ties with the Netherlands and recognized the efforts of Dutch enterprises such as Damen Shipyard and Van Oord in terms of investment and technology for India's maritime economy. He underlined that Dutch proficiency in river engineering, dredging, and inland modular vessels would be highly valuable for India's inland waterways, especially along the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers. By incorporating advanced dredging techniques and LNG-powered river transport solutions, India aims to enhance cargo movement efficiency, making inland waterways a more viable and sustainable transportation mode. Sarbananda Sonowal also inaugurated the India Pavilion at Singapore Maritime Week alongside Amy Khor, marking Indias strong presence in the global maritime sector. Additionally, he inaugurated the IRClass Pavilion, highlighting Indias growing role in maritime classification and regulatory frameworks. Referring to the India Business Roundtable, Sonowal discussed India's quick rise as a sustainable maritime hub based on digital innovation and strategic alliances. He stressed the turn-around reforms made by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, which have made India a desirable hub for clean energy-powered ports, shipbuilding excellence, and reduced carbon shipping. Sonowal visited the Singapore Cruise Centre during his trip to understand the infrastructure and operational efficiencies behind Singapore becoming a major cruise tourism hub. Similar terminals are planned to be replicated in important destinations like Goa, Mumbai, and Chennai by India to increase its cruise tourism sector. The minister also had meetings with major officials of the Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA) and senior industry leaders of the Netherlands' maritime industry to discuss additional areas of cooperation. The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) revised guidelines on Priority Sector Lending (PSL) are set to enhance credit flow to key sectors, improve financial inclusion, and make credit more accessible to weaker sections and women entrepreneurs, according to brokerage reports. The changes, which will take effect from April 1, 2025, aim to facilitate better targeting of bank credit towards housing, clean energy, start-ups, and education. A report by IIFL highlighted that the easing of PSL norms will benefit banks with lower organic PSL generation, such as RBL Bank, IndusInd Bank, and Federal Bank. The report further stated that IndusInd Bank and Federal Bank have 32 percent organic PSL as a percentage of opening Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) in FY24. Meanwhile, banks like RBL Bank, State Bank of India (SBI), ICICI Bank, and IndusInd Bank may have to meet shortfalls through Priority Sector Lending Certificates (PSLC) purchases. Macquaries analysis noted that while the revised norms do not significantly impact the fundamentals of banks, they indicate a more relaxed approach by the RBI, which could support banks in the long run. Additionally, Motilal Oswals report stated that major banks, including HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, SBI, and Axis Bank, are expected to be among the biggest beneficiaries of the changes. One of the significant modifications in the new PSL framework is the enhancement of loan limits, particularly in the housing sector. The revised guidelines prescribe three categories for priority sector classification in housing loans: Rs 50 lakh for cities with a population of 50 lakh and above, Rs 45 lakh for cities with a population between 10 lakh and 50 lakh, and Rs 35 lakh for smaller centres with populations below 10 lakh. The RBI has also specified the maximum cost of dwelling units for each category to ensure better credit targeting. clean energy and sustainability. Furthermore, the PSL norms now broaden the scope of loans classified under 'renewable energy,' allowing greater financial support for sustainable projects. The move aligns with the governments push towards With these measures, experts believe the revised PSL guidelines will not only strengthen credit availability for priority sectors but also support economic growth by ensuring a more inclusive banking system. The sought individual is described as a male last seen wearing a black jacket, black pants and black and dark gray sneakers, police said. (Courtesy of NYPD) NYPD STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The NYPD is asking for the publics assistance in identifying and locating an individual wanted for questioning in connection to an incident of reckless endangerment that occurred in Stapleton earlier in the month. It was reported to police that on Sunday, March 9, at approximately 10:10 p.m., the unidentified individual was involved in a dispute with an adult male victim in the vicinity of Hillside Avenue and Van Duzer Street. The unidentified individual then allegedly discharged a firearm multiple times before fleeing on foot northbound on Hillside, according to a statement released by the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. No injuries were reported, police said. The sought individual is described as a male last seen wearing a black jacket, black pants and black and dark gray sneakers, police said. The NYPD released surveillance photos of the sought individual. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips. All calls are strictly confidential. - The 5th Annual Red, Black and Green Ball was held at the Crystal Room on Friday, March 22, 2024.(Steve White for the Staten island Advance) Steve White Steve White STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The Red, Black, and Green Ball returns for its 6th year, honoring two women who have dedicated their lives to making Staten Island a better place. On March 28 at 8 p.m. the Staten Island Black Heritage will sponsor the highly anticipated event at the Crystal Room, located at 67 Olympia Blvd. The Red, Black, and Green Ball pays homage to the Pan-African Flag, symbolizing Black Pride and liberation. Created in the 1920s by Marcus Garvy, founder of the United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), the flag was meant to serve as a marker of freedom, pride, and the political power of Black Americans. The flags colors red, black, and green each hold deep meaning: Red represents the blood that unites all people of Black African ancestry and was shed for liberation; black honors Black peoples existence; and green signifies the natural wealth of Africa. - The 5th Annual Red, Black and Green Ball was held at the Crystal Room on Friday, March 22, 2024.(Steve White for the Staten island Advance) Steve White Steve White This years event will honor two community leaders, Marjorie Garvin and Ilean Dixon, who have significantly contributed to the Staten Island community. Garvin, honored as a NY1, New Yorker of the Week, and unofficial Mayor of Parkhill, is a civil rights advocate, community leader, and 2013 Staten Island Advance Woman of Achievement. Dixon, an entrepreneur, former owner, and operator of the Meeting Place, a well-known Black establishment in New Brighton for many years, and a Staten Island Advance Woman of Achievement in 2017, is known as a helping hand to all those in need. Both honorees were selected for their integrity, excellence, and dedication to helping others. Ticket Info The events proceeds will support the 14th Annual Staten Island Black Heritage Family Day, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20, ensuring continued efforts to uplift and celebrate the Black community on Staten Island. Tickets for the Red, Black, and Green Ball are available for $125 each. The price includes a cocktail hour, open bar, and a formal dinner. Tickets for children 12 and under start at $69. DJ Tyson will provide the evenings music, creating a lively atmosphere for all attendees. To purchase tickets, visit Eventbrite or send payment via Zelle at Zelle@SIBlackHeritageDay@gmail.com. A federal judge has blocked immigration officials attempt to deport a Columbia University student over her participation in a recent protest, while the 21-year-old woman is now speaking out about the ordeal, according to reports. Yunseo Chung, a legal permanent U.S. resident, sued President Donald Trump and top administration officials on Monday over a bid to arrest, detain and ultimately deport her in connection to her participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. During a hearing in Manhattan, U.S. District Judge Naomi Buchwald said nothing in the record suggested Chung posed a threat to the community, a foreign-policy risk, or had any contact with terrorist organizations, Newsweek reported. Buchwald entered a temporary restraining order while attorneys litigate the case. The judges order requires the government to provide sufficient advance notice to Chung and her attorneys if it attempted to detain her under a different statute. In a statement sent to the outlet through her attorneys, Chung said: 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. Im so, so grateful to my legal team and my community of professors, students, and staff at Columbia that have given me strength at every turn. Chung is facing deportation after she was arrested recently during sit-in demonstration March 5 at Barnard College in Manhattan, according to a lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court. 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 sued Trump and other top ranking officials in an effort to avoid deportation, according to legal filings. In the lawsuit, Chungs lawyers argued 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. Former hostage Luis Har, 72, appeared at the Joan & Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center of Staten Island in Sea View on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Staten Island Advance/Scott R. Axelrod) Scott R. Axelrod STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. It was 11:22 a.m. on Oct. 7, 2023, when Luis Har was taken from the home of his girlfriend, Clara, in Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak in Israel, near the Gaza border by Hamas militants. Shortly after having gathered in a safe room, Har, along with Clara, her brother, Fernando; her sister, Gabriela; her niece, Mia, and their dog, Bella, heard pounding at the door and the breaking of windows. Moments later, in what Har says seemed like a movie, they were surrounded by dozens of armed individuals screaming at them in Arabic and vandalizing the home. Driven out of Israel on the back of a pickup truck and held captive in a small second-story apartment in what he believed to be Rafah, in Southern Gaza, it would be 129 days until he saw freedom and his family. Har, a 72-year-old grandfather from Argentina, and one of more than 250 Israelis taken hostage that day, visited at the Joan & Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Staten Island on Tuesday, March 25, to speak of his harrowing experience before hundreds who gathered in Sea View Tuesday evening. Luis Har joined members of the borough's Jewish community at the Joan & Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center of Staten Island in Sea View on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Staten Island Advance/Scott R. Axelrod) Scott R. Axelrod Amid a large NYPD presence and a group of pro-Palestinian protestors marching down Manor Road, Har, with the aid of an interpreter, peppered his tale with moments of light-hearted humor, but emphasized that throughout his ordeal he never knew which day may be his last. Staten Island stands with Israel, said Borough President Vito Fossella. Were fortunate that the JCC on Staten Island for the last 535 days has done so much to help those families in need. Fossella, along with members of the Islands Jewish community, welcomed Har, who has been touring the country, recounting his story, in the hopes of reminding Americans that there are still 59 hostages who remain in captivity. From the moment we heard that Luis was taken, our hearts sank, said Orit Lender, CEO of the JCC of Staten Island, who spent many of her childhood summers at the kibbutz from which Har was kidnapped. The idea of him being in Gaza was heart-wrenching, she said. (From left) Orit Lender, CEO of the JCC of Staten Island, Borough President Vito Fossella and Luis Har speak at the Joan & Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center of Staten Island in Sea View on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Staten Island Advance/Scott R. Axelrod) Scott R. Axelrod After 53 days, his girlfriend, Clara, her sister and niece were freed, along with Bella the dog, as part of a November cease-fire and hostage deal, Har recalled. But without a radio or TV, he and his fellow hostages relied on their captors to tell them what was going on during the early days of the ongoing war. Eventually going on to cook for those holding him hostage, Har said that food slowly became scarce, and the hostages were forced to share and ration their minuscule meals. They were only allowed to bathe every two weeks, sharing a sliver of soap and bucket of cold water, he said. However, on Feb. 12, 2024, Har awoke to an explosion in the middle of the night, as the Israeli military, known as the Israel Defense Forces, bombed the building they were being held in. According to published reports, the Israeli military carried out large-scale airstrikes in Rafah as a diversion to provide cover for special forces during the rescue mission. More than 70 Palestinian men, women and children were killed during those strikes, and more than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, according to Gaza health officials. While Har still has difficulty sleeping as he recalls his time in captivity, he tries to maintain a positive outlook. Our home is still standing, he says. Dont give up your hope. (From left) Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella, Luis Har and Mendy Mirocznik, president of the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island. (Staten Island Advance/Scott R. Axelrod) Scott R. Axelrod BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 26. French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in Paris ahead of a summit focused on the deployment of peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, Trend reports. Speaking at a press conference at the Elysee Palace, Macron unveiled a new 2 billion military aid package for Ukraine, emphasizing that the support would be tailored to the priority needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The package includes: MILAN anti-tank missiles MICA anti-aircraft missiles Mirage fighter missiles Mistral surface-to-surface anti-missiles AMX-10RC armored vehicles Remotely controlled munitions Additionally, France plans to finance the production of military equipment on Ukrainian territory. Notably, on March 20, Zelenskyy reportedly delayed responding to Macrons call during a briefing, stating that he was busy and would return the call in 1520 minutes. Editors note: This story is part of an Advance/SILive.com Womens History Month series celebrating the strength and influence of women who have dedicated their life to education, mentorship and leadership. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. I vividly remember the day I met Dr. Deborah Greh. It was the late 1980s, and the former Grymes Hill campus of St. Johns University was packed as usual. The parking lot, hallways and classrooms buzzed with Gen Xers, many first-generation college students seeking a brighter future. Knowing I wanted to be a journalist since the age of 10, I was enrolled as a communications arts major, due to the schools lack of a journalism major at the time. Back then, I was a shy 18-year-old who sat in the back of class. I always knew the answer, but never raised my hand. Thats because Id have intense anxiety anytime I was called upon to speak in class. In my sophomore year, I was told my college advisor had retired. My Type A personality made me anxious about getting the classes I wanted, so I immediately set up an appointment to meet this new advisor. That was Dr. Greh. Pictured is Tracey Porpora with Dr. Deborah Greh at another annual Comm Connection at St. John's University. (Courtesy of Tracey Porpora) Little did I know, sitting in her office located atop a long staircase in an old building, that she would become a driving force in my life, shaping the professional I am today. In that conversation, she told me to do several internships, and maybe not in journalism, to make sure thats what I really wanted to do. Besides bragging rights -- like riding in an elevator with Aerosmith and lighting Down Town Julie Browns cigarettes on Club MTV -- my television internship only strengthened my desire to be a journalist. Ditto for the stints I did at a Broadway public relations firm and in marketing. After sharing I still possessed a burning desire to be a print journalist, Dr. Greh encouraged me to hold out for my dream job. This came at a time when others, like those in the college career center, said it would be impossible to get a job in journalism. I remember one career counselor said, You should look for a job in a bank. But I stuck to my guns and listened to my mentor. She was known to many simply as Dr. Greh. Thats what the thousands of St. Johns University students called Deborah Ellen Greh.(Courtesy of Michael Pelczar) My inspiration While she inspired many during her 31 years teaching and serving as director of mass communications at St. Johns Staten Island campus, Dr. Greh especially inspired me. While I had a stint at a magazine before being hired at the Staten Island Advance, my persistence to obtain a job as a newspaper reporter was all because of Dr. Greh. I couldnt help but posthumously honor my longtime mentor, who died of acute myeloid leukemia at age 71 in February 2020 especially during Womens History Month. And she is the perfect role model for years national theme -- Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations, celebrating the strength and influence of women who have dedicated their life to education, mentorship and leadership. St. John's alumni at the Com Connection in March, 2019. From Left: Jessica Jones, Dr. Deborah Greh, Tracey Porpora and Christine Albano. (Courtesy of Tracey Porpora) How her advice led to another passion But Dr. Grehs influence didnt stop when I graduated, or after I obtained my dream job as a newspaper reporter at the Staten Island Advance. At Dr. Grehs urging, I applied to graduate school in the late 1990s. Dr. Deborah Greh will always be my mentor who shaped my career. I was accepted into a media studies program at Hunter College in Manhattan. As soon as I enrolled, Dr. Greh told me to come back to my undergraduate alma mater to teach a journalism class. But teaching wasnt something I thought Id ever want to do; that would mean all eyes would be on me public speaking in front of a class. But one class turned into two, and before I knew it I had a roster of classes from magazine and print journalism, to online journalism and public relations courses under my belt. In all, I taught at St. Johns University over a 25-year period that lasted until the campus closed in May 2024. I never dreamed of teaching or being a professor, and never would have if it wasnt for Dr. Greh. More than a mentor Dr. Greh was more than just my college advisor and my boss as an adjunct professor she also became my friend. We would often meet for dinner and talk about the kids, who were the generations of college students she mentored over her 31 year tenure at St. Johns. She also had asked me to be a keynote speaker at one of her many annual Comm Connection events, which brought together students and alumni ranging from Baby Boomers to Gen Zers in the same room to network. Tracey Porpora, who was honored by St. John's University in 2023 as an adjunct professor, was inspired by Dr. Deborah Greh. (Courtesy of Tracey Porpora) And I never stopped bugging her, as I liked to put it. I was always asking her advice on career moves. Her advice led to me teaching at the College of Staten Island in Willowbrook, and Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. And even after her sudden passing and the closure of the Staten Island campus of St. Johns, my love for both journalism and higher academia continues. Since St. Johns shuttered, Ive been teaching public speaking classes (Yep -- public speaking) at Kean University in Union, N.J. But Im not the only one this amazing educator inspired and mentored. Dr. Greh often provided guidance to students throughout their careers. Some, she brought on to teach as adjunct professors at the college. But for all, she was there to discuss any new direction in their career path when called upon. Dr. Deborah Greh taught and served as director of mass communications at St. Johns University, Grymes Hill for 31 years. (Courtesy of Michael Pelczar) And the diverse array of communication arts students she helped over the years includes several Grammy winners, as well as award-winning journalists, television producers, music makers, filmmakers, authors, marketing professionals, video gamers and more. I will always be grateful to Dr. Greh for all she did for me. Follow Tracey Porpora on Facebook and Bluesky The average tax refund issued by the Internal Revenue Service so far this year is roughly 5.2% higher than in 2024. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has already issued more than $162 billion in tax refunds, with the average American getting more money back from the federal government than they did last year, according to the latest data. Through Mar. 14 the latest date currently available the agency has issued 49,828,000 refunds, roughly 1.4% more than the 49,145,000 that had been issued by that time last year. In total, the agency has issued roughly $163 billion in refunds, up 6.7% from the $152.8 billion issued at that time in 2024. The average refund amount through Mar. 14 was $3,271, roughly 5.2% higher than the average refund of $3,109 at that time last year. Through Feb. 14, the average had been just $2,169, but has increased dramatically now that the IRS has begun issuing refunds to taxpayers who claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit, the refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit. Due to the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act, or PATH Act, which took effect during the 2017 filing season, the IRS legally cannot issue refunds or credits to anyone who claimed an Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit before Feb. 15. The policy was implemented to help prevent revenue loss due to identity theft and refund fraud related to fabricated wages and withholdings, according to the IRS. Tracking your refund If youre one of the millions of Americans who have already sent in their tax returns, there are online portals that will allow you to monitor the status of your refund. For federal taxes, residents can use the IRS Wheres My Refund tool or the IRS2Go mobile app to see when their refunds have been received, processed and sent. Refund status will appear roughly 24 hours after you e-file a current-year return, three or four days after you e-file a prior-year return, or four weeks after you file a paper return. To access the information, which is updated overnight each day, residents must provide their Social Security or individual taxpayer ID number, filing status and exact refund amount on their return. Once refunds are sent, those using direct deposit should receive their refund within five days, while those expecting checks in the mail may have to wait several weeks. For state taxes, New Yorkers can visit the Department of Taxation and Finance website and click Check refund status. This allows residents to see if their return has been received; when its being processed; if the return requires additional review; if the state requires additional information; if a requested refund amount has been adjusted and when a refund has been issued. New income tax brackets While tax rates have remained the same, ranging from 10% to 37% depending on an individuals total taxable income, the IRS has announced new brackets with adjusted thresholds for tax year 2024. In addition to the new tax brackets, the standard deduction, the amount you can deduct to adjust the amount of income on which youre taxed, will also increase from $13,850 to $14,600 for single filers and from $27,700 to $29,200 for married couples filing jointly. Heres a look at the new tax brackets that will be used when filing in 2025. Tax brackets for single filers: $11,600 or less in taxable income 10% of taxable income $11,600 to $47,150 in taxable income - $1,160 plus 12% of the excess over $11,600 $47,150 to $100,525 in taxable income - $5,426 plus 22% of the excess over $47,150 $100,525 to $191,950 in taxable income - $17,168.50 plus 24% of the excess over $100,525 $191,950 to $243,725 in taxable income - $39,110.50 plus 32% of the excess over $191,150 $243,725 to $609,350 in taxable income - $55,678.50 plus 35% of the excess over $243,725 $609,350 or more in taxable income - $183,647.25 plus 37% of the excess over $609,350 Tax brackets for married couples filing jointly: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has updated the risk level for Coca-Cola cans that were recently recalled. Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has updated the risk level for Coca-Cola cans that were recalled earlier this month. Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling is recalling its Coca-Cola Original Taste in 12-fluid-ounce cans, because the product may contain a foreign object plastic, according to the notice. The recall was initiated for more than 10,000 cans of the soft beverage. The products, which were sold in 12-count packs, have a UPC code 0 49000-02890 4. They were distributed to customers in two states, including Wisconsin and Illinois. The FDA updated the classification of this recall to a Class II, 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. Consumers who may have purchased these recalled cans were notified by the Coca-Cola company. The recall remains ongoing, according to the FDA report. Visit fda.gov for more information or concerns. A Democratic congresswoman from Texas is in hot water after mocking the disabled GOP governor of the Lone Star State. The Associated Press reported that Rep. Jasmine Crockett at a banquet speech in Los Angeles over the weekend referred to GOP Gov. Greg Abbott, who is paralyzed and uses a wheelchair, as Gov. Hot Wheels. You all know we got Gov. Hot Wheels down there. Come on, now, Crockett said of Abbott 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 AP said. The accident severely damaged Abbotts spinal cord. Crocketts comments are disgraceful, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas posted on X. Shameful. Crockett on Tuesday that she was not referring to Abbotts condition but to the governors policy of sending thousands of immigrants who were in Texas illegally to sanctuary cities 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 on X stated. Crockett earlier this week fell afoul of the Trump administration when she called for Elon Musk to be taken down during expected anti-Tesla protests around the world on March 29. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has called Tesla dealership and vehicle vandalism nothing short of domestic terrorism, warned Crockett to watch her words. 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. Crockett wasted no time firing back at Bondi. I just want to say that I have never promoted violence whatsoever. Yet, Ive also never made excuses for those violent actors, such as the ones on January 6th, Crockett said, referring to the day that supporters of President Donald Trump rioted at the U.S. Capitol. She said, 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 6th. Mark Cuban isnt done with Elon Musk. The Shark Tank billionaire unloaded on Musk in a new interview with TheHill.com. Cuban slammed Musks efforts at cutting government through the Department of Government Efficiency, the new cost-cutting agency created by President Donald Trump. Elons approach to all this and as supported by President Trump, is ready, fire, aim, Cuban said. Ready, fire, aim is no way to govern, particularly when the you know what rolls downhill onto the small- to medium-sized communities and cities where, all of a sudden, who knows how many people are losing jobs, who knows how many companies have to close because their grants have been cut, and who knows the impact on that community in terms of services theyre going to be able to offer, raising taxes, et cetera. Entrepreneur Cuban also had some advice for Democrats looking to mount an opposition to Trump and Musk. Vandalizing Tesla vehicles isnt part of the solution, Cuban said. I think blowing up Tesla dealerships and blowing up cars, thats just wrong, Cuban said. That needs to stop immediately. That accomplished nothing. He said, Youre not going to get people all of a sudden to turn on Donald Trump. But what you can do, as weve seen with some of the town halls, is get people to turn on some of Republican House members who have to make a really tough choice. Cuban said, If their communities are being negatively impacted by the all-at-once cuts of DOGE and the impact of the tariffs put the pressure on those House Republicans to make a choice: either you support Donald Trump or you go against Donald Trump and say these tariffs and these cuts are awful for my town or you lose your job. He added, And I think people in communities are going to care enough about themselves, their families and their own communities to take action and maybe vote. Its not the first time that Cuban has lit into Musk and DOGE. He last week said it was a mistake to make federal cuts without knowing if the cuts will save taxpayers more than they cost. President Donald Trump is standing by his national security team after a stunning leak of a top-level military strategy session on the Signal app went viral. Trump instead targeted Atlantic magazine editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who was inadvertently added to a chat chain where senior Trump officials were discussing plans to hit Houthi terrorists in Yemen with air strikes. Trump talked about the fiasco on Wednesday during a phone interview with podcast host Vince Coglianese, the Daily Mail reported. It is bizarre, Trump said of the fact that Goldberg was added to the chat. And hes a sleazebag at the highest level Its too bad we give him a little boost like this. But somebody in my group he just screwed up or its a bad Signal, Trump said. Seems to be maybe came in with a staffer and it was by accident, from what we can tell. The controversy exploded on Monday after it was revealed that National Security Advisor Mike Waltz had mistakenly added Goldberg to an encrypted group chat among senior Trump officials as the air strike was being planned earlier this month. But the president on Wednesday continued to say that the leak did not affect the strike on the Houthis. There werent details, and there was nothing in there that compromised and it had no impact on the attack, which was very successful, Trump said. It was a very, very successful attack and it was an attack that Biden should have done three years ago. The president suggested that an innocent staffer could have been responsible for Goldberg being added to the chat and said its not a big deal. A thing like that, maybe Goldberg found a way maybe theres a staffer, maybe theres a very innocent staffer, but I think well get to the bottom of it very quickly and its really not a big deal, Trump said. But Politico reported insiders as saying that Trump was in a rage at Waltz about the leak and found the whole episode embarrassing. It was Goldberg who reported that Trump had called military members who died in combat suckers and losers, something the president has denied. Trump has publicly backed Waltz, on Tuesday calling him a good man. Support the Peninsulas only locally-owned newspaper. Subscribe! Subscribing annually brings you big savings. We also offer monthly and weekly subscriptions. Premium Subscription As low as $8.25 per week Premium Includes: -- Access to the Daily Journals e-Edition: a digital replica of our daily newspaper including crossword puzzles, games, comics, classifieds and ads. You can download a digital replica of the Daily Journal for offline reading. You can also clip & download articles or images from the e-edition to share with others The most recent 90 issues are available at any given time. -- Unlimited access to our award-winning online content -- Commenting access on all stories as a valued member of the DJ community -- NEW! Access to our online-only digital crossword puzzle. A new puzzle every day, seven days a week! BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 26. Russian airline Red Wings has thrown its hat in the ring, announcing the return of direct flights from Zhukovsky Airport to Baku, set to take off in April, Trend reports. "Red Wings is resuming regular direct flights from Zhukovsky Airport in the Moscow region to the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku. The first flight is scheduled for April 27, 2025," the company said in a statement. The flights will be up and running twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays. The scheduled departure is calibrated for 16:20 (GMT+4), with the return trajectory slated for 21:40 (GMT+4). Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Why would we employ more staff? Thats the question hairdressers, salon operators and business owners around the country are asking after the Albanese government unveiled a budget measure that has been blasted as misguided, heavy-handed and crippling. Billed as a measure to help workers earning less than $175,000 switch jobs and get a pay rise more easily, and boost economic productivity, the policy proposes to ban non-compete agreements for staff that stop workers from defecting to other employers or striking out on their own. A peak industry body representing hairdressers and various business advocates has lambasted the governments proposed ban on non-compete clauses. Credit: Getty Images But it is this employment contract fine print that can be crucial as a safety net to prevent employees from running away with clientele that salon operators have spent years building, said Australian Hairdressing Council interim chief executive Fiona Beamish. Nothing is ever set in stone when it comes to the notoriously risky oil and gas industry. If Empire can prove that Beetaloo is a massive new source of commercial gas then there is likely to be no shortage of big boys - especially some of the American majors with shale gas experience - who suddenly start to take an interest in the basin. The Beetaloo has been a bit of a revelation in oil and gas circles, with some estimates placing its gas endowment as high as 500 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of gas. In a strong signal that energy major Santos Limited believes there is a rosy future for the basin, the Adelaide-based company is now planning two wells in 2026 and considering a second LNG production unit at its Darwin plant to open up a pathway to international gas from Beetaloo. Santos plans come hot on the heels of another nod to the regions prospectivity after gas pipeline operator APA Group revealed it was gearing up to build a new $66 million gas link in the territory. The 37km pipeline, which is due for completion by 2026, will provide ASX-listed Tamboran Resources Shenandoah South Pilot project with access to APAs Amadeus gas pipeline running between Alice Springs and Darwin. Other existing nearby but offshore gas producers will no doubt be keeping a close eye on how the basin develops, including ENI, a top 10 global oil and gas producer partially owned by the Italian government. ENI operates the Blacktip gas field 300km southwest of Darwin but has been plagued with production issues of late, forcing its main customer - the territory government - to sue the producer for non-delivery and to compensate it from having to pay expensive spot market gas prices to make up a supply shortfall. A position in the Beetaloo could potentially provide ENI with a quick fix. The 21 per cent Japanese government-owned INPEX Corporation is another major oil and gas company with substantial interests in the region. Its majority held Ichthys LNG facility in Darwin processes 9.3 million tonnes of liquified gas per year from its gas fields, 820km southwest of the capital. INPEX is a huge supplier of LNG to the Japanese market. Seventy per cent of its production goes back home, equating to 10 per cent of the countrys total LNG requirements. Ichthys gas, however, also contains very high levels of up to 11 per cent carbon dioxide, which many see as a rapidly growing problem in a world looking to reduce its carbon emissions. One obvious solution for INPEX would be to get on the Beetaloo gas production bandwagon, which, in contrast to offshore gas, has impressively low carbon dioxide levels of about 1 per cent. Empires reservoirs sit along the eastern edge of the onshore basin and generally host wet gas that is richer in heavier hydrocarbons such as ethane and pentane. The addition of these gases could command a 10 per cent premium sale price to gases in other parts of Beetaloo. The wetter gas is likely to be of particular interest to the Japanese export market, which prefers this composition. Ethane is a key ingredient for producing ethylene, a vital building block in plastics manufacturing. The territory - now governed by the Country Liberal Party is hugely supportive of gas development in the region. If the coalition gains a majority in the upcoming federal election, its possible a new national government could also throw its weight behind further gas projects. State or federal governments are growing increasingly anxious about a potential impending gas supply crunch in the Eastern States. They, multinational players looking to expand into a newly proven gas field, or nearby producers aiming to improve their production profile will all have an interest in a successful outcome for Empires endeavours. As Empire edges closer to delivering its first commercial gas, all eyes are on the company. With so many vested parties watching - each with something to gain - the stage is set for a high-stakes moment in Australias energy landscape. As the old saying goes: Its better to be looked over, than overlooked. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The third series of The White Lotus wraps up soon, amid general agreement that its been slightly less inspired than seasons one and two. As with those earlier outings, season three has followed the exploits of a group of moneyed and obnoxious American tourists spending a week at a luxury resort. Over three seasons set in Hawaii, Sicily and, now, Thailand the shows creator, Mike White, has used longform TV the way earlier satirists used the novel. Hes used characters from all points on the social spectrum to reflect light, from multiple angles, on a central theme. Leslie Bibb, Michelle Monaghan and Carrie Coon as three friends in season three of The White Lotus. The unifying theme of The White Lotus is class. Some of the shows characters have it and some dont. Generally speaking, the tourists in the show are hopeless vulgarians, drowning in wealth but devoid of class. The humble staff of the White Lotus resorts the dignified locals who smilingly absorb the arrogance of their rich American guests are the classy ones. With Donald Trump in the White House, class is a timely theme. Trump and his billionaire sidekick Elon Musk seem determined to ram home, in the political arena, a point that Mike White has more subtly made in The White Lotus. In America, money can buy you everything except class. Mind you, class is a tricky thing to define. The words meaning shifts according to where you are, and when. Certainly class doesnt mean the same thing now that it meant a century ago, especially in Britain. For British novelists in the 20th century, class was an unavoidable theme. Battered by two world wars, Britains arcane, rigidly hierarchical class system was crumbling. Some novelists lamented the decline of the old order. Others were delighted to see the back of it. Advertisement Evelyn Waugh, the greatest English satirist of that century, was obsessed with class. In The White Lotus, the rich characters are entitled only in the metaphorical sense. Waughs novels were full of people who were quite literally entitled: Lords and Ladies, Baronets and Earls. In his early comic novels especially in Vile Bodies (1930) and A Handful of Dust (1934) Waugh brilliantly satirised the antics of English high societys Bright Young Things. But the fun he poked at the posh was more affectionate than savage. Born into the middle class, Waugh was an insecure and deeply snobbish man, who yearned for admission to the upper orders. Evelyn Waughs high society satires: Vile Bodies (1930) and A Handful of Dust (1934). One way he pursued that doomed ambition was by wooing and marrying higher-born women than himself. His first marriage, to the flighty young aristocrat Evelyn Gardner, was a disaster that lasted less than a year. Gardners mother, the formidable Lady Burghclere, had opposed the marriage from the start, finding Waugh irredeemably bourgeois. It never occurred to me to think I wasnt a gentleman until Lady Burghclere pointed it out, Waugh wrote later. When his mother-in-law told Waugh he wasnt a gentleman, she didnt mean he was ill-mannered. As it happened he was, but that wasnt the point. The point was that he was ill-bred. He hadnt been born into the gentry. Ergo, he wasnt a gentleman, and nothing he did could ever turn him into one. In Waughs day, class wasnt something you could acquire by behaving in a classy way. It was something you were born with or not. And Waugh had chosen his parents unwisely. His father was a mere publisher. To our ears that sounds like a respectable enough profession. But to people like Lady Burghclere, professional was in itself a dirty word. It meant horror of horrors that you had to work for your money instead of being born with it. Advertisement During World War II, Waugh wrote Brideshead Revisited, an elegy for the vanished aristocratic world of the 1920s. Brideshead lacked the satirical edge of Waughs early work, and many of his upper-class friends found it embarrassingly sentimental. Ironically, one reason they found Waugh vulgar was that he revered their world too much. One of Waughs upper-class friends was the novelist Nancy Mitford. As the senior writer, Waugh mentored Nancys early fictional efforts, providing brutal advice on style and structure. The punctuation is pitiable, he told her, after reading the manuscript of Love in a Cold Climate. Mitfords girls: Lily James (as Linda Radlett) and Emily Beecham (as Fanny Logan) in the BBCs 2021 adaptation of Nancy Mitfords The Pursuit of Love. It was Waugh who suggested the title for Nancys first hit novel, The Pursuit of Love. Mitford might have been Waughs inferior in the field of prose, but she had social advantages he would have killed for. Born into the aristocracy, she had the luxury of being able to chronicle upper-class life from the inside. In The Pursuit of Love, the most memorable image of upper-class weirdness is the scene in which Uncle Matthew modelled on Mitfords father, Baron Redesdale stages a child hunt, where his children play the part traditionally assigned to the fox. The kids run off into the countryside, getting a good head start. Then the hounds set off in hot pursuit, followed by assorted toffs on horseback. Nancy Mitfords The Pursuit of Love (1945) and Love in a Cold Climate (1949). Under the frothy surface of Mitfords novels, there were chilling signs of how dysfunctional aristocratic families could be. When Polly, the central character of Love in a Cold Climate, loses a baby in childbirth, her mother offers some famously callous words of consolation. So the poor little baby died, she says. I expect it was just as well, children are such an awful expense nowadays. Advertisement That shocking sentence crystallised an unpleasant truth about upper-class life. It wasnt always a picnic for children especially female children, who stood no chance of inheriting the family estate. In real life, Nancy Mitford and her talented sisters were given short shrift by their parents. Their brother Tom, the heir, was sent to Eton and Oxford. The girls were homeschooled by a governess. I never loved her, Nancy said of her mother, for the evident reason that she never loved me I dont reproach her for it, people have a perfect right to dislike their children. Half a century after Mitfords heyday, another high-born English novelist seemed to administer the last rites to the class system. Edward St Aubyn, in his heavily autobiographical Patrick Melrose novels, eviscerated the supposedly glamorous aristocratic world hed been born into. Edward St Aubyn, author of the autobiographical Patrick Melrose novels. Credit: Timothy Allen St Aubyns fictional alter ego, Patrick Melrose, comes from a family which, although it had done nothing since, had seen the Norman invasion from the winning side. As a young boy, Patrick is repeatedly raped by his tyrannical father, as St Aubyn himself was in real life. In common with his creator, Patrick becomes a heroin addict, an alcoholic, and a bitter critic of upper-class values. As to the naive faith that rich people are more interesting than poor ones, or titled people more interesting than untitled ones, he says at one point, I can feel the death throes of that particular delusion. Evelyn Waugh himself, after WWII, increasingly lost interest in satirising the English class system. In his first post-war novel, The Loved One, Waugh turned his sights on a promising new target for satire: America. Advertisement Dennis Barlow, the novels hero, is a middle-class Englishman. But by transplanting himself to California, Barlow finds that hes moved up in the world. He represents an earlier civilisation. He can quote poetry. Compared with the locals, hes a virtual aristocrat. Martin Amis explored similar territory in his comic masterpiece, Money (1984). Amis got inspiration for the novel while serving as a script doctor on the Hollywood turkey Saturn 3 (1980). Working in close quarters with the movies egomaniacal stars, Kirk Douglas and Harvey Keitel, Amis felt his satirical urges stirring. Martin Amis at home in London in 1995. Credit: Getty In Money, Douglas was reborn as the hilariously grandiose Lorne Guyland, while Keitel became the volcanically touchy method actor Spunk Davis. The novels foul-mouthed narrator, John Self, is by British standards a horrible yob. But hes a connected yob, who lands himself a directing job on a big-budget Hollywood movie. Dealing with the films fantastically uncivilised stars, Self discovers that class is a relative concept. I think snobbery is due for a bit of a comeback, Amis wrote in 2007, when someone called him a snob. Not the old shite to do with class, he hastily explained. Rather, Amis was calling for a new snobbery, constructed around the values of literacy and reason. Sometimes snobbery is forced on you, he wrote. So lets have a period of exaggerated respect for reason; and lets look down on people who use language without respecting it. Amis had no use for class in the old sense. But he also had no use for people who lacked class in any sense at all. Brothers in arms: Patrick Schwarzenegger and Sam Nivola in The White Lotus. Credit: Fabio Lovino/HBO Advertisement OH, CANADA (M), 91 minutes Paul Schraders most memorable films are about guilt. He first made his mark in the 1970s and 80s with his work on the scripts for Martin Scorseses Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and The Last Temptation of Christ. All these films bore signs of Scorseses acute case of Catholic guilt together with Schraders equally enduring hangover from his strict Dutch Calvinist upbringing. Despite a cast including Richard Gere and Uma Thurman Oh, Canada is ultimately let down by the writing. Credit: Transmission Films And hes too old to change now. Oh, Canada offers more of the same. Written and directed by Schrader, its the lugubrious story of Leo Fife (Richard Gere), a dying filmmaker being interviewed about his life and work for a biographical documentary. It should be a valedictory exercise but its shaping up as a final confession of his sins, delivered specifically to his wife, Emma (Uma Thurman), who has been told to sit beside the camera. Schrader has never seemed to need much encouragement to lapse into a sombre mood when making a film but this time he had extra incentives. He decided to write the screenplay an adaptation of a book by his longtime friend Russell Banks after learning that Banks had cancer. He had also been considering his own mortality while in hospital suffering from long COVID. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The casual query of What are you watching? may be the ice-breaker of the last decade, but lets not forget the common follow-up: How many streaming services do you have? Nowadays, choosing where to watch can be as complicated as deciding what to watch, with competing platforms trying to secure your monthly fee. As the number of platforms continues to grow Warner Bros Discoverys Max launches in Australia on Monday, March 31 heres an outline of your options to get you started or thinking about a refresh of your existing portfolio. Madeleine Sami (left) as Eddie Redcliffe and Kate Box as Dulcie Collins in the Tasmanian murder mystery comedy Deadloch. Amazon Prime Video For: Families who shop and view in bulk the Amazon Prime library is endless. Subscriber count: 4.8 million*. Cost: $9.99 a month with ads; $12.99 a month ad-free. Your first five shows: The Boys, Deadloch, The Expanse, Fleabag and The Underground Railroad. Advertisement Especially good for: Prestige Dad-TV series such as Reacher and Bosch. User experience: Amazon Prime Video never relents in trying to sell subscriptions to other participating services. Gary Oldman plays a slovenly spymaster in Slow Horses. Apple TV+ For: Viewers who want a curated selection of original shows and movies featuring Hollywood stars Apple TV+ doesnt license content from outside sources. Subscriber count: N/A. Cost: $12.99 a month. Advertisement Your first five shows: Mythic Quest, Platonic, Severance, Slow Horses, Ted Lasso. Especially good for: High-end science fiction such as Foundation, Dark Matter and For All Mankind. User experience: Clean and sleek, per the Apple ethos, although it can take a minute to distinguish between Apple TV+ the streaming service and Apple TV the streaming hub. Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer, the creators and stars of Colin From Accounts. Binge For: Those willing to find the gems amidst upheaval, as Binge loses its biggest selling point the prestigious HBO library to Max. Subscriber count: 1.6 million. Advertisement Cost: $10 a month basic; $19 a month standard; $22 a month premium. Your first five shows: Colin from Accounts, The End, Mr Inbetween, We Own This City and Wolf Hall. Especially good for: Theres a sizeable library of Australian content, from dramas such as High Country and Wentworth to real estate reality shows such as Selling Houses Australia. User experience: Mostly tidy, but it should be so much easier to find the personal list of shows youve saved to watch. Selena Gomez stars in Only Murders in the Building with Martin Short and Steve Martin. Disney+ For: Families looking for the gold-standard screen franchises such as Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars. Advertisement Subscriber count: 3.1 million. Cost: $15.99 a month standard with ads; $20.99 a month premium ad-free (add $7.99 a month for an extra member in a different household). Your first five shows: Abbott Elementary, Andor, Atlanta, The Bear, and Only Murders in the Building. Especially good for: Keeping children occupied before the adults clock in for the night shift. User experience: Easy to navigate and thoughtfully sized, but it sometimes feels as if the service, heeding its storied Disney heritage, downplays the edgier adult content. Max For: Viewers who cant live without their fix of HBOs latest must-see show. Advertisement Dramatic new footage has emerged showing state government loggers felling koala-feed trees inside the boundaries of the Great Koala National Park, which the NSW government has vowed to create to protect the species. Koalas are considered vulnerable to extinction in NSW due to habitat destruction. The footage, which shows heavy logging equipment felling tall eucalyptus trees at Sheas Nob State Forest inland from Coffs Harbour, was secured by environmentalists who fear the proposed park on the states Mid North Coast will be severely damaged before it is declared. If the government wants to create a big national park, with real conservation integrity, that preserves the best remaining habitat for koalas, then they have to stop logging it, said former NSW environment minister Bob Debus, chair of Wilderness Australia, which is lobbying for the park. Advertisement Eating outEaster The Good Food Guide to Sydneys softest and hottest cross buns (but not as you know them) The Easter market is increasingly competitive among Sydney bakeries. Expect more coconut, gelato and yuzu in your buns this year. Erina Starkey March 27, 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 While there will always be a place for sturdy, raisin-studded rolls, being hot, crossed and a bun now feels more like a suggestion in Sydney than a set of rules. This years batch of baked Easter treats is marked by a number of trends, including the rise of the giant bun, which is hogging space on both supermarket and independent bakery shelves. Like Japanese shokupan, Lodes hot cross bun loaf has three parts. Federico Zanellatos Lode Pies and Pastries, with locations in Surry Hills and Circular Quay, has launched its first tear-and-share loaf this Easter. We wanted to enhance the fluffiness of the bun, and a loaf allows us to achieve that extra-soft texture, he says. Advertisement Inspired by the Asian bakery staple shokupan, like the Japanese milk bread its made from three even pieces of dough that can be torn apart. Flour Shop in Turramurra is also leaning into the loaf, but for owner Anu Haran, its more about practicality. The truth is, we make them when were tired of rolling buns, she says. While its not strictly traditional, Haran say the loaf is more structurally sound. You try to put a bun in the toaster, and it just crumbles. A loaf has all the flavour benefits of a bun, but its easier to toast and slice. Humbles hot cross bun comes with salted butter ice-cream. Meanwhile, Humble Bakery, with locations in Surry Hills and Circular Quay, is one of several bakeries whipping up the hot cross ice-cream sandwich. Just as cold butter complements those warm, toasty spices, a scoop of vanilla ice-cream can take a bun to new heights. Hot, cold, sweet, salty. It just makes sense, says Humble Bakery co-owner Ben Milgate. Advertisement Blue Ribbon not cutting it? Humble has created a dedicated salted butter ice-cream using CopperTree Farms cultured butter that you can sub in. Asian bakeries are also on the bun wagon, with flavours that stretch from yuzu and ube to kaya. Neighbourhood bakery Pantry Story in Stanmore is making its hot cross buns with kaya milk a Malaysian coconut jam infused with pandan. The rich flavour of the kaya is softened with cream to add gentle, caramel-like sweetness to the soft, cushioned roll. Hot cross buns actually have a very similar texture to Asian bread they are soft, fluffy and comforting, says Tiara Sucipto. They are something that many people already know and are familiar with, so theyre an easy way to introduce new flavours. Normas hot cross bun wheel is made from 30 rolls baked together, Advertisement Hot cross big buns Hot cross loaves are currently looming large in shop windows, just waiting for someone to crack the joke Im only eating one! Established Sydney outfit Bourke Street Bakery has brought back its boule-shaped hot cross big bun this year, with the addition of butter spiked with Brix Distillerys Australian Spiced Rum. In Manly, Greek cafe and grocer Normas Deli has launched a seasonal version of its sourdough bread wheel. Enriched with dried fruit and orange peel, the currant-filled cob is made up of 30 smaller buns baked together. You can choose your own ice-cream flavour for the centre at Madame & Yves. Advertisement Hot cross ice-cream sandwiches Like a festive brioche con gelato, the hot cross bun ice-cream sandwich takes the sneaky at-home hack and turns it into a legitimate thing you can order. Buy a bun at Madame & Yves, and you can swap out the slather of Lescure salted butter for a scoop of homemade ice-cream. Owner Yves Scherrer recommends salted caramel or cafe au lait. And if youre keen for the crunch of a cookie, Happy Alley in Rockdale has released a cinnamon sugar-dipped crosskie (hot cross bun cookie) rippled with milk and white chocolate. Ask for a swirl of vanilla soft serve on the side. Tokyo Lamingtons hot cross lamingtons, chocolate and coconut hot cross buns, and yuzu lamington hot cross buns. Asian-inspired hot cross buns Advertisement Its hard to miss the Grimace-hued hot cross buns at Filipino cafe Tita in Marrickville. The purple colour and vanilla-like flavour come from ube, which is also worked into the sweet cream filling. Nearby in Marrickville and Newtown, Tokyo Lamington is covering all bases with its hot cross bun-flavoured lamingtons and lamington-flavoured hot cross buns. The buns come in two flavours chocolate and coconut or yuzu with the latter featuring Japanese citrus peel and sultanas soaked in yuzu juice. Baker Bleu traditional and choc cherry hot cross buns. Sultana-free hot cross buns You wont have to pick the sultanas out of this lot. Baker Bleu in Double Bay is doubling down with a second batch of sour cherry and dark chocolate hot cross buns, inspired by its sell-out Christmas panettone. Advertisement Black Star Pastry, which has four outposts across the city, is also railing against the raisin this year. Its launched a chocolate hot cross bun and a blueberry hot cross bun, topped with a purple blueberry cross and biscuit crumble. If chocolate isnt your thing, Easter can be tough to navigate. Mercifully, Italian cake shop Papas Pasticceria in Haberfield and Five Dock are making pistachio hot cross buns, stuffed with house-made crema di pistacchio and sprinkled with crushed nuts. Hot cross buns scrolls from Shadow Baking. Not cross buns Some bakers arent content with just recreating the dependable tea-time treat theyre reinventing it altogether. Shadow Baking in Darlinghurst and Marrickville is rolling with scrolls this year, made from laminated hot cross bun dough filled with vanilla custard and candied fruit. Advertisement Bourke Street Bakery is turning hot cross buns into melty smores, adding chocolate and marshmallow to the middle, and toasting them in-store. The smore bun is on the secret menu, so youll need to request it. Paris-inspired boulangerie Loulou, which has just opened a second store in the CBD, is making its Easter buns extra buttery with brioche dough. Its also traded the cross for a heart. And as per in-house tradition, Sonoma is ditching the cross and topping its fruit-filled buns studded with currants, cranberries, apricots and raisins with a defiant S. Loulous hot cross buns are marked with a heart. Traditional hot cross buns Not only does Goodwood Bakeshop in Marrickville make the citys best croissant, it also crafts a high-quality HCB. The fruit is plentiful, featuring a mix of raisins, currants, sultanas and sour cherries, along with a spice blend made from whole spices ground in-store. Advertisement Bundamentalists will also love the hot cross buns at Pioik Bakery in Pyrmont. The golden dough is packed with mixed fruit and candied peel, and steeped in Earl Grey tea and baharat spices. At A.P Bakery, which now boasts five locations, including the new A.P Bread and Wine in Darlinghurst, head baker Dougal Muffet tweaks the recipe for its hot cross buns each year. The current batch uses a panettone fermentation process, which keeps the bread plump and soft without the additives. Expect the same lovely bronzed top and cinnamon, clove and orange glaze. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up 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. Share License this article More: Easter Bakeries Erina Starkey Erina is the Good Food App Editor for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Previously, Erina held a number of editing roles at delicious.com.au and writing roles at Broadsheet and Concrete Playground. For many parents, Netflixs crime drama Adolescence is not an easy watch. Though it centres on a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering his classmate, its warning about the profound risks of unchecked social media use could apply to any child. Over four episodes, Adolescence explores a darker side of social media where the manosphere and incel culture slither into young peoples feeds. While these radical subcultures arent new, the show sheds light on the parents perspective the fear, uncertainty and ignorance around their childrens online lives. Adolescence highlights a concern most parents have today: what is my child being exposed to online? As of 2020, Australian teens spend an average of 14.4 hours a week online, with most active on four different social media platforms. According to the eSafety Commission, 44 per cent of teens said they had a negative experience online in the six months before September 2020. Even with upcoming social media age restrictions announced by the federal government, its important that parents engage with their teens about what they see and do online. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has confirmed the Coalition will not offer tax cuts to match Labor during the election campaign. It means the cost-of-living battle will be fought on Labors tax reduction versus the oppositions fuel excise cut. We have a great desire at some stage [to introduce tax cuts] when we clean up Labors mess, but we wont be able to provide tax cuts during this campaign, Dutton said in an ABC 7.30 interview following his speech, adding that Labor might ditch its own income tax plan if it was forced to by the Greens in a minority government. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton delivers the budget reply. Credit: Getty Images Senior MPs confirmed earlier to this masthead that they were confident the fuel excise cut was a more immediate and popular measure. The $6 billion price tag of the petrol policy over one year meant the opposition had minimal wriggle room to match or go further than Labor on its tax cut that costs $17 billion over four years. Dutton also confirmed in the 7.30 interview that he would announce during the election campaign a target for net overseas migration, after he last year walked back a commitment to lower that measure of migration that is more difficult to reduce than the permanent migration intake. The Black Sea ceasefire was on the verge of collapse after three days of negotiations in Saudi Arabia. Until the eleventh hour, it was unclear whether the agreement between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States would be signed. It was a last-ditch negotiating effort by the White House that on Tuesday produced Russias green light for an upcoming cessation of maritime hostilities. Washington took the plunge, ignoring Ukraines objections, by pledging to the Kremlin to facilitate the recovery of Russian agricultural exports on the international market, severely limited by tariffs and sanctions imposed by Ukraines Western allies. The final episode of the talks, in Riyadh, was a cliffhanger. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had stated on Tuesday afternoon that a ceasefire in the Black Sea could not materialize because Ukraine did not commit to guaranteeing Russian interests. Lavrov did not specify what guarantees he was referring to. He did offer some clues, recalling that, according to the Kremlins version of events, Kyiv had breached the clauses proposed by Turkey in the 2022 grain agreement. This pact remained in effect for one year, from 2022 to 2023. It was made possible thanks to the mediation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. In 2022, maritime corridors were established for merchant ships exporting grain and other Ukrainian agricultural products. Russian teams inspected the ships cargo to ensure that the contents carried met the requirements specified in the treaty. The agreement now signed with Washington does not specify this, but the Kremlin has insisted on restoring these inspections. Putin did not renew that agreement, arguing that Europe and the U.S. did not reciprocate the deal by easing sanctions on Russian agricultural exports and that Ukraine had not ceased its attacks on the Russian fleet off the Crimean Peninsula. Russia, for its part, also bombed Ukrainian civilian ports during the period of the agreement. Lavrov wasnt lying. Volodymyr Zelenskiy acknowledged the main obstacle at a press conference on Tuesday: his government was opposed to lifting trade restrictions on Russian maritime agricultural and fertilizer exports. These products are limited by tariffs and sanctions imposed by the West following the invasion of Ukraine. These sanctions, according to the Ukrainian president, must remain in place because they serve as leverage for future peace negotiations. Russian conditions Fox reported that White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz made a last-minute call to Moscow on Tuesday to issue the statement confirming Russias acceptance of the deal. 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 document signed with Washington states. The Kremlin has further specified what is needed to begin implementing the agreement: the first step is to lift sanctions on major Russian banking institutions specializing in international agricultural transactions, the Kremlin says. The Black Sea Institute, a Ukrainian center for the study of merchant traffic and international law in the Black Sea, published a report this March in which it predicted that a truce would lead to improved export conditions for Russia, and that the possible next step is the lifting of sanctions against Russian companies that export crude oil. It remains to be seen what the European Union, which plays a decisive role in the sanctions regime on the invaders economy, will decide. The Black Sea is of fundamental economic importance to both Russia and Ukraine. Their maritime exports to Asia and the Mediterranean depart from there. But for Ukraine, its even more: its a matter of survival, because the ports of Odesa Province are its only maritime outlet to the international market. Its maritime capacity has been severely limited by Russias occupation of its ports on the Sea of Azov. But Ukraine has turned necessity into a virtue, especially since 2023, when the grain agreement was broken. What it achieved was one of Ukraines great strategic victories in the war: Ukrainian special forces wreaked havoc with their maritime and air drones against the Russian fleet, forcing its vessels to withdraw to the eastern waters of the Black Sea. This allowed Ukraine to resume maritime traffic along the coastline, first in Odessa province and then accessing the sovereign waters of NATO countries, Romania, Bulgaria, and finally, Turkey. Russia has drastically limited the space its ships can navigate in the Black Sea. Few vessels expose themselves to open water, and they do so only in rapid-fire operations, primarily to fire Kalibr cruise missiles, which hit targets on Ukrainian soil hundreds of kilometers away. The statement signed by the U.S. with Russia does not specify whether the use of the Kalibrs would break the ceasefire. The document only states that 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 bilateral agreement with Ukraine establishes the same. Military objectives Dmitro Pletenchuk, spokesman for the Ukrainian Navy, mentioned the threat posed by the Kalibrs on Radio Svoboda on Monday and wondered if the ceasefire also meant that the Russian fleet's missiles and drones in the Crimean peninsula, illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014, could not be used either. The same question could arise for the invader: Will the Russian Black Sea Fleet's assets on land be legitimate targets? The most important thing for Ukraine, according to Pletenchuk, is that the ports of Odessa, Kherson, and Mykolaiv not be targeted by further attacks. Ukraine, like Russia, has put forward its conditions beyond the document agreed upon with the U.S. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov has requested new meetings to finalize details of the maritime truce. He stressed that Kyiv will consider it a violation of the deal if Russian warships sail beyond the eastern part of the Black Sea, that is, outside Russian territorial waters. Umerov does not mention Crimean ports and waters, but Ukraine has been demanding that they leave the peninsula since its annexation in 2014, something that currently seems impossible. Suspicions about the unrestricted movement of Russian naval vessels in the Black Sea arent limited to Ukraine. Bulgaria and Romania have expressed their suspicions about any possible agreements between Russia and the U.S. through the Financial Times, citing anonymous sources. The Black Sea has taken center stage during the war due to its high militarization but also due to its considerable commercial and geopolitical weight in the European Unions enlargement process, according to a March report by the International Center for Defense and Security (ICDS). This Baltic think tank warns of the dominance Russia seeks to establish in this important space for trade with Asia, and the urgent need for the European Union to respond. The United Kingdom and France's plan to secure a possible peace agreement also includes the deployment of European warships and aircraft to the Black Sea. In an analysis published this March, the American think tank Atlantic Council echoed this sentiment: "Even if a peace agreement is reached, the Black Sea region will remain a contested, militarized, and unstable space." "Russia frequently launches hybrid warfare attacks against its neighbors, and a peace pact will not restrict the Kremlin from continuing to interfere in these areas," writes Arnold C. Dupuy of the Atlantic Council. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Fears that apartment blocks could be overrun by animals were given another (probably irrational) tweak this week with the announcement that the NSW government is rolling out new laws that prevent landlords from imposing blanket bans on pets. Given that more than 50 per cent of unit block residents are renters, and owners corporations (bodies corporate) long ago lost their ability to impose unreasonable restrictions on companion animals, we can expect to see a few more fur-babies in the hallways and lifts of apartment blocks. Pet-owning renters have established stronger rights, but will landlords dodge them by switching to holiday letting? Credit: Jennifer Soo Tenants will still need to have their landlords permission to have a pet in their home, as before. But the property owners will no longer be able to respond because I say so when asked why its been refused. And the landlords wont be able to stall the decision either. The new laws, which come into force in May, say that if a decision is not provided within 21 days of a written request, it will be assumed to have been granted. The matter of pets in apartments was hotly debated for decades before the Court of Appeal, in the famous Jo Cooper case, launched five years ago, ruled that bylaws banning all pets for no reason were unreasonable and therefore invalid. Loading I dont think I was the only person wondering if we were in some sort of dystopian, parallel universe where we prioritise the show must go on over human life. I cant imagine the horror of the family [and] friends of the person having to listen to a theatre full of laughter while watching their loved one being resuscitated. The audience member yelled for the show to be stopped during English comedian Amy Gledhills set, another person said. Gledhill continued for a moment before realising the incident was serious and stopped. Someone could very clearly be heard shouting hes dying, at which time the host and warm-up act came out to support Amy off stage, witness Holly, who did not want her last name used, told this masthead. We sat for maybe 10 to 15 minutes before festival director Susan Provan came out and confirmed that the show was cancelled for the night, and that ticket holders would hear tomorrow about a potential reschedule. The shows host, comedian Michael Hing, was clearly unaware of the incident. He came out in the middle of Gledhills set, told some jokes, and said the set would resume soon. Paramedics were called to the theatre about 8pm Wednesday. Credit: Cassidy Knowlton Another audience member, Sam, who did not want this last name used, said they were about 10 rows behind the commotion. [I] could see the compressions, hear the defib, see family [and] friends crying and yelling his name, said Sam. Yet the show continued, with everyone downstairs who couldnt see laughing and the poor performers having no idea. Shouldve been stopped at least when CPR started. On Thursday morning, Provan said the incident was distressing for everyone involved, but staff moved as quickly as they could to respond to it. Its a very, very large theatre, and I know that ambulances et cetera were called as soon as it became clear that there was an emergency going on up in the balcony, Provan told ABC Radio Melbournes Rafael Epstein. The crowd was asked to clear the theatre before the show was cancelled. Credit: Cassidy Knowlton We did stop the show as soon as we knew what the situation was, and then very shortly thereafter, we cancelled the show. Quite often there are medical emergencies in shows, and its usual to stop the show. Quite often, its resolvable a person can be taken out of the theatre and after a break or something, the show goes on, but that was very sadly not what was happening last night. Front-of-house staff were aware the defibrillator was being used, Provan said. Loading I am quite sure that it would have felt like an eternity for people that were around, she said. But it did actually happen as fast as it possibly could for the messaging to get backstage to the performers to stop the show. Whenever anything happens like this, there will always be reviews for all of us about how maybe things might have been able to be done differently or better. But certainly last night everybody moved as quickly as they could and responded, I think, correctly as soon as they knew exactly the seriousness of what was going on. An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said paramedics responded to an emergency call about 8pm on Wednesday. Loading Victoria Police are preparing a report for the coroner. Emergency services were called to a theatre on Lower Esplanade about 9pm. A man, who is yet to be formally identified, died at the scene, a police spokeswoman said. The death is not being treated as suspicious. A spokesperson for Live Nation, which runs the Palais Theatre and manages front-of-house and emergency planning, said the company was deeply saddened by the patrons death. Our thoughts are with their family during this difficult time, the spokesperson said. We are grateful to our staff and the patrons who acted quickly to provide first aid, and the first responders on site for their swift and professional assistance. The Age is a partner of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens. Get it here. The teenagers who attacked Axiaks daughter filmed the assault and shared it online, and the young victim is now too scared to go to school. Axiak said the lack of information was a big concern. You think youre sending your child to school, and theyre safe, but theyre not because you dont know what kind of kids are in school. She said while some young people might have been bailed for minor offences, more care needed to be taken with those accused of violent crimes. The schools should be notified, and the Education Department [should be notified], 100 per cent. Bronwyn Harcourt, principal of Croydon Community School, a specialist facility in Melbournes east for young people with social and emotional issues, said there was a void between the youth justice system and the education system. Most of the time we arent told a child is on bail unless they tell us or if we hear from a support worker they havent attended court, Harcourt said. The number of crimes committed by children aged 10 to 17 last year rose to their highest levels since electronic records started in 1993. Credit: Rhett Wyman She said when the school was made aware that a child was appearing before court, a staff member was often sent to support the young person, but the school was given no additional resources or assistance. A central register of how many children were in both the justice system and the school system would give authorities a clearer picture of the numbers needing additional support and at which schools, Harcourt said. Theres a gross misunderstanding about these kids, that if you lock them up it will fix the problems of youth crime. Itd be much better to look at whats the reason behind [their offending]. She pointed out that magistrates sometimes imposed conditions on children such as attending school full-time, when they had struggled for years to do so. Its really hard, if not impossible, for some of these young people. The Crime Statistics Agency published data last week showing the number of crimes committed by children aged 10 to 17 last year rose to its highest levels since electronic records started in 1993. There were 7414 children arrested a combined 24,550 times in 2024, with 330 hardened young offenders arrested three or more times for violent crimes. This month Education Minister Ben Carroll ruled out any prospect of alleged young offenders being tracked electronically with ankle bracelets while attending the states mainstream schools. But he declined to answer questions on why the department did not keep a record of students on bail or facing charges, or whether he believed such a register was needed. Loading A trial of the electronic bracelets for alleged young offenders in alternative education settings is due to start next month. The most recent state budget included$28.4 million for initiatives to support students in the justice system. Opposition education spokeswoman Jess Wilson said it was deeply concerning the department did not know how many high-risk young offenders on bail were attending mainstream schools. How can minister Carroll claim mainstream classrooms are an inappropriate place for high-risk youth offenders on bail if he is completely unaware how many may be attending a mainstream school on any given day? she said. Loading There are concerns about the impact on young people of bail law changes that would make it more likely those in trouble with the law are remanded in custody. Lawyer Negar Panahi leads Balit Ngulu, a legal service for Aboriginal children and young people in the criminal justice system. Given Aboriginal young people are 14 times more likely to be involved in the criminal legal system, she is concerned about how the changes will affect an already vulnerable community. Providing individualised support for children on bail, and encouraging their return to education was key, she said. Simply putting them back in the classroom is setting them up to fail. Tailored, individualised plans such as one-on-one tutoring and having an education support co-ordinator is setting kids up to really self-determine their futures and give them an opportunity, and really give them an opportunity to build a meaningful pathway for their life. Loading The Commissioner for Children and Young People, Liana Buchanan, said every child had the right to an education. We know that education is a critical protective factor for children who have engaged in offending or are at risk of offending, she said. If we are serious about community safety and rehabilitation, it is important we support children and young people to stay engaged with education, in the school environment that best suits them. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size A helicopter comes roaring from beyond the bushland lining Perths quaint Herdsman Lake nature reserve, stirring a plume of sand and freshly cut grass before the landing skids meet the ground. As the rotor blades begin to slow, the pilot exits the cockpit to retrieve his passenger only to find the suited figure has already swung open the door and leapt out, grabbing his suitcase and making a beeline for the private vehicle awaiting his arrival. A resident, who asked this masthead not to reveal their identity, had quizzed about half a dozen local authorities to find out how the Bell 429 GlobalRanger flying over their quiet estate in Perths north-west had gained permission to land opposite a tightly controlled wildlife sanctuary. But they had never previously seen its well-dressed, jet-setting passenger in the flesh and they had no idea they had unwittingly picked a fight with a billionaire. It was a terrific noise, the resident says while recalling watching the chopper land in front of them during a visit to the reserve last year. I didnt know who Chris Ellison was, but I do now. Ellison, the New Zealander behind $7 billion WA iron ore miner Mineral Resources, was unaware the commute from his beach house in Eagle Bay, in WAs picturesque South West, to the reserve opposite his companys headquarters in the city suburb of Osborne Park had drawn the ire of residents. Advertisement Most of the reserve is governed by state law, with everything from watercraft to fishing at the site forbidden to protect the wildlife, including more than 100 species of birds. The laws, however, do not apply to a tiny pocket in the northernmost portion managed by the City of Stirling and used by the Perth Horse and Pony Club and where Ellison took to landing his chopper. When this masthead traced the aircraft at the centre of community gossip in June 2024, MinRes was adamant its founder had permission. The pony club now claims the helicopter landings began as early as July 2022. The city confirmed it had received an inquiry from the miner and had no in-principle objection, provided Ellison obtained all other necessary approvals. But it is adamant that did not occur until September 2023 and conceded it had no mechanism to issue a permit until October 2024. This mastheads analysis of the $10 million aircrafts flight log between June 2023 and June 2024 indicates Ellison landed at the reserve more than 30 times. Advertisement Eight of those landings occurred before MinRes formally consulting the council. A year-long chain of correspondence this masthead obtained under Freedom of Information laws has corroborated the citys version of events. But it has also laid bare how Ellison was able to fly without formal approval for more than two years amid confusion over what constituted an approval and which agency had ultimate responsibility and despite the concerns being raised by residents, politicians and government bodies. The chopper landing at the site in early 2024. A dramatic entrance Shortly after the doors to Mineral Resources lavish $130 million headquarters opened in June 2022, its planning consultant was sounding out the approvals process. A city spokesperson told this masthead it gave MinRes preliminary advice in July 2022, but indicated it would require more information before providing a detailed response. Advertisement The spokesperson confirmed the discussions did not progress. But the Perth Horse and Pony Club claims its president received a phone call from Ellisons personal assistant later that month asking to use the site over a weekend to drop off an unnamed executive, claiming the city had signed off on the plan provided the club did not take issue. Believing the city had consented, the clubs executive committee granted Ellison approval. On August 22, 2022, a club representative claims it was contacted about landing the chopper on a more regular basis. The clubs board green lit the request subject to strict conditions, including that it be notified 24 hours before landing and that the pilot land in a way that would minimise disturbance to wildlife. The club confirmed those conditions had been complied with and there is no suggestion that Ellison has breached any law. By October, the City of Stirling was lauding Mineral Resources for injecting 800 jobs into its premier industrial precinct post-pandemic, in a media statement that has since disappeared from its website. Advertisement Mayor Mark Irwin joined then-chief executive Stuart Jardine and its director of planning on a visit to the premises shortly after it opened, posing alongside Ellison who raved about the beautiful view of the Herdsman Wetlands. City of Stirling mayor Mark Irwin and Mineral Resources chief Chris Ellison at the companys Osborne Park headquarters in 2022. The paper trail begins The first documentary evidence of a formal landing request is from September 2023, when then-planning boss Stevan Rodic took a phone call from Ellisons agent before penning a letter to advise the proposal would not require a development approval and the city had no in-principle objection. The correspondence, which was later forwarded to Jardine and Irwin, hailed the regulator the appropriate authority and stipulated that the citys support hinged on MinRes securing all other necessary approvals. This masthead understands the city received the first of the community complaints in February 2024. But the citys communication with Ellisons agent ceased until May 13, 2024, when it sought an updated liability insurance certificate from the agent after realising it had expired. Advertisement To politics now, and Treasurer Rita Saffioti has just held a press conference where she fielded questions from journalists asking if WA has been neglected in the Federal governments budget allocation for major road infrastructure. Western Australia will receive just 2 per cent, or $350 million, of the $17.1 billion new infrastructure funding contained in the federal budget handed down last night. Treasurer Rita Saffioti speaking with media today. Credit: Hamish Hastie The funding will only cover half of the Kwinana Freeway widening project, with the state footing the rest of the bill. However, Saffioti says she received reassurance last night that WA would get an additional $650 million for projects planned from 2029 onwards. Were very confident as we move forward well continue to have new projects in those years to continue a strong momentum of delivering transport initiatives across the state, she said. Over the next two to three years we have a number of projects we will be delivering in conjunction with the Commonwealth, that includes the Tonkin Highway extension, the new interchanges in particular on Welshpool [Road] and Tonkin [Highway], the Reid Highway interchanges and a number of projects around the state. Saffioti acknowledged WA was the only state to have its road funding go down in the forward estimates, but denied the west was being neglected due to it being considered a safe Labor state. Other states, such as Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria where Labor is trying to sandbag support ahead of the Federal election received the lions share of the infrastructure funding. Public servants in the federal health, education and veterans departments have been singled out as the Coalition ups its promise to cut 40,000 bureaucrats in a political fight over the $30 billion public service wage bill. Tuesday nights budget showed the Albanese government will employ 213,349 public servants in 2025-26, boosting headcount by 41,411 over its term and fuelling debate over government spending as Labor records its first budget deficit before the federal election. Dutton has singled out Canberra-based public servants for cuts, although only 37 per cent of the federal bureaucracy works in the capital. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton on Wednesday confirmed at least 40,000 public servants would be cut from Canberra under a Coalition government as he banks on those savings to pay for extra Medicare spending he has promised to match Labors major health announcements dollar-for-dollar. Dutton revised his target up from 36,000, after the budget revealed Labor will hire another 3400 government workers this year. A major construction company gave the safety regulator a detailed plan to eliminate the threat of deadly silica dust to tunnelling workers, but warned it would be expensive and lead to project delays. Nearly five years later, the plan provided to SafeWork in May 2020 is sitting unused despite NSW Premier Chris Minns declaring the health and safety of tunnelling workers on multibillion-dollar public transport infrastructure works was more important to us than the project. Tunnel workers are exposed to high levels of crystalline silica. Credit: Kate Geraghty Thousands of workers tunnelling through Sydneys sandstone heart have been repeatedly exposed to dangerously high levels of deadly silica dust. Fears of a latent public health disaster compounded after the Herald revealed 13 workers, including a 32-year-old, on the M6 Stage 1 had been diagnosed with the incurable lung disease silicosis since the project began in late 2021. A SafeWork investigation into the employer, construction firm CPB Contractors, is continuing. But the regulator has been criticised by the Australian Workers Union for failing to take meaningful action despite knowing about hazardous levels of silica dust for several years. Solo tenants receiving government assistance have limited affordable property options, with no increases made for rent support or JobSeeker in this years budget. The federal government raised the maximum rate of Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 27 per cent in the previous two budgets, which is over and above inflation, according to Grattan Institute research. This year budget housing initiatives were more focused on homeownership, such as expanded eligibility criteria for the first home buyers Help to Buy scheme. A studio in inner-city Darlinghurst is available to rent for $305 a week. Credit: Cubic Real Estate Every year that we dont see that JobSeeker rise or that rise in rent assistance, its another year in which many Australians, you know, hundreds of thousands, if not millions of Australians, are struggling to make ends meet, said Brendan Coates, the institutes economic policy program director. In this years budget papers, the government said that combined with indexation, the maximum rates of rent assistance are 45 per cent higher since it came to office. At the same time, combined capital city house rents rose 25 per cent between June 2022 and September 2024 on Domain data. Resurgent Broncos hooker Cory Paix is on the cusp of completing a remarkable career renaissance, as the once-exiled rake nears a contract extension to stay at Red Hill. Since his axing midway through the 2023 season, Paix had been trapped in the Queensland Cup and was informed he was free to explore his options before the end of his 2025 contract. Yet in the defence-oriented era of Michael Maguire, he has claimed the No.9 jumper from incumbent Billy Walters and has not missed a tackle in his past two outings while making 84. Cory Paix scores for the Brisbane Broncos. Credit: NRL Photos But his lack of ball running averaging just eight metres a game this year has not stopped Brisbane from reportedly engaging in extension talks with the 25-year-old. As a hands-on grandmother to three young boys, I do my best to keep ahead of the latest trends in raising children (though lighthouse parenting had me reaching for Google). But the recent trend making headlines where the bank of nan and pop is footing the bill for private school fees has this gran wondering if generosity (indulgence?) has gone too far. Travel is never wasted on grandchildren. Credit: Jamie Brown Dont get me wrong Im more than willing to crack open the piggy bank for my grandkids education, but Id rather do it by taking them travelling. Theyll grow in courage, compassion and curiosity; Ill see parts of the world with a fresh perspective. And then well all settle down for an afternoon nap. Combine this with a flexible approach, unhurried itineraries, and a bucket for collecting shells rather than making lists, and you can see why grandparents and grandchildren make the perfect travelling companions. My advice for making it work? Leave the parents at home. While the multi-generational model is popular with some, Im here for the skip-gen trend (Ive seen the big family reunions at the breakfast buffet, and lets just say its not pretty). Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here. Springtime is here in Paris. Cafes are bustling, the economy is showing signs of improvement and a shiny (stair-free) metro expansion is making the 15-minute city even more accessible. Yet there's also the faintly audible sound of wealth on the move: Two locals inform me of plans to leave, one to Dubai and the other to Switzerland. In a similar vein to London's fleeing non-doms and Brexit banking exiles, Paris is going through its own dose of ras-le-bol fiscal - the moment when the proverbial tax straw breaks the camel's back - in President Emmanuel Macron's twilight years. Taxes are going up on big business and the wealthy; Marine Le Pen is the presidential contender to beat in 2027; parliament is gridlocked and still fighting over pension reforms that tore the country apart in 2023. After an extraordinary run for Paris as the euro area's investment-banking hub of choice, with the number of French financiers on seven-figure salaries almost doubling in four years, hiring plans are being put on ice. What you might call "peak Paris" marks a new phase in the fight for global talent - one in which Europe is on the back foot. Paris won the Brexit battle for corporate and investment bankers thanks to tax incentives and pro-business reforms, JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s France chief Kyril Courboin told a Bloomberg conference last week, pointing to his own firm's expanded French footprint to 950 staff from 230 a decade ago. However, the war for private equity and hedge funds is being lost to centers beyond the Paris-London commuter belt like Dubai, where there's no income tax, less red tape and a burgeoning billion-dollar fund club. Neighboring Abu Dhabi is also "nailing it" on tax, according to hedge-fund boss Paul Marshall. Madrid and Milan are doing well in the nomadic-wealth stakes, yet even they can't hold a candle to the United Arab Emirates, which attracted more than 6,700 millionaires last year, according to London-based consultancy Henley & Partners. I've argued before that competition from the UAE isn't to be sniffed at. Its recent resurgence seems to have sturdier foundations than the debt-fueled property binge of the 2008 era, with serious efforts at creating a financial center, diversifying away from oil wealth and expanding tourism - even if the blend of cryptocurrency wealth, dodgy influencers and historical money-laundering issues are obvious risks. It's not just for hedge funds, either. Revolut Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Nik Storonsky is spending more time there as the UAE invests in his fintech firm, and Dutch software firm Bird is setting up a hub there to escape regulatory and hiring obstacles in Europe. Young consultants are trading Duesseldorf for Abu Dhabi. And while it might be tempting to say "good riddance" or shrug one's shoulders, the fact is that taxpayer peregrinations can have big impacts down the line. The top 10% high-earning households in France account for more than 75% of national income tax receipts; in the UK, it's more than 60%. The more governments engage in what one French member of parliament called fiscal "butchery," the greater the risk of eroding the tax base further. JPMorgan's Courboin reckons Paris has time on its side, pointing to 2030 as the "smell test" for when eight-to-nine-year tax breaks run out for the most recent cohort of Brexit movers. That might be an optimistic assessment considering the size of France's deficit, the looming date of the next presidential election in 2027 and the fact that US President Donald Trump's tariff barrage is due to start in earnest soon. Defensive responses, like exit taxes, might soften the pain of "peak Paris." So might waiting for the shine to come off the UAE if regional geopolitical tensions worsen. Yet Paris also needs to devise a new equity story beyond its trademarks of tourism, luxury and politically connected corporations - especially given the dearth of new arrivals on its stock market, as the above chart shows. One option is Europe: France still has potential as a financial hub if the continent makes a serious go of integrating its disparate markets and unlocking trillions in savings. The other is to make Paris a more livable place to tempt young exiles back when they want to start a family, which is one of France's strong points thanks to childcare tax credits. Converting office property into homes, investing in infrastructure and doubling down on education and engineering talent seem more within reach than competing with tax-free cities. For now, expect the ras-le-bol fiscal to continue. Lionel Laurent is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering London/Paris/Brussels. He previously worked at Reuters and Forbes. In the midst of Venezuelas ongoing political and civil turmoil, there is widespread outrage over the treatment of Venezuelan prisoners deported to El Salvador by the United States under the controversial Alien Enemies Act. This sentiment has intensified amid growing reports of innocent individuals being held in the brutal Center for Confinement Against Terrorism (CECOT) in San Salvador, where they are being mixed with criminals from the notorious El Tren de Aragua gang. Venezuelan opposition leaders Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia issued a statement calling for an end to the unjust criminalization of Venezuelans. They urge U.S. authorities to exercise extreme caution in administering justice, and reaffirm their trust in the rule of law that governs democratic countries. However, the statement has failed to resonate with many, as Machados arguments regarding Venezuelas political regime and the need for a path back to democracy appear to have little impact on the White House. Washington, unconvinced that such a shift is feasible, is focused on its own immediate interests. Several hundred thousand Venezuelans have been stripped of the temporary protected status they were granted under Joe Biden and now face the threat of mass deportation. Meanwhile, Venezuela is concerned about the Trump administrations travel ban, which is set to come into force in the coming days. This ban would prohibit the entry of Venezuelans into the U.S., including those with visas, students, and tourists, along with citizens from 40 other blacklisted countries. This sweeping measure would have a devastating impact on large segments of Venezuelan society, most of whom are connected to the countrys democratic movement. Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans have family, businesses and interests in cities such as Miami, Dallas and Houston, and receive remittances from the U.S. This unrest, compounded by frequent reports of xenophobia in countries like Chile and Peru, has fueled a deep sense of outrage and helplessness in Venezuela. For ordinary people, it seems there is nowhere they can escape to. Economic sanctions and the ban on Chevrons operations in Venezuela are once again crippling the economy. Prices are soaring, consumption is slowing, and Venezuela, already bankrupt, is sinking further into despair. Meanwhile, within Venezuela, Chavista authorities continue to respond to the populations discontent with unusual harshness. For 25 years, spokespeople for the Bolivarian Revolution have intermittently declared that they will govern the country by fair means or foul, and it is clear they have opted for the latter. After years of ignoring the Venezuelan diaspora, Nicolas Maduros government has criticized U.S. authorities treatment of migrants, claiming they are mostly honest and hardworking. Jorge Rodriguez, a prominent spokesperson for the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), announced several days of solidarity with the prisoners in El Salvador and promised to hire the best law firms to provide legal assistance. He also stated that in the United States, there is no rule of law and that due process is not respected. The tone of Chavista authorities toward the deportees has also changed. Today, Venezuela welcomes them with love, affection, and solidarity, with a brotherly embrace for all who come. Without a doubt, this is how governments should work together without abuse of any kind and without threats, said Diosdado Cabello, Minister of the Interior and Justice, upon receiving a new group of deportees from Mexico. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox New Radio that he was certain that all the Venezuelans sent to El Salvador were part of the criminal organization Tren de Aragua. But if one of them turns out not to be, then theyre just illegally in our country and the Salvadorans can then deport them to Venezuela, he said. This comment was made before it was revealed that many deportees did not fit the gang member profile. So far, we have no formal information documenting who in that group of migrant prisoners is from the Tren de Aragua, Ade Ferro, director of the Venezuelan-American Caucus in the U.S. told EL PAIS. Some of those detainees even had protected status. Others never left ICE, never set foot on the street. We already have dozens of cases of people who were taken to jail solely for having tattoos which are identifiable as part of Salvadoran gang culture but not associated with the Tren de Aragua. A show is being put on here to please a certain electorate with a community like the Venezuelan one, which is weak and newly arrived, added Ferro. The activist says that while confronting and neutralizing a gang like the Tren de Aragua is necessary, the reality is that the Venezuelan community has a very low impact on crime. When decisions are made, Ferro believes it only takes being dark-skinned and not speaking English to become a target. In this context, Machados and the oppositions unyielding stance against Chavismo could have unforeseen consequences: it may backfire. Political analyst Carmen Beatriz Fernandez explained: Amidst this very complicated situation, Maria Corinas statement went as far as it could; it was impossible to go any further. The issue is that this reality makes the arguments of her critics both from the opposition and Chavismo resonate even more strongly. In each of these processes, people have great hope for political change, and they might end up blaming those closest to them rather than the real culprit. The U.S. governments internal dynamics and the aggressive actions of the White House have placed Venezuela in a precarious situation where everyone bears the cost. The Venezuelan leadership must keep its feet on the ground, said Ferro. Donald Trump is not interested in Venezuela. We Venezuelans living abroad need to understand that we are being represented. The truth is that we are alone everywhere in the world. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition 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. Prince Harry arrives at a welcome event at Sentebales Mamohato Childrens Centre in Maseru, Lesotho. Credit: Getty Images for Sentebale 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 Harry and 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. Sentabale chair Dr Sophie Chandauka. Credit: Sentabale.org In a statement issued by Sentebale, Chandauka accused the resigning trustees of abuse of power, bullying, misogyny and harassment. She appeared to criticise the duke saying Sentebale was a vanity project for those who had left and that they were using the media they disdain to cause harm. Loading 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, she said. 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 [discrimination against black women] and the cover-up that ensued. I will not be intimidated Chandauka said she would remain chair of the board, 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. The row reportedly centred around a decision by the new chairman to focus on 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 proximity to its programs. Loading Shortly afterwards, Richard Miller quit as chief executive after five years in the role and was replaced by Johannesburg-based Carmel Gaillard. 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 British 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. Harry 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 Seeiso and in December, he attended an event in New York on behalf of the charity. Sentebale said it had not received resignations from either founder. US Vice President J.D. Vance will join his wife on her trip to Greenland, suggesting in an online video that global security is at stake. Were going to check out how things are going there, Vance said in a post on Tuesday (Washington time). Speaking for President [Donald] 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. US Vice President J.D. Vance and second lady Usha Vance with their children in Munich, Germany, in February. Credit: AP Trump irked much of Europe by suggesting 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. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Tuesday that the vice presidents visit was an unacceptable pressure. Greenland had described the trip as highly aggressive, even before the vice president declared his intentions to go. Palestinians protested in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday in a rare show of dissent against Hamas, with some chanting slogans critical of the armed groups grip on the territory after more than a year of the devastating war with Israel. Videos verified by The New York Times showed groups of Palestinians in the half-ruined streets in the northern town of Beit Lahiya. Some carried more neutral signs that opposed the continuation of the war, while others chanted slogans calling for Hamas to get out. Palestinians, at least publicly, tend to blame Israel for much of the death, destruction and hunger the war in Gaza has brought. But at least some hold Hamas responsible, as well, for starting this conflict by leading the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, abducting 251 people to Gaza and continuing to fight rather than giving up its power in exchange for a ceasefire. Palestinians attend a rally calling for an end to the war, in Beit Lahiya, in the northern Gaza Strip. Credit: AFP The anger appeared to have resurfaced after Israel last week abandoned a two-month ceasefire and resumed its bombardment of the Gaza Strip in an attempt to pressure Hamas to free more of the remaining hostages. Washington: The magazine editor added to a Signal group with the Trump administrations top national security leaders has published the full text of military attack plans shared in the chat after participants declared no classified information was included. The text messages sent by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to the group that contained Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Donald Trumps national security adviser Mike Waltz and, by error, The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg contained details of imminent strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. They show that 11.44am on March 15, Hegseth texted the group that American F-18s would launch at 12.15pm, ahead of a strike window beginning at 1.45pm. Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME also, Strike Drones Launch (MQ-9s), Hegseth wrote in one message. He went on to detail plans for a second series of drone strikes beginning at 2.15pm. THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier Trigger Based targets, he wrote. He also mentioned plans to launch sea-based Tomahawk missiles. PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a Public meeting on March 26, 2025. The Public meeting which was adjourned on March 12, 2025, will be reconvened on Wednesday at 11.30 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure will be in attendance. The agenda point is: Deliberations with the Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environmen,t, and Infrastructure regarding the delayed publication of building permits and ensuring legal compliance and procedural clarity (IS/654/2024-2025 dated February 24, 2025) The meeting will resume with the Minister providing answers to the questions posed by Members of Parliament in the first round. Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules. The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg. The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament and www.pearlfmradio.sx PHILIPSBURG:--- With urgent upgrades underway to bring the Philipsburg police holding cells in line with international standards, a high-level delegation has toured the facility to assess progress. The delegation, led by Minister of Justice Natalie Tackling, accompanied by Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina, included Chief of Police Carl John, Director of the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) Claret Connor, and representatives from Independent Consulting Engineers. The repairs are focused on ensuring detainees are held in humane conditions and in compliance with international human rights standards and national justice reform efforts. They also enhance detention capacity and improve working conditions for justice workers. The NRPB, working on behalf of the Ministry of Justice, is tasked with improving the conditions of the holding cells at the Philipsburg Police Station. Repairs addressing plumbing, lighting, and ventilation have thus far restored much-needed functionality to the facility, allowing it to accommodate detainees safely. The project, funded by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK) in the Netherlands, addresses recommendations from the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT). The NRPB and the Ministry of Justice prioritized and expedited this project phase to ensure detainees are housed in facilities that meet acceptable standards. Emergency interventions began in December 2024 with the development of a work plan by Independent Consulting Engineers. Initial work, which cost close to USD 30,000, began in mid-January 2025. To address concerns raised by CPT, new mattresses have also been delivered. Additional efforts to improve ventilation and address other concerns are underway. Furthermore, a full roof repair is being planned to prevent further deterioration ahead of the upcoming hurricane season. As the project progressed, a broader technical assessment revealed that the holding cell wing shares infrastructure with other parts of the Philipsburg Police Station. To ensure upgrades remain functional, engineers recommended improvements to the shared infrastructure. A tender for the next phase is being prepared to address these expanded needs. Further consultations with the Ministry of BZK will determine the final scope, priorities, and funding required. With these upgrades, the Government of Sint Maarten is taking concrete steps to modernize detention facilities besides the new prison in Point Blanche, ensuring they remain safe, functional, and aligned with international best practices for years to come. The holding cell repair project is implemented by the NRPB on behalf of the Ministry of Justice and funded by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations in the Netherlands. The Hague:--- In a powerful gesture of cultural solidarity and regional pride, the Honorable Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Dr. Luc Mercelina, has donated two books from Sint Maarten to the newly established library of the Minister Plenipotentiary of Curacaothe first library of its kind dedicated to the history and heritage of the Dutch Caribbean. The Office of the Minister Plenipotentiary of Curacao officially opened its doors to this inaugural library recently with ongoing works in progress, marking a monumental step in preserving and celebrating the rich and diverse stories of the former Netherlands Antilles. The library, housed within the premises of the Minister Plenipotentiary of Curacao in The Hague, features a curated collection of unique books and literature on the Caribbean Netherlands, with the aim of becoming a key resource for students, researchers, and the wider public. PM Dr. Luc Mercelinas donation, representing Sint Maartens contribution to this cultural milestone, was made during a formal visit on Tuesday. "This library is more than a collection of booksit is a living testament to who we are as Caribbean people. By donating these books on Sint Maarten, we ensure that our voice, our story, and our identity stand proudly alongside those of our Caribbean brothers and sisters," stated Prime Minister Mercelina. "The opening of this library is a profound reminder that although our islands are distinct, our histories are deeply intertwined. I commend Curacao for this visionary step and hope this space becomes a hub for dialogue, education, and unity among our diaspora, he added. As the library of the Minister Plenipotentiary of Curacao begins its mission of education and cultural promotion, the inclusion of Sint Maartens literature is a reaffirmation of collective Caribbean pride and resilience. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Government of Sint Maarten has commissioned independent research on gambling habits and their impact on the community. IPSOS, an independent research firm, has been tasked with conducting this research on behalf of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor (VSA) in collaboration with the Department of Statistics (STATs). The survey aimed at understanding the gambling habits of residents and the impact of these activities on individuals and the broader community. This initiative is part of a larger effort to assess both the positive and negative effects of gambling on the island, ensuring that adequate support and resources are available to those who need them. The survey will be conducted from March 26th to April 8th, 2025, and will cover a wide range of topics related to gambling, including the types of games played, frequency of participation, and any potential consequenceswhether beneficial or harmfulexperienced by participants. The insights gathered will help the government develop informed policies, legislation, and programs to better serve the needs of the community. Key Details: Survey Period: March 26th April 8th, 2025 Participation: All residents can participate. Residents can fill in the survey in privacy at various supermarkets and at locations such as casinos and lottery booths. Privacy: The survey is completely confidential. All responses will be anonymized and used solely for research purposes. Independence: This survey is conducted by an independent research team, ensuring unbiased data collection and analysis. By participating in this survey, you are helping us understand the realities of gambling on Sint Maarten. Residents are encouraged to participate in the survey to ensure that all perspectives are represented. Whether you gamble frequently, occasionally, or not at all, your input is invaluable in shaping a safer and healthier future for Sint Maarten. Communication about the survey will be made through official government channels, including Facebook and the government website. For More Information: Please visit the Government of Sint Maartens website at https://www.sintmaartengov.org/Pages/default.aspx for more details. Willemstad, Curacao:--- Earlier this month, marine conservation leaders from across the Caribbean gathered in Curacao for an intensive workshop focused on sustainable finance solutions for protected areas. The 3-day event, jointly organized by Blue Marine Foundation, Blue Nature Alliance, and the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA), brought together marine park managers and conservation professionals from ten Caribbean islands. Representatives from all six Dutch Caribbean islands participated alongside delegates from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, the Dominican Republic and St. Kitts & Nevis. The workshop featured collaborative sessions, expert presentations, and strategic planning to address the critical funding challenges facing marine conservation efforts throughout the region. Participants received insights on diverse financing mechanisms, drawing from regional and global case studies that serve as templates for the Caribbeans unique marine ecosystems. By focusing on opportunities and collaboration, the workshop exemplified how intentional shifts can create ripple effects in conservation efforts. "It's been such an encouraging event," said Clare Brook, CEO of Blue Marine. "Ten Caribbean islands have come together to share challenges and concerns, particularly grave funding and capacity shortages for vital conservation work in the region. We have emerged with a range of creative, innovative solutions which have the potential to channel meaningful finance for marine protection into the region. In our concerted effort to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030, the Caribbean Sea is becoming the 'Sea of Hope!' The "30 by 30" initiative represents a global commitment to protect at least 30% of the world's ocean by 2030. This ambitious target aims to safeguard marine biodiversity, enhance ecosystem resilience against climate change, and secure sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities. Meaningful change happens when we listen, collaborate, and center on the people who know these places best. At the Blue Nature Alliance, we believe conservation finance is a vital enabler, one that must support island-led priorities and scale regional solutions. The choices we make now matter, for the ocean and for every community that depends on it." said Sarah Elsaid, Regional Lead, Blue Nature Alliance. "The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance firmly believes that regional collaboration is the cornerstone of sustainable conservation funding," said Arno Verhoeven, Director of DCNA. "This workshop has provided crucial insights into the diverse conservation strategies being implemented across Caribbean islands. By aligning our efforts, weve taken an important first step toward developing more robust financing mechanisms. Our shared marine ecosystem requires shared solutions." The workshop provided a valuable opportunity for participating nations to exchange experiences, celebrate conservation successes, and collaboratively develop strategies to overcome shared challenges. Participants departed with actionable plans to implement sustainable financing mechanisms tailored to their specific ecological and economic contexts. The anti-diversity policies of Donald Trumps administration have reached Barcelona, Spain. Specifically, a municipal library that hosts a project called American Space Barcelona, which promotes cultural exchanges between the capital of the Catalonia region and the United States and which has organized some 2,000 activities with more than 77,000 attendees since 2016. The mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, on Wednesday issued a statement rejecting a demand by the U.S. Embassy for the city to remove funding for this program: We will not take a single step back in promoting equal opportunities. We will maintain the program because this order has no legal standing or democratic legitimacy, he said. The Ignasi Iglesias-Can Fabra library, in the district of Sant Andreu, finances the program in part with funds from the U.S. government, although Barcelona city officials have not detailed the amount of this contribution. The city received a request from the U.S. embassy in Madrid a few weeks ago demanding the application of Executive Order 14173, called Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity. U.S. federal law requires that no funds be used for initiatives or programs that promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Collboni assured that the city will maintain the program and will continue to seek collaboration agreements with cities, institutions and public entities in the United States. Barcelona is twinned with Boston, Chicago and New Orleans, cities that, in the mayors words, share and defend their same values. The United States is not Trump. We will not apply this measure because its only aim is to leave out women and families because of their origin, he said. Sources at the City Council also noted that the executive order does not apply outside the United States, and that the policies of the city of Barcelona, of Spains regions and of the Spanish State, as well as the European legal framework, contemplate measures to promote gender equity, diversity and inclusion. U.S. President Donald Trump and Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni. The same sources said that the U.S. order contravenes the basic values and principles of inclusion, promotion of gender equality and plurality that inform the policies of the Government of the city and of the City Council. These policies, they said, are applied to all public actions and municipal programs, including those organized by Barcelonas network of more than 40 public libraries. For many years, this network has been the second most highly rated municipal service by citizens, after the fire department. The City Council has conveyed these arguments in writing to the Embassy. Democrats Abroad, the official overseas arm of the Democratic party, with representation in Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia, has criticized the U.S. administrations gesture and defined it as intolerable. We support Mayor Collbonis position. We must respect laws, diversity and inclusion. This order should be illegal because rights cannot be taken away, least of all abroad, without prior congressional approval, argues the entity, which will demonstrate in Sant Jaume square on March 29 against Trumps policies in his first month in office. What happens in the United States reverberates around the world, and cultural capitals like Barcelona must resist the onslaught of Trumpist populism. The Embassy letter requested compliance with the executive order in connection with the American Space Barcelona program. The latters activities include cultural exchanges between Barcelona and the United States, especially in areas such as language learning and educational guidance. Through the program, many children, teenagers and young adults can learn about the U.S. and access scholarships to study abroad. Among the most outstanding initiatives, American Space gives priority to women who want to pursue university degrees in the fields of technology and science. The American Space archive contains around 2.500 documents donated by the Department of State. A few days ago it emerged that U.S. embassies have begun to ask their local suppliers of products and services to ensure compliance with the new framework. In response to questions from EL PAIS, a spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy stated that the Embassy in Madrid and the Consulate General in Barcelona, like all U.S. embassies and consulates around the world, have communicated to grant-recipient entities, as well as suppliers of products and services, the new framework based on the recent executive orders signed by President Donald Trump. We want to ensure that our contracts and grants comply with all U.S. federal anti-discrimination laws and that suppliers or grantees do not conduct programs that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion that violate existing federal laws. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) recently welcomed Dr. Everette B. Penn, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Teen and Police Service (TAPS) Academy, based in Houston, Texas. Penn visited to engage with several KPSM members and explore the possibility of reviving the TAPS Academy program in Sint Maarten. TAPS Academy is a community-based initiative designed to bridge the gap between youth and law enforcement while reducing crime through education, skill-building, and service-learning. The program, which initially started in several high schools in Sint Maarten between 2016 and 2017, went dormant following the devastating impact of Hurricane Irma in 2017 and the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. Recognizing the programs value in fostering positive relationships between young people and police officers, KPSM is actively studying the feasibility of reintroducing TAPS Academy. The initiative focuses on prevention by equipping youth with the necessary tools to make informed decisions and avoid behaviors that may lead to negative encounters with law enforcement. At the same time, it provides officers with valuable insights into the challenges students face, helping to build mutual understanding and trust. Dr. Penns visit marks an important step toward reestablishing this impactful program, which has proven successful in other regions by reducing youth involvement in crime and strengthening community relations. KPSM remains committed to exploring innovative ways to engage with the islands youth and promote public safety through education and collaboration. Further discussions and planning sessions will be conducted to assess the next steps in reintroducing TAPS Academy to local schools. KPSM looks forward to working alongside community partners, educators, and stakeholders to ensure the program's success. KPSM Press Release. Opinion articles written in the style of their author." These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. shall feature, along with the author's name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed We condemn in the strongest terms the brutal attacks that have claimed the lives of hundreds of children, infants, and women in the Gaza Strip by the extremist Netanyahu government, which refuses to implement the terms of the deal and agreement signed under U.S. sponsorship by the administration of President Donald Trump. Whats even more astonishing is that the Israeli attack came under U.S. sponsorship and approval. The Netanyahu government has chosen to violate the ceasefire agreement and has chosen the path of continuing the chapters of genocide, war, and bloodshed. It is sacrificing the lives of innocent Palestinians, as well as the lives of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the radical organization of Hamas. This government is deepening the hell that both peoples in this region are living in. We address all of humanity, living on planet Earth with its seven continents, 196 countries, and 7 billion peoples. We call on them to save our planet by restoring the authority of international institutions, treaties, international courts, and international law to be the standard among nations. Otherwise, we are heading toward a lawless world of cruelty that chooses violence over dialogue, where the strong prey on the weak and the only logic is the logic of force. The silence over the horrific killings in Gaza, deprived of food, water, medicine, and electricity, adds to the destruction in an overt policy, despite it being a war crime and a crime against humanity. The silence over what is happening in the West Bank, including the demolition of hundreds of homes in the refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nablus, the displacement of tens of thousands of citizens, and the killing of thousands under inhumane conditions, is what encourages the occupation to continue this policy, which is destroying the dream of peace between the two peoples. We call on all media outlets, both visual and audio, and social media networks, with all our love for freedom and democracy, including intellectuals and celebrities, each in his or her position, to raise their voices in protest for truth, justice, and equality, and to reject aggression and massacres targeting civilians. Those of us who have lost our children in this bloody conflict are the ones who have paid the highest price. Two of us Rami Elhanan and Bassarm Aramin lost our daughters, Smadar Elhanan, 14, and Abeer Aramin, 10, due to the ongoing Israeli occupation. Along with us are thousands of honorable and free people around the world. We call on and demand that all countries and governments follow the example of Spain, Ireland, Norway, Poland, and other countries by officially recognizing the State of Palestine in response to the ongoing Israeli invasion and to achieve peace between the two peoples, which would curb the expansionist colonial policies of the extremist Israeli government. The time has come for the Palestinian people to achieve their right to self-determination and establish their state on their own land, in accordance with United Nations resolutions and international legitimacy. We also call on U.S. President Donald Trump, whose statements have encouraged us that he intends to end wars and conflicts, to fulfill his promises to end the Israeli occupation and recognize the State of Palestine. On behalf of more than 800 Palestinian and Israeli families, members of the Bereaved Families Forum, we demand the release of all hostages from Hamas and the release of the huge number of innocent Palestinian prisoners from Israeli government prisons. An end to all forms of violence and war, and a return to dialogue and negotiations to end the conflict between the two peoples. We call for the power of truth to overcome the power of force and arrogance among peoples in resolving conflicts. The children of Palestine and Israel have the right to live in security and a bright future. Bassam Aramin, Rami Elhanan (Israeli-Palestinian Bereaved Families Forum for Reconciliation and Peace) and Javier Bardem (actor) Trump downplays firestorm over leaked Yemen air strike chat Washington, March 26 (AFP) Mar 26, 2025 US President Donald Trump downplayed a growing scandal Tuesday after a journalist was accidentally added to a group chat about air strikes on Yemen, denying any classified information was shared and defending a top aide over the breach. Trump said he would "look into" the use of the Signal app, and put on a united front at a meeting with US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who inadvertently included The Atlantic magazine's Jeffrey Goldberg in the conversation. As Democrats scented blood for perhaps the first time since the Republican returned to power in January, Trump doubled down by attacking Goldberg as a "sleazebag" and said "nobody gives a damn" about the story that has rocked Washington. Journalist Goldberg said that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent information in the Signal chat about targets, weapons and timing ahead of the strikes on March 15. Goldberg also revealed highly critical comments by top US officials about European allies. "There was no classified information," Trump told reporters when asked about the chat, saying that the commercial app Signal was used by "a lot of people in government." Waltz said US technical and legal experts were looking into the breach but insisted he had "never met, don't know, never communicated" with the journalist. He later told Fox's Laura Ingraham that he took "full responsibility" for the breach, saying: "I built the group; my job is to make sure everything's coordinated." Waltz suggested the leak was the result of him mistakenly saving Goldberg's number under another name. "Have you ever had somebody's contact that shows their name and then you have somebody else's number?" he said. - 'Sloppy, careless, incompetent' - The comments came as part of an aggressive Trump administration pushback against the scandal. US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe -- who were both reported to be in the chat -- 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. Ratcliffe confirmed he was involved in the Signal group but said the communications were "entirely permissible and lawful." Hegseth, a former Fox News host with no experience running a huge organization like the Pentagon, had said on Monday that "nobody was texting war plans." But Democrats on the committee called on Waltz and Hegseth to resign. Senator Mark Warner blasted what he called "sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior." Other White House officials also went on the attack. "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. - 'Freeloading' - 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. Trump said he agreed with Pentagon chief Hegseth's reported comments in the chat that European nations were "freeloading" off the United States. "Yeah I think they've been freeloading," Trump told reporters. "The European Union's been absolutely terrible to us on trade." In the chat, a user identified as Vice President JD Vance opposed the strikes saying that "I just hate bailing Europe out again" as countries there were more affected by Huthi attacks on shipping than the United States. A user identified as Hegseth replies: "I fully share your loathing of European freeloading. It's 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/wd/bfm Lebanese defence minister's visit to Syria delayed: officials Beirut, Lebanon, March 26 (AFP) Mar 26, 2025 Syria's authorities delayed a visit planned for Wednesday by the Lebanese defence minister that aimed to discuss tensions along the border, officials from the two countries told AFP. "We were informed on Tuesday by the Syrian party of the postponement of the visit" of Lebanese minister Michel Menassa, a Lebanese official said on condition of anonymity. The delay was "in no way related to tensions or conflicts", the official added, without specifying the date to which it had been postponed. A Syrian government source meanwhile told AFP that the delay was due to "preparations for the formation of a new government". Menassa had been set to meet his Syrian counterpart, Murhaf Abu Qasra, in the first visit by a Lebanese minister since the cabinet was formed in February. Border tensions flared earlier in March after Syria's new authorities accused Lebanese armed group Hezbollah of kidnapping three soldiers into Lebanon and killing them. The Iran-backed group, which fought alongside the forces of toppled Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, denied involvement. But the ensuing cross-border clashes left seven Lebanese dead. Islamist-led rebels ousted Assad in December. Spain PM vows plan to boost defence sector Madrid, March 26 (AFP) Mar 26, 2025 Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez vowed Wednesday to unveil a national plan to boost Spain's defence sector as Europe grapples with an aggressive Russia and the potential loss of US security protections. US President Donald Trump has turbocharged calls for the European Union to bolster its defences by casting doubt on Washington's central role in NATO and making overtures towards Russia on Ukraine. "The government will launch a major national plan before the summer for the development and promotion of Spanish security and defence technology and industry," Sanchez said during a debate in parliament. Spain dedicated 1.28 percent of its annual economic output to defence last year, according to NATO figures, well short of the alliance's longstanding two-percent benchmark and less than all other members. Sanchez has vowed to bring forward a 2029 target date to hit the two-percent mark, but during the debate in parliament, he remained vague about the timetable. The Socialist leader said the defence plan will build on the experience gained in recent years with the EU's post-Covid recovery scheme, which was financed through common borrowing. He did not provide further details. His minority government faces stiff opposition at home from left-wing allies who fear increased military spending will slash funds for social programmes. The head of the main opposition conservative Popular Party, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, blasted Sanchez for the lack of details. "What will the deadlines be? How much will we spend each year? Where will this money come from?" he said. In Gabon, French army base shifts focus as one of last in Africa Libreville, March 26 (AFP) Mar 26, 2025 A Gabonese squadron halts to salute a French colonel at one of France's last military bases in Africa which is now "shared" with the host nation and focused on training. The "Academie militaire" (Military Academy) sign at the entrance of De Gaulle camp in the capital Libreville has replaced "6th Marine Infantry Battalion", the French army unit deployed in Gabon since 1975. Ten years ago, nearly 1,200 French forces were stationed, sometimes with their families, in the central African country. No more than 200 troops are currently posted there and will be mainly engaged in training Gabonese forces. "There will be no more armoured vehicles or French tanks here in Libreville, but there will be instructors," Gabon's junta chief Brice Oligui Nguema said late Tuesday in an interview with Radio France Internationale. "This is the best balance we found together," Oligui said, adding that he wanted the camp to become a "sub-regional hub for training". The drastic cutback of France's military presence is part of a wider overhaul in Africa. From Chad to Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Ivory Coast, France has been forced to withdraw its troops or hand over its military bases to local forces in recent years under pressure from governments keen to show they are distancing themselves from the former colonial power. France had backed Gabon's Bongo dynasty which ruled the oil-rich nation with an iron fist for 55 years until a 2023 coup. In Libreville, two institutions under Gabonese military command have been integrated into the military base, within which the French role will be reduced. The Libreville Defence Forces Administration School (EAFDL), inaugurated in July, will soon be joined by the Academy for the Protection of the Environment and Natural Resources. The latter provides training in combating poaching in a country famed for its lush tropical forests and abundant wildlife as well as illegal gold mining. Turning the base into a "shared camp" was a "political choice" after discussions with the Gabonese, who wanted the French to focus on training, Colonel Bertrand Jacqmin, the commanding officer of the French unit, said. - 'African security challenges' - At a training area, Sergeant Honoarii, who has just come from Carcassonne in southern France, is busy with a mortar firing refresher session for a Gabonese parachute regiment. On the other side of the camp is Tony, a veteran of the French army's overseas operations, who has come for four months to lead an urban combat training module. "The Gabonese conduct a lot of battles in jungles, but with the current global situation, urban combat can happen at any time in the country," he said. "The entire range of expertise of the French armed forces can be transferred here," Colonel Jacqmin added, stressing that the programme was tailored to "African security, demographic and migration challenges." "This partnership with France... is an advantage for Gabon," said Gabonese Colonel Eric Ivala, head of the EAFDL. The French army was forced to leave Chad in just a few weeks in November. Senegal is also negotiating the departure of French troops by the end of this year. That means the Libreville camp will be the only permanent French army base in Africa, along with Djibouti on the continent's eastern side. - 'We want to stay' - France maintains a military presence in Gabon under a defence partnership pact, which was renewed for a two-year period by Oligui when he seized power in the August 2023 coup. It will need further approval after a presidential election scheduled for April. "We want to stay as long as possible because... cooperation benefits both partners," said French Lieutenant-Colonel Kamel, who oversees the military base's administration school with Gabonese counterparts. But the camp's future is "above all, a Gabonese decision", Jacqmin, the French colonel, said. Oligui said Tuesday that the French were welcome, while making it clear Gabon was keeping its options open. "The Russians, perhaps tomorrow if they want to come, will also be welcome," he said. NATO response would be 'devastating' to any attack on allies Warsaw, March 26 (AFP) Mar 26, 2025 NATO chief Mark Rutte warned in Warsaw on Wednesday that the Western defence alliance would respond with a "devastating" blow to any attack by Russia on Poland or another ally. Poland and the nearby Baltic states -- all NATO members -- have ramped up defence spending and training since Russian troops invaded Ukraine in 2022, voicing fears that Moscow could target them next. Under NATO's Article Five, an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. "If anyone were to miscalculate and think they can get away with an attack on Poland or on any other ally, they will be met with the full force of this fierce alliance," Rutte told reporters on a visit to the Polish capital. "Our reaction will be devastating. This has to be very clear to (Russian President) Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and anyone else who wants to attack us," he said alongside Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Rutte's visit comes as the United States pushes for a quick end to the Ukraine war, negotiations in which European partners have been sidelined. "Let's be honest, our influence on these negotiations is limited, to put it mildly," Tusk said. "So as NATO, as Poland, we need to be all the more ready for scenarios that we haven't entirely envisaged," he added. "When the geopolitical situation is changing before our eyes, the... confirmation that NATO is obliged to defend Poland in every critical situation, is very important to us." Four US soldiers go missing in Lithuania drills Vilnius, March 26 (AFP) Mar 26, 2025 Four American soldiers have gone missing during military drills in Lithuania, the United States command in Europe and the Baltic state's army said on Wednesday. Lithuanian and foreign troops, along with helicopters from the air force and the state border guard service, were deployed to search for the missing soldiers. The incident occurred during a military drill on a training ground in eastern Lithuania. "A possible scene has now been identified, and a search and rescue operation is underway," the Lithuanian military said in a statement. Lithuanian authorities received a report about the soldiers' disappearance on Tuesday afternoon. US Army Europe and Africa's public affairs office confirmed in a statement that the soldiers "were conducting scheduled tactical training at the time of the incident". "I would like to personally thank the Lithuanian armed forces and first responders who quickly came to our aid in our search operations," said Lieutenant General Charles Costanza, the V Corps commanding general. Lithuania, a NATO and EU member, hosts more than 1,000 American troops, who are stationed on a rotational basis. On March 26, EL PAIS reported on the theory of hypnocracy, a new form of manipulation via the internet. However, the article has since been removed after it was discovered that the supposed author of the book, the Hong Kong-based philosopher Jianwei Xun, does not exist. The ideas attributed to him were actually created by Italian editor Andrea Colamedici, who was listed as the translator but was, in fact, the co-author of the book, alongside two artificial intelligence platforms. The book failed to acknowledge AI's involvement in the creation of the text, a violation of the new European AI Act. Following an investigation by the Italian magazine L'Espresso, the publisher admitted that the book's purported author is fictional. UN rights chief 'deeply shocked' by air strikes on Darfur market Geneva, March 26 (AFP) Mar 26, 2025 UN rights chief Volker Turk said on Wednesday he was "deeply shocked" by the deadly Sudanese Armed Forces air strikes on a Darfur market, insisting such conduct must "never become normalised". Turk said that of the hundreds killed, 13 were members of a single family. The SAF regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been locked in a battle for power since April 2023 -- fighting which has plunged Sudan into what the UN calls the world's largest humanitarian catastrophe. "I am deeply shocked by reports that hundreds of civilians were killed and scores injured in airstrikes by the Sudanese Armed Forces on a busy market in Tora village, North Darfur, on March 24," Turk said in a statement. "My office has learned that 13 of those killed belonged to a single family, and that some of the injured are also reportedly dying as a result of the extremely limited access to healthcare. "We have also received reports that in the aftermath of the attack, members of the RSF arbitrarily arrested and detained civilians in Tora." A Sudanese monitor accused the Sudanese military of carrying out one of the deadliest air strikes in the country's nearly two-year war, hitting the rebel-held town of Tora in the western region of Darfur. The Emergency Lawyers, a group of volunteer legal professionals, said "hundreds of civilians" were killed in an "indiscriminate air strike" on the Tora market. Two residents who took part in burial operations said they had counted 270 bodies. Turk said that despite his repeated warnings and appeals to both the SAF and the RSF to protect civilians, they "continue to be killed indiscriminately, maimed and mistreated on a near daily basis, while civilian objects remain an all-too-frequent target". He urged both sides to take every possible step to avoid harming civilians and attacking civilian infrastructure. "Indiscriminate attacks and attacks against civilians, and civilian objects are unacceptable and may constitute war crimes," said Turk. "There must be full accountability for violations committed in this latest attack, and the many other attacks against civilians that have preceded it. Such conduct must never become normalised." Trump administration's ideological war with Europe Washington, March 26 (AFP) Mar 26, 2025 President Donald Trump's two months back in the White House have been marked by soaring friction between Washington and its European allies. Here's a look at the key issues where the United States has shifted gears, including tariffs, support for Ukraine and urging Europe to take greater control of its own defense. - 'Pathetic' freeloaders - A stunning security breach that saw a journalist inadvertently added to a chat group of top Trump officials discussing plans to attack Huthi rebels in Yemen revealed highly critical comments about European allies. In the chat, a user identified as US Vice President JD Vance expressed doubts about conducting military strikes on the rebels, arguing that Europe was more impacted than the US by the group's attacks on Red Sea shipping. "I just hate bailing Europe out again," Vance wrote in the group. A user identified as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth replies: "I fully share your loathing of European freeloading. It's PATHETIC." Trump echoed Hegseth's comments Tuesday. "Yeah, I think they've been freeloading," he told reporters. "The European Union's been absolutely terrible to us on trade." - Hostile speech - Vance also shocked Europe when he used a February speech at a security forum in Munich to attack EU policies on immigration and free speech. The vice president charged that "across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat," and that censorship was a bigger threat than Russian or Chinese military aggression. "No voter on this continent went to the ballot box to open the floodgates to millions of unvetted immigrants," he added, defending populist right-wing parties. - 'Screw' the US - Trump said last month that the EU was formed to "screw" the United States, laying bare his hostility to the longtime US partner as he detailed new tariffs. "But now I'm president," he said. Trump's 25-percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports took effect on March 12. EU countermeasures are set to begin in April. - 'Have to have' Greenland - Trump has insisted he wants the United States to take over Greenland, a Danish territory, for national security purposes and has refused to rule out the use of force to achieve this. "We need Greenland for international safety and security. We need it. We have to have it," Trump told podcaster Vince Coglianese Wednesday. "I hate to put it that way, but we're going to have to have it." The vast territory is located strategically in the Arctic and is rich in mineral resources. Vance has insisted the president is not afraid of ruffling feathers on the issue, citing national security. "He doesn't care about what the Europeans scream at us," Vance told Fox News last month. - Shifting power with Putin - Perhaps the most shocking shift has been on Russia and Ukraine -- best epitomized by a meeting between Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymr Zelensky at the White House on February 28 in which the US President and Vice President JD Vance berated their wartime ally in front of the world's media. Trump has appeared to lean towards Russian President Vladimir Putin, undermining Zelensky's legitimacy and suggesting that Ukraine was responsible for the Russian invasion, rather than Moscow. In February he blindsided Kyiv and European allies by agreeing to launch peace talks after a phone call with Putin. European powers insisted that they and Kyiv must have a seat at the table of any future negotiations -- but days later, top US officials met Russian negotiators in Saudi Arabia to lay the ground for talks. Europe was not represented, nor was it in the latest round of Saudi discussions Sunday and Monday. And in a seismic shift at the United Nations, Washington sided with Moscow in two votes last month, avoiding condemnation of Putin's war in Ukraine. When Britain and France said they would be willing to deploy ground troops in Ukraine, Vance responded by mocking the prospect of sending "20,000 troops from some random country that has not fought a war in 30 or 40 years." NATO says response to attack on allies would be 'devastating' Warsaw, March 26 (AFP) Mar 26, 2025 NATO chief Mark Rutte warned Wednesday that the Western defence alliance would respond with a "devastating" blow to any attack by Russia on Poland or another ally. During a visit to Poland, Rutte also emphasised the importance of the transatlantic bond, saying the global security challenges were "too great" for either Europe or North America to "go it alone". Poland and the nearby Baltic states -- all NATO members -- have ramped up defence spending and training since Russian troops invaded Ukraine in 2022, voicing fears that Moscow could target them next. Under NATO's Article Five, an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. "If anyone were to miscalculate and think they can get away with an attack on Poland or on any other ally, they will be met with the full force of this fierce alliance," Rutte told reporters in Warsaw. "Our reaction will be devastating. This has to be very clear to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and anyone else who wants to attack us," he said alongside Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, using the Russian leader's full name. Rutte's visit comes as the United States pushes for a quick end to the Ukraine war, negotiations in which European partners have been sidelined. "Let's be honest, our influence on these negotiations is limited, to put it mildly," Tusk said. "So as NATO, as Poland, we need to be all the more ready for scenarios that we haven't entirely envisaged," he said. "When the geopolitical situation is changing before our eyes, the... confirmation that NATO is obliged to defend Poland in every critical situation, is very important to us," Tusk added. Rutte later spoke of European and US relations at a university event in Warsaw. "I know there are questions about the strength of the transatlantic bond and the United States' commitment to European security," he said. US President Donald Trump and his administration have been calling on European countries to take more responsibility for their own defence. Rutte said, "Let me be absolutely clear: This is not the time to go it alone. Not for Europe or North America. The global security challenges are too great for any of us to face on our own." Denmark ready to buy new US F-35 jets Copenhagen, March 26 (AFP) Mar 26, 2025 Denmark said Wednesday that it planned to buy more US F-35 fighter jets despite strained relations with Donald Trump, who wants to annex its autonomous territory of Greenland. "We have to strengthen our fleet of fighter jets and it is completely logical to acquire more F-35 fighter jets," Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told the Borsen newspaper after Denmark announced a huge increase in defence spending. Poulsen's department declined to give more details about any future order when contacted by AFP. Questions about whether it is wise for Denmark to keep buying weapons from the United States have been put into sharp focus since Trump's rapprochement with Russia and threats of aggression against Canada and Greenland. Canada said this month that it would re-examine its purchase of F-35s and look at other options. But Poulsen said: "It's completely unrealistic to think that we could stop cooperating with the United States and buying its military equipment. "It's problematic to see a new US administration say things with which we don't agree but to pull the plug on more than 75 years of cooperation is, in my opinion, completely wrong." Since December and Trump's first announcements that he intends to annex Greenland, the Arctic island's politicians, backed by Copenhagen, have said the territory is not for sale but "open for business". The first of 27 F-35 jets already bought and ordered by Denmark should be operational next month. Lebanese, Syrian defence ministers to meet in Saudi Arabia on Thursday: official Beirut, Lebanon, March 26 (AFP) Mar 26, 2025 The Lebanese and Syrian defence ministers are to meet Thursday in Saudi Arabia to discuss issues including border tensions, a Lebanese official with knowledge of the matter told AFP. Instead of a visit to Damascus that has been postponed, Lebanese Defence Minister Michel Menassa is set to meet with his Syrian counterpart Murhaf Abu Qasra "in Jeddah, under the patronage of Saudi Arabia", the official said on condition of anonymity. A Syrian government source had earlier told AFP that Menassa's Damascus visit, initially planned for Wednesday, had been postponed due to "preparations for the formation of a new government". The postponement was "in no way related to tensions or conflicts", another Lebanese official had said earlier on condition of anonymity. It had been scheduled to be the first visit to Damascus by a Lebanese minister since a government was formed in Beirut in February. Border tensions flared earlier in March after Syria's new authorities accused Lebanese armed group Hezbollah of kidnapping three soldiers into Lebanon and killing them. The Iran-backed group, which fought alongside the forces of toppled Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, denied involvement. But the ensuing cross-border clashes left seven Lebanese dead. Islamist-led rebels ousted Assad in December. Pituffik, the key US air base at the top of the world Copenhagen, March 26 (AFP) Mar 26, 2025 The United States military's northernmost base, Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, is a crucial cog in Washington's missile defences which US Vice President JD Vance will visit on Friday. Vance's visit has thrust the remote Arctic base into the spotlight, as US President Donald Trump locks horns with Denmark over his public desire to annex Greenland from the Scandinavian country. Located 1,524 kilometres (950 miles) from the North Pole, the base, named Thule Air Base until 2023, began life as a trading post founded by Greenlandic-Danish explorer Knud Rasmussen in 1910 next to a glacier. It was then bought by the Danish state at the beginning of World War II before becoming an American weather station in 1946. Following a defence agreement between the United States and Denmark signed on April 27, 1951 it was made into a military base between 1951 and 1953. Greenland, which receives rent from the US administration, has been a party to this agreement since 2004. The expansion of the station forced inhabitants of Pituffik, the local community, to leave their land for Qaanaaq, 140 kilometres to the north. Their descendants have received apologies and reparations from Denmark, but their ancestral right to the rich hunting and fishing grounds has not been recognised. - Protecting the United States - Trump's administration argues the United States needs strategically placed Greenland, a self-governing Danish island, for security reasons. "Vance refers to the importance of Greenland for US national security. That's true, it's been like that for a very long time," Marc Jacobsen, a researcher at the Royal Danish Defence College, told AFP. The base's purpose is "to protect the US against threats, especially from Russia since the shortest distance from missiles from Russia towards the US goes via North Pole, via Greenland", according to Jacobsen. The Pituffik base was used as a warning post for possible attacks from the Soviet Union during the Cold War and remains an essential part of the United States' missile defence infrastructure. With its strategic location between North America and Europe the base still plays a surveillance role in the northern hemisphere. At the height of the Cold War, more than 10,000 people were stationed at the base, most of them American, as well as fighter planes and bombers carrying atomic bombs. In 1967, Denmark secretly authorised the United States to station nuclear weapons in Greenland. Officially, Copenhagen has refused to accept any nuclear weapons on Danish territory. But on January 21, 1968, a B-52 plane carrying four hydrogen bombs crashed into the ice, revealing Denmark's dual nuclear policy. Today, the base only houses around 150 US soldiers, alongside Danes and Greenlanders. But it is not so much a question on the number of men as the quality of the equipment, according to Jacobsen. "There are a very important radars there," he said. The radars enable the detection of missiles and activation of counter-measures. The military base, which also has a satellite control station, is operated by the 821st Space Base Group and is the only US military base on the Arctic island. Its runway, some 3,000 metres (9850 feet) long, handles more than 3,000 American and international flights a year. The base is also home to the world's most northerly deep-water port. According to its website, this "provides a unique platform for arctic training, international scientific research and environmental programs". Because of its location north of the Arctic Circle, Pituffik lives in constant darkness between November and February while the sun does not set from May to August. Search ongoing for four US soldiers missing in Lithuania drills Vilnius, March 26 (AFP) Mar 26, 2025 Lithuania was on Wednesday conducting search operation for four United States soldiers that have gone missing during military drills in the Baltic country, its army said. Lithuanian and foreign troops, along with helicopters from the air force and the state border guard service, were deployed to search for the missing soldiers. A "rescue operation is intensively ongoing," Lithuanian army said on X, adding: "At the moment, there is no evidence or information confirming the death of the troops." The incident occurred during a military drill on a training ground in eastern Lithuania. "People (are) working round the clock. Everybody remains on standby, ready to provide emergency medical support," Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene said on X. Lithuanian authorities received a report about the soldiers' disappearance on Tuesday afternoon. "A possible scene has now been identified," the Lithuanian military said in a statement earlier on Wednesday. US Army Europe and Africa's public affairs office confirmed in its statement that the soldiers "were conducting scheduled tactical training at the time of the incident". "I would like to personally thank the Lithuanian armed forces and first responders who quickly came to our aid in our search operations," said Lieutenant General Charles Costanza, the V Corps commanding general. Lithuania, a NATO and EU member, hosts more than 1,000 American troops, who are stationed on a rotational basis. Vehicle of missing US soldiers found 'submerged' in Lithuania Vilnius, March 26 (AFP) Mar 26, 2025 The vehicle of four United States soldiers missing in Lithuania was discovered submerged in a body of water on Wednesday, the US army said, adding that search efforts for the soldiers were ongoing. The soldiers went missing during a military drill on a training ground in the Baltic country's east. Lithuanian and foreign troops, along with helicopters from the air force and the state border guard service, were deployed to search for the soldiers. "The M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle the four missing US soldiers were operating during a training exercise has been located in Lithuania," US Army Europe and Africa's public affairs office said in a statement. "The vehicle was discovered submerged in a body of water in a training area... Recovery efforts are underway," it said. "Search efforts for the soldiers continue," it added. NATO also said the "four are still missing, but their vehicle was found", responding to earlier reports quoting alliance chief Mark Rutte. "The Secretary General was referring to news reports that had just emerged. He did not confirm the death of the four US soldiers, but noted that the details remain unconfirmed," NATO acting spokesperson Allison Hart told AFP. The Lithuanian army said earlier there was "no evidence or information confirming the death of the troops". "People (are) working round the clock. Everybody remains on standby, ready to provide emergency medical support," Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene said on X. Lithuanian authorities received a report about the soldiers' disappearance on Tuesday afternoon. US Army Europe and Africa's public affairs office confirmed in its statement that the soldiers "were conducting scheduled tactical training at the time of the incident". "I would like to personally thank the Lithuanian armed forces and first responders who quickly came to our aid in our search operations," said Lieutenant General Charles Costanza, the V Corps commanding general. Lithuania, a NATO and EU member, hosts more than 1,000 American troops stationed on a rotational basis. On Doremus Avenue, the world is filled with metal, so industrial and rusty its frightening. Above the road stretches the gray sky of Newark, in Essex County, New Jersey, crisscrossed every few minutes by planes arriving in Newark Liberty International Airport, the only spot in the state known to tourists, who pack their bags and land independently in Manhattan. This scene makes sense in the geographical calculations of politicians and investors: with the first immigration detention center of the Trump era set to open on Doremus Avenue in a few months, the airport to transport future deportees is less than two miles away just a 15-minute bus ride, a walk, a hop away. This was explained by Caleb Vitello, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who stated in late February that the Delaney Hall location not only streamlines logistics but also helps facilitate the timely processing of individuals in our custody as we pursue President Trumps mandate to arrest, detain and remove illegal aliens from our communities. Just after noon, people can be seen on Doremus Avenue, proof that there is human life among so much iron and asphalt. An elderly man sweeping the area around a factory offers a friendly greeting. A strong, nauseating smell comes from the Passaic Valley Sewerage Authority plant, across the avenue. The rate of emergency room visits for asthma in Newark is three times higher than the rest of New Jersey, and environmentalists have repeatedly urged authorities to address the poor air quality. The man knows much about the area, but little about Delaney Hall, the compact, opaque building rising to his right, where a petrifying silence reigns. He says that the place has been closed for years but will soon reopen. Visitor entrance to the ICE Immigration Detention Center in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Klaus Galiano They say its a prison. Thats what they say, he adds. From the outside, the building is lined with large wire structures, which look like immense chicken cages. On the roof, almost imperceptible, two men likely from somewhere in Latin America are welding. They shout across the distance that the facility will open by the end of May. Greek-born businessman George Zoley, CEO of the GEO Group, the company behind the detention center, has claimed that Delaney Hall is brand-new inside and its all ready to go. Although its fiercely quiet, cars are constantly entering and leaving the site but they dont stay there for long. The security guard, who politely declines to comment, opens the door for them. They are carrying out drug and alcohol screenings, criminal background checks, and interviews with potential employees for the regions largest immigration detention center, located in a big migrant neighborhood. The facility will house more than 1,000 beds for ICE detainees. It previously housed inmates from 2011 to 2017 before ceasing operations. Now, the GEO Group which has fought hard to reopen Delaney Hall against the opposition of New Jersey politicians whove pushed for a law banning public and private companies from contracting with ICE stands to rake in millions. After signing a contract with the federal agency, the company will earn $60 million annually for the next 15 years, potentially nearing $1 billion by the end of the agreement. Several organizations have criticized that the company is lining its pockets by profiting from each migrant sent to a detention center. For each bed allocated for a migrant, these companies earn an average of $164.65 per day. Congress, for its part, allocates $3.4 billion to arrest an average of 41,500 undocumented immigrants per day. Many agree its a profitable business. Corporate executives and private prison companies see mass deportations and detention as a payday. And its our taxes that will foot the bill, says Diego Bartesaghi, communications director for Make the Road New Jersey, an immigrant advocacy group advocating for the closure of Delaney Hall and the passage of the Immigrant Trust Act, which prohibits schools, health centers, or shelters from sharing information with ICE. Private prison companies, like GeoGroup, use detention for profit, not public safety. According to Bartesaghi, the expansion of detention centers means that more taxpayer money goes to private prison profits instead of community services that actually make communities safer. ICE officials have said that the opening of Delaney Hall will expand the agencys capacity in the Northeast to manage the regions growing enforcement and removal operations. It will become the second detention center in New Jersey, joining the 300-bed facility in Elizabeth City, managed by the private group CoreCivic. CoreCivic already has plans to triple the number of beds available for migrants in the coming months, generating an additional $1.5 billion. These companies have found a strong ally in Donald Trump, and their executives say this is perhaps the best opportunity theyve ever had. Ive worked at CoreCivic for 32 years, and this is truly one of the most exciting periods of my career, said CEO Damon Hininger, according to The New York Times. He also noted that CoreCivic will likely see the most significant growth in our companys history. The detention center in New Jersey is planning to triple the number of beds available for migrants within a few months. Klaus Galiano Overcrowding, hunger and forced labor Near the Elizabeth Detention Center, some men gather around a fire pit. The dirt on their clothes and the soot on their faces indicate they could be mechanics, employees of some maintenance shop. During their lunch break, they relax, listen to music, and slowly roast sausages. They are the only people on Evans Street. It wasnt like this a few months ago, when entire groups would visit their detained relatives at various times throughout the day. There used to be long lines to get in, sometimes you had to pay to get an appointment, but now almost no one comes, says a Colombian woman who has come to visit her 27-year-old nephew, who is being held at the migrant prison in the city of Elizabeth. Most of the relatives of the people here are migrants. And obviously, they dont come anymore because theyre afraid. How could they come? she wonders. From the outside, the brick-walled facility, which has been open since 1994 and bears the CoreCivic logo on its front, looks almost empty. However, inside, dozens of detainees spend their days in a facility that has long been the target of complaints about mistreatment, racism, neglect, forced labor, unsanitary conditions, and poor nutrition. In Elizabeth, theres a lack of food and medicine; many migrants and staff members died during the Covid-19 pandemic, says Rita Dentino, director of Casa Freehold, a local organization serving migrants. Thats a warehouse; its not a place to confine human beings. It has no windows, no fresh air. Its horrible. A Colombian taxi driver who once spent four months at the center agrees. Theres a lot of racism, theres little food, they barely let you go out to the patio to get some sun, he says. The woman visiting her nephew adds that the young man describes the conditions as deplorable. Why do they want to keep a person like this? I understand theyre detained, but theyre not criminals to be fed like that. Her nephew, who refuses to sign his self-deportation to Colombia despite repeated pressure from prison officials, says theres not enough room inside, that the overcrowding is unbearable. But this complaint is not unique to the Elizabeth Detention Center; it is a national issue. In recent weeks, videos have surfaced exposing the limited capacity of these centers to handle the growing number of immigrants sent there by ICE agents. The facilities are operating at 109% capacity. In a system with around 38,500 available beds, which is designed to house that many detainees, ICE is currently holding approximately 46,000 people, according to its own records. Still, even that seems too few, and Tom Homan, the border czar, has said that at least 100,000 beds are needed to fulfill Donald Trumps mass deportation plans. USCIS sign at the visitor entrance to the detention center. A cause of terror for communities The areas surrounding the Elizabeth Detention Center and Delaney Hall have seen multiple protests in the past month. Dozens of activists and politicians are calling for the permanent closure of the former and to stop the latter from opening. New Jersey officials have also publicly stated that a new migrant detention center is not welcome in the state. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka called the reopening of Delaney Hall illegal and pledged that his administration would file a lawsuit if it were to open. If you try to do anything to break the law, we will take you to court, he promised at one of the demonstrations. Everyone agrees that with facilities offering greater capacity to house detainees, ICE will increase arrests in the area. Newark has already witnessed more than one raid by federal agents: in late January, they appeared at a local fish market and detained several immigrants without showing a warrant. Research shows that when an immigration detention center opens in a community, people in the surrounding area are more likely to be arrested, says Jenny Garcia, senior communications associate for the Detention Watch Network coalition. According to Garcia, the organizations are not only demanding the closure of these centers but also that all detainees be released to their families and communities, and not transferred to other facilities across the country. Its also a fact that the increasing raids and arrests are intensifying the fear experienced by migrants in the state. We are all concerned about the safety of our families and communities, says Diego Bartesaghi, communications director for Make the Road New Jersey, who believes that the reopening of Delaney Hall will further fuel terror in the area. Since Trump took office, our communities have been living in fear afraid to go to the grocery store, drop their children off at school, or go to work. The increased presence of ICE and the police will not make us feel safer. Migrant workers at Delaney Hall Detention Center, New Jersey. Klaus Galiano Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Best of Your Recollection WILL TRENT, Pictured: Todd Allen Durkin as Captain Heller. Photo: Zac Popik/Disney 2025 Disney. All Rights Reserved. The episode begins with Captain Heller (Todd Allen Durkin) strongly urging Will to meet with his union representative and a lawyer. Stunned and in denial, Will insists, I dont need a lawyer. But it quickly becomes clear that his situation is far more precarious than it seems. The episode begins with Captain Heller (Todd Allen Durkin) strongly urging Will to meet with his union representative and a lawyer. Stunned and in denial, Will insists, I dont need a lawyer. But it quickly becomes clear that his situation is far more precarious than it seems. The story rewinds to two hours earlier, revealing the events leading up to the shooting. Will and Faith (Iantha Richardson) are chasing a fugitive, Paco Ortiz (Marsuvio Sanchez), through an apartment complex. They split up. Best of Your Recollection WILL TRENT, Pictured: Ramon Rodriquez as Will Trent. Photo: Zac Popik/Disney 2025 Disney. All Rights Reserved. Approaching a blind corner, Will draws his weapon and fires two shots, one of which wounds the suspect in the arm. While handcuffing Ortiz, Will hears another boy calling for help. Responding, he finds Marco bleeding from a chest wound, slumped in a chair. A glance around reveals a hole in the wallevidence that one of Wills bullets ricocheted. Approaching a blind corner, Will draws his weapon and fires two shots, one of which wounds the suspect in the arm. While handcuffing Ortiz, Will hears another boy calling for help. Responding, he finds Marco bleeding from a chest wound, slumped in a chair. A glance around reveals a hole in the wallevidence that one of Wills bullets ricocheted. Back at the precinct, Wills ex-girlfriend, Detective Angie Polaski (Erika Christensen), stops by his office to offer sympathy. Although their romantic relationship has ended, Angie and Will have been each others protectors since childhood. Angie recognizes that Will is underwater and needs someone to fight for him, as he refuses to fight for himself. At that moment, his current girlfriend, Assistant District Attorney Marion Alba (Gina Rodriguez), arrives. Angie tells Will, Shes here to help you. Let her. Best of Your Recollection WILL TRENT, Pictured (L-R): Ramon Rodriquez as Will Trent, Gina Rodriguez as Marion Alba. Photo: Zac Popik/Disney 2025 Disney. All Rights Reserved. Wills numbness and self-recrimination are evident as he wrestles with the gravity of his actions. Marions cold, professional detachment only deepens his despair during her questioning. Will recounts the events leading to the shooting, explaining that it had been a routine day until the fleeing suspect drew a gun, forcing him to return fire. Marion presses further, prompting Will to ask, Why are you pressing me? Her reply There was no gun at the sceneleaves him reeling, and he retreats to the restroom. Wills numbness and self-recrimination are evident as he wrestles with the gravity of his actions. Marions cold, professional detachment only deepens his despair during her questioning. Will recounts the events leading to the shooting, explaining that it had been a routine day until the fleeing suspect drew a gun, forcing him to return fire. Marion presses further, prompting Will to ask, Why are you pressing me? Her reply There was no gun at the sceneleaves him reeling, and he retreats to the restroom. A flashback reveals that the night before the shooting, Will and Marion had been playing Pictionary with Michael Ormewood (Jake McLaughlin) and Faith when Faiths son, Jeremy, called Will. Faith grabbed the phone and demanded of Jeremy, Why are you calling Will while ignoring my calls? Best of Your Recollection WILL TRENT, Pictured (L-R): Iantha Richardson as Faith Mitchell and Gina Rodriquez as ADA Marion Alba. Photo: Zac Popik/Disney 2025 Disney. All Rights Reserved. The gig is up! Will confesses he made Jeremy a confidential informant to keep him out of jail. Faith struggles to process the betrayalboth from her partner and her son. The tension from this revelation adds complexity to the narrative. Before the shooting, Faith tells Will she plans to request a new partner. Will is devastated. Did her announcement cloud his judgment? The gig is up! Will confesses he made Jeremy a confidential informant to keep him out of jail. Faith struggles to process the betrayalboth from her partner and her son. The tension from this revelation adds complexity to the narrative. Before the shooting, Faith tells Will she plans to request a new partner. Will is devastated. Did her announcement cloud his judgment? The episode doesnt shy away from procedural intricacies, focusing on two parallel investigations. The internal inquiry, led by Odessa Shaw (Kecia Lewis), is thorough and unrelenting, while the external investigation is overseen by the Atlanta Police Department (APD). Before Faith meets Shaw, she confronts Will in the restroom. They agree to keep Jeremys name out of the official report. I cant lie, Will insists. You can, Faith retorts. Youve been lying to me for weeks. Ouch. During her interrogation, Faith admits she didnt see the suspects gun or witness Will firing his weapon. Shaw reveals there was no gun found at the scene. Despite her anger, Faith declares, If Will says there was a gun, there was a gun. Meanwhile, Angie, certain of Wills honesty, leads the charge to find Pacos missing gun. "Best of Your Recollection" - WILL TRENT, Pictured: Jake McLaughlin as Michael Ormewood and Erika Christensen as Angie Polaski. Photo: Wilford Harewood/Disney Disney 2025. All Rights Reserved. Angies empathy-driven police work stands out. She builds a rapport with Ruth (Deanne Bray), a hearing-impaired woman, and her daughter, Lily (Margot Anderson Song), who distrust the police due to a past administrative error. Viewers learn that the police department lost Ruths sons personal effects after his overdose, delaying his funeral. Angies efforts to recover those effects earn Ruths trust. In return, Lily provides doorbell camera footage, which confirms Paco had a gunthough someone walked off with it. Will is exonerated, his actions deemed justified. But Marions assertion that it was a clean shooting rings hollow to him. His response There is no such thing as a clean shootingis a stark reminder of the emotional toll his job takes, particularly when he fails to save a child. Desperately, Will wants to confess to Shaw about the boys final moments. When it became clear the ambulance wouldnt arrive in time, Will and Faith attempted to drive Marco to the hospital, but they were jammed up in traffic. The boy died, shattering Will. Shaws cold words The boy died from a gunshot wound to the thoracic aorta. Any other details, you will have to live withleave Will devastated. The emotional climax of The Best of Your Recollection is both heart-wrenching and cathartic. Drenched in the boys dried blood, Will isolates himself, even from his beloved dog, Betty. When Angie shows up at his door, he lets her in. Their silent embrace is a powerful moment of connection in an episode that masterfully balances emotional depth with procedural precision. This is Will Trent at its finestunflinching, thought-provoking, and deeply human. Its an episode that doesnt just entertain; it stirs profound emotions. My eyes were brimming when Will scrubbed the blood from his hands. And that final image of Marions call going unansweredHaunting. Im eager to see where the story goes next. How are you feeling about Will and Faiths relationship now that Jeremys secret is out? Let me know in the comments. Overall Rating: 9:10 Lynette Jones I am a self-identified 'woke boomer' who hails from an era bathed in the comforting glow of a TV, not a computer screen. Navigating the digital world can sometimes leave me feeling a bit unsure, but I approach it with curiosity and a willingness to learn. Patience and kindness in this new landscape are truly valued. Let's embrace the journey together with appreciation and a touch of humor! This weeks episode of Will Trent delivers a gut-wrenching narrative. At its core, the series excels in focusing on its flawed protagonists trauma-filled past. The Best of Your Recollection adds another layer to that trauma, centering on an officer-involved shooting of a 14-year-old boy. The boy, Marco, (Nico Gomez) spends his final moments pleading for his mother and asking Will, Am I going to be OK? That one question encapsulates the raw emotional intensity of this episode. Lets review. 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 The prevention of future deaths report, written by Ms Schofield, reads: During the course of the inquest (which has yet to be concluded), I heard evidence that there was a lack of availability of British Sign Language Interpreters able to help support deaf patients in the community who were being treated with mental health difficulties. The start of the first international trip of the new U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, could not be more symbolic. This Wednesday, she will visit the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), alongside El Salvadors Justice Minister Gustavo Villatoro. The mega-prison where President Nayib Bukele has imprisoned tens of thousands of alleged gang members has become a symbol of the Trump administrations hardline stance on undocumented migration and the lengths to which it is willing to go to combat it. More than 200 Venezuelans arrived at the prison on March 16. Deported from the United States without due process, they were expelled under an 18th-century law that allowed for swift removals an action widely condemned by human rights organizations. A judge in the District of Columbia has since temporarily suspended the measure. Initially, Trump linked the deportees to the Tren de Aragua, a criminal gang founded in Venezuelan prisons that has expanded across the region. However, his administration later admitted that over 100 of those expelled had not committed any crime. In other words, they are only accused of entering the United States without documentation a civil, not criminal, offense under U.S. law. Noems visit to El Salvador where she will also meet with President Bukele, who has become the U.S. administrations closest ally in the region is the first stop on a three-day tour that will take the U.S. national security chief to Colombia and Mexico. Kristi Noem during a tour of the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Diego on March 16, 2025. Alex Brandon (AP) Next stops: Colombia and Mexico While Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has found common ground to address Trumps threats to impose tariffs on Mexican products, Colombian President Gustavo Petro clashed with the U.S. administration after refusing to accept a military plane full of deportees, an incident that Colombian diplomats ultimately resolved. Noem is scheduled to arrive in Bogota on Thursday. She will meet with several senior officials, including Petro, Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia, the defense minister, the police chief, and the director of the border control agency Colombian Migration. This is a select group of officials, responsible not only with the South American countrys international relations, but also for managing migration and the fight against drug trafficking. Not surprisingly, both are top priorities for the Trump administration. Colombia is by far the worlds leading producer and exporter of cocaine. Whats more, with nearly three million immigrants from neighboring Venezuela, it is the largest host state for people fleeing the Nicolas Maduro regime. Many of these migrants have continued their journey northward to the United States. Relations between the two governments went through a brief but very difficult moment exactly two months ago, on January 26, when the Colombian president rejected U.S. military flights carrying Colombians deported by Trump. In response, Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Colombian exports, and Petro warned that he would retaliate with equivalent measures if necessary. However, within 24 hours before the threats could materialize high-ranking officials from both countries, including Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia, brokered an agreement to ease tensions. Since then, deported Colombians have been flown home without chains or shackles, a practice Petro described as inhumane treatment. Instead, they return on flights paid for by Colombia. Tensions between the U.S. and Colombia have since eased, despite the fact that the South American country is the most affected in the region by Trumps cuts to the USAID cooperation agency. On Friday, Noem will arrive in Mexico City, becoming the first high-ranking representative of the Trump administration to set foot on Mexican soil during the Republicans second term. Her trip comes at a crucial time, with both nations engaged in negotiations amid the looming threat of U.S. tariffs the latest pause on their implementation set to expire on April 2. However, Noems agenda will not focus on trade, as confirmed by the Mexican president. It has nothing to do with the issue of tariffs; its about following up on the agreements we reached on security matters, Sheinbaum said on Tuesday at her morning press conference. In this tug-of-war over tariffs, the Mexican government has pledged to deliver results on security, from the arrest and surrender of criminals wanted by the U.S. to an increase in fentanyl seizures. Meanwhile, migration will also be a key topic in Noems meeting with Sheinbaum and her Cabinet: Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente, Secretary of the Interior Rosa Icela Rodriguez, and Security Czar Omar Garcia Harfuch. Mexicans are the largest foreign-born population in the United States. Additionally, as Washington enforces increasingly strict immigration policies, Mexico has shifted from being merely a transit country to a migration destination. Both Sheinbaum and her predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, have had to concede to the Trump administrations demands to increase border controls and reduce the flow of migrants heading north. With reporting by Juan Esteban Lewin in Bogota and Beatriz Guillen in Mexico City. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition 'The fire is stain on my memory:' E-bike blaze survivor bravely reveals ordeal By Bill Bowkett A survivor of a deadly e-bike fire is among 12 men taking legal action against the manufacturer in a first of its kind legal action. Nazmush Shahadat miraculously escaped his overcrowded property in Shadwell, east London, in the early hours of March 5, 2023 after his flatmate Vikeshs modified e-bike exploded less than a metre from their bunk bed. The 25-year-old, a Bangladeshi citizen who is studying law at Hertfordshire University, paid 400 a month to sleep in the two-bedroom flat, which he claimed was littered with bed bugs. Recalling the fire, Mr Shahadat said he woke at around 2am to find sparks coming out of the e-bike battery and that the blaze spread in a matter of minutes. The student, who lost his late fathers ring in the inferno, told The Standard: Everyone was sleeping. And first there was a sound, like a fan, and then suddenly, (the e-bike) was on fire. I said, Wake up! By the time they did, the sparks got bigger. We poured water over the battery. Another put a blanket on it. The last thing I remember was like a spray. First there was white smoke. Then a while black smoke. Mizanur Rahman, a 41-year-old father-of-two who only moved into the flat a day or two before, died in the blaze. A coroner concluded it was caused by the bikes faulty battery. Mr Shahadat, who now lives in Croydon, south London and has vowed never to ride an e-bike or e-scooter again. He said: Every time I see a fire truck or an ambulance, or the fire alarm goes off at work, I feel the same thing over again, It is always going to stay with me. A stain on my memory. Mr Shahadat is among a group of 12 survivors suing Leon Cycle for negligence, as well as landlords Sofina Begum and Aminur Rahman. Earlier this month, Begum, 51, and Rahman, 54, were fined more than 90,000 at Snaresbrook Crown Court after pleading guilty to housing offences last year. Leon Cycles have been contacted for comment. What has happened in the Dail is really regrettable, really unbecoming, really unseemly, but weve got to move forward now, because I think the people who pay our wages, our bosses, the people of Ireland, want us to get on with it. The commitments to fund more AI technology development echoes plans announced earlier this year by the Prime Minister in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, which pledged to make the UK a global AI superpower and boosting the economy by investing in AI infrastructure and also improving workplace productivity by adopting more AI tools. The Tanaiste told Mr Rajji that the Rooney family intends to attend the next hearing on September 17 and said it was hope that they would see real evidence of an intention of the authorities to see justice enacted. And initially, the very first plans are drawn out on a piece of paper, and we would draw out the set, or a plan of the set, and then we would just map out where the cameras going to move, how its going to get in and out of rooms and stuff. TOKYO - Japan and Brazil on Wednesday adopted a five-year action plan to strengthen their strategic partnership amid rising geopolitical risks and trade tensions. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and visiting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva agreed at their meeting in Tokyo to hold reciprocal leader visits once every two years and to launch a new consultative framework for senior officials to discuss diplomatic and defense-related issues. Japan hosted Lula as its first state guest in six years, highlighting the importance of Brazil as a partner that shares fundamental values such as democracy and the rule of law, as well as the need for multilateral cooperation in an increasingly divided world. The two leaders decided to promote dialogue to ensure peace and international cooperation in their effort to cope with what they described as "the weakening of the multilateral system." The previous state guest received by Japan was U.S. President Donald Trump during his first term in 2019. His return to the White House earlier this year has posed challenges to free trade by imposing tariffs and to global efforts to address climate change. "I hope to further strengthen our relationship with Brazil based on the action plan that covers a wide range of areas, such as diplomacy, security, trade, investment and climate change," Ishiba said during a joint press appearance with Lula. "Bilateral cooperation with Brazil is essential to lead the world mired in confrontations and divisions to global cooperation," he said. This year marks the 130th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Japan and Brazil. Brazil is a key player in the Global South and a member of the BRICS group of emerging powers, which also includes China and Russia. The United States is a key trading partner for both Japan and Brazil. Despite friction caused by their history and territorial issues, Japan views China as an important neighbor with close economic ties, while Brazil has been balancing its relationships with the United States, China and Russia. Ishiba and Lula discussed the situation in Ukraine, the Middle East and East Asia. The prime minister was quoted by the Japanese government as saying during the summit that "unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion should not be tolerated anywhere in the world." Brazil is a major exporter of agricultural produce and minerals like iron ore to resource-scarce Japan, which mainly exports industrial products, including auto parts, to the South American country. Prior to his visit, Lula's office said the president would urge Japan to open its beef markets as Tokyo has strict restrictions due to concerns about foot-and-mouth disease. As a next step toward opening Japan's doors to Brazilian beef, Japan will soon send technical experts to carry out on-site inspections in Brazil, according to the two governments. Ishiba said he agreed with Lula to deepen cooperation between Japan and the South American Mercosur trade bloc, which also includes Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Energy cooperation was also on the agenda, as Brazil, which sources most of its energy from renewables, is set to host U.N. climate talks in November. COP30 comes after Trump's announcement to once again withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accord aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Japan and Brazil underscored the need for the "full and effective implementation" of the Paris agreement. Lula is scheduled to conclude his four-day visit to Japan on Thursday, following an audience he and First Lady Janja Lula da Silva had with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on Tuesday. Related coverage: Brazil president, on state visit, welcomed by Japan's imperial couple TOKYO - Japan on Wednesday began accepting Palestinians injured in the Gaza Strip for medical treatment, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said, in its first such step since the launch of large-scale Israeli attacks on the enclave in October 2023. Japan will provide medical care to two women who have been hospitalized in Egypt, with the first arriving earlier in the day at the Self-Defense Forces Central Hospital in Tokyo. The second will also arrive in the coming days, Nakatani told reporters. The acceptance of the patients was arranged at the request of the World Health Organization and with the cooperation of the Egyptian government, and it is not intended to relocate people to Japan, according to Nakatani. "Japan will play proactive roles, not only in urgent humanitarian aid efforts like this but also in supporting the mid- and long-term reconstruction" of Gaza, Nakatani added. The two women were chosen because their conditions are "expected to improve by undergoing treatment provided in Japan," Foreign Ministry spokesman Toshihiro Kitamura told a regular press conference. A Defense Ministry official said that Japan currently does not plan to widely accept patients from Gaza. In February, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told a parliamentary session that his government was arranging to offer medical treatment in Japan for those who have "fallen ill or been injured in Gaza." Largely dependent on the Middle East for oil imports, resource-poor Japan has traditionally pursued a "balanced diplomacy" between Muslim nations and Israel, which is backed by the United States, Tokyo's close security ally. Related coverage: Japan to accept 2 from Gaza for medical treatment amid Israel attacks What's your favorite onsen spot in Japan? Three Kyodo News reporters -- Toma Mochizuki, Eduardo Martinez and Donican Lam -- discuss how hot spring resorts in Japan are facing water shortages due to a boom in tourism. Listen as they talk about how the surge in inbound travelers has affected other aspects within Japan, and their own experiences with hot springs. Article mentioned in the podcast: Japan hot springs facing water shortages as tourism booms Kyodo News presents a bilingual podcast for English learners about the ins and outs of news writing and how to translate tricky Japanese phrases into English. Have fun listening to journalists discuss recent articles as they occasionally go off on unrelated tangents. Related coverage: Podcast [English World] Episode 89:Fukushima becomes "dark tourism" hotspot Podcast [English World] Episode 88: Sinkhole in Saitama Podcast [English World] Episode 87: Japanese school experience Minister of Foreign Affairs Emil Hurezeanu met on Wednesday with Megi Fino, Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania, reports the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE). The Albanian official is visiting Bucharest at the invitation of the Secretary of State for European Affairs, Clara Staicu, for political-diplomatic consultations. The Romanian official expressed the support for intensifying the efforts of the two countries to reach the high potential of the special Romanian-Albanian bilateral relations, including in the economic and sectoral fields. The Romanian minister reiterated Romania's support for Albania's accession process to the European Union. At the same time, he reiterated the importance of the Aromanian national minority in the Republic of Albania, together with the Albanians in Romania, as solid bridges in the continued development of bilateral relations.The active role of the Republic of Albania, at regional and multilateral level, in security formats and economic cooperation, as well as as a NATO Ally, was appreciated, especially in the context of the multiple challenges posed by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. At the same time, the Romanian side reconfirmed its desire to continue the good cooperation with the Republic of Albania within the regional cooperation formats.Other topics of common regional interest were also discussed during the consultations, such as the consequences of Russia's war against Ukraine, the European course of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova and recent developments in the Western Balkans. AUR (Alliance for the Union of Romanians) deputies on Wednesday submitted a simple motion of censure against the minister of interior, Catalin Predoiu. Deputy Dan Tanasa told the plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies that the political party submitted the simple motion "From democracy to hybrid regime. Romania under the yoke of the political police set up by Minister Predoiu," which holds over 50 signatures from parliamentarians. "These days we are experiencing a real Stalinist persecution against all those who do not applaud PSD (Social Democratic Party), PNL (National Liberal Party), USR (Save Romania Union) and UDMR (Democratic Union of Hungarians of Romania). After you removed opponents from the presidential elections, after you canceled elections, now you have also left us without visas to the United States of America and you continue with the Stalinist persecution against those who do not applaud you, an issue that we cannot agree with and which is incompatible with any democratic regime. At this moment, you have put us alongside Papua New Guinea in terms of democracy in Romania, you, pro-European parties," Tanasa argued. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced on Wednesday that he will discuss with interim President Ilie Bolojan the mandate of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Head of the Executive mentioned that Emil Hurezeanu is "an exceptional diplomat, a man with expertise, with experience, an excellent ambassador", but the new policy of the US administration shows "a different dynamic". He was asked by journalists in Constanta what displeases him about the activity of Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu, and whether he is responsible for the "deterioration of relations with the United States". "I am not dissatisfied with anything in particular. It is obvious that the new policy of the United States administration (...) is in a different dynamic. Mr. Hurezeanu is an exceptional diplomat, a man with expertise, with experience, an excellent ambassador. I am firmly convinced that as Foreign Minister, for Europe, he would be very sought after, but we live in a different dynamic, I am not dissatisfied with anything else. Now, it is normal for us to rethink the collaboration and to come to meet the new administration in the United States. (...) This will be discussed, first of all, with the interim president, with Mr. Bolojan. Even if he is the interim president of Romania, the attributions in the foreign area, constitutionally, are with the president of Romania and I am firmly convinced that we will find the best solutions. I would not like us to remain with this not exactly true news: sir, Mr. Hurezeanu is not a good Foreign Minister! No, we live in a different logic," declared Marcel Ciolacu. Asked if he was considering dismissing Hurezeanu from office, the prime minister replied: "I am not dismissing anyone, I just announced that I will have a discussion with the interim president of Romania, Mr. Bolojan." "I do not propose changes or no changes, although it is my attribute. A different dynamic is needed in the relationship with the United States. From my point of view, it is normal that I respect the European Union, the European Commission, it is normal that Romania's place is in the EU, but Romania now has a security priority, and Romania's security is based first and foremost on NATO membership and the Strategic Partnership with the US. We still have a war on the border, Romania having the longest border in Europe with Ukraine, namely 650 kilometers. It is normal that we want a new approach. (...) We do not have to choose between the EU and the Strategic Partnership with the US," Ciolacu conveyed. He maintained that the relationship with the US "is not damaged", when asked how Romania is improving its relationship with the United States. "We are improving it every day, first of all, it is not damaged," the prime minister declared. The Prime Minister added that the announcement from the American side regarding the Visa Waiver Program is related to "the Trump administration's new immigration policy." "At this moment, it is an announcement, an announcement... It is not related to Romania, it is related to the new immigration policy of the Trump administration. The only Visa Waiver program that had not been implemented was Romania's. It is normal that there was a delay in implementing the program, but you will see that there will be some measures that will target all the states that benefit from the Visa Waiver Program. (...) We are waiting for all the clarifications," explained Marcel Ciolacu. The Prime Minister participated, together with the Minister of Development, Cseke Attila, at the handover ceremony of the Constanta Casino from MDLPA to the Constanta City Hall. The relevant Romanian authorities are in advanced negotiations with a potential investor to lease the workforce and facilities at the Damen Shipyards Mangalia (DSMa) shipyard, which will operate there and, automatically, maintain economic activity to pay employees' salaries, the minister of economy, digitalization, entrepreneurship and tourism, Bogdan Ivan, said during the "Question Time" debate in the Senate. "Since the first week of my term, I have been involved in this issue, which is an extremely complicated one, and at the moment I can tell you the conclusions of the discussions that I have had almost, I exaggerate, but almost daily with potential investors, with employee representatives, with representatives of the judicial administrator. At the moment, we are in advanced negotiations with a potential investor who will come to rent everything that means the workforce plus the facilities there, which will operate and, automatically, will maintain economic activity in order to pay salaries to people. Regarding Damen Holding's exit from the Mangalia shipyard's shareholder base, Ivan specified that a direct negotiation was agreed with the potential investor for the takeover of assets and debts. "From the point of view of Damen's exit, we agreed together with those two shareholders, because the state is an indirect shareholder, through the 2 Mai Naval Shipyard, at the Mangalia shipyard, we agreed on their exit, on a direct negotiation with the potential investor for the takeover of the assets, but also of the debts from Damen Holding [minority shareholder at DSMa - editor's note]," added the head of the Economy. Over 200 employees of the insolvent Damen Mangalia Shipyard were laid off starting February 28, and for almost all the other employees of the company, over a thousand, technical unemployment was extended until May 31, Laurentiu Gobeaja, leader of the Navalistul Union, stated on February 26. According to him, the unionists have made repeated requests to the central authorities to find solutions for the shipyard to resume activity and exit insolvency, but "it seems that the existing blockage continues, a situation that has dragged on for a year and a half, without evolving in anydirection." At the Mangalia shipyard, the Romanian state is the majority shareholder with 51%, and the Dutch company Damen has 49% of the shares.. Regarding the over a thousand employees on technical unemployment, the shipyard administrator announced that the respective perod will be extended until May 31, Gobeaja specified. In 2023, the Damen group announced that it had issued a notice of termination of the association agreement concluded in 2018 between Damen Holding BV and the Romanian state, because "by adopting Law no. 187/2023, the legal framework on the basis of which the association between the Romanian state and Damen operated with regard to the Mangalia Shipyard was annulled." Subsequently, Damen Holding requested the insolvency of Damen Shipyards Mangalia, with the Constanta Court opening the respective procedure on June 19, 2024. In 2018, Damen invested in the Mangalia Shipyard, acquiring the majority stake from the Korean company Daewoo, then agreeing to transfer 2% of the shares to the Romanian state to become the majority shareholder, with 51%, on the condition that the Dutch partner has operational and managerial control of the shipyard. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. The brouhaha over the group text involving top members of the Trump national security team is rapidly coming down to two questions: One, how did the participants in the group, which included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, national security adviser Mike Waltz, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and others somehow come to include the virulently anti-Trump journalist Jeffrey Goldberg? And two, did the running conversation, conducted on the commercially available encrypted app Signal, include classified information about the U.S. attack on the Houthis in Yemen on March 15? Waltz, who created the group and is the focus of much discussion, did his first media interview Tuesday night with Fox News's Laura Ingraham. The first question, of course, was how Goldberg, a leading figure in the anti-Trump Resistance, got into a conversation that was supposedly limited to very senior administration officials. Waltz conceded that the episode was embarrassing and said the White House has engaged Elon Musk, chief of the Department of Government Efficiency, and his experts to investigate how Goldberg's number was included in the group text. Waltz said, "I can tell you for 100% I don't know this guy [Goldberg]," Waltz said. "I know him by his horrible reputation, and he really is the bottom scum of journalists. I don't text him, he wasn't on my phone, and we're going to figure out how this happened." "So you don't know what staffer was responsible for this?" Ingraham asked. Waltz did not answer the question and instead said that he, Waltz, built the group and takes full responsibility: "My job is to make sure everything is coordinated." When Ingraham pressed, Waltz said, "Have you ever had somebody's contact that shows their name and then you have somebody else's number there? You've got somebody else's number on someone else's contact, so of course I didn't see this loser in the group. It looked like someone else. Now, whether he did it deliberately or it happened in some other technical mean is something we're trying to figure out." Ingraham pressed again, "But how did it end up on your phone? That's a pretty big problem." Waltz answered, "That's what we're trying to figure out." Waltz also said there was one person who was supposed to be a participant but who was not on the group text. "The person that I thought was on there was never on there," he said. Questioned by Ingraham, Waltz declined to name that person. So the news on question one was that Waltz said there was some sort of mix-up in which he or his staff had a contact with a mismatched name and number, he would not name any staff person who might have played a role in the matter, he did not name the intended group participant who never participated, and, finally, the investigation now includes Musk and his technical staff playing a key role. On question two, the classified information question, the allegation stems from Goldberg's assertion that Hegseth contributed a post that "contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing." Late Monday, in an interview on CNN, Goldberg said Hegseth "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 were happening." A little earlier on Monday, Hegseth said flatly, "Nobody was texting war plans, and that's all I have to say about that." In the interview with Ingraham, Waltz said, more clearly than any other top administration official, that the text group exchanges did not include classified information. When Ingraham asked, "But there's no classified information in this exchange?" Waltz nodded and said, "No classified information." Waltz added that he would nevertheless prefer that the information remain secret. Earlier Tuesday, two participants in the group text, Gabbard and Ratcliffe, told the Senate Intelligence Committee that they had not discussed or contributed classified information in the group text. But under questioning from Democrats, Ratcliffe speculated that Hegseth might have declassified the information: "The secretary of defense is the original classification authority, and my understanding is that his comments are that any information that he shared was not classified." Despite all the denials, what happened is still not clear to outsiders. Goldberg is a journalist who, when it comes to his attacks on President Donald Trump, has always operated on the edges of credibility; in recent years, he has become known, certainly in Republican circles, as the author of sensational, high-impact attacks on Trump that could not be verified. Trumpworld has good reason to hold him in low regard. On the other hand, if the group text contained anything resembling the information Goldberg claims, it is hard to see how it was not classified in the hours before the attack, when Hegseth apparently shared the information with the group. Like the how-was-Goldberg-included question, this one remains unclear. So that is where things stand right now. At the moment, Republicans on Capitol Hill don't seem terribly concerned about the story, believing it will fade quickly even as Democrats try to keep it alive. The GOP position is supported by two important facts: One, the Yemen operation was a complete success for the United States, and two, Trump has voiced strong support for his administration's officials. That will help Republicans as they try to move on. But at the same time, at least so far, the things we know just don't fully add up. There is more to learn. WASHINGTON - China poses the most comprehensive military threat to the national security of the United States and aims to outstrip it as the top artificial intelligence power by 2030, an intelligence report said Tuesday. The report, released by the U.S. intelligence community, named China, Iran, North Korea and Russia as major state actors challenging American interests on multiple fronts, spanning traditional national security to cyber, trade and technology. "China stands out as the actor most capable of threatening U.S. interests globally, though it is also more cautious than Russia, Iran and North Korea about risking its economic and diplomatic image in the world by being too aggressive and disruptive," the community's annual threat assessment said. The report warned that China's technological advancement, driven by a whole-of-government approach, and its dominance in the mining and processing of several minerals vital for the semiconductor industry, such as gallium and germanium, will present myriad challenges. "China has stolen hundreds of gigabytes of intellectual property from companies in Asia, Europe and North America in an effort to leapfrog over technological hurdles," it said. While drawing attention to China's rapid military modernization, it said the People's Liberation Army "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." The assessment also highlighted North Korea's strengthening partnership with Russia. It said North Korea's reliance on China has been reduced, with the increased cooperation with Russia helping the regime of Kim Jong Un financially, militarily and diplomatically. "North Korea is probably prepared to conduct a nuclear test," while continuing to flight-test intercontinental ballistic missiles to threaten the United States and its allies Japan and South Korea, as well as other countries, it said. Related coverage: Japan looks to AI to keep cherry blossom culture alive Japan PM seeks "future-oriented" ties with China, South Korea China startup unveils AI-powered humanoid robot priced at $27,500 The Romanian state has put in huge efforts, invested a lot and met all the requirements of the Visa Waiver Program, therefore the government expects the review procedure to not take very long and have a positive outcome for Romania, Minister of Economy, Digital Transformation, Entrepreneurship and Tourism Bogdan Ivan declared at the Palace of Parliament on Wednesday. "Romania has made huge efforts, met all the requirements of the Visa Waiver Program, we even had the formal written approval of the Homeland Security on this subject, and Romania is not the only country subjected to the current review procedure, but all the VWP states. Given that Romania has already met all the conditions, we obviously expect a positive result," Ivan said when asked about this topic at the Government Question Time. The healthcare sector in Romania is one of the sectors with the lowest maturity in terms of cybersecurity and digital transformation, the general director of the National Cybersecurity Directorate (DNSC), Dan Cimpean, said on Wednesday at the closing conference of the "Romanian Cyber Care Health" (RO-CCH) project. "The healthcare sector, in terms of cybersecurity and from the point of view of the regulations that we have in Romania, is one of the very important sectors. In the healthcare sector, according to the NIS 2 Directive, transposed into Romanian legislation, we have important and essential entities. What we can observe not only in Romania, but also the equivalent agencies of the directorates at the level of the European Union, is that, unfortunately, the healthcare sector is one of the sectors with the lowest maturity in terms of cybersecurity and digital transformation, which creates a lot of problems, because it is very difficult to raise a level of maturity in an accelerated and fast way. On the other hand, in the cybersecurity area, difficult and very, very worrying things are happening. It is to be expected that once the situation between Russia and Ukraine calms down, in one form or another, even if there is a temporary truce, even if there is a sustainable and long-lasting peace, operations in virtual space will not cease. That is, the missiles and bombs and all that will stop, but cyber operations will continue business as usual. A lot of resources that are now being spent on bombs, missiles, tanks and will be allocated very easily in cyberspace. We know very well that there are no borders, everything is just a click away," said Cimpean. In his opinion, both Ukraine and Russia have extremely numerous teams of cybersecurity experts, paid by governments. "My estimate, and I speak for myself, not on behalf of the directorate, is that in Ukraine there are somewhere around 45,000 - 48,000 government cyber experts, at the moment, that is, on the Government's payroll, who carry out direct operations against Russia. Russia, probably, has somewhere the same number... So, paid by the government. When the peace agreement is made, some of them will be left without jobs, but they are people with experience, with infrastructures at their disposal, with tactics, techniques, well-run attack protocols, which they have practiced against the others and will start looking for victims in the rest of the European Union, elsewhere on the planet. Obviously, it would be very naive to think that if we do not act or do not take some measures, no matter what they will be, we will be protected. A cyber incident can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. My question is when it happens, not if it happens. Any organisation is vulnerable. The only system that is not vulnerable is the one that is unplugged, which does not work. We, Romania, are a completely atypical country. We have registered, with my colleagues from the regulation, I think somewhere around 700 more or less regulated hospitals. All these must have a contact person, report incidents, implement a series of technical and non-technical measures and so on." On Wednesday, DNSC organised the closing conference of the "Romanian Cyber Care Health" (RO-CCH) project, an event dedicated to the presentation of the results and the exchange of good practices in the field of cybersecurity for the healthcare sector. According to data published on the directorate's website, the total value of the project is EUR 578,870, of which EUR 289,435 is non-repayable financial assistance. "The general objective of the project is to reduce cybersecurity risks and raise awareness, in order to increase patient safety and trust in the healthcare system in Romania. The project will promote the exchange of best practices among the cybersecurity and healthcare communities, in order to raise awareness about cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities, as well as the exchange of tools, methods, organisational and management practices, with the overall goal of defining collaborative interdisciplinary schemes customised to this environment. Interested parties in the healthcare system will thus be able to define the bases of cybersecurity skills applicable in the healthcare sector throughout the European Union," says DNSC. Interim President Ilie Bolojan will participate, on Thursday, in the meeting of heads of state and government of the "Coalition of the Willing" on security in Ukraine, which will take place in Paris. According to the agenda, the head of state will take part in this meeting starting at 10:25 (Romanian time). Last week, after the European Council meeting in Brussels, interim President Ilie Bolojan was asked what the main goal of the Paris Summit was and what progress could be made. "At least in the coming period, discussions will continue regarding this plan that Europe supports in order to strengthen its defense, including to support that, after the ceasefire in Ukraine, which we hope will be reached as soon as possible, there will be some assurance conditions, in order to have a security that is ensured for Ukraine. And, therefore, Romania, even if, as I said before, we will not send troops to Ukraine in any form, will participate in these discussions, both the technical ones, which relate to the military area, because these aspects that relate to planning, strategies, and which transit, for example, in Romania, need the respective data, so that the General Staff can be informed of what is being considered. And we will participate in these discussions, that's what we agreed on and that's our position," Bolojan declared on March 20. Ilie Bolojan participated on March 15 in the videoconference meeting convened by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, where he emphasized Romania's commitment to continuing support for Ukraine and for efforts to ensure a lasting and just peace. "Our close coordination in this process remains essential. I underlined Romania's commitment to continuing support for Ukraine and for efforts to ensure a lasting and just peace. An unconditional ceasefire is a first step towards this objective, and Ukraine must agree to it," wrote Ilie Bolojan, on the X platform, after the meeting. The application through which Romanians can obtain all pension-related data could be ready by September, said on Wednesday at the Palace of Parliament, the Minister of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Bogdan Ivan. "By September we will be ready with the single application and I trust my colleagues at the Ministry of Labor that they will be able to fully digitize all this information, so that we can make it functional in the application (...). At the moment (...) we are in the final phase of this application. It will be ready in September (...). My colleague, Simona Bucura, did an extraordinary job, in a year or so, she managed to bring over 80% of all this data to the current moment in digital format and it is an ongoing process. The moment we have 99% of the data about everything that means seniority in work, we will also be able to operate that option in the single state application, in which people can, in a very simple way, directly on their laptop, tablet or phone, see how much they have contributed to the pension system, see how much they still have to contribute if they do not have the full seniority," specified Ivan, answering a question on this topic. "If they worked in another EU member state, they will be able to directly consult the contribution in that state, and the Pension House will be able, through the application we manage, to obtain all the information from Germany, France, Spain or anywhere else in the European Union directly, without having to carry out correspondence or have the person travel there," explained Ivan. The lack of strategic investments and of a clear vision for the development of the energy system are some of the criticisms leveled at Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja in the simple motion tabled to the Senate by the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), and which requests the minister's resignation. The motion titled "The Energy minister - a directionless leader sandwiched between green promises and gray realities" was submitted on Wednesday in the Senate plenary by AUR floor leader Petrisor Peiu. The chairman of the meeting Laurentiu Plaesu (AUR) ruled the initiative to be legal and announced that the motion will be debated and voted on in the plenary next Monday. "Romania is facing a chronic shortage of electricity production capacities. Mr. Burduja has publicly admitted to this issue, but his actions have not even remotely lived up to his statements. Projects intended to increase production were prioritized incorrectly, and those that could be easily implemented with minimal expense were blocked by a lack of political will. Simply put, Minister Burduja preferred to sign direct awards worth many billions of euros, while obscuring the transparency required by a public tender, completely ignoring projects that are easier and faster to implement and, above all, require much lower financing," the text of the motion states."At the beginning of his term in office, Mr. Burduja posed as a great supporter of green energy, speaking about Romania's sustainable future, about massive investments in renewables and energy efficiency. (...) Yet a 180-degree reversal of position followed. In January 2025, the same minister made a U-turn from massively promoting 'green energy' to attacking the energy transition. From 'investing in the future' he suddenly switched to 'this green shock therapy has to stop'. Moreover, he announced a report on the 'negative effects' of the Green Deal and proposed a 'Smart Deal', without explaining specifically what this means," the motion reads.Also, the signatories of the motion claim that Minister Burduja is "incapable of ensuring the stability of the energy system, indifferent to the serious problems in the field and inconsistent in his decisions.""From the crisis of the gas deposit withdrawals in the middle of winter to dubious privatization deals and sudden changes of position regarding the energy transition, Sebastian Burduja has proven that he does not have the vision, firmness and competence required to lead the Energy Ministry. This lack of strategy and commitment, coupled with a dangerous inconsistency can no longer continue. Romania cannot afford to pay the price of his mistakes. For all the reasons stated above, we request the resignation of Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja," the signatories of the motion wrote. The Senate's Legal Committee gave a favourable opinion on Tuesday to the legislative proposal for amending the law on the organisation and functioning of the AGERPRES National News Agency, which grants the institution the right to establish, manage and fund a Press Museum. "Today, during the work of the Legal Committee, I had the satisfaction of seeing two legislative initiatives I am the initiator of supported by my senator colleagues, which I consider important for the targeted areas. One refers to the establishment of the Romanian Press Museum, a project I launched in Baia Mare, one of the municipalities that pioneered post-communist media. I believe that a modern state must respect its history and values, and the press represents a pillar of democracy, the fourth estate," National Liberal Party (PNL) Senator Cristian Niculescu-Tagarlas, chair of the Culture Committee and member of the Legal Committee, wrote on Facebook. According to him, the favourable vote on the legislative proposal to amend and complete Law 19/2003 on the organisation and functioning of the AGERPRES National News Agency will contribute to the completion of this initiative. "The approval given by my colleagues in the Legal Committee confirms the appreciation we all have for the importance of the media throughout history," added Tagarlas. The Culture and Media Committee is tasked with reporting on this project. The legislative proposal initiated by a group of PNL senators stipulates that AGERPRES has the right to establish, manage and fund a museum, with the main objective of preserving, archiving, researching and promoting the national journalistic heritage. The museum will aim "to document and display the evolution of the Romanian press, from the first written publications to the digital age, including newspapers, magazines, technical equipment, archival documents, audio-video recordings and other materials of historical and cultural interest." The museum could function as an autonomous structure within AGERPRES, with its own staff and separate budget, or as a public institution of national interest under the subordination of AGERPRES, with its own legal personality. "To fulfill its duties, the museum may: a) collaborate with cultural institutions, libraries, archives, universities and media organisations to collect, digitise and display journalistic archive materials; b) organise educational programmes and thematic exhibitions to promote the history of the press to the general public; c) organise events, conferences and symposia on the impact of the media on society and democracy; d) access public and private funds, national and international grants for the development and modernisation of the museum infrastructure," the draft further stipulates. The explanatory note mentions that "AGERPRES is the main news agency of the Romanian state, in charge with informing the public, documenting social and political realities, and preserving the journalistic memory of Romania." "However, Romania currently lacks a 'National Press Museum' that would offer a historical perspective on the evolution of Romanian journalism. (...) This initiative contributes to the education of younger generations, the promotion of democratic values and the strengthening of historical awareness regarding the impact of the press on society," the explanatory note further mentions. Additionally, the Legal Committee approved amendments to the legislative proposal for amending and completing Law no. 184/2001 on the organisation and practice of the architect profession. "During the discussions, I proposed a series of amendments regarding legislative technical norms, to ensure clarity and coherence in the application of the new provisions," Cristian Niculescu-Tagarlas also wrote on Facebook. The insolvency legislative changes made in an untimely manner proved to be useless and ineffective, given that they were not applied because they were unconstitutional in some situations, Simona Milos, chair of the National Institute for the Training of Insolvency Practitioners (INPPI), said on Wednesday. The statement was made after Minister of Finance Tanczos Barna said in January that it is necessary to amend the Insolvency Law for the recovery of some debts. According to the minister, the National Tax Administration Agency (ANAF) has to recover debts of RON 124 billion lei from companies. "I believe in the accuracy of the figures. However, we do not ask ourselves the question: How was it possible for these tax claims to reach insolvent companies, as long as the tax creditor is the one who holds all the legislative levers for debt recovery in relation to the other creditors. It may be that an important part of this amount is receivables from bankrupt companies, in very old procedures, but which the tax creditor has not erased from its own records. As for the proposal to amend the insolvency legislation, we are all interested in the highest possible recovery of tax debts. Something needs to be done, but I would point out that, in the years that have passed since the entry into force of the Insolvency Code, there have been attempts to amend the legislation by the Ministry of Finance through emergency ordinances, without any kind of impact study, without parliamentary consultation and without consultation with the main actors of the insolvency proceedings, with the entrepreneurial community, with financial institutions and, last but not least, with the National Union of Insolvency Practitioners," Milos told the 11th edition of the "Insolvency Code" conference. According to her, "all these legislative changes have finally proven to be useless and ineffective because they have been removed from application, either by declaring them as unconstitutional, Ordinance 91/2013, or by the mechanisms of issuing preliminary decisions by the Supreme Court of Justice and Cassation." At the same time, she mentioned Decision 28/2018, which stated that "as long as the Insolvency Law and the Fiscal Code contain special provisions, each having its own regulatory field, but under the conditions of an insolvency and collective, egalitarian procedure, all creditors participate, including budgetary creditors who cannot enforce these claims outside this regulated framework". "We are using this conference to invite the Ministry of Finance to dialogue. We can find solutions together to avoid these untimely changes that have thrown the insolvency proceedings into chaos. There would be a few suggestions. Firstly, we have a restructuring framework that also includes early warning tools, but the framework is totally non-functional. The tax authorities are the ones that have the most data about the financial situation of entrepreneurs and are the ones that could be the first to sound such an alarm. A solution would also be to encourage the budgetary creditor to assign its budgetary receivables so as not to remain in this insolvency procedure that drags on and lasts a long time," said Milos. Representatives of central public authorities, specialist organisations and lawyers participated on Wednesday in the eleventh edition of the "Insolvency Code" conference. The event was organised by Bursa Newspaper under a partnership with the National Institute for the Training of Insolvency Practitioners (INPPI) and the National Institute for the Training and Improvement of Lawyers (INPPA). 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 The director of the St. Louis County health department is being taken to court again, this time in a lawsuit that raises questions about her management style and honesty. Dr. Kanika Cunningham is being sued by a former health department employee who says Cunningham told her last year to lie about a Sunshine Law records request. In a suit filed Wednesday in St. Louis County Circuit Court, Rhonda Belics says she refused to lie about the request and instead filed a written report about the incident with her immediate supervisor on Sept. 5. Then on Sept. 6, the suit alleges, Cunningham forced Belics to allow her car to be searched a search Cunningham personally conducted on the health department lot in Berkeley, in front of Belics fellow employees. Rhonda Belics actions are heroic. All government employees should rise up like Rhonda and hold government responsible, said Mark Pedroli, Belics attorney. The lawsuit, which also names the county as a defendant, argues that Belics civil rights were violated during the search. Sara Dayley, a health department spokesperson, said Dayley said Belics allegations have no merit and we look forward to holding (Belics) accountable in a court of law. Dayley said Belics invited Cunningham to observe items inside her trunk after department leaders were told Belics had come into the building before office hours and was seen removing items and putting them into her car. Belics worked as an office service coordinator and helped process Sunshine Law requests. She quit earlier this year after 15 years with the department. Belics alleges that when she got into the office on Sept. 6, Cunningham confronted her and demanded to search her vehicle. Pedroli said Belics felt coerced and did not believe she had any option other than to allow Cunningham to search her car. Cunningham also enlisted two others to accompany her to search Belics car, a security guard and deputy health director Damon Broadus, Pedroli said. Nothing improper was found during the search and no action was ever taken against Belics, the suit says. Pedroli said Cunningham was vague with Belics about specifically what she was looking for in the search. He added that Cunningham took several blank notebooks from Belics car and has never returned them. Belics suit asserts that the search was unreasonable and highly offensive and caused Belics distress, anxiety, outrage, humiliation, loss of privacy and loss of faith in her government. The specific allegations are invasion of privacy; unlawful retaliation; violation of state whistleblower statutes; and civil conspiracy, which involves coordinated actions to deprive someone of their rights. On each of two counts, Belics is asking for $100,000. On the other two, she seeks compensation for loss of employment, lost income and benefits and other damages. Belics suit is connected to another lawsuit that Pedroli filed last month. In that filing, Lisa Pearse claims that Cunningham and her department violated the Sunshine Law by lying about the existence of a shelter-wide euthanasia plan for the county animal shelter. It was Pearses request for records about the euthanasia plan that Belics was instructed to say did not exist, Pedroli said. But the plan did exist and Cunningham later conceded that fact, but added that she never planned to use it. Cunningham was named health department director in January 2023; she was paid $198,000 in 2024. The two civil suits about the euthanasia plan are not the only health department disruptions in recent months. In September, the Post-Dispatch reported that Cunningham hired her daughter, Ateshia Turner, as an inspector and gave her a raise. A spokesperson for County Executive Sam Page noted that Cunningham did not directly hire Turner. Then, several waves of negative news came in November: Cunningham came under fire when it was announced that the department would no longer use volunteers from the community to help at the countys animal shelter. At that time, Cunningham said she planned on changing the shelters operations and that it is going to look completely different, with a different mission and a different vision. No details of that vision or mission were provided, and the Animal Protective Association, which provided the volunteers for the shelter, has since withdrawn from its agreement with the county. Later in November, she drew fire from some County Council members, who claimed Cunningham misled them at a budget hearing when she said she might lay off some employees. Council members later discovered that layoff notices had already been sent out to workers about two weeks before Cunningham appeared before the council. Also in November, the Post-Dispatch reported that both Cunningham and Page may have oversold the importance of a pending health program. The pair trumpeted the fact that the federal government had accepted the health departments application to achieve look-alike status to operate its health clinics as Federal Qualified Health Care centers. But the acceptance of the application appears to be significantly short of the monumental accomplishment touted by Page and Cunningham. Rather, it simply was a step in the process, still ongoing, of getting the program recognized. Then in January, the Post-Dispatch reported that a high-ranking health department supervisor, Emily Varner, resigned because of Cunninghams toxic management. Varner said she was subjected to harassment, retaliation and bullying for 18 months. She also said that because of Cunninghams mismanagement, seven top managers have quit in less than a year. CLAYTON A St. Louis County jury has awarded $48.1 million to the family of a child who suffered brain damage after his parents claimed Mercy Hospital botched his delivery. Staff at Mercy Hospital St. Louis, in Creve Coeur, allowed Sarah Anyan to keep pushing for 12 hours during labor despite warning signs that her baby was in distress. Anyans baby was in the wrong position and monitors displayed warning signs about his vitals, her lawyers said. All the while, Anyan, a first-time mother from Pacific, didnt know anything was wrong. The only reason I continued to push was because they told me I was safe to do so, Anyan said in an interview on Wednesday. Mercy let us down. By the end, she had pushed for eight hours longer than is typical to deliver a baby. The verdict against Mercy Hospital, Mercy Clinic and Dr. Daniel McNeive, reached late Tuesday, marks the largest medical malpractice verdict in Missouri history, according to a news release from Gunn Slater, the law firm representing the Anyans. Lawyers for Mercy and McNeive argued during the trial that they werent responsible for the childs injuries. Mercy and its physicians never want patients or their families to suffer and believe in the care that was provided in this case, a Mercy spokesperson said on Wednesday in a statement. Mercy disagrees with the outcome and is reviewing all options, including the possibility of appeal. McNeive could not be reached for comment. His lawyer did not respond to a request for comment. Sarah and Blake Anyans son was born May 4, 2020. At the time, Sarah Anyan worked at Mercy as a nurse, but not in labor and delivery. Blake Anyan was a respiratory therapist and had worked at Mercy, too. Sarah Anyans water broke on May 3, and she was hooked up to monitors at the hospital on South New Ballas Road by that afternoon. By 3:50 a.m. Sunday, she was ready to start pushing. Roughly two hours later, however, a medical resident noticed that the baby was in a bad position for delivery and wasnt making progress down the birth canal, lawyers said. Sarah Anyan kept pushing. By 8 a.m., Sarah Anyans labor reached a rare milestone because the pushing stage had lasted more than four hours, the suit said. Monitors reading her babys heart rate displayed warning signs. By that point, babies should be moving down the birth canal, said Amy Gunn, one of the Anyans lawyers. If not, medical guidelines say they should be delivered by cesarean section. But that option was never offered to Sarah Anyan. Instead, McNeive occasionally popped into her room to see how she was doing. Sarah Anyan kept pushing. McNeive delivered three babies by c-section that day before returning to Sarah Anyans bedside at 2 p.m. to deliver her child. By 4 p.m., the babys heart rate reached 160 beats per minute, then 180, then 200, Gunn said. Nearly 30 minutes later, the child was born. But he was blue. He wasnt breathing. Medical staff rushed to resuscitate him. He started breathing, but he was limp, Gunn said. He was eventually taken to the neonatal intensive care unit and stayed there for 46 days, according to a news release from the Simon Law Firm, whose lawyer, Liz Lenivy, worked on the case alongside Gunn and her law partner, Erica Slater. Sarah Anyan has since quit her job as a nurse and now works as a full-time caretaker for her son. The family requested his name not be used in this story to protect his privacy. She said Wednesday that in many ways their son, now 4, is just like other kids his age. He loves Hot Wheels and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Hes funny and stubborn and brutally honest about his moms cooking. He wants to have friends and go out into the world and have new experiences. Blake and Sarah Anyan said the verdict $28.1 million in damages to account for the costs of the childs care plus $20 million in punitive damages will give them the resources to help him do that. He fights every day, and I think it was important for us, as parents, to fight for him, Sarah Anyan said. ST. CHARLES COUNTY An award-winning but controversial book will be removed from library shelves in the Wentzville School District following a vote by the districts board. Sold, a 2006 novel about a teenage Nepali girl sold into sexual slavery, was available to students at Wentzville Middle, Holt High and North Point High, according to a district spokesperson. The vote to remove Sold was against the recommendation of the districts challenged materials committee, a nine-member body made up of teachers, parents, a board of education member and a school administrator, who voted to retain the book without restrictions after reviewing it. This is absolutely wild, said Jenny McBride, Wentzvilles English curriculum coordinator. This is a book in the library. This isnt a book thats taught in classrooms as part of the curriculum or required reading in any way. But the board aligned with the committee and decided to keep three other challenged books: Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, November 9 by Colleen Hoover and The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley. Three of the four titles were challenged by parent Candice Doerr, according to district records. Doerr declined to speak with a reporter. In a Saturday post on Facebook, Doerr said the disgusting smut (Wentzville School District) freely provides to minor students is abhorrent. The protection of young, innocent minds should be a priority over protecting award winning, sexually explicit books, she wrote. Doerrs challenge of Sold quoted nine scenes of child or sex abuse told from the point of view of the books 13-year-old protagonist. Pen America listed Sold as the most banned book in America for the 2023-2024 school year, with 85 school districts reportedly pulling it from shelves. Committee members said the book exposed readers to cultural differences and the effects of sexual slavery, with a theme of resilience. They noted the book did not use curse words or colloquial terms for body parts that make the book seem raunchy. The board voted 3-4 on a motion to approve the committees recommendation to retain Sold. Jen Olson, Renee Henke and Katie Lyczak were the only board members to vote against keeping all four books. I believe there is a large amount throughout this book of non-consensual, pedophilia, sexual content that is not age appropriate for minor children, Olson said of Sold. Joe Kohlburn, chair of the Missouri Library Associations Intellectual Freedom Committee, said attempting to remove or ban books accomplishes nothing other than undermining institutions that are there to serve everyone. We do not serve students by pretending traumatic events arent real, we do not serve students by denying them the right to learn more about the reality of the world around them, Kohlburn said. Wentzville students will still be allowed to bring Sold to district schools, Brynne Cramer, chief communications officer, said. The book just wont be available in the districts own collections. Patricia McCormick, the author of Sold, based her novel on interviews she conducted with girls in India and Nepal who had been sold into slavery. In a 2023 New York Times essay, McCormick said the book, a National Book Award finalist, has caused some youth to come forward and report their own experiences with sexual abuse. The appropriateness of books and other educational content has been a hot topic in St. Charles County in recent years. Last summer, the Francis Howell Board of Education considered a policy that would have required the board to approve all library materials before theyre purchased, but eventually decided to include all library purchases as informational items on monthly meeting agendas for public review. The St. Charles County Parents Association created an online catalog of books held by the five school districts in St. Charles County and rates them on appropriateness. The groups website details a step-by-step process on how to challenge a book, with a last ditch effort of filing police reports if districts chose to retain illegal material. Sold is the second title removed by Wentzville since the district received national headlines for its initial decision to remove Toni Morrison's novel The Bluest Eye from schools. The American Civil Liberties Union sued the district in 2022 on behalf of two students who argued the books removal violated their civil rights. The board decided to bring the book back 10 days after the lawsuit was filed in federal court. Wentzvilles school board has considered at least 12 challenged books since 2022. The challenges were brought by six people, with one woman, Amber Crawford, filing five challenges. The board, for the most part, has agreed to keep the titles. Only three of the 12 challenged books, including Sold, were rejected by the board. The board voted in 2022 to remove Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic Paperback by Alison Bechdel and Flamer by Mike Curato. Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct which board members voted against keeping the four books challenged at the Wentzville school board meeting on March 20. ADEN, Yemen, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi militants said that the ongoing U.S. military attacks will not deter their operations in support of Gaza, as tensions in the Red Sea continue to escalate. In a televised address Tuesday night marking "National Resilience Day" commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Saudi-led coalition's initial airstrikes, Mahdi Al Mashat, chairman of the Houthis' Supreme Political Council, delivered a defiant message challenging the ongoing U.S. military operations in Yemen. Al Mashat directly addressed U.S. President Donald Trump, asserting that "the entirety of your presidential term would be insufficient to dissuade us." "Your decision to attack our country will not succeed in halting our operations supporting Gaza," he said. Al Mashat criticized U.S. foreign policy, describing the military actions against Yemen as "reckless" and lacking legitimacy. He called on the international community to adopt a unified stance against what he termed "American aggression" and "Zionist crimes." The Houthi leader emphasized the group's preparedness to respond to potential attacks, saying they have multiple options to protect their territorial integrity. The Houthi-controlled media reported that U.S. warplanes conducted 17 airstrikes in the past 24 hours, targeting their strongholds in Saada and Amran provinces in northern Yemen. The Houthis claimed these strikes caused material damage to civilian property, though specific casualty details were not provided. In mid-March, Trump ordered the U.S. military to launch "decisive and powerful military action" against the Houthi militia, after the latter announced their plans to resume attacks on Israeli ships in the Red Sea, citing Israel's blockade of aid to the Gaza Strip. ST. LOUIS The descendants of slaves forced to work at St. Louis University in the 1800s will have to wait on a promised apology from the schools leaders. Five days ago, SLU President Fred Pestello invited the community to a prayer service where the university would offer a formal apology for its historical participation in the grave sin of slavery. About an hour and a half before the 2 p.m. service Wednesday at St. Francis Xavier Church, Pestello sent another email saying the event was postponed. In a number of forthright and challenging conversations this week, it became clear that we need to continue the work of building relationships with descendants before we are ready to proceed with a formal event, Pestello wrote. We are saddened by this change in todays plans. However, this postponement does not signal an end to our engagement with reconciliation efforts. We remain hopeful for the future. The email came soon after representatives from the nonprofit Descendants of the St. Louis University Enslaved informed the university that they did not wish to participate, said SLU spokesman Clayton Berry. We respect their decision. The groups members have been pushing for reparations from the university since 2019, when they learned of their family history from researchers at the Slavery, History, Memory and Reconciliation Project. Robin Proudie, the groups executive director, could not be reached Wednesday. The research project, a partnership between the Jesuits and SLU to uncover their history of slaveholding, including finding and reconciling with descendants, was slowed by the pandemic and downsized in recent years. Last month, SLU hosted a Lights of Remembrance vigil in collaboration with Proudies group to honor the lives and contributions of enslaved individuals who helped build and sustain the University and other Jesuit missions in Missouri in the 19th century, according to the universitys website. The vigil was a significant step in the reparations process that would be followed by the public apology, Proudie told the SLU student publication The University News. Were here to take them (our ancestors) out of the darkness and bring them into the light for their contributions and for their sacrifice. We are a living testament, and we will not stop until everyone who walks through these doors knows who along with the Jesuit founders were there doing the heavy lifting, Proudie said at the vigil. The Jesuits, a Roman Catholic religious order that has guided SLU since its founding in 1818, were slaveholders in the region starting in 1823. Jesuit pioneers like Pierre-Jean De Smet brought six slaves from Maryland to establish a mission in Missouri. By 1865, they had enslaved at least 74 people in the St. Louis region. The slaves were mainly forced to work at the university, its church and St. Stanislaus Seminary, which started as a farm in the Florissant area. Eleven SLU presidents were slaveowners, according to Proudies group. The apology from SLU was intended as an important step forward in an ongoing journey toward truth, healing and reconciliation, Pestello wrote in the invitation sent Friday. As we express sorrow for this deeply painful history, we will also join with descendants to honor the lives and legacies of those persons who were enslaved by the Society of Jesus at St. Louis University, he said. Leaders from the Descendants Truth and Reconciliation Foundation based in Baton Rouge had traveled to St. Louis to attend the prayer service and apology, including president Monique Trusclair Maddox, and the Rev. Tim Kesicki, a founding partner and past president of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Maddox and Kesicki declined to comment Wednesday after the service was canceled. The foundation started in 2016, after Georgetown University apologized for its role in slavery, to support reconciliations by other Jesuit-affiliated organizations. JEFFERSON CITY Groups representing restaurants, grocery stores and industrial interests Wednesday cheered a Republican-backed proposal to undermine a voter-approved initiative giving Missouri workers paid sick leave. In a meeting of the Senate General Laws Committee, the organizations said legislation stripping a sick leave provision out of a law approved by 57% of Missouri voters in November would help companies avoid reducing their workforces or closing their doors. There is a fix. It is to eliminate this, said Buddy Lahl, the CEO of the Missouri Restaurant Association. Its a slippery slope were heading down here. We really believe this legislation is a job killer, added Kara Corches, president of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The hearing, which is the latest stop for the bill as it moves through the Legislature, featured a lengthy list of interest groups supporting Rep. Sherri Gallicks proposal. Im fearful this could impact Missouri businesses, said Gallick, R-Belton. Democrats and advocates for workers called the move a mistake. I am troubled as a consumer, a customer, that people would have to go to work sick, said Sen. Tracy McCreery, D-Olivette. The measure, which advanced out of the House earlier this month, requires employers with yearly business receipts greater than $500,000 to provide at least one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked. Companies with fewer than 15 workers must allow workers to use at least 40 hours per year, with larger employers mandated to allow at least 56 hours. The successful ballot initiative also increased the state minimum wage. It was set at $13.75 on Jan. 1 and will increase to $15 an hour on Jan. 1, 2026. Gallick told the panel that the sick leave mandate increases the workload on other employees. Time off should be left up to individual businesses to determine. This issue should be decided between and employer and employee, Gallick said. Richard Von Glahn, organizing director of Missouri Jobs with Justice, which backed the ballot initiative, said the new Missouri requirements are modeled after those in 15 other states. He said the campaign was successful in both Democrat and Republican areas of the state. It won in rural counties, suburban counties and urban counties, Von Glahn said. The debate about overturning the will of the voters is not new in the GOP-controlled Legislature. Lawmakers previously attempted to block the implementation of a voter-approved expansion of Medicaid and overrode a voter-endorsed legislative redistricting initiative. House Speaker Jon Patterson defended the latest maneuver in an opinion piece Tuesday in the Kansas City Star, saying changes are needed in the sick leave provisions to avoid job losses and company closures. Specifically, he argued that the sick time provisions could lead to employees taking time off with little notice, leaving employers without key workers. As a physician who has worked across many health care facilities, I know firsthand the chaos this will cause Missouri health care systems. A nurse in an intensive care unit taking care of critically ill patients will now be able to take sick leave at any time of the day, in as many minute increments as they choose, he wrote. As businesses are preparing to comply with the new law, it has become clear that Prop A mandates will be a heavy financial burden for many of them. This change will result in employees being let go, companies going out of business, and will make businesses think twice about opening in or relocating to Missouri, Patterson added. The legislative action comes as business groups are fighting the changes on a different front. Earlier this month, they took their case to the Missouri Supreme Court, hoping the seven-member panel will torpedo the changes. The Senate panel voted Wednesday to recommend the bill. The legislation is House Bill 567. Editors note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said the committee did not vote on the measure. LONDON As wake-up calls go, the alarms don't 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 that 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." "It's 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 Trump's blunt "America First" approach and disregard for friendly nations. Melvin said that for America's allies, "the alarm clock's 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 Starmer's 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." France's 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 Trump's 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 don't 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. Asked if he had concerns about sharing intelligence with the U.S. after the Signal incident, Carney said "it's 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. "We've 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 Britain's 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 King's College London, said "the professionals and old hands" who "contained the damage" during Trump's first term are largely gone. "So what we're 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), there's 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 nation's military might by not paying enough for their own defense. Trump has praised autocrats including Putin and sent chills through NATO during last year's election campaign with his comment that Russia should "do whatever the hell it wants" to members that don't meet military spending targets. "There's 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. "It's 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 Trump's 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. Trump's 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 shouldn't 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. Budgets are moral documents, goes the old wisdom, and its true. Governmental budgets at the local, state or federal levels are ultimately statements of values, of whats most important to the decision makers. Politicians may speechify about this priority or that one and the education of children is almost always given top rhetorical billing. But what those same politicians actually prioritize in their annual spending plans reveals whether theyre putting our money where their mouths are. What the current budget debate in Jefferson City tells us is that Gov. Mike Kehoe and too much of his Republican legislative supermajority arent willing to prioritize the education of Missouris children to nearly the extent they should. The Legislature is currently debating Kehoes proposed state budget for the next fiscal year, which would do two fundamentally problematic things regarding education: It would shortchange by $300 million the funding that the state Board of Education says is necessary to maintain adequate per-child spending; and it would steer $50 million toward the states private school voucher program. Separately, Kehoes fellow Republicans who control the Legislature are pursuing deep income tax cuts tilted toward benefiting corporations and the wealthy while reducing state revenues by well over $1 billion through the next decade. Taken together, its a one-two-three punch against a state public school system that is still lagging behind most of America in terms of school funding, teacher salaries and educational results. Missouri has long languished at or near the bottom of states in terms of teacher pay, which helps explain why the state consistently scores in the bottom half of states in terms of student performance. Kehoes predecessor and fellow Republican, former Gov. Mike Parson, last year signed legislation raising teachers base starting pay to $40,000 annually an improvement but still well below the national average of more than $44,500, according to the National Education Association. Gaps in actual average teacher salaries can be far wider in the more financially struggling districts. Kehoes refusal to fully fund what state education officials say should be the base per-student funding level in public schools comes even as he seeks to lower expenses for families of private school students, on the backs of all taxpayers. Missouris MOScholars program already provides scholarships of more than $7,000 a year for qualified students. That program is currently funded in part by tax credits for taxpayers who donate to the scholarships. Kehoes proposed budget would take that already-improper surrender of state revenue for private tuition and make it worse with a direct infusion of $50 million in state funding that should be going to public schools. The funding picture for those public schools will become even more difficult in future budgets if the current Republican-backed tax cut plan is approved. Missouri uses a graduated income tax rate that currently ranges from 2% to 4.7% of annual income. The cuts under consideration would change that to a flat rate that would start at the current top rate but could drop going forward, to as low as 3.7% over the next decade, if revenue targets are met. That would result in an estimated $1.3 billion in lost revenue over those years. A flat tax is one of those ideas that sounds like common-sense fairness until you dig into it. Paying any given percentage of income is a lot easier for a high-income taxpayer than someone struggling just to make ends meet, which is why graduated tax brackets were created in the first place. Consider this scenario against the GOPs single-minded obsession with tax cuts as a cure-all: For the taxpayers currently at the lowest end of the current Missouri tax brackets, the proposed flat tax could theoretically mean a tax increase. If theres anything good that can be said about the current Republican legislation, its that it is preferable to Kehoes stated long-term goal of eliminating the income tax altogether though it could certainly become a precursor to such a move. That would inevitably push more of governmental funding needs onto sales taxes an even worse form of flat tax, one that hits the states most financially struggling families right in their own household budgets. Politicians, including Missouris leading Republicans, are generally unanimous in publicly touting their dedication to educating future generations. Their constituents should closely watch the budget and tax debates in the coming weeks and months to see just how serious they really are about that. Follow the money. Taking over control of the Republican National Committee has allowed President Donald Trump to silence Republican criticism in Congress. No office-seeking or office-holding Republican for the Senate or House dares to speak up about the plethora of threats coming from the Oval Office against education, social security, job terminations, immigrant evictions and insulting our allies. Core principals that actually are what makes America great are being trampled on. Our Republican representatives in Congress are silenced knowing the re-election money wont flow their way if they challenge Trump because he holds the purse strings. Unrestrained political contributions have tipped the influence toward corporations and the rich. Regarding the letter to the editor "Missouri flat-tax proposal coddles the rich at expense of everyone else" (March 21): Let's examine this further, particularly the question of whether a flat tax is regressive, punishing the middle- and low-income individuals. The intent of the tax code is to provide money for public services, police and fire protection, road construction and maintenance, and a variety of other services including education. It should not be a welfare system with some individuals paying nothing. Since we all benefit from these services, we all should be funding them. In actuality, the current system is already regressive, punishing the middle- and low-income individuals who are unable to take advantage of tax minimization/avoidance strategies. Reportedly, Warren Buffett pays tax at a lower percentage than his administrative assistant. A flat tax is easy to administer and audit, requiring much fewer government employees to oversee. With an eye on public welfare, a flat tax could be coupled with increased medical coverage and free, nutritional lunches in public schools. On a national level, a flat tax could be coupled with a single-payer health care insurance system. Lloyd Hill Oakland Army Maj. Gen. Joseph Ryan interacts with a fellow participant in exercise Talisman Sabre in Townsville, Australia, on Aug. 1, 2023. Now a lieutenant general, Ryan warned in a speech at a conference of the Association of the U.S. Army on March 25, 2025, that the service is "so far behind" in adapting to the use of new fiber-optic drones. (Mariah Aguilar/U.S. Army) A top Army general, detailing new fiber-optic drone technology that defies jamming and has transformed the battlefield in Ukraine, delivered a pointed warning this week to an audience of American military insiders. We are so far behind, Lt. Gen. Joseph Ryan, the services deputy chief of operations, plans and training, said Tuesday at an Association of the U.S. Army conference in Alabama. Although he didnt mention Russia, the technology he described relates to a new breed of drones introduced by the Kremlin into the Russia-Ukraine war last year. Instead, Ryan offered up a word picture, saying a fiber-optic quadcopter has a range of 24 miles, can carry a 6-pound payload and is impervious to electronic warfare and electronic attack. The technology relies on a reel of fiber-optic cable that unspools during flight and allows the drone to evade electronic jammers, which have increasingly neutralized other types of unmanned systems. So equipment like the Dronebuster, which U.S. forces in the Middle East, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region have trained to use against such attacks, could be of limited effectiveness in dealing with the drones Ryan mentioned. Such technology has given Russia an edge, but Ukraine was quick to adapt, fielding similar drones of its own in recent months. For the Army, the Russia-Ukraine war has served as a laboratory to draw lessons from as it seeks to play catch-up and prepare soldiers for a high-tech future battlefield. The initiative, known as transforming in contact, seeks to empower units to experiment more freely with equipment and tactics. Ryan isnt the first to take the Army to task for its serious lagging in drone adaptation. A report last year by the Modern War Institute at West Point said Ukrainian soldiers trained by the U.S. in Germany were shocked by the Americans lack of knowledge about drone tactics. While Ryan didnt specifically address what the Army was doing to incorporate fiber-optic style drones, he said a wide array of new equipment is headed to units. The service is preparing to field more than 1,100 drone systems, hundreds of electronic warfare systems and 1,200 counter-drone systems, he said. Troops at the small-unit level have embraced the transformation concept and are coming up with new ways to put technology to use, Ryan added. For example, the 101st Airborne Division recently launched its own drone-making mission aimed at getting cheap aerial systems into the hands of soldiers for experimentation. That initiative is one of many across the Army focused on incorporating commercial-type drones like the ones Ukraine and Russia have used to powerful effect. However, Ryan cited concerns about the reluctance of some leaders to part ways with technology that is no longer effective. I think where we are taking risk is our inability to unattach ourselves from an archaic acquisition system, he said. Ryan highlighted resistance the Army faced last year to the cancellation of the Shadow unmanned reconnaissance system, a main feature of Army formations since 2003, as an example of what can hold the service back. We canceled the Shadow, and it was an emotional event for a lot of people, he said. And my point is that platform was not going to survive the first day in combat against a near-peer (enemy). Not one freaking day. Eliminating the Shadow without a ready replacement brought questions from division and brigade commanders about an ensuing capability gap. In the Shadows place, the Army moved to reinvest in more cutting-edge and survivable drones. This report has been updated to reflect new comments from the U.S. Army and NATO. A submerged armored vehicle used by four missing U.S. soldiers in Lithuania has been recovered, according to U.S. Army officials who say the search is ongoing for the troops involved in the accident. The M88 Hercules vehicle was pulled from a body of water at a training site where the U.S. soldiers were operating early Tuesday morning when they went missing, U.S. Army Europe and Africa said in a statement. Search efforts for the soldiers continue, USAREUR-AF said. The Army statement follows comments made earlier Wednesday by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who told reporters in Warsaw, Poland that he had seen reports that the soldiers had perished in the accident. Rutte said he didnt know any additional details. However, NATO late Wednesday walked back Ruttes statement and said that the search for the soldiers continues. Rutte was referring to emerging news reports and was not confirming the fate of the missing, which is still unknown, NATO said. The incident has sparked a search and rescue operation by American and Lithuanian authorities. The Army has not indicated whether it believes the missing soldiers are still alive. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the military will not rest until our troops are found. The terrain in Lithuania and other parts of the Baltic countries can be boggy and pose challenges for heavy vehicles. All of the soldiers were from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, a rotational unit deployed to NATOs eastern flank, U.S. Army Europe and Africa said in statement. USAREUR-AF confirmed that the soldiers went missing in the early morning hours Tuesday during tactical training. The search and rescue operation involves U.S. Army and Lithuanian authorities searched at a military site near the city of Pabrade, Army officials said. The city is about six miles from the border with Belarus. I would like to personally thank the Lithuanian Armed Forces and first responders who quickly came to our aid in our search operations, Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, V Corps commanding general, said in a statement. Its this kind of teamwork and support that exemplifies the importance of our partnership and our humanity regardless of what flags we wear on our shoulders. The 3rd Infantry Division in a statement Wednesday said that our thoughts and prayers are with our Raider Brigade Soldiers and Families during the search for our four missing Dogface Soldiers in Lithuania. The 1st Armored Brigade was among the first units to deploy to Europe in the aftermath of Russias 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The unit returned to the Continent in January to begin another nine-month rotation. Units within the brigade train in Lithuania, Poland and other parts of NATOs eastern flank. Suitcases full of cocaine found on a boat near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, by the U.S. Coast Guard. (U.S. Coast Guard via TNS) MIAMI (Tribune News Service) A routine patrol inspection by the U.S. Coast Guard off the coast of Fort Lauderdale led to the discovery of 550 pounds of cocaine worth millions hidden in suitcases. James Edward White, 35, was piloting a 36-foot Sea Ray named Bella Vita when he entered Port Everglades around 6:40 p.m. Saturday, according to federal officials. Coast Guard officers, conducting a routine patrol, stopped the vessel for inspection near Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park. White, the only person on board, told officers he had traveled from the Bahamas and admitted there were drugs on the vessel. A search of the boat uncovered multiple suitcases in the lower cabin, each containing tightly wrapped packages. Field tests later confirmed the substance as cocaine totaling a street value of $6.3 million, according to the Coast Guard. Homeland Security investigators took White into custody at the Coast Guards station in Fort Lauderdale, where officials say he waived his Miranda rights and spoke with investigators. White claimed he was initially hired to transport migrants but was instead given a drug-loaded boat in Nassau, Bahamas. White said he was instructed to deliver the vessel to a contact in Fort Lauderdale but was stopped before he could do so. Federal prosecutors have charged White with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and attempt to import a controlled substance. 2025 Miami Herald Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC TOKYO, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and visiting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva held talks on Wednesday, pledging to deepen collaboration in areas such as climate change and digitalization. Attending an economic forum, Ishiba described Brazil as a reliable partner in the fight against climate change and highlighted the synergy between Brazil's biofuels and Japan's advanced mobility technology as key to achieving carbon neutrality. He reaffirmed Japan's commitment to supporting Brazil's high-quality biofuels in contributing to global decarbonization efforts. President Lula expressed his hope for further economic cooperation with Japan, calling for more cooperative relationships between Japanese and Brazilian companies for joint growth. The governments and companies of Japan and Brazil signed about 80 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) on Wednesday for cooperation in areas such as decarbonization and digitalization, Nikkei reported. A view of the rugged coastline in Shelter Cove, The Lost Coast, seen on July 20, 2016. (Allen J. Schaben, Los Angeles Times/TNS) (Tribune News Service) The U.S. Coast Guard and a nearby fire department staged a laborious rescue operation Saturday after a hiker who strayed off Californias 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. 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, its not and that trail leads to a very dangerous portion of the cliffs above the beach. Initially, Pape said, the hiker at the top of the cliff was holding on to his friend by the hiking pole and couldnt 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. 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. 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. Thats 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. 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. 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 medically 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. Both hoists required intense crew coordination due to the loose cliffside, dead trees, and limited power, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a statement. 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. 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 its a relatively flat trail with little elevation gain, unlike parts of the Pacific Crest Trail, and most of it is on the beach. However, youre exposed the entire length of this trail to the coastal conditions, so wind, rain, tides, animals, all that kind of stuff, he said. Youre definitely in a rural environment. Thats 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. 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 cant 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. 2025 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The Polar Security Program aims to build at least three heavy icebreakers to safeguard U.S. interests in the Arctic and Antarctic. (U.S. Coast Guard) Bollinger Shipyards is moving forward with design work and construction of the Coast Guards first new heavy icebreaker in five decades, part of a program that has faced repeated delays and cost increases. The Louisiana-based shipyard recently secured a $951 million contract for detailed design and further construction of the USCGC Polar Sentinel, the first of three planned icebreakers, the company announced Tuesday. Work on the cutter began in August 2023. Bollingers predecessor, VT Halter Marine, first secured a contract to build the cutter in 2019 for $745 million. Bollinger purchased VT Halter in 2022. Construction of the Polar Sentinel is now estimated to cost $1.9 billion, according to an August 2024 report by the Congressional Budget Office. That figure is 39% higher than the Coast Guards own projections. Subsequent ships are estimated at $1.6 billion. The Polar Security Program aims to build at least three heavy icebreakers to safeguard U.S. interests in the Arctic and Antarctic. The Coast Guard initially expected the Polar Sentinel to be operational in 2024, but it is now unlikely to enter service until 2030, according to a Dec. 18 news release from U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security. The nearly $1 billion contract modification reflects the growing urgency with which their platforms are needed to boost our national defense, Ben Bordelon, president and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards, said in the companys statement. The U.S. now operates only two aging icebreakers: the 27-year-old medium icebreaker USCGC Healy and the 49-year-old heavy icebreaker USCGC Polar Star. The Coast Guards other heavy icebreaker, the Polar Sea, has been out of service since 2010 due to engine failure. By contrast, Russia operates a fleet of 55 icebreakers, while China has four, U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Fla., noted in a Nov. 14 subcommittee news release. In the Arctic, the Coast Guard projects American sovereignty in a region containing substantial resources that support a robust fishing industry, vast energy and mineral reserves, and new routes to facilitate maritime commerce, he wrote. Webster said it was no surprise that Russia and China are asserting themselves in the resource-rich region. To fill the gap until the new icebreakers are built, the U.S. purchased a second medium icebreaker, the USCGC Storis, for $125 million in December. It is expected to enter service next year. The Polar Security Program has been plagued by delays and cost overruns, according to the Congressional Budget Offices report. It estimated the cost of three heavy icebreakers at $5.1 billion 60% higher than the Coast Guards projections. Its been six years since this program was authorized, and we still dont have a final design, Gimenez said at a Dec. 18 subcommittee hearing. It only took us nine years to get to the moon. An F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 takes off for a Cope North drill at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on Feb. 5, 2025. (Dahkareo Pritchett/U.S. Marine Corps) Two Marine Corps aircraft made separate precautionary landings in Japan on Tuesday in response to cockpit warning indicators, according to service spokesmen. An F-35B Lightning II multirole fighter landed in southern Japan, and an MV-22B Osprey put down 120 miles west of Tokyo. Both aircraft landed without incident at city airports, according to the Marines. The F-35B, assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, landed first at 1:58 p.m. at Kochi Airport in Kochi prefecture, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing spokesman Maj. Joseph Butterfield wrote in an email Wednesday. Around 3 p.m., an Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma landed at Matsumoto Airport in Nagano prefecture, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit spokesman Maj. Edward Pingel wrote in an email Wednesday. Both aircraft were on routine training flights when their pilots received warning indications. No injuries or damage to the aircraft or airports occurred, both spokesmen said. Kochi prefecture is on Shikoku, the smallest of Japans four main islands. Nagano prefecture is west of Tokyo on Honshu, the largest of the four islands. A Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey participates in the Iron Fist exercise off the coast of Japan on Feb. 23, 2025. (Tyler Andrews/U.S. Marine Corps) Maintenance and troubleshooting on the F-35B was underway Wednesday morning in preparation of the aircrafts safe return to station, Butterfield said. The pilot performed as trained and prioritized safety by landing the aircraft in accordance with standard procedures, he wrote. Any decision to divert to alternate landing areas is made out of an abundance of caution to prioritize the safety of both our aircrew and the local community. No commercial flights were affected at Kochi, a Chugoku-Shikoku Defense Bureau spokesman said by phone Wednesday. A second Osprey accompanying the first landed at 3:35 p.m. and took off five minutes later, according to a news release from Nagano prefecture. The airport runway closed for 45 minutes beginning at 3:45 p.m., according to the release. The first Osprey was still at the airport Wednesday morning, a spokesman with the North Kanto Defense Bureau said by phone that day. Some Japanese government officials may speak to the press only on condition of anonymity. The crew is conducting thorough troubleshooting to ensure the safety of continued flight operations, Pingel said. One commercial flight inbound from New Chitose Airport in northern Japan diverted to Nagoya Airport in Aichi prefecture, and an outgoing flight to New Chitose was canceled, according to the release. I apologize to the citizens of the prefecture and people using Matsumoto airport for the anxiety this is causing, Nagano Gov. Shuichi Abe said in a statement posted to the prefectures website Tuesday. We are asking the North Kanto Defense Bureau to collect and share detailed information and to deal with this appropriately to ensure safety. The revolutionary aircraft takes off and lands like a helicopter but flies like a fixed-wing aircraft. Sailors man the rails on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in Puget Sound, Washington, March 21, 2025. (Japeth Carter/U.S. Navy) The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and its strike group arrived on Guam this week for a scheduled port call as its sister ship, the USS Nimitz, prepared to depart San Diego for the Indo-Pacific. The Carl Vinson and its escorts reached Naval Base Guam on Tuesday, the 7th Fleet announced in a news release that day. The group will likely resupply there before heading to the Middle East, where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the carrier amid ongoing U.S. strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen. Hegseth also ordered the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman to remain in the Middle East for at least another month, the Associated Press reported March 21. The Carl Vinson has been operating in the Indo-Pacific since November. This month, the carrier trained off the Korean Peninsula during the annual Freedom Shield exercise. The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson approaches Naval Base Guam, March 24, 2025. (Nathan Jordan/U.S. Navy) Meanwhile, the Nimitz and its strike group were in San Diego on Tuesday as part of their summer deployment, U.S. 3rd Fleet spokesman Lt. Mohammad Issa told Stars and Stripes by email that night. The carrier departed its homeport, Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Wash., on Friday, according to a Monday news release from the fleet. Exercises and port visits will play an important role during this deployment in strengthening ties with allies and partners through collaboration, trust, and shared commitment to advance a shared vision for a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, Issa wrote. The deployment may be the last for the Nimitz, the oldest active U.S. aircraft carrier, before its planned decommissioning next year. Issa declined to confirm if this would be its final deployment, citing security concerns. Separately, the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land arrived in Australias Northern Territory on Tuesday for a scheduled port call, according to a 7th Fleet news release. The tender pulled into Darwin, about 2,000 miles southwest of Guam, on its 17th stop since its deployment began May 17. The Emory S. Land last visited the Australian naval base HMAS Stirling near Perth in August, where its crew performed maintenance on a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine alongside Australian sailors. That visit was part of the 2021 AUKUS agreement, which aims to establish one British and four U.S. submarines in Australia as Submarine Rotational Force-West at HMAS Stirling. The ships Darwin visit is not related to AUKUS, said Submarine Group 7 spokesman Lt. David Palencia. U.S. Navy port visits to Australia and participation in military and humanitarian exercises emphasizes the expanding wealth of knowledge and coordination between our two nations, he told Stars and Stripes by email Wednesday. Workers at the Ronald Reagan building in downtown Washington wait for a bus at the end of the work day near a sign where the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) office name has been painted over near the shuttered office of the agency on March 18, 2025. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images/TNS) (Tribune News Service) The U.S. canceled two aid projects in Cambodia run by the U.S. Agency for International Development in late February one to encourage child literacy and another to improve nutrition and development for kids under five. A week later, Chinas aid agency announced funding for programs to achieve almost identical goals. Children are the future of the country and the nation, Chinas ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin said at the event, standing next to the countrys health minister and a UNICEF official. We should care for the healthy growth of children together. While Chinas announcement didnt include a dollar figure, the Chinese money essentially funds the same types of initiatives and development goals as efforts terminated as part of the Trump administrations dismantling of USAID, according to two people with knowledge of the U.S. projects, who werent authorized to speak publicly. Both focused on inclusive education and the most vulnerable children, according to news releases and procurement documents. They both provided school supplies, offering hand-washing materials and improving outcomes for vulnerable families and households, newborns and children with disabilities, according to the people. The price tag for the U.S. programs $40 million was small compared with the $27.7 billion in savings the Trump administration said this week it saved by axing thousands of aid contracts. But for Cambodia, whose national GDP is roughly equivalent to that Vermont, it was a big sum, and replacing lost foreign funds has been a priority. The State Department, which oversees USAID and may now absorb the agency entirely, said in a statement that the U.S. was funding aid programs that make Americans wealthier and more secure. At the same time, it said the U.S. had achieved significant progress by investing in Cambodias development over the past 30 years, partnering closely with the government. Despite changes in the U.S. approach to foreign assistance, we hope to see our relationship with Cambodia productively mature as we make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous, the department added in the statement. The contracts were terminated on Feb. 26 after President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk launched a sweeping overhaul of U.S. foreign assistance, which included dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development. Although its only one example, it appears to confirm fears voiced by Democratic and some Republican lawmakers, aid advocates and former U.S. officials: By slashing foreign aid, Trump is giving China an easy opportunity to fill a vacuum and gain a soft-power advantage in countries where the global adversaries compete for influence. Thats especially urgent in Cambodia, where the U.S. has spent roughly $1 billion since the 1990s. Washington has long waged an uphill battle with China in Southeast Asia, and Cambodia in particular. The Biden administration raised concerns about Chinese military influence at the countrys Ream Naval Base over the last four years. But more recently, the U.S. has moved to strengthen defense ties with the government in Phnom Penh, which granted an American warship access to Ream for the first time late last year. Diplomatic Gift Its a diplomatic gift to China, said Charles Kenny, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development. In every country where theres a serious USAID cut, if they put a small amount of money into a health and education project and say, Look, were ramping up, that does seem to be a bit of a publicity gift for them. And Im sure theyre smart enough to take it. Since the Trump administration moved to shut down USAID, terminate most of its foreign aid contracts, and furlough or place on leave most of its employees, U.S. lawmakers, development experts and national security professionals have highlighted the geopolitical risks of curtailing U.S. foreign aid in the developing world. Many of those lawmakers and experts have warned that China could move in, gaining further influence over developing nations after wooing officials in Africa, Asia and South America for years with tens of billions in loans focused mostly on infrastructure through Beijings Belt and Road Initiative. And it certainly has. China already announced funding for a Cambodian de-mining initiative that was dropped, and later restored, by the U.S. In mid-March, Beijing also announced an early childhood development project in Rwanda, where USAID recently curtailed contracts. And Chinese officials have reportedly offered to make up for funding gaps in Nepal, nestled between India and China. Will Parks, the Cambodia representative for the United Nations Childrens Fund, said in a statement that the organization and Cambodia signed a partnership with China in 2024, based on a proposal from 2022. It was launched earlier this month and complements funding from other nations, Parks said. Cambodia has made tremendous progress for children over the past decade, he said. But further reductions of aid budgets could jeopardize these hard-won achievements. Cambodias government was explicit about drawing a link. The Cambodian government works with many partners, and we never rely on any one partner exclusively, government spokesman Pen Bona said via text message in response to questions. So if one partner withdraws support, we seek to find another partner to replace it. China will continue to provide assistance to economic and social development in Cambodia under the framework of South-South cooperation, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Chinas aid policy remains consistent and clear, the Foreign Ministry continued. Chinas principles of non-interference, not attaching any political strings, not giving empty promises remain unchanged. In a closed-door hearing on Capitol Hill this month, Trump appointee Pete Marocco, who led the assault on USAID, was asked about the Cambodia projects and the timing of Chinas swift announcement, according to one person familiar with the session. Marocco brushed off concerns about China increasing its influence, this person said. Marocco did not respond to a request for comment. While Trumps team have said the canceled projects brought no benefits to Americans, Diana Putman, who retired as USAIDs acting assistant administrator for Africa, said the agencys billions in foreign assistance helped give U.S. ambassadors a crucial advantage. Their leverage and ability to make a difference in terms of foreign policy in that country is backed up by the money that they bring, and in the Global South that money is primarily the money that USAID has, Putman said. With assistance from Fran Wang and Jing Li. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a gathering at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu, March 25, 2025. (Asia-Pacific Center for Security) Americas allies and partners in the Pacific are important to the Trump administration as it pursues peace through strength, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday in Honolulu during the first leg of his inaugural trip to the region. President Donald Trump has made it clear that we will achieve peace through strength, through an America First approach, said Hegseth, whose remarks at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies were livestreamed to military and civilian leaders in the Indo-Pacific region. But America First does not mean America only or America alone, ignoring allies and partners, he said. It means that our military-to-military relationships must make sense for the United States and for our friends. Hegseth arrived in Hawaii on Tuesday and met with Adm. Samuel Paparo, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. He next travels to Guam, then to the Philippines and Japan, to meet with senior U.S. and foreign military and civilian leaders. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth presents the Navy and Marine Corps Medal award to Chief Petty Officer Pierce Decker at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickman, Hawaii, March 25, 2025. (Joseph Rolfe/U.S. Navy) He arrived in Hawaii amid controversy swirling around his role in the reportedly accidental leak of plans for a March 15 attack on the Houthis in Yemen to Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic magazine, via a chat group on the Signal app. Brian Hughes, the spokesman for the National Security Council, confirmed the veracity of the Signal group, according to Goldberg. Questioned by reporters in Hawaii, Hegseth criticized Goldberg as deceitful and discredited. On Tuesday, administration officials appeared before a Senate committee to deny that any classified information was shared on the group chat. Nobody was texting war plans and thats all I have to say about that, Hegseth said in Hawaii on Monday, The Associated Press reported. While Hegseth sought to reassure allies and partners of their importance during Tuesdays speech, he hinted that changes to those relationships may lie ahead. Where there are imbalances, we will fix them, he said. We will find them, and were going to fix those imbalances. We will right-size the obligations and responsibilities needed for modern deterrence and defense a large part of the conversation the admiral and my team had yesterday. Trump has long suggested that Americas allies, particularly those in Europe, rely too much on U.S. arms and troops. During his first administration, Trump pushed South Korea and Japan to pay more to support the U.S. military presence there. Hegseth told the audience the administration would achieve peace through strength through the triad of restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding our military and reestablishing deterrence. Hegseths emphasis on these three priorities, however, are more a continuation than a departure of the previous Joe Biden administration. The cornerstone of Americas defense is still deterrence, ensuring that our adversaries understand the folly of outright conflict, former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during a change-of-command ceremony in April 2021 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. [W]ell use existing capabilities, and build new ones, and use all of them in networked ways hand in hand with our allies and partners, he said. Hegseth told the audience he would look for opportunities to collaborate with defense industries and press hard to expand capacity and accelerate deliveries. He touted the White House announcement last week that Boeing would build the Air Forces next-generation fighter jet, the F-47, to eventually replace the F-22 and F-35 jets. The sixth-generation fighter would be the most capable, most lethal, longest-range, most stealth fighter jet the world has ever seen, Hegseth told the audience. It is unclear, however, what appetite many of Americas allies have in continuing to acquire advanced fighter jets from the United States. Some NATO countries, including Denmark, Portugal and Canada, are reconsidering relying on F-35 jets over concerns about American reliability as Trump at times seemingly regards allies more as foes than friends. Hegseth dismissed such misgivings as unwarranted. We will work with our allies and our partners to deter the Communist Chinese and their aggression in the Indo-Pacific, full stop. To paraphrase the president, I say to all of you who are here with me today and listening from around the region, we have been friends, partners and allies for a long time, and we will remain friends, partners and allies for a long time to come. But I need we need each and every one of our friends and partners and our allies to do their part as well, to be force multipliers alongside the United States of America. That has to be a two-way street. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Phillip Blaisdell, V Corps senior enlisted adviser, presents a plaque to the outgoing soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division after a transfer of authority ceremony March 26, 2025, at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania. (Austin Steinborn/U.S. Army) The U.S. military on Wednesday welcomed a new brigade in Romania to continue the mission aimed at deterring potential Russian aggression along NATOs eastern flank. The Armys 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) replaced the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division during a transfer ceremony at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, part of the U.S. Army Garrison Black Sea umbrella of installations. The soldiers arrived from Fort Campbell, Ky., for a rotational mission near the coastal city of Constanta, where they will train with NATO allies and partners, and work in other areas along the blocs eastern flank, V Corps spokesman Maj. Joe Bush said Tuesday. The 101st Airborne Division uncases the units colors. (Austin Steinborn/U.S. Army) The brigade is in a position described by military leaders as the most forward-based in proximity to Ukraine, which has been locked in a full-scale war since Russias invasion in February 2022. Both the incoming and outgoing brigades are transforming in contact units, considered the most modern and dynamic in the service, Bush said. On Wednesday, soldiers from both units gathered on a grassy parade field under overcast skies. Col. Duke Reim, commander of 2nd Brigade, vowed to strengthen partnerships in the region and ensure the security and stability of this vital mission. Army Col. Duke Reim, commander of 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, addresses attendees during a transfer of authority ceremony March 26, 2025, at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania. (Austin Steinborn/U.S. Army) After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Romania and neighboring Poland have become the focal point of NATO deterrence. Mihail Kogalniceanu, often referred to as MK, is located just over 60 miles from the Odesa region of Ukraine. The base is undergoing a multibillion-dollar expansion that will make it one of the largest in Europe. In addition to military facilities for special operations and ground forces, projects include schools, shops, pharmacies and a hospital for service members and their families. A potash mine operated by EuroChem Group AG in Russia. (Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg) Russia is scheduled to receive deliveries of chemical ingredients critical to the manufacture of explosives, ordered from fertilizer companies that have largely escaped international sanctions, according to documents seen by Bloomberg. Tens of thousands of tons of nitric acid and a nitric-sulphuric-acid mix have been ordered for entities and plants controlled by JSC Spetskhimiya, one of Russias biggest makers of explosives, the documents show. The contracts are one way in which the country maintains its military strength despite rigorous economic restrictions. The orders for the Spetskhimiya-controlled facilities were placed with subsidiaries of fertilizer producers EuroChem Group AG and UralChem JSC, the documents show. The acid types are key components of TNT, gunpowder and other propellants vital to Russias war against Ukraine. Yet EuroChem and UralChem have so far avoided the toughest of U.S. and European sanctions aimed at hampering the countrys military effort, as the fertilizers they sell are critical to farming and global food supplies. Many of the 11 factories named in the documents as due to receive the acids this year have been sanctioned by Ukraines allies for contributing to Russias war efforts. The plants also provide explosives for civilian use and Bloomberg is unable to verify how much of their current operations focus on non-military purposes. The planning documents, which include order-reference numbers, suggest the acid supplies have been confirmed and will be delivered over the course of the year. EuroChem is an important part of global food security, the firm said in emailed comments. Our products are intended for use in agriculture and civil industry. The company is not part of the defense sector of the Russian economy. UralChem didnt respond to requests for comment. Rostec State Corp, the sanctioned government-owned conglomerate that controls Spetskhimiya, also didnt reply to a request for comment. Spetskhimiya was sanctioned by the EU last June. Russia supplies about a quarter of Europes fertilizer, a business thats been worth more than 5 billion euros ($5.4 billion) since Moscows war against Ukraine began in February 2022, according to data published by the European Commission. The bloc is working to introduce punitive tariffs on some fertilizers from Russia and Belarus, though its ability to further restrict the trade is limited by a need to ensure food supplies are not disrupted. The U.S. said on Tuesday that Russia and Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire in the Black Sea, though the Kremlin said this would be dependent on sanctions relief for banks and other services involved in agricultural exports including fertilizer shipments. Nitric acid is a central ingredient in plastic explosive RDX and nitrocellulose, a key component in gunpowder. Nitrocellulose, or guncotton, is the most important ingredient in propellants for modern shells. As the name suggests, it is made from high-grade cotton, which is then soaked in a mix of acids. Just one round of artillery ammunition requires about 12kg (26lb) of gunpowder. Based on the volumes of nitric acid the schedules show flowing into Rostec subsidiaries this year, Russia would have the material to manufacture at least 6,500 152 mm artillery shells a day this year, according to Bloomberg calculations. Russia has the capacity to produce or refurbish some 3-4 million artillery shells per year, according to estimates published in 2024. Nitrocellulose can be used for gunpowder as well as other non-military applications, said Bradley Martin, a retired Navy captain who studies military supply chains at U.S. research firm Rand Corp. Most munition supply chains involve precursor material that are going to be moving all over the world. The mixture of nitric and sulphuric acid is used to make trinitrotoluene, commonly known as TNT. Historically, Russias military has also used it as a rocket propellant. The findings raise question marks over EU supply chains, which continue to include large volumes of Russian fertilizer, according to Mark Bromley at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Sanctions imposed on Russia can and should be able to prevent economic actors from conducting business with Rostec and its subsidiaries, he said. EuroChem, which is registered in Zug, Switzerland, is scheduled to supply through its Russian subsidiary about 40,000 tons of nitric acid to plants linked to Rostec, a company sanctioned by Swiss authorities. The documents indicate that UralChem and EuroChem have the capacity to meet a significant portion of the Russian demands for nitric acid and the nitric-sulphuric mix this year. UralChem is controlled by the family of Dmitry Mazepin, a tycoon sanctioned by the European Union. Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded Mazepin with the Order of Alexander Nevsky, one of the oldest Russian state awards, in 2023. EuroChem is linked to the family of billionaire Andrey Melnichenko. He withdrew as a beneficiary of a trust that owns EuroChem shares through a holding company after getting hit with sanctions from the U.S., the E.U. and U.K. Both companies are significant suppliers of nitrogen-based fertilizers. Nitric acid is primarily used to produce ammonium nitrate, a key component in the production of chemicals used by farmers. EuroChem and UralChem are so hard to sanction due to their significant role in the global agricultural industry, according to Nick Reynolds, a defence researcher at Londons Royal United Services Institute. These are bulk-material commodities that would be very hard to control, he said. Broader sanctions on these materials would be unlikely to constrain Russia. They would just set up new front companies in places where others are willing to fill the gap. Scheduling plans The scheduling plans seen by Bloomberg show factories including the Sverdlov facility in Dzerzhinsk and the Biysk Oleum plant are expecting deliveries this year. Many of the facilities named have been sanctioned by Ukraines allies for supplying Russias military industry, including the Solikamsk Plant Ural, the Tambov gunpowder plant, the Perm powder plant and the Kazan state gunpowder plant. Rostec is sanctioned by the U.S. and the E.U. The state company is headed by long-term Putin ally Sergey Chemezov, who in the 1980s served with the now Russian president in the KGB in East Germany. BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- China's Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) has approved the arrest of Sun Yuning, former deputy head of China's General Administration of Customs, for suspected bribe-taking. Sun's case was investigated by the National Commission of Supervision before being handed over to prosecutors, the SPP said in a statement on Wednesday. The country's top anti-graft authority announced an investigation into Sun in September 2024. Prior to his arrest, Sun was expelled from the Communist Party of China and removed from public office for serious violations of Party discipline and the law. Fort Eisenhower, Ga., is the Armys home of its Cyber Center of Excellence. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes) A Fort Eisenhower soldiers wife pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to second-degree murder for killing the couples infant son in a bathroom of their home at the Georgia Army base. As part of a negotiated plea deal, April Evalyn Short, 31, agreed to a sentence of 20 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and five years of supervised release following her prison term, said Tara M. Lyons, acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The plea agreement in this disturbing case represents a difficult but appropriate resolution to this tragic and shocking homicide, she said in a statement. Short admitted in the agreement that she used a knife on Nov. 15, 2023, to kill her 11-month-old son willfully, deliberately, maliciously and with malice aforethought. April Evalyn Short, 31, pleaded guilty March 25, 2025, to second-degree murder in the death of her 11-month-old son on Nov. 15, 2023, at Fort Eisenhower, Ga. (Photo provided by Jefferson County Jail ) Short remains in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, and Judge J. Randal Hall will schedule a sentencing hearing upon completion of a presentence investigation by Probation Services, according to the Justice Department. An attorney for Short did not immediately respond to a request for comment. At the time of killing, Short lived in a home at Fort Eisenhower, near Augusta, where Shorts husband Staff Sgt. James Short worked as a drill sergeant, according to base officials. April Short sent a text message to her husband at about 8:01 a.m. on Nov. 15, 2023, that referenced the days of darkness are upon us, court records stated. He rushed home and found her barricaded in the primary bedroom with the couples three children. The two elder children were 11 and 6 years old at the time. James Short called 911 and soon after police arrived April Short exited the room with the two older children and attempted to flee in a vehicle. One police officer attempted to stop her and was partially in the vehicle as the woman began driving away with her children in the backseat. The officer drew his weapon, and she stopped driving. Police arrested April Short and began to look for the infant. He was found in the bathroom bleeding from his neck and wrapped in a shower curtain. He was taken to Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center and pronounced dead at 9:34 a.m. The other two children told police that their mother cut the babys neck so he could be with Jesus and God. She also threatened to cut the 6-year-old if the child didnt stop crying, according to court documents. April Short told investigators that she knew what she did, and it was wrong and evil. Short initially pleaded not guilty and her attorney filed notice in July of intent to use a defense of insanity at the time of the childs death. Court records filed this month indicated the womans intention to change her plea. April Short will now have 20 years to think about her heinous actions, Paul Brown, special agent in charge of FBI Atlanta, said in a statement. 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. U.S. service members may maintain personal social media accounts but must ensure they are clearly identified as non-official. (Stars and Stripes) U.S. service members can discuss politics online but must make clear they are speaking in a personal capacity and avoid implying military endorsement, the Navy and Air Force reminded troops this month. The acting secretaries of both services issued guidance warning airmen, sailors and Marines to be mindful of how they express their opinions, especially on social media. Service members are permitted to use personal social media accounts to forward, like, or link to official information, provided it is done in a manner that does not express or imply [Department of the Navy] or [Department of Defense] sanction or endorsement of any personal content, states a memo issued Tuesday by Acting Navy Secretary Terence Emmert. Troops should also avoid disclosing non-public information, including unclassified details that, when combined, could reveal classified material, according to the document. Acting Air Force Secretary Gary Ashworth issued similar guidance in a March 17 memo. The First Amendment protects freedom of speech and permits the expression of ideas for all Americans, he wrote. Service members, owing to their critical role in our national security and the duties and obligations of service, have accepted limits on their freedom of expression. Both officials cautioned troops against engaging in political discourse that could be perceived as an official stance. Service members may not engage in partisan political activity while on duty and should avoid inferences that their personal political activities imply, or appear to imply, official sponsorship, approval, or endorsement, the Navys order states. Troops may maintain personal social media accounts but must ensure they are clearly identified as non-official. While using military titles or appearing in uniform is allowed, personal accounts must not use official insignia, symbols or uniforms in a way that suggests government approval. In cases where confusion is possible, service members should include a disclaimer stating that their posts reflect personal views and do not represent those of the government. Certain provisions of the Uniform Code of Military Justice also limit troops expression, including prohibitions against contemptuous remarks about officials, failure to obey orders, conduct unbecoming an officer, and actions that bring discredit upon the armed forces. The military has previously reminded service members about appropriate social media use. In March 2017, the Air Force issued a Public Web and Social Communication regulation barring personnel from posting any defamatory, libelous, vulgar, obscene, abusive, profane, threatening, hateful, racially, ethnically or otherwise offensive or illegal information or material. FBI Director Kash Patel, left, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, center, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, right, testify Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at a House Intelligence Committee hearing about the Signal chat scandal. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) House Democrats on Wednesday called for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths resignation for including specific weapons and the timing of using them in a commercial group chat with other top U.S. officials ahead of a surprise attack on Houthi militants. Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., and at least three other lawmakers demanded during a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing that Hegseth quit. The hearing came just hours after The Atlantic magazine published the full text of the pre-strike Signal chat that included President Donald Trumps top national security officials in which the publications top editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, was accidentally invited. The Atlantic initially excluded the specific details of a chain of messages that Hegseth shared in the chat in the hours leading up to the strikes against the Iran-back terrorist group, but the publication released the full text Wednesday after Trump officials repeatedly denied Hegseths texts included classified information or wrongdoing. It is outrageous, and it is a leadership failure, and thats why Secretary Hegseth, who undoubtedly transmitted classified, sensitive operational information via this chain, must resign immediately, said Crow, a former Army officer who served in Afghanistan with the elite 75th Ranger Regiment. There can be no fixes, there can be no corrections until there is accountability. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., said she would have walked my resignation in immediately, if she had been involved in a similar situation when she was an Air Force officer. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who were among the participants in the chat over the Signal messaging app, both stood by their testimony from a day earlier before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee when they testified the chat included no classified details. Both said Wednesday that they were unaware of how Goldberg was added to the chat and confirmed the National Security Council was investigating. Gabbard admitted the chain included candid and sensitive information and the journalists inclusion in the chat was a mistake. But they both defended the use of Signal, a publicly available encrypted text messaging application, as appropriate though the Defense Department had previously warned employees that it could be hacked. Ideally, these conversations occur in person, said Gabbard, who was traveling in Asia at the time of the chat. However, at times, fast moving coordination of an unclassified nature is necessary where in-person conversation is not an option. The new details shared Wednesday by The Atlantic showed Hegseth revealed F-18 fighter jets, MQ-9 Reaper drones and sea-based Tomahawk missiles would strike Houthi targets. His texts included approximate times that the jets and drones would reach the target terrorist and fire their weapons. It did not name the individual who was targeted or include information about the units conducting the strikes or from what location they were flying. Gabbard insisted the lack of such detail kept the chat unclassified. Further, as defense secretary, Hegseth can decide what information should be shielded from public release, she said. Defense Department guidelines generally call for information to be classified if its disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause describable damage to national security. The military typically keeps operational details about strikes and other military missions such as weapons systems, specific timing and units classified to protect the sanctity of the mission and the troops carrying it out, Houlihan said. This is not OK. Communicating these sorts of things in Signal is not OK, she said. Targets, times, those kinds of things are absolutely classified, and we all know it. I know it. Hegseth has said little about the issue. In remarks in Hawaii on Tuesday during his first Indo-Pacific trip as defense secretary, he denied wrongdoing and said he did not text war plans. I know exactly what Im doing, exactly what were directing, and Im really proud of what we accomplished, the successful missions that night and going forward, Hegseth told reporters. Republican members of the intelligence committee largely on Wednesday defended the Trump administrations handling of the situation and blasted Democrats for focusing on the issue. But Democrats warned using an application such as Signal could have opened the information to adversaries such as Russia or China, both of which have proven hacking programs. Everyone here knows that the Russians or the Chinese could have gotten all of that information, and they could have passed it on to the Houthis, who easily could have repositioned weapons and altered their plans to knock down planes or sink ships, said Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the committee. I think that its by the awesome grace of God that we are not mourning dead pilots right now. The Houthis have capable anti-aircraft systems and have shot down U.S. Reaper drones in the past, officials have said. The Atlantic, in its stories, said those capabilities were among the reasons that it held the story until this week about the initial wave of strikes against the Houthis on March 15. Democrats have commended the publication for taking such precautions, while Republicans, including Trump and Hegseth, have attacked Goldberg. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, said he knows from his nine years on the intelligence committee that the information shared by Hegseth should have been classified and only revealed in closely guarded government communication channels. He lambasted Gabbard and Ratcliffe both former members of the House for continuing to defend the chat as unclassified. The idea that this information, if it was presented to [this] committee, would not be classified yall know is a lie, he said. Thats ridiculous. Ive seen things much less sensitive be presented to us with high classification, and to say that it isnt is a lie to the country. Psychiatrists registered with the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide care in the community often encounter payment delays and scheduling problems, causing them to leave the VA system, according to a former VA clinician now in private practice. (Stars and Stripes) WASHINGTON Chronic medical staffing shortages at the Department of Veterans Affairs make it difficult for the most ill patients with mental health conditions to see psychiatrists in a timely manner, according to a former VA clinician now in private practice. In addition, psychiatrists registered with the VA to provide care in the community often encounter payment delays and scheduling problems, causing them to leave the VA system, said Shankar Yalamanchili, a former VA psychiatrist who now directs River Region Psychiatry Associates, a privately run multistate practice. Yalamanchili delivered the message to lawmakers Tuesday at a House Veterans Affairs Committee subpanel on health hearing. He said VA hospitals need the ability to contract directly with private physician groups to fill vacancies so veterans are not underserved or forced to wait months for care. The Veterans Health Administration is facing medical staffing shortages, according to a VA Office of Inspector General report that found severe personnel shortages in fiscal 2024 impacting clinical and non-clinical jobs. Shortages span nurses, primary care doctors and psychiatrists, among other roles. Missy Jarrott mother of Navy veteran Landon Holcomb told lawmakers that the VA repeatedly canceled and delayed her sons appointments to see a psychiatrist for mood-stabilizing drugs to treat his depression. The system completely failed him, she said. Holcomb, 39, died from a drug overdose in 2024, after his requests for psychiatric care were denied and then delayed, Jarrott said. All Landon asked for was a mental health appointment for medicine management. He raised his hand over and over, she said. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, the subpanel chairwoman, said she does not believe spending more to provide care at the Veterans Health Administration is the answer. In fiscal 2024, Congress provided $121 billion in funding for health services for veterans. But a severe shortage of doctors was reported by 86% of VA hospitals and clinics in 2024. Though the VA hired more than 300 psychiatrists since 2023, the agency has faced chronic shortages for psychiatrists for several years, reflecting a national shortage. Fewer medical students choose psychiatry as their specialty, according to the American Association of Medical Colleges. Approximately 40% of veterans require mental health services every year, said Yalamanchili, who urged lawmakers to be more proactive in addressing the VAs shortages of medical staff by considering alternative solutions that include hiring doctor groups to fill gaps in care. Yalamanchili offered insights about shortages and delays in the delivery of care to veterans with psychiatric illnesses. He said private clinicians who register with the VA to accept veterans as patients get frustrated by frequent problems in receiving timely reimbursements for the care that they provide. The VA schedules appointments that veterans have with private clinicians in the community. Yalamanchili described a lack of coordination by the VA that results in appointment cancellations and delays for follow-up visits. Private doctors are frustrated and leave the network, he said. But Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Calif., said here is a serious lack of oversight of private doctors in the community, compared with clinicians at the VA. We must find a balance between community and VA care, she said. Michael Urban, an Army veteran and clinical social worker, said he began taking prescribed painkillers after he was injured in an accident during a jump as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. Urban was medically discharged and had to undergo multiple surgeries for his injury. He was placed on a regimen of opioids to dull the pain a path all too familiar to many veterans, he said. In 2004, he began receiving medical care at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center. But Urban said there were long delays for addiction treatment and mental health care. Ive experienced the challenges of accessing care in the system, he said. Though there are shorter waits for health care since passage of the Mission Act, which enabled veterans to see community-based clinicians, he said there are sometimes bureaucratic delays in accessing community care. But Maria Llorente, acting VA undersecretary for the health office of integrated veterans care, said the availability of residential addiction treatment for veterans has grown, as the VA now sends veterans to care in the community when beds at a VA hospital are not available. Brownley said residential treatment is more costly at private programs, running to $6,000 per day. Jarrott said her son was booked at Charleston VA Health Care in South Carolina in May 2024 to see a psychiatrist six months after he originally sought mental health care and medication management for his depression. But Holcomb died from fentanyl poisoning before his scheduled visit, she said. Her sons drug abuse was an attempt to numb the pain from mental health problems connected to military service, Jarrott said. He was experiencing anxiety, insomnia, restlessness and mood swings. Landon knew that he needed a mood stabilizer, she said. Help did not come soon enough. 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) * Negotiations between the U.S. and Russia, as well as between the U.S. and Ukraine, concluded in Saudi Arabia without an official joint statement. * Ukraine and Russia remain at odds over a potential agreement on Black Sea navigation and a ban on attacks on energy facilities, while the United States touts "positive" progress. * Analysts believe a truce remains distant, citing deep-seated distrust and conflicting interests between Moscow and Kiev. RIYADH, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Three days of technical-level negotiations on the details of a potential ceasefire in Ukraine concluded here Tuesday without an official joint statement, as participating parties offered somewhat conflicting assessments of the talks. The intense parallel interactions between the United States and delegations from Ukraine and Russia on the table, including a 12-hour one between the United States and Russia on Monday, and two shorter rounds between the United States and Ukraine on Sunday and Tuesday, came as fighting on the battlefield remains intense. Although Washington signaled on Tuesday its willingness to continue facilitating negotiations between the warring parties, analysts remain skeptical about the prospects of such a diplomatic push, citing deep-seated distrust, conflicting demands among stakeholders, and the inherent complexities of the process. CONFLICTING ASSESSMENTS This photo taken on March 11, 2025 shows a damaged residential building in Sapronovo, Moscow Region, Russia. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi) For the latest talks, which build on previous negotiations held in Saudi Arabia and subsequent phone exchanges between the presidents of the three countries, the U.S. delegation included Andrew Peek, a senior director at the White House National Security Council, and Michael Anton, a senior official from the State Department. The Russian delegation was led by Grigory Karasin, chair of the Federation Council's Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sergei Beseda, an advisor to the director of the Federal Security Service. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov headed the Ukrainian delegation. On Tuesday, hours after the U.S. and Ukrainian delegations concluded their second round of talks, the White House issued separate statements elaborating on its understanding of the parallel meetings. It stated that the United States had agreed separately with Russia and Ukraine to "ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea," and to develop measures for implementing the presidents' agreement to "ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine." The United States, with Russia and Ukraine respectively, also "welcomes the good offices of third countries with a view toward supporting the implementation of the energy and maritime agreements" and "will continue working toward achieving a durable and lasting peace," the statement added. Among the outcomes of the U.S.-Russia talks, the United States pledged to help restore Russia's access to the global market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, reduce maritime insurance costs, and improve access to ports and payment systems for such transactions. In the U.S.-Ukraine talks, both sides reaffirmed the United States' commitment to facilitating the exchange of prisoners of war, securing the release of civilian detainees, and ensuring the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children. Meanwhile, the Kremlin stated on Tuesday that Russia and the United States had agreed to ensure the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative, contingent on the easing of sanctions on Russia's agricultural and food trade. Russia also stipulated the removal of restrictions on its food and fertilizer producers and exporters, the servicing of related Russian-flagged vessels in ports, and the supply of agricultural machinery to Russia, according to the Kremlin. Fire emerges after a Russian missile and drone attack in Kiev, Ukraine, Dec. 20, 2024. (Photo by Roman Petushkov/Xinhua) It further announced that a "temporary moratorium" on strikes against energy facilities -- including nuclear power plants, oil refineries, gas pipelines, and hydroelectric dams -- would be in effect for 30 days starting March 18 and "may be extended by mutual agreement." Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on March 18 to halt attacks on energy facilities in a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. As for Kiev, while Umerov stated on Tuesday that "all parties" had agreed on the need to prohibit attacks on energy infrastructure in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, he also warned that any movement of Russian military vessels beyond the eastern part of the Black Sea would "violate the agreement's spirit" and be considered a "threat to Ukraine's national security." In response, Ukraine would exercise its right to self-defense, he cautioned. MIXED SENTIMENTS Commenting on the three-day peace negotiations, Trump said the U.S. side was "in deep discussions with Russia and Ukraine," which were "going well." He added that he would look into Russia's requests for sanctions relief. However, the mood is quite different for both Russia and Ukraine. Although the meetings in Saudi Arabia hinted at the possibility of a broader ceasefire, the two countries remain wary of the latest deal, voicing contrasting concerns over its implementation. In an interview with local media, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow needs "clear guarantees" from the White House regarding the agreement on the safety of shipping in the Black Sea. "Given the sad experience of agreements with just Kiev, the guarantees can only be the result of an order from Washington to (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky and his team," Lavrov said. Zelensky accused the Kremlin of "lying" and "manipulating" by saying the Black Sea ceasefire depends on "sanctions," warning that the Russians "must understand that if they launch strikes, there will be a strong response." At a press conference earlier Tuesday, Zelensky criticized Washington's decision to help restore Russia's access to the world market for agricultural goods, dismissing it as "a weakening of the position and a weakening of sanctions." The Ukrainian president said he hopes to gain clarity from an upcoming summit in Paris regarding which countries would deploy forces to enforce the peace agreements. "Our task is to come out with the result of understanding who we have and who is ready" to contribute forces to implement measures to halt the conflict, Zelensky said. In the meantime, Europe, once again finding itself sidelined in addressing the conflict, has been actively organizing support for Ukraine in recent weeks. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that leaders of the so-called "coalition of the willing" will meet again this week, focusing on short-term military support for Ukrainian forces and exploring long-term "security guarantees" to help sustain Ukraine's defense. Macron's remarks have been dismissed by the United States as "a posture and a pose." British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) shakes hands with visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in front of 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, March 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ying) The meeting in Paris with Zelensky will be the latest in a series of high-stakes gatherings among European leaders, following London's hosting of discussions on Thursday among European military chiefs from the coalition backing Ukraine. Britain and France are taking a leading role in organizing Western support for Ukraine after Trump surprised Europe by initiating talks with Putin. The two European powers have pledged to help provide the military force needed to keep Russia "at bay" if a ceasefire is reached. UNCERTAIN FUTURE Notably, the battlefield showed no signs of quieting despite the peace talks in Saudi Arabia, with both Russia and Ukraine reporting fresh waves of drone strikes and accusing each other of escalation. On Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said Ukraine had "continued to deliberately strike Russian peaceful energy infrastructure facilities using UAVs." This photo taken on March 18, 2025 shows a view of the Kremlin in Moscow, capital of Russia. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi) "By continuing daily attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, Zelensky confirms his inability to negotiate and his lack of control by external guarantors responsible for ensuring compliance with any possible agreements," the ministry said. In Ukraine, the number of people injured on Monday in a Russian missile strike on the northeastern city of Sumy rose to 101, including 23 children, according to the Sumy regional administration. Preliminary data indicated that a Russian missile struck a residential area of the city, damaging several apartment buildings and an educational institution, the Sumy Regional Prosecutor's Office said in a statement. Experts have pointed out that a real, permanent peace settlement could be far off, citing deep-rooted divisions and a growing trust deficit among the stakeholders. Khalid Almatrafi, Bureau Chief of Asharq TV in Saudi Arabia, told Xinhua that "the escalating mutual attacks ... reflect the deepening gap between the two sides and complicate any negotiating process." The repeated accusations deepen mistrust and make it difficult to establish any "confidence-building measures," which are essential for transitioning from a ceasefire to a sustainable political settlement, said Almatrafi. Echoing Almatrafi's viewpoint, Abdulaziz Alshaabani, a Saudi researcher at Al Riyadh Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said that "a lack of trust" poses a major threat to reaching an agreement, "given the history of violations of agreements between the two sides." A pedestrian walks past an electric generator in Kiev, Ukraine, Dec. 4, 2024. (Photo by Peter Druk/Xinhua) "In 2022, several rounds of negotiations took place ... in the end, nothing came of it," said Andrey Kortunov, a scholar with the Valdai Discussion Club in Russia. "Over the past three years, there has been a major escalation, and the situation has changed," making it "difficult for both sides to find compromises," Kortunov said. "Given the difficulty in enforcing a halt to strikes on energy infrastructure agreed upon last week, it remains to be seen how effective the latest deal will be," The Independent, a British online newspaper, reported. The newspaper also questioned Washington's motives in assuming the mediator's role, particularly concerning Ukraine's mineral and energy resources. "The Trump administration has claimed that Washington's stake in Ukraine's minerals and energy resources could deter Russia from launching future attacks," but such a diplomatic push would, in fact, grant Washington "a vast stake in Ukraine's rare earth mineral deposits," it said. "Ukraine's gas infrastructure could also be of interest to the White House, with Kiev owning the world's third-largest underground gas storage capacity," it noted. Ivan Pepelyashkov was due to stand trial on a charge of unlawfully killing Michele McGuigan on May 13, 2018 A doctor has been acquitted of the manslaughter of a female patient who died in a Derry care home. Ivan Pepelyashkov was due to stand trial on a charge of unlawfully killing Michele McGuigan on May 13, 2018. The 48-year-old, from Riverside in Antrim, had denied the charge and appeared at Belfast Crown Court today. After eight men and four women were sworn to serve as a jury, Madam Justice McBride was addressed by Crown barrister Frank O'Donoghue KC. He said after instructions from the director of public prosecutions, the Crown would not be offering any evidence against Dr Pepelyashkov. Madam Justice McBride then spoke to the jurors and instructed the foreman to enter a plea of not guilty by direction. Following this, Mr O'Donoghue revealed there was "nothing further" against the doctor. The senior judge then addressed the Bulgarian-born doctor: "You have been found not guilty on the direction of the jury and you are therefore free to go." Despite no details being aired today, it is understood the charge related to an incident in the Owen Mor Care Centre on Derry's Culmore Road. A second defendant, Easteden Limited, which is based on Erganagh Road in Omagh, has also been charged with an offence arising from the incident. The company, which owns the care home, has been accused of a health and safety breach namely that on a date between May 10 and 14, 2018, it failed to ensure the safety of a non-employee. Easteden Limited has denied the charge and a trial will be held at a later date. Mr Meshkats six-year-old daughter, Hana Meshkat, died from injuries sustained in the crash A doctor has appeared in court charged with dangerous driving causing the death of his six-year-old daughter along a stretch of the M6 in County Westmeath just over a year ago. Babak Meshkat (45), of An Cimin Mor, Cappagh Road, Galway, came before a sitting of Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday charged in relation to a fatal single-vehicle crash on the M6 Farthingstown, Rochfortbridge, Co Westmeath on February 8, 2024. Mr Meshkats six-year-old daughter, Hana Meshkat, died from injuries sustained in the crash at Childrens Health Ireland (CHI) at Temple Street in Dublin nine days later. The incident occurred about 4pm on the eastbound lane of the motorway between Junction 4 (Tyrellspass) and Junction 3 (Rochfortbridge). Babak Meshkat arriving at Mullingar Courthouse. Mr Meshkat, who the State claim was driving the vehicle, and a nine-year-old boy who was also a passenger in the car were not seriously injured in the crash. An investigation file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) towards the end of last year following an initial inquest hearing held in October. The initial findings of that hearing heard via coroner Dr Crona Gallagher how the results of a post-mortem examination confirmed that Hana had died as a result of multiple traumatic injuries due to a motor vehicle incident. The accused was served with a book of evidence at a sitting of Mullingar District Court last week where he was sent forward on the same set of bail conditions imposed at a previous court sitting four weeks earlier. Mr Meshkat wore a grey suit to court and remained silent as he took to his feet when the case was called before Judge Keenan Johnson. His solicitor Jack Donohue addressed the court by seeking an adjournment owing to the fact it was the first time the case had been listed before the Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Johnson acceded to that request and remanded Mr Meshkat on bail to a sitting of Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court on May 13 for the purposes of arraignment. Eldhose Yohannan, 39, originally from India but with an address at Milltown, Dromcliff, Co. Sligo, initially denied the sexual assaults on the two patients on separate dates in 2022 A healthcare worker who sexually assaulted a teenage girl and a woman while taking blood samples in a Midlands hospital emergency department has been spared jail. Eldhose Yohannan, 39, originally from India but with an address at Milltown, Dromcliff, Co. Sligo, initially denied the sexual assaults on the two patients on separate dates in 2022. The crimes occurred at the Regional Hospital, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, where he worked as a phlebotomist, a medical professional trained to take blood samples. However, after the trial commenced before a jury, he changed his plea and admitted the offences before the victims faced cross-examination. At Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Keenan Johnson described the offences, which involved touching the girl's bare breasts and the woman's vagina area outside her clothing, as a gross intrusion of privacy, an attack on their bodily integrity, and he added that there was an element of premeditation. Yohannan, whose visa has expired, paid 10,500 compensation to the victims. Judge Johnson also obtained reports from the Probation Service and his counselling to address his risk of reoffending. He directed that the money brought to court go to the victims, with 8,000 going to the younger complainant. He imposed a three-year sentence but suspended it on condition Yohannan did not reoffend within the next seven years, remained under probation supervision for 18 months and attended treatment for sexual offending. Detective Garda Aidan Hynes agreed with prosecutor Cathal O Braonain BL that one complainant, then aged 15, attended the emergency department with her mother on August 8, 2022, after she had a breast infection. The teen was first seen by a triage nurse and remained in the waiting area with her mother when the accused called her name. He told them he had to take the girl's blood and that the mother could "sit back down" and beckoned her back to the waiting area before leading her daughter to another room. Detective Garda Hynes said the girl lay on a bed, and Yohannan, who has no prior convictions, explained that he was going to draw blood from her arm to do tests. He asked her if she had an abscess, but she told him it was on the inside. The court heard Yohannan, who was wearing gloves, instructed her to lift her top, and he "pushed down on her breasts". The girl thought he was a doctor. Detective Garda Hynes said the accused then went out, put some paper in a bin, and returned with his gloves off. At this point, the teenager was sitting up, thinking the procedure was complete, but "Mr Yohannan asked her to lie down again and asked if he could see her breasts." She lifted her top, and Yohannan, who had taken off his gloves, "squeezed both her breasts" and asked if it was sore. The girl answered that it was sore, but he told her it was not, and she replied, "I just told you it is". She pulled down her top and left, and a mother immediately noticed a "confused look on her face". Her daughter told her what happened, and they informed a nurse. A staff manager spoke to the accused and told him his only role was to take blood and not to carry out examinations, and he should only have touched patients' hands or elbows. He was asked if he knew about the Children First policy whereby a parent must chaperone under-16s, "but he did not really reply". He was dismissed from his job that day and has not worked since. The girl and her mother waited outside and saw him again, and he walked over and told them, "I'm a nurse; I was trying to help you". The second incident involved a woman in her early 20s who came to the department because she had stomach pains and the accused brought her to a room and asked her for her phone number. She thought he was flirting, and he told her he was joking and that he could get her number from her file. His leg was close to her body, and it felt awkward. The court heard as she lay down, he put his "pinky" finger on her vagina outside her clothing with enough pressure for her to realise it was not inadvertent. It lasted a minute to 90 seconds but felt like forever to the woman. The teenage victim detailed how she did not leave her room for weeks afterwards. She opened up about having feelings of anger and guilt and how she suffered panic attacks and flashbacks. She said she was afraid to go to the hospital or doctors, and there were periods where she had wanted to harm herself. Judge Johnson told her she could be proud of how she dealt with it and that she had created a pathway and prevented other victims from being assaulted. The second complainant revealed the incident made her afraid to go to hospitals. The court heard he qualified in India and previously worked as an ambulance nurse in Kuwait but was not a registered nurse in Ireland. He married his wife in 2018, later came to Ireland, and started work with an agency in January 2022. That was his first job here, and he had been regarded as polite and productive. In court, the accused wept as he begged for forgiveness, and the judge heard he brought 10,500 to court to demonstrate his remorse. The court heard his and his wife's family were tenant farmers in Kerala, India, and depended on their support: his wife had told the court she had no one else. The defence said the accused had lost his career and would be on the sex offender register, and "will do whatever the court directs or orders him to do". Should he leave the jurisdiction, he must notify the State that he has complied with treatment within six months. Matthew Murphy (28) was given another three months suspended for two years and ordered to stay out of all branches of Marks & Spencer when he is released A homeless man caught with a bag of stolen steaks and chocolate has been jailed for three months for theft charges. Matthew Murphy (28) was given another three months suspended for two years and ordered to stay out of all branches of Marks & Spencer when he is released. Murphy, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to theft. Dublin District Court heard gardai were on patrol on Mary Street in Dublin city centre on April 16 last year when they encountered Murphy. He was stopped after he left Marks & Spencer without paying for six steaks. When arrested, he did not have any proof of purchase and replied: I dont have the money for these steaks. They were worth a combined 96. Murphy was also carrying a bag containing Butlers chocolates worth 55 and identification belonging to a woman. He said he had bought the bag but it was not new and there was no receipt for it, the prosecuting garda said. The accused had fallen into a cycle of addiction and homelessness, his lawyer said, asking Judge John Hughes for leniency. Murphy initially contested the charges but changed his plea to guilty, the court heard. A six-month sentence with three months suspended was imposed. James Dwyer SC said his client is not a political idealogue, but rather an isolated, lonely keyboard warrior Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has said she was afraid after a threat of a coward to shoot her, but would not allow any bully to prevent her doing her job. Deputy McDonald made the comments in a victim impact statement read to the court during the sentence hearing of Richard McGreevy (29). Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that McGreevy posted videos to TikTok on July 16 last in which he made threats towards Deputy McDonald and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. These videos were viewed thousands of times on TikTok, and were also reposted to Facebook and X, formerly Twitter, the court was told. McGreevy of Whitechurch Place, Rathfarmham, Co. Dublin pleaded guilty to two counts of making a threat to kill or cause harm. The maximum available sentence for this offence is 10 years. McGreevy was today handed a prison sentence of three and a half years, with the final 15 months suspended on strict conditions. James Dwyer SC, defending, said his client is not a political idealogue, but rather an isolated, lonely keyboard warrior who acted from impulse, not malice, and failed to realise the impact of his actions. The Sinn Fein leader and the Garda Commissioner were not in court during the sentence hearing. In a victim impact statement read to the court by Antonia Boyle BL prosecuting, Deputy McDonald said like others in the public eye, she'd become accustomed to routine abuse, aggression and causal threats on social media. But, this was different. The direct threat to shoot me, to shoot me 'for free', the open willingness to harm me himself, and the implicit willingness to harm me on behalf of another. She said the video presentation was bizarre, maybe even laughable, but the threat was real and chilling. I was afraid and angry. My family were enraged and afraid. She said she had the right to live and move without fear, like any other citizen, and this right goes to the core of her personal freedom and her ability to carry out her democratic role. The threat to shoot me 'for free' was the threat of a coward, designed to intimidate me and to encourage others to target me. She said the threat caused her distress, anxiety and anger but she added I will not allow any bully to stop me from doing my job. Commissioner Harris declined to provide a victim impact statement, the court was told, as his view was his statement of complaint captured the impact on him. The clips were played for Judge Martin Nolan from a laptop. In them, McGreevy says Drew Harris, you should be fucking taken out, dragged up to Dolphin's Barn, taken to Dublin Castle and executed. He said the Garda Commissioner should be shot in the head by the IRA, I'm not even joking.....F**k you Drew Harris , youre next, youre getting it, I dont give a f**k if I get years for it. McGreevy said Drew Harris, I'm coming for you... I'll rip your f***ing head off. He also described the garda commissioner as an English b****rd, English speccy-eyed b****rd, and little pr**k. McGreevy said he was making a couple of videos about what happened yesterday. F**k Drew Harris, hed be getting shot, f***ing blasted. See Mary Lou, Ill shoot her myself for free, I'll do her for free. F***ing little rats. McGreevy was arrested and after caution, he said this is about those fucking posts to kill Mary Lou. They were fucking stupid. I was expecting you. During interview, he told gardai he'd never had a video that had been viewed so many times, that he didn't mean for it to go viral and he'd taken it down. McGreevy expressed shame and remorse, saying he didn't mean for anyone to feel hurt or threatened, but had wanted to rant, before acknowledging that he shouldn't have said those things. Part of his letter of apology was read to the court, in which McGreevy described his actions as stupid. McGreevy said he didnt intend to cause distress with his words and expressed his regret. Defence counsel outlined his client's background, adding that McGreevy has been using cannabis since he was a teenager but is drug-free since going into custody. Mr Dwyer noted McGreevy has an acquired brain injury and suffered physical abuse as a child at the hands of a relative. Counsel asked the court to take into account his client's early guilty pleas, expressions of remorse, and personal circumstances. Imposing sentence, Judge Nolan said these were extreme and frightening threats to two public figures, who were entitled to their peace of mind. He said the videos would have been very disturbing for the injured parties, who would have a very valid belief that contributions like this poison social discourse and give permission to certain individuals to behave in a certain violent way, particularly to public individuals. The judge said the threats made to Commissioner Harris were odious and noted Deputy McDonald's gracious victim impact statement. He said the threats were very serious, and while the court found no intention on the part of this defendant to carry them outnevertheless the injured parties were right to be worried about the contents [of these threats]. He said McGreevy has a long, complicated and sad history and the court inferred on the day in question that the defendant was frustrated with life and had certain complaints. Having considered McGreevy's background and the mitigation, Judge Nolan imposed a three-and-a-half year prison sentence, with the final 15 months suspended on strict conditions. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Photo: Getty In her impact statement, the Sinn Finn leader noted that the family of the perpetrator of this crime had written to her to express solidarity with her and her family. She thanked them for their decency, noting that the responsibility for the threat, and fear caused to her and her family lies with the perpetrator alone. McGreevy has four previous convictions for offences including robbery and public order offences. Detective Sergeant Gareth Kane told Ms Boyle that the Special Detective Unit began an investigation into videos posted on a TikTok account in the name of 'Richard.Mcgreevy2' on July 16 last. These videos featured McGreevy in a blue jacket and balaclava making threats towards both injured parties. The following day, Martin Lanigan, Deputy McDonald's husband, made a complaint, outlining that he and his wife had viewed a video the night before on X in which a person threatened to kill her. He expressed concern and said he was appalled. Deputy McDonald made a statement to gardai on July 18 last. She said she was having a cup of tea with her husband, after getting home from a public meeting when she opened her X account and noticed another account had tagged her about this video. The Sinn Fein leader said she was alarmed, fearful and angry after viewing the video. She expressed fear that it had been posted online and that it might encourage others to do harm to her. On July 26 last, Commissioner Harris also made a complaint about the video. He said he was concerned for his safety, and for that of his wife and family having been shown the footage. The Garda Commissioner said he believed the threat to be real and credible, and due to his professional knowledge, believed the threat could be carried out. A request was made to TikTok to preserve the footage, which was later downloaded by gardai. McGreevy was identified as he was not wearing a balaclava in other clips posted to the account. His house was searched on July 18 last while he was present, and items seized included a homemade balaclava, the blue jacket, a Nokia phone and a set of rosary beads he was seen wearing in a portion of the footage. After his arrest, he was taken to Terenure Garda Station, where he was interviewed three times. McGreevy made full admissions, saying he was silly and shouldn't have done it. He said it was f***ing disgraceful and done on the spur of the moment. McGreevy said he didn't mean anything bad for either injured party. He said he didn't expect the video to go viral, and didn't realise how much trouble he could get into. McGreevy also referred to mental health issues, family difficulties and issues with drugs. Det Sgt Kane agreed with defence counsel that McGreevy's offending took place around the same time as public disorder in Coolock, but there is no suggestion his client attended any rallies. It was further accepted that McGreevy's name was contained in his TikTok user handle, that it was not a complex investigation to identify him, and that he was arrested in the room where the video was made. Det Sgt Kane agreed McGreevy was co-operative, admitting to being on TikTok and making the homemade balaclava. The garda also accepted that McGreevy referred to his use of cannabis and his mental health issues during interview and expressed remorse and shame. A letter from McGreevy, a medical report and other documents were handed to the court. Mr Dwyer noted the medical report outlined his client's history of drug use including cannabis and benzodiazepines. His client managed to become drug-free but relapsed following the death of his young daughter. He has another child. The report notes that McGreevy made the videos to express frustration and was using the injured parties to represent the systems he was frustrated with, but he has no problem with either of them. Justin Debrunner (49) was granted bail over the seizure this week and his case was adjourned at Dublin District Court for DPP directions A car park attendant was caught red-handed with more than 150,000 of cocaine, cannabis and tablets in his apartment when it was raided by gardai, it is alleged. Justin Debrunner (49) was granted bail over the seizure this week and his case was adjourned at Dublin District Court for DPP directions. Mr Debrunner, with an address at Fitzwilliam Street Lower, Dublin 2, is charged with possession of drugs with intent to sell or supply. Objecting to bail, Garda Darragh Mylod said a search was carried out at the accuseds address on March 21. More than 140,000 of cannabis, 7,000 of cocaine and 2,000 of diazepam were found. The total value of the drugs was estimated at more than 150,000 and some 4,175 in cash was also seized. Gardai believed Mr Debrunner was caught red-handed. Gda Mylod said he believed the accused would leave the jurisdiction if granted bail. The accused was born in London and had ties to the UK, he said. Applying for bail, defence solicitor Michael French said his client had not been in London since the 1980s. Mr Debrunner denied any knowledge of the drugs and it could take up to three years for the case to go to trial, he said. Judge Kelly set bail in Mr Debrunners own bond of 1,000, with an independent surety of 5,000. Under conditions, he must stay in Ireland and sign on three times weekly at a garda station. The accused was remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear in Cloverhill District Court on Friday. BRASILIA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's Supreme Federal Court on Tuesday began the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022) and seven other defendants, who face charges of attempting a coup d'etat. The court's First Chamber is holding the hearings and if the majority of its five judges find the accusations filed in February by Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet to be substantiated, the defendants could face time in prison. The so-called "core 1" of the indictment includes Bolsonaro and his top aides and officials, including his former chief of staff, former minister of the Institutional Security Cabinet, and former director of the Brazilian Intelligence Agency. In addition to Tuesday's session, an additional session is scheduled for Wednesday morning to complete the analysis of the indictment. In the coming weeks, the supreme court will have to decide whether the other defendants in the alleged coup plot, grouped into cores 2, 3 and 4 to facilitate the trial, are subject to prison sentences. The charges stem from the violence that broke out in a bid to keep Bolsonaro in power after he lost the 2022 presidential elections to his opponent and current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Authorities investigating the incident discovered a detailed plan to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power, including by systematically undermining the credibility of the electoral system. They also uncovered an alleged plot to assassinate then President-elect Lula da Silva, Vice President-elect Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Romas Simkevicius (31) hatched the very unsophisticated and silly ruse with Edgaras Miksys (28) to steal 3,000 worth of readymade salmon from DMC Food in Castleblayney, Monaghan Edgaras Miksys and Romas Simkevicius were caught on CCTV stealing 3,000 worth of readymade salmon from their former employer in county Monaghan. A cash-strapped factory worker who enlisted the help of a former work colleague to fill two cars with thousands of euro in stolen salmon were caught red-handed on CCTV, a court has been told. Romas Simkevicius (31), Legarhill Park, Armagh City, Armagh hatched the very unsophisticated and silly ruse with Edgaras Miksys (28), of Bluestone Hall, Knockmenagh, Co Armagh to steal 3,000 worth of readymade salmon from DMC Food, Lough Egish Food Park, Castleblayney, Monaghan on April 7, 2024. Both Lithuanian men appeared at a sitting of Monaghan District Court having pleaded guilty to the section 4 theft offence last October. Edgaras Miksys and Romas Simkevicius were caught on CCTV stealing 3,000 worth of readymade salmon from their former employer in county Monaghan. Simkevicius, the court heard, who was a paid up employee of the food manufacturer at the time of the incident, had fallen on hard times when deciding to recruit the services of Miksys, his co-accused who was previously employed there. Sgt Lisa McEntee, in outlining the States evidence, said Miksys initially drove onto the site and with the help of Simkevicius loaded his car with salmon before driving off the factorys grounds minutes later. Judge Patricia Cronin was also informed of how Simkevicius later that same evening proceeded to load his navy coloured Honda car with further boxes of the stolen fish in an episode which was all caught on CCTV and where both men were identified by the firms managing director. Defence solicitor Niall Fox said there was no denying the ill-advised nature behind the theft which had been purely motivated by the dire financial straits Simkevicius had found himself in. Edgaras Miksys (left) was enlisted by his former work colleague at a Monaghan based food manufacturer to steal the four figure sum of salmon after Romas Simkevicius (right) had come under financial strain. Mr Simkevicius had run into some difficulties money-wise and he effectively asked Mr Miksys to assist him in trying to raise money which led them to come up with this plan to take the boxes of fish so he could sell it to rectify his financial position, he said. Mr Fox added how the pair cooperated fully with gardai following their arrests, to the point where both men identified themselves on CCTV when footage taken from the scene was put to them during interviews with detectives. Romas Simkevicius and Edgaras Miksys outside Monaghan Courthouse. He said while the stolen salmon had been sold on in the aftermath of the raid, his clients had come to court with 2,000 to add to an earlier 1,000 in compensation which had been handed in previously. The court was told Simkevicius had a previously unblemished record while Miksys had a small number of unrelated road traffic convictions to his name. Mr Fox said both men were now working as spray painters across the border as he implored the court to exercise as much leniency as possible in light of their early pleas of guilt, financial restitution and lack of any prior theft related convictions. Both men were convicted and fined by Judge Patricia Cronin despite handing in 3,000 to cover the cost of the theft both men took part in during an incident in April 2024. It is appreciated that this is an unsavoury offence, but they do regret their actions and they do accept it was a very unsophisticated and silly idea to come up with, he added. Judge Cronin, in delivering her verdict, said the court was obliged to factor in the pairs early professions of guilt and the way they had recompensed their former employer. That said, Judge Cronin stated how the incident was one which necessitated a criminal conviction, something which could have serious implications for both men in terms of their future employment aspirations. This is somebody who was working there and somebody who used to work there, she told the court. Unsavoury is one word to use, but it is a nasty type of offence to go into an employer and to take products to the value of 3,000. Simkevicius and Miksys were consequently fined 250 each and given three months to pay. Regin Parithapara Rajan (42) pleaded not guilty before the Central Criminal Court to the murder of his wife Flowers left near the home of Deepa Dinamani The trial of a man who denies the murder of his wife heard that gardai found a note in the blood-soaked bedroom where the woman's body was discovered. The note read: "Please forgive me for what I did." 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 two years ago. The trial heard he was suspicious that his wife was in contact with other men after she changed her relationship status on social media to separated but not divorced yet. Ms Dinamani had posted that she was "looking for someone to have good conversations to begin with, the trial was told. Mr Rajan is charged with the murder of his wife at their home in Cardinal Court in Wilton, Co Cork on July 14, 2023 contrary to Common Law. She died after sustaining a large incision-type stab wound to her neck. Mr Rajan denied the murder when arraigned. He appeared at his trial wearing a dark navy suit, white shirt and blue tie. 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 southwest India and had been living in Cork for about four months at the time of her death. Regin Parithapara Rajan pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife Deepa Dinamani The jury of five men and seven women also heard one witness say that the couple had "a strange relationship". The witness said Ms Dinamani appeared to "wear the trousers, being successful and outgoing while her husband was quiet, shy and had been unable to get a job in Ireland. Evidence on the third day of the trial involved the scene gardai faced when they arrived at Cardinal Court after two 999 calls were made on July 14, 2023. The body of the 38-year-old woman was found in an upstairs bedroom. She was partially naked and there were significant amounts of blood on the bedroom wall. Her body was wrapped in a blanket on a blood-stained bed. She was pronounced dead at the scene after armed gardai found her "cold and stiff to the touch. A knife, also stained in blood, was placed on a nearby table. A wedding ring and a scribbled note on a wire-bound notepad were also on the table. Additionally, gardai found a broken gold necklace and clothing a T-shirt and shorts covered in blood. Detective Sergeant John Paul Twomey said the note was addressed to the couple's young son. He added that the handwriting was extremely difficult to read. It outlined: "I love you so much Please forgive me for what I did as your mum was having and his name was Jay." The trial also heard about CCTV footage from the Tesco outlet at Wilton two days before Ms Dinamani's death which showed a kitchen knife being purchased for 16 by the defendant. Also purchased at the supermarket was a bottle of Jameson whiskey. Earlier, Mahesh Murali said his friend, Mr Rajan, sent him a screenshot of Ms Dinamani'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." In the screenshot, Ms Dinamani's dream holiday was stated as Greece, while she added that she loved reading and yoga. Also shown on the screenshot was evidence of her relationship status, which was described as "separated but not divorced yet. It also indicated that she was "looking for someone to have good conversations to begin with." Mr Murali said Mr Rajan told 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," he stated. Mr Murali also said his friend told him Ms Dinamani 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. Mr Murali said his friend was disappointed, depressed and worried. Mr Rajan told him he had killed his wife when Mr Murali called to the Cardinal Court property with his wife, Sreeja. "I smelled alcohol (from Rajan). I felt he was drunk. He had red eyes," he said. "In local (Kerala) language...(he said) I killed Deepa, straight. He told me to call the police or gardai. "I was just shocked....shattered. I was not able to speak. "He told me he stabbed her with a knife." Both men then separately rang the emergency services. Ms Dinamani was fluent in several languages including English and had travelled to Ireland with her husband and child in March 2023 as part of a career promotion. The deceased had also worked in London in the financial services sector. 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 Ms Dinamani was "bubbly, outgoing and successful" whereas her husband, Mr 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. A trial date has now been fixed commencing on January 12th A man accused of the brutal rape of a young woman in Co Donegal last year is to stand trial at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin in January, 2026. A trial date has now been fixed commencing on January 12th. The accused man is in his 20s and cannot be named at this point. He is charged with the attack which left the woman with what Gardai described as "brutal" and "horrendous" injuries in Letterkenny on October 20th, 2024. The man has appeared at various sittings of Letterkenny District Court both in person and by videolink. Garda Sergeant Jim Collins recently told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had consented that the accused be sent forward to the current sitting of the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. Details of the direction were given in court by a translator in the Arabic language. Detective Garda Lorna Doherty told the court she had served a book of evidence on the accused man's solicitor, Mr Patsy Gallagher. The court had previously heard how the accused was arrested following an incident on Sunday, October 20th, 2024, which left the alleged victim with horrendous and brutal injuries. The woman did not know her alleged attacker. Detectives later conducted door-to-door enquiries and witnesses told of hearing a woman scream. The defendant was later arrested by Gardai. During a swoop of the suspects address, Gardai found items of clothing heavily stained in blood. The accused man is now facing four charges arising out of the alleged incident off Lower Main Street in Letterkenny. He was charged with a count of the rape of a woman, contrary to section 4 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act, 1990. He was also charged that he did intentionally or recklessly strangle the woman. The charge is contrary to section 3A (1) (a) and 3 (3) of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 (as inserted by section 21 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023). Previously, he was charged another count of the rape of a woman, contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act, 1990, and with assault causing harm, contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. An application for bail for the accused was previously turned down by Judge Eiteain Cunningham. The accused man's solicitor, Mr Gallagher, said he was requesting two counsel for the trial and said he was reserving his request for bail noting that bail had already been refused in the High Court. Police said the incident happened at a block of flats in the Old Forge area of the city A man in his 30s has been hospitalised after being found with serious injuries following an incident in Dunmurry, on the outskirts of west Belfast, in the early hours of the morning. Police said the incident happened at a block of flats in the Old Forge area of the city. The man was taken to hospital for serious head injuries and a stab wound to the leg and is said to be in a stable condition. According to the PSNI, the suspect fled the scene before officers arrived. A spokesperson said: Detectives are appealing for information following a report of a stabbing in Dunmurry in the early hours of this morning, Wednesday 26 March. Shortly before 12.30am, it was reported that an altercation involving two men took place in the Old Forge area. Officers attended the scene, and located a man with a stab wound to his leg and serious head injuries in the communal hallway of a block of flats. The victim, aged in his 30s, was taken to hospital, where he is currently said to be in a stable condition. The suspect made off prior to police arrival. Detectives are now appealing anyone with information to contact them in Musgrave on 101, quoting reference number 20 26/03/25. The arrests were made during coordinated raids in Ireland and Spain Six people have been arrested in Spain as part of the investigation into The Family, Irelands largest organised crime group. Meanwhile, Gardai have also confirmed a sixth man has been detained in Ireland as part of the probe. Five members, including the leader of the outfit and two high-ranking lieutenants, as well as two others, were taken into custody following dawn raids on their homes in West Dublin on Monday. Guardia Civil and Gardai coordinated raids in Ireland and Spain to make the arrests and Europol confirmed the further six arrests today. Gardai accessed the gangs day-to-day business after the encrypted network Ghost, was hacked last September, in Irelands first major encrypted phone hack case. Investigators were able to trace the Ghost users back to the criminal network. They said that while their communication method was sophisticated their drug smuggling activities, which involved trafficking cocaine and marijuana across Europe were simplistic. Six arrests in Spain by Europol connected to The Family The vehicles used were equipped with custom-made secret compartments and cloned number plates. The Family are suspected of being involved in money laundering and trafficking drugs between Ireland and Spain. Europol branded The Family as one of Irelands high-risk criminal networks in a statement released today. The criminals are suspected of involvement in large-scale drug trafficking, mainly by transporting drugs hidden in vehicles from Spain to Ireland, they said in a statement. In an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to evade detection, the criminals had relied on sophisticated encrypted communications and had fragmented their exchanges across multiple platforms. Gardai, who believe the gang rakes in up to 4 million per month, can hold their suspects for up to seven days as evidence harvested from the takedown of the network will be presented to them during questioning. Ghost was compromised last September, following which Gardai seized 15,200,000 of cocaine, 350,000 in cash, 320,000 worth of cannabis and a further 100,000 of heroin from the gang following 33 searches and the seizure of 42 devices. A further 153 electronic devices were also seized from suspected gang members at that time. 36-year-old Arielle Konig was rushed to hospital in a critical condition Konig (46) allegedly hit his wife, and tried to stab her with a syringe before attempting to throw her from a hiking trail A man has been arrested for allegedly trying to kill his wife because she refused to take a photograph with him. 46-year-old Gerhardt Konig was taken into custody on Monday following a manhunt. Reports say he allegedly hit his wife Arielle Konig over the head with a rock before trying to push her from a lookout on Windward Oahu hiking trail near Honolulu after 10am. Sources told Hawaii News Now that Konig also tried to prick his wife with syringes. Its alleged that the 36-year-old was attacked after she declined to take a photograph with her husband. Arielle Konig (36) works in Nuclear Engineering She suffered injuries to her face and head and was transported to hospital in critical condition when two witnesses contacted emergency services. At about 10:30 a.m. Monday, officers responded to a report of a man beating a woman at the Pali Puka hiking trail, Police said in a statement. During the investigation, the 36-year-old victim reported her husband attempted to push her off the trail and struck her head multiple times with a rock. She was transported to the hospital in critical condition. Two witnesses called 911 and assisted in the investigation. The suspect was identified as the womans 46-year-old husband Gerhardt Konig. He fled the scene before police arrived. The area was sealed off, and authorities released a description of the wanted man. Read more New mugshot of teacher accused of asking underage boys in Scream masks to 'gangb**g' her Konig is described as 46 years old, five-feet-nine-inches tall and 160 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes, the notice read. 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. The fugitive was found later in the day and arrested around 6pm. He worked in the medical sector on Maui and according to his LinkedIn profile he's an anesthesiologist. Authorities have confirmed that hes been suspended from his job as prosecutors consider a charge of second-degree murder. Meanwhile, Arielle works as in Nuclear Engineering The couple, who wed in 2018, live in a $1.5million Maui mansion, and were visitors to the Island of Oahu 160km away at the time of the alleged incident. They were described as prominent people in the community and highly intelligent, highly successful folks, by Sanoe Kaaihue of Women Helping Women. Domestic violence does not discriminate, she told Hawaii News Now. I think time and time again, people are so surprised when they hear that its their teachers, its neighbours, its attorneys. Its everybody from every single walk of life can be affected. If you've been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact Womens Aid on 1800 341 900 or find your local services via Safe Ireland. He was one of two people both understood to be from Northern Ireland detained by police yesterday, lawyers for the family said. A man is expected to appear in court in Portugal in connection with the murder of Belfast man John George. An application will be made to extradite the male to Spain for questioning on Mr Georges killing. He was one of two people both understood to be from Northern Ireland detained by police yesterday, lawyers for the family said. Mr George, from west Belfast, was missing for 21 days in Alicante in December before his body was discovered in early January. The 37-year-old had been shot and stabbed and his body dumped in a rural location. Today, lawyers for Mr Georges relatives said his family obtained significant information pointing to the possible location of two suspects in the Portuguese town of Braga. The George family travelled to Portugal to speak to police. According to lawyers for the George family, detectives contacted Spanish counterparts who identified a new investigative lead. Portuguese police have now told the family that the man is due to appear in court today to face an application for their extradition to Spain. If granted he will face immediate questioning on the circumstances surrounding the murder of John George. Solicitor Kevin Winters said: This is the biggest news to date for the George family. Its precisely the sort of breakthrough theyve been hoping for since December last year. I commend their absolute tenacity in pursuing every line of enquiry and then in turn making sure the various European authorities act on what theyve painstakingly put together. Their input has been crucial to inform decision-making on this extradition warrant. Mr Winters said the George family are looking forward to seeing the next stages of the legal procedures get underway. The sooner that happens then the sooner his family will feel they are at last getting some justice for John, he added. Mr George had been on holiday in Alicante when he was reported missing. He last spoke to his family on December 14. They were later informed by people in Spain that he had lost his phone but was booked onto a flight from Alicante to Belfast on December 18. When he failed to board the flight his loved ones became concerned. Brittany Fortinberry (31) who is accused of sexually abusing multiple underage boys, was arrested last month The married teacher accused of asking underage boys to 'gangbang' her while wearing Scream masks has appeared in a new prison mugshot looming dishevelled after spending weeks behind bars. Brittany Fortinberry (31) who is accused of sexually abusing multiple underage boys, was arrested last month. She has been charged with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy and sending explicit messages, pictures and videos to other kids at Eminence High School in Martinsville, Indiana where she taught. According to court documents, one of the victims accused Fortinberry of drugging him repeatedly and having sex with him when he was 13. The boy claimed she would invite him and his friends to her house where she would allegedly give them drugs and abuse them. One victim had claimed there were at least 10 others and following her initial arrest, more students have come forward to report that Fortinberry also abused them, the district's Police Chief Chris Wright told USA Today on Thursday. Fortinberry and her husband Nicholas, who cops say was aware of the abuse Fortinberry, who is now facing dozens of charges, remains behind bars at the Morgan County Jail but had recently been transferred from the jail to nearby Marion County for an unspecified legal matter. She was then sent back to Morgan County, TMZ reports, and was photographed for a new mugshot when she returned She appears in the picture wearing an orange jumpsuit with her hair pulled back, and wearing a pair of large black glasses. Brittany Fortinberry One of the victims told police that Fortinberry had spent $600 on him and a group of boys. She allegedly forced them to wear masks that resembled those in the horror film series Scream and engage in sexual acts at her home. She also offered the boys between $100-$800 in exchange for explicit photos of their genitals. According to court documents obtained by TV station WTHR, Fortinberry allegedly provided drugs to the teens and forced them to have sex. In one instance, she reportedly drugged a victim multiple times before assaulting him. She was first arrested after a grandmother told police the teacher had abused her grandson when he was just 15 years old. The boy's grandmother further claimed Fortinberry sent him graphic messages and sent him on a trip, where she allegedly threatened to kill herself if he told anyone about the abuse. One victim recounted that she would wait for her own children to fall asleep before initiating sexual contact with the boys. Another claimed she assaulted him after asking him to babysit her kids. Another teen alleged that when the boys resisted her advances, she would rape them, telling them to "just let it happen." After she was taken into custody, cops found a stripper pole and other sexual paraphernalia described by the students in her home during an ensuing investigation. Fortinberry, a mother-of-four, has blamed her alleged actions on her weight loss. The Scream mask from the movie series She said she regretted losing 150lbs and would have acted differently if she was still heavier. She had been immediately suspended from her role with Eminence schools after the allegations emerged in August last year, and she resigned one day later. The welfare and safety of our students is the top priority of the Eminence Community Schools, the district said. As such, the School Corporation has been and will continue to fully cooperate with law enforcement and the Morgan County Prosecutor's Office in this matter. Her husband, Nicholas, who has filed for divorce from his wife, and is seeking temporary custody of their four-year-old son as well as temporary possession of their home, is also facing charges of intimidation and failure to report a crime She is now due back in court on April 3 for a bond hearing, and is scheduled to face a jury trial on June 25. Proud parents Stef and Phil are backing a Jack and Jill campaign to support other families with children who need help Parents Phil and Stef with little Aurora and the Jack and Jill team Aurora, pictured with her dad Phil and mum Stef, brings joy to her family every day Little Aurora Heapes has been defying medical odds since before she arrived into the world. Born with several serious health issues, Aurora was born into palliative care as concerned medics realised the sheer extent of problems she faced. While her challenges remain substantial, the bubbly little girl has now turned six and brings joy every day to those around her including her little brother Luca (2). She probably fought even at the time of conception just to be here, to be honest, says her mum Stef. She defied all the odds. She fights all the odds. Aurora is a very complex child, even though, when everybody looks at her, they all say to me: She doesnt look like she has special needs. Parents Phil and Stef with little Aurora and the Jack and Jill team She has a VP shunt in her head to drain excess fluid from her brain. Shes a cardiac kid, so her situation in her heart has been very complex from a surgery perspective. She has a permanent pacemaker. She has a diagnosis for moderate intellectual disability and autism. Shes not verbal, but shes learning how to communicate without words, and were trying to understand her as much as we can. Even though she doesnt speak, I think were getting to learn more about her. People say: Shes like a princess, and I say: Oh, shes not a princess. Shes a warrior, smiles Stef. Family life has been transformed by the support of Irish charity Jack and Jill, who provide invaluable home nursing care to the family. Such support enabled them to bring Aurora home for the first time after spending the first six months of her life in hospital. Now the family is paying it forward by backing a new campaign to support other families who may need Jack and Jill in their lives. Aurora with the Jack and Jill Foundation team The Jack and Jill Childrens Foundation is calling on companies nationwide to become part of its 100 Hour Heroes campaign in 2025. The initiative provides essential in-home nursing care and respite support to families of children with severe learning disability often associated with complex medical needs, many of whom require 24-hour care. By pledging 1,800, companies can fund 100 hours of vital care, giving local families the priceless gift of time time to rest, recharge, and focus on what matters most, caring for their children in the comfort of their own homes. When Aurora was born, she was actually born into palliative care after quite a stressful pregnancy, a lot of uncertainty, a lot of unknowns for the doctors, says Phil. But she fought through that, especially over those first couple of weeks, and an early intervention of the hydrocephalus with the VP shunt kind of changed a little bit of the prognosis. So we were amazed to find the doctors coming to us and said Aurora is no longer a palliative care case. What we believed to be the main challenge for Aurora was the hydrocephalus. It turned out to be the cardiac issues, which were far more profound than anybody had imagined. In that time, we actually faced down two cardiac arrests with Aurora, two very lucky escapes, and one magnificent surgery after the second cardiac arrest, adds Phil. It managed to put her in a position that within six weeks, she was able to come home for the first time. The hospital was happy, which was a major event for ourselves, a big event for our dog Daisy as well, whod been smelling the clothes of a baby for six months: who is this magic, little, tiny person? Staff in Crumlin childrens hospital were proactive, says Stef, in engaging with Jack and Jill on the familys behalf in those early days. Describing the nurses who care for Aurora as like substitute mammies they provide crucial respite for the family. In fact, says Phil, Jack and Jills involvement enabled them to bring her home in the first place. You needed that in-home nursing help not easily found in the normal stratosphere of the health system in Ireland. Hence Jack and Jills position as a charity is actually so profound they actually help a lot of families who otherwise would be in the hospital. Stef still vividly remembers first meeting the charitys liaison nurse, Caroline. She was lovely and put me at ease to talk to her. She came over and she wanted to meet Aurora. She gave us encouragement, that we could do that, and I guess from there, it really was the journey that started with them, and it never stopped. If it hadnt been for the help of Jack and Jill nurses, we really wouldnt have been able to manage. I had a chance to meet other parents through Jack and Jill events, and I feel you almost have to be a voice of hope, says Stef. Life with a child with special needs is never easy, and in a way, it changes completely. Now the family hopes that sharing their story will help create awareness about the work of Jack and Jill and the 100 Hour Heroes campaign. Every 18 helps provide one hour of care, and every hour makes a real difference, says Michaella McMahon, Corporate Fundraising Manager at Jack and Jill. By becoming a 100 Hour Hero, businesses not only impact the lives of local families but also align with a purpose-driven cause that resonates with employees and local communities. To learn more or to become a Jack and Jill 100 Hour Hero, visit here Geoffrey Coman was involved in one of most dramatic family rows the country has ever seen One of five brothers who was involved in one of the most bitter family feuds in the country has left over 16m in his will. Geoffrey Coman, with an address in Rathmines, Dublin 6, left an estate valued at 16,475,025 to his wife Claire Coman along with a poignant letter asking her not to repeat the mistakes that had haunted his family. In his last testament, written six days before he died on July, 19, 2023, Geoffrey Coman directed: It is my wish and direction that you will look after our three children as best you can, mindful of our combined wish to treat them all fairly and of the fact that we have already heavily assisted (their son) Niall financially. He is also survived by his two other children, Conor and Nessa. His will has echoes of the family feud that ripped apart one of the best-known families in the Dublin pub trade, which at one point included interests in well-known establishments such as Cafe en Seine, The George, Zanzibar and a pub in the family name in Rathgar. For sheer drama and bitterness, the so-called War of the Comans showed how far a family could fall. It played out in dramatic scenes inside Dublins Four Courts where father Patrick Coman, one of citys best-known pub owners and his wife Mary parents of 12 children became embroiled in a public battle against five of their six sons. Comans bar in Rathgar, Dublin In the midst of the family war being played out in front of the public, the couple were publicly supported by three of their six daughters. At stake was a multi-million euro fortune that Patrick Coman, then aged in his 80s, had built up over half a century. Speaking at the time, in emotional testimony, Mary Coman, mother of six sons and six daughters, told the court: We have lost everything we valued, we have lost our fatherhood and motherhood. Relations with the sons began to deteriorate when Patrick Coman dipped into company funds to buy houses for his daughters. At a board meeting in 1997, it was decided that any money taken out by the elderly founder would be treated as an advance against future ownership of the pub. This was followed in 1998 by Patrick and Mary Coman going to the High Court to have five of their six sons Geoffrey, John, Patrick Jr, Thomas and Denis removed as directors. Their other son, William, and their daughters took no part in the legal dispute. Despite mediation, an agreement could not be reached. Lawyers and accountants later hammered out a deal that the five sons would pay their parents 7m for their 52pc. I was incredibly determined to stop the bloodshed But in another twist, the settlement, which Gerard Hogan SC later said was a back-of-the-envelope calculation, failed when Patrick Coman later demanded an additional 1.25m. I have been told they (the five sons) are going to starve us into submission. It was in the paper that we have a 4m house in Rathgar we bought it for 6,000. We have no resources, Mary Coman told the High Court in 2003. It is a terrible thing for a mother to look down and see we are outcasts in our own family. The public fall-out only came to an end after Judge Joe Finnegan warned both sides that he could make a decision that nobody can live with. The dispute was settled and Patrick and Mary Coman signed over their interests in the family business to their sons. I want to tell the sons and the world: we have been characterised as a greedy old pair, but I want to tell my sons they have the best father, they should be proud of him and they should not be dragging him through the courts like this, Mary Coman said. The first deal was wrong, the second deal was flawed, it just went on and on As Liam Collins, author and former news editor of the Sunday Independent, wrote in his book Irish Family Feuds: Battles Over Money, Sex and Power, the terms thrown around the courtroom reflected the state of the family. I was incredibly determined to stop the bloodshed, one lawyer said. Trying to reach a settlement was like a battle, the first deal was wrong, the second deal was flawed, it just went on and on, said another. Solicitor David Larney characterised the situation as madness and Brian OMoore SC said that the relationship between the father and sons was atrocious. Geoffrey Comans will comes six years after his mother Mary left almost 4m in her will. But she left nothing to her six sons, five of whom were involved in the dispute. In her will, Mary Coman left her house in equal shares to her daughters Monica, Ella and Elizabeth. They were each also left 25pc of the rest of the estate, with the remaining 25pc shared equally between her other daughters, Eugenia, Petrina and Paulina. I am satisfied I have made due and appropriate provision for each of my six sons through the interest I have given them in the family business and in various advancements I have given them in my lifetime, Ms Coman said in her will. In his own will, Geoffrey Coman directed that he wished to give his wifes nieces Aishling Byrne, Eimear Byrne and Ciara Byrne 100,000 each. Geoffrey left his wifes nieces Jennifer Harborne, Fiona Harborne and nephew Stephen Harborne 50,000 each. To each of the children of five of his siblings namely Paulina, Petrina, John, Eugenie and William he left the sum of 30,000. To his godchildren Amy Doyle, Peter Keogh, Geoff Coman and Ella Coman he left 30,000 each. He left 100,000 to Our Ladies Hospital and Care Services. He also left 200,000 to a charity nominated by his cardiac consultant Jonathan Lyne in recognition of the excellent care provided to me by him and for going above and beyond the call of duty. He brightened the lives of so many In a letter attached to the will he also asked that Frank Costello, whom he called a loyal and trusted friend and colleague, would be gifted with shares of the Belgard property. In simple terms, he said, I would like for Frank to end up with the same amount as John Coman and Tom Coman will each get. He wrote: Frank will indicate how he would like for this to be achieved and it is quite possible that you might look after Frank in the future in some other alternative manner which might suit him better, but in doing any of the foregoing, please once again also be mindful of any advice you may receive from David Larney (solicitor) in this regard. Even his death notice gives an indication of the feud that appeared to persist to his dying day, as there was no mention at all of his late parents. He is also survived by his siblings Eugenie, Petrina, Paulina, John, Denis, Pat, Monica, Thomas, Ella-Maria, William and Elizabeth. He brightened the lives of so many, his death notice read. SEOUL, March 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's births grew for the fifth straight month in January amid lingering worry about the continued population fall, statistical office data showed Wednesday. The number of newborn babies jumped 11.6 percent from a year earlier to 23,947 in January, continuing to increase since September last year, according to Statistics Korea. The total fertility rate, or the number of children a woman is expected to bear during life, added 0.08 to 0.88 in the cited month. The higher births came amid hovering concerns about the younger generation, who delayed or gave up on having children on the back of economic difficulties such as high housing prices and stubborn unemployment. The still low birth rate fueled worry about a demographic cliff, which refers to a sharp fall in the heads of households eventually leading to a consumption cliff. The number of deaths soared 21.9 percent to 39,473 in January compared to the same month of last year. Affected by higher deaths and the still low births, the natural population decline reached 15,526 in the cited month. The man was swindled by someone who claimed she would use the money to move from the Philippines to Ireland to be with him A Cork man has been left devastated after losing 18,000 in romance scam Last December, Ted, not his real name, befriended a woman who he believed to be from the Philippines online. The man said that at the time he was lonely and looking for love. He said he was persuaded to send her 18,200 so that she could fly to Ireland to live with him but she soon disappeared. The 61-year-old said the money was his life savings which he says were to be used for his funeral in the future. During his appearance on Neil Prendevilles RedFM radio show he discussed the scam, and asked for financial assistance. A fundraiser was then set up after listeners contacted the station asking to donate to the man, who described his mental anguish following the fraud. Ted reached out to The Neil Prendeville Show for support and the people of Cork rallied, with many people asking RedFM to set up a GoFundMe for Ted, so here we are, the page reads. As his mental health was not good at the time, he fell for her charm and needed the human contact she provided him with. Ted is a 61 year old from north Cork and has been left devastated because his savings were going to be used as his funeral money to bury him when the time comes, the page continues adding: He thought they were in love. Ted feels very foolish for what he has done and believes he is now a burden on his family. He also feels his life has no purpose now. We want to let Ted know that there are good people in the world and that he has the support of Cork. If you can donate anything to Teds fund, he would be hugely appreciative. The GoFundMe has raised over 1000 in the first 24 hours. You can view the fundraiser here. Our lives changed significantly five years ago, when the Covid pandemic swept the world and New Zealand - like many countries - locked down. We discovered which workers really were essential, and how fast it was possible to adapt to working from home. Fast forward five years, and companies are bringing in blanket edicts for workers to return to the office - including the PM Christopher Luxon saying he did "...not want to see working from home undermining that ambition that we have". So is flexible working good for productivity, society and who is keen to work from home? Nicholas Bloom, the William Eberle Professor of economics at Stanford University and one of the foremost researchers on work-from-home policies, told Saturday Morning when it comes to working arrangements, choice and flexibility is best. He said folks in their early 20s don't really want to work from home. "They say look, I want to go in to the office to get experience, to get mentored, it's more sociable. "It's when you see folks getting to late 20s, particularly 30s and 40s, they've got little kids, you know, they've got lives outside of work, they're getting busier - these kind of people, we see in the data, are pretty keen on working from home." He said "empty nesters", or people aged over 50, tend to want to head back into the office. Bloom said working fully remote is pretty rare in countries around the world including New Zealand. "In New Zealand you'd see about 60 percent of people have to go in every day... there's about 30 percent of folks that are hybrid... and there's now only about 10 percent of people that are fully remote. "If you look at who is fully remote, some of them are like coders, you know, people with tech jobs, but mostly it's a lot of people in call centres, data entry, HR, payroll, so most working from home now is folks that are coming in say three days a week and working from home a couple days a week." Bloom said data showed working hybrid had no affect on productivity and was saving companies thousands on staff turnover costs. He added people in rural areas, people with kids and individuals with a disability benefited from hybrid working. William Eberle Professor of Economics at Stanford University Nicholas Bloom. Photo: Allan Seppa "The other thing that's entertaining... so apparently burglary is down in a lot of areas working from home because no criminal wants to break into somebody's house to find, you know, some person sitting in their living room working away on their laptop. "Criminals have actually shifted their activities to city centres cause there's less folks around - [working from home] has pretty much effected everything," he said. When it comes to mental health, Bloom said fully remote work can come with issues, but letting employees choose was best for the company and their staff. "What you see in the data is if you let people choose, that's best for their mental health. "Generally the data suggests choice and flexibility is best," he said. -RNZ Anti-smoking advocates are concerned progress towards reducing the number of young people vaping could be swamped by something they say is even worse - oral nicotine pouches. The emerging craze of highly addictive nicotine pouches were placed under the lip and absorbed in the mouth commonly sold under the brand name ZYN. The sale of nicotine pouches was banned by the Labour government in 2020, but it remains legal to import from overseas, as long as it is for personal use. The coalition government has agreed in principle to explore legalising the products for sale which anti-smoking groups fear could lead to a new generation of nicotine addicts. Despite a slight decline in youth vaping rates New Zealand still ranks extremely poorly on the international scale. Figures from 2023 show New Zealand's youth vaping rate is almost three times higher than Canada the United States and Australia. Checkpoint asked some high school students if they or any of their classmates vape. "Yes, many people do just in the bathrooms and stuff, I guess," one student said. Another agreed that their friends did too. Other students told Checkpoint if a student's parents vaped, they were more likely to, and some parents bought vapes for their children. The nicotine pouches which have started infiltrating schools often came in brightly coloured tins in a range of flavours including berry, citrus and coffee. ZYN is owned by tobacco giant Philip Morris International. The products are different from existing nicotine replacement therapy in the form of gum, lozenges or patches that have gone through Medsafe testing. That is because the ZYN pouches are being sold as a lifestyle product not a medical device. It is hard to avoid the videos of them circulating on Instagram and Tik Tok. A screenshot of some of the videos of nicotine pouches circulating on social media. Photo: Supplied One student told Checkpoint the products had been popular at his school for some time. "They went around at school and people try them, people like them it's the same as vapes, I guess the like rush of it and the flavour I guess." Albany Senior High School principal Claire Amos said the vaping craze that went through their school had left her students addicted. "They've become reliant on vapes as a way for managing their anxiety and their stress, and they're actually using it to self-medicate. "So, when we have caught students, they were feeling anxious, they were feeling this, or they were feeling that and in many cases I get the sense that they don't want to be dependent on vapes." Senior research fellow of public health at the University of Otago Dr Jude Ball. Photo / Supplied Senior research fellow of public health at the University of Otago Dr Jude Ball said that was backed by research which showed the negative effects of vaping went further than physical and extended to poor mental health and self-esteem. "So, people can feel really judged, and can you know judge themselves when they find themselves addicted. "The hit of nicotine releases dopamine in the brain and that's why it feels good, but over time it affects the way that the brain's pleasure centre operates. "It can make people more vulnerable to mental health problems like anxiety and depression." In June there will be a complete ban on disposable vapes and vape retailers will not be able to have displays outside their store, while dairies and service stations will have to keep the devices out of sight like cigarettes. Both Jude Ball and Claire Amos welcome those changes but are worried about the oral nicotine pouches on the horizon. "That is going to be so easy for our young people to access. "I get really concerned that just when we are starting to introduce meaningful policies to reduce vape use in New Zealand, we're about to get something that could prove even worse. "There's no evidence that those products are better than what we've already got in terms of helping people quit smoking but there's a lot of evidence that those products are being marketed heavily to young people." Unlike vaping, which produces plumes of scented vapour, people using pouches can do so fairly undetected. Checkpoint has approached the Associate Minister of Health Casey Costello on the matter, and also ZYN owner Philip Morris International. -RNZ Central North Island Police are urging people to make the proper preperations and plans before heading into the outdoors this autumn. Senior Constable Barry Shepherd said with the end of daylight saving approaching and the Roar just around the corner people going into the outdoors should take the proper precautions and prepare for any situation. We want those going to the outdoors to maximise their fun but also minimise their risk," said Senior Constable Shepherd. Before taking the shot, hunters should be 100 per cent sure they have identified their target. If they have any doubts, then do not shoot. Hunters are urged to plan for their hunt, and to stick to it; always treat every firearm as loaded; and identify their target beyond all doubt. We want everyone to enjoy themselves, have a great time, and head home safely to their loved ones, said Shepherd. Police also advise any walkers, hikers, or climbers to ensure they take prepping for their trip seriously before going outdoors. Senior Constable Conrad Smith said New Zealands environment and weather can be unpredictable, so it is best to prepare. Your safety is your responsibility in the outdoors, by preparing for the worst, you can enjoy your trip knowing that you will be okay if anything goes wrong. If you are going outdoors, no matter if it is hunting, hiking, or climbing, please follow these five simple steps of the Land Safety Code: Choose the right trip for you: Learn about the route and make sure you have the skills for it. It is important to choose a trip that suits you and everyone in your group. When you are looking at options, make sure you think about everyones fitness levels and experience in the outdoors. Understand the weather: New Zealand weather can change fast. Check the forecast and change you plans if needed. Weather can make or break a trip. It is one of the most important things to consider when going into the outdoors. Pack warm clothes and extra food: Prepare for bad weather and an unexpected night out. Any trip, even if it is short or easy, need preparation. Packing the right things makes trips safer and more enjoyable. Share you plans and take ways to get help: Telling a trusted person your trip details and taking a personal locator beacon can save your life. We all want our trips to go as planned but sometimes they dont. If you get hurt or lost on your trip, how would you get help? Take care of yourself and each other: Eat, drink, and rest, stick with your group and make decisions together. The best way to enjoy your experience in the outdoors and make it home safely is to look out for one another. Fruit lovers can now enjoy the much-anticipated Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit, which has arrived in supermarkets and fresh fruit retailers nationally. The unique red-fleshed fruit is set to add a vibrant splash of colour and an unforgettable berry-sweet flavour to fruit bowls, smoothies, and desserts. Available nationwide until June, the fruit is expected to be in high demand. Zespri general manager marketing KokHwee Ng said the Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit was not only visually striking but also packed with nutritional benefits. Zespri RubyRed has a striking red flesh and a unique berry sweet taste. It also contains a number of antioxidants, including Vitamin C and anthocyanins, which are naturally occurring pigments giving the fruit its red colour, said Ng. They are naturally smaller in size but packed full of goodness, making them a great healthy snack, a perfect addition to lunchboxes, or part of your favourite dish. Be sure to get in quick as they wont be around for long. With delicate, smooth skin, the kiwifruit needs to be handled with care and stored in the refrigerator until ready to eat. This season, Zespri expects to double production compared to 2024, harvesting about 10,800 tonnes. Alongside domestic sales, the fruit will be exported to key Asia-Pacific markets, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, the Pacific Islands, and the United States, with further expansion planned in the coming years. Cordons outside Murupara Police Station have been taken down following an incident attended by armed police this morning. Armed and uniformed police calmly entered the building shortly before 12.30pm, and equipment began being packed into police vehicles. Cordons on Pine Dr near the station came down soon after. Police tape is being put up around the station and the glass front door is smashed in. Earlier, armed police were stationed outside the building and police were speaking through a megaphone. A white ute was parked directly outside the building. The front door of the Murupara Police Station is smashed following an active incident this morning. Photo / Ben Fraser Residents watching from a nearby cordon told the Rotorua Daily Post they understood the ute hit the police station and a person was inside the building. Police earlier said they had closed Pine Dr between Oregon Dr and Main Rd due to the active incident. A statement said members of the police negotiation team were among staff at the scene. Police were engaging with one person and the scene was contained. Armed police were stationed outside Murupara Police Station on Pine Drive. Photo / Ben Fraser We ask the public to steer clear of the area. Police have been asked for further comment. A Pine Drive worker said she was turned away from a cordon about 8am as she tried to get to work. Other cars were also turned away. The schools on Pine Drive so there could have been parents dropping off their children. She said she believed police were doing a good job keeping the public clear of the scene. Police have cordoned off part of Pine Drive in Murupara. Photo / Ben Fraser I felt quite safe, they were just concerned about the safety and the wellbeing of people and just closed off the road. A witness, who did not want to be named, said he could see armed police and the road was cordoned off. More to come - Rotorua Daily Post The rise of teen vaping in New Zealand has not been the magic bullet to stub out cigarettes, new evidence shows. The research, published in The Lancet, found that the introduction and rapid rise of vaping in New Zealand has had little to no impact on the rate of decline in daily smoking among 14 to 15-year-olds between 1999 to 2023. This is a significantly different conclusion to a 2020 study that looked at the same data except over a shorter period (2014-2019), which concluded that vaping may have displaced smoking among NZ youth. Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ chief executive Letitia Harding said this new evidence challenges the idea that vaping among young people was the answer for the decline in smoking rates. For years, weve warned about the rapid rise of youth vaping, and this research strengthens the case for stronger policies to protect young people from both vaping and smoking. The study also highlights concerns about the 2020 study that suggested vaping was reducing youth smoking rates. That research was widely used to support regulatory decisions in New Zealand and was even referenced by tobacco companies, including British American Tobacco, in policy debates. This new study sets the record straight, so we cant afford to take our foot off the pedal when it comes to protecting young people, Harding said. Tobacco companies certainly do not have the interests of our teens at heart. The Government needs to take these findings very seriously, she says. They need to listen and to ensure that policies reflect the reality that vaping was not the answer to smoking, and that it actually made things worse by simply introducing a new problem for our teens to tackle. We know that stronger regulations, better enforcement, and education programmes make a big impact and we need these now more than ever. Between now and June, a flurry of new vaping laws will take effect, including the ban on disposable vapes, a ban on displaying products (in-store and online), and a ban on discounts and giveaways. The foundation supports these changes but also wants the Government to halt the establishment of further Specialist Vape Retailers (SVRs), limit the nicotine content of all vape products to 20mg/ml and re-look at the prescription model. Minister for Social Development and Employment Louise Upston said there will be targeted help if people need to relocate for a job. The Relocate for Work Support payment will be available from March 31 for people on a benefit who cant find a job where they currently live and need support to move to another location where they have found a job. We want to remove barriers for job seekers who have a suitable job offer and need to move to take it up. The need to move shouldnt be a reason not to take a job, Upston said. Relocate for Work means we may be able to help with the travel costs for a private vehicle, airfare, bus, or ferry tickets to relocate. Theres also support to shift possessions. We want to help New Zealanders when they need it. Getting people back into the workforce, earning money and having their own independence is something Im committed to. We know there are job opportunities out there and this is another practical way we can support New Zealanders off welfare and into work, Upston said. Relocate for Work replaces the $5k to Work grant, initially introduced as $3k to Christchurch which helped New Zealanders relocate and support the rebuild after the Christchurch earthquakes. Pilar Martinez Malaga Wednesday, 26 March 2025, 07:20 Compartir MSC Cruises, Malaga port's leading cruise company, has announced that it will maintain the city as a home port, but will reduce the number of calls and cruise passengers in 2025. While the company plans to increase calls to Spain's ports by 28%, the trend reverses for Malaga. The four ships that will operate at the Costa del Sol's main port, will make five fewer calls, reducing the number of passengers to 96,000, compared to 111,000 in 2024. The four ships - MSC Grandiosa, MSC Magifica, MSC Musica and MSC Virtuosa will dock at Malaga port 26 times in total. The reason behind the fewer calls and passengers is simple: the ships have changed destinations and, therefore, itineraries adapt. MSC Cruises is about to inaugurate a new cruise terminal at the port in Barcelona on 3 April. Despite the changes, the company plans on keeping Malaga as a base port - "one of the most important for the company". Four of the company's cruise ships will operate at the port of Malaga in 2025 Fernando Pacheco, general manager of MSC Cruises in Spain, said: "Spain is a constantly growing market with enormous potential. After an excellent 2024, we continue to increase capacity and are proud to be the only cruise line to offer eight embarkation ports in the country, bringing the cruise experience to a greater number of passengers." Pacheco stated that the company is expanding itineraries and confirming its commitment to the Spanish market with more capacity and new operations, driven by the growing demand from passengers for routes outside Spain, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Caribbean. This year it will have 23 active ships in five geographical areas, eight of them departing from Spain, with operations from Barcelona, Tarragona, Valencia, Alicante, Mallorca, Malaga, Las Palmas and Tenerife. On 9 April, the company will welcome the MSC World America to its fleet - "a ship that will redefine the experience of cruising the Caribbean with spaces and activities never before seen on a cruise ship". To ensure a more convenient and accessible travel experience, MSC Cruises has strengthened its land transport options. This summer sees the inauguration of train services from Madrid, Zaragoza and Andalusia to the ports of Valencia and Barcelona, providing a faster and more efficient connection. In addition, new operations have been launched to bring destinations and itineraries around the world closer to Spanish passengers. One example is the MSC Euribia, which connects the Spanish to Nordic countries and nature, with direct flights ensured between Malaga and Copenhagen. Alfonso Torices Madrid Wednesday, 26 March 2025, 23:08 Compartir The majority of compulsory education teachers in Spain admit to having lost their enthusiasm for their work. The number of people interested in going into, or staying in teaching has plummeted over the last two decades and experts do not see how to solve the problem unless educational administrations take very specific and far-reaching measures. This is the main conclusion of a study carried out by The EsadeEcPol Centre for Economic Policy think tank (Esade), which, through a combination of its own research and that of others, dissects the evolution of the Spanish teaching profession over the last 25 years. Three figures particularly stand out in their findings. In 2007, six out of ten said that, despite the many problems, they managed to maintain their enthusiasm, now that number has fallen to 24%, or three times fewer teachers. In the same fifteen years, disaffection with their profession has skyrocketed. Whereas in 2007, only two per cent were indifferent to the job, now the figure is 38%. Disillusionment to varying degrees, those tired of so many problems and those indifferent to their work now account for three out of every four teachers. It is not surprising, therefore, that 60% confess that they would give up teaching if they were offered another fulfilling job, something that two decades ago not even 25% said they would do. The result is an increase in fatigue, a feeling of isolation and a high level of disaffection, which describes a serious problem for education in Spain, as experts and organisations agree that teachers are the determining factor in the quality of the education system. The solutions: a shock plan against school failure, job stability, an educational MIR and continuous training with incentives. The analysis led by Lucas Gortazar points to three intertwined factors which, as they have worsened over the last century, have triggered this crisis. The first is an increase in the complexity of students and their emotional problems, resulting in more students with learning difficulties and a more conflictive classroom environment. This is coupled with a rise in child poverty, a third of students of foreign origin (with more difficulties in understanding Spanish) and a fifth of adolescents reporting anxiety problems. The second negative element is the worsening of working conditions. Salaries can be improved, but the factors that most wear teachers down are the excess of weekly teaching hours, which prevent them from giving more personalised attention to students and families, better preparation of classes and collaboration with colleagues, and the high rate of temporary work, which in state primary and secondary schools reaches 28% on average. This instability, which is detrimental to the efficiency and equity of teaching, occurs to a higher degree (34%) in schools with more students from poor and vulnerable families. The third factor undermining teachers' morale is the lack of an attractive career path. Spain is the OECD country where secondary school teachers are least prepared to cope in contexts with different levels of learning. Esade specialists propose four specific actions to the education authorities to provide Spanish teachers with the support and tools they need to overcome this crisis. 1.2 billion per year for reinforcements The first is a programme of psycho-emotional support and individualised reinforcement in maths and reading for pupils with the greatest learning difficulties, with a 1.2 billion a year funding package, with small group tutoring, psycho-pedagogical assistance and summer programmes. The second is an ambitious plan to reduce the number of temporary staff, especially in schools with the most vulnerable pupils, and to raise salaries in infant and primary education. The third proposal seeks to improve initial teacher training. The supply of teaching posts should be brought into line with demand, so that the cut-off mark and entry requirements can be raised, and the pedagogical preparation in the secondary school master's degree should be increased. But the key, they add, is to set up an 'educational MIR', similar to the health system, in which for one or two years graduates would work and train in educational centres under the guidance of mentors, earning a salary and preparing themselves for real quality work. The fourth measure would be to create an attractive and incentivised career path, through the possibility of voluntary job and salary progression to positions, ranks or categories based on merit and the results of the evaluations to which they would be subjected. CAIRO, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani held phone talks on Wednesday, during which they discussed efforts to resume and implement the Gaza ceasefire deal. According to a statement published by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, the two sides exchanged opinions over paving the road to an early recovery and reconstruction of Gaza to ensure settling the Palestinians on their land. They agreed to continue coordinating to ease the regional escalation and prevent further regional tensions, the statement said. The two sides also stressed the importance of joint work to reach a political settlement that ensures regional stability, by establishing a Palestinian state as a final solution to the conflict, the statement said. A phased ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas 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. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel renewed military operations because Hamas rejected offers to extend the initial phase of the ceasefire agreement. Edurne Martinez Madrid Wednesday, 26 March 2025, 22:49 | Updated 23:02h. Compartir One more step has been taken against the "abusive practices" applied by the low-cost airlines that were sanctioned by Spain's ministry of consumer affairs. The office of the state public prosecutor ('Fiscalia') has announced that it will defend consumers and air transport users in the high court that is handling the ongoing and contentious legal proceedings involving the five airlines (Ryanair, Vueling, easyJet, Norwegian and Volotea - the five that are being fined). The proceedings were opened in 2023 and last November the ministry set the fine amount at a total of 179 million euros. Ryanair will be the most affected by the penalty once the objections and counter-claims are resolved in the Audiencia Nacional high court for civil proceedings, since for this airline the fine amounts to 107.78 million euros, 60% of the total fine to be levied should the high court rule against their appeal. Vueling, meanwhile, will have to cough up 39.26 million euros, easyJet 29.1 million euros, Norwegian 1.6 million euros and Volotea 1.2 million euros, as confirmed by the ministry. The public prosecutor's office explained in a press statement that these practices consist of, for example, demanding the payment of a supplement to take hand luggage into the cabin. The statement mentions that a surcharge is also demanded on top of the prepaid ticket price to reserve adjacent seats when there are minors or dependent persons and their companions. The same department also considers as an abusive practice the fact that payment in cash is not allowed in Spanish airports and that "a disproportionate and abusive fee is imposed on passengers for the printing of the boarding pass." The ministry of consumer affairs welcomes the "step forward" by the public prosecutor's office The public prosecutor's office further highlights the "misleading omissions of information and lack of clarity in the prices published both on its [the airline's] own website and those of third parties, making it difficult for consumers to compare prices and for them to make a decision." The ministry of consumer affairs in Madrid welcomed the step taken by the public prosecutor's office and reiterates its "determination to defend the rights of consumers to the very end, before any institution or body." In its press statement it said: "Our aim is that no citizen in Spain or in Europe should ever again have to pay for what the law says is a right." The airlines reaffirm that the policy of charging for cabin baggage is "totally legal". In a formal response to SUR, Spain's main airline association (ALA), which represents most airlines operating in Spain along with air traffic management, points out that regulation 1008/2008 recognises the freedom of airlines to set their air fares. In addition, ALA stated that the Spanish government's current position on this matter would leave Spain as the only EU country where they want to ban this practice, which generates a "competitive distortion between operators and between markets." ALA added that "Common rules should be established for the whole of Europe so as not to cause distortion in the single European market." No more obligation to pay? Despite the sanction, the obligation to pay for hand luggage does not automatically end. The airlines have appealed to the Audiencia Nacional and may not apply the measure until there is a final ruling. The ministry of consumer affairs has made it clear that the resolution of this matter rests with the high court, but that, "at the moment it becomes effective, the airlines will have to pay the fine and these practices will automatically be banned." Prohibited practices: In addition to the fines, the sanction prohibits the continuation of the following practices: -A supplement being required to pay in order to carry hand luggage into the cabin. -A surcharge being applied to the ticket price to reserve adjacent seats in the case of minors and dependent persons with accompanying persons. -Not allowing cash payments at Spanish airports. -Imposing a disproportionate and abusive fee on passengers for printing boarding passes at check-in. New York State Attorney General Letitia James is urging consumers of the struggling 23andMe genetic testing company to take action to protect their data. New Yorkers genetic data is sensitive information that must be protected at all costs, James said. 23andMes bankruptcy announcement is concerning and I am urging New Yorkers to take action to safeguard their data. The company recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and announced a plan to sell substantially all of its assets as part of the reorganization, the Associated Press reported. Founder Anne Wojcicki announced that she is stepping down as CEO, although she intends to bid on 23andMe as a sale is sought during the bankruptcy process. The company was founded in 2006, and has sold more than 15 million DNA testing kits, according to its website. These kits offer consumers a detailed analysis of their DNA, offering information about their ancestry as well as possible hereditary health risks, according to the New York Times. The uncertainty surrounding the companys future has caused concern about how the data would be used in the event of a sale. A company statement says the privacy of users will be an important consideration in any transaction. The statement says that The Chapter 11 filing does not change how we store, manage, or protect 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. Any buyer of 23andMe will be required to comply with applicable law with respect to the treatment of customer data. Its not the first time, though, that concerns have been raised about the privacy of data at 23andMe. In 2023, a data breach exposed the personal information of nearly 7 million customers to hackers, the Times reported. How does a customer get the company to delete data and destroy DNA samples? James office recommended that people take the following steps: Barneveld, N.Y. An Oneida County man who was restrained after he tried to grab a state troopers gun Monday night died after he became unresponsive while in custody, troopers said. Matthew A. Brown, 30, of Barneveld, died Monday after troopers responded to a home on Sand Ridge Road in the town of Barneveld around 11:30 p.m., state police said in a news release Tuesday. Troopers went to the home after receiving a call that a person was behaving erratically, troopers said. Troopers tried to engage with Brown, the release said. Brown lunged for a troopers holstered gun, troopers said. Brown was restrained and put in handcuffs. While waiting for emergency medical personnel, Brown became unresponsive, the release said. Lifesaving measures were performed on Brown, but he died. The state Attorney Generals Office is conducting a preliminary assessment of the situation, a spokesperson said. The AGs office conducts preliminary assessments to determine if an officer has caused a death, according to the offices website. Syracuse.com staff writer Timia Cobb covers breaking news. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at tcobb@syracuse.com. Mark and Irene Cornue are pictured here at their home in Jordan, N.Y. After leaving Van Duyn in autumn 2024, Mark transitioned to CDPAP with a family friend, James Patterson, caring for him. October 17, 2024. (N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com)N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com Syracuse, NY -- Thousands of Central New York residents who hire friends and family to provide them medical care wont face a loss of funding April 1 after all. The popular Medicaid program CDPAP is transitioning to a new administrator. It planned to leave behind anyone who didnt take action by the end of March. But the state is now offering a grace period until April 28 to sign up with the new administrator. Theres a catch, though: caregivers who dont finish registering by April 1 will only get their paychecks retroactively. HOW TO ENROLL: See options for reenrolling in CDPAP The CDPAP (Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program) is an alternative to home health aides or nursing home care for those who need daily help. The programs transition requires roughly 250,000 residents and 500,000 caregivers statewide to move from a patchwork of non-profit payment administrators to a single administrator, called Public Partnership LLC. The state says the old administrators, called fiscal intermediaries, were inefficient and cost the taxpayer-funded Medicaid system too much. The new administrator, PPL, is expected to save the state money. But reports of confusion, long sign-up wait times and other problems have plagued the massive transition since the beginning of January. In recent weeks, politicians and unions have urged the state to delay its April 1 deadline. The state health department reported this week that 220,000 participants in CDPAP had either transitioned to the new administrator or opted for a separate personal care services program. But officials also agreed to offer the grace period until April 28 to help those who still remained to be transitioned over. Health officials have maintained that all participants and caregivers will be eligible to continue receiving benefits after the transition. NAIROBI, March 26 (Xinhua) -- A Kenyan police officer sent to Haiti to fight gang violence as part of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) has gone missing after an attack by suspected gang members. "The officer disappeared on Tuesday at around 4:30 p.m. during a patrol operation along the Carrefour Paye-Savien Main Supply Route in the Pont-Sonde area, Artibonite Department," the MSSM said in a statement late Tuesday. The officers came under attack after one Haitian National Police armored vehicle on patrol got stuck in a ditch while another developed a mechanical issue. Two mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles from Pont-Sonde were dispatched to assist in the recovery, the MSSM said. "Unfortunately, during the recovery operation, one of the MRAPs also got stuck, while the other developed a mechanical issue," the MSSM said. According to the MSSM, as the rescue teams attempted to resolve the situation, suspected gang members lying in wait launched an attack. "As a result of the incident, one MSSM Kenyan contingent officer remains unaccounted for," it said, adding that specialized teams have been deployed to conduct a search and determine his whereabouts. Kenya, which leads the United Nations-backed security mission in Haiti, has about 750 officers there. A Kenyan police officer was killed on Feb. 23. Haiti has been beset by gang violence and political instability for years. SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 08: Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips performs at Golden 1 Center on October 08, 2024 in Sacramento, California. Steve Jennings/Getty Images Two of indie rocks biggest bands, The Flaming Lips and Modest Mouse, will be joining forces for a co-headlining tour this summer, dubbed The Good Times Are Killing Me tour. The tour will act as a reunion for the two bands, who first shared the stage together during the Unlimited Sunshine tour in 2002. Kicking off on August 1 in Atlanta, Georgia, the tour will visit multiple cities, including stops in Richmond, Philadelphia, and New Haven, before wrapping up on September 11 in Troutdale, Oregon. The tour will feature both bands alternating headlining slots each night, with The Flaming Lips generally closing the show. However, Modest Mouse will close the final two shows in Troutdale, Oregon. Special guests, indie rock bands Friko and Dehd, will offer support on select dates. How to buy The Flaming Lips and Modest Mouse concert tickets Tickets for The Good Times Are Killing Me tour will be available for general sale starting on Friday, March 28, at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster. Tickets are also available through secondary market platforms like Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, and StubHub. These resale platforms may offer below-face-value pricing and availability for sold-out shows, depending on demand. Discount: First-time Vivid Seats customers can use code SYRACUSE20 for $20 off a $200+ ticket order. A complete list of tour dates is available here. More about The Flaming Lips The Flaming Lips, formed in 1983 in Oklahoma City, first reached mainstream success with albums like The Soft Bulletin (1999) and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002). They have won three Grammy Awards, including two for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, and are known for their elaborate live performances that often feature confetti, balloons, and giant inflatable objects. Recently, the band celebrated the 20th anniversary of Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots with an expanded reissue and vinyl release. The band has experienced various lineup changes over the years, with current members including Wayne Coyne, Steven Drozd, Derek Brown, Matt Duckworth Kirksey, and Tommy McKenzie. More about Modest Mouse Modest Mouse, fronted by Isaac Brock, broke out with their 2004 album Good News for People Who Love Bad News, which included the smash hit singles Float On and Ocean Breathes Salty. The band continued their successful run with albums like We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (2007) and The Golden Casket (2021). Most recently, they celebrated the 20th anniversary of Good News for People Who Love Bad News with a tour in 2024. John Mannion, D-Geddes, walks to the House floor Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2025 at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Mark Weiner | mweiner@syracuse.com Washington Rep. John Mannion introduced a bill today that would block President Donald Trump from shutting down special education programs as he attempts to dismantle the Department of Education. The bill, Mannions first since taking office in January, would also require that programs for students with disabilities be kept within the Department of Education, and not transferred to other agencies. Trump signed an executive order Thursday aimed at shutting down the Department of Education. He said its special education and nutrition programs could be moved to the Department of Health and Human Services. Those two elements will be taken out of the Department of Education, and then all we have to do is get the students to get guidance from the people that love them and cherish them, Trump said last week. Mannion, D-Geddes, said his bill would prohibit the use of federal funding to eliminate, consolidate, or restructure any office within the Department of Education that administers programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Trying to shift this to another agency just doesnt make sense, Mannion told syracuse.com The Post-Standard. It just wont get the attention and expertise that it deserves. Mannion, a former high school science teacher for nearly 30 years in Central New York, said special education is too important to millions of students nationwide to risk disrupting their education. He said about 20% of students nationwide have been diagnosed and identified as special education students because they have some level of disability. Some of those students receive a unique education plan known as Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and support services from schools. Those programs are administered through the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, which was passed about 50 years ago, Mannion said. It was passed to ensure students receive a free individualized public education, Mannion said. Before the IDEA, the outcome for students with disabilities was much worse. Mannion said the law ensures that local school districts receive federal money to help pay for teachers, school psychologists and support staff for special needs students. He said Trump would be violating federal law if he transfers special education programs from the Department of Education. It can only take an act of Congress to do this, he said. Mannion introduced his Protecting Students With Disabilities Act with two co-sponsors, Reps. Lucy McBath, D-Ga., and Jahana Hayes, D-Ct. He said he is circulating a letter to House Republicans and other Democrats to see if they will co-sponsor the bill, and show House leaders that the legislation has strong bipartisan support. This impacts every school district in the country, Mannion said. It should be a bipartisan issue. We should all be here to support our students who need a little bit of additional support. Mannion said his bill is supported by national advocacy organizations including the American Federation of Teachers, National Center for Learning Disabilities, the Council of Administrators of Special Education, and EdTrust. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email Twitter Facebook 571-970-3751 Rochester, N.Y. A community is mourning the death of a teenager who died this week after falling from a Western New York schools roof. Emergency responders rushed to the School of the Arts on Monday to help a student in crisis, the Rochester City School District said in a news release. Officers responded to the Prince Street school around 11:30 a.m. to help the 15-year-old girl, who was reportedly suicidal, the Rochester Police Department told WHAM. The school contacted her parents, the district said, and had the rest of the School of the Arts hold-in-place. But before responders could get to her, she fell from an elevated position, police told WHAM. The girl walked off her schools roof, police told News10NBC. The injured teenager was rushed to Strong Memorial Hospital, where she died Monday night, WHAM reported. The girls name has not been released. Police did not specify if her death had been ruled an accident or a suicide. Today was a difficult day for our school community, Demario Strickland, Rochesters interim superintendent, said in a statement. We recognize that events like this can have a lasting impact, and we want to ensure that our students and staff have the support they need. Strickland said counselors and a trauma, illness and grief team would be available to students and staff. He also asked any families who believe their child or another student at the School of the Arts needs support to reach out. Rochester Mayor Malik Evans also released a statement after the girls death, sharing his condolences with the students family and friends. As a community, we must come together after tragic moments like this, he said. This incident serves as a reminder to all of us to cherish each other and support each other through difficult times. The mayor encouraged anyone who feels suicidal or knows someone who feeling suicidal to call 988, the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Any Rochester resident who dials the hotline can ask to speak with a city team that helps people in crisis, Evans said. In addition, the mayor said Rochesters Center For Youth offers regular counseling to young people concerned about their mental health. To specifically address youth mental health and substance abuse, Evans said Rochester will host a forum for people between the ages of 12 and 21 at the School of the Arts. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 12. More details are expected to be released soon. Where to get help If youre in crisis, help is available. Call, text or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. A partially eclipsed sun peaks out from behind a cloud as it rises over lower Manhattan in New York, Thursday, June 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) AP A binary sunset only happens in Star Wars, but on Earth you can enjoy a double sunrise. In fact, one will be visible this weekend. A partial solar eclipse will be visible Saturday morning in the Northern Hemisphere, including in Europe, eastern North America, northern Asia, and western Africa. It will occur March 29, 2025, around sunrise, including in Upstate New York. Some U.S. and Canadian locations will be able to see whats called a double sunrise, because the silhouette of the moon makes the rising sun look like two separate horns emerging from the horizon. It may resemble a smiley face, according to Forbes, in places like Nunavik, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Maine. Not everyone will get the same experience. According to NASA, the partial solar eclipse will be visible at different times in Washington, D.C. and states like Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Heres when to watch the sunrise eclipse in major cities: Baltimore, Maryland: 6:55 a.m. to 7:02 a.m. EDT Boston, Massachusetts: 6:31 a.m. to 7:07 a.m. EDT Buffalo, New York: 7:02 a.m. to 7:09 a.m. EDT New York City: 6:44 a.m. to 7:04 a.m. EDT Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 6:49 a.m. to 7:03 a.m. EDT Portland, Maine: 6:27 a.m. to 7:10 a.m. EDT Washington D.C.: 6:56 a.m. to 7:01 a.m. EDT NASA cautioned that the partial eclipse will have already started by the time it becomes visible in some locations, like Buffalo. If the weather cooperates, timeanddate.com says viewers in cities like Rochester (6:57-7:09 a.m. EDT), Syracuse (6:51-7:09 a.m. EDT) and Albany (6:42-7:08 a.m. EDT) will also get to experience the spectacle. This image provided by NASA shows a global map of the shadow path for the March 29, 2025 partial solar eclipse. NASA A partial solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth. The sun will slowly appear as a crescent shape, potentially making the sky darker. According to the Associated Press, there is no moment of totality like last years total solar eclipse, so viewers should wear proper eye protection at all times. Special ISO-certified glasses must be used to view the eclipse without damaging your eyes. You can wear the same eclipse glasses as last year (if you still have them and theyre not damaged) or order new glasses online from a seller approved by the American Astronomical Society. The AP notes that viewers can also enjoy the spectacle through indirect ways such as making a pinhole projector using household materials. Holding up a colander will produce a similar effect. Peering at the ground under a shady tree can yield crescent shadows as the sunlight filters through branches and leaves. Solar eclipses arent rare, but the next total solar eclipse wont be visible until Aug. 12, 2026, in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia, and a small area of Portugal. A partial solar eclipse will be seen on that date in Europe, Africa and North America. Photographers capture 2024 total solar eclipse from Buffalo to the Adirondacks (photos, video) When is next solar eclipse after 2024? A long wait for NY in path of totality again Federal health officials said Tuesday they are pulling back $11.4 billion in COVID-19-related funds for state and local public health departments and other health organizations throughout the nation. 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, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement. The statement said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects to recover the money beginning 30 days after termination notices, which began being sent out on Monday. Officials said the money was largely used for COVID-19 testing, vaccination and global projects as well as community health workers responding to COVID and a program established in 2021 to address COVID health disparities among high-risk and underserved patients, including those in minority populations. The move was first reported by NBC News. Lori Freeman, CEO of the National Association of County & City Health Officials, said much of the funding was set to end soon anyway. Its ending in the next six months, she said. Theres no reason why rescind it now? Its just cruel and unusual behavior. In a related move, more than two dozen COVID-related research grants funded by the National Institutes of Health have been canceled. Earlier this month, the Trump administration shut down ordering from covidtest.gov, the site where Americans could have COVID-19 tests delivered to their mailboxes for no charge. Although the COVID federal public health emergency has ended, the virus is still killing Americans: 458 people per week on average have died from COVID over the past four weeks, according to CDC data. HHS wouldnt provide many details about how the federal government expects to recover the money from what it called impacted recipients. But HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon said in an email: The $11.4 billion is undisbursed funds remaining. Freeman said her understanding is that state health departments already had the COVID money. The funding was authorized by Congress, was appropriated by Congress, and it was out the door, basically, into the hands of the grantees states, she said, which decide how to distribute it locally. Some of the COVID money is used to address other public health issues, Freeman added. For example, wastewater surveillance that began during COVID became important for detecting other diseases, too. It was being used in significant ways to track flu and patterns of new disease and emerging diseases and even more recently with the measles outbreak, Freeman said. Under both the first Trump administration and the Biden administration, billions of dollars was allocated for COVID response through legislation, including a COVID relief bill and the American Rescue Plan Act. At this point, its unclear exactly how health departments will be affected by the pullback of funds. But some were starting to look at what it might mean for them. In Washington state, for example, health officials were notified that more than $125 million in COVID-related funding has been immediately terminated. They are assessing the impact of the actions, they said. In Los Angeles County, health officials said they could lose more than $80 million in core funding for vaccinations and other services. Much of this funding supports disease surveillance, public health lab services, outbreak investigations, infection control activities at healthcare facilities and data transparency, a department official wrote in an email. KHARTOUM, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) said Wednesday it has controlled the Khartoum International Airport, which had been held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since mid-April 2023, as well as other strategic sites in the capital. "We have taken control of Khartoum International Airport," SAF operations commander in Khartoum Mohamed Abdul-Rahman Al-Belawi said, according to Al-Jazeera news channel. "Ground units of the Sudanese army have successfully taken control of Khartoum International Airport and fully secured it," a military source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. Meanwhile, SAF spokesman Nabil Abdalla said in a statement that SAF forces "have seized control of the militia camp Taiba Al-Hasanab in Jabal Awliya city, which is the militia's main camp and its last stronghold in Khartoum." The remaining presence of the RSF consists of scattered "small pockets," which will be eliminated soon, he said. In a separate statement on Wednesday, Abdalla said the SAF has also made progress in areas east of Khartoum, and seized control of the first infantry brigade headquarters in the Al-Bagair area on the border between the Khartoum and Gezira states. The SAF and supporting forces have inflicted heavy losses on the RSF in both equipment and personnel, he said. Furthermore, video footage shared by army soldiers on social media showed army units deployed along Al-Siteen Street, a key road connecting the eastern, southern, and central parts of Khartoum. Sudan has been embroiled in a conflict between the SAF and RSF since mid-April 2023. On Thursday, the RSF announced that it had taken control of the Al-Malha area, which holds strategic significance due to its control over vital trade routes between Sudan and Libya, and which serves as a key crossroads leading to the capital of North Darfur State in western Sudan. A day later, the SAF said it had regained control of the presidential palace in central Khartoum. On Tuesday, the SAF released a map for the first time outlining its areas of control and RSF-held territory, as fighting between the two sides continues. The map marked green areas under full SAF control, including Northern, River Nile, Red Sea, Kassala, Gedaref, Blue Nile, Gezira, and Sinnar states. RSF-controlled areas, including West, South, and East Darfur, were marked in red. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Grass/white clover swards can maintain pasture production, increase animal performance, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and increase farm profitability Teagasc has published an external review of its grass/clover and multi species swards research programme, which was carried out by Dr. Sinclair Mayne, former CEO of the Agri Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in Northern Ireland. Research from UCD on multispecies swards was also included in the review. Teagasc Director Professor Frank OMara commissioned the review to examine the research programme and determine the key findings to date, to ensure that the important advisory messages for farmers were being synthesised from across the full research programme, and to identify any research gaps and future strategic priorities. The Irish Governments Climate Action Plan has set out a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from agriculture by 25% by 2030. One measure that has been highlighted as a method to achieve this target is to reduce chemical nitrogen (N) fertiliser use on Irish farms. Reducing fertiliser N levels has the potential to, not only reduce the level of greenhouse gas emissions from Irish agriculture, but also to reduce pasture production at national level resulting in increased purchased feed requirement. However, reducing chemical N has the potential to improve farm profitability where biologically fixed nitrogen from legumes replaces chemical nitrogen. Teagasc and UCD have undertaken a portfolio of research comparing the performance of perennial ryegrass swards with perennial ryegrass/legume swards (ryegrass/white clover for grazing and ryegrass/red clover for silage production) and multispecies swards (grasses that include perennial ryegrass, Cocksfoot, Timothy; legumes that include red and white clover; herbs that include Chicory and Plantain). The impacts of the differing sward types on herbage production, animal performance, environmental sustainability and farm profitability with dairy cows, beef cattle and sheep have been assessed across a range of different levels of chemical N fertiliser levels. The review highlighted that perennial ryegrass/white clover swards managed appropriately have the potential to maintain pasture dry matter production, increase animal performance, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and increase farm profitability. It concluded that a perennial ryegrass/white clover sward receiving 100 kg per hectare less chemical nitrogen, produced similar pasture production to that of a perennial ryegrass only sward. This was based on the perennial ryegrass/white clover sward having on average 20 to 25% white clover over the grazing season. The biggest challenge identified at farm level was the establishment and maintenance of the white clover content. In addition to the fertiliser replacement effect, livestock grazing perennial ryegrass/white clover swards had higher milk production/live weight gain. Together with savings on fertiliser, this resulted in higher farm profitability. There was evidence that perennial ryegrass/white clover swards emitted lower nitrous oxide, thereby lowering GHG emissions, with research in relation to nitrate leaching at an early stage. The results also indicated that risk of bloat was relatively low where average white clover content over the grazing season was maintained at 20 to 25%, but vigilance is required. However, in situations where clover content was higher than 30%, and/or herbage dry matter content was low, the risk of bloat was much greater and, in these situations careful monitoring of livestock as well as use of preventative measures is required. Additionally, the report highlighted that perennial ryegrass/red clover swards in silage systems have the potential to produce high dry matter yields with low chemical nitrogen, with little impact on animal performance. The results to date in relation to multispecies swards show that performance is generally similar to perennial ryegrass/white clover swards in terms of herbage production and animal performance. However, results of more recent studies have shown that lack of persistency is a major issue with multispecies swards, especially with chicory, red clover and plantain largely disappearing within two to three years of establishment. Multispecies swards may have some environmental advantages over perennial ryegrass/white clover swards in terms of lower nitrate leaching and greater soil biodiversity. There may also be benefits in terms of higher dry matter production in drought conditions, provided herb content is maintained within the sward. The Director of Teagasc, Professor Frank OMara thanked Dr. Sinclair Mayne for the professional manner in which he carried out the review using his vast experience on pasture-based systems. The Director emphasised the importance of greater adoption of perennial ryegrass/white clover on grassland farms in Ireland given the benefits highlighted in the report. Clear, concise and consistent advisory messages based on robust science are needed to provide a clear strategy for farmers in their journey to reduced chemical N use, while increasing legumes in pastures. Likewise, he emphasised the importance of continued research in particular around the areas identified in this review. A copy of the review of the Teagasc grass/clover and multi species swards research programme is available to view and download here. The big picture: New reports suggest that TSMC's upcoming 2nm semiconductors are almost ready for prime time, with indications of very positive yields. Apple will likely unveil the first 2nm product in 2026, and other tech giants are already in line for TSMC's next bleeding-edge node. The Commercial Times reports that TSMC is set to begin taking orders for wafers built on its 2nm N2 node process next week. The semiconductor giant is likely on schedule to start mass production later this year, with the iPhone 18 Pro's A20 chip bringing the node to consumers in late 2026. TSMC's Kaohsiung plant will hold a production expansion ceremony on March 31, with orders scheduled to begin the next day. Progress has advanced smoothly, as the company's 2nm semiconductors reached 60 percent yields late last year and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports that it has since advanced well beyond that. Pursuing an aggressive strategy, TSMC aims to produce 50,000 wafers per week by the end of 2025. TSMC will start accepting 2nm orders on April 1, 2025, for 2nd half production, targeting 50,000 wafers per month by year-end, media report. Apple (A20 chip) is seen as the 1st customer, with AMD, Intel, Broadcom, and Amazon AWS also in line for early 2nm capacity. $TSM $AAPL Dan Nystedt (@dnystedt) March 24, 2025 Unsurprisingly, Apple is first in line to adopt 2nm semiconductors for its chips. The company's iPhone 15 Pro was the first consumer device to utilize TSMC's 3nm node, and the iPhone 18 Pro will follow that trend late next year. Standard iPhone 18 models will likely employ a refined TSMC 3nm process. Other early 2nm adopters include Intel, AMD, Broadcom, and Amazon AWS. Although Intel is receiving some of its chips from TSMC, the company also aims to compete with its 18A node, which is scheduled for tape-out sometime during the first half of 2025. 18A will debut in Intel's Panther Lake laptop CPUs and Clearwater Forest server processors later this year, slightly ahead of TSMC's roadmap. Reiterating my prediction from six months ago: the 2H26 new iPhones (iPhone 18) will be powered by TSMC's 2nm chips. Worth noting, TSMC's 2nm R&D trial yields reached 60 70% three months ago, and they're now well above that. https://t.co/ZoWXFqfUnS (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) March 22, 2025 The two upcoming nodes will introduce gate-all-around architectures, which reduce power leakage by managing electrical currents more closely. Power leakage is a growing problem as newer chips become smaller and pack more transistors into smaller spaces. 18A will also feature backside power delivery to improve performance, while TSMC plans to debut its take on the technology with next year's A16 node. TSMC might charge $30,000 per 2nm wafer, but whether the number represents Apple's discount or the standard price remains unclear. For comparison, Apple currently pays $18,000 per 3nm wafer, but tariffs could raise that price to between $20,000 and $23,000. The rising costs of 3nm and 2nm semiconductors will likely trickle down to consumers. ISTANBUL, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The Istanbul City Council elected Nuri Aslan from the opposition party as acting mayor on Wednesday, following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the Istanbul Municipality announced. Aslan, the candidate of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), led the voting in the first two rounds but failed to secure the required majority. In the third round, where a simple majority was needed, Aslan was elected with 177 votes. His rival, Zeynel Abidin Okul from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), received 125 votes. Aslan had previously been appointed as the first deputy mayor by the Istanbul Municipal Council on April 15, 2024. Imamoglu was detained on March 19, and then formally arrested and suspended from office on corruption charges on Sunday. Since then, Imamoglu, who denies the accusations, has been held at Marmara Prison in Istanbul's Silivri district. Imamoglu, from the CHP, won a second term as Istanbul mayor in March 2024, defeating the AKP candidate, Murat Kurum. Facepalm: Signal likes to present itself as the most private and secure messaging service around, but the nonprofit likely didn't design the app for sharing classified plans regarding imminent military action. Yet earlier this month, senior US government and military officials did just that. Signal's president later defended the service amid renewed comparisons to WhatsApp. Signal president Meredith Whittaker reiterated the messaging service's commitment to secure encryption and privacy after top government officials reportedly discussed a classified military operation using the platform. The conversation, which included highly sensitive information, was leaked when the US national security advisor accidentally invited The Atlantic's editor-in-chief into the chat. Jeff Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic, said he didn't believe he'd been invited to an online meeting about upcoming attacks on the Houthis in Yemen until the strikes occurred just hours after being mentioned in the chatroom. I wouldn't say that Will and I are battling but I do disagree. Because there are big differences between Signal and WhatsApp. Signal is the gold standard in private comms. We're open source, nonprofit, and we develop and apply e2ee and privacy preserving tech across our system https://t.co/ZU60z2vVHy Meredith Whittaker (@mer__edith) March 25, 2025 During the exchange, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, Vice President J.D. Vance, and other senior officials reportedly discussed specific targets, weaponry, and other sensitive details. Goldberg declined to publish those specifics, citing concerns about endangering military and intelligence personnel. A national security spokesperson later confirmed the authenticity of the message chain. Beyond the sensitive information shared, the messages also revealed candid insights into the officials' private opinions and communication styles. Vice President Vance reportedly expressed disagreement with President Trump over the strikes, arguing that they benefited Europe more than the U.S After the operation, several officials celebrated with emojis, including a fist, a flexed bicep, an American flag, and a flame. While US officials often use Signal for routine communication, the app is not authorized for transmitting classified information. Such discussions are typically conducted on secure devices within protected facilities. Legal experts suggested that sharing classified details over Signal particularly with the service configured to erase messages may have violated the Espionage Act. President Trump later defended the use of Signal, saying it was the best tool available at the time, as accessing secure facilities can be cumbersome. In response to comparisons with WhatsApp, Whittaker emphasized Signal's end-to-end encryption and privacy-first approach. The company also minimizes the amount of data it can disclose under subpoena. By contrast, she pointed out that while WhatsApp uses Signal's encryption technology under license, it does not protect metadata, contact lists, user IDs, or profile photos. Despite Signal's encryption safeguards, devices using the app remain vulnerable to hacking and theft. The incident with Goldberg also highlights the persistent danger of human error. Facepalm: Even the best of us can fall for scams. Just look at Troy Hunt, the security expert and creator of the HaveIBeenPwned.com website, who was tricked by a phishing email. The attackers managed to steal his mailing list for his personal blog, compromising roughly 16,000 emails, around half of which belong to people who had unsubscribed from the list. Hunt says he was jet lagged and tired when he read an email that appeared to come from Mailchimp, the service he uses for his mailing list. It claimed that the company had received a spam complaint made against Hunt's personal blog letters, leading to restricted sending privileges. Hunt clicked on the link in the email. It led him to a page where he entered his login credentials, which he notes did not auto-fill from the 1Password password manager extension. He then entered the one-time password and the page hung, at which point he realized he'd been tricked. Hunt then logged onto the official Mailchimp website to change his password, but it was too late he had already received an alert about his mailing list being exported from an IP address in New York. There was also a login alert from the same IP. These scams are automated so the processes take place before the victims can change their login credentials. Of the 16,000 email addresses stolen by the hacker, 7,535 belonged to people who had unsubscribed to the mailing list. Hunt said he wasn't sure why Mailchimp held on to data from unsubscribed users and he would investigate whether it was a configuration issue on his part. The one consolation for Hunt is that the hack didn't impact his HaveIBeenPwned site, where you can type in your email to see if it was part of previous data breaches, including Hunt's Mailchimp list breach. Most of us would never click on an email link, and Hunt emphasized that he's avoided "gazillion similar phishes before," but the Australian says he was exhausted from traveling to London when he read this message. He added that the mail created a sense of urgency that wasn't too much to be suspicious, but enough to warrant a quick response. "Tiredness, was a major factor. I wasn't alert enough, and I didn't properly think through what I was doing," he wrote on his own blog. "The attacker had no way of knowing that (I don't have any reason to suspect this was targeted specifically at me), but we all have moments of weakness and if the phish times just perfectly with that, well, here we are." Hunt also noted that the attack illustrated how some two-factor authentication methods aren't a guarantee that you won't be hacked. He says it's completely useless against an automated phishing attack that can relay the OTP as soon as it's entered. Hunt said he is now alerting affected users via email. The domain used to host the fake website has been taken down by Cloudflare. What just happened? The US has added dozens of Chinese tech companies to an export blacklist as it looks to slow down its rival's development of AI chips, as well as high-performance, exascale, and quantum computing for military use. China said the sanctions will not stop the country's development and progress, adding that the move reflects US anxiety over its rapid development of these technologies. The US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has added 80 organizations to the entity list, including more than 70 from China. There are also entities from the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Iran, and Taiwan. American companies wishing to do business with those on the list must first secure a license, which is almost always denied. Donald Trump famously placed Huawei on the list in 2019, during his first term in office. Among those added to the list are six subsidiaries of cloud computing provider Inspur Group, which itself was added to the list in 2023. The subsidiaries were added for acquiring or attempting to acquire US-origin items in support of supercomputer projects for the Chinese government and/or military. They are also accused of developing large AI models and advanced chips for military use. The agency added that it is working toward impeding China's development of its hypersonic weapons program, and to impair the development of unsafeguarded nuclear activities and ballistic missile program. Also added to the list were Chinese server manufacturer Nettrix Information Industry Co, Suma Technology Co, and Suma-USI Electronics. Non-profit AI research institute Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence is another new addition. 27 Chinese entities were added for acquiring or attempting to acquire US-origin items in support of China's military modernization, and seven were added for advancing the CCP's quantum technology capabilities. There were also two Chinese entities added for selling products to parties on the entity list, including Huawei and HiSilicon. "We will not allow adversaries to exploit American technology to bolster their own militaries and threaten American lives," said US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. Bao Jianyun, director of the Center for International Political Economy Studies at Renmin University of China, told the Global Times that the move marks an escalation of the US' long-running effort to contain China's technological rise. He said it reflects the US' anxiety over China's rapid development of large language models, quantum computing, and other technologies. China's foreign ministry said it strongly condemns the export restrictions while urging the US to "stop generalizing national security," Reuters reports. Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years.TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust In brief: Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team contains a member who once provided tech support to a cybercrime gang, according to a new report. Edward Coristine, the 19-year-old often known by his nickname of "Big Balls," already has a colorful history, with other reports claiming he is the grandson of a KGB spy. According to records reviewed by Reuters, Coristine ran a company called DiamondCDN that provided network services from around 2022, while he was still in high school. Among its users was a website run by a ring of cybercriminals operating under the name "EGodly." EGodly thanked DiamondCDN for providing it with DDoS protection and caching systems in February 2023, noting that Coristine's company helped it securely host and safeguard its website, dataleak.fun. Personally, I voted for Big Balls https://t.co/gtRPzGHLDr Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 7, 2025 That same year, EGodly boasted on its Telegram channel that it had hijacked phone numbers, broke into law enforcement email accounts in Latin America, and committed cryptocurrency theft. It had also distributed personal details of an FBI agent who was investigating the group, including his phone number and photographs of his house, on Telegram. The now-retired FBI agent told Reuters that the group was being investigated over its connection to swatting incidents. "These are bad folks," the former agent said. "They're not a pleasant group." A cybersecurity researcher said EGodly was made up of hardened fraudsters. Nitin Natarajan, who served as the deputy director of CISA under former President Joe Biden, told Reuters that it was concerning someone who had provided services to cybercriminals now had access to sensitive government networks. Coristine set up Tesla.Sexy LLC in 2021, when he was 16 years old. The company controls dozens of web domains, including at least two Russian-registered domains, one of which is an AI bot for Discord servers targeting the Russian market, writes Wired. According to journalist Jacob Silverman, Coristine's great-grandfather worked for the KGB during the Cold War. Valery Fedorovich Martynov was recruited by the FBI in 1982 to pass Soviet intelligence to the US, but he was eventually discovered by KGB counterintelligence officer Victor Cherkashin and executed as a traitor. Coristine was fired from a cybersecurity internship last year for allegedly leaking insider information to a rival. He was also accused of frequently engaging with Telegram and Discord communities linked to cybercrime. Coristine's background has led to some questioning the vetting process for DOGE staff, and whether any background checks were carried out. In context: Qualcomm and Arm haven't been on good terms for a while. The UK designer tried and ultimately failed to force the US chipmaker to stop using its IP. In it's back-and-forth battle, Qualcomm is now complaining to antitrust authorities that Arm is trying to hamper worldwide competition. Qualcomm recently had private meetings with three antitrust organizations about Arm's alleged anticompetitive behavior. Anonymous sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that this new global antitrust campaign came after Arm tried restricting Qualcomm's ability to build silicon products. According to the insiders, Qualcomm met with representatives from the European Commission, the Korea Fair Trade Commission, and the US FTC. The company alleges that Arm, a longtime partner in the mobile chip business, is restricting access to its microchip technology after running an "open network" of silicon IP for more than 20 years. Also read: Arm vs Qualcomm: mutually assured destruction Qualcomm claims that Arm built a successful business model by forcing chip companies to rely exclusively on its processor technology and that the mobile ecosystem thrived as a result. However, things are now much different than they were two decades ago. Arm is trying to manufacture and sell chips, eliminating the need to go through third-party manufacturers and designers such as Qualcomm. In response, Arm provided Bloomberg with an official statement. The British corporation vows to respect its contractual obligations with its technology partners and refutes all allegations about its anticompetitive conduct. It claims that Qualcomm is desperately trying to create a competitive advantage by diverting attention from the two companies' ongoing commercial disputes. Earlier this year, Arm stopped trying to bar Qualcomm from using its intellectual property. The conflict originated from Qualcomm's acquisition of Nuvia, a chip startup with a previous licensing agreement with Arm. Qualcomm plans to include Nuvia's Arm-compatible tech in future Snapdragon processors, but Arm claims Qualcomm cannot just take possession of Nuvia's license without its approval. Qualcomm raised its antitrust complaint last December when representatives from the company met with FTC officials in Washington, DC. During the meeting, Qualcomm accused Arm of withholding some unspecified technology that should have been available through the existing license agreement between the two companies. More recently, Qualcomm voiced the same complaint with European authorities, stating that Arm seeks to compete directly with its own chip instead of providing the chip tech to third parties. It has now expanded its antitrust campaign to Korea. What just happened? There has been a victory for an AI company in one of the many legal fights over copyrighted works, but the case is far from over. A California judge has rejected a preliminary bid from Universal Music Group (UMG) and other publishers to block their lyrics from being used by Anthropic to train its chatbot, Claude. UMG, Concord and ABKCO sued Anthropic in 2023 over claims that it used lyrics from at least 500 songs by musicians including Beyonce, the Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys, to train Claude without permission. The lawsuit claimed Anthropic was violating US copyright laws with its actions. The music groups said they were not asking Anthropic to retrain its existing AI models or remove any from the marketplace. The injunction would not have impacted any models under development, either it would have just stopped the start-up from using the song lyrics. Judge Eumi K. Lee said this week that the scope of the requested injunction was too broad as the details remain poorly defined the injunction would have potentially covered hundreds of thousands of songs, not just the 500 identified in the suit. The judge added that the publishers failed to show that Anthropic's actions caused them "irreparable harm," a requirement for the injunction. However, the court issued two discovery orders granting the publishers significant investigative tools to potentially improve their legal arguments, writes Music Business Worldwide. The judge also suggested that Anthropic might still have to pay a large amount of damages to the music industry, which the publishers say they are going to pursue "vigorously." "Though the Court denied the remainder of our motion, which would have required Anthropic to refrain from training on our lyrics while the case proceeds, it did so on the narrow grounds that our damages for this injury can ultimately be compensated with money damages, which we intend to pursue vigorously," the publishers said in a statement. The publishers scored their own victory in January when the court approved protective guardrails for AI-generated song lyrics, preventing Claude from reproducing these lyrics in its outputs to users. Legal challenges against AI companies for using copyrighted material continue to be fought in the courts. In August last year, two music-generating startups argued that scraping copyrighted tracks from the internet for training purposes was "fair use." In August last year, authors sued Anthropic for allegedly using pirated copyrighted work to train Claude. It's not just musicians who are aggrieved by what AI companies are doing. Earlier this month, hundreds of stars and Hollywood executives signed an open letter urging the Trump administration to deny proposals from AI companies that would allow their systems to be trained on copyrighted work without obtaining permission. In February, more than 1,000 musicians, including Kate Bush, Tori Amos, and the Eurythmics' Annie Lennox released a silent album in protest against proposed changes to Britain's copyright laws. Mirroring the US, the proposals would allow companies to use artists' work to train their AI models without permission. Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years.TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust Rumor mill: A new analyst report suggests that Nvidia may use Intel's foundries to manufacture some of its future gaming GPUs. If true, this would mark a significant win for Intel's foundry business as it aims to gain market share from TSMC. The information comes from Timothy Arcuri, an analyst at Swiss investment bank UBS. He stated in a press note to investors that Nvidia is "closer" than Broadcom to utilizing Intel's 18A process node for at least some of its graphics processors targeted at gamers. Intel's 18A refers to its 1.8nm-class transistor technology, currently in development. A low-power variant, 18AP, is also expected, which would appeal to chip companies with power-efficient needs. If Nvidia does opt for 18A or 18AP for future gaming products, it would likely serve as a major endorsement of Intel's process capabilities. The chipmaker has faced significant challenges in recent years trying to keep pace with TSMC on the leading edge. However, securing a client like Nvidia could signal that Intel has finally regained its competitive edge. UBS analyst Timothy Arcuri stated, "Intel's (INTC) new CEO Lip-Bu Tan is likely to refocus on chip design in the short term and seek to attract major customers to strengthen the foundry business." He further analyzed, "In the short term, efforts will emphasize Intel's design and Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) March 25, 2025 Arcuri also suggests that the newly appointed Intel CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, will focus on chip design in the short term and aim to attract major clients like Nvidia, potentially shifting some of their production away from TSMC and Samsung's foundries. Tan, the former CEO of Cadence Design Systems, was appointed as Intel's permanent CEO earlier this month. Securing major customers appears to be a key focus for him as he works to revitalize Intel's struggling division. The note further adds that Intel could leverage packaging technologies such as its Embedded Multi-die Interconnect Bridge to compete with TSMC's successful Chip on Wafer on Substrate solutions. It also mentions that Intel is already working on a partnership with Taiwan's contract chipmaker, United Microelectronics Corporation. Arcuri speculates that this deal could accelerate, with the two companies potentially co-manufacturing some of Apple's chips on Intel's high-voltage FinFET nodes as early as next year. Of course, all of this remains in the realm of rumors for now. However, Arcuri promises that more concrete updates on Intel's foundry progress will be revealed at the company's Direct Connect event on April 29. UNITED NATIONS, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Continuing attacks on civilians in Sudan, including a deadly air strike on a North Darfur market, has "gravely alarmed" the United Nations, a UN spokesman said on Tuesday. "Last night (Monday) in North Darfur, dozens of casualties were reported when an air strike hit a market located about 40 km northwest of El Fasher," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "The UN is also deeply concerned about escalating attacks on populated areas in Khartoum." Dujarric also said that on Sunday, there were reports of civilians killed and injured when artillery struck a mosque in east Khartoum during evening prayers. Civilian casualties were also reported as a result of heavy shelling in Omdurman, Khartoum's twin city. "The UN reminds all parties to the conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to take all possible measures to avoid harm to civilians," he said. The spokesman said the hostilities and recent funding cuts by major donors severely disrupted health services in Sudan, including in the Darfur region. Last month alone, nearly half of all reported attacks on healthcare facilities in Sudan occurred in Darfur. He said health partners report that most regional facilities have only one to two months of supplies, with acute shortages in North and South Darfur states. "The UN and its partners continue to do all they can to meet the rising needs, despite funding shortfalls and access constraints, including due to the ongoing hostilities," the spokesman said. US may miss out on green tech boom: Germany Berlin, March 26 (AFP) Mar 26, 2025 Europe must seize on the "huge economic opportunities" offered by the green technology boom, Germany said Wednesday -- adding it was up to the United States if it decided to miss out. Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump's administration has withdrawn the United States from the landmark Paris Agreement for a second time and vowed to focus heavily on fossil fuel extraction. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at a climate conference in Berlin that he "deeply regretted" the United States leaving the Paris climate accord and stressed the "enormous" economic opportunities it is missing out on. "The global market for climate-friendly key technologies continues to grow rapidly," Scholz told the Petersberg Climate Dialogue. He said investments in the global energy transition had exceeded the $2 trillion mark, which "corresponds to the volume of the entire global oil trade today". The meeting's host, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, said economic data contradicted the "old prejudice" that investing in climate protection was "unaffordable". "We all know that there are spoilers in the world right now who want to prevent" greater climate investments, she told the first major meeting of the year related to the COP30 summit taking place in Brazil in November. Baerbock added that "today climate protection and economic growth no longer contradict one another". "Climate protection opens up huge economic opportunities, and we as Europeans want to seize them", she added. Europe especially wants to work with "companies and countries in Latin America, Africa and other regions around the world," Baerbock said. "If others, such as the United States, decide to stay out of it, that is their decision." - 'Renewing economies' - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres echoed Baerbock's message, telling the Berlin meeting in a virtual address that "renewables are renewing economies". "They are powering growth, creating jobs, lowering energy bills and cleaning our air. And every day, they become an even smarter investment." Baerbock also hailed as "historic" a recent agreement struck in Germany to channel an extra 100 billion euros ($107 billion) to climate measures. Her Greens, who are set to leave government after faring poorly in February elections, wrung the concession from other political parties in exchange for agreeing to support plans for greater defence and infrastructure spending. EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra meanwhile warned that the world was living in "tremendously difficult times". "We're facing problems literally from every direction -- and clearly also in the domain of climate action," he told the meeting. Beyond the United States withdrawing from climate cooperation, there have also been concerns that the issue is being pushed down the global agenda by national security and economic pressures. "But there's no alternative," Hoekstra stressed. "Humanity doesn't have an alternative and cannot wait. World installed record renewable energy in 2024, driven by China: report Dubai, March 26 (AFP) Mar 26, 2025 The world installed a record amount of renewable energy capacity last year, largely driven by China, according to a report published on Wednesday by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Generating capacity from the likes of solar, wind, hydroelectric and geothermal energy, grew by 15.1 percent globally, reaching close to 4.5 terawatts, according to the report from IRENA. Across the world, 585 gigawatts of renewable capacity was added to grids, accounting for 92.5 percent of all new electricity-generating capacity installed last year. "The continuous growth of renewables we witness each year is evidence that renewables are economically viable and readily deployable," Francesco La Camera, IRENA's director said in a statement. "Each year they keep breaking their own expansion records, but we also face the same challenges of great regional disparities and the ticking clock," he added. To achieve a global goal, agreed at the COP28 climate summit in 2023, to triple renewable energy generation capacity by 2030 the world must reach 11.2 terawatts. That will require annual growth of 16.6 percent until the end of the decade, the report said. Last year, Asia was central to global renewable growth, with China alone accounting for 64 percent of new capacity worldwide. More than three-quarters of all the newly installed capacity worldwide was in the form of photovoltaic cells, which turn solar energy directly into electricity. Of that, China accounted for more than half. Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UN's climate treaty process, said in the same statement that "renewables grew in Asia at double the rate in Europe". "Clearly there is still so much opportunity for Europe to step up the pace." "In a global clean energy boom that hit $2 trillion last year -- the dividends on offer are monumental," he added. Deep sea mining impacts visible for 'many decades' Paris, March 26 (AFP) Mar 26, 2025 Scientists said they have seen the first signs of life returning to deep sea mining tracks carved into the abyssal seabed more than four decades ago, but warned on Wednesday that full recovery may be "impossible". The new research, published in the journal Nature, comes as countries argue over the creation of the world's first mining code on deep sea extraction at a meeting of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in Kingston, Jamaica. Scientists and campaigners have long insisted that future industrial-level mining will threaten marine ecosystems. Risks range from species extinctions and damage to the ocean food web, to the potential for exacerbating climate change by churning up sediment that stores planet-heating carbon. In the latest research, scientists in Britain assessed the lasting impact of one of the oldest known mining tracks in the vast Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), stretching between Hawaii and Mexico in international waters. At depths of more than 4,000 metres (13,000 feet), the seabed here is scattered with metal rich rocks known as "nodules" and is home to a huge number of strange and rare animals almost entirely unknown to science. A 1979 test in the CCZ left a wide strip of seabed cleared of nodules and framed by deep tracks eight metres (26 foot) apart made by the mining machine. In 2023, scientists surveyed the site and found these marks in the seafloor remained clearly visible. "The numbers of many animals were reduced within the tracks but we did see some of the first signs of biological recovery," said lead author Daniel Jones of the National Oceanography Centre. While small and more mobile creatures were seen within the mining area, larger-sized animals that are fixed to the seafloor were still "very rare", he said. The sediment plumes kicked up by the machines were not found to have had a lasting impact, according to the research. The authors said that while more modern equipment could be designed to limit the impact on ocean wildlife, the likely scale of any mining operations if they went ahead meant "visible physical impacts of the collection can be assumed to last for at least many decades". They added that a full return of life in affected regions "may be impossible" with the removal of the nodules, which are themselves a habitat for marine animals. - Spies to smartphones - The research marks "the longest term assessment of a deep sea mining track", Jones told reporters earlier this month. Jones trawled the archives to pinpoint the location of the 1979 test, which was carried out following a CIA plot to recover a Russian nuclear submarine -- using deep-sea mining as a cover story. The CIA then leased their ship for real deep-sea mining, according to Jones. He said the 1979 test, carried out by private firms, was to see if harvesting the nodules was technically feasible and was "much smaller than a true mining event would look like". After that, interest and funding fizzled out. But recent years have seen renewed interest in exploiting the potato-sized nodules, which are thought to have formed over millions of years and contain metals like cobalt and nickel, which are used in technologies such as smartphones and rechargeable batteries. There are estimated to be around 21 billion tonnes of nodules on the seabed of the CCZ. "Our results don't provide an answer to whether deep-sea mining is societally acceptable, but they do provide the data needed to make better informed policy decisions," said co-author Adrian Glover from Britain's Natural History Museum. He added that it could help in creating protected areas and inform monitoring efforts. klm/np/bc Ugandan capital floods kill seven Kampala, March 26 (AFP) Mar 26, 2025 Flooding has killed seven people including at least three children after the rising waters swept through parts of Uganda's capital Kampala early on Wednesday, police said. Intense rainfall deluged the capital after a long period of hot and dry weather, with authorities issuing a warning over flooding. "Kampala today morning experienced intense rainfall leading to severe floods," said Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesman Luke Owoyesigyire. Seven people, including a three-year-old girl and her 11-month-old sister, had died in the flooding, he told AFP, with a third so-far unidentified boy also perishing in the waters. Pedestrians were swept away with the city reporting significant property damage, he said. An employee of the United States embassy in Kampala was among those killed, Owoyesigyire added. The US embassy is yet to comment. The sisters drowned in their home in the Kampala suburb of Bukoto after their mother, currently in police custody over negligence charges, locked them inside after leaving for her night shift. Kampala has faced significant flooding previously, with poor planning and over-crowding, encroachment on wetlands and a lack of drainage contributing to the damage. Ruan Xiangyan, a pioneer of ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation, speaks during a meeting of deputies from the delegation of Beijing at the third session of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2025. (Xinhua) BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Li Ying (pseudonym) had always dreamed of becoming a mother, but her diagnosis of a disease almost shattered that simple wish. Diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a condition requiring chemotherapy, Li was told that the treatment could damage her ovaries and potentially impair her fertility. Fortunately, she had her ovaries preserved in a hospital cryobank prior to starting the treatment, allowing for reimplantation after her recovery. In 2021, she gave birth to a healthy baby, nicknamed Youyou -- China's first "cryopreserved baby." "It was a miracle!" Li recalled. In February, she turned to her doctor Ruan Xiangyan for a second ovarian tissue transplant, hoping to have another child. So far, ovarian tissue from over 750 girls and women is preserved in the cryobank at the Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital (BOGH), Capital Medical University, waiting to be "woken up" and once again serve as the source of new life. However, these patients are among the lucky few. "Each year, at least one million girls and women of childbearing age undergo chemotherapy or radiotherapy, yet fewer than one in 10,000 can have their ovaries preserved," said Ruan, founding director of the department of gynecological endocrinology at the BOGH. As a pioneer of ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation in China, Ruan is not only dedicated to advancing the technology but also hopes to ensure that patients are fully informed about the medical risk of ovarian failure, helping them preserve their fertility. FROZEN "NOAH'S ARK" Chemotherapy and radiotherapy usually cause ovarian failure, with an incidence ranging from 70 to 100 percent, leading to infertility, premature menopause and other health issues due to insufficient ovarian hormones, Ruan said. How can these patients preserve both their lives and their ovarian function? "This is a global challenge, and China had long been absent in this field," said Ruan. After nearly a century of efforts by medical experts and scientists, the breakthrough technology of ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation emerged and gradually matured. In 2004, the world's first healthy baby was born using this technology. In 2010, while studying in Germany, Ruan was introduced to the technology for the first time. "I was overwhelmed with excitement. China needs this so much! My patients will be saved!" she recounted. Without hesitation, Ruan made up her mind to bring it back to China. With support from the government and foreign experts, China's first ovarian tissue cryobank was officially established at BOGH in 2012, a frozen Noah's Ark carrying the hopes of future life. In order to make ovarian freezing services accessible to more people, Ruan has helped train doctors from over 300 hospitals across the country for the past six years. And with collective efforts, a nationwide fertility preservation network has been established, allowing ovarian tissue from as far as Hainan, China's southernmost island province, to be transported to the BOGH cryobank within 24 hours. Certain ovarian tissue cryopreservation procedures have now been included under medical insurance coverage in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. So far, the hospital has successfully completed 41 transplantations of cryopreserved ovarian tissue, ranking at the forefront internationally in terms of success rate. "All in all, it is most important to make these ovaries function again," Ruan said. Following the birth of Youyou, China's second "cryopreserved baby" was born in October 2024. "At that moment, I felt all my efforts have been worthwhile," she said. "Bringing happiness to my patients is my greatest happiness." MEDICAL DISCLOSURE NEEDED "Do you know how hard this has been for me? I wish I could give her my own ovary..." a mother sobbed uncontrollably. Her daughter, now 19, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia seven years ago. She endured grueling chemotherapy and radiation, which saved her life but came at a devastating cost. Her ovarian function was completely lost, and she experienced premature menopause. Her growth stalled at just over 140 cm, and her body was as frail as a 70- or 80-year-old woman. Sadly, cases like this are still all too common in Ruan's consulting room. "The biggest reason is information asymmetry," she said. "As a new technology, ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation is still unfamiliar to many doctors." In addition, many doctors are unaware of the damage that chemotherapy and radiation can cause to patients, she said. "When faced with a serious illness, they always prioritize saving lives, often causing patients to miss the window for preserving fertility and ovarian function." "Once patients are informed, many of them and their families will make every effort to preserve fertility and ovarian function," she said. "However, over 90 percent of the patients who come to my clinic have already lost the opportunity, which deeply saddens me." Heartbroken by these tragedies, Ruan is determined to push forward, striving to help save more families already burdened by misfortune. Over the years, she has been calling for national and local health administrations to mandate that medical institutions fully inform patients and their guardians about the potential severe impact of these treatments on ovarian function and fertility. Medical institutions should also encourage patients and their guardians to seek consultation on fertility and ovarian function preservation methods before treatment and to sign informed consent forms, she said. Ruan's team once conducted a survey involving 2,000 doctors and patients nationwide. The results showed that 90 percent of respondents believed that if standardized medical disclosure regulations were in place and doctors failed to fulfill their duty to inform, leading to severe consequences such as ovarian failure, they should be held accountable both medically and legally. This is in the same vein as a medical dispute in east China's Jiangxi Province in 2023, where the hospital failed to fulfill its duty of disclosure, resulting in the patient's complete loss of ovarian function. The court ultimately ruled that the hospital must compensate the patient with over 110,000 yuan (around 15,325 U.S. dollars). The legal victory strengthened her confidence. "There must be standardized medical disclosure!" she said. CHALLENGES AHEAD Ruan's call resonates with China's broader efforts to boost its flagging population, and fertility preservation technologies are attracting increasing attention. The BOGH is currently the only medical institution in China to have verified the effectiveness and safety of ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation technology, and officially applied it to clinical practices. Meanwhile, an increasing number of medical institutions across the country are conducting experiments with this technology. Ruan cautioned about the risks associated with ovarian tissue cryopreservation, saying medical institutions lacking experience may introduce risks in various stages, including ovarian tissue retrieval, transportation, and freezing. "Therefore, international guidelines recommend that ovarian tissue cryopreservation should be centralized, as this helps reduce risks, ensures quality control, and maximizes the preservation of ovarian tissue viability," she explained. In terms of controlling the risks regarding ovarian tissue transplantation, Ruan pointed out that if clinical tests show clear evidence of malignant disease metastasis to the ovaries or ovarian malignancy, it is not recommended to transplant this ovarian tissue in the future. So far, there have been no reports of disease recurrence attributed to ovarian tissue transplantation, Ruan said, adding that among the children born from this technology, there have been no noticeable differences compared to other children, but long-term follow-up is still necessary. Youyou has already celebrated her third birthday and is as healthy as any other child. Every time Youyou affectionately calls her "Nanny Ruan," a warmth rises in Ruan's chest, her eyes misting over. But with that tenderness comes a heavy weight, a deep sense of responsibility that she carries with her every day: How can she help more female patients avoid the harm that could have been prevented? "No matter what difficulties we face, we can't quit halfway. That's why we have to keep going and never give up," Ruan said. This photo taken with a mobile phone shows a technician of the cryobank in Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital handling ovarian tissue at the hospital in Beijing, capital of China, on Feb. 27, 2025. (Xinhua/Shen Anni) Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Fitness influencer Ashton Hall, whos gone viral for his unconventional and incredibly detailed morning routine vlogs, cleverly responded to the frenzy of parodies and memes his videos have sparked. Over the years, Hall, a former college running back, has built a strong social media following by posting inspirational clips of him working out on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. However, hes more recently gone viral after he started sharing videos of his unique morning ritual, which often includes him dunking his head into a bowl of ice-cold Saratoga Spring Water and rubbing a banana peel on his face. Halls practices have led to a range of responses online, from mockery to copycats and parodies. Now, in a new video, the Florida-based gymfluencer has made it clear that hes well aware of the jokes. Captioned: The morning routine. Easy routes dont pay well, get up, Halls Monday video might appear to be yet another vlog. However, upon further inspection, its evident that hes incorporated several references to some of the better-known memes his viral video has spawned. Again, he shows off his Saratoga Spring Water face dunk and his banana peel face massage the two elements from his original video that have sent the internet ablaze. At one point, a bottle of his beloved water breaks, leaving glass all over his outdoor space and his assistant to clean up the mess. Then, midway through the video, Hall is seen exercising outside. After completing a few dynamic warm-ups and sprints, he leaps into the air with the time stamp reading 7:36 am before switching to 7:40 am when he lands. This is a nod to several reactions of people to his viral video that shows him diving into a pool. At the end of the video, Hall addressed the online chatter more directly. While seated at the table eating breakfast, he can be seen scrolling through posts about him shared by Drake, The Shade Room and popular YouTuber MrBeast. Halls video, which has since garnered more than 33 million views across Instagram and TikTok, has left viewers tickled, with many finding the humor in his messaging. There is literally nothing funnier than this, one person commented on his TikTok. The comedy genre has evolved, a second added, with a third writing: Buds dragging the 7:36 to 7:40 meme. Hall even reposted an Instagram Story from MrBeast with a screenshot of unread texts from his Personal Assistant calling on him to copy many of the actions seen in Halls vlog. I accidentally slept in and missed my morning routine, MrBeast wrote with a broken heart emoji. Hall responded in the repost: We all miss, just dont miss twice in a row Jimmy. Get UP! BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- China is accelerating the establishment of a modern ecological and environmental monitoring system, a government official said on Wednesday. The establishment of a comprehensive aerial, terrestrial and maritime monitoring network is the most fundamental and essential task in building a modern monitoring system, said Jiang Huohua, head of the ecological and environmental monitoring department of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and satellite remote-sensing will play increasingly significant roles in ecological and environmental monitoring, he said, citing the in-field application of DeepSeek as an example. The ministry has rolled out policies to boost the development of environmental protection robots and remote-operation equipment for environmental monitoring, amid a variety of efforts to boost the application of new technology, he said. Remote-sensing methods, including methods that use satellites and drones, are set to play increasingly significant roles in environmental protection. The ministry will enhance the country's satellite remote-sensing monitoring capabilities, leveraging the unique advantages of remote-sensing technology and exploring synergistic applications with large AI models, he said. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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. 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. 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. 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. Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Three-quarters of fertility patients are spending money on acupuncture, supplements and drugs that are not proven to increase the chance of having a baby, the UKs fertility regulator has found. About 40,000 people a year wanting to conceive are using at least one additional test, emerging technology or treatment when undergoing IVF or donor insemination treatment, according to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). These extra treatments can cost up to 1,500, while some mineral and vitamin supplements can cost 25 or 30 for a days supply, the survey of 1,500 people revealed. The HFEA said that the new study was concerning because almost all additional tests, treatments or emerging technologies were surplus to fertility success. The most commonly used extra was additional drugs or supplements. The survey showed 39 per cent of people took supplements such as coenzyme Q10, an antioxidant produced naturally by the body, also found in meat, fish and nuts, which depletes with ageing. Some people say that using it can enhance the quality of the egg. The fertility watchdog said the findings were concerning ( PA ) Almost a third (27 per cent) spent money on acupuncture, others paid for time-lapse imaging and incubation (26 per cent). About 7 per cent of patients used nutritional therapy, nutritionists and dieticians. The report revealed only half (52 per cent) of patients had the effectiveness explained to them, with fewer (37 per cent) told about any risks linked to add-on care. The report found that the use of endometrial scratching when the lining of the womb is scratched before an embryo is implanted decreased last year. But pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) the checking of embryos for abnormalities in the number of chromosomes increased from 7 per cent in 2021 to 13 per cent in 2024, even though the HFEA said there is insufficient evidence of its effectiveness at improving treatment outcomes. About 55,500 people in the UK had fertility treatment in 2022. The more cycles of treatment a person has had, the likelier they are to have used an add-on. While 86 per cent of those who had had five cycles of IVF used an add-on, 62 per cent of those who underwent one cycle did so. The report also highlights long waits for some patients particularly those seeking NHS care. It also points to the number of patients using donor sperm from outside the UK. Around a quarter of patients had used donor eggs, sperm or embryos in treatment. Patients who sought donor sperm were slightly more likely to be treated using sperm imported from overseas, with 51 per cent coming from abroad. Most cited increased choice and more information about the donor as the reasons why they chose foreign sperm. The HFEA said that in the UK one donors sperm can only be used to create up to 10 families, but the 10-family limit does not apply abroad. Julia Chain, chair of the HFEA, said: Its disappointing to see a significant number of patients are still using add-ons and emerging technologies, and particularly disappointing that only half of patients had the effectiveness explained to them, let alone the risks. We regularly remind clinics that, according to our code of practice, they must give patients a clear idea of what any treatment add-on involves, how likely it is to increase their chance of a successful pregnancy, cost, risks, and link to our public ratings system. We will continue to remind clinics about improving clarity and communication for patients. The report also found that most patients began treatment seven months to a year after first seeing their GP about their fertility problems. But 16 per cent of patients waited over two years. NHS-funded patients reported longer wait times in starting treatment compared to those who paid privately. Some 53 per cent of private patients started treatment within a year compared to 35 per cent of NHS patients. The regulator said that its data shows that the number of NHS-funded treatment cycles is falling, and stood at just 27 per cent in 2022. Ms Chain added: We are also concerned that NHS-funded patients are waiting longer than self-funded patients to start fertility treatment. The delays faced by NHS patients highlight ongoing issues relating to the provision of specialist care for women. As part of our response to the governments 10-year plan, we want to see a much shorter time for patients to begin fertility treatment once they have received advice or a referral from their GP. Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Modern life is intrinsically linked with technology but while our gadgets offer undeniable benefits, there are growing concerns about rising screen time. The average UK resident spends five hours and 34 minutes looking at screens daily, and over a quarter of Britons (27 per cent) express concern about their smartphone usage, according to data from consumer research platform GWI. While not yet officially recognised by the NHS, tech addiction is a growing issue, says Dr Catherine Carney, a psychiatrist and addiction expert at Delamere rehab clinic. Dr Carney points to the concept of "digital sugar", where excessive technology use triggers physiological responses similar to substance addiction, driven by the dopamine rush of social media. This dependence can have far-reaching consequences. "If youre sitting on your phone instead of being outside, in the gym, meeting with a friend, it can reduce access to socialisation and actually cause cognitive problems," she explains. The impact on younger generations is particularly concerning. Research funded by the National Institutes of Health indicates premature thinning of the brain cortex in children with seven or more hours of daily screen time. Furthermore, Dr Carney notes that children with high phone usage often struggle with reading and writing at school compared to their less digitally engaged peers. Here are some other health concerns linked to rising screen time: open image in gallery Prolonged time spent using a screen can lead to hunched posture Posture concerns Prolonged screen use often causes the head to shift forward, a condition commonly referred to as text neck, says Faye Deane, Chiropractor and British Chiropractic Association member. This increases strain on the neck muscles and cervical spine, contributing to chronic pain, headaches, and even early degenerative changes. Sedentary lifestyles, remote work, and prolonged desk use also contribute to a hunched posture. Clinically, we see that excessive screen time leads to tight chest muscles and weakened upper back muscles, increasing the risk of musculoskeletal dysfunction. This postural imbalance can result in chronic discomfort and a higher likelihood of developing kyphotic (rounded upper back) postures over time. Weight gain Spending too much time on screens is making us more sedentary, which can have a big impact on health, says Dr Crystal Wyllie from ZAVA Online Doctor. Sitting for long periods increases the risk of weight gain, obesity, diabetes and heart disease. open image in gallery Focussing on screens for a long period of time can strain your eyes Eye strain The eyes can often become strained when focussing on screens for a long period of time, says Giles Edmonds, Specsavers clinical services director. Digital eye strain is a very common condition that occurs from prolonged screen time. Spending too much time focusing on digital devices means your eyes may become fatigued, and sitting too close to screens can also strain their eye muscles. Light glare reflected on digital screens can also make this worse, causing further eye strain. Increase in anxiety Social media in general can create anxieties and extra pressures which make people feel like their lives seem inadequate and insignificant, Dr Carney says. The same goes for when youre seeking likes and comments on a photo it can both boost your confidence but if you dont get enough it can have the opposite effect. open image in gallery Searching for validation on social media can lead to anxiety ( Getty Images ) Lack of social skills There is an argument that people who are shy or socially awkward can often find social media easier to interact with people on, Dr Carney says. However this can lead to them becoming dependent on it for connection and use it excessively. This is then mirrored with an ongoing reduction in social skills and withdrawing from the real world. It becomes a catch-22 because youre using social media for your self-esteem and confidence but its actually reducing all the skills you previously had. Disrupted sleep pattern Mentally, screens, especially at night, mess with sleep by disrupting melatonin production, says Dr Wyllie. Poor sleep is also linked closely to stronger cravings for sugary or high-carb foods as the body looks for a quick energy boost. If youre going to bed at 11 and endlessly scrolling through social media for hours, your sleep may be affected and this carries into the next day when concentration levels arent going to be as good, Dr Carney says. open image in gallery Taking up a hobby can be a good alternative to screen time How to manage your screen time Recognise the problem: The best way to reduce screen time is to start small, says Dr Wyllie. You need to be honest with yourself and recognise if your screen time is becoming an issue. Identify what your triggers are, what you spend the most time focused on and then plan accordingly, says Dr Carney. Find an alternative: Rather than thinking of spending six hours on your phone, try find a new hobby or an alternative way to spend that time, Carney says. You could join a gym, start horse riding, take up knitting or go out with a friend. You need to find something to fill that time. Set time limits: You can use the 20-20-20 rule, says Dr Deepali Misra-Sharp. This means every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. You can also establish screen-free zones such as the bedroom or meal times. Setting time limits is a great way to manage your screen time and if you struggle to do that independently, there are new communities getting established, Dr Carney says. For example, theres a new group called Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous. Its an anonymous forum for people who are addicted to their phones and they can get peer support as they try to minimise their time online. Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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. Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A mother has died from a mystery illness after a last minute decision to have arm tuck surgery in Turkey, an inquest has heard. Anne Towlson, 58, was found dead at home having complained that her arm was killing her days earlier. She was found with open wounds to her armpits and triceps. However, a post-mortem examination to determine her cause of death was inconclusive. In the days prior to her death, Towlson sent the Istanbul hospital that carried out the surgery a video of her weeping and swollen arm and was told it would be shown to a doctor but she never received any help. Now, a coroner has issued a stark warning to Brits about the dangers of travelling to Turkey for cosmetic surgery. In a prevention of future deaths report published on Tuesday, assistant coroner for Rutland and North Leicestershire, Isobel Thistlethwaite, said Mrs Towlson had travelled to Turkey in April 2024 where she underwent a pre-planned tummy tuck and liposuction. When she arrived at the Green Park Hospital in Pendic, Istanbul, she was told she could have an arm tuck surgery as well, and agreed to the procedure in a last minute decision, her inquest heard. Immediately after her surgery, Mrs Towlson complained that her right arm was hurting and her compression garments were too tight. Her right hand was said to have swelled up like a balloon and was seeping a clear liquid, the inquest was told. open image in gallery A coroner has issued a stark warning to Brits about the dangers of travelling to Turkey for cosmetic surgery ( Alamy/PA ) She stayed in hospital for three days before returning to a hotel where she found she was leaking a yellow and slightly odorous fluid from her arms which would stain the hotel pillows, the inquest heard. Mrs Towlson, who was using WhatsApp to communicate with the Turkish medics, returned to the hospital twice where she was given antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, painkillers and a cream to take with her, the inquest was told. She flew home to Manchester Airport on May 3, nine days after the surgery. From May 4 to the time she died, her internet search history included infected stitches symptoms, and armpit yeast infection symptoms, the inquest heard. On May 7, she sent a video of her arm and armpit with a sticky yellow and white pus present to the hospital. They responded saying that they would show the video to a doctor, that was the last WhatsApp communication received from the hospital, the coroners report said. On May 11, Mrs Towlson was seen by her neighbour and was said to be communicating with her daughter. She told her daughter her tummy was ok but her arm was killing her, the inquest heard. Six days later, the mother was found dead at her home. Police attended the scene and took photographs which clearly show the tummy tuck wound healing nicely but show open wounds to Mrs Towlsons armpits and triceps, her right arm was said to be weeping and swollen, the report said. The surgery to both arms remained unhealed. Her inquest was unable to secure any information from the Turkish hospital, coroner Ms Thistlethwaite said. We have no information about whether any independent inquiries were made either by the company who organised Mrs Towlsons trip to Turkey for surgery, or the Turkish Hospital itself as to whether Mrs Towlson was fit for surgery, she said. We have not been able to secure her medical records so have no understanding of what exactly the surgery consisted of, or what post-operative care and treatment was provided. On the balance of probabilities, Mrs Towlson was not given enough time to properly consider this decision, the coroner added. Outlining her concerns for other Britons considering travelling to Turkey for cosmetic surgery, Ms Thistlethwaite said: British citizens are travelling abroad for significant and serious surgical operations with seemingly little in the way of follow up and no way to return easily to the operating Hospital if they encounter complications once they are back in the UK. This is not only dangerous but could place a significant burden on the NHS. A copy of the coroners report was sent to Green Park Hospital in Turkey, as well as the British Association of Aesthetics and Plastic Surgeons. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Miriam Margolyes has given her verdict on the state of US politics as she said a Trump leadership would be a fate worse than death. But she wasnt talking about the US president Donald Trump on this occasion and instead took aim at Melania Trump, the American leaders wife and First Lady. During the launch of the Queens Reading Room Medal at a star-studded event at Clarence House on Tuesday (25 March), Margolyes, 83, extolled the virtues of reading and praised Queen Camilla before she made the comment. Were very lucky to have a Queen who reads, who cares about developing literacy in the country. she told The Independent. And what an intelligent and thoughtful speech she gave. She continued: Shes a remarkable woman. Were very lucky to have her. Imagine, we could have had Melania [Trump]. That would be a fate worse than death. Margolyes went on to emphasise the importance of literature to peace and understanding in the world. Reading allows us to inhabit others worlds and see things through other peoples eyes, she said, adding that hatred and divisions in the world were caused by others not seeing certain people as people, adding that reading could serve as an antidote to bigotry. open image in gallery Margolyes took a swipe at Melania Trump ( PA/Getty ) The actor who is renowned for her witty retorts and humorous commentary also said: I dont like comedy, although acknowledged I cant help but be funny. She also revealed her favourite book is Little Dorritt by Charles Dickens and she is currently reading A Tale of Two Cities by the author. Margolyes is often unfiltered in her observations and has been outspoken about political issues including the plight of Palestinians in Gaza, antisemitism, and racism. Sigourney Weaver, Dame Joanna Lumley, Helena Bonham Carter, Adjoa Andoh, Richard E Grant and Jonathan Dimbleby, were all in attendance at the star-studded event, to show their support for the initiative. Honouring the UKs reading heroes, the Medal hopes to recognise those individuals championing books and storytelling in their communities. open image in gallery ( Chris Jackson/PA Wire ) Nominees will include people who have set up community reading groups, improved access to local libraries, donated books to those in need, or organised local literary festivals. Applications for the accolade will open on 1 April, with the first award winners to be announced in March 2026. Welcoming guests at the reception, the Queen entered with her husband King Charles as she celebrated the magic of storytelling. She said the act of reading is not a solitary affair but that its impact lies in its ability to make a community of anyone who loves to read and who is compelled to write. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Molly-Mae Hague has addressed rumours she has reunited with boxer Tommy Fury after their public split last year. The couple were spotted on holiday in Dubai together with their two-year-old daughter, Bambi, last week. Last August, Hague posted a statement declaring that the pair had ended their five-year relationship, admitting later that she had shared the post to force herself to break up with Fury. First meeting on Love Island in 2018, the couple got engaged in July 2023. Fury has since admitted that a problem with drinking led to issues in his relationship. Hague has previously hit out at speculation that the break-up was a publicity stunt. She has now addressed rumours that the couple are in fact back together but keeping it secret. I don't want you guys to think I'm not being honest about who went on the holiday to Dubai, the 25-year-old said in her latest video on YouTube. I did do a big talking section that we were going with Tommy but I didn't want to put it in the last vlog because I didn't want anxiety. The only reason I've not spoken about it is I'm not ready to. I don't know if I'm ready to talk about it, I was a bit nervous and I didn't need to explain that I was going with Tommy. Hague addressed rumours that the couple had reunited ( YouTube/MollyMae ) She added: It's obviously not a secret we're just figuring things out. We had a really really amazing time, probably the best holiday ever for all of us. It's not that I'm hiding it, I'm not quite ready to talk about it. It's also private, but also it's not really private. The family have been the subject of Amazon Prime documentary Molly-Mae: Behind It All, which is due to release a second season in May this year. When you have a relationship in the public eye, trying to rebuild that relationship or work on that relationship or see if you have something worth saving, she said. You can't figure things out the way a normal relationship would. You can't do the normal things a couple trying to work on their relationship normally do like going on walks or getting coffee. She hit back at claims that she was saving a reunion announcement for the last episode of her Prime series, saying they were just figuring things out and seeing how it goes. After you break up with someone, theres a clear set of steps to take. First, you cry a lot. Then you complain about your ex to friends, family members, and strangers in bathrooms nobody is exempt as a potential audience member to your relationships post-mortem soliloquy. Next up: a new haircut. Maybe some thirsty Instagram posts. Eventually, you start to reflect on all the reasons why the relationship wasnt working and come to terms with the fact that you made the right decision. You feel proud at how secure, self-assured, and well-versed you are in Esther Perel lore. Your loved ones applaud you for being so strong. But then, one night, in the middle of a 2am doom scroll, a moment of madness occurs and you wind up texting your ex. Uh oh: the feelings are still there. You decide you cant let go. You get back together. Suddenly, you have a lot of explaining to do. This is a routine I know well. Not just because Ive done it with spectacularly dramatic flair, might I add but because plenty of friends of mine have, too. Its also something we see celebrities do, as in this week with Molly-Mae Hague, whose breakup last year with fellow Love Islander Tommy Fury caused such a stir that people started comparing the reality stars to Charles and Diana. Now, rumours have started to swirl that the couple is getting back together, as Hague herself has alluded to in recent social media posts. Cue the excessive amount of explaining that I mentioned earlier. For context, Hague and Fury, both 25, announced their split in August 2024. After meeting on ITV2s Love Island in 2019, the pair became two of the most lucrative social media stars in the UK, landing million-pound clothing deals, product lines and more, with Hague often vlogging about it all along the way to the delight of her legion of fans. Hague gave birth to the couples first child together, Bambi, back in 2023. When the pair broke up, both parties issued statements on their social media profiles. Never in a million years did I think Id ever have to write this, began Hagues. After five years of being together, I never imagined our story would end, especially not in this way. I am extremely upset to announce that mine and Tommys relationship has come to an end. The influencer-turned-retail mogul went on to thank her fans for their support throughout this journey. She also asked for privacy. Look, I get it. Hague is in the public eye and perhaps issuing some sort of announcement is a necessary evil: something to quell inevitable speculation. In other words, it gets everybody off your back and gives you space to deal with whats going on. But given the wording of the announcement ambiguous, emotional, and highly suggestive (many suspected Fury cheated on Hague, which he denied) it fuelled global headlines, think pieces, and viral online discussions. The breakup was also a central facet of Hagues docuseries for Prime Video, Molly-Mae: Behind It All, one that was pored over and discussed at length. In other words, the noise around the breakup couldnt have been more deafeningly loud. open image in gallery Molly-Mae: Behind It All was released on Prime Video in January ( Amazon Prime ) Hence why Hagues potential U-turn is going to be a lot harder to parse. Fans have been convinced the pair are rekindling for months, practically wagging their tongues all over the comments section in Hagues recent Instagram posts. The couple fuelled speculation further after they were pictured on holiday together with Bambi in Dubai, prompting Hague to once again address her fans directly. I dont want you guys to think Im not being honest about who went on the holiday to Dubai, she said in a YouTube vlog published on Tuesday. I did do a big talking section about Dubai and the fact that we were going with Tommy, but I didnt put it in the last vlog because I was scared. I didnt want the anxiety of it when we were going away. Hague went on. Ive seen things saying, They arent talking about their relationship because theyre saving it for the last episode of the documentary where they are going to do a collab post and come out saying that theyre back together. Thats not the case at all. Frankly, I couldnt care less if Hague and Fury are together or not. They arent my friends (nor, I suspect, are they yours). But I do think the brouhaha around their breakup and potential reconciliation tells us something about how we deal with relationships ending today, regardless of whether weve been on TV or not. Thanks to social media, all of us behave like the stars of our own reality show, sharing every aspect of our lives. This is particularly prescient when we break up with someone; we might not issue statements on Instagram, but we certainly feel compelled to shout about it. I understand where that impulse comes from. Breakups are rough, particularly when theyre laced with any kind of ambiguity. Depending on the circumstances, we might feel unsure as to why or how it happened, or regret the decision if it was ours to make. Loud breakups, like Hagues, might then be a coping mechanism in response to this. Theres something reassuring about leaning into the finality of it all: its done, were over, strike a line through it and move along. It gives us a sense of control where there is none. open image in gallery Hague tearfully discusses her breakup with Fury in her docuseries ( Amazon Prime ) But it also leaves no room for nuance, which seems odd when you consider just how complicated breaking up with someone is. Regardless of how certain you feel, chances are youll doubt your decision at least once or twice. Will anybody want to listen to you talking about those doubts when youve been quite so stringent? And if, like Hague, you do wind up considering a reconciliation, your former finality might make things difficult among your friendship circle, inviting judgement, criticism, and gossip. The same goes for why you shouldnt badmouth a partner after one bad argument. Friends cling on to the information you give them; its the only insight they have. Too much negativity will create a narrative youll find hard to rewrite. Hence why Im an advocate for quiet breakups. Nobody should be so quick, or so public, to talk about ending a relationship. Instead, perhaps all of us could benefit from dealing with them a little more privately. That might involve telling just a few close friends, and doing so with the kind of delicacy and authenticity that accurately reflects what has happened as opposed to issuing a press release on all your WhatsApp groups, writing an angry Instagram post, or creating a breakup playlist filled with Avril Lavigne songs (I did this once). Regardless of whether you get back with an ex or not, breaking up a little more quietly will probably benefit all of us in the long run. Frankly, I wish Id done it myself. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The King has thanked journalists working in local media for shining a light in dark corners - even though they dont always get it right. Charles praised the regional press for its vital role in society in a time when too much focus is given to that which divides us. The monarch shared his tribute ahead of a reception for regional media at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday evening, thanked those in the industry for helping to amplify and reaffirm the rights and responsibilities we all share. He did however note mistakes sometimes made by the press, but remained certain the industry at its best is a cornerstone of our democracy. You wont always get it right. A free media is one that will and does make mistakes. But at its best, it is a cornerstone of our democracy, he said. The King and Queen will host 400 guests from various UK news organisations to show support for local journalism on Wednesday. ( PA Wire ) The King recalled a speech he made to mark the tercentenary of Britains first daily national newspaper, back in 2002, in which he said the press was at the forefront of defining, describing and celebrating the more profound values of our nation. He added on Wednesday: Two decades on, when too much focus is given to that which divides us, that role for your whole industry is more important than ever - and it starts from the ground-up, at local level, in your hands. Your reporting, and the work of all those who support you, helps amplify and reaffirm the rights and responsibilities we all share. It shines a light in dark corners, exposing injustice and wrongdoing. Above all, it helps strengthen our communities, in times of joy and at moments of sorrow. The monarch also praised journalists for adapting during times of change: I know how commercial pressures and changing technologies have had a significant impact on your industry. But as the media landscape has changed, so too many of you have adapted and innovated, finding ways of sharing your journalism and engaging audiences in new and creative ways. It is in everyones interests that you should succeed. For without a thriving and financially robust regional media, we would all be the poorer. The King and Queen will host 400 guests from various UK news organisations to show support for local journalism on Wednesday. Local reporters, editors, technical operators and presenters are attending among others. Charles has been an Honorary Life Member of the London Press Club since 1978, while Camilla is patron of The Journalists Charity as well as the The Guild of St Brides, which is based at St Brides Church on Fleet Street and is otherwise known as the journalists church. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra (R, front) reacts after a no-confidence motion against her was rejected in parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, March 26, 2025. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra survived a no-confidence vote in parliament on Wednesday after securing enough support among the lawmakers to remain in office. The no-confidence motion against Paetongtarn was initiated by the opposition, accusing Paetongtarn of a lack of ruling experience and ineffective governance. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak) BANGKOK, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra survived a no-confidence vote in parliament on Wednesday after securing enough support among the lawmakers to remain in office. The no-confidence motion against Paetongtarn was rejected by 319 legislators, with 162 supporting it and seven abstaining from voting, House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha announced in a televised broadcast of the parliamentary session. The no-confidence motion against Paetongtarn was initiated by the opposition, accusing Paetongtarn of a lack of ruling experience and ineffective governance. This is the first time Paetongtarn has faced a no-confidence motion vote since taking office in September 2024. She was elected the country's 31st prime minister in August 2024 after winning a simple majority in a parliamentary vote. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra (R) reacts after a no-confidence motion against her was rejected in parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, March 26, 2025. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra survived a no-confidence vote in parliament on Wednesday after securing enough support among the lawmakers to remain in office. The no-confidence motion against Paetongtarn was initiated by the opposition, accusing Paetongtarn of a lack of ruling experience and ineffective governance. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak) Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra (C) reacts after a no-confidence motion against her was rejected in parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, March 26, 2025. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra survived a no-confidence vote in parliament on Wednesday after securing enough support among the lawmakers to remain in office. The no-confidence motion against Paetongtarn was initiated by the opposition, accusing Paetongtarn of a lack of ruling experience and ineffective governance. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak) The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Arkansas authorities arrested a 61-year-old man after officials found his elderly mother living in deplorable conditions with dozens of cats. Paul Taylor has been charged with endangering the welfare of an incompetent person, a felony, and cruelty to animals, officials reported. Police made the arrest after serving a search warrant for Taylors mothers home in Blytheville, about 188 miles northeast of Little Rock on Monday. They found 38 cats inside the dwelling and one deceased cat. Taylor reportedly resided with his mother and was her caretaker. He first appeared in court on the charges Tuesday. open image in gallery Some of the cats rescued from the home ( Mended Paws Sanctuary ) Officials did not release additional details about the incident, the condition of the other animals or the womans identity. The Independent called the Blytheville Police Department for additional information. Photos released by the department showed crew members wearing what appeared to be hazmat suits and masks to retrieve the animals. Some of the felines included kittens, according to photos from the Mended Paws Sanctuary, an Arkansas rescue that assisted in the response. Police closed nearby roads to coordinate the rescue. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice An Ohio father who police suspect murdered his 13-year-old daughter and left her body in an abandoned building was shot and arrested after allegedly pulling a gun on a SWAT team. Police in Toledo, Ohio, were tracking Darnell Jones, 33, after they obtained an arrest warrant for him in connection with the death of his 13-year-old daughter, Keimani Latigue. Latigue was found dead on Monday, just about a week after she disappeared on March 18, the Toledo Blade reports. Toledo police began to suspect Jones after he allegedly gave "inconsistent statements" during his interviews with investigators. He was also allegedly the last known person to be seen with Latigue, according to a probable cause affidavit. According to police, Jones left the Toledo area and drove several hours to Columbus, the state capital. open image in gallery Darnell Jones, 33, was shot by a Columbus SWAT officer and arrested on felonious assault charges after he allegedly pulled a gun on the officers. He is considered a suspect in the disappearance and death of his 13-year-old daughter, Keimani Latigue ( Columbus Police Department ) Toledo police issued an arrest warrant for Jones on abduction charges on Sunday, noting that he was the last person seen with the girl, and issued an alert for any officers who spotted the man to detain him. The following day, police found Keimanis body. A SWAT team in Columbus approximately two and a half hours away located Jones's car in the city and staked out his location overnight between Monday and Tuesday, according to the Toledo Blade. When Jones did not return, the SWAT officers thought Jones had potentially abandoned the vehicle and began searching street by street for him. They just started searching. Every street, every alley, and then one of the SWAT officers saw a man matching his description, Brian Steel, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge 9, told the outlet. When SWAT officers approached Jones, he allegedly pulled a gun on them and was shot. According to Steel, the SWAT team had a medic who immediately went to work treating Jones. He was last reported in stable condition and receiving treatment at a hospital in the Columbus area. Jones has been charged with felonious assault and was arraigned this morning in Franklin County Municipal Court. A motive for the alleged murder has not been publicly revealed. The Lucas County Coroner's Office released Keimani's cause of death on Tuesday. According to the coroner, the girl died as a result of "multiple incised wounds of the neck. Her death was ruled a homicide. She was found on the second floor of an abandoned building on Miami Street. The building is slated for demolition sometime in the next few months. Keimani reportedly was alone at her grandmother's home the night she went missing. She called Jones, who had just dropped her off at the house, around 11:30pm because she thought someone was trying to break into the house. Jones returned to the house and reportedly stayed with Keimani until early Tuesday morning, Tiara Kasten, Keimani's mother, told the Blade. Keimani did not show up to school the following day, which prompted her grandmother, Dorthy Latigue, to report her missing. She tried to call the girl, but her phone reportedly went straight to voicemail. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A man who carried out one of the deadliest mass shootings in US history has been offered a plea deal to avoid the death penalty. Patrick Crusius, 26, killed 23 people in a racist attack at Walmart in El Paso, Texas in 2019. He pleaded guilty in 2023 to federal hate crime charges and was sentenced to 90 consecutive life sentences. Federal prosecutors under the Biden administration also took the death penalty off the table, but did not explain why. In addition to the federal case, Crusius was also charged in state court with capital murder. However, he could also avoid the death penalty on those charges, El Paso County District Attorney James Montoya said this week. While Montoya said he believed Crusius deserved the death penalty, he had met with the families of the victims, who wanted the court process to be concluded. open image in gallery Mourners at a makeshift memorial following the shooting ( AP ) The vast majority of them want this case over and done with as quickly as possible, he said. Montoya said pursuing the death penalty would mean a long and drawn-out legal battle with many hearings and appeals. I could see a worst-case scenario where this would not go to trial until 2028 if we continued to seek the death penalty. Montoya, a Democrat, took office in January after defeating a Republican incumbent who was appointed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. Montoyas predecessors supported sending Crusius to death row. Ive heard about it. I think the guy does deserve the death penalty, to be honest, Abbott said Tuesday about the decision. Any shooting like that is what capital punishment is for. 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 target Hispanics in El Paso. Moments after posting a racist screed online that warned of a Hispanic invasion of the state, he opened fire with an AK-style rifle inside and outside the store. open image in gallery Police at the El Paso Walmart after Crusius rampage ( AP ) Before the shooting, Crusius appears to have been consumed by the immigration debate, posting online in support of building the border wall and other messages praising then-President Donald Trumps hardline border policies. He went further in the rant he posted before the attack, saying Hispanics were going to take over the government and economy. In the years since the shooting, Republicans have called migrants crossing the southern border an invasion and dismissed criticism that such rhetoric fuels anti-immigrant views and violence. In the US governments case, Crusius received a life sentence for each of the 90 charges against him, half of which were classified as hate crimes. Then-Attorney General Merrick Garland said after the sentencing that no one in this country should have to live in fear of hate-fueled violence. One of his attorneys told the judge before the sentencing that his client had a broken brain and his thinking was at odds with reality. Federal 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. 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 US 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 US district judge. There was no indication that he had significant assets. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Utah man has been accused of killing the mother of his children and setting her home on fire before snatching their young children. Deputies with the Utah County Sheriffs Office arrested Ricardo Trujillo Rojel, 29, on charges of aggravated murder and aggravated arson on Monday. Authorities were first alerted to the situation shortly before an area amber alert was issued for the two children. The mothers body was found inside a burning trailer in the Riverdale Manufactured Home Community in Riverdale, about 30 miles north of Salt Lake City. Officials responded to the fire at 2:46 p.m. on Monday. "The trailer was filled with smoke, and the responding officer saw a female laying on the ground near the doorway, a police booking affidavit obtained by KSL.com stated. The female victim had severe burn marks on her body. Deputies suspected homicide couldve played a factor in the womans death when they pulled her body out of the burning structure and observed a puncture wound on her neck. It appeared the wound was made with a sharp object, the outlet reported. A pair of blue jeans nearby also had blood on them and investigators located a gas can inside the trailer. Around 5:15 p.m., officials issued an Amber Alert for the womans two children, who are 2 and 3 years old. Officials say Trujillo abducted them. Around 7:30 p.m., officials received a tip stating a man and two children were seen walking away from a truck toward Hobble Creek Canyon, a recreational area near Springville. Sheriffs deputies responded, recovered the children, and took Trujillo into custody. The children have been placed with family members. Trujillo resisted arrest and assaulted an officer, police said, adding blood was found inside his vehicle. He continued to resist arrest upon arriving at Weber County Jail. According to the outlet, neighbors reportedly told police the man and woman were moving out of the trailer on Monday. One neighbor told officials theyd heard the woman scream shortly before police arrived on the scene. Other neighbors said the couple was in the process of moving out of the structure on the day of the fire. They were planning to move to Roy, a city in Weber County, police said. Earlier in the day, the woman had gone to the bank with her mother, who lives in the same trailer park. At the bank, the man called the woman and told her to return home. The victim drove home after the phone call, the mother told police, adding it was the last time she spoke to her daughter. Trujillo had previously served a 180-day sentence after being convicted of choking and punching his pregnant girlfriend in 2021. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Papua New Guinea has banned Facebook in what it calls a test to regulate online content and protect its citizens from hate speech and pornography. PNG police minister Peter Tsiamalili said the test, which began on Monday and extended to Tuesday, was done under the framework of the Pacific nations Anti-Terrorism Act 2024. The police minister said the initiative was undertaken to ensure "responsible usage" of social media platforms while keeping "harmful content" out of public discourse, Access to Facebook has been cut to over a million estimated users of the social media platform in the country, but local media reports suggest many are bypassing the ban by using virtual private networks or VPN. Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape ( Getty Images ) The unchecked proliferation of fake news, hate speech, pornography, child exploitation, and incitement to violence on platforms such as Facebook is unacceptable, Mr Tsiamalili said. "These challenges increasingly threaten the safety, dignity, and well-being of our populace, he said, adding that the measure was not an attempt to suppress free speech. The police minister urged Facebook and other social media platforms to act with responsibility and warned that if they are misused, the government would not hesitate to take decisive action to safeguard its citizens. However, critiques raised concerns about the sudden ban. Many small business owners rely on the platform to connect with customers. Opposition minister Allan Bird described the move as "draconian". "There is no limit to the powers the minister of police can exercise under this new law. It is draconian law designed to take away our freedoms, Mr Bird said, according to local news reports. "We are now heading into dangerous territory and everyone is powerless to stop this tyranny, he said. Facebook Guilty of Censorship The ban was reportedly enforced without informing the countrys own information and technology regulator the National Information and Communication Technology Authority (NICTA). The agency initially said the cause of Mondays Facebook outage was unclear, according to Australias ABC News. NICTA chief executive Kilakupa Gulo-Vui later called for carefully managing the balance between national security and digital freedom. Public confidence in our digital governance relies on transparency and consistency in how we approach online regulation, Mr Gulo-Vui said in a statement. PNG has long mulled banning Facebook for its citizens. In 2018, it was banned for a month as authorities attempted to root out fake profiles on the platform. Again in 2023, it launched an inquiry into misinformation and harmful content on the social media platform. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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. SEOUL, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Six people were injured Wednesday as a Russian ship caught fire in waters off South Korea's southeastern coast, according to Yonhap news agency. A patrol boat of the South Korean coast guard found the Russian-registered 7,534-ton refrigerated carrier catching fire in waters off the southeastern port city of Busan at about 7:14 a.m. local time (2214 GMT Tuesday). The coast guard dispatched patrol boats and aircraft to extinguish the fire and rescue crew members at the scene. Of 23 crew members aboard the vessel, six were confirmed wounded. Two with severe burns were taken by helicopter, while four with minor injuries were transferred by ship. The fire was extinguished some 40 minutes later. The coast guard was investigating the exact cause of the accident. BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Brunei's Narcotic Control Bureau has nabbed 20 people aged 18-52 years old in a drug bust at Bukit Beruang national housing scheme in Tutong district, it said in a statement on Tuesday. A total of 19.33 grams of syabu-drugs (methamphetamine) were seized along with equipment to inhale drugs, a mobile phone, a weighing scale, and scissors. The Narcotic Control Bureau said the operation was a follow-up of similar raids conducted in June and July 2024. The operation was an effort to eradicate drug activities in the housing scheme area, which is regarded as one of the hotspots in the district. The bureau said it will continue to step up efforts to eradicate drug activities that affect the harmony and well-being of the people and has zero tolerance towards such activity in the country. Its rare in these polarized political times to find much of anything on which 80%+ of people can agree. Constitutional Amendment 2 presents that opportunity, as evidenced by the fact that it passed overwhelmingly from the legislative process, drawing opposition from only 15 state House members and winning the vote of every single state senator. Net zero mandates could make flying something for the privileged, the boss of Australias biggest airline has warned. Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson said the higher costs associated with clean fuel were likely to push up airfares and could put them out of reach of the masses. Qantas chief Vanessa Hudson says flying green will come at a cost. Credit: Eamon Gallagher Her warning came as the boss of Airbus, Guillaume Faury, said net zero would add a green premium to plane tickets and reverse the decades-long trend of flying getting cheaper over time. Faury said the price of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which is regarded as key to slashing aviations carbon footprint, may never match traditional kerosene. Monash University has indefinitely postponed an exhibition by Khaled Sabsabi just weeks after the artist was stripped of his invitation to represent Australia at the Venice Biennale. Two months before its scheduled opening, the university announced Flat Earth featuring Sabsabi and writer and anthropologist Elisa Taber to be held at Monashs Museum of Art (MUMA) in Caulfield would not be staged. Artist Khaled Sabsabi at the Campbelltown Art Centre in 2021. Credit: James Brickwood While the university says the show has been postponed, no new dates have been set. Comment was sought from Sabsabi. Sabsabis gallerist, Josh Milani, said that decision, coming on top of the Venice developments, was devastating and potentially fatal to the artists livelihood. Advertisement Eating outBest of Where Sammy J and co get their kicks (and snacks) during the comedy festival Have you heard the one about where comedians like to eat while in town for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival? Sammy J, Josh Glanc and more spill all. Emma Breheny March 27, 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 Comedians, like most performing artists, are excellent bargain-hunters. In between gigs, Im looking for a yummy feed thatll give me the energy to fend off hecklers but wont break the bank because its already broken, says Josh Glanc, a lawyer-turned-comedian who picked up a nomination for last years Edinburgh Comedy Award and landed a Comedy Short on Channel 4. Hes one of 1000 performers taking the stage for Melbourne International Comedy Festival this month, as the citys bars, theatres, basements and broom closets spill over with punters seeking a laugh. We asked five of the festivals guests, including Glanc, to open up their top-secret book of restaurants, bars, cafes and, err, vending machines to help those who might also need a speedy and wallet-friendly bite between shows. Comedian Josh Glanc at one of his favourite haunts, The Borek Stand at Queen Victoria Market. Wayne Taylor Advertisement Josh Glanc Family Man The Borek Shop at Queen Victoria Market just a hop, skip and gozleme away from the bratwurst stall is an institution, serving freshly baked Turkish treats since 1994. How do I know that? They have a big sign there that says it. The bad news is theyve just raised their prices. The staff have surreptitiously used a black marker to turn the five into a six on their borek price list. Hot tip: next time there are hoards of people hovering outside the window, wander less than a block down Elizabeth Street to Borek Bakehouse: same people, same stealthily altered price list. Shop 93-96, Queen Victoria Market, Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, qvm.com.au Trang Bakery do a banging banh mi. Ive been going to Trang since I lived around the corner in the mid-2000s, when a Vietnamese baguette there set you back $6. Now, theyre $11 but I still think thats great value for what I believe is one of the best in the city. Besides, where else do you get to chew on a $2 cinnamon doughnut while choosing between crispy or barbecued pork? (Always go for the crispy.) Advertisement 382 Smith Street, Collingwood There are at least 10 dumpling places in the CBD with Shanghai in their name but my favourites, both in terms of price point and dumplings, are Camy Shanghai Dumpling House or the much more vibey Shanghai Village. If Im alone, Ill go to Camys. There are unlimited Chinese tea refills and the steamed pork dumplings (eight for $6.90) are delicious. Its the perfect pick-me-up before Im off to the next gig. But if Im with a group and its post-show, Ill go to Shanghai Village, where we can get boozy with our bok choy, thanks to a generous BYO policy. Camy Shanghai Dumpling, 23-25 Tattersalls Lane @camy_shanghai_dumpling; Shanghai Village Dumpling, 112-114 Little Bourke Street, shanghaivillage.com.au Sammy J: Fond of a vending machine snack. Advertisement Sammy J The Kangaroo Effect Lets get one thing straight: its not the journey, its the destination. You havent lived until youve stood and stared gormlessly at a selection of choccie bars at the snack food vending machine on Platform 1 of Flinders Street weighing up how best to distance yourself from the crushing realisation that death will come to all. Can confirm that the Aero Mint bar is the safest buffer against a full-blown existential crisis. Flinders Street Station, Melbourne A quiet, private, respectful place to hide away and work on show notes, Gopals Pure Vegetarian might be the best-kept secret in Melbourne. The lasagne is to die for. It comes with a choice of salads and an option to add a house-made lemonade and the staff are always so friendly and it feels more like a dinner invitation than a commercial transaction STOP TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT GOPALS, SAMMY. 139 Swanston Street, Melbourne, gopalspurevegetarian.com.au Advertisement The Supper Inn: The comedians favourite. Supper Innis the final refuge of the night for weary comedians, who can often be seen waving desperately across the room to other performers, hoping theyll let them squeeze onto their table. It doesnt matter whether your show went well or terribly: theres nothing that a few plates of dumplings and a beer cant fix. Level 1, 15 Celestial Avenue, 03 9663 4759 Chloe Petts at the MICF Gala in 2024. Chloe Petts How You See Me, How You Dont Advertisement Dingo Ate My Taco are currently cooking at the Bendigo Hotel in Collingwood, but I went when they were in the old Mill Brewery and I was blown away by the birria tacos. Theyre tacos filled with loads of slow-cooked beef and melty cheese, fried until theyre crunchy. Theyre stacked, but theyll only set you back 24 bucks (as an English person, I simply love to say bucks). 125 Johnston Street, Collingwood (also on St Kilda Road) bendigohotel.com.au Birria tacos at Dingo Ate My Taco are a real treat. Scott McNaughton [British comedian] Phil Wang said Soi 38 was his favourite eatery in all of Melbourne so I went to check it out myself. Theres a cool canteen-like atmosphere and the food is reasonably priced. I loved the tum thai (papaya salad) and tofu larb. One dish was so spicy that I think I broke the pain barrier and then became extremely euphoric (I am a bit of a wuss though.) 38 Royal Lane, Melbourne, soi38.com Advertisement Soi 38 in its new Royal Lane home. Eddie Jim If you need something quick, head to the bar at Comedy Republic for a killer cheese toastie and some pickle chips. Its a live comedy venue started by three comedians but you can visit the bar even if youre not going to a show. They also have an impressive selection of beers and the staff are super nice and always up for a chat. 231 Bourke Street, Melbourne, comedyrepublic.com.au Get great bang for your buck at Biang Biang. Biang Biang serves hearty food that comes out quickly and theres a location really near Melbourne Town Hall handy if youre performing or catching shows. Get the wide chilli noodles (a signature) and pork roujiamo (a flaky pastry filled with meat) and dip the roujiamo in the noodle sauce. Its mind-blowing and you can get a combo deal for around 20 bucks. Advertisement 255 Swanston St, Melbourne (also on Elizabeth Street), biangbiang.com.au Lizzy Hoo at the MICF Gala in 2024. Nick Robertson Lizzy Hoo Deja Hoo I go to Thailand on Bourke for quick, easy Thai food with cheap drinks. You can always get a seat, plus theres a karaoke setup Ive never seen used but its good to know its there just in case the urge strikes. Last time I visited before a gig, I got the khao soi, a curry noodle soup, and it was excellent. 108 Bourke Street, Melbourne, thailandonbourke.com Advertisement Penang hokkien prawn soup at Kakilang Char Koay Teow. Kakilang Char Koay Teow serves all the Malaysian classics: nasi lemak, Hainanese chicken rice and char mee. When I found out it had opened up right across the road from Comedy Republic I thought, this is dangerous. Anytime I perform in the city, I usually stop by for a quick plate of char kway teow in between gigs, which is not the healthiest pre-show meal but definitely the most delicious. 190 Bourke Street, Melbourne, instagram.com My brother introduced me to Pondok Rempah (and hes a food influencer in Indonesia so he knows his stuff). Im a big fan of anything on the menu with asam (sour) in the title or, for a delicious meat fix, try the iga goreng geprek which is beef ribs slathered in vibrant red chilli sauce. Indonesian food made with Australian beef is next level. Advertisement 487 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, pondokrempah.com.au If things are going badly, Ill go to the back corner of McDonalds alone and sit in silence, listening to the sound of my own chewing. We all have bad gigs and one of the only ways to get over someone in your crowd who has not even come close to a smile is to suppress those feelings with a burger maybe two. Nobody will question why youre here they just get it. Cnr Swanston and Lonsdale streets, Melbourne Takashi Wakasugi at the MICF Gala in 2024. Nick Robertson Takashi Wakasugi Comedy Samurai Advertisement Ramen is always great for a quick, reasonably priced meal. In Melbourne, there are many good ramen places, serving all kinds of ramen, most of the time for less than $20. But I choose Mr. Ramen-san because they make hiyashi chuka (chilled ramen), which you dont see often in Australia. Its very fresh. 200 Bourke Street, Melbourne; 344 Little Bourke Street, mrramensan.com.au Tamura Sake Bar in Fitzroy is part bar, part record shop, part restaurant. Eddie Jim For great sake and a very cool vibe, I go to Tamura Sake Bar which always has great Japanese jazz and city pop [1980s Japanese pop] playing. Otsumami sets (a $40 array of snacks) are good with sake to share with friends but theres also ramen, teishoku [meal sets with main, rice, miso soup] and katsu sandos. 43 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, tamurasho-ten.com Advertisement Dendeke is another of my go-to Japanese places in Australia, mainly because they have shio saba (grilled mackerel), which is my favourite dish (and not easy to find in Australia). I order rice, miso soup, shio saba and a few small dishes to make my own teishoku. Another bonus is the great sake selection. 113 High Street, Preston, dendeke.com.au Not too small but not too big, not too busy but not empty, Diksteins Corner Bar is my perfect bar. I often go by myself for a wine and write jokes or just think about life. They have good food, too - especially the pizza (which is half price on Mondays). Please say hello if you see me there. 433 Little Collins Street, instagram.com/diksteinscornerbar Nicolette Minster has the low-down on dumplings, speedy pizza and more. Nick Simpson-Deeks Advertisement Nicolette Minster Rising Damp I stumbled across the delightful No. 100 on Flinders Lane in 2023 when I was looking for a quiet indulgence pre-show. Lo and behold, it turns out you can be a cheapskate at swish places, too. Order from the mezze and small plates to get Lebanese magic like spiced rice with duck and lamb. This place is so classy that I momentarily believed I was the kind of adult who pays for their own Netflix instead of still using my parents login at 41. 100 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, 100flinderslane.com.au If youre rushing between shows and need a slice of nice to get you through the next 50 minute laughathon, swing by Pizza Pizza Pizza. Their tasty and obscenely large New York-style pies can be in your mouth within minutes. I recently learned that theres a super cool hidden bar out the back thats so secret, it was even a secret to me. 16 Meyers Place, pizzapizzapizza.com.au Advertisement Pizza Pizza Pizza does slices late into the night. If you havent got a gut full of dumplings repeating on you during Wil Anderson, youre not doing the Comedy Festival right. Not that ShanDong Mama will make you ill these dumplings are ultra-fresh. I like to order the Dill-icious Pork and the famous zucchini dumplings (which are also vegan). 7/200 Bourke Street, Melbourne, instagram.com/shandongmama 7-Eleven This hidden gem is an immersive dining experience like no other. You can even barista cosplay and make your own coffee. My go-tos to get me through a night at the festival are cheese and crackers, a Boss iced latte and, if Im feeling like I really want to test the limits of my undiagnosed lactose intolerance, a Rokeby protein smoothie. The staff behind plexiglass is a cute design touch. Advertisement Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley has told victims of domestic violence, including children, to take extra precautions while waiting to find out whether their data has been leaked in a breach involving 9000 sensitive court documents. Daley said anyone who felt their safety or security had been threatened should call the police straight away. When we work out exactly whose accounts were compromised, [the Department of Communities and Justice] will proactively contact those account holders and advise them of what has happened and what the next steps should be, he said. Cybercrime detectives are investigating a major data breach of the NSW court website. Credit: Bloomberg The breach, which was discovered last week during maintenance and referred to the NSW Police State Crime Commands Cybercrime Squad on Tuesday, affected the NSW Online Registry Website, an online platform that gives access to information from both civil and criminal cases in the NSW court system. A new vision for Woolloongabbas future after the Olympics is under way, sparking celebration for some, and fresh doubts for others. Premier David Crisafulli this week confirmed the Gabba would be bulldozed after the Olympics to make way for a mixed-use urban renewal site. This would complement the new recommendation for the Brisbane Live Arena to be built across the road, rather than at Roma Street Parkland. The news was welcomed by the East Brisbane State School community, which has been staring down the possible destruction of their 125-year-old heritage-listed school since the Labor government first floated plans to revamp the Gabba. East Brisbane State School has welcomed new plans for Woolloongabbas future. Credit: Tony Moore Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said Tuesdays announcement put an end to the uncertainty thats been affecting this community for nearly five years. THE FORUM Reform needs stability It is a budget we wished on ourselves. These are the wisest words of the normally sensible, champion of the underdog, Ross Gittins, in his drubbing of Labors budget (Jims charmless budget cuts the interest in a timid government, 26/3). His continual accusation of timidity in Labors approaches helps a draconian Peter Dutton into power. Does Gittins not see the fine line that must be trodden to avoid wedging by an opposition, intent on power without reason and the ability to goad a gullible public motivated by short-sighted hip-pocket concerns? Responsible long-term economic management, and with it, radical tax reform, cannot be achieved without government stability and time to earn enough trust to convince a basically self-interested populace. A government out of office cannot even start. Alastair Pritchard, Templestowe Timid for a reason Ross Gittins says that this government is timid and uninspired. Because Labors parliamentary majority is small, to become aggressive and inspiring would mean political suicide. The opposition and the media would dial up scaremongering to 11. Michael Brinkman, Ventnor Cheers for aid Two cheers to Jim Chalmers for increasing foreign aid roughly in line with inflation. Australia is relatively wealthy, and should be able to help other countries by more than the current paltry 0.18 per cent of GDP (Labors surprise bid to shake Dutton, 26/3). At least we did not follow Britain, which cut its aid budget to prop up increased defence spending. Or copy Donald Trump in one of his most inhumane and unchristian acts by abruptly suspending USAID altogether. John Hughes, Mentone Sporting chance While the treasurer is vilified for trying to find money for housing, for the disadvantaged, to help Indigenous people, for healthcare, and for the disabled, while building up our military defences and rescuing the economy in uncertain times, no one comments on the apparently bottomless purse available to build stadiums, tennis complexes, golf courses and Formula 1 infrastructure. Indeed, money to bolster all of the sports which used to be the Saturday leisure activities of ordinary people and have become the province of the elite. Kay Moulton, Surrey Hills Battleship diversion Whoever is in power, when the budget is delivered, it should not be a question of what do we get for our money, but what is being done for the most vulnerable? The opposition is a party of no policies; Labor a government of no ambition. The answer to my question is nothing is being done. If we are to believe in restraint, and we have a deficit to worry about, how does increased military spending not contribute to debt? Unlike doing something for the poor, say, raising the unemployed out of poverty or offering free dentistry on Medicare, both of which improve society and GDP. Buying missiles or subsidising unrealised projects dreamt up over a game of Battleship never sees a financial return. Anders Ross, Heidelberg See you later Peter Dutton and Angus Taylors catchphrase is, Well have more to say about that later, yet, over the past three years in opposition, later never comes. After every policy headline they create, very little information follows. Here we are on the eve of an election and the opposition dont have much on the table. Can someone enlighten me on what the LNP have been doing since 2022? Im assuming they havent been working from home, given thats one idea I know they are against. Robert Stephenson, St Kilda East Lack of contrition I do not think anyone should be surprised that supposedly top-level officials of Donald Trumps administration carelessly added in a journalist into their little military planning powwow over the Signal messaging service (Jaw-dropping gall from team Trump who just cant admit a mistake, 26/3). I mean, these are all people who are avowed loyalists to the US president but, beyond this dubious qualification, have little real-world experience in good governance. Im not making excuses for their blunder here, because there are no reasonable excuses. Yet, true to form, all the people involved have tried to shift the blame, mainly to the journalist who exposed them. I think we should all be concerned about the lack of contrition and that these people have, so far, failed to understand the implications of what they did. Firstly, they used a commercially available messaging app to discuss military operations, and secondly, they added in a journalist. Their responses can only be described as flippant, from Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth dismissing concerns over the content of the messages, and Trump protecting the officials. Flippancy might be a characteristic response of some children when they are caught out but it is not a great look for people in charge of the greatest military apparatus in the world. Jeremy de Korte, Newington Loading Loyalty above ability Donald Trumps teams inexcusable incompetence in dealing with communications security surrounding the Yemen air strikes is a direct consequence of the US president picking people based on loyalty above ability. Experienced people simply would not have done this. How can we trust this administration in the future? The blase response just compounds the blunder. Ross Hudson, Mount Martha Eyes closed Your correspondents (Letters, 26/3) make good points regarding Australias relations with Donald Trumps America, but they overlook one major impediment. As long as Australia is part of the Five Eyes security arrangement, we will be tied to Trumps America. No other member of this intelligence-sharing arrangement has indicated a willingness to dispense with it, and until the United Kingdom does, nor will Australia. We could, of course, go ahead without it, and change our security and defence posture, but what is the chance of that? John Whelen, Box Hill South Cleanliness claim insulting From a personal perspective, I found Jacqueline Wilsons opinion piece (As an ex-cleaner, heres everything you blokes do wrong, 25/3) on the supposed gender imbalance in domestic cleanliness insulting. I wholly acknowledge that women have historically done most of the domestic obligations in a household, with patriarchy being the primary cause. However, this article depicts all men (her words, Yes, Im stereotyping) as hygienically inept yet egotistical in whatever domestic contribution they make and reads as steeped in an underlying resentment that is gender-based and inaccurate. I dont believe that Im any exception to the contributors bias, but Ive supported myself since I was 18 years old and have always contributed to domestic needs in relationships with an intent of equality. Jae Sconce, Moonee Ponds Genocide in progress Your correspondent (Letters, 26/3) objects to the word genocide because only 2.5 per cent of the Gaza population have been killed by the Israel Defence Forces. I would think it is clearly a genocide in progress. Lets not wait until it reaches 100 per cent. Jerry Koliha, South Melbourne Welcome to country In his advertisement, Clive Palmer states: Australia ... Its our country, we dont need to be welcomed to it. Palmer obviously doesnt know that when any First Nations traditional owner welcomes us to any of their significant number of unceded traditional countries, that is what they are welcoming us to. Not to Australia which didnt exist as a nation until 1901, but to their particular country. It would be good if Palmer knew a bit about our history and First Nations culture. Ro Bailey, Hawthorn Look to future The wide range of opinions on the Suburban Rail Loop (Letters, 26/3) result from people looking at the project from very different time perspectives. When looked at over the next 10 to 15 years, the SRL does not make much sense. There is no great demand for rail trips from Cheltenham to Box Hill, and it seems incredibly expensive. But most importantly, Melburnians still think about their car for most urban travel. However, if we analyse the impact of the project over the next 30 to 100 years, the SRL must be built. Without it, we will be developing a spreading city with a continuing high dependency on cars. Cities that commit to comprehensive public transport systems are more connected, and have more scope for open spaces. It is a pity we didnt build the SRL 100 years ago, like London. If we had, we wouldnt have obliterated our creek valleys natural linear parks with freeways. The costly North East Link would not be being built. Urban transport systems must be judged over long time frames. Howard Tankey, Box Hill North Boxed-in camping Regarding discussion about the Port Fairy Folk Festival change from little tents to large caravans and motor homes (Traveller, 22/3): Unfortunately, this is in line with all camping trends where everything is inside your box. I notice caravan parks are generally becoming less sociable. Now everyone has their own shower and toilet so you dont meet having the morning shave. TV and internet are universal within vans which are heated and air-conditioned more reason to stay locked inside. This trend is a shame because camping used to be a great social way to meet people. Robert Irvine, Sunbury AND ANOTHER THING ... Its good to hear my favourite car, the Ford Estimates, getting a mention in the budget. Suzanne Palmer-Holton, Seaford Credit: Matt Golding Another cup of coffee a week! That will be two each seven days. I will have to lie down to calm the palpitations. And think about the national debt. Adrian Tabor, Point Lonsdale Was Jim Chalmers rare, pastel-pink tie worn as a lure for the female vote in the upcoming election? Tris Raouf, Hadfield One July 26 tax cut minus inflation and tax creep equals? Forbes Sprawson, Hampton Palmer It would be most helpful if billionaire Clive Palmer told us exactly when and how Australia was last great, as he keeps telling us this will happen again. Simon Tatz, Newport I believe there is a spelling error in one of the political advertisements in your publication. It should read: Trumps pets are Parrots. Robert Juozas, Eaglemont Trump As classified information breaches go, this one was much classier than some (Trump brushes off journalists inclusion in military chat, 26/3). At least these state secrets werent left in a box next to the toilet. Matthew Hamilton, Kew It would seem that one of the members of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partnership can see nothing other than the emperors new clothes. Russell Brims, Bentleigh East Furthermore Love the SRL, but it needs a more affectionate marketing name how about Loopey? Greg Curtin, Nunawading With the SRL as a must have, the Allan government is must having itself to electoral oblivion. Alan Williams, Port Melbourne Finally How did Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin morph into Simon Badloss? Please, for the sake of Demon fans, change your name back. Brian Horswell, Point Cook The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here. Federal police are investigating an anonymous and threatening letter sent to the Australian colleagues of a fugitive Hong Kong politician offering a $200,000 reward for anyone who hands him over to authorities. Former legislator Ted Hui sought refuge in Australia in 2021 after fleeing Hong Kong on what he insists are trumped-up money laundering and national security charges during a crackdown by Beijing on the islands democratic freedoms and civil liberties. Ted Hui, a former Hong Kong pro- democracy legislator, is now in exile in Australia. Credit: Eamon Gallagher Hong Kong authorities issued an arrest warrant and a $HK1 million ($204,000) bounty in 2023 for Hui, who works as a lawyer in Adelaide. Hui revealed in a Facebook post on Wednesday morning that his law firm, RSA Law, had received an airmail letter from Hong Kong saying he was wanted on a range of national security offences. LONDON, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The British government announced an additional 2.2 billion British pounds (2.83 billion U.S. dollars) in its defense budget in 2025-2026, raising defense spending to 2.36 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) next year. In her Spring Statement in the House of Commons on Wednesday, British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said the government would invest more in naval ships, military welfare, emerging defense technologies, and military infrastructure. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in February announced an increase in defense spending to reach 2.5 percent of the GDP by April 2027. For students at Wyndham Park Primary School, turning up at school comes with benefits beyond classroom results. It means the chance to accumulate points which, each week, can be redeemed for toys such as yo-yos, whistles, fidget toys or board games. But while these tangible rewards get results, students have their eyes on a bigger, tastier prize: pizza. Wyndham Park Primary School vice principal Laura Boylan hands out pizza to preps as a reward for school attendance. Credit: Joe Armao Students who turn up every day of term get perfect points and are rewarded with a pizza lunch, which yesterday saw almost 150 students reaching for slices of Hawaiian, margherita and meat-lovers. Principal John Eskander said pizza had been key to the schools climbing attendance rate, which has gone from 88 per cent in 2022 to an impressive 90.3 per cent last year comfortably above the 89.6 per cent average recorded by state primary schools last year. And with a first-term attendance rate currently sitting at 93 per cent, the school is on track for another record result. How to Choose the Best Car for Your Family in 2025 Buying a car for your family is a big decision. It's not only about picking something that is visually appealing. Rather, it is about finding a vehicle that is safe, practical, and comfortable for everyday use. Whether it is school drop-offs, road trips, or weekend errands, the right car can make life a lot easier. Car ownership costs have been rising across the United States. In 2024, the average annual cost of owning and operating a new car reached $12,297. This is about $1,025 per month, according to a study by AAA. With expenses like fuel, insurance, and maintenance adding up, it is important to choose a car that fits your familys needs and budget. Keep reading to learn what to consider when choosing the best car for your family in 2025. Consider a Car with Enough Comfort and Space A family car should be spacious enough for everyone to sit comfortably. Whether it is a trip to the grocery store or a long vacation, every passenger should have enough legroom and headroom. One way to test this is by bringing your family along when checking out cars. Sitting in the back seat will give you a real sense of how comfortable the car will be for daily use. Cargo space is just as important. A car with a deep trunk or adjustable seating configurations can make a big difference. This holds true, particularly for families with young children who need extra space for strollers and baby gear. Think About Fuel Efficiency A fuel-efficient car helps families save money. Moreover, rising fuel costs make it even more essential to consider a car that offers excellent mileage. So, in terms of fuel efficiency, EV cars can be a viable preference in 2025. Studies have shown that electric vehicle drivers generally spend about 40% to 65% less annually on fuel costs. This savings is notable when compared to those driving gasoline-powered vehicles. When considering fuel efficiency, it's important to compare different options: Hybrid and electric cars offer excellent fuel savings and lower carbon emissions. Thus, these options are great for families seeking eco-friendly alternatives. Gasoline and diesel vehicles have different advantages. Diesel engines often provide better fuel economy on highways, while gasoline engines are usually more affordable to maintain. Smaller engines consume less fuel, making them a great choice for city driving. Prioritize Safety Features Safety is the most important factor when selecting a four-wheeler for the family. Advanced safety features reduce the possibility of accidents and protect passengers in case of a collision. As vehicle technology evolves in 2025, look for new innovations that enhance safety further. Before making decisions, check safety ratings from trusted organizations (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety). Vehicles with high crash test ratings and multiple safety technologies are always a better choice for families. Some key safety features to look for include blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking. These systems help reduce the risk of accidents by notifying drivers of dangers. For families with small children, ISOFIX child seat anchors are an important feature to ensure proper car seat installation. Despite having these safety features, accidents can still occur. In such cases, seeking consultation from a car accident lawyer can assist you navigate the confusion of insurance claims. Their expertise can guide you through the legal process, and secure the right compensation. According to TorHoerman Law, it is crucial to gather evidence right after an accident to build a strong case. So, a lawyer can assist in collecting necessary documentation (police reports and witness statements) for proving fault and securing a fair settlement. Set a Realistic Budget Buying a family car is a key financial decision. So it is important to set an achievable budget that includes the long-term expense and purchase price. Many families focus only on the upfront cost, but ongoing expenses like maintenance, insurance, and fuel should also be considered. A cars resale value is another notable factor. Some cars lose value faster than others, which can make a difference when it comes time to trade in your vehicle. Choosing a model that holds its value well can save money in the long run. Insurance costs differ on the cars safety features, model, and size. Comparing insurance quotes before making a decision can help avoid unexpected expenses. Check the Cars Reliability A family car should be reliable and low-maintenance. According to Consumer Reports' 2024 Auto Reliability Report, a cars reliability depends on its powertrain type (gasoline, hybrid, or electric). The complexity of its in-car electronics also comes under key consideration. As more cars in 2025 incorporate advanced driver-assist systems and autonomous features, their reliability will hinge on the quality of the technology. Hybrid and electric vehicles tend to have more issues, mainly with battery performance and software glitches. These can cause problems like faulty touchscreen systems or unexpected power loss. On the other hand, traditional gasoline-powered cars are generally more reliable since they have fewer electronic-related failures. To ensure reliability: Read customer reviews and long-term performance reports. Check for any manufacturer recalls related to the model you are considering. Look for a comprehensive warranty to protect against costly repairs. Test Drive the Car Before Buying A test drive is the best way to determine whether a car meets your family's needs. It allows you to assess comfort, visibility, and how the car handles varying road conditions. During the test drive, check whether the seats provide good support. Also, take note of the fact that the car has a quiet cabin that makes long trips more pleasant. Try different road surfaces to see how the suspension handles bumps and uneven terrain. If possible, bring your family along. This will guarantee that everyone is at ease in the car before making a final decision. FAQs Should I choose a new car or a used car for my family? Prioritizing between a used and a new car varies on factors like budget, car condition, and long-term reliability. A new car comes with the benefit of a warranty and the latest technology, making it a reliable option for families. On the other hand, used cars offer savings on the purchase price. How can I keep my car in top condition for the long term? Regular upkeep can increase your car's longevity and help avoid expensive repairs. Oil changes ensure the engine operates efficiently and runs without issues. However, for this, follow the manufacturers recommended intervals. Check tire pressure often and rotate tires every recommended mile for even wear. How do I determine the best vehicle size for my familys needs? The right vehicle size for your family depends on lifestyle, passenger count, and cargo requirements. If your family includes more than two kids, a larger vehicle like an SUV, minivan, or crossover might be best. For daily commuting and errands, a small sedan could be ideal. Choosing the best car for your family requires detailed consideration of comfort, fuel efficiency, safety, and long-term costs. A well-chosen family car should make daily travel easier, and provide enough space for passengers and cargo. It should also offer a hassle-free driving experience. By setting a budget, researching reliability, and test-driving different models, families can find a car that fits their lifestyle. A great family car makes every journey easier and more enjoyable. ANKARA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Any attempt to sabotage Turkiye's economy and public peace would be held accountable in courts of law, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday. "Any kind of sabotage against the Turkish economy and the peace of the nation will be held accountable before the judiciary," he said when addressing members of parliament from his ruling AK Party at the parliament. He stressed that all necessary legal actions would be taken to maintain economic stability. "We will continue to fight against any economic attack targeting Turkiye," he said. Erdogan addressed corruption allegations within Istanbul's municipalities of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), and said, "It seems that Istanbul's metropolitan and some district municipalities are writing the book on corruption, theft, and bribery." "Once the major scandals come to light, they won't even be able to face their people, let alone the public," he said. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu from the CHP was detained on March 19 on charges of graft and aiding a terrorist group. He was later sent to Marmara Prison pending trial on corruption charges on March 23. His detention has sparked mass protests, while the foreign exchange market has experienced significant fluctuations following the developments. BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Compatriots across the Taiwan Strait will attend events honoring China's legendary ancestor Huangdi, or the Yellow Emperor, on the mainland during the upcoming Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, a mainland spokesperson said Wednesday. Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said the commemorative ceremonies and related cultural activities will be held in Shaanxi and Henan provinces. The Yellow Emperor is recognized as the cultural ancestor of the Chinese nation, with his mausoleum serving as a spiritual symbol of Chinese civilization, according to Chen. He emphasized that the joint ceremonies by compatriots across the Taiwan Strait boast a long tradition, which plays a significant role in preserving Chinese cultural heritage and strengthening Taiwan compatriots' sense of national identity, belonging and pride. By Isaac Phan Nay Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Airplanes with standing sections. An extra fee for boarding charged at airport terminals. Even smaller carry-on luggage allowances. These are a few of the features offered by Unfair Canada. Since December, satirical ads for the fictional airline have popped up on Facebook and Instagram alongside anonymous, first-hand accounts of flight attendants stuck on planes for hours without pay. The posts are part of the Air Canada flight attendants unions campaign to put a spotlight on the hours of unpaid work expected of flight attendants as their union negotiates a new contract. The social media campaign signals a new way for unions to win public support during bargaining, said Robin Bondy, a public relations and communications professor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Now unions have the ability to engage not only their membership but also the public, through their own channels, which is really powerful, she said. It gives the union leverage when it comes to negotiations, because they have the ability to share their messages and their stories. The Canadian Union of Public Employees, or CUPE, launched the Unfair Canada campaign last fall. In December, the union started to negotiate a new collective agreement for approximately 10,000 Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flight attendants. Steven Tufts, a labour geographer at York University in Toronto, said the campaign will ramp up pressure on Air Canada and federal labour regulators to address flight attendants concerns, especially if negotiations break down and the government intervenes. Its not just to get support for your demands from the employer, he said. Youre bargaining with the public so that you can get the public to speak out if the government decides to legislate you back to work. He added its become the norm for public service companies to seek public support ahead of negotiations. Enter Unfair Canada. Since last October, CUPE has made dozens of posts on Facebook and Instagram as part of the campaign calling for an end to flight attendants unpaid work. Its also created an interactive website that asks visitors to write to Air Canada about the issue, and a podcast on which flight attendants discuss their working conditions. CUPE did not disclose how much it spent on the campaign. That information is not public, CUPE communications officer Hugh Pouliot said in an email. But I can tell you its the most significant campaign the Air Canada component or any airline [component] at CUPE has ever initiated, which underlines the importance of this round of bargaining for our members. Wesley Lesosky, president of the Air Canada component of CUPE, said the campaign aims to debunk myths about the work of flight attendants. People look at flight attendants as this image of having a luxury lifestyle heading to New York, spending the weekend, getting paid lots and thats just not the case. The union represents about 10,000 Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flight attendants. The negotiations mark the first time the flight attendants have collectively bargained in 10 years. While talks are still in the early stages, CUPE launched the online campaign to build public support as it seeks higher wages and better working conditions for flight attendants. Some of the posts have gained hundreds of likes on Facebook a clear sign the campaign is getting engagement, Bondy said. This is extremely well organized and professionally put together, she said. She said Unfair Canadas branding, paired with podcast clips and anonymous personal stories to build an effective social media campaign that built sympathy for flight attendants. Bondy added that all the content clearly links back to the campaign website and petition, making it easy for viewers to get the unions message. Its professionally branded. The message is very clear, she said. The calls to action are very clear and easy to follow, and the most powerful part of this campaign is the stories that theyre telling. Air Canada did not respond to requests for comment. The unions collective agreement for Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flight attendants expires at the end of March. Lesosky expects the negotiations biggest sticking point to be wages. The flight attendants wages have risen much slower than the cost of living. The last collective agreement, signed in 2015, gave flight attendants a signing bonus and a two per cent wage increase each year. The B.C. consumer price index rose about 30 per cent over the past decade. The union is also looking to address the hours of unpaid work attendants must perform. Flight attendants are paid based on the time an airplane is in motion. That means theyre not paid during briefings at the gate, safety checks at the terminal or during evacuations. According to CUPE, each flight attendant spends up to 35 hours per month working for no pay. Anyone else, when they go to work, has this expectation of being paid, Lesosky said. Why shouldnt our members have that same expectation, especially when theyre regulated to be there? Current wage levels are from $26.42 per hour up to $63.07 per hour after 10 years of experience. But Lesosky said hours of unpaid work lower real wages. While the campaign is aimed at building support during collective bargaining, Lesosky is also calling for legislation to end flight attendants unpaid work. Two MPs brought forth laws that would address the issue during the last session of Parliament: NDP MP Bonita Zarrillo and Conservative MP Lianne Rood. Both bills died when Parliament was prorogued. Commentary By Sylvain Charlebois Canada has started a trade war with China, yet few in Ottawa seem willing to acknowledge the consequences. Unlike the United States, which often imposes tariffs as a bargaining chip only to later negotiate, China takes a far more calculated and punitive approach. When Beijing retaliates, it targets industries with both economic and symbolic significance, ensuring maximum pressure on its adversary. In Canadas case, that means agricultural exportsparticularly canola, known globally as Canada oil, and Atlantic lobster, both of which have now become collateral damage in this escalating dispute. The fallout is already being felt. Starting March 20, Canadian grain farmers, hog producers and seafood harvesters will face 100 per cent tariffs when exporting to China, a critical market for these sectors. Canola, which generated $3.72 billion in exports in recent years, is now under anti-dumping investigations, while rapeseed oila major processed productis being hit with prohibitive tariffs. Pork exports, once thriving, have dwindled as China tightens import restrictions, and the billion-dollar seafood industry, led by lobster and crab, is now facing similar uncertainty. This crisis was set in motion by Ottawas decision last October to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and batteries, mirroring a move by the United States. Then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sought to align with U.S. President Joe Biden, aiming to shield North American manufacturing from an influx of cheap Chinese imports. But now, with both leaders gone, Prime Minister Mark Carney has made it clear he has no intention of reversing course. Chinas retaliation follows a familiar pattern. When Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Vancouver in 2018 at the request of the U.S., Beijing didnt retaliate against Washingtonit went after Canadian farmers, restricting key agricultural exports. The same playbook is being used now, yet Ottawa appears either oblivious or unwilling to acknowledge how much damage this is causing to its own producers. At the core of this conflict is Canadas high-stakes bet on electric vehicles and battery manufacturing. The federal government has committed nearly $50 billion to develop the sector, funding projects like Stellantis and LGs battery plant in Windsor, Volkswagens gigafactory in St. Thomas, Ont., and Northvolts facility in Quebecdespite Northvolts financial struggles and reports that its parent company is on the verge of bankruptcy. Additional billions have gone to Ford and other automakers as part of Canadas strategy to become a global battery hub. While these subsidies are intended to create jobs and secure supply chains, they come with immense financial and economic risks. There is no guarantee that Canadas EV industry will be globally competitive or that these government-backed projects will deliver on their promised returns. Ottawa has essentially chosen to apply a supply management-style approach to an emerging sectorlimiting competition, inflating costs and betting taxpayer money on an industry that is far from proven. As history has shown, when markets are heavily managed, consumers end up with higher prices, lower quality and fewer choices. In prioritizing Ontario and Quebecs manufacturing jobs, Ottawa has knowingly sacrificed the interests of Canadian farmers and seafood harvesters. Yet, rather than acknowledging this trade-off or offering support, the federal government has remained largely silent. The absence of a response from new Agriculture Minister Kody Blois is particularly troubling. With farmers already struggling due to rising costs and declining margins, the imposition of 100 per cent tariffs on critical exports is a major blow. If Minister Blois does not act swiftly to defend Canadas agricultural sector, farmers and seafood harvesters will be left to bear the full weight of Ottawas geopolitical gamble. Canadas handling of this trade war has been reckless. Instead of mitigating risks, the government has gone all in on an industry that remains untested while turning its back on agricultural sectors that have long been pillars of the Canadian economy. If Minister Blois and the government fail to intervene, the economic consequences for Canadian farmers and seafood producers will be severe. Ottawa may have been willing to make this gamble, but its the agricultural sector that will ultimately pay the price. What a mess. Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Canadian professor and researcher in food distribution and policy. He is senior director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University. We need to build several types of mass organisations simultaneously... By Kartik Lokhande : The general principle with regard to urban work is that the mass organisations should be as wide as possible, reveals CPI (Maoist) document on their urban work CORRECTLY coordinating between illegal and legal structures, we should have an approach of step-by-step raising the forms of struggle and preparing the masses to stand up against the might of the State. This is one of the many statements that expose the nefarious designs of CPI (Maoist) as far as the work of these Red terrorists in urban areas is concerned. And, this statement is part of the CPI (Maoist) document Urban Perspective: Our Work in Urban Areas. The Maoists have been busy implementing their devious toolkit to attract unsuspecting individuals towards finding a common cause with an anti-national plot. First, they spoke of Marxism, then Leninism, now Maoism, and some are even talking about urban guerrilla Che Guevara to attract the youth towards his pictures and images. Many individuals without proper understanding of Maoists vile designs fall prey to the propaganda of fight for rights but gradually get trapped in the ideology that has the sole objective of overthrowing the Constitutionally established and democratically elected Government. The Maoists own documents -- Urban Perspective: Our Work in Urban Areas and Strategy and Tactics -- offer a glimpse of a dangerous plot of manufacturing anarchy especially in urban areas of India. For example, at one place in one of their documents, the Maoists highlight the need for building the broadest mass base by building various types of mass organizations. These mass organisations include open revolutionary, legal democratic, secret ones, and cover organizations, etc. Depending upon the situation, the Maoists define the role of different types of organisations as primary for that period. But, keeping in mind the long-term approach, they focus on building several types of mass organisations simultaneously. Thus, the general principle in regards to urban forms of organisation is that the mass organisations should be as wide as possible. As the Indian political situation is uneven, we need to explore the right combination of various types of mass organisations, reveals their document. The Red terrorists plan for some of the legal democratic type of Maoist mass organisations to be catering to a particular section viz. trade unions, student bodies, womens fronts, caste abolition organisations, nationality organisations, writers associations, lawyers organisations, teachers associations, cultural bodies, etc. Others may be formed with issue-oriented programmes focusing on particular core questions like contract labour system, unemployment and job losses, caste atrocities, communalism, imperialist culture, violence on women, saffronisation of education, corruption, regional backwardness and statehood, etc. The scope is very wide, extending to the broad coalitions and alliances formed against repression, globalisation, Hindutva, and right up to the all-encompassing bodies formed with the banners of anti-capitalism or peoples struggles, their document outlines. They have been forming such organisations at various levels ranging from town/city level to district level to State or national or even international level. They use the network of such organisations to blow up any particular incident of their choice up to international level, and utilise this amplification to mount pressure on the Government. According to a source, common people do not know the toolkit of the Maoists and their urban operatives. Hence, unsuspectingly, they end up sympathising with the Maoist causes through seemingly normal agitations and lectures. The participation of unsuspecting general public provides additional cover to the Maoists urban operatives to continue masquerading as rights activists and academicians with conscience. This has emerged as a major challenge for the security agencies to take action against such Urban Naxals. Also, when the agencies arrest some of these operatives, the Maoist ecosystem organisations operating in the domain of legal rights, masquerading as legal democratic organisation resort to propaganda against the Government as well as the security agencies. So far, there is no law to tackle this challenge. The intellectuals supporting Maoists secretly pick holes in the existing laws like the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act or UAPA etc. There existed a vacuum that needed to be filled with enactment of a legislation that particularly tackles the challenge of Urban Naxalism in the State. Hence, Maharashtra has proposed a new Bill, said an official on the condition of anonymity. If people become aware of the toolkit of Maoists and their urban ideologues and supporters, they will easily realise the need for the new law, he added. (Concludes) 48 Olive Ridley turtles with metallic tags return to Odisha coast for mass nesting BERHAMPUR (Odisha) AT LEAST 48 Olive Ridley turtles, which were tagged with metallic flipper by the Zoological Survey India (ZSI) during the 2021-23 period on the Odisha coast, returned to the Rushikulya river in Ganjam district to lay eggs in the last three days, officials said on Tuesday. The ZSI, in collaboration with the Odisha Forest Department, had started to tag Olive Ridley turtles on the State coast in January 2021 to study the movements of the marine species. The second phase of the mass nesting in the Rushikulya rookery started on Saturday and a total of 1,30,031 turtles have laid eggs in the last three days, they said. Despite rain, the turtles continued to lay eggs on the 5-km-long beach from Purunabandh to Bateswar, the officials said. On Monday, 41,731 turtles laid eggs in the river mouth, Diba Shankar Behera, assistant conservator of forest (ACF), said. In the last three days, we have detected around 48 tagged female turtles which return to the Rushikulya rookery in their second phase of mass nesting period this time, said Anil Mohapatra, a senior scientist and officer-in-charge of Estuarine Biology Research Center (EBRC), Regional Center of ZSI, Gopalpur. We are expecting their number might increase at the end of the mass nesting, he said. In the first phase of their mass nesting, which took place from February 16 to 23, the authorities concerned had spotted 382 turtles with metallic tags. A record number of 6,98,718 Olive Ridley turtles had laid eggs on the beach in the first phase. Mohapatra said they had tagged around 12,000 turtles at the Rushikulya rookery and Gahirmatha marine sanctuary during the 2021-23 period, he said We have collected photographs of turtles with metallic tags. We will conduct detailed studies on the tags after the completion of mass nesting, he said. In 2023, the authorities had spotted over 100 tagged turtles in the Rushikulya river mouth, he added. Basudev Tripathy, another senior scientist of ZSI, said the Government needs to carry out the tagging exercise for a few more years to study movements and other aspects of the marine species. Actor Sonu Soods wife, two others injured in mishap Staff Reporter : Actor Sonu Soods wife, Sonali Sood and his two relatives, were injured in a car accident in the city, on Monday night. The injured include Sonalis sister, Sunita and her nephew, Siddharth. While the Sonegaon Police have made an entry in the police station diary based on the Medico-Legal Case (MLC) information received from the hospital, a case has not been registered due to the absence of a complainant. Officials from the Sonegaon Police Station said that the accident occurred on Monday at around 10 pm when their car collided with a truck from behind on the fly-over near Sonegaon Police Station, while they were travelling from the airport to Byramji Town. The three injured are stable now and both Sonali and Sunita are receiving treatment at a private hospital in Mankapur area. Sunita and Siddharth are residents of Byramji Town. According to the police, Sonali arrived in Nagpur from Kolkata on Monday night, and Sunita and Siddharth picked her up from the airport. The three were travelling to Byramji Town in a car (MH-31/GA-1789), driven by Siddharth. As the car was climbing the flyover, they began following another car, which was behind a slow-moving truck. When the car in front suddenly overtook the truck, Siddharth was unable to control the car as the slow-moving truck appeared in front of him. He collided with the truck from behind. The front bonnet of the car was severely damaged in the accident. Fortunately, the three had a narrow escape as the airbags deployed immediately. However, they sustained minor injuries in the accident and were rushed to the hospital that night. Sonegaon Police reached the scene but did not find anyone in the car and they seized it. As of now, no case has been registered in connection with the accident. Allahabad HC lawyers on indefinite strike against transfer of Justice Varma PRAYAGRAJ : THE Allahabad High Court Bar Association on Tuesday began an indefinite strike to protest against the proposed transfer of Delhi High Court Justice Yashwant Varma to the High Court here. Leading the protesting lawyers gathered at gate number 3 of the High Court, Bar Association President Anil Tiwari told reporters, This protest is not against any court or judge but against those who have betrayed the judicial system. He added, 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. The Bar Association had reiterated its opposition to Justice Varmas transfer on Monday and decided to go on an indefinite strike from Tuesday. Tiwari asserted the association was prepared for an all-out battle on this 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 Supreme Court collegium on Monday confirmed its decision to recommend transfer of Justice Varma, facing an enquiry over the alleged discovery of huge cash from his official residence and from whom judicial work was withdrawn, to his parent Allahabad High Court. The transfer recommendation to the Centre was made public in a resolution uploaded on the top court website. The alleged cash discovery happened following a fire at Varmas Lutyens Delhi residence at around 11.35 pm on March 14, prompting the fire officials to rush to the spot and douse it. BJP launches Saugat-e-Modi programme to reach out to Muslims, other minorities NEW DELHI : THE BJP on Tuesday launched a nationwide programme to reach out to the members of the minority community, starting with distribution of Saugat-e-Modi kits with eatables and clothes for women among Muslims ahead of Eid celebrations. BJP Minority Morcha national president Jamal Siddiqui, who rolled out the initiative, said similar kits will be distributed among economically weaker members of other minority communities during their festivals under the Saugat-e-Modi programme next month. Prime Minister Narendra Modi always says that he is the guardian of 140 crore Indians and he takes part in all festivals. He participates in Christmas, Easter, Baisakhi and sends chadar for offering at Nizamuddin Dargah and Ajmer Sharif, he said. So we decided that we will give kits with food to our brothers and sisters, who are poor. Each kit will also have a cloth for our sisters, he told PTI. Siddiqui said as many as 32,000 BJP Minority Morcha workers, including office bearers of its State, district and mandal level units have been engaged to implement the programme. Our karyakartas will meet people (Muslims) in their respective areas across the country and give them kits, greeting Eid Mubarak on behalf of the Prime Minister, he said. The programme was launched in Delhi and other states in the country today. We have set a target that each of our karyakartas should reach out to at least 100 people with Saugat-e-Modi kits under the programme, greeting Eid Mubarak on behalf of the Prime Minister, he added. Siddiqui said the programme will continue beyond Eid to greet members of other minority communities, including Sikhs and Christians, on their respective festivals like Baisakhi and Easter to be celebrated next month. Congress eyeing to take cue from BJPs Gujarat Model during its Natl Convention Ramkishan Ojha Mukul Wasnik By Vikas Vaidya : Nagpurs Congmen Mukul Wasnik, Ramkishan Ojha to play major role in the Congress national convention Long ago, Gujarat was Congress stronghold. But in last five decades, Bharatiya Janata Party has established its command over this State of industrious people. Now with a thought to take a cue from BJPs Gujarat Model, Congress has decided to hold its national convention in first week of April at Ahmedabad. The convention will have a Nagpur connection as two Congressmen from city are playing major roles in organising the convention. Senior Congress leaders Mukul Wasnik and Ramkishan Ojha, both from Nagpur, have been given the responsibility of coordination. Ojha has been asked to take care of reception committees work as well. Another stalwart from Nagpur contributing is Avinash Pandey, in-charge of Congress unit of Uttar Pradesh. Under his leadership, Congress made dent to Bharatiya Janata Party during Lok Sabha polls, which nobody expected. Congress has been bestowing various responsibility of Gujarat to Ojha and Wasnik for the past few years. Ojha is also the Gujarat State Congress in-charge. Similarly, Wasnik along with Ojha, have been playing important roles during elections in Gujarat. Considering that aspect, AICC has given the task of coordination to both these leaders. Avinash Pandey said, This convention is aiming at strengthening the party. The discussion will not be held on multiple issues. The party is planning to revive itself and bring amendment in election management. We need to build the morale of the party member and focus on its expansion. While talking to The Hitavada, Ojha said, We are very much happy and excited as we from Nagpur have got this opportunity. Through this convention, Congress is planning to restructuring the party. We are planning to strengthen its base throughout the country. All the District Presidents of the party throughout the country will be taken to the newly-built Congress Bhavan at Delhi before the convention. During this visit, the senior leaders will guide the partys office-bearers. Around 3,000 delegates from across the country are expected to take part in the historic national convention being held after 64 years in Gujarat. This is third time that Congress is holding its convention in Gujarat after 1938 at Haripura, Bardoli and then in 1961 at Bhavnagar. According to sources, Congress leaders are thinking to keep their traditional way of thinking aside and take a leaf from BJPs Gujarat Model. A senior leader on condition of anonymity said that Congress needs to give up its condescending approach if it wants to be victorious in coming polls. The party has still good line-up of leaders, it has to push itself. It also needed to work on the factor of factionalism, felt this leader. Gorsam Kora festival to celebrate Buddhist heritage, India-Bhutan friendship TAWANG : THE Gorsam Kora festival in Arunachal Pradesh, which celebrates the shared Himalayan Buddhist cultural heritage and the long-standing friendship between India and Bhutan, will be held from March 26 to 29. The festival takes place annually at Zemithang Valley in Tawang district of the State. Situated along the Nyanmjang Chu river, Zemithang holds historical significance as the sanctuary where the 14th Dalai Lama found refuge in 1959 upon his escape from Tibet, a statement from the organisers said. The festival will take place at Gorsam Chorten, a 93-foot tall stupa built during the 12th century AD by local monk Lama Pradhar, the release said. This iconic stupa, older than the Tawang Monastery, is modelled after Nepals Boudhanath stupa and has a spiritual companion, the Chorten Kora in Trashiyangtse, Bhutan. Thousands of devotees, including Bhutanese nationals, will gather during Gorsam Kora festival to observe the auspicious occasion on the last day of the Lunar calendars first month. The festival, being organised by the Zemithang community in collaboration with civil authorities and local Indian Army units, will commence with an invocation led by Buddhist icon Thengtse Rinpoche. Solemn prayers at the revered Khinzemane tree, believed to be planted by the 14th Dalai Lama, will kick-start the three-day event. Monks will chant sacred mantras and observe traditional Buddhist rituals at the chorten. Pilgrims and Lamas from Bhutan, Tawang and neighbouring regions will participate, embodying the spirit of camaraderie and cultural exchange. The festival will feature cultural performances by local troupes and Indian Army bands, as well as martial performances like Mallakhamb and Zanjh Pathaka. The Zemithang Valley, along with several villages nominated under the Central Governments Vibrant Village Programme, will also host community engagement activities like medical camps. Realising the theme of Zero Waste Festival, the Further and Beyond foundation, with support from Indian Army and local administration, will undertake a cleanliness drive during the event. As part of the Vibrant Village Programme, Zemithang Valley aims to become a thriving tourist destination, focusing on its scenic beauty. It aims to transform the region into a heritage, religious, cultural and eco-tourism hub, while locals are actively involved, setting up home stays for tourists with support from the Indian Army, the release said. Kamra adamant, Shinde says maintain decorum MUMBAI/NEW DELHI : COMEDIAN Kunal Kamra stood his ground and stubbornly refused to apologise for his jokes targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde who reminded him about maintaining decorum and limits to freed speech but asserted he did not support vandalism. I will not apologise or hide under the bed waiting for the controversy to die down, a defiant Kamra asserted in a late Monday night statement as his controversial comments made during a show in Mumbai continued to stir politics in Maharashtra and beyond. While Shinde said the comments - a parody targeting him -- were like taking supari (or contract) to speak against someone, many others weighed in too and the Mumbai Police issued notice to the stand-up comedian. The 36-year-old comic, who has often courted controversy for his anti-establishment views, has been asked to appear before the Khar police in Mumbai in connection with a case filed against him for defamation, officials said on Tuesday. Kamra doubled down on his stand by sharing an edited video of his stand up act where he juxtaposed videos of Shiv Sainiks demolishing the venue in Mumbai where he recorded the show and burning his pictures and effigies with the parody song Hum honge kangal, hum honge kangal ek din... Mann me andhvishwas, desh ka satyanash... playing in the background. The comedian, who is in Puducherry according to his Instagram bio, has updated his X header photo with a disclaimer that reads: This programme contains coarse language, offensive content & is unfit for consumption by those whose feelings and sentiments can be hurt. No one but you are liable for any outrage or hurt that you claim is caused by your voluntary viewership. In his response, Shinde told BBC Marathi on Monday, There is freedom of speech. We understand satire. But there should be a limit. This is like taking a supari (contract) to speak against someone. On the Shiv Sainiks vandalising the studio, Shinde said: Action causes reaction. I will not speak much on this. I do not justify vandalism. On Sunday night, Shiv Sena members damaged the Habitat Comedy Club in Khar, where Kamras show took place, as well as a hotel in whose premises the club is located. Police on Monday arrested Shiv Sena functionary Rahul Kanal and 11 others for ransacking the show venue. A Mumbai court granted them bail the same day. Kamra, whose video has garnered over 4.3 million views in just two days, in his statement on Monday night said: What I said is exactly what Mr. Ajit Pawar (1st deputy CM) said about Mr. Eknath Shinde (2nd Deputy CM). I dont fear this mob. People clear a road blocked by a fallen tree in Kampala, capital city of Uganda, March 26, 2025. Heavy downpour and floods hit Kampala recently. (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua) KAMPALA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Severe flooding caused by torrential rains in Uganda's capital, Kampala, on Wednesday morning has claimed the lives of two children, with fears of further casualties, a humanitarian relief agency reported. Irene Nakasiita, spokesperson for the Uganda Red Cross Society, said in a statement that the two children were found dead after floodwaters engulfed their home in the Mulimira zone of Bukoto, a suburb of Kampala. The heavy rains, which began around 5 a.m. local time (0200 GMT), triggered flooding in several areas of Kampala, Wakiso, and Mukono, cutting off roads and paralyzing transportation and business activities. "Our response team was called to support the community. Many houses are flooded, and household property has been destroyed," she added. Michael Kananura, spokesperson for the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, said the floods had rendered several roads impassable, leading to severe traffic congestion. "We urge all motorists to exercise extreme caution and patience until the water subsides. Do not attempt to drive through flooded areas, as vehicles can become buoyant and lose traction," Kananura said. "It is better to delay your journey or postpone it altogether than to risk your life. Let us prioritize safety and wait for the water to recede," he added. The Uganda Meteorological Services has warned of intensified rainfall across several parts of the East African nation during the current rainy season, which could result in disasters such as floods, landslides, and lightning, potentially leading to loss of life. People wade through a flooded road in Kampala, capital city of Uganda, March 26, 2025. Heavy downpour and floods hit Kampala recently. (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua) People wade through a flooded road in Kampala, capital city of Uganda, March 26, 2025. Heavy downpour and floods hit Kampala recently. (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua) Protests engulf Karachi as Baloch leaders demand release of Mahrang Baloch KARACHI : WIDESPREAD protests flared in Pakistans 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 protesters, including Sammi Deen Baloch, have been 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 Supreme Court collegium on Monday confirmed its decision to recommend transfer of Justice Varma, facing an enquiry over the alleged discovery of huge cash from his official residence and from whom judicial work was withdrawn, to his parent Allahabad High Court. The transfer recommendation to the Centre was made public in a resolution uploaded on the top court website. The alleged cash discovery happened following a fire at Varmas Lutyens Delhi residence at around 11.35 pm on March 14, prompting the fire officials to rush to the spot and douse it. Real Concern THE formation of a National Task Force (NTF) by the honourable Supreme Court to address the mental health concerns of students in institutions of higher education, needs to be treated as a much-needed step which should have been taken decades earlier. The trigger for such a step by the honourable apex court came from the increasing numbers of suicides by students in such institutions. The NTF is expected to suggest ways and means to prevent unfortunate incidents of students suicides. For this step, Mr. Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Mr. Justice R. Mahadevan will earn national goodwill. Their bench has now directed the Delhi Police to register a First Information Report on the complaints of the family members of two students (of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi) who committed suicide. The honourable judges stated the two suicides point to a disturbing pattern which needed to be addressed. By saying so and by directing formation of a NTF, the two judges have brought to fore a real national concern. Mental health of students of institutions of higher learning is certainly a very major issue that needs to be tackled on an immediate basis. The pressure of studies and high-calibre performance in examinations weighs the young people down, so much so that many of them lose interest in life, and eventually start developing suicidal thoughts. Though most students learn to cope with the pressure somehow, the number of those who cannot do so is also mounting every passing year. This is the actual problem and concern. Of course, it would be a deception of sorts if the larger society does not keep in mind mental health issues of students even at lower layers of education -- like in schools and later in colleges. Modern life-style, tinged by inexplicably high expectations from schools, family and peers also exert very dangerous pressure even on school kids -- as the society has come to recognise over the past couple of decades. Nuclear families, reduced number of children in each home, and rather cold-blooded approach to examinations at all levels is often seen to produce neurotic effects on young minds -- a problem recognised as real by thinkers and educators alike. In view of this, it would be appropriate if the scope of the proposed NTF is enlarged to accommodate concerns about mental health of children in schools as well. This is not to suggest a delay in the mandated work of the NTF directed by the Supreme Court. The attempt here is to bring to fore the reality of mental health concerns of school students as well. A separate Task Force may also be formed later to deal with those aspects of the issue. But time it is for us to understand the depth to which mental health concerns travel, and organise a response appropriately. An important angle to the issue pertains to the overall decline in family values in the larger Indian society. Psychologists and social thinkers have found that the younger generations in average Indian families often carry a deep sense of isolation and bereftness -- thanks to both parents working, and family elders staying away. Though the nuclear family sounded great to begin with say about thirty years ago, its perils are coming to fore menacingly these days, causing a sense of alarm. We realise that tackling the entire range of mental health concerns about young generation would require a complex response by the larger society. Yet, suffice it is at this point to acknowledge that the honourable Supreme Court has found the right inclination to look at the issue in some depth -- which is welcome. Juvenile and adolescent mental health should be a matter of larger concern -- which is indicated by the initiative to form a Task Force by the Supreme Court. Stage set for PM Modis arrival in city on 30th City Police, NMC officials conduct inspections Staff Reporter : The city is all set to accord grand welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a day-long tour of Orange City on March 30. The Prime Minister is going to visit the facility of Solar Industries, it is reliably learnt. The significance of PM Modis visit to city is that it coincides with Gudhi Padwa, Hindu new year. The main purpose of the PMs visit to the Second Capital of Maharashtra is laying foundation stone of Madhav Netralay Premium Centre, near Vasudeo Nagar Metro Station on Hingna Road. He will be sharing stage with Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Sarsanghachalak, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). After his arrival at Sonegaon air base in city, PM Modi will go straight to Reshimbagh to visit Dr Hedgewar Smruti Mandir. Commissioner of Police Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal, Municipal Commissioner Dr Abhijeet Chaudhari and other police officials discussing arrangements for forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday. He will interact with RSS office-bearers and other Pracharaks. Post wrapping-up visit to Smruti Mandir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will proceed to Deekshabhoomi, where he will pay obeisance to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. The last programme on the itinerary of PM is that of Madhav Netralaya. Meanwhile on Monday, Nagpur City Police along with officials of Nagpur Municipal Corporation and other administrative authority, carried out inspections at the places where the PM is going to visit during his Nagpur tour. Commissioner of Police Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal along with Municipal Commissioner Dr Abhijeet Chaudhari jointly carried out inspection of entire route that the Prime Ministers convoy is going to take. This was ahead of visit of advance team of Special Protection Group (SPG), who post inspection of every minute aspect, issues instructions on arrangements that is needed in place for PMs visit. Joint Commissioner of Police Nisar Tamboli, Additional Commissioner of Police Sanjay Patil, Additional Municipal Commissioner Ajay Charthankar, and officials of Public Works Department, were present during the inspection. Office-bearers of Madhav Netra Pedhi and Param Pujya Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Smarak Samiti were present at respective spots during the visit of officials for inspection of the arrangements and site. SANAA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group said early Wednesday that it had launched fresh attacks on a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Red Sea and "military targets" in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv. "Our forces launched missile and drone attacks over the past few hours, targeting American warships in the Red Sea, including the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, from which the aggression against our country is launched," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV. "The confrontation and engagement continued for several hours," he said, vowing to confront the ongoing U.S. airstrikes on Houthi-held areas in northern Yemen. There was no comment yet from the U.S. military. The Houthi military spokesperson said that his group also launched a fresh attack on Israel in the past few hours. "In support of the Palestinian people in Gaza, we targeted military targets in Tel Aviv, using several drones," he said, pledging to continue targeting Israeli cities and Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea until "the war on Gaza stops." Late Tuesday night, al-Masirah TV reported seven U.S. airstrikes on Saada province, the Houthis' main stronghold in northern Yemen. There were no reports of casualties. The airstrikes are part of an ongoing U.S. campaign against Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, launched in mid-March. The Houthis have vowed to continue targeting Israeli sites and ships in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and to retaliate against "American aggression." Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, gestures at a regular press conference in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday voiced firm opposition to certain countries' unwarranted comments on the Taiwan question, which grossly interfered in China's internal affairs. Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks at a press conference while responding to a query regarding the joint statement of the recent G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, which expressed support for Taiwan's participation in international organizations. "There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is a part of China. This is the real status quo of the Taiwan Strait," he said, adding that by stubbornly sticking to "Taiwan independence," Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities are the disruptors of the status quo and the biggest source of turmoil undermining peace and stability in the Strait. Relevant countries should strictly adhere to the one-China principle and support China's peaceful reunification if they really hope for peace and stability in the Strait, rather than challenge the principle and stir up trouble over the Taiwan question, Chen said. On another query concerning Taiwan's purchase of arms from the United States, the spokesperson expressed firm opposition to any form of U.S.-Taiwan military exchange, and urged the U.S. side to stop arming Taiwan. "As the DPP authorities squander the hard-earned money of the people to buy arms from the United States, disaster also comes along," Chen said. PLA drills a deterrent to "Taiwan independence": mainland spokesperson Mainland spokesperson reaffirms commitment to implementing Anti-Secession Law Mainland launches online platform to report "Taiwan independence" activities Lai Ching-te's 17 strategies expose true nature of terror, dictatorship: mainland spokesperson UNITED NATIONS, March 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Tuesday called on the Syrian interim authorities to advance an inclusive transition process and take decisive measures to combat terrorism. The Syrian interim authorities announced the launch of a one-month independent investigation following the indiscriminate killing of civilians in the coastal areas, "the inhumanity and brutality of which is outrageous," Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said in remarks at a UN Security Council meeting. "We are following the progress in this regard, and we hope that the Syrian interim authorities will carry out their work in a transparent and responsible manner, which is crucial to the international community's assessment of the credibility of the political transition in the country," he said. Nearly 1,500 people, including more than 1,000 civilians, have been killed in the widespread violence in western Syria's Latakia and Tartus provinces since March 6, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The UN Security Council condemned the mass killings of civilians and urged the government to "protect all Syrians without distinction." Meanwhile, Fu said that China takes note of the recent measures to advance the political transition, calling for the government to "earnestly deliver on their commitments" and engage in broad dialogue and consultation with all sectors in the country to achieve genuine inclusiveness. The ambassador also expressed concern about new terrorist threats in Syria and underscored the need to preserve the bottom line of countering terrorism. Following the change in the situation in Syria, foreign terrorist fighters in Idlib have moved across the country, posing an immediate threat to the Syrian people and regional and international peace, Fu said. "They have been involved in the mistreatment and killing of civilians in the coastal areas. This is yet another reminder of the need to remain highly vigilant against the terrorist forces in Syria." "We urge the interim authorities to fulfill their counter-terrorism obligations and to take decisive measures to combat all Security Council-listed terrorist organizations, including the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, also known as the Turkistan Islamic Party," he said. Reiterating that Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity should be respected, Fu condemned Israel's airstrikes against Syria and urged it to withdraw from Syrian territory without delay. "China has been closely following the situation in Syria. We sincerely hope that, with the help of the international community, Syria will steadily advance its political transition and restore peace and stability at an early date," he said. WASHINGTON, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Top U.S. officials are facing a tsunami of criticism after a journalist was accidentally invited to their online discussion over war plans on Houthi forces in Yemen. Lawmakers, media outlets and political analysts have lambasted top officials in President Donald Trump's administration for what they describe as jaw-dropping amateurism for inadvertently adding a journalist to an unsecured group chat on Signal, a commercial messaging app. Members of the chat group included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who discussed plans to strike Yemen. According to the inadvertently invited journalist, The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, Defense Secretary Hegseth posted in the Signal thread operational details about upcoming strikes against Houthis, "including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing." The incident is a "disaster, as it shows a high level of amateurism," Darrell West, a senior fellow at Brookings Institution, told Xinhua. "It is naive to have such important conversations over a non-secure channel. It sends a bad signal to friends and adversaries." Roger Wicker, a Republican senator and chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters Monday, "We're very concerned about it and we'll be looking into it on a bipartisan basis." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, labeled the incident "one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence I have read about in a very, very long time." In a previously scheduled Senate hearing Tuesday, Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee blasted the Trump administration for its actions, while chat participants maintained that they had not discussed anything classified. "Did this conversation at some point include information on weapons, packages, targets or timing?" asked Martin Heinrich, a Democratic senator from New Mexico. "Not that I'm aware of," CIA Director Ratcliffe replied. Jon Ossoff, a Democratic senator from Georgia, asked whether the discussion included Vice President Vance's private opinion on the wisdom of proposed U.S. strikes in Yemen. "I don't recall," Ratcliffe said. According to Goldberg, Vance challenged the wisdom of U.S. strikes on Yemen, arguing that the U.S. move was bailing Europe out as Europe is more reliant on the Red Sea transport route. Both Vance and Hegseth showed disdain for Europe. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, noted that the unwillingness of the individuals involved in the chat to "even apologize or acknowledge what a colossal screw-up this is speaks volumes." "This is one more example of the kind of sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior, particularly toward classified information, that this is not a one-off or a first-time error," said Warner. "It's a pattern." While Democratic senators relentlessly questioned the issue, Republican senators in the hearing almost completely refrained from asking about it. The senators from both parties took their respective sides, highlighting strong partisan divisions. When Gabbard and Ratcliffe were repeatedly interrogated about whether the group chat contained "classified information," Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton, a Republican, stepped in to offer support, emphasizing that Defense Secretary Hegseth is the "original classification authority." Christopher Galdieri, a political science professor at Saint Anselm College, said the fact that this conversation was conducted on a consumer-grade messaging app alone says nothing good about this administration's level of professionalism. "Cabinet members and national security officials have secure devices and locations for these conversations to prevent exactly this sort of thing from happening. It's just appalling," Galdieri told Xinhua. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who reportedly invited Goldberg to the chat group, on Tuesday assumed "full responsibility" for the leaked Signal group chat. "I take full responsibility. I built the group," Waltz told Fox News. "It's embarrassing. We're going to get to the bottom of it." Trump defended Waltz on Tuesday, saying that the national security advisor will not be fired over the incident despite some Democrats calling for Waltz's and Hegseth's resignation. "He's not getting fired," Trump told Fox News. The president said the incident was a "mistake," though there was "nothing important" in the Signal text thread. Political science professor Galdieri said that certainly someone should resign or be fired for this incident, but "this administration likely sees that sort of thing as capitulation, not accountability." The breach also sends the wrong message to U.S. adversaries, critics said. "It does tell the world that many of the folks in crucial roles are sloppy and indifferent to basic information security," Galdieri said. "If I'm a hostile or unfriendly power, that's useful information to have," Galdieri said. "It also indicates a looseness with information and disregard for basic precautions that could endanger American troops or assets around the world." "That sort of thing can lead to tensions between the military and civilian leadership in ways that can get unpredictable," said Galdieri. Clay Ramsay, a researcher at the Center for International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland, said, "The defense secretary, the secretary of state, the vice president, the national security advisor, and the rest are completely disinterested in what their staff people tell them." "Each of them doubtless had a subordinate who told them the security procedures more than once, and then gave up," Ramsay told Xinhua. Yes Significant efforts are being made No Much more needs to be done Some progress But there are still critical gaps Vote View Results MANILA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday said the country brought home 176 alleged Filipino human trafficking victims (HTVs) from illegal scam centers in Myawaddy, Myanmar. The DFA said in its press release that the latest batch of rescued Filipinos returned to the Philippines on Wednesday morning on a special flight from Bangkok, Thailand. On Tuesday, the DFA also led the repatriation of 30 Filipino HTVs from Myanmar via Thailand. "The successful repatriation comes after the week-long shuttle visit of DFA Migration Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose A. de Vega to Myanmar and Thailand for the 206 Filipinos to return home to be with their loved ones in the Philippines," the department said. The Philippine government has reiterated its advice to all Filipinos to pass through the proper deployment procedures of concerned government agencies, such as the Department of Migrant Workers, before leaving the country for overseas employment. Political and business leaders worldwide are gathering in Boao, a coastal town in China's Hainan Province, for the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025. Xinhua's Sunny Zhou speaks to attendees to find out why this forum is drawing global attention. #GLOBALink The PODs will be appearing across Orange County, but the Vidor one has a small problem. The PODs are not from a 1950s science fiction film, but will serve each precinct in the county for disaster recovery supply distribution. Precinct 3 in Bridge City has one and the other three precincts will each get one. PODs are also at the county's Emergency Disaster Center at the County Expo Center on FM 1442. On Tuesday, Orange County Commissioners Court approved an increase for the cost of the POD at Conn's Park in Vidor. Precinct 4 Commissioner Robert Viator said the city of Vidor donated about two acres at Conn Park for the POD. County Judge John Gothia said when it came to building the foundation, construction crews found stumps from trees cut down long ago and pieces of concrete. The items had been covered by dirt and grass. The price went up $48,300 and will be able paid to McInnis Construction Inc. Money for the PODs is coming from emergency management grants. People in Orange have learned during the past 20 years as major hurricanes have caused great damages, FEMA sends in emergency supplies like food and water. Charities also come in with cleaning and sanitary supplies or meals for more help. The new PODs are designed to be points of distribution for the disaster recovery efforts. Judge Gothia said the buildings can also be used as voting sites. In other business, the court approved spending nearly $30,000 from the county's general budget contingency fund. The money is to develop an area at the Orange County Sheriff's Office to hold internet broadcasts of pretrial hearings in the jail. Judge Gothia said state law is now requiring the hearings to be made in public, even though they are held in a secure are of the county jail. He said the equipment does not qualify as courthouse security, which is covered by a grant. The court also approved a minor plat off 2.1 acres in Precinct for for Antler Rock Lots 1-4, pls another plat for 11.2 acres in Precinct 2. Those acres at 6110 Peveto Lane is or two tracts. Both plats have been approved by the Orange County Drainage District and met county requirements. The court approved renewing right-of-entry forms on two parcels of public ground to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Assistant County Attorney Denise Gremillion said this will be the second renewal. When she said the renewals will keep coming every two years "until the project is completed." Her words drew laughter from all five members of commissioners court. The project is the 26-mile levee-seawall project being planned for south Orange County. The plans were revealed nine years ago and several construction dates have been extended. Bills approved for payment included $175,140 to the Orange County Appraisal District for the county's second quarter funding. Also $107,400 to the Texas Association of Counties group medical coverage for employees younger than 65 along with $90,700 to Amwins Group Benefits for insurance for county retirees ages 65 and older. Also,$100,000 for the second membership payment to the Orange County Economic Development Corporations, $52,300 to the Texas Association off Counties for the second quarter workers comp insurance payment, and $46,644 to Kommercial Kitchen for a Hobbart dishwasher and installation. Bail granted | IMPHAL, Mar 26 : The Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West, has granted bail to two teachers, Samadram Meghachandra Singh and Yumnam Ranjit Singh, who were accused of leaking a social science question paper for the recent High School Leaving Certificate Examination (HSLCE). They were granted bail on March 24, with the condition of furnishing a bond of Rs 2 lakh each and providing a Government employee's bail bond of the same amount. The accused teachers are from Little Star English Higher Secondary School, with Meghachandra being a Social Science teacher and Yumnam Ranjit Singh serving as the school's Vice-Principal. They were arrested some days after the question paper was leaked ahead of the exam on February 25. During the bail hearing, the defence counsel highlighted the teachers' dedication to their work and their role as sole breadwinners for their families, including their elderly parents. The defence counsel also argued that the accused teachers have health issues requiring a hygienic lifestyle and regular medical check-ups. Additionally, they have no prior criminal records or history of offenses, not even minor ones, according to the defence counsel. On the other hand, the State's APP countered that the two accused teachers played a key role in leaking the question paper and they have admitted the charges levelled against them. The APP further said that the mobile phones seized from the accused need to be thoroughly analyzed to determine the extent of cybercrime involvement. Since the phones haven't been sent to the Forensic Department for expert analysis, releasing the accused on bail could compromise the investigation, the APP added while praying before the Court to reject the bail application. The Court after hearing the submission of defence counsel and the APP and on perusal of the case record approved the bail application. The Court, however, ruled that the accused teachers should not threaten, contact or induce any of the prosecution witnesses and make themselves available for interrogation as and when required. FOCS greets | IMPHAL, Mar 26 : The Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS), Manipur has conveyed its Cheiraoba greetings to the people of Manipur, especially the indigenous people. FOCS, in a message, also wished the Meetei-Pangal community a joyous Eid-Ul-Fitr in advance. While Sajibugee Nongma Panba Cheiraoba falls on March 30, Ed-Ul-Fitr falls on March 31. The Federation prayed for Cheiraoba, the Meetei lunar new year festival, to strengthen the ties between hill and valley people so as to defeat the alleged war being waged by Chin-Kuki illegal immigrants from Myanmar in Manipur. FOCS also prayed for Eid-Ul-Fitr to foster greater trust and unity among Manipur's indigenous communities and bring lasting peace in the State. First-ever ABH-incompatible Kidney transplant in Bombay blood group recipient Indian doctors achieve a groundbreaking feat | Sivakumar Vijayaraghavalu, PhDIn a groundbreaking achievement in the field of renal transplantation, doctors at MIOT International, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, have successfully performed the first-ever ABH-incompatible kidney transplant in a recipient with the rare Bombay blood phenotype. This medical marvel, led by Dr Rajan Ravichandran and his team, has been published in the prestigious Kidney International Reports (Volume 10, Issue 2, Supplement, February 2025, Pages S510-S511).The Bombay blood group, or hh blood group, is an extremely rare blood type, first discovered in Mumbai in 1952. It affects one in four million individuals worldwide, making organ transplantation a daunting challenge due to the absence of H antigens on red blood cells. Patients with this blood type can only receive organ or blood donations from other Bombay phenotype individuals, significantly limiting donor availability.A Medical Breakthrough Against the OddsA 30-year-old male patient suffering from End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) due to IgA nephropathy faced a unique challenge when his medical evaluation revealed he had the Bombay blood group. His mother, the willing donor, had a B blood type, making this an ABH- incompatible transplanta feat never attempted before.The medical team, led by Dr Rajan Ravichandran, along with Dr Yashwanth Raj T and Dr Kanakaraj Arumugam, designed a novel desensitization protocol to overcome the high risk of organ rejection. The treatment regimen included:Rituximab 200 mg (to deplete B-cells responsible for antibody production)Tacrolimus, Mycophenolate mofetil, and oral Methylprednisolone (to suppress immune response)Three sessions of Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) with 5g of IV Immunoglobulin (IVIG) to reduce harmful anti-H and anti-B antibodies.On the day of the transplant, the patients IgG Anti-H titre was successfully reduced to 1:16, while Anti-B titre was 1:8, making it possible to proceed with the surgery.Successful Transplant and Post-Operative StabilityThe kidney transplant was conducted with Basiliximab induction, and the patient exhibited excellent graft function, with a nadir creatinine level of 1.5 mg/dL post- surgery. His post-operative recovery was smooth, with no signs of hyperacute rejectiona significant concern in ABH-incompatible transplants. Two months post-surgery, the patient continues to maintain stable kidney function with a creatinine level of 1.6 mg/dL.A Landmark Achievement in Renal MedicineThis case is the worlds first documented success of an ABH-incompatible kidney transplant in a Bombay blood group recipient. It provides a proof of concept that Anti-H iso-agglutinins can be removed through extracorporeal therapy, and IgG Anti-H titres of 1:16 post-TPE may be considered a safe threshold for renal transplantation.Dr. Rajan Ravichandran and his teams achievement marks a quantum leap in renal science, offering new hope for patients with rare blood groups who previously had no viable transplant options. This pioneering procedure is expected to open new avenues in ABO and ABH-incompatible transplant strategies, revolutionizing kidney transplantation worldwide.Global Recognition and Future ImplicationsThe research has been recognized internationally, with its publication in Kidney International Reports, a leading nephrology journal. This milestone sets a new benchmark in transplant medicine, potentially paving the way for more inclusive transplant criteria for rare blood group patients.With this success, MIOT International has firmly placed India at the forefront of global nephrology and transplant research. The teams indomitable spirit, advanced medical expertise, and groundbreaking innovation have made history in renal sciencea truly Himalayan feat that will inspire future generations of medical professionals.The writer is an INNOVATOR AWARDEE From Cleveland Clinic Foundation (#2 rank in the world), Cleveland, Ohio, USA and is Associate Professor, Department of Life Sciences (Zoology) Manipur University E-mail - [email protected] Yudron (R) talks with her grandson at home in Samyai Town of Shannan, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2025. Yudron is a 90-plus-year-old villager living in Samyai Town of Shannan City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. In old Xizang, Yudron's family, as serfs, suffered through cold winter nights huddled beneath a moldy blanket, which was the only thing they had for warmth. "The serf owner said we were born to toil like yaks," Yudron recalled, adding that she had to spin wool for the serf owner to get tsampa. "I labored from dawn to dusk just to earn a handful of tsampa," she said. In days devoid of warmth, the deaths of her parents, who passed away due to illnesses as they couldn't afford medical treatment, mark the most heartbroken memory for Yudron. In March 1959, people in Xizang launched the democratic reform that ended the region's feudal serfdom. About one million serfs like Yudron, who was given farmlands and houses following the democratic reform, became owners of the land for the first time. Now, Yudron's family enjoys a flourishing life. Her grandson runs a Tibetan sweet tea shop frequently visited by neighbors and locals. "Our life today is sweeter than sweet tea. I really wish my parents could see the happy life now," the elderly who has witnessed Xizang's development stated. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Grandson of Yudron helps her walk back to their house in Samyai Town of Shannan, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida) Granddaughter-in-law of Yudron (L) serves tea to her in Samyai Town of Shannan, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2025.(Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Yudron talks with her grandson and neighbors at the tea shop run by her family in Samyai Town of Shannan, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2025.(Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Granddaughter-in-law of Yudron (L) helps her adjust the headscarf in Samyai Town of Shannan, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida) Yudron (C) poses for a photo with her grandson and granddaughter-in-law in Samyai Town of Shannan, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) This photo taken on March 12, 2025 shows a portrait of Yudron in Samyai Town of Shannan, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida) Violence erupted along the Indo-Bangladesh border after a group of Bangladeshi miscreants allegedly attacked Indian farmers on their own land. The incident, which began yesterday, prompted swift action from local authorities today. A team led by the Dinhata sub-divisional officer (SDO) and senior police officials visited the affected area in Cooch Behar, accompanied by a Border Security Force (BSF) assistant commandant. Their mission was to ensure the safety of Indian farmers and protect standing crops within 150 yards of the barbed wire fencing demarcating the border. Advertisement The district administrations intervention came after North Bengal development department minister Udayan Guha condemned the incident on social media. Following discussions with the SDO, BSF officers assured enhanced security measures, allowing Indian farmers to access their land through official border gates to prevent further attacks. Advertisement According to official sources, the BSF has compiled a list of Bangladeshi perpetrators involved in the attacks, which included crop theft and vandalism of agricultural equipment. The list has been shared with the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) for further action. Victims reported that a group of 20 assailants ambushed just three Indian farmers while they were working yesterday. Minister Udayan Guha highlighted long-standing vulnerabilities caused by asymmetrical border fencing policies. As per Indo-Bangladesh agreement, both nations were to erect fencing 150 yards inside their respective territories from the zero line in the 1990s. India adhered to the pact, but Bangladesh, citing financial limitations, never built its fence. This left thousands of Indians living beyond the barbed wire exposedeffectively making them foreigners in their own land, Mr Guha stated. He argued that had India constructed the fence directly on the zero line, the current crisisincluding smuggling, infiltration, and attackscould have been avoided. Mr Guha expressed concern over the BSFs lack of decisive action against recent intrusions in villages under Nazirhat-II gram panchayat (Dinhata-II block), where Bangladeshi miscreants have been looting crops and irrigation pumps. The central government must act immediately to protect our border residents and their livelihoods, he urged. The situation remains tense as authorities ramp up patrols to prevent further clashes. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra asserted that the measures taken to combat money laundering should not be overzealous, as they could stifle legitimate activities and investments. While addressing the Private Sector Collaborator Forum 2025 in Mumbai, the RBI Governor said, While we continue to keep our financial systems safe from money laundering and terrorist financing, policymakers must ensure that our measures are not overzealous and do not stifle legitimate activities and investments. Advertisement He bet for a balanced and risk-based approach to Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (CFT) regulations to avoid unintended consequences on financial inclusion and economic growth. Advertisement Malhotra said that broad and blunt regulatory tools often create unnecessary compliance burdens on financial institutions and businesses, inadvertently affecting honest entities. Instead, he advocated for targeted, data-driven regulations that minimise disruption while effectively tackling illicit financial flows. Pitching for balanced regulations, the RBI Governor said adopting a risk-based approach would be beneficial and added that assessing the impact on people and businesses is essential. He said stakeholders need to coordinate better and work towards avoiding the unnecessary process of making people repeatedly undergo the know your customer (KYC) requirements. Speaking about technology, Malhotra said that while it has enabled ease of doing business, it has also led to sophisticated means of money laundering and illicit financing. We are determined to strengthen our financial system further to deter and combat illicit financial activities, he said. Malhotra spoke on the importance of public-private cooperation in safeguarding the integrity of the financial system. He appreciated the efforts of regulators, financial institutions, and businesses in strengthening Indias AML/CFT framework, which recently earned the country a top ranking in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) mutual evaluation. A risk-based approach is crucial in ensuring financial regulations serve their intended purpose without imposing undue burdens, he said, urging financial institutions to refine their risk assessment models using AI, blockchain, and machine learning. He further said that there is a need to harness technology to improve compliance processes. We must continuously enhance our risk assessment models, data quality, and technological capabilities to minimise false positives and negatives in compliance screenings, he said. A 16-year-old boy was stabbed to death in the Wazirabad area of North Delhi after being abducted for Rs 10 lakh ransom, a police officer said on Wednesday. Three juveniles have been detained in the case. The teenage victim, a Class IX student, was taken to a deserted area near Bhalswa Lake by his abductors before being stabbed multiple times, said a police official. Advertisement The family of the boy had received a ransom call of Rs 10 lakh. Later, they found his dead body, he added. Advertisement On Monday, a complaint was registered at a local police station for the boy from Mukherjee Nagar who was missing since Sunday. During investigation, it was found that the boy was last seen with three boys, two of them aged 16 and 17, on a motorcycle on the Jharoda Pushta road, the officer said. This was confirmed through CCTV footage from the area. The police apprehended all three accused boys, who, during interrogation, confessed to their involvement in kidnapping and murder of the victim. They said on Sunday, they took him to a forested area near Bhalswa Lake and stabbed him before fleeing the spot leaving him dead. The next day, they called the boys father, a driver by profession, using the boys SIM demanding a ransom of Rs 10 lakh. The body of the victim was discovered by a police team at the instance of the apprehended juveniles, the officer said. The cops also revealed that the accused also tried to cut the boys body into pieces. Filmmaker Hansal Mehta and actress-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut are at it again! This time, their heated exchange stems from comedian Kunal Kamras recent controversy, dragging in past events, political allegiances, and a whole lot of online drama. Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has found himself in trouble after cracking jokes about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Soon after, his Mumbai studio was vandalized and later demolished by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Many saw this as an attack on his freedom of speech. Advertisement Hansal Mehta, known for films like Shahid and Scam 1992, was quick to support Kamra, condemning the act on social media. But then, the internet happened. Advertisement A social media user pointed out the apparent hypocrisy: Why didnt Hansal Mehta show the same support when Mumbai property of Kangana Ranaut was partially demolished by the BMC in 2020? Mehta responded with a thought-provoking counter-question: Was her house vandalized as an attack on her freedom of expression, or was it because of alleged FSI violations? Did goons enter her premises? Please enlighten me. Was her house vandalised. Did goons enter her premises? Did they do this to challenge her freedom of expression or for alleged FSI violations? Please enlighten me. Maybe I dont know the facts. https://t.co/sUQxYr6uow Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) March 25, 2025 Clearly, that didnt sit well with Kangana. The Queen actress did not hold back. She lashed out at Mehta, calling him bitter and stupid, and accused him of spreading lies about her ordeal. Re-sharing his post, she detailed the traumatic experience of her house being demolished overnight, before the courts could intervene. She also claimed she faced harassment, threats, and public humiliation at the time. Its not some third-class series or atrocious films that you make. Dont try to sell your dumb lies and agendas in matters related to my ordeals, she shot back. Mehta, keeping it short and sarcastic, simply responded: Get well soon. But wait, theres more As this Twitter spat unfolded, Kangana made her stance on Kunal Kamra very clear. In a press statement, she called his jokes insulting and suggested he was just seeking two minutes of fame. Comparing her own experience with Kamras situation, she said: What happened with me was illegal. What is happening now is legal action. You cant just insult people in the name of comedy and get away with it. She also made it a point to defend Eknath Shinde, highlighting his journey from being an auto-rickshaw driver to a political leader. Political heavyweights enter the scene Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis jumped into the debate, slamming Kamras comments on Shinde. He stressed that freedom of speech has its limits and demanded an apology from the comedian. There is freedom to do stand-up comedy, but he cannot say whatever he wants. The people of Maharashtra have decided who the traitor is. Kamra should apologise. He also took a dig at Kamras political stance, suggesting that the comedian hadnt read the Constitutionjust like Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. This controversy isnt just about Kamra, Mehta, or Kanganaits about the bigger debate on free speech, political power, and artistic freedom in India. Kamras Naya Bharat comedy video, which sparked the outrage, continues to trend on YouTube. Meanwhile, the internet is dividedsome standing with Kamra, others backing Shinde, and a few simply enjoying the Kangana-Mehta Twitter battle. HANGZHOU, March 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. tech giant Apple on Wednesday announced it is accelerating its support for the next generation of developers in China with a new 30 million yuan (about 4.18 million U.S. dollars) donation to Zhejiang University. "We believe coding is a powerful tool that empowers people to create, communicate, and solve problems in entirely new ways," said Apple CEO Tim Cook while visiting the university in east China on the same day. "We are proud to expand our decade-long partnership with Zhejiang University to support the next generation of coders with the skills to create innovative apps and build dynamic businesses," he said. The fund will connect students with industry leaders and investors through workshops, internships, and mentorships, providing more business-related training for students to succeed in the growing iOS app economy and beyond, the company said in a statement. In collaboration with Apple, Zhejiang University will establish the Apple App Incubation Fund to offer training in the latest technologies, with specialized curricula in app development, product design, marketing, and business operations. The new donation follows Apple's decade of support for the Mobile Application Innovation Contest organized by Zhejiang University, which has benefited some 30,000 participants from nearly 1,000 universities across the country. The donation followed a new clean energy fund worth 720 million yuan set up in China by Apple on Monday, amid Cook's latest visit to China, during which he attended the opening ceremony of the China Development Forum in Beijing. The investment fund seeks to create an additional annual wind and solar energy generation capacity of approximately 550,000 megawatt-hours for China's power grid, with the figure expected to increase as more investors join, the tech firm said in a statement. Apple's Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams visited the company's suppliers in east China's Jiangsu and Shandong provinces on Monday and Tuesday. "China is a central part of our critical supply chain and we've been investing here for 30 years," said Williams. "We will continue to invest in China in a big way." "What I consistently see here in China is this attitude of trying to figure out how to do what's next. It really is inspiring to me," Williams said. During his visit, he also paid close attention to the impact of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) on smart manufacturing. Whether it's something as simple as glue dispensing or cosmetic inspection, it can now be done with AI in a way that is much more efficient and also much more effective than what a human can do, Williams said. "We're seeing the growth of AI and its importance in our supply chain." Apple began business operations in China in 1993. Currently, over 80 percent of its top 200 global suppliers maintain manufacturing facilities in China. The company said that over the past five years, it has invested 20 billion U.S. dollars in China, focusing on smart manufacturing and green initiatives. Some 59,000 new foreign-invested enterprises were established in China last year, reflecting an increase of 9.9 percent. Over the past five years, the rate of return on foreign direct investment in China has averaged approximately 9 percent, ranking among the highest globally. While meeting with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Beijing on Monday, Cook reaffirmed Apple's commitment to increasing investments in sectors such as supply chains, research and development, and social responsibility in China. He also emphasized the company's readiness to play an active role in promoting the stable, healthy development of China-U.S. economic and trade relations. The Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun scandal has a new update every day. Following the actress demise, a row of allegations against the Queen of Tears actor mounts. Amid the controversy, YouTuber Lee Jin Ho revealed that she had secretly married an American businessman and was pregnant. He revealed voice recordings accusing her husband of abuse and control. Moreover, recently Kim Sae Rons ex-boyfriend made shocking claims. He also stated that the actress husband (then boyfriend) was abusive and controlling. Moreover, he claims that Soo Hyun had no involvement in her death. Following these allegations, Sae Rons husband finally opens up. Kim Sae Rons husband issued a statement through the Garo Sero Research Institute addressing the claims against him. In his statement, he said that he met the late actress around mid-to-late November 2024. Talking about having a strong attraction to each other despite the short time. He revealed that they exchanged vows in the USA on January 12, 2025. However, their differing personas and the long-distance posed challenges for them. Resultantly, they decided to get an annulment. We fell in love fast and made a quick decision, but ultimately, we realised it wasnt sustainable. Advertisement The actress husband denied claims that he blackmailed her to tie the knot over her alleged pregnancy. He stated, It is completely not true that she was pregnant. Rumours of her pregnancy came around January 2025, but we first met in mid-to-late November 2024. That was when we first met, and we started getting serious around the end of November when she visited America. Advertisement He added, The timelines do not match up. Also, we were not thinking about children, so Kim Sae Ron was taking birth control pills. It is a severe form of humiliation of the late Kim Sae Ron to claim that she was threatened into marriage due to pregnancy, etc. Who gets married due to threats? Coming to the charges of assault, the husband claimed that it wasnt even a possibility. He noted that a police complaint about assault would be minutes away from where he resided. Talking about his U.S. abode, he said, It is built such that if the assault had taken place, the floor below would immediately make a report. In addition, assault in America results in strong legal responsibility. He also demanded evidence from those making the accusations against him. Additionally, the late actress husband also stated that she used to willingly visit him questioning fans why would she do so if he assaulted her. Moreover, during his address he also denied allegations of controlling and monitoring Kim Sae Rons social media. She often used my phone to contact people, and we freely shared our passwords as a couple. For more details, read: Kim Sae Rons ex makes shocking revelations! Denies Kim Soo Hyuns involvement in her death Ram Charan is back, and hes coming with a bang! The pan-India superstar is all set to take the silver screen by storm with his 16th film, directed by Uppena sensation Buchi Babu Sana. With a stellar cast, a massive budget, and music by none other than AR Rahman, #RC16 is shaping up to be a cinematic spectacle like never before. Advertisement The excitement is through the roof, especially with Ram Charans birthday tomorrow (March 27), when fans will finally get a glimpse of the films much-awaited first look. But to keep the hype soaring, the makers have just dropped a fiery pre-look, and its nothing short of electrifying! Advertisement Pre-look breakdown The teaser image features Ram Charan in an intense back pose, exuding a raw and untamed aura. With his rugged hairstyle, scruffy beard, and a lit cigar subtly resting in his hand, the vibe is all things dark, gritty, and power-packed. Its a look that screams transformation, setting the stage for something explosive in the full reveal tomorrow! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vriddhi Cinemas (@vriddhicinemas) Buchi Babu Sana, known for his keen eye for larger-than-life storytelling, is crafting a powerful character for Ram Charan, ensuring that every frame oozes style, substance, and impact. #RC16 is being mounted on an epic scale, backed by some of the biggest names in the industry. Mythri Movie Makers, Sukumar Writings, and Vriddhi Cinemas are joining forces to bring this film to life, with debutant producer Venkata Satish Kilaru making a strong entry into the industry. Alongside Ram Charan, the film boasts a stellar ensemble. Janhvi Kapoor plays the female lead, marking her first collaboration with Charan. Kannada superstar Shiva Rajkumar is also on board in a pivotal role, adding even more firepower to the film. Whats a grand spectacle without an unforgettable soundtrack? The legendary AR Rahman is composing the films music, ensuring that the film is as much an auditory treat as it is a visual marvel. Acclaimed cinematographer R Rathnavelu is behind the lens, capturing every frame with cinematic brilliance, while Avinash Kolla is helming production design to bring an immersive world to life. The first look drops tomorrow, and the anticipation is sky-high. Will it be an action-packed revelation? A dramatic transformation? One things for sureRam Charan is ready to set new benchmarks with #RC16. Stay tuned! The Assam Rifles Commander Conference 2025 concluded at the Headquarters Directorate General Assam Rifles in Laitkor, Shillong, with a commitment to enhancing border security and operational efficiency. The conference, chaired by Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera, AVSM, SM, Director General of Assam Rifles, brought together Formation Commanders, Battalion Commanders, and Staff Officers to discuss pressing operational and administrative matters. Advertisement A significant portion of the discussion centered on the Indo-Myanmar border, a region that has witnessed increasing volatility due to insurgency movements, smuggling activities, and geopolitical concerns. Lieutenant General Lakhera emphasized the Assam Rifles crucial role in safeguarding the border, particularly in light of emerging security threats in the region. Advertisement The force has long been responsible for border surveillance, anti-insurgency operations, and maintaining stability in the North Eastern states. Additionally, the conference acknowledged the Assam Rifles contributions to the Kashmir Valley, where it has played an instrumental role in counterinsurgency operations. The director general urged troops to remain vigilant and adaptable, given the evolving nature of security challenges in both regions. A key focus of the conference was enhancing combat potential and operational readiness. Plans to acquire next-generation weapons, advanced surveillance technology, and modern military equipment were discussed, aligning with the forces goal of staying ahead in counterinsurgency and border security operations. To complement technological advancements, the Assam Rifles is also prioritizing training and skill development. The discussions included refining training modules, incorporating cutting-edge warfare techniques, and fostering knowledge exchange between different units to optimize efficiency and response capabilities. Chhattisgarh is set to emerge as the IT hub of Central India, with major Bengaluru-based technology companies expressing keen interest in expanding their operations in the state. At the Chhattisgarh Investors Connect Meet held in Bengaluru, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai engaged with top industrialists and business leaders, securing investment proposals worth 3,700 crore across key sectors, including IT, textiles, electronics, food processing, and green fuel. In a major boost to Chhattisgarhs industrial development, the state government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NASSCOM, the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA), and TiE Bangalore. The agreements aim to promote IT sector growth, foster startups, and attract investments in the semiconductor industry. Chief Minister Sai emphasised Chhattisgarhs pro-business policies, digital-friendly governance, and streamlined investment approvals. He stated that Chhattisgarh offers immense opportunities for investors with its skilled workforce, rich resources, and strategic location, reaffirming the governments commitment to fostering a thriving industrial ecosystem. Advertisement Leading companies have pledged substantial investments in Chhattisgarh across various sectors. GPSR Arya Private Limited will invest 1,350 crore in CBG Green Fuel, supporting Indias clean energy transition. Klene Paks has announced 500 crore in the textile industry, aiming to enhance local manufacturing and employment opportunities. Britannia has committed 200 crore to the food processing sector, benefiting farmers and small enterprises. Keynes Technology will invest 1,000 crore in IT/ITES, significantly strengthening Chhattisgarhs digital economy. Additionally, Gokaldas Exports and SRV Knit Tech Pvt. Ltd. have pledged 100 crore each to expand textile manufacturing in the state. Advertisement Ashok Chandak, President of IESA, praised Chhattisgarhs policy support, tax incentives, and infrastructure, which he said make the state an attractive destination for investments in electronics and semiconductors. During a roundtable discussion with the Chief Minister, industrialists from the textile industry, including representatives from SRV Knit Tech Pvt. Ltd., Shyam Textiles Ltd., Gokaldas Exports, and Punit Creations, expressed interest in setting up textile parks, production units, and export centres. Madan Padaki of TiE Inc. also shared insights on innovation and the startup ecosystem, emphasising Chhattisgarhs potential in fostering entrepreneurship. The states new industrial policy simplifies investment procedures through a single-window system, offering tax benefits, capital investment reimbursements ranging from 30% to 50%, and employment-linked incentives. The government has introduced special incentives for emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Green Hydrogen. Traditional industries, including Electrical & Electronics, Pharmaceuticals, Textiles, and Agro Processing, are also receiving policy support. Additionally, a pharmaceutical park is being developed in Nava Raipur, set to be the largest in Central India. With a $1.6 billion investment, Raipur is rapidly transforming into Central Indias premier IT hub. The Greenfield city of Nava Raipur, with its modern infrastructure and investment-friendly environment, is attracting tech firms and startups looking for expansion opportunities. Meanwhile, Bastar and Surguja have been identified as priority industrial zones, with incentives ranging from 50% to 100%, including exemptions on iron and coal royalties. A 118-acre industrial zone near the Nagarnar Steel Plant in Bastar is under development to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Chhattisgarhs tourism sector is also set for a major push, with improved air connectivity to key destinations such as Kotamsar Caves and Chitrakote Waterfalls, often referred to as Asias Niagara Falls. These developments are expected to attract further investments in tourism infrastructure. The Investors Connect Meet in Bengaluru witnessed the active participation of key state officials, underscoring Chhattisgarhs unwavering commitment to industrial expansion. Industry Minister Lakhan Lal Dewangan, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Subodh Singh, Industry Secretary Rajat Kumar, and Investment Commissioner Ritu Sain engaged with top investors, highlighting the states investor-friendly policies and growth potential. CSIDC Managing Director Vishwesh Kumar also attended the event, further reinforcing the governments proactive approach in facilitating seamless business opportunities and fostering a dynamic industrial ecosystem. India and China, on Wednesday, agreed to continue efforts to further facilitate and promote people-to-people exchanges, including arrangements for resumption of direct flights, interaction of media and think-tanks, and celebration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. The two sides have made further progress on the modalities to resume Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in 2025. Mr Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia), held a consultative meeting with Mr. Liu Jinsong, Director General of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this afternoon in Beijing. Advertisement In todays meeting, the two sides reviewed the action taken by them to implement the strategic direction as also the specific steps agreed in the meeting between Foreign Secretary and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister in January 2025 to stabilise and rebuild ties, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. Advertisement They took positive note of the developments in bilateral relations since the meeting of the leaders of India and China in October 2024. They noted that in the intervening period, the Foreign Ministers have met twice, while the Special Representatives on the India-China boundary question have held their 23rd meeting. These high-level meetings have provided strategic guidance to stabilise and further develop relations. The two sides also took stock of the planned exchanges and activities this year. They discussed resumption of dialogue mechanisms in a step-by-step manner to utilise them to address each others priority areas of interest and concern and move relations on to a more stable and predictable path. The meeting came a day after the 33rd meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC). Tension escalated at the Guwahati Press Club as journalists staged a protest against the arrest of senior journalist Dilwar Hussain Mazumdar. Mazumdar was detained after questioning Assam Cooperative Apex Banks Managing Director, Dambaru Saikia, during a protest against alleged financial irregularities in the institution.Tension escalated at the Guwahati Press Club as journalists staged a protest against the arrest of senior journalist Dilwar Hussain Mazumdar. Mazumdar was detained after questioning Assam Cooperative Apex Banks Managing Director, Dambaru Saikia, during a protest against alleged financial irregularities in the institution. Mazumdar was arrested late on March 25 under Sections 351(2) and 3(1)(r) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 2015. The charges, which seemingly had no direct connection to his inquiries into the banks alleged corruption, have sparked widespread outrage in the media fraternity. Advertisement The day began with Mazumdar covering a demonstration by Assam Jatiya Yuva Shakti, which was protesting against financial irregularities in the Apex Bank. During the protest, he posed sharp questions to the banks MD, Dambaru Saikia. Advertisement Saikia reportedly invited Mazumdar inside the bank premises, where the journalist later claimed he was intimidated and his phone was forcibly wiped of all recorded footage. Other journalists at the scene also alleged that they were pressured to delete their recordings. Subsequently, Mazumdar proceeded to the Panbazar police station to file a complaint against Saikia. Instead of registering his First Information Report (FIR), police detained him for hours. By 11:30 PM, he was formally arrested on allegations of making an offensive remark towards a Scheduled Tribe individualan accusation he has categorically denied. His family, unaware of his detention for hours, was further distressed when Mazumdarwho suffers from diabeteswas reportedly denied access to his medication. Even his wifes attempts to provide him with essential medicine were allegedly blocked by the authorities. As news of his arrest spread, journalists and media professionals, including prominent figures from regional media, gathered outside the Panbazar police station. They condemned the arrest as an attempt to suppress independent journalism and demanded Mazumdars immediate release. Protesters remained at the station past midnight, expressing their outrage at what they described as a blatant misuse of legal provisions to target the press. The protest intensified at Guwahati Press Club, where journalists clashed with police, alleging that the arrest was a calculated move to discourage investigative journalism and protect influential figures from scrutiny. Mazumdars arrest is the latest in a series of incidents raising concerns about press freedom in Assam and India at large. The arrest of journalists on controversial charges has become a recurring theme in recent years, with media watchdogs repeatedly warning about increasing state pressure on independent reporters. With the pressure mounting, journalist unions and civil rights organisations have demanded a transparent investigation into Mazumdars arrest, questioning the timing and nature of the charges. Many are calling for an immediate withdrawal of the case and for authorities to ensure that press freedom is upheld in the state. The Bill that was vehemently opposed by the BJP in state assembly relating to bifurcation of Bengaluru in several corporations for an increase in efficiency and ease of governance was on Wednesday returned to the government by Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot, seeking clarification. The Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024 was aimed at restructuring Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) that administers the capital city of Karnataka by dividing it into seven city corporations within the Greater Bengaluru Area, was passed during the recent budget session of the state legislature. Advertisement The governor asked the state government to review the Bill and forward it again in view of objections from people in the form of representations to him, and also due to the protests from the Opposition. Several concerns have been raised by the people about the bill, which he said also violates the 74th constitutional amendment. And it also usurps the role of the Metropolitan Planning Committee, weakening citizen participation, and the like, the governor noted when returning the bill to the government. Advertisement Representatives of the said forum (Bengaluru Town Hall and civic activists) have informed that they have already submitted detailed memorandum to the chief minister expressing deep concern over the proposed projects but have not been considered and urged me to consider their request in the context of the number of ill-advised infrastructure projects announced by the Government of Karnataka, of late including the proposed Tunnel Road, Sky-Deck and other Expressway projects, Thaawar Chands note said. The idea of dividing a city into different corporations failed in Delhi and similar steps in Bengaluru may also lead to difficulties as elected local bodies may find subversion by Greater Bengaluru governance authority meddlesome, the governor felt. Confirming the return of the Bill, State Minister for Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs HK Patil said Governor Gehlot has sought clarifications on certain aspects of the Bill. The Bill will be resubmitted after giving the clarifications sought by the governor, he said. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that Muslims in the state and across the country are safe only when the Hindus are safe. In an interview with a news agency, CM Adityanath, whose government is commemorating eight years in power in Uttar Pradesh, spoke on a wide range of issues, including the fears of safety among Muslims, his governments performance, and the future prospects of a third term. Advertisement On being asked if Muslims are safe in the state, he said, Muslims are the safest in Uttar PradeshIf Hindus are safe, then Muslims are also safe here. Advertisement He further stated, A Muslim family living among 100 Hindu families is safe. It has the freedom to do all its religious deeds. But let alone one, even if 50 Hindu families live among 100 Muslim families, can they be safe? No. Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan are examples before you. If someone is being hit, we should be careful before we get hit In Uttar Pradesh, Muslims are the safest. If Hindus are safe, then they are also safe. If there were riots here in UP before 2017, if Hindu shops were burning, Muslim shops were also burning. After 2017, the riots stopped. Now, if Hindus are safe, Muslims are also safe. On AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisis remark that Muslims are in danger, he said, Muslims are not in danger. Their (Asaduddin Owaisis) vote bank politics is in danger. He further elaborated, The day Indian Muslims understand their ancestors, these people will have to pack their bags and leave Indian Muslims will have to remember that they are safe only when Hindus and Hindu tradition are safe Before 1947, Pakistan and Bangladesh were a part of India. How can we forget the truth? Isnt there a Hinglaj Mata temple in Pakistan? Isnt there a temple of Mata Dhakeshwari in Bangladesh? Addressing religious processions during Eid and Ram Navami, Adityanath stated, that an standard operating procedure(SOP) has already been prepared. We sit with the administration from time to time, and we have already prepared an SOP for this. Uttar Pradesh is the first state that has, according to the instructions of the Supreme Court, controlled the sound emanating from the premises of religious places. In a state like Uttar Pradesh, if we can do it, then why cant we do it in West Bengal? Adityanath also spoke about the issue of mosques being covered with tarpaulin in Sambhal and other districts of Uttar Pradesh on the occasion of Holi. If you are playing with colours, it is possible that it can be put on someone, but it does not spoil ones identity. There are processions during Muharram. Doesnt the shadow of their flag fall on any Hindu house or near a Hindu temple? Does it make the house impure? There are strict instructions not to put colours on anyone who does not agree to it Dont they wear coloured clothes? You wear coloured clothes, but if colour is put on you, you create problems. Why the double standards? Hug each other. Many Muslims have played Holi with us, he remarked. Speaking on ongoing excavation work in Sambhal, he stated that the work is ongoing to find many more pilgrimage sites. Fifty-four pilgrimage sites have been identified in Sambhal. However there are many; we will find them and tell the world to come and see what has happened in Sambhal. Sambhal is the truth Islam says that if you build any place of worship by breaking a Hindu temple or a Hindu house, it is not accepted by the Almighty, said the UP CM. Speaking about the issue of Shahi Idgah Mosque- Krishna Janmabhoomi land dispute in Mathura, Adityanath said that Mathura is the birthplace of Lord Krishna and it is a symbol of Hindu heritage. We are following the orders of the court or else by now, a lot would have happened there Why should I not raise the issue of Mathura? Isnt Mathura the birthplace of Shri Krishna? All the important places of Sanatana Hindu Dharma are the symbols of our heritage, he said. The UP CM also addressed the issue of the Mahakumbh stampede in which the Opposition claimed thousands were killed. There is a judicial commission, and it is working according to the directions given by Allahabad High Court and the Supreme Court. They are working on all the evidence and recording statements. We will take further action based on the findings in the report, he stated. He also slammed West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjees Mrityu Kumbh remarks, accusing the Opposition parties of insulting the faith of the country. It was Mrityunjay Mahakumbh(Death Conqueror Mahakumbh)The government of West Bengal was scared to see this crowd. People at their railway stations and airports were eager to go to Prayagraj. Whether it is West Bengal government, Congress, RJD or Samajwadi Party, whatever they have said about the Mahakumbh is an example of their appeasement politics and an attempt to insult the faith of the country, the chief minister said. The UP CM, while commenting on Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra, called the Congress leader a namuna (character or specimen) in Indian politics that helps the BJP. Bharat ki rajneeti mein BJP ke liye Rahul Gandhi jaise kuch namune zaroor rehne chahiye His Bharat Jodo is a part of Bharat Todo Abhiyan. When he goes to the South, he criticises the North. When he goes to the North, he criticises the South. When he goes outside India, he will criticise India. The country has understood his conduct. On the recent controversy over Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Sumans remarks on Rana Sanga, Adityanath said nothing more can be expected from those who glorify Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. We cannot expect anything from those who glorify Aurangzeb, Babur, and consider Jinnah as their idol Only these people who know history glorify Jinnah This is the same breed that worships Babur, Aurangzeb, and Jinnah. We can very well figure out what their feelings will be towards the country, Indias heritage, and the great men of India. These people are also opportunistic. It wont take them long to take a U-turn, he said. Adityanath also defended the bulldozer justice, saying Jo jaise samjhega, usko ussi bhasha mein samjhana chahiye (As one understands, they should be taught in the same language). Discussing his governments achievements in the last eight years, he said the widespread support from the people that he has received is the biggest achievement of his government. I believe in a democracy, the biggest achievement for any government should be the satisfaction of the people. The roadmap our government prepared for the overall development of Uttar Pradesh, under the guidance and leadership of PM (Narendra)Modi, has received widespread support from the people, and I consider this as an achievement of the government, he said. On his national ambitions and the prospects of a third term as CM, he said, Seva, Suraksha, Sushasan (Triple S) is an example of a three-time government. I will not try, our party will try. Any worker of the BJP can become the Chief Minister. He added, I am the Chief Minister even today, and in the last 8 years, due to the leadership of my party and the blessings we have received from the people, this is the first time after independence where a Chief Minister worked continuously for 5 years and then formed the government for the second time with a two-thirds majority. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday raised concerns about the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA), which he claims poses a significant threat to transparency and public access to information in India. In a statement following a meeting with a diverse group of activists, editors, researchers, and domain experts in Parliament, Gandhi highlighted how the new legislation could undermine the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Advertisement He said, Today, I had the opportunity to meet a diverse group of activists, editors, researchers, and domain experts in Parliament. They voiced serious concerns about the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, particularly its impact on the scope of the RTI Act. Advertisement The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, which aims to regulate the processing of personal data, has raised alarm among critics who argue that it could restrict access to vital public information. Gandhi emphasised that while privacy is important, the legislation could inadvertently hinder the publics ability to hold the government accountable. This legislation, under the pretext of safeguarding privacy, curtails access to public information which is essential for citizens and journalists to hold the government accountable, he added. The Congress leader accused the NDA government of attempting to shield itself from scrutiny, undermining transparency, and weakening democratic oversight. The NDA government is attempting to shield itself from scrutiny, undermining transparency, and weakening democratic oversight, Gandhi said. In response to these concerns, Gandhi assured that the Congress Party would take necessary steps to address the issue. In the interest of accountability and good governance, the Congress Party will discuss this issue with INDIA leaders and take the necessary steps to protect the rights of our people, he stated. The meeting has sparked a wider debate on the balance between privacy protection and the right to access public information, with many political and civil society groups urging the government to reconsider some provisions of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act. The Parliament on Wednesday passed the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, with the Rajya Sabha approving it by a voice vote. Notably, the Lok Sabha had passed the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill in December 2024. The new Bill allows bank account holders to have up to four nominees among other provisions. Advertisement Another change in the bill relates to redefining of term substantial interest of a person in a bank. The limit is sought to be enhanced to Rs 2 crore from the current Rs 5 lakh, which was fixed almost six decades ago. Advertisement Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Parliament said that even though NPAs have decreased drastically, the government is committed to taking stringent action against wilful defaulters. She said in the last five years, the Directorate of Enforcement has taken up around 912 cases related to bank fraud, including those pertaining to wilful defaulters. Responding to issues regarding bad loans raised by opposition members during the discussion, the Finance Minister said, Write-offs do not mean waiving off loans, and the banks will continue to make efforts to recover the funds. She informed the House that public sector banks posted the highest ever profit of about Rs 1.41 lakh crore in the last fiscal, and exuded confidence that the profitability would further increase in 2025-26. The Finance Minister said the amendments will impact five different acts, making it unique. It is also unique as eight teams worked on amendments, ensuring all necessary changes to achieve the budget speechs purpose, she said. Once into effect, the amendment would allow a director of a Central Cooperative Bank to serve on the board of a State Cooperative Bank. The bill also seeks to increase the tenure of directors (excluding the chairman and whole-time director) in cooperative banks from 8 years to 10 years, so as to align with the Constitution (Ninety-Seventh Amendment) Act, 2011. In the case of lockers, the Bill says only simultaneous nomination is allowed. This is already being used in insurance policies and other financial instruments. The Bill also seeks to improve governance standards, provide consistency in reporting by banks to the Reserve Bank of India, ensure better protection for depositors and investors, improve audit quality in public sector banks, bring customer convenience in respect of nominations and provide an increase in the tenure of the directors in co-operative banks. MAPUTO, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The first ordinary session of the 10th legislature of Mozambique opened on Wednesday. The session of the Assembly of the Republic will run through May 13, and lawmakers will review 26 key topics related to national development strategy and fiscal budget, according to daily newspaper Jornal Noticias. Main items on the agenda include the government's 2025-2029 Five-Year Plan and a draft law on the Economic and Social Plan and State Budget for 2025. The session will also deliberate on the 2025-2044 National Development Strategy, the General Prosecutor's Annual Report, and the 2023 General State Accounts. The election of members to the National Council and revisions to the parliamentary organizational laws and procedural regulations are also among the topics for discussion. President of Assembly Margarida Talapa opened the session. She was joined by parliamentary leaders from the ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) and opposition parties -- the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), and the Optimistic People for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos). In her opening speech, Talapa highlighted the complexity of the electoral process in the country and stressed the need for an electoral law that responds to a political compromise that "creates tolerance and mutual respect, for national dialogue." According to the session schedule, on March 27-28, lawmakers will participate in an induction and adaptation seminar to familiarize themselves with legislative procedures and parliamentary rules. The parliament will reconvene for a plenary session on April 9-10 to discuss information provided by the government as requested by legislators. Furthermore, the assembly will debate and vote on issues such as the election of members of the National Defense and Security Council, the approval of appointments for the president of the Administrative Court and the vice president of the Supreme Court, the appointment of a judge-counselor to the Constitutional Council, and the approval of the 2025 parliamentary work plan and budget. A day after holding a key all-party meeting on the issue of Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said on Wednesday that the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary are not pitted against each other, but all the institutions in the country have to function in tandem. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Mr Dhankhar said, I need to indicate to the House that we yesterday had a very fruitful interaction on the issue that is agitating minds of the public. There was a gracious presence of leaders of political parties, including the Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition. Without going into the details, the deliberations were consensual, reflecting cooperation, concern, and the issue is not between institutions inter se. Advertisement It is not that the Executive, Legislature, or Judiciary are pitted against each other. All the institutions in the country have to function in tandem, in togetherness and also there are checks and balances which are well meant, he pointed out. Advertisement A fire had broken out at Justice Yashwant Varmas official residence in Delhi on 14 March. Wads of notes were found at his residence during the firefighting operation. An all-party meeting on the issue was held in Parliament under the chairmanship of Rajya Sabha Chairman Dhankhar on Tuesday. Leader of the House JP Nadda and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge were present in the meeting. Chairman Dhankhar said the leaders of the House and the Opposition will have wider consultations amongst all concerned in their respective parties and then meet him. It has been given by both the leader of the House and the leader of the Opposition that after having wider consultations amongst all concerned in their respective parties and otherwise, they would come to the Chairman for further deliberations. That was the conclusion after both the leader of the House and the leader of the Opposition shared their thoughts along with others, he said. In the meeting yesterday, floor leaders from the DMK, BJD, BRS, CPM, UBT, AGP, TMC, Congress, and BJP were present. According to sources, the discussion focused on key judicial matters. Among those present were Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. The National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act was struck down by the Supreme Court despite being passed by Parliament and 16 states in 2015. According to sources, the Modi government is exploring the revival of the NJAC. Yesterday, Mr Dhankhar said, 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. 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 added. 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. Mr Dhankhar held a meeting with Mr Nadda and Mr Kharge also on Monday and 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. BJPs central disciplinary committee on Wednesday expelled its Karnataka MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal, an outspoken leader, for a period of six months for anti-party remarks. Taking exception to his periodic and repeated violation of party discipline, the Central leadership expelled the Karnataka senior leader from the party and from positions he held within the party. Advertisement The letter from the party leadership said, It has accordingly been decided to expel you for a period of six years with immediate effect. Advertisement Courting controversy is not new to Yatnal whose recent utterances were on starlet gold smuggler Ranya Rao, which were condemned by womens organisations across the country. Yatnal reacted in a hard-hitting manner, saying the expulsion would not deter him in his fight against dynastic politics, corruption and seeking reforms within the party. He told media persons on Wednesday, The party has expelled me for speaking against dynastic politics, corruption, reforms within the party and request to develop north Karnataka. The party has rewarded me for calling a spade a spade. Certain vested interests have played their part in furthering their agenda successfully, he added. Basangouda Patil Yatnal was expelled from the party way back in 2015 after he refused to withdraw from the contest as an independent candidate for the Bijapur Local authorities constituency in Karnataka Legislative Council. He had won the elections, and later joined the BJP in 2018. Delhis Education Minister Ashish Sood said on Wednesday that following the grievances of many parents and students, the government has issued new directives to private unaided recognized schools on the sale of books, writing materials, and uniforms. According to him, it has been observed that various private unaided recognized schools were allegedly compelling students to purchase education materials, such as books, stationary, notebooks, uniforms and bags from specific private vendors. Advertisement The minister said such instances raise concerns, as students should have the freedom to choose their educational supplies. Advertisement He said instructions have also been given that students who get admission under the EWS category shall not be charged for uniform and stationary as the same is provided to them free of cost by the government. He also said that private schools must transparently display the list of prescribed books, educational materials and other required items in the school premises, and this information must be displayed prominently on school notice boards and the official websites. The minister warned that any private school found concealing this information or misleading students and parents will face legal consequences. Failure to adhere to these guidelines will be considered a violation of the Delhi School Education Act, 1973. Further appropriate action under BNS and BNSS against such malpractices will also be taken up as applicable. The minister said that the Delhi government remains committed to making education affordable and accessible for all. Parents are encouraged to report any violations to the helpline or the Directorate of Education. He also said that all schools must ensure that they display this list in a public place within the school campus. Any school failing to comply will be held accountable, Sood added. The guidelines, issued by the Directorate of Education, aim to protect parents from unnecessary financial burdens and ensure transparency in educational expenses. Under the powers vested in the Directorate of Education by Rule 43 of the Delhi School Education Act and Rules (DSEAR) 1973 and Rule 26 of the Delhi Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011, nine key instructions have been mandated for all private unaided recognized schools in Delhi. These include parents must not be forced to buy from specific vendors or school-appointed suppliers, uploading the list of books and uniform specifications on their official website before the academic session begins and schools and principals must also ensure that students and parents are not pressured to purchase extra study materials beyond the prescribed curriculum. The Directorate of Education will closely monitor adherence to these guidelines and take strict action against violations. The government said that the parents and stakeholders concerned are encouraged to report any violations to the concerned Nodal Officer, Deputy Director of Education (PSB). A day after Chennai was rocked by a chain snatching spree by bike-borne robbers in the posh Besant Nagar and Adyar, police busted a three-member gang from north India and shot dead 28-year-old mastermind, Jaffar Ghulam Hussain of Uttar Pradesh, in the wee hours near Taramani in the city on Wednesday. Police said the mastermind Jaffar was shot dead when he attempted to flee by opening fire at the special team, which took him to recover the stolen jewellery and weapons he had hidden near Taramani Railway Station. In self-defence, police returned the fire. Advertisement In a filmy-style operation, the police nabbed Jaffar and his accomplice Suraj alias Marsingh Amjat, also from Uttar Pradesh, at the Chennai Airport, foiling their plans to leave by air undetected to Hyderabad. While one of them was de-planed from a flight by halting its take-off, another was intercepted at the entrance of the airport, police said. The third suspect, travelling by Pinakini Express was arrested at Nellore. Advertisement Following the uproar over spate of chain-snatching incidents in at least six locations in Adyar-Besant Nagar region on Tuesday morning, targeting women and morning walkers, the Greater Chennai Police conducted intensive checks and thorough search. Over 100 police personnel were deployed to scrutinise the CCTV footage collected from several locations. It was ascertained that the suspects were heading towards the airport after abandoning the two-wheeler. The police alerted the airport authorities, including the Air Traffic Control (ATC). On reaching the airport, they learnt that one of the suspects had boarded a Hyderabad-bound flight. A police team stepped into the aircraft and arrested him. The other one was nabbed at the entrance. According to police, the encounter took place when Jaffar was escorted to recover the jewels after preliminary questioning. He drew a gun from the two-wheeler abandoned by him and opened fire at the police personnel and the fire was returned in self defence. It was found that Jaffar had more than 50 criminal cases registered against him in Mumbai. He and his accomplices have carried out chain snatching by getting a two-wheeler through a local contact. This is the fourth encounter in Chennai in the last nine months. The other three are the elimination of Thiruvengadam, Kakkathoppu Balaji Seesing Raja, all arrested in the murder of late BSP state president K Armstrong. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths recent statement that Muslims are safe if Hindus are safe has sparked sharp reactions from the Samajwadi Party, with its leaders accusing the chief minister of indulging in divisive politics. Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Ravidas Mehrotra said, UP CM Yogi Adityanath should have said people of the state are safe. Today, though no sister and daughter is safe, there is jungle raj by goons in the state criminals have become fearless, and people are in fear. But, the CM is doing Hindu-Muslim. Samajwadi Party wants the state to be safe. When the Samajwadi Partys government is formed in UP in 2027, the state will become safer. Advertisement SP MP Awadhesh Prasad also criticized UP CMs remarks, asserting, The truth is that neither Hindus nor Muslims and our daughters are safe in Uttar Pradesh since Yogi babas government came to power, according to a news agency. Advertisement Taking strong exceptions to CM Yogis remarks supporting bulldozer action, Prasad said: Bulldozer has been used to destroy houses of Muslims only, and such action is completely unconstitutional. To hide their shortcomings, they have been raising Hindu-Muslim issues. Echoing similar sentiments, Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman, who recently triggered a massive political row with his remarks on Rana Sanga, said, Our GangaJamuni culture is being destroyed Yogi Adityanath should learn that every religion spreads the message of love, not confrontation Here, who is the one digging old graves? During the interview, the UP CM had slammed the Samajwadi Party leader for his remarks on Rana Sanga, saying: We cannot expect anything from those who glorify Aurangzeb, Babur, and consider Jinnah as their idol Only these people who know history glorify Jinnah This is the same breed that worships Babur, Aurangzeb, and Jinnah. Adityanath, while responding to a question on AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisis remark that Muslims are in danger, had said that Muslims are not in danger. Their (Asaduddin Owaisis) vote bank politics is in danger. He further elaborated, The day Indian Muslims understand their ancestors, these people will have to pack their bags and leave Indian Muslims will have to remember that they are safe only when Hindus and Hindu tradition are safe Before 1947, Pakistan and Bangladesh were a part of India. How can we forget the truth? Isnt there a Hinglaj Mata temple in Pakistan? Isnt there a temple of Mata Dhakeshwari in Bangladesh? The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) launched a nationwide protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Patna on Wednesday, claiming that the proposed bill undermines Muslim minority rights. Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and other opposition leaders raised the issue of the Waqf Amendment Bill at the Bihar Assembly as well. Advertisement The day-long sit-in protest was part of the AIMPLBs resolve to adopt all constitutional, legal and democratic means to oppose the Bill, which is unconstitutional and undemocratic. Advertisement The next sit-in protest is planned at Vijayawada on 29 March. It will be followed by major rallies in Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Malerkotla (Punjab), and Ranchi. The AIMPLB has been trying to convince Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, and LJP (R) leader Chirag Paswan to oppose the Bill, which is against minority rights. Now, as the proposed legislation is expected to be introduced in Parliament during the ongoing Budget Session, the Muslim organisations have launched a nationwide protest to send a clear message to the key NDA allies that they should either withdraw support for the Bill or risk losing their support. A few days ago, prominent Muslim organisations, including the AIMPLB and the Imarat-e-Shariah, had boycotted an iftar party hosted by Nitish Kumar to oppose his stand on the proposed Waqf Bill. Being an election year, it came as a rude shock to the JD(U). The Wednesday protest organised by the AIMPLB received extensive support from political establishments, including the RJD, Congress, Jan Suraaj and Communist parties. RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kihsor, Azad Samaj Party Founder Chandra Shekhar Aazad were the eminent politicians who attended the protest. Addressing the gathering, Lalu Prasad said, We will not compromise at any cost with our resolution against communal forces. We are with you and will always support you on the proposed Waqf Bill that has been brought against the constitutional norms in the country. Such undemocratic actions of the central government need to be strongly opposed. Tejashwi Prasad Yadav assured Muslims that the RJD will continue to protest from the streets to the House until the Waqf Amendment Bill is withdrawn. The RJD and other opposition leaders raised the issue of the Waqf Amendment Bill at the Bihar Assembly as well. RJD MLA Akhtarul Islam Shaheen said that the JD(U) should also oppose the Waqf Amendment Bill. Outside the House, the opposition leaders remained adamant on the demand to withdraw the Waqf Amendment Bill, while inside the House, the uproar of the opposition leaders became so intense that the proceedings of the Assembly had to be adjourned. The recent talks between the United States and Russia in Saudi Arabia signal a shift in diplomatic efforts to find a resolution to the war in Ukraine. The focus on a potential naval ceasefire in the Black Sea reflects an attempt to de-escalate hostilities, but it also raises concerns about the broader implications of such a deal. While Washington presents these negotiations as a step toward ending the conflict, Ukraine and its European allies remain wary of any arrangement that could compromise their long-term security. The absence of Ukrainian representatives from the US-Russia talks further underscores the unease surrounding these discussions. The Trump administrations approach appears to prioritise a phased resolution, starting with a maritime truce. The logic behind this strategy is clear: securing safe passage for ships in the Black Sea could serve as a confidence-building measure that leads to a more comprehensive ceasefire. Advertisement However, the exclusion of Ukraine from the initial phase of negotiations raises legitimate questions about whose interests are being served. A naval truce, while beneficial in reducing immediate tensions, does little to address Ukraines fundamental concerns regarding sovereignty and territorial integrity. If this approach is meant to test the waters for a broader peace agreement, its effectiveness depends on transparency and trust. Without clear assurances that Ukraines interests will not be side-lined, the risk of diplomatic missteps remains high. Advertisement Any perception that Washington is negotiating over Ukraines future without its full involvement could damage alliances and weaken international support. Russias insistence on Ukraine withdrawing from the four regions it claims, along with abandoning Nato aspirations, remains a non-starter for Kyiv. Any agreement that concedes these demands would be seen as a capitulation rather than a peace settlement. At the same time, continued fighting on the ground, as seen in the latest attacks on both Ukrainian and Russian positions, highlights the fragility of any diplomatic overtures. The war is not confined to maritime zones, and efforts to carve out a limited truce while hostilities persist elsewhere may only provide Russia with breathing room rather than serve as a genuine step toward ending the war. The broader context of these negotiations also raises questions about the credibility of US commitments to Ukraine. If the maritime truce is part of a larger strategy to push for territorial concessions, it would confirm the fears of those who see this as an effort to prioritise stability over justice. While ending the war is a crucial goal, any peace deal that undermines Ukraines sovereignty will have long-term repercussions for European security. As reports suggest a positive announcement may be forthcoming, scepticism remains warranted. Moscows reluctance to agree to a full ceasefire while continuing attacks on Ukraines infrastructure suggests that its strategic objectives remain unchanged. The US may believe that incremental diplomacy is the best path forward, but without Ukraine at the centre of negotiations, the risk of a flawed outcome looms large. The recent recapture of Sudans presidential palace by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) is being heralded as a significant milestone in a brutal conflict that has devastated the nation for nearly two years. Yet, beneath the scenes of jubilant soldiers reclaiming Khartoums symbolic centre of power lies an uncomfortable truth ~ Sudans tragedy is far from over. This war is no longer just a battle for the capital; it risks entrenching a deeper, more permanent division within the country. The SAFs seizure of the palace from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, is certainly a tactical victory. It marks the first time in two years that the army has reestablished control over one of Khartoums most important landmarks. However, control of the presidential complex does not equate to control of the entire capital, let alone the rest of Sudan. Advertisement The RSF still maintains positions within Khartoum, including parts of the airport and areas south of the palace. Their ability to launch counterattacks, including a recent deadly drone strike, highlights their enduring capacity to inflict damage despite losing ground. More broadly, the RSF controls much of the Darfur region and areas in the south. Advertisement There, the rebel forces are entrenching themselves, creating parallel governance structures and even drafting political charters. This signals an intention to hold territory long-term, effectively setting the stage for Sudans de facto partition. Meanwhile, the SAF, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, solidifies its control over the north and east of the country. The result is an increasingly fractured Sudan, with each side governing its own zone and neither showing signs of backing down. For ordinary Sudanese, these military manoeuvers offer little relief. Over 12 million people have been displaced, and millions more are suffering from food shortages, with famine looming in several areas, including Khartoum itself. Both the SAF and the RSF have been accused of obstructing humanitarian aid, turning it into a weapon of war. Additionally, both have been implicated in war crimes, though the RSF stands particularly accused of mass atrocities, including genocide and systematic sexual violence in Darfur. For many Sudanese civilians, the battle for Khartoum offers little hope. Survival remains the priority as they navigate violence, hunger, and displacement with no end to the suffering in sight. Even if the SAF eventually secures full control of Khartoum, it is unlikely to bring an end to the conflict. Without a political solution and genuine reconciliation efforts, Sudan risks becoming a permanently divided nation. Military victories alone cannot address the deep grievances or rebuild trust among the countrys fragmented communities. The reclaiming of the presidential palace may be a symbolic achievement for the SAF, but without a path toward peace, it risks becoming yet another fleeting success in a war defined by human suffering and national disintegration. History has shown that the Russian people can overcome any challenge if they are united. We are not afraid of difficulties; we will face them with strength and determination. Vladimir Putin. On 26 March 2000, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin rose to power, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Russias history. Twenty-five years later, Putin remains the unchallenged ruler of Russia, shaping the nations political, military, and geopolitical destiny with an iron grip reminiscent of the Soviet era. As Russia stands on the global stage, locked in conflict with Ukraine and challenging Western dominance, Putins rule evokes comparisons with another towering figure from Russian history Joseph Stalin. Like Stalin, Putin has not only consolidated power domestically but also revived Russias position as a formidable force in global politics. After Lenin and Stalin, Russian glory seems to have reached its highest point under Putins regime. Stalin ruled the Soviet Union from 1924 to 1953, for nearly three decades, transforming it into a superpower through ruthless political purges, military expansion, and industrialization. Putin, whose rise to power was forged in the shadow of the collapsing Soviet Union, has followed a strikingly similar path. Both leaders emerged from periods of national turmoil, restored military strength, centralized political control, and challenged Western hegemony. Advertisement Stalin used the Red Army to expand Soviet influence across Eastern Europe; Putin, through the annexation of Crimea and the war in Ukraine, has reasserted Russias territorial ambitions. Stalin crushed internal dissent through brutal purges; Putin has silenced the opposition with calculated precision, imprisoning critics and consolidating media control. Putins journey to power began long before he entered the Kremlin. Born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) in 1952, he grew up in the harsh environment of post-war Soviet Russia. His career as a KGB officer in East Germany during the Cold War gave him the strategic and tactical acumen that would define his political style. Advertisement The fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent collapse of the Soviet Union left Russia in a state of political and economic chaos. Putins entry into politics in the 1990s was swift and calculated. From deputy mayor of St. Petersburg to head of the Federal Security Service (FSB) the successor to the KGB Putin positioned himself as a stabilizing force amid the post-Soviet chaos. In 1999, Boris Yeltsin, weakened by political scandals and health issues, appointed Putin as Prime Minister and then unexpectedly resigned, naming Putin as acting President. On 26 March 2000, Putin was elected as Russias President and the course of Russian history was altered forever. From the outset, Putin projected strength and control, vowing to restore Russias status as a global power. His first major test came with the Second Chechen War. The brutal campaign to crush separatist forces in Chechnya ended in a decisive Russian victory, solidifying Putins reputation as a strong and unyielding leader. The Russian military, which had suffered humiliating defeats in the 1990s, was back and so was Russian pride. Perhaps Putins most defining moment came in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea. After the pro-Western government in Ukraine came to power following the ouster of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, Putin acted swiftly. Russian troops, operating under the guise of local self-defense forces, occupied Crimea and held a controversial referendum that resulted in the regions annexation into the Russian Federation. The West reacted with outrage, imposing sanctions and isolating Russia diplomatically. Yet, within Russia, Putins popularity soared. Crimea was seen as a historical Russian territory reclaimed a modern-day geopolitical masterstroke. The Ukraine war, which began in February 2022, stands as the ultimate test of Putins strategic vision. What was initially projected as a swift military operation has evolved into a prolonged and bloody conflict. Western nations have armed Ukraine and imposed unprecedented sanctions on Russia, aiming to cripple its economy and military strength. But Putin remains defiant. Russian troops have made significant advances in eastern Ukraine, and Putins control over state media has ensured that his narrative remains dominant at home. Despite international backlash, Putins grip on power remains unchallenged. For his supporters, Putins actions in Ukraine are not aggression but a defense of Russian sovereignty and influence. In many ways, Putins leadership mirrors that of Stalins wartime strategy decisive, ruthless, and nationalistic. Like Stalin, Putin has positioned himself as the defender of Russian civilization against Western encroachment. While Stalin built the Soviet Union into a communist superpower through industrialization and military might, Putin has combined state capitalism with strategic military interventions to strengthen Russias global position. Both leaders maintained an iron grip on domestic politics, silencing opposition and controlling media narratives. The imprisonment of opposition leader Alexei Navalny and the targeting of dissenters reflect a modern version of Stalins political purges calculated and effective. Putins 25-year rule has not been defined solely by military strength. His diplomatic maneuvering has also elevated Russias standing on the global stage. Putins relationship with India has been a cornerstone of his foreign policy success. Strategic defense deals, energy partnerships, and shared geopolitical interests have strengthened the Russia-India alliance. Despite pressure from the West, India has maintained a balanced stance on the Ukraine conflict, continuing to engage with Russia economically and militarily. Similarly, Putins alignment with China has created a strategic counterweight to American dominance. The Russia-China axis, based on mutual economic and military cooperation, has reshaped global power dynamics. Yet, Putins reign is not without controversy. He is simultaneously the most hated and most admired leader on the global stage. Western nations view him as a dangerous autocrat who seeks to destabilize democratic institutions and expand Russian influence through cyber warfare, military aggression, and political manipulation. The accusations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and Putins support for far-right populist movements in Europe have only deepened Western mistrust. However, in parts of the Global South and within Russia, Putin is seen as a leader who stood up to Western dominance and restored Russias global stature. As he marks 25 years in power, Putin has cemented his place alongside Lenin and Stalin in Russian history. The constitutional amendment that allows him to remain in power until 2036 means that he could potentially surpass Stalins record as the longest-serving Russian leader. At 71, Putin shows no signs of stepping down. His ability to navigate the complex terrain of global politics, military conflicts, and domestic challenges has made him one of the most consequential leaders of the 21st century. Russias modern tsar has not only restored the countrys military strength and political stability but also redefined its global identity. Just as Stalin rebuilt the Soviet Union from the devastation of World War II, Putin has guided Russia through the postSoviet collapse and positioned it as a dominant force in global affairs. Whether history remembers him as a war hero or a ruthless autocrat, one thing remains certain Putins legacy is etched in the annals of Russian history, and his reign is far from over. (The writer is Associate Professor, Centre for South Asian Studies, Pondicherry Central University.) The unfolding political crisis in Romania reflects a deeper reckoning with the nations democratic identity. Once hailed as an Eastern European democratic success story, Romania now finds itself teetering on the edge of a dangerous shift. At the heart of this struggle is the rise of far-right populism, amplified by economic frustration, disillusionment with political elites, and external interference that preys on domestic grievances. In many ways, Romanias challenges are not unique. Across Europe, nationalist movements have gained traction by exploiting fears over sovereignty, economic security, and cultural identity. What sets Romania apart is the intensity of its current political upheaval. The cancellation of its presidential election, following allegations of foreign meddling, has only deepened public mistrust in the political system. For many Romanians, it is not simply a legal or constitutional debate ~ it feels like a betrayal of their democratic aspirations. Voters in rural areas, especially those left behind by economic modernisation, have turned to candidates who offer simplistic solutions to complex problems. Advertisement Promises to cut taxes, restore national pride, and reject outside influence resonate in villages where young people leave in search of work and public services crumble. These communities feel forgotten by mainstream politicians, and their support for far-right figures is often less about ideology and more about desperation. However, the danger lies in how easily economic discontent can be manipulated into extremist rhetoric. When political leaders evoke nostalgia for a mythical past or promote exclusionary policies in the name of national renewal, they risk undermining the democratic foundations a country has worked so hard to build. The demonisation of minorities, calls for restrictions on free speech, and attacks on judicial independence are clear warning signs of democratic backsliding. What complicates matters further is the shifting international context. Traditional alliances are no longer as stable or predictable. Advertisement External actors, including global powers with authoritarian leanings, find common cause with far-right movements in Europe, including Romania. This convergence of interests creates an environment where misinformation spreads quickly and democratic norms are challenged from within and without. Romania now stands at a crossroads. The countrys history offers painful reminders of what can happen when democratic principles are abandoned. Yet its future is not predetermined. Civil society activists, independent institutions, and engaged citizens continue to push back against extremism. Their efforts highlight the resilience that still exists within Romanian democracy. But this is not a battle that can be left to a few voices. It requires a collective commitment to the difficult work of addressing economic inequality, restoring trust in public institutions, and reaffirming the values of inclusion and pluralism. The stakes are high ~ not just for Romania, but for the broader European project. The defense of democracy here will signal whether Europe can withstand the growing tide of illiberalism or if it will falter at one of its most vulnerable points. KATHMANDU, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The Nepali government has asked social media platforms to get registered or face the consequence of being banned in the country, an official said on Wednesday. Companies, institutions or persons who are operating or plan to operate social media platforms in Nepal have been asked to get enlisted with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology within 30 days. "Platforms that fail to get enlisted within the specified time could be banned from operating," Mamata Bastola, information officer at the ministry, told Xinhua. In addition, platforms must establish a point of contact, name a resident grievance handling officer and an officer for monitoring compliance, said Bastola. Viber, TikTok and Weetok have been registered with the Nepali ministry. Boycott and Swaraj: these were weapons of mass unrest and grievance to challenge the British Indian Government announcement on 19 July 1905 to partition Bengal. Viceroy Lord Curzon had planned the new province would be called East Bengal and Assam, comprising Chittagong, Dacca and Rajsahi divisions, hilly Tripura, Maldah and Assam. What took the British government by surprise was the magnitude of protests, strikes and public grievances across towns and villages of Bengal, Maharashtra, Punjab, Madras and in England and Europe too. Leaders of the stature of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Aurobindo Ghosh; poets-educationists and painters Rabindranath Tagore, Sister Nivedita, Jagadish Chandra Basu and Abanindranath Tagore; barristers AC Banerji, AK Ghosh defending labour disputes; Satischandra Mukerjis Dawn, Jogindranath Chattopadhyays monthly Swadeshi, the Sandhya of Brahmabandhab Upadhyaya were at the forefront when labour disputes, as in the case of the Burns Iron Works, gave the Swadeshi movement one of its defining moments. Advertisement Reading the pledge of patriotism published by Krishna Kumar Mitra, the editor of Sanjivani, is soul-stirring till date: We are taking this oath in the name of our holy motherland and for the welfare of our country that we shall never use foreign goods if we get goods manufactured in this country. For this if we have to bear financial or other sacrifice, we shall be ready to do it. We will not only do all these ourselves, but try to persuade friends and all other people to act accordingly. On 7 August 1905, this boycott pledge, now a resolution, was adopted at a huge public meeting in Calcuttas Town Hall. Lord Curzon had arrogantly declared, Bengal partition is a settled fact. Advertisement Moderate Congress leader Surendranath Bandyopadhyay at once sharply retorted We shall unsettle the settled fact. Facts and figures on Swadeshi movement are bewildering, awe-inspiring, and accessible from diverse sources. This divide and rule measure of Viceroy Curzon provoked angry outbursts which also had a distinct working-class dimension in addition to intensification of the Swadeshi campaign and beginning of revolutionary terrorism, noted DP Buxi, who chronicled A Hundred Years of Its First Political Strike, celebrating the rise of the Indian working class. His writings in the CPI (ML) archives state: The first trade union in the true sense of the term was formed on 21 October 1905 amidst intensive strike struggle in printing presses of the government. In 1905 itself workers of Burn Company (Howrah) and Kolkata Tram Company and 2000 coolies and sweepers of Kolkata Corporation went on strike. In October 1905, 950 railway guards of the East India Railway, Bengal sector, participated in a strike struggle for wage revision (against racist discrimination in wages). In 1906, about 1,000 jute workers went on strike against inhuman behaviour of British officers and for improvement of working conditions. Similarly in 1905 several strike struggles were organised by textile workers of Mumbai against increased workload. In 1907, textile workers also participated in a strike for a wage hike. Some strikes lasted for a full one week. In 1906, 500 Post and Telegraph employees participated in a week-long strike for their wage hike, bringing the entire work of the P&T department to a halt. 1907 witnessed a wave of militant struggles of railway workers on various economic demands and in protest against too much workload, successfully bringing different zones of the railways to a halt. The struggles of railway workers assumed a very crucial role in anti-imperialist mass awakening. The railways were introduced in 1853 when 20 miles of the first railroad was laid from Bombay; this was happening simultaneously with the development of the coal industry in the Asansol-Jharia belt of Bengal and Bihar ~ coal being the essential raw material to run railway engines. Around the same time, tea plantations were introduced in Assam; jute, textiles and spinning industries were established, giving rise to commercialisation of agriculture and industrial use of agricultural raw materials. Putting the Swadeshi up surge of labour unrest in a larger time-frame, Buxi said, The first-ever strike struggle of Indian industrial workers took place in March 1862, i.e., within nine years of its emergence when 1200 Railway Workers of How rah Station went on strike demanding an eight-hour work day. In 1877 workers launched a strike demanding a wage hike in Nagpur Empress Mill. Between 1882 and 1890, 25 important strike struggles took place in Mumbai and Madras Presidencies. In 1881, jute workers at Ghusuri (Bengal) went on strike on two occasions against wage erosion. In 1885, jute workers of Budge Budge (near Kol kata) went on strike for 6 days and in 1889 the same jute workers were striking for 8 days, facing police fire. Intellectuals like Sashipada Banerjee in Bengal and N M Lekhande in Mumbai began voluntary work for industrial workers. In 1874 Sashipada Banerjee published Indian Workers and in 1898 Lekhande published Dinabandhu in Mumbai. Banerjee set up the Baranagar Institute in Kolkata to impart primary education to workers. On the initiative of Brahmo Samaj and under the direction of Sas hipada Banerjee, night schools and a savings bank for jute workers were set up in Baranagar in 1884. Another Bra hmo member P C Majum der established eight night-schools in Mumbai. An official survey titled Administration of Bengal under Andrew Fraser 1903-08 noted the role of professional agitators during industrial unrest as quite a novel phenomenon. Strikes in Britishcon trolled enterprises, sparked off by rising prices and by racial insults, were now getting sympathy from newspapers, besides financial help to set up unions. Wrote Prof Sumit Sarkar in Mod ern India 1885-1947, four men in particular deserve to be remembered as pioneer labour-leaders: the barristers Aswinicoomar Banerji, Prabhatkusum Roychaudhuri, Athanasius Apurbakumar Ghosh; and Premtosh Bose, the proprietor of a small press in north Calcutta. In September 1905, the en tire Swadeshi public hailed a walkout of 247 Bengali clerks of Burn Company in Howrah against a new work-regulation felt to be derogatory. The next month saw a tram strike in Calcutta, settled through efforts of AC Banerji and Ghosh, and reports of 16 October convey a bandh-like flavour, with offices closed, carters off the roads, and strikes in some jute mills and railway worksho ps. The first real labour union followed soon after: the Printers Union, set up on 21 October in the midst of a bitter strike in government presses. In July 1906, a strike of clerks on the East India Railway led to formation of a Railwaymens Union and efforts were made to draw in the coolies through meetings at Asansol, Ranigunj and Jamalpur addressed by Swadeshi leaders like Bepin Pal, Shyamsundar Chakrabarti and Liakat Husain apart from AC Banerji, AK Ghosh and Premtosh Bose, noted Prof Sarkar. Relatively small in number, press employees of Calcutta were lauded for their militancy and political awareness. Their profession demanded literacy and their work brought them in close touch with nationalist opinions and leaders. At the two big government presses in Calcutta ~ the Government of India and Bengal Secretariat ~ the burning issues were inadequate pay, fines, excessive hours, arbitrary demotions and tactless behaviour of white Superintendents. AC Banerji, AK Ghosh and BM Chatterji were invited by press unions and they worked on petitions, suggesting a defense fund to prepare for future action. To counter short-lived strikes, the British government shifted printing work from Calcutta to Shimla, Allahabad, Lahore and even Madras; meanwhile a Printers and Compositors League was formed in October, with AK Ghosh and Brahmabandhab Upadhyay as secretaries. Sandhya of Upadhyay became a great meeting place for the strikers. AC Banerji led a fund-raising procession of the streets of Calcutta, describing it: the procession of the Printers Union covered a large area from Cornwallis Street to the Paikpara Rajbati. Even constables and women of the town came forward with contributions. It is noteworthy that Kumar Manmathanath Mitra entertained the 500-strong processionists, fed them and paid Rs 150 in cash as his contribution In Sandhya, Upadhyay exhorted students with example of coolies and working men, with clerks on petty emoluments and press workers sticking to their resolve, regardless of the sufferings of their wives and children. A branch of the Printers Union seems to have been set up at The Statesman Press by November 1905 with union activities reaching a high point by May-June 1906. A Special Branch report dated 7 September 1906 noted quite an epidemic of strikes among the printing presses in Calcuttano less than six private presses and the Bengal Secretariat Press. The Printers Union set an example of working-class solidarity by sending a message of sympathy from their 23 June meeting to the Indian staff of the East Indian Railway loop line who had gone on strike. Maharashtras stalwarts ~ Tilak, Khaparde and Munje ~ were warmly received at the union headquarters. The Statesman Press unit seems to have been one of the more active constituents of the Printers Union. Private papers of AC Banerji include letters inviting him to address meetings of the Printers Union. At an anniversary function, not only did all the Hindu, Muslim and Christian workers sit down to a sumptuous tiffin, their speeches extolled The Statesman proprietors for increasing workers wages. Lessons from the Swadeshi movement continue to remain relevant and inspirational. (The writer is a researcher author on history and heritage issues and a former deputy curator of Pradhanmantri Sangrahalay) 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. 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. Advertisement 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). Advertisement 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, Xinhua news agency reported. 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, Zimbabwes 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. 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, Russias state-run news agency TASS quoted Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying while addressing a media briefing in Moscow. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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 to supply grain to countries in need 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. 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 news agency that an Israeli drone fired an air-to-ground missile at a civilian vehicle in (the village of) Qaqaiyat al-Jisr, killing one person and setting the car ablaze. Advertisement The body, transported by civil defence teams to a hospital in Nabatieh, was identified as a Hezbollah military commander named Hassan Kamal Halawi, the unnamed source said. Advertisement However, Lebanons Public Health Emergency Operations Centre 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 Hezbollahs 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 November 27, 2024, a US- 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 February 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. The new round of talks between Ukrainian and US delegations concluded in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, local media Al Arabiya News reported. The talks came after a meeting that lasted over 12 hours between Russian and US delegations on Monday in Riyadh, Xinhua news agency reported. Advertisement Later on Tuesday, the White House published a statement on its website, listing the outcomes of the two rounds of talks with Ukraine between Sunday and Tuesday. Advertisement According to the statement, the US 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. In addition, the US vowed to remain committed to helping achieve the exchange of war prisoners, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children. Both sides agreed to develop measures for implementing the agreement reached between the two countries presidents to ban strikes against the energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine. They also reached a consensus on continued work toward achieving a durable and lasting peace. The statement urged both warring sides to stop the killings, calling it a necessary step toward achieving an enduring peace settlement. In the statement, the US also thanked Saudi Arabia for hosting and facilitating these discussions. Also on Tuesday, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov detailed the key outputs of the latest talks with Washington in a post on social media platform X. He warned that under the consensus with the United States, all movement of Russian military vessels outside the eastern part of the Black Sea will constitute a violation of the commitment to ensuring safe navigation in the area, as well as a threat to the national security of Ukraine. In response, Ukraine will exercise the right to self-defence. In addition to what is mentioned in the White House statement, Umerov said all parties welcome the good offices of third countries with a view toward supporting the implementation of energy and maritime agreements reached during the talks. The minister also stressed the need to hold additional technical consultations for the effective implementation of the arrangements. 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, exploring ways to convince the parties to pull back from the brink. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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 Peoples 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, Xinhua news agency reported. 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. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Tuesday the planned three-day visit of the U.S. delegation, set to begin on Thursday, does not reflect Greenland's needs or wishes. NUUK, Greenland, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Top Danish and Greenlandic political figures have denounced an upcoming visit by a high-profile U.S. delegation to Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, calling it "provocative" and "disrespectful" of local sovereignty amid rows over the Trump administration's threat to seize the Arctic island. The delegation, reportedly to be led by Usha Vance, wife of U.S. Vice President JD Vance, will also include National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. AN UNACCEPTABLE PRESSURE Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Tuesday the planned three-day visit, set to begin on Thursday, does not reflect Greenland's needs or wishes. "It is clearly not a visit that concerns Greenland's needs or wishes. That's why I have to say it's an unacceptable pressure being placed on Greenland and Denmark -- and it's pressure we will stand up to," she told Danish broadcasters DR and TV2. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen attends the European Union (EU) special summit in Brussels, Belgium, March 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang) Frederiksen said the visit "cannot be interpreted as respectful," particularly given the current political vacuum in Greenland, the world's largest island with a population of around 60,000. The visit comes amid political uncertainty in Greenland following the March 11 election. Greenland's caretaker Prime Minister Mute Egede wrote in a Facebook post that no official meetings with the U.S. delegation would take place. "The Americans have received clear instructions that meetings can only happen once a new Greenlandic government has taken office. Our integrity and democracy must be respected, without any interference from outside," Egede wrote. PRIVATE VISIT OR CHARM OFFENSIVE The White House said the delegation would visit the U.S. Pituffik Space Base, tour historical sites in Nuuk, and attend Greenland's national dog sled race in Sisimiut. Frederiksen rejected U.S. claims that the trip is a private one. "You cannot conduct a private visit with official representatives from another country -- especially when the acting Greenlandic government has made it clear that such a visit is not desired at this time," she said. A drone photo taken on March 22, 2025 shows a mine in Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Sunday expressed concerns about a planned visit by senior U.S. officials to Greenland, emphasizing that any collaboration must be grounded in mutual respect and sovereignty. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang) The visit has reignited concerns over U.S. intentions in Greenland, following past remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump about purchasing or controlling the island. Speaking to TV2 on Monday, Trump said the United States is "working with some people in Greenland who want something to happen," and called Greenland vital to U.S. national security. Trump also said on Jan. 7 that he would not rule out military or economic measures to acquire Greenland and threatened to impose tariffs on Denmark "at a very high level" if it resisted his offer to acquire the territory. Frederiksen responded that Trump's comments should not be dismissed. "President Trump is serious. He wants Greenland. So this cannot be viewed in isolation from other developments," she said. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen also condemned the timing and nature of the visit. "These are not random tourists. It is a signal -- a charm offensive to draw Greenland toward the USA. There is no appetite for that in Greenland or the Kingdom, and therefore it is not good timing," he told DR. This photo taken on March 19, 2025 shows the scenery of Nuuk, capital of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe) PLANNED SILENT DEMONSTRATION Jess Berthelsen, head of Greenland's largest trade union SIK, issued a sharp rebuke, questioning claims that the visit centers on cultural events like the dog sled race. "We are told the U.S. national security adviser and energy secretary are coming here to watch dog sled races. Be careful! How do such high-ranking people have time for that while there are crises in many parts of the world?" he said in a statement. Martin Lidegaard, leader of Denmark's Social Liberals, called the visit "cross-border" and emphasized the need for unity between Greenland and Denmark. Security has been stepped up in Nuuk and Sisimiut ahead of the delegation's arrival, with American and Danish security teams deployed. Greenlandic police confirmed that the U.S. delegation brought a significant security presence, including bulletproof vehicles and two Hercules transport planes. People walk in downtown Nuuk, capital of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, March 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuliang) In Sisimiut, a group of citizens is planning a silent demonstration on Saturday to protest the visit. "We'll turn our backs when they drive by. It's our way of showing we don't agree with their presence and manner," said local organizer Per Norgard. "We encourage as many people as possible to join us and show their opposition." Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953 when it became an integral part of Denmark. In 1979, Greenland achieved home rule, gaining greater self-governance while Denmark retained authority over its foreign and defense policy. Protesters take part in a demonstration in Ankara, Turkiye, on March 25, 2025. Turkish security forces have arrested 1,418 suspects since the start of protests last week against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said Tuesday. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) ANKARA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Turkish security forces have arrested 1,418 suspects since the start of protests last week against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said Tuesday. There are currently 979 suspects in custody, while 478 individuals will be referred to judicial authorities, Yerlikaya said on social media platform X. Meanwhile, Ozgur Ozel, chairman of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), said he will conclude his rallies in Istanbul's Sarachane district as of Tuesday evening. Tens of thousands of Turks have taken to the streets since March 19 after Imamoglu was detained on charges of graft and terror ties. Imamoglu, from the CHP, is considered Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main rival in the next presidential elections. Erdogan on Monday blamed the CHP for recent domestic protests that have escalated into what he called a "movement of violence," saying CHP and its supporters should be responsible for "injured police officers, vandalized shops, and damaged public property." Protesters take part in a demonstration in Ankara, Turkiye, on March 25, 2025. Turkish security forces have arrested 1,418 suspects since the start of protests last week against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said Tuesday. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) Turkish riot police are seen during a demonstration in Ankara, Turkiye, on March 25, 2025. Turkish security forces have arrested 1,418 suspects since the start of protests last week against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said Tuesday. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) A protester takes part in a demonstration in Ankara, Turkiye, on March 25, 2025. Turkish security forces have arrested 1,418 suspects since the start of protests last week against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said Tuesday. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) Turkish riot police disperse protesters during a demonstration in Ankara, Turkiye, on March 25, 2025. Turkish security forces have arrested 1,418 suspects since the start of protests last week against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said Tuesday. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) After a wait of two years that led to the delay in delivery of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk-1A to the Indian Air Force (IAF), American aircraft engine supplier GE Aerospace has delivered first of the 99 F404-IN20 engines to HAL. The Rs 5,375 crore for 99 F404-GE-IN20 was placed in 2021. The company was expected to begin the delivery in March 2023. The two-year delay in the delivery of engines was attributed to supply chain disruptions. We were excited to deliver the first of 99 F404-IN20 engines to our valued customer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk 1A fight jet, GE Aerospace said, according to news agency ANI. GE Aerospace said this is an important milestone for the company's four-decade relationship with HAL and its "efforts to ensure a strong future for Indias military by developing next-generation fighters while enhancing the countrys defence manufacturing capabilities." ALSO READ: Defence manufacturing hits record high: From warships to fighter jets, India now builds 65 per cent of its weapons The company noted that it has a strong history of military jet propulsion collaboration in India. "After collaborating with the Aeronautical Development Agency in the 1980s, GE Aerospaces F404-IN20 engine was selected for the single-engine Tejas in 2004. This was an important breakthrough for both India and GE Aerospace," the company further said. The F404-IN20 engine is an upgraded variant of the F404 family, designed specifically for the Tejas aircraft, producing a maximum thrust of 19,000 lbf (85 kN) with afterburner, making it the highest thrust variant in the series. The F404-GE-IN20 incorporates GE's latest hot section materials and technologies as well as FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) for reliable power and outstanding operational characteristics. In a move that will have a major impact on the firepower of the Indian Army, the defence ministry signed contracts worth Rs 6,900 crore with Bharat Forge Limited and Tata Advanced System Limited. While Bharat Forge Limited will provide the Army with 155mm/52 Calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS), Tata Advanced System Limited will be offering High Mobility Vehicle 6x6 Gun Towing Vehicles. In a major boost to #AatmanirbharBharat, MoD has signed contracts worth Rs 6,900 Cr with @BharatForgeLtd & @tataadvanced for the procurement of 155mm/52 Cal ATAGS & 6x6 High Mobility Gun Towing Vehicles. This marks the first major towed gun procurement from the #privatesector, pic.twitter.com/utzvRf0HqF Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) March 26, 2025 The procurement of the 155 mm/52 Calibre ATAGS will be a major milestone in the modernisation of the Artillery Regiments, as they will replace the vintage and smaller calibre guns, enhancing the artillery capabilities of the Indian Army. ATAGS, renowned for its exceptional lethality, will play a crucial role in bolstering the Army's firepower by enabling precise and long-range strikes, the ministry said in a release. ALSO READ: Defence manufacturing hits record high: From warships to fighter jets, India now builds 65 per cent of its weapons Being the first major procurement of towed guns from the private sector by the Indian Army, the project will provide a boost to the Indian gun manufacturing industry in particular and the indigenous defence manufacturing eco-system as a whole, a statement from the ministry read. With these, total contracts worth Rs 1.40 lakh crore have been signed by the defence ministry for capital procurement till date in the current Financial Year 2024-25. The contracts were signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh at South Block in New Delhi. During the contract signing, the project director of ATAGS from DRDOs Armament Research and Development Establishment, Pune, who played a major role in the realisation of the project, was felicitated by the defence secretary. The much anticipated Mohanlal-Prithviraj Sukumaran collab 'L2: Empuraan' became the first Mollywood project to breach the 50 crore-mark pre-release.'L2E' is being released in 750 screens across Kerala alone and advanced booking option has ensured the movie joined the 50 crore club ahead of the release. The gross collection through advance booking stands at 78 crore. ALSO READ | L2: Empuraan is a stand-alone film: director Prithviraj Sukumaran It is for the first time that a Malayalam movie managed to collect 50 crore through advanced booking. The lion's share of the collection was managed by the original Malayalam version although the censor procedures were completed in four other languages on Tuesday. It was claimed that around one lakh tickets of 'Empuraan' were sold within an hour of the advance ticket bookings being opened at 9 am on March 21. Director Prithviraj or the producers are yet to reveal how much money the production of the action thriller cost. "I can assure you the real production cost of this movie will be lesser than what you think it has cost after seeing it," the multifaceted star, who is part of the movie's cast, has recently said in an interview. 'Empuraan' is also the first Malayalam movie to release IMAX version. Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram and the Kerala cities that are offering IMAX shows of the movie that is a sequel of 'Lucifer.' A million thanks to @PrithviOfficial for placing his trust in me for the third time, after #Lucifer and #BroDaddy. Subtitling #L2E #Empuraan across all its versions has been an unforgettable journey. Cant wait to witness it unfold in all its glory on the big screen tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/g4DrWcvOm4 Vivek Ranjit (@vivekranjit) March 26, 2025 The principal antagonist of the movie remains unrevealed, despite the film's 18-day promotional campaign which introduced only 36 characters so far. Reserving a bit of the mystery for the big screen is a move expected from a sensible filmmaker of Prithviraj's stature. ALSO READ | Empuraan: Revisiting the rich symbolism, trope-subversion, and hidden contexts of 'Lucifer' L2: Empuraan will hit theatres on March 27, available in Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada. Besides Mohanlal and Prithviraj, the film also stars Tovino Thomas, Indrajith, and Manju Warrier. In a breakthrough for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) patients, the Delhi High Court has opened the door for access to a generic version of the patented drug, Risdiplam, at a fraction of the cost marketed by the Swiss pharmaceutical corporation, La Hoffman Roche. Roche had earlier sought to prevent the introduction of a generic version of Risdiplam, citing patent infringement. However, patients battling SMA highlighted the negative impact on their deteriorating health resulting from a lack of access to Risdiplam due to its "exorbitant cost" and the desperate need of letting low cost generic versions enter the market. Seba P.A. and Purva Mittal, two young women battling SMA, said that at a time when a medicine that can stop progression of SMA already exist, "it is unethical to let patients die simply because they cannot afford to purchase the medicine. The Delhi High Court order on Tuesday opened the way for Indian drugmaker Natco Pharma Ltd to manufacture Risdiplam in India while refusing to allow a suit by Swiss pharma giant Roche seeking to restrain Natco Pharma Ltd against manufacturing the drug for the rare disease. This will hopefully bring relief to SMA patients in India, both children and adults, a high percentage of who were unable to access high-cost Risdiplam and thereby remained without effective treatment for years. Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a rare genetic neuromuscular condition, affecting one in 7,000 people in India and is the leading genetic cause of infant mortality. It is a rare genetic condition that causes muscle weakness and affects a child's ability to crawl, walk, sit, and control head movements. At present, as per official figures, there are over three lakh children with SMA in India. And this being a debilitating disease which has no cure, the only approved drug, Risdiplam, marketed under the name Evrysdi, "must be made available at affordable prices in India especially in the public interest as public health considerations take precedence," Justice Mini Pushkarna reportedly said. She further added, "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. Roche's patent for Risdiplam expires in May 2035. However, taking a note of that, the court refused to grant the pharma company, an injunction, saying that its "intention is to monetise the drug." Lawyers arguing for making the generic version of the drug available, said that in pharmaceutical patent enforcement cases, public health considerations must take precedence and that the reasoning of the court will go a long way in facilitating affordable access to medicines for rare diseases. They also urged Natco Pharma to supply the generic drug without delay, at a price accessible to patients and hoped, that the "ministry which implements the National Policy for Rare Diseases, will ensure that the life-saving drug reaches all SMA patients in need Since early 2021, courts have been addressing petitions related to SMA, advocating for local production and generic competition to address the high cost of treatments driven by patent monopolies. There are three types of treatment for SMA patients: gene therapy Zolgensma, which costs 17 crore, and two other drugs Nusinersen (87 lakh) and Risdiplam (6.2 lakh per bottle). In a statement, Seba mentions her treatment cost as 2,03,840 for one bottle of Risdiplam, and with an annual requirement of 30 bottles, the total yearly cost of her treatment reaches 61,15,200. This is above the 50 lakh limit per patient set by the government under the National Policy for Rare Diseases. Alpana Sharma, founder director of CureSMA, a parent-led advocacy group that helps those suffering from spinal muscular atrophy, welcomed the decision saying it was "the absolute need of the hour." As a parent to her 12-year-old son Aarav, she is proud that her son is no longer just known by his SMA condition, rather, he is popular for his exceptional performance in science, mathematics and Cyber Olympiads, his dedication to academics as an above average student and his friendly and cheerful demeanour. Aarav suffers from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) Type 2, a rare genetic and progressively degenerative disease. Back in 2018, Sharma, as a part of the Parents of SMA children support group, led the campaign urging the government to provide Risdiplam to all SMA patients in the country. Now, with the generic versions of Risplidam to become available soon, parents of SMA children say they're celebrating their "second victory." Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is the eye of a storm over his remarks on "changing the Indian Constitution" during a media conclave in Delhi, has found support from an unexpected quarter. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's son and Congress MLC Dr Yathindra defended Shivakumar saying that the latter had already clarified that neither he nor the party had any intention to change the Constitution. "Mr Shivakumar had participated in an English media event and since English is not his natural language, he failed to convey his thoughts properly. It was the Congress party that brought the Indian Constitution. Both the CM and DCM have reiterated that the Congress party is here to protect the Constitution. Shivakumar had mentioned it (amendment) with respect to creating 4% reservation for Muslims (in government civil contracts)," asserted Yathindra, also reminding the BJP that former BJP MP and minister Anantkumar Hegde had made statements about changing the Constitution in the past. "Hegde had never bothered to clarify that the BJP has no intention to change the Constitution. But our leader (Shivakumar) has made it simply clear," said Yathindra. '17 BJP leaders got gag orders from court fearing their own partymen' Yathindra also defended the KPCC chief in the honey trap controversy saying no Congress leader had mentioned his name. "Our senior legislator K N Rajanna only said there were attempts to honey trap him and other leaders. Nobody from our party has mentioned any names of persons indulging in honey-trapping. BJP leaders have no moral right to take anybody's name. Around 17 BJP leaders had secured injunction order (gag order) from the court government when BJP was in power in the state. The BJP leaders had made videos of their own party leaders," alleged Yathindra. Stating that Shivakumar's role in this scandal was ruled out as no one has mentioned it in the House, the MLC, said "If anyone else is involved, it will be clear once a probe is conducted." To a question on Rajanna's reluctance to file a complaint, Yathindra said it was left to the discretion of the minister. The former MLA from Varuna Assembly constituency, who had vacated the seat in 2023 for his father, said it was necessary to have CCTVs installed in the official residences of the ministers too as there could be elements trying to play mischief. "The CM's residence has CCTV and police bandobast and every visitor's details are recorded. I know it since I live there. But I am not aware if the ministers' residences have it. It should be installed to avoid people who come with ill intentions,' said Yathindra. Participants attend the China Development Forum 2025 in Beijing, capital of China, March 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin) * "China gave the answer for where growth would come from: Growth from high tech, growth by higher efficiency, and high-quality growth," remarked Siemens AG President and CEO Roland Busch during the just-concluded China Development Forum (CDF) 2025. * "Looking ahead, China will not only serve as a global innovation hub but also a core arena for setting standards and reshaping industrial chains," noted a PwC report released at the CDF. * While China accelerates its push toward innovation-led growth and deepens its commitment to openness, global businesses continue to see the country as a critical partner in achieving long-term economic prosperity. Beijing, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Against the backdrop of global economic fragmentation and rising uncertainties, China reaffirmed its commitment to innovation-driven high-quality development and global cooperation at the just-concluded China Development Forum (CDF) 2025. Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of CDF 2025, underscored China's commitment to its 2025 growth target of around 5 percent, signaling strong confidence in the country's economic prospects. The decision reflects both China's profound understanding of its economic conditions, and confidence in its governance capacity and future development potential, Li said, calling for the combination of more proactive and impactful macro policies with structural reforms, and voicing hope that China will continue to welcome enterprises from around the world with open arms. The premier added that the country will safeguard free trade, and contribute to the smooth and stable operation of global industrial and supply chains. Themed "Unleashing Development Momentum for Stable Growth of Global Economy," the high-profile gathering held from March 23 to 24 in Beijing brought together Chinese policymakers, global business leaders, and leading international scholars to chart a course for sustainable growth amid uncertainties. "China is open for business and China is set for growth," said Ola Kallenius, chairman of the board of management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, on the sidelines of the event. Ola Kallenius (C), chairman of the board of management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, talks with other guests before the opening ceremony of the China Development Forum 2025 in Beijing, capital of China, March 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin) STABILITY AMID UNCERTAINTIES As the theme of stability resonated throughout the forum discussions, Han Wenxiu, executive deputy director of the Office of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs, provided insight into China's economic resilience and stability to counteract global uncertainties. "Amid rising external instability and uncertainty, China will remain firmly focused on pursuing its own development, leveraging the certainty of high-quality growth to offset external uncertainties and striving to serve as a stabilizing anchor for the global economy," Han added. International observers echoed confidence in China's economic prospects. Jeffrey Sachs, renowned economist and director of Columbia University's Center for Sustainable Development, told Xinhua that China's around-5-percent growth target is "perfectly achievable," adding that the country is "booming in key sectors, especially digital, artificial intelligence, robotics, and this is going to propel a Chinese growth." In the eyes of Standard Chartered Group Chief Executive Bill Winters, China's growth story has shifted. "It is now about transformation and unleashing new productive forces to flourish to support high-quality growth," he said. A PwC report released at the CDF noted that over the past two years, driven by new quality productive forces, China has demonstrated a commercial evolution path distinct from those of the traditional industrialized nations, marked by improvements in production factors, transformations in business models, and the intelligent reshaping of industrial chains. "This has opened up new opportunities for global business investment and development in China, highlighting the new advantages of the Chinese market during the global economic transition period," the report read. A humanoid robot is pictured during an innovative development promotion conference focusing on artificial intelligence in Suzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Bo) INNOVATION AS NEW GROWTH ENGINE Finance Minister Lan Fo'an offered concrete details about China's supportive fiscal policies, emphasizing their role in stimulating innovation and consumption. "We're implementing targeted measures to convert potential demand into real growth drivers," Lan explained. "This includes increasing fiscal support for tech innovation and providing tangible assistance to private enterprises." He specifically highlighted plans to "accelerate the development of new quality productive forces" through strategic investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and other cutting-edge technologies. Data showcased China's progress: its global innovation index ranking rose to 11th in 2024, with 19.6 percent, 27 percent, 64 percent, and 91.5 percent year-on-year growth in semiconductor wafers, industrial robots, bullet trains, and drones respectively in early 2024. The nation's emphasis on innovation as a driver for high-quality growth resonated strongly throughout the forum. Siemens AG President and CEO Roland Busch pointed to China's advances in AI and high-tech manufacturing. "China gave the answer for where growth would come from: Growth from high tech, growth by higher efficiency, and high-quality growth," he remarked, adding that China surprises the world with innovations like the open foundational model R-1 developed by DeepSeek. Kallenius also praised China's innovation-driven market. "China's competitive advantage lies in its passion for innovation," he said. "That is why Mercedes-Benz continues to deepen its presence in China." Reflecting this trend, AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot emphasized the country's emergence as a global leader in life sciences. "Today, China is home to one of AstraZeneca's Global R&D Centres, where our researchers in Shanghai are spearheading 20 global clinical trials and advancing over 200 pipeline projects," he said. Prior to the forum, the British pharmaceutical giant 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 AI and data science laboratory, will accelerate early-stage drug research and clinical development. "Looking ahead, China will not only serve as a global innovation hub but also a core arena for setting standards and reshaping industrial chains," the PwC report added. Guests attend a high-level dialogue themed "China's Reform and Economic Prospect" during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China's Hainan Province on March 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Hongxia) OPEN COLLABORATION FOR SHARED FUTURE From CDF 2025 in Beijing to the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in south China's Hainan Province, foreign executives reaffirmed their commitment to China as a key market for investment and collaboration: China's complete industrial system, rich application scenarios, vast market scale, and large talent pool offer extensive collaboration opportunities for international industrial and technological innovation. The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China said in its latest survey that 58 percent of its member firms plan to expand or maintain investments in China through 2025, while 53 percent of U.S. companies are expected to invest more in the country, according to the American Chamber of Commerce in China. BMW AG Chairman Oliver Zipse stressed that "economic prosperity comes from openness, not protectionism," while criticizing trade barriers. "The best response to 'de-risking' strategies is more cooperation, not less." Speaking to global business leaders attending the CDF, Lan also emphasized that China's fiscal policy will support high-standard opening up, and that China will ensure equal treatment for all types of business entities and continue to improve the business environment. "For global companies, China's commitment to high-tech innovation and open collaboration makes it an indispensable partner for long-term growth," said Busch, highlighting China's rapid technological advancements and collaborative spirit. Jean-Pascal Tricoire, chairman of Schneider Electric, said: "China is not only our second-largest worldwide market but it's also a vital source of innovation." For the French industrial giant, China will remain a key partner as it navigates the complexities of a rapidly changing world, he added. While China accelerates its push toward innovation-led growth and deepens its commitment to openness, global businesses continue to see the country as a critical partner in achieving long-term economic prosperity, and as the premier put it, there is a growing need for countries to open their markets and for enterprises to share resources, in order to address challenges and pursue common prosperity. The Delhi High Court has allowed Engineer Abdul Rashid, a Member of Parliament and leader of Awami Itehad Party (AIP), to attend the second part of the fourth session of the 18th Lok Sabhafrom March 26 to April 4while staying in judicial custody. Rashid was elected as an MP from the Baramulla Parliamentary constituency in the 2024 general elections while in jail. He is currently in Tihar Jail, facing charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in an alleged terror funding case. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested him in 2019, but he has always denied the charges, calling them politically motivated. AIPs chief spokesperson, Inam Un Nabi, welcomed the courts decision and thanked the judiciary for upholding democracy. We are grateful to the honourable court for allowing Engineer Rashid to perform his parliamentary duties despite the challenges, Nabi said. This decision strengthens trust in democracy and justice. We also appreciate our legal team, led by senior advocate N. Hariharan and advocate Vikhyat Oberoi, for their dedicated efforts. According to the courts order, Rashid will be taken from jail to Parliament under police escort. He will be placed under Parliament security and allowed to carry out his duties. However, he will not be allowed to talk to the media or use any communication devices. Nabi said that this ruling protects the democratic rights of North Kashmirs voters, ensuring their voice is heard in the countrys top law-making body. Rashid is an important political figure known for his strong views on Kashmir and his demand for restoration of autonomy the Jammu and Kashmir had enjoyed under Article 370. He has been also strong advocate of human rights. He has carved a place for himself in Kashmirs contested political space and was elected twice to the J&K assembly from Langate in Kupwara in north Kashmir. He was released from jail temporarily by the court last year to campaign for his party in the assembly elections held in September and October last year. However, the AIP failed to impress the voters as the party, despite contesting several seats, managed to win only oneLangate. The seat was won by Rashids brother, Sheikh Khursheed. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami's trip to Delhi continues to dominate headlines in Tamil Nadu as reports emerge that Palaniswami's meeting with Amit Shah did explore the possibilities of a potential alliance between the parties. Though AIADMK said Palaniswami's visit was mainly in connection with the inauguration of the party's new office in Delhi, the former chief minister squeezed some time off his schedule to meet the BJP leader. The meeting happened around 9 pm at Amit Shah's residence for over one hour. Though Palaniswami claimed he did not talk to Shah about an alliance since there was over a year left for the elections, speculations are that Palaniswami did broach the topic with Amit Shah, according to Dinathanti. Also read: Why did Edappadi K Palaniswamy fly to Delhi alone? Speculations rife about AIADMK-BJP alliance Shah's demand that the total seats have to be shared evenly for an alliance to happen left Palaniswami shocked, the report added. This means that of the 234 seats, the BJP and AIADMK will field candidates in 117 seats each. The Union Minister also demanded that the party share the power, in the event of a victory. The BJP is also reportedly hatching hopes that it can defeat the DMK in the upcoming elections if it ensures that the votes are not scattered. During the last elections, the AIADMK-led alliance included parties, including the PMK and BJP. The BJP is also closely watching Vijay's political entry. There are also speculations that Palaniswami expressed his discomfort with Annamalai and his role as the BJP chief. He also seemed unenthusiastic about welcoming expelled leaders like TTV Dhinakaran, VK Sasikala, and O Panneerselvam back to the fold. However, Palaniswami told reporters that his talks with Shah touched on the current issues in Tamil Nadu, including on the tri-language policy, constituency de-limitation and action on the Mekedadu and Mullaperiyar dam issues. Palaniswami said he also demanded a complete investigation into the TASMAC scam in Tamil Nadu. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor took a jab at the CPI(M)-led LDF government in Kerala, saying they finally done the right thing by allowing private universities to open. The Kerala State Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Bill, 2025, passed by the Kerala Assembly on March 25, is the result of a key policy change adopted by the CPI(M). The bill aimed at regulating the establishment and operation of private universities in the state was passed by a voice vote, but the process was marked by significant debate and opposition. The opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), led by Congress, supported the bill in principle but raised key concerns about its provisions, such as fee structures and the impact on public institutions, and moved several amendments. K.K. Rema, Revolutionary Marxist Party of India (RMP) legislator representing Vadakara, was the only legislator to vote against the bill, criticizing it as an attempt to commercialise higher education. So Keralas LDF government has finally done the right thing, by permitting private universities to open in the state. As usual, the decision comes about 15 to 20 years late, which is usually the case with those anchored in a 19th century ideology. Never forget that when computers pic.twitter.com/VHB2VUPMO5 Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) March 26, 2025 The CPI(M) has traditionally held a strong opposition to the establishment of private universities in Kerala. Historically, the party has been against the privatisation of education, viewing it as a threat to public access and social equity. In 2016, when the UDF was in power, the Students' Federation of India (SFI) affiliated to CPI(M) even physically assaulted T.P. Sreenivasan, then Vice Chairman of the Higher Education Council, during a protest at the Global Education Summit in Kovalam. However, in 2022, CPI(M) signalled policy shift. Higher Education Minister R. Bindu had said in the assembly that in 2022 itself an expert committee constituted to recommend reforms in the higher education sector had recommended to the government to allow private universities. The minister defended her partys and governments position to public universities by saying they waited till 2025 in order to ensure that all public universities are adequately strengthened. Notably, Tharoor said in his post that CPI(M) is in fact late by 15 to 20 years late. As usual, the decision comes about 15 to 20 years late, which is usually the case with those anchored in a 19th century ideology, he wrote on X. Never forget that when computers first came to India, Communist goons entered public sector offices to smash them. The only parties to object to the introduction of mobile telephones in India were also the communist ones. It took them years to realise that the real beneficiary of these changes was the common man, for whom they claimed to speak. Im sure they will one day finally enter the 21st century, but it may only be in the 22nd! India and China on Wednesday agreed to continue efforts to further facilitate and promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, including arrangements for resumption of direct flights and Kailash Manasarovar Yatra. Joint Secretary (East Asia) Gourangalal Das held talks with Liu Jinsong, Director General of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Beijing. The talks were held a day after the 33rd meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China Border Affairs in Beijing on Tuesday. The 33rd meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on #China-India Border Affairs was held in Beijing today. Both sides, adopting a positive, constructive, and forward-looking approach, conducted a comprehensive and in-depth exchange of views on pic.twitter.com/KmYE45BLab Xu Feihong (@China_Amb_India) March 25, 2025 Both Das and Jinsong discussed resumption of dialogue mechanisms in a step-by-step manner to address each others priority areas of interest and concern and move relations on to a more stable and predictable path, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. They reviewed the developments in bilateral relations in the last few months. Since October 2024, the foreign ministers of the two countries have met twice while the Special Representatives on the India-China boundary question have held their 23rd meeting. These high-level meetings have provided strategic guidance to stabilise and further develop relations, the MEA noted. In today's meeting, the two sides reviewed the action taken by them to implement the strategic direction as also the specific steps agreed in the meeting between Foreign Secretary and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister in January 2025 to stabilise and rebuild ties, it said. The decision to revive the Special Representatives (SR) mechanism and other such dialogue formats was taken at a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan on October 23. Subsequently, in December, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval travelled to Beijing and held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. In January, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Beijing and held talks with his Chinese counterpart Sun Weidong. According to MEA, the two sides have made further progress on the modalities to resume Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in 2025. The relations between India and China came under severe strain following the Galwan Valley clashes in 2020. The Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister Narendra Modi has got a new full-time member in Sanjay Kumar Mishra, a 1984 batch Indian Revenue Service officer. The EAC-PM is an independent body constituted to advise on economic issues and policy formulation by addressing issues of macroeconomic importance. Sanjay Kumar Mishra's appointment gains significance as he brings with him a rich experience of handling economic matters globally -starting from his stint in the Department of Revenue more than a decade ago when double taxation disputes between countries was a concern, to proactively helping implement measures that placed India in a favourable position. His handling of the international tax regime is less known but Mishra, who served as joint secretary (foreign tax division ) in the Department of Revenue between 2010-2013, was instrumental in resolving double taxation disputes with 175 countries, including the United States, Japan, United Kingdom, France and Netherlands. He also negotiated more than 65 double taxation avoidance agreements and tax information exchange agreements, that provide for the exchange of information with countries on requests related to specific criminal or civil tax matters. In addition, he was also the Indian representative to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development between 2008-2013 where he played a significant role in the revision of the OECD convention on international tax and transfer pricing guidelines. Mishra was also instrumental in rolling out the Advance Pricing Agreement programme in 2012 after the country saw a large number of transfer pricing cases held up in dispute and helped streamline the pricing of international transactions. His experience in handling economic issues gave the revenue authorities an edge as General Anti-Avoidance Rules emerged as a significant step to address widespread issues of tax avoidance as against tax mitigation. Mishra then served in the Union Home Ministry from 2013-2014 holding crucial posts like joint secretary (border management) before coming to the ED. It is then that he transformed the Enforcement Directorate from a tiny agency handling economic offences under the revenue department into a powerful agencyserving as its director from 2018 to 2023the longest tenure of any ED director since the time the agency got its teeth through the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, a law that came into force in 2005. He brought in several standard operating procedures to streamline the organisational work, cracked down on errant officers and focused on bringing the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act to deter economic offenders from evading arrests by staying abroad besides allowing confiscation of their assets. Mishra, 65, spent close to seven years in totality in ED - more than any of his predecessors- since his first stint in ED was between 1989-1993 when he was assistant director - a post that is now equivalent to a deputy director. What is lesser known about Mishra is that he is a postgraduate in biochemistry from Lucknow University and worked as a researcher in Central Drug Research Institute in Lucknow as a senior research fellow before joining the Indian Revenue Service. Mishra is now often referred to as a walking encyclopedia on economic matters in the country. His knowledge of financial laws both in India and abroad later helped shape India's pitch at the Financial Action Task Force, the global money laundering and terror financing watchdog, that won praise in 2024. The FATF noted that significant steps have been taken by India to tackle illicit finance and ensure technical compliance. Those who have worked with him attribute it to an outcome-oriented approach in tackling corruption, black money, terror funding and money laundering. Insiders say the deterrent effect raised India's position subsequently as the only major economy with a federal structure that figures on the "regular follow up" category of the FATF. Those close to Mishra say that he is an officer who keeps a low profile but his strong grip on economic matters and policy formulation has often helped the government tackle critical issues in the last decade. The passing away of eminent economist Bibek Debroy, who was the chairman of the EAC to the PM, last year had created a gap that needed to be filled by the government. It is expected that Mishra will be playing a key role in steering the economic policies of the Modi government in its third term. Congress legislators from the Madiga community, a numerically dominant sub-caste among Dalits in Telangana, have urged the high command to consider inducting one of them into the cabinet for better representation. The Revanth Reddy-led government is all set for a cabinet expansion in the coming days with speculation rife that 4-5 new faces could be added to the cabinet while two may be dropped from the existing 12-member team of ministers. A few days ago, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy with a delegation of senior ministers met Delhi congress leaders including President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. Since then, hectic lobbying has been underway from different factions and groups to push forward their candidatures. The Madiga community comprises 47 lakh voters or 60 per cent of the total Dalit population in the state. Last year, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the subcategorisation of Madigas, who have been fighting for decades for a separate quota within the SC category. The importance of the community is growing in the political sphere, too. Six legislators, Adluri Lakshman Kumar, Mandula Samuel, Vemula Veeresham, Kavvampally Satyanarayana, Thota Laxmikanth Rao and Kale Yadaiah have collectively written to the Telangana AICC in-charge, Meenakshi Natarajan underlining the importance of the community to the Congress party. In the recent parliamentary elections, the Congress party in Telangana has not given a single seat to the Madiga community in Nagarkurnool, Peddapalli and Warangal constituencies despite the community's high population in those districts. We would like to emphasize that this community has supported the Congress party unconditionally. However, despite our community's loyalty and substantial presence, we feel underrepresented in the current state cabinet. It is with a sense of deep concern and hope for equitable representation that we urge you to consider appointing a minister from the Madiga community to the cabinet, they wrote in the letter dated March 25. The Congress is likely to appoint one Dalit minister in the expansion and the prominent name doing the rounds is G. Vivek, an industrialist and owner of a regional news media channel and newspaper. However, he belongs to the Mala sub-caste of the SC community. There is a divided opinion within the party as a section feels that a leader from the Madiga community should get a ministerial berth as the Mala community though smaller in number already has a Deputy CM in Bhatti Vikramarka. The speaker, Gaddam Prasad Kumar is also from the Mala community. Among the probables from the Madiga community, Adluri Lakshman Kumar, the government whip, is learnt to be seriously considered by the Congress high command. West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday accused the state government of appeasement politics for ensuring that a certain community is benefited from OBC reservation. During a press conference at the BJPs state headquarters in Kolkata, he alleged that the TMC government has launched an illegal OBC survey, violating the Constitution of India. Currently, the Supreme Court is hearing the West Bengal governments petition challenging the Calcutta High Courts ruling which revoked the Other Backward Class (OBC) status of 77 communities last year. During the last hearing on March 18, Kapil Sibal, on behalf of the West Bengal government, reportedly told the division bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and Augustine George Masih that the state Commission for Backward Classes would conduct and complete a fresh survey in three months on communities who have applied to be part of the states OBC list. However, LoP Adhikari claimed that the state was surveying classes from only one religious community as part of its OBC survey. He further alleged that the survey had begun days before the apex courts approval on March 18. He pointed to documents from Basirhat in South 24 Parganas district, where a notice was allegedly circulated stating that the OBC survey scheduled for March 10, 2025, would be conducted exclusively for "only Muslim communities." He also cited similar claims from his own Nandigram assembly constituency. LoP Adhikari stated that if an OBC re-survey is to be conducted, it should include everyone. He alleged that the illegal survey is being conducted with the help of government resources such as Bengal Sahayata Kendras, ASHA workers, and ICDS staff. Additionally, he claimed that the process is being carried out under the guidance of imams. The Nandigram MLA alleged that in fear of losing the case in the Supreme Court the state government began the ongoing survey so that it could seek additional time from the top court. He believes the state will seek time till at least the next assembly election. To keep the vote bank intact she destroyed the hopes of lakhs of government job aspirants, he said, alleging that as a result of the states policy Hindu OBCs are suffering. There are no jobs, only certificates. The government is appeasing a particular community solely based on religious polarisation. The 55-year-old former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP declared his intention to file a petition in the Calcutta High Court, challenging the state government's survey and urging the inclusion of the National OBC Commission and the Centre in the case. In a strong rebuttal, India on Wednesday trashed a report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and termed the agency as an entity of concern. The Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that the report biased and politically motivated. The USCIRF's persistent attempts to cast aspersions on the country's vibrant multicultural society reflect a deliberate agenda rather than a genuine concern for religious freedom, the MEA said. Our response to media queries regarding the 2025 Annual Report of United States Commission on International Religious Freedom https://t.co/c5tAF1INZ3 pic.twitter.com/PvpwbZHv5u Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) March 26, 2025 In its 2025 annual report, the USCIRF alleged that the attacks on minority communities was still on the rise in India and that the condition of religious freedom in the country continued to deteriorate. The panel called for imposing sanctions on individuals and entitiessuch as Vikash Yadav and RAWby freezing their assets and/or barring their entry into the United States. Yadav is a former Indian government official who has been charged in the alleged plot to kill Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US. Also read Did RAW plot assassinations of Sikh separatists? US religious freedom panel seeks sanctions on Indian spy agency The USCIRF also recommended designating India as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for engaging in systematic religious freedom violations as defined under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). The MEA, however, hit back, saying it was the USCIRF that should be designated as an entity of concern. "India is home to 1.4 billion people who are adherents to all religions known to mankind. However, we have no expectation that the USCIRF will engage with the reality of India's pluralistic framework or acknowledge the harmonious coexistence of its diverse communities," the statement said. It added that such efforts to undermine India's standing as a beacon of democracy and tolerance will not succeed. In fact, it is the USCIRF that should be designated as an entity of concern. Capping weeks-long speculations, senior Shiv Sena Uddhav Thackeray faction leader Snehal Jagtap has switched to the NCP, days after her family and she met with NCP leader and Ajit Pawar's close aide Sunil Tatkare drew eyeballs last week. Jagtap, daughter of former Mahad mayor and former MLA Manikrao Jagtap, was Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate against Shiv Sena Shinde faction leader Bharat Gogawale in the Mahad Assembly constituency. Gogawale defeated her by a huge margin of 26,210 votes. An influential leader from Konkan, Jagtap was initially said to be exploring her options in the BJP, in early January after she quit the leadership post in her party. Her desertion will leave a void in the Shiv Sena (UBT) Konkan region as the party tries to overcome the loss of Rajan Salvi, who was also a prominent leader from Ratnagiri in Konkan. Salvi switched to Shinde faction earlier this month, as a result of Operation Tiger. Maharashtra: Why Rajan Salvi quit Uddhav Thackeray camp to join Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena in Ratnagiri? Daughter of a prominent leader, Jagtap held sway in Mahad, winning over 91,000 votes, despite losing to Gogawale. She had worked hard in the constituency to earn her position in the party and the defeat had hit her morale. Though Thackeray himself tried to pacify her, he was unsuccessful. The three districts of Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and Raigad (excluding Mumbai Metropolitan Region areas of Pen and Alibaug) have a total of 10 Assembly seats, which were once Thackeray strongholds. Why Jagtap is a challenge to Gogawale Interestingly, the entry of Jagtap will alter the equations in Mahad, especially for Gogawale. Jagtap was Gogawale's opponent in Mahad and her switching sides questions his victory in the region. Also significant is the fact that it was Gogawale's political opponent Tatkare who was instrumental in bringing Jagtap to the Mahayuti. There was an open tussle between Tatkare and Gogavale over the post of Guardian Minister after the assembly elections. However, Tatkare is yet to make a political comment on Jagtap's entry. On last week's meeting, Tatkare called it a goodwill gesture. Thousands of Palestinians protested against Hamas on Tuesday, calling for an end to the war against Israel and the release of Israeli hostages still in the militant groups custody. Beleaguered Gazans took to the streets in multiple locations across the narrow coastal strip, including Beit Lahia, Jabalia refugee camps and parts of western Gaza City, asking Hamas to take immediate steps to bring peace. The demonstrations, described by observers as the largest against Hamas since the conflict against Israel began on October 7, 2023, marked an unprecedented display of dissent in the Gaza Strip where the militant group has long suppressed political opposition, often violently. The protests are taking place as civilians in Gaza appear overwhelmed by exhaustion and trauma from nearly 17 months of Israeli onslaught. Social media posts indicate more protests are likely today. In Beit Lahia, near the Indonesian hospital, around 100 residents gathered, waving signs reading "Stop war" and "Children in Palestine want to live". Videos circulating on social media showed bigger crowds, estimated by news agencies to number in the thousands, chanting "Hamas out" and "Hamas terrorists". In Jabalia, dozens burned tyres and shouted, "We want to eat", reflecting the dire humanitarian crisis gripping the enclave. Breaking: Large-scale Protests Against Hamas in Gaza "Down with Hamas, weve had enough, Hamas! "The people are demanding Hamas to release the hostages, to step down from ruling Gaza, and to end this war" pic.twitter.com/c9XzbeE4Hw Eitan Fischberger (@EFischberger) March 25, 2025 Hamas, which has governed Gaza since violently seizing control in 2007 after winning elections the previous year, faces mounting public anger. The protests were sparked in part by Israels resumption of intense bombing in northern Gaza, following a nearly two-month truce that collapsed recently. The health ministry in Gaza reported that at least 792 Palestinians have been killed since the latest military operations began, pushing the total death toll past 50,000 as of Sunday. After Islamic Jihad, an allied militant group, fired rockets into Israel, the army asked to evacuate large swathes of Beit Lahia, further inflaming local discontent. Demonstrators echoed slogans from the 2019 Bidna Neesh (We Want to Live) movement, which Hamas had previously crushed, accusing its rival Fatah of orchestration. This time, however, the protests appeared spontaneous, with one participant telling AFP, I dont know who organised itI joined to say enough with the war. Social media, including Telegram, amplified calls for action, with messages urging Gazans to hold more demonstrations to denounce Hamas and its allies. Hamass response has been swift and brutal. Masked men, some wielding guns and batons, dispersed the crowds, assaulting several protesters. Witnesses reported seeing Hamas security forces in civilian clothing breaking up the Beit Lahia gathering. Pro-Hamas supporters dismissed the protests as insignificant and branded participants traitors, while the group itself has yet to issue an official statement. The humanitarian situation in Gaza has worsened dramatically, with the United Nations reporting no food, water, medicine or fuel entering the territory since Israel tightened its siege on March 2 to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages. An estimated 70 per cent of buildings lie in ruins and essential systems including health care, water and sanitation have collapsed completely. Israel, which has called on Gazans to rise against Hamas, accuses the group of diverting aid to bolster its military efforts, a charge Hamas denies. KABUL, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Afghan border police have uncovered 40 kg of methamphetamine at a crossing point in western Herat province, the Ministry of Interior Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday. The contraband, which was hidden in a truck, was discovered during a routine check of a car at the Islam Qala border crossing point, which connects Afghanistan to Iran, the statement added. Without disclosing further details, the statement indicated that no individuals have been arrested in connection with the trafficking, and the case is under investigation. Ruling out that a 20-year-old Ukrainian model was kidnapped and assaulted before being abandoned on a UAE street, the Dubai Police said that the victim was hospitalised following a scary fall. The Dubai Police condemned the many news reports that claimed that the young Ukrainian woman was abducted and kept captive for 10 days before being released. The reports went on to add that she was assaulted when found on a Dubai street. In a statement, the police department said that no atrocity was committed to the young lady and she was a victim of her own careless actions. On March 12, Wednesday, she entered a construction site where civilians were restricted. After trespassing, she ventured to scale some height and fell, Khaleej Times quoted the police department's release as stating. She suffered serious injuries since the fall was from a considerable height. However, eyewitnesses immediately alerted emergency services who arrived at the scene to take her to a hospital."Witnesses at the scene immediately alerted emergency services, and the individual was promptly rushed to the hospital, where she remains under medical care as she continues to recover," the police release reportedly said. The Ukrainian national's family was informed about the development and all needed assistance is being provided to them, the news report added. The details including the identity of the youngster are kept under wraps as the investigation is still going on. The cops also reminded the public that they should respect the privacy of the victim at this difficult time and refrain from sharing fake news that revealed her identity. The report came amidst a report by Numbeos 2025 Safety Index declaring UAE as the second safest with an impressive Safety Index score of 84.5. Andorra in Europe was the only country ahead of it on the list. As India is yet to respond to Bangladesh's request for a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh's interim government's Chief Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus, a report has claimed that Yunus wanted to visit India before China but the request did not elicit a positive response. Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to Yunus, said Dhaka showed interest in Yunus's visit in December itself, much ahead of Yunus's slated China visit, which is slated to happen on Wednesday. "Unfortunately, we didnt receive a positive response," Alam told The Hindu. Yunus's visit is highly anticipated in China as Dhaka hopes to attract investors and convey the message that Bangladesh is open to Chinese entrepreneurs opening factories in the country. Meanwhile, Dhaka has insisted on a Modi-Yunus meeting again as India says it is considering Bangladesh's request for a meeting at the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit to be held next month. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar indicated that Modi may attend the BIMSTEC Summit but remained non-committal about the meeting with Yunus. Bangladesh, on the other hand, continues to insist on the meeting. Foreign Secretary Md Jasim Uddin told reporters on Tuesday that Dhaka was waiting for a reply. "Bangladesh is prepared for a meeting between Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Narendra Modi. Dhaka is waiting for a positive response from India. We can say on our part that we are ready for the meeting. We are waiting for Indias response," he said. He added that Dhaka hoped the meeting would end the stalemate in the relationships between the two countries. "We are considering this meeting quite seriously given the situation of the bilateral relationships between the two countries," he added. Yunus had recently said in an interview that Bangladesh had no option but to stay on good terms with India. He, however, agreed that propaganda has triggered "some conflicts" between them. "There has been no deterioration, our relations will always be good. They are good now and they will be good in future. There is no other way but to have good relations between Bangladesh and India," he told BBC Bangla in an interview. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has alleged that the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) is involved in assassination plots against Khalistani separatists and has sought to impose sanctions on the Indian spy agency, according to a report. The US panel went on to urge the federal government to designate India as a "country of particular concern" due to violations of religious freedom under the Narendra Modi government. The commission claim that the treatment of Indian minorities is worsening, reported news agency Reuters. The Centre is yet to respond to the allegations levelled by the religious freedom panel. However, India has strongly responded to USCIRF's previous claims on similar lines. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on May 2, 2024, slammed the USCIRF as a "biased organisation with a political agenda". He said the panel publishes their propaganda by masquerading it as an annual report. The USCIRF is known as a biased organisation with a political agenda. They continue to publish their propaganda on India, masquerading as part of an annual report. We really have no expectation that USCIRF will even seek to understand India's diverse, pluralistic and democratic pic.twitter.com/mOfkLhC4SK DD India (@DDIndialive) May 2, 2024 "We really have no expectation that USCIRF will even seek to understand India's diverse, pluralistic and democratic ethos. Their efforts to interfere in the largest electoral exercise in the world will never succeed," Jaiswal said. Another country against which the commission made allegations was the communist-ruled Vietnam, saying the Southeast Asian nation has intensified its control on religious affairs. This comes months after the US Justic Department charged Vikash Yadav, a former RAW official, in connection with an assassination plot against Khalistani separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The FBI booked him with conspiracy to hire a hitman, murder-for-hire plot and money laundering. In the indictment, the agency alleged that Yadav recruited Nikhil Gupta, an Indian citizen, to carry out the murder-for-hire plot in exchange for getting his criminal case quashed. However, the plan was foiled after Gupta unknowingly hired an undercover US law enforcement officer. Following this, Gupta was arrested in Czech Republic and later extradited to the US. On the other hand, Vikash was arrested by Delhi Police in 2023 over an alleged kidnapping and extortion case. The Ministry of External Affairs clarified that Vikash was "no longer an employee of the government of India." US President Donald Trump has come to the rescue of an embattled Mike Waltz, the national security adviser who admitted to have created the secret Signal chat group, which was accessed by a journalist. Trump's officials then reportedly revealed the US plans to attack the Houthis in Yemen hours before the airstrikes. Talking about Waltz, Trump said, "I don't think he should apologise. I think he's doing his best... Probably he won't be using it again, at least not in the very near future." MAJOR BREAKING NEWS: The NSA was WARNED of vulnerabilities in Signal app a MONTH before Houthi strike chat. This is incredibly bad for the Trump administration. pic.twitter.com/9okdM0NisC CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) March 25, 2025 This comes after Waltz called the situation "embarrassing" and took "full responsibility". However, Waltz said he did not have the contact information of Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg and does not know how he was added into the chat. "And we're going to figure out how this happened," Waltz told Fox News. Goldberg had claimed in his article on Monday that an account with Waltz's name had added him to the secret Signal chat earlier this month. He said that days later, an account with name of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed the plans to attack the Houthis, including the information about the targets and the timing. Besides Waltz, accounts with the names of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff were also in the chat. Did Trump officials ignore warning about Signal app? The National Security Agency, an arm of the Defense Department, had in February warned its employees against using Signal. The internal bulletin says the Signal app is often targeted by Russian professional hacking groups to access encrypted conversations, according to CBS News. Ratcliffe who appeared before a Senate panel said Signal is allowed for communication and coordination for work purposes. Also, Gabbard told the Senate panel that there was no classified material in the Signal chat in question. However, the NSA bulletin says that third-party apps like Signal and WhatsApp should not be used for sharing even "unclassified, non-public" information. US President Donald Trump wants Americans to go the India way when it comes to elections. The Republican leader signed an executive order Tuesday, mandating considerable tweaks in the country's polling process. Trump said in India, the voter identification is linked to biometric databases, just like Brazil. He said voters in the US should provide proof that they are American citizens. POTUS signs an executive order on election integrity that includes the following provisions: - Requires documentary, government-issued proof of U.S. citizenship on its voter registration forms. - Conditions federal election-related funds on states complying with the integrity pic.twitter.com/6A5zVdOAYn Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 25, 2025 The president said the US has failed to enforce "basic and necessary" measures to ensure elections are fair as the country relies on self-attestation for citizenship. He also cited examples of other countries, including Germany and Canada where paper ballots are required for tabulating votes while the US relies on methods lacking chain-of-custody protections. The US president said the country has also failed to stop states from counting ballots received after election day and even allowing non-citizens to register to vote. He said Scandinavian countries like Sweden and Denmark restrict voting via mail to those who cannot vote personally and do not allow late-arriving votes. In the executive order, Trump states that if the US should remain a constitutional Republic, "free, fair and honest elections unmarred by fraud, errors or suspicion" are required. The development comes amid Trump's allegations about election fraud despite minimal evidence. The changes proposed in the executive order include voter citizenship verification, enforcement of non-citizen voting laws, security of voting system, prevention of external interference and prosecution of election crimes. A pilot and two children 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. On Monday morning, he 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 theres three people on top of the wing, he told The Associated Press on Tuesday. After saying a little prayer, he continued to get closer and saw a miracle. They were alive and responsive and moving around, he said, adding they waved at him as he approached. The missing Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser, piloted by a man with two immediate juvenile family members aboard, flew Sunday on a recreational sightseeing tour from Soldotna to Skilak Lake on the Kenai Peninsula. The three were rescued on the eastern edge of Tustumena Lake on Monday by the Alaska National Guard after Godes alerted other pilots searching for the plane that he had found it. Another pilot, Dale Eicher, heard Godes radio call and alerted troopers since he was closer to Skilak Lake and figured he had better cell reception. He was also able to provide the planes 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 he said that finding the family within an hour of starting the search and finding them alive was very good news. The three survivors were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, Alaska State Troopers said. They spent a long, cold, dark, wet night out on top of a wing of an airplane that they werent planning on, Godes said. He said there were many miracles at play, from the plane not sinking, to the survivors being able to stay on the wing, to the three surviving the night in temperatures dipping into the 20s (subzero Celsius). Its a cold dark place out there at night, he said. The plane was mostly submerged in the lake with only the wing and the top of the rudder exposed above the ice and water, Godes said. There is no indication why the plane crashed. The National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday that it is investigating with the Federal Aviation Administration. The 60,000-acre (24,200-hectare) Tustumena Lake is situated about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southwest of Anchorage and has been described by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game as notorious for its sudden, dangerous winds. Conditions around the lake with nearby mountains, a glacier and gusty winds can cause havoc for both boats and planes. The body of water is the largest freshwater lake on the Kenai Peninsula . Even under what would be considered a benign or relatively weak pressure gradient, 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 fresh water can kick up with the wind and turn 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. Its just a recipe for chaos and for turbulence, he said. Alaska is a state with few roads, leaving many communities to rely on small airplanes as the preferred mode of transportation. Last month, in western Alaska, 10 people died when a small commuter plane that was overweight by half a ton crashed into sea ice in the Norton Sound, near Nome on the states western coast. Five years ago, a deadly midair collision near the Soldotna airport claimed the lives of seven people, including an Alaska state lawmaker. (AP) 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 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. Crocketts comments are disgraceful, Texas Sen. John Cornyn posted on the social media platform X. Shameful. Crockett suggested Tuesday that she was not referring to Abbotts condition. Instead, she posted on X that she was referring to Abbotts 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. Abbotts 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 administrations Department of Government Efficiency, be taken down. (AP) RIYADH, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Three days of technical-level negotiations on the details of a potential ceasefire in Ukraine concluded here Tuesday without an official joint statement, as participating parties offered somewhat conflicting assessments of the talks. The intense parallel interactions between the United States and delegations from Ukraine and Russia on the table, including a 12-hour one between the United States and Russia on Monday, and two shorter rounds between the United States and Ukraine on Sunday and Tuesday, came as fighting on the battlefield remains intense. Although Washington signaled on Tuesday its willingness to continue facilitating negotiations between the warring parties, analysts remain skeptical about the prospects of such a diplomatic push, citing deep-seated distrust, conflicting demands among stakeholders, and the inherent complexities of the process. CONFLICTING ASSESSMENTS For the latest talks, which build on previous negotiations held in Saudi Arabia and subsequent phone exchanges between the presidents of the three countries, the U.S. delegation included Andrew Peek, a senior director at the White House National Security Council, and Michael Anton, a senior official from the State Department. The Russian delegation was led by Grigory Karasin, chair of the Federation Council's Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sergei Beseda, an advisor to the director of the Federal Security Service. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov headed the Ukrainian delegation. On Tuesday, hours after the U.S. and Ukrainian delegations concluded their second round of talks, the White House issued separate statements elaborating on its understanding of the parallel meetings. It stated that the United States had agreed separately with Russia and Ukraine to "ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea," and to develop measures for implementing the presidents' agreement to "ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine." The United States, with Russia and Ukraine respectively, also "welcomes the good offices of third countries with a view toward supporting the implementation of the energy and maritime agreements" and "will continue working toward achieving a durable and lasting peace," the statement added. Among the outcomes of the U.S.-Russia talks, the United States pledged to help restore Russia's access to the global market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, reduce maritime insurance costs, and improve access to ports and payment systems for such transactions. In the U.S.-Ukraine talks, both sides reaffirmed the United States' commitment to facilitating the exchange of prisoners of war, securing the release of civilian detainees, and ensuring the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children. Meanwhile, the Kremlin stated on Tuesday that Russia and the United States had agreed to ensure the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative, contingent on the easing of sanctions on Russia's agricultural and food trade. Russia also stipulated the removal of restrictions on its food and fertilizer producers and exporters, the servicing of related Russian-flagged vessels in ports, and the supply of agricultural machinery to Russia, according to the Kremlin. It further announced that a "temporary moratorium" on strikes against energy facilities -- including nuclear power plants, oil refineries, gas pipelines, and hydroelectric dams -- would be in effect for 30 days starting March 18 and "may be extended by mutual agreement." Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on March 18 to halt attacks on energy facilities in a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. As for Kiev, while Umerov stated on Tuesday that "all parties" had agreed on the need to prohibit attacks on energy infrastructure in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, he also warned that any movement of Russian military vessels beyond the eastern part of the Black Sea would "violate the agreement's spirit" and be considered a "threat to Ukraine's national security." In response, Ukraine would exercise its right to self-defense, he cautioned. MIXED SENTIMENTS Commenting on the three-day peace negotiations, Trump said the U.S. side was "in deep discussions with Russia and Ukraine," which were "going well." He added that he would look into Russia's requests for sanctions relief. However, the mood is quite different for both Russia and Ukraine. Although the meetings in Saudi Arabia hinted at the possibility of a broader ceasefire, the two countries remain wary of the latest deal, voicing contrasting concerns over its implementation. In an interview with local media, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow needs "clear guarantees" from the White House regarding the agreement on the safety of shipping in the Black Sea. "Given the sad experience of agreements with just Kiev, the guarantees can only be the result of an order from Washington to (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky and his team," Lavrov said. Zelensky accused the Kremlin of "lying" and "manipulating" by saying the Black Sea ceasefire depends on "sanctions," warning that the Russians "must understand that if they launch strikes, there will be a strong response." At a press conference earlier Tuesday, Zelensky criticized Washington's decision to help restore Russia's access to the world market for agricultural goods, dismissing it as "a weakening of the position and a weakening of sanctions." The Ukrainian president said he hopes to gain clarity from an upcoming summit in Paris regarding which countries would deploy forces to enforce the peace agreements. "Our task is to come out with the result of understanding who we have and who is ready" to contribute forces to implement measures to halt the conflict, Zelensky said. In the meantime, Europe, once again finding itself sidelined in addressing the conflict, has been actively organizing support for Ukraine in recent weeks. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that leaders of the so-called "coalition of the willing" will meet again this week, focusing on short-term military support for Ukrainian forces and exploring long-term "security guarantees" to help sustain Ukraine's defense. Macron's remarks have been dismissed by the United States as "a posture and a pose." The meeting in Paris with Zelensky will be the latest in a series of high-stakes gatherings among European leaders, following London's hosting of discussions on Thursday among European military chiefs from the coalition backing Ukraine. Britain and France are taking a leading role in organizing Western support for Ukraine after Trump surprised Europe by initiating talks with Putin. The two European powers have pledged to help provide the military force needed to keep Russia "at bay" if a ceasefire is reached. UNCERTAIN FUTURE Notably, the battlefield showed no signs of quieting despite the peace talks in Saudi Arabia, with both Russia and Ukraine reporting fresh waves of drone strikes and accusing each other of escalation. On Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said Ukraine had "continued to deliberately strike Russian peaceful energy infrastructure facilities using UAVs." "By continuing daily attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, Zelensky confirms his inability to negotiate and his lack of control by external guarantors responsible for ensuring compliance with any possible agreements," the ministry said. In Ukraine, the number of people injured on Monday in a Russian missile strike on the northeastern city of Sumy rose to 101, including 23 children, according to the Sumy regional administration. Preliminary data indicated that a Russian missile struck a residential area of the city, damaging several apartment buildings and an educational institution, the Sumy Regional Prosecutor's Office said in a statement. Experts have pointed out that a real, permanent peace settlement could be far off, citing deep-rooted divisions and a growing trust deficit among the stakeholders. Khalid Almatrafi, Bureau Chief of Asharq TV in Saudi Arabia, told Xinhua that "the escalating mutual attacks ... reflect the deepening gap between the two sides and complicate any negotiating process." The repeated accusations deepen mistrust and make it difficult to establish any "confidence-building measures," which are essential for transitioning from a ceasefire to a sustainable political settlement, said Almatrafi. Echoing Almatrafi's viewpoint, Abdulaziz Alshaabani, a Saudi researcher at Al Riyadh Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said that "a lack of trust" poses a major threat to reaching an agreement, "given the history of violations of agreements between the two sides." "In 2022, several rounds of negotiations took place ... in the end, nothing came of it," said Andrey Kortunov, a scholar with the Valdai Discussion Club in Russia. "Over the past three years, there has been a major escalation, and the situation has changed," making it "difficult for both sides to find compromises," Kortunov said. "Given the difficulty in enforcing a halt to strikes on energy infrastructure agreed upon last week, it remains to be seen how effective the latest deal will be," The Independent, a British online newspaper, reported. The newspaper also questioned Washington's motives in assuming the mediator's role, particularly concerning Ukraine's mineral and energy resources. "The Trump administration has claimed that Washington's stake in Ukraine's minerals and energy resources could deter Russia from launching future attacks," but such a diplomatic push would, in fact, grant Washington "a vast stake in Ukraine's rare earth mineral deposits," it said. "Ukraine's gas infrastructure could also be of interest to the White House, with Kiev owning the world's third-largest underground gas storage capacity," it noted. 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. 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. Archers 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? 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. (AP) For a second consecutive day, massive protests swept through Gaza on Wednesday, as thousands of residents took to the streets to denounce Hamas rule and demand an end to the ongoing war. What began as isolated demonstrations in Beit Lahia on Tuesday has now spread across the Strip, with large rallies reported in Deir al-Balah, Nuseirat, and Shujaiyya. Furious protesters held boldly worded banners with messages such as We want to live, The masked man will never rule me, Stop the destruction, and Enough lies! A sign in Shujaiyya declared: Hamas does not represent us, and one particularly striking young man wore a white shirt with a Star of David on it while waving a white flag. In Nuseirat, thousands marched through the streets chanting Hamas out! and even turned their anger toward Al Jazeera, a network often accused of siding with the terror group. No, no to Al Jazeera! The people are the truth! demonstrators roared. One Gazan, speaking on camera, delivered a blistering rebuke of Hamas leadership: Hamas must be removed. They are not the resistance we, the people, are the resistance, while Hamas leaders live in luxury abroad. Your browser does not support the video tag. The wave of unrest has not gone unnoticed by Israeli leadership. Defense Minister Yisrael Katz directly addressed Hamas, warning that the IDF is preparing to intensify its operations. Soon, the IDF will strike with full force in additional areas of Gaza. You will be required to evacuate, and you will lose more and more ground. The plans are ready and approved, Katz declared. He urged the people of Gaza to follow the example of Beit Lahia, where protests first erupted. Demand Hamas removal from Gaza and the immediate release of all Israeli hostages. This is the only way to stop the war, he said. The renewed protests came a day after hundreds of Palestinians first took to the streets of Gaza to protest against Hamas rule and demand an end to the war. Demonstrations broke out in at least three locations across the Strip, with protesters voicing their frustration over Hamass governance and the ongoing devastation gripping the enclave. Footage from Beit Lahia in northern Gaza captured around 100 residents calling for peace, holding signs that read Stop war and Children in Palestine want to live. The anger in the crowd was unmistakable, as chants of Hamas out, Hamas terrorists, and The people want to overthrow Hamas echoed through the streets. Some demonstrators even carried white flagsa desperate plea for peace in a region long controlled with an iron fist by Hamas. Breaking: Large-scale Protests Against Hamas in Gaza Down with Hamas, weve had enough, Hamas! The people are demanding Hamas to release the hostages, to step down from ruling Gaza, and to end this war pic.twitter.com/c9XzbeE4Hw Eitan Fischberger (@EFischberger) March 25, 2025 Despite the risk of violent suppression, the protests quickly spread. In the Jabalia refugee camp, demonstrators burned tires and chanted We want to eat, a stark reflection of the humanitarian crisis deepening in Gaza thanks to Hamas. Further south in Khan Younis, protesters erupted into chants of Down with Hamas as they demanded an end to the fighting that has shattered their lives. Hamas, notorious for quashing dissent, has yet to officially comment on the protests. However, eyewitnesses reported plainclothes Hamas security operatives moving to disperse the crowds. Meanwhile, Gaza-based media outlets aligned with Hamas attempted to reframe the demonstrations as merely protests against the war, carefully omitting the widespread calls for the groups downfall. BREAKING: Massive protest in front of the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza. The protest demands: Yes to peace, no to Hamas tyrannical rule. Enough of the war, enough of the destructionin Gaza. pic.twitter.com/kV5PNMFG8C Ihab Hassan (@IhabHassane) March 25, 2025 Public displays of opposition to Hamas in Gaza are exceedingly rare. Since violently seizing control from the Palestinian Authority in 2007, the terror organization has maintained an unrelenting grip on power, silencing critics through arrests, intimidation, and force. The last major protests against Hamas occurred in January 2024, when Palestinians in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis similarly called for an end to the war and Hamass reign, only to be met with brutal crackdowns. The fact that these protests are erupting despite the risk of severe retaliation underscores a growing desperation among Gazans. As hunger and destruction intensify, so too does the frustration with Hamass leadershipraising the question of whether these demonstrations mark the beginning of a larger wave of defiance against the group that has ruled Gaza with fear for nearly two decades. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) In a powerful and unapologetic confirmation hearing, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee made it abundantly clear that he is ready to take on the role of U.S. ambassador to Israel, standing firmly with Americas strongest ally in the Middle East. Speaking before the Senate committee, Huckabee stressed that he would represent the policies of President Donald Trump, rather than his personal views, though his decades-long commitment to Israels security and sovereignty is undeniable. Huckabee, a longtime supporter of Israels right to defend itself and expand its territorial claims, showcased his deep personal connection to the Jewish state, recalling his first visit as a teenager and the countless trips he has led over the years. His unwavering support for Israels security was met with outbursts from anti-Israel agitators in the chamber, who were promptly removed. The former governor made it clear that his focus as ambassador would be on strengthening the Abraham Accordsthe landmark peace agreements between Israel and several Arab nations brokered during Trumps first term. He stressed that a potential normalization deal with Saudi Arabia would be a historic achievement of biblical proportions. During questioning, Huckabee reaffirmed his longstanding skepticism of the two-state solution, an outdated policy pushed by previous administrations that has repeatedly failed to bring peace. He made it clear that any future agreements must prioritize Israels security and sovereignty, not the demands of the Palestinian Authority, which continues to support terrorist organizations and incite violence against Israel. Senators attempted to press Huckabee on issues related to military operations in Gaza, including the use of targeted airstrikes and humanitarian aid restrictions. Huckabee refused to engage in anti-Israel rhetoric, instead emphasizing that Hamasnot Israelbears full responsibility for the war and the suffering in Gaza. The Jewish people need to know they have friends, he declared, calling out the anti-Israel sentiment spreading on American university campuses and in global diplomatic circles. Huckabee did not shy away from denouncing the Palestinian Authoritys corruption and refusal to recognize Israels right to exist. He pointed out that PA leader Mahmoud Abbas is now in the 20th year of his four-year term, exposing the Palestinian leaderships aversion to democracy. He also condemned the PAs notorious pay-for-slay program, which rewards terrorists for murdering Israelis, despite Abbass recent half-hearted promises to end the policy. When asked about the Trump administrations policy on Gazas future, Huckabee said that Hamas will have no role in governing the enclave. He clarified that any relocation efforts for Palestinian civilians would be voluntary, offering them a safe and secure place to live during the process of cleaning out what is a disastrous mess. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) In the wake of the terror attack in northern Israel on Monday in which an Israeli Arab murdered Moshe Horn, Hyd, 85, and seriously injured an IDF soldier, the Hakol HaYehudi media outlet examined the data to find out how many terror attacks have been perpetrated by Arab-Israelis since the October 7 massacre. The data showed that nine people were murdered by Arab-Israelis since October 7, 2023, [plus one Israeli murdered by a mentally ill Druze man], only two less than the number of people murdered by Palestinian Authority terrorists. It should be noted that there were many more Israeli-Arabs who planned to murder Jews but bChasdei Hashem, their plots were thwarted by Israeli security services. Following the attack on Monday, Kan News reported that security officials are concerned about an increase in motivation among young Israeli-Arabs to murder Jews. The report added that since the beginning of the war, the Shin Bet has dealt with 80! cases of Arab-Israeli plots to attack Jews and another 26 cases of Arab-Israelis pledging allegiance to ISIS or other terrorist organizations. The Cities of Israel organization, which addresses nationalist danger within the Green Line, responded to the report by stating: It is important to remember that these are only the attacks that succeeded, and there are many more that were thwarted in advance. We cannot continue to ignore the overall and disturbing picture of a growing threat from some Israeli Arabs. The Cities of Israel organization calls on the government and the security establishment to treat terrorism in all parts of the country with the same seriousness as in Yehudah and Shomron including administrative restraining orders, economic punishment, and especially increased enforcement and the restoration of control and personal security on the streets. At the same time, we support Israeli citizens who are showing resilience in the face of the wave of terror and violence, and call for the empowerment of security forces and civilian volunteers as part of the response to terror. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) One hundred Gazans left the Strip on Tuesday to work in Indonesia as part of the first pilot program to encourage voluntary migration from Gaza, Channel 12 reported. The project is intended to encourage thousands of Gazans to relocate to Indonesia to work in the construction industry. According to international law, anyone who leaves the Gaza Strip to work will be allowed to return. However, the goal of the program is for the Gazans to choose to settle permanently in Indonesia, the worlds largest Muslim-majority country. Indonesia does not maintain official diplomatic ties with Israel, although there are discreet trade and tourism relations between the countries. But since Indonesia is seeking to join the OECD, it has promised to fulfill the requirement of establishing diplomatic ties with all OECD member states, including Israel. Meanwhile, discreet talks were held between the two countries to establish the pilot program. If the pilot succeeds, the Immigration Directorate established by Defense Minister Yisrael Katz will be responsible for expanding the program. The Directorate is expected to head efforts to facilitate the voluntary relocation of Gazans abroad and assist in finding employment to encourage migration from the Strip. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Rocket alert sirens blared in the Gaza border area shortly after noon on Wednesday. Following the sirens, the IDF spokesperson said that two rockets were identified crossing into Israel from the central Gaza Strip. One rocket was intercepted and the second exploded in an open area near Netivot. BChasdei Hashem, there were no reports of injuries. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group later claimed responsibility for the attack. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Documents contradicting the findings of the Shin Bets internal probe into the October 7 massacre and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bars own statements were revealed in an exclusive report by Yisrael Hayom. The documents, published for the first time, reveal Bars consistent support in the years before the massacre for maintaining quiet in Gaza and even eroding Hamass power through maintaining economic stability in the Strip. Two days before the massacre, Bar outlined two strategic options regarding Gaza: a short-term calming process without conditions tied to ongoing negotiations with Hamas for the return of the two Israelis they were holding and two bodies of IDF soldiers; or a long-term approach involving significant relief and development of Gaza, contingent on a hostage deal and reducing terror directed from Gaza. He emphasized humanitarian relief, stating, Providing humanitarian concessions to Gaza as goodwill, humanitarian relief, increasing the number of workers by an additional 1,500, water, and transferring medicines. The documents contradict Bars recent statements and letter to the government in the days before his dismissal. His letter stated: Within the framework of the process regarding the desire to end my tenure, which I hope will be conducted lawfully, and in light of the claims in the proposed decision, I will present a full detailing of offensive actions and recommendations for strategic discussions, derived from my security and strategic perception, which I brought for the approval of the prime minister, both before October 7 and after, and most of which were not advanced by him. The internal Shin Bet investigation denied understimating Hamas power, stating: The investigation did not find that the Shin Bet belittled the enemy. On the contrary there was a deep understanding of the threat, initiatives, and a desire to thwart the threat, especially Hamas leaders. However, in the years before October 7, Bar did not recommend carrying out targeted eliminations of Hamas leaders. And although the Shin Bet probe stated that Qatari funding was one of the factors that led to Hamass empowerment, it failed to mention Bars repeated recommendations to advance economic stability in the Strip to achieve calm. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Argentinas government has announced the full declassification of all state-held files on Nazi fugitives who sought refuge in the country following World War II. The decision, confirmed by Cabinet Chief Guillermo Francos, comes under the direct orders of President Javier Milei, signaling a long-overdue reckoning with one of Argentinas darkest chapters. These are historical records that must be available to the public, Francos declared, confirming that the archives will include classified government records, banking transactions, and Defense Ministry documents. The move will finally shed light on how some of historys most notorious Nazi war criminals evaded justice and lived comfortably in Argentina for decades, protected by political alliances and secret networks. The declassification order follows a February 17 meeting between Milei and U.S. Senator Steve Daines, a close ally of President Donald Trump, who has long advocated for the release of these documents. It also comes just a day after the government announced it would declassify files on Argentinas military dictatorship (1976-1983), a move that signals Mileis push for radical transparency on historical atrocities. Argentina has long been infamous as a sanctuary for high-ranking Nazi officials, many of whom arrived under the Peron government in the late 1940s, using escape routes known as ratlines. Among the most infamous fugitives was Adolf Eichmann, a key architect of the Holocaust, who lived under a false identity in Buenos Aires until his daring capture by Mossad in 1960. Josef Mengele, the Angel of Death of Auschwitz, also hid in Argentina for nearly a decade before escaping to Paraguay and Brazil, where he died in 1979. Erich Priebke, the SS commander behind the Fosse Ardeatine massacre in Italy, lived undisturbed in Bariloche until his discovery and extradition in the 1990s. For decades, Argentinas complicity in sheltering war criminals was an open secret, yet much of the truth remained buried in government archives. Now, the long-hidden records will finally be revealed, providing answers, accountability, and potentially justicealbeit decades latefor those who protected these monsters. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Evoke shares fell sharply on Wednesday as the William Hill and 888 owner warned of slowing revenue growth at the start of 2025. The gambling group unveiled annual earnings at the top end of expectations, rising 4 per cent to 312.5million on revenue growth of 3 per cent to 1.75billion. But exceptional items, including in relation to the sale of US consumer operations, meant the business recorded a bottom line loss of 168.8million. Evoke, which had enjoyed a better than expected end to 2024, in undergoing a major turnaround strategy that sees the group re-focus its energies on core markets, and reduce costs by investing in AI and automation. The group expects its first quarter revenue to grow in low single digit percentage, which is lower than its 5 to 9 per cent growth expected for the full-year, as measures to reign in gambling-related harm weigh. Evoke said it was planning 15million to 25million of further cost cuts this year, which will offset the expected 10million headwinds from employer national insurance and national living wage hikes. Evoke shares fell 17.3 per cent or 12.35p to 59.05p on Wednesday, having fallen over 33 per cent in the last year. In the red: Evoke shares fell over 17% on Wednesday Across Britain, the group saw retail sales fall 5 per cent last year despite growth in online operations. Evoke said: 'The decline in UK Retail primarily reflects a tougher competitive environment, with our gaming offering in particular having fallen behind competition.' Betting revenue in Britain fell 1.3 per cent year-on-year, driven by an 11.5 per cent decline in staking. Chief executive Per Widerstrom said it had been a pivotal year for the group following the launch of a turnaround strategy. He said progress included a return to revenue growth in the third quarter for the first time in nearly three years. Widerstrom added: 'When I become CEO of this fantastic company in October 2023, it was clear that the legacy 888 and William Hill businesses both held many key ingredients for success, each operating across dynamic and attractive markets, with strong proprietary technology, and boasting some of the industry's most powerful betting and gaming brands. 'However, the Group had not been performing at its full potential and significant changes were required. 'We had to take decisive actions to completely reset our operating model and align it with our new strategy and Value Creation Plan. 'We needed to develop new ways of working to drive operational excellence, and our plans had to be executed by a refreshed and highly committed leadership team. We are under no illusions: this is a complete reset of this business.' The group's redundancy costs for the year came in at 15.7million, amid a 'high number of redundancies' in 2024. Several markets, including Britain, have been cracking down on betting companies in efforts to reign in gambling-related harm. In November, the government capped the amount gamblers could stake on online slot games, which are associated with large losses, long sessions, and binge play. Evoke expects first-quarter core profit to rise by 18million to 28million from the prior year period, supported by cost-cutting measures. North Sea oil and gas firm Ithaca Energy forecast higher 2025 production on Wednesday, encouraged by its acquisition of the British assets of Eni. Ithaca Energy snapped up nearly all of Eni's British oil and gas producing assets last year in an all-stock deal worth around 754million, with an aim to become one of the biggest independent North Sea energy companies. The group told shareholders it would cut a small portion of its workforce following the deal's completion. It has not disclosed the number of jobs that will be affected, but the Eni deal has allowed Ithaca to forecast higher production for 2025. Ithaca Energy shares rose 8.3 per cent or 11.80p to 154.00p on Wednesday, as the group declared an interim dividend of $200million to be paid in April. The company also reaffirmed its dividend policy for this year with a target of $500million. It announced a third interim dividend for 2024 of $200million. On a mission: Ithaca Energy has doubled down on its Rosebank start date The group expects full-year 2025 output in the range of 105,000 to 115,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, above last year's 80,200 boepd. Its 2024 production was around 14 per cent higher than in the previous year. On Tuesday, Ithaca also said it would acquire Japan Petroleum Exploration's (Japex) North Sea business for $193million. Beyond 2025, the group expects to maintain production above 100,000 boepd in the medium-term from its existing producing asset base and the start-up of the Rosebank development in the North Sea. Its 2024 post-tax profit fell to $153.2million from $292.6million a year earlier, largely due to a higher tax burden in 2024. Last year, Labour increased the energy profits levy, raising the headline tax rate on oil and gas activities to 78 per cent, one of the highest rates globally. This year, Ithaca Energy expects to make cash tax payments in the range of $235million to $265million, primarily driven by the profits levy. Executive chairman, Yaniv Friedman, said: '2024 was a transformational year for Ithaca Energy, having made material progress across our strategic objectives creating value organically and inorganically. 'We enter our next era of growth, with a proven strategy and a range of strategic options for growth. 'Our focus in 2025 will continue to be on high-grading investment across our range of growth opportunities, executing in line with our strategy as a value-led investor, to maximise long-term sustainable shareholder value through growth and distributions.' This photo taken on March 25, 2025 shows the wildfire spreading to local villages in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. Local media reported on Wednesday that the wildfire started in Uiseong County, North Gyeongsang Province has spread to many places, causing 18 deaths and severe damage. (NEWSIS via Xinhua) SEOUL, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The death toll rose to 18, with 19 others injured, as deadly wildfires continued to rage in South Korea's southeastern region, government compilation showed Wednesday. Since last Friday, medium and large wildfires have broken out in six regions, especially in Gyeongsang province, affecting at least 17,534 hectares of land, according to the central disaster and safety countermeasures headquarters. Firefighters struggled to contain the rapidly spreading blazes, fueled by strong and dry winds. Of the wounded, six people suffered serious injuries. The number of affected buildings and structures, such as houses, factories and cultural assets, climbed to 209, while more than 26,000 people remained evacuated. The country's forest service raised the wildfire crisis alert to the highest level while thousands of firefighters as well as helicopters and vehicles were mobilized to combat the wildfires. The military also deployed service members and helicopters to help fight the blazes. A helicopter puts out a fire near Hadong county, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, on March 26, 2025. Local media reported on Wednesday that the wildfire started in Uiseong County, North Gyeongsang Province has spread to many places, causing 18 deaths and severe damage. (NEWSIS via Xinhua) This photo taken on March 25, 2025 shows the wildfire spreading to local villages in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. Local media reported on Wednesday that the wildfire started in Uiseong County, North Gyeongsang Province has spread to many places, causing 18 deaths and severe damage. (NEWSIS via Xinhua) This photo taken on March 25, 2025 shows the wildfire spreading to local villages in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. Local media reported on Wednesday that the wildfire started in Uiseong County, North Gyeongsang Province has spread to many places, causing 18 deaths and severe damage. (NEWSIS via Xinhua) Aerospace giant Babcock has won a contract extension worth around 1billion with the Ministry of Defence as Britain ramps up military spending. The FTSE 100 group said the extension to the Defence Support Group [DSG] service provision and transformation contract 'will deliver a comprehensive range of support capabilities for the Army in the UK with global reach'. DSG helps look after the British Army's military vehicles and equipment, such as its quad bikes, artillery guns, and main battle tanks. It was formerly an MoD agency until being partially acquired by Babcock in 2015 as part of a decade-long agreement to provide services to the MoD, with an option for a five-year extension. Babcock said the new contract will see it 'deliver improved readiness, regeneration and asset management services underpinned by extensive engineering and supply chain expertise.' The deal comprises about 1billion taken into the firm's contract backlog and another 600million delivered as agent and not recognised as revenue. Agreement: Babcock has won a contract extension worth about 1billion from the MoD David Lockwood, chief executive of Babcock, said: 'In a period of increased global instability, more is being expected of our armed forces. 'This contract extension ensures that Babcock continues to provide the British Army with the tools to do its job, when and wherever they are needed. 'Our know-how, application of technology and extensive experience in the land domain help ensure that the British Army is ready to fight and win wars.' Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer vowed last month to boost UK defence expenditure to 2.5 per cent of GDP from April 2027 and set out an ambition to raise this to 3 per cent in the next parliament. NATO members are hiking military budgets in response to the Ukraine conflict and pressure from US President Donald Trump for European countries to shoulder more of the defence burden. As a result, global military spending hit a record $2.46trillion last year, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank. Like other British defence businesses, Babcock has benefitted significantly from this spending boom. Just in January, the firm gained contracts to support training programmes for the French Air Force and NATO's Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway. That came after it gained deals last year to build 53 Jackal 3 vehicles for the British Army and manage the Royal Navy's Type 23 class frigate Refit Support Group. Commenting on Babcock's latest contract, UK Defence Secretary John Healey said: 'Tanks, armoured vehicles and kit are the backbone of the British Army. 'We are taking action to ensure the outstanding service men and women of our armed forces are properly equipped and ready to respond to ever-changing global threats.' Babcock International Group shares were 0.75 per cent up at 7.38 on Wednesday morning and have risen by about 56 per cent over the past six months. BRASILIA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's Supreme Court on Tuesday unanimously rejected former President Jair Bolsonaro's attempt to dismiss charges that he and several allies plotted to overturn the 2022 election results. Bolsonaro and seven others are accused of orchestrating a plan to keep him in power after he lost to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Defense attorneys argued that their clients were denied access to key evidence and targeted by politically motivated investigations. They also challenged the court's jurisdiction and asked that the charges be split into separate cases. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the investigation, said the defense had full access to the evidence and dismissed the claims as unfounded. The five-judge panel rejected all motions. The court also denied requests to remove three of the justices from the case and confirmed the panel's authority to handle the matter. Bolsonaro briefly attended the morning session but left without speaking to the media. The former president was in office from 2019-2023. Others named in the case include former military commanders and the former security chief, among others, under his rule. The charges, filed in February by Attorney General Paulo Gonet, accuse Bolsonaro of leading a group that allegedly planned a coup attempt after his electoral defeat. Prosecutors say the group conspired to overturn the election and keep Bolsonaro in office. The court will continue reviewing the charges on Wednesday, and if the charges are accepted, the defendants will stand trial. SANAA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. military carried out two airstrikes on Yemen's northern Saada province Tuesday night, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported. The strikes targeted the Sahar district in central Saada, the report said, without providing further details. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The U.S. military has not commented. Saada is the main stronghold of the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, which has controlled northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, since the civil war erupted in late 2014. The airstrikes are part of an ongoing U.S. campaign against Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, launched in mid-March. The Houthis have vowed to continue targeting Israeli sites and ships in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and to retaliate against "American aggression." A man who rented out properties across rural Ireland under false pretences and used them as brothels has been jailed for nine years. Ilamar Rodrigues Ribeiro was arrested by investigating gardai from the Garda Human Trafficking and Co-ordination Unit when he returned to Ireland from his native Brazil after a period of time abroad, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard. Ribeiro, aged 54, of Rua Nely Augusta Gomes, Goais, Brazil, had been under investigation after a number of rental properties being used as brothels around the country were linked to him, along with nearly 800,000 in proceeds of crime across multiple Irish bank accounts. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 19 sample counts, including using false instruments, inducing landlords to rent properties to him, brothel-keeping and possession of the proceeds of crime. They are offences that carry maximum sentences of between five and 14 years, the court heard. He also pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material, known in law as child pornography, which was discovered on his phone when he was arrested at Dublin Airport on November 16, 2023. READ ALSO: 'Spice bag' among Irish words recently added to the Oxford English Dictionary The offending on the 60-count indictment spanned from 2010 to 2023, the court heard. Ribeiro has been in custody since his arrest. Sentencing Ribeiro this Wednesday, Judge Patricia Ryan noted that he has previous convictions for fraud both from France and the UK. She acknowledged that his plea to the charges were valuable to the State. Judge Ryan said that many of the offences involved elaborate planning and pre-meditation and said that considerable sums of money, a total of 788,982, were involved in the money laundering offence. She accepted that Ribeiro accepted ownership of the accounts connected to the money laundering and that the accounts were held in his own name. In relation to the possession of child abuse material, the judge noted that there was no distribution of the images but said that the images did fall into the most serious form of child abuse material. Judge Ryan imposed a global sentence of 10-and-a-half years imprisonment, which involved consecutive terms. She suspended the final 18 months of the term on strict conditions for three years and backdated the sentence to when Ribeiro first went into custody in November 2023. At an earlier sentence hearing, Detective Garda Vanessa Stafford of the Garda Human Trafficking and Co-ordination Unit told Fiona McGowan BL, prosecuting, that the charges against Ribeiro were part of a wider investigation after two women came forward to gardai with allegations of trafficking. These two women identified some rental properties around rural Ireland which were being used as brothels while others were linked to Ribeiro's email address and phone number, the court heard. When investigating gardai knocked on the doors of some of these properties, the women who answered identified themselves as sex workers, the court heard. Gardai linked 10 rental properties to Ribeiro, who used a different name from a fake Italian passport and fake utility bills to rent out the property from unsuspecting landlords and, in one case, a property agent. The court heard the landlords told gardai that they would never have rented the property to Ribeiro if they had known what it would be used for. READ ALSO: ALERT: NCT reveal bizarre reason you never knew could see your car fail test The properties which were used as brothels were located in Longford town, Kildare town, Ballyconnell in Co Cavan, Enniscorthy in Co Wexford, Ballymahon in Co Longford, Ballaghadereen in Co Roscommon, Carrick on Shannon in Co Leitrim, and Tullow, Co Carlow. A further two were located in Roscommon town. The properties were rented out for varying periods of time between 2018 and 2023. Bank accounts in Ribeiro's name or under his control were forensically analysed and found to contain a total of 788,982 which was deemed to be the proceeds of crime. The court heard Ribeiro was out of the country for some years between 2021 and 2023, but was arrested upon flying back in November 2023. The child abuse material on his phone comprised nine images and 16 videos, mostly of pre-pubescent girls and boys being made to engage in sexual activity with adults. The court heard the images and videos all fell into category one, which is the most serious form of child abuse material. Padraig Dwyer SC, defending, told the court his client arrived in the country in 2009. He has two teenage children who reside in Brazil and who he minds at the weekends when he is resident in that country, he said. Defence counsel said there was no evidence in relation to where in the pecking order Ribeiro had in the organisation, and that he was just one part of it. Here's the latest report from KCPD and a homicide count that continues to outpace last year's numbers. The basics . . . Homicide 4000 blk of N Bennington Last night, just after 10:00 PM, patrol officers were dispatched to the 4000 block of North Bennington on a reported shooting. Upon arrival officers were directed to an apartment building. They located an adult male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers began performing life saving measures and emergency medical personnel were summoned to the scene. The victim was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries. Just after 11:30 PM the victim was pronounced deceased at the hospital. This is being investigated as a homicide. There is no one in custody at this point. Investigators are working to determine what led up to the shooting. Detectives are canvassing the area for any witnesses and crime scene personnel are processing the scene for all available physical evidence. If anyone has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline. We are committed to assisting victims of violent crimes through use of Missouris Protection Program for Victims/Witnesses of Violent Crime. Funding for temporary, or even permanent relocation, may be available but is subject to pre-approval by the States administering agency. We are working with Partners for Peace in all our homicide investigations to monitor risks for retaliation and provide social services to affected residents. ################ Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Man killed in late night homicide in the Northland Kansas City Police were called to the 4000 block of North Bennington on a reported shooting just after 10 p.m. Police investigate fatal shooting at Kansas City apartment complex One person is dead after the shooting Tuesday night Developing . . . Tough talk from this politico targets Super Bowl champs who were much more well-liked than the cretins from Philly . . . Here's sour grapes from this year's forgettable winners . . . Pennsylvania Congressman Brendan Boyle called the invite a "full-blown White House participation trophy" in a statement shared on Tuesday. Trump said the Chiefs invite was extended because they were unable to attend the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl LIV victory in 2020 due to COVID. "Lets be real: Trump backed the Chiefs this year, they lost badly to the Eagles, and now hes throwing a fake celebration to cope," Boyle, 48, said in a statement . . . "The Eagles crushed the Chiefs," Boyle continued. "No stunt or staged photo op will change that." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Right now we think this story is probably important for anybody who has an old lady they care about: PURSE SNATCHERS TARGET WOMEN IN KANSAS CITY!!! We always thought the purse was a silly but practical idea . . . The only justice in this sad situation is that crooks will be forced to wade through YEARS of lady gear and accessories for their trouble and that might actually resemble "work" for just a few coins and credit cards that have already been cancelled . . . Check-it: At least two police departments in the Kansas City metro are investigating reports of criminals stealing purses outside stores. The purse snatching and thefts have law enforcement issuing a warning to protect yourself. Raytown police said over the last several months they've investigated five cases where people reported their purses stolen outside grocery stores. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Actually . . . We kind of agree here with the Missouri conservative given that there's really no consequences of the alleged security breach . . . AND it reminds us that tech has changed the way we communicate at every strata of society. In fairness, MAGA deserves all the criticism they're getting given how many years we had to hear about Hillary's dumb-a$$ e-mails. Even better . . . Here's what the GOP maverick has to say for those who haven't seen it yet . . . "Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) slammed the leftist media for its continued griping about whos on a text message after it was revealed The Atlantics editor in chief was added to a reported war plan group chat with top Trump administration officials." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Long shot legislation recycled possibly for the benefit of a Fox News Sunday interview . . . SB 594 would require that the Ten Commandments be displayed no smaller than 11 inches by 14 inches in a large, readable font, according to the bill summary. School boards could use either their own funds to donations to purchase the displays, according to the bill text. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . BOAO, Hainan, March 26 (Xinhua) -- As the world economy faces mounting uncertainty and rising protectionism, China is reaffirming its commitment to openness, with the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) emerging as an important gateway driving the country's opening up in the new era. At the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference, officials and experts underscored the significance of the Hainan FTP, as preparations accelerate for its independent customs operations, scheduled to begin by the end of 2025. "Following the launch of independent customs operations, the Hainan FTP is expected to further improve the free and convenient flow of trade and investment with the rest of the world, while forging even closer ties with China's vast domestic market," said Liu Xiaoming, governor of south China's island province of Hainan. Local officials told Xinhua that preparations for the independent customs operations, a milestone in the construction of the Hainan FTP, have entered a critical sprint stage. All 31 checkpoint facility projects required for the operations have been completed, laying a solid foundation for the efficient movement of goods, people, and other key factors. Hainan is China's first province to transform an entire island, spanning 34,000 square kilometers, into a free trade port that serves as a testbed for the unrestricted flow of goods, services, capital and data. "The mission of a free trade zone or port is to break down barriers, not to build high walls, and to create opportunities, not to monopolize the benefits," Liu said, adding that Hainan is willing to cooperate with other global FTPs in areas such as logistics, industries and green development. Hainan FTP is also a frontier for the innovation of regulations and mechanisms, according to Zhou Xiaochuan, vice chairman of the BFA. As a key platform, the FTP can offer opportunities for countries worldwide, particularly those in Asia, to explore China's vast market -- home to over 1.4 billion people. "I think the FTP has great possibility to help international businesses get attracted to China and expand not only to serve China but also the rest of the world," said Carl F. Fey, professor of strategy at BI Norwegian Business School. By the end of 2024, Hainan was home to 9,979 foreign-invested enterprises, 77.3 percent of which were established after June 2020, when China released its master plan for the Hainan FTP. The number of countries and regions investing in the province has grown from 43 in 2018 to 174 today. BFA Chairman and former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called China's decision to build the Hainan FTP "a courageous move that takes vision and leadership." Highlighting the significance of Hainan alongside other global FTPs from Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong, Ban added that such models demonstrate what trade and openness can deliver for growth, well-being, and sustainability at a time when globalization faces headwinds. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development recently revised its global GDP forecast downward, from 3.3 percent to 3.1 percent for 2025 and 3 percent for 2026, citing higher trade barriers in several G20 economies and increased geopolitical and policy uncertainty weighing on investment and household spending. Participants at the forum hailed the Hainan FTP as a prime example of China's higher-level opening up. Since 1978, China's commitment to reform and opening up has transformed it from an impoverished nation into a market-oriented economic powerhouse, driving high-quality development and creating opportunities shared with the rest of the world. "Regardless of changes in the external environment, we should remain steadfast in our commitment to opening up," said the Chinese government work report released early this month. "We should steadily expand institutional opening up and take the initiative to open wider and advance unilateral opening up in a well-ordered way, to promote reform and development through greater openness." In late 2024, China granted zero tariff treatment to 100 percent of tax lines from all the least developed countries that have established diplomatic relations with China. Since last year, the country has introduced measures to expand opening up in sectors such as value-added telecommunications and healthcare, completely removed foreign investment access restrictions in manufacturing, and reduced nationwide foreign investment access restrictions from 31 to 29 items. "We will ensure national treatment for foreign-funded enterprises in fields such as access to production factors, license application, standards setting, and government procurement," the government work report said. Thanks to these efforts, nearly 90 percent of surveyed respondents expressed that they were "very satisfied" or "relatively satisfied" with the business environment in China in 2024, an increase of 2.1 percentage points compared to 2023, according to a report released by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. China's opening up at a high level, undoubtedly, is of great significance and will bring new opportunities for Asia and the world at large, Ban said. China's GDP grew by 5 percent year on year in 2024, ranking among the world's fastest-growing major economies and continuing to contribute about 30 percent to global economic growth. Looking ahead, Zhou Xiaochuan expressed confidence that as the Chinese government accelerates the rollout of core policies for the Hainan FTP, the province will play an increasingly vital role in a changing world, strengthening Asia's ties and supporting broader global cooperation. China welcomes companies from all countries to seize opportunities, invest in China: FM spokesperson Xinhua) 08:04, March 26, 2025 BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) PEOPLES UNION FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES 332, Patpar Ganj, Opp. Anand Lok Apartments, (Gate No. 2), Mayur Vihar-I, Delhi 110 091 Founder: Jayaprakash Narayan; Founding President: V M Tarkunde President: Ms. Kavita Srivastava (Rajasthan); General Secretary: Dr. V Suresh (Tamil Nadu); E.mails :puclnat[at]gmail.com Please visit our website: www.pucl.org Statement issued by PUCL National and PUCL Maharashtra State unit. 26th March, 2025 PUCL condemns the targeting of comedian Kunal Kamra and the vandalism by Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) at The Habitat, Mumbai! Political satire is a constitutional right! ****** Punitive and Arbitrary demolitions as a form of punishment are an unconstitutional attempt to strangulate free speech ******* India is not an eggshell democracy and the right to freedom of speech and expression cannot be held hostage by lawless mobs! ******* The PUCL condemns the targeting of comedian Kunal Kamra, for a virtual show titled Naya Bharat(meaning New India) which was recorded at the Habitat studio, Mumbai on 23rd March, 2025 and which went viral on social media subsequently. His show was a satire on the state of governance in India, political leaders and how they have failed the people of this country. He presented this satire through a series of parodies using the tune of Bollywood songs. Within less than 24 hours, a mob of men from the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) rampaged the Habitat, a popular performance-based venue situated in Khar, Mumbai, where the show was recorded. The mob entered the premises with hammers and rods, clearly intent on destroying the venue. In fact, as per the account of a witness, there was an audience of 80+ people sitting in the venue waiting for another comedy show to start. The mob told the audience to leave; but standing their ground the audience didnt leave until the mob started breaking glasses on the bar counter. It was then the representatives from the venue urged the audience members to leave fearing for their safety. According to this account, the Police were witness to the violence and vandalism but did nothing to intervene or stop the mob. There is documentary proof of the abdication of the responsibility of the police to enforce the law when a gang of lawbreakers indulged in criminal acts with impunity, by openly ransacking the venue, intimidating the owners and attacking people in the venue. This only indicates that the Mumbai Police were not only hand in glove with the mob but were complicit in the mob breaking the law. The videos showing the faces of the members of the mob breaking glasses and throwing chairs have been widely reported and circulated. What is extremely shocking is one leader of the mob, who is also the Shiv Sena social media chief and Yuva Sena General Secretary, Rahool Kanal, stating in an interview on India Today, beamed live, not only taking responsibility for the ransacking of the Habitat by the Shiv Sena mob but going ahead to justify his action on the ground that his/ their sentiments were hurt. Shockingly the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) also swiftly got into the act by unilaterally and arbitrarily demolishing an extension of the Habitat venue without following due process, alleging that it was illegal. This further arbitrary action by the BMC exposes the complicity of the state in the attack on Kunal Kamra. Why is the BMC arbitrarily targeting a property in which a show was recorded in which the Deputy Chief Minister was the alleged subject of political satire? The only answer is that the state has come up with a new method to suppress dissent, namely punitive demolitions which are a violation of the rule of law and unconstitutional, as recently held by the Supreme Court in its November 2024 judgment in the matter `Re: Demolition of Structures, whereby the Supreme Court has also issued Pan India Guidelines regarding demolition of structures. Unfortunately this action is indicative of the new India that we are living in; ironically, on the same day that the Supreme Court and the Bombay High Court were hearing applications on arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional demolitions in UP and Nagpur and Sindhudurg respectively, the Habitat Club was being demolished by the BMC without following due process of law! On 24th March, 2025, while speaking in a Pune Law College Justice Ujjal Bhuyans made some very strong observations on demolitions, noting that, "According to me, using a bulldozer to demolish a property is like running a bulldozer over the constitution. It is a negation of the very concept of rule of law and if not checked, would destroy the very edifice of our justice delivery system. What concerns us in the PUCL is that the arbitrary and punitive demolition seems to have achieved its objective as seen by the statement put out by Habitat that We are shocked, worried and extremely broken by the recent acts of vandalism targeting us. The studio said artistes are solely responsible for their views and creative choices, and it has never been involved in the content performed by them. Most disturbingly, the statement concluded that, recent events have made us rethink about how we get blamed and targeted every time, almost like we are the proxy for the performer" and went on to say that 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. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, instead of unequivocally condemning the above-mentioned illegal acts, took to the floor of the Assembly and forgetting his constitutional oath went on to call Kamra an urban naxal and a traitor. He promised stringent action against him and unequivocally stated that such people will not be spared. Mr. Fadnavis should know that the Constitution protects the freedom of speech and expression and politicians cannot claim legal immunity from being made objects of satire. They cannot overcome the limits imposed by the Constitution by deploying lawless mobs working in cahoots with the police. The elected constitutional authorities cannot legitimize arbitrary, punitive and unconstitutional demolitions by state agencies which aim to render precarious, the freedom of speech and expression. What the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena, as well as the Chief Minister have failed to recognise is that not only is there a fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression but within the framework of the constitution, speech that may shock, offend, or disturb is also protected speech. Such speech can be a way of challenging stereotypical ideas and dominant orthodoxies as well as political power. In a democracy, such speech should be constitutionally protected even if it offends the fragile egos of politicians. Two FIRs have already been registered, one against Kunal Kamra and the other against 19 members out of the entire mob who are out on bail. While on bail they are appearing before News Channels and seen in continuing to justify their illegal, unconstitutional, violent actions. They have also continued to brazenly demand an apology from Kamra for the exercise of his constitutional right! There can be nothing more absurd than such a demand! The FIR was registered against the Shiv Sena mob under sections 132 (assaulting or using criminal force against a public servant to deter them from performing their duty), 189(2) (unlawful assembly), 189(3) (definition of unlawful assembly), 190 (constructive liability for unlawful assemblies), 191(2) (all members of an unlawful assembly are guilty of rioting if any member uses violence), 324(5) (mischief with damage to property), 324(6) (mischief with preparation for harming or causing death of any person), 223 (disobedience to orders duly promulgated by a public servant), 351(2) (punishment for criminal intimidation), 352 (intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of peace) 333 (house trespass with intent to cause harm) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita and sections 37(1) (power to prevent certain acts) and 135 (breach of prohibitory orders) of the Maharashtra Police Act. Despite the violent actions of the Shiv Sena mob, and the fact that they continue to threaten Kamra and others, the remanding court granted them cash bail with regular bail being granted to them subsequently. This could happen only if the Mumbai Police did not object to their bail petitions. Which is only to be expected from a police force that has been openly complicit in the mob violence and vandalization because the accused persons belong to the ruling coalition party. The Mumbai police has also filed an FIR against Kamra based on a complaint by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel alleging criminal intimidation and defamation. In our constitutional democracy satire has been recognized as part of freedom of speech and expression. The Supreme Court in the case of `Indelibly Creative Pvt. Ltd. Vs. Govt. of West Bengal (2020) held that, Satire is a literary genre where "topical issues" are "held up to scorn by means of ridicule or irony". It is one of the most effective art forms revealing the absurdities, hypocrisies and contradictions in so much of life. It has the unique ability to quickly and clearly make a point and facilitate understanding in ways that other forms of communication and expression often do not. In Tata Sons v. Greenpeace International, Justice Ravindra Bhat upheld the right of parody of Greenpeace against Tata Sons observing that , rhetorical hyperbole is protected by doctrine requiring that allegedly defamatory statements (such as the characterization of a union dissident as a traitor) reasonably be interpreted as stating actual facts. Clearly, the only embargo the Constitution recognises on satire are the restrictions under Article 19(2) which include hate speech. In the case of Shreya Singhal Vs. Union of India (2015), the Supreme Court has examined the contours of freedom of speech and expression in relation to the content of an expression, and clearly held that mere discussion or advocacy, however unpopular cannot be restricted under Article 19(2), unless it amounts to incitement. 13. This leads us to a discussion of what is the content of the expression "freedom of speech and expression". There are three concepts which are fundamental in understanding the reach of this most basic of human rights. The first is discussion, the second is advocacy, and the third is incitement. Mere discussion or even advocacy of a particular cause howsoever unpopular is at the heart of Article 19(1)(a). It is only when such discussion or advocacy reaches the level of incitement that Article 19(2) kicks in.[3] It is at this stage that a law may be made curtailing the speech or expression that leads inexorably to or tends to cause public disorder or tends to cause or tends to affect the sovereignty & integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, etc. Why it is important to have these three concepts in mind is because most of the arguments of both petitioners and respondents tended to veer around the expression "public order". The YouTube video of the comedians show is up for all to see that no such statement targeting a group or inciting hatred against any community was made. Simply calling an elected representative as a turncoat and traitor, that too, in this case without even naming the politician, does not fall within any of the grounds which qualify as reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2). The role of the state, the BMC and the Maharashtra police in this case is in complete violation of the law. In the aforementioned Supreme Court judgement in the matter of `Indelibly Creative Pvt. Ltd. Vs. Govt. of West Bengal (2020), it is clearly held that, The instruments of the state must be utilized to effectuate the exercise of freedom. When organized interests threaten the properties of theatre owners or the viewing audience with reprisals, it is the plain duty of the state to ensure that speech is not silenced by the fear of the mob. The fact that the police was witness to the vandalization and did not stop the mob, indicates that it has been complicit in this violence. Clarifying that the role of the police is not to guard public morality, the Supreme Court held that, The police are not, in a free society, the self-appointed guardians of public morality. The uniformed authority of their force is subject to the Rule of law. They cannot arrogate to themselves the authority to be willing allies in the suppression of dissent and obstruction of speech and expression. Further, the duty of the state is to not only prevent violence, but it is also to protect those who want to exercise their freedom of speech and expression. In the Supreme Court case in `S. Rangarajan v. P. Jagjivan Ram, it was held that, It is the duty of the State to protect the freedom of expression since it is a liberty guaranteed against the State. The State cannot plead its inability to handle the hostile audience problem. It is its obligatory duty to prevent it and protect the freedom of expression. In a constitutional democracy, the joke is really on we the people of India, that a humourless mob is empowered by the complicity of the State, to initiate vigilante action against those exercising their right to constitutionally protected speech which the mob, arbitrarily deems offensive. Vigilante action leaves behind a smell of fear which chokes the constitutional right to expression. The right to political satire is today on a ventilator, because the political satirist now knows that the price she has to pay for making fun of the powerful is to confront a lawless mob, face the risk of demolition of the property where she performs as well as be prepared for prosecution by the state! The comedian in the current polarised times has begun to anticipate such mob backlash. Kamra in fact, ends the show holding up the Constitution and saying This is the Constitution of India. This is what allows me to do what I do. In the framework of this book, you can feel free to do anything. In Kamras statement is an honest belief that the Indian Constitution offers protection for satirists against those who would take offence and attempt to shut down his speech. Kamras case indicates that the challenges free speech faces today is the complicity of the state in allowing vigilante attacks and the state unleashing bulldozer raj against those brave enough to criticise the state! This is indeed an increasingly challenging time for Indian democracy, which seems increasingly precarious. It is up to constitutional courts to vindicate the faith of the ordinary citizen in the protections guaranteed by the Constitution. We applaud Kunal Kamra in not allowing himself to be intimidated, threatened or cowed down by a politically motivated mob and instead standing firm that he will not apologise for his work on the ground that it is an expression of his constitutionally guaranteed fundamental right to free speech thereby expressing his belief in the Indian Constitution. India was not always an eggshell democracy with politicians quick to take offence at the exercise by citizens of the constitutional right to political satire. Famously, our first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru called up the cartoonist R.K. Laxman who had made a cartoon commenting on the India China war and asked him, Mr. Laxman, I so enjoyed your cartoon this morning. Can I have a signed enlarged copy to frame? This is one of the many examples of former elected representatives that saw the right to political satire (even if it was at their expense) as a protected constitutional right. We urge the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi to set a similar example of encouraging political satire and offering a role model to others in his party to accept in good humour that in a constitutional democracy, leaders will be made fun of. To offend, shock and disturb is a right under the Indian Constitution. A nation without humour takes one step closer to fascism. In the converse, humour is the tool to puncture the preening self-importance of leaders who arrogantly see themselves as Gods gift to the nation. Humour is the tool which Charlie Chaplin used to mock Adolf Hitler in the Great Dictator and is the tool the Indian citizen has to keep political leadership in check. Humour is indeed in in the words of the Mexican poet, Octavio Paz, the great invention of the human spirit. To create an environment where political satire can flourish without fear, PUCL appeals To the Bombay High Court to suo motu initiate action against the Mumbai Police and MCGB for the vandalism, the illegal demolition, dereliction of duty to enforce the `rule of law and violation of fundamental rights. PUCL demands that the state authorities must: Take effective legal action to prosecute the leaders of the mob. Ensure full protection to Kunal Kamra. Ensure compensation is paid in full by the leaders of the mob to the owners of the venue, the Habitat for the damages sustained by the vandalism. Compensate the owners of the venue for losses suffered due to the unconstitutional, punitive and arbitrary demolition. Initiate an inquiry against the police officers who stood by and watched the destruction of the venue in dereliction of their duty. Withdraw the FIR against Kunal Kamra. Develop a sense of humour. 26th March 2025 Shiraz Prabhu, President, PUCL, Maharashtra Kavita Srivastava, President, PUCL, Maharashtra Sandhya Gokhale, General Secretary Dr. V. Suresh, General Secretary PUCL - National Email: pucl.maharashtra[at]gmail.com DAR ES SALAAM, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The World Food Program (WFP) has reported that 171 Congolese refugees have fled to Tanzania since early 2025 due to the humanitarian crisis in North Kivu Province, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The WFP said on Tuesday that the influx of Congolese refugees is expected to rise due to the ongoing fighting between the DRC armed forces and the March 23 Movement rebel group. While the numbers remain low, the WFP and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees have developed a contingency plan that aligns with the trends in Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda. Two NASA rockets launch from Poker Flat, third rocket expected Two NASA sounding rockets launched from Poker Flat Research Range north of Fairbanks early Tuesday morning in a mission aimed at learning more about how the aurora affects the upper atmosphere. The two rockets performed as expected, releasing tracer payloads widely visible across central and northern Alaska. UAF photo by Bryan Whitten The second NASA rocket, the four-stage Black Brant XII, launches early on March 25, 2025, from Poker Flat Research Range on the second night of the AWESOME sounding rocket mission. Completion of the study awaits launch of a third rocket, which is anticipated to occur within the same overall launch window ending April 6. The launch team will address a minor anomaly in a wiring harness for one of the motor stages. The University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute owns Poker Flat, located 20 miles north of Fairbanks, and operates it under a contract with NASAs Wallops Flight Facility, which is part of the Goddard Space Flight Center. The mission is led by UAF space physics professor Mark Conde of the Geophysical Institute and UAF College of Natural Science and Mathematics and involves a number of UAF graduate student researchers at several ground monitoring sites. NASA and some of the nations top universities are also participating. I'm extremely pleased that we were able to get the conditions to line up to allow us to launch and to conduct the experiment, Conde said. I am absolutely delighted. The mission was more difficult than most because it was essentially two missions in one. Because we had the two-stage rockets deploying over central Alaska and the four-stage rocket deploying off the north coast of Alaska, we essentially were conducting two independent tracer experiments at the same time, Conde said. And because the camera locations we needed were completely different for each of those rockets, we needed many camera sites to be clear at the same time. Results of the experiment, titled Auroral Waves Excited by Substorm Onset Magnetic Events, or AWESOME, could upend a long-held theory about the auroras interaction with the thermosphere. It may also improve space weather forecasting, critical as the world becomes increasingly reliant on satellite-based devices such as GPS units in everyday life. The experiment features one four-stage rocket and two two-stage rockets. Photo from AWESOME mission Vapor tracers light up the atmosphere over the Arctic Ocean as seen from Utqiagvik, Alaska, early on March 25, 2025. Tuesday mornings two-rocket salvo began with a 42-foot Terrier-Improved Malemute rocket launching late in the daily window, releasing its payloads over central Alaska over a range of heights between about 50 and 110 miles. This rocket also measured magnetic perturbations caused by the aurora and deployed four small free-flying instruments to measure pressure fluctuations across the region surrounding the main payload. A 70-foot, four-stage Black Brant XII rocket launched shortly thereafter and deployed a constellation of pink, blue and white vapor tracers on a grid spanning four heights, with four tracers at each height. The tracers were released high over the Arctic Ocean during an auroral substorm. It also deployed a package of magnetic and free-flying pressure sensors in the same configuration as those on the first rocket. Conde noted that some aspects of the payloads did not work as expected but that this and other sounding rocket missions are designed with excess capability to account for failures during the stress of rocket flight. Enough of the airborne components functioned perfectly for us to meet our success criteria, Conde said. Im extremely pleased. The schedule had called for all three rockets to launch within about a three-hour window. NASA provided an update Tuesday afternoon on the third rocket, a two-stage Terrier-Improved Malemute. UAF photo by Bryan Whitten Tracers can be seen overhead at Poker Flat Research Range following the launch of the first rocket of the AWESOME sounding rocket mission on March 25, 2025. Vapor tracers from this and a second rocket launched shortly after the first were visible across a wide area of central and northern Alaska. NASAs Wallops Flight Facility team reported a successful launch of the first two rockets on March 25, 2025, the update read. An issue with the Malemute motor on the third rocket was identified and will continue to be assessed for repair. A dozen UAF student and staff researchers, including Poker Flat Chief Scientist Don Hampton, are at ground observation stations at Utqiagvik, Kaktovik, Toolik Lake, Eagle, Venetie and Poker Flat. The experiment involves several partner institutions: University of Michigan, Cornell University, Clemson University, Penn State, NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center, NASAs Wallops Flight Facility, and two nonprofit science organizations SRI International and The Aerospace Corp. NASA has approximately 50 NASA Wallops Flight Facility personnel, including civil servants and contractors, at Poker Flat during peak launch operations. NASA also has about six people on-site from its science team. ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Mark Conde, 907- 474-7741, mgconde@alaska.edu; Sarah Frazier, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, sarah.frazier@nasa.gov 212-25 By Nicole Lyons, March 26, 2025 The University of Central Missouri (UCM) will continue its efforts to support rural schools with a new network of resources and opportunities as a member of the Rural Schools Collaborative (RSC). UCM has joined the RSC Regional Hub Network, which includes the Community Foundation of the Ozarks and Missouri State University. Joining the RSC will help the UCM College of Education expand its Rural Schools Initiative, now in its fifth year. It is led by a leadership team comprising UCM Education faculty members, rural K-12 administrators and Central Regional Professional Development Center representatives. UCMs Rural Schools Initiative brings rural school districts together through two annual Rural School Summits and ongoing professional development opportunities. The summits, hosted each spring and fall, offer a day-long networking event at UCM with experts in different fields, plus the chance to meet with student-teachers seeking jobs. Our main goal is to provide an avenue for all of our rural schools to connect with each other so they feel less isolated, said Charlene Atkins, Ph.D., professor of Mathematics Education and Rural Schools Initiative coordinator. When were unable to provide something, we work diligently to connect rural districts to appropriate organizations and external resources. We also try very hard to work with them on teacher recruitment and retention. We connect our undergraduate students with the rural schools early so our students are more aware that these schools exist. UCM also helps integrate computer science into rural classrooms and provides flexible pathways for paraprofessionals to earn teaching credentials, helping schools grow their own educators and address teacher shortages. Atkins said the RSC and UCM have a similar mission and values: helping rural schools overcome challenges, meet expectations and improve education by focusing on teacher recruitment, retention, and ongoing professional learning. RSC Executive Director Taylor McCabe-Juhnke said UCM joins a thriving regional hub of innovators and experts in supporting rural schools. RSCs Missouri partners The Community Foundation of the Ozarks and Missouri State University have long been drivers of excellence in rural education through collaborative programs like the Ozarks Teacher Corps, McCabe-Juhnke said. We are delighted for the University of Central Missouri to join the hub network, which will only deepen our shared work and regional impact. Thanks to a more extensive network, the RSC will help UCM strengthen its support for rural schools. Atkins said that joining the Regional Hub Network will allow UCM to gain insights from other colleges and universities across the country. Earlier this month, Atkins learned about a potential funding resource that she wouldnt have known about without the RSC. Well be able to learn what others are doing and hear about unique situations that we arent aware of that would help us then help our local rural schools, Atkins added. It's bringing attention to rural schools and the challenges they face, and its just a bigger voice when you join. More than half of Missouris school districts are considered rural. Many struggle to recruit teachers, have limited resources and deal with issues different from their urban and suburban counterparts. Atkins grew up in a rural community and spent 15 years teaching math in a rural high school, so she understands the struggles and successes that can arise. She said there are several reasons why it is important for UCM to lend a helping hand. One of the biggest things is addressing the teacher shortage and making connections for those folks. The other is just improving education across the state, Atkins said. We get qualified teachers in those K-12 or K-8 classrooms, we're improving education for everyone at that point. And we're helping those communities. In many rural communities, the school is the foundation of the community, so if you keep the school thriving, you keep the community thriving as well. For more information about UCMs Rural Schools Initiative, click here. For more information about the Rural Schools Collaborative, visit ruralschoolscollaborative.org. facebook like button Tweet tweet button for twitter Published March 26, 2025 CAPTION: (L-R) Stuart Billeaud, Robert Popie Billeaud, Jane Shurley, Andrew Barber, Keith Roberts, Donovan Stewart MONROE, LA The University of Louisiana Monroe School of Construction Management (SOCM) held its spring awards luncheon on March 21, 2025. The event was organized by the SOCM Industry Advisory Council (IAC). Alumni awards were given to deserving candidates in four categories, including Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, Minority Alumnus of the Year, Female Alumna of the Year, and Under-40 Alumnus of the Year. Additionally, there were two recipients of the Constructor of the Year award. The award recipients are selected by a selection committee based on the value each candidate has brought to the ULM SOCM, the construction industry, construction organizations, and their overall impact and service to their communities. According to the selection committee, this years recipients have made strides to excel in all of the above categories, and the selection committee was proud to commend them for the impacts theyve made on the ULM School of Construction Management and the industry as a whole. Under-40 Alumnus of the Year: Andrew Barber Andrew Barber is a 2010 graduate of the ULM School of Construction Management, receiving the Outstanding Graduate in Construction Management award upon his graduation. Barber began his construction career with MCC Group in New Orleans. He served as a Project Manager for four years, overseeing the construction of the VA Hospital in New Orleans. In 2016, he was named Project Executive for the New Orleans International Airport project. Barber currently serves as the Business Unit Manager for New Orleans and has been an active member of the IAC since 2014. Additionally, he has served on the ULM Foundations Board of Trustees since 2022. Distinguished Alumnus of the Year: Keith Roberts Keith Roberts is a 1974 graduate of the NLU School of Building Construction (now the ULM School of Construction Management.) A Navy veteran, Roberts began his career working for a general contractor performing Corps of Engineers contracts. He soon moved into the power generation industry, working his way up from estimator to project manager and Contract Review Officer. In 1992, he founded the consulting firm of Roberts, Taylor, and Sensabaugh. For the next 30 years, the firm specialized in resolving complex construction issues for surety companies, providing litigation support services, and providing construction management services to a diverse set of clients. Keith and his wife have lived in Colleyville, Texas, a suburb of Fort Worth, since 1989. Female Alumna of the Year: Jane Shurley In December 1976, Jane Shurley became the third woman to graduate from the NLU School of Building Construction (now the ULM School of Construction Management.) Upon graduation, Jane began her nearly 40-year career as an estimator at Tom Sanders Building Mart in West Monroe and continued estimating for a large building company in South Texas in the early 1980s. During this part of her career, Jane gained a wealth of knowledge about building materials that would serve her throughout the remainder of her time in the construction industry. She later returned to Monroe and became a full-time estimator at Holyfield Construction, where she stayed for 32 years, eventually becoming the Business Office Administrator, overseeing several business aspects of the company. Jane is married to fellow NLU construction graduate Jim Shurley. They have one son and two grandchildren. Janes community activities including sitting on the Board of Directors for the Monroe Symphony League and serving as treasurer and elder at Monroes Covenant Presbyterian Church. Minority Alumnus of the Year: Donovan Stewart Donovan Stewart is a 2019 graduate of the ULM School of Construction Management. Upon graduation, he began working for a large general contractor in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where he is still employed. He worked his way up from Project Engineer to Superintendent. Donovan attributes his success in the construction industry to the ULM SOCM, where he was given many opportunities and learned many valuable skills. He has worked with the IAC since his graduation and looks forward to returning to ULM each year to help the program advance. He is also on his companys recruiting team and returns to ULM twice a year to recruit the best students from the SOCM program. Distinguished Alumnus of the Year (Posthumously Awarded): Gary Thornton Gary Thornton (1956-2019) was born in Winnsboro, La. And earned his undergraduate degree from the NLU School of Building Construction (now the ULM School of Construction Management.) In 1996, Gary founded ThornCo, a commercial construction company, where he built a reputation for excellence in the industry. Gary was a dedicated mentor and industry leader, serving on several boards, including the ULM Alumni Association and the ULM Industrial Consultants Board, helping shape the future of construction education. Today, ThornCo continues to thrive, operating 29 years strong under the leadership of Garys wife Cindy Thornton, his son Michael Thornton, and his son-in-law Ben Hernandez. Garys legacy is reflected not only in the structures he helped build, but in the values and vision he instilled in those who continue his work. This award was accepted by Garys son Michael Thornton. Constructors of the Year: Robert Popie Billeaud and Stuart Billeaud With a career spanning nearly five decades, Robert Popie Billeaud is a cornerstone of the Louisiana construction industry and a leader in pre-construction and estimating services. As the Chief Estimator at J.B. Mouton, LLC, Popie has played a pivotal role in shaping the companys reputation for accuracy, efficiency, and quality in both the public and private sectors. Popie is a 1975 graduate of the NLU School of Building Construction (now the ULM School of Construction Management.) Since 1976, Popie has been at the forefront of pre-construction planning, providing expert guidance on cost estimating, constructability, procurement strategies, and value engineering. Beyond his technical expertise, Popie is known for his mentorship, leadership, and dedication to the industry. He has been involved in numerous community and outreach organizations, most notably as the 2002-2004 President of the Association of General Contractors and founding member of the Advisors to School of Construction at ULM. Stuart Billeaud is the son of Robert Popie Billeaud and is the current CEO and President of J.B. Mouton, LLC, representing the fifth generation of J.B. Mouton as the great-great-grandson of the founder. Stuart earned a B.S. in Construction Management from Auburn University and an MBA from the University of New Orleans. A dedicated professional with a deep-rooted passion for construction, Stuart Billeaud has spent his career shaping the built environment with integrity, precision, and innovation. He is known for his strong work ethic, leadership, and commitment to mentorship. He is dedicated to making the world a better place to live and do business through active leadership and community engagement. He serves as the President of the Fatima School Foundation, Secretary of One Acadiana/Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, and Board Member of the Association of General Contractors. About the ULM School of Construction Management and the Industry Advisory Council The ULM School of Construction Management, founded in 1966, is the oldest school of its kind in the state and is committed to being the premier institution of construction education in Louisiana. The School has a 100 percent passage rate on licensing examinations, and a 100 percent placement rate, with most seniors accepting positions before they graduate. The starting salaries of graduates are the highest in the universitys undergraduate programs. To learn more about the School of Construction Management, please visit https://www.ulm.edu/cbss/construction/program/. The School of Construction Management Industry Advisory Council is made up of local and national construction firm leaders. The role of the Council is to advise the School of Construction Management Director and faculty members on industry-related matters. This helps the School make appropriate changes in its curriculum to meet the demands of the fast-growing construction industry and keep ULM School of Construction Management students efficient and competitive. 03/26/2025 Media Contacts: Brooke Coupal, communications, economic impact and research development specialist, (email: Brooke_Coupal@uml.edu), and Nancy Cicco, assistant director of media relations, (email: Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu). What do a group of local college students studying science, politics, business and health all have in common? Theyre working toward a sustainable future. In February, the Office of Energy Transformation (OET) within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs welcomed five students from diverse backgrounds to a 12-month paid fellowship program. The program is part of the Clean Energy and Environment Legacy Transition (CELT) Initiative, a significant development resulting from Governor Maura Healeys trip to Ireland in 2023. Inspired by the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Research Centre for Energy, Climate, and Marine (MaREI) model, the Healey-Driscoll Administration collaborated with UMass Lowell and Boston University to establish a similar program to advance the clean energy transition, aid cities and towns in their decarbonization efforts and foster geothermal workforce development. We have a big task ahead of us in the Office of Energy Transformation, and the fellows from the CELT program are going to be crucial in helping with the work needed to get us there, said OET Executive Director Melissa Lavinson. These are highly driven students who are eager to learn and make a difference in our state. The OET fellows from UMass Lowell, Boston University, UMass Boston and Northeastern University are contributing directly to OETs key initiatives: decarbonizing how the state meets peak electric demand, financing the energy transition, enabling sustainable economic development and transitioning away from reliance on the Everett Marine Terminal, one of the longest-operating liquefied natural gas facilities in the United States. The students are also assisting with research for the Commission on Fossil Fuel Workforce, which measures and monitors the impacts of the transition to clean energy on fossil fuel workers and industries while examining ways to increase access to employment, training and workforce opportunities in clean energy. OET and the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development co-chair the commission. The Office of Energy Transformation Fellowship program provides students with invaluable hands-on experience in shaping the future of clean energy, said UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen, who serves on the Energy Transformation Advisory Board. By working directly on key projects, the students gain practical skills, industry connections and a deeper understanding of the policies and technologies driving the energy transition. Colin Ormond, a junior studying political science with a concentration in environmental politics and sustainability at UMass Lowell, said hes excited to see what he will accomplish as an OET fellow. This is an amazing opportunity one that I didnt imagine getting as an undergrad, the Melrose, Massachusetts resident added. Im getting my foot in the door and understanding what its like working in this field. In addition to Ormond, OET fellows include Salma Ngokila, an applied biomedical science first-year student at UMass Lowell from Medford, Massachusetts; Samantha Jackson, an environmental science and policy graduate student at Northeastern University from Albuquerque, New Mexico; Catherine Keane, a political science senior at Boston University from Philadelphia; and Soon Kyu Kwon, a Master of Business Administration student at UMass Boston from South Korea. All of us are from different backgrounds, and were working together toward one common goal creating a greener Massachusetts, Ngokila said. I enjoy being part of a team thats generating change in the energy sector. In addition to the OET Fellowship, CELT is launching a six-month paid Municipal Fellowship this summer. The Municipal Fellowship program, overseen by Municipal Fellows Cohort Coordinator Devon Milisci, gives students the opportunity to assist local cities and towns with clean energy planning and project implementation. OET is hosting a community meeting on March 31 at 5 p.m. in Lowell to discuss its mission with area residents. The meeting will take place in Coburn Hall, a UMass Lowell academic building located at 850 Broadway St. This will be the first in a series of community engagement meetings throughout the state. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Bihar Inter Result 2025 Out: Full List of Toppers The Bihar Board of Secondary Education (BSEB) has announced the result of 2025 Intermediate Class 12th exam along with Merit List and Names and Scores of the Toppers on its official website Wednesday March 26, 2025 2:41 PM , ummid.com News Network Bihar Inter List of Toppers 2025: The Bihar Board of Secondary Education (BSEB) has announced the result of 2025 Intermediate Class 12th exam along with Merit List and Names and Scores of the Toppers on its official website. 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 announced the result of all three streams Arts, Science and Commerce, along with the list and marks of Toppers at 01:15 PM Tuesday March 25, 2025. Here is the stream-wise list of Bihar Inter 12th Toppers 2025. List of Science Stream Toppers Rank 1: Priya Jaiswal Rank 2: Akash Kumar Rank 3: Ravi Kumar Rank 4: Anupriya, Prashant Kumar Rank 5: Atul Kumar Maurya, Ankit Kumar, Varsha Rani List of Commerce Stream Toppers Rank 1: Raushani Kumari Rank 2: Antra Khushi Rank 3: Shrishti Kumari, Nishant Raj Rank 4: Nidhi Sharma, Aditi Sonkar Rank 5: Anshu Kumari List of Arts Stream Toppers Rank 1: Ankita Kumari, Shakib Shah Rank 2: Anushka Kumari, Rokaiya Fatma Rank 3: Arti Kumari, Saniya Kumari, Ankit Kumar, Rank 4: Anshu Rani Rank 5: Chandramani Lal, Rishu Kumar, Sanjana Kumari, Tanu Kumari, Archana Mishra Bihar 12th Result 2025 Stream-wise Pass Percentage Following is the stream-wise pass percentage as registered by the students who appeared in the Bihar board 12th board exam held in February 2025. Arts: 82.75% Commerce: 94.77% Science: 89.66% Vocational: 90.7% Bihar 12th Result 2025 gender-wise Pass Percentage Following is the gender-wise pass percentage as registered by the students who appeared in the Bihar board 12th board exam held in February 2025. Girls Appeared: 6,37,797 Passed: 5,59,097 Pass percentage of girl students: 87.67% Boys Appeared: 6,42,414 Passed: 5,48,233 Pass percentage of boys: 85.34 per cent Bihar board 12th division-wise results Overall pass percentage: 86.50% Total students passed in 1st division: 5,08,540 Total students passed in 2nd div:5,07,002 Total students passed in 3rd div: 91,788 BSEB Bihar 12th Result 2025 Date The Bihar board had released the Answer Key of the 12th exam on February 28 and asked the candidates to raise objections if any till March 05, 2025. 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 released Monday 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", the board said. 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 also released Tyesday 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. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Eid 2025 Moon Sighting in Saudi Arabia Saturday March 29 Eid al Fitr 2025 celebrations in Saudi Arabia will commence on Sunday March 30, 2025 if the new moon is spotted in the Kingdom on Saturday Thursday March 27, 2025 8:12 PM , ummid.com News Network Makkah: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and neighboring Arab states are gearing up to sight the New Moon, Crescent, of the month of Shawwal which marks the beginning of Eid al Fitr and end of the Holy Month of fasting, on Saturday 29th of Ramadan 1446 AH corresponding to March 29, 2025. The Supreme Court of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Moon Sighting Committee and Religious Authorities in UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and other Arab countries every year issue appeal to citizens and residents to search for the crescent of Shawwal 1446 H on the evening of 29th Ramadan. As per the Umm Al Qura Calendar and sighting of the Ramadan Moon , Saturday corresponding to March 29, 2025, is the 29th day of the Holy Month of Fasting. Accordingly, the Eid Moon sighting appeal has been issued by the authorities in different countries. The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia in a statement released today has called on Muslims across the Kingdom to sight the crescent of Shawwal moon Saturday evening, Ramadan 29, 1446 AH, corresponding to March 29, 2025. In an announcement today, the Supreme Court called "on whoever sights the crescent moon by naked eyes or through binoculars to report to the nearest court and register their testimony." As per the normal practice, Saudi Supreme Courts special session will sit and deliberate Saturday evening, shortly after Maghrib Prayers, to confirm the results of the crescent search and announce its decision. Saudi Arabia's Moon observations are made from Sudair and Tumair, and sightings from these cities are part of the official decision. How Eid Moon is confirmed Islamic Calendar is based on lunar system. Under this system, a new month begins with sighting of moon on 29th of every month. If the crescent is spotted on 29th, the prevailing month ends and the new month begin on the next day. However, if the moon is not spotted on 29th, the next day is counted as the 30th day of the prevailing month and the new month starts a day later. Accordingly, Eid al Fitr celebrations in Saudi Arabia will commence on Sunday March 30, 2025 if the New Moon is spotted in the Kingdom on Saturday. Else, the first day of Eid will be Monday March 31, 2025. As for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, Syria, Bahrain, Yemen, also for Turkey, Egypt and Palestine, Eid al Fitr is normally celebrated in these countries along with Saudi Arabia. Though these countries have their own observatories and moon committees, they normally go with the announcement made by Saudi Arabia. Eid al Fitr 2025 Moon Sighting in other countries Muslims in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other South Asian countries will spot the Eid Moon on Sunday March 30, 2025, which coincides with the 29th day of Ramadan in these countries. Similarly, Muslims in the United States (USA), United Kingdom (UK), Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia, France, Germany and other countries too will confirm the first day of Eid al Fitr on Saturday March 29, 2025. The final decision will be taken Saturday by the moon sighting committee operating in these countries. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Palestine and other Arab countries have also announced Eid holidays that start from this Sunday. Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait and other countries confirmed that Eid al Fitr 2025 holidays in these countries will begin on March 30, 2025. The Eid holidays in these countries vary from 2 day to a total of 9 days if combined with weekly off. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. A Pakistani agricultural expert has praised China for leading the world in agricultural technology, particularly in the use of AI, smart machinery, and other innovative solutions. #GLOBALink Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Oscar winning Palestinian filmmaker attacked by settlers, Israeli army Oscar winning Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal was first brutally beaten and hauled by illegal Israeli settlers and later by the Israeli army at a military camp Wednesday March 26, 2025 4:07 PM , ummid.com News Network Ramallah: Oscar winning Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal was first brutally beaten and hauled by illegal Israeli settlers and later by the Israeli army at a military camp. On March 2, 2025, Hamdan Ballal stood in front of the world showing the Oscars he won for the film No other Land adjudged the best documentary film at the 97th Academy Awards. However, his home was surrounded and attacked by illegal settlers on Monday March 24, 2025. According to the reports, Israeli soldiers instead of taking action against the illegal settlers took part in attacking and beating the Oscar winning Palestinian filmmaker and detained him. Hamdan Ballal was also beaten in the Israeli custody after he was taken to an Israeli military camp. After outrage, Hamdan Ballal was released a day later. However, images shared online showed Hamdan Ballal in bloodstained clothes after almost 24 hours in Israeli detention. Mocked for winning Oscars Talking to reporters after his release, Hamdan said "settlers and soldiers [were] attacking my home". They started "beating me and threaten me with the guns", he added, in quotes reported by news agency Associated Press. The soldiers shot three times in the air, he said. Hamdan also said that he was blindfolded and held beneath a cold air conditioner in detention where soldiers joked about him being an Oscar winner. Interestingly, the Palestinian film No other land is based on the illegal settlers and exposes the Zionist illegal occupation of Palestine. Hamdan Ballal, who was one of four co-directors of "No Other Land", had his house surrounded by settlers during an attack on Monday in the village of Susya, according to the Center for Jewish Nonviolence group. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Students prepare for a performance at a primary school in Rongshui Miao Autonomous County of Liuzhou City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 25, 2025. Students of various ethnic groups at a primary school in Rongshui held a celebration prior to the Sanyuesan Festival, a festival celebrated on the third day of the third lunar month, by wearing traditional costumes and staging traditional performances on Tuesday. This year's Sanyuesan Festival falls on March 31. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang) Students pose for a group photo at a primary school in Rongshui Miao Autonomous County of Liuzhou City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 25, 2025. Students of various ethnic groups at a primary school in Rongshui held a celebration prior to the Sanyuesan Festival, a festival celebrated on the third day of the third lunar month, by wearing traditional costumes and staging traditional performances on Tuesday. This year's Sanyuesan Festival falls on March 31. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang) Students experience embroidery at a primary school in Rongshui Miao Autonomous County of Liuzhou City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 25, 2025. Students of various ethnic groups at a primary school in Rongshui held a celebration prior to the Sanyuesan Festival, a festival celebrated on the third day of the third lunar month, by wearing traditional costumes and staging traditional performances on Tuesday. This year's Sanyuesan Festival falls on March 31. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang) Students perform traditional dancing at a primary school in Rongshui Miao Autonomous County of Liuzhou City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 25, 2025. Students of various ethnic groups at a primary school in Rongshui held a celebration prior to the Sanyuesan Festival, a festival celebrated on the third day of the third lunar month, by wearing traditional costumes and staging traditional performances on Tuesday. This year's Sanyuesan Festival falls on March 31. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang) Students perform at a primary school in Rongshui Miao Autonomous County of Liuzhou City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 25, 2025. Students of various ethnic groups at a primary school in Rongshui held a celebration prior to the Sanyuesan Festival, a festival celebrated on the third day of the third lunar month, by wearing traditional costumes and staging traditional performances on Tuesday. This year's Sanyuesan Festival falls on March 31. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang) Students perform bamboo pole dance at a primary school in Rongshui Miao Autonomous County of Liuzhou City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 25, 2025. Students of various ethnic groups at a primary school in Rongshui held a celebration prior to the Sanyuesan Festival, a festival celebrated on the third day of the third lunar month, by wearing traditional costumes and staging traditional performances on Tuesday. This year's Sanyuesan Festival falls on March 31. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang) Students sing folk songs in a call-and-response style at a primary school in Rongshui Miao Autonomous County of Liuzhou City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 25, 2025. Students of various ethnic groups at a primary school in Rongshui held a celebration prior to the Sanyuesan Festival, a festival celebrated on the third day of the third lunar month, by wearing traditional costumes and staging traditional performances on Tuesday. This year's Sanyuesan Festival falls on March 31. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang) Students perform traditional dancing at a primary school in Rongshui Miao Autonomous County of Liuzhou City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 25, 2025. Students of various ethnic groups at a primary school in Rongshui held a celebration prior to the Sanyuesan Festival, a festival celebrated on the third day of the third lunar month, by wearing traditional costumes and staging traditional performances on Tuesday. This year's Sanyuesan Festival falls on March 31. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang) KABUL, March 26 (Xinhua) -- More than 8,000 foreign tourists visited Afghanistan in the year of 1403 (in Persian calendar which ended on March 20, 2025), and the number of foreigners visiting the country is on the rise, a spokesman for the Afghan interim government's Ministry of Information and Culture (MIC) said on Wednesday. Registered by the MIC, the number of foreign tourists visiting Afghanistan in 1403 is more than 8,200, Afghanistan National Radio and Television quoted MIC Spokesman Habib Ghafran as saying. About four million domestic tourists, according to the official, also visited cultural heritages, natural beauties and historical monuments in several provinces of the country over the past year. The MIC in its bid to attract more tourists has been trying to provide all necessary facilities, including interpreters, transport and accommodation, the official said. So far, four hotels have been constructed in Nuristan, Paktia, Kapisa and Ghor provinces to welcome tourists. Before the creative overhaul that resulted in the show we see now, Daredevil: Born Again was supposed to be lighter and less serialized with more self-contained episodes. Episode 5 feels like a holdover from that old vision: a mostly standalone installment centered around one isolated incident in which Daredevil saves the day. (Its also a St. Patricks Day episode, appropriate for the Irish American Matt Murdock.) And while Ive had some issues with the shows decision to emphasize that lightness, especially with Daredevil off the streets and out of Hells Kitchen, I have to say this one worked really well for me. I expect the lack of forward plot movement to bother some viewers (plus the MCU tie-in element), but in my book, a Fisk-less mission makes for a refreshing change of pace. Besides, two episodes dropped tonight, so its easy to just keep watching if youre really craving more plot. At the beginning of the episode, Matt is at New York Mutual regarding a loan application for the firm. The friendly assistant bank manager is Yusuf Khan, Kamalas dad from Ms. Marvel, and he cant stop gushing about his daughter. But he cant help Matt out with the loan, even if he sympathizes with his desire to represent many clients pro bono. Enter a group of Irish lads mostly identified by the colors of their masks, with Green (Devlin) as the leader. Their objective: Take $1.8 million, enough to get Fisk off their buddy Lucas back. Unfortunately for them, Matt picked today to visit the bank. A pretty standard hostage situation plays out here, and Matt makes his presence known early with the usual hero-lawyer routine. He sacrifices an opportunity to leave with one other hostage so she can leave with her husband instead (and so that he can stay inside to save the day). Yusuf is the most senior bank employee present, so hes sent to open the vault with Blue while Red stays with the hostages and Devlin handles the cops whove pulled up outside. Matt urges him to stall as long as he can down there and Yusuf really doesnt have any other option, considering the fact that he couldnt open the vault even if he tried. Only his absent boss knows the combination. Matt manages to intercept Yusuf at the vault and knock out Blue after Red takes him to supposedly go pee. Once again, people underestimate the blind guy: During his fight with Red in the stairwell, he manages to reach out and catch Reds fallen gun in midair before it can clatter and draw attention below, simultaneously choking out his captive using his legs. Its a great action beat: an easy highlight of the episode. Knocking out Blue and impersonating him on the walkie is Matts second act of Irish-on-Irish violence in this St. Paddys Day episode, and it wont be his last. While all this is going on, acting hostage negotiator Angie Kim is outside with the police and SWAT, hearing out Devlins demands over the phone. He wants transportation out of here, but also just to toy with her and fuck around while his associates finish the job. When he threatens to kill a hostage if she doesnt make him laugh, she pulls an Irish joke out of nowhere about a leprechaun nun and keeps him at bay. One thing I always love about Daredevil, especially in its current iteration, is the way it depicts Matts sort of sensory omniscience. The premieres choice to layer in the audio of a dying Foggy (and pleading Karen) during the fight with Bullseye was striking, and its a treat to see that type of mixing return throughout this episode. Matt can hear Angies conversation with Devlin, and really all of the conversations going on nearby, and thats how he knows about the cops plans to enter the bank soon, no matter the risk to hostages. Part of the brilliance of Daredevil as a superhero is his impeccable timing. On a micro level, he can zero in on the inhales and exhales of attackers and knows precisely when to dodge or, in a visually inventive touch in this episode, listen close to the turning pins of the bank vault lock to figure out the combination. But he can also stay apprised of exactly how much time he has left before innocent people start dying. After making it into the vault, he and Yusuf quickly start checking the many safety deposit boxes for the one corresponding to Blues key. Its contents are pretty impressive: a pouch with a glowing diamond worth $1.8 million. Matt offers the diamond to Devlin in exchange for the hostages freedom once theyre back upstairs, tossing it just as the cops blow their way in. In the chaos of the scene, Matt dons Reds mask and follows Devlin (himself now disguised as a cop) outside to beat his ass and snap his leg like a twig. Devlin already passed off the diamond to another associate, planted inside as a fake hostage, but it turns out her baggie only contains a butterscotch candy from the bowl on Yusufs desk and the bowl on his desk contains the real diamond, as Yusuf finds in the closing moments. As someone who always enjoyed Daredevil for how little it resembled a typical Marvel property, I can see why Yusufs appearance here might be polarizing. But he makes for a mostly endearing, only occasionally annoying scene partner whose energy contrasts strongly with Matts, so I dont really mind the fan service of seeing Yusuf invite Matt over for dinner with his family in Jersey City at the end. Episode 5 is probably the installment that least feels like the old Daredevil and least interested in serialization; a diamond heist on Lucas behalf follows up on the Red Hook thread from previous episodes, but the coming war with Fisk is still, well, coming. Still, in my book, its a worthy diversion. Sometimes I dont need plot; I just want to watch a character I love weasel his way out of a tough situation. Devil in the Details Matts interactions with Yusuf do feel reminiscent of the times he popped up in Spider-Man: No Way Home and She-Hulk. Denise Richards knows exactly what I want: Her first confessional in this episode name-checks Starship Troopers, Drop Dead Gorgeous, and Wild Things, the holy triumvirate of her 90s roles. Sadly, its downhill from there. I am trying to meet this show where its at instead of wishing it were something different and better, but I would so rather hear behind-the-scenes stories from those three movies than lean into overly produced drama. Video Killed the Movie Star keeps grasping at something illicit happening between Denise and her ex, Patrick Muldoon nudging Aaron to feel uncomfortable with their relationship but theres simply no there there. The thing about Aaron is that he doesnt seem like the jealous type; hes far too supportive for that. When they were on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Aaron was the worst kind of Housewives husband, overstepping with Denises castmates to come to his wifes aid. On Denise Richards & Her Wild Things, he seems to have completely abandoned his actual career to be Denises full-time photographer, and given how much money shes pulling in on OnlyFans (allegedly $2 million a month), that sounds reasonable to me. Denise says doing OF has been empowering, particularly knowing that people are still that interested in seeing her naked at 54, and she notes its gotten her more movie opportunities. As Elise Elliot wisely said, There are only three ages for women in Hollywood: babe, district attorney, and Driving Miss Daisy. The fact that Denise is now getting cast as a trophy wife does feel like a win. I love that hes so supportive, Denise reiterates of Aaron helping her with her OF. He knows what men love. He also agrees with her that the jacket Dorit called her out on looks better upside down. But outside of the photoshoots, Aaron is also very down for Denise to keep hanging out with her one-time lover, Patrick. The three of them plus Brooke meet up for pickleball I know I complained about the lizard memorial, but pickleball on Bravo shows is the bigger crisis where Patrick loses his dental bridge so that he has to spend the rest of the episode semi-toothless. (But not homeless!) At pickleball, we get another rehash of Denises history with Patrick, which I swear has been covered in every episode up to this point, though the revelation that the Schweet Babe nickname was coined on the Starship Troopers set was news to me. Pat asks Denise to star in his new music video for a song thats totally not about her but is about the woman who got away. Denise is down as long as she gets to be sexy in it. Know your worth! Most of this episode is devoted to the nonexistent Denise-Aaron-Patrick love triangle, but we do take a moment to see Sami get her new post-nose-job headshots. I enjoyed watching Denise declare that she doesnt want to be a momager while making suggestions on the shoot and offering to hold a giant fan to blow Samis hair. At the same time, Im once again more interested in the tension lurking beneath the surface. Sami shares that shes been turned down by modeling agencies because of her OF career, even though thats how she pays her rent. In a confessional, Denise calls this a double standard, pointing out that she has only gotten more opportunities since finding herself in the top one percent of OF creators. We know Sami started her OF first, and that she wasnt thrilled when Denise decided to join. Surely she has some feelings about the way things have shaken out since. Im not saying I need to see mother and daughter fighting Id just love for the show to explore the resentment it touched on in the premiere and hasnt returned to since. But sure, the second photoshoot scene of the episode is fun, too. Denise meets up with Patrick for lunch I think its lunch, but honestly, its never really clear what time of day theyre meeting, and theyre always drinking like its after 5 p.m. so they can discuss the specifics of the music video. Patrick asks if hes slurring because of his missing tooth, which is a little endearing. As for the video itself, it sounds like a pretty generic man reminisces about the woman he had and lost story. That translates to Denise in a series of moody black-and-white flashbacks. The vibe, according to Pat, kind of scares you, kind of turns you on, and though I dont think the end result matches that intention, I see the vision. Denise explains (in case you somehow missed it!) that because she and Patrick were together so long ago, what they have now is just a deep friendship that Aaron isnt threatened by. The show really insists on reminding us that there could be drama here, even if there isnt any. I do, however, believe that Charlie had a problem with Pat, because I would imagine Charlie had a whole mess of tiger blood-induced irrational feelings over the course of that marriage. Sami picks Denise up to take her to Patricks sisters house, where the music video will be filmed. Ill give Denise that entering the car in a full hazmat suit to avoid getting makeup on the seats is a good bit. (Ill also give Sami that she has remarkable self-awareness for a nepo baby after she remarks that shed like to be in a music video but is horrible at acting, singing, and dancing.) Once on set, Patrick shares that theyll start with a love scene on the bed, which Denise says wasnt in the storyboard. Ultimately, shes down it probably helps that the love scene includes a single kiss between them. Sami keeps asking how Aaron could possibly be okay with this, especially given the decades of history between Denise and Pat. Im reminded of Britney Spears famously saying, Its pretend. Youre an adult, you should know that. And as Aaron says, again, he doesnt get jealous of Denise and Patricks relationship, and hes confident in his marriage. Sounds healthy and normal! We can drop it here, right? We cant, it turns out. In a confessional, Sami says that Pat is flirty with Denise, and while she doesnt want to get him in trouble, she thinks he still has feelings for her mom. This really feels like some producer prodding if Sami actually felt that way, she wouldnt be saying it on camera. Shortly thereafter, Denise and Aaron share a confessional where she demands to know if it was weird seeing her kiss another man. (Hes seen her movies, right? This is a big part of her career!) He confirms that its not weird in context, though seeing her kiss someone else outside of a set would be. That means it was weird for him, says Denise. (It really doesnt!) As for the music video itself, the snippets shown throughout confirm that I am not the target audience, though I wish Patrick well on his journey. Its fitting that the final moment we see filmed is an explosive fight between Denise and Pat, an expletive-laden argument they improvise. Everything about the (almost) drama in this episode is so performative that the expressly fictional conflict barely stands out. A Polaroid photograph of Didion in the art department at Vogue, circa 1958. Photo: The Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne papers, The New York Public Library. Joan Didion, unsurprisingly, took a lot of notes. The author and journalist, who died at 87 in 2021, also kept those notes, and her datebooks, and more generally the paper trail of her literary legacy. All of it, after her death, went to the New York Public Library, knitted together with that of her writer husband, John Gregory Dunne. Theyre very intertwined, says Meredith Mann, one of the librarians managing the new collection. I was very taken with how personal the collection was. Theres so much material there about her process, but theres also so much introspective material about her as a person. And you cant fully understand one without the other. Although Didion may have done a little manicuring before the donation went in she was an extremely intentional person, Mann admits it sure doesnt seem as though she burned much. The 336 boxes constituting the Didion-Dunne archive are available to researchers starting today, by appointment, and even the most cursory look through them is revealing, fascinating, and simply entertaining. Scholars will be picking through it all for centuries, but heres a first-day look at a few of the more eye-opening objects. Photo: The Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne papers, The New York Public Library. Didions birth certificate, with her footprint and her mother Eduenes fingerprint, dated December 5, 1934. Photo: The Didion Dunne Literary Trust A pair of Didions diary entries that seem bizarre until you learn that January 30 was the day of her wedding to John Gregory Dunne. The next morning, she wrote Im smiling again. (Much smaller.) Photos: The Didion Dunne Literary Trust. Photos: The Didion Dunne Literary Trust. In this firm very firm letter from June 20, 1962, Didion writes, via an intermediary (possibly the literary agent Monica McCall), to the publisher of her forthcoming first novel, Run River. As you may have gathered by now, I am a kind of conversational Helen Keller, she begins, and it is perhaps difficult for me to make clear, in conversation, exactly what I have in mind. Whereas, setting it down on paper, she is completely direct. She threatens to withdraw the book unless her demands are met: 1) I want until July 15 to finish the copy. 2) I want the book postponed until early spring. 3) I want the title changed. She got her way on the publication date, which ended up being April 26, 1963, but not on the title, which she had wanted to change to In the Night Season. Photos: The Didion Dunne Literary Trust. Photos: The Didion Dunne Literary Trust. The Didion-Dunnes daybooks record mundanities and milestones alike. In these entries from 1974, JDD her husband is always JGD marks her first day of work writing the acclaimed novel A Book of Common Prayer; the couple has lunch with Johns brother, Nick, and his children, including Griffin Dunne and Dominique Dunne, who would be murdered eight years later; and Joan and their daughter, Quintana Roo, head to the dentist. Photo: The Didion Dunne Literary Trust The datebooks also record money coming in and out Johns on the top half of the page, Joans below. In October 1974, she took in (among other checks) $54.26 in royalties for her books Play It As It Lays and $1,126 for Slouching Towards Bethlehem, plus a first payment of $37,000 for A Book of Common Prayer. Dunne got $483.86 for Studio and Delano. Theres also a $100 reimbursement from their insurer recorded as for Corvette damage, almost surely referring to the 1969 Stingray in which Didion was memorably photographed by Julian Wasser. Photos: The Didion Dunne Literary Trust. Photos: The Didion Dunne Literary Trust. This extraordinary little looseleaf binder undated, though one page makes reference to 1965 may be among the the most revealing items in the collection. Its a (seemingly but not really) random collection of quotes, thoughts, observations, and other bits of prose, mostly likely just Didions I might want to use this file. (Theyre mostly typewritten, though one bears the handwritten addition what am I saying here.) Mann remarked to me that its a lot like the commonplace books that many 19th- and early 20th-century authors kept. Virginia Woolf, however, did not include an entry about Marlon Brandos organizing on behalf of the Beverly Hills chapter of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Photo: Courtesy of the New York Public Library Photo: The Didion Dunne Literary Trust Everyone gets rejected! In 1964, Betty Friedan asked Didion to contribute to a magazine issue she was guest-editing, then (in Friedans telling) was overruled and killed the story. As a consolation, she invited Didion to a party at her house to celebrate the issue. Didions desk diary reveals that she saved the date and likely went. Photo: The Didion Dunne Literary Trust The collection contains a big sheaf of notes, dozens of pages long, for Didions 1984 novel Democracy. The thoughts range from plot to character to theme, and one line jumps out: MORE OF ME IN NARRATOR. Didions presence in her writing arguably grew more prominent as her career went on, perhaps reaching its peak with her memoirs of mourning, The Year of Magical Thinking and Blue Nights. Photo: The Didion Dunne Literary Trust A manuscript and accompanying letter for a brief essay taking stock of the womens movement, commissioned by Partisan Review in 1976. Didion started it, then wrote her editor saying she was repeating herself from a previous piece of writing and bowed out. But she did get a few paragraphs onto paper before marking the pages ABANDONED, including this tart assertion: We get precisely what we can afford. Apparently we can afford the Womens Movement, and the fact that we can would appear to be its sole historical significance. Photo: The Didion Dunne Literary Trust Possibly the funniest document in the archive: a school essay about pet peeves Didion wrote shortly before her 16th birthday, one in which her arch tone is already on full display. It is extremely difficult for me to pick a specific thing I dislike in people. I dislike everything about them, especially at eight-thirty in the morning. However, after giving it considerable thought, I have come to the conclusion that I dislike people who can play the ukulele. Didion was not above keeping letters of post-publication praise from her subjects. Both Billy Wilder and John Wayne wrote to say that theyd liked what they read. Rachel Zegler in Snow White. Photo: Walt Disney Studios/Everett Collection The first proper industry headline about a new Snow White arrived in October 2016, a wild month in human history to plan anything nine years ahead. Since then, the U.S. has torn itself between progress and retrenchment, smash-cutting from a young Black president to the two oldest white ones. Meanwhile, the biggest studio in Hollywood steadily remade its most legendary animated successes with flesh-and-blood actors. The new Snow White is either the sixth or the 15th live-action remake of a classic Disney cartoon. The precise number depends on your definition of, well, live-action and remake. You may choose to include various main-character digital animals, a couple of adaptations in which the villains arent so evil, or the Glenn Close 101 Dalmatians where no dogs talk. I count none of those! Give me Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Mulan, and The Little Mermaid, all apex products of Disneys Domination Era, the archetypal lineup of the companys Princess brand brought to big-budget life. These films re-created and hyperinflated their source material, filling expanded run times with prologues and backstory, fitting performers into elaborate costumes designed for two dimensions, and situating human beings into steadily uglier CGI surroundings. Often they added new songs always terrible, so bad, Awkwafina is a Rapping Bird bad. And an astounding number of us bought tickets. 2017s Beauty and 2019s Aladdin grossed over a billion dollars. 2023s Mermaid earned $117 million domestically in one Memorial Day weekend. Controversy has dogged the past few releases. Mulan disappeared into human-rights scandal and the COVID release haze. Mermaid revealed a miserable subculture of aqua-eugenicists. Snow Whites various alleged offenses somehow involved Israel, Palestine, Donald Trump, and that time Marc Maron interviewed Peter Dinklage. The numbers started going the wrong way. Mermaid grossed half of what Aladdin did. Snow White just saw a $43 million domestic opening weekend, worse than that 2019 Dumbo remake (digital elephant!) nobody will admit to seeing. The original Snow White was Disneys original everything: first animated feature, first princess fantasy, first evil stepmother, first himbo prince, first happy working song. The new one marks an ending. There will be more live-action Disney re-creations Lilo & Stitch arrives in May, Moana next year but Snow White is the last of the studios founding monomyths. And I dont think any of the remakes, successful or not, have pushed aside the cartoons in the popular imagination. Anecdotally, it seems everyone has seen these movies and (beyond 2015s fizzy Cinderella) hated them. Lily James in the 2015 Cinderella. Photo: Jonathan Olley/Walt Disney Studios Unfortunately, Disney live-action remakes defined the 2010s. Here were decadent yet chintzy nostalgia pieces with delusions of forward momentum. They wanted to fix archaic gender roles, and they wanted to Make Disney Great Again. The princesses arent just falling in love; theyre enacting major social reforms and falling in love! The uneasy balance of intentions re-create famous moments of yesteryear, wedge in vague flavors of resonance reflects the default tone of corporate progressivism that corporations and progressives both seem tired of now. The live-action Jasmine and Snow White wind up leading their countries, unlike their forebears. Is this progress? Whats more conservative than a literal monarchy? A lunatic online fringe complained about ethnic recasting in Little Mermaid and Snow White, forcing anyone sane to adopt a protective stance. But theres also something very proto-AI about plugging new young faces into the same old stories. The Remake Age started with a couple of movies that werent remakes at all: 2010s Alice in Wonderland was a downbeat sequel and 2014s Maleficent an upside-down Sleeping Beauty. Both were full of CGI sewage, to be clear, but their askew angles on theme-park IP reflected real cynicism around core tenets of the princess narrative. Even Disney, I think, was a little suspicious of Disney at the time. The studio had looked lost in the aughts. DreamWorks became a legitimate animation competitor with 2001s Shrek, at the time received as a ruthless parody of Michael Eisners Mouse House. That wound up inspiring Disneys own self-satire in Enchanted and The Princess and the Frog and set the stage for the unhappily-ever-after grime of Alice and Maleficent. Both films made silly money. Meanwhile, however, Disney Animation Studios was refreshed with Tangled and Frozen, which converted folkloric romances into compelling empowerment tales. The princess remakes wound up juggling two countervailing instincts: an instinct for modernization (Ariel cant be 16 and getting married) mixed with a near-religious fixation on boosting the significance of the original stories (Surely, our princess will inspire the leaders of tomorrow!). The long-delayed Snow White epitomizes all these trends from two Zeitgeists ago. Its a museum piece, really, already more archaic than the 1937 productions roiling blend of cozy sing-along warmth and nightmare Surrealism. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is essentially a perfect movie, and any sane person would admit Snow is the 11th-best character. She is kind and kinda dim. Takes fruit from strangers. Yearns for a man-savior. Speaks with indecipherable baby-helium soprano. Shes still more interesting than her bland prince, who does nothing helpful until he kisses an apparent corpse. The new Snow White badly wants to fix them both. Rachel Zeglers title character isnt pining for anything except a major shift in government planning. She wants her citizens to be happy, like back when her perfect parents werent dead. Her motto: Fearless, Fair, Brave, True. She doesnt use her animal friends for housework these cute birds are a battle strategy!! She remembers every farmers name, and still her love interest calls her a vapid elitist. He aint no prince. Andrew Burnap plays Jonathan, a rebel thief plotting guerrilla operations. Theyre allies in the resistance who just so happen to have the hots for each other. Liu Yifei in Mulan (2020). Photo: Jasin Boland/Disney+/Everett Collection Once upon a time, Disney princesses were hot duds marrying hot duds. In the remakes love stories, they flirt mindfully. Lily Jamess Cinderella meet-cutes Richard Maddens prince by teaching him hunting is wrong. Awakened romantically and politically by Cinderellas bodacious thoughts, the prince opens his next ball to all citizens of every stratosphere. Jonah Hauer-Kings Eric bonds with Halle Baileys Ariel over geology and cartography; he also cares about malaria. Mena Massouds Aladdin shows Naomi Scotts Jasmine a whole new world, but most of all, he helps her see the cultural richness of her home city. Its them, the people, they make it beautiful, the sultans daughter says. If I had to pick one overwhelming trend in these remakes, its that phrase: the people. Cinderellas prince demands A ball for the people! Sea-Daddy Triton declares, I have always tried to do whats best for our people! Zeglers Snow White proclaims that she thinks only about how to help her people. Im not saying adding more politics to fairy tales is a bad idea. The success of Wicked suggests the mainstream picking up where Maleficent left off, and the safest artistic and financial read on 2025 is that audiences actually want more change from their mythic reenactments. You could certainly try to make a Little Mermaid about the perils of isolationism, or a Snow White rebel yell. But you cant stage a revolution inside the same old theme park. So Zeglers performance is an effortful muddle because Snow White needs to be strong, smart, brave, upright, politically activated, beautiful outside, and beautiful inside. She needs to do all that while cosplaying the cartoons blue-shouldered yellow-billow outfit, and still eat an apple when she obviously shouldnt. By struggling to add so many layers to the heroes, the remakes miss the most critical emotional landscapes of Disney house style. When I revisit the old cartoons over my kids shoulders, its obvious the most vivid personalities are in the ensembles bighearted little miners, winged godmothers, hungry mice, a fussy crab, the candelabra hot for the feather duster, a transmorphic meta-genie. And the villains, of course, exuding every nastily relatable emotion; the stepmothers and sorceresses are vain, arrogant, dismissive, lonely, rude, and outrageous. Meet the enemy: Theyre human. The remakes overthink and even apologize for their leads: Were sorry 1992 Jasmine was just a cool tiger owner with no geopolitical aspirations; we promise 2019 Jasmine will be an excellent benevolent despot! In the process, the real estate for the ensemble vanishes. Sebastian no longer battles the French chef. Cinderellas mice dont talk. Iago the Parrot a top-five henchman who had a redemption arc in The Return of Jafar! is just some parrot. In the 37 Snow White, theres a set piece where the dwarfs yodel. Its four or five minutes long, each musical solo a bit of Marx Brothers clowning, not a scene with any plot purpose; call it a vibe. It works because the dwarfs are endlessly endearing characters, somehow both ancient and childish. In the new Snow White, the comparable scene lets them sing for a few seconds before segueing into a tuneless duet between the princess and Jonathan. Its a stale instinct, bizarrely magnifying the central love story more than anything in the cartoon. Who ever wanted to spend more time with the boring boyfriend? Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat on Wednesday in Beijing. Han said that over the past year, China-Singapore relations have witnessed steady and in-depth development. Noting that China's development has benefited from reform and opening-up, he said that China will remain committed to high-level opening-up and high-quality development. China is willing to take the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to continue to give full play to the role of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, push for greater development of China-Singapore all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership, and make new contributions to regional and world peace and development, Han said. Hailing China's development achievements, Heng said that under the current situation, all parties should adhere to opening-up and cooperation and safeguard multilateral mechanisms. Singapore is willing to continue to actively participate in China's development process and is full of confidence in the development of bilateral relations, Heng said. A Guide to Divorce in Italy (Updated 2025) The introduction of divorce into the Italian legal system has had a long and difficult journey, accompanied by debates that have raged for almost a century. Following the 1929 Concordat between Italy and the Roman Catholic Church, a political treaty created the Vatican City State and guaranteed full and independent sovereignty to the Holy See. However, the Church retained spiritual jurisdiction in Italy, and marriage was seen to fall within this ambit. It was not until 1970 that divorce or rather the dissolution of marriage entered into the Italian civil code. After that, a judge could dissolve a marriage, but this only impacted on the civil aspects of the union and in no way impaired either the validity of the religious act of marriage or its effects. The divorce process in Italy was long and difficult and could take five to six years. The 1978 law, updated in 1987 and referred to as the Italian Divorce Law, is the current source of law for divorce in Italy. Under this, a final divorce decree can only be issued by a judge after three continuous years of legal separation. However, the divorce law in Italy is under review once again. In May 2014, a bill to shorten the divorce process (divorzio breve) was approved in the Chamber of Deputies by a majority of 381 votes in favour, 30 against, and 14 abstentions. This bill is now being considered by the Senate. It is already running into opposition, but if approved, it will be applicable immediately to divorce cases already being processed. If its terms are changed in the Senate, then it will have to return to the Chamber of Deputies for re-approval. Divorce in Italy has undergone major reforms in the last decade, making the process faster and more accessible for couplesespecially expats and foreignersnavigating the Italian legal system. Whether you were married in Italy, reside here, or are in a mixed-nationality marriage, this guide explains how the current divorce process works, including all recent legal updates. How Does Divorce Work in Italy? Italy still requires couples to legally separate before they can divorce, unlike many countries where the two can be filed together from the outset. However, thanks to new legal reforms, the process is now more efficient.Since March 2023, the Cartabia Reform allows separation and divorce to be requested within a single legal procedure. This has made a substantial difference in how long it takes to resolve a marriage legally. While the two-step logic remains in place, the bureaucratic burden has been reduced. 2015 Fast-Track Divorce Law: Shorter Waiting Periods In 2015, Italy passed a pivotal reform aimed at accelerating the divorce process. Previously, the law required a three-year separation period before a divorce could be finalized. Today, the law allows for: 6 months of separation in cases of mutual (consensual) agreement 12 months of separation in contested divorces These waiting periods begin from the date the couple appears in court to formalize the separationnot from the date they moved apart. This change significantly shortened the timeline for ending a marriage in Italy, making the legal system more responsive to contemporary social realities. The 2023 Cartabia Reform: A Major Modernization One of the most impactful changes in recent years came with the Cartabia Reform, named after Italys former Minister of Justice, Marta Cartabia. The reform introduced a series of changes that simplified civil and family procedures across the board.Key aspects of the reform include: Single proceedings for both separation and divorce, filed at the same time Unified documentation , reducing redundancy and administrative delays Fewer court appearances , especially in amicable cases More predictable timelines for each phase of the process This new system is particularly beneficial for international couples, as it limits the number of legal steps, hearings, and court filings required. Who Can File for Divorce in Italy? You dont need to be an Italian citizen to file for divorce in Italy. However, at least one spouse must have a legal connection to the country. This includes: Being an Italian citizen (even if living abroad) Holding residency in Italy Having had the last marital residence in Italy Being married in Italy or having the marriage registered here Foreigners married in Italyor those whose marriage is recognized by Italian authoritiesare entitled to divorce under Italian law. Civil and Religious Marriage: The Legal Distinction Italian law recognizes both civil marriages and religious marriages with civil effectusually Catholic weddings performed in accordance with the Concordat between the Holy See and the Italian Republic.Regardless of whether a couple was married in a church or at a town hall, as long as the marriage was legally registered with the Italian civil registry, the divorce process is the same. Its worth noting that Church annulments are separate from civil divorces. A couple who divorces in civil court but wants an annulment recognized by the Catholic Church must go through the Sacra Rota, the ecclesiastical court. Children and Divorce in Italy: What the Court Considers If children are involved, the Italian courts take a highly protective stance. Their primary focus is on ensuring the welfare and best interests of minors. The court will make decisions about: Custody (which can be shared or exclusive) Living arrangements Visitation rights Child support and financial contributions Italian law presumes shared custody (affidamento condiviso) unless one parent is demonstrably unfit. The financial obligations of each parent are calculated according to their income, time spent with the child, and overall ability to contribute.Parents must also agree on important decisions affecting the childs life, such as education, healthcare, and religious upbringing. Spousal Support and Division of Property Upon divorce, the court will also rule on economic issues such as: Spousal maintenance (assegno divorzile): Financial support awarded to one spouse based on income disparity, duration of the marriage, age, health, and standard of living during the marriage. Division of assets: Depending on whether the couple chose a community of property (comunione dei beni) or a separation of property (separazione dei beni) regime at the time of marriage. Under community of property, all assets acquired during the marriage are considered shared and are typically divided equally. Under separation of property, each spouse retains ownership of what they acquired independently. Do You Need a Lawyer? Yes. Divorce in Italy is a legal procedure that must go through the court system (unless handled entirely through administrative channels, which is rare). All parties must be represented by an attorney.In amicable cases, a single lawyer can represent both spouses if they agree on all terms. However, in contested divorcesor if you have international legal questionsits strongly recommended to hire your own lawyer. For non-Italian speakers, its essential to find an attorney who is fluent in English or your native language and has experience with international family law. Language, Translation, and International Documents All proceedings in Italian courts are conducted in Italian. Any foreign documentssuch as marriage certificates, divorce rulings, or birth certificatesmust be: Officially translated into Italian Legalized (or accompanied by an apostille) depending on your country of origin Failing to meet these document requirements can delay or complicate your case. Alternatives to Court: Out-of-Court Divorce Options Since 2014, Italy allows for a simplified, non-judicial divorce process in certain situations. If the couple: Does not have minor or dependent children , and Is in complete agreement on the terms of the separation or divorce, ...they can finalize the divorce through: A lawyer-assisted agreement filed with the local bar association An agreement before a civil registrar (ufficiale di stato civile) at the town hall This procedure is faster, cheaper, and doesnt require a court appearance. A Modernized Process for a Changing Society Italys divorce laws have evolved to reflect a more modern and flexible approach to marriage breakdowns. With the 2015 fast-track law and the 2023 Cartabia Reform, the process is no longer the exhausting ordeal it once was.While navigating divorce is never easy, especially in a foreign country, Italy now offers clear, structured pathways to help couples resolve their situation with fairness and efficiency. The key is to stay informed, consult a qualified legal expert, and approach the process with a willingness to collaborateparticularly if children or international circumstances are involved. Ph: MikeDotta / Shutterstock.com Franceschini says move would address gender inequality. A proposed bill for children in Italy to be automatically assigned their mother's surname when they are registered at birth has sparked a heated debate among politicians. The idea was put forward on Tuesday by senator Dario Franceschini, a senior figure in the centre-left Partito Democratico (PD) and former culture minister, during a party meeting to discuss a proposed law for double surnames. Constitutional court Three years ago Italy's constitutional court ruled that the existing rules requiring children to be given automatically only their fathers surname were unlawful, defining them as "discriminatory and harmful to the identity of the child." Children should be given the surnames of both parents, Italy's top court said, in the order agreed on by the parents. If parents cannot decide on the order of the surnames, the decision would be up to a judge. The child's parents may also decide, by mutual agreement, to assign the surname of just one or the other, the court ruled. However since the 2022 ruling the legislation has been stuck in parliament, and is currently being discussed in the senate, prompting Franceschini to reignite the debate. Gender inequality "Instead of creating endless problems with the management of double surnames or with the choice between the father's and the mother's, after centuries in which children have taken their father's surname, we must establish that from the new law they will only take their mother's surname," Franceschini said. Ai figli solo il cognome della madre. Anziche creare infiniti problemi con la gestione dei doppi cognomi, dopo secoli in cui i figli hanno preso il cognome del padre, stabiliamo che dalla nuova legge prenderanno il solo il cognome della madre. E una cosa semplice ed anche un Dario Franceschini (@dariofrance) March 25, 2025 The PD senator described the proppsed move as "a simple thing", adding that it would also be "compensation for a centuries-old injustice that has not only had a symbolic value, but has been one of the cultural and social sources of gender inequality".For now it remains a verbal proposal however Franeschini assures that it will soon become a real bill that will be presented to the senate in the coming days.Reaction Matteo Salvini, Italy's deputy premier and leader of the right-wing Lega party, was quick to slam Franceschini's proposal. "Here are the great priorities of the Italian left. Instead of a double surname, take away the father's surname from children!" - Salvini fumed on X - "Of course, let's wipe these fathers off the face of the earth, that way we'll solve all the problems." Ecco le grandi priorita della sinistra italiana: invece del doppio cognome, togliere ai bimbi il cognome del padre! Ma certo, cancelliamoli dalla faccia della terra questi papa, cosi risolviamo tutti i problemi Ma dove le pensano ste idee geniali? pic.twitter.com/lLFhRgBZDh Matteo Salvini (@matteosalvinimi) March 25, 2025 Federico Mollicone, a prominent member of prime minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing Fratelli d'Italia party, said the proposed move would shift "from patriarchy to matriarchy", while senator Pierantino Zanettin, of the centre-right Forza Italia, said it seemed "more like a provocation aimed above all at media attention".There was more measured criticism from the president of the senate's justice commission, Giulia Bongiorno of the Lega, who called for "a point of balance that does not make any parent invisible".Carlo Calenda, leader of the centrist Azione party, drily asked if there were no other priorities, while there was even criticism from PD deputy Stefano Lepri who claimed that the father's surname "is not an outdated legacy of the patriarchy, but rather the first way to prevent a man from limiting himself to his reproductive function", reports Avvenire. The idea was welcomed by the Greens and Left Alliance (AVS) and other PD colleagues of Franceschini including senator Valeria Valente who spoke of the attribution of the mother's surname to children as "a battle of civilisation", and Laura Boldrini who said: "Like every attempt to restore to women the equality that has been denied for too long, even in the parental sphere and in the attribution of the surname, it is welcome". However the president emeritus of the constitutional court, Cesare Mirabelli, believes the bill will "not even reach parliament", telling news agency Adnkronos that "an inequality cannot be remedied by overturning it and introducing another". The bill will be "open to criticism and challenge for unconstitutionality if it ever reaches the finish line", Mirabelli said, adding that it "lends itself to the same criticisms of illegitimacy that concerned the obligation to pass on only the father's surname to children". Photo credit: Vincenzo Izzo / Shutterstock.com. Royals' state visit to Italy to still go ahead, from 7-10 April, minus Vatican. King Charles III and Queen Camilla have postponed their state visit to the Vatican after doctors advised Pope Francis to rest for an extended period, Buckingham Palace said on Tuesday. The royals had been scheduled to make a "historic" visit to the Vatican on 8 April, as part of a state visit to Italy, during which they were to meet Pope Francis. Plans to visit the Vatican were postponed by "mutual agreement", Buckingham Palace said, after the 88-year-old pontiff was discharged from hospital on Sunday after five weeks battling double pneumonia. "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," a statement from Buckingham Palace said. The royals' state visit to Italy will continue from 7-10 April, with alterations to the planned programme due to the postponement of the Vatican element of the trip. The Vatican visit would have included an ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel as part of celebrations to mark the Jubilee Year, a holy event that occurs in Rome every 25 years. The Vatican visit was to have marked a significant step forward in relations between the Catholic Church and Church of England", of which King Charles is the Supreme Governor, Buckingham Palace said earlier this month. The state visit, which is designed to underline the strong relationship between the UK and Italy, reflecting "shared values, history and culture", will include engagements in Rome and Ravenna. The royals will meet Italy's prime minister Giorgia Meloni and Italy's president Sergio Mattarella who will host a state banquet in their honour. Charles is set to become the first UK monarch to address both houses of the Italian parliament during the trip to Rome which coincides with the king and queen's 20th wedding anniversary on 9 April. Photo credit: Mick Atkins / Shutterstock.com. Lee Jae-myung (C) speaks after he was acquitted of election law violation by an appeal court at the Seoul High Court in Seoul, South Korea, March 26, 2025. South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was acquitted of election law violation by an appeal court on Wednesday, cementing his position as a frontrunner in the next presidential election. (NEWSIS via Xinhua) SEOUL, March 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was acquitted of election law violation by an appeal court on Wednesday, cementing his position as a frontrunner in the next presidential election. The Seoul High Court overturned a lower court's ruling, saying Lee, chief of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, made no false statements during the last presidential campaign. Lee was handed a one-year prison term, suspended for two years, by the Seoul Central District Court in November last year on charges of dissemination of false information during the 2022 presidential election. Prosecutors had sought a two-year jail sentence for Lee in the first and the appeal trials. By law, Lee would lose his parliamentary seat and be barred from running in an election for 10 years if he received a fine of over 1 million won (680 U.S. dollars) for election law violation as confirmed by the Supreme Court. Lee, who lost the 2022 election to impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol by the country's narrowest margin, has been widely seen as the most powerful contender for the next presidential election. According to a survey by local pollster Flower, 49.6 percent said they will vote for the Democratic Party's candidate in the next presidential election, while 29.5 percent were in favor of the ruling People Power Party's candidate. Lee was the most favored as the Democratic Party's presidential candidate with a support rate of 85.5 percent. The result was based on a poll of 3,004 voters conducted from March 17 to 20. It had plus and minus 1.8 percentage points in margin of error with a 95-percent confidence level. Both supporters and critics of Lee shouted opposing slogans on separate streets near the court, holding signs that read "Lee Jae-myung is innocent" and "Go to prison, Jae-myung." Lee was indicted in 2022 over statements he made during a media interview in December 2021 as the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, when he denied he had known a senior official at the urban development arm of the city of Seongnam where he was mayor from 2010 to 2018. Lee said he was unable to remember the late official during the TV interview, but prosecutors argued that Lee lied to voters to distance himself from an alleged land development project's corruption linked to the urban development arm. Lee was also accused of making false claims during a parliamentary audit in October 2021 when Lee, then Gyeonggi province governor, said he was threatened by the land ministry of then conservative government and changed the designation of land use for a separate land development project in 2015 when he was the Seongnam mayor. Prosecutors said there was no threat posed by the land ministry, but Lee stressed that the land ministry pressured Seongnam city despite his admission of exaggerated expression. Lee Jae-myung (C) speaks after he was acquitted of election law violation by an appeal court at the Seoul High Court in Seoul, South Korea, March 26, 2025. South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was acquitted of election law violation by an appeal court on Wednesday, cementing his position as a frontrunner in the next presidential election. (NEWSIS via Xinhua) Lee Jae-myung waves to the crowd after he was acquitted of election law violation by an appeal court at the Seoul High Court in Seoul, South Korea, March 26, 2025. South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was acquitted of election law violation by an appeal court on Wednesday, cementing his position as a frontrunner in the next presidential election. (NEWSIS via Xinhua) Lee Jae-myung (C) speaks after he was acquitted of election law violation by an appeal court at the Seoul High Court in Seoul, South Korea, March 26, 2025. South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was acquitted of election law violation by an appeal court on Wednesday, cementing his position as a frontrunner in the next presidential election. (NEWSIS via Xinhua) Proposed ban would affect smokers in the centre of Rome. Smoking in outdoor public areas in the historic centre of Rome could soon be banned under proposed legislation set to be discussed by the city council in the coming days. The proposal, put forward by councillor Lorenzo Minio Paluello of the centre-left RomaFutura civic list, would see Rome follow the example of other cities such as Milan, Amsterdam, Melbourne and New York. The smoking ban would affect the central Municipio I borough and is designed to protect citizens' health, recalling that smoking is one of the main causes of respiratory, cardiovascular and oncological diseases, while also underlining the risks of passive smoking and the problem of streets littered with cigarette butts. The move seeks to replicate the system in place in Milan where smoking is banned in outdoor public places, including streets and parks, effectively prohibiting smokers from lighting up outdoors. The measure, in force since the start of this year, is part of efforts by the north Italian city to improve air quality and encourage healthy lifestyles. Under the proposed smoking restrictions in the centre of Rome, there would be designated places for smokers, equipped with bins and information panels to raise awareness about the harmful effects of the habit. "This is not a battle against smokers, but a civilised choice" - Minio Paluello told La Repubblica newspaper - "the example of cities like Milan and Amsterdam shows that regulating smoking outdoors is possible and that citizens are ready for changes that bring collective benefits." Minio Paluello said the proposal was designed to make the historic centre of Rome, "already a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a model of public health and sustainability, with clear and applicable rules to ensure cleaner air and more liveable shared spaces." Smoking in Italy has been banned in public places including bars, restaurants, night clubs and offices since 2005. Photo credit: Kraft74 / Shutterstock.com. Investigation opens into tragic incident in centre of Rome. A 55-year-old woman from Spain has died after falling off a high wall to the side of the Spanish Steps in Rome on Wednesday morning, Italian media reports. An investigation is underway into the incident which occurred at around 08.00 when the tourist fell off the parapet into a private property to the side of the landmark staircase. A passerby raised the alarm and the woman was transported in a serious condition to the Policlinico Umberto I hospital where she subsequently died. Police have cordoned off the area at Piazza della Trinita dei Monti. Satellite assessment of damage to Irish forests from Storms Darragh and Eowyn is now estimated at nearly 24,000 hectares of forest, which has suffered windblow damage - more than twice the annual cut harvested. The hardest hit areas are in the northern half of the country. Minister of State for Forestry, Horticulture and Farm Safety, Michael Healy-Rae, TD, on February 25 launched two enhanced decision-support tools - the Tree Volume and Carbon Calculator and the Felling Decision Tool - which will assist forest owners in making informed management decisions. Waterford Forest Owners Group welcomed the tools, which provide key financial insights, helping assess timber revenues over a forest cycle and weigh the risks of early felling versus potential further windblow damage. Speaking on their importance, Minister Healy-Rae said: "A demonstration highlighted the major difference in value between a 22-year-old and a 32-year-old crop. The Felling Decision Tool will be particularly useful for those with partially damaged forests, helping them determine the financial impact of clearing a site versus allowing trees to mature further." The Minister also reassured forest owners that those with the necessary licenses can proceed with clearance and replanting without fear of being disadvantaged in future assistance schemes. Forest Contractors Meanwhile, the Forestry Division of the Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) has welcomed the initiative by Minister Healy-Rae to include forestry contractors in the Forest Windblow Taskforce. We welcome the Ministers recognition that Forestry Contractors have a critical role in working with the Taskforce to lead a co-ordinated stakeholder response from across the sector to ensure that storm-damaged forests are managed safely and appropriately, said Ann Gleeson Hanrahan, managing director of FCI. Forestry Contractors, who are vital in ensuring timber mobilisation, will through FCI provide a central voice at the Taskforce to represent the interests of timber harvesting and haulage contractors, she added. Minister Healy-Rae has also recognised that harvesting timber in windblow sites is significantly slower and more costly per cubic metre than in regular forest situations. FCI Forestry Contractors members report 30% to 40% lower harvesting output in windblown sites compared with regular forest harvest situations. Harvesting costs are also higher and work output slower due to the need for greater numbers of chainsaw operators on the ground. FCI is working closely with other European Forestry Contractor groups through its membership of CEETTAR (the European Organisation Agricultural, Rural, & Forestry Contractors, based in Brussels). Following discussions with CEETTAR members, an agreement has been reached that Forestry Harvesting Contractors coming into Ireland to help with the Storm Eowyn harvesting challenge will work as sub-contractors to Irish FCI Forestry Contractors. According to the FCI, the pending arrival of supporting Forestry Contractors from outside Ireland remains delayed due to factors, which include the lack of a fair and transparent payment system similar to what is paid to Forestry Contractors across Europe. While the Taskforce and Minister Healy-Rae have limited control over the pricing structure, FCI is calling for the payment to Forestry Contractors to be based on the cubic metre measured output from the independently calibrated harvester head. Contractors from across Europe who have an established payment system based on the cubic metre measured output from the independently calibrated harvester head, cannot consider work in Ireland on any other basis, said Ann Gleeson Hanrahan. We welcome the Ministers work and dedication with the Taskforce to find the solutions to harvesting windblown timber, which must include a fair and transparent system of payment for the Forestry Contractors, she added. Currently more than 95% of Irelands forest harvesting, which is valued at more than 2.3bn to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually, is fully mechanized, using Forestry Contractor harvester and forwarding machines. However, Ireland differs from the Nordic countries by the fact that Forestry Contractors in Ireland are paid according to the dry matter weight of the harvested timber. In this sale by weight system, the weight of timber removed is based on records from the weighbridge at the sawmill or processing plant along with an arbitrary dry matter conversion factor. With this flawed current payment system many FCI Forestry Contractors have been forced to pay credits back to the forest companies, resulting in less than 85% recovery rates for the work completed. Irish FCI Forestry Contractors are required to tender much of their timber harvesting work on the basis of a cubic metre machine throughput measured on the harvesting machine head. While the investment in machine calibration is required to meet with the Coillte STICKS management system, the Forestry Contractors are not paid for their work based on the measured machine output. The issues faced by Forestry Contractors coming from outside Ireland, to meet the huge challenges faced by Irish timber growers in harvesting Storm Eowyn windblown timber, provide a timely opportunity for negotiated Forestry Contractor work pricing system change through the Taskforce lead by Minister Healy-Rae, said Ann Gleeson Hanrahan. The Book Resort opened its doors on The Prom in Tramore on Saturday. Among the first visitors to the new store was Kian Egan. The Westlife star was in Tramore attending the surfing competition on the same day. The Book Resort is a family-run Waterford company specialising in books, gifts and luxury book subscriptions and is big supporter of Irish suppliers. Commenting on the opening, founder, Aisling Finn, said everyone involved is "very excited" to step into retail and showcase their fabulous products in "a wonderful new location". It is located at Unit 4, The Pavilion, The Prom (beside the surf shop and behind Brooklyn). SETU (South East Technological University) has launched a multi-company automation scholarship aimed at retaining regional talent in the southeast. The scholarship is being run in collaboration with the Engineering the South East Cluster (ESE) and its automation sub-group, and one the aims of the innovative multi-company automation scholarship, is to retain top engineering talent within the region. A recent Higher Education Authority (HEA) report revealed that 62 per cent of engineering students from the southeast region leave to study elsewhere, with a significant impact on the local workforce. In response to that, SETUs Autom8 scholarship initiative aims to attract and support students pursuing automation and robotics engineering careers, while addressing the regions growing demand for skilled professionals in industry. Speaking at the launch of the scholarship, Stephen Rooney, Cluster Manager, Engineering the South East, SETU, said: The Autom8 scholarship is set to enhance local career opportunities, reduce brain drain, and strengthen industry-academic collaboration." "It aligns with SETUs mission to support regional economic growth by fostering a pipeline of skilled graduates who can drive technological innovation in the southeast," he said. "The Autom8 scholarship brings together a group of leading manufacturing and automation companies to offer students financial support, industry experience, and professional mentorship throughout their undergraduate studies at SETU," he added. Companies partnering with SETU on the initiative include, MSD Ireland, Integer, Teva, Sanofi, and Bausch + Lomb. Edmond Connolly, Manager of the South East Regional Skills Forum, said SETU and Engineering the South East is encouraging interested second-level students to apply and "seize this opportunity to advance their careers in automation engineering" within a thriving local industry. The scholarship is open to students enrolling on SETUs Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) in Automation Engineering (Waterford campus) and the Bachelor of Robotics and Automated Systems (Carlow campus). Each participating company will provide a 2,000 annual contribution towards a students educational expenses, along with access to paid summer work, a third-year industrial placement, and a dedicated industry mentor. Decisions on how dog wardens are deployed are not for discussion at council meetings, Waterford councillors have been told. Senior Executive Officer in the Environmental Department, Dawn Wallace, was responding to a query from Cllr Joe ORiordan at the March sitting of the Dungarvan-Lismore District Council. Cllr ORiordan was highlighting a recent incident of a dog that was loose on the N25. He said the local dog warden was unable to attend the incident, and a warden from the city had to travel out. Now, this seems to be a systemic weakness considering the potential damage a loose dog on a busy main road could pose. Is it possible the local warden could be empowered to deal with these possible critical situations without the city warden having to travel down, said Cllr ORiordan. Ms Wallace responded that these were HR issues and not for discussion at council meetings. On seeing the councillor's confusion, Ms Wallace clarified: You asked about the dog warden and how we deploy our staff. They are operational decisions. Cllr ORiordan responded: With respect, someone has to drive from Waterford to get a dog off a road. Isnt that a matter of health and safety? Ms Wallace ended the discussion by reiterating that this was an operational decision. ANIMAL WELFARE The incident on the N25 was just one of the dog warden queries at the March sitting. Cllr John Pratt told the council that a dog warden from another jurisdiction had contacted him about dogs being mistreated in his district. Cllr Pratt said that while the wardens know where the animals are and that they are being mistreated, they do not have the authority to act. He asked if the local dog warden could be empowered to do so. I think it is important that is followed up and ensured that the dogs are taken off, said Cllr Pratt. Ms Wallace responded that animal welfare concerns are not under the remit of the dog warden. She said that if an individual is concerned about an animal being mistreated, they should contact the ISPCA. Derelict buildings at Lombard Street are currently being rejuvenated as expansion works to the Tower Hotel progress. Situated at a major entrance point to the city centre, the buildings have for a long time been an eyesore for passersby. Significant progress has been made of late, with the Tower Hotel expanding their services into the vacant properties, providing new amenities to the existing hotel, including an expanded ballroom space and 15 new suites. Neville Hotels operate the Tower Hotel in Waterford, alongside their properties in Dun Laoghaire, Wexford, Kilkenny and Wicklow. Director at Neville Hotels Therese Kelly, spoke to the Waterford News & Star this week to provide updates on the works to the Tower Hotel and Lombard Street. The ballroom, which is being extended and expanded at the minute, is due to be finished for the May bank holiday, she said. The ballroom will be expanded and fully redecorated along with the lounge area just outside of it for all our weddings, functions, conferences etc. Along Lombard Street well have 15 new suites that will be coming on stream. We dont have an exact date on those yet, but it will be summer 2025 before they are finished. This will brighten up Lombard Street, which it has been in need of. I see those suites being quite popular with families. They will be self-catering, self-contained units, but with the facilities of the hotel on hand as well. We feel that the suites will also be popular with corporates who might like longer term stays rather than being in the hotel room. Ms. Kelly said that the expansion speaks to the growing popularity of the hotel and shows that Waterford City is an in-demand stop for tourists and the business community. The ballroom is something that we always felt needed to be expanded because of the large conference business that comes into Waterford. With the expansion hopefully it will attract more conferences. With the new suites, the Greenway has helped tourism in Waterford a lot and tourism in the city is being promoted a lot more to families. It is the popularity of the hotel that is growing, helped by Waterford tourism. They were the main drivers of the expansion." The construction works are ongoing at the site. Rose Lane, to the back of the hotel, is currently closed to traffic from the Lombard Street entrance with a diversion in place. Ms Kelly says that it remains business as usual at the hotel despite the ongoing development. The only exception is we dont have our large ballroom for meetings while it is being expanded, but we do have multiple other meeting rooms so we still do offer meeting rooms for smaller numbers. The bar, the restaurant, the health club are all still open and fully functioning so still very much an open and operating hotel," she said. James Cox The 34th Dail has been hampered by the speaking rights row from its start in January, and the dispute is showing no signs of letting up. Here's everything you need to know about the speaking rights row. What started the speaking rights row? The long-running speaking row is over Government's attempts to secure speaking time for Regional Independent TDs, led by Michael Lowry, who support the Coalition. Opposition parties are united in their condemnation of this. The General Election saw Fianna Fail with 48 seats, Sinn Fein with 39 and Fine Gael with 38 seats. A Government needs 88 seats for a majority, so Fianna Fail and Fine Gael needed the support of a small number of independent TDs. The TDs in question came from two cohorts - a group of regional independents, led by Tipperary's Michael Lowry, and Kerry independent TDs Michael and Danny Healy-Rea. Under a deal agreed after the General Election, the Regional Independent Group vote with the Government in the Dail. The Healy-Rae brothers also agreed to vote with the Government. Four TDs from this group of independents were appointed junior ministers, while Wexfords Verona Murphy was appointed Ceann Comhairle. Michael Lowry, Danny Healy-Rae, Barry Heneghan and Gillian Toole, the four independents from the Group who were not named junior ministers, then announced they would form a technical group for speaking time. Speaking time in the Dail is allocated based on party or group size: Independent TDs on their own may not get any regular speaking slots, but by forming a technical group, they can pool their numbers to qualify for scheduled speaking time, including during high-profile weekly debates such as Leaders Questions. However, such technical groups have traditionally comprised opposition TDs. This is the root of the speaking rights row as opposition politicians claim they are attempting to take opposition speaking time while also supporting the Government. Opposition disrupted the election of Micheal Martin at Taoiseach over the row in January, and it continues to delay the formation of Dail committees and other business. Attempts to resolve the row The Government used its majority on the Dail Reform Committee to push through proposals to change Dail rules to allow speaking time for the TDs, which they say would be separate to Opposition speaking time. In response, the Opposition has withdrawn the Dail 'pairing' arrangement. The arrangement saw TDs agree not to participate in Dail votes to allow for a Minister or Government TDs absence. Last week, Opposition parties outlined plans to enter an amendment to the Governments motion to change Dail rules, which the Sinn Fein leader said will solve the row over speaking rights. Mary Lou McDonald vowed that opposition parties will face the Government down on the deepening row Where do things stand? The Governments majority meant it was able to push through significant changes to speaking rules in the Dail on Wednesday, 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. The real story was the Dail once again erupting into chaos, as it did when the Taoiseach's nomination was blocked in January. Many of the Opposition stood up and shouted, with Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy accusing them of "misogyny" and "making a holy show of yourselves". People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy took out his phone to film the unrest, and Michael Lowry made a two-finger gesture at him which Opposition TDs have claimed showed a lack of respect to the Irish public. The gesture, which happened following hours of chaos, shouting and heckling in the Dail, has been widely condemned. A screenshot of Michael Lowry making a two-finger gesture in the Dail, PA Wire/PA Images Taoiseach Micheal Martin called on Mr Lowry to apologise for the incident, but also criticised Mr Murphy, accusing him of waving his camera in the faces of other TDs. Mr Lowry, who was a key negotiator for a group of independents who agreed to support the formation of the Government, 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. In a statement, Mr Lowry said on Wednesday: The gesture I made in the Dail yesterday was not made with malicious intent. I made an errant gesture under provocation. Unfortunately, the gesture has been taken out of context. Unlike others, I have always respected the rules and values of the Dail. My gesture was not intended to be offensive or to cause any offence, and I regret that it may have been seen in such a way. The Government is proposing that the four TDs from the originally proposed Regional Independents technical group would be considered others. This essentially means they would not be considered part of the Government or Opposition. They would get speaking time on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, along with Government backbenchers. Opposition parties say this is "blurring the lines" by Government. It would also mean written questions to be answered by the Taoiseach on Wednesdays would no longer take place. What does the public think? Mr Martin previously claimed the public "aren't excited" about the speaking rights row. However, messages to the Taoiseach, seen by BreakingNews.ie following a Freedom of Information request, show the public are very angry about the issue. One person wrote: "I think it's utterly farcical that TDs who support the Government are attempting to speak on Opposition time. "I fully support attempts to disrupt proceedings today as this cannot stand." A message on the morning of January 23rd read: "Micheal, is this the start of a dictatorship? You're deliberately taking away the democratic rights of the Opposition by cutting down their speaking time. The Independents who helped you form government have no place on the opposition benches taking time away from your actual opposition. "This is an affront to Irish democracy. The painting of the opposition parties (Sinn Fein, Labour, Social Democrats etc) as the bad guys in this scenario is a deliberate projection on your part to avoid accountability for your shady dealings." Why is Verona Murphy under pressure? The Opposition have accused Ms Murphy of not being impartial enough to fulfill the role of Ceann Comhairle. The Opposition parties have drafted a no confidence motion in Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy. The Government has accused them of bullying behaviour towards Ms Murphy. If a vote does go ahead, the Government will back Ms Murphy meaning it is virtually guaranteed she will survive the motion. However, it does not bode well for a resolution of the speaking rights row. Ms Murphy said she fully intends to continue as Ceann Comhairle. The deputy has issued a lengthy statement tonight - in response to the draft of a no-confidence vote by the Opposition. The Taoiseach has accused them of trying to create a precedent, where they can oust any Ceann Comhairle they don't agree with. In the statement, Ms Murphy said: "Prolonged disorder and obstruction is utterly unacceptable in any democratic parliament. So too is making false accusations of partiality and collusion against its officials and Chair. By virtue of the independence of the office of Ceann Comhairle, I am in the unenviable position that I cannot descend at will into debate to defend myself against the entirely false allegations of collusion made against me in the Dail today. "I categorically reject these totally unfounded allegations. I have at all times followed the correct procedures of the House and the advice of the impartial officials present. The Clerk of Dail Eireann has independently prepared a report on yesterdays proceedings detailing the procedures followed. It has been laid before the Dail and accordingly is a public document . "I fully intend to continue to carry out the onerous office to which I was elected in accordance with the solemn undertakings I gave the Dail upon my election. "I call on every member of the House to reflect on and abide by their own constitutional obligations, to refrain from disorder, and to respect the rights and dignity of every other member and of the House itself." Advertisement Eating outLunch Hidden assets: seven secret Perth sandwiches worth seeking out Max Veenhuyzen March 27, 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 Perths infatuation with sandwiches shows little sign of letting up. Specialised shops such as Le Vietnam (banh mi), Delis Continental (continental rolls) and Jean-Claude Patisserie (dainty ficelles cradling a sensible quantity of French-inspired fillings) continue to sate even the most specific of lunchtime sandwich cravings. There are social media accounts dedicated to tracking the citys finest expressions of particular sandwiches. Last year, Perth hosted its first banh mi festival. The vada pav sandwich at Calcutta Sweets & Savouries in Bentley. Max Veenhuyzen While one doesnt have to go far for a hit of deliciousness-betwixt-bread, my most memorable sandwich encounters over the past two years have almost always been the ones I didnt see coming. Advertisement Encounters such as bumping into an unknown Pakistani sandwich at a kebab shop that needed Googling. Or spying a random A-frame sign deep in suburban Belmont that was adorned with two of the most heart-warming words in the Italian language: porchetta panini. Welcome, friends, to Perths secret sandwich dark web. Admittedly, secret is tricky to define and the suggestion of something being hidden away comes with certain caveats. Secret, to who exactly? And does little-known necessarily mean delicious? One food writers discovery might well be a locals post-gym, Saturday brunch go-to. In the interests of transparency, I share the self-imposed guidelines I followed while compiling this wrap. I havent included bakeries, lunch bars, cafes or any other place one could reasonably expect to find sandwiches, so that ruled out the brilliant curry bratwurst rolls at Bayswaters charming Wunderbar lunch bar. (A round-up of Perths great lunch bar sandwiches, I feel, is its own article.) Related Article Good Food hat 15 / 20 Review Counter meal intelligence: Edward & Idas brings old-hat and new-hat ideas to the pub meal discussion Advertisement One-off sandwich creations eaten at pop-ups and takeovers were also off the table I want readers to be able to order everything here. I also resisted the urge to feature DIY hack-it-yourself sangers, even though chats with members from Perths key conti roll families have all suggested that the origin of Perths legendary Australian-Italian sandwich includes customers building their own rolls in-store using the smallgoods, cheese and chewy Italian-style bread that they just purchased. (Quietly: I reckon a sandwich made with the sourdough at Wines and While, a brickies trowels worth of the house-cultured butter, plus chef Jack Shorts extraordinary panisse would be a two-hander of real beauty, but I fear that if I made one in front of owner Tom Van Beem, Id cop a temporary ban from the William Street natural wine bar.) So with all that said, here are some of the hidden sandwiches Ive unearthed in the line of duty. Fair warning, this is far from an exhaustive list, but I hope these finds encourage you to look closer at the menus and venues around you when youre next out and about (and maybe even send some of your finds my way). Secret sandwiches are anywhere and everywhere. Anday wala burger at Bentley Kebab Advertisement The prosaic name and facade of this neighbourhood eatery its next to Bhutanese and Nepalese food stronghold, Mountain Mantras hints little at the menus strong Pakistani accent. Although the menu offers shawarmas, desi meat boxes (aka halal snack packs), chips and other kebab shop classics, its the first place in Perth where Ive sighted this Karachi street food classic starring a squishy lentil patty, fried egg, salad and a piquant chutney tamarind? Tomato? sandwiched between a soft, hot dog-style white roll. Porchetta panini at Canteen Pizza Only available during the day, this lunchtime-friendly sandwich takes Canteens elegant, long-fermented dough in a different direction. It starts with a puffy, lightly pockmarked quarter of dough your panini that gets slit before being stuffed with shaved radish, horseradish cream and juicy roast pork. Consume, perhaps with an accompanying beverage from the drinks list, and watch the forecast for your afternoon skyrocket. Porchetta panini at Al Trancio Slabs of Pizza Also from the department of pizza shops serving great roast pork sandwiches. See that picture of a barbecue tray filled with luscious shaved porchetta in this suburban takeaways Google listing? All that could be yours. Available in the whole or half portion, Al Trancios panino sliced lengthways and built like a traditional sandwich rather than filled, pizza pocket-style a la Canteen Pizza uses a bubbly, focaccia-like bread similar to the plank-like Roman-style pizza bases baked by owner Marco di Ciano. Advertisement Related Article Bakers delights: Angelwood Pies brings irresistible blend to Leederville Pork belly banh mi at Belmont Oriental Supermarket Granted, the ordering system for the cafe spin-off inside this perhaps unexpectedly sleek, suburban Asian grocer can be tricky for first-timers you order and pay at the cash register across from the cafe and staff will give you a ticket that you then take to the cafe but its worth persisting with. While the price of the roast pork belly banh mi has grown a buck and is now an even $10, the pork is still juicy and crunchy in all the appropriate places and the filled sandwich still groans with serious heft. Weekend barbecue sandwiches at Churras On Saturdays and Sundays, this specialist South American butcher on Brisbane Street brings its meat party to the street and grills skewers of picanha (rump cap), entranha (skirt steak) and sausages over charcoal till charry and smoky. Choose your meat, watch it get piled into a crusty white bun along with the zippy Brazilian salsa known as vinaigrette plus some fine squiggles of mayonnaise, and start your weekend right. Advertisement The Milanese panini at La Delizia Latticini I have a confession to make: because of where I usually park and the entrance I usually take when shopping at The Park Centre, it was only recently that I realised there was a cafe window at cheese shop La Delizia Latticini where one can score excellent filled panini: this glorious sandwich starring a thin, breaded cutlet, salad and a luscious plank of Latticinis outstanding mozzarella. Why didnt anyone tell me about this? I thought we were friends. Vada pav at Calcutta Sweets & Savouries Among the jalebi, jamun, barfi and other Indian confectionaries sold at this spin-off of Indian grocery Bentley Spices, one will find a deep menu of calorific, big-hitting street food favourites. Among the paralysing number of options is the vada pav: a classic Mumbai street food starring a fried, highly spiced, pool-ball-sized fritter of potato and pea cradled in a soft white bun thats been lightly toasted and anointed with mint and tamarind chutneys. Is the light drizzle of grated cheese on the buns strictly necessary? Im not sure, but it feels like a flourish thats in sync with the more-is-more spirit of this beloved Indian and the shops menu, generally. (See also, toasted sandwiches freighting butter chicken and cheese, and masala egg and cheese.) TEHRAN, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein have exchanged views on Israel's renewed attacks against Gaza and Lebanon. In a phone conversation on Monday, they discussed the latest developments in the Middle East region, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. Iran's foreign minister condemned the continuation of Israel's "genocide in Gaza, frequent aggressions against Lebanon as well as killing of innocent women and children," saying they were being committed "in flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreements with Hamas and Hezbollah and with the U.S. green light." Araghchi called on the international community, especially the regional and Muslim states, to take immediate actions to stop the "crimes and aggressions" and prevent the insecurity's spillover into the entire Middle East region. He condemned the United States for "abusing" military bases and the airspace of regional nations to carry out "acts of aggression." He said that all countries should take necessary measures to safeguard sovereignty and prevent foreign military forces from exploiting their territories and facilities to jeopardize the security of other states. Regarding the U.S. "illegal" sanctions on Iran's oil industry, Araghchi said that the U.S. officials' anti-Iran claims and accusations were "unfounded and lacked credibility." He called on the neighboring and friendly countries to remain vigilant against U.S. attempts to fuel division and destabilize regional unity. The Iraqi foreign minister, for his part, warned of the "precarious" consequence of Israel's "aggressions" against Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, voicing deep concern over escalating regional tensions. Hussein called for enhanced regional coordination to address the humanitarian crisis facing the "oppressed" Palestinian people and to prevent further destabilization in the Middle East. A politically sensitive decision on the future of Woodsides North West Shelf project has been delayed until after the federal election. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek was due to decide on Woodsides proposal to extend the operating life of its North West Shelf project by March 31. Woodside wants to extend the life of its North West Shelf gas project in WA. The assessment deadline was already pushed from February 28, after the WA government was slow to send through reports on industry impact on the Murujuga rock art on Burrup Peninsula, where Woodsides Karratha Gas Plant operates. The new deadline of May 31 was uploaded to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water website on federal budget day. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles latest social post has us asking: what on Earth was he and/or his team thinking? Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles posted a meme referencing an infamous scene in The White Lotus. Credit: Instagram In a fit of post-budget euphoria, a meme was posted to his Instagram account featuring an infamous scene from prestige murder mystery drama The White Lotus, in which the character Rick (played by Walton Goggins) visiting Thailand, goes for a drink with his old friend-turned local resident Frank (played by Sam Rockwell) only to be shocked by his mates revelations. The attack post aimed at the Coalition included a photo of Frank with the caption, The Liberals explaining how theyre opposing a tax cut for every taxpayer, and then a reaction shot of a shocked Rick with the caption Australian voters. The purpose, we guess, is as if to frame the federal opposition as the party of The White Lotus weirdness and Australians as the shocked everyman grappling with bizarre scenarios beyond their comprehension limit. Stark imagery of barren streets, mass-produced houses, and endless roads are the focus of a Perth photographers exhibition, which captures the ugliness of the great Australian dream on the citys urban fringe. Harry Cunningham travelled the vast corridor of Perths sprawling suburbs documenting the visual and environmental impacts of the citys notorious sprawl that began in the 1960s and has largely gone unchecked. A shot from Harry Cunninghams exhibition showing a couple celebrating their new home being completed. Credit: Harry Cunningham Cunningham said he wanted to challenge viewers to reconsider Perths urban frontier which now stretches more than 150 kilometres from Mandurah in the south to Two Rocks in the north, earning the west coast capital the title of worlds longest city also the name of the exhibition. As someone who has travelled quite extensively, Ive always been interested in what defines a place what gives it character and identity beyond the postcards, he said. A dead farmed salmon made a splash in Senate question time on Wednesday as Greens environment spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young staged a piscatorial stunt to accuse the government of gutting environment laws and driving an endangered native species to extinction. Holding aloft a big, bloody fish, Hansong-Young asked Senator Jenny McAllister, representing the environment minister, if she endorsed Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses decision to create a legal carve-out to shield salmon farms from legal challenges. The Greens environment spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young holds up a salmon during question time in the Senate. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Have you sold out your environmental credentials for a rotten, stinking extinction salmon? Hanson-Young demanded. The future of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour, on Tasmanias remote west coast, has been uncertain since 2023, when environment groups challenged the governments approval for the industry due to its impacts on the critically endangered Maugean skate. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek had been reconsidering the approval before Albaneses intervention. Alexander Lukashenko takes the oath of office during an inauguration ceremony in Minsk, Belarus, March 25, 2025. Alexander Lukashenko was sworn in on Tuesday as Belarusian president for a five-year term. (Press Service of the President of the Republic of Belarus/Handout via Xinhua) MINSK, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Alexander Lukashenko has officially taken office as President of Belarus on Tuesday. Lukashenko assumed office for his seventh term following his victory in the January 26 elections. The inauguration ceremony took place at the Independence Palace in Minsk, attended by top officials and invited guests. During the event, Lukashenko took the presidential oath. He pledged to faithfully serve the people of Belarus, uphold and protect the rights and freedoms of its citizens, and observe and defend the nation's constitution. The Chairman of the Central Election Commission, Igor Karpenko, presented the newly inaugurated president with a presidential certificate. According to the Central Election Commission of Belarus, Lukashenko won the presidential election with 86.82 per cent of the vote. Alexander Lukashenko walks into the venue of the inauguration ceremony in Minsk, Belarus, March 25, 2025. Alexander Lukashenko was sworn in on Tuesday as Belarusian president for a five-year term. (Press Service of the President of the Republic of Belarus/Handout via Xinhua) The motorcade of Alexander Lukashenko is seen in Minsk, Belarus, March 25, 2025. Alexander Lukashenko was sworn in on Tuesday as Belarusian president for a five-year term. (Photo by Henadz Zhinkov/Xinhua) This photo taken on March 25, 2025 shows a scene of a presidential inauguration ceremony at the Palace of Independence in Minsk, Belarus. Alexander Lukashenko was sworn in on Tuesday as Belarusian president for a five-year term. (BelTA news agency via Xinhua) KABUL, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Five people were killed after their vehicle veered off the road and turned turtle in northern Afghanistan's Takhar province, state-owned Bakhtar News Agency reported Wednesday. The mishap happened Tuesday night after a Land Cruiser turned turtle due to reckless driving in the Shaikh Rabat region, Farkhar district of the province, Bakhtar quoted Qari Zabihullah Hakimi, provincial police spokesman, as saying. Security forces have shifted the deceased to a nearby health center, said Hakimi. Similarly, four people lost their lives and six others sustained injuries in two separate road accidents in eastern Wardak and Ghazni provinces a couple of days ago. Road accidents due to reckless driving on congested roads and lack of traffic signs on dilapidated highways are leading causes of death in the war-ravaged country. Physical education, sociology faculty named Distinguished Professors March 26, 2025 OGDEN, Utah Two Weber State University professors representing sociology and physical education are this years Brady Presidential Distinguished Professors. Named after the late Rodney Brady who served as WSU president from 1978 to 1985, the honor recognizes WSU professors who demonstrate the highest quality teaching, scholarship, research and community service. Rodney and Carolyn Brady provided a generous gift to fund this annual honor, now in its 20th year. Marjukka Ollilainen Since joining Weber State in 1999, sociology professor Marjukka Ollilainen has earned praise for intellectually rigorous and engaging teaching. Throughout the years, students have described her as transformative to their academic and professional paths. Known for her innovative and interdisciplinary approach, she teaches courses that explore complex social themes such as consumerism, emotions and work-life dynamics. Beyond teaching, Ollilainen is an accomplished researcher, publishing extensively on gender and work in both American and European contexts. Her scholarship has appeared in both English and Finnish publications and is widely recognized for its analytical depth and cross-cultural insights. She has contributed to numerous sociology journals, served on editorial boards, and held leadership roles in professional organizations such as the Pacific Sociological Association and Sociologists for Women in Society. Her crucial roles in university governance include serving as chair of the sociology department for nine years, vice chair of the Faculty Senate, and College of Social & Behavioral Sciences representative on the University Planning Council. Her advocacy efforts have led to meaningful policy changes, such as the development of a family leave policy for faculty and grant creation for adjunct faculty. With her outstanding contributions to teaching, research and leadership, Ollilainen has elevated WSU and continues to shape the field of sociology. James Zagrodnik James Zagrodniks contributions to the Department of Health, Physical Education & Recreation have left a lasting impression on WSU students, faculty and the community. A passionate educator, Zagrodnik is known for his engaging teaching style, high standards and commitment to student success. His mentorship has shaped the lives of countless students, providing them with the knowledge, skills and confidence to excel in college and their careers. As creator and director of the skill development program Childrens Adaptive Physical Education Society, better known as CAPES!, Zagrodnik has opened opportunities for WSU students to earn more than 22,000 service-learning hours, preparing future educators while enhancing the lives of children with developmental disabilities. Zagrodnik has also proven his dedication to global education through the New Zealand Adventures study abroad program, which immerses students in Maori culture and perspectives on health, physical activity, and environmental stewardship. His groundbreaking research on the physiological effects of pickleball has opened new avenues in the field and provided undergraduate students with valuable hands-on experience. Zagrodnik successfully guided his department through two restructures as chair. His advocacy for faculty and students has strengthened programs and streamlined university operations. During his time at Weber State, he has also earned the 2024 Career Champion Award and the 2018 Crystal Crest Master Teacher Award. BAGHDAD, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi forces have arrested seven wanted extremist Islamic State (IS) militants in separate counter-terrorism operations across Anbar, Kirkuk, and Nineveh provinces, the Iraqi Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. Acted on intelligence information, Iraqi military intelligence units carried out tight ambushes and raids on terrorist hideouts in collaboration with ground forces, leading to the capture of the suspects, said the statement. The detained individuals were involved in multiple terrorist attacks against Iraqi security forces in the past, and were handed over to relevant authorities, it said. While Iraq declared victory over the IS in 2017, remnants of the terrorist group continue to carry out attacks against security forces and civilians in urban areas, deserts and remote regions. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has confirmed that the former St Marys Secondary School building in Ballina has been offered as accommodation for International Protection Applicants (IPAS). A Department spokesperson told the Western People that they are currently assessing the offer and should it be approved for use as an IPAS centre, their Community Engagement Team will make contact with local representatives, the local authority and other relevant groups in the advance of the arrival of people seeking international protection. This property has been offered as accommodation for international protection applicants and this offer is currently being assessed. All offers of accommodation have to be assessed but not all are deemed appropriate or suitable, they said. Since many offers do not progress through the appraisal process, community engagement is usually focused at a later stage, when a property is closer to being brought into use or approved for use. If an offer is accepted, our Community Engagement Team make contact with elected representatives, the local authority and other relevant groups in advance of the arrival of people seeking international protection in an area, they added. The spokesperson added that they follow this process to help the local community understand the situation and to assist with the integration process. These measures improve the flow of information regarding arrivals into an area. They also help the local community understand the current situation and to assist with the welcome and integration process for new arrivals, they said. The Department also works closely with a number of other government departments and non-governmental organisations to provide a wide range of supports to help new arrivals to integrate into an area as quickly as possible. At Mondays meeting of the Ballina Municipal District, Cllr John OHara said he has received numerous calls from residents in the nearby Convent Hill area who expressed concern about the ongoing re-development of the former St Marys Secondary School. The households are not informed as to what is happening beside them. They dont know if it is an IPAS centre or what, they havent been informed and would like to be, he said. It is a situation they are not happy with at the moment, he added. Head of the Ballina Municipal District Declan Turnbull said the local authority was not dealing with the matter. It is a Department matter, not a local authority matter. If there is something being developed there, it is between the Department and the developer, he said. The former St Marys Secondary School site was used by the school until it moved into a new state-of-the-art facility nearby in September 2022. The site was then put up for sale privately last year and sold quite quickly. A Section 5 declaration planning application was made to Mayo County Council last November by the applicant CH Care, a Dublin-based company, for the use of the former school located on McDermott Street as temporary accommodation for displaced persons seeking international protection. The property was then declared exempt from requiring planning permission by the local authority in a letter issued on November 28 last. The ongoing works at the former St Marys Secondary School has no connection to the nearby Sisters of Mercy Convent project, which is a community-led project to rejuvenate the old Convent. Claremorris Gardai have denied reports that the number of officers assigned to the district fell sharply during 2024. A recent article in a national newspaper suggested that the number of Gardai at Claremorris Station had fallen by 12 in the past year. This is not the case, and I dont know where this number came from, a Garda source told the Western People. Gardai are often switched between different stations or assigned to different tasks and might be recorded differently, but the numbers at Claremorris station remain the same as they were. Gardai retire or are transferred, but they have always been replaced immediately. Independent Cllr Richard Finn confirmed that Garda numbers havent changed in Claremorris but highlighted the problem of Garda retention despite the current high-profile recruitment campaign. Gardai allocated to Dublin, for example, cannot stay in the force, because they cannot find or afford accommodation there, Cllr Finn said. And its not just Dublin." Patsy OBrien, another independent councillor, said that while the core number of Gardai in Claremorris hadnt gone down, it hadnt gone up either. I have been talking with senior Gardai and I can confirm that the numbers havent dropped, Cllr OBrien said. While I would like to see more Gardai in the community, it is vital that we keep the numbers we have. Aontu Cllr Deirdre Lawless said that any drop in the number of Gardai on the ground is of huge concern to both communities and Gardai themselves. While drugs and traffic units are important, we cannot lose our gardai from the beat, Cllr Lawless said. We need to see more Gardai on the streets, not less. We need proactive measures, not reactive ones. We need our gardai to be visible for our towns and villages to be and feel safer. Fine Gael Cllr Alma Gallagher said that she raised Garda numbers at a meeting with Commissioner Drew Harris recently. I highlighted to him that the Claremorris Local Electoral Area needed a stronger Garda presence coupled with extended station hours to ensure the safety and peace of mind of our residents, Cllr Gallagher said. Currently, Claremorris is the only full-time station serving the entire east and south Mayo area and it is becoming increasingly overstretched. The decision to downsize rural substations like Ballyhaunis is extremely shortsighted. We need more Garda numbers, not less. By Cate McCurry, PA Several "serious crimes" and offences fell across Ireland last year, according to figures from the Central Statistics office, but, sexual offences and weapons and explosive offences jumped. The latest CSO figures show the number of sexual offences increased by 8 per cent over the year. They also show there were 38 murders in 2024, an increase of three compared to the previous year. There was also an increase in the number of reported rapes, up 25 from 2023 to 964. The number of recorded crime incidents involving homicide and related offences fell by 13 per cent to 77 incidents in 2024 when compared with 2023. Recorded incidents of robbery, extortion and hijacking offences were down by 10 per cent, or 265, to 2,353 over the year. The increase of 182 incidents, or 2 per cent, over the year in the number of recorded incidents of burglary and related offences was driven by a rise of 151 incidents, or 2 per cent, in the number of incidents of burglary where there was no aggravation. The number of incidents involving controlled drug offences was also down over the year, falling by 7 per cent to 16,119 in 2024. This drop was driven largely by decreases in crime incidents involving possession of drugs for sale or supply or personal use. Decreases in the number of recorded crime incidents in some other offence categories were also noted last year, including offences against government, justice procedures and organisation of crime, which dropped by 7 per cent. The percentage of damage to property and to the environment fell by 2 per cent, and dangerous or negligent acts dropped by 2 per cent. Other offences, including theft and related offences, increased by 3 per cent, while attempts/threats to murder, assaults, harassment and related offences rose by 3 per cent. An increase in incidents of theft from shops, which rose by 1,988 incidents, accounted for nearly eigof ht out of every 10 of the overall increase of 2,547, or 3 per cent, in the number of incidents of theft and related offences in 2024 compared with 2023. Overall in 2024, just over four in every 10 incidents of theft offences related to theft from shops. Victims of attempted murder and threats to murder, harassment and related offences rose by 2 per cent to 5,809 victims in 2024 when compared with 2023. Some 59 per cent of victims were men in 2024 compared with 41 per cent who were female victims. The number of male victims rose by 4 per cent to 3,438 and the number of women victims remained virtually unchanged at 2,371. Assessing the age profile of male victims, the results show the number who were under 18 when the incident occurred rose by 15 per cent over the period and victims aged 18 to 29 increased by 10 per cent. The number of victims aged 30 to 44 fell by 3 per cent, while those aged 45 to 59 rose 6 per cent. The number of victims aged 60 or more fell by 10 per cent. A somewhat different picture emerged for women, where there was a decrease in the number of victims aged between 30 and 59, which fell by 3 per cent. However, the number of female victims who were aged 60 or more at the time of the incident rose by 21 per cent over the year. There was little or no change in the number of victims aged 29 or less. The percentage breakdown for both male and female victims by age group remained relatively stable between the two quarters. Shenzhen TV: The Boao Forum for Asia Annual Meeting 2025 has just kicked off. We noted that the Asian Economic Outlook and Integration Progress Annual Report 2025 was released at the forum. The report estimates that Asias economy will grow by 4.5 percent in 2025, with its share rising to 48.6 percent among the worlds economic output measured by purchasing power parity. Secretary General of the Boao Forum for Asia noted that the world has every reason to be hopeful about Asias future. How would you assess Asias development prospect and Chinas role? Guo Jiakun: We noted the report. Asia is the most populous region globally and has the most vibrant economy with strong resilience of economies in the region. Asia is at the forefront of the world in such aspects as economic growth, trade in goods and services and regional economic integration, and has become an important driving force and stabilizer for global economic growth. As the global economy faces rising instability and uncertainty, the international community is following what path Asia chooses and calling for solutions Asia could offer. We hope that participating parties at this years Boao Forum for Asia could have in-depth exchanges and discussion, grasp the overriding trend of universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, work for early conclusion and implementation of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0, and explore new sustainable driving forces, such as digital economy and green economy. As an important member of the big Asian family and the host country of the Boao Forum for Asia, China will stay committed to promoting high-quality development and high-standard opening up, joining hands with other Asian countries to tackle development challenges with solidarity and seek win-win results through cooperation, and making new contribution to global growth. Reuters: The U.S. has placed dozens of Chinese entities on the U.S. Department of Commerces export restriction list. What response does the Ministry have to this? Would China take countermeasures? Guo Jiakun: The U.S. action is an abuse of its entity list and other export controls. The U.S. falsely accuses China of activities contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy and uses it as an excuse to impose illicit unilateral sanctions. This is typical hegemonism and a serious violation of international law and the basic norms governing international relations. The action of the U.S. harms the lawful rights and interests of businesses and destabilizes the global industrial and supply chains. We firmly oppose and strongly condemn this. We call on the U.S. to stop overstretching the concept of national security, stop politicizing trade and sci-tech issues and using them as a weapon and a tool and stop abusing various kinds of sanction lists to hit Chinese companies. China will take necessary steps to firmly safeguard the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies. The Paper: Its reported that according to the ROKs Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, as of 1 p.m. March 26, the wildfires in Gyeongsang, the ROK, killed 20 people, injured 19, and burned forests, houses and a temple. Whats Chinas comment? Guo Jiakun: The recent wildfires in part of the ROK inflicted casualties and property loss. China mourns the victims and expresses sympathies to the bereaved and injured. CCTV: Today marks the 50th anniversary of the entry into force of the Biological Weapons Convention. Whats Chinas view on the role and prospects of the convention as well as proposition on strengthening it? Guo Jiakun: The Biological Weapons Convention establishes obligations under international law to eliminate the threats of biological weapons, reduce biosecurity risks and promote the peaceful use of biological technology. It plays an important role in humanitys effort to safeguard peace and security and promote the common cause of development and prosperity. President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Security Initiative, advocating the joint response from all countries to biosecurity and other global challenges. In recent years, China has put forward a series of propositions and proposals, and promoted the establishment of a verification regime of the convention in order to prevent and deter violations of the convention. At the same time, China advocates responsible research in bioscience, promotes bilateral and multilateral exchanges and cooperation, and supports developing countries in fully engaging in global biosecurity governance and benefiting from the development of biological science. China calls on all states parties to take concrete actions, earnestly fulfill obligations, jointly defend the authority of the convention, and keep improving the biosecurity governance system. AFP: A Chinese influencer Liu Zhenya left Taiwan yesterday after her residency permit was revoked for advocating that China should unify Taiwan by military means. Does the Foreign Ministry have a comment on this? Guo Jiakun: I didnt notice relevant reports. Let me stress that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinas territory. Kyodo News: According to reports, the result of the second sampling of the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water will be announced soon. If theres no abnormality in the result, will China lift the restrictions on the import of Japanese aquatic products? Guo Jiakun: At the Sixth China-Japan High-Level Economic Dialogue co-chaired by Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, the Japanese side reiterated its commitment of accepting long-term international monitoring and independent sampling and monitoring by China. Both sides confirmed that the above-mentioned monitoring activities will be carried out on a continuous basis and consultations on the export of Japanese aquatic products to China will be held on the premise that theres no abnormality in the result. Let me stress that Chinas opposition to Japans unilateral discharge of the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water into the sea has not changed. Since last year, Chinese experts have conducted independent sampling twice in Japan and promptly released the relevant test results. On the basis of Japans fulfillment of its commitments and no abnormality in the test results, on March 12 as scheduled, Chinas General Administration of Customs held a technical exchange with the Japanese side in Beijing on the safety of Japanese aquatic products. China will continue to work with the international community to urge Japan to honor its commitments and ensure that the discharge of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water always remains under strict international oversight. Reuters: A report by the U.S. intelligence agencies published yesterday said China remains the top military and cyber threat to the U.S. This report said Beijing was making steady but uneven progress on capabilities it could use to capture Taiwan. What comment does the Ministry have on this? Guo Jiakun: The U.S. issues irresponsible and biased reports like this year after year, seeks to promote the false China threat narrative and fans up major-country rivalry, so that there could be an excuse to suppress China and perpetuate U.S. supremacy. Chinas development has a long historic thread and is robust and self-driven. Our goal is very clear and theres nothing to hide about it: we strive to make sure that the Chinese people can lead a better life and China can contribute more to the world we live in. We have no intention to surpass or supplant anyone. The Taiwan question is entirely Chinas internal affair. Nothing will deter China from rejecting Taiwan independence and defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity. No one shall underestimate or miscalculate Chinas resolve. As the saying goes, To a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail. China is not a mirror image of the hegemonic U.S. The U.S. needs to stop viewing its ties with China from the outdated Cold War perspective, stop containing China in the name of strategic competition, and stop aiding or abetting Taiwan independence in any form. The U.S. should stop falsely picturing China as a threat and work with China for a steady, sound and sustainable China-U.S. relationship. China News Service: Yesterday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Portugals Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel held the second China-Portugal strategic dialogue at the foreign ministers level. They reviewed the past experience of peacefully and properly resolving the question of Macao, and said that the two sides need to continue leveraging Macaos role as a bridge and promote greater progress in bilateral relations. How do you view Macaos role in China-Portugal relations? Guo Jiakun: China and Portugal properly resolved the question of Macao, setting an example of countries solving issues left over from the past through friendly consultation. After its return, as the only place in the world with both Chinese and Portuguese as its official languages, the Macao Special Administrative Region is an important platform for promoting business ties between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. It has increasingly frequent and in-depth exchanges with Portugal and other Portuguese-speaking countries. We believe with the strong support of the Central Government and the mainland of the country, Macao SAR will fully leverage the institutional strength of One Country, Two Systems, reinforce its connectivity with both the mainland and the world, act as a bridge between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and help China and Portuguese-speaking countries achieve greater progress in cooperation in trade, finance, tourism and hi-tech, and other fields. VIENTIANE, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The Lao government continues its efforts to address economic challenges and review progress on national development plans. During the government's monthly meeting for March, participants assessed the implementation of the National Socio-Economic Development Plan, the State Budget Plan, and the Monetary Plan for 2025, with progress noted in infrastructure, land title issuance, teacher shortages, and other social initiatives. The meeting, held from Monday to Tuesday, also emphasized the need for continued efforts in preventing and suppressing drug trafficking and human trafficking, Lao National Radio reported on Wednesday. The meeting highlighted the government's progress, with reported revenue collection reaching 96.09 percent of the first-quarter target, marking a 54.21 percent increase from 2024. Plans were also reviewed to address debt resolution and stabilize commodity prices. Additionally, the meeting agreed to adopt seven draft laws, including those related to telecommunications, income tax, and education. The government will continue to focus on accelerating progress and overcoming challenges in socio-economic development. From acorns come oaks. But if you dont go planting, there will be no trees. The Irish Times reported last week on an internal Department of Foreign Affairs document which warned that Ireland is at risk of becoming significantly underrepresented at all levels of the EU Commission. It is happening, the report said, because not enough young Irish people are choosing to join the Commission and make their careers there. The newspaper reported that "for every four Irish people retiring from high-ranking commission posts, only one passed the EU executives competitive recruitment process". That is quite the change, and not a good one. When I was young, it was fairly common for bright young Irish people many of them from the west to think about joining the EU Commission for their career. Many graduates would head over to what is called a stage, a six-month placement within one of the Commission departments. Many came home after and went on to other work but retained the benefit of having a good sense of how things worked in Brussels and of having made some connections. Many also stayed and made great careers there. It wasnt so long ago that Irish officials like David OSullivan and Catherine Day rose to the very top, each becoming Secretary General of the EU Commission. Amazingly those two succeeded each other, meaning that for 15 years from 2000 to 2015 an Irish person held the most influential civil service post in the whole Commission. That reflected their individual ability, but it also reflected that the EU of that time had loads of Irish people in senior positions. Now those people are retiring, and the new generation is not coming behind them in sufficient numbers. Why does that matter? For a lot of reasons. The Commission is the executive of the EU. It doesnt make the laws the Ministers of the member states and the European Parliament do that but the Commission implements and enforces EU law. It is a very powerful body. Having Irish people working in its senior corridors is extremely helpful to Irish interests. An Irish audience doesnt need explaining why that is so. If you know someone from home, it always makes things easier, whatever it is you are doing. But it also matters in a wider sense. Our prosperity and our economic and social progress for the last 50 years has been built through our relationship with the EU. We have an enormous vested interest in the EU succeeding and in these challenging times surviving. We saw in dramatic terms how important it was to us during Brexit. Indeed the reason there was no border on the island of Ireland before Brexit was because of the EU. The EU has been the most successful means yet devised to manage competition between nation states in Europe. It was not founded as Donald Trump thinks to thwart American interests, but to ensure that war could never happen again between its member states. The key to doing that was to intertwine the economies of Germany and France. The idea was that by doing this you made war between them not only unthinkable but impossible. How to prevent war was the impulse that got the whole enterprise of European integration going. The institutional EU that emerged out of that dynamic also provided Ireland with a marvellous way and opportunity to move beyond our dependence on Britain. It is naive to think that we got independence from Britain in 1922. After that date, we exported cattle and people to them and they controlled our currency. Our independence was nominal, the green paint over the crown on the post boxes. We were backward and we were poor, and we had few options. The EEC and then the EU was the means for Ireland to break out of the box it was contained in. It allowed us to find new markets, and to increase investment and thus the size of our economy, which gave us more individual opportunity as well as more political leverage in the world. We have succeeded brilliantly in utilising that, balancing out our relationship with Britain, as seen most spectacularly in how our interests were defended during Brexit. That is why the EU matters to us. And so it is worrisome that we dont have more young Irish recruits wanting to make their careers there, to make their contribution there. Why is it happening? Some say it is that our language skills have declined for understandably you need two languages to work in the Commission. Some say that young Irish people have better opportunities these days and so they are making their way in other areas. Maybe its a bit of both, but my instinct tells me that there is more to it than that. My instinct tells me that the fire that existed in my generations belly about what the EU meant for our country has faded. My instinct also tells me that for all the lip service that is given to how wonderfully international Ireland has become, we are often very insular, not appreciating the connections between what is happening on the ground here and our situation in the world. It also reflects a sense that it is somehow wrong for us to articulate our own material interests in the world, perhaps because of some sense that doing so would somehow betray the colonised people we once were. Whatever is behind it, we dont think in a serious enough way about how we make our way in the world. Our debates dont focus in any way worth talking about on the EU or the political developments within it. And so we talk all the time about international issues over which we have virtually no leverage, and too little about things that affect us mightily and where we could contribute. We then too often focus on things that are incredibly small fry while missing the big picture for us. That can be in defence, where we talk about the apparently vast importance of the triple lock, while Germany plans to massively increase the size of its army, and the French talk of extending their nuclear umbrella. We talk about blocking free trade deals with South America, and do so at the very time that the biggest threat to our prosperity is attacks on tariff free trade. Such things suggest we havent quite got the memo yet. The free ride on security and on economic opportunity that we have had for decades is ending. A new world is being created in which the small and the weak will be picked off by the strong. The Taoiseach was 100 per cent right to play it like he did in the Oval Office, and he did a brilliant job to get out of there without trouble. But do you think the President of the EU Commission needs to play it that way in Washington? They dont. Why? Because the EU is stronger than Ireland: and so together we are stronger. In this new world being born, we have to recognise that we are too small to swim along solo in an ocean of sharks. It is time therefore for those who believe in the European ideal to start explaining again why it matters. And it is also why we need our best young people to step up and serve. When the history of the present time is written historians will agree that the key change that took place in the second Trump presidency will be the dramatic shift in the position of the United States of America in relation to the rest of the free world. From 1949 and the founding of NATO to 2025, the USA, the richest country on the planet and the financial power-house of the world was guided by a series of American presidents who consistently extended an umbrella of protection over more vulnerable nations threatened by any nuclear power. When, under Donald Trump, that established order was up-ended by an infamous vote in the United Nations in which the USA supported Russia, a new world order was ushered in. Why did this happen? It is, of course, because that new order is fundamentally disordered by the glaring lack of a moral compass. In a recent issue of The Tablet, Nicholas Boyle, a fellow of Magdalen College, Cambridge, wrote that the voters of the United States had chosen to give supreme executive power to a convicted criminal, a multiple bankrupt and incorrigible liar who sought to falsify election results, urged a mob intent on murder to invade the nations seat of government to take revenge on those who have persecuted him for his crimes or declared the obvious: that he is a person wholly unsuited for public office'. Thats why it happened. It was a democratic vote but the damage was self-inflicted. The voters have no one to blame but themselves. After a list of presidents, with differing personalities and varied political objectives but all with a sense of moral responsibility for the office, Trump represents a very different perspective, not just a decline in moral rectitude but, apparently, a moral-free zone. The Trump presidency represents an historic low in American history, as those who see the probability of enormous damage being done by Trump struggle to voyage around a figure whose need to be liked and told he is wonderful unmasks an extraordinary narcissism. Its predictability was seen in his encounter with Keith Starmer, the UK prime minister, who at a crucial moment whipped an invitation from King Charles out of his pocket as Trump almost salivated before him in gratitude. Micheal Martin adopted a marginally less dramatic stance in nodding his head furiously on the few occasions that agreement between then was in danger of breaking out. In all such encounters, Trump displays a childish need for affirmation I think the Irish love Trump, he told Martin at one stage, as usual getting things exactly wrong apart from when he bullies and berates people while attempting to cast himself in the role of victim. What is truly amazing now, apart from the lack of any sense of morality or responsibility in the American political landscape, is the almost complete absence of shame and honour. The Trump bandwagon, in its varied pathetic depictions, must be a source of gratuitous embarrassment to those of even moderate discrimination. The complete capitulation of the Republican party (with the honourable exception of Mitch McConnell) and the main American media, and embarrassingly for American Catholics the high percentage of Catholic votes that delivered the White House to Trump, serve as not just improbable but unforgivable. Reflection on those realities must be a difficult sweet to suck on. As usual, social media can hit the spot. One such comment that indicated the depths to which the American political system has plumbed and their own sense of themselves has declined was a poster with the following obvious but insightful comment: AFTER 9/11, 90 COUNTRIES HELPED OUT THE USA AND NOT ONE ASKED FOR A REFUND OR FOR USAS NATURAL MINERALS IN PAYMENT. Think about it. The richest country in the world is asking for its money back from Ukraine even though it was never regarded as a loan and no one, including the USA, expected that it would be returned. In any credible jurisdiction, trying to re-write in retrospect the terms of such an agreement would be laughed out of court. It is indicative of how much Trump has compromised the spirit and the reputation of the USA that no credible voice has raised any objection to what is, effectively in his treatment of Ukraine, bullying a country that has fought for three years to withstand an invasion that has been almost universally condemned. And, worst of all, to use the distressed condition of Ukraine and its people as a way of helping themselves to (that is, stealing) resources that are badly needed for the future of that country. Where, where, where are the voices in America that should be crying Shame! Shame! Shame!? Compare the recent mugging of President Zelensky in the Oval Office and its fallout. It is clear the situation was wholly contrived complete with a hanger-on taking exception to Zelenskys suit, vice-president Vance in a supportive abusive role and Trump wagging his finger in Zelenskys face in an effort to bully him into submission. Instinctively, Europes reaction was to reach out to Zelensky with Keir Starmer inviting him to London and warmly welcoming him with President Macron of France and over 20 other European countries similarly on his side. Starmer, in particular - despite having to grovel to some extent when meeting Trump in loyalty to his electorate (as Micheal Martin had to do too) - was clear on why he was supporting Trump. He told the House of Commons: For two reasons; one, its the right thing to do; and two, its in our own interest.' In particular, Starmers clear moral voice is a refreshing change from the winter of discontent and obfuscation that the morally lightweight Trump represents for America and for the world. Nowhere was his lack of moral fibre more evident than in the grotesquely embarrassing display of Trump and Conor McGregor in the Oval Office. Birds of a feather. Both recently coming out on the wrong side of a civil sexual assault case. Both living in a place where there is no shame. It is the stuff of nightmares. Today Mostly sunny and a bit warmer, but with still comfortable humidity levels. Tonight Mostly clear and milder overnight. Tomorrow Mostly sunny, warmer, and more humid with near 90 highs and stickier air to wrap up the holiday weekend. LIMA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Peruvian President Dina Boluarte on Tuesday formally called general elections for April 2026, hoping to put an end to a period of instability that has seen six presidents in eight years. "Today, fulfilling the constitutional and legal mandate, demonstrating our firm commitment to democracy ... I am calling general elections for April 12, 2026," Boluarte said in a nationwide address. Boluarte said Peruvians will be able to "freely and democratically" elect the next president, the deputies and senators of the future bicameral Congress and representatives to the Andean Parliament. Her government, Boluarte said, is committed to maintaining absolute neutrality and impartiality so that the results "are unquestionable and fully reflect the popular will expressed at the polls." Boluarte said she was confident the elections will put an end to the era of instability that has seen six presidents in eight years, "generating a polarization that has only divided us, with the resulting delay in investment and an increase in the crime wave." Peruvians want an election campaign centered on proposals that guarantee growth, social justice and development, as well as the continuity of public works projects, so the country continues to develop and create jobs, said Boluarte, adding that Peru will hold the general elections amid an economic recovery, with an expected growth of 4 percent in 2025 and 5 percent in 2026. Boluarte became president in December 2022, after the legislature ousted Pedro Castillo (2021-2022) for trying to dissolve a Congress that was about to impeach him. Students learn about employment information at a job fair held at Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 26, 2025. Featuring AI technologies such as career counseling, resume polishing and interview, an AI-powered job fair with the participation of 620 companies was held at Harbin Institute of Technology on Wednesday, providing over 42,000 positions to job seekers. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) A student writes her resume using AI technology on a mobile phone at a job fair held at Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 26, 2025. Featuring AI technologies such as career counseling, resume polishing and interview, an AI-powered job fair with the participation of 620 companies was held at Harbin Institute of Technology on Wednesday, providing over 42,000 positions to job seekers. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) A student learns about AI interview at a job fair held at Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 26, 2025. Featuring AI technologies such as career counseling, resume polishing and interview, an AI-powered job fair with the participation of 620 companies was held at Harbin Institute of Technology on Wednesday, providing over 42,000 positions to job seekers. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Students learn about employment information at a job fair held at Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 26, 2025. Featuring AI technologies such as career counseling, resume polishing and interview, an AI-powered job fair with the participation of 620 companies was held at Harbin Institute of Technology on Wednesday, providing over 42,000 positions to job seekers. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Students learn about employment information at a job fair held at Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 26, 2025. Featuring AI technologies such as career counseling, resume polishing and interview, an AI-powered job fair with the participation of 620 companies was held at Harbin Institute of Technology on Wednesday, providing over 42,000 positions to job seekers. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) A student learns about employment information from a company representative at a job fair held at Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 26, 2025. Featuring AI technologies such as career counseling, resume polishing and interview, an AI-powered job fair with the participation of 620 companies was held at Harbin Institute of Technology on Wednesday, providing over 42,000 positions to job seekers. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Students learn about employment information at a job fair held at Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 26, 2025. Featuring AI technologies such as career counseling, resume polishing and interview, an AI-powered job fair with the participation of 620 companies was held at Harbin Institute of Technology on Wednesday, providing over 42,000 positions to job seekers. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) A student learns about employment information at a job fair held at Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 26, 2025. Featuring AI technologies such as career counseling, resume polishing and interview, an AI-powered job fair with the participation of 620 companies was held at Harbin Institute of Technology on Wednesday, providing over 42,000 positions to job seekers. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) A student learns about employment information at a job fair held at Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 26, 2025. Featuring AI technologies such as career counseling, resume polishing and interview, an AI-powered job fair with the participation of 620 companies was held at Harbin Institute of Technology on Wednesday, providing over 42,000 positions to job seekers. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Students learn about employment information at a job fair held at Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 26, 2025. Featuring AI technologies such as career counseling, resume polishing and interview, an AI-powered job fair with the participation of 620 companies was held at Harbin Institute of Technology on Wednesday, providing over 42,000 positions to job seekers. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Students learn about employment information at a job fair held at Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 26, 2025. Featuring AI technologies such as career counseling, resume polishing and interview, an AI-powered job fair with the participation of 620 companies was held at Harbin Institute of Technology on Wednesday, providing over 42,000 positions to job seekers. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Students learn about employment information at a job fair held at Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 26, 2025. Featuring AI technologies such as career counseling, resume polishing and interview, an AI-powered job fair with the participation of 620 companies was held at Harbin Institute of Technology on Wednesday, providing over 42,000 positions to job seekers. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) This undated file photo shows Michael Voigt, CEO of Germany's Hela Group, attending a trademark release event of Hela in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province. (Xinhua) JINAN, March 26 (Xinhua) -- With offerings like apple chicken sausage and dragon fruit cheese-stuffed sausage seasonings, Hela Group, a German spice and food ingredients company, is redefining flavor and innovation to meet China's growing appetite for healthier, personalized and unique food options. China's huge consumer market and increasing demand for high-quality food products have given Hela a fantastic boost for innovation and sustainable growth, Michael Voigt, CEO of Hela Group, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview. "We've crafted a variety of products specifically for Chinese consumers, merging German craftsmanship with local ingredients," Voigt said. Voigt noted that the German company views China as a key part of its global strategy and a major hub for innovation and local growth, prompting plans to increase investment in the country. Hela plans to expand its production lines in Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, with the goal of introducing more Chinese flavors to the global market. "China not only presents tremendous growth opportunities but also paves the way for future innovation in the food industry," Voigt said. "We are dedicated to strengthening our presence in China and creating shared development opportunities." A family-owned business with a history spanning over a century, Hela Group specializes in the research, development, production, and sales of spices, seasonings, and food ingredients, with operations in more than 70 countries and regions. In a landmark move to tap the Chinese market, Hela set up a production subsidiary in Jinan in 1995. Hela China has now become a vital part of the group's global supply chain and a center for innovation. Germany also remains Shandong's largest trading partner and the top source of foreign investment from the European Union. According to the company, Hela China's value of output grew 6.88 percent year on year to 130 million yuan (about 18.1 million U.S. dollars) in 2024. The company anticipates further growth in 2025, with increasing orders mainly coming from the food and catering industries. Hela has brought to China many cutting-edge processing technologies, such as composite thermal sterilization, cryogenic grinding and spice ingredient extraction. They have also set up a dedicated local R&D and production team, enhancing their innovation capabilities. Voigt also highlighted that China's rich agricultural resources are a significant asset. "Take Shandong garlic and Sichuan pepper, for instance, they play a crucial role in our localization strategy," he said. "By blending these local ingredients with our global recipe database and cutting-edge production methods, we create seasoning products that not only appeal to Chinese consumers but also have a foothold in global markets." By localizing the supply chain, Hela is cutting down on logistics costs, speeding up product development and quickly adapting to shifting consumer tastes. Meanwhile, the Chinese government's efforts to improve the business environment, such as facilitating customs clearance and easing foreign investment restrictions, have further bolstered Hela's confidence in its China operations, Voigt said. China has pledged to expand high-standard opening up, vigorously encourage foreign investment and foster a first-rate business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized, according to this year's government work report. Qiang Wei Jin-Otto, CEO of Hela China, noted that both central and local governments have been proactive in supporting foreign enterprises, providing efficient services and helping with policy implementation. Moreover, collaborations with Chinese universities have provided a steady supply of skilled talent, further driving Hela's innovation efforts. This undated file photo shows the production subsidiary of Hela Group, a German spice and food ingredients company, in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province. (Xinhua) This undated file photo shows spice products produced by Hela China in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province. (Xinhua) BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Compatriots across the Taiwan Strait will attend events honoring China's legendary ancestor Huangdi, or the Yellow Emperor, on the mainland during the upcoming Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, a mainland spokesperson said Wednesday. Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said the commemorative ceremonies and related cultural activities will be held in Shaanxi and Henan provinces. The Yellow Emperor is recognized as the cultural ancestor of the Chinese nation, with his mausoleum serving as a spiritual symbol of Chinese civilization, according to Chen. He emphasized that the joint ceremonies by compatriots across the Taiwan Strait boast a long tradition, which plays a significant role in preserving Chinese cultural heritage and strengthening Taiwan compatriots' sense of national identity, belonging and pride. Additionally, regarding the fact that the Xiamen section of the Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge has entered a new construction phase, Chen said, constructing the bridge is a shared aspiration and urgent desire among residents on both sides. He added that the mainland has always prioritized the well-being of people in Kinmen, and has implemented multiple measures to benefit them in recent years, including a cross-Strait water supply project. Since it began transferring water through the project in 2018, Fujian Province has provided over 40 million tonnes of water for Kinmen, effectively resolving the island's long-standing water shortage issues, according to the spokesperson. JERUSALEM/GAZA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Militants in Gaza fired two rockets at southern Israel on Wednesday, with one of them being intercepted and the other exploding without causing casualties, the Israeli military said in a statement. The rockets triggered sirens in communities near the Gaza Strip, according to the Israeli police. The military said the two projectiles, one of them falling in the community of Zimrat in the northwestern Negev desert, were fired from the central Gaza Strip. Israel's Magen David Adom ambulance service said that no casualties were reported. Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ), claimed the attack, saying it fired "a barrage of rockets" in response to the Israeli offensive against Palestinians. LUSAKA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Zambia will host the 4th Land-Linked Zambia Conference on April 10-11, which aims to improve transport corridors in Africa, Zambian Minister of Transport and Logistics, Frank Tayali, said on Tuesday. "The importance of land-linkages cannot be overemphasized as they are critical for the economic transformation of Africa as the continent continues to advance its integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area, hence the development of efficient and transport networks will be a key driver of growth," he said. Tayali said the conference, under the theme "Embracing Smart Transport Corridors in Africa," is an important platform to reinforce Zambia's strategic position as a regional transport and logistics hub, facilitating trade and investment across southern Africa and beyond. He said embracing smart corridors will allow Zambia and the region to unlock greater trade efficiencies, attract investment and enhance connectivity, making Africa a global competitor in logistics and trade facilitation. A view of the E. Barrett Prettyman US Court House in Washington, DC is seen here in September 2024. A federal appeals court has maintained a temporary block on President Donald Trumps ability to use the Alien Enemies Act. CAIRO, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit on Wednesday strongly condemned Israeli raids in southern Syria, which killed and injured civilians, according to AL's statement. According to Syria's foreign affairs authorities, six civilians were killed and several others injured after Israeli air forces shelled the town of Koayiah in the southern Syrian province of Daraa on Tuesday. Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said troops "identified several terrorists who opened fire toward them in southern Syria," and thus "returned fire in response." Aboul-Gheit reaffirmed rejection of the Israeli continuous raids on Syrian land, terming them as a blatant violation of the country's sovereignty, and a blatant attempt to exploit the critical time that Syria is going through to plunder its lands and fuel sedition and conflict. He urged the United Nations Security Council to take its role to stop the "brutal and unjustified Israeli aggression" against Syria. He also demanded the international community take strong and clear positions to deter Israeli offensive against the countries and peoples of the region. In March 2024, 10,000 employees demonstrated against layoffs in front of the Bosch headquarters in Gerlingen near Stuttgart War abroad necessitates war at home. At the same time as the German ruling class prepares its third bid for world power with war credits amounting to at least one trillion euros, big business has declared war on the working class. Following the agreement by the conservative CDU/CSU, Social Democratic Party and Greens to finance the biggest rearmament program in Germany since Hitler, massive job cuts have been announced, particularly in the countrys industrial sector. For some time now, there has been a marked increase in the announcement of austerity and cutback programs. Above all, carmakers and their suppliers are carrying out a jobs massacre. Schaeffler, Continental, Bosch, ZF and Ford have all announced the elimination of several thousand jobs. Germanys largest steelmaker, Thyssenkrupp Steel, plans to wipe out 11,000 jobs. At the Krupp Mannesmann steelworks, 3,000 steelworkers are facing redundancy and the giant chemical company BASF has cut 2,500 jobs in Ludwigshafen. Shortly before Christmas, Volkswagen announced that it would cut more than one in three jobs at its German factories, i.e., 35,000 from a total of 120,000. VW has played a pioneering role in the largest downsizing in the auto industry since the Second World War. Meanwhile, Mercedes has decided on a similar cuts package with talk of 15,000 jobs being axed. Audi is cutting up to 7,500 jobs, with 1,900 jobs on the chopping block at Porsche. In the space of just three days, the following downsizing has been announced. Bear in mind this list is incomplete: Siemens: minus 6,000 jobs, similarly VW subsidiary Autovision: -2,400 VW subsidiary Cariad: 1,600 Biontech: 1,350 Bosch: 550 Puma: 500 Automotive supplier Borg-Warner: 400 TDK Heidenheim: 300 BP Germany: 300 UPM paper mill in Ettringen: 235 Outokumpu Krefeld: 200 Konradin printing company near Stuttgart, insolvent: over 100 Iron foundry Teutoguss and Luneburger Eisenwerk (Focast Luneburg), insolvent: almost 200 The reduction in industrial jobs is enormous, but not limited to that sector, reports the Tagesschau newspaper based on info from the Munich-based economic research institute ifo. The service industry is also planning to cut jobs. In particular, IT service providers are said to be slamming on the brakes. Companies in the retail sector are also planning job cuts. Even in the construction industry, a slight tendency towards fewer employees is said to prevail. In the public sector and at the post office, the leadership of the public service union Verdi is currently trying to impose cuts to wages and jobs on behalf of the governing parties. Most of the corporations announcing job cuts are not even in the red. They are not suffering losses, just less in the way of profits. At Porsche, profits fell by 30 percent compared to the previous year, but still amounted to around 3.6 billion euros. Audis profit declined by a third to 4.2 billion euros. The main reason for the decline was the high costs of closing its plant in Brussels, where over 3,000 employees lost their jobs. Siemens is cutting jobs primarily in its automation division because profits there fell by a third. But here, too, there were no losses. Moreover, this had no serious impact on the groups overall profit level. In the past fiscal year (to September 2024), it reached 9 billion euros, more than ever before. VW is also a prime example here. Its profits are neither higher nor lower than in previous years, but are still too low for the companys main shareholders the Porsche and Piech families and the sheikhs from Qatar. They want even bigger returns. That is why they have insisted on plant closures and big wage cuts. This offensive by the corporations in the interest of the oligarchs and shareholders would not be possible if they did not have the active support of the trade union apparatus, above all the engineering union IG Metall. It vehemently supports the governments war credits and rearmament program. The unions nationwide day of action last Saturday was aimed at demonstrating this. At a company level, they enforce the demand for profit maximization with the methods of social partnership they have refined over decades against the workforce. Whether at VW, Audi, Mercedes, Siemens, Bosch, Thyssenkrupp everywhere the union stifles opposition in the factories and work closely together with the corporate bosses. What the IG Metall chiefs describe as the fight against job destruction in their soapbox speeches is in fact the opposite. When they negotiate social tariffs with the corporations, they have long since accepted the job cuts. The only question is how the jobs will be destroyed, not whether they will be destroyed. In this way, the union leaders are lining up in the common front of big business and political leaders against the working class. Precisely because those in power know that they can rely on their union bureaucrats, they are now going all out. They want to use the new federal government to turn back the wheel of history. There is hardly a politician or business representative who does not blurt out demands for cuts in conditions and wage reductions into the nearest microphone. This week, Focus magazine presented a list of ways in which the costs of armaments and war could be squeezed out of the population directly. According to the Focus editor, Germany could renew its infrastructure and upgrade its military without mega debt. But to do that, the new government would have to decide on uncomfortable measures. These include: 1. Increasing pension contributions: each percentage point would generate an additional 19 billion euros in revenue. If the government lowers the pension level by one percentage point, spending would fall by four billion euros. 2. Banning direct visits to specialist doctors, reintroducing practice fees and variable insurance rates would force a two-tier medical system but save money. 3. A highway toll for all drivers would bring in 30 to 40 billion euros a year. 4. Cancellation of the building energy law would bring in around ten billion euros. 5. Cancellation of the renewable energy law or the transfer of costs to consumers would bring in around 18 billion euros. 6. The elimination of environmentally harmful subsidies, such as the reduced VAT on meat and dairy products, would yield more than 5 billion euros. The discussion sparked by CDU leader Frederick Merz and the CDU/CSU about cuts to Citizens Income is not primarily about potential savings. In this case, billions would be squeezed out of societys poorest in order to fill the pockets of the countrys billionaires. To this end the ruling elite plans to enforce and step up the Hartz IV laws introduced 20 years ago to force the unemployed into any job, however poorly paid. The Hartz reforms established a huge low-wage sector. Former, reasonably well-paid industrial workers were forced to switch to low-paid jobs, such as parcel delivery drivers. The hundreds of thousands of industrial workers who are currently losing their jobs are to be forced by the planned coercive measures to switch to low-wage work or to the unpopular arms industry. The VW plants facing closure will also be sold to the arms industry with the help of IG Metall, which supports this transformation. As early as the Second World War, VW built the Kubelwagen from 1940 and then the Schwimmwagen from 1942. By the end of the war in 1945, the factory had produced a total of 66,285 vehicles for Hitlers army and increased its turnover tenfold from 1940 to 1944 alone. The leaders of IG Metall and the other trade unions are using their apparatus to once again enforce austerity, exploitation and war. To counter this, new organizations of the working class must be built, independent action committees in which trustworthy employees can discuss joint action, network with colleagues from other plants, other sectors and other countries, and exchange ideas in order to assert their interests against those of the shareholders, managers and union officials. Take action now, register via Whatsapp at +49-163-337 8340 and sign up using the form below. Ferdinand Porsche (left) presents the model of the Volkswagen to Hitler in 1934. Last week, the parties in the Bundestag (parliament) agreed to the largest arms deal since the Nazi regime. With one trillion euros in play, the management boards of the crisis-ridden industrial conglomerates can smell new profits. This includes Volkswagen (VW). At its annual press conference on March 11, Europes largest carmaker reported a significant decline in profits for 2024. At the same time, CEO Oliver Blume announced changes for the coming year and confirmed press reports that in view of the current world situation plans are being discussed to enter the arms business. Germanys largest arms company Rheinmetall has recently shown a keen interest in taking over and repurposing VW plants for the production of military vehicles and equipment. At the centre of this is the VW plant in Osnabruck, which Rheinmetall boss Armin Papperger has described as very suitable for conversion to military production. The plant, which has so far produced convertibles and small series, could potentially be converted to manufacture military vehicles such as armoured personnel carriers. Rheinmetall is apparently also interested in other VW sites, such as Dresden, according to Auto-Motor-Sport magazine. Recently, there have been increasing reports that various German industrial companies want to start producing military goods. These are both traditional companies and startups, especially so-called defence tech startups, which are sensing the billions in profits to be made from AI-controlled drones and mini-tanks. The IG Metall trade union is a driving force behind this. As early as February 2024, it concluded an armament pact with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the arms industry. A position paper entitled Securing sovereignty and resilience, which was jointly adopted by IG Metall, the SPDs Economic Forum and the German Security and Defence Industry Association (BDSV), states: A comprehensive industrial policy concept for the defence industry does not yet exist. However, such a concept is indispensable to ensure the industrys performance and to enable its possibilities for product development and product production of relevant defence systems in the dimensions of land, air and sea. Over eleven pages, it details proposals as to how national and European armaments projects can be made the decisive driving force for Germany as a high-tech production location. Jurgen Kerner, the deputy chairman of IG Metallwho is also a member of the supervisory boards of Airbus, Thyssenkrupp, Siemens, Siemens Energy, MAN Truck & Bus and Tratonstruck a militaristic tone in line with the ruling class, which is once again counting on war: 2024 is the year of decision for the defence industry in Germany. Although politicians emphasise its importance for the security of our country and Europe, the special fund for the Bundeswehr does not automatically lead to the strengthening of domestic industry, contrary to what one might think. Rather, it is in danger of falling by the wayside when more and more is being purchased overseas and the government is not ensuring that companies in Germany take on maintenance and upgrades. We finally need a defence industrial policy. The Bombardier plant in Gorlitz, taken over by Alstom in 2021, has already been sold to the arms company KNDS. The more than 170 years of continuous production of wagons and rail vehicles will be discontinued; instead, military equipment for the war in Ukraine will soon be produced there. The well-known Cologne-based engine manufacturer Deutz also wants to enter the arms business. Engines for wheeled armoured vehicles promise higher profits than agricultural machinery. The Meyer shipyard in Papenburg, which has built huge cruise liners so far, could soon specialise in warships. Last summer, the federal government and the state of Lower Saxony helped the fabulously wealthy Meyer family dynasty out of their crisis with 400 million in support and guarantees of 2.8 billion. The aim was not so much to save thousands of endangered jobs, as Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the local branch of the German IG Metall announced, but to secure maritime military capacity. According to various reports, the Meyer shipyard, which includes the Neptunwerft in Rostock, could be converted into a large central naval shipyard. Experts assume that five frigates could be built there annually. Owners of capital and financial speculators expect huge business from the conversion of civilian industrial companies into armaments and weapons foundries. Just as ThyssenKrupp, Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW once made their money from armaments during the Second World Warafter having previously financed Hitlers rise to powerthey are now once again betting on war and German great power politics. IG Metall and other trade union bureaucracies are supporting the corporations in this conversion to a war economy. They are, so to speak, standing to attention. Volkswagens conversion to armaments ties in with its history as Hitlers model armaments factory. On the German television channel ZDF, VW and Porsche boss Oliver Blume said that there was a great deal of leewayincluding in the direction of the armaments industry. He considered entry into arms production to be a possibility in view of the uncertain future of Volkswagen sites in Germany. Blume said: We are looking very specifically at what is necessary there if, for example, it should also be about [producing] military vehicles. You have to check that out. Shortly before Christmas, the VW management, IG Metall and works council had agreed to cut 35,000 jobs and reduce wages by 20 percent. Now it is a matter of the concrete implementation of this. The assertions of management and IG Metall that no plant will be closed can now be seen for what they really are. On ZDF, Blume avoided talking about the closure of plants such as those in Osnabruck and Dresden, instead saying that there must be a large space for solutions. He said the company had a responsibility to take care of the future of the employees of the endangered plants. Exploratory talks are presumably already underway between VW, Rheinmetall and government representatives. A Rheinmetall spokesperson emphasised that the conversion of the VW plant in Osnabruck would be associated with high costs, and that such investments could only be made if secure orders were guaranteed by the government. The new federal government will very quickly set in motion such arms orders in order to implement the promised rearmament. Rheinmetall CEO Papperger emphasised that talks are regularly held with Volkswagennot least because Rheinmetall and VW cooperate in the construction of trucks. On Wednesday, Rheinmetall also published its annual report, according to which, group sales in 2024 rose by an incredible 36 percent to almost 10 billion. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that the production of weapons, tanks and ammunition now accounts for 80 percent of the groups earnings. What is not well known to the public so far is that the Volkswagen Group is already producing military vehicles. Among other things, the Amarok M, a military version of the first generation of the VW pick-up, is being produced together with Rheinmetall. And the VW subsidiary MAN supplies large numbers of base vehicles for the heavy Rheinmetall military trucks, which are also being used in the NATO war against Russia in Ukraine. And VW is even involved in tank production. Volkswagens subsidiary Renk, a gearbox manufacturer, supplies gearboxes not only for water and wind power plants but also for warships and tanksincluding the German Leopard and Puma tanks, the British Ajax and the Turkish Altay. It is therefore becoming increasingly clear that the massive job cuts at VW and the freed-up production capacities, including some of the labour force, are to be used for extensive war production. In this way, the VW Group is continuing its history as a Nazi state-owned enterprise. With the beginning of World War II in 1939, Volkswagen was fully converted to armaments production. In 1934, Adolf Hitler had announced the construction of a peoples car at the International Motor Show in Berlin. Ferdinand Porschegrandfather of Wolfgang Porsche, chairman of the supervisory board of Porsche Automobil Holding and today a VW billionairewas commissioned by the German Automobile Industry Association to construct this Volkswagen. In 1935, the German Labour Front (DAF) founded the Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des Volkswagen mbH (Company for the Preparation of the Volkswagen) and eventually organised the construction of the factory and a specially created town, which is now called Wolfsburg. However, the Kraft-durch-Freude-Wagen (KdF, Power through Joy Car) was designed but never built, and production was switched to war. The KdF car was converted into a military amphibious vehicle and armoured car. From then on, Volkswagen produced vast quantities of bazookas, anti-personnel mines and parts for the Ju88 aeroplane and V1 rocket. The Nazi state-owned company worked closely with the SS, which provided unlimited access to forced labour, prisoners of war and concentration camp inmates. Up to 20,000 forced labourers toiled in Wolfsburg until they were worn out or worked to death. From 1942, the company even set up its own concentration camp, called Arbeitsdorf (Labour Town), on the factory premises. Many forced labourers also had to live in the disused wash houses of the No. 1 factory hall. According to VW, around two-thirds of the workforce were forced labourers in 1944. It was only in 1986 that the Volkswagen Group commissioned historian Hans Mommsen to investigate the company history and it took another ten years before his study was published. The murderous conditions of exploitation and the history of the former arms factory, which was involved in the war of extermination against the Soviet Union, did not fit into the narrative of post-war Germanys social market economy and social partnership with the trade unions. The situation of Soviet prisoners was particularly cruel, with many dying. Between 1940 and 1945 alone, 365 children and babies died, most of whom had been taken from forced labourers directly after birth. Forced labourers had to wait until 1998 for a few meagre compensation payments. It was only 53 years after this forced labour that the filthy rich Porsche/Piech family, who hold a major stake in the company, set up a relief fund in the hope that there were hardly any remaining survivors entitled to compensation. Today, Volkswagen workers are confronted with the return of VWs brutal past. Supporters of Momodou Taal gather outside the James. M. Hanely Courthouse and Federal Building in Syracuse, New York, March 25, 2025 US District Judge Elizabeth C. Coombe heard arguments from both sides of a landmark lawsuit against two of Trumps executive orders targeting free speech and opposition to the genocide in Gaza on Tuesday. The hearing was held in Syracuse, New York. The case has been brought by Cornell University student Momodou Taal, along with fellow student Sriram Parasurama and Professor Mukoma Wa Ngugi. Attorneys for TaalEric Lee and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committeeare also seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Trump administration to prevent it from seizing and deporting Taal in retaliation for bringing the suit, which it is seeking to do. Coombe made no decision either on the main lawsuit or the TRO. A ruling could be made sometime later this week. Hundreds of people attended the hearing or gathered outside the federal courthouse Tuesday afternoon to defend free speech and support Taal. Reporters for the World Socialist Web Site spoke with many of those protesting before and after the hearing. Protesters outside the courthouse in Syracuse, New York hold signs in support of Momodou Taal, Sriram Parasuram and Mukoma Wa Ngugi. Co-plaintiff, Professor Wa Ngugi: We shouldnt be punishing the people who are calling out what clearly is a genocide Following the hearing, Professor Mukoma Wa Ngugi, a co-plaintiff with Momodou Taal in the lawsuit against the Trump administration, spoke on the genocide in Gaza and reiterated that Taal is being targeted for simply speaking out against the ongoing massacre. Eric Lee: If democracy is going to be defended, it is not going to come from the Democratic Party. Speaking outside the courthouse Tuesday after the hearing, Eric Lee, Momodou Taals lead attorney, emphasized that the fight for democratic rights cannot be waged through the Democratic Party. Taals lawyer, Eric Lee: This is a test case to determine whether the government can... put you in jail for the things you say Following Tuesdays hearing, Eric Lee, Momodou Taals lead lawyer, issued a powerful statement in front of the courthouse warning that: Momodou Taal is a test case to determine whether the government can come to your house and grab you and put you in jail for the things you say, criticizing the United States government and its policies. They start with someone who is a non-citizen, they start with someone who said something that the powers that be find difficult to deal with, that is calling what Israel is doing to the people of Palestine a genocide. But it doesnt end with Momodou Taal. Next it will be you. Next it will be criticizing Donald Trump on social media. Thats technically within the bounds of these executive orders. Next it will be registering people to vote, maybe. That could ultimately come under these orders. We dont know where this ends. We dont know how they will be enforcing them in year four of the Trump administration. But we do know, if we stand up and stop them from doing it to Mr. Taal and to the US citizens who have a right to hear views that are critical of the government, that we can stop them from doing it to all of you as well. The judge in the case did not make any rulings during the hearing on Tuesday. Lee said of the proceedings: We think we made some convincing arguments. We think we are right on the law. We think we are right on the policies. We think we are right on morals. And we hope that the people that listen and follow this case understand that ultimately our appeal is to you. And that the First Amendment, if its going to be protected, its not just going to be protected by the lawyers in the courts, ultimately its going to have to be protected by the American population. The rest of Lees speech can be viewed in the video below. Im afraid its just leading to a fascist state Outside Tuesdays hearing reporters for the WSWS spoke to multiple people outraged over the attempts to deport Momodou Taal and the broader attacks on democratic rights. Hearing begins today on Momodou Taals case against Trump 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. (Read full article here.) Lawyers for Momodou Taal denounce Trump administrations deportation effort as unconstitutional political retaliation In a filing submitted Sunday to the US District Court for the Northern District of New York in the case of Taal v. Trump, attorneys for Cornell graduate student Momodou Taal denounced the Trump administrations efforts to detain and deport their client as an unconstitutional act of political retaliation. On Friday, Taal, a British-Gambian student, was issued a formal demand to surrender himself to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) just days after he filed a lawsuit challenging Trumps executive orders targeting protesters for deportation. A filing to the court from Taals lawyers on Friday afternoon called on the judge in the case to grant an emergency injunction, noting that the governments action constitutes an unlawful attempt to remove this Courts jurisdiction over this case by deporting Taal. A Justice Department filing submitted Saturday night claims that Taals immigration status became unlawful before this lawsuit began and that his arrest is merely the result of a revoked student visa. But the government openly acknowledges that the revocation was based on Taals political activity and carried out under Executive Order 14188, which calls for using immigration powers against critics of the Israeli state. Taals lawyersEric Lee and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committeeresponded Sunday that the governments own account confirms the political motivation behind the 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. Their alleged authority for doing so is the Executive Orders. The attorneys argue that the governments conduct is so egregious that it qualifies as outrageous under legal precedentand is therefore subject to review by the court. (Read the full article here.) The Socialist Equality Party (SEP), the Sri Lankan section of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), is contesting the local government elections to be held on May 6. The SEP is running candidates for the Karainagar Divisional Council, in the war-ravaged Jaffna district and the Kolonnawa Urban Council, in the suburbs of Colombo, fielding 13 and 21 candidates respectively. The slates are being headed by senior party leaders Paramuthirugnana Sambanthar and Vilani Peiris. Paramuthirugnana Sambanthar The elections are to be held after anti-democratic postponements by two former presidents, Gotabhaya Rajapakse of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in 2022 and 2023 respectively, who both feared the defeat of their discredited parties. The newly-elected Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna/National Peoples Power (JVP/NPP) government has called the elections, declaring it to be a democratic move. Its leaders have called for a big win in the elections to strengthen the ruling party to carry forward its economic recovery program. The SEP calls on workers and the poor to reject this cynical appeal. The JVP/NPPs economic recovery program is nothing but the implementation of the International Monetary Funds (IMF) austerity measures, begun by Wickremesinghe, that have already caused great hardship for working people. Its real purpose is to repay foreign loans defaulted on by Colombo in 2022 and to boost the profits of big capital. The recent budget for 2025 is to implement the IMFs demands. While announcing a pitiful wage increase for 1.5 million state employees, allowances have been drastically slashed. Within months, many of the 400 or so state-owned enterprises (SOE) will be placed under a state holding company in preparation for public-private partnerships or privatisation. Thousands of jobs will be destroyed, wages slashed and workloads increased. Across the public sector, more than half a million jobs will be destroyed, according to President Anura Kumara Dissanayakes advisor. The government, well aware that its austerity drive will lead to mass struggles of workers, rural poor and youth, is preparing dictatorial forms of rule. Its police attack and witch-hunt against protesting school development officers and repeated threats against strikes and protests opposing its policies are a warning to working people of the brutal methods in store. Vilani Peiris The SEP was the only party that warned the working class during last years presidential and general elections of the rightwing, pro-imperialist character of the JVP/NPP. Far from being Marxist, the JVP had cultivated close relations with the US, was backed by significant sections of the Sri Lankan ruling class and was committed to ruthlessly imposing the IMF agenda. The SEP emphasises that there are no solutions to any of the burning problems confronting workers and the rural masses within the framework of capitalism or the nation state. The SEP is campaigning for the independent mobilisation of workers to rally the rural poor and fight the governments austerity program. We call on the working class to break from all the capitalist parties and muster its enormous strength in an industrial and political struggle for a workers and peasants government based on a socialist program. Unify class struggles internationally against global capitalism and war! The working class is not just confronting the JVP/NPP regime and capitalist class in this country, but international finance capital and all the agencies of imperialism. The elections are being held amid a rapidly deepening world capitalist crisis, centred on US imperialism. The newly-installed American president is the fascist Donald Trump, who draws directly on Hitler and the German Nazi dictatorship of the 1930s. He is nakedly flouting the countrys laws and constitution as he prepares to expel millions of immigrants, scrap essential social services, sack hundreds of thousands of state employees and go to war. In the global arena, the Trump administration is waging an economic war on ally and foe alike, seeking to annex whole areas of the globe, including Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal, and backing Israels genocidal war in Gaza. His peace moves in the Ukraine war are simply part of his preparations for war with China, which US imperialism regards as the chief threat to its global domination. As the world hurtles towards a disastrous global conflict, all the major powers in Europe and Asia are turning sharply to the far right, rapidly re-arming for war, heaping new burdens on the working class and undermining democratic rights. Sri Lanka is also part of the US war plans against China. Top officers of the US Indo-Pacific Command have visited ColomboAdmiral Steve Koehler in October and Admiral Samuel J. Paparo last weekto strengthen military ties. Both were welcomed by the JVP/NPP, which long ago abandoned its phoney anti-imperialist rhetoric. Workers and youth are already responding to the agenda of war and class war of the ruling classes around the world with strikes and protests. In recent months, workers struggles have erupted in the US against pay and job cuts as well as in many other countries, including the countries of South Asia. Workers and youth in their millions have protested against US-backed Israeli war crimes and atrocities in Gaza. The international working class is the only social force that can stop the plunge towards world war. Sri Lankan workers and youth must join in building an international anti-war movement based on socialist policies to abolish capitalism and its reactionary nation-state system. It is imperative for workers in Sri Lanka to take the initiative in building the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees established by the ICFI to coordinate the class struggle internationally. Learn the political lessons of the 2022 mass uprising The political lessons of the mass uprising in Sri Lanka in April-July 2022 must be learnt. Hard hit by the accelerating global economic crisis, the Rajapakse government defaulted on its foreign debt and imposed the burden on working people. Millions of workers and the oppressed masses took to the streets in strikes and protests against intolerable price rises and shortages. Rajapakse was forced to flee the country and resign, but this was no victory. The trade unions and the opposition JVP and SJB, assisted by the fake-left Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), steered the mass movement into the dead-end of parliament. The right-wing, pro-US Wickremesinghe was anti-democratically installed as president and cut a deal with the IMF. Now, the JVP has taken over from the deeply unpopular Wickremesinghe to impose the austerity agenda. Protesters march to the presidential palace in Colombo to overthrow Gotabaya Rajapaksa, July 9, 2022 [AP Photo/Amitha Thennakoon] From the beginning of the uprising, the SEP actively participated, fighting for the vital socialist program and perspective which was lacking in the protest movement. The SEP warned in its April 7, 2022 statement: A socialist revolution is needed in Sri Lanka and for that a revolutionary leadership is essential The entire history of the past century has demonstrated that without a revolutionary party even the most militant and determined struggles of the working class are inevitably defeated, opening the door to counter-revolution and savage repression. That critical political lesson must be grasped by the working class in the struggles that will inevitably emerge in the immediate future. The SEP and its candidates will campaign in the elections to build the party as the revolutionary leadership needed. The pro-IMF opposition parties Battered and exposed by the mass upsurge in 2022, the traditional parties of the Colombo political establishment were humiliated in last years presidential and general elections. Like the JVP/NPP, all of them back the IMFs austerity program. Their phoney criticisms and calls not to put burdens on the masses are simply to hoodwink working people. The largest opposition partythe Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), a breakaway from Wickremesinghes UNPvoted against the recent budget hoping to exploit the growing hostility to the government. It was the SJB, however, that pressed Rajapakse to go begging to the IMF for assistance to save the economy and, if it ever gets into office, will just as ruthlessly impose austerity as Dissanayake. The pseudo-left FSP is contesting the elections under the front Peoples Struggle Alliance (PSA), formed last year with other fake-left groups and union bureaucrats. Far from warning about the anti-working class character of the JVP/NPP, the PSA enthusiastically welcomed its election victory, saying it represented peoples aspirations. The PSA has continued to promote the illusion that the Dissanayake government can be pressured to implement the peoples mandate even as it has imposed the IMFs austerity agenda. While lamenting the JVP/NPPs broken election promises, the PSA has pledged to support and protect it from the old corrupted parties. FSP leader Pubudu Jayagoda told the media: People must show a red light as a warning to the government [for not implementing promises], but be cautious not to allow old corrupted [parties] to come to power. The Tamil capitalist parties also lost heavily in last years parliamentary election. In the local elections, they are struggling to form an alliance to make a comeback. Their support for the IMF austerity agenda was demonstrated in the vote on the budgetone party voted for it, while the others simply absented themselves in order to try to hide their backing for it. Form independent action committees! The SEP is campaigning for workers to take matters into their own hands and break with the capitalist parties and the trade union bureaucracies. The trade unions have repeatedly limited and betrayed the strikes and struggles of workers over the past two years to defend living conditions. Nurses demonstrating at Kandy Teaching Hospital on February 27, 2025 against budget cuts Now, as the JVP/NPP has accelerated the austerity program, the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) and the Health Trade Union Alliance (HTUA) leaders have abandoned their planned protests. None of the unions opposes the IMFs dictates and all have heeded its warning that emerging labour unrest would sabotage its program. We call on workers and the oppressed masses to build democratically elected action committees in every workplace to discuss and implement a struggle for their social and democratic rights. We pledge to offer our political assistance to those wanting to do so. The SEP advances the following socialist and internationalist program: Oppose all forms of nationalism and communalism! Fight for the international unity of the working class! The Sri Lankan ruling class has a reactionary history of resorting to anti-Tamil and anti-Muslim chauvinism to divide workers. The result was three decades of a disastrous anti-Tamil war, which the JVP backed to the hilt. The government maintains the military occupation of the North and East, where it is complicit in the communal campaign to establish Buddhist shrines. While declaring for national unity, the JVP fully backs the countrys communal constitution that enshrines Sinhala-Buddhist supremacism. The Tamil bourgeois parties respond in the same veinpromoting Tamil nationalism to separate Tamil working people from their class brothers and sisters elsewhere on the island. The Sri Lankan ruling class has a reactionary history of resorting to anti-Tamil and anti-Muslim chauvinism to divide workers. The result was three decades of a disastrous anti-Tamil war, which the JVP backed to the hilt. The government maintains the military occupation of the North and East, where it is complicit in the communal campaign to establish Buddhist shrines. While declaring for national unity, the JVP fully backs the countrys communal constitution that enshrines Sinhala-Buddhist supremacism. The Tamil bourgeois parties respond in the same veinpromoting Tamil nationalism to separate Tamil working people from their class brothers and sisters elsewhere on the island. Workers cannot fight for their class interests if they allow themselves to be divided. Oppose communalism! For the unity of Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim workers! Defend the democratic and social rights of all! Rally the rural poor and oppressed masses! The JVP/NPP government exploited the anger and hostility of the farmers and rural poor to come to power, but has broken all of its promises. The meagre increase in the price of paddy rice is totally inadequate. Poor farmers weighed down with interest payments to loan sharks and exorbitant prices for seed, pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers are not even meeting their costs of production. The SEP demands: Waive all debts owed to money lenders, including banks, micro-finance companies and private money lenders! Provide financial assistance to farmers as well as fertilisers, agrochemicals, and agricultural equipment at low prices! Guarantee a fair price for crops, including rice! Poor farmers need to form their own independent action committees and join with the working class. Only the working class can resolve the burning issues confronting farmers, by placing agribusinesses and major companies under its democratic control to provide land and cheap agricultural inputs. Defend all social and democratic rights! In opposition to the governments austerity program, the SEP advocates: Repudiate all foreign loans, including that of the IMF! Why should we and generations to come pay for the loans taken out by capitalist governments to wage devastating communal war and boost corporate profits? All funds must be used to meet the pressing social needs of working people! All workers, in the private and state sectors, must receive a wage increase to compensate for the erosion of real wages! Wages must then be indexed to the cost of living! Pensioners must receive a similar increase! Tea plantation workers must be paid a decent monthly wage indexed to the cost of living, with paid leave and pensions! Withdraw all armed forces from the war-ravaged North and East! Return the lands seized by the military to their owners! No to pro-market restructuring of state-owned enterprises! Defend all jobs and working conditions! Put all SOEs under the democratic control of the working class! Immediately bring down the price of food and essential items. End the VAT and other taxes on such items! Provide jobs with decent wages for the 40,000 unemployed graduates and other unemployed! Place all banks, big companies and plantations under workers democratic control and reorganise production and distribution for the benefit of workers and the poor, not private profits! Seize the assets of the wealthy few and use the funds to provide for the urgent needs of the majority! Abolish the executive presidency! Abolish all repressive laws, including the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), emergency and essential services regulations! For a Democratic and Socialist Congress of Workers and Rural Masses! The SEP calls for the establishment of a Democratic and Socialist Congress of Workers and Rural Masses (DSC), based on democratically elected delegates from action committees in workplaces and rural areas. Such a congress can and must discuss the adoption of a program of socialist policies and the fight for a workers and peasants government. In these elections, we call for workers, the poor and youth to vote for our candidates in Karainagar and Kolonnawa to register their support for a socialist program. We do not advocate a vote for any of the candidates standing in other areas. Read the WSWS, which is the only organ internationally arming workers and young people with a revolutionary program and the historical lessons necessary to fight for a socialist future. Build the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) on university campuses, in other educational institutions and among young workers. Donate to our partys 500,000 rupee ($US1,700) party building fund. Above all, we call on workers to join and build the SEP as the necessary revolutionary leadership for the immense struggles ahead. Yunseo Chung On Monday, Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old Columbia University student and legal permanent resident in the United States, sued US President Donald Trump and other high-ranking officials in the administration following efforts by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain and deport her. At present, she remains in the US in hiding from the ICE-Gestapo. On Tuesday, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing Chung from being kidnapped by ICE. The judge, Naomi Reice Buchwald, said, Nothing in the record has indicated in any way that she is a danger, in barring ICE from detaining Chung as her lawsuit against the Trump administration proceeds. According to Gothamist, The temporary restraining order also prevents the federal government from transferring Chung to another court jurisdiction. [Columbia protest leader Mahamoud] Khalil was transferred from a Newark ICE detention center to Louisiana shortly after he was arrested. No trips to Louisiana, here, Buchwald said. The pursuit of Chung is part of the dramatic intensification of the Trump administrations efforts to establish a presidential dictatorship in the US. The administration is seizing and detaining individuals for exercising their First Amendment rights, has invoked the reactionary Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport hundreds of immigrants without due process and openly defied judicial rulings against these actions. Chung, a junior at Columbia, is being targeted for her participation in numerous mass pro-Palestinian protests that have erupted on campus over the last 17 months since the beginning of Israels genocidal onslaught in the Middle East. She has lived in the US since the age of seven when her family immigrated from South Korea. The Trump administration is once again putting forward the malicious argument that Chungs presence in the US hinders the administrations foreign policy agenda of halting the spread of antisemitism. This is the same slanderous rationale that has been advanced by the administration in justifying the illegal detention earlier this month of Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, also a green card holder and now detained in Louisiana, and Georgetown University researcher Badar Khan Suri. Both Khalil and Suri were detained by unidentified federal agents outside their homes. British-Gambian Cornell University student Momodou Taal, a vocal opponent of the genocide in Gaza at Cornell, is the latest target of the vicious political intimidation and repression of the Trump administration. Taal, along with fellow Cornell student Sriram Parasurama and Professor Mukoma Wa Ngugi, filed a lawsuit on March 15 challenging Trumps executive orders as unconstitutional violations of free speech. He is presently attempting to avoid detention by ICE after the Trump administration revoked his student visa. On Monday, US District Judge Elizabeth C. Coombe in Syracuse New York heard Taals motion challenging Trumps executive orders targeting free speech and seeking to deport protesters as well as for a restraining order to prevent the Trump administrations illegal attempt to seize and deport him in retaliation for filing the lawsuit before the case can be brought to court. The lawsuit filed by Chung in federal court in Manhattan details the extensive, Gestapo-like efforts of ICE to detain her. ICE officials, working closely with federal prosecutors, visited several residences with ties to Chung, including her parents house on March 9. The next day, a federal law enforcement agent told Chungs lawyer that her status as a permanent resident had been revoked. ICE then searched Chungs university housing on March 13 with warrants that cited a criminal harboring statute, directed at individuals who provide shelter to noncitizens who have committed a crime, even when they are in the US legally. The lawsuit notes: 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 who are critical of the Israeli governments ongoing campaign in Gaza or the pro-Israeli policies of the U.S. government and other institutions. Now officials at the highest echelons of government are attempting to use immigration enforcement as a bludgeon to suppress speech that they dislike, including Ms. Chungs speech. Chung, unlike Khalil, was not a prominent figure in the mass demonstrations at Columbia last year. She was one of numerous student protesters arrested, on a misdemeanor, by New York Police Department (NYPD) officers at Barnard College earlier this month when two dozen pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupied the lobby of the schools main library. The cases of Chung, Khalil, Taal and others strike one as nothing so much as the resistance against the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, a federal law that mandated that runaway slaves in free states in the north had to be returned to their owners in the south, empowered slave-catchers to go into northern cities and seize them, and punished local officials who prevented implementation of the law. In the cases of Chung, Khalil and Taal, however, people are not being rounded up because they are, in the eyes of the law, chattel property, but because they expressed ideas that are hostile to war, Zionism and American imperialism. Two other suits filed in New York are worth noting. First, Columbia University faculty have challenged the withdrawal of $400 million in federal funding by the Trump administration to the university. The withdrawal of the funds is ostensibly what caused the university to clamp down on student protesters last week, banning masks, hiring new security personnel empowered to arrest students, and putting special oversight over the universitys Middle East, South Asian, and African Studies department, although, as the WSWS has noted, a far deeper social cause of collaboration with Trump lies in the character of the upper-middle class elements that staff the highest echelons of university administrations, a social layer grown not only richer but more and more openly hostile to democratic principles in the last several decades. The suit, filed by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), 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 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 On Monday, scores of Columbia faculty members assembled to protest the universitys capitulation to Trump. The second suit was filed by a high school student in Brooklyn federal court against the Half Hollow Hills Central School District, in the small suburban community of Dix Hills in Suffolk County, Long Island, because the school had painted over a parking spot that the student had decorated with a watermelona symbol of Palestinian resistancedenying the student her right to free speech and inflicting emotional trauma. The decoration of parking spaces was an annual student tradition of Half Hollow Hills High School West. According to the Brooklyn Eagle, The senior painted a watermelon slice featuring a keffiyeh scarf-like pattern followed by the phrase, Peace Be Upon You and her name written in Arabic. The suit maintains that the schools principal interrogated and threatened the student in a closed office. President Donald Trump departing the White House, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Washington. [AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin] As has become par for the course, the approach of April 2, dubbed by Trump as liberation day when his regime will take action via reciprocal tariffs against all the countries, friend and foe alike, that have been ripping off the US for decades, is surrounded by confusion. After indicating that his retaliatory regime will be broad-based, Trump has indicated it could be more targeted, and exemptions may be given. The indication from administration officials is that this may cover the few countries with which the US has a trade surplus rather than a deficit, but no one knows for sure if this will apply. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump said: I may give a lot of countries breaks. Theyve charged us so much that Im embarrassed to charge them what theyve charged us, but itll be substantial, and youll be hearing about that on April 2. In previous comments he said it would be liberation day for the US. Weve been ripped off by every country in the world, friend and foe. The reciprocal tariff covers more than the direct tariff imposts on US exports. It includes any measures in a countrys internal policies, such as taxes, subsidies, and regulations, that are deemed to adversely affect US companies. One of the reasons for any pull back or delay in the full-scale agenda may well be the enormous amount of work involved in examining the economic policies of a given country to determine their impact on US exports. Apart from the reciprocal tariff program directed against countries, Trump has announced additional tariffs on a number of commodities. He told reporters at an Oval Office briefing that the threatened tariffs on cars would go ahead fairly soon over the next few days, in advance of the broader measures. Without providing any details, he also said he planned to go ahead with tariffs on lumber and semi-conductors. He repeated his threat to impose tariffs on pharmaceutical drugs, saying they would come in the very near future. One of the most significant announcements was that he intended to impose a 25 percent tariff on all imports from any country that buys oil from Venezuela. This is aimed directly against China and India, two of the largest buyers of Venezuelan oil. For China, the impost would be on top of the 20 percent tariff already being levied on its exports, taking the total rate to 45 percent. The announcement was accompanied by a series of rants against Venezuela and the government of Nicolas Maduro which successive US administrations have been trying to overthrow. Venezuela exports around 600,000 barrels of oil a day of which about 230,000 barrels per day went to the US last year, making it the fourth biggest international supplier of the US. The US Treasury has already ordered Chevron to cease its operations and extended its initial deadline to May 27. Oil analysts have warned that if Venezuelan oil came out of the market that could cause disruption, leading to increased prices at the petrol pump, in opposition to Trumps stated goal of lowering prices. At this stage it appears that the tariffs on April 2, also dubbed by Trump as the big one, are aimed at a group of 15 counties which have a persistent trade surplus with the US. They were branded the dirty 15 in a television interview on Fox Business given by treasury secretary Scott Bessent last weeka designation since taken up in the media. The language employed is an expression of the character of the Trump regime as it breaks apart all the relationships on which the post-war order was based. Major trading nations are labelled dirtycriminals, seeking to rob the US. Last year the 15 comprised in descending order: China, the European Union, Mexico, Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea, Canada, India, Thailand, Switzerland, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia and South Africa. Whats going to happen on April 2each country will receive a number that we believe represents their tariffs. For some countries it could be quite low. For some countries it could be quite high, Bessent said. Then, in the posture of a Mafia boss, he continued: Im optimistic that April 2nd, some of the tariffs may not have to go on because a deal is pre-negotiated, or that once countries receive their reciprocal tariff number, that right after that they will come to us and want to negotiate it down. The reciprocal tariff number will not only encompass the tariff rate actually charged on US goods but will be calculated to include domestic policies of the country which the administration claims adversely affect US exports in the same way as a tariff. Countries in the firing line are engaged in a frantic round of discussions to try to secure some kind of exemption. The European trade chief Maros Sefcovic met with commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and US trade representative Jamieson Greer yesterday. Indias government also sought exemptions in a meeting with a US delegation. Those such as Australia, which have a trade deficit with the US, are hoping that will mean they will be excluded from the April 2 measures. Earlier efforts by government officials, using the deficit argument to try to gain an exemption from the 25 percent tariff on steel and iron, were unsuccessful. The Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme has been specially targeted by the major US drug corporations as a barrier to their profit making that should be subject of retaliatory action. Commerce Secretary Lutnick told reporters after a cabinet meeting that the administration would also announce its plans for a new department, the External Revenue Service, which would oversee tariff collection and build the power and prestige of America back. The proposal to establish the new body was announced in Trumps executive order on America First Trade Policy issued on January 20 after his inauguration. Its role was not set out other than to say it would recommend the best method for designing and building the means to collect tariffs, duties and other foreign trade-related revenues. Little has been heard of it since. At this point its precise role is not clear because tariff revenues are collected by the Customs and Border Protection department. However, Lutnicks remarks indicate it will function as some kind of permanent body to prosecute and deepen the economic war to be launched on April 2. VIENTIANE, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Officials from Laos and Cambodia gathered in Lao capital Vientiane on Tuesday to review their bilateral cooperation in 2024 and set goals for 2025, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening cooperation and enhancing security and peace. Representatives from the two countries outlined key goals for continued cooperation in security, education, drug prevention and other spheres, the local news website Lao Pattana News reported on Wednesday. Both sides will enhance information exchange on illegal activities, such as drug trafficking, arms smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal logging along the border. They will also focus on educating officials, armed forces, and local communities about border laws to ensure peaceful resolutions in line with international regulations. Additionally, they will continue facilitating exchanges between specialized departments to share lessons learned and collaborate on combating cross-border drug trafficking, online gambling, telecommunications fraud, and other cybercrimes. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez attends a press conference after the "Support Ukraine" summit in Kyiv, Ukraine, February 24, 2025. [AP Photo/Gleb Garanich] Spains Prime Minister and Socialist Party (PSOE) leader Pedro Sanchez is preparing to increase military spending to 2 percent of GDP, bringing forward the original 2029 deadline under pressure from the European Union and NATO. Sanchez has already announced that this escalation will not be submitted to a parliamentary vote but imposed by decree through the Council of Ministerswhere he will count on the support of his junior partner in government, the pseudo-left Sumar coalition. By bypassing parliamentwhere the proposal would have the support of the right-wing Popular Party (PP)PSOE and Sumar aim to thinly conceal the fact that their militarist agenda is compatible with that of the Spanish right. Military rearmament is deeply unpopular, particularly as it will be accompanied by intensified austerity. Both PSOE and its coalition alliesfirst Podemos, now Sumarhave spent years slashing public spending and enforcing social cuts. A November 2024 poll by Spains Centre for Sociological Research (CIS) revealed that only 14.2 percent of respondents supported significantly increased military spending, while half of the population called for major investments in healthcare and 42 percent in education. To obscure the scale of the rearmament, Sanchez has openly urged officials not to use the word rearmament in public communications. We must speak to citizens differently when discussing the need to improve European defence and security capabilities, he said, arguing that rearmament gives an incomplete picture of the challenges ahead. In other words, the population must be misled. Madrid even went so far as to pressure Brussels to abandon the term Rearm Europe in favour of the more Orwelian term Readiness 2030, after both Spain and Italy pushed back against the original name for the European Commissions multi-billion euro plan to boost war capabilities and military production across the bloc. We are sensitive to the fact that the name as such may trigger some sensitivity in some member states so this is something that, of course, we listen to, said Paula Pinho, the Commission's chief spokesperson. For Sumar, the political stakes are even higher. The Spanish working class has historically opposed militarism and war, and support for rearmament would expose Sumars true character as a pro-imperialist, militarist party of bourgeois order. It would also risk exposing the pro-war role of Podemos, the pseudo-left party within which Sumar originated, and which has also falsely postured as an opponent of militarism. To deflect attention from its support for rearmament, Sumar backed a parliamentary motion introduced by the Galician nationalist BNG. The motion called on the government to reject European Commission President Ursula von der Leyens proposal for an 800 billion EU military fund, to halt all increases in military spending, and to withdraw Spain from NATO and call for its dissolution. This was pure theatre. Throughout its year in government with PSOE, Sumar has specialised in striking a few rhetorical poses of dissent while loyally endorsing all key government policies when it counts. This point was underscored by PSOE parliamentary spokesman Patxi Lopez, who bragged: PSOE and Sumar have already passed 29 lawsmore than two per monthin just one year. Even in the BNG motion, Sumar tried to water down its wording to make it palatable for PSOE. For example, it proposed replacing the call for NATOs dissolution with a vague plea to promote an autonomous and shared European security and defence model, independent of NATO. The BNG rejected the amendmentdespite its own long record of supporting PSOE-led governmentsas part of its own opportunistic attempt to burnish a leftist image ahead of future elections. Despite everything, Sumar swiftly denied that there was any issue. El Pais, one of the main mouthpieces of the Spanish bourgeoisie, reported that internal sources from Sumar rejected claims that differences with the PSOE over military spending have widened after this parliamentary episode. These sources in Sumar said they had notified the PSOE that they were going to support the proposals from the Galician party because it was a non-binding initiative, purely ideological in nature, and does not affect government policy. According to these Sumar spokespeople quoted by El Pais, the PSOE understood their position and there is no problem. Sumar includes a range of bourgeois nationalist parties, ex-Podemos elements, and the Stalinist Communist Party. All of them were previously part of the PSOE-Podemos coalition government. That government launched Spains current rearmament drive and approved the largest increase in military spending in Spanish history in 2022now set to be surpassed by the PSOE-Sumar alliance. Both Podemos and Sumar have supported NATOs war against Russia in Ukraine and the Israeli genocide in Gaza. Despite public denials of arms exports to Israel, an investigation by Progressive International, the Palestinian Youth Movement, and the American Friends Service Committee revealed that Spain shipped more than 60,000 pieces of military equipment to Israel between January 2024 and February 2025. Spanish ports, particularly Algeciras, have played a key role in arms transit, with over 13,000 tonnes of weaponry bound for Israel passing through them in recent months. Meanwhile, Israel is actively involved in Spains rearmament. According to trade data from Datacomex, the PSOE-Sumar government has purchased 3.65 million worth of battle-tested Israeli weapons, including bombs, grenades, torpedoes, missiles, and other forms of ammunition and explosives. With the help of the trade union bureaucracy, Sumar and Podemos seek to deceive the working class and suppress any opposition to Spains deepening militarism. Their occasional criticisms are empty gestures designed to preserve illusions, while they ensure the smooth implementation of austerity and imperialist war. Workers cannot place any faith in these rotten, pro-capitalist vehicles of the privileged middle class. Both Sumar and Podemos serve the interests of capital and the major Spanish corporations. The only way to stop the drive to war is to build an international movement of the working class against imperialism and the capitalist system that gives rise to it. Demonstrators gather outside of the Edward A. Garmatz United States District Courthouse in Baltimore, on Friday, March 14, 2025, before a hearing regarding the Department of Government Efficiency's access to Social Security data [AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough] As the staff and service cuts by the Trump administration to the Social Security Administration (SSA) begin to take effect, those dependent on the benefits program are feeling the impact in the form of website crashes, excessive call waiting times and long lines at department offices. US retirees, their survivors, the poor and disabled73 million people, or approximately 21.5 percent of the US populationreceive monthly checks from the SSA worth a total of $1.5 trillion annually. As of February 2025, the average monthly Social Security benefit for 65.8 million retired workers is approximately $1,980.86. For 4.5 million disabled workers, who received Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the average monthly benefit is around $1,580. Changes to the SSA systems began immediately after Elon Musk publicly attacked Social Security and claimed in a podcast on February 28 that the longstanding and vital government program is the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time. On the same day, the Trump administrations Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Musk leads, announced plans to reduce the SSA staff by 7,000 employees, a reduction of 12 percent. Other changes announced include the shutdown or consolidation of 47 SSA field offices across the country. Of these, 26 offices are scheduled to close in 2025. For some people, the closure of the offices will mean traveling distances of 100 miles or more to the next closest SSA location. Meanwhile, DOGE has announced the closure of six out of 10 regional SSA offices. Among the immediate actions, for example, is the closure of the field office in Forrest City, Arkansas, on April 25, 2025. Arkansas is the fourth poorest state in the US by median household income behind Mississippi, West Virginia and Louisiana. The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that the SSA website crashed 10 times in the last three weeks, because the servers were overloaded, blocking millions of retirees and disabled Americans from logging into their online accounts. Meanwhile, the Post report said, staff reductions have meant that office managers have resorted to answering phones in place of receptionists because so many employees have been pushed out. And the phones keep ringing. And ringing. The Post report continues: 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. In an interview, Independent Senator Angus King of Maine told the Post: Whats going on is the destruction of the agency from the inside out, and its accelerating. I have people approaching me all the time in their 70s and 80s, and theyre beside themselves. They dont know whats coming. Unable to get answers from the SSA, Americans dependent upon Social Security benefits are flooding congressional offices and advocacy organizations with angry phone calls. The AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) has reported that it is getting 2,000 calls a week since early February, double its usual amount, from people concerned about their benefits. After Acting SSA Commissioner Michelle King resigned on February 16, in a dispute with DOGE staffers who demanded access to sensitive personal data, President Trump appointed Leland Dudek as acting commissioner. Dudek appears to have been selected by Trump solely because he was placed on administrative leave for collaborating with Musk behind the backs of Michelle King and other managers at the agency. A March 21 ruling by US District Judge Ellen Hollander in Maryland blocked DOGE from accessing the SSA systems and cited concerns over potential misuse of personal data. The judge rejected the claim by Musk that the DOGE team needed broad access to sensitive information to search for fraud. Judge Hollander wrote: The DOGE Team is essentially engaged in a fishing expedition at SSA, in search of a fraud epidemic, based on little more than suspicion. In response to the judges decision blocking the DOGE from accessing sensitive taxpayer data, Dudek threatened to bar SSA employees from accessing its computer systems, effectively shutting down the entire system. After an exchange with the judge, Dudek backed down and said he was out of line, and I am not shutting down the agency. In any case, Dudek, who was previously a mid-level official at the SSA Office of Program Integrity, began making significant changes at SSA, including the suspension of telework programs that allowed employees to work remotely, shutting down the office that monitors whether people are satisfied with SSA services and implementing new identity-proofing procedures. A report by Popular Information on March 17 detailed the changes to the claims process being implemented under Dudeks direction, saying they would debilitate the agency, cause significant processing delays, and prevent many Americans from applying for or receiving benefits. As with all of DOGEs justifications for attacks on the federal workforce and government services and agencies, a memo authored by Acting Deputy SSA Commissioner Doris Diaz said the motivation for the new identity-proofing procedures is the need to mitigate fraud risks. Lies about rampant fraud are at the center of the campaign to dismantle the system or to privatize the nearly $3 trillion Social Security Trust Fund. During his address to a joint session of Congress last month, Trump peddled the lie, boosted by Musk, that millions of people over the age of 100 were receiving benefits checks based on a deliberate misrepresentation of Social Security databases. The amount of Social Security fraud that takes place is less than 1 percent of the annual budget of the program. While specific annual figures are not available, the Center for Retirement Research reports that improper payments, including those to deceased individuals, are estimated at about $3 billion per year. The Office of the Inspector General reported that, as of November 2024, SSA imposter scams resulted in losses of $577 million. This amounts to a rounding error when compared to the nearly $1.5 trillion in annual expenditures. According to one former SSA operations official who spoke to Axios, the money it would cost to implement the changes sought by Dudek would dwarf any savings that would come from cracking down on identity fraud. The biggest change outlined in Diazs memo would require internet identity proofing for benefit claims made over the phone. When an SSA customer is unable to utilize the internet ID proofing, customers will be required to visit a field office to provide in-person identity documentation. Because the SSA serves a large population that is either older or physically disabled, many cannot access the internet and must make a phone call to sign up for benefits. The new system would force these individuals to visit an office to have their claims processed. The Diaz memo estimates it would require 75,000 to 85,000 in-person visitors per week to SSAs offices to implement the policy. With SSA offices being closed and staff reductions underway, the resources do not exist to handle the influx of in-person appointments. According to the Popular Information report: In 2023, the most recent data available, there were about 119,128 daily visits, on average, to SSA offices. Eighty-five thousand more weekly visits would be a 14 percent increase. SSA offices no longer accept walk-ins and the wait time for an appointment, even before these changes, averaged over a month. Crippling the SSA system and creating chaos is part of the strategy of Trump, Musk and DOGE, as this will be used as a justification for the privatization of Social Security and provide direct access to the trillions of dollars in financial assets that the working class has paid into it over generations through payroll deductions. The mounting attack by the cabal of billionaires running the White House on Social Security provides a powerful impulse for masses of people to embrace the struggle for the socialist transformation of society, including the expropriation of the wealth of the parasitic financial elite and the expansion of retirement benefits and reduction of the retirement age for all workers. This is the ninth in a series of articles on the recent Berlin International Film Festival. Part 1 was posted February 20, Part 2 on February 27, Part 3 on March 2, Part 4 on March 6, Part 5 on March 9, Part 6 on March 10, Part 7 on March 16 and Part 8 on March 21. Vivian Qus Girls on Wire was one of the Chinese films competing at this years Berlin film festival. It is Qus third feature. Her second movie, Angels Wear White (2017), was a relatively thoughtful portrayal of a teenage migrant worker who witnesses the sexual assault of two girls. Its premiere coincided with the beginning of the #MeToo campaign in Hollywood and beyond. Girls on Wire Although #MeToo has been censored in China, Qu has been associated with it ever since that time. In her public statements, she has highlighted some of the campaigns themes, such as the underrepresentation of and discrimination against women in the Chinese film industry. Unfortunately, her new film has been severely impacted by this orientation and is significantly weaker than Angels Wear White. The film centers on two female cousins, Tian Tian (Liu Haocun) and Fang Di (Wen Qi), who grew up together like sisters in a smaller city in China. Fang Dis mother sought to take advantage of the restoration of capitalism by the Chinese Communist Party since 1976 by building a small textile factory, but only managed to accumulate debt. Her brother, Tian Tians father, is a drug addict. He appears to live with his sisters family only to exploit her financially so he can continue using. From an early age, he seeks to utilize his daughter to obtain money to get more drugs. The film moves back and forth between the present and recollections of the girls childhood spent together. The plot is convoluted, but can be briefly summarized as follows. Though a talented actress, Fang Di is working as a stunt woman in Beijing, subject to gruelling working conditions. She uses most of her earnings to pay off the debt for Tian Tian and her mothers failed business enterprise. We later learn that much of this debt was attributable to her addict uncles reckless behavior. Tian Tian tries eventually to be rid of her father by calling the cops on him. In interrogations, he gives away names of some of his drug dealers. To take revenge on Tian Tian, the mafia kidnaps her and forces her into drug addiction (why they chose this particular kind of revenge is never convincingly explained). She eventually escapes, but only by killing one of the dealers. Now, the mafia is after her to take her back (why is again not clear). She seeks refuge with Fang Di, after five years during which the two have had no contact. Fang Di, feeling that Tian Tian ruined her life, first sends her away. However, once she learns of the other womans addiction and that criminals are hunting her, Fang Di goes looking for Tian Tian again and they flee together. Tragedy ensues. What begins as an interesting depiction of social reality in China in the wake of the restoration of capitalism, descends into a combination of melodrama and gangster movie. The portrayal of conditions of exploitation in the movie industry are artistically convincing. There are also moving scenes of the children growing up together. There are humorous moments when the gangsters try to kidnap Tian Tian on a film set. Yet beyond the casual laughter it provokes, what we are to take from this scene or the organized crime subplot as a whole? The scenes with the two young women soon become melodramatic and repetitive. Worst of all, the characters are barely developed. Tian Tian usually looks sad and doomed, and repeats that she only brings bad luck to others. Fang Di is the empowered one in the relationship, but, overall, we learn remarkably little about her. Apart from her relationship with her cousin and her dedication to her work, which appears to dominate her entire life, her character has few distinguishable features. This is unfortunate since both actresses are clearly highly gifted. Particularly disappointing is the portrayal of the father. Although his drug addiction impacts everyone in the movie in negative ways, we are told nothing about when and why he started using. We usually see him grinning, lurching for new opportunities to extract money from his daughter and sister. As a result, he appears as little more than a monster, perfectly content to drag everyone in his family down into the abyss for the sake of his habit. To call him a rounded character would be an overstatement. The concept of addiction as a socially conditioned affliction appears entirely alien to Qu. The director seems to have no sympathy for him and no explanation for his behavior. Worse still, she appears to have no interest in even understanding him. Such an attitude on the part of artists toward their subjects has never produced compelling work. The message of the movie appears not go beyond the platitudes of #MeToo: that women, although inevitably the victim, are also strong, while men invariably tend to be weak or wicked. With the exception of two mildly positive portrayals of a store worker and Fang Dis co-worker and friend, all of the male characters in the movie are portrayed in a very negative manner. The burden of work and struggle lies, Girls on Wire insinuates, exclusively with women, who would likely be better off alone. The disastrous end for Tian Tian at a young age is attributable not to any broader societal problems, but the evil personality and decisions of her father. In an interview, Vivian Qu explained that her main motivation was to show how powerful women are and that they fight for their freedom. This may resonate with narrow circles in the upper class in the US, Europe and China, but it is no basis to artistically enrich our understanding of the lives of anyone, including women, in China or anywhere else. Unfortunately, despite the talented cast, Girls on Wire is another troubling reminder of the harmful impact of the #MeToo campaign and its underlying conceptions on the arts and cultural climate internationally. To be continued Elevenlabs AudioNative Player Locals inspect the site reportedly struck by U.S. airstrikes overnight in Sanaa, Yemen, Thursday, March 20, 2025. [AP Photo] On March 15, the US military launched airstrikes on residential neighborhoods in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, killing 53 men, women and children. Among the targets were political leaders of the Houthi government. Yementhe poorest country in the Middle Easthas endured years of US-backed bombing and deliberate starvation at the hands of Saudi Arabia, resulting in the deaths of more than 400,000 people. The US airstrikes violated multiple statutes and treaties under international law, rendering those who planned, perpetrated and executed the attack guilty of the following war crimes: Launching an unprovoked attack, in violation of the prohibition on the use of force under the UN Charter and the Rome Statute. Targeting and killing political leaders who are not engaged in combat, in violation of the protections of the UN Charter, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Rome Statute. Employing weapons or tactics that fail to distinguish between military and civilian targets, in violation of the prohibition on indiscriminate attacks as outlined in the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute. On Monday, ten days after the US military launched the attack on Yemen, the Atlantic magazine published a report revealing the fact that leading officials in the Trump administration had accidentally included Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of the magazine, in a message thread in which they plotted the attack on Yemen. Goldberg, having found himself privy to a criminal conspiracy to launch an illegal war of aggression, dutifully removed himself from the message thread, notified the conspirators of their mistake, and then waited ten days before publishing selected excerpts from the discussion. The accidental inclusion of Goldberg in the war plans provoked outrage from the Democratic Party and the medianot over the criminal war of aggression or the war crimes being planned, but because the discussion took place outside secure military channels. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries called on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to resign, claiming his actions shocked the conscience and likely violated the lawnot for murdering civilians, but for inadvertently exposing these crimes to the public. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, right, walks out of the Oval Office at the White House, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Washington. [AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein] But what is of interest to the public is not the channel through which the conspiracy was discussed, but its contents. The leaked discussion offers a revealing glimpse into how American wars of aggression are prepared, launched and fraudulently justified. Though Trump officials may have used a different communications platform, the content mirrors the planning and deceit behind countless wars launched by previous administrations. The thread on the Signal app documented a discussion among senior members of the Trump administration regarding the timing and advisability of launching a new campaign against Yemen. While Vice President JD Vance argued for a delay, Trump, who communicated to the group via his fascist-minded adviser Stephen Miller, ultimately decided to launch the strikes immediately. The discussion made clear that the attack on a small, poor and defenseless nation was purely a war of choice, intended to signal to the world that the United States remains the dominant global military power. As Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth explained in the message thread, This [is] not about the Houthis, i.e., the nominal target of the attack. Rather, it was aimed at restoring freedom of navigation and reestablish[ing] deterrence. The public justification for the attack on Yemen was the statement by Yemens Houthi government that it would block Israeli ships from transiting the Red Sea unless Israel stopped blocking food from entering Gaza. The very prospect of this defiance of Israel, the United States proxy in the Middle East, was seen as challenging American imperialism. It had to be met with overwhelming violence to send a message to the rest of the world and, in Hegseths words, reestablish deterrence. Each of the hundreds of wars, military operations and destabilization campaigns carried out by the United States since the US emerged as an imperialist power has been justified to the public as a response to an imminent threat. Unless the US military takes action, people will die, the public has been told over and over. But the exchange on the attack on Yemen made clear that no such imminent threat existed. In the exchange, Joe Kent, Trumps nominee to head the National Counterterrorism Center, wrote, There is nothing time-sensitive driving the timeline. Well have the same options in a month. Hegseth added, Waiting a few weeks or a month does not fundamentally change the calculus. The most pressing question raised by the Trump administrations exposed war plans against Yemen is: What other wars of choice is the administration currently preparing? Multiple participants in the discussion of the attack on Yemen made clear in previous statements that the central target of US military aggression is China. In the words of Hegseth, China is the only country in the world with the capability and intent to threaten our core national interests. Earlier this month, Elon Muskthe worlds richest man and CEO of leading military contractor SpaceXtraveled to the Pentagon to attend a classified briefing on US war plans against China, including specific targets for attack. In the end, the meeting was reportedly canceled after news of it leaked to the press. But the very fact that such a meeting was scheduled to take place raises the question: Does the Trump administration have a timetable for war with China, the country with the worlds largest population and economy and third-largest nuclear arsenal? In January 2023, four-star General Mike Minihan, head of the Air Forces Air Mobility Command, issued an internal memo predicting a US-China war by 2025. He wrote, referring to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Xis team, reason, and opportunity are all aligned for 2025, and urged troops to consider their personal affairs and practice by firing at a 7-meter target, emphasizing that unrepentant lethality matters most. Aim for the head. In the discussion about the attack on Yemen, a major concern raised by Vance was that the public doesnt understand this or why its necessary. This is undoubtedly a central issue in the Trump administrations war planning against China: How can the American people be made to accept a war on the other side of the worldone that would involve, at minimum, the deaths of a vast number of US troops and the expenditure of hundreds of billions of dollars, and at worst, the nuclear annihilation of major American cities? A current article in Foreign Affairs raises this very question. Under the headline, Would Americans Go to War Against China?, the leading journal of US foreign policy argues that while most Americans say that they want to pull back from the worldthat is, launch fewer warspublic opinion could shift if a war with China were framed as a defensive response to an attack on the United States. The article declares, But in a survey we conducted in July of ordinary Americans as well as of former US policymakers, we found that clear majorities support attacking China if the Peoples Liberation Army were to hit US ships in the South China Sea. This line of argument aligns with the views of Elbridge Colby, Trumps nominee for undersecretary of defense for policy. In his 2021 book, The Strategy of Denial, Colby argued that the US must ensure any war with China appears as though Beijing fired the first shot. Washington, he wrote, must deliberately make China have to strengthen the coalitions resolvethat is, provoke a response that can be used to justify war to the public and US allies. Colby declared: Perhaps the clearest and sometimes the most important way of making sure China is seen this way is simply by ensuring that it is the one to strike first. Few human moral intuitions are more deeply rooted than that the one who started it is the aggressor and accordingly the one who presumptively owns a greater share of moral responsibility. In other words, in order for the United States to successfully mobilize public support for a war with China, it would have to stage a 21st-century version of the 1898 sinking of the USS Maineused to justify the US seizure of Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines, or the Gulf of Tonkin incident, which was used to justify massive US escalation in the Vietnam War. The leaked discussions of the attack on Yemen must be seen as a warning. The Trump administration, at the head of a predatory and criminal financial oligarchy beset by political, economic and social crisis, and confronting mounting domestic opposition, is capable of any crime, including the launching of a full-scale global war of aggression. A staff member touches a cat at Arnamir Pet Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, March 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Agung Kuncahya B.) by Hayati Nupus JAKARTA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The cats are playing in the playground at Arnamir Pet Hotel in South Jakarta. Some are kicking a ball, some are sprawled over the payment machine on the table, and others are busy annoying their fellow felines. Some are daydreaming while peering out the window, while the rest are relaxing in their multi-level rooms. Pet hotels in Jakarta, including Arnamir Pet Hotel, are experiencing a surge in demand as Eid al-Fitr approaches. "Our pet hotel rooms have been fully booked since two months ago. Some customers even inquired as early as last December, despite reservations not yet being available," said Mohammad Febriansyah, Arnamir Pet Hotel manager, in a recent interview with Xinhua. During Indonesia's Eid homecoming season, known as mudik, Jakarta residents leave the city where they live and work to visit their hometowns and celebrate the holiday with extended family. While mudik is a highly anticipated tradition, it often poses a challenge for pet owners who must leave their beloved animals behind. Traveling long distances with pets is not ideal, as it can cause stress and make the journey more difficult. This presents an excellent opportunity for pet hotel businesses to boost revenue. Arnamir operates 186 rooms across five branches, each designed with permanent walls for easy cleaning and equipped with food, water, and litter boxes. Each room is reserved for a single cat and comes with an attached camera, allowing pet owners to monitor their furry companions remotely at any time. The hotel also provides a playground and grooming services. During the mudik season, Arnamir sees significant profits by charging nightly rates ranging from 60,000 to 125,000 rupiahs (approximately 3.6 to 7.5 U.S. dollars), depending on the type of service. In response to the growing demand ahead of Eid al-Fitr, the hotel has expanded its capacity with 128 additional rooms. To attract customers, Arnamir offers promotional discounts, free grooming sessions, and other perks. The company actively promotes its services on social media platforms, particularly TikTok, to reach a wider audience. The pet hotel business has a promising future as pet ownership continues to rise. "Our customer base grows year after year," Febriansyah said. Frida Ilham, a member of Arnamir's team, shared her experiences in caring for cats. "Some cats are affectionate and adjust easily, while others arrive stressed and require special attention," she told Xinhua. She explained that cats are highly sensitive to stress, especially those with past traumas from living on the streets. Stressed cats often exhibit aggressive behavior or refuse to eat. "We need to be patient and find ways to make them feel comfortable. We show them love and attention. If they start approaching us, it means they are beginning to trust us. And when they start eating, it's a sign they are adapting," Frida explained. Despite the challenges, Frida finds her job rewarding. "Seeing these cats happy and healthy when their owners pick them up brings us a deep sense of satisfaction," she said. Rifa Rahmayanti, a loyal customer, always entrusts Arnamir with her five cats during mudik. She believes boarding them at a pet hotel is a better solution than taking them on a 600-kilometer journey from Jakarta to Yogyakarta, which would only cause them stress and anxiety. "This way, mudik is more comfortable for us, allowing us to spend quality time with our family. And for our cats, it's like a staycation," Rifa said. According to her, one of the greatest advantages of a pet hotel is its reliable services, from feeding and care to security. "We can even monitor our cats through CCTV while we're back in our hometown," she added. Two cats are seen taking a rest inside rooms of Arnamir Pet Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, March 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Agung Kuncahya B.) A cat is seen taking a rest inside a room of Arnamir Pet Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, March 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Agung Kuncahya B.) It is difficult to imagine what else should happen for the Armenians to stop considering themselves the center of the universe. An appeal by the Armenian National Committee of Canada has been circulated in the Armenian segment of social networks, in which Canadian Armenians demand that the country, and through it, the G7, organize the worldwide protection of Armenia. From whom? From you and me, of course. The appeal says the following: "As Azerbaijan is actively preparing a pretext for the resumption of war, Canada, the G7 chair, must work multilaterally to create an international consensus of like-minded countries to protect the inviolability of Armenia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It should use all possible diplomatic tools to ensure this and take all proactive measures, including the imposition of sanctions to deter further aggression by Azerbaijan." It is worth paying attention to how many times the word "must" is used in this appeal. It turns out that Canada owes something to the Armenians. In fact, this country has no obligations to the Armenians, but its leadership under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has done everything to make Armenians think differently. The diaspora took the ardent support for the "genocide" and other Armenian fictions for granted, and it is no longer possible to convince this tribe. Trudeau himself did his best for this. With his excessive predilection for Armenians, which stems from Turkophobia and Islamophobia (we emphasize this so that Yerevan does not deceive itself), he created the impression that Canada owes something to the Armenian Diaspora. It will not be easy to rid the latter of these misconceptions now. The fact that the diaspora is so brazenly demanding decisive action from Ottawa within the framework of its G7 presidency is out of habit. At one time, Justin Trudeau was like a nightingale, uttering odes to Armenia, Armenians and some of their contributions to the development of Canada. However, speaking of this, he could not find any serious examples of this "contribution". Armenians migrated overseas in the 20s of the last century, and not after the alleged "genocide", as the legends say, but after the borders of Armenia that appeared in the Caucasus were finally determined, and it became clear that "from sea to sea" would not take place. In the wake of the anti-Turkish hysteria, they were caressed in Canada and settled there, to this day speculating on their far-fetched "long-suffering." The contribution of Armenians to the development of Canada is limited to Aunt Anoush's bakery and Uncle Karapet's restaurant. The zealous Armenophilia of Trudeau and his team apparently stems from the traditional dependence of Canadian politics on Paris. Canada has never had its own interests in the Caucasus, it has been following France's lead, and Armenian narratives have intensified with the coming to power of Emmanuel Macron, who has become a tender friend of Trudeau. Now try to explain to the Armenian National Committee of Canada that no one owes him anything. And even at the G7 site. The G7 is an informal club of a number of economically developed countries. It has membership in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Canada, France, Japan and the United States. As it is easy to see, Armenia is not among them. It's just a club of interests, not an organization, the G7 does not make any international decisions, and official documents are not signed at meetings. Which of these countries does the Armenian community demand to create an "international consensus of like-minded people" against Azerbaijan? How does it imagine the participation of Great Britain and Italy, for example, in such an anti-Azerbaijani format? By the way, Italy chaired the G7 last year, but the Armenians did not dare to address such demands to it. And Canada seems to have its own, Canadian officials don't bother with diplomacy, dancing to the tune of Paris. Let us recall the visit of Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly to Yerevan in October 2023. Wanting to prove her loyalty to the Armenians, Madame overdid her statements so much that even the Canadian Ambassador to Armenia could not restrain himself and expressed his indignation. The Canadian diplomat stated that Joly's words about sanctions against Azerbaijan risk undermining the peace process in the South Caucasus. The Canadian Foreign Minister, as well as the French Foreign Minister, are particularly active in promoting Armenian interests. Joly is also in contact with the Canadian I Date Committee, where she sometimes sends messages to show that the government does not forget about the interests and priorities of the Armenians. One of her latest messages is a letter sent a month ago to the Canadian I Date Committee, in which the Foreign Minister warmly assured the Armenians that Canada would stand guard over Armenia's sovereignty. Such a strange relationship between the ethnic community and the Government raises many questions. Especially when you consider that Ai Dat is a structure of Dashnaktsutyun. Feeling weak, the local Armenians behave in a bossy manner and demand, not ask. In January last year, members of I Date picketed major Canadian media outlets - TVA Nouvelles and Radio Canada - demanding "adequate media coverage" of the arrest of former separatist regime leaders and other villains, and the government demanded a "firm and principled position" on this issue. The terrorist organization did not like the fact that the Canadian media and authorities did not interfere deeply enough in the affairs of sovereign Azerbaijan. Let us note once again that Ai Dat is not a public organization, it is the structure of the ARFD (Armenian Revolutionary Front Dashnaktsutyun), a political party with all the nuances that follow from this. In other words, the Canadian government is in contact with an Armenian terrorist political party, which is not welcome even in Armenia itself. Ai Dat does not hide its political priorities and, within this framework, "actively continues to work with representatives of both the legislative and executive branches of Canada." "Official political contacts have recently taken place between the Canadian I Date Committee and Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly," one of the committee's communications said after receiving promises and clarifications from the Canadian Foreign Minister. As you can see, the Canadian Foreign Ministry is in contact with the Armenians at the political level, which completely changes the situation. The official authorities of this country are actually turning into an accomplice and even worse, into an executor of the will of the Armenian terrorist political structure. This is probably why, in their letters and statements to the Government of Canada, the local Armenians allow themselves to speak in an imperious tone. It is possible that the new head of government shares Trudeau's unhealthy preferences. But there is one problem - Pashinyan has not yet given him socks in the colors of the Armenian flag, which means that he does not owe anything to the Armenians yet. NANCHANG/NAIROBI, March 26 (Xinhua) -- As the largest freshwater lakes in China and Africa, respectively, Poyang Lake and Lake Victoria have witnessed a cross-continental collaboration for sustainable development and ecological preservation. In recent years, China's Jiangxi Province, home to Poyang Lake, has strengthened its cooperation with Kenya, Tanzania and other nations bordering Lake Victoria. By sharing their expertise in lake management, the province and its partners have injected fresh momentum into China-Africa efforts toward eco-friendly modernization. CROSS-CONTINENTAL COLLABORATION In Kenya's Tanyoka community, located on the northeastern shore of Lake Victoria, traditional cooking methods have given way to energy-efficient clay stoves. Introduced by Chinese experts from Jiangxi Province, these stoves increase fuel efficiency by up to 50 percent. Crafted from locally sourced materials, the stoves are easy to produce and offer residents an opportunity to generate additional income through sales. The adoption of these stoves has brought benefits to the community. Reduced firewood consumption aids forest conservation and alleviates the burden on women and children who traditionally gather wood. "Since fully cooking our food with these stoves, we have not experienced severe cholera outbreaks in recent years," said Elsa Anyango, deputy secretary of the Tanyoka community. Xu Weimin, party secretary of the Jiangxi Research Academy of Ecological Civilization, who visited the Lake Victoria region last year, said that the lake faces challenges similar to those once encountered by Poyang Lake, including soil erosion and wetland degradation. Lake Victoria is the chief reservoir of the Nile, while Poyang Lake connects with the Yangtze River. Both lakes serve as vital water sources, supporting millions of people and providing habitats for diverse wildlife. In recent years, with support from organizations such as the Global South-South Development Center Project and the United Nations Perez-Guerrero Trust Fund, Poyang Lake and Lake Victoria, both members of the Living Lakes Network, have joined forces to address these shared challenges. SHARED KNOWLEDGE, TAILORED APPROACHES The collaboration has facilitated knowledge exchange between Jiangxi Province and the countries surrounding Lake Victoria, including Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. Initiatives have included training programs on cultivating high-value crops such as tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers; promoting eco-friendly practices like integrating duck farming in rice paddies to control pests and weeds, thereby reducing pesticide use; and demonstrating biogas fermentation and solar power generation to provide clean energy solutions. Chinese experts shared successful strategies used in Poyang Lake's restoration, and adapted them to suit the specific conditions of the Lake Victoria basin. In Homa Bay, along Lake Victoria, sustainable agriculture trials are underway. Eric Ochieng, chairman of the KAMSER Shoreline Youth Group, along with over 30 members, is engaged in organic farming of vegetables, sugarcane, and legumes under the guidance of Chinese agricultural specialists. "By avoiding chemical fertilizers, we reduce nutrient pollution in the lake. Agroforestry practices help prevent soil erosion, and our organic produce commands better prices," Ochieng said. "We are confident in organic farming because these models have been proven effective in Poyang Lake." Recognizing the need for localized solutions, Chinese experts adjusted their approaches to suit Lake Victoria's context. Initially considering comprehensive watershed management plans, they revised their strategies upon discovering limitations in remote sensing data, environmental monitoring equipment, and cross-border coordination. Focusing on "small yet impactful" initiatives, Jiangxi Province has provided funding and technical support for community projects such as improving sanitation facilities, rainwater harvesting, afforestation, and sustainable farming practices. Training programs have expanded beyond government officials to include environmental organizations and community members. Upon returning to Lake Victoria after five years, Mao Yuting, an associate researcher with the Jiangxi Research Academy of Ecological Civilization, noted the progress: restaurants installing biogas systems to utilize kitchen waste as cooking fuel, and residents planting fruit trees such as mangoes, papayas and bananas while engaging in poultry farming-practices reminiscent of those in the Poyang Lake region. ADVANCING GREEN DEVELOPMENT TOGETHER Despite Africa's abundant bee populations, honey yields remain low due to technical challenges. Chinese experts have provided guidance on beekeeping techniques to enhance honey production across the continent. He Xujiang, a researcher in animal science and technology at Jiangxi Agricultural University, said it is important to join hands with African counterparts to address challenges such as wax moth infestations and to facilitate further training opportunities. "We maintain close contact with the Lake Victoria region, aiming to help African beekeepers achieve substantial production increases," He said. Balbina Andrew, executive director of the environmental conservation organization Nourish Africa in Tanzania's Mwanza region, highlighted the richness of sustainable development methods derived from the Poyang Lake area. "What we have learned encompasses both tools for ecological conservation and strategies for promoting development and improving livelihoods," she said, adding that the partnership between the two lakes has been recognized as a model of South-South cooperation by the United Nations. Godfrey Ogonda, director of Friends of Lake Victoria in Kenya, expressed hope for the continuation of joint projects, saying that nurturing grassroots community initiatives is crucial for the sustainable development of the Lake Victoria area. The story of this partnership continues to unfold. Liu Bing, deputy director of the Jiangxi Development and Reform Commission, said that Jiangxi will persist in deepening cooperation between the Poyang Lake and Lake Victoria regions, and jointly advance toward green and sustainable modernization. Naval vessels from China and Thailand complete their force assembly in preparation for the joint naval training, code-named Blue Strike-2025, in Zhanjiang, south China's Guangdong Province, March 25, 2025. (Photo by Cong Lianying/Xinhua) GUANGZHOU, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Joint naval training between China and Thailand, code-named Blue Strike-2025, commenced on Wednesday at a military port in Zhanjiang, south China's Guangdong Province. This marks the sixth instance of such joint training organized by China and Thailand, with the training scope expanding from the marine corps level to the naval fleet level. Naval vessels from both countries completed their force assembly on Tuesday in preparation for the exercise. This joint training serves as an important practice in implementing the consensus between the two navies. It aims to further deepen practical cooperation, enhance joint operational capabilities, and contribute positively to regional maritime security. The exercise will continue until April 2. A military band performs national anthems of China and Thailand during a ceremony marking the commencement of the joint naval training between China and Thailand, code-named Blue Strike-2025, in Zhanjiang, south China's Guangdong Province, March 26, 2025. (Photo by Qiao Chenxi/Xinhua) A ceremony marking the commencement of the joint naval training between China and Thailand, code-named Blue Strike-2025, is held in Zhanjiang, south China's Guangdong Province, March 26, 2025. (Photo by Qiao Chenxi/Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Tuesday marked the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members, with the 101 personnel detained or arrested last year. Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters that at least 52 of them are still in detention globally, and 23 of those are arbitrarily detained in Yemen. "The secretary-general says we stand with all those detained, and with their families and loved ones, as we call for their immediate release and safe return," Dujarric said. "He urges governments to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel, and to continue pursuing accountability and justice for these crimes, while enhancing support and protection." Dujarric said, "On this Day, the UN renews the calls for their immediate and unconditional release." The high commissioner for human rights, Volker Turk, said in a video message that the rights of all UN staff must be fully respected. Out of the 52 detained colleagues, eight of them are from the Human Rights Office. "Their continued detention is a grave injustice," Turk said. EXCLUSIVE: The Dispatcher, Apple TV+s series adaptation of Ryan David Jahns eponymous thriller novel, is adding to its ranks. The streamer has rounded out the cast of the six-part series with stars including Maxine Peake, who recently starred in FXs Say Nothing, Dune: Prophecys Brendan Cowell, Mickey 17s Daniel Henshall, Mr. Inbetweens Jessica Wren, Thirteen Lives Zahra Newman and newcomer Chloe Geisker. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group joins Colin From Accounts star Patrick Brammall, who is the lead of the series. Christian Schwochow, who has directed multiple episodes of Netflixs The Crown, has also joined as director and executive producer. The Dispatcher is set in Australia. Police detective Ian Hunts life fell apart ten years ago when his young daughter Maggie disappeared without a trace. Now working as a police dispatcher, the only thing that has kept him going is his implacable refusal to accept that she might be gone forever. When he receives a distress call from a young girl he is certain is Maggie, he will stop at nothing to find her and reunite his broken family, whatever the cost. Chloe Geisker, Daniel Henshall, Jessica Wren, Zahra Newman & Brendan Cowell The series was adapted by Kris Mrksa, who created ITV drama White House Farm and wrote and exec produced Paramount+s No Escape. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is produced by 60Forty Films, the company behind Apples thriller series Hijack starring Idris Elba, and The Newsreader producer Werner Film Productions. It is exec produced by 60Forty Films Jamie Laurenson and Hakan Kousetta and Werner Films Joanna Werner as well as Schwochow and Mrksa. Schwochow is represented by Players, Curtis Brown and CAA. Peake is represented by Maison 2 and Anonymous Content. Cowell is represented by United Management in Australia and Hamilton Hodell in the UK. Henshall is represented by RGM Artists. Wren is represented by Sophie Jermyn Management, Australia. Newman is represented by Shanahan Management. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Berlin sales outfit M-Appeal has sealed further deals for Norwegian director Dag Johan Haugeruds Berlinale Golden Bear winner Dreams, as well as additional sales for Sex and Love, the other films in the directors trilogy. Dreams follows Johanne, a young woman who documents her first love an infatuation with her teacher through intimate writing. When her mother and grandmother discover her work, their initial shock turns to recognition of its literary merit. As they weigh publishing it, Johanne is forced to reconcile fantasy with reality, while all three women explore their differing perspectives on love, sexuality and self-discovery. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vendetta Films has acquired the trilogy for Australia and New Zealand. We fell in love with Dreams and we think this unique and mystery-filled spin on the age-old tale of a student falling for their teacher is perfect for modern audiences. Were so excited to bring Dag Johan Haugeruds trilogy to screens across Australia and New Zealand, Jill Macnab, general manager of Vendetta Films, told Variety. In Mexico, the trilogy will be released by Cinemas Nueva Era, and Edko Films has picked up the trilogy for Hong Kong ahead of the Hong Kong International Film Festival in April, where Dreams will screen as the closing film. Ukraines SVOEkino has also acquired the trilogy. South Koreas JINJIN Pictures, which previously acquired Sex, the trilogys first installment, has now picked up Love and Dreams to complete the set. In Singapore, the trilogy has been acquired by Anticipate Pictures, whose recent releases include The Seed of the Sacred Fig and Anatomy of a Fall. The three films will be released in the second half of 2025. Whimsical yet incisive, this trilogy introduces fresh concepts of love, sex and dreams in ways that will surprise and stimulate our Singapore audience, Vincent Quek, founder of Anticipate Pictures, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further new sales for Dreams include Cineplex, covering Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Peru, and Falcon Pictures, which has acquired Dreams and Love for Indonesia. All distributors will release the films theatrically. We are delighted to have secured such strong theatrical partnerships for the film, said Maren Kroymann, managing director of M-Appeal. Its incredibly rewarding to see our teams efforts and the long-term strategy weve developed over the past year for the trilogy come to fruition. The Sex Love Dreams trilogy was produced by Yngve Sther and Hege Hauff Hvattum for Motlys. The films were supported by the Norwegian Film Institute, Nordic Film and TV Fund, and the promotion activities for the trilogy were supported by MEDIA funding from the European Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previously announced deals for Dreams include North America (Strand Releasing), France (Pyramide), Germany and Austria (Alamode), U.K. (Modern Films), Portugal (Films4You), Taiwan (Swallow Wings), Japan (Bitters End) and Bulgaria (Beta Films). Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Marvel Studios Weve seen Hugh Jackman don some truly iconic facial hair for roles beforemost famously, Logans eXcellent muttonchops in the X-Men franchise. But his latest transformation might take the cake (or at least the beard oil). Jackman just dropped a behind-the-scenes look at his newest film, and it features him rocking a mustache so bold it might need its own SAG cardbut it's not for an upcoming Marvel movies. This first look comes from a post shared to the Australian actor's official Instagram account. Jackman specifically showed off a fitting and makeup session for upcoming A24 movie The Death of Robin Hood. With that, his full transformation, including that impressively wild, curled mustache, is on display: The BTS look is accompanied by a heartfelt caption, thank you to the team behind the movie, and a love letter to the country where it was filmed. There is a depth, a camaraderie, and a spirit to the entire cast and crew of The Death of Robin Hood, Jackman wrote. Thank you for this wonderful experience. It is an honor and a privilege. Thank you Ireland!!! Your beauty knows no bounds. Advertisement Advertisement The Australia actor also shared some truly breathtaking footage from the set, images of beautifully picturesque filming locations in Ireland, and a picture of himself sporting a glorious mustache. Seriously, the A-lister does not miss when it comes to facial hair, and I continue to be amazed by just how suave or eclectic his whiskers can be. As for the film itself, look, we get ityet another Robin Hood movie might make your eyes twitch. But before you roll them all the way back into Sherwood Forest, know this: this isnt your typical tights-and-merry-men reboot. From the sounds of it, The Death of Robin Hood is aiming for something a lot grittier and more introspective. At the helm is Michael Sarnoski, the filmmaker who gave us Pig, which says a lot about the tone we might be in formoody, emotional, and a little off the beaten path. Sarnoski also wrote the script, and hes got a stacked team backing him up. The story reportedly follows a wounded, battle-worn Robin Hood grappling with the ghosts of his past when he crosses paths with an enigmatic woman. Joining Jackman and Comer in the cast are Bill Skarsgard, The White Lotus Murray Bartlett, and rising star Noah Jupe. Disney Plus + Hulu Bundle: $10.99 $2.99 A Month For 4 Months Save 72% - Check out Hugh Jackman's awesome Wolverine facial hair by streaming X-Men films on Disney Plus. You can pay just $2.99 a month for the ad-supported Disney Plus and Hulu plan, which is usually $10.99 a month. Advertisement Advertisement Expires March 30View Deal Theres no official release date just yet, but with filming wrapped and teaser content starting to trickle out, its probably only a matter of time before The Death of Robin Hood rides onto the big screen. It might miss the 2025 movie schedule, but it's already carved out a spot on my personal "most anticipated" list. One thing is certain, though: Hugh Jackmans facial hair remains undefeated. And lets be honestbetween this and his eternal contract with Marvel, Disneys probably got him growing mutton chops until hes pushing 90. While we wait for more news on The Death of Robin Hood, you can always revisit Jackmans iconic run as Logan/Weapon X by streaming all of his claw-slinging appearances with your Disney+ subscription. The Kennedy Center on Tuesday terminated at least five members of its small social impact team, including its artistic director, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, according to multiple staff members with direct knowledge of the firings, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. The teams focus was to reach new and diverse audiences beyond those who regularly attend symphony and opera performances, and to advance justice and equity through art, according to its website. These programs take many forms, such as an effort to commission new works by Black composers and librettists from across the nation, along with other projects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recent performances include Traumedy, a stand-up show in which comedians discuss their personal struggles, followed by a question-and-answer session with the comedians and mental health therapists. Poetry & Art as Liberation: Stories of Hope and Resilience in the Prison System featured poetry and visual art from formerly incarcerated artists. The Cartography Project seeks to encourage meaningful dialogue about the future of anti-racism through classical music. Kennedy Center staffers were told that this is part of an overall reduction in workforce and that more layoffs are forthcoming, though they received no further details. The reason for the terminations is unclear. Roma Daravi, the centers head of public relations, did not respond to The Washington Posts request for comment. On Wednesday, the centers new chief financial officer, Donna Arduin, sent an email to the staff about the financial situation of the Kennedy Center. It did not address the social impact layoffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For years, the Kennedy Center has been budgeting to lose money, she wrote. Arduin wrote that interim president Richard Grenell hired new Department leaders with lower salaries than those they replaced, including his salary which is dramatically lower than the previous Presidents. She added that the center will be reducing expenses enterprise-wide and will be using Key Performance Indicators to drive business decisions going forward. Hours before the email, on Wednesday morning, Grenell sent an all-staff email thanking the staff for working extra hours and over the weekend on the Mark Twain Prize ceremony, which was held Sunday. It also did not mention the social impact team. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is the centers first major reduction in workforce since President Donald Trump last month ousted Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter and Chairman David M. Rubenstein, along with all Biden-appointed members of the board of trustees, which he then replaced with his own, who voted him in as chair. The new leadership promptly fired three other staff members: its previous head of public relations, general counsel and a vice president who worked in development. Since then, at least 10 staffers have resigned. New leadership also directed the programming team to shut down all social impact programming, according to a staffer with knowledge of the conversation. The directive left the staff confounded, because the social impact team touched on much of the centers programming, including the free shows on Millennium Stage. One Kennedy Center staffer felt flabbergasted and suggested the new leadership doesnt understand how the organization works, because shutting down social impact programming would affect a broad swath of events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The social impact team produces its own programming and consults throughout the center on programming. It also runs the Millennium Stage, which hosts free performances four nights a week and free weekly movie screenings. The members that remain all work directly with the Millennium Stage. How do you access the American promise if you dont have access to the impulse of creativity? As the nations cultural center, the Kennedy Center has an obligation to ask itself that question every day, to respond to the call of its namesake who imagined an America that was unafraid of grace and beauty, Joseph, the terminated artistic director, said in a statement he provided to The Post. Our work in Social Impact was to widen our cultural radius and to imagine that inspiration itself was a constitutional right afforded to ALL of this nations people. My team worked courageously in service of American possibility as authored by artists from all walks of life, he added. Thats the kind of labor that should be valued by all of us, labor that serves the creative horizon and the American promise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The social impact team grew out of the Millennium Stage, which offered comedy, jazz, hip-hop and other performances, making it the Kennedy Centers primary lever for lowering barriers of entry and reaching beyond its traditional audiences. However, despite the diverse programming and gratis entry, getting to the Kennedy Center for a 6 p.m. performance was still a challenge. In 2019, after the Kennedy Center opened the Reach the $250 million campus expansion recently disparaged by Trump the cultural center expanded its Millennium Stage division and gave it a broader mission. The idea was to use the new architecture to develop a culture of invitation, according to one social impact staffer who was fired Tuesday, who spoke on the condition of anonymity so as not to violate a non-disparagement agreement with the center. There have been hyperlocal impacts and also really broad impacts, said the former staffer. Our trajectory was extraordinarily positive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unclear whether the social impact team is being fully dissolved. The Trump administration has had effects on other arts organizations in Washington, including the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian Institution, which shuttered their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices following an executive order signed by Trump that clamped down on DEI programs across the federal government. Last year, the Kennedy Center program received permanent funding: an $8 million endowment from Shelley and Allan Holt. This was a program that was paying for itself, expanding audience, creating new levels of belonging and confidence and communities, across the cultural landscape of D.C. and beyond, said the former social impact staffer, who had direct knowledge of the units funding and resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dismissals come two days after the centers first major event under new leadership, the Mark Twain Prize, which was given to comedian Conan OBrien. During his speech, OBrien gave a special thanks to all the beautiful people who have worked here at the Kennedy Center for years and who are worried about what the future might bring. My eternal thanks for their selfless devotion to the arts. The audience gave them a standing ovation. This article has been updated. Prince Williams son, Prince George, is only 11 years old, and hes already wise beyond his years. This week, the Prince of Wales, 42, visited Folly Farm in Somerset to film an episode of Prime Videos Clarksons Farm with stars Kaleb Cooper and Charlie Ireland. The appearance was connected to the royals new role as patron of We Are Farming Minds, which is a charity that offers mental health resources to farmers. Darren Staples/WPA Pool/Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While chatting with Cooper and Ireland, Prince William revealed that his oldest son, Prince George, is a big fan of Clarksons Farm. In fact, the 11-year-old had some foolproof advice for Cooper, who is known to curse quite frequently. Youve got George watching now, Prince William said (according to Independent). I said to him What shall I say if I meet Kaleb? The Prince of Wales added, He said Tell Kaleb to mind his language. Spoken like a true future king. Ireland said afterwards, of hearing that Prince George watched the programme: Its great because its meant to bring everyone together, isnt it on the family sofa. Although his potty mouth gets him in trouble, Cooper admitted that the positive response to Clarksons Farm has been worth the criticism. I did get told off for swearing too much, he said. I tried to stop, but at the same time, its awesome. Thats what I like about the whole show. Ive had so many people thank me, going you brought the family together. Its a great feeling. Prince William documented his visit to Folly Farm on Instagram where he shared a slideshow of photos. The caption read, Great to be meeting with some of the Duchy of Cornwalls young farmers today, and a pleasure to be joined by @cooper_kaleb and @runcheerfulcharlie for what will be an inspiring afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sounds like Prince George needs to make a trip to Folly Farm pronto. Want all the latest entertainment news sent right to your inbox? Subscribe here. A New Kate Middleton Photo DroppedAnd My Eye Went Straight to the Surprise on Her Ring Finger JAKARTA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- A train collided with a car in Sukoharjo regency, Central Java province, Indonesia on Wednesday, killing four people and injuring three others, officials said. The accident occurred at a railroad crossing on Pasarnguter Street. All victims were immediately transported to DKR Sukoharjo Hospital, said Feni Novida Saragih, public relations coordinator for operational area 6 of Indonesia's state railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia. "All casualties were occupants of the car," Saragih told Xinhua. "Four people were killed and three others sustained injuries in the accident," Sukoharjo regency Police Chief Anggaito Hadi Prabowo said. He added that the victims had been traveling to their hometown to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the Islamic festival marking the end of Ramadan. WASHINGTON, D.C.Its a weird time to live in the nations capital. Well, at least a weirder time than usual. Concentrating Americas political industry along a small stretch of the Potomac was always bound to create an odd cultureyoung, highly transient, hypereducated, and vocationally obsessive. But the whiplash of a new presidential administration, heightened by the culling of the citys federal workforce, has created a particularly uncertainand noticeably tenseatmosphere among resident Washingtonians. Maybe that tension is why the citys growing collection of high-end cocktail bars are packed every night. Or, maybe its just because theyre so damn good. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Take Press Club. In a subterranean space beneath Dupont Circle, vinyl records spin behind a wooden bar adorned with minimalist glassware and vintage brandies. Cocktails like the French Waltza daiquiri made with Chartreuse, pisco, and rieslingand the White Ferraria tequila and mezcal take on the Vesperdraw inspiration from the records and tracks that fill the room. Once youve settled at the bar, the world outside disappears, leaving only you, your drink, and the people around you as you talk, taste, and listen your way through the night. Press Club, which debuted in November, is the latest in a series of high-profile cocktail bar openings in the nations capital and one of the brightest jewels in the citys ever-growing culinary crown. The District, once trapped under the brutal oppression of spendy steakhouses geared toward company cards and expense accounts, is on the cultural riseand its cocktail community is in the vanguard. Press Club isnt the only world-class cocktail bar leading D.C.s culinary ascendency, but its certainly one of the best. You would expect as much, given its pedigree. The bars founding partners, Will Patton and Devin Kennedy, boast as impressive a resume as anyone in Americas cocktail community. Patton, a native of Alexandria, Virginia, has spent the past half decade curating the beverage programs at Hive Hospitalitys Jont and Bresca, two of Washingtons premier Michelin-starred restaurants. Kennedy, though a D.C. native, cut his teeth in New Yorks ultra-competitive craft cocktail community, serving as a bar director and sommelier at several high-end restaurants before a three-year stint at the cult hit cocktail bar Pouring Ribbons. Patton and Kennedy have been friendsand rivalsfor years. Though they never faced each other directly, they regularly crossed paths while in the same cocktail competition circuits. We developed this healthy rivalry, Patton told me. Well, a relatively healthy rivalry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When, following the pandemic, Hive moved to open a standalone cocktail bar in D.C., Patton convinced Kennedy to come on board. We both have the same goals, Kennedy explained. If were going to do this, were going to do it. Were not going to just open a bar, were going to try to be the best. Devin Kennedy and Will Patton. (Photo courtesy of Press Club.) While cocktails are one of Americas original culinary traditions, cresting into a golden age during the turn of the 20th century, the countrys mixology culture was snuffed out by Prohibition. Americas top bartending minds fled abroad, key ingredients disappeared, and recipes were forgotten. Even after Prohibitions repeal, American bars languished for decades under the boot of sour mixes, Long Island iced teas, and vodka sodas. But in the mid-1990s, led by the now-legendary Dale DeGroffnicknamed King Cocktaila small group of ambitious bartenders rediscovered, and reclaimed, the countrys libatious tradition, sparking mixology revivals in cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. Washingtons craft cocktail scene lagged behind its larger rivals in those early days. But the community has since grown rapidly, mirroring the growth of D.C.s culinary and arts communities and turning the city into a standout destination in international mixology. Today, there are more than a dozen high-caliber cocktail bars scattered across the District, some of which rival top bars in havens like New York, London, and Tokyo. Washington still isnt the top cocktail destination in America, but it certainly punches above its weight, maybe more than any other city in the worlddepending on who you ask. The cool-ification of the nations capital is a symptom of Americas broader urban revival and is indicative of shifting demographics and changing expectations among its young and affluent residents. Hip coffee shops, Michelin quality dining, and cocktails that dont suck are no longer a pipe dream for Hill staffers wondering why they didnt just take that job in New Yorktheyre an everpresence, and an expectation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But high-end craft cocktail bars like Press Club couldnt have existed two decades ago. Even in the recent past, you would have struggled to find a bartender in the city who knew how to make the most basic classic cocktail, let alone a bar that squeezed fresh citrus or knew to refrigerate its vermouth. But today, the citys cocktail bars are packed with well-informed patrons clamoring to drop $20 on everything from a classic Manhattan to avant-garde concoctions derived from laboratory centrifuges and rotary evaporators. The citys cocktail renaissance came about through the efforts of a small and dedicated group of bartenders, restaurateurs, and mixology nerds who worked deliberatelyand often zealouslyto build the foundations that D.C. would need to become a serious player in the global cocktail renaissance. Here are (some of) the people who made it happen. The beginning. Derek Browns career started with a lie. A D.C. native, Brown had been picking up shifts as a server at Rockys Cafe in Adams Morgan when one day the owner asked if he knew how to bartend. And I said yes, Brown told me. I was lying. Luckily for Brown, knowing how to make cocktails was not actually a prerequisite to tending bar at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Browns interest in mixology grew, and when Rockys closed in 2003, he moved to Frank Rutas Palena and delved into the cocktail history books and forums that were then driving New Yorks mixology revival. Brown and a friend even started DC Drinks, a self-indulgentand at times fanaticalcocktail blog of their own. Honestly, we got super nerdy about it. We tried to learn everything we could, and then bring those things to light, Brown said. By then, a small community of mixology nerds was coalescing across the nations capital, drawn out by the same blogs, books, and bartenders that inspired Brown. However, D.C.s cocktail community was still centered around restaurants and the individual bartenders who worked at them. It was always about whether the bartender cared about cocktails and less about the entire bar, Chantal Tseng, who was then developing a cocktail program at the Tabard Inn in Dupont Circle, told me. You had to find the one bartender who worked on the one day, versus going to a place knowing Oh, theyve got great cocktails there. Dan Searing was another bartender who cared. I was a fan of the literature and culture of the 1920s and 1930s, Searing told me. I romanticized that time period, and I was fascinated by the fact that some of that culture that was so widespread then had disappeared. One aspect of that vanished culture was the cocktailslike the Gin Rickey and Green Isaacs Specialthat writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald elevated in their stories. I knew that I was never going to have a drink with Fitzgerald or Hemingway, Searing said. But I knew that I could drink things that they had drunk or written about. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Searings parents were part-time antiques dealers, and through them he got hold of pre-Prohibition cocktail manuals. The recipes fascinated him, and when Searing found himself manning the bar at Temperance Hall in January 2006a Prohibition-themed haunt in D.C.s Petworth neighborhoodhe convinced the owner to add several cocktails to the menu. I was serving sidecars and Manhattans and things like that, very basic cocktails, Searing recalled. But in 2006, that was kind of a novelty. But D.C.s growing cocktail community was fragmented and lacked the organization of larger cities. Youre talking about like 10 or 12 people who are doing this all over the city, Owen Thompson, then-manager of a whiskey bar in Adams Morgan called Bourbon, told me. You couldnt just walk into a bar and say, Hey, let me get an old-fashioned. They would stare at you, like, What the fk are you talking about? The guild. In New York City, up-and-coming bartenders had a selection of leading bars at which to train, but that infrastructure wasnt yet in place in Washington. Unlike in New York, there wasnt a bastion for everyone to go learn together. There wasnt that one seminal cocktail bar where we all could start as apprentices, Kevin Rogers, a Georgetown Law graduate who, in 2004, left his law career to pursue hospitality, told me. We were individuals who were all on our own path, seeking this Holy Grail. But in 2007, alongside EatBars Gina Chersevani, Brown decided the growing community needed formal organization. Inspired by independent guilds in the Pacific Northwest, they founded the D.C. Craft Bartenders Guild with 10 original members. The duo invited Rogers, Searing, Tseng, and Thompson along with Justin Guthrie, Kat Bangs, Adam Bernbach, and Tom Brown. I think anytime that youre trying to restart something that has been dead for 100 years, it takes a lot of energy, and it takes a lot of fanaticism, and we were a little bit fanatic. Derek Brown The guilds formation was the spark that D.C.s cocktail scene needed. The guild accelerated things considerably, because suddenly there was a community of people who could bounce ideas off of each other and share our interests and follow each others bar programs, Searing told me. It challenged us to take ourselves more seriously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Together the guild organized events like the Repeal Day ballan annual celebration of the anniversary of Prohibitions repeal. It also sponsored a yearly competition where bartenders would face off to create the best version of a Rickey, a cocktail invented in pre-Prohibition D.C. that, in 2011, the guild successfully lobbied to have named the citys official cocktail. Hummingbird to Mars. The next step for some guild members came in New York. In 2005, King Cocktail Dale DeGroff and several other industry veterans launched B.A.R., a five-day mixology intensive held once per year described by Brown as the Harvard of bartending schools. In 2008, Brown, Guthrie, and Rogers trekked to New York for the course. I walked in the room and I saw [Brown and Guthrie], Rogers recalled. I was like, Okay, D.C. is trying to make a move here. D.C.s bartenders were no longer comfortable playing second fiddle to those in New York or San Francisco. We came back from that program really energized, Brown said. Not only did we go to that program and learn all day, but in the evening, we went to all these great bars. Back in D.C., Brown and Guthrie conspired with Thompson to open D.C.s first modern speakeasy, and on Sunday and Monday nights, the three were soon converting the second floor of Bourbon into a secretive bar called Hummingbird to Marsinspired by an architect of Prohibitions famous remark that there was as much chance of repealing Prohibition as there was for a humming bird to fly to Mars with the Washington Monument tied to its tail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the three, making drinks the right wayserved up or down, straight up or on the rocks, garnished or ungarnishedwas no longer a question of adiaphora, it was important and obligatory, an extension of the zealousness of Americas early cocktail revivalists. Hummingbird to Mars would be the first vehicle in D.C. for that uncompromising pursuit of excellence. We would take everything down and put it all up. And then we would hand carve our own ice, and use our own ingredients and tinctures, Brown explained. The speakeasy even had rules: If you were able to secure a reservation, you couldnt share its location, couldnt take photographs of it, couldnt use a cellphone inside it, and, most importantly, you couldnt write about it. It was all pretentious bullst, Brown recalled. But I think anytime that youre trying to restart something that has been dead for 100 years, it takes a lot of energy, and it takes a lot of fanaticism, and we were a little bit fanatic. But people did talk, and someone did write. On October 1, 2008, Washington Post columnist Jason Wilson let the secret out, writing about Hummingbird in the papers food section. We were pissed, we closed it down, Brown recalled. But Wilsons loose pen was only an excuse. To be honest, we also closed it down because it was a lot of work, Brown said. It was like 10 hours worth of setup to make no money, Thompson recalled. Hummingbirds legacy, however, endured. Inspired by the speakeasy, two local hospitality entrepreneurs opened The Gibson a month later on D.C.s lively U Street, tapping Brown to design its first cocktail menu. That was the beginning of a lot of things. There were already really great bartenders and really great bars making really great cocktails in D.C., but nothing quite like that, Brown said. So that kind of helped to propel what I was doing, and kind of galvanized the community. Founding Farmers. When Brown, Guthrie, and Rogers arrived at B.A.R., they initially thought they were the only D.C. bartenders in the room. They werent. Back in D.C., two restaurateurs were preparing to open Founding Farmers, an ambitious Southern restaurant on Pennsylvania Avenue, and they had sent their beverage director, John Arroyo, to B.A.R. in preparation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arroyo wanted to serve well-made classic cocktails at the restaurant, but at a volume and pace beyond that of a candle-lit speakeasy. And I laugh like, youre out of your mind, Rogers recalled. But Rogers remained friends with Arroyo, and after Founding Farmers opened several months later, he joined the team. The restaurant was a resounding success, and its cocktail program, to Rogers surprise, succeeded with it. I cant believe what we were trying to do, Rogers said. Making one or two cocktails at a time in a small bar was one thing, but the logistics, training, consistency, and prep necessary to serve a long menu of cocktails in a bustling restaurant was another. They were the first people that were doing high volume cocktails at a high level, Kennedy told me. Yet the team kept up with heavy demand, and proved that there was a broader audience for classic cocktails in the city. The thing that was impressive was the number of people that were ordering this stuff like, we couldnt believe it, Rogers said. We were making these drinks that were coming from The Joy of Mixology or coming from DeGroff and being rediscovered. But now were making them for the everyday public at a high rate of speed. The Columbia Room. Brown soon moved to open a bar of his ownone that would put Washington on the cocktail map. In November 2009, Brown and his brother Tom opened the Passenger, a laid-back joint near Mt. Vernon Square. While Tom ran the casual front bar, Brown would mix sophisticated drinks at the Columbia Room, a small 10-seat cocktail bar tucked in the back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Columbia Room quickly gained recognition for its avant-garde cocktail program, and in 2016 moved to a larger home in Blagden Alley. In the interim, Browns cocktail empire, under the ownership umbrella of Drink Company LLC, had grown substantially. In 2013, Brown and Drink Company opened three additional barssherry bar Mockingbird Hill, whiskey bar Southern Efficiency, and oyster bar Eat the Richat adjacent locations in Shaw that would eventually host a rotating cast of pop-ups themed on everything from Christmas to Game of Thrones. They were really the tip of the spear, and they never got enough credit for it, Deke Dunne, beverage director at the cocktail bar Allegory, and a bartender with Browns Drink Company at the time, told me. They were doing stuff that I dont even see people doing today. Derek Brown behind the bar at the Columbia Rooms Blagden Alley location. (Photograph by Nicholas Karlin) In 2017, the recognition came. Columbia Room won Best American Cocktail Bar at the Spirited Awardsthe Oscars of bartendingand was named a finalist for Best American Bar Team. Washington had finally put itself on the map, and it intended to stay. For D.Cs craft cocktail community, the Columbia Rooms success opened the doors for others to pursue similar heights. When you look at any human achievement, theres this massive mental barrier until somebody smashes through that ceiling, Dunne told me. And for us, Columbia Room smashed that ceiling. Brown, however, wouldnt be part of the D.C.s continued push. Recognizing that life in the industry was challenging both his physical and mental health, Brown stepped back from his responsibilities at the Columbia Room, and eventually shuttered the bar in early 2022. Allegory. Deke Dunne doesnt look like a Hill staffer, at least not anymore. His frosted quiff and thin line tattoos would immediately set him apart in Washingtons conservatively dressed halls of power. But before he ran one of the Districts most singular cocktail experiences, Dunne worked in congressional offices in D.C. and on the campaign trail in Wyoming. After the 2016 election, however, Dunnes passion for politics waned. I quit because I just couldnt live in that world, Dunne explained. Im an extremely left-leaning person, and to already be in the conservative world, and then throw populism and hateful rhetoric into the mix, it was indigestible. Deke Dunne in Allegory. (Photograph by Nom Digital) Two years priorhalf to escape the stultifying culture of his peers on Capitol Hill and half to supplement his meager congressional salaryDunne began picking up weekend shifts at Wonderland Ballroom, a Columbia Heights dive. The experience scratched a creative itch that politics couldnt and, by June 2017, when Drink Company launched its Game of Thrones pop-up, Dunne jumped on an offer to work security. Within a month, he was behind the bar. The following year, Drink Company partnered with Japanese hospitality firm Plan Do See to design and launch a cocktail bar in the newly opening Eaton hotel in downtown D.C.. The firm also hired Dunnethen still a relative newcomer to the citys craft cocktail sceneto help operate the venue. When the partnership between Drink Company and the Eaton broke down only weeks before the hotel was set to open, Dunne and a handful of Drink Company veterans who also elected to stay on the project were left scrambling to redesign the bar. We had to rebrand within three weeks. We had to write a whole new opening menu. Some staff left. It was crazy, Dunne recalled. The team renamed the bar Allegory and quickly put together a cocktail menu based around literary themes. The cocktails were good, but Allegory lacked a cohesive vision. We were a good bar with a really great bar team, but I dont think that we were an excellent cocktail bar, Dunne said. Inside Allegory. (Photograph by Nom Digital) For Allegory, the pandemic proved a blessing in disguise. The temporary closure led to the departure of most of Allegorys staff, leaving Dunne with near absolute control over its creative direction. Thats when I took the focus of the bar from being just a really good cocktail bar to being a really conceptual experience, he explained. From the start, Allegorys walls were decorated with elaborate murals, painted by artist Erik Thor Sandberg, depicting Alice in Wonderland through the eyes of Ruby Bridgesthe first black student to attend an all-white school in the South. Dunne doubled down on the concept, creating a storybook menu called Down the Rabbit Hole that wove 10 thematic cocktails together with vivid illustrations imagining Bridges on a journey through Wonderland. In one chapter, the Edena bright and boozy orange sodaaccompanies an illustration of Bridges as she befriends a medley of unusual characters. In another, a frothy El Salvadorian riff on the Jungle Bird, a classic tiki cocktail, is garnished with the blood of a Jabberwocky as Bridges stands above the slain beast, sword in hand. Allegorys new direction was a resounding success: In 2023, it won Best Cocktail Menu at the Spirited Awards. The next year, it would take home the prize for Best U.S. Hotel Bar, and one of its mixologists, Kapri Robinson, would win U.S. Bartender of the Year. Banned in D.C.,a sequel to Allegorys first storybook menu in which a fictionalized Bridges navigates an apocalyptic version of the nations capital that has been overtaken by violence, darkness, and censorshiplaunched late last month, and the menus broader international influence and impressive creative scale is likely to garner even greater plaudits than its predecessor. Slingin sandwiches. Several blocks east, a less obvious successor to the Columbia Room isnt just mixing delicious cocktailsits pairing them with some of the citys best sandwiches. At Your Only Friend, the brainchild of Columbia Room alums Paul Taylor and Sherra Kurtz, nostalgic flavors, plastic cafeteria-style cups, and a welcoming sandwich counter offer a childhood memory come back to life. The concept began as a pandemic-era pop-up, with Taylor and Kurtz selling sandwiches out of the Columbia Rooms kitchen. But as the pandemic dragged on, the two saw a path to turning their temporary project into something permanent. They envisioned a bar with a neighborhood feel, inspired by the local dives and restaurants that made them fall in love with hospitality. We wanted to do real dope st, but in a place that everybody felt welcome, Taylor told me. Sherra Kurtz and Paul Taylor at Your Only Friend. (Photograph by Vina Sananikone) The resulting space is unashamedly unique and a sharp departure from the Columbia Rooms serious aesthetic. Taylor and Kurtz take a trashy classy approach, elevating familiar flavors and accessible ingredients to bring the wistful past, in all of its rose-tinted wonder, to the present. The bars Carbd Marg is exemplary of its approach: mezcal, Smirnoff Ice, Mountain Dew, and citric acid combine to create a cocktail that is almost frustratingly well balanced given its low-brow ingredients. Another is the Rum & Clear Cola, a translucent riff on a rum & Coke made with a homemade cola syrup and acid phosphate. When the two debuted the drink during a collaboration with Bresca several years ago, Will Patton was almost offended by how good it was. Ive never been more upset, Patton joked. I was like, you brought this into my house, and you dunked on me like this. Taylor, Kurtz, and Dunne arent the only Columbia Room veterans putting down roots in the city either; beverage programs at bars and restaurants like Daru, Trouble Bird, and Albi are also continuations of the legacy. I think the Columbia room never really died, because it has really created so many places in D.C. from the people who have gone through, Kurtz said. Several homegrown bars unconnected with the Columbia RoomService Bar, Copycat Co., OKPB, Green Zone, Barmini, The Wells, and othersare also making a mark. D.Cs homegrown bars arent the only ones contributing to its riseseveral imports have entered, or are soon entering, the scene. The out-of-towners. The Columbia Rooms legacy in D.C. extends beyond just its former bartenders. Today, Death & Co.one of the most influential bars in New Yorks cocktail revivaloccupies the Columbia Rooms former Blagden Alley space. Brown isnt offended that his homegrown success was taken over by one of New Yorks most storied bars. It was sort of his idea, after all. As D.C.s mixology profile rose, Death & Co.which had already expanded to Denver and Los Angelesbegan looking at D.C. as a fourth home. Brown, who had befriended Death & Co. bartender Alex Day while at B.A.R., suggested the Columbia Rooms space. The idea materialized, and in July 2023, Death & Co. D.C. opened its doors. Day knew stepping into the Columbia Rooms shoes was a risk. The replacing of the Columbia room, for anyone who had a relationship with it, is going to elicit some level of emotional reaction, and thats scary, he told me. But Death & Co. worked deliberately to both honor the Columbia Rooms legacy and to craft an identity unique to Washington. Though the space was largely redesigned, an iconic tile mosaic that once framed the Columbia Rooms bar was preservedan ode to the buildings storied past. Inside Death & Co. D.C., the Columbia Rooms iconic mosaic lives on. (Photograph courtesy of Death & Co.) We have worked really hard to present ourselves to the community not just as Death & Co., but as Death & Co. as expressed in Washington, D.C., and with full respect to the ground that we have taken over, Day said. In his view, outsiders looking to plant roots in D.C. must embrace, not ignore, the citys distinctiveness. One thing that D.C. has excelled with is understanding its cocktail culture and representing the culture of the city in a unique way, Day said. Its not a derivative of New York or London or any other cocktail scene, its unique to itself. Soon, one of Death & Co.s longtime Manhattan rivals will face the same challenge. In 2013, Jack McGarry, an obsessive young bartender from Belfast, opened The Dead Rabbithalf Irish Pub, half cocktail barin New Yorks Financial District. His aim was to champion Irish culture against contemporary misconceptions while mixing world class cocktails along the way. Theres so many st Irish bars, and so many people think we wake up in the morning in Ireland and say top of the morning to each other and eat corned beef and cabbage. And that just couldnt be further from the truth, McGarry told me. My goal has always been to bring the Irish pub into the 21st century, but also to shine a light on contemporary Irish culture and stretch the boundaries of what Americans see as Irish pubs. Jack McGarry. (Photograph courtesy of the Dead Rabbit) The Dead Rabbit will open a location in D.C. this fall, themed on the political story of the Irish in Americaa deliberate push to embrace Washingtons uniquely political culture. The space will feature a mural of Sinead OConnor alongside artwork of prominent politicians involved in the Good Friday Agreement. There really isnt anywhere better than D.C. for us to tell that story, McGarry said. Obviously, theres an amazing cocktail culture, theres amazing healthy pub culture, and then a reverence for Irish culture and food. The Dead Rabbits new home on F Street will be only feet away from another British Isles import. In February 2020, Silver Lyana project of prominent British mixologist Ryan Chetiyawardanaopened in a historic bank vault beneath the Riggs hotel. Chetiyawardana, known widely as Mr. Lyan, has been at the leading edge of global mixology for more than a decade, and his bars have pioneered the use of innovative culinary technologies and sustainable ingredients. Inside the Silver Lyan. (Photograph courtesy of Silver Lyan) While Silver Lyan doesnt break the rules of classic mixology, few bars across the world stretch them as far. Our process is really about creativity and the way that we define that for ourselves is through our storytelling, Alex Leidy, the bars general manager, told me. At Silver Lyan, each drink is a story unto itself, and the team often uses novel ingredients and advanced techniques to impart thematic elements. Take the Parasol Puncha cocktail based on the first man in London to own an umbrella, who was widely derided for it. Because early umbrellas were made from silk, and silkworms dine on mulberry leaves, the team includes a mulberry ferment in the drink. Tomato honey represents the vegetables thrown at Londons umbrella pioneer, and rainwater Madeira represents, well, rainwater. On its previous menu, which was themed on movement and migration, the bar even used a proprietary spirit distilled from emu neck meatif you stop by, ask one of the bartenders about what that USDA approval process was like. But complexity for its own sake isnt the goalthe drinks also have to taste good. Were doing some out-there and avant-garde things because thats where the problem-solving naturally leads us, Sam Nellis, Silver Lyans senior bartender, told me. But then the question is, how do you take that and make it feel fun and approachable? For Silver Lyan, the answer is to build a menu that allows customers to engage on their own termsdiving deep into the ingredients, themes, and preparation if they care to, while not being hit over the head with information if they dont. Gatekeeping is the death of fun, Leidy explained. Ultimately, the drinks need to be really approachable in and of themselves, without knowing anything about what went into them. Were here to facilitate fun. For many of D.C.s homegrown bartenders, the arrival of renowned bars like Silver Lyan, Death & Co., and The Dead Rabbit isnt a threatits a validation. Its a testimony to the cocktail scene in D.C. that storied bars with their origins in other cities want to open bars here, because D.C. wouldnt be on their radar if we hadnt helped create a homegrown cocktail scene and create an audience for that, Searing said. Its legitimizing, Dunne echoed. I never saw them as a threat, I saw them as something thats gonna push us and make us better, which they have. Despite the recognition and awards that have come alongside D.C.s rise, perhaps its most impressive feat has been the continuation of the culture of camaraderie and excellence that was established two decades ago. We understand were a smaller market. Were always going to live in this gigantic shadow thats cast from New York, Dunne told me. Were never gonna get the recognition that we think we deserve, because were never gonna get the same eyeballs on us that New York or London or any of those other spots do. But that underdog mentality, and the chip on the communitys shoulder that comes with it, has allowed D.C. to maintain its sense of solidarity. Everyone seems to be very supportive of the dream of expanding the cocktail scene, creating all this amazing opportunity, and making D.C. this culinary and cocktail hub, Dunne remarked. Its really cool. Were all striving toward the same goal. Collective triumph. Will Patton behind the bar at Press Club. (Photograph courtesy of Press Club) When Press Club opened last November, it didnt open in a vacuum. The talent, collective wisdom, infrastructure, and clientele necessary for its success were built on foundations that were developed by Washingtons cocktail community for more than two decades. In a sense, thats what makes Patton and Kennedys achievement so important. Its an individual success, for sure, and the two deserve credit for contributing a unique piece to D.C.s cultural mosaic. But Press Clublike Allegory, Your Only Friend, Silver Lyan, and many othersis also a collective achievement for the city; evidence that the nations capital is now pushing cultural boundaries instead of just keeping up with them. Patton and Kennedy have felt the fruits of this foundation acutely as theyve converted Press Club from an idea into a reality. Ive been in Chicago, been in New Orleans, been in a lot of other cities, and when I came to D.C., it was the most welcoming bar community that Ive ever been in, Patton told me. Its very mutually supportive, so it was very important for Devin and me to make Press Club evocative of D.C.. We wanted to be celebrating D.C. because were very proud to have roots here, and were proud to be part of the scene, and were very excited to have this community growing. Kennedy echoed the experience. In D.C., everyone just wants to see all ships rise. Everyones excited for it, because everyone wants D.C. to be a place that is talked about as a great cocktail city. Press Club is an embodiment of how far the citys cocktail culture has come. On any given night, the space is packed with patronsco-workers sharing office gossip, couples celebrating anniversaries, cocktail enthusiasts eager to try the new hot spot, and, often, a wary reporter escaping the exhausting churn of Washington politics. And whether they came for the food, music, conversation, or simply to escape the cold, the patrons are participating in and honoring one of Americasand D.C.sgreat traditions: Sitting back, relaxing, and enjoying a great cocktail. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. Trader Joe's popular mini canvas tote bags are set for April and this time they're in four pastel colors. Photos of the bag circulating online show blue, green, pink and purple colored versions. Trader Joe's declined to share photos of the bag before its in-store release. Last year, the $2.99 viral mini canvas totes sold out quickly with long lines and frenzied shopping. Some online resellers were able to get more than 10 times the price of the bag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An inventory search at the Trader Joe's Reno, Nev. McCarran Boulevard displayed the message, "Coming soon - launching April 7th." The bags will again sell for $2.99 each, limited to two per customer at most locations. Trader Joe's Canvas Mini Tote Bags On Thursday, a Trader Joe's crew member at the West Hills store said the bags are expected on April 7 but because of their popularity it could be sooner or later. The date is before the Easter holiday, which lands on April 20. In February, a Trader Joe's crew member told the Reno Gazette Journal that each store is expected to receive one pallet of the bags. What about the viral Trader Joe's insulated tote bags? Trader Joe's mini insulated totes came out in pink and purple last month. Sales of the $3.99 bag were limited to two per customer at the Reno location. They sold online for around $30 to $40 for a set of two on the date of release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A large purple insulated cooler released in February was still available last week for $7.99 at Reno Trader Joe's locations. The same cooler is available online in "limited" quantities in West Hills and Fresno, so double-check. Trader Joe's Mini Insulated Tote Bag When will the viral micro tote bags return? The micro tote, a small keychain that holds a nylon grocery bag, sold out during the holiday season but is expected to return in December, according to a Reno crew member. The West Hills crew member said he did not have immediate information on when the tote would return. What else is popular at Trader Joe's? Other popular Trader Joe's items can be found on their list of 2025 Customer Choice Award winners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips won first place overall and in the snack category. Where are Trader Joe's in California? Trader Joe's currently has 564 stores in 43 states, with around 200 stores in California, the most of any state. Where was the first Trader Joe's? In 1967, Joe Coulombe opened the first Trader Joes in Pasadena. The grocery chain was quirky from the beginning. Coulombe based the stores nautical decor on a book hed read called White Shadows in the South Seas, as well as his experience visiting the Jungle Cruise ride at Disneyland, according to the company's website. Employees were dubbed captains and first mates who wore Hawaiian-themed shirts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: What's the best food from Trader Joe's? Shoppers' favorite items revealed in customer poll The stores were unique in other ways. His mother-in-law and father-in-law had been academics who enjoyed dining on fresh seafood and quality yet affordable wines. Trader Joe's would cater to those with similar, sophisticated tastes who were also on a budget. Trader Joe's became known for a selective array of premium foods available at low prices. Coulombe sampled and chose everything his stores sold and invited employees and customers to tastings. In 1972, Trader Joe's also introduced its private-label products, starting with granola and later incorporating items ranging from coffee to apple juice to heat-and-serve entrees. Coulombe would use images from 19th-century advertisements for the labels and named the items himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coulombe sold Trader Joes to the German grocery retailer Aldi Nord in 1979. Since then, the chain has grown from 19 stores, all based in California, to more than 500 locations in 42 states and Washington, D.C.In 2002, it introduced the Charles Shaw label to its wine selection. The award-winning wine became a beloved pop culture fixture known as Two-Buck Chuck because it was so affordable. How can you request a Trader Joe's come to your city? You can request a Trader Joe's location in your city by completing a form on the Trader Joe's website. According to a company-produced podcast yes, you read that right, Trader Joe's produces its own podcast called Inside Trader Joe's executives research population density, traffic flow, parking capacity, and other demographics when determining when and where to open a new store. Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes. This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Trader Joe's mini tote bags are coming back in pastel Lake Powell, Arizona, is already a dream destination for outdoor lovers, but now you can experience it in an entirely new way by houseboat. Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas is offering a unique way to explore the lakes nearly 2,000 miles of shoreline with a floating home that provides both adventure and comfort. Guests can access hidden slot canyons, take off-trail hikes to panoramic viewpoints, and wake up each morning to that amazing waterfront scenery. These luxury houseboats come fully equipped with cozy bedrooms, spacious living areas, full kitchens, and modern amenities. Options range from the 46-foot Expedition Houseboat, perfect for small groups of up to six, to the 75-foot Excursion Houseboat, which features five staterooms, two bathrooms, a BBQ grill, and space for up to 14 guests. Pick your adventure Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas Lake Powell offers a range of houseboat adventures to suit any schedule. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three-Day Adventure: Depart from Wahweap Marina and anchor at Warm Creek to watch a beautiful sunset. Hike to the Navajo Stairs for breathtaking views or relax on a white sand beach. Enjoy breakfast on deck and soak in the beauty of Oak Canyon before returning to the marina. Five-Day Escape: Cruise 50 miles to Rainbow Bridge National Monument, one of the largest natural bridges in the world. Explore Anasazi Canyon and stargaze at the mouth of the San Juan River. Seven-Day Vacation: Travel to the historic Hole in the Rock, where pioneers carved a passage through solid rock. Enjoy hiking and fishing in Mountain Sheep, West Canyon, and Dungeon Canyon, and stop by Last Chance Bay to see Gregory Butte, a camel-shaped rock formation. You can book your journey directly on the companys website. The post Experience Lake Powell like never before with a luxurious houseboat rental appeared first on The Manual. Mar. 26This is not exactly cookie decorating season though last week's St. Patrick's Day usually brings us cookie shamrocks with green frosting. Still, with graduations on the horizon along with Easter, Mother's Day and other opportunities to celebrate, a Rochester woman is making a name for herself and earning a reputation for creating amazing art with frosting. I'm calling her the "cookie artist" and here's why: A few weeks ago a local study group heard a presentation on the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, among other vessels. Chris Cross brought cookies as a snack, and we soon saw these were not ordinary cookies by any means. They were all decorated in a palette of colors resembling a shipwreck, complete with waves washing over the ship's sides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Naturally there came a chorus of "ohs and ahs" and we soon found out that not only were they amazing to look at but delicious to eat as well. So, who was the talented creator? Eva Harmon, a bookkeeper at Mayo Clinic Hospital-Methodist, who is new to Rochester. Prior to moving here she had a thriving cookie business in California, then Mississippi and hopes to do the same here. Cross found here through Harmon's fiancee who was fixing Cross' garage door and gave her a few Halloween cookies. "They were amazing," she says. "I knew I needed to order some for the study group event." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harmon initially came to this business through trying to get cookies to decorate for her niece's first birthday. She ran into a few roadblocks and decided to just do them herself. That was eight years ago and it's been going strong ever since. "Fortunately my job is finished every day at 2, so I have the afternoon and evening to do the cookies." As friends and family saw what she could do the rush was on and her business took off. While many home-bakers do a great job with decorating cookies, Harmon takes it to a whole new level. Those first birthday cookies were elaborate snowflakes, an immediate hit. Knowing she had found a niche, she set out to learn everything she could to make her creations unique. "I studied the internet, watched videos, watched YouTube, and just practiced," Harmon says. It certainly paid off. She has literally decorated hundreds, if not thousands, of cookies for just about any occasion you can think of birthdays, graduations, wedding showers, baby showers, you name it and she has probably provided the cookies. She even had a recent order from a customer in Mississippi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harmon puts a tremendous amount of time into each cookie, some taking as many as 20 minutes per cookie to decorate. "It's a process, " she explained. First there is the actual baking of the cookies and letting them cool completely. Once that happens she "floods" them with an icing that acts as the base for the actual decorating. Often then she lets them sit for a day to be totally dry. Then the decorating takes place. A perfectionist, this takes quite a bit of time, depending on what the customer wants. Her frosting of choice is Royal Icing, a favorite of professional bakers as well. What has been her biggest decorating challenge? "Creating Teen Titans for a young boy's birthday. It took me days but I got them done." (I had to look up what those were.) Interesting her cookies are never frozen and she wraps each one individually. Another interesting aspect of her creativity is what she can do with cookie cutters. "I love to see how many different shapes I can get out of one. For instance a simple cupcake cookie cutter can be flipped over and turned into a gnome." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Have you even seen Santa as a lumberjack? She's even done that. You'll likely want to see for yourself what she can do. Her business is called Sugar Coated and she can be reached at 559-719-5869. Post Bulletin food writer Holly Ebel knows what's cookin'. Send comments or story tips to life@postbulletin.com . Mar. 25The James Beard Foundation has changed its listing for 2025 Best Chef: Northeast nominee Lee Frank, citing his fine-dining venue in New Hampshire instead of his burger restaurant in Maine. Chef Lee Frank had initially been listed in the award category in association with Lee Frank's in South Berwick, a casual burger and hot dog joint he's owned and operated since 2021. The official award listings on the James Beard website now cite Otis Restaurant, his upscale tasting-menu venue in downtown Exeter, New Hampshire. Frank was nominated for his work at Otis in the same category for the 2024 James Beard Awards. Frank said the change was made a few weeks after the nominations were announced in late January. He reached out to the Beard foundation to ask about the listing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I was shocked that I was listed for a second time," Frank said. "And then I was obviously slightly surprised that it was for the burger joint and not for Otis. Not that the burger joint is not worth it, I think it just doesn't have the connotation that people think when they think of the award." His contact let him know she would check with the nomination committee about the matter. Shortly after, she let Frank know the committee had decided to change the listing from Lee Frank's to Otis Restaurant. "In terms of process, for confidentiality, semifinalists are not notified before the public announcement," explained Dawn Padmore, vice president of awards for the James Beard Foundation. "After the semifinalists are announced, we often receive requests for updates or edits to the listings as chefs and restaurants learn about their recognition in real time." Now that Lee Frank's restaurant has been removed, the two Maine-based nominees in the Best Chef: Northeast category this year are Jake Stevens of Leeward and Jordan Rubin of Mr. Tuna, both in Portland. "At the end of the day, I'm happy to be nominated regardless of what restaurant it's associated with," Frank said. Copy the Story Link Editor's note: This story was changed March 27 to correct the first name of Ninja House owner Ashley Chen. A nice thing about living year round on Cape Cod is taking advantage of restaurant and food events that happen in the offseason such as wine dinners, create-your-own sushi and visiting food trucks. There are two tasting dinners this week raising money to feed hungry people on Marthas Vineyard and Cape Cod. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck visits Falmouth for a pop-up Sunday; diners don blindfolds for a "Lip Service" meal in South Yarmouth April 11; a Hyannis eatery offers special sushi rolls in need of a name and theres a battle of Italian vs. Californian wines April 15 in Mashpee. In case you missed last weeks Cape Cod restaurant news, Cape Flats Pizza opened in Yarmouth Port with an ultra-flat Roman-style pie that cooks in four minutes and Wampanoag chef Sherry Pocknett is cancer-free and back in her native Mashpee, looking for new opportunities. Setting a table for Siena's "Battle of the Wines" which will pit Italian vintages against those from California in an April 15 wine dinner at the Mashpee Commons restaurant. Enjoy dinner while helping food pantries Island Flavors Unleashed, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, March 28, is happening at the Harbor View Hotel in Edgartown on Marthas Vineyard. Hosted by Chef Jon Ashton, the tasting event features Harbor Views Executive Chef Juan Martinez, Chef Jimmy Alvarado of TigerHawk/On Time Catering and Chef Ting from Black Joy MVY. Tickets, at $100 per person, include food samples, beer, wine, and a specialty cocktail. A portion of the proceeds will support the Island Food Pantry. Get tickets through Marthas Vineyard Chamber of Commerce at mvy.com/. In South Yarmouth, the Family Table Collaborative is hosting dinner from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 27, at the collaborative at 1338 Route 28. Chefs Matt Tropeano, of the former Spoon and Seed; Peter Duff of the former Fare & Just vegan eatery and Jeni Wheeler, co-founder of Family Table Collaborative, will cook a five-course dinner to raise money to feed Cape Cods hungry neighbors. Tickets, at $125 each, are available through familytablecollaborative.org/. Lobster is coming to Falmouth in Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck On Sunday, March 30, Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck is rolling into Falmouth Plaza (35 Davis Straits) for a pop-up from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Orders are accepted at the truck (cash or all major credit cards) or via the Cousins Maine Lobster mobile app. Cousins Maine Lobster serves a signature lobster roll, lobster tacos, lobster bisque and lobster tots, all with lobster meat from the Gulf of Maine. The 2021 Food Network show, Food Truck Rehab, helped boost the trucks' cult status. Lip Service, A Blindfolded Dinner for couples in South Yarmouth From 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 11, Chef Nicholas Caplice will create at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod a unique dining experience designed for couples. Lip Service, A Blindfolded Dinner is a succulent 6-course tasting menu of small bites, spoonfuls and delectable portions for couples to enjoy blindfolded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deprived of all visual stimulation, your senses of taste, smell, and touch will guide you through an exquisite meal, enhanced by the live improvisational stylings of jazz pianist Fred Boyle and his co-host, who will narrate your romantic gastronomical journey, according to the centers website. Chef Nicholas Caplice, who runs the Cultural Center of Cape Cod's Palette supper club, is creating a succulent variety of dishes for "Lip Service, A Blindfolded Dinner." This peanut-crusted sole with grilled cabbage slaw was a dish Caplice made for Palette's opening night last June. The meal will be paired with a choice of non-alcoholic elixirs or traditional spirits, and vegetarian options will be available. After dinner, the blindfolds come off for bubbly and dancing. Price per couple: $220. To register, visit cultural-center.org or call 508-394-7100. Cultural Center of Cape Cod is located at 307 Old Main St., South Yarmouth. Battle of the Wines at Siena in Mashpee Italian and Californian wines are going head-to-head during a three-course dinner at Siena in Mashpee Commons on April 15. Sienas Executive Chef Nicholas Jankowski will cook while Adam Cataldo from Southern Glazers Beverage Company will guide diners through the nuances of each wine. Battle of the Wines, the third in a series of monthly wine dinners, is a 21-plus event. The cost is $85 per person plus tax and gratuity. Tickets may be purchased at siena.us under reservations or by calling 508-477-5929. The event will be held on the second floor, which does not have elevator access. Ninja House sushi in Hyannis 100 varieties or make your own Ninja House, at 247 Main St. in Hyannis, in the space formerly occupied by Persy's Place, offers scores of types of sushi and sashimi sometimes struggling to name their creations. Some, like the Pink Lady Roll ($20), are named for their ingredients, like the pink soy wrapper in this special roll that contains tempura-fried shrimp and spicy tuna. Ninja House's special rolls are more like a meal, featuring 8-10 rolls, each the size of a child's fist. The sushi chef also makes more traditional bite-sized rolls. Owner Ashley Chen, who grew up in Taiwan, welcomes customers to design their own rolls, especially now in the off-season when the restaurant which occupies a prime takeout spot between the Hyannis Transportation Center and the Nantucket-bound ferry has time to try new things. Only issue? They may ask you to name your creation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gwenn Friss is the editor of CapeWeek and covers entertainment, restaurants and the arts. Contact her at gfriss@capecodonline.com. Join the Cape Cod Times free Facebook group, Good Stuff at Cape Cod Restaurants, to share tips and participate in food polls. Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod restaurants: Sensuous dinner for two; naming Hyannis sushi PROVO, Utah (ABC4) One person was airlifted to a local hospital with serious injuries after large blocks of ice fell and struck hikers at Bridal Veil Falls. North Fork Fire Rescue posted on social media about the rescue, which happened around 4:45 p.m. on Monday, March 24. Officials said people were hiking around the falls when the incident occurred. One of the hikers received serious injuries and needed to be hoisted off the mountain. They were taken to a trauma center by helicopter. Crews responded to an injured hiker on March 24, 2025. Falling ice injured the hiker near Bridal Veil Falls. (Courtesy: North Fork Fire Rescue) Crews responded to an injured hiker on March 24, 2025. Falling ice injured the hiker near Bridal Veil Falls. (Courtesy: North Fork Fire Rescue) As a reminder, warmer temperatures are coming, North Fork Fire Rescue said. Ice and snow will not be fully melted for quite sometime. Dress accordingly for the higher elevations, and if you must explore-be extra cautious!! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials with Utah County Seach and Rescue and the Utah DPS Aero Bureau responded to assist with extraction off the mountain. Further details about the patients condition were not immediately shared. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. AKRON, Ohio (WJW) Akron fire officials are investigating after an apartment fire sent one person to the hospital and displaced nine families Tuesday afternoon. Firefighters were called out to the 600 block of Darrow Road just before 2 p.m., according to the Akron Fire Department. Driver identified but not in custody in hit-skip that injured mother, son in Parma When they got there, crews found heavy smoke and flames shooting up from the ground level of a three-story apartment building. Courtesy of Akron Fire Department First responders helped residents escape the complex while firefighters battled the blaze from the outside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Akron fire officials, one resident was taken to a nearby hospital, while three others were checked by paramedics at the scene. More fallout over downtown Cleveland casino incident with federal monitor: I-Team Investigators said nine families, including 10 adults and nine children, were displaced by the apartment fire. Officials said the American Red Cross is helping them. Arson investigators were also called to the scene, but the Akron Fire Department said the cause of the fire remains under investigation at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. THE LATEST Motorcylist dies to injuries suffered in West Jordan hit-and-run WEST JORDAN, Utah (ABC4) A man was taken to the hospital in critical condition on Tuesday night after a hit-and-run between a motorcycle and an SUV in West Jordan. Roads in the area have been closed. According to officials with the West Jordan Police Department, police responded to 8500 South and Redwood Road just after 8:30 p.m. after receiving reports of the crash. Witnesses reported seeing a man in the road, and the roads in the area have been closed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a crash closing both directions of Redwood Road NB at 8200 South and SB at 8600 South. Expect delays and avoid the area if possible, the Utah Department of Transportation said in an alert online. The SUV, which was described as being dark in color, was last seen traveling westbound. A spokesperson with West Jordan PD told ABC4.com that a crash team is currently at the scene to investigate. The road closures are expected to last several hours, according to officials. No further information has been released by officials at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. TOOELE, Utah (ABC4) The driver of a pickup truck was taken to a local hospital after being rear-ended by a school bus on Tuesday. The driver of the pickup truck, identified only as a 46-year-old man from West Valley City, was taken to the hospital in stable condition. The driver of the school bus received a citation at the scene for following too closely, according to the Tooele City Police Department. The bus had 54 elementary-aged children and 16 adults onboard at the time of the crash. Two students were evaluated by medical professionals at the scene but were later released, police said in a press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2 persons of interest identified after California woman found dead in Utah vacation rental Crews were dispatched to the 725 N Main Street at around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The bus was traveling south on Main Street after a field trip to the zoo. The truck, a white F-150, was also traveling south, and officials said the driver had stopped for a pedestrian that was crossing Main Street. The school bus ran into the back of the F-150, police said. Pieces of metal that had been in the back of the F-150 made contact with the front windshield of the school bus. Officials said the driver of the bus was not injured by the debris hitting the windshield. Aside from the truck driver and two students, no other injuries were reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no further information at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrives to attend a dinner on the sidelines of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit at the presidential Elysee palace in Paris, France, on Feb. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) Greenland's politicians have condemned the plan for U.S. high-profile visits, calling it "a demonstration of power." LOS ANGELES, March 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Tuesday that he will travel to Greenland this Friday. In a video posted on social media platform X, Vance said he will visit some of U.S. guardians in the Space Force on the northwest coast of Greenland, and also check out what is going on with the security of Greenland. "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're going to check out how things are going there," Vance said in the video post. "Unfortunately, leaders in both America and in Denmark ignored Greenland for far too long. That's been bad for Greenland. It's also been bad for the security of the entire world. We think we can take things in a different direction, so I'm gonna go check it out," he said. A man takes photos in Nuuk, capital of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, March 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe) Vance will be joining his wife, Usha Vance, who announced earlier to travel to Greenland this week. U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright also plan to visit Greenland. White House National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes said Monday that the United States has a "vested security interest in the Arctic region." Greenland's politicians have condemned the plan for U.S. high-profile visits, calling it "a demonstration of power." ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) Police are investigating a shooting that took place at an apartment complex in north Abilene on Tuesday afternoon. At approximately 4:47 p.m. on March 25, officers responded to the scene after receiving multiple reports of gunfire. A female victim later arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot wound. Her injuries are considered non-life-threatening. A KTAB/KRBC reporter at the scene observed shell casings and spoke with witnesses. One witness reported hearing at least nine gunshots, while another recalled hearing someone scream that they had been hit before the vehicles left. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another witness described seeing a group of people standing in the parking lot before the gunfire erupted. She then saw a man running toward Willis Street as two vehicles quickly left the area. At this time, no further information has 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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. (WFRV) Officials say over 10,000 cans of soda throughout Wisconsin and Illinois have been recalled by a Coca-Cola distributor in Wisconsin. According to a release from the Food and Drug Administration, 864 120oz 12-packs, or 10,368 cans, were recalled on March 6 at Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, LLC. in Milwaukee, for fear of plastic objects possibly being inside the cans. The recall was upgraded to a Class II classification on March 24 noting that the 12-packs were distributed throughout Wisconsin and Illinois. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Retired Kewaunee man launches Lake Whispers Brewing, aims to open brewery Consumers who purchased 12oz 12-packs of Coca-Cola Original Taste are asked to make sure that the 12-pack doesnt have a UPC of 0 49000-02890 4. If the 12-pack doesnt have a visible UPC, consumers can check individual 12oz cans for UPC 0 49000-00634 6. At this time, the FDA has not provided specific information on the locations where the 12 packs may have been distributed or any information on how the 12 packs came to be contaminated. Local Five will update this story should additional details be 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. The number of injured in Russia's March 24 missile strike on Sumy has risen to 108, including 24 children, First Deputy Mayor Artem Kuznetsov said on March 26. "At the moment, we have 108 (victims), including 24 children. So the number has increased," Kuznetsov said on national television. The missile struck residential areas and infrastructure facilities, including a children's hospital, according to Acting Mayor Artem Kobzar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 30 high-rise buildings, 15 houses, and multiple warehouses, offices, and medical facilities were damaged, the regional military administration reported. The attack occurred as Russian and U.S. delegations met in Saudi Arabia to discuss a ceasefire in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky warned earlier that Russian forces had been massing near Ukraine's northeastern border, suggesting plans to escalate attacks on Sumy Oblast. "We understand this and will take countermeasures," he said on March 15. Located just under 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the Russian border, Sumy and its surrounding region have faced relentless attacks since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. The oblast borders Russia's Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod oblasts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: 117 proofs in our skies Zelensky says overnight drone strike shows Moscow not ready for peace Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russia launched 117 drones against Ukraine overnight on March 26, demonstrating Moscow's intent to prolong the war, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X. The statement comes after the U.S. brokered a ceasefire on March 25 between Ukraine and Russia on strikes against energy facilities and Black Sea naval operations. "Last night, there were another 117 proofs in our skies of how Russia continues to drag out this war 117 strike drones, most of them Shaheds," Zelensky said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A significant number were shot down by our air defenders." Ukrainian air defenses shot down 56 drones across the country, while 48 decoys disappeared from radars without causing damage, the Air Force said. Hits were recorded in the Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, and Cherkasy oblasts. A Russian attack on the town of Okhtyrka in Sumy Oblast damaged two apartment buildings, four shops, an administrative building, several cars, outbuildings, and market kiosks. A drone attack against Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetorvsk Oblast started multiple fires and damaged an administrative building, warehouses, an enterprise, and six cars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 0:00 / 1 At least four civilians were killed and six injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day, regional authorities said. Ukraine's president called for "clear pressure and strong action from the world on Russia more pressure, more sanctions from the United States to stop Russian strikes." "Launching such large-scale attacks after ceasefire negotiations is a clear signal to the whole world that Moscow is not going to pursue real peace," Zelensky said. The president underscored that the U.S. and Ukraine agreed on a full 30-day truce on March 11 during talks in Jeddah, but Russia has rejected the proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian President Vladimir Putin refused a broader ceasefire in a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on March 18 unless the deal included conditions undermining Ukraine's defenses, including a halt on foreign military aid. In turn, the Kremlin claimed the same day it had ordered a halt on strikes against Ukraine's energy targets. Zelensky's advisor, Dmytro Lytvyn, disputed this statement, saying on March 25 that Ukrainian energy facilities have been hit at least eight times since March 18. "And literally every night, through its attacks, Russia keeps saying 'no' to our partners peace proposal," Zelensky said. Read also: Not what Ukraine needs Black Sea ceasefire favors Russia more than Ukraine, say experts Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Mar. 25A 14-year-old from Mattawa, Washington, was arrested Monday night at a Tri-Cities hospital in relation to a shooting that left a 14-year-old boy dead and four others injured last week in Moses Lake. The teen, whose gender and identity were not released, was arrested at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, according to a Moses Lake Police Department Facebook post Tuesday. The teen was seeking treatment for a gunshot wound to the lower leg that detectives believe was self-inflicted during the shooting. The teen was booked into a juvenile detention center on suspicion of first-degree murder. It's unclear if the teen will face other charges for those who were injured, which included a 26-year-old woman, a 17-year-old girl, a 17-year-old boy and a 12-year-old boy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The wounded were taken to a local hospital with injuries deemed not life-threatening, according to Moses Lake Police Capt. Mike Williams on Monday. Officers responded at about 9:15 p.m. Friday to the shooting in the 500 block of Loop Drive and found five gunshot victims inside a car, according to police's original Facebook post. The people in the car were on their way to pick someone up from a house, Williams said. None of the victims have gang affiliation or were involved in criminal activity, police said. The motive is unclear. Police Capt. Jeff Sursely said Tuesday police may release more information Wednesday or Thursday. For all the true crime sleuths who love the chilling mystery of a cold case, feel free to take a dive with us into The Roots bank of crimes that went unsolved or took too long to solve. To this day, homicides, disappearances and more odd crimes are being reinvestigated as police utilize their access to updated technology. Sometimes, they received one good anonymous tip that points them in the right direction. Luckily, there are suspects who have recently been matched to the crimes in question. However, that means these alleged criminals were on the loose for years as the families of the victims were forced to wait for justice. In other cases, police still cant find the killer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keep scrolling to see our compiled list of shocking cold cases, both solved and unsolved. The Murder of The Sumpter Siblings Photo: DeKalb County District Attorneys Office Kenneth Perry was found guilty in the murder death of siblings John and Pamela Sumpter who were found dead in a DeKalb County apartment the night of July 15, 1990. Police claim John was killed that night. They said Pamela was sexually assaulted and stabbed but escaped Perrys grasp in time to call police before she died weeks later. DeKalb County Police Department kept her rape kit. However, they never found whose DNA was on those samples, causing the case to go cold. However, in 2024, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation sent the DNA to be tested again with forensic genetic genealogy, finding a match to Perry who was subsequently arrested for the crime, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was found just a county over from where the tragedy occured. Perry was found guilty of their murders on March 11. Possible Serial Killer Victim Identified Photo: Othram Inc. In June 2006, the body of a Black woman between the age of 20 and 30 years old was found in an abandoned house, per the Detroit Police Department. She was an estimated five feet in height. Authorities determined she died days prior to her body was found and her death was ruled a homicide, Othram Inc said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the next few years, a forensic composite produced by the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System displaying how the woman might have looked while alive was published, Othram stated. It wasnt until 2022 that the DPD joined forces with Othram to attempt DNA testing combined with forensic genetic genealogy. Luckily, a DNA profile was developed and researchers used that to help police track down potential family members, the research company said. Investigators were then finally able to rename Jane Doe as Darylnn Washington, a woman born in June of 1959. Throughout follow-up investigations, authorities said Washingtons family believed one of their relatives was killed by a serial killer but they could never locate her body. Othram stated Washington was most likely the victim of Detroit-based serial killer Shelly Brooks who is alleged to have confessed to her murder. Slain Georgia Couple Screenshot: Florida Times-Union Harold and Thelma Swain were were fatally shot during Bible study at Rising Daughter Baptist Church in southeast Georgia back in 1985, according to authorities. The Brunswick Judicial Circuit said the two were killed after Harold got in an argument with the suspect inside the churchs vestibule. The investigation into their murders went cold as the suspect was able to escape. However, in 1998, police reopened the case and identified Dennis Perry as the potential suspect, according to The Georgia Innocence Project. Perry was convicted for the murders in 2000 but was later exonerated after it was discovered he was tried based on circumstantial evidence. The case went cold once again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, in 2024, following another tip, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced they arrested a new suspect, Erik Kristensen Sparre, according to WJXT. The investigation found Sparre, who is alleged to be a white supremacist, fabricated his alibi the night of the incident and was alleged to have bragged that he had killed two ni****rs, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. The now 61-year-old Georgia suspect is facing charges of murder and aggravated assault. A Friends Betrayal Screenshot: FOX 5 Atlanta Back in December of 2007, the partial remains of an unidentified womans body were discovered inside a burning bag left on the side of a road in Hogansville, Georgia. It wasnt until 2023 when authorities were able to identify the victim as 24-year-old Nicole Alston of New York City through a DNA match, according to the Troup County Sheriffs Office. Alstons family said the last time they heard from her was around Thanksgiving of that year after shed moved to Atlanta with her friend, Angel Marie Thompson. Thompson wasnt considered a suspect in Alstons death. However, police accuse her of failing to report Alston missing after plotting to use her identity to gain access to her social security benefits, food stamp allotment and Section 8 Housing benefits. Police say by the time she hung up her scheme, she allotted nearly $200,000 in Alstons benefits. Authorities arrested Thompson and charged her with concealing Nicole Alstons death. However, the investigation into her murder continues as police have still not been able to identify a suspect. Mysterious Custody Killing Screenshot: Facebook Hattie DeBardelaben was killed in police custody in 1945. Only recently did her grandchildren discover exactly what happened to her, according to AL.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, Hatties granddaughter, Mary DeBardelaben, was able to obtain documents from the National Archives and Records Administration related to the case. This was thanks to the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act, signed by President Trump in 2019, which allowed an independent review board to investigate and disclose information about cold cases from between 1940 and 1979. According to the federal documents, four officers arrived at Hatties home in Autaugaville on March 23, 1945, claiming to be looking for illegal whiskey. Though Hattie told officers she didnt have whiskey, they searched her home anyway. Then, during the search, one of the officers got violent with one of Hatties nephews. When she asked them to stop, officers redirected their violence to her. CNN reports they hit her, knocking her into a pot of boiling water. They then detained her in the back of a patrol car but she died on her way to the jail. One officer testified to seeing her head sag as if her neck was broken. It wasnt until 2024 that Hatties grandchildren discovered these grisly details. Torture Case Gone Cold Photo: Jefferson County Sheriffs Office Three people were lured to a house in Jonesboro, Ga., where they were forced to enter at gunpoint, tortured and killed, according to police. On Jan. 13, 2013, Union City police officers patrolling Interstate I-85 in Georgia discovered the dead bodies which were stashed inside an abandoned 2010 Dodge Charger sitting on an exit ramp. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials identified the victims as Quinones King and Rodney Cottrell, who were both found in the back seat of the vehicle, as well as Cheryl Colquitt-Thompson, whose body was stuffed in the trunk, according to USA TODAY. Records show Colquitt-Thompson was found strangled, and the two others died from asphyxiation. The case went cold for 11 years until the Georgias Clayton County Sheriffs Office made a breakthrough in 2024, identifying the four suspects, one being an assistant school principal. They were arrested by the elite fugitive unit who found tracked them down across three states. The men were charged with malice murder. Killing of JoAnne Vickie Smith Photo: ABC 7 Chicago In 1976, the woman was found in a ditch alongside a rural road in Grundy County with her face covered by a sweater and trash bag with a gunshot wound to the head, police said. Officials believed at the time she may have been killed in another location before her remains were discarded. On Thanksgiving Day, after officials failed to identify her, she was buried in an unmarked grave while her family spent the holiday wondering where she was, per ABC 7 Chicago. The case went cold until 2017, when DNA testing had become far more advanced. Only then was her body exhumed for investigation. Investigators were able to determine at least one side of her family moved to Cincinnati, the report says. The Grundy County Coroners Office then collaborated with the DNA Doe Project to essentially build a family tree back to the Jane Doe, a process that took years, per WLWT. In 2024, investigators announced the remains belonged to that of JoAnne Vickie Smith, a Black lady from Ohio between 15 and 27 years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, it remains unclear who killed her. Mother Tried in Sons Cold Case Death Photo: 11Alive News Authorities said the 6-year-old boy was removed from school in Charlotte, NC in 1998 and relocated to Georgia with his mother, per 11Alives report. However, in February of the following year, police found his remains near a cemetery in DeKalb County. They estimated that he was there for about three to six months. The remains were hard to identify him at the time, but by 2019, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children were able to make a rendering of the boys face. He was identified as William Dashawn Hamilton. The report says Angeline Hartmann, the true crime writer and podcaster following the case, received a tip from a woman who recognized Hamiltons face and claimed to be a neighbor. They recalled that his mother, Teresa Black, left North Carolina briefly but returned without him. Police said when they tracked her down in 2022, Black claimed she left her son with a woman at the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women and Children because she could no longer care for him. However, investigators said she became emotional and explained that the two of them laid down to sleep in the woody area next to the cemetery, but when she woke up, she realized he was dead and left him there. Black was charged with murder, cruelty to children and concealing the death of another. However, she was acquitted of all charges except concealing the death of another. Missing Wife Found Dead in Storage Unit Screenshot: NBC News Shakeira Yvonne Rucker, 37, was reported missing on Nov. 11. Winter Springs, Fla. police said she was last seen at a restaurant with Hill, 51, in the Polk County area. Family members said the mother of four told them she was headed home after picking up some food, according to WESH. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI and several law enforcement agencies embarked on an 18-hour search to locate her, looking in nearby wooded areas, according to NBC. As Ruckers disappearance reached the six day mark, police received a tip Saturday evening that there was a rotting odor coming from a Self Storage unit located in Apopka, 20 miles from Ruckers home in Winter Springs. Upon investigating the smell, police found Ruckers remains and identified her husband, Cory Hill, as the owner of the storage unit. Prosecutors claim Hill brutally murdered his wife after she confronted him about being in a relationship with another woman. They say he left Ruckers remains in the storage unit then marched over to the other womans house and tried to kill her. Hill was slammed with a first-degree murder charge. The Mystery of Ramona Brown Photo: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children On March 5, 1984, Ramona Brown, 3, and her family woke up the night before Mardi Gras to flames devouring their home. The New Orleans Police Department said the night of the fire, Ramonas parents, Johnnie Mae and Aubrey survived along with seven of her eight siblings. Unfortunately, 4-year-old Aubrey Jr. and 2-year-old Kevin were found dead among the rubble, the police said. However, firefighters said they dont recall finding the remains of Ramona, assuming she also died in the flames. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, NOPD Detective Lamar Lewis told the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children they didnt even think she was at the house to begin with. Ramonas other sister, Tiffany, told the NCMEC she remembered Simona trying to explain to her parents decades ago that a biracial couple stopped by in a gold-colored Cadillac with wings on the back and picked up their little sister. She recalled the white woman having long hair and the Black man having short hair, both of them appearing old and thin. Now, the police and the NCMEC have embarked on a search to find if Ramona is still alive. Their latest development is releasing images of what she may look like now, forty years later. Suspicious Death of Kenneka Jenkins Photo: Daily Herald Jenkins, 19, was found dead inside a freezer at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Rosemont, Illinois in 2017, per ABC 7 Chicago. Jenkins was attending a hotel party with friends when surveillance footage captured the teen wondering in the hallways by herself, seemingly intoxicated. Somehow, between walking out of the hallway and through the hallways, she ended up locked inside the hotels kitchen freezer. Officials ruled her death an accident due to hypothermia and alcohol intoxication, ruling out foul play. However, social media conspiracies suggested the party goers she was with had a hand in her death. No one has been charged in the case. The Suicide-Turn-Lynching of George Tompkins Photo: Encyclopedia of Indianapolis In 1922, George Tompkins , 19, was found hanging from a tree in Indiana. Although concerning details such as Tompkins hands being bound behind his back were noted, his death was ruled a suicide. However, in 2022, the record was corrected by Marion County Deputy Chief Coroner Alfie McGinty, who displayed a new death certificate that ruled Tompkins death a homicide, per NBC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Volunteers with the Indiana Remembrance Coalition argued police failed to follow up with the case. That day, Tompkins reportedly left home around 7:30 a.m. and was found hanging by 2 p.m. The volunteers also claimed that within the four days between his lynching and burial, local news wiped the story of his death from the papers. No one has been arrested in connection to his murder. Mysterious Death of Kendrick Johnson Photo: Wikicommons Kendrick Johnson was found dead, rolled upside down in a wrestling mat at Lowndes County High School in 2013. The autopsy said he died of suffocation in some freak accident. However, Johnsons family believed their son was killed after the family saw spotty surveillance footage and social media posts that suggested he was attacked by his two white classmates. The classmates in question had family members part of the police force, leading the Johnsons to assume they covered up the alleged sinister act. Additionally, an independent autopsy found Johnson suffered blunt force trauma to the neck and that some of his organs were missing. However, a second investigation closed with no new findings and no charges were filed in the case. Accidental Death of Tamla Horsford Photo: Facebook Tamla Horsford was found dead in a friends backyard three years ago. She had been invited to a slumber party where shed been drinking, per 11Alive News. Witnesses claimed Horsford went out on the balcony for a cigarette when she allegedly fell over the balcony to her death. However, the position of her body at the crime scene as well as an independent autopsy found Horsford sustained injuries before she fell. Now, its unclear if shed fallen at all. However, no one has been charged in connection to her death. The Missing Millbrook Twins Photo: Wikicommons Teenage twins Dannette and Jeanette Millbrook have been missing since March 18, 1990. Their case was reopened in 2013 when a viral documentary on their disappearance aired, according to WJBF. The cops initially wrote them off as runaways. Their family said the twins last appearance was at a Pump-N-Shop store. A younger sister recalled walking with her mother to find them the night they vanished. True crime sleuths assumed they were abducted by serial killer Joseph Patrick Washington, who lived in their neighborhood. Their father was also reported to be sexually abusive and some assumed he may have abducted them himself. The family put up two billboards, asking the public to help them find any information about their loved ones. A $50,000 reward has been offered for any information. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. ONEIDA COUNTY, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) 15 DOCCS staff members have been identified as persons of interest in the investigation of the death of 22-year-old Messiah Nantwi. Twelve staff members have been placed on Administrative Leave with pay. Three others have been suspended without pay. Agency lays out concerns at Mid-State Correctional Facility before inmate death The following staff members have been suspended without pay: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CO Joshua Bartlett Mid-State CO Zachary Lallier Mid-State Sgt Francis Chandler Mid-State The following staff members have been placed on Administrative Leave (with pay): CO Frank Jacobs Mid-State CO Adam Joseph Mid-State CO Jonah Levi Mid-State CO Nathan Palmer Mid-State CO Caleb Blair Mid-State CO Daniel Burger Mid-State Sgt Donald Slawson Mid-State Sgt Michael Iffert Mid-State CO Craig Klemick Marcy CO Tristan Sheppard Marcy CO Thomas Eck Marcy CO Nicholas Vitale -Marcy Nantwi was an inmate at Mid-State Correctional Facility. His death was just 81 days after another inmate, Robert Brooks, died across the street at Marcy Correctional Facility, involving its prison staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause of Nantwis death is still under investigation, but reports from inmates to the New York Times suggested that he was also a victim of being beaten by prison employees. The investigation is still ongoing. Latest local news Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR. 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: Michael George Thompson. Image courtesy Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum. We want to remember Michael George Thompson, 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. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) The 18-year-old arrested in connection with a shooting in National City last year that left a 12-year-old dead and four other people injured appeared in court for the first time Monday following his arrest last week. Carlos Maldonado appeared in court on gun-related charges but was not immediately charged in the death, the Deputy District Attorney said. National City Police report that officers arrived at a large party with over 100 people at an abandoned house on N Avenue on Nov. 15, 2024, where they found five people with gunshot injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of those victims, 12-year-old Elijah Smith, a student in the Lemon Grove School District, was pronounced dead, while the other four victims were taken to the hospital. Suspect arrested after boy shot dead at National City party Maldonado was arrested by police on March 20, 2025, four months later. On Monday, Maldonado pleaded not guilty to two charges of firearm possession related to the same firearm but on two different dates, Deputy District Attorney Kerry Conway said. Maldonado was initially held without bail, but that changed when a judge set a bail of $50,000 on Monday for the gun possession charges with gang-related allegations, San Diego Union-Tribune reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conway described the charges as unlawful possession of a firearm in a vehicle that was loaded and concealable, and the second as possession of an unserialized firearm. Gunfire erupts at National City house party, leaving one dead and four injured The deputy DA alleged Maldonado had posted a video of himself in rival gang territory on social media, essentially issuing a gang challenge, leading to the gang-related charges. The homicide remains under investigation. The families of both Maldonado and Elijah Smith were in attendance in the courtroom on 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. AMMAN, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Jordan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi met Wednesday with German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, renewing calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral relations between Jordan and both Germany and Austria, as well as cooperation within the strategic partnership with the European Union, according to a statement from the ministry. Discussions also included joint coordination on regional developments. Safadi emphasized the urgent need for collective efforts to immediately end Israeli military operations on Gaza, ensure a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire, and open border crossings to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery across the Strip. The talks also addressed the situation in Syria, with an emphasis on supporting the Syrian people in rebuilding their country through a Syrian-led political process that guarantees Syria's unity, security, stability, and sovereignty while eliminating terrorism and safeguarding the rights of all Syrians. Safadi highlighted the importance of ongoing assistance for refugees, host countries, and humanitarian organizations, alongside intensified efforts to create conditions for their voluntary return. For their part, Faeser and Karner praised Jordan's role and the efforts led by King Abdullah II in promoting security, stability, and peace in the region. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Two people were arrested following a string of dollar store robberies in the Memphis area Wednesday afternoon. One of the suspects was identified as 18-year-old Marcus Veasley, who has been charged with four counts of Aggravated Robbery, Theft of Property $2,500-$10,000, Evading Arrest in a Vehicle, and Evading Arrest of Foot. His bond has not been set. Marcus Veasley (Photo courtesy of the MPD) The other suspect arrested was a 16-year-old juvenile. He has been charged with three counts of Aggravated Robbery and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon. His bond amount is unknown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Memphis Police say on March 22, around 11 a.m., officers responded to a robbery at a Dollar General on Berryhill Road. The suspect allegedly pointed a rifle at the clerk and demanded money, then fired a shot into the floor. The suspect reportedly fled the scene in a stolen blue Hyundai Sonata. See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South. Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. On March 26, around 12:30 p.m., officers responded to a robbery at Dollar General on Macon Road, where a suspect entered the business with a rifle and demanded money. The suspect again, fled the area in a stolen Sonata. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The MPD says Shelby County Sheriffs deputies spotted the car and pursued it for a short time. On the same day, at 12:48 p.m., officers responded to an armed robbery at Family Dollar in the 1700 block of Sycamore View Road and another at Dollar General in the 4100 block of Summer Avenue just after 1 p.m. 4100 block of Summer Avenue. WREG photo. Memphis police said witnesses provided information that helped them track down the suspects. Two males were detained in the 400 block of Baltimore Street and the 400 block of Buntyn Avenue after a brief foot pursuit. Police say that the driver ran into the street and was hit by a car. He was taken to Regional One in non-critical condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Railgarten site up for sale Police held a news briefing after the arrests were made, but did not release any details about the robberies. They said they were still trying to determine if the Sycamore View and Summer robberies were connected. This was confirmed on Thursday afternoon. The Sycamore View Family Dollar was closed for business late Wednesday afternoon. An employee said he was waiting for a security guard to show up before opening his doors. 1700 block of Sycamore View Road. WREG photo. He said he wasnt working at the time of the robbery, but said robbers took just over $100 from the business. If anyone has any information about any of the robberies, they are urged to call Crimestoppers at 528-CASH. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Two North Jersey men were arrested Tuesday for a $1.7 million smash-and-grab jewelry robbery in Westchester County. Kevin Williams, 26, and Byron Wilson, 24, were part of a four-man break-in crew that snatched the jewelry from a store in Hartsdale, N.Y., federal investigators said Tuesday in a press release. Both men were arrested Tuesday morning. Armed with sledgehammers, the defendants smashed their way in and then plundered the store of about $1.7 million in jewelry, diamonds and luxury watches, all while innocent customers and employees hid for their safety, Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams, Wilson and their two partners broke into Tarrytown Jewelers around 11 a.m. on Dec. 16, 2024, according to the feds. The robbers were seen on surveillance video using sledgehammers to smash open display cases, then shoving the stolen valuables into bags. The robbers got away with about 70 Rolex watches worth $1 million and additional diamond rings, necklaces and earrings worth $700,000, according to authorities. Later that day, Williams visited Manhattans Diamond District, the feds said. After that trip, Williams, Wilson and the other robbers posed for photos with huge stacks of cash, according to the feds. The photos were included in charging documents. Investigators tied Williams and Wilson to the robbery through cellphone location data and a stolen Jeep the robbers drove to and from Terrytown Jewelers. MIAMI, Fla. (WFLA) Two passengers were arrested on Friday after police said they molested a 14-year-old boy while aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship bound for Miami. Jose Prudencio Diaz, 36, and Ricardo Daniel Mondragon Leal, 37, were charged with multiple crimes, including lewd and lascivious molestation of a child 12 to 16 years old, according to reports from NBC 6 South Florida. Mom, boyfriend now facing murder charge after 10-year-old dies from gruesome abuse: SAO Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both men are Mexican nationals and have immigration holds. Diaz also faces an additional charge for having sex without disclosing his HIV status, NBC 6 reported. An arrest report stated that the incident happened a day before the Royal Caribbean cruise line, Independence of the Seas, docked at PortMiami. The 14-year-old victim was in the sauna room with Diaz and Leal when he said they began to pleasure themselves in front of him. The two suspects then began to touch the 14-year-old boy and, at one point, Diaz forced the boy to touch him, according to the report. Investigators said Leal also molested the victim and made the boy perform a sex act on him. Diaz and Leal were taken into custody after the ship arrived in Miami Friday. Both men were denied bond during their court hearings on Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defendant, in this case, acting in concert with another defendant, they were both on a cruise, a prosecutor said in court. This shows that they tried to target a specific minor, and this could be done again. NBC reached out to Royal Caribbean for a statement 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 WFLA. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A traffic stop in Alamogordo, New Mexico, resulted in two people in their 60s being arrested and nearly 500 fentanyl pills and several guns being found, according to the Alamogordo Police Department. At about 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19, agents with the White Mountain Drug Task Force and the Alamogordo Police Force executed a narcotics search warrant during a traffic stop in the area of North Florida and Fairgrounds in Alamogordo. During the investigation, 491 fentanyl pills, four guns and cash were found, Alamogordo Police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, 64-year-old Craig Donaldson of Alamogordo was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of liquor or drugs, trafficking a controlled substance and conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance. Paula Gordon, 63, also of Alamogordo, was arrested and charged with trafficking a controlled substance and conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance. They were processed and booked into the Otero County Detention Center and are awaiting their court appearances, Alamogordo Police said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. DENVER (KDVR) A man is facing a charge of first-degree attempted murder after police said he interfered with a police chase on Interstate 225 and allegedly fired multiple shots at officers on Wednesday morning. Around 1:30 a.m., Chief Kevin Barnes with the Aurora Police Department said officers responded to a firearm call on the 3200 block of Carson Street in Aurora, where a victim reported being assaulted by two suspects and had a gun pointed at him. Barnes said police located a red Chevy pickup truck and began to pursue the suspects, who were wanted on suspicion of felony menacing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said they were following a red truck from East Colfax Avenue onto I-225 heading south, then, they said a white Ford pickup truck appeared and moved between the red truck and the police cruiser. Barnes said they believe tools were thrown out of the white truck, then, shots were allegedly fired out the drivers side window at police officers. Barnes said three rounds of shots were fired from the drivers side window. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox The chase continued on I-225 onto Interstate 25 south, where officers performed a PIT maneuver, which caused the white pickup truck to crash and flip upside down just before Arapahoe Road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the crash, Barnes said a male and female fled on foot before they were apprehended by the Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office and Greenwood Village Police Department. Police found a gun on the scene, which they said was a 40 caliber with an extended magazine. They also believe there is a relationship between the two trucks. The suspected driver, Aaron Wallace, 31, of Lakewood, had an active warrant for his arrest and was on probation in Arapahoe County for weapons violation, according to Marc Paolino, the commander of the Auroras investigations bureau. Paolino said Wallace is still in the hospital and is facing a minimum of first-degree attempted murder. He said the investigation is still ongoing and there will probably be other charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police arent releasing the name of the 21-year-old woman in the white truck, who Paolino said isnt being charged and is cooperating in the investigation. She was taken to the hospital but has since been released. Meanwhile, no officers were injured in this incident. Barnes said the red pickup is still outstanding and police are actively investigating the incident. The Crime Gun Intelligence Unit will be the lead investigators on this case while the internal investigations bureau is conducting an administrative review for compliance with agency polices and training. This chase comes shortly after a change in pursuit policies for the Aurora Police Department, however, Barnes said the pursuit policy didnt change the way the officers handled the incident and police wouldve responded this way a year ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867, or online at metrodenvercrimestoppers.com. Tipsters who provide information resulting in an arrest or conviction can be eligible for a cash reward. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. The Cherokee County Sheriffs Office says a man who was last seen earlier this month has been found. Asher Atkins, 20, was last seen near Darby Road and Christopher Court on March 18. Investigators said on Wednesday that Atkins had been found. They did not say where he was found. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] PEKIN, Ill. (WMBD) Debby Dant is dedicated to say the least, involved in multiple organizations, but her time giving back stems from her husband. Hes a four-year Vietnam Veteran who made her realize the importance of fighting for our country. The veterans gave a lot to us, whether they only served a short time, whether they served four to six years, or were lifers. They all gave a portion of their lives to serve the country, said Dant. Dant has been a member of North Pekins AMVETS for 40 years and has had a role in every corner of the organization. She does everything there, from organizing dinners to Easter egg hunts, to make sure veterans are seen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She has found a way to recruit community members by hosting large events at the North Pekin AMVETS, like Trunk or Treat, or Veterans Day Luncheons. She has even collected Christmas presents and personal care items for homeless veterans. This last Christmas, she headed a project where she sent $1,000 worth of personal care items, snacks, and more to a local serviceman deployed to the Middle East to share with 40 others in his unit. She has also spearheaded events at the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy, Illinois. Dant was named the AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary National Member of the Year back in 2009. But her work with them didnt stop after that honor, particularly state-wide. Ive been every officer in the auxiliary. But right now, Im in like my 22nd/23rd year of secretary-treasurer, said Dant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prior to that position, she held all state elected offices with the ladies auxiliary. In 2001, she was even the president. For AMVETS riders, shes been the Secretary and Scholarship Chairman since it was created in 2008, and for the last several years, shes also held the position of Treasurer. Shes also a location coordinator for Wreaths Across America at the Tazewell Area Veterans Cemetery and welcomes veterans home from every single honor flight that has landed at the Peoria International Airport, even volunteering as a guardian before. As for self-care, as she doesnt seem to even have time for any, she still finds time for herself, but that time continues to find her giving back. Quilting is what gives her time to relax and rejuvenate. Im involved with Patchwork Pals, which is our local quilting group, said Dant. We do Quilts of Valor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quilts of Valor are handmade quilts that are machine or hand quilted, awarded to a Service Member or Veteran touched by war. We cant feed them, clothe them, house them. You know, we cant take care of every life essential need, but we can give them support. [We can] let them know that there are still people here who care about them and care about what they need, what theyd like through the AMVETS, said Dant. Dant said she doesnt give back because its something she has to do, but because its a way of life for her. For others looking to give back, she said, Just do it, you know, and find your niche. You cant be all things to all people, find what makes you happy first and then just build on that and find the organizations that promote what you like. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) The Greenville County Sheriffs Office is asking for help finding the person who shot and killed a Darlington County man early Sunday morning. Derrick Shaquan Higgins, 22, a Lamar High School graduate, was shot outside the Quarter P Hookah Lounge on Augusta Road, the sheriffs office said Wednesday in a Facebook post. Derrick Shaquan Higgins / Photo: Greenville County Sheriffs Office Photo: Greenville County Sheriffs Office Photo: Greenville County Sheriffs Office The shooting happened shortly after 3 a.m., according to News13 sister station WSPA, which said deputies at the scene found a man with a gunshot wound who was taken to Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital in critical condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Higgins died on Sunday, according to an obituary, which said he lived in Simpsonville in Greenville County. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Higgins family with funeral expenses. Hines Funeral Home in Hartsville is handling the arrangements, which are incomplete. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the sheriffs office at 864-867-2343. * * * Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. A company that collects and analyzes customers genetic information has filed for bankruptcy and your genetic data could be up for grabs to a new buyer. 23andMe collects highly personal information from their customers through genetic testing. In a bankruptcy proceeding, your genetic data could be considered an asset and could be sold or transferred to a third party. The Attorney Generals Consumer Protection Division urges Georgians to consider deleting their data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you were a customer of 23andMe, here are the steps that experts recommend you take to protect your private information. To delete your genetic data from 23andMe: Visit 23andMe.com and log in to your account Click on your profile in the upper righthand corner of the page and select Settings Scroll to the bottom of the page and look for 23andMe Data, then 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. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the red button that says, Permanently Delete Data. You will receive an email titled 23andMe Delete Account Request. Open it and click the button that says, Permanently Delete All Records. Your data will not be deleted until you complete that step. You can get more information on how to delete your 23andMe account by visiting this link. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (C) speaks to the media at the Federal Senate in Brasilia, Brazil, on March 26, 2025. Brazil's Supreme Court on Wednesday formally indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro and seven of his allies over an alleged plot to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua) BRASILIA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's Supreme Court on Wednesday formally indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro and seven of his allies over an alleged plot to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election. The justices voted unanimously to move forward with criminal charges, which include attempted coup, conspiracy, and sabotage of democratic institutions. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the case, said prosecutors presented sufficient evidence that Bolsonaro led efforts to discredit the election, drafted plans to nullify the vote, and sought to block the inauguration of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Among those indicted are several former high-ranking officials, including Walter Braga Netto, Augusto Heleno, and Anderson Torres. With the indictment approved, the case now moves into the trial phase. Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (C) speaks to the media at the Federal Senate in Brasilia, Brazil, on March 26, 2025. Brazil's Supreme Court on Wednesday formally indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro and seven of his allies over an alleged plot to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua) Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (C) speaks to the media at the Federal Senate in Brasilia, Brazil, on March 26, 2025. Brazil's Supreme Court on Wednesday formally indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro and seven of his allies over an alleged plot to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua) Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaks to the media at the Federal Senate in Brasilia, Brazil, on March 26, 2025. Brazil's Supreme Court on Wednesday formally indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro and seven of his allies over an alleged plot to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua) Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaks to the media at the Federal Senate in Brasilia, Brazil, on March 26, 2025. Brazil's Supreme Court on Wednesday formally indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro and seven of his allies over an alleged plot to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua) The genetic testing company 23andMe has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, raising concerns about the security of customer genetic data, according to the Associated Press. Despite the bankruptcy filing, 23andMe assures that its data storage and protection protocols remain unchanged. However, privacy experts advise users to delete their data due to potential risks of data exposure to buyers or hackers. What were witnessing with 23andMe is a stark wake-up call for data privacy, said Adrianus Warmenhoven, a cybersecurity expert at NordVPN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Genetic data isnt just a bit of personal information it is a blueprint of your entire biological profile, Warmenhoven added. Anne Wojcicki, co-founder and former CEO of 23andMe, resigned immediately as the company filed for bankruptcy. She plans to bid on the company as it seeks new ownership through a court-approved reorganization plan. The company aims to reduce costs by rejecting lease contracts in San Francisco and Sunnyvale, California, while continuing operations during the bankruptcy process. ALSO READ: She was smooth, smooth, smooth: Watch out for genetic testing scams In 2023, a data breach at 23andMe exposed the genetic data of nearly 7 million customers, leading to a $30 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David Choffnes, a computer science professor at Northeastern University, highlighted the sensitivity of genetic data, noting that unlike an email address, genetic data cannot be changed if compromised. 23andMe states it does not share data with health insurance companies, employers, or public databases without user consent, and only shares with law enforcement when legally required. California Attorney General Rob Bonta reminded consumers of their right to delete their data from 23andMe, emphasizing the importance of data protection amid the companys financial distress. If you have a 23andMe account, you can delete your data by logging in and going to settings and scrolling to a section called 23andMe Data at the bottom of the page. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, click View, download it if you want a copy then go to the Delete Data section and click Permanently Delete Data. 23andMe will email you to confirm and you will need to follow the link in the email to confirm your deletion request. If you previously asked 23andMe to store your saliva sample and DNA, you can also ask that it be destroyed by going to your account settings and clicking on Preferences. And you can withdraw consent to third-party researchers to use your genetic data and sample under Research and Product Consents. VIDEO: She was smooth, smooth, smooth: Watch out for genetic testing scams DENVER (KDVR) Former Dean of Culture at East High School Eric Sinclair is suing Denver Public Schools, alleging that he suffered life-altering but preventable injuries from a 17-year-old student who shot Sinclair and another dean in March 2023. That other dean, Jerald Wayne Mason, filed a lawsuit against the district earlier this month. He was shot twice in the chest while he and Sinclair conducted a routine pat down of student Austin Lyle on March 22, 2023. Sinclair was shot in his thigh and through his stomach, had a tourniquet applied at the school, and underwent emergency surgery after he was rushed to Denver Health. East High School dean hurt in shooting files lawsuit against Denver Public Schools Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He spent nine days in the hospital after the incident and announced plans over a year ago to sue DPS. The lawsuit, filed March 21, names the district, Denver Public Schools Board members, including Auontai Anderson who was vice president of the board at the time, and assistant principal Shawne Anderson. Sinclair is arguing that his rights under the 14th Amendment were violated by the district creating and/or increasing the danger of Mr. Sinclair, or other similarly situated faculty and staff, being shot by a student. He also argued that the district created an unclear, inconsistent discipline system, saying the district prioritized politics and statistics over safety, pressing schools to admit students, some with criminal records, who, for safety and support reasons were likely better served at alternative pathway schools. Sinclair also said the district prevented East High School and other schools from suspending or expelling students who had committed illegal actions. He also said that the district implemented a policy to remove school resource officers. The school board had voted in June 2020 to remove student resource officers, a decision made as protests demanding changes to policing flooded the nation after George Floyds death. At the time of the shooting, Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero said he was committed to having two armed officers at East High School until the end of the semester. In a letter to the school board, he also pledged to have an officer at each comprehensive high school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the letter, he said his decision probably violated policy but said I am willing to accept the consequences of my actions. The school board released a statement at the time in support of Marrero working in partnership with local law enforcement to create safer learning spaces. Sinclairs lawsuit asserts that when the school resource officers were pulled from schools, no additional staffing, budget or training was given to school officials. Douglas County Schools Superintendent addresses parents, staff consolidation concerns When incidents of violence escalated at East High School, and the number of guns seized in the District increased five-fold, (the district) refused to return (school resource officers) to the school despite pleas from the students, faculty and staff who were feeling unsafe, Sinclairs lawsuit states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit asserts that during the 2021-2022 school year, Denver Public Schools confiscated 202 dangerous weapons from students, including 13 guns and 28 fake guns. The lawsuit also asserts that as of November 2022, the district had seized 79 weapons, including 7 guns and 17 fake guns. His lawsuit says the district did not provide deans or other administrators training on conducting searches or how to de-escalate the tensions originating from angry, armed or fearful students. The result of the (districts) actions were two tragedies: two deans shot and an obviously gifted but immature and volatile young man dead, Sinclairs complaint asserts. Sinclair said that the districts Student Equity and Opportunity Team effectively tells the schools to deal with it or figure out a way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) Birmingham police announced Wednesday the arrest of three suspects in connection to a 2024 double homicide. The shooting occurred Nov. 21 in the 4400 block of 41st Place North. The Birmingham Police Department announced the arrest of the following suspects in connection to the shooting: Jaylen Frost, 18, of Tarrant CamRon Frost, 18, of Birmingham Taquan Patterson, 22, of Birmingham Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Jefferson County Magistrates Office issued a capital murder (two or more victims) warrant for each suspect. The suspects were arrested at a Titusville residence Tuesday. They are in custody at the Jefferson County Jail with no bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. More than 300 of the United Statess wealthiest people have asked members of Congress to block Republicans' proposed tax plan that would benefit them, saying it would dismantle social programs, undermine the U.S. economy and put millions of families at risk. In a letter sent to Democrat leaders in the House and Senate Monday, the group of wealthy individuals criticized President Donald Trumps desire to extend his 2017 tax cuts, which largely benefitted wealthy people and corporations. "These cuts aren't just unnecessary; they're cruel, prioritizing handouts to the wealthiest households over the well-being of those who need help the most," the letter read, according to Axios. A group of the wealthiest Americans have urged Democrats to reject Republicans efforts to advance President Donald Trumps tax plan (Getty Images) It arrives on the desk of Democratic leaders as Republicans gear up to try and advance Trumps tax proposals. The tax cuts from his first term are set to expire at the end of this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among those who signed the letter are Abigail Disney, a philanthropist and member of the Disney family; Jeffrey Hollender, the founder of the brand Seventh Generation; heirs to the Rockefeller family and more. Many of the people who signed the letter were not named. Instead of handing out massive and unnecessary tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy, like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg Congress should be raising their and our taxes, the letter read, according to The Washington Post. The letter was organized by the Responsible Wealth Project in coordination with Americans for Tax Fairness and Voices for Progress, according to reports. The group sent out a similar letter to Congress in 2022. A group of wealthy Americans also sent a letter to presidential candidates in 2020 urging them to tax the ultra-wealthy more for the benefit of most Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mike Lapham, the project director at the Responsible Wealth Project, told Axios that those who signed the letter are not household names looking for publicity in asking members of Congress to reject a tax proposal that gives ultra-wealth tax cuts. The letter arrives on the desk of Democratic leaders as Republicans gear up to try and advance Trumps tax proposals (Getty Images) On the campaign trail, Trump promised to cut taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security benefits in addition to expanding his 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act. Those cuts mean a reduction in federal tax revenue, which is less money to fund the presidents costly policy proposals, such as the mass deportation of immigrants. House and Senate Republicans will face the issue of implementing tax cuts while finding money to pay for federal programs in the coming weeks as they begin budget reconciliation. No more tax cuts for the wealthy. Not in our name, the letter says. The Independent has asked Responsible Wealth Project, Americans for Tax Fairness and Voices for Progress for a copy of the letter. A third gunman has been sentenced for his role in the West Side gang slaying of a man who was shot while playing a video game in front of his bedroom window. Montez Dalray Davis, 26, was one of four men charged in Ramsey County District Court in the murder of Casanova Giovanni Carter, who was struck by three bullets fired through the window of his home in the 700 block of Winslow Avenue around 10:15 p.m. Feb. 1, 2022. Carter, a 26-year-old father of three children, was hit in the head, face and back and died at the scene. Investigators recovered 18 spent casings outside the home that ballistics testing showed came from four guns: three 9mm and a .45 caliber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, Davis, of Brooklyn Park, admitted in court to second-degree unintentional murder while committing a felony, a lesser charge added by the prosecution as part of a plea agreement. He was then given his agreed-upon 22-year prison sentence, which includes credit for more than three years already served in custody. Carter and the four shooters were associated with gangs, according to police and prosecutors. The criminal complaints say Carter and one of Davis accomplices, Kendall Dvontae Pruitt, began beefing after Carter called him a snitch in a social media post. Carter also was being blamed by some for not stopping a June 2021 fatal shooting at Thompson Park in West St. Paul. Carters funeral three weeks later was the scene of more gunfire that claimed another mans life and injured three others. Agustin Martinez, 28, of Crystal, was shot to death and three other people were wounded by gunfire outside Simple Traditions by Bradshaw Funeral Home on St. Pauls West Side. Murder charges have not been filed in Martinezs death, which police said was gang-related. Four men were sentenced to either prison or the county jail for their roles in the gun battle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A month after Carters killing, prosecutors filed murder charges against Davis, Pruitt, 28, of Minneapolis, and Delaquay Levius Williams, 30, of St. Paul. A grand jury in June of that year indicted the trio with aiding and abetting first-degree murder, aiding and abetting first-degree murder for the benefit of the gang and other charges. The fourth suspect, DaiQuan Lamar Husten, 26, of St. Paul, was charged with second-degree murder six months after the three others. In exchange for cooperating in Williams case, the prosecution agreed to take the first-degree murder charges off the table for Husten and Davis. Pruitt also spoke with the prosecution prior to pleading guilty to second-degree intentional murder in September 2023. Hes serving a 30-year prison term. (Pruitt) starts the shooting, then they all shoot In Williams jury trial, which ran 10 days in December, prosecutors relied on the testimony from Husten and Davis and introduced as evidence video surveillance footage, cellphone records and a DNA swab collected from below Carters window that matched Williams. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Elizabeth Lamin told jurors that Williams, Davis and Pruitt walked to the north side of the home, where Carter was playing a video game in front of his window, while Husten went to the front door. And Montez Davis told you that Husten and Pruitt all have 9mms and that Williams has a .45, Lamin said. (Davis) said, (Pruitt) starts the shooting, then they all shoot. Jurors deliberated about five hours over two days before convicting Williams of all the charges against him. He received the mandatory sentence of life in prison on Jan. 29. Hustens case is scheduled for a hearing Thursday. He admitted in an August 2022 interview with police that he fired multiple shots at Carters front door and then ran from the house, the complaint against him says. More shootings Just over a month after Carters killing, Williams allegedly fatally shot 31-year-old Regis Jones in an alley in St. Pauls Frogtown neighborhood, according to a complaint in that case charging him with second-degree intentional murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police believe that Williams murdered (Jones) to keep him from talking about the murder of (Carter), a complaint against Williams cousin, Dovyion Daquay Glass, says. Related Articles Glass, 34, of Roseville, pleaded guilty to being an accomplice after the fact in Jones killing and was sentenced to just over 7 years in prison in June 2023. Williams has pleaded not guilty in the case, which is ongoing with a jury trial scheduled for November. Davis plea agreement this week also settled the two other Ramsey County cases against him. He admitted to being a felon in possession of a firearm stemming from a shooting of a 24-year-old woman in St. Paul during a marijuana deal on Aug. 20, 2020, and to first-degree aggravated robbery for barging into a St. Paul home with a handgun along with another man on Aug. 12, 2021. His prison sentences in those cases will run at the same time as his term for Carters murder. At least four people were killed and six others injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day, regional officials reported on March 26. Ukraine's air defenses intercepted 56 of the 117 Russian drones launched overnight, including Shahed-type attack drones. Another 48 drones reportedly disappeared from radars before reaching their targets, likely acting as decoys to overwhelm Ukraine's air defenses. Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare systems, aviation, and mobile fire groups repelled the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Donetsk Oblast, three residents were killed: two in Kurtivka and one in Pokrovsk. Another three people were injured, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. A 63-year-old man was killed in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast as a result of artillery strikes and kamikaze drone attacks, Governor Serhii Lysak wrote. In Kherson Oblast, three people were injured as Russian forces attacked social infrastructure and residential areas, damaging two high-rise buildings and 12 houses, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. A Russian attack on the town of Okhtyrka in Sumy Oblast damaged two apartment buildings, four shops, an administrative building, several cars, outbuildings, and market kiosks. According to the regional military administration, there were no casualties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Russia may be dragging their feet on Ukraine peace deal, Trump says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Four U.S. Army soldiers were missing Wednesday in Lithuania after disappearing during a training exercise, the U.S. embassy in Vilnius said in a statement posted on social media, thanking the Baltic nation's military and police for helping American forces search for them. The embassy said in a post on social media that the troops went missing from a training area near Pabrade, near Lithuania's far eastern border with Belarus, a nation closely allied with Russia. The embassy did not say when the soldiers went missing. "The soldiers, all from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, were conducting scheduled tactical training at the time of the incident," the embassy's statement said. "Search and recovery efforts are underway." Members of the U.S. Army 1st Division 9th Regiment 1st Battalion unload heavy combat equipment including Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles at the railway station near the Pabrade military base in Lithuania, in an Oct. 21, 2019 file photo. / Credit: PETRAS MALUKAS/AFP/Getty Lithuanian news outlet Delfi said the soldiers went missing along with a tracked vehicle, which typically refers to a tank or armored personnel carriers. What West Virginia's food dye ban means for your next grocery run One year since Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse Supreme Court rules on ghost guns case Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect the latest developments. Search and rescue efforts are underway for four American soldiers who went missing in Lithuania in an incident during training near the border with Belarus, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry reported on March 26. The U.S. Army and Lithuanian Armed Forces are currently conducting a joint search and rescue operation, Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "People are working around the clock, and everyone remains on standby, ready to provide emergency medical support. Please rest assured that we will continue our efforts tirelessly and keep you informed of any developments," Sakaliene said. The U.S. Army reported that the vehicle carrying four missing soldiers was found submerged in water, with search efforts still ongoing. "The M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle the four missing U.S. soldiers were operating during a training exercise has been located in Lithuania," U.S. Army Europe and Africas public affairs office said in a statement, as reported by the Guardian. "The vehicle was discovered submerged in a body of water in a training area Recovery efforts are underway," the statement added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier in the day, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told reporters that the soldiers had died, but said he had no further details. A NATO spokesperson later said Rutte was not confirming the soldiers' deaths and that the fate of the missing persons is still unknown. Prior to Rutte's remarks, the Lithuanian Armed Forces said the military was searching for U.S. soldiers and a tracked vehicle that had gone missing on March 25. According to the U.S. Army, the soldiers disappeared in a training area near the city of Pabrade, some 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the border with Belarus. Pabrade is home to Camp Herkus, a U.S. military camp. "The soldiers, all from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, were conducting scheduled tactical training at the time of the incident," the U.S. Army said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Talk about an invasion is everywhere How Lithuania is preparing for war with Russia Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. CAIRO, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Palestinian Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Mustafa exchanged views and assessments on Wednesday regarding the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. During a phone conversation, the two sides addressed the recent developments in the Palestinian arena in light of the ongoing Israeli "violations of international law and international humanitarian law," the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Abdelatty reviewed the efforts made by Egypt, in cooperation with Qatar, to achieve calm and consolidate the ceasefire in Gaza, the statement said. The Palestinian prime minister appreciated the Egyptian efforts, hoping that they would pave the way for holding the Cairo Conference for the Reconstruction of Gaza in April. A phased ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas took effect on Jan. 19. 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. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel renewed military operations because Hamas rejected offers to extend the initial phase of the ceasefire agreement. U.S. and Lithuanian personnel were still working Thursday to recover four missing U.S. soldiers whose Hercules armored vehicle was found submerged in a body of water at a training site in Lithuania on Wednesday, officials said. The soldiers, all part of 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, have been missing since early Tuesday, when they were conducting a maintenance mission to recover another Army vehicle during a training exercise, according to U.S. Army Europe and Africa. The training site is the General Silvestras Zukauskas Training Area near Pabrade, north of the capital Vilnius, Lithuania. Search and recovery efforts have continued without pause since the soldiers were reported missing, the Army said in a statement Thursday. The initial search included military helicopters, Lithuanian diving teams and hundreds of U.S. and Lithuanian soldiers and law enforcement officers looking through thick forests and swampy terrain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, personnel are focusing on the area where the armored vehicle was found. We are leveraging every available U.S. and Lithuanian asset to coordinate for and provide the required resources for this effort, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, the commanding general of 1st Armored Division, said in a statement. As of Thursday, thick mud and soft ground were keeping emergency personnel from accessing the vehicle and complicating and slowing the recovery efforts, the Army said. Engineers were creating berms to establish a contained area, from which water and mud could be dredged away to better stabilize the ground. U.S. and Lithuanian personnel conduct recovery efforts March 27 in the search and recovery of four missing U.S. Army soldiers and their M88 armored vehicle near Pabrade, Lithuania. (U.S. Army Europe and Africa) Due to the terrain, this is an incredibly complex engineering effort. The team on the ground is working to remove enough water and mud for rescue teams to safely reach, stabilize, and access the vehicle, Maj. Robin Bruce, 1st Armored Division Engineer, said in a statement. The team is exploring every available option to speed up this process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Families of the soldiers are being updated about the recovery efforts, the Army said. The service has not yet released the names of the four troops. NATO on Wednesday clarified comments Secretary-General Mark Rutte made earlier that day, when he suggested the soldiers had died, even though the U.S. Army said their fate was not yet confirmed. The search is ongoing, NATO said in a statement posted on X. We regret any confusion about remarks @SecGenNATO delivered on this today. He was referring to emerging news reports & was not confirming the fate of the missing, which is still unknown. During a trip to Warsaw, Rutte told reporters that he had received word of the deaths of the four soldiers while he was delivering a lecture, and that his thoughts were with their families and with the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is still early news so we do not know the details. This is really terrible news and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones, Rutte said in Warsaw. The Associated Press contributed to this report. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) The Sioux City Public Museum is displaying Sioux City history exhibits that were all created by local fourth graders. The exhibit was opened on March 15 and displays 100 projects from fourth-grade students, offering visitors lessons on information from Sioux Citys past, according to a release. 17 local schools taught lessons on the citys history, and approximately 861 students made projects, with 100 of them being selected for the display. Projects were chosen based on details such as uniqueness, quality, and how they relate to the history of Sioux City, the museum said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the projects cover topics such as the Leeds Airport, the Grandview Water Towers, the Haddock Murder Trial, Cudahy Packing Co., South Ravine Park, Smith School, Samaritan Hospital, Walgreens, and Greenville Pharmacy. Woodbury County Board of Supervisors to discuss possible hiring freeze next week The public is invited to vote on what they believe to be the best amongst the history projects in the Visitors Choice Award Category. Students will receive awards the day the exhibit closes on May 10. Schools that participated in the exhibit include: Bryant Elementary, Cathedral Dual Language Academy, Holy Cross Elementary, Hunt Elementary, Irving Elementary, Leeds Elementary, Liberty Elementary, Loess Hills Elementary, Morningside Elementary, Perry Creek Elementary, RIverside Elementary, Sacred Heart, Siouxland Christian, Spalding Park Elementary, St. Paul Lutheran, Sunnyside Elementary, and Unity Elementary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. From the civil rights movement of the 1960s to the anti-war protests of the 21st century, college students have long been known for their political activism. In the last year, however, political expression on college campuses has been subject to increased scrutiny. The Trump administration recently threatened to revoke $400 million in federal funding from Columbia University unless it complied with nine demands several of which were directly related to student protests against Israels war in Gaza. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the cancellation of federal funding was in response to continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Columbias interim president Katrina Armstrong responded by saying the university would engage in constructive dialogue with our federal regulators, including on the work we are doing to address antisemitism, harassment, and discrimination. Shortly after issuing these demands, the federal government arrested and threatened to deport Palestinian Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil who is a green card holder and married to a pregnant American woman for his role in the Gaza Solidarity Encampment. In a letter dictated over the phone from a Louisiana detention facility, Khalil described himself as a political prisoner and said his arrest was a direct consequence of exercising [his] right to free speech. Many civil rights organizations described Khalils detainment as unlawful retribution against an individual exercising his First Amendment rights. The First Amendment does not allow the government to retaliate against anyone for their speech, reads one petition from the American Civil Liberties Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ripping someone from their home, stripping them of their immigration status, and detaining them solely based on political viewpoint is a clear attempt by President Trump to silence dissent. And thats patently unconstitutional. Political speech however controversial some may find it may never be the basis for punishment, including deportation. Despite the changing landscape around political activism, American colleges remain a hotbed of protests, petitions, and campaigns. Each year the Princeton Review ranks the most and least politically active colleges and universities based on student answers to the survey question, My level of political awareness is: Very High, High, Average, Low, or Very Low. Continue reading to see which colleges and universities are the most politically active. 5th Most Political: Bennington College Photo: Bennington College Where is it? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bennington, Vermont What kind of school is it? Bennington is a private, coeducational liberal arts college. How many students attend? 797 4th Most Political: Mount Holyoke College Photo: Mount Holyoke College Where is it? South Hadley, Massachusetts What kind of school is it? Mount Holyoke is a private liberal arts college for women, nonbinary, and transgender students. How many students attend? 2,178 3rd Most Political: Hampden-Sydney College Photo: Hampden-Sydney College Where is it? Hampden-Sydney, Virginia What kind of school is it? Hampden-Sydney is a private liberal arts college for men. How many students attend? 876 2nd Most Political: Pitzer College Photo: Pitzer College Claremont, California What kind of school is it? Pitzer is a private, coeducational liberal arts college. How many students attend? 1,242 Most Political: Claremont-McKenna College Photo: Claremont McKenna College Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where is it? Claremont, California What kind of school is it? Claremont-McKenna is a private, coeducational liberal arts college. How many students attend? 1,390 5th Least Political: Clarkson University Photo: Clarkson University Where is it? Potsdam, New York What kind of school is it? Clarkson University is a private, coeducational research university. How many students attend? 2,513 4th Least Political: Salisbury University Photo: Salisbury University Where is it? Salisbury, Maryland What kind of school is it? Salisbury University is a public, coeducational university. How many students attend? 6,288 3rd Least Political: Stonehill College Photo: Stonehill College Where is it? Easton, Massachusetts What kind of school is it? Stonehill is a coeducational, Catholic liberal arts college. How many students attend? 2,579 2nd Least Political: University of Utah Photo: University of Utah Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where is it? Salt Lake City, Utah What kind of school is it? The University of Utah is a coeducational public research university. How many students attend? 26,827 Least Political: State University of New York at Geneseo Photo: State University of New York Where is it? Geneseo, New York What kind of school is it? SUNY Geneseo is a coeducational, public liberal arts college. How many students attend? 3,902 For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The heads of the nations top public broadcasters faced an intense grilling from lawmakers Wednesday on Capitol Hill over their outlets funding and editorial objectivity. The House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee hearing came as Republicans and allies of President Trump have assailed public media organizations NPR and PBS as too liberal in news coverage, while the broadcast networks have come under heavy scrutiny from Trumps Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over their journalism and fundraising practices. Here are five takeaways from the hearing. Republicans lay out allegations of bias Republicans led by subcommittee Chair Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) accused NPR CEO Katherine Maher and PBS President Paula Kerger of presiding over news organizations that are biased against conservatives and out of touch with large swaths of Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People who listen to NPR are totally misinformed, Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) said during his questioning. I have a problem with that, because you get federal funds. Comer argued there is less of a place for public radio and TV in the increasingly internet-based media ecosystem, and the federal government should invest its money elsewhere as it looks to cut costs. Because of technology today, I dont think theres a role for public radio anymore, he said. Greene and her fellow committee members accused the public broadcasters of ignoring issues important to Republican voters in news coverage and catering to wealthy white liberals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On several occasions, GOP members referenced a bombshell essay published by former NPR editor Uri Berliner last year outlining what he described as was widespread liberal groupthink inside the outlet. Berliner was suspended from NPR over the essay and later resigned. Were constantly making sure we are bringing forward a diversity of viewpoints, Kerger, PBSs leader for nearly two decades, said at one point during questioning. But Republicans on the committee seemed largely unmoved. NPR chief says mistakes made in Hunter Biden, COVID coverage Maher faced intense questioning from Republican members over NPRs ignoring of the Hunter Biden laptop scandal during the 2020 election, its reporting on the origins of the coronavirus in China, and the investigation into Trumps ties to Russia during his first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You guys were 0-for-3 on three of the biggest stories in the country, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) exclaimed as he admonished the NPR chief. Maher, the former top executive at Wikipedia who joined NPR in 2024, conceded NPRs coverage or lack thereof on the laptop story, which Berliner had criticized, was a misstep. Our current editorial leadership believe that was a mistake, as do I, she said. Yet Maher insisted NPR remains a fair and objective reporting operation and pushed back on Berliners characterization of the outlets left-leaning bias. Ive never seen any instance of political bias at NPR, she told Jordan, pushing back on the Republican comments that she fired Berliner over the op-ed. She also called the revelations he published concerning. Dems use Elmo, Big Bird to mock GOP questioning Democrats largely sought to dismiss allegations of bias by PBS or NPR against conservatives and argued the broadcasters are deserving of federal dollars because they provide a valuable public service, particularly in rural communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of them used humor to mock GOP lines of attack against Maher and Kerger. Is Elmo now or has he ever been a member of the Communist Party? Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) asked while his staff held a picture of the furry Sesame Street creature up for the PBS boss. I mean, he is red. Well, he is a puppet, Kerger joked back. But no. Garcia later asked if the American government was silencing pro-cookie voters with attempts to shut down Cookie Monster, another Sesame Street icon. Democrats also made repeated reference to the controversy stemming from a Signal group chat used by U.S. Cabinet officials to discuss war plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) called Wednesdays hearing goofy and blasted Republicans for trying to distract from issues such as the Signal controversy. Free speech is not about what yall want somebody to say, she said. And the fact that you want to shut down everybody that is not Fox News is bulls. We need to stop playing, because thats what yall are doing in here. NPR chief defends posts blasting Trump Mahers social media posts before she arrived at NPR criticizing Trump and promoting progressive viewpoints were another major focal point during Wednesdays hearing. When pressed by Rep. William Timmons (R-S.C.) about her comments, Maher said the social media posts, in which she called Trump a racist and deranged, did not come up when she interviewed to be NPRs top executive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is strong firewall between me and the newsroom, Maher insisted, noting her political thinking and personal worldview have changed in recent years. I regret those tweets; I would not tweet them again today, she later said during a subsequent grilling from Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.). I dont presume that anyone is a racist. Maher on more than one occasion said she respected the lawmakers concerns and promised NPR is doing more under her watch to beef up our editorial standards and make sure we have more points of view reflected in every story. Committee calls for DOGE to dismantle CPB Throughout the hearing, Republicans made regular reference to the U.S. debt and argued funding public broadcasters is a waste of taxpayer money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maher testified NPR took in more than $11 million in federal funding last year, while several GOP members dinged her over a fundraising blast the outlet sent to donors before Wednesdays hearing. We recognize the limited resources of the federal government, Kerger said as she was being questioned by Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.), who later asked if Social Security or public broadcasting was more important to senior citizens. I dont think they should get a penny, Comer exclaimed at the end of his questioning. Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) told the two public media executives that much of the content they broadcast is garbage and vowed to spend as much of his time making sure they never get another dollar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greene, the subcommittees chair, indicated she plans to recommend to the administrations newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) be totally abolished. The [CPB] is using taxpayer dollars to actively suppress the truth and produce some of the most ludicrous content, she said. Every single day, private businesses operate without government funding. You all can hate us on your own dime. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. More than 10,000 firefighters, police and civil servants have been deployed to battle dozens of wildfires raging in South Korea. Fueled by dry air and strong winds, the blazes have killed at least 24 people, burned nearly 43,000 acres and destroyed a 1,300-year-old Buddhist temple. Heres what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day. 1. Signal chat fallout Top national security officials faced questions from outraged Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee Tuesday about a group chat on the messaging app Signal that revealed plans for a military strike in Yemen to a journalist. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe repeatedly denied that the chat contained classified information and then appeared to shift responsibility to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for determining such classification. Yet it was Hegseths texts that reportedly provided operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the US would be deploying, and attack sequencing. Current and former defense officials said that such discussions would always be classified due to the potential risk to US service members. 2. Gaza protests Thousands of Palestinians took to the streets in northern Gaza on Tuesday to denounce Hamas and call for an end to the war with Israel. It appeared to be the largest protest against the militant group since its attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. The demonstrations took place just two days after the death toll from the conflict hit 50,000 in Gaza, according to the enclaves health ministry. Overnight, Israeli airstrikes in northern Gaza killed eight more people, including five children, the Palestine Red Crescent said. 3. Election order President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday that directs the Election Assistance Commission to demand proof of citizenship for voter registration and withhold funding from states that dont enforce the requirement for voters who register with the federal form. Republicans have long sought these changes to election practices, but critics say demanding proof of citizenship could disenfranchise poor and older voters and suppress votes. The order also instructed the Department of Homeland Security to give Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency access to state voter rolls so its team can search the data for foreign nationals. 4. Florida jobs Floridas efforts to crack down on employers who hire undocumented immigrants have presented a problem for businesses: not enough workers willing to fill low-wage and often undesirable jobs. To fix the problem, the states legislature has advanced a bill that would loosen child labor laws. If passed, businesses would be able to hire children as young as 14 years old to work overnight shifts, even on school days. The bill would also eliminate working time restrictions on 14 and 15 year olds if they are home-schooled and end guaranteed meal breaks for 16 and 17 year olds. 5. Alaska plane crash A pilot and his two daughters were rescued this week after their plane crashed into an icy Alaska lake. The Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser was on a sightseeing tour from Soldotna to Skilak Lake on the Kenai Peninsula Sunday when it went missing. Social media posts written by the pilots father prompted about a dozen residents to launch aerial searches for the missing family. Twelve hours after the plane went down, one of the pilots flying over Tustumena Lake spotted the partially submerged aircraft with the trio standing on top of the wing. Members of the Alaska Army National Guard rescued the family; they were taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. It was literally the best possible scenario and outcome, Lt. Col. Brendon Holbrook, commander of the 207th Aviation Regiment, said. BREAKFAST BROWSE Milwaukee Bucks guard sidelined Nine-time All-Star Damian Lillard is out of commission after doctors diagnosed him with deep vein thrombosis, a form of a blood clot, in his right calf. Hes now undergoing treatment for the condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bad news for gum lovers There are many ways for microplastics to find their way into our bodies, including food, water bottles and tea bags. Now researchers say you can add one more item to the list: chewing gum. Coming soon to a theatre near you A variety of new movies are arriving in theaters this spring. So, if youre looking for an escape, check out these flicks featuring killer unicorns, a giant Great Dane and the final reckoning for Mission: Impossible hero Ethan Hunt. Pedro Pascal would like just a little bit of privacy The Last of Us star said he felt violated when the paparazzi revealed his highly-caffeinated coffee order. It was an incredibly private morning ritual that I never wanted anyone to know about! Pascal said on Jimmy Kimmel Live. How did you sleep last night? If the answer is not well, actor Walter Goggins is here to help. The White Lotus star has recorded a sleep story for the meditation app Calm that he hopes will provide listeners with a relaxing, dreamlike experience. TODAYS NUMBER $2.1 billion Thats nearly the amount in damages a Georgia jury ordered Monsanto parent company Bayer to pay a man who claimed its Roundup weed killer caused his cancer. TODAYS QUOTE Theyre just everywhere, theyre crawling over patios, theyre coming into our homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Construction worker Scott Rider, after suffering repeated bites from red fire ants. The number of ant attacks on humans and livestock has exploded in Australia this month. Nearly two dozen people have been hospitalized after experiencing a severe reaction from the bites. TODAYS WEATHER Check your local forecast here>>> AND FINALLY Could your next cup of joe come from Ghana? Although the West African country has long been known for growing cocoa, uneven harvests due to climate change have prompted many farmers to switch to a more caffeinated crop. Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly described the damages a Georgia jury ordered Monsanto parent company Bayer to pay as a legal settlement. A jury reached the verdict, which is subject to appeal. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A woman who has lived in the United States for more than fifty years and is a green card holder is being held in ICE detention in Tacoma. Lewelyn Dixon was detained after a trip home to the Philippines at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in late February. Dixon lives in Edgewood in Pierce County and works as a lab technician at UW Medicine. Her family believes a nonviolent criminal conviction more than two decades ago triggered the response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She sounded very scared, said Dixons niece, Melania Madriaga. She just wants to get out. Madriaga said the 2001 embezzlement conviction has never caused any issues before. In fact, she said the family was unaware of it until this incident. Theyve flown multiple times international with no issues whatsoever, she said. She renewed her green card twice. She was able to obtain a job position. Dixons attorney, Benjamin Osorio, said she received no active jail time and has had no other convictions since then. Osorio said the crime can be considered one of moral turpitude. An individual must have two of those crimes on record to trigger a removal from the U.S., he said, but only one to be denied entry to the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So if she had not traveled, she would have had no issue, Osorio said. Madriaga said the family only recently learned that Dixon was not a U.S. citizen. She said Dixon had declined to naturalize because she had promised her father she would maintain her citizenship in the Philippines to monitor family property. Years ago, Madriaga said, she would not have legally been able to maintain both. KIRO 7 spoke to two independent immigration attorneys to find out how typical it is for green card holders to be detained over these kinds of circumstances. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) always determines whether an individual with a green card who is re-entering the U.S. after a trip abroad is still admissible, wrote attorney Brandon Gillin in a statement. Certain criminal convictions can render an individual inadmissible. That is typical. The difference nowadays is that CBP is taking a firmer stance and exercising greater scrutiny to individuals with old convictions or even charges not resulting in convictions where the crime is arguably one that would result in an inadmissibility determination. The administration has been clear about that change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eryne Walvekar, an immigration attorney with Fisher Phillips, weighed in too. Were seeing lately, things that maybe were not an issue 20, 30 years ago, she said. Walvekar said this could be due to different agencies speaking to one another more frequently, as well as instances in which laws have changed. In these cases, she said it is possible that crimes that previously were not classified as crimes involving moral turpitude have been reclassified. In general, Ive been telling clients if they do have any specific reasons that theyre concerned, any specific issues in the past, like criminal convictions, prior immigration violations, its a good idea to be very cautious about travel, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She advised green card holders without these issues to not panic. Theres not a widespread concern about permanent residents, people with green cards, traveling, if they dont have any of those concerns, Walvekar said. Osorio is urging his clients to get naturalized immediately. He points to marijuana as an example. Most people dont understand, especially in a world where marijuana has been legalized all over the place, he said. A misdemeanor marijuana conviction from 25 years ago could trigger the same exact thing. Its a bar to admissibility. Osorio believes Dixon may have a fairly easy path to relief, and be eligible to naturalize, once her case is heard in court. Dixon is not eligible for bond, according to Osorio, so she will be held in detention until her case is heard in July. ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) Cash rewards are being offered for information leading to the arrest of ten suspects wanted for various crimes in Abilene. Police are seeking these suspects for the following offenses: Sean Higginbottom Assault Family Violence w/Previous Convictions Kody Stone Child Endangerment Tony Watkins Burglary of Habitation Eugene Zapata Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon Robert Allen Frayer Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Family Violence Ashley Nicole Brooks Evading Arrest, Unlawful Carry of Weapon, Unlawful Possession of Weapon by Felon Keighvoucia Lamb Aggravated Assault x3, False Report Jose Luis Cardona Impersonating Public Servant, Aggravated Assault Cynthia Shadden Aggravated Robbery Ivonyai Lamb (FEATURED FUGITIVE) Aggravated Assault, Assault of Pregnant Person Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CrimeStoppers is offering $500 cash rewards for information that leads to the capture any of the suspects, and a $1000 cash reward for information that leads to the capture of the featured fugitive. Cash rewards will only be given if the information is received during the week their mugshots are aired on Abilenes Wanted Criminals. Abilenes Wanted Criminals is a police-run social media segment that will highlight wanted suspects from around the City each week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. NORTH BERGEN, N.J. (PIX11) Jersey Mikes teamed up with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to host a surprise Wish Reveal for 8-year-old Armen of Ridgewood. Armen has leukemia, and when asked the question, If you could have one wish, what would it be? Armen wished to be a gemstone miner. It is a dream inspired by his grandfather, who is a geologist. More Local News In Armens words, I want to go to a special place and find something rare! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch the video player for the full interview. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. A majority of Americans say presidents should obey court rulings, according to the results of a new survey. The Reuters/Ipsos poll, unveiled Tuesday, found that 82 percent of respondents believe the president should heed to rulings from federal judges. Another 14 percent said the opposite. The sentiment comes amid growing frustration aimed at the judicial system by the Trump administration as legal challenges brew over President Trumps executive actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent weeks, Trump and his key advisers have lashed out at U.S. District Judge James Boasberg over the judges block of the administrations use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants allegedly tied to the Tren de Aragua gang. The president later called for Boasbergs impeachment. 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!!! Most Republicans in the latest survey, 76 percent, said they support the administrations decision to deport those they view as a risk, despite the judges order. Just 8 percent of Democrats backed the move, per the poll. Norm Eisen, a former White House ethics lawyer, earlier this week criticized the administration over the recent deportations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 Monday. The Reuters/Ipsos survey was conducted March 20-23 among 1,030 people and has a margin of error of roughly 3 percentage points. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), appearing on Fox News Hannity on Tuesday, generally waved off the Governor Hot Wheels insult Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) lobbed at him over the weekend thats been seen as mocking his use of a wheelchair. Its another day and another disaster by the Democrats, Abbott told host Sean Hannity. The reality is, they have no vision, no policy. They have nothing to sell but hate, he added, without directly addressing his wheelchair use or the phrase Crockett used. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crockett, a second-term member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, referred to Abbott as Governor Hot Wheels during a speech at the Human Rights Campaigns Los Angeles dinner Saturday night. Abbott became paralyzed from the waist down after a tree limb fell on the then-26-year-old attorney as he was jogging in Houston in 1984. He has used a wheelchair since then. After intense backlash, Crockett denied that the insult was in reference to Abbotts wheelchair use. At no point did I mention or allude to his condition, the Democratic firebrand wrote on social media. I wasnt thinking about the governors condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his first national interview about the apparent jab, Abbott instead spent much of his response highlighting his states growth and business successes, while also alluding to high-profile campaigns Democrats have unsuccessfully mounted in the Lone Star State in recent years. Its one reason why Texas is going to remain red and why Republicans are going to continue to win elections across the country, Abbott told Hannity. 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, he added. Democrats have struggled to expand their standing in Texas, mounting multiple statewide campaigns that drew national interest but were ultimately Republican victories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Congressman and one-time Democratic presidential candidate Beto ORourke built a massive campaign war chest in his 2022 campaign against Abbott. The Republican governor, in the end, handily defeated ORourke by double digits, 55 percent to 44 percent. Last year, former Democratic Rep. Collin Allred lost his bid to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in a 53 percent to 45 percent vote, despite polls suggesting a narrow race through the campaign. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BEIRUT, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Hezbollah Secretary-General, Sheikh Naim Qassem, reaffirmed on Wednesday that Lebanon will not accept any normalization of ties with Israel, and condemned Israel's ongoing violations in southern Lebanon. Speaking at the Jerusalem Forum, Qassem emphasized that "Hezbollah and the Lebanese resistance have stood firm, preventing Israel from achieving its objectives in Lebanon," emphasizing that normalization remains off the table, according to al-Manar TV channel. He reiterated Hezbollah's commitment to Lebanon's sovereignty and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, calling on the Lebanese state to exert pressure on international actors to fully implement ceasefire agreements and uphold Lebanon's rights. Hezbollah has consistently opposed any political or diplomatic engagement with Israel, citing the continued occupation of Lebanese territory, including the Israeli-annexed Shebaa Farms area and Kfarchouba hills, he said, noting the group maintains that steadfast resistance is the only way to safeguard Lebanon's sovereignty and deter further Israeli aggression. Qassem praised Palestinian resilience, particularly in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. "The Palestinian people have paid a heavy price, but they remain unyielding in their fight for their land, dignity, and rights," he said. Qassem also condemned what he described as a U.S.-Israeli strategy to reshape the region by undermining the Palestinian cause and expanding Israeli territorial control. He warned that the resistance front, including Hezbollah and its regional allies, remains committed to countering these efforts. ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) An Abilene man accused of kidnapping his girlfriends baby has been arrested. Marqui Burfict was booked into the Taylor County Jail on a kidnapping charge Tuesday in connection to the allegations. 6 undercover Abilene officers who rescued kidnapped baby recognized for heroic actions Police say Burfict was involved in an argument with his girlfriend at a residence in north Abilene, and during that argument, he allegedly became angry, took his girlfriends 1-year-old, and left the residence. Burfict is not the biological parent of this child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The child was later located with Burfict at his home. Burfict was arrested and, the child was released unharmed to her family, according to police. Abilene police say no kidnapping at Arbys, rumor was reckless fabrication on social media Burfict is currently being held in the Taylor County Jail without bond. No further information has 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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. A sign at the Michigan Pride rally in Lansing on June 26, 2022. | Photo by Laina G. Stebbins Updated 3/26/25 at 3:51 p.m. EMILYs List plans to target three Republican members of the U.S. House from Michigan in the 2026 midterms. The group, which backs women candidates who support abortion rights, announced Wednesday that U.S. Reps. Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland), Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) and John James (R-Shelby Twp.) are key targets for Democrats to flip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are among 46 House Republicans being targeted nationwide, with EMILYs List president Jessica Mackler saying in a statement that the group will be putting their extremism on blast. A press release points to the three members support of the short-term spending plan passed by House Republicans, which the group says could undermine health care for more than 100,000 constituents in each members district, as well as the fact that all three have previously been endorsed by President Donald Trump. Additionally, the group noted all three lawmakers voted in January for the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, a bill they say would penalize doctors for providing life-saving care. Sara Spain, a spokesperson for EMILYs List, said that people are currently feeling a lot of pain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its very clear that American people are really looking for leaders who are coming from their communities, who are understanding the struggles and arent going to be this rubber stamp for Trumps Project 2025 extremism to kind of help us out of the crisis that were facing, Spain said. The efforts go beyond advertising, Spain said, as EMILYs List works to recruit candidates to challenge the incumbent Republicans. Something EMILYs List really prioritizes, especially in races like these that are key flips, is doing everything we can to meet voters in a unique way, Spain said. Mike Marinella, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee sent Michigan Advance the following statement after the details of EMILYs List program had been released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Republicans are on offense while Democrats flounder with no message, no strategy, and no leadership. They can put out all the lists they want, but voters rejected their radical agenda in 2024, and theyll do it again in 2026, said Marinella. This story was updated with comment from the National Republican Congressional Committee. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SAVANNAH, Ga (WSAV) Savannah Mayor Van Johnson responded to the Georgia Department of Transportations (GDOT) proposed intercity rail service that would connect Savannah and Atlanta. GDOTs study will evaluate the benefits, cost and overall impact of a rail corridor between the two cities. Its part of the federal Railroad Administration Corridor Identification and Development Program. GDOT announced they received $8 million in federal funding, with an additional $2 million from the states rail budget, bringing that to a total of $10 million for the study. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mayor Johnson told WSAV he is looking ahead to what this will mean economically. For us, its also a tourism factor, Johnson said. You know, people can come here. Air prices Ive always been very upset about the cost of air from Savannah directly to Atlanta. According to GDOT, there have not been recent passenger rail studies showing the best route between Atlanta and Savannah. They said Georgia has seen consistent growth and travel demand, which puts strains on the existing systems like air and car travel. It provides cost affordable options for us, Johnson said. It allows work. Connectivity is important, particularly as you look at the viability of our ports, our airports. Rail is really the way for us to be able to connect us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cities also included in this study are Athens, Statesboro, Milledgeville, Macon, Augusta and more. Ultimately, we want to go from Savannah to Nashville. GDOT is still taking feedback. Visit here to take their survey. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SANTIAGO, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Four people, including two minors, died early Wednesday after a fire broke out at a camp in Chile's capital Santiago, local media reported, citing information from the Carabineros militarized police force. According to Lt. Col. Christian Bichett, the blaze began past midnight Tuesday at a house in the Cerrillos district, in southwest Santiago. "We were alerted, notified by firefighters and residents of El Esfuerzo camp that a fire was burning at a one-story house, and as a result of the fire, the roof unfortunately collapsed, resulting in four deaths," Bichett said. The fatal victims included two adults and two minors, all members of a Haitian family living at the site, he said. "The fire department is currently investigating the underlying cause of the fire, whether it was electrical or something else," Bichett added. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is urging users of 23andMe to consider deleting their accounts. In a release Wednesday afternoon, Nessel urged users to consider the risks to their personal data following the bankruptcy of the genetic testing company. 23andMe collects and stores some of the most sensitive personal information, our genetic code, Nessel said in a statement. With the company now in bankruptcy, customers should be aware of the potential risks and consider deleting their accounts to protect their data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy. What does this mean for your DNA data privacy? While 23andMe has stated that there are no changes to how it stores user data, Nessel said users should consider requesting the destruction of any data or samples held by the company. Nessel has been monitoring the company while the company is under investigation for a data breach in October 2023 that exposed the personal information of almost 7 million Americans. If you have a 23andMe account, and would like to delete your data, steps can be found on the AGs website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Spencer Platt/Getty Images Content warning: This story discuss anti-trans ideology and violence, and mentions self-harm and suicide. Each year, we celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, a day to commemorate trans people and recognize the importance of visibility. This year, advocates will gather on the National Mall, about a mile from the White House, during a time when the second Trump administration has issued a flurry of Executive Orders attacking trans, gender-nonconforming, and LGBTQ+ Americans more widely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Signed on Trumps first day back in office, an Executive Order proclaimed that the United States would only recognize male and female genders, and formed the backbone of actions taken by the administration, which advocates say further marginalize transgender and nonbinary Americans. These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality, Trumps January 20 Executive Order stated. The knock-on impacts of this order are developing, but far reaching. Thus far, Americans are no longer able to change the gender marker on their passports, federal agencies have been instructed to block trans employees from using facilities like restrooms that match their gender, and the National Park Service web page dedicated to the Stonewall Uprising was stripped of any mention of transgender people. Trans people were a key part of the Stonewall riots, which are widely considered to have sparked the LGBTQ rights movement. Icons like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera were at the forefront of the uprising and of the subsequent movement. Since the 2009 establishment of the International Transgender Day of Visibility, the imperative for active visibility of transgender Americans has been fraught, and this year is no different. Ahead of this years celebrations, gatherings, and actions, Teen Vogue spoke with Angelica Christina, Board Director of the official nonprofit of The Stonewall Inn, Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative to get a sense of the current atmosphere in turmoil for transgender Americans. Edited for clarity and length. Teen Vogue: This is a moment that, for many trans people and their extended communities, feels rife with danger. Why is the need for sanctuary and safe spaces more important than ever? Angelica Christina: What we're witnessing right now is a violent attack on trans folks and the trans community. There are trans folks and their families that are either leaving their homes for what few safe zones we have in this country because they're stuck in a red state, some are leaving the country altogether, and then there are those who simply don't have the means to move. We're truly living in very dangerous and precarious times. As of late 2024, TransLash media reported there were 692 [proposed] anti-trans bills, and now in March 2025 these disgusting bills and Executive Orders just keep piling up. In this current political climate, trans people are in the fight of our lives. We are criminalizing trans, nonbinary, and intersex folks for existing more than the actual criminals committing crimes in this country. This is the nightmare that trans folks are facing in America. This is why it's so important to have a day like Trans Day of Visibility. This is why it's so important to have support, to have especially cisgender folks in positions of privilege to show up for us and rally for us, because we are in the fight of our lives. This is a war on trans, nonbinary, and intersex folk. TV: Gender affirming care has the potential to save trans lives. How do the Trump administration's recent orders regarding gender conformity put lives at risk? AC: I don't want to mince words here: stripping trans youth of their gender affirming care is a death sentence. Gender-affirming care is lifesaving, and I can personally speak to that experience. You already experience relentless bullying in schools and [trans youth] are at high risk of suicide as a result of the attacks on their identity. I'd also like a mention a study from the Trevor Project from 2024 that showed suicide attempts by trans and non-binary youth had increased [up to] 72% over the past year as a result of anti-trans legislation. These Executive Orders create an even larger target on their backs for cisgender students to continue attacking and harming transgender youth, further pushing them towards self harm, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and in some cases, suicide. Gender affirming care is often the only shred of hope and joy that our vulnerable youth can hold onto. In November of last year, the Journal of American Medical Association released a study showing the vast majority of recipients of gender affirming care were cisgender youth, not trans youth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There's been so much rhetoric around detransitioning as well as an excuse to deny trans youth, gender affirming care. The National Center for Transgender Equality conducted a study in 2022 that found, out of more than 90,000 trans folks in the US, 94% reported being very satisfied with their transition-related medical care. And it's only estimated that the regret rate is somewhere between 1% and 8%. Knee surgeries have a regret rate of 33%, but again, I don't hear the outrage from the right. It's the hypocrisy for me. TV: How do policies like those that impact passports and IDs further marginalized and erase transgender people? AC: Trans actor and model Hunter Schafer recently came forward and confessed that she received her passport with a male gender marker on it. This is happening to trans Americans everywhere. Now I will say this, a gender marker on a piece of paper can never fully encapsulate who we are. However, it is degrading to see this symbolism of hatred, this reminder of the oppressive times we're living in on our legal documents. Having this denial of who we are can feel so discrediting to all of the hard work we put into living in our truth. TV: Regarding President Trump's recent cracks on gender, what are some immediate top concerns that young trans folks might have? AC: I just listened to a CNN interview with trans youth and it was heartbreaking. Trans and non-binary youth are afraid for their very lives. One of the trans youth that was interviewed admitted that she is afraid of being murdered in public because she's trans. That should send shivers down the spines of everyone. What I will say is that I've met several trans and non-binary youth over the course of the past couple of weeks at LGBTQIA+ rights rallies, and some of these youth are so strong and resilient and know precisely who they are down to their marrow. It is so inspiring to watch them speak in front of sometimes hundreds of people with such passion. And that just goes to show us that our trans youth are resilient. They are strong, but rightfully so, they are scared. TV: With that in mind, what thoughts or advice might you have specifically for trans youth during this upcoming TDOV. How might they lean on community at this time? How might their families or wider queer communities rally and support at this time? AC: My biggest advice to the trans youth out there is seek out your community, because we're out here. You have a community of people who love you, who are rallying around you, who support you. If you have the capacity and if you feel compelled to do so, go to a trans rights rally. You will find and see that there are people out there that are fighting for you, that are rooting for you, that love you and support you and see you are precisely who you are. You are not alone. We will fight with you and we will fight for you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, there is help available. You can call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, where a trained counselor can talk to you and connect you with further resources. In addition, you can find out more about what to do if you're experiencing suicidal thoughts here. Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue THE HAGUE, Netherlands Airbus unveiled a European-made anti-drone drone concept with elements of autonomy this week, piggybacking on a training dummy design from 20 years ago. With LOAD short for Low-Cost Air Defence the European aerospace giant seeks to address one of the main challenges in modern air defense: the massive cost of intercepting cheap threats. Executives announced the drone design at an unmanned systems trade show in Bonn, Germany, on March 26. It will be based on a platform from the early 2000s, the Do-DT25, an unmanned aerial system used for target practice. Because of that use case, it was designed to be both cheap and disposable, according to the manufacturer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The modified UAV will be able to carry three guided missiles. According to Airbus, its operational range will be 100 kilometers or about 160 miles, and it will be launched via catapult. After a successful mission, the drone is designed to return to base and land by parachute, ready to be reused. A prototype with two missiles will fly by the end of the year, the company said, with the final product ready two years from now, by 2027. While no details have been provided for LOAD specifically, the Do-DT25 on which it is built is 3.1 meters long and has a 2.5-meter wingspan. Its top speed is 300 knots, and it can stay airborne for about an hour. From Airbus promotional materials, it appears that LOAD will somewhat straddle the line between a loitering munition and air combat drone. The UAV will be supervised from a ground control station, the companys press statement reads. It coordinates the drones on the basis of radar data or air situation images and can therefore autonomously search for, detect and following the approval of their engagement combat enemy kamikaze drones. For years, experts have raised concerns over growing autonomy in defense and questioned whether provisions to keep a human in the loop when making kill decisions as Airbus promised in this case will hold up when push comes to shove. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The autonomous capability promised for LOAD likely builds on Airbuss previous work with the Do-DT25 platform. In March 2023, the company demonstrated the autonomous guidance and control of several DT-25 drones from an A310 MRTT tanker aircraft, showcasing advances in precise relative navigation, in-flight communication and cooperative control algorithms. As a further step, Airbus plans to integrate LOAD with other unmanned airborne platforms, such as the companys Eurodrone project. According to the company, this would allow LOAD to operate in regions not yet fully covered by ground-based air defense radars. In line with Europes push to decouple from a dependency on the United States, the new drone contains no U.S. technology, Airbus boasted in its press release. This means it will be ITAR-free, referring to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations imposed by Washington, leaving future export decisions solely to European user nations. A body representing more than 90 airlines using Heathrow Airport has said there could be a case for legal action if a settlement is not reached over costs incurred by the airports Friday closure. Flight operations at Europes biggest airport were thrown into turmoil on Friday, 21 March, as a giant blaze ripped through an electric substation near Heathrow, forcing the airport to close for more than 15 hours. Over 1,300 flights were disrupted by the fire, ruining the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers due to fly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite initially telling passengers the airport would be closed all day, Heathrow announced later that some long-haul flights would resume in the evening. The airport was fully operational the next day, the closure had a huge knock-on effect and at least 100 of the 600 flights which would typically have been expected on Saturday were cancelled. Nigel Wicking, the chief executive of Heathrow Airline Operators Committee (AOC), which represents more than 90 airlines including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic said there could be a case for legal action over costs incurred when the airport closed if not settled adequately. Speaking to Sky News, Mr Wicking said that he hoped an agreement over the costs from the closure could be amicably settled at some point in time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, he admitted that "if we don't get good enough recourse and repayment in terms of the costs, then yes, there might be a case for legal action". "I would hope not. But in some of these situations that's the only course once you've gone through everything else", he added. A body representing more than 90 airlines using Heathrow has said legal action could be on the table if costs are not settled (EPA) Simon Calder, travel correspondent at The Independent, estimates the cost to airlines to amount to 100m in lost revenue and passenger care expenses. Heathrow and the many businesses linked to the airport would have also lost millions in the shutdown of operations. Mr Wicking also called for an independent investigation of what happened and why recovery took so long. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Airlines have a regulatory duty to take care of their passengers," he said. "But in this particular case, we do feel that it was another party that caused the situation." The chief executive of AOC also criticised Heathrows communication amid the chaos. He said it was "appalling" that airlines had to wait until midnight on Friday to confirm Terminal 2 would open on Saturday. The situation was "not justifiable given the amount of money that has been spent on Heathrow over the years and the fact that it is the most expensive airport in the world". Workers are seen as smoke rises from the North Hyde electrical substation, which caught fire last night, leading to the closure of the Heathrow Airport (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) A Heathrow spokesperson told The Independent: This was an unprecedented issue which began with a fire at an off-airport substation, in less than 24 hours the entire airport was rebooted from a standing start and we delivered a full schedule from Saturday onwards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are two reviews into the systems and response both at Heathrow and with the wider grid infrastructure. We will support these and lessons will be learned where needed. Every penny we invest in our airport infrastructure is approved by airlines and our regulator. On a project-by-project basis, they oversee and influence how we build and maintain Heathrow. The Independent has contacted Heathrow AOC for further comment. For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calders podcast ALABAMA (WHNT) This bill, if passed, would require law enforcement to arrest protesters outside/near someones home if the protest happens at night. SB247 was re-introduced by Senator Arthur Orr and was read on March 18. Orr previously introduced this bill in Feb. 2024. Alabama lawmaker hopes to bring panic buttons to schools The bill, if passed, would prohibit someone from using artificial noise makers to picket or protest at or near a residence of anyone with the intent to harass, intimidate or disturb 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill, however, does not specify what constitutes as near a house, such as how close you can be to a residence. SB247 defines a residence as A building or structure, having a physical address or street number that provides shelter in which an individual resides. The bill also said someone cannot block a public road, the entry or exit of a residence, or any place of employment while protesting. A violation of this is considered a Class C misdemeanor and a second or subsequent violation of this is a Class B misdemeanor. Get breaking news, traffic and weather alerts directly to your smartphone. Download the News 19 App SB247 states that, before making an arrest, an officer is to tell someone protesting to stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nothing in this section shall limit a persons freedom of speech or freedom to assemble in any public park or other similar traditional public forum, the bill said. You can read the full bill below. SB247Download The bill is currently pending action in the Senate Committee on County and Municipal Government. If passed, the bill said it would go into effect on October 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 WHNT.com. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) Roy Wood Jr., a standup comic and actor who was born and raised in Alabama, will host the prestigious Peabody Awards on June 1. Wood Jr., who currently hosts the American version of Have I Got News For You on CNN, was a longtime contributor on The Daily Show, but has also made appearances on shows like Better Call Saul and the movie The Death of Dick Long, which was shot in his hometown of Birmingham. His latest comedy special, Lonely Flowers, is now streaming on Hulu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No higher honor than to be in the room as we celebrate some of our generations best storytellers and reflect upon the ways in which we can all contribute to bettering the times we are in, Wood said in a statement. I am also there because there is a free dinner. at least Im assuming there is dinner..there better be some damn food, thats all I know. First starting in 1941, the Peabody Awards honors media, be it television, radio or online work, that reflects the social issues and the emerging voices of our day. The ceremony is held at the University of Georgia every year. Nominees for this years Peabody Awards will be announced on April 15 and 17. Winners will be announced on May 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) No artificial intelligence programs will be permitted on phones or computers used by state employees, Gov. Kay Ivey has announced. On Wednesday, Ivey sent a memo stating she banned the use of DeepSeek and Manus on state devices and the state network. The memo was posted one day after the GenAI Task Forces final report was released to the public. Ivey also banned similar harmful technologies to DeepSeek and Manus, which are based in China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to the threat posed by the Chinese government, Alabama takes no chances, Ivey said in a statement. Our citizens information must be protected in the strongest possible ways, which is why we are not only putting a ban on these two Chinese AI companies within our state government, but also safeguarding our states IT infrastructure from any foreign country of concern. Bad foreign actors have no sanctuary in the state of Alabama. Alabama lawmaker hopes to bring panic buttons to schools Below is the GenAI Task Forces final report GenAI-TaskForce-Report_Final_20250321Download Below is the memo Ivey sent to state agency heads Wednesday: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Memo-Protecting-State-IT-InfrastructureDownload Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) One lawmaker wants to bring wearable panic buttons to Alabama schools. A bill by state Rep. Alan Baker (R-Brewton) would require some faculty to wear rapid response buttons on a lanyard or badge. Baker said they could make the difference in a school emergency. He said teachers could reach law enforcement in a matter of seconds. Its where, really, time equals lives, Baker said. So thats very important to get that location as quickly as possible, so thats really the intent with this technology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether a student breaks a bone or an intruder enters a school, Baker explained the system would benefit all schools. Schools need to be in constant pursuit of trying to find added measures that they can continue to do to try and keep the schools, the students, the faculty as safe as can be, Baker said. Alabama attorney general warns public of rising phone scams Baker said that measure would be required starting in 2030. State Rep. Patrick Sellers (D-Birmingham) said he agrees with the effort, but cost can be a concern for some lawmakers. Where the is the cost going to lie? Sellers said. Putting more added cost to school systems. Some school systems just dont have those kinds of resources to implement them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement officer and state Rep. Russell Bedsole (R-Alabaster) is also concerned about the cost of maintaining the system. He said each district should be able to decide what measures work best for them. But Baker said schools could use state and local dollars to pay for it, and about 25 in the state already have the system in place. Theres just a number of incidents that have already occurred across the nation in which its been proven that the rapid response system would maybe enhance or give the better opportunity for lives to be saved, Baker said. Chilton County Schools Superintendent Corey Clements said his staff looked into the systems independently last summer. He said most of its classrooms have emergency call buttons. He said if there was a funding mechanism from the state that went along with those devices, then the school system would support 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 CBS 42. The University of Alabama Student Center on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Monday Jan. 13, 2024. Alabama officials argued in a motion to dismiss that professors, students and the NAACP lack standing to sue. (Will McLelland/Alabama Reflector) Alabama officials have filed motions seeking to dismiss a lawsuit challenging SB 129, a law that limits diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in public universities and the teaching of so-called divisive concepts. The Alabama Attorney Generals office and members of the University of Alabama (UA) Board of Trustees argue that the University of Alabama professors and University of Alabama Birmingham students suing to overturn the law lack standing and that their claims fail to establish any constitutional violations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plaintiffs, who also include the Alabama NAACP, allege that SB 129, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and the First Amendment. Plaintiffs argue that the law discriminates against minority students and faculty by restricting funding for student groups and eliminating campus spaces designed to support minority students. The attorney generals office claims plaintiffs fail to show how each and every provision of the Act harms them, arguing that plaintiffs fail to include sufficient allegations to nudge their claim across the line from conceivable to plausible. The Board of Trustees stated in a separate motion that the law does not prevent discussions on race but prohibits faculty from requiring students to adopt specific perspectives. As it relates to the classroom, SB 129 states that professors may not direct or compel students to personally affirm, adopt, or adhere to one of eight divisive concepts defined in the statute, the motion states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The law, which took effect last October, bars public universities from funding DEI programs and prevents discussions of concepts lawmakers deem divisive. It includes prohibitions against compelling students to believe that any race is inherently superior or that people are responsible for historical injustices committed by others of the same race. Ahead of SB 129s enforcement, universities across the state shuttered or rebranded DEI offices and closed dedicated campus spaces for its Black Student Union and LGBTQ+ resource center. Plaintiffs argued that the laws impact disproportionately affects minority students by restricting funding for student organizations such as the University of Alabama NAACP chapter. Attorneys for the board argued that the plaintiffs allegations do not involve any claim that Black students were treated differently from other students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plaintiffs instead rely on the precarious assumption that coursework related to diversity benefits Black students in particular, because of their race, the motion further states. Professor Cassandra Simon, one of the plaintiffs, stated in the lawsuit that she fears discussing racial issues because students have previously expressed feelings of guilt or complicity after watching material on the Civil Rights Movement. Lawyers for the state argue that this does not constitute a First Amendment violation, even if Simon has already faced threats of termination for teaching a class on systemic inequality. The motion stated that even construing these allegations as true and viewing them in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs, Professor Simons fear is not objectively reasonable, saying that simply showing material related to the Civil Rights Movement does not direct or compel students to accept the concept or penalize or discriminate when students arent in agreement. Professor Simon does not have standing to challenge any provision of the Act based on such conduct. The same is true of the other Professors allegations regarding their subjective fears that teaching about topics could violate the Act, the motion states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defense also pushed back against claims that SB 129 is too vague, arguing that the law is clearly defined. Though Plaintiffs may not like its terms, the act is readily understood, the motion states. Plaintiffs have until April 18 to respond to the states motion. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE By Elnur Enveroglu 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. WASHINGTON, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, released on Wednesday the full content of a group chat regarding the operation plan to strike Houthi forces in Yemen, after President Donald Trump and several high-ranking officials claimed the group chat did not contain classified information. In an article titled "The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans" published on Monday, Goldberg detailed how senior U.S. national security officials recently added him to a Signal group chat discussing a military strike on Houthi forces in Yemen. Signal is an open-source, encrypted messaging service. Goldberg said that on March 15, the account labeled "Pete Hegseth," matching the name of the U.S. secretary of defense, sent a message in the chat with operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, scheduled to take place in two hours. The message included information about "targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing." Goldberg did not release the specific details of the message at that time, saying that "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." In the newly published article, Goldberg and his colleague Shane Harris fully disclosed this information. In an update to the group chat at 11:44 a.m. Eastern Time on March 15, Hegseth said that "Weather is FAVORABLE. Just CONFIRMED w/CENTCOM we are a GO for mission launch." Centcom, or Central Command, is the U.S. military's combatant command for the Middle East. The Hegseth text also outlined the timeline of the military operation, detailing the launch and strike schedule: "1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package)" "1345: 'Trigger Based' F-18 1st Strike Window Starts (Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME - also, Strike Drones Launch (MQ-9s)"... "Experts have repeatedly told us that use of a Signal chat for such sensitive discussions poses a threat to national security," Goldberg and his colleague said. "If this information -- particularly the exact times American aircraft were taking off for Yemen -- had fallen into the wrong hands in that crucial two-hour period, American pilots and other American personnel could have been exposed to even greater danger than they ordinarily would face," they argued. The article said that The Atlantic sent emails to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the National Security Council, the Department of Defense, and the White House, asking if they objected publishing the full texts. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emailed a response, reiterated that there was no classified information in the chat, but stated that it was intended to be an "internal and private deliberation" among senior officials, involving sensitive information, and therefore opposed its release. "There is a clear public interest in disclosing the sort of information that Trump advisers included in nonsecure communications channels, especially because senior administration figures are attempting to downplay the significance of the messages that were shared," the article argued. Shortly after the article was published on Wednesday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance responded on social media, saying that "It's very clear Goldberg oversold what he had." Vance also noted that CIA Director John Ratcliffe was attacked by Goldberg for mentioning a CIA official's name in the group chat, but it turned out that Ratcliffe had only mentioned his chief of staff. On a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday, Ratcliffe said that the official was not undercover and that sharing the name in the Signal conversation was "completely appropriate." The Atlantic's latest article, however, said that a CIA spokesperson asked them to withhold the name of Ratcliffe's chief of staff, because CIA intelligence officers are traditionally not publicly identified. "We will continue to withhold the name of the officer," the article said. At a press conference on Wednesday, the White House press secretary continued to stand by the statement that there is no classified information in the group chat. "This message, there was no classified information transmitted. There were no war plans discussed," she said. Alaskas tight-knit community of bush pilots came together in a big way this week to help save one of their own. Thanks to their coordination and efforts, the Alaska National Guard was able to rescue a missing pilot and his two daughters, whod crashed into a frozen lake on the Kenai Peninsula Sunday night. Theyd spent around 12 hours on one of the wings of the partially submerged plane by the time the airborne cavalry arrived, according to the Associated Press. The National Guard confirmed with Alaskas News Source that the pilot and his daughters were rescued from the half-sunken plane around 10:30 a.m. Monday, and taken directly to a hospital, where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The pilot and his two daughters were spotted on the wing of the plane by another local bush pilot. The plane had crashed into Tustumena Lake near the foot of Tustumena Glacier. Photo courtesy Alaska National Guard The plane was first reported missing around 10:30 p.m. Sunday by the pilots father, John Morris. This kicked off a series of social media posts by family friends and other concerned locals, some of whom joined the effort to search in their own planes Monday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im proud of the guys that stepped up and went out and helped out, a family friend and one of the original posters, Scott Holmes, told reporters. My daughter told me there was 420 shares on my post. Terry Godes, of Soldotna, was one of the guys, and the pilot who first got eyes on the crashed plane. Godes tells Outdoor Life that hed seen another Facebook post by his friend Leonard Perry late Sunday night. Perry asked anyone who was able to help search for the missing plane to rally at first light on Monday. He is a friend of mine, and if he asks for help on a search, and Im available, Im in, says Godes, who flies a special kind of Super Cub, a StolQuest 2. So I contacted him Monday morning to coordinate our flights. Read Next: The Bush Plane Engine Died Mid-Flight and Other Close Calls While Flying the Alaskan Wilderness Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The missing pilot and his daughters, who have not been identified, were reportedly on a sightseeing trip from Soldotna to Skilak Lake when their Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser went down Sunday evening. Tustumena Lake, which sits at the foot of Tustumena Glacier, was their last known cellular location, according to Dale Eicher, another local pilot who was involved in the search and shared details with ANS. Terry Godes StolQuest 2, which he was flying when he spotted the wreck from above. Photo courtesy Terry Godes There were half a dozen other [pilots] that were in the air between Skilak and Tustumena, Godes says of the coordinated search. I was just the guy that saw the plane first. He told the AP he was heartbroken when he first saw the wreckage. Then Godes saw the three figures on the wing waving at him, and he immediately radioed in their location. Eicher, who heard the call on his radio and was still in cell range (unlike Godes), relayed the GPS coordinates to the Alaska State Troopers. The Troopers then coordinated with the National Guard, which sent out a C-130 transport plane and a rescue helicopter. Godes also flies a super Cessna 170B (pictured) that he named TrustySpamcan. Photo courtesy Terry Godes The C-130 guys and the ones in the chopper should really get the credit, Godes says. They had to come up with a non-standard recovery because the ice was too soft to land on, and the rotor wash threatened to blow the children off their safe perch on the wing. Read Next: This Happened to Me: I Should Have Died in a Floatplane Crash They performed a flawless, one-off recovery, he adds. Those guys are solid! Dr Robert Lawrence, Alaska chief medical officer (left), Travis Welch, director of corrections health and rehabilitation services (center), and Dr Tim Ballard, DOC chief medical officer (right) present before the House State Affairs Committee on March 4, 2025. (KTOO Gavel Alaska Screenshot) The Alaska Department of Corrections has had at least 67 people die in-custody of state prisons and jails since 2020, with at least 17 deaths reported as suicides, according to the department. There were at least 14 deaths last year. Two deaths were reported so far this year, with one investigated by the Alaska State Troopers and reported as a suicide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On average, 4,500 people are incarcerated each year in Alaskas 13 facilities, which includes individuals under arrest and awaiting trial or sentencing, known as pretrial, and those who are serving sentences. Of those in custody, an estimated 42% of men and 60% of women are pretrial, according to state data. Alaska state medical and corrections officials pointed to natural causes, including acute and chronic disease and illnesses, as the leading cause of in-custody deaths or 68% of reported deaths since 2015. State officials gave a presentation to lawmakers with the House State Affairs Committee on March 4, describing causes of death from 2015 to 2024, as well as demographics and mitigation efforts. We do see a higher number of people who may have never seen a doctor, said Travis Welch, director of the Division of Health and Rehabilitation Services for the Department of Corrections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result of mental illness or substance use disorder, they may lack the ability to make a doctors appointment and go in and see a doctor or a dentist. So the population that were serving is acute, and probably one of the more acute populations within the state of Alaska, Welch said. Causes of Alaska in-custody deaths, 2015 2024 (Screenshot of Alaska Department of Corrections presentation) Officials presented data on the causes of in-custody deaths. Of the 68% of in-custody deaths reported as natural causes, 43% were reportedly from heart or lung diseases, 22% cancer, 13% infectious disease, 10% unknown, 6% liver disease, 4% kidney disease, and 2% substance related. The health issues within state prisons mirror Alaskas health trends, Welch said. When we have high rates of heart disease, for example, in the state of Alaska, were going to see a concentrated amount of heart disease within our facilities and those were caring for, he said. Rep. Kevin McCabe, R-Big Lake, asked about expedited release processes for those who are sick or nearing end of life, like medical parole. Welch said that is ultimately up to the courts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We always try to house people in the least restrictive environment, Welch said. And when people are towards the end of their life, statute does allow for people to be released if they meet certain statutory requirements were the information providers to the courts, and then the courts actually make the decision on people being released. There have been at least 114 deaths from 2015 to 2024, according to department data. According to the department, 78 were due natural causes, 30 were suicides, four due to accidental causes, two were homicides, and one cause of death from 2024 is still pending. (Insert chart) Of those, DOC reports 102 men, and 12 women died in custody, reflecting the larger statewide prison demographics. According to department data, 47% were white, 37% Alaska Native, 7% Black, 4% Native American, 2% Hispanic and 2% Asian. Every year, there are anywhere from four deaths up to 18 deaths, said Dr. Robert Lawrence, Alaskas state chief medical officer, who was the former chief medical officer for the Department of Corrections. Theres somewhere between 11 and 12 individuals who will die during the period that they are in custody. That average has not changed. What has changed over time are the causes of death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawrence said that prior to 2015, about a quarter of deaths were due to overdose or related to symptoms of substance withdrawal. He said after the department deployed new screening and withdrawal treatment protocols, those deaths decreased substantially. From 2017, for the next five years, there were zero deaths in that early withdrawal period, Lawrence said. Because of identifying the problem, coming up with a mitigation strategy, and then training staff to address that. He said fentanyl is still a problem in the prison system, but even still, those numbers (of deaths) remain quite low. In 2022, a record 18 reported deaths sparked public outcry, an investigation by the ACLU of Alaska, and a wrongful death lawsuit against the department. Seven of the 18 deaths were reported as suicides. Rep. Ashley Carrick, D-Fairbanks and state affairs committee chair, asked whether the department sees suicide rates also increasing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Tim Ballard, current chief medical officer for DOC, said the suicide rate has been going down slightly, and that staff training and awareness for suicide prevention is ongoing. Adam Rutherford, deputy director for health and rehabilitation services with the Department of Corrections testifies on mitigation efforts to prevent in custody deaths on March 4, 2025. (KTOO Gavel Alaska screenshot) One of the key things that we looked at was training, and what can we do to better prepare our staff to identify folks that may be at risk, and how to respond and do appropriate referrals, said Adam Rutherford, deputy director for health and rehabilitation services. We also increased scenario-based training within our facilities as well. We use tools to replicate suicide attempts and how to respond appropriately from both the security side of the house and medical side of the house as well. Rutherford listed mitigation efforts, including adding medical bags and more cameras across facilities; installing jump barriers; and implementing larger windows for segregation units or solitary confinement, for suicide watch. So we want to be able to see folks. We want visibility. We want folks to be able to see out. We dont want them to feel like theyre enclosed, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rutherford said aging prison facilities are also an issue. Our facilities are old, and lets face it, corrections (facilities) nationally werent built to be behavioral health treatment facilities, and thats really what our systems have become, he said. In the presentation, officials reported that 65% of the prison population are living with a mental illness, and 80% have a substance use disorder. Rutherford said the department reviews each in-custody incident, either suicide attempt or death, in order to make improvements. And it really is a process of looking at that continuous quality improvement, what changes can we make, and encouraging our staff to have that input and that feedback. And thats had a significant impact, he said. Carrick asked about the protocol for notifying loved ones of those who have died, citing complaints from bereaved family members. A lot of times people feel like it was a void, she said. They didnt know what was going on. They didnt know there was a problem, and then all of a sudden, their loved one is gone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Full transparency, we often struggle because we often dont necessarily have a point of contact, Rutherford said, and that the department has to adhere to the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act privacy laws. Its very difficult to make sure that we can navigate through what were legally allowed to disclose and what we cant, Lawrence added. Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, emphasized it would be good practice for the department to have contact information for family members and release of information agreements in place. If that is not a standard practice, can that be a standard practice? she asked. Lawmakers had more questions around suicide watch, solitary confinement, detoxification protocols, and other issues as the hourlong hearing time ended, and planned to submit those questions to the department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is a very sensitive subject, and very, very close to home for a lot of Alaskans, said Carrick in a phone interview after the hearing. And I was grateful we were able to talk about it respectfully, and to have the Department of Corrections in front of us. Carrick said she sees deferred maintenance and facilities upgrades as a priority for improving prison conditions, safety and mental health services. Inmates have access to certain mental health services, and they have rights for health care while theyre in custody, Carrick said. However, that pretrial population doesnt necessarily have any established, ongoing, mitigating mental health care. Its unclear to me how accessible to the sentenced population, even long-term ongoing mental health services are, she said. I think the department is trying to offer what services it can, but I do think that our budgets not reflective of the number of staff we need to provide needed services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carrick said shes concerned about the high number of suicides, and support services available. I dont think any person in state custody should ever be dying of suicide, she said. Carrick noted that Department of Corrections health care costs are expensive, and she wants to see better management of those services to meet prison population needs. I think the public should be aware of what the real costs are for incarceration, she said. And at the same time, Im someone who firmly believes that taking care of every individual that is in state custody is the states responsibility, and we should not have lacking medical or mental health care for these individuals while they are incarcerated. The hearing took place one day after another in custody death was reported on March 3: 42-year-old Reginald Childers Jr. of Kodiak was found dead in his cell at the Anchorage Correctional Complex. The Alaska State Troopers announced the death was a suicide. State officials did not address any individual death incidents, investigations or outstanding lawsuits against the department at the hearing. Carrick said she plans to hold more hearings with corrections officials on in-custody deaths, and contributing issues across the states prison system, like prison wages, living conditions, access to meaningful activities or employment while in corrections, access to other services, like class services, visitation services, she said. A lot of these are major challenges in an understaffed and overcrowded prison system. Carrick said there are clear improvements to be made across facilities, and the department. I want folks that are incarcerated to actually come out of that experience with the tools and the skills needed to productively reenter society, she said. Were not really setting any trends for extraordinary success right now, and Id really like to see us, even potentially in the future, be a leader in what successful rehabilitation and reentry can look like. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Mar. 26Editor's note: This story was updated Wednesday to add comments from Alaska State Medical Board member Dr. Matt Heilala. The Alaska State Medical Board is asking the Legislature to ban hormonal and surgical treatments for minors seeking to transition from one gender to another. The board whose members were chosen by Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Thursday agreed to state that it "opposes hormonal and surgical treatments for gender dysphoria in minors due to insufficient evidence of long-term benefits and risks of irreversible harm." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We view these interventions as lacking legitimacy as standard medical practice for those under the age of 18 years old. We support legislative limits on such treatments and promote psychological support and counseling as safer alternatives. This reflects our duty to protect patients and uphold evidence-based care," the board said in a letter that was sent to members of the Legislature on Friday. The statement has no binding authority. The medical board is charged with overseeing the licensure of medical practitioners in Alaska, including by revoking licenses from practitioners if they are deemed by the board to have violated state statutes. There is no statute currently banning gender-affirming care in Alaska. No such bill has been proposed by lawmakers this year. Alaska's Medicaid program in 2021 began covering gender transition treatments following a class action lawsuit filed by transgender Alaskans. However, Alaska law does not currently require private insurers to cover the cost of gender-affirming services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A bill to ban certain forms of gender-affirming care for minors was introduced last year by Eagle River Republican Rep. Jamie Allard. The bill did not advance and has not been reintroduced this year. Majority lawmakers appeared reticent to take up legislation addressing gender care for minors. Sen. Loki Tobin, an Anchorage Democrat who chairs the Senate Education Committee, said Tuesday that the state medical board has the authority to pursue regulatory changes, but cautioned against regulations that could violate the state's constitutional right to privacy. "Previous legislation that sought to violate the rights and protections of Alaskans particularly their right to privacy we have clear legal guidance that is not necessarily a path we should all explore," Tobin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than half of states in the U.S. ban some forms of gender-affirming care for minors, according to the Movement Advancement Project, which advocates for LGBTQ+ rights. Many of the bans have been challenged in court. Though gender-affirming care has spurred frequent national debates in recent years, hormonal and surgical gender therapy for minors is rare. By law, the Alaska medical board consists of five physicians licensed in the state, one physician assistant and two public members. The board is currently one physician short, and two of its members are up for confirmation hearings by the Legislature, including its chair, Dr. Brent Taylor. Taylor is a retired surgeon from Palmer. In a confirmation hearing earlier this month in the House Health and Social Services Committee, Taylor did not mention any interest in addressing care for transgender people in Alaska. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I believe the main focus is set out in what we're allowed to do in terms of credentialing and ensuring health care providers are following established guidelines," Taylor said when a lawmaker asked him about the scope of the board's work. "We're asked to comment on some issues or to provide an opinion at some times." Taylor did not immediately respond to requests on Tuesday for additional information on the goal of the medical board's statement and letter to the Legislature. Questions sent to the Commerce Department, which oversees the medical board, were directed to board member Dr. Matt Heilala, a podiatrist who has served on the board since 2021. Heilala said the letter was preceded by roughly two years of board discussions about the topic of gender-affirming care for minors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's just an issue of bandwidth that we didn't get to this more than a year ago," said Heilala. "There's never a great time, but we felt that remaining silent was tacit approval." According to board meeting minutes, members of the board raised "taking a proactive position on special interest topics, such as gender affirming care of minors" as a potential board priority during a May meeting last year. In November, members voted unanimously to request that the Department of Law "investigate what other states have done on the issue of medical or surgical treatment of gender dysphoria in minors for the purpose of the Board drafting a statement on this issue." Heilala said that in response to the board's request, the Department of Law said the board does not have "clear regularity authority on this kind of issue." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whereas other states have "standard of care" models spelled out in regulation, Heilala said, Alaska does not: "In our state, unconventional practice is not unprofessional," he said. "So if there's no harm occurring, and if there's consent, even if it's unconventional, it's not to be considered unprofessional in our state." Still, Heilala said there was "zero dissent" when the board discussed its statement on the topic. The topic has long fueled deep disagreement between Republicans and Democrats on the national stage. Heilala is a prolific donor to Republican candidates. Heilala gave Dunleavy's 2022 reelection campaign nearly $13,000. The board, which does not include any practitioners who actively treat minors seeking gender-affirming care, did not hear directly from medical practitioners in Alaska currently prescribing the kinds of treatments that the board addressed in its statement, Heilala said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We've not had invited experts within our board to discuss this. We have friends, colleagues that are endocrinologists, pediatricians, and we get feedback from them," he said. Heilala said the board has not collected data on the frequency of gender-affirming care and procedures in Alaska, because that data is protected under medical privacy laws. "We know that it's likely occurring in Alaska to some extent, as the state was sued to incorporate it within the Medicaid list of allowable procedures," he said. President Donald Trump has taken steps to limit gender-affirming care on the national level since taking office earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A judge earlier this month blocked Trump's plan to pull federal funding from institutions that provide gender-affirming care for transgender youths. Republicans representing the Mat-Su region in the Alaska House and Senate celebrated the state board's position. "True care means providing compassionate psychological support not irreversible interventions that compromise their future," Wasilla Rep. Jubilee Underwood said in a written statement. Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates Alaska, an organization focused on LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights, released a statement Tuesday opposing the Alaska Medical Board's position. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rose O'Hara-Jolley, Alaska state director for the organization, said that denying minors access to gender-affirming care "increases trauma, isolation, bullying, and mental health struggles among trans youth." "Standard medical practice already includes protections and safeguards for minors, and these decisions should be left to the individual, their patients, and their health care providers," they said. Heilala said that if the Legislature does not address the topic of gender-affirming care, members of the board "need to be continuously vocal about this." "I don't think we're going to sit here quietly forever if nothing happens," he said. Alaska is a cold state where residents need energy to keep the chill at bay. Fortunately, the state is blessed with natural resources, including abundant oil and natural gas that can help satisfy that need. Unfortunately, as I've written before, a nationalistic, century-old law requires that shipping between American ports be conducted only by U.S.built and flagged ships. And there aren't any liquid natural gas tankers that satisfy the requirement. Now Alaska officials are seeking a waiver so they can use their own resources to resolve a growing energy crunch. Resource-Rich but Starved for Energy "Alaska is facing an acute energy shortage," state Sen. Robert Myers (RFairbanks) told a State Senate Transportation Committee hearing on his proposed waiver resolution on March 20. "The Alaska Department of Natural Resources has projected shortfalls in the Cook Inlet natural gas supply beginning in the very near future. As such, various utilities are now discussing liquefied natural gas imports to solve the crisis. Alaska is in a unique quandary in which it prides itself on its oil and gas resources yet is unable to utilize its own natural gas from the North Slope gas fields." Myers' statement was meant more for the record than for his fellow lawmakers. Alaskans are well aware of the problem and have been trying to overcome it for years. As it stands, the gas Alaskans use comes not from the abundant supply in the vast North Slope reserves, but from closer to home in the Cook Inlet. Interest in drilling there has waned, though, leaving one company, Hilcorp, as the main producer. Going forward, Hilcorp has warned that it may not be willing or able to supply gas at the same rate as in the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That should be fine, given all that North Slope gas. But the North Slope is far from Alaska's population centers. A new pipeline was approved in 2020 but is still struggling to find investors willing to foot the estimated $44 billion cost. South Korean companies seem interested (the gas will also be shipped overseas), but that still leaves completion of the project years in the future. But liquid natural gas (LNG) is shipped all over the world. There's no practical reason the gas can't be transported by tanker from the North Slope wells to the users in the state's populated areas. But there's a big legal barrier. Required To Use American Tankers That Don't Exist Over a century ago, Congress passed the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, better known as the Jones Act, mandating that "No merchandiseshall be transported by waterbetween points in the United Statesin any other vessel than a vessel built in and documented under the laws of the United States and owned by persons who are citizens of the United States." There's more to it, but the nationalistic law, intended to protect American shipping, effectively barred transporting goods between American ports in foreign-built and foreign-flagged vessels. That means North Slope natural gas can be transported to Alaska's populated south only in American tankers. If you can find any. You can't. "LNG carriers have not been built in the United States since before 1980, and no LNG carriers are currently registered under the U.S. flag," the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported in 2015. And, while you'd think that demandnot just in isolated states like Alaska and Hawaii, but also territories like Puerto Ricowould drive supply, there's a huge hurdle. "U.S. carriers would cost about two to three times as much as similar carriers built in Korean shipyards and would be more expensive to operate," the GAO added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The GAO created its report at a time when Congress was considering extending the Jones Act to require that exports of natural gas be carried only in U.S.-flagged shipping. The GAO concluded that such a law would "increase the cost of transporting LNG from the United States, decrease the competitiveness of U.S. LNG in the world market, and may, in turn, reduce demand for U.S. LNG." Congress wisely dropped the idea of extending the Jones Act, but Alaskans are still stuck with the original law, waiting for nonexistent domestically-built LNG tankers to show up with loads of North Slope natural gas. If they don't wait but instead try to ignore a law with which it's impossible to comply, they risk millions of dollars in fines, since the federal Department of Justice vigorously enforces the Jones Act. In 2017, the feds fined an energy company $10 million for transporting a drill rig from the Gulf of Mexico to Alaska's Cook Inlet in a foreign-flagged vessel. The company planned to bring more natural gas to the resource-rich but energy-starved state. Pleading for Relief From the Law As Myers pointed out in his statement to the Alaska Senate, the federal government does permit waivers of the Jones Act, from time to time, and has done so for Alaska in the past. In an email to me, he mentioned that Crowley, an American shipping company that has defended the Jones Act, is now transporting LNG to Puerto Rico from the Gulf Coast in a French-built tanker. The company is permitted to do so through a narrow legal carve-out to the Jones Act that allows tankers built overseas before 1996 to be reflagged as American for the purposes of serving Puerto Rico. That won't help Alaska. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What will help Alaska in the short term is another waiver. In his proposed resolution, Myers points out that Alaskans face shortfalls in the natural gas supply beginning in 2027; that "in 2024, 39 percent of the electricity generated in the state was from natural gas, and nearly half of households in the state use natural gas to heat their homes"; and that U.S. military bases in the state, such as Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, will also suffer from the crunch. The resolution, which is still in committee, continues: BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully urges the United States Congress to recognize the imminent and acute need to stabilize the state's energy supply and enact a Jones Act waiver that facilitates the urgent transportation of domestic liquefied natural gas between ports in the state until Jones Act-compliant vessels are available. If Congress goes along with the request, Alaska will get a temporary breather. But U.S. states and territories shouldn't have to beg permission of the federal government for companies to be able to transport abundant goods and resources between American ports in the ships that actually exist and are available instead of a fantasy fleet that has failed to materialize after 125 years of bad law. Alaska should get its waiver in the short term. But the whole country should be relieved of the crippling burden that is the Jones Act. The post Alaska Poised To Beg for Relief From Crippling Federal Shipping Restrictions appeared first on Reason.com. Research biologists pause among the wetlands of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge coastal plain, with the Brooks Range in the background. (Photo by Lisa Hupp/USFWS) A federal judge in Anchorage has ruled in favor of Alaskas state-owned investment bank in a lawsuit that could clear the way for oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. In an order published Tuesday, Judge Sharon Gleason wrote that the U.S. Department of the Interior acted illegally when it canceled oil and gas leases held by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority on land within the refuge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having reviewed the parties arguments, the court concludes that DOI was required to obtain a court order before canceling AIDEAs leases, Gleason said in her 22-page decision. AIDEA did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Cori Mills, Alaskas deputy attorney general, called the decision a victory. The state looks forward to working with the current federal administration on fully realizing the vast potential of ANWR to grow Alaskas economy and help Americas energy independence, she said by email. It is unfortunate we have lost a significant amount of time litigating, instead of moving forward with field studies and development. We will continue to review the decision in more detail but its definitely a victory. Tuesdays order was the result of a lawsuit filed by AIDEA against the federal government last year, when the Biden administration canceled oil and gas leases that AIDEA won in a January 2021 sale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two other companies also won leases during the sale but later surrendered them to the federal government, leaving AIDEA as the only company holding leases within the refuges coastal plain, which is believed to hold significant oil and gas reserves, just as nearby state land does. The Biden administration claimed that the sale conducted under the auspices of the first Trump administration was flawed and thus illegal. It first suspended, then canceled the leases, prompting AIDEA to sue in 2024. Gleason had upheld the Biden administrations suspension order, but when it came to the cancellation, she ruled in AIDEAs favor, citing a provision of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that enabled the ANWR leases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That act said in part that the Interior Department shall manage the oil and gas program on the Coastal Plain in a manner similar to the administration of lease sales under the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976. Gleason wrote: Among the NPRPAs implementing regulations is a regulation that provides that (p)roducing leases or leases known to contain valuable deposits of oil or gas may be canceled only by court order. But the Interior Department didnt obtain a court order, Gleason noted. Accordingly, federal defendants cancellation of AIDEAs leases was not in accordance with law because it failed to seek a court order, she wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several environmental and tribal groups sided with the federal government during the course of the lawsuit and had requested the ability to offer alternative solutions if Gleason ruled in favor of AIDEA. She turned them down, writing, DOIs error is serious: DOI cancelled AIDEAs leases without following the congressionally mandated procedure for doing so. In light of that finding, she vacated the departments lease cancellation decision, saying the department now back in the hands of the Trump administration may decide what to do next. In a statement released last week, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said he intends to open the refuges entire 1.56 million-acre coastal plain to development, indicating that AIDEA will be given a free hand on its leases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For its part, AIDEA has said in multiple court filings that if allowed to proceed, it will conduct seismic testing and other preliminary work necessary to determine how much oil and gas lies within its leases. Among the various environmental and tribal groups that stood with the federal government in opposition to AIDEA was the Gwichin Steering Committee, represented by attorneys from Trustees for Alaska. This disappointing ruling ignores the destruction oil drilling will do to our communities and only deepens our resolve in fiercely defending the coastal plain from oil and gas extraction, said Kristen Moreland, executive director of the Gwichin Steering Committee. We will always protect the caribou, our way of life, and future generations. The Native Village of Venetie Tribal Government, Arctic Village Council, and Venetie Village Council, represented by the Native American Rights Fund, said in a statement that they will continue to oppose drilling in ANWR and that multiple legal and administrative pathways remain to ensure proper environmental review before any ground-disturbing activities could occur. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Mar. 25The Albuquerque Police Department fired two supervisors and a sergeant resigned after the three were tied to a decadeslong scheme to pay off law enforcement to sabotage DWI cases. APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said Deputy Cmdr. Gustavo Gomez and Lt. Matthew Chavez were terminated Tuesday and Sgt. Lucas Perez resigned. Gomez and Chavez were fired for violating policies "related to the DWI investigation," Gallegos said, but he would not elaborate on the specifics of the violations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All three had previously been in the DWI unit and placed on paid leave in the past year: Gomez in October, Chavez in January, and Perez, previously a DWI sergeant, on Monday. None of the three have been charged criminally in the FBI's ongoing investigation into the sprawling corruption case, one of the largest to hit the state. So far, four APD officers and one Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office deputy have pleaded guilty to taking bribes from defense attorney Thomas Clear III and paralegal Ricardo "Rick" Mendez to let their client's DWI cases get dismissed. Clear and Mendez have also taken plea deals, with Clear admitting the corruption went back as far as 1995. Aside from those who have pleaded guilty in the case, more than a dozen APD officers, three Bernalillo County deputies, including the undersheriff, and one New Mexico State Police officer have been placed on leave as the agencies conduct their own internal investigations into the corruption. 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. ALEXANDRIA, Va. (DC News Now) In an update Tuesday evening, Alexandria Police Department (APD) detectives said they have not found any evidence suggesting Jessica Abers death was caused by anything other than natural causes. The former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia was found dead Saturday morning. She was 43 years old. The case remains open until the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) returns a final ruling on her cause and manner of death, APD noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Former US Attorney found dead at 43, Alexandria police say The department urged people to respect the privacy of her family during this time of loss as authorities continue to investigate. After her passing, the U.S. Attorneys Office released the following statement: We are heartbroken beyond words to learn of the passing of our friend and former colleague, U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber. She was unmatched as a leader, mentor, and prosecutor, and she is simply irreplaceable as a human being. We remain in awe of how much she accomplished in her all too brief time in this world. Her professionalism, grace, and legal acumen set the standard. Though we are devastated by this loss, each of us in the Eastern District of Virginia will look to her example and endeavor to live up to that standard. Jess was a proud Virginian from high school through college and throughout her career. She loved EDVA and EDVA loved her back. We remain committed to her lifes work, a commitment to seeking justice, as she would have wanted. U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) An alleged drug dealer has been charged with murder after a fentanyl overdose death in Abilene. Antonio Pena was booked into the Taylor County Jail on a 1st Degree Murder charge Tuesday in connection to the death of Michael Henderson. Accused drug dealer indicted for murder after Abilene woman dies of fentanyl overdose Court documents reveal Henderson was found deceased from an apparent overdose in January 2024 when members of the Taylor County Constables office went to serve him with an eviction notice to vacate his grandmothers shed on the 1400 block of Locust Street due to continued drug use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers saw Henderson lying face down outside the shed. The documents state he, did not show signs of life and had fluid coming out of his mouth. The documents state an autopsy revealed Henderson died from methamphetamine and fentanyl toxicity and that his body showed signs that his death occurred shortly after ingesting fentanyl. Grand Jury List: Two accused drug dealers indicted in Abilene on charges related to meth, LSD, mushrooms, cocaine, and marijuana During the investigation into his death, the documents state Antonio Pena was identified as the person who gave Henderson fentanyl. Pena allegedly told Hendersons grandmother he was sorry for giving him fentanyl. Pena also told her they did fentanyl and cocaine together the night before Hendersons death and that he gave Henderson a fentanyl pill when he left Penas house in the morning, according to the documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pena remains held in the Taylor County Jail on a $100,000 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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. SULLIVAN COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) An investigation is underway after allegations of inappropriate and unacceptable contact with a student at Bluff City Elementary School, according to Sullivan County Director of Schools Chuck Carter. Carter provided a statement to News Channel 11 on Wednesday. According to Carter, Sullivan County Schools administrators were informed of a situation that occurred at Bluff City Elementary on Tuesday. Substitute teacher arrested after alleged assaults at Sullivan Co. school Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Specifically, after learning of possible unprofessional conduct during which a teacher assistant made inappropriate and unacceptable contact with a student, the school system immediately reported the same to both local law enforcement and to the Tennessee Department of Childrens Services, Carter wrote. A letter was sent to the employee on the same day as part of the school boards policy. According to Carter, the Sullivan County Sheriffs Office is handling the investigation. The Sullivan County Sheriffs Office provided News Channel 11 with more information. A sheriffs office spokesperson said an alleged assault on a student by a teaching assistant occurred on Tuesday at the school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriffs office identified the teaching assistant as Margaret Widener Osborne, 38, of Bluff City. She was found and arrested on Wednesday afternoon and will be booked into the Sullivan County Jail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Nauruan Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Aingimea in Beijing, capital of China on March 26, 2025. Aingimea came to China for the opening ceremony of the Nauru Embassy in China. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Wednesday met with Nauruan Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Aingimea, who came to China for the opening ceremony of the Nauru Embassy in China. Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that since the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Nauru, both sides have fostered mutual understanding and support, while the pragmatic cooperation has developed comprehensively, bringing tangible benefits to the people of Nauru. China appreciates Nauru's firm adherence to the one-China policy and believes that Nauru will continue to support China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, thus consolidating the political foundation of bilateral relations, Wang said. China is willing to deepen cooperation with Nauru in various fields including agriculture and fisheries, sports, marine development, climate change response, and capacity building, Wang said, adding that China congratulates Nauru on the upcoming official opening of its embassy in China and is willing to provide conveniences and assistance for the embassy's operation. Aingimea, for his part, said that Nauru sincerely thanks China for the valuable assistance provided in infrastructure construction and socio-economic development, which helps improve people's livelihood and sustainable development of Nauru. Nauru will not waver in its stance of adhering to the one-China principle and looks forward to expanding bilateral cooperation in various fields and pushing bilateral relations to a new level, Aingimea added. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Nauruan Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Aingimea in Beijing, capital of China on March 26, 2025. Aingimea came to China for the opening ceremony of the Nauru Embassy in China. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) ALSEN, La. (Louisiana First) Dirty air and water are a key concern for many Alsen residents. They made that clear to Mayor Sid Edwards and Councilman Anthony Kenney. The community is the site of multiple industrial plants as well as industrial waste dumping grounds. Residents report its making them sick and they want to fight for cleaner air and water. One lifelong Alsen resident, Lorraine Thompson, said she remembers a cleaner environment before the plants were built. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We would have meetings but theyd come out and just talk over our heads, but we knew what was going on, what we were smelling, Thompson mentioned. Alsen resident Bettie Jefferson said, Our ancestors didnt have all the knowledge and the technology we have now, so we had no one to fight for us. Residents are also voicing concerns about drainage, blight and lack of youth programs. Kenney said hed take these concerns into account when creating a finalized master plan for his district. Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. Amazon continued its crusade against counterfeits in 2024, its latest Brand Protection Report shows. According to the data, Amazon pinpointed and disposed of more than 15 million counterfeit products across the globe last year, which it contends prevent consumer harm or continued resale of such products on other platforms. More from Sourcing Journal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The e-commerce behemoth uses artificial intelligence and other technology to monitor the listings on its platform for similarities to a brands logo, trademarks and nameand to determine if significant changes are made repeatedly to a listing, whether in photos, item name or otherwise. That process encompasses a variety of tools and partnerships that Amazon has cultivated in recent years. And, per the company, its efforts have paid off; it stated that, in 2024, it proactively caught 99 percent of potentially infringing listings before brands ever had to flag items for removal. The company has seen growing interest and involvement in its counterfeit-related programs, which see participants from a slew of industries, including fashion, apparel and footwear, where counterfeits have long proven to be an especially touchy subject. Zach Toczynski, senior director of global brand protection for Levi Strauss & Co., said the company has held a long-term partnership with Amazon on brand protection, which has helped proactively protect the various brands under its umbrella. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We commend Amazon for their dedication and the excellent results weve achieved together. This partnership is a key component of our global brand protection strategy, and we look forward to continuing our work together in the years to come, Toczynski said in a statement. 2024 Corsearch data estimated that, in 2023, counterfeit movement accounted for 3.3 percent of all global trade and projected that, by 2030, that would increase to 5 percent. And brands and retailers arent taking the counterfeiting lying down; many have filed lawsuits against counterfeit sellers on various marketplaces, and the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA)in tandem with more than a dozen other industry interest groupsurged President Donald Trump to take action on counterfeit items within his first 100 days as president. Should he do so, it could be indicative that he feels the issue is one of serious global importance for industry. In the meantime, private industry, Amazon included, has chosen to target the proliferation of counterfeits on its own. In 2020, Amazon launched its Counterfeit Crimes Unit (CCU), which bridges private industry, customs agencies, law enforcement professionals and more to take action against bad actors on Amazon. Since its launch, the CCU has brought legal action against or referred to law enforcement more than 24,000 bad actors, Amazon said. Last year, the CCU increased its connection with Chinese law enforcement agencies and brands, which Amazon said was directly correlated to more than 60 raids, which identified over 100 bad actors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This collaboration resulted in numerous criminal convictions, including fines and prison sentences, Amazon said in the report. The company further noted that, through its collaboration with U.S. and Japanese customs, it was able to halt at least 90,000 counterfeit items from reaching their destination, preemptively removing them from the supply chain before they could negatively impact a consumer. The company said it recognizes that it has yet more work to do in preventing fakes and bad actors from selling on its platform, but Dharmesh M. Mehta, vice president of worldwide selling partner services for Amazon, said hes excited about what the company achieved last year. We understand that customer trust is difficult to earn and easy to lose, which is why trust is at the foundation of the relationships we build and the products and services we invent on behalf of our customers, brands, and selling partners, Mehta said in a statement. We are proud of the progress we have made in preventing counterfeits within the Amazon store. This has required significant innovation and perseverance, and it would not be possible without the partnerships we have been able to build with brands, associations, policymakers, law enforcement, and others. While we believe we have made a great deal of progress, we remain committed to continued innovation and progress, and we will not rest until we drive counterfeits to zero. There is something to the notion that Donald Trump talks like a mob boss. When the presidents 2016 campaign manager, Paul Manafort, was sent to trial back in 2018, Trump complimented his former associate for facing justice like a man. I know all about flipping, the American president said with contempt for incidents in which accused criminals agree to cooperate with the government which is to say, his government. Everythings wonderful and then they get 10 years in jail, and they flip on whoever the next highest one is, or as high as you can go, Trump continued. This critique of the presidents rhetorical style can extend to his administrations mafia-like behaviour, although the case is often wildly overstated. When it comes to the second Trump administrations conduct of American foreign affairs, however, it is almost inarguable that the president and many of his subordinates seem to regard Americas alliances as little more than a glorified protection racket. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tragicomic sequence of events that resulted in the inclusion of The Atlantics editor-in-chief on a Signal chat thread in which Trump administration officials deliberated over and discussed the details of an imminent US attack on the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen is illustrative of this phenomenon. In an illuminating debate that will prove of inestimable value to Americas allies and adversaries alike, Trump administration officials discussed not just the operational aspects of the strikes on Houthi targets but the fundamental principles at stake. While some, like US defence secretary Pete Hegseth, backed the strikes as a means of deterring an adversary that had targeted not just Americas allies but US-flagged merchant and naval vessels, others disagreed. A participant named SM presumed to be White House deputy chief of staff for policy, Stephen Miller concerned himself not with the Western interests imperilled by an Iran-backed insurgency choking off access to the Suez Canal, but what the US can wring out of its European allies. If the US successfully restores freedom of navigation at great cost, he wrote, there needs to be some further economic gain extracted in return. This outlook was reflected in vice-president JD Vances contributions. I just hate bailing Europe out again, he lamented. Trumps second in command fretted that the strikes would be a mistake, because just 3 per cent of US trade transits the Suez compared with 40 per cent of European trade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, restoring free maritime navigation is inconsistent with Trumps message on Europe right now. The vice-president is correct there, although that says more about the imprudence of the presidents efforts to badger Europe than it does the necessity of putting the Iran-backed Houthis in their place. In the most elementary terms possible, the US has an interest in degrading to the point of incapacity an adversary that takes shots at our vessels or those of our allies on the high seas. That is such a long-standing national interest it was explicitly set by the Constitutions framers and pursued by the authors of the American Revolution. While it is true that Europe depends on the Suez Canal more for trade than America does, the US and European states are each others largest trading partners. American imports constitute the largest share of foreign goods in many European nations, and the United States benefits materially when those economies are healthier and, therefore, have more to spend on American products. Guaranteeing free maritime navigation rights in the Red Sea also prevents anti-American powers from filling the vacuum a retreating America would leave in its wake. Preventing the return of inviolable spheres of interest dominated by regional hegemons who want nothing more than to see the US-led world order go the way of the dodo helps preserve the post-War peace and prosperity we take for granted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Long before Donald Trump took an interest in Republican politics, American conservatives lamented the extent to which US security obligations to Europe underwrote an expansive Western European welfare state. The American Right has long advocated for a more self-confident Europe capable of defending its own interests, but that is only a tactic. The right strategy would be to stand up a Europe that would be a more capable steward of our shared interests interests set by the Nato alliances prima inter pares. America would cut off its nose to spite its face by engineering a trans-Atlantic schism in an effort to get Europe to take more ownership of its foreign policy. The Continent is hardly politically united, nor is it constitutionally disposed toward confrontation with China, Iran, or even Russia. But in a world in which the US no longer enjoys prohibitive influence over the trajectory of European security policy, Washington may find that its objectives are frustrated by elements in European politics that are more inclined to appease and accommodate Americas adversaries. Vance, Miller, and others in Trumps orbit are clearly confident that they are only advocating for the presidents position. After all, when Trump himself discusses Americas overseas alliances, he describes them as though they were an onerous burden imposed on rather than bequeathed to the United States by the generations that sacrificed so much to build them. If they dont pay, Im not going to defend them, Trump said this month of Americas Nato allies. Apparently, that is, unless they contribute the equivalent of 5 per cent of GDP to their respective defence budgets more than even America pays. Only then would America honour its Senate-ratified, treaty-bound obligations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Likewise, Trump and his allies see little value in supporting Ukraines defence against Russian expansionist aggression unless the president can claim some tangible reward from the process, like a deal that signs over half the future proceeds Ukraine derives from the extraction of its mineral and hydrocarbon deposits. Taiwan should pay us for defence, Trump told Bloomberg News reporters last summer. You know, were no different than an insurance company. Point of fact: the United States is nothing like an insurance company. It is a nation with core strategic interests, creedal values that it has promoted since its founding, and partnerships abroad that are predicated on deeper commitments than a commercial ventures fiduciary responsibility to its customers and investors. Trump has never himself appreciated this distinction, but he was once surrounded by Republicans who did. That is not the case today. And thanks to the leak in The Atlantic, the Wests enemies are a little better informed about who in this administration shares its goal of engineering a post-American world and who doesnt. Noah Rothman is a senior writer at National Review 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. High school and college students with the Planned Parenthood lights and generation action programs testified against a bill in the Senate on March 25, 2025, that would require parental consent to access birth control and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. (Photo by Jackie Llanos/Florida Phoenix) Florida teens are contracting sexually transmitted infections at rates higher than in the past decade, and a bill advancing in the Republican-controlled Legislature would require them to tell their parents to secure treatment. Minors in Florida are entitled to privacy with doctors and medical providers to receive treatment for STIs, substance abuse, and mental health problems. In some cases, doctors can prescribe birth control to minors without their parents written consent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vero Beach Republican Sen. Erin Grall wants to eliminate those exceptions and grant parents access to all their kids medical records, including approving any health surveys or questionnaires they may fill out. This means that healthcare providers wouldnt be able to treat a minor with an STI without a parents permission. Senator sees exceptions as marginalizing parents The staunch anti-abortion senator is labeling the statutory exceptions providing teens privacy with their doctors a parental rights problem in SB 1288. Its tragic to me that so many people have had to experience such pain at the hands of their parents, but I believe that as a society, we have marginalized parents in a way that has led to that behavior, and its my hope that we see that change, Grall said during the Senate Pre-K-12 Committee meeting, which the bill passed with four senators in opposition, including a Republican. Grall said she found bothersome her own experience taking her daughter to the doctors office, where the child was given a survey about suicide. She told lawmakers that repeatedly asking children if they had ever considered suicide could cause them to start thinking about it. War on reproductive freedoms During nearly an hour of testimony, sexual assault survivors and reproductive health advocates say the bill was dangerous for kids who cant confide in their parents at risk, leading to an increase in teen pregnancies and STIs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Statewide rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis among 13 to 17-year-olds are the highest they have been since 2008, according to 2023 data from the Florida Department of Health. Those infections can be cured with antibiotics, but worsen if left untreated for longer. This is war on our reproductive freedoms, but what I was really shocked to hear is that we are now attacking the mental health of our children, said Sarah Parker, a member of the public providing testimony who said she had been sexually assaulted as a child. We know that children are abused and raped in the system. Lets not pretend these things are not happening. Just say you dont care and be transparent. Miami Republican Sen. Alexis Calatayud. (Photo courtesy of Florida Senate website) Florida statute is clearer about teens ability to receive treatment for STIs, substance abuse, and mental health services without parental consent than it is about granting access to birth control. However, physicians can prescribe birth control to a minor if their medical opinion is that the patient would suffer health hazards otherwise. Nearly all of Gralls Republican colleagues agreed, but Miami Republican Sen. Alexis Calatayud opposed the bill, insisting that the requirement become parental notification and not consent. Grall said she wasnt willing to make that change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have to consider how we protect vulnerable populations, and we cannot hope the best for them with the policy without creating some sort of protections for them, Calatayud said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Could there be an increase in teen pregnancies? The state has been making strides toward reducing the number of teen pregnancies. Between 2004 and 2023, the rate of teen pregnancies among minors fell from 13.8 to 3.6 per 1,000 women in the state, according to FDH data. Those numbers dont capture how Floridas reproductive care landscape has changed since the six-week abortion ban went into effect in May, but doctors already had to get parental consent or permission from a judge to provide abortions to minors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grall, who sponsored the law restricting abortions in most cases after six weeks gestation, said she wasnt concerned about an increase in teen pregnancies and that minors could still report abuse to law enforcement or other mandated reporters. With a shorter timeframe for minors to secure an abortion before six weeks gestation, pro-abortion advocates say access to birth control is essential. This bill helps no one and causes undue harm to young Floridians, who, under the current abortion ban, would be forced to carry out unwanted teen pregnancies due to lack of access to education, birth control, and testing, said Tsi Day Smyth, chief deputy director of Voices of Florida. I was here when yall decided that parents do not have the authority to make these sorts of decisions when it comes to their kids gender-affirming care, and now youre saying that they do have the authority to make these decisions when it comes to reproductive care. Pick a lane, please. The lack of sex education in public schools across the state also worsens the potential damage of the bill if kids dont know how they can contract STIs, critics of the proposal said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the end of the day, failing to educate young people, hampering our ability to conduct risk assessment surveys, and restricting access to family planning is a recipe for disaster for young people in Florida, said Michelle Grimsley Shindano, director of Public Policy for the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, in a press release. Health care providers could face disciplinary actions if they disobey parental consent requirements, such as probation and suspension or revocation of their licenses, according to a legislative analysis of the bill. They could also have to pay fines of up to $10,000 per violation. January Littlejohn, the Leon County mother whom First Lady Melania Trump invited to President Donald Trumps speech to a joint session of Congress, was one of five people speaking in support of the bill. The parental rights advocate recently lost her appeal in the dismissal of her suit against the countys school board and superintendent over a dispute relating to her child wanting to use pronouns and express a gender identity she didnt approve of, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. Bottom line is, we cannot continue to presume all parents to be a risk of abuse with no due process, and continue to cut them out of medical and mental health care decisions for their children, because it is us, the parents, that know and love our children better than anyone else, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SB 1288 is not the only bill Grall filed angering pro-abortion advocates this legislative session. The Republican senator also wants parents to claim damages in the wrongful death of a fetus at any stage of development, which critics say would establish fetal personhood. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Justin Chiwiwi, of Isleta-based MBS Construction, works Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, on the site of a new booster near a water tank in the center of Tohajiilee. The New Mexico Environment Department is seeking to implement a new rule to protect workers from heat injury and illness. (Photo by Gabrielle Porter for Source NM) New Mexico environment officials are seeking approval for new heat protections for workers both indoor and outdoor which, if adopted, could go into effect as early as this summer. Earlier this month, the New Mexico Environment Department submitted a draft rule to the Environmental Improvement Board for new standards for employers to prevent heat illnesses and related injuries, kicking off a public rule-making process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rule, for instance, would require employers to incorporate precautions such as rest periods, good shade or cooling areas and adequate drinking water in high-heat conditions, implement plans and training to prevent injuries and require tracking of injuries and the conditions under which they occur. New Mexicos desert climate and naturally hot summer months, including the regions rapidly warming climate, present a unique need for employee protection from heat illness and related injuries, the department said in the petition for the hearing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded a nationwide average of 3,389 injuries and illnesses per year between 2011 and 2020, and averaged 40 deaths annually in the same time period. These figures, however, are likely an undercount. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration in a 2023 report called the figures a vast underestimate caused by a variety of factors: inconsistent reporting from health professionals; lack of recognition of heat as a factor; underreporting from employers and workers. Public health advocates told Source NM New Mexico urgently needs the rule, which they say will benefit workers in numerous industries, including restaurants, construction and agriculture. Six states Maryland, California, Nevada, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington have adopted statewide regulations to reduce heat stress in the workplace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its application, the New Mexico Environment Department cited research that New Mexicos temperatures are expected to rise in the coming years, driven by human-caused climate change. They may also be hotter in the shorter term: The three-month outlook by the Climate Prediction Center shows hotter than average temperatures expected for New Mexico in the next three months. New Mexicos position as one of the fastest-warming in the U.S. is already harming workers, said Nathaniel Matthews-Trigg, a founding board member of Healthy Climate New Mexico, a nonprofit that advocates around climate and health issues, and will host an Extreme Heat Summit in April. Matthews-Trigg, who has a masters in public health and is a certified emergency manager who researches climate change and public health, said heat impacts are directly impacting New Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When we look at the data, especially the New Mexico specific data, the overwhelming number of people that experienced heat-related illness are people of working age, which we know really points to the risk people face and their jobs, he said. In its petition, the New Mexico Environment Department notes the most recent data shows heat stress visits are increasing in New Mexico among people ages 18 to 44. The New Mexico Department of Healths Environmental Public Health Tracking Program documented over 900 emergency room visits due to heat in 2023 and more than 830 heat related emergency room visits since April 1, 2024 The federal Occupational Health and Safety Bureau started the process of making federal heat safety standards for workplaces in 2021, but the Trump administration has indefinitely paused the process. Without a federal rule, state protections are crucial, Matthews-Trigg said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are kind of setting ourselves up to be on the cutting edge, to learn from many of the lessons of other states and then also incorporating whats really unique in New Mexico, both in how people work and our climate, he said. The draft rule would establish mandatory rests starting at 95 degrees depending on the intensity of work. The rule also would require employers to create heat prevention and safety plans; provide training; give access to emergency care; and to collect data when heat illness and injuries do happen. The rule would use the heat index created by the National Weather Service, which applies measures of both temperature and humidity, as well as direct sunlight and clothing, to better estimate the dangers of heat stress. The rule would cover both indoor workers and outdoor workers, where the heat index at the workplace exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It would exclude workplaces that keep all working areas below 80 degrees on the heat index, people who telework and emergency personnel. Physical work in high heat can result in heat exhaustion and heat stroke as well as long term impacts such as heart and kidney damage, neurological dysfunction, and death. Heat Index (Courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) NMED requested two days June 24 and June 25 for the hearing. The next step is for the Occupational Health and Safety Bureau to open comment for 60 days in April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jorge Estrada, a spokesperson for NMED, told Source NM in an email Tuesday the comment period has not yet been scheduled. If the Environmental Improvement Board approves the rule, it could go into effect in July 2025, according to a NMED news release. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX AVALON, March 26 (Reuters) - Anduril President Christian Brose said the AI-powered defense start-up, whose founder left Facebook over his early support of Donald Trump, has good "vibes" about the Trump administration's shakeup of defense and willingness to do things differently. Brose, who previously worked for Republican Senator John McCain, said Anduril was well positioned because the work it is doing on low-cost autonomous defense systems "seemingly align with the assumptions and proclivities the new administration is bringing." The company announced in January it will invest nearly $1 billion in a Pickaway County factory near Rickenbacker International Airport that will employ 4,000 workers making drones and other weapons for the military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anduril said in December it would partner with OpenAI to deploy advanced artificial intelligence solutions for national security missions. More on drone contractor Anduril : Military drone contractor Anduril plans Ohio factory that will employ 4,000 workers Brose has been critical of defense procurement, and said the Trump administration shared this frustration. "There's a huge opportunity and seemingly a lot of willingness on the part of the new Trump administration to do things differently," he said in an interview at the Australian International Air Show on Wednesday. "We have relationships with the current administration - it's not secret that our founder has given money to Trump and is very supportive of Trump and has been for a very long time, he said, referring to founder Palmer Luckey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "At the level of vibes, it's good," he added. Palmer Luckey (right) Founder of Anduril Industries talks with people at an event to announce a $1 billion investment in a Pickaway County factory that will employ 4,000 workers making military drones. The Pentagon last month directed U.S. military leaders to draw up a list of potential defense budget cuts totaling about $50 billion. "Its not clear that the reported 8% reduction is actually a desire to reduce the defense budget or a desire to harvest money that can then be repurposed into new and different types of military capabilities," Brose said. Anduril is building a mass manufacturing factory for its autonomous systems in Ohio, and Brose said the company plans to build more outside the United States, which could include Australia if there was a business case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Australian Defence Force is trialling Anduril's AI intrusion detection software at RAAF Base Darwin, a northern installation where U.S. Marines are hosted for six months of the year. Anduril Australia has also bid to manufacture solid rocket motors for the Australian Defence Department's Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise, Anduril Australia chief executive David Goodrich said. Anduril developed the Ghost Shark underwater autonomous machine with the Australian Defence Force, and Goodrich said the company hopes to make announcements soon on "at-scale production". Anduril is working on a facility in New South Wales for production ahead of any contract, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the AUKUS treaty, the United States and Britain will work to transfer nuclear-powered submarine technology to Australia, which will spend more than A$360 billion over several decades to build a new class of sub in Australia. Brose said it was "both, not an either/or" when it came to defense investment in crewed submarines and autonomous machines. "The benefit of autonomous systems like Ghost Shark is they deliver a lot faster, you can produce them in far larger quantities and far lower prices," he said. (Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Gerry Doyle) This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Anduril drone president says company is well positioned with Pentagon LUSAKA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) has allocated 150,000 euros to help Zambia's response to the cholera outbreak, a press statement released on Tuesday said. The funding will bolster the efforts of the Zambia Red Cross Society in providing much-needed relief, including clean water, healthcare, sanitation and hygiene, as well as help people mitigate transmission risk through community engagement. According to the statement, the emergency response project will run for five months until the end of August 2025 and is expected to reach the affected people in the hardest-hit provinces of Copperbelt and Muchinga. The funding, the statement said, is part of the EU's overall contribution to the disaster response emergency fund of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Since the outbreak of the water-borne disease in December last year, cumulative cholera cases in the country have risen to 351, with nine deaths. The Zambian government, working with other partners, is implementing a multi-faceted response strategy focused on cholera prevention, effective case management, and community engagement, the statement said. WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) Williamson County Schools has faced some resistance after the board adopted a new science curriculum that rejected the recommendations of a committee and most teachers within the school system. The dismissal of the teachers recommendation and the committees recommendation in this case is really a low blow, Former WCS teacher, Charity Hazen, told News 2. Williamson County school board debates AP Psychology textbook due to LGBTQ+ content Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before changing career paths and accepting a job in the corporate world, Hazen was a teacher in Williamson County for nearly a decade. I was just completely floored to see the board not just not take the teachers recommendation, but to truly go in the complete opposite directionto me, it was just a shocking departure from the advice and expertise that our teachers bring, Hazen added. Last Monday, board members voted seven to two to adopt a K-8 science curriculum called STEMscopes, which only 7% of K-second grade teachers, about 10% of third-fifth grade teachers, and zero middle school teachers recommended. However, WCS board member and scientist Dr. Claire Reeves said the STEMscopes curriculum offered more evidence of student success than the teacher and committee recommended options, adding the textbook wouldnt just teach to the test. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It allows for prioritizing the hands-on piece and print materials that will give parents and kids greater exposure to science on a daily basis, Reeves said in last weeks board meeting. No money for state grocery tax cut included in Gov. Bill Lees budget However, some teachers shared concerns about the textbook reading like an encyclopedia and loosely aligning with standards. I really was discouraged by the fact that no middle school teachers chose the curriculum that the board ultimately did, former WCS board member K.C. Haugh told News 2. One Tennessee law relating to school districts reads that board members shall make their adoption upon recommendations of such committees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are times when things were close and that we would ask pointed questions, but honestly, it should be rare [to override the teacher recommendations], Haugh said. To be honest, its unfortunate when that happens because this is a collaborative process. Current WCS board member Eric Welch has served the district for about 15 years and was in the minority to support the teachers and the committees recommendation. Right now, its the angriest and most disappointed Ive ever seen our teachers, Welch said of teacher morale within the district. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com STEMscopes will be the curriculum assigned to teachers for the next several years unless a current WCS parent, student or teacher challenges the use of instructional materials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News 2 reached out to one current WCS teacher who said educators have been advised not to do media interviews, but Welch said dozens of teachers have emailed him since the vote, saying they feel disrespected by the boards decision. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. DES MOINES, Iowa The Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced on Tuesday that it would be canceling its annual Prairie Chicken Day this year due to declining populations. During the late 1800s the greater prairie chicken was the most abundant gamebird in Iowa. According to the DNR, hunters would commonly bag 25-50 birds a day and there were even reports of hunters taking in as much as 200 a day. Lawmakers at the time became concerned about the overhunting and implemented limitations and restrictions on hunting, to no avail. The last hunting season for the birds was in 1915, and the last known nesting prairie chickens in the state were recorded in 1952. Last legs: Down to just 21 birds, Iowas prairie chicken population fading away Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite multiple attempts in the 1980s to reintroduce the prairie chicken in locations like the Loess Hills and the Ringgold Wildlife Area, the birds population continued to decline. Another reintroduction was attempted in the 1990s in Ringgold and the surrounding counties, which successfully established the Kellerton lek, their primary booming ground since then. However, the success was short lived as the prairie chickens population again slowly declined. Another attempt was made in the 2000s with the Iowa Management Plan for Greater Prairie Chickens, and while a small population of the bird has returned to Iowa, it too has also declined. On Tuesday, the DNR announced that this year staff have only seen sporadic use of the main Kellerton lek by a few male prairie chickens, resulting in the cancellation of the annual Prairie Chicken Day event where Iowans would watch the birds mating dance. The DNR said its continuing to survey the birds and would appreciate any sightings be reported to them. Reports can be made on the DNRs website. Iowa News: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. (NewsNation) Family members of a second woman killed during a conjugal visit at Mule Creek State Prison in California are speaking out about her death. In November 2024, Stephanie Stevi Dowells was strangled during a conjugal visit with David Brinson, who has not been charged in her death. Nearly four months before Dowells death, Tania Thomas died nearly the same way at the same prison during a conjugal visit with convicted felon Anthony Curry. Thomas and Curry were married and shared a 25-year-old son together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomas visit with Curry was scheduled for July 1, 2024. By 6 a.m. the next day, she was dead. Curry told prison officials that Thomas just didnt wake up. Months later, a coroner found that she had been strangled. Family of Riley Strain files wrongful death lawsuit against Delta Chi fraternity On March 19, charges in Thomas death were brought against Curry, nearly nine months after she died. Jeanine Rojo, Thomas cousin, said Curry was up for parole in January of 2024 but was denied and told Thomsa he had another hearing in January of 2025. Thomas found out the hearing was not for another two years. Rojo said the family is speculating that she went on the visit to tell Curry she was ending things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Rojo discovered that Stephanie Dowells died in November, she said she wanted to learn more and contacted her family to let them know that Thomas died the same way. It shouldnt happen to Tania, Rojo said. But it definitely shouldnt have happened to Stevi. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. In a rare show of dissent, anti-Hamas slogans were shouted by some protesters as hundreds of people gathered in northern Gaza to call for an end to the war. Demonstrators could be seen calling for Hamas to go outside in a video verified by NBC News, which showed scores of people amassed in the city of Beit Lahia on Tuesday. Most were calling for an end to the 17-month-long conflict and Israel's military offensive, which has seen more than 50,000 people killed in the Hamas-run enclave since Oct. 7, 2023, according to Palestinian health officials. Israel launched its offensive in the Gaza Strip after the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attacks, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont want destruction; we dont want war; we want to live, one man can be heard saying in another video shared on social media and verified by NBC News in the city of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza on Tuesday. Children were also pictured carrying signs saying We refuse to die at the rally in the city, much of which has been reduced to rubble during the conflict. Others in the crowd, which appeared to be mostly made up of men, shouted "Hamas out" and "Hamas terrorists," according to the Agence France-Presse news agency, which had at least one reporter on the scene. It was not immediately clear who organized the protest, but NBC News' crew on the ground reported plans were circulating for further demonstrations Wednesday. Hamas did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Children carried signs reading "We refuse to die." I think the protests are coming really at an important time where Hamas is really being pushed from all sides the Israeli government, the U.S. government, Palestinians writ large, Sanam Vakil, director of Chatham Houses Middle East and North Africa Programme, said in a phone interview Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The protest really signifies that there is indeed frustration, if not opposition, to Hamas, she added. While there have been small protests calling for an end to the war in Gaza, Tuesdays demonstration appeared to be the biggest since the start of the current conflict. Israel has routinely called for Palestinians to mobilize against Hamas and has maintained a land, air and sea blockade on the enclave since Hamas took power in 2007 following Israels withdrawal from the territory after 38 years of occupation. But levels of discontent are hard to gauge. A poll released in September by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, a think tank based in the occupied West Bank, found support for Hamas in the Gaza Strip to be at 35%, compared to 38% three months before. Hundreds attended Tuesday's rally in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza. Israel resumed airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza after the first phase of a 42-day ceasefire deal with Hamas ended March 1. Since then, more than 700 people have been killed in the enclave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Negotiations on the second stage of the truce deal were meant to begin 16 days after the start of stage one but this did not happen. As a result, dozens of hostages, both alive and dead, remain in Hamas captivity as efforts by mediators to resume the truce and see them released remain in limbo. Israel has pushed for Hamas to agree to a proposal pitched by Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, which would have seen an extension to the first phase of the deal. Hamas has demanded a return to negotiations aimed at implementing the second part of the three-phase deal, which was expected to pave the way to an end to the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The militant group has previously signaled that it would be willing to cede political power and administrative governance of Gaza to a Palestinian unity government but maintained it would not disarm until an internationally recognized independent Palestinian state is realized. Hamas leaders are likely to feel very much backed into a corner and cant figure out a way to achieve all of their aims, which are of course to remain a political force in Gaza, obtain a pathway for Palestinian statehood and of course, end the war, Vakil said. Eventually, she added, theyre likely going to have to compromise but systems like Hamas dont generally put the needs of their citizens before their own. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com University students march across Galata bridge during a protest after Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested and sent to prison, in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, March 24, 2025. Lights on top of the Yeni mosque reads in Turkish: "Don't forget your afterlife". (AP Photo/Huseyin Aldemir) ASSOCIATED PRESS ANDREWS, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- An Andrews man was arrested earlier this month after a months-long international kidnapping investigation. David Tyler Ruiz has been charged with Aggravated Kidnapping and Interference with Child Custody. According to the Andrews Police Department, on January 13 someone reported a kidnapping involving a known suspect, identified as Ruiz. The initial complaint said that Ruiz had taken his two children to Mexico and was not willing to bring them back unless a ransom was paid. Because of the complexities involving an international case, APD investigators asked for help from both state and federal agencies and Ruiz was eventually found in Villa Matamoros, Mexico. Federal authorities then partnered with Mexicos National Guard and arrested Ruiz in Mexico. The children were then safely returned to the United States through the El Paso Port of Entry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police department would like to thank all federal and state agencies that assisted with the safe return of the children, as well as all law enforcement in Mexico, said APD Chief of Police, Ronny McCarver. Ruiz was booked into the Andrews County Jail where he remained as of Wednesday morning. His bond has been set at a combined $600,000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Wednesday rejected the Trump administration's effort to lift U.S. District Judge James Boasberg's block on deportations under the Alien Enemies Act. The appeals court heard arguments Monday over the Trump administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act last week to deport more than 200 alleged members of a Venezuelan gang to El Salvador with no due process. The Trump administration's attempt to remove alleged migrant gang members in that manner deprives the men of "even a gossamer thread of due process," Judge Patricia Millett wrote in her concurring opinion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: 'Nazis got better treatment,' judge says of Trump administration's Alien Enemies Act deportations Disregarding their rights simply because they are unpopular or labeled terrorists, Millet wrote, would mean abandoning the "true mark of this great Nation." "The true mark of this great Nation under law is that we adhere to legal requirements even when it is hard, even when important national interests are at stake, and even when the claimant may be unpopular," she wrote. "For if the government can choose to abandon fair and equal process for some people, it can do the same for everyone." Trump last week invoked the Alien Enemies Act -- a wartime authority used to deport noncitizens with little-to-no due process -- by arguing that the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua is a "hybrid criminal state" that is invading the United States. Boasberg temporarily blocked the president's use of the law to deport more than 200 alleged gang members to El Salvador, calling the removals "awfully frightening" and "incredibly troublesome." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boasberg ordered that the government turn around the two flights carrying the alleged gang members, but authorities failed to turn the flights around, saying they were already in international waters. 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 AFP via Getty Images) Judge Millet and Judge Karen Henderson -- who was first nominated to the federal bench by Ronald Reagan -- determined that Boasberg acted correctly and within his authority when he temporarily blocked any deportations under the AEA. "The district court entered the TROs [temporary restraining orders] for a quintessentially valid purpose: to protect its remedial authority long enough to consider the parties' arguments," Judge Henderson wrote in a concurring opinion. Judge Justin Walker -- a Trump appointee -- dissented from the majority because he said the noncitizens should have filed their case in Texas, where they were deported from, rather than Washington, D.C., adding that the lower court's decisions "threaten irreparable harm to delicate negotiations with foreign powers on matters concerning national security." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that the public interest favors "swiftly removing dangerous aliens" compared to letting the case move through a court that lacks venue over the matter. "The district court here in Washington, D.C. -- 1,475 miles from the El Valle Detention Facility in Raymondville, Texas -- is not the right court to hear the Plaintiffs' claims. The Government likely faces irreparable harm to ongoing, highly sensitive international diplomacy and national-security operations," he wrote. MORE: El Salvador prison holding alleged Venezuelan gang members has been criticized for alleged abuses Judge Millet pushed back on Walker's claim that the men should have used habeas corpus to challenge their deportations in a Texas court, writing that such an approach is a "phantasm" of due process because the Trump administration would have removed the men before they could even file a claim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The government's removal scheme denies Plaintiffs even a gossamer thread of due process, even though the government acknowledges their right to judicial review of their removability," she wrote. In a statement to ABC News, attorney Lee Gelernt, who argued the case for the ACLU, hailed the ruling, saying it "stops the immediate removal of hundreds of individuals, without any due process, to a notorious prison in a foreign country, based on the misuse of a centuries-old wartime authority. ABC News' Laura Romero contributed to this report. Appeals court rejects Trump bid to overturn Alien Enemies Act deportation block originally appeared on abcnews.go.com President Donald Trump may not resume summary deportations of people he deems to be part of a Venezuelan gang, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday. The 2-1 ruling by a panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals is another blow to Trumps effort to deploy wartime powers to quickly deport hundreds of people he claims are members of the gang, Tren de Aragua, which he has designated as a terrorist group. It maintains the decision of U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who blocked Trumps deportation order earlier this month amid questions about its constitutionality. Trump has tried to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 a rarely used law that grants the president special powers during times of war to swiftly deport alleged gang members with little due process. Lawyers for some of the people targeted say their clients are not affiliated with the gang at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wednesdays splintered ruling featured different rationales even from the two judges who agreed to maintain Boasbergs temporary block on Trumps deportations: Judge Karen Henderson, an appointee of President George H.W. Bush, and Judge Patricia Millett, an appointee of President Barack Obama. Judge Justin Walker, a Trump appointee, dissented. The Trump administration may quickly appeal the ruling either to the full bench of the D.C. Circuit or the Supreme Court. Each of the three judges on the panel wrote lengthy opinions explaining their views on the case. Henderson disagreed strongly with the governments assertion of unfettered executive power in this area. At the outset, the governments suggestion that judicial review of the Alien Enemies Act is categorically foreclosed is incorrect, she wrote. Nothing in the text of the AEA expressly or implicitly forecloses the strong presumption [of] judicial review. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also contended that Trump seemed to misuse the Alien Enemies Act, which empowers presidents to remove foreign nationals from U.S. territory during a declared war or invasion. The law, passed during the earliest days of the republic, was meant to repel foreign military incursions and efforts by outsiders to control U.S. territory, she said, not to facilitate deportations of migrants. The theme that rings true is that an invasion is a military affair, not one of migration, Henderson wrote. Millett joined with Henderson in maintaining Boasbergs order, but for a different reason: the administrations refusal to give the targets of Trumps invocation a genuine opportunity to challenge their designations as members of Tren de Aragua. The true mark of this great Nation under law is that we adhere to legal requirements even when it is hard, even when important national interests are at stake, and even when the claimant may be unpopular, Millett wrote. For if the government can choose to abandon fair and equal process for some people, it can do the same for everyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walker, in dissent, argued that the migrants targeted by Trumps invocation of the Alien Enemies Act could have sued in the Texas district where they were detained, rather than in Washington, D.C., and that the Trump administration had persuasively argued the intervention by the courts had jeopardized sensitive foreign policy negotiations. The orders risk the possibility that those foreign actors will change their minds about allowing the United States to remove Tren de Aragua members to their countries, Walker wrote. Even if they dont change their minds, it gives them leverage to negotiate for better terms. Hendersons opinion also left some wiggle room for the administration to eventually prevail in the case. She noted that the litigation is in an early phase and her analysis represents a preliminary view of the merits. The government will have ample opportunity to prove its case and its evidence should be afforded the requisite deference due the Presidents national security judgments, Henderson wrote. The appeals panel issued its ruling just 48 hours after hearing oral arguments in the case. A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. has rejected Donald Trumps attempt to throw out a lower-court ruling that has blocked the administration from deporting immigrants under the Alien Enemies Act. Wednesdays 2-1 decision written by appellate Judge Karen Henderson, who was appointed by George H.W. Bush states that the Alien Enemies Act gives the president near-blanket authority to detain and deport any noncitizen whose affiliation traces to the belligerent state. But a central limit to this power is the acts conditional clause that the United States be at war or under invasion or predatory incursion, states Hendersons ruling. A federal appeals court will not block Judge James Boasbergs order that temporarily blocks the Trump administration from deporting immigrants under the Alien Enemies Act (AP) Trump plucks the third-order usage of the word invasion to justify summary deportations, she wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immigration alone also does not constitute a predatory incursion, the ruling states. The phrase refers to a form of hostilities against the United States by another nation-state, a form of attack short of war, according to Henderson. Migration alone did not suffice. The government argues that we may not even assess the lawfulness of its conduct, Henderson adds. In its view, whether there is an invasion or predatory incursion or whether an organization qualifies as a foreign nation or government is a political question unreviewable by the courts. In a concurring opinion, Barack Obama-appointed appellate Judge Patricia Millett rebuked the governments argument that immigrants, on allegations alone, can be removed immediately with no notice, no hearing, no opportunity zero process to show that they are not members of the gang, to contest their eligibility for removal under the law, or to invoke legal protections against being sent to a place where it appears likely they will be tortured and their lives endangered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Constitutions demand of due process cannot be so easily thrown aside, she wrote. Venezuelan immigrants accused of being members of the Tren de Aragua gang were deported to El Salvadors notorious prison this month despite a court order blocking deportations under the Alien Enemies Act (via REUTERS) Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act for the fourth time in U.S. history as three planes with dozens of Venezuelans were sent to El Salvadors notorious prison, where they do not have access to legal counsel and face the prospect of indefinite detention. The flights were on their way to El Salvador on March 15 when District Judge James Boasberg ordered the administration to turn the planes around. He has pressed officials to answer a series of questions about the operation to determine whether they intentionally defied his court orders. Trumps order states that 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the administration admitted in court filings that many of the people sent to El Salvador did not have criminal records, and attorneys and family members say their clients and relatives some of whom were in the country with legal permission and have upcoming court hearings on their asylum claims have nothing to do with Tren de Aragua. Trump-appointed appellate judge Justin Walker dissented from the two other members of the three-judge panel. Immigrants targeted for removal represented by the ACLU, which sued to block their imminent deportation on what would have been the El Salvador flights should have sued in Texas, where they were detained, according to Walker. The Government has also shown that the district courts orders threaten irreparable harm to delicate negotiations with foreign powers on matters concerning national security, he wrote. And that harm, plus the asserted public interest in swiftly removing dangerous aliens, outweighs the Plaintiffs desire to file a suit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wednesdays ruling comes after a nearly two-hour appeals court hearing, where lawyers for the government called Boasbergs temporary restraining order an utterly unprecedented intrusion into the presidents authority. The administration told Boasberg this week that attorneys will not answer his questions about the flights, citing a state secrets privilege that allows the executive branch to block evidence in court over national security concerns. That move escalates what has become a growing conflict between Trump and the judiciary in a case that legal experts are warning could send the country plummeting into a constitutional crisis. KAMPALA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's coffee export value has surged by more than 70 percent over the past 12 months, the country's Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries announced on Wednesday. A ministry statement indicated that Uganda's coffee exports increased by 6.99 percent in quantity and 70.71 percent in value from March 2024 to February 2025. "Coffee exports for the 12 months (March 2024 -- February 2025) totaled 6.57 million bags, valued at 1.72 billion U.S. dollars," the ministry said. According to the statement, the top destinations for Ugandan coffee included several European countries, India, Sudan, China, and the United States. The ministry attributed the rise in export value to high prices in the global market, which encouraged Ugandan exporters to release more of their stock. "The value of coffee exports was higher due to rising global coffee prices, as dry conditions in Brazil and Vietnam -- the world's largest producers of Arabica and Robusta coffee, respectively -- continue to fuel uncertainty in global coffee supply," the ministry noted. To further boost coffee production, the Ugandan government has launched initiatives to distribute free coffee seedlings and enhance supply chain management, aiming to improve both the quantity and quality of the country's coffee. A federal appeals court panel ruled against the Trump administration, declining to block a trial judges decision that temporarily halted certain deportations under an 18th century wartime law. Federal officials filed an emergency appellate motion after U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued temporary restraining orders on March 15. President Donald Trump had invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to summarily remove alleged Venezuelan gang members and fly them to El Salvador. This Court should halt this unprecedented intrusion upon the Executives authority to remove dangerous aliens who pose grave threats to the American people, the Justice Department wrote to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ahead of a hearing Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The D.C. Circuit panel split 2-1 on Wednesday against the administration, with each judge explaining themselves separately. Judges Karen LeCraft Henderson and Patricia Millet, appointed by Presidents George H.W. Bush and Barack Obama respectively, published concurring statements, while Trump appointee Justin Walker wrote a dissent saying the administration was entitled to relief pending appeal, reasoning in part that sensitive matters of foreign affairs and national security are at stake. Henderson wrote that the government wasnt entitled to relief at this early stage and that Boasberg entered the restraining orders for a quintessentially valid purpose: to protect its remedial authority long enough to consider the parties arguments. Millet added that the trial judge has been handling this matter with great expedition and circumspection, and its orders do nothing more than freeze the status quo until weighty and unprecedented legal issues can be addressed through a soon-forthcoming preliminary injunction proceeding. Boasberg didnt order deportations halted across the board; rather, he temporarily constrained Trumps authority to summarily deport people under the rarely used act. It was invoked three times before in U.S. history, all during declared wars. The government can still deport people under other legal authorities. Opposing the governments attempt to upend Boasbergs orders, plaintiff lawyers with the American Civil Liberties Union wrote ahead of the hearing that Trumps invocation of the Act against a gang cannot be squared with the explicit terms of the statute requiring a declared war or invasion by foreign government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They called the implications of Trumps argument staggering, writing that if the President can designate any group as enemy aliens under the Act, and that designation is unreviewable, then there is no limit on who can be sent to a Salvadoran prison, or any limit on how long they will remain there. Boasberg is separately examining whether officials deliberately flouted his orders. Trump called for the judges impeachment, after which Chief Justice John Roberts issued a rare statement generally condemning such calls, which the president and his allies, including Elon Musk, have made in response to court rulings against the administration. 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 BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) An appeals court has ruled that defense attorneys cannot use Madison Brooks sexual history to challenge rape charges connected to her death, according to District Attorney Hillar Moore. Moore confirmed that the East Baton Rouge District Attorneys Office is satisfied with the ruling, which limits the evidence the defense can present in the upcoming trials. Case background Brooks, 19, was an LSU student who died after being hit by a car while standing in the middle of Burbank Drive near Pelican Lakes Parkway in January 2023. According to an affidavit, Brooks was raped and left to wander with a blood-alcohol level of .319% before she was struck and killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Footage obtained by Louisiana First News showed Brooks leaving Tigerland the night before the incident. Reggies bar and related investigation Reggies, a bar in the Tigerland area tied to the case, had its liquor license revoked by the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC). The agency determined the owner and manager were ineligible, unsuitable to hold or manage an establishment that has an alcohol permit. The bar was also fined $15,000. Lawsuit: Madison Brooks parents claim Reggies owners, others responsible for her death Four suspects arrested in connection to rape case Everett Lee, Desmond Carter, Kaivon Washington (Courtesy of EBRSO) Authorities arrested four suspects in connection to the rape case: Casen Carver, 20 Charged with first and third-degree rape by a grand jury in May 2023. Charged with video voyeurism in January 2024. Pleaded not guilty to all charges. Desmond Carter, 19 Charged with first and third-degree rape by a grand jury in February 2023. Kaivon Washington, 20 Everett Lee, 30 Whats next? The District Attorneys Office is moving forward with prosecuting the case, with the appeals court decision serving as a significant ruling on what evidence can be presented during trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baton Rouge woman charged with child desertion after kid found running in parking lot 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. WASHINGTON (AP) A federal appeals court refused Wednesday to lift an order barring the Trump administration from deporting Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador under an 18th century wartime law. A split three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit wouldn't block a March 15 order temporarily prohibiting deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. Invoking the law for the first time since World War II, President Donald Trumps administration deported hundreds of people under a presidential proclamation calling the Tren de Aragua gang an invading force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department appealed after U.S. District Judge James Boasberg blocked more deportations and ordered planeloads of Venezuelan immigrants to return to the U.S. That did not happen. Attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit on behalf of five Venezuelan noncitizens who were being held in Texas. The case has become a flashpoint amid escalating tension between the White House and the federal courts. Judges Karen LeCraft Henderson and Patricia Millett voted to reject the governments request to lift the order. Each wrote concurring opinions. Judge Justin Walker, a Trump nominee, wrote a dissenting opinion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Millett, who was nominated by Democratic President Barack Obama, said Boasberg's order merely froze the status quo until weighty and unprecedented legal issues can be addressed through an upcoming hearing. There is neither jurisdiction nor reason for this court to interfere at this very preliminary stage or to allow the government to singlehandedly moot the Plaintiffs claims by immediately removing them beyond the reach of their lawyers or the court. Henderson, who was nominated by Republican President George H.W. Bush, said the court's ruling doesn't prevent the government from arresting and detaining migrants under Trump's proclamation. Lifting the injunctions risks exiling plaintiffs to a land that is not their country of origin, she wrote. "Indeed, at oral argument before this Court, the government in no uncertain terms conveyed that were the injunction lifted it would immediately begin deporting plaintiffs without notice." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walker said the plaintiffs' claims belong in Texas, where they are detained. The Government has also shown that the district courts orders threaten irreparable harm to delicate negotiations with foreign powers on matters concerning national security, he wrote. Democracy Forward president and CEO Skye Perryman, whose legal advocacy group also represents the plaintiffs, said Wednesday's ruling is an important step for due process and the protection of the American people. President Trump is bound by the laws of this nation, and those laws do not permit him to use wartime powers when the United States is not at war and has not been invaded to remove individuals from the country with no process at all, Perryman said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boasberg, the chief judge of the federal district court in Washington, has vowed to determine whether the government defied his order to turn planes around. The administration has invoked a state secrets privilege and refused to give Boasberg any additional information about the deportations. Trump and his allies have called for impeaching Boasberg. In a rare statement, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. The Alien Enemies Act allows noncitizens to be deported without the opportunity for a hearing before an immigration or federal court judge. Boasberg ruled that immigrants facing deportation must get an opportunity to challenge their designations as alleged gang members. His ruling said there is a strong public interest in preventing the mistaken deportation of people based on categories they have no right to challenge. ___ Mar. 26March 26, 2015 Eighteen representatives from the University of Hawaii system are in the area this week visiting tribal colleges in Red Lake, Leech Lake and White Earth. Bill Blackwell, LLTC's director of institutional advancement, said LLTC and the Hawaiian contingency would discuss the possibility of student and faculty exchanges. March 26, 2000 Beltrami County's 12-year-old jail is overcrowded due to a combination of a growing Beltrami County population, tougher laws and more effective law enforcement. Compared to 1995, there has been a 28% increase in convictions in Beltrami County, a lot of which is due to a 1997 change in drunk driving laws. March 26, 1975 The first snows of what the National Weather Service calls another serious winter storm have moved into southwestern Minnesota. Meteorologists expect the storm to produce 4-12 inches of snow throughout two days. At least 20 southwestern and south-central school systems have closed as a result of the storm. March 26, 1925 In a recent test conducted by H. DeForest, chief postal clerk from Duluth, each Bemidji Post Office clerk was given 689 cards to handle. The average speed was 22 to 30 cards per minute, with 97-99% accuracy. The minimum standing for a clerk is 95% and he must handle not less than 16 pieces of mail per minute. I read Cincinnati City Councilman Seth Walsh's op-ed on the urgent need for an expanded arena, and I support the urgency and the economic benefits. That being said, he missed an opportunity as an elected official to clarify where it should be and how the cost should be justified, including who will be the host team that will generate the revenue to build the arena. Simply hosting March Madness a couple of times a decade, or a similar high-profile event in between, like a national convention for the President of the United States, along with Cincinnati Cyclones, will not be sufficient. We need to start exploring the host because a plan of "build it and they will come" would be foolish. More: Mayor, challengers spar over city manager, arena, infrastructure in Enquirer debate Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a billion-dollar-plus question. Given the recently built Intuit Dome Arena in Los Angeles, which hosts the NBA's L.A. Clippers, cost $2 billion, we need to understand a competitive arena will be at least a billion dollars. The Heritage Bank Center sits on the Ohio River next to Great American Ballpark in downtown Cincinnati, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. It opened in 1975 as the Riverfront Coliseum. It was then The Crown, Firstar Center, U.S. Bank Arena and now Heritage Bank Arena. Its home to the Cincinnati Cyclones and has a capacity of 17,556. More: Arena advocacy group launches petition, doesn't share financial backers If we want to move forward on this new arena, we first need to find a host team or a consistent draw that will fill the seats. The location is also key. The Banks is at risk of being a complete failure as a "neighborhood" if we don't maintain a year-round draw of visitors who will also be customers to the local businesses at The Banks. Before we get the proverbial cart before the horse, we need to have a serious discussion of what team or alternative business model will keep the lights on year-round. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brian Frank, Mt. Adams (Editor's note: Brian Frank is running for Cincinnati mayor in 2025) This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: A new Cincinnati arena without a committed team is a mistake | Letters Under Arizona's Constitution, state legislators are immune from traffic tickets during and around legislative sessions. But after several legislators used the law to get away with reckless speeding, a new proposal is looking to change the law. The resolution, HCR2053, would amend the part of the Arizona Constitution that gives lawmakers immunity "from arrest in all cases except treason, felony, and breach of the peace," by adding "and all traffic violations" to the list. If approved by the very legislators it targets, the proposal would go before Arizona voters in the 2026 election. "Elected officials should not have special privileges that allow them to break the law without accountability," said state Rep. Quang Nguyen (RPrescott Valley) in a February press release. "The people we serve are expected to follow traffic laws, and legislators should be no different. If a lawmaker is caught speeding, running a red light, or committing any other traffic violation, they should face the same consequences as everyone else." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the current status quo, legislators have used their immunity to get out of a range of legal issues. According to The Washington Post, state Sen. Mark Finchem (RPrescott) used the law to get out of a ticket for driving 18 mph over the speed limit in January. Last year, another state Senator invoked the law to try to avoid a citation for driving more than 71 mph in a 35 mph zone. Once the legislative session ended, she was charged with criminal excessive speeding. While the measure seems like common sense, it's unclear whether it will pass. The bill passed the House 37-20 earlier this month and now heads to the Senate. "There's no way it will ever be repealed," former state Rep. Paul Mosley (RLake Havasu City)who himself used the constitutional immunity provision to get out of multiple speeding ticketstold the Post. "It's kind of like a perk or a benefit. That's like saying to legislators, 'Hey, will you take a pay cut?'" While supporters argue that this kind of immunity prevents law enforcement from retaliating against state legislators, in practice, it allows legislators to escape basic accountability under the law. "The only justifiable reason that I can think of is that they fear prosecutors would be using speeding tickets to try to get lawmakers to do what they want them to do," Paul Bender, an Arizona State University law professor, told the Post. "I'm not aware of that happening." The post Arizona Legislators Are Immune From Traffic Tickets During Session. A New Proposal Wants To Change That. appeared first on Reason.com. Arizona U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly is doing the best he can to protect America from the lying, bumbling stooges that President Donald Trump appointed to protect Americans. He is trying to get Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to resign. Or to be forced out. This became clear again on March 26, when The Atlantic magazine published text messages showing that Hegseth actually did send details of military attack plans in Yemen in a Signal group chat that somehow inadvertently included The Atlantics editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. Advertisement Advertisement The screenshots released by the magazine included messages like: 1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package) 1345: Trigger Based F-18 1st Strike Window Starts (Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME) also, Strike Drones Launch (MQ-9s)." No war plans, huh? That's not what the texts say On March 25, Trump said of the dangerous security breach, There was no classified information as I understand it. Wrong. Which means either Trump didn't understand it or Likewise, Hegseth, speaking to reporters on March 24, said in part: Nobody was texting war plans. Really? Opinion: 3 words for Pete Hegseth: Lock him up Heres an additional problem for Hegseth, something that makes him look like an even bigger fool (if such a thing is possible). Advertisement Advertisement Did he somehow believe that the journalist didnt keep receipts? Kelly says what Trump should to Hegseth: Resign Goldberg and Shane Harris, the national security reporter for The Atlantic, published an article saying in part that statements by Hegseth, Gabbard, Ratcliffe, and Trump combined with the assertions made by numerous administration officials that we are lying about the content of the Signal texts have led us to believe that people should see the texts in order to reach their own conclusions. And for any honest, sane person, that conclusion is not good. All of which strikes a particular nerve for Sen. Kelly, himself a former U.S. Navy combat pilot. The mission in Yemen involved airstrikes that, like any combat mission, put American lives at stake. Advertisement Advertisement So, on March 25, Kelly released a statement saying, Two months ago, on the day of Secretary Hegseths confirmation vote, I asked my colleagues if it was worth the risk to our servicemembers and our national security to confirm the most unprepared nominee for this job weve ever seen. This is what happens when you put unqualified people in important jobs where lives are on the line. Its fortunate this massive error didnt result in American casualties, but for the safety of our servicemembers and our country, Secretary Hegseth needs to resign. Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com. For more opinions content, please subscribe. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Pete Hegseth is a danger to Americans. Fire him | Opinion Petitioners gather signatures for a ballot initiative to expand abortion access in Arkansas during the Voices and Votes rally on Jan. 28, 2024 in Fayetteville. (Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate) Arkansas attorney general on Tuesday rejected a proposed ballot measure that aims to amend the states initiative and referendum process. Attorney General Tim Griffin cited ambiguities as his reason for rejecting the proposed ballot title and language, which Little Rock attorney David Couch submitted on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Arkansas on March 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State law requires the attorney general to approve or reject a proposed ballot measure along with its ballot title and popular name within 10 business days of receiving the original draft. Tuesday was the deadline for Griffin to do so. Concerns over transparency and accessibility prompted the nonpartisan nonprofit to submit its proposal, according to a press release. Key provisions of the proposed constitutional amendment include prohibiting the General Assembly from amending a voter-approved constitutional amendment with a two-thirds vote, which is currently permitted, and allowing canvassers to submit signatures under penalty of perjury in place of requiring notarization of signatures. The measure also would require the attorney generals office to approve or modify the language of ballot titles. Once approved, challenges would have to be filed with the Arkansas Supreme Court, which would prevent legal disputes after signature collection, according to the press release. While this outcome is not what we hoped for, it only strengthens our resolve to protect the rights of Arkansans, LWVAR President Bonnie Miller said in a statement. We will carefully review the Attorney Generals feedback, make the necessary adjustments to the ballot title, and resubmit it promptly. Let us know what you think... One of the ambiguities cited in Griffins 15-page opinion is how the proposed ballot measure would change the law regarding the General Assemblys authority to amend the state Constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Griffin also took issue with how the measure would amend the ballot title review process. By removing the option for the attorney general to reject the popular name and ballot title altogether, which is currently allowed under state law, Griffin said the measure would create a scenario whereby the states chief lawyer would be unable to act in certain circumstances. Therefore, you have misleadingly presented the matter as if, upon submission to the Attorney General, some version of the ballot title will always be certified that presents the voter with a fair and reasonable understanding of the issues in the measure, the opinion states. Yet you have instead established a system in which, at times, that will be impossible just like it is here with your current submission. In addition to ambiguity, Griffin also identified other problems, such as grammatical issues, in his opinion, which was prepared by Senior Assistant Attorney General Kelly Summerside. The attorney generals office has already certified three other ballot title proposals that address education, government transparency and taxes on feminine hygiene products for the 2026 election cycle. The League of Women Voters of Arkansas intends to continue efforts to join them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We encourage all Arkansans who value their role in shaping our states laws to stay engaged and support our efforts as we navigate this process, Miller said. Our dedication to preserving and enhancing direct democracy in Arkansas remains unwavering. Arkansas is one of 24 states that allows for citizen-led initiatives, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Altering that process has been a focus during the 2025 legislative session for some Arkansas lawmakers, most notably Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, who is running for Secretary of State in 2026. A number of his proposals have already been signed into law this session, including legislation that would require canvassers to request a photo ID from potential signers and inform them that petition fraud is a criminal offense. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Video: Diaz community rebuilding after EF-4 tornado LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Several Arkansas volunteer groups have opened centers to provide aid to those affected by the March 14 tornadoes. ADEM officials said volunteer organizations will be at the following locations to provide resources. Thursday, March 27, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Diaz City Fire Department (3401 S Main Street Newport, AR 72112) Friday, March 28, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Cave City First Assembly (437 N Main Street Cave City, AR 72521) Saturday, March 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Belview Baptist Church (132 Knob Creek Road Melbourne, AR 72556) Sunday, March 30, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Shannon Baptist Church (1706 Pace Road Pocahontas, AR 72455) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders requests major disaster declaration from President Donald Trump National Weather Service officials confirmed that at least 15 tornadoes touched down in the state during the storms, leaving debris and damaged homes. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders requested a Major Disaster Declaration from President Donald Trump Jr. to support recovery efforts. Officials with the ADEM said these are not registration sites for state or federal assistance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. JOHANNESBURG, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Following U.S. President Donald Trump's nomination of Leo Brent Bozell III as ambassador to South Africa amid tensions between the two countries, some analysts view this swift appointment as a sign that the Trump administration is ready to engage with South Africa. Local political analyst Sandile Swana on Wednesday described Bozell as someone who would be on the ground to "challenge South Africa" on policies the U.S. administration opposes. "The speed of this appointment, coming right after former Ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasool's expulsion, sends a message to South Africa that the U.S. wants to engage with us. However, when the Americans negotiate, they do so while throwing punches at the same time," he said. This nomination has been notably quick compared to Trump's previous appointment of an ambassador to South Africa. Trump took office in January 2017 but only nominated Lana Marks in November 2018, with her official confirmation coming in September 2019. Since January, tensions between the United States and South Africa have escalated. This has resulted in U.S. officials skipping G20 meetings in South Africa and the expulsion of South Africa's ambassador to the United States. Swana said there were several issues that the United States wanted to engage South Africa on. "South Africa currently has two cases in progress, one of them being the genocide case against Israel, and it has made favorable progress. My estimation is that the Americans do not want that case to reach a judgment. Even with the prima facie ruling, they have already lost the moral high ground," he said. Bozell III has no diplomatic experience and is primarily known as a conservative writer and media critic. On Monday, the White House formally submitted his nomination to the U.S. Senate for approval. Patrick Lukusa Kadima, an expert in international law, global geopolitics, international cooperation, and multilateralism at Wits University, told Xinhua that he did not believe the nominated ambassador would be effective in defusing tensions between the two countries. "I think the appointment of Leo Brent Bozell III was expected, given that he is publicly known as a conservative and has been pretty much involved in the conservative movement. Such an individual might not be a good choice to defuse the tensions between the two countries," he said. Kadima said this nomination would not lead to improvements in relations between South Africa and the United States. "I don't think his appointment will improve the relations between the two countries. We are dealing with a well-known conservative and media critic here. I don't think it helps anyone. It is a difficult terrain to navigate for Pretoria," he added. John Stremlau, a visiting professor of international relations at Wits University, shared Swana's sentiments on the swiftness of the nomination. "It was quite fast compared to the previous appointment. They have chosen someone who is a pro-Zionist in the Middle East, while South Africa is strongly committed to Palestinian self-determination," he told Xinhua. Speaking to the media on Tuesday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said there would be no rush in replacing the recently expelled ambassador to the United States. COTTON PLANT, Ark. The Arkansas State Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting out of Woodruff County. On Monday, ASP officials said the Cotton Plant Police Department responded to a shooting in the 300 block of Rush Street around 6:30 p.m. Suspect in US Marshals shooting identified During the incident, state police said 21-year-old Michael Crenshaw of Missouri shot a man and fled the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities said Crenshaw was later found walking north on Main Street by a CPPD officer. The man who was shot then arrived on Main Street and police said there was a confrontation between the two before Crenshaw held a weapon to the mans head. Police said a CPPD officer then fired at Crenshaw and hit him. Greenbrier man gets 10 years for shooting at police officer State police confirmed that both men were airlifted to hospitals where they remain critical. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. VERNON COUNTY, Mo. Law enforcement agencies in Missouri and Kansas are touting the coordinated efforts of officers in southwest Missouri and southeast Kansas after stopping an armed kidnapping. Just after 10:30 Wednesday morning, Vernon County Sheriff Mike Buehler says his agency received notice that a man armed with a weapon and wearing body armor had just kidnapped a child from El Dorado Springs. The suspect was reportedly headed toward Nevada on Highway 54. Buehler says his agency sent multiple officers that direction, attempting to intercept the suspect. Deputies were able to find the suspects vehicle as the chase crossed over the state line into Kansas, ending in Fort Scott. The suspect was taken into custody and officials say no one was injured. Sheriff Buehler says that with the coordination of multiple agencies the pursuit was able to end in a positive manner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agencies involved in the pursuit and capture include, Cedar County Sheriffs Department, El Dorado Police department, Vernon County Sheriffs department, Nevada Police Department, Vernon County Dispatch, Bourbon County Sheriffs Department, Fort Scott Police Department, Bates County Sheriffs Department, Missouri Highway Patrol, and Kansas Highway Patrol. Working together and being partners with all agencies is the best way to protect the citizens and the children of any county in the United States, Buehler said. The name of the suspect has not yet 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 KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Armed gangs in Gaza have called for an uprising against Hamas, as a second day of protests challenged the terror groups control of the strip. In a rare act of defiance, a confederation of powerful families, known as the clans, issued a call to arms on Wednesday, urging Palestinians to revolt against years of oppression. The families have been an influential force in Gaza for decades, although they have been largely subordinate to Hamas since the Islamist group seized power from the Western-backed Palestinian Authority 18 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement apparently on behalf of the families and clans of southern Gaza, the body called for a popular uprising against injustice and a march of anger that will shake the ground under the feet of those who sold our blood and exploited our suffering for their narrow interests. Hundreds gathered in several different locations on Wednesday to call for Hamas to be ousted and for an end to the war with Israel. Footage showed crowds of men streaming towards a protest site in the Beit Lahia area of northern Gaza. Meanwhile, in the Nuseirat area of central Gaza, a man could be seen sitting on the shoulders of another while leading the large crowd in a furious chant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protesters also gathered in the Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza Citys old quarter. In another video, a large group of children chanted we dont want to die. The gatherings are significant because elements of the Israeli media commonly conflate the terror group with Gazan civilians. The fact that ordinary people felt emboldened to protest for a second day is significant given Hamass record of brutally suppressing challenges to its authority. It comes eight days after Israel ended the ceasefire and restarted its attacks on the enclave with a particular focus on eliminating the leaders of Hamass civil governance. Israel Katz urged Palestinians to join the protests - Bebeto Matthews/AP Israel Katz, the defence minister, responded to the protests by saying this is the only way to win the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has been speculated in Israel that commanders hope that by loosening the terror groups grip over the population in particular the distribution of food it will empower rival armed groups to challenge them. The clans have had an uneasy relationship with Hamas in the past two decades. There was significant bloodshed in 2008 and at other points as Hamas sought to gain lasting supremacy over them. While some have affiliations to different terror organisations, including al-Qaeda, they are generally not considered to be jihadist organisations such as Hamas. Amal Kloub, 35, from Shujaiyya camp, where one of the protests took place, said: Today, young people went out because they are tired of the ongoing war, negotiations, and political speeches that are indifferent to the citizens of Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas has been in power for nearly 20 years and we have only experienced successive wars due to the blockade and occupation. The camp is situated in the traditional stronghold of the Hilles clan, although it is not known if they played a role in Wednesdays protests. Demonstrators march in Gaza after the Israeli army resumed its bombing campaign following a short ceasefire - AFP Samir Saud, 25, from the Nuseirat refugee camp, said: We want elections. I want to live the experience of elections. We want to change the exhausting and tragic reality and build our future. Gaza has been completely destroyed and no one has benefited from the war except for destruction. The call to arms by the southern families and clans concluded: Hamas must lift its hand from Gaza immediately and end this unjust siege imposed on us because of decisions that do not represent us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier, sirens sounded as two projectiles entered Israeli territory from Gaza. One was intercepted, while the other fell in the Zimrat area. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they struck a terrorist who had been aiming rockets at Israeli communities near Gaza, as well as a number of launch sites. On Wednesday morning, the IDF warned residents of some neighbourhoods, including Zeitoun, Tel al-Hawa and South Rimal to leave ahead of strikes to take out alleged rocket launching sites. Meanwhile, Gideon Saar, the foreign minister, said Israel had not ruled out negotiating a ceasefire extension with Hamas but that there was limited time to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Egyptian-led mediators are reportedly trying to broker a similar hostage and Palestinian prisoner swap and ceasefire deal to the one proposed by Steve Witkoff, the US Middle East envoy, earlier in March. 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. Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said Wednesday he believes the information detailing the attack plan against the Houthis in Yemen should have been classified. Wicker told reporters that the plans Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth laid out via a Signal chat, which included when fighter jets would take off and drone strikes would drop over the region, were sensitive enough to warrant that level of classification. The information as published recently appears to me to be of such a sensitive nature that, based on my knowledge, I would have wanted it classified, Wicker said at the Capitol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His stance clashes with that of President Trump, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard all of whom said the information was not classified. Wicker also said that he and Sen. Jack Reed (R.I.), the top Democrat on the panel, are calling on the administration to expedite an inspector general report back to the committee. He also wants to know if the transcript released by The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg is accurate and for a classified briefing on the situation in the near term. The Mississippi Republican also indicated he believes Hegseth and others involved should apologize. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I make a lot of mistakes in my life, and Ive found that its best when I just own up to them and say, Im human. I made a mistake, and Im glad in this case, no real damage was done, Wicker said. I think that thats probably going to be the approach of the administration right up to the president. The fact is that the plans for the strike, the timing, the locations, were not revealed to the enemy, and it was a very successful operation, he said. If early on in this administration, there were mistakes, I would hope they can be rectified. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Armenian parliament passed a bill "On starting the process of accession of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union" in its second and final reading on March 26, the News.am news agency reported. The bill, introduced into the parliament as a civil initiative after collecting 60,000 signatures, was supported by 64 lawmakers, with seven voting against it. Yerevan has sought to build a closer relationship with the EU amid deteriorating ties with Russia, though the South Caucasus country is yet to submit a membership application. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stressed in January that even after the bill is passed, the accession process can start only if the Armenian people support it in a referendum. The prime minister noted that the bill should be approached without "undue enthusiasm" and that the country should currently focus on developing more practical steps, such as visa liberalization. Speaking in the European Parliament in October 2023, Pashinyan said that his country is ready to align more closely with the bloc, though he later expressed doubts about whether Armenia is ready for full membership. Pashinyan spoke in the EU's legislature shortly after Russia, Armenia's traditional ally, failed to prevent an Azerbaijani lightning offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh, leading to a rapid deterioration of ties between Yerevan and Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last March, the European Parliament adopted a resolution urging the EU's executive bodies to strengthen relations with Armenia. The parliament also said that Armenia meets the Maastricht Treaty requirements to apply for membership. Read also: Russias sham referendums at gunpoint are null and void, despite Steve Witkoffs comments Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. March 25 (UPI) -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday that U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve has been tapped to serve as his senior military assistant. LaNeve, who currently serves as commanding general, Eighth Army/chief of staff, Combined Forces Command in the Republic of Korea, will be appointed to the grade of lieutenant general for his new assignment after being nominated by President Donald Trump. As senior military assistant to Defense Secretary Hegseth, LaNeve will become the highest-ranking commissioned officer and the main military point of contact for the secretary to implement decisions and provide advice on all uniformed military matters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LeNeve graduated from the University of Arizona in 1989 and was commissioned into the Infantry in May 1990. His initial assignment was to Fort Ord, where he served in 4th Battalion, 21st Infantry, 7th Infantry Division. More recently, he served as the Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Last year, LaNeve assumed command of the Eighth Army to work with the Republic of Korea in the mission to defend their peninsula. U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve, who has been tapped to become Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's senior military assistant, served as the Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. File Photo courtesy of U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division "I welcome this opportunity to serve with our ROK allies and will give my full effort in support of the ironclad commitment to the alliance between our nations," LaNeve said on April 5, 2024. LaNeve also served multiple combat tours during his military career in Afghanistan and Iraq, and took command of the division in Poland during the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022 to guide 5,000 paratroopers. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth walks outside the White House in Washington DC on Friday. On Tuesday, Hegseth announced the appointment of U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve to serve as his senior military assistant. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI During his deployments, LaNeve earned three Bronze Star medals. He has also been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit and the Master Parachutist Badge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LaNeve, who often took parachute jumps with the paratroopers he commanded, said, "Never ask your troops to do what you wouldn't do." "Guns and leaders should get up front," LaNeve told the University of Arizona Alumni magazine in 2023. "Lead from the front. It's not just being there -- it's knowing your people and letting them know you care about them. Then, everything else is pretty easy." LUDOWICI, Ga. (WSAV) An Army veteran and his family were handed the keys to their mortgage free home Tuesday. Retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Tyler Welty is now an official Ludowici resident. Welty served in the Army for over two decades and said he was overwhelmed by the support. I was just completely taken by surprise. This is one of the biggest moments of mine and my families lives, and we just cant believe that this is our house, Welty said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its all thanks to the Military Warriors support foundations Homes4WoundedHeroes program. Governor Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp joined the celebration with other community leaders to celebrate Weltys new chapter. Well, its just a great day for Tyler and his family and to be part of this for Marty and I as huge supporters our active-duty military in this state, but certainly our veterans, I mean we wouldnt have the freedoms we got without guys like this, Kemp said. And so just incredible. I told the crowd earlier that we get to see a lot and go to a lot of cool events, but this is probably one of the coolest. In addition to receiving the home, Welty will receive three years of family and financial mentoring through the Homes4WoundedHeroes program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. (SECURITY-WIDEFIELD, Colo.) According to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office (EPSO), an alleged illegal immigrant has been arrested on charges related to the homicide of a man found unresponsive in a car in Security-Widefield on Monday, March 24. Deputies were originally patrolling Crawford Avenue around 5:45 a.m. on Monday when they spotted a car stopped in the road near the intersection of Crawford and Withington Drive. When a deputy approached the car, they found an adult man unresponsive in the passenger seat. First responders attempted to resuscitate the man, but those attempts were unsuccessful, and he was declared dead. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Death in Security-Widefield investigated as homicide Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EPSO said detectives worked into the evening hours and located a potential crime scene on Security Boulevard, and their investigation also led to the identification of 29-year-old Miguel Angel Garcia Hernandez as a suspect. Garcia Hernandez was arrested on multiple charges, including: First degree murder Second degree kidnapping Felony menacing False imprisonment Courtesy: El Paso County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: El Paso County Sheriffs Office According to EPSO, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has verified that Garcia Hernandez is in the United States illegally. As Sheriff, I am committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring our community remains a safe place for all who call El Paso County home, said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. This case represents an appalling act of violence carried out by an individual who had no legal right to be in our country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garcia Hernandez is currently being held at the El Paso County jail without bond. Anyone in the community who may have information on this incident is asked to contact the EPSO non-emergency line at (719) 390-5555. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. TRIPOLI, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Libyan authorities said on Tuesday they had freed 82 migrants who were held captive by a criminal group demanding ransom. The Jufra District Police said in a statement the migrants were tortured and raped to force their families to pay thousands of dollars for their release. Four members of the criminal group were arrested in the central town of Zillah, about 750 km southeast of the capital Tripoli, where the migrants had been detained, Libya's Attorney General's office said. One of the arrested suspects admitted that 10 migrants had been tortured to death in captivity and that ransoms of up to 10,000 U.S. dollars per person were demanded, authorities said. Last month, Jufra District Police reported the arrest of a group of migrant smugglers in Zillah accused of killing migrants and burying their bodies in the desert, as well as kidnapping, starving, raping, and selling migrants. Libya has been a major transit point for migrants, mostly from Africa, seeking to cross the Mediterranean to Europe. The country has faced years of chaos and insecurity since the fall of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. CIA Director John Ratcliffe on March 25 gave a rousing assessment of Kyiv's desire to achieve an acceptable and lasting peace in Ukraine, insisting its people and armed forces would fight Russia with "their bare hands" if they had to. "I want to say that with regard to the Ukrainian resistance, the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian military have been underestimated for a period of several years now," Ratcliffe said. "From my reflections in observing, from an intelligence standpoint, I'm convinced that they will fight with their bare hands if they have to, if they don't have terms that are acceptable to an enduring peace." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His comments came amid U.S. President Donald Trump's ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire and a broader peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, a process which so far appears to be favoring Moscow's goals over Kyiv's. While there is no indication at present that the U.S. intends to end military support for Ukraine, it has already paused it briefly during the peace talks process. Adding to nervousness in Ukraine about what a peace deal could look like, comments last week from U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, suggest the White House views occupied Ukrainian territories as part of Russia, something that Kyiv has said it could not agree to. If an unacceptable peace deal is forced upon Ukraine, and it decides it has no choice to keep on fighting potentially without U.S. support and only "with their bare hands," the country's soldiers will have to carry out this order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kyiv Independent asked five Ukrainian soldiers how they feel about the prospect. Some of them are only identified by callsign due to security reasons. 'Architect,' drone operator I am sure most of us will stay no matter what. This is a tough topic when talking to relatives such talks always boil down to the "When will you return home?" question. It is necessary to stay. It is necessary to fight. It's not that I want to spend more years in the army, I just realized it's better to out push the Russians now. To finish and forget. "It is better to end the war, spending a few more years on it, than prolong it for the rest of our lives and the lives of our children." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If there is a real ceasefire at the front and we could have a rotation and some rest for a year or two at home, I would agree. Who wouldn't want to take a break? But I understand and whoever hasn't realized it yet should admit to themselves that the war will not end as long as Russia has the resources for it. It will always have the desire. For Russia, war is fine, as is killing, stealing, and occupying. Therefore, it is better to end the war, spending a few more years on it, than prolong it for the rest of our lives and the lives of our children. We can fight and are already doing it. It's just the Western world, as one collective draft dodger, wants to close its eyes and expect everything to be resolved when it opens them. Medics evacuate a wounded soldier who tripped on a petal mine in complete darkness in a damaged forest on Jan. 27, 2024, in the Kupiansk frontline, Ukraine. (Kostiantyn Liberov / Libkos / Getty Images) Serhii Koniukh, military anesthetist, medical forces command I agree with (Ratcliffe) everyone said Ukraine would last three days and then everyone would scatter, but as you can see, were now in the fourth year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And at the beginning, the aid was minimal Javelins, NLAWs, Bayraktars. Of course, this isnt the same war as three years ago we depend a lot on U.S. assistance, especially air defense and shells. But now were in the era of drone warfare, and we are the number one drone producer in the world. Nowadays, even the most advanced tank wont last more than a few minutes on the battlefield against a drone operator even if hes hungover who will still hit that massive machine. I support his opinion that people can fight even with their bare hands, but there are certain things they wont accept. Weve "paid" too much and lost too much over these years. The conditions for a ceasefire should include a buffer zone with a peacekeeping contingent to guarantee that the Russians wont resume their offensive at any moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: As Ukraine, Russia agree to ceasefire at sea, Moscows battered Black Sea Fleet is set to get a reprieve Petro Kuzyk, a battalion commander at the National Guard I honestly wouldn't want to fight with my bare hands, because objectively it would be much harder. But we have no choice, because the Russians came to our land to kill all Ukrainians and we are forced to defend our children and parents. There, at the negotiations, wearing suits, there is a false impression that there are some civilized demands and decisions in fact, the facts and the truth is that Putin is a sick maniac who dreams of destroying the country. He hates us because Ukrainians constantly refuse to be driven into neo-Nazism, and he has gone crazy on the topic of destroying Ukraine as a state. The crimes that Russia is committing against Ukrainians are inhumane and are a manifestation of the new Russian Nazism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Think about it in the third millennium they kill just because you are Ukrainian. This is not a fight for territories, this is not a fight for political demands and not for being in NATO or the European Union this is a fight of good against the furious evil that is modern Russia. This is a story about how the new leaders of the powerful world powers, from which Ukrainians not so long ago looked up to, turned out to be petty cowards, who camouflage their fear under cynical statements, and pretend that they are carrying out some peace-making actions. In fact, being afraid of Putin and repeating his lies about Ukrainians, they become accomplices in the genocide against Ukrainians and human civilizational values. By repeating the lies created in Russia, they, in addition to looking pitiful and like puppets, also literally become accomplices in crimes and the blood of innocent victims is also on their hands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have no other choice but to fight for our families, for our children, for our freedom. And yes, if we have to, we will fight with our bare hands. Even if our weapons are taken away, we will still win. Read also: As Ukraine-Russia ceasefire progress inches forward, heres where things stand Myroslav Hai, officer, Ukraines Armed Forces I want you to remember the experience of Chechnya It was a very bad experience for a little country, a very proud country, but they won two wars with Russia. They lost in a political sense, but they won in the fighting. Chechnya didn't have any weapons or any big army they had only a proud people who decided to fight against Russia's aggression. And they only lost the political battle because no one in the world helped them. No one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thousands and thousands of Russian soldiers died in Chechnya. In Ukraine, a million Russian soldiers are dead or wounded. And when in 2022, the world's intelligence agencies thought Ukraine would fall in a few days, we beat the Russians without any help, with Ukrainian weapons and the Ukrainian army. I don't think the world will stop supporting Ukraine. Why? Because Ukraine fights not for money, not for territory Ukraine fights for democracy. Maybe we will be the last country in the world that decides to fight for the principles of democracy. This is a war of democracy versus dictatorship Russia wants to build the second Soviet Union. That's why Ukraine has no other option. We have only one way, we must fight for our independence, for our families, for our country, and for our children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for a ceasefire I have fought against Russia in various roles for 11 years. I've seen different presidents in Ukraine, the United States, and Europe, but only one president in Russia who has never kept a ceasefire for more than a few hours. Artillery crew of the 37th Marine Brigade fires with 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer on the position of Russian infantry in Donetsk Oblast on Dec. 24, 2024. (Ivan Antypenko/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC "UA:PBC"/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images) 'Foucault,' soldier with the 66th Prince Mstyslav Khorobyi Brigade I have no doubt in Ukrainians' motivation to fight for their land. However, modern warfare is significantly different from any guerrilla war of the past. First, this is a war of technology, and second, it is a very expensive war. Therefore, the allies' key role is to supply technology and finance it. This war can only end when one side is so dominant over the other that any resistance will not have any significant meaning. For this, we inevitably need the support of our Western partners, because this is not just a Russian-Ukrainian war. It is a war for everything that lies at the heart of European civilization against Russian necrophilia, which is only a simulacrum or a shadow of civilization. Serhii, a drone pilot stationed in Kharkiv Oblast Yes (we will fight with our bare hands), and we have no choice but to continue the fight. Genocide is already being carried out in full swing in the occupied territories. So yes, the fight will continue until everyone is killed. And considering how well Trump makes deals, its a shame. On the one hand, we are fighting with the bastards, on the other hand, the allies decided to almost side with the Russians. I dont know how but Europe should get its act together now and help us as much as is needed. Because the Russians have no reason not to fight further west now. Now we will sign the surrender, go home and the Russians will have the only army in the region capable of fighting. Good luck negotiating with them later. Read also: Explainer: Some Ukrainians speak Russian language it doesnt make them Russian Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Gun safety advocates watch the Rhode Island House of Representatives debate legislation to strengthen rules for how guns must be stored from the House Gallery on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. Gov. Dan McKee signed the Safe Storage of Firearms law on June 13, 2024. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) The hottest item at Surplus Provisions in Warwick is a yellow T-shirt featuring a snake wrapped around an anchor over the words DONT TREAD ON ME. Tonya Pereira, who co-owns the military surplus shop with her husband Frank, said shes sold well over a couple of hundred Gadsden flag-inspired shirts. Theyve even sold out, according to the stores Facebook page. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is probably one of the best turnouts weve ever seen, Pereira said in an interview Tuesday. Pereiras hope is that yellow shirts will overtake the number of orange and red shirts gun safety advocates will wear inside the House Lounge Wednesday afternoon when the chambers Committee on Judiciary holds a hearing on Democrats latest push to ban assault-style weapons in Rhode Island. The proposal has been endorsed by Gov. Dan McKee and the states other general office holders. The bill sponsored by Rep. Jason Knight, a Barrington Democrat, would ban the manufacture and sale of assault-style weapons starting Jan. 1, 2026. Such weapons are defined based on their function and features, such as ability to accept detachable magazines and stocks, bayonet mount, and barrel shrouds. Under the bill, those who violate the ban would face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000 and forfeiture of the weapon. Assault-style weapons acquired ahead of the proposed ban would be exempt and registered with their owners local police department or the Rhode Island State Police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Knights language mirrors the same proposal McKee has put in his recommended fiscal year 2026 budget as part of his latest push to get a ban passed. But Pereira said the features the state is looking to ban on firearms are integral to modern rifles. One example is the shroud, which Pereira said keeps peoples hands from burning while a gun is being fired. This would ban so many things that were put into place for safety, she said. This is the worst bill Ive ever seen. Pereira is not alone in her opinion. As of Tuesday afternoon, the House Judiciary Committee has received nearly 480 letters on the proposed ban the majority opposed to Knights legislation, among other firearms-related bills up for consideration Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Knight could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. But some writers have expressed their support for Knights bill. They include Zoe Weissman of Providence, who knows firsthand how traumatic assault weapons can be. She was outside the Marjorie Stoneman Douglass High School the day a gunman killed 17 students in Parkland Florida in 2018, she wrote. At the time Weissman was 12 years old. Now she is a freshman at Brown University and says she continues to experience paranoia while in public and has developed post-traumatic stress disorder because of the mass shooting. Reached for comment, Weissman said she was on spring break and would not be at the State House Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gun violence does not just physically maim its direct victims: it destroys the psyches of all those in its vicinity, Weissman wrote in her testimony. Advocates who belong to Moms Demand Action will be wearing red shirts at Wednesdays hearing, while members of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence will be clad in orange. Melissa Carden, the coalitions executive director, did not immediately respond to request for comment. Tony Morettini, legislative chapter lead for Moms Demand Action, declined to speculate how many gun safety advocates will turn out at the State House. Obviously, I would like a really strong showing, Morettini said. But really the only numbers that matter are the votes we get in committee and votes on the floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Companion legislation is sponsored in the Senate by Lou DiPalma, a Middletown Democrat. Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz, a North Smithfield Republican, plans to oppose the measure. Minority Leader de la Cruz hears from constituents every day who are opposed to this legislation that will effectively criminalize almost all firearms in production while failing to address criminal violence in any way, Senate Minority Office spokesperson Lee Ann Sennick said in an email. An assault-style weapons ban and other gun-related bills The House Judiciary Committee meets Wednesday, March 26, at 2 p.m. in the House Lounge at the Rhode Island State House to hear testimony on several bills relating to firearms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among them: The Atlantic editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg on Tuesday threatened to release more texts exchanged in a group chat of high-ranking U.S. national security officialsa group he was inadvertently added to earlier this month. In the 24 hours since his bombshell essay about the jaw-dropping security fiasco, Donald Trump and his administration have downplayed the massive leak and attacked Goldbergs credibility, as well as the credibility of the 168-year-old publication. Democrats, meanwhile, have tried to get their hands on the thread and investigate any potential leak of classified information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with The Bulwark on Tuesday, Goldberg said the messages sent in a top-secret Signal group chat about a military strike in Yemen included sensitive and technical information. Don't miss this segment from today's forthcoming Bulwark Podcast: Atlantic editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg joins @Timodc to discuss, well, you know:https://t.co/IRRmw2FdkW The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) March 25, 2025 Maybe in the coming days, Ill be able to let you know that, Okay, I have a plan to have this material vetted publicly, but Im not going to say that now because theres a lot of conversations that have to happen about that to [have it] make sense, he said. Though Goldberg published parts of the text thread, including messages from Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, he blurred out portions that he said contained operational details of a strike on the Houthi militant group in Yemen. Just because theyre irresponsible with material doesnt mean that Im going to be irresponsible with this material, he said. My obligation, I feel, is to the idea that we take national security information seriously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth, for his part, threw a veritable tantrum Monday after reporters asked him about the leak, blasting Goldberg as a highly discredited journalist who peddles in garbage. He also insisted that nobody was texting war plans. Goldberg said on CNN that this was a lie, as the texts detailed a specific time for the attack, human targets, weapon systems, and even weather reports. The strike was carried out on March 15, killing 53 people. I have pretty clear standards in my own behavior of what I consider information thats in the public interest and information thats not in the public interest, Goldberg said. And Im sticking to my principles here. But it might not be entirely up to Goldberg whether or not those texts get released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a fiery Senate Intelligence Committee hearing Tuesday afternoon, Democratic lawmakers grilled Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who was also in the group chat, over the stunning leak. Ratcliffe said the accidental inclusion of a journalist in the confidential thread was not a huge mistake, while Gabbard claimed that there was no classified material that was shared. If its not classified, share the texts now, Sen. Mark Warner said. And by the way, Sen. Jon Ossoff added, We will get the full transcript of this chain, and your testimony will be measured carefully against its content. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) The Atlantic magazine has released more of the messages from top administration officials. The editor-in-chief of that magazine says he was accidentally added to a messaging thread discussing the timing of military strikes against a terrorist group. A group of top intelligence officials used an app called Signal, cyber experts say it can be hacked. I would characterize this messaging thread as a policy discussion, a sensitive discussion, surely, said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For a third day the White House insists top officials didnt do anything wrong. The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg says National Security Adviser Mike Waltz mistakenly added him to the group. On Wednesday Goldberg released messages showing the timing, targets and weapons used for military strikes against the Houthis, a terrorist group in Yemen. One message from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth says, this is when the bombs will definitely drop, but he says those messages did not include war plans. My job is to provide updates in real time. General updates in real time to keep everyone informed. Thats what I did, said Hegseth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For a second day in a row, two top administration officials, who were on the chat faced questions from members of Congress. The Trump administration insists officials werent sharing any classified information. What is most important is that the mission was a remarkable success, said CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Democrats say theyre not convinced. Imminent strike approval and launch times are highly classified, said Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-Va.). The top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Armed Services committee have called for an investigation into the administrations use of the signal app. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyve also asked for a classified briefing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. The Atlantic magazine on Wednesday published additional details about a secret group chat between high-ranking US officials that included the magazine's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. "There is a clear public interest in disclosing the sort of information that [US President Donald Trump's] advisers included in nonsecure communications channels," Goldberg and his co-author Shane Harris wrote in the story. "Especially because senior administration figures are attempting to downplay the significance of the messages that were shared," they added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In hearings and statements made on Tuesday, several US officials, including Trump, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and CIA Director John Ratcliffe said no classified materials were revealed in the chat, which was conducted on the commercial app Signal. But Goldberg says they are wrong In their original reporting about the incident, Goldberg and co-author Harris had refrained from publishing operational details out of consideration for the safety of US soldiers. However, after government spokesmen publicly disputed the magazine's account and spoke of false reporting, they decided to publish further chat messages including screenshots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among these is a message that Hegseth apparently sent just a few hours before a US strike against the Houthi militia in Yemen. After Goldberg's first story was published in The Atlantic, Hegseth vehemently denied having sent "war plans" and called Goldberg a "deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist whose made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again." Under Goldberg's leadership, The Atlantic won its first Pulitzer Prize in 2021 and won others in 2022 and 2023, a profile of the journalist in the New York Times on Tuesday revealed. The Atlantic published that in the message sent at 11:44 am (1544 GMT) on March 15, Hegseth describes the course and schedule of the upcoming military operation - including the take-off times of F-18 fighter jets, drones and planned target attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth's message included: "Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME." Other chat members, including US Vice President JD Vance and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, also reveal the mission's details. "The first target their top missile guy we had positive ID of him walking into his girlfriend's building and it's now collapsed," Waltz wrote. This apparently refers to an attack on a member of the Houthi militia. The Atlantic: Leaked details risked US troops in Yemen Goldberg and Harris wrote that if such details had fallen into the wrong hands, there could have been serious consequences - especially for the US service personnel involved in the Yemen bombing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If this text had been received by someone hostile to American interests - or someone merely indiscreet, and with access to social media - the Houthis would have had time to prepare for what was meant to be a surprise attack on their strongholds," The Atlantic authors wrote. "The consequences for American pilots could have been catastrophic," they added. Goldberg and Harris explained that they had asked various members of the US government if they had any objections before publishing the latest news. Most of them did not respond. Finally, Trump's spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the information was not a confidential communication but rejected that the material had been published, calling it an "internal and private consultation between high-ranking employees" in which "sensitive information was discussed." UPDATED: After President Trump and other administration officials denied that a Signal group text about U.S. attack plans in Yemen which seemingly accidentally included The Atlantics top editor did not contain classified information, the magazine has published the full text exchange showing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sharing specific details of the planned bombing, including timing, aircraft and weapons that were used in the attack. On Wednesday morning, The Atlantic published the Signal messages that editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg received from the most senior national security officials of the U.S. about military strikes in Yemen against Houthi terrorists, when he was added by National Security Advisor Michael Waltz to a war planning group chat on Signal. The new piece by Goldberg and staff writer Shane Harris contains the messages that Goldberg received between March 13, when he was added to the Signal group, and March 15, when he removed himself from the chat. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Atlantics latest story, Here Are the Attack Plans That Trumps Advisers Shared on Signal, is available at this link. Since the publication of Goldbergs initial story on March 24, President Trump and members of the Houthi PC small group group chat on Signal, including Waltz, Hegseth, FBI Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, have downplayed the messages and said repeatedly that they do not contain classified information. Hegseth told reporters on Monday, Nobody was texting war plans. And thats all I have to say about that. Trump, asked Tuesday afternoon about the situation, said, It wasnt classified information. The president also claimed that Goldberg found [the Signal chat] very boring and he left early. In addition, Trump called The Atlantic a failed magazine, does very, very poorly. And I will tell you this, that theyve made up more stories and theyre just a failing magazine. The public understands that. Trump called Waltz, who appeared with the president Tuesday, a very good man. In the latest story, Goldberg and Harris write: These statements presented us with a dilemma. In The Atlantics initial story about the Signal chat the Houthi PC small group, as it was named by Waltz we withheld specific information related to weapons and to the timing of attacks that we found in certain texts. As a general rule, we do not publish information about military operations if that information could possibly jeopardize the lives of U.S. personnel. That is why we chose to characterize the nature of the information being shared, not specific details about the attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, given the denials by Trump and administration officials, The Atlantic said there is a clear public interest in publishing the texts about the Yemen attack. The statements by Hegseth, Gabbard, Ratcliffe, and Trump combined with the assertions made by numerous administration officials that we are lying about the content of the Signal texts have led us to believe that people should see the texts in order to reach their own conclusions, The Atlantic journalists wrote. There is a clear public interest in disclosing the sort of information that Trump advisers included in nonsecure communications channels, especially because senior administration figures are attempting to downplay the significance of the messages that were shared. The duo wrote: If this text had been received by someone hostile to American interestsor someone merely indiscreet, and with access to social mediathe Houthis would have had time to prepare for what was meant to be a surprise attack on their strongholds. The consequences for American pilots could have been catastrophic. According to the report by Goldberg and Shane, the messages show that Hegseth texted a group that included a phone number unknown to him Goldbergs cellphone at 11:44 a.m. ET on March 15. That was 31 minutes before the first U.S. warplanes launched, and two hours and one minute before the beginning of a period in which a primary target, the Houthi Target Terrorist, was expected to be killed by these American aircraft. Hegseth, in a post on X after The Atlantic published his texts about the Yemen attack, continued to insist that the Signal exchange included no classified information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, lets me get this straight. The Atlantic released the so-called war plans and those plans include: No names. No targets. No locations. No units. No routes. No sources. No methods. And no classified information. Those are some really shitty war plans, the defense secretary wrote. This only proves one thing: Jeff Goldberg has never seen a war plan or an attack plan (as he now calls it). Not even close. Goldberg, appearing on MSNBCs Morning Joe Wednesday, said, Read these texts that I got sitting in my car on my phone in a Safeway parking lot two hours before the attack launched and you tell me if this seems like good operational security. (Pictured above: President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in the Oval Office on March 21 as Trump announced the Next Generation of Air Dominance (NGDA) program, the F-47, the sixth-generation high-tech Air Force fighter to succeed the F-22 Raptor.) Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The Atlantic has published the Signal group chat messages among national security leaders that were inadvertently shared with Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, noting administration officials said Tuesday they were not classified. The published chats show the internal discussions Goldberg described in a Monday article, with figures including Vice President Vance discussing the merits of an airstrike on Houthi targets in Yemen. The published chat offers details about the attack that the initial article did not contain, including the specific timeline of the airstrike and what weapons would be used. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other officials have ripped The Atlantic and Goldberg in an effort to discredit their reporting, and in a statement, The Atlantic said it wanted to make public the texts so that people could see them for themselves. The statements by Hegseth, Gabbard, Ratcliffe, and Trumpcombined with the assertions made by numerous administration officials that we are lying about the content of the Signal textshave led us to believe that people should see the texts in order to reach their own conclusions, Goldberg and colleague Shane Harris wrote. Hegseth has denied sharing classified information in the group chat in comments to reporters, and during an appearance before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe said the information in the Signal group was not classified. There is a clear public interest in disclosing the sort of information that Trump advisers included in nonsecure communications channels, especially because senior administration figures are attempting to downplay the significance of the messages that were shared, the journalists from The Atlantic said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a move that could have consequences for the magazine. While officials repeatedly said Tuesday that the information contained within the chat was not classified, publishing such information could still violate the Espionage Act, which prohibits the release of national defense information. The Atlantic noted that the White House opposed its publishing of the information. As we have repeatedly stated, there was no classified information transmitted in the group chat, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to the magazine. However, as the CIA Director and National Security Advisor have both expressed today, that does not mean we encourage the release of the conversation. This was intended to be a an [sic] internal and private deliberation amongst high-level senior staff and sensitive information was discussed. So for those reason [sic] yes, we object to the release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The magazine wrote that Leavitt did not address which elements of the texts the White House considered sensitive, or how, more than a week after the initial air strikes, their publication could have bearing on national security. In a Wednesday morning social media post, Leavitt chastised The Atlantic, noting its headline called the Signal messages an attack plan rather than a war plan and then criticized Goldberg directly. The Atlantic has conceded: these were NOT war plans. This entire story was another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well-known for his sensationalist spin, she wrote on the social platform X. On Tuesday, Ratcliffe said no, he did not agree with Sen. Jon Ossoffs (D-Ga.) characterization of the matter as a huge mistake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And he and Gabbard repeatedly said there was no classified information discussed in the chat though advanced details of a U.S. airstrike are considered highly sensitive. Senator, Ill reiterate that there was no classified material that was shared, Gabbard told Sen. Mark Warner (Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee. Updated at 9:20 a.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Atlantic on Wednesday published the war plans shared in the Signal group chat that the magazines editor-in-chief was inadvertently invited to join earlier this month. Jeffrey Goldberg had previously withheld sharing some of those messages concerning planned military strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen over concerns that their content was too sensitive. The Atlantic claimed the repeated assertions of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that no war plans were discussed in the text thread coupled with the congressional testimony of CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard that no classified information was included in the chat were among the factors contributing to their decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statements by Hegseth, Gabbard, Ratcliffe, and [President Donald] Trumpcombined with the assertions made by numerous administration officials that we are lying about the content of the Signal textshave led us to believe that people should see the texts in order to reach their own conclusions, the article states. There is a clear public interest in disclosing the sort of information that Trump advisers included in nonsecure communications channels, especially because senior administration figures are attempting to downplay the significance of the messages that were shared. The magazine said it reached out to the CIA, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Pentagon and the White House prior to publishing the piece to alert officials they were considering releasing the entirety of the messages Goldberg accessed in light of their recent statements. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt eventually wrote back late Tuesday, telling The Atlantic that it opposed their publication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was intended to be a an [sic] internal and private deliberation amongst high-level senior staff and sensitive information was discussed. So for those reason [sic] yes, we object to the release, Leavitt said, according to the outlet. The Atlantic said it only agreed to leave out the name of Ratcliffes chief of staff upon request from the agency. Trump officials on Wednesday reacted by downplaying the significance of the newly published messages. No locations. No sources & methods. NO WAR PLANS, said Mike Waltz, the national security adviser who has taken responsibility for adding Goldberg to the chat. Foreign partners had already been notified that strikes were imminent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leavitt claimed the article was proof that the magazine conceded the messages were NOT war plans. This entire story was another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well-known for his sensationalist spin, she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Goldberg pushed back on Leavitts defense, arguing that the fact of the matter is that Hegseth shared detailed plans about an imminent attack on a commercial messaging app. I mean, if thats not secret, classified information about, or the most sensitive kind of government information in the world, I dont know what it is, Goldberg told MSNBCs Morning Joe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Karoline Leavitt is arguing that its not a war because Congress didnt declare war on Yemen, OK, fine. She wants to play a semantic game. But this is operational details about a forthcoming attack on an enemy that has anti-aircraft capabilities, he added. The now-released operational update Hegseth shared in the group chat on March 15 appeared to include precise timings about when the U.S. F-18 aircraft would launch and then strike the Houthi targets. 1415: Strike Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier Trigger Based targets), Hegseth wrote in part. Hegseth, who has been sued by a public watchdog group over the scandal, on Tuesday defended his conduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nobodys texting war plans, Hegseth told reporters. I know exactly what Im doing, what were directing and Im really proud of what we accomplished the successful missions that night and going forward. In an interview with Fox News Laura Ingraham, Waltz attacked the journalist, pledging to get to the bottom of how he was invited to join the chat. I know him by his horrible reputation, and he really is the bottom scum of journalists, Waltz said. And I know him in the sense that he hates the president, but I dont text him. He wasnt on my phone, and were going to figure out how this happened. Trump has downplayed the severity of the incident, claiming the media and others are making a big deal out of this because weve had two perfect months. Read the full story at The Atlantic. (NewsNation) The Atlantic released screenshots that appear to show Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth laying out a timeline of a planned attack on the Houthis in a chat on the app Signal. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted in the chat: TEAM UPDATE: TIME NOW (1144et): Weather is FAVORABLE. Just CONFIRMED w/CENTCOM we are a GO for mission launch. Pete hegseth in the signal chat published by the atlantic He then listed several planned launches and strikes over the course of the next four hours, such as, 1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package) and 1415: Strike Drones on Target, which Hegseth noted as WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth in a succeeding line noted when the first sea-based Tomahawks would launch. Trump minimized the Atlantics new reporting during a Wednesday interview on The Vince Show. There werent details, and there was nothing in there that compromised. And it had no impact on the attack, which was very successful, Trump said. You can read The Atlantics full article here. Signal chat leak: Security experts divided on impact of breach Journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, who was inadvertently added to a group chat on the Signal messaging app, on Monday published an account of officials accidentally leaking what he called war plans to him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following blowback from administration officials about the wording of his article, Goldberg on Wednesday released the texts for the public. The article released as Trumps top intelligence officials appeared before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence for an open hearing on global security Wednesday just one day after the Senates counterpart grilled officials over the still-unreleased text thread. Watch National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and FBI Director Kash Patel testify at this link. US defense official: Chats classified nature not even debatable Gabbard and Ratcliffe maintained during a Tuesday Senate committee hearing that no classified information was shared in the Signal chat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the release of the full chats, a U.S. defense official told NewsNation on Wednesday that the information shared by Hegseth is classified: Its not even debatable. Senate confirms Trumps nominee to run NIH The official, who has worked in special operations and intelligence for more than 15 years, said Hegseth the sequencing of operations in the messages were classified. Realistically, if Kurilla knew this information was out there, he would have debated canceling or rescheduling the whole operation out of risk to service members, the official said, referring to United States Central Command leader Gen. Michael Kurilla. Trump on Atlantic publishing full chat: Really not a big deal Trump on The Vince Show Wednesday also floated the idea that Goldberg found a way into the chat, perhaps via a very innocent staffer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think well get to the bottom of it very quickly, and its really not a big deal, Trump added. Notably, Waltz on a Tuesday airing of Fox News said a staffer was not to blame. And look, I take full responsibility. I built the group to make my job is to make sure everythings coordinated, Waltz told Laura Ingraham. Hakeem Jeffries calls for Pete Hegseths exit In a brief one-on-one with NewsNations Joe Khalil, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said Pete Hegseth should resign immediately or be fired. When asked whether he thinks that will happen, Jeffries said, It needs to happen. Jeffries called for Hegseths dismissal earlier this week, though he opted not to name Hegseth and instead called him the most unqualified person ever to lead the Pentagon in American history. White House responds to new Atlantic article In response to Goldbergs newest piece, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on X pointed to the newest articles shift in headline wording from war plans to attack plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Atlantic has conceded: These were NOT war plans. This entire story was another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well-known for his sensationalist spin, Leavitt said. Vance shared a similar sentiment, saying in an X post that Goldberg oversold what he had. Hegseth on X disparaged the reporting, saying: The Atlantic released the so-called war plans and those plans include: No names. No targets. No locations. No units. No routes. No sources. No methods. And no classified information. JD Vance joining his wife for Greenland trip on Friday 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 shared on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Counselor to the president Alina Habba told reporters on Wednesday that the story and its fallout is a distraction. It is what it is, Habba said. This is, in my opinion, something that theyre making a big to do about nothing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MOGADISHU, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Newly elected chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has called on the international community to fund stabilization efforts in Somalia. Youssouf, who has wrapped up his first visit to Somalia since taking office, highlighted critical funding shortfalls for the African Union (AU) Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia and called for renewed commitment to the country's peace and stabilization efforts, the AU mission said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, on Tuesday. "I have already started in (AU Headquarters of) Addis Ababa to speak to some of our partners so that Somalia is not abandoned. Somalia remains the center of interest of the international community," said Youssouf. He pledged to engage with Somalia's international partners and emphasized the importance of sustained support for Somalia in its battle with the militant group al-Shabaab. In a joint press briefing with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Youssouf said the AU peace mission in Somalia is in a transition period. "I want to underline here that these challenges can be overcome. But we need commitment, we need engagement, and we need the support of the international community," Youssouf said. He said it is not the time to withdraw from Somalia, noting that the stability and the security of Somalia benefits not only the people but also the international community as a whole. The chairperson also emphasized the crucial role of international support in preventing piracy in the Gulf of Aden, Guardafui Channel, and Somali Sea. The Somali president expressed optimism in overcoming the challenges facing the AU peace mission through collaboration with the new leadership of the AU Commission, saying Somalia has proved to be a very successful experience and experiment for the AU's quest for African solutions to African problems. "This has been proven to be a fact and doable. Africa can solve its own problems, of course, with the support of the international community," he said. The UN secretary-general's acting special representative for Somalia, James Swan, reaffirmed the world body's commitment to continued collaboration with the African Union, saying the AU peace mission in Somalia is indispensable. "It is playing a critical role not only in supporting but also encouraging Somali forces at this time, and that must continue," Swan said. The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg on Wednesday released the full contents of the Yemen war planning texts that were accidentally shared with him by top U.S. national security officials, a move that came after some of those officials denied that classified information was discussed in the chat. Shortly after Goldberg revealed that National Security Advisor Mike Waltz apparently inadvertently added him to the group chat, called "Houthi PC small group" on Signal, Waltz and other members of the chat, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA director John Ratcliffe, claimed variously that no war plans were discussed, none of the texts contained classified information and that maybe it was Goldberg who had illegally weaseled his way in. President Donald Trump echoed the talking point Tuesday, telling reporters that it wasnt classified information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an article posted Wednesday morning, Goldberg said that those statements "led us to believe that people should see the texts in order to reach their own conclusions." "There is a clear public interest in disclosing the sort of information that Trump advisers included in nonsecure communications channels, especially because senior administration figures are attempting to downplay the significance of the messages that were shared," Goldberg wrote. The chat begins with Vice President JD Vance, Ratcliffe, Hegseth and others debating the merits of launching a series of airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, part of the U.S.'s longstanding involvement in a civil war that has killed hundreds and thousands of civilians. At one point, Hegseth worries that waiting too long would give Israel a window to take action first and increase the risk of a leak, which would make the U.S. look "indecisive." A few hours later, Hegseth texted the details of the impending airstrikes, including a minute-by-minute timeline and the types of weapons that would be used. When Waltz updated the group chat with news that the missiles had caused an apartment building to collapse, Vance said: "Excellent." Walz responded with a fist emoji, an American flag emoji and a fire emoji. Ratcliffe called the strikes a "good start." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Yemeni health ministry reported that at least 53 people were killed in the strikes. Read more about the Signal scandal After various senior members of the Trump administration denied sharing war plans classified or otherwise in a Signal group to which they had inadvertently added The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg, the magazine is now releasing additional details about the chats contents previously withheld over national security concerns. The Atlantic on Tuesday published the full contents of what Goldberg and other members of the chat received from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth roughly two hours before airstrikes began against Houthi targets in Yemen. The message includes specific information on timing, aircraft, and munitions of the operation information that would normally be highly classified and only distributed through secure communication channels. At 11:44 a.m. eastern time, Hegseth posted in the chat, in all caps, TEAM UPDATE: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The text beneath this began, TIME NOW (1144et): Weather is FAVORABLE. Just CONFIRMED w/CENTCOM we are a GO for mission launch. Centcom, or Central Command, is the militarys combatant command for the Middle East. The Hegseth text continues: 1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package) 1345: Trigger Based F-18 1st Strike Window Starts (Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME also, Strike Drones Launch (MQ-9s) [] 1410: More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package) 1415: Strike Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier Trigger Based targets) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1536 F-18 2nd Strike Starts also, first sea-based Tomahawks launched. MORE TO FOLLOW (per timeline) We are currently clean on OPSECthat is, operational security. Godspeed to our Warriors. Soon after Hegseth sent the message, the chat, as shared in a screenshot by Goldberg, reads that National Security Adviser Mike Waltz set disappearing message time to 4 weeks. (Hegseth and others involved in the chat have already been sued over the breach, as Signals disappearing message function could mean the discussion allegedly violates the Federal Records Act.) Later in the day, after several rounds of congratulations were shared in the chat, Hegseth wrote Great job all. More strikes ongoing for hours tonight, and will provide full initial report tomorrow. But on time, on target, and good readouts so far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was quick to respond to the release of the messages on Wednesday, trying to split hairs about details of WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP being war plans. The Atlantic has conceded: these were NOT war plans, she wrote. This entire story was another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well-known for his sensationalist spin. Waltz, whom Goldberg says added him to the chat, added: 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. Trump, the White House, and the officials on the chat have all denied that anything classified was shared, or that war plans were discussed. There was no classified information, as I understand it, Trump said from the White House on Tuesday. 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. Nobodys texting war plans, Hegseth reiterated from Hawaii later in the day. Nobodys texting war plans. I know exactly what Im doing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The receipts provided by Goldberg tell a different story. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The Atlantic released the exact military strike plans that editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg unexpectedly became privy to on Wednesday morning, detailing not only times and places of strikes, but the weapons that would be used. The receipts came just a day after both the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, and CIA director John Ratcliffe testified on Tuesday that the information discussed in the Signal chat wasnt classified. President Trump said the same, and his administration has been adamant that war plans were not shared in the Signal chat. Indeed, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on national television that nobody was texting war plans earlier this week. But, in the new texts revealed, it appears Hegseth himself was specifically sending the plans. In a message beginning with TEAM UPDATE, Hegseth laid out the exact time strikes would be made, beginning at 12:15 E.T. BREAKING from The Atlantic: Editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg has released the Signal war plans text thread: Here Are the Attack Plans That Trump's Advisers Shared on Signal. https://t.co/CbFDHzgEGf pic.twitter.com/B36PBLpdmj Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 26, 2025 MORE TO FOLLOW (per timeline) Hegseth added in a follow-up message. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During their testimonies on Tuesday, both Gabbard and Ratcliffe also swore under oath that information on weapons, packages, targets or timing were not discussed in the messages, which has since been proven false. Here is the exchange from yesterdays hearing https://t.co/8SQycih976 pic.twitter.com/Gy2D6fpJ1j Zachary Cohen (@ZcohenCNN) March 26, 2025 The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg and Shane Harris wrote that the decision to share the new messages was made after assertions that they were lying about the contents of the Signal group chat: The statements by Hegseth, Gabbard, Ratcliffe, and Trumpcombined with the assertions made by numerous administration officials that we are lying about the content of the Signal textshave led us to believe that people should see the texts in order to reach their own conclusions. Shortly after the release of the texts, Senator Mark Kelly called on Hegseth to resign, writing in a post on social media that The Signal incident is what happens when you have the most unqualified Secretary of Defense weve ever seen. Were lucky it didnt cost any servicemembers [sic] their lives, but for the safety of our military and our country, Secretary Hegseth needs to resign, he wrote. The Signal incident is what happens when you have the most unqualified Secretary of Defense we've ever seen. We're lucky it didn't cost any servicemembers their lives, but for the safety of our military and our country, Secretary Hegseth needs to resign. https://t.co/IjwJmvwBY7 Senator Mark Kelly (@SenMarkKelly) March 26, 2025 In response to The Atlantics latest publication, White House press secretary again asserted the Signal group chat did not disclose war plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Atlantic has conceded: these were NOT war plans. This entire story was another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well-known for his sensationalist spin, she wrote on X. The post The Atlantic Releases New Signal Chat Messages of Pete Hegseth Outlining Specific Attack Plans appeared first on TheWrap. Amid the fallout from The Atlantic's Monday article reportedly detailing the Signal group chat discussing the U.S. attack on Houthis in Yemen, Vice President JD Vance appearing to break with President Donald Trump is also getting attention. Vance made a noteworthy statement in the chat, appearing to break with Trump and questioning whether the president recognized that a unilateral U.S. attack on the Houthis to keep international shipping lanes open was at odds with his tough talk about European nations paying their share of such efforts, according to an account by Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic editor-in-chief who said he was inadvertently included in the conversation. "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 Goldberg. "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." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Trump orders attacks against Houthis in Yemen On the day before the attack, according to The Atlantic's reporting published on Monday, Vance participated in the chat as he told the group he was traveling to Michigan for an economic event. PHOTO: Vice President JD Vance listens as President Donald Trump delivers remarks, in the Oval Office at the White House, in Washington, Mar. 21, 2025. (Carlos Barria/Reuters) "Team, I am out for the day doing an economic event in Michigan. But I think we are making a mistake," Vance wrote in the chat, according to Goldberg. "3 percent of US trade runs through the suez. 40 percent of European trade does. 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." Ultimately, he supported the attack, telling Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, if you think we should do it lets go. I just hate bailing Europe out again, according to Goldberg's account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House has insisted the communications in the group chat were not war plans and criticized The Atlantic journalist who detailed the account. "This entire story was another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well-known for his sensationalist spin," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X on Wednesday. William Martin, Vance's communications director, said the vice president and Trump "are in complete agreement." MORE: Trump downplays Yemen war plans group chat fiasco: 'It can happen' The Vice Presidents first priority is always making sure that the Presidents advisers are adequately briefing him on the substance of their internal deliberations. 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, he said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked if Vance and Trump had spoken between the time Vance raised his concerns with the group, as reported by The Atlantic, and he concurred with those advocating to go ahead with the strike, a spokesperson for Vance said the statement Martin provided to ABC News made it clear that they did, pointing out the line that they had subsequent conversations about this matter. PHOTO: Vice President JD Vance listens as President Donald Trump delivers remarks, in the Oval Office at the White House, in Washington, Mar. 21, 2025. (Carlos Barria/Reuters) The comments from Vance are striking, given that he has been in lockstep, at least in public, with Trump, his top defender most of the time since being chosen as his running mate last July. No situation depicted that more than Trump and Vance's Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this month, where the three men got into a shouting match in front of the media over the prospects of a ceasefire deal to end the war in Ukraine. Vance berated Zelenskyy for not being thankful for the support the U.S. has provided Ukraine. "Mr. President, with respect, I think it's disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media," Vance said to Zelenskyy. "Right now, you guys are going around enforcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems. You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Trump administration live updates During the campaign cycle, where Vance was the policy attack dog for the president and previously said that Trump needs a vice president who wouldn't "stab" him in the back, there was only a handful of times he deviated from Trump on policy, with the most notable incident occurring in an NBC interview during the presidential campaign when he said Trump would veto a national abortion ban. A few weeks later, Trump, during his debate with Kamala Harris hosted by ABC News, was asked about Vance's comments on an abortion ban. PHOTO: President Donald Trump meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Mar. 13, 2025 as Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz attend. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) "Well, I didn't discuss it with JD, in all fairness," Trump said. Since then, Vance has been more careful not to deviate publicly from the president's policy position. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following their victory in November, a source close to Vance told ABC News that the vice president was tasked to ensure that all of the priorities of the Trump administration move forward and would work on any of the issues Trump needs him to further. In November, a source familiar with Vance and Trump's relationship said Vance was focused on doing whatever was needed to support the president-elect and the administration. Atlantic story on Yemen chat reportedly showed rare instance of Vance breaking with Trump originally appeared on abcnews.go.com So, about that Signal chat. On Monday, shortly after we published a story about a massive Trump-administration security breach, a reporter asked the secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, why he had shared plans about a forthcoming attack on Yemen on the Signal messaging app. He answered, Nobody was texting war plans. And thats all I have to say about that. This article was featured in the One Story to Read Today newsletter. Sign up for it here. At a Senate hearing yesterday, the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, and the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, John Ratcliffe, were both asked about the Signal chat, to which Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic, was inadvertently invited by National Security Adviser Michael Waltz. There was no classified material that was shared in that Signal group, Gabbard told members of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ratcliffe said much the same: My communications, to be clear, in the Signal message group were entirely permissible and lawful and did not include classified information. President Donald Trump, asked yesterday afternoon about the same matter, said, It wasnt classified information. These statements presented us with a dilemma. In The Atlantics initial story about the Signal chatthe Houthi PC small group, as it was named by Waltzwe withheld specific information related to weapons and to the timing of attacks that we found in certain texts. As a general rule, we do not publish information about military operations if that information could possibly jeopardize the lives of U.S. personnel. That is why we chose to characterize the nature of the information being shared, not specific details about the attacks. [Read: The Trump administration accidentally texted me its war plans] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statements by Hegseth, Gabbard, Ratcliffe, and Trumpcombined with the assertions made by numerous administration officials that we are lying about the content of the Signal textshave led us to believe that people should see the texts in order to reach their own conclusions. There is a clear public interest in disclosing the sort of information that Trump advisers included in nonsecure communications channels, especially because senior administration figures are attempting to downplay the significance of the messages that were shared. Experts have repeatedly told us that use of a Signal chat for such sensitive discussions poses a threat to national security. As a case in point, Goldberg received information on the attacks two hours before the scheduled start of the bombing of Houthi positions. If this informationparticularly the exact times American aircraft were taking off for Yemenhad fallen into the wrong hands in that crucial two-hour period, American pilots and other American personnel could have been exposed to even greater danger than they ordinarily would face. The Trump administration is arguing that the military information contained in these texts was not classifiedas it typically would bealthough the president has not explained how he reached this conclusion. Yesterday, we asked officials across the Trump administration if they objected to us publishing the full texts. In emails to the Central Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the National Security Council, the Department of Defense, and the White House, we wrote, in part: In light of statements today from multiple administration officials, including before the Senate Intelligence Committee, that the information in the Signal chain about the Houthi strike is not classified, and that it does not contain war plans, The Atlantic is considering publishing the entirety of the Signal chain. We sent our first request for comment and feedback to national-security officials shortly after noon, and followed up in the evening after most failed to answer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Late yesterday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emailed a response: As we have repeatedly stated, there was no classified information transmitted in the group chat. However, as the CIA Director and National Security Advisor have both expressed today, that does not mean we encourage the release of the conversation. This was intended to be a an [sic] internal and private deliberation amongst high-level senior staff and sensitive information was discussed. So for those reason [sic] yes, we object to the release. (The Leavitt statement did not address which elements of the texts the White House considered sensitive, or how, more than a week after the initial air strikes, their publication could have bearing on national security.) A CIA spokesperson asked us to withhold the name of John Ratcliffes chief of staff, which Ratcliffe had shared in the Signal chain, because CIA intelligence officers are traditionally not publicly identified. Ratcliffe had testified earlier yesterday that the officer is not undercover and said it was completely appropriate to share their name in the Signal conversation. We will continue to withhold the name of the officer. Otherwise, the messages are unredacted. [Listen: Jeffrey Goldberg on the group chat that broke the internet] As we wrote on Monday, much of the conversation in the Houthi PC small group concerned the timing and rationale of attacks on the Houthis, and contained remarks by Trump-administration officials about the alleged shortcomings of Americas European allies. But on the day of the attackSaturday, March 15the discussion veered toward the operational. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 11:44 a.m. eastern time, Hegseth posted in the chat, in all caps, TEAM UPDATE: The text beneath this began, TIME NOW (1144et): Weather is FAVORABLE. Just CONFIRMED w/CENTCOM we are a GO for mission launch. Centcom, or Central Command, is the militarys combatant command for the Middle East. The Hegseth text continues: 1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package) 1345: Trigger Based F-18 1st Strike Window Starts (Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME also, Strike Drones Launch (MQ-9s) Let us pause here for a moment to underscore a point. This Signal message shows that the U.S. secretary of defense texted a group that included a phone number unknown to himGoldbergs cellphoneat 11:44 a.m. This was 31 minutes before the first U.S. warplanes launched, and two hours and one minute before the beginning of a period in which a primary target, the Houthi Target Terrorist, was expected to be killed by these American aircraft. If this text had been received by someone hostile to American interestsor someone merely indiscreet, and with access to social mediathe Houthis would have had time to prepare for what was meant to be a surprise attack on their strongholds. The consequences for American pilots could have been catastrophic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hegseth text then continued: 1410: More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package) 1415: Strike Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier Trigger Based targets) 1536 F-18 2nd Strike Starts also, first sea-based Tomahawks launched. MORE TO FOLLOW (per timeline) We are currently clean on OPSECthat is, operational security. Godspeed to our Warriors. Shortly after, Vice President J. D. Vance texted the group, I will say a prayer for victory. At 1:48 p.m., Waltz sent the following text, containing real-time intelligence about conditions at an attack site, apparently in Sanaa: VP. Building collapsed. Had multiple positive ID. Pete, Kurilla, the IC, amazing job. Waltz was referring here to Hegseth; General Michael E. Kurilla, the commander of Central Command; and the intelligence community, or IC. The reference to multiple positive ID suggests that U.S. intelligence had ascertained the identities of the Houthi target, or targets, using either human or technical assets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Six minutes later, the vice president, apparently confused by Waltzs message, wrote, What? At 2 p.m., Waltz responded: Typing too fast. The first target their top missile guy we had positive ID of him walking into his girlfriends building and its now collapsed. Vance responded a minute later: Excellent. Thirty-five minutes after that, Ratcliffe, the CIA director, wrote, A good start, which Waltz followed with a text containing a fist emoji, an American-flag emoji, and a fire emoji. The Houthi-run Yemeni health ministry reported that at least 53 people were killed in the strikes, a number that has not been independently verified. Later that afternoon, Hegseth posted: CENTCOM was/is on point. Notably, he then told the group that attacks would be continuing. Great job all. More strikes ongoing for hours tonight, and will provide full initial report tomorrow. But on time, on target, and good readouts so far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is still unclear why a journalist was added to the text exchange. Waltz, who invited Goldberg into the Signal chat, said yesterday that he was investigating how the heck he got into this room. Screenshot Screenshot Screenshot Screenshot Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Screenshot Screenshot Screenshot Screenshot Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Screenshot Screenshot Screenshot Screenshot Screenshot Screenshot Screenshot Screenshot Article originally published at The Atlantic HONOLULU (KHON2) Gerhardt Konig, 46, remains in police custody, accused of attempting to kill his wife while hiking on the morning of March 24. Konig, an anesthesiologist from Maui, was on Oahu with his 36-year-old wife. Sources say the two were on vacation, staying in a hotel in Waikiki and March 25 was the wifes birthday. HPD arrests man who allegedly tried to murder wife Honolulu police say around 10:30 a.m. yesterday morning, the couple was hiking the Pali Puka Trail when Konig allegedly tried to push his wife off the trail and allegedly bashed her head multiple times with a fist-sized rock. According to police sources, the wife told police Konig tried to inject her with syringes what was in them, is currently unknown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is known is that the woman managed to escape. A witness told us two women who saw the attack helped scare off Konig and walked the woman off the trail. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You I saw three girls coming down from [the trail]. One of them was all bloodied up, said Robert, who didnt want to share his last name. I thought at first she fell down, but actually, I heard that her husband, somebody up there, had hit her on the head, bash her head. Robert said there were other good Samaritans who came to help the seriously injured woman. Because there were buses up there, there was a nurse on one of the buses and they bandaged her up and waited for the ambulance to come up, he said. Gee, I never thought something like that would happen here, you know, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman was last listed in critical condition at Queens Medical Center. Konig disappeared by the time police arrived. He was arrested nearly eight hours later near Nuuanu Pali Drive, just before 7 p.m. after a brief foot chase. Police are still working to determine what led to the attack. Konig was employed with Anesthesia Medical Group, a company contracted by Maui Health. No one from the medical group responded to our request for comment. A statement from Maui Health said Konig had been suspended from the medical staff pending investigation. Charges are pending against Konig. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The woman accused of shooting and killing an Uber driver in the summer of 2023 has died. Her former defense attorney, Matthew Kozik, said he was informed by the District Attorneys Office about her death. He confirmed that Copas died within the past 24 hours in El Paso, he said. Other details about her death remain limited, but we have reached out to both the El Paso Police Department and to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copas, from Kentucky, was arrested and charged with murder in the death of Uber driver Daniel Piedra Garcia in June 2023. Copas said she feared he was kidnapping her and taking her to Mexico. She had been out of jail awaiting trial. El Paso Police said they responded to an unknown 911 problem a little before noon on Tuesday at the Wyndham Hotel at 2027 Airway Blvd. Police are investigating a death there but could not confirm who was involved. Kozik issued the following statement: As Ms. Copass former counsel, Phoebe Copas was and remains an innocent woman. During the course of litigation, we were able to locate evidence possessed by the State that the Uber driver stated to Ms. Copas he was taking her to Juarez. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were able to locate evidence of the repeated attempts Ms. Copas made to exit the vehicle, but the locks and windows were not operational. We also discovered razor blades throughout the Uber drivers vehicle. We were able to uncover evidence possessed by the State that local law enforcement knew the statements they made to the El Paso community were false and that at no time did she report defending herself because she saw a sign to Juarez. It has been disappointing to see some in our community react to this case in a way that we, as a diverse community, should know better. No one should rejoice in the death of Mr. Piedras or Ms. Copas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL) An Opelika man who worked as a teachers aide for Auburn City Schools has been arrested on a felony charge of willful abuse of a child after allegedly slamming a 9-year-old student to the ground at an Auburn elementary school. Kellum Auburn police arrested Quendesmond Jamaad Kellum, 32, on March 25, 2025, following an investigation into an alleged incident the previous day at a location in the in the 1500 block of North Donahue Drive, which is Yarbrough Elementary School. According to court documents, Kellum, who was responsible for supervising children as part of his role with Auburn City Schools, is accused of forcibly slamming a 9-year-old male student to the ground. Auburn police have not released further details about the childs condition but have not indicated any severe injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A felony arrest warrant was issued, and Kellum was booked into the Lee County Jail on a $10,000 bond. According to court records, he has since bonded out and is scheduled to appear in court in May. WRBL spoke with Kellum on the phone after he made the bond; he says he is consulting with his attorney and does not have a comment. Auburn City Schools spokesperson Daniel Chesser provided the following statement to WRBL: Auburn City Schools is cooperating with law enforcement officials in an ongoing investigation. Due to the nature of this matter, no further public comment will be made available. Auburn City Schools rely heavily on surveillance video in student areas, except for private locations like restrooms. However, Auburn police have not confirmed whether there is video evidence of the alleged incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities encourage anyone with information regarding the case to contact Auburn police or the Department of Human Resources. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. The U.S. Supreme Court has denied an Austin mans second request to review his death penalty case on the basis of questionable DNA evidence. Areli Escobar was convicted and sentenced to death in 2011 in the murder and sexual assault of 17-year-old Bianca Maldonado, but his attorneys moved to secure a new trial after a state audit revealed major problems at the Austin Police Departments crime laboratory, including the mishandling of DNA evidence. In arguing for a new trial, Escobars legal team has asserted that prosecutors with the Travis County district attorneys office relied heavily on potentially compromised DNA evidence to secure a conviction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The office, which now is led by progressive reformer DA Jose Garza, agrees the case was flawed and has advocated alongside the defense for a new trial as has a former Travis County state district judge, the American Bar Association and a group of former state attorneys general, state prosecutors and U.S. attorneys. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has twice rejected Escobars due process claims, and his legal team has twice appealed to the nations highest court. The first time, Supreme Court justices handed Escobar a win by vacating the appeals court decision to uphold the conviction and sending it back to the criminal appeals court for reconsideration. But the appeals court stood its ground, opting not to acknowledge new testimony presented by the defense that disputed the credibility of evidence and provided an alternative suspect. The high court on Monday denied Escobars second petition for review, which was filed last February, with no explanation. While the decision means Escobar will remain on death row, his execution is not imminent. Brenda Arita the girlfriend of Areli Carbajal Escobar reacts after hearing the death penalty sentence for Escobar on Friday, May 20, 2011. Nothing in todays decision alters the fact that Areli Escobar was wrongfully convicted, and the Supreme Courts decision does not make Areli Escobars wrongful conviction right, said Escobar attorney Benjamin Wolff, who directs the Office of Capital and Forensic Writs, the states post-conviction public defender for capital and forensic science cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garzas office said Monday in a statement that it had received the decision and was reviewing next steps. In a brief to the Supreme Court, Garza said his office no longer had confidence in the conviction and death sentence it procured due to its reliance on scientific evidence now understood to be false, misleading, and unreliable. Just three days after Escobars conviction, additional DNA testing of the evidence used in the trial was found to be inconclusive information Escobars defense team didnt receive until 2017 after filing an appeal. Areli Carbajal Escobar enters the courtroom on Friday, May 20, 2011 to hear closing arguments in his capital murder trial. A Travis County jury found Escobar guilty of sexually assaulting and fatally stabbing 17-year old Bianca Maldonado in 2009. The appeal came a year earlier after the Austin Police Department-run crime lab was forced to shut down following an audit by the Texas Forensic Science Commission. The audit found major problems in the DNA section of the Police Departments Forensic Science Division, including contamination and use of unscientific methods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the nine years since the labs closure, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has overturned two convictions linked to the labs bungling of evidence. The first was a drug possession charge against Lamarcus Turner, who was exonerated in 2022. The second was an aggravated assault charge against Billy Faircloth, who was exonerated in 2023. Garza, a Democrat who expanded a unit in his office that reviews and litigates possible wrongful convictions, supported both of those appeals. The Supreme Courts latest decision in the Escobar case comes a month after it vacated a conviction in a similar case out of Oklahoma, where the state attorney general had pushed for a new trial for death row inmate Richard Glossip. In both cases, the petitioners asked the high court to say whether a capital conviction should be overturned if the case was so flawed that the prosecution no longer defends it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The justices did not answer that question. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed briefs in both the Escobar and Glossip cases opposing the idea, arguing that courts must independently review convictions rather than give extra weight to prosecutors confessions of error. Prioritizing prosecutors' admissions of error could make sentencing outcomes past and present more dependent on the politics of local prosecutors, the Republican argued. The attorney generals office did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this article. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin man remains on death row after SCOTUS denies another appeal NAIROBI, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The graduation and award ceremony for the 15 finalists of the fourth edition of the national cybersecurity bootcamp, supported by Chinese telecom company Huawei, took place in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Wednesday. Steven Zhang, deputy chief executive officer at Huawei Kenya, said the company has enhanced its collaboration with the public sector and academia to nurture the next generation of cyber warriors responsible for safeguarding the country's digital infrastructure. Through partnership with the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), a regulatory agency for telecommunications and broadcasting industries, and the Kenyan Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, Huawei supported the 2025 Cybersecurity Bootcamp, which attracted more than 3,000 applications, Zhang said. He said the strategic partnership with state agencies has been pivotal in securing Kenya's cyberspace through providing training and mentorship to youth pursuing information and communications technology (ICT)-related courses in tertiary institutions. The event to award participants who excelled in the bootcamp was attended by senior government officials, industry executives, faculty members, students and technology enthusiasts. CA Director General David Mugonyi hailed the partnership with Huawei to help build a critical mass of cybersecurity personnel in Kenya. Mugonyi said sustaining growth of Kenya's digital economy, which is a major source of employment for the youth, hinges on reskilling cyber warriors capable of detecting, reporting and preventing threats such as hacking. Chrispin Oguna, a trainer at Huawei ICT Academy and a lecturer at a private tertiary institution, said the 2025 Cybersecurity Bootcamp was conducted in three phases, covering self-study, live and onsite training, with 15 national finalists demonstrating prowess in firewall configurations. Oguna stressed that the rapid evolution of the digital economy in Kenya calls for providing advanced skills to local youth in the field of cybersecurity, adding that participants at the bootcamp have gained insight into data security, storage, cloud, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. A 65-year-old was found dead inside the old Milwaukee Mall location at West Fond du Lac and North avenues, according to police. The department said the discovery happened Tuesday shortly after 3 p.m. and no foul play is suspected. The site was once Milwaukee's first Sears store in the 1920s and this intersection was part of a booming retail center on the north side. Sears would close the store in 1981 and soon the Fondy Mall opened there for less than a year. The location was then marketed as Milwaukee Mall, but it was more of a indoor flea market that eventually closed over a decade ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent years, developer Kalan Haywood Sr. has been pursing plans to create a mix of uses, including a craft brewery, events venue, art gallery, office space and housing on a 7-acre site. He borrowed $3.79 million from the City of Milwaukee for a stalled hotel project and received more time to repay the loan. The deadline was this month, according to prior media coverage. The Milwaukee Police Department didn't immediately respond to a request for information Tuesday night about the death investigation. This story was updated to add new information. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Authorities investigate death at old Milwaukee Mall An autopsy performed on Tuesday confirmed the body recovered from a private pond on Monday is missing Olathe man Jordan Yust, according to Olathe police sergeant John Moncayo. The cause of Yusts death is still under investigation, but there were no signs of foul play, according to Moncayo. Both the police department and the Miami County Sheriffs Office will continue the investigation. Sheriffs deputies responded to 247th Street and U.S. 69 Highway near Louisburg around 5:30 p.m. Monday, after a property owner found a man lying dead in the pond, said undersheriff Matthew Kelly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The property had been searched previously by boat, land, and air in the first week of Jordans disappearance the Miami County Sheriffs Department said in a news release. Investigators are working to determine when the body may have entered the water. Family members were present at the scene during the recovery on Monday, Kelly said. Jordan Yust last seen driving Honda Odyssey A photo of Jordan Yust, Beth Yust, their twin daughters and son. Yust, 38, was last seen around 11 a.m. March 3, driving a silver Honda Odyssey and leaving the area near the 14100 block of West 141st Place. That same day, someone found the Odyssey on Highway 69, just north of 247th Street, with Yusts wallet inside, the engine running and hazards on. Yust was labeled as endangered due to statements of self-harm, according to a news release from the Olathe Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators received tips almost daily, but most of them did not lead to valuable information, Kelly said. During the week of March 10, bloodhounds alerted on Yusts scent near 247th Street and Ridgeview Road during one of several large searches that had taken place since Yusts disappearance. Family and friends previously told The Star that Yust had suffered a mental break and left his house in a hurry. The father of three and former software engineer at Garmin, Yust was described by longtime friend Jeff Maxwell as someone always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. Previous reporting from Kendrick Calfee was used in this piece. As Americans social worlds grow further apart, stereotypes intensify driving an even deeper wedge between red and blue America. (Getty Images) Are you angry about politics right now? Seething? Youre not alone. According to the Mood of the Nation Poll by researchers at Penn State, 9 in 10 Americans can name a recent news event or something about American politics that made them angry. Political scientists Steven Webster, Elizabeth Connors and I have investigated what happens to peoples social networks their friends, family and neighbors when partisan anger takes over. For example, suppose your neighbor is a member of the opposite political party. Youve always watered their plants when they go on vacation. Given the news these days and how angry youre feeling, what will you say when they ask for help during their next trip? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We found that when someone is angry with the opposite party, they avoid people with those views. That can include not assisting neighbors with various tasks, avoiding social gatherings attended by people from the other side, and refusing to date people who vote differently. It means being disappointed if your son or daughter marries a supporter of the opposing party, and even severing close friendships or distancing yourself from close relatives. We see that political anger disrupts ordinary life coffee with a friend as well as more major life decisions. Political anger breaks our social networks. People rely on their relationships to understand our world and to vote. The more we isolate ourselves from people who see things differently, the easier it is to misunderstand them, pushing us to separate even more. Stereotype vs. reality During the Obama administration, my collaborators and I asked a nationally representative sample of voters to describe their stereotypes about the opposite party. Our questions were intended to tap into perceptions of the other sides lifestyles and cultural values, in addition to policy attitudes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, we wanted to establish each sides actual views. Our 2012-2016 study asked around 1,300 Americans whether they agreed with statements that are often associated with one party or the other including creationism, guns, taxes and eco-friendliness. For example, 42.5% of all Republicans we surveyed agreed with the statement that this country would be safer if every law-abiding citizen possessed a firearm, versus 25.1% of independents and 14.2% of Democrats. Meanwhile, 38.7% of Democrats agreed that this country would be better if every citizen drove an electric car, compared with 22% of independents and 11.4% of Republicans. Two months later, we went back to the same voters and asked them a different question: What percentage of Democrats and Republicans did they think would agree with these statements? We saw dramatic evidence of stereotypes. For example, only 19% of Democrats agreed that all Americans should pay more taxes, but more than 80% of Republicans believed the percentage to be higher. The same pattern occurred with electric cars and firearms. Just over 42% of Republicans agreed that all law-abiding citizens should have a gun, but the typical Democrat believed the percentage to be 60%-80%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Americans do not understand each other across the red-blue divide. Importantly, respondents with more ideologically extreme views themselves had less accurate perceptions of the other party. Avoiding the Joneses The more extreme our beliefs become, the harder it will be to understand our neighbors. Suppose you are a Republican. You learn that your Democratic neighbors believe that everyone should drive an electric car, marijuana should be legal in all states, and universal health care should be available to all citizens. Or suppose you are a Democrat, and you learn that your Republican neighbors believe that humans and dinosaurs walked the Earth at the same time, that elementary school students should be required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance every morning, and that a fence should be built between the U.S. and Mexico. Would you want to be friends? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These hypothetical neighbors have stereotypical beliefs and most Americans say they do not want those neighbors in their social networks. Specifically, according to our 2023 study, they reported not wanting to become friends, not having this neighbor over for a family meal, and not feeling comfortable allowing their children to play with the neighbors kids, among other activities. Stereotypes dont just drive individual people and families apart; they make neighborhoods less cohesive. We ascribe stereotypical beliefs to people who are members of the opposite party and then we react to these stereotypes, not to our neighbors themselves. Social citizens Cutting off those in-person relationships isnt just a problem for safety and friendliness around the block. Its a problem for democracy because Americans need relationships with people whose politics are different than their own. A majority of Americans have social circles that are politically homogeneous. Even in 2020, 53% of Republicans said that their network was exclusively composed of Donald Trump supporters, and 55% of Democrats said that their network was exclusively composed of Joe Biden supporters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her book Through the Grapevine, political scientist Taylor Carlson documents that approximately 1 in 3 American voters mostly learn about politics from socially transmitted information: news they get from talking with friends or scrolling on social media. Relying on these sources is particularly problematic in social networks that are homogeneous, as exposure to information from someone in your own party can lead people to have more extreme positions. Carlsons work highlights that voters who rely on friends to shape their views rely upon a resource that is heavily biased. In my own book The Social Citizen, I investigated the influence peers have on political decisions, from voting and donating to identifying with a political party. For example, if a neighbor knocks on your door and asks you to turn out to vote, you are 4%-11% more likely to go cast a ballot than if a stranger knocked on your door. Democracy in action What can we do to remedy the fractures? We need to understand each other. The U.S. has a long tradition of political dialogue. Indeed, after a brutal election tested their friendship, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson did not exchange letters for 11 years. But the pair resumed their correspondence in 1812 with Adams statement later echoed by Jefferson You and I, ought not to die, before We have explained ourselves to each other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What Adams and Jefferson understood in the 19th century still applies to the divisions in American society today: Reconciliation requires understanding. These conversations are frequently painful and hard; data scientists have noted that Thanksgiving dinners with guests who cross party lines are frequently shorter. But as my own research shows, we are most able to persuade people with whom we have the closest ties. Democracy challenges us to participate in more ways than simply by voting. It challenges everyone to understand those around us and seek what is in the collective best interest. And we have the most influence over people in our social networks. So that friend youre really angry with about their politics? Its time to give them a call and have a conversation. Betsy Sinclair, the author 0f this commentary, is professor and chair of political science at Washington University in St. Louis This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The U.S. Air Force office responsible for the B-52 Radar Modernization Program (RMP) is asking for new information about options for derivatives of off-the-shelf multi-mode radars that could go into the bombers. At the same time, the service insists there has been no change to the current RMP plan to integrate a new Raytheon active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar primarily derived from the AN/APG-79 onto its B-52s, an effort that has suffered from delays and cost growth. In 2019, Boeing selected Raytheon to supply the radar for the B-52 RMP. Raytheon (now formally known as RTX) delivered the first of these radars, known as the AN/APQ-188 Bomber Modernized Radar System, to Boeing in 2023. The plan, as it stands now, is to replace the Cold War-era mechanically scanned AN/APQ-166 radars in each of the 76 B-52Hs in service now. The Air Force has said in the past that it is hoping to reach initial operational capability (IOC) with B-52s with new radars in Fiscal Year 2027. This is all part of a larger modernization effort for the B-52 fleet that includes new engines and other upgrades. The resulting bombers, which are set to keep flying in the 2050s, will be redesignated as B-52Js. The B-52 RMP Program Office is conducting market research to identify parties having the capabilities to produce a modified off the shelf multi-mode radar compatible with the B-52 for the USAF, an Air Force contracting notice first posted online on March 19 states. The acquisition strategy has not yet been determined. Market research results will assist the Air Force in determining whether this requirement will be a full and open, a small business set-aside, or a sole source acquisition. This is an INDUSTRY NOTIFICATION and is for INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. This is not a solicitation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Air Force continually assesses a range of alternate solutions to requirements as technology matures and/or operational conditions may drive changes to requirements, an Air Force spokesperson told TWZ when asked for additional information and clarification about what this contracting notice might mean for the B-52 RMP plan. This notice was a source sought intended to inform the SAE [Senior Acquisition Executive] as to the range of radar options available for rapid fielding, the spokesperson added. There is currently no planned change to the B-52 RMP plan. In general, AESA radars offer greater range, fidelity, and resistance to countermeasures, as well as the ability to provide better overall general situational awareness, compared to mechanically scanned types. Increasingly advanced AESAs bring additional capabilities, including electronic warfare and communications support. The B-52s existing AN/APQ-166 radar can be seen here. USAF For the B-52, any new multi-mode AESA will improve the bombers target acquisition and identification capabilities, including when used together with targeting pods available for the bombers now. New radars for the bombers will also be helpful when it comes to guiding networked weapons over long distances to their targets and could provide a secondary ground moving target indicator (GMTI) and synthetic aperture radar surveillance capabilities. The radar upgrade could help defend B-52s from air-to-air threats, including through improved detection of incoming hostile aircraft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recent contracting notice can only raise questions about the B-52 RMP status and future, despite the Air Forces statement that the plan remains unchanged, at least for now. The AN/APQ-188 is leveraging a proven design, the AN/APG-79, versions that are already in use on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler, as well as the upgraded legacy F/A-18 Hornets for the U.S. Marine Corps. It is also incorporating technology from the AN/APG-82 found on Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle and F-15EX Eagle II combat jets. A variant of the AN/APG-79 radar installed on a legacy F/A-18 Hornet. Raytheon The program [B-52 RMP] completed Critical Design Review in February 2022. The Air Force continues to refine the system radome design to address aircraft integration issues. Depending on [the] final radome design, radar performance may be impacted, the Pentagons Office of the Director of Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) warned in its most recent annual report covering work on various programs in the 2024 Fiscal Year, which ended Sept. 30 of last year. The program office should fully characterize performance with the final radome design to inform operational employment tactics. Modification of test aircraft and development of [the] initial system flight software began in FY23 [Fiscal Year 2023], that report added. Delays related to integration challenges have shifted the planned start of developmental and integrated flight testing to FY26, leading to IOT&E [initial operational test and evaluation] in FY28. DOT&Es report also said that a decision on whether to proceed with integration of the new AN/APQ-188 on the first 28 B-52Hs is expected to come in Fiscal Year 2026, roughly two years later than originally planned. Work to install the improved radars on the remaining bombers might not start until Fiscal Year 2028. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Exact dates are uncertain due to technical and schedule risks, DOT&E noted. USAF Last year, a separate report from the Government Accountability Office, a Congressional watchdog, disclosed that the B-52s RMPs total estimated price tag had risen from $2.343 billion ($1.327 billion in developmental costs and another $1.015 billion in procurement costs) in 2021 to $2.580 billion ($1.437 billion and $1.143 billion for development and procurement, respectively) in 2023. Based on those total program costs, the price to upgrade each of the 76 B-52s rose from $30.8 million to $33.9 million. When the GAOs report came out in June 2024, the Air Force was also expected to have a further revised cost estimate by this month, but it is unclear whether or not that has occurred. There are certainly several potential alternatives to the AN/APQ-188 that could fit inside the B-52s nose on the open market now. Before Raytheon was selected to provide the radar for the B-52 RMP, TWZ highlighted Northrop Grummans AN/APG-83, also known as the Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR), or a variant or derivative thereof, as one particularly notable option. SABR, which is in large-scale production and is seen as an affordable upgrade option for various platforms, is in service on an increasing number of Air Force F-16s, as well as examples of that fighter in service globally. The EL/M-2032 from Israels Elta and the Vixen series from Leonardo in Italy are also growing in popularity. Any major changes to the B-52 RMP at this stage would run the risk of additional delays and cost growth, as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The separate B-52 re-enging effort, also known as the Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP), has also been beset by delays and growing costs. Bombers with the new engines, which are set to help reduce operating and maintenance costs, as well as significantly extend the unrefueled range of the aircraft, may not begin flying operational missions until 2033. Whether or not the Air Force ultimately changes its plans for the B-52 RMP, the service is clearly making sure it knows all of its options. Contact the author: joe@twz.com Babies should automatically take their mothers surnames instead of their fathers, an Italian politician has proposed, provoking a clash between the countrys Left and Right. While MPs on the Left said the change was a long overdue correction to a patriarchal system, politicians on the Right ridiculed the idea and said Italy had far more pressing problems to deal with, such as a faltering economy and crumbling public services. The proposal was put forward by Dario Franceschini, a former minister and a heavyweight in the centre-Left opposition Democratic Party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He announced that he would shortly put forward a Bill in parliament to change the law so that babies would automatically take their mothers surname when registered at birth. Children should only have their mothers surname, said Mr Franceschini. Instead of creating endless problems with the management of double surnames or with the choice between the fathers and the mothers, after centuries in which children have taken their fathers surname, we must establish that they will only take their mothers surname. The change would be compensation for a centuries-old injustice that has had not only a symbolic value but has been one of the cultural and social sources of gender inequality, the senator said. Laura Boldrini, another member of the Democratic Party, said: We will discuss it and we will find the best road to follow. What is for sure is that this matter can no longer be put off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there were splutters of disbelief from some politicians on the Right. Centre-Left politician Dario Franceschini plans to put forward the Bill for newborn children to take only their mothers surname - Roberto Serra/Iguana Press/Getty Matteo Salvini, the deputy prime minister and leader of the League, one of three parties in Giorgia Melonis Right-wing coalition, wrote on X: Here are the big priorities of the Italian Left instead of having a double-barrelled surname, take away from children the surname of their fathers! Sure, lets wipe from the face of the Earth these dads, that way we will resolve all our problems. Where do they get these great ideas? Federico Mollicone, a member of Ms Melonis Brothers of Italy party, said the proposal was an unacceptable provocation, which would mean going from a patriarchy to a matriarchy. Giulia Bongiorno, a member of the League and a prominent lawyer, struck a more moderate tone. We need to find a balance in which neither parent is invisible in terms of the childs surname, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even some centrist MPs were less than convinced by the proposal. Alessandra Maiorino, a senator with the populist Five Star Movement, said: I jumped up in my seat when I heard the proposal because you dont respond to one discrimination, even if it has been going on for ages, with another discrimination. Carlo Calenda, the leader of the centrist Azione party, commented: Dont we have any other priorities? Mr Franceschinis suggestion goes a step further than a decision made by Italys constitutional court in 2022, which ruled that the custom of babies being given their fathers surnames was discriminatory. Problem for siblings The court said that newborns should be given the surnames of both their parents, unless the couple expressly decided that the child should have only one surname. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chiara Saraceno, a sociologist who has taught at Turin University, said: I believe that the surname of both the parents should be assigned automatically to babies. It is women who give birth to babies so excluding them from the childs surname seems absurd. But critics pointed out that if the law was to suddenly change, that could present problems for siblings. How does one explain to two brothers born in different years that one has a different surname from the other? said Roberto Bizzocchi, a historian and the author of a book about Italian surnames. About 6 per cent of children born last year were given both their parents surnames. The practice is most common among couples in which the mother is Italian and the father foreign presumably as a way of maintaining his different cultural background. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is also adopted by couples in which at least one of them was previously married to someone else, in an effort to establish a new family identity. 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. More measles cases have been reported in the first three months of 2025 than in all of 2024. Most of the 420-plus cases have been centered around the West Texas outbreak, which has spilled over to neighboring New Mexico and Oklahoma. Other cases in people returning from travel abroad have been reported in a handful of states. Vaccination is the best way to protect against infection, but the first dose of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine usually isnt given until a child is 12 to 15 months old. A second dose is given from ages 4 to 6. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That schedule leaves children under 1 vulnerable. Some parents, however, are opting to give their young children a dose of the vaccine ahead of schedule. Dr. Ana Montanez, a pediatrician at Texas Tech Physicians in Lubbock an epicenter of the current outbreak said that parents are calling to request an early dose of the MMR vaccine. Weve almost doubled the amount of vaccine we administer on a typical month, Montanez said. Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics say that, in the case of an outbreak or international travel, children as young as 6 months can get a dose of the vaccine, and children under 4 years old who have gotten one dose can get their second one earlier. All doses must be separated by at least four weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Shilpa Patel, a pediatrician at New Jersey Hackensack Meridian Health Medical Group Northern Valley Pediatrics, said that an early dose before 12 months is essentially a bonus dose, and doesnt take the place of either of the two standard doses. It does not count for the total, Patel said. You still need two doses after the age of 12 months. Montanez said thats because, at this age of development, their immune system isnt quite developed to where the vaccine would provide prolonged or lifelong immunity. Therefore, we would have to give another dose at a year and essentially a third dose at 4 to 6 years, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While early doses are typically recommended when traveling abroad with children, Patel said shes also starting to recommend the vaccine for kids traveling to some parts of the U.S., including Texas and Disney World in Florida. Theme parks have been the sites of measles outbreaks in the past. Don Gibson, 36, and his wife considered early vaccinations for their two sons, now ages 2 years and 4 months, as they prepared in January to travel from California to Texas for an April wedding. We were really excited to go, and they invited our kids, too, so we were going to take the whole family, but, then, after we booked our travel, including lodging, flights, we saw the outbreak happening in Texas, Gibson said. This prompted a conversation with the family pediatrician, who said they could give an early second dose for their 2-year-old and a dose for the infant when he reached 6 months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The wedding, however, would occur before the infant hit 6 months, and ultimately the family decided to cancel their plans. Patel said that shes even started offering an early dose to families who arent traveling, but who are concerned about rising measles counts in their neighborhood, pointing to the three measles cases recently identified in her home state, New Jersey. For now, doses for domestic travel and for patients in places without active outbreaks are being given at the discretion of individual doctors and parents. Theres currently no official recommendation for people traveling domestically to places experiencing outbreaks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some are calling for changing that to include a flexible third dose. In an article earlier this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association, former CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky and several other experts proposed codifying an extra dose for high-risk domestic travel. Montanez noted that its unclear whether insurance will cover an extra dose of the MMR vaccine. She said that 80% of her patients are on Medicaid and have their regular immunizations covered by the Texas Vaccines for Children program. But, because these particular doses are given outside of the standard schedule, it remains unclear whether they will be reimbursed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, the extra dose is the parents choice. If you decide you want to do this, you are welcome to, Montanez said. If you dont want to do this, you dont have to do this. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A new orca whale calf spotted in Puget Sound in Washington State is the latest addition to a well-known family of killer whales with a connection to SeaWorld. In 1976, the calfs great-grandmother T046 Wake was one of six orcas captured with the intention of being sold to marine parks and temporarily held by SeaWorld in Budd Inlet near Olympia, Washington. The Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA) first saw this new baby whale with a group of orcas on March 20 in the eastern Juan de Fuca Strait. According to PWWAs executive director Erin Gless, the calfs fetal folds and distinctive orange coloration were visible. The fetal folds are creases along the calfs skin that come from being scrunched inside its mothers uterus for about 18 months. Visible fetal folds indicate the calf was born very recently. CREDIT: Tom Filipovic, Eagle Wing Tours (PWWA). These factors are normal and indicate the calf is quite young, likely a week or two at most, Gless said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The calf has been given the designation T046B3A and was spotted swimming alongside its 14-year-old mother, T046B3 Sedna, who was named after a goddess and the Mother of the Sea in Inuit culture. T046B3A is also Sednas first known calf. Sedna is one of Wakes grand-calf and the familys lineage was almost cut short during that 1976 capture. The late Ralph Munro, a former Washington Secretary of State and an assistant to then-Governor Dan Evans, witnessed the orca captures while he was sailing. Munro then helped file a lawsuit against SeaWorld, which ultimately led to the release of the whales from Budd Inlet several weeks later. The event was the last in a series of orca captures in the 1970s, where an estimated 100 killer whales were taken from the Pacific. Wake and these five other cetaceans were the last orcas to be captured in US waters. The PWWA says that at least 30 killer whales would not have been born without Munros actions. Wake is believed to have had eight calves of her own, 16 grand-calves, and six great grand-calves. Munro died on March 20the same day that this new whale calf was first spotted. T046B3 Sedna with new calf, T46B3A. CREDIT: Sam Murphy, Island Adventures (PWWA). The family is part of a group of orcas called Biggs killer whales or transient killer whales. Unlike the nearby Southern Resident orcas that primarily eat salmon, Biggs orcas feed on marine mammals including porpoises, sea lions, and seals. Their population has grown steadily, with more than 140 calves welcomed in the last 10 years. Research organization Bay Cetology estimates that there are nearly 400 individual whales in the coastal Biggs orca population today. Meanwhile, there are only about 73 Southern Resident orcas left, down from 97 whales in 1996. According to PWWA, local whale watch tours focus on Biggs killer whales and not the endangered Southern Residents. DeAnna Pappas levels a weighty allegation of assault against her estranged husband, Stephen Stagliano. The former reality star has accused her ex-husband of unleashing physical violence on her multiple times during their marriage to each other in her request for a restraining order against him. DeAnna Pappas and Stephen Stagliano dissolved their marriage in June 2024 after being together for over a decade. The estranged couple met for the first time at a Bachelor Nation event in 2009. Domestic Violence Claims Continue To Fly Between DeAnna Pappas And Her Ex-Husband RCF / MEGA The former star of "Bachelorette" claimed Stagliano unleashed physical assault against her during their lengthy marriage. This allegation emerged as part of her petition for a restraining order against him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her request reportedly followed a confrontation at her Los Angeles home during a custody exchange. The couple, who married in 2011 and separated in January 2023, have faced challenges related to Stagliano's mental health. Pappas recalled instances where he was placed under a 5150 hold, which allows for temporary involuntary psychiatric commitment, according to California laws. In her petition, Pappas emphasized that her claims were not intended to disparage Stagliano. Instead, they were meant to acknowledge his struggles with depression. She also explained that she believes he is a good father and their children deeply love him. Per In Touch, the former TV star called for a realistic assessment of their situation, acknowledging the complexities involved in their relationship and his capabilities as a parent. The 43-Year-Old Claimed Her Ex Shoved Her While Pregnant In 2016 The former TV personality reported a series of incidents involving physical abuse by her former lover, beginning with an alleged assault at their home in the fall of 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During this confrontation, she described Stagliano's aggressive behavior, claiming he screamed at her and referred to her as a "crazy b-tch." The 43-year-old stated that his reaction to her response triggered a "violent rage," leading to a physical altercation. She claimed he shoved her against the refrigerator, pinning her there and tearing her shirt and bra in the process. Pappas described feeling trapped and terrified as he screamed at her before she managed to push him away. In her petition for legal action, Pappas recounted another distressing episode that occurred shortly after, in which Stagliano blocked her exit in a laundry room and shouted at her for several minutes, effectively holding her hostage. She also detailed a separate incident from September 1, 2021, while living with her ex's parents, when he physically assaulted her in the living room. She noted that he hurled derogatory names at her and, without any warning, violently shoved her against bar stools, causing her pain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the former reality star indicated that during a past incident in 2016, while she was pregnant and holding their other child, Stagliano shoved her. These accounts illustrate a pattern of intimidation and physical aggression that the former reality star has faced from her estranged husband over the years. Pappas Was Arrested After Stagliano Called The Police On Claims Of Physical Assault Pappas was arrested on February 27, 2025, following accusations from Stagliano, citing a case of domestic violence, which she firmly denied. The mother-of-two claimed he alleged that she had punched and slapped him. Pappas reported that Stagliano had insisted she come close so he could check if she had been drinking, a request she refused. After retreating inside her home and locking the door, she stepped outside again upon hearing the noise from her garage. She alleged that her ex then physically grabbed her and forcefully shoved her, prompting her to panic and return inside to wait for the police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her ex-husband ultimately called the police, resulting in the TV star's arrest on misdemeanor charges. She was released within a few hours after posting a $20,000 bond. Following her release, Pappas claimed she voluntarily took a drug and alcohol test, which resulted in a negative for both substances. Shortly after, she filed for a restraining order against her ex, who has not yet responded. In her petition, she included screenshots of a video she confirmed that her daughter had recorded during the incident, claiming it would prove her innocence. The Reality TV Star's Neighbor Cleared Her Name With An Eyewitness Account As noted by The Blast, Pappas submitted a declaration from her neighbor, Alex Ingram, to support her case requesting a restraining order against her ex. The Georgian-born TV star also included photos taken by their daughter during the argument. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ingram's statement reveals that he witnessed events unfold from his home. He mentioned that his wife asked him to go outside upon spotting the police. According to him, the reality star was taken to the back of a patrol car while her estranged husband stood with his father and girlfriend nearby. Ingram recounted his brief interaction with Stagliano, where he expressed that "The Bachelor" star's behavior was inappropriate and shameful. Pappas' neighbor noted that there were no visible injuries on her estranged husband, who appeared calm and composed, contradicting the accusations of an attack from Stagliano. DeAnna Pappas And Stephen Stagliano Agreed To Avoid Abusing Alcohol In Their Kids' Presence MEGA Pappas and Stagliano settled their contentious divorce with some strong terms and conditions. The process began in January 2023 and saw the reality TV star seek primary custody of their children and spousal support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to Pappas' demands, Stagliano also requested joint custody of the kids. By 2024, the couple reached a settlement establishing joint custody of their two children. As part of their agreement, they pledged to limit alcohol consumption during custody periods, ensuring that neither would drink beyond the legal limit while caring for their children. Additionally, the settlement included a financial arrangement where Stagliano was ordered to pay Pappas $1,000 per month in child support and $1,500 per month in spousal support. Pappas shockingly filed for divorce from her estranged husband just months after they renewed their vows in October 2022. Is this the start of a protracted legal battle for DeAnna Pappas and Stephen Stagliano? CAIRO, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese-funded enterprise XinFeng Egypt signed a land use rights agreement on Tuesday with Egypt's General Authority of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) to establish a manufacturing complex. Under the agreement, Xinfeng Egypt will invest 1.65 billion U.S. dollars to build a manufacturing complex covering 3.75 million square meters in the SCZone's Ain Sokhna Integrated Zone, the Egyptian cabinet said in a statement. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Industry Kamel al-Wazir, Chairman of the SCZone General Authority Waleid Gamal El-Dein, and other Egyptian officials attended the signing ceremony. The complex, planned for completion in two phases over five years, will include nine factories, a solid waste treatment workshop, and an R&D and training center. It will primarily manufacture automobile and transportation parts, industrial standard parts, and industrial non-standard parts. Xinfeng Egypt Chairman Tian Haikui said the manufacturing complex, expected to create 8,000 direct jobs, will focus on terminal industrial product manufacturing and high-value-added industries such as automobiles, engineering machinery, and home appliances. "This will not only enhance the competitiveness of Egypt's manufacturing industry but also create a large number of employment opportunities, improve local skills, and promote export growth, which is highly consistent with Egypt's 'Vision 2030' goals," he told Xinhua. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) A man was sentenced to prison on Wednesday after repeatedly pistol-whipping his girlfriend, causing her to have a broken jaw. Kern County Superior Court Judge Charles R. Brehmer said he considered the mitigations and aggravations in the case of Stephen Alan Swain at the sentencing hearing. Swain, 40, was sentenced to 12 years and four months in prison. He will need to pay restitution to the victim, according to Brehmer. She will also receive restitution on behalf of the four minor children who witnessed the assault as their guardian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Kern County jury found Swain guilty of assault with a semiautomatic weapon, domestic violence and four counts of child abuse on Nov. 8. He was acquitted of shooting at an inhabited dwelling, court records show. Swain was also charged with threatening in order to terrorize, but the count resulted in a hung jury, according to court records. Brehmer dismissed this count at the sentencing. On April 27, 2023, deputies responded to a Bakersfield home and found Swains injured girlfriend. She was bloody and suffered a broken jaw, according to the Kern County District Attorneys Office. According to the victim, she and Swain were arguing when Swain pinned her face to the couch, restricting her breathing. He then began pistol-whipping his girlfriend over 20 times in the face using a semiautomatic handgun, the DAs Office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim followed Swain outside as he fled with his four minor children, who witnessed the incident, according to the DAs Office. The DAs Office previously said Swain faced up to 24 years and four months in prison. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. The Capitol in Salt Lake City is pictured on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) As part of a batch of 75 bills he signed Monday, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox approved SB73, which layers on new requirements for ballot initiative seekers. Now law, SB73 requires initiative backers to include in their application for the initiative a detailed description of how the proposed law would be funded and if it would require a new tax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That provision of the bill took effect the moment Cox signed it. The governor did not issue a statement along with his signature of SB73. But proponents of setting new rules for ballot initiatives including Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan, who sponsored SB73 argued during the Utah Legislatures 2025 session that Utah voters need to know the fiscal impact of proposed ballot initiatives. Critics, including the anti-gerrymandering group Better Boundaries, opposed the bill as another piece of legislation that makes it even more difficult for Utahns to exercise their ballot initiative power in a state where its already hard enough. Its disappointing to see legislative leaders take on a problem that doesnt exist, Elizabeth Rasmussen, Better Boundaries new executive director, said in a prepared statement issued Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this week, Better Boundaries announced Rasmussen had taken the place of the groups former executive director, Katie Wright. Regardless of political affiliation, citizens should have a fair and accessible path to bring forward initiatives, Rasmussen added. SB73 adds costly, complicated barriers that make it harder for regular people to participate. At Better Boundaries, well continue working with Utahns to protect this constitutional process and ensure it remains open, fair, and grounded in Utahs values. Fillmore, on the Senate floor during debate over SB73 in January, defended his bill, saying its not in any way an effort to limit the ability of citizens to engage in their constitutionally granted legislative power. But it is also very important that when citizens exercise their legislative power, that they do so with their eyes wide open about what the consequences of those decisions are, Fillmore said. He added the Legislature has a constitutional mandate to balance the budget, and the citizens ought to know in advance what were sacrificing for a new voter-approved law. While the provision in SB73 requiring initiative backers to include more information about how the proposed law would be funded took effect upon the governors signature, another provision wont take effect until much later Jan. 1, 2027. However, lawmakers wrote it that way with the intention of leaving time for voters to adjust it, if a proposed constitutional amendment thats also set for the November 2026 ballot gets approved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That delayed provision requires initiative backers to follow the same publication requirements that lawmakers do when they put proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot, which could increase the cost of ballot initiatives by an estimated $1.4 million. However, that could change. Currently, the Utah Constitution requires that constitutional amendments be published in newspapers statewide for 60 days before the next election. Lawmakers want voters to consider changing that, which would impact not just proposed constitutional amendments, but also ballot initiatives. Heres why: Utah lawmakers also passed a resolution and a companion bill that could remove that newspaper publication requirement from the Utah Constitution and leave it up to lawmakers to decide how voters should be notified before an election. They included: SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HJR10 places this question on the November 2026 ballot for voters to consider: Should the Utah Constitution be changed to strike the language requiring that proposed constitutional amendments must be published in at least one newspaper in every county of the state where a newspaper is published, for two months immediately preceding the election, and should the constitution instead say those proposed amendments be published in a manner provided by statute, for 60 calendar days immediately preceding the next general election? If voters approve the question from HJR10, then another bill HB481 (which is currently waiting the governors signature ) would take effect, setting a state law that requires proposed constitutional amendments and ballot initiatives be published as a class A notice on the Utah Public Notice website or a governments official website for 60 calendar days immediately preceding the next general election. Voters will decide: Should some initiatives require 60% vote? Another proposed constitutional amendment slated to appear on the 2026 ballot would set a higher bar for certain ballot initiatives. Like SB73, it also targets ballot initiatives that would come with a price tag. Utah lawmakers also approved SJR2, which puts a question on the 2026 ballot for voters to either approve or reject: Should ballot initiatives that would require a new tax or a tax hike only be allowed to take effect if at least 60% of voters approve it? Currently, the Utah Constitution only requires a simple majority vote for ballot initiatives to be enacted as new laws. But that resolutions sponsor, Fillmore, argued it should take more than support from 50.1% of voters to raise taxes on the other 49.9%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike bills, joint resolutions dont need the governors approval, so SJR3 and HJR10 will be enacted without his signature. It will be up to voters to decide what comes next. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The foreign ministers of the Baltic states have held their first joint meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with the Russo-Ukrainian war being one of the central topics. Source: press releases from the Estonian and Latvian Foreign Ministries, as reported by European Pravda Details: The meeting, which was held in Washington on 25 March at the initiative of the US, was attended by the foreign ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The ministers discussed bilateral relations, NATO relations and support for Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated that the deployment of US troops in the Baltic states is critical for regional deterrence and peacekeeping. He underlined that Estonia already spends 3.7% of its GDP on defence and plans to increase expenditure to 5% next year. Furthermore, he emphasised that Estonia had taken a number of steps to minimise its reliance on Russia throughout the years of full-scale war, the most recent of which was the Baltic states' severance from the joint energy system with Russia and Belarus. Latvian Minister Baiba Braze emphasised that the country will commit a record 3.6% of GDP to defence in 2025, with plans to up spending to 5%. "Since day one, Latvia has been among the biggest supporters of Ukraine in proportion to GDP, and Latvia will keep on with support to Ukraine in achieving a just and lasting peace. Latvia will also further advocate for a continued sanctions pressure on Russia in order to push it towards involvement in the search for peace and honouring an agreement reached", Braze said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tsahkna stressed that it was important to maintain military assistance to Ukraine and continue economic pressure on Russia to make peace possible. "A just and lasting peace is possible only if Russia gives up on its goal of destroying Ukraine and restructuring the security architecture of Europe. Sanctions and the mobilisation of the frozen sovereign assets of Russia are key levers here", he said. The ministers also noted that years of transatlantic cooperation had ensured security and economic prosperity for Europe and the United States, and now Europe has taken decisive steps to increase its own defence capabilities. Background: Estonia has announced the purchase of 100 million worth of military equipment for Ukraine from its industry. Estonia also plans to build 12 new warships. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! BALTIMORE Last years collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge spawned more than 50 lawsuits, including cases filed by the families of the six workers who died, parties shipping property on the ill-fated container ship Dali and companies claiming losses from the disasters resulting damage to the regions economy. It could be years before any of them are resolved. And, experts in maritime law say, many of the cases could be tossed. For now, legal filings are winding their way through the federal court system in what the presiding judge called Phase 1 of the complex tangle of civil litigation. At issue now is whether the shipping company was negligent in causing the disaster. If so, the claimed $43.7 million limitation on its legal liability a figure based on the declared value of the damaged ship and its cargo would be lifted for Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and Synergy Marine Ltd., the owner and manager of the Dali. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A trial to address that question has been scheduled for June 1, 2026. Lawyers are now taking depositions from witnesses, including members of the Dali crew who live in southeast Asia. That alone adds months to the legal process, lawyers say. For a big limitation case like this, the average (to resolve) seems to be five years or so, said Allen Black, a lawyer with the Washington, D.C.-based firm of Mills Black LLP specializing in maritime law. Potentially complicating the resolution of the lawsuits is a blame game launched last week. The National Safety Transportation Board held a news conference Thursday to chastise Maryland for failing to conduct a risk assessment that might have prevented the bridges deadly collapse. State officials, including Gov. Wes Moore, meanwhile, say fault lies squarely with the Dali owners. Attorneys for the families of the six men who were killed and the two survivors of the collapse released a statement Tuesday siding with Maryland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The past year of investigation and litigation has only confirmed what we all knew from the start: that the owners and operators of the Dali were negligent in multiple ways resulting in the loss of six mens lives and the destruction of the Key Bridge, the statement read, in part. While nothing can bring the men who died that night back to their families, we will do everything in our power to hold the Dalis owners and operators accountable for their role in this disaster. The claims against the shipping companys owner run the gamut: Baltimore City filed a lawsuit for negligence. The victims are suing for the loss of loved ones. Businesses near the collapsed bridge are suing because of the resulting drop-off in business. One Australian couple is suing for $6,500 over the loss of possessions they were shipping to Australia as part of a family move. Should the owner be found negligent, those filing lawsuits could then make claims in state courts, Black said. Others who havent sued may also try to sue. Depending on those outcomes, the parties could appeal, which adds more time. Those appeals might then be sent back to district courts for reconsideration. So, yeah, this will be around for a while, Black said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Dali, loaded with freight and weighing more than 112,000 tons, experienced a reported power outage as it approached the Key Bridge around 1:30 a.m. one year ago today, on March 26, 2024, shortly after leaving the Port of Baltimore en route to Sri Lanka. The ship struck the bridge minutes later, causing it to collapse almost immediately. A crew of workers repairing potholes on it fell into the frigid Patapsco River below. Six people died. Days later, Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine asked a federal judge to absolve them from or cap financial liability under the Limitation of Liability Act of 1851 in this case, to limit their liability to what they claimed was the value of the ship and its cargo and to put the case in front of a federal judge, instead of a jury. Grace Ocean and Synergy filed their action to allow for all potential claimants seeking damages arising out of the incident to submit their claims in one case, which makes the legal process more efficient and prevents against inconsistent judgments and inefficient multiple proceedings, said Darrell Wilson, a spokesman for the shipping companies said at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reached this month, Wilson declined to comment at length about the claims or the potential for settlements, citing the ongoing litigation. Throughout this matter, we have consistently demonstrated transparency and cooperation with the relevant parties, he said. However, not all legal matters are unresolved. In October, the companies agreed to pay nearly $102 million to the federal government and other relevant agencies directly impacted by the disaster. Black said proving negligence in shipping disasters is often not difficult. Shipping companies operate under strict safety regulations requiring regular maintenance inspections and safety checklists and all must be strictly recorded. If the company and/or the Dali crew failed to comply with any of these safety and maintenance checks, they could be held negligent. Such records would come out in discovery, Black said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone on the ship had to know the system and they had to, if they saw something wrong, report it. And it had to go all the way up to the senior management of the company, who would follow up to make sure that reported issues got resolved, he said. Another line of attack (for lawyers) is, if your safety system does not address this issue, they may make an argument that it should have because youre supposed to have a system that prevents accidents. That said, some of the legal claims are more likely to succeed than others, experts say. While victims families can show they were directly affected by the disaster, others may have a steeper legal climb. Take the example of businesses claiming the shipping company owes them damages because the bridge collapse disrupted long-time traffic patterns and led to a downturn in people patronizing them. The shipping company is likely protected under a 1927 U.S. Supreme Court decision known as the Robins dry dock rule, which generally states that businesses must show physical damage to their property to sue for economic damages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are a fair amount of claims that involve businesses situated on either side of the Key Bridge that have claimed they lost business, said Baltimore maritime lawyer, Alex Giles. Its quite possible under existing law that these claims will be dismissed. -------- A ban on cell phone usage in schools up through middle school is on its way to Gov. Brian Kemp's desk. Stock photo by Daniel de la Hoz/Getty Images) Your kids TikTok, Fortnite and SnapChat usage could be about to plummet a bill banning personal devices like cell phones is on the way to Gov. Brian Kemps desk after it passed the Senate nearly unanimously Tuesday. Rep. Scott Hilton and Sen. Jason Anavitarte smile as their school cell phone ban passes the Senate. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder Some individual districts already have bans in place, but the bill would apply to all kids through middle school and be in effect from the first morning bell to the dismissal bell starting next July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schools that have done it have literally been transformed, said the bills author, Peachtree Corners Republican Rep. Scott Hilton, after the Senate vote. Weve heard some of that in the testimony on the floor that the lunchrooms now, kids are talking, theyre interacting, theyre socializing. So this isnt just an academic bill, this is a mental health bill, its a public safety bill. The bill does not specify how schools should ban devices. Some schools have kids put their devices in a locked box or a bag that hangs on the back of the classroom door, others use special locking pouches that the students carry around but that can only be unlocked by the teacher. Only two senators voted against the bill, Republican Sen. Greg Dolezal of Cumming and Sen. Colton Moore of Trenton, but some Democrats expressed agita at the legislation. Duluth Democrat Nabilah Islam Parkes proposed an amendment that would exempt e-readers like Amazon Kindles from the ban. As passed, the bill would ban any personal electronic device, but still allow for school-owned devices with the teachers approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kids arent just reading paperbacks anymore, theyre reading on Kindles, on Nooks, on tools that are built specifically for learning, Islam Parkes said. E-readers dont have TikTok, you dont text on them, they dont let you scroll. I agree with banning distractions, not learning. Sen. RaShaun Kemp. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder Sen. RaShaun Kemp, an Atlanta Democrat who was formerly a teacher and principal, said he was torn on the bill because he has seen the ways cell phones can contribute to bullying, but he said phones can also be a lifeline in emergencies. Weve already seen this happen, not just here in Georgia, but across the country. Time and time again, when a crazed gunman decided to take the lives of our children while they sat in their desks, it was the calls of students that got emergency services there, it was their text to their parents letting them know they were alive that gave every parent a glimmer of hope, he said. While I support this bill I actually think it should go up to 12th grade I implore, I beg my colleagues, for the sake of our children and educators to do something about guns, he added. Do something so that we no longer put ourselves in this position where we make sound policy decisions but neglect what our students are really asking for, to be safe in their classrooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Jason Anavitarte, the Dallas Republican who carried the bill in the Senate, said emergency situations require calm and structure. My advice during an emergency at a school, while we know that parents are scared, parents are worried about where their kids are, parents are worried about whats happening at a moments notice trusting law enforcement, trusting the first responders and following the instructions when emergency text messages, alerts or other things are put out by an individual school or school district I think are important, and this bill does not infringe on any of those communication methods that school districts use now or would develop or use in the future. Speaking to reporters after the Senate vote, Hilton indicated that high schoolers days of texting in class may be numbered with an expansion to the bill possible as soon as next years session. Based on the feedback that Ive got, we do have a problem in 9 through 12, and its the nuance of how do we address that, but I do imagine in a future session, were going back to think deeply about what we do in high school, he said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE (KRON) The Santa Clara County District Attorneys Office said it filed a consumer protection lawsuit this week over a pair of popular sunscreens that were falsely advertised to Californians as reef friendly. Edgewell, a manufacturing company for Hawaiian Tropic and Banana Boat sunscreen brands, used reef friendly or reef safe logos in its advertising, the suit states. The marketing claim was spawned in 2020 after Hawaii banned two active ingredients, the DAs office wrote. The lawsuit claims that the companys Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic sunscreens used other chemicals that were also harmful to reefs but failed to disclose that fact to consumers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement District Attorney Jeff Rosen said, An environmental catchphrase may be profitable to the companys bottom line. But our bottom line is the law that protects consumers from irresponsible advertising. On July 3, 2018, Hawaii banned the sale of sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate. Hawaiian law states, The legislature finds that two chemicals contained in many sunscreens, oxybenzone and octinoxate, have significant harmful impacts on Hawaiis marine environment and residing ecosystems, including coral reefs that protect Hawaiis shoreline. edgewell-lawsuitDownload Between 2020 and 2022, Edgewell reported sales of at least 10 million Hawaiian Tropic and Banana Boat chemical sunscreens in California, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors allege that Edgewells reef friendly advertising was misleading and took unfair advantage of the fact that California consumers are likely to consider the environmental impact of a product while shopping. The lawsuit seeks civil penalties from Edgewell and a court order to prohibit any reef friendly or reef safe advertising of its chemical sunscreens in the future. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Bank of America is looking to open its first location in Montgomery County directly across from the Dayton Mall. A permit application shows Bank of America wants to open a location at 2799 Miamisburg Centerville Road in Miami Township. A Verizon store operated at the location for a number of years until it moved roughly a half-mile east to 2340 Miamisburg Centerville Road. The application claims that construction to the building will begin after the permit plan has been approved. Construction is expected by the applicant to take eight months. Proposed Bank of America Exterior | Permit Application Submission On the side of the building, a standalone ATM machine is also proposed. Plans also call for 21 parking spaces for the financial institution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nearest Bank of America locations to the proposed site are in Butler and Warren counties. Miami Township Zoning Commission members will hear the case during its meeting on April 8. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Gavin Newsom has a new political podcast, in case you hadn't heard, and he's not the only one who's talking. California's gallivanting governor has made national headlines and stirred no small amount of discussion among fellow Democrats by undertaking a series of cross-partisan conversations with the likes of MAGA megastars Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon. Our columnists Mark Z. Barabak and Anita Chabria have differing views on what Newsom has accomplished, what his aims may be and whether the governor should even be in the political chat-show business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here, they hash it out. Barabak: Anita, I've thought long and hard, trying to find something good to say about Newsom's new side gig. Ummm.... Still thinking. The sound quality is decent. I'll give him that. Chabria: Dear lord, are you really going to make me start my day defending Gavin Newsom? I'll admit, I may be the only opinion writer in the U.S. who didn't slam the governor for his new podcast. And I'll stand by what I said in a previous column: The difference between idea and execution on this one is wider than the Gulf of America. The idea of what Newsom means to do (I think) is smart and necessary reach those voters that sincerely believed (and may still believe) that MAGA is the party of working families, long the territory of Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Barabak: He's been an outspoken Trump critic. Others fear the price he and his family pay Many of those voters have left traditional media behind and are getting their so-called information from the podcasts of the Steve Bannons of the world. So wading into that swamp is something Democrats must do it's little different to me than the many Democrats holding town halls in Republican districts where the representative is doing the DOGE duck-and-cover. Can we at least find some common ground, Mark, that Democrats need to be communicating better, and to a wider audience? Barabak: Common ground, achieved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yes, Democrats need to broaden their audience and refine their message. Though I'd point out the current cacophony isn't all that unusual for a party out of power. Sorry to inform the frustrated masses, but it's only when Democrats have a 2028 nominee that they'll have a singular voice and vision competing with President Trump and whomever Republicans serve up as their next standard-bearer. I also don't have a huge problem with Democrats sitting down with the Charlie Kirks of the world, as odious as some of his antisemitic, race-baiting and Trump-worshipping comments have been. We could use more of that dialogue and folks willing to step out of their partisan shrink wrapping. That said, I'm not sure why our governor isn't spending more time doing his job you know, the one he was elected to and is being paid to perform. Wasn't there a bit of a conflagration in Southern California recently? Mightn't that be more important than filling the airwaves with more gaseous blah blah? And if Newsom insists on having those kind of conversations, why not at least call out some of those odious statements or, say, fact-check Bannon's repeated lies about the 2020 election being stolen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cringy doesn't begin to describe Newsom's fawning performance. There are doormats that aren't as walked over as our prostrated governor. Were you as grossed out as I was? Chabria: It went beyond being grossed out. It was offensive and baffling to hear the leader of California allow so many lies and so much hate to go unchecked. I'm not asking him to jump on his chair and scream in Bannon's face (though that might boost ratings) but a simple "The 2020 election was not fraudulent" would be nice. Now, back to the execution part. I agree with you that talking to the Kirks and Bannons is good. I also agree that allowing them to dominate the conversation and spread propaganda unchecked is a disservice to listeners and the Californians he represents as you point out, he does have a day job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I don't much care about the Democratic Party, but I do care about democracy. Our president is currently challenging the authority of the judiciary to fulfill its duty as a check on presidential power. The IRS has been gutted to the point that experts now expect tax revenue to plummet by $500 billion. Thousands of middle-class federal workers have been fired. The Department of Education may be no more. The list goes on. The point is that, whether the member of the minority party or not, Americans need organized pushback for the good of the country. Whether that takes the form of a peaceful Tesla protest, a red-district town hall or a cringy podcast, I'll take it. Do you see this as a normal political cycle? The Adam Schiff approach of letting nature take its course that is, waiting for the right moment to strike back hard as California's junior U.S. senator seems to prefer. Barabak: I'd submit that "normal" was last seen leaving town nearly a decade ago, after Trump descended that gold-plated escalator to launch what them seemed like a whimsical bit of self-promotion. Who would have guessed he'd not only go to become president, twice, but emerge as the most dominant and significant figure on the national scene since Franklin D. Roosevelt? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are, as you suggest, fraught and frightening times. I agree it's important to resist, vigorously, the president's authoritarian impulses. It seems this 248-year-old experiment we call American democracy may very well rest in the hands of our highly politicized Supreme Court. That may not be terribly reassuring to many, but the fact is Democrats a minority in the House and Senate haven't as much power as some of the more frothing partisans out there presume. It may seem like forever, and lord knows what horrific and lasting damage can be done in the meantime, but voters the people! won't have a chance to put the brakes on Trump and his wrecking ball until the 2026 midterm elections. Which brings us to 2028 and back to Newsom. Other than flattering his ego and servicing his notably short attention span, the entire point of the governor's new podcast the second one he's involved in, by the way seems to be positioning himself for a full-fledged (as opposed to flirtatious) presidential run. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do you suppose he's helping his cause? Read more: Chabria: Will California save Tesla? Chabria: It remains to be seen. A successful podcast that pulls an untapped audience will be noticed come primary time. A flop that platforms right-wingers? Not so much. Our governor is placing a long-shot bet on a race that's just starting. How do you think it helps or hurts him, White House-wise? Barabak: I don't see it helping. To the contrary, I see a lot of splice-able and dice-able moments that could be used against him in a Democratic nominating contest. To cite just one, Michael Savage, the conservative radio personality, told a long, shaggy story that involved being served a hot dog while traveling on Air One. Proof, Savage said, that Trump was a very sensitive guy to other people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I agree," Newsom eagerly nodded, referring to a president who has demonstrated countless times his empathy could easily fit inside a thimble, leaving plenty of room to spare. Let's face it, Newsom is, as you suggest, a longshot to begin with. Not least because it's hard to see, after Kamala Harris' defeat, his party turning to another San Francisco Democrat as their savior. But there is this consolation: Newsom has nicely positioned himself for one job after his term ends in January 2027. After showing his pliancy and eager accommodation of MAGA movers, Newsom should have no trouble landing a position as a maitre d' or concierge at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox twice per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. PHOENIX (AP) Phoenix flirted with its first 100-degree day of the year Tuesday, falling just short of the milestone. Forecasters had signaled the temperature at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport could hit 100, marking what would have been the earliest date on record for the city to hit triple digits. The airport ended up one degree shy at 99 degrees (37.2 Celsius) Tuesday afternoon. On average, Phoenix doesn't reach 100 until May 11, the National Weather Service said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unseasonable, but its not something people should be concerned about, said Alicia Ryan, a weather service meteorologist in Phoenix. The heat was a blip in a week where temperatures are expected to dip Wednesday and Thursday under cloud cover, followed by another drop over the weekend, the weather service said. Still, the uptick in heat Tuesday was enough to leave people dreading what the summer has in store. Camille Ridley was sitting on a bench under a tree at the Arizona statehouse Tuesday, praising it for doing its job keeping her shaded while the temperature climbed. Im a little sad about it just because we know that, you know, our hottest months are coming up, Ridley said. And after last years extended summer season, its a little melancholy. But I do know this shall pass, as weve got 80s coming in any day now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement High school students Jose Mejia and Eric Galvan both had independent study days and decided to meet at a park in central Phoenix to go for a walk. Within 10 minutes they high-tailed it out of the heat. Galvan knew it would be sweltering but did not expect it to be so intense. A few days ago, it was like pretty normal temperatures, Galvan said. Its kind of crazy. If you remember last year, it was 80 degrees by this month. It keeps increasing. Last year was a scorcher. A heat wave that stretched into October set an annual record of 70 days with the highs reaching or passing 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 Celsius). Maricopa County public health officials confirmed 602 heat-related deaths in 2024, with another eight being investigated for possible heat causes, according to a preliminary report. Officials say those numbers represent the first decrease in heat deaths since 2014 in a county with about 4.5 million residents. RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) Republicans in the North Carolina Senate introduced a new bill that would restrict which bathrooms transgender individuals can use. Senate Bill 516, called the Womens Safety and Protection Act, aims to protect women against sexual assault, harassment and violence in private settings like bathrooms. Democrats are blasting the bill. People want to just live their lives, and they dont want to be attacked in this way, said Rep. Julie von Haefen, who represents parts of southern Wake County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of the legislation includes the use by one biological sex rule, requiring bathrooms, changing rooms and other private areas to only be used by one designated biological sex at a time. Its introduction comes nearly eight years to the day that former Governor Roy Cooper repealed the controversial House Bill 2, which similarly designated bathroom-use by sex at birth. Thats just an example of, didnt we learn our lesson when HB 2 was originally in the state and how much damage it caused? Now were just bringing it up again, rehashing it again just to attack people for no reason, von Haefen said. The bill also restricts transgender individuals from requesting to change their sex on their birth certificates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Equality North Carolina, which rallied with state lawmakers for reproductive freedoms and LGBTQ+ protection said in part, While we gathered in solidarity, we were disheartened to learn of yet another attack on our transgender communitythis time in the form of SB 516. The North Carolina Values Coalition, meanwhile, is applauding the bill, in part, North Carolina must return to the common sense understanding that men are men, women are women, and men should not be allowed to rob women of their safety and privacy by invading their private spaces. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com. UNITED NATIONS, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Some of the injured from a market bombing, which caused hundreds of casualties in Sudan's North Darfur State, are dying from lack of medical care, UN humanitarians said on Wednesday citing reports. "Our humanitarian colleagues tell us that there are disturbing reports that some of the injured are dying due to lack of access to timely medical care in El Fasher, where ongoing siege and hostilities have forced most health facilities to just shut down," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, at a daily briefing. Dujarric reported that the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, said, "Monday's horrific attack on the Tora market in North Darfur is yet another stark reminder of the growing disregard for human life and international humanitarian law during this conflict." Nkweta-Salami unequivocally condemned all deliberate and indiscriminate attacks on civilians. "Markets, hospitals, schools, mosques and private homes are not battlegrounds," she said. "Yet civilians are being killed in the very places where they should feel the safest." UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said he was shocked by reports that hundreds of civilians were killed and scores injured in airstrikes by the Sudanese Armed Forces on the busy market. The spokesman again made a plea for the protection of civilians and safe passage for those fleeing areas of active conflict. Humanitarian access must also be ensured so all people across North Darfur and beyond get what they need. The market, about 35 km west of embattled El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, reportedly was struck by armed forces aircraft. However, the government did not admit any of its planes released bombs on the market, only saying it does not target civilians. The rebel paramilitary Rapid Support Forces accused the Sudanese Armed Forces of bombing the Tora market. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A man from Baton Rouge was arrested in Mississippi over the weekend in connection with the disappearance of his stepfather. Ian Seghers, 34, was wanted by the Baton Rouge Police Department on a charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He was arrested and booked on the warrant into the Jackson County Adult Detention Center in Pascagoula, Mississippi. He will be extradited to Louisiana. Police said Seghers stepfather Keith Rowland was reported missing earlier this month, but they believe he may have been missing for some time before that. A welfare check was conducted on March 9. Police documents noted that Seghers and Rowland did not have a good relationship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to an arrest warrant, Seghers lived in a camper on Rowlands property. At the property, officers found Rowland and the van missing. Authorities later learned Rowlands cell phone hadnt shown activity since March 1. Rowlands white Ford van was seen in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, on March 10 and was not seen again until authorities received a call from a family friend. The friend told St. Tammany Parish deputies they had seen Seghers driving the van in Pearl River. The affidavit states the friend also told deputies that Seghers asked for a shovel so he could bury a dog before walking into the woods. A spokesperson for BRPD said the case remains a missing persons investigation but has evidence that raises concerns about possible foul play. Seghers brother Sean Crawford has started a GoFundMe. The fundraisers description said the family is still searching for Rowlands body and has started making funeral arrangements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Orleans police seek tips tied to Baton Rouge inmate accused of rape 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. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The Beavercreek Police Department is looking to find a reportedly missing 16-year-old. The department is looking to find Danielle Merritt, 16, who was last seen on March 23, 2025, and is asking for assistance from the public. Danielle is described as being 54, 130 pounds, with brown hair, brown eyes and a nose ring. Photo courtesy of the Beavercreek Police Department. She was last seen wearing a hooded sweatshirt. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Beavercreek Police Department at 937-426-1225. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of noon on Wednesday, the Beavercreek Police Department is still looking for assistance in locating Merritt. As of Wednesday, March 26, at noon, the Beavercreek Police Department continues to seek the publics assistance in locating 16-year-old Danielle Merritt. Please note that previous news reports from last year have caused some confusion regarding her status. This post will be updated as soon as Merritt is found. Statement from the Beavercreek Police Department via social media. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Mar. 25MORGANTOWN As the designated developer of the city's Sunnyside Tax Increment Financing District, Campus Neighborhood Revitalization Cooperation, also known as Sunnyside Up, is eyeing Beechurst Avenue for the next round of TIF improvements. In particular, Morgantown Area Partnership Executive Director Russ Rogerson explained, CNRC owns about two acres of open property between 4th and 6th streets on the river side of the road. But before any of that, the agency is working with the city to put the district in the most advantageous position moving forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During its most recent regular meeting, Morgantown City Council set a public hearing for 7 p.m. April 22 to take feedback on an amendment to the district's boundaries. The amendment would remove 4.352 acres made up of four parcels owned by Morgantown Energy Associates at 555 Beechurst Ave. from the district. The move is directly tied to the district's financial health as the properties have a lower assessed value today than when the district was created in 2008. "When the district was created, that was a fully functional power plant and steam generation plant. It is currently supplying just steam, so they have had a large reduction of usage and therefore value in equipment, " Rogerson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, the plan is to go to the West Virginia Department of Economic Development with requests to amend the boundaries, extend the life of the district by 15 years, to 2053, and raise the bonding capacity of the district beyond the current $15 million cap. "This is a positive move for the district and the Sunnyside area. We're just making sure that we can continue our redevelopment efforts in that area to continue to add more value to the community, " Rogerson said. Since its inception, increment generated by the Sunnyside TIF has resulted in a list of infrastructure projects, including a Grant Street streetscape, a reconfiguration of the intersection of University Avenue /Beverly Avenue /3rd Street, pedestrian upgrades along 8th Street and additional infrastructure along Beverly Avenue and the surrounding area. "The Sunnyside TIF has performed very well and we Sunnyside Up in conjunction with the city and WVU were able to accomplish a lot of good things up on University Avenue. We went on to a second tranche, we were able to improve some of the roadways in the Sunnyside area, do the sidewalk up 8th Street and the rail-trail access point, " Rogerson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's been a good TIF, and yet we have more work to do down in the Beechurst area ... The intent all along was to see what kind of additional development we could accomplish there, and we are currently discussing with developers what could go there, what would go there and what that would look like. How can we do something significant in that area ?" While the boundaries of the district are irregular and jut out to include properties like the Advance Auto Parts and Bent Tree Court Apartments on one side and a strip of properties bordered by Lorentz, 1st and Stewart streets on the other, the general footprint runs from 8th Street to 1st Street /Campus Drive. It runs from the river to an upper boundary created by University, Jones, Sharon and Lorentz avenues. CNRC (Sunnyside Up) is one of the agencies that falls under the umbrella of the Morgantown Area Partnership. National Manatee Appreciation Day was marked on Wednesday, celebrating the gentle giants that congregate off the Florida coast. The herbivores glide through coastal and riverine areas, feeding on seagrasses and other aquatic plants. While the Florida manatee, a subspecies of the West Indian manatee, can be found as far west as Texas and travel as far north as Massachusetts during the summer months, the marine mammals cannot tolerate temperatures below 68 degrees for extended periods of time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Threats from climate change and other human causes have resulted in deadly consequences for the squishy-looking species. Theyre kind of the first animals to start to respond to any changes in the environment. And because theyre so charismatic, people really take note of that, Florida Power & Light Companys Manatee Lagoon education manager Rachel Shanker previously told The Associated Press. Manatees were celebrated across the country on Wednesday. The beloved sea cows are threatened by human-caused climate change (Getty Images) Earlier in the year, chillier temperatures sent manatees close to warm-water discharges from power plants. Weighing as much as 3,500 pounds and growing to between nine and 10 feet long, the greyish brown potato-shaped sea creatures can suffer from cold stress and potentially die from the condition. Exposure to lower water temperatures causes manatees to lose body heat and to inadequately digest their food. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, when temperatures drop rapidly or remain low for significant periods of time, Michelle Passawicz, the administrator of FWCs manatee management program, told WUSF. She explained that some manatees might experience adverse impacts because they're not able to find those sources of warm water. Manatees can grow up to 10 feet in length and weigh as many as 3,500 pounds. They can live for up to 60 years (Getty Images) While boating collisions are the top man-made threat to manatees, and are responsible for about half of manatee deaths, they are also affected by pollution and the impact of harmful algae blooms that result in a loss of seagrass and can also be potentially fatal. While these blooms are increasingly due to rising temperatures in ocean waters, they are also caused by nutrient pollution from improperly treated sewage and fertilizers. In 2021, there was a significant die-off of hundreds of manatees after they starved to death due to a lack of seagrass. They can normally live for between 50 and 60 years. Storms are also an issue for the threatened friends, and nonprofit Save the Manatees notes that as climate change increases the severity of hurricanes and other storms, manatees may be affected by ecosystem changes. More rainfall may also result in more algae blooms. Florida waters are home to more than 8,000 manatees. They are currently considered a threatened species (AFP via Getty Images) State waters are home to more than 8,000 manatees. While deaths have dropped, records show a spike in dead calves over the past year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent years, environmental groups have pushed to get manatees back on the endangered species list. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said that they would remain classified as threatened. We always look into the future, and there are significant threats to manatees statewide, FWC manatee veterinarian Martine de Wit told The Associated Press. Its looking better now, but you cannot sit back and watch it unfold, because we know it needs management and conservation efforts to protect them. No one is quite sure what happened to Marcus Freiberger, a popular Phoenix yoga instructor who was found dead after being missing for nearly a month. Freiberger was last seen at a parking garage near Second Avenue and Van Buren Street planning to meet a blind date on Feb. 21. Friends and family reported his disappearance after realizing he left his dog alone in his apartment, something they say he would never do, but it wasn't until March 14 that a missing person's report was filed, Phoenix police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On March 19, police found a body at a rock quarry near 15th Avenue and Broadway Road. The Maricopa County Medical Examiners Office then identified the body as Freiberger's, police said. Here's what to know about Freiberger's disappearance and death. Who was Marcus Freiberger? Freiberger was a 45-year-old Prescott transplant who was an instructor at Melrose Yoga in Phoenix and a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Freiberger posted on Instagram in December 2024 about becoming a yoga therapist. "A year ago I set out to start my journey as a Yoga Therapist!! My life had been flip turned upside down over the last year and a half, without this journey I have no idea if I would be around anymore. I dont say that lightly, I say that with all seriousness," Freiberger said in the post. "This journey is forcing me to go inward to find my answers, my peace, and to heal. I am so grateful for my life and the peace this journey brings allowing me to be calm in my storm. Today the storm isnt so violentjust continues to bring me opportunities to be and do better. Im not perfect, Im a hell of a lot better than I was." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to his work as a yoga instructor, Freiberger also owned Strong Roofing LLC, according to the Arizona Corporation Commission. An Instagram page for the business said services included roofing, re-roofing, metal roofing, tile roofing, roof repairs and roof inspections to the Prescott and northern Arizona area. To family and friends, Freiberger was one of a kind. Freiberger's father, Rodger, told The Arizona Republic his son was "a great kid" who was "truly loved by a lot of people," while Freiberger's sister Tina Hall posted on Facebook that "losing him feels like losing a part of ourselves." "He was so nice; he would never get crazy. He would always have a good time with his friends. He was just a sweet, nice guy," said Will Bjerke, who told The Republic he knew Freiberger. When did Freiberger go missing? Freiberger's father said he last heard from his son on Feb. 21 when he planned to meet a blind date at a parking garage near Second Avenue and Van Buren Street, according to a flier from the AWARE Foundation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The flier stated that it was unclear whether Freiberger ever met his date. Family and friends said they were alerted that something was wrong when his dog, Thomas, was discovered abandoned. According to those who knew him, it was unlikely that Freiberger would purposely leave Thomas, who is posted all over Freiberger's social media pages. Freiberger was reported missing on March 14, and he was entered into the state and national database as a missing person, Phoenix police confirmed. Police said they found no leads or evidence that he had left town or fell victim to any particular crime. In a March 17 Facebook post, Melrose Yoga confirmed that Freiberger was missing and that they had been very worried. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was unclear what happened to Freiberger in the time between his planned blind date and when the missing person's report was filed. The outside of Melrose Yoga on the Melrose Curve near Seventh Avenue and Indian School Road in Phoenix. When was Freiberger found dead? On March 19, Phoenix police found a body at a rock quarry near 15th Avenue and Broadway Road after receiving a call. Investigators from the medical examiner's office arrived to collect the body, later identified as Freiberger. "It is with a heavy heart that I share the tragic news that Marcus is no longer with us," Hall announced March 25 on Facebook. "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, according to the AWARE Foundation. It was not known if the vehicle had been recovered as of March 25. What happened to Freiberger? It was unclear whether Freiberger went missing immediately following his planned blind date or how the meetup was arranged. It was also unknown if Freiberger used an online app to set up the date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pew Research Center found that about half of lesbian, gay and bisexual adults have used online dating while another study explained that nearly one-third of people who have used dating apps had safety concerns. Bjerke said that as a single gay male using an app such as Grindr to meet someone, there is always a possibility of falling prey to danger. "That's the choice you take or the risk you take doing that. Sometimes you get a weird feeling," Bjerke said. But, Freiberger's death may not have been connected to the blind date. A rumor circulating on Facebook alleged that Freiberger's disappearance and death were a response to a monetary dispute from one or more contracting jobs that led to his license being revoked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A search of the Arizona Registrar of Contractors showed that his roofing license was revoked in 2024, with multiple disputes linked to his company. "I don't know if he had any issues going on, not sure what led to the disappearance," his father Rodger said. "It's very strange. Hopefully they'll investigate and come up with something." Detectives were still investigating all theories, as of March 25. Phoenix police asked that anyone who had knowledge of Freibergers disappearance and death call CrimeStop at 602-262-6151 or Silent Witness if they wished to remain anonymous at 480-WITNESS or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What to know about Phoenix yoga teacher Marcus Freiberger's death Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are striking a chord. The socialist firebrands have been crisscrossing the country, attracting some of the largest crowds of their careers. Their rallies are bigger than any other events currently being held by Democrats, and party figures of all stripes are taking notice. To progressives, its nothing short of a revival. And many Democrats, including those with ties to the party establishment, are just breathing a sigh of relief that they might finally have found a rallying cry in the face of the GOPs all-out control of the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I'm so proud and so excited by every Democrat at every single level who is getting out there, said Malcolm Kenyatta, a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee who has criticized Sanders in the past. This is not left versus right. This is about flight versus fight. Sanders advisers said that two-thirds of people who registered to attend his recent events have never come out to see him or donated to him before. Progressives view it as a new opening to pull the party in a more populist direction. But it is worrying some moderate Democrats who fear Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez could tug the party to the left at a time when it is rudderless and turn off swing voters in the process. Matt Bennett, a vice president at the center-left group Third Way, said he is glad that the rallies are giving people an outlet for that anger against Trump. But he argued that crowd size is the worst metric in American politics and it is important that they not repeat the mistakes that the far left has made that helped get us into this mess in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For people in Sanders orbit and other liberals, the audiences he has drawn with Ocasio-Cortez mark a moment they have been waiting to arrive for years. Its not that Sanders well-worn speeches about the plight of the American worker and the rise of the billionaire class have changed. They havent. But the Democratic base looks like it has. In the wake of President Donald Trumps victory, Democratic voters are furious at their own leaders, crashing their town halls and tanking their partys approval rating in polls. There is a very important project of transforming the Democratic Party or, frankly, bringing the Democratic Party back to its FDR-era roots, said Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus who has joined Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez on their tour. Sanders advisers said the tour is, in part, an effort to point a way forward for the Democratic Party. In a memo about the rallies sent to supporters, top Sanders aide Faiz Shakir argued that the country is in the midst of a populist revolt, and contrasted the independent senators popularity in recent polls to the low approval ratings of the Democratic Party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanders aides said another, more immediate goal of his Fight Oligarchy tour, which has included stops in Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan, Arizona and elsewhere, is to put pressure on GOP lawmakers in battleground districts to vote against cuts to Medicaid, tax cuts for the wealthy and other Republican fiscal plans. The Sanders team has compiled the names and email addresses of people who attend the events and sent them messages via email and text encouraging them to call their members of Congress and pressure them to vote against the GOP budget blueprint. Sanders operation has also started to hire organizers in some of the states he has been visiting. Ari Rabin-Havt, Sanders' former deputy campaign manager, attended some of his recent rallies and said he talked to a number of people who did not back Sanders in the 2016 or 2020 presidential elections. Some told him that they had been dismayed by the lack of energy in the Democratic Party compared to 2017, when people marched in the street against Trump after his first victory. A lot of the people I spoke to were there because they saw two leaders who represented their desire to fight, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tour by Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez, which is expected to include more stops in the coming weeks, also takes place as the progressive movement starts to look toward a post-Sanders future. Sanders, who is 83, is said to not be interested in running for president for a third time in 2028, sparking anxiety on the left about what comes next. Ocasio-Cortezs supporters have floated her as a potential future presidential candidate. Some Democrats have also encouraged her to challenge Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in the 2028 primary in New York after he enraged members of his party by voting to advance a GOP funding bill that prevented a government shutdown. People are looking for a fighter. Thats core to who she is, said Lauren Hitt, a former top aide to Ocasio-Cortez. She's never been someone who's afraid to speak up and speak out. And I think theres a real desire for more leaders like this. And no matter what her future prospects are, she is drawing audiences now from her perch in Congress and alongside Sanders. Joe Caiazzo, a former aide to Sanders presidential campaigns, suggested that he and Ocasio-Cortezs messages are resonating in part because of the alternative in Washington. We're living this oligarchy right now, he said. Everything that Bernie believes and warned us about was on display at the inauguration when the oligarchs of this country sat in front of the Cabinet nominees. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders forced Social Security Administration chief nominee Frank Bisignano into giving him an honest answer as he methodically grilled him about DOGEs cuts to the administrations workforce in a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Tuesday. After DOGE drastically downsized the administration by closing down offices and laying off 7,000 employees, with plans to cut more, Bisignano was hit with pointed questions about the department now being severely understaffed. Do you think it makes sense to lay off half the staff? asked Sanders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attempting to skate the question, Bisignano answered, First and foremost, Im not there, sir Not having it, Sanders interjected, Just answer the question, please. Adding pressure, Sanders asked, Do you think it makes senseI know youre not theredo you think it makes sense to lay off half the staff, when right now, its is a 50-year low in terms of staffing? After some additional pressing, Bisignano finally gave a clearer response. I dont know ifdo I think its a great idea to lay off half of the employees when a system doesnt work? he said. I think the answer is probably no. Montana Republican Sen. Steve Daines also gave Bisignano an earful about the departments staffing, focusing on how the cuts have affected customer service. He alleged that one of his staffers called its help line and was disconnected twice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daines added that waiting callers are forced to listen to this really D-grade elevator music repeating over and over again, playing the recorded music from his cellphone into a microphone. I mean, it couldve at least had Olivia Newton-John or some mediocre 70s music, Daines quipped, encouraging Bisignano to call the toll-free number himself to see what its like for your own experience. Bisignano said he is committed to working my tail off on all of it if he is confirmed to lead the Social Security Administration. Bisignanos hearing comes amid increased concerns over how Musk and his DOGE goons have caused the agency to be engulfed in crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Washington Post reported that the Social Security Administration website crashed four times in 10 days this month as the server was overloaded, blocking millions of retirees and disabled Americans from accessing their accounts due to server overload. A federal judge issued a temporary ruling last week, blocking Elon Musks DOGE goons from accessing the private information of Social Security recipients. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Tuesday called out President Donald Trump over his administrations efforts to arrest and deport a Columbia University undergraduate student over her participation in a pro-Palestinian protest. Yunseo Chung, a legal permanent resident whos lived in the United States since moving from South Korea when she was 7 years old, sued Trump and other members of his team earlier this week, claiming she was unlawfully targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents because of her involvement in the protest. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Sanders defended Chung, giving Trump a notable reminder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No, Mr. President, Sanders said. This is a democracy. You cant exile political dissidents. Not in the United States. Trump is trying to deport a Columbia Univ. student who has been a permanent resident in the U.S. since she was 7. Her "crime? Attending a protest against the war in Gaza. No, Mr. President. This is a democracy. You can't exile political dissidents. Not in the United States. Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 25, 2025 A Manhattan federal judge on Tuesday ruled that the administration cannot detain Chung for now, saying government lawyers had not presented any evidence to show the student was dangerous or had contact with terrorists or presented a risk to U.S. foreign policy. Chung expressed relief at the court ruling. 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, Chung told The Guardian in a statement. I feel like I could fly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chung was among demonstrators who were arrested earlier this month for taking part in a sit-in protest against the expulsion of three students from Barnard, Columbias sister college. She was released and given a standard charge of obstructing of governmental administration, a misdemeanor charge. ICE agents subsequently tried to locate her, searching her parents home and her university housing, after officials told her lawyer her permanent status would be revoked. Following the conclusion of Tuesdays court hearing, Chungs lawyer Ramzi Kassem said his client was targeted simply because her viewpoint, her speech, her First Amendment-protected speech it happens to be something that they disagree with. Related... Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has vetoed a GOP-backed bill supporters say will help clarify exceptions to Kentuckys strict abortion ban. House Bill 90 restricts access to medical care, places barriers on doctors and undermines their clinical judgment, and threatens the life of pregnant women in Kentucky, Beshear, a Democrat, said in his veto message Tuesday evening, contradicting what Republicans have said about the measure. The bill does not expand exceptions to Kentuckys near-total abortion ban, which has been in place since 2022. Rather, bill sponsors sought to clarify language about when doctors can legally intervene with a medically necessary abortion to save a pregnant womans life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill also tries to clarify that doctors who make these decisions using their reasonable medical judgment would not be subject to the criminal penalty attached to the current law. We wanted to make sure were protecting doctors making decisions to protect the patient, Middletown Republican Rep. Jason Nemes said on the House floor March 13 when presenting the bill. But Beshear, who campaigned for a second term on the need to add more exceptions to Kentuckys strict ban, said the bill puts patients further at risk. Although supporters of House Bill 90 claim it protects pregnant women and clarifies abortion law in Kentucky, it actually does the opposite, the governor said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists shares these concerns by clearly stating that it does not support this bill and urging him to veto it. Abortion has remained illegal in Kentucky since July 2022 under a trigger law and six-week ban, or fetal heartbeat law, which amount to a near-total ban, except in medical emergencies threatening a pregnant womans life. The Republican supermajority General Assembly returns to session for two days, Thursday and Friday, with an opportunity to override Beshears vetoes. By Akbar Novruz 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. SEOUL, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Eighteen people were killed and 19 others injured as deadly wildfires raged in South Korea's southeastern region, government compilation showed Wednesday. Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, has said his bill is not about tenure. Kentucky academics disagree. (LRC Public Information) Saying it threatens academic freedom, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has issued a veto to a Republican-backed bill that some Kentucky professors warned would erode academic tenure at the states public universities and colleges. Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, argued House Bill 424, was not about tenure in higher education but instead employment contracts between universities and academic employees. If it becomes law, the bill would give universities and colleges the ability to remove faculty members and presidents for not meeting performance and productivity requirements set by the institutions boards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his veto message issued Tuesday, Beshear said Kentucky should focus on ways to attract, recruit and retain the best and brightest minds at Kentuckys universities and colleges, which includes having faith in our university administrations and faculty to negotiate and offer competitive employment contracts. In a time of increased federal encroachment into the public education, this bill will limit employment protections of our postsecondary institution teachers, the governor wrote. This bill will limit Kentuckys ability to hire the best people and threatens academic freedom. However, as Republicans hold supermajorities in the House and Senate, they have the votes to override the governors veto when they return to Frankfort Thursday and Friday to finish the 2025 legislative session. The bill passed both chambers largely on party lines. Over the weekend, United Campus Workers of Kentucky issued an open letter and petition to Beshear asking him to veto the legislation. In their message, the group says the bill would have no guardrails in place to preserve the peer-driven academic review processes that have long protected academic freedom and tenure protections from partisan political interference. Several UCW members previously testified against the legislation when it was heard in Tiptons House committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American Association of University Professors and PEN America also denounced the bill in statements ahead of Beshears veto. Tipton said during House floor debate on the bill he believed the legislation would create a more efficient, more effective system of public education for students across the commonwealth. Kentucky isnt the only state where legislation has been introduced that could jeopardize the integrity of academic tenure for professors. A Nebraska Republican lawmaker recently introduced a bill that would replace academic tenure with annual performance evaluations of faculty members. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Henry Reider talks like his words cant keep up his thoughts. It makes sense. English is his third language after Krio and Mendeall of which are spoken in his native Sierra Leone. Reider is also a creative, whose mind dances between anything from his university studies to his YouTube channel, or to whatever it is hes talking about at the time. While he speaks to me from his home in Sierra Leone, a rooster crows in the background, punctuating his sentences like a barnyard hype man. Rather than distract from what hes saying, though, it makes it seem all the more important. Hes excited and passionate. He speaks quickly, as if he might not ever get the chance to say the words again. If I didnt know any better, I would never have guessed that, just a few years ago, Henry Reider nearly died being choked to death by his own lungs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People should understand that tuberculosis is not just a disease of the past, Reider told me. It is still affecting millions of people today, but it is preventable, treatable, and also curable. Reiders journey of how he contracted and (spoilers) ultimately recovered from multidrug-resistant TB is told in Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green. The book, which was published last week, tells the story of the disease and how it moldedand continues to shapehuman history. The book might seem, at first blush, like a departure for Green, whos best known for his bestselling young adult novels, such as The Fault in Our Stars and Looking for Alaska along with his cleverly packaged memoir The Anthropocene Reviewed. But Everything Is Tuberculosis is, in many ways, a quintessential John Green book: one that grapples with the issue of mortality and our conflicting desires to both help and hurt one another, all within the backdrop of the coming of age of a young man, Reider. Reider met Green when he was 17 years old at the Lakka Government Hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The author was there to learn about the countrys maternal care system as part of his support for the global health nonprofit Partners in Health. Reider, now 25, acts as the books heart and hero, giving the reader a view into his life thats both intimate and, often, unbearable to witness. We must witness it, though, the book insists. We must witness the pain, and the fleeting but precious moments of joy. We must witness Reiders struggles to find medicine and keep his torturous hunger at bay, and his near-superhuman ability to maintain hope throughout it all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While his story is the frame, the book also dives into the scientific and cultural history of tuberculosis, told with the intelligence, wit, and tragedy that have become hallmarks of the authors work. In this book, Green acts as a kind of exasperated Ms. Frizzle, if Ms. Frizzle lived in Indianapolis and seemed to only want to talk about TB. The approach works, letting the reader learn about the disease in fun ways (Did you know tuberculosis gave us the cowboy hat?) but also underscoring the horrific unfathomability of TB (Still, over a million people died of tuberculosis in 2023. That year, in fact, more people died of TB than died of malaria, typhoid, and war combined.). Above all else, though, the book is an attempt to make the case for TBs relevance today. Despite the fact that many believe that the infection is a thing of the pastthink cowboy Arthur Morgan coughing in Red Dead Redemption 2 or Fantine wasting away in Les Miserablestuberculosis is still very much with us. In 2023, 10.8 million people worldwide were infected by the disease, according to the World Health Organization. In the same year, a total of 1.25 million people died as a result, making it the worlds deadliest disease. From 2020 through 2022, it was second only to COVID-19. Everything Is Tuberculosis doesnt so much tell you the story of tuberculosis, as much as it gently holds your hand and parts the curtains into one of the darkest, most bizarre, and frustrating series of decisions in world history with the other. After all, Green often reminds us, thats what tuberculosis is: a decision. Even with drug-resistant TB, the disease is highly treatableso its a decision to let people die when we know how to cure their infection. Its a decision to allow the disease to spread and flourish when we cut funding. Its a decision to let TB feed and grow on human lives and communities, the way a fire might devour a forest. Its a decision to let people go untreated when pharmaceutical companies charge exorbitant premiums for lifesaving medicine for the sake of the bottom line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And it was a decision to let Henry Reider nearly die of tuberculosis. Tuberculosis kills you in different ways. Contracted via airborne particles, it can cause respiratory failure, damaging and scarring your lungs to the point where breathing can be like trying to suck air through a plastic coffee stirrer. It can also cause major bleeding in your lungs to the point where you cough up and, eventually, drown to death in your own blood. It takes a while for the disease to get to this point. In fact, some become infected with TB for years before they start developing symptoms. The standard treatment is intensive, requiring patients to take a regimen of around six to nine pills a day (sometimes more) for about six months. However, its very effective, with success rates ranging around 90 percent. Of course, it can be expensive, with treatments costing upwards of $20,000 for a full course. International aid programs like USAID often provide the medicine free of charge, but those efforts arent enough. Tuberculosis can develop quickly and viciously with the right conditions like those most often faced in communities throughout the Global South such as poverty, malnutrition, and lack of access to medicineconditions that Reider was and is regularly exposed to. This causes a domino effect, one that can exacerbate and worsen an already nightmarish situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the drugs are not available to those people who need them, it can lead to death, Reider explained. People wont be able to handle it when funding is cut off. When you are funding something, and you cut off that funding, it can lead to unnecessary death. In the book, Green talks about the concept of a good death, noting that our concept of good and bad ways of dying have constantly shifted over the years. In the past, Western society romanticized tuberculosis (colloquially known as consumption). It was the way great poets, artists, and philosophers died. People thought it even made you more beautiful the way it made ones skin glow with fever and the body waifish and willowy as it starved. Today, we would never consider dying of TB to be a good death. The reality is its painful and exhausting. Often, in places like Sierra Leone, theres so much stigma attached to TB that those infected are treated as social outcasts by even their family members. As such, patients often die alone in underfunded and under-resourced hospitals like the one Reider was in when Green met him. Yet every day we allow people like him to die of tuberculosis even though countries like the U.S. have nearly unfettered access to lifesaving treatments and vaccines. When the resources are available for treatment, it can prevent everything, Reider said. It can also lead to awareness. More people will understand that the disease is dangerous, and that treatment is available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a terrible bind: TB isnt hard to treat; we decide to let it go untreated. When I call John Green, he talks like words just arent enough anymorewhich is ironic for a man who has made his living writing novels. Sitting in the basement of his Indianapolis home in the room where he films the majority of his videos for his and his brother Hank Greens popular and long-running YouTube channel Vlogbrothers, he looks and sounds like the embodiment of the phrase Im getting too old for this shit. I am discouraged, is what he tells me when I ask him how hes doing. Reider, he says, loves to use the words encouraged and discouraged, and the way that he uses them reminds me that courage is a verb. Courage is something we rouse ourselves and each other into, or courage is something that we pull away from. And right now, I feel pretty discouraged. Green has plenty of reasons to feel discouragedthe U.S. government seems outright hostile to any efforts to support global health. President Donald Trump, along with his unelected billionaire hatchet man Elon Musk, has announced they would shut down USAID, which is also the largest bilateral donor in the fight against tuberculosis. On March 10, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubiowho is also the acting director of the agencyannounced that the White House cut 83 percent of programs under USAID. Musk also took an ax to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. His Department of Government Efficiency team has fired roughly 1,300 employees at the agency (or 10 percent of the CDC overall), including 135 members of the Epidemic Intelligence Service. As many as 1,500 employees at the National Institutes of Health were also laid off by DOGE in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, tuberculosis is spreading in America. After 30 years of decline, TB infections in the U.S. have risen every year since the pandemic. This is not a coincidence. As Green notes in his book, TB is a crisis that flourishes when there are other crises, including malnutrition, poor health care infrastructure, stigma surrounding the disease, poverty, and other infectious diseases such as HIV, Ebola, or COVID-19. A recent outbreak of the disease in Kansas City, Kansas, resulted in the deaths of two people with 67 being treated for active infections and 79 people with latent infections. For good and ill, all of these reasons have made Everything Is Tuberculosis perhaps the most relevant of the nine books Green has written or co-writtena fact that doesnt escape him. The defunding of USAID and other human health programs by the United States government in such a chaotic way has been absolutely devastating to human health, Green said. The choices that are being made right now are going to send us backwards as a species, and thats devastating. He added, The story of humanity should be a slow but persistent march toward more just and equitable human-built systems, and right now were making the opposite choice. Everything Is Tuberculosis is his way of grappling with this choice, and what happens when we do not, collectively, make the correct choice. A passage early on in the book sums it up well: But we cannot save those we love from suffering. This is the story of human history as I understand itthe story of an organism that can do so much, but cannot do what it most wants. We as humans are organisms helpless against our worst qualities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats part of what Green wants most out of this book: to bring awareness to something that society has ignored for reasons that are all at once human and frustrating. If theres anything that weve learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and the way that people brush it aside and ignore it even though its still happening, its that we dont like to think about disease. I think we solve the problems we pay attention to, and for too long we havent paid attention to the global tuberculosis crisis, Green said. Thats the reason we havent solved it. Henry Reider talks like someone who escaped death. He spent nearly all of his formative years in hospital beds throughout Sierra Leone before finally being treated and cured. Now, having escaped his death, hes determined to live a full, rich, and good life. That means completing his university studies, growing his YouTube channel, and taking care of his mom. He told me he wants to become a great journalist and philanthropist so he too can tell stories and change lives the way that Green did for him. I want to advocate, Reider said. My connection with my friend John has created an atmosphere for me to advocate for those who have been in the same situation as me but have much less connections or support. So, I want to advocate for and motivate any individual whos sick and needs help out there, because I know when someone is in that same situation, they need support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As I read Everything Is Tuberculosis, a line from another book kept echoing in my head: So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past. Humanity has a boundless capacity for so much joy and pain. Yet we nearly always find ourselves repeating the mistakes of our past over and over again. This is the story of us. This is the story of our relationship with this disease. Tuberculosis has been with humans for at least 9,000 years. We have an older relationship with TB microbes than we do with writing, horses, and the Great Pyramids of Egypt. We only learned how to cure the disease much more recently, in 1943, but in 2023 we still allowed 1.25 million people to die of it. Green notes in the book, it would take $25 billion dollars on comprehensive care a year to drive tuberculosis toward elimination. This is money easily accessible and available to some people in the United States. There is zero excuse to allow people to die the same way today that they have for 9,000 years. And yet, no matter how hard we row the boat, we cant escape the past. We get dragged back into it, endlessly and ceaselessly. But we keep going. We wake up. We eat. We take care of our parents. We go to school. We make YouTube videos about our lives and dream of becoming journalists and advocates. We meet wonderful and interesting people, and we write books about them. We get sick. We get better. We fight to make sure that others dont get sick ever again, even if the very country we live in is working against us. We do everything we canbecause we believe that people deserve nothing less than everything we have. Change is never easy, and changes in neighborhoods are no exception. We have a deep connection to the past or, more often, to the status quo. Having grown up a mile from Hyde Park Square, I appreciate the importance the neighborhood and all of the city attaches to any major changes in the development of the Square. But it is time. Time to take advantage of a $150 million, well-thought-out opportunity that will bring life and vibrancy to the Square for years to come. More: Highly-contested $150M Hyde Park Square development passes first vote toward rezoning The Hyde Park community is, undoubtedly, divided on the issue and probably against it were it put to a vote. Yet I could site dozens of examples where changes were majority opposed at the time only to prove to be part of the amazing growth our city has seen in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement It is disappointing that three Planning Commission members did not show up when the issue was considered. But now the decision moves to the elected leadership of the city. Cincinnati City Council is elected to listen carefully but, in the end, make decisions that are sometimes unpopular but keep us moving forward.This vote may take some political guts, but it is the right thing to do. Charlie Luken, Former Cincinnati Mayor, Downtown This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Hyde Park Square's best days are ahead if we choose growth | Letters For the record: 11:26 a.m. March 27, 2025: A previous version of this story said many of the antiabortion activists opposing the DuPont Clinic had not previously visited Los Angeles. They had not visited Beverly Hills, where the clinic was set to open. The city of Beverly Hills is seeking more than $400,000 in legal fees from an abortion provider who accused officials of colluding with extremists to scuttle the opening of a clinic, drawing new outrage in a case that has already seen national outcry and official state censure. Dozens of abortion-rights advocates descended on the Beverly Hills City Council last week, demanding that city leaders abandon the pursuit of money spent fighting in court against the DuPont Clinic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What you guys are doing is so wrong," said Marissa Levin, one of the activists. "You should just settle with them." DuPont, which lost its lease months before it could open in 2023, would have been the only clinic in Southern California offering procedures after 24 weeks, making it a lightning rod of criticism for antiabortion groups. Read more: How Beverly Hills became an unlikely battleground for the future of abortion rights A California Department of Justice investigation found that city officials illegally interfered with the clinic. Court documents show they waylaid permits and put its landlord "on notice" after activists calling themselves Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust threatened them with relentless protest. No members of the antiabortion group lived in Beverly Hills. Many had never set foot in the city before DuPont sought to open there. Their stated goal was to make Beverly Hills a test case for how they might continue to thwart abortion care even in places where it is politically popular. "Through an intense pressure campaign in which the City exerted its governmental authority on both DuPont and the landlord of its building, the City succeeded in its mission of preventing DuPont from opening in Beverly Hills," California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta wrote, laying out the investigation's findings in October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By that point, the city and the clinic had been fighting in court for a year, with DuPont alleging in a 2023 claim that the city should pay for blocking its operation. Sacramento lawmakers moved to prevent similar disputes, streamlining the permit process for abortion providers and stripping cities of most power to restrict them. Read more: More than 1,600 sexual assault cases against Uber merged in far-reaching court ruling But the changes came too late for DuPont, which has given up plans to occupy the space. Beverly Hills officials maintain they did nothing wrong, but have accepted new rules and state oversight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City cooperated fully with the Attorney Generals investigation, said Beverly Hills Mayor Lester Friedman in a news release. We disagree with the allegations in the Attorney Generals complaint. The outcome rankled some Beverly Hills leaders. Councilmember John Mirisch voted against accepting the state settlement, saying Bonta had singled out "a well-known, often stereotyped city, which also happens to be the states only Jewish-majority city" while failing to pursue a similar case in Fontana, where a Planned Parenthood came under fire. In December, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge tossed out most of DuPont's remaining claims, saying the city was protected by the 1st Amendment in all but a few of its actions. The clinic appealed. The city struck back, filing a motion for more than $400,000 in attorney's fees, with the next hearing scheduled in June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move could hobble DuPont, which lost more than $1 million renovating a clinic it will never occupy, said Andrea Grossman, one of four founding members of Beverly Hills for Choice, whose advocacy turned the local skirmish into a national scandal. Last week, she and her fellow "abortion yentas" mobbed the Spanish Colonial Revival building to pressure the city to just let it go. "Do not be the tool of extremists, do not let this be your legacy," Grossman implored the council, reading from a petition signed by 640 people during the March 18 meeting. "Do the right thing, take the legal victory and leave DuPont alone." Read more: 9th Circuit clears Grindr, dating app for gay men, in child sex trafficking case Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One by one, women filed up to the microphone to echo that plea. Many invoked their shared Jewish values. "Any claim that the city desires to financially harm DuPont is groundless and simply not true," said Friedman. "We continue to seek a fair and reasonable resolution." The activists were unimpressed. "You're not telling the truth," said Jennifer Freeland. "I'm so glad to look at each one of you in the eye and say, 'Shame on all of you.'" 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. Elon Musks teen protege, known online as Big Balls, provided tech support to a criminal gang that cyberstalked an FBI agent two years before working at the Department of Government Efficiency, a new report alleges. Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old Northeastern University drop-out, is part of a group of young DOGE engineers who have been given access to critical computer systems as part of the Trump administrations efforts to gut the federal government. According to corporate records reviewed by Reuters, in June 2022, while still in high school, Coristine founded the network services company DiamondCDN. Per the report published Wednesday, its services were used by a ring of cybercriminals operating under the name EGodly between October 2022 and June 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Users attempting to access the EGodly website would allegedly hit a DiamondCDN security check. The group is believed to have boasted that it hijacked phone numbers and law enforcement emails across Latin America and Eastern Europe, in addition to committing cryptocurrency theft. Cyber gang EGodly harrassed an FBI agent who they claim was investigating them, per Reuters report (Getty Images) In early 2023, the group distributed the personal details of an FBI agentincluding his phone number and photographs of his residence in Wilmington, Delawareon the secure messaging app Telegram after the group claimed he was investigating them. The cybergang posted audio of a prank call made to the agents phone along with a drive-by video harassing him outside his house, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EGodly says you're a b****! one person screamed. The agent, who is now retired, told Reuters the group attracted law enforcement attention due to a practice known as swatting, which involves making hoax emergency calls to send SWAT teams to a targeted address. Former deputy director of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Nitin Natarajan shared his concern that Coristine provided services to the criminal group just two years before joining DOGE. This stuff was not in the distant past, the recency of the activity and the types of groups he was associated would definitely be concerning, he said. Coristine is part of a coterie of young DOGE engineers employed by Elon Musk (AP) After dropping out of college, Coristine briefly worked in Silicon Valley, but he was fired from a cybersecurity internship last year for allegedly leaking insider information to a rival company. He was also accused of frequenting Telegram and Discord communities that are linked to cybercrime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He now finds himself serving under the worlds richest man as a senior adviser to the State Department and Department of Homeland Security, with access to highly sensitive information about working American diplomats and those involved in national security and counterterrorism operations. Coristine still describes himself on his LinkedIn profile as a Volunteer (Intern) Plumber with the U.S. government. His profile also says that he worked a four-month internship at Musks neurotechnology company, Neurolink. Coristine is also the grandson of KGB officer-turned-FBI informant Valery Fedorovich Martynov, who was executed in the Soviet Union as a double agent in 1987, according to freelance journalist Jacob Silverman. Alarm bells rang after reports first surfaced about Coristines access to sensitive government material. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who the hell voted for excuse the phrase a guy who calls himself Big Balls, Democratic strategist Paul Begala CNNs The Source earlier this month. A 19-year-old kid going in there and trying to fire cancer researchers and scientists and teachers and agricultural specialists? Its appalling. Its scandalous, but hardly surprising, that high-level Trump officials discussed imminent missile strikes over a non-governmental messaging system. Hillary Clinton taught us that top officials often discuss classified material over public channels. The real mystery is why the journalist allowed to eavesdrop on the conversation was someone whose disdain for Donald Trump is well documented. And the feelings are mutual. The security breach is serious and worrying. But its also inexplicable. If, for example, a reporter from aconservative news outlet such as The Federalist or Breitbart had been inadvertently invited to a discussion over the Signal app concerning plans to bomb the Houthi rebels of Yemen, the mistake would be easier to fathom. But no. The journalist included was a well-known Trump antagonist, Jeffrey Goldberg. As editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Goldberg directs a publication that consistently casts the president as a menacing know-nothing whose presence in the Oval Office poses an existential threat to the Republic. Recent Atlantic articles about the Trump administration include "The Constitutional Crisis Is Here," "Trump Is Nero While Washington Burns," and "The New Authoritarianism." While endorsing Hillary Clinton in 2016, the magazine asserted that Trump was "the most ostentatiously unqualified major-party candidate in the 227-year history of the American presidency." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goldberg has advanced this argument himself through previous reporting on Trumps relationship with the military. Most famously, he was the channel for the widely-covered claim by Trumps former chief of staff, John Kelly, that the president had dismissed the American soldiers who valiantly died storming the beaches of Normandy as "suckers" and "losers." While Kelly stands by his account, many people who were in the room when Trump allegedly spouted those despicable words in 2018 say it never happened. "The Atlantic ... is dying, like most magazines, so they make up a fake story in order to gain some relevance," Trump said at the time. "Story already refuted." Weeks before Election Day 2024, Goldberg wrote another incendiary article outlining what the author called "Trumps singularly corrosive approach to military tradition." He added, "Today - two weeks before an election that could see Trump return to the White House - Im most interested in his evident desire to wield military power, and power over the military, in the manner of Hitler and other dictators." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also in the run-up to the 2024 election, Goldberg wrote an essay titled "A Warning," which claimed that "America survived the first Trump term, though not without sustaining serious damage. A second term, if there is one, will be much worse." Goldberg is entitled to his opinions, which echo those of most progressives who write for the legacy media. But its confounding that someone with that track record was the one outsider looped in on a highly secret discussion conducted outside of normal channels. If you wanted to gain traction for a story depicting the Trump administration as the gang that couldnt shoot straight, it is hard to do better than Goldberg. The blanket coverage of his damning report only solidifies this reputation. Still, as of now there doesnt seem to be a conspiracy at play here. Goldberg fingers the perpetrator in his Atlantic article - which, in fairness, is a terrific scoop that any journalist would have coveted. "On Tuesday, March 11, I received a connection request on Signal from a user identified as [National Security Advisor] Michael Waltz." Trump himself has confirmed that someone in Waltzs office had included Goldberg. "It was one of Michaels people on the phone. A staffer had his number on there," Trump said, largely dismissing the incident. It seems Goldbergs Signal profile name JG uses the same initials as U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The real mystery remains - how is such an error even possible? Why would Goldbergs initials be in any Trump officials contact list? For that matter, why would anybody in the administration give him the time of day? In this highly partisan media environment, it boggles the mind that the legacy media is even fed crumbs by the Trump administration. And yet every day the New York Times, the Washington Post, and others report inside scoops from what they call "highly placed officials." While one hopes the president will demand that his people use only government channels for official business, this episode should alert him to potential enemies within. J. Peder Zane is an editor for RealClearInvestigations and a columnist for RealClearPolitics. Follow him on X @jpederzane. COLOMBO, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism said on Wednesday that the unilateral action taken by the British government to sanction four Sri Lankans complicates the national reconciliation process underway in the country. The ministry said in a statement that the British Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office on Monday sanctioned these individuals for "Human Rights Violations and Abuses during the Sri Lankan Civil War." The ministry said that the unilateral move, which involves an asset freeze and travel ban on the individuals concerned, does not assist but serves to complicate the national reconciliation process underway in Sri Lanka. The ministry said the government is in the process of strengthening domestic mechanisms on accountability and reconciliation, and any past human rights violations should be dealt with through domestic accountability mechanisms. Sri Lanka's position was conveyed by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath to the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick, on Wednesday at the ministry. Former head of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces Shavendra Silva, former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda, former Commander of the Sri Lankan Army Jagath Jayasuriya, and former military commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan were sanctioned by Britain on Monday. Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville (right) speaks to Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence on the floor of the Alabama Senate on March 6, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. Givhan's bill that would give public education employees workmen's compensation was stalled in the House Ways and Means Education Committee on March 19, 2025.(Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) A bill to extend workers compensation benefits to public education employees stalled in an Alabama House committee last week. SB 1, sponsored by Sen. Sam Givhan, would allow full-time employees at public schools who are injured on the job to use accrued sick leave for recovery. According to the State Department of Education, public education employees earn one sick day per month. The benefit would go into effect as soon as it is passed and signed by Gov. Kay Ivey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Givhan said at a Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee meeting in February that the legislation is his top priority. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX So many people are surprised to learn that our state education employees do not have workers compensation coverage for on the job injuries, he said on Feb. 12. I did want SB 1 status for this bill. As originally filed, the legislation did not create a funding source for the benefit. The bill now creates the Public Education Employee Injury Compensation Trust Fund in the State Treasury with a startup cost of at least $15.6 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House committee unanimously adopted a Senate floor amendment from February that added community college employees and specified the processes for claiming the benefit. Republicans in the House Ways and Means Education Committee last week pushed for the bill to be carried over due to concerns about the differences between the proposed benefit for educators and the existing benefit for state employees. Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, said he is supportive of the bill, but still needed more time to understand the legislation. I would like this to have time to have those discussions in depth rather than trying to rush into something, Faulkner said. Faulkner also mentioned he is working on an amendment to clarify sections of the legislation on the appeals process and how it relates to physicians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, also supported carrying the bill over because the committee did not have the full bill. We cant even look at how the amendment fits in here because we only have four pages of the bill and so that to me is another reason I also would like to second the amendment just to carry it over for one more meeting, she said. Democrats on the committee pushed for a vote. Rep. Kelvin Lawrence, D-Hayneville, said educators have gone without the benefit for too long. I dont know of any other profession in the state of Alabama that doesnt offer workman comps to their employees, Lawrence said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile agreed with Lawrence. She said the legislators could use this week to work out concerns with the legislation. The Legislature is out this week and will reconvene on April 1. We can get those answers and go ahead and get this bill moving, she said. Givhan sponsored a similar bill last session that passed the Senate but did not come out of the House. House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, a member of the committee, advocated for a vote. Weve been dealing with this issue for a couple years now. If were getting down to the finish line and deciding that we want to delay this and stand in the way of progress and opportunity for our educators, then shame on us, Daniels said. We talk about how important this is, but our actions are not showing that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chairman Danny Garrett, R-Decatur, carried the bill over without a vote. I just want to you know appreciate the comments of everybody, but I kind of reject the idea that this is something we have to do today with a gun to our head, Garrett said. Garrett said the bill will be first up when the Legislature returns. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) A bill advancing through the Oklahoma Legislature would change how citizen-led initiatives make it onto the ballot by capping the number of petition signatures that can come from each county, a move critics say is designed to silence urban voters. Senate Bill 1027 (SB 1027), authored by State Sen. David Bullard (R-Durant), would prevent more than 10% of required signatures from coming from Oklahoma or Tulsa counties. Meanwhile, each of the states 75 other counties, most of which are rural, would be capped at 4% of total signatures. To understand the bills impact, it helps to know how the initiative petition process works. Oklahoma lawmakers working to move bills forward as deadline approaches Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Say, for instance, youre tired of new cars having obnoxiously bright LED headlights, and you want the state to outlaw them. You could petition the state to let voters decide if that should be a law. Right now, your petition needs to get signed by at least 92,263 registered voters to make it on the ballot. If it makes it on the ballot, more than 50% of voters would have to vote in favor of it come election time for it to become law. In recent years, Oklahomans legalized medical marijuana and expanded Medicaid following this process. Under current law, there are no restrictions on where petitioners can gather signatures to get an item on the ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Sen. David Bullard (R-Durant) sees a problem with that. Right now, in order to get those, they only have to go to two, maybe three counties, Bullard said while debating SB 1027 on the floor of the Oklahoma Senate last week. He claims people who gather signatures on petitions tend to skip over rural counties. We have 77 counties statewide, Bullard said. So the system we have now actually allows them to ignore other people, in other counties, and just stay in two counties. It is why he wrote SB 1027, which would cap how many signatures petitioners can get in each county. Under SB 1027, petitioners would now only be allowed to get 10% of the 92,263 needed signatures from Oklahoma County and another 10% from Tulsa County. For the other 75, largely rural, counties, they would each be capped at contributing no more than 4% of the needed signatures. We are actually moving out to more counties, getting the signatures of a more diverse population of Oklahomans, Bullard said. But Amber England, who has led numerous petition efforts over the past decade, takes major issue with Bullards assumption. Its a lie that we dont go to all 77 counties, England said. Every state question that Ive been involved in over the last decade has gotten signatures from all 77 counties. She says that was especially true in her most recent effort, which successfully got a minimum wage increase question on ballots next year. We trained over 200 people, people from Broken Bow to Guymon, all the way up to Bartlesville, down to Altus, England said. All these folks fanned out across the state. Every person that picked up a clipboard and a pen and went out and collected signatures at rodeos, at festivals, at parades, all across the state in every single county of this state. News 4 crunched the numbers on Bullards bill, and found, even under his bill, as long as petitioners can get the maximum 10% of signatures in both Oklahoma and Tulsa counties, theyd only need to visit as few as 20 other counties to gather enough signatures to get the needed 92,263still leaving out the states 55 least-populated counties. Theyre actually taking the grassroots component out of the state question process, England said. Theyre also disenfranchising rural voters by saying that only 4% of rural voters can sign a petition in any one given county. The bill passed the Senate last week along party lines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ludicrous, unnecessary: OK legislators take aim at initiative petition law again; passes House But that wasnt before some debate and concerns. How does this square with the constitutional principle of one person, one vote? Sen. Michael Brooks (D-Oklahoma City) said while debating SB 1027 on the floor of the Oklahoma Senate last week. Under SB 1027, not every signature would carry the same weight. For instance, Oklahoma County makes up nearly 20% of the states population. But if the people in the county could only contribute 10% of a petitions signatures, as SB 1027 proposes, their voices would effectively be cut in half compared to their share of the states population. But then, take Cimarron County, with fewer than 2,00 residents, it makes up 1/20th of 1% of Oklahomas total population. Under SB 1027, every person there could sign a petition, and Cimarron County would still be nowhere near hitting its cap of 4% of total signatures. News 4 crunched the numbers again and found it would basically mean Cimarron Countys influence on whether something makes it on the ballot would be 96 times greater than Oklahoma Countys, when considering each countys share of the states total population. How does that not fly directly in the face of our constitutional right for the people to petition and have their voices heard? said Sen. Regina Goodwin (D-Tulsa), while debating SB 1027 on the floor of the Oklahoma Senate last week. Bullard, still sticking to his argument about reaching rural voters, defended the bill in response to Goodwin. Because we are not allowing them to ignore the voice and signatures of the 97.5% of the other counties in the state, said Bullard. But if you ask England, she thinks this was never about including more voices. Their motive is to take power away from voters. State questions have to pass by a majority of voters in Oklahoma, 50% plus one, England said. They just want to control all the process themselves. Special interest groups and powerful politicians, and lobbyists are just mad right now. Theyre mad at Oklahoma voters because they cant control the,m and they want to be able to control them. And so theyre rewriting the rules to take the freedom for Oklahomans to actually decide issues for themselves. News 4 reached out to the bills Senate sponsor, Bullard, and House sponsor, House Speaker Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristow). Bullard never responded. A spokesperson for Hilbert said he would be unable to meet with News 4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. (FOX40.COM) A new bill was proposed Monday to give tax relief to what some legislators called a dying cannabis industry. Video above: How much do states make from marijuana tax? Assemblymember Matt Haney (D San Francisco) introduced AB 564 which he said would prevent a 25% cannabis tax increase scheduled for July 1. Haney said the increase in taxes would devastate Californias legal cannabis industry by forcing many small businesses to close and driving consumers toward the illegal market. All smoke shops inspected in Modesto failed compliance checks, police say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California is widely known as the birthplace of cannabis culture in the United States. The industry boasts hundreds of thousands of employees and generates hundreds of millions in revenue annually. According to Haney, over the past five years, the licensed cannabis market has been in a sharp decline because of tax burdens. If we continue to pile on more taxes and fees onto our struggling small cannabis businesses, Californias cannabis culture is under serious threat of extinction, Haney said. Instead, we should be looking at how we can support this industry which has barely been given a chance to survive after legalization. If we want to support our cannabis industry that drives millions of visitors to California every year, adding more costs makes absolutely no sense. Haney added that suspending the tax increase will give the cannabis industry a chance to regain its foothold and keep small cannabis businesses across the state from failing. The bill is expected to be heard in the Assembly Revenue & Taxation Committee and Business & Professions Committee in April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. ATLANTA (AP) A crowd of protesters on each side of the abortion debate flooded a windowless Georgia Capitol hallway Wednesday with chants and signs as lawmakers held a hearing on a bill that would ban the procedure in almost all cases. Although the bill will not go anywhere this year because a deadline has passed for consideration by both chambers, the hearing granted by the House's Republican leadership gave anti-abortion activists a chance to speak out on an issue near and dear to their constituents. Dozens milled about and shouted words of support or disdain for the proposal. Onlookers tried to squeeze into the hearing room as sheriff's deputies guarded the area. One man raised his voice above the noise and said, I'm so thankful that my mom gave me life and did not sacrifice her children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each time someone left the room after testifying, they were met with cheers from those on their side of the bill. Tens of thousands of babies made in the image of God continue to be murdered in our state every year, all within the bounds of the current law, said bill sponsor Rep. Emory Dunahoo, a Gillsville Republican. The bill would make most abortions a crime from the point of fertilization, at which point one would be considered a person, and classify the procedure as a homicide. It would expand Georgias broad personhood law, which gives rights such as tax breaks and child support to unborn children. At least five states have personhood laws. Georgia already bans abortions after finding a detectable human heartbeat, which can happen as early as six weeks into pregnancy, when many women still don't know they are pregnant. Still, a flurry of religious leaders said the measure doesn't go far enough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some religious anti-abortion individuals were among the bill's opponents, though, saying it goes too far with criminalization. Critics say the measure would bar women from lifesaving care during birth complications and in vitro fertilization. Many voiced concern that women with miscarriages or dangerous health complications would not get the care they need. Rep. Shea Roberts, an Atlanta Democrat, recounted her own experience getting an abortion to save her life. It was one of the most devastating times in my life, and doctors told me that the dream of my child was going to die either inside of me or within minutes outside my body, and it would be suffering, Roberts said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill would grant some exceptions, including in cases involving a spontaneous miscarriage and procedures undertaken to save a woman's life "when accompanied by reasonable steps, if available, to save the life of her unborn child. But opponents say doctors would be too frightened to provide such care even when necessary. They pointed to the cases reported by ProPublica of two women who died from delayed care tied to Georgia's abortion law after taking abortion pills. Doctors also noted that Georgia already has some of the nations highest maternal mortality rates, especially for Black women. Lawmakers should focus on helping them get more care, opponents said. Doctors also said the bill sets the stage for the criminalization of in vitro fertilization and would force fertility clinics to close. The bill comes about a month after Georgias House passed a bill with bipartisan support to protect the right to in vitro fertilization. That measure was sponsored by Statesboro Republican Rep. Lehman Franklin, whose wife used IVF to conceive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Karenne Fru, who runs a fertility clinic that provides in vitro fertilization, said the bill would put her out of work. My whole life is doing God's work. He said go forth and procreate, Fru said, her voice shaking. I'm doing that. Please just let me continue to do that. I cannot go to jail because I want to help people become parents. ___ Kramon 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. Follow Kramon on X: @charlottekramon. (Photo illustration by Getty Images.) A quick back-and-forth between Sen. Barry Usher and Rep. Tom France addressed the elephant in the room with a bill that would prohibit disciplinary proceedings against constitutional officers who are lawyers, albeit with exceptions. In 2023, Attorney General Austin Knudsen was accused of 41 counts of professional misconduct charges his lawyer has argued should be dismissed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case and any discipline are pending with the Montana Supreme Court, but this session, Sen. Usher, R-Billings, sponsored Senate Bill 49 to protect constitutional officers who are attorneys from discipline while in office. Those officers include the attorney general, and also the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, superintendent of public instruction, and auditor, and the law would apply to legislators too. The bill got out of the Senate on a 29-21 vote on third reading, and it prompted a heated debate in the House Judiciary Committee this week. In a hearing Monday, Usher said it offers immunity to legislators or constitutional officers who are attorneys and speaking in the course of their work as elected officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a free speech issue, Usher said. No proponents testified for the bill. Rep. France, D-Missoula, said he understood many of Ushers arguments, but also said the AGs role is a bit different than the role of the other constitutional officers. He said the AG serves in a dual capacity, as a constitutional officer, but also as an officer of the court. It seems to me that the Attorney General, of all of our elected officers, has a high duty to respect the court and very carefully follow the rules of professional conduct, France said. As such, France asked if Usher would accept an amendment that would exclude the AG from immunity. Usher, however said he would not consider that a friendly amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement France then brought up a different idea. He said the AG made some comments France, as an attorney, thought pushed the limits of what was acceptable and ones he considered an attack on the courts integrity. The Commission on Practice, which hears claims against attorneys, held a hearing in fall 2024 and recommended a 90-day suspension of Knudsens law license; a final decision is pending and a hearing is scheduled on Friday. France asked if Usher would accept an amendment to push the effective date of the bill so that we dont look like were giving him a get-out-of-jail-free card. Currently, the effective date is upon passage and approval, and it applies retroactively to any disciplinary proceeding occurring on or after Jan. 1, 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Usher said he would accept that amendment as friendly, but hes heard the allegation before. I have been accused that this is why this bill is coming forward, but that would be a friendly amendment, Usher said. He also said he believes the case against Knudsen will conclude before the bill gets to the governors desk. The bill was part of a suite of legislation that came out of the Senate Special Committee on Judicial Oversight and Reform, a priority this session for Republicans, who have clashed with the courts. Originally, the bill was requested to exempt only the attorney general from disciplinary measures, according to a summary of bill draft requests from the committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A subsequent list of draft bill requests broadened the scope to all constitutional officers and legislators. The committee didnt take immediate action on the bill Monday, and a draft amendment wasnt posted Tuesday. At the hearing, Rep. Alanah Griffith, D-Big Sky, a lawyer, said professional rules require her to be truthful and honest, including to the legislature. Griffith said she feared the bill would give constitutional officers a pass on ethics when they present bills. Do you think thats a good idea? Griffith said. Usher said you dont have to be an attorney to uphold ethics, and the bill doesnt intend to be a license to lie, cheat and steal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im very offended by that, and Im offended that you brought it up again, Usher said. He also said all elected officials are held accountable at the ballot box. Rep. Zooey Zephyr, D-Missoula, said she had similar concerns as Griffith. Zephyr said as she read it, the bill would create a situation where the AG could lie through his teeth about financial needs in his office. Usher said hed like to be able to prosecute someone who lies to the legislature, but he hasnt found support for that idea in the past. Plus, he said, lots of people can misrepresent information to lawmakers. So could any of the witnesses you had today that arent attorneys, Usher said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zephyr said she was concerned the bill was a step backwards if the concern was about being truthful, but Usher said it didnt make sense to have different standards. Say a person is an attorney and is elected as superintendent of public instruction, he said. Why is that person held at a different standard than the last OPI superintendent that was not an attorney? Usher said. Rep. Tracy Sharp, R-Polson, said theres no question a tremendous battle is taking place in this country involving the legislature and the judiciary. He asked Usher if one aim of the bill was for a lawyer elected into one of those roles to be able to speak freely of the judiciary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youre trying to allow that elected official to speak openly and critically of that body, absent punishment, Sharp said. Is that what this bill is trying to do? Usher said thats one example. He said currently, the governor is allowed, say, in his state-of-the-state address, to criticize the judiciary, and the governor shouldnt lose that ability if hes a member of the bar. Bruce Spencer, with the State Bar of Montana, said he doesnt believe the law would pass constitutional muster because the Montana Constitution states that the state Supreme Court regulates the practice of law. Spencer also said his organization feels that lawyers should be ethical 100% of the time, and he doesnt think its good policy to say lawyers get a pass if theyre elected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the State Bar believes that lawyers represent a special trusted place in our society, and their great power requires them being held to higher standards. I can empty your bank account if I get a judgment, Spencer said. I can sell your house. I can, as a prosecuting attorney, put you away for life or the death penalty. And so the State Bar feels that lawyers should be held to a higher standard simply because weve been granted that privilege, that license to practice law. OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KSNW) A bill currently in the Oklahoma legislature would rename a section of highway in honor of Veronica Bulter and Jillian Kelly. Section 13 of Oklahoma House Bill 1486 governing the naming of memorial roads and bridges would rename a portion of Oklahoma State Highway 95 in honor of the two women who were killed almost one year ago. Veronica Butler and Jillian Kelly of Hugoton were reported missing on March 30, 2024. The two women were traveling to Oklahoma to visit Butlers children. Their car was found abandoned on Highway 95. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monster under bed in Kansas town turned out to be real Their bodies were later found, and five people are currently jailed, awaiting trial for their deaths. Earlier this month, Veronica Butlers mother filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the five. The bill passed unanimously in the Oklahoma House. It now moves on to the Senate. If signed by the governor, the section of Highway 95 from the Four Corners to 2 miles into Texas County, Oklahoma, would be renamed the Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley Memorial Highway. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. You might be seeing billboards from the Canadian government along American highways soon! NurPhoto / NurPhoto via Getty Images The Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Melanie Joly, explained to CNN why the Canadian government is putting up billboards around the US: We are launching ads in the US to make sure all Americans know that tariffs are taxes on everything they buy.Learn more: pic.twitter.com/ZHHLPqgbAP Melanie Joly (@melaniejoly) March 21, 2025 CNN/Twitter: @melaniejoly "We will have huge billboards along the key highways in Florida, Nevada, Georgia, New Hampshire, Michigan, Ohio, and 12 different states," she explained. "We know very much that these states are red states. We are doing that because we think we need to send a message to the American people for them to understand what is at stake because this will hurt their livelihoods and have an impact on their wallets." CNN "My message to hardworking Americans is please talk to your senators, your house representatives, mayors, governors, send that message that you don't want these tariffs because nobody will win with this approach coming out from the White House." CNN Advertisement Advertisement Well, the billboards are starting to show up in places like Georgia: Here's one in Ohio: And Las Vegas: One post on the r/mildlyinteresting subreddit is going viral with 80,000 upvotes. Advertisement Advertisement People in the comments are really into it. "I support this use of my tax dollars," this Canadian (I think) said. "It's very embarrassing that foreign countries have to educate ignorant Americans," another person chimed in. And this person said, "Hell fucking ya Canada is a hilarious troll." To which, someone replied: "Im not sure its a troll so much as informing otherwise misinformed Americans." (Bloomberg) -- Billionaire Ong Beng Seng will plead guilty at a later date than originally expected in a case related to a former Singapore government minister who was jailed for obtaining gifts from the property tycoon. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr. Ong has requested for more time to obtain more detailed reports from his doctors on his medical condition, and the ongoing monitoring and treatment required, a spokesperson for Ong said in a statement on Wednesday. Prosecutors didnt object to the delay, court documents show. Ong, 79, was scheduled to plead guilty on April 2 to one charge of obstructing justice. Another charge of abetting a public servant in obtaining valuables will be taken into consideration for sentencing. Read: Jailed Singapore Minister Trades Private Jet for Straw Mattress Ong, the managing director of Hotel Properties Ltd., was charged in October and is out on a bail of S$800,000 ($598,000). The next closed door hearing is set for April 25. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The real estate firm has said Ong continues to be suitable to carry out his duties and responsibilities. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. (WPRI) Legislation introduced at the Massachusetts State House is aiming to ban the sale of dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs in pet stores. The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) supports the bills. According to the nonprofit, pet stores lack transparency and frequently get animals from places with inhumane conditions. The federal laws relating to these commercial breeding facilities, theyre very very weak, and they often go unenforced, MSPCA Director of Advocacy Kara Holmquist told 12 News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ALSO READ: New law bans cat declawing in Massachusetts There are also concerns that many animals bought in pet stores end up in shelters. This creates a problem, not just for nonprofit animal groups, but many municipalities too, Holmquist explained. It becomes a burden for animal control facilities that intake stray animals or surrendered animals. Following the pandemic, the MSPCA saw an uptick in the surrenders of guinea pigs in particular. We are having an overpopulation of guinea pigs. Their length of stay in animal shelters across Massachusetts is much longer than it is for other animals, Holmquist noted. There are a lot of animals, theres no need to purchase these animals from a pet shop. Shelters and rescues across Massachusetts have guinea pigs available for adoption. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the bills were to become law, the pets would still be available for adoption or purchase through shelters, rescues and responsible breeders. MORE: MSPCA rehabilitating severely emaciated horse State Rep. Adam Scanlon of North Attleboro introduced the legislation and hopes to get it over the finish line this year. I think that the great thing about this bill is that its bipartisan. Whether youre a Democrat, a Republican or an independent, chances are youve encountered a dog or cat in your life, Scanlon said. They all bring us joy in many different ways were going to do everything we can to ensure that our animals are safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 12 News reached out to several area pet stores that sell live animals for their reaction to the legislation, but we have not heard back. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. VIENTIANE, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Laos' Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has issued a warning about alarming PM 2.5 particle levels nationwide, urging residents to stay vigilant and take precautions against dangers of smog during the dry season. The ministry issued a notice on Wednesday, highlighting that Laos is experiencing air pollution during the dry season due to forest fires, agricultural burning, and garbage burning. Additionally, satellite data showed fire hotspots spreading across the region, resulting in persistent haze over several days. The ministry warned the public about air pollution during the dry season, particularly from March to April, as worsening pollution impacts both health and visibility. The ministry urged residents to take preventive measures, including avoiding outdoor activities, wearing masks when going outside, drinking plenty of water, and refraining from burning garbage or waste to reduce air pollution. PM 2.5 is an air pollutant containing tiny particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers. It can lodge in the lungs and enter blood vessels, leading to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) Ahead of the final veto day before the General Assembly reconvenes, Gov. Andy Beshear took action on 36 bills. According to a Tuesday, March 25, news release, 20 bills that crossed the governors desk received his signature, 12 were vetoed, and four were returned without action. RELATED | These 17 bills received Gov. Beshears signature, 4 vetoed for workers rights and constitutional violations Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve been laser-focused on addressing the everyday needs of our Kentucky families and communities, and the 20 bills I signed do just that, Beshear said. For example, we will soon have new state laws that allow us to require a financial literacy course for high school students, that add protections against unemployment fraud, and that further safeguard the distribution of opioid settlement funds. Further, he stated the vetos would protect Kentuckians access to clean water and prevent unnecessary tolling on the I-69 Ohio River Crossing project. Heres a look at the bills that were vetoed on Tuesday: LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four bills were returned without Beshears signature. Heres a look at which ones and why: House Joint Resolution 15, Beshear said he aims to show respect to the 79 faith leaders who opposed the resolution by not signing the legislation. In a letter, the faith leaders wrote, We believe that this legislation is a misguided effort that will undermine the religious freedom we cherish as people of faith and leaders of faith communities. House Bill 241, a bill aiming to make changes to the number of non-traditional instruction days allotted to school districts, Beshear said the General Assembly contradicts their actions and attitudes toward in-person learning in comparison to what he experienced during the pandemic. Senate Bill 136 action is due to the General Assembly not providing funding to support the bill. In response, the state will reportedly have to ask a vendor to do programming and IT work for free. If a vendor is unable to do so, the executive branch will have to delay implementation until the General Assembly approves the needed funding. Beshear expressed concern with Senate Bill 201 due to not having enough administrative law judges, and they must be confirmed by the General Assembly before they can begin their service. The following bills will become laws on their effective dates: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wednesday, March 26, is the final day for the governor to veto legislation before the General Assembly reconvenes for the last two days of the 2025 regular session. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. This November, Binghamton residents will have the chance to vote in a contested mayoral election when incumbent Jared Kraham, a Republican, faces off against Democrat challenger Miles Burnett. Kraham was elected in 2021 after serving seven years as deputy mayor for former mayor Richard David. Burnett previously served as deputy chief of staff for New York State Senator Lea Webb and aide to New York City Council Member Andrew Cohen. For Kraham and Burnett, who are both Binghamton natives, the issues of public safety and housing are key focal points for their campaigns. When is Election Day 2025? Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4. Early voting in Broome County begins Saturday, Oct. 25. City of Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham is running for reelection in 2025. Kraham is looking forward to continuing the work he has started in the last four years. In his second term, Kraham said he would bring reliability and continue to expand upon the initiatives set up in his first years as mayor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm really proud of what we've been able to accomplish since taking office, but obviously there's more work to do," Kraham said. "I believe that I'm in a unique position to offer the leadership and experience that's needed to continue delivering results for residents and really implement a lot of the vision that we've laid out. I have a meaningful and measurable track record voters know me, they can measure my impact on the city." One of the issues Kraham says resonates the most with constituents is public safety, which he would continue to emphasize if reelected. "Through my focus on public safety and supporting first responders, Binghamton has achieved some of the lowest crime rates on record," he said. "We've increased manpower. We've brought foot and bike patrols back to neighborhood streets. We've made of a lot of investments in very innovative technology that has reduced crime." Another issue Kraham would seek to address in a second term is neighborhood quality of life, with a specific focus on housing. As part of the push to create new housing within the City of Binghamton, Kraham said his administration would continue to cut red tape to ensure investors choose Binghamton as the location for new housing developments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We've really put a focus on prosecuting slum lords with lockdown nuisance properties, we've curbed the growth of student housing," said Kraham. "We've invested in code enforcement. We've been tearing down dangerous blighted buildings. But most importantly, the city of Binghamton is leading on housing." More: Expect a mix of sun and clouds in Binghamton this week, with rain and snow possible Miles Burnett, a Democrat, is running for City of Binghamton mayor in 2025. According to Burnett, the motivation to run for office comes from a deep love of the city and a belief in the importance of public service and community. "I grew up in a large Irish Catholic family, filled with firefighters and police officers, nurses, teachers. They all really instilled in me the importance of public service and the meaning of community," said Burnett. Many of the challenges I saw growing up here in Binghamton still remain barriers for many folks today. That's why I'm running because I feel like I have the experience and the vision and the love for this city that we need to build a better Binghamton for everyone." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burnett emphasized housing and quality of life as primary issues for his campaign, stating the city's current housing shortage presents a barrier for those who would like to remain in the city. As part of quality of life changes, Burnett suggests the replacement of the city's blue bag system, which he says is costing the city, small business owners and taxpayers more money than it should. "I have a bold vision for our city's future, but first, I think the most important thing is to tackle our housing crisis," said Burnett. "I'm constantly hearing from folks that they want to stay living in Binghamton, but they can't find a safe, affordable place to live. And I think that needs to change." Burnett also emphasized ensuring anyone in need has access to adequate mental health services. "I will also invest in public safety, including expanding access to mental health resources and providing more opportunities for our youth," said Burnett. "I think that Binghamton should not be a place where our incredible young people are moving away from for opportunities somewhere else." This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: NY Election Day 2025: Who's running for Binghamton mayor A sharps disposal box sits beside Needlepoint Sancutary's set up at Camp Hope, an unhoused encampment in Bangor. The syringe service program hands out provisions and clean syringes along with kits containing fentanyl testing strips and the overdose reversal drug Naloxone. (Photo by Eesha Pendharkar/Maine Morning Star) A majority of legislators on the health committee on Wednesday rejected a bill to put stricter limits on the number of clean syringes certified programs can hand out, backing Maines more flexible policy, which medical providers and harm reduction experts have vouched for. Penobscot County is currently experiencing an HIV outbreak, with 22 cases since last October (compared to one or two cases a year, in recent years). During the public hearing on the bill, health providers and operators of syringe service programs stressed the importance of access to clean needles in the light of this outbreak, citing research that supports the efficacy of these programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But some municipalities have blamed expanded syringe services for syringe litter on sidewalks, public parks and private property. LD 216, introduced by Rep. Anne-Marie Mastraccio (D-Sanford), would limit the number of clean syringes needle exchanges can hand out, reverting to a one-for-one ratio that Maine allowed until 2022, before adopting new rules that allow participants to bring in just one used syringe to receive 100 clean ones. Maine Department of Health and Human Services also allows participants to receive up to 100 syringes, even if they dont bring any used ones in, at the discretion of the provider. Maine DHHS, which oversees the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, opposed the bill, arguing the proposed language is not supported by evidenced based practice, would limit access, and increases infectious disease transmission risk including HIV and Hepatitis C, according to testimony by Maine CDC Director Dr. Puthiery Va. Both Republicans and Democrats on the Legislatures Health and Human Services Committee said Wednesday that municipalities should decide what policies are best suited for needle exchanges in their communities, but the statewide ratio does not need to change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To me, it just sounds like a disposal issue, Sen. Marianne Moore (R-Washington) said during the work session on the bill. However, its local control, so each of the cities can do their own ordinance. So I personally think that we should just leave it up at 100, because its been working other than the disposal part of it. With the exception of a few votes, the vast majority of the health committee voted against Mastraccios bill. That recommendation now heads to the full House and Senate to consider. Municipalities blame providers for syringe litter Last November, Sanford passed an emergency ordinance to revert back to the one-for-one syringe ratio, which Mastraccio said appears to have reduced syringe litter. We believe the ordinance has reduced the number of discards greatly, and I have not heard of corresponding outbreaks of HIV or Hepatitis among the needle exchange population, she said in public testimony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amanda Campbell of the Maine Municipal Association also said many towns and cities supported the tighter restrictions on needle exchanges because they are concerned about the safety of their public works employees and their residents who are consistently exposed to used needle litter. But according to the Maine CDCs syringe service report from 2023, released last May, most users bring in roughly the same amount of syringes they receive. Syringe services handed out 1.16 syringes for each one they collected last year, which means that despite some concern about the states 100 to 1 ratio, the effective rate of exchange has not dramatically changed. Syringe service programs also provide sharps disposal containers and help reduce discarded waste in communities, according to Dr. Kinna Thakarar, a physician at Maine Medical Center and an associate professor at the Tufts University School of Medicine. Another solution lawmakers discussed is Portlands needle buyback program, which the citys public health director, Bridget Rauscher, said has helped reduce syringe litter by 76% and also resulted in a 58% increase in used syringe return. Participants can earn 10 cents per used needle they turn in, with a weekly cap of 200 syringes per person. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) A Smithfield man called CBS 42 News saying a city-owned fitness center in his neighborhood is full of broken equipment despite being given $100,000 for upgrades. The Birmingham Fitness Center North, more commonly known as the Smithfield Fitness Center, is a vital resource for people who live in the community. For one man, its helping save his life. Cleophus Riles Jr. suffered a stroke eight months ago. Since then, hes had to relearn how to walk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I talked to the doctor, he says, Mr. Riles, medicine cannot bring you to recover,' Riles said. [He] said, What you need to do is physical fitness.' Riles said he wants to listen to what his doctor told him. The problem? Smithfield Fitness Center, which is near his house, does not have enough working equipment that he needs to exercise. During the time when I had the stroke, it was excessively hot, Riles said. The heat, Im jogging around the heat. I could have been doing it around the air-conditioned comfort of the fitness center. Through speaking with city officials, Riles found that in 2023, the Birmingham City Council gave $100,000 to Birmingham Parks and Recreation for upgrades to the Smithfield Fitness Center. The money came from the American Rescue Plan Act, which was COVID-19 relief funding from the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CBS 42 News requested an on-camera interview with Birmingham Parks and Recreation Director Shonae Eddins-Bennett but instead received a written statement, which reads in part: In 2023, the City of Birmingham allocated funds to Birmingham Park and Recreation for improvements at the fitness center. However, during our assessment, it became clear that significant structural issues needed to be addressed first. The most urgent concern was the roof, which was deemed a safety hazard requiring immediate replacement. Birmingham man accused of rape, sodomy in Baldwin County CBS 42 News went through Birmingham City Council archives and found the roof replacement. It cost $177,000 but was not funded through the ARPA, which the parks and recreation department confirmed. The statement from Bennett goes on to say that: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), we completed the required documentation by December 2024 and are now awaiting the arrival of new equipment. We look forward to upgrading our amenities soon. CBS 42 News followed up with Bennett asking for information on what equipment has been purchased and how much of the $100,000 in ARPA funding remains. Her office told stated at the time its not able to provide that information. Riles said he just wants the upgrades that were promised two years ago. Lets go ahead and just get the equipment Lets get some accountability and do the right thing, Riles said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CBS 42 News requested documentation regarding the ARPA funding Birmingham Parks and Recreation received. At the time the story aired Tuesday night, CBS 42 News was waiting for the department to provide that information. You can contact the CBS 42 Your Voice Your Station hotline by sending an email to yourvoice@cbs42.com or calling 205-488-4128. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) A Birmingham man was arrested following a robbery and shooting Tuesday at an apartment complex, according to the Birmingham Police Department. Birmingham police officers arrived to an apartment around 4:20 p.m. in the 2900 block of 12th Avenue North. Officers were conducting an investigation regarding a man who was robbed and shot by someone he knew. The victim suffered not life-threatening injuries. 3 arrested in connection to 2024 Birmingham double homicide Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers started a follow-up investigation. They learned the suspect may have been barricaded inside his apartment. Birmingham police stated they safely resolved the situation. Officers obtained a warrant for Tarrence Jennings, 30, for domestic violence stemming from an unrelated incident. He was transported to the Birmingham City Jail. Jennings was booked for his domestic violence warrant and placed on a 48-hour felony extension for robbery and felony assault. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. Prototaxites, an extinct organism from the Devonian period, has been thought to be a fungus since its first fossil was unearthed. Analysis of one Prototaxites species showed that its physical and chemical characteristics were not only different from those of any existing fungusthe didnt match any existing organism at all. Prototaxites is now thought to belong to an extinct group of eukaryotes, but what exactly that group was remains a mystery. 430 million years ago, towering life-forms known as Prototaxites emerged from the ground, reaching heights of up to 26 feet and growing trunks up to 3 feet wide. When the first Prototaxites fossil was unearthed in 1843, it was mistaken for an ancient rotting conifer. But trees didnt yet exist during the Silurian period, so what exactly was this thing taking over the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana? That argument was never truly settled. Most scientists made Prototaxites out to be a sort of humungous fungus, but the field as a whole was never certain. That, however, may have just changed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back in 2007, the carbon isotopes in fossils convinced scientists this really was a fungus, since they appeared to be evidence that Prototaxites behaved like fungi by leeching off other living organisms for oxygen. Videos with clickbait titles like When Giant Fungi Ruled the Earth soon spread through the internet. But now, a new analysis by researchers at the University of Edinburgh is showing otherwise. When paleobiologist Corentin Loron and his colleagues examined Prototaxites fossils from what is now Aberdeenshire, Scotland, they found evidence that it was anatomically and chemically differed from fungi in too many ways to be considered fungal. The problemit also belonged with nothing else. It was apparently not a plant, animal, or fungus. Having found no support for the most widely held view that Prototaxites was fungal, we next reviewed possible placement in other higher taxonomic groups. No extant group was found to exhibit all the defining features of Prototaxites, they said in a study recently uploaded to the preprint server bioarXiv. The specimens that Loron studied were of the species Prototaxites taitismaller than the behemoths found elsewhere, but still preserved well enough to take a closer look at their external and internal structures. Tubes on the side of one of the specimens had been previously determined to be sacs filled with spores, which is why that group of researchers placed the species at the base of the extinct fungal group Ascomycota. Lorons team found, however, that this supposedly fertile part has no organic connection to the rest of the organism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Petrified slices of P. taiti had a light brown exterior and dark brown medullary spots (blobs of cells that were arranged irregularly) on the inside. Existing fungi do not have medullary spots. Its innards were also made up of all sorts of tubes, including thin tubes that bent and branched, larger curving tubes with thicker walls but no branches, and even larger unbranched tubes with faint structures similar to growth rings. No extant fungi have tubes like this inside themlet alone with strange rings. The only place rings are found in fungi are in spore sacs known as elaters. Prototaxites only got weirder after its chemical analysis. If it really was a fungus, then the cell walls of P. taiti should show remains of certain sugars that resulted from the taphonomic breakdown of chitina strong, fibrous substance also found in the shells of crustaceans and exoskeletons of insects. However, there were no traces of these sugars found in P. taiti. While the researchers are open to the possibility that some sugars and proteins could have been lost in the early phases of fossilization, it is unlikely, as there were plenty of chemicals found in the fossilized soil of the region in which this species of Prototaxites grew. No extant group was found to exhibit all the defining features of Prototaxites, Loron said in the study, suggesting that it is best considered a member of a previously undescribed, entirely extinct group of eukaryotes. Maybe Prototaxites was a fun guy if you got to know him, but he just didnt fit in with the fungi. You Might Also Like (Reuters) - The Black Sea maritime security deal aims to bring Moscow back to predictable grain and fertiliser markets that would allow for profit and ensure global food security, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in remarks published late on Tuesday. The United States reached separate deals on Tuesday with Ukraine and Russia to cease fighting in the Black Sea and pause attacks against energy targets, with Washington agreeing to push to lift some sanctions against Moscow. "We want the grain and fertilizer market to be predictable, so that no one tries to 'ward us off' from it," Lavrov told the Russian state Channel One television. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Not only because we want ... to make a legitimate profit in fair competition, but also because we are concerned about the food security situation in Africa and other countries of the Global South." If implemented, the deal could be the first significant step toward U.S. President Donald Trump's goal to achieve a more encompassing ceasefire in the war in Ukraine that Russia started with its full-scale invasion three years ago. Lavrov, a veteran Russian diplomat at the helm of the foreign ministry since 2004, said the optimism of U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff who said that truce could come soon does not take under consideration the European allies of Kyiv. "He (Witkoff) significantly overestimates the elites of European countries, who want to 'hang like a stone around the neck' of (Ukraine's President Volodymyr) Zelenskiy, so as not to allow him to 'give in'," Lavrov said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Zelenskiy himself does not want to 'give in'." Lavrov praised Trump and his officials for wanting to repair mutual relations and said Moscow is in consensus with the U.S. on not allowing disagreements between the two largest nuclear powers to escalate into a confrontation. But he said Moscow will remain vigilant in its dealings with the U.S. "'Trust, but verify' - this is the great commandment of (Former U.S. President Ronald) Reagan," Lavrov said. "We will not forget it." (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne and Ronald Popeski in Winnipeg; Editing by Chris Reese and Lincoln Feast.) ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) The Blair County Tea Party hosted a forum for candidates running for the two open seats on the Blair County Court of Common Pleas Tuesday night at the Bavarian Hall in Altoona. All four candidates were in attendance except for State Representative Lou Schmidt, due to the state house still being in session. The forum began with a reading of a statement that he sent that touched on his prior experience as a lawyer in Blair County for more than three decades. I have served the people of the 79th legislative district as a state representative since 2018, Schmidt wrote. I would bring a unique blend of experience as both a lawyer and a lawmaker to the job of judge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The three other candidates in attendance, John Sisto, Paula Aigner and Mike Routch, answered a series of questions that had been submitted by party members. One question that all of the candidates agreed on was that they disagreed with President Trumps call to impeach so-called rogue judges. In his closing statement, attorney John Sisto promised to make the court more efficient by attacking the massive backlog of cases the county has. Ive been doing this for 31 years, Sisto said. Ive watched what has taken place in Blair County, my home county, for the last five years since COVID hit. Ive watched a backlog, Ive watched inefficiency. Magisterial District Judge Paula Aigner, who was reelected four times since she was appointed in 2004, promised to use her wide-ranging experience to help make the court more efficient as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I started out my legal career in Blair County as an assistant district attorney, Aigner said. Ive prosecuted cases. Then after that, for 12 years I practiced family law, I actually specialized in family law, which is what a lot of our county cases pertain to. Stay up to date with the latest news in the palm of your hand. Click here to download the WTAJ app for Apple and Android devices. Rounding out the panel was County Attorney Mike Routch, who narrowly lost his last bid to serve. Routch most recently served as a representative to the Pennsylvania Republican State Committee and as Vice Chair of the Blair County Republican Committee. Routch promised to use his work ethic and courtroom experience to also lessen the backlog of cases. Ive spent 30 years as an attorney, 20 with courtroom experience, Routch said. I feel very comfortable in a courtroom and I look forward to hopefully being in one as a judge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. Blue catfish are hungry creatures. They are found in most Chesapeake Bay tributaries, gobbling up species that environmentalists have worked to rebuild for years. From mussels and menhaden to oysters and crabs, they arent picky. They eat everything, said Chris Moore, the Virginia executive director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The invasive species hefty appetites are damaging the bays ecosystem. Related Articles Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There could be as many as 100 million catfish in the Chesapeake Bay. Current estimates for the blue catfish population range from 700 million pounds to as high as 1 billion pounds, according to research from Virginia Tech. A population of that size is capable of removing up to 60 million pounds of seafood from the Chesapeake Bay every day. To reduce the sizable catfish problem and better protect native Chesapeake Bay species environmentalists and seafood industry leaders want to encourage more people to eat the whiskered predator. Some Hampton Roads restaurants are putting blue catfish on the menu. But they say theres work to be done to change peoples perceptions of the fish and make it easier to serve them up on a platter. ___ Changing palates, perceptions Blue catfish have an image problem in the mid-Atlantic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike in Gulf Coast states like Louisiana and Mississippi where catfish is king and often served on seafood platters and spaghetti plates Virginians dont love them. Because theyre a relatively new species for the mid-Atlantic, they have not built a fanbase or infrastructure like other species, such as striped bass or menhaden. Some people view blue catfish as bottom feeders, but thats not really the case. Since theyre a strong predator, they often feed at the top and middle of the water column, said Kyle Rowley, chief operating officer of the local seafood restaurant chain Skrimp Shack. That customer perception is very difficult to change, he said. When I sit on the register and talk to people, I can convince anybody to buy it and explain why its important, but you can only do so much with a poster. Initially introduced to the Chesapeake Bay in the 1970s and 1980s, blue catfish were brought in to help boost recreational fishing. Because blue catfish can grow up to 65 inches and over 100 pounds, Moore said they were initially thought to be a good option for fishermen looking for trophy catches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Catfish are typically freshwater fish, but wildlife managers did not know blue catfish are adaptable to salinity, or how salty the water is. During heavy rain, large amounts of freshwater expand the range the catfish can travel. Adaptability has kept them virtually with no predators and given them a smorgasbord of food throughout the bay. What has happened since that time is the population has really grown a lot more than they ever thought it would be, Moore said. ___ Industry challenges, opportunities In addition to changing customers tastes, restaurants and watermen also face challenges in processing the fish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currently, processing blue catfish compared to other species is more expensive. Its done by hand, and to get it to big-box grocery stores or club stores to sell in large quantities, that requires additional costs like fuel, freezing equipment, trucking and transportation. Since 2023, the state has given out two $250,000 grants as part of a program meant to help expand and fund blue catfish production. Equipment funded by the grant is also expensive, so funds are typically used up quickly. Once its in stores, then watermen and processors have to keep up with the demand, said Mike Hutt, executive director of the Virginia Marine Products Board. Rowley said higher processing costs lead to higher costs in restaurants, and consumers may choose a more affordable and familiar fish like flounder. Catfish is also the only fish regulated as meat rather than seafood, so blue catfish falls under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, not the Food and Drug Administration. USDA inspectors are required on site at all catfish processing plants, which can get expensive. Hutt said this creates more hurdles for others in the seafood industry to hop into the catfish market, and some smaller processors pulled out of the catfish industry because of the change, which went into effect in 2016. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Easing regulations on blue catfish could help other more heavily regulated species, like blue crab, rebound, said Hutt. (Environmental regulators) have done all of these things to help save the crab industry, and I would say we are just as bad as we were 25 years ago when we started all these efforts. Were still seeing a reduction of crabs, Hutt said. And when you open up the bellies on these catfish, you see 20, 30, 40 crabs in the belly at one time. So how many times a day are they doing that? Blue catfish, unlike most other Chesapeake Bay seafood catches, are unrestricted and can be fished almost year-round. Hutt said that makes them a unique opportunity for watermen. Theres also untapped potential for use of catfish byproducts that are not eaten, Hutt said. Blue catfish have a high amount of collagen, which is used in cosmetics, and other pieces could be used for pharmaceuticals. Virginia Tech researchers are also looking into other byproduct uses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ___ From processing to plates Skrimp Shack introduced blue catfish to its menus for a limited time last summer, and it did well enough to reintroduce it again later this year. As a versatile meat, Rowley said it can take on any cooking style, like grilling, frying, blackening or pan-searing. Its almost as versatile as chicken, truthfully, but with more moisture internally, getting more flavor than chicken, Rowley said. Rowley, who grew up fishing on the Chesapeake Bay, said he and others in the seafood industry are working to encourage customers to consider blue catfish. Last week, Hutt visited the Seafood Expo North America in Boston and served fried blue catfish while chatting with other industry professionals about the species. Hutt said interest in building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre pretty much surprised, and you get a good reaction and see their eyes light up, Hutt said. And its just that educating and spreading the word and convincing the club stores and grocery stores, buyers and the chefs to put it on the menu. And were doing a good thing. We help and save other species and helping environment. Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com PHNOM PENH, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Wednesday celebrated the third National Science, Technology and Innovation Day with the launch of four innovation initiatives and a forum on artificial intelligence (AI). The event brought together scientists, researchers, industry leaders, and development partners, including Malaysia, Singapore, China, Japan, South Korea and the United Nations, to foster collaboration and accelerate the kingdom's shift toward a knowledge-based economy. Deputy Prime Minister Sok Chenda Sophea said science, technology and innovation are indispensable for Cambodia's targeted and long-term vision to become a resilient, sustainable, and inclusive high-income country by 2050. "Investing in human capital in key areas such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education can not be delayed and requires high attention," he said at the event. Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation Hem Vanndy said talented human resources are critical to building a robust science, technology and innovation ecosystem. "Technology holds immense potential to drive economic growth, enhance public services, and tackle societal challenges," he said. "However, it also presents complex issues, such as infrastructure needs, ethical frameworks, and investment in human capital that must be addressed to ensure responsible and inclusive development," he added. The sun shines brightly on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, above the University of New Orleans entrance sign on Lakeshore Drive. (Matthew Perschall for Louisiana Illuminator) The states higher education oversight board unanimously voted Wednesday to recommend moving the University of New Orleans, which has struggled with enrollment and finances, back into the LSU System. Legislation is required to finalize the move, which would reverse action taken 14 years ago to place UNO into the University of Louisiana System. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Louisiana Board of Regents recommendation comes after Louisianas top two state lawmakers Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, and House Speaker Phillip DeVillier, R-Eunice asked members in February to study the feasibility of the move. The idea for moving UNO back to the LSU System originated from Henry, the lawmaker said in an interview Wednesday, rather than with leaders from either of the universities. Its really just rebranding of the school, Henry said. I think LSU and purple and gold is the best play. Legislation to transfer UNO to the LSU System will be filed this year, Henry said, although he wasnt sure yet which New Orleans-area lawmaker would sponsor it. The exact timeline for transferring the university has not yet been established, although it could happen as soon as the fall semester. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We needed to do something quickly so that existing students dont transfer out, and students that are applying know that that school is going to be there for the foreseeable future, Henry said. The Board of Regents recommended forming a transition team to steer the move and hiring a third-party firm for an in-depth audit. In addition to legislative approval, the move would require approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the accrediting body for both UNO and LSU. I look forward to reviewing the findings and having further discussions with my colleagues on the board on how the LSU enterprise can welcome UNO back into the family, LSU Board Chairman Scott Ballard said in a statement to the Illuminator. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The universitys possible return to LSUs control is in response to UNOs acute budget crisis. The school faces a $10 million budget shortfall and has implemented a spending freeze, layoffs and staff furloughs in an attempt to make ends meet. UNO administrators have kept open the possibility of further layoffs and furloughs. The universitys budget crisis is largely tied to enrollment. The school had a student body of around 17,000 before Hurricane Katrina, with an immediate drop to around 6,000 after the storm. For the fall 2024 semester, its total enrollment was 6,488. Regents noted every school within the LSU System has reported enrollment increases for the past few years, in defiance of nationwide trends of declining enrollment. While every board member ultimately voted to approve the move, several expressed concern about the lack of detail from LSU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A nearly 150-page report on the feasibility of moving UNO back to the LSU System hit on every detail of UNOs budget crisis and governance history but contained little about what benefit the university could expect to receive from LSU. Neither Ballard nor LSU President William Tate attended the board meeting. Board members Rico Alvendia and Remy Starns, who is also the states public defender, attended the meeting. Both expressed support for UNO but provided no specifics. Henry said that LSU is better equipped to handle the challenges UNO is facing. In addition to better marketing, Henry said he believed LSU could better help UNO align its faculty count with its current student population. I think this is a first step, Henry said. Well give it a couple years. Hopefully itll be successful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of the system switch in 2011, UNO alumni and boosters applauded the plan, as many felt the university was overshadowed in the LSU System. UNO would be the only institution in the LSU System classified as an R2 university, meaning it has high levels of research activity, second only to LSUs main campus, which is a R1 school with the highest research activity rating. In the University of Louisiana System, there are two other schools with research-level rankings: the University of Louisiana Lafayette, an R1, and Louisiana Tech, an R2. UNO would also be the only other school in the LSU System with an NCAA Division I athletics program. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE LOUISBURG, N.C. (WNCN) The body of a seven-year-old Louisburg boy who went missing in a Franklin County river last week was found Tuesday afternoon, officials said. The boy went missing on March 17 in the Tar River behind Hodges Road, which is between Louisburg and Franklinton. Tuesday, around 5:10 p.m., White confirmed crews recovered the body of Ronald Brodie Jr. Though he is no longer with us, we know his spirit will live on in the hearts of so many forever, White said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NCSBI said Ronald is from Louisburg. Photo of Ronald Brodie Jr. from the Franklin County Sheriffs Office. According to the Franklin County Sheriffs Office, crews located Ronald around 1 p.m. after Nash County Sheriffs K9 Fiji led them to a rocky, partially-submerged cave not far from where he went under the water. Ronalds family said he was playing along the river in the late afternoon with his 13-year-old sister and another teenage girl under adult supervision when he disappeared. Weve had three independent dogs hit in this general area, Franklin County Emergency Management Director Nicholas Thorpe said. PREVIOUS | We want to bring him home: Search for child nears one week after going missing along Tar River Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drones, sonar technology, and dive crews were deployed in the nine-day effort to find the child. The NCSBI said during the last five days that four human remains detection K-9s and their handlers searched nearly 11 miles of the river and shoreline, logging over 100 hours of work. K-9 Fiji, from the NC Troopers Association K-9 Search and Recovery Unit that helped recover multiple bodies after Hurricane Helene, was the cadaver dog who found the missing child in Tar River in Franklin County. CBS 17 first met Fiji and her handler, Nash County Deputy Jack Thorpe, back in October after spending days in western NC. Anytime were talking about cave diving and looking at these voids, there are a lot of safety concerns with silt and debris that are piled up in these areas, Thorpe said. We dont want anything to go wrong in our search effort, so we have to take it methodically, slowly, and safely. White said he hopes Tuesdays news helps to bring closure to Ronalds tremendously strong family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the outcome is not at all what we prayed for, I am beyond grateful to the folks at Franklin County Emergency Management Services, our local fire rescue professionals, and our partners in law enforcement, he said in his statement. Let this tragedy be yet another reminder of how precious life can be, White continued in his statement. Hold your loved ones close and be grateful for each and every day the Lord has blessed us with. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Divers pulled a missing boaters body out of a Georgia lake on Tuesday evening. Chester Upton IV disappeared on Lake Sinclair on Sunday around 7:15 p.m. The Baldwin Countys Sheriff said Upton was last seen on video launching his boat. After two days of an extensive search, divers and first responders recovered Uptons body. Through the collaborative efforts of numerous organizations, Mr. Upton has been recovered. We are grateful to have brought closure to the family. Please keep the family in your prayers, Baldwin County Fire Rescue wrote in a statement. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Channel 2s ABC affiliate WGXA-TV spoke with Uptons ex-wife. She says that Upton loved to be out on the water and knew the lake area well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upton leaves behind four children. WGXA also spoke with Uptons brother. Thats not just my brother, thats my best friend, Johnson told the TV news station. He was always by my side... hes almost like my son because I raised him. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] (The Hill) Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) urged lawmakers to stop making fun of President Trumps decision to rename the Gulf of America, suggesting the nations capital could undergo the same change. I would caution my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to refrain from making jokes about the Gulf of America because next up may be the District of America that we are working on, Boebert said during a Tuesday hearing for the House Natural Resources Committee. Boebert made these remarks at a legislative hearing for the Gulf of America Act to support Trumps executive order through technical amendments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hill has reached out to Boeberts office. In the first days of his second term, Trump changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, along with reversing the name of Alaskas Denali back to Mount McKinley. Trump has questioned D.C. Mayor Bowsers (D) ability to lead the city, citing an uptick in crime and homelessness as a reason for federal leadership over the municipality. The president and Bowser met in December, but soon after their closed-door talk, the three-term mayor faced public scrutiny from Republican leaders. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) introduced the Bringing Oversight to Washington and Safety to Every Resident (BOWSER) Act, an acronym for Bowser, in early February in an effort to repeal the Home Rule Act which permits, D.C.s autonomous style of government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump addressed the District on March 14 in remarks at the Justice Department (DOJ). Were cleaning up our city. Were cleaning up this great capital, and were not going to have crime and were not going to stand for crime, and were going to take the graffiti down and were already taken to tents down there, Trump said in his speech on law and order. Were working with the administration, and if the administration cant do the job were gonna have to take it back and run it through the federal government, the president said of the Districts leadership. But we hope the administration is going to be able so far, theyve been doing very well. The mayor has been doing a good job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A week prior to those comments, Trump ordered Bowser to remove the Black Lives Matter plaza across from the White House which the BOWSER Act has suggested be renamed to Liberty Plaza. While lettering has been removed, a formal decision to rename the street awaits a vote from Congress. Bowser has remained vocal about attacks from Congress seeking to infringe on the citys autonomy. She recently pointed out an issue in the continuing resolution which sought to revert D.C. to its 2024 budget with a $1.1 billion deficit as authored by House GOP members. We are not a federal agency, Bowser said. We are a city, county, state all at once, and we provide direct services to the people of the District of Columbia, visitors to the District of Columbia, businesses in the District of Columbia, diplomats and visiting heads of state and everyone who works here in the Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) introduced a bill to fix the issue, which passed successfully on March 14. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. The News A Brazil court on Wednesday ruled that former President Jair Bolsonaro will stand trial for allegedly orchestrating an attempted coup after he lost the 2022 election. Bolsonaro could face as many as 40 years in prison if convicted. The former president has denied the charges, saying he is the victim of the largest political-judicial persecution in the history of Brazil. From a judicial standpoint Bolsonaros cornered, a political commentator for O Globo told The Guardian, adding that while the former president appeared to have pinned hope on engaging US President Donald Trump, the American leader is unlikely to heed that call: Right now, I think Trump seems to have bigger priorities than Brazil. (Bloomberg) -- Former Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro will stand trial on allegations that he attempted a coup following his 2022 election defeat, after a Supreme Court panel unanimously voted to accept criminal charges against him. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All five justices on the panel voted Wednesday in favor of ratifying the charges presented by Brazils top prosecutor in February, a procedural step that in criminal cases is taken by a smaller group of judges instead of the courts full 11 members. The move paves the way to Latin Americas most high-profile trial of a former president since current Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvas 2017 conviction on corruption charges that were later annulled. The proceedings will also draw a stark contrast with the US, where Bolsonaro ally Donald Trump returned to the White House this year without facing trial on federal charges that he illegally conspired to try to overturn his 2020 election defeat. The case against Bolsonaro stems from an investigation into the events of Jan. 8, 2023, when thousands of his supporters stormed government buildings in Brasilia just a week after Lula returned to office. Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet alleged in his complaint that Bolsonaro had acted as the leader of a criminal organization that was based on authoritarian power project. He also asserted that Bolsonaro had knowledge of a plan to assassinate Lula, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bolsonaro, who has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, blasted the allegations as very serious and baseless and accused the Supreme Court of having something personal against him during a winding, 50-minute speech outside Congress following the ruling. He took no questions from reporters. He had previously said in a Wednesday social media post that the Supreme Court was attempting to keep him from running for president next year and that he is facing a trial with a date, target and outcome defined in advance. It is not yet known when the trial will begin. Bolsonaro has bet that Trumps return to power, which led US prosecutors to drop the cases against him due to Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president, will similarly help him dodge his legal woes and run in next years Brazilian presidential election. But that remains a long shot, even if he avoids jail time. Bolsonaro is ineligible to run in 2026 after Brazils electoral court handed him an eight-year ban from holding public office over his spreading of election fraud conspiracies ahead of the last vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The panel also determined that retired General Walter Braga Netto, who served in Bolsonaros cabinet and as his running mate in the 2022 election, will face trial, as will other high-ranking military officials accused of taking part in the alleged coup plot. Gleisi Hoffmann, the minister of institutional relations in Lulas government, said in a social media post after the ruling that the courts decision took place within the democratic rule of law that the defendants tried to abolish. Earlier this month, Bolsonaro staged a rally in Rio de Janeiro in an attempt to demonstrate public support ahead of this weeks Supreme Court hearings. But it was widely considered a disappointment after he drew significantly smaller crowds that hed turned out for similar demonstrations in previous years. Bolsonaro has faced mounting legal scrutiny since his narrow loss to Lula. Federal police have also recommended charges against him related to allegations of falsified vaccination records and the illegal sale of gifts received from the governments of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police seized Bolsonaros passport in February 2024 amid the probes, and the Supreme Court barred him from leaving the country to attend Trumps inauguration ceremony in January. Bolsonaro has denied wrongdoing in all the cases. His son Eduardo Bolsonaro, a congressman, announced last week that he would take a leave of absence from the legislature and live in the US, where he has sought to build Republican support for his fathers legal battles with the Supreme Court. (Updates with Bolsonaro remarks in sixth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Bomb threats at multiple Shaws grocery store locations on Wednesday are under investigation, authorities said. The Canton Police Department confirmed that officers were investigating a threat received by the Shaws in Cobb Corner at 95 Washington Street. Update: 1:50pm, 95 Washington St. scene is clear. Thank you for your patience. Community Advisory: The Canton Police... Posted by Canton Police Department on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 Multiple Shaws locations in the area have received similar bomb threats, the department wrote in a Facebook post. Canton police urged the public to avoid the area around Cobb Corner as specialists swept the store. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly before 2 p.m., Canton police announced, Scene is clear. Thank you for your patience. Police in two New Hampshire towns were also investigating bomb threats at Shaws stores. Officers and a state police bomb squad swept the Shaws in the Hooksett Village Shops in Hooksett, determing that the threat was not credible. The Hooksett store reopned shortly after noon. UPDATE: Shortly after 12 PM today, Hooksett PD was made aware that a bomb threat had been called into Shaws. HPD... Posted by Hooksett Police Department on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 Another threat prompted the evacuation of a Shaws on Lafayette Road in the Granite State town of North Hampton, WMUR-TV reported. There were no additional details immediately available. All of the incidents remain under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) A Warren man accused of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor had his bond set in municipal court on Wednesday. Philip Stouffer, 46, was granted a $50,000 bond for the two felony charges, and a judge entered a not-guilty plea for Stouffer. According to a police report, officers were given a cybertip about Stouffer, and the charges stem from an incident in early November of last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stourffer is due back in court on April 3. Nadine Grimley and Brian Oehlbeck 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. A small group of leaders in the Boone County community have met since 2023, discussing the housing crisis and what could be done about it. Led by organizations like Live for Life, Love INC., Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), Aspire, and others, they got together regularly, discussing barriers and needs when it comes to affordable housing. A year later, the Community Foundation of Boone County (CFCB) conducted a series of Think Tank sessions, asking residents how they can help and what the public felt was most needed in the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout the discussions, housing remained a top area of need, as it had been for the past several years, said Hope Coons, CFBC director of Community Engagement. CFBC became aware of a group of community members meeting to address this challenge, so our CEO, Julie Reagan, connected with them to learn more about their purpose and direction. CFBC partnered with HAND, Inc., recognized local experts in housing development and advocacy in Hamilton County, to lead the Housing Task Force in Boone County. They named Andrea Davis, executive director of HAND, to lead the group. Instead of two different groups, CFBC brought everyone together to meet at their facility, Davis said. Were five years in with the Hamilton Housing collaborative and while theyre not the same, certainly, Boone County is traveling down similar paths that Hamilton has traveled. The first official meeting occurred mid-February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davis said the group decided to meet monthly as they get their footing and determine what needs to be done and when. They also hope to bring more people to the table. There were about a dozen people there from local organizations and we talked about who else should be here that isnt here yet, Davis said. We hope to have some representatives from the city, maybe some legal representation and other members in the community. While she typically works with the long-term process of finding solutions in the housing industry, the discussion also leaned toward immediate needs and what could be done sooner rather than later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One thing we talked about was an awareness event, Davis said. Not everyone is aware of the resources we have for housing issues. Wed like to get all of those resources together in one place so members of the community can learn about all of the various housing related assistance. One thing was clear education is key. We have ambitious goals to advocate for more affordable housing in Boone County but achieving this begins with education at multiple levels, Coons said. Our initial focus is pulling together programs currently available in the county and finding ways to better educate and inform the community about these existing resources. Not only are resources important, but Davis also said there are misconceptions about affordable housing as a whole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Section 8 housing is a different program in 2025 than it was in 1960. More often than not, Davis and others are working with employed members of the community that simply cant afford the ever-rising costs of rent. These are our home healthcare workers, our bus drivers, our first responders, she said. Theres no political will to build anything other than that four-bedroom, single family home until weve shown how this is an economic development issue. As Boone County continues to grow, well find ourselves in the same place 20 years from now if we dont respond to the whole housing continuum today. Businesses, individuals and government leaders are already expressing interest and Davis said the group hopes they will outgrow the space at the Community Foundation. Anyone interested in getting involved can contact Coons at hope@communityfoundationbc.org or Davis at andrea@handincorporated.org to be added to the invite list. CHARIKAR, Afghanistan, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Afghan security forces have broken up a gang of robbers and killed four members of the band in eastern Afghanistan's Parwan province, a local security official said Wednesday. The suspected armed robbers were killed on Tuesday night in a shootout with the security forces after they opened fire, leading to an exchange of gunfire in Kamangar region, Sayedkhail district of the province, said Fazal Rahim Maskenyar, the provincial police spokesman. According to Maskenyar, security personnel have recovered stolen property, a communication device, and two arms from the deceased robbers. A security officer sustained injuries in the fire exchange and is currently receiving medical care at a health center, he said. As part of its efforts to ensure peace, security, law, and order, the Afghan interim government has vowed a rigorous crackdown on criminal elements, robbers, irresponsible armed groups, and drug traffickers in the war-torn country. A Boston man who filmed himself, along with another man, raping a 10-year-old girl while the girls 5-year-old sibling watched and created the video recording has received a federal prison sentence, the U.S. Attorney said. Jalen Latimer, 26, of Roxbury, was sentenced in federal court in Worcester to 28 years in prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said Tuesday. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret Guzman handed down his sentence. Latimer is already serving a state prison sentence after being convicted last year for child rape. On March 17, 2024, he was sentenced to 15 years in state prison. That sentence will run concurrent with the federal sentence, Foley said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This week, Latimer was also ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later date. In December 2024, Latimer pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. He was previously charged by criminal complaint with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor on Feb. 16, 2024. In July 2022, Latimer and another man, Michael Lamountain, 41, of Oxford, recorded themselves raping the 10-year-old girl, according to Foley and the criminal complaints. The 10-year-olds younger sibling, who was 5 at the time, was used to create the recording of the sexual assault, Foley said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over a year later, in July 2023, Latimer conspired with Lamountain again to arrange for the sexual assault of another child, prosecutors said. Latimer was asked to pay $50 for the child, however Latimer offered $20 and marijuana, Foley said. Latimer was arrested in January 2024. He was subsequently convicted by state authorities 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. A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Lamountain in April 2024. Lamountain was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, one count of sex trafficking of a minor and four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. He was previously charged by criminal complaint with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor on Feb. 16, 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW By Ricardo Brito and Luciana Magalhaes BRASILIA (Reuters) -Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will stand trial for allegedly conspiring to overthrow the government after he lost a 2022 election, the Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday, moving swiftly in a case that could reshape the political landscape. A five-judge panel decided unanimously to put Bolsonaro on trial. If found guilty in the court proceedings expected later this year, Bolsonaro could face a long prison sentence, isolating the far-right firebrand who has avoided naming a political heir. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soon after the ruling, Bolsonaro held a press conference in Brasilia to deliver a lengthy defense against what he called "grave and baseless accusations." "It seems they have something personal against me," he said, referring to the judges. Coups, he said, "have troops, have guns and have leadership. They haven't found who this leader would be." In his opening remarks on Wednesday, Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the case, screened dramatic footage of Bolsonaro's supporters storming government buildings in violent scenes that unfolded just a week after the inauguration of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in January 2023. Moraes cast that insurrection as the result of Bolsonaro's "systematic effort" to discredit the election he lost and then conspire to overturn using violence, with the help of senior military officers and cabinet members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bolsonaro, a former army captain who served as Brazil's president from 2019 to 2022, is accused of five crimes, including an attempt to violently abolish the democratic rule of law and a coup d'etat. He has denied any wrongdoing and denounced the case as politically motivated. The Supreme Court began reviewing charges against Bolsonaro and seven close allies in a Tuesday session he voluntarily attended, sitting silently in the first row in a scene reminiscent of U.S. President Donald Trump's trial last year. In contrast with the tangle of criminal cases that had involved Trump, Brazilian courts and investigators have moved swiftly against Bolsonaro, threatening to end his political career and fracture the right-wing movement he built over the past decade. Wednesday's ruling, roughly a month after Brazil's top prosecutor presented charges, reflected an extraordinary pace for a top court that often takes years to decide major cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The speed reinforced views that the justices are keen to wrap up the trial before the 2026 presidential campaign gets underway. Bolsonaro has insisted he will run for president again next year, despite a ruling by Brazil's Superior Electoral Court that barred him from running for public office until 2030 for his efforts to discredit the country's voting system. Ahead of the landmark court hearing, Bolsonaro called a beachfront rally in Rio de Janeiro, hoping to seize on Lula's waning popularity and pressure Congress to pass an amnesty bill favoring him and his jailed supporters. The demonstration, which some allies suggested could draw more than a million backers, was widely considered a flop after two independent polling firms found that only between 20,000 and 30,000 people showed up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, political analysts expect the trial to galvanize Bolsonaro's most avid supporters, who have been working to undermine the Supreme Court's credibility in Brazil and abroad. "There are two trials: the first against the accused and the second about the Supreme Court itself," said Leonardo Barreto, a partner at Brasilia-based consultancy Think Policy. Bolsonaro's allies in Congress, where conservative lawmakers have voiced concerns about overreaching by the court, are unlikely to abandon him, Barreto said, adding that "he has something all politicians value the most, which is votes." As part of the case against Bolsonaro, the court also accepted charges against two retired generals, his former Defense Minister Paulo Sergio Nogueira and former Chief of Staff Walter Braga Netto, who was also his running mate in the 2022 election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ruling marks the first time high-ranking military officials will be put on trial for attempting to abolish democracy, a sharp break with the impunity that shadowed nearly a century of military coups in Brazil's history. Unlike Argentina and Chile, where armed forces also brought down elected governments to install bloody dictatorships during the Cold War, Brazil never punished the leaders of its military regime from 1964 to 1985. This attempted coup was possible because the military didn't think they would be held accountable, said Pedro Fassoni Arruda, a political science professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paulo. Instead, he said, they found strong repudiation from society. (Reporting by Ricardo Brito in Brasilia and Luciana Magalhaes in Sao Paulo; Writing by Luciana Magalhaes and Manuela Andreoni; Editing by Brad Haynes, Lisa Shumaker and Daniel Wallis) Brazil's Supreme Court on Wednesday authorized the indictment of former president Jair Bolsonaro over an alleged plot to overturn the country's 2022 election results, clearing the way for a trial at the top court. All five justices of the court's First Chamber ruled in favour of the charges levelled by Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet against Bolsonaro and seven alleged co-conspirators. Bolsonaro, who denies the accusations, faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors allege that the right-wing leader conspired with allies to stage a coup and remain in power after his defeat by current leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. On January 8, 2023, Bolsonaro supporters who refused to accept Lula's victory stormed Congress, the Supreme Court and the presidential palace in Brasilia, causing extensive damage. "The criminal organization took all necessary steps to overthrow the legitimately elected government," Justice Alexandre de Moraes said. Investigators say the coup attempt failed only because the military leadership refused to back it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Besides Bolsonaro, the seven others charged include former spy chief Alexandre Ramagem, ex-justice minister Anderson Torres and former defence minister Braga Netto. They are accused of plotting to violently overthrow the democratic order, attempting a coup and forming a criminal organization. All reject the allegations. The next step in the case is for prosecutors and defence lawyers to present evidence and summon witnesses. The Supreme Court will later issue a final ruling, with no option for appeal. Bolsonaro, who is already barred from holding public office until 2030, faces several other investigations. Authorities accuse him of illegally selling luxury watches and jewellery received as official gifts from Saudi Arabia. He also allegedly ordered falsified Covid-19 vaccination records for himself, his family and staff claims he has repeatedly denied. Popular meteorologist Bree Smith's emotional testimony Wednesday about being a victim of sexually charged AI deepfake videos highlights the challenges she and her employer at the time had in getting them removed. "When I asked my employer for help, I was told that nothing could be done, it was not illegal and I had no recourse," Smith told the state House Criminal Justice Subcommittee. "I felt humiliated and scared. I didn't know what to do or how to fight it, and I didn't know how to protect the viewers and the people that trusted me online from being subject to this kind of extortion." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NewsChannel 5 station manager Richard Eller said in a statement to The Tennessean that WTVF "wholeheartedly" shares Smith's frustrations and tried hard to stop impostors, to no avail. "We did everything in our power to help her, seeking expert advice to make sure we were doing all we could," Eller wrote. "We exhausted our options with the social media platforms to try to get them to take action, reported the situation to Metro Police, and launched an investigation through our corporate security team. Nothing worked." In her testimony, Smith said the people who created the fake images and videos were using them to try to convince Smith's fans to send them money. Bree Smith demands action from lawmakers over AI deepfake videos in powerful testimony In one case, Smith testified, a viewer received a few fake videos where it appeared Smith "promised many sexual acts and asked the viewer to send them money to book a two-night stay at the Conrad Hotel." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Personally, it has been very degrading and it plummeted me into a very dark depression," Smith testified. "Having my face, my reputation and my identity distorted into something so vile and vulnerable traumatized me and my family. Smith and NewsChannel 5 parted ways in January after nine years. Smith said she left after her contract ended but said nothing about whether the station attempted to renew her contract or if there were negotiations. NewsChannel 5 said at the time that managers "actively" worked to sign her to a new deal. Smith's lawyer, John Spragens, didn't directly respond to a question asking whether the station's handling of the deepfake images and video had anything to do with her departure from NewsChannel 5. But he did refer to "ongoing" talks with station management. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "[Smith] is focused on getting a law enacted to protect people from these types of violations of privacy and trust," Spragens said in a text message to The Tennessean. "We won't have any comment about her departure from NewsChannel 5 while discussions with the station and its parent company are ongoing." Since she left NewsChannel 5, Smith has continued to regularly post online on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X about the weather and about her life as a mom, wife and bird watcher. Each post regularly gets thousands of likes and hundreds of comments. Smith, 43, said in her testimony that she hopes to continue being a meteorologist in the Nashville market. Reach Brad Schmitt at brad@tennessean.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Bree Smith, NewsChannel 5 failed to get semi-nude deepfakes removed JAKARTA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's security forces have arrested three soldiers for allegedly being involved in the sale of weapons and ammunition to separatists in the country's far-eastern Papua region. The Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force, a joint operation by the country's army and police to curb armed separatist rebels in Papua, reported on Tuesday that the three suspects were arrested in connection with a case involving seven civilians recently named as suspects in similar illicit sales. The seven suspects reportedly operated in different provinces, supplying weapons and ammunition to the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM). Task force chief Faizal Ramadhani said in a statement that the detained soldiers were interrogated last Friday in the West Java city of Bandung. The three soldiers are currently detained at the Indonesian Army's Siliwangi Military Command in Bandung. Indonesia's security forces have frequently clashed with Papuan separatists, resulting in casualties on both sides. The TPNPB has been waging a guerrilla war for decades in pursuit of an independent state, targeting military and police personnel as well as civilians. A rise in women choosing to have children later in life means Britain must rely on immigration to boost its birth rate, an ageing expert has warned. Sarah Harper, professor of gerontology at Oxford University, told the Lords economic affairs committee that the replacement rate of at least 2.1 children per mother, which the UK needs to sustain its population, is unlikely to ever return. Instead, the UK and other ageing nations must turn to foreign-born mothers to boost population growth, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The official fertility rate in England and Wales is at a record low of 1.44 births per woman. Figures published at the end of last year showed that the number of children born to British mothers has fallen by a quarter in 15 years. Meanwhile, the fertility rate for foreign-born mothers has jumped to past two years to 2.03 children per woman, close to the UKs replacement rate. Prof Harper said: We have to accept that we are going to be in low-fertility societies. And the only we can compensate for that is by looking at migration. We have a growing group of women who want to have children later, and they maybe only want to have one child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The idea that we are going to be able to replace ourselves by births alone, I really cannot see that coming back. The ageing expert said there had been a generational shift as a lot of women who would have previously believed that to be adult and female was probably to have children are now reconsidering this. Experts have suggested that more women are choosing to prioritise careers or buying a house over having a baby, meaning many are having children later in life or not at all. In the UK the average age at which mothers give birth has risen from 26.4 in 1975 to 30.9 in 2022, the highest since records began. At the same time, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has projected that the number of people aged over 85 will nearly double to 3.3m by 2047. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prof Harpers comments comes days after Andrew Bailey, the Governor of the Bank of England, warned that Britains ageing population poses a major obstacles to growth. Prof Harper noted that even in countries which have introduced policies to boost births, fertility rates have continued to plunge. The ONS said earlier this year that the UK population is projected to hit 72.5m by 2032, driven by a 4.9m increase in net migration. Meanwhile the non-immigrant population is expected to remain flat, with 6.8m births and 6.8m deaths. However, Prof Harper warned that Britain cannot rely on migration in the long term as almost the whole world is going to be ageing, meaning the UK will be forced to compete with other countries for younger workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked whether there was a birth rate level where the red lights really start flashing on the sustainability of a population, Prof Harper said: We used to say 1.5. The reason is, if societies dip down below 1.5, they went from a two-child norm to a one-child norm. She said this means people grow up in a society where everyone has one child, so your society is geared up to having just one child which can make it very difficult to rise up to have two or three children. Prof Harper said the real fear is the speed at which the change is happening. She added: In single generations youre having women who maybe had several siblings and theyre having one or no children. 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. AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) The major makeover planned for Broad Street is causing major concerns for the people worried about doing business during the work. You know, months or years in some cases, which these projects are taking, I dont see some surviving, said Penelope Ballas-Stewart, Broad Street restaurant owner. Downtown business owners went before commissioners on Tuesday, saying there is concern, even fear, when it comes to the impact of the Broad Street project. Two years of construction, any business owner is worried. You just hope your patrons stick with you, loyal customers and some hope, you get through it, said Dennis Abrams a Broad Street business owner. Business owners said construction crews need to do their jobs without getting in the way of their jobs. Just access to the business 24/7, thats one thing part of the management of this project needs to give us access communicate with us, said business owner Brad Usry. Business owners were shocked when the plans showed a significant reduction in parking spots. Augustas Traffic Engineer told commissioners the plans have been redesigned to add 150 parking spots, but business owners say that still doesnt make up for all the spaces that will be lost. Is it a net gain? Which is what we hope for and what we were told when this project was first introduced, that it would be a net gain on Broad Street, not as loss, said Ballas-Stewart. Commissioners and the business owners understand with progress comes pain, but this discussion is being called a step in the right direction. I heard a sense of cooperation up there, I think everybodys on board. They know how important this is for the businesses owners and for Augusta in general because this project is a game changer, said Usry. But for Broad Street businesses, change may not be for the 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 WJBF. A 37-year-old Brooklyn mom and pediatric nurse was arrested for allegedly whipping her child with an extension cord after cops found the 9-year-old boy wandering the streets after midnight, police said. Tsahay Nurse is facing second-degree assault charges after cops found the boy by himself at Flatbush and Snyder Aves. in Flatbush at 12:38 a.m. Tuesday, cops said. Its Nurses first arrest, according to police. The child, who had multiple lacerations on both his arms, according to police, told officers that he had run away from home because Nurse had whipped him with an extension cord. The boy also said Nurse punched him in the chest and choked him, cops said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A police source with knowledge of the case told the Daily News that the mother became upset and aggressive over a ski mask the boy had in his possession. Shes a single mother who is disciplining her kids because he did something that he wasnt supposed to do, the childs great-aunt, Jennifer Braithwaite, told the Daily News. At around the time the child was found wandering the streets, Nurse, who lives about five blocks away, called 911 reporting her son missing. Braithwaite said the family had been looking for the child for about two hours before Nurse called the cops. Responding officers took Nurse to Flatbush Ave., where she identified the child as her son. After hearing the boys claims, she was taken into custody on suspicion of child abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Braithwaite said the child had never been inappropriately disciplined before and is well-treated. Nurse is a practicing pediatric nurse, according to her LinkedIn profile. The child was taken to University Hospital at Downstate for observation. His father went with him, cops said. Kim Nurse, the childs grandmother, said the boy ran out of the house after he was disciplined. Thats when we started looking for him, she said. Cops also charged Tsahay Nurse with strangulation, child abandonment, criminal obstruction of breathing, harassment and disorderly conduct, cops said. Her arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court was pending Wednesday. This story has been updated. Europeans should stockpile enough food and water to last 72 hours in case of emergencies, including attack by a foreign power and natural disasters, Brussels has said. On Wednesday, the European Commission said its new EU preparedness union strategy would help citizens prepare for risks including geopolitical crises, pandemics, cyber attacks, extreme weather caused by climate change and invasion. The strategy focuses on improving early warning systems, ensuring the continuity of essential services such as healthcare and drinking water and helping citizens prepare for crises. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In launching the initiative, its chief said this must be the new European way of life. Brussels also advised its member states to integrate preparedness lessons into school curricula and introduce an EU Preparedness Day to raise awareness. The call to action for the 450 million citizens comes amid persistent fears over Russian aggression, as well as after recent flooding and wildfires. Donald Trump, the US president, has also urged the bloc to take more responsibility for its own security and cast doubt on Nato guarantees for the protection of Europe. The commission said the EU was facing increasingly complex crises and challenges that cannot be ignored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As well as natural disasters, it listed, growing geopolitical tensions and conflicts, hybrid and cybersecurity threats, foreign information manipulation and interference. Europe must be ready for anything As she unveiled the new strategy, Hadja Lahbib, the European preparedness and crisis management commissioner, said: Todays threats facing Europe are more complex than ever, and they are all interconnected. She said it was important to make sure people have essential supplies for at least 72 hours in a crisis, listing food, water, torches, ID papers, medicine and short-wave radios as items to stock. Ready for anything this must be our new European way of life, she said in a post on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commission would now develop guidelines to reach a population self-sufficiency of minimum 72 hours, according to the strategys action plan. Ms Lahbib said the EU should build up a strategic reserve and stockpile other critical resources including firefighting planes, medical, energy and transport equipment and specialised assets against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats. Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, said: New realities require a new level of preparedness in Europe. Our citizens, our member states and our businesses need the right tools to act both to prevent crises and to react swiftly when a disaster hits. The EUs plans are similar to those in France, Finland and Sweden. Last year, the Conservative government said that Britons should stockpile three days of food and water. 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. Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez) Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody, left, tries to knock the ball away from Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez) Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody, left, tries to knock the ball away from Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez) Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez) Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody, left, tries to knock the ball away from Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez) MILWAUKEE (AP) Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard likely will be sidelined indefinitely, with the team announcing Tuesday night that he has deep vein thrombosis in his right calf and is taking blood-thinning medication. The Bucks provided the update on the seven-time All-NBA guards status without offering a target date for his potential return. Lillard has missed the last three games for the Bucks, who close a five-game trip Wednesday at Denver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel. Damians health is our No. 1 priority, Bucks general manager Jon Horst said in a statement. We will support him as he moves through this weekly process of strict criteria to ensure that it is safe for him to return to play. Doctors have indicated that his situation is very unlikely to occur again. We are thankful that this was identified and medicated quickly, which helps with the recovery. The Bucks said Lillards medication has stabilized the thrombosis and that he will continue with regular testing. Lillard, 34, is the second high-profile player to be sidelined this season because of DVT. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs was diagnosed with it in his shoulder after he returned from the All-Star Game last month and was quickly ruled out for the season. He, like Lillard, is on blood-thinning medication, but doctors have assured the Spurs that there is no concern for Wembanyamas long-term health. Such cases have affected NBA players before, including Hall of Famer Chris Bosh whose career was cut short after he was diagnosed with blood clots while playing with Miami. Brandon Ingram, now with the Toronto Raptors, had his 2018-19 season end early because of deep vein thrombosis when he was with the Los Angeles Lakers. Detroits Ausar Thompson had a clot issue that saw him miss the end of the 2023-24 season. DVT typically develops in the lower leg, so the diagnosis of it in Lillards calf is not uncommon. The injury puts on hold a season in which Lillard earned his ninth All-Star Game selection. He was ranked 10th in the NBA in assists (7.1) and 11th in scoring (24.9). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His situation raises the possibility that the Bucks could open the playoffs without one of their two superstars for a second straight season. Milwaukee went out in the first round of the playoffs for a second consecutive season last year when a calf injury prevented two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo from playing at all in a 6-game loss to the Indiana Pacers. The Bucks (40-31) are in a virtual tie with the Detroit Pistons (41-32) for fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings, two games behind fourth-place Indiana (42-29). The top four teams in the conference earn home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. ___ AP Pro Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami contributed to this report. ___ AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) On Tuesday, the Oklahoma Senate advanced a new proposed measure that would require new homeless shelters to be within 3,000 feet of schools around children. Senate Bill 484, authored by Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman, seeks compliance prohibiting new homeless shelters from being located within 3,000 feet of schools in areas with fewer than 300,000 residents. Senate Bill 484 has undergone significant changes since I first introduced it, but at its core, this measure remains focused on preserving public safety, Standridge said. Ive spoken with countless parents, educators, and school officials in my district who strongly support creating buffer zones between local schools and homeless shelters, which can become hotspots for drug use, crime, and other activities that threaten the safety and well-being of our children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Standridge noted, violence shelters and youth shelters are exempt. OKC citizens will still review viral OKCPD use of force investigation following resignation This legislation will not close any homeless shelters because it does not affect existing facilities, and it does not apply to shelters operating within churches or other places of worship. I firmly believe that this bill strikes a thoughtful balance between providing community services to those in need while ensuring our schools have a safe and secure environment for kids to learn and play, said Standridge. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgaria's parliament on Wednesday approved an $82.7 million purchase of Javelin anti-tank guided missiles from the United States to modernise the country's army and protect its territorial integrity, BTA news agency reported. In September, the U.S. State Department approved the possible sale of Javelin FGM-148F missiles and related equipment to Bulgaria for $114 million. The purchase will provide the missiles necessary for the Stryker fighting vehicles that Bulgaria had agreed to obtain from the U.S. for $1.5 billion in 2023, lawmakers said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BTA said 164 deputies voted in favour of the deal, in the 240-seat parliament. Bulgaria, a member of NATO and the European Union, has stepped up efforts to replace its obsolete Soviet-era weapons systems with modern ones following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It also plans to boost arms production as the EU aims to increase defence funding for member states. (Reporting by Stoyan Nenov, writing by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by Gareth Jones) CIA Director John Ratcliffe answered no when asked if the Signal group chat during which national security information was allegedly leaked was a huge mistake, as fallout from this scandal continued during a Senate Intelligence Committee meeting on Tuesday. ALMATY, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The British oil and gas company Victoria Oil & Gas has filed a lawsuit against Kazakhstan under the provisions of the Energy Charter Treaty, Kazinform news agency reported on Tuesday. The case has been registered with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The Energy Charter Treaty which entered into force in 1998, contains provisions on investment protection and trade in the energy sector. The British company had already announced in April 2021 its intention to seek hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation over the termination of its contract for oil exploration and production at the Kemerkol field in Atyrau region, according to a Kazakhstan's non-governmental public organization Energy Monitor. Zhumagulov also recalled that in 2005, Victoria Oil & Gas acquired a 100 percent stake in Kemerkol from Saga Creek Gold Ltd for 8.5 million dollars. The company drilled several wells and estimated potential geological reserves at 15 million tons of oil. However, in 2008, its subsoil use contract was terminated without explanation. Later that same year, rights to Kemerkol were transferred to Bakyt Tau LLP for 360 million tenge (about 716 thousand U.S. dollars), and in 2016, they were sold to Ap-Nafta Operating LLP for 1.36 billion tenge (about 2.7 million U.S. dollars). (KRON) With utility companies constantly raising rates, two Bay Area state lawmakers are proposing legislation designed to restrict how that money is spent. The goal is to make sure the money you pay them is being spent to benefit customers and not on things like political campaigns and advertising. Proposed rate hike would give PG&E highest profit rate of any utility in the country When youre utility bill comes each month, keep a lookout on what you are paying for and what you should not be paying for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont want the utility companies, the investor-owned utility companies, to be using ratepayer money to do political advertising, to do lobbying, said California State Senator Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton). Bay Area lawmakers in both the state senate and the state assembly are working on legislation to strengthen state law to do just that. Last year, PG&E, in their rate making process with the PUC, tried to get $6 million that was they spent on these PR campaigns, on these advertising campaigns. They initially tried to get it to be rate payers that paid for that, said California State Assemblyman Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park). Berman says the bill would prevent ratepayer money being spent on political lobbying, public relations, or shareholder travel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Revel brings EV fast charging station to San Francisco: We are open for business Similar prohibitions can be found in new legislation from McNerney. However, it would prevent utilities from shutting off power when air quality is unhealthy as well as require power be turned back on for those who have already been shut off. For its part, PG&E says its committed to stabilizing customer bills but says the proposed legislation would not lead to any notable or immediate bill reductions. They point out that current state law already prohibits utilities from using customer funding for political contributions and certain advertising. If the CPUC determines that any safety communications do not meet the criteria for recovery, shareholders would cover those costs. Now, this is just the first step in the process for both of these bills. If they get the needed approval, its likely they could get to the governors desk sometime in the fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) California now has a warning system to let people know when harmful pesticides are being used near their neighborhoods. The name of the system is, spray days. For the past four years, the system has been in the works, but is now officially up and running. You can register on the spray day website to receive texts and emails about harmful pesticides spray schedules. The alerts will be sent out 24 hours in advance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Los Angeles Dodgers to make Trump White House visit next month The website also has an interactive map that shows where regulated pesticides are being used across the state. A Central Valley agriculture official said the system does not affect farmers. On the agricultural side, we have been putting these notices of intents out for restricted materials for some time it just now goes electronically so it can be part of the system there, said Ryan Jacobsen, CEO of the Fresno County Farm Bureau. The site does not show every pesticide, just the ones considered restricted and harmful to 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 KGET 17 News. A new California bill seeks to prohibit the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from forcing inmates to work. A similar measure, Proposition 6, would have banned the practice as well, but voters rejected it during the 2024 election. Introduced by Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City), AB 475 also calls on CDCR to develop a voluntary work program with regulations on assignments and wages. If the bill becomes law, starting Jan. 1, 2027, it will prohibit CDCR from requiring incarcerated individuals to work, with some exceptions. It would also require local governments to establish wages for county and city jail work programs through local ordinances, creating a state-mandated local program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Californians can receive up to $137 off their April utility bills. Heres how So far, the bill passed out of the public safety committee with a 6-1 vote. Two lawmakers, Assemblymembers James Ramos (D-San Bernardino) and Juan Alanis (R-Modesto), didnt vote. One lawmaker who opposed the bill, Assemblymember Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale), said during the hearing that he took issue with associating the prison workforce with slavery. He also said he couldnt support a bill the public has already voted against, according to the Sacramento Bee. Wilson addressed those claims, saying that history would prove Lackey wrong regarding his assessment of the association between involuntary servitude in prisons and slavery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also said that the language around Prop. 6 was confusing and recognized that there wasnt an overwhelming response of no. About 53.3% of voters voted no on Prop. 6, while 46.6% voted yes. The bill will now face another committee 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 KTLA. LOVES PARK, Ill. (WTVO) Loves Park Police arrested Tevyn Thorns, 28, for causing a crash that injured a woman and fleeing the scene, according to court records. On March 25, around 5 a.m., officers were called to the intersection of Forest Hills and Harlem Roads for a Jeep that was hit by another vehicle and span out into a pole. The woman told authorities that the suspect immediately left his car and fled on foot. Winnebago County Sheriffs Deputies took Thorns into custody soon after. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman had head pain due to the collision and was taken to a local hospital for her injuries. Authorities later found that Thorns had suspended licenses in Illinois and California and could not provide proof of insurance for the vehicle. Thorns is charged with vehicle crash causing injury, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, failure to reduce speed, operating an uninsured vehicle and driving on a suspended license. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. A family is facing the unimaginable after their loved one, an experienced Caltrans contract worker, was killed by a motorist at a construction site on a Southern California freeway late last week. The tragic incident unfolded in the westbound lanes of the 91 Freeway just before 4 a.m. in Buena Park, according to officials with the California Highway Patrol. The exact details of the crash are under investigation, but officials said that a 22-year-old man behind the wheel of a 2020 Dodge Ram pickup truck struck 45-year-old Jose Mantecon, a resident of Corona. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The young man remained at the scene and performed CPR on the victim until paramedics arrived and rushed the 45-year-old husband, devoted father and cherished friend to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased. Footage from the aftermath of the crash obtained by KTLA shows heavy damage to the front of the Dodge pickup, with debris strewn across the roadway as investigators with CHPs Major Accident Investigations Team walked the scene, marking evidence and looking for answers. Jose Mantecon, 45, a resident of Corona is seen in this undated family photo. (Mantecon family via GoFundMe) Aftermath of a fatal crash seen on the westbound 91 Freeway in Buena Park that claimed the life of a 45-year-old Caltrans contractor on March 21, 2025. (O.C. Hawk) Aftermath of a fatal crash seen on the westbound 91 Freeway in Buena Park that claimed the life of a 45-year-old Caltrans contractor on March 21, 2025. (O.C. Hawk) Aftermath of a fatal crash seen on the westbound 91 Freeway in Buena Park that claimed the life of a 45-year-old Caltrans contractor on March 21, 2025. (O.C. Hawk) Aftermath of a fatal crash seen on the westbound 91 Freeway in Buena Park that claimed the life of a 45-year-old Caltrans contractor on March 21, 2025. (O.C. Hawk) Aftermath of a fatal crash seen on the westbound 91 Freeway in Buena Park that claimed the life of a 45-year-old Caltrans contractor on March 21, 2025. (O.C. Hawk) Joses wife, Carla Mantecon, said it was a typical day. She made him dinner for the overnight shift and kissed him before he said goodbye to his two children, Maddie, 12, and Logan, 9, as he left for work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like a firefighter or police officer, you kiss them goodbye, Carla told KTLAs Sara Welch. Its a very dangerous job. Describing her husband as the familys anchor and light, Carla said she is speaking out for two reasons: to honor Jose and to raise awareness about the dangers highway workers face on the job every time they go to work. I dont want another wife, child, mother or father, sister or brother to miss their loved one, she explained. It just tears apart an entire family. The widow and her brother are now advocating for heightened safety measures to protect highway workers, as well as tougher laws and stiffer penalties for those who break them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He wants me to be strong and carry on, Carla said of Jose. Of course, Im doing it to honor him, so he didnt die in vain. Unfortunately, it had to be my husband. A GoFundMe organized for the family described the 45-year-old as someone who left a lasting impression on everyone he met he was hardworking, steady, deeply kind, and he always showed up and poured his heart into everything he did. So far, the 22-year-old pickup driver has not been publicly identified. Officials said he is cooperating with the investigation and that alcohol and or drugs are not suspected in the deadly collision. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CAMDENTON, Mo A week after issuing a burn ban, the county announced it is lifting its ban. For much of mid-March, firefighters in the Camden County area were busy battling wildfires that broke out. Dry and windy conditions fueled several wildfires that kept multiple departments busy. Emergency Management Director John Scheper told Ozarks First an estimated 2,500 to 3,500 acres burned. On March 18th, a ban on burning was put into place until April 1st. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, the Camden County Commission signed a notice revoking that order as of midnight on March 25: Courtesy: Camden County, MO Emergency Management Before the ban was put in place, over two dozen structures had been damaged, and over 30 vehicles, including boats, have been caught in the flames. Several homes were evacuated, and fires had sparked on both sides of Highway 54. At one point, the Camden County Commission declared a state of emergency. With calmer winds expected Wednesday, humidity increasing, and low chances for rain forecast over the next few days in the area, fire danger is suppressed. However, the Missouri Division of Fire Safety offers some tips for safe burning here. For the latest forecasts, follow Ozarks First on all social media platforms and download the Ozarks First news and weather apps. Ozarks First News App: Ozarks First Weather App: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. Canada has barred electric vehicle (EV) giant Tesla from all of its rebate programs and banned the Texas-based automotive company from future electric vehicle rebate programs over President Trumps tariff back-and-forth with Ottawa. Canadas transport minister, Chrystia Freeland, said in a Tuesday statement to Reuters that Tesla will not be eligible for the rebate program as long as the illegitimate and illegal U.S. tariffs are imposed against Canada. Trump slapped a sweeping 25 percent tariff on Mexico and Canada three weeks ago, only to delay most of it until at least April 2. The president is set to announce new automobile tariffs on Wednesday, Bloomberg News reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who this week called a new election, wrote that auto parts cross the Canada-U.S. border six times on average before final assembly. In a trade crisis, thats a vulnerability. Its time to build more cars right here at home with an All-In-Canada auto manufacturing network, the new prime minister said Wednesday on the social media platform X. Ottawas move halts around $30 million in rebate payments to Tesla, a company led by tech billionaire and close Trump adviser Elon Musk. Before the program was shuttered, Tesla submitted a substantial number of rebate claims, with one Tesla dealership in Quebec City seeking almost $14 million in subsidies, according to the Toronto Star, which first reported on the rebate freeze. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Freeland said each of Teslas rebate claims submitted before the freeze would be probed individually before being approved. Earlier this month, Tesla warned the Trump administration that Tesla and other U.S. exporters could be targeted with retaliatory tariffs in light of Trumps escalating trade war. While Tesla recognizes and supports the importance of fair trade, the assessment undertaken by USTR of potential actions to rectify unfair trade should also take into account exports from the United States, Tesla said in a March 11 letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. U.S. exporters are inherently exposed to disproportionate impacts when other countries respond to U.S. trade actions, said the unsigned three-page letter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hill has reached out to Tesla 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. Editors Note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Canada updated its travel advisory. (NewsNation) Canada has updated its travel advisory to the United States amid concerns surrounding some of President Donald Trumps policies. New rule for Canadians in the US Starting April 11, Canadians who will be in the United States for more than 30 days will have to register with United States authorities. If they dont, it could result in penalties, fines and misdemeanors, according to the advisory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This rule was previously unenforced, the Vancouver Sun reports. It is now mandated under Trumps Protecting the American People Against Invasion order. Top Trump officials face calls to resign amid Signal chat fallout Newsweek writes that this advisory update comes as Canadian and other foreign tourists have been detained at the U.S. border over visa concerns and documentation mismatches. People have also had issues with passports because of an executive order from Trump that requires the documents to reflect the sex a person was assigned at birth. Axios reports that European countries such as Finland, Denmark and Germany also have warned people to exercise caution in their travel advisories for any transgender and non-binary people who want to go to the U.S. Canada, US trade war adds to tensions Adding to the tension between Canada and U.S. are the trade war between the two, as well as Trumps repeated remarks that Canada should be the 51st state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged those from Canada to stay in the country for vacations in a speech last month, The New York Times reported. New Social Security requirements call for in-person checks Statistics Canada writes that the number of Canadians returning to the United States by car went down 23% in February. It said Canadian residents flew back from 585,700 trips to the United States in the same month, a 13.1% decline from last year. Harold White, 72, who lives in Quebec, told the New York Times that he decided that he will no longer be traveling to the United States unless its absolutely necessary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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, White said. But this time around, really, I feel like Canadians have been slapped across the face by Trump. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. BANGKOK, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Thai police convened an international meeting here on Wednesday to strengthen cooperation in the fight against cybercrime and human trafficking. The meeting assessed the overall situation and focused on establishing effective coordination channels to combat call-center scams and provide support for victims. The meeting discussed how to develop joint operational mechanisms, reviewed and improved repatriation procedures, emphasizing information sharing and strategic planning to combat cybercrime and human trafficking. Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, senior inspector general of Thai police, highlighted the importance of the ongoing international cooperation, particularly in sharing post-repatriation investigation results to support victim identification and law enforcement efforts. Thatchai also underscored Thailand's increased security measures along its borders to prevent criminal networks from using the kingdom as a transit route to or from neighboring states. TORONTO (AP) Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump's auto tariffs are a direct attack on his country and that the trade war is hurting Americans, noting that American consumer confidence is at a multi-year low. Trump said earlier Wednesday that he was placing 25% tariffs on auto imports and, to underscore his intention, he stated, This is permanent. This is a very direct attack, Carney responded. We will defend our workers. We will defend our companies. We will defend our country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carney said he needs to see the details of Trump's executive order before taking retaliatory measures. He called it unjustified and said he will leave the election campaign to go to Ottawa on Thursday to chair his special Cabinet committee on U.S. relations. Carney earlier announced a CA$2 billion ($1.4 billion) strategic response fund that will protect Canadian auto jobs affected by Trumps tariffs. Autos are Canadas second-largest export. Carney noted the sector employs 125,000 Canadians directly and almost another 500,000 in related industries. Canada will be there for auto workers, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump previously granted a one-month exemption on his stiff new tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada for U.S. automakers. The president has plunged the U.S. into a global trade war all while on-again, off-again new levies continue to escalate uncertainty. The Conference Board reported Tuesday that its U.S consumer confidence index fell 7.2 points in March to 92.9, the fourth straight monthly decline and its lowest reading since January of 2021. His trade war is hurting American consumers and workers and it will hurt more. I see that American consumer confidence is at a multi-year low, Carney said earlier while campaigning in Windsor, Ontario ahead of Canadas April 28 election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tax hike on auto imports starting in April means automakers could face higher costs and lower sales. Trump previously placed 25% tariffs on Canadas steel and aluminum and is threatening sweeping tariffs on all Canadian products as well as on all of Americas trading partners on April 2. He wants to break us so America can own us, Carney said. And it will never ever happen because we just dont look out for ourselves, we look out for each other. Carney, a former two-time central banker in Canada and the U.K., made the earlier comments while campaigning against the backdrop of the Ambassador Bridge, which is considered the busiest U.S.-Canadian border crossing, carrying 25% of all trade between the two countries. It plays an especially important role in auto manufacturing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carney said the bridge carries $140 billion Canadian dollars ($98 billion) in goods every year and CA$400 million ($281 million) per day. "Now those numbers and the jobs and the paychecks that depend on that are in question," Carney said. The relationship between Canada and the United States has changed. We did not change it. In the auto sector, parts can go back and forth across the Canada-U.S. border several times before being fully assembled in Ontario or Michigan. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, whose province has the bulk of Canadas auto industry, said auto plants on both sides the border will shut simultaneously if the tariffs go ahead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President is calling it Liberation Day. I call it Termination Day for American workers. I know President Trump likes tell people Your fired! I didnt think he meant U.S. auto workers when he said it, Ford said. 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. Canadians booed Trump repeatedly at a Carney election rally in Kitchener, Ontario. The new prime minister, sworn in March 14, still hasnt had a phone call with Trump. It is unusual for a U.S. president and Canadian prime minister to go so long without talking after a new leader takes office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It would be appropriate that the president and I speak given the action that he has taken. Im sure that will happen soon, Carney said. Opposition Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said the tariffs will damage American auto workers just as they will damage Canadian auto workers. "The message to President Trump should be to knock it off," Poilievre said. He's changed his mind before. He's done this twice, puts them on, takes them off. We can suspect that may well happen again. AUSTIN (KXAN) Searching for a sense of belonging and family, Saulo Cooper wound up in a gang as a teenager. It would lead him to 11 years total, behind bars. I was shot at, I shot at people, Cooper said. I searched for family outside of a family unit. I didnt have one. And wound up somewhere I really didnt want to be. Cooper said his two brothers also wound up in prison, accused of capital murder. Saulo Cooper, Community Violence Prevention Leader childhood photos. (Photo provided by Saulo Cooper). Saulo Cooper, Community Violence Prevention Leader childhood photos. (Photo provided by Saulo Cooper). Years later, Cooper has turned his pain into purpose. Hes now is a Community Violence Prevention leader and has even won awards for his work. He works with various groups, going out in neighborhoods to try to prevent the same type of violence that he got caught up in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Austinites deserve better than this: Austin wont get almost $10 million in requested federal funding Because of what hes been through, and being on the other side of it all now, it weighs heavily on him knowing federal money dedicated to the very programs that helped turn his life around wont be available for the City of Austin this year. Its sad, because the truth is, Im here and alive because of education, Cooper said. Its important for society to see what education and equipping [people with the right resources] can do for a felon. Saulo Cooper, Community Violence Prevention Leader volunteer work. (Photo provided by Saulo Cooper). Saulo Cooper, Community Violence Prevention Leader volunteer work. (Photo provided by Saulo Cooper). The city of Austin will miss out on about $9.7 million worth of federal funding that had been requested for various projects. That includes $1,184,000 for the Austin Violence Intervention Program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No unified process to track Austin criminals who shouldnt have guns President Trump signed legislation last week that funds the government through the end of September, averting a partial government shutdown. The law also shelved all pending requests for Congressional Community Funding (CCF). CCF requests are funds provided by Congress. The funds are directed by members of Congress to specific projects within their own districts. Austin has received about $23.6 million of funding through the program since Fiscal Year 2022, according to a press release from the city Friday. The Austin Violence Prevention Program funds are funneled through the City of Austins Office of Violence Prevention, according to community violence prevention nonprofit Life Anew. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cooper, who also works with Life Anew, said some of the federal funds were used for things like helping pay for counseling services, staff, supplies, food for community events and more. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, is also nervous what this could mean for the city overall, this year he told KXANs Grace Reader on Wednesday. Were going to be facing a budget cycle this time, that is going to be a difficult budget cycle, Watson said. Austin Public Health oversees the Office of Violence Prevention, where the federal funds for the violence intervention project would have been funneled through. However, it wouldnt do an interview, and did not answer KXANs specific questions about what the federal money lost would have gone toward holistically. It provided KXAN with a statement. Austin Public Healths current community violence intervention work is not affected by this development and the department will be able to continue its investments for this essential service to our community. Austin Public Health Still, in the meantime, Cooper plans to community fundraise to help possibly offset any impact to losing federal money. True light always shines brighter in the darkness, Cooper said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. ST. LOUIS Anheuser-Busch has withdrawn its sponsorship of St. Louis PrideFest after 30 years. Event organizers say they have no plans to cancel. Canceling Pride is not an option, Jordan Braxton, Pride St. Louis board member, said. We will always be here. Like we said in the 80s, Were here, were queer; were not going anywhere, so get used to it. But PrideFest 2025, slated to take place around Soldiers Memorial Park in downtown St. Louis on June 28 and 29, is going for a grassroots effort this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pride St. Louis members were saddened to lose such a historic supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community. A-Bs withdrawal is especially painful at a time when many sponsors are reducing their contributions. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News A-B suffered a decline in sales in 2023 amid controversy over a partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. I think that was the catalyst that started everything, Braxton said. Weve seen since then that their support of pride organizations has gone down. What we want to say to AB is were hurt by this. Youre not only hurting Pride St. Louis, but youre also hurting the entire [LGBTQIA+] community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At present, Pride St. Louis is more than $150,000 short of last years funding total. The board of directors are working to modify the budget for the event. The organization has launched a fundraising campaign commemorating what it calls 45 years of advocacy for the community. FOX 2 News reached out to Anheuser-Busch management for comment on its decision, but we have not heard back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. A candidate the Lackawanna County Democratic Committee advanced to potentially replace former Commissioner Matt McGloin worked as a consultant for the committees executive director, documents obtained by The Times-Tribune show. Former county economic development Director Brenda Sacco is listed as a consultant on a document related to a state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant that businessman and developer Alpesh Patel, the committees executive director, secured for a hotel and event space project at the former Gertrude Hawk property on Drinker Street in Dunmore. Patel applied in 2023 for $3 million in RACP funding to support the hotel development and secured a $500,000 state grant for the project last year. State Sen. Marty Flynn, D-22, Dunmore, announced in November the $500,000 RACP award to Alsqstop Real Estate LLC, Patels firm. It was one of nearly 20 local projects Flynn highlighted for receiving RACP funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sacco who led the countys Department of Planning and Economic Development for about five years before McGloin and fellow Democratic Commissioner Bill Gaughan dismissed her in January 2024 is one of three candidates the Democratic Committee advanced for consideration by the judges of the County Court of Common Pleas to potentially succeed McGloin, who resigned last month. County President Judge James Gibbons recently paused that replacement process after Gaughan and the county challenged it in court. The process that played out late last month saw county Democratic Party leaders, including Patel and county Democratic Chairman Chris Patrick, use a scoring rubric to narrow a list of 18 applicants for the vacancy to three finalists. Those three finalists Sacco, Olyphant Borough Council President James Baldan and Scranton School Director Robert J. Casey were put before the county partys full executive committee, which voted to advance them to the judges. Sacco is identified as a consultant on a state Grantee Selection & Partner Portal Assignment Worksheet related to Patels Dunmore project. The worksheet identifies the grantee for the project and the people, including Sacco and Patel, wholl be granted permission to upload documents and access and view project information through a partner portal. County economic development Director Kristin Magnotta, whom Gaughan and McGloin hired shortly after dismissing Sacco, said Sacco worked as a consultant for Patel after her separation from the county. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was hired by Al, Magnotta said of Sacco. She was not a consultant for Lackawanna County. Specific details of Saccos consulting work and whether it is ongoing remain unclear. Neither Sacco nor Patel responded to multiple attempts to reach them for comment and context. But the apparent business relationship preceded the Democratic Committees advancing of Sacco as a finalist to replace McGloin as commissioner. Gaughan has criticized that process as nontransparent and politically tainted. Patrick has defended the process in the face of those criticisms, and unequivocally defended Saccos resume and qualifications Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patrick said he didnt know anything about Saccos consulting work, but pointed to her professional background and extensive economic development experience with the county. Consulting on a development project involving grant funding would be consistent with her background and expertise, he said. Sacco joined the county economic development office in August 2013 as deputy director of operations and finance under Director George Kelly, who left in January 2019. Kelly ran for commissioner that year as incumbent Democratic Commissioner Jerry Notariannis running mate, but didnt advance beyond the primary. Commissioners elevated Sacco in early 2019 to replace Kelly as director, initially in an acting capacity. She served through the next administration of Notarianni, fellow Democratic Commissioner Debi Domenick and Republican Commissioner Chris Chermak, often earning praise for her performance. Gaughan and McGloin gave no specific reason for letting her go. Brenda Sacco has a resume that would blow your mind if you looked at it, Patrick said, noting he furnished the judges with three good candidates. And Brenda Sacco, if anybody wants to dispute her qualifications let me say this to you, shes more qualified by her resume to be the county commissioner than Bill Gaughan, Chris Chermak, Matt McGloin and probably 10 commissioners before (them). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rubric party leaders used to determine which three highest-scoring applicants to put before the full executive committee included points for government, professional and economic development experience, experience developing or helping to develop budgets, educational background and experience working for or with the county Democratic Committee. Patrick, who provided those details last week, acknowledged Wednesday that Patel participated in the process. Al Patels involved in my process because hes my executive director, hes been my executive director for three years, Patrick said, noting Patel wasnt making final decisions. I make final decisions as the chairman. Prior to the committees Feb. 27 vote to advance Sacco, Baldan and Casey, Gaughan held a press conference to introduce Dunmore Mayor Mark Max Conway Jr. as his preferred choice to replace McGloin. He later blasted the committee process as opaque, arguing it threatens to turn the county over to a small group of politicos. Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan concludes a press conference after announcing Dunmore Mayor Max Conway, right, as his preferred choice to replace former Commissioner Matt McGloin in the Commissioners Conference Room at the Government Center in Scranton Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conway has also criticized the process. I think most people see this process for what it is, he said the day after the committee vote. I knew who the three finalists were an hour before the vote and the meeting started. How is that possible? Whether the Democratic Committee process will ultimately stand remains to be seen. The question will be decided in court. County solicitor Donald Frederickson and attorneys with the Scranton law firm Myers, Brier & Kelly filed a petition last week on behalf of Gaughan and the county asking the county court to amend a March 6 order on the process of replacing McGloin. They specifically seek an amendment bringing the order into compliance with Pennsylvania Rule of Judicial Administration 1908, effectively removing the Democratic Committee from the process of filling McGloins seat for the almost three years remaining on his unexpired term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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. Whether the county remains a party to the legal action also remains to be seen after the solicitor representing Chermak, Paul J. LaBelle, asked in a court filing Monday for the county to be removed as a party. Chermak opposes the countys involvement. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is calling on the key figures at the heart of the Trump administrations group messaging scandal to resign and if they wont go on their own, he said President Donald Trump should fire them. Beyond negligent, theyre just arrogant and feel they can do whatever they want, he told the MeidasTouch Network. Theres no accountability. National security adviser Michael Waltz reportedly added Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, by accident to a group chat in the Signal app in which leading officials discussed classified war plans in Yemen and other highly sensitive matters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group chat had 18 members total including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and billionaire Steve Witkoff, who is Trumps envoy to Ukraine and the Middle East. None of them apparently bothered to say, Hey, folks, we shouldnt be talking about this shit in a commercial chat on a commercial app, he said. This is the most negligent handling of highly sensitive information. The fact that no one mentioned it, Schiff said, suggests this wasnt the first time they used the app to discuss sensitive information. Schiff pointed out that Hegseth went straight to the lie by trying to blame Goldberg when asked about the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This ought to be his resignation, Schiff said of Hegseth. I think Tulsi Gabbard should resign. If she cant be trusted to know better with national security information, she cant be trusted with the nations secrets. He also named several others who should be out of a job as a result of the scandal. They should be fired or they should quit, he said. See more of his conversation on the MeidasTouch Network below: Mar. 26MOSES LAKE If Congress makes cuts to Medicaid, the results could be disastrous for Central and Eastern Washington, Sen. Maria Cantwell said at town hall meetings in Spokane and Richland last week. "This is a tsunami of cuts coming at the people of Washington and the United States of America," Cantwell, D-Wash., said. "And I guarantee you, this is not a drill." The cuts Cantwell was referring to haven't actually happened yet and may well not happen at all, said U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., who represents Washington's Fourth District including all of Grant County and the Othello area of Adams County. The Congressional budget resolution the U.S. House of Representatives passed Feb. 25 is a long way from the final budget and makes no mention of Medicaid. The Senate still has to vote on its own version of the budget resolution, then both houses will have to wrangle out the specifics before the budget is finalized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't think that number (in the House budget resolution) is going to stay the same," Newhouse said Thursday. "There's going to be a compromise between the houses, and I don't know what that number will be." The House budget resolution tasks the House Energy and Commerce Committee with finding a way to reduce projected spending by $880 billion over the next 10 years. Medicaid is the largest federal program the committee has jurisdiction over and trimming that much spending without touching Medicaid would be a challenge. Also, under the auspices of the Energy and Commerce Committee is the smaller Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP. According to a letter from the Congressional Budget Office to the House, the federal outlay for Medicaid is expected to increase between 2025 and 2034 by 4-6% each year and total more than $8 trillion over those 10 years. A cut in spending on Medicaid would not result in spending going down from one year to the next; it would merely lessen the rate at which the spending rises, according to an analysis by the Empire Center for Public Policy, a non-partisan think tank in New York. Medicaid is an important source of health care funding in Washington, as both Cantwell and Newhouse said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Nearly two million people in our state are on Apple Health (which is) our state Medicaid plan," Cantwell said. "When we expanded the Affordable Care Act, our Medicaid expansion, we added hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians that got better access to care and helped drive down health care costs by not having these people show up in uncompensated care at our hospitals." Medicaid funded $3.3 billion of hospital care in Washington, Cantwell added. According to data released by her office, 58% of reimbursements to Othello Community Hospital come from Medicaid. That figure is 30% for Samaritan Hospital and 27% for Columbia Basin Hospital. "(The budget resolution doesn't) necessarily translate into reductions for Medicaid services, or ... kicking people off the Medicaid program." Newhouse said. "That's not the goal. The goal is to make sure that all all the programs that we manage in government are done as efficiently as possible ... Almost 40% of the people who live in the Fourth District utilize Medicaid, so I'm very well aware of the impact that some of the worst-case scenario decisions can have on people that I represent." The key isn't to cut out services or decrease the number of people who benefit from it, Newhouse said; it's to make more efficient use of the money. "We are, as a country, $37 trillion in debt," Newhouse said. "We've got to make sure we're running the government as smartly as possible." (KRON) A car crashed into The UPS Store in Alameda on Tuesday, the City of Alameda Fire Department said on social media. The crash happened at the location on Blanding Avenue where a white BMW drove into the stores front door. The driver was taken to the hospital; the persons condition is unknown at this time. The crash was caused by the driver having a medical emergency, according to a city spokesperson. According to officials, no patrons or bystanders inside the store were injured. Citizen App video (above) shows the vehicle crashing into the front door. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Young woman killed in East Bay CHP chase identified A crashed into The UPS Store in Alameda on Tuesday, March 25.(Photo: City of Alameda Fire Department) A building inspector was requested to the scene to assess the damage. The UPS Store is located at 2601 Blanding Ave., which is in the Bridgeside Shopping Center. The plaza is right by the Tidal Canal. Bay City News contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. The News Venezuela dismissed Washingtons threat to impose tariffs on countries that buy its oil as arbitrary, illegal, and desperate. Analysts say the move to impose the so-called secondary tariffs on the Latin American nation over its alleged support for gang activity in the US is unprecedented, and could represent a potent new economic weapon: Tariffs are easier to enact than traditional sanctions and are harder to avoid. The threat of the tariffs has already driven up oil prices and drawn Beijings ire. But while the US and China are among the biggest buyers of Venezuelan crude, US purchases are likely to cease when a waiver on Chevron operating in the sanctions-hit country expires in May. SINGAPORE, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's manufacturing output fell 1.3 percent year-on-year in February, reversing a seven-month growth trend, the Singapore Economic Development Board said in a report released on Wednesday. Meanwhile, excluding biomedical manufacturing, output saw a slight increase of 0.3 percent. On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, manufacturing output declined 7.5 percent in February, with a sharper drop of 7.9 percent when excluding biomedical manufacturing. The decline was primarily driven by the electronics and biomedical manufacturing sectors, which saw year-on-year output contractions of 6.4 percent and 14.3 percent, respectively. Within the electronics cluster, the infocomms and consumer electronics segment expanded significantly by 32.2 percent. However, other segments saw declines, including computer peripherals and data storage by 1.5 percent, other electronics modules and components by 7.3 percent, and semiconductors by 9.5 percent. In biomedical manufacturing, the medical technology segment grew 12.4 percent on the back of strong export demand for medical devices. Conversely, pharmaceutical output plummeted 30.0 percent due to a different mix of active pharmaceutical ingredients and lower production of biological products compared to a year ago. Among other sectors, precision engineering and transport engineering posted growth, while chemicals and general manufacturing saw slight declines. Bret Dublinske, a lawyer for Summit Carbon Solutions, argues before the South Dakota Supreme Court on March 19, 2024. The case dealt with eminent domain and other related issues. (Dave Bordewyk/South Dakota NewsMedia Association) A carbon dioxide pipeline company has asked courts to pause or dismiss its pending legal fights against landowners and a state regulator in South Dakota after the states adoption of a law that prevents the company from using eminent domain. Eminent domain is a legal process for acquiring access to land for projects that have a public benefit, with compensation for landowners determined by a court. Its commonly used for projects such as electrical power lines, water pipelines, oil pipelines and highways. Some South Dakota landowners who oppose the Summit Carbon Solutions project sued to stop the company from surveying their property. They argued that doing so without just compensation was unconstitutional because soil sampling and other invasive practices would occur. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Summit said it had a right to survey the land because it had eminent domain authority. The company sued some landowners as well. The disputes ultimately reached the South Dakota Supreme Court, which determined Summit had not yet proven it meets the legal qualification for using eminent domain, and sent the cases back to lower courts. Lawsuits in which Summit no longer needed to survey the land in question because an agreement was reached or the route was changed were then dismissed, leaving four cases remaining. Summit filed a motion to dismiss those cases on March 20, two weeks after Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden signed the bill barring carbon pipeline projects from using eminent domain. Regulator case paused Meanwhile, a judge has paused Summits legal effort to remove an elected state regulator from its pipeline permitting case. Summit alleged the regulator has a conflict of interest. The company cited the eminent domain ban as part of its rationale for seeking a stay in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioner Kristie Fiegens sister-in-law is part of a trust that owns land on the proposed pipeline route. Fiegen declined to recuse herself from Summits permit application, and Summit sued to disqualify her from considering the permit. Both Summit and the state agreed to indefinitely stay the case, and a judge entered the stay on March 14. Permit pause sought Summit has also requested a pause for review and adjustment of its permit proceedings with the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission. The commission rejected Summits first application in 2023, largely due to the routes conflicts with local ordinances that mandate minimum distances between pipelines and existing features. Summit later adjusted its route and reapplied. The eminent domain ban has been hailed as a victory by some landowners who have resisted Iowa-based Summits proposed $9 billion project. The pipeline would transport carbon dioxide emissions from dozens of ethanol plants in five states to an underground storage site in North Dakota. It would qualify for billions in federal tax credits incentivizing the sequestration of heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project has permits in North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa, although some permits are being challenged in court. Nebraska does not have a permitting process. Summit has said it is not giving up on the project. In South Dakota, recent legislative changes have temporarily slowed our timeline, but they have not altered our vision or our determination, said Summit CEO Lee Blank in a press release. We remain confident that our project is moving forward in a way that benefits farmers, ethanol producers, and rural communities. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX (Bloomberg) -- Liberal Party Leader Mark Carney promised a C$2 billion ($1.4 billion) strategic response fund to help Canadian auto manufacturing and strengthen a supply chain thats under threat from US tariffs. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carney, who became prime minister less than two weeks ago, said a government led by him would try to build an all-in-Canada network for auto parts, working with industry to make more parts in the country and limit the number that have to cross the Canada-US border during production. But he gave few details on how that would work. On average, auto parts cross the border six times before final assembly. In a trade war, thats a huge vulnerability, Carney said Wednesday at an election campaign stop next to the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Windsor, Ontario, with Detroit. US President Donald Trump said this week he plans to announce automobile tariffs in the coming days, a major threat to the highly integrated North American vehicle supply chain. Most of the vehicles Canada produces are exported to the US. Carney called a snap election for April 28, trying to secure a mandate from voters after he won a Liberal Party leadership contest to replace Justin Trudeau. Carney and his chief rival, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, have been battling for votes from blue-collar workers at risk from Trumps tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carney also promised to maximize Canadas steel, aluminum and critical minerals sectors. He pledged government funding to build transmission and transportation networks to link extraction sites to rail lines and roads, as well as a one project, one review system that would speed environmental assessments. A Liberal government would prioritize Canadian vehicles in procurement in order to grow the domestic auto industry and create more union jobs, he said. Trumps tariffs have sparked urgency in Canada to find new export markets. Chinas ambassador told Bloomberg News on Tuesday that the Asian nation is interested in expanding trade with Canada if the Canadian government drops restrictions on Chinese investment. Under Trudeau, the government cracked down on Chinese involvement in Canadian critical minerals and technology projects. It also essentially matched the Biden administrations tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, aluminum and steel prompting China to roll out retaliatory levies on Canadian canola, pork and seafood this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carney on Wednesday dismissed accusations from Poilievre that he is beholden to China because of past business dealings in the country when he was working for Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. China is Canadas second-largest trading partner, he noted, and said the countries need to engage with each other on their current trade dispute. When you think about the auto sector and the future of the auto sector, weve got to understand where China is, where Chinas going, whether or not theres any room for partnership in that, he said. We want to diversify with like-minded partners, he added, highlighting that he traveled to Europe in his first days as prime minister to strengthen trade ties with France and the United Kingdom. There are partners in Asia that we can build deeper ties with, but the partners in Asia that share our values dont include China. Theres certain activity that we could have with China. We obviously do have a large amount of trade with them, but we have to be very careful, very deliberate, and they need to meet Canadian standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Updates with additional information, beginning in the fifth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Mark Carney recruited Timothy Hodgson, a former Goldman Sachs banker who was an adviser to him at the Bank of Canada, to run for the Liberal Party in the countrys election. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hodgson has taken an unpaid leave of absence as chair of Hydro One Ltd. to be a candidate for the Liberals, according to a statement from the Canadian electrical utility on Tuesday. Hell run in the suburban Toronto electoral district of Markham-Thornhill, according to the partys website. Its a seat the Liberals currently control. Hodgson has also stepped off the board of Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, where he was vice chair of the investment committee. Tim has been an engaging and impactful Board member since joining in January 2023 and we wish him all the best, Teachers Chair Steve McGirr said in an emailed statement. Hodgson worked with Carney at Goldman and joined the Bank of Canada as special adviser to him in 2010, when Carney was governor. The stint lasted a little more than a year and a half, according to Hodgsons LinkedIn profile, and his tasks included advising on monetary policy and on matters of financial stability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carney became Canadas prime minister on March 14 after winning the Liberal Party leadership race and called a national election just nine days later, saying he needed a mandate from voters. Polls show that its a tight race, with some surveys putting the Liberals in the lead and with a shot at winning a majority government. Last year, Hodgson was part of an effort by Gildan Activewear Inc.s board of directors to win a contentious proxy contest against some of the companys largest investors. He was appointed chairman in a last-ditch move to convince shareholders not to elect a new set of directors proposed by Browning West LP. This isnt my first rodeo, he told Bloomberg News at the time. The attempt failed, Browning West won the proxy vote, and Hodgson left the Gildan board about a month after hed joined it. (Updates with additional information on Hodgsons involvement in Gildan in the final two paragraphs.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he thinks President Trumps tariffs and trade war are going to hurt American consumers and workers. His trade war is hurting American consumers and workers and it will hurt more, Carney said while campaigning in Ontario, per The Associated Press. I see that American consumer confidence is at a multi-year low. Carney, who was recently sworn in to replace former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has clashed with Trump as the president implemented his 25 percent tariff plan on Canada and Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He recently called for a snap federal election to take place in April, noting that Canada needs to build the strongest economy and deal with Trumps tariff impacts. Theres a growing international concern over Trump plunging the U.S. into a trade war and Americans are worried prices on everyday goods will go up. Carney highlighted a common Canadian criticism of Trump, who has regularly claimed he wants to acquire the northern country and make it the 51st state of the U.S. He wants to break us so America can own us, he said. And it will never ever happen because we just dont look out for ourselves we look out for each other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carney, a former banker, was chosen by Canadas Liberal party at the start of this month after Trudeau stepped down. The new leader called for the snap election, which was to be expected as he does not have a seat in Parliament and the Liberal Party is not in the majority. Carney will have to face off against Conservative Party Pierre Poilievre on April 28. He spoke with constituents near the Ambassador Bridge, which is considered the busiest U.S.-Canadian border crossing. It connects Detroit and Ontario and fuels 25 percent of all trade between the two countries, The Associated Press reported. Carney noted there are hundreds of billions of dollars in goods that is transported across the bridge each year. There are paychecks and jobs that depend on that money, the outlet reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The relationship between Canada and the United States has changed. We did not change it, he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. When it comes to sustainability, moving the needle on manufacturing is a critical part of making progressparticularly because Scope 3 emissions account for so much of the fashion and apparel industrys footprint. At Sourcing Journals Sustainability Summit in New York, Chris Marshall, director of transparency at Cascale, joined Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journals sourcing and labor editor, to discuss the organizations future goals, the need for brand investment in greener manufacturing, the importance of making good on climate commitments and more. More from Sourcing Journal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marshall said Cascale works toward two main goals: combating climate change and fostering and advancing responsible purchasing practices. To make progress toward each of those goals, Cascale has inked partnerships with other industry organizations charged with tackling climate issues. By doing so, Marshall said, Cascale has been able to focus on what it does best: helping Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers with their footprints and goals. We all know that this industry doesnt need another decarbonization program, so we havent done that, he said, noting that Cascale has partnered with the Apparel Impact Institute (Aii) and Reset Carbon to advance existing work theyre doing around facility-level climate solutions. What we want to do at Cascale is, we want to partner that with brand commitment, commitment to these low-carbon sourcing manufacturers so that they can continue to investin these climate solutions. They have extremely extensive decarbonization roadmaps, and we just want to make sure that, we as brands, that were supporting them on their journey, Marshall said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That interest in supporting manufacturers has become a core piece of Cascales mission; in February, the organization acquired the Better Buying Institute (BBI), which helps brands understand how they can make more responsible purchasing decisions to positively impact their suppliers and the workers within those facilities. Our visions are aligned, and I think today, its a great opportunity for us, not only to expand our capabilitiesbut its also to signal to the industry that, here at Cascale, were very serious about representing the manufacturing [industrys] voice and advancing responsible purchasing practices across the consumer goods industry, he said. Part of truly supporting manufacturers comes with investing in their progress toward more sustainable outcomes, Marshall said. He further noted that, in conversations with manufacturers, he has determined that happens when brands help their suppliers purchase the necessary equipment to make significant progress. I had many conversations with prominent Tier 2 manufacturerspredominantly textile mills. I think the common point across all of these manufacturers is that all of the low-hanging fruit in regards to advancing climate has been picked, he said. If we are goingto make any strides toward our targets, its going to require huge capex expenditures.I dont think favorable financing terms [are] the answer to us hitting our targets, by any means. These manufacturers are not looking for more debt, at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The industry has long heralded sustainability legislation as a way forward in the fashion and apparel industry. But in some jurisdictions, progress has been slowand in the United States, President Donald Trumps administration has made it clear that climate is unlikely to be a priority. But the U.S. isnt the only area that remains top of mind for the industry. Marshall called the watering down of the European Unions Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) a real shame, but noted that it is unlikely to change the goals of companies truly interested in advancing their sustainability goals. Im a true believer that good businesses out there that are doing goodmeaning trying to become more sustainableneed the rules to change in order to level the playing field. But I also believe that those that were doing good will continue to do so, so its not going to all drop at the change of a hand. These brands and manufacturers have extensive decarbonization roadmaps that theyre working against, and thats not going to change drastically. Cascale hopes to see the commitments brands and manufacturers make continueand even increase. Early on in the conversation, Marshall noted that, to walk back on commitments could be deemed as being irresponsible. Instead, he urged, its the right time to accelerate efforts, even if regulation doesnt demand it. My real call to action for the industry is for companies to start to take some of this green transition into their own hands, he said. In the fashion industry, we put a lot of onus on the consumer to drive us through this green transition. But you can see, year after year, theyre not spending more on sustainability. Its now the opportunity for us as companiesto really start helping power that transition. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) said Trump intelligence officials lied when they said the information included in a Signal group chat regarding an airstrike in Yemen did not include classified information. The idea that this information, if it was presented to our committee, would not be classified yall know it was a lie. Thats ridiculous. Ive seen things much less sensitive be presented to us with high classification, Castro said Wednesday. And to say that it isnt is a lie to the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Castro made the comments to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who both told the Senate Intelligence Committee one day prior that the Signal chat discussing plans for airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen did not include classified information. The discussions came to light after Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently included in the group chat. There is no way, no way, having sat on this committee for nine years, that somebody would come in with that information and give us something that says unclassified, [that] you can walk out of this room with this information and give it to whomever you want. Ranking member Jim Himes (D-Conn.) noted earlier in Wednesdays hearing that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence classification guidelines say advanced war plans should be top secret. This is classified information. This is classified information! Its a weapon system, as well as sequence of strikes, as well as details about the operations, and so I think that just piggybacking off of what some other members have said, using the DOD [Department of Defense] manual as well as the executive order in operation today with the Trump administration, the text message is clearly classified information, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Defense] Secretary [Pete] Hegseth has disclosed military plans as well as classified information. He needs to resign immediately. He needs to resign immediately, and a full investigation needs to be undertaken with regard to whether other similar signal chats are occurring in this administration. Updated at 11:23 a.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. AVON LAKE, Ohio (WJW) Police body camera video obtained by FOX 8 News sheds new light on the arrest earlier this month of an employee of two local Catholic parishes. Fifty-nine-year-old Andres Andino is facing charges that he used his position of authority to engage in sexual misconduct with a minor. Cleveland men accused of selling weapons to undercover agents posing as Mexican cartel members Avon Lake police said on Sunday, March 16, a Flock license plate reader alerted officers that a vehicle driven by Andino was in the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andino, a part-time employee at Saint Joseph Parish in Avon Lake and full time employee at Saint John Bosco Parish in Parma Heights, was being sought by authorities after being indicted by a Cuyahoga County grand jury on charges of rape, sexual battery and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. Investigators said the charges stem from allegations that Andino engaged in illegal sexual conduct with an underage girl starting in 2013. After receiving the alert from the license plate reader, Avon Lake police could not initially find Andino or his vehicle, but a search of his online profile revealed his work at Saint Joseph Parish, and as the body camera video obtained by FOX 8 reveals, he was walking out of the church during Sunday evening Mass when officers arrived. A patrolman told Andino, Do me a favor, put your hands behind your back for me. Youre under arrest right now. Weve got some information weve got to check and verify, so put your hands together like youre praying, like youre praying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After being handcuffed, Andino motioned toward the church and is heard telling the officers, somebodys going to have to tell them. Im in the middle of Mass right now. One of the officers responded, OK, sure. Driver identified but not in custody in hit-skip that injured mother, son in Parma Over the years, Andino has been employed at a number of parishes and Catholic schools in Greater Cleveland. The Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Office is now encouraging any other potential victims to come forward. They are asked to call the Cleveland Police Sex Crimes Unit at 216-623-5630. Last Friday, the Diocese of Cleveland issued a statement indicating that the diocese and leadership at Saint Joseph and Saint John Bosco were shocked and dismayed to learn of the arrest of Andino and announcing the parishes had placed him on unpaid leave while the allegations are being investigated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his arraignment on March 19, Andino pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was released after posting a $50,000 bond, and as a condition of the bond, he is not allowed to have contact with victim(s) in the case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) The cause of death has been released for a Toledo teen who was allegedly killed by a man that was shot by a SWAT officer on Tuesday in the Victorian Village neighborhood in North Columbus. Keimani Latigue, 13, died of multiple incised wounds to the neck, according to the Lucas County Coroners Office. Her death has been ruled a homicide. Darnell Jones, 33, allegedly murdered, raped, and cut off the hands of Latigue, according to Lt. Brian Steel, president of the local police officers union. Latigue was reported missing on March 18. Her body was found on Monday in an abandoned home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Columbus residents cautioned about brake checking and staged accident risks On Tuesday, Jones was located in the area of Dennison Avenue and West 2nd Avenue in Victorian Village. After a confrontation, Jones was shot by a SWAT officer. See previous coverage in the player above. Jones was taken to a hospital, and after a lengthy surgery, is expected to survive, police said. Its unclear if Jones remained hospitalized as of Wednesday morning. Jones, who was reportedly the last person to see Latigue before she went missing, faces charges of murder, felonious assault and abduction out of Lucas County, according to a criminal complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police are working to learn why Jones was in the area and what connections he has to Columbus. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CUMBERLAND The Cumberland Economic Development Corp. has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Senator George C. Edwards Fund to create a financial incentive package to attract the aerospace/defense engineering firm SPARC Research to Western Maryland. SPARC, based in Warrenton, Virginia, is a growing company dedicated to advancing the state-of-the-art in solid rocket and airbreathing propulsion and related technologies. SPARC will establish satellite engineering operations in Cumberland to facilitate partnerships and collaboration with other aerospace/defense contractors and institutions of higher learning in the region, according to a news release issued by the CEDC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are honored to receive this grant from the George C. Edwards Fund, CEDC Executive Director Matt Miller said. This support will enable us to attract SPARC, with the larger goal of attracting other businesses within the aerospace/defense industry to Cumberland backed by our robust higher education partners, quality of life and proximity to Washington, D.C. As a rapidly growing aerospace small business, we are excited about this opportunity to bring high-tech jobs to my native Cumberland, Maryland, and look forward to whats in store for our future there, SPARC Research President Matt Cornwell. Tom Moore, SPARC vice president and site manager for the new office, said with three local employees already on staff, SPARC is looking forward to making the beautiful Rosenbaum Building in Cumberlands Historic City Center our new SPARC West home. We are committed to developing and hiring local STEM talent through partnerships with West Virginia University, Frostburg State University and Allegany College of Maryland more specifically, through their Western Maryland Works makerspace, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Economic growth is the key to Marylands prosperity, Gov. Wes Moore said. We must continue investing in high-tech industries of the future that will help unlock our full potential including aerospace and defense. Bringing SPARC Research to Western Maryland will create jobs, leverage our highly-educated talent pool, and drive economic growth, Moore said. We are grateful for the (CEDC) and the George C. Edwards Fund for supporting this project and creating new opportunities for Marylanders. The Senator George C. Edwards Fund is a four-year, $50 million program designed to spur economic growth across Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties by investing in infrastructure and business development projects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Established in 2022, the fund prioritizes projects that create sustainable jobs, improve infrastructure and attract private investment to the region. Over the past two years, the fund has supported projects totaling $290.1 million in economic value through $36.8 million in grant funding, with over $18.4 million awarded in 2024 alone. We are happy to support the CEDC, the city of Cumberland and SPARC Researchs expansion to Baltimore Street, said Jake Shade, executive director of the fund. These high-paying jobs will be a great addition to our community. TASHKENT, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Up to 1.3 million foreign tourists visited Uzbekistan in the first two months of this year, marking a 37.1 percent increase compared to the same period last year, Uzbekistan's National Statistics Committee said on Wednesday. The statistics body said the largest share of tourist arrivals came from Kyrgyzstan, with 422,591 visitors. Tajikistan and Kazakhstan followed, with 401,377 and 199,048 visitors, respectively. Uzbekistan has been exploring its tourism potential and has developed new historical routes to attract domestic and foreign tourists, the country's Tourism Committee said last year. The historic Stratford Hotel has adapted through Salt Lake Citys various needs since it was constructed over a century ago. Located on the corner of 200 South and 200 East, what was first known as the Lynch Building garnered headlines for helping move the city's business core eastward into Central City when it was approved in 1909. It debuted as the Studebaker Garage, a business that helped sell and fix some of the first automobiles driven on the city's famously wide streets. Its upper two floors were marketed as bachelor apartments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Within a few years of opening, it would become a hotel heralded for its "elegantly furnished, strictly modern" aesthetic, as noted by the Utah State Historical Society. It joined a fleet of new hotels scattered across the city to accommodate all the travelers coming into Utah's capital on the railroad in the 1910s. It's gone through many revisions since then, as the hotel became apartments again and its garage was ultimately converted into restaurant and retail space to fit changes in community needs. How the historic building is used has officially changed yet again. State and local leaders gathered outside its exterior to officially reopen what is now the Stratford Apartments, which will be used by the First Step House to provide 46 permanent supportive studio housing units for people recovering from behavioral health conditions who have also experienced homelessness. "This building has evolved with Salt Lake City, and I think it's reaching its highest potential today," said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, moments before helping cut a ribbon Tuesday to celebrate the building's opening. People tour the Stratford Apartments on Wednesday. The facility offers 46 permanent supportive housing units for people recovering from behavioral health conditions who have also experienced homelessness. | Carter Williams, KSL.com The building's new use was a few years in the making. It was vacated after a fire in 2005, but instead of tearing it down, a developer opted to refurbish it, where it would become affordable housing before housing affordability became a widespread city and state issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First Step House acquired the facility in 2022, as a 15-year agreement to keep units affordable ended. Shawn McMillen, director of the residential treatment organization, explained the organization got involved as people rallied to convert the affordable housing into permanent supportive housing, a service that First Step House had started to dabble in a few years prior. It then took years of fundraising and renovation to get the building ready for its newest use. Crews redid some of the building's walls and floors, as well as electrical wires and water lines, to modernize the historic building. "The biggest stuff was the stuff that you find when you're rehabbing a 100-year-plus building that was also gutted by fire," he said. The interior of a room inside the Stratford Apartments on Wednesday. The facility offers 46 permanent supportive housing units for people recovering from behavioral health conditions who have also experienced homelessness. | Carter Williams, KSL.com Its interior also received a makeover, with each one of the doors painted teal to match First Step's logo. The entire project cost about $10 million, but several government agencies, financing firms, companies, nonprofits and religious organizations banded together to raise the funds. Over two dozen entities contributed in one way or another. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McMillen and others are now excited for what's next for the historic building. The building's future residents will be people who have dealt with instabilities tied to mental health conditions and homelessness, and are trying to become as productive as they can be. Many of the residents, he said, likely wouldn't be able to afford housing otherwise, putting them in a cycle of ongoing homelessness. On-site supportive services will be provided to help residents continue their recovery and stay in housing, according to the First Step House. State homelessness officials are optimistic about the building's new potential. Having facilities that treat mental health or addiction issues, as well as having housing available, could ultimately serve as a vital piece in the state's effort to end homelessness, said Wayne Niederhauser, Utah's homelessness coordinator. He explained that the vast majority of people who have access to those combined resources are able to stay in housing. That is the combination that works, he said. When we get people into supportive housing, people stabilize. Most people are successful when they get the right kind of services wrapped around them. (FOX40.COM) The Ceres Police Department is investigating a home invasion and assault that involved three gunmen. Around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, three masked men armed with firearms forced their way into a home in the 3900 block of Willow Pond Court, according to CPD. Once inside, they confronted three men who lived in the home and forced them into the living room. There, the gunmen bound the victims hands. All smoke shops inspected in Modesto failed compliance checks, police say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the 47-year-old homeowner was assaulted multiple times by the suspects to gain his compliance. After searching the residence, the suspects fled with an undetermined amount of cash and firearms. The homeowner was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries, according to CPD. No arrests have been made. Anyone with information on the incident can call the Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers (866) 602-7463 or Ceres Police Detective Berlier at (209) 538-5616. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BLUFFTON, S.C. (WSAV) The South Carolina Department of Public Health has approved Novant Healths Certificate of Need (CON) application to build an innovative, 50-bed hospital in Bluffton. This approval allows the $320 million, full-service community hospital help reach its goal to expand medical care services to the Lowcountry area. The approval of our CON application reaffirms Novant Healths commitment to bring world-class medical care closer to home, said Jason Bernd, Novant Health senior vice president and president of the South Carolina Region. This hospital is a long-term investment in Bluffton and the surrounding communities to ensure families have access to high-quality care without having to travel great distances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The site, which will be called the Novant Health Bluffton Medical Center is designed to meet the healthcare needs of Beaufort and Jasper Counties. The full-service hospital will open with 50 beds and, according to Novant, can expand to 100 beds as community needs grow. The facility will offer a wide range of medical specialties, including medical, surgical, emergency and trauma services, intensive care, labor and delivery, cardiology, neurology and orthopedics. This hospital will be a game-changer for the Lowcountry, bringing much-needed specialty care to one of South Carolinas fastest-growing areas, said Joel Taylor, president of Hilton Head Medical Center. Not only will Novant Health Bluffton Medical Center transform healthcare access, but it will also drive significant economic growth in the region, creating as many as 1,000 jobs in the Bluffton area over the next five years. The center is expected to open in 2028. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Greenland and Denmark appeared cautiously relieved early Wednesday by the news that U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife are changing their itinerary for their visit to Greenland Friday, reducing the likelihood that they will cross paths with residents angered by the Trump administrations attempts to annex the vast Arctic island, a semi-autonomous Danish territory. The couple will now visit the U.S. Space Force outpost at Pituffik, on the northwest coast of Greenland, instead of Usha Vances previously announced solo trip to the Avannaata Qimussersu dogsled race in Sisimiut. President Donald Trump irked much of Europe by suggesting that the United States should in some form control the self-governing, mineral-rich territory of Denmark, a U.S. ally and NATO member. As the nautical gateway to the Arctic and North Atlantic approaches to North America, Greenland has broader strategic value as both China and Russia seek access to its waterways and natural resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, in an interview Wednesday on The Vince Show, repeated his desire for U.S. control of Greenland. Asked if the people there are eager to become U.S. citizens, Trump said he didnt know but I think we have to do it, and we have to convince them. The vice presidents decision to visit a U.S. military base in Greenland has removed the risk of violating potential diplomatic taboos by sending a delegation to another country without an official invitation. Yet Vance has also criticized long-standing European allies for relying on military support from the United States, openly antagonizing partners in ways that have generated concerns about the reliability of the U.S. During his first term, Trump floated the idea of purchasing the worlds largest island, even as Denmark insisted it wasnt for sale. The people of Greenland also have firmly rejected Trumps plans. Timing of Vance's visit stirred concerns Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anne Merrild, a Greenlander and an expert on Arctic politics and development, said recent anti-U.S. demonstrations in Nuuk might have scared the Trump administration enough to revise the trip to avoid interactions with angry Greenlanders. Still, Merrild said, even a visit to the space base shows that the U.S. administration still considers annexing Greenland to be on the table. It's a signal to the whole world, it's a strong signal to Denmark, it's a signal to Greenland, she said. And of course it's also an internal signal to the U.S., that this is something that we're pursuing. Vance is allowed to visit the base, said Marc Jacobsen, a professor at the Royal Danish Defense College, because of a 1951 agreement between Denmark and the U.S. regarding the defense of Greenland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jacobsen said the timing is controversial, particularly because coalition negotiations are ongoing to form a government after the election earlier this month. Ahead of the 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 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 Tuesday that the visit was unacceptable pressure." No clear end game Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peter Viggo Jakobsen, associate professor at the Danish Defense Academy, said the trips flip-flop continues to cause major confusion on the island. The U.S. has not articulated specific demands from Greenland or Denmark at this point. We have no idea what the end game is," Jakobsen said. In Greenland, the political group the most sympathetic to the U.S. president, the Naleraq party that advocates a swift path toward independence, has now been excluded from coalition talks to form the next government. The Trump administration's aspirations for Greenland could backfire and push the more mild parties closer to Denmark. But now Trump has scared most Greenlanders away from this idea about a close relationship to the United States because they dont trust him, Jakobsen added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Funding is key One of the biggest remaining hurdles to Greenland's independence is diversifying the economy, where fishing accounts for 90% of exports. In the meantime, Greenland receives an annual block grant from Denmark of around 3.5 billion kronen ($506 million), which is more than half the public budget, to cover the islands Nordic-style social programs, including free health care. Its therefore better for Greenland, strategically, to threaten Denmark with independence and a referendum than actually do it, Jakobsen said. As long as the threat is there, Greenland can push for more concessions and more money from Denmark. If the island pins all its hopes on the U.S., Greenlanders have no guarantee they will be better off or have any power in a future relationship with America, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In that sense, Trump is the Danish realm's best friend at the moment, Jakobsen added. __ Associated Press writers Darlene Superville in Washington, Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Stefanie Dazio in Berlin contributed to this report. HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) This is not just about preparing children for what might happen if they see a gun at some moment in the distant future. Violent groups of people, including gangs, purposely recruit children into their fold initially to do things like transport a gun from one place to another in exchange for money, said Angelo Craig, Harrisburgs Group Violence Intervention (GVI) project manager, speaking Tuesday morning to third, fourth and fifth grade students at Steele Elementary School in uptown Harrisburg. Theyre using younger kids because theyre less identifiable, in their belief, by the police officers, Craig said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So the GVI team, including a group of community service aides, is visiting Harrisburg elementary schools to do some recruiting of their own. The message, to kids so familiar with the unhelpful saying snitches get stitches that they could complete the phrase on their own in unison when prompted? Just trying to slowly erase that and talk about, you know, when you tell things [to adults], youre not snitching,' Craig said. Youre saving a life, and that life may be your own. The GVI team aligned with what we try to do here with our school pledge and just empowering our students to stand up and speak up. So that alignment was uncanny, because I did not see the PowerPoint presented to the students before the students saw it, said Dr. Frances Echevarria, Steeles principal. So I was like, Yes, okay. Our students are getting what they need.' They were also speaking to them in a way that is kid-friendly, and [the children] understood, Echevarria said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The children confirmed that. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now WHTM Daily Digest Always tell an adult when youre in trouble, and never hold back, said a fifth-grade student, Leeohnny, when asked what she had learned. Fifth-grade teacher Ahmya Woodyard once a student in Harrisburg city schools, now a second-year teacher working on her masters degree said the assembly also complemented the lessons she teaches, which arent only about subjects like social studies and science. Since Im not too old of age, I can relate a lot to the students, Woodyard said. So I hear the stories more often than [older adults], but also I can talk to a kid in a language that they understand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I try to figure out how to communicate and get the real, Whats really going on? Why is this happening? Is there actually something behind this?' Woodyard said. Come to find out its something over social media or something like that, and its not even something that needed to be taken that far. And then I realize, and I sit back and I think, like: How can we just make this change?' The GVI event was one week after a shooting March 18 at about 6 p.m. near Steele Elementary, at the corner of 5th and Radnor streets. No one was seriously injured, including children who were still at the school for after-school activities. Craig said the assemblies at all elementary schools would have happened anyway, but the timing at Steele and its selection as the first site was no coincidence. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. A Meadville man currently in state prison for a 2022 murder in Mercer County no longer faces charges in the 2022 drug overdose death of another Meadville man. Last week, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General withdrew five counts against Johnny Frank Henry Jr., including a first-degree felony charge of drug delivery resulting in death. Meadville Police Department filed charges against Henry in October 2024, accusing him of giving Terrance Walker fentanyl and/or cocaine at a Randolph Street apartment two years earlier on Oct. 30, 2022. Walker overdosed and was unconscious when he was taken to Meadville Medical Center by emergency medical personnel, according to the affidavit filed by police at the time. Walker was transferred to UPMC Hamot in Erie where he died on Nov. 3, 2022, the affidavit said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senior Deputy Attorney General Roger Bauer, the prosecutor in the case, declined to comment on the withdrawal of charges due to Office of Attorney General policies and referred questions to the press office. Our decision to withdraw charges was based on witness availability for the progression of the case, Brett Hambright, press secretary for the office, wrote in an email to The Meadville Tribune. As I am sure you know, Henry is incarcerated on a murder conviction from Mercer County. Hambright did not respond to Tribune questions regarding whether the charges might be filed again in the future. At the time he was charged in Walkers death, Henry, 34, was awaiting trial in the killing of Joseph DeTello, 40, a crime that was committed the same day Walker died. Henry later pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in the case and was sentenced to five to 10 years in state prison plus 15 years of probation, with the probation running concurrent to the prison sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pennsylvania State Police accused Henry of strangling DeTello in Jackson Center, Mercer County, and using DeTellos sport utility vehicle (SUV) to transport the body to Lawrence County, according to the arrest affidavit. Henry then left the body and vehicle along Young Road in Slippery Rock Township, where a passing motorist found DeTellos remains on the ground next to the SUV around 4:30 p.m. Nov. 3, 2022. Following an autopsy, DeTellos death was ruled a homicide due to asphyxiation. When Henry was sentenced late last year, members of DeTellos family expressed dismay at the short prison term imposed in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mercer County Common Pleas Judge Tedd C. Nesbit, who presided over the case, had a similar reaction even as he stuck to the agreed-upon sentence. I understand how the family feels, Nesbit said, according to reporting by The Sharon Herald. Its not justice. The drug delivery resulting in death charge that Henry faced in the death of Walker carried with it a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. The other charges against Henry in relation to Walkers death consisted of a felony count of possession with intent to deliver, two misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance, and a misdemeanor count of involuntary manslaughter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Henry remains imprisoned at the State Correctional Institution at Smithfield. In an interview with the Tribune, Meadville Police Department Chief Michael Stefanucci said he had not been notified of the reasons the charges were withdrawn. He acknowledged the need to withdraw charges when circumstances did not allow for a successful trial as part of the process, but also described the outcome as unfortunate. Were disappointed that this case was not able to make its way to a jury trial, Stefanucci said. A convicted sex offender is jailed and charged with raping a woman at his St. Paul home on Sunday after meeting her on an online dating app. Green Isiah Kelly Jr., 38, was charged Tuesday in Ramsey County District Court with third-degree criminal sexual conduct and criminal sexual predatory conduct. He was arrested Sunday night and remains at the county jail ahead of a first court appearance on the charges set for Wednesday. A defense attorney is not listed in the court file. In 2013, Kelly was convicted of third-degree criminal sexual conduct for raping a woman who had passed out from alcohol at a party in St. Paul, court records show. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by 10 years of conditional release. Most people sent to prison in Minnesota serve two-thirds of their sentence in custody and the remaining on supervised release in the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelly was given an additional 15 months in prison in 2020 for repeatedly punching a fellow inmate in the face at Minnesota Correctional Facility-Faribault, according to court records. He was put on intensive supervised release in September. According to Tuesdays criminal complaint and St. Paul police: A 37-year-old woman from Menomonie, Wis., reported to police about 4:15 p.m. Sunday that she had been sexually assaulted less than two hours earlier at a home in the 800 block of Aurora Avenue in St. Pauls Summit-University area. She identified the suspect as Isiah, who was later identified as Kelly. She told police she had met Kelly through a social media dating app about a month earlier, and that they began texting and made Facetime calls to each other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said the first time she saw Kelly she realized the photos he had posted on the dating app were not of him. She questioned him about that and he admitted they were not him. She said she told Kelly that she wasnt interested in dating him, but was willing to be friends. They then talked casually. On Friday, Kelly asked if they could get together, and she said she was coming into town the next day. Around 11:30 a.m. Sunday, she agreed to cut his hair and beard, and went to his home on Aurora Avenue to meet him. He took her to a local restaurant. While there, he said he wanted to be in a relationship with her, but she told him she wasnt interested. When they returned to Kellys home, he asked her to come inside to cut his hair and offered to pay her to do so. (The woman) was suspicious because (Kelly) was bald, the complaint states, adding that he then said hed pay her full price of a haircut if she would trim his beard. When she and Kelly went into his bedroom, where she thought she was going to trim his beard, he said, Lets get down to business and grabbed her arm and began to kiss her on the neck, the complaint states. She told police she pushed him away and told him, Not that type of business and repeated that she did not want to be in a relationship with him and did not want to engage in sex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelly then grabbed her by the arm and threw her on the bed. He ripped off her shirt, pants and underwear and pinned his body against hers as she screamed and kicked at him. She told police she repeatedly yelled, No! I dont want to have sex with you! the complaint says. He then raped her. Related Articles Kelly stopped when someone knocked on the door, she told police. When he answered the door in his boxer briefs, she grabbed her torn shirt and pants but could not find her underwear. She tried to leave the room with one pant leg on but Kelly met her at the bedroom door and told her not to leave. She was able to get past him and leave the home. The woman drove directly to a hospital in Wisconsin. As she drove, Kelly called her multiple times. She recorded their conversations and provided them to police. Kelly apologized for not listening to her and said he let his hormones speak for [him], the complaint states. She told him that she had said no and yelled at him that what he did was definitely not okay. After his arrest, Kelly underwent a suspect sexual assault examination. In an interview, investigators asked him if he knew the woman and he corrected the pronunciation of her name. He then said he wanted a lawyer. CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) The Charleston County School District announced details on Tuesday regarding a new absenteeism incentive program the district has launched. Officials in South Carolina say nearly 25% of students across the state were chronically absent during the 2022-2023 school year. Chronically absent students are half as likely to be on grade level in certain subjects compared to their peers, according to information provided by the Charleston County School District. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To combat this issue, the school district has launched a pilot program called Be Present S.C., which is a 9-week program that offers incentives to keep students in the classroom. Families could receive money from the district if their child is in school daily. The incentive program consists of a $25 reward loaded to a debit card per week for families whose students are in school every day that week, Superintendent Anita Huggins said Tuesday. The pilot program per-student cost is $225, which is significantly lower than the $590 per-person cost of traditional interventions. All participating schools (AC Corcoran, Ellington, Goodwin, Ladson, Lambs, Midland Park, Morningside, and Simmons Pinckney) reported increased perfect attendance from Week 1 to Week 2, the school district said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced a Chattanooga man was arrested in connection to a murder in Georgia. Nicholas Cheaton, 41 of Chattanooga, was arrested on Friday for the death of William Oliver Jones, 39 of Chickamauga, the GBI said. The arrest followed an investigation that started on March 14, when Jones was found dead at his home on West Highway 136. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The GBI said they worked with the Walker County Sheriffs Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Federal Probation Office and the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office to investigate Jones death. Cheaton was taken into custody and booked at the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center, awaiting extradition, according to the GBI. Jones body is currently at the GBI Medical Examiners Office for autopsy. The agency said the results are not complete at this time;. Anyone with information about the case and Jones death is asked to call the Walker County Sheriffs Office at 706-638-1909. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Before you crack open your next can of Coca-Cola, there's yet another food recall you should absolutely know about. According to a report shared by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), select cans of Coca-Cola Original Taste have been voluntarily recalled due to the presence of a foreign object, specifically plastic. The original recall occurred earlier this month and has since been updated to "Class II" by the FDA. The organization states that a Class II recall is one that "may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly 900 cases of the sodas, which were available in 12-count packs, were recalled from the states of Illinois and Wisconsin. At this point, no other states are included in the recall. The FDA reports that the recalled sodas were bottled and distributed by Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, LLC, in Milwaukee. For a list of the affected UPC codes, visit the FDA's site. "Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling is voluntarily recalling 864 cases of 12-pack Coca-Cola Classic in 12-oz cans in Illinois and Wisconsin," a company spokesperson said Wednesday in an emailed statement to USA TODAY. "The cases are being withdrawn because they did not meet our high-quality standards. We are taking this voluntary action because nothing is more important to us than providing high-quality products to the people who drink our beverages." The FDA has not provided specific advice for handling recalled sodas. However, standard procedure is to, of course, not drink them and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. This latest recall serves as just one of many that have occurred due to the presence of a foreign material. Most recently, an assortment of Stouffer's and Lean Cuisine frozen entrees were recalled due to the possible presence of "wood-like" material. You Might Also Like 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. WARSAW, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk underscored on Wednesday the need for a "good peace" in Ukraine, and called for full security guarantees for his country from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Speaking at a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Warsaw, Tusk said that peace in Ukraine must come with full guarantees of its sovereignty, as "only a just peace will give all of us a sense of security." The prime minister highlighted the strategic importance of the "East Shield" military program, which has been recognized as a priority in European defense initiatives. Tusk also stressed Poland's key role in NATO, calling for full security guarantees for his country. "Let me be frank -- who deserves full support and full guarantees from NATO more than Poland?" he asked. Rutte commended Poland's substantial defense spending and active role in supporting Ukraine against Russia. "If anyone miscalculates, thinking they can attack Poland or any other NATO ally without consequences, our Alliance will respond with full force. Our reaction will be devastating," Rutte said. According to the Polish government, the "East Shield" program which includes fortifications, various types of barriers, and modern airspace monitoring systems at every level, will be completed by 2028. The estimated cost is approximately 10 billion zloty (2.58 billion U.S. dollars). NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA School districts in Craig, Delaware, and Ottawa counties were just three of the 107 school districts in the Cherokee Nations 13-county reservation receiving funds from the tribes Motor Vehicle Tag program. Cherokee Nation contributed $7.6 million to 107 school districts as part of the tribes 2025 Public School Appreciation Day held on Tuesday with area educators. Delaware County schools were the largest beneficiary in the Four State area, with $538,367.10, followed by Craig County schools, with $177,085.67, and Ottawa County, with $125,093.14. The money awarded to the schools is to be used at their discretion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In past years, school districts have used the funds to cover teacher salaries, upgrade facilities, support operations, expand technology, and bolster school programs. As part of the tribes Motor Vehicle Tag legislation and compact with the state, the Cherokee Nation allocates 38% of its annual car tag revenue directly to education. The tribe also allocates 20% for roads and bridges and a percentage to law enforcement. We made clear from the beginning that we wouldnt cave to demands for a one-size-fits all car tag compact with the state that ignored the unique needs of tribes and overrides tribal sovereignty and that a fair compact was one that benefitted both the Cherokee Nation and all Oklahomans, and that is evident today as we can support our schools and classrooms. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. He said that the Cherokee Nation Motor Vehicle Tag Compact has stood as a model, helping the Cherokee Nation thrive, exercising sovereign rights, and helping neighbors achieve, especially our public schools and youth, who will be our future leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The money allocated to school districts is based on the number of Cherokee Nation citizens enrolled. However, the funding benefits all students in each school district. Funding totals by county include the following: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. CATOOSA, Okla. (KFOR) On Tuesday, as part of the tribes annual Public School Appreciation Day, the Cherokee Nation presented $7.6 million to 107 school districts. The funds are generated from the tribes Motor Vehicle Tag legislation and compact with the state of Oklahoma. The tribe handles its own tag agency, issuing registration and titles for the Cherokee Nation citizens who live in the Reservation and throughout Oklahoma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cherokee Nation distributes 38% of its yearly revenue from car tags towards education. They also designate 20% for roads and bridges, and give a percentage to law enforcement. Oklahoma among top 10 states for most expensive weekly grocery costs in study Public School Appreciation Day, the Cherokee Nation gives $7.6 million to school districts. Image courtesy, the Cherokee Nation. Here is a list of totals by county of how the funds were distributed: Adair County $581,472.02 Cherokee County $1,026,519.19 Craig County $177,085.67 Delaware County $538,367.10 Mayes County $552,587.28 Muskogee County $757,002.35 Nowata County $95,097.45 Ottawa County $125,093.14 Osage County $6,887.90 Rogers County $743,893.13 Sequoyah County $664,126.81 Tulsa County $1,757,525.28 Wagoner County $294,179.56 Washington County $273,294.07 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since 2002, the tribe has given $99.7 million to public schools located in the Cherokee Nation Reservation and neighboring counties. Map of how the funds was distributed among schools. Image courtesy, the Cherokee Nation. We made clear from the beginning that we wouldnt cave to demands for a one-size-fits all car tag compact with the state that ignored the unique needs of tribes and overrides tribal sovereignty and that a fair compact was one that benefitted both the Cherokee Nation and all Oklahomans, and that is evident today as we can support our schools and classrooms, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. To date, our Cherokee Nation Motor Vehicle Tag Compact has stood as a model, helping our tribe thrive, exercising our sovereign rights and helping our neighbors achieve especially our public schools, and youth, who will be our future leaders. Tuesday brought superintendents from across the Reservation for an appreciation luncheon and to receive checks from the tribe for their school districts. The Cherokee Nation continues to be an excellent partner in our communities, especially public schools and education, which has always been at the forefront of our tribe, Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner said. The funds from the sales of our tribal car tags provide our teachers what they need in their classrooms and directly invests into the next generation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement School districts can decide how they will use the money from the Cherokee Nation, with school districts in the past choosing to use the money to cover the salaries of teachers, to upgrade school facilities, support operations, expand technology, and to strengthen school programs. The support of Cherokee Nation citizens and the hard work of our Cherokee Nation Tax Commission staff have continued to help us make a significant financial impact to our schools, Cherokee Nation Tax Commission Administrator Sharon Swepston said. Each year, the tax commission is very proud to play a role in helping schools throughout Northeastern Oklahoma leave positive and lasting impacts on students and communities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. CHICAGO (WGN) An Austin neighborhood church thats fed the homeless and seniors, offered disaster relief assistance, and that has paid the rent of struggling Chicagoans is now hoping the community will come through as it faces a critical infrastructure challenge. The aging roof at New Inspirational Baptist Church, on the 5800 block of West Division Street, has exceeded its lifespan and is beyond temporary repairs, the church says. I never thought that I would become in the need, Rev. Andrew Griffin, the churchs founding and sole pastor of more than 40 years, told WGN on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Griffin said contractors have done all they can with patchwork fixes on the structure, but its getting worse, collapsing, deteriorating our fire walls, he said. A contractor working with the church confirmed to WGN the total cost to replace the roof would be at least $55,000. I want to be there, I want to be able to open our doors, especially for the needy, Griffin said. The church for decades has offered spiritual guidance, financial assistance and emotional counseling to those in need. It has also served as a longtime polling location. Area pastors are rallying around the church in hopes of helping raise the money it needs to continue its mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pastor Griffin has been a rock for this community, helping people in ways that go far beyond the pulpit, said Rev. Johnny L. Miller of Mount Vernon Baptist Church. Rev. Ira Acree, the founder of the Leaders Network and a social justice advocate said Griffin has helped thousands of people. Its ministers like Reverand Andrew Griffin that many people dont see their names in the headlines or on television or the newspaper, but its ministers like this that are saving our community, Acree said. He doesnt have a mega church, but he has made a mega impact. This man has helped hundreds, maybe thousands. After a 2023 tornado left behind a trail of destruction in Mississippi, church leaders along with the community rallied to respond, hauling several trucks packed with supplies to help survivors with food, water and other necessities. Griffin, his wife, and other members of the church went down to Rolling Fork to help hand deliver the supplies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not always about preaching the gospel with words, but living it with your walk, like hes lived it out in the Austin community for 40 to 45 years easily, Acree said. The church at the corner of West Division Street and North Monitor Avenue has been a space for youth to find mentorship and guidance over the years, area pastors said. He put a lot of interest in the young people in this neighborhood, gave a lot of young people jobs, trained a lot of young people, gave them feeding for a new life, said Rev. Freddie Brooks with Union Star Missionary Baptist Church. Even with a slower stride after a spinal surgery, Griffin said hes putting one foot in front of the other as they navigate what comes next. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My faith is in God, and I believe that God has already provided a way, he said. Donations to help the church continue its mission can be made in-person during the churchs operating hours or via checks made payable to New Inspirational Baptist Church at 5825 W. Division Street in Chicago, 60651. An online fundraiser has also been established. The church said its membership has declined since the pandemic, leaving them unable to raise the funds among the congregation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. A crowd of more than 100 people, including workers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, rallied Tuesday outside its regional headquarters in downtown Chicago to protest regulatory rollbacks as well as funding and personnel cuts ordered by President Donald Trump. While the administration says it is spearheading government efficiency, current federal employees and the 1,000 probationary workers across several agencies who were fired in February are speaking out against the reductions. Two weeks ago the national agencys new administrator Lee Zeldin announced a series of deregulatory actions to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry by reviewing oil and gas industry regulations, clean air standards and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ellie Hagen, an environmental scientist and part of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 704 union that represents U.S. EPA workers, said shes concerned about how this change in direction will affect working-class Americans. We do not feel that these cuts would protect everyday people, she said. We feel that these cuts only seek to increase the profits (of) billionaires. To do her job as congressional liaison, Shannon Wolf said she took an oath to defend the Constitution and protect human health and the environment, including the air, land and water that sustain life. Wolf is also part of AFGE Local 704. And right now, that very fundamental work is being threatened. That puts every American at risk, their health, their safety. Red, blue, purple it doesnt matter. These risks, these cuts to our agency, are devastating for all Americans, she said. For a tiny fraction of the federal budget, we protect the Earth that we all live on, and there is no alternative option. I cant think of any more efficient expenditure of funds than protecting the air that we breathe and the water that we drink. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Debra Shore, who served as the agencys regional administrator for the last 3 years after being appointed by former President Joe Biden, said the quality of life in the country has improved in the last 55 years since the U.S. EPA was established. And taxpayers have reaped the fruit of that progress and of the work of civil servants. The American people, through our tax dollars, have made such an investment in the young people who were hired and were being trained to be inspectors and emergency responders and community outreach people and lawyers, she said. To toss that away merely because they had not served for a full year thats waste. Thats waste, of human capital and of an investment in young people. Shore called the administrations actions willful cruelty toward civil servants with expert knowledge and a passion for protecting human health and the environment. To dismiss them wholesale, without due process, without caring, is terrible, and no one deserves that, she said. Related Articles Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A judge ordered in mid-March that all fired probationary employees be reinstated, but many of them are still in a state of limbo after having been put on paid administrative leave. In early March, many federally owned buildings in Chicago including the Ralph H. Metcalfe Federal Building where the U.S. EPA Region 5 offices are located appeared on a list of noncore properties for sale. The list was pulled the next day and has been undergoing revisions. It is part of an overhaul by the General Services Administration, which runs the federal real estate portfolio, working alongside billionaire Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency to cancel the leases for hundreds of federal offices and facilities a national list that this month grew to nearly 800 buildings. From budget cuts to workforce reduction and now a possible office move, recent executive actions have also tainted morale among employees who are still around. Colin Kramer, a quality assurance chemist and a union steward for AFGE Local 704, said he has been working in a state of fear and confusion since January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We (cannot) sustain these cuts and still be able to protect the communities that we care about, he said at the protest Tuesday. So were here to make sure that all of us can do the work that we want to do, which is protecting our communities, protecting human health and the environment and making America a more safe and healthy place. Joe Boyle, a Glenview resident and retired hydrogeologist, worked in the regional Chicago office for more than three decades and in the mid-1970s helped draft regulations for the management of hazardous chemical and production waste. The practice was to just dump stuff in the holes in the ground, he said, where it could seep into drinking water supplies. And then, wherever it went was out of sight, out of mind. And of course, that led to other, in retrospect, very poor practices. One of these business practices was renting a warehouse to store flammable and toxic chemical waste in countless barrels, then filing for bankruptcy to let the government take care of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act to regulate this kind of waste went into effect a few weeks after former President Ronald Reagan was elected, which Boyle remembers as a time during which the agency and its mission were also subject to strong criticism. This time, however, he feels like the attacks are different. There was a whole process that was pretty much recognized: If we had an issue with a particular regulation, there was an effort to comment on its proposal, object to its proposal, and then if it became final and you still had objections to it, there was judicial relief that could be sought in the courts, Boyle said. It was all organized and with the proper judicial system which seems very much to be threatened in the current environment that my successors are facing. As he pushes forward a deregulatory agenda and an overhaul of government, Trump has ignored court orders and attacked federal judges who havent ruled in his favor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kramer said the administration hasnt considered how these changes will lower the quality of life for Americans and slow site cleanup and emergency responses, such as the East Palestine accident two years ago when a train derailed and spilled more than 100,000 gallons of hazardous chemicals in a poor Ohio village. But there are other routine tasks and monitoring the U.S. EPA often carries out behind the scenes and away from the public eye that might not happen anymore. Eventually, it will mean that therell be fewer inspections, fewer air monitors out, said Shore, the former regional administrator. People will be still exposed to polluted air or water they just wont know it. Its a frightening reality, Boyle said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It really pays for itself, when you consider the impacts on the most precious aspects, which are our own particular human lives and those of our loved ones, he said. He tapped the sign he was holding, which read: Save EPA. Save lives. It really does get down to life. adperez@chicagotribune.com CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) A mother, community advocate, and local police captain is inspiring people around her daily. Beyond her badge, Captain Holly Cote is making sure those around her constantly feel safe and inspired to be the change they wish to see in their community. And this year shes nominated as a finalist for our regions Remarkable Women campaign. It was a life goal for me, Cote said. But also it really means a lot to me that I can show the youth, young girls and teenagers, that they can put their minds to it and do anything. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2025 Remarkable Woman nominee feeds her community Protecting, serving, and enhancing the lives of those in her community, Captain Cote was nominated as a Remarkable Woman here in western Massachusetts. She is well-known for her generosity and becoming the first female captain of the Chicopee Police Department. I was a patrol officer on the midnight shift, Cote said. About two and a half years in, I went to the Detective Bureau, then I went to the School Resource Officer position. But then I wanted to get promoted, so then I took the test and became Sergeant. Right around 2003 I became Sergeant and went back to the Detective Bureau as a Detective Sergeant. I was there for a few years, then I became a lieutenant, went to Patrol as a lieutenant, and then back to the Detective Bureau as a lieutenant. And then in 2017, we were doing a major renovation and I became the chiefs liaison and the Community Engagement Officer, as well as helping with the renovation project, and then I made Captain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond her successful career in law enforcement, her passion is helping the youth. Despite long days answering calls in the middle of the night, serving others is what brings her joy. Three former Remarkable Women nominees build friendship over the years I started about seven years ago with the Boys and Girls Club of Chicopee, the Youth Police Academy, Cote said. It is to reduce gang violence within the youth. Every year we have a group of youth that come through for a week and they get to see kind of a shortened version of the police academy and they get to see what all the police officers do and they get to build relationships. Weve had over probably 150 kids go through and it is one of my favorite things. Captain Cote also teaches self defense to women and children in the RAD program. She leads the Chicopee Police Department Critical Incident Stress Management Team, and helped bring Narcan along with the DART program to her department, ensuring those affected by opioid use disorder and their families get the support they need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the past 12 years, I have kind of made it my lifes mission to collect clothing for the Springfield Rescue Mission, Cote said. First I just did it myself, went through my closet and saw what I needed, and then my friends started getting involved. Helping others is a goal the captain has always tried to fulfill and she hopes to continue motivating those around her. My whole family is involved in service my husband is a police officer, my son is a firefighter, and my younger son is going to become an electrician, Cote said. Every event we go to, we try to get all the family involved. A lot of people kind of see me and theyre like, Hmm she looks familiar, and then they realize, I remember her from National Night Out or Downtown Get Down, and its just about giving back to the community. And I wouldnt have it any other way. Right now the Chicopee Police Department has 13 women, the most theyve ever had, and two more are currently in the police academy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cote says that giving back, helping youth, and inspiring people is her lifelong passion. 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. Andrii Yermak, Head of the Ukrainian President's Office, believes that relations between Kyiv and Washington are "back on track" after a spat between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump at the White House in late February. Source: Yermak in a comment to Reuters, as reported by European Pravda Details: A meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump at the White House on 28 February escalated into a dispute, with Trump and his Vice President, JD Vance, accusing the Ukrainian leader of being disrespectful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After that, Kyiv sought to mend fences with the US, including during a phone call between Trump and Zelenskyy on 19 March, which Yermak described as "great". "I think we have great conversations with the Americans. I think we are back on track," he noted. Yermak believes that at the recent talks in Saudi Arabia, Ukrainians "demonstrated we are very serious" about peace and "the Americans understood". "Dear American friends, you understand that we are partners. This was our goal," he said, adding that Russia was "just playing games". Background: Recently, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the White House pushed London to make critical remarks about Zelenskyy after the Oval Office spat. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Police are investigating the stabbing death of a young child Wednesday morning at an apartment complex. Las Vegas Metropolitan police said the incident was reported in a 911 call from the 3-year-old girls father around 3:30 a.m. A father saying the babysitter had just stabbed his child that father also stated the babysitter fled on foot, LVMPD Homicide Lt. Robert Price said. LVMPD investigates the deadly stabbing of a toddler at a Las Vegas apartment complex on March 26, 2025. (KLAS) Police responded to the Villa Del Sol apartments on Channel 10 Drive near Flamingo Road and Eastern Avenue. The officers found the mans daughter suffering from several stab wounds, Price said. The girl was transported to Sunrise Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marketta Phillips, 41, faces charges connected to the incident, the 8 News Now Investigators first reported. Police units searched the area around the apartment complex and took the babysitter into custody. According to Price, the babysitter, may live with the father and daughter. He added, it is not entirely clear yet what the relationship is between the father and the babysitter. Its a tragic and unfortunate incident, Price said. Phillips is due in court Thursday morning. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A crash overnight in the West End area left a child injured, according to officials. Authorities told News 2 the crash occurred on the Vanderbilt University campus in the 2300 block of Vanderbilt Place. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Video from the scene shows a vehicle crashed into a walkway, appearing to be wedged between a handrail and a building. No additional information was immediately released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. CALUMET COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV) A child was pronounced dead at the hospital on Wednesday morning after a residential fire in Calumet County. According to the Calumet County Sheriffs Office, officials from the Sheriffs Office and New Holstein Fire Department responded to the report of a residential fire and a child not breathing around 2:08 a.m. on Wednesday in Charlestown. Neenah police officer fired after search warrants lead to child pornography charges Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A child was recovered, and life-saving actions were taken as officials transported them to a nearby hospital. The child was unfortunately pronounced dead at the hospital. The Calumet County Sheriffs Office and State Fire Marshals Office with the Wisconsin Department of Justice are investigating the fire and death. Mutual aid was provided by the following departments: St. Anna Fire Department Kiel Fire Department Chilton Fire Department Stole from every taxpayer in the country: Wisconsin man ordered to pay $2.2 million in restitution to Medicaid/Medicare, 21 months in prison Medical crews from New Holstein First Responders, as well as Gold Cross and Kiel Ambulance, assisted at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No additional details are available as the incident 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Paramount+ will be the home of The Children of October 7, a documentary that will focus on the most vulnerable victims impacted by the 2023 Hamas attacks. The film will premiere on April 23 and will air linearly on MTV at a later date. The Children of October 7 is directed by Asaf Becker, known for his work on Screams Before Silence and One Week With Tom Aharon. It will feature social media activist Montana Tucker engaging in deeply sensitive conversations with a group of children who bravely share the unthinkable traumas theyve endured. The documentary is told through the childrens experiences of being held captive, witnessing the deaths of parents and loved ones and losing their homes. Of the estimated 1,200 Israelis who were murdered during the Oct. 7 attack, 37 were children. Its also been estimated that more than 100 children lost one parent during the attack, more than 20 lost both parents and more than 35 were kidnapped. This is without accounting for the hundreds of children who were injured and the thousands who were displaced from their homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have long been committed to sharing content that informs and educates. This documentary is a clear example in highlighting the terror that occurred on Oct. 7 and the aftermath for thousands of children who will forever suffer from the impact of that day, Shari Redstone, chair of Paramount Global, said in a Wednesday statement to press. Montana Tucker is doing extraordinary work, and by airing this documentary on Paramount + and MTV, we can bring it to audiences around the country. The Children of October 7 is one of the most important projects Ive ever been part of. As the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, hearing these children share the horrors they endured losing their families, their homes and their innocence in a single morning felt hauntingly familiar, Tucker said. Im grateful they trusted me with their stories and that they have this platform to share their truth. Thanks to Paramount+ and MTV, the world will bear witness. The documentary was produced by Eytan Schwartz, Meny Aviram, Mor Tregger, Zameret Alexaneroni, Jonathan Barsade and Rotem Alima. Sasha Gavrikov was responsible for cinematography and Yotam Katzor was responsible for editing. The post The Children of October 7 Documentary to Premiere on Paramount+ in April appeared first on TheWrap. KIEV, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said Tuesday that Ukraine and U.S. held talks in Saudi Arabia, and "all parties" agreed the need to impose a ban on targeting energy infrastructure in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. "All parties agreed to develop measures for implementing the Presidents' agreement to ban strikes against energy facilities of Ukraine and Russia," Umerov, who led the Ukrainian delegation, wrote on Facebook. Additionally, the parties agreed to ensure safe navigation and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea, Umerov said. He emphasized that the participants of the talks welcomed the possible involvement of third countries to support the implementation of energy and maritime agreements. According to the minister, the U.S. reaffirmed its support for efforts to facilitate the exchange of captives between Ukraine and Russia, and the return of Ukrainian children from Russia. The parties also agreed to continue working towards achieving a durable and lasting peace, Umerov added. Ukraine and Russia held separate talks with U.S. in Riyadh on March 23-25. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the U.S. believes the implementation of the partial ceasefire agreement could begin immediately after the publication of the Ukrainian-American and American-Russian statements following the talks, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported. Zelensky added that Ukraine and the U.S. have also agreed to hold next rounds of negotiations in the near future. (Bloomberg) -- A Chinese influencer was deported from Taiwan for backing a military seizure of the self-run democracy and has returned to her country an episode that comes as Taipei steps up efforts to counter Beijings propaganda. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Liu Zhenya, who is married to a Taiwanese man and has three children, left alone on Tuesday evening on a flight to China, local media outlets reported. Taiwan authorities ordered Liu to leave because she posted videos supporting the idea of a Chinese military takeover. In one she said: Maybe when we wake up tomorrow morning, the island will already be covered with five-star red flags, and it makes me happy even just thinking about it. The remark described Chinas national flag. Immigration officials later said Liu advocated the elimination of our countrys sovereignty, which would not be allowed. The episode marks the first time Taiwan ordered the Chinese spouse of a local person deported over national security concerns. Some 367,000 Chinese people have Taiwanese spouses, according to official data from the government in Taipei. The incident also illustrates the balance officials in Taiwan must strike between allowing broad freedoms, like free speech, and protecting their democracy in the face of threats from China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesman for the Chinese government office in charge of Taiwan affairs, Chen Binhua, criticized Taiwans ruling party, saying at a press briefing Wednesday it was targeting cross-strait marriages and had torn families apart. Lius husband and children remained in Taiwan. Beijing considers Taiwan to be part of its territory and wants to bring the archipelago of 23 million people under its control someday, by force if it must. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has recently prioritized countering influence and espionage efforts by China. This month, he labeled China a foreign hostile force and announced moves such as the potential resumption of military trials for soldiers accused of treason or spying during peacetime. While Lais comments havent led to an immediate escalation of tensions, he is taking a tougher stance on Beijing than his predecessors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Peoples Liberation Army has stepped up military activity around Taiwan since he took office in May last year. China linked drills last week to recent US moves backing Taiwan. Officials in Taipei have said the PLA is unlikely to attempt an invasion in the near future, partly because it lacks the amphibious landing capabilities. Liu, the influencer, has some 530,000 followers on her Yaya in Taiwan Douyin account. She mostly posts videos about living in Taiwan and her children growing up. Her family had asked a court to halt the order forcing her to leave Taiwan but it refused, saying some of her clips threatened the stability of Taiwanese society. Premier Cho Jung-tai told reporters Tuesday that freedom of speech has its limits. You cant defame the country while asking the country to protect you. For you to destroy the country, this is wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Separately, Chen, the spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing, said a court sentenced a publisher from Taiwan to three years in jail on a charge of inciting secession. China detained Li Yanhe in 2023 for alleged involvement in activities that hurt national security. He has published several Chinese-language bestsellers. (Updates with comments from Chinas government.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- The US canceled two aid projects in Cambodia in late February one to encourage child literacy and another to improve nutrition and development for kids under five. A week later, Chinas aid agency announced funding for programs to achieve almost identical goals. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Children are the future of the country and the nation, Chinas ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin said at the event, standing next to the countrys health minister and a UNICEF official. We should care for the healthy growth of children together. While Chinas announcement didnt include a dollar figure, the Chinese money essentially funds the same types of initiatives and development goals as efforts terminated as part of the Trump administrations dismantling of USAID, according to two people with knowledge of the US projects, who werent authorized to speak publicly. Both focused on inclusive education targeting the most vulnerable children and used a so-called nurturing care framework, according to news releases and procurement documents. They both provided school supplies, offering hand-washing materials and improving outcomes for vulnerable families and households, newborns and children with disabilities, according to the people. How Trumps USAID Dismantling Will Affect Foreign Aid: QuickTake Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The price tag for the US programs $40 million was small compared with the $27.7 billion in savings that the Trump administration said this week that it saved by axing thousands of aid contracts. But for Cambodia, whose national GDP is roughly equivalent to that Vermont, it was a big sum, and replacing lost foreign funds has been a priority. The State Department, which oversees USAID and may now absorb the agency entirely, said in a statement that the US was funding aid programs that make Americans wealthier and more secure. At the same time, it said the US had achieved significant progress by investing in Cambodias development over the past 30 years, partnering closely with the government. Despite changes in the US approach to foreign assistance, we hope to see our relationship with Cambodia productively mature as we make America safer, stronger and more prosperous, the department added in the statement. The contracts were terminated on Feb. 26 after President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk launched a sweeping overhaul of US foreign assistance, which included dismantling the US Agency for International Development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although its only one example, it appears to confirm fears voiced by Democratic and some Republican lawmakers, aid advocates and former US officials: By slashing foreign aid, Trump is giving China an easy opportunity to fill a vacuum and gain a soft-power advantage in countries where the global adversaries compete for influence. Earlier: Rubio Delegates DOGE Staffer to Oversee Whats Left of USAID Thats especially urgent in Cambodia, where the US has spent roughly $1 billion since the 1990s. Washington has long waged an uphill battle with China in Southeast Asia, and Cambodia in particular. The Biden administration raised concerns about Chinese military influence at the countrys Ream Naval Base over the last four years. But more recently, the US has moved to strengthen defense ties with the government in Phnom Penh, which granted an American warship access to Ream for the first time late last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diplomatic Gift Its a diplomatic gift to China, said Charles Kenny, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development. In every country where theres a serious USAID cut, if they put a small amount of money into a health and education project and say, Look, were ramping up, that does seem to be a bit of a publicity gift for them. And Im sure theyre smart enough to take it. Since the Trump administration moved to shut down USAID, terminate most of its foreign aid contracts, and furlough or place on leave most of its employees, US lawmakers, development experts and national security professionals have highlighted the geopolitical risks of curtailing US foreign aid in the developing world. Many of those lawmakers and experts have warned that China could move in, gaining further influence over developing nations after wooing officials in Africa, Asia and South America for years with tens of billions in loans focused mostly on infrastructure through Beijings Belt and Road Initiative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And it certainly has. China already announced funding for a Cambodian de-mining initiative that was dropped, and later restored, by the US. In mid-March, Beijing also announced an early childhood development project in Rwanda, where USAID recently curtailed contracts. And Chinese officials have reportedly offered to make up for funding gaps in Nepal, nestled between India and China. Will Parks, the Cambodia representative for the United Nations Childrens Fund, said in a statement that the organization and Cambodia signed a partnership with China in 2024, based on a proposal from 2022. It was launched earlier this month and complements funding from other nations, Parks said. Cambodia has made tremendous progress for children over the past decade, he said. But further reductions of aid budgets could jeopardize these hard-won achievements. Cambodias government was explicit about drawing a link. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cambodian government works with many partners, and we never rely on any one partner exclusively, government spokesman Pen Bona said via text message in response to questions. So if one partner withdraws support, we seek to find another partner to replace it. China will continue to provide assistance to economic and social development in Cambodia under the framework of South-South cooperation, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Chinas aid policy remains consistent and clear, the Foreign Ministry continued. Chinas principles of non-interference, not attaching any political strings, not giving empty promises remain unchanged. In a closed-door hearing on Capitol Hill this month, Trump appointee Pete Marocco, who led the assault on USAID, was asked about the Cambodia projects and the timing of Chinas swift announcement, according to one person familiar with the session. Marocco brushed off concerns about China increasing its influence, this person said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marocco didnt respond to a request for comment. While members of the Trump administration have said the canceled projects brought no benefits to Americans, Diana Putman, who retired as USAIDs acting assistant administrator for Africa, said the agencys billions in foreign assistance helped give US ambassadors a crucial advantage. Their leverage and ability to make a difference in terms of foreign policy in that country is backed up by the money that they bring, and in the Global South that money is primarily the money that USAID has, Putman said. And while China may exploit the US withdrawal of aid funding from important markets, Beijing will not step in to replace crucial global health spending in less strategic countries that are at the greatest risk from disease, Council on Foreign Relations experts Thomas Bollyky and Yanzhong Huang wrote in Foreign Affairs this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would hope it doesnt get completely lost in the story of the diplomacy that actual people are going to die as a result of this, said Kenny of the Center for Global Development. And thats sad. --With assistance from Fran Wang and Jing Li. (Updated with new examples, comments starting in fourth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Vice Premier He Lifeng expressed "solemn concerns" over U.S. tariffs and planned "reciprocal" duties in a video call with U.S. top trade chief Jamieson Greer on Wednesday, Chinese state media Xinhua news agency reported. The two men had a "candid and in-depth" exchange of views on key economic and trade issues, and agreed to maintain communications, Xinhua said. The call came as U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to impose reciprocal tariffs next week, potentially slapping more duties on Chinese goods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump imposed 20% levies on all Chinese imports since taking office in January, accusing Beijing of not doing enough to stem the outflow of chemical precursors used to produce the deadly drug fentanyl. China retaliated by imposing targeted tariffs of up to 15% on some U.S. goods ranging from oil and liquefied natural gas to agricultural products. The tit-for-tat measures added new strains to relations between the two major powers that have already sunk to historic lows in recent years due to issues ranging from trade and technology curbs to Taiwan. (Reporting by Ethan Wang, Yukun Zhang and Ryan Woo; Editing by Andrew Heavens, Kirsten Donovan) WASHINGTON (AP) Chinese researchers are reporting new steps in the quest for animal-to-human organ transplants with a successful pig kidney transplant and a hint Wednesday that pig livers might eventually be useful, too. A Chinese patient is the third person in world known to be living with a gene-edited pig kidney. And the same research team also reported an experiment implanting a pig liver into a brain-dead person. Scientists are genetically altering pigs so their organs are more humanlike in hopes of alleviating a transplant shortage. Two initial xenotransplants in the U.S. two pig hearts and two pig kidneys were short-lived. But two additional pig kidney recipients so far are thriving an Alabama woman transplanted in November and a New Hampshire man transplanted in January. A U.S. clinical trial is about to begin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly three weeks after the kidney surgery the Chinese patient "is very well and the pig kidney likewise is functioning very well, Dr. Lin Wang of Xijing Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University in Xian told reporters in a briefing this week. Wang, part of the hospital's xenotransplant team, said the kidney recipient remains in the hospital for testing. Chinese media have reported she is a 69-year-old woman diagnosed with kidney failure eight years ago. But Wang pointed to a potential next step in xenotransplantation learning to transplant pig livers. His team reported Wednesday in the journal Nature that a pig liver transplanted into a brain-dead person survived for 10 days, with no early signs of rejection. He said the pig liver produced bile and albumin important for basic organ function although not as much as human livers do. The liver is a complex challenge because of its varied jobs, including removing waste, breaking down nutrients and medicines, fighting infection, storing iron and regulating blood clotting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We do find that it could function a little bit in a human being, Wang said. He speculated that would be enough to help support a failing human liver. In the U.S. last year, surgeons at the University of Pennsylvania attempted that sort of bridge support by externally attaching a pig liver to a brain-dead human body to filter blood, much like dialysis for failing kidneys. U.S. pig developer eGenesis is studying that approach. In China, Wangs team didnt remove the deceased persons own liver, instead implanting the pig liver near it. That clouds the picture, said Dr. Parsia Vagefi, a liver transplant surgeon at UT Southwestern Medical Center who wasn't involved with the work. Its hopefully a first step but its still, a lot like any good research, more questions than answers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wang said his team later replaced the human liver of another brain-dead person with a pig liver and is analyzing the outcome. According to media reports, another Chinese hospital last year transplanted a pig liver into a living patient after a piece of his own cancerous liver was removed but its unclear how that experiment turned out. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. MSNBCs Chris Hayes kicked off Tuesdays episode of All In with some commentary over the Trump administrations massive breach of apparently classified military plans. While he mainly summed up the matter for people who might have missed it, he also expressed considerable disbelief that it even happened at all. Its sheer, unfettered, Olympian incompetence, Hayes said. The Trump White House has been caught in the worst, most embarrassing, most dangerous security breach of our lifetime. The details, Im sure youve heard some of them, are almost too ridiculous to be true, he said at the start. Trumps cabinet accidentally texted war plans, like imminent details, to the editor in chief of one of Americas most prominent magazines. This was not an anonymous leak or a hack by a foreign adversary, but rather an act of sheer unfettered Olympian incompetence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of Trumps cabinet, including Secretary of Defense and the Vice President all hopped on a group chat on Signal its a commercial encrypted messaging platform anyone can download from the App Store to discuss detailed, clearly classified plans about the military strike in Yemen, Hayes continued. Trumps National Security Advisor accidentally included, why we still dont know, Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic magazine on the text chain. Hayes also discussed how one of the people on the chain appears to have literally been in Moscow at the time the text chain started, which adds an entire new layer of just insane security concerns, as does the fact that as a former White House official told Politico, many of the participants in the conversation were likely using their personal cell phones, since generally that encrypted text app, Signal, is not allowed on government devices [because] quote, Their personal phones are all hackable. Yeah, no kidding. And its highly likely that foreign intelligence services are sitting on their phones, watching them type the st out before a White House official warned, of course, that is apparently of little consequence to Trumps cabinet. They are group texting classified stuff because it defies the rules, because no one can hold them accountable, because theyre a bunch of incompetents, because they want to avoid the Freedom of Information Act requests, Hayes explained. They want to avoid the prying eyes of responsible federal officials. Remember what happened when Trump called Zelenskyy in his first term? Right? Hayes said, referring to when Trump attempted to extort Ukraine in order to get them to back false claims Joe Biden was involved in illegal deals there. This resulted in Trumps first impeachment. They want to avoid Inspector General reports. Right? Theyre hiding it from others, just not foreign adversaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres more, and you can watch the segment below: The post Chris Hayes Calls Trump War Plans Breach Almost Too Ridiculous to Be True: Olympian Incompetence | Video appeared first on TheWrap. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has filed a new application for a conditional use permit to build a smaller McKinney Texas Temple in Fairview, Texas. Fairviews zoning commission and city council rejected the churchs original application to build a larger temple in separate votes last summer. The two sides had negotiated an agreement for the smaller temple in November, but the church decided not to submit a new application when the mayor and town council indicated they would seek additional concessions by the church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recently, the mayor has again expressed his support and belief that the Town Council will stand by its word, local church spokeswoman Melissa McKneely said in a statement released Tuesday. The church is grateful for this assurance and today has filed a new application consistent with the agreement. We look forward to continuing our association with the community as good neighbors and friends. The Fairview Town Planning and Zoning Commission will review the application and vote on it in a future meeting. The date of that meeting has not been set, said Karin Anderson, the towns communications and marketing manager. The town council will review the application after the planning and zoning commission, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new application seeks a conditional use permit to build the temple in a residential area. Conditional use permits are the normal tool used by churches and governments to provide space for houses of worship in residential areas. The church has applied to build the temple on Stacey Road, a four-lane state highway, in a section colloquially known as Church Row. Today, Church Row includes Sloan Creek Campus of the Chase Oaks Christian Church and a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse. The temple and the Twin Creeks Church of Christ are also planned for that section of the road. The initial Latter-day Saint proposal was for a medium-sized, two-story temple of 44,000 square feet on 8 acres. The plans called for the temple to be 65 feet tall with a 108-foot steeple for a total height of 173 feet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the town rejected that application, the two sides agreed to mediation. They emerged with an agreement for a smaller temple one story of approximately 30,000 square feet with a main height of 45 feet and a steeple height of 120 feet. Soon after the sides announced the agreement, it appeared that Fairview leaders would call for more concessions. Members of Fairview United, a citizens group, have said they oppose a steeple taller than 68 feet, which is the height of the Latter-day Saint meetinghouse on the proposed temple site. Last week, the local Latter-day Saint leader, Allen Texas Stake President Daniel Trythall sent a letter to Fairview officials requesting a positive outcome based on the mediated agreement. McKneely, the local church spokeswoman, said the churchs leadership and membership want to cooperate with Fairviews leaders and residents. In building sacred temples, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints always seeks to cooperate with communities while exercising its fundamental rights of worship, she said in her statement. Representative Jimmy Gomez and CIA Director John Ratcliffe got into a fiery exchange on Wednesday as a House intel hearing turned to the topic of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths drinking problemand whether it played a part in Signalgate. The main person who was involved in this thread, that a lot of people want to talk to, is Secretary of Defense Hegseth, and a lot of questions were brought up regarding his drinking habits in his confirmation hearing Gomez said, directed at Ratcliffe and National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard. To your knowledge, do you know whether Pete Hegseth had been drinking before he leaked classified information? I dont have any knowledge of Secretary Hegseths personal habits, Gabbard responded, avoiding the question entirely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Director Ratcliffe, same question. Yes or no? I think thats an offensive line of questioning; the answer is no, Ratcliffe replied, clearly perturbed. I find it interesting that you want to Hey! I yield back You dont want to focus on the good work that the CIA is doing, that the intelligence community is doing Director, I reclaim my time, director, I reclaim my time, Gomez said. I have huge respect for the CIA, huge respect for our men and women in uniform. But this was a question thats at the top of the minds of every American. He stood in front of a podium in Europe holding a drink! So of course we want to know if his performance is compromised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You want to talk about accepting responsibility? Do you think we accept a successful strike to make Americans safer? Ratcliffe retorted. Heres the thing. This is serious. Weve been briefed in this committee about using Signal, Gomez said. We know that your people areRussian, Chinese are on your phone. This back-and-forth comes on day two of the fallout from The Atlantics editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, being added to a Signal chat with Vice President JD Vance and President Trumps top Defense Cabinet members planning an attack on Yemen. CIA Director John Ratcliffe said the agency has no assessment that the U.S. is at war with Venezuela, a comment that comes as President Trump has invoked war powers to deport migrants from the country. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) asked Ratcliffe if there was any assessment that we are currently at war or being invaded by the nation of Venezuela. We have no assessment that says that, Ratcliffe responded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In igniting the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, Trump has accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of ties to the Tren de Aragua gang. The law allows him to deport any citizen of an enemy nation, in this case Venezuelans the Trump administration has accused of being linked to the Tren de Aragua gang. Ratcliffes comments could be used in ongoing litigation over Trumps use of the 18th century law, which critics have argued should only be used in times of war. Though little used, the act has never been a basis for targeting gang activity. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard provided fewer details, saying there are varied assessments that came from different intelligence community elements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department said last week it was igniting a leak investigation after the publishing of intelligence related to Tren de Aragua. The disclosure came shortly after The New York Times published an article saying U.S. intelligence assessments contradicted Trumps claims that Tren de Aragua was acting at the behest of the Venezuelan government. The Justice Department is opening a criminal investigation relating to the selective leak of inaccurate, but nevertheless classified, information from the Intelligence Community relating to Tren de Aragua (TDA), Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a Friday statement. 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, he continued. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Updated at 12:02 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. ISTANBUL, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish government's new rural development plan should be comprehensive and farmers-oriented so as to secure sustainable agricultural growth in the country, experts said recently. On March 19, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during an event in Ankara that the government will provide 18.5 billion Turkish liras (about 487 million U.S. dollars) "of rural development support from the budget as well as with credit and co-financing assistance from international organizations and institutions." "We will therefore invest approximately 25 billion liras in rural areas and create employment for 10,000 people," he said, adding that starting from 2025, the government will provide 37 billion liras of additional grants in aid to Turkish farmers over the next five years. Yener Ataseven, an academic from the Department of Agricultural Economics at Ankara University, said the new plan aims to enhance productivity and ensure sustainable food supplies. "Farmers will be able to make more precise production decisions, knowing in advance how much support they will receive for specific crops in different regions," Ataseven told Xinhua on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Ataseven said the government should further focus on environmental sustainability for the plan to succeed, as excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, deforestation, and soil degradation threaten long-term agricultural viability. The expert urged the government not to delay or make insufficient payments, stressing the need for additional support for small-scale producers. Murat Kapikiran, head of the Istanbul Chamber of Agricultural Engineers, highlighted the importance of comprehensive planning for sustainable agricultural growth in the country. He told Xinhua on Monday that without a well-rounded strategy that accounts for factors like drought, crop patterns, and water resources, increasing agricultural production in rural areas will be challenging. "Furthermore, to resolve all farmer debts in a timely manner, the new support model must be designed to favor the farmers, eliminating their need for credit. This requires a radical approach to implementation," Kapikiran said. City of Atlanta employees will have just over two weeks before they are required to return to the office. According to a memo from the Atlanta Interim Commissioner of Human Resources, all city employees, except for those working for ATL 311, will have to come to the office starting April 10. The letter from Comm. Calvin W. Blackburn III said that all employees will have to be in office, and those working 100% remote will be required to come to the office at least three days a week, with a maximum of two remote days per week. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Team supervisors will give their staff reporting instructions for the return to office, according to the letter. Blackburn thanked city employees for all that they do to keep Atlanta Moving Forward. The Atlanta return to office for city employees comes amid a shift in federal remote work practices as well. President Donald Trump issued orders on the day of his second inauguration, saying that all departments and agencies in the executive branch of Government shall, as soon as practicable, take all necessary steps to terminate remote work arrangements and require employees to return to work in-person at their respective duty stations on a full-time basis, provided that the department and agency heads shall make exemptions they deem necessary. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The City of El Paso and the El Paso Fire Department, along with community members, celebrated the completion of renovations at Fire Station No. 14 in El Pasos Lower Valley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The celebration was held on Wednesday morning, March 26, at 6300 Delta Dr. near Ascarate Park. The City said that the $1.2 million investment enhances fire protection and emergency response services for the surrounding community. The project was funded through the 2019 Public Safety Bond Program, approved by voters, and managed by the Citys Capital Improvement Department, the City added. Key improvements to the station include: Renovations to both the interior and exterior of the facility Upgraded HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems Site enhancements including parking lot improvements, landscaping, and new fencing Installation of new bay doors for emergency vehicles Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City and the El Paso Fire Department thank the community for its continued support in advancing public safety infrastructure and ensuring first responders have the tools they need to protect and serve El Paso residents, read the news release by the City. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. PARIS (AP) French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday that a proposed European armed force for possible deployment in Ukraine in tandem with an eventual peace deal could respond to a Russian attack if Moscow launched one. Macron spoke after talks with Ukraines president and ahead of a summit in Paris of some 30 nations on Thursday that will discuss the proposed force for Ukraine that Macron suggested could be deployed in important towns and elsewhere. If there was again a generalized aggression against Ukrainian soil, these armies would, in fact, be under attack and then its our usual framework of engagement, Macron said. Our soldiers, when they are engaged and deployed, are there to react and respond to the decisions of the commander in chief and, if they are in a conflict situation, to respond to it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Macron, together with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has been driving an effort to build a coalition of nations willing in one way or another to support the deployment of an armed force in Ukraine, with the aim of securing a lasting peace by dissuading Russia from attacking the country again. Macron didnt specify what sort of response he envisaged in the eventuality of a Russian attack. He said the proposed European forces wouldn't be stationed on the frontlines in Ukraine, nor be engaged on the first day opposite Russian forces. They would be forces that dissuade the Russians from attacking again. And by holding important towns, strategic bases, mark the clear support from several European governments and allies, he said. So we are not on the frontlines, we dont go to fight, but we are there to guarantee a lasting peace. Its a pacifist approach, he said. "The only ones who would, at that moment, trigger a conflict, a bellicose situation, would be the Russians if they decided again to launch an aggression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Macron is expecting 31 delegations around the table Thursday morning at the presidential Elysee Palace. Thats more than the French leader gathered for a first meeting in Paris in February evidence that the coalition to help Ukraine, possibly with boots on the ground, is gathering steam, according to the presidential office. Trump administration isn't keen The big elephant in the room will be the country thats missing: the United States. U.S. President Donald Trumps administration has shown no public enthusiasm for the coalitions discussions about potentially sending troops into Ukraine after an eventual ceasefire to help make peace stick. Trumps special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has dismissed the idea of a European deployment or even the need for it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a combination of a posture and a pose and a combination of also being simplistic, he said in an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. Thats not the view in Europe. The shared premise upon which the coalition is being built is that Russian President Vladimir Putins actions in Ukraine starting with the illegal seizure of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and culminating in the 2022 full-scale invasion that unleashed all-out war shows that he cannot be trusted and that a European force could help dissuade another attack. Ukraine's leader envisages multi-missioned force Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Macron both suggest that a foreign contingent in Ukraine could also provide military training, something allies already have been doing outside Ukraine, preparing more than 75,000 Ukrainian troops for battle against Russias larger and expanding military and helping to make up for some of Ukraine's losses from more than three years of intense fighting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Primarily, any contingent consists of combat units, but they are above all intended to control the situation, monitor it, carry out joint training, and also to prevent any desire by Russia to return with renewed waves of aggression, Zelenskyy said at Wednesday's news conference with Macron. European officials say that in any peace-deal scenario, Ukraines first line of defense against any future Russian aggression would be Ukraines own army. The 27-nation European Union is pressing ahead with a so-called steel porcupine strategy aimed at making Ukraine an even tougher nut for Russia to crack, by strengthening its armed forces and defense industry. Britain is also pledging continued military aid so Ukraine can keep fighting if peace talks fail or a ceasefire is broken. Macron announced a new package of defense aid for Ukraine that he said was worth 2 billion euros (US$ 2.15 billion) and will include light tanks, air defense and anti-tank missiles and other weaponry and support. Boots on the ground Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The basket of possible options that European military chiefs and planners have been looking at includes an array of scenarios they have been preparing for government leaders to consider and, ultimately, green light. A possible option that France has been pushing would be a deployment by coalition members of a sizable force in central Ukraine, somewhere along the Dnieper River, away from frontlines, said a French official who spoke on condition of anonymity about the closed-door discussions. The official said other possible options being examined are deploying a support force even further away from the fronts, in Ukraines far west, or in a neighboring country. British officials have said a force could consist of between 10,000 and 30,000 troops which would be a considerable effort for nations that shrank their militaries after the Cold War but are now rearming. ___ AP journalists Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv, Ukraine, Jill Lawless and Emma Burrows in London and Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed to this report. KIEV, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Washington has proposed a new version of the minerals deal to Kiev based on a previous framework agreement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters on Tuesday. "After the framework deal, a full agreement is being developed. Now the United States has offered us a 'major' deal," he said. Describing the U.S. proposal as a "large, complete agreement" and "the vision of the American side," Zelensky said the details "are not yet available." He said that the new version of the agreement doesn't include the U.S. involvement in Ukraine's nuclear power plants, which U.S. President Donald Trump suggested last week. On March 20, Trump said that a rare earth minerals deal with Ukraine would be signed "very shortly." The initial deal, scheduled to be signed in Washington at the end of February to grant Washington access to Ukraine's mineral deposits, was halted following a heated exchange between the two leaders in the White House. Meanwhile, Zelensky said that territorial issues were not part of the latest negotiations between Ukraine and the United States in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. "There are no territorial issues, so it does not matter what they (the Russians) say," he said. If you've recently purchased a 12-pack of Coca-Cola, there's a recall you should be aware of. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalled 864 12-packs of Coca-Cola sold in two states earlier this month, and on Monday the agency classified it as a Class II recall. According to the FDA, a Class II recall 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." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recall, which affects more than 10,000 cans of Coca-Cola, were recalled because they may have been contaminated with a foreign object: plastic. The FDA did not mention any injuries or illnesses in connection with the recall. The recalled beverages were bottled and distributed by Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, LLC, in Milwaukee, according to the FDA. What states was the recalled Coca-Cola sold in? The Coca-Cola being recalled was sold in Illinois and Wisconsin. "Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling is voluntarily recalling 864 cases of 12-pack Coca-Cola Classic in 12-oz cans in Illinois and Wisconsin," a company spokesperson said in an emailed statement to USA TODAY Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The cases are being withdrawn because they did not meet our high-quality standards. We are taking this voluntary action because nothing is more important to us than providing high-quality products to the people who drink our beverages," the spokesperson in the statement. Recall alert: Nearly 30,000 pounds of Chomps Beef Sticks recalled over potential metal in meat Which Coca-Cola products were recalled? Twelve-pack cases of canned Coca-Cola sit on the shelf at a store in Stevensville, Maryland, on March 25, 2025. Hundreds of Coca-Cola cans in Illinois and Wisconsin have been recalled after reports of plastic being found inside the cans, according to the FDA. The specific product codes of the affected packs and cans can be found on the FDA's website. The beverages were distributed to retailers and stores in Illinois and Wisconsin. The FDA did not specify what customers should do if they purchased the recalled sodas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coca-Cola recalls over 10,000 cans due to plastic contamination Axon CEO Patrick Smith speaks the Arizona Capitol on March 4, 2025, as part of the company's effort to back legislation that would stop a ballot referendum in Scottsdale brought by residents opposed to its plans to build a 74-acre campus near the Loop 101 and Hayden Road. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror After a GOP effort to make it impossible for Arizonans to let local voters challenge development projects at the ballot box failed to gain traction, lawmakers are instead attempting to strip that right away from just Scottsdale voters so Axon can build a massive new headquarters and housing project without opposition. Earlier this month, Republican lawmakers, flanked by Axon executives and employees, launched a full-court press for a proposal that would have stripped voters across the Grand Canyon State of their right to mobilize to overturn zoning changes their city councils approve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the legislation faced an uphill battle, with opposition from both neighborhood advocates and other GOP lawmakers, and it soon became clear the effort wouldnt be successful. So, on Wednesday, Axons allies pivoted and reworked the legislation to apply only to Axon. The House International Trade Committee heard one bill approved a strike-everything amendment that would bar Scottsdale voters from heading to the polls to decide the fate of the Axons sprawling 74-acre campus near Hayden Road and the Loop 101. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Arizona Constitution gives residents the right to refer matters to the ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local activists, backed by a signature-gathering effort linked to a labor union, gathered signatures to send the rezoning decision made by a lame-duck city council the votes for the project came from councilors who had been voted out of office to the ballot in a voter referendum, which must happen by November 2026. The measure that lawmakers advanced on Wednesday would cancel that election. It says that any municipality with between 200,000 and 500,000 residents Scottsdale had 241,000 residents in the 2020 census must allow hotel use and multifamily residential housing for land zoned like the Axon parcel without requiring any type of application that will require a public hearing if certain criteria is met. An aerial map showing where Axon plans to build a 74-acre campus near the Loop 101 and Hayden Road. Courtesy Axon It also would disallow the municipality from withholding a building permit and applies to companies that are building an international headquarters, like Axon plans. My inspiration here is to support that commitment to these companies that are coming here to establish themselves, Sen. Frank Carroll, R-Sun City, said. Carroll sponsored the underlying bill, and approved of the amendment, which was formally introduced by Rep. Tony Rivero, R-Peoria, the committees chairman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rivero and other proponents of the bill said it wasnt really about Axon, but unnamed groups who are using the referendum process to halt economic development in the state. Business groups like Greater Phoenix Leadership, which represents the largest business interests in the state, and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry came out in support of the bill. Even though the language is tailored to apply specifically to Axon, they denied the measure was about the company, which makes equipment for law enforcement. What other companies in Arizona would qualify for this? Rep. Stacey Travers, D-Phoenix, asked Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry President and CEO Danny Seiden. Seiden was unable to come up with a single other company that would also benefit from the bill, instead saying it would provide a vehicle for other companies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, basically, this just benefits Axon? Travers asked. Seiden said right now it does, but said it would also aid future companies looking to build similar projects in Arizona. Peoria Mayor Jason Beck, who also runs the ballistic vest company Tyr Tactical, said the bill is about making sure Arizona stays competitive as a state for business. I dont compete with other companies, I compete with other states, Beck said, adding that he often meets with governors of other states to figure out how Arizona can stay competitive. But local activists and current members of the Scottsdale City Council said the measure was horrible public policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a bill designed to obliterate Scottsdale residents rights. This isnt about taking care of jobs and economic growth. This is about one man who wants to avoid an election. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions This is a bill designed to obliterate Scottsdale residents rights, former Republican lawmaker Michelle Ugenti-Rita told the committee. She was representing a Scottsdale group called Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions, or TAAAZE for short. That group gathered more than 26,000 signatures from Scottsdale residents in order to get a referendum on the 2026 ballot to ask Scottsdale voters if Axon can build its campus with the proposed 1,900 apartment units it was rezoned for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This isnt about taking care of jobs and economic growth. This is about one man who wants to avoid an election, Ugenti-Rita said, referring to Axon CEO Patrick Smith. Now, we have a bill in the last committee hearing, a striker that is going to rig an election If we want to have this fight, it should happen within the boundaries of Scottsdale. Ugenti-Rita told the committee that she and other opponents of the project are willing to negotiate with Axon on their proposal. But rather than do that, Axon has instead set out to change state law to protect its interests. Smith acknowledged as much when he spoke before the committee. You gotta get this solved in this legislative session or you are directed to sell this land, Smith said his board of directors told him, adding that they would make a profit off selling the land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scottsdale Councilman Barry Graham said the legislature had no business letting Axon avoid the will of the voters. They have told us overwhelmingly that they want to vote on this project, Graham said of Scottsdale voters. This striker bill would deny them that right a constitutional right. Both Vice-Mayor Jan Dubauskas and Graham said they support Axon as a company and do not want it to leave, but question why the company needs 1,900 apartment units in an area where city leaders have already approved 5,000 multi-family units. Why is the maker of Taser becoming an apartment complex developer? Dubauskas asked. Why is the legislature even getting involved in all that? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith told the committee that Axon wants to stay in Scottsdale, but we are just nowhere close to getting a deal done. He has said the firm has no interest in going before voters and will leave Arizona before the election if the law isnt changed to protect the development project. Smith sat next to the attorney for his development deal, Charles Huellmantel, during the hearing. Huellmantel has faced controversy and criticism in the past for his development deals. The room was also full of Axon employees in yellow and black shirts, the colors of Axons premiere product, its non-lethal taser. Im not going to stand in the way of this and tell a company to get out, Rep. Justin Wilmeth, R-Phoenix, told his colleagues. The bill passed out of the committee unanimously and will head next to the full House for consideration. If it passes the chamber, it will return to the Senate for a final vote before going to Gov. Katie Hobbs. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE BI talked to more than a dozen college students to see how they're using AI to manage their coursework. Despite the ever-increasing prevalence and power of AI, some students said they were wary of using the tech. Others reported heavy use and worried about over-reliance and skill atrophy. College students are using AI to help them lighten their course loads but the process isn't always guilt-free. Business Insider talked with over a dozen students about their AI use for schoolwork, and the conversations revealed a range of feelings amid educators' complaints of a wave of AI plagiarism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether they were light or heavy users, the students seemed to grapple with the tradeoffs of using the technology. Many told BI they felt a level of discomfort or suspicion and some said they tried to avoid using it altogether. "Honestly, I try to avoid it as much as possible. I don't really trust it," said Ellis Edgeman, an accounting major at Florida State University. "Having to fact-check everything that AI puts out, and then also having to reword everything so that it doesn't detect AI. It just seems like more work than just doing the assignment." Fears of hallucination aside, other students are wary of over-reliance on AI and its potential for far-reaching consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It scares me to go all in because then I feel like my skills and my development, personally, professionally, will just kind of stagnate," said Michael, a computer science major at the University of Miami. "And once you kind of get stuck into that, it's hard to get out." Michael, who requested to go by his first name to avoid potential academic consequences, said he grapples with feeling guilty about depending on a technology that could one day eliminate the possibility of a future career in programming. Still, he said he like almost everyone he knows, relies on AI it's just a question of how much. "The longer the semester goes, the more burned out you get, the easier it is to fall into that trap," Michael said. "But I think almost everybody uses it to some extent." Some students are using AI to streamline what they call 'busywork' Of those who do lean on AI to help complete their schoolwork, many said they avoid allowing it to complete entire assignments for them, and instead use it to cut through "busywork." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nicole Rivera-Reyes, a senior legal studies major at the University of Central Florida, said she avoids ChatGPT but relies heavily on Google's NotebookLM, particularly to help her transcribe videos and take notes. "I think at the most, it should be used to streamline a task, not completely do it over," Rivera-Reyes said. "Instead of like I understand the human element as far as error goes, right, but at most, I think it should be used to get through whatever busywork you have." Samantha Wilson, a music education major at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, said she avoids AI altogether because she's "terrified" of getting flagged for plagiarism. For her peers who do dare, Wilson said it's just a matter of sorting out the work that they find valuable, or critical to the learning process. "I've had classmates tell me that they use it for everything," Wilson said. "But I think that they're just utilizing the tool because they feel like the essay is a waste of their time. They already know the material, and they'd be fine not getting that experience of writing the paper." Others are turning to AI to cope with what they describe as overwhelming course loads A health sciences major and a musical theater student are both wrapping up their final years at the University of Miami. Both, who requested anonymity to avoid academic consequences, said they're relatively heavy AI users and cited similar reasons heavy loads and teachers who moved faster than they felt they could keep up with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I had a teacher who was moving incredibly fast, and I barely even understood any of the concepts, and at that point, it was just like I needed to get a good grade," the musical theater student told BI. "AI broke down the concepts in a way that made it easier to understand for me than the actual teacher." The theater student said the process felt mercenary, like she was "just checking a box," but that balancing her stacked schedule would become impossible without AI to clear quick tasks off her plate. "I have my classes, on top of a show that I produce, on top of work hours, on top of potentially designing for another show," she said. "I do not have time. If I couldn't get through my homework quickly, I don't know what I would do. I already struggle enough to take care of myself in the busiest times." The health sciences major, who said she used AI to get through a physics course in a similar fashion, said the tool is vital in freeing up her time not just for social needs but for self-care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The time I get back by using AI, I honestly just use to shower and sleep. In sophomore year before I used any AI it's so bad, but I used to have like zero food," she said. "Now I'm actually able to take care of basic human needs." Students turning to AI to bail them out isn't unique to a single university. An architectural engineering student at Farmingdale State College in New York said he depended on it to save his grade in a challenging statics course. The student, who requested anonymity given his use of AI, felt his entire class had fallen behind by the end of the semester. He said it prompted an incident of covert cheating during a final conducted on university grounds, the student described a group effort to source and share answers to test questions. "None of us were retaining any information," he added. "So, what we did was sort of like a group chat where half of us used Chegg and the other half used ChatGPT, and we shared answers for the test." Some students fear the consequences of long-term reliance Several students told BI that they worried that, for all its time-saving and revision benefits, using AI would come at a critical cost skill atrophy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Riley, a computer science major at the University of Florida who requested to go by his first name, said he's already seeing the effects of long-term AI usage. "I will be the first one to tell you I've struggled with that before," Riley said. "With using AI for something and then going back to it, like, a month later, and being like, 'Oh, I don't remember what this does, or I don't remember how I did this.'" A paper released by researchers at Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University suggested that the more workers relied on AI to automate tedious tasks, the more detached from the output they became. "Surprisingly, while AI can improve efficiency, it may also reduce critical engagement, particularly in routine or lower-stakes tasks in which users simply rely on AI, raising concerns about long-term reliance and diminished independent problem-solving," the researchers wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The researchers added that data showed a "shift in cognitive effort" as knowledge workers moved from completing tasks themselves to overseeing the completion of tasks by generative AI. When used "improperly," the researchers asserted that technologies could mean the "deterioration of cognitive faculties." "A key irony of automation is that by mechanizing routine tasks and leaving exception-handling to the human user, you deprive the user of the routine opportunities to practice their judgment and strengthen their cognitive musculature, leaving them atrophied and unprepared when the exceptions do arise," they wrote. It's up to the individual, said Patrick Wilson, an anthropology student at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, to bridle the tech in a way that works for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's such an incredibly useful tool, it's really hard to just dismiss it based over that one concern," he said. "It's kind of on us to make sure that we're still being critical, and maintaining our abilities. But if I think, if you're using it well, if you're really using it to its full potential, then, by definition, you're doing a lot of critical thinking." John Keon, who studies finance at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, said that AI is a natural next step in technological evolution and that the further automation of human tasks seems inevitable. "You don't want to be reliant on this stuff, but at the same time, isn't that kind of like, what technologies, like sort of the general idea is, it's designed to improve and handle functions that otherwise would take, you know, manpower or horsepower, or labor hours," he said. Still, Keon distinguishes between academic and professional settings. He said that a boost from AI might be a good thing when you're in the work force, but that automating your work while still in university could prove detrimental. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "From a productivity standpoint, if you're in a company, then, yeah, that's a great thing," Keon said. "But if you're in an academic setting, if you're in a creative setting, I think that boredom and that brainstorm is a very crucial part of any kind of idea-generating creativity." Read the original article on Business Insider Colon cancer is a particularly deadly form of the disease, the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. But patients diagnosed with colon cancer also need to be concerned about their heart health, especially if they're younger adults, a new study says. Colon cancer patients under 50 are 2.4 times more likely to die from heart disease within the first two years of their cancer diagnosis, according to findings scheduled for presentation Sunday in Chicago at a meeting of the American College of Cardiology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All patients with colon cancer also face an increased risk of heart-related death, and that risk runs highest within two years of their diagnosis, results show. But younger adults, Black patients and men are at especially high risk, researchers found. "Based on our findings, the two-year period after a colorectal cancer diagnosis is a critical period when patients need aggressive care to improve cardiovascular outcomes," said researcher Dr. Ahsan Ayaz, an internal medicine resident at Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh, N.Y. "For example, there should be an aggressive approach to control cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities like diabetes and hypertension," Ayaz said in a news release. "There is also a need for coordination between oncology teams and primary care teams, because most of those risk factors are managed by primary care providers." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The findings are troubling given that colon cancer rates are rising among people younger than 50, even as they decline among seniors. Colon cancer rates rose by 2.4% a year among people under 50 between 2012 and 2021, according to the American Cancer Society. Likewise, death rates in people under 55 have been increasing about 1% a year since the mid-2000s, the ACS said. Previous studies have shown that cancer survivors have an increased risk of heart disease, but the relationship between cancer and heart-related death has not been well-studied, researchers said in background notes. For the new study, researchers analyzed National Cancer Institute data on more than 630,000 adults diagnosed with colon cancer between 2000 and 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Researchers looked for colon cancer patients who'd died from heart diseases, high blood pressure, stroke, hardening of the arteries, or a tear or clot in the aorta -- the largest artery in the human body. Overall, people with colon cancer were 16% more likely to die of heart problems than people without colon cancer, researchers found. But in the first two years after diagnosis, the risk was 45% higher for all colon cancer patients, 55% higher for men and 74% higher for Black patients, results show. This increased risk of heart-related death could stem from side effects of cancer treatment, Ayaz said. For example, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are both known to be toxic to heart health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cancer itself also might cause inflammation and other problems damaging to the heart, he added. "For therapies that are newer, there is not a lot of data on the side effects and toxicities, but evidence is emerging that they cause cardiovascular toxicity," Ayaz said. "It is important to identify these problems promptly and take steps to mitigate them." Researchers next plan to review heart-related deaths among patients receiving different cancer treatments, and to see whether other factors like wealth, insurance or health care access influences their heart risk. Findings presented at medical meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. More information The Mayo Clinic has more on how cancer can affect heart health. SOURCE: American College of Cardiology, news release, March 20, 2025 Copyright 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Democratic U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette speaks at the Colorado Democratic Party watch party on Nov. 5, 2024. (Andrew Fraieli for Colorado Newsline) U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, a Denver Democrat, called for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and National Security Advisory Michael Waltz to resign after release of the full transcript of a Signal chat that accidentally included a journalist. Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, reported Monday that sensitive details of pending U.S. military action were sent in a group chat on Signal, an encrypted commercial messaging app, of senior Trump administration officials that Waltz accidentally added him to. The Atlantic on Wednesday published the full transcript of the conversation, which included minute-by-minute attack plans ahead of U.S. bombings in Yemen earlier this month. Administration officials had minimized the severity of the breach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeGette said at minimum Hegseth and Waltz must resign, and she demanded Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe be investigated for perjury after denying on Wednesday that classified information was shared in the chat. DeGette said it may well be that all of these officials need to be fired. The level of incompetence shown by the Secretary of Defense and National Security Advisor is staggering. This is a systemic failure by some of the highest-ranking officials in our government, and if the information shared on this unsecured platform fell into the hands of an adversary, it would have put American servicemembers lives at risk, DeGette said in a statement. There must be accountability, and their failure to take responsibility while gaslighting the public about what exactly happened demands answers. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE DENVER (KDVR) President Donald Trump signed a new executive order Tuesday that would overhaul U.S. elections. The order includes requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections, among other measures. Colorado elections officials called the order unlawful. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold told FOX31 that her office is still reviewing the entire order in conjunction with the Colorado Attorney Generals Office, but said the order would, in some states, effectively become a poll tax. Colorado Senate approves pair of ammunition purchase, gun show regulation bills Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The executive order is called Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections, with a stated goal of cultivating free, fair and honest elections. The order requires proof of citizenship on national voter forms, which every state accepts, according to Griswold. Now states like Colorado, we have other ways to register through the mail, online voter registration but other states do not, Griswold said. So in effect, many states rely heavily on these forms. And if the form requires proof of citizenship, that means Americans that do not have that proof, its harder for them to register and it effectively becomes a poll tax. She noted that one way to prove citizenship is with a passport: Adults applying for a new passport in the U.S. must pay an application fee of $130 and an execution fee of $25. Drivers licenses are less pricey, coming in at about $33 for a standard license in Colorado. Any new requirement to show proof of citizenship will be a hurdle to many people, and especially blue collar people, people of color, and frankly, potentially women, women who have gotten married and havent updated their different identification forms, which would be required under this executive order, Griswold said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She told FOX31 that Trump is legislating based on conspiracies and that undocumented immigrants are already prevented from voting in Colorados federal elections. Order addresses counting ballots after Election Day Trumps executive order says that the U.S. would enforce election requirements that prohibit States from counting ballots received after Election Day or prohibit non-citizens from registering to vote. Trumps order alleged that previous administrations actively prevented States from removing aliens from their voter lists. Reckless, total incompetence: Colorado legislators react to Signal chat of war plans In general, this executive order is aimed at making it harder for many citizens to vote, Griswold said. Its a broad attempt to disenfranchise Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Colorado, anyone registering to vote is required to either have a valid Colorado drivers license or ID or provide the last four digits of their social security number. Other information, such as your address and a declaration of being a citizen of the U.S., is required as well. Trumps 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. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold issued a statement about the order. Trumps executive order is unlawful, Griswold said. It would prevent eligible Americans from exercising their sacred right to vote. The Trump administration is weaponizing the federal government and trying to make it harder for voters to fight back at the ballot box. The United States has always led the world in conducting free and fair elections, and we cannot let Donald Trump end that legacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order references the portions of U.S. law that dictate election day and the time of appointing electors, arguing that some states have counted votes cast after polls closed on election day. It is the policy of my Administration to enforce those statutes and require that votes be cast and received by the election date established in law, the order states. Yet numerous States fail to comply with those laws by counting ballots received after Election Day. This is like allowing persons who arrive 3 days after Election Day, perhaps after a winner has been declared, to vote in person at a former voting precinct, which would be absurd. Colorado House passes bill regulating semiautomatic firearms, banning bump stocks According to the Colorado Secretary of States Office website, mail-in ballots are only counted if they are received by a county clerks office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day, and postmarks do not count. Additionally, voters who are in line by 7 p.m. on Election Day are still allowed to cast their votes. The Denver Elections Division website states that voters can mail their ballots, but encourages voters to send the ballot at least eight days before Election Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Counting ballots can sometimes take weeks Denver didnt finish counting ballots from the November General Election (which was on Nov. 5, 2024) until Nov. 14, and official results were certified on Nov. 22, 2024. Denver Clerk and Recorder Paul Lopez also weighed in. In Denver, we believe in democracy. We will not be intimidated, coerced, or tolerate any attempt to strip away our voting rights. In our state, we have a strong legacy and history of holding secure and accessible elections. As Denvers Clerk, I will continue to ensure voters have access to the ballot box. I will not stand for this administrations attempts to undermine and weaken American democracy, so help me God, Lopez said. Colorado House passes bill removing same-sex marriage ban from state statute Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The measure also directs clerk offices to use voting methods that produce a voter-verifiable paper record allowing voters to efficiently check their votes to protect against fraud or mistake. It would require States to maintain an accurate and current Statewide list of every legally registered voter in the State, and that database must be shared with the Department of Homeland Security upon request. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Supporters and union members listen to speakers at a rally the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3607 held in support of protecting federal workers' jobs at a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency facility on March 26, 2025, in downtown Denver. (Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline) The union that represents just under 500 Environmental Protection Agency employees in Colorado rallied Wednesday outside of the agencys downtown Denver headquarters against President Donald Trumps threats to cut workers. Members of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3607 and other supporters marched around the EPA Region 8 headquarters near Union Station to urge the Trump administration to let us work as it continues to undermine federal workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elon Musks so-called Department of Government Efficiency has been tasked with reducing the size of the federal government and targeting waste, fraud and abuse, which has led to mass firings of probationary federal employees among other cuts the administration claims will reduce federal spending. Two federal judges, deeming the firings illegal, have ordered the Trump administration to reinstate probationary employees. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX AFGE Local 3607 Secretary Greg Lohrke told the crowd that a contract that took the union years to negotiate was ripped apart in days by the Trump administration. He said the administration has ignored civil service protection laws meant to ensure a stable, nonpartisan federal workforce. Miles Batson, vice president of AFGE Local 3607, said the chants the group led its march with Let us work and Youre going to miss us when were gone are the key points the union wants the administration to understand. The Office of Personnel Management directed each federal agency to develop reduction in force plans to cut their staffing, and while there hasnt been any specific guidance on what this will look like yet, Batson said it wont make anything more efficient. He said blindly cutting federal workers under the guise of efficiency or fraud is really insulting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its going to be really devastating to see us all go, and we dont want to wait until the anvil drops to say that, Batson said. Federal workers are for better and more efficient work. We want to do our work better. Batson said his involvement with the union started as a way to help federal workers with work conflicts or contract negotiations. Now, he said, the entire structure of that work is completely under attack as the Trump administration continues efforts to cut the federal work force. Ive turned into a fighter much more so than I expected, but were up for the fight, Batson said. Im not backing down in any way shape or form. Supporters march at a rally the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3607 held in support of protecting federal workers' jobs at a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency facility on March 26, 2025, in downtown Denver. (Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supporters march at a rally the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3607 held in support of protecting federal workers' jobs at a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency facility on March 26, 2025, in downtown Denver. (Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline) Supporters march at a rally the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3607 held in support of protecting federal workers' jobs at a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency facility on March 26, 2025, in downtown Denver. (Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline) Supporters gathered at a rally the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3607 held in support of protecting federal workers' jobs at a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency facility on March 26, 2025, in downtown Denver. (Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline) Commerce City Councilmember Renee Chacon speaks at a rally the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3607 held in support of protecting federal workers' jobs at a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency facility on March 26, 2025, in downtown Denver. (Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miles Batson, vice president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 3607, speaks at a rally the union held in support of protecting federal workers' jobs at a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency facility on March 26, 2025, in downtown Denver. (Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline) Ean Tafoya, Colorado state director of GreenLatinos, speaks at a rally the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3607 held in support of protecting federal workers' jobs at a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency facility on March 26, 2025, in downtown Denver. (Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline) Supporters and union members gathered at a rally the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3607 held in support of protecting federal workers' jobs at a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency facility on March 26, 2025, in downtown Denver. (Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline) Emily Bedell, a union steward for AFGE, said losing probationary workers is a disservice to the American people, public health and the environment. She said shes worried about maintaining clean drinking water in the region, as well as underserved communities after the Trump administration cut environmental justice programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were here today to tell the administration that we have been beaten down by the policies that theyre enacting, Bedell said. Weve all felt super depressed like things are out of our control, and were here to take that power back and show the administration that we will be here no matter what they do to us, and well keep working hard to serve the American people. Support from the union has been essential, Bedell said, especially as the federal government has violated worker contracts by firing probationary employees and mandating a return to in-person work. That has been especially hard for working parents, as theyve had to search for spots in daycare for children, and Bedell said office morale is down overall. The austerity thats coming from the top is making it really hard to then put that aside, come into the office and do our good work that were all passionate about, Bedell said. Weve been treated deplorably by the administration and by DOGE, and we dont deserve it. Were here today to stand together to protect our jobs, our rights and the future of federal service. Commerce City Councilmember Renee Chacon said environmental justice is a human right, and she asked EPA workers to keep fighting to ensure people in underserved communities like hers have access to clean air, land and water. She said shes fighting for the same water rights in Commerce City that her grandmother was. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im asking for your help and your profession and your medicines to come back to my community and never go away, Chacon said. Thats how we beat people like Trump. He thinks he can bully us. A Suncor Energy oil refinery in Commerce City is frequently flagged for violations of environmental regulations. In July, the EPA and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment served the refinery with a 140-page list of alleged violations. What I would say to the Trump administration is that isnt government efficiency, Ean Tafoya, Colorado state director of GreenLatinos, said about federal worker cuts. Efficiency is when our people can wake up and breathe clean air, clean water and live the American dream. They are stealing the American dream from my community with missed days of school, with lower property values, with your inability to save and send your kids to college. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE (Akchamczuk/Getty Images) BOULDER, Colo. Colorado regulators are issuing licenses for providing psychedelic mushrooms and are planning to authorize the states first healing centers, where the mushrooms can be ingested under supervision, in late spring or early summer. The dawn of state-regulated psychedelic mushrooms has arrived in Colorado, nearly two years since Oregon began offering them. The mushrooms are a Schedule I drug and illegal under federal law except for clinical research. But more than a dozen cities nationwide have deprioritized or decriminalized them in the past five years, and many eyes are turned toward Oregons and Colorados state-regulated programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Oregon and Colorado, were going to learn a lot about administration of psychedelics outside of clinical, religious, and underground settings because theyre the first to try this in the U.S., said William R. Smith, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Psychedelic mushrooms and their psychoactive compound psilocybin have the potential to treat people with depression and anxiety, including those unresponsive to other medications or therapy. The National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health, says the risk of mental health problems caused by ingesting mushrooms in a supervised clinical setting is low, but may be higher outside of a clinical setting. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a social media post last year, before his nomination as U.S. health secretary, that his mind is open to the idea of psychedelics for treatment. Medical experts say more research is needed, particularly in people with a diagnosis or family history of psychotic or bipolar disorder. Adverse effects of psilocybin, including headache and nausea, typically resolve within one to two days. However, extended difficulties from using psychedelics can last weeks, months, or years; anxiety and fear, existential struggle, social disconnection, and feeling detached from oneself and ones surroundings are most common. After the decriminalization and legalization in Oregon and Colorado, psychedelic mushroom exposures reported to poison control centers ticked up in these states and nationally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, about 40 people organized by the psychedelic advocacy group the Nowak Society gathered in Boulder to talk about the coming changes in Colorado. They included Mandy Grace, who received her state license to administer psychedelic mushrooms, and Amanda Clark, a licensed mental health counselor from Denver, who both praised the therapeutic power of mushrooms. You get discouraged in your practice because the current therapies are not enough for people, Clark said. In Oregon and Colorado, were going to learn a lot about administration of psychedelics outside of clinical, religious, and underground settings because theyre the first to try this in the U.S. William R. Smith, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine Colorado voters approved Proposition 122 in 2022 to legalize natural psychedelics, after Oregon voters in 2020 approved legalizing psilocybin for therapeutic use. Colorados program is modeled after, but not the same as, Oregons, under which 21,246 psilocybin products have been sold as of March, a total that could include secondary doses, according to the Oregon Health Authority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of mid-March, Colorado has received applications for at least 15 healing center licenses, nine cultivation licenses, four manufacturer licenses, and one testing facility license for growing and preparing the mushrooms, under rules developed over two years by the governor-appointed Natural Medicine Advisory Board. Psychedelic treatments in Oregon are expensive, and are likely to be so in Colorado, too, said Tasia Poinsatte, Colorado director of the nonprofit Healing Advocacy Fund, which supports state-regulated programs for psychedelic therapy. In Oregon, psychedelic mushroom sessions are typically $1,000 to $3,000, are not covered by insurance, and must be paid for up front. The mushrooms themselves are not expensive, Poinsatte said, but a facilitators time and support services are costly, and there are state fees. In Colorado, for doses over 2 milligrams, facilitators will screen participants at least 24 hours in advance, then supervise the session in which the participant consumes and experiences mushrooms, lasting several hours, plus a later meeting to integrate the experience. Facilitators, who may not have experience with mental health emergencies, need training in screening, informed consent, and postsession monitoring, Smith said. Because these models are new, we need to gather data from Colorado and Oregon to ensure safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Facilitators generally pay a $420 training fee, which allows them to pursue the necessary consultation hours, and roughly $900 a year for a license, and healing centers pay $3,000 to $6,000 for initial licenses in Colorado. But the up-front cost for facilitators is significant: The required 150 hours in a state-accredited program and 80 hours of hands-on training can cost $10,000 or more, and Clark said she wouldnt pursue a facilitator license due to the prohibitive time and cost. To increase affordability for patients in Colorado, Poinsatte said, healing centers plan to offer sliding-scale pay options, and discounts for veterans, Medicaid enrollees, and those with low incomes. Group sessions are another option to lower costs. Colorado law does not allow retail sales of psilocybin, unlike cannabis, which can be sold both recreationally and medically in the state. But it allows adults 21 and older to grow, use, and share psychedelic mushrooms for personal use. Despite the retail ban, adjacent businesses have mushroomed. Inside the warehouse and laboratory of Activated Brands in Arvada, brown bags of sterilized grains such as corn, millet, and sorghum and plastic bags of soil substrate are for sale, along with genetic materials and ready-to-grow kits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Co-founder Sean Winfield sells these supplies for growing psychedelic or functional mushrooms such as lions mane to people hoping to grow their own at home. Soon, Activated Brands will host cultivation and education classes for the public, Winfield said. Winfield and co-founder Shawn Cox recently hosted a psychedelic potluck at which experts studying and cultivating psychedelic mushrooms discussed genetics, extraction, and specialized equipment. Psychedelic mushrooms have a long history in Indigenous cultures, and provisions for their use in spiritual, cultural, or religious ceremonies are included in Colorado law, along with recognition of the cultural harm that could occur to federally recognized tribes and Indigenous people if natural medicine is overly commercialized or exploited. Several studies over the past five years have shown the long-term benefits of psilocybin for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder, and the Food and Drug Administration designated it a breakthrough therapy. Late-stage trials, often a precursor to application for FDA approval, are underway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith said psilocybin is a promising tool for treating mental health disorders but has not yet been shown to be better than other advanced treatments. Joshua Woolley, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of California-San Francisco, said he has seen the benefits of psilocybin as an investigator in clinical trials. People can change hard-set habits. They can become unstuck. They can see things in new ways, he said of treating patients with a combination of psilocybin and psychotherapy. Colorado, unlike Oregon, allows integration of psilocybin into existing mental health and medical practices with a clinical facilitator license, and through micro-healing centers that are more limited in the amounts of mushrooms they can store. Still, Woolley said, between the federal ban and new state laws for psychedelics, this is uncharted territory. Most drugs used to treat mental health disorders are regulated by the FDA, something that Colorado is taking into its own hands by setting up its own program to regulate manufacturing and administration of psilocybin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Colorado declined to comment on its policy toward state-regulated psychedelic programs or personal use provisions, but Poinsatte hopes the same federal hands-off approach to marijuana will be taken for psilocybin in Oregon and Colorado. Winfield said he looks forward to the upcoming rollout and potential addition of other plant psychedelics, such as mescaline. Were talking about clandestine industries coming into the light, he said. 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. Colorado Treasurer Dave Young speaks at the opening of Colorado Democrats' Aurora field office on June 28, 2022. (Faith Miller/Colorado Newsline) Colorado State Treasurer Dave Young warned Wednesday of the dire consequences for the states budget that could result from Republican proposals to slash federal spending, especially the cuts that would be forced on Medicaid by a recently passed GOP budget resolution. Young spoke alongside other state treasurers in a virtual press conference hosted by the advocacy group Americans for Responsible Growth, slamming the proposed spending cuts coming from the Trump administration and from the activities of Elon Musk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Republicans current budget plan, backed by President Trump, is not only financially reckless, its needlessly cruel, Young said. In Colorado alone, we have about 1.2 million seniors, disabled people, pregnant mothers, working class families that depend on Medicaid. If federal cuts go through, our state must make up the difference by slashing other essential programs like education or kicking thousands of Coloradans off Medicaid. Neither option is acceptable to me. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The budget resolution passed by GOP lawmakers earlier this month requires the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid spending, to make more than $880 billion in cuts to federal spending over the next 10 years. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that Medicaid comprises 93% of the spending that could be cut by the committee. As a result, the Republican budget requires a minimum of $700 billion in Medicaid cuts or a 10% reduction in projected spending even if all other spending overseen by the committee were zeroed out. Young, a Democratic former state lawmaker from Greeley, has served as Colorados state treasurer since 2019. One of four statewide executive offices elected by voters, the treasurer oversees the management, investment and disbursement of state funds, along with a handful of savings and loan programs and the states Division of Unclaimed Property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He spoke Wednesday of his sister, Dorothy, who is developmentally disabled and has relied on Medicaid for behavioral and physical health care services throughout her life. About 25 years ago, when Colorados Medicaid program was previously forced to make cuts, Young said, Dorothy struggled to find care and was essentially homeless for a period of time. This is somebody who has no ability to care for herself but was out on the street because Medicaid didnt have enough money to support her, said Young. I ran for office to advocate, not only for my sister, but for the thousands like her, and because Ive seen how essential these services are, and how fragile our Medicaid system can be if we dont protect it. If congressional Republicans follow through on their planned Medicaid cuts, Colorado could face an especially difficult set of fiscal choices because of the requirements in the so-called Taxpayers Bill of Rights, which Young called the most restrictive tax and expenditure provisions of any state in the country. With state lawmakers barred from raising additional revenue without ballot-box approval, and already struggling to fill an estimated $1.2 billion budget gap this year, the states only options could be to make deep cuts to a range of social services. As these health care costs increase, its just going to crowd out our education expenditures even more, and these are just not sustainable pathways for delivering effective services for people in the state of Colorado, Young said. Children need to have a quality education. People need to have effective health care. We want an infrastructure system that works for people our business communities count on that to thrive. And without a thoughtful approach to dealing with Medicaid, particularly in Colorado, we put the future of our state at grave risk. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE ROME, March 25 (Xinhua) -- European unity is vital to tackling economic challenges ranging from new U.S. tariffs and rising public debt to the expanding influence of big tech firms, Italian political figures and analysts have said at a conference in Rome. The conference, titled "Governing Europe and Italy in the Age of Donald Trump," was hosted by LUISS University on Monday evening and featured prominent speakers, including former Italian Prime Ministers Mario Monti and Giuliano Amato, Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, European Commission Vice-President Raffaele Fitto, and LUISS professors. "What we are seeing today is not the only time Europe has faced big challenges," said Monti, who served as Italy's prime minister between 2011 and 2013 during the global sovereign debt crisis. "But we must act together to confront the current challenges." Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25-percent tariff on aluminum, steel, and related imports, with another round set to take effect on April 2, though details remain unclear. In response, the European Union initially planned retaliatory tariffs for April 1 but postponed them by at least two weeks following a European Council meeting to allow more time for negotiations. On the sidelines of the conference, economics professor Pietro Reichlin told Xinhua that the Trump administration's unpredictable tariff policies complicate the EU's response strategies. Reichlin stressed the importance of understanding U.S. trade goals to reach an agreement, pointing to the EU's surplus in goods and the U.S. strengths in services and energy as potential negotiation points. Italy's Finance Minister Giorgetti warned that mounting debt and the growing influence of big tech firms - particularly U.S. giants such as Google and leading players in artificial intelligence, are increasingly limiting the policymakers' options. According to Eurostat, the EU's average debt stood at 81.6 percent of GDP at the end of the third quarter of 2024 while the eurozone recorded an average ratio of 88.1 percent. Italy's debt-to-GDP ratio reached 136.3 percent, second only to Greece. Speakers stressed the need for greater cohesion within Europe to address external trade pressures, the Ukraine conflict, and internal disputes within the bloc. Amato emphasized that cooperation, not conflict, drives prosperity. Reichlin also stressed the importance of adapting to evolving trade dynamics with China. "Adjusting trade relations is crucial, as both sides stand to benefit from deeper engagement," he said. COLUMBUS, Ga (WRBL) Around one hundred people gathered at the Greater Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church. They intended to create a space where community members could share their concerns and questions about recent city events. A panel of community activists spoke out and responded to crowd questions. The speakers included member of the NAACP National Board of Directors, Edward Dubose, community and civic organizer, Dr. Rocky March, Managing Director of regional organizing for Partnership for Southern Equity, Marquese Averett, and Advocacy Chairperson for the Urban League of the River Valley Young Professionals, Demetrius McBride. Additionally, Pastor of the Greater Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Dr. Marcus Gibson gave a speech to open the meeting. Following the speakers, the meeting was opened to a question-and-answer session and open comment session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pastor of Mount Olive Babtist Church and Community activist, Mark Lawerence served as part of the panel. He described the importance of the meeting. Stating, What has happened is there have been other community rallies and even the former mayor of the community, she had her a rally and but the people havent had their rally. So we had to bring them together so that they might have a voice themselves to share what they would like to do now, what they would like to see later, and the future of Columbus, Georgia. Concern over the recent appointment of John Anker as a city councilor sparked a call to action from speakers. Specifically, a petition for review of the city charter and demands for the mayor to launch an investigation over the appointment. Community Activist Marvin Broadwater Sr. Encouraged action from the community. He said, When you leave here right now, dont just come to this meeting and talk how your council member tomorrow. The meeting was not exclusively about Ankers appointment. Other major talking points included concerns about recent anti-DEI initiatives and a call for higher voter turnout in the next city council election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Community and civic organizer, Dr Rocky March urged the community to vote and encourage those around them to do the same. To close the meeting Mark Lawerence asserted the new name of their organization as the Citizens Outreach Network. He asked for community participation at the next Citizens Outreach Network Meeting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) Actor and comedian Rob Schneider will perform live in Shreveport. Former SNL cast member, Fred Armisen, coming to Louisiana Schneider is hitting the road with his You Can Do It Tour. The event will showcase his legendary stand-up comedy performance and feature a special musical guest from Las Vegas. Schneider is well-known for his roles in popular films such as The Waterboy, Grown Ups, Big Daddy, Deuce Bigalow, and 50 First Dates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2020, Schneider released his Netflix stand-up special, Rob Schneider: Asian Momma, Mexican Kids, in which he shared insights about his family and personal life. His new comedy tour will be held on Friday, May 2nd, at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. To purchase your tickets, visit Ticketmaster. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. In only a few weeks, the United States has walked away or rather sprinted from decades of global leadership. Its unrealistic that another power will fully replace the role America has played in shaping global affairs, but some are navigating how to fill some gaps. Europe and China both have incentives to step up, for different reasons and with different priorities. Europe is alarmed at what the loss of Americas democratic leadership means for stability and progress around the world. America was on its team, so Americas retreat is costly. China, on the other hand, is smiling since Americas retreat positions it better to influence the world to better serve Chinas interests. Whether the future of the world is more democratic or authoritarian will likely hinge on which of these two powers does a better job replacing U.S. influence and where. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Europes most urgent task is to replace the United States as the Arsenal of Democracy, a term coined by President Franklin Roosevelt for Americas role in defending democratic allies against fascism in World War II. This means providing more support to Ukraine, to make up for uncertainty and cuts in U.S. assistance, but also boosting Europes own defense capacity so that it can defend itself in the absence of Americas security guarantees. President Donald Trump has not yet pulled out of NATO, but he has repeatedly questioned whether he would come to Europes defense. The European Union has unveiled an $840 billion plan to increase its defense spending, and the German parliament just passed historic constitutional amendments to take on unprecedented levels of debt to facilitate a massive defense investment. It will take time and even more investment, though, to reach European self-sufficiency, including rapidly expanding weapons and defense production at home. Though the United Kingdom is no longer part of the E.U., British leaders are working closely with their European counterparts to coordinate their response, on Ukraine in particular. As one of two European nuclear powers, the United Kingdom will be vital to developing an independent defense policy for the continent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Europe can rise to the occasion, it should be able to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine and other European targets. If not, aggressive autocrats around the world could learn that violating the sovereignty of weaker neighbors pays off. Europe is also responding to the gap in free press left by the Trump administrations gutting of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, the independent agency that oversees Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Network. Since World War II, U.S.-funded international broadcasters have worked to provide objective news and information to audiences around the world, as part of Americas commitment to promoting free press. RFE/RL has provided accurate news across Eastern Europe since the Cold War and today remains vital to countering Russian disinformation about Russias war in Ukraine. The E.U.s head of foreign affairs called RFE/RL a beacon of democracy at a meeting of the E.U. Foreign Affairs Council last week where European foreign ministers discussed what they could do to fill the void. European leaders are alarmed by the broader U.S. foreign aid freeze as well. The Trump administration has slashed at least $54 billion in foreign aid contracts, which undermines critical global health care efforts and essential humanitarian relief, and halted economic development, education and other support that reduces instability and conflict and promotes prosperity around the world. Ending these programs has put millions of lives at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The E.U. called on its member states to urgently work to fill the funding gap by pooling funds and coordinating efforts to save essential programs, including those targeting Ukraine and other European countries, and support for international organizations such as the United Nations. For China, Americas retreat is all opportunity, as the situation with foreign aid makes clear. China has been competing with America for influence across the globe for decades, particularly in developing countries across the Global South. And now America has unilaterally ceded the fight. Chinas influence in the countries it partners with will increase without it having to spend a dime more. Americas reduction in aid has already made China the worlds largest bilateral development partner. China has expanded its diplomatic presence too, now outnumbering U.S. embassies and consulates around the world for the first time, while the U.S. State Department finalizes plans for further reducing its global presence. This all positions China well for enhanced influence, since presence is a big part of that contest. It not only builds goodwill, since citizens of other countries see what a partner brings to the table, but it also facilitates better understanding of the politics, risks and interests of other countries. Europe understands these risks and benefits too, but unlike China, it must contend with a diverse set of governments, populations and interests, which could hamper a strong, unified response. But, if Europe wants to shape the world to be more democratic and liberal, it will need to stand and act together, and quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ____ Elizabeth Shackelford is senior policy director at Dartmouth Colleges Dickey Center for International Understanding and a foreign affairs columnist for the Chicago Tribune. She was previously a U.S. diplomat and is the author of The Dissent Channel: American Diplomacy in a Dishonest Age. ___ NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) The Metro Nashville Police Department has reported a rise in commercial burglaries even as other crimes, like auto theft and some other violent offenses, have been on the decline. One business told News 2 that these break-ins are costly and can disrupt operations for weeks. The Southern Trophy House on Nolensville Pike was hit in December. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Someone had thrown a cinder block through our front door and set off our interior motion sensors, Vice President of Southern Trophy House, Wilson Brim, explained. He ultimately took less than $300, but collectively, we have spent over $2,000 fixing, repairing and dealing with the aftermath. Break-ins continued at neighboring businesses. It is not uncommon now to see plywood doors on retail stores, Brim said. You just know that the crime is just marching its way down Nolensville Pike. According to the MNPD, commercial burglaries have increased by 14% since January, with spikes in the Hermitage, Central and South precincts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats not a stat that I want to necessarily hear, Brim said. Thats bad for us being a small businessThats just a pain. Thats going to impact our insurance. At this point last year, there were 236 commercial burglaries throughout the county, compared to 269 this year. The MNPD told News 2 that recently, their main suspects have been juveniles in groups. However, if the suspects are masked and gloved, they can be hard to identify and catch. Nashville is becoming the it city for the wrong thing in that case, Brim said. The store has already made an effort to deter crime, but Brim said he feels the police could do more. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Stay vigilant, have better lighting, have an alarm system, have lots of cameras, dont keep cash on hand, Brim said of the new changes at his store. We just need to have more police presence up and down our street at night. None of this stuff happens during the day. It is all happening in the wee hours of the morning. We need the police Metro PD to be vigilant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The MNPD recommended contacting your community coordinator for a business walkthrough and a discussion of possible ways businesses could increase security. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) Trumbull County Commissioners could be voting Wednesday on whether or not to raise water rates. The prospect of raising water rates in Trumbull County has been a hot-button issue since it was first proposed two months ago. An exchange between Trumbull Commissioners Tony Bernard and Rick Hernandez reveals the tension Bernard: My question to you is are you 100% sure that all their costs have been cut that they could? Hernandez: Commissioner Bernard: I think the answer to that is no. Hernandez: No. Bernard: So, how can you go for a rate increase until we have those answers? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Sanitary Engineers Office is now asking commissioners to increase it to $12 per 1,000 gallons and raise the Replacement Improvement Fee to $5 on bills dated after April 1. It also includes 25 cent rate increases in 2026 and 2027. Well basically break even the rest of the year at $12. We will have lost $300,000, which weve lost already, said Bob Maiorano, controller for the Trumbull County Engineers Office. Nobody wants to raise rates, but itsI mean it has to be done, Hernandez said. The Sanitary Engineers Office has said the rate hike is needed due to increased bulk water costs from municipalities that supply water. The water fund lost $1.5 million last year alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The problem is weve been getting way too good of a deal. Thats driving us into the financial situation that were in, said Trumbull County Commissioner Denny Malloy. Commmissioners discussed the possibility of easing the burden of a steep rate hike for customers who fall under the homestead exemption by providing some sort of discount. What it would essentially do is increase these $12, $12.25 and $12.50 to offset the discount because in the end, we need $9.5 million, Maiorano said. Now to hear that we can enact a discount to those homesteads, but we gotta make it up on the people, thats not gonna fly, Hernandez said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An agenda item seeking the rate increase will appear before commissioners Wednesday, I dont want to vote on this as it is until we see the homestead thing written in here somehow, and a long-term plan for this. I dont want to just put a Band-Aid on it now and then were still dealing with this down the road, Malloy said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) Trumbull County Commissioners have decided to delay a vote on a proposed water rate increase. In his motion to table a vote, Commissioner Denny Malloy told the board hed like to lessen the burden for people who qualify for homestead exemptions. The county Sanitary Engineers Office had requested water rates be raised to $12 per 1,000 gallons with a $5 Replacement Improvement Fee on each account per month. It also asked for 25 cent rate increases in both 2026 and 2027. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At some point, these have to be raised, said Rick Hernandez, county commissioner. We have talked about kicking the can down the road, this is just further kicking the can down the road. I just think we need to see more cuts out at the sanitation engineers department, said commissioner Tony Bernard. Ive been asking for that since day 1. The Sanitary Engineers Office says the rate hike is needed due to increased bulk water costs from municipalities that supply it. In dealing with the water rates, we make sure that we keep in mind the fixed income and senior citizens in the county to not put any more undo burden they had a sewer rate increase last year, Malloy said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I hope within the next week we can get this done, because as I said, I think this is, were at the end of the rope here, Hernandez said. Come April, my understanding is that we will be in a fiscal emergency. The countys water fund lost $1.5 million in 2024. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. FERRY PASS, Fla. (WKRG) A new community center is now open in Escambia County, Florida. The Ferry Pass Community Center is a new place for the community to gather. Mobile officials preparing for possible WAVE transit bus driver strike With a brand new playground thats already getting use and 7,700 square feet of event space, Escambia County officials unveiled their newest asset Tuesday. The Ferry Pass Community Center is Escambia Countys first community center in District 4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Located on North 9th Avenue, the county purchased the property from the University of West Florida. The structure was once a house of worship. Now, after extensive renovations inside and out, people are once again singing praise over the building. It is beautiful, so I am so excited to really turn this over to the community, invite people to come and play on the playground or book out the community center and really make it their own, Escambia County District 4 Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger said. The Ferry Pass Community Center offers a large event space with a stage, two classrooms and a kitchen with an attached space that can be used as a dining room or conference room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Island schools fight for Baldwin County education tax dollars collected from all, distributed to most Its playground is equipped with slides and climbing structures, and theres even outdoor workout equipment. County officials are encouraging people to keep this new facility in mind when planning their next 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 WKRG News 5. EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha joined 12 News at 4 on Tuesday to discuss his offices recent work. Request for more funding At a State House hearing last week, the Attorney General beseeched Gov. Dan McKee to give his department additional funding. When the president froze funding, he froze effectively one-third of the states budget. Thats $5 billion, he explained on Tuesday. A small investment in my office to protect that $5 billion? I think its a worthy investment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neronha said he hopes the governor will allocate about $2 million so he can hire more attorneys, but said he plans to create the positions even if his office has to fund them itself using legal fees it earned as part of opioid settlements. MORE: What programs could be affected by federal funding freeze? Pushing back against Trump Rhode Islands Office of the Attorney General has been heavily involved in some of the most notable lawsuits against the Trump administration, including funding freezes, mass firings, and actions by the U.S. Department of Education. Neronha shared that his team of lawyers is working hard to balance these added responsibilities and with their commitment to fighting for Rhode Islanders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My people are carrying all the work that theyd do if Donald Trump wasnt president, and doing all this work on top of it, he said. We can win and we are winning. READ: RI, Mass. join federal lawsuit seeking to block Trump funding freeze Federal impacts on RI Dept. of Health Just today, the [Rhode Island] Department of Health learned from the federal government that theyve abruptly canceled $30 million of money, Neronha told 12 News anchor Kayla Fish. A spokesperson for the Department of Health confirmed that the CDC has terminated four grants awarded to the State of Rhode Island to help manage the COVID-19 pandemic. The attorney general pointed out that the CDC grants were being used to fund childhood vaccination and plan pandemic responses, adding that the state is going to have to decide whether to continue those programs at its own expense or sunset them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: CDC nixes $30M in federal funding for RI Health Department Controversy at South County Hospital Neronha also addressed the legal showdown between executives and employees at South County Hospital. Theres plainly a disconnect among some aspects of the hospital leadership and the men and women who work there, or some portion of them, the attorney general said. They really need to resolve it, and to the extent I can help with that, I will. READ: South County Hospital dispute sparks legal showdown, special meeting Cold Case Unit update The Attorney Generals Cold Case Unit is making a lot of progress, Neronha said, adding that they hope to release some information very soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 12 NEWS: Cold Cases Watch the full interview in the player above. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. Despite the rainy weather Sunday night, community members came together outside of the London Police Department for a candlelight vigil in remembrance of Doug Harless. Harless, 63, was shot at his home on Vanzant Road in the Lily community during the attempt to serve a search warrant by LPD at the incorrect address. Harless died as a result of the officer-involved shooting on Dec. 23, 2024. Sunday marked 90 days since his death, which remains under the investigation of Kentucky State Police Post 11 as of press time. Community member Jamie Burns, who has been actively involved in many events held in Harless memory, encouraged those at the candlelight vigil to stand for at least 23 minutes in remembrance of the date Harless passed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wearing ponchos with umbrellas in hand, attendees lit each others candles on the sidewalk outside of the LPD, reflecting on Harless and his passing. Among attendees was Sheryl Molihan, who spoke on the impact the incident has had on the community. This situation has literally broken all of our hearts, Molihan stated. The first night I heard that this had happened, I broke down and cried, and immediately started praying for the family because it was so surreal. Although Molihan has moved away from London, her hometown, she has attended all but one of the events held for Harless. She urged that no one being indicted for the incident would be a travesty. There is no ending that makes this better, said Molihan. You cant bring an innocent man back, but I think that the only justification for the family is going to be someone being indicted for this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Molihans sister, Sheila Wittenback, also attended the vigil. It was Wittenbacks birthday, however, she felt she should prioritize the most important thing first. She has been at each of the events thus far. Im just showing my support because I think that its a tragedy, Wittenback commented. It couldve been anybody. Married couple Kristy and William Eversole attended the gathering as well. The pair knew Harless personally, sharing that they were good friends for over 20 years. He was a good man. He was an innocent man and a good friend, Mrs. Eversole stated. I will stand until justice is served. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr. Eversole also affirmed that Harless was a good person, commenting, As long as I am breathing, I will hold my sign right down there for everybody to see. Mr. Eversoles sign reads, Justice for Doug. He recently held the sign across the street from London City Councils latest special-called meeting, standing alone. The next event in honor of Harless will be a protest outside of the April 7 London City Council meeting at 5:30 p.m. To stay updated on events held in Harless memory, join the Justice for Doug Facebook group. MOSCOW, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Russia and the United States have agreed to ensure the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative, provided that sanctions were eased on Russia's agricultural and food trade, the Kremlin said Tuesday. The Kremlin said the agreement includes ensuring the safety of navigation in the Black Sea, the non-use of force, and preventing commercial ships from being used for military purposes, with inspections in place to enforce this. It also added that the United States will help in restoring Russia's access to global markets for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lowering shipping insurance costs, and improving access to ports and international payment systems. The agreement will enter into force after a series of sanctions and restrictions related to its agricultural and food trade were lifted, the Kremlin noted. The move would include lifting Western sanctions on the Russian Agricultural Bank, which services agricultural businesses, and reconnecting the bank to the SWIFT international messaging system. Russia has also listed in the conditions the removal of restrictions on its food and fertilizer producers and exporters, on the servicing of related Russian-flagged vessels in ports, and on the related agricultural machinery supplies to Russia. The Kremlin statement came 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. 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. A dozen residents living near this composting operation south of Ashland called on the Cass County Board on Tuesday to seek a resolution to problems with putrid odors and flies. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner) PLATTSMOUTH, Nebraska Neighbors to a compost operation south of Ashland filled a courthouse meeting room Tuesday to complain about the putrid odors and swarms of flies from the operation and a lack of progress to mitigate them. Its a living hell, one neighbor, Jeff Horacek, told members of the Cass County Board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He and other neighbors said they could no longer play outdoors with kids or take meals on outside decks due to the odor, which they compared to a decomposing corpse and said was as pungent as a skunk. Owner acknowledges smell The operator of the composting operation, Black Elk Farms, located along Interstate 80 just southwest of 262nd Road, acknowledged that the smell was a problem, but that he was learning a lesson the hard way about odors created by composting waste grain he was paid to take from ethanol plants. Operator Andy Harpenau said problems should soon be over at the operation, which was launched last summer. Were not bringing in any more material,, Harpenau told board members. We need to spread it (on farm fields) and that will end the odors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that he does not take waste grain from the controversial and now closed AltEn Ethanol Plant in Mead. Promises of relief brought some grumbling and some shaking of heads from the neighbors who packed the room used for Cass County Board meetings. The board scheduled a public hearing Tuesday after hearing persistent complaints from nearby residents about the composting operation and unsuccessful attempts by county officials to resolve the complaints. About a dozen neighbors testified about the horrible smells and concerns about the potential for contaminating a nearby creek and drinking water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One board member, Duane Murdoch, said hed been assured that the compost would be spread and the odors resolved by now, but that hasnt happened. Harpenau said equipment problems and bad weather had delayed his efforts, adding that he has four other compost operations to attend to. Attempts to quell the smell by mixing the compost with mulch, he added, had been unsuccessful. Murdoch, as well as Cass County Zoning Administrator Mike Jensen both rejected those explanations. Jensen, who issued an order last year to clean up the mess, said theres much more compost on Harpenaus property than could reasonably be applied to the crop fields there. Frustrations boil A reporter visited the farm Tuesday evening. Putrid odors were evident from a nearby gravel road, as was evidence that the compost had been spread on much of an adjacent field and its green cover crop. Cover crops and using less commercial fertilizer and pesticides are part of regenerative agriculture, which Harpenau maintained is how he is using the compost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tempers rose briefly during the public hearing when Horacek shouted, Youre a liar! at Harpenau after the compost operator said he wasnt taking any new materials. Emotions cooled quickly when County Board Chairman Alex DeGarmo warned that threatening behavior would not be tolerated and that offenders would be removed by sheriffs deputies. Cass County Attorney Chris Perrone said that the county could sue to end the nuisance or fine Harpenau. No conditional use permit was required to do the composting, so there is no permit that the county could rescind. The board took no action after hearing from neighbors. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) A couple from Spring Arbor has been held in a Mexican prison for weeks, with no sign of being released. The story of Paul and Christy Akeo has gone national, and their loved ones are desperate to get them back home. The Akeos were detained after landing at the Cancun International Airport on March 4, stemming from a contract dispute dating back to 2021 that they thought was behind them. The Akeos. (Lindsey Hull) The Akeos. (Lindsey Hull) 6 News spoke with their children, Lindsey Hull and Michael Lemke, to find out what might happen next. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every second of every day, we are concerned for their safety, especially with the lack of communication, says Hull. The idea that theyre sitting in a maximum-security prison over a time-share dispute at best is unacceptable. Hull says they are being falsely accused of defrauding Palace Resorts out of more than $110,000 and that the dispute goes back to 2021. The Akeo family says Palace Resorts breached a timeshare contract they had signed with the Akeo parents, leading them to seek legal advice. Hull says they then presented evidence to their bank, who agreed with them, cancelling more than $110,000 of payments. The Akeo parents thought the dispute was over, but they were arrested and are now locked up in Centro de Reinsercion Social de Cancun, according to their son Michael Lemke. The situation is incredibly unfortunate over something that is a contract dispute that we felt, I should say it seemed like was done and over with, says Lemke. The big thing for us is just bringing them home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The siblings say their stay in the prison has already taken a toll on them, especially their mother. Theyve been serving her food. The problem is theres been several times where theyve served her food that shes allergic to or cannot eat because of that, says Lemke. Shes been having this rash that keeps breaking out on her just after some food, so shes only able to eat certain things. Lemke says a Mexican judge has given Palace Resorts six months to gather evidencemeaning the Akeos could be detained for much longer. The siblings have been able to speak with their mother over the phone several times but still havent heard from their stepfather. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. government is aware of the situation, but so far, no agreement has been reached for their release as of Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. TAMAQUA Concerned by President Donald Trumps plan to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, a group of Schuylkill County residents gathered Wednesday in downtown Tamaqua to support public education. About 15 people gathered outside the Tamaqua Area School Districts administrative office to show their support for the students, schools and programs that benefit from federal funding. Many held up signs protesting against the order, with some referencing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Trumps order calling for the dismantling of the DOE, which advanced last week, suggests dire consequences for schools across the country, including those in rural Schuylkill County, demonstrators said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Claire Kempes, of Pottsville, said the following groups would suffer if the agency were cut: low-income schools, rural districts with limited tax bases, students with disabilities, immigrant students, nonnative-English learners, and students who rely on advocates to be their voice. * Protesters rally in support of public education outside the Tamaqua Area School District Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * A peaceful rally was held Wednesday in Tamaqua to support public education. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * About 15 people protested the proposed cuts to the federal Department of Education outside the Tamaqua Area School District building Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * A driver calls out in support of a rally in support of public education outside the Tamaqua Area School district building on W. Broad St. in Tamaqua, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * Protesters rally in support of public education, as seen in a windows reflection, outside the Tamaqua Area School district building on W. Broad St. in Tamaqua, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * Holding signs reading Public Education First, people rally in favor of public education outside the Tamaqua Area School District in Tamaqua, Wednesday. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * A man approaches public education supporters telling them they are incorrect about DOGE cuts while outside the Tamaqua Area School district building on W. Broad St. in Tamaqua, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * Protesters rally in support of public education outside the Tamaqua Area School district building on W. Broad St. in Tamaqua, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * Protesters in support of public education wave signs as drivers pass near the Tamaqua Area School district building on W. Broad St. in Tamaqua, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Show Caption 1 of 9 Protesters rally in support of public education outside the Tamaqua Area School District Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Expand A retired schoolteacher, Kempes is concerned about how the federal money would be distributed at the state and local levels to support the programs that relied on federal funding, such as Title I and special education programs. The states already have control over their school systems, Kempes said. So, were gonna give (the funding) back to the states, and so all the programs that are now covered by the Department of Education and federal money, whos going to pay for that? Can people actually afford it if they give it to the states? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kempes believes that the presidents move to shut down the agency was motivated by shrinking opportunity and protections for children and letting kids fall through the cracks, on purpose, and not by an effort to reduce government and cede control to the states, as proponents have said. Title I, rural schools, kids who are disadvantaged, non-English-speaking students, students with IEPs (Individualized Education Programs), all of that is covered by federal money, Kempes said. I just dont think people understand, she continued. Not that we dont need to make sure that its efficient and put checks and balances on it we absolutely do but the way they are going about it, thats not going to fix it. Its just going to make it worse. Trump said his executive order would begin eliminating the federal Department of Education once and for all, although Secretary of Education Linda McMahon has acknowledged that the agency cannot be closed without the approval of Congress. Because Congress created the department in 1979, removing it would also likely require an act of Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Student loan availability, access to college Among the people who participated in the rally was 17-year-old Ava Miller, a homeschooled student from Orwigsburg who is dual-enrolled at Lehigh Carbon Community College. Miller, who hopes to attend art school in the fall, said she turned out to show her support since education is really important to her, and she believes that many people would lose educational opportunities if the agency were cut or reduced. Im going to be going to college soon, she said, and student loans are going to be affected, too, so probably a lot of people wont be able to go to college. I dont even know how student loans are going to affect me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another demonstrator, Jerry Pritchett, of Pottsville, attended the event to show how he, and many others, are indebted to the public education system. A 20-year U.S. Army veteran, Pritchett is proud of his schooling experience and wants others to receive the same opportunities that he had. He said that cuts to the DOE would hurt students with the highest level of need and result in increased taxes, among other things. Literacy and socialization will suffer Services will be gone, he said, and the result of that is that children wont be able to read at a level for them to function in society. And everything else that comes along with public education fluency in language, socialization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After retiring from a career at the Department of Corrections, Pritchett earned a teaching certificate and worked as a substitute teacher for 15 years, mostly in the Tri-Valley School District. If the Department of Education goes away, like our leader has intended he wants it to, all of society is going to suffer, Prichett added. I really believe that. I dont like to stand by and see our democracy pulled apart brick by brick. I spent the greater part of my life defending this country, and I feel like Im defending it now. Impact on LGBTQ, DEI programs Evan Evans, of Lake Hauto, said he would be disheartened by a lack of steady funding for disadvantaged students. He is also concerned about the implications for measures supporting certain groups, like the LGBTQ community, and diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those programs are there for a reason, and we need to continue them to help people with different backgrounds, said Evans, 82. I want to fight for their rights, my grandkids rights. Its important to me that the culture progresses, instead of going backwards. The rally, which occurred at midday, was not organized by a specific group or organization. The demonstrators plan to hold similar pop-up events addressing different issues in the coming weeks, they said. WASHINGTON (AP) A House Republican pushing the Trump administration's government efficiency efforts called for dismantling and defunding the nation's public broadcasting system following a contentious hearing Wednesday featuring the heads of PBS and NPR. We believe that you all can hate us on your own dime, said Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Coupled with President Donald Trump's declaration on Tuesday that he would love to see federal funding cut off, the nation's public broadcasting system is facing perhaps the biggest threat to its existence since it was first established in 1967. The broadcasters get roughly half a billion dollars in public money through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans have frequently grumbled that PBS and NPR news programming leans left, but efforts to cut or eliminate funding usually fade because legislators want to protect their local stations 336 of them for PBS alone, with those in rural areas most heavily dependent on taxpayer money. The hearings on behalf of the new administration are one of multiple front on which Trump and his allies are aggressively challenging and in some cases sanctioning the American media, which the president has been sharply critical of for years. This week alone, he denounced The Atlantic repeatedly for publishing texts from the Signal messaging app among high-ranking defense officials planning a military attack. Trump has also taken action against the Voice of America and other government-funded media and barred The Associated Press from the White House press pool and other events. An issue that's not going away quietly Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A succession of GOP lawmakers on Wednesday complained bitterly about alleged bias, particularly from NPR stations, making clear it was not an issue that was going away quietly. Kentucky Rep. James Comer said that as a young farmer decades ago he would frequently listen to NPR broadcasts on his tractor, as it was often his only option. But now, he has podcasts and other things to listen to. I don't even recognize the station anymore, Comer said. It's not news. It feels like it's propaganda. I feel like it's disinformation every time I listen to NPR. Greene displayed a picture of what she called a drag queen that appeared on a PBS program geared to children and complained about documentaries featuring transgender people. PBS chief executive Paula Kerger said the drag queen reference was about something mistakenly put on the New York PBS station's website and never on the air. The transgender people appeared as part of adult programming that reflected the experiences of different Americans, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats characterized the hearing as a distraction from more important issues, like this week's revelation that a journalist from the Atlantic was included in a text chain of Trump administration officials detailing a U.S. military strike in Yemen. If shame was still a thing, this hearing would be shameful, said Massachusetts Rep. Stephen Lynch. Some Democrats tried comedy. California Rep. Robert Garcia asked if the red Sesame Street character, is Elmo now, or has he ever been, a member of the Communist Party? He's a puppet, Kerger said. But, no. Admitting to some past mistakes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The broadcasting leaders acknowledged mistakes. NPR President Katherine Maher said the radio network was wrong to dismiss what was on Hunter Biden's laptop as a non-story. After they were repeatedly referenced by Republicans on the committee, Maher said she regretted posting some anti-Trump tweets before she began working for NPR. Although saying she is not responsible for editorial content, Maher detailed efforts by NPR to ensure a variety of political viewpoints are represented. NPR's weekly listenership declined from 60 million to 42 million between 2020 and 2024, according to internal documents published by The New York Times, although Maher said Wednesday those numbers have inched up in the past year. I do not believe we are politically biased, Maher said. We are a non-biased organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Uri Berliner, a former NPR editor who quit last year after complaining the news outlet had become too one-sided, wrote in the Free Press on Wednesday that NPR should no longer accept taxpayer money so it can drop the public from its mission statement and embrace the progressive." Don't try to conceal what everyone knows already, he wrote. Republican committee members noted that NPR has cited Wednesday's hearing in fundraising appeals and Maher was asked whether the system would survive without public money. It would be incredibly damaging to the national public radio system, she said. Kerger emphasized the service that PBS provides to local communities, particularly with its educational programming for children, and said she is worried for the future of its smaller stations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This," she said, is an existential moment for them. After the hearing, the Committee to Protect Journalists called NPR and PBS essential public services for millions of Americans. Casting them as propaganda machines undeserving of taxpayer support is a dangerous mischaracterization that threatens to rob Americans of the vital reporting they need to make decisions about their lives, said Jodie Ginsberg, the committee's CEO. ___ David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social Two women were were allegedly killed while visiting with their significant others in a California prison last year, putting the controversial practice of conjugal visits for inmates in the national spotlight. Stephanie Brinson, 62, whose family knew her as Stephanie Dowells, was allegedly strangled in November by her husband David Brinson, 54, who is serving a life sentence for murder at Mule Creek State Prison, about 40 miles northeast of Stockton, the Los Angeles Times reported. Her death came just months after Tania Thomas, 47, was also strangled while with her domestic partner Anthony Curry, also serving a life sentence in the same prison, according to NBC News. Curry was charged with her murder, Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe told NBC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Amador County Sheriff's Office and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation didn't respond to inquiries from USA TODAY on Tuesday, and the Amador County District Attorney's Office declined to comment. The prison in Ione is where convicted Modesto killer Scott Peterson is incarcerated for the first-degree Modesto murder of Laci Peterson, 27, and second-degree murder of the unborn son they were going to name Conner, dumping them into San Francisco Bay on Christmas Eve 2002. A number of other high-profile California criminals have also been incarcerated there, including "I-5 Strangler" Roger Kibbe, who was killed at the prison in 2021. Other notable inmates over the years have included Manson family cult member Charles 'Tex' Watson and music producer Suge Knight. Dowells' death was shocking to family members, who questioned in interviews with news outlets why she was allowed to be unsupervised with Brinson, given his convictions. Examples of inmates killing their partners during conjugal visits have made headlines in other countries, but few have been publicized in the U.S. Privacy away from watchful prison staff and access to an environment that simulates a home are key components of modern conjugal visits, which only exist in a few states in the U.S. and are the subject of controversy over their purpose and security issues they pose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's what to know: What is a conjugal visit? A conjugal visit allows an inmate to meet privately with a visitor for hours or days at a time, usually on prison grounds in a facility set up with a bed and often a kitchen. Though in popular culture they're usually depicted as opportunities for inmates to have sex with their spouse, in some places the visits can also include other family members such as the inmates' children. The practice started in the U.S. in the early 1900s at Parchman, the Mississippi State Penitentiary. At the time, Parchman was segregated by race and the visits were authorized for Black inmates, who authorities thought were more likely to be motivated by sex and would work harder in the fields, reported the Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network. The practice was expanded to 17 states by the 1990s. Usually called family visits, they're set up to facilitate family bonding. Advocates for the programs have argued they reduce inmate-on-inmate sexual violence and help preserve family relationships, particularly for inmates to return to their families upon release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, support for conjugal visits plummeted and programs were ended in most areas. In 2014, Mississippi lawmakers cited babies born as a result of conjugal visits and costs to end them altogether. New Mexico followed suit shortly after, saying the state would save $120,000 per year and that its own research found no impact on recidivism. More: Murderer accused of killing wife at prison near Stockton during conjugal visit A California Department of Corrections officer looks on as inmates exercise in the yard on Aug. 28, 2007, at Mule Creek State Prison, where last year two women were allegedly strangled during conjugal visits with their significant others. Where are conjugal visits allowed? There are now only four states that allow some kind of conjugal visit: California, Connecticut, New York and Washington. No federal prisons offer the visits. Inmates have to meet certain requirements to be eligible for the visits, and usually only a few fit the bill. Before New Mexico did away with the visits, fewer than 150 of the state's over 7,000 prisoners qualified, Reuters reported in 2014. The visits are called "extended family visits" in Connecticut and Washington, the "family reunion program" in New York and "family visits" in California. In Connecticut, the visits must include an inmate's minor child and another adult in their immediate family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Only those who demonstrate sustained good behavior and meet specific program requirements are considered. These visits are designed to support positive family connections and successful rehabilitation," California's corrections department said in a statement after Dowells' death. Why conjugal visits are controversial and disappearing As states have axed conjugal visit programs, they've highlighted concerns about security, pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Meanwhile, political conservatives say that the visits undermine the goal of punishment for convicted criminals, Florida criminal justice professor Stewart J. D'Alessio told Reuters in 2014. In Rhode Island, lawmakers are considering a longshot bill to allow conjugal visits for the first time since a related program called "social furloughs" that allowed some inmates to go home for short periods of time stopped being granted years ago. Visitation is important to rehabilitation efforts and to maintaining family ties, J.R. Ventura, spokesperson for Rhode Island's corrections department, told the Providence Journal. Unfortunately, it is also a primary method by which contraband, including but not limited to cell phones, drugs, escape paraphernalia, weapons, currency and gang related items, is smuggled into the facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Violence toward visitors by inmates in the U.S. appears to be rarely documented. In 1995, a Washington state inmate who had been convicted of murder, Todd E. Hiivala, violently attacked his wife with a kitchen knife during a conjugal visit, the Spokane-based Spokesman-Review newspaper reported at the time. The trailer at Clallam Bay Prison where conjugal visits were held was equipped with kitchen knives, the prison said. Heather Hiivala was stabbed in the arms, neck and face before her husband was subdued by a gunshot to the shoulder by a prison guard, the outlet reported. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Conjugal visits, long controversial, turn deadly in California A Connecticut woman accused of imprisoning her stepson for nearly two decades and subjecting him to starvation and relentless abuse is set to appear in court on Friday to face charges including assault, kidnapping and cruelty. Kimberly Sullivan, 56, was arrested on March 12 and has denied the allegations through one of her attorneys, Ioannis Kaloidis. Sullivan was released on a $300,000 bond. He was not locked in a room. She did not restrain him in any way, Kaloidis said. She provided food. She provided shelter. She is blown away by these allegations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sullivan plans to plead not guilty, her attorneys have said. At a hearing Wednesday, the state gave notice to Sullivans attorney that it planned to file a motion to modify the conditions of her release, and Kaloidis was given until Friday to respond. Judge Joseph Schwartz asked Kaloidis to delay entering a plea for Sullivan until then. The case came to light after a 32-year-old man who told police he had been held captive for over 20 years last month set fire to the Waterbury, Connecticut, home he shared with Sullivan in what authorities described as a desperate bid for freedom. On February 17, emergency responders arrived at the burning home to find Sullivan and her stepson, police said. While Sullivan escaped unharmed, the man who suffered from smoke inhalation and burns required medical attention. The man later told police he intentionally started the fire in his upstairs room, explaining, I wanted my freedom. An arrest warrant, obtained by CNN affiliate WFSB, detailed years of what the man described as captivity, abuse and starvation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When police arrived, they found the man severely emaciated, weighing just 70 pounds at 5-foot-9. His hair was matted, his teeth were decaying, and he appeared dirty and disheveled. Thirty-three years of law enforcement, this is the worst treatment of humanity that Ive ever witnessed, Waterbury Police Chief Fred Spagnolo said at a news conference on March 13. Its really hard to talk about, still. Tracy Vallerand, 52, speaking outside court on Wednesday, identified herself as the biological mother of the man. Vallerand gave up custody of her son when he was 6 months old, she said. I thought he was going to be with his father, where he was safe. That didnt turn out to be the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was not expecting him being locked in a room, she added, noting that she had searched for her son on several occasions over the years but didnt know where the father and Sullivan had moved to. She didnt know her sons current location or condition, she said. When he is healthier and hes stronger, if he wants a relationship with me I am right here. Im not going anywhere. Sullivans house in Waterbury, Connecticut. - Laura Oliverio/CNN A grim existence The mans account outlined in the arrest warrant paints a harrowing picture of life inside the home. He said his confinement began when he was around 11 years old. He said he was locked in a storage room with additional locks added over time, surviving each day on just two sandwiches egg salad, tuna, or peanut butter and a small amount of water. By his teenage years, he said, he was constrained to his room 22 to 24 hours a day. To relieve himself, he devised a makeshift funnel to direct urine out of the window using straws, according to an affidavit included with the warrant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mans allegations trace back to his early childhood. He said that by fourth grade he was scavenging for food at night, prompting Sullivan to lock him in his room. Eventually, he was removed from school entirely and was only allowed out to complete chores. The man stated it got to a point where the only time he would ever be out of the house once his father died was to let the family dog out in the back of the property and only for about 1 minute a day, according to the affidavit. Despite two wellness checks by the states Department of Children and Families and police visits in 2004, the alleged mistreatment went undetected. Authorities reported finding a home that appeared clean and lived-in, according to Spagnolo, and no further action was taken. Kimberly Sullivan - Waterbury Police Department/AP In January 2024, the mans father died, leaving Sullivan as his sole caretaker. According to the man, Sullivans control over him grew even more restrictive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About a year ago, he discovered a lighter in his late fathers jacket, which became his means of escape. In February, he gathered printer paper for kindling, hand sanitizer for fuel, and used the lighter to start the fire. After years of alleged captivity, abuse and starvation, he said, he finally saw a path to freedom. Search warrants later revealed plywood and locks on the door to his room, corroborating his account of confinement. Now recovering at a medical facility, the man faces a long journey of physical and emotional healing. Theres a lot of physical therapy that hell have to go through, Spagnolo said. Theres a lot of healing that hell have to go through mentally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Waterbury officials have pledged support for the man as he begins his recovery. Were committed to supporting him in every way possible as he begins to heal from this unimaginable trauma, said Waterbury Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski. CNNs Michelle Krupa, Dakin Andone, and Rebekah Riess contributed to this article. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com WATERBURY, CT. (WWLP) The woman accused of holding her stepson captive for two decades is expected back in court in Connecticut on Wednesday. Suspects arrested in Connecticut after crashing car stolen from Mass. Kimberly Sullivan, 56, is accused of keeping her stepson locked in his room for most of his life in her home in Waterbury. The man told police he was given very little food and just two small cups of water a day ever since he was 11-years-old. He was 32-years-old when he escaped and weighed just 68 pounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NBC Connecticut states that hed been locked in the house for his entire life and intentionally set the fire because he wanted his freedom. On Wednesday, Sullivan expected to plead not guilty to a number of charges. She has denied any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, the victim is receiving an outpouring of support. Almost $200,000 have been raised to help him rebuild his life. 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. The Delaware House of Representatives on Tuesday night overwhelmingly passed a controversial rework of the states corporate code. Delawares corporate laws govern the management of most of the nations top corporations, and the amendments passed by the legislature Tuesday will make it harder for shareholders to sue companies' most powerful leaders for self-dealing and transactions that include conflicts of interest. The overhaul has been the most controversial initiative in this years General Assembly, seeing debate from national media headlines to mail sent to everyday Delawareans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill has been championed by new Gov. Matt Meyer as well as Democratic leaders in the General Assembly. They say the changes are a necessary course correction that will give corporations' most powerful managers more predictability and consistency as they consider business transactions. To justify the change, proponents have argued that the future of Delaware is at stake, forecasting an exodus of business activity that underpins the state's relatively low taxes, lack of sales tax and funds more than a quarter of state government annual expenses. Matt Meyer speaks after being sworn in as Delaware's governor on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, at the William B. DeLauder Education and Humanities Theatre at Delaware State University. Meyer swiftly signed the bill after its House passage Tuesday night, saying in a press release the initiative would "protect state revenue" that funds all aspects of local government. Critics, which include corporate law academics, institutional investors and attorneys that represent shareholders, contend that doomsday prophecies about an exodus of companies and corresponding loss of state revenue are a mirage created to justify what one attorney described as a nakedly corrupt hand-out to billionaires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They argued the changes would handcuff the ability of Delaware's famous Chancery Court to police deals involving conflicts of interest, ultimately giving influential business leaders greater leverage to benefit themselves at the expense of pensioners, retirees and ordinary investors. In sum, this will detract from Delaware's status as the premier place to charter a business and lead businesses away from Delaware, critics argued. "I think it risks the future of the franchise. It risks federal intervention," said Democratic state Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton. "That would be, in fact, cooking that golden goose." The House hearing capped a month of debate that resembled national debates over the power and influence individual business leaders and billionaires have over the mechanics of government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Tuesday's hearing, opponents unsuccessfully introduced several amendments aimed at bolstering protections for investors, as well as preventing the bill from undercutting ongoing shareholder investigations into potential past misdeeds by powerful individuals at companies like Meta Facebook and Instagram's parent company. What the bill does Delaware is the legal home to some 2 million corporations, about 60% of those in the Fortune 500. The corporate laws on the states books govern the rules by which the nation's largest corporations govern themselves. When shareholders feel they've been taken advantage of by powerful people within companies, they take those claims to the Delaware Chancery Court, which serves as a check on mismanagement. Its speed, consistency and judicial expertise in evaluating such claims is said to be one reason Delaware is the primary place to charter a business. Previously: Controversial Delaware corporate law overhaul passed by Senate, heads to state House Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law passed Tuesday deals specifically with how Chancery Court can police deals cut by a company's most powerful shareholders, like Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, when there is a conflict of interest. These individuals are referred to in the law as "controlling stockholder" or "director." The changes amend how a controlling stockholder is defined, lower the hurdles they must jump through to execute a potentially conflicted transaction, and curtail information available in so-called "books and records" requests. These requests are used by aggrieved shareholders to obtain documents, files, meeting minutes and communications to investigate their claims. Attorneys involved in drafting the legislation say that over the years, the legal definitions of controlling stockholders, what books and records are, and other concepts affected by the legislation have been expanded by Chancery Court rulings. This has caused uncertainty when business managers are evaluating potential company transactions. The sentiment is that Delaware feels less predictable, less stable, less business friendly and that there is a much more litigious environment," said Amy L. Simmerman, partner at Delaware firm Wilson Sonsini and advocate of the bill, at a House committee hearing last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This has caused more companies she counsels to question their future in Delaware, she said. So the purpose of this legislation is to provide more predictability and balance where recent court decisions have caused confusion, said Lawrence Hamermesh, a corporate law expert who helped draft the bill. Professor Larry Hamermesh speaks during the Delaware's Senate Judiciary Committee meeting, where lawmakers debated changes to Delaware's corporate law at Legislative Hall in Dover, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. The Delaware's corporate law is the code that sets corporate governance for many of the nation's largest companies. But opponents have argued the legislation will reduce the role of Chancery Court policing bad transactions, overturn decades of court precedent and allow controlling shareholders greater leverage to engage in conflicted company transactions at the expense of other shareholders. It will also further the idea that powerful business people can simply turn to a pliable state legislature for relief when they don't agree with a Chancery Court decision, opponents said. Amendments fail on House floor Multiple amendments debated on the House floor Tuesday were aimed at preserving aspects of Delaware case law that Wilson-Anton, author of those amendments, argued would continue to provide protections for investors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are dealing in dangerous territory," Wilson-Anton said. Each failed after they were labeled as "unfriendly" by the bill's House sponsor. Another amendment would have made the proposed changes apply only if individual companies' shareholders voted to adopt the changes. Democratic state Rep. Sophie Phillips, the amendments sponsor, told legislators the bill has generated a bad look for our state and that the amendment would reflect a compromise. Robert Jackson, a law professor at New York University and former commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, was called as a witness by Phillips. Representative Sophie Phillips (D-18th) introduces her guests and greets the House on the first day of the legislative session of the 153rd General Assembly at Legislative Hall in Dover, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. He argued that without amendment, the bill changes law that has worked well for many Delaware-chartered companies for decades. An opt-in provision would give companies the flexibility to tailor the law to their needs or not, a hallmark of other aspects of the state's corporate code, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic state Rep. Krista Griffith, the bills sponsor in the House, argued the amendment would impose a tremendous amount of work for companies to opt into the new rules, nullifying the purpose of the bill. Jackson countered that opting into the rules would carry the same process as reincorporating outside of Delaware and without the downsides that come with such a move. Jackson's testimony was ultimately cut off by House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown, who accused him of speaking too much about the bill itself and not the amendment, which ultimately failed. Questions over motive for corporate law changes Another amendment was aimed at criticisms thrown at the General Assembly about motive. Absent data showing any exodus of Delaware companies is afoot, opponents have argued the changes are actually at the behest of a few powerful business leaders like Zuckerberg at Meta. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, news leaked to the Wall Street Journal that Meta was reincorporating outside of Delaware. Shortly after, tech company Dropbox and Pershing Square Capital Management, an investment firm, made similar rumblings. Secretary of State Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez has said these rumblings began the conversation that led to the legislation. Public records first reported by CNBC showed a Saturday meeting organized by the Meyer administration with state legislators and corporate attorneys the day after the Meta leak was published and then a meeting with Meyer and Meta officials organized for the following day. Over the subsequent weeks, the bill was drafted by Hamermesh, as well as an attorney at Richards, Layton & Finger, in addition to former Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court Leo Strine Jr. and former Court of Chancery Chancellor William Chandler III, both of whom now work for firms that typically defend against shareholder lawsuits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the House floor Thursday, Rep. Frank Burns, a Democrat, noted he was aware of two pending shareholder investigations into Meta that could become lawsuits that could be undercut by the changes. Mounting criticism: Attorneys, academics criticize proposed corporate law changes at hearing The change passed by legislators Tuesday would apply to any previous company transactions that are not subject to any lawsuit or court ruling as of February, potentially undercutting any lawsuit that flows from a current investigation into past transactions. "The last thing that Delaware should have is the impression that by passing this law, we intervened in some way that may have benefited some company," Burns said, presenting an amendment that would make the new rules only apply to transactions occurring after the bill's passage. Griffith, the bill's House sponsor, also described this amendment as "unfriendly" and argued it would cause confusion and go against the point of the bill: to make things "clearer for corporations." Burns replied that it would be less confusing and more fair to have past transactions governed by the law in effect at the time and future transactions governed by the new law. This would be more "honorable and clean," and "takes us out of being accused of having done something that would intervene in some ongoing investigation," he said. That amendment also failed. Contact Xerxes Wilson at (302) 324-2787 or xwilson@delawareonline.com. Debate on the bill This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware corporate law changes signed into law by governor Florida lawmakers pushing for adjustments to condo safety laws have hit an early impasse over two proposals: one that would allow condo associations to invest funds that have been saved for future building repairs, and another barring associations that shirk the law from getting insurance under the state-run Citizens program. Lawmakers sponsoring the House and Senate proposals are trying to bring condominium associations into compliance with laws they crafted after a 12-story residential tower in Surfside collapsed in 2021, killing 98. Those laws mandate Florida condominium associations get building inspections that are triggering immediate repair costs, and that they also save for future building maintenance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state hasnt offered assistance with either new financial burden, even as unit owners who cant afford the extra expenses are facing foreclosure. Sen. Jennifer Bradley is proposing in her bill, SB 1742, that associations be allowed to make investments with the money they save for future building repairs to help offset the cost to condo owners. Were going to have a lot of dollars in reserves, and these associations should be able to leverage those dollars, said Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican. The Senate Committee on Regulated Industries, of which she is chairwoman, approved her proposal on Tuesday. The bill still has two more Senate committees to get through before it is taken up by the entire chamber. It puts up guardrails. We invest our state employees retirement, and its a similar structure, Bradley said. And the earnings on those investments will go towards capital repairs, capital improvements first. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Rep. Vicki Lopez, a Miami Republican, told the Herald/Times on Tuesday that she worries the provision will create lots of fraud. I worry. I worry every day because not all association board members are sophisticated, Lopez said, adding that many condominium associations in her district are run by elderly people. Im worried that someone may take advantage of them. What happens to those funds if theyre not invested properly and they lose their shirts? So I dont think its a good idea. Lopez is proposing a different change to the status quo in a bill shes sponsoring, HB 913, which Bradley doesnt support. Lopezs bill would prohibit condominium associations that arent complying with the post-Surfside laws from obtaining insurance through the state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. Currently, there are no criminal penalties for associations, for instance, that shirk the requirement to get a structural integrity reserve study, which outlines costs associated with saving for future repairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But associations that dont complete the study will be hard pressed to get loans or insurance on the private market, experts have said. Lopez wants to provide the same tough incentive with state-run insurance. It is the stick, Lopez said earlier this month about the provision. Lopezs bill will face one more committee in the House before it is taken up by the entire chamber. Bradley previously spoke out against the Citizens component of Lopezs bill on social media, saying the condo insurance market is held together by duct tape. Denying access to Citizens makes the situation worse, Bradley wrote on Feb. 24. Bradley said on Tuesday that she was still against the concept. I would never say anything is a no-go in negotiations but thats not something I think Id want to embrace, Bradley said. BEIRUT, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Irish Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris announced here Wednesday a humanitarian aid of 2.5 million euros (about 2.7 million U.S. dollars) from Ireland to Lebanon through the UN Humanitarian Fund. "We hope this contribution will make a tangible difference in improving the lives of the Lebanese people," Harris said in a meeting between a high-level Irish delegation he headed and Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji, according to Lebanon's state-owned National News Agency (NNA). "We trust that decisive reforms and policy measures will be enacted to secure Lebanon's future and promote peace," Harris said, noting Ireland's full commitment to supporting the mission and peacekeeping efforts of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon. He also reaffirmed Ireland's commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and regional stability, according to the NNA. For his part, Rajji said Lebanon deeply appreciates Ireland's contributions, particularly its role in UN peacekeeping operations in southern Lebanon, the NNA reported. In a post published Wednesday on social media platform X following the meeting, Harris wrote that the two sides discussed "ongoing developments in the Middle East and how Ireland can best support Lebanon and the region towards peace." Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks at the Kentucky state Capitol on Feb. 19, 2020. Credit - Ryan C. HermensLexington Herald-Leader/Tribune News Service/Getty Images Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear on Saturday vetoed a bill seeking to overturn his Executive Order banning conversion therapya practice that attempts to alter a persons sexual orientation or gender identity. But legislators pushing to legalize the controversial practice in the state may still get their way. Kentucky Republicans, who will meet Thursday to mark the end of their legislative session, are expected to overrule the governors veto, adding to the mounting score of attacks against LGBTQ+ people especially youththat has intensified over the past few years. More than 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures for the 2025 legislative session, according to the ACLUs legislative tracker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What we're seeing now is the result of a re-energized coalition of groupsall of which are conservativeparticularly enhanced at this moment by threads of Christian nationalism, says Michael Bronski, a Harvard professor who specializes in gender studies. As legislative sessions across several states come to a close, experts do not expect a domino effect of state legislation seeking to overturn conversion therapy bans in the 23 states that have them. States are more likely to go about the question in a slightly different way, says Cathryn Oakley, senior director of legal policy at the Human Rights Campaign. Read More: Reverends: Trumps Anti-Trans Attacks Are Un-Christian Oakley expects to see states conflating the critical distinction between the effort to ban conversion therapywhich prohibits fraudulent, abusive practices that fly in the face of medical recommendationsand the effort to prevent transgender adolescents from receiving best-practice, medically-supported, evidence-based transition-related care. The Supreme Court this year will deliver a decision on U.S. v. Skrmetti, which challenges Tennessees ban on gender-affirming-care for youth and could also restrict care for adults. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conversion therapy has been discredited by medical organizations such as the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, who have called the practice both ineffective at changing a persons identity, and harmful. Youth who were exposed to conversion therapy are more than twice as likely to report attempting suicide, according a peer-reviewed study by the Trevor Project, published in the American Journal of Public Health. Of the LGBTQ+ youth who attempted suicide in 2023, nearly 30% of them were subjected to conversion therapy, according to the Trevor Projects 2024 national survey on the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth aged 13 to 24. Conversion therapy is also linked to greater symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a 2024 study by Stanford Medicine researchers. There is no nationwide ban on conversion therapy. But even though nearly half of the U.S. has laws banning the practice, it is still happening across the U.S., with registered therapists in every state except Hawaii and Vermont, as of 2023. Some conversion therapists have been able to skirt bans by advertising their services as reparative therapy, or promising to help patients deal with unwanted same-sex attraction. Experts say the ideology behind conversion therapy is also part of the rhetoric behind anti-trans legislation. You can only ban access to health care that doctors and parents want for their transgender kids if you believe that their gender identity can be changed, says Casey Pick, director of law and policy at the Trevor Project, a suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ+ youth. The anti-trans belief structure of conversion therapy has been the unspoken participant in all of this anti-trans legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this March, the Supreme Court announced it will hear Chiles v. Salazar, a case challenging Colorados conversion therapy ban. The Alliance Defending Freedom, which has been designated as an anti-LGBTQ hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, is representing plaintiff Kathy Chiles, a licensed counselor who argues that the ban censors her free speech. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit ruled in favor of the state, upholding the ban due to the harms of conversion therapy and alleging the law advises over therapists conduct. But the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled differently. In 2020, the court said that the free speech rights of conversion therapists were being infringed upon by a ban, enjoining bans on conversion therapy in three statesAlabama, Georgia, and Florida. The Alliance Defending Freedom did not respond to TIMEs request for an interview. Some experts optimistically view the upcoming Supreme Court case, in which a ruling is expected in June 2026, as a chance for the nations top judicial body to stand against conversion therapy bans, especially given the circuit split. There's some disagreement within the many courts that have upheld the bans as to what the legal rationale is. So it may well be that the court can take a look at this and find that prohibiting these dangerous practices is entirely consistent with hundreds of years of tradition and practice in this country of regulating medical conduct, says Pick. And she maintains that conversion therapy bans have been largely bipartisan, passing in states with Republican governors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read More: I'm a Veteran. Trump's Trans Military Ban Betrays Our Troops The Trump Administration, however, has acted swiftly against the transgender community, passing Executive Orders limiting their ability to change gender markers and access gender-affirming-care. Democrats last re-introduced a federal conversion therapy ban in 2023, before Republicans took control over both chambers of Congress, though the bill did not move forward. The goal of both the Administration, and Republicans, Bronski says, is clear. The attack on transgender people, which is devastating, is actually the beginning of the attack on other groups, he says. The larger project, particularly with acts like conversion therapy that seek to make someone cisgender or straight, is the simple eradication of queer visibility. If you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental-health crisis or contemplating suicide, call or text 988. In emergencies, call 911, or seek care from a local hospital or mental health provider. Contact us at letters@time.com. Oklahoma lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow the states Department of Wildlife Conservation to issue up to five mountain lion hunting permits through a lottery system. Introduced by Senator Casey Murdock, Senate Bill 1073 passed the Oklahoma Senate Monday by a 39 to 7 vote. The bill now moves to the House for consideration. Opponents to the proposal say they are against it because Oklahoma doesnt have enough lions to sustain a hunting season. Senator Murdock, meanwhile, has made it clear that establishing a hunting season and laying the groundwork for one are two separate things. Its important to clarify that this bill does not establish a mountain lion hunting season, Murdock tells Outdoor Life. Instead, it specifies that if the Department of Wildlife decides to implement a mountain lion season in the future something that is already allowed under existing law participation will be determined through a raffle system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has not signaled any intentions of reestablishing mountain lion hunting, which has been outlawed in the state for nearly 70 years. By the agencys own admission, there is not currently a viable population of mountain lions in Oklahoma. The ODWC did not respond to a request for comment from Outdoor Life to say whether or not the agency was considering or entertaining the idea of a hunt. The ODWC listed mountain lions as a game species with a closed season in 1957. Although the big cats are protected in the state, Oklahomans can legally kill them to protect themselves or domesticated animals. Senator Murdock, who commented on the bill Tuesday, has not yet responded to follow-up questions from Outdoor Life about why he and other lawmakers are opening the door to a lion hunt at this time. Murdock said in a past hearing on the bill that it would be an opportunity to increase tourism in the state, according to the Kansas City Star. Although mountain lions are sometimes spotted in Oklahoma, the ODWC says we have far fewer than rumors would lead you to believe. There have been 81 confirmed mountain lion sightings in Oklahoma since 2002. And because the animals are so reclusive, its hard to estimate how many are in the state at any one time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read Next: Cougar Kittens Confirmed in Michigan for the First Time in a Century Wildlife experts believe that the lions seen in Oklahoma are mostly transient animals rather than full-time Sooner residents. Transient mountain lions are typically young individuals without an established territory. There is also no physical evidence, after years of research, of a breeding population of mountain lions in Oklahoma, according to the ODWC. If there were breeding cats, the agency says it would have seen proof in the form of numerous tracks, scrapes and scent-marks, or road-killed lions of different age classes. Without this evidence, biologists believe that Oklahomas lions are wandering individuals coming from Colorado, New Mexico, and other nearby states. We know from some of the samples we have been able to collect from mountain lion carcasses we found over the last two decades, theyre from Colorado, they are from South Dakota, from Nebraska, ODWC wildlife biologist Jerrod Davis told The Oklahoman in 2021. They are traveling quite a long way trying to find an area that is suitable for them to set up a home range. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are not a viable local population, Davis added. Murdock says he prefers a raffle approach over an auction for any future mountain lion tags, because he believes the latter favors individuals with deep pockets while excluding everyday hunters. Read Next: Wisconsin Bowhunter Kills Cougar in Self Defense: I Felt Like the Only Option I Had Was to Shoot By utilizing a raffle, we ensure that the average person has a fair chance to participate in the hunting season, promoting inclusivity and accessibility, Murdock says. This method democratizes the opportunity among hunters, allowing everyone to have a stake in wildlife management. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Murdock also introduced a similar bill in 2021. SB 769 would have authorized Oklahomas Wildlife Conservation Commission to declare an open season on mountain lions and bears, and it would have established a lottery system with a bag limit of 5 lions. The bill quickly passed the Senate Agriculture and Wildlife Committee, but failed to advance any further in the legislature. Murdock says he is confident that his latest bill will make it all the way through the legislative process. KANSAS CITY, Mo. New information is emerging that raises critical questions about how thoroughly investigators investigated the death of Paul Lockhart, a case initially ruled as a drug overdose. In October 2023, Lockhart was found dead in his hotel room by an employee. But whats more troubling is what happened just hours before his death. Police knocked on his door but never made entry. Fentanyl and drug-related deaths have been an ongoing focus for law enforcement, but in this case, the actions of police raise concerns about whether their response matched their tough talk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The members of the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department do not give up on these investigations, KCPD Chief Stacey Graves said. Less than a month ago, Graves publicly affirmed the departments commitment to justice in fentanyl-related deaths. But that commitment seems to stand in stark contrast to how investigators handled the case of Paul Lockhart. To know that there is no surveillance available is again disheartening to know that detectives were onsite and viewed it, Lora Lockhart, Pauls niece said. Police warn of purse snatchings, thefts in Kansas City area Paul had traveled to Kansas City for a work trip, but after missing a day of work, he was found dead in his hotel room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surveillance footage taken from the hotel showed two women leaving his room, carrying some of his belongings. One of the women even attempted to steal Pauls truck but crashed it before fleeing. Despite the footage being viewed by KCPD officers the same day, detectives failed to collect it. When police later attempted to retrieve the video through a subpoena, they learned the system had malfunctioned, and the footage was gonefootage that investigators had initially told the family would be crucial in solving the case. Its a missed opportunity, and I dont know what would rectify that now that the motel says its been damaged and again issued opportunity and where do we go from there? Brittney Scarborough, the families support specialist for the Adhoc Group against Crime said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KCPD confirmed to FOX4 that they never identified the two women in the footage. However, the family was told that one woman had been identified. Despite this, the police never interviewed these two individuals, the last people known to have seen Paul alive. Instead, the department ruled his death an accidental overdose based on the findings of the medical examiner. A police spokesperson tells FOX4, There is no evidence that supports foul play or murder in this investigation. There is evidence of foul play the individuals that were seen, but yet unidentified after looking at surveillance, stole his truck and wrecked it Lora said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This leaves the familyand the publicwith more questions than answers. Privacy concerns after 23andMe files for bankruptcy How could the investigation be closed without speaking to the last two people who saw Paul alive? And how could crucial video evidence that could have connected the dots simply disappear? Its a shocking turn of events, and despite the lack of closure, the Lockhart family is determined to press on. They are set to meet with police again on April 7 in hopes of getting the answers they deserve. Stay with FOX4 for continuing updates on this developing story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. HELSINKI, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Sweden plans to increase its defense spending by 300 billion Swedish kronor (29.8 billion U.S. dollars) through 2035, aiming to raise defense expenditure to 3.5 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030, the government announced on Wednesday. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson presented the plan at a press conference, calling it "the largest rearmament since the Cold War" and noting that the investments will be financed through loans. The government said the move reflects a broader effort to strengthen Sweden's and Europe's defense capabilities. This year's financial support to Ukraine will increase significantly, alongside expanded funding for defense equipment, hybrid threat response, and the Coast Guard. Kristersson said the 3.5-percent target is a reasonable benchmark, in line with NATO's expected future defense spending goal of between 3 and 4 percent of GDP. According to preliminary NATO data, Sweden spent 2.14 percent of its GDP on defense last year. More recent estimates suggest defense spending has risen to 2.4 percent in 2025. (1 Swedish krona = 0.099 U.S. dollar) President Donald Trump restarted the clock for TikTok in mid-January with a 75-day halt on order to ban the Chinese-owned app. Now, as the days tick down to single digits, little has changed about the ownership. Barring any changes to the app's ownership, if ByteDance remains the owner, the app will go dark again in accordance with the law requiring the owner to be an American-based company. Since entering office, Trump has appointed his vice president, JD Vance, and national security adviser, Mike Waltz, to oversee sale negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what we know about the future of TikTok before April 5. Who owns TikTok? Who is Shou Zi Chew? As of March 25, ByteDance is still the owner of TikTok. The company is headquartered in Beijing and has over 120 locations, including domestic offices in Los Angeles, New York City, Austin and Seattle. CEO Shou Zi Chew took over TikTok in 2021 and became the CEO and CFO of parent company ByteDance. Will TikTok be banned? As of March 25, if there is no U.S. owner, the beloved app could again go dark on April 5. Vice President JD Vance has been chosen to lead the discussions on finding a new owner alongside national security adviser Michael Waltz. Is anyone buying TikTok? According to the president on Saturday, the administration is potentially nearing a deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were dealing with four different groups, and a lot of people want it, and its up to me, Trump said Saturday. So, there could be [a deal on TikTok soon]. Though the three parties' identities are unclear, USA Today reports that former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt is in talks to acquire the app. McCourt joins Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian in the bidding war. Before the blackout, the chance to own the U.S. audience's portion of TikTok had bidders ranging from tech entrepreneur Jesse Tinsley to YouTuber MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, and Wyoming entrepreneur Reid Rasner. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Will TikTok be banned? What to know before pause ends next week The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing administers the state's Board of Nursing and Board of Behavioral Health Professionals as well as other licensing boards. (Main photo by Getty Images; logo courtesy State of Iowa) A former social worker for Four Oaks Family & Childrens Services in Cedar Rapids sexually harassed a client and poses an immediate danger to the public, a state licensing board has ruled. The Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals recently issued an emergency order suspending the social work license of Dennis Dozier. The board has charged Dozier with unethical conduct by taking unfair advantage of a professional relationship, or exploiting others, to further his personal or business interests; unethical conduct by engaging in physical contact with a client; unethical conduct by sexually harassing a client; and failure to comply with a board order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The publicly available board documents give no indication as to where or when the alleged conduct took place, but state that Dozier is a licensed social worker who practiced at Four Oaks between 2018 and 2021 as a mental health counselor. According to the board, Dozier at some point provided counseling to a client who later reported that Dozier had disclosed his own mental health struggles to them, after which the client grew concerned Dozier might commit suicide. The same client also reported that Dozier pressured them into selling a car to another client. The board alleges that in October 2024, it ordered Dozier to undergo a comprehensive mental health and substance abuse evaluation and that he has so far failed to comply with that order. There were additional reports that (Dozier) made sexual advances toward a client, the board alleges. The board finds that (Dozier) sexually harassed a client and that (his) behavior has caused psychological harm to the client. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The available public records provide no information as to the age of the alleged victim. After ruling that Dozier posed an immediate danger to the public health, safety and welfare, the board indefinitely suspended Doziers license through an undated order that was recently made public. A hearing on the license suspension is scheduled for April 24, 2025. State records indicate Dozier was subject to a separate emergency order issued by the board on Jan. 28, 2025, but that order is not publicly accessible. All products featured on Conde Nast Traveler are independently selected by Conde Nast Traveler editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Conde Nast may earn an affiliate commission. Getty Images New Hampshire resident Fabian Schmidt was returning home from visiting his family in Europe when he was stopped at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) by United States Customs and Border Protection after showing his recently renewed green card. Originally from Germany, he had been living in the US for 18 years, but the 34-year-old was detained for nearly two months after being told he was a flight risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finally released last week, he detailed the dehumanizing experience, which included being strip-searched and locked in a secluded cell, to GBH News this week. I love this country and the people in it so muchbut Ill tell you, the system is broken, he told the public media outlet. Schmidt is just one of several American visa holders and permanent legal residents who have been stopped at the border returning from international travel, including a Brown University kidney transplant doctor, who has a work visa, but was deported to Lebanon. Foreign nationals have also recently run into roadblocks trying to visit the country legally, including a researcher who French officials say was denied entry after his phone was searched and immigration officers found messages that were critical of the Trump administration. Following these incidents, Canada and several European countries have issued travel advisories for the US. While most of the government warnings dont specify why they were added, the timing points to the the Trump administration's executive orders regarding immigration and the tightening of border policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The whole purpose is to stop illegal immigration, Larry Yu, professor of hospitality management at The George Washington University's School of Business tells Conde Nast Traveler. But then the executive orders are also tied to other issues like transgender identification, so it actually adds quite a bit of confusion, uncertainty, and concern for the US travel industry. Many of the European countries that have issued US travel warnings have flagged the White Houses executive order that states it is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female, potentially causing issues for transgender travelers with self-identified or X gender markers on their passports. The recent uptick in travel warnings is already having a major impact on US tourism, according to Yu, as several of the advisories were issued by countries that are top drivers of inbound travel to the US, including Canada, the UK, and Germany. The image the US has always projected is that were welcoming and diverse," Yu says, adding that recent events are making people think about how they see the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US is projected to lose $12.5 billion in traveling spending this year, according to a new report from the The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) released this week, citing a 22.5% decrease from peak spending, falling to $169 billion from $181 billion last year. This is a wake-up call for the U.S. government. The worlds biggest Travel & Tourism economy is heading in the wrong direction, not because of a lack of demand, but because of a failure to act, WTTCs president and CEO Julia Simpson said in a statement. While other nations are rolling out the welcome mat, the U.S. government is putting up the closed sign. In fact new international arrivals data for the month of March already show a sharp decline. Visitation from the UK is down 15% compared to last year, whereas Germany has dipped 22% and South Korea 15%. But the most significant impact is being seen from Canada, as more Canadians are boycotting travel to America since March when then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told citizens to prioritize domestic travel ahead of peak summer travel season. The US Travel Association has warned that US states visited by CanadiansFlorida, California, Nevada, New York, and Texascould see declines in retail and hospitality revenue as a result. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest data from Statistics Canada for April shows that the number of Canadians returning from US trips decreased by plane (-19.9%) and car (-35.2%) arrivals, compared to the same month last year, marking the fourth consecutive month of year-over-year dips. Airlines have even started cutting flight capacity to the US, with Canadian carriers Air Canada and WestJet cutting routes and using smaller aircrafts. US-based airlines have also been hesitant to release this years projections, with flight cuts being a major factor. International travel advisories for the US are not entirely new; however, most posted in recent years have been in regard to gun violence. Uruguay and Japan both issued alerts to its citizens in wake of the Dayton, Ohio, shooting in 2019. Japans Ministry of Foreign Affairs currently lists gun crime as a major public safety concern in the US, including safety advice and statistics on the most common locations and timings of shootings. Japan also warns about the high number of hate crimes in the US based on race, sexual orientation, and religion. Australia-based small-group adventure travel company Intrepid Travel has seen a clear decline in demand for travel to the US, according to its CEO James Thornton, who says theyve seen a 40% drop in year-to-year numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the figure highlights the need to foster a more welcoming environment that supports the tourism industry and the vital role it plays in connecting people around the world, he says the US "continues to be a sought-after destination. While the specific reasons international travelers are choosing not to come to the US may be more nuanced, one thing is clear: there are recent upticks in warnings, and there is a significant decrease in foreign visitors. Below, we've rounded up the countries that have issued or updated advisories to their citizens regarding US travel so far. Which countries have issued travel warnings against the US? France France joined other European nations issuing a warning the evening of March 24 by revising its foreign ministrys travel advice. Citizens heading to the US are now strongly recommended to consult the embassy site and their airlines to check any changes or new measures adopted. Canada With 20.4 million visits from Canada in 2024, the US' northern neighbor is its top driver of international visitors, generating $20.5 billion in spending. Starting on April 11, 2025, Canadians staying in the US for longer than 30 days are required to register with the US government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Canadian government has added information to its US travel guidance on the new entry and exit rules, cautioning that failure to register via a I-94 form or the new Form G-325R on the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) site could result in penalties, fines, and misdemeanor prosecution. This is interesting because there has been this immigration rule for citizens of other countries, but in the Canadian case was never really rigorously or strictly enforced, Yu says. Now the Canadian government is saying, make sure you follow the rules. Yu notes there is still some uncertainty and concerns regarding the new process as the digital immigration portal rolls out (at the time of publication, a technical support banner is the first thing on the myUSCIS site.) Denmark While no Danish citizens have been detained, the Scandinavian country warned transgender travelers on March 20 to exercise caution while traveling to the US. Even though theres no precedent, the current administration has changed registrations specifying there are two genders, and thats a clear concern for the transgender community, Yu says. Germany Germany first updated its US travel advisory on March 19 to note that visa and entry waivers dont guarantee entry, after several of its citizens were detained. Germany's foreign office also added updates regarding gender identification, stating travelers to the USA must state either male or female on ESTA or visa applications and that those with an X gender marker or whose gender is different than that assigned at birth should consult with the US diplomatic mission in Germany before crossing the border. Finland The Nordic nation updated its US travel advisory on March 14, warning its citizens that if their passports have a different gender marker than that assigned at birth that US authorities may refuse entry. United Kingdom The UK has recently updated its US travel advisory for British travelers bound for America with stricter wording: While in February, it stated, the authorities in the US set and enforce entry rules, the language was changed in March to say those rules are enforced strictly, which remains on the site at the time of going to press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre basically telling people to double check the requirements because its very difficult to pinpoint any specifics right now, Yu says, citing the examples of European travelers, including a UK national, being detained at the border in recent weeks. Its a very general advisory: Do your homework and if you arent sure, check with the US embassy." Netherlands While the Dutch ministry of foreign affairs still has the US listed as green in its level for safe travel, its travel advice page was last modified on April 4 including: "Please note that laws and customs in the US towards LGBTQ+ persons may differ from those in the Netherlands." Belgium While the Belgian foreign ministrys site states it's safe to travel to the US, it also warns: If you encounter difficulties with immigration services or if you are removed, you can contact the American authorities through the Travel Redress Inquiry Program (TRIP) website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The site also informs its nationals that travelers to the US must indicate their gender as male or female when applying for an ESTA or visa, adding that The United States refers to this as the person's sex assigned at birth. Portugal Portugal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently updated its travel guidance for citizens visiting the US, noting that possession of an ESTA or visa does not automatically entitle you to entry into the United States. The final decision is always made by the border agent upon arrival in the United States. It also advises non-binary travelers to "complete forms and provide declarations upon arrival with the gender with which they were identified at birth. Ireland Ireland updated its travel guidance for the US on March 28, 2025 to include advice for transgender Irish citizens, stating: ESTA and visa application forms to the US require travelers to declare their sex. The US authorities have indicated that this should reflect, what they term, the travelers biological sex at birth. The latest update as of April 18, also says, Travellers whose sex on their passport differs from sex assigned at birth should contact the Embassy of the United States of America in Dublin for further details on specific entry requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs also notes that the US states of Arizona, Utah, Indiana, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama have introduced legislation to combat illegal immigration that authorizes police officers to seek information on an individuals immigration status and to detain people they suspect of being in the US illegally." They suggest that travelers carry their documents with them at all times in case they are asked to present them by law enforcement officials. **This is a developing news story and will be updated with more information as it becomes available. ** Originally Appeared on Conde Nast Traveler The Latest Travel News and Advice Over the past two months, President Donald Trump and the people in his orbit have used bullying, misdirection and brute force to bring some of the nations oldest and most powerful institutions to heel. That playbook didnt work on The Atlantic. The magazine, loathed by Trump and his allies, on Wednesday morning published the entire group chat conversation among top administration officials about a military operation in Yemen. In doing so after press secretary Karoline Leavitt told the magazine we object to the release Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg and national security reporter Shane Harris effectively stood up to an administration that has largely grown used to getting its way and dared a White House with limited options to make the next move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a clear public interest in disclosing the sort of information that Trump advisers included in nonsecure communications channels, especially because senior administration figures are attempting to downplay the significance of the messages that were shared, the reporters wrote. It was a remarkable rebuke of Trump, who since Inauguration Day has embarked on a revenge tour, tearing through the federal government, elite universities, news organizations and law firms he sees as enemies. And it left the president, unable to flex his typical levers of power, with limited options with the most straightforward way out being something he is loath to do: apologize. Theres only one response to a mistake of this magnitude: You apologize, you own it and you stop everything until you can figure out what went wrong and how it might not ever happen again, Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes, the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Wednesday during a hearing. Thats not what happened. The secretary of Defense responded with a brutal attack on the reporter who did not ask to be on the Signal chain. Allies, too, were urging the administration to turn down the temperature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think the important thing is here they made a mistake, they know it, said Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Wednesday. They should own it and fix it so it never happens again." Aided by Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency, Trump has moved to gut a federal government he and his allies see as being run by an antagonistic deep state. One of the countrys biggest news networks, ABC News, settled with Trump for $15 million, and another, CBS News, appears poised to settle for millions more. The law firm Paul, Weiss, once a champion against the president in his first term, pledged $40 million in pro bono legal services to issues Trump has supported. And Columbia University, an Ivy League institution older than the Republic itself, agreed to nine unprecedented policy changes in an effort to open talks that would unfreeze $400 million in federal funding. But The Atlantics case was different. When national security adviser Mike Waltz inadvertently added Goldberg to a Signal group chat of other top administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance, as they discussed attack plans against Houthi rebels this month, it was a major, self-inflicted screw-up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Against other foes, Trump has largely taken a strongman approach, signing executive actions against them and pulling federal funding. But those options dont exist in this case, which has forced Trump into his base-level strategy: Attack, attack, attack. Goldberg is a sleazebag whose reporting is bad for the country, Trump said Tuesday, defending Waltz and bashing The Atlantic, which he called a failing magazine (as of March 2024, it was profitable). Steven Cheung, Trumps communications director, called the story a hoax and the resulting outrage a witch hunt. In his first report, Goldberg declined to publish the messages in their entirety, writing 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. But on Tuesday, Trump, White House officials, Waltz and other people in the chat emphasized that no part of it was classified all but daring Goldberg to publish. He did. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration is retaining its same strategy, arguing that war plans were not shared at all. The Atlantic has conceded: these were NOT war plans, Leavitt said on X. The Atlantic, in Wednesdays headline, calls them Attack Plans but does not make any concessions. The messages include a schedule breakdown of a military operation, over two hours before the missions primary target was set to be killed. If this text had been received by someone hostile to American interestsor someone merely indiscreet, and with access to social mediathe Houthis would have had time to prepare for what was meant to be a surprise attack on their strongholds, Goldberg and Harris wrote. The consequences for American pilots could have been catastrophic. Its very clear Goldberg oversold what he had, Vance said on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Downplaying the incident appears, for now, to be the administrations only move unless, of course, it selects a head to roll. Investigations are likely to follow, and the blunder is so incendiary, even in Trumps firehose news cycle, that it appears likely to play into the 2026 and 2028 elections. Stupid, said a Trump ally, discussing the White Houses strategy of claiming the Atlantic was lying. The person was granted anonymity to avoid alienating administration officials. Dasha Burns and Jordain Carney contributed to this report. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this report misspelled Steven Cheung's name. BILOXI, Miss. (WJTV) Country music superstar Luke Bryan will bring the Country Song Came On Tour to the Mississippi Coast. Bryan will make a stop at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi on Saturday, September 6, 2025. The special guests will be Adrien Nunez, Cole Goodwin, and Mae Estes. DJ Rock will also appear. Country Music Hall of Fame announces 2025 inductees Ticket on sales begin on Friday, March 28 at 10:00 a.m. at www.LukeBryan.com. The ticket presale for Lukes fan club members is underway now through Thursday, March 27 at 5:00 p.m. For details go to www.LukeBryan.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bryan has hosted the ACM Awards five times and the CMA Awards four times and has won more than 50 major music awards, including five wins as Entertainer of the Year. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. South Koreas government fabricated birth records, falsely reported children had been abandoned and failed to properly conduct safety checks of prospective parents during its postwar frenzy of sending babies overseas for adoption, a long-awaited investigation reported on Wednesday. Authorities say more than 200,000 South Korean children have been adopted overseas since the 1950s, when the impoverished country was rebuilding from the devastation of World War II and the Korean War giving rise to a massive and lucrative adoption industry. Many of those adopted children, now adults scattered across the globe and trying to trace their origins, have accused agencies of coercion and deception, including in some cases forcibly removing them from their mothers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, the governments Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its findings on the first 100 cases analyzed out of 367 total petitions filed by adoptees sent overseas between 1964 and 1999. The adoptees hail from 11 different countries and many believed their adoptions could have been the result of corruption and malpractice, suspicions that have swirled among the Korean adoptee community for years. Of those first 100 cases, 56 were identified as victims of the governments negligence, which amounted to a violation of their rights under the Korean constitution and international convention, the commission found. Part of the problem was that adoptions were almost entirely run by private agencies relying on donations, without government oversight, said Commissioner Lee Sang-hoon at a news conference announcing the findings on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When adoption agencies depend on donations from adoptive parents, they are pressured to continue sending children abroad to sustain their operations. This structure increases the risk of illegal adoptions, Lee said. The commission found evidence of fabricated records, including deliberate identity substitution and false reports that the children being adopted had been abandoned by their birth parents. Often there was lack of proper parental consent for adoption, the commission said. The adoption process was also riddled with problems including inadequate screening of adoptive parents, neglect from guardians caring for the children, and cases where foreign adoptive parents were pressured to pay to be given a child. The report gave one example of a woman who signed an adoption consent form the day after giving birth. An adoption agency then took custody of the child after conducting just one interview with the mother, without obtaining any documentation verifying her identity or proving the biological relationship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation of more than 300 cases began in 2022 and is due to end in May. The latest findings add to a growing list of evidence of deeply rooted, widespread malpractice and coercion in what the commission called a mass exportation of children to meet foreign demand. It recommended that the government offer an official apology, conduct a comprehensive survey of adoptees citizenship status and come up with remedies for victims whose identities were falsified. Its been a long wait for everybody, said Han Boon-young, who grew up in Denmark and who was one of the 100 adoptees whose cases were heard by the commission. And so now we do get a victory. It is a victory. However, she said she hadnt been designated a victim because of insufficient documentation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If they say, we recognize that this is state violence, then how can they not recognize those who dont have much information? Because thats really at the core of our issues, that we dont have information its been falsified, its been altered, she said on Wednesday after the reports release. Marianne Ok Nielsen, who is awaiting her own results, told CNN she was concerned to see that about half of the adoptees were not recognized as victims of the malpractice. Weve had no rights because we dont have any documents in the first place This is about human rights it goes beyond individual cases. While adoptions continue today, the trend has been declining since the 2010s after South Korea amended its adoption laws in an effort to address systemic issues and reduce the number of children adopted overseas. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com OTTUMWA Stacy Gray's story was heartbreaking, yet also common, when it came to how to weather a property tax increase in Wapello County. "I've lost my mom, dad and husband in the last three years, and now I'm going to be losing my home," Gray told the board of supervisors during Tuesday's public hearing on property taxes. "I lived in North Carolina 28 years, and I was shocked when I got back here to help two failing parents, and saw what the property tax was. "This is absurd. I've talked to so many people in this town and it's breaking their backs. Other states can keep property tax down. Why can't we?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was a question that hovered over a packed courtroom during a public hearing in which residents couldn't understand their state-mandated property tax mailing, wanted clarification on how the board came to increase taxes, and what the increase meant moving forward. Board chair Darren Batterson said his colleagues painstakingly went through the overall budget and came to a 10-cent increase to $3.50 on the general basic levy, which is how the county pays for most of its operational costs, and a 77-cent increase on the rural services levy to $3.73. That levy pays for sheriff deputies, zoning expenses and court services, to name a few. The rise in those levies, which are based per $1,000 of taxable valuation, is attributed to increased health insurance costs, benefits, salaries the the county is contractually obligated to pay, and unfunded mandates handed down by the state. Regardless, the county is looking at a $2 million budget shortfall, and if it doesn't raise taxes, residents will at minimum see services diminished, if not fewer employees working for the county. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The system is broken and it's been broken for a long time," Batterson said. "It needs a complete overhaul. All these counties, especially in the southern two tiers of Iowa, are going to be broke. "We're already looking at people retiring and not filling those positions. We're currently in a hiring freeze. The state has taken away local control and avenues for funding, and they want us to maintain all the services with no money." Several residents were frustrated that the assessed valuation on their properties were driving up their tax burden. While 2024 was not an assessment year, this year properties will be reassessed to determine what property taxes will cost in 2026 and 2027. Mark Stevens, a rural property owner, said valuations in 2023 caused his taxes to "triple" and he was frustrated by the tax mailing he received. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't really feel like we're treated fairly, and that just adds to the frustration we're having right now," he said. "When this came out, I had no idea what the percentages applied to or how they were calculated. We worked hard to pay our house off, and we own the property. "But we really don't 'own' it." Most people didn't directly fault the supervisors or other county officials for the increases. The county had operated at a $3.50 levy for years before having to reduce that number last year because the county exceeded a percentage growth, and that associated revenue was reduced and clawed back by the state under House File 718. However, many believed there had to be another solution to the county's financial pressure other than raising taxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We've got to find another way," said Travis Decker, who lives in Ottumwa. "Something has to be done to keep property taxes lower, even cut property taxes if you need to raise taxes some other way where people have an option." Connie Hammersley-Wilson, who ran for a seat on the board two years ago, said the state is telegraphing what it wants to do. "Breaking us is all part of the overall plan. From talking with representatives, they want to drop the number of counties from 99 to 49. They want to consolidate," she said. "So if you need services, and you think it's bad now, [imagine] traveling 60 or 70 miles for services. "They've said it out loud many times, but many weren't listening. How many of our legislators said, 'Well that's not what they told us.' Or, 'I didn't get a chance to read the bill. This took me by surprise. I didn't know what effect this would have on the counties.' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We need to demand our legislators represent us because this is going to be detrimental to all of us. And it's us in the lower southern section that are going to hurt the most, and we're going to lose our homes." Batterson and supervisor Carrie Teninty both said their property taxes are going up significantly. "I know the pain and this isn't the way any of us wanted to go," he said. "we kept looking at everything we could, but it's a matter of seeing if the public wants to maintain the services we've got. "We were refiguring wages and everything that I wore my poor calculator out. And until I sat on this side of the line (the supervisors bench), I'd have been sitting over there screaming and hollering too. Unfortunately, the only way counties fund themselves is with taxes." YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A couple this week was convicted of the abuse of a child following a bench trial in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. Judge John Durkin issued his verdicts Tuesday, finding Christopher Hill, 43 and Maleka Curry, 35, guilty of felonious assault, a second-degree felony and child endangering, a third-degree felony. Sentencing is set for May 8. The two went on trial Monday after they were charged for injuries noticed in May 2024 by Youngstown city school employees on a 13-year-old male student who was in the couples care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. French President Emmanuel Macron (3rd L) welcomes visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on March 26, 2025. France will provide an additional 2 billion euros (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) in aid for Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) PARIS, March 26 (Xinhua) -- France will provide an additional 2 billion euros (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) in aid for Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday. Speaking at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Macron reaffirmed France's commitment to a lasting peace. Zelensky arrived in Paris for talks with Macron ahead of Thursday's summit of the "coalition of the willing." The summit will focus on short-term military support for Ukraine and explore ways European countries can offer long-term security guarantees to bolster Ukraine's defense. (1 euro = 1.08 U.S. dollar) French President Emmanuel Macron (L, Front) welcomes visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on March 26, 2025. France will provide an additional 2 billion euros (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) in aid for Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) French President Emmanuel Macron (3rd L) welcomes visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on March 26, 2025. France will provide an additional 2 billion euros (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) in aid for Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) French President Emmanuel Macron (2nd L) welcomes visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on March 26, 2025. France will provide an additional 2 billion euros (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) in aid for Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Front) arrives at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on March 26, 2025. France will provide an additional 2 billion euros (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) in aid for Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) French President Emmanuel Macron (L, Front) welcomes visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on March 26, 2025. France will provide an additional 2 billion euros (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) in aid for Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) French President Emmanuel Macron (L) welcomes visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on March 26, 2025. France will provide an additional 2 billion euros (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) in aid for Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) French President Emmanuel Macron (L, Front) welcomes visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on March 26, 2025. France will provide an additional 2 billion euros (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) in aid for Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (C) arrives at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on March 26, 2025. France will provide an additional 2 billion euros (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) in aid for Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) French President Emmanuel Macron (3rd L) welcomes visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on March 26, 2025. France will provide an additional 2 billion euros (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) in aid for Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) French President Emmanuel Macron (L, Front) welcomes visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on March 26, 2025. France will provide an additional 2 billion euros (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) in aid for Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) French President Emmanuel Macron (L) welcomes visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on March 26, 2025. France will provide an additional 2 billion euros (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) in aid for Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) French President Emmanuel Macron (L, Front) welcomes visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on March 26, 2025. France will provide an additional 2 billion euros (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) in aid for Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) French President Emmanuel Macron (L) welcomes visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on March 26, 2025. France will provide an additional 2 billion euros (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) in aid for Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) The News A federal appeals court on Wednesday upheld a temporary block on the Trump administrations plan to deport some Venezuelan migrants under a rarely-used 18th century law. The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled 2-1 to maintain the March 15 order to pause the deportation of some alleged members of a Venezuelan gang under the Alien Enemies Act, which has only ever been used before during wartime. The case has become a flashpoint in the rising tension between the judiciary and the administration: After President Donald Trump called for the judge who first issued the order to be impeached, the Supreme Courts chief justice made a rare public statement rebuking the president. The administration could seek to bring the case in front of the Supreme Court. NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) Courtney Waters, a former Charleston County school board member, won a seat in the South Carolina House representing District 113 Tuesday night. Waters ran unopposed and garnered 388 votes, with 64 out of 66 precincts reporting Tuesday night. The special election comes after former state Rep. Marvin Pendarvis resigned from the seat in September amid an ongoing investigation into his law practice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pendarvis did not withdraw his name from the November 5 ballot and won reelection but did not accept the seat. The district covers much of North Charleston and a small portion of Summerville. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster wants to reduce the states income tax. The latest proposal would lower it from 6.2 percent to just under 4 percent. Lawmakers argue too much money is being directed to the state government. ALSO READ: New bill could bring first legal casino to South Carolina The long-term goal is to eventually reduce the states income tax to 2.4 percent. Lancaster County home fees Also in South Carolina, growth could lead to new home fees in Lancaster County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our partners at The Herald in Rock Hill report the Lancaster County School District voted to study impact fees, which are added on to home construction costs to pay for school projects. Right now, the fees only apply to the Indian Land area. Now, theyll look to see if that should apply to other areas. Last November, residents voted against a bond referendum that wouldve paid for new schools and other facilities. WATCH BELOW: Japanese automaker Isuzu opening plant in South Carolina House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, (Left) and Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, (Right) listen as Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (center) announces new annual raises for teachers. (Kyle Dunphey/Utah News Dispatch) Utah Gov. Spencer Cox vetoed a controversial bill on Tuesday that would have given him the power to appoint the chief justice of Utahs Supreme Court. Sponsored by Sen. Chris Wilson, R-Logan, SB296 was one of a handful of judicial reform bills proposed by lawmakers during the 2025 General Session. It would have required the chief justice to be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate, then reappointed every four years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currently, the chief justice is elected by the Supreme Courts five members. Wilson, the Senates Majority Whip, said it would have allowed for more public input in the selection of the chief justice, who leads the states Judicial Council, the policy-making body for the judiciary. The bill also had support from House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, and Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX But critics, including the Utah State Bar, worried the bill would erode the judiciarys independence, making the Supreme Court hesitant to go against the will of the governor or the Legislature. During the session, Utah Supreme Court Justice Paige Petersen told her colleagues during a Judicial Council meeting that they should work to kill this silly bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres absolutely no reason for (the governor and the Senate) to be meddling in how we pick the chief justice, she said. After weeks of contention between the judiciary and Legislature, lawmakers decided to abandon three other controversial judicial reform bills. A relieved Judicial Council and Utah State Bar then shifted to a neutral stance on SB296. Cox said that no one from the judiciary asked for the veto, and that the groups maintained their neutrality. In a letter explaining the decision to Schultz and Adams, the governor wrote that the prospect of having more power over the Utah Supreme Court was tempting, but just because I can, doesnt mean I should. Ultimately, it wasnt the appointment that made Cox wary if all the bill did was shift the selection of chief justice to the governor and require confirmation by the Senate, Cox said thats something I could support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, it was the four-year reappointment process that gave the governor heartburn. Cox called it a very meaningful and problematic additional step. This means that, unlike the selection of the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, the Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court would be required to go through a political appointment, a Senate confirmation committee, and full Senate confirmation processes every four years, Cox wrote. In a joint statement Tuesday afternoon, Schultz and Adams said Coxs decision undermines that good-faith compromise between the Legislature and judiciary that ultimately led to lawmakers abandoning the other bills, and the Judicial Council and Utah State Bar taking a neutral position. Through meaningful dialogue with the Judiciary particularly with Chief Justice Durrant we did not proceed with many bills during the session, their statement reads. We will work with our chambers to determine the best path forward. The Legislature remains firm in its commitment to improve transparency, efficiency, and integrity within all branches of government to ensure were responsive to and representative of the people in our state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, the Utah State Bar commended Cox for vetoing the bill that, despite taking a neutral position, they worried would have compromised the independence of the judiciary and disrupted the critical balance among the branches of government. Gov. Coxs decision to veto SB296 demonstrates a thoughtful exercise of executive restraint and a deep respect for the constitutional principles that underpin our democratic system, said Elizabeth Wright, executive director of the Bar. By rejecting this bill, the governor has affirmed the importance of an independent judiciary and preserved the checks and balances that are essential to good governance. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE CHICAGO Chicago police say a 19-year-old man who went missing on Tuesday has been located. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Authorities did not provide details on what led to his disappearance or where he was located. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (SOUTHERN COLORADO) A new round of grant funding is available to local governments, HOAs, businesses, and more to help reduce human-bear conflicts in the community. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) recently opened applications for funding and resources through the Human-Bear Conflict Reduction Community Grant Program. CPW said the grant program strives to foster innovative solutions to human-bear conflict that can be replicated in other parts of the state and bolster those efforts in all communities in Colorado. Colorado is known for our diverse wildlife and inspiring outdoors, which both humans and animals enjoy, said Governor Jared Polis. By utilizing human-bear conflict avoidance grants and investing in conflict reduction strategies, we can reduce property damage and help Coloradans and bears successfully coexist in our high country, and across the state. Courtesy: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Funding for the program was first made available through House Bill 21-1326, which passed the General Assembly and was signed by Governor Polis in 2021. CPW said the success and popularity of the program inspired the agency to continue offering it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Human-bear conflict measures cannot be successful without collaboration between local communities, wildlife managers, and individuals, said CPW Grant Manager Travis Long. We are excited about this program because interest from the public is high, with many communities taking advantage of the opportunities this funding provides and implementing projects to help reduce conflicts with bears. CPW said local governments, NGOs, HOAs, community groups, businesses, tribes, universities, and individuals are all eligible to receive funding. Those interested can apply for grants between $50,000 and $500,000. The funding is intended to help communities that want to reduce conflicts with bears but lack the needed resources. Applications are due by May 30, 2025, at 5 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) A SUV struck an Amish buggy Wednesday in southwestern Michigan, killing an 8-year-old girl and injuring a 12-year-old boy, the only people in the horse-drawn vehicle, police said. The boy's condition at a hospital was upgraded to stable from critical. The horse died as a result of the rear-end crash in Van Buren County's Lawrence Township, police said. The driver of the SUV was arrested and lodged at the county jail on operating under the influence of an unknown substance. She nor her two occupants were injured, state police said on the social platform X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crash happened on a county road around 8 a.m. Be mindful that there is an Amish community. You will see horse and buggies going up and down the roadways, Spl. Lt. DuWayne Robinson of the state police told WWMT-TV. "They have just as much right to the roadway as passenger vehicles do, Robinson said. It is legal for children to be in an Amish buggy without an adult, he said. MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) Firefighters in Muskegon worked to put out a house fire Wednesday morning. Muskegon County Dispatch confirmed to News 8 that firefighters from the Muskegon City Fire Department were dispatched at 6:10 a.m. to a home on Seventh Street near Washington Avenue for a possible fire. Dispatchers said everyone inside was able to make it out safely. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Muskegon Heights Fire Department confirmed that it responded to assist with fire suppression. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. President Donald Trump is coming under criticism after an interview in which he entertained the idea of cash compensation for the rioters who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in an attempt to overturn the election. Speaking to Newsmax host Greg Kelly, Trump bragged about giving pardons to some 1,500 rioters, including many convicted of violent crimes such as assaulting police officers. These people are incredible people, Trump said. They were treated so unfairly, so horribly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelly asked if there is any talk of a compensation fund for the rioters. Trump didnt commit to such a plan, but indicated its on the table. Theres talk about that. We have a lot of people talk about it, a lot of the people that are in the government now talk about it because a lot of the people in government really like that group of people, Trump said. They were patriots as far as I was concerned. He then switched to bragging about his crowd size that day. But the notion of paying off the rioters who broke into the Capitol, attempted to block the certification of the election, and in some cases committed acts of assault and vandalism, was too much for his critics to bear. They fired back on social media: DOGE is firing veterans and this guy wants to do what? ... For Maga, crime does pay. https://t.co/WSPTjpnEuV Ralph Sagola (@MiMagaWatch) March 26, 2025 We should vote on this. They should demand a vote on this. https://t.co/FL2r0OlhfY Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) March 26, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there is not enough money for Grandmas Social Security payments. https://t.co/Mn5UUkfmgs Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) March 26, 2025 Paying off thugs for having assaulted Police and hunted down members of Congress is a Fascist move. Mussolini had his blackshirts on secret police payrolls to reward them for past violence. https://t.co/iteivPNAKI Ruth Ben-Ghiat (@ruthbenghiat) March 26, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of these insurrectionists are criminals in life. Underage sexual predators. Wife beaters. Cop abusers. Trump is nuts. Making rule of law a joke. https://t.co/xt7Wc5Dqr9 Jumbo Elliott (@JumboElliott76) March 26, 2025 Good news: All that money we saved by cutting the VA, Social Security and the national parks...Well we're going to give it to the guy who tased a cop and the guy wwho took a shit on Nancy Pelosi's desk. The adults are back in charge! https://t.co/OR0XLVr9e7 Centrism Fan Acct (@Wilson__Valdez) March 26, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firing veterans and gutting healthcare while financially compensating violent criminals and golfing at his country club. https://t.co/FW36dvxiL8 Melanie D'Arrigo (@DarrigoMelanie) March 26, 2025 Terrorists They are terrorists https://t.co/pvA0wSJ1MQ Eric Garcia (@EricG1247) March 26, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) is pushing back on criticism from Republicans claiming she mocked Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts (R) wheelchair use while giving a speech over the weekend. While speaking at the Human Rights Campaign LA dinner on Saturday, Crockett referred to Greg Abbott as Governor Hot Wheels who is a hot a mess. Republican critics immediately condemned Crockett for her comments, accusing her of mocking Abbott for using a wheelchair. Abbott was paralyzed more than four decades ago after a tree fell on him while he was out running. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 posted on the social platform X on Tuesday. 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, she added. Following Crocketts comments, the National Republican Congressional Committee called the Texas Democrat Crazy Crockett while Fox News panelist Lisa Kennedy Montgomery accused her of trying to score cheap political points. But its not the first time Crockett has been embroiled with Republicans. Last year, she and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) made headlines for comments made on the House floor about each others appearance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crockett has since become even more outspoken against Republicans, including President Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. On Tuesday, she accused Republicans of attempting to distract from the partys policies it is trying to enact in Congress. 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, Crockett 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. NUUK, Greenland, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen on Wednesday expressed concern over ongoing tensions related to U.S. activities in Greenland, despite the recent scaling back of Vice President JD Vance's planned visit. In a Facebook post, Frederiksen acknowledged that Denmark is facing a "difficult situation" and suggested the diplomatic standoff may continue. "There's a visit, then there's not, and then there's a new one. Or something entirely different the next day," she wrote. Frederiksen stressed that while U.S. interest in Greenland is unlikely to diminish, Americans are well aware that "Greenland is not for sale" and that Greenlanders do not wish to become Americans. She praised Greenlanders for standing their ground. "You have not let yourselves be intimidated. You have stood up for who you are - and shown what you stand for. That earns my deepest respect," she said. Foreign Minister Rasmussen echoed her concerns, warning that the core issues remain unresolved. "We should be glad that the U.S. plan to carry out a high-profile visit in Greenland - at a time when Greenland lacks a government - has failed," he said in a televised interview. "But that does not change the fact that we still face a challenge," he added, calling for unity in responding to U.S. pressure. Rasmussen criticized the revised U.S. itinerary - limited to a stop at the U.S. Pituffik Space Base in northern Greenland - as a strategic rebranding. The White House announced Tuesday that Vice President Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, will visit Pituffik Space Base on Friday to meet U.S. troops and review the security situation. Earlier plans for Usha Vance to attend cultural events in Nuuk and Sisimiut, including a dog sled race, have been canceled. Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953, when it became an integral part of Denmark. In 1979, Greenland achieved home rule, gaining greater self-governance while Denmark retained authority over its foreign and defense policy. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said that the access of a Signal group chat including top Trump administration officials discussing a U.S. attack against Houthi rebels in Yemen by an editor for The Atlantic is comparable to a butt dial. I have no no good explanation for why Jeffrey Goldberg was added, Cruz said on a Wednesday episode of his Verdict podcast, referring to the editor in chief of The Atlantic. Hes the editor in chief of The Atlantic, and it was a screw-up, the Texas Republican added. And lets start with that. It was clearly a screw-up; it was embarrassing. Its sort of comparable to a butt dial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goldbergs Monday report that detailed his time in the group chat rattled Washington and resulted in heightened concerns about national security. Among the figures included in the chat were national security adviser Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. We made a mistake, were moving forward, and were going to continue to knock it out of the park for this president, Waltz said Tuesday on Fox News about the incident. On Wednesday, The Atlantic published the group chat messages inadvertently shared with Goldberg. The messages show specific details about the Yemen attack that were not included in Mondays report, such as the airstrikes specific timing and the weapons that would be used. At the end of the day, though, what is striking although youre seeing the sharks circle and trying to attack the president [and] the national security team, is the underlying substance of whats being discussed is actually quite good, Cruz said of the group chat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Millions of people's genetic data may be up for grabs soon as a popular genetic testing company has declared bankruptcy. 23andMe, the genetic testing company that had consumers sending in swabs of their saliva to discover their ancestry and learn more about their health, filed for bankruptcy this past Sunday, according to the firm's press release. The company is asking for permission from the bankruptcy court to "sell substantially all of its assets." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attorney general of Connecticut, William Tong, warned past and current customers of the service to delete their 23andMe data immediately, revoke permission to use consumer saliva samples for research and request their DNA sample to be destroyed. "In light these developments, Attorney General Tong would like to remind Connecticut residents of their rights under the Connecticut Data Privacy Act (CTDPA), particularly the right to delete personal information and the right to revoke consent for the processing of personal data," a press release said. The genetics company said in an open letter that they are committed to protecting consumer data, maintaining consumer access to their information and continuing business operations. However, this isn't the only time there have been major concerns raised about the security of people's genetic information held by 23andMe, as there was a major data leak in 2023 that led to hackers stealing 7 million people's names, addresses and genetic information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's how to delete your 23andMe data in your state. The 23andMe headquarters on February 01, 2024 in Sunnyvale, California. The genetic testing company, once valued at $6 billion, has filed for bankruptcy to facilitate its sale. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) How to delete 23andMe data in Connecticut The attorney general's office also gave instructions on how to manually delete your data from the 23andMe: Step 1. Log into your 23andMe account on their website. Step 2. Go to the Settings section of your profile. Step 3. section labeled 23andMe Data at the bottom of the page. Step 4. Click View next to 23andMe Data Step 5. 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. Step 6. Scroll to the Delete Data section. Step 7. Click Permanently Delete Data. Step 8. Confirm your request: Youll receive an email from 23andMe; follow the link in the email to confirm your deletion request. According to 23andMes website, users 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, 23andMe is legally required to retain certain information. "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. Marc Ramirez contributed to the reporting of this article. Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Can you delete your 23andMe data in CT? Here's what to know A wrong-way driver involved in a fatal crash on Interstate 95 in Westbrook last October faces manslaughter and other additional charges after state police alleged that his blood alcohol content was nearly three times the legal limit. Troy Bree, 58, of Groton was charged Tuesday with driving the wrong way on a limited access highway, second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, misconduct with a motor vehicle and first-degree reckless endangerment, according to Connecticut State Police. The charges stem from a crash on Oct. 9, 2024, that killed 47-year-old Mark Palumbo Jr. of Madison, said the arrest warrant affidavit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Troopers shortly after 8 p.m. responded to the report of a two-car collision involving a wrong-way driver on I-95 South between Exits 66 and 65, state police said. According to state police, Palumbo was driving a 2014 Mustang GT south when he was struck by a 2017 Cadillac ATS that was being driven the wrong way by Bree. Palumbo, the only person in the Mustang, was found unresponsive and was pronounced dead at the scene. Troopers found Bree in the Cadillac, which sustained damage to the driver side front end and was up against a concrete median barrier, preventing him from getting out through that door, according to the warrant affidavit. He was conscious and alert with the passenger door open. According to the warrant affidavit, Bree allegedly told police he was coming home from a restaurant in Essex and that he got on the highway at Exit 9, which state police noted is not in the area and is in Stamford. He told a trooper he had three mixed Vodka drinks before getting behind the wheel and that he was taking cold medicine for a sinus infection, the warrant affidavit said. A trooper alleged that Brees speech was slow and slurred and his eyes were glossy and bloodshot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State troopers had Bree take multiple field sobriety tests and alleged that he was unable to perform the walk and turn test and the one leg stand, the warrant affidavit said. He was charged at the time with operating under the influence and reckless driving. Bree complained of arm pain and was taken to an area hospital, where state police said he declined to provide a urine sample or undergo a drug evaluation, according to the warrant affidavit. A witness to the crash told troopers he spotted a wrong-way driver on the highway and honked his horn as he passed him, the warrant affidavit said. The man said he then saw in his rearview mirror multiple motorists swerve out of the way to avoid a collision before the driver collided head-on with another vehicle. The vehicle that was struck spun and was sent into a tractor-trailer, the witness told police. During the investigation, state police obtained video surveillance from the restaurant where Bree said he had dinner. He was allegedly seen at the bar with several other people consuming five drinks, the warrant affidavit said. Investigators were also able to obtain a copy of Brees receipt, which showed he purchased a total of 13 alcoholic beverages, according to the warrant affidavit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bree declined to give investigators a sworn statement about the 24 hours leading up to the crash without his lawyer, the warrant affidavit said. Bree and the attorney never followed up to give a statement, state police wrote. Investigators on Oct. 15 obtained a search and seizure warrant for Brees medical records, including a blood sample that was taken, which reportedly showed that his blood alcohol content was 0.22, according to the warrant affidavit. The legal limit to drive in Connecticut is 0.08. An analysis of the crash found that Palumbo was driving somewhere between 56 and 66 mph when it collided with Brees Cadillac, which investigators believe was going between 47 and 59 mph at the time of impact, according to the warrant affidavit. The analysis found that Palumbo steered to the right and hit his brakes to try to avoid the collision. Bree, state police wrote, hit his brakes just before the collision, the warrant affidavit said. An autopsy showed that Palumbo died of blunt impact injuries to his head, neck, torso and extremities. The death was ruled an accident. According to state police, Bree was held on a $1 million bond following his arrest on the new charges and was expected to appear later in the day in Superior Court in Middletown. Two state utilities have asked a judge to order Connecticuts chief regulator to produce cellphone data and other materials that the companies say could show that a rate decision slashing their revenue last year was tainted by bias and other procedural irregularities. Among the records the two companies want are anything that elaborates on text messages between chief regulator Marissa Gillett and a friendly legislator an exchange of texts that suggests she collaborated anonymously on a news opinion column, or op-ed, accusing the states biggest utilities of misconduct. The request for cellphone records is part of a broader document request made by Avangrid subsidiaries Connecticut Natural Gas and Southern Connecticut Gas. The gas companies have gone to Superior Court to appeal rate decisions by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority late last year that reduced their revenues to levels below what they had been six and seven years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Courant reported the text message exchange between Gillett and state Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, a Westport Democrat, in February. The two talk about dodging public record laws before referring to an op-edit in which Steinberg and State Sen. Norm Needleman, D-Essex, co-chairmen of the Legislatures Energy and Technology committee, imply that local utility companies are colluding with international ratings agencies to undermine PURA. I finished my draft and am waiting for Theresa (PURA Chief of Staff Theresa Govert) and others to put eyes on it, Gillett wrote, among other things. Not to put you on the spot, Steinberg wrote. Im at UI in the morning but should be able to review release/op Ed. Because the text messages were not part of the record in the year long rate case, the gas companies need an order from Judge Matthew Budzik in order for the materials to be produced as part of the pretrial discovery process in the appeal. Budzik has said he will allow a hearing on the request but has yet to set a date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gillett and PURA are fighting disclosure. In legal filings, they say that under the law, materials outside the rate case record must have extraordinary value in order to be ordered produced during discovery and the scattershot grab-bag of grievances they raise either miss the mark entirely or do not merit additional factual inquiry even if reviewed. The gas companies contend materials they are looking for may be outside the record but, if they exist, could support appellate claims of bias and procedural irregularity. Here, the reasons for allowing proof outside the record are extraordinary indeed, the gas companies argue in legal filings. In order to ensure that these issues can be fully and fairly litigated, this Court must permit discovery into the serious claims of procedural impropriety that these appeals raise. The sharp exchanges in court are another sign of months of deterioration in the relationship between PURA, under Gilletts leadership, and the utility industry at a time when rates continue to rise. The companies claim they are being unfairly penalized with adverse rate decisions for market forces beyond their control. Needleman, Steinberg and other Gillett backers say she is bringing to account utilities that for years have valued stock holders over customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the anti-utility bias, the gas companies contend is implicit in the op-ed and related text message exchange, the companies are arguing in court that the rate decisions should be invalidated because of procedural errors by PURA over the year-long inquiry that ended in the rate cuts. In particular, the companies argue Gillett violated procedure and law by making scores of substantive decisions herself, without the participation of her two fellow PURA commissioners. Eversource and United Illuminating make the same allegations and have made the same claims in a separate suit. PURA and others, including Gov. Ned Lamont, who has nominated her for a second term, insist Gillett has consistently acted within her authority. The gas companies also allege that Gillett engaged in an improper, ex parte conversation with a party to the rate case. As an ostensibly neutral arbitrator who is subject to the same constraints as judges, such conversations by a PURA commissioner are considered improper. PURA has dismissed allegations of such a conversation in a decision signed by the authority executive director. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much of the argument concerning discovery turns on the text message exchange and the op-ed. The op-ed appeared in the on-line CT Mirror just days after the rate decisions and almost immediate credit downgrade imposed on the two gas companies by the independent rating agencies S&P Global Ratings and Moodys Ratings. According to a legal filing by the gas companies: Immediately after the rating agencies had announced these downgradesand again, before CNG and SCG had even filed their appealsa remarkable opinion piece appeared in the Connecticut Mirror defending PURA and rejecting as nonsensical any suggestion that the rating agencies downgrades were independent or objective. The utilities, the piece speculated, were probably in cahoots with the rating agencies and were just crying wolf to provoke a downgrade in pursuit of [their] grander strategy to undermine PURA and its Chairperson. The Courant obtained the text message exchange through a request, made under state public record law, to Steinberg, who said he and Needleman take full responsibility for the editorial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Needleman responded to a similar request by producing copies of six news articles, all but one on energy related subjects, and a copy of an invitation to lunch at the Essex Yacht Club addressed to Consumer Counsel Claire Coleman. Of the news articles, two copies of the same article were emailed to the office of U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney. It was unclear where the others went. After the Courant reported on the Steinberg-Gillett text message exchange, Republicans in the state House of Representatives made a similar records request to Gillett. The response from PURA did not include Gillettes exchange with Steinberg, leading critics such as House Republican leader Vincent Candelora of North Branford to question her commitment to Freedom of Information law. We dont have full disclosure from FOI, Candelora said Tuesday. Rather, what we have is an agency that is manipulating FOI and using it to paint them in a certain light. And at the same time using it as a shield to prevent information from coming out that night be unflattering to them. I think any court needs to begin looking past these rate decisions and start looking at the individual. Because I have never seen a commissioner be mired in more controversy with every entity that she is interacting with. And I think at some point you have to look at whether she is the problem. Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) holds a wide lead over the rest of the field in both the Democratic primary and a hypothetical general election in the New York City mayoral race, a new poll has found. The Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey showed Cuomo in front with 38 percent support, with New York State Assembly member Zohran Mamdani in second with 10 percent. Embattled incumbent Mayor Eric Adams came in third with 8 percent support, followed by state Sen. Jessica Ramos and city Comptroller Brad Lander with 6 percent, former city Comptroller Scott Stringer with 5 percent, and New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and state Sen. Zellnor Myrie with 4 percent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cuomos support is a 5-point increase from his support level in Emersons poll last month, taken before Cuomo entered the race. With about three months until the Democratic Primary, Governor Cuomo has emerged as the top candidate in the race, with no clear alternative emerging among Democratic voters, said Spencer Kimball, the executive director of Emerson College Polling, in a release. But Mamdani saw the biggest jump of any candidate, rising 9 points from just 1 percent support in February. Mamdani has shown some signs of rising enthusiasm, particularly among younger voters, for his campaign in polling as he tries to solidify the progressive vote behind him. He received attention earlier this month for his confrontation with Trump border czar Tom Homan in Albany, challenging him over the detention of Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Cuomo still is the clear front-runner, well ahead of the other candidates. Kimball noted that Cuomos support increases as voters ages go up, receiving support from 21 percent of voters under 30 and 44 percent of voters over 70. But Cuomo still has support from more of the youngest group of voters than any other candidate, with Ramos and Mamdani behind him with 16 percent support each. Cuomo also leads among Black voters and Hispanic voters, receiving 47 percent and 45 percent support, respectively. The former governor also is the favorite in a hypothetical three-way match-up with Republican Curtis Sliwa, who was the GOP nominee for mayor in 2021, and Adams running as an independent. Adams has said he would only run as a Democrat, but some have speculated he may continue his candidacy outside the party as he has significantly struggled in the primary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cuomo leads with 43 percent support to Sliwas 13 percent and Adamss 11 percent. But almost 30 percent of respondents said they were undecided. Cuomos advantage in the heavily Democratic city would not be a major surprise, but his victory could be somewhat less of a certainty given the controversies surrounding him, including accusations of sexual harassment from multiple women. He has denied their allegations and maintains his innocence. Cuomo has sought to establish himself as the main centrist in the race, focusing on voters concerns about crime and emphasizing his leadership experience. But he has also pointed to his progressive successes as governor. That message of public safety may be effective, as the poll found a third of voters listed it as their most important issue for the next mayor to address. Housing came in second with 23 percent, while immigration received 10 percent and health care received 7 percent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The polls findings are also roughly in line with what a few other recently released polls have found on the primary. A Honan Strategy Group poll released Tuesday showed Cuomo leading with 41 percent support, Mamdani in second with 18 percent and the other candidates in the single digits. A Data for Progress poll released earlier Wednesday showed Cuomo with 39 percent support and Mamdani with 15 percent. With the citys ranked-choice voting system, Cuomo eventually wins after several rounds of counting in both polls. The Emerson poll was conducted from March 21 to 24 among 1,000 registered voters, including 653 Democratic primary voters. The credibility interval, similar to a margin of error, for the overall sample is 3 points, while the interval for primary voters is 3.8 points. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) Cyprus said Wednesday it plans to subsidize construction of private desalination plants at hotels to ensure the tourism-reliant island nation has enough fresh water too see it through busy summer seasons when the demands of millions of visitors put a severe strain on dwindling reserves. Water levels across the country's 108 dams are at alarmingly low following the second driest winter in a decade, and the national water supply network is struggling to cope due to demand and leaks. Maria Panayiotou, the countrys agriculture and environment minister, said the government will provide 3 million euros ($3.24 million) of funding over the next two years to help hotels build their own desalination plants. In addition, measures will be introduced to make it easier and faster for key sectors such as agriculture and tourism to build small scale desalination plants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cyprus will spend a further 8 million euros on fixing pipe infrastructure to reduce water leaks and losses which are estimated as high as 40%, according to Panayiotou. The government measures build on Cyprus growing reliance on desalinated water. Four additional mobile desalination plants are scheduled to become operational in October, producing 30,000 cubic meters (1 million cubic feet) of drinkable water daily. Cyprus already has four permanent desalination plants in operation, each producing 235,000 cubic meters (8.3 million cubic feet) of fresh water daily. A fifth plant is out of action due to a fire. Panayiotou said last December that more desalination plants are needed to increase daily fresh water production fourfold over the next decade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cyprus continues to rely on an extensive dam network with a total capacity of 330 million cubic meters. Cyprus has more dams relative to its population than any other country in Europe, according to the minister. The dams are currently at 24.6% of capacity, compared with 47.2% in 2024, official figures show. Tourism accounts for 13.5% of Cyprus gross domestic product. Tourist arrivals last year exceeded 4 million, setting a new record. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Wednesday on the Daily 8, were looking at new road projects coming to Grand Rapids, tips for recognizing blood clots, the return of a popular exhibit at the GRAM and more. You can watch the full Daily 8 for March 26, 2025, in the video player above or check out any of the stories mentioned below: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each weekday, the Daily 8 brings you the top eight stories we are keeping an eye on in and around West Michigan. Join us again on Thursday for the Daily 8. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. When Scott Weber first started working for his dad in the painting business, there were plenty of barns needing attention in Walworth County. "We'd drive down a country road and we'd have work all summer long painting barns," Weber said. "Today I can count on two hands how many dairy farmers are left in my county." While the barns his company Weber Painting LLC paints vary in color, the majority are still painted red. Why are most of the barns painted red? Dairy barns and Wisconsin's dairy industry naturally go hand-in-hand. The image of the red structures is so iconic that it's appeared on the state's license plates since 1986. Many wonder how the tradition of painting barns red got a foothold in our state. Three words: history, economics and practicality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his book Barns of Wisconsin, author Jerry Apps explores how the tradition of painting barns red dates back centuries, with roots in European farming practices. A red barn is a common sight in rural Wisconsin. "Red became very popular in the Dutch settlements in Pennsylvania where they built with red bricks, planted red geraniums and painted barns red," Apps said. Because ready-made paint and commercial sealers weren't available at the time, farmers had to be resourceful in finding or making a paint that would protect the wood of the largest structural investment on their farm. "Over in Europe, farmers painted farm buildings with linseed oil (an orange-colored oil derived from the seeds of the flax plant) and colored it inexpensively using animal blood and adding ferrous oxide (rust), resulting in a quiet red, not the fire engine red we sometimes see today," Apps said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of using blood, many farmers preferred to use milk and lime, which helped the oil stick to the wood better. The iron in the rust was believed to prevent fungus and mildew from growing and rotting the wood. The combination of elements resulted in a long-lasting paint that dried and hardened quickly. Apps said some farmers left the barn wood to weather to natural shades of gray, but most chose to paint their new barn. "...(A) red barn with white trim provided a pleasing contrast to a white farmhouse," he said. Author Jerry Apps writes that white paint was more expensive back in the early 1900s, and many neighbors looked upon the owners as 'showing off' their wealth. When lead-based paint hit the scene, it appeared to be a major advancement The color red also appeased farmers' innate frugality. By the mid- to late-1800s in the U.S., red paint became the cheapest option due to the affordability and availability of chemical pigments, according to the Library of Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Manufactured paints were available by that time and they often included red pigments and red lead. White paint was also available but the red lead paint was less expensive," Apps said. "Back in the day when you came upon a farmstead with a white barn, all the neighbors with red barns thought that particular farmer was trying to show off because he could afford to paint his barn white." The arrival of lead-based paints appeared to be a major advance in technology. Adding lead to paint increased its durability and coverage. According to the Building Performance Association, the addition of various lead compounds enhanced colors, promoted drying, and had many other advantages. There was one big drawback lead was very poisonous. Weber said his father, Larry Scott, often used lead-based paints in his barn painting business back in the 1940s-'60s. "After a while, the paint would peel and drop into the cow yard. The cows would eat the sweet-tasting peelings and die from lead poisoning," Weber said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weber says they currently use a special acrylic paint, unless the owner prefers an oil-based paint. While red is the most commonly chosen color to paint a barn, it isn't unusual to see a brown, grey, white, or in this case, a green barn. Barn painting has evolved over the past 70 years When Scott's now-retired father started his painting business in the 1940s, jobs painting barns and farm buildings were plentiful, but the work was hard. "Back then he used a heavy 60-foot wooden ladder that took three men to move. He also hand-scraped the barn before painting. He also used very heavy brass spray guns," Weber said. Today, Weber uses an aerial lift truck to perform prep work and then spray paints the barns. "I can usually paint a barn in less than 8 hours," Weber said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A gallon of good red paint costs between $15 and $20. Depending on the dimensions of the barn, the amount of paint needed and the aerial truck's ability to get close to the building, Weber says the cost to paint a barn today can range between $5,000 and $15,000. The names of many farms were emblazoned on the side of dairy barns across the Midwest. This red paint on this rural Wisconsin barn built on a foundation of field stone is still holding up long after it was painted. How the loss of small family farms is changing the architectural landscape in rural America The majority of Weber's customers nowadays are hobby farmers. The loss of small family farms and consolidation of farming operations have left many traditional barns to house steers and heifers, or be used as a storage facility. "They've converted modern dairy barns into pole buildings with metal walls and roofs," said Weber who paints around 6 to 10 barns a year. "You have to travel far and wide to find (barns to paint). I see barns all over that are just rotting away. Luckily, there are people out there that like to keep them restored." Apps writes that "old barns are rapidly becoming relics of the past...and represent a period in Wisconsin agriculture that is rapidly changing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With larger milking herds and the increasing complexity of farm operations, farmers find that the old milking barns have outlived their use and have been replaced by long, sleek metal structures. "Old barns don't die easily," Apps concludes. "Once the roof begins leaking...the barn's days are numbered. The rain seeps in and causes the roof boards to rot. Then, like a cancer in a living organism, the rot moves through the structure, slowly during the first years, more rapidly as increasing amounts of moisture enter the doomed building. "An abandoned barn is marked for death. It will die quietly, surrounded by field crops, a new housing development, a shopping center. No one notices except the occasional person who drives by and exclaims, "What a terrible eyesore! Why doesn't someone tear down that old building?" This article originally appeared on Wisconsin State Farmer: Why are most barns in Wisconsin painted red? Here's the history 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. Flash: U.S. National Security Advisor Waltz claims responsibility for leaked chat of Yemen military plan -- media DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Dayton Metro Library is celebrating National Poetry Month with a selection of programs this April. Thursday, April 3, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Nikki Giovani: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of an American Icon at the Main Library, Eichelberger Forum. A panel event which will feature live poetry, music and dancing. Tuesday, April 8, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. An Evening with david matthews at the Main Library, Eichelberger Forum. An exploration of his work and a conversation about its themes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friday, April 4, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Preschool Storytime at the Trotwood Branch. For kids ages 3 to 5, an introduction to poetry. Saturday, April 5, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. National Poetry Month: Dead Poets Society at the Southeast Branch. A screening of Dead Poets Society (Rated PG, 1989) for adults and teens. Monday, April 7, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Widely Read Book Club at the Kettering-Moraine Branch. Please read the following poems for the adult book club. Jerusalem by William Blake, Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Emperor of Ice-Cream by Wallace Stevens and Her Kind by Anne Sexton. Wednesday, April 9, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Coloring for Adults at the Northwest Branch. A place to enjoy coloring and music among company. Registration is required. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thursday, April 10, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Salt Painting and Poetry at the Trotwood Branch. First through fourth grade and tweens can make art with glue, salt, and watercolors. Friday, April 11, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Open Mic Poetry Night at the West Branch. Adults can register to read poetry in front of an audience. Saturday, April 12, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Nation Poetry Month: Bright Star at the Southeast Branch. A screening of Bright Star (Rated PG, 2009) for teens and adults. To learn more about the events, call the Librarys Ask Me Line at 937-463-2665 or click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. The News Momentum appears to be flagging among House Republicans to take up a DC budget fix that unanimously passed the Senate less than two weeks ago. The legislation thats in limbo would free up about $1 billion for the capital, already-approved money that Congress did not include in the government funding bill that it approved earlier this month. While the fix sailed through the GOP-controlled Senate, top Republicans across the Capitol are openly noncommittal about when it might get a vote if ever. Stay tuned, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told Semafor. Im not sure yet. Were working through a bunch of stuff, and thats one of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While President Donald Trump supports the budget fix, he has yet to help twist arms on the right, where theres little interest in helping Congress home base unlock its funding. That creates a higher hurdle for Johnson: He can call a vote on the DC bill with the support of the House Rules Committee or bring it up under an expedited process that requires a two-thirds majority vote for passage. If Johnson takes the first path, hell likely run into trouble with conservatives. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., a member of the Rules Committee, told Semafor that he would vote against that law all day long, And if he takes the second path, the speaker would have to rely on Democrats to get the bill to Trumps desk; thats a strategy hes adopted in the past on bills perceived as must-pass, but most Republicans wouldnt apply that label to the DC budget fix. Republican leaders have yet to send clear signals that the bill is doomed, but Trumps direct involvement may end up proving necessary to get it signed into law. A failure by Congress to act would force serious cuts during the rest of the year to services in the city that many lawmakers in both parties call their part-time home, according to Mayor Muriel Bowser and other district officials. Know More Bowser has avoided taking a harshly anti-Trump tone since the president returned to office, even as the presidents advisers have embarked on mass firings of federal workers that promise to hurt the DC economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mayor has already proceeded with the removal of the Black Lives Matter mural that she had built in 2020, a symbolic gesture of comity with the Republicans who now control the White House and Congress. But conservatives in the House are still plainly interested in reining in the citys decision-making. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., quipped Tuesday that the GOP might consider renaming DC the District of America, in line with Trumps bid to retitle the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. And the chair of the House Freedom Caucus told Semafor on Tuesday that hes working on a proposal to amend the DC budget fix, which he doesnt support in its current form. We should amend various provisions into the bill, and were figuring out what those could be, said Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md. We should have a say in some of the crazy things that DC does. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least a half-dozen House Republicans said Tuesday that they werent familiar with the DC bill or hadnt yet read the text of what the Senate passed more than a week ago. Some nevertheless raised questions about it: A number of our administration in DC make more than our cabinet secretaries, so I think us taking a good hard look at the DC budget, its probably best for us to do that, said Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas. A Bowser spokesperson referred Semafor to the mayors latest remarks on the bill, which she said would make sure law enforcement and hospital services arent haphazardly cut in the middle of the fiscal year. Notable WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The D.C. Council is considering a widespread ban on cell phones across all public and charter schools, and Tuesday afternoon, dozens of parents, students, and advocates weighed in on the proposal. The bill, introduced by Brooke Pinto, does allow some flexibility for schools to craft their policies, as long as it bans devices including cell phones, smart watches and gaming devices. There are also exemptions for some emergencies and learning plans. Boebert suggests GOP could rename DC District of America Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By and large, this is an effort to help District students learn more efficiently. Several schools already have cell phone policies, including Hardy Middle School in Northwest D.C., which has had a policy instructing students to place their phones in a pencil case since the 2023-24 school year. If you had your phone, would you be as engaged in this class? said 8th-grade student Ella Kihn, who advocated for the ban. Maurine Westover, Hardy Middle School principal, described the benefits of the policy in her testimony to councilmembers. Restricting cell phones during the school day allows students to prioritize their academic and personal growth, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students unveil murals at National Cherry Blossom Festival Support was not unanimous, especially among students. Phones are required for communication with family, work accessibility, and even homework, said David Armando. Most people who testified were in favor, including people from schools that already have cell phone policies in place, some say each school is unique, and a standardized policy isnt the solution. The policy requires schools to keep students secure throughout the entirety of the school day, which presents considerable logistical and cost implications, said Calvery Cooper, the head of school at BASIS DC Public Charter School. Tracy White, the CEO of Paul Public Charter School, said the cost is not only financial, its operational. The cost, both for potential storage devices and staff, is unknown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pinto said the District should be providing for a cost-effective option so were not asking our schools that are already stretched so thin to take on additional burden. We dont appreciate it: DC Tesla owner speaks after car is vandalized twice Another topic discussed during the hearing was how students should or shouldnt be using phones during an emergency. Some of the experts who testified, along with Pinto, said they believed the students should be paying attention to directions and guidance from adults in those situations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. BOSTON (SHNS) The Department of Developmental Services is preparing to consolidate residential group homes, as agency leaders prepare for growing caseloads from additional Bay Staters who depend on state-funded care, including young adults. DDS Acting Commissioner Sarah Peterson on Tuesday described the consolidation as a one-time right-sizing of our existing capacity, so that we can be really intentional about how we move forward for growth. Still, Peterson stressed the agency is not cutting services for vulnerable residents. We discovered that there were a number of places where there had been vacancies, where there hadnt been new referrals accepted in, et cetera, Peterson said during a budget hearing in Worcester. And so we asked our areas and regions to just take a close look and see if there were ways that we could shift things around so that people wouldnt lose services, but we could more efficiently use our existing capacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Healey administration budget brief mentioned the effort, saying it is intended to more efficiently utilize existing housing and staffing infrastructure. The brief said DDS will work closely with individuals and families to identify appropriate placements and carefully transition clients as needed to ensure continuity of care. Sen. Jo Comerford, vice chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said the consolidation represents about a $19 million expected cut to the budget. The Northampton Democrat pressed Peterson on how many group home residents will be affected. Peterson told Comerford she would follow up with data about affected individuals by region, though the acting commissioner pegged the total number at well under 100. In another cost-saving measure, Peterson said DDS also updated a policy to ensure the state is no longer paying for extended vacancies at group homes. Im not talking about short-term absences. Im talking about months months and months-long vacancies in homes that are not being filled, Peterson said. And we need to, you know, make sure that were getting value for what were paying for those services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The restructuring comes as the administration eyes investments into other disability services. Gov. Maura Healeys proposed budget recommends $116 million for the Turning 22 classes, which supports young adults in their transition from special education to adult services, in fiscal 2025 and 2026, Peterson said. Each year, the Turning 22 program supports an increasing class of individuals, with the FY 26 class anticipated to be over 1,500. In addition to the increased enrollments, weve also seen an expansion in the number of individuals with a diagnosis of autism and increased acuity across the board, Peterson said. The governors House 1 proposal increases the adult autism line by 20% to support the significant expansion in the number of eligible individuals. Peterson, in response to a question from Rep. Chynah Tyler, said Healeys budget recommendation would allow DDS to meet the needs of our service population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Disability advocates with The Arc of Massachusetts called on lawmakers this month to inject more dollars into the Turning 22 account, as well as boost pay for direct support professionals, to tackle wait lists for services. Im going to believe that the funding is adequate for the Turning 22 program, Comerford said later in the hearing. I have to say that that is the greatest pain point in my district. Hands down, no question, that leap to 22 and the services that families are offered in Western Mass. has really been challenging. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. KANSAS CITY, Kan. The deadline is quickly approaching for Kansas homeowners to appeal their home evaluations. The deadline is generally around the end of this month, varying upon when valuations were sent out with a 30 day window to appeal. In Wyandotte County its Saturday, March 29. Aspiria responds to rumors of Royals stadium relocation Kansas appraises houses every year compared to every two years in Missouri, so increases are generally less dramatic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But a slowing housing market seems to be leading to fewer appeals so far this year. For the fifth time since notices went out at the beginning of this month of updated home valuations, Wyandotte Countys appraiser was meeting with homeowners. Inside Piper High School, Matt Willard explained the annual process, that by Kansas statute only requires exterior inspections of homes every six years. So that means a lot of what your homes value is assessed at, will be based on the price your neighbors or comparable homes sold. After year over year double digit increases last year, the median sale price of a Wyandotte County home rose by 6.7% from $210,000 to $224,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rate of appreciation slowed, so they are still generally selling for more houses are than they were the year before. 5-6% is what they were seeing in the MLS (multiple listing service) and we are tracking with that, Willard said. Police warn of purse snatchings, thefts in Kansas City area Of course home prices arent the only things going up. We have two kids in daycare, gas, traveling to work, so its getting to be too much, Alanna Martin said. Its part of why after years of contemplating doing so, Martin has already filed an appeal this year. They had the comps listed and I felt like they were too old. Thats not really relevant to the current market. My house has all these issues so Im just going to present it to them and see if they can help me out a bit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A big part of the Wyandotte County Appraisers presentation is helping homeowners prepare for appeals, including finding proper comps, photos of damages and repair estimates. The deadline for residential homeowners in Wyandotte County to file an appeal is Saturday, March 29. Informal appeals hearings have to be complete by May 15. I would encourage anyone who gets that notice and feels like their value is over what they could sell it for as of January 1, fill out the back of it or go online and file that appeal because this is an important part of the process, Willard said. Another info session is scheduled at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, at Armourdale Community Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 50,000 homeowners appealed Jackson County assessments the last time they were conducted years ago. Working for you, FOX4 reached out to the Jackson County Assessors Office to find out where the county stood on assessments this year and whether it also would have info sessions to educate or assist homeowners. Public Information Officer Marshanna Smith responded that Jackson County will mail valuation notices to property owners by the states statutory deadline of June 15. KCK police asking for help locating missing 3-month-old baby Eligible senior residentsthose 62 years and older who own and reside in their homesare encouraged to apply for the countys Senior Property Tax Credit Program. This program helps protect seniors from rising property taxes by freezing their tax amount at the year of approval. To date, nearly 39,000 applications have been approved, according to Smith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Smith, to ensure more eligible seniors have the opportunity to apply, County Executive Frank White, Jr. has requested that the Legislature extend the application deadline to Monday, June 30, 2025. If approved, this extension would provide additional time for residents to take advantage of this important tax relief program and have their property tax bill frozen in the future at the 2024 amount. Approved applicants will see the tax credit reflected on their 2025 property tax bills. Once approved, seniors are not required to reapply for future years as long as they remain eligible. More information on how to apply is available 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. MOSCOW, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Russia is satisfied with advancing its dialogue with the United States, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. "Russia and the United States have established a constructive relationship through recent engagements, and we are due to advance along this path," Peskov said at a routine news briefing, expressing Moscow's satisfaction with "the practicability, constructiveness and effectiveness of these contacts." He confirmed that during Monday's negotiations in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, the two sides agreed on a temporary no-strike list covering energy facilities in Russia and Ukraine, crediting sustained bilateral communication for this outcome. Peskov also reaffirmed Russia's readiness to continue cooperation with Washington regarding the Black Sea Grain Initiative. "All conditions (for the initiative) were met except for those concerning Russia ... and we will continue work with the United States (in the implementation of the initiative)," Peskov said. (COLORADO SPRINGS) Phil Long Dealerships said it is continuing to honor its former leader by bringing back its community giveback campaign for a second year. Courtesy: Phil Long Dealerships On Feb. 24, 2024, former Phil Long CEO Gerald Jay Cimino passed away. Along with being the former president and CEO, Cimino was a philanthropist who founded non-profits, established a community fund to build playgrounds and other youth recreation, and helped transition Fishers Peak from private land to a state park, among other achievements. To continue Ciminos philanthropy, Phil Long Dealerships will hold its Thanks, Jay community giveback campaign for a second year. During the month of April, for any new or pre-owned vehicle sold, a donation will be made to one of five community-focused causes selected by the customer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phil Long said the beneficiaries will be announced at a later time. Last year, the beneficiaries were Mt. Carmel Wellness & Community Center, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Catholic Charities of Central Colorado, Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center, and the City of Colorado Springs 1,000 Neighborhood Gatherings initiative. Courtesy: Phil Long Dealerships Courtesy: Phil Long Dealerships Courtesy: Phil Long Dealerships Courtesy: Phil Long Dealerships Courtesy: Phil Long Dealerships Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. The death penalty is on the table for notorious drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, the so-called narco of narcos who orchestrated the torture and murder of a DEA agent in 1985, according to federal prosecutors. It is a possibility. The decision has not yet been made, but it is going through the process, Assistant U.S. Attorney Saritha Komatireddy said in Brooklyn Federal Court Wednesday. About 30 DEA agents lined the benches to watch Quintero, 72, and Ismael Quintero Arellanes, his cousin and right-hand man, appear before Judge Frederic Block for an update on his case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quintero is accused of masterminding the kidnapping, torture and murder of DEA Agent Enrique Kike Camarena in 1985, and was one of the founding members of the notorious Guadalajara Cartel, the predecessor of the Sinaloa Cartel. Camarenas killing was depicted in the Netflix series Narcos. Block formally assigned veteran defense lawyer Elizabeth Macedonio as Quinteros learned counsel meaning shell represent him in any death penalty-related proceedings. The decision to seek the death penalty falls to U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi. Macedonio won an acquittal in 2015 for Bonanno crime family member Vincent Asaro, after he was put on trial for his alleged involvement in the infamous 1978 Lufthansa heist at Kennedy Airport depicted in Martin Scorseses Goodfellas. The drug lord is currently also represented by court-appointed defense lawyer Michael Vitaliano, and he expects to apply for taxpayer-funded counsel for the duration of his defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Block said hed have to see what prosecutors say about his assets before making a decision on whether taxpayers will foot the bill for his trial defense. I dont know whether the governments tied up his assets. I dont know whats available, whats not available, he said. Quintero, who at one point topped the FBIs list of most wanted fugitives, was arrested in Mexico in a dramatic 2022 capture. He and 28 other cartel figures were expelled from Mexico last month. Their expulsion has been viewed as a show of cooperation from Mexican officials to stave off the Trump administrations threats to apply tariffs on Mexican goods. He was hauled to Brooklyn and arraigned Feb. 28 on charges including allegations he led a criminal enterprise, engaged in murder conspiracy, international narcotics distribution conspiracy, and unlawful use of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caro Quintero is locked up in the Special Administrative Measures, or SAMS unit of the MDC Brooklyn, which houses high-risk inmates who the feds worry might pass deadly instructions to their cohorts in the outside world. Hes slated to return to court June 25. In the borough of Waterford is a dairy farm owned by a brother and sister duo, David and Theresa Kaschak. The farm was once owned by their parents. Manufacturers conference tackles talent attraction, retention Raising and milking cows has become their lifestyle, so much so that neither one of them has married or had children. They made the difficult decision to part ways with their beloved cows Tuesday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kaschaks are letting go of a mixture of their 40 Holstein and Jersey cows because the daily demands of operating a farm have become too strenuous. David and Theresa have lived here all their lives, and with no one to hand the farm off to, theyve decided the best thing they can do for the cows is to auction them off. The Kaschaks arent the only dairy farmers who have had to close recently. This is sad news for Erie County today. We have seen a decline in dairy production in Erie County thats been going down hill over the last 50 years, said Brian Young, director of the Erie County Farm Bureau. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the 2000s, there were well over 200 farms shipping milk. Now there are less than 20. Young said this is due to consolidation and large-scale distribution. He said the only way to save these farms is if consumers engage in local food networks. EDDC expects new additions to bridge gap in community needs Weve seen this decline across the country, most of it due to those processing plants where they are placed and the most economical regions for that milk to come from to supply those plants, and we just do not have processing plants in our region, said Young. It was an emotional day for the Kaschaks as they closed a chapter in their lives, but they hope their passion is a reminder that small farms arent coming back until something changes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve seen this happen too many times in Erie County and across the state Pennsylvania, but were here to support them, said Young. Young said that at this point, there also needs to be a big investment by large wholesalers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A nearly 36-year-old settlement could have barred the Keystone Sanitary Landfill from sending its treated leachate through Throop as part of a new proposal from the landfill, but a subsequent amendment and $500,000 payment potentially waived that restriction several years later. Landfill officials will present their plans Wednesday during a special meeting at the Throop Civic Center as they seek approval to send their treated leachate, which is the liquid that percolates through garbage piles, through Throops sanitary sewer system where it would be further treated at the Lackawanna River Basin Sewer Authoritys plant on Boulevard Avenue in Throop. The Louis and Dominick DeNaples-owned landfill in Dunmore and Throop currently treats its leachate on site using a process called reverse osmosis forcing the liquid under high pressure through a membrane that extracts contaminants and directs the wastewater to Pennsylvania American Waters treatment plant in South Scranton. Both borough council and the Lackawanna River Basin Sewer Authority, or LRBSA, would have to approve those plans before Keystone could reroute its reverse osmosis-treated leachate, with borough officials emphasizing that no decision has been made. Wednesdays meeting is solely to bring in the public for information and input on the proposal. As part of the project, the landfill said it would completely rehabilitate Throops sanitary sewer line, including relining it in its entirety, removing root infiltration and fixing broken joints, Throop Council President Rich Kucharski said last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, a 1989 settlement signed by the landfill, Throop borough and the Throop Property Owners Association, or TPOA, established terms for the landfill during its Phase I expansion, including how it must treat its leachate. Keystones Phase III expansion is now underway, which allows it to continue hauling in garbage for the next four decades, tripling its volume of waste by adding 94 million tons, or 188 billion pounds, of garbage. The 1989 settlement ended 2-year-old litigation against the landfill. In 1987, the TPOA appealed the former state Department of Environmental Resources decision to allow the landfill to remain open beyond its scheduled April 14, 1987, closure date, taking the case before the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board, according to the May 19, 1987, edition of The Scranton Times. The following year, Throop Borough Council voted to join the property owners in their appeal, as well as joining the association in filing a separate lawsuit against the landfill under the federal Clean Streams Act, The Scranton Times reported on April 26, 1988. All three parties reached a settlement agreement on July 17, 1989, which was recorded with the Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds the following day. Among the stipulations for the landfill, a section on leachate required it to collect all leachate immediately, pretreat it and send it to the Scranton Sewage Plant. It also stipulates, None of the leachate shall be disposed of through the Borough of Throop, nor through sewer pipes located in Throop. Throop solicitor and borough Manager Louis Cimini pointed to a subsequent amendment to the agreement signed May 24, 1993, as well as a clause in the original agreement allowing it to be amended. According to the 1993 document, the property owners association and borough agreed that both parties were released from and no longer bound by the terms of the agreement after they received a $500,000 trust fund from the landfill, which had diverted an additional $1 for every ton of waste it collected to that fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It would need to be discussed, Cimini said of the 1993 document. I think the argument can be made, but again, were nowhere near that. Cimini stressed that Wednesdays meeting is to bring in the public to hear from the landfill. How weve jumped down the road this far, its not what was intended, he said. Keystone Sanitary Landfill consultant Al Magnotta said in a text that the landfill will address the 1989 agreement during the meeting. Cimini also pointed to the quality of the pretreated leachate in 2025 compared to 1989. The purpose for the public presentation is so that the public can hear firsthand what we understand to be a monumental difference between 1989 leachate and leachate treated through reverse osmosis, Cimini said. The meeting on March 26 is simply for the landfill to explain their request to the public, and thats it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pat Clark, a leader of grassroots group Friends of Lackawanna, which formed in 2014 in opposition of the landfill and its now-approved Phase III expansion, advocated for the borough to eventually deny the proposal. The area should be tired of this landfill getting whatever it wants, whenever it wants, from whoever it wants, regardless of past agreements or actual performance, he said. Friends of Lackawanna appealed the landfills June 3, 2021, Phase III expansion approval in July 2021 to the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board, and Clark expects a decision soon. Keystone previously applied with the state Department of Environmental Protection on Dec. 18, 2019, to discharge its treated leachate directly into Little Roaring Brook and Eddy Creek, though it later removed Eddy Creek from those plans. Under that proposal, the landfill would have discharged up to 200,000 gallons of treated leachate per day into Little Roaring Brook, which is a Lackawanna River tributary, just off East Drinker Street near Derrig Street. The landfill withdrew its application in July. Wednesdays meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Throop Civic Center, 500 Sanderson St. DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) March 26 is the new date the City of Decatur plans to hold a prescribed burn at the sediment basin, after it was previously postponed. The burn will take place near Oakley at the sediment storage basin. It was originally supposed to happen on March 17, but ended up being postponed because conditions did not allow for the burn to take place as anticipated. Decatur mom attempts to drown baby in bathtub: Police Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This burn is designed to decrease fuel for a potential wildfire and manage the vegetation inside the basin. Additionally, care will be taken to ensure safety and minimize smoke from blowing in the direction of homes, roadways or other smoke-sensitive areas. The city is emphasizing that there are no hazardous materials at the sites so citizens should not be concerned. This burn will be conducted by trained and experienced professionals. The property located at 6705 Angle Crossing Road in Oakley is owned by the City of Decatur, and the burn complies with City Cody Chapter 48 concerning native plants and burning by city officials. This also complies with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, as detailed in the Open Burning Permit issued to the city. In addition to this, local authorities and fire officials have been notified that the burn will be taking place. Like last time, this prescribed burn is dependent on favorable weather conditions, so the city will communicate again if the plan ends up changing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. On a single day last month, the Mexican government shipped 29 accused drug lords north across the border to face US justice. Plucked from Mexican prison cells, hustled onto planes in shackles and express-delivered into the waiting hands of American authorities were several notorious capos, whose alleged narco exploits have been chronicled in films, TV series and federal indictments spanning decades. Among them are brothers said to be behind the brutal group known as the Zetas; reputed leaders of the Gulf, Juarez and Jalisco New Generation cartels; and the elusive Rafael Caro Quintero, wanted since the 1980s in connection with the torture and killing of a Drug Enforcement Administration agent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All are now housed at jails across the country on charges that range from drug trafficking to murder. At least six could face the death penalty, an unusual twist due to the unique circumstances of their arrival. With their cases now in US courts, there's been a scramble to find lawyers willing and able to defend such high-stakes clients. US President Donald Trump has complicated the situation by designating several cartels as terrorist organizations, raising concerns the Treasury Department could seek to freeze assets used to pay attorneys. Weeks after their arrival, several notable defendants sent by Mexico on February 27 including Caro Quintero still have court-appointed counsel, meaning US taxpayers are footing their legal bills. Multiple lawyers who specialize in complex federal drug and conspiracy cases described the current moment as unprecedented. Each week seems to bring fresh chaos as Trump ratchets up pressure on Mexico to topple the cartels and stanch the flow of fentanyl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It should be boom times for the so-called white powder bar, as the practice of lawyering for the world's most prolific drug pushers has been dubbed. But some veteran attorneys are proceeding with caution, warning of unforeseen consequences from Trump's crackdown and preexisting conflicts that limit who can join certain cases. "This is sort of like a niche practice," said Bonnie Klapper, a former federal narcotics prosecutor turned defense attorney. "I guarantee you a lot of the usual suspects won't be able to represent these people." Klapper once helped take down Colombia's Norte del Valle cartel, but she has since switched sides, operating as private counsel. Her past work as a prosecutor precludes her from cases in which she helped craft the indictment, and she's heard from colleagues who have already spotted other conflicts, such as representing potential witnesses. The death penalty charges further narrow the field. Capital cases require experienced "learned counsel" and bring their own unique set of challenges, not least the possibility of the client being executed. Three of the 29 prisoners sent over by Mexico are charged in California federal courts, including one death penalty case in Los Angeles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adding terrorism designations and pursuing the death penalty while restricting ways for former cartel members to remain in the US also risk making it harder for federal authorities to flip informants, Klapper said. "I don't think anybody has thought through the implications of this for the criminal justice system," she said. "Because who is going to cooperate if the US won't protect them and their families?" Mexico has abolished capital punishment and typically does not extradite citizens who could be put to death under US law. But officials on both sides of the border have tip-toed around using the word extradition for the recent handover. A news release from the Department of Justice said the US simply "secured custody" of the wanted men. William Purpura was one of three lawyers who defended the Sinaloa cartel leader known as El Chapo during a three-month trial that ended with a conviction in 2019. That case did not involve the death penalty, but Purpura has worked on a number of others that did. He said it's a grueling endeavor, requiring "complete dedication to one client." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A death verdict will haunt trial counsel to the execution and beyond," Purpura said. "This is not an undertaking for the usual cast of characters. It is the Chapo trial on steroids." Purpura and others in private practice said they typically find work through referrals, relying on lawyers in Mexico and meeting with a prospective client's family to build trust before taking on a case. Defense attorneys have allegedly broken the law in pursuit of business. Last month, a prominent Miami lawyer was charged with a bribery scheme in which prosecutors say two former DEA supervisors leaked confidential information in exchange for Yankees tickets and five-figure secret payments. The tips were about active investigations, which prosecutors said enabled the lawyer to get a head start on wooing the targets as clients. The lawyer, David Macey, has pleaded not guilty to charges that include bribery of a public official and perjury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "David is a devoted father and husband and a highly respected attorney with an impeccable record as a member of the bar for nearly 30 years. He did not bribe anyone," Macey's attorney, David Patton, said in a statement. "The government's allegations are false, and we are confident that the evidence will prove his innocence at trial." Some of the highest-powered operators have taken on generations of relatives from the same family. Jeffrey Lichtman, the lead trial attorney for El Chapo, now defends his client's two sons, known as Los Chapitos, in their pending US cases. Court records also show Lichtman was recently added to the case of a suspected high-ranking Chapitos member who was among the 29 men handed over by Mexico. Lichtman did not respond to a request for comment. Before representing the Chapo clan, Lichtman once helped New York mob figure John Gotti Jr. beat racketeering charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm used to dealing with clients that society has already discarded, already convicted, and being able to convince [jurors] that maybe everything the government and the press says is not 100% accurate," Lichtman said in a 2017 interview about his decision to represent El Chapo. One of El Chapo's sons is accused of kidnapping their father's longtime Sinaloa cartel partner, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, and delivering him to US authorities in the summer. The alleged betrayal triggered an ongoing war between cartel factions in Mexico, and left Zambada, 75, facing a possible death sentence for drug and murder charges in the Eastern District of New York. He has pleaded not guilty. Zambada's lawyer, Frank Perez, 70, had careers as an air traffic controller and Dallas narcotics detective before building up his law practice. Perez also tried his hand at politics, launching an unsuccessful bid for Congress) as a Democrat in 2014. He recently found himself thrust into the spotlight, with Zambada's case becoming a source of international intrigue and controversy. Perez has issued statements on the jailed Zambada's behalf, leveling the kidnapping claims against El Chapo's son and denying rumors of a secret surrender deal. Recently, Perez and two lawyers in Mexico petitioned to have Zambada returned to his home country, arguing he was "coercively transferred from Mexican territory." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal judge presiding over Zambada's case in Brooklyn raised concerns that Perez has a potential conflict of interest. Perez also represented his client's son, Vicente Zambada Niebla, a key witness against El Chapo who could now potentially be called to testify against his own father. The elder Zambada said at a Jan. 15 hearing that he understood the situation and trusted his lawyer. "He may have to withhold information he learns from speaking with Vicente that he can't share with me," Zambada said, reading a prepared statement in Spanish. "But I don't want a different attorney. I want Frank Perez to represent me." Perez declined to comment, except to reiterate his recent public statements that his client is not cooperating with U.S. authorities and fighting to avoid the death penalty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court records show Perez also recently took on another high-profile client: Miguel Angel Trevino-Morales, nicknamed Z-40. Trevino-Morales was arraigned last week in Washington, where he pleaded not guilty to an array of drug and murder conspiracy charges for his alleged leadership of the Zetas. Originally a squad of elite Mexican military defectors who became guns for hire, the Zetas formed a ruthless cartel blamed by authorities for a long list of atrocities over the last three decades. A splinter group, the Northeast cartel, was among those designated as a terrorist organization last month by the Trump administration. The terror designation, several lawyers said, has created uncertainty about whether some standard operating procedures for cartel cases may no longer apply. The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control has long maintained a so-called kingpin list of suspected drug traffickers and front companies that are banned from doing business with US citizens or accessing the banking system. Usually, defense lawyers said, if they provide proper notification, disclosing how much money was received and what it was for, the agency will allow transactions for legal services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For one thing, the system ensures tax dollars aren't unnecessarily spent on court-appointed counsel. Eduardo Balarezo, another El Chapo trial attorney, said it's in the government's interest to allow private counsel, especially when the defendant is willing to negotiate a plea. The deals can ensure the client has a chance of someday walking free, net the government millions of dollars in surrenders of illicit cash and also make less work for all of the lawyers involved. "It doesn't take that much to go in with your client to the government and listen to him talk," Balarezo said. "You have to prepare him, but it's not the same as a trial." But with Trump rebranding cartels as terrorists, some lawyers worry the government may change its stance on payments and pleas. "That's a huge question for all these people: Do they have assets to pay for lawyers, and is the government going to do anything about it?" said Cesar de Castro, a New York defense attorney who has worked on several major drug cases. Although US prosecutors have accused top-level traffickers of being billionaires, some can show on paper that they can't afford an attorney. De Castro served as the court-appointed lawyer for Genaro Garcia Luna, a former Mexican security official sentenced last year to 38 years in prison for taking millions in cartel bribes. The case was under a media and political microscope, forcing De Castro to tread carefully. "Every phrasing of everything is important," he said. "Every fricking word matters." De Castro faced backlash during the trial when Mexico's former president took offense to the lawyer's questions about alleged cartel payments. Death threats ensued a hazard of the job, the lawyer said. "I don't want to be threatened or chased outside the courthouse. I have a family too. I don't need voicemails telling me I should die. But I had to do it for my client," he said. Former state Sen. Ray Holmberg, center, arrives at the Quentin N. Burdick U.S. Courthouse in Fargo for a plea hearing in North Dakota U.S. District Court on Aug. 8, 2024, with defense attorney Mark Friese, left. (Dan Koeck/For the North Dakota Monitor) Editors note: This story contains graphic material and discusses the sexual exploitation of minors. The attorney for a former North Dakota lawmaker convicted of a sex crime argues he should not serve his time in a prison due to his age and health in a court document that also disputes new allegations made last week by a federal prosecutor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense attorney Mark Friese makes the case that the appropriate sentence for 81-year-old Ray Holmberg is time served, plus a period of home confinement and supervised release, according to a sentencing memorandum filed Monday. Holmberg, set to be sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Fargo, pleaded guilty to traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Prosecutors characterized the allegations as traveling to Prague for the purpose of paying for sex with underage boys. Friese argues that prosecutors have presented no evidence that minors were involved. The fact that Mr. Holmberg traveled overseas with intent to engage in commercial sex with a minor does not mean that he did have commercial sex with a minor. Inuendo is not evidence, Friese wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sentencing guidelines call for Holmberg to serve between three and four years in prison, which is what Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl advocated for in her sentencing memorandum last week. The court record said Holmberg took 14 trips between 2011 and 2021 to Prague, where he frequented a brothel. He served as a lawmaker during this time and some trips were connected to a cultural exchange program subsidized by taxpayer money. The memorandum highlighted several emails or messages recovered from Holmbergs devices, including one he wrote that said: No one is ever to young remember Prague. Friese emphasizes Holmbergs advanced age and health in advocating for a lesser sentence. He points to a presentence investigation report, which is not a public record, that identifies multiple diagnosed health conditions and issues that require medication and therapies. The defense argues that providing medical care to Holmberg in home detention would be less costly to the public than providing care in a federal prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Holmberg has served about 145 days in jail in Minnesota, according to Friese. The prosecution alleges Holmberg, a retired high school guidance counselor who held a powerful position as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, leveraged his power to exploit vulnerable boys and young men. The prosecution said he still poses a risk if not incarcerated. Friese calls the prosecutors sentencing memorandum salacious at first blush but says the evidence paints a different picture. Friese said prosecutors have no evidence that Holmberg assaulted a minor. The defense also disputes other allegations of inappropriate conduct, including that Holmberg exploited a former student of Grand Forks Central High school, where Holmberg worked. U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland will sentence Holmberg at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A multi-agency investigation at a DeKalb County home led to the arrest and now indictment of 17 alleged gang members, a DeKalb County grand jury announced Wednesday. Officials say they are indicted on four counts of violation of the street gang terrorism and prevention act, possession of a Schedule 1 controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a machine gun and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] In April 2024, DeKalb County police were contacted by the Cedar Park police in Texas regarding four unidentified armed robbery suspects that might have connections in DeKalb County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DKPD, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, ATF and CPD executed a search warrant at a home on Cleethropes Drive in Lithonia. TRENDING STORIES: While executing the search warrant, law enforcement officials recovered 20 firearms, including fully automatic long guns, as well as illegal switches used to turn handguns into automatic weapons and extended magazines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police also discovered an illegal psychedelic mushroom growing operation and seized a significant amount of other drugs from the house. The indictment named the following individuals: Darin Katharail Harris, 20 Nashan Levonta Hutton, 25 Calvary Ray Jackson, 21 Jakai Tyere Lewis, 18 Amarion Jacoby Pitts, 21 Joshua Demarquis Thomas, 19 Naseem Umar Triplett, 21 Caleb Nehemiah Dudley, 20 Ashton Patrick George, 18 Jameel Thomas Jones, 23 Camryn Anaya Byrd, 24 John Ben Frazier, 22 Jerry Devaun Johnson, 25 Fratavic Trevorious Goodwin, 20 Donovan Logan, 19 Tyrique Thomas, 20 Daniel Kenneth Solomon, 23 Thomas, Johnson, and Goodwin are charged with armed robbery and felony murder for the April 4 murder of Nicholas Grierson, 27. Hutton is also indicted on an additional charge of violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, along with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH) A group of Delaware Hayes High School students are going to Johnson Space Center in Houston next month after winning NASAs App Development Challenge. Each year, NASA holds the coding competition for students across the nation. Out of all the teams that entered, the group from Delaware Hayes was chosen as one of just four finalists. The challenge was to build an app for NASAs Artemis II mission, where astronauts will slingshot around the moon and earth next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delaware Hayes teacher and team leader, Joanne Meyer, said the five students had just 10 weeks to make a fully functional app. Real ID drivers license will soon be mandatory for U.S. domestic flights They provided us with 13,000 lines of Excel spreadsheet and from that data it was up to the kids to problem solve it and how they wanted to handle it. Theres a million of different ways they could approach it, Meyer said. The goal was to create an app that visualizes Artemis IIs path, and team members said it wasnt easy. It was a grind the whole 10 weeks. So then to see it all come together, look pretty, work. It was all really, really awesome to see that, said Madeline Bruns, a team member and Delaware Hayes senior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The team found out in February that they were selected as finalists and they head to Houston at the beginning of April. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the five students. Tax filing deadline on April 15: Tips for an easier process You know, the dream is to go to space, senior Jason White said. Thats far-fetched, but at least I hope I can help people go to space. So talking with the people who work in my dream job, Im super excited for. I just want to see what they do. The students app is pretty impressive. Its clear they put time and effort into creating it. Meyer said she is incredibly proud of the talented group of kids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were driven and motivated to succeed and they werent going to let anything stop them until they got it done, Meyer said. The group will spend a week down in Houston at Johnson Space Center. They will have the opportunity to present their app to the public and to NASA leadership during their week there. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WASHINGTON, March 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz assumed "full responsibility" for a leaked group chat discussing an upcoming strike in Yemen, he said in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday. Customers of DNA firm 23andMe should move quickly to ensure their personal data is deleted following the firms filing for bankruptcy in the US, cybersecurity experts have said. Earlier this week, the genetics firm announced it had begun voluntary Chapter 11 proceedings in the US meaning it intends to reorganise its debts and assets to have a fresh start, while remaining in business, and searching for a buyer. Cybersecurity experts have now warned it means the genetic and biological data of 23andMe users could end up in the hands of a third party they did not previously authorise to access such information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adrianus Warmenhoven, a cybersecurity expert at NordVPN, said the saga was a stark wake-up call for data privacy. Genetic data isnt 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, he said. Consumers have no concept of how much information they are giving up when they sign up to these innovative biotech companies. A simple DNA test doesnt just potentially disclose ancestry it could reveal genetic predispositions to disease, family relationships, and biometric signatures that could be used by insurers, employers, or even governments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With over 15 million consumers worldwide, 23andMes genetic database is a treasure trove of personal information a digital goldmine that might turn into a bankruptcy sale asset. While medical records held by US companies are shielded under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, genetic information occupies a legal limbo. Almost 80% of customers have consented to be involved in medical research, meaning their DNA information could be passed on to new owners with little supervision. 23andMe users can request to have their DNA sample destroyed, and have options to opt-out of a number of other research and product-related aspects of the service, as well as completely delete their account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, 23andMes privacy statement says that even if users choose to delete their account, the company retains some personal information in order to comply with its legal obligations, resolve disputes, enforce our agreements, and other legitimate and lawful business purposes. According to the statement, the company and its contracted genotyping laboratory will retain genetic information, date of birth and sex as part of this. Warmenhoven said the first reaction of users should be a total digital amputation, and suggested concerned users should directly contact the firm to push for their data to be deleted. "Ask for the destruction of your genetic sample, revoke all research permissions immediately and only then should you shut your account, he said." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Collin Walke, a US-based cybersecurity and data privacy expert and a partner at law firm Hall Estill, said the saga highlighted the perils of handing over personal data especially health and genetic data. The 23andMe bankruptcy proves the problem: Once you give away the most personal aspects of yourself such as your genetic profile to third parties, you are literally losing control over information that can be exploited and used to you and your familys detriment, he said. Would you want your childs diagnosis in the hands of bad actors? What about your personal medical information? You may have agreed to allow 23andMe to run your profile, but what about the company that buys 23andMe out of bankruptcy? Do you trust them? Democratic state attorneys general blasted President Trumps actions against law firms and judges he deems unfriendly in a joint letter Wednesday, urging other lawyers to avoid kowtowing to the White Houses threats. We cannot allow the President to scare law firms and lawyers into silence, more than a dozen Democrats serving as chief legal officers in their states wrote in the letter. It is up to us as lawyers, law firms and state attorneys general as the entire community of the legal establishment to refuse to bow to intimidation. Since his return to office in January, Trump has set his sights on major law firms with ties to his critics and others responsible for perceived wrongs against him through the years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump suggested last week that firms all want to make deals to appease his concerns. Those law firms did bad things. Bad things, Trump told reporters Friday in the Oval Office. They went after me for years. Trump has signed multiple executive orders revoking security clearances, government contracts and access to government buildings for attorneys at major law firms with ties to lawyers who represented Democrats or worked on cases against Trump. The Jenner & Block law firm became the latest target this week. It previously employed a former federal prosecutor who worked with then-special counsel Robert Mueller a top Trump foe on his probe into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump often refers to the investigation as the Russia hoax or mockingly as Russia, Russia, Russia. The White House accused Jenner & Block of weaponization of the legal system against American principles and values. Covington & Burling, a firm providing pro bono services to former special counsel Jack Smith, previously received similar rebuke from Trump. Smith led federal criminal cases against Trump over the alleged mishandling of classified documents and the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Trump also has penalized Perkins Coie, a firm that worked for former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons campaign in 2016 and was involved in political opposition research on Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Separately, Trump has supported calls for the impeachment of federal judges who have blocked his administration on some efforts, including a migrant deportation plan and the mass firing of federal workers. The Democratic officials who signed Wednesdays letter wrote that they condemn and reject suggestions that impeachment is an appropriate response to a judicial ruling. We will not allow anyone, including the President, to bully law firms out of representing clients who may be politically disfavored, or clients out of being represented by counsel of their choosing, the Democratic attorneys general wrote in the letter. We will not sit by silently in the face of attempts to attack and intimidate the federal judiciary. We will not allow the rule of law to be undermined. The White House didnt immediately respond to The Hills request for comment on the letter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Democrat Dan Goughnour has won the Pennsylvania state House seat vacated by the death of the most recent officeholder, restoring Democrats narrow majority in the body, according to a Decision Desk HQ projection. Goughnour, a member of the McKeesport school board and a police officer, beat Republican Chuck Davis, the president of the White Oak Borough Council. The result is not a surprise in the Democratic-leaning House District 35, which voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris in November with about 58 percent of the vote. The seat has been vacant since January, when then-Rep. Matt Gergely (D) died. He had first been elected to the state House in 2023 in a special election to succeed now-Lt. Gov. Austin Davis (D) and was reelected to a full term in November without opposition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gergelys death turned the Democrats 102-101 majority to an even split with the Republicans, but Goughnours victory will return the body to the former composition. Democrats won that majority in the state House for the first time in a decade in 2022 and kept it exactly intact in November. The party has also needed to win a few special elections to keep the majority. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) signaled its strong interest in securing this seat, with newly elected DNC Chair Ken Martin starting a national tour in McKeesport and campaigning with Goughnour in February. Martin said in a statement that Goughnour will fight for families, and his win allows Pennsylvania Democrats to better stand up to President Trump and defends Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) from Republican legislators pushing constitutional amendments to bypass his power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Building the Democratic Party back begins in the states and down-ballot wins like Rep.-elect Goughnours offer a powerful rebuke of Trump and Elon Musks MAGA agenda, Martin said. The state House district is located in Allegheny County in western Pennsylvania, to the southeast of Pittsburgh. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. House Appropriations Chair Ben Barnes (D-Prince George's and Anne Arundel) during Tuesday's budget debate in the House of Delegates.(Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters) The Maryland House of Delegates could give its final approval Wednesday to a fiscal 2026 spending plan that includes more than $1 billion in new taxes. House Democrats and Republicans engaged in a sometimes testy, nearly seven hour debate of a two-bill package. Republicans, who make up less than 30% of the 141-member House, offered up 20 proposed amendments on those two bills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Appropriations Chair Ben Barnes (D-Prince Georges and Anne Arundel) said Republican amendments would make cuts to education in some counties, aid to poor children, and students with disabilities. So yeah, you know what? This is a difference in values. We disagree, Barnes said. And its nice that we can finally have a real conversation about our difference in values, because we would rather tax millionaires a little more so that students with disabilities can get the services they need; because we would rather take a little cut to tourism rather than a cut to every kid in this state or families who need Medicaid. So look, we can argue this all day, he said. We have a difference in values. The paper says what it says. We disagree. We chart a different path. The issue of values became one of a number of running themes. House Minority Leader Jason C. Buckel (R-Allegany) and Minority Leader Jesse T. Pippy (R-Frederick). (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters) House Minority Whip Jesse T. Pippy (R-Frederick) proposed an amendment to cut a 1% cost of living increase for state employees. The money would instead be pushed to services at the Developmental Disabilities Administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets talk about values. These are the minority party values, Pippy said. We value our most vulnerable over state employees getting another raise because, quite frankly, theyve had a 36% increase in salary and benefits for the last few years. Marylands $67 billion budget a figure that includes all spending including general and federal funds and higher education is one-tenth of a percent higher than the current year. The $27 billion general fund budget, which encompasses state revenue from sources including income and sales taxes, is $414 million less than the current year. The plan also solves a projected $3 billion deficit for the coming year. The solution involves more than $2 billion in what Gov. Wes Moore (D) and legislative Democrats have called cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plan also includes more than $1 billion in taxes including a proposed $500 million services sales tax on data and IT services. That tax has already caused one business owner, who is also the vice chair of a House Committee, to move his business from Southern Maryland to Virginia. Another $367 million would come from a 2% surcharge on capital gains income over $350,000. The rate is double what Moore proposed in his budget. Most of the tax would land in the states general fund, with about 40% earmarked for the states Transportation Trust Fund. The state would also raise $344 million from changes in the tax code, including the creation of two new tax brackets: Those earning $500,000 to $1 million would pay 6.25%; those above $1 million in earnings would pay a rate of 6.5%. Democratic lawmakers and Moore claim 94% of Marylanders will either see a decrease or no change in their taxes. Del. Emily Shetty (D-Montgomery). (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters) This plan does not increase taxes for 94% of Marylanders, said Del. Emily Shetty (D-Montgomery). Ninety-four percent of Marylanders will not see their taxes go up. Theyll either see no change, or theyll see a decrease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Del. Mark N. Fisher (R-St. Marys) called the claim silly. No one believes that, because its not true, Fisher said. And the 6% that you say that youre taking from are the 6% that have the most ability to leave. And you know what I would say to them, maybe you should leave and stick it once and for all to the majority party and show them that all wealth isnt created by government. Its created by the private sector. House Minority Leader Del. Jason C. Buckel (R-Allegany) said the average tax decrease will range between $53 and $61. The amount is lower than the $173 average cut that was part of the tax changes proposed by Moore in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That $5 per month, Buckel said, would be gobbled up by other fees imposed by the state, such as a 6% sales tax on vending machine purchases. Guess what happened to your income tax cut? Gone. Gone. You just ate it up in what you paid additional to the vending machine., Buckel said. If you buy a car that year gone. Were raising the excise tax. Your tax cut youre getting, somebody that makes $70, $80, $90, $100,000 a year. That 53 bucks a year, youre getting, go out and buy a new car that year. Your income tax cut is gone that year, and the next year, and the next year, and the next year. You just pay more money. Gone. As the hours dragged on, the debate boiled over. During one tense exchange, House Republicans openly criticized Democrats, including House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County), whom they perceived was rushing through debate and stifling the voices of the minority party. House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County) during a heated moment as Republicans challenged efforts by Democrats to truncate a budget debate. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters) Republicans claimed Jones ignored minority party delegates who wished to speak. They also complained that House Majority Whip Del. Jazz Lewis (D-Prince Georges County) used a procedural rule to curtail debate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one such instance, Del. Robin L. Grammer Jr. (R-Baltimore County) proposed language that would require an annual report from the Department of Transportation updating the status of bridge vulnerability assessments. But Democrats shot down the proposal saying that the amendment was drafted improperly and adding that lawmakers were working on a separate amendment that would be added to the budget later in the process. But as Grammer and Republicans attempted to press their case, Lewis moved to end the debate and force a vote. That led to a tense exchange between Republicans and Democrats including Jones. For some of you, maybe the majority party, its a routine day, Pippy said. Respectfully for us, this means something. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And so if we want to get up and have an opportunity to explain our vote, or we want to get up and make an argument, thats what were here for. So I dont want our members to feel like were getting shut down, he said. Others were more blunt. Del. Lauren Arikan (R-Harford) criticized House Democrats for marginalizing Republican voices during a budget debate Tuesday. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters) We chose you as our speaker several years ago, and since that time, many of us have stood up. You have refused to call on us. You have seen us standing. You have skipped over us, said Del. Lauren Arikan (R-Harford). We consistently try to make our voices heard in a state that marginalizes us and ignores us constantly, in a chamber that has been gerrymandered madly to continue to marginalize us, she said. You dont have to listen to us speak right now. You can continue to cut us off. But you will hear us in the election just like you did in November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, it was Lewis who stepped in and attempted to de-escalate the situation. I understand there are many things for us to debate on revenues and whatnot, but this right here, you just got a promise to do what you want. Shes promised to do it. The committee chair just promised to do that. No one is steamrolling here, Lewis said. Youve received a promise, and were going to honor them, he said. The vote Tuesday keeps the bill on pace to land in the Senate later this week. The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee Tuesday finalized its recommendations on the budget. The House and Senate have agreed on a broad framework for the budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One area they disagree on is funding for transportation. Both chambers have agreed to provide more than $400 million but have not finalized a plan on how to reach that number. A final agreement is not expected before a key deadline passes March 31. Lawmakers in both chambers said they believe a conference committee to resolve differences in the budget will not lead to protracted debates as has happened in years past. The General Assembly is expected to finish work on the budget before the 90-day session is scheduled to end on April 7. Democrats appeared to pull off an upset in a special election to fill a Pennsylvania state Senate seat on Tuesday night, the latest in a string of victories for the party in off-year, down-ballot races. Democrat James Malone led Republican County Commissioner Josh Parsons by nearly 500 votes, with virtually all ballots counted, in an area President Donald Trump carried by double digits just a few months ago. Parsons acknowledged on X that it appears we will come up a little short, though the Associated Press had not yet called the race as of Wednesday morning. Democratic state legislative candidates have now outperformed Kamala Harris 2024 presidential run in nearly a dozen special elections since January, in some cases by double digits in Republican strongholds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every district is up for grabs when Republicans are using their power to cut our essential services to give themselves a tax cut, Malone said. We flipped this seat by listening to what our community needs and cares about. We can do the same thing anywhere. Malones victory comes two months after Democrat Mike Zimmer flipped a state-level district in Iowa that Trump won by more than 20 percentage points. Moderate candidates running on increasing funding for public education and lowering daily expenses like childcare costs have done especially well in Iowa and now Pennsylvania. When Mike Zimmer flipped that seat in Iowa, we were in contact with his team the next morning to learn how they did it, and we basically used that playbook and adapted it to our area, said Stella Sexton, Malones campaign manager. Democrats have routinely over performed in special elections, winning a few ahead of the 2024 presidential race as well as over performing in the 2022 midterms neither of which translated to success at the top of the ticket. Still, Democrats pointed to Malones victory as motivation heading into next weeks races in Florida and Wisconsin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats like Senator-elect Malone are competing everywhere, and in special elections throughout the country, we continue to overperform as voters join us in fighting back against the Trump-Musk agenda, DNC chair Ken Martin said in a statement. This is a shockwave to the system and the way Republicans have run our government. Republicans everywhere should be afraid. In another Pennsylvania race on Tuesday, Democrats reclaimed their state House majority, which was deadlocked following the death of a member. That race marks the fifth time in 2025 alone that the party has won an election which decided the outcome of a legislative chamber, though they had been expected to win most of those races. Both wins affirm Democratic leadership in a moment when GOP power is synonymous with chaos, said Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams. While the wins marked a success for Democrats, the party is still grappling with enormous challenges in Washington. Locked out of power and with increasing infighting between its top leaders, the party has struggled to find its step as Trump and billionaire ally Elon Musk overhaul the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In battleground Pennsylvania, Republicans still easily hold the majority in the state Senate, and the split chambers will leave Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro forced to cross the aisle and make some deals. Shapiro, who narrowly won the district in 2022, campaigned for Malone, recording a robocall to help get out the vote on Tuesday, where he told voters the best action right now to push back during this political moment is to go to the polls and vote. Holly Otterbein contributed to this report. (Capital-Star file) Democrats claimed a majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and held a narrow lead in a Lancaster County state Senate district where Republicans have a strong advantage, according to unofficial results in special elections late Tuesday. Democrat Dan Goughnour won the 35th House District seat, previously held by Rep. Matthew Gergely (D-Allegheny), with 63.4% of the vote, according to unofficial results. His victory restores the 102-101 seat majority Democrats held in the House before Gergley died in January after suffering a medical emergency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Democratic victory in the Lancaster County race would not change Republican control of the Senate, but would be a significant upset in the district, where President Donald Trump won by 15 percentage points in November. Unofficial results in the 36th Senate District election showed Democratic East Petersburg Mayor James Malone ahead of Republican County Commissioner Chairman Joshua Parsons by fewer than 500 votes, or 0.89% of the 54,000 votes cast. The Associated Press said the race was too early to call, with an unknown number of provisional ballots still to be counted. The winner will take the place of former Republican Sen. Ryan Aument, who resigned to work for U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick. Party leaders said the Democratic victories were a statement on the Trump administrations cuts to federal agencies and chaotic first two months in power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Malones victory is a loud and clear rebuke to Republicans threats to the programs Pennsylvania families rely on from Social Security and Medicaid to our public schools, Democratic National Committee Chairperson Ken Martin said in a statement. Sen. Vincent Hughes, chairman of the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, said the election was a referendum on chaos in Washington and inaction by Republicans in Harrisburg. Voters are fed up, and they showed up tonight in Lancaster, Hughes said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Malone, who works for a business information technology firm, says he is devoted to transparent, compassionate, inclusive and innovative government. His campaign website said his priorities are affordable housing, including support for first-time homeowners and property tax relief; public education; supporting first responders; and expanding social services and mental health support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parsons is the Lancaster County commissioners chairperson, a veteran U.S. Army officer and former assistant district attorney. He gained prominence in conservative political circles for his defiance of state COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, claiming credit for Lancaster Countys economic recovery during the emergency and touted his leadership as an abortion opponent. Parsonss campaign was supported by GOP activist Scott Presler, who helped turn out Amish voters in the 2024 general election. Presler, who has drawn criticism for his anti-Muslim language, rung early alarm bells about a possible Democratic victory, drawing the attention of billionaire megadonor Elon Musk, Lancaster Online reported this week. The 36th District covers a swath of northern Lancaster County including suburbs of the city of Lancaster, Elizabethtown and rural areas. Goughnour is a member of the McKeesport Area School Board and captain of detectives in the McKeesport Police Department. He ran against Republican Charles Davis, who is president of the White Oak borough council. The 35th District, in the Monongahela River Valley south of Pittsburgh, includes the industrial cities of Clairton, Duquesne and McKeesport, and is favored to remain in Democratic control. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Americans are rallying behind Democratseven in deep Trump territory. In a major upset, Democrat James Malone usurped a seat in Pennsylvanias state Senate in a special election, flipping a district that had voted for Donald Trump by more than 15 points mere months ago. Malone previously served as the mayor of East Petersburg and will succeed Republican Senator Ryan Aument, who resigned from the office in December to serve as a state director for Senator Dave McCormick. Im very excited and really, really happy that all the work we put in has paid off, Malone told WGAL-TV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyday voters are not liking what theyre seeing at the federal level; they dont like the chaos. We want to be sure that we, as Pennsylvania, are standing up for our neighbors and are standing up for our state, Malone continued. And brotherly love is Pennsylvania, and that just proved out. Kindness over criticism, right? So thats what were trying to do, and I think that that really is what were looking at, moving forward. Malones victory followed another Democratic win Tuesday in the Keystone State, after Dan Goughnour won a House seat, maintaining a Democratic stronghold in Pennsylvanias lower chamber. The wins were roundly celebrated by the larger Democratic Party, which saw its voters excoriate their inaction on a GOP budget resolution that promised whopping Medicaid cuts at the national level last week. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez saluted Malones strategy, urging the party to refocus on winning critical local elections, from school board to councils to state legislatures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans, meanwhile, felt the sting. Damn, posted Elon Musk, reacting to a screenshot of the election results. But Malone had a quick reply. Ill take this as a compliment, because Elon Musk knows Im about to get to work for the everyday people of Pennsylvania, not him and his billionaire friends, he wrote Wednesday morning. Four California Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives are on the target list of a liberal Democratic group preparing for the 2026 election, another indication of how pivotal the state's congressional races will be in determining control of Congress. EMILYs List, a group dedicated to electing Democratic women who support access to abortion, announced Wednesday morning that four Republicans in the state were put on its list of 46 on notice GOP members of Congress. The liberal group said that Reps. Kevin Kiley of Rocklin, David Valadao of Hanford, Young Kim of Anaheim Hills and Ken Calvert of Corona have wholeheartedly supported President Trump and billionaire Elon Musks agenda, and that flipping their districts is crucial to Democratic efforts to take power in the House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People all across the country are feeling the pain. The chaos and cruelty has no bounds from slash-and-burn cuts to critical programs for veterans and farmers, to voting to strip millions of health care, to their continued assault on our fundamental rights and freedoms, said EMILYs List President Jessica Mackler. In 2026, we must take back the majority in the U.S. House to create a federal check on Donald Trump. California, Pennsylvania and Florida have the most Republicans on the group's target list. A dozen of the states members of Congress are on the nonpartisan Cook Political Reports list of competitive races, easily the most of any state in the nation. The states importance in the midterms is due to several reasons. Even after losing a congressional seat earlier this decade after the U.S. census, California still has the largest congressional delegation in the nation with 52 members. Read more: California to lose a congressional seat, according to new census data Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The states voters also took the drawing of congressional district boundaries out of the hands of state legislators and created a panel of Republicans, Democrats and nonpartisans to shape district lines, in an effort to end gerrymandering and create more competitive races. The states congressional races have been a mixed bag in recent cycles. Republicans were shellacked in 2018 but picked up seats in 2020 and 2022 that helped former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) briefly become speaker of the House. But last year, while the GOP outperformed expectations in much of the country, three of its incumbents in California lost, which state Republican leaders blamed on the tightness of the districts as well as strong funding from Democratic leaders and donors. And Republicans will probably face headwinds next year because the party that controls the White House often sees setbacks in the congressional elections two years later. Read more: A bright spot for Democrats as voters shifted right: Flipping 3 House seats in California Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Next November in the House, we have seats to win back, incumbents to defend and more pickup opportunities to play in, former state GOP Chair Jessica Millan Patterson told reporters at the partys convention in Sacramento this month. The road to the House majority will once again come right through California. Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox twice per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. SAN FRANCISCO, March 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor on Tuesday set June 23 for trial in Boeing's criminal fraud case in Fort Worth, the state of Texas. The case follows the 2018 and 2019 737 MAX crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia, which killed a total of 346 people. In the aftermath, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) charged Boeing with fraud, alleging that the company intentionally misled safety regulators about the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, a new software feature on the MAX jets that played a key role in both accidents. Families of the victims welcomed news of the trial date. "We are pleased to see Judge O'Connor set this case for trial," said Sanjiv Singh, an attorney representing 16 families of the victims from the first crash in Indonesia. "We hope that the Justice Department will agree that a corporate entity which killed hundreds of people and endangered millions of lives should be held accountable." A Boeing spokesperson said on Tuesday that the company and the DOJ "continue to be engaged in good faith discussions regarding an appropriate resolution of this matter." Since the crashes, Boeing has twice negotiated deals with federal prosecutors that would have allowed the company to avoid trial. In 2021, Boeing entered into a deferred prosecution agreement requiring the company to meet specific compliance and safety benchmarks over three years. However, just days before that agreement was to expire, a panel detached from a 737 MAX aircraft during a flight in January 2024, prompting renewed concerns about the company's manufacturing and quality control practices. In May 2024, the DOJ concluded that Boeing had violated the terms of the deferred agreement. In July, the company and the DOJ reached a new agreement that would have imposed a 244 million U.S. dollar fine, required Boeing to invest 455 million dollars in safety and compliance measures, and submit to oversight by an independent monitor. That deal was rejected by Judge O'Connor in December. The judge had previously set an April 11 deadline for Boeing and federal prosecutors to provide an update on how they intended to proceed. On Monday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Boeing is attempting to withdraw from the plea agreement. According to the report, the company is seeking more favorable treatment from the DOJ under U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, citing sources familiar with the matter. Sea lions on the California coast are reportedly displaying strange behavior, likely due to a harmful algae bloom impacting the region, according to marine researchers. The sea lions are likely being poisoned by domoic acid, a neurotoxin within the algae blooms, which they ingest through the fish they eat, according to marine experts. Ingesting domoic acid can cause amnesic shellfish poisoning in humans and marine mammals, according to the Marine Mammal Care Center. There have been reports of the marine mammals acting aggressively in some cases, and in others, they appear lethargic, Jeni Smith, rescue supervisor at SeaWorld San Diego, told ABC San Diego affiliate KGTV. Smith described one sea lion who appeared to be "star-gazing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Police hunt suspect who shot and killed 2-year-old sea lion lying on California beach "Some animals seem very, very sleepy, maybe right after having a seizure," Smith said. "They may be abnormally aggressive." PHOTO: A sick California sea lion with possible domoic acid poisoning lays on a beach wall in Santa Barbara, California, on March 25, 2025. (David Swanson/AFP via Getty Images) Harmful algal blooms occur when colonies of algae grow out of control and produce toxic or harmful affects on people, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Some blooms produce toxins that can kill fish, mammals and birds. In some cases, the algal blooms can cause illness or death in humans, according to NOAA. MORE: Sea otters, once hunted to near extinction, are preventing coastal erosion as their populations grow, study finds Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The toxic algae blooms typically only form every four to seven years, but warming temperatures and an increase of pollution can increase the growth and occurrences, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recently, marine researchers in Southern California have witnessed consecutive years of harmful algal blooms, Dave Bader, chief operations and education officer at the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro, told KGTV. PHOTO: A sick California sea lion with possible domoic acid poisoning is rescued to be evaluated by volunteers from CIMWI (Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute) in Santa Barbara, California, on March 25, 2025. (David Swanson/AFP via Getty Images) The Marine Mammal Care Center has taken in nearly 150 sea lions since February, Bader said. There have been reports of dolphins and seabirds falling ill as well, and this event could be worse than the bloom that occurred in 2023, which killed 1,000 sea lions, according to the marine conservation group. RJ LaMendola said he was surfing when he was attacked at Oxnard State Beach in Ventura County, California, by a "demonic" sea lion that bit him and dragged him off his board, he wrote on Facebook on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Sea lion escapes from Central Park Zoo pool amid severe New York City flooding LaMendola described the sea lion as "feral" and "almost demonic." The surfer was struck that the mammal was "devoid of the curiosity or playfulness" he usually associates with sea lions, he wrote. "This isnt normal sea lion behavior -- its something darker, something dangerous," he wrote, saying he won't be surfing again "anytime soon." PHOTO: Beach goers with dogs walk by a California sea lion sick with domoic acid poisoning that is giving birth on a beach in Santa Barbara, California, on March 25, 2025. (David Swanson/AFP via Getty Images) Smith urged the public to do their part to create a better environment for marine life and prevent pollution. "Throwing away their trash, not allowing anything toxic to go down the storm drain, because everything goes back to the ocean," Smith said. 'Demonic' sea lion reports spark concerns about toxic algae on California coast originally appeared on abcnews.go.com By Stine Jacobsen, Louise Rasmussen and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Denmark on Wednesday welcomed a U.S. decision to confine a planned visit to Greenland to a military base after the plans triggered a spat between Copenhagen and the White House amid President Donald Trump's interest in taking over the island. Denmark's prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, said on Tuesday that a scheduled visit by Usha Vance, the wife of U.S. Vice President JD Vance, to a popular dog-sled race in Greenland this week was part of an "unacceptable pressure" on the semi-autonomous Danish territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frederiksen on Wednesday said Denmark and Greenland would resist the pressure but the situation remained difficult and could go on for a long time. "President Trump's interest in Greenland is not going away," she wrote in a post on social media Facebook while also thanking allies for support. The White House on Tuesday announced that the delegation would instead be headed by JD Vance himself, but that it would only visit the U.S. Space Base at Pituffik in northern Greenland and not the dog-sled race, a big annual sporting event. "This is clearly a de-escalation," Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "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. Polls have shown that nearly all Greenlanders oppose becoming part of the United States, and anti-American protesters, some wearing 'Make America Go Away' caps and holding 'Yankees go home' banners, have recently staged some of the largest demonstrations ever seen in Greenland. Similar protests had been planned in connection with the Vances' visit. "I think they have misread the mood in Greenland," Aaja Chemnitz, a Greenlandic member of the Danish parliament, told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If they wanted to have diplomatic ties, I think this is the completely wrong way to do it," she said, calling the visit "chaotic" and "disrespectful." 'CREEPING INFILTRATION' Ole Waever, professor at the University of Copenhagen, said there had been widespread concerns about "a soft power operation and creeping American infiltration" that many Greenlanders had found threatening. "The credit for the positive turn must be given to Greenland ... Caps off to them for that," he said, referring to the planned protests. Marc Jacobsen, associate professor at the Royal Danish Defence College, also said the changes were a relief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think Copenhagen is relieved that they are not visiting the sled dog race or other places in Greenland," he said. The organisers of the dog-sled race said in a statement on Wednesday that they had received grants from the American consulate in Nuuk. Since Donald Trump Jr.'s private visit to the mineral-rich island in January, Trump has consistently talked of annexing Greenland and urged its residents to join the United States. Two U.S. Hercules military transport planes that arrived in Nuuk late on Sunday with bulletproof vehicles on board have left Nuuk airport, FlightRadar data showed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greenland's acting head of government, Mute Egede, had labelled the visit a "provocation," as it coincides with government coalition talks following a recent parliamentary election as well as municipal elections due next week. Brian Hughes, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, said on Tuesday the delegation aimed to "learn about Greenland, its culture, history, and people." Frederiksen has disputed the notion of a private visit with official representatives and has repeatedly said that Greenland should determine its own future. Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede has also stressed that the island is not for sale and that it is up to its people to decide their future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greenland is strategically important for the U.S. military and its ballistic missile early-warning system, since the shortest route from Europe to North America runs via the island. A 1951 agreement between the United States and Denmark established a U.S. right to move around freely and construct military bases in Greenland as long as Denmark and Greenland are notified. (Reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen, Stine Jacobsen and Essi Lehto, editing by Terje Solsvik, Sharon Singleton and Alistair Bell) U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on Wednesday toured an El Salvador prison where hundreds of deportees were sent by the Trump administration to the Central American nation. Photo courtesy Kristi Noem/X March 26 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem toured an El Salvador prison where hundreds of deportees were sent by the Trump administration to the Central American nation. Noem went to the Terrorist Confinement Center, or CECOT, with Salvadoran Minister of Justice Gustavo Villatoro and then met with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. She is scheduled to visit Colombia on Thursday and Mexico on Friday. Noem came face to face with alleged members of Tren de Aragua, all of whom were shirtless, had shaved heads and wore white prison pants, according to Fox News, which had a reporter on the tour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "First of all, do not come to our country illegally: You will be removed, and you will be prosecuted," she said while standing with her back to the inmates. "But know that this facility is one of the tools in our toolkit that we will use if you commit crimes against the American people." Noem shared video on X, saying, "President Trump and I have a clear message to criminal illegal aliens: LEAVE NOW. If you do not leave, we will hunt you down, arrest you and you could end up in this El Salvadorian prison." The Trump Administration had alleged 238 men sent to the Terrorist Confinement Center were members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Photo by Presidential Press Office/UPI Bukele opened the prison in 2023. In a March 16 post on Truth Social, one day after two flights of deportees were sent to the Central American country, President Donald Trump thanked Bukele "for your understanding of this horrible situation, which was allowed to happen to the United States because of incompetent Democrat leadership." The Venezuelans were deported to El Salvador on March 15 under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. Photo courtesy El Salvador Presidential Press Office/UPI Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the prison in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration had alleged 238 men sent there were members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and had them deported to El Salvador on March 15 under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. They were then sent to CECOT for imprisonment. A federal appeals court panel on Wednesday ruled 2-1 in favor of a lower court's restraining order against the Trump administration deporting alleged gang members under the 1798 Enemy Aliens Act. Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia James Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order that same day, which both blocked the deportation for 14 days and denied the government's ability to invoke the Alien Enemies Act in order to deport any immigrants. The order also directed the government to comply immediately, which meant any planes that may have already left were to turn around and return. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nonetheless, the Trump administration completed the flights that carried the migrants to El Salvador. Bukele then said that they "were immediately transferred to CECOT, the Terrorism Confinement Center, for a period of one year," which he added could be extended. Once it was publicized by the media that flights had been ordered to turn around but did not, Bukele posted to X "Oopsie," and "Too late," with a laughing emoji. Bukele has been dealing with the street gangs, and three years ago put the nation of 6.4 million people under a state of emergency that suspends fundamental rights. MEXICO CITY, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday that she will discuss with visiting U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem bilateral cooperation on security issues on Friday. "It's a meeting on coordination," the president said during her regular morning press conference, adding that the secretary will be received around 1:00 p.m. (1900 GMT). Several Mexican ministers are also expected to attend the meeting, including Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez, Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch and Foreign Affairs Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente. "It's not that we're going to give her a report, but it is important for her to know the results of the security cabinet," Sheinbaum said. Friday's talks will follow up on agreements reached during an earlier meeting in Washington, D.C., between Mexican offcials -- the ministers of the navy, defense, foreign affairs, and the Attorney General -- and their U.S. counterparts. Sheinbaum said the upcoming meeting is not related to tariffs and the April 2 deadline imposed by her U.S. counterpart Donald Trump. Mexico's government is in negotiations with the United States in an attempt to eliminate or reduce a proposed 25 percent tariff on Mexican products that takes effect in April. "We are working with many business sectors ... to obtain this information, and based on what they will present on April 2, we will also announce the measures, if necessary, on April 3," Sheinbaum said. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Wednesday visited the prison in El Salvador holding migrants at the center of the deportation battle playing out in U.S. courts. Noem toured the Terrorist Confinement Center with the Salvadorian minister of justice, according to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security official, and later was set to meet with President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador. Donning a blue U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement baseball cap, Noem walked the halls of the prison with men with guns and a cadre of U.S. Secret Service agents. She saw prisoners in cells with masks on lined up with their shirts off and crunched together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This week, I'm headed down to El Salvador," Noem said ahead of the visit during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Monday. "I'll be in the prison where we sent [Tren De Aragua] gang members. I'll be meeting with the president and also Colombia and Mexico and talking about building these relationships so we can continue to get people out of this country that don't belong here and take them home." She said the president talked to her about "sending the message worldwide" that people shouldn't illegally be entering the United States. PHOTO: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks as prisoners stand looking out from a cell, during a tour of the Terrorist Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, March 26, 2025. (Alex Brandon, Pool via Reuters) MORE: How one photojournalist documented US deportees' arrival in El Salvador The DHS has rolled out a $200 million advertising campaign to tell people who are thinking about coming to the U.S. illegally not to come and to urge those who are in the U.S. without legal status to leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They shouldn't be coming here illegally," Noem said. "So we are in several other countries around the world with a message right now that's saying if you are thinking about coming to America illegally, don't do it -- you are not welcome. We have a legal process to become a United States citizen, and there are consequences if you come here illegally." The administration allegedly sent members of the Venezuelan Tren De Aragua gang to the infamous prison -- even though a federal judge ordered officials not to do so. "America has changed because we are putting Americans first," Noem concluded during the meeting on Monday. 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. (El Salvador Presidential Press Office via AP) MORE: 'Incredibly troublesome': Judge grills DOJ over alleged gang member deportations Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Noem will also meet with leaders from Colombia and with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum later in the week. "President Trump and Secretary Noem have a clear message for criminal aliens considering entering America illegally: don't even think about it. If you come to our country and break our laws, we will hunt you down, and lock you up," Assistant Homeland Security Secretary of Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. "This trip underscores the importance of our partner countries to help remove violent criminal illegal aliens from the United States." DHS secretary visits infamous migrant prison on trip that includes stops in El Salvador originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Richard Dick Carlson, an award-winning journalist, political lobbyist and diplomat whose colorful and often personally tragic life took him from a Boston orphanage to the highest levels of media, business and American political power, has died. He was 84. His son, former Fox News host and conservative podcaster Tucker Carlson, confirmed his death Wednesday on X, saying he died at his home in Boca Grande, Florida, after six weeks of illness. He refused all painkillers to the end and left this world with dignity and clarity, holding the hands of his children with his dogs at his feet, Carlson wrote in his obituary, including details of his fathers difficult childhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Richard Carlson was born in 1941 to a 15-year-old girl who spoke only Swedish and tried to hide the pregnancy. He developed rickets because of malnutrition and was left at a Boston orphanage, and after years in foster homes, was placed with the Carlson family in Massachusetts. His adoptive father died when he was 12, and after a troubled teenhood, he served in the Marines and drove to California in search of adventure, where he found his calling in journalism. Obituary for my father. Richard Warner Carlson died at 84 on March 24, 2025 at home in Boca Grande, Florida after six weeks of illness. He refused all painkillers to the end and left this world with dignity and clarity, holding the hands of his children with his dogs at his pic.twitter.com/4lMygMkSIT Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) March 26, 2025 Over the next decade, he was a copy boy at the LA Times, a wire service reporter for UPI and an investigative reporter and anchor for ABC News, covering the upheaval of the period, Tucker Carlson wrote. He knew virtually every compelling figure of the time, including Jim Jones, Patty Hearst, Eric Hoffer, Jerry Garcia, as well as Mafia leaders and members of the Manson Family. In 1965, he was badly injured reporting from the Watts riots in Los Angeles. In 1975, Richard Carlson was married with two small boys when his wife departed for Europe and didnt return, wrote Tucker Carlson, who has said that she wanted to pursue a bohemian lifestyle. His father threw himself into raising his boys, whom he often brought with him on reporting trips and educated them at the dinner table on topics that ranged from the French Revolution to Bolshevik Russia, PG Wodehouse, the history of the American Indian and, always, the eternal and unchanging nature of people. As a reporter and anchor at KABC-TV in Los Angeles, Carlson won several awards, including a Peabody in 1971 for a story about car promotion fraud. He later became the longest-serving director of Voice of America, the federal governments nonmilitary broadcasting arm, under the Reagan Administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He left in 1991, when President George H.W. Bush nominated him as U.S. ambassador to the Seychelles, and served less than a year before becoming CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the private but publicly-funded facilitator of content for public airwaves, where he remained five years. In 1997, Carlson became president and CEO of King World Public Television, a subsidiary of Oprah syndicator King World Productions, in 1997, until it was sold to CBS in 1999. All the while, Carlson had a foot in politics, with close ties to the White House, and was involved in negotiations on behalf of the U.S. government with many foreign countries, including China, Korea, the USSR, Germany and Israel. He lost a San Diego mayoral race and has testified dozens of times before various U.S. Congressional committees on a broad range of topics. The last 25 years of his life were spent in work whose details were never completely clear to his family, but that was clearly interesting, Tucker Carlson wrote. He worked in dozens of countries and breakaway republics around the world, and was involved in countless intrigues. He knew a number of colorful national leaders, including Rafic Hariri of Lebanon, Aslan Abashidze of Adjara, Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire, and whomever runs Somaliland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He married Patricia Swanson, heir to the Swanson Foods fortune, in 1979. They were together for 44 years, all of them happy, Tucker Carlson wrote. She died sixteen months before he did and he mourned her every day. Richard Carlson is survived by his sons, Tucker and Buckley, his daughter-in-law Susie, and five grandchildren. He was the toughest human being anyone in his family ever knew, and also the kindest and most loyal, Tucker Carlson concluded. RIP. The post Dick Carlson, Award-Winning Journalist, Political Whisperer and Father of Tucker Carlson, Dies at 84 appeared first on TheWrap. Sean Diddy Combs may be counting down the days until his federal sex crime trial in May, but it appears hes scored a rare legal win in a different area before he has his day in court. But he still cant celebrate just yet and well tell you why. On Monday, a New York judge decided to dismiss partial claims lobbed against the disgraced hip-hop mogul by Rodney Lil Rod Jones back in February 2024. The bombshell sexual assault lawsuit was one of the first that came out against Diddy that triggered his eventual downfall. In the suit, Jones made a myriad of horrendous accusations against the Bad Boy producer including, but not limited to: sexual harassment, drugging, violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diddy, his company Combs Global; his son Justin Combs; his chief of staff Kristina Khorram; Universal Music Group CEO Sir Lucian Grainge; and former Motown Records CEO Ethiopia Habtemariam were all named as defendants in the suit. Now however, per PEOPLE, it was revealed that the judge decided to dismiss Jones claims of RICO violations against Diddy and the rest of the defendantssignaling a rare, major win for the heaviest charge of them all. The TVPA violations were also dropped against Combs Global, but Diddy and Khorram still face those charges. The judge also dismissed Jones claims of emotional distress and breach of contract. But Diddy will still face charges of sexual assault and the premises liability claim which argues that Jones was sexually assaulted multiple times on Diddys property. Additionally, the judge also issued a warning against Jones lawyer Tyrone Blackburn and his unsettling conduct. Blackburns filings are replete with inaccurate statements of law, conclusory accusations, and inappropriate ad hominem attacks on opposing counsel, the judge wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Blackburn remains unfazed. We view this as a win, Blackburn said in a statement to USA Today on Tuesday. Defendants wanted a total dismissal and they failed to get it. [Combs and Khorram] do not want me to do discovery...I know where all of the bodies are buried and I have a HUGE shovel. Time to start digging! For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A bombshell report revealing that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other Trump administration Cabinet officials discussed battle plans against Yemen's Houthi rebels via the encrypted Signal app -- and added a journalist to that thread by accident -- has raised eyebrows across Washington. But the unprecedented violation of operational security protocols has also got the attention of the troops Hegseth oversees as the civilian leader of the Pentagon. "How are soldiers supposed to interpret this?" an Army brigade commander asked Military.com on the condition of anonymity to avoid retaliation. "It's a cartoonish lapse in security. We still need to take this stuff seriously, but for a while, any security briefing will be peppered with jokes about the secretary of defense." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read Next: NATO Chief Says 4 US Soldiers Who Went Missing in Lithuania Died Despite what amounts to among the most startling security snafus in recent memory -- one that would almost certainly trigger severe disciplinary action for lower-level personnel -- Hegseth and others at the top may yet walk away unscathed, despite growing and increasingly heated calls from Democrats for the defense secretary's resignation. Military.com spoke with nearly a dozen service members ranging from junior to senior ranks, many of whom deal with information security. All noted that, if they breached protocols to the degree Hegseth and other administration officials did, they'd likely have their clearances revoked, lose their jobs or end up with jail time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Pete Hegseth is a f---ing liar," Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., an Army veteran and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement Wednesday. "This is so clearly classified info he recklessly leaked that could've gotten our pilots killed. He needs to resign in disgrace immediately." The flouting of basic security during the talk of Yemen strikes has caught the ire of even some Republican senators who have generally kept their grievances against the Trump administration low key, while top administration officials -- including Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard -- have tap-danced around tough questions from lawmakers and the press. Hegseth, however, outright lied in a response to questions on Tuesday and Wednesday, denying that the messages contained airstrike plans and calling the incident a "hoax." The Atlantic, which published the original story by Jeffrey Goldberg detailing the Signal conversation, on Wednesday released the entire Signal chat between Hegseth, Gabbard, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and others. It revealed Hegseth had outlined a series of airstrikes in Yemen that would typically be classified at the highest levels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His handling of the information goes against core military training. Protecting sensitive information, particularly as it relates to combat, is considered sacrosanct across all ranks, from a newly minted private to the most seasoned general. Hegseth, despite having a relatively average National Guard military career concluding with the midlevel major rank, would have had those principles drilled into him. Service members also have annual training on cyber hygiene and information security, reinforcing to them to be careful with whom information is shared and to keep sensitive information off of commercial apps and personal devices. In many situations, the services are overly protective of information and abuse protection rules for documents to shield the Pentagon from scrutiny. Even benign information can be under some level of classification. After Military.com reported a botched recruiting effort featuring The Rock, the service's marketing arm started putting much of its documentation under Controlled Unclassified Information -- or CUI -- to shield it from public view. The contrast between Hegseth's nonchalance and the military's traditionally hard-line approach to security breaches is also glaring. Others who have leaked highly sensitive information have faced steep consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Massachusetts Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira was sentenced to 15 years in prison for leaking classified intelligence on Discord, an online platform popular with gamers. If a junior service member had engaged in a leak of strike plans for Yemen, legal experts say, a court-martial would likely be the immediate response. "It's disheartening not to see others held accountable, but I don't think it changes the rules for us at all," a service member who works in cybersecurity told Military.com. "Whenever there's a failure to secure classified information, the punishments seem to be commensurate with the rank, inverse of how they should be." Eric Carpenter, a law professor at Florida International University and a former Army attorney, said that such a breach would almost certainly result in a court-martial if it involved a service member. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The old phrase is 'different spanks for different ranks,'" he said bluntly, acknowledging that high-ranking officials like Hegseth are being insulated from the consequences that would swiftly befall the rank and file. "With privilege comes the ability to get out of consequences," he added. Another result of this scandal could also be greater challenges for commanders in reprimanding their own troops for failures in maintaining operational security and safeguarding classified information. Just a week before the Atlantic story broke, the Pentagon's top spokesman, Sean Parnell, told reporters that Hegseth believes in accountability all the way up the chain of command -- at least when talking about the disastrous and deadly withdrawal from Afghanistan conducted under the Biden administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If you have a private that loses a sensitive item, that loses night vision goggles, that loses a weapon, you can bet that that private is going to be held accountable," Parnell said, adding that "the same and equal standards must apply to senior military leaders." However, as Hegseth digs in and assures reporters that "I know what I am doing" in response to questions about his behavior in the chat, he may be sending a different message to the force. The only people who could realistically hold Hegseth accountable are members of Congress -- largely requiring the support of his own party -- and President Donald Trump. Republicans are not going as far as calling on Hegseth to resign or be fired yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, in a sign of the seriousness of the breach, some are going further in demanding accountability than they have so far in the second Trump administration. In particular, the powerful chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee is pinning blame on Hegseth and teaming up with Democrats on the committee to demand answers. In a conversation with reporters Wednesday, committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said he and the committee's top Democrat, Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, will be requesting an inspector general investigation of the episode. They will also be requesting the administration send a senior official to brief the committee -- in a classified setting -- so they can get the "ground truth" and confirm that the screenshots published by The Atlantic were accurate, Wicker said. "The information, as published recently, appears to me to be of such a sensitive nature that, based on my knowledge, I would have wanted it classified," Wicker said. "I make a lot of mistakes in my life, and I've found that it's best when I just own up to them and say, 'I'm human. I made a mistake,'" Wicker added when asked by Military.com what consequences Hegseth should face. Related: The Atlantic Releases the Entire Signal Chat Showing Hegseth's Detailed Attack Plans Against Houthis Akamai Arrival, the pilot program for a digitized agriculture disclosure form, left out the optional tourism questions from the back of the form, creating a blip in the states continuous tourism arrivals set that goes back to before the jet age. Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke said the decision was made to initially leave off the questions to start with a simplified form. Eliminating the tourism questions for the pilot program, which runs from March 1 to May 31, caused the state Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism to remove its daily passenger counts, a real-time measuring tool that has been available since Sept. 11, 2001. The data gap from the pilot also has left economists and tourism research professionals stumped on how to get enough nuanced information to calculate year-over-year comparisons for the monthly visitor arrivals and spending reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jennifer Chun, DBEDT director of tourism research, estimates that the pilot eliminates tourism questions from all arriving Southwest flights, all American flights, five Alaska flights, one Delta flight, two Hawaiian flights and two United flightsroughly 31 % of scheduled flights and 28.4 % of scheduled air seats. Paul Brewbaker, principal of TZ Economics, said an interruption to tourism data could have serious repercussions as economists use it to make economic forecasts. Brewbaker added that the Council of Revenues relies on tourism data to figure out how much money is available for the budget. The information also is used in bond ratings, which set the interests rates for government borrowing, he said. Brewbaker said interrupting Hawaiis tourism data set is problematic when tourism accounts for about one-third of the neighbor island economy and 15 % to 20 % of the statewide economy. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Im going to go write some papers now that say, Heres what the tourism data tell us, and from here on out well never knowso this is economic history now. The initiative was authorized under Act 196, and has been touted by state leaders, including Gov. Josh Green, Luke and Sen. Glenn Wakai (D, Kalihi-Salt Lake-Pearl Harbor ) as a significant step toward modernizing Hawaiis biosecurity efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Luke worked with legislators, the state Department of Agriculture, airline partners and stakeholders to develop the digital agriculture form pilot program. The consensus of all the airlines is that they wanted to start with a simplified form just under the agricultural declaration, and then we have the option to add more stuff as they get better in communication and customer questions, Luke said. This is kind of the first step, and then we are already having discussions about how do we reintegrate the visitor information. Wakai, who chairs the Senate Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, said he started advocating for a digital agricultural form five years ago, and initially was met with resistance, until 2024 when lawmakers passed a law encouraging the migration from paper to an app. He said ending the in-flight paper agricultural form would save at least $800, 000 annually, but more important, digitization increases completion rates and strengthens protections against invasive species. Passengers typically would complete the digitized form in advance of boarding their flight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Compliance for the digitized agricultural form was north of 70 %, and with the paper agricultural form it was 60 %, Wakai said. Now we are in discussions about how to add the tourism data. We may need to figure out incentives because participation in the tourism questions is voluntary. DBEDT Director James Kunane Tokioka said agency received complaints after the pilot began March 1 and the agency removed daily passenger counts from its website. Tokioka said that he met with Luke and the Department of Agriculture on Friday to try to determine a workaround. I was very encouraged by the meeting, he said. By the middle of next week, we are hoping that we can figure out how to get the passenger count. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Chun noted that the drop in collected tourism data goes beyond passenger counts and also affects visitor statistics methodology for the Visitor Satisfaction and Activity report. She said the pilot also could affect de facto population calculations. Chris Kam, president and chief operating officer of Omnitrak, the current vendor for the in-flight form, said the in-flight tourism portion of the form goes back to 1950, and the continuous data set has given Hawaii a strategic advantage by providing a snapshot of where visitors are going in Hawaii and their length of stay, which is a key to determining how much they spend per day. Im not defending one format over another. I think going digital is unavoidable and this is the right direction, but we need to make sure we do it prudently from a research perspective, Kam said. We need a bridge during the pilot, and we need it sooner rather than later. Rep. Adrian Tam (D, Waikiki ), who chairs the House Committee on Tourism, and Sen. Lynn DeCoite (D, Lanai-Molokai-Hana ), who chairs the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism, said they want to see tourism data restored quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are in the middle of a legislative session and deciding on our budget, Tam said. We look at everything that the Council of Revenues and UHERO (University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization ) puts out. The Hawaii Tourism Authority is part of the government, and they are in the middle of fighting for their budget requests, too. DeCoite said tourism data needs to go beyond the passenger counts so that lawmakers can determine which tourism markets to invest in and where destination stewardship mitigation is needed. I want to know who is resident and who is visitor. I want to know what the visitor is actually doingif they are coming under business or convention ; are they actually going out and using the parks ; are they part of a footprint that is impacting infrastructure here, she said. That will help us isolate out if the extra added impact fee that we are talking about would be sufficient or do we continue to do a reservation system. Luke said it has not been determined when the tourism questions will be reintegrated into the digital agricultural form, and that more change is inevitable. She said conversations are needed now to determine how to capture the tourism data if the state moves from a digital agricultural declaration form to an advance notice. Luke said the optional tourism questions currently have about about a 40 % compliance rate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said the Legislature has provided the Hawai i Tourism Authority with $3 million to begin planning for a smart tourism app, which could incorporate visitor data into a whole tourism experience. People cannot wait until some things are done, and then they panic and react, Luke said. AUSTIN (KXAN) House Bill 274, otherwise known as the District of Austin bill, was voted down 11-0 by the House Committee on State Affairs. PAST COVERAGE | Throwing stones: Lawmaker behind District of Austin bill challenged in hearing The bill, which was introduced March 19, would have stripped the city of Austin of its governing authority and turned it into the District of Austin. A similar bill was filed in 2022, but it was also voted down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Houston, who authored the bill, previously said HB 274 would help ensure Austin remained accountable to Texas by establishing a District of Austin as the official city of the states government. Cain cited the citys surging crime as a reason for the bill; however, he did not cite a specific report for his claim about Austins crime rates. Previously, the city of Austin released a memo, opposing the bill and calling it vague and lacking clarity on how the District of Austin would be governed. In a previous hearing, state lawmakers expressed similar concerns. Austins Violent Crime Rate for 2024 is 59.6% lower than Houston, 43.8% lower than Lubbock, and 21.4% lower than San Antonio according to the Texas Department of Public Safety Uniform Crime Reporting System Crime in Texas Report Top 25 Violent Crime Comparison report, the memo said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. A Maui anesthesiologist has been arrested in Oahu, Hawaii after allegedly attempting to murder his wife by pushing her off a popular hiking trail then attacking her with his closed fists and attempting to smash her head in with a rock. Dr. Gerhardt Konig, 46, was arrested on Monday by Honolulu police at approximately 6:45 p.m. local time, several hours after the alleged attack occurred. Konig was apprehended near Pali Highway, not far from Pali Lookout, where the incident is said to have occurred. Related: Authorities Announce Update in Case of Tourists Found Dead in Belize Gerhardts wife, Arielle Konig, was rushed to a local emergency room in serious condition around 3:30 p.m. on Monday. She suffered from multiple injuries to her face and head. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the New York Post, sources in law enforcement claimed the impetus for the attack was that Arielle, a 36-year-old nuclear engineer, refused to pose for a photo with her husband. Hawaii News Now reported that Gerhardt also attempted to inject his wife with two syringes, though its unknown what drugsif anywere contained within the needles. Dr. Gerhardt works as an independent contractor for Maui Health, who has since suspended his employment within their organization. Maui Health is committed to patient safety and upholding the highest standards of care, they said in a statement. We have been made aware of the allegations against Gerhardt Konig, MD. Dr. Konig is employed by an independent entity contracted to provide medical services at various medical facilities on Maui, including Maui Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Konigs medical staff privileges at Maui Memorial Medical Center have been suspended pending investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maui Health takes these concerns and the safety of its patients very seriously and will cooperate with authorities as appropriate, the statement continued. Prior to beginning his work in Hawaii in 2023, Dr. Konig spent nearly 10 years working for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, first as a resident from 2013 through 2016 then as a staff anesthesiologist until 2023. From 2017 until 2023, he also served as an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The couple married in 2018. DES MOINES, Iowa Police are releasing more information about an officer-involved shooting that happened last week in Des Moines. Sgt. Paul Parizek, spokesperson for the Des Moines Police Department, said the officer who shot an assault suspect while trying to detain him is Senior Police Officer Chad Ruroden. SPO Ruroden has been with DMPD since 2001. The shooting happened on March 20th as officers were investigating a report of an assault in the Watrous South neighborhood. Officers responded around 4:34 p.m. and witnessed 19-year-old Jose Daniel Rodriguez-Sanchez allegedly assault a woman, later determined to be his mother, near SW 9th Street and Rittenhouse Street. Rodriguez-Sanchez fled after an officer tried to intervene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after, SPO Ruroden found Rodriguez-Sanchez at the intersection of SW 11th Street and Wade Street. Sgt. Parizek said SPO Ruroden had his handgun drawn and ordered Rodriguez-Sanchez to surrender, but he charged the officer and began violently assaulting him. Madison County Supervisors argue with each other, citizens, during contentious meeting During the assault, SPO Ruroden fired his handgun, and Rodriguez-Sanchez was hit in the upper torso. The officer retreated, but Sgt. Parizek said Rodriguez-Sanchez continued to attack. SPO Ruroden fell to the ground and was assaulted until other officers arrived on the scene. Pepper spray and a taser were used on Rodriguez-Sanchez in order to take him into custody. Sgt. Parizek said there was evidence that Rodriguez-Sanchez tried to disarm SPO Ruroden of his gun during the assault. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emergency care was provided on scene for Rodriguez-Sanchez by police until medics with the Des Moines Fire Department arrived. He was taken to a Des Moines hospital for treatment, where he remains. Sgt. Parizek said he is expected to recover. SPO Ruroden was hurt in the incident, suffering injuries to his head and jaw. He was treated at the hospital and released. Rodriguez-Sanchez has been charged with assault on a peace officer with intent to inflict serious injury, disarming a peace officer, domestic abuse assault, and interference with official acts. SPO Ruroden is on administrative assignment, which is department policy for employees who have been involved in an on-duty significant critical or traumatic incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is continuing to investigate the officer-involved shooting. Metro news Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. OAHU, Hawaii (WJW) A man accused of hitting his wife in the head with a rock and trying to push her off a hiking trail in Hawaii has been arrested, according to investigators. Tuesday morning, the Honolulu Police Department confirmed they were searching for 46-year-old Gerhardt Konig in connection to the attempted murder of his wife while the couple was visiting the island of Oahu. Courtesy of Honolulu Police Department Investigators said the couple was hiking in the Pali lookout area when Konig allegedly tried to push her off the hiking trail and struck her in the head with a rock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Driver identified but not in custody in hit-skip that injured mother, son in Parma As reported by People and other media outlets, Konig, an anesthesiologist and former Pittsburgh resident, reportedly attacked his wife after she refused to take a picture with him. The victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Uncovering gaps in Ohios animal cruelty laws Konig was arrested by Honolulu officers near the Pali Highway after a short foot chase, the police department said in an evening update. Court records show he was arrested around 6:10 p.m. Charges in the case are pending at this time. According to Hawaiis Division of State Parks, the Pali lookout area reaches an elevation 1,200 feet and high winds that are typically so strong that one can lean against the wall of wind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. WASHINGTON, March 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz has assumed "full responsibility" for a leaked group chat discussing an upcoming strike in Yemen. "I take full responsibility. I built the group," Waltz said in an interview with Fox News Channel on Tuesday. "It's embarrassing. We're going to get to the bottom of it," he said on the channel's "The Ingraham Angle." Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, wrote on Monday that he was invited on March 11 to join a group chat named "Houthi PC Small Group" on Signal, a popular encrypted messaging app used by journalists and government officials. Upon joining, he discovered that several high-ranking officials, including Waltz, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, were discussing plans for a forthcoming strike on the Houthis in Yemen. "According to the lengthy Hegseth text, the first detonations in Yemen would be felt two hours hence, at 1:45 p.m. eastern time," Goldberg recalled in his article. "So I 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." The incident is widely considered a major national security breach, prompting Democratic lawmakers to demand answers from the White House in multiple letters. U.S. President Donald Trump defended Waltz in front of reporters at the White House on Monday. "I don't think he should apologize," he said. "I think he's doing his best. It's equipment and technology that's not perfect." According to Fox News, Trump has no plan to fire Waltz over the incident. During an interview with NBC News on Tuesday, Trump said that a staffer from Waltz's office inadvertently included Goldberg in the group chat. He also claimed that this had "no impact at all" on the airstrikes in Yemen. (Getty Images) The Indiana Department of Correction (DOC) offered a new but tiny glimpse into Indianas efforts to resume executions, revealing the state paid $900,000 to acquire the drug used to carry out the death penalty for convicted killer Joseph Corcoran. But the new document does not make clear when or how much pentobarbital was purchased, which would provide context for the cost. The Indiana Capital Chronicle sued the corrections department Jan. 21 amid a months-long battle to seek taxpayer dollars spent on the execution drug. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before that, an existing state law was broadly applied by DOC and former Gov. Eric Holcombs office to shield details about how the state obtained the drug. The law specifically bars release of the name, address or tax identifier. But cost is not included. Story continues below. IDOC Contract redacted APRA (1) Last month, Gov. Mike Brauns team indicated a willingness to reverse the previous administrations reluctance to disclose, saying the governor had directed his legal team to evaluate how to provide the greatest level of transparency under current law in hopes of resolving the current lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During negotiations, the Indiana Attorney Generals Office representing DOC provided the Capital Chronicle with an almost entirely redacted single-page document. Exempted from the black redaction box on the sheet was a sliver of text: IDOC shall pay the Contractor the sum of nine hundred thousand dollars ($900,000). The page appears to originate from the states contract with the unknown drug vendor. The Capital Chronicle is still seeking additional details about the execution drug and dosage amounts. The latest court response filed Wednesday by state attorneys denies any wrongdoing in shielding information requested by the Capital Chronicle. Details still sparse A 2015 fiscal report prepared by Indiana General Assembly found that the average cost of a death penalty trial in the Hoosier State was $385,458 nearly 10 times more than the cost of trial and appeal for cases in which the prosecution seeks a maximum sentence of life without parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elsewhere, reporting from the Idaho Statesman indicated the states corrections department paid $50,000 for 15 grams of pentobarbital in 2023. CBS2 in Idaho further reported that the state paid $100,000 for another three doses of the drug. Other reporting similarly suggests that five grams of pentobarbital is generally needed for a single execution. Single-gram vials of pentobarbital appeared to cost Arizona $1,500 each; the state reportedly paid a total of $1.5 million for 1,500 vials in 2020. Arizonas execution protocol calls for five grams of the drug. Utah officials said they paid roughly $200,000 for two doses of pentobarbital in 2024. Both of those doses were used in an execution in August, according to the Utah News Dispatch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And while Tennessee much like Indiana has mostly withheld details about death penalty drugs, The Tennessean reported last week that the Volunteer State likely spent $525,000, at some point since 2017, for an undisclosed amount of pentobarbital. Corcoran was executed Dec. 18 at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City. He and his legal team allowed a reporter from the Indiana Capital Chronicle to witness the execution at the state prison. No other media were permitted to be present, per state law. The execution was the first in which Indiana used the one-drug method. Previously, the state used a lethal combination of three substances to induce death. Holcomb and Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita announced in June 2024 that DOC had acquired pentobarbital, specifically, to carry out executions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But prison officials gave few details on the night of Corcorans execution; they did not officially confirm that pentobarbital was used. It was also unclear when exactly the execution drug was administered into Corcorans left arm, via an IV line that protruded from the execution chambers wall. In court proceedings, legal counsel for Corcoran and other Indiana death row inmates have repeatedly called on the state to make new execution drug protocols available to the public, including the amount of pentobarbital in Indianas possession, the drugs expiration date and details about its potency and sterility. Experts and advocates note, for example, pentobarbital can expire and should not be used if the drug isnt stored at a proper temperature. Many of the documented botched executions in recent years have occurred because the drugs being used had expired, were contaminated, or they were administered incorrectly, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indiana officials have refused to say how much additional pentobarbital the state has in storage or when its set to expire. Other efforts and executions still in limbo A Republican lawmaker attempted earlier in the legislative session to advance bill language to further regulate Indianas use of execution drugs, but his efforts have so far proven to be unsuccessful. Rep. Bob Morris, R-Fort Wayne, originally filed House Bill 1030, which sought to abolish the death penalty altogether in Indiana. He later discussed plans to scale back the bill and instead focus on execution drug rules and witness guidelines hoping that a narrowed proposal could give it a better chance at advancing through the legislative process. Rep. Bob Morris, R-Fort Wayne, and eight other lawmakers attend a rally on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, at the Indiana Statehouse in support of Morris proposal to alter or abolish the death penalty in Indiana. (Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Morris bill never received a committee hearing in the House, though, effectively killing the measure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Separately, an amendment Morris offered on a separate bill sought to require that Indiana State Police test pentobarbital between 12 and 24 hours before an execution to ensure the substance is 100% effective before its administered. But that proposal never moved, either. Death sentences for Indianas seven other death row inmates are still pending. One of those men, Benjamin Ritchie, could be on deck. Rokita filed a motion with the states high court last fall requesting an execution date be set for the death row inmate, who was convicted in 2002 for killing a law enforcement officer from Beech Grove. Ritchie has exhausted his appeals. Indianas high court justices have yet to grant the states request or set an execution date. Two other men on death row have also exhausted their appeals, leaving four others with some recourse. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Despite being two of the most famous people in the world, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex still manage to confuse vast swaths of their fanbase. Sussex isn't exactly their surname, but, as Markle put it, it is a family namekind of. You have kids and you go, No, I share my name with my children.,'" Markle recently told Mindy Kaling on an episode of With Love, Meghan. "And that feels soI didnt know how meaningful it would be, but it just means so much to go, This is our family name, our little family name.'" Being a Duchess, however, is about more than feeling connected to one's children. When Markle married into the British royal family on May 19, 2018, her new title brought it with a whole host of duties and responsibilities. Ahead, what it actually means to be a Duchess, and whether or not Markle and Harry kept the moniker after stepping down as senior royals in January 2020. Ben Stansall/Getty Images Queen Elizabeth bestowed the title on Meghan Markle. After tying the knot at St. George's Chapel on May 18, 2018, Meghan Markle became Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Dumbarton, and Baroness Kilkeel. Likewise, Queen Elizabeth bestowed three titles on Prince Harry: Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton, and Baron Kilkeel. The titles are therefore not inherited but given by the British monarch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In much the same way, Prince William and Kate Middleton became the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge when they married back in 2011. Of course, they have since also become the Prince and Princess of Wales, following King Charles's ascension to the throne in 2023. A Duchess ranks directly below the monarch. The titles of Duke and Duchess are the best one can do when marrying into the royal family, with one key exception: if you married, say, the heir to the throne, you would then become a Princess (exhibit A: Kate Middleton). Otherwise, the titles of Prince and Princess are exclusively inherited. Thus, Prince Harry will be a Prince forever, whereas Markle will likely never become a Princess. The proper way to address a Duchess (or a Duke) is "your grace." Meghan Markle is the first Duchess of Sussex. It turns out the previous Duke of Sussex (who was around 175 years ago) had two marriages deemed "illegal" by King George III, and thus, there was no Duchess of Sussex. When Prince Harry was granted the title in 2018, Markle then became the first person to ever hold the title Duchess of Sussex. The title was essentially extinct until Harry and Markle married. It is not a surname, however; it is a noble title. Simon Dawson/Getty Images There is no official rulebook for how to be a Duchess. In simplest terms, a Duchess is the wife of a Duke. Markle had several responsibilities tied to her senior position in the royal family, including serving as the royal patron for several organizations: the National Theatre, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, Smart Works, and Mayhew. These patronages were removed when the couple stepped down in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Following conversations with The Duke, The Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of The Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service," an official statement from the Palace read at the time. "The honorary military appointments and Royal patronages held by The Duke and Duchess will therefore be returned to Her Majesty, before being redistributed among working members of The Royal Family." Markle kept her title when she left the royal family. Though she is no longer Her Royal Highness, Markle retained the title of Duchess when she stepped down as a senior royal. Because the title was granted to her by Queen Elizabeth, removing it would actually require an Act of Parliament. That, or King Charles could order them to relinquish the titles. Both options are highly unlikely, however. In all likelihood, Harry and Meghan will remain the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for the rest of their lives. Archie and Lilibet, meanwhile, inherited the titles of Prince and Princess from their father, given that he is a son of the King. Read the original article on InStyle Donald Trump Jrs attempt to smear The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was swiftly shot down in the fallout of the Signalgate national security scandal. Embattled Republicans scrambled to downplay the severity of the breach after Goldbergs explosive report detailed how White House National Security adviser Mike Waltz mistakenly invited him to an encrypted chat where top officials discussed an impending U.S. strike in Yemen. Hours before President Trump attempted to shift the blame to an unidentified lower level White House employee, his eldest son targeted Golberg on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why doesn't Jeffrey Goldberg disclose to readers in his stories that he is a registered Democrat?, Don Jr. tweeted on Tuesday afternoon. His wife also worked for Hillary Clinton and has donated nearly $25k to Democrats. The political scion faced backlash for his attempt to discredit The Atlantic journalist, leaving social media users asking why a registered Democrat was added to the insecure channel in the first place. Donald Trump Jrs attempts to shift the blame for Signalgate away from Trump officials onto Jeffrey Goldberg were quickly shut down (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Isnt it even *worse* that top Cabinet officials added a registered Democrat to their war plan chat on an unsecured app?, Brian Tyler Cohen, a progressive YouTube creator and MSNBC contributor, said. Great question, Don, another X user replied. Why did Pete Hegseth share classified military intelligence with a registered Democrat in an unsecured Signal chat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So the Trump administration is talking about classified information on a commercial app on their private phones and they added a registered democrat to the conversation without noticing it?, a third added. And you blame the registered democrat [sic]? Nice job! The 18 national security and cabinet officials in the Houthi PC small group chatincluding the likes of Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubiohave been sharply criticized for the security lapse by pundits and politicians from both sides of the aisle. 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. Jeffrey Goldberg, besides Nancy Pelosi of Calif in Washington in 2019, released his explosive report Monday (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) In his 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 on March 15. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some House Democrats are calling for the most severe repercussions against officials involved in the outrageous security breach, including Pennsylvania Representative Chris Deluzio who stated that heads should roll. Former House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi called the leak the most horrifying incompetence, while embattled Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the officials are clearly not up to the job. Several House Republicans have also condemned those on the Signal group, including Nebraska Representative Don Bacon who speculated that Russia and China are surely monitoring his unclassified phone. Other MAGA Republicans and Trump allies, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Fox News host Sean Hannity have tried to deflect the criticism. The Department of Government Efficiency lead speculated that official government channels werent used because they are shockingly primitive. MEXICO CITY, March 26 (Xinhua) -- A proposed 25 percent U.S. tariff on auto imports could raise production costs for Mexico and Canada, adding pressure to an already strained global auto industry, Mexico's Monex Financial Group warned Wednesday. In a sectoral analysis, Monex said recent U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, imposed on March 12, are already disrupting trade flows and supply chains. Mexico and Canada together accounted for nearly 40 percent of U.S. steel imports in 2023, and also supply about 29 percent of America's imported vehicles, Monex noted. An additional 25 percent auto tariff would significantly impact pricing and availability. For Mexico, the tariffs could hit exports worth 4.7 percent of its total trade and over 1.5 percent of its GDP, according to the report. Industry estimates suggest the move could add up to 3,000 U.S. dollars to the average cost of a car in the United States, potentially reducing 2025 sales. Only vehicles meeting the 75 percent regional content rule under the USMCA trade agreement would be exempt. U.S. President Donald Trump, now in his second term, has threatened broader tariffs on Mexican goods, citing concerns over drug trafficking and migration. Mar. 25March 12 Eric Marvin Vanpuymbrouck, 32, Town of Superior, third-offense operating while intoxicated, found guilty at jury trial, 110 days jail, $3,406 fine, 31-month driver's license revocation, ignition interlock, alcohol assessment; third-offense operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration, found guilty at jury trial, no additional penalties. March 14 Samuel Israel Wilson, 36, 1531 Iowa Ave., second-degree sexual assault with use of force, amended to disorderly conduct, no contest plea, 63 days jail, $516 fine and court costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement March 17 Brian Alan Kinnetz, 33, 308 Homecroft Court, domestic battery, deferred prosecution agreement fulfilled, dismissed. Julie Renee Nollet, 64, 1617 Hughitt Ave., issue of worthless checks, no contest plea, 222 days jail, $1,158 restitution and court costs; battery, dismissed. March 18 Liam Craig Michael Collins, 25, 2705-1 Hill Ave., 9, third-offense operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration, no contest plea, 75 days jail with work release, $2,042 fine, 26-month driver's license revocation, ignition interlock, alcohol assessment; third-offense operating while intoxicated, dismissed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David Michael Glanville, 36, 808 N. 21st Ave., disorderly conduct, bail jumping, no contest pleas, one year jail concurrent, $518 court costs; make terrorist threats, deferred prosecution agreement revoked, one year jail concurrent, $798 restitution and court costs; possess amphetamine, possess drug paraphernalia, additional count bail jumping, dismissed. Margaret Ellen Johnston, 57, Duluth, forgery, deferred prosecution agreement revoked, $1,456 fine and court costs. March 19 Anthony Steven Derrick, 50, Duluth, disorderly conduct with use of a dangerous weapon, deferred prosecution agreement revoked, one year of probation, three days jail, $943.30 fine and court costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement March 21 Magen Kylee Atkins, 34, Superior, resisting or obstructing an officer, amended to ordinance violation resisting or obstructing an officer, no contest plea, $358 fine. Jeffrey Scott Cole, 60, 722 Weeks Ave., second-offense operating while intoxicated, no contest plea, 20 days jail with work release, $1,367 fine, 14-month driver's license revocation, ignition interlock, alcohol assessment; operating while revoked, failure to install ignition interlock, dismissed. Kassie Lee Conley, 35, South Range, first-offense operating while intoxicated with a passenger under 16 years old, no contest plea, 15 days jail with work release, $1,535.50 fine, 13-month driver's license revocation, alcohol assessment; possession of marijuana, dismissed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Andrew Farris, 38, 1312 N. Sixth St., second-offense in three years operate without valid license, guilty plea, $579 fine and court costs. Dawson Aldrich Franklin Sr., 24, 1321 Birch Ave., domestic disorderly conduct, no contest plea, 10 days jail with work release, 90 days jail stayed, one year probation, $516 court costs; domestic battery, dismissed. Joshua Daniel Glenn, 28, Duluth, theft of movable property, amended to ordinance violation shoplifting, no contest plea, $295 fine. Aiden Michael Herrick, 20, 1810 Ogden Ave., theft of movable property, amended to ordinance violation shoplifting, no contest plea, $295 fine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leo Girard Kaseno, 44, Duluth, disorderly conduct, no contest plea, three days jail, $642 fine and court costs. John Paul King, 56, Duluth, disorderly conduct, no contest plea, $516 fine and court costs; battery, dismissed. Wade Jerel Latour, 46, 417 Weeks Ave., domestic physical abuse of elder person-intentionally cause bodily harm, no contest plea, two-year deferred prosecution agreement; domestic disorderly conduct, no contest plea, five days jail, two years probation, $679 fine and court costs; bail jumping, dismissed. Paul Thomas Lueck, 58, 1108 39th Ave. E., domestic disorderly conduct, no contest plea, one-year deferred prosecution agreement; domestic strangulation and suffocation, domestic battery, domestic criminal damage to property, dismissed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement March 24 Brianna Jean McLean, 28, Duluth, retail theft-intentionally take, no contest plea, one year probation, $443 court costs. Cameron Gary Norris, 26, 1113 Harrison St., second-offense operating while intoxicated, no contest plea, 20 days jail with work release, $1,592 fine, 14-month driver's license revocation, ignition interlock, alcohol assessment; bail jumping, dismissed. Damion Samuel Romero, 24, 4928 St. Croix Drive, fourth-degree sexual assault, no contest plea, one year probation, no contact with victim or victim's residence, $443 court costs. Nicole Lynn Slaviero, 45, 3806 Tower Ave., 15, possession of methamphetamine, amended to possess amphetamine, no contest plea, three days jail, six months jail stayed, one year probation, $638.25 fine; possess drug paraphernalia, dismissed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shari Marie Steberg, 53, 1012 N. 21st St., hit-and-run, amended to hit-and-run-unattended vehicle, no contest plea, $263.50 fine. Joshua Dewey-Dale Taylor, 31, Spooner, possession of methamphetamine, no contest plea, three days jail, 120 days jail stayed, 18 months probation, $638.25 fine; operating while revoked, bail jumping, dismissed. Steven Allen Thompson, 50, B3 Aspen Courts, stalking, intimidate victim/dissuade reporting, bail jumping, misappropriate ID info-obtain money, no contest pleas, 38 days jail, three years state prison and three years extended supervision stayed, five years of probation concurrent, $3,875.22 restitution and court costs; two additional counts bail jumping, computer message-threaten, additional count bail jumping, credit card-fraudulent use, dismissed. Angela Marie Thoreson, 38, Ashland, operating while revoked, amended to ordinance violation operate commercial vehicle without carrying license, no contest plea, $248.60 fine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kyle Steven Venier, 39, Poplar, third-offense operating while intoxicated, no contest plea, 100 days jail with work release, $2,627 fine, 30-month driver's license revocation, ignition interlock, alcohol assessment; third-offense operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration, dismissed. Tyler Orrin Wilberg, 43, 3017 E. Fifth St., possession of methamphetamine, no contest plea, 90 days jail with work release, one year and six months prison and two years extended supervision stayed, three years of probation, $1,079.25 fine. Sterling Marie Wiltfong, 29, Maple, uttering a forgery, deferred prosecution agreement revoked, nine months jail, $890.50 restitution and court costs. David John Yeazle, 47, Duluth, fourth-offense operate with restricted controlled substance, no contest plea, 60 days jail with work release, one year jail stayed, two years of probation, $2,000 fine, 36-month driver's license revocation, ignition interlock, alcohol assessment; failure to install ignition interlock, operating while revoked, possession of marijuana, dismissed. The Superior Telegram publishes court records as part of its obligation to serve as a keeper of the local historical record. All items are public records submitted by the courthouse in Superior. Individual requests for items to be withheld will not be granted. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Dayton has seen billions of dollars in investment downtown in recent years, and one former commercial office tower is being transformed into new living spaces and a restaurant. The Deneau Tower was once home to 22 floors of office space. But after being abandoned over a decade ago, the tower has been revamped, turning it into something Dayton has never seen before. Its not very often that youre revitalizing a 22-story high rise tower, said Trent Mead, Deneau project manager. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After nearly three years of construction, the Windsor Companies is set to reopen Deneau Tower. The former office building has been turned into 147 residential units, including studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments and six penthouses, along with a gym and a commercial restaurant. Ive watched this place grow astronomically within the last few years, and Im thankful Windsor has been a part of that, said Amanda Cunningham, Windsor Companies dist. property manager. Windsor Companies acquired the building six years ago, starting construction several years later. According to project manager Trent Mead, they had to completely gut the building for the project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every wall, we started from scratch, said Mead. Really the most difficult part of it was finding the areas where our mechanicals can go. The energy cost was also too high to sustain with the previous stable exterior glass windows, which is a reason the last owners sold the property. But thanks to first-of-its-kind insulated glass, the new building will actually save energy. We are hoping vacuum-insulated glass makes its way to North America, and were kind of the stepping stone of that, said Mead. We hope to provide the highest energy efficiency apartments in the Dayton area. Windsor Companies is not new to Dayton they have six downtown properties and 12 located in central Ohio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cunningham says the Deneau is their latest and largest project yet, designed to be modern with a touch of Italian fashion. Its something that will not only be new for their company, but also re-energize the entire city of Dayton. The renovation of this building is beyond a renovation, its a revival installation of Dayton, its culture, its history, said Cunningham. The Deneau is set to open at the beginning of April for their first wave of residents, with more set to come in the coming months. To learn more about the building, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Show Caption1 of 8 Jessie Nicholson, CEO of Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, sorts through documents as the organization closes its offices in the Alliance Bank Center in St. Paul on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. On March 10, building owner Madison Equities notified tenants that electricity and all other services in the building would be shut off "in the very near future" because management had not paid its utility bills. That left the non-profit mere days to relocate 48 to 50 offices and 60 attorneys from the building, which has served as its administrative headquarters and major service center for the south metro for the past 20 years. (John Autey / Pioneer Press) Expand Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For eight months, attorneys at Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services were told they could not get out of their 10-year lease at the Alliance Bank Center in downtown St. Paul without paying a hefty fee to effectively buy themselves free from their contract. That struck them as unfair, given that escalators in the building no longer work, security has been so lax theyve hired their own, all the ground-level doors have been locked shut and most other office and food court tenants have already left. They didnt want us to go because we were the only ones paying any substantial rent, said Candace Miller Lopez, development director with SMRLS, recalling how attorneys for Madison Equities required that the nonprofit otherwise stick to its longstanding lease for two floors of office space. Then came the March 10 notice from Madison Equities indicating that electricity and all other services in the building would be shut off in the very near future because management had not paid its utility bills. You should immediately vacate the premises as there soon will be no heating/cooling/electricity/security/etc. at this building, reads the written notice, which indicated no firm date for utility disconnection had been confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The St. Paul Fire Department quickly determined that the very near future meant utilities would be shut off within two days of that announcement. Lights on until April 1 The next morning, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carters office negotiated with Xcel Energy and District Energy to keep the lights on until April 1. Thats now left SMRLS with mere days to relocate 48 to 50 offices and 60 attorneys from the building, which has served as its administrative headquarters and major service center for the south metro for the past 20 years. Until now, the bulk of its work representing low-income clients in civil cases, free of charge, has been handled from downtown St. Paul. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well all have to go remote, said Lopez, noting garbage removal and other day-to-day security and maintenance has already stopped. You cant move 60 lawyers in a matter of two weeks. We will find another office, but we have to find one that, as a nonprofit, we can afford, and one where theres no interruption of services to our clients. It has to be safe and accessible. We closed 11,000 cases last year. Its no small number. She estimated that moving, storage and new lease expenses would total some $500,000 in unanticipated costs. SMRLS, which maintains 125 employees in eight offices across southern Minnesota, serves 33 counties, including the south metro counties of Dakota, Ramsey, Washington, Scott and Carver. No respect whatsoever, said Jessie Nicholson, the legal agencys chief executive officer, who has worked for SMRLS for 40 years. I thought to myself, how can they expect two full floors of offices to clear out within 48 hours? Emergency assistance On Wednesday afternoon, the St. Paul City Council met as the citys Housing and Redevelopment Authority and approved up to $70,000 in emergency assistance from the citys Business Assistance Fund, to be made available as $5,000 grants for the 14 Alliance Bank Center tenants that were still on site as of March 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hope is to keep some of those commercial tenants downtown. They waived the guidelines to make the grants available to any non-profit tenants, rather than businesses exclusively. The death of Madison Equities company principal Jim Crockarell last year has left buildings owned by downtowns largest property holder in precarious straits, with several slipping into foreclosure, and weighed heavily on downtown businesses that like the citys tax coffers were already in need of a boost in the era of remote work. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter made note of what he described as Madison Equities implosion on Tuesday during an otherwise unrelated presentation to a committee of Senate lawmakers considering his request for nearly $400 million to renovate the downtown Xcel Energy Center, as well as the adjoining Roy Wilkins Auditorium and RiverCentre convention halls. When we say the word vitality, the quickest definition of the word vitality is people, so having people downtown will go a long way for us, said Carter, who has called city employees who went remote to return to work in person at least three days per week as of April 1. Some tenants already left Some tenants in the Alliance Bank Center left in recent months with what they could carry, leaving behind offices and cubicles. Retail tenants like Jackeys Watch Bar, a tobacco shop, a barber, a convenience store, a longstanding pizza lunch counter and a CBD store are scrambling to make their own alternate arrangements, with varying degrees of success. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some have already announced theyll land at the three-building Town Square complex on Minnesota Street or one of two Securian buildings on Robert Street. After Madison Equities abandoned the building, a leasing agent for Town Squares UBS Plaza, which sits on Cedar Street, left her calling card and a brochure showcasing available spaces on the counter of the security desk. Rico Thomas, proprietor of Ricos on Wabasha ice cream, burritos and breakfast sandwiches near the Alliance Bank Centers Wabasha Street skyway entrance, said Wednesday he had yet to find a landing spot, though he was in talks with more than one potential location. Laura Jelinek, the metro regional leader for SMRLS, said employees have remained committed to representing their clients many of whom are disabled or live with small children despite the disruption. Cases run the gamut from orders for protection to benefits termination, housing and unemployment appeals. We have a really good group of employees who are really dedicated to access to legal services and representing low-income clients, she said. We are not closing intake. We are not saying no to new cases. We are doing all of our casework, and moving boxes at the same time, which is a huge stress on our employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lopez said the 60 attorneys in the office will work remotely, or from the SMRLS smaller satellite offices on University Avenue and Syndicate Street, until they can find a new office location, which in the meantime will be a loss to downtown eateries, parking ramps and meters, and other downtown amenities that benefit from everyday foot traffic. Still, she said, theyll eventually land on their feet. Our firm has been around for 115 years, Lopez said. Weve existed through a couple of World Wars. Many changes of administration. The Great Depression. You dont get to be around this long without learning how to navigate turbulence. Madison Equities properties A look at the status of several Madison Equities properties: U.S. Bank Center, 101 E. Fifth St.: Mortgage holder First Interstate Bank filed to foreclosure upon the property in December after being unable to collect on $24 million in outstanding debt, and Ramsey County District Court Judge Stacy Deery Stennes appointed a limited receiver for the office building on Feb. 28. The building was described as 57% occupied early last year when it was put up for sale alongside other Madison Equities properties downtown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Park Square Court, 400 Sibley St.: Lender Merchants Bank filed to foreclosure upon the property in October after calling back two loans, totaling $5.7 million and $2.7 million in unpaid principal, interest and fees. Ramsey County District Court Judge Edward Sheu entered a foreclosure judgment on Feb. 10. The building is vacant and Lowertown neighbors have complained of trespassers and vandalism. First National Bank, 332 Minnesota St.: The building was listed as 45% occupied in a sales memorandum last year. Alliance Center, 55 E. Fifth Street: Madison Equities has effectively walked away from the office building, which contains a once-popular food court, and informed tenants on March 10 they would need to vacate immediately as security and maintenance was no longer in effect and utilities would soon be shut off. It was listed as 43% occupied early last year, but is expected to be vacant by April 1. 375 Jackson Square, 375 Jackson St.: The building which is home to the St. Paul Department of Safety and Inspections was listed as 53% occupied in a sales memorandum last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Empire Building/Endicott Arcade, 360 N. Robert St./134 E. 5th St.: Judge Leonardo Castro appointed a receiver for the vacant buildings in November, and Merchants Bank acquired the properties for $1.37 million in a foreclosure auction last December, according to the Ramsey County Recorders office. Lowry Apartments, 345 Wabasha St. N.: The troubled apartment building was sold in a sheriffs sale last September to lender Colliers International for $7 million. The city condemned the building in early December and cleared it of tenants. Degree Apartments, 325 Cedar St.: Minnwest Bank acquired the apartment building last December for $9.58 million in a deed-in-lieu-of-foreclosure sale. Other properties put up for sale by Madison Equities last year include the Stadium Ramp at 245 E. Sixth St., the Capital City Ramp at 50 E. Fourth St., the Handsome Hog at 173 N. Western Ave. and a surface parking lot at 401 Selby Ave. Related Articles South Korea's aggressive wildfires that have left 28 people dead are nearly contained after rainfall and cooler temperatures helped quell some of the flames, authorities announced Friday. Korea Forest Service chief Lim Sang-seop said in a televised briefing that all of the main fires in four of the hardest-hit areas in the southeastern part of the country have been fully contained. According to the forest service's website, all but one wildfire remains to be extinguished. Hazes have been diminished because of the rain last night, so thats favorable for securing visibility. Also temperatures are now lower than the last few days, so things are very favorable to put out the wildfires, Lim said earlier in the day Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fires have burned thousands of structures, including houses, factories and vehicles, as well as 184 square miles of land. The blazes were classified as the worst South Korea has ever seen, the Associated Press reported, with thousands of personnel working against them this week. One of the victims included a pilot who died after a helicopter crashed as it aided in the firefight in the town of Uiseong in the southeastern region of South Korea. At least 26 other people were injured during the crash, though there were no other crew members in the aircraft. (MORE: Firefighters Gain Ground Against North Carolina Wildfires) Four firefighters and government workers were killed in Sancheong on Saturday when they became trapped by wind-driven flames, according to officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AP reported that many of the victims are likely elderly residents who were not able to escape quickly or refused to evacuate. South Korea ranks among the world's fastest-aging populations, and many of the firefighters working against the blazes were in their 60s. The fire in Uiseong destroyed 20 of the 30 structures at Gounsa, an ancient Buddhist temple complex said to have originated in the 7th century. According to the Korea JoongAng Daily, some artifacts were saved from the fire, including a seated stone Buddha, which is designated a treasure by the state. Another 1,000-year-old temple in the Uiseong region, Unramsa, was destroyed as well, according to Reuters. Relics were also salvaged from the site before the fires swept in. More than 30,000 people have evacuated their homes due to the fires. Some of the hardest-hit areas include Andong city, the city of Ulsan and the counties of Uiseong and Sancheong. Burnt-out houses are seen from above after a fire destroyed a village in Angong, South Korea. South Koreas acting President Han Duck-soo said that the wildfires, which began on March 21, were causing worse damage than many wildfires the country has experienced in the past. (MORE: Social Media Is Revolutionizing Disaster Response, Expert Says) Several of the fires are suspected to be caused by human error, such as residents burning overgrown grass from family tombs. The AP reported that sparks from welders could have ignited some of the blazes as well. The wildfires have exhibited "the reality of [the] climate crisis," according to Lee Han-kyung, deputy head of the government's disaster response center. Thelma Whiskers of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe speaks in opposition of the White Mesa Uranium Mill during a protest outside the Utah Capitol Building in Salt Lake City on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (Kyle Dunphey/Utah News Dispatch) Our state leaders are calling for Utah to become the nations nuclear hub. Gov. Spencer Cox has claimed that his Operation Gigawatt puts Utah in a position to lead the country in energy development, secure our energy future, and remain a net energy exporter while diversifying and expanding our energy resources. Deciding what energy technologies to pursue in a state involves weighing risks and benefits and determining what risks a community is willing to accept. This year, Utahs legislature passed HB249, which will create a nuclear energy consortium to guide the states plans for nuclear energy. However, in the process of passing this bill, we have yet to see a robust discussion of the risks of nuclear energy or meaningful engagement of communities that this development will most impact. While new technology may present new opportunities, we must consider the critical risks of investing so much in nuclear energy. The dangers of nuclear power before and after its operation go beyond the risk of a meltdown and could have devastating consequences for our state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The uranium boom in the 50s and 60s had devastating impacts on Utahs people and lands, as well as for uranium miners in Navajo Nation. The largest nuclear accident in the U.S. happened in 1979 at the United Nuclear Corporations Church Rock uranium mill site in New Mexico. A dam broke and released radiation into the Rio Puerco, contaminating drinking water, aquifers, and soil on Dine (Navajo) lands. Uranium mining and milling are not just a part of Utahs past. Today, the countrys last remaining conventional uranium mill is near Blanding, Utah. The mill is owned by Energy Fuels, a company that specializes in uranium and rare earth mineral mining and milling. Recently, the mill accepted uranium from the newly reopened La Sal mine complex in Utah and the Pinyon Plain Mine near the Grand Canyon. Indigenous communities around the region, including the Havasupai Nation, Dine communities, and Ute Mountain Ute Nation, have spoken out on how the nuclear fuel chain disproportionately impacts their communities and lands. Milling, often overlooked, is a critical part of nuclear energy production. Like the history of nuclearism in this state, this mill disproportionately impacts Indigenous communities, in this case, the local White Mesa Ute community. Community members from White Mesa have fought for years against the mills contamination of their air and water and desecration of sacred lands. White Mesa Concerned Community, a grassroots group, and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe held a rally this fall at the state capitol. Yolanda Badback, leader of White Mesa Concerned Community, called on the state to regulate and shut down the mill. She stated, I want my community to have good air quality and good water resources. We live there, and thats our homeland. And I will never leave my homeland for anything. State leaders have failed to listen to and represent the members of their state most impacted by the nuclear industry today. Just this fall, state legislators took a field trip down to the mill to see it for themselves. This visit allowed Energy Fuels direct access to the eyes and ears of state legislators. That same privilege was not offered to those just 5 miles down the road in White Mesa who are most impacted by its operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hearing from impacted communities adds a needed layer to discussions about the safety of nuclear energy, including its entire lifecycle. Nuclear powers lifecycle begins with uranium mining and ends with nuclear waste storage. State leaders claim that nuclear energy is clean and safe. For example, at the committee hearing for HB249, the bills sponsor, Rep. Carl Albrecht, insisted that new nuclear technology was safe and highly regulated. Yet, the state of Utah recently joined a lawsuit to sue the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to reduce regulations on small-modular nuclear reactors. These regulations are necessary to protect our state, public health, and future generations. Will the state also seek to reduce regulations on uranium mining and milling, transport, and waste storage? Decisions we make about our energy future must be informed by the real lived experiences of members of our community, especially those who bear the brunt of its impacts. As state leaders seek to grow nuclear power in the state, we, as Utahns, must demand that our legislators not only listen to those most impacted but also evaluate the risks of nuclear energy, especially those within the entire lifecycle. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) As the United States saw a steady decrease in drug overdose deaths from 2023 to 2024, Utah overdose rates remained largely unimproved. But thats not the whole story. According to recently released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Utah is one of only three states in the country that saw an increase in overdose deaths between October 2023 and October 2024. As a whole, the U.S. saw a 25% decrease in overdose deaths in the same reporting period. Map depicts the percent change in drug overdose deaths from October 2023 to October 2024. Nationwide overdose deaths decreased by 25% but Utahs increased by more than 6%, according to the CDC. (Credit: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) However, looking at data over the past decade gives a greater perspective. Overdose deaths spiked nationwide in 2020 and are just now beginning to move toward pre-pandemic levels. Utah did not see a drastic increase in overdose deaths during the pandemic nor a recent decline in the past year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact, overdose deaths have remained relatively steady in Utah since 2015, with the number of deaths ranging between 500 and 750. Dr. Jennifer Plumb, Medical Director of Utah Naloxone, said that because Utahs overdose rates did not escalate in the same way as other states during the pandemic, the state does not have the same trajectory to come back down. That being said, Utah does need to remain committed to focusing on supporting people who are struggling with substance use disorder and find ways to reengage people who are not as supported within the system, Plumb said. A look at the past decade in Utah overdose deaths. (Credit: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) A look at the past decade in United States overdose deaths. (Credit: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Last week, Utah Naloxone released a positive milestone in Utahs fight against overdose deaths. The organization said more than 12,500 overdoses have been reversed using naloxone in Utah, according to reported data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every life saved is a second chance, said Captain Brian Lohrke, public information officer for the University of Utah Department of Public Safety. The ability for officers to carry and administer naloxone has been a game changer in our response to the opioid epidemic. Whoa, fentanyl?: High schoolers face opioid crisis in real time The organization says naloxone should be present wherever opioids are, and Plumb told ABC4 that increasing access to treatment and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) remains crucial. Utah Naloxone provides free naloxone kits and training opportunities as well as other resources to prevent overdose deaths of substance users. Stop the Opidemic, run by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), also provides free naloxone and related resources. Image For those who use substances, there are additional free resources available that could be life-saving, including fentanyl test strips, wound care supplies, and HIV and hepatitis C testing. These resources are referred to as syringe services programs and exist to help people across the state of Utah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve done a great job of getting our prescription drug use and overuse of prescription drugs in check, Tricia Bishop with DHHS told ABC4 last year. Now, its fentanyl that is coming from the illicit drug markets, that weve got to be precautious of we have to have education and resources available. Renisha Mall contributed to this story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) Three people are in custody following a drug bust on East Louisiana Street on Tuesday where officials say a search turned up drugs, multiple guns ammo and a Glock Switch. According to an affidavit, the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force was conducting surveillance in the 700 block, saw a vehicle pull up and saw four people get out. The driver of the vehicle later allegedly committed a traffic infraction, and a stop was initiated. An investigation led to discovering 17 grams of suspected fentanyl. Deangela Bishop was later charged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A search warrant was later granted where Dalyn Rhodes and Demetres Grey were reportedly inside and didnt come out as directed. Officials state a search of the residence led to a light-colored powder flying through the air, covering the bathroom floor and clogging a bathtub drain. Officials say samples of powder on Rhodes and Gray tested positive for fentanyl. A search led to the discovery of four handguns, an extended magazine, a Glock Switch, six digital scales, corner baggies and blender with powder residue. Bishop has been charged with dealing cocaine or narcotic drug while Rhodes and Grey were charged with dealing cocaine or narcotic drug, possession of a machine gun and obstruction of justice. Courtesy: Vanderburgh County Jail Courtesy: Vanderburgh County Jail Courtesy: Vanderburgh County Jail Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). The stretch of warm weather continues across New Mexico. Isolated showers and thunderstorms develop Wednesday and Thursday, but evaporating rain and lightning will bring a wildfire risk. Its been another very warm day across New Mexico with temperatures even warmer than Monday for many. A couple record high temperatures have also been broken in places like Gallup and Silver City today. Winds are light across the entire state with sunny skies. Temperatures will remain mild overnight. Isolated showers and thunderstorms will move into southern New Mexico and the northern mountains Wednesday and Thursday. Most of the rain though will evaporate before reaching the ground. This could cause locally gusty winds. There will be enough instability in the atmosphere to even produce a few lightning strikes. These lightning strikes could cause wildfire starts, especially with rain not making it to the ground. The best chance for accumulating rain will be in southeast New Mexico. Temperatures will stay warm, although slightly cooler. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drier weather returns Friday, but so does the wind. Westerly winds could gust as high as 45 to 50 mph Friday. This will bring in even warmer weather across the state. A cold front will move across New Mexico from the west late Friday night into early Saturday morning. It could bring a couple isolated showers and some light snow to the northern mountains as it does so. It will bring temperatures down closer to average for this time of year this weekend. Winds will stay breezy Saturday with lighter winds on Sunday. Temperatures will warm up again early next week as the winds will pick up again by next Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) called Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth a fing liar and demanded his resignation, after the top military official repeatedly insisted he did not share classified information and war plans in an unsecured group text message. Duckworth a combat veteran, former Black Hawk helicopter pilot and member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees said Hegseth put the lives of American service members in danger by discussing the timing and sequencing of U.S. attacks targeting the Houthis in Yemen in early March. Pete Hegseth is a fing liar. This is so clearly classified info he recklessly leaked that couldve gotten our pilots killed. He needs to resign in disgrace immediately, Duckworth said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth and every other official who was included in this group chat must be subject to an independent investigation. If Republicans wont join us in holding the Trump Administration accountable, then they are complicit in this dangerous and likely criminal breach of our national security. Hegseth has aggressively rejected that he did anything wrong in sharing the information over the commercial messaging app Signal, following the release of those text messages by The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who was inadvertently added to the group chat. President Trump has so far rejected firing any of the officials involved in the debacle. National security adviser Mike Waltz has taken responsibility for bringing Goldberg into the chat, which also included Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and other top administration national security officials. Democrats expressing outrage are being joined by some Republicans breaking with the Trump administrations line. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said the White House is in denial that the information shared was not classified or sensitive. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said there would be an investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. DUENWEG, Mo. Two southwest Missouri police officers have become social media stars and along the way, theyre making the streets a little safer. Its like having a toddler thats with you all of the time, said Sgt. Kristian Dalglish, Duenweg Police Dept. Thats Duenweg police sergeant Kristian Dalglish, describing his partner Zeke. Been with me a year and a half now, said Dalglish. Zeke isnt just Sergeant Dalglishs first K-9 partner, hes the first K-9 officer for Duenweg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is trained to sense heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine; and he is an apprehension dog as well, so he will track and apprehend suspects, said Dalglish. As sergeant Dalglish pointed out at the beginning, hes got what you might call a personality. Well, hes kind of a clown show, really. I mean he loves it. He loves it more than some of the work he does. Hed rather just have fun and bother me, Im pretty sure, said Dalglish. He loves attention. He will use any means necessary to get the attention he wants, said Dalglish. Including jumping into the middle of the interview. Sergeant Dalglish says thats part of how Zeke earned the nickname Potato. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because if I told him to lay down, he stood instead. Or if I told him to sit, he would go and try to find his toy, said Dalglish. Officer Zeke has become something of a social media sensation. Inspiring his fans to send him treats. The Walmart guy came in and said, Ive got a delivery for Zeke, and Im like, yeah, thats my dog, said Dalglish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He can even find lost items. Which I have actually used, when hes knocked my body camera off and I dont know it, he has actually found it. So hes helped me find my own stuff, let alone other peoples, if necessary, said Dalglish. Zekes popularity has gone beyond just protecting the community Weve improved our relations with the community quite a bit, through the Facebook posts and his interaction with the community in general, said Dalglish. Officer Zeke works hard I mean, he knows when its time to do things, said Dalglish. And plays hard He doesnt care if Im trying to patrol, he doesnt care if Im trying to talk to somebody, said Dalglish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite a lack of patience Were almost done, ok, said Dalglish. Has found the perfect partner. He is a friend, a partner, and, yeah, I know, and a potato, said Dalglish. This is just the beginning. Its gonna be a long road, with good times, said Dalglish. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Manchester United Eye Bournemouths Justin Kluivert as Attacking Option Manchester Uniteds struggles in front of goal this season have been well-documented, with first-choice strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee scoring just once in the Premier League between them in 2025. With the club looking to bolster their attack, reports suggest that the Red Devils are now monitoring Bournemouths Justin Kluivert as a potential addition to their forward line. Kluiverts Impressive Form at Bournemouth Justin Kluivert, who joined Bournemouth in the summer of 2024, has been a standout performer for the Cherries this season. The Netherlands international has contributed 13 goals and seven assists across 32 appearances in all competitions, playing a key role in Bournemouths strong mid-table position. With the club currently sitting 10th in the Premier League and just five points off the top four, Kluiverts contributions have been instrumental in their impressive run. Additionally, Andoni Iraolas men have made it to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, where they will face Manchester City. Reports from CaughtOffside suggest that Kluivert, who is under contract with Bournemouth until June 2028, could be available for a transfer this summer at an asking price of 46 million (55m / $59m). While Bournemouth are in a strong negotiating position, the 25-year-old is reportedly open to a move if the right opportunity arises, making him an appealing option for clubs looking to strengthen their attacking options. Kluivert as an Alternative to Big-Name Strikers Manchester United have been linked with several high-profile forwards in recent months, including Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen, and Dusan Vlahovic. However, Kluiverts relatively affordable price tag and versatility have made him an intriguing alternative. The Netherlands forward is capable of playing on the wing or in a more central No.10 role, providing United with additional attacking flexibility. While Kluiverts form at Bournemouth has been impressive, Manchester Uniteds potential interest signals a shift in strategy. Instead of pursuing a big-money signing, they could secure a player who is not only in excellent form but also offers a long-term solution at a reasonable price. With Kluiverts potential move, United could focus on strengthening their attack without breaking the bank. Uniteds Potential Move for Osimhen Despite the reports linking Kluivert with a move to Old Trafford, there are still whispers about Manchester Uniteds interest in Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian striker has been in scintillating form at Napoli, and a reduced 75 million exit clause could make him a prime target for United. Trusted sources such as David Ornstein suggest that while PSG have pulled out of the race for Osimhen, Manchester United could have an opportunity to sign the 26-year-old if they act quickly enough. While some reports suggest a swap deal involving Hojlund, Ornstein has shot this down, meaning that any potential move for Osimhen would likely be straightforward. Our View EPL Index Analysis For United, the potential acquisition of Justin Kluivert is an exciting prospect, especially when considering the clubs current attacking struggles. Kluiverts versatility and impressive form at Bournemouth make him a valuable option, and his ability to operate as both a winger and a No.10 adds much-needed flexibility to Uniteds attack. His 13 goals and seven assists this season prove that he has the ability to contribute significantly to the team, and at 46 million, he represents a more affordable alternative to the more expensive options like Osimhen or Vlahovic. However, the question remains whether Kluivert has the necessary quality to thrive at a club like Manchester United, where the pressure and expectations are considerably higher. His performances at Bournemouth have been strong, but moving to a top-six club will present a different challenge. If United do secure Kluivert, it will be important for the club to manage his integration carefully, ensuring that he can make the step up while also bolstering the squads attacking depth. Overall, Kluivert could be a smart addition, but United should not view him as a one-stop solution. If the club is serious about returning to their former glory, more must be done to secure a marquee forward that can carry the team forward in the long run. VALRICO, Fla. (WFLA) An early morning raid at a home on Dixie Main Lane in Valrico woke up the neighborhood with large explosions and a heavy police presence. This morning around quarter of 5, 5 a.m. we heard a lot of commotion coming from down there, some lights and all of that, said C.J. Calderwood who lives just down the street. Man discovers injured bald eagle outside Polk County camper He went outside to see special agents of the FBI and ICE on his street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We saw them coming in, all of that, SWAT was coming in also, and some flash bangs went off, Calderwood said. He says the noise is not the type of thing he often hears in his neighborhood. Its a little scary for anyone when you see all of that presence of law enforcement come for one house, Calderwood said. Travis Hughes lives just across from the house that was raided and woke up when his dogs started barking. There was a whole SWAT, I dont know if it was SWAT or what it was, but a tactical vehicle that looked like it could take an IED in the middle of Afghanistan if it needed to, Hughes said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Video of the morning operation showed several people being taken into custody. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately answer questions about the purpose of the raid or if anyone had been arrested. The spokesperson says information will be released as it becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on March 26 approved a loan of 270 million euros ($290 million) for Ukraine's Naftogaz company to purchase gas for the next two winters, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said. Norway is also allocating 140 million euros ($150 million) in grants through the EBRD, the prime minister added. The news comes as Ukraine and Russia agreed to halt strikes against energy facilities as part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. Both sides have accused one another of violating the truce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This resource will help us accumulate gas reserves in underground storage facilities for the next winter," Shmyhal said. Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's gas infrastructure during the full-scale war, periodically pushing down the country's production by as much as 40% and forcing Kyiv to buy gas abroad. Russian drones and missiles have also targeted Ukraine's gas storage facilities in western Ukraine. In February, Ukraine's Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said Russian strikes had severely impacted Ukraine's domestic gas production capacity and that the country would need to import an estimated 1 billion cubic meters of gas by the end of the year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The EBRD, a London-based developmental investment bank, is Ukraine's largest institutional investor. It has invested more than 6.2 billion euros ($6.7 billion) in the country since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022 and plans to raise this figure by $1.56 billion this year. Read also: Partial ceasefire in Ukraine should start on March 25, Zelensky says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Mar. 25Eighteen Ector County ISD students are heading to the State Visual Arts Scholastic Event in San Marcos in April. Nine of those students are coming from Permian High School. The trip is April 23-26 with the competition on April 26, PHS art teacher Luis Trejo Fuentes said. Their work is currently hanging at Sedate Hall at Odessa College. An opening reception is set for 6 p.m. March 27. "It's going to be the top artists in all of Texas competing, so about 35,000 works of art," Fuentes said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's so much art that you really can't see everything," he added. The students going to state represent the top 10 percent from Region 18. Only the very top works in every category get a state medal. Then the judges will choose the top 2 percent to get a Gold Seal, "basically the equivalent of a gold medal in the Olympics." "So state VASE is basically the art Olympics," Fuentes said. The works chosen by the judges as the top artwork could be drawing, painting, printmaking or mixed media. "We can only choose the two best artworks from each from each student, so we have to choose at least 25 pieces, but no student can have more than two pieces entered," Fuentes said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The students are all excited about having their pieces at state. Senior Anabelle McKay said she was very surprised and excited about going to state, as was junior Yaretzi Barrera. Barrera said she wasn't expecting her work to make it. Karely Villarreal said she was surprised at the size of the competition and happily surprised to be in it. McKay said she's looking forward to seeing other artist's work. "I"m super excited to see the different works that other students come up with. Thinking about other people my age, it was really cool to look around at this last competition to see everybody's work. I'm just super excited for that mainly, more than anything," McKay said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Junior Isabel Reyes said she is also anticipating the trip because it sounds fun. "It really does. But other than that I don't really care that much because I still haven't processed it all," Reyes said. McKay said she's not sure that she wants to have art as her main occupation, but she wants to continue improving and growing. She plans to attend Odessa College. "I definitely want to double major in college. I want to do engineering, but also art," McKay said. Barrera said she would like to own a gallery someday. McKay added that she would encourage other students to try art as you never know what you're capable of. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sophomore Carla Reynoso said art encourages creativity for everyone. "It would be great for people to try it out," Reynoso said. Madelis Salazar, a senior, said she has never had work in the state competition before. The same is true of the majority of the other students. "It's new, very interesting getting to experience things that some students can't," Salazar said. Fuentes said this is a great group of students and there are a variety of works that will be in the contest. "I think we've got more variety this year than any other year. It's not just drawing or painting, it's all kinds of different things," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ECISD Visual Art Scholastic Event (VASE) 2025 Results This year's Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) represented a total of 716 student artworks. The event represented 6 districts, 15 schools, and 30 teachers, from across Region 18. There were a total of 379 Regional Medalists and 38 Area Medalists (going to state VASE). ECISD students were awarded 204 Regional Medals and 18 Area Medals. ECISD has 18 artworks going to the state VASE event. "We are very proud of our amazing art teachers and their very talented students. Great Job, ECISD!" said ECISD Executive Director of Fine Arts Aaron Hawley. One of the best antidotes to polarization is open, respectful dialogue. How can we come together if we arent engaging with each other? Thats especially true of our elected officials, and so we are encouraged by the recent uptick in town halls. What disheartens us is that these opportunities for genuine discourse are being hijacked by extremists and people whose behavior is disruptive and unproductive. Congressman Sean Casten held one such town hall last week. He and other attendees were disrupted by unruly, uncivil pro-Palestinian protesters who attempted to take over the meeting to push their agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People did not come here to hear you, Casten said at one point. Show some respect for the people in this district. Several attendees shouted at the congressman, with one actually storming the stage to confront him. You are the most soulless piece of crap Ive ever seen! he yelled, after berating Casten for his people being slaughtered. Police advised Casten to end the event early. The spectacle became the focus of national news, with clips appearing on CNN and elsewhere. Tensions are at a boiling point over everything from the unresolved Israel-Palestine conflict to the economy to the Department of Government Efficiency. Speaking of which, another worrying trend is the rise in politically motivated property crimes targeting Tesla. A 27-year-old Buffalo Grove woman was arrested and charged earlier this month for allegedly vandalizing a Tesla service center in the northwest suburbs. This is part of a larger national trend of violence against the Elon Musk-owned EV maker. Earlier this month, footage showed Teslas on set on fire at a Las Vegas service center. Torching privately owned vehicles is not a productive form of political speech. Our freedom of speech carries with it great personal responsibility, something many are forgetting as they descend into selfish acts of destruction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps its unsurprising that the U.S. has fallen to its lowest-ever ranking in the World Happiness Report. Among the major contributors to happiness? A belief in the kindness of others. Righteous anger is one thing. Hate and chaotic disruption are quite another. Wed encourage those angered and frustrated by current events to channel this anger into something productive. Screaming and petty crimes dont compel political change, but running for office, contacting your congresspeople and raising awareness through legitimate means such as submitting your opinion to this newspaper can. And with political polarization at a boiling point, we also urge our elected officials both Republicans and Democrats to find ways to come together, and to bring voters along with them. Town halls are an important step, but more civil rhetoric must follow. We ask you: Stop conditioning us to view our neighbors as our enemies. This political tactic may help with partisan reelection bids, but its toxic for our society and emboldens people to follow their worst instincts. Its true that a house divided cannot stand. We must not let political disagreements break us from within. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis wrote in his famous 1927 concurring opinion in Whitney v. California that if there be time to expose through discussion, the falsehoods and fallacies, to avert the evil by the processes of education, the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence. This sentiment holds true today. We need to keep talking to one another. And we must do so in good faith not spiteful anger. _____ Federal lawmakers from Georgia reintroduced efforts to have the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park be the states first National Park and Preserve in U.S. Congress. Sens. Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock, as well as Reps. Austin Scott and Sanford Bishop brought the bill back in both chambers. Similar efforts were made to establish the national park and preserve last year but they did not garner enough support to become law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We made unprecedented progress last Congress toward creating Georgias first ever National Park, Ossoff said. I look forward to working alongside Congressman Scott, Senator Reverend Warnock, Congressman Bishop, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and local leaders to successfully establish Georgias first national park. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Establishment Act would help preserve the area for its historical importance. The area is the ancestral home of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and has been inhabited continuously by humans for over 12,000 years. American Indians first arrived in the area during the Paleo-Indian Period hunting Ice Age mammals, lawmakers said in a joint statement. Around 900 CE, the Mississippian Period began, and Muskogean people constructed mounds for meeting, living, burial, agricultural, and other purposes, many of which remain today and would be encompassed in the new U.S. National Park and Preserve. Warnock, Scott and Bishop are among a bipartisan group of lawmakers working to establish the area as the states first national park, including Reps. Buddy Carter, Brian Jack, Hank Johnson, Nikema Williams, Lucy McBath, Rich McCormick, Mike Collins, Barry Loudermilk, Rick Allen, David Scott and Marjorie Taylor Green. Establishing the Ocmulgee Mounds and surrounding areas as Georgias first National Park and Preserve remains a top bipartisan initiative for all lawmakers and stakeholders involved, Rep. Austin Scott said. The Ocmulgee Mounds are of invaluable cultural, communal, and economic significance to our state, and I am committed to keeping this initiative moving forward. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The Israeli government approved the establishment of an agency to facilitate the "voluntary" removal of residents from Gaza, drawing condemnation from across the region. The agency, proposed by the Israeli Defense Ministry, was approved last weekend, but has not been formally established. "We are working by all means to implement the vision of the U.S. president, and we will allow any Gaza resident who wishes to voluntarily move to a third country to do so," Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump began to publicly push in February for the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza -- a move that some, including the United Nations and U.S. allies like France and Germany, have said would be a violation of international law. PHOTO: A man talks to others sitting in a vehicle while behind a cloud of smoke erupts from Israeli bombardment on the northern Gaza Strip, in Beit Lahia, on March 25, 2025. (Bashar Taleb/AFP via Getty Images) PHOTO: A Palestinian man inspects the site of an Israeli strike on a house, in Bureij in the central Gaza Strip, March 25, 2025. (Ramadan Abed/Reuters) Despite Trump threatening to pull aid from Egypt and Jordan if they do not agree to take in the Palestinians living in Gaza, both countries remained steadfast in their opposition of the proposal. MORE: US officials could face international warrants if steps are taken to displace Palestinians in Gaza The Arab Summit approved a draft proposal for a Gaza reconstruction plan that would not displace the Palestinians living in Gaza earlier this month. Under the proposal, Gaza would be governed by a committee of independent professionals and technocrats for six months until the Palestinian Authority resumes control over the enclave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Egypt "strongly condemned" the establishment of an agency "tasked with the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip" and the "recognition of 13 new settlements in West Bank," in a statement Monday. PHOTO: In this March 11, 2024, file photo, Israel's Foreign Affairs Minister Israel Katz listens during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the war in Gaza, at U.N. headquarters. (Bebeto Matthews/AP, FILE) "Egypt affirms the denial the bases of the so-called 'voluntary displacement' that Israel claims it is targeting through this agency, stressing that leaving while under fire from strikes and war and the blockade preventing humanitarian aid and usage of starvation as a weapon is considered forced displacement, a crime and violation of international law and international humanitarian law," the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement in Arabic. Saudi Arabia also condemned the move. The country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a post on X Monday: "The Kingdom reiterates its firm rejection of Israels continuous violations of international law and international humanitarian law." MORE: Trump's threats to pull aid if Egypt, Jordan don't accept Palestinians could lead to new alliances, experts say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PHOTO: Palestinians make their way as they flee their homes, after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders, in Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, March 25, 2025. (Mahmoud Issa/Reuters) PHOTO: Palestinians fleeing Israeli bombardment drive vehicles carrying their belongings on a main axis in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on March 25, 2025. (Bashar Taleb/AFP via Getty Images) "The Foreign Ministry expresses Saudi Arabias condemnation of the Israeli occupation authorities announcement on the establishment of an agency that aims to displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, as well as the approval of the separation of 13 illegal settlement neighborhoods in the West Bank in preparation for legitimizing them as colonial settlements," the Saudi Arabian ministry added. The proposal for the new Israeli agency comes days after the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza surpassed 50,000, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health. At least 792 people were killed and 1,663 others were injured in Israeli strikes last week alone, after the ceasefire ended between Israel and Hamas, the ministry said. Egypt, Saudi Arabia condemn establishment of Israeli agency to 'voluntarily' remove Gazans originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Wondering when Eid al-Fitr will be? Well, so are 2 billion Muslims. Ramadan is now in its last 10 nights. With the expected sighting of the waxing crescent moon by the end of March, nearly 2 billion Muslims worldwide and the roughly 1% of Ohioans who are Muslim will celebrate Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. Does Eid al-Fitr have a definite date? When will we see the new crescent moon? Here's what to know about the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan. When is Eid al-Fitr 2025? Has Saudi Arabia confirmed Eid al-Fitr? Many Muslim communities around the world rely on Saudi Arabia and their trained moon spotters to confirm the date of the first day of the month of Shawwal, Eid al-Fitr, according to Middle East Eye. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As we await the waxing crescent moon sighting, Eid al-Fitr will be on Sunday, March 30, according to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia's pre-determined calendar per Middle East Eye. Shawwal, the Islamic month that succeeds Ramadan, begins right at the sighting of the crescent moon, or "Shawwal moon." The first day of Shawwal brings Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan. Imagine explaining to your boss that you need a day off, but you are not sure if Eid is going to be on Sunday or Monday. You won't know for sure until the night before, since you must wait to see if the crescent moon is actually spotted. Once it is sighted, Muslims prepare for one of the largest celebratory days in Islam. When will we see the waxing crescent moon? Islamic world waits Currently, the moon is in the waning crescent phase at 12% illumination, according to Space.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, we want a waxing crescent to confirm the end of Ramadan. It is anticipated to appear on March 29 at 6:57 a.m. in Columbus, according to Time and Date. What is Eid al-Fitr? Eid al-Fitr is the first of two celebratory days in the Islamic calendar, both observed every year. Though the holiday is marked on one day, some Muslims will celebrate the festival for as long as three days. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month in the Islamic calendar. Eid is not on the same date every year. Like Ramadan, it follows the Islamic Hijri calendar, which is on a lunar cycle. Each year, the start and end of Ramadan and both Eid holidays fall about 11 days earlier than the year before because of the lunar cycle. The sighting of the crescent moon determines the start of these holidays. What does Eid mean? Eid in Arabic means "festival" or "feast," and Fitr means "breaking the fast." In other words, Eid al-Fitr literally means festival of breaking the fast. How do you pronounce Eid? "Eid" can be said like the word "feed" without the "f." But here's a quick Arabic language lesson if you want to know how to really pronounce it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Eid" is "" in Arabic and is actually pronounced as "'ayid." The first Arabic letter of the word, '', is a consonant, which is pronounced using the back of your throat. How is Eid al-Fitr celebrated? What do people do on Eid? Muslims will wake up early in the morning, preparing food and getting ready to attend mandatory Eid prayers at local masjids. It may feel strange for Muslims to eat during daylight hours after a month of fasting between dawn and sunset, but it is actually forbidden for Muslims to fast on Eid al-Fitr. On Eid, Muslims will follow the way of Prophet Muhammad, also known as Sunnah in Islam. Sunnah is not followed just on Eid, but every day. Specific Sunnahs on Eid include: Taking a bath or shower Wearing ones best clothes and perfume Saying Takbeer or praising God on the way to Eid prayers Taking a different path home from attending Eid prayer Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eid traditions vary from country to country, but friends and families commonly gather and spend time together at each others homes, enjoying sweets and delicious food after Eid prayers in the morning. Children will receive gifts and money, also known as Eidi. Apr 10, 2024; Columbus, United States; People walk into the end of Ramadan Eid Prayer held Wednesday morning at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. How do you wish someone a happy Eid? Muslims will hug their friends and family and greet them with Eid Mubarak, meaning blessed festival in Arabic. When is Eid al-Adha, the second Eid in the Islamic calendar? The second Eid, Eid al-Adha, will fall on the 10th day in the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah, which this year is predicted to fall on the evening of June 6, and end on the night of June 7. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: When is Eid al-Fitr? How date for the end of Ramadan is predicted BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)- Louisiana is one of the 19 states that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is asking to look closely into certain bridges for assessments. After the Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed due to a boat crashing into it, the board has revealed 68 major bridges are in need of a closer look in case some have the same fate. Eight of those bridges are in Louisiana. There are mitigating factors in place to ensure the safest possible situation should one of our bridges be hit, said DOTD Spokesperson Rodney Mallot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The majority of the bridges on the list are located in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. According to the report, the risk factor ranges from typical conditions to critical. Mallot says they have specific procedures for inspections. We have fender systems, we have dolphin systems, all to protect the piers on the bridges in the river, he said. Although this isnt a new routine, Mallot said its not uncommon for boats to hit bridges, most recently with the Gross Tete bridge and the Sunshine Bridge in Donaldsonville. But in situations like those, there are steps in place. They have to report it to the Coast Guard, said Mallot. They call us. We go out and investigate and inspect to see if we need to make repairs and if we do need to make repairs, 9 times out of 10, its to the fender system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mallot said special crews will work to make sure all bridges are up to par. They will look at those bridges and determine some mitigation factors that are feasible and get back with the folks who issued that report, he said. Heres a list of the eight bridges: Huey P. Long Bridge Greater New Orleans Bridge Israel LaFleur Bridge Crescent City Connection Bridge Hale Boggs Bridge Horace Wilkinson Bridge Veterans Memorial Bridge Sunshine Bridge Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. Equities haven't performed well this year due to a combination of factors. Macroeconomic tensions are at the top of that list. Still, some companies are doing just fine amid the volatility, including AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) and Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT). These two healthcare leaders may or may not continue beating the market in the next few weeks -- it's challenging to predict the direction of any single stock or the broader equities in such a short period. However, no matter what happens in the near term, AbbVie and Abbott Laboratories are excellent long-term picks for dividend-focused investors. Here's why. 1. AbbVie AbbVie's shares dropped off a cliff in November after it announced a clinical setback for emraclidine, an investigational schizophrenia treatment it got in an $8.7 billion acquisition. Investors were worried the company spent nearly $9 billion for nothing, which is understandable. However, AbbVie's shares have been on a tear since that dip, and it has maintained that momentum through 2025, at least so far. Though the emraclidine setback was concerning news, AbbVie still has excellent prospects that didn't warrant the significant drop. The company's financial results remain strong despite losing patent exclusivity for one of the most lucrative therapies ever, Humira, about two years ago. In 2024, AbbVie's revenue totaled $56.3 billion, up 3.7% year over year. That's a bit below what's considered strong top-line growth for a pharmaceutical giant, but considering the still (relatively) fresh Humira patent cliff, it's rather impressive that the drugmaker's sales are moving north. AbbVie's lineup of approved products is excellent, from its immunology medicines Skyrizi and Rinvoq to its Botox, for which we are unlikely to see biosimilars, as management argued some years ago, and newer products like migraine treatment Qulipta. Clinical disappointments and patent cliffs will happen, but AbbVie looks ready to handle them all. The company's pipeline has several dozen programs. AbbVie recently penned a deal with a Denmark-based company, Gubra A/S, to develop an investigational weight loss therapy, an area that has caught fire in recent years. AbbVie's efforts in this field may or may not pay off, but the company's solid pipeline will likely yield more blockbusters to replace its current medicines, which are still driving top-line growth. Lastly, AbbVie is a Dividend King when we count the time it spent as a division of Abbott Laboratories -- it is on a streak of 53 consecutive years of payout increases. And since splitting from Abbott, AbbVie has increased its dividends by 310%. The stock offers a forward yield of 3.1%, well above the S&P 500 index's average of 1.3%. Whether or not AbbVie's shares keep performing well this year, the company is a strong forever dividend stock to buy. SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) The Syracuse Police Department held a graduation ceremony for the Syracuse Regional Police Academy on Tuesday morning, March 25, at Onondaga County Community College. 13 new officers graduated on Tuesday from the Syracuse Regional Police Academy. Eight of those officers will be joining the Syracuse Police Department, including Abdullah Abraham. The West Hill native says his family inspired him to become a police officer. They just drove me to be better because, ultimately, I want to make them proud, said Abraham. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond proud to see Abraham following in his grandfathers footsteps, and other family members. My grandfather was 30 plus years in SPD. My uncle is currently in SPD going 17 years on and then I have another cousin in the sheriffs office, said Abraham. Academy director, Sergeant Joseph Commisso says he is proud to see how far this years graduating class has come. Watching them grow throughout the academy and how much theyve matured in a generation that usually gets knocked for being less focused, they truly impressed me, said Sgt. Commisso. Sgt. Commisso says this years graduating class may sound small, but its a number that theyve been seeing for quite a while now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is currently what weve been seeing as class sizes of 8, but thats looking to change. Were expecting bigger classes in the upcoming future, Sgt. Commisso said. The Syracuse Police Department will be swearing in a new academy class on Friday, March 28. Were hoping for somewhere in the range of 19 to 27 SPD recruits, as well as some outside agencies again. So this would be the biggest class weve seen in quiet some years, said Sgt. Commisso. As for Abraham, he says he is ready to get started and is excited to see what the future holds. Going with the family legacy, I would love to be a detective and then warrant squad. Its a long road ahead, but, hopefully, thats what I want to achieve, said Abraham. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tuesdays graduates will head to training for 12 weeks. Once that training is complete, they will begin patrols. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (FOX40.COM) The El Dorado County Sheriffs Office detectives are seeking help from the community to identify a possible assault victim. Video Above: What happens when you call 911? (IMAGE: EL DORADO COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE) Detectives said the person in the photos was possibly assaulted along a bike/walking trail behind a Walmart in El Dorado County. Law enforcement official shot in Yuba County In the photographs provided by the sheriffs office, the person is shown wearing dark colored shorts and a green long sleeve shirt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre able to identify the person in these photos or have any additional information, please reach out to Detective Probert with the El Dorado County Sheriffs Department at 530-642-4737. You can also reach the detective via email at probertb@edso.org. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. The El Paso Walmart mass shooter will avoid the death penalty under a plea deal, a district attorney told victims and their families. El Paso District Attorney James Montoya says he will no longer be seeking the death penalty against 26-year-old Patrick Crusius, the El Paso Times confirmed. Crusius is charged in the racially-motivated mass shooting at an El Paso Walmart on Aug. 3, 2019. In one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history, 23 people died and dozens more were injured. The gunman was targeting Hispanic shoppers who he claimed were invading the U.S., federal court documents state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the age of 21, Crusius, who is white, drove over 700 miles from his home near Dallas to commit the El Paso crimes. CNN reports he had taken to social media to express his stance on immigration and building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, praising then-President Donald Trump's strict border policies. Just before the shooting, Crusius made a post claiming Hispanics intended to take control of the government and economy. The El Paso Times reached out to Montoya but did not receive an immediate comment. James Montoya gives a speech before being sworn in as the new District Attorney of El Paso, Texas on January 6, 2025. Crusius' attorney, Joe Spencer, could not comment due to a gag order, which prevents prosecutors, defense attorneys, victims and their families, and anyone directly connected to the case from discussing it publicly. Montoya, a Democrat, was elected district attorney at the end of last year. During his campaign, he said he believed Crusius deserved death but that he would need to review the case before making a decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After speaking with victims' families, Montoya found a majority wanted the case to be over as soon as possible. He was concerned that seeking the death penalty would further lengthen the process with hearings and appeals. "The vast majority of them want this case over and done with as quickly as possible," Montoya said, according to CNN. "I could see a worst-case scenario where this would not go to trial until 2028 if we continued to seek the death penalty." For over five years, the case has languished in state district court. Crusius' federal sentencing ensures he will remain in prison for life. What comes next? A hearing scheduled for Tuesday, April 1, is expected to be cancelled. Hearings currently set for Monday, April 21, and Tuesday, April 22, are expected to be changed from motion hearings to plea hearings, a person familiar with the case told the El Paso Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Sam Medrano of the 409th District Court is expected to file notices of the changes on Tuesday, March 25, or later in the week. As of March 26, no new filings were part of the public record. Mark Stevens, Patrick Crusius's attorney, talks to Patrick Crusius before the second day of a court hearing regarding misconduct allegations in the Walmart shooting case on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse in El Paso, Texas. Crusius is expected to plead guilty in April to one count of capital murder of multiple persons and 22 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. As part of a plea agreement, he would be sentenced to life in prison. The case was originally scheduled to go to trial in 2026. The case has been stalled for years as the federal case against Crusius went to trial first and the state's case has been bogged down with controversies, including allegations of prosecutorial misconduct by former district attorneys. The gunman's case has been handled by four different district attorneys since he was indicted in 2019. What was Patrick Crusius' federal sentencing? See charges Like Montoya, the U.S. Attorney's Office chose not to seek the death penalty against Crusius in the federal case. The reasons behind this decision remain unclear, CNN reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Feb. 9, 2023, the shooter reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors and pleaded guilty to the following charges: 23 counts of hate crimes resulting in death 23 counts of use of a firearm to commit murder during and in relation to a crime of violence 22 counts of hate crimes involving an attempt to kill 22 counts of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence Crusius was sentenced on July 7, 2023 to 90 consecutive life sentences in federal court for the mass shooting. He was ordered to serve his federal prison sentence at ADX Florence Supermax federal prison near Florence, Colorado. He remains in state custody at the El Paso County Jail as his state death penalty trial remains pending. El Paso Times reporter Aaron Martinez contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Gunman in El Paso Walmart shooting may avoid death penalty, DA says STORY: A law firm representing the families of 30 Venezuelans deported from the U.S. to El Salvador is asking that countrys Supreme Court to judge the legality of their detention. The Venezuelans were sent to the El Salvadors so-called mega-prison, CECOT as part of a deal with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. The law firm filed a habeas corpus lawsuit Monday, asking the court to prove their detention was justified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It comes after the U.S. sent 238 Venezuelans to El Salvador, accusing them of being members of the Tren de Aragua gang. On Monday, lawyer Jamie Ortega told reporters outside the court that while they are only representing 30 of the Venezuelans, theyd request habeas corpus for all of them. "First, they should be immediately released, and failing that, that there be an orderly and systematic transfer and repatriation as required by our immigration laws. Our immigration law is fabulous, it is an excellent law, this legislation should be applied to the 238. Ortega said that his firm had been asked to represent the migrants by Venezuelas government as well as family member. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday the migrants relatives marched for their release in Venezuelas capital Caracas. This woman says her detained grandson was deceived, telling her before his flight that he was going to Venezuela, not El Salvador. In the U.S., the case has emerged as a major test of the U.S. President Donald Trumps sweeping assertion of executive power. Some 137 of the group were deported under an obscure U.S. wartime law targeting alien enemies that was quickly blocked by U.S. Judge James Boasberg, who ordered the plane carrying them to turn around. However, they later arrived at the prison under a deal where, the White House says, Washington is paying some $6 million to hold them in custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawyers and families dispute that the migrants are Tren de Aragua members. On Tuesday night, the Trump administration argued the deportations did not violate Judge Boasbergs orders. They again said the flights had left U.S. airspace by the time he issued a written order and so had not been required to return. They also invoked a state secrets privilege, saying the judges inquiry was judicial overreach. In February 2023, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele posted to social media a tightly edited video with dramatic music showing thousands of men, with their heads pushed down, being transferred to the country's newest prison: the Terrorism Confinement Center. "Early this morning, in a single operation, we transferred the first 2,000 gang members to the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT)," Bukele said on X. "This will be their new home, where they will live for decades, unable to do any more harm to the population." Two weeks ago, Bukele posted a similar video on X in which hundreds of men in white uniforms, with their heads shaved, are seen running bent over while being moved into the mega prison. But this time, the individuals weren't criminals who were arrested in El Salvador. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: DOJ contends judge didn't have authority to order return of 2 deportation flights The video showed CECOT receiving over 200 Venezuelan migrants who are alleged to be members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The migrants were sent to El Salvador by U.S. authorities under the Alien Enemies Act, as part of a $6 million deal the Trump administration arranged in their effort to crack down on illegal immigration. CECOT, one of Latin America's largest prisons, was opened as part of a crackdown on criminal gangs in El Salvador, whose incarceration rate is one of the highest in the world. The mega prison, which can hold up to 40,000 detainees, has been criticized by human rights groups over alleged human rights violations. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was scheduled to visit the prison on Wednesday along with the Salvadorian minister of justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move by the Trump administration to deport alleged migrant gang members to a notorious prison in another country, without due process, has sparked an outcry from relatives of some of the detainees and by immigration advocates and attorneys who say that some of those deported were not Tren de Aragua gang members. PHOTO: Salvadoran police officers escort alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua recently deported by the U.S. government to be imprisoned in the Terrorism Confinement Center prison, in San Luis Talpa, El Salvador, obtained Mar. 16, 2025. (Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia via Reuters) 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 a subsequent sworn declaration, ICE Acting Field Office Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations Robert Cerna argued that "the 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." The declaration was included in the Trump administration's recent motion to vacate Judge James Boasberg's temporary restraining order blocking deportations pursuant to the Alien Enemies Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "While it is true that many of the [Tren de Aragua gang] members removed under the AEA do not have criminal records in the United States, that is because they have only been in the United States for a short period of time. The lack of a criminal record does not indicate they pose a limited threat," Cerna said. Ivannoa Sanchez, who told ABC News that her husband, Jose Franco Caraballo Tiapa, is being held at CECOT, said that he has never been in trouble with the law. "He has never done anything, not even a fine, absolutely nothing," said Sanchez. MORE: 'Nazis got better treatment,' judge says of Trump administration's Alien Enemies Act deportations Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I can't rest, I don't even eat, I haven't even had juice or water because I know he isn't eating either," Sanchez said. Juanita Goebertus, the director of the Americas Division of the advocacy group Human Rights Watch, told ABC News that detainees in CECOT, as well as other prisons in El Salvador, are denied communication with their relatives and lawyers, and only make court appearances in online hearings, often in groups of several hundred detainees at the same time. "The Salvadoran government has described people held in CECOT as 'terrorists,' and has said that they 'will never leave,'" Goebertus said, adding that the Human Rights Watch is not aware of any detainees who have ever been released from CECOT. According to human rights advocates and immigration attorneys, CECOT prisoners only leave their cell for 30 minutes a day and sleep on metal beds in overcrowded cells. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They only have about half an hour outside of their windowless cells to be outside in a hallway of the prison," Margaret Cargioli, an attorney for the nonprofit Immigrant Defenders Law Center, told ABC News. "They are overcrowded within each of the cells, and they're sleeping on metal." MORE: Judge blocks Trump from deporting noncitizens under Alien Enemies Act, orders flights turned around For years, Amnesty International has published reports on detention centers and prisons in El Salvador, and has alleged systematic abuse of detainees and "patterns of grave human rights violations." Those findings were acknowledged in a 2023 human rights report published by the U.S. Department of State that said there have been significant human rights issues in Salvadoran prisons. Ana Piquer, the Americas director at Amnesty International, called the detainment in El Salvador of the Venezuelan migrants a "disregard of the U.S. human rights obligations." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Amnesty International has extensively documented the inhumane conditions within detention centers in El Salvador, including the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) where those removed are now being held, " Piquer said in a statement. "Reports indicate extreme overcrowding, lack of access to adequate medical care, and widespread ill-treatment amounting to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment." Attorneys representing some of the Venezuelan migrants told ABC News that the lack of communication is a special concern -- as opposed to the U.S., where detainees can communicate with their families and attorneys. "There's no communication with family or counsel," Cargioli said of CECOT. "The concern just raises to an entirely other level." El Salvador prison holding alleged Venezuelan gang members has been criticized for alleged abuses originally appeared on abcnews.go.com NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) The Tennessee Attorney General has urged consumers to see if theyre eligible for a payout from a settlement with Apotex over inflated generic drug prices. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, along with a coalition of bipartisan attorneys general from dozens of other states, had announced a $49 million settlement against Apotex and Heritage Pharmaceuticals in October 2024. When generic drug companies stifle competition to inflate prices, consumers suffer, Skrmetti said at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, Skrmettis office filed a motion for preliminary approval for Apotexs $39.1 million portion of the settlement. The office also urged consumers to see if theyre eligible for a payout related to the case. TN lawmaker proposes allowing for 12-month supply of birth control in bill The settlement resolves allegations that both Apotex and Heritage engaged in widespread, long-running conspiracies to artificially inflate and manipulate generic drug prices. The companies also allegedly reduced competition and unreasonably restrained trade among generic prescription drugs. In addition to the settlement, both companies agreed to internal reforms to ensure fair competition and compliance with antitrust laws. If you purchased one of the drugs listed below between May 2009 and December 2019, you may be eligible for compensation. See the full list below: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HeritageDrugListDownload Read todays top stories on wkrn.com You can call 1-866-290-0182 toll-free to determine your eligibility. You can also follow this link to visit a website about the settlement or send an email 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 WKRN News 2. (Bloomberg) -- Senator Elizabeth Warren warned Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell could be fired by President Donald Trump as part of a purge she said could disrupt US markets. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Massachusetts Democrat said the expansive authority Trump has claimed to oust officials at independent agencies means nobody is safe, not even the chairman of the Federal Reserve. If he can just mow through every civil servant, if he can just mow through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, its a form of lawlessness and all the power belongs to the king, Warren said in an interview Wednesday with Bloomberg Television. She contends the presidents actions are illegal. Warren opposed Powells reappointment by President Joe Biden because of the Fed chairs support for reducing financial regulations. But she said she stands behind the independence of the Fed as well as agencies like the Federal Trade Commission and others, including inspectors general, who Trump has targeted despite laws intended to protect their independence. Follow The Big Take daily podcast wherever you listen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warren also criticized large-scale dismissal of federal workers by Elon Musk and Trump as lawlessness. She also cautioned that pulling back on regulations that protect investors risks weakening the appeal of US capital markets and ultimately the countrys economy. The reason our stock market is so valuable is in part because it has level, transparent rules that are strictly enforced, she said. She castigated Paul Atkins, Trumps pick to be chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, for voting for looser regulations ahead of the 2008 financial crisis, and suggested he didnt learn his lesson about the crisis and the taxpayer bailouts that followed it. He had the chance to have 20-20 hindsight, she said. He has 20-zero hindsight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warren, a leading progressive voice in her party, also broke with Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumers decision to drop a procedural blockade against a Republican spending package that averted a government shutdown earlier this month. Many Democrats had sought to use the moment to limit Musks large-scale firings of federal workers and contract cancellations. I think theres a moment when you stand and fight, she said. We cannot avoid this fight, because Donald Trump and Elon Musk, truly they want to take this country over for just a handful of people and they want even more wealth and power to go to them while everybody else has to pay for it. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2025 Bloomberg L.P. UK beverages group AG Barr intends to scrap bottled water brand Strathmore. The brand is to be discontinued later in its 2025/26 financial year In a statement to Just Drinks, an AG Barr spokesperson said the brand had "struggled to compete" in recent years. They noted the move to cease producing Strathmore could result in the closure of its manufacturing site in Forfar in Scotland, putting 23 jobs at risk. We believe we have now reached a point where the Forfar site is no longer sustainable, the spokesperson said. They added: The proposals are subject to consultation, and we intend to fully support our employees through this period of change. The move was announced alongside the release of AG Barr's latest results for its 2024/25 fiscal year, which ended on 25 January. AG Barr, which produces the drinks brands Irn-Bru, Rubicon, Boost and Funkin, said current trading is in line with our expectations and kept its annual outlook for the financial year 2025/26 unchanged, forecasting continued revenue growth and margin improvement. The scrapping of the Strathmore brand follows an organisational simplification of the business which the company said was announced to staff in February. The move sees the integration of Barr Soft Drinks and the Funkin cocktails businesses into a unified AG Barr operation, streamlining activities and fostering synergies. In March last year, the business announced a round of redundancies affecting 160 roles as part of a shift from a direct-to-store delivery model to an enlarged and enhanced field sales operation. Around the same time, AG Barr also revealed plans to fully integrate its Boost Drinks subsidiary into the Barr Soft Drinks division to remove duplicated activities. In its full-year fiscal period, AG Barr's revenue rose by 5.1% to 420.4m ($544.5m), driven by strong performance in its soft drinks segment, particularly a standout performance from Rubicon and continued strong growth from Irn-Bru. The business also reported a 6.5% increase in gross profit, at 164.3m, while operating profit was up 3.2% year on year to 51.7m. Profit before tax grew 3.7% to 53.2m. Commenting on the company's results, AG Barr's newly appointed CEO Euan Sutherland, said: Looking forward, we have a refreshed strategy centred on growth and are committed to our long-term financial targets. I am confident that successful execution of our plans will see another year of positive progress towards our long-term goals." "AG Barr to pull Strathmore bottled water brand" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. ESSEX, Vt. (ABC22 FOX 44) The Town of Essex held a nearly four-hour meeting over Project Moose, an Amazon proposal to build a distribution center on the 23 acres of woodland in the Saxon Hill Industrial Park. The Thursday meeting was attended by review board members, Amazon representatives and what some estimate to be close to 60 community members in-person and over 40 online. When the town turns out for these meetings its really important that folks who have something to say are able to come and make their presence known and make their thoughts known, said Ian Carroll, the Chair of the Essex Development Review Board. When Carroll received Amazons application to build a more than 100,000-square-foot distribution center earlier this month, he never expected such a strong community response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats the one challenge that towns folk probably had is that for developmental review, its not a position where we are talking about the emotions of the applications, its about the nuts and bolts that are in our purview, said the Chair. Due to the number of public comments, the board opted to push the vote on Amazons proposal to a later date. Katie DeSanto, a General Manager from Phoenix Books in Essex, says she has a lot of concerns. For me its about human labor practices, its about taxes, what our infrastructure can handle, its about traffic, its about safety, which is what a lot of residents were concerned about is traffic and safety. And its so much bigger than Essex, this effect will radiate out to other towns, she said. Nicolette Baron, who owns Livresse Lingerie, also attended the meeting and says she is concerned that a new facility could put more pressure on Vermonts small businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a small business owner, its already hard enough to compete with online sales you know making it even harder is really going to get us in the feet. When asked for comment on the meeting, Amazon Spokesperson Steve Kelly wrote, We appreciate the consideration of the Town of Essex as we explore the possibility of opening a small operations facility, which would support providing fast delivery and great service to local customers. This process is in the early planning stages and additional steps remain. Well share more when we can. The boards chairman says he expects the group to take up the proposal again later this month. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the Ramadan holiday, Azernews reports. "Your Excellency, On the blessed occasion of Eid al-Fitr, I convey my warmest congratulations and best wishes to Your Excellency, the Government, and the brotherly people of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Eid al-Fitr is a time of spiritual reflection, unity, and renewal a moment that brings Muslims across the world together in a spirit of compassion, generosity, and peace. May this blessed occasion bring joy, prosperity, and continued harmony to the people and Government of Azerbaijan. The Federal Republic of Somalia values the friendship and cooperation shared between our two nations. We look forward to further strengthening our bilateral ties in the years to come. Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration and best wishes for your good health and continued success," the letter reads. (Bloomberg) -- Korean chip startup FuriosaAI has turned down an $800 million takeover offer from Meta Platforms Inc., choosing instead to grow the business as an independent company, a person with knowledge of the matter said. Most Read from Bloomberg Meta had been in discussions about acquiring Seoul-based FuriosaAI since the start of this year, said the person, who asked not to be identified as the matter is private. Representatives for FuriosaAI and Meta declined to comment. FuriosaAI is one of only a handful of Asian startups that have attracted Meta. Led by June Paik, who previously worked at Samsung Electronics Co. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc., it develops semiconductors for AI inferencing, or services. The eight-year-old companys second-generation processor, RNGD (pronounced Renegade), is designed to challenge products from industry leader Nvidia Corp. as well as fellow startups Groq Inc., SambaNova Systems Inc. and Cerebras Systems Inc. Shares in South Korea-based venture capital firm DSC Investment Inc., a big backer of the startups, plunged more than 16%. The stock had climbed sharply since news of a potential Meta takeover surfaced in February. Meta shares rose 3.4% to $616.78 at 3:20 p.m. Monday in New York amid a broad market rally. Meta is investing heavily in artificial intelligence infrastructure, seeking to better compete in a fast-moving race against the likes of OpenAI and Google as well as upstarts such as Hangzhou-based DeepSeek. In mid-January, Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg said that Meta would spend as much as $65 billion this year, including outlays to build a large data center and expand its AI workforce. Only a week later, Zuckerberg told investors that Meta anticipates eventually spending hundreds of billions of dollars on AI infrastructure. The Menlo Park, California-based company is also working on chips designed for its own AI workloads, including powering the ranking and recommendations ads on Facebook and Instagram. In 2023, it introduced its first custom AI inference chips and it unveiled an upgraded version last year. FuriosaAI plans to raise capital before eventually pursuing an initial public offering, according to people familiar with the matter. Its expected to close an extended Series C funding round in about a month, which is on track to exceed the targeted amount, they said. ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) Ethiopia s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Wednesday asked people in the northern Tigray region to nominate a new leader in the latest move by the federal government to defuse political disagreements and prevent a return to war. The nominee would replace Tigrays interim President Getachew Reda, whose differences with former leader, Debretsion Gebremichael, have split the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) and led to fighting as armed soldiers loyal to Gebremichael take over key towns. There are concerns in the region that the widening political split within the TPLF could lead to a full-fledged civil war like the one that ended in 2022 with the signing of a peace agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The party has been calling for the firing of Reda and others since last year, attempting to appoint a new set of its endorsed candidates and removing him and some cabinet members from party membership. Earlier this month, armed soldiers loyal to the party took over the administrations of key towns, including the regions second biggest city, Adigrat, in what Reda termed as a coup and with escalating conflict, he fled to the capital, Addis Ababa. William Davison, an analyst on Ethiopia says, the leadership change might ease infighting for the immediate future but many challenges remain. The regions new leaders will still possess little leverage to convince the federal government to restore territory lost in the war and the failure to achieve that is likely to lead to continuing political instability inside Tigray, while serious defiance of Addis Ababa may lead to a new conflict," he told The Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahmed, who used a social media post on the X platform on Wednesday for names of potential nominees, has been holding talks with Reda and the leadership of the TPLF in Addis Ababa to end the political impasse. Amanuel Assefa, deputy chair of the TPLF, said the prime minister's decision to ask the public to nominate a candidate instead of one chosen by the party is a violation of the cessation of hostilities agreement (CoHA). We know that the prime minister had agreed with the candidate who was nominated by the TPLF and therefore, if he tries to reject it unilaterally, it will be against the CoHA," Assefa told AP. The TPLF's preferred candidate is the current deputy president of the interim government, Lt. Gen. Tadesse Worede, who he described as a competent and experienced politician and military professional, who served as commander of the military arm of the party, The Tigray Defense Force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another issue is how the prime minister intends to identify whether the public nomination is given by Tigrayans or not," he added. Ahmed told lawmakers last week that he expects the renewal of the term of the interim government to be extended by a year to coincide with national elections that will take place next year. Associated Press journalist Amanuel Gebremedhin contributed to this report. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has pledged her support for the US-funded foreign broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), which is facing closure due to drastic funding cuts by the US government. "Radio Free Europe provides independent reporting to many countries where media freedom is threatened," von der Leyen wrote in a post on X on Wednesday. She said she wanted to work with partners such as Germany, the Czech Republic and Sweden to support the broadcaster's "award winning journalism," without saying what form this support would take. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US President Donald Trump ordered significant budget cuts at the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees all US government-funded foreign media outlets not under military control. RFE/RL later announced that USAGM had officially terminated their existing funding agreement. The broadcaster has filed a lawsuit against USAGM, arguing that the withholding of funds is unlawful because the money was expressly allocated by the US Congress. The Washington district court has since issued a temporary injunction ensuring continued operation of the station until a final ruling is made, averting the immediate closure of the broadcaster, an RFE/RL spokesman said. A ruling is expected in the coming weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several European states, led by the Czech Republic - home to the station's broadcasting centre - are discussing ways to preserve RFE/RL, which produces television and radio programmes in Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian and many other languages, distributing content online as well. The broadcaster has long been a thorn in the side of the Russian leadership. In February 2024, Moscow designated RFE/RL an "undesirable organization." Countries in the European Union are likely to face a flat, double-digit tariff on all goods as part of the reciprocal tariffs President Donald Trump has promised to unveil on April 2. The final tariff rate is still fluid, according to three diplomats, who were briefed on European trade chief Maros Sefcovics Tuesday meeting with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and were granted anonymity to share details of the private briefing. The tariffs are expected to kick in at midnight on April 3, the people were told. EU ambassadors to the U.S. were also told there is little they can do to avoid the tariffs going into force, which the Trump administration views as the beginning, not the end, of trade negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement European diplomats expect Trumps April 2 announcement to focus on what the White House has dubbed reciprocal tariffs. According to two of the diplomats, those duties will take the form of a flat percentage for the EU, calculated based on the trade barriers the bloc imposes on U.S. exports, including tariffs on goods and other non-tariff barriers. And those two diplomats suggested the tariff rate applied to the EU could be as high as 20 or 25 percent. All of the tariffs would be additive, meaning they would come on top of tariffs levied on specific industries like steel and aluminum and the 25 percent tariff Trump has ordered on any country that purchases oil and gas from Venezuela, which includes Spain and the Netherlands. Trump has also promised separate tariffs on five industries: steel and aluminum, automobiles, lumber, semiconductors and pharmaceutical products. The White House has already imposed a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum and Trump plans to announce his tariff on automobiles Wednesday afternoon. The tariffs on the other industries could come later in April, as the administration focuses on reciprocal tariffs and the negotiations that ensue, the diplomats were told. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But it is not sure which of the big ones will be targeted at the EU," one diplomat said. "Maybe they will give us the honor only with some of the sectors such as automotive." Trump has been openly critical of the EU in recent weeks, after the 27 country bloc announced that it would respond to his steel and aluminum tariffs with its own tariffs on about $28 billion in U.S. goods. Trump has said the EU was created to screw the U.S. and has criticized their value-added tax, despite insistence from European countries and even the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that its evenly applied to sales in member countries and is not a trade barrier. I think I've been very fair, Trump told reporters Tuesday. I've had, I have them set, but I think I've been very fair to countries that have really abused us economically for many, many decades. The European Union has rejected calls to ease sanctions on Russia following US-backed talks on the Ukraine war in Saudi Arabia, insisting any such steps would only be considered if they serve Kiev's interests. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas' spokeswoman said on Wednesday that the bloc took note of proposals made in Riyadh this week aimed at securing safe navigation in the Black Sea and halting attacks on energy infrastructure in both Ukraine and Russia. But she said it is up to Russia to show actual political will to end its unprovoked war on Ukraine. The EU remains ready to work with Ukraine, the United States and other partners on next steps, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia claims certain EU sanctions must be lifted to finalize any agreement on merchant shipping in the Black Sea. However, EU diplomats told dpa the demands were likely not coordinated with Washington and could be aimed at undermining ceasefire efforts. Any easing of sanctions would only be considered if it directly contributed to a peace deal acceptable to Ukraine, EU sources added. The US described the proposed shipping agreement as a positive outcome of the Saudi talks, which included representatives from Russia and Ukraine. However, Moscow is demanding renewed access to the SWIFT international financial system for Russia's state-owned agricultural bank a move only the EU can authorize, as the system is headquartered in Belgium. Russia is also pushing to lift embargoes on agricultural machinery and other goods critical to food and fertilizer production, along with broader trade restrictions. Brussels confirmed it remains engaged with the US on Ukraine, including through the G7, but is not involved in direct talks with Moscow. Years ago, I took a class at the University of Texas called anthropological genetics. Deborah Bolnick, an anthropologist and geneticist, taught us how humans have constructed and deconstructed our various groups. We learned that the racial categories of the United States Census have shifted several times. We learned that humans have more genetic diversity within a defined racial group than between them. And very critically, we learned about eugenics, the notion that certain kinds of people are better suited to reproduce. We learned how this was a guiding doctrine of Nazi science and the Jim Crow South, and was intertwined with similar dictums such as pronatalism the idea that the right kind of people should reproduce as much as possible. (You know which kind.) The class gathered three times a week in a sunny room in Painter Hall, a 15-minute walk from the AT&T Hotel & Conference Center another university-owned venue where later this week a conference on natalism and eugenics will be held. But bafflingly, this week's Natal Conference seeks not to decry eugenics, but to celebrate it. A medical technician selects eggs for in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Some natalist proponents support the use of IVF to screen embryos for certain traits and markers. At first glance this may not seem so bad. Survival of the fittest, after all? But the key question to ask here is this: Who gets to decide who the fittest are? And on which criteria? Are people of a certain race inherently better? Which combinations of nucleotides mark the best people? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consider the speaking lineup for this conference. Instead of demographers scientists who study populations and how they change the lineup features far-right gadflies and prominent proponents of eugenicist ideas and practices, all with a stated aim to improve future generations, not by investing in communities and the health and well-being of populations, but by developing policies of genetic selection that elevate and encourage the reproduction of white, abled people only. But gadflies, by definition, exist to annoy. Arguing with them yields limited returns. And much to my dismay, UT has welcomed this event to our campus. While I urge university leadership in the strongest possible terms to disavow this embarrassing spectacle and protect our community from people who tweet cheerfully about the "butt rape" of Indigenous Americans, I doubt they will respond. What we can do is this: Learn how horrific this movement is. Read about the nonconsensual sterilization of prisoners in California, which wasnt stopped until 2013. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read about the history of Mississippi Appendectomies, the nonconsensual hysterectomies performed on Black women in teaching hospitals across the South. Learn about Carrie Buck, the young woman who became pregnant by rape and was sterilized by a pro-eugenics physician who treated his patients as if they were cats who needed spaying. Carrie Buck, left, is shown in 1924 with her mother, Emma Buck. After a doctor diagnosed Carrie Buck as "feebleminded," she became the test case for a Virginia law that allowed involuntary sterilization of people deemed unfit. Discuss these examples and their lessons with your friends and family. Do what you can with the emotional energy you have to counter this very ugly movement. Horrible things take root in ignorance. While eugenics has never gone away, those who support it are more comfortable and publicly accepted than they have been in decades. It is especially concerning that they find comfort on the campus of our states most celebrated public university, which has said it cannot discriminate against the viewpoints of anyone wishing to use the AT&T Conference Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tacit approval of a race science conference at UT-Austin, alongside the large-scale defunding and muzzling of American science by a far-right regime, marks a very dark chapter of our history. It should worry all of us, not just academics, how quickly weve moved away from science, progress and the embrace of diversity. We wont win every battle in this war. But no one can force us to forget our richly and beautifully diverse backgrounds as Americans, and our values as human beings. Consider this quote from the late Stephen Jay Gould, a paleontologist and one of the most celebrated and widely-read scholars in modern history: I am, somehow, less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einsteins brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops. Claire Zagorski is a graduate research assistant and PhD student in translational science at the University of Texas. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Natal Conference and eugenics don't belong at UT Austin | Opinion She was feted as the Queen of Europe, the pragmatic nationalist leader dragging Brussels to the Right on migration while acting as the EUs bridge to Donald Trumps White House. But Giorgia Melonis crown has started to slip as Mr Trumps Ukraine policy forces her to pick sides between the Americans and Europeans. Until recently a staunch supporter of Ukraine, Ms Meloni has become a thorn in the side of European leaders, dragging her feet as they push for a massive rearmament to deter Russian aggression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, the Italian premier branded Franco-British plans for a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine risky, complex and ineffective. Donald Trumps Ukraine policy has forced Ms Meloni to pick sides between the Americans and Europeans - Reuters Ahead of a fresh summit of the coalition of the willing in Paris on Thursday one European diplomat said: So far, shes managed to straddle the fence a bit, but thats increasingly becoming more difficult. As the rest of Europe considers this an issue of existential importance, she risks placing herself squarely outside of the European mainstream, the envoy warned. Ms Melonis challenge is to preserve her status as a major EU power broker, while keeping an increasingly Moscow-friendly White House onside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The diplomatic tightrope is all the more precarious because of her trouble-making coalition partner and rival Matteo Salvini, who admires Putin and has a direct line to JD Vance. Unwilling coalition partner? When Sir Keir Starmer hosted a summit of European leaders in London on March 2, he first held bilateral talks at Downing Street with Ms Meloni. It was a recognition her friendly ties to Elon Musk made her a valuable interlocutor with Mr Trump. But that proved to be the high-water mark of Italys involvement in the coalition of the willing being built by Sir Keir and Emmanuel Macron. Rome sent no representative to the later talks between military officials over the Franco-British plan for a European force to protect the peace in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There had been warning signs that Ms Meloni was not fully signed up. She was 50 minutes late for the previous emergency meeting on Ukraine in Paris. Ms Meloni waited until the night before a virtual summit hosted this month by the Prime Minister before finally deciding to take part. When Sir Keir Starmer hosted a summit of European leaders in London he held bilateral talks with Ms Meloni first - Henry Nicholls/AFP Finally, before a European Council summit in Brussels last Thursday, she broke ranks with the coalition of the willing over a plan now dismissed by Trump aides as a pose. EU leaders were gathering in Brussels to discuss the new ReArm Europe plan, which is designed to unlock 800 billion (667 billion) for defence spending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rome spends just 1.61 per cent of GDP on defence, far below the 2 per cent NATO target, which Donald Trump wants raised to closer to 5 per cent. Ms Melonis hands are tied by Italys huge levels of public debt, which is expected to hit 140 per cent next year. The EU plan relaxes strict fiscal rules to allow for more spending on defence and calls for a 150 billion (125 billion) facility offering loans to member states to spend on weapons. But it is opposed as warmongering by the pro-Putin Mr Salvini, who believes Europe should cheer on Mr Trumps peace talks instead. Italian public opinion is also a problem. In a survey this weekend, 52 per cent of Italians said their military aid to Ukraine should be stopped. Just 35 per cent of those polled said it should be maintained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And 54 per cent were against increasing defence spending to 2 per cent, with just 30 per cent in favour. Before the summit, Ms Meloni demanded a one-on-one audience with Ursula von der Leyen. She told the European Commission president that she wanted truly common European instruments that do not directly burden the debt of states. What she meant was that the EU should be giving Rome grants not loans to buy weapons. That would mean more common borrowing, which is unacceptable to richer member states with lower public debt. Credit: YouTube/ La Repubblica She found other problems with the plan, including its name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pedro Sanchez, the socialist prime minister of Spain, expressed reservations over calling the plan ReArm Europe. His Leftist coalition government wants to use the money to fight climate change and energy crises, rather than solely on defence. In an unlikely alliance with a critic of both Mr Trump and her friend Javier Milei, the president of Argentina, Ms Meloni agreed that the name had to go. After the summit, Mrs von der Leyen announced that ReArm Europe would be renamed Readiness 2030 instead. Those two could not be more ideologically different, said one disbelieving EU diplomat, but this brought them together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But such antics have cost her political capital. She consistently wants to be perceived as a constructive player in Brussels, as shes keenly aware of Italys dependence on the Commission and other member states on all things financial, an envoy told The Telegraph. Now Salvini is trying to push her to the right on Ukraine and the defence industry and its painting her into a corner in Brussels. Out of the wilderness After disowning her past praise of Putin, Ms Meloni took her once tiny Brothers of Italy party into power in October 2022. There were predictions she would form the most Right-wing Italian government since Mussolini. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But she surpassed all expectations to bring a rare period of stability to Italian politics, where governments are famously short-lived. She is a ruthless and canny negotiator. She has this pink pencil case, she gets it out and it makes everyone think shes like a little girl at school, a Brussels source told The Telegraph. And then, the insider added, making a gesture across his throat, she kills them. Once a virulent Eurosceptic, Ms Meloni forged a working relationship with Ms von der Leyen, largely focused on unauthorised migration. She has positioned herself as the bridge between soft Eurosceptics and pro-EU conservatives in Brussels and Strasbourg. Ms Meloni has forged a working relationship with Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission - Bernadett Szabo/Reuters She successfully led a bloc of more than half the EUs 27 nations demanding Brussels allow offshore detention camps for failed asylum seekers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some even said she was the heir to Angela Merkel, the former German chancellor, as the new Queen of Europe. There was praise across the Atlantic as well. Donald Trump called her a wonderful woman after they met at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida estate, and she was the only EU leader to attend Mr Trumps inauguration in January. The Italian leader was sure enough of herself to take the risk of calling for continued support for Ukraine against Russia at the Republican CPAC conference in February. But when Mr Trump humiliated Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office that same month, she was the only major European leader not to express support for the Ukrainian president on social media. Instead, she called for an immediate summit between the US and Europe. A demand that Washington ignored. Since then she has been reluctant to distance herself too far from her fellow nationalist in the White House. I dont blindly follow either Europe or the United States, she claimed last week. I am in Europe because Italy is in Europe, so its not like were thinking of going somewhere else, but I also want the West to be compact. The Captains challenge Halfway through her five-year term, Ms Meloni faces a challenger in the form of Mr Salvini, who is weakening her foreign policy hand and sapping her support for Ukraine. Nicknamed by Italians Il Capitano or The Captain, Mr Salvini has long had a deep resentment of being eclipsed by Ms Meloni, whose star rose as his fell. Now he appears to be in the ascendant once again. On Friday, he had a telephone conversation with US Vice President J D Vance, a protocol-stretching encounter designed to undermine the 48-year-old prime minister. While Trump and Putin are talking about how to keep missiles on the ground (i.e. not fired), others are talking about a European army, of spending 800 billion to buy weapons. It is crazy, its an outrage, the leader of the far-Right League said. Mr Salvini has been an irritant for Ms Meloni ever since the conservative coalition was formed. But he has stepped up his efforts to subvert her authority, heaping pressure on her to sign a lucrative but controversial government deal with Elon Musks Starlink. Matteo Salvini has been an irritant for Ms Meloni ever since the conservative coalition was formed - Insidefoto/LightRocket She may be more popular than her deputy prime minister but Ms Meloni cannot afford to ignore the League. Matteo is good at swearing blind that he and Giorgia are great friends, but he is also very good at bringing down governments, said a senior member of the prime ministers Brothers of Italy party. Underestimating him would be a huge mistake. In the summer of 2019, Mr Salvini notoriously pulled the plug on a prior government that he was a member of a coalition between his League party and the anti-establishment, populist Five Star Movement. Ms Meloni has reportedly told him to lower his tone and calm down. She believes that his more strident rhetoric is linked to party politics he faces a League conference on April 6 in which he is campaigning to be re-elected as leader. Giorgia has vowed that if he does not shut up after April 6, she will emasculate his party in parliament and across the country, a Meloni loyalist said. The prime minister has laid down a red line and Matteo better not cross it. Ms Meloni had a strong inkling that Mr Salvini would be a problem right from the start, when she formed her coalition in the autumn of 2022. Sooner or later Matteo will make us dance the rumba, she reportedly told confidantes. The Trump White House makes no bones about picking favourites in its allies domestic politics. One such is Viktor Orban, the pro-Putin Hungarian prime minister, who recently awarded Mr Salvini a prize for his unwavering defence of Europe from illegal migrants. Mr Salvini also has links to the pro-Russian Alternative for Germany (AfD), which was backed by Elon Musk and JD Vance in the German elections. Ms Melonis strong support for Ukraine was the launchpad for her meteoric rise to becoming an international stateswoman and a major power-broker in Brussels. But the day may be looming when she is forced to choose to either stick with establishment Europe or twist to Trumps America. 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. European states willing to guarantee a future peace settlement in Ukraine are shifting discussions away from deploying ground troops towards alternatives, due to internal disagreements and potential opposition from the US and Russia. Source: Reuters, as reported by European Pravda Details: The coalition of the willing, led by France and Britain, has been working for several weeks on a plan to send thousands of troops to Ukraine to secure a future ceasefire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Reuters sources within European diplomatic circles indicate growing doubts about the feasibility of this option. "They [European states ed.] are taking a step back from ground troops and trying to re-dimension what they were doing to something that could be more sensible," one European diplomat told Reuters. Another diplomat stated that the idea of deploying troops was "appealed" when Ukraine "was in a better position", but this is no longer the case given the battlefield situation and the stance of the US administration. Some European countries are reluctant to send troops without firm US guarantees and an international mandate. They are also concerned about costs, shortages of personnel and equipment and, ultimately, the prospect of direct conflict with Russia, the report says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Reuters source within the EU stated that the idea of a ground presence in Ukraine has not been completely abandoned, adding: "It doesnt mean individual countries wont have soldiers deployed in Ukraine to provide training and other support". Among the alternatives to troop deployment mentioned in the report are potential support for a UN peacekeeping mission, an increased military presence in neighbouring countries and the Italian prime ministers idea of extending NATO Article 5 guarantees to Ukraine. One European diplomat told Reuters that the latter option would offer "the biggest security guarantee you can provide at a lower cost" compared to actual deployment of troop in Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Europe is outgunned by the Houthis drones and missiles stockpiles, Donald Trumps cabinet claimed in leaked messages. The top White House officials also insisted that the US was the only nation capable of defeating the Iranian-backed Yemeni rebel group. During the exchange, JD Vance, the vice-president, Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, Mike Waltz, the national security adviser, and Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, debated bombing Yemen as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They claimed that only America could reopen key shipping lanes. The cabinet members also said the president had asked that officials determine the cost associated with the attacks so they could levy remunerations from their European allies in return for carrying out the strikes. Yemeni children carry a mock missile during a protest in the capital Sanaa against last weeks US attack on their country - Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images Mr Waltz said: Whether we pull the plug or not today, European navies do not have the capabilities to defend against the types of sophisticated, anti-ship, cruise missiles, and drones the Houthis are now using. So whether its now or several weeks from now, it will have to be the United States that reopens these shipping lanes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added: Per the presidents request, we are working with the DOD [Department of Defence] and State to determine how to compile the cost associated and levy them on the Europeans. On Wednesday, John Healey, the UK Defence Secretary, addressed the messages exchanged on Signal for the first time, as he insisted Europe would not pay the US for access to shipping lanes. Mr Healey told The Telegraph: There is no question of us starting to pay the US. We will be their operational allies where they want. We stand for the same thing, we fight for the same thing and in the case of the Houthis, the utterly unacceptable threat that they pose to civilian shipping and to our own naval forces and ships as well. John Healey and Rachel Reeves, along with Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the chief of the defence staff, visited Wellington Barracks, London, to meet personnel working on security innovation on Wednesday - Stefan Rousseau/WPA Pool/Getty Images Earlier in the day, Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, pledged an additional 2.2 billion in defence funding as part of her Spring Statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Mr Healey said the extra funding would not pay for US operations in Yemen. No, this is money for the UK military, he said. This is to strengthen our defence, our deterrence, our Armed Forces and, to that extent, that allows us to be an even better and closer security and defence ally to the US. He added that the Houthis continue to be a persistent threat to freedom of navigation. The US and the UK have a total commitment to that international freedom, he said. Its something we are prepared to challenge and defend, just as the US are. The Defence Secretary said the Government remained willing to provide support and in some cases participate in the strikes against the Houthi military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Launch strikes, ammunition dumps, control centres, the military targets are there in Yemen and the US has signalled clearly that they are wanting to step that pressure up and we have been clear that we will do what we can to support that, he said. Houthi fighters firing missiles towards Israel - Houthi media centre handout/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Mr Healey acknowledged that the Houthis had sophisticated weaponry that made them a considerable threat. The rebel groups stockpiles consist predominantly of sophisticated weapons such as the Sammad one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicle and the Asif anti-ship ballistic missile, smuggled into Yemen since at least 2009. However, defence experts have pushed back against the US assertions of how advanced the Houthis weapons are in comparison to Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matthew Savill, the director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi), said it was a slight exaggeration for Mr Waltz to focus on the level of sophisticated weapons the Houthis were using. He said while the Houthis had a range of drones, anti-ship cruise missiles and ballistic missiles either provided by Iran or developed themselves it did not outweigh Europes capabilities. They have hit a ship with a ballistic missile, which is not to be sneezed at, Mr Savill said. At the same time, HMS Diamond shot down a ballistic missile last year, which is a first for a Type 45. A Houthi supporter stands on images of the flags of the US, the UK and Israel and Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu in a protest following the March 16 US attack on Yemen - Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images In April 2024, the crew of HMS Diamond, a Type 45 destroyer, used the Sea Viper missile system to shoot down a missile fired by Houthis in the Gulf of Aden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before that, HMS Richmond, a Type 23 frigate, had successfully repelled a Houthi drone attack in the southern Red Sea and shot down two attack drones using Sea Ceptor missiles. There is a distinction between can European militaries cope with Houthi weapons and can European militaries defeat the Houthis, Mr Savill added. However, he acknowledged it was concerning that a quasi-militia now has anti-ship ballistic missiles and successfully used one. The extent of Washingtons disdain for freeloading Europe was revealed after Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of the magazine The Atlantic, was added in error to a Signal group for senior members of the Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As well as discussing weapons packages, targets, and the scheduled timings for a March 15 strike in Yemen, which killed more than 50 people, the officials also discussed how they would ensure Europe repaid them for their efforts. Mr Miller also doubled down on the idea of extracting repayment from Europe for the attacks, with the suggestion there would be punishment if the EU declined to remunerate the US. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. (Bloomberg) -- European natural gas extended declines as ample supplies of LNG and warmer weather eased pressure on inventories after a rocky start to the year. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Benchmark futures fell as much as 2.7%, with monthly imports of liquefied natural gas into northwest Europe set to jump more than 25% from a year earlier. Prices subsequently recouped some of that loss as Russia suggested a cross-border gas point attacked last week would require lengthy repairs. Prospects for talks to end the war in Ukraine have largely pushed prices down this month, with traders speculating a breakthrough could eventually bring back some Russian flows. Yet uncertainty over the future of the three-year conflict persists, and gas prices have moved sharply on small developments. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Wednesday that the Sudzha metering point near the border with Ukraine, part of a link that sent fuel to Europe until recently, sustained significant damage, Tass reported. The attack last week sent prices up as much as 6.2%. Traders remain jittery following a rapid depletion in Europes gas inventories this winter. But with just a few days left of the official heating season, some countries have started replenishing underground storage as rising temperatures ease consumption. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lower LNG demand from China is also providing near-term relief for European buyers who compete with Asia for shipments. Chinese purchases are forecast to fall this year for the first time since 2022, according to BloombergNEF. Dutch front-month futures, Europes gas benchmark, traded down 1.9% at 40.78 a megawatt-hour as of 5:30 p.m. in Amsterdam. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. BRUSSELS (AP) The European Union on Wednesday urged citizens across the continent to stockpile food, water and other essentials to last at least 72 hours as war, cyberattacks, climate change and disease increase the chances of a crisis. The call to action for the EUs 450 million citizens comes as the 27-nation bloc rethinks its security, especially after the Trump administration warned that Europe must take more responsibility for it. In recent years, the EU has weathered COVID-19 and the threat from Russia, including its attempts to exploit Europes dependence on its natural gas to weaken support for Ukraine. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has warned that Russia could be capable of launching another attack in Europe by 2030. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Todays threats facing Europe are more complex than ever, and they are all interconnected, said Preparedness and Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib as she unveiled a new strategy for dealing with future disasters. While the commission is keen not to be seen as alarmist, Lahbib said its important to make sure people have essential supplies for at least 72 hours in a crisis. She listed food, water, flashlights, ID papers, medicine and shortwave radios as things to stock. Lahbib said the EU should build up a strategic reserve and stockpile other critical resources including firefighting planes; medical, energy and transport equipment; and specialized assets against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats, The EUs plans are similar to those in France, Finland and Sweden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, Sweden updated its Cold War-era civil emergency advice to better reflect todays security policy reality such as what to do in case of nuclear attack. Not all EU countries have the same level of crisis preparedness, and the commission also wants to encourage them to coordinate better in case of emergency. We can no longer rely on ad hoc reactions," Lahbib said. Transport strikes have become a regular occurrence in Europe, as employees withhold their labour to fight for better pay and conditions. Walkouts are sometimes planned months ahead but others are announced just days or hours before. The potential for last-minute disruption means it always pays to check before you travel. Luckily, we have gathered everything you need to know about upcoming strikes in Europe below. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read on to find out where and when walkouts are taking place. If your flight or train is cancelled or delayed, you could be entitled to a new ticket or compensation. Read our guide for the full details. Related Belgium: Flights cancelled due to nationwide strike Both main airports serving Belgium's capital, Brussels Airport and Charleroi Airport, have cancelled all flights departing on 31 March due to a one-day nationwide strike protesting the new government's proposal to reform pensions and the labour market. Brussels airport has warned that arriving flights could also be impacted by the national strike, with major disruptions to airport operations expected all day. Departing flights have all been cancelled as the airport expects widespread participation in the strike by security personnel and ground handling staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The airlines will contact passengers whose flight has been impacted. We ask not to come to the airport on that day," it said in an announcement on its website. All arriving and departing flights have been cancelled at Charleroi Airport. "Passengers scheduled to fly to and from Charleroi next Monday will be contacted by their airline for a rebooking or refund," the airport has said. Limited timetables due to week-long rail strike A week-long nationwide rail strike is also taking place in Belgium from 23 March until 30 March. Followed by the general strike on 31 March, it may result in limited rail services across the network from 23 to 31 March. Alternative train services may be operational depending on staff availability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The impact of the strike will vary from day to day and may be greater on weekdays than at weekends," National rail operator SNCB/NMBS told The Brussels Times. Passengers are advised to check the SNCB timetable shortly before departing for their planned rail journey for up-to-date train times. Affected travellers can also download a strike certificate after their journey to prove they were impacted by a cancellation. Though international rail services were expected to run normally, they have also been impacted by the walkout, with Eurostar cancelling some services early in the week. Italy: Scattered public transport and airport strikes throughout April Travellers in Italy can expect to face disruption from several strikes with regional walkouts taking place throughout April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On 26 April, a national public transport strike will see workers walk out across the country for four hours. The protest is likely to affect all types of local public transport, from buses, trams, commuter trains, water buses and ferries to underground metro lines. It shouldnt impact long-distance rail services and taxis. Exact impacts will vary from city to city, so check the relevant transport companys website or social media channels before you decide to travel. Italian strike laws mean operators are required to provide some essential services during strikes that fall on weekdays. Nationwide strikes to hit rail services Staff at rail operators Trenitalia, Trenitalia Tper, Trenord and Italo plan to take part in a 23-hour strike on 11 and 12 April. It will start at 3am on 11 April and end at 2am on 12 April, with both local and long-distance services affected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Passengers can expect delays and disruption, but exact impacts are likely to vary depending on region, operator and time of day. Italian strike laws mean all involved transport operators will be required to guarantee a minimum level of service to allow commuters to travel to and from work. Airport strikes across the country Baggage handlers, security staff and air traffic controllers at airports around the country plan to strike for four hours from midday to 4pm - on 9 April. It could impact flight arrivals and departures during this time as well as check-in and baggage drop off or collection. Italian air transport laws mean services scheduled to depart between 7am and 10am and between 6pm and 9pm will be protected from strike action and should go ahead as planned. If you know of a big strike happening in your country that we have missed, we'd love to hear from you via Twitter. NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) In todays health headlines, were talking about how to evaluate health claims on social media, AI privacy in biomedical research, and new guidelines for seizures and driving. Dr. Arjun Venkatesh, chair of emergency medicine at Yale School of Medicine and Yale Medicine, joined Good Morning Connecticut at 9 a.m. to discuss. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz couldnt explain Tuesday how a reporter ended up in a sensitive Signal group chat he organized to discuss striking the Houthi militant group in Yemen, suggesting that the journalist, The Atlantics Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, could have somehow snuck in on purpose. Its embarrassing, yes. Were going to get to the bottom of it, Waltz told Fox News host Laura Ingraham, who at times seemed skeptical of his responses during their lengthy discussion. I just talked to Elon on the way here. We have the best technical minds looking at how this happened, Waltz said, before echoing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, another participant in the chat who on Monday trashed Goldberg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I can tell you for 100 percent: I dont know this guy. I know him by his horrible reputation, and he really is the bottom scum of journalists. And I know him in the sense that he hates the president, Waltz said. But I dont text him. He wasnt on my phone. And were going to figure out how this happened. Goldberg, though, reported that it was Waltz who invited him into the Signal chat. Ingraham then followed up with several specific questions about the incident, and Waltz, who acknowledged he was responsible for putting the chat together, nevertheless suggested that Goldberg somehow could have schemed his way into it: Ingraham: So, you dont know what staffer is responsible for this right now? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Waltz: Well look, a staffer wasnt responsible, and I take full responsibility. I built the group. My job is to make sure everything is coordinated. Ingraham: But how did that numberI dont mean to be pedantic here, but how did that number get in the chat? Waltz: Have you ever had somebodys contact that shows their name and then you have somebody elses number? Ingraham [sarcastically]: Oh, I never make those mistakes. Waltz: Right? Youve got somebody elses number on someone elses contact, so of course I didnt see this loser in the group. It looked like someone else. Now whether he did it deliberately or it happened in some other technical mean is what we are trying to figure out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ingraham: So, a staffer did not put his contact information? Waltz: No, no, no. Of course not. Ingraham: But how did it get in the phone? Waltz: Thats what were trying to figure out. Ingraham: OK. But thats a pretty big problem. If there are number Waltz: We have the best technical minds, right? Ingraham: Thats disturbing. Waltz: I mean, Im sure everybody out there has had a contact where it said one person and then a different phone number. Ingraham: But you have never talked to him before, how is the number on your phone? I mean, Im not an expert on any of this, but... how is the number on your phone? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Waltz: If you have somebody elses contact and then somehow it gets sucked in Ingraham: If somebody sent that you contact Waltz: It gets sucked in. Ingraham: Was there someone else who was supposed to be on the chat that wasnt on the chat that you thought was on the chat? Waltz: The person that I thought was on there was never on there. It was this guy. When asked who Waltz believed Goldberg to be, he wouldnt say. I take responsibility. I built the group, said Waltz, whom White House aides have privately called a f---king idiot over the scandal, with some suggesting he should resign. So thats the part that we have to figure out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Notably, while Waltz denied knowing Goldberg personally, Goldberg wrote that the two have met before. Ingraham noted this discrepancy, asking Waltz, So youve never met him? No idea. Wouldnt know him if I bumped into himif I saw him in a police lineup, he said. I knew him by reputation by lying about the president over and over and over again. What I can tell you for certain: I certainly wasnt reaching out or talking to him at all. Why would I? Ingraham concluded the interview by lamenting how the situation has given rise to a conflicting set of facts. Trump, she also reminded Waltz, needs no distractions. It may not be receiving the same kind of national interest as the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, but the race for the superintendent of the state Department of Public Instruction is also important for Wisconsin residents, as the winner will lead the agency that provides oversight for the state's 421 public school districts. Incumbent Jill Underly was elected in 2021 and is facing her first challenger in education consultant Brittany Kinser. The two faced off in just one debate this spring, where they touched on vouchers, the teacher shortage and more. We've covered the candidates since December, looking at the issues weighing on the minds of voters statewide, including changes to state testing standards, how much money the candidates have raised and how much came from the Democratic and Republican parties the importance (or nonimportance) of licensing for the position and candidates' involvement in events intended to inform the public about their stances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's a look at that coverage. The 2025 state superintendent of public instruction candidates include, from left, incumbent Jill Underly and education consultant Brittany Kinser. Who is Jill Underly? March 20, 2025: Who is Jill Underly? What to know about the state school superintendent candidate before the April 1 election March 21, 2025: State superintendent Jill Underly is fierce defender of public schools amid Trump cuts Who is Brittany Kinser? March 20, 2025: Who is Brittany Kinser? What to know about the state school superintendent candidate before the April 1 election March 21, 2025: She's never run for office. Can state superintendent candidate Brittany Kinser pull it off? Voter guide: Where the candidates stand March 25, 2025: Wisconsin state superintendent voter guide for spring 2025 election: What candidates say about vouchers, MPS and more The race gets underway Dec. 19, 2024: A primary race could be shaping up for Wisconsin's top education official Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jan. 8, 2025: 3 candidates file paperwork to run for state superintendent of public instruction, prompting February primary Jan. 24, 2025: As state education agency cuts costs, DPI superintendent race heats up Primary election winnows race to Underly, Kinser Feb. 5, 2025: Wisconsin state superintendent voter guide for spring 2025 primary: What 3 candidates say about ICE, school police, referendums and more Feb. 18, 2025: Jill Underly, Brittany Kinser advance in Wisconsin state superintendent race Kinser's credentials questioned Feb. 6, 2025: She's running to lead Wisconsin schools. But she doesn't have a teacher's license. Does it matter? State test benchmarks are focus in race Jan. 6, 2025: Gov. Tony Evers calls it a 'mistake' to change state test score benchmarks Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jan. 31, 2025: What to know about Wisconsin's change in state test scores and the GOP push to restore previous benchmarks March 5, 2025: Republicans order audit into state's school report cards March 18, 2025: Senate votes to undo Jill Underly's changes to state tests, sending issue in DPI race to Evers Underly skips public forum, debates Feb. 7, 2025: State superintendent skips forum while her challengers take questions on vouchers and more March 13, 2025: State superintendent Jill Underly, running for reelection, turns down three debate invites Following the money Feb. 13, 2025: In Wisconsin school superintendent race, one candidate is far ahead in fundraising Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement March 26, 2025: In state superintendent race, one candidate nearly doubles fundraising haul of opponent Democratic operative leaves DPI to return to political consulting March 3, 2025: Democratic operative Sachin Chheda leaving state education department Kristin Brey contributed. Contact Kelly Meyerhofer at kmeyerhofer@gannett.com or 414-223-5168. Follow her on X (Twitter) at @KellyMeyerhofer. Contact Hope Karnopp at HKarnopp@gannett.com or on X at @hopekarnopp. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Jill Underly, Brittany Kinser face off in state superintendent election 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Alexandria police investigating the death of former U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber said Wednesday they have found no evidence of foul play, but the investigation is ongoing. Aber was found dead Saturday following a report of an unresponsive woman. She was 43 years old. Aber stepped down as the top federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of Virginia on Jan. 20 after serving in the role since 2021. At this time, detectives have found no evidence suggesting that her death was caused by anything other than natural causes, Alexandria police said in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Office of the Chief Medical Examiners final ruling on the cause and manner of her death is still pending. Aber graduated from the University of Richmond, earning her law degree from William & Mary before going on to join the U.S. Attorneys Office in Richmond in 2009. Gavin Stone, 757-712-4806, gavin.stone@virginiamedia.com The Virginia police department looking into the death of former U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber say it was likely due to natural causes. 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, the police department in Alexandria, Va., said in a statement Tuesday. Aber, a former attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, was found dead at her home over the weekend at the age of 43. Police said they received a report of an unresponsive woman and rushed to the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aber had worked for the Eastern District of Virginia since 2009 and was later nominated by former President Biden in 2021 to be a U.S. attorney. She received a unanimous confirmation from the Senate and stepped down from her role in January, when President Trump took office. Alexandria Police said the investigation is ongoing and the case will remain open until the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner returns a final ruling in Abers cause and manner of death. We urge the public to respect the privacy of Ms. Abers family during this time of loss, police said, directing further updates and questions to the medical examiner. A friend of Abers family told NBC News that police believe she died due to a long-standing medical issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The site of a former fast-food restaurant in Sugarcreek Township is expected to become a hot tub store. Agean Dayton LLC purchased 4465 Clyo Road for $1.25 million in December 2024, according to public property records. Burger King had operated at the Clyo Road site for a number of years until its closure in 2022. The mailing address listed on the property deed for where the LLC is located is an address for Agean Bath & Spa in West Chester. The business website confirms the West Chester address is one of its locations, along with one in Columbus, two in Hawaii and the one on Clyo Road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the companys website, the store is known for selling bathrooms, hot tubs, saunas, spas and more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. These are the people who want to drive you happy. In 2022, online used car retailer Carvana (CVNA) made its Super Bowl debut with a 30-second commercial with the slogan "We'll Drive You Happy." Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter The Los Angeles Rams went on to beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20, while the Tempe, Ariz., company known for its car-vending machines was sacked by New Constructs, which labeled Carvana a zombie company." The equity-research firm said Carvana had failed to generate positive free cash flow in any year since going public in 2017. Carvana laid off 12% of its staff in May 2022 after falling short of growth expectations and its shares sank 90%. Related: Veteran trader takes hard look at Tesla stock price amid slump, controversy Then the company kicked off a much-heralded turnaround and Co-Founder and Chief Executive Ernie Garcia told analysts that "we were stubborn and ambitious." In January, however, short-selling firm Hindenburg Research issued a report that declared Carvana's rebound "a mirage." Analysts say Carvana offers an opportunity for investors. Shutterstock Carvana CEO: Journey just beginning The firm said its research uncovered $800 million of loan sales to a "suspected undisclosed related party, along with details on how accounting manipulation and lax underwriting have fueled temporary reported income growth all while insiders cash out billions in stock." Hindenburg, which closed its doors a short time later, said Carvana was exorbitantly valued and its business faced major headwinds as used car prices declined. More Automotive: Carvana said the Hindenburg report's arguments were "intentionally misleading and inaccurate and have already been made numerous times by other short-sellers seeking to benefit from a decline in our stock price." In February, Carvana beat Wall Street's fourth-quarter-earnings expectations. Garcia said that in 2024 Carvana became the most profitable public automotive retailer in U.S. history measured by adjusted Ebitda margin while also resuming industry-leading growth. "This unique combination is the product of more than $10 billion, 10 years, and tens of millions of hours of hard work invested to develop a truly differentiated business model that delivers both better customer experiences and better results," he said. The former GOP Minnesota state senator who was arrested last week after allegedly trying to meet a minor for sex is now accused of trying to conceal possible evidence in his case. Republican Justin Eichorn first made headlines March 17 for co-authoring a state bill that would classify Trump Derangement Syndrome as a mental illness, with criteria such as verbal expressions of intense hostility toward President DonaldTrump. He has since been removed from the bill. The same day the bill was introduced, Eichorn was taken into custodyand charged with soliciting a minor for prostitution after attempting to meet with an undercover agent who wasposing as an underaged sex worker, according to a motion filed Sunday and obtained by HuffPost. Ex-Minnesota state Sen. Justin Eichorn was arrested and charged with soliciting a minor for prostitution. Minnesota House of Representatives photographer's office Whats a guy gota do to get with the hottest girl online tonight, Eichorn allegedly asked the agent March 11 in response to a fake ad for commercial sex, per the motion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their conversation spanned days until his arrest. At one point, the fictitious sex worker revealed her age to be 17, according to the motion. Despite her age, Eichorn asked the fictitious minor for a naught pic to prove she was a real person. When the agent sent a photo described in the motion as showing a clothed females cleavage, Eichorn allegedly asked, got anything with lot less clothes? Eichorn was apprehended by federal agents when he attempted to meet the fictitious sex worker in person, according to the motion. The politician is now accused of lying about being in possession of a gun and attempting to hide possible evidence in his apartment. At his court hearing March 20, Eichorn claimed there were no firearms at his St. Paul apartment, the motion said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following his arrest, Eichorn made two recorded jail calls to an unidentified woman on March 19 and March 20. On the calls, he discussed getting a new phone number and asked the woman to retrieve a ring that was possibly inside a red bag at his St. Paul apartment, according to the motion. The woman then replied, I will grab whatever you need me to grab, according to the motion. Federal agents searched the apartment the following day and barred the woman from entering the home, according to the motion. She asked agents if she could retrieve a computer, claiming she used it for her business, but they declined. Investigators found a red bag containing a handgun and ammunition, along with $1,000, a laptop, SD card, a factory reset iPhone and several of Eichorns state Senate business cards, according to the motion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attorney representing Eichorn did not immediately respond to a request for comment from HuffPost. Eichorn resigned from his seat March 20, stating he must focus on personal matters at this time, ABC affiliate KSTP reported. According to court records reviewed by HuffPost, Eichorns wife, with whom he shares children, filed for divorce Monday. Related... 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? LONDON (Reuters) - Sanctions-hit Belarusian flag carrier Belavia is on the cusp of adding three Airbus planes to its depleted fleet after repurposing aircraft that had previously belonged to Gambian airline Magic Air , three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. Western sanctions imposed on Belarus and its larger neighbour Russia after Minsk forced a Ryanair plane to land in the Belarusian capital and following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine mean the two staunch allies face a shortage of planes, particularly large passenger aircraft. Belarus and Russia share a borderless union state. The three wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft, which can typically carry around 250 passengers each, were all registered to Magic Air when they landed in Minsk on August 17, 2024, records by Flightradar24 and two other flight tracking services providers reviewed by Reuters show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State-owned Belavia is in the process of signing a contract to buy the planes, which arrived in very poor technical conditions, and plans to start flying them this spring-summer season, one of the sources said. Should Belavia succeed, it could give Russia a blueprint for circumventing sanctions through the use of non-Western nations' planes, according to industry experts. The United States reached separate deals on Tuesday with Ukraine and Russia to pause their attacks at sea and against energy targets, with Washington agreeing to push to lift some sanctions against Moscow. While Western sanctions on Belarus and Russia have sought to cut access to aircraft parts, many countries, including Gambia, have not signed up to those restrictions and have no obligation to enforce them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Magic Air, which has no online presence, is a little-known private company that operates in aircraft leasing and airline services, according to a Reuters review of the Gambian justice ministry's companies registry. The tiny African state is not subject to aviation sanctions, but some Gambia-registered vessels have been targeted by U.S., UK and European Union sanctions for helping Russia evade restrictions on its oil exports through a network of tankers known as the shadow fleet. Industry publication Aviation Week reported in August 2024 that Magic Air sent three Airbus planes to Belarus from Cairo, Istanbul and Muscat. Details of Belavia's plans to take over and operate the planes, which Reuters established through speaking to the three sources, have not been previously reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sources asked not to be identified as they are not authorised to speak to the media. Belavia and the governments of Russia and Belarus did not respond to requests for comment. Calls to a Gambian phone number for Magic Air provided by the justice ministry did not go through. Gambia's Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) told Reuters the planes were sold to a buyer from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), ferried to Minsk and then removed from the Gambian register on August 19, 2024. "The GCAA received a notification from Magic Air that the aircraft were sold to a UAE company and that they would like to ferry the aircraft to Minsk Airport and de-register them accordingly," GCAA Director General Fansu Bojang told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August 2023, the EU banned Western companies from delivering goods and technologies for use in aviation to Belarus due to the country's continued involvement Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. Contacted by Reuters, Airbus said it strictly complies with all relevant laws and sanctions in force against any country and that there is no legal method for aircraft, parts, documentation or services to be exported into an embargoed nation. It added that no original equipment manufacturer can stop third parties determined to violate sanctions and that there is no method to police the trading of second-hand aircraft or non-genuine parts, documentation and services. MURKY BUSINESS Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Belarusian airlines have been banned from flying over EU territory since 2021, when local authorities forced a Ryanair flight from Athens to Lithuania carrying a dissident Belarusian journalist to land in Minsk escorted by a MiG-29 fighter jet, in what some EU leaders at the time called a hijacking. Broad-ranging sanctions on Russia following Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine deepened Minsk's problems. Western planemakers, including Airbus and Belavia's main partner Boeing, have halted supplies of services and spare parts and dropped regular maintenance support for planes both in Russia and Belarus. Making the Magic Air planes operable in Belarus has been slow progress, as they arrived in poor condition, two of the sources said. One described the interior as "shabby". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, as Belavia only flies Boeing aircraft, its pilots have had to retrain on Airbus systems, they added. One of sources said the aircraft would be repainted with Belavia livery and could appear in the fleet as soon as March. More planes will help Belavia, Belarus' only major airline, cope with rising nationwide demand, said a source in Belarus' aviation industry. Passenger numbers increased 13.5% last year compared to 2023, transport ministry data showed. Russian airlines, too, are struggling to meet growing air travel demand as sanctions hinder access to parts. Russian industrial conglomerate Rostec has pushed back production of Russia's new MS-21 airliner to 2025-2026 from 2024 and the Sukhoi Superjet 100 to 2026 from 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia's transport ministry said in October it was exploring allowing airlines from other countries to operate domestic flights between Russian airports. EU sanctions unveiled in February, target this practice. But Belavia could lend Moscow a hand. Gambian corporate records list Jordanian national Tareq Ziad Abdel Hamid Al Ajami as owner of a 99% stake in Magic Air. Al Ajami also owns an Albanian holding company, Albanian corporate records show. Reuters was unable to contact Al Ajami. Multiple calls to the Albanian company went unanswered. Magic Air used to operate another Airbus, an A320, which also landed in Minsk on August 17, 2024. The plane was transferred five days later to Syrian carrier Cham Wings Airlines and now flies under the tail number YK-BAC, according to Flightradar24 data. Cham Wings, which did not respond to a request for comment, is under EU financial sanctions, accused of supporting the government of Syria's ousted leader Bashar al-Assad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Treasury, the European Commission and Gambia's information ministry did not respond to requests for comment. (This story has been refiled to change the headline) (Reporting by Gleb Stolyarov in Tbilisi, Filipp Lebedev, Alexander Marrow, Joanna Plucinska and Reade Levinson in London, Robbie Corey-Boulet in Dakar and Tim Hepher in Paris; Editing by Lisa Jucca) The Wisconsin Capitol on spring election day, April 7, 2020. (Henry Redman | Wisconsin Examiner) Election administration experts say that President Donald Trumps executive order seeking to require that people prove their U.S. citizenship to register to vote is unlikely to survive legal challenges, but even if it did, it would not apply to Wisconsins April 1 election. On Tuesday, Trump signed the order that purports to pull federal funding from the Election Assistance Commission for states that do not require that voters prove their U.S. citizenship to vote in federal elections. The order also attempts to give Elon Musks DOGE access to states voter registration lists and gives the Department of Homeland Security the authority to verify the citizenship status of voters and make the prosecution of non-citizen voting a priority at the Department of Justice. The order also demands that election administrators use paper ballots or paper ballot trails. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent years, Trump and Republicans have become increasingly focused on alleged non-citizen voting. Since Trumps false claims that the 2020 election was stolen, Republicans in Congress have worked to pass the SAVE Act, which contains similar provisions to the Trump order. Last year in Wisconsin, voters approved a Republican-authored constitutional amendment to prevent non-citizens from voting in local, state or federal elections despite it already being against the law for non-citizens to vote. Voting rights advocates have frequently cautioned that the provisions included in the Trump order and the SAVE act would potentially disenfranchise millions of married American women who have a different last name on their current ID than on proof of citizenship documents like a birth certificate. Estimates say this could prevent more than 69 million women from voting. Lets keep it real: this order is not about protecting elections; it is about making it harder for voters particularly women voters to participate in them, Celina Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of the League of Women Voters of the United States, said in a statement. This executive order is an assault on our republic and a dangerous attempt to silence American voters. The President continues to overstep his authority and brazenly disregard settled law in this country. To be very clear the League of Women Voters is prepared to fight back and defend our democracy. Trump issued the order just one week before Wisconsins April 1 election and days after he endorsed Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel in the race for a seat on the state Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trumps sudden, overbroad and sweeping executive order issued yesterday, just one week before Wisconsins nationally important and closely watched State Supreme Court election on April 1st is likely unconstitutional and destined to be rejected by federal and state courts and the U.S. Congress in part or completely, Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause Wisconsin said after the orders release. Heck also sent out a press release telling Wisconsin voters that the order does not apply to the April 1 election. Ann Jacobs, the Democratic chair of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, wrote on social media that there are a number of reasons why the order wont apply to the election next week. The order only applies to federal elections and there are no federal offices on the ballot only elections for state and local offices. And the order is not set to go into effect for 30 days, long after April 1. Jacobs also said that the order focuses on provisions on the National Voting Rights Act (NVRA). Also known as the Motor voter law, the NVRA requires most states to offer people the ability to register to vote at state motor vehicle agencies, by mail or at certain state or local offices. The law also requires states to maintain up-to-date voter registration lists. Wisconsin is one of six states that is exempt from the NVRA because it allows people to register to vote in-person at the polls on Election Day, so, Jacobs said, any provisions of the Trump order purporting to use the authority of the NVRA arent applicable to Wisconsin. Jacobs also pointed out that Wisconsin is prohibited from even using an NVRA-specific voter registration form because of a Waukesha County court ruling against its use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jacobs added that Wisconsin already uses paper ballots or paper voting trails to keep a record of every ballot cast in the state. It is disappointing that the federal government is attempting to make people worry about voting this close to an important election, Jacobs wrote. I hope this is not a ham-fisted attempt to shore up a failing bid for the [Wisconsin Supreme Court] by the candidate currently behind in the polls. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Born in Crimea and raised in Kherson, journalist Yevheniia Virlych grew up speaking both Ukrainian and Russian in her daily life. It wasnt until 2022, when she and her family lived through the Russian occupation of Kherson Oblast, that they made the definitive choice to abandon speaking Russian altogether. It has become unacceptable to speak the language of the Russians who occupied, killed, and continue to kill our people, Virlych told the Kyiv Independent. We lived through it, and we felt it too deeply to not Ukrainize now. While Ukrainian is the official state language, many Ukrainians speak Russian, a consequence of centuries of Russification under the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the majority of them, speaking Russian is not an expression of allegiance to Russia. But for the Kremlin, the Russian language has become an increasingly powerful propaganda tool, used to portray Russian-speaking Ukrainians as signaling a desire to join with Russia. Moscow has been actively pushing this narrative abroad, with U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff most recently using it to justify why Ukraine needs to make territorial concessions to Russia. Steve Witkoff, U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, speaks to the press alongside White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt outside the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 6, 2025. (Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images) "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 said in a recent interview with right-wing political commentator Tucker Carlson, referring to the Russian-occupied regions of eastern and southern Ukraine. Virlych, like many Ukrainians, was upset to hear a U.S. official echo a Russian talking point though she was not surprised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Former U.S. President) George H. W. Bush, just weeks before Ukraine gained independence, essentially denied this right to Ukrainians in the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament). Again, under the influence of Soviet leaders who told him about the dangerous nationalists (in Ukraine), she said. Nothing has changed. Russia is very skilled at lying and using propaganda, and it knows how to work with it. As the war continues, discussions in Ukrainian society about the pace of Ukrainization have intensified, prompting a reckoning with the centuries-long efforts by Russia to suppress Ukrainian culture. Destruction of Ukrainian culture in Russian Empire Over 22 million native Ukrainian speakers were recorded in the first and final census conducted by the Russian Empire in 1897. The census recorded individuals by language rather than ethnicity, so it doesnt count Ukrainians who might have identified their native language as Russian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For many of them, their family histories would include stories of living under serfdom and being faced with laws designed to restrict access to Ukrainian-language materials. There never was, is not, and cannot be any separate little Russian language, declared Russian Interior Minister Pyotr Valuyev upon issuing the Valuyev Circular in 1863, which effectively banned the publication of books and education materials in Ukrainian in the Russian Empire. The term "Little Russia" has historically been used by Russia as a derogatory label for Ukraine, portraying it as a lesser but inseparable part of Russia. This term reflects a colonial mindset, diminishing Ukraine's distinct cultural, political, and historical identity. Tsar Alexander II went on to issue the Ems Ukaz in 1876, which imposed even stricter limitations on the Ukrainian language. Under this decree, the import of Ukrainian books from abroad was banned, and both original works and translations in Ukrainian could no longer be published. Additionally, the performance of plays and the holding of public readings in Ukrainian were expressly prohibited. Tsar Alexander II of Russia, (1818 - 1881), who issued the Ems Ukaz in 1876, which imposed strict limitations on the Ukrainian language, circa 1870. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images) One key Ukrainian cultural figure who defied these efforts was 19th-century poet and artist Taras Shevchenko. He wrote extensively about the injustices the Russian Empire inflicted upon the Ukrainian people. For his outspoken views, Shevchenko was arrested in 1847 and sentenced to 25 years of forced military service in exile. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vissarion Belinsky, one of the Russian Empires top literary critics of his time, outright dismissed Shevchenkos work as being of literary quality, writing to a friend in 1847 that common sense reveals Shevchenko to be an ass, a fool, a vulgarian, and moreover, a total drunkard, not to mention a horilka-drinking lover of Ukrainian patriotism, using a Russian slur rather than the word Ukrainian. In reality, Shevchenkos work modernized the Ukrainian language but this is an achievement that threatened the Russian colonial project. Taras Shevchenko's self-portrait (1843). (Wikimedia) Some of his writing focused on the Ukrainian Cossacks, a military society of free men whose downfall symbolizes some of the Russian Empire's earliest efforts to conquer Ukraine. In 1654, the Ukrainian Cossacks entered into the Pereiaslav Treaty with the Russian Empire, seeking security guarantees against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. However, their trust was betrayed, setting the stage for centuries of fraught relations between Ukrainians and Russians. This betrayal eventually led to the collapse of the Cossack Hetmanate and the Russian imposition of serfdom, into which Ukrainians like Shevchenko were later born. Mass deportations and purges in Soviet times World War I led to the collapse of the Russian Empire, giving Ukraine a chance to declare independence in 1917. However, the Bolsheviks saw Ukraine as crucial to their Soviet project and fought to keep it under their control. After several years of war between Ukrainian forces, the Bolsheviks, and other competing factions, Ukraine was forcibly incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1922. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Soviet Union sometimes promoted cultural and linguistic diversity under the idea of a friendship of peoples. However, controlled periods of Korenizatsiya (Indigenization) were replaced by Russification policies that led to tragic consequences. This includes the Stalinist purges of the 1930s, which are estimated to have killed as many as over one million people across the Soviet Union. During this period, the Soviet secret police targeted over 200 members of Ukraines intelligentsia, who were subjected to arrest and, in some cases, execution. Though some were committed Communists, they believed Ukraine's cultural identity should align more with Europe than with Moscow. This group came to be known collectively as the Executed Renaissance a generation of artists, writers, and intellectuals whose creative potential was cut short by the Soviet regime. The Krushelnytsky family, early 1930s. Seated (L-R): Volodymyr, Taras, Maria (mother), Larysa, and father Antin. Standing (L-R): Ostap, Halyna (Ivan's wife), Ivan, Natalia (Bohdan's wife), and Bohdan. In 1934-1937, Volodymyr, Taras, Antin, Ostap, Ivan, and Bohdan were repressed and executed. This photo became a symbol of the extermination of the Ukrainian intelligentsia by the Stalinist regime. (Wikimedia) The Soviets also carried out mass deportations, including Operation West in 1947, which was specifically meant to crush the Ukrainian liberation movement in western Ukraine. Thousands of Ukrainians from Lviv, Volyn, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Chernivtsi oblasts were forcibly relocated to remote parts of Siberia and Kazakhstan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Major cities across Ukraine gradually became predominantly Russian-speaking. Like other urban centers in former Soviet republics, these cities attracted people from other regions. After World War II, cities, enterprises, and infrastructure that had been completely destroyed were rebuilt by workers from across the USSR. Their common language was Russian, as it was deliberately positioned by the Soviet authorities as the language of interethnic communication. However, all of this, of course, did not make these regions entirely pro-Russian, Volodymyr Rafeyenko, a Ukrainian writer from Donetsk who switched to writing entirely in Ukrainian after 2022, told the Kyiv Independent. Language is indifferent to national and political self-identification. It is not the language that makes the choice it is the person. Read also: Editorial: What Steve Witkoff doesnt get about Ukraine (and Russia) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soviet education was also aimed at promoting a greater use of the Russian language. Although some Soviet schools offered Ukrainian and other non-Russian languages, teachers were often paid less than their Russian counterparts. General education courses were conducted in Russian. All this led to a stereotype promoted in Soviet society, as it was during the Russian Empire, that Ukrainian was somehow inferior. As Russian was predominant in the cities and Ukrainian in the countryside, the latter was widely perceived as the language of villagers, and since they were widely perceived to be less accomplished, less refined or even less intelligent than urbanites, speaking Ukrainian in the cities was stigmatized, Volodymyr Kulyk, a political scientist at the Kyiv School of Economics, explained to the Kyiv Independent. Any public celebration of Ukrainian culture revolved around the notion that this was a language of the village and ultimately meant to be seen as kitsch in other words, something that could never be as highbrow as Russian culture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Russian language and culture dominated much of life in Soviet Ukraine, some Ukrainian artists continued to speak out despite the personal risk it posed to them, believing in a future where their people could live freely and express their cultural identity without fear of reprisal. The Ukrainian intelligentsia who rejected the Russification of their culture were targeted by Soviet authorities well into the final years of the Soviet Union. "Alla Horska. Boriviter," and exhibition in Kyiv, dedicated to the life and work of the Ukrainian monumental artist Alla Horska. (Ukrainian House International Convention Center) Artist Alla Horska (1929-1970), known for incorporating Ukrainian folk traditions into her work, repeatedly corresponded with and supported dissidents after their release from prison, making her a target of state repression. In 1970, she was found murdered, killed by a hammer blow to the head. While authorities blamed her father-in-law, many believe the Soviet secret police orchestrated her death. Another prominent Ukrainian dissident, poet Vasyl Stus (1938-1985), who spoke out against the Soviet regime and was arrested on more than one occasion for the so-called crime of anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda, eventually perished in a brutal Russian penal colony in 1985. Wartime changes Ukraine officially gained independence in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union, establishing Ukrainian as the sole state language. As a result, institutions like schools and bureaucratic offices started conducting day-to-day activities in Ukrainian. Yet, despite this shift, many Ukrainians continued speaking Russian, a lasting habit shaped by centuries of Russian rule. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia sought to maintain close ties with Ukraine during this period an effort that, in retrospect, many see as an unwillingness to accept Ukraines sovereignty. Moscow began backing pro-Russian political parties that fueled societal division in Ukraine and openly opposed initiatives like closer integration with Europe. In the lead-up to Ukraine's 2004 presidential election, Russian President Vladimir Putin even visited Ukraine twice to throw his support behind Viktor Yanukovych, Moscow's favored candidate. Meanwhile, Yanukovych's opponent, Viktor Yushchenko, was poisoned in an attack widely believed to have been orchestrated by Russia's security service. When Yanukovych was declared the winner of what many believed to be a rigged election, Ukrainians flooded the streets in protest, sparking the Orange Revolution. Ukrainian began to be spoken by more people after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but it was not until the 2013-2014 EuroMaidan Revolution (also known as the Revolution of Dignity), followed by Russias illegal annexation of Crimea and its invasion of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, that the state began actively promoting the use of the Ukrainian language. In 2019, the Ukrainian government passed a law "on ensuring the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the state language." Contrary to some deliberate misinterpretations, the law was not designed to prohibit the Russian language in Ukraine, but rather to mandate a broader use of Ukrainian than Russian across the public sphere. The Russian language was noticeably still a part of everyday use in Ukrainian society. EuroMaidan and the Russian aggression of 2014 undermined that stereotype (that Ukrainian was somehow inferior to Russian) but did not immediately eliminate it. While the stronger promotion of Ukrainian after 2014 helped overcome the marginality of Ukrainian, it was only after 2022 that it became fully accepted as a legitimate language of all spheres of urban life and the predominant language of the public domain, Kulyk explained. 70% of Ukrainians across the country now speak exclusively or primarily in Ukrainian at home. Since the start of the full-scale war, Russia has devastated multiple cities in Ukraines east, occupied up to 20% of the country, kidnapped tens of thousands of Ukrainian children, and subjected Ukraine to relentless missile and drone strikes on a near-daily basis. This war has affected all Ukrainians to varying degrees of severity, and amid this suffering and Russias pre-text of protecting Russian speakers, Russian-speaking Ukrainians are increasingly faced with the choice of the language they use. Many people have thus come to believe that the only means to deprive Russia of the ability to make such a claim (that they are protecting Russian-speaking Ukrainians) is to simply stop speaking Russian, Kulyk said. Those people who fail to do so are considered to be playing into Putins hands. Read also: Kyiv, not Kiev How Ukrainians reclaimed their capitals name A spring 2014 survey by the sociological group Rating found that 56% of Ukrainians opposed granting Russian official state language status following Russias illegal annexation of Crimea. A survey conducted in 2024 by the sociological group Rating revealed that 70% of Ukrainians across the country now speak exclusively or primarily in Ukrainian at home. In 2015, this number stood at 50%, and in 2006 at 46%. While some Ukrainians may still speak Russian with their friends or families at home, an increasing number choose to speak exclusively in Ukrainian in public. They might also choose to speak exclusively in Ukrainian with younger family members the choice of how much or how little to speak Russian during wartime is deeply personal and varies by individual circumstances. Russian occupation starts with the Russian language. Debates continue in Ukrainian society about the pace of this language shift. Recent comments, such as those made by Witkoff, have made many believe these changes should happen more quickly. If you dont want to change, to rid your language and identity of Russianness, you will soon hear such statements about Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and even Kyiv. Change now, while 80% of the territory is still ours thanks to the Ukrainian army. Otherwise, you risk losing even more. Its not too late to change, even now, Ukrainian poet and soldier Yaryna Chornohuz wrote on Facebook on March 23 following Witkoffs comments. A man wrapped in a national flag visits a designated area for commemorating fallen Ukrainian and foreign fighters during Ukraines Independence Day at Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Aug. 24, 2024. (Roman Pilipey / AFP via Getty Images) For Ukrainians like Virlych, who lived through occupation and were liberated by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, there is a deep understanding of what is at stake. She finds inspiration in her fellow Khersonians, who live under daily Russian attacks and say that they will survive whatever comes their way as long as there is no more occupation. And these are people who endure intense shelling 24/7, Virlych said. Nothing is more terrifying to them than (another) Russian occupation, and Russian occupation starts with the Russian language. Note from the author: Hey there, its Kate Tsurkan, thanks for reading this explainer. To be honest, it always seemed like common sense to me why some Ukrainians speak Russian but then again, Ive been living here for many years. The most important thing when it comes to topics like the choice of language in Ukraine is to listen to Ukrainians themselves. I hope this explainer conveyed to you that speaking Russian, once again, does not signify a pro-Russian allegiance. Rather, it is a signifier of what some Ukrainian families had to do to survive. If you like reading this sort of thing, please consider becoming a member of the Kyiv Independent. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The newfound dinosaur species Duonychus tsogtbaatari had two extraordinarily long sickle-shaped claws on each hand. | Credit: Masato Hattori A new species of dinosaur with strange claws has been unearthed in Mongolia by paleontologists. This new genus and species is a therizinosaur, plant-eating, two-legged giants with long claws, and was discovered buried in the Gobi Desert, according to a new study published Tuesday (March 25) in the journal iScience . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike other therizinosaurs, which have three fingers on their hands equipped with long, sharp claws, this new species only has two fingers. This unique anatomy inspired its scientific name, named Duonychus tsogtbaatari, which is Greek for "two digits" and honors the Mongolian paleontologist Khishigjav Tsogtbaatar . "Many species of therizinosaurs have been discovered, and this group had pretty much been defined by their three-fingered hands sporting large claws," study co-author Darla Zelenitsky , a paleontologist at the University of Calgary in Canada, told Live Science in an email. "To find a specimen with only two fingers/claws was surprising as this was so out of the ordinary for this group of dinosaurs." Related: 166 million-year-old fossil found on Isle of Skye belongs to pony-size dinosaur from Jurassic Therizinosaurs are a group of dinosaurs that lived across what is now Asia and North America during the Late Cretaceous Period (100 million to 66 million years ago). Despite being part of the theropod group of dinosaurs typically associated with carnivorous dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex therizinosaurs were herbivorous. These dinosaurs are known for their enormous, sickle-shaped claws, with some species growing talons as long as 20 inches (50 centimeters). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All other therizinosaurs that have previously been discovered, including Therizinosaurus and Beipiaosaurus, have three clawed fingers on their hands, making the discovery of two-clawed D. tsogtbaatari unusual. "Therizinosaurs are already some of the most unusual dinosaurs out there, but Duonychus tsogtbaatari takes it to another level," study lead author Yoshitsugu Kobayashi , a paleontologist at Hokkaido University in Japan, told Live Science in an email. "This newly discovered species from Mongolia breaks the mold with just two fingers instead of the typical three, offering a rare glimpse into how theropod hands evolved and adapted." "But what truly makes this discovery exciting is the incredibly well-preserved keratinous sheath on its claw the first such case in a medium- to large-sized theropod dinosaur," Kobayashi added. Image 1 of 2 four long dinosaur claw bones Claws of the newly discovered Duonychus tsogtbaatari fossil. This species is the first therizinosaur to have been found with only two clawed fingers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Image 2 of 2 a large dinosaur claw caked in mud in the dirt Duonychus tsogtbaatari fossil claw during excavation. The new fossil was unearthed during the construction of a water pipeline in the Bayanshiree Formation in Omnogovi Province, southern Mongolia. The specimen had excellently preserved hands, with a 3D sheath where the claw made out of keratin, like our fingernails would have been. Parts of the arms, spine and hips were also preserved. "The hands, a hallmark of therizinosaurs, are exquisitely preserved with all the finger and wrist bones intact in this specimen," Zelenitsky said. "Even the keratinous sheath of the claw is preserved revealing how big and sharp its claws really were." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other species of dinosaur, such as T. rex, had two fingers, but this marks the first time a therizinosaur has been found with fewer than three digits. This species likely evolved to lose one of the three fingers of its ancestors, the study authors suggested. An illustration of a therizinosaur. Duonychus tsogtbaatari may have looked similar to this creature, except it only possessed two fingers instead of three. | Credit: Masato Hattori The researchers think that D. tsogtbaatari may have evolved this unique hand in order to better grip vegetation, allowing for more efficient feeding. "The loss of the third finger in Duonychus tsogtbaatari might actually have made its remaining two fingers even better at what they were designed for grasping," Kobayashi said. "Based on the shape of its well-preserved claw and how it curved, Duonychus was likely using its hands to grab onto branches and pull vegetation closer, kind of like how chameleons do today." "We think many therizinosaurs may have used their hands for foraging in a 'hook-and-pull' motion, but Duonychus takes this to another level with its extreme claw structure." RELATED STORIES Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Australia's 'upside down' dinosaur age had two giant predators, 120 million-year-old fossils reveal What if a giant asteroid had not wiped out the dinosaurs? Secrets of 1st dinosaurs lie in the Sahara and Amazon rainforest, study suggests Additionally, Kobayashi suggested that the claws may have played other roles, such as in "defense, courtship, or even play." The researchers are thrilled by this discovery, as it not only reveals unexpected diversity within therizinosaurs, but also marks the fifth time that a theropod dinosaur group has evolved to lose their third finger. "While more fossils would help confirm this, all signs point to Duonychus representing a true evolutionary shift, not just a fluke," Kobayashi said. "Its a remarkable find that reshapes our understanding of therizinosaurs and theropod evolution as a whole." F-16 fighter jets provided to Ukraine by its partners cannot get close enough to destroy carriers of Russian guided aerial bombs. However, the defence forces are working on a comprehensive approach to counter these weapons. Source: an F-16 pilot in an interview to the Air Force Command Quote: "Our main focus right now is on Russian use of guided aerial bombs. Not all directions are fully covered, but we do our best to complete missions in these areas. We understand that we cannot get close enough to destroy the carriers of these bombs, but a complex effort is underway. This includes electronic warfare measures to disrupt the operation of these bombs, optimising the electronic warfare environment and enhancing the detection field for both the carriers and the guided bombs themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are fully aware that the current number of Western-made air defence systems is insufficient, which is why the issue of increasing their supply has been raised multiple times. At the moment, in my opinion, some fronts are suffering from this shortage simply because it is physically impossible to set up this process. Our defence forces are doing incredibly hard work there, constantly countering both the carriers and the weapons themselves." Background: Colonel Yurii Ihnat, Head of the Communications Department of the Ukrainian Air Force Command, said that the F-16 fighter jets provided to Ukraine cannot fully compete with Russias Su-35s in aerial combat. On 6 February, Ukrainian air defence units intercepted a Russian guided aerial bomb over the outskirts of Zaporizhzhia. The Air Force pointed out that this was not the first instance of Ukrainian forces successfully shooting down such a weapon. In an interview released by the Air Force, Viking, a pilot of a Ukrainian Su-27 aircraft, explained that there is no "magic wand" to counter Russian guided aerial bombs, which Russia uses 10 times more than Ukraine. The pilot emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach to tackling these weapons: air defence systems, radars, fighter jets and missiles capable of hitting targets at a range of at least 100 km are needed. Ihnat previously reported that Russia dropped almost 40,000 guided bombs on Ukrainian territory in 2024 alone. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The Federal Aviation Administration recently announced new air traffic control safety technology will be implemented at Salt Lake City International Airport, Ogden-Hinckley Airport and Provo Municipal Airport as part of its Surface Safety Portfolio initiatives. The FAA plans to deploy a new Runway Incursion Device a memory aid that gives auditory and visual alerts to air traffic control about whether a runway is occupied at Salt Lake City International and Ogden-Hinckley airports. The device will be at these airports by the end of fall 2026 and will be implemented by 74 airports in total by the end of 2026. "The Runway Incursion Device is another vital tool to keep the flying public safe," said Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau in a news release. "These initiatives will continue to address the needs of our controllers by cutting through the red tape and bringing the most up-to-date technologies to their fingertips." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This tool comes as the third and final initiative of the administration's Surface Safety Portfolio, created in February 2023 to address aviation safety concerns nationwide. As part of the portfolio, Salt Lake City International, Ogden-Hinckley and Provo Municipal airports will also implement Approach Runway Verification technology, a function within the existing flight-tracking system that alerts air traffic control if an aircraft is not aligned with the approved runway while preparing to land. That technology is currently operational at 77 airports, but there isn't yet an estimated date for when it will be provided in the Salt Lake City, Ogden and Provo airports. The Surface Safety Portfolio also includes the Surface Awareness Initiative, a technology that provides real-time depictions of aircraft and other vehicles transmitting Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast on airport surfaces. This may be necessary at airports where tower controllers do not have a clear view of all activity on the surface because it allows them to have a better understanding of any obstacles on the surface, reducing the likeliness of runway incursions. According to its website, the FAA does not currently have plans to implement the technology at any Utah airports. The portfolio's goal is zero serious close calls, including surface incidents and runway incursions. According to the FAA, a runway incursion is "any occurrence at an aerodrome involving the incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle or person on the protected area of a surface designated for the landing and takeoff of aircraft." Surface incidents are described as being a less severe occurrence whenever there is unauthorized movement in a designated area associated with an aircraft that could affect the safety of flight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On March 20 one day after the FAA announced the Runway Incursion Device being launched in over 70 airports pilots at the Orlando International Airport mistakenly tried to take off using a taxiway that ran parallel to the runway they were cleared to use, causing a surface incident. An air traffic controller recognized the error and canceled the aircraft's takeoff clearance, stopping the plane. Tools like the Approach Runway Verification and Runway Incursion Device are created to increase situational awareness for air traffic controllers, allowing them to better facilitate aircraft movements within controlled airspace. The FAA plans to integrate Approach Runway Verification at Orlando International Airport in the future. For more information on the FAAs Surface Safety Portfolio initiatives, visit its website here. AngloGold Ashanti Australia has concluded the first phase of an exploration earn-in agreement by investing A$10m in Inflection Resources copper-gold projects in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The company has selected four copper-gold projects Duck Creek, Trangie, Crooked Creek and Nyngan to advance to the second phase of the agreement. Inflection's projects in NSW are part of the Macquarie Arc, known for its significant copper-gold deposits. The company employs a strategic exploration approach, utilising mud-rotary drilling followed by diamond core drilling to identify mineralised bodies. Following the completion of the first phase, AngloGold Ashanti has exercised its right to acquire a 9.9% equity stake in Inflection. Inflection will issue 11,133,399 common shares at a deemed price of C$0.808 ($0.563) per share, subject to a statutory hold period. This issuance will bring Inflections total issued and outstanding common shares to 112,458,569. The exploration earn-in agreement was initially announced in June 2023. The agreements second phase allows AngloGold to earn a 51% interest in each project by funding A$7m towards exploration expenditures on each of them over three years. Step-out drilling under this phase has commenced at the Trangie project, following up on gold-copper mineralisation announced in February 2025. Inflection president and CEO Alistair Waddell said: The completion of the Phase I agreement with AngloGold Ashanti is a major milestone for the company. We are extremely pleased that AngloGold Ashanti has selected four projects to advance to Phase II as this will provide the necessary capital to drill and potentially develop these projects within the northern extension of the Macquarie Arc. We also welcome AngloGold Ashanti as a new shareholder of the company and we look forward to continuing the discovery-focused partnership in New South Wales. We are particularly excited about the current drilling on the Phase II Trangie project where the company recently reported highly encouraging drill results. In the third phase of the earn-in agreement, AngloGold Ashanti has the option to increase its stake to 65% in each project by investing an additional A$20m in each over two years. If the company does not complete this phase, its ownership interest will revert to 49%. Inflection reserves the right to acquire this interest at a mutually agreed price or fair value within a designated time frame. The fourth phase offers AngloGold Ashanti the opportunity to earn an additional 10% interest, potentially taking its ownership to 75%, by completing a pre-feasibility study and granting Inflection a 1% or 2% net smelter return royalty. The family of a teenage boy put the Metropolitan School District of Martinsville on notice of a potential lawsuit Wednesday after a former substitute teacher was accused of sexually assaulting multiple students between 2023 and 2024. Brittany Fortinberry, 31, faces a slew of charges including child molestation, sexual misconduct, dissemination of matter harmful to minors and contributing to the delinquency of a minor in connection to the allegations, Morgan County Superior Court records show. According to the tort claim letter mailed Wednesday, MSD of Martinsville was negligent to hire and employ Fortinberry, and lacked the proper precautions to prevent abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our preliminary investigation suggests that the school district's administrators knew about inappropriate behavior by Ms. Fortinberry but still chose to hire her," attorney Jason Reese said in a statement. The attorney did not elaborate on those allegations. Fortinberry resigned Jan. 9, 2024, but the move was unrelated to "allegations of sexual misconduct," MSD of Martinsville spokesperson Courtney Vandeventer told USA Today earlier this week. The unnamed student seeks $700,000 per assault to compensate for pain, suffering and other damages. His parents, who are also anonymous, are also seeking unspecified compensation for the distress caused by the abuse. Though a formal lawsuit has not been filed, the letter orders the school district to preserve any evidence related to the abuse allegations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MSD of Martinsville did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On March 20, Vandeventer said the district conducts a full criminal background check as part of its hiring process for all employees. "The safety of students is the number one priority," Vandeventer said, adding the district encourages students and families to report concerns. Online records show that Fortinberry remained jailed Wednesday and was slated to appear in court next on April 3 for a bond hearing. A jury trial in the case is set for June, records show. Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@indystar.com. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: MSD of Martinsville warned of potential lawsuit over teacher sex scandal Bryan Kohberger, who is accused in the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students, is set to go on trial in a few months. Court documents reveal prosecutors could call his family to testify against him and they could be barred from attending the trial. For 14 years, Heather Tessman had looked for her half-brother, whom she'd last seen as a young child in the 1990s, yet nothing turned up in internet and public records searches beyond the fact he'd been born. Just weeks ago, she and the world finally learned his story: He was the 32-year-old emaciated man rescued from a Connecticut house fire in February who told police he had been held held captive in his own home for the past two decades. Tessman, who turns 35 on Thursday, was stunned but excited he was found. But she said police have not allowed her or her mother, who gave up custody of her son when he was an infant, to visit him as he recovers at an undisclosed location, because of the ongoing investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outside a courthouse in Waterbury, Connecticut, on Wednesday, Tessman was asked by reporters what she would say to him. I would say that I love you and I just want to be here for you," she said. And I have a bunch of books that I think that I would love to let you borrow, movies, video games, whatever. The man's stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, has been charged with kidnapping, felony assault, cruelty to persons and other crimes. She made a brief appearance in the courthouse Wednesday and is scheduled to return Friday, when her lawyer says she will enter not guilty pleas. Sullivan, who is free on bail, denies the allegations. I understand the whole world has jumped on those allegations and has already convicted my client, Sullivans lawyer, Ioannis Kaloidis, told reporters. But the good thing about America is thats not how we work. Shes presumed innocent until proven otherwise in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man, who police have not named, told authorities that he set fire to his Waterbury home on Feb. 17 in an attempt to win his freedom. Firefighters pulled him from the house. At a hospital, medical staff said he was suffering from severe malnutrition. He was 5-feet-9-inches tall (1.75 meters tall) and weighed only 69 pounds (31 kilograms). He said he had been locked in a small room with no heat or air conditioning for most of every day since he was about 11 years old. He said he was only let out for a short periods to do chores. His father, Kregg Sullivan, had let him out of the room for longer, but he died last year, according to a warrant for Kimberly Sullivan's arrest. He said he was hungry all the time and his food and water were limited. He was unenrolled from Waterbury's public school system in 2004 after educators contacted child welfare officials with concerns about his well-being, police said. He apparently was going to be home-schooled. Officials from the state Department of Children and Families and Waterbury police visited the home around 2004 and 2005. Police said they saw no cause for concern at the time. The man alleged that he couldn't tell anyone about his plight because Sullivan threatened him with longer confinement and even less food. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tessman and her mother, Tracy Vallerand, believe Kregg and Kimberly Sullivan as well as state and local officials failed him, and they want justice. Tessman called Kimberly Sullivan a monster and said she didn't believe Sullivan's statements that she did nothing wrong. I think that the world is shocked by his condition," Tessman said. "Like, how can you not realize that someone is so frail and malnourished and just mistreated in your own home? Thats just, I dont buy it. Officials with the Department of Children and Families said Wednesday they are still looking for any records on the man. They have said reports of neglect or abuse deemed unsubstantiated are erased five years after investigations are complete. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Waterbury school officials say they too are looking for records. State lawmakers, meanwhile, are calling for answers on how this could have happened, while advocacy groups are questioning whether more oversight is needed for home schooling in Connecticut. Vallerand said she hasn't seen her son since since he was 6 months old when she gave up custody, which she said she thought at the time was in his best interest. She said Kregg Sullivan would not let her see her son, and she had looked for him with Tessman. I was heartbroken, angry, theres just so many emotions, Vallerand said about learning what happened to her son. You dont think of this happening to anybody, let alone your own child. This story has been updated. Sharon Jenkins received a late-night call at home in The Woodlands, Texas, from a Lubbock County officer the week of Thanksgiving 2024. She was told there had been a horrible accident involving her son. The words hit hard. Although she understood them, she couldnt quite process the reality. She never imagined her only child, a psychology major at Texas Tech University, would become another hashtag a Black life killed by law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One thing was certain she needed to get 504 miles northwest to Lubbock as quickly as possible to understand what had happened. Jenkins 20-year-old son Erskin Charles Jenkins, was fatally shot by a Lubbock County sheriffs deputy on Nov. 23, 2024, inside a Wolfforth home where a friend lived. Her disbelief turned into rage weeks later when she watched what she describes as a heavily edited montage of law enforcement officers body- and dash-camera videos. Unable to finish watching the short clip with Texas Rangers, Sharon said she immediately lost trust as the video contradicted the initial police statement and news reports that made it appear that her son had created a hostage situation. Despite the limited insight into what happened four months ago, the case was still under investigation by the Texas Rangers, a division of the states Department of Public Safety responsible for investigating police shootings. Frustrated by the lack of transparency, Sharon, an accountant, funded and joined an independent investigation into her sons fatal police killing a costly option many families cant afford while also seeking online donations to keep fighting for answers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My son was raised right. My son was no criminal, Sharon, 50, said as she wiped away tears during a Zoom call in January. This experience has really shown me that this system isnt for us. They used the media to create a crafty way of changing who my son was to fit their narrative. The unidentified sheriffs deputy who shot and killed Erskin has been placed on administrative leave with pay, according to the Lubbock County Sheriffs Office. In a media release, authorities also misspelled and rearranged Erskins name. Law enforcement in Lubbock County have been withholding evidence, and not many details about the killing have been released. Sharon was informed on March 25 that a Lubbock County grand jury was investigating Erskins death and reviewing the reports, statements, and videos. But hours later, she learned there will not be an indictment against the unidentified officer. The grand jury determined that the Texas Rangers do not have to continue their investigation and no further action will be required by the District Attorneys office, according to a letter obtained through a public information request to the Lubbock Countys Criminal District Attorney Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Capital B has requested copies of evidence, such as 911 calls and video recordings, related to Erskins homicide investigation. All of the requests made to Lubbock County agencies including the Sheriffs Department, Police Department, Medical Examiners Office, District Attorneys Office, and Department of Public Safety have been forwarded to the Texas Attorney Generals Office for guidance. We were initially told he shot because he [the officer] was in fear for his life, said Erskins stepdad, Elvis Kelly. But then what they saw was the complete opposite of a hostage situation, his parents said. If youre going to show us a video, then show us the whole video from the officer, Kelly said. I dont want to see a partial. The night an officer shot and killed Erskin Jenkins The Lubbock County Sheriffs Office and the Wolfforth Police Department responded to a disturbance involving an armed subject in the 400 block of 14th Street at 10:17 p.m., according to the sheriffs office. Before authorities arrived, they were told the suspect Jenkins, Erskine Charles was not only armed but also threatening other people at the residence, according to the media release. Erskin Jenkins, 20, loved animals and wanted to use his psychology degree to help disabled children and the unhoused. (Photo courtesy of Sharon Jenkins) Most local news outlets that received initial information from law enforcement about the fatal police shooting, misreported Jenkins name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The specific weapon that the suspect allegedly brandished before shots were fired wasnt disclosed in the sheriffs office media release. However, a custodial death report published on Nov. 25, 2024, by the state attorney generals office, said the 20-year-old showed up to a house gathering with friends to celebrate Thanksgiving with a firearm. The report called Erskins death a justifiable homicide. Erskine appeared to be intoxicated, emotional, and unstable during the gathering. Erskine began brandishing a pistol towards the occupants inside the residence, which resulted in an occupant calling 911, according to the custodial death report. According to a toxicology report provided to Capital B, his alcohol level was 0.02% meaning Erskin was not intoxicated since the legal blood alcohol limit to drive is 0.08%. However, his family and friends dispute the findings of that report, insisting he had not consumed any alcohol, either with them or in social settings. Responding officers and sheriff deputies allegedly heard Erskin say from inside the house that he needed to kill people, according to the custodial death report. Police began evacuating all occupants from the residence when a deputy, who was removing a woman through a window in the backyard, said that the suspect allegedly pointed a weapon at the deputy from inside. In response, the deputy fired his rifle, killing him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooting officer was described by officials as a 28-year-old Hispanic or Latino man, according to a Nov. 25, 2024, Peace Officer Involved Injuries or Death report. The report was provided to Capital B through a public information request. Weeks later, Sharon and Kelly, were shown the police version of the video evidence. Erskins parents took a deep breath before talking about Dec. 19, 2024 a date now tied to anxiety. Its the day when they sat in an office with Texas Rangers and their lawyer, preparing to watch Sharons only sons final moments alive. Sharon said in the body camera footage she saw her son was unconscious or asleep on a couch inside the house, when various female-sounding voices said with urgency, help Erskin, and that hes not himself because he doesnt drink. In the next video clip, she said, an officer outside of the house allegedly broke a window at the back, which startled or woke him up. He stood up, bent down, they assumed to pick up something, she said. Sharon said at that moment the footage was stopped by one of the case detectives. Their lawyer, who was present, watched the rest of the footage, which showed the shots being fired, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I couldnt bear to watch, she added. I asked if he pointed the gun the attorney said he didnt. This is not the first shooting death in Lubbock County Unlike other cities where protests may erupt after a person is killed by law enforcement, Lubbock has seen no such demonstrations for Erskin, said Nicole Gocher, who was Erskins loctician. This is something Lubbock [police] does and they get away with it, abusing their power, said Gocher, who is a lifelong Lubbock resident. The city and county have a deep-rooted history of racial segregation and exclusion, according to a series published in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Founded in 1909, Lubbock was largely unwelcoming to Black residents and by 1920 fewer than 200 Black people lived there, the article read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lubbock wasnt excluded from redlining and Jim Crow-era segregation that restricted Black residents to neighborhoods near the railroad tracks on the east side, limiting their ability to purchase property elsewhere. The Ku Klux Klan also maintained a presence in the area, reinforcing racial divisions and intimidation, the article reported. These historical injustices have had lasting effects, shaping Lubbocks racial dynamics and contributing to the systemic inequalities that persist today, according to the article. Erskins family lived in predominantly Hispanic and white communities in Texas. His hometown in Harris County just outside of Houston, has a Black population of 4.1%, according to the U.S. Census. But in Lubbock County, Black and Latinx people are at least six times as likely to be killed by police as white people, according to the Police Scorecard. The website is a comprehensive data resource that provides metrics on 13,147 police departments and 2,878 sheriff departments across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since 2013, at least 200 Black people have been killed annually by law enforcement across the country, according to the Mapping Police Violence database, which began tracking fatal police killings that year. These numbers remained steady through the pandemic and after George Floyds murder. Texas leads the nation with 1,366 fatal police incidents, including 323 Black people who were killed by police. Erskin Jenkins, 20, felt passionate about using his education to help those facing developmental challenges and individuals experiencing housing instability. (Photo courtesy of Sharon Jenkins). Since 2014, Lubbock County has seen 16 fatal police incidents, including Erskins. The breakdown includes another Black man, one white woman, nine people who were Hispanic, and four white men, according to the Mapping Police Violence database. None of these investigations led to charges against an officer. Two days after Erskins death, a Lubbock police officer seriously injured a Black woman shooting her six times during a verbal dispute with her husband. The womans mother, who was nearby at the time, said she heard no de-escalation commands. The police chief justified the shooting and confirmed the officer was on paid administrative leave. Something has to change in Lubbock, in Texas, after all of this is said and done, said Sharon, who has spent upwards of $50,000 and counting on her mission for answers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She hired a private investigator and attorneys to probe her sons death after she said police became dismissive and unhelpful in her fight for justice. Her struggle is one many Black families face each year, regardless of the circumstances or how the investigation is portrayed. Even receiving a copy of the autopsy report has been a challenge, she said. Black Lives Matter Grassroots is supporting the Jenkins family by providing support for their independent investigation, elevating Erskins name at rallies, and supporting them as needed. What really happened to Erskin Jenkins Jabori Trussel received a late-night call from a mutual friend who witnessed the shooting. Trussel, who lives in Chicago and was Erskins friend, said his death left them all devastated, especially as media reports tarnished his character. Many who hadnt heard directly from Erskins mom initially thought that someone else with a similar name was killed. Erskin was not identified as a Texas Tech student, which is where they all met. It didnt sound like Erskin drinking, rambling, pulling a gun out and waving it around, Trussel, 21, said. Erskin didnt drink so that was strange. I never seen him drink before at all, not one beer. Gocher said the narrative written within hours of his death read as if they didnt try to de-escalate the situation with Erskin at all. She also noticed that news articles on various websites were updating to match the officers account and it irritated her that they couldnt get his name right. Erskin, a sophomore at Texas Tech University, had dropped a class to help his family financially. Sharon said she wished he had been better advised about dropping the class and how it impacted his status as a student. The family was working on restoring his full-time status before his death, she said. Since the prim-and-proper animal lover technically withdrew before his death, the university followed policy and didnt consider him a full-time student. When students pass away, the university usually provides services and takes actions such as lowering the flag. But that did not happen after Erskins death because of his status, said Allison Hirth, assistant vice president of marketing, in an email. When parents send their children to college, they hope institutions will additionally provide mental health support services, not just education, Sharon said. She and Kelly made sure their extremely shy son built a community during freshman orientation in 2023. There, he met his first friend, Rylan Edwards, along with Gocher, who gave him his weekly sometimes even twice a week haircuts, and became close with the Edwards family. We felt comforted knowing that they were friends, Nikoll Bowers Edwards, Rylans mother, said. We knew right off that this is a good kid, pure at heart, not tainted. Erskin, who took six months to open up to Gocher after she initiated a conversation about psychology, later befriended Trussel and Esmeralda Flores in psychology and writing classes. It took a year for Erskin to respond to Flores first text. All of them said they have grown suspicious about what happened at the party that led police to the house. Edwards, 20, lived at the Wolfforth home where Erskin was killed, but avoided the weekly parties because he said he felt unsafe. Edwards was not there the night Erskin was fatally shot. I told Erskin about the party but I wasnt going to be there. He wouldnt know anyone else there, so I was shocked he went, Edwards said. He doesnt usually hang out with strangers and to be drinking, thats not Erskin Its suspicious. Why was he there? Edwards also said that the parties, mainly attended by people connected to the homeowners son, often featured the casual use of racial slurs in conversation. The son of the homeowner is Edwards childhood classmate from Dallas. They have a propensity to say the N-word a lot, said Edwards, who added that something had to have happened since Erskin and one other person were the only Black people at the party. Edwards said after the killing, he returned to the home, which was back to normal days after it turned into a crime scene, to collect his belongings. He moved to a new place and never returned. Sharon said she has so many questions that are left unanswered about her sons death. When the funeral home picked up his body, all they gave me was a necklace and two hair ties, because his hair was long, she said. Wheres his [Erskins] phone, his wallet? Corrections: An earlier version of this story misstated Erskin Charles Jenkins blood alcohol level at the time of his death. It was 0.02%. Also, Nikoll Bowers Edwards name was misspelled in an earlier version of this story. The post Family of Texas College Student Killed by Police Launches Their Own Investigation appeared first on Capital B News. HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) A portrait of Henry VII on loan from Rome is now on display at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, according to museum officials Wednesday. The Renaissance court portraiture Portrait of Henry VIII (1540) was created by Hans Holbein. Yale Peabody Museum celebrates 1 year since reopening Its on special loan from the Palazzo Barberini in Rome through the summer. Wadsworth museum officials said the imposing portrait was painted when Henry VIII was 49 years old, as a pendant to a portrait of his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The portrait is part of a loan exchange for the Wadsworths St. Francis in Ecstasy, which is now appearing in the exhibition Caravaggio 2025. Several events related to the portrait are scheduled, including: Saturday, May 3 Gallery Talk with Wadsworth Director Matthew Hargraves and Oliver Tostmann, Susan Morse Hilles Curator of European Art. Registration required via thewadsworth.org. Friday, May 30 Feast with Henry VIII For tickets visit thewadsworth.org Tuesday, April 15 Virtual Artful Conversations for Members Displaying Power: Henry VIIIs Portrait from the Palazzo Barberini with Maria Hayward Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thursday, June 5 Free First Thursdays: A Renaissance Faire Come in costume for a Renaissance Faire on Main Street. Stay for a screening of Firebrand (2024) at 8pm. Register at thewadsworth.org. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. A Singapore-regulated cryptocurrency exchange, DigiFT, has announced it will launch what it says is the first index fund in which the shares and underlying stocks are tokenized and traded on-chain. The platform, licensed by Singapores Monetary Authority, is partnering with investment firm Hash Global to debut two index funds: one tracking top artificial intelligence (AI) stocks and another tracking leading crypto assets, according to a statement. The move, it says, replaces the traditional infrastructure behind portfolio managementbrokers, banks, custodianswith smart contracts and stablecoins. Investors will subscribe to and redeem from the funds using USDT or USDC and view fund holdings in real time on the blockchain. By bringing real-world equities fully on-chain, we remove inefficiencies, enhance accessibility, and set a new standard for how portfolios are structured, traded, and managed in a blockchain-native environment, Henry Zhang, CEO of DigiFT, said. The artificial intelligence-focused DigiFT Hash Global AI Index Fund will offer exposure to companies like Apple, Tesla, and Microsoft, tokenized to reflect their real-world stock values. A second fund will track major cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin, ether and Solana. The structure gives investors round-the-clock access to the funds, greater transparency, and increased liquidity. Hash Global called tokenized equities the most important real-world asset to bring on-chain. The funds will only be available to accredited and institutional investors at launch. CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) After disasters like Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Congress approved billions of dollars in mailbox money last year to help farmers recover and to bolster the farming economy. Now, that money is being deposited into farmers bank accounts. $25 million is going to farmers in Illinois at a rate of nearly $43 per acre for corn and nearly $30 per acre for soybeans. From the Farm: House Agriculture committee convenes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Jean French and Joan Hammond at the Illinois Farm Service Office said farmers need to be proactive to get their share of the cash. We would encourage producers to not wait for the application to be mailed to them, and to visit the county office or apply or inquire, Hammond said. The producers that receive an application or that already are in our system, its based off their 2024 data that theyve already reported to FSA. So when they apply, the application will already contain the data that they reported to FSA for 2024 eligible commodities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/FOX24) Even with the Razorbacks playing almost 2,000 miles away, the buzz is still felt in Northwest Arkansas. Both shops and restaurants have been the benefactor for the Hogs success as they have seen a major increase in business all tournament long. The owner of The Stadium Shoppe on Razorback Road, Robert Mann, says he knows the importance of a deep tournament run both for his shop and the fanbase. We all graduated from here, so to see Arkansas back in the national limelight again and being discussed in a serious manner, its always cool. Its good for business, too, Mann said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GAME STORY: Calipari, 10-seed Arkansas punch NCAAT Sweet 16 ticket with 75-66 upset win over Pitino, 2-seed St. Johns Its not just shops seeing the uptick in business, but restaurants too. JJs Grill on Dickson Street reaps the benefits of Arkansas Cinderella story. Assistant manager at JJs Jordan Burleigh says that since the Razorbacks first game, business has skyrocketed. When the Razorbacks played for the first time, the restaurant was absolute full house. Everybody was running as much as they possibly could. Its really, really, really busy, said Burleigh. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) The Fayetteville Police Department will receive a grant to prevent gun violence in the community. The Project Safe Neighborhood grant is a $30,000 award presented to the department. The department uses the money for outreach, to educate and engage the community by providing gun locks and teaching firearm safety, among other things. Fayetteville police, sheriffs office host Special Olympics fundraiser Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even though Fayetteville isnt a city that sees a lot of violence, Sgt. Stephen Mauk with the department says one crime is one too many. We like to be proactive as opposed to being reactive when it really comes to getting the worst offenders off the street, and so we dont take the view that we can rest. We know its a problem in all communities, so were going to take efforts to prevent and, of course, catch criminals that use guns to commit violent crimes, Mauk said. This grant is nothing new for the department. It has received funds from Project Safe Neighborhood before. One way you can help the department is by attending the National Night Out, where officers aim to build relationships with the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The FBI and Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD) are asking for the publics help to locate a man for his alleged involvement in the robbery of a bank that happened in February in Las Cruces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI Albuquerque Division said Daniel Guereca is allegedly involved in the robbery that happened at around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, at the PNC Bank located at 3800 E. Lohman Ave. in Las Cruces. The FBI said Guereca entered the bank and demanded money from the teller. The teller handed over an undisclosed amount of money to him. Guereca is described as a Hispanic man of thin build. He is approximately 6 feet tall and weighs approximately 185 pounds, the FBI said. The FBI said Guereca was wearing a green hat, a black Adidas jacket with white stripes down the arms, a surgical mask, and glasses at the time of the robbery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, the FBI is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of this suspect. Bank robbery carries a possible prison term of up to 20 years. The use of a gun, other dangerous weapon, toy gun, or hoax bomb device during the commission of a bank robbery can be punishable by a prison term of up to 25 years, the FBI said. Anyone with information about this robbery is asked to contact the FBI at (505) 889-1300. Information about other bank/credit union robbers wanted by the FBI 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 KTSM 9 News. Over 10,000 cans of Coca-Cola sold in Wisconsin and Illinois have been recalled for possible contamination with a foreign object: plastic. On Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalled 864 12-packs of Coca-Cola sold in the two states earlier this month. The recalled beverages were bottled and distributed by Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, LLC, in Milwaukee, according to the FDA. Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling initially issued a voluntary recall March 6. "Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling is voluntarily recalling 864 cases of 12-pack Coca-Cola Classic in 12-oz cans in Illinois and Wisconsin," a company spokesperson said in an emailed statement to USA TODAY. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The cases are being withdrawn because they did not meet our high-quality standards. We are taking this voluntary action because nothing is more important to us than providing high-quality products to the people who drink our beverages," the statement continued. The FDA issued a Class II recall for the products. According to the FDA, a Class II recall 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." The FDA did not mention any injuries or illnesses in connection with the recall. How do I know if I have recalled Coca-Cola? The FDA provided the following information about the recalled products: Product description: Coca-Cola Original Taste, 12 fl oz Can UPC: 0 49000-00634 6 12-can pack UPC: 0 49000-02890 4 Date code: SEP2925MDA Time stamp: 1100-1253 USA TODAY reporter Gabe Hauari contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: FDA recalls over 10,000 cans of Coca-Cola sold in Wisconsin, Illinois By Guy Faulconbridge RYLSK, Russia (Reuters) - In the Russian region of Kursk, where Ukraine has been fighting for more than seven months, people say they want peace but fear there will be more war. Ukraine's incursion into Russian territory was launched in August - more than two years into a major war triggered by Moscow's invasion of its neighbour - shocking a border region that hadn't seen conflict since World War Two. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, with Russia close to expelling the last Ukrainian troops, Kursk's populace is counting the cost. For some residents like Leonid Boyarintsev, a veteran of the Sino-Soviet border conflict of 1969, the surprise enemy offensive served as justification for Russia to double down on its military activities in Ukraine. "When we are victorious there will be peace because no one will dare to come crawling in again," the 83-year-old told Reuters in the town of Rylsk, adding that he blamed the West for stoking the conflict in Ukraine. "They will be too afraid to." The damage that has been unleashed on towns and cities in the Russian region has brought home the horrors of war long suffered by Ukrainians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In ancient Rylsk, 26 km (16 miles) from the border, the scars are everywhere - from the smashed merchant buildings from Tsarist Russia to the families still struggling with children living apart in evacuation. "We want peace but it is very important that the peace is long term and durable," town Mayor Sergei Kurnosov told Reuters in the ruins of a cultural centre that was destroyed in a Dec. 20 Ukrainian attack. Six people were killed and 12 injured in the attack, Russia said. Russia said the cultural centre was destroyed by U.S.-made HIMARS missiles. Abandoned music books lay beside silent pianos and a theatre stage showing a shattered scene of rubble and glass. Reuters is among the first international news outlets to gain access to the Kursk region since Russia began a lightning offensive to expel Ukrainian troops this month. While Russian officials did not check reporting material, the Reuters team was informed in advance that it could not report about the Russian military in the region or gather visuals of Russian forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just like Ukrainians, many Kursk residents crave a return to normality Here too, air-raid sirens have become the daily soundtrack of life. While Russia has now pushed out almost all Ukrainian forces from Kursk, the area has been heavily mined and drones continue to attack. Many civilian cars speeding along a road near the vast Kurchatov nuclear power plant had drone jamming devices strapped onto their roofs. Residents shopped for food and vapes as artillery boomed in the distance. "It's all very scary indeed," said Rimma Erofeyeva, a music teacher in Rylsk who said people in the town wanted the fighting to stop though believed that God was protecting them. "The really scary thing is that people have got so used to this that they don't even react to the sirens any more." SWARMS OF DRONES Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian forces smashed into the Kursk region on August 6, supported by swarms of drones and heavy Western weaponry, and swiftly seize almost 1,400 sq km of territory, according to Russian generals. But within weeks the area under Ukraine's control shrank as Russia piled in forces. The latest battlefield map from Deep State, an authoritative Ukrainian site that charts the frontlines from open-source data, showed Ukraine controlled less than 81 sq km as of March 23. By contrast, Russia controls about 113,000 sq km, or about 20%, of Ukraine. The strategic fortunes of the Kursk incursion are disputed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine said the incursion was aimed at bringing the war to Russia, diverting Russian troops from advances in eastern Ukraine, embarrassing President Vladimir Putin and gaining a bargaining chip in potential future talks on ending the war. The operation "achieved most of its goals", the armed forces' General Staff told Reuters this week. The chief of Russia's General Staff Valery Gerasimov told Putin, in a televised exchange during a trip by the president to a command post in the Kursk region on March 12, that Ukraine had lost tens of thousands of its best troops in a failed bid to distract Russian forces from the Donbas, in eastern Ukraine. "The Kyiv regime aimed to create a so-called strategic foothold in the Kursk region for later use as a bargaining chip in possible negotiations with Russia," Gerasimov said. "These plans of the enemy have completely failed." Russia's defence ministry says Ukraine has lost 69,700 troops dead or injured in Kursk, along with 5,700 tanks, armoured cars and many Western-supplied vehicles. Russia has not given its own casualty figures. Ukraine has given no casualty figures but dismisses Russian estimates as fake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed to end the three-year war in Ukraine, yet many people in the Kursk region are sceptical of any lasting peace because of deep-seated geopolitical tensions and distrust between Russia and the West. "I don't think that there will be peace in our region in the near future," said a resident of the city of Kursk who gave her name only as Yekaterina, citing resentment towards Russia from Ukraine and the West. "There will be some hostility towards our people, towards our land for a very long time." (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Pravin Char) Federal agents say it was a months-long investigation. Undocumented foreign nationals brought here to work in unsuitable conditions. Now, the owner of Wellmade Industries in Bartow County is in jail. Thats after agents raided his company. It was a massive operation with Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, GBI and Bartow County Sheriffs Office on scene. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Channel 2s Tom Jones was the first TV reporter at the scene. He asked Homeland Security what brought so many agents there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This search warrant today was in relation to labor trafficking and financial crimes, Lindsay Williams with Homeland Security said. That search warrant at Wellmade Industries led to the arrest of its owner, 59-year-old Zhu George Chen. Homeland Security investigators said a months-long investigation found he was bringing in workers from other countries and forcing them to work at his flooring company. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Improper pay and treatment of workers, Williams said. The FBI said it was there in a supportive role but said the infractions at the facility were serious. Labor trafficking. Bringing in undocumented people to do work. Usually for lower wages, said Brian Ozden, Assistant Special Agent-In-Charge in Atlanta. Law enforcement said some 300 and 400 foreign nationals who work there are victims. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] These folks today are primarily from China, but there are some other countries involved as well, Williams said. The FBI said arrangements are being made to get them housing for now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve identified a number of victim witnesses. Weve brought in 20 linguists from across the country to help interview and then process those through the investigation, Ozden said. Seven houses nearby were also searched. Law enforcement said thats where some of the workers lived in harsh conditions. Ozden said labor trafficking is a huge problem not just here but around the country. And we work diligently in the FBI with our partners to try to mitigate it, Ozden said. Chen faces three counts of trafficking of persons for labor or sexual servitude. Those are felonies. He is currently being held at the Bartow County Jail. A divided federal appeals court has maintained a temporary block on President Donald Trumps ability to use the Alien Enemies Act to quickly deport alleged members of a Venezuelan gang. The DC Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled 2-1 on Wednesday that a pair of lower-court orders blocking Trumps use of the sweeping wartime authority can stand while a legal challenge to the presidents invocation of the law plays out. US District Judge James Boasbergs orders blocking use of the Alien Enemies Act for deportations has been at the center of an escalating political and legal controversy since they were issued on the evening of March 15. Two flights of people being deported under the act took off during an emergency hearing and did not turn around, leading to ongoing questions of whether Boasbergs court order was intentionally ignored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, the Justice Department and Boasberg have gone back and forth over DOJs refusal to provide more information about the flights, and Trump suggested Boasberg should be impeached. That led to a rare rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts. Trump had invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which gives the president tremendous authority to target and remove undocumented immigrants, to speed up the deportations of migrants the government has accused of being members of the gang, Tren de Aragua. The law is designed to be invoked if the US is at war with another country, or a foreign nation has invaded the US or threatened to do so. Wednesdays appeals court ruling was unsigned. But Judges Patricia Millett, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, and Karen Henderson, an appointee of former President George H.W. Bush, wrote lengthy opinions explaining why they agreed with the courts decision. Henderson leaned into the argument that allowing Trump to use the law even as the case proceeded risks exiling plaintiffs to a land that is not their country of origin where they could face torture in notorious prisons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, at oral argument before this Court, the government in no uncertain terms conveyed that were the injunction lifted it would immediately begin deporting plaintiffs without notice, Henderson wrote. Plaintiffs allege that the government has renditioned innocent foreign nationals in its pursuit against TdA. For example, one plaintiff alleges that he suffered brutal torture with electric shocks and suffocation for demonstrating against the Venezuelan regime. Judge Justin Walker, who was named to the bench by Trump during his first term, dissented, focusing on a technical issue he raised during the oral arguments in the case. Walker said the claims filed by those deported needed to go to a court in Texas rather than in Washington, DC. The Trump administration, he said, had shown that the district courts orders threaten irreparable harm to delicate negotiations with foreign powers on matters concerning national security. And that harm, Walker said, plus the asserted public interest in swiftly removing dangerous aliens, outweighs the plaintiffs desire to file the suit in Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration is expected to appeal the ruling to the US Supreme Court. The Justice Department appealed Boasbergs orders during a very early stage of the litigation, and its likely that the case will arrive back at the DC Circuit in coming weeks after the judge issues a more thorough decision on the merits of Trumps use of the wartime law for these deportations. Millett seemed especially focused on the cases posture as she explained why she wanted to keep the orders at issue intact. The district court has been handling this matter with great expedition and circumspection, and its orders do nothing more than freeze the status quo until weighty and unprecedented legal issues can be addressed through a soon-forthcoming preliminary injunction proceeding, she wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Siding with the administration at this juncture, Millett said, would moot the Plaintiffs claims by immediately removing them beyond the reach of their lawyers or the court. Millett was also critical of the Trump administrations argument that it did not violate Boasbergs order from the bench earlier this month to immediately turn around any planes carrying migrants being deported under the Alien Enemies Act. DOJ attorneys have told Boasberg that his oral command did not amount to a binding injunction and that a written order he issued shortly after the proceedings is the controlling ruling in the matter. That written order contained no such language about the planes and instead just said the administration was enjoined from removing the migrants subject to Trumps proclamation invoking the law while the judges temporary restraining orders remained in effect. I leave the merits of that argument for the district court to resolve in the first instance, Millett wrote. But the one thing that is not tolerable is for the government to seek from this court a stay of an order that the government at the very same time is telling the district court is not an order with which compliance was ever required. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heads the government wins, tails the district court loses is no way to obtain the exceptional relief of a TRO stay, she added. This story has been updated with additional details. CNNs John Fritze contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Free food is distributed to residents in need at a weekly food bank in February 2024 in New York City. The Trump administration has eliminated more than $1 billion for local foods programs, which has left food banks and school systems scrambling. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) For the Day Eagle Hope Project, federal money has helped volunteers deliver fresh produce and meat to families in need across the remote Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in northern Montana while putting cash into the hands of farmers, ranchers and meat processors. The nonprofit generally has less than $300,000 to spend per year. So the $200,000 from a U.S. Department of Agriculture local food buying program drastically raised both the quantity and quality of the food it could distribute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were a major, major contributor to our food, said Tescha Hawley, who directs the organization, which aims to improve physical, mental and spiritual health. The USDA recently nixed more than $1 billion from two programs that helped food banks and school meal programs buy local foods, including $660 million for schoolchildren. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins recently described the programs as nonessential. But the move has left hundreds of school systems and food banks reeling. They already face rising food prices and are struggling to help community members with growing food insecurity. Created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Local Food Purchase Assistance and the Local Food for Schools programs aimed to build more resilient supply chains of domestic food by connecting schools and food pantries with small ranches, farms and dairies. The program was initially funded by 2021s American Rescue Plan Act but later expanded by the Biden administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal programs stimulated the purchase of locally grown fruits, vegetables, dairy and meats benefiting both the smaller farmers who received fair market pay for their products and the organizations granted funds to buy high quality foods. The noncompetitive grants sent hundreds of millions of dollars to all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 84 tribal governments, boosting business for more than 8,000 farmers and providing local food to almost as many food banks. The Trump administration is killing the programs, despite Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s campaign against processed food, which he says is poisoning Americans. Without ongoing funding, Hawley said, she would have to rely on cheaper, less nutritious food. Its simple, right? I can get a truck in here with all highly processed food, no problem, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schools are facing a similar challenge: While officials running breakfast and lunch programs would prefer to buy more local products, those are often expensive. And with underfunding, high food costs and labor struggles, school lunch programs are already stretched thin. In Milan, Tennessee, the federal funds allowed the local school system to buy minimally processed beef from a local stockyard, and broccoli, purple hull peas, tomatoes and melons from local growers. Vickie Dunaway, who supervises the school systems food services, told the Tennessee Lookout the federal cuts mean going backwards on purchasing healthier foods. That will obviously have to be cut out, because our budget will not withstand being able to purchase local, she said. Purchasing local, minimally processed food is way more expensive than buying from a distributor. A devastating cut to food banks Late last year, USDA said the programs had already spent more than $1 billion on local foods, and announced an expansion of the two programs with an additional $1.13 billion. USDA has killed that $1.13 billion expansion; it is still reimbursing the previously committed funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration, which has sought to dramatically slash the size of the federal government, told recipients earlier this month that the programs no longer effectuate the goals of the agency. In a statement to Stateline, the USDA said the current administration is prioritizing stable, proven solutions that deliver lasting impact. The COVID era is over USDAs approach to nutrition programs will reflect that reality moving forward, the statement said. The only thing well be able to do is just ration what little we have to spread it as thinly as possible over the number of households we provide food to. Eric Cooper, president and CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank The nonpartisan National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, which represents the ag department leaders of all 50 states, last month lobbied the federal government to continue the local foods program with permanent funding and ease procurement regulations for school meal programs. Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward, president of the association, said in a statement that the local food programs aid both producers and consumers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investing in local and regional food systems not only strengthens the connections between farmers and their local communities, it bolsters supply chain resiliency as well, his statement read. In New Mexico, the program allowed food banks to buy some 900,000 pounds of locally grown food from more than 200 farmers since 2023. Before the program was terminated, the state was expecting close to $3 million in additional funding, Source New Mexico reported. Jill Dixon, executive director of The Food Depot in northern New Mexico, called the cuts devastating. In Texas, the San Antonio Food Bank counted on USDAs local food program to help round out the food boxes it provides to families in need. The food bank, which serves more than 100,000 people across 29 Texas counties, largely relies on donated foods from hotels, restaurants and grocery stores. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The challenge is I might get peanut butter donated, but I dont have the jelly, or I might have pasta donated, but I dont have the marinara, said Eric Cooper, president and CEO of the food bank. This program allowed us to purchase those items that we didnt get that then helped round out the food box, or really complement the food that was being donated to give families the ability to make meals. The program initially provided the food bank nearly $3 million in grant funding about 20% of what the organization spends each year on bulk food purchases. It expected a similar amount this year, before USDAs announcement. Cooper said cuts come even as the need for assistance rises. Food prices have squeezed families, and mass layoffs of federal workers portend more demand for food assistance in the coming months, he said. And well be caught in the middle. And you know, thats an incredibly uncomfortable place to be. The only thing well be able to do is just ration what little we have to spread it as thinly as possible over the number of households we provide food to. Micah Stewart, an employee of the San Antonio Food Bank, distributes produce in January in Comfort, Texas. The food bank is among those affected by the Trump administrations cut of more than $1 billion in local food programs. (Courtesy of San Antonio Food Bank) A boost for school lunches For years, school meal programs have struggled with tight margins. Not only do they have to meet strict nutritional guidelines, but schools also face lagging reimbursement from the federal government and spend millions covering the cost of students unpaid meal debt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the 1,600-student Monticello School District in Arkansas, that debt is approaching $60,000. So $50,000 from USDAs local food program was a significant boost to the bottom line. That was such a help, said Amanda West, the districts child nutrition director. The southeast Arkansas district used grant money to buy locally grown ground beef. The beef went into dishes including taco salad, meatloaf and spaghetti. West said staff and students immediately noticed a difference in taste from conventionally purchased meats. And though the local product cost more, West said it also yielded more because it was not full of additives that cause the meat to shrink when cooked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement West, who is the president of the Arkansas School Nutrition Association, noted that her state is home to the nations highest rates of food insecurity. West had hoped to see the local foods program help turn that tide by bringing more stability to school meal programs and growing the state economy by boosting local farmers, ranchers and distributors. Were all upset about it. I hate that were not receiving it because grocery prices are 30, 40% higher than what they were a few years ago, and it really hurts our budget, she said. It helped a lot of districts, including mine, and it would be amazing if we could get it back. On top of the local foods program cuts, congressional Republicans are considering billions in potential cuts to free and reduced-price school meal programs cuts the School Nutrition Association says could potentially affect millions of American students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal government partially subsidizes breakfast, lunch and after-school snack programs at rates calculated by the income level of students families. The School Nutrition Association, which represents 50,000 school meal providers across the country, said the school meals are the healthiest many American children receive. But that group says federal reimbursements are far from adequate, leaving members worried about the future of their meal programs. In a recent association survey of more than 1,390 school meal directors, more than 90% reported serious or moderate concern over the financial sustainability of their school meal programs three years from now. Stateline reporter Kevin Hardy can be reached at khardy@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Fintech company AstroPay has expanded its multicurrency wallet to several Latin American countries, including Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, and Chile. The move aims to enable digital workers and global travellers across the region to send, receive, and spend money more quickly and at a lower cost, bypassing the traditional banking systems, the company said. The company's approach involves direct licencing, forming partnerships with financial institutions, and leveraging international regulatory frameworks to enable global transactions. This allows individuals and businesses in Latin America to manage their finances with storage and conversion features, receiving and withdrawing international payments. The company claims that the wallet provides lower transaction costs compared to traditional financial services, as well as competitive exchange rates. Moreover, the expansion is expected to aid businesses in exploring new markets and refining their financial strategies, the company noted. AstroPay CEO Marc Sacal said: Latin America welcomes millions of visitors every year tourists, remote workers, and digital nomads all of whom need an intuitive, digital-first way to pay like locals. At the same time, the regions online workforce is expanding rapidly, with more people earning income from abroad than ever before. Traditional banking systems werent built for this reality. Our multicurrency wallet bridges this gap, giving users a fast, low-cost way to receive and spend money across borders without the usual friction. In January, AstroPay secured a Payment Institution (PI) licence from the Central Bank of Brazil to extend its financial services to Brazilian users and businesses. Set up in 2009, the UK-based company offers cross border payment solutions and multicurrency wallets etc. "AstroPay expands multicurrency wallet to Latin American countries " was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 28: Free food is distributed to residents in need at a weekly food bank at Our Lady of Refuge Church in Brooklyn on February 28, 2024 in New York City. The weekly distribution has been seeing a continual growth of clients and now serves over 300 people in line every week. According to the Poverty Tracker Annual Report from Columbia University and the philanthropic organization Robin Hood, over half of New York City residents, including a quarter of all children, either live in poverty or are low-income. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) For the Day Eagle Hope Project, federal money has helped volunteers deliver fresh produce and meat to families in need across the remote Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in northern Montana while putting cash into the hands of farmers, ranchers and meat processors. The nonprofit generally has less than $300,000 to spend per year. So the $200,000 from a U.S. Department of Agriculture local food buying program drastically raised both the quantity and quality of the food it could distribute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were a major, major contributor to our food, said Tescha Hawley, who directs the organization, which aims to improve physical, mental and spiritual health. The USDA recently nixed more than $1 billion from two programs that helped food banks and school meal programs buy local foods, including $660 million for schoolchildren. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins recently described the programs as nonessential. But the move has left hundreds of school systems and food banks reeling. They already face rising food prices and are struggling to help community members with growing food insecurity. Created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Local Food Purchase Assistance and the Local Food for Schools programs aimed to build more resilient supply chains of domestic food by connecting schools and food pantries with small ranches, farms and dairies. The program was initially funded by 2021s American Rescue Plan Act but later expanded by the Biden administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal programs stimulated the purchase of locally grown fruits, vegetables, dairy and meats benefiting both the smaller farmers who received fair market pay for their products and the organizations granted funds to buy high quality foods. The noncompetitive grants sent hundreds of millions of dollars to all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 84 tribal governments, boosting business for more than 8,000 farmers and providing local food to almost as many food banks. The Trump administration is killing the programs, despite Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s campaign against processed food, which he says is poisoning Americans. Without ongoing funding, Hawley said, she would have to rely on cheaper, less nutritious food. Its simple, right? I can get a truck in here with all highly processed food, no problem, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schools are facing a similar challenge: While officials running breakfast and lunch programs would prefer to buy more local products, those are often expensive. And with underfunding, high food costs and labor struggles, school lunch programs are already stretched thin. In Milan, Tennessee, the federal funds allowed the local school system to buy minimally processed beef from a local stockyard, and broccoli, purple hull peas, tomatoes and melons from local growers. Vickie Dunaway, who supervises the school systems food services, told the Tennessee Lookout the federal cuts mean going backwards on purchasing healthier foods. That will obviously have to be cut out, because our budget will not withstand being able to purchase local, she said. Purchasing local, minimally processed food is way more expensive than buying from a distributor. A devastating cut to food banks Late last year, USDA said the programs had already spent more than $1 billion on local foods, and announced an expansion of the two programs with an additional $1.13 billion. USDA has killed that $1.13 billion expansion; it is still reimbursing the previously committed funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration, which has sought to dramatically slash the size of the federal government, told recipients earlier this month that the programs no longer effectuate the goals of the agency. In a statement to Stateline, the USDA said the current administration is prioritizing stable, proven solutions that deliver lasting impact. The COVID era is over USDAs approach to nutrition programs will reflect that reality moving forward, the statement said. The only thing well be able to do is just ration what little we have to spread it as thinly as possible over the number of households we provide food to. Eric Cooper, president and CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank The nonpartisan National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, which represents the ag department leaders of all 50 states, last month lobbied the federal government to continue the local foods program with permanent funding and ease procurement regulations for school meal programs. Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward, president of the association, said in a statement that the local food programs aid both producers and consumers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investing in local and regional food systems not only strengthens the connections between farmers and their local communities, it bolsters supply chain resiliency as well, his statement read. In New Mexico, the program allowed food banks to buy some 900,000 pounds of locally grown food from more than 200 farmers since 2023. Before the program was terminated, the state was expecting close to $3 million in additional funding, Source New Mexico reported. Jill Dixon, executive director of The Food Depot in northern New Mexico, called the cuts devastating. In Texas, the San Antonio Food Bank counted on USDAs local food program to help round out the food boxes it provides to families in need. The food bank, which serves more than 100,000 people across 29 Texas counties, largely relies on donated foods from hotels, restaurants and grocery stores. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The challenge is I might get peanut butter donated, but I dont have the jelly, or I might have pasta donated, but I dont have the marinara, said Eric Cooper, president and CEO of the food bank. This program allowed us to purchase those items that we didnt get that then helped round out the food box, or really complement the food that was being donated to give families the ability to make meals. The program initially provided the food bank nearly $3 million in grant funding about 20% of what the organization spends each year on bulk food purchases. It expected a similar amount this year, before USDAs announcement. Cooper said cuts come even as the need for assistance rises. Food prices have squeezed families, and mass layoffs of federal workers portend more demand for food assistance in the coming months, he said. And well be caught in the middle. And you know, thats an incredibly uncomfortable place to be. The only thing well be able to do is just ration what little we have to spread it as thinly as possible over the number of households we provide food to. An employee of the San Antonio Food Bank distributes produce in January in Comfort, Texas. The food bank is among those affected by the Trump administrations cut of more than $1 billion in local food programs. (Courtesy of San Antonio Food Bank) A boost for school lunches For years, school meal programs have struggled with tight margins. Not only do they have to meet strict nutritional guidelines, but schools also face lagging reimbursement from the federal government and spend millions covering the cost of students unpaid meal debt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the 1,600-student Monticello School District in Arkansas, that debt is approaching $60,000. So $50,000 from USDAs local food program was a significant boost to the bottom line. That was such a help, said Amanda West, the districts child nutrition director. The southeast Arkansas district used grant money to buy locally grown ground beef. The beef went into dishes including taco salad, meatloaf and spaghetti. West said staff and students immediately noticed a difference in taste from conventionally purchased meats. And though the local product cost more, West said it also yielded more because it was not full of additives that cause the meat to shrink when cooked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement West, who is the president of the Arkansas School Nutrition Association, noted that her state is home to the nations highest rates of food insecurity. West had hoped to see the local foods program help turn that tide by bringing more stability to school meal programs and growing the state economy by boosting local farmers, ranchers and distributors. Were all upset about it. I hate that were not receiving it because grocery prices are 30, 40% higher than what they were a few years ago, and it really hurts our budget, she said. It helped a lot of districts, including mine, and it would be amazing if we could get it back. On top of the local foods program cuts, congressional Republicans are considering billions in potential cuts to free and reduced-price school meal programs cuts the School Nutrition Association says could potentially affect millions of American students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal government partially subsidizes breakfast, lunch and after-school snack programs at rates calculated by the income level of students families. The School Nutrition Association, which represents 50,000 school meal providers across the country, said the school meals are the healthiest many American children receive. But that group says federal reimbursements are far from adequate, leaving members worried about the future of their meal programs. In a recent association survey of more than 1,390 school meal directors, more than 90% reported serious or moderate concern over the financial sustainability of their school meal programs three years from now. Stateline reporter Kevin Hardy can be reached at khardy@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. Free food is distributed to residents in need at a weekly food bank in February 2024 in New York City. The Trump administration has eliminated more than $1 billion for local foods programs, which has left food banks and school systems scrambling. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) For the Day Eagle Hope Project, federal money has helped volunteers deliver fresh produce and meat to families in need across the remote Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in northern Montana while putting cash into the hands of farmers, ranchers and meat processors. The nonprofit generally has less than $300,000 to spend per year. So the $200,000 from a U.S. Department of Agriculture local food buying program drastically raised both the quantity and quality of the food it could distribute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were a major, major contributor to our food, said Tescha Hawley, who directs the organization, which aims to improve physical, mental and spiritual health. The USDA recently nixed more than $1 billion from two programs that helped food banks and school meal programs buy local foods, including $660 million for schoolchildren. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins recently described the programs as nonessential. But the move has left hundreds of school systems and food banks reeling. They already face rising food prices and are struggling to help community members with growing food insecurity. Created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Local Food Purchase Assistance and the Local Food for Schools programs aimed to build more resilient supply chains of domestic food by connecting schools and food pantries with small ranches, farms and dairies. The program was initially funded by 2021s American Rescue Plan Act but later expanded by the Biden administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal programs stimulated the purchase of locally grown fruits, vegetables, dairy and meats benefiting both the smaller farmers who received fair market pay for their products and the organizations granted funds to buy high quality foods. The noncompetitive grants sent hundreds of millions of dollars to all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 84 tribal governments, boosting business for more than 8,000 farmers and providing local food to almost as many food banks. The Trump administration is killing the programs, despite Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s campaign against processed food, which he says is poisoning Americans. Without ongoing funding, Hawley said, she would have to rely on cheaper, less nutritious food. Its simple, right? I can get a truck in here with all highly processed food, no problem, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schools are facing a similar challenge: While officials running breakfast and lunch programs would prefer to buy more local products, those are often expensive. And with underfunding, high food costs and labor struggles, school lunch programs are already stretched thin. In Milan, Tennessee, the federal funds allowed the local school system to buy minimally processed beef from a local stockyard, and broccoli, purple hull peas, tomatoes and melons from local growers. Vickie Dunaway, who supervises the school systems food services, told the Tennessee Lookout the federal cuts mean going backwards on purchasing healthier foods. That will obviously have to be cut out, because our budget will not withstand being able to purchase local, she said. Purchasing local, minimally processed food is way more expensive than buying from a distributor. A devastating cut to food banks Late last year, USDA said the programs had already spent more than $1 billion on local foods, and announced an expansion of the two programs with an additional $1.13 billion. USDA has killed that $1.13 billion expansion; it is still reimbursing the previously committed funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration, which has sought to dramatically slash the size of the federal government, told recipients earlier this month that the programs no longer effectuate the goals of the agency. In a statement to Stateline, the USDA said the current administration is prioritizing stable, proven solutions that deliver lasting impact. The COVID era is over USDAs approach to nutrition programs will reflect that reality moving forward, the statement said. The nonpartisan National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, which represents the ag department leaders of all 50 states, last month lobbied the federal government to continue the local foods program with permanent funding and ease procurement regulations for school meal programs. Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward, president of the association, said in a statement that the local food programs aid both producers and consumers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investing in local and regional food systems not only strengthens the connections between farmers and their local communities, it bolsters supply chain resiliency as well, his statement read. In New Mexico, the program allowed food banks to buy some 900,000 pounds of locally grown food from more than 200 farmers since 2023. Before the program was terminated, the state was expecting close to $3 million in additional funding, Source New Mexico reported. Jill Dixon, executive director of The Food Depot in northern New Mexico, called the cuts devastating. In Texas, the San Antonio Food Bank counted on USDAs local food program to help round out the food boxes it provides to families in need. The food bank, which serves more than 100,000 people across 29 Texas counties, largely relies on donated foods from hotels, restaurants and grocery stores. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The challenge is I might get peanut butter donated, but I dont have the jelly, or I might have pasta donated, but I dont have the marinara, said Eric Cooper, president and CEO of the food bank. This program allowed us to purchase those items that we didnt get that then helped round out the food box, or really complement the food that was being donated to give families the ability to make meals. The program initially provided the food bank nearly $3 million in grant funding about 20% of what the organization spends each year on bulk food purchases. It expected a similar amount this year, before USDAs announcement. Cooper said cuts come even as the need for assistance rises. Food prices have squeezed families, and mass layoffs of federal workers portend more demand for food assistance in the coming months, he said. And well be caught in the middle. And you know, thats an incredibly uncomfortable place to be. The only thing well be able to do is just ration what little we have to spread it as thinly as possible over the number of households we provide food to. A boost for school lunches For years, school meal programs have struggled with tight margins. Not only do they have to meet strict nutritional guidelines, but schools also face lagging reimbursement from the federal government and spend millions covering the cost of students unpaid meal debt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the 1,600-student Monticello School District in Arkansas, that debt is approaching $60,000. So $50,000 from USDAs local food program was a significant boost to the bottom line. That was such a help, said Amanda West, the districts child nutrition director. The southeast Arkansas district used grant money to buy locally grown ground beef. The beef went into dishes including taco salad, meatloaf and spaghetti. West said staff and students immediately noticed a difference in taste from conventionally purchased meats. And though the local product cost more, West said it also yielded more because it was not full of additives that cause the meat to shrink when cooked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement West, who is the president of the Arkansas School Nutrition Association, noted that her state is home to the nations highest rates of food insecurity. West had hoped to see the local foods program help turn that tide by bringing more stability to school meal programs and growing the state economy by boosting local farmers, ranchers and distributors. Were all upset about it. I hate that were not receiving it because grocery prices are 30, 40% higher than what they were a few years ago, and it really hurts our budget, she said. It helped a lot of districts, including mine, and it would be amazing if we could get it back. On top of the local foods program cuts, congressional Republicans are considering billions in potential cuts to free and reduced-price school meal programs cuts the School Nutrition Association says could potentially affect millions of American students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal government partially subsidizes breakfast, lunch and after-school snack programs at rates calculated by the income level of students families. The School Nutrition Association, which represents 50,000 school meal providers across the country, said the school meals are the healthiest many American children receive. But that group says federal reimbursements are far from adequate, leaving members worried about the future of their meal programs. In a recent association survey of more than 1,390 school meal directors, more than 90% reported serious or moderate concern over the financial sustainability of their school meal programs three years from now. Stateline reporter Kevin Hardy can be reached at khardy@stateline.org. This article was first published by Stateline, 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. Mar. 26For the Day Eagle Hope Project, federal money has helped volunteers deliver fresh produce and meat to families in need across the remote Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in northern Montana while putting cash into the hands of farmers, ranchers and meat processors. The nonprofit generally has less than $300,000 to spend per year. So the $200,000 from a U.S. Department of Agriculture local food buying program drastically raised both the quantity and quality of the food it could distribute. "They were a major, major contributor to our food," said Tescha Hawley, who directs the organization, which aims to improve physical, mental and spiritual health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The USDA recently nixed more than $1 billion from two programs that helped food banks and school meal programs buy local foods, including $660 million for schoolchildren. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins recently described the programs as "nonessential." But the move has left hundreds of school systems and food banks reeling. They already face rising food prices and are struggling to help community members with growing food insecurity. Created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Local Food Purchase Assistance and the Local Food for Schools programs aimed to build more resilient supply chains of domestic food by connecting schools and food pantries with small ranches, farms and dairies. The program was initially funded by 2021's American Rescue Plan Act but later expanded by the Biden administration. The federal programs stimulated the purchase of locally grown fruits, vegetables, dairy and meats benefiting both the smaller farmers who received fair market pay for their products and the organizations granted funds to buy high quality foods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The noncompetitive grants sent hundreds of millions of dollars to all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 84 tribal governments, boosting business for more than 8,000 farmers and providing local food to almost as many food banks. The Trump administration is killing the programs, despite Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s campaign against processed food, which he says is "poisoning" Americans. Without ongoing funding, Hawley said, she would have to rely on cheaper, less nutritious food. "It's simple, right? I can get a truck ... in here with all highly processed food, no problem," she said. Schools are facing a similar challenge: While officials running breakfast and lunch programs would prefer to buy more local products, those are often expensive. And with underfunding, high food costs and labor struggles, school lunch programs are already stretched thin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Milan, Tennessee, the federal funds allowed the local school system to buy minimally processed beef from a local stockyard, and broccoli, purple hull peas, tomatoes and melons from local growers. Vickie Dunaway, who supervises the school system's food services, told the Tennessee Lookout the federal cuts mean "going backwards" on purchasing healthier foods. "That will obviously have to be cut out, because our budget will not withstand being able to purchase local," she said. "Purchasing local, minimally processed food is way more expensive than buying from a distributor." A 'devastating' cut to food banks Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Late last year, USDA said the programs had already spent more than $1 billion on local foods, and announced an expansion of the two programs with an additional $1.13 billion. USDA has killed that $1.13 billion expansion; it is still reimbursing the previously committed funds. The Trump administration, which has sought to dramatically slash the size of the federal government, told recipients earlier this month that the programs "no longer effectuate the goals of the agency." In a statement to Stateline, the USDA said the current administration is "prioritizing stable, proven solutions that deliver lasting impact." "The COVID era is over USDA's approach to nutrition programs will reflect that reality moving forward," the statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The only thing we'll be able to do is just ration what little we have to spread it as thinly as possible over the number of households we provide food to. Eric Cooper, president and CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank The nonpartisan National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, which represents the ag department leaders of all 50 states, last month lobbied the federal government to continue the local foods program with permanent funding and ease procurement regulations for school meal programs. Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward, president of the association, said in a statement that the local food programs aid both producers and consumers. "Investing in local and regional food systems not only strengthens the connections between farmers and their local communities, it bolsters supply chain resiliency as well," his statement read. In New Mexico, the program allowed food banks to buy some 900,000 pounds of locally grown food from more than 200 farmers since 2023. Before the program was terminated, the state was expecting close to $3 million in additional funding, Source New Mexico reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jill Dixon, executive director of The Food Depot in northern New Mexico, called the cuts "devastating." In Texas, the San Antonio Food Bank counted on USDA's local food program to help round out the food boxes it provides to families in need. The food bank, which serves more than 100,000 people across 29 Texas counties, largely relies on donated foods from hotels, restaurants and grocery stores. "The challenge is I might get peanut butter donated, but I don't have the jelly, or I might have pasta donated, but I don't have the marinara," said Eric Cooper, president and CEO of the food bank. "This program allowed us to purchase those items that we didn't get that then helped round out the food box, or really complement the food that was being donated to give families the ability to make meals." The program initially provided the food bank nearly $3 million in grant funding about 20% of what the organization spends each year on bulk food purchases. It expected a similar amount this year, before USDA's announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cooper said cuts come even as the need for assistance rises. Food prices have squeezed families, and mass layoffs of federal workers portend more demand for food assistance in the coming months, he said. "And we'll be caught in the middle. And you know, that's an incredibly uncomfortable place to be. The only thing we'll be able to do is just ration what little we have to spread it as thinly as possible over the number of households we provide food to." An employee of the San Antonio Food Bank distributes produce. Micah Stewart, an employee of the San Antonio Food Bank, distributes produce in January in Comfort, Texas. The food bank is among those affected by the Trump administration's cut of more than $1 billion in local food programs. (Courtesy of San Antonio Food Bank) A boost for school lunches Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For years, school meal programs have struggled with tight margins. Not only do they have to meet strict nutritional guidelines, but schools also face lagging reimbursement from the federal government and spend millions covering the cost of students' unpaid meal debt. At the 1,600-student Monticello School District in Arkansas, that debt is approaching $60,000. So $50,000 from USDA's local food program was a significant boost to the bottom line. "That was such a help," said Amanda West, the district's child nutrition director. The southeast Arkansas district used grant money to buy locally grown ground beef. The beef went into dishes including taco salad, meatloaf and spaghetti. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement West said staff and students immediately noticed a difference in taste from conventionally purchased meats. And though the local product cost more, West said it also yielded more because it was not full of additives that cause the meat to shrink when cooked. West, who is the president of the Arkansas School Nutrition Association, noted that her state is home to the nation's highest rates of food insecurity. West had hoped to see the local foods program help turn that tide by bringing more stability to school meal programs and growing the state economy by boosting local farmers, ranchers and distributors. "We're all upset about it. I hate that we're not receiving it because grocery prices are 30, 40% higher than what they were a few years ago, and it really hurts our budget," she said. "It helped a lot of districts, including mine, and it would be amazing if we could get it back." On top of the local foods program cuts, congressional Republicans are considering billions in potential cuts to free and reduced-price school meal programs cuts the School Nutrition Association says could potentially affect millions of American students. The federal government partially subsidizes breakfast, lunch and after-school snack programs at rates calculated by the income level of students' families. The School Nutrition Association, which represents 50,000 school meal providers across the country, said the school meals are the healthiest many American children receive. But that group says federal reimbursements are far from adequate, leaving members worried about the future of their meal programs. In a recent association survey of more than 1,390 school meal directors, more than 90% reported serious or moderate concern over the financial sustainability of their school meal programs three years from now. Stateline reporter Kevin Hardy can be reached at [email protected]. YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE. MIDLAND CITY, Ala (WDHN) A federal dispute between Midland City and an ousted police chief has been has been settled. In an order filed Tuesday, U.S. Magistrate Jershua Adams revealed attorneys representing Midland City and attorneys for Jimmy Singleton had settled the case and a mediation session scheduled for Wednesday was canceled. In late December 2023, Singleton filed a lawsuit against Midland City, accusing Mayor Cynthia Gary, the same woman who hired him in 2021, of refusing to pay him overtime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Singleton claimed that he complained multiple times to Mayor Gary about the long hours with no overtime pay, and the mayor agreed to change his contract to get paid hourly, but he would only receive overtime pay after he had been on duty 50 hours a week. Singleton said he had worked over 2,000 hours of unpaid overtime during his service for the city. By the time the police chief was dismissed from the Midland City Police Department in September 2023, Singleton said he had not been paid for any of his accrued sick or vacation time. Judge Adams said both parties must filed a settlement agreement by or before Thursday. The details of the settlement have not been revealed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stay with WDHN 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 WDHN - wdhn.com. Federal authorities detained a Tufts University graduate student Tuesday while she was on her way to break her Ramadan fast with friends, her lawyer said, and the moment was caught on video. Department of Homeland Security agents apprehended Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national who was maintaining a valid F-1 student visa as a doctoral student, near her home, her attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai, said in a statement. "It was only late Wednesday evening that I learned that she was sent to Louisiana, despite a federal court order that she not be removed from the state," Khanbabai said in an email early Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protesters gathered in Somerville, Massachusetts, on Wednesday to demand her release, NBC Boston reported. Protesters demand the release of Rumeysa Ozturk in Somerville, Mass., on Wednesday. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement online detainee locator system on Wednesday night listed Ozturk as being at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile. "DHS and ICE investigations found Ozturk engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that relishes the killing of Americans. A visa is a privilege, not a right," a senior DHS spokesperson told NBC News. The spokesperson added: "Glorifying and supporting terrorists who kill Americans is grounds for visa issuance to be terminated. This is commonsense security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No criminal charges have been filed against Ozturk, Khanbabai said. NBC News obtained a video showing Ozturk's arrest on Tuesday. According to the video, a plainclothes male agentwho wore a hoodie and hatwaved at her as he approached her. He said, Hey, maam. According to the video, Ozturk appeared confused and tried to walk around the agent, but the agent stepped in front of her to stop her. The agent and Ozturk spoke to each other briefly, and the agent then grabbed her hands so he could handcuff her. Ozturk screamed out in confusion, saying, Whats going on? During the exchange, additional agents surrounded Ozturk as they arrested her. A female law enforcement agent said, OK, it's fine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The male agent who initially approached her said, OK, were the police, relax. The agents repeatedly said, "we are the police," while they handcuffed and escorted her to a black SUV. Khanbabai filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in Massachusetts federal court Tuesday to release her. The petition was not publicly available Wednesday morning. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani blocked the Trump administration in a three-page order Tuesday from moving Ozturk outside the District of Massachusetts without providing notice. Talwani said that a "United States District Court does not generally have subject-matter jurisdiction to review orders of removal" but that it can "preserve the status quo." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Khanbabai said early Thursday that Ozturk was transported around New England and flown to Louisiana, and that for 24 hours was not given access to an attorney. The arrest was being watched closely by Turkish officials, the countrys embassy in Washington said in a Wednesday statement. "The situation of our citizen Rumeysa Ozturk, who was detained in Boston, USA, is being closely monitored and her family is being regularly informed," the statement said. "Every effort is being made to provide the necessary consular services and legal support to protect the rights of our citizens," the embassy added. Ozturk is a student in Tufts doctoral program for child study and human development, according to her LinkedIn profile. She has a masters degree from Teachers College at Columbia University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March 2024, Ozturk co-authored an opinion essay in the Tufts student newspaper criticizing the universitys response to demands that it acknowledge the Palestinian genocide and divest from companies with direct or indirect ties to Israel. Khanbabai, Ozturk's attorney, said early Thursday that the video of her client's arrest "should shake everyone to their core." "We should all be horrified at the way DHS spirited away Rumeysa in broad daylight. No person, regardless of their citizenship status, should be targeted over their views, especially in support of human rights," Khanbabai said. Tufts President Sunil Kumar said Tuesday evening that the school received reports about an international graduate student being taken into custody by federal authorities at an off-campus apartment building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the university "had no pre-knowledge of this incident and did not share any information with federal authorities prior to the event." Kumar said that the university had been told that the students visa status was terminated." In another statement Wednesday night, the university confirmed that Ozturk was detained and being held in Louisiana. The university said it was in touch with local and federal elected officials and hopes "that Rumeysa is provided the opportunity to avail herself of her due process rights." Tufts also said it stands with its Muslim students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, the university sent a letter to its alumni to assure them that it is "doing everything in our power to support our community." Both Tufts and Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell characterized the video of the arrest as "disturbing." Based on what we now know, it is alarming that the federal administration chose to ambush and detain her, apparently targeting a law-abiding individual because of her political views, Campbell said in a statement Wednesday. This isnt public safety, its intimidation that will, and should, be closely scrutinized in court," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne said in a statement: "I am deeply concerned to see a student with legal status detained for what appears to be the exercise of free speech." "Our rights are being threatened in a variety of ways right now and Somerville will make use of the law and our voices to defend them," she added. Somerville Police did not participate nor interfere in the arrest, the city said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com BALTIMORE (AP) A federal judge in Maryland said Wednesday he will at least briefly extend a temporary order requiring the Trump administration to bring back federal workers who were fired as part of a dramatic downsizing of the federal workforce, but the judge said he was struggling with the scope of a broad order. U.S. District Judge James Bredar said he had great reluctance to issue a sweeping national preliminary injunction in the case, where 19 states and the District of Columbia contend they have been harmed by a large-scale reduction in the federal workforce without warning as required by law. Bredar asked attorneys for plaintiff states and the federal government to submit supplemental documents by 10 a.m. Thursday on the question of the ramifications for the 19 states seeking relief and the 31 states that are not parties to the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a federal court hearing in Baltimore, Bredar said theres a lot of things wrong with national injunctions, just on a jurisprudential level, and courts and commentators are all over the issue. That doesnt mean the court wont enter one, if the circumstances and law on this case compel it, but Im going to resist doing it," Bredar said. "Youre going to have to show me that its essential to remedying any harms that your clients are specifically experiencing. The case is complicated by the fact that some federal employees may work a job in a state that is a party to the lawsuit, while they may live in a state that isn't. An example is in the Washington area, where an affected federal worker might live in Virginia, which isn't one of the states in the complaint, but work at a federal job in Maryland or the District of Columbia, which are parties in the lawsuit. In the meantime, the judge said he planned to extend a temporary restraining order he issued last week that required the federal government to reinstate more than 24,000 federal workers. The order expires Thursday night, but the judge said he would extend it at least briefly, because I think its doubtful that given the work that still has to be accomplished that I could complete my opinion and any orders related to this before that TRO runs out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government is appealing the case to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The appeals court last week denied the administrations request for a stay of the temporary restraining order, since the district court held the Wednesday hearing. At the time, Judge Allison Jones Rushing took issue with the scope of district court rulings. She noted she was writing to "echo the growing concerns over district courts issuing nationwide injunctions to order redress for those who have not sought it. The administration is already appealing to the Supreme Court a similar order to reinstate probationary workers from a judge in California. The Justice Department argues that federal judges cant force the executive branch to reverse its decisions on hiring and firing. Still, the government has been taking steps to rehire fired workers under those orders. Both judges have found that the president can terminate probationary workers but determined the administration violated the law in the way they carried out the layoffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bredar previously found that firings amount to a large-scale reduction in force thats subject to specific rules, including giving advance notice to states affected by the layoffs. His ruling came in a lawsuit filed by 19 states that contend the Trump administration blindsided them with the layoffs, which could have devastating consequences for their state finances. The Trump administration, on the other hand, argues that the states have no right to try and influence the federal governments relationship with its own workers. Republican President Donald Trump claims the cuts target fraud, waste and abuse in a bloated federal government. Probationary workers have been targeted for layoffs across the federal government because theyre usually new to the job and lack full civil service protection. Multiple lawsuits have been filed over the mass firings. The states suing the Trump administration include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. The District of Columbia also is a plaintiff. Editors Note: This story contains graphic content. TULSA, Okla. (KNWA/KFTA) An ex-NFL player and Oklahoma native is facing federal charges after officials seized 190 dogs from an animal fighting venture, according to court documents. LeShon Eugene Johnson, of Broken Arrow, is facing 20 counts of possession of a dog for use in an animal fighting venture and one count of sale, transport, and delivery of a dog for use in an animal fighting venture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An unsealed indictment in the Eastern District of Oklahoma said Johnson violated the dog fighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act. Johnson made his first court appearance last week, the district said in a news release. Court records say federal officials seized 190 pit bull-type dogs from Johnson in October 2024 as authorized under the Animal Welfare Act. Officials believe it to be the largest number of dogs ever seized from a single person in a federal dog fighting case. Johnson ran a dog fighting operation known as Mal Kant Kennels in both Broken Arrow and Haskell, Oklahoma, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He previously pleaded guilty to state animal fighting charges in 2004 after running Krazyside Kennels in Oklahoma. Oklahoma bill limiting childrens access to social media passes House The district said Johnson would selectively breed champion and grand champion fighting dogs dogs that have won between three and five fights to produce offspring with fighting traits and abilities desired by him and others for use in dog fights. He would allegedly market and sell stud rights and offspring from winning fighting dogs to other dog fighters looking to incorporate his kennels bloodline into their own dog fighting operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His trafficking of fighting dogs to other dog fighters across the country contributed to the growth of the dog fighting industry and allowed Johnson to profit financially, the release said. The district said that if convicted, Johnson could face a maximum penalty on each count of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A pretrial hearing in the case is set for April 10, and the jury trial is scheduled to start on May 5 in Muskogee. Johnson was a running back and kick returner in the National Football League for six seasons during the 1990s. He was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 1994 NFL draft and also played for the Arizona Cardinals and the New York Giants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson also played for the Northern Illinois Huskies in college, and in 1993, he finished sixth in Heisman Trophy voting, with five first-place votes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. CHICAGO (WGN) Immigrant community leaders in Chicago on Wednesday gathered at Federal Plaza to rally against a new travel ban proposed by the Trump administration. The gathering stems from an executive order President Donald Trump signed in January to intensify security vetting for any foreigners looking to enter the United States. While a concrete plan has not been announced, a report in the New York Times indicates that many as 43 countries could be involved. The president told cabinet members to submit a list by late March of countries that should be partially or fully suspended based on deficient vetting and screen information. The leaked draft list, according to the Times, suggests a flat-out ban on travel from 11 countries, including Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran, Syria and Venezuela. It would also sharply restrict visas from other countries, including Haiti and Russia. NY Times: Draft list for new travel ban proposes Trump target 43 countries Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chicagos immigrant community rallies in solidarity ahead of May Day protests Postal workers rally in Chicago against potential privatization of USPS January: Hundreds rally against Trump administrations Middle East, immigration policies Activists gathered Wednesday argued the proposed action would disproportionately impact Arab, African and Asian countries. It is clear this draft travel ban is not an isolated incident. It is an extension and continuation of ongoing attacks on immigrants marginalized under the Trump regime, said Nadiah Alyafai, an organizer with the Arab American Action Network Chicago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the administration has not commented on the looming ban, the Department of Homeland Security in 2017 issued a myth-buster sheet saying the action then was not a Muslim travel ban targeting people of the Islamic faith. At that time, the agency cited travel restrictions for national security reasons, much like it did when this was proposed this time around. The gathered groups said they plan to hold a protest and will march on May Day against the Trump administrations deportation policies. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (WSPA) South Carolina will receive help from the federal government to fight the wildfires in the Upstate. Governor Henry McMasters Office announced that FEMA approved the states request for a grant to contain the fires in Pickens and Greenville Counties. McMaster declared a State of Emergency for the wildfires on March 22. Due to the spread of the Table Rock and Persimmon Ridge fires, mandatory evacuations are in effect for parts of the affected areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Carolina is now eligible for 75 percent reimbursement of the costs for personnel, equipment and firefighting operations. The coverage will include air tankers, bulldozers and additional fire crews. A statewide burning ban remains in effect for South Carolina. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. Australian fashion brand Jeanswests parent Harbour Guidance has decided to put the retailer into voluntary administration amid tough trading conditions, reduced discretionary spending and the increased cost of living. Jeanswest maintains a network of 90 stores across Australia and has a workforce exceeding 600 individuals. The closure of physical outlets is being planned while the brand's online presence and potential restructuring avenues remain under consideration. Harbour, which rescued Jeanswest after it entered administration in 2020, has appointed Lindsay Bainbridge, Andrew Yeo and David Vasudevan of Pitcher Partners Melbourne as administrators. Bainbridge remarked that despite a five-year effort to rejuvenate the 53-year-old fashion brand, it was necessary to withdraw from the physical retail market to pivot towards e-commerce strategies. He stated: The owners have done everything they can to keep Jeanswest going, but market conditions mean sustaining bricks-and-mortar stores is not viable and unlikely to improve. They deeply regret the impact of store closures on their team members and their customers, and we will be working now with teams across the country. Bainbridge indicated that a sale of all in-store inventory would commence at once as the appointed administrators initiated the business restructuring process. He added: We will be opening the doors of all stores and selling online to clear all stock to secure a return to creditors. Jeanswest's downfall comes after KPMG, the receivers of Mosaic, another retail conglomerate that operated Australian brands Rivers, Noni B and Katies, said that it would shutter all remaining Millers and Noni B stores as it failed to secure a buyer. Mosaic, which has 2,500 workers across 651 stores in Australia and New Zealand, entered administration in 2024, as reported by ABC News. "Australias Jeanswest enters administration as physical stores close" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. (WHTM) U.S. Senators John Fetterman (D-PA), Dave McCormick (R-PA), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) introduced a bill that would expand the Department of Veterans Affairs burial benefits. According to Fetterman, the Dennis and Lois Krisfalusy Act would allow the VA to provide memorial headstones or markers for veterans and their dependant families, regardless of when they pass away, to ensure they are honored together. The legislation is named in honor of Dennis Krisfalusy, a U.S. Air Force Veteran from Washington County, Pennsylvania, who served in Vietnam. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Nittany Insiders Fettermans office says Dennis and his wife Lois passed away in a 1985 earthquake in Mexico City. Neither of their remains were recovered, and while Dennis received a headstone at the Cemetary of Alleghenies, his wife was ineligible to have her name added due to current VA regulations. The bill would remove these regulations, allowing spouses to be memorialized alongside their veteran loved ones. The release said the bill would also permanently extend the benefit to all qualifying military families. We can never repay the debt we owe our veterans and their families for their sacrifices to keep our country safe. We have a responsibility to honor those sacrifices regardless of when a family member died, said Senator Fetterman. Lois Krisfalusy should be honored with her husband, Dennis but arbitrary barriers are preventing that. Its common sense that families like theirs deserve to be laid to rest together, and Im proud to lead a bipartisan effort to correct this injustice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our veterans put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms, and we owe them a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid, Senator McCormick said. Im proud to support this commonsense bill amending restrictions on military memorial headstones for families of veterans before 1998. Bureaucracy should not stand in the way of our veterans and their families being laid to rest honorably while also recognizing their service. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. Mar. 26The last plaintiff in a wrongful conviction lawsuit brought by the Fairbanks Four against city officials and police has settled for $11.5 million. Marvin Roberts, Kevin Pease, George Frese and Eugene Vent were convicted of killing 15-year-old John Hartman in Fairbanks in 1997. The four each spent nearly 20 years behind bars before their convictions were vacated in 2015 following a weekslong hearing in which evidence was presented that other people killed Hartman. Roberts was the only man of the four not to settle a civil lawsuit against Fairbanks officials in 2023. The settlement came following a mediation session last weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement released this week, Roberts said no amount of money could "be enough to justify what I endured as an innocent man in prison. This settlement, however, gives me freedom with my life, and most importantly, more time with my daughter and my parents, who supported me throughout this nightmare." [Previous coverage: After 18 years in prison, the Fairbanks Four settle into life as free men] The men sued the city and four police officers in 2017 for wrongful imprisonment. They had signed an agreement granting their release that said they would not file a lawsuit, but later argued the document was not legally binding because they were coerced. A lower court judge dismissed the case but an appeals panel overturned that decision in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pease, Frese and Vent in 2023 reached a settlement in a civil lawsuit against the city for $1.59 million each, officials said at the time. The city did not admit liability or fault when agreeing to the settlement. Roberts, who is from the Yukon River village of Tanana, chose not to settle, according to his lawyer, Fairbanks attorney Mike Kramer. "He decided that is a wholly insufficient sum to come close to even compensating him for what he went through," Kramer said Wednesday. "He wanted his day in court. That's where we were headed." His federal case was scheduled for trial in December. The attorney representing all four police officers withdrew from the case last month, citing a conflict of interest, according to court filings. A judge approved the withdrawal earlier this month. The case remained on schedule for trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parties involved in the lawsuit met for mediation on Saturday before reaching the settlement agreement, according to Kramer. The office of the Fairbanks city attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. The law firms involved in the civil case were Fairbanks-based Kramer and Cosgrove and New York City-based civil rights firm Neufeld Scheck Brustin Hoffmann & Freudenberger, LLP. Piotr Swat / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images Key Takeaways Australia's James Hardie Industries is acquiring AZEK in a $8.75 billion cash-and-stock deal that will combine the two outdoor building materials firms. AZEK investors will receive total compensation of $56.88 per share, 37% above the stock's closing price on Friday. AZEK stock took off on the news, while U.S.-listed shares of James Hardie tumbled. Shares of The AZEK Company (AZEK) soared 14% Monday when the manufacturer of outdoor living products agreed to be purchased by Australian building materials maker James Hardie Industries (JHX) for $8.75 billion in cash and stock, including $386 million of net debt. The agreement calls for AZEK shareholders to receive $26.45 per share in cash, plus 1.034 James Hardie shares, for a total compensation of $56.88 per share. That's a 37% premium over AZEKs closing price on Friday. James Hardie CEO Calls Acquisition 'Extraordinary Opportunity' James Hardie CEO Aaron Erter called the purchase "an extraordinary opportunity to accelerate our growth strategy, deliver enhanced and differentiated solutions to our customers and drive shareholder value." Erter said that James Hardie expects "to significantly enhance the combined company's profitability and cash flow." AZEK makes TimberTech decking and railing, Versatex and AZEK Trim, and StruXure pergolas. James Hardie is behind such brands as Hardie Plank, Hardie Panel, Hardie Trim, Cemboard, and Prevail. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of this year. U.S.-listed shares of James Hardie sank 18% on the news. Both companies shares are trading in negative territory over the past year. TradingView Read the original article on Investopedia At least six people are injured after Ukraines regions came under a massive Russian attack overnight, according to official statements. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Women & Infants Hospital reached a new milestone at 10:59 a.m. on Tuesday. At 6 pounds and 11 ounces, April Elvannia da Rocha Oliveira was the first baby to be born in the hospitals new Brown University Labor and Delivery Center. BACKGROUND: Women & Infants opening new labor and delivery ward According to Care New England, 80% of Rhode Islands babies are delivered at Women & Infants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new facility is 18,000 square feet and doubles the size of patients rooms. Medical staff also no longer have to take newborns out of their mothers room if the baby needs to be evaluated. This historic birth is a proud moment for Women & Infants and a symbol of our ongoing dedication to providing top-tier maternal care, Women & Infants President Shannon Sullivan said in a press release. The Brown University Labor and Delivery Center represents the next chapter in our mission to offer the safest and highest-quality care. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. Jerry Ferrell is the first Black member of the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission. (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources photo) The first Black Kentuckian to serve on the board overseeing Kentuckys fish and wildlife management agency says hes concerned a bill passed by the Republican-controlled legislature is intended to push him off the board. Senate Bill 245, which Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has vetoed, could apply only to Jerry Ferrell this year because he is the only member up for reappointment to the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission. Ferrell has represented Central Kentucky on the commission since 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bills sponsor, Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard, denied the measure is specifically aimed at Ferrell. Beshear in his veto message noted that Ferrell the first-ever Black member on the commission has yet to be confirmed for reappointment by the GOP-controlled Senate. Beshear criticized SB 245 as legislative game-playing. Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed SB 245. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer) Currently, Fish and Wildlife Commission members continue to serve until the end of the year if reappointed by the governor without being confirmed by the Senate. SB 245 would change that. Senate leadership wanted bill, says sponsor Smith, who is the chair of a legislative committee that reviews appointments to the commission, told the Lantern earlier this month he doesnt know Ferrell personally. He said Senate leadership had brought him the bill to fix what was considered to be a loophole in the process for appointing the volunteer board overseeing the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Ferrell sees things differently. Earlier this month, he wrote in a post on Facebook that SB 245 was drafted specifically to terminate my position and that he strived to make impartial decisions on the commission. Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard (LRC Public Information) Having grown up in Kentucky, I have always cherished hunting and fishing with my father. However, it appears some Trump supporters are determined to see me removed, he wrote. I have maintained positive relationships with everyone, and I fail to understand how political affiliations should be an issue in this context. Could there be an ulterior motive? Ferrell, a registered Democrat, told the Lantern he doesnt have evidence that links him to the bill, but phone calls hes had with sportsmen who support his reappointment to the commission have led him to believe social media posts hes made and shared critical of President Donald Trump could be playing a role in whether he continues to serve on the board. He said he loves bass and tournament fishing and wants to continue serving on the board. He believes his personal politics should not be a consideration in his work on the commission. The board by state law is required to be bipartisan in makeup, and commission members arent identified by political party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Politics has nothing to do with fish and wildlife, Ferrell said. I want to see other people see me doing the job that they havent seen a Black doing before on the commission. And Im a proud Black American. How SB 245 could impact Ferrell and only Ferrell this year The commission is made up of nine unpaid members who oversee the KDFWRs budget consisting of tens of millions of dollars in hunting and fishing license fees, boat registration fees, and federal grants. State law directs the commission to keep a watchful eye over the department, and the commission controls the employment of the KDFWRs head executive, Commissioner Rich Storm. Each commission member represents a different geographic part of Kentucky. Fellow sportspeople vote for commission nominees in district meetings. A list of the top vote-getters is sent to the governor who selects someone from the list. The Senate then decides whether or not to confirm the governors appointments or reappointments. Commission members are allowed to serve two four-year terms. That confirmation process has been politically contentious in recent years with the GOP-controlled Senate denying a number of Democrat Beshears appointments to the commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those denials have left vacancies on the commission, leading some sportsmen to accuse Republicans of having weaponized the confirmation process against the votes and voices of sportspeople. Republicans have pushed back on that criticism, arguing they need to be able to vet each candidate. At least one Republican senator has considered partisan allegiance in whether to confirm a person to the commission. Sportsmen have said the work of the commission on wildlife issues should largely be apolitical. Ferrell was appointed by Beshear in 2021 and confirmed by the Senate in 2022. With Ferrells term ending at the end of last year, the KDFWR held a district meeting in November to nominate a replacement. Ferrell was among the top vote getters, and Beshear issued an executive order on Jan. 20 to reappoint him to a second term expiring at the end of 2028. The executive order also appointed three commission members to their first terms. Ferrell is still serving due to state law allowing commission members to serve an additional year if a replacement has not been appointed and confirmed. On Feb. 18, the last day for senators to file bills, Smith introduced SB 245, which could impact Ferrells time on the board by changing state law so that if the Senate does not confirm a commission reappointment during a legislative session, then the commission member whose reappointment was denied would have to vacate their seat when the legislature adjourns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the bill would affect reappointments in future years, Ferrell is the only commission member whose reappointment confirmation is pending in the Senate this year. With two days left in this session, no senator has filed a resolution to confirm his reappointment. If Ferrells reappointment is not confirmed and SB 245 becomes law, Ferrell would have to vacate his seat when the legislature adjourns on Friday. A pending board confirmation and veto override For that to happen, the legislature would have to override Beshears veto of SB 245 an easy task for Republicans who hold a supermajority of legislative seats. Beshear in his veto message said the bill is not what the sportsmen and sportswomen of Kentucky deserve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the current legislative session, the Senate has yet to confirm the reappointment of the first ever Black member on the Commission, despite his confirmation to the position in 2022 and renomination by the sportsmen and sportswomen, Beshear wrote. [T]he Senates pattern of denying confirmation of the members they select shows the legislature is deferring to someone besides the sportsmen and sportswomen. Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester. Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer). Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, after confirming some of Beshears appointments to the commission last year, told reporters that protecting KDFWR Commissioner Rich Storm from appointees interested in retaliating against Storm was a priority for senators. Storm and Beshear have previously clashed on issues ranging from Storms contract to procurement within the KDFWR. When asked about the veto of SB 245, Ferrells concerns and whether the Senate would confirm Ferrells reappointment, Kentucky Senate Republican Majority Caucus spokesperson Angela Billings wrote in an email: SB 245 reinforces the Senates constitutional power of confirmation. In a legislative committee earlier this month, Smith told lawmakers there was a need for decorum for people serving on boards and commissions confirmed by the Senate. Storm over lunch sounds apologetic The governor has the ability of appointing through his process the individuals that he feels are most qualified, but because we have to weigh in and confirm them and sort of put our credibility on the line, we want to do a little bit deeper dive into some of the backgrounds and just the criteria we want to find in these positions, Smith told lawmakers. KDFWR Commissioner Rich Storm speaks to lawmakers in February. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer). Ferrell worries the prospect of him being removed from the seat is a sign of a broader culture against diversity. He said he didnt attend a quarterly meeting of the Fish and Wildlife Commission last week in part because he was upset about the situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he had lunch recently with Storm, the KDFWR commissioner, who encouraged him to attend the quarterly meeting. Ferrell said Storm kind of apologized to him about what was going on, but Ferrell said Storm was vague about what the apology was for. Lisa Jackson, a KDFWR spokesperson, said earlier this month that Storm had no comment on the bill because state law prohibits employees of the department from directly or indirectly influencing the appointment of a commission member. I just couldnt go down and put that happy face on knowing that Ive got people that adamantly dont want me there, Ferrell said. Anybody that thinks that minorities dont hunt or fish is crazy, because theres a lot of us out there, and we enjoy it just like everybody else does. Its just the times that were in thats concerning me. The first-ever sounds of sharks have been captured by researchers, according to a new study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science. The study, published Wednesday, found that the rig shark -- also known as the spotted estuary smoothhound -- produces clicking sounds when handled, according to the study. "Sharks are maybe not as silent as we thought," Carolin Nieder, marine biologist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and lead author of the study, told ABC News. PHOTO: The first-ever sounds of sharks have been captured by researchers, according to a new study in the journal Royal Society Open Science. (Paul Caiger ) Nieder said the sounds were "discovered by accident" as she was conducting another study analyzing the hearing capabilities of sharks during her doctorate program at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I had never considered that any of the sharks I was studying could make any sort of sound. I was under the assumption that sharks are silent fish, so they wouldn't make any active sounds," she said. Nieder caught seven rig sharks in the Kaipara Harbour in New Zealand, obtained three more from a local commercial fisherman and housed them in a marine laboratory in "circular flow-through holding tanks," the study said. MORE: 2 friends injured in shark attack in the Bahamas speak out After acclimating for at least a week, the sharks were transferred from their holding tank into an experimental tank, where the handling took place, the study said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the handling, the rigs were "opportunistically observed to produce clicking sounds underwater." On average, the sharks produced "nine clicks during handling underwater" over the course of 20 seconds, with significantly more clicks during the preliminary 10 seconds, the study said. PHOTO: Sounds of the rig shark, also known as the spotted estuary smoothhound, clicking its teeth were captured by researchers in a new study in the journal Royal Society Open Science. (Eric Parmentier) The overall click duration was only 48 milliseconds, the study said. Twenty-five percent of the clicks occurred when the sharks reacted with "vigorous bending of the head and body from side to side," about 70% occurred with "calm swaying," and 5% of clicks occurred in "the absence of any obvious body movements," the study said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The initial handling "triggers a stress to startle response, resulting in increased click activity" and as the sharks become more accustomed to the handling, "the behavioral response likely diminishes, leading to fewer clicks over time," the study said. MORE: American swimmer Ali Truwit wins silver in Paralympics 1 year after losing leg in shark attack "The rig is a smaller shark. It's vulnerable to predation," Nieder said. "Maybe if a small shark like this gets attacked, maybe these clicks can disorient the predator for just a split second to escape." Nieder told ABC News the rig shark is able to produce this clicking sound due to its flat teeth, which differ from the teeth other sharks possess. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neil Hammerschlag, president of Atlantic Shark Expeditions who was not part of this study, said he has "long thought they must have some way to communicate through sound." "The idea that some sharks are making sounds is exciting because to me, that suggests they could use that as a form of communication. This opens up an avenue for future research," Hammerschlag told ABC News. Nieder hopes this initial observation will inspire others to dive into research surrounding sharks and that more people will be "curious about current notions and to keep listening to other animals and species that are deemed silent." First shark sound recordings captured by researchers, study shows originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Five people have been arrested following an underage prostitution sting in Washington County. The East Metro Human Trafficking Task Force (EMHTTF), Cottage Grove Police Department, and Forest Lake Police Department launched the sting on Mar. 20, with undercover officers posing as minors on social media platforms. The suspects made arrangements to meet the minors for sex, but instead were met by police officers who booked them in to Washington County Jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It follows a similar sting operation in Bloomington earlier this month that resulted in nine arrests, including now-former Minnesota State Senator Justin Eichorn. "We are dedicated, along with our local law enforcement partners, to combat sex and human trafficking within our communities. We do this by vigorously investigating and charging those who exploit juveniles and adults in Washington County," said Washington County Sheriff Dan Starry." The five suspects are expected to be charged in the coming days. Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change. Today, after 24 hours where the Trump administration stonewalled and lied about the full scope of Signalgate, The Atlantic went ahead and published the full group chat, including operational details and a participants list that it had previously withheld because Jeffrey Goldberg and Shane Harris turn out to be more responsible with the nations secrets than the most senior members of the presidents Cabinet. Across the last 48 hours, Signalgate has morphed from one scandal the insane inclusion of one of the nations top journalists in one of the worlds most elite and secret group chats into what I think is best thought of as five distinct but overlapping scandals, as well as providing some fascinating political insight into who has power and how decisions get made in Trump II. Lets break down the five scandals first, any one of which should be cause for resignations, congressional hearings, criminal investigations, or even a special prosecutor: 1) A massive leak of sensitive information. This is the clear, first-order, simplest-to-understand scandal: The presidents own national security advisor added a top journalist to a text thread and then the secretary of defense posted a bunch of classified information and the nations top officials debated and then celebrated a successful military action without being clear that they were doing so in front of one of the most experienced national security analysts of our time. Late Monday, Pete Hegseth in something that can only be described as a drunken-frat-boy-angling-for-a-late-night fight-in-a-college-bar rant attacked Jeffrey Goldberg and largely seemed to deride the entire thing as a hoax. Nobody was texting war plans, he said, despite a National Security Council confirmation saying the conversation thread appeared to be authentic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The spin since has focused on how this wasnt any ole big deal and nothing anyone should bother caring about, but the full publication of the group chats operational details make clear that at the very least the information shared would have been appropriately classified at the secret level. In fact, the information in the chat specific details, including the aircraft, weapons, and timing of an impending military action, is as basic a level of obviously classified information as one can get. In fact, following the Pentagons own guidance, its even clear that one should bias towards overclassifying overall operational plans at the start of an operation. Heres a graphic prepared by a former CIA attorney putting side-by-side the text thread and the classification guidelines: Any denials or obfuscation or too-cute-by-half arguments about whether this was technically a classified war plan is belied by the simplest public understanding of the texts and their content. This is, as Joe Biden would say, a BFD. 2) Perjury to Congress. The release of the full texts today by The Atlantic make clear that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe danced all the way up to the line multiple times yesterday of perjuring themselves before a congressional hearingand, almost certainly, over it. There was no classified material that was shared in that Signal group, DNI Gabbard told the Senate Intelligence Committee yesterday during a previously scheduled annual worldwide threats hearing. She and Ratcliffe repeated versions of that quote many times, and we should be rightly concerned and worried and horrified! about how casually two of the nations most senior national security officials misled (and, more accurately, lied to) Congress and the American people under oath. Congress should be outraged over this on both sides of the aisle. Once the perjury starts, checks and balances start to fall aside. As I wrote on Monday: There is no shame in this administration and that, in and of itself, should deeply deeply concern us as citizens. A functioning democracy requires public officials capable of shame and embarrassment and accountability. 3) A clear (and clearly criminal) violation of the Federal Records Act. I also wrote Monday hours after the first publication that the whole event indicates that the Trump administration is clearly conducting business on Signal as a way to evade conversations being rightly preserved under the Federal Records Act. Its clear from how they engage on the thread that this is routine and it makes clear there are probably all sorts of Signal group chats taking place simultaneously on other troubling topics. Surely the same Signal text threads existed on other topics like, for instance, the decision to ignore a court order stopping the extraordinary rendition of those hundreds of detainees to a life of slave labor in El Salvador. Surely Stephen Miller, who was a major participant on the Waltz-Hegseth Signal group had the same communications going about the detainee flightsand probably other topics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now we have even more clear evidence: The new, full Signal chat shows how Mike Waltz changed the Signal group chat disappearing messages timeline from one week to four weeks that is about as clear a sign of intent as a prosecutor could hope to find if you conducting a criminal investigation into an officials attempts to circumvent the Federal Records Act by destroying protected government communications and records. He actively changed the setting! There are a million questions to be answered now in court and, one hopes, congressional hearings will dig into these violations with anywhere near the enthusiasm that we spent years of hearings about Hillary Clintons emails. To me, the Signal group chat is best understood as an artifact of the January 6th investigation: The Trump team is operating less like a government and more like a mafia family it learned the danger from the text messages uncovered by the January 6th Committee investigation and now doesnt want to leave a trace about debate and decisions. 4) A government IT scandal. Remember how exercised the entire national media and particularly the GOP (and even James Comey!) got over Hillary Clintons emails? This is way way way way worseparticularly at this exact moment in time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A major part of the conversation Ive had with former government officials over the last 48 hours has focused on what might be called the second-order scandal inside Signalgate: What devices, exactly, were these group chats being conducted on? There are two options, both troublesome for different reasons: The Cabinet members are either chatting away on their personal devices or theyve installed Signal, a commercial application, on their government cell phones or desktop computers. Asked in yesterdays hearing, Gabbard refused to say whether she was using a personal device or a government device. She didnt answer because either answer is trouble. To fully understand how compromising and worrisome this Signal exchange is, one needs to pull back and understand one of the biggest cybersecurity threats of the moment. For months, US officials have been pulling out their hair over a set of Chinese intrusions broadly known as Salt Typhoon. Salt Typhoon has been absolutely pillaging US telecom networks in recent months, in ways that its not even clear the US government and network providers fully understand six months later. Last fall, there was public reporting that Salt Typhoon had attempted to compromise Donald Trumps and JD Vances phones. Its not clear at all that the government and telecom providers are out of the woods on Salt Typhoon yet. All of which raises the question: Who else was reading the Signal group chat (and other Signal group chats)? Odds are non-zero that at least China and perhaps Russia would have been able to read those conversations too if they were happening on the officials personal devicesand perhaps even if they were happening on nonsecure government devices. Sure, Signal messages are encrypted between devices, but they are not encrypted if you get access to the underlying device thats routinely how law enforcement is able to uncover conspiracies among people who think theyre communicating securely. So if Salt Typhoon or another so-called Advanced Persistent Threat from a foreign adversary has successfully exploited the personal devices of a Cabinet official or, say, Vice President Vance, theres every possibility they read the chat too. And if the officials instead are installing Signal on their official government devices or, particularly, their government desktops, that doesnt bode well for how seriously their taking their own infosec. (Theres good reason to believe that the Trump administration is installing Signal on the devices of senior officials, against the governments own recommendations.) As one former senior US official said to me yesterday: Once you own the phone or PC, game over. You have all the chats unencrypted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also, not for nothing, its come out that at least one member of the group chat, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff was in Russia at the time of the conversation, a place where US officials are supposed to extra super duper careful about their IT systems and comms systems. One of the most head-scratching aspects of this particular thread of scandal is how unnecessary it all was: Everyone in this group chat has entire teams of people who travel with them everywhere to allow them to have constant secure communications systems. They travel with classified devices and even entire portable SCIFs, Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities, specially designed to protect against electronic eavesdropping; the government even installs SCIFs in their homes and they travel on expensive military aircraft with secure communications so theyre able to safely engage in classified conversations whenever needed. The fact theyre in a group text on, quite possible, their personal devices? Bonkers. This IT and cybersecurity scandal, by the way, is consistent with an administration thats playing too fast and too loose with serious IT questions and secure communications systems: Just last week came word that Elon Musk has installed Starlink across the White House complex, which for anyone who understands the security of networks in a place like the White House, is just insanity. 5) Some light war crimes. Lost amid all the tumult of the context of the group chat is the content itself. You probably didnt even realize until Signalgate broke Monday the US had even conducted military strikes against the Houthis in Yemen on the weekend of March 15-16th . Most Americans my brilliant and engaged readers aside, of course! probably dont even know who the Houthis are or why the US is launching airstrikes against them. Yet weve been engaged in a nearly two-year running naval battle with the Yemen-based group. (This is a good explainer by CFRs Michael Froman if you want some background.) Its one thats been incredibly expensive to the US in dollars and very deadly on the Houthi side and in Yemenand its basically never been a major headline in the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reporting at the time last weekend estimated that the US attack discussed in the Signal group chat killed about 31 people, and now the new group chat screenshots gives us some fresh perspective, including this: We have clear documentary evidence of US officials targeting an entire civilian building to kill a single target. Screenshot from The Atlantic According to local reports, most of those killed were women and children, and the Houthis political bureau described the attacks at the time as a war crime and it appears they were probably technically correct. As my online friend Southpaw wrote, Targeting an individual for assassination at a building known to be his romantic partners residence by collapsing the whole structure seems to me to fall squarely within the Geneva Conventions prohibition on targeting civilian objects, and probably other defined war crimes as well. Now I should be clear: This is a scandal that all of us every American bears some responsibility for by 2025. It is not the sole fault of Trump II. Every presidential administration of the 21st century has been remarkably casual about Global War on Terror strikes that have all the hallmarks of war crimes, operations targeting mostly terrorists that have killed hundreds and hundreds of civilians in probably a dozen different countries overseas. Its a national disgrace, distinct and apart from the IT and national security implications of Signalgate, and one that deserves at least passing mention in any fulsome analysis of the text chains, even as the actual outrage that we all clutch our pearls about are only Scandals #1 #4 above. (I actually wrote in 2021 my own article in The Atlantic about about how mistaken our entire national strategy has been since 9/11.) Were nearly 25 years after 9/11 now and our country has learned some terrible lessons from decades of drone strikes and air strikes and the widespread abuse of the Authorization of Use of Military Force to justify death and destruction in places from the front pages. Sometime that is not now and may not be anytime soon, we as a nation need to reckon with how casual weve gotten about using military force overseas against largely civilian targets in fights that the American people dont really understand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * * * Now that weve gotten the political and security scandals out of the way, onto what is not necessarily a scandal but is a fascinating political insight that we can glean from the Signal group chat and resulting fall-out: Who holds the power in the Trump administration? The full Signal chat provides some of the most real indications of where power lies in the Trump administration and how decision-making happensand none of it is pretty. The answer is shocking, but perhaps not surprising: Donald Trump isnt that engaged in the policy of his administration, JD Vance is weak and powerless, and the only one that matters is Stephen Miller. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I wrote earlier this week about how fascinating it was to see how none of the senior officials seemed all that clear about what Donald Trump himself had wanted. The subsequent leaks of the full conversation only underscore how Stephen Miller who, mind you, is not a national security official who would be normally involved in a military strike overseas is the one who shuts down the debate over whether the action moves ahead: Miller, in fact, is only added to the group after people arent sure of the presidents wishes. Is Mike Waltz, the national security advisor, really not in a position to interpret the presidents own orders when it comes to military actions? He needs to call Stephen Miller for help? This is not a smooth functioning organization. Nor one where the president is sweating committing US lives to action or taking lives overseas. Then we get to another part of the power dynamics were learning from the chat: JD Vance is powerless. Any other vice president in the last half-century could have and absolutely would have gotten the national security advisor immediately fired over this scandal. Lets summarize it as such: The national security advisor accidentally included a top journalist in an exclusive backroom chat of the administrations senior-most officials, where the vice president expressed his private disagreement with the presidents public policy decisions. How on earth can JD Vance let that stand? The answer appears to be, simply: He doesnt have the juice to get Waltz, who he doesnt like in the first place, fired. Imagine what Kamala Harris would have done to Jake Sullivan if hed been responsible for airing her disagreements with Biden in the press; imagine what Joe Biden would have done to Tom Donilon; or even what Dick Cheney would have done to Stephen Hadley? Any of them would have been cashiered by days end. The fact that Mike Waltz is still standing as the scandal enters day three shows us JD Vance is the weakest vice president weve had in decades. Reprinted with permission from the newsletter Doomsday Scenario by Garrett M. Graff: subscribe here. The post The Five Scandals (and One Fascinating Political Insight) of Signalgate appeared first on Katie Couric Media. It has been a difficult week for Europes busiest airport. Fridays power failure exposed flaws in Heathrows resilience, contingency planning and potential vulnerability to sabotage, as well as its ownership and investment structures (it is largely controlled by interests foreign and loaded with debt). But it is hardly the first time that problems have surfaced at the airport and now that power has been restored and investigations have commenced, its worth considering what else needs fixing in this critical hub of our national infrastructure. Here are five issues where solutions are needed to stop the rot. Its long history of chaos Heathrows lack of resilience to disruption has been exposed many times since the deep embarrassment of 2008 when, on the first day of Terminal 5s official opening, its baggage systems failed to cope. British Airways had to cancel 34 flights, was unable to check in luggage and it took a month before the airline could operate a full schedule of flights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, when it is working properly, travelling through Terminal 5 can be a seamless experience. Security checks are, in my experience, fast and efficient. But over recent years the airport has been plagued by a succession major disruptions. By strikes and threats of strikes by ground handlers and Border Force workers; by IT meltdowns and baggage system failures; and, perhaps most spectacularly of all, by the nationwide air traffic control shutdown of August 2023 during which thousands of passenger flights were delayed or cancelled, with Heathrow the worst hit. To be fair, not all these were the airports fault. It is Britains air traffic control provider, NATS, which is in charge of air space restrictions. And airline IT systems also cause delays and cancellations. But Heathrow is too often the centre of the chaos. Its world-leading delays Last year, in our own systematic ranking of 70 of the worlds most important airports, Heathrow managed only a lowly 39th place overall, and it came bottom of our reliability category, which reflected delays and cancellations during the previous year. In September, British Airways, which operates most of its flights from Heathrow, said that an astonishing 42 per cent of its services had been hit by interventions from Britains air traffic control provider, NATS, in the first nine months of the year. For a hub airport where many passengers who arrive at Heathrow are trying to connect to onward flights this not only looks poor, it fundamentally undermines its ability to offer such connections. Its acrimonious relationship with airlines It isnt only passengers who are becoming disillusioned with the service offered by Heathrow. Its biggest commercial customer by far is British Airways, which dominates Terminal 5. Airline and airport have often been at loggerheads in recent years and frustrations are now being expressed in public. Last month, both BA and Virgin, together with the Heathrow Airline Operators Committee (AOC), issued a joint statement which criticised both the cost and the performance of the airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It cited Heathrow as the most expensive airport in the world, with customers paying 1.1 billion more than if charges were in line with equivalent major European airports. Yet, it added pointedly, its performance was deteriorating and it had fallen out of the Skytrax top rankings for passenger experience. (Skytrax rates airports all over the world for customer service it currently rates Heathrow with four stars the tier below its top five-star ranking). Airlines including Virgin Atlantic have had issues with Heathrows management in the past - Getty Nigel Wicking, chief executive of the AOC summed up the situation: Heathrow is rapidly falling behind other major airports around the globe both in facilities and service to airline customers. And Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, didnt mince his words either: Heathrow is failing consumers, airlines and the UK economy, with ageing facilities and a declining customer experience. Its costly rail fares and parking fees Heathrow did have a boost when the Elizabeth Line opened a new connection with central London in late 2022. But all three public rail links to the airport have significant disadvantages. The glacially slow Piccadilly line takes 45-50 mins to cover the 20 miles from Terminal 5 to Leicester Square. The Elizabeth Line to, say, Tottenham Court Road, is five to ten minutes faster, but trains depart only every 30 minutes, so its likely to take you longer in the end. By contrast, the Heathrow Express takes only 15 minutes to Paddington, but its extremely expensive, with a standard one-way fare costing 25. The Elizabeth Line opened a new connection between Heathrow and central London - Alamy Meanwhile, if you live outside the London transport network, or are travelling very early or late in the day, you will also face obstacles when using Heathrow. The Heathrow Express service is the only direct connection to the national rail network, and if you come by car, you now have to pay 6 for a simple drop-off outside the terminals. Parking for a week in any of the official long-stay car parks will cost you at least 150, probably more. Its uncertain future The biggest shadow over the future operation of Heathrow is its inability to cope with increasing demand for air travel. Currently its two runways operate at over 98 per cent of their capacity, and it can only expand meaningfully by building a third runway, a huge project which would involve demolishing hundreds of houses and diverting the M25 through a tunnel. The airport recently announced that it is seeking planning permission and most of the mood music from the Government seems to be in favour of this solution. But even if the project finally gets the go ahead, it will probably be at least a decade before it is operational. 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. Family-owned Italian restaurant chain Beggars Pizza has teamed up with Onosys, a provider of enterprise platforms for digital ordering, to optimise digital ordering processes. The partnership aims to enhance the guest experience with call centre and marketplace management solutions. The initial phase of the project, featuring advanced call centre technology, has already been successfully launched. Beggars Pizza chief marketing and operations officer Amanda Garetto-Melvin said: "Beggars Pizza recently launched both marketplace management and call centre solutions in partnership with Onosys." "Offboarding and onboarding can be a painful experience; however, thanks to the excellent communication, attention to detail, rapid responses and the personal touch with care from every person at Onosys has been both a pleasure and a refreshing change of pace. We are excited about how these systems will continue to elevate both our guest and staff experiences." The Onosys platform is designed to integrate seamlessly with Beggars Pizza's point-of-sale (POS), loyalty and payment systems. This integration ensures real-time product updates, accurate pricing and streamlined workflows for employees managing guest orders. The restaurant chain has also adopted the Onosys marketplace solution, which simplifies the process of publishing menus and pricing across various marketplaces. The olution directly injects orders into the POS system, eliminating the need for additional hardware such as tablets at all Beggars Pizza locations. Onosys president Chris Anderle added: "We are thrilled to partner with Beggars Pizza, a beloved brand with a rich history and a loyal customer base. By integrating our call centre and marketplace solutions, we're helping them deliver a frictionless experience for their customers. We look forward to supporting Beggars Pizza as they continue to grow and enhance their offerings." In 2023, Onosys introduced its Marketplace offering for capturing orders from food delivery platforms. The product is designed to reduce order errors, staff time and equipment costs for restaurant operators. "Beggars Pizza to boost digital ordering with Onosys" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand. Community colleges in 2023 celebrated a long-awaited investment from the Texas Legislature, positioning Texas to lead the country in connecting young people to the workforce. That year, state legislators reimagined how community colleges are financed with House Bill 8. The old funding formula awarded schools based on enrollment. Schools now have to see their students through to graduation to get money: The new formula ties state dollars to degree and certificate completions, transfers to four-year universities and high schoolers participation in dual credit courses. The effort was born out of state leaders desire to better prepare young Texans for the workforce. By 2030, at least 60% of jobs in Texas will require a postsecondary credential, and yet, less than 40% of students earn a degree or certificate within six years of graduating high school. For students, a postsecondary credential often leads to higher wages and increased economic and social mobility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of a near-unanimous vote for HB 8, lawmakers poured a historic $683 million into two-year institutions. When the money trickled down to each college in fiscal year 2024, each college saw an influx of dollars that ranged from $70,000 to $2.9 million. Over a year after the law went into effect, community colleges have been working with unprecedented resources to bring down barriers to completion. Some have introduced free tuition benefits; others have expanded their student advising services. Those efforts are reshaping how schools run and who is taking their classes. HB 8, at its heart, was an attempt for the Legislature to say, What's the most impactful way that we can ensure alignment between educational outcomes and business and industry needs? Ray Martinez III, the president of the Texas Association of Community Colleges, said. Thats why this is so significant We have seen tremendous outcomes. Lawmakers have been fine-tuning funding incentives this session. Rep. Gary VanDeaver, R-New Boston, is shepherding a bill that would give community colleges money for student transfers not only to public universities but also to private schools. Community colleges currently get bonus dollars when students complete credentials of value, or credentials that lead to high-demand, high-wage jobs: VanDeavers bill would adjust the definition of a credential of value to include more precise labor market data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are five ways community colleges have transformed because of the new funding formula: Dual credit boosts enrollment During the COVID-19 pandemic, young Texans cut community college out of their plans. One in ten students in the state or about 80,000 students disappeared from campuses. Economic uncertainty acutely affected community college students, who often come from lower-income households and have more work and care responsibilities than their peers at four-year institutions. Many left school for low-skill jobs. Others lost the steam to keep going. Community college leaders have had to find ways to keep students and one big way has been growing the pool of high school students who get a jump start on college. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HB 8 makes it easier for low-income students to take dual credit courses. Community colleges in the Financial Aid for Swift Transfer program, or FAST, now get extra funding when they allow high school students who qualify for free and reduced-priced lunch to take classes at no cost. Other students get a discount, with a cap on costs at about $55 per credit hour. Research shows dual credit students are more likely to graduate from high school, enroll in college and finish their degrees faster. The financial help has prompted an upshoot in enrollment. More than 250,000 students participated in dual credit classes through the FAST program in the 2023-24 school year, according to Sarah Keyton, who was the interim commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board last fall. Kilgore College in East Texas, for example, saw a 36.5% increase in dual credit enrollment last school year. High schoolers now make up the majority of its student body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Community colleges dont have to participate in the FAST program but nearly all have opted in. Colleges got a total of about $80 million in extra funding last academic year, Keyton said. College leaders are adapting to their schools changing identities as dual credit students make up a larger portion of their total student populations. Some faculty now spend more time teaching in high schools than on campus. Free tuition gains momentum As young people increasingly question the value of college, a pair of colleges have come up with a new price tag: free. In bold pilot programs, Austin Community College and Del Mar College are waiving three years of tuition for local high school graduates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Discount doesnt change peoples perceptions that they cant afford to go to college, ACC Chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart told The Texas Tribune. Free means something when youre talking about college affordability. The first class of students to benefit from the free tuition program started this year. ACC paid for it with the $6.8 million it received from the state last year through HB 8. Lowery-Hart wants to use the program to reach students who were not planning to go to college. In a recent survey of ACC prospective students, more than half said they didnt enroll because of tuition costs. When glitches in the revamped federal financial aid application delayed award packages, students in the Austin area told the Tribune that ACCs free tuition program was a much-needed option that eased the uncertainty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Del Mar College is following ACCs footsteps, launching a free tuition benefit this fall for recent high school graduates and adult learners in the Corpus Christi area. Students have to enroll full time and maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average to qualify. In what is known as a first dollar program, both Texas colleges are paying for students tuition before federal and state aid kicks in. That allows students to use their grants and scholarship money to pay for other needs like housing, food and textbooks. Students hired as peer mentors Laredo College has turned nearly 80 students into peer advisers, multiplying its advising crew by seven. The peer advisers are recent graduates, former students who transferred to a four-year university or current students who are finishing their degree. They help their classmates register for classes and stay on track to graduation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many Laredo College students are the first in their families to go to college. Young people in the region often opt not to get a college degree because they dont know how to go through the process and there's nobody at home to help them, said Minita Ramirez, the president of Laredo College. Whether it's a first-time college student out of high school or a 70-year-old gentleman who all his life wanted to go to college, . our hope is that we provide the support to get that person through the process, to make them feel comfortable in an environment that is completely foreign, Ramirez said. And if we can do that, our numbers grow. Already, Laredo College has seen 1,500 students switch from part-time to full-time, Ramirez said. HB 8 has pushed college leaders like Ramirez to fix disjointed advising systems to prevent students from falling through the cracks. Research shows student advising is tied to higher grades and graduation rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When students at North Central Texas College register online for a course that wont count toward their degree, a warning sign now pops up encouraging them to visit an adviser. Chancellor G. Brent Wallace said he wants to make sure students dont sign up for the wrong course and save them the time and money that goes along with those decisions. North Central Texas College also hired about a dozen more staffers so advisers arent stretched too thin and students get the academic attention they need, Wallace said. Growing workforce training Community colleges have long been a player in helping close workforce gaps, but HB 8 was the push for leaders to strengthen relationships with local employers. Sherman, for example, has been grappling with its new identity as a semiconductor manufacturing hub. In recent years, giant companies like Texas Instruments and GlobiTech have been constructing multibillion-dollar chipmaking facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before those facilities could finish construction, Grayson College was already training students so they would be ready to join the industry. Jeremy McMillen, the president of the college, said the school added programs like electronic and automation certifications with input from those companies. It mimicked the kind of collaboration the state's technical colleges have with employers on curricula. We needed to move the needle in terms of building out of the infrastructure, McMillen said at a Texas Tribune event last month. Without HB 8 in the background, it's very difficult to imagine that we've been able to do that. Schools team up so credits transfer Students in North Texas are getting more support when they select Dallas College courses they want to count toward a bachelors degree. To ease transfers to local universities, Dallas College teamed up with Texas A&M University-Commerce, Texas Womans University and the University of North Texas at Dallas to identify which courses students will get credit for when they transfer. The HB 8 funding model means the community college gets money when students successfully transfer. Around 80% of students who enroll in community colleges intend to transfer but just 16% do, according to data from The Aspen Institute. In the fall of 2022, more than 13,000 Texas students who transferred did not receive credit for at least one of the courses they completed, according to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Students lose time and money when they take classes that dont end up counting toward their degrees. The setback can discourage them from completing their bachelors degree. The Dallas-area schools launched an online portal in the fall where prospective students can see how their credits would be counted at each school and track their progress toward their bachelors degree. For three areas of study business, education and health sciences the universities have already agreed on which Dallas College courses will be counted for credit toward related majors on their campuses. The Texas Tribune partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage. Disclosure: Kilgore College, Texas A&M University, Texas Association of Community Colleges, Texas Instruments and University of North Texas 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. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Nearly all flavored vape products are now banned in Utah after a federal judges Monday ruling in an ongoing lawsuit against the states new e-cigarette law. A law banning all flavored e-cigarette products was set to go into effect at the beginning of 2025 but was put on pause after a judge granted a temporary restraining order in late December. On Monday, March 24, Federal Judge David Barlow granted a preliminary injunction stating that Utahs newly devised inspection program could violate the Fourth Amendment rights of vapor businesses and ordered the state to temporarily put the inspections on hold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the judge said the state could now enforce other portions of the law including the restrictions on flavored vape. Nearly all flavored vape products are now banned in Utah after a federal judges Monday ruling in an ongoing lawsuit against the states new e-cigarette law. (Credit: Jeff Hunter/ABC4) Nearly all flavored vape products are now banned in Utah after a federal judges Monday ruling in an ongoing lawsuit against the states new e-cigarette law. (Credit: Jeff Hunter/ABC4) The ban on flavored vape S.B. 61 titled Electronic Cigarette Amendments was passed in the 2024 Utah Legislative Session and bans all flavored electronic cigarette products, with the exception of menthol and tobacco. The bill also creates an online registry managed by the Department of Health and Human Services where retailers will be required to list their e-cigarette products and their nicotine levels and flavors. If a business or individual sells an unregistered e-cigarette product in Utah, they could be subject to hefty fines including $1,000 per product sold, and $100 for every day the product is on the shelf unregistered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill sets up an inspection program that would allow state officials to examine the business books, records, safes, vaults, desks, furniture, and more in search of illegal products. It would also allow for unannounced follow-up examinations if a violation occurred. This inspection program is the part of the bill that Judge Barlow has temporarily banned the state from putting into effect. The remainder of the bill, however, can be enforced until the federal court makes its final ruling. What this means for Utahns This bill was sponsored by Senator Jen Plumb who said the purpose of the bill was to get less nicotine products via flavored vapes into the hands of our children. Attorney General Derek Brown released a statement following the judges recent order saying he is thrilled that Utah will now be able to better protect children from the harms of tobacco. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our attorneys have worked tirelessly on this case to defend Utahs law, and I am confident their advocacy moving forward will continue to be excellent. Their work is crucial in preventing kids from getting hooked on nicotine, he said. Beau Maxon, an owner of two local vapor shops, said this bill is going to do the opposite. If their intent is truly to protect kids, to protect the youth, then this bill, this ban, does the opposite, he said. Maxon continued to say the ban will prop up a black market as consumers look for alternative ways to purchase these products. He said the black market will sell to anyone regardless of their age and subjects adult consumers to completely unregulated flavored vapor products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maxon referenced the SHARP Survey, saying that since flavored tobacco products were required to be sold in retail specialty businesses a few years ago, youth usage of vape in Utah declined. From 2019 to 2023, the survey reports that youth who had tried vaping declined from 18.9% to 12.2%. Those who had vaped within the last 30 days also declined from 9.7% to 6%. Maxon believes this ban, and the hundreds of Utah businesses that could close because of it, is going to lead to backward progress. Every scenario in which products have been banned, it creates a black market, youth use increases, traditional combustible cigarette usage increases, Maxon said. I think the states going to recognize they made a very big mistake And my concern is itll be too late. By the time the state recognizes theyve created a problem, it will be too late. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. MIAMI (NewsNation) Floridas citrus industry is facing a crisis with a trifecta of challenges threatening its survival: Frequent hurricanes, rapid population growth and citrus greening disease. According to the University of Floridas Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, In 2021, the citrus industry contributed nearly $7 billion to the states economy and was responsible for more than 30,000 jobs. However, in recent years, citrus has suffered. These issues have caused a 90% decline in orange production over the past two decades. Citrus groves in Florida, which covered more than 832,00 acres at the turn of the century, populated scarcely 275,000 acres last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US importing more eggs as bird flu continues to spread According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Florida Citrus Mutual, production of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and tangelos are all down from last year. The Sunshine State, once the leading citrus producer, is now number 2 behind California. UF estimates between $23 and $55M in storm damage Hurricanes have played a major role in this decline. Since 2017, weve had Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Milton come through the citrus belt, said Trevor Murphy, a citrus grower. On top of that, we also had some freezes, the first time that weve had in probably 10-plus years. The trees are already in a weakened state because of the greening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since 2020, more than half a dozen storms have made landfall. Many, including Hurricanes Ian and Milton, went right over Central and South Florida, where citrus groves are located. AI to be used in Taco Bell, Pizza Hut restaurants The University of Florida estimates that Hurricane Milton alone caused between $23 and $55 million in damage to the industry. What is greening disease and how can farmers treat it? Greening disease, caused by a bacteria spread by a tiny insect, has further devastated the industry. Once a tree is infected, there is no cure, and the disease has resulted in a 90% reduction in Floridas citrus production since 2006. Growers have resorted to measures such as wrapping trees in mesh bags to try to protect them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scientists at the University of Florida are working to breed some varieties of trees that, when they are infected, can still produce fruit. While it will still be a few years until the trees that can survive the disease are ready to be planted, it is offering hope to growers. Rapid population growth Beyond the farming challenges, citrus is used to make candy, jams and jellies, and orange juice. Consumers are drinking less orange juice, and citrus growers are folding up their operations in the state. Tropicana, which used to be the leading supplier of orange juice in the market, is struggling to stay afloat. Is there a car loan bubble and is it about to burst? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, as more people flock to Florida and growers are selling land to developers, the demand for housing has led to the conversion of citrus groves into residential developments. Polk County, Floridas top citrus producer, is also the fastest-growing county in the state. In 2023, it saw the largest population increase of any county in the U.S., with new homes being built on land that was once dedicated to citrus farming. Shannon Shepp, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Citrus: For generations, Florida Orange Juice has been a breakfast table staple a way to jump start the day with immunity support, heart health, and performance benefits and we dont believe that will ever change. As Floridas citrus industry faces the harsh realities of citrus greening the greatest worldwide threat to citrus the globe has ever known and the recent hurricane damage, we are working hard as an industry to adapt, overcome and evolve treatments and protections to restore production to levels that will lessen the impact on consumers. Many of our orange growers represent family operations, and have inherited the same resilience and determination demonstrated by the generations of growers who came before them. They remain dedicated to meeting the strong demand for Florida Orange Juice and are hopeful of receiving the support of both the State and Federal Legislature to help us put more greening-tolerant trees in the ground, spearhead research that is showing true promise, and keep demand for our premium product thats made from Floridas state fruit flowing strong. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. RELATED: This is not discretionary: Florida AG issues warning as Jacksonville Mayor weighs immigration bill Leaders are reacting after the Jacksonville City Council on Tuesday night passed an immigration bill that would make it a local crime to be in Duval County without legal status. Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan can: Sign the bill Do not sign the bill and let it become law Veto the bill She has until the next City Council meeting to decide what to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Action News Jax told you when Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued a letter to Fort Myers City Council members after they rejected a proposal that would have increased the local police departments cooperation with ICE. Uthmeier suggested city leaders could face civil and criminal penalties, or even be removed from office. On Wednesday morning, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis praised the passage of Jacksonvilles bill, saying it empowers the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office to assist in the enforcement of laws against illegal immigration. Heres the full statement DeSantis posted on X: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Great job to the City of Jacksonville in following Florida law and empowering their law enforcement to assist in the enforcement of laws against illegal immigration. I am pleased to see this follow from our work in the special session I called in January to insist that all state and local entities participate in immigration enforcement. Deegan released a statement on Wednesday afternoon, saying she is asking the citys lawyers if the law could open the city up to potential lawsuits. She said she would take her time to review the law, but would provide JSO with fingerprint scanners since the City Council allocated the money. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Here is Deegans full statement: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are continuing to review Ordinance #2025-0147-E now that it has passed the City Council. When it was first filed, I raised the issue of redundancy with existing state and federal laws. That concern remains today. My team is working with the Office of General Counsel to review potential unintended consequences, including the risk that the City of Jacksonville could face a lawsuit that requires taxpayer dollars to defend. This is not hypothetical. A case involving the State of Texas is currently moving through the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. This is a decision we must get right for our community, and it is not one that I intend to rush. Regardless of that, we will make sure that JSO receives the fingerprint scanners they have requested. While my preference was for state funding to be tapped, the City Council has passed an appropriation that we will move forward. Jacksonville will always follow local, state, and federal laws that are constitutional, and we will always ensure our first responders have the tools they need to do their difficult jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City Council Vice President Kevin Carrico, who introduced the legislation, called on Deegan to act. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Here is the statement released by his office: Mayor Deegans refusal to sign the Jacksonville Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act is unconscionable. This bill is simple: it aligns our city with the priorities of the President and Governor, cracks down on those who break the law, and gives the Sheriffs Office the resources it needs to enforce state law and keep our community safe. Instead of doing her job, the Mayor is hiding behind her lawyer, Mr. Fackler the same bureaucrat who was publicly admonished by the City Council just last night for failing to do his job. Donna Deegan is not leading shes making excuses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jacksonville doesnt need more delay, deflection, or lawyer double speak it needs bold leadership from a Mayor who will enforce the law, not one who hides behind lawyers and runs from responsibility. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. TALLAHASSEE Floridians could see tax relief on everything from clothing to automobiles if House Speaker Danny Perez has his way. Perez, a Miami Republican, wants to permanently lower the state sales tax from 6% to 5.25% an amount that would save taxpayers nearly $5 billion, he announced Wednesday at the opening of the first House floor session of the 2025 Legislature. This year well try the novel concept of giving the people of Florida their money back to them, Perez said to enthusiastic cheers from House members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This will not be a temporary measure, a stunt or a tax holiday, Perez said. This will be a permanent, recurring tax reduction. But such a cut, if approved, would mean Florida takes in less revenue and needs to cut spending, a change that could impact numerous publicly funded programs. The sales tax proposal is a bold, ambitious goal that matches Gov. Ron DeSantis recent suggestion to cut property taxes, though the governor cannot do that without a change to constitution that would require placing a proposal on the ballot and getting at least 60% of voters to approve it. The earliest he can do that is next November. Economists have already called cutting property taxes a risky proposition that could cost the states cities and counties $43 billion in revenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Perez and the Legislature are in charge of setting or even suspending the sales tax on various items, as they have done in recent years with sales tax holidays on school supplies, recreational products, hurricane preparation items and baby diapers. Perez said he has asked House lawmakers in charge of devising a proposed state budget to next week start figuring out how to cut the tax rate which will mean finding places to cut spending. The House and Senate ultimately must agree on a state budget and tax package, which must then be approved by the governor. For the first time since the Great Recession we will roll out a budget that is less than the prior years budget, Perez said. House and Senate leaders have pushed legislation this year to make the state government run more efficiently. Committees have been examining state agency budgets and questioning some of the spending practices, such as hundreds of thousands of dollars in travel expenditures wracked up by several data experts hired by the Department of Management Services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perez said the Legislature needs to resist the shiny new baubles dangled in front of them by lobbyists and special interest groups and cut unnecessary spending. We have forgotten a fundamental truth. This money isnt ours, Perez said. Tax dollars dont belong to us. They belong to the people. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) A Tampa Bay lawmaker is fighting for legislation that would protect the rights of prisoners in the states corrections system. And while sympathy can sometimes be hard to come by for those behind bars, former corrections workers and the families of prisoners say its time for those attitudes to change. If passed, the bill would create an inmate bill of rights, which would include sufficient mealtimes, health supplies, air conditioning or cooling units, and emergency food supplies when needed. Inmates would be provided with a written copy of these rights upon entering the system, and they would be able to file grievances if their rights are denied. Schemes targeting Tampa Bay seniors surge 400%, retired FBI agent says Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sponsor behind the move says this may be the year the bill is actually heard. State lawmakers, families, and former corrections workers gathered at the statehouse, calling for action and accountability to improve the treatment for Florida inmates. A just society doesnt abandon people once theyre behind bars, said State Senator Rosalind Osgood (D- Fort Lauderdale). For too long, our criminal justice system has overlooked the basic rights and dignity of incarcerated individuals. House Bill 185 is a critical step toward ensuring that every person within our correctional system is treated with fairness, humanity, and respect. This bill not only establishes clear rights for inmates but also ensures they are fully informed of those rights, creating a more transparent and accountable prison system, said State Representative Dianne Hart (D-Tampa). Keith Harris, a parole specialist who has represented over 35 inmates before the Florida Commission on Offender Review, stands firmly behind House Bill 185. I would have gotten him out on parole, but he died. Three days nurses with Centurion medical care walked by his cell and they never said a word to him. They never looked in there, they never did anything to help, Harris said. Our medical care today, the prison system is an abyssal level. It is beyond belief whats going on. Former sergeant and whistle blower in the Florida Department of Corrections, Mark Caruso, is also calling for change, not only for inmates but for the staff as well. When I reported these abuses, I faced retaliation. I was fired three times. But I refuse to stay silent, Caruso said. Investing in better prison conditions isnt just about the inmates. Its also about supporting those who uphold the system every day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill has been refiled for a fifth time by Representative Hart, who is hopeful committee chairs will hear the latest legislation this session. I am open to massaging any of the bills that I carry. I will be and have been talking to his staff around what they think will make a good bill that palpable by my Republican colleagues, Hart said. Hart has one more year left to make this bill heard next session. The senate sponsor of the bill, however, says she will continue to refile for the years to come. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Amid a legal battle over an oil and gas drilling effort near Northwest Floridas Apalachicola River, state House and Senate panels approved Tuesday proposals to shield environmentally sensitive areas from drilling. The House bill (HB 1143) would go further than the Senate bill, including calling for a drilling ban within 10 miles of the states three National Estuarine Research Reserves. Both bills also would create a balancing test that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection would have to consider in deciding whether to issue drilling permits near water bodies. One of the areas that would be off-limits would be within 10 miles of the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve, around the river and Franklin Countys Apalachicola Bay. House bill sponsor Jason Shoaf, R-Port St. Joe, compared concerns about ecological damage from drilling in the region to the effects of the massive 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill off the gulf coast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The oil (from the Deepwater Horizon spill) never got to us, Shoaf, whose district includes Franklin County, said. But it killed our economy anyway, just the threat of it. Lawmakers are considering the issue after the Department of Environmental Protection last year approved a draft permit for the Louisiana-based Clearwater Land & Minerals Fla. to drill an exploratory well in an unincorporated part of Calhoun County, near the Apalachicola River. The environmental group Apalachicola Riverkeeper challenged the draft permit, and the case is pending at the state Division of Administrative Hearings. The House Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee on Tuesday unanimously approved the House bill, which received support from several people in the seafood industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shoaf said after the meeting that the bill would not stop the draft permit that the department issued last year for exploratory drilling. But he said it would prevent additional permits that would be needed to commercially produce and sell oil from the site. The other two National Estuarine Research Reserves that would be affected by the House bill are the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve near St. Augustine and the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve near Naples. Eric Hamilton, a lobbyist for the American Petroleum Institute, told the House panel that his organization is concerned that the 10-mile restriction around National Estuarine Research Reserves might go too far and about mineral rights. While relatively unusual for Florida, companies have long drilled for oil around the Santa Rosa County community of Jay and in parts of Southwest Florida. The planned project in Calhoun County is at a site that was previously permitted for drilling but was never drilled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state and federal governments have taken steps to protect the Apalachicola River and Apalachicola Bay. They are part of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system, which starts in northern Georgia, crosses into Alabama and ends in Apalachicola Bay on the Gulf Coast. Environmentalists contend that the planned drilling project threatens the river and would be in the rivers floodplain. The House and Senate bills include identical proposals that would require the Department of Environmental Protection, in drilling-permit decisions about sites within one mile of shorelines or other bodies of water, to balance the measures in place to protect the natural resources with the potential harm to the natural resources. This balancing test should assess the potential impact of an accident or a blowout on the natural resources of such bodies of water and shore areas, including ecological functions and any water quality impacts, the bills say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday approved the Senate version (SB 1300). Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) A bill that would relax restrictions on working hours for Florida teenagers is moving through the state Legislature amid an ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration. The bill would permit 16- and 17-year-olds to work overnight on school days and work longer than an eight-hour day before a school day. Some 14- and 15-year-olds would also be allowed to work those hours. The bill's sponsor, Republican state Sen. Jay Collins, said the measure was a parental rights thing and that parents can ensure their teenagers who work would not fall behind in school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parents know their kids best, he said Tuesday during a meeting of the Commerce and Tourism Committee, which approved the bill on a 5-4 vote. I can promise you that, even though I was challenged, my mom would have smacked me with a flip-flop if my academic grades had suffered. That's very much the same thing in most families. Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, has been pushing a program to assist the federal government in finding and deporting migrants in the country illegally in Florida. At a recent event at the New College of Florida, DeSantis sounded supportive of the concept behind Collins' bill. 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? the governor said. Collins also noted that all workers would remain protected by the Fair Labor Standards Act, which bars hazardous working conditions for youths, among other things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committee meeting drew numerous public comments. Jackson Oberlink of Florida for All said the bill amounts to exploitation of vulnerable populations. Make no mistake, the children who will suffer the most under this law will be low-income, working class and migrant youth, the same communities that corporations already exploit, Oberlink said. The bill must be approved by two more committees before reaching the Senate floor. ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) A Florida man is accused of running a meth business out of his tent. The St. Lucie County Sheriffs Office said a undercover deputy purchased an ounce of meth from Daniel Headdy, 55, who is also known as Tent Man. Suspect identified after hotel cleaning crew finds Florida woman dead in room The sheriffs office said Headdy was immediately arrested and detectives obtained a search warrant for his tent. (St. Lucie County Sheriffs Office) Investigators said they found 2.2 more ounces of methamphetamine, 13 grams of THC gummies, drug paraphernalia, and $2,484.00 in cash in Headdys tent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Headdy was taken to the St. Lucie County Jail. His bond was sent at $51,000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. GSK has also felt the impact. In December 2024, GSKs Chinese distribution deal for Shingrix with Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products was significantly restructured . Originally, Zhifei had committed to purchasing at least CN20.6 bn ($2.83bn) worth of Shingrix between 2024 and 2026. However, in December 2024, the companies extended the contract to 11 years, but reduced annual volumes, with Zhifei now set to purchase CN21.6 bn ($2.97bn) worth of the vaccine over six years. Another reason that was mentioned was weak discretionary spending. Because Gardasil is not part of Chinas national immunisation programme, consumers must pay out of pocket to receive the vaccine. In its Q2 2024 earnings, MSD announced that sales for Gardasil were 17% lower (18% in exchange) compared to the previous year. At the time, the company attributed this to broader market headwinds rather than company-specific issues, citing price competition from local manufacturers and Chinas ongoing anti-corruption crackdown on both hospitals and the health sector. MSD also said it would pause Gardasil sales in China until at least mid-2025. With the large volumes and prices at a fraction of those of multinational products, domestic vaccine companies have completely changed the competitive situation, says Justin Wang, a consultant at L.E.K. Consulting based in Shanghai, China. It will be very challenging for MNCs to compete on the current price premium in a severe oversupply situation, he adds. A combination of factors have led to a significant drop in vaccine sales, including Chinas sweeping anti-corruption crackdown on the healthcare sector, price competition from domestic manufacturers, and a cooling economic environment. In response, foreign vaccine makers are being forced to rethink their strategies in a market where regulatory unpredictability and a nations self-sufficiency ambitions are increasingly shaping the competitive landscape. For years, China has been a major growth driver for premium, privately paid vaccines, with international players such as MSD and GSK capitalising on strong demand from the countrys expanding middle class. However, several different events culminated in an abrupt reversal in fortunes last year. GSKs restructuring of its distribution deal for its shingles vaccine Shingrix in December 2024, and MSDs decision to pause sales of its blockbuster human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil until mid-2025, signal mounting pressures. Multinational pharmaceutical companies (MNCs) operating in Chinas vaccine market face growing challenges as regulatory scrutiny, intensifying domestic competition, and shifting consumer behaviours disrupt what was once a booming sector. Story continues At the time of the revised agreement, GSKs chief commercial officer Luke Miels released a statement saying, This revised agreement with Zhifei puts our collaboration on a sustainable footing, managing challenges in the macro environment in the near-term. The anti-corruption crackdown Chinas anti-corruption campaign, which targets bribery in hospitals and pharmaceutical procurement, has led to more stringent regulations and increased scrutiny on foreign companies. AstraZeneca was directly affected when a former top executive in China, Leon Wang, was arrested in October 2024 in connection with the alleged illegal importation and sale of certain cancer drugs. In Q4 2024, AstraZenecas China sales fell 3%, which the company attributed to a mild winter and annual budget caps at Chinese hospitals. Chia Hsuan Lin, a GlobalData analyst, says that from a broader scope, the anti-corruption campaign has a negative impact on pharma sales. As concerns about the campaign were raised, hospital procurement and scientific communication between companies and hospitals may have been slowed down, Lin says. However, John Tan, a partner at law firm Arnold & Porter in Shanghai, China, argues the campaign is not specifically targeting MNCs. Companies should not make more of the [anti-corruption] campaign than there is. Its a desire to eliminate corruption. And I think that is a commendable goal, and a goal that is shared by regulators worldwide, Tan says. Ruby Wang, managing director of consultancy LINTRIS Health, United Kingdom, notes that corruption in Chinas healthcare sector has long been an issue, particularly in the vaccine space. There have been vaccine scandals for yearsout-of-date vaccines, poor quality vaccines being delivered to the Chinese population, says Ruby Wang. I think the Chinese population do have an issue with mistrust, she adds. Rising domestic competition and price pressure Alongside regulatory hurdles, foreign vaccine manufacturers are facing increasing competition from Chinese firms that offer high-volume, lower-cost alternatives. Companies such as Wantai Biopharm and Jilin, China-based Changchun BCHT Biotechnology have developed their own HPV and shingles vaccines, challenging the premium pricing strategies of MSD and GSK. With the large volumes and prices at a fraction of those of the multinational products, domestic vaccine companies have completely changed the competitive landscape. It will be very challenging for MNCs to compete at the current price premium in an oversupplied market, says Justin Wang. China really prioritises its domestic market. The foreign actors have good quality vaccines and drugs, but it's increasingly difficult to maintain good channels of influence with government, and good relationships. China's priority, like any country, is to boost its domestic capability, domestic market, and to make sure domestic pharma companies and vaccine developers win, says Ruby Wang. Changing consumer behaviour Market dynamics have also shifted due to changing consumer behaviour. Justin Wang believes that the initial surge in demand for vaccines like Gardasil was driven by a perceived shortage and pent-up consumer interest. Now, with stable supply and more affordable alternatives, demand is normalising. Before MSD launched its HPV vaccines in China, there was already a piled-up demand from their target customersyoung, professional women who cared about their health and were willing to pay out-of-pocket. Now, after these years, this stocked demand seems to have been depleted, and uptake is returning to normal, Justin Wang says. The market size is inevitably going off a cliff, he adds. However, Ruby Wang offers a different perspective, arguing that factors beyond market forces are at play. Cervical cancer and HPV are very unique and carry so much stigma, not only in China, but around the world, she says. She explains that the association between sexual behaviours, young women, and Chinas traditional society may impact vaccine uptake, especially in more rural areas of China. She also notes that while some provinces are piloting free HPV vaccination programmes, uptake remains low due to social barriers. Justin Wang adds that various local governments have included or are working to include HPV vaccines in their free vaccination programme, showing a strong level of government awareness of this health issue and willingness to drive vaccination. In turn, this will impact the share of self-paid products, he adds. Beyond HPV vaccines, Miels said that Chinas broader economic slowdown is also affecting consumer spending on discretionary healthcare products, including vaccines that are not covered by the national immunisation programme. A broader slowdown in the economy definitely impacts the market and just the capacity of local governments to then restock and purchase vaccines, which are then subsequently purchased by individuals, Miels said in GSKs Q3 2024 earnings call. The future of Chinas vaccine market Looking ahead, the challenges facing vaccine MNCs in China are unlikely to ease soon. The combination of heightened regulatory enforcement, stronger domestic competition, and changing consumer dynamics is reshaping the market. Ruby Wang emphasises the importance of building government relations, not just for influence, but also for gaining early insights into regulatory changes. [In China], these rules and regulations are often announced unexpectedly, and companies have to scramble to work out what it meansyou can only get that insight through good relationships and keeping close comms, she says. Tan adds that the anti-corruption campaign, which was originally intended as a one-year effort, now appears to be a long-term shift. "This may simply be the new normal, says Tan. As China prioritises the growth of its domestic pharmaceutical industry, foreign vaccine manufacturers will need to adapt their strategies to navigate an increasingly complex and competitive market. "Big pharma faces headwinds in China as vaccine sales decline" was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. A Florida politician is at the center of the national security breach that took the internet and news headlines by storm this week. Information about Trump Administration plans to attack Iranian-backed militants in Yemen were leaked on Monday. The Atlantic editor-in-chief came forward in an article, writing that National Security Adviser Mike Waltz from Florida mistakenly included him in a group chat on the Signal messaging app. The president maintains that although it was a mistake, no classified information was shared in the chat. In the chat Trump officials plotted U.S. airstrikes on Iran-backed Houthi sites in Yemen that took place March 15, USA TODAY reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conversations culminated with (Defense Secretary) Hegseth, hours before the airstrikes, sharing secret plans including targets and attack sequencing in the chat. Heres what we know about Signal, a list of officials we know were included in the text chain, and a quick introduction to who Mike Waltz is, if you dont know. Signal explainer: This messaging app is at the center of Trump officials' leaked attack plans Is Signal a secret messaging app? Heres how it works Signal isnt explicitly labeled as a secret messaging app, but it is structured around privacy and has many features that help users who are looking for anonymity and secrecy in their conversations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Signal is a free, open-source, encrypted messaging service, similar to iMessage, other phone messaging apps or Facebook Messenger, that can be used for instant messaging and voice and video calls for up to 40 participants at a time. Users can send text messages, pictures, video, files, voice notes, stickers and GIFs. The app includes a cryptocurrency wallet for sending and receiving in-app payments. On Signal, users can schedule messages and add timers to automatically delete messages from other users devices in time periods of anywhere from five seconds to a week. The app also allows users to automatically blur faces of people in photos to protect identities. The app was intended to defend users against government and corporate surveillance. You have to sign up with a phone number to create an account, but can hide your number from others, including those youre messaging. All the data shared through Signal, like contacts and messages, are only saved on the users' devices, not on a server. The app has no ads, doesnt track user data, and doesnt store any metadata like timestamps, internet addresses or group names so it can't give them up if asked. Signal is considered one of the most secure messaging systems in the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is Signal? 5 things to know about the app used in Trump administration war plans leak Who owns Signal? Who created the Signal messaging app? Signal is owned by the Signal Foundation, founded by Marlinspike and WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton. And it actually began as two different apps. A company called Whisper Systems created the two encrypted apps that led to Signal: RedPhone for voice calls and TextSecure for texting. Twitter bought Whisper Systems in 2011 and later released both programs as free, open-source software. Marlinspike, one of the original co-founders of Whisper Systems, started Open Whisper Systems to create a collaborative project and develop both apps further. They were eventually combined into one to create Signal, and brought to Apple and Android devices and a desktop app. In 2018, Marlinspike and Acton formed the Signal Foundation to "protect free expression and enable secure global communication through open source privacy technology." What is the Signal leak? Ironically (due to the apps prioritization of privacy), the Signal app is at the crux of a recent leak in which messages between top officials in the Trump administration were sent in a group chat that included a journalist, The Atlantic first reported on Monday, March 24. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. national-security leaders included me in a group chat about upcoming military strikes in Yemen, The Atlantic editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, wrote in his Monday article. I didnt think it could be real. Then the bombs started falling. The AP then reported that The National Security Council said the messages appeared to be authentic. Goldberg said he received the Signal invitation from Mike Waltz, President Donald Trump's national security advisor and former U.S. Representative from Florida. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was in the text chain, told reporters that Nobody was texting war plans and thats all I have to say about that. On Tuesday afternoon, President Trump doubled down, insisting that no classified information was shared in the Signal chat, USA TODAY reported live as the National Security Council investigated the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Waltz also lashed out on Tuesday at Goldberg," USA TODAY reported. "Telling reporters hes never met The Atlantics editor-in-chief and will investigate how he mistakenly invited him into a Signal chat group with other Trump officials." Later Tuesday night, Waltz backtracked on his claim that he wasn't to blame for the group chat mistake, telling FOX News that he takes "full responsibility" for the chat that included The Atlantic editor, who he still says he doesn't know outside of his "horrible reputation." "I take full responsibility. I built the group," Waltz said on FOX's "The Ingraham Angle" Tuesday night. "It's embarrassing. We're going to get to the bottom of it." Who was in the Signal group chat? Can government officials use Signal? USA TODAY reported on Tuesday that 18 administration officials in total were included in the text chain. Heres who we know was included in the group message: Jeffrey Goldberg: The Atlantic editor-in-chief Mike Waltz: national security adviser, former Florida congressman Pete Hegseth: defense secretary JD Vance: vice president Marco Rubio: secretary of state, former U.S. senator from Florida Tulsi Gabbard: President Trumps director of national intelligence John Ratcliffe: CIA director Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conversations on Signal can't be intercepted, but if a foreign intelligence service hacked into someone's phone or even if the phones were simply lost, someone else might easily be able to read the messages. The Presidential Records Act requires federal officials to use government-approved communications channels for all work-related matters, classified or not, former National Security Agency and FBI employee Gavin Wilde told USA TODAY. It's certainly a serious offense to mishandle classified information by discussing it outside of approved facilities and approved technological channels, including a publicly used app like Signal. Under the Federal Records Act, government documents must be preserved by the National Archives and Records Administration so the public can eventually see them, unless they are determined to be classified and not subject to federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2014, former President Barack Obama signed legislation to explicitly include electronic records. Because of this, messages on unofficial messaging apps should be promptly forwarded or copied to an official government account, according to Jason R. Baron, a professor at the University of Maryland and the former director of litigation at the National Archives and Records Administration. If you dont know, Mike Waltz is currently President Trumps National Security Advisor, but previously served three terms representing the Daytona Beach area in Congress since 2019. Hes from St. Augustine Beach, Florida. He was re-elected for his seat representing Floridas 6th congressional district in November 2024, but left it vacant when Trump tapped him to join his administration in January. Before Waltz, now-second-term Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held this seat. Before that, Waltz was the defense policy director in the Pentagon during the Bush Administration, under Secretaries of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates. He also worked as a counterterrorism advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney in the White House. USA TODAY contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Florida Trump officials in Signal group chat. What to know Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez thinks state government has a spending problem. And to take away the temptation to spend, hes pushing a $5 billion a year cut to the state sales tax. This will not be a temporary measure, a stunt or a tax holiday. This will be a permanent, recurring tax reduction, Perez, R-Miami, told members on the floor Wednesday. This will be the largest state tax cut in the history of Florida. If we are successful, we will become the only state in the history of the United States of America to permanently reduce its sales tax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under Perezs plan, the state sales tax would be cut from 6% to 5.25%. He couched the move as part of an effort to restrain state government spending. The House budget, due out Friday, will be lower than the current spending plan of $118.6 billion, he said. The Florida House is putting tax dollars right back where they belong - back into the wallet of every hardworking Floridians. This first in the nation, permanent sales tax cut will save Florida taxpayers nearly $5 billion a year - the largest tax cut in the history of our state. pic.twitter.com/XHv7wJvMdv Daniel Perez (@Daniel_PerezFL) March 26, 2025 House Speaker Perez has eye on projected shortfalls Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida GOP lawmakers frequently tout the states fiscal strength, especially compared to other states with large shortfalls or trenchant pension problems. New Yorks budget, for instance, is $237 billion, more than double Floridas budget, while having fewer people than Florida. But for Perez, thats not enough. He wants to restrain spending at the state level in the face of projected shortfalls in two years. A three-year budget outlook approved by lawmakers in September projects a $2.1 billion surplus for the upcoming fiscal year, but if spending continues at current rates, shortfalls of $2.8 billion and nearly $7 billion in the following years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have forgotten a fundamental truth: This money isnt ours. Tax dollars dont belong to the government. They belong to the people, said Perez, an attorney. Speaker of the House Daniel Perez calls on a representative to speak during special session Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. The proposal is one part of a budget process, and its inclusion in the final spending plan passed by lawmakers isnt certain. The Senate will produce and pass its own budget in the coming weeks, setting up negotiations between the chambers on a final spending plan and tax cut bill for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, is open to working on the plan with Perez. The President has tremendous respect for the Speaker and looks forward to partnering with the House on a significant, broad-based tax relief package to make sure Florida families can keep more of the money they earn, said Katie Betta, Albrittons spokeswoman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell of Tampa said she wants to see more specifics on the plan. "We need to hear more details about where he plans to make up this $5 billion in revenue that were cutting," Driskell said. "We have real programs that need funding and we just dont have the details and information to know if this is going to be a good thing." Sales tax cut could conflict with DeSantis dream to ditch property tax Moreover, the reduction in sales tax could cut against a push from Gov. Ron DeSantis to completely eliminate property taxes. In recent months DeSantis has said hed back removing all property taxes, but no concrete plan currently exists to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In remarks in Brevard County on Tuesday, however, DeSantis suggested tourists be taxed instead of Florida residents as a means to eliminate property taxes, although he didnt specifically mention sales taxes. If youre going to tax, I dont want you taxing Florida residents property, DeSantis said. Tax the tourists. Tax some of the foreigners. You have the ability in some of those areas that draw a lot of people to shift the tax burden away from your own people to people that are not residents of Florida, he went on. I think that would be a better tax system than constantly having people pay higher property taxes. Still, DeSantis has also said the state sales tax wont be increased on his watch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (This story was updated to add new information.) 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: Florida sales tax cut coming? House speaker wants to lower rate A school bus aide in Saint Lucie County is being accused of abusing a special needs child. Police said the video shows the aide ordering the 9-year-old girl to sit down before shoving her into her seat. The aide was arrested shortly after the incident by Port Saint Lucie police. Authorities are condemning his actions. You cant abuse children. You cant hit them. You cant lift them. You cant throw them like that. I mean, and this isnt even, you know, you know, a parent of this child, so theres no disciplinary issue going on here whatsoever, said Port St. Lucie Police Chief Leo Niemczyk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The aide is facing a single count of cruelty toward a child. Saint Lucie Public Schools said he is no longer a bus aide, and his termination has been recommended. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) Warmer outside Wednesday compared to Tuesday morning. Highs in the 80s again for the afternoon. We turn mostly sunny after a morning of some fog and partly cloudy skies. Thursdays highs fall in the low 80s once again. Mostly cloudy skies stick around for most of Thursday. Showers arrive late Friday, as a complex of storms move into Louisiana from the west. Some heavy rain could be seen at times late Friday into early Saturday morning. The potential for widespread showers and thunderstorms remains high for Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A marginal risk for excessive rainfall has been issued for SE LA on Saturday. Some spots may see a flash flood threat. Expect a brief relief from rain on Sunday with more storms on the way Monday associated with a front passing through. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. Weve got a gorgeous Wednesday in progress, but some rain which started moving into northwest Iowa during the afternoon may dampen the mood. Your weather timeline takes you into Friday: A boundary south of Iowa will keep us in intermittent storm chances into Friday morning, with the best chances moving to the southern part of the state by then. Lows Wednesday night will bottom out in the 40s for most. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well be in a slight risk for severe weather in southwest Iowa on Thursday, with the risk being from elevated storms producing hail. Rain will move out for a while after early Friday, taking us into a windy and warm day. Many parts of Iowa will see highs in the 80s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By late Saturday a cold front will start to swing into the west, kicking off rain again. Well keep an eye out for severe chances, but they seem low for now. Precipitation will linger into Sunday night, and we may see some light snow mix in in parts of Iowa early Monday morning. Expected rainfall amounts through Monday morning are below, with amounts through next Wednesday in the second image. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turning to high temperatures, the warmest days come at the start of the 7-day forecast. We drop below normal Sunday through Tuesday. Have a great day! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. (NEXSTAR) Measles, one of the most contagious viruses in the world, has been confirmed in 17 states and counting as outbreaks multiply around the country. As of last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at least 378 cases of the virus have been confirmed in 2025 and that number is expected to keep rising. What is interesting about this current outbreak is the speed at which its expanding and increasing, said Dr. William Moss, an epidemiology professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and director of the schools International Vaccine Access Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a briefing this month, Moss said he expects measles will continue spreading in the U.S. as long as we still have these two conditions in place: a susceptible community and an infected person. Maps show when allergy season will peak near you I like to think of this like a forest fire with sparks spreading out. If those sparks land in a community with low vaccine coverage, were going to see a larger measles outbreak. If it lands in a community with high vaccine coverage, we may only see one or a few cases, he said. Three areas of the U.S. (so far) are experiencing what the CDC characterizes as a measles outbreak, which are three or more cases related to each other. The largest is in West Texas, followed by New Mexico and Kansas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are more than a dozen other states reporting cases, but the spread is happening fastest in areas where many are unvaccinated against the virus. Maps: The states, counties with the most excessive drinkers, per new report In communities with high vaccination rates above 95% measles is having a harder time spreading through communities. This is called herd immunity. But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots. I like to say vaccines are really a victim of their own success, said Dr. Anna Durbin, a vaccine researcher at Johns Hopkins. Parents may think they can skip the measles vaccine because they dont believe its a serious threat in modern times, and havent heard of many children getting seriously sick or dying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But this logic doesnt hold up, Durbin said. The reason parents arent familiar with these diseases is because vaccines have been so effective in controlling them and preventing children from becoming ill and dying. Two unvaccinated people this year have died from measles-related causes. The best way to avoid measles is to get the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old. People at high risk for infection who got the shots many years ago may want to consider getting a booster if they live in an area with an outbreak, said Scott Weaver with the Global Virus Network, an international coalition. Those may include family members living with someone who has measles or those especially vulnerable to respiratory diseases because of underlying medical conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. The Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department has arrested a former Blumenthal Performing Arts employee for funneling ticket refunds into their own account. According to an affidavit, Charles Moore worked for Blumenthal as a ticketing supervisor in 2023. ALSO READ: All charges dismissed against Register of Deeds accused of embezzlement Investigators said Moore would refund tickets to patrons without them knowing but would send the money to his own account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those refunds totaled more than $11,000. Blumenthal management said they fired Moore when they found out about the refunds in 2023. He was charged with embezzlement this week. VIDEO: All charges dismissed against Register of Deeds accused of embezzlement BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A Lake View man was arraigned Tuesday on burglary and grand larceny charges after he unlawfully entered a building and stole tools from town of Hamburg departments, the Erie County District Attorneys Office announced. According to a Hamburg Town Board meeting document, 35-year-old Nathaniel Rivera was formerly the towns director of buildings and grounds. Around 9 p.m. on March 7, 2025, Rivera allegedly unlawfully entered a building on the 2700 block of Lakeview Road. He is accused of stealing various tools valued at $1,034.52, that belonged to the Town of Hamburg Highway Department and Buildings and Grounds Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rivera was arraigned on one count of third-degree burglary and one count of fourth-degree grand larceny. Rivera faces a maximum sentence of seven years in prison, if convicted of the highest charge. He is scheduled to return for a felony hearing on April 22 and was released on his own recognizance. Latest Local News Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. Chairman of the Presidential Council of the State of Libya Mohamed Younis Al Menfi has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Azernews reports. "Dear Mr. President, It is with great pleasure that I extend my sincere congratulations and best wishes to Your Excellency on the occasion of the blessed Ramadan holiday. I pray to Allah the Almighty to grant you good health and bless the Muslim Ummah with abundance and well-being. Happy holidays!" the letter reads. (Reuters) - Bank of America (BAC) has raised its gold period average forecasts for this year and next, while highlighting that uncertainty arising from U.S. trade policies will continue to lend support to prices in the near-term. BofA now expects gold to trade at $3,063 per ounce (oz) in 2025 and $3,350/oz in 2026, it said in a note on Wednesday. This is an increase from its previous forecasts of $2,750/oz for 2025 and $2,625/oz for 2026. Spot gold is currently trading around $3,024/oz and has gained more than 15% so far this year. This year's record rally has been steered by economic and geopolitical worries sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump's trade policies. [GOL/] Trump's whirlwind tariff offensive since his January inauguration has been marked by threats, reversals and delays, sometimes within hours of imposition deadlines, as his trade team formulates policy on the fly. The bank in a note reiterated that if investment demand increases by 10% then spot gold prices could climb to $3,500 within the next two years. It noted that central banks currently hold about 10% of their reserves in gold, and could raise this figure to over 30%, which could be a key supporting factor. However, BofA added that US fiscal consolidation, reduced geopolitical tensions, and a return to collaborative inter-governmental relations, including more targeted tariffs on April 2, are key risks to bullion's rally. Currently, the main market focus is on potential reciprocal tariffs that the Trump administration might adopt on April 2. (Reporting by Ashitha Shivaprasad and Brijesh Patel in Bengaluru; Editing by Nick Zieminski) Former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin was ordered by a Louisville judge Tuesday to have no contact with one of his adoptive sons after the son sought an emergency protective order against him earlier this month. Judge Angela Johnson extended for six months an emergency protective order brought by 18-year-old Jonah Bevin, who alleged Bevin exhibited a pattern of threatening, intimidating and manipulative behavior toward him. The Bevins adopted Jonah from Ethiopia when he was 5. Until a few weeks ago, Jonah was homeless and living in Utah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnsons actions Tuesday were part of an agreement reached between Jonah and his adoptive parents, who first appeared in court together Friday. Former First Lady Glenna Bevin, who appeared virtually Tuesday, is also barred from contacting Jonah by way of a civil restraining order, though she was not the primary subject of Jonahs protective order. The domestic violence order against her was dismissed. Glenna filed for divorce from the one-term governor in 2023; it was finalized this month. Jonah was granted an emergency protective order against Bevin on March 7. Neither Matt nor Glenna had extensive contact with Jonah for months until recently, when they both contacted him about traveling to Ethiopia to visit his birth mother, whom Jonah had long been told was dead, he testified Friday. STILL FROM VIDEO: Former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin questioned his adopted son in court about a trip to Ethiopia to try to find his family. That disclosure unnerved Jonah, who said he has long distrusted Matthew, including for abandoning him at Atlantis Leadership Academy in Jamaica, where staff were physically and emotionally abusive, he said an experience detailed in an extensive interview in Kentucky Lantern last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jonah said his adoptive father pressured him to go to the East African nation but provided few details about the trip. As an incentive, Bevin texted Jonah a picture of his biological mom and told him she was alive. Theyd told me my whole life my mom has been dead. And now they told me shes alive. You told me it was a secret, Jonah said to Bevin in court last week. I would never keep a secret like that. Jonah said he feared he was being lured to another country to be abandoned again, so he sought a protective order to legally prevent his adoptive father from contacting him. If Bevin does not violate the emergency protective order over the next six months, Johnson said Tuesday, it will be replaced by a civil restraining order. Violating a protective order can result in arrest and up to a year in jail, whereas violating a restraining order carries a lesser criminal penalty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the EPO is in place, the former governor who signed a bill legalizing permitless concealed carry in Kentucky as governor is barred from possessing any firearms and must stay at least 500 feet away from Jonah. Both the protective and restraining orders prohibit Bevin from having any direct or indirect contact with Jonah, the judge explained. The agreement also requires the Bevins to turn over to Jonahs attorneys any information or documents related to (Jonahs) biological family, whether theyre alive or not, Jonahs attorney John Helmers said. That is very important to him. Sadly, that should not be required for this young man to learn about his family, Johnson said. That should be done, regardless. And Im going to leave that there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Agreed, Bevin nodded and mumbled. In Fridays initial hearing, Bevin did not have an attorney present and instead represented himself. He directly questioned Jonah, at first referring to himself in the third person. The hearing eventually devolved into a periodically tense exchange, offering insight into Jonah and Bevins fraught relationship. Jonah at times raised his voice, and Bevin had to be warned more than once to stop interrupting Jonahs responses. Zach Buckler, a Lexington-area attorney, represented Bevin on Tuesday. Johnson asked Buckler if his client understood the parameters of the settlement, including that any information related to Jonahs birth parents be disclosed to Jonahs attorneys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Have you explained this to your client? Johnson asked. Yes, your honor, my client understands the EPO remains in effect and subjects the violating party to the arrest powers of the police, and that a civil restraining order subjects the violating party to the arrest powers of the court, Buckler said. I do believe my client is fully informed as to what the requirements are as to what his expectations should be as it relates to both of those orders. While this is in effect, you cant contact him by social media, by third party, by message through a pigeon, you cannot contact him, Johnson told Bevin and his attorney. You cant post on social media a message that is meant for him. Any violation of this will be considered a criminal offense. Jonah Bevin, center, stands outside a courtroom in downtown Louisville minutes after a Jefferson Family Court judge upheld and extended an emergency protective order against his adoptive father, former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin. After the hearing, while he waited for the elevator, Bevin did not answer reporters questions, including why he didnt go to Jamaica to pick up Jonah after he was removed from the facility by the countrys child protective services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Glenna issued a statement through her attorney, Steve Romines. 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. Outside the courtroom after the hearing, Jonah, smiling, said he felt like the judge understood his plight. 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 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. The family of former United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Jessica Aber, who was found dead on Saturday at a home in Virginia, said the 43-year-old suffered from epilepsy, calling her sudden death a "tremendous sorrow" in a statement Wednesday. Aber, 43, died in her sleep, her family said. Police in Alexandria, Virginia, said in an update amid the investigation on Tuesday that "detectives have found no evidence suggesting that her death was caused by anything other than natural causes." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Former US Attorney Jessica Aber found dead in Virginia at 43 Her family reiterated that it is believed Aber died from natural causes and said she "suffered from epilepsy and epileptic seizures for many years." The case will remain open until the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner rules on the manner and cause of death, police said. "We expect more information from the medical examiner in the coming weeks," her family said. "Our family is in shock and grieving deeply and we respectfully request privacy as we attempt to navigate through our unspeakable loss." PHOTO: Former U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber held the position from October 2021 to January 2025. ((Justice Department) ) Police in Alexandria, Virginia, said they were called to a home in Alexandria, a suburb of Washington, D.C., on Saturday morning for the report of an unresponsive woman and found Aber dead inside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A friend of the family told ABC News on Sunday that police believe the death was the result of a longstanding medical issue. MORE: Asphyxiation ruled out as cause of death for former Yankees player Brett Gardner's son: Costa Rican National Police Aber, who served as U.S. attorney in Virginia for most of the Biden administration, took office in October 2021 after being unanimously confirmed by the Senate and stepped down in January, shortly after President Donald Trump's inauguration. As U.S. attorney, Aber oversaw a staff of some 300 prosecutors and other staff and handled federal prosecutions in the state. ABC News' Jack Moore contributed to this report. Former US Attorney Jessica Aber suffered from epilepsy, family says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) Documents of an investigation into a former Xavier High School principal have been released by the Appleton Police Department after concerns were raised about inappropriate conversations with students. In November 2024, principal Mike Mauthe was placed on administrative leave. An investigation into Mauthe began after he resigned shortly after and accepted a job at St. Marys Catholic High School. Mauthe was Xaviers principal for roughly 12 years. Former Green Bay Packer charged for dog fighting in largest seizure of dogs from one person Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the incident report obtained by Local 5 through an open records request, the Superintendent of Green Bay Diocese looked into the alleged communication between Mauthe and a former student, saying, It became apparent that the communication was excessive. The report states that over 200 documents to the student were found within a month. Some of the alleged messages from Mauthe reportedly asked the student to hang out with him instead of going to class. According to the police report, Mauthe constantly complimented the student and told her how important she was to him. In one instant Mauthe emailed saying so you know how I hate sharing you, and you obviously know what buttons to press to make me chase you even harder. According to the police report, the girls mother confronted Mauthe asking him to stop texting her because it was inappropriate. Mauthe and the student then emailed back-and-forth trying to figure out how theyd still be able to communicate with each other after she graduated and lost her school email account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the report, the girl told police that Mauthe continued to text her when she went off to college in the fall. She said she began to ignore his messages and at one point Mauthe texted her saying just one more effort to show the willingness to chase. She said she blocked him. The girl told police that Mauthe followed her on the music app Spotify and after she stopped talking with her he added a song to her playlist called Say something Im giving up on you. She told police that her relationship with Mauthe was unhealthy for me and manipulative. She said her friend also had a similar relationship with Mauthe. She said that Mauthe never talked sexually to her except for one instance when he said he had engaged in a sex act as a kid during a conversation about his life and his regrets as a kid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Appleton PD started an investigation last November after the Superintendent of Green Bay Diocese was concerned Mauthes alleged conduct may be criminal. Police officer in Wisconsin resigns amidst investigation into alleged retail theft on duty According to Chief of Police Polly Olson of the Appleton Police Department, there was no probable cause to believe a crime was committed by Mauthe. Chief Olson provided the following statement to Local 5: On November 12, 2024, the Appleton Police Department was contacted by the Diocese of Green Bay regarding their Appleton-based Xavier High School and the school principal, Mike Mauthe. Diocese leaders were concerned about information they discovered while investigating a personnel complaint made to them regarding Mr. Mauthe. The Dioceses investigation centered on electronic communication Mauthe had with a former Xavier High School student. As these communications were reviewed, the Diocese was concerned about the nature of the subject matter and they contacted the Appleton Police Department. A detailed investigation was completed over the next four months, and the Appleton Police Department determined there was not probable cause to believe a crime had been committed by Mauthe and the investigation was closed. Chief Polly Olson In the report, the former student denied there was any sexual activity. Mauthe was fired after the internal investigation for violating the Diocese of Green Bays Our Promise to Protect policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local 5 will provide an update to this story when 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has reported a significant 29% increase in its annual revenue for the year ending 31 December 2024, with strong sales in new energy vehicles (NEVs - BEVs and plug-in hybrids). The annual revenue reached 777bn yuan ($107bn), up from 602bn yuan in the same period a year ago. Revenue from automobiles and related products was approximately 617.4bn yuan, marking a 27.7% year-on-year increase, while revenue from handset components and assembly services rose by 34.6% to about 159.6bn yuan. The firms new energy vehicles have continued to experience "strong growth", with sales increasing by over 40% year-on-year. The profit attributable to the owners of BYD for the full year stood at 40.25bn yuan, up by 34% from 30.04bn yuan in 2023. BYDs board has recommended a final dividend of 3.974 yuan per share including tax. As of 31 December 2024, BYD's cash reserves were approximately 154.9bn yuan. In 2025, BYD plans to strengthen the independence and controllability of its core technologies and enhance product competitiveness. The company aims to expand its multi-brand matrix and accelerate its overseas business expansion. Furthermore, the company will also focus on its handset components and assembly business, investing in core technology R&D and manufacturing innovation. BYD anticipates rapid growth in emerging businesses such as AI data centres and AI servers, which are expected to become new growth drivers. Recently, BYD increased its presence in Europe by entering the Serbian market, introducing a range of pure-electric and DM-i plug-in hybrid models. The company's first retail outlet has been established in Belgrade, with plans to open three more sales and service centres by the end of 2025. In 2024, Chinas automobile production and sales volume increased by 3.7% and 4.5% year-on-year to 31.282 million units and 31.436 million units respectively, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. "BYDs revenue soars 29% driven by growth in sales of NEVs" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. FORT DODGE, Iowa The Fort Dodge Police Department has released the name of the man who was found dead outside of a burning apartment last week. During the early morning hours of March 19, the Fort Dodge Police and Fire Departments responded to a report of an unresponsive man lying on the sidewalk outside of an apartment in the 1000 block of 1st Avenue South. Police said at the time that when first responders arrived at the scene, they determined that the man had died and had possibly suffered a gunshot wound. Wrong-way driver eludes deputies after I-235 crash Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While investigating the scene, first responders noticed smoke coming from an upstairs unit of the apartment building. An active fire was found inside, and firefighters were called to put out the flames. On Wednesday, Fort Dodge police announced that an autopsy found no evidence of a gunshot wound. The victim, identified as 49-year-old Shawn L. Gully, is believed to have died as a result of a fall from a third story window, police said. The cause of the fire is still under investigation and more information will be released when made available, police said. Iowa News: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. Four American soldiers missing on a training exercise close to the Belarusian border have died, the Nato chief has confirmed. Mark Rutte, the Nato secretary-general, said he did not yet know the details of how the soldiers had died. A US official said the four soldiers were involved in a training accident. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, would not comment on the status of the soldiers, according to AP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Rutte said during a trip to Warsaw that he had received word of the deaths of the four soldiers and that his thoughts were with their families and with the United States. This is still early news so we do not know the details. This is really terrible news and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones, Mr Rutte told reporters in Warsaw. Armoured vehicle found in Lithuania A statement from US Army Europe and Africa public affairs in Wiesbaden, Germany, said the soldiers were conducting scheduled tactical training at the time. The M88 Hercules armoured recovery vehicle the four missing US soldiers were operating during a training exercise has been located in Lithuania, the statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LRT, the Lithuanian public broadcaster, reported that four US soldiers and a vehicle were reported missing on Tuesday afternoon during an exercise at the General Silvestras Zukauskas training ground in Pabrade, less than 10 kilometres (six miles) from the border with Belarus. The Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are all Nato members. Belarus has been a key ally of Russia since declaring independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. 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. WIESBADEN, Germany (WSAV) The NATO Acting spokesperson said that the Secretary General was referring to news articles and did not confirm the death of four U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division soldiers reported missing in Lithuania Wednesday. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte reportedly told the Associated Press that he received word of the four soldiers deaths during a trip to Warsaw. NATO Acting Spokesperson Allison Hart said he was referring to news reports that had just emerged. He did not confirm the death of the four U.S. soldiers, but noted that the details remain unconfirmed, Hart said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Associated Press, a U.S. official would say only that the four soldiers were involved in a training accident. The soldiers, all from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, were conducting scheduled tactical training at the time of the incident in a training area near Pabrade. A US Army Europe and Africa spokesperson (USAREUR-AF) said that the armored recovery vehicle that the four missing Soldiers were operating has been located in Lithuania. The vehicle was discovered submerged in a body of water in a training area after a search by U.S. Army, Lithuanian Armed Forces and other Lithuanian authorities, the spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the Rutte reportedly told the AP that the soldiers died, a Fort Stewart spokesperson told WSAV that the four soldiers deaths have not been confirmed. They shared a statement from a USAREUR-AF regarding Rutte confirmation: The NATO Secretary General from the AP piece was stating that he has seen reporting. At this time, we are not able to confirm the Soldiers have been located. We will send you releases as we have them. The Fort Stewart spokesperson also told WSAV that they are trying to be mindful of the soldiers families. Rutte said that his thoughts were with their families and with the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The news came out about four American soldiers who were killed in an incident in Lithuania. This is still early news so we do not know the details. This is really terrible news and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones, Rutte said. A search was conducted by the U.S. Army, Lithuanian Armed Forces, Lithuanian law enforcement and others. I would like to personally thank the Lithuanian Armed Forces and first responders who quickly came to our aid in our search operations, said Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, the V Corps commanding general. Its this kind of teamwork and support that exemplifies the importance of our partnership and our humanity regardless of what flags we wear on our shoulders. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp released a statement on X Wednesday evening: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marty, the girls, and I join the entire nation and their families in mourning the loss of 4 service members who made the ultimate sacrifice while stationed abroad. We pray for their loved ones and fellow soldiers, and ask all Georgians to join us in asking for Gods protection of all our Armed Forces. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger posted on X Wednesday: Tricia and I are praying for the Fort Stewart soldiers killed during a training exercise in Lithuania. Their service and sacrifice represents the highest values of our State and Nation. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) released a statement Wednesday but told WSAV that he deleted it due to new information. He provided WSAV with a new statement: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Please join me in prayers for the 3rd ID soldiers missing in Lithuania. As we await more information, our love and support goes out to all those impacted by this tragic situation. WSAV News 3 will update this story as details become available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. By Andrius Sytas VILNIUS (Reuters) -A search for four U.S. soldiers continued in Lithuania after their vehicle was found submerged in a training area, the U.S. Army said on Wednesday. "The M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle the four missing U.S. Soldiers were operating during a training exercise has been located in Lithuania," it said in a statement. The military search and rescue operation has been ongoing since Tuesday, after the soldiers and their vehicle went missing at Pabrade training ground, about 15 kilometers (nine miles) from Belarus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Battalions of U.S. soldiers have been based in the military camp since 2019, in rotations. Lithuanian Foreign Affairs Minister Kestutis Budrys told U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday his country is ready to host more U.S. troops. On a visit to Warsaw earlier on Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the soldiers had died but that he did not have details. A NATO spokesperson later said Rutte was not confirming the fate of the missing, which is unknown. Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene, who visited the training site late on Wednesday, said no bodies had been found. "That's why it would be wrong to say that the soldiers are dead," she told reporters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The search was expected to continue through the night, the U.S. and Lithuanian armies said. Lithuanian Chief of Defence Raimundas Vaiksnoras said the rescuers are looking into how fast the swampy location could be drained. "You all know how important is the presence of U.S. troops in Lithuania. Their soldiers are like our soldiers to us. So we spare no effort to find them," Vaiksnoras said. Lithuania has launched an investigation into the soldiers' disappearance. The soldiers, all from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, were conducting scheduled tactical training at the time of the incident, the U.S. Army said earlier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Army said it was keeping families of the soldiers informed about the search efforts. "The search & rescue mission in Pabrade for missing US soldiers is ongoing. Until they are found staying hopeful, standing with their families, brothers in arms, and all those out there searching," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda posted on social media. (Reporting by Anna Ringstrom, Essi Lehto, Karol Badohal, Janis Laizans and Andrius Sytas; editing by Stine Jacobse, Terje Solsvik, Mark Heinrich and Rod Nickel) Calling the White Houses bluff, The Atlantic released the messages Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent to a Signal chat group which inadvertently included Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg detailing the attack plans on Houthi targets in Yemen. Immediately and unsurprisingly, the denizens of President Donald Trumps favorite morning talk show dismissed the bombshell revelation as a nothingburger, insisting that Goldberg had overpromised when he first reported that Hegseth had shared war plans in an unclassified text chain that included a journalist who was randomly added to it. So I think there is about to be a big debate about what a war plan is and is not, White House correspondent Peter Doocy said on Wednesdays broadcast of Fox & Friends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following Goldbergs initial report that Hegseth shared highly sensitive information about a Yemen airstrike in the Signal chat, the administration has downplayed the story as nothing more than an honest mistake that didnt include classified military details. Nobody was texting war plans. And thats all I have to say about that, Hegseth grumbled to reporters on Tuesday. There was no classified material that was shared in that Signal group, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard insisted during a Senate hearing. Trump, who claimed that there wasnt classified information on the chat, has also backed national security adviser Mike Waltz, who Goldberg claims is the one who invited him to Signal and placed him in the Houthi PC small group. While Trump has conspiratorially suggested that a lower level mystery employee was responsible for Goldbergs inclusion, Waltz admitted he created the Signal group though he simultaneously accused The Atlantic editor of tricking his way into the chat. (Fox News) With the White House and MAGA media primarily taking the tack of insulting Goldberg while shrugging off the staggering security breach, The Atlantic finally released the messages on Wednesday morning, which Goldberg had initially withheld due to them containing detailed information, timing and locations of the strikes. Breaking the news on Fox & Friends, Doocy read off Hegseths text message to the chat group, telling Fox News viewers that you can decide if this looks like a war plan. After noting that the Pentagon chief (and former Fox & Friends host) ended his messages by letting the group know that they were currently clean on operational security, Doocy then offered up a defense for the White Houses insistence that these texts werent war plans and classified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know the Pentagon has more detailed imaging and coordinates than that, and there is no imaging or satellite photos or targets listed here specifically, and so it would seem that if youre going to fly F-18s and drones to take out Houthi guys where they are hiding out, the Pentagon has that information, the Fox correspondent declared. So when they say there is no war plan, maybe they mean that this text image did not include the full package of everything they knew and everything they could see and hear on the ground. After adding that if it is not classified, it is not classified, Doocy handed it off to his father, Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy, who wondered if the president had seen this yet. Assuring the Fox & Friends crew that Trump was likely aware of The Atlantic story at this point, the White House reporter stated that the president was confidently telling us yesterday he did not think anything consequential in here. The younger Doocy then said there will now be a big debate about what a war plan is and is not, teeing up guest host Sandra Smith to bring up White House press secretary Karoline Leavitts mocking dismissal of Goldbergs latest story. I would just say President Trump says all the time the Houthis will have hell reigning down on them if they continue attacking U.S. vessels, the Fox correspondent reacted. Thats not that different than what Pete Hegseth is writing in this secure group chat. Hes saying this is when the first bombs will definitely drop; that is something that they talk about publicly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Co-host Lawrence Jones, meanwhile, wrapped up the segment by declaring that The Atlantic had overcooked the story and there was really no there there a message the White House would echo a short while later. Looks like Goldberg overpromised, he asserted. Theres not war plans here. He at one point talks about a target. It doesnt even say his name. It doesnt say locations or coordinates. Its probably sensitive information, but Im not sure it is classified. Actual national security and military intelligence experts, however, have already weighed in and said that this absolutely would have been classified information when Hegseth sent it to the text chain. During a Wednesday morning appearance on MSNBCs Morning Joe, Goldberg fired back at the White House for claiming he conceded and acknowledged these were NOT war plans, quipping that the administration appeared to be arguing semantics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I don't even know what that means. I mean, the plain language in the text is what are they arguing that an attack is different than a war? Or they put operational details of a forthcoming attack on a terrorist organization into Signal that include into a Signal chat that included phone numbers that they didn't recognize, he proclaimed. I don't even understand what that means. They're talking about attacking and killing terrorists using various weapon systems, Goldberg added. She's just playing at some sort of weird semantic game. I don't understand. PARIS (Reuters) -France will provide some 2 billion euros ($2.15 billion) of extra military aid to Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday, accusing Russia of reinterpreting and rewriting recent limited ceasefire deals. "I can announce today 2 billion euros of extra military support to Ukraine," Macron said alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Paris. Macron added that anti-tank missiles, surface-to-air missiles, armoured vehicles and drones were part of the new military equipment to be provided to Kyiv. More Mirage fighter jets would also be provided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two leaders were speaking ahead of a summit of some 30 leaders on Thursday aimed at bolstering aid to Ukraine, discussing the limited ceasefires and a future European role to deter Russia from attacks once there is a negotiated deal. "Ukraine gave its agreement to a ceasefire without conditions. We expect the same commitment from Russia," Macron said, adding that it was too early to lift European sanctions on Russia. "I see today that Russia's will is to rewrite and reinterpret what was discussed and agreed by listing new conditions. Far from proving it wants peace, Russia continues each day to strike intensively Ukraine territory." ($1 = 0.9297 euros) (Reporting by John Irish and Dominique Vidalon; editing by Mark Heinrich and Franklin Paul) France will provide Ukraine with a new military aid package worth 2 billion euros ($2.1 billion), President Emmanuel Macron announced on March 26 at a press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris. "We must continue to provide immediate support to Ukraine it is necessary in order to keep up the resistance, Macron said after announcing the aid. The package includes anti-tank missiles, air defense systems, Mirage fighter jet missiles, armored vehicles, ammunition, and other aid, Macron said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The assistance will also provide for the production of equipment in Ukraine. "Our goal is to help Ukraine firstly to hold the situation on the front line, to resist (Russian) aggression, but at the same time to bring closer the prospects for a lasting peace that we all want to see," the French president said. The two leaders met ahead of a "coalition of the willing" summit. 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. 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." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Macron, the nations are expected to discuss further military aid for Ukraine, maintaining and monitoring any ceasefire, "the future model of the Ukrainian army," and "forces that will ensure guarantees." Ukraine agreed to a U.S.-proposed full 30-day ceasefire, saying on March 11 that Kyiv is ready to take such a step if Russia also agrees to the terms. So far, Russia has refused from an unconditional ceasefire. Read also: Ukraines list of energy facilities banned from attacks differs from Russian version, Energy Ministry says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) France and Indonesia 's top diplomats on Wednesday signed an agreement for a maritime security project aiming to ensure peace and safety at sea in the Indo-Pacific region. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrots visit to Jakarta, his second stop in his four-day Asia tour after Singapore, comes amid ongoing trade tensions between the European Union and Beijing. He told reporters on Wednesday that the Indo-Pacific Port Security Project "is close to my heart, promising France's support. Neither he nor his Indonesian counterpart Sugiono shared details of what the project will entail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, during a discussion of the project at the Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence, Indonesia's naval chief of staff, Admiral Muhammad Ali, said it would address various maritime security challenges, including piracy, terrorism, and illegal activities at sea, and would likely involve collaboration among countries in the Indo-Pacific. Sugiono, who like many Indonesians uses a single name, said the maritime collaboration is important to realize a stable, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Barrot said the project will support Indonesia as the world's largest archipelago nation with more than 17,000 islands, with a focus on securing two Indonesian ports, in the cities of Jakarta and Surabaya. The two diplomats, who signed the agreement at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations headquarters in the Indonesian capital, said they also discussed strengthening their strategic partnerships and enhancing cooperation in various fields. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Military cooperation between France and Indonesia has grown in recent years. French air force planes made a stopover in July In Jakarta as part of a visit to Southeast Asia that was meant to display Frances commitment to security in the Indo-Pacific region. Last year, Indonesia purchased 42 Rafale and Dassault Aviation fighter jets and is expected to receive the first Rafale jets under the contract in 2026. It also announced the purchase of two French Scorpene Evolved submarines and 13 Thales Ground Control Interception radars. Five of the radar systems are expected to be installed in the countrys future capital, Nusantara, on Borneo island. Barrots visit is also expected to help lay the groundwork for a meeting between Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and French President Emmanuel Macron, who is expected to visit the Southeast Asian country in May. The French diplomat is set to travel to China, including stops in Beijing and economic hub Shanghai, on Thursday and Friday. In a statement to Just Style, a C&A spokesperson said following a consultation project to redefine its store portfolio, the management of C&A decided on the closure of 24 stores in France experiencing structural difficulties. In addition, all 57 Shop-in-Shops in France will close said C&A. As a result of the decreased volume of products being handled, C&A has moved to adapt its distribution centre in Villenoy and its workforce accordingly. In total, this will result in 324 layoffs aiming to improve C&A's competitiveness in France and securing the brand's future in a French clothing market that is constantly deteriorating and in which C&A France is experiencing economic difficulties, the statement reads. C&A said it would be consulting with affected staff over the next few weeks and the project to redefine the commercial footprint of France would be studied over the next four months. It is part of C&A's European strategy to continue its transformation to better meet the needs of consumers, future-proof the company and ensure the future of a brand with 184 years of history. C&A intends to focus on the core of its business, excellence in execution, flexibility and innovation. To ensure its future and consolidate what has made its model successful combining quality of supply and affordable prices to dress the whole family C&A must focus its priorities on distribution methods with the best development potential and, in particular, adapt its network of physical stores, the statement added. Last month C&A confirmed it is to close its R&D FIT factory in Germany after the facility failed to meet the retailers expectations. "C&A streamlining continues with France store closures announced" was originally created and published by Just Style, a GlobalData owned brand. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The Family Assistance and Resource Center will continue providing free services for victims, families, and anyone impacted by the mass shooting that happened on Friday, March 21, at Young Park in Las Cruces. Resource event continues to help those impacted by Young Park shooting Las Cruces Fire Department (LCFD) said the free resource center will be held from noon through 7 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, March 26-28, at the Amador Live building, 302 S. Main St. in Downtown Las Cruces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Witnesses, family grapple with aftermath of Las Cruces shooting Among the many services provided at the Family Assistance and Resource Center are crisis and spiritual counseling, financial assistance for victims, and therapy dogs for emotional support and comfort, LCFD said. Suspects in Las Cruces shooting had past criminal history LCFD said that those who need transportation to and from Amador Live can dial the Essential Services line at 211. Roadrunner Transit also provides zero-fare transportation throughout Las Cruces. As we previously reported, three teens were killed, and 15 other people were injured in the shooting. Four suspects, including 20-year-old Tomas Rivas and three juveniles two 17-year-old boys and one 15-year-old boy are all facing murder charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Juvenile suspects in Las Cruces park shooting to be held in 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 KTSM 9 News. Fanny Ardant, the well-known French actor of Francois Ozons Eight Women, took the stand at Gerard Depardieus sexual assault trial in Paris, defending the actor who is her longtime friend. I have never witnessed a gesture that I found shocking, Ardant said in court, according to Le Monde newspaper. I am a woman myself, I have experienced things like that, Ive thrown out slaps and insults. I know that you can say no to Gerard, she continued. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Depardieu is being accused of sexual assault by two women a set decorator and an assistant director who worked with him on the set of The Green Shutters in southern France in 2021. The assistant director reported in her complaint that Depardieu had touched her buttocks in the street, then touched her breasts a few days later on location and touched her buttocks again on another occasion. Depardieu has denied all accusations and said today in court that he didnt touch her buttocks. I may have grazed it with my back in the corridor, but I didnt touch it, Depardieu was quoted saying in Le Monde. The set decorator, meanwhile, has accused Depardieu of having sexually assaulted and harassed her during filming by making several crude comments. She alleges that one day, as she walked past him sitting in a corridor, he grabbed her, pulled her toward him, blocked her with his legs and kneaded her on the waist, hips and chest, while making obscene comments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Depardieu denied these accusations yesterday in court and had a different version of their encounter. He said he only grabbed her hips so as to not slip. Its Friday, its hot, its muggy, [] I weigh 150 kg, Im in a bad mood. A woman is looking at me strangely, shes a bit beautiful but closed off, with her phone in her hand, he said, according to news wires AFP. Depardieu said he was annoyed by her work and was in the middle of a tense discussion with her when he almost slipped. Asked about the obscene comment he allegedly made, Depardieu said, What do you mean, raunchy? Is it to say pussy? Pussy, but I say it all the time, even to myself, I find it funny! The trial opened on Monday and has been heavily attended by French journalists, as well as other alleged victims of the 76-year old actor, notably Charlotte Arnould who has accused him of rape. As part of this separate case, Depardieu has been indicted since December 2020. Depardieu has long been considered a leading figure of Frances cinematic history, and has starred in over 150 films, including classics such as Jean-Paul Rappeneaus Cyrano de Bergerac. He now risks five years of imprisonment and a fine of 75,000 ($81,000) if hes found guilty of sexual assault. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Depardieus attorney Jeremy Assous, whos been contacted by Variety for comment, told the French radio station RMC on Monday that his client wants to tell his truth because he is the victim of false accusations, and added that we are going to move from a damning case to one that will be in favor of Gerard Depardieu. The trial was initially scheduled in October and was postponed to March due to Depardieus health condition. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If theres anything buzzy in the tech world, chances are Xavier Niel has caught wind of it. The hacker-turned-entrepreneur owns a sprawling telecom empire, sits on TikTok parent ByteDances five-member board, and is a major startup champion, counting French darling Mistral AI among his investments. The billionaire has had a keen eye on tech developments throughout his career. But he has also witnessed Europe slip behind the U.S. and China in innovation. Europe has produced some promising startups amid the generative AI frenzy, such as Mistral AI and Aleph Alpha. However, the region will have to do a lot more to keep up with the global AI race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Niel warns that Europe has a real shot at showing its promise and creativity on the AI front. But if it misses the boat, it could cease to be relevant. If Europe doesnt do this right, it will become a very small continent abandoned for a few generations, he told the Financial Times in an interview published in November. What differentiates European AI startups are their values, such as privacy and transparency, Niel said. The continent is also generating engineering and mathematics-focused talent at its universities, which could give the region an edgeif it moves fast and breaks things, as the saying goes. Sure, the world moves faster now; the resources are greater. But there will always be two clever kids somewhere in the world, working out of a garage, with a technological vision or a new idea, Niel said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The French mogul, who is estimated to be worth $8.7 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, is at the center of AI developments. His optimism in Europes AI prowess has led him to develop the worlds biggest startup incubator, Station F, in Paris. He has also coinvested $300 million in a nonprofit AI research lab alongside Eric Schmidt and Rodolphe Saade. Still, he worries that if Europe fails to ride the AI wave, it will be reduced to the nicest place in the world for museums, Niel told Wired in September. He likened the current AI moment to when search engines became mainstream. Today, they are largely run by American players, such as Google and Microsoft. If you want to create a search engine now from scratch, you cannot win, because you were not there 25 years ago, he said. Other experts have also been concerned about Europe trailing behind and how that might impact the regions security and defense prospects compared with the rest of the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What Niel touts as one of Europes strengths has also led to the perception that it regulates AI too harshly, pushing competitors out of its market. The European Union passed a first-of-its-kind draft of AI rules, which some see as groundbreaking and others too restrictive. In an in-depth report on Europes competitiveness, former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi highlighted that AI could open up new opportunities if deployed correctly. Meanwhile, German tech company SAPs CEO, Christian Klein, said overregulation risks holding Europes startups back. The likes of Metas Mark Zuckerberg and Spotifys Daniel Ek issued an open letter in September echoing similar concerns, urging Europe to fix its fragmented and inconsistent regulations on AI. Companies on the Fortune 500 Europe list, which ranks the regions biggest companies by revenue, are slowly but surely integrating AI into advanced applications. Ultimately, Europes strategy for addressing challenges could determine whether its a winner or a loser. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Put simply, developing, launching, or just using technology is harder in Europe than it is anywhere else in the world. To stay in the global race, the EU needs a new approach: mitigating the risks of new technology while enabling innovation, Google EMEA president Matt Brittin told Fortune in October. A version of this story originally published on Fortune.com on Nov. 18, 2024. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Every year since our opening in 1991, the National Civil Rights Museum dedicates April 4 to reflection and rejuvenation. We focus not only on Dr. Kings immeasurable contributions to civil and human rights progress, but on the courageous actions of the nameless people seeking justice and dignity for all humankind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commemoration is a contemplative day. It is a spiritual day. It is a hard day. It is a necessary day. The National Civil Rights Museum is committed to honoring Dr. Kings legacy, and that requires that we remind the world on April 4, and every other day, that he died seeking economic justice for 1,300 sanitation workers. And that Dr. Kings era as a leader for civil and human rights was a small glimpse in a continuous fight for recognition and legitimacy beginning with the establishment of the institution of slavery in the United States. This story, filled with powerful moments of progress often countered with renewed ways of resistance, is essential to understanding American history. Past civil rights leaders have shown us a path toward freedom The National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel uses its rich archives and artifacts to present historical facts that educate and serve as a catalyst for positive social change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2025 this is a monumental task, but we are here for it. Dr. Kings wife and architect of his legacy, Coretta Scott King, reminded us that Struggle is a never-ending process. Freedom is never really won; you earn it and win it in every generation. The National Civil Rights Museum offers more than a history lesson it provides a blueprint for action. It reminds us that real change is driven by grassroots movements, not by waiting for the powerful to act. Opinion: Sign up for the Black Tennessee Voices newsletter Tennessee has long been a battleground for courageous, strategic, and nonviolent direct action from the 1956 Clinton 12 school integration in East Tennessee, to the 1960 Nashville sit-ins to desegregate lunch counters, to the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers strike to todays struggles for racial and economic justice. We must unite and foster radical unity to fulfill Dr. Kings dream The forces of injustice rely on division, exhaustion, and silence. But history shows that when communities unite for causes bigger than themselves, they can achieve the impossible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We must foster radical unity. Coalition-building across race, class, and political affiliations strengthens movements. Listening to different perspectives, finding common ground, and standing together in collective action create a force stronger than isolated activism. Russ Wigginton Dr. Kings assassination did not end his dream it placed the responsibility of its fulfillment in our hands. As we mark this solemn anniversary, we must ask ourselves: Are we living by the principles of nonviolence? Are we fighting for democracy, justice, and equity with discipline and determination? Dr. King said, The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet, that arc does not bend on its own. It bends when people refuse to let injustice win. Dr. Russ Wigginton is the president of the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: MLK assassination anniversary: Choose community over chaos | Opinion A $35 million gift will transform Allegheny Colleges Reis Hall into the Phil St. Moritz Center for Innovation. The largest single gift in Alleghenys history, the donation is from the estate of Philip L. St. Moritz, a 1961 graduate of the college, Allegheny officials announced Tuesday. The gift will fund renovation of Reis Hall, one of Alleghenys hallmark buildings which has been closed since 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reis Hall will become a learning center to benefit students of all academic interests. The buildings 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. When completed for the 2026-27 year, the St. Moritz Center will house the Allegheny Lab for Innovation and Creativity (ALIC) and the Department of Computer and Information Science. It will provide technology and teaching spaces for numerous academic disciplines with classrooms and collaborative study spaces, varied maker labs, and a multipurpose outdoor plaza. ALIC combines liberal arts learning, emerging technologies, and partnerships with regional organizations and manufacturing companies to support economic and workforce development. In the lab, students and faculty design and build prototypes of products, scientific instruments, artistic projects, robots, virtual environments, video games, smart devices and others. The colleges Computer and Information Science Department is a leader among liberal arts schools with its array of programs in software engineering, robotics, ethics, artificial intelligence, data science and informatics which is the science of processing data for retrieval and storage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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, Allegheny President Ron Cole said in a statement. I believe Phil would be proud that we are enlivening Reis Hall, one of the most iconic buildings at the center of Allegheny Colleges campus, in his name. A lifelong Pittsburgh resident, St. Moritz earned his bachelors in economics from Allegheny in 1961. Following a tour of duty in the U.S. 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 Bills Marine Service in Maryland to his entrepreneurial portfolio. Phil St. Moritzs unwavering dedication to his employees and customers was only exceeded by his passion for his relationship with Allegheny College, said Brian Fiscus, chief financial officer 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The $35 million gift from the St. Moritz estate will fund construction costs estimated at $15 million to $20 million, Matt Stinson, Alleghenys vice president for institutional advancement, said Tuesday. The remaining funds will provide an endowment toward future technology upgrades and staffing needs as technology changes moving forward. The $35 million gift total includes $5 million the St. Moritz estate gifted Allegheny in 2024 to kick off the project last spring. Renovation work on Reis Hall started during the 2024-25 semester break of mid-December to mid-January, Stinson said. Reis Hall had been Alleghenys library building from 1902 until 1976 when the schools Lawrence Pelletier Library opened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It then became administrative offices, housing the colleges counseling center, registrar and informational services, and other departments. It closed in 2018 when Allegheny began renovations to Bentley Hall, its main administrative building. The St. Moritz estate gift has helped the college reach $165 million of its $250 million campaign goal in less than three years in the schools In for Allegheny: Our Pathway Forward campaign. The campaign focuses on academic excellence, community and economic development within Meadville, and college operations. In for Allegheny: Our Pathway Forward focuses on three ins inviting prospective students, inspiring the next generation, and investing in the schools future, according to Cole. LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) A fundraiser is being held at Jersey Mikes in Longmeadow on Wednesday to support Be Like Kat, a charity founded by the family of a teenager from Longmeadow who was killed in a car accident back in 2022. For the past 15 years Jersey Mikes locations across the country participate in their Month of Giving, dedicating one Wednesday to raise money for local charities. On Wednesday, the Jersey Mikes in Longmeadow selected the local charity Be Like Kat. Swish Night grants wish to East Longmeadow boy Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Katarina Boskovic was a senior at Longmeadow High School and a member of the cross-country team, she passed away weeks before graduating. According to her obituary, she had been accepted to McGill University in Montreal, Canada where she was going to become a physician. Now, her family is raising money for local causes in her name. All sales, all day long at the Jersey Mikes location on Williams Street in Longmeadow will go to the Be Like Kat fund. One of the goals of Be Like Kat is to keep her legacy alive and to continue to positively impact the community, just like she did. When we first moved to Longmeadow, we saw the town was all decked out in purple and we had no idea what it meant, said Nathaniel Tupper, owner and manager of Jersey Mikes in Longmeadow. And then we came to find out a little about the story about Kat and what the foundation that sprung up in her honor was about. We view ourselves as a community store and we wanted to pair with a local charity that would give back to the community that we work and live in. Be Like Kat has scholarships each year for graduating high schoolers, and donates money to charities that meant a lot to Kat. Jersey Mikes said they are hoping to exceed last years record-breaking national fundraising total of $25 million that was raised for charities across the country. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. A U.S. Army wife has pleaded guilty to her involvement in the death of her 11-month-old son. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On Tuesday, April Evalyn Short, 31, of Fort Eisenhower, pled guilty to murder in the second degree. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Short entered a negotiated plea agreement and faces 20 years in prison, substantial fines and five years of supervised release following her prison term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sentencing stems from the death of her young child who was killed in November 2023. Prosecutors say Short killed her 11-month-old son willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with malice aforethought with a knife. According to a criminal complaint obtained by Channel 2 Action News, James Short, a military staff sergeant stationed at Fort Eisenhower, received a text from April Short that made references to God and stated that the days of darkness are upon us and We [James and April Short] would be together again. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After receiving the texts, James Short reportedly left work to go home and check on his wife. When he arrived, officials said April Short had barricaded herself in their bedroom with their 11-year-old, 6-year-old and 11-month-old and was refusing to come out. Authorities arrived after being called by James Short, they worked to try and get April Short to leave the room. Eventually, April Short walked out of the room with the 11-year-old and 6-year-old, pulling away from officers, and walked out of the home. Officials said she then got into her car with the two children and attempted to drive away but was stopped by officers and arrested. When interviewing the mother, she admitted to hurting the child to authorities. Her two children told officials that she told them she was doing it because then the child could be with Jesus and God. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] 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. California living trust laws govern how residents can create and manage trusts to hold their assets, potentially bypassing probate-a court-supervised process for transferring property after death. Understanding these laws can help residents determine who will control their assets, manage distributions to beneficiaries and preserve privacy. Trust creators, known as grantors, typically retain control over their property during their lifetime. After the grantor passes away, California law dictates how successor trustees manage and distribute trust assets per the trust's terms. A financial advisor can help you manage your assets and plan for the next generation of your family. Connect with an advisor who serves your area. What Is a Living Trust in California? A living trust in California is a legal arrangement that allows an individual-the grantor-to transfer ownership of their assets into a trust while still alive. Typically, the grantor appoints themselves as the trustee, maintaining authority to use or sell assets placed within the trust. When the grantor dies, a successor trustee distributes the trusts assets to beneficiaries according to specified instructions. Unlike wills, California living trusts generally operate outside of court oversight. Since trust documents remain private, this extends privacy to the distribution of the grantors estate. However, not all assets automatically qualify-retirement accounts and life insurance policies typically bypass trusts, transferring directly to beneficiaries. Probate Process in California Probate is the formal court process in California in which a deceased individuals assets are distributed to heirs, debts are paid and taxes are settled. This process begins when the executor files a petition with the superior court in the county where the deceased lived . The court verifies the will's authenticity, identifies assets and appraises property values. Probate can take months or even years, depending on complexity, and it can involve substantial legal fees. California imposes statutory fees based on the estate's gross value, excluding debts , leading to higher costs for larger estates. Living trusts often help avoid this lengthy and costly process by transferring property directly to beneficiaries without court intervention. What Are the Laws for Living Trusts in California? An aerial view of traffic moving on Golden Gate Bridge during sunset. SmartAsset and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. California living trust laws primarily derive from the California Probate Code, specifically sections 15000 through 19403, which outline trust creation, administration and termination. Under state law, trusts must have clearly defined beneficiaries and trustees, though grantors can initially serve as both trustee and beneficiary. (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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard called it a mistake that a journalist was added to a Signal group chat discussing an imminent attack on Houthi rebels in Yemen. It was a mistake that a reporter was inadvertently added to a signal chat with high-level national security principles, having a policy discussion about imminent strikes against the Houthis and the effects of the strike, Gabbard said Wednesday in an appearance before the House Intelligence Committee. Gabbard did not directly address the appropriateness of using Signal for such a discussion, even as intelligence agencies have cautioned employees about the app being a target of foreign intelligence services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ideally, these conversations occur in person. However, at times fast-moving and coordination of an unclassified nature is necessary where in-person conversation is not an option, she said. She noted that Signal comes preinstalled on many government computers, and we strongly urge highly targeted individuals to immediately review and apply best practices. The conversation was candid and sensitive, but as the president national security adviser stated, no classified information was shared. There were no sources, methods, locations or war plans that were shared. This was a standard update to the national security Cabinet that was provided alongside updates that were given to foreign partners in the region, she said. In a hearing before the Senate on Tuesday, Gabbard denied there was any classified intelligence shared on the chat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the Signal chat was shared by The Atlantic on Wednesday ahead of the House Intelligence Committee hearing, showing the officials discussing detailed war plans, including the timeline of the strikes and the targets. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Veterans Upward Bound program at Gadsden State Community College has moved to a larger, more accessible location in the basement of Naylor Hall on the Wallace Drive Campus in Gadsden. The program, previously located in Beck Field House, now occupies a space designed to better serve veterans unique needs. The improvements represent our commitment to providing the best possible support to our veterans, said Sarah Aultman, director of Veterans Upward Bound. After all, our goal is to assist veterans in a seamless transition from military service to civilian life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Veterans Upward Bound is a federally funded TRIO program dedicated to helping veterans achieve academic and career goals. The program provides free services such as assistance with educational benefits, academic preparation, computer skills training, financial management education and help with enrolling at the college or university of their choice. There are a wide variety of free services provided to those who bravely served our country, Aultman said. Eligible veterans also have the opportunity to receive a monthly stipend by participating in educational activities through the VUB program. The new VUB office, formerly home to the Alabama Language Institute, has undergone several updates to improve accessibility and functionality. These include a resurfaced ADA-accessible ramp at the main entrance, renovated accessible bathrooms and designated Veterans Only parking spaces behind Naylor Hall near the office entrance. The updated space also features a computer lab, a quiet study area and a meeting room for collaboration with community partners. The new space is not only more accessible, but it also creates a better environment for veterans to focus on their studies, access resources and connect with important community and college partners, Aultman said. We want to ensure that our veterans have the resources they need to succeed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the physical improvements, the VUB program is expanding its online Veterans Resource Guide. This comprehensive guide provides information on education, housing, legal services and mental health support for veterans and community members. We encounter so many wonderful organizations and resources in our work, Aultman said. This expanded guide is a central place where veterans and community members can easily access information related to the needs they might have. We hope this will empower our veterans to succeed and build stronger connections with positive resources. For more information about Veterans Upward Bound or to access the Veterans Resource Guide, visit www.GadsdenState.edu/VUB. Hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets of northern Gaza on Tuesday in a rare protest against Hamas, with marchers calling for the terror group to reach a ceasefire deal with Israel and give up control of the strip to end the war. Videos from the northern city of Beit Lahiya -- which has been devastated by a heavy Israeli bombardment and intense fighting by between Hamas and the Israel Defense Forces over the past 17 months -- showed hundreds gathered on the streets, some chanting anti-Hamas slogans. Shouts of "Hamas out" could be heard in videos posted to social media. The gathering followed an appeal for a demonstration spread on social media channels. ABC News is unable to verify its origin or the identity of the original poster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some marchers held signs displaying demands, including "Enough displacement and homelessness," "Stop the war" and "We refuse to die," as seen in videos circulating on social media. Videos filmed by a local journalist and verified by ABC News showed Gazans chanting, "We want to live, we want to live," in Arabic as a man addressed the assembled crowd. PHOTO: Palestinians walk amid the destruction caused by the Israeli air and ground offensive at Al-Shati camp, Gaza City, on March 25, 2025. (Jehad Alshrafi/AP) "We are here today to deliver a message to the entire nation," he said. "We are a peaceful people, a peaceful people, a peaceful people. We want to live. This is the least of life's demands." "We want to live," he continued. "Deliver it to the entire nation and the leadership. We want to live. People don't have money to move -- meaning to move their things when evacuating -- there is no empty space in Gaza. Where will we go?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Associated Press reported that some videos appeared to show Hamas members dispersing the crowd. A call across the Gaza Strip for more protests circulated on social media on Wednesday. In a video statement on Wednesday, speaking in Hebrew, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz addressed the protests. "The IDF will soon operate forcefully in additional areas in Gaza and you will be required to evacuate and lose more and more territory," Katz said in the statement directed at residents of Gaza. "The plans are already prepared and approved. Learn from the residents of Beit Lahia: Demand the removal of Hamas from Gaza and the immediate release of all Israeli hostages -- this is the only way to stop the war." MORE: Egypt, Saudi Arabia condemn establishment of Israeli agency to 'voluntarily' remove Gazans Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tuesday's protests came amid Israel's renewed offensive on the devastated strip, which began last week and ended a two-month ceasefire that began in January. Israel is demanding the immediate release of all remaining hostages -- consisting of 59 people, 24 of whom are still believed to be alive -- taken in Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, surprise attack into Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the campaign would resume with "full force," adding that further "negotiations will only be done under fire." Israel intends to fully dismantle Hamas and remove it from power in Gaza, Netanyahu has said. As of Tuesday, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said that at least 792 people had been killed and 1,663 others injured since the resumption of Israeli military action last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest casualties bring the total death toll in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, to 50,144, with another 113,704 wounded, the ministry said. Around 1,200 people were killed in southern Israel during the Hamas attack, with 251 people taken back into Gaza as captives, according to the Israeli government. ABC News' Guy Davies contributed to this report. Gaza protesters demand 'Hamas out' as Israel presses military campaign originally appeared on abcnews.go.com By Anna Mehler Paperny TORONTO (Reuters) - Hundreds of Canadian workers, many in the steel and aluminum sectors, have been laid off as a result of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, according to a major union and companies. Economists warned this was only the beginning as the impact of tariffs is expected to broaden the longer they are in place. Uncertainty surrounding Trump's policies has cast a chill over Canada's economy and labour market. Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum on March 12; more tariffs could be coming on April 2. Marty Warren, national director of the United Steelworkers - the largest private-sector union in North America, with more than 225,000 members in Canada - said he has heard from members that about 200 of them are already out of a job. Affected companies include Canada Metal Processing Group, which issued a February 24 press release announcing a workforce reduction of 140 employees due in part to "the threat of incoming tariffs from the United States on steel and steel derivatives." Those threatened tariffs are now in place. The workforce reduction is a combination of permanent layoffs, temporary layoffs, work share and retirements, a company spokesperson told Reuters, adding the company is also freezing hiring for new or vacant positions. Canada is the top supplier of steel to the U.S. Warren told Reuters Ontario-based Algoma Steel has also laid off 27 people. Algoma Steel CEO Michael Garcia told Reuters the company had laid off about 20 people and could lay off more if they cannot find new Canadian customers. "Everyone losing a job or laid off is a major hit," Warren said. Coils of rolled steel sit in an industrial yard with transmission towers and smokestacks in the background at dusk in Hamilton He said he expects "a tidal wave" next week, when a 30-day reprieve is expected to end for goods compliant with the trilateral U.S.-Mexico-Canada free-trade agreement. "With the full-blown tariffs coming in on April 2 it'll probably affect 100,000 of our members." Scott Noseworthy has worked as a shredder operator at the Canada Metal Processing Group's Ivaco plant in eastern Ontario for four years. Workers got notice of a potential layoff more than a month ago but were not certain it was happening until much later. They were hoping tariffs would be averted. "When Trump imposed the tariffs it kind of hit us and brought us to a halt," he said. Now the plan is to be back at work this week but doing maintenance and clean-up work. After that, he does not know. He said the uncertainty is tough with a two-year-old daughter at home. It's hectic: You're not sure whether or not youre going to have work one week to the next, he said. Germany's acting Interior Minister Nancy Faeser arrived in Amman on Wednesday to discuss migration and security issues with Jordanian government representatives. Faeser, accompanied by Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, said many Syrian refugees view the fall of President Bashar al-Assad as an opportunity to return home, rebuild, and restore stability, following a meeting with Jordanian Interior Minister Mazin al-Farrayeh. She reaffirmed Germany's commitment to supporting Jordan in hosting and assisting refugees and said discussions would also focus on options for voluntary repatriation to Syria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jordan has taken in around 1.3 million refugees from Syria as a result of the civil war that broke out in 2011, according to government estimates. In early March, the Jordanian Ministry of the Interior said that some 44,000 Syrian refugees had voluntarily returned to their homeland following the fall of al-Assad in December. The visit comes after US President Donald Trump in early February proposed to resettle Gaza's population of more than 2 million to Arab countries and convert the war-torn coastal strip into a Middle East "riviera," a vision that has been widely rejected by Israel's Arab neighbours, including Jordan. During a visit to the White House on February 11, Jordan's King Abdullah II firmly rejected the proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a donor conference in Brussels last week, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Development Minister Svenja Schulze pledged 300 million ($323 million) in additional funding primarily to support humanitarian aid, civil society and education in Syria, while also assisting Syrian refugees and host communities in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey. Germany's acting Interior Minister Nancy Faeser headed to Amman on Wednesday to discuss migration and security issues with Jordanian government representatives. Faeser, who is accompanied by Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, was set to meet with their Jordanian counterpart Mazin al-Farrayeh and Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi in Amman on Wednesday afternoon. The visit comes after US President Donald Trump in early February proposed to resettle Gaza's population of more than 2 million to Arab countries and convert the war-torn coastal strip into a Middle East "riviera," a vision that has been widely rejected by Israel's Arab neighbours, including Jordan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a visit to the White House on February 11, Jordan's King Abdullah II firmly rejected the proposal. Jordan has taken in around 1.3 million refugees from Syria as a result of the civil war that broke out in 2011, according to government estimates. In early March, the Jordanian Ministry of the Interior said that some 44,000 Syrian refugees had voluntarily returned to their homeland following the fall of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad in December. At a donor conference in Brussels last week, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Development Minister Svenja Schulze pledged 300 million ($323 million) in additional funding primarily to support humanitarian aid, civil society and education in Syria, while also assisting Syrian refugees and host communities in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey. BERLIN (AP) Police were executing raids in six German states Wednesday against a group that authorities say is part of an international network whose aim is to overthrow the government in Eritrea." Germany's federal prosecutors office is accusing 17 suspects of founding or being members of the German branch of Brigade NHamedu, which it defines as a terrorist organization. Eritrea has long been described as one of the worlds most repressive countries by human rights groups, and some members of its divided diaspora have clashed violently at times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecutors said the investigations suggest that the suspects assumed senior positions" within the group. The German offshoot has been active since at least 2022 was involved in violence at events connected to the Eritrean government. The prosecutors office said the organization coordinated violent riots at Eritrea festivals in Giessen on Aug. 20, 2022, and on Aug. 7-8, 2023, as well as the seminar of an Eritrean association in Stuttgart on Sept. 16, 2023. Numerous police officers were injured at the events, some of them seriously, and dozens of protesters were detained. The state interior minister of Baden-Wurttemberg, which includes Stuttgart, said that 56 people were sentenced to prison following the riots in the city in 2023, though some of those sentences can still be appealed, German news agency dpa reported. Prosecutors also say that some members of the association considered violence against German state institutions and police officers to be legitimate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 200 federal and state police officers searched 19 properties eight in Hesse, four in North Rhine-Westphalia, three in Bavaria, two in Baden-Wurttemberg and one each in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Rhineland-Palatinate. Another search took place in Denmark at the same time, dpa reported. No arrests have been made. The prosecutor's statement also noted that another person who is suspected of holding a senior position within Brigade NHamedu in the Netherlands and Germany "has recently been sentenced by a Dutch court to a prison term of several years on account of his participation in clashes in The Hague last February. The prosecutor's office did not identify any of the accused by name, in line with German privacy rules. Separately, a court in Sweden jailed six people on Wednesday for violent rioting in connection with an Eritrean cultural festival in 2023, Swedish news agency TT reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Five people were sentenced to five months in prison, while a sixth person was sentenced to six months in prison, according to TT. At the time, hundreds of anti-government protesters stormed the festival. More than 50 people were injured and nearly 140 people were detained, TT reported. As in German, Sweden is home to tens of thousands of people with Eritrean roots. The festival devoted to the cultural heritage of Eritrea is an annual event that has been held since the 1990s but has been criticized for allegedly serving as a promotional tool and source of money for the African nations government, according to Swedish media. Exiles have attacked several festivals held by Eritreas diaspora in Europe, North America and Israel in recent years. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled Eritrea over the years, many setting off into the deserts of Sudan and then North Africa in attempts to reach Europe. BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's government rejected on Wednesday calls for a boycott of U.S. goods despite disagreements over tariffs, saying Europe's biggest economy wanted to foster good trade relations. European Union officials are trying to ease tensions with the United States and prevent a trade war as U.S. President Donald Trump embarks on a tariff offensive that could lead to retaliatory measures. "The German government is interested in good relations and also good trade relations with the United States. We are doing everything we can to achieve this," government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit told reporters. "We don't need more trade barriers, we need fewer," he said, adding: "In this respect, we do not agree with such demands." The comment echoes a warning from the head of Germany's BGA association representing importers and exporters who said a boycott of U.S. products would be a "false response" to political disagreements which could stoke a cycle of reprisals. "We shouldn't bring an already complex situation further to a head. Rather than get embroiled in boycotts, tariffs and counter-tariffs, we should seek dialogue with the United States over the transatlantic trade questions of the future," said BGA president Dirk Jandura. Germany's trade surplus with the U.S. reached a record level of 70 billion euros ($75.49 billion) last year, statistics office data showed. However, cooling relations in trade and security between the United States and its traditional European allies has prompted some calls in Europe to replace U.S. products with home-made brands, following similar moves in Canada. A forum on social media website Reddit called "BuyFromEU" has attracted 189,000 members to discuss alternatives to U.S. brands. U.S. carmaker Tesla's market share continued to shrink in Europe last month. It has been hit by increased competition and Europe's economic slowdown but also by the support of CEO Elon Musk, an adviser to the Trump administration, for far-right parties in Europe, including in Germany. German Finance Minister Joerg Kukies travels to the United States this week for talks with his U.S. counterpart as well as with the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. ($1 = 0.9273 euros) (Reporting by Rene Wagner and Andreas Rinke; Writing by Ludwig Burger and Madeline Chambers; Editing by Gareth Jones) The German government has not responded with comments directed at the United States after US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance made recent derogatory statements about Europe. The German government has resolved "not to comment on every statement that we hear all day long at various levels," said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit in Berlin. He advised "a certain composure." The transatlantic relationship is a good one, with a close network of direct, strong and reliable contacts with the US government, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump had previously labelled Europeans as parasites. A group chat between members of the Trump administration about attacks in Yemen had previously revealed a deep contempt for Europe. Vance was quoted as saying: "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." Hebestreit emphasized that the German government would not go along with threats to boycott the import of US goods. "We have always made it clear that we don't need more trade barriers, but fewer." Everyone benefits from free trade, especially Germany, which is one of the strongest exporting nations in the world, he said. Russian demands for an end to sanctions When asked whether Moscow's demands for lifting the many sanctions as a condition for guarantees for safe civilian shipping on the Black Sea, Hebestreit emphasized that all sanctions imposed by the European Union would then have to be lifted. Europe would then be "on board." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In view of Moscow's demands to give the Russian Agricultural Bank and other financial institutions access to the international financial telecommunications system Swift again, the German government spokesman noted that Swift is based in Belgium. Therefore "it is European jurisdiction that applies" and a sanctions' lifting would have to be discussed with Europe. Lead negotiators for Germany's conservative CDU/CSU bloc are to resume talks with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) on Friday with the aim of forming a viable coalition, the three parties announced in Berlin on Wednesday. "Hard work lies ahead of us, but we are continuing to tackle this task in a solution-oriented and constructive way," the general secretaries of the three parties said in a joint statement. Friday's discussions will be based on the outcome of 16 working groups thrashing out details on main issues since March 13. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lead negotiating group is made up of 19 representatives from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), and the SPD of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz. CDU leader and likely future chancellor Friedrich Merz, CSU leader Markus Soder and SPD co-leaders Lars Klingbeil and Saskia Esken are to join the respective delegations on Friday. The general secretaries stressed the need to lay a foundation for a viable future coalition government. "Our aim remains forming a coalition for the major tasks facing the country for stability, economic renewal and social cohesion," they said. Further talks are to take place in confidentiality in the various party headquarters in Berlin. The parties aim to strike a coalition deal by the Easter holidays in April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the February 23 elections, the CDU/CSU alliance secured 28.5% of the vote, with the third-placed SPD managing just 16.4%. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) doubled its vote to 20.8%, but the mainstream parties are refusing to cooperate with the AfD. German police raided a Georgian criminal gang engaged in theft and burglary, searching 18 premises across the country on Wednesday and arresting the suspected ringleader. Stuttgart prosecutors leading the investigation said the raids had taken place in the states of Baden-Wurttemberg, Bavaria and North Rhine Westphalia, starting in the early hours and focussing on truck stops which the gang had used to store stolen goods and money. Baden-Wurttemberg Interior Minister Thomas Strobl said 1,000 officers were involved in the raids which centred on the Stuttgart region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspects are reported to belong to Georgian-dominated group linked to criminals from the states of the former Soviet Union. Strobl said the group was involved in drugs and corruption and used violence up to homicide. "This concerns a serious threat that we are acting decisively against. Organized crime is a particular threat to the rule of law and our society," he said. Baden-Wurttemberg gave high priority to fighting organized crime, he said. "We will not let go and will act over the long term and with great emphasis against organized crime in all its forms," Strobl added. Germany's Constitutional Court on Wednesday rejected an attempt by six politicians from the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) to abolish an additional tax originally introduced to finance the costs of German reunification. The court ruled that the government still has legitimate financial needs related to reunification but emphasized that the so-called solidarity surcharge cannot be permanent. If the need disappears, the tax could become unconstitutional, the judges said. A ruling against the surcharge could have left a 12.75 billion ($13.8 billion) gap in this year's federal budget and potentially forced the government to repay around 65 billion collected since 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FDP challengers argued that the surcharge lost its legal basis after Solidarity Pact II, which provided for special funding aimed at narrowing the economic gap between the formerly communist East and West Germany, ended in 2019. They also claimed the tax unfairly targets high earners while most taxpayers no longer pay it. Since 2021, only top earners, companies and investors have been required to pay the 5.5% surcharge on income, corporate, and capital gains taxes. About 6 million individuals and 600,000 companies are still subject to it, according to the German Economic Institute. However, the court found no violation of the principle of equality. The German government defended the tax in court during a hearing in November, arguing that reunification costs continue and that a surcharge does not have to be tied to a single, specific expense. German authorities conducted raids on Wednesday across six states targeting 17 people suspected of membership in a domestic terrorist group, allegedly aiming to overthrow the Eritrean government, prosecutors said. According to German authorities, the suspects are believed to hold leading roles in a German offshoot of the Brigade N'Hamedu group. No arrests have yet been made. Federal prosecutors in Karlsruhe described the German organization, active since at least 2022, as an internationally connected network known for using violence against event organizers in Germany who support the Eritrean government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group is accused of orchestrating violent riots at Eritrean festivals in Giessen, near Frankfurt, in August 2022 and in July 2023, as well as at a seminar hosted by an Eritrean association in Stuttgart in September 2023. Numerous police officers were injured during the incidents, some seriously. According to the press release, some members of the organization had considered violence against German state institutions and representatives of state authority - such as police officers - to be a legitimate means. 200 officers search 19 locations across Germany Around 200 police officers searched 19 properties on Wednesday in the states of Hesse, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Baden-Wurttemberg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another search took place at the same time in Denmark. A suspect in a separate case, reportedly a leader of Brigade N'Hamedu in both the Netherlands and Germany, was recently sentenced to several years in prison by a Dutch court for his role in riots in The Hague on February 17, 2024. In 2024, a Stuttgart court sentenced a 29-year-old Eritrean to three years and nine months in prison, while a Giessen court handed a 24-year-old a suspended sentence of one year and three months for their roles in the riots. Eritrean regime accused of human rights violations Eritrea, with a population of about 4 million, is located in north-east Africa on the Red Sea and is largely isolated internationally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki has ruled the country since it gained independence around 30 years ago. Political parties are banned, and freedom of expression and press are heavily restricted. There is neither a parliament nor independent courts or civil society organizations. Reports also detail large-scale massacres, extrajudicial executions and sexual violence by security forces. The government, which rules as a one-party state, dismisses these allegations as politically motivated. By Scott Murdoch (Reuters) -China's Xiaomi Corp said on Tuesday it had raised $5.5 billion in an upsized share sale as the company pushes forward with its ambitious electric vehicle manufacturing plans. The company sold 800 million shares at HK$53.25 each, it said in a statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The world's third-largest smartphone maker has seen its share price surge by nearly 150% from HK$21.5 in the past six months, buoyed by investor enthusiasm for its EV plans. Xiaomi, which moved into electric vehicle manufacturing last year, had planned to sell 750 million shares but increased the size of the deal while the bookbuilding process was underway. The final price was towards the bottom end of the HK$52.80 to HK$54.60 price range flagged to investors when the deal launched on Monday. Xiaomi shares were down 5.3% in Hong Kong on Tuesday as the Hang Seng Index was off 2.1%. There were more than 200 investors who placed orders during the bookbuilding process and the book was multiple times oversubscribed, said a person familiar with the matter. The top 20 investors took about 66% of the stock sold in the share sale, the person added. Xiaomi did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the deal statistics. The price was a 6.6% discount to Xiaomi's closing price of HK$57 on Monday. Xiaomi said the money raised would be used to fund the acceleration of its business expansion, research and technology development. Xiaomi began manufacturing EVs last year with the launch of the SU7 sedan after selling smartphones, household appliances and smart gadgets for most of its 15-year history. It reported an almost 50% jump in fourth-quarter revenue last week and raised its target for electric vehicle deliveries this year to 350,000 from 300,000. The company reported 32.1 billion yuan ($4.4 billion) in revenue for its EV business in 2024, delivering more than 135,000 SU7 sedans. Xiaomi said it aimed to start shipping cars overseas in 2027. The tech firm has purchased a new land plot of 52 hectares (128.5 acres) in Beijing's south, where it would build the third phase of its auto factory as it ramps up its annual shipment target, Chinese media has reported. Xiaomi will invest a quarter, about 7-8 billion yuan, out of its 2025 total research and development budget of 30 billion yuan into AI, President Lu Weibing said last week. Xiaomi's deal extends a rush of tech-focused capital raisings from Chinese firms in Hong Kong, as companies take advantage of positive sentiment towards the tech sector. Outgoing German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has backed US mediation efforts in talks between Russia and Ukraine but warned that Vladimir Putin could mislead the West. Source: European Pravda, citing Baerbocks statement on the sidelines of a climate conference in Berlin on Wednesday, 26 March, as quoted by The Guardian Details: Baerbock said that a real dialogue cannot take place when a ceasefire is constantly linked to new demands and concessions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is also good that the United States is trying to take on a mediating role here. At the same time, we must not fool ourselves, and above all, we must not allow ourselves to be blinded by the Russian president," the German foreign minister said. Russian propagandists claim the meeting between Russia and the United States in Riyadh lasted 12 hours, including breaks. Background: 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. Following talks with Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Saudi Arabia, the US delegation agreed to work on a truce in the Black Sea and a ban on strikes on energy infrastructure. US President Donald Trump suggested that the Kremlin leader could be "dragging his feet" on the issue of a truce agreement with Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! WACO, Texas (FOX 44) Being prepared for life-threatening situations is essential when it means another persons life is on the line. University High School students had the opportunity to prepare on Tuesday as they look to become the next generation of first-responders. Certified Emergency Response Reams (CERT) helped teach the students how to be better prepared for distaters which could be life-threatening. The skills taught in the classroom are going to be taken into the real world and used in first-hand experience. Information is key. And learning these skills that they have here, they can better learn more skills in the future to help. Like I said, either become first responders themselves or help the community be prepared whenever those events do happen, Emergency Preparedness Planner of the Heart of Texas Conseling Government Andy Davis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the skills and knowledge provided by the teachers, they are able to hopefully expand this program, get even more people prepared for these certain situations, and give them a break from the structured everyday classes. I do [enjoy this]. I dont like being stuck in a classroom 24/7. So yes, actually getting out of doing stuff, feel like its way more productive than just sitting in the classroom, at University High Senior Joy Cooper said. Going from the classroom to the real world, these skills will come in handy as the students become the next generation of nurses and first responders. With these activities done, it brings an aspect of fun and does not make it feel like another exam that has you locked in a classroom. Most definitely. Weve run through this multiple times. Its not something youd probably forget that quickly. Or for me, I dont.I wouldnt forget something like this, because its honestly been fun, Cooper said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CERT starts the students at such a young age and even expands to different colleges and counties, making sure that the skills taught by the program are well-maintained by the students. With the recent tornadoes destroying parts of the South and Midwest, what to do in one of these situations is crucial knowledge which can even be used in many different occasions. As more information is gained, people are more likely to want to learn these skills because it could happen to them in their own backyard. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. Republican leaders want to delay decisions on some of their biggest fights as they race to show progress toward enacting President Donald Trumps sweeping domestic agenda of tax cuts, border security and energy policies. With GOP lawmakers desperate to finalize a budget framework for the planned megabill before an upcoming Easter recess, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are signaling that they will move forward on the fiscal blueprint without first resolving major disputes over the offsets including potentially huge cuts to Medicaid. "The White House is making clear we need to unlock the process now and fight about the details later, said a senior House Republican aide who was granted anonymity to share private conversations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The way forward will involve the House and Senate approving a budget resolution that defers to each chambers respective committees on how much money the panels will need to trim from programs under their purviews. Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham said there are hopes the chamber could vote on a new blueprint as soon as next week that reflects this emerging strategy. An alternative would have been for House and Senate GOP negotiators to hash out identical spending cut targets across corresponding committees, which would trigger big disagreements about the size and scope of those targets. Instead, their plan will allow for the House Energy and Commerce Committee to proceed with a $880 billion floor for savings which could result in major reductions in Medicaid benefits, a prospect that has made Republicans across Capitol Hill uneasy while setting a different goal for the Senate panels with similar jurisdiction. No, thats a House instruction, Thune said in an interview, when asked if Senate Republicans would change the Energy and Commerce savings target. It will be a different instruction in the Senate. Johnson separately told reporters the Senate plans are not going to align perfectly with the Houses but that each side will have their own instructions, and they'll merge it all together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Graham said Wednesday he supports the emerging plan, arguing that Republicans just need to get moving. The budget resolution just unlocks the door to the committees, he said. You cant get the bill done until you do the resolution. So just pick numbers and move forward. Graham added, The sooner you pass a resolution, the sooner the committees are up and running and the quicker you'll get the reconciliation bill, which is the big prize. Reconciliation is the process that will allow the House and Senate, once they settle on a single budget blueprint, to write legislation they can pass along party lines in both chambers, avoiding the need to engage with Democrats. Its not clear, however, whether this gambit will work. Just because Senate Republicans wont have to make comparable cuts to Medicaid as they draft a budget reconciliation bill doesnt mean they wont have to swallow Medicaid cuts in a final product. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thune, asked about potential cuts to Medicaid, echoed Graham in saying the budget resolution is a first step to get the process moving, with decisions about the source of spending cuts happening later. Some of that is just getting the process unlocked so the committees can actually start doing the scrub and finding where they can find savings, Thune said. Senate Republicans are also only now starting to get into specifics internally about what policies and spending reductions can get the votes in their conference. On the other hand, deficit hawks in the Senate want GOP leaders to commit to the deeper spending cuts that House Republican leaders agreed to in order to satisfy their own rank-and-file hard-liners. This could become necessary to secure support from conservatives who have balked at suggestions that a reconciliation bill should include a debt ceiling hike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Graham also indicated that Senate Republicans want to swap in their higher number for new defense spending. The Senates initial budget resolution included $150 billion in defense spending, while the House put it at $100 billion. Republican senators are privately hoping Trump will step in to get holdouts on board. Part of that sales job could include promoting the funding freezes made possible by the Department of Government Efficiency as a reminder that the administration does, in fact, take fiscal restraint seriously. Still, on Wednesday afternoon, there were promising signs: Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) one of the biggest supporters of spending cuts and opponents of raising the debt ceiling said he would be fine with the Senate advancing instructions to find savings at lower thresholds. But, Johnson added, he needed higher cuts in the actual bill and an ironclad commitment before voting on the budget resolution that leadership will establish a panel of lawmakers to tackle the federal debt and the budget. Republicans Jack Ciattarelli, left, and Bill Spadea are pitching themselves to GOP primary voters as the pick for Trump supporters in this year's gubernatorial primary. (Ciattarelli photo by Amanda Burns/Spadea photo by Hal Brown) MATAWAN Bright red MAGA mugs. Hats emblazoned with the word Fight! Trump bobbleheads. Dangly Trump earrings. A table filled with Donald Trump-themed merchandise greeted Republican voters at Palms Plaza catering hall in Matawan last week as they gathered to hear from GOP gubernatorial hopeful Bill Spadea, a former radio talk show host. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spadea, one of five men running in the June 10 primary to win their partys nomination for governor, spoke for 20 minutes in a room decorated in red, white, and blue, telling voters hes been aligned with Trump since the president launched his first campaign for the White House in 2015. One of his rivals for the Republican nod, Spadea noted, is former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, who has spoken critically of Trump in the past and once campaigned with erstwhile Trump opponent Nikki Haley. When youve got a Republican whos willing to spend eight years attacking Donald Trump, writing checks as recently as this last primary in 2024 to Chris Christie, and then to turn around and pretend now that hes pro-Trump, youve got a guy that is willing to say anything for a vote, Spadea said. And you cant trust somebody who will do that. Bill Spadea supporters peruse a table of pro-Trump merchandise at a Spadea campaign event in Matawan on March 19, 2025. (Sophie Nieto-Munoz | New Jersey Monitor) Spadea and Ciattarelli, a former assemblyman, are sparring this year for the allegiance of Trump supporters and racing to prove their MAGA bona fides in a state where the GOP hopes it can bounce back after losing two gubernatorial races in a row. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fight over Trumps base and potentially the presidents endorsement was evident last week when Ciattarelli posted pictures on social media of him standing next to a grinning Trump at the presidents Bedminster country club. The following day, according to the New Jersey Globe, Spadea met with Trump there. Ashley Koning, director of Rutgers Universitys Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling, said its obvious both men would love to win the votes of Trump supporters but theres a big question mark about whether their pitch to appeal to them could hurt in Novembers general election, when one of them could be facing one of six Democrats hoping to succeed a term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy. It may be a more narrow focus on winning the primary because they think right now Trump would be a benefit to their campaign. In a couple months from now, it could be an entirely different story, Koning said. The last time Republicans held power in Trenton was in early 2018, before Gov. Chris Christie left office. Republicans havent controlled a chamber of the Legislature since 2001. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ciattarelli and Spadea agree on plenty of policies. Both have said they would end the states sanctuary status for undocumented immigrants on their first day in office, suspend bail reform, and review public education curriculum they say has become overly sexualized. But they also represent two different wings of the Republican party in New Jersey. Ciattarelli has long been seen as a moderate Republican. He lost the GOP nod for governor in 2017, won it in 2021, but then lost in the general election to Murphy. He has embraced Trump in recent months after criticizing him in 2016 and 2020. Spadea, meanwhile, has made a name for himself as a conservative firebrand after hosting a radio show on New Jersey 101.5 for nearly a decade. Hes long been critical of Murphy and Democratic policies. Ciattarelli also appeared last week in Monmouth County, home to the second-largest number of registered Republicans in the state. Speaking to voters at the Gramercy at Lakeside Manor in Hazlet Thursday, Ciattarelli mentioned Trump briefly during his initial remarks, saying he saw how Trump unified his party last year by winning all the nations swing states and coming closer to winning New Jersey than any Republican presidential hopeful has in decades. But after that, Ciattarelli barely mentioned the president. Ciattarelli said he has two very different opponents in this years race for governor: one who calls Trump supporters a cult (a reference to anti-Trump Republican state Sen. Jon Bramnick) and one who calls anybody who disagrees with him a RINO, a Republican in name only. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats division and subtraction, Ciattarelli said. Im somebody who believes in the power of addition, and its my job to bring a very positive energy to the campaign. He highlighted the stark difference between Republicans and Democrats priorities, and focused on the importance of flipping more seats in the Legislature to bring Republicans back into power. This year, all 80 Assembly seats are up for grabs. Democrats in that body hold a 52-28 majority. Another Republican hoping to become our next governor is Mario Kranjac, a former Englewood Cliffs mayor who brands himself as a forever Trumper. Kranjac in an interview said he not Spadea, not Ciattarelli is the Republican candidate most aligned with Trump, pointing to his record as a mayor and a business owner. When he was first elected mayor of Englewood Cliffs in 2015, he was the first Republican to win the job in 40 years. He said his opponents inconsistent support for Trump wont help them because Trump voters are too smart to vote for people who dont have fixed values and beliefs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They have to poll, and put their finger up in the wind to figure out what they believe in. Ive always had fixed values and fixed beliefs, he said. I dont need to have other people influence where I stand. A January poll of the governors race from Emerson College found that while most Republicans are undecided, Ciattarelli has 26% support, compared to Spadeas 13%. An early March Farleigh Dickinson University poll measuring name recognition and favorability gave Ciattarelli a commanding but tenuous lead over his rivals (Kranjac wasnt included in either poll). Were talking about a statewide election for the highest office in our state, and I think we dont know the answer yet of what Republicans are thinking and what Republicans want, Koning said. Do they want someone whos going to completely align with the Trump administration on both fiscal and social policy, or will they want somebody who kind of differentiates themself? Spadea who, like Ciattarelli, has criticized Trump in the past, calling his first administration a failure told the New Jersey Monitor that the Republican Party has become a big tent now that the politics caught up with our principles. But Ciattarellis late-game shift shows hes an opportunist, Spadea said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its going to hurt him because it just shows hes a typical politician who will just say anything for a vote, Spadea said. And I think hes exposed himself because people arent buying it. Asked to respond, Ciattarelli said his job is to attract all Republicans, and he thinks Trump supporters will choose him over Spadea because theyre going to align themselves with the person who can win. When asked about Spadeas jabs at Ciattarellis slow support for Trump, Ciattarelli replied, Bills initials are B.S. for a reason. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX CHEYENNE The final bill waiting for consideration on Gov. Mark Gordons desk became law Friday after he let it pass without his signature. House Bill 156 makes several changes to the ways elections are carried out in Wyoming. It requires voters to be Wyoming residents for no less than 30 days before an election, requires proof of residency and U.S. citizenship to register to vote, and requires county clerks to deny registration if there is any indication that the person is not a United States citizen. Gordon said he agrees with allowing only U.S. citizens and Wyoming residents to vote in the state, but expressed several concerns with the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because I believe in adequate checks to ensure only qualified electors can vote, I am allowing this bill to become law despite the likelihood that it will invite litigation, Gordon said in a statement Friday. Gordon is concerned litigation may come from HB 156 clashing with the U.S. Constitution. He wrote in his statement that the acts residency requirement may interfere with its implementation. Federal statute provides that no citizen shall be subject to a residency requirement to vote in any election for president or vice president, which directly contradicts HB 156. The Wyoming Constitution also requires a minimum age of 21, something that the U.S. Constitution overrides in the 26th Amendment as the supreme law of the land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gordon said in his statement that whether federal or state statute will prevail in a legal contest is a question that will have to be resolved in court. The governor also took issue with the requirement for clerks to deny registration if there is any indication that the applicant is not an American citizen in their registration, calling this addition far-reaching. This standard may be difficult for clerks to administer, as it is unclear and perhaps awkward for our county clerks to consistently apply with any degree of certainty, Gordon wrote. He provided examples of how a bona fide resident and U.S. citizen may have well-worn, sun-bleached or wrinkled identification cards, particularly among elderly Wyomingites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No doubt, it is up to the voter to make sure all their papers are in order before they can vote, but still, I remain concerned that the vagueness of the language in this Act could lead clerks to either err on the side of over-enforcement or under-enforcement, Gordon wrote. Goshen County Clerk Mark Feagler told the WTE that it could be difficult to verify the truth of documents showing 30-day proof of residency. I believe firmly that people should be a U.S. citizen before they can vote, and that they should only be able to vote in one specific place, Feagler said. Its the administration of figuring out how to administer that and what will be done if somebody signs the oath (of 30-day residency) and its not true. Secretary of State Chuck Gray celebrated the passage of the bill into law, as it was one of his top priorities going into this years legislative session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Proof of citizenship and proof of residency for registering to vote are both so important. Only United States citizens, and only Wyomingites, should be voting in Wyoming elections. Period, Gray said in a statement. HB 156 makes Wyoming the first state in the nation to apply proof of citizenship for registering to vote for all elections. This was the first priority of Grays conservative election integrity reform agenda, which he published in December. The bill passed the Wyoming House of Representatives 51-8 on third reading, and the Wyoming Senate 26-4 on third reading. Because this legislation adheres to neither the original construction of our Constitution nor federal law in its durational requirement, I cannot sign it as such, Gordon wrote. Because I believe this Act although redundant offers some useful improvements, I am letting this bill pass into law without my signature. The act will not become effective until July 1, and it will first apply to the 2026 primary election. Feagler said this will give her and other Wyoming county clerks more time to work out the best ways to verify proof of residency. Following pushback over the announcement that a man who murdered three people would be released back into the community, Gov. Bob Ferguson reversed his parole decision. Timothy Pauley was convicted for killing three SeaTac tavern employees in 1980. Pauley, then 21, tortured five people at Barn Door Tavern in SeaTac during closing time, killing three of them with his accomplice. The pair used extension cords to tie up three women and two men who were cleaning up. They forced the women to undress and brought the men into a walk-in cooler, where Pauley executed them with a revolver. One of the women was later strangled by a cord used to tie her to a bar rail, the Associated Press reported. The other two women survived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was serving three life sentences for the robbery, rape, and murder of those three people. Despite the sentence, opportunities for parole have still come up for Pauley throughout the decades. In 2016, when there was a possibility for his parole, families of the victims and survivors told KIRO 7 that they were outraged and that they couldnt understand why a life sentence didnt actually mean life in prison. In 2022, the states Indeterminate Sentence Review Board unanimously found Pauley rehabilitated. It said he completed years of counseling for drug and alcohol abuse and for post-traumatic stress disorder for a workplace injury, he suffered before the killings and was okayed to be released. At the time, then-Gov. Jay Inslee said he did not believe Pauleys rehabilitation was complete because he did not apologize to the victims families and he distanced himself from his actions and the direct consequences of those actions... Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Inslee left office at the end of 2024, he walked back his decision to cancel parole. While the triple murders took place near the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Bonney Lake Mayor Terry Carter said he was made aware that if released, Pauley may be living in his community. I only became aware of this due to social media. Pauley is said to be released to live near Bonney Lake. As the Mayor, it is my duty to attempt to protect this community from harm, Carter said in a letter to Ferguson. My intent in writing this letter is not to spread fear but to ask for meaningful action that you, based on your elected position seem to be the only person who can stop this. Only the Governor has the power to cancel this parole. The letter continued: With your background, especially as the former Attorney General for the great State of Washington, Im sure you are aware of the negative effects this release could pose for the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On March 25, Ferguson reversed the release decision. Under Washington law, the governor has the authority to overturn a decision by the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board (ISRB) Since Governor Inslees cancellation of his parole in 2022, Mr. Pauley has done additional rehabilitative work, and has been articulate in expressing regret and remorse. One must question, however, whether this comes from a place of true remorse rather than self-interest in being paroled. Having considered the ISRB record, I am unconvinced that Mr. Pauley is truly rehabilitated and fit for release at this time. I respectfully disagree with the ISRB and former Governor Inslee and do not find that Mr. Pauleys rehabilitation is complete under RCW 9.95.100, Ferguson wrote in his decision. Accordingly, I hereby cancel the ISRBs decision to grant parole release to Mr. Pauley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The issue will be sent back to ISRB for further proceedings. I would just like to say thank you to Governor Ferguson for taking the time to investigate this issue and make the decision for the victims, victims families and Bonney Lake citizens. We are truly grateful for his quick action, Carter told KIRO 7 news in a statement on Thursday. Three weeks after U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turners death and just over a month before the states next uniform election, Gov. Greg Abbott has not yet called a special election to fill the seat representing parts of Houston, a Democratic stronghold, in Congress. Turner, who previously served in the Texas House for nearly three decades before becoming mayor of Houston, died March 5, two months into his first term representing Texas 18th Congressional District. His funeral was held in Houston on March 15. Turner was elected to Congress last year after his predecessor and political ally, former U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, died in office after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abbott has the sole authority to call a special election to fill Turner's seat for the rest of the two-year term. State law does not specify a deadline for the governor to order a special election. If called, the election must happen within two months of the announcement. But the Republican governor has little incentive to send another Democrat to Congress. Turners death in addition to the death this month of an Arizona Democrat, U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva comes at a critical moment for Republicans, who hold a razor-thin majority in the House and can afford few defections on any votes if all Democrats remain united in opposition. Congressional District 18 is a solidly blue district encompassing downtown Houston and several of the citys historic neighborhoods, including Third Ward and parts of The Heights and Acres Homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With Turners seat vacant, the House breaks down to 218 Republicans and 213 Democrats, allowing the GOP to lose two votes and still win a majority on the floor. The Republican margin would drop to one vote if the seat were filled, likely by another Democrat. Democrats blasted Abbott for not calling a special election, arguing that he was depriving Texans of representation in Congress. Abbott is leaving 800,000 Texans voiceless at a pivotal moment in our nation's history, state Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston and Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair, said in a statement. The people of Texas need the governor to start doing his job honor the memory of Sylvester Turner and give the good people of District 18 their constitutional representation back. U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic minority leader, highlighted the delay on Tuesday. "Why hasnt the Texas Governor called a special election to fill this vacant seat?" he wrote on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An announcement on a special election will be made at a later date, Abbott Press Secretary Andrew Mahaleris said in a statement last week that did not address whether House Republicans margin was factoring into the governors decision. The next scheduled election date in Texas is May 3. According to state election law and precedent, Abbott would have had to order the special election by March 18 for it to take place in May. The practical deadline to call a May 3 election may have also already passed, due to how much time the state needs to program voting machines and prepare and mail ballots. The Texas Secretary of States office did not respond to a question about how much time the state generally requires to carry out an election. Chad Dunn, a longtime Democratic Party lawyer, argued that there was plenty of time for the state to execute a special election on May 3 if Abbott ordered it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Texas law does not set a deadline for the governor to call a special election, Dunn added, the assumption of Texas laws is that the state doesnt want to be without representation in Congress. Historically, states were eager to ensure their entire delegation was present in Congress, Dunn said. Extreme partisanship in the broader political climate has changed that. Rather than pursue the interests of their state, he argued, some partisan governors are not moving expeditiously with replacement elections in these circumstances because they think that benefits their political party. In February 2021, after the death of U.S. Rep Ron Wright, R-Arlington, Abbott called a special election to fill Wrights seat on the third day after his burial, or just two weeks after his death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abbott called a special election to fill Jackson Lees seat just over a week after her funeral, and 17 days after her death. In those cases, however, there were several months before the next uniform election date. Abbott could also declare an emergency special election, which allows for an election to take place outside the May or November uniform election dates. He called for an emergency election on June 30, 2018 to replace former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, who resigned that April. Then, Abbott pointed to the recovery from Hurricane Harvey as justifying an emergency election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats in New York are also considering holding off on calling a special election as soon as U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Republican, leaves her seat to pursue her nomination to be US ambassador to the United Nations. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, ordered a special election to fill Grijalvas seat days after his death. Disclosure: Texas Secretary of State has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. We cant wait to welcome you to the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 1315 in downtown Austin. Step inside the conversations shaping the future of education, the economy, health care, energy, technology, public safety, culture, the arts and so much more. Hear from our CEO, Sonal Shah, on TribFest 2025. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase. 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. Recent Boston ICE arrests included many collaterals, Trumps border czar says 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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 the 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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 with 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 that 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) Governor Jeff Landry addressed the Rotary International Club of Shreveport and said the state of Louisianas future is in the peoples hands. The governor says the March 29th election will be pivotal in Louisianas history. You will look back and you will say that is the day that Louisiana got it right. That is the day where we entrusted our legislature and our Governor with the tools necessary to not only compete in a new industrial south, but to lead it. And that is the day that we get to focus on the greatest nature resource that this state has which is you, said Gov. Landry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He says the state is moving forward, with $50 billion worth of construction projects on the books by this summer. But Gov. Landry says voter support is needed to maintain this momentum. Louisiana Commissioner calls constitutional amendment #2 foolish If you really want us to work on things like insurance reform and infrastructure programs, and other things, then we need the bandwidth to be able to do that and a vote- having that amendment fail is going to really cause a lot of turmoil inside of our budget. What happens is we go back to the old same old same old under which the only where we can cut are education and healthcare and thats not fun, weve seen that play out, said the governor. He says major projects, like Metas AI data center coming to Northeast Louisiana will be an anchor in driving economic development from east to west. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the election rapidly approaching, the governor says insurance reform will be a main focus. Landry says the legislature will give the insurance commissioner the power to lower insurance rates. Explainer: What is the constitutional amendment 2? I mean we keep making changes that the insurance companies say save them money and I believe they do because when they report to Wall Street theyre making record profits. But yet none of that is being driven down to the policy holder. I mean those are the facts, said Landry. He says voting against the amendments, especially Amendment 2, will put interests at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cant give teachers a permanent pay raise, we cant give a double deduction to our seniors to keep them in Louisiana, we cant lower your income tax and ultimately get your income tax down to zero, we cant manage the financial affairs of this state, we cant put a limit on government spending, said Landry. Election day is March 29th. Louisianas get to see change happening in a positive direction from right now. These companies that have invested in Louisiana have hedged a bet that the people of Louisiana are smart enough to recognize that change, and well see on Saturday if they are, said Gov. Landry. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Idaho Gov. Brad Little, center, holds a signed copy of House Bill 304, a property tax cut bill, standing between Idaho House Speaker Mike Moyle, left, and Senate Pro Tempore Kelly Anthon, right. (Courtesy of Idaho governor's office) Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed into law a bill that cuts property taxes and bolsters school districts bond issues and levies. Joined by Idaho Republican legislative leaders at a livestreamed news conference in a Boise neighborhood on Wednesday, Little signed House Bill 304 into law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new law reduces Idahos state tax revenue by $100 million every year, shifting funds in two ways: It transfers $50 million to a state fund to reduce property taxes for Idaho homeowners. And it sends another $50 million to a state fund that helps pay off school districts bond issues and levies. Little called the bill a win-win, saying it builds on $4.6 billion in recent tax relief by the Legislature and Idahos historic public education investments. America wants what Idaho has: safe communities, strong schools, a bustling economy that offers tremendous opportunities for our people to prosper, Little said at the news conference. Im proud to join the dedicated leaders in the House and Senate for the signing of this important bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The average Idahoan homeowner should see property taxes reduced by 14.6%, said Sen. Scott Grow, R-Eagle, who co-chairs the Legislatures powerful budget committee. Senate President Pro Tempore Kelly Anthon, R-Rupert, said when he came to the Legislature, he told his constituents hed see if every bill he looked at is good for the Idaho family. And thats true for this bill, he said. Were seeing taxes cut historically this year in the Idaho Legislature, Anthon said. These are things that really impact peoples lives. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Idaho Legislature enacts $403 million in tax cuts, reducing the states general fund revenue The bill is the third major tax cut bill the Idaho Legislature passed this year, totalling $403 million in annual reductions to Idahos state revenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Bill 40 reduces the corporate and individual income tax rates from 5.695% to 5.3% and reduces state revenue by $253 million per year. When Little signed the bill, the governors office described the bill as the largest income tax cut in state history. House Bill 231 increases the grocery tax credit used to offset the sales tax Idahoans pay on food to $155 per year. To increase the grocery tax credit, House Bill 231 reduces state revenue by $50 million every year. Another new law this year, House Bill 93, provides a refundable tax credit for education expenses for families, including tuition at private, religious schools. That bill reduces revenue by $50 million bringing total revenue reductions from those four bills to $453 million. In February, Little told reporters he was concerned by the amount of revenue that will be reduced by the three major tax cuts and the education tax credit. In his State of the State address in January, Little called for $100 million in tax cuts. If I would have thought we could do $450 (million), I would have proposed $450 (million), Little said Feb. 25. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked on Wednesday if he had concerns there were too many tax cuts this legislative session, Little replied well see. And he referenced praise from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who visited Idaho earlier this week. He made the point that Florida is doing great. But the only state doing better than Florida is Idaho, Little said. And as long as we keep growing our gross domestic product. Well need to watch it. Well need to be vigilant. House Bill 304, the property tax cut bill, takes effect immediately through an emergency clause. The Idaho Legislature unanimously passed the bill in the House and Senate. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Paul Grewal, chief legal officer at crypto exchange Coinbase (COIN), criticized the U.S. Treasury's recent filing that seeks to moot the necessity of a final court judgment regarding Tornado Cash after having delisted the crypto mixer from the sanctions list. On Friday, the Treasury Department's sanctions watchdog removed Tornado Cash from its global blacklist while also removing over 100 ether (ETH) addresses from the Specially Designated Nationals list. The platform was backlisted in 2022 for its alleged role in laundering $445 million stolen by the North Korea-linked Lazarus cybercrime group. The Treasury then argued that the action of delisting Tornado Cash resolved the issue at hand and that a final court ruling ordering it to remove the crypto mixer from its sanctions list was no longer necessary, according to a court filing entered into the docket hours after the delisting. Grewal, however, said the Treasury's attempts to have the case declared moot is an attempt to sidestep a ruling from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that will leave the door open for a renewed blacklisting and sanctions. "After grudgingly delisting TC, they now claim they've mooted any need for a final court judgment. But that's not the law, and they know it," Grewal said on X. "Under the voluntary cessation exception, a defendant's decision to end a challenged practice moots a case only if the defendant can show that the practice cannot 'reasonably be expected to recur.'" Coinbase funded the court case that made its way to the appeals court, Van Loon vs. Treasury. Grewal cited the example of the FBI v. Fikre case, in which the government removed Yonas Fikre, a U.S. citizen and Sudanese emigree, from the No Fly List, and argued in court that this action rendered Fikre's lawsuit moot. Fikre had brought a lawsuit alleging that the government unlawfully placed him on the No Fly List. But, the Ninth Circuit reversed that decision saying that the party seeking to moot a case based on its own voluntary cessation of challenged conduct must show that the conduct cannot reasonably be expected to recur. In Tornado Cash's case, the Treasury hasn't provided any assurance that it won't re-sanction the crypto mixer. "Here, Treasury has likewise removed the Tornado Cash entities from the SDN, but has provided no assurance that it will not re-list Tornado Cash again. That's not good enough, and will make this clear to the district court," Grewal noted. UPDATE (March 24, 2025, 14:50 UTC): Adds link to court filing. Gov. Mike Kehoe speaks Wednesday before signing a bill that puts the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department under control of a state board. (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent) The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department will again be governed by a state board instead of local officials under a bill signed Wednesday by Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe. The change, reversing a statewide vote from 2012 that put the board under local control, is needed, supporters say, because of high crime rates in the states second largest city. Asked what would happen if crime does not decrease, Kehoe said no bill, on its own, will reduce crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You cant legislate lower crime, but what you can do is give law enforcement the tools it takes, he said. The bill restores the governing system that controlled the department from 1861 until the 2012 vote. With Kehoes signature, St. Louis joins Kansas City as the only major metropolitan police force in the country under control of a state board rather than local officials. The Board of Police Commissioners will have six members the mayor of St. Louis and five people appointed by the governor and subject to state Senate confirmation. The bill directs Kehoe to name an interim director of the department within 30 days and the five commissioners within 90 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill passed on party-line votes in the House and Senate, with Democrats opposing the move with arguments that it was racist because Black Democrats hold the major offices in St. Louis and unneeded because crime is decreasing. Critics point to statistics showing a drop in violent crime in St. Louis under local leadership. They say Kansas City has fared no better despite being under state control since the 1930s. State takeover is not based in reality, and only shows that Gov. Kehoe and the legislature are willing to throw out facts, reason, and the will of the people in order to give the safety of our city away to special interests, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones said in a news release. Crime continues to fall in St. Louis, Jones said, and targeted violence prevention programs have reduced homicides by more than half in 2024 compared to 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From the very beginning, this bill has been a sham, and the governors signature represents nothing but disrespect for every Missouri voter who supported local control, Jones said. Senate Democrats filibustered the bill, winning additions of provisions banning the shackling of pregnant prisoners, establishing a fund for exonerated prisoners to receive restitution from the state and limiting what jails and prisons can charge inmates for phone calls. Republicans also agreed to remove a provision that broadened the definition of rioting, a change Democrats feared would have wide ranging unintended consequences. The bill also requires Missouri law enforcement agencies to report the immigration status of suspected criminal offenders to the states Department of Public Safety. It also expands the definition of a dangerous felony crimes that require offenders to serve 85% of their sentence before parole - to include the offense of first degree child endangerment and adds having fentanyl in the presence of a minor to the list of actions that endanger a child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While legislative Republicans overwhelmingly supported reverting to state control of the St. Louis police, a recent poll suggests Missouri voters arent as enthusiastic for the move. And they would like it even less if state control was extended to their local law enforcement agency. The St. Louis University/YouGov poll, which surveyed 900 likely voters in late February, found that 47% of voters supported local control of St. Louis police, 39% preferred state control and 14% stated they were not sure. The results were similar when respondents were asked about Kansas City police, with 48% favoring local control. When asked whether state control should be extended to Springfield, the states third largest city, 55% said they preferred local control of police in that city. And when asked about state control of their local police department, only 22% said that was their preference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In our February poll, 53% of Missouri voters rated crime in their community as fair or poor, poll director Steven Rogers said in a news release. But it seems that voters want their local cities to handle these crime problems not the state. Other provisions in the bill were more popular. The poll showed 68% of voters support requiring law enforcement agencies to report criminal offenders citizenship status, while 87% said they support tougher felonies for possession of fentanyl in the presence of children. The promises and criticism of the bill magnify its potential for success and failure. State Rep. Brad Christ, a St. Louis County Republican, said the measure will reassure businesses and residents who have been leaving St. Louis that the city will get better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I truly believe its the beginning of the ascent of St Louis, and what it was and what it could become, Christ said. The bill is a power-grab that will not make the city safer, said Kristin Bowen, leader of the Missouri chapter of Moms Demand Action. Gov. Kehoes decision to strip St. Louis of its ability to control its own police force is a dangerous and shameless political stunt, driven by extremist Republican lawmakers hellbent on undermining communities they have no interest in protecting, Bowen said. This move is as cowardly as it is destructive. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) During Governor J.B.. Pritzkers budget address, he proposed a plan that would change the number of local governments. The proposal would consolidate smaller townships across the state. The idea didnt get much traction in the Capitol. Some Republicans supported the idea of the bill but argue that the language in the bill could have a negative impact on services the small communities rely on. Gov. Pritzkers idea was filed in both chambers by Rep. Joe Sosnowski (R-Machesney Park) and Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). The House bill aims to dissolve all townships with a population of 500 or less in the next two years. The Senate bill suggests similar changes, with also consolidating townships with populations of 5,000 or less to merge with surrounding townships or join the counties in which they are located. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Illinois law addresses law enforcement misconduct while investigating prostitution Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) said the merger would slow services and raise taxes. When you force people to do this, make no mistake about it, it will raise the property tax to the people I represent, Rose said. With the states high number of local governments, the bill aims to make it more efficient and cut costs on maintaining smaller governments. Any responsibilities townships had, such as cemeteries, road maintenance, general assistance like welfare and property assessment would be transferred to the counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Chris Balkema (R-Pontiac) said the bill could be improved by removing the words mandate and requirement. He filed his version of the bill which will allow people from both sides to petition and go through a referendum if they want to dissolve townships. We cant require things in large geographical sections of the state where few folks between townships and the counties are mandated to do things that are not going to fit them and survive. Balkema said. So lets put language out there that reduces some of the bureaucracy that exists today. Lets work together to do a grassroots up. Currently, Illinois leads as the state with the most units of government, with nearly 7,000 units as of two years ago. The idea behind the bill is to reduce the number and make sure local governments run efficiently. This proposal empowers Illinois taxpayers to reduce duplicate taxing bodies, increasing the efficiency of service provision to local communities and saving taxpayers money, a flyer from the Governors office advocating for the idea reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate bill was sent back to the assignment committee. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) After the U.S. Department of Agriculture terminated the Local Food Purchasing Assistance (LFPA) Program, Governor Josh Shapiro announced his administration will be appealing the decision. The LFPA provides funds to Pennsylvania farmers who supply local food banks with fresh produce, with the Commonwealth being one of the only states in the nation that uses the program to exclusively support in-state farmers. In response to the LFPA Program being terminated, Shapiro directed the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) Secretary Russell Redding to challenge the USDAs decision to cancel the Commonwealths $13 million contract. The USDAs termination of its contract with PDA, which was signed in December 2024, has left 14 food banks to face severe financial gaps. The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank serves 27 counties and sees more than 253,000 people each month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pennsylvania farmers do the noble work of putting food on our table and for the last three years, they have been paid to provide fresh, local food to food banks across our Commonwealth as part of a successful federal initiative, Governor Shapiro said. But earlier this month, we received notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that the Trump Administration had decided to cancel our agreement. As a result of this unlawful action, 189 Pennsylvania farms will lose a critical source of revenue and 14 food banks across the Commonwealth will lose access to local, fresh food. Ive directed Secretary Redding to immediately appeal the USDAs decision to unlawfully terminate this agreement and demand that the federal government honor their obligations under the agreement we signed just four months ago. Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. Shapiro noted that if the USDA does not reverse its decision, the state is prepared to pursue further legal action to safeguard vital revenue streams for farmers and ensure uninterrupted food access for residents. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents gather in Stillwater for a meeting Feb. 7. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY Gov. Kevin Stitt named a new appointment Wednesday to the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents, the governing board that oversees five colleges and universities, including Oklahoma State University. Tracy Poole, of Tulsa, would replace Regent Trudy Milner, who was appointed by former Gov. Mary Fallin. Milners term was set to expire April 4, but she resigned effective Feb. 6, an OSU spokesperson said. Her resignation came one day after the regents announced the resignation of former OSU president Kayse Shrum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Pooles appointment is confirmed by the Oklahoma Senate, Stitt will have appointed, or re-appointed, every current member of the governing board. Milner was the only regent remaining appointed by another governor. I am honored to be appointed by Governor Stitt to serve on the OSU A&M Board of Regents, Poole said in a statement. Oklahoma State University played a crucial role in shaping my career, and I look forward to giving back and contributing to its continued success by helping foster innovation, entrepreneurship and academic excellence. Poole is the founder and managing partner of FortySix Venture Capital, a Tulsa-based early-stage investment firm, and previously practiced law at McAfee & Taft. He is also an experienced energy professional who founded an upstream oil and gas producer and served as general counsel to a Chicago-based energy hedge fund, according to a press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A graduate of OSU, Poole serves as an advisory board member for the Riata Center for Entrepreneurship and the Spears College of Business School of Entrepreneurship at the university. Tracys business expertise and passion for entrepreneurship are going to make him a great addition to the Regents, Stitt said in a statement. As a first-generation college graduate, a successful venture capitalist, and active member of the Oklahoma State community, he understands how higher ed changes lives. He will serve our students and our institutions well. Sen. Jo Anna Dossett, D-Tulsa, will carry Pooles nomination in the Oklahoma Senate. The full chamber must confirm his nomination. Editors note: This story was updated to include the date of Trudy Milners resignation at 2:21 p.m. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The seal of the U.S. District Court of Colorado. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline) Lawyers for the federal government argued in a court filing this week that the petition challenging the detainment of immigration rights activist Jeanette Vizguerra should be heard in the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, not the district court where a hearing is scheduled for Friday. At the same time, they defended the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements ability to deport Vizguerra based on a 2013 removal order. ICE confirmed their intention to deport Vizguerra last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vizguerra was arrested during a break from her job at Target on March 17 and has been in ICE custody at an Aurora detention facility since. Her lawyer immediately filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in district court and the court of appeals. It was U.S. District Judge Nina Wang who ordered that ICE not deport Vizguerra before a hearing and while the court considers the legal arguments. Federal prosecutors, however, think the district court does not have jurisdiction over the case and it should instead be the purview of the appeals court, citing precedent from other immigration cases and the fact Vizguerras lawyer simultaneously filed the petition in the appeals court. The fact that Petitioner did file the (petition for further review) with the Tenth Circuit and the arguments she presents in that court reinforce the conclusion that the Tenth Circuit, and not this Court, should consider Petitioners challenge, they wrote in a court filing obtained Tuesday evening by Colorado Newsline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is not efficient or correct for two federal courts to adjudicate the same claims, they argued. Lawyers also wrote that the 2013 order of removal that Vizguerras arrest was based on is still valid. Her multiple stays of removal, the last of which expired in February 2024, relied on that order. In practice, the many years since the 2013 Reinstatement Order was entered, both Petitioner and ICE have acted on the understanding that an order of removal exists. Petitioner repeatedly sought and often received stays of removal pursuant to the 2013 Reinstatement Order, they wrote. Vizguerra, who came to the country from Mexico in 1997, was originally convicted in 2009 of having a fake Social Security number. An immigration court began her removal proceedings and offered her a voluntary departure in 2011, with the understanding that Vizguerra would leave the country within 60 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She filed an appeal to that order, but left the country to see her dying mother in 2012 while the appeal was pending, which the government said essentially constituted a withdrawal of the appeal. Vizguerra reentered the United States in 2013 and was detained between April and June before being released under an order of supervision. The previous removal order was then reinstated in July ahead of her first required check-in with the ICE office in Centennial. Her lawyer at the time chose not to submit a response to that reinstatement. Vizguerra has remained in the United States since then due to a series of approved stays of removal and by seeking sanctuary in two Denver churches, which made her a national figure on the issue. Her lawyers argued in their petition that the 2013 reinstated order ran afoul of proper process because ICE signed the order before alerting Vizguerra of its existence and her right to object to it before it became final. Additionally, they say, the 2011 grant of voluntary departure was not the same as a removal order and therefore could not be reinstated. The government disagrees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fact that the 2011 order of removal granted Petitioner the opportunity to voluntarily depart within 60 days in lieu of being removed did not negate its status as a removal order subject to reinstatement, they wrote. Vizguerras lawyer did not immediately return a request for comment. Her hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Friday. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has been busy. The governor has recently signed 20 bills into law, vetoed 12 and returned 4 without a signature. The governors goal is that these bills will help Kentuckians and improve communities across the state. Weve been laser focused on addressing the everyday needs of our Kentucky families and communities, and the 20 bills I signed do just that, says Beshear. Signed Kentucky bills Below are the 20 bills Governor Beshear has signed into law: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kentucky bills vetoed Below are the bills Governor Beshear vetoed: Bills returned without a signature Below are the bills that were returned without Governor Beshears signature: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Joint Resolution 15: Beshear aims to show respect to the 79 faith leaders who oppose the resolution. House Bill 241: Beshear says this contradicts the General Assemblys own actions and attitudes toward in-person and all-virtual learning. Senate Bill 136: Beshear says this is due to the General Assembly not providing any funding to support the bill, which would reportedly cost taxpayers $500,000. Senate Bill 201: Beshear says this is due to the requirement that administrative law judges be confirmed by the General Assembly before they can begin service. He says there is concern with not having enough administrative law judges and that members of the Senate may practice before these judges. One more veto day remains before the General Assembly reconvenes for the last two days of the 2025 regular session. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). EVERETT, Mass. (WWLP) The Healey administration has sworn in a new member to the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. The Executive Office of Education announced on Tuesday that Dr. Christina Grant was sworn in as a new board member, bringing with her years of experience in leadership roles in the education field. Dr. Grant serves as the Executive Director of the Center for Education Policy Research (CEPR) at Harvard University, where she leads researchers and policymakers in accelerating academics. Grant began her career as a public school teacher in Harlem and has worked her way up to serve in some of the largest school systems in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Healey questions border czars fixation on Massachusetts We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Christina Grant to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. Her leadership and deep commitment to evidence-based policy will be an invaluable asset as we continue to strengthen our education system and advance opportunities for all Massachusetts students. Throughout her distinguished career, she has taken on roles such as the Chief of Charter Schools and Innovation for the School District of Philadelphia and the State Superintendent of Education for the District of Columbia. As superintendent, Dr. Grant led the first revision of social studies standards in 20 years and directed an investment of $100 million toward post-pandemic academic recovery programs. Joining the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is a remarkable opportunity to contribute to a vision of transformative education for all students, Dr. Grant said. I am committed to leveraging my experience in evidence-based policy and systems leadership to ensure every student in the Commonwealth is equipped to succeed in our ever-evolving global landscape. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grant holds a bachelors degree from Hofstra University, a masters degree in organizational leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University, a masters degree in teaching and adolescent reading from Fordham University, and a doctorate in education with a focus on organizational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. 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. West Virginia Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed a bill into law that will ban food containing some artificial food dyes from being sold in the state starting on Jan. 1, 2028. (Leann Ray/West Virginia Watch) This story first appeared on West Virginia Watch. West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey, a Republican, 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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, the industry said. Del. Evan Worrell, R-Cabell, maintained that the food industry was using scare tactics to fight the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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. West Virginia Watch is part of States Newsroom, a national nonprofit news organization. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Gov. Larry Rhoden speaks to the media after taking the oath of office on Jan. 27, 2025, at the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre. (David Bordewyk/South Dakota NewsMedia Association) South Dakota Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden issued his second veto of the legislative session, rejecting a bill that would place new restrictions on citizen-initiated constitutional amendments. He also signed a large group of other election-related bills into law Tuesday, including a bill requiring labels on political deepfakes within 90 days of an election, and legislation limiting full-time travelers such as RVers to federal-only ballots when they vote in South Dakota elections. The vetoed legislation, House Bill 1169, would require constitutional amendment petitions to receive signatures from registered voters in each of the 35 state Senate districts. Groups would need signatures equal to 5% of the total votes cast for governor in each district during the last general election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That would be in addition to current requirements that petitions have a total number of signatures equal to at least 10% of the votes cast statewide for governor in the last general election. Current law says those signatures can be from anywhere in the state. Voter advocacy groups raised alarms last week, urging the governor to veto the bill and pledging to petition it to the ballot if he signed it. The Voter Defense Association of South Dakota praised the governors veto in a press release Tuesday and urged lawmakers to sustain it. House Bill 1169 was a deeply flawed bill that would have severely and unjustly restricted the initiated amendment process in South Dakota, the release said. Bills affecting voters and elections Read more about election-related bills considered and adopted during the legislative session on South Dakota Searchlights 2025 Election Legislation page. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a letter to lawmakers, Rhoden said the 35-district requirement risks creating a system where dark money out-of-state groups with more financial resources are the only entities that could effectively undertake a statewide petition drive. He added that the bills requirements might not be upheld in state or federal court. A federal court could determine the bill imposes an illegally severe burden on political speech, he wrote, and he questioned whether the baseline level of petition signatures required in the state constitution can be modified by a statute. I swore an oath to support both the South Dakota and the United States Constitutions and I am concerned about this bill in both regards, Rhoden wrote. Lawmakers could override Rhodens action with a two-thirds vote of each chamber when they gather on Monday to consider his vetoes. The bill had more than two-thirds support from the House when it passed, but had less than two-thirds support in the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rhoden vetoed another bill earlier this session, which would have offered more child care tuition assistance to child care workers. The Legislature considered that veto earlier this month and failed to override it. Election bills signed Gov. Larry Rhoden approved 20 other election-related bills Tuesday: Illustration: Justin Sullivan (Getty Images) Leading cryptocurrencies gained, with some of the biggest crypto stocks following suit as the broader market rose on Monday after reports that the Trump administration may narrow the scope of its impending April 2 tariffs. Bitcoin was up 2.7% to $88,418.31, Ether was up about 4.2% to $2,088.88, and Ripples XRP was up more than 1.1% to $2.47 as of around 11:15 a.m. New York time. Cryptocurrencies are experiencing a strong day, with Bitcoin showing positive performance, Nansen analyst Nicolai Sndergaard told Quartz. Given the correlation between token performance and the valuation of crypto-related companies, this has led to gains in stocks such as MicroStrategy, Coinbase, and Robinhood. Deutsche Bank (DB) Research analyst Marion Laboure told CNBC Monday that cryptos hot-and-cold 2025 is partly linked to unknowns around the Trump administrations planned reserve. Theres also a lot of momentum these days regarding the tokenization of finance. Bernstein analysts said they anticipate growing ties between crypto and traditional finance. We see a world where crypto exchanges will offer spot crypto, crypto derivatives, and tokenized equities, while broker platforms will also scale up their crypto services, they wrote. Heres a closer look at how some of the top crypto company stocks are faring: Coinbase Coinbase (COIN) rose 5% to more than $200 per share. Earlier in March, Rosenblatt analyst Chris Brendler called Coinbase the clear blue chip in crypto, citing its non-trading revenue growth and saying the stock will prove more resilient in the next Crypto Winter. Still, the stock remains down about 22% year-to-date. MicroStrategy MicroStrategy (MSTR) shot up 7.3% after it snapped up about half a billion dollars of Bitcoin, pushing its total supply beyond 500,000 BTC. Robinhood Robinhood (HOOD) climbed 9.6%, recouping some of its recent losses. A week ago, the company debuted a prediction markets product within its app. Hut 8 Hut 8 (HUT) stock rose more than 7.3%. Earlier this month, the crypto mining firm said it secured 592 acres in Louisiana for a new $2.5 billion, 300MW data center. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Mar. 26GRAND FORKS Just over halfway through the legislative session, many of Grand Forks Public Schools' policy goals are on ice. Forty-eight days into the 2025 legislative session, few of the proposals administrators and School Board members hoped for and floated to state lawmakers seem likely to become law. Bills increasing overall state funding or support for specific programs have been cut back or died on the floor, while legislation directing state dollars to private schools has trucked forward despite widespread opposition from public schools and teachers unions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Even if bills showed strong support in the first half, this is the part where the rubber hits the road," district Business Manager Brandon Baumbach said. "I take the position of patience and doing the work." School funding bills appear largely set to fall short of the district's hopes. Superintendent Terry Brenner in December floated a 4% increase in state aid to schools for the 2025-26 school year. House Bill 1013, which passed the House 72-17 last month, only allocates a 2% increase for next year, with another 2% for 2026-27. A competing funding bill, HB 1369, at one point included funding formula increases for English learners and special education students a cost the district has increasingly shouldered in recent years but saw that provision stripped out in the version passed by the House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bills offering free school meals for all students died in the House, and funding to cover cost overruns for the Grand Forks Career Impact Academy and other career and technical education centers across the state didn't make the Senate bill funding the Department of Career and Technical Education. Meanwhile, two bills that would create educational savings accounts for North Dakota students continue to work their way through the House and Senate. District officials oppose any kind of school choice legislation, though Brenner acknowledged last year that some form of school choice was likely to pass. At last week's Government Affairs Committee meeting, board member Jay Kleven floated the prospect of backing one bill over the other as a "pragmatic" compromise measure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baumbach said Friday he's hopeful a lackluster revenue forecast earlier this month could tank school choice for another two years. "Even if they want to establish educational savings accounts if it's a priority of this Legislature that might remain a priority, but with the budget forecast, it may say, 'things are getting too expensive, maybe we won't do that this time,"" Baumbach said. Grand Forks has racked up at least one win. On Monday, Gov. Kelly Armstrong signed Senate Bill 2149, which will allow school districts located on Air Force bases like Grand Forks Air Force Base's Nathan Twining Elementary and Middle School to access low-interest loans from the Bank of North Dakota reserved for public schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That will help the district bankroll its 20% share of the new school set to be built on the base. A student transportation funding bill that cleared the House, HB 1214, includes specific funding for transit to and from career and technical education centers. "I'm happy they're considering it," Baumbach said. "Making sure all kid have access to the Career Impact Academy is a priority." Another bill, HB 1381, would reduce how much state aid is deducted from Grand Forks and other school districts' state payments based on their local revenues, potentially increasing overall spending for schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the government affairs committee was established in part to lobby lawmakers and has changed its regular meeting date and time three times to accommodate them Grand Forks legislators have been largely absent from committee meetings since the session began. Only one lawmaker, Rep. Mark Sanford, called into a Feb. 20 committee meeting, for 11 minutes. Baumbach and committee and School Board member Josh Anderson separately defended lawmakers' absenteeism, pointing to state legislators' busy and often hectic schedules. Anderson further said lawmakers remain accessible to the committee via email and other forms of communication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to his weekly schedule, Brenner met with lawmakers as part of a weekend meeting of Team Grand Forks earlier this month. He did not respond to a Herald query asking if he could share details from that meeting. Though the House and Senate must sign off on the same version of a bill before it becomes law, bills that have advanced from one chamber to the next are not necessarily final. If lawmakers vote to amend a bill received from another chamber, House and Senate members must meet to work out a compromise bill that can then be voted on. Asked for his feelings at this point in the session, Anderson deferred judgment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't know if I can directly say how we feel right now at this point, because we're really just past crossover (in the Legislature)," he said. "There's a lot of things that could still happen and come out of this." Aimee Copas, executive director of the North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders, made a similar observation to the Herald on Monday. This session got "mixed reviews" for public school support, she said, but most of the K-12 bills in the Legislature had not yet been signed into law. "Much of the priorities really come down to the final days and how the big K-12 funding bills shake out and how the final policy bills pass or die," she wrote in an email to the Herald. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The 112th anniversary of the peak of the greatest natural disaster in Ohios history will be Wednesday, March 26. The Great Dayton Flood caused over 360 deaths, displaced 65,000 people and left a trail of a devastating $100 million (approximately $2.3 billion today) in damage. Over 1,400 horses and 2,000 domestic animals died in the flood. It took over a year to rebuild and over a decade for Dayton to recover economically from the flood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To this day, the Miami Conservancy District works diligently to prevent another flood of this magnitude in the Miami Valley. So what happened in the Great Dayton Flood? It began on Friday, March 21, 1913, with a typical March storm with heavy winds. Stratacache Tower damaged after winds cause partial collapse of adjacent building The next day, Saturday, March 22, was sunny until a second storm hit, dropping Dayton to a freezing 25 degrees. This caused dirt and mud to freeze, only slowly thawing in the afternoon. On Sunday, March 23, which happened to be Easter Sunday, a third storm rocked most of the Miami Valley. This storm filled the Great Miami River with run-off and soaked the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Great Miami reached its high stage for the year at 11.6 feet on March 24, due to over 10 inches of rainfall. At midnight on Tuesday, March 25, the Dayton Police Department was warned the Herman Street levee was weakening. The DPD sat off alarms and sirens to warn the public. At approximately 5:30 a.m., city engineer Gaylord Cummin said the surface water in the levees was following at an astonishing 100,000 cubic feet per second. By 6 a.m. the levees burst over into the streets. At roughly 8 a.m., levees near downtown burst, causing more flooding. On Wednesday, March 26, the situation became dire. By 1:30 a.m., the flooding waters reached a peak of 20 feet in downtown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A major gas explosion happened downtown by Wilkinson and Fifth Street. The Dayton Fire Department could not reach the area due to the flood and the entire city block burned. These open gas lines caused multiple fires through Dayton, all in unreachable areas. The rescue efforts The Ohio National Guard was deployed to help but could not reach Dayton for days because of the flood spreading beyond the Miami Valley. Thousands of people camped in tents for survival. President Woodrow Wilson sent messages to the governors of Ohio and Indiana, asking them what they needed. Per request, he sent emergency tents, desperately needed food rations and medics. The NCR factory on Stewart Street was made into an emergency shelter and hospital for everyone. John H. Patterson and his employees worked tirelessly, building over 300 rescue boats and saving the lives of thousands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patterson ensured local reporters and photographers were able to continue their critical work. Feeding, housing and giving them access to any equipment they needed. Because the flood destroyed the Dayton Daily News printing press, he allowed them to use NCRs own press. This ensured the critical line of communication between Dayton and AP newswires. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet in Jerusalem on Sunday, two Greek sources told Reuters on Wednesday. The agenda of the talks was expected to be extensive, one of the sources said. The two leaders last met in Israel in 2023. Greece condemned the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas but has called for an end to the war in Gaza, and respect for ceasefire agreements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It says the unhindered and continuous flow of humanitarian aid to all parts of Gaza remains a priority while the displacement of Palestinians could lead to regional instability. Hospitals in Greece have also received children from Gaza in need of medical care. On Sunday the leaders were likely to discuss the war, foreign affairs and bilateral issues, including a project on a subsea power cable to link continental Europe to the East Mediterranean. Greek power grid operator IPTO is building the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) cable, which will link transmission networks of Europe to Cyprus. It will later stretch to Israel through the Mediterranean Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greece this month dismissed media reports that the project has stalled over financial and geopolitical concerns and reaffirmed its commitment to the planned link. (Reporting by Renee Maltezou; Editing by Toby Chopra) LEWISBURG, WV (WVNS) The Greenbrier Historical Society (GHS) announced the selection of a new executive director. WVSOMs ASPIRE counseling crew named Mental Health Care Hero According to a press release, Dara Vance, a resident of the Mountain State for a more than four years, was chosen for the position. Vance possesses multiple degrees in Fine Art, Educational Leadership, U.S. History, and recently gained her Ph.D. in U.S. History from the University of Kentucky. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vance came to the area through service as an AmeriCorps VISTA for the Meadow River Valley Association. She has collaborated with non-profit community organizations, including Gods Way Home, Robert C. Byrd Clinic, Greenbrier County Family Support Center, and the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, the release noted. Through her experience as an artist and historian, Vance expressed that the study and presentation of history should ask bug questions in small areas. She also expressed that the change from residing in Florida to residing in West Virginia felt similar to a homecoming. WVSOM gears up for their third annual C.A.S.E. camp Dara Vance, new Executive Director of the Greenbrier Historical Society (Photo courtesy of the Greenbrier Historical Society) Artists and historians ask questions in the same way. We want to understand more than facts. We want to understand the why and reveal unanticipated connections. From parents back to ancestors in the 1600s, my family has a long history in this country. I may have grown up in Florida, but I was raised on brown beans and corn bread. The beauty of the area and the drama of the landscape does not give a moment to miss Florida. I feel like I am finally among my people. Dara Vance | Executive Director, Greenbrier Historical Society We are very excited to have Dara joining us as our new Executive Director. Her extensive experience with non-profits in this area coupled with her management skills, creativity, and deep interest in history make her a natural for this job. Al Emch | President, Greenbrier Historical Society WVU Tech hosts regional math field day Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vances appointment coincides with exciting projects coming to fruition, such as the 1834 Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia Law Library and Study Building, Rhodas House-Enslaved Quarters, archaeology at the Barracks, and more. The Greenbrier Historical Society is an integral part of telling the stories that live in all our communities. I am honored to serve in the capacity to preserve the past while also teaching for a brighter future. Dara Vance | Executive Director, Greenbrier Historical Society For more information regarding the Greenbrier Historical Society, call 304-645-3398 or visit their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) slammed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) as a woman that has really no life experience. Greene levied the attack on Ocasio-Cortez, who has positioned herself as a leading voice for the Democratic Party as its voters grow more frustrated with the Trump administration, during an appearance Tuesday on The Eric Bolling Show. This is a woman, shes never been married, she has no children, shes never had a job other than working in a bar, and that was short term for what we understand, shes never run a business, Greene said. This is a woman that has really no life experience and has no life wisdom because shes never done any of those things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is why no one will take her serious as a presidential candidate, she added. Greene and Ocasio-Cortez have long traded insults in the House. The Georgia Republicans most recent comments come as the New York Democrat has joined Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on a speaking tour across the country and as her name has been floated as someone who could challenge Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) in his next primary. As a young progressive, Ocasio-Cortez has been looked to by many Democrats as someone who someday could lead. She was elected in 2018 and assumed office at the age of 29, making her the youngest woman to ever serve in Congress. Ocasio-Cortez has built a large online following of millennial and Generation Z fans, who have taken to her outspoken nature both in Congress and on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ocasio-Cortez is largely quiet about her personal life, but she got engaged to Riley Roberts in 2022. Greenes husband, with whom she has three children, filed for divorce in 2022. Before Greene ran for office, she and her husband owned a construction company. The Hill has reached out to Ocasio-Cortezs office for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Place names are more than just labels on a map. They influence how people learn about the world around them and perceive their place in it. Names can send messages and suggest what is and isnt valued in society. And the way that they are changed over time can signal cultural shifts. The United States is in the midst of a place-renaming moment. From the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, to the return of Forts Bragg and Benning and the newly re-renamed Mount McKinley in Alaskas Denali National Park, we are witnessing a consequential shift in the politics of place naming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This sudden rewriting of the nations map done to restore American greatness, according to President Donald Trumps executive order that made some of them official is part of a name game that recognizes place names as powerful brands and political tools. In our research on place naming, we explore how this name game is used to assert control over shared symbols and embed subtle and not-so-subtle messages in the landscape. As geography teachers and researchers, we also recognize the educational and emotional impact the name game can have on the public. Place names can have psychological effects Renaming a place is always an act of power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People in power have long used place naming to claim control over the identity of the place, bolster their reputations, retaliate against opponents and achieve political goals. These moves can have strong psychological effects, particularly when the name evokes something threatening. Changing a place name can fundamentally shift how people view, relate to or feel that they belong within that place. In Shenandoah County, Virginia, students at two schools originally named for Confederate generals have been on an emotional roller coaster of name changes in recent years. The schools were renamed Mountain View and Honey Run in 2020 amid the national uproar over the murder of George Floyd, a Black man killed by a police officer in Minneapolis. Four years later, the local school board reinstated the original Confederate names after conservatives took control of the board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One Black eighth grader at Mountain View High School now re-renamed Stonewall Jackson High School testified at a board meeting about how the planned change would affect her: I would have to represent a man that fought for my ancestors to be slaves. If this board decides to restore the names, I would not feel like I was valued and respected, she said. The board still approved the change, 5-1. Even outside of schools, place names operate as a hidden curriculum. They provide narratives to the public about how the community or nation sees itself as well as whose histories and perspectives it considers important or worthy of public attention. Place names affect how people perceive, experience and emotionally connect to their surroundings in both conscious and subconscious ways. Psychologists, sociologists and geographers have explored how this sense of place manifests itself into the psyche, creating either attachment or aversion to place, whether its a school, mountain or park. A tale of two forts Renaming places can rally a leaders supporters through rebranding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps orders to restore the names Fort Bragg and Fort Benning, both originally named for Confederate generals, illustrate this effect. The names were changed to Fort Liberty and Fort Moore in 2023 after Congress passed a law banning the use of Confederate names for federal installations. Veterans and other guests posed in 2023 next to a newly unveiled sign for Fort Moore, named for Lt. Gen. Harold Hal Moore, who served in Vietnam, and his wife, Julia Moore. In 2025, President Donald Trump reverted the name back to Fort Benning. Cheney Orr/AFP via Getty Images Trump made a campaign promise to his followers to bring back the name of Fort Bragg if reelected. To get around the federal ban, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth identified two unrelated decorated Army veterans with the same last names Bragg and Benning but without any Confederate connections, to honor instead. Call it a sleight of hand or a stroke of genius if youd like, this tactic allowed the Department of Defense to revive politically charged names without violating the law. A soldier walks beside a sign that was unveiled when Fort Liberty was rededicated as Fort Bragg during a ceremony on base on March 7, 2025. AP Photo/Chris Seward The restoration of the names Bragg and Benning may feel like a symbolic homecoming for those who resisted the original name change or have emotional ties to the names through their memories of living and serving on the base, rather than a connection to the specific namesakes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the names are still reminders of the military bases original association with defenders of slavery. The place-renaming game A wave of place-name changes during the Obama and Biden administrations focused on removing offensive or derogatory place names and recognizing Indigenous names. For example, Clingmans Dome, the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains, was renamed to Kuwohi in September 2024, shifting the name from a Confederate general to a Cherokee word meaning the mulberry place. Under the Trump administration, however, place-name changes are being advanced explicitly to push back against reform efforts, part of a broader assault on what Trump calls woke culture. The view from a lookout tower on Kuwohi, formerly known as Clingmans Dome, in the Great Smoky Mountains. National Park Service Read more: From Confederate general to Cherokee heritage: Why returning the name Kuwohi to the Great Smoky Mountains matters President Barack Obama changed Alaskas Mount McKinley to Denali in 2015 to acknowledge Indigenous heritage and a long-standing name for the mountain. Officials in Alaska had requested the name change to Denali years earlier and supported the name change in 2015. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, on his first day in office in January 2025, moved to rename Denali back to Mount McKinley, over the opposition of Republican politicians in Alaska. The state Legislature passed a resolution a few days later asking Trump to reconsider. Georgia Rep. Earl Buddy Carter made a recent legislative proposal to rename Greenland as Red, White, and Blueland in support of Trumps expansionist desire to purchase the island, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark. Danish officials and Greenlanders saw Carters absurd proposal as insulting and damaging to diplomatic relations. It is not the first time that place renaming has been used as a form of symbolic insult in international relations. Renaming the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America might have initially seemed improbable, but it is already reflected in common navigation apps. Google Maps displays the name Gulf of America instead of Gulf of Mexico in March 2025. Google INEGI Read more: Can Trump just order new names for Denali and the Gulf of Mexico? A geographer explains who decides what goes on the map A better way to choose place names When leaders rename a place in an abrupt, unilateral fashion often for ideological reasons they risk alienating communities that deeply connect with those names as a form of memory, identity and place attachment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A better alternative, in our view, would be to make renaming shared landscapes participatory, with opportunities for meaningful public involvement in the renaming process. This approach does not avoid name changes, but it suggests the changes should respond to the social and psychological needs of communities and the evolving cultural identity of places and not simply be used to score political points. Instead, encouraging public participation such as through landscape impact assessments and critical audits that take the needs of affected communities seriously can cultivate a sense of shared ownership in the decision that may give those names more staying power. The latest place renamings are already affecting the classroom experience. Students are not just memorizing new place labels, but they are also being asked to reevaluate the meaning of those places and their own relationship with the nation and the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As history has shown around the world, one of the major downsides of leaders imposing name changes is that the names can be easily replaced as soon as the next regime takes power. The result can be a never-ending name game. 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: Seth T. Kannarr, University of Tennessee; Derek H. Alderman, University of Tennessee, and Jordan Brasher, Macalester College Read more: The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) Four minors and their parents are suing Greenville County, as well as Greenville County Library Systems executive director and youth services manager over decisions to remove or restrict access to books by or about LGBTQ people. The lawsuit, filed with the assistance of the ACLU of South Carolina, asks a federal court to block county practices of removing or restricting access to books with LBGTQ themes or characters for readers under certain ages. By limiting access to those book or removing them entirely, the suit states the county has infringed on the minors first and fourteenth amendment rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Books are one of our greatest tools to learn about other peoples, the world around us, and more importantly to learn about ourselves through representation, said Greg Rogers, a Greenville County parent and plaintiff in the lawsuit, in a media release from the ACLU. All children and young adults should have equal access to these tools. Keeping even one child from accessing the representation they provide is a travesty for the equality of all children. In 2024, the Greenville County Library Board approved a policy which requires all books with themes or stories which show or discuss changing a persons gender to be moved to adult sections of the library. Previous Story: Greenville Co. libraries moving books about gender identity out of childrens section The lawsuit claims those practices are discriminatory and have resulted in award-winning books meant for children and young adult readers being inaccessible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By discriminatorily suppressing Plaintiffsaccess to these materials on the basis of Defendants animus towards gender transition and transgender people, Defendants have violatedand continue to violatePlaintiffs rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments, causing ongoing and irreparable harm, the lawsuit reads. 7NEWS has reached out to Greenville County Library System and they declined to comment. You can read the full lawsuit below. O.R.-v.-Greenville-Cnty-Complaint-FINAL Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Top Connecticut Democrats are calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to resign after the release of an unsecured chat with other top national security officials that revealed precise timeframes of a military attack on Houthi terrorists in Yemen. The release of the Signal chat has created a firestorm in Washington, D.C., and across the country as Democrats say that the sensitive information constituted classified details at the same time that President Donald Trump and his national security team said it was not classified. Secretary Hegseth needs to resign, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy tweeted on X, formerly known as Twitter. If there is zero accountability for this level of incompetence, if there are no repercussions when our top national security leaders are caught lying to the American public, our nations credibility is destroyed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even though the chat included the exact time of the strikes before the attack took place, multiple Trump administration officials said that there was no classified information in the chat. U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, also called for Hegseth to resign or be fired. Courtney works constantly on defense issues because his district includes the Electric Boat shipyard that builds nuclear submarines. Unlike some in Congress, Courtney is known for his efforts at bipartisanship and serious consideration before making political statements. President Trumps top national security officials committed a shocking breach of basic security protocol that put at risk our airmen, sailors, and their mission, Courtney said. Fortunately, the administrations blundering did not cause serious harm of American servicemembers. Following new reporting from The Atlantic, it is clear Secretary Hegseth shared sensitive operational details including sequencing, targets, and weapons in an unsecure group chat with a journalist that has no security clearance. Any member of the military, particularly in leadership, who shared this same information would be court martialed and discharged. Secretary Hegseth is not above the law. He needs to resign or be fired. On Wednesday, officials answered questions from the House Intelligence Committee regarding the attack on the Houthis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the hearing, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes of Greenwich said that the the Russians or the Chinese could have gotten that information because it was not on a secure channel. Himes, the committees ranking member, said it was by the awesome grace of God that no American military members were killed in the operation. U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee who voted against the confirmation of Hegseth, said on CNN: Its a level of arrogance and incompetence that frankly is terrifying. Hartford In Hartford, state Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff said top Republican legislators should join the Democrats in seeking Hegseths resignation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sharing classified information on unprotected channels is an unprecedented and illegal security breach that could have led to disaster for our armed forces and put our fighter pilots in grave danger, the senators said. In the wake of these sobering developments, with the full published texts available for any American to read, the Trump administration refuses to take accountability and apologize to our service members and their families. Instead, they continue to deny, deflect, and attack the media. They added, Republicans can no longer deny and deflect these national security issues; the lives of American service members depend on it. Silence is complicity and irresponsibility. But House Republican leader Vincent Candelora of North Branford blasted the Democrats, saying they should instead focus on the problems in Connecticut. Senators Looney and Duff cant even manage Connecticuts problems, many of which their own party created, yet theyre posturing on national defense as if they have any credibility, Candelora said. Meanwhile, Connecticut residents are wondering what the senators are going to do address the surging state employee health care costs Governor Lamont ignored in his budget proposal, which is now a couple of hundred million dollars out of balance. Instead of issuing yet another pointless political statement, they should focus on fixing the crises at home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The chat by Hegseth, released by The Atlantic, included the following details and times: 1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package) 1345: Trigger Based F-18 1st Strike Window Starts (Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME also, Strike Drones Launch (MQ-9s) 1410: More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package) 1415: Strike Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier Trigger Based targets) Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com This story was originally published on HR Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily HR Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Cutting Edge Supply, a construction supply company, will pay $150,000 to settle a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claim that it failed to provide a welder with a reasonable accommodation in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (EEOC v. Cutting Edge Supply), according to a Monday press release. According to the agency, the worker, who is diabetic, requested snack breaks throughout the day to regulate his blood sugar. Cutting Edge allegedly denied this accommodation and fired him when he complained. In addition to paying the worker $150,000, Cutting Edge Supply will review its existing ADA policies with an attorney, provide training in compliance with the ADA and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and maintain a set of strict record-keeping practices, according to the early February consent decree. Dive Insight: Under the ADA, employers with 15 or more employees are required to provide reasonable accommodations for workers who need them. A reasonable accommodation is any change or adjustment to a job or work environment that permits a qualified applicant or employee with a disability to participate in the job application process, to perform the essential functions of a job, or to enjoy benefits and privileges of employment equal to those enjoyed by employees without disabilities, according to an agency publication. This case serves as a good reminder that types of reasonable accommodations can vary widely and can include things like snack breaks. In a guidance specifically related to diabetes, which EEOC noted is experienced by more than 18 million U.S. adults, the agency explained that employees also may need a private space to test their blood sugar levels, a place to rest until their blood sugar levels stabilize and modified work schedules. While employers must do their due diligence to establish what qualifies as a reasonable accommodation, a Dykema attorney last fall outlined three things that likely are not: indefinite leave, a job with less stress and the creation of a role vacancy by moving another employee. Recommended Reading The filmmakers behind "No Other Land" say the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences failed this week to publicly step up and support co-director Hamdan Ballal when he "needed them most." Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham and Palestinian activist Basel Adra, who both co-directed and appeared in the documentary, criticized the film academy Wednesday for its silence on the recent attack against Ballal and his detainment by Israeli military and police in the occupied West Bank. Israel forces detained Ballal on Monday after he was attacked by settlers. He was released Tuesday. Just weeks ago he, Abraham, Adra and Israeli filmmaker Rachel Szor accepted the documentary prize for "No Other Land" at the 97th Academy Awards. Abraham tweeted a heated missive early Wednesday morning, writing that the academy "declined to publicly support Hamdan Ballal while he was beaten and tortured by Israeli soldiers and settlers." He said several members of the academy, which oversees the Oscars, pushed for a statement in support of Ballal, "but it was ultimately refused." Earlier this week, the European Film Academy and the International Documentary Assn. were among the film groups raising awareness of Ballal's detainment and calling for his release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We were told that because other Palestinians were beaten up in the settler attack, it could be considered unrelated to the film, so they felt no need to respond," Abraham said. Read more: 'No Other Land' co-director Hamdan Ballal, bloodied and bruised, released from Israeli custody Abraham wrote that his co-director heard Israeli soldiers "joking about the Oscar as they tortured him" and that Ballal "was also targeted for being Palestinian." Adra, retweeting Abraham's post, doubled down his collaborator's claim Wednesday. He tweeted: "They refused to support Hamdan just because he is Palestinian. Another sign that our lives dont matter." "This, it seems, gave the Academy an excuse to remain silent when a filmmaker they honored, living under Israeli occupation, needed them the most," Abraham said, before adding "it's not too late to change this stance." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He ended his tweet: "Even now, issuing a statement condemning the attack on Hamdan and the Masafer Yatta community would send a meaningful message and serve as a deterrent for the future." A representative for the academy did not immediately respond to The Times' request for comment. Israeli military and police detained Ballal on Monday evening after a group of settlers descended on the Palestinian village of Susiya in the Masafer Yatta area as its residents broke their daylong fast for Ramadan, according to the Associated Press. Ballal's wife Lamia Ballal told AP she heard her husband being beaten outside their home and heard him screaming, "I'm dying." She said she saw three men in uniform using the butts of their rifles and that the attention surrounding No Other Lands Oscar win led settlers to attack us more. Read more: In harrowing 'No Other Land,' journalists unite to chronicle a community under siege Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abraham and the activist group Center for Jewish Nonviolence announced Ballal's detainment Monday. Abraham tweeted Monday that soldiers invaded the ambulance [Ballal] called, and took him. Adra also tweeted about Ballals 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 at the time. On Monday, the Center for Jewish Nonviolence posted time-stamped, dashcam footage on Bluesky of the confrontation. The video showed someone shoving three people and punching one member of the group, and 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. Anna Lippman, a delegate for the activist group, shared video showing an alternate angle of the confrontation and tweeted photos of a vehicle with shards of glass in the passenger seats. She told The Times on Monday that Israeli soldiers took Ballal from the ambulance where he was receiving care, and also detained two other Palestinian men. Hours after news of Ballal's detainment spread Monday, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that the "violent confrontation" broke out after 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. According to the statement, IDF and Israel police responded to "disperse the confrontation" and the people it described as terrorists started hurling rocks their way. Israeli forces detained four people, including an Israeli person allegedly involved in the incident, and took them into custody for further questioning. The IDF spokesperson Monday denied the allegations that it detained someone from inside an ambulance. Israeli forces detained Ballal on suspicion of hurling rocks at IDF and police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ballal was released Tuesday from an Israeli police station with bruises on his face and blood on his clothes. He told AP he was blindfolded, forced to sleep under a "freezing" air conditioner and he "heard the voices of soldiers laughing about me." Read more: The co-directors of 'No Other Land' on Trump's Gaza plan, the Oscars and the fight ahead In a statement to The Times on Wednesday morning, the IDF spokesperson denied 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 Ballals claims about detainment. 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 Mondays confrontation and required medical attention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests are expected, the statement said. After Ballal's release, Abraham tweeted Tuesday that his co-director "is now free and about to go home to his family." Adra also shared photos of his co-director receiving medical care. The photos show Ballal on a medical exam table with two medical personnel around him, one wrapping a blood pressure monitor around the directors left arm. There are dark stains that look like blood on a sleeve and the front of his striped shirt. Ballal, in an interview with the Guardian published Wednesday, said, "It was a revenge for our movie." "No Other Land" captures Israels demolition of Palestinian villages in Masafer Yatta and displacement of its communities in favor of Israeli military training grounds. Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The bill would have made New Hampshire the first state in the nation to ban adhesive-based rodent traps. (Photo by Dave Cummings/New Hampshire Bulletin) The House voted to indefinitely postpone a bill that wouldve made New Hampshire the first state in the nation to ban adhesive-based rodent traps. Members voted, 190-140, to indefinitely postpone House Bill 152, which means the topic cant be raised again this year or next. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The motion was made by Rep. Judy Aron, the South Acworth Republican who chairs the House Environment and Agriculture Committee, which had recommended, 9-5, that the chamber kill the bill. She argued that glue traps were a nonpoisonous, effective tool used in food storage facilities and in places where there are children and senior citizens, and that banning them would be problematic and easy to circumvent. Meanwhile, those in favor of the bill argued that the traps resulted in slow, painful deaths for rodents and other creatures that they catch unintentionally. Rep. Nicholas Germana, a Keene Democrat, argued that the traps were a very primitive form of pest control, and that better options existed. He said the bill continuously came up because constituents want it. Last year, a similar measure was referred to interim study; a committee voted this fall not to recommend it for future legislation. By Akbar Novruz 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. A key finding from the report is drawn from the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which examined the effects of sustainable farming practices implemented under the REEL Cotton Programme on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The LCA revealed that by cutting down on chemical fertilisers, lowering water usage, and implementing new irrigation techniques, farmers could achieve a potential 35% reduction in CO2 equivalent emissions. REEL Cotton Programme's achievements for the year 2023-24 include A reduction of chemical pesticide usage by 21.4% A 17.5% cutback in chemical fertiliser application A 21.9% drop in water consumption. The company says that these practices not only safeguard environmental ecosystems but also enhance cotton farmers' incomes through lower input costs and increased crop yields. Reel regenerative CottonConnect has furthered its commitment to regenerative agriculture by establishing the REEL Regenerative Centre of Excellence across various markets in 2022-23 to test and assess the outcome of regenerative cotton farming. This initiative has successfully educated over 250,000 farmers in regenerative techniques, yielding significant environmental improvements in 2023-24. An example from India's REEL Regenerative programme showed a 41% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when compared to traditional farms. The organisation has reached a milestone by training more than 800,000 farmers to date. The Impact Report 2024 also marks the first inclusion of programme results from Turkiye, reflecting CottonConnect's recent expansion into this new region. Cottonconnects initiatives on womens empowerment goal For over ten years, CottonConnect has been championing gender and social equality through its Women in Cotton programme. This initiative has empowered over 270,000 women in 2023-24 alone, providing them with essential education in literacy, numeracy, and health and safety. The programme targets 500,000 participants by 2030. Through the Women Climate Change Ambassadors Programme, CottonConnect also trained over 1,200 women farmers in climate-resilient farming methods that maintain yield and profitability while reducing reliance on chemical fertilisers and pesticides. CottonConnect has already met its 2025 goal for complete traceability within the REEL Cotton supply chain ahead of schedule, showcasing its dedication to transparency and sustainable practices. As per the report, the cotton consultancy achieved the target by recording cotton transactions along the supply chain in its own TraceBale software tool. On first offense, someone caught with psilocybin could face a fine of up to $100 under the bill; on second offense that rises to $500, and for third-time offenders it could be up to $1,000. (Photo by Akchamczuk/Getty Images) The New Hampshire House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday that would reduce the penalties for people 21 and older caught with psilocybin, the psychedelic drug commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms. The House approved House Bill 528 during Wednesdays voting session as part of the consent agenda through a voice vote. If enacted, the bill would reduce the penalty for people 21 and older who obtain, purchase, transport, possess, or use psilocybin in New Hampshire from a felony to a simple violation with a small fine and no jail time. On first offense, someone caught with psilocybin could face a fine of up to $100 under this bill; on second offense that rises to $500, and for third-time offenders it could be up to $1,000. Second or third offenses would also rise from a violation to a misdemeanor under this bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The drug is currently illegal in New Hampshire under the Controlled Drug Act. Originally the bills proponents, including its sponsor Deerfield Republican Rep. Kevin Verville, called for psilocybin to be legalized entirely for people 21 and older. However, the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee ultimately amended the proposal to simply lessen the punishment. Earlier this month, the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted unanimously in favor of the bill. The legislation still must be approved by both the Senate and governor before it can become law. Not only is this not really a dangerous drug, but it also has medicinal benefits that people are unable to take advantage of currently because of its classification under the Controlled Drug Act, Rep. Alissandra Murray, a Manchester Democrat, said during the committees March 7 meeting. While entirely removing it might be too big a step for this Legislature to take right now, I think this is a good compromise to start with. In 2019, psilocybin was outlawed in all 50 U.S. states. However, Oregon became the first state to legalize the drug in 2020. Colorado also legalized it in 2022. It is still illegal in the remaining 48 states. Cannabis is another recreational drug that has seen even more growing acceptance as of late. Cannabis is now legal for medicinal purposes in 39 U.S. states and for recreational use in 24 after once being illegal across the entire country. In New Hampshire, it is still illegal for recreational use. However, it is decriminalized and legal for medicinal purposes. Verville has sponsored another bill, House Bill 75, that would legalize recreational cannabis. Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Democrat, speaks during Frank Bisignano's nomination to be the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on March 25, 2025. Credit - Saul LoebGetty Images Since President Donald Trump has returned to the White House, a core focus of his presidency has been to eliminate waste in the federal government, an effort spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under the watchful eye of Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Several departments and agencies have been subjected to major funding cuts and mass layoffs. Meanwhile, the Department of Education faces the potential of being dismantled entirely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, one agency that has been the subject of mixed messages from the Trump Administration is Social Securitya program which sends retirement and disability benefits to over 70 million people through the Social Security Administration (SSA). In the fiscal year of 2024, over 20% of the federal budget was spent on Social Security, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). From a messaging standpoint, Trump has maintained that he will not touch Social Securitywhile some cabinet members have cast doubt on whether or not those who receive Social Security benefits should be concerned. At the same time, reports of planned DOGE-driven cuts and office closures at the agency have led experts to wonder whether the SSA will have the staff required to ensure the checks are counted and delivered on time. On March 26, Democrats held a press briefing that addressed their concerns about planned Social Security cuts, Trumps new nominee to lead the SSA, and the security of citizens information through SSA. Their goal is clear: destroy Social Security from within. Make it so unworkable, so inefficient, that Donald Trump has the pretext to slash benefits to kill it and then privatize the program, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said at the conference. Seniors across America are not getting the help they need to get their checks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what you need to know about whats happening to Social Security under the Trump Administration. What has happened to Social Security since Trump returned to the Oval Office? DOGE plans to reportedly cut thousands of jobs at the SSA and close offices. Plus, there is also concern the introduction of new identification policies that require people to come to field offices or access information online instead of utilizing phone calls, something that could alienate older generations or people from rural communities. The Trump Administration has called for substantial layoffs for SSA employees, with leadership saying it will cut 7,000 of its 57,000 staff. On March 18, the SSA announced that they would be implementing stronger identity verification procedures, procedures that would end verification of identity over the phone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several advocacy groups, including AARP, formerly the American Association for Retired Persons, have come out to request that the SSA rethink these requirements. Requiring rural Americans to go into an office can mean having to take a day off of work and drive for hours merely to fill out paperwork, AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond said in a statement on March 19. We urge the agency to reverse this decision, or for Congress to step in and stand up for older Americans everywhere. Meanwhile, others have been concerned about DOGEs potential access to the sensitive information held by the SSA. In a ruling in Maryland, one judge ruled to block DOGE from having access to SSA data banks, granting a temporary restraining order. Judge Ellen Hollander determined that defendants, with so called experts on the DOGE team, never identified or articulated even a single reason for which the DOGE team needs unlimited access to SSAs entire record systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the filing, defendants claimed that 10 members of the DOGE team were working at SSA, and that seven of those had access to personally identifiable information contained in the SSA data systems. Read More: Cybersecurity Experts Are Sounding the Alarm on DOGE What has Trump and his cabinet members said about Social Security? The Trump Administration has made it clear they plan to not cut benefits from Social Security. In a fact check" posted to the White House website on March 11, Trump said that they will not cut the program. Still, the Administration said that they believe in cutting wasteful spending within said program. The Social Security Administration made an estimated $72 billion in improper payments between 2015 and 2022, the fact sheet stated. What kind of a person doesnt support eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in government spending that ultimately costs taxpayers more? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Musk has been critical of Social Security, notably calling it the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time, in an interview with podcaster Joe Rogan. The waste and fraud in entitlement spending is the big one to eliminate, Musk said elsewhere, in an interview with Fox Business Newly-instated Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has also received backlash over his comments about the program, stating that his mother-in-law wouldnt call and complain if Social Security missed a check. A fraudster always makes the loudest noise, he continued. The backlash for Lutnick has come from all sidesincluding his own party as former Republican National Committee (RNC) chair Michael Steele noted on MSNBC that while Lutnick is seemingly in a financial position that allows him to support his family, many families are not as fortunate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the problem when elites base policy on their own experience, says Teresa Ghilarducci, professor of economics at the New School for Social Research, pointing out that for millions of seniors, missing a Social Security check would be an emergency. Who is Trumps nominee to lead the Social Security Administration? Trumps nominee to be the SSA Commissioner is Frank Bisignano, the CEO of payment processing company Fiserv and a self-proclaimed DOGE person. Bisignano was grilled at his confirmation hearing on March 25, where he was asked about proposed changes and cuts by Musk and issues at the agency. Bisignano said he would be an accountable leader at SSA, and that he had no intent of benefit cuts occurring under his watch. Asked during the hearing whether Social Security should be privatized, Bisignano said Ive never heard a word of it, and Ive never thought about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, experts have expressed concern. Pamela Herd, professor of public policy at the University of Michigan, says she was not convinced that Bisignanos hearing showed he will keep the SSA out of chaos. He wouldn't, or didn't really seem to commit to maintaining staffing levels, says Herd. Instead, he talked about solutions, like using AI. He spent a lot of time and really emphasized that he wanted to focus on reducing payment errors. Ghilarducci says that when she first heard that Bisignano was nominated, she was optimistic about the idea of him leading. At the hearing, though, she says he sounded ideological. He respects DOGE, maybe because they are disrupters, and he is going to lift up their role in the Social Security system, which is about demeaning the system and then eroding it, and then building up to what they believe is minimally necessary, Ghilarducci says. There [could be] a lot of wreckage, human wreckage along the way. Should people be concerned about their Social Security? According to Herd, the short answer for whether or not people should be concerned about Social Security is a resounding yes. With significant staff cuts, she says it is less a question of whether or not any benefits will actually get cut, but whether the SSA will have the staff to actually deliver the benefits that the Congress has mandated that they deliver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People are waiting for hours to get through on the phone and then getting cut off before they can actually talk to a representative. The field offices, that honestly were already a bit overwhelmed [already], are now completely overwhelmed, she says. So there's a real disconnect between the statement, I'm not going to cut benefits, and in practice, what is going on in the agency. Herd states that while DOGE cuts are supposedly, according to Musk, about eliminating waste and fraud, the staffing and procedures that are being cut and changed at the SSA are needed to prevent fraud and abuse. You can't manage 20% of the federal budget on a shoestring. You need actual capacity in that agency, and they've made a series of choices in the last six weeks alone that have significantly undermined capacity of that agency, Herd says. People aren't going to be able to pay their bills if the agency can't deliver on the benefits of people with good promise. Ghilarducci says that in the past few years, Republicans have mostly stayed away from issues of Social Security. With these changes to the SSA and DOGEs focus on the agency, theyre testing the electorate, she claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If they wanted a subject to start a political uprising to the whole Republican agenda they found it, Ghilarducci says. They may have stepped on the land mine, because we're already seeing protests and distrust all over the country. Contact us at letters@time.com. A series of arrests at US borders is unsettling holidaymakers and foreigners living in America. There have now been several cases of people having been denied entry despite having full documentation, including visas and residency permits. In some cases, those affected were held in deportation centres for days or weeks. The accumulation of cases suggests that these are linked to a stricter line taken by border officials as part of US President Donald Trump's migration policy. During the election campaign, Trump had promised significantly stronger border protection and more deportations. On his first day, he signed an executive order stating that foreigners - whether in the country or entering it - should be vetted as much as possible. What travellers need to know Measured against the number of travellers entering the United States, the cases are still a small fraction. Nevertheless, Foreign Offices in London and Berlin have supplemented their travel advice for the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Previous convictions in the US, false information about the purpose of a stay or even a slight overstay when travelling can lead to arrest, detention and deportation upon entry or exit," the Berlin ministry's website has been stating since late March. The ministry also emphasised that so-called ESTA authorizations for visa-free travel and a US visa do not guarantee the holder entry to the United States. In fact, travellers have recently reported much harsher questioning at airports and border crossings. Language barriers can make conversations even more difficult. Accusations of Islamism and illegal work According to media reports, one German woman was held after border officials accused her of seeking to work illegally in the US, something she denied. Another foreigner misunderstood a question from the border official and therefore falsely stated that he lived in Las Vegas. Both were held in US detention centres for several weeks and have since returned home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rascha Alawieh, a Lebanese doctor and kidney expert from Brown University in Rhode Island on the US East Coast, was denied entry despite having a valid visa and was immediately deported. According to the authorities, evidence of sympathies for the Lebanese Hezbollah militia was found on her mobile phone. The deportation took place despite a court order and was met with criticism. But immigrants with valid residence status have also been affected. One particularly prominent case in the US is that of Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder with Palestinian roots and a graduate of New York's elite Columbia University. Khalil was a prominent player in pro-Palestinian demonstrations on the university's campus last year. The US authorities arrested him in Manhattan for allegedly supporting the Palestinian Islamist Hamas militia and want to deport him. The legal dispute continues. According to the New York Times, the detained people say they are being targeted because of their statements and not because they are breaking the law. The US government, on the other hand, explains that the arrests are about protecting US citizens. Criticism of Trump enough for denial? Another case is of a French scientist who was denied entry to the US. During a check, US border officials found private messages on his mobile phone in which he criticized the Trump administration's research policies, according to French media reports. These comments were cited as the reason for refusing him entry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin called this "simply wrong." She said the scientist had confidential information from a US research institution with him - "contrary to a non-disclosure agreement.", she wrote on the X platform. Report: Civil rights division nearly gutted Whether such incidents will continue to accumulate remains to be seen. It appears that the US government is weakening internal control mechanisms. The New York Times reported on Friday (March 21) that the government had dismissed almost the entire civil rights department in the Department of Homeland Security. This means that a central control body in US immigration policy has been dissolved. More than 100 employees were instructed to look for a new job within 60 days or face redundancy, the newspaper wrote, citing government sources. HARRISBURG, Pa (WHTM) Emotions have been high since the Harrisburg school district announced they were looking to replace Dr. Achampong also known as Dr. A as Principal of the SciTech campus. The amount of disrespect for a seasoned principal who has spent over 20 years in this district, has graduated from this district and has spent 13 years as a principal at SciTech a school that she helped found is astonishing and completely disrespectful to not only her, but to this family and everything that she has gone through, said Casaya Achampong, Dr. As youngest daughter after Tuesdays school board meeting. According to a statement from the school district, Dr. As principal certification had expired, and they had no choice but to let her go or theyd face fines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. A released a statement in response to the school districts a SciTech student read it aloud during public comment at the board meeting. I do accept responsibility for not being fully aware of where my certifications stood, the student read. However, the statements the Harrisburg school district put out are not completely accurate. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Morning Weather Forecast Even with all the backlash the board went ahead and approved demoting Dr. A. She made that school what it is today, said Dr. As sister, Laurie Stroble. Why are you going to demote her? What is behind all this? Like one time you wanted her to do both schools, and she has done, you know, even when she felt her at her worst, she was still rise up for the occasion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a letter Superintendent Dr. Benjamin Henry released Monday night Dr. A will remain in the school district, as an English teacher at John Harris high school, a role which she holds a valid, active certificate. Her family is not happy with this news especially as she continues to battle cancer. She was forced to take that position, as everyone knows shes battling stage three breast cancer, Casaya added. And one of the things that the school district provides for her is health insurance in order to keep her health insurance and to continue battling this very dangerous and very deadly disease, she had to take that position. Im going to continue to fight for my mom. Community members are continuing to fight for my mom. And Im going to continue to speak the truth no matter how much this district continues to speak lies. One school board member did thank Dr. A for her time and service as SciTechs principal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the board meeting abc27 did approach Superintendent Dr. Henry for comment but was told they arent saying more than what was said in their statement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. (WFRV) Hatco Corporation, a manufacturer of commercial foodservice equipment, celebrated its 75th anniversary by donating $75,000 to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. The donation was matched by the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers, bringing the total contribution to $150,000. Officials say the funds will provide nearly 600,000 meals to families in need across eastern Wisconsin. Ciao, Italia: Heritage Modern Supper Club at Legacy Hotel in Green Bay hosting Chefs Week Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is the states largest local hunger relief organization, working with farmers, retailers, and manufacturers to distribute food to pantries, meal programs, and shelters in 35 counties. On behalf of the employee owners of Hatco, we are honored to support Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin in their mission to fight hunger, said Hatco President and CEO Lorne Deacon. A milestone like this is more than just a celebration; it is about gratitude and giving back to the community in which we operate. Otters on the run: NEW Zoo & Adventure Park provides new video amid search for runaway otters Louie & Ophelia Hatco says its mission is to make enjoyable dining possible, starting with ensuring access to meals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Food insecurity remains a significant challenge for many. Knowing that our contribution will provide direct relief is incredibly humbling, Deacon added. We are proud to be a part of an industry that supports feeding communities, not just serving them. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. HONOLULU (KHON) A Hawaii anesthesiologist has been accused of attempting to kill his wife by pushing her off the trail they were hiking on and allegedly hitting her in the head with a rock multiple times. Gerhardt Konig, 46, was still in police custody as of Tuesday night, with attempted murder charges pending against him, according to police. Sources told Nexstars KHON that Konig, from Maui, was staying in a hotel in Waikiki on vacation with his wife. The couple was hiking the Pali Puka Trail on Monday also the womans birthday when the alleged incident happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Police arrest man who allegedly tried to murder wife while hiking According to Honolulu police, Konig allegedly tried to push his wife off the trail and allegedly bashed her head multiple times with a fist-sized rock. Police sources told KHON that the wife told investigators that Konig also tried to inject her with syringes, though it is currently unknown what was in them. The woman was, however, able to escape. A witness told KHON that two women helped scare off Konig and bring the woman off the trail. I saw three girls coming down from [the trail]. One of them was all bloodied up, said Robert, who didnt want to share his last name. I thought at first she fell down, but actually, I heard that her husband, somebody up there, had hit her on the head, bash her head. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robert said there were other good Samaritans who came to help the seriously injured woman. Because there were buses up there, there was a nurse on one of the buses and they bandaged her up and waited for the ambulance to come up, he said. Gee, I never thought something like that would happen here, you know. Bodycam footage from outside Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawas home released: Knew something was wrong The woman was last listed in critical condition at Queens Medical Center. Konig had disappeared by the time police arrived. He was arrested nearly eight hours later near Nuuanu Pali Drive, just before 7 p.m. after a brief foot chase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police are still working to determine what led to the attack. Konig was employed with Anesthesia Medical Group, a company contracted by Maui Health. No one from the medical group responded to KHONs request for comment. A statement from Maui Health said Konig had been suspended from the medical staff pending 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 Queen City News. Georgia lawmakers are considering a bill that would essentially equate abortion to murder at the time of conception. The room got so full for Wednesdays hearing over HB 441 that troopers had no choice but to clear it. Were going to get everybody to step out. Theres way too many people in here, the troopers told the crowd. While the mass of people stood outside the committee room door, inside, Gillsville Republican Emory Dunahoo presented his bill which would grant personhood to an embryo upon fertilization, and so, he says anyone who intentionally terminated that pregnancy could be guilty of murder. RELATED STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tens of thousands of babies made in the image of God continue to be murdered in our state every year, Dunahoo said. This bill simply ensures that the same laws that protect the lives of people after birth equally protects the lives of people before birth. Democrats peppered Dunahoo with questions about miscarriages, invitro fertilization and exceptions for rape and incest. So, theres no exception, tell me if Im right or wrong, for rape or incest in this bill, is that accurate? state Rep. Shea Roberts asked Dunahoo. Yes, Dunahoo said. The bill has no chance of passing or even getting a vote this session, especially since it would eliminate the GOP-backed bill protecting IVF in Georgia, but that didnt stop Democrats from demanding answers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, the answer to my question is yes, this would be a total ban? Tell me if Im wrong, state Rep. Darshun Kendrick asked Dunahoo. I pretty much would agree, I would say yes, sir, Dunahoo said. That IVF protection bill was one of House Speaker Jon Burns key pieces of legislation. The Senate is supposed to be taking it up Thursday. Lt. Gen. Dan "Razin" Caine will testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee next week as part of his bid to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to a committee schedule posted to Congress.gov on Wednesday. The hearing, set for Tuesday, will be a key step for Caine to convince any senators who may be skeptical of his loyalties and qualifications after President Donald Trump nominated him to replace the previous chairman, Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown, a Black man whom Trump fired without providing a reason but who drew the ire of conservatives for speaking positively about diversity in the military. Senators are almost certain to question Caine on the unusual circumstances of his nomination, whether he is committed to providing apolitical military advice, and the fact that he does not meet the statutory qualifications to be chairman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read Next: NATO Chief Says 4 US Soldiers Who Went Missing in Lithuania Died By law, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff must have previously served as vice chairman, chief of staff of one of the military branches, or commander of a combatant command -- none of which Caine ever did. But the law also allows the president to waive those requirements if he decides doing so "is necessary in the national interest." Caine is also retired, meaning he has to be brought back onto active duty in order to become chairman. Caine served his military career in the Air National Guard. One of his most prominent roles was being a deputy commander of a special operations task force fighting the ISIS terrorist group in 2018 and 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was during his work on the anti-ISIS campaign that Caine seems to have endeared himself to Trump. Trump has claimed that, as other military officers gave him cautious advice on how to defeat ISIS, Caine gave him a plan to defeat ISIS quickly. Trump has repeated the story multiple times and, through the years, added elements suggesting Caine is also a staunch political supporter. "'Yes, sir. I love you, sir. I think you're great, sir. I'll kill for you, sir,'" Trump claimed last year Caine once told him. "Then he puts on a Make America Great Again hat." Former Virginia Military Institute classmates of Caine's pushed back on the characterization of him as an ideologue in interviews with Military.com last month. But they also expressed concern about the circumstances of his nomination and the pressure he could face from Trump to be a loyalist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ethics experts have also raised concern that business interests Caine has developed since his retirement from the National Guard could present a conflict of interest. In particular, Caine is a member of an investment firm that is run by Joshua Kushner, the younger brother of Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and onetime adviser. Trump announced in February he would tap Caine to become chairman and officially sent his nomination to the Senate earlier this month. As his hearing approaches, Caine has been making the rounds on Capitol Hill to shore up support. Republicans he has met with have, expectedly, offered full support, while Democrats have not ruled out supporting his confirmation. Related: Joint Chiefs Nominee's Ties to Trump Family Raise Concern About Ethics, Influence Canada-based miner Dark Star Minerals has announced an amendment to its previously announced option agreement with Cronin Exploration for the acquisition of the Ghost Lake Property in Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada. The Ghost Lake Property, spanning 28,575ha in Labrador's central mineral belt, is surrounded by Atha Energy's properties. The property is located in a uranium-rich mineralisation area and shares structural trends with known uranium deposits including Paladin Energys Michelin uranium project and Labrador Uraniums Mustang Lake and Jacques Lake deposits. Under the terms of the agreement, Dark Star can acquire up to a 100% interest in the property. Dark Star has until the fourth anniversary of the non-binding letter of intent (LOI), dated 16 October 2024, to exercise the option. The company is required to make aggregate cash payments of C$275,000, issue a total of 10.15 million common shares and incur C$2.9m in exploration expenditures by specific dates leading up to the fourth anniversary of the LOI. The structuring of the cash payments involves C$100,000 by the second anniversary of the LOI, C$75,000 by the third anniversary and another C$100,000 by the fourth anniversary. The share issuances include 750,000 shares issued within five days of the LOI and 9.4 million shares to be issued following approval by the Canadian Securities Exchange. Dark Star president and CEO Marc Branson said: "With the amendment of the option agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Ghost Lake Property now complete, the company is eager to move forward with its commitments under the agreement and is looking forward to exploring the potential of the Ghost Lake Property." In November 2024, Auric Minerals signed an agreement to acquire Central Uranium Resources, which owns the Route 500 property in Newfoundland and Labrador. "Dark Star amends acquisition terms for uranium assets in Canada" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) Panama City Beach Police Chief J.R. Talamantez said they found two females suffering gunshot wounds who have been pronounced deceased, and there is no active threat to the community. Authorities said the primary suspect has fled the scene, and they have two persons of interest who they are currently talking to. Talamantez said this is not a spring break incident and the investigation is ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday doubled down on his assertion that he did not share classified plans to strike Houthi targets in a Signal group chat of Trump administration officials that was inadvertently shared with a journalist, who he claimed has never seen a war plan. In a combative post to the social platform X, Hegseth lambasted The Atlantics editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, for publishing the Signal group chat messages, in which the Pentagon chief relayed details about airstrikes in Yemen earlier this month that an initial article on the matter did not contain, including the specific timeline of the airstrikes and what weapons would be used. The Atlantic said it wanted to make public the texts so that readers could see them for themselves, given that Hegseth and other national security officials have accused Goldberg of lying about the content of the group chat in an attempt to discredit his reporting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No names. No targets. No locations. No units. No routes. No sources. No methods. And no classified information, Hegseth said in his post. The messages The Atlantic released do show specific information related to weapons used and the timing of attacks including the exact times American F-18 fighter aircraft and MQ-9 drones took off for Yemen before the March 15 airstrikes. This Signal message shows that the U.S. secretary of defense texted a group that included a phone number unknown to him Goldbergs cellphone at 11:44 a.m. This was 31 minutes before the first U.S. warplanes launched, and two hours and one minute before the beginning of a period in which a primary target, the Houthi Target Terrorist, was expected to be killed by these American aircraft, Goldberg and national security and intelligence reporter Shane Harris wrote. If this text had been received by someone hostile to American interests or someone merely indiscreet, and with access to social media the Houthis would have had time to prepare for what was meant to be a surprise attack on their strongholds. The consequences for American pilots could have been catastrophic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those are some really s-y war plans, Hegseth said in his post. This only proves one thing: Jeff Goldberg has never seen a war plan or an attack plan (as he now calls it). Not even close. Hegseths response follows arguments from other Trump administration officials, including White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who have latched on to The Atlantic labeling the Signal messages an attack plan in its latest headline rather than a war plan in its previous report. Goldberg, meanwhile, has called that argument semantics, and The Atlantic noted that the White House opposed its publishing of the information. Pentagon press secretary Sean Parnell also released a statement Wednesday in which he called The Atlantic reporters hoax-peddlers and said the additional Signal chat messages confirm there were no classified materials or war plans shared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parnell insisted Hegseths messages were merely updating the group on a plan that was underway and had already been briefed through official channels. The Trump administration in the past few days has pushed hard to downplay the significance of its top national security officials texting such sensitive information over the messaging app. President Trump, when asked about the new The Atlantic reporting during a radio interview, insisted there werent details in the released chat that compromised anything, repeating that it was really not a big deal. Vice President Vance said in a post to X that Goldberg oversold what he had. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And national security adviser Mike Waltz, who admitted Tuesday evening that he had mistakenly added Goldberg to the chat, said the published details included No locations. No sources & methods. NO WAR PLANS. That hasnt placated multiple lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who on Wednesday called for Hegseth to be fired or resign. Some in the GOP, meanwhile, have called for an investigation into the information breach, with Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) on Wednesday saying he believes the information detailing the attack plan against the Houthis should have been classified. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Pete Hegseth has unironically extolled the virtues of being good at ones job, in the midst of cleaning up a national security mess of his own making. The defense secretary, fresh from discussing airstrikes on Yemens Houthi rebels in a group chat that included a prominent journalist, was back on his usual script: blasting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies. Speaking at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii Tuesday, the under-fire defense chief fielded questions from reporters. / Department of Defense Speaking at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii Tuesday, the under-fire defense chief fielded questions from reporters, including one on how the Department of Defense would change under the Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOD will be merit-based and color-blind. You will be judged based on how good you are at your job. Full stop. Thats it, Hegseth said. Getting rid of DEI, getting rid of different standards was fundamental to getting back to basics. When I get a chance to talk to commanders here, thats what I emphasise, he went on. Standards at every level need to be adhered to. When you talk to soldiers, you talk to Marines, they get it. Theyve seen the standards slide under the previous administration. They watched, in many different ways, how it eroded.... quotas were being met, boxes had to be checked. Not anymore. The only box that gets checked in this Defense Department is lethality and your ability to do your job. Earlier in the day, at the same site, Hegseth continued to insist that nobody was texting war plans in the Signal group chat, which contained high-ranking national security officialsand the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goldberg revealed in a bombshell report Monday that he somehow got inadvertently added to the group chat, which was created to discuss the operational details of airstrikes which later killed 53 people. Goldbergs report insisted that Hegseth sent precise information about weapons packages, targets and timing. In response, the defense chief attacked Goldberg as a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again. He offered no evidence of any deceit. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stands by President Donald Trump during a meeting in the White House Oval Office in Washington, D.C., U.S. on March 21, 2025. / Carlos Barria / REUTERS National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has said he took full responsibility for the mess, saying he started the group and accidentally invited Goldberg. That doesnt mean Hegseth has escaped calls for his sacking, though. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, called Hegseth the most unqualified Secretary of Defense in American history and demanded he be sacked. His continued presence in the top position of leadership at the Pentagon threatens the nations security and puts our brave men and women in uniform throughout the world in danger, he wrote. Hegseth, who is even being sued for his national security faux pas, also faced questions about how fit he was for his last job, at Fox News. When he became Trumps pick for defense secretary, the former Fox & Friends Weekend co-host faced intense scrutiny after a number of reports detailed his past exploitsincluding allegations of sexual assault, lecherous behavior and binge-drinking during his time running veterans organizations. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended himself Tuesday amid controversy surrounding a Signal group in which he and other top Trump administration members discussed an attack on Yemen and mistakenly added a journalist to the chat. Nobodys texting war plans. I know exactly what Im doing, exactly what were directing, and Im really proud of what we accomplished, Hegseth said Tuesday while in Hawaii. Hegseths Tuesday comments mirror those from Monday, when he said no one was texting war plans, and thats all I have to say about that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Atlantic published a report Monday by its editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, in which he detailed his time in the Signal chat after being added to it. The report rattled Washington, and fears around national security rose in its wake. On Wednesday, The Atlantic published the messages in the Signal group chat that Goldberg inadvertently gained access to. The messages show Hegseth sending details about the Yemen attack, including the strikes specific timeline and the weapons used, ahead of it being carried out. Goldberg directly refuted Hegseths Monday comments in an interview that night with CNNs Kaitlan Collins. Thats a lie. He was texting war plans, Goldberg told Collins. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth said Tuesday that the strikes against the Houthis that night were devastatingly effective, and Im incredibly proud of the courage and skill of the troops. And they are ongoing and continue to be devastatingly effective, he added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. DOD PHOTO BY U.S. AIR FORCE SENIOR AIRMAN MADELYN KEECH Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visits the USS ARIZONA (BB-39 ) memorial at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, March 24, 2025. 1 /2 DOD PHOTO BY U.S. AIR FORCE SENIOR AIRMAN MADELYN KEECH Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visits the USS ARIZONA (BB-39 ) memorial at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, March 24, 2025. PETTY OFFICER 1ST CLASS JOSEPH ROLFE / U.S. NAVY Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth addressed Navy SEALS after a morning workout with them Tuesday at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2 /2 PETTY OFFICER 1ST CLASS JOSEPH ROLFE / U.S. NAVY Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth addressed Navy SEALS after a morning workout with them Tuesday at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. DOD PHOTO BY U.S. AIR FORCE SENIOR AIRMAN MADELYN KEECH Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visits the USS ARIZONA (BB-39 ) memorial at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, March 24, 2025. PETTY OFFICER 1ST CLASS JOSEPH ROLFE / U.S. NAVY Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth addressed Navy SEALS after a morning workout with them Tuesday at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth continued his tour of Hawaii on Tuesday, meeting with troops, touring bases and giving a speech in Waikiki in which he made overtures to American allies in the Pacific and called on them to help the U.S. confront China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our relationships and our teamwork form the foundation of achieving peace through strength, Hegseth said. President Donald Trump has made it clear that we will achieve peace through strength through an America first approach. But America first does not mean America only or America alone, ignoring allies and partners. It means that our military-to-military relationships must make sense for the United States and for our friends. Where there are imbalances, we will fix them. He added that pursuing that vision will require even greater attention to the partnerships that matter the most. And our alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific matter a great deal to the United States. They matter because the Indo-Pacific is the region of consequence. Hegseth, who arrived in Hawaii on Monday to meet with top U.S. commanders, delivered the remarks at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. His speech was broadcast to the centers alumni network, which includes senior military officers, diplomats and law enforcement professionals in countries around the Pacific and beyond. Hegseth told them, We will work with our allies and our partners to deter the Communist Chinese and their aggression in the Indo-Pacific, full stop, by standing shoulder to shoulder with you, our allies and partners. We will put our enemies, our adversaries, those who stand against us, on notice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His stop in Hawaii is part of the first leg of a Pacific tour that also will take him to Guam, Japan and the Philippines. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Pacific has long been considered the Pentagons top-priority theater of operations amid tensions with China and concerns about North Koreas nuclear missile program. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, it also has stepped up joint operations with the Chinese military and solidified ties with Pyongyang, forming what Adm. Samuel Pa parothe top American commander in the Pacificin February called a triangle of troublemakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paparo introduced Hegseth before he made the remarks at APCSS, describing him as handpicked by the president of the United States and ruthlessly focused on warrior ethos, on lethality, on defending the homeland. Hegseth praised Paparo as a fighting admiral. Hegseth has pledged to rebuild the U.S. military while simultaneously cutting costs. He has said he intends to cut down on bureaucracy to allow the military to more quickly acquire weapons and equipment. He also has pledged to eliminate most cultural and environmental programs, which he has derided as woke. Im here today because the president has given meand the American people gave himthe mandate to achieve peace through strength, Hegseth said. By restoring the warrior ethos, U.S. forces assigned to the Indo-Pacific will be the best trained and best equipped in the world. The Trump administration has said it intends to cut the militarys massive budget by 8 % each year, but Hegseth asked that U.S. Indo-Pacific Commandwhich is headquartered at Camp Smithbe exempt from the cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were going to rebuild our military by optimizing the Department of Defense and the U.S. defense industrial base, to rapidly and responsibly deliver the right tools to our war fighters in real time, he said. And we will also deliver those tools rapidly and responsibly to our allies and to our partners. There are many opportunities for our defense industries to collaborate, and Im going to press hard to expand capacity and accelerate deliveries. Countries around Asia have sought to arm their forces amid tensions with Chinaincluding those on Hegseths itinerary. The Chinese military has stepped up operations in the South China Sea, a critical waterway that more than a third of international trade moves through and that Beijing claims as its exclusive sovereign territory against the objections of its neighbors. In particular, Chinese forces have clashed with the Philippines, harassing fishermen and building bases on disputed reefs and islands. Japan has reported an increase in Chinese activity near a disputed island chain that Japan calls the Senkaku Islands and China calls the Diaoyu Islands, and the Chinese and Russian militaries have begun regular joint maneuvers around Japan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinese forces also have stepped up operations around Taiwan, a self-ruled island democracy that Beijing regards as a rouge province. Paparo has said these maneuvers arent exercises, but rehearsals of a blockade or all-out invasion of Taiwan. At a news conference Tuesday evening at Marine Corps Base Hawaiiwhich was restricted to media traveling with Hegseth and not made available to local mediaHegseth said, The campaigns were doing in and around the first island chain are not meant to be the precursor to an attack. Were here to deter. Were here to show strength with our allies, and that includes ensuring that in every possible way, American force is projected forward. As Hegseth addressed members of the national media in Kaneohe, several different groups of picketers gathered outside the Pacific Fleet headquarters. One was a groups of veterans calling for him to resign in the wake of controversy after Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffry Goldberg was apparently accidentally added to a group chat on the app Signal in which Hegseth allegedly discussed sensitive operations against Houthi militants in Yemen. Others were anti-military activists calling for the U.S. military to leave Hawaii. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another group was made up of members of the Red Hill Community Representation Initiative, an elected community board formed as part of a federal consent decree regarding the closure of the Navys Red Hill fuel facility. In 2021, fuel from the facility tainted the Navys Oahu water system, which serves 93, 000 people. The facility sits just 100 feet over the aquifer most of Oahu relies on for clean water. Members of the CRI said they were calling on Hegseth to ensure that the Navy keeps its promise to close Red Hill and clean up the area of pollution. Mai Hall, a military spouse and local woman born in Kalihi who was among the affected residents, said she hopes Hegseths plans to cut environmental and cultural programs dont extend to promised efforts to clean up Red Hill. Hall said that environment and health does play absolutely a huge role in the readiness of the service members. You cant send people off to war if theyre sick. Tara Sutton, another affected resident who serves on the CRI, said that clean water makes strong soldiers. FSU Health will be built on this St. Joe Co.-owned parcel in Panama City Beach. (Photo via The St. Joe Co.) Florida State University has been given the green light by the state Board of Governors to issue $414 million in bonds to finance a new hospital in Panama City Beach as it brands its presence in Northwest Florida as FSU Health. The FSU Board of Trustees approved the proposal hours before the Board of Governors gave final approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Project planning and design have not been completed but BOG documents show that the project, including design, construction, and equipment for a five-floor, 340,000 square foot facility, are projected to total $328 million. The Panama City Beach hospital will initially open with 80 beds and four operating rooms to support orthopedic surgery, otolaryngology, gynecology, and general surgery. FSU Health in Panama Citys footprint will eventually be able to accommodate up to 600 beds. The hospital will be built on an undeveloped 18-acre parcel of land donated by The St. Joe Co. adjacent to a new urgent care facility that Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare built called TMH Physician Partners and Urgent Care facility. Documents show FSU intends to enter into a long-term lease and management agreement with TMH to manage day-to-day operations. TMH will make lease payments to FSU in an amount greater than or equal to the annual debt service of the bonds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The approval comes as FSU and TMH, which have been operating under a memo of understanding, are at odds over the future of a City of Tallahassee-owned hospital and whether it should be transitioned into an academic teaching institution as part of FSU or continue to be run by TMH, which has a long term-lease with the city to manage the facility. Offense taken Hospital administrator and Board of Governors member Alan Levine said he normally doesnt involve himself in local disputes but took offense at TMH CEO Mark OBryants comments to the local newspaper about the dispute. State University System Gov. Alan Levine speaks during a Board of Governors meeting in Orlando on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Screenshot via The Florida Channel) OBryant told the Tallahassee Democrat that TMH is community-based and that its board comprises local residents. By contrast, he said, FSU is governed by an appointed board whose members are not local. When asked whether FSU was trying to emulate the University of Florida, which operates its health care facilities in Gainesville and Jacksonville under the UF Health moniker, OBryant told the paper: Im not sure thats the model you want. They dont really focus as much on the local community over there because they have a different mission. Their mission is for more academic research. So if you think about the whole population, people should be concerned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Levine, who is chairman, president, and CEO of Ballad Health, said he takes great offense to that comment. Levine told the BOG he compared charity and Medicaid care between UF Health and TMH and discovered that UF has three times as many Medicaid patients as TMH, with a 15% caseload versus 5%, respectively. Additionally, UF Health offers a financial assistance policy to provide charity care to people who earn 200% or less of the federal poverty level. TMHs financial assistance policy is set at 150% of the FPL. I dont think its fair. If you were to go to Jacksonville or go to Gainesville and ask people whether or not our academic medical center cares about the local community and thats not what drives decisions they make, then you dont know much about academic medical centers, Levine said. He called OBryants comments uneducated and said, I do think something strong needs to be said to respond to that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Levine offered this unsolicited advice: FSU gets to decide who it partners are but I would strongly encourage their partner here in Tallahassee to rethink their position on that because its not true. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE After years of sitting empty, SCI Greensburg, the old state prison in Hempfield Township, will soon be coming down. Its probably best for the future to tear it down and put something more constructive in there, said Joseph Stefko, who lives nearby. Tearing that old prison down is now going to happen. Hempfield Township supervisors voted unanimously Monday to award a bid to Ritenour and Sons Construction Company and will spend $732,000 to get rid of asbestos and other hazardous materials and tear down the former medium security prison, which was built to hold 900 inmates. That money is coming from a state grant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SCI Greensburg has been closed since 2013 but has been used to film several movies and television shows, including Mindhunter and Mayor of Kingstown. The township bought the prison and the land two years ago with the hope of redeveloping the property after private investors were unsuccessful. We felt it was the right thing to do, but it wasnt without risk, said Bill Bretz, a Hempfield Township Supervisor. But now that were nearing the finish line, it certainly was a risk worth taking and were going to be rewarded with a 96-acre site in a prime location ready for business. Its too soon to determine what kind of business could take over that land. Bretz said that will be determined when the demolition is finished and through permitting processes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stefko, who has lived just steps from the old prison since it was built, welcomes the change. But hes worried about what it could bring. I think one of the big concerns around this area is the highway system here and the ability for truck traffic to negotiate these roads, Stefko told Channel 11s Andrew Havranek. Theyre not built for that sort of weight limit and for the flow of traffic, the number of cars that might be involved in anything they put back there. Bretz said the demolition work could be done within a year. Its a great day for the community to get this blighted property off the map and move forward with whatever exciting new development might spring forth from this, he said. Work could start on bringing the old prison down in the next 60 days. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A Nevada state senator is asking the Henderson City Council to pipe up about a $1.3 million neighborhood waterline problem. The request prompted questions of a muddling precedent. Will Bradley, special assistant to Republican State Sen. Carrie Buck, started the monthly Southern Hills Republican Womens Club meeting by presenting an 8 News Now story from Saturday on waterline problems at Renaissance Townhomes. I give you exhibit A on why we are ground zero for the state and maybe the nation on HOA issues, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Mar. 7, Renaissance Townhomes residents received an urgent community vote notice indicating that 73 of their lateral water lines needed replacement. A special assessment showed the total cost would be $1,367,1680, which equals a $16,879 charge per home. The issues at Renaissance Townhomes follow similar issues at Somerset Park, which the city stepped in to help but not for free. A city spokesperson previously confirmed staff were aware of the issue and pointed out the city is limited in their response. Bradley ended his speech by reading a statement from Bucklooking directly at the four members of the Henderson City Council. [Buck] feels a precedence has been set with Henderson getting involved with Somerset, Bradley said. And she asks that the city of Henderson does what they can to help the poor people of Renaissance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the meeting, Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero responded to the claim on if a precedent for the citys involvement was established. I dont believe it has, Romero said. That was a very specific situation where we had life safety issues. We literally had cars caving into the pavement. The structures were at risk. There were risks of the water being contaminated. The ask from Buck follows her introducing of three bills in the Nevada State Legislature regarding HOAs, one bill allowing residents to take their HOA to small claims court. Her bills do address issues that are greatly needed attention to right now, they address the lack of oversight for homeowners associations, Romero said. They address homeowners inabilities to go after their homeowners association if they have mismanaged funds and things like that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Romero added Henderson also has a bill introduced in the legislature which enhances the citys ability to help and empower residents. Our bill helps on the front end a little bit so we can get ahead of an issue, she said. Right now, were completely in it, unable to do anything according to state law, unless its a life safety issue. Councilman Dan Stewart echoed Romeros points on the limitations of the citys involvement and indicated an interest in enabling the city to assist through Local Improvement Districts (LIDs). The local improvement district [sic], theyre used for building new construction, although the city cant use them for repairs or reconstruction, Stewart said. And were hoping to be able to be able to use LIDs, which are kind of special assessment districts, to go in and be able to help the citizens of and the residents of HOAs make the repairs and then be able to space payments out over a long period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the meeting no commitments were made by city officials, who did note the financial challenge the Renaissance Townhomes neighborhood is facing. I feel sorry for them, Stewart said. And hopefully we can find mechanisms to help them. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Cargotec Corporation CARGOTEC CORPORATION, STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE, 26 MARCH 2025 AT 3:30 PM (EET) Decisions taken at Cargotec's Annual General Meeting 2025 Cargotec Corporation's Annual General Meeting was held today 26 March 2025 in Helsinki, Finland. The Annual General Meeting approved that Article 1 of the Articles of Association is amended so that the companys new name is Hiab Oyj and Hiab Corporation in English. The Annual General Meeting approved a distribution of a dividend of EUR 1.19 per each class A share and a dividend of EUR 1.20 per each outstanding class B share be paid for the financial period ended 31 December 2024. The dividend shall be paid to a shareholder who on the record date of the dividend payment, 28 March 2025, is registered in the companys shareholder register maintained by Euroclear Finland Ltd. The dividend payment day will be 4 April 2025. The Annual General Meeting also authorised the Board of Directors to decide on an additional dividend in the amount of EUR 1.56 per each class A share and EUR 1.57 per each outstanding class B share. The payment of the additional dividend is subject to the closing of the sale of the MacGregor business to funds managed by Triton, as announced by the company on 14 November 2024. The Board of Directors intends to resolve on the additional dividend in its meeting scheduled for 29 September 2025. The company will separately publish resolutions of the Board of Directors on the dividend payment and confirm the record and payment dates in connection with such resolutions. The meeting adopted the financial statements and consolidated financial statements and approved the remuneration policy and the remuneration report 2024. The meeting granted discharge from liability to the members of the Board of Directors and to the CEO for the financial year 1 January31 December 2024. The number of the Board members was confirmed at eight (8). Eric Alstrom, Raija-Leena Hankonen-Nybom, Ilkka Herlin, Jukka Moisio, Tuija Pohjolainen-Hiltunen, Ritva Sotamaa and Luca Sra were re-elected as Board members. Casimir Lindholm was elected as a new Board member, whose term of office will commence as of 1 April 2025, in accordance with his wish. The yearly remuneration of the Board of Directors was confirmed as follows: EUR 160,000 to the Chair of the Board; EUR 95,000 to the Vice Chair of the Board; EUR 80,000 to each member of the Board; EUR 20,000 to the Chair of the Audit and Risk Management Committee; EUR 10,000 to each member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee; EUR 15,000 to the Chair of any other committee constituted by the Board, and EUR 5,000 to each member of any other committee constituted by the Board. 40 percent of the yearly remuneration will be paid in the company's class B shares and the rest in cash. The company will pay any costs and transfer tax related to the purchase of company shares. The members of the Board of Directors will be paid a meeting fee of EUR 3,000 per meeting for meetings held on a different continent from the members residence, a meeting fee of EUR 2,000 per meeting for meetings held in a different country from the members residence and EUR 1,000 per meeting for meetings held in the members country of residence or attended remotely. Expenses related to travel and accommodation as well as other costs directly related to board and committee work shall be reimbursed in accordance with company policy. MESA COUNTY, Colo. (KREX) Colorado Sen. John Hickenlooper is taking steps to re-employ national park workers who were fired this year. Hickenlooper along with lawmakers from four other states introduced two acts aiming to restore the jobs of fired National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service workers. Were all for rooting out real government waste and abuse, said Hickenlooper. The Trump administrations mass layoffs of public servants who care for our public lands and help prevent wildfires is not the way to do it. Colorado and our economy depend on the people who carry out this vital work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hickenlooper said the bills will ensure the safety and upkeep of public lands and rehire terminated employees to address staffing shortages. The bill would also protect funding for projects that started under the Great American Outdoors Act. Hickenlooper introduced the bill with Sens. Mark Kelly, Tina Smith, Ruben Gallego, Jeanne Shaheen and Chris Van Hollen. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com. COLUMBIA, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) An alcohol beverage made in Chester County was named the Coolest Thing Made in South Carolina in 2025. The South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance (SCMA) announced Wednesday that High Noon Sun Sips, manufactured by E&J Gallo at its Fort Lawn facility, landed the honors. The announcement was made during a press conference at the State House in Columbia following a month-long contest Manufacturing Madness: The Coolest Thing Made in SC that drew 220,969 votes from across the globe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coolest things made in NC have the coolest back stories High Noons are vodka- and tequila-based hard seltzer drinks made with flavors such as peach, tangerine, grapefruit and more. We are proud to have an opportunity to celebrate Gallos High Noon Sun Sips as the Coolest Thing Made in South Carolina, said Sara Hazzard, president and CEO of the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance. This award recognizes the innovation, vision and creativity of the entire team at Gallo, which has been committed to operational excellence, quality and community engagement. Their hard work is exactly why South Carolina continues to be a manufacturing leader worldwide. High Noons beat out finalists Boeings 787 Dreamliner (North Charleston), Sleep Numbers ClimateCool Smart Bed (Irmo), and MicroCore SpiderWeb Ribbon Fiber Optic Cable made by AFL (Duncan). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Henry McMaster, who announced the winner at the event, praised South Carolinas manufacturing industry as a cornerstone of the states success. Manufacturing drives opportunity for families and communities across our state, and we count on our manufacturing industrys workforce to help pave our path to lasting prosperity, said McMaster. We take great pride in what we make in South Carolina and our corporate citizens, like Gallo. We welcome every opportunity to celebrate the products made here that serve people across the country and around the world. (SC Manufacturers Alliance) Gallo opened its Fort Lawn facility in 2022 with a $423 million investment and now employs 350 people. The site produces 1,000 cans of High Noon per minute, offering 20 different flavors of vodka and tequila seltzers made with real fruit juice and sparkling water. In addition to its production success, Gallo has made community engagement a priority in Chester County and beyond. The facilitys team has donated appliances to local centers, supported childrens homes with repairs, and volunteered for events like food drives, health walks, and local festivals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previous winners include Nucor Steel Berkeleys Steel, Lockheed Martins F-16 Fighting Falcon, and Hondas Talon 1000R-4. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. (WGHP) The North Carolina House is now considering a bill that would provide money to help more people learn to read. 54% of adults in the United States read below a sixth-grade level. Nearly one in five adults reads below a third-grade level. Illiteracy is a national problem that touches communities in the Piedmont Triad. Its been an ongoing issue in High Point for decades. When most adults worked in furniture or textiles, they didnt have to be able to read well to do their jobs, but times have changed, and while House Bill 342 moves through the legislative process, the High Point Community Foundation is working hand-in-hand with Guilford County Schools to help the next generation of workers change too. About two years ago, one of my chairmen challenged me to come up with an initiative that could change our city. The entire city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After several months of research, Paul Lessard realized students in Guilford County Schools needed extra help today to be ready for tomorrow, and as President of the High Point Community Foundation, he could help make it happen through the Students First Initiative. Ultimately, what I realized was, if you take any of the social problems we have in High Point, and any economic problems, if you dig deep enough you will find that its education, and specifically literacy. Lessard says public schools do a wonderful job, but theyre never given enough money. He says itll take the business sector, the private sector, and the philanthropic sector to underwrite programs that help the schools produce future workers with literacy skills to be successful in high-tech jobs. What we realized early on is its not an issue of not knowing how to do it, it was an issue of manpower and money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through the Students First Initiative, the High Point Community Foundation is helping fund whats called high-dosage tutoring. The former Chief of Staff for Guilford County Schools, Jose Oliva, explains high-dosage tutoring happens with high frequency, so two to six hours per week, these are not tutors who tutor a group of students, this is either in a small setting, one to one, or one to two, and the tutors are trained with our core curriculum. Federal funds paid for the tutoring during the COVID pandemic, but that moneys running out. Now, the Students First Initiative will start by funding high-dosage tutoring at four High Point Elementary Schools with plans to expand. Lessard says, were going to draw a line in the sand and say no kid in High Point is going to get past third grade without reading at grade level. If we can do that successfully, imagine what the ripple effect will be. Lessard says the time and money invested in children today will create a stronger workforce in the years ahead and benefit everyone in High Point. When we talk about this being the right moral and ethical thing to do, its also the right economic development thing to do. We can either pay now or pay a lot more later. Last week, the High Point Community Foundation donated $400,000 to boost high-dosage tutoring. NC House Bill 342 would allocate $5 million dollars to support the program. It passed the first reading and has been referred to the Committee on Appropriations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths texts to a Signal group chat about military operations against the Houthis almost certainly contained classified information, according to current and former Pentagon officials. The Atlantic on Wednesdayreleased excerpts of a conversation among top national security leaders to which a journalist had accidentally been invited. Hegseth and the White House have deniedsharing classified information or war plans. This information was clearly taken from the real time order of battle sequence of an ongoing operation, said Mick Mulroy, a former deputy assistant defense secretary under the first Trump administration. It is highly classified and protected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth identified the aircraft used and the precise timing of the attacks in Yemen, according to texts from the group chat, which was started by national security adviser Mike Waltz. That information, if obtained by adversaries, could put U.S. troops in danger. A defense official and former Air Force official both said that any forecasting about future operations and weapons are almost always classified information. They were granted anonymity to speak about a sensitive issue. Details about airstrikes and the timing of launches are tightly controlled and usually only provided through classified documents, conversations, and in secure email traffic. Few outside of top leadership and those directly involved usually know about the plans. The information that you have fighter aircraft launching off of an aircraft carrier, flying over enemy territory and impending combat operation is the most sensitive information we have at the federal government, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), a former Navy pilot, said in an interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mike Waltz did a boneheaded thing; it was careless, he said. What Pete Hegseth did was reckless and dangerous." Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, in an emailed statement, emphasized the White House's stance that Hegseths texts were not war plans and insisted there were no classified materials shared. The administration, in a coordinated Wednesday messaging campaign, sought to distinguish war plans from attack plans, a nod to The Atlantics explosive Monday story about the chat, which said Hegseth shared war plans, and Wednesdays follow-up story that referred to them as attack plans. Either way, the bombing campaigns against the Houthis were both attacks and acts of war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wes Bryant, a retired U.S. Air Force master sergeant who led strike planning operations against the Islamic State in Iraq, said that kind of information would definitely have been classified even without the names or precise locations of the targets. Yes, inherently, always, he said. While the Houthis air defenses are not considered formidable, leaked chats would have given the militant group time to prepare, Bryant said. The U.S. would likely have needed to abort the operation. The Atlantics release of the texts spurred further calls from Democratic lawmakers for Hegseth to resign. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the House Foreign Affairs Committees ranking member, demanded the Defense secretary step down immediately. It is now undeniable that Secretary Hegseth not only shared classified U.S. war plans over Signal, but also lied about it to the American public, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No Republicans have yet called for Hegseths ouster. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Wednesday accused congressional Republicans of burying their heads in the sand amid a burgeoning national security scandal. "Pete Hegseth is the most unqualified person ever to lead the Department of Defense, Jeffries said on MSNBC. "We warned the Trump administration, and now the consequences are being felt." Mark Zaid, a lawyer who has represented current and former national security officials, said there was no doubt the information would have been considered highly classified ahead of the strikes. The inclusion of a journalist into the chat is unfortunately distracting from the larger, more important issue of senior government officials using non-secure communications apps for classified discussions, he said. What else exists beyond this chat? Amy Mackinnon contributed to this report. The main road to Yosemite National Park is scheduled to reopen Wednesday, just in time for the long holiday weekend, Caltrans officials announced. The two-mile stretch of Highway 140 closed after rain caused rocks to slide onto the road but will reopen about 4 p.m. under one-way traffic control, officials said. Unseasonably warm weather gave Caltrans and private contractors enough time to clear the road after recent storms in time for park visitors during the long Cesar Chavez holiday weekend. Brian Hooker, public informant officer for Caltrans, stated the importance of the road to the local economy during its busy early spring season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its one of the busiest weekends ... but it's important to support the local businesses," said Hooker. Though the road is opened, crews will have to intermittently pause drivers while they repave and make other repairs from the recent damage, Hooker said. About a two-mile stretch of the highway the main road to the park between Briceburg and El Portal was closed last week after wet weather caused rocks to fall onto the road in a narrow canyon. In the last few weeks, California has been hit with repeated storms that have dumped feet of snow in the mountains and created debris flows and rock slides on highways across the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Yosemite Valley recorded 7.38 inches of rain during the recent storms, while El Portal recorded 6.48 inches, according to the National Weather Service. Though the road is reopened, Caltrans recommends park visitors follow live updates on its QuickMap app. 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. This story was originally published on Manufacturing Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Manufacturing Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Deere & Co. last week filed an answer to the Federal Trade Commissions lawsuit alleging the tractor manufacturer holds a monopoly over its repair services, unfairly drives up costs and restricts farmers from fixing their equipment in a timely manner. Attorneys defended the John Deere maker in Illinois federal court, taking the original 37-page complaint apart piece by piece with answers for nearly every paragraph, repeatedly denying allegations that its business practices are unlawful. Deere representatives also sought dismissal of the FTCs lawsuit, which was filed in Jan. 15 with attorneys general from Illinois and Minnesota. Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin have since joined the suit. Dive Insight: The issue over equipment repair practices has been building for years, with technological advancements that companies say are designed to make consumers lives easier actually creating headaches for those looking to fix their cars, tractors or smartphones. As more proprietary technologies and software become embedded in equipment, manufacturers are placing more restrictions on where repairs can be made. In the case of Deere, the company has made it so only authorized dealers have the service tools to fully repair the onboard central computers on its tractors. While Deere offers a different repair tool to customers and independent repair shops, the FTC claims that version is inferior to the one available to authorized dealers, saying the tool is allegedly incapable of doing all repairs on Deere equipment. This has not only limited where farmers can go to fix their equipment, but is anticompetitive for independent repair shops and makes consumers susceptible to unfairly inflated costs, according to the complaint. In Deeres answer to the lawsuit, filed March 17, the company acknowledged the existence of both service tools, but denied that its business practices are unlawful or that it has violated any law. Attorneys admitted that it developed a proprietary service tool for its tractors, but denied that other options were functionally inferior. The company later admitted in the complaint response that its dealer tool has particular uses and characteristics that differentiate it from other electronic repair tools, including its customer tool, aptly named Customer Service Advisor. Mar. 25dbeard @dominionpost.com MORGANTOWN A bill to require the Division of Highways to contract for snow removal on secondary roads in Monongalia and Preston counties barely squeaked out of the House of Delegates on Tuesday. Across the Capitol in the Senate, a Holocaust education bill and a pharmacist prescription bill saw tweaks with amendments and will advance to third reading for passage on Wednesday. The roads bill is HB 2960, sponsored by three Mon and two Preston Republicans. It makes the observation, "Snow removal on the secondary roads in Monongalia County and Preston County has not been dependable, providing a hardship on the citizens of West Virginia." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It calls on the DOH to establish a two-year pilot program to put put requests for proposals to vendors to provide snow removal on Mon and Preston secondary roads. The DOH will identify the roads to be plowed, the bill says. No contracted vendor is granted any immunity ; and if a vendor provides substandard or unsatisfactory service, the DOH can terminate the contract with 30 days' notice. Finance chair Vernon Criss, R-Wood, objected to the bill, saying it creates an unfunded mandate by requiring the state to spend money without any federal funds available to bolster it. The DOH already has the power to contract for services, he said. "Why pick two counties and not the entire state in this bill ?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lead sponsor David McCormick said the plowing isn't getting done, and it's not unfunded the DOH already has the budget to do it. And it's just two counties because it's a pilot. "This program is small on purpose." McCormick said the Jan. 19 fatal accident on the Cheat Lake Bridge on I-68 prompted him to introduce the bill. Maryland has a similar program and it works. He cited one more reason for the bill: low DOH wages for CDL drivers in certain parts of the state. "In our district, they have a terrible manpower shortage. This solves that problem. The vote was 50-48 with two delegates absent. In the what-if world, two more votes against would have tied the tally and killed the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mon County's three Democrats voted for the bill, along with one Kanawha Democrat. The remaining five Democrats, including the one from Marion, voted no. The bill now goes to the Senate. Senate bills SB 54 is the Holocaust bill, lead-sponsored by Sen. Mike Oliverio, R-Monongalia. It's one long sentence: "All public schools located within this state shall give age-appropriate instruction on the Holocaust, the systematic, planned annihilation of European Jews and other groups by Nazi Germany, a watershed event in the history of humanity, to be taught in a manner that leads to an investigation of human behavior, and an examination of what it means to be a responsible and respectful person." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill says the instruction may not be given before grade 6. The language reflects some wrestling last year and this year over some perceived "wokeness " in the original version, including references to "prejudice, racism, and stereotyping " in the original. Bill co-sponsor Sen. Jack Woodrum, R-Summers, offered a successful floor amendment to add to the beginning of the sentence: "In collaboration with and utilizing guidance from the West Virginia Commission on Holocaust Education ..." The commission told The Dominion Post that the addition was crafted by Delegates Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia, and Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, to anchor the bill in existing legislation establishing the commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SB 526 is the Pharmacist Prescribing Authority Act, "to authorize pharmacists to practice the full extent of their education and training to prescribe low-risk medications to patients." The bill had advanced to third reading on March 17 but was kicked over to the Rules Committee where it was rewritten and advanced again to third reading on Tuesday. The Rules amendment allows pharmacists to prescribe drugs except controlled substances for conditions that do not require a new diagnosis, have a diagnostic test that is waived under federal guidelines as "simple laboratory examinations and procedures that have an insignificant risk of an erroneous result, " or are patient emergencies in the pharmacist's professional judgment. It allows the pharmacist to notify, within 72 hours, the patient's primary care physician of the test results and the drugs prescribed. Senators also adopted an additional amendment offered by Sen. Patrick Martin, R-Lewis, to limit a prescription supply to 30 days and to require the pharmacist to notify the PCP if more than a 10-day supply is prescribed. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) used three emojis a fist, an American flag and a ball of fire to clown Republicans on Tuesday after news that senior Trump officials used the third-party messaging app Signal to exchange war plans. Its always good when we have something bipartisan to point it out because it happens so little around here anymore, but rather than giving a really big, long speech I feel like I could just use this, said Moskowitz before holding up a sign with the emojis combination at a House judiciary committee meeting. He continued to gesture to the sign, And this will tell you that I think its good. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The emojis were sent by Michael Waltz, Trumps national security adviser, in the Signal text chain as Trump officials reacted to military strikes on Yemen. Waltz, who is facing calls for his resignation after he invited The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to the Signal chat, suggested that Goldberg somehow made his way into the group on his own accord. Moskowitz continued to hold up the sign in a jab toward Republicans on the committee, From now on, when we do things where like we agree, Ill just hold this up rather than giving a really big long speech, so job well done, guys. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) played into the bit, as well, as he asked Moskowitz to explain where the emoji combination comes from. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When were in like a chat with friends, right? Where were like having a casual chat about, like, where were dropping missiles Moskowitz said. Are you talking about a public chat room? Raskin asked. Yeah, yeah and like with friends, and were just like, you know, hamming about who were going to bomb and all of that... Moskowitz replied. Moskowitz also took to social media to use the emoji combo on Tuesday where he used it to agree with everything from a report on a potential My Cousin Vinny sequel to a TikTok song aided by a cats meows. Related... House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is demanding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth be fired immediately following a leaked group chat that included plans to bomb Houthi rebels in Yemen. Pete Hegseth is the most unqualified secretary of defense in American history, Jeffries wrote in a letter to President Donald Trump on Tuesday. His continued presence in the top position of leadership at the Pentagon threatens the nations security and puts our brave men and women in uniform throughout the world in danger. According to Jeffries, the so-called secretary of defense acted recklessly and casually when he discussed explicit details of sensitive war plans in an unsecure group chat that inexplicably included Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His behavior shocks the conscience, risked American lives and likely violated the law, the New York congressman wrote. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth should be fired immediately. Jeffries letter comes a day after a bombshell report in The Atlantic titled The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans. In it, Goldberg detailed a group chat on the messaging app Signal, in which a military attack plan against the Houthis was discussed mere hours before being carried out on March 15. I could not believe that the national security leadership of the United States would communicate on Signal about imminent war plans, Goldberg wrote. I have never seen a breach quite like this. The chat reportedly included high-level Trump officials like Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and national security adviser Michael Waltz. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goldberg claimed he was invited to the chat by Waltz an allegation that was denied on Tuesday. Waltz said he has never communicated with the Atlantic editor and that a review is underway to figure out how the heck he got into this room. Despite National Security Council and Defense Department officials confirming the chats veracity, the White House, Hegseth and other Republicans have attempted to downplay the report. During a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing Tuesday, Gabbard refused to confirm her participation in the chat and said its contents were not classified, a sentiment echoed by Ratcliffe moments later. Trump also denied security protocols were violated, while defending Waltz and slamming Goldberg as a sleazebag. I think it was very unfair the way they attacked Michael, he said at the White House. Theyve made a big deal out of this because weve had two perfect months. Prior to his confirmation, Hegseth was accused of rape and seriously abusing alcohol. He was confirmed to his current position by the GOP Senate in January. _____ The top Democrats on the Houses Defense, Oversight, Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence committees want answers from President Trumps national security team, saying theyve become deeply troubled after a journalist was unknowingly added to a group chat of senior officials discussing war plans. While the White House on Tuesday continued to confirm but sought to downplay the fact Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was added to a group chat discussing plans for attacks against Houthi rebels in Yemen on Signal earlier this month, Goldberg maintains that the chat included what appeared to be classified operational details. Among the claims levied by Goldberg is that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used the encrypted messaging app to send the group specific attack plans, targets the U.S. would strike and the types of weapons that would be used two hours before the attacks in Yemen took place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That is of particular concern to the lawmakers, who wrote in a letter to Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and national security adviser Mike Waltz that the reported deliberations may have constituted a security breach that could have compromised the operational security of, and by implication the safety of the service members involved in, the related military activities. The letter was signed by House Armed Services Committee ranking member Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Oversight and Government Reform Committee ranking member Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence ranking member Jim Himes (D-Conn.). The lawmakers also maintain that Signal is an electronic messaging application that is not approved by the U.S. government as a secure method for communicating classified information. They want to know whether information on U.S. military activities against the Houthis was disclosed by any National Security Council principal and if so, by whom; what specifically was discussed; and whether anyone from the council held discussions on national security matters using Signal or any other messaging service not approved for transmitting classified information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawmakers also want to know if classified information was shared in the instance reported by The Atlantic or in any other instance described. Since the bombshell report on Monday, the White House has been evasive on whether Signal is indeed not approved to send classified material or information. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday would only assert that the White House Counsels Office has provided guidance on platforms administration officials can use to communicate, but she did not say if that included Signal. And in the meeting with U.S. ambassadors at the White House later Tuesday, Trump said he doesnt think Signal will be used anymore but that a situation could arise in which you need speed over gross safety. Sometimes you have to move very quickly and there are other devices that are very good, but they are very, very cumbersome, and youre not able to use them from a practical standpoint. So, all we can do is find out the best we have with modern technology, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, multiple top Trump officials on Tuesday insisted that no classified material or war plans were relayed in the Signal chat, to which Goldberg was invited by Waltz on March 13. Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe both testified under oath before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday that no classified material was shared in the group text. Trump said he will conduct an investigation into what happened, saying the issue wouldnt be up to the FBI, but that it is a security problem about whether another form of communication should be looked into instead of Signal. Waltz, who spoke alongside Trump, said that technical experts and legal teams are looking into it. But Democratic lawmakers have not been satisfied with those explanations, with Sen. Mark Warner (Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, on Tuesday calling on Waltz and Hegseth to resign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) also on Tuesday urged Trump to immediately fire Hegseth, calling him the most unqualified secretary of Defense in American history, whose presence as head of the Pentagon threatens the nations security and puts our brave men and women in uniform throughout the world in danger, according to a new letter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Stakeholders in the trucking industry are jockeying for position on Capitol Hill as lawmakers begin prioritizing provisions to include in the next version of highway funding legislation. A slate of issues were raised at a hearing Wednesday of a House Transportation subcommittee, including truck parking, freight fraud, driver pay and fly-by-night CDL schools, but increasing truck size and weights and evaluating the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrations oversight of electronic logging devices for regulating driver hours of service stood out. [The ELD mandate] was one of the most expensive mandates imposed on trucking, Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association Executive Vice President Lewie Pugh told the committee. Credit: House T&I Credit: House T&I When they made the ELD mandate, FMCSA allowed for self-certification but later found out that some devices didnt meet certification and FMCSA had to get rid of them. So a trucker who invested thousands of dollars on these devices has to buy another. I have members that have had to buy three or four replacements. Its time that FMCSA themselves start inspecting and certifying these things to make sure they do what theyre supposed to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, went further, calling for a temporary pause in ELD tracking functions until security risks are ironed out. The components for these devices are often made in adversarial countries, Babin said. Whats more, these ELDs are hard-wired into the truck itself. They can shut it down, start it up and even make it veer off course. Taken together, that paints a pretty grim picture of the level of trust that we have for these devices. As we saw in New Orleans on New Years Eve, any vehicle can become a mass casualty weapon, he said, referring to a driver of a pickup truck who sped along Bourbon Street and killed 14 people. Truck size and weight battle lines A proposal to raise gross vehicle weight (GVW) limits on federal highways and interstates was the most divisive for witnesses at the hearing. Ryan Lindsey, testifying on behalf of the Shippers Coalition, and Dan Glessing, a fifth-generation Minnesota dairy farmer, pushed hard for a pilot project that would raise the GVW limit on interstates from 80,000 to 91,000 pounds. Were not talking about bigger trucks. Were not talking about longer trucks, said Lindsey. Were simply talking about raising the GVW by 11,000 pounds and adding a sixth axle to balance the weight distribution. Thats the regulatory hurdle we have that would make us more efficient and eliminate 20% of our trips. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Testifying on behalf of the Truckload Carriers Association, John Elliott, executive chairman of truckload operator Load One, acknowledged that the industry was divided. The LTL is a small segment that endorses larger trucks, while other segments endorse heavier trucks. As an industry, truckload is by far the largest segment, and we adamantly oppose both, Elliott said. It comes down to safety, and bigger, heavier, longer does not represent safer in any way. Cole Scandaglia, policy adviser for the Teamsters union, cited a federal study that found heavier trucks had higher crash rates, as well as higher HOS and brake violations. So we think there is data that demonstrates theres a real safety problem, but the most important message is from the perspective of our drivers, and they tell us they dont want to be put behind the wheel of those vehicles. Cards on the table With the current $1.2 trillion infrastructure funding legislation due to expire in fiscal year 2026, each of the truck panel witnesses was asked to name the one thing needed in the new reauthorization bill. Their responses: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elliott: Truck parking and drug testing. Pugh: Truck parking and driver training. Lindsey: Predictable, dependable funding certainty. Glessing: Adequate funding. Scandaglia: Driver training and the Highway Trust Fund. Related articles: Click for more FreightWaves articles by John Gallagher. The post House panel debates ELD certification, truck weight limits appeared first on FreightWaves. The Department of Education plans to reopen applications for a popular set of student loan repayment programs as soon as Wednesday after blocking access to them for several weeks, according to two sources familiar with the administrations plans. The change will once again allow borrowers to sign up for income-driven repayment options that cap their monthly payments at a share of their earnings. The Trump administration abruptly took down the online forms for those plans last month in response to a federal appeals court decision, leaving many former students baffled about how to manage their loans. When the portal reopens, borrowers will be able to enroll in one of three plans according to the sources: Income-Based Repayment, Pay as You Earn, or Income-Contingent Repayment. The Biden administrations SAVE plan and REPAYE, both of which were involved in last months court ruling, will not be available. Neither will offer a feature that automatically selects a plan based on the lowest monthly payment. Student loan servicers have been told to resume processing income-driven repayment applications in about two weeks, the sources said. They had been put on pause while applications were shuttered. Department of Justice attorneys also indicated that the administration intends to reopen income-driven repayment applications as soon as Wednesday. The comments were made during a hearing Tuesday in a lawsuit brought by the American Federation of Teachers seeking to end the pause on the payment plans. AFT and the Student Borrower Protection Center announced the development in a press release after the initial publication of this article. Read more: How to apply for IDR forgiveness The Department of Education closed off access to income-driven repayment options in February after the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit upheld an injunction stopping the government from implementing SAVE, which lowered monthly payments on undergraduate loans to 5% of discretionary income and shortened the path to forgiveness compared to previous repayment options. In doing so, the court also ruled that parts of REPAYE, which capped payments at no more than 10% of earnings, were likely illegal as well. Student loan advocates criticized the decision to cut off access to programs like Income-Based Repayment, which was not part of the litigation, as an overreaction. The move may have been necessary, however, because borrowers apply to all of the income-driven plans using the same online form. Many students already enrolled in income-driven plans were worried that they would not be able to submit their annual paperwork recertifying their incomes, which could cause their monthly payments to balloon. But last week, student loan servicers announced that the deadlines for those forms had been pushed back until February 2026. DENVER (AP) As Americans struggle under backbreaking rental prices, builders are turning to innovative ways to churn out more housing, from 3D printing to assembling homes in an indoor factory to using hemp yes, the marijuana cousin to make building blocks for walls. It's a response to the country's shortfall of millions of homes that has led to skyrocketing prices, plunging millions into poverty. "Theres not enough homes to purchase and theres not enough places to rent. Period," said Adrianne Todman, the acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under former President Joe Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One way to quickly build more is embrace these types of innovations, Todman said. I can only imagine what our housing situation would be like now if we could have made a decision to be more aggressive in adopting this type of housing" decades ago. So what are these new ways of building homes? And can they help reduce the cost of new housing, leading to lower rents? Factory-built housing put together in a week In a cavernous, metal hall, Eric Schaefer stood in front of a long row of modular homes that moved through the plant, similar to a car on an assembly line. At a series of stations, workers lay flooring, erected framing, added roofs and screwed on drywall. Everything from electrical wiring to plumbing to kitchen countertops were in place before the homes were shrink-wrapped and ready to be shipped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The business in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Fading West, has pumped out more than 500 homes in its just over three years of operation, each taking just five to seven days to build, even in the coldest winter months, Schaefer said. Once assembled in the plant, the narrow townhouse-style homes with white trim, balconies and front porches, are about 90% done. At their final destination they are move-in ready within six weeks, Schaefer said. The company works with towns, counties and housing nonprofits to help address the shortage of affordable homes, mostly for workers who've been squeezed out by sky-high prices in ritzy mountain towns. That includes Eagle, Colorado, not far from the Vail ski resort, where Fading West worked with Habitat for Humanity to install modular homes at affordable rents for teachers and other school district employees. The homes tend to be on the smaller side, but can be multifamily or single family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can build faster. The faster you build even at a high quality means the lower the price, Schaefer said. We see this as one of the pieces to the puzzle in helping solve the affordable housing crisis." There's a hefty upfront cost to build the factory, and part of the challenge is a lack of state and federal investment, he said. A patchwork of building codes governing how a structure can be built also makes it difficult, requiring changes to the construction depending on the town or county it is being sent to. Manufactured housing is similar to modular housing, but the units are constructed on a chassis like a trailer and they aren't subject to the same local building codes. That's part of the reason they are used more broadly across the U.S. Roughly 100,000 manufactured homes were shipped to states in 2024, up from some 60,000 a decade earlier, according to Census Bureau data. Estimates of modular homes built annually often put them below 20,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 3D printing is innovative but still 'a long game Yes, there's technology to 3D print homes. A computer-controlled robotic arm equipped with a hose and nozzle moves back and forth, oozing lines of concrete, one on top of the other, as it builds up the wall of a home. It can go relatively quickly and form curved walls unlike concrete blocks. Grant Hamel, CEO and co-founder of VeroTouch, stood inside one of the homes his company built, the wall behind him made out of rolling layers of concrete, distinct to a 3D printer. The technology could eventually reduce labor costs and the time it takes to build an abode, but is farther off than manufactured or modular methods from making a dent in the housing crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's a long game, to start chipping away at those prices at every step of the construction process, Hamel said. The 3D printers are expensive, and so are the engineers and other skilled employees needed to run them, said Ali Memari, director of the Pennsylvania Housing Research Center, whose work has partly focused on 3D printing. It's also not recognized by international building codes, which puts up more red tape. The technology is also generally restricted to single-story structures, unless traditional building methods are used as well, Memari said It's a technology at its beginning, it has room to grow, especially when it is recognized in code, Memari said. The challenges that I mentioned exist, and they have to be addressed by the research community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A hemp-and-lime mixture called hempcrete has a bright future Hemp the plant related to marijuana is being used more and more in the construction of walls. The hemp is mixed with other materials, most importantly the mineral lime, forming "hempcrete," a natural insulation that's mold- and fire-resistant and can act as outer wall, insulation and inner wall. Hempcrete still requires wood studs to frame the walls, but it replaces three wall-building components with just one, said Memari, also a professor at Penn State University's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Memari is now helping oversee research into making hempcrete that doesn't need the wood studs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As much as a million hemp plants to be used for hempcrete can grow on one acre in a matter of months as opposed to trees, which can take years or decades to grow. The plant is part of the cannabis family but has far less of the psychoactive component, THC, found in marijuana. In 2018, Congress legalized the production of certain types of hemp. Last year, the International Code Council, which develops international building codes used by all 50 states, adopted hempcrete as an insulation. Confusion over the legality of growing hemp and the price tag of the machine required to process the plant, called a decorticator, are barriers to hempcrete becoming more widespread in housing construction, Memari said. Still, he said, hempcrete has a bright future." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ___ Associated Press video journalist Thomas Peipert contributed to this report from Buena Vista, Colorado. ___ Bedayn 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. PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) For 11 years, Maureen and Peter Adams have lived in a house on Washington Street in Portsmouth, and in December, they decided to sell, but three months later, their house is still on the market. Peter Adams said they have made some changes to the house. Weve done some cosmetic changes and weve just made sure the house looks looked really good for for sale, he said. In the past four months, his agent has held three open houses, advertised in magazines and is putting the word out on social media. There have been interested buyers, but still no sale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But theyre being patient amid a slowing market. I mean, we understand that it takes time to sell, he said. But is now the right time to sell? According to the February 2025 Virginia Realtors Virginia Home Sales Report, now may not be the best time to sell, as it has noted a 9% drop in sales from last February. Real estate is like politics its all local, said Jay Mitchell, president of the Hampton Roads Realtors Association. So, depending on where you are, you can see that the market is still very strong. This office, for instance, we are ahead of where we were last year. He said overall, in this market, we are down from last year, but his office is ahead of where they were last year. He thinks weather may have played a role in the decline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had some really, really wild, wacky weather in February, Mitchell said. And so, believe it or not, that causes people to pause sometimes and not move forward on things like a home purchase or a car purchase or any of those things. So, we see it every now and then. When we have weather, it can affect what happens. Moving into the spring, Mitchell is expecting home sales to ramp up quickly. And if you are looking to move, listings will increase over the next few weeks. Right now, location, location, location is still important, but everything is selling quickly, Mitchell said. Now, if its in good condition and its priced right, itll sell almost instantly. Back on Washington Street, the Adams who are looking to downsize, are waiting to sell their house before purchasing their next property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our game plan is to continue to work with our agent and to be patient and wait for the right buyer to come through, Peter Adams said. If youre buying or selling a home and youre looking for the best deal, Mitchell recommends reaching out to a licensed realtor to help guide you through that process. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (ABC4) Human remains were discovered in a pond in West Valley City on Tuesday evening, according to police. Authorities initially received a call about a possible human skull and other bones being found in the water near 4220 West Lake Park Blvd. The West Valley City Police Department said the bones were found near the edge of the pond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When authorities arrived at the scene, they found the skull, along with other bones, and confirmed that the remains were human, a spokesperson with WVCPD told ABC4.com. The medical examiners office is working to retrieve the remains and will attempt to determine the identity of the person, WVCPD said in a social media post Tuesday night. At this time, we have no information about a cause nor manner of death, nor do we have any information to identify the person. Officials said the death is being considered a suspicious death, but it is too early to tell if foul play was involved. The investigation is ongoing. When skeletal remains are found, we collaborate with law enforcement and the state forensic anthropologist to evaluate if the remains are human remains and if they are ancient or modern, a spokesperson for the Utah Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement to ABC4.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the DHHS, ancient remains are under the jurisdiction of the state forensic anthropologist. On the other hand, the Office of the Medical Examiner (OME) takes jurisdiction of modern remains and works to identify them with several other agencies and specialists. However, the DHHS was not able to provide a statement about this specific case due to Utah law, as records from the OME are considered confidential. The day after the remains were found, ABC4.com went to the area where the bones were discovered by the fisherman and spoke to people at a nearby golf course. When asked how he felt upon hearing the news of the discovery, Provo resident James Kuechmann said, It was shocking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its just not something you hear every day, Weston Halper, from Park City, told ABC4.com. Theres human bones on the course youre golfing on. Additional details about the remains are expected to be released by officials as they become available. There is no further information at this time. Matthew Drachman, McKenzie Diaz, and Maclane Westbrook contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Hundreds of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip took to the streets Tuesday for a rare protest against the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has controlled the war-torn strip for nearly two decades. Videos shared on various social media platforms Tuesday showed protesters marching through the streets of Beit Lahia, a city in northern Gaza that is close to the Israeli border, chanting for Hamas to leave the Gaza and calling the group a terrorist organization. The Hill has not independently verified the videos. Out, out, out, Hamas out chanted the crowd, mainly comprised of young men. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The protests, which also took place in Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza, appear to be the largest demonstrations against Hamas since the militant groups Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, killing about 1,200 Israelis and taking some 250 hostages. The attack ignited a 17-month war, during which Israel has killed about 50,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Those who are supportive of Hamas in Gaza accused the protestors of being traitors and dismissed the scope of the demonstrations. The protests come as Israel said it was pausing all aid flowing to Gaza at the start of this month. The United Nationss Palestinian refugee agency, known as UNRWA, said over the weekend that no food, water, fuel or medicines had entered Gaza in three weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every day that passes without the entry of aid means more children go to bed hungry, diseases spread & deprivation deepens, UNRWA wrote. Every day without food inches Gaza closer to an acute hunger crisis. Israel has resumed its military operation in the territory after a roughly two-month ceasefire, accusing Hamas of refusing the U.S.s fresh proposal to extend the suspension of hostilities. The Palestinian militant group argues Israel broke the terms of the original agreement struck in January. Gaza has been under Hamass full control since 2007. The militant group won the 2006 election and violently ousted the forces loyal to Fatah, the political party that previously had a majority in the Palestinian territories legislature, a year later. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. About 800 migrant children in Michigan may soon lack legal representation in courts after the administration of President Donald Trump abruptly shut down most of a program that helped pay for attorneys and other legal assistance. Immigrant activists said the Trump administration's action is a cruel move that will lead to unaccompanied minors in Michigan being unable to get a fair hearing and lead to more abuse and deportations. One immigrant advocate in Michigan calls it the worst attack on immigrant children since the family separation crisis in 2018 during Trump's first term, when some migrant children were separated from families. Migrant children play on the southern embankment of the Rio Grande on Dec. 18, 2024 after migrants crossed the international boundary. On Friday, the Trump administration sent a termination of services notice to the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center and similar groups across the country to end its Unaccompanied Children Program, which is paid for with government funds. The program allowed children who arrived in the U.S. without a parent to be represented by attorneys in immigration courts. Lawyers who are trained in how to work with vulnerable children with language barriers are needed to properly defend them in court, said Christine Sauve, manager of policy and communication at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Children sometimes travel to the U.S. on their own to escape hardships or to reach other family members who are already in the U.S. The 800 children in Michigan helped by the legal program are part of 26,000 children across the country who will be affected, advocates said. It's the latest move by Trump to toughen immigration enforcement as he vows to deport a record number of immigrants, often linking them to crime. Earlier this year, Trump shut down another legal program to help adults in immigration courts, but after a lawsuit, that program was started up again. Since 2017, the legal program for unaccompanied children at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center has helped represent almost 1,400 children. In addition, the center has provided 5,686 "Know Your Rights" sessions and 4,061 legal screenings, and identified 6,158 potential pathways for relief for children. "These numbers result in real, meaningful changes in the lives of children and families, children who grow up to thrive and be part of our communities," Sauve told the Free Press on Tuesday. "It is difficult to find replacement attorneys for 800 children," she added. "There's things that (regular) attorneys may not be familiar with, in terms of: taking breaks during an interview to allow the child to play or take a break. There's specific language resources: Many of the children speak minority languages that aren't commonly spoken here, and so sometimes providing that translation or interpretation can be hard for pro bono attorneys to take on." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some advocates say the shuttering of the program could lead to violations of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, which helps protect children who arrive in the U.S. without a parent or a legal guardian. Emily Hilliard, deputy press secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the placement of unaccompanied children, told the Free Press by email Tuesday their department continues to meet the legal requirements established by the Act and the Flores settlement of 1997 that resulted from a lawsuit, creating rules to protect immigrant children in U.S. custody. "We are rolling back decades of progress on protecting the rights of immigrant children," said Susan Reed, director at MIRC. "Children with representation are more likely to win their cases and unrepresented children tend to lose, so this action will change the course of our clients whole lives. Reed called it "the largest attack on immigrant children in Michigan since we faced the family separation crisis in 2018. The move could also lead to MIRC, one of the leading immigrant advocacy groups in Michigan, having to eliminate 80% of its staff, Sauve said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Private for-profit company secures ICE contract to house immigrants in Michigan prison MIRC is currently looking for other ways to keep the program running through donations or other means, but it's unclear whether it can survive. The Acacia Center for Justice in Washington, D.C. contracted with the U.S. government on the legal program for unaccompanied children. Acacia then subcontracted with various groups, such as the Michigan center. 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," Shaina Aber, executive director of the Acacia Center for Justice, said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a separate action, the Trump administration also ended this week a rule that had restricted the government from sharing information on the legal status of sponsors, often family members, of unaccompanied migrant children to law enforcement, Reuters reported. The move could lead to family members not coming forward to sponsor children who need their help out of fear of themselves being targeted by immigration agents. Reuters contributed to this report. Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com or X @nwarikoo This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Migrant children in Michigan lose legal help as Trump ends program Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has visited Russia so often since its invasion of Ukraine that it has raised suspicions among European diplomats he is back in Moscow on 26 March. Source: Bloomberg, as reported by European Pravda Details: As Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief diplomat for the past 11 years, 46-year-old Szijjarto has become the face of Hungary's pro-Russian policy, which has led to frequent clashes with other European Union countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the full-scale war began more than three years ago, he has visited Russia at least 13 times. This frequency of visits has surprised some European officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity and questioned their purpose. Even the foreign ministers of some of Moscow's closest allies do not travel to Russia with such regularity, while Western allies have cut ties or drastically reduced contacts. Hungary has taken a different approach, using its ties to Moscow for economic gain. It has secured exemptions from EU sanctions on Russian oil and doubled its purchases of natural gas from Russia. Hungary also insists on expanding its only nuclear power plant under Russian management. "Hungarys and Russias energy cooperation has withstood the most difficult times," Szijjarto said on Wednesday after meeting with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak in Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said that this will allow MOL Nyrt, Hungary's largest refinery with wells in Russia, to expand its presence in the country. Szijjartos visit came hours after the US said Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a ceasefire in the Black Sea, even though the Kremlin said its participation would depend on several preconditions, including the easing of sanctions. Background: On 22 March, Szijjarto said that Hungary would block progress on Ukraine's accession to the EU until the Hungarians of Zakarpattia were returned the "rights taken away in 2015". Earlier, Szijjarto complained that at a meeting of EU diplomats on 17 March, he saw no support for Budapest's position on protecting the rights of Hungarians in Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Starlink was widely used in western North Carolina during the early days after Hurricane Helene. (Photo of storm debris by Getty Images) It was six months ago this week that Hurricane Helene devastated much of western North Carolina. By now, youd think elected leaders would have long since devoted all of the resources at their disposal toward emergency relief and getting the basics of life in the mountains back up and running. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, while state lawmakers did approve a new recovery package last week, they continue quite inexplicably to ignore several basic and well-documented needs. Topping the list: direct aid to businesses wiped out by the storm and renters left homeless. As lawmakers like Ashevilles Rep. Lindsey Prather have repeatedly explained, offering loans to folks whove lost everything isnt enough. If mountain communities are going to come close to recovering, the state needs to use its rainy day fund to provide direct grants. Lawmakers should also heed Gov. Josh Steins plea to aid devastated local governments and state parks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bottom line: North Carolina has the money to do much more to help hurricane ravaged communities recover. The legislatures failure to allocate it simply makes no sense. For NC Newsline, Im Rob Schofield. Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. The Urban Doom Loop, a phrase coined by a Columbia University professor to describe deserted city centers after the pandemic, appears to be truly over. Colliers reported that current Manhattan leasing rates are 36% above the 10-year monthly average. Now, the rest of the country is following suit. According to CoStar News, during recent analyst calls to discuss fourth-quarter earnings, a wave of optimism swept through major brokerages in Pittsburgh, San Antonio, Minneapolis, Cleveland, and Kansas City, Missouri. Don't Miss: It feels like the office market has bottomed, and I think leasing velocity across markets is picking up, Jeremy Leventhal, managing partner at Faros Properties, which owns office buildings in New York, Boston, and Pittsburgh, told CoStar. Companies are making decisions and making commitments to long-term office plans. We have a large pipeline of prospective tenants, and we expect 2025 to be a busy year. Return-To-Work Mandate Fueling Leasing Part of the reason for the upswing is the return-to-work mandate issued by companies to hybrid and remote workers. This has fueled office landlords signing longer-term leases and commitments to more space. Despite the high national office vacancy rate of 14% compared to pre-pandemic norms, New Yorks robust leasing activity in recent months has spilled over to smaller markets. Weve seen the local and regional firms moving back to office space really quickly, Trending: Have $200K saved? Here's how to turn it into lasting wealth. Transwestern Executive Managing Director Russell Noll, a longtime San Antonio-based office broker, told CoStar of the markets slow but steady momentum. Thats helped a lot with our demand, and since were a market that has not experienced significant new construction, the flight-to-quality conversations have sometimes even resulted in companies moving to older buildings that have just been maintained very well. BRYAN COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV) The Hyundai Metaplant, one of the biggest economic projects in Georgias history, has officially opened its doors. Todays festivities mark the culmination of a project nearly three years in the making. Originally announced in 2022, the Metaplant is expected to create 14,000 direct jobs in the area. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Representative Buddy Carter (GA-01) are on hand to commemorate the opening of the over $7 billion facility, along with Hyundai executives. Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America Hyundai announced that as of March 24, there are 1,232 employees, not counting Korean expats. 72% of those are from the Greater Savannah area, within a 60-mile radius of the plant. Below is a breakdown of employees from the local area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The total number of Georgia employees is 1,077, which makes up 87% of the current workforce. 155 employees are from outside of the state. 895 employees are from the greater Savannah area. The geographical breakdown is as follows: Chatham County 413 employees (33%) Bryan County 91 employees (7%) Bulloch County 185 employees (15%) Effingham County 103 employees (8%) Joze Munoz, the President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company said they are upping their plans to produce 300,000 units per year to 500,000 units per year. That means instead of 8500 employees, the Metaplant will need closer to 14,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There wont be a need to construct a new building, but they will need a significant investment in equipment. Right now, that production stands at 250 cars per day. WSAV News 3s Ben Senger is there and will have updates throughout the afternoon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. BRYAN COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV) One of the biggest economic projects in Georgias history will officially cut the ribbon Wednesday morning. It comes as Hyundai officials are celebrating the opening of the multibillion-dollar metaplant facility. In northern Bryan County, the massive new Hyundai plant is set to make history by officially opening its doors. This will mark the start of the largest economic project in Georgias history and create 14,000 direct jobs. In 2022 Hyundai decided that Georgia was the perfect spot chosen for the automakers new plant, thanks to its strategic location, strong workforce, and growing reputation as a hub for the automotive industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pricing over $7 billion to build this facility is part of a $21 billion investment in the state, which includes a $5.8 billion steel plant in Louisiana. The plant will focus on manufacturing electric vehicles and eco-friendly cars, all while boosting Georgias economy and solidifying the states role in green energy. Governor Brian Kemp and other officials will join Hyundai executives for the grand opening ceremony. The new plant will create thousands of jobs and increase Hyundais U.S. vehicle production to 1.2 million by 2028. President Trump recently credited tariffs for encouraging these investments, saying they will drive local job growth. And this week we are also proud to open our new $8 billion auto plant in Georgia, which with this, our U.S. vehicle production will exceed 1 million units per year. As president mentioned, said Euisun Chung, the Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair. Chung met with President Trump earlier this week in Washington D.C. to discuss the future of the Georgia metaplant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WSAV will be inside the metaplant Wednesday afternoon to talk with officials and learn more about the future of the Hyundai project. Well have new information beginning on News 3s First News at 4. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. (WGHP) Two employers have announced layoffs or closures that will impact numerous people in the Triad. According to the North Carolina Department of Commerces WARN Notice Summary for 2025, a Winston-Salem-based IBM facility and a Greensboro-based Panera Bread factory filed notice of intended layoffs in the past week. On March 21, Panera Bread filed a notice that it would be permanently closing a factory in Greensboro, impacting 80 employees. The effective date of this closure is May 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On March 25, IBM filed that it would be performing layoffs at a Winston-Salem site, impacting 72 employees effective May 30. Employers are required by law to file WARN notices ahead of mass layoffs or facility closures. There have been other WARN notices filed in the Triad since the beginning of the year in Randolph, Davidson, Rockingham and Guilford Counties, impacting over 350 people. Panera Bread provided the following statement about the closure of their facility: We had to make the difficult decision to close the Greensboro, NC 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. To support them, we are providing comprehensive packages that include separation pay, assistance with COBRA health insurance premiums, outplacement services, and support finding roles both within and outside of Panera. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. The Trump administration is continuing its witch hunt of international students whose political views it disagrees with, this time at Tufts University. On Tuesday evening, Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish Ph.D. student at Tufts University with a valid F-1 visa, was detained by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials while on her way to meet with friends to break her Ramadan fast, according to a statement from her lawyer. A video of Ozturks kidnapping shows six ICE agents forcibly removing Ozturks backpack, placing her hands behind her back, and putting her in a dark-grey SUV, which then drives away. In a cowardly display of power, all of the agents covered their faces with masks. NEW: Ive obtained new footage of the abduction of Tufts student Runeysa Ozturk which includes audio of her kidnappers. pic.twitter.com/gucwFxdnOi Daniel Boguslaw (@DRBoguslaw) March 26, 2025 We are unaware of her whereabouts and have not been able to contact her, said Ozturks lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai. No charges have been filed against Rumeysa to date that we are aware of. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tufts University said it was not made aware of Ozturks kidnapping before it happened but was later notified that her visa had been revoked. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani on Tuesday had ordered that Ozturk should not be moved out of Massachusetts without providing advance notice of the intended move providing reason in writing for why such a movement is necessary. Last spring, Ozturk co-authored an opinion essay in the student newspaper that demanded Tufts acknowledge the Palestinian genocide and divest from companies tied to Israel. The university had no pre-knowledge of this incident and did not share any information with federal authorities prior to the event, and the location where this took place is not affiliated with Tufts University, the statement reads. We realize that tonights news will be distressing to some members of our community, particularly the members of our international community. Ozturk is just the latest valid visa holder to be targeted by the Trump administration for supporting Palestine. Earlier this month, Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate from Columbia University who participated in pro-Palestinian protests at the university, was unlawfully detained by ICE. DHS has since detained at least two more international students with visas for their protesting of Israels genocide in Gaza, a clear violation of First Amendment rights. LOWER MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) Robert Panton has spent the latter part of his life fighting for his freedom and has been teetering on deportation for the last five years. On Tuesday, during a routine check-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the 59-year-old was taken into custody. More Local News Its a gross misjustice that can be reversed at any time, Panton said in a video recorded shortly before his detention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Panton has been fighting deportation to Jamaica since 2020, when a judge ordered his release from prison as part of a radical reform initiative. He had served three decades behind bars for a narcotics conviction during the war on drugs in the 1990s. The same day of my release, ICE took me into custody during the worst pandemic in history, Panton said in 2020 from behind bars. For 10 months, Panton was held in an ICE detention center during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was later granted a temporary reprieve through deferred action on his deportation. Since his compassionate release, Panton has turned his life around. A Harlem resident since the age of 4, he has mentored at-risk youth, advocated for immigration reform, and runs a suicide prevention hotline. His son is a New York City police officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State I appreciate all my supporters fighting for due process and proper consideration of being in this country, Panton said Tuesday. Despite his efforts to rehabilitate and contribute to society, Panton said current laws continue to punish people like him. Our current laws continue to punish people like me even after we complete sentences, he said. The Trump administration has renewed its focus on removing individuals since taking office in January. Were removing public safety and national security threats to this country, border czar Tom Homan said Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pantons family and attorney are continuing to fight to keep him in the United States. The district court (Southern District NY) issued a temporary order that Robert cannot be removed pending further briefing in his case. ICE has not yet responded to a request 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 PIX11. Surveillance footage of the arrest of a Turkish doctoral student shows plainclothes federal agents approaching her from the street outside her off-campus apartment before putting her in handcuffs. A man covered by his sweatshirt hood appears to approach Rumeysa Ozturk without identifying himself and then grabs her arm. Another officer approaches and takes her phone while she is placed in handcuffs. Three officers cover their faces with neck gaiters. Ozturk, a PhD student in the graduate school of arts and sciences at the Massachusetts university who is legally in the United States on a non-immigrant F-1 visa, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on Tuesday outside her apartment on her way to an Iftar dinner to break her Ramadan fast with friends near her home in Somerville, according to her attorney and activists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her arrest by federal immigration authorities is the latest in a string of arrests targeting international students for their Palestinian advocacy. In an email to the Tufts community, university president Sunil Kumar said the school was told that federal authorities terminated her visa status, and we seek to confirm whether that information is true. The Independent has requested comment from ICE. Ozturks attorney filed a petition of habeas corpus challenging her arrest and detention. Massachusetts District Judge Indira Talwani gave federal officials until Friday to respond to the complaint, and Ozturk cannot be moved outside the state without at least 48 hours of advance notice to the court, according to Talwanis order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are unaware of her whereabouts and have not been able to contact her, attorney Mahsa Khanbabai said in a statement to The Independent Wednesday morning. But ICE records showed Wednesday night that Ozturk was being held at at a detenction center in Louisiana, despite a judges order blocking her removal from the state. It is unclear when she crossed state lines. Tufts University doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk was arrested by ICE officers on March 25, according to the school (REUTERS) Tufts did not have any prior knowledge of the arrest and did not share any information with federal authorities prior to the event, Kumar wrote. Kumar issued a reminder that the university has a protocol for how to respond to federal agents making unannounced visits on or off campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ozturk is a student at the universitys doctoral program for Child Study and Human Development, and graduated with a masters degree from the Teachers College at Columbia University, according to her LinkedIn. I am passionate about researching childrens and adolescents' digital media and technologies for caring, kind, and compassionate media environments, she writes. As an interdisciplinary media researcher and developmental scientist in training, I research children's and adolescents' positive development in a media-embedded, globalized, and connected world. Last year, in response to Israels ongoing devastation of Gaza, Ozturk co-authored an op-ed in The Tufts Daily newspaper calling on Kumar to acknowledge the Palestinian genocide and for the university to divest from companies with direct or indirect ties to Israel. Ozturk is among dozens of students and professors identified by Canary Mission, a pro-Israel campaign that maintains a database intended to blacklist and intimidate activists the group accuses of promoting hatred of the USA, Israel and Jews. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Efforts to deport students based on their speech or protected activism undermine America's commitment to free expression, Tyler Coward, lead counsel for government affairs for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, told The Independent. If ICE detained Ozturk based on her op-ed or activism, it's a worrying escalation in an already fraught environment for college students here on student visas. Her arrest follows similar actions from federal authorities targeting student activists and students who have merely spoken in support of Palestine, none of whom have been accused of committing any crime. Donald Trumps administration has zeroed in on campus activism at prestigious universities, where Israels war in Gaza has provoked a wave of demonstrations and protest encampments demanding an end to U.S. support for Israels devastation. Students have been accused of supporting terrorism and violating the presidents executive orders directing federal agencies investigate and potentially remove non-citizens who bear hostile attitudes toward its citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles and advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to our national security. Demonstrations across the country have demanded the release of international students detained for their Palestinian advocacy, including Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student and lawful permanent resident accused of pro-Hamas activities (EPA) On Tuesday, university professors and academic organizations from across the country filed a lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of violating the First Amendment through a climate of fear and repression on college campuses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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. On Tuesday, a federal judge in Manhattan blocked the Trump administration from deporting Yunseo Chung, a Columbia University 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. Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident and prominent student activist accused of organizing pro-Hamas attacks on campus, is currently battling his removal from the United States after his shocking arrest in front of his wife, a U.S. citizen who is eight months pregnant, earlier this month. He is currently detained in Louisiana as his case moves jurisdictions to a federal court in New Jersey. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) The Don CeSar begins a phased reopening process Wednesday. This marks the first time the iconic hotel will welcome guests back after hurricanes Helene and Milton last year. During the first phase of the reopening guests can enjoy many of the hotels amenities: Maritana Restaurant: now all-day dining. Lobby Bar: morning coffee to evening cocktail The Spa at The Don Cesar Beachfront relaxation Fitness center In-room and poolside dining Valet parking Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overnight reservations are available starting April 1. Repairs and renovations will continue through the end of the year. The hotels reopening marks a major milestone in the recovery process in St. Pete Beach. Damage from the storms is lingering throughout the city. City leaders say the slow recovery process is due partially to thousands of permit requests. These are the most dangerous beaches in Florida: report Marc Portugal explains, heres a number of complexities that go into the recovery process from the permit process itself to dealing with insurance companies FEMA so Im not surprised for how long its taking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surrounding businesses are dealing with the impact of delays. A lot of hotels are still suffering damage and its taking them a while to recoup and fix those damages, describes the owner of Larrys Ice Cream, the last few months the volume hasnt been there because the beach isnt as busy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Can you ID this suspect? [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Clayton Police are looking for a person accused of breaking into an unlocked vehicle Monday night, according to a social media post. The incident happened in an open garage in the area of Sterling Woods Drive and Summersweet Drive. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department posted security images on its Facebook page. It shows the suspect holding a purse. Clayton Police Chief Matt Hamlin told News Center 7 that the suspect stole a purse containing keys, a stethoscope, and between $20-$30 in cash. He said the best way to prevent these thefts is for people to lock their car doors, close their garage doors, and take valuables from their vehicles. Chief Hamlin said people should follow the departments 9 p.m. routine. If you can ID him, contact Detective Campbell at (937) 836-3500 or by email. Photo contributed by Clayton Police (via Facebook) [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] New car registrations in the European Union (EU) declined by 3% in February 2025, year-to-date (YTD) compared with the same period in 2024. On a year-on-year (YOY) basis, EU registrations declined by 3.4%. The decrease in registrations was observed across several of the bloc's key markets, including Italy, Germany, and France, while Spain experienced an increase. Italy saw a 6% decline in new car registrations, with Germany and France recording decreases of 4.6% and 3.3%, respectively. In contrast, Spain registered an 8.4% increase. Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 15.2% of the total EU market share, up from 11.5% in the same period in 2024. Hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) captured 35.2% of the market, maintaining their status as the preferred choice among EU consumers. The combined market share of petrol and diesel cars fell to 38.8%, down from 48.5% in the same period in 2024. Meanwhile, new BEV sales grew by 28.4%, reaching 255,489 units. Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, which account for 64% of all BEV registrations, saw double-digit gains, with Germany at 41%, Belgium at 38%, and the Netherlands at 25%. France, however, experienced a slight decline of 1.3% in BEV registrations. In February 2025 YTD, hybrid-electric car registrations rose by 18.7%, driven by growth in France, Spain, Italy, and Germany. France led the increase with a 51.4% rise, followed by Spain at 31.5%, Italy at 10.4%, and Germany at 9.8%, resulting in 594,059 units registered. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle registrations fell by 5% in JanuaryFebruary 2025, driven by sharp declines of 65.3% in Belgium and 49.3% in France. As a result, plug-in-hybrids now represent 7.4% of total car registrations in the EU. The February 2025 YOY variation showed a rise of 23.7% for battery-electric and 19% for hybrid-electric cars. Petrol car registrations dropped by 20.5% by February 2025 YTD, with France experiencing the steepest decline at 27.5%. Germany, Italy, and Spain also saw decreases. Petrol's market share fell to 29.1%, down from 35.5% last year. Diesel car registrations declined by 28%, resulting in a 9.7% market share. The February 2025 YOY variation showed a decline of 22.4% for petrol and 28.8% for diesel. In January, new car registrations in the EU fell by 2.6% compared with the same period last year. "EU car registrations fall 3% YTD in February 2025" was originally created and published by Motor Finance Online, a GlobalData owned brand. Reps. Jaron Crane and Brooke Green share a hug on March 25, 2025, after Crane shaved his head to support Green's battle against breast cancer. (Clark Corbin/Idaho Capital Sun) Several Idaho legislators shaved their heads on Tuesday in Boise to support a colleague battling breast cancer and to raise awareness for breast cancer screening. Rep. Brooke Green, a Boise Democrat, has been battling breast cancer and is preparing to begin chemotherapy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Rep. Mike Pohanka, R-Jerome, learned Green would be losing her hair and beginning treatment, Pohanka offered to shave his head too to symbolically go through the battle with her. Pohanka then recruited other legislators to join him. Its absolutely incredible, Pohanka said. Were supporting one of our fellow colleagues, whos fighting cancer, and were all in the corner fighting it with her. We love her. We just want to make sure, as far as raising breast cancer awareness, to get checked out, Pohanka added. Whatever we can do to help support those that are fighting and show them were in the fight with them. A hair stylist shaves the head of Rep. Mike Pohanka, R-Jerome, who was one of several legislators who shaved their heads in a show of support for a colleague battling breast cancer and to raise awareness for breast cancer screening. (Clark Corbin/Idaho Capital Sun) This year, Green teamed up with several legislators to sponsor a new law, House Bill 134. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new law requires health insurance companies to cover supplemental breast cancer screening when abnormalities arent found or suspected in the breast of people who are at high risk for breast cancer due to personal or family history, genetic predisposition or other factors. Supplemental breast cancer screening required to be covered by the bill includes magnetic resonance imaging, or an MRI. The law takes effect Jan. 1. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Lawmakers meet at Boise salon to support legislator with breast cancer Tuesdays event to support Green and breast cancer screening provided several genuinely touching moments that stood in contrast to the divisive nature of modern politics and the contentious Idaho legislative session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Green visited the Two Zero Eight Salon and Spa in downtown Boise on Tuesday to watch her fellow legislators get their heads shaved. While she was there, Green posed for photos and hugged each of her legislative colleagues who shaved their heads, telling them the support overwhelmed her. I love this, you guys are amazing, Green said. Some legislators brought their family members to the salon, and Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen, R-Idaho Falls, snapped photos and offered positive encouragement to each of the men waiting in line to shave off their hair. Rep. John Shirts, R-Weiser, volunteered to have his head shaved first Tuesday. Just hours before taking his seat in the barbers chair, the student pages who assist legislators presented Shirts with a humorous award for best hair in appreciation of his perfectly groomed salt-and-pepper hair. Reps. John Shirts (left) Jaron Crane (center) and Brooke Green share a smile as legislators shave their heads Tuesday to support Greens battle against breast cancer. (Clark Corbin/Idaho Capital Sun) Shirts said he hasnt shaved his head since joining the military in 2014, but he didnt hesitate Tuesday to buzz it all off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When someones going through a trying time you can get caught up in the session, all the politics of it, but theres a human side as well and you want to be able to support your colleagues and help them through it, Shirts said. Legislators who shaved their heads include Pohanka, Shirts and Reps. Jaron Crane, R-Nampa; Josh Wheeler, R-Ammon; Dan Garner, R-Clifton; Mark Sauter, R- Sandpoint; Jeff Cornilles, R-Nampa; and Jack Nelson, R-Jerome. New Idaho law, House Bill 134, requires coverage of supplemental breast cancer screenings Green and the legislators who shaved their heads said they want to highlight the importance of breast cancer screening and early detection. House Bill 134 is one way to do that, she said. Ive been here for seven years and Ive carried several bills, but this one is by far the most meaningful one Because its going to help so many Idaho and women, Green told the Idaho Capital Sun in an interview Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill was cosponsored by a mix of over two dozen Republican and Democratic state lawmakers. Green said its one of the most politically diverse cosponsor lists she has seen. Days after her first breast cancer diagnosis, Green said her radiologist brought the issue to her attention. She recalled seeing women on Facebook groups saying they needed an MRI, but couldnt afford it. And I look to her, and I go, Oh my goodness. If we could just get you that MRI early, youre gonna have a better prognosis than say for me, whos at stage two, or somebody whos got stage three or four because they waited too long, Green told the Sun. And so passing this legislation or being a part of it while Im going through treatment really makes it that much more meaningful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While working on the bill, Green said shes built stronger bonds with colleagues in the Legislature. Green told the Sun, she was surprised to see her legislative colleagues shave their heads, but she said the support from her Republican colleagues shows how the issue reaches across the political aisle. Breast cancer isnt a partisan thing. It brings people together in the worst kind of ways, and gets everybody in support of a cause, Green said. Little signed the bill Monday, a spokesperson for the governors office told the Idaho Capital Sun. I want to highlight Representative Brooke Green as she has courageously battled breast cancer, all while serving in the legislature this session and bringing meaningful legislation forward, Little told the Sun in a written statement on Tuesday. HB 134 ensures access to life-saving breast cancer screening for at-risk individuals, reducing long-term treatment costs for Idahoans, hospitals, and insurers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Idaho Legislature widely passed the bill this year, on a 62-6 vote in the House and a 25-10 vote in the Senate. The bill doesnt take effect until next year, Green said, mainly to give health insurers time to plan for the requirements. In the meantime, she said shes working on a fact-sheet and educational resources for doctors. The bill doesnt apply to self-insured health insurance plans, like at major companies like Micron and St. Lukes, Green told the Sun. But, she added, we really want to empower women to be able to continue to push for it. Because (in) Idaho, we cannot mandate self-insured plans. Next year, said she expects to bring more breast cancer-related bills forward, but she isnt sure yet what theyll look like. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) Illinois lawmakers are proposing regulating THC-infused beverages and taxing hemp distributors and manufacturers. Senate Bill 1766, introduced by Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago), would create a Hemp Beverage Commission as part of the Illinois Liquor Control Commission to regulate THC concentrations in beverages to 10 mg per 7.5-ounce container. The bill would also impose a tax on hemp-derived beverage manufacturers and hemp beverage importing distributors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill has the support of the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois, but Justin Ward, of the Illinois Healthy Alternatives Association, who operates a hemp farm in Rushville, told The Center Square, The system mirrors that of alcohol and would force small hemp businesses to rely on distributors, effectively limiting their market access. Illinois legalized recreational marijuana for adult use in 2020 but applied limits on how much an individual could purchase and other regulatory restrictions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Environmental lawyers would argue that part of the American dream is the right to live in a clean environment a freedom from worry that the air you breathe, the food you eat and the water you drink are without pollutants and toxins that could make you sick. But several of the environmental freedoms Americans experience today clean air, clean water and clean rain among them could soon be in jeopardy from the Environmental Protection Agency's deregulation plans, several experts told ABC News. MORE: EPA takes aim at water, air and toxics protections as part of massive deregulation campaign Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On March 12, the EPA announced sweeping moves in its effort to walk back environmental protections and eliminate a host of climate change regulations, changes described by the agency as the "biggest deregulatory action in U.S. history." EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced earlier this month that the agency will undertake 31 actions, including rolling back emission regulations on coal, oil and gas production. The announcement also said the EPA will reevaluate government findings that determined that greenhouse gas emissions heat the planet and are a threat to public health. In addition, the EPA plans to eliminate its scientific research office and may have plans to fire more than 1,000 employees, The New York Times reported last week. Alongside President Trump, we are living up to our promises to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, and work hand-in-hand with our state partners to advance our shared mission, Zeldin said in the EPA announcement. PHOTO: Strong winds carry coal dust from a coal pile at the Comanche Generating Station in Pueblo, Colo., Feb. 4, 2025. (RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) The EPA, with its mission to protect human health and the environment, is fundamentally a public health organization, Patrick Simms, vice president for healthy communities at Earthjustice, the nation's largest public interest environmental law firm, told ABC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Revoking these regulations would hamper the EPA's ability to keep Americans from getting sick from the exposure to environmental pollutants, experts said. MORE: EPA workers silenced as agency cancels hundreds of grants Any policy changes that may occur under this Administration will continue to protect human health and the environment," and EPA spokesperson said in response to an ABC News request for comment. "They will be guided by science and the law, as well as input from the public. They will also be guided by many of the Executive Orders issued by the President and EPA Administrator Zeldins Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative. Impacts some experts fear most from EPA deregulation Environmental impacts such as toxic air, poisoned water and acid rain that killed forests and caused crop failures were all occurring prior to EPA regulations, the experts said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bedrock environmental laws such as the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act and the National Environmental Policy Act were all established after the EPA was created in 1970 under Republican President Richard Nixon. Some of the regulations Zeldin has proposed eliminating could negatively affect the safety of drinking water and the amount of pollutants that are released into the atmosphere, Simms said. PHOTO: An emission comes out of a smoke stack on a building as the sun rises, Feb. 18, 2025, in Hoboken, N.J. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images) Additionally, the rollbacks having to do with air pollutants means those toxins will be deposited back into the soil, Murray McBride, a soil and crop scientist and retired Cornell University professor, told ABC News. Coal ash, for example, contains heavy metals, which are absorbed especially by crops like leafy greens, McBride said. Loosening wastewater rules will pollute soil and negatively impact crops even more, McBride said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Should the EPA cease monitoring environmental pollutants, it would be especially dangerous for people with underlying health conditions, such as asthma or heart illness, Paul Anastas, director of the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at Yale University and former assistant administrator for the EPA, told ABC News. "People don't know what they're breathing when data is not being collected," Anastas said. "You don't know whether or not your water is contaminated." PHOTO: An aerial view of pooled contaminated water at Chiquita Canyon Landfill in Castaic, Calif., Feb. 22, 2024. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Deregulation would greatly reduce the country's momentum in transitioning away from fossil fuels as well, Michael Gerrard, a professor of environmental law at Columbia Law School, told ABC News. "This moves us even further behind, and it inevitably will mean that the extreme weather events we've experienced, the floods and the heat waves and the wildfires and so forth, will get worse," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: How environmental groups are battling the 1st actions of the Trump administration U.S. environmental issues prior to the EPA In the late 1960s, there was an "explosion" of public concern about environmental conditions in the country said A. James Barnes, a professor of law and environment and public affairs at Indiana University and former EPA general counsel and deputy administrator. The year 1970 was monumental for progress in environmental protection, Barnes said. The first Earth Day occurred in April 1970, and when the EPA was established in December of that year, Barnes served as chief of staff to William Ruckelshaus, the first EPA administrator. "In 1970, when most of the current environmental laws were initially adopted, we lived in a very different and much more hazardous and toxic country," Simms said. PHOTO: A person exits the headquarters building of the Environmental Protection Agency, March 12, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) Smoke pollution and disposal of waste and sewage were at the top of the list of concerns, Barnes said. A significant portion of untreated municipal sewage was still being dumped into rivers and lakes. Hazardous waste was being dumped into landfills along with household garbage and was often incinerated, which in turn sent the toxic materials into the atmosphere. Some rivers were so polluted that they caught fire, as did Ohio's Cuyahoga River in 1969, Barnes noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lake Erie was considered to be "dying" because it was choking on an uncontrolled growth of algae due to the pollution, according to Barnes, who grew up in industrialized Michigan and recalled fishing in Lake Erie, where he caught carp that had "huge sores" on them. "You wouldn't want anything to do with possibly eating it," Barnes said. All major U.S. cities had unhealthy levels of carbon monoxide from motor vehicle emissions, before the EPA required that cars manufactured after 1975 be equipped with a catalytic converter to remove pollutants from automotive emissions, said Gerrard. A chronic smog of air pollutants that hung over Los Angeles was viewed as a "national joke" at the time, Barnes said, while in places that had steel mills, like Pittsburgh and Birmingham, it was not unusual to see blackened skies from the heavy amounts of pollution in the air. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Your eyes burned," Barnes said. "Your lungs were aggravated by the quality of the air." MORE: Why some states are discharging much more chemical waste into local waterways, according to new report Additionally, exposure to lead and mercury contaminants in the environment was causing brain damage in some people, according to Anastas. Coal was the dominant source of electricity production, the burning of which reduced air quality due to high levels of sulfur dioxide and particulates emitted during production and use, Gerard said. Atmospheric ozone pollution and acid rain would often damage crops, McBride said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In general, the air quality and water quality in 1970 were much, much worse than they are today," Gerrard said. History serves as a reminder of what could again happen if actions are not taken to protect health and the environment, experts warned. "If we don't understand our history, we're doomed to repeat it," Simms said. ABC News' Matthew Glasser, Kelly Livingston and MaryAlice Parks contributed to this report. These are the impacts some scientists fear most from EPA deregulation originally appeared on abcnews.go.com LAKE CHARLES, La. (KLFY) A Lake Charles man was arrested on multiple charges after a deadly crash on Monday night claimed the life of a motorcyclist. On March 24, shortly before 8 p.m., officials investigated a two-vehicle fatality crash at the intersection of Louisiana Highway 397 and Mary Ann Street. The crash claimed the life of 26-year-old Joseph Bourque of Iowa, Louisiana. Officials said the investigation revealed that Mickal Allison of Lake Charles was driving a 2001 Ford Ranger south on Louisiana Highway 397. At the same time, Bourque was riding a 2005 Suzuki motorcycle north on the highway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While attempting to turn left onto Mary Ann Street, officials said the Ford failed to yield and crossed into the path of the oncoming motorcycle, which struck the passenger side of the vehicle. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest Despite wearing a DOT approved helmet, officials said Bourque sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. Allison was uninjured while the Fords passenger sustained serious injuries. During the investigation, officials said Allison displayed signs of impairment and was placed under arrest. He provided a breath sample which revealed a blood alcohol concentration over the legal limit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was sent to a Calcasieu Parish jail and charged with vehicular homicide, vehicular negligent injuring, LA RS 32:122 vehicles turning left at intersections and operating a vehicle with a suspended license. There is currently no information on Allisons bond. This crash remains under investigation. 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. 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. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Heads up if youre headed to the Imperial Beach Pier anytime soon, major construction has started back up to reinforce the structure. This maintenance project is being conducted by the Port of San Diego. Workers are starting to take down a lot of the wooden pieces as the are replacing the deck board. This is work thats going to take most of the week. Crews replaced the two pilings on the pier back in November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The installation team intends to keep the pier open but to ensure everyones safety, pedestrian traffic will be redirected and sometimes stopped for several minutes at a time. A lot of locals who come to the pier daily say theyre glad the pier will stay open during the renovations. This includes Robert Ranger, who always takes a stroll on the pier. The Imperial Beach Pier maintenance project is expected to cost $2.6 million and is expected to be completed by summer 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Independent pharmacists Harry Webb, left, and Kp Burkett testified on a PBM bill on March 25, 2025. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Last year, pharmacist Harry Webb said his three-store chain of Webbs Family Pharmacy filled a collective 161,000 prescriptions for over 10,000 patients. But independent pharmacies like his are closing at an alarming rate across the county, with many owners pointing the finger at Pharmacy Benefit Managers, or PBMs. The PBM business is a shell game. Quite frankly, what we are getting paid is not what theyre billing, Webb told a House committee on Tuesday. Independent pharmacies are at the bottom when it comes to getting reimbursed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not seeking special treatment, Webb told lawmakers. Im just trying to get fair reimbursement. Webb was joined by a handful of other owners and association leaders to urge House committee members to push forward Senate Bill 140, a proposal that would implement several new regulations on PBMs. Specifically, it would require the entities to ensure network adequacy and prohibit perceived conflicts of interest between a PBM, insurer or retail pharmacy. Such vertical integration has been the subject of a federal investigation, which concluded that pharmacy middlemen are raising prices and committing other anti-competitive practices, such as reimbursing their own retail pharmacies at higher rates than independent stores. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to committee testimony, Indiana has roughly 450 chain pharmacy retail stores compared to about 200 supermarket-based or outlet locations. There are approximately 125 independent pharmacies located throughout the state. Opponent Joey Fox said that restrictions on ownership ties between PBMs and other corporations, flies in the face of free market principles. We believe that the key question to ask everybody is, Do we want health care spending to go up, or do we want it to go down? Every other effort by this body has been aimed at getting health care spending to go down, Fox said. This bill, unequivocally and unquestionably, causes health care spending to go up. Fox testified on behalf of the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, which advocates on behalf of the nations major PBMs. Costs like a dispensing fee, which would guarantee some payments to independent pharmacies from PBMs, would ultimately just get passed along to policy holders like employers, Fox said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This bill makes it illegal for us to offer a better deal on drug prices to employers, Fox said. The underlying bill attracted several hefty amendments, including one that would allow the State Personnel Department to pursue a contract to run a PBM for state employees and government insurance beneficiaries. None of the amendments were accepted by the committee on Tuesday, however, nor did the bill advance. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX By Sakshi Dayal NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India and China will have issues in the "foreseeable future" but there are ways to address them without getting into a conflict, India's foreign minister said on Wednesday. The two countries reached an agreement in October regarding patrolling along their Himalayan border, thawing a standoff that began in 2020 when 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers were killed in clashes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dispute impacted several aspects of bilateral ties, from trade and technology to air travel. "We know that, between India and China...at least in the foreseeable future, there will be issues, but there are ways of addressing those issues, and what happened in 2020 was not the way," Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said in a conversation with non-profit Asia Society. India Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also said last week that "trust, enthusiasm, and energy" would return to the equation with China, and that the focus of the countries was to ensure difference do not turn into disputes. "We feel that from October...the relationship has seen some improvement...what we are trying, step by step, is to see if we can rebuild, undo some of the damage which happened as a result of the actions in 2020," Jaishankar said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement India and China share a 3,800 km (2,400 mile) border that has been disputed since the 1950s, and have previously gone to war over it. Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia last year their first formal talks since 2020 - and agreed to boost communication and cooperation, and resolve conflicts to improve ties. (Additional reporting by Shivam Patel) By Shilpa Jamkhandikar MUMBAI (Reuters) - Indian stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra faces police scrutiny for a performance seen to have criticised a key politician and ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, fanning concerns about the limits of free speech in the worlds largest democracy. The ensuing violence triggered comment on social media and prime time shows, even as Kamra refused to apologise over an accusation that his use of the term "traitor" referenced Eknath Shinde, the deputy chief minister of India's richest state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't fear this mob and I will not be hiding under my bed, waiting for this to die down," Kamra, a known critic of Modi, with more than 6 million subscribers on social media, said in a statement on Monday. Kamra's parody song about a traitor did not identify anyone but angered workers of Shinde's hardline Hindu nationalist Shiv Sena party, who ransacked the performance site and complained to police his act had defamed the leader. Media said Kamra declined to appear before police in the financial capital of Mumbai, citing death threats against him by party members, and sought a week's time to do so. Police officers handling the investigation did not respond to Reuters telephone calls to seek comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reuters could not immediately reach Shinde for comment. Shinde, who rose to prominence in the Shiv Sena, a long-term ally of Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, has said he did not support violence by his party workers, but added that Kamra's jokes were not in good taste. Over the weekend, his supporters ransacked the Habitat studio in Mumbai's northwestern suburb of Khar where Kamra had performed, forcing it to down shutters for the time being. On Wednesday, about a dozen police officers cordoned off the studio, its signage blacked out. Shinde became chief minister of the western state of Maharashtra in 2022, helping bring it under Modi's control, after engineering a revolt in the party when it broke ties with the BJP. He took on the deputy role in a later administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supporters inferred his identity from attributes mentioned in Kamra's song. Many BJP lawmakers warned against abuse of freedom of speech. "Your freedom of speech cannot be used to personally attack someone else," said Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of India's most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, who backed Shinde. But Kamra garnered support on social media and elsewhere, drawing more than 6 million views for a YouTube video of the performance, and more than 58,000 comments within two days. Many viewers donated money to him, backing his no-apology stance. Kamra is no stranger to controversy, having faced several criminal cases and even a six-month airline ban in 2020 after he heckled a journalist seen as close to the BJP aboard a plane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As stand-up comedy has become increasingly popular among urban educated Indians, its ridicule of prominent figures provokes complaints from hardline groups. Last month, the Supreme Court ordered India's top podcaster to stop shows until further notice, days after he was charged with obscenity for a stand-up comedy show. (This story has been refiled to correct the garble in paragraph 9) (Reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar; Additional reporting by Francis Mascerenhas; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signs his first bill into law during a Statehouse ceremony on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed his first bill into law Tuesday, establishing a new online agricultural portal for Hoosier farmers. House Bill 1149, authored by Rep. Kendall Culp, R-Rensselaer, creates an online hub coined by Braun as a one-stop-shop for farmers to communicate with state government and get information they need to be successful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor additionally said the new law will help farmers avoid red tape. Hoosier farmers feed America and power our economy, and this bill makes their important job a little bit easier, Braun told reporters at a Statehouse bill signing ceremony. The Indiana State Department of Agriculture is tasked with creating and maintaining the new online portal. Its features will provide Hoosier farmers with centralized funding information, including a searchable database of grants with deadlines and eligibility; regulatory checklists to help avoid violations when entering new markets; tools for tracking lost farmland; and communication channels to provide feedback on federal regulations and state-level agricultural services. The bill was part of Brauns Freedom and Opportunity agriculture agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Six other measures were signed into law on Tuesday, including a bill to update Indianas 25-foot rule first passed into law in 2023 which allows law enforcement officers to move witnesses back 25 feet from an active crime scene. In response to lawsuits filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana and others, House Enrolled Act 1122 clarifies that officers can only invoke the rule if they have a reasonable belief that a persons presence will interfere with their lawful duties. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX If you've gotten any texts lately telling you that you need to pay up after using an Indiana Toll Road or even that it is your last chance to pay up, that message is not legitimate. It's part of a new smishing, or text scam that has been popping up all over the country. Indianapolis is one of the top 15 states receiving these toll road scam texts according to McAfee, one of the most well-known anti-scam and anti-virus software companies nationwide. "Scammers have been using fraudulent text messages to deceive individuals into providing payment for unpaid tolls," Indiana Toll Road Concession Company said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's what to know. Will Indiana toll roads text me to collect payment? No; Indiana Toll Roads does not text customers asking for sensitive information. The ITRCC put out a statement to clarify this in light of the recent text message scam. "ITR Concession Company LLC (ITRCC) reminds customers that it does not send text messages requesting sensitive information such as passwords, payment information, or account numbers," Indiana Toll Road said in a statement. What do the Indiana toll road scam texts look like? The texts read something along the lines of "Welcome to the Indiana Toll Road. Your vehicle has been recorded using the Indiana Toll Road. To avoid a bill with late fees of up to $35, please settle your balance by visiting the link below" and include a link that typically includes the keywords of "IN," "toll" and "e-zpass" in the URL. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ITRCC does not text customers asking for payment and therefore advises against clicking that link. "These messages may appear to be from toll road agencies with links to pay a toll," The ITRCC said. "If you receive a text message that seems suspicious or asks for sensitive information, do not click on the link, or respond to the message." The only link where customers can manage their accounts and pay tolls is www.indianatollroad.org. How to confirm if my Indiana Toll Road text is legit Indiana E-ZPass account holders can contact ITRCC Customer Service at (574) 675-4010 to verify the authenticity of any message. Representatives are available via phone Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for walk-in for assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Customers should always go to www.indianatollroad.org to manage their accounts or pay tolls. How to report Indiana Toll Road scam texts If you receive one of these texts, the following is suggested by the ITRCC: File a complaint with the IC3, www.ic3.gov, be sure to include: The phone number from where the text originated. The website listed within the text Check your account using the toll services legitimate website. Contact the toll services customer service phone number. Delete any smishing texts received. If you clicked any link or provided your information, take efforts to secure your personal information and financial accounts. Dispute any unfamiliar charges. Indiana highways: INDOT says Construction to begin on I-65 in southeast Indy. Project will take years What is phishing? What is smishing? Phishing is pronounced like the word "fishing" and is defined by Microsoft as "an attack that attempts to steal your money, or your identity, by getting you to reveal personal information such as credit card numbers, bank information, or passwords on websites that pretend to be legitimate." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phishing is typically done either via phone call or email. Smishing is essentially SMS phishing, where the method of trying to steal information is through text message. In December, another smishing scam was reported where someone claiming to be USPS texted about tracking a package. This was another scam, as the USPS doesn't text customers unless the customer specifically opts in to be texted. Mary Walrath-Holdridge contributed to this report. Katie Wiseman is a trending news reporter for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Contact her at klwiseman@gannett.com. Follow her on Bluesky @katiewiseman. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Is this toll road text real? How to spot a scam text about unpaid tolls Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto began his tenure last October with characteristic bluster and bullishness about Indonesias potential and his own abilities to transform the country. Prabowo vowed to fulfill his campaign promises of significantly expanding a national free meal program and elevating Indonesias profile in regional and global politics, the latter pledge a reflection of his much deeper interest in foreign policy than his predecessor, former President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi. But less than six months into his five-year term as president, Prabowo already faces a mountain of challenges. He has responded critically to recent mass street protests that poked holes in some of his economic plans. He has built a massively bloated Cabinet, while doing little to prevent potential corruption. And even on foreign affairs, ostensibly his specialty, Prabowo has seemed unable to develop coherent positions, sometimes seemingly pursuing contradictory plans in the same overseas trip. Budget Turmoil Several months ago, with no warning to his own economic advisers and without providing a legal or constitutional rationale for his actions, Prabowo announced he would be making massive cuts to the national budget for 2025 that will reduce Indonesias planned spending by 8.5 percent. The measures include significant reductions in state budget transfers to regional governments that depend heavily on state funds, especially in poorer parts of the country. Prabowo has also slashed the budgets of state agencies and ministries, a move highly unpopular in Jakarta and many other cities, where these funds represent a major contribution to the local economy in such a bureaucratic country. Those cuts have hit some particularly vital ministries hard, including those dealing with childrens welfare, public infrastructure and natural disasters, which are extremely common in Indonesia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. The savings will be used in part to finance Prabowos highly touted campaign pledge to roll out a $28 billion free meal program for students and pregnant women that will ultimately serve a quarter of the countrys population. But more controversially, they also will go to finance a new state sovereign wealth fund called Danantara, which will control some of the countrys largest state-owned enterprises. They also may go toward plans, approved last week by the legislature, to allow military personnel to hold a much broader range of civilian government jobs than at any time since the Suharto era. Notably, Indonesias legislature passed a law specifying that the fund will be overseen by neither the Finance Ministry nor the countrys auditors or corruption monitors. Instead, Prabowo himself will manage it. As things stand, there appear to be few plans for what the new fund will actually do. Nonetheless, Prabowo has said that Danantara eventually will control $900 billion, which would make it the largest sovereign wealth fund in Southeast Asia. He even suggested he might make another round of large budget cuts whose proceeds may go to Danantara, which would further hobble the government. Prabowo is now facing growing public anger over his domestic policies and concern among Indonesias foreign policy elite. And yet, he appears to be taking neither seriously so far. The spending cuts that have already been made are also destroying not only ministries that deal with essential public services but also those that provide government oversight, raising serious concerns about corruption. Prabowo has increasingly relied on the military to carry out state functions, such as the pilot stage of the free meal program, and the law passed last week will expand military involvement even further. And some ministers in his enormous Cabinet oversee industries or areas where they have direct business interests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many Indonesians and political analysts view these actions as signs that Prabowo, a long-time member of the Indonesian elite, intends to further enrich the countrys oligarchy while undermining Indonesias democracy and the rule of law, which already eroded under Jokowi. The concerns have triggered public anger and sparked protests in many cities. The demonstrators have dubbed their campaign Dark Indonesia, a cynical reference to Prabowos predictions of a sunny economic and political future for the country. It is not just those worried about Indonesias democracy and rule of law who are concerned about Prabowos economic policies, however. The budget cutsalong with the uncertainty surrounding his future plans, given that he made these initial cuts with no warningare unsettling consumers and investors alike. The effect is likely to dampen GDP growth for the coming year, at a time when Prabowo is consistently promising it to rise. Long-term growth may take a hit, too. Prabowo had claimed Indonesia, which has averaged around 5 percent growth recently, would start growing by 8 percent annually under his presidency. But Indonesian economists see that target as extremely unlikely, given Prabowos policies. Foreign Policy Confusion Prabowos foreign policy has also been muddled, a more surprising development given his background as a former defense minister and his numerous meetings with world leaders during the presidential transition period. But after taking office, Prabowo appointed his former personal secretary, who has no experience in the Foreign Ministry, as foreign minister. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, in November, during Prabowos first official overseas trip as president, the Chinese Foreign Ministry released a readout of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing that appeared to legitimate Chinas contested claims in the South China Sea. While Indonesia does not have any formal territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea, Chinese vessels have increasingly encroached in waters around Indonesias Natuna Islands. And historically, Indonesia has not approved of Chinas growing assertiveness in other Southeast Asian countries disputed waters. So the communique came as a major surprise. It was even more shocking to many Indonesians, since Prabowo had historically treaded carefully in dealing with Jakartas relations with Beijing and has been known as a strong defender of Indonesias borders and maritime claims, including around the Natuna Islands. Indonesias Foreign Ministry quickly walked back the statement from Beijing, but Prabowo has since repeated it, causing more confusion. And in the first months of Prabowos presidency, he failed to respond forcefully when China sent coast guard ships into Indonesian-claimed waters on multiple occasions, leading domestic critics to suggest Prabowo was jeopardizing the countrys sovereignty. Days after the visit to Beijing, Prabowo met with then-U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington, where he notched a commitment from the U.S. to continue supporting Indonesias green energy transition while seemingly failing to understand that the commitment would likely falter under President Donald Trump. On that visit, Prabowo also asserted that Jakarta shared similar views on human rights as Washington, and the two countries reportedly agreed to work together on the issue, despite Prabowo not having emphasized human rights or shown a commitment to the issue in the past. In fact, Prabowo has a troubling human rights record that includes abuses during his time as a special forces officer during Indonesias military dictatorship era. A Public Backlash Amid these stumbles, Prabowo is now facing growing public anger over his domestic policies and concern among Indonesias foreign policy elite. And yet, he appears to be taking neither seriously so far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regarding his chaotic and potentially corrupt economic policies, Prabowo has stonewalled, criticizing the Dark Indonesia protests and any concerns about him controlling a giant sovereign wealth fund, while continuing to promise a bright economic future. He has repeatedly touted a Goldman Sachs study that predicted Indonesia would grow strongly and would be the worlds fourth-largest economy by 2050. But the report, released in 2022, was just a projection, and strong growth relies on sound economic policies and the rule of law, which are currently lacking in Indonesia. Particularly among younger Indonesians, Prabowos economic policies and centralized economic management, and the potential damage they may do to growth, have created such serious dissatisfaction that the country could lose a generation of potential business leaders and valuable workers to brain drain. A recent poll by the ISEAS-Yusof Institute in Singapore found that young Indonesians are more pessimistic than their peers in any other Southeast Asian country. These are the people that Indonesia would need if it is to become more innovative and sustain higher growth, which would fulfill the Goldman Sachs prediction Prabowo constantly repeats. Yet many of Indonesias youth see little future in the country and are trying to emigrate elsewhere in the region or other parts of the world. Prabowos legacy from his military career already includes a dark history, one that he overcame in his political climb to the countrys top office. But if his presidency continues down its current path, he may be remembered for both his past human rights abuses and the undermining of an economy with enormous potential, to say nothing of Indonesias democracy and rule of law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joshua Kurlantzick is senior fellow for Southeast Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations and a featured analyst for World Politics Review. His new book is, Beijings Global Media Offensive: Chinas Uneven Campaign to Influence Asia and the World. Abigail McGowan is research associate for Southeast Asia and U.S. Foreign Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations. More Asia Coverage: Read all of our the Asia-Pacific region coverage here. The post Indonesias Prabowo Is Stumbling Out of the Gate appeared first on World Politics Review. This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter. Digital checkout company Bolt, like other fintechs, is riding a wave of economic and regulatory change roiling the industry, thanks partly to the ascent of the Trump administration and the changes unfolding in Washington. Bolt President Justin Grooms attended the industry Fintech Meetup conference in Las Vegas earlier this month and heard a lot of talk about how those changes may affect the industry. In an interview with Payments Dive shortly after the event on March 18, he touched on the impact of leadership changes happening in Washington, including at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Reserve, and how they will dovetail with industry changes already underway. For one thing, the Trump-propelled shift toward digital assets will have an impact on fintechs like his. Grooms also noted how U.S. payments evolution has been driven by fintechs, such as buy now, pay later firms, as well as novel ideas, like the emergence of stablecoins, all of which are causing upheaval and competition for legacy payments players, including banks. Editors note: This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. PAYMENTS DIVE: Did you hear anything interesting with respect to the idea of states becoming more active in regulation in the payments and fintech sphere? JUSTIN GROOMS: I didnt hear a broad discussion around that, but what I did hear some discussion about that was interesting is a pick-up in applications for money transfer licenses more broadly. We think about these walls kind of falling down around banking, or at least being challengedeven very powerful fintechs that have a lot of cash don't generally sit on ten billion (dollars) of assets under management, so they dont always hit that classical Fed threshold of what it takes to be a bank type financial institution So, with Michelle Bowman's nomination to be the vice chair of the Fed, shes historically said, Hey, that number might be too high, which all of a sudden makes banking more manageable for fintechs to look at. And the second thing is that some people that we spoke to that are in the business of helping companies get and manage (money transmitter licenses) were saying business has picked up a lot for us recently, which is interesting to me, because I dont think the biggest fintechs are out there looking to spool up MTLs. This means to me, there might be a lot of innovation happening in the smaller fintechs. (FOX40.COM) The Sacramento Police Department is investigating the circumstances behind a person found dead in a Sacramento parking lot. Video Above: What happens when you call 911? Around 6 p.m., SPD responded to the Food Co lot on the 5400 block of Stockton Boulevard for multiple reports of a person on the ground. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a dead body. A dead body was found in a Sacramento parking lot on March 25, 2025. Dignity Health seeks help identifying John Doe patient, found in Sacramento County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police suspect the person died from an overdose and said there is nothing criminal in nature about the death. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. ATHENS, Ala. (WHNT) A woman is facing charges after police say a pedestrian was hit Tuesday night by a vehicle that left the scene. The Athens Police Department said that officers responded to the area of U.S. Highway 72 west of Interstate 65 for a hit-and-run collision around 10:25 p.m. Officers believe that the pedestrian was walking westbound along Highway 72 and that the vehicle was driving eastbound. APD said that the vehicle hit the pedestrian and continued driving eastbound, leaving the scene. The next morning Athens Police said they believed the vehicle involved was a dark gray 2020-2024 Kia Telluride. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following an investigation into the incident, the department identified the driver of the Telluride as 40-year-old Bethany Jade Gray. She was charged with leaving the scene of an accident with injuries. Gray was booked into the Limestone County Jail, and her bond was set at $5,000. Authorities said that the pedestrian had life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital. That person is stable and awaiting surgery, APD said. If you have any information on the vehicle or the driver of the vehicle, contact the Athens Police Department at (256)-233-6802. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. The Iowa Senate sent a bill to the Iowa House that would add work requirements for many people on Medicaid. The bill, Senate File 615, passed along party lines, with Republicans backing it. The bill would require 80 hours of work a month to stay eligible for the income-based medical assistance. Those given exceptions include those younger than 19, people over 65, those with dependents under the age of six and pregnant women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. Singapore-listed food-and-beverage group Food Empire Holdings is eyeing markets in central Asia through its new coffee factory in Kazakhstan. The company has secured financial backing from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for the site, which is being built in Khorgos, close to the border with China. The facility will make coffee for retail and foodservice customers, including products sold under the MacCoffee brand. The site will be Food Empire Holdings first for coffee products in Kazakhstan, where it also has a tea factory after acquiring local business Tea House last year. Sudeep Nair, Food Empire Holdings CEO, told Investment Monitor there is strong market potential for coffee in Kazakhstan and said the site would supply neighbouring markets. Kazakhstan has a high proportion of middle-income earners and is one of the fastest-growing economies in Central Asia, offering strong market potential. The regions coffee culture is rising as more consumers adopt instant coffee and premium instant beverage options for convenience amidst increasingly busy lifestyles, Nair said. Ultimately, the new facility will enable us to serve the region including market such as Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Georgia, more efficiently. Food Empire Holdings is spending $30m on the factory, which is expected to be operational next year. The EBRD has put up a $10m loan. Nair said the company also wanted to address the logistical challenges of central Asia, a region he described as having inconsistent cross-border cooperation. He added: Over the years, we have built strong partnerships with reliable logistics providers and harnessed digital tools to optimise our supply chain. Additionally, the new facilitys strategic location near China allows us to efficiently source and import raw materials. Food Empire Holdings has four other coffee-mix production facilities, which are located in Malaysia, Ukraine, Vietnam and Russia. The company is lining up another coffee factory in Vietnam, which it hopes to be up and running in 2028. The company, which also manufactures snacks, generated revenue of $476.3m in 2024, up 11.9% on a year earlier. Food Empire Holdings revenue across its Ukraine, Kazakhstan and CIS business unit grew 12.6% to $124.7m. Russia remains the groups largest geographic unit. In 2024, Food Empire Holdings took in sales of $141.7m in Russia, down 1.1% year on year. The companys net profit after tax fell 6.4% to $52.9m amid pressure from the high coffee prices seen last year. A federal judge ruled Iowa cannot enforce part of its book ban law (Senate File 496). District Judge Stephen Locher blocked the part of the law that bars school libraries from carrying books that depict sex acts. The law also bans teaching kids about sexual orientation and gender identity before theyre in seventh grade. The law passed in 2023, but portions of that were blocked by the judge. His decision was overturned in August and has been enforced this school year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. Sen. Mike Klimesh, R-Spillville, spoke during floor debate March 25, 2025 on legislation that would set work requirements for recipients of Iowa's expanded Medicaid program with some exceptions. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) The Iowa Senate passed legislation Tuesday setting work requirements for Iowans on the states expanded Medicaid program. Senate File 615, passed by the Senate in a 33-15 vote, would make work requirements mandatory for the continued existence of the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan, also known as IHAWP, the Medicaid coverage available for low-income, able-bodied adults from ages 19 to 64. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation was amended in committee to require people to work at least 80 hours each month to continue receiving this health coverage. Thats an increase from an earlier version of the Senate bill that set the requirement at 20 hours, but the amended bill aligns with the House work requirements bill. There are some exceptions to the proposed IHAWP work requirements, including for people with disabilities, in substance abuse treatment programs for a period of up to six months and those with children under age 6. According to the Legislative Services Agency, there are about 181,000 individuals currently enrolled in IHAWP, 12.3% of whom would be medically exempt from work requirements, and another 10% exempt through other provisions under the legislation leaving roughly 142,000 Iowans subject to work requirements. LSA stated that about 32,000 individuals may lose IHAWP coverage with the implementation of work requirements. The fiscal note stated that based on data from the implementation of Medicaid work or community engagement requirements in Arkansas, LSA estimated nearly 25% of individuals subject to Medicaid work requirements in Iowa may fail to meet work and reporting requirements and lose IHAWP coverage, with 10.5% estimated to later regain coverage. The nonpartisan LSA said in its fiscal note that Iowa Department of Health and Human Services has not responded to multiple requests for information, but that it estimated the cost of Medicaid work requirements would result in decreased Medicaid expenditures of $3.1 million in fiscal year 2026 and $17.5 million in FY 2027. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though few senators spoke on the legislation during floor debate, Sen. Molly Donahue, D-Marion, said after the debate that the most important thing that people need to know in our communities back home, is that we received a fiscal note that is not worth the paper it is on because HHS did not respond to LSAs requests for information. She said she and other lawmakers had also not received information they requested from HHS on the implementation of Medicaid work requirements. Iowa HHS did not respond to a request for comment on the LSA note or comments made by senators. So the only information we have is from Arkansas and Atlanta, she said. We know that in Arkansas, it costs about 27-28 million dollars beyond their savings. And in Georgia, it was 80-some million dollars more than their savings. We are not going to save money on this. It is going to cost Iowa far more not just the people who are losing their health care if that happens, but those of us who are paying for our health care. She said the costs of health care for these individuals will be shifted to others in the system. Donahue argued the legislation will not help push people on IHAWP into the workforce, but create more hardships for low-income people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iowans are not lazy. They are not sitting at home on their little hammock and having a margarita, Donahue said. Theyre doing what they can, which is why they have this program to help them, because they cannot afford private insurance. Under the bill, Iowa HHS would be required to seek a waiver from the federal government to implement these work requirements. If the federal government does not allow for work requirements to be implemented, the legislation directs the Iowa HHS to discontinue IHAWP with a provision to implement an alternative plan if ending the program is not allowed. Sen. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, introduced an amendment that would remove this language. She called the legislation as a whole a Medicaid repeal bill in sheeps clothing a reference to comments made by Idaho Democratic state Rep. Ilana Rubel regarding a similar bill in Idaho that proposed repealing Medicaid expansion if the federal government did not approve work requirements. Petersen said the IHAWP program was a huge bipartisan effort signed by Governor (Terry) Branstad that lowered Iowas uninsured population by 50%. The trigger language in the bill, cutting the program if work requirements do not receive federal approval, would strip health coverage from all 181,000 Iowans currently on IHAWP, she said, and would remove the state savings, support for Iowa health care providers and better health outcomes achieved through the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This demands the department to get rid of Medicaid expansion, Petersen said. Ive heard many of you talk about not having health care access in your hometowns if you look at the fiscal report, it doesnt even talk about the detrimental impacts if that goes into effect. Get rid of the trigger language in this bill. Sen. Mike Klimesh, R-Spillville, the bills floor manager, said this provision contained the language subject to federal approval for Iowa HHS to be allowed to discontinue the Medicaid expansion program. In this situation, the bill states the state would instead pursue the implementation of an alternative plan as allowed for under federal Medicaid administration guidelines. However, Klimesh said the conversation on the bill should be focused on the importance of work in an individuals life. Work is more than just a paycheck, Klimesh said. It provides individuals with a sense of pride, accomplishment, and a deeper connection to society. This bill ensures that individuals receiving Medicaid expansion benefits are given the opportunity to experience this dignity. By requiring work, we are providing an important stepping stone to help Iowans develop the life skills, build responsibility and regain a sense of purpose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The measure also directs Iowa HHS to seek approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to implement work requirements for other public assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). There are already work requirements in place for SNAP recipients able-bodied adults with no dependents are required to work, participate in work programs or volunteer for at least 80 hours a month to receive benefits. LSA estimated any additional SNAP work requirements under the legislation would have a minimal fiscal impact on the state because SNAP work requirements are already in place. The House has its version of the Medicaid work requirements bill, House File 948, on the calendar for floor debate Wednesday. As state lawmakers are advancing bills to set these work requirements, Gov. Kim Reynolds has also pledged to pursue work requirements through executive action. In her Condition of the State address in January, she said she plans to seek a waiver from the Trump administration for these requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mason Mauro, deputy communications director for the governors office, said the governor has directed HHS to seek a waiver, but that the request has not yet been submitted. As she stated in her Condition of the State speech, Governor Reynolds has directed HHS to submit a Medicaid Work Requirements waiver which will be done soon, Mauro said. The waiver will match the current bill moving through legislation and will install new eligibility requirements for Iowans to be covered by Medicaid. It will include common sense exemptions such as, but not limited to, age, disability, caretaking of children under a certain age, and those on unemployment. Iowans who do not meet the new requirements will be given a time to come into compliance; those who choose not to will no longer be eligible for Medicaid coverage. In a new video released by state media, two Iranian military leaders responsible for the countrys weapons programs are seen riding through a long, weapons-packed tunnel. Set to ominous music, the 85-second video was published amid growing regional tensions and infers that Iran can withstand an attack and deliver a response. But the video that is made to show off Iranian standoff attack capabilities also highlights a major vulnerability. As they drive through the facility, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, chief of staff of Irans Armed Forces, and Amir Ali Hajizadeh, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force (IRGC-AF) commander, show off some of Irans most advanced missiles and rockets. There are Kheybar Shekans, Ghadr-Hs, Sejjils, and Haj Qassems, as well as the Paveh Land Attack Cruise Missiles. Iran used several of these weapons in an attack on Israel last fall. Iran is responding to external threats by releasing a new video showcasing one of its underground missile tunnel systems, packed with missile engines, mobile launchers, and a range of advanced weaponry. The footage prominently features the Paveh cruise missile, the Ghadr-380 pic.twitter.com/ILsdlrPtQy Basha (@BashaReport) March 25, 2025 As for that aforementioned glaring vulnerability, the munitions are stored out in the open in long continuous tunnels and large caverns with no, or at least limited, blast doors or separated revetments. That could result in devastating consequences should the facility be breached in an attack. The lack of these protective measures could lead to an absolutely massive chain reaction of secondary explosions. This is an interesting revelation because other Iranian underground weapons caverns, especially those that can launch missiles through apertures in the surface, do appear to have these measures, as least to some degree. According to the video, solid and liquid propellant ballistic s like the Kheybar Shekan, Ghadr-H, Sejjil, and Haj Qassem, as well as the Paveh LACM are stored at this underground missile city. pic.twitter.com/q6daJdVjWN Behnam Ben Taleblu (@therealBehnamBT) March 25, 2025 The video was released amid threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. Earlier this month, Trump issued a two-month deadline for Tehran to reach a new nuclear deal, Axios reported. In 2018, Trump pulled out of an earlier nuclear weapons deal signed by former President Barack Obama. Trump also intimated that Iran could be in the crosshairs of an ongoing campaign against the Houthi rebels because Iran is their main sponsor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As we noted earlier today, the U.S. is building up forces in the Middle East, which includes Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordering the U.S. Navys USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group to the region. There it will join the USS Harry S. Trumans carrier strike group, whose deployment to the Middle East was just extended by Hegseth. There are also indications that a dozen F-35s from Hill Air Force Base recently arrived in the area. In addition, a significant force of B-2 Spirit stealth bombers appears to be headed 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 B-2 has the unique capability to strike fortified underground compounds unlike any other conventional weapon. These kinds of underground weapons facilities would be among their top targets should a war with the U.S. kick off, and the U.S. recently messaged this reality to Iran. 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 First and foremost, the video was almost certainly released as part of Irans broader deterrence messaging, Mohammed al-Basha, founder of the Basha Report, a U.S.-based risk advisory, told The War Zone. The video is now circulating widely across proAxis of Resistance Telegram channels and WhatsApp groups, further amplifying Irans strategic signaling. The video is Irans latest showcasing of its underground facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In November 2020, video and images emerged showing for the first time an underground Iranian ballistic missile facility in which groups of missiles ready to fire are moved around massive tunnels using an automated railway-type system. The vertically-stowed missile magazine appears to bring groups of missiles into position for rapid, consecutive launching from the cavernous subterranean bunker. Three years later, Iran unveiled a cavernous facility apparently being used to protect combat aircraft. The imagery released showed F-4D/E Phantom IIs that continue to make up a significant portion of its air power. You can see that facility in the following video. / .https://t.co/0udat3NJrM@Tasnim_militarypic.twitter.com/O5qTfeJmCy - (@Tasnim_military) February 7, 2023 Though these facilities are designed to withstand most aerial attacks, they are vulnerable in other ways. Last September, Israel carried out a number of operations showing how these facilities can be attacked. Israel destroyed a secretive highly-fortified underground missile production facility in northwest Syria in an attack that leveraged inserting special operations forces by helicopter to retrieve equipment and documents, before demolishing the facility. Not only did the raid strike at the heart of the Iranian military presence in Syria, but it also sent a clear message to Tehran that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) can and will attack deep underground complexes with ground troops that it otherwise cannot destroy from the air. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few weeks later, the Israeli Air Force dropped dozens of bunker-buster bombs on the underground command center of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut. He was killed in that raid, further driving home the point that Irans subterranean facilities are susceptible. While there is no doubt that Iran has many standoff weapons and that they can be secured in subterranean complexes, in this case, it appears that even a single weapon penetrating its hardened exterior by any means could have absolutely catastrophic results. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com By Clodagh Kilcoyne NEWTOWNMOUNTKENNEDY, Ireland (Reuters) - Flanked by a gaggle of smartphone-wielding onlookers, Irish farmer Joe Phelan ushered two alpacas down the corridor of a local nursing home as beaming residents waited their turn to pet them. A decade after ditching his office job for farming, 64-year-old "Alpaca Joe" has found a new job for his herd of 71 woolly South American camelids: animal therapy for the elderly and people with additional needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They get to feel them. They look into their big, huge brown eyes, which, you know, just are so relaxing. And they might hear them humming," Phelan said. "We work with local schools with their special-needs classes, and the teachers tell us that the impact on the kids is really positive." Phelan initially looked into the more traditional types of farming that his family had been involved in for hundreds of years, but said he could not see a way to sustain a living. Instead he started researching alternative farming options. He eventually bought seven alpacas and sold his home to buy a farm to graze them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He started off with "alpaca & prosecco" treks and stocked a shop with alpaca wool socks and soft toys. But he soon noticed their potential to ease anxiety among older visitors and those with additional needs. "We noticed that we were having a really positive impact on people with special needs, be it kids with autism, be it adults or adolescents with Down syndrome ... We just found that it lifted everybody's spirits," Phelan said in an interview at the K2Alpacas farm in Newtownmountkennedy, around 30 km (19 miles) south of Dublin. The business now employs 11 people, has 71 alpacas and two much larger llamas, and offers accommodation to visitors. Phelan packed two of his more sociable male alpacas into the back of a van for the trip to Oakfield Nursing Home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We know that we have certain boys and girls that are suitable for the therapeutic work," he said. He still had to gently scold the selected alpacas when they took a rest beside the patients. The nursing home's activities coordinator, Sinead Meegan, came across the herd on TikTok. She said the residents were thrilled with the visit and she would invite them back again soon, "just to see the smiles on the faces". "I think it triggered a lot of memories for people that would have grown up on farms," she said. (Reporting by Clodagh Kilcoyne; Writing by Conor Humphries; Editing by Aidan Lewis) By Ahmed Kingimi and Amindeh Blaise Atabong MAIDUGURI, Nigeria/YAOUNDE (Reuters) -Suspected Islamist fighters launched a coordinated attack on an army base and a military outpost in Nigeria's northeastern Borno State, killing at least 16 people, security sources told Reuters. Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province militants have mainly operated in the northeast of Nigeria, attacking security forces and civilians and killing and displacing tens of thousands of people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the latest assault, Boko Haram insurgents and ISWAP fighters struck an army base in the Wajiroko area of Borno State at about 2100 GMT on Monday and set military equipment on fire, the sources said. One of the soldiers in the Wajiroko brigade said at least four soldiers had been killed and several others injured, including the brigade commander. Armed fighters in light tactical vehicles also stormed an outpost in Wulgo, a village about 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) from the Cameroonian border town of Fotokol, killing 12 soldiers and injuring a dozen others, Cameroon's Defence Ministry said on Wednesday. A military source who asked not to be named told Reuters the raid that targeted soldiers who are fighting the insurgency as part of a multinational task force took place between midnight and 3 a.m. local time on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The source added the militants were suspected to have initially launched their attack using drones before advancing with a ground assault. "They looted an important stockpile of weapons," the source said. Videos shared on social media showed bloodied bodies lying on the ground after the attack, charred patrol vehicles and damaged buildings. Reuters could not independently verify those videos. A Nigerian army spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment. Cameroon army spokesperson Cyrille Serge Atonfack Guemo confirmed the attack but said the casualty figures were still unclear. Makinta Modu, a member of a local militia recruited to help the Nigerian army, said in the Wajiroko attack militants overran an army "forward operation base". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Around 10:30 p.m. (2130 GMT) air force fighter jets came for reinforcement ... and killed many of the ISWAP fighters that captured the military base," Modu said. It was not clear whether the army had regained control over the base. Although weakened by military assaults and internal fighting over the years, Boko Haram and ISWAP have stepped up attacks on military and civilian targets in Borno this year. An Islamist insurgency has plagued the northeast of Africa's most populous country for more than a decade, while kidnapping and banditry are rampant in the northwest and gang and separatist violence is common in the southeast. (Reporting by Ahmed Kingimi and Amindeh Blaise Atabong; Writing by Chijioke Ohuocha and Anait Miridzhanian, Editing by William Maclean and Bill Berkrot, Robbie Corey-Boulet and Rod Nickel) A generation ago, it would have been unthinkable: the leader of Frances far-right party an organization infamously founded by Nazis invited to speak at an Israeli antisemitism conference. But on Thursday, Jordan Bardella, leader of Frances National Rally party, will take to the stage in Jerusalem a victory both symbolic and political for the far-right lawmaker as Israel seeks new friends around the world. Its a stunning reversal of political norms. Far-right leaders across Europe, desperate for mainstream acceptance, are seeking common cause with Israel in demonizing Muslims sympathetic to the Palestinian cause. And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose party has long seen itself as a natural ally of right-wing movements around the world, is giving his stamp of approval to a movement historically shunned by Jews. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is all the more surprising because antisemitism remains a core ideology of most ring-wing extremists who have been behind some of the most deadly attacks on Jews in the West in recent years. Unlikely bedfellows In France, the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023 may have been the touchpaper for the public melding of far-right and Israeli positions, but its been an evolution decades in the making. National Rally was a 2018 rebranding of the National Front, which was founded in 1972 by Jean-Marie Le Pen together with wartime Nazi collaborators and veterans of Frances colonial disasters in Algeria and then-Indochina. The youthful Bardella, a loyal disciple of Le Pens daughter, Marine, has helped rehabilitate and detoxify the movements image as he seeks to invigorate a new generation of far-right voters. French Jews the largest such community in Europe have not been immune to his charms, especially as he shifts his movements ideological crosshairs away from Jews to Muslim and migrant populations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many have become receptive to the far-rights rhetoric, Rabbi Emile Ackermann of Paris told CNN. Members of his congregation have been attacked or, out of fear, stopped wearing Jewish headdress or removed Jewish symbols like the mezuzah that graces doors from their houses, he said. The Representative Council of Jewish Institutions (CRIF) in France, in partnership with the Ministry of Interior, recorded 1,570 antisemitic acts in the country in 2024 more than triple the number logged in 2022. Parties like National Rally, he said, are perceived as the only ones able to defend Jews against what far-right parties have billed as the Islamist threat, Ackermann said. Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella at a march against anti-Semitism in Paris, in November 2023. - Isa Harsin/SIPA/Shutterstock After years of the countrys worst terror attacks, the French far right has surfed the security wave in France, Vincent Martigny, professor of political science at the University of Cote dAzur, told CNN. A secondary motive was to seduce the (small Jewish electorate, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, Bardella canceled a speech at the US Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February after former Trump adviser Steve Bannon made what some likened to a Nazi salute. Bannon deniedthe accusation. On Monday, Bardella told Frances BFMTV that he was not seeking to instrumentalize antisemitism for political gain, hitting back at comments from the CRIF chief Yonathan Arfi, who had said that the countrys Jewish bodies had always had a distrust of the French far right. In the mind of the far right, supporting Israel and fighting against terrorism, its fighting against Islamism, Martigny said. Political chameleon The growing acceptability of the European far right coincides with a rightward shift in Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu now governs alongside Itamar Ben Gvir, a minister who was once considered too extreme even to serve in the Israeli military, and who carries a conviction for supporting a terror organization. The decision to invite someone like Bardella to speak in Jerusalem has been coming for a while, said Daniel Shek, a retired career Israeli diplomat who served as ambassador to France from 2006 to 2010. Amichai Chikli, Israels minister for diaspora affairs, who organized the conference, has been promoting this idea that extreme right parties across Europe and beyond are a natural allies of Israel, Shek said. And therefore all their history, their ideological roots, becomes insignificant as long as they support the Israeli government and hate Muslims. Indeed, Shek said, in the eyes of the current government the only antisemites are Muslims and the extreme left. Jordan Bardella, leader of France's National Rally, in Jerusalem on Wednesday. - Jack Guez/Reuters The Anti-Defamation League, which tracks a soaring number of white supremacist incidents, says that geographic location is a far more important indicator of antisemitic views than religion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision to invite Bardella and others from far-right parties was controversial enough that Israeli President Isaac Herzog decided not to host the opening night of the antisemitism conference, his spokesperson confirmed to CNN. Netanyahu, who often presents himself as the defender of Jews all around the world, has declared that he will never allow the atrocities of history to recur we will never capitulate to antisemitism or terrorism. Sheks views are not universal among former Israeli diplomats. Avi Pazner, who also served as ambassador to France, in the 1990s, said the National Rally had evolved. I know exactly the evil man that Jean Marie Le Pen was the notorious antisemite. But I can also see now that his party has completely changed, Pazner told CNN. In our tradition, when somebody expresses remorse, and it is true remorse, you should embrace him and not push him away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Shek headed European affairs at Israels foreign ministry, he said, he was constantly batting away attempts by Marine Le Pen Jean Maries daughter and Bardellas predecessor to come to Israel. It was a constant issue, he said. In the end, he said, the Israeli government should listen to the majority of French Jews, who despite their desire for law and order, are skeptical of the far-right. My view was always we take our lead from the local Jewish communities, he said. Its simply a stab in the back to go around them. Whatever Bardellas views, Shek said, the prospect of the party once led by Jean Marie Le Pen attending a conference in Jerusalem is too much to bear. He is not a private person. He represents a party and a movement that has very deep roots in antisemitism and Holocaust denial. Spurned invites The increasing embrace of Bardella and his party among the French Jewish community is by no means universal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Frances famously secular state, pollsters are not permitted to ask for a respondents religion, so it is impossible to know the exact percentage of French Jews who support the far right. Bardellas presence at the Israeli conference prompted a wave of other speakers to pull out of the event, including French-Jewish philosopher Bernard Henri-Levy and CEO of the US-based Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Jonathan Greenblatt. I find it hard to feel protected by a party whose leader still does not know whether (National Rally founder, the late) Jean-Marie Le Pen was antisemitic or not, and whose presidential candidate (Marine Le Pen) lumps the kippa and the Islamic veil together in the same category of opprobrium, Henri-Levy wrote in an open letter to the Israeli president after he cancelled his planned speech at the conference. In light of some of the recently announced participants at the Israeli governments antisemitism conference, Jonathan decided that he would no longer be attending the event, an ADL spokesperson told CNN. Eugenia Yosef, Dana Karni and Lauren Izso contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday announced that new operations would soon be conducted in further areas of the Gaza Strip. "The IDF will soon operate with full force in additional areas of Gaza, and you will be asked to evacuate from combat zones for your own safety," he told residents of the coastal strip, in a video posted on X with Arabic subtitles. Katz said the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas was endangering the lives of Gaza's residents and causing them to lose their homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Katz threatened that Israel would permanently take over parts of the Gaza Strip if Hamas did not release the remaining Israeli hostages held in the territory. The longer Hamas refuses to release hostages, the more territory it will lose to Israel, the defence minister said. In Wednesday's video, he told people that they should learn from the residents of Beit Lahia. On Tuesday evening, hundreds of Palestinians in the town in the north of the Gaza Strip demonstrated for an end to the war with Israel, with some also calling for an end to Hamas rule. "Just as they did, demand the removal of Hamas from Gaza and the immediate release of all Israeli hostages this is the only way to stop the war," Katz said. Similar protests were reportedly taking place in Beit Lahia and other places on Wednesday evening. Russia, Ukraine hold parallel U.S.-mediated talks in Saudi Arabia amid disagreement, distrust Xinhua) 08:12, March 26, 2025 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) * Negotiations between the U.S. and Russia, as well as between the U.S. and Ukraine, concluded in Saudi Arabia without an official joint statement. * Ukraine and Russia remain at odds over a potential agreement on Black Sea navigation and a ban on attacks on energy facilities, while the United States touts "positive" progress. * Analysts believe a truce remains distant, citing deep-seated distrust and conflicting interests between Moscow and Kiev. RIYADH, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Three days of technical-level negotiations on the details of a potential ceasefire in Ukraine concluded here Tuesday without an official joint statement, as participating parties offered somewhat conflicting assessments of the talks. The intense parallel interactions between the United States and delegations from Ukraine and Russia on the table, including a 12-hour one between the United States and Russia on Monday, and two shorter rounds between the United States and Ukraine on Sunday and Tuesday, came as fighting on the battlefield remains intense. Although Washington signaled on Tuesday its willingness to continue facilitating negotiations between the warring parties, analysts remain skeptical about the prospects of such a diplomatic push, citing deep-seated distrust, conflicting demands among stakeholders, and the inherent complexities of the process. CONFLICTING ASSESSMENTS This photo taken on March 11, 2025 shows a damaged residential building in Sapronovo, Moscow Region, Russia. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi) For the latest talks, which build on previous negotiations held in Saudi Arabia and subsequent phone exchanges between the presidents of the three countries, the U.S. delegation included Andrew Peek, a senior director at the White House National Security Council, and Michael Anton, a senior official from the State Department. The Russian delegation was led by Grigory Karasin, chair of the Federation Council's Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sergei Beseda, an advisor to the director of the Federal Security Service. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov headed the Ukrainian delegation. On Tuesday, hours after the U.S. and Ukrainian delegations concluded their second round of talks, the White House issued separate statements elaborating on its understanding of the parallel meetings. It stated that the United States had agreed separately with Russia and Ukraine to "ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea," and to develop measures for implementing the presidents' agreement to "ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine." The United States, with Russia and Ukraine respectively, also "welcomes the good offices of third countries with a view toward supporting the implementation of the energy and maritime agreements" and "will continue working toward achieving a durable and lasting peace," the statement added. Among the outcomes of the U.S.-Russia talks, the United States pledged to help restore Russia's access to the global market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, reduce maritime insurance costs, and improve access to ports and payment systems for such transactions. In the U.S.-Ukraine talks, both sides reaffirmed the United States' commitment to facilitating the exchange of prisoners of war, securing the release of civilian detainees, and ensuring the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children. Meanwhile, the Kremlin stated on Tuesday that Russia and the United States had agreed to ensure the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative, contingent on the easing of sanctions on Russia's agricultural and food trade. Russia also stipulated the removal of restrictions on its food and fertilizer producers and exporters, the servicing of related Russian-flagged vessels in ports, and the supply of agricultural machinery to Russia, according to the Kremlin. Fire emerges after a Russian missile and drone attack in Kiev, Ukraine, Dec. 20, 2024. (Photo by Roman Petushkov/Xinhua) It further announced that a "temporary moratorium" on strikes against energy facilities -- including nuclear power plants, oil refineries, gas pipelines, and hydroelectric dams -- would be in effect for 30 days starting March 18 and "may be extended by mutual agreement." Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on March 18 to halt attacks on energy facilities in a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. As for Kiev, while Umerov stated on Tuesday that "all parties" had agreed on the need to prohibit attacks on energy infrastructure in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, he also warned that any movement of Russian military vessels beyond the eastern part of the Black Sea would "violate the agreement's spirit" and be considered a "threat to Ukraine's national security." In response, Ukraine would exercise its right to self-defense, he cautioned. MIXED SENTIMENTS Commenting on the three-day peace negotiations, Trump said the U.S. side was "in deep discussions with Russia and Ukraine," which were "going well." He added that he would look into Russia's requests for sanctions relief. However, the mood is quite different for both Russia and Ukraine. Although the meetings in Saudi Arabia hinted at the possibility of a broader ceasefire, the two countries remain wary of the latest deal, voicing contrasting concerns over its implementation. In an interview with local media, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow needs "clear guarantees" from the White House regarding the agreement on the safety of shipping in the Black Sea. "Given the sad experience of agreements with just Kiev, the guarantees can only be the result of an order from Washington to (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky and his team," Lavrov said. Zelensky accused the Kremlin of "lying" and "manipulating" by saying the Black Sea ceasefire depends on "sanctions," warning that the Russians "must understand that if they launch strikes, there will be a strong response." At a press conference earlier Tuesday, Zelensky criticized Washington's decision to help restore Russia's access to the world market for agricultural goods, dismissing it as "a weakening of the position and a weakening of sanctions." The Ukrainian president said he hopes to gain clarity from an upcoming summit in Paris regarding which countries would deploy forces to enforce the peace agreements. "Our task is to come out with the result of understanding who we have and who is ready" to contribute forces to implement measures to halt the conflict, Zelensky said. In the meantime, Europe, once again finding itself sidelined in addressing the conflict, has been actively organizing support for Ukraine in recent weeks. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that leaders of the so-called "coalition of the willing" will meet again this week, focusing on short-term military support for Ukrainian forces and exploring long-term "security guarantees" to help sustain Ukraine's defense. Macron's remarks have been dismissed by the United States as "a posture and a pose." British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) shakes hands with visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in front of 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, March 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ying) The meeting in Paris with Zelensky will be the latest in a series of high-stakes gatherings among European leaders, following London's hosting of discussions on Thursday among European military chiefs from the coalition backing Ukraine. Britain and France are taking a leading role in organizing Western support for Ukraine after Trump surprised Europe by initiating talks with Putin. The two European powers have pledged to help provide the military force needed to keep Russia "at bay" if a ceasefire is reached. UNCERTAIN FUTURE Notably, the battlefield showed no signs of quieting despite the peace talks in Saudi Arabia, with both Russia and Ukraine reporting fresh waves of drone strikes and accusing each other of escalation. On Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said Ukraine had "continued to deliberately strike Russian peaceful energy infrastructure facilities using UAVs." This photo taken on March 18, 2025 shows a view of the Kremlin in Moscow, capital of Russia. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi) "By continuing daily attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, Zelensky confirms his inability to negotiate and his lack of control by external guarantors responsible for ensuring compliance with any possible agreements," the ministry said. In Ukraine, the number of people injured on Monday in a Russian missile strike on the northeastern city of Sumy rose to 101, including 23 children, according to the Sumy regional administration. Preliminary data indicated that a Russian missile struck a residential area of the city, damaging several apartment buildings and an educational institution, the Sumy Regional Prosecutor's Office said in a statement. Experts have pointed out that a real, permanent peace settlement could be far off, citing deep-rooted divisions and a growing trust deficit among the stakeholders. Khalid Almatrafi, Bureau Chief of Asharq TV in Saudi Arabia, told Xinhua that "the escalating mutual attacks ... reflect the deepening gap between the two sides and complicate any negotiating process." The repeated accusations deepen mistrust and make it difficult to establish any "confidence-building measures," which are essential for transitioning from a ceasefire to a sustainable political settlement, said Almatrafi. Echoing Almatrafi's viewpoint, Abdulaziz Alshaabani, a Saudi researcher at Al Riyadh Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said that "a lack of trust" poses a major threat to reaching an agreement, "given the history of violations of agreements between the two sides." A pedestrian walks past an electric generator in Kiev, Ukraine, Dec. 4, 2024. (Photo by Peter Druk/Xinhua) "In 2022, several rounds of negotiations took place ... in the end, nothing came of it," said Andrey Kortunov, a scholar with the Valdai Discussion Club in Russia. "Over the past three years, there has been a major escalation, and the situation has changed," making it "difficult for both sides to find compromises," Kortunov said. "Given the difficulty in enforcing a halt to strikes on energy infrastructure agreed upon last week, it remains to be seen how effective the latest deal will be," The Independent, a British online newspaper, reported. The newspaper also questioned Washington's motives in assuming the mediator's role, particularly concerning Ukraine's mineral and energy resources. "The Trump administration has claimed that Washington's stake in Ukraine's minerals and energy resources could deter Russia from launching future attacks," but such a diplomatic push would, in fact, grant Washington "a vast stake in Ukraine's rare earth mineral deposits," it said. "Ukraine's gas infrastructure could also be of interest to the White House, with Kiev owning the world's third-largest underground gas storage capacity," it noted. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) By Alimat Aliyeva 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. Fortuna Mining Corp. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fortuna Mining Corp. (NYSE: FSM | TSX: FVI) is pleased to announce that it will be attending Mining Forum Europe, which is being held at the Park Hyatt in Zurich, Switzerland, from March 31 to April 2, 2025. Jorge A. Ganoza, President, Chief Executive Officer, and co-founder of Fortuna, will be presenting on Tuesday, April 1 at 2:10 p.m. Central European Time in Ballroom 3. You can view the presentation live by clicking here . About Mining Forum Europe Mining Forum Europe is Europes only independent investment event serving the mining industry and its investors. Mining Forum Europe offers an unparalleled representation of private and publicly traded precious metal equities spanning all stages of production, development, and exploration. About Fortuna Mining Corp. Fortuna Mining Corp. is a Canadian precious metals mining company with four operating mines and exploration activities in Argentina, Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire, Mexico, and Peru, as well as the Diamba Sud Gold Project located in Senegal. Sustainability is integral to all our operations and relationships. We produce gold and silver and generate shared value over the long-term for our stakeholders through efficient production, environmental protection, and social responsibility. For more information, please visit our website . ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Carlos Baca Vice President, Investor Relations Fortuna Mining Corp. Investor Relations: Carlos Baca | info@fmcmail.com | fortunamining.com | X | LinkedIn | YouTube MILAN (Reuters) -Italian wine and spirits exports to the United States are stalling due to the uncertainty over possible tariffs that President Donald Trump could impose in the coming weeks, trade group Federvini said on Wednesday. Trump has threatened to slap a 200% tariff on wine and other alcohol imports from Europe, as part of a developing trade war also involving steel and aluminium products. The White House is expected to make a major tariff announcement on April 2. "Our members have received requests from importers to suspend shipments, as no one wants to risk bottles being hit by tariffs once they arrive in the U.S.", Federvini's president Micaela Pallini told Reuters. "After an initial front-loading phase, in which companies tried to anticipate shipments, the market is now at a standstill: importers fear they will find themselves with unsellable stock at uncompetitive prices", she added. Pallini pointed out that some U.S. restaurants are running out of some bottles, while prices for available stock are increasing. On Tuesday, Italian prosecco producers said their shipments to the U.S. had been halted due to importers' worries about tariffs, while Wednesday's edition of business paper Il Sole 24 Ore quoted a Tuscan wine producer as saying that his company, Ruffino, had 1 million bottles blocked at the port of Livorno as all U.S. orders for March had been cancelled. The slowdown comes after Italian sparkling wine exports to the U.S soared in the last half of 2024, in anticipation of the new duties. The heads of three prosecco trade groups wrote to Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida saying they risked facing tariff hikes of up to 200%, and urging him to take action at national and European level. Italian conservative Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is one of few European leaders friendly with Trump and his administration but it is unclear how far this could benefit Italy, given its strategic ties within Europe. (Reporting by Elisa Anzolin, editing by Alvise Armellini, Aidan Lewis) Italy will not send troops to a potential United Nations peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's office said following a meeting of her right-wing coalition government on Wednesday. "There are no plans for national participation in any possible military force on the ground," the statement said, underscoring a unified stance within the coalition. Meloni convened the talks ahead of a summit of Ukraine-supporting nations in Paris on Thursday, where she called for "solid and effective security guarantees" for Kiev, working alongside European partners and the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani later floated the idea of a new NATO mechanism possibly an "Article 5b" to safeguard European security and protect Ukraine. NATO's existing Article 5 enshrines the alliance's collective defence principle, treating an attack on one member as an attack on all. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini and Defence Minister Guido Crosetto also attended the meeting chaired by Meloni. Salvini, who has previously taken a more Russia-friendly stance than his coalition partners, offered no public comments. Meloni, in power for two and a half years, has consistently backed Europe's support for Ukraine, though Rome has sent mixed signals in recent weeks over relations with the United States. Meanwhile, Tajani rejected recent US criticism of European nations as "freeloaders," insisting Italy was doing its part. "I won't take that word lying down," he said, noting that Italian naval forces are protecting merchant ships in the Red Sea and have shot down several Houthi drones. JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) A furry new member of Jacksonville Public Safety team recently wrapped up his training. Mumble the therapy dog completed a ten month program that will help him work in different areas in the community. Mumble also went through obedience training in order to safely interact with different kinds of people. He will now be visiting hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. Jacksonville Public Safety got the two year old golden retriever last year and will be their first therapy dog. Hes grown a lot from very first getting him, him not wanting to get inside the vehicle, Officers Taylor Rutter and Nicholas Diroma said. Now he gets in a vehicle, he sits, he stays. He does everything hes supposed to do. And as you can see currently hes not on a leash now. So hes doing great. Officers say if you see Mumble out in public, dont be shy and come say hello. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. March 26 (UPI) -- Japan accepted two Palestinians injured during the war in for medical treatment Wednesday. It is the first time since the current Gaza war started in 2023 that people injured there have gotten treatment in Japan. Arranged through the World health Organization, two women hospitalized in Egypt will be transferred to Japanese care. The first was expected to arrive Wednesday and the second will arrive within days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Japan will play proactive roles, not only in urgent humanitarian aid efforts like this but also in supporting the mid- and long-term reconstruction" of Gaza, Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters. Japan has no plans to accept large numbers of Gaza patients, according to the defense ministry. "This is part of medical assistance in response to the serious humanitarian situation in Gaza and the request from the World Health Organization," Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. "This effort was made in cooperation of the Government of Egypt. Those Palestinians are supposed to return to their original place after the treatment and not intended to settle down in Japan." The ministry added that Japan will "continue to engage with the international efforts regarding improvement of humanitarian situations, reconstruction and governance of Gaza, and will redouble its diplomatic efforts towards achieving a two-state solution and establishing long-term peace and stability in the region." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told parliament medical treatment for people hurt in Gaza is being offered. The two patients Japan has accepted are being treated in Japan because their conditions are expected to improve by having their treatment done there. Javier Bardem has signed a letter by bereaved Israeli and Palestinian fathers that calls for an end to the Israeli-Gaza conflict and a return to negotiations to end the war. On behalf of more than 800 Palestinian and Israeli families, members of the Bereaved Families Forum, we demand the release of all hostages from Hamas and the release of the huge number of innocent Palestinian prisoners from Israeli government prisons, an end to all forms of violence and war and a return to dialogue and negotiations to end the conflict between the two peoples, Bassam Aramin and Rami Elhanan said in a letter co-signed by Bardem and which was published on March 24 in the Spanish newspaper El Pais. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Armin and Elhanan are members of the Israeli-Palestinian Bereaved Families Forum for Reconciliation and Peace, a joint Israeli-Palestinian organization representing families who have lost an immediate family member to the ongoing conflict. Both fathers have lost children during the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian civil war. Elhanan lost his 14-year-old daughter Smadar Elhanan to a suicide bombing in Jerusalem, while Armin faced the death of his 10 year-old daughter Abeer Aramin due to a shooting by Israeli border police in front of her school. We are the ones who have paid the heaviest price through those who lost their children in this bloody conflict, the two fathers stated in their letter also signed by Bardem on the Medium website, under the headline For Security and a Bright Future. Bardem has made earlier calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and criticized the actions of the Israeli government after it followed up the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, where over 1,200 people Israelis were murdered, with a retaliatory war in Gaza that has claimed the lives of over 50,000 Palestinians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter published by El Pais and signed by Bardem in full below: Eli Wiesel says: What hurts the victim most is not the cruelty of the executioner, but the silence of the spectators We condemn in the strongest terms the brutal attacks that have claimed the lives of hundreds of children, infants, and women in the Gaza Strip by the extremist Netanyahu government, which refuses to implement the terms of the deal and agreement signed under American sponsorship by the administration of President Donald Trump. Whats even more astonishing is that the Israeli attack came under American sponsorship and approval. The Netanyahu government has chosen to violate the ceasefire agreement and has chosen the path of continuing the chapters of genocide, war, and bloodshed. It is sacrificing the lives of innocent Palestinians, as well as the lives of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the radical organization of Hamas. This government is deepening the hell that both peoples in this region are living in. We address all of humanity, living on planet Earth with its seven continents, one hundred and ninety-six countries, and seven billion peoples. We call on them to save our planet by restoring the authority of international institutions, treaties, international courts, and international law to be the standard among nations. Otherwise, we are heading toward a lawless world of cruelty that chooses violence over dialogue, where the strong prey on the weak and the only logic is the logic of force. The silence over the horrific killings in Gaza, deprived of food, water, medicine, and electricity, adds to the destruction in an overt policy, despite it being a war crime and a crime against humanity. The silence over what is happening in the West Bank, including the demolition of hundreds of homes in the refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nablus, the displacement of tens of thousands of citizens, and the killing of thousands under inhumane conditions, is what encourages the occupation to continue this policy, which is destroying the dream of peace between the two peoples. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We call on all media outlets, both visual and audio, and social media networks, with all our love for freedom and democracy, including intellectuals and celebrities, each in his or her position, to raise their voices in protest for truth, justice, and equality, and to reject aggression and massacres targeting civilians. We are the ones who have paid the heaviest price through those who lost their children in this bloody conflict. We lost our daughters, Smadar Elhanan, 14 years old, and Abeer Aramin, 10 years old, due to the ongoing Israeli occupation. Along with us are thousands of honorable and free people around the world. We call on and demand that all countries and governments follow the example of Spain, Ireland, Norway, Poland, and other countries by officially recognizing the State of Palestine in response to the ongoing Israeli invasion and to achieve peace between the two peoples, which would curb the expansionist colonial policies of the extremist Israeli government. The time has come for the Palestinian people to achieve their right to self-determination and establish their state on their own land, in accordance with United Nations resolutions and international legitimacy. We also call on U.S. President Donald Trump, whose statements have encouraged us that he intends to end wars and conflicts, to fulfill his promises to end the Israeli occupation and recognize the State of Palestine. On behalf of more than 800 Palestinian and Israeli families, members of the Bereaved Families Forum, we demand the release of all hostages from Hamas and the release of the huge number of innocent Palestinian prisoners from Israeli Government prisons. An end to all forms of violence and war, and a return to dialogue and negotiations to end the conflict between the two peoples. We call for the power of truth to overcome the power of force and arrogance among peoples in resolving conflicts. The children of Palestine and Israel have the right to live in security and a bright future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bassam Aramin / Rami Elhanan Israeli-Palestinian Bereaved Families Forum for Reconciliation and Peace With the support of Javier Bardem Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) Johnson City Brewing Company has been in its current location on the corner of East Main Street and South Roan Street in downtown Johnson City for over a decade. On Tuesday, the company announced a new location is coming to West Walnut Street. Co-founder and head brewer Eric Latham told News Channel 11 that they plan to keep the downtown location and want to differentiate the new place on West Walnut by focusing on the experiences they can provide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to create a community space that supports creativity and a place thats welcome to all people, Latham said. This new one, I mean, because of the extra space and the outdoor space and parking, parkings a big thing. You can have festivals and bigger events and some live music and things like that. Whereas the one on the corner, there? I love it because its like your corner neighborhood pub, you can only fit like 20 of your friends in there, and with the glass you can kind of watch the world go by, but theyre just different models. Latham says hes open to evolving what they offer at the taproom, as well. I might do some kind of international beers or specialty beers or sours or something like that to make that a little bit different from this place, Latham said. He said he knew he wanted to develop on the newly redone West Walnut Street and views it as an up-and-coming part of town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats what we want to be a part of, is that we can kind of see where this is going here, Latham said. And with, you know, downtown proper, where our current downtown taproom is with the campus, with ETSU, Walnut Street acts kind of as a connector, you know, and with the Tree Streets community being right behind it too, its connecting all of these things. And its just going to be a great place to be. Latham said its still too early to give a grand opening date for the new location, but is hopeful it will happen in the second half of 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Danish officials appear relieved after Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance changed their Greenland visit itinerary, which had sparked anger among residents. The couple, joined by national security adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, will visit the U.S. Space Force outpost at Pituffik, on the northwest coast of Greenland. The Second Lady was initially scheduled for a solo trip to Greenlands capital, Nuuk, and the Avannaata Qimussersu dogsled race in Sisimiut. The visit comes after President Donald Trump reiterated his desire for the U.S. to obtain Greenland, claiming earlier this week that the territory is important for national security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The itinerary change keeps the group away from highly-populated areas and reduces the likelihood that they will cross paths with residents protesting the Trump administrations attempts to annex the vast Arctic island, a semi-autonomous Danish territory. Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance will visit Greenland later this week (AFP via Getty Images) Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen told Danish broadcaster DR Wednesday that the Vances updated travel plans are a good thing, calling it a de-escalation. Anne Merrild, a professor and Arctic expert at Aalborg University in Denmark, said recent anti-U.S. demonstrations in Nuuk might have scared the Trump administration enough to revise the trip to avoid interactions with angry Greenlanders. Still, Merrild said, even a visit to the space base shows that the U.S. administration still considers annexing Greenland to be on the table. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a signal to the whole world, its a strong signal to Denmark, its a signal to Greenland, she said. And of course its also an internal signal to the U.S., that this is something that were pursuing. The original itinerary was viewed as controversial because Greenland doesnt currently have a government after holding elections earlier this month, according to Marc Jacobsen, a professor at the Royal Danish Defense College. Greenland and Denmark have stated very clearly that they dont want the U.S. to visit right now, when Greenland doesnt have a government in place, Jacobsen said. Trumps oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., visited Greenland in January, arriving on Trump Force One just weeks before his father took office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump Jr. posted a video of himself there on Instagram, posing beneath a statue of the Lutheran missionary Hans Egede who is credited with first settling the barren territory in 1721 before spinning his phone camera around to showcase the incredible scenery. Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk also turned out to be among his entourage. After the visit, Pipaluk Lynge, an MP from Greenlands largest party and chair of the parliamentary foreign and security policy committee, said the whole event was staged. A spokesperson for Trump Jr. denied this. Danish MP Rasmus Jarlov wasnt happy with the visit, writing on X: This level of disrespect from the coming US president towards very, very loyal allies and friends is record-setting. --- Additional reporting by AP. JD Vance will join his wife on a trip to Greenland on Friday saying he did not want his spouse to have all that fun by herself. The vice-president announced plans to visit a US Space Force outpost on the north-west coast of the territory and suggested that global security was at stake. Were going to check out how things are going there, Mr Vance said in a video on Tuesday. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added: 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 gonna join her. Credit: JD Vance/X Donald Trump irked much of Europe by proposing that the US should control the territory. Greenland has broad strategic value, with both China and Russia also seeking access to its waterways and the nearby natural resources. The vice-president will visit a US military base in Greenland, removing the risk of violating potential diplomatic taboos by sending a delegation to another country without an official invite. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The announcement comes amid growing discontent from the governments of Greenland and Denmark, with the Nuuk government saying on Monday night that it had not extended any invitations for any visits, neither private nor official. Mette Frederiksen, the Danish prime minister, said that the trip was unacceptable pressure. 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, he said on Tuesday. Mr Vance said leaders in Denmark and North America had ignored Greenland for far too long. Greenlanders have firmly rejected Trumps territory plans - Christian Klindt Soelbeck/Getty Images The office of second lady Usha Vance said Sunday that she would depart on Thursday for Greenland and return on Saturday. Mrs Vance and one of her three children had planned to visit historic sites and learn about Greenlands culture, but her husbands participation has reoriented the trip around national security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mike Waltz, Mr Trumps national security adviser, was initially listed amongst the group of US officials heading to Greenland, but his name was omitted when the vice-president attendance was announced. The White House did not say if Mr Waltzs travel plans had been altered after it was revealed that he had errantly added a journalist to a secure messaging app conversation about a military strike in Yemen. The visit to Pituffik Space Base will take place instead of Mrs Vances previously announced trip to the Avannaata Qimussersu dog-sled race in Sisimiut. But Dwayne Ryan Menezes, the founder and managing director of the Polar Research and Policy Initiative, said that the Trump administrations intimidation of Greenland could backfire. Leaders in Greenland and Denmark have criticised the upcoming visit - Ahmet Gurhan Kartal/Anadolu via Getty Images Mr Menezes said if Mr Trump was smart enough to understand Greenlands strategic importance, he should also be smart enough to know there is no greater way to weaken Americas hand and hurt its long-term interests than turning its back on its allies, the principal asymmetrical advantage it enjoys over its adversaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite officials in Greenland and Denmark becoming more vocal in expressing objections, Mr Vance is allowed to visit the space base, said Marc Jacobsen, a professor at the Royal Danish Defense 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. 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. The people of Greenland have firmly rejected Mr Trumps plans. Mr Trumps return to the White House has included a desire with territorial expansion, with the US president seeking to add Canada as a 51st state and resume control of the Panama Canal. He has also indicated that US interests could take over the land in the war-torn Gaza Strip from Israel and convert it into a luxury outpost. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. (NewsNation) Vice president JD Vance said he will join his wife, second lady Usha Vance, on a visit to Greenland on Friday. Were going to check out how things are going there, JD Vance said in a Tuesday video posted 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. The Vances will be joined by White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Reuters reports. The visit comes as President Donald Trump continues to push for the U.S. to take the territory from Denmark. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NPR, PBS to face DOGE subcommittee over alleged liberal lean Greenlands outgoing Prime Minister Mute Bourup Egede criticized the trip before JD Vance announced his participation, calling the U.S. delegations visit very aggressive in nature. The only purpose is to show a show of power to us, and the signal is not to be misunderstood, Egede told the Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq on Sunday. Thats a sentiment Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen echoed Tuesday. Frederiksen accused the U.S. of placing unacceptable pressure on both Greenland and Denmark, which is a founding member of NATO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite backlash from the small territorys leaders, JD Vance maintains that the Friday visit has Greenlands best interests at heart. What will JD Vance, Usha Vance do in Greenland? The vice president, second lady and other Trump allies are set to receive a briefing on arctic security issues and tour the northernmost security installation for the U.S. military, the Space Forces Pituffik Space Base. Operations at the base include advanced missile detection as well as space surveillance, according to its official website. Kristi Noem says US has almost total control of border Trumps vow to obtain Greenland This visit all comes as Trump doubles down on his desire to annex Greenland. During his Monday Cabinet meeting, Trump told his top White House advisers that control over the territory is maybe in our future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, Trump during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said, I think it will happen, referencing the acquisition of Greenland. Rutte agreed that Greenland and the Arctic Circle are critical for security reasons, noting that China and Russia have a growing presence in the region. But he said any discussion about Trumps attempts to acquire Greenland were outside of his purview. I dont want to drag NATO in that, Rutte said. Canada changes rules for traveling to United States The self-governing territory of Denmark is home to around 56,000 people who are primarily from indigenous Inuit backgrounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greenland has rich earth mineral deposits, which are used to make cell phones and produce renewable energy. The island also has access to strategic air and sea routes. Its arctic positioning has attracted the interest of both Trump and the Russian military. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. US Vice President JD Vance has now said he will join his wife Usha on her highly contentious visit to Greenland later this week, a decision that added fuel to the diplomatic fire while revealing major changes to the United States itinerary on the Arctic island. Denmarks Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Tuesday accused the US of putting unacceptable pressure on Greenland, the autonomous Danish territory coveted by the Trump administration. The White House had previously said that the second lady would visit the island to attend one of the worlds foremost dog-sledding races. Vance then appeared to ramp up that pressure by announcing that he would accompany Usha to Greenland because he didnt want her to have all this fun by herself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But beneath the bravado lay a significant change of plan. The second lady had been set to watch Greenlands national dogsled race and visit several parts of the island, but the Vances are now only set to travel to the Pituffik Space Base, a US military facility on the islands western fringe on Friday. 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, Vance said in a video on X. Whereas the White House said earlier that Usha Vances trip would celebrate Greenlandic culture and unity, a statement from the vice presidents office Tuesday only made mention of the Pituffik base, saying that the Vances would be receive a briefing on Arctic security issues and meet with US service members. Also absent from the later statement was mention of Mike Waltz, the national security adviser who had been set to join the second lady on her visit. Waltz has since become embroiled in an extraordinary security breach after it emerged he had added the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine to a Signal group chat where senior officials planned military strikes in Yemen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, Danish foreign minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen welcomed the change of plans from the US. I actually think its very positive that the Americans are canceling their visit to Greenlandic society. Instead, they will visit their own base, Pituffik, and we have nothing against that, Rasmussen told Danish public radio, DR. The Vances will visit Pituffik Space Base, a US-operated base in northwest Greenland. - Thomas Traasdahl/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP/Getty Images The short of it is that there will be no visit from the US Vice Presidents wife and their security advisor to the Greenlandic community, Rasmussen said. The foreign minister said the US was attempting to make it appear it was ramping up pressure on Greenland by sending the vice president, when the trip is now much more marginal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have to speak diplomatically here, but in many ways its a masterful spin to make it look like theyre escalating when really theyre de-escalating, he said. The White House did not explain the change of plans for a visit that many Greenlanders have said they do not want. US President Donald Trump said Monday that people from Greenland are asking us to go there, but the islands prime minister, Mute B. Egede, called the trip highly aggressive, and Greenlanders have staged protests outside the US consulate in the capital, Nuuk. Greenlands government called the Naalakkersuisut said It has not extended any invitations for any visits, neither private nor official. The islands lawmakers are currently undertaking tricky negotiations to form its next governing coalition after an election earlier this month. The US has operated the Pituffik base under a NATO framework since 1951, following a defense agreement with Denmark, a founding member of the military alliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his video, Vance said the Trump administration wants to reinvigorate the security of the people of Greenland, accusing Denmark and previous US presidents of ignoring the island for far too long. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Vice President JD Vance was mocked and accused of imperial cosplay on social media following his announcement that he will accompany his wife, second lady Usha Vance, on what will now be a scaled-down visit to Greenland where they will visit the U.S. Space Force outpost at Pituffik this Friday. In a video, Vance explained he would check out how things are going there. Speaking for President Trump, he said, referencing the presidents increasing rhetoric about seizing control of the Danish self-governing territory, Vance continued: 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 The majority of critics, though, pointed out that neither Vance nor his wife had actually been invited to the country that Trump has now repeatedly insisted should be part of America. You are visiting the people you insult. Its rich you talk about people threatening Greenland. You should hear yourself. Also, stop using signal to talk about extremely sensitive information regarding national security. Timothy Bellman (@Timothy_Bellman) March 25, 2025 Can you stay there? Jo (@JoJoFromJerz) March 25, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JD Vance is off to Greenlandbecause nothing says diplomacy like treating a sovereign territory like its on the clearance rack at Walmart. This isnt governance; its a geopolitical tantrum from an administration that thinks the world is their Monopoly board. The Trump crews Mike Young (@micyoung75) March 25, 2025 Please, stay away. Treat your ally with respect and acknowlegde that you are not welcome. Greenland doesnt want to be a U.S territory in any shape or form. Frederik Bloch Munster (@FrederikMnster) March 25, 2025 Great! While youre there, maybe take a moment to explain why Americas Vice President is treating a peaceful, self-governing territory like its up for grabs on Zillow. Greenland isnt some empty square on a Monopoly board. It has people. A culture. A government. And guess Gandalv (@Microinteracti1) March 25, 2025 You are clearly not welcome in the Kingdom of Denmark - neither by Greenlandic officials nor by Denmark. This is highly disrespectful, and we ask that you stay away unless invited. As even Danish officials have stated in this comment section , you are not welcome. Jino Victoria Doabi (@jvd9_) March 25, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were you even invited? Kadi (@TheFl0orIsLaVa) March 25, 2025 Cant let Usha go on her own, she might stay pic.twitter.com/t7GpEA6Gqx PatriotTakes (@patriottakes) March 25, 2025 We are not looking forward to your visit. It is unheard of - you are not invited. Jan E. Jrgensen (@JanEJoergensen) March 25, 2025 Youll be about as popular as a rattlesnake in a lucky dip fella. https://t.co/lI4ZqpBaXv Dave Throup (@DaveThroup) March 25, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JD is turning U.S. foreign policy into a MAGA reality show. Greenland didnt invite him. Denmark condemned the trip. Hes not visiting, hes staging a power grab with zero respect for sovereignty. This isnt diplomacy. Its imperial cosplay. No Kings Here (@Stop_Project25) March 25, 2025 Nobody wants you there, bro. Art Candee (@ArtCandee) March 25, 2025 He wasnt even invited. And the democratic govt of the people of Greenland (both outgoing and incoming) were angry about even his wife visiting. Thats how much he cares about the people of Greenland. https://t.co/JJGZoOvCBO Mike Galsworthy (@mikegalsworthy) March 26, 2025 This isnt diplomacy but a performative arrogance dressed up as a couples' getaway. JD Vance brushing off Greenland's Prime Minister as if international relations are a photo-op shows a dangerous lack of respect for sovereignty and basic statecraft. If a foreign leader Evaristus Odinikaeze (@odinikaeze) March 25, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Can Greenland deny them landing? ShawnDesouza (@shawndesouza) March 25, 2025 Related... PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) The Cranston businessman who admitted to fleecing investors out of millions of dollars is likely to be sentenced to just over four years behind bars, according to new court documents. Joseph Giuttari, 63, is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday at Rhode Island U.S. District Court in Providence. As part of a plea agreement he reached last year with federal prosecutors, Giuttari pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government property and filing a false tax return. According to federal sentencing guidelines, Giuttari is facing a minimum of four years and three months to a maximum of five years and three months in prison. The Rhode Island U.S. District Attorneys Office has recommended the minimum sentence, according to court documents filed Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BACKGROUND: Feds accuse Joseph Giuttari of scamming investors, stealing COVID money John MacDonald, an attorney representing Giuttari, told Target 12 hes recommending the same. Rhode Island U.S. District Judge Melissa DuBose is slated to hand down a final decision Thursday. As Target 12 first reported last year, Giuttaris illegal investment scheme spanned several years and ultimately drew the attention of law enforcement, including the FBI. Giuttari acted as an investment broker, connecting would-be investors to people seeking mortgages, and hed promise the investors high rates of return, according to court documents. So many people have been hurt: FBI investigating RI mans investment scheme Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After gaining their trust, however, Giuttari would solicit even larger investments only to use the funds personally or to repay other investors, according to court documents. As the scheme grew, Giuttari missed more and more loan repayments, and the loans that he had brokered became overdue, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Hebert wrote in court documents. He offered the investors false excuses and reasons for delay, always promising a payout in the future, she added. When the investors became desperate, Giuttari would appease them with a small payment, often in cash. I hope he rots in jail: Victims speak out at arraignment of accused RI fraudster Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said they were prepared to prove at trial that Giuttari stole at least $4.2 million from upward of 10 investors, according to court documents. He began negotiating with the U.S. Attorneys Office after law enforcement raided his home and office in August 2023. The law enforcement action, however, did not stop Giuttari, Hebert wrote, outlining how investigators later learned a victim lost additional funds to Giuttari a month after the raids. When he eventually pleaded guilty on Oct. 31, 2024, prosecutors said he violated the conditions of his bail the following day when he brokered two new loans with a borrower and pitched a new investment opportunity. A federal judge found Giuttari guilty of violating his bail conditions in December and he was ordered to be held at the Wyatt Detention Facility until at least his sentencing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Giuttaris conduct to date suggests that specific, as well as general deterrence, is needed in this case, Hebert wrote. Beyond the investment scheme, Giuttari admitted to fraudulently obtaining a $160,000 loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration through its pandemic-era Economic Injury Disaster Loan. He also admitted to filing false returns for tax years 2018 and 2019. After that, he quit filing returns altogether, Hebert wrote. Eli Sherman (esherman@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and on Facebook. Tim White (twhite@wpri.com) is Target 12 managing editor and chief investigative reporter and host of Newsmakers for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. Editors Note: This is one in a series of stories looking at contested races in the April 1 general election. Aurora voters are set to soon choose between incumbent Juany Garza and challenger Alfonso Santoyo for the 2nd Ward seat on the Aurora City Council. This and other local races including for Auroras mayor, alderman at-large and several other ward aldermen are set to be decided in the April 1 consolidated election. Early voting is now open in all four of Auroras counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Juany Garza has been the 2nd Ward alderwoman since she was elected in 2005. Her challenger, Alfonso Santoyo, works at Southwest Airlines and is running for public office for the first time. Both candidates agreed to interviews with The Beacon-News earlier this month. Juany Garza Originally from Mexico, Garza moved to Aurora in 1997 and soon got invested in local politics. After living for a time in Northlake, she sold her house and moved to Aurora during a very bad time for the city at the urging of her daughter, an Aurora resident, Garza said. The first morning after she moved into the house she still lives in, she was told by police that two men who had been murdered had been dumped and set ablaze in the alley behind her property, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She talked to her alderman at the time about why the alleys had no lights and were not paved, but she was told that it wasnt a priority, Garza said. For years, graffiti and gang activity spread in the alleys, but her ward alderman continued to say that it wasnt a priority, she said. Neither was cleaning up McCarty Park, she said, which families were unable to enjoy because of drug dealers and homeless people. So, in 2004, Garza decided to run for alderwoman in the 2nd Ward. Hispanic people were and continue to be a large population in the ward, but they were not actively involved in the community, so it was like they didnt exist, she said. After being elected in 2005, Garza used ward funds to renovate McCarty Park and created the Ice Cream Social event that brought families back to the park, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, she helped to create two other parks in the ward, she said, one of which is for children with disabilities and is now owned by the Fox Valley Park District. And, she said all of the alleys are now lit and paved. Garza also helped to bring a daycare facility, the One Hope United Aurora Early Learning Center, to the ward through a partnership with the state, she said. Other programs Garza said she has started include scholarships, free solar lights for low-income seniors and a yearly breakfast honoring Hispanic pioneers that have helped to build the city, among others. Last year, the scholarship program provided students with nearly $32,000 by partnering with local businesses, she said. The students she has supported in the past with the scholarship program, she said, have gone on to be pilots, nurses, doctors and social workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most important things to Garza, she said, are safety and education. If elected for another four years, Garza said she would again work to improve McCarty Park, this time with a concession building with toilets so the park does not need to rely on portable toilets. The project is already in the works, she said. What sets Garza apart from her opponent, she said, is that she understands the system. Her opponent has criticized her for things that are outside of her control, she said. Garza said she devotes all her time to being an alderwoman and has a rule for herself: return all communications she receives each day whether that is an email or a call to her personal cell or home phone before going to bed each night. Alfonso Santoyo Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Santoyo said he moved to Aurora around 25 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Originally working in the financial sector but losing his job during the 2008 financial crisis, Santoyo now works at Southwest Airlines. There, he was selected by his unions executive committee to be on the contract negotiations committee, he said, and was the youngest person to ever be chosen for the position, he said. That gave him a lot of experience in negotiations, since he helped to secure an industry-leading multi-billion dollar contract for over 15,000 members, he said. Santoyo was also elected as the unions financial secretary treasurer, he said, and in that role he focused on stopping financial misuse and placed a strong emphasis on fiduciary responsibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to his role in his union, Santoyo has also been a precinct committeeman for the Democratic Party, but he said he has never run for public office. Now, Santoyo said he is running for 2nd Ward alderman because he said the ward and community have remained pretty stagnant over the years. There hasnt been much upkeep, much maintenance. We have a lot of street lights that are out, he said. Its not something that shows a lot of promise, growth, development and I think thats a reflection of the current leadership. Quality of life is one thing that Santoyo said he would focus on if elected. The alderman should be the point person for the community to bring issues to, but small things like cracks in sidewalks are being ignored, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another thing Santoyo would focus on if elected, he said, is communication. Many people get blindsided about a lot of what happens in the ward, and there is a lack of communication from the aldermans office, he said. Also, there is little explanation about what is going on at the City Council, according to Santoyo. He said that is something he would work to improve by educating ward residents about what is happening both in the ward and at the City Council. Plus, he would publish how the wards funds are being spent instead of people having to formally request those documents, he said. As for his priorities on City Council for the city as a whole, Santoyo said he wants the city to work with the federal government to attract businesses that will bring in more value-added jobs, such as in manufacturing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said these jobs would bring with them good income and good benefits, raising the quality of life for the whole of Aurora. Other than his focus on improving quality of life and transparency, Santoyo said that his self-funded campaign sets him apart from his opponent. This is a burden that Im willing to take on because I want to maintain my independence, he said. I want to be able to truly represent the people. Santoyo said he would lean on his experience in his union, in his professional life and his education in economics from the University of Chicago to give back to his ward and community. rsmith@chicagotribune.com A federal judge has ordered immigration authorities to halt, for now, their efforts to detain a Columbia University student who claims she is being targeted for her involvement in pro-Palestinian protests. Manhattan-based U.S. District Judge Naomi Buchwald issued a temporary restraining orderTuesday at the request of lawyers for Yunseo Chung, 21, a Columbia junior who was born in Korea and holds a green card after coming to the U.S. as a child. Chung filed suit Monday after Columbia officials advised her earlier this month that immigration enforcement agents were looking to detain her. Chungs attorneys said they believe Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered Chungs green card revoked on grounds that her presence in the U.S. was undermining U.S. foreign policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rubio has issued similar findings in recent weeks that triggered deportation efforts against another Columbia student, Mahmoud Khalil, and a Georgetown researcher, Badar Suri. Both are now in immigration custody in Louisiana, but have filed lawsuits demanding release. All the suits contend that the detentions violate First Amendment free-speech rights. "Yunseo no longer has to fear that ICE will spirit her away to a distant prison simply because she spoke up for Palestinian human rights," said one of her lawyers, Ramzi Kassem, Co-Director of CLEAR, a nonprofit and clinic at CUNY School of Law. "The court's 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." A spokesperson for the U.S. attorneys office in Manhattan did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the ruling from Buchwald, whos an appointee of President Bill Clinton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also Tuesday, a federal judge in Syracuse, New York, held a hearing for another student seeking an order preventing immigration authorities from detaining him. Momodou Taal a Cornell University graduate student with a student visa and a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and Gambia says hes being sought by immigration authorities spurred on by a pair of executive orders President Donald Trump issued to crack down on antisemitism. U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Coombe, an appointee of President Joe Biden, did not immediately rule on the request from Taal for an order blocking his arrest by immigration officials. Taals attorneys said he did not attend the hearing out of concern he would be detained on the spot, Spectrum News reported. The judge in the Karen Read case extended the buffer zone outside Dedhams Norfolk Superior Court ahead of the Mansfield womans second murder trial. Karen Reads lawyers want her to wear headphones in court. Heres why Judge Beverly Cannone ordered that the 200-foot buffer zone remain in effect for Reads second trial and be extended to include the area bounded by Bates Court, Bullard Street, Ames Street, and Court Street. No individual may demonstrate in any manner, including carrying signs or placards, within 200 feet of the courthouse complex during trial of this case, unless otherwise ordered by this court, Cannone wrote in her ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The buffer zone was put in place at the start of Reads first trial in April 2024 to keep demonstrators a distance from the courthouse. When jury selection begins in the second trial on Tuesday, April 1, Cannone said the demonstrators will also be prohibited from using audio enhancing devices while protesting. The case continues to garner significant public interest. When the matter is in court, individuals line the sidewalks outside the courthouse, loudly chanting and voicing their opinions about witnesses, attorneys, and the strength of the Commonwealths case, Cannone wrote in her ruling. If prospective jurors are exposed to the protestors and messages displayed on signs or otherwise, particularly before this Court has had an opportunity to instruct the jurors about their obligations with regard to remaining fair and unbiased, there is a substantial risk that the defendants right to a fair trial will be jeopardized. Cannone added, The risk extends during trial where jurors and witnesses would have no choice but to be exposed daily to the messages and viewpoints of the protestors when entering and leaving the courthouse or sitting in the courtroom or jury room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read, 45, 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. She has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death. Get caught up with all the latest news in the Karen Read case. Read Cannones full ruling: Karen Read Buffer Zone Filing March 26 by Boston 25 Desk on Scribd Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Sen. Justin Eichorn (R-Grand Rapids), left, consults with Sen. Scott Newman (R-Hutchinson), right, during a vote Thursday, May 12. Photo by Catherine J. Davis/Senate Media Services. A federal judge on Wednesday said she had no doubt theres probable cause enough evidence against former state Sen. Justin Eichorn, a Republican from Grand Rapids, to sustain a federal charge of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. U.S. District Judge Shannon Elkins ruled against the prosecution, however, in allowing Eichorn to move to a halfway house under a long list of conditions. The prosecution argued Eichorn should be held in jail as he awaits trial because he allegedly attempted to conceal evidence and lied about owning a firearm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a two-hour hearing Wednesday which combined a hearing for probable cause and a detention hearing the prosecution and defense dissected the messages Eichorn allegedly sent to a person he believed was a 17-year-old girl but was actually an undercover Bloomington police officer. Eichorn, who entered the federal courtroom in St. Paul escorted by U.S. Marshal officers wearing bright orange, was arrested on March 17 at a parking lot in Bloomington where he allegedly expected to meet the underage girl to pay for sex. He resigned from his Senate seat a few days after his arrest and moments before the Senate planned to expel him from the body. Attempted coercion and enticement of a minor comes with a mandatory federal sentence of 10 years in prison. In a court filing earlier this week, prosecutors alleged that Eichorn made phone calls from jail to an unnamed woman referred to as Individual A in court documents to arrange for the woman to pick up a laptop from Eichorns St. Paul apartment, where he lived during the legislative session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charles Hawkins, Eichorns defense attorney, on Wednesday revealed that that person was Eichorns wife, Brittany Eichorn who filed for divorce earlier this week. When law enforcement agents entered Eichorns St. Paul apartment, they found a red bag containing $1,000 cash, an SD memory card, a handgun and ammunition, a laptop and a factory-reset iPhone 6. Eichorn told a probation officer in a pre-trial interview that he didnt have any firearms in the St. Paul apartment. The prosecution said Eichorn lied, but Hawkins said Eichorn had trouble hearing the interviewer, who was conducting the interview in a U.S. Marshalls holding cell with eight to ten other people. I respectfully suggest that anything that occurred was an honest mistake, Hawkins told the judge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hawkins also said that Eichorn had the gun in his St. Paul apartment because he had received increasing threats after co-authoring a bill in the Minnesota Senate classifying Trump Derangement Syndrome as a mental illness. Regarding the factory-reset iPhone 6, FBI Special Agent Matthew Vogel said investigators had not completed forensic analysis of the phone, but preliminary results show the iPhone was likely reset to factory settings on Feb. 28 weeks prior to Eichorns arrest. On March 20, Brittany Eichorn in a recorded phone call from jail told Justin Eichorn that apartment stuff is taken care of, just so you know. She told Eichorn she planned to go to the apartment to pick up a laptop the following day. As FBI agents prepared to search Eichorns apartment on the morning of March 21, they encountered Brittany Eichorn. She asked to enter the apartment to retrieve a laptop she used for business. The FBI agents declined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hawkins told the judge that the Eichorns own a rental property company, which oversees 138 units, and Brittany Eichorn was trying to get the laptop for the leasing business, not to conceal or destroy evidence. The judge said the prosecution did not present enough evidence to clearly indicate that Eichorn was a danger to the community or tried to tamper with evidence. Because it is unclear and because there is so much gray, the court finds the government has not met its burden to prove by clear and convincing evidence that no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of the community, Elkins said. In the probable cause hearing, Eichorns defense tried to poke holes in the prosecutions charge, noting that Eichorn didnt formally agree over the messages to pay for sex, though he did ask about the prices, including how much it would cost to have sex without a condom. The defense likened it asking questions about buying a car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecution said that Eichorn carried out the act of paying for commercial sex as far as he could take it and repeatedly messaged the undercover officer posing as a girl asking when she was available for sex even when he didnt receive a response. He arrived exactly in the location the undercover agent posing as a minor girl told him to park, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Bobier. The only thing that got in between Eichorn and having sex with a minor and paying for it is that it was a cop instead. Hawkins, during a cross examination of FBI agent Vogel, said that Eichorn could have decided to not go through with having sex with the girl once he arrived to the Bloomington location. You dont know what he intended to do when he arrived there, Hawkins said to Vogel. When ruling that there was probable cause against Eichorn, the judge said that there doesnt need to be a formal agreement to pay for sex, but the law states that an attempt to offer a minor anything in exchange for sex is illegal. A Fulton County judge was set to hear evidence against seven defendants charged in the deadly shooting of two Atlanta teenagers on Wednesday, but the hearing was delayed. Lamon Freeman and Jakody Davis, both 13 years old, died in a July 2024 shooting while they were hanging out with a friend on the steps of an apartment building. Police said the victims were bystanders caught in a retaliation shooting. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Channel 2s Michael Seiden was in the Fulton County courtroom where the judge was meant to decide if theres enough evidence for all seven defendants to stand trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But late Wednesday afternoon, a lawyer for one of the defendants alerted the judge that he is in the middle of another trial, so the judge had no choice but to continue the hearing. I know its disappointing that we are not able to continue. I know its disappointing for your families and the victims families, but its out of my control, Judge Holly Hughes said. RELATED STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the arrest affidavits, police blamed the shooting as part of a gang dispute that began at a video shooting for rapper Lil Baby. Police accused the rapper of shooting the video in a rival gangs territory. Lil Baby has denied any involvement. Last month, Atlanta police announced gang and murder charges in connection to the July 2024 shooting. The preliminary hearing is scheduled to continue on Monday. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] 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. 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. A settlement reached by hedge funds and Kentucky's public pension systems was the subject of a hearing at the Franklin County Courthouse, March 26, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley) FRANKFORT Franklin Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate told lawyers to expect a decision from him in two weeks in a long-running challenge of hedge fund investments made for Kentucky public pension funds. Wingate spoke Wednesday at the end of a hearing that he called very informative. Franklin Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate At issue is a proposed $227.5 million settlement unveiled in January by Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorneys for a group of state employees opposing the settlement say the amount falls far short of compensating the pension funds for what the plaintiffs allege were breaches of fiduciary duty by the hedge funds, in particular what they characterize as excessive fees. In court Wednesday, an attorney for the state employees, Michelle Ciccarelli Lerach, also said the settlement would extinguish her clients ability to continue to press their claims on behalf of the pension systems. They are trying to wipe us out, Lerach said. Our clients due process rights are being violated. On the other side, attorney Justin Clark, head of the state attorney generals civil division, told the judge that the benefits of settling far exceed the risks posed by continuing to litigate the case. He stressed that the boards of the three state pension systems have unanimously approved the settlement; he also said state law makes the attorney general responsible for representing the pension systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The original case drew national attention when filed by a group of eight state pensioners in late 2017 against some former officials of Kentucky Retirement Systems (now the Kentucky Public Pensions Authority) and major hedge fund companies KKR & Co., Prisma Capital Partners, The Blackstone Group and Pacific Alternative Asset Management. They alleged the financially troubled retirement systems gambled $1.2 billion on secretive, high-risk hedge fund investments that eventually went sour. The case has gone through several permutations since then and at one point might have reached a dead end but was revived by former Attorney General Daniel Cameron. The proposed settlement came out of more than five months of negotiations between Attorney General Colemans office and the defendants and mediated by a former federal judge a process that Lerach on Wednesday criticized as a secret mediation. Following a late Monday ruling by a U.S. District judge, Utahs Electronic Cigarettes Amendments bill, signed into law last March, can finally be enacted. The primary purpose of the bill is to reduce the number of minors using and becoming addicted to e-cigarettes the most used tobacco product by teens, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, noting the appeal for younger people stems from the wide range of flavors topped by social pressures. After the bill passed in 2024, the Utah Vapor Business Association and The Smoke House filed a joint lawsuit against the state, seeking an injunction on the legislation. Judge David Barlow granted the request in part. The bill bans the sale of tobacco products the Food and Drug Administration has not approved or is still pending approval. It also bans all sales of flavored e-cigarettes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, in Mondays ruling, Barlow said the bill could still achieve its purpose without keeping the inspection program. Under the bill, the inspection program would have allowed state health departments to review at random. According to Barlow, it says nothing about the frequency of any such inspections. It does not say that they are to occur on a temporal basis, like annually or quarterly. It does not even say that they are to occur regularly. It simply says they may occur. In short, the Inspection Program seemingly leaves it in inspectors hands entirely as to whether any inspections occur. The plaintiffs argued in their lawsuit that the program violated their Fourth Amendment right by mirroring an unreasonable search and potential seizure of their products. Barlow pointed out that the Legislature would have passed the bill regardless of whether an inspection program was in place, adding that these provisions are operable without the Inspection Program, as they provide a comprehensive program for regulating electronic cigarettes and punishing retailers that sell banned products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Utah Attorney General Derek Brown said in a statement that he was thrilled by the judges ruling. Utah will now be able to better protect children from the harms of tobacco, he said. Our attorneys have worked tirelessly on this case to defend Utahs law, and I am confident their advocacy moving forward will continue to be excellent. Their work is crucial in preventing kids from getting hooked on nicotine. BALTIMORE A federal judge indicated Wednesday that he may narrow an earlier ruling that required the Trump administration to rehire nearly 25,000 probationary workers. U.S. District Judge James Bredar entered a sweeping order two weeks ago reversing the administrations mass terminations at 18 major federal agencies, including most Cabinet departments. That order applied nationwide, but Bredar said at a court hearing Wednesday that he may replace it with a more limited injunction that applies only in 19 states and the District of Columbia the jurisdictions that sued over the firings. That would mean the administration could proceed with many terminations of probationary federal workers located in the 31 states that didnt sue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In general, states with Democratic attorneys general have joined the lawsuit while states with Republican attorneys general have not. This is a critical issue, said Bredar, an appointee of President Barack Obama. Most of the states in this country have not joined this lawsuit. You can see the spot that I am hung up on. During the hourlong hearing, Bredar appeared to have little doubt that the Trump administration violated civil service law and federal regulations when it ordered the mass firing of probationary employees without using established procedures for a reduction in force and without making legally required notifications to states. But he said he is mulling the feasibility of confining the injunction to the states that are pressing the case before him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Partnership for Public Service, the jurisdictions with the largest numbers of federal workers are the District of Columbia, Virginia, California, Maryland and Texas. The District of Columbia, California and Maryland are plaintiffs in the case; Virginia and Texas are not. Im of the view that sometimes a nationwide injunction is entirely appropriate, and there are circumstances where that is crystal clear. This isnt such a situation, Bredar said. Im very sensitive to the issue that judges should not step beyond the authority that they have been explicitly granted. At the same time, judges have a responsibility to remedy the harms that are properly before them and to not shrink from doing that. Virginia Williamson, a lawyer in the Maryland attorney generals office, said reinstating only employees who work in the suing states wouldnt be an effective remedy because federal workers often work in one state and live in another, particularly in the Washington, D.C. area. Justice Department attorney Eric Hamilton said the administration believes the firings were lawful and that they did not constitute a reduction in force under applicable law and regulations. But he was most emphatic in opposing the judge prolonging his nationwide directive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There cant be a nationwide injunction here where 30 states have decided against litigating at all, Hamilton said. Hamilton also said it would be difficult and costly for the government to restore large numbers of workers to their jobs. Reinstating 24,000 probationary employees is an enormous expense for the federal government, he said. The government is the one that engaged in this sudden and dramatic and highly consequential action, Bredar shot back. If you were so worried about that, you shouldnt have done it in the first place. Bredars decision about the scope of his injunction wont be the final word on the firings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal judge in San Francisco, acting on a suit brought by federal employee unions and nonprofit groups impacted by cuts to federal services, also ordered nationwide reinstatement of probationary workers at six Cabinet agencies. On Monday, the Trump administration filed an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court seeking to block that order. The high court has yet to act on that appeal or set a timeline for further filings on the issue. In separate cases challenging Trumps executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship, the Justice Department has also filed emergency appeals asking the Supreme Court to rein in the practice of district courts issuing nationwide injunctions that extend relief beyond the parties to the lawsuit in question. The administrations responses to those requests are due next week. Trump has also publicly railed against nationwide injunctions, expressing particular ire about the ability of single district court judges to alter national policy at least until an appeals court reviews the issue. Unlawful Nationwide Injunctions by Radical Left Judges could very well lead to the destruction of our Country! Trump wrote on Truth Social last week. STOP NATIONWIDE INJUNCTIONS NOW, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. If Justice Roberts and the United States Supreme Court do not fix this toxic and unprecedented situation IMMEDIATELY, our Country is in very serious trouble! Bredars original order requiring nationwide reinstatements expires Thursday night. He said hes likely to extend it briefly while considering issuing an injunction that would be longer-term but narrower in geographic scope. The judge also ordered both sides to submit written briefs to the court Thursday morning detailing how he should design or limit such an injunction. A Harrods handbag thief was spared jail after a judge ruled that London is a very expensive place. Marco Taffoni stole more than 15,000 worth of designer handbags from the Knightsbridge department store where he worked as a stock room controller between November 2023 and July 2024. The 29-year-old, who had lost his job with the Italian high fashion house Fendi before joining Harrods, blamed the cost-of-living crisis for stealing the six Bottega Veneta handbags. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Sarah Paneth, who handed Taffoni a suspended jail sentence at Isleworth Crown Court on Wednesday, said: Although this is a very serious offence what is impressive is that you made an immediate confession. I have no doubt you feel real shame for what you have done. London is a very expensive place and you could not make ends meet having lost your job at Fendi as a store controller, in I believe 2021. Marco Taffoni has been ordered to pay the Harrods store 11,470 and a victim surcharge of 154 - Richard Baker The court heard that Taffoni was caught after attempting to leave the store with a stolen handbag hidden inside his backpack, which was inside a sealed Waitrose bag. He admitted to police he had taken a number of bags since November 2023 which he sold on using an online platform called Vestiaire Collective. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stolen items were worth 15,150 in total and Taffoni claimed he made up to 5,000 from selling them on. Aesha Baral, prosecuting, said: He stated that he had stolen the bags because his rent had increased and due to the general cost-of-living crisis. Libby Anderson, defending Taffoni, told the court: He is now in a position to make full repayment of the loss he caused. He is willing and able to do so. Ms Anderson said Taffoni had expressed to her very real remorse and that he is bitterly ashamed. She said: It was his reaction to finding himself under significant financial pressure. Of course that does not excuse it. He has been brought back to his senses with a sharp jolt. A time of intense stress Taffoni has since found work at a different store, the court heard. He was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for 12 months. He must also perform 100 hours of unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was also ordered to pay 11,740 compensation with a victim surcharge of 154. Judge Paneth said: This was committed at a time of intense stress for you. There are very good reasons to think this is not going to reoccur. I appreciate that you might not have told your future employers. I have every confidence this will not be repeated. I very much hope that I am not wrong about this. 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. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg the object of President Donald Trumps fury for blocking his effort to summarily deport Venezuelan nationals using wartime powers just got a second crack at the administrations handling of national security: Signalgate. Boasberg on Wednesday morning was assigned to preside over a lawsuit alleging that Trump cabinet secretaries and national security aides violated federal recordkeeping laws when they used a Signal chat group to discuss a planned military strike in Yemen and inadvertently included an Atlantic journalist in the group. The twist of legal fate arrived just as the scandal exploded further with the Atlantics release of the full text exchange in which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previewed, with specific references to timing and weapons, an attack on Houthi militants. The exchange, initiated by national security adviser Mike Waltz, included Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for Boasberg confirmed that the case was assigned to him through the courts typical random assignment process. There are 20 judges on the federal district court bench in Washington. The assignment of the case to Boasberg comes just two days after the Trump administration, in the Venezuela deportation case, invoked the state secrets privilege to refuse to share details with the Obama-appointed judge about the timing of deportation flights to El Salvador. Boasberg is pressing the administration for details about the flights to determine whether officials violated his order earlier this month barring Trump from deporting people under the Alien Enemies Act, a 1798 law last invoked during World War II. But administration lawyers argued that disclosure would pose reasonable danger to national security and foreign affairs. Rubio, notably, submitted a declaration to Boasberg justifying the state secrets invocation, saying that sharing details about the flights with Boasberg even under seal or in a classified setting would endanger national security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The more widely information is shared the greater the risk that the information will reach the public (even if unintentionally), Rubio wrote. Now, Rubio is a defendant in the Signalgate lawsuit brought by American Oversight, a left-leaning government watchdog group. He is being sued not only for his involvement in the text exchange but also for his dual position as acting head of the National Archives, which is responsible for preserving records used by government officials in the course of their work. The Atlantic reported that Waltz set the text thread to automatically delete. Boasberg prompted a furious backlash from Trump and his allies when he halted the administrations deportation efforts earlier this month, ruling that the administration appeared to be violating due process requirements by tagging Venezuelan nationals as terrorists and rushing them onto planes with virtually no chance to contest the designation. Trump called for Boasbergs impeachment, a call that was echoed by some members of Congress, and has unleashed near-daily attacks on the judge. March 26 (UPI) -- A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to halt a freeze on funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth for the District of Columbia granted a temporary restraining order Tuesday that states the United States Agency for Global Media, led by Kari Lake, did not provide sufficient reasoning for shutting down RFE/RL"even if the president has told them to do so." Judge Lamberth wrote that the one-sentence termination letter wasn't a "satisfactory explanation" and issued the order because the REF/RL lawsuit "has shown a likelihood of success on the merits of its claim that in taking this action." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also wrote that USAGM "cannot, with one sentence of reasoning offering virtually no explanation, force RFE/RL to shut down." The judge ruled that as Congress had already approved its funding, that determined "the continued operation of RFE/RL is in the public interest," and issued the temporary restraining order, which means RFE/RL will receive approximately $7.5 million, which Congress had previously appropriated for operations already completed through the first two weeks of March. In a press release, RFE/RL said its next move is a "request for a preliminary injunction that would require USAGM to provide the approximately $77 million that Congress appropriated" for its operations over the rest of the fiscal year. No date has been set for the injunction yet, but Lamberth concluded his ruling with "The Court intends to rule on the preliminary injunction motion expeditiously." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump issued an executive order on March 14 that defunded RFE/RL, as well as six other agencies. He deemed then "unnecessary." and insisted that the targeted entities "reduce the performance," of their "statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law." USAGM responded by cutting grants to RFE/RL on March 15, and sent them a termination letter which stated, with just one sentence, that the grant RFE/RL uses for its funding "no longer effectuates agency priorities." RFE/RL filed a lawsuit on March 18 that alleged that since Congress appropriates funds for RFE/RL through the International Broadcasting Act of 1973, UGASM violated federal law by "refusing to disburse the appropriated funds on the basis that it is ending its 'non-statutory' functions." U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg, who has been assigned to President Trumps Venezuelan deportation case, has now been assigned to the lawsuit about the Trump administrations use of a Signal group chat. Boasberg was assigned Wednesday to the lawsuit that alleged top Trump officials violated their obligations under the Federal Records Act (FRA) regarding the Signal messages about the recent attack on the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The lawsuit, filed in Washington, D.C., District Court by government watchdog group American Oversight, argues that the administration officials violated the law through the unlawful destruction of federal records after the Signal chats were set to disappear after a certain number of weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FRA was amended in 2021 and determined that electronic messages from agency heads are determined to be records that must be kept. The watchdog group argues the Signal messages, like other recorded information from a federal agency, must be preserved and safeguarded against removal or loss, per FRA rules. The defendants in the case, listed as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are expected to know not to delete or remove these records, the suit argues. American Oversight is asking the judge to issue an emergency injunctive relief and permanent injunction ordering defendants to preserve all material under FRA rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suit is a result of the scandal tied to the release of screenshots from The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg after he was inadvertently added to the Signal group, along with Vice President Vance, Rubio, Hegseth, national security adviser Mike Waltz, Gabbard and other top staff. In his reporting, Goldberg showed that Waltz had set some of the messages in the group to disappear after one week and some after four. Boasberg has notably clashed with the Trump administration over its deportation flights of Venezuelan Tren de Aragua members. The judge has drawn the ire of the administration after he ordered the planes carrying the gang members to not leave the U.S. or turn around if it already had. The administration claimed the planes were already out of U.S. territory when Boasbergs order came down, but the American Civil Liberties Union has suggested that the administration purposefully defied the court order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boasberg has pressed the Trump administration on the logistics, and become an enemy of top officials, with several calling for him to be impeached. With the addition of the Signal-related lawsuit, Boasberg, who was appointed by former President Obama, now oversees four lawsuits against the second Trump administration, including Erie County, N.Y.s lawsuit challenging a freeze in its federal grant for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, as well as The Project on Government Oversights lawsuit looking to force the Department of Government Efficiency to be covered by The Freedom of Information Act. Boasberg has been randomly assigned to each of these cases. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MUNCIE, Ind. A Delaware County jury on Tuesday evening found a Marion man guilty of ingesting drugs before causing a crash that killed a pregnant Muncie woman and her infant. The Delaware Circuit Court 4 jury found Nicholas Allen Blackburn, 47, guilty of two counts of causing death when driving with a controlled substance in his system, a Level 4 felony carrying up to 12 years in prison. According to Delaware County sheriff's deputies, an eastbound Chevrolet Impala on April 27, 2023 was stopped on Indiana 32 near Truitt Road, waiting for traffic to clear before it could turn north, when it was struck in the rear by an eastbound Chevrolet Equinox driven by Blackburn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The impact of the rear-end crash forced the Impala driven by 32-year-old Brittany N. Wilson, who was six months pregnant 122 feet before it came to rest in the four-lane state highway's westbound lanes. Wilson would die while being transported in an ambulance bound for IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital. Emergency personnel were able to deliver the baby, but the infant later died at the hospital. More: Daleville police say woman was intoxicated at time of crash that killed young Anderson man Blackburn told deputies he had been looking at his cellphone, "to change the music," before driving into the rear of Wilson's vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A breath test reflected the Marion man had no alcohol in his system at the time of the collision. However, laboratory tests would later reveal he had narcotics including meth and fentanyl in his bloodstream at the time, according to an affidavit. The jury also found Blackburn guilty of involuntary manslaughter, a Level 5 felony with a maximum six-year sentence, and driving with a controlled substance in his system, a misdemeanor. Judge John Feick set sentencing for April 28. Deputy Prosecutor Adrian Perez presented the state's case against Blackburn, who was defended by attorney Angelus Kocoshis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The jury was unable to determine whether Blackburn was a habitual offender, a finding that could have added up to 20 years to his sentence. Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman said Thursday night his office would "be exploring all possible avenues of appeal" after Judge Feick declined to schedule a second trial on the habitual offender issue. I have made it a priority of this office to vigorously prosecute violent criminals and habitual offenders," Hoffman said in a release. According to court records, Blackburn has been convicted of possession of meth, failure to stop after an accident resulting in injury, burglary, carrying a handgun without a license (three times), conspiracy to commit auto theft, conspiracy to commit burglary, disorderly conduct, driving while suspended, false informing (twice), intimidation, invasion of privacy, maintaining a common nuisance, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, residential entry, resisting law enforcement (twice) and unlawful possession of a syringe (three times). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Crash that killed pregnant Muncie woman, infant leads to convictions GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) A North Dakota jury on Wednesday found a woman not guilty of murder in the 2007 stabbing death of her roommate. The jury in the Grand Forks trial deliberated for more than five hours before finding Nichole Rice not guilty in the death of Anita Knutson, the Minot Daily News reported. As the court clerk read the verdict aloud, Rice's family and friends embraced, and Rice was in tears as the judge restored order to the courtroom. Rice, now 37, had been charged with a felony murder in the death of Knutson, an 18-year-old student at Minot State University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Knutson was found dead in the apartment she shared with Rice. Knutson's body was face down in her bed with two stab wounds in the chest. Investigators said Rice was a person of interest in connection with the murder, but was not arrested until March 2022 because there wasn't enough evidence to justify an arrest. Reinsurer Howden has agreed to acquire Barnett Waddingham, a UK-based consultancy that provides insurance, risk, pensions and investment services. The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed. The deal is expected to enhance Howden's pension and related advice capabilities. Howden said the deal will boost its global presence, doubling the size of its Employee Benefits business with 4,000 new experts. The combined workforce will deliver an estimated 500m ($644.86m) in global revenue, the company added. With this acquisition, Howden and Barnett Waddingham will collectively provide a full spectrum of employee benefits and pensions advisory services. These services will be available to a client base including multinational corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises, and entities within the private and public sectors. Additionally, individual clients will have access to health, life and specialised pension products. Howden CEO David Howden said: In our journey to build a global broker we recognise the need to create a world-class employee benefits business for our clients. Under Glenn Thomas leadership since 2018, our Employee Benefits division has delivered a remarkable 52% compound annual growth rate. Expanding our pensions advisory and administration capability is crucial to our long-term, global growth plans, and Barnett Waddingham provides a fantastic platform to build our capability for clients around the world. Critically, Barnett Waddinghams working partners will reinvest significantly into Howden, underlining their commitment to a long-term future with us, and delivering extraordinary alignment for our future ambitions, he added. Howden UK health & employee benefits CEO and global practice leader Glenn Thomas added: Barnett Waddinghams extensive pensions expertise, together with Howdens market leading presence in the health and employee benefits market, creates a full-service proposition and one of the largest pensions and employee benefits consultancies in the UK, with one of the most extensive global footprints in the market. Barnett Waddingham senior partner Andrew Vaughan stated: "We are really excited to join Howden because of its commitment to the UK market, and its unique culture. Being part of Howden also strengthens our ability to deliver even greater value to our risk, pensions, investment and insurance clients through enhanced solutions, including our tech-enabled capabilities, and access to global expertise. "As we reflect on 35 years of continuous growth and development at Barnett Waddingham, we are proud of the heritage and principles that have made us who we are people-centricity, partnering with clients and the delivery of high-quality services. BOSTON (WPRI) Karen Reads second murder trial is slated to begin with jury selection next week. Read is accused of ramming into her then-boyfriend John OKeefe with her SUV and leaving him for dead in a snowstorm back in January 2022. She has been charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and leaving the scene of a crime. Her first murder trial ended in a mistrial last July after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Beverly Cannone expects jury selection for the second murder trial to take quite some time because it is such a high-profile case. Read returned to court Tuesday for one final hearing prior to jury selection. The hearing centered around whether Read and her attorneys could use the third-party culprit defense against three key witnesses once the trial gets underway. Cannone did not make a decision on whether Reads attorneys could do so. RELATED: Karen Reads defense explains contact with crash reconstruction experts Special Prosecutor Hank Brennan also filed a motion to access text messages between Read and her attorneys. He argued that she gave up her attorney-client privilege by mentioning those messages in several public interviews. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brennan cited a text exchange between Read and her lawyer David Yannetti that was included in the recently-released docuseries A Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read. She said, And then when I hired David Yannetti, I asked him those questions the night of Jan. 29. Like, David, what if I dont know what if I ran his foot over? And David said, yeah, then you have some element of culpability,' Brennan quoted. Robert Alessi, Reads other defense attorney, retorted that handing over those text messages would have implications that transcend this specific case. It should unsettle every criminal defense attorney in this Commonwealth, Alessi said of the motion in question. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cannone ultimately shut down Brennans request before Alessi could finish protesting the motion. I understand the Commonwealths argument, but Im not going to give you that information, Cannone told Brennan. I dont think its appropriate. Reads defense attorneys have repeatedly argued that shes the victim of a sloppy investigation and extensive law enforcement cover-up. Specifically, her attorneys believe she is being framed to protect the three men who are believed to actually be responsible for OKeefes death. Those men include Brian Albert, a Boston officer who owned a home near where OKeefes body was found, his nephew Colin Albert, and Brian Higgins, an ATF agent who exchanged flirty text messages with Read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reads attorneys have accused the men of beating OKeefe inside the Albert family home and then dragging him outside to die in the snow. Each one of them had a motive and an opportunity to harm John OKeefe, Yannetti said. SEE ALSO: Former Karen Read investigator fired by Mass. State Police Brennan has disputed those claims, noting that evidence does not corroborate what they believe happened that night. Theres no overwhelming evidence or any evidence he went into the house, Brennan said of OKeefe. Theres no evidence or motive on any of these three people they identified. There is, I believe, a certain amount of gaslighting going on here, he continued, referring to Reads attorneys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 200 potential jurors are being called in for selection next Tuesday. Each one will be required to fill out a three-page questionnaire before being considered. READ MORE: Karen Read murder trial Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. HONOLULU (KHON2) Pele is back in action after a several day break with Kilaueas fifteenth episode of the Halemaumau eruption beginning just after noon on March 25. The episode was preceded by eight small splatter fountains in the north vent, happening between 9:27 a.m. and 11:45 a.m., each lasting up to 10 minutes each. Once the episode fully picked up, Pele gave Hawaii fountains up to 50 feet high. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Currently, the winds at the summit are predicted to be weak, which the USGS says may allow the plume of gas to spread around Kilaueas summit. As always, residents and visitors are cautioned about exposure to vog, Peles hair and other small fragments of glass. For information about volcanic hazards, check out USGS website, and to watch the eruption live check out the Kilauea livestream on YouTube. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. ELGIN, Ill. (WGN) Hours after emergency crews pulled a vehicle from the Fox River connected to a 42-year-old cold case Tuesday, the Kane County Coroners Office (KCCO) said it found human remains inside the car. In a press release Tuesday evening, the KCCO said it confirmed the presence of skeletal human remains inside the yellow, two-door coupe that was pulled from the waters of the Fox River around 2:45 p.m. Tuesday in connection to the disappearance of Karen Schepers. Along with her 1980 Toyota Celica, Schepers vanished without a trace during the early morning hours of April 16, 1983. Divers confirmed the plates on the car pulled from the river Tuesday match the car connected to Schepers. The next step in analyzing the human remains will be to compare DNA samples or dental records of Schepers to the remains found inside the vehicle to confirm a positive ID of the remains that were found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elgin police said this process could take up to several weeks, and the public will be notified once the process is complete. People gathered on the Fox River shoreline Tuesday to watch police and dive teams work, the case still very much on their minds. Its a little bit unnerving, Dominick Bruno, who lives in the area, said. I can tell you Ive definitely floated over this a number of times. Right along the wall here, typically on a beautiful day, theres 10 to 15 people fishing right off the shoreline. Just prayers for her family, and my condolences go out to them, Kristina Kelley, who also lives nearby, said. I hope that they can get some resolution and peace after all this. How we got here Monday night, divers equipped with sonar technology and the Elgin Police Department (EPD) located a vehicle northwest of the Slade Avenue boat launch with a license plate number that matched Schepers Celica. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Due to diving conditions on the Fox River at the time, efforts to safely remove the vehicle from the river were moved to Tuesday at 12:30 p.m., when divers, the Elgin Fire Department and the KCCO could resume work to remove and examine the vehicle. At around 2:40 p.m., emergency crews began pulling the vehicle from the waters of the Fox River, and within 10 minutes they had the car lying upside down on dry land. The vehicle was then taken to the KCCO for further examination. Background on Karen Schepers cold case Schepers and her Toyota Celica went missing around 1 a.m. on April 16, 1983, after leaving a Carpentersville bar named P.M. Bentleys in the Meadowdale Shopping Center following a night out with co-workers in the northwest suburbs. EPD detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian launched the Somebody Knows Something Podcast on Jan. 20 of this year, hoping to renew interest and spark new leads as they documented their investigation into Schepers decades-old disappearance case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the podcasts introductory episode, Houghton and Vartanian laid out six theories they planned to investigate, with a search of local bodies of water being the final theory they planned to dive into, no pun intended. Somebody knows something: Elgin Police Department launches podcast aimed at solving cold cases As their investigation progressed over the past several months, searching local waterways became an increasingly pivotal part of their look into Schepers cold case, leading to Elgin police bumping up a water search strategy ahead of other theories they previously planned to explore. In the podcasts latest episode, Houghton and Vartanian explore two possible routes Schepers could have taken home the night she disappeared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recap of that episode can be found by clicking here. Details on Karen Schepers 1980 Toyota Celica 1980 year model. Canary yellow with red stripes. Illinois license plate number was XP8919. Detectives describe the car as a small, two-door vehicle that was about 4 feet, 3 inches tall; 5 feet, 4 inches wide; and just under 14 feet long. Schepers 1980 Toyota Celica weighs approximately 2,400 pounds. For comparison: A 2025 Toyota Camry is almost four inches taller, eight inches wider and two feet longer than Schepers Celica. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. KANSAS CITY, Mo. The Kansas City, Missouri, Council has announced theyll be holding a special closed session meeting Thursday, March 27. The meeting comes just three weeks after the suspension of City Manager Brian Platt. On March 6, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas released a memo stating Platt would be suspended from his position, just one day after the citys whistleblower lawsuit loss. Northland man facing charges in 2022 death of teen from fentanyl overdose Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The whistleblower, identified in the lawsuit as former Kansas City, Missouri, City Communications Director Chris Hernandez, claimed Platt told him to lie to the media. City councilmembers voted last Thursday, March 20, to extend Platts suspension for an undefined period of time during another closed session. Teen sentenced for bringing gun to Shawnee Mission South in December 2024 Following the vote, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas spokesperson released the following statement: The City Council has voted to continue the process started two weeks ago by ratifying Mayor Quinton Lucas temporary suspension of City Manager Brian Platt. Mr. Platts status, and the status of City leadership, remains the same as indicated in the Mayors March 6, 2025, letter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police warn of purse snatchings, thefts in Kansas City area Regardless of whether the council addresses Platts suspension during Thursdays closed session, a city spokesperson says city operations are expected to continue as normal. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Rep. Valdenia Winn, a Kansas City Democrat, asks the House during a March 19, 2025, session to support her amendment to declare all forms of racism are against the public policy of Kansas. The House rejected her amendment on a party-line vote. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA House Republicans refused to consider a plea from Democratic Rep. Valdenia Winn to send a message that there is no place for racism in the state of Kansas. Winn, a Kansas City Democrat, proposed an amendment to House Bill 2299, which declares that antisemitism is against the public policy of the state. She wanted to expand the language to condemn all forms of racism and discrimination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not rocket science, Winn said during a March 19 debate in the House. This is not trigonometry. This is basic. Republicans wouldnt hear it. Rep. Susan Estes, a Wichita Republican, objected to Winns proposal under a House rule that says amendments have to be germane to the existing bill. That sent members of the rules committee into a scramble to conceive a reason to reject the Democrats idea. The way Rep. Susan Humphries explained it, the test for whether an amendment is germane is whether the amendment would expand the scope of the bill, a test rarely applied to amendments proposed by Republicans. The Wichita Republican, who serves as rules chair, explained the situation through a metaphor: You cant expand a bill about apples to be about all fruit. Under that standard, she ruled, the House could not consider Winns proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am not opposed to having an act that declares racism to be against public policy, Humphries said. Like, lets do that if we feel like its needed. That wording, that expanding from antisemitism to discrimination and racism is an expanding and super close call. But this amendment is not germane. Republicans determine which bills get a hearing and whether they advance, making it unlikely that Winn could get anywhere with a standalone bill that dealt with racism. Rep. Stephanie Clayton, an Overland Park Democrat, argued the amendment was germane because anyone who had the most rudimentary knowledge of history would understand is that antisemitism is racism. So when were talking about apples, oranges, fruit, squares, rectangles, whatever analogy you want to use for what is broad and what isnt, racism and antisemitism are the same thing, ergo, this amendment is germane, Clayton said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Winn said her amendment does not dilute the bill. It does not say an apple is not a fruit, and all these other things. Lets make Kansans clear of our intent, that theres no place for discrimination and/or antisemitism and/or racism in the state of Kansas, Winn said. Thats all the amendment. Theres no gotcha here, any place, theres nothing else. Its simple, people. Winn challenged Humphries ruling, but the House supported Humphries ruling with an 86-36 party-line vote. The House then passed the bill by a 116-8 vote. Estes introduced the bill, and the House Education Committee that she chairs sponsored the bill. It relies on a definition of antisemitism established by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill outlaws encouragement, support, praise, participation in or threat of violence or vandalism against Jewish people or property. It makes it illegal for people to wear a mask to conceal their identity while intending to harass or discriminate against Jewish students, faculty or employees on school property. And it bans antisemitic curriculum in any domestic or study abroad programs or classes. Rep. Pat Proctor, a Leavenworth Republican, said he struggled with the bill, having spent 25 years in the Army fighting for freedoms, including free speech. But, he said, he was bothered by the recent vandalism of a Catholic church in Wichita. And it occurred to me that if that had been Christians attacking a mosque, it would have been all over the country. It would have been on CNN, it would have been on Fox News, it would have been on MSNBC, and all over the country, everybody screaming in outrage, an attack on Muslims, but because it was an attack on Christians, you heard nary a word, Proctor said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vandalism and threats of violence are not free speech, he said. Why is it OK for folks to attack Jewish students because they support some people on the other side of the world but its not OK, hypothetically, for somebody to be attacking a mosque? Proctor said. The Kansas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a statement of solidarity with the Catholic community following the vandalism at St. Patricks Catholic Church. Rep. John Carmichael, a Wichita Democrat whose district includes the church, disputed Proctors assessment of the news coverage. It was not ignored, Carmichael said. The FBI was on the scene that very day, investigating on the basis that this was motivated by religious animus, and I guess the representative from Leavenworth perhaps listens to Fox News. I listened to CNN, and I heard plenty about it on the national news. This week, House and Senate negotiators gutted Senate Bill 44, which dealt with eligibility of postsecondary educational institutions for a scholarship program, and inserted the contents of the antisemitism bill. The House by 102-21 vote and Senate by 39-1 vote then passed the bill on Wednesday. The Hyundai Motor Group said it will invest $21 billion in the United States from 2025 to 2028. That includes $9 billion to establish an annual production capacity in the U.S. of 1.2 million vehicles across its brands Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. The company will also pour funding into improving its production facilities, including Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama and Kia Autoland Georgia. Hyundai is dedicating $6 billion to using local sources for automotive components including core parts for electric vehicles (EVs), such as battery packs. The company said it plans to form an "auto cluster" following expansion of its production facilities, as well as strengthening logistics and investing in steel production in the U.S. Most Read on IEN: Hyundai Steel, the Groups steel affiliate, will construct an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steel mill in the state of Louisiana, capable of producing 2.7 million tons of steel annually. This facility will produce low-carbon steel sheets using the abundant supply of steel scrap in the U.S. with the aim of enhancing the Groups agility and flexibility in response to external uncertainties. Hyundai also will invest $6 billion to drive innovation and expand strategic partnerships with U.S. companies in areas including autonomous driving, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced air mobility (AAM). Key initiatives include: Collaborating with Boston Dynamics to expand the U.S. ecosystem for robotics components and establish a mass-production system Partnering with NVIDIA to accelerate the development of AI solutions for future mobility, including autonomous driving and robotics Advancing R&D with Supernal, the Groups US affiliate for AAM business, to commercialize an eVTOL vehicle by 2028 Supplying robotaxis to Waymo as part of its strategic partnership with Hyundai Motor Company, and co-developing autonomous driving services with Aptiv Investing potential startups through venture capital and other funding mechanisms to support U.S. startups specializing in mobility, robotics, and AI As part of its $6 billion commitment, the Group will also invest in energy infrastructure projects to secure new business opportunities and contribute to the development of sustainable energy generation, including: EDMOND, Okla. (KFOR) The City of Edmond is asking its resident to participate in the Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Tire Reclamation event on Saturday, April 5. Residents can expect to drop off old tires at the Edmond Electric Headquarters for free. City leaders say, proof of Edmond residency is required to participate. Details: Date: April 5, 2025 Time: 8:00 a.m. 12 noon (*rain or shine) Address: 2004 Old Timbers Drive Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To drop off tires for reclamation, residents must follow these requirements: Bring a copy of their utility bill or a drivers license will be required to verify that they live within the City limits of Edmond. All tires must have rims removed. Only the tire will be accepted. No tractor tires or large implement tires. No businesses. This event is for residents only. Edmond tire cleanup, Image courtesy The City of Edmond Oklahoma Co. Warrant Clearing Event April 4 City leaders say, the event runs April 1-5 in Davenport, Stroud, Bristow, Kelleyville, Sapulpa and Edmond cleaning up the 100 greatest miles of Route 66. 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) called on Wednesday for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to resign after The Atlantic revealed texts he sent on the Signal group chat used to lay out plans for attacks against the Houthis in Yemen. In the texts, Hegseth laid out specifications on the attack, including when fighter jets would take off, drone strikes would drop over the region and when the attack would be complete. The Signal incident is what happens when you have the most unqualified Secretary of Defense weve ever seen, Kelly said on the social platform X. Were lucky it didnt cost any servicemembers their lives, but for the safety of our military and our country, Secretary Hegseth needs to resign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gallego pointed specifically to the information shared over an unsecure app, which, if it had been intercepted, could have been used to alert the Houthis and other adversaries. This could have gotten our men and women killed! Strike times, when planes are taking off, what weapons are being used all shared in unsafe manner, Gallego wrote. @SecDef needs to resign. The incompetence and cover up is embarrassing. Both Kelly and Gallego are military veterans and represent a key swing state. Administration officials on Tuesday maintained no war plans or classified information were shared in the texts. Among those who made that claim were President Trump, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The comments come a day after Sen. Mark Warner (Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, called for Hegseth and national security adviser Michael Waltz to resign. The attack in Yemen was carried out on March 15. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) A Kentucky woman is in the Lafayette Parish jail after allegedly offering items for sale online and not producing them, authorities said. Teresa Holcomb, 48, of Annville, Kentucky, is charged with two counts each of theft and illegal transmission of monetary funds. In October 2024, the Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud/Auto Theft unit, in collaboration with the Kentucky State Police, initiated an investigation into theft and illegal monetary transactions conducted through an online marketplace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives said Holcomb intentionally deprived an unidentified victim in Lafayette Parish of $1,330 through a widely-used digital payment platform and failed to deliver the promised goods, described as an antique collectors item. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest As the investigation progressed, detectives uncovered evidence linking Holcomb to multiple fraudulent schemes, authorities said. An arrest warrant was obtained, and Holcomb was arrested in Kentucky on Feb. 21, She was transported to the Lafayette Parish jail on March 21. She is being held on $5,000 bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To report suspicious or criminal activity in your community, the Louisiana State Police online reporting system is available. To submit a report, please contact the LSP Suspicious Activity Hotline at 1-800-434-8007, use the See Send smartphone app, or use our online reporting system by visiting the LA-SAFE website and clicking the report suspicious activity link. 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. KENTWOOD, Mich. (WOOD) Drivers in Kentwood can share their input Wednesday on a $12 million project to rebuild a key stretch of M-37 (Broadmoor Avenue). The project, set to begin this year, covers the area from north of 44th Street to north of 60th Street and includes signal upgrades and lane extensions. The Michigan Department of Transportation estimates the work will support about 115 jobs. MDOT officials, along with city and county leaders, will be at Kentwood City Hall from 4 to 6 p.m. to discuss the timeline, traffic impacts and other upcoming roadwork. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents needing accessibility accommodations should contact MDOT in advance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Hyundai - Photo: Justin Sullivan (Getty Images) Hyundai Motor Group (HYMTF), the South Korean conglomerate that also owns the Kia and Genesis brands, announced a $21 billion new investment in the U.S. in a bid to dodge new tariffs and strengthen its supply chain. Hyundai, through its Hyundai Steel subsidiary, will invest $5.8 billion in a Louisiana steel plant, President Donald Trump said at a press conference alongside Hyundai executives and Gov. Jeff Landry. The plant will employ some 1,300 people and make more than 2.7 million metric tons of steel each year, which will be used to build Hyundais vehicles. The plant will serve as the foundation for a more self-reliant and secure automotive supply chain in the U.S. Hyundai Executive Chairman Euisun Chung said at the press conference. Hyundai currently makes a handful of models at its factory in Montgomery, Alabama, and recently began producing electric SUVs at a manufacturing plant west of Savannah, Georgia. Kia makes some electric and gas-powered vehicles at a plant in West Point, Georgia. The plans come as major companies, including automakers, look to avoid Trumps threats to spike tariffs. Japanese investment giant Softbank and Taiwans TSMC (TSM) have made major announcements at the White House. Apple (AAPL), which makes its iPhones and other products overseas and received a tariff exemption during Trumps first term, announced a $500 billion investment plan. Honda Motor Co. (HMC) has reportedly ditched a plan to move some work to Mexico from Indiana. The president has already introduced 25% tariffs on all foreign steel and aluminum imports and plans to introduce broad reciprocal tariffs next month. Although the White Houses plans have reportedly been narrowed down, Trump has repeatedly called for sector-specific tariffs on products like vehicles and pharmaceuticals. This investment is a clear demonstration that tariffs very strongly work, and I hope other things also, but the tariffs are bringing them in at levels that have not been witnessed, Trump said Monday at the press conference. You know, there are no tariffs if you make your product in America. Hyundai officials have been in touch with Trumps aides since he won the election in November, according to The Wall Street Journal. The automaker also donated $1 million to his inaugural fund, a first for the company. Hyundai Motor Group will also purchase $3 billion worth of U.S. liquified natural gas to support Americas energy industry and enhance our energy security, Chung said. Trump has made aiding the U.S. energy industry a priority of his administration. PRISTINA (Reuters) - Kenya has recognised Kosovo as an independent state, the first country to do so after nearly five years of stalled efforts to gain further international recognition. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but is not a United Nations member due to opposition from Serbia and its allies, including U.N.-veto holders Russia and China. Over 110 countries, including the United States and most European nations, have recognised Kosovo's independence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The announcement was made by former Kosovo president Behgjet Pacolli, who shared photos on his Facebook page with Kenyan President William Ruto as he signed the recognition letter. "I have gone door to door, office to office, with only one goal - to make the voice and the right of the people of Kosovo for freedom, independence and sovereignty being heard," Pacolli said, adding that he had been lobbying for this since 2009. The last country to recognise Kosovo as a state was Israel in September 2020. (Reporting by Fatos Bytyci) Another member of the international armed forced tasked with combating criminal gangs in Haiti has been killed after gangs on Tuesday ambushed three armored vehicles and set fire to them. The Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission confirmed in a press statement that one of its police officers was missing, and efforts were under way to locate him. But soon after, the body of a lifeless police officer lying on dirt while dressed in camouflage and being physically assaulted by armed gang members began popping up in WhatsApp message groups. Gang members also shared videos celebrating the burning of armored vehicles belonging to the Kenyans. A third vehicle that was set ablaze belonged to the Haiti National Police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The death of the Kenyan policeman, if confirmed, would mark the second time an officer with the security support team has been killed in Haiti since the force began deploying in June. Earlier this month, the body of Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai, a father of two who was newly married, arrived in Kenya after he was killed in Haiti last month during an operation against the same Gran Grief gang in the Artibonite region responsible for Tuesdays violence. A Haiti National police source said the agency was still trying to sort out the details of the days events, which involved violent clashes with the Gran Grif gang throughout the day in the area of Petite Riviere de lArtibonite. The attack in the Artibonite region comes amid an ongoing siege of Port-au-Prince by members of a powerful gang coalition. On Tuesday, gangs perched themselves in a community called Clemenceau about 17 minutes from another rural hamlet, Belot, in the mountains of Kenscoff above the capital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were planning to launch attacks against the remaining areas they do not control on two fronts from downtown and from the mountains, a source said. The continuing attacks have been accompanied by the burning of buildings and a rise in kidnappings, with gang suspected of abducting people to use as human shields against police drone attacks. Since last month, a government task force has been using explosive drones to target gang strongholds. While the drones have yet to take out any key gang leaders, they have put gangs on the defensive. The statement from the Kenyan-led security mission said the incident invoving its officer happened at around 4: 30 p.m. A Haiti National Police armored vehicle was patrolling the main Carrefour Paye-Savien road in the Pont-Sonde area of the Artibonite region when it became stuck in a ditch suspected of having been intentionally dug by gangs to trap vehicles, the mission said. In response, two Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, or MRAPS, operated by Kenyan police officers, were dispatched from Pont-Sonde to assist in the recovery. Unfortunately, during the rescue operation, one of the MRAPs also became stuck, while the other suffered a mechanical failure. As rescue teams attempted to manage the situation, suspected gang members, hiding in ambush, launched an attack, the release said. Following this incident, an officer from the Kenyan contingent of the MSS remains missing. Specialized teams have been deployed to conduct a search and determine his location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mission has struggled to make inroads against gangs, while at the same time facing funding constraints as well as a lack of officers and equipment. The U.S. State Department said on Wednesday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who will meet with several Caribbean leaders in Jamaica, spoke with Kenya President William Ruto on Tuesday ahead of the meeting. Ruto said on X that Rubio reaffirmed the strong U.S. support for the Kenya-led effort to stabilize Haiti. Rubio will discuss the dire situation in Haiti with the head of Haitis Presidential Transitional Council, Fritz Alphonse Jean, in Kingston as well as with other Caribbean leaders. We all know and we share the deep commitment to tackling this challenge in Haiti, Mauricio Claver-Carone, Trumps envoy for Latin America and the Caribbean, said Tuesday in a preview of Rubios visit for journalists. The secretary is obviously very familiar with the challenges posed there. Its an intricate part of the community that the secretary comes from, and obviously something weve been dealing with for a long time; and look to work with our Caribbean neighbors in handling that particular challenge in this regards. NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) A Kenyan policeman deployed in Haiti has gone missing after violent gangs attacked a group of officers on a rescue mission, a U.N.-backed multinational security mission said on Wednesday. The Kenyan officers were on their way Tuesday to rescue Haitian police stuck in a ditch suspected to have been deliberately dug by gangs," according to the mission's statement, adding that specialized teams have been deployed to search for the missing officer. Local media outlets in Haiti reported that the officer had been killed and videos of a lifeless man clothed in Kenyan uniform were shared on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gang violence has left more than one million people homeless in the Caribbean country in recent years, according to the U.N., with many crowding into makeshift and unsanitary shelters after gunmen razed their homes. The Kenya-led force was launched last year and tasked with fighting gangs trying to seize full control of Haitis capital. Kenya had promised to send 1,000 officers to Haiti. Since June, 800 have been deployed. Another Kenyan officer who was shot and killed by the gangs in Haiti in February was buried in Kenya last week. Opposition leaders in the east African country called for the mission's officers to be better equipped. The mission has been struggling with a lack of personnel as gangs that control 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, keep seizing more territory. The force's funding has also been dealt a blow after the U.S., its biggest backer, froze some of its funding, part of President Donald Trump's sweeping freeze on foreign assistance. A member of the international force battling gangs in Haiti has been killed, as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio launches a tour of the Caribbean with Haitis security crisis high on the agenda. The Kenyan police officer was initially reported missing after suspected gang members ambushed two mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles on Tuesday in Pont-Sonde, a town in the Artibonite region, according to a statement by the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS). Haitis Presidential Transitional Council later confirmed the officer had died, identifying him as Benedict Kabiru. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This valiant police officer, engaged alongside Haitian forces to fight insecurity, made the ultimate sacrifice for a better future for our country. His bravery and commitment will never be forgotten, the council said. Forces from the MSS and the Haitian National Police earlier carried out a search and rescue operation to locate the officer, Kenyas National Police Service said. The ambushed vehicles had been dispatched to recover an armored police vehicle that got stuck in a ditch which MSS said may have been deliberately dug by gangs. During the recovery operation, one of the MRAP vehicles also got stuck and the other developed mechanical issues. As officers attempted to fix the issue, they were suddenly attacked by gang members, the MSS said in a statement. After the attack, videos were shared online purporting to show the officers body lying on the ground. CNN cannot independently verify the authenticity of the footage, and has reached out to MSS for more information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His death marks the latest Kenyan casualty since the security mission arrived in June. Last month, another Kenyan member of MSS was fatally wounded in an operation also in the Artibonite region, MSS said. The US has been a key financial supporter of MSS, and the security crisis in Haiti is a focus of Secretary Rubios visit to the Caribbean this week. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio disembarks a plane as he arrives at Norman Manley International Airport in Port Royal, Jamaica, on March 26, 2025. - Nathan Howared/Pool/AFP/Getty Images On Wednesday, Rubio is scheduled to meet with the president of Haitis Presidential Transitional Council Fritz Jean in Jamaica. The Haitian government said the meeting is meant to strengthen regional cooperation related to its challenges. Over 80% of Haitis capital Port-au-Prince has been estimated to be under gang control. Since the MSS arrived, gangs have spread increasingly into rural areas, seizing swathes of territory in the agriculturally critical Artibonite region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In October, the United Nations said least 70 people, including women and children, were massacred by the Gran Grif gang in the same Artibonite town where the officer was killed on Tuesday. Violence in Port-au-Prince has led to record levels of displacement, exacerbating humanitarian conditions, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said during a press briefing on Wednesday. Nearly 23,000 people were displaced in just one week in March, he said. The crisis has also cut into vital supply lines across the country. Beyond the worrying situation in the capital, almost half of the entire population thats 5.5 million human beings is going hungry, one of the highest proportions in any crisis around the world, Dujarric said. CNNs Mounira Elsamra contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (NewsNation) A year after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed into the Patapsco River in Baltimore due to a cargo container ship crashing into one of its supports, analysts are warning that several bridges nationwide could face a similar fate. According to a new Johns Hopkins University study, major collisions like the one in Baltimore could occur once every 20 years for certain bridges, with many located along the Gulf Coast, where container ship traffic is high. Bridges increasingly hit by ships Johns Hopkins researchers examined 16 years of U.S. Coast Guard data on shipping movements and found that severe collisions capable of causing catastrophic damage arent rare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US infrastructure improved with Biden-era spending but theres a long way to go Several major bridges are at risk of being struck. The study identified the following vulnerable bridges: The Huey P. Long Bridge near New Orleans: once every 17 years The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge: once every 22 years The Crescent City Connection in New Orleans: once every 34 years The Beltway 8 Bridge in Houston: once every 35 years The Hale Boggs Memorial Bridge in New Orleans: once every 37 years Other bridges in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Minnesota and Wisconsin are also at risk. What steps can be taken to prevent further bridge collisions? The increased risk stems from two factors: Ships have gotten much larger, often reaching up to 1,000 feet in length, and shipping traffic has surged due to global trade. Plus, many of these bridges were built decades ago and werent designed to handle the force of ships this size. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To prevent further bridge collisions, researchers emphasized two key measures: Stricter navigation controls to keep large ships away from bridge piers and reinforced barriers in the water to protect bridge supports. While its impossible to eliminate all risks, analysts stressed that these safety measures can significantly reduce the chances of future incidents. Honoring the Key Bridge collapse victims Maryland leaders are honoring the six construction workers who were killed that night when the road they were repairing buckled underneath them on March 26, 2024. On Tuesday, city and state leaders invited the victims families to visit the collapse site for a wreath-laying ceremony. About a dozen relatives boarded the citys fireboat, which chugged steadily toward the mouth of the Patapsco River where the Key Bridge once stood. One by one, family members stepped to the back of the boat and tossed wreaths of yellow and white flowers into the water, watching them drift away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The six men were all Latino immigrants who came to the U.S. seeking better wages and brighter futures. Most had lived in the country for many years and worked hard to support their families. These states have bridges that need to be assessed for collapse risk The Port of Baltimore, which was closed for months after the collapse, made an impressive rebound during the second half of 2024, but now, the Trump administrations tariffs could threaten its ongoing recovery. Officials say the new bridge should be finished sometime in 2028. They unveiled designs last month for what will become Marylands first cable-stayed bridge. It could cost upwards of $1.7 billion, but Congress has agreed to cover the full price tag for rebuilding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Named after the man who penned the national anthem during the War of 1812, the Key Bridge was a beloved feature of Baltimores skyline and a symbol of its proud working-class history. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. CHEYENNE Kappa Kappa Gamma claims plaintiffs are dragging their feet in a pending high-profile federal lawsuit, so they're asking a federal judge to impose a 21-day deadline on filing of an amended complaint. Two years ago, six sorority sisters at the University of Wyoming filed a lawsuit against their parent organization, KKG, after Artemis Langford, a transgender woman, was admitted to the Laramie chapter. However, Wyoming U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson dismissed the lawsuit without prejudice in August 2023, giving the plaintiffs an option to amend their complaint. Instead, the sorority sisters appealed their case to the 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, which was also unsuccessful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When she dismissed the case in June, 10th Circuit Judge Carolyn B. McHugh said the case was not appealable without a final order from Johnson. In her dismissal, McHugh gave the plaintiffs two options: stand on their existing complaint and seek final decision from the Wyoming judge, or amend their complaint and continue their case at the federal district court level. However, eight months after McHughs decision, the plaintiffs have still not pursued either option. During two status conferences in January, Johnson asked the plaintiffs attorneys if they planned to amend their complaint. The legal counsel gave no definitive answer to the court, according to WyoFile.com. On Feb. 28, KKG filed a motion, asking the court to grant a 21-day deadline for the plaintiffs to submit an amended complaint. If the complaint is not submitted in that timeframe, KKG asks in the motion for Johnson to dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning the case can't be refiled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohio case complicates things In January 2024, another lawsuit was filed against KKG by sorority alumnae Patsy Levang and Cheryl Tuck-Smith in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The lawsuit also claims KKG violated its own bylaws by admitting Langford into the UW sorority chapter. It was determined by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson to be duplicative of the case in Wyoming. The Ohio federal judge moved to transfer the case to Wyoming under the first-to-file rule. Watson wrote his court lacked jurisdiction to oversee the case because a duplicative lawsuit was already filed in Wyoming federal court. However, this order is currently being challenged in the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Levang and Tuck-Smith cannot appeal Watsons order, so they filed a petition for writ of mandamus to the 6th Circuit, asking if it was proper for the Ohio court to transfer the case to Wyoming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All the parties in both cases are waiting to see if the court will consider the petition, said Natalie McLaughlin, one of KKGs defense attorneys. McLaughlin told Johnson during a status conference Monday morning that she did not believe the 6th Circuit has jurisdiction to consider the petition in the Levang case, since it currently sits in Wyoming district court. In its motion for the 21-day deadline, KKG questioned if the sorority sisters are strategically delaying the filing of their amended complaint. (T)his attempted manipulation of the litigation process to avoid the effect of an unfavorable court order on the merits is offensive to justice, KKGs motion states. Indeed, the Ohio court expressed its concerns about forum shopping in the transfer order. Watson alluded to this concern in his transfer of the Levang case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Six months have passed since the 10th Circuit instructed the Westenbroek plaintiffs to either amend their complaint or move for a dismissal without prejudice. They have not done so. Why not? Watson wrote. A plaintiff in the Westenbroek plaintiffs shoes might respond to that question with one of their own: why would we proceed in a forum that dismissed our claim already when instead we can wait and see whether the Southern District of Ohio will be more receptive? KKG argued the plaintiffs should not be permitted to hold this case in limbo. The sorority organization claims the plaintiffs are taking advantage of not having to file their amended complaint by a certain deadline, according to court documents. Ultimately, whether Plaintiffs here are strategically delaying the filing of a Second Amended Complaint or not is immaterial to the importance of finalizing the decision in this case for Kappa, all of its shareholders, and all defendants, the motion states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to KKGs argument that the plaintiffs are strategically delaying the filing of their second complaint, legal counsel for the sorority sisters stated that the plaintiffs have much to consider when deciding whether to pursue their claim in this forum at this time, according to court documents. The plaintiffs claimed there are jurisdictional issues with the case, since Langford has not been determined to be a Wyoming resident and KKG headquarters are in Dublin, Ohio. They also said theyre still waiting on a response from the 6th Circuit about the Levang case. Plaintiffs are under no obligation to resolve these questions now. There is certainly no extraordinary reason to demand they do so, the response states. Motion to dismiss Langford from case Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney Rachel Berkness also filed a separate motion to dismiss Langford from the case with prejudice. Berkness stated that her client has been vilified in media coverage viewed tens of millions of times, according to court documents. Less than a week after Johnson dismissed the six sorority sisters lawsuit without prejudice, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk encouraged the plaintiffs to bully this freak during his discussion of the case on "The Charlie Kirk Show." Just make fun of them. Say You're not welcome here. You're not welcome in our sorority. Go away. Go away, Kirk said. Kirk will be at UW on April 24 to speak at a rally organized by the UW chapter of Turning Point USA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Berkness attached 67 exhibits to the motion to permanently dismiss Langford from the case, including examples of comments from the internet that she said included hate speech and threats directed at her client. Noting that the social media posts had been viewed more than 25 million times, Berkness argued Langford has suffered extreme distress and prejudice since the case was filed in April 2023. Ms. Langford has already faced two protests on campus, Berkness wrote. A Colorado-based anti-transgender group, Rocky Mountain Womens Network, left hand-painted rocks on the UW campus and wrote humiliating chalk messages with Ms. Langfords name on the sidewalks outside the sorority house, according to court documents. In October, anti-transgender activist Riley Gaines spoke at an event on the UW campus, attended by more than 600 people, and was joined by the plaintiffs, Cowboy State Daily reported. This case continues to haunt her, Berkness said of Langford during a virtual status conference Monday morning. Another status conference is scheduled for May 23 in Johnsons courtroom. InfraPartners, a digital infrastructure company, and hyperscaler Nscale have entered into an alliance to double the capacity of an AI data centre in Glomfjord, Norway. This project will increase the capacity of the data centre from 30MW to 60MW, with the expanded facility expected to be operational by the second quarter (Q2) of 2025. The facility will host the latest generation of AI-optimised graphics processing units (GPUs). The centre will use 100% renewable hydroelectric energy for its operations and liquid cooling techniques to minimise environmental impact. InfraPartners CTO Harqs Singh said: InfraPartners has developed the first fully modular data centre for AI workloads. We are changing the way data centres are built. Our approach secures supply chains, drives standardisation, accelerates site deployment, and offers design flexibility to accommodate future GPU technology roadmaps. "We are thrilled to partner with Nscale to deploy a sustainable data centre in Glomfjord. By partnering with us, Nscale will benefit from a globally standardised design, flexibility to deploy different types of GPUs, and faster time to revenue. Manufacturing the facility off-site is expected to decrease the need for on-site labour and will expedite project timelines, resulting in cost reductions. Moreover, this method is more sustainable than traditional construction, as it improves resource efficiency and reduces on-site waste, stated InfraPartners. Nscale COO Alex Sharp said: Glomfjord offers an ideal location for an AI data centre. With an existing 30MW site and access to an abundance of hydroelectric power, this expansion to 60MW allows us to provide sustainable AI compute with European data sovereignty at a more affordable cost compared with competitors. "This facility represents a landmark step in creating scalable, sustainable AI infrastructure. As the first European hyperscaler, Nscale is ready to deliver AI compute at scale. In December last year, YIT secured a 100m ($104.24m) contract with XTX Markets to build a new data centre in Kajaani, Finland. "InfraPartners and Nscale collaborate on AI data centre expansion in Norway" was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand. VINCENNES, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) The Knox County Health Department teamed up with local organizations to celebrate National Nutrition Month. The Healthy Food Festival was an event featuring a variety of activities, like hands-on healthy snack demonstrations and interactive games. The purpose of this festival is to promote healthier eating habits and provide knowledge to make nutritious choices. Community Health Nurse Susan Yochum said its important to be aware of what were eating. I feel like theres so much information out there on what people should eat and what they shouldnt eat, said Yochum. And then we go to the store or we go to a restaurant and we dont necessarily know what were putting in our bodies. And theres lots of chemicals and theres lots of different preservatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For those who werent able to make the event can call the Knox County Health Department for more information. That phone number is 812-882-8080. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com. PRISTINA (Reuters) - Kosovo plans to boost its defence spending by 60% over the next four years and to focus on acquiring Black Hawk helicopters and building plants to produce ammunition and drones, Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on Wednesday. Kurti has repeatedly argued for increased defence spending to counter any potential threat from neighbouring Serbia, which still considers Kosovo part of its territory. "In the next mandate, we will allocate one billion euros ($1.08 billion) for our army," Kurti told a cabinet meeting, up from 626 million euros over the previous four years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kurti's party came first in a parliamentary election in February with 41% of the vote but he is still seeking coalition partners. Since coming to power in 2021, Kurti has steadily increased the defence budget. Kosovo bought a batch of Turkish-made Bayraktar drones in 2023 and last year it purchased Javelin anti-tank missiles worth $75 million. NATO still has a force of more than 4,000 peacekeepers deployed mainly in northern Kosovo, which has seen the worst ethnic tensions over the past two years since the country declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Last week Kosovo and NATO members Albania and Croatia signed an agreement to enhance cooperation in the defence sector, annoying Belgrade. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic accused Albania and Croatia of pursuing an "arms race". (1 = 0.9281 euros) (Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; additional reporting by Daria Sito-Sucic in Sarajevo and Aleksandar Vasovic in Belgrade; Editing by Gareth Jones) Russia has stated that it will not comply with the Black Sea ceasefire unless the United States lifts sanctions on state-owned Rosselkhozbank and other financial institutions engaged in the international trade of food and fertilisers. Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW) Details: ISW pointed out that the Kremlin is demanding that Washington lift sanctions on Russian banks, restore their access to the SWIFT system and remove restrictions on trade-related financial transactions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "Additionally, they must lift sanctions restricting companies producing and exporting food and fertilisers and their insurance companies, lift restrictions on servicing ships in ports and sanctions against ships operating under the Russian flag involved in trading food and fertiliser products and lift restrictions on supplying agricultural machinery and other tools used in food and fertiliser production to Russia." Details: The United States did not grant Russia the sanctions relief it demanded when Ukraine and Russia reached a grain deal in July 2022. Statements from the White House and the Kremlin following the US-Russia meetings stated that "the United States 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". However, ISW analysts note that the US statement did not explicitly link Russias acceptance and compliance with the Black Sea ceasefire to a prior easing of US sanctions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "The United States will likely require European Union (EU) cooperation in order to lift some sanctions and restrictions on Russian agricultural, financial and trade entities to reconnect Russia to international agricultural and fertiliser markets." Details: US President Donald Trump, when asked whether the US could lift some sanctions against Russia before it takes reciprocal measures in the Black Sea, said that such a possibility is being considered. Quote: "The Kremlin's official statements are vague, stipulate requirements for the ceasefire that neither the United States nor Ukrainian official statements mention and leave room for disagreement among the parties that would be involved in interpreting the agreements, lifting sanctions and monitoring potential violations. The official Kremlin statement is vague on the specific sanctions and restrictions the Kremlin is demanding that the West preliminarily lift and the specific financial organisations and companies involved. The Kremlin statement also does not specify the actors that will interpret the parameters of these restrictions, monitor lifting these restrictions and verify all parties' compliance." To quote the ISW's Key Takeaways on 25 March: US, Ukrainian and Russian officials reached some agreements for temporary ceasefires on strikes against energy infrastructure and in the Black Sea. The details of these ceasefires remain unclear and evaluating the ceasefires' specifics in the absence of officially published joint texts of the agreements signed by Russia and Ukraine remains difficult. The Kremlin's and [Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem] Umierov's statements suggest that Russia and Ukraine may not yet be in agreement about whether the ceasefire has gone into effect or not as of 25 March. Putin continues to reject Trump's and Zelenskyy's proposed temporary frontline ceasefire, despite agreeing to some form of ceasefire for strikes on energy infrastructure and in the Black Sea. Putin's persistent stalling and intransigence are inhibiting Trump's efforts to secure a lasting and stable peace settlement. The Kremlin stated that it will not implement the agreed ceasefire in the Black Sea until the United States lifts sanctions on Russian state-owned agricultural bank Rosselkhozbank and other unspecified financial organisations involved in international food and fertiliser trade. Russian forces recently advanced in the Kursk-Sumy Oblast border area, near Toretsk and in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The Russian military continues to deny rotations to soldiers who have been fighting in the war in Ukraine for years. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! (NewsNation) Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is going to El Salvador, where she will tour the Terrorist Confinement Center with the countrys Minister of Justice on Wednesday. The Department of Homeland Security said Noem will also head to Colombia and Mexico this week, adding that the trips underscore the importantance of the United States partner countries. Noems slated to meet with El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele, who the administration has touted as a great partner in their deportation efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration sent 261 migrants in the country illegally to El Salvador late last week saying they were all members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua or MS-13. Both have been designated as terrorist organizations under the administration. New Social Security requirements call for in-person checks The deportations of Tren De Aragua to the El Salvadorian Terrorist Confinement Center sent a message to the world that America is no longer a safe haven for violent criminals, Noem said on X Wednesday. Bukele said the alleged gang members would be held at the Terrorist Confinement Center for a year with a renewable contract option. According to The Associated Press, inmates there are packed into cells and never allowed outside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Controversy has swirled around the Trump administrations move; however, as family members of some of the individuals hauled off to El Salvador say they are not gang members and they deserve due process. Theres also been legal challenges, with Judge James Boasberg reviewing whether the government ignored a court order about the flights to El Salvador. The Trump administration insists it didnt defy the order. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) The Kentucky State Police (KSP) reports it received a call from the Hopkins County Sheriffs Office requesting assistance in locating a suspect who fled on foot from a collision. Troopers say preliminary investigation reveals Jonathan Ray Ruby, 45, of White Plains, fled from the scene after a physical altercation when deputies arrived. Ruby is described as being 6 1 and 260 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. He was last seen wearing camouflage pants, a red shirt and a black jacket. (Courtesy: KSP) West Hopkins School in session following boil advisory lift Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The KSP says Ruby is considered armed and dangerous. Ruby currently has multiple felony warrants including: Fleeing or evading police Trafficking in a controlled substance Parole violations Road project schedule for the week of March 23-29, 2025 Troopers say the Hopkins County Sheriffs Office is being assisted by the KSP, Kentucky State Police Aircraft Branch, Madisonville Police Department, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife and Kentucky State Police Commercial Motor Vehicle. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Jonathan Ruby is asked to contact the KSP at (270) 676-3313. Citizens may also report tips confidentially through the KSP website here. Law enforcement officials with Hopkins County have dispatched a helicopter to assist with locating Ruby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials tell us they probably wont be out searching for Ruby past nightfall. Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). Possessing valid documentation is the second item on the State Departments checklist for U.S. tourists traveling internationally. It's required for pilots, too, as an estimated 257 passengers found out the hard way last weekend. United Airlines Flight 198 left Los Angeles International Airport at 1:47 p.m. Saturday for a roughly 14-hour journey to Shanghai, China. However, the plane was instead diverted to San Francisco as the pilot "did not have their passport onboard," according to an airline spokesperson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plane landed in the City by the Bay at 5:05 p.m. The plane was delayed more than 3 hours before taking off. The United spokesperson said the airline arranged for a new crew to fly passengers out. The new 13-member crew was installed and the flight took off at 8:28 p.m., landing at 12:48 a.m. local time on Monday. Passengers were provided meal vouchers and undisclosed compensation for their delay, the spokesperson said. Reddit users who said they were on the flight said they were given $15 meal vouchers and were told the plane was diverted due to unexpected crew-related issues. United did not respond to questions regarding what would have happened had the pilot landed in China without a passport or if there are any measures in place to verify crew paperwork prior to departure. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Los Angeles Unified School District is at a critical turning point, with fresh obstacles from both the recent wildfires and changes in federal aid and policies under the Trump administration, a new report argues. The 26-page document, Looking Ahead as LAUSD Confronts Fire Recovery and Federal Policy Uncertainty, found those twin events will place new operational and financial pressures on the nations second-largest district in 2025 and beyond. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter The report, published earlier this month by the L.A.-based nonprofit education advocacy group GPSN, points out that LAUSD was already strained, with cratering enrollment, intense budget pressure and mixed marks on recent state and federal exams, although it is making progress compared to the rest of the state by some metrics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other U.S. school districts are facing some similar post-pandemic headwinds and the second Trump administration, GPSN Executive Vice President Ana Teresa Dahan said in an interview, but the crisis at LA Unified is especially bad because of additional threats posed by the fires and years of plunging enrollment exacerbated by the pandemic. LAUSD was facing declining enrollment before these two crises occurred, and theres a chance that this can make that worse, said Dahan. Between declining enrollment and delays in funding, LAUSD could find itself in a financial crisis. Morgan Polikoff, a professor of education at the University of Southern California, said the dangers to the district posed by the fires and the Trump administration are very serious. Those things are looming, said Polikoff. LAUSD would be a great target for the Trump administration if they want to put a trophy on the shelf. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drawing on academic research, news reporting and publicly available data, the GPSN report found the wildfires which ripped through Los Angeles in January affected more than 700,000 students and staff with school closures and displacements at the height of the disaster. Related Los Angeles Wildfires Destroy an Armenian School and a Lifeline to Families Homeland Even schools that were spared by flames suffered smoke damage, debris, and environmental hazards, according to the report. Ongoing hardships caused by the fires, such as financial uncertainty caused by job losses estimated at 25,000-45,000 in the report and the displacement of families from lost homes and neighborhoods, also compound LAUSDs fire woes, said Dahan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, LA school officials are preparing for the Trump administration to change, cut, or significantly diminish federal funding for public schools, which typically accounts for about 10% of the districts budget. Trump on Thursday issued an executive order to shut down the U.S. Department of Education. He has also threatened to withhold funding for districts that use race-based programming. LAUSD last year was forced to overhaul its signature program for Black students, the Black Student Achievement Plan, after a Virginia conservative group filed a civil rights complaint against the program. LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has said he would fight to impose any restrictions placed on the district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Merely the fear of federal immigration enforcement at LAUSD schools, and uncertainty about the status of federal funding, could be enough to depress attendance and cause budgeting troubles for the district, Polikoff said. Related Not In The Playbook: How a Palisades Principal is Saving a School That Burned In a written response to the GPSN report, a district spokesperson acknowledged the dangers faced by LA Unified. As this report correctly indicates, these are challenging times, a district spokesperson said in a statement. Not only is our community still recovering from the impact of the Palisades and Eaton fires, but we are now facing an increasingly volatile economic and political landscape. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The GPSN report gave LA Unified high marks for quickly relocating two schools that were destroyed in the fires, and formarshaling resources to provide food for families at LAUSD campuses while schools were closed. Dahan said she also found hope for LAUSD in the districts state test scores, which show that it is closing the gap with the rest of California, in both reading and math. To maximize its chances of mustering a strong recovery from the fires, and an effective response to the new federal landscape, Dahan said LA Unified needs to double down on social and academic services for students, and work with local community groups to bring those things directly to families. I think that they have demonstrated that they know how to respond to these crises, Dahan said. Now the real test will be, what does this mean for instruction and academics moving forward? Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong defended his decision to pull back his editorial boards planned endorsement of former Vice President Kamala Harris in an interview on far-right host Tucker Carlsons podcast. "I said, 'This is unacceptable.' And as you can see, because it's a left lean, they wrote terrible stories about President [Donald] Trump," Soon-Shiong told Carlson in an interview that aired Wednesday. So my statement to them was, 'You may have an opinion, but all of us should have opinions based on facts.'" Soon-Shiongs appearance on Carlsons podcast comes as he tries to attract more conservative readers to his newspaper, which he argues has become too liberal. He has clashed repeatedly with the union representing the papers journalists, which has said the billionaire owner is increasingly voicing his political opinions and, at times, misrepresenting our journalism a stark change from when he saved the paper in 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision to pull back the endorsement led to the resignation of the papers editorials editor, triggered mass turnover on the editorial board and pushed thousands of readers to cancel their subscriptions. We lost a lot of viewers, Soon-Shiong said to Carlson. Thousands of people unsubscribed. But I don't think it's right that we should be this canceling society. Soon-Shiong took to X to explain his decision last October and said that he instead asked the editorial board to draft a factual analysis of all the positive and negative policies by each candidate while they were in the White House. The board declined, he wrote. "I took a lot of heat because the editorial board resigned," Soon-Shiong told Carlson. "I can just say they were not happy." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The newspaper owner and billionaire doctor has faced blowback from within the paper in recent months, including for inviting conservative CNN commentator Scott Jennings to join the Times editorial board and promoting HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during his confirmation process. Soon-Shiong has said he is building a new fair and balanced editorial board. Whats exciting to me is Im rebuilding with young people, he said. This story was originally published on HR Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily HR Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: The Department of Government Efficiency must disclose information on its structure and scope as part of a lawsuit brought by organizations alleging that DOGE staff improperly accessed sensitive data housed in the U.S. Department of Labor and other federal agencies, a federal judge held March 19. Judge John Bates of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia previously denied two motions for a temporary restraining order filed by the plaintiffs in AFL-CIO v. Department of Labor. However, the court set briefing schedules for the plaintiffs motion to preliminarily enjoin DOGE staff from accessing the relevant data. It also partially granted the plaintiffs motion for limited expedited discovery. DOGE argued that the order granting expedited discovery be reconsidered because its staff had been made direct agency employees and therefore were permitted to view the disputed data. Bates disagreed, writing that whether DOGE staffs access to the data violated federal law, and whether those staff could be lawfully detailed to the agencies, were questions that still must be resolved in order to rule on the plaintiffs motion. Dive Insight: Proceedings in the lawsuit, brought by plaintiffs including the AFL-CIO and member unions as well as the Economic Policy Institute, a progressive think tank, will play out over the coming weeks in one of many challenges to DOGEs access to federal government databases. President Donald Trump directed DOGE, a rebrand of the U.S. Digital Service under the de facto leadership of Elon Musk, to restructure the workforces of DOL and other federal agencies in a Feb. 11 executive order. Federal workers unions swiftly criticized the order and sued to block DOGE from accessing sensitive DOL data. A bipartisan group of senators echoed those concerns during a Feb. 27 confirmation hearing for Keith Sonderling, Trumps recently confirmed nominee for deputy labor secretary. Specific data at issue in the lawsuit include federal workers medical and benefits information, the identities of workers who filed wage-and-hour or occupational safety complaints with DOL and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics records, among other items, according to the complaint. The plaintiffs alleged that the Trump administration violated the Administrative Procedure Act by allowing DOGE staff to access such data, an act that is itself an alleged violation of the Privacy Act of 1974, which prohibits disclosure of agency records to any person or to another agency without prior written consent of that person. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he was placing 25% tariffs on auto imports, a move that the White House claims would foster domestic manufacturing but could also put a financial squeeze on automakers that depend on global supply chains. The tariffs could be complicated as even U.S. automakers source their components from around the world, meaning that they could face higher costs and lower sales. Shares in General Motors have fallen roughly 3% in Wednesday afternoon trading. Fords stock was up slightly. Shares in Stellantis, the owner of Jeep and Chrysler, have dropped nearly 4%. Here's the Latest: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Child slips through fencing at White House and is intercepted by Secret Service Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said the young trespasser squeezed through the fence on the North Lawn at around 6:30 p.m., about an hour after Trump announced planned auto tariffs from the Oval Office. Officers quickly reunited the child with their parents without incident, Guglielmi said in a social media post. Video posted on social media shows an armed officer carrying a young child wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt across the lawn before handing off the child to another officer. Such intrusions have happened before. In April 2023, a toddler squeezed through the metal fencing, also on the North Lawn, and was later reunited with his parents, who were briefly questioned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heads of the 3 Democratic committees slam Trumps executive order on elections The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee joined in the chorus criticizing Trumps executive order that threatens to unravel the nations elections, calling it brazen and an unconstitutional overreach. America was founded on the belief of government by the people, for the people decided by fair and free elections, they said. Donald Trump and DOGE, in an attempt to rationalize their repeatedly debunked conspiracy theories, now want to suppress the vote of military members serving overseas, married women who have changed their names, and millions of Americans who vote by mail. This Executive Order is reckless, dangerous, and illegal. Judge says Justice Department attacked her character to impugn the integrity of US judicial system Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal judge is accusing the Justice Department of attacking her character in an effort to undermine the integrity of the judicial system, forcefully pushing back against the Trump administrations criticism of the courts for blocking parts of the presidents agenda. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howells comments came Wednesday in an order denying the Justice Departments bid to remove her from a case challenging an executive order punishing a prominent law firm. The Trump administration had asked for the case to be moved to another judge in Washingtons federal court, accusing Howell of demonstrating a pattern of hostility toward the president. Read more about Howells comments Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canadian prime minister says Trumps auto tariffs are a direct attack on his country Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says he needs to see the details of Trumps executive order before taking retaliatory measures. He called it unjustified and said he will leave the election campaign to go to Ottawa on Thursday to chair his special Cabinet committee on U.S. relations. Carney earlier announced a CA$2 billion ($1.4 billion) strategic response fund that will protect Canadian auto jobs affected by Trumps tariffs. Autos are Canadas second largest export, and Carney noted it employs 125,000 Canadians directly and almost another 500,000 in related industries. Carney says it is appropriate that he and Trump speak on the phone. The two have not spoken since Carney was sworn in March 14. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more about Carneys response to Trumps tariffs AP will return to court in suit against the Trump administration The Associated Press is returning to a Washington courtroom Thursday to ask a judge to restore its full access to presidential events. Thats weeks after the White House retaliated against the news outlet last month for not following President Trumps executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico. In a previous hearing last month, U.S. District Court Judge Trevor N. McFadden refused the APs request for an injunction to stop the White House from barring reporters and photographers from events in the Oval Office and Air Force One. He urged the Trump administration to reconsider its ban before Thursdays hearing. It hasnt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AP has said it needs to take a stand against Trumps team for punishing a news organization for using speech that it doesnt like. The news outlet said it would still refer to the Gulf of Mexico in its style guidance to clients around the world, while also noting that Trump has renamed it the Gulf of America. The White House said it has the right to decide who gets to question the president. For anyone who thinks the Associated Presss lawsuit against President Trumps White House is about the name of a body of water, think bigger, Julie Pace, the APs executive editor, wrote in an op-ed piece for the Wall Street Journal. Its really about whether the government can control what you say. The president has dismissed the AP as a group of radical left lunatics and said that were going to keep them out until such time as they agree that its the Gulf of America. Trump signed an order to reshape how elections in the US are run. Is it constitutional? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Election officials, state attorneys general and legal experts say Trumps executive order seeking to reshape election processes throughout the U.S. will likely face legal challenges for violating the Constitution. Tuesdays executive order demands sweeping changes for how Americans can register to vote and when they can cast their ballots. But the Constitution leaves it to states to determine the times, places and manner of how elections are run. The presidents order also issues directives to the independent Election Assistance Commission, which election law experts say he doesnt have the authority to do. A day after the order was issued, several voting rights groups and state attorneys generals already are hinting they plan to challenge it in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more about the constitutionality of Trumps order Turkish student at Tufts University is detained without explanation A Turkish national who is a doctoral student at Tufts University has been detained by federal agents without explanation, her lawyer said. Rumeysa Ozturk had just left her home in Somerville, Massachusetts, when she was detained by Department of Homeland Security agents. Surveillance video obtained by The Associated Press appears to show six people, their faces covered, taking the 30-year-olds phone as she yelled and was handcuffed Tuesday. A federal judge ordered Ozturk not be moved out of Massachusetts and gave the government until Friday to respond. Messages to DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement were not immediately returned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more about the students detainment Social Security Administration backtracks on some ID requirements The Social Security Administration is partially backtracking on a plan that would require all new and existing beneficiaries to travel to an agency field office to verify their identity. The administration said people applying for Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare or Supplemental Security Income who are not able to use the agencys online portal can complete their claim entirely over the phone instead of in person. Other applicants will still be required to verify their identities at a field office. The changes will apply to all beneficiaries beginning April 14, instead of the previously announced date of March 31. We have listened to our customers, Congress, advocates, and others, and we are updating our policy to provide better customer service to the countrys most vulnerable populations, Lee Dudek, acting commissioner of Social Security, said in a statement. Read more about the ID requirement change Democrats explore impacts of National Institutes of Health cuts A cancer survivor, an ALS patient and Alzheimers disease researchers told Senate Democrats on Wednesday that the Trump administrations siege on the National Institutes of Health is destroying hope for cures. I ask you to protect this funding so more people can outlive their expiration dates, Dr. Larry Saltzman, a retired physician whos survived leukemia years longer than expected by enrolling in clinical trials of new therapies. I am living proof of what NIH-based research can do. Democrats held the hearing to explore the impacts of drastic cuts at the worlds leading funder of biomedical research. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, of Wisconsin, described more than 300 NIH grants abruptly canceled and delays of $1.7 billion in funding for new or ongoing studies. An Emory University researcher described dreading telling a woman in one of her Alzheimers studies that it had been canceled. The news is going to devastate her, neuroscientist Whitney Wharton said. Its already having real-world impacts. Trump calls Signal uproar a witch hunt Trump grumbled about Democratic scrutiny over his national security team using the Signal app to plan an attack on Houthis in Yemen. The president said the criticism and media coverage was distracting from the successful operation that his team conducted on militants that have wreaked havoc in the Red Sea. I think its all a witch hunt, Trump said. Trump said he was not bothered by calls from Sen. Roger Wicker, the Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Sen. Jack Reed, the committees top Democrat, for an expedited inspector general investigation into the use of Signal by the national security team. Trump said he didnt know if classified information was shared by his team on the app. Trump pitches deal on TikTok and tariffs Trump said he would consider a reduction in tariffs on China if they were able to reach a deal on TikTok. Sounds like something Id do, he said. Legislation signed into law by then-President Joe Biden set a deadline for forcing the sale of the social media platform. Trump has extended the deadline and suggested he could do so again. Read more about Trumps TikTok comments North Carolina DHHS says termination of federal grants will result in loss of over 80 positions and $100 million in funds North Carolinas state government health agency says the abrupt and immediate termination of several federal grants by the Trump administration will result in the loss of more than 80 positions and over $100 million in funding. The Department of Health and Human Services, which has more than 18,000 employees, learned of the grant terminations on Tuesday, a spokesperson said Wednesday. The agency said the lost funding is related to several work areas, including immunization efforts, infectious disease monitoring, behavioral health and substance use disorder services. Local health and social service offices, universities and hospitals that complete grant-related work also are affected. Some department vendors are being asked to pause work until more information is provided by the federal government, the state agency said. Trump places 25% tariff on imported autos in move aimed at spurring domestic manufacturing Trump says he is placing 25% tariffs on auto imports, a move that the White House claims would foster domestic manufacturing but could also put a financial squeeze on automakers that depend on global supply chains. This will continue to spur growth, Trump told reporters. Well effectively be charging a 25% tariff. The tariffs could be complicated as even U.S. automakers source their components from around the world, meaning that they could face higher costs and lower sales. Shares in General Motors have fallen roughly 3% in Wednesday afternoon trading. Fords stock was up slightly. Shares in Stellantis, the owner of Jeep and Chrysler, have dropped nearly 4%. Read more about the tariffs Congressional Republicans target PBS and NPR funding in contentious hearing Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has called for dismantling and defunding the nations public broadcast system following a contentious public hearing. We believe that you all can hate us on your own dime, said Taylor Greene, of Georgia. The leaders of PBS and NPR appeared before the committee as congressional Republicans and Trump have roughly half a billion dollars in public funding for them in their sight. Republicans complain of left-wing bias in the news and programming. Democrats mocked the hearing as shameful considering other issues, as the broadcast company leaders tried to explain what they delivered for taxpayers. Read more about the hearing Trump criticizes Democrats record on transgender issues at Womens History Month event At the White House event, Trump said the previous administration wanted to abolish the very concept of womanhood. No matter how many surgeries you have or chemicals you inject, if youre born with male DNA in your body, you can never become a woman, Trump said. He said there would be tremendous goodies for women in Republican legislation this year, including support for in vitro fertilization. Ill be known as the fertilization president, he said. Appeals court wont halt order barring Trump administration from deportations under wartime law A federal appeals court has refused to lift an order barring the Trump administration from deporting Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador under an 18th century wartime law. A split three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a March 15 order temporarily prohibiting deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. Invoking the law for the first time since World War II, the Trump administration deported hundreds of people under a presidential proclamation calling the Tren de Aragua gang an invading force. The Justice Department appealed after U.S. District Judge James Boasberg blocked more deportations and ordered planeloads of Venezuelan immigrants to return to the U.S. That did not happen. Attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit on behalf of five Venezuelan noncitizens who were being held in Texas. Read more about the courts decision Canadas leader says Trump wants to break us so America can own us Prime Minister Mark Carney said Trumps trade war is hurting American consumers and workers and it will hurt more. American consumer confidence is at a multiyear low and U.S.-Canadian kinship is under more strain than ever before, Carney said while campaigning in Windsor, Ontario ahead of Canadas April 28 election. Trump put 25% tariffs on Canadas steel and aluminum and is threatening to impose sweeping tariffs on all Canadian products on April 2. But America will never own Canada, Carney said: It will never ever happen because we just dont look out for ourselves we look out for each other. Read more on the Canadian view of Trump tariffs US secretary of state says Signal leak was a big mistake but did not cause harm Someone made a big mistake and added a journalist to the Signal group chat with the most senior Trump officials, Marco Rubio said. Nothing against journalists, but you arent supposed to be on that thing. Speaking alongside Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness during his tour of the Caribbean, Rubio said hes been assured by the Pentagon that the group chats details about attacking Houthis in Yemen werent classified. It didnt put in danger anyones life or the mission. There was no intelligence information, Rubio said. There was no war plans on there. This was a sort of description of what we could inform our counterparts around the world when the time came to do so. Read more about Rubios Caribbean trip Education Department says it has reopened applications for student loan repayment plans The Education Department says applications for income-driven repayment plans are available online again for student loan borrowers. The applications were taken down in response to a February court ruling that blocked some Biden-era programs. The materials removal had complicated the renewal process for borrowers already enrolled in other repayment plans. The department said Wednesday that revisions to the form were necessary to comply with the court ruling. The American Federation of Teachers had filed a lawsuit seeking to force the department to accept and process applications for the repayment plans. Federal workers fired for DEI-related activities file class action complaint The complaint filed Wednesday before the Merit System Protection Board accuses the Trump administration of violating the workers First Amendment rights and unlawfully targeting them because they promoted diversity, equity and inclusion. The complaint also alleges that the mass firings violated antidiscrimination laws because they were based on pair of anti-DEI executive orders that disproportionately singled out federal workers who were not white men for hostility, suspicion, job interference, and termination. The complaint was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, Democracy Forward and two law firms on behalf of Mahri Stainnak, a former employee of the Office of Personnel Management, and similarly-situated federal workers. White House characterizes Signal chat as sensitive policy discussion but insists no classified information shared I would characterize this messaging thread as a policy discussion, a sensitive policy discussion among high level cabinet officials and senior staff, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a briefing Wednesday. Asked to square how classified information wasnt shared, considering launch times and weapon systems were included, Leavitt cited a social media post by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that said the information wasnt classified. She also assailed The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg mistakenly added to the thread by the national security adviser as an anti-Trump sensationalist reporter. Do you trust the secretary of defense who was nominated for this role, voted by the United States Senate into this role, who has served in combat, honorably served our nation in uniform or do you trust Jeffrey Goldberg? she asked. Schumer says Trump pick would destroy Social Security from within Senate Democrats said Frank Bisignano should withdraw his nomination to lead the Social Security Administration. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer compared appointing Bisignano to hiring an arsonist to run the fire station. And what is the intent? Kill Social Security by strangling, by not letting it work, by making it so that its impossible for people to get their help and their benefits, Schumer said. Bisignano, a Wall Street veteran and self described DOGE person, faced tough questions at his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday. Supreme Court seems likely to preserve $8 billion phone and internet subsidy for rural, low-income areas The justices heard nearly three hours of arguments Wednesday in a new test of federal regulatory power, reviewing an appellate ruling that struck down as unconstitutional the Universal Service Fund, the tax that has been added to phone bills for nearly 30 years. Liberal and conservative justices alike expressed concerns about the potentially devastating consequences of eliminating the fund that has benefited tens of millions of Americans. The Court seems likely to preserve the subsidies for phone and internet services in schools, libraries and rural areas. Read more on this test of federal regulatory power Homeland Security secretary is on her way to El Salvador for prison visit The Department of Homeland Security says in a post on X that Kristi Noem will discuss how the U.S. can expand deportation flights of violent criminals to the Central American nation. Noem is visiting a prison where Venezuelans removed from the U.S. are being held. The Trump administration has acknowledged that many do not have criminal records, but alleges that they are members of the Tren de Aragua gang. It has not identified who was deported or given any evidence that theyre gang members. Shell also meet with President Nayib Bukele. He agreed to imprison the deportees at the administrations request. Federal judge struggles with scope of relief for fired federal workers U.S. District Judge James Bredar is briefly extending a temporary order requiring the Trump administration to bring back federal workers who were fired as part of a dramatic downsizing of the federal workforce. During a hearing in Baltimore on Wednesday, the judge said he is reluctant to issue a sweeping national preliminary injunction in the case. The government is appealing Bredars earlier decision to require the federal government to reinstate more than 24,000 federal workers. His ruling came in a lawsuit filed by 19 states and the District of Columbia. They contend the Trump administration blindsided them with the layoffs, which could have devastating consequences for their state finances. US on track to hit debt ceiling by August, CBO reports The so-called X-date is when the country runs short of money to pay its bills. Without another deal between lawmakers and the White House, the government will exhaust the accounting maneuvers used to stretch existing funds by August, the Congressional Budget Office reported Wednesday. The House added $4 trillion to the debt ceiling in the Republican budget plan, which sets the stage for extending tax cuts passed in Trumps first term. Whether the Republican-led Senate will agree remains unclear. Democrats are ready to work across the aisle to prevent a catastrophic default. But Republicans must work with us to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, said Rep. Brendan Boyle, the ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee. Republican chair of Senate Armed Services Committee calls for investigation into Signal chat Sen. Roger Wicker said he and Sen. Jack Reed, the committees top Democrat, will send a letter to the Trump administration requesting an Inspector General investigation into the use of Signal by top national security officials to discuss military plans. Wicker is also calling for a classified Senate briefing from a top national security official and verification that The Atlantic published an accurate transcript of the Signal chat. Wickers move is notable given the Trump administrations defiance. Most Republicans seem content to allow the episode to blow over. Asked what the consequences for Hegseth should be, Wicker said, Lets see. He added that the administration right up to the president should take a conciliatory approach to the episode. The Trump administration is at the Supreme Court with a new emergency appeal Wednesdays filing seeks approval to go ahead with cuts of hundreds of millions of dollars for teacher training. A federal judge in Boston temporarily blocked the cuts, finding they were already impacting a nationwide teacher shortage. Eight Democratic-led states challenged Trumps efforts to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs as his administration follows his executive order calling for the dismantling of the Education Department. The Justice Department has filed three other emergency appeals of court rulings that blocked administration actions. The Supreme Court has yet to rule on whether to narrow nationwide holds on executive actions as Trump seeks to restrict birthright citizenship. Also pending is an appeal to halt an order requiring the rehiring of thousands of federal workers. Democrats, CIA director clash over Hegseth, Signal chat The questioning of John Ratcliffe descended into yelling as a California Democrat asked the CIA director whether Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was drinking when he used the Signal app to text his plans for attacking Houthis in Yemen. I think thats an offensive line of questioning, Ratcliffe told Rep. Jimmy Gomez. The answer is no. Ratcliffe and Gomez then began shouting over each other as Gomez tried to follow up. We want to know if his performance is compromised, Gomez said. Democrats call on defense secretary to resign over Signal app exposure It is completely outrageous to me that administration officials come before us today with impunity, no acceptance of responsibility, said Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado. He said Pete Hegseth must resign immediately. There can be no fixes, there can be no corrections until there is accountability. Other Democrats on House Intelligence Committee rejected assertions by Gabbard and Ratcliffe that no classified material was included in the chat. They pointed chat messages released by The Atlantic on Wednesday as evidence the exposure could have jeopardized the missions success or endangered U.S. service members lives. This is classified information. Its a weapon system, as well as a sequence of strikes, as well as details of the operations, said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois. He needs to resign immediately. Trump says we have to convince people of Greenland to become US citizens Asked if he thinks theyre eager to become American citizens, Trump said he didnt know but I think we have to do it, and we have to convince them. Trump repeated in an interview Wednesday on The Vince Show that the U.S. needs control of Greenland for national security reasons. His pronouncements have irked residents of the semiautonomous Danish territory. Vance and his wife, Usha, are scheduled Friday to visit a U.S. military base on the Arctic island. Gabbard says including a reporter in a discussion of military plans on Signal was a mistake Gabbard acknowledged before the House Intelligence Committee that the texts contained candid and sensitive discussions but said again that no classified information was included. It was a mistake that a reporter was inadvertently added, Gabbard said. National security adviser Mike Waltz has taken responsibility for the addition of The Atlantics editor-in-chief to the chat, which also included the defense secretary, the vice president and other top Trump administration officials. Democrats blasted it as a sloppy mistake that could have put American service members at risk. Texts released by The Atlantic on Wednesday referred to the timing of strikes and the types of weaponry involved. Democrats to press directors of National Intelligence and CIA over Signal leak Tulsi Gabbard and John Ratcliffe face more questioning about how Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg was added to a group chat in which they discussed American military strikes in Yemen. Gabbard, Ratcliffe, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, national security adviser Michael Waltz and other top national security officials were on the chat, which included the times of warplane launches and other actions. Waltz has taken responsibility. Trump called it a glitch. Democrats said it was an irresponsible security lapse that could require resignations. Republican Rep. Rick Crawford urged his fellow House Intelligence Committee members not to focus on the Signal chat leak during Wednesdays hearing on global threats. Its my sincere hope that we use this hearing to discuss the many foreign threats facing our nation, Crawford said in opening remarks. Senate confirms Trumps picks to lead NIH, FDA Dr. Jay Bhattacharya passed a 53-47 party-line vote to become director of the National Institutes of Health. The Stanford University health economist, an outspoken critic of COVID-19 policies, has vowed to encourage scientific dissent. He now leads the worlds top funder of biomedical research as Trump drastically reduces its funding and workforce. Dr. Marty Makary won over a handful of Democrats in a 56-44 vote to become commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, which regulates drugs, medical devices and food safety. The Johns Hopkins University researcher also has contrarian views, and like the health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has criticized food additives, ultraprocessed foods and the overprescribing of drugs. Schumer and Senate Democrats question if Signal app breach violated Espionage Act Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and top Senate Democrats on the national security committees want answers from Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other officials as the Signal app fallout deepens, questioning whether the actions violate the Espionage Act. We write to you with extreme alarm about the astonishingly poor judgment shown by your Cabinet and national security advisers, the senators wrote in a letter to the president. Our committees have serious questions, they wrote, detailing a 10-part probing line of inquiry. The senators noted that if any other American military service member or official committed such breach they would be investigated and likely prosecuted. Read more on the Signal text chat fallout Consumers and investors slam Delawares passage of billionaires bill The legislature voted overwhelmingly in favor after Democratic Gov. Matt Meyer urged quick passage amid pressure from corporate leaders about court precedents governing conflicts of interest. Elon Musk encouraged a Dexit after Tesla shareholder complaints led a judge to invalidate his compensation package potentially worth more than $55 billion. Critics warned it will harm investors, pensioners and middle-class savers by making it harder to hold corporate insiders accountable for violating their fiduciary duties. Delaware is the legal home of more than 2 million corporate entities, including two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies. State Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton warned against cooking that golden goose. Read more about how Delawares loosening of corporate accountability The Atlantic releases entire Signal chat including plans for Yemen attack The Atlantic released the entire Signal chat between Trump senior national security officials on Wednesday, showing that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth provided the exact times of war plane launches through the unclassified communications app before the men and women flying those attacks on behalf of the United States were airborne. The revelation follows two intense days where Trumps senior most cabinet members of his intelligence and defense agencies have squirmed to explain how details which current and former U.S. officials have said would have been classified wound up on an unclassified Signal chat that included Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg. Hegseth has refused to say whether he posted classified information onto Signal. He is traveling in the Indo-Pacific and to date has only said he did not reveal war plans. Read more on related developments as Trump officials face House questioning Researchers in limbo as Columbia bows to Trumps demands in bid to restore $400M federal funding When Trump canceled $400 million in funding to Columbia University over its handling of student protests against Israels war in Gaza, much of the financial pain fell on researchers a train ride away from the schools campus, working on things like curing cancer and studying COVID-19s impact on children. The urgency of salvaging ongoing research projects at the universitys labs and world-renowned medical center was one factor in Columbias decision last week to bow to the Republican administrations unprecedented demands for changes in university policy as a condition of getting funding restored. Scientific and medical researchers are appalled that their work was drawn into the debate to begin with. Read more about the impact on researchers at Columbia Change in itinerary for JD Vance brings cautious relief for Greenland and Denmark Greenland and Denmark appeared cautiously relieved early Wednesday by the news that Vance and his wife are changing their itinerary for their visit to Greenland Friday, reducing the likelihood that they will cross paths with residents angered by the Trump administrations attempts to annex the vast Arctic island, a semiautonomous Danish territory. The couple will now visit the U.S. Space Force outpost at Pituffik, on the northwest coast of Greenland, instead of Usha Vances previously announced solo trip to the Avannaata Qimussersu dogsled race in Sisimiut. The vice presidents decision to visit a U.S. military base in Greenland has removed the risk of violating potential diplomatic taboos by sending a delegation to another country without an official invitation. But Vance has also criticized long-standing European allies for relying on military support from the United States, openly antagonizing partners in ways that have generated concerns about the reliability of the U.S. Read more about the vice presidents trip to Greenland Trumps executive order on elections is far-reaching. But will it actually stick? Trumps executive order seeking broad changes to how elections are run in the U.S. is vast in scope and holds the potential to reorder the voting landscape across the country, even as it faces almost certain litigation. He wants to require voters to show proof that they are U.S. citizens before they can register for federal elections, count only mail or absentee ballots received by Election Day, set new rules for voting equipment and prohibit non-U.S. citizens from being able to donate in certain elections. A basic question underlying the sweeping actions he signed Tuesday: Can he do it, given that the Constitution gives wide leeway to the states to develop their own election procedures? Here are some of the main points of the executive order and questions it raises. Read more about Trumps executive order on elections Talks are ongoing between Russia and the United States on the disused Nord Stream pipelines linking Russia with Germany under the Baltic Sea, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told state television on Wednesday. Lavrov said it would be interesting to see "whether the Americans will use their influence on Europe and force it to stop rejecting Russian gas," according to a report by the state-run TASS news agency. Lavrov did not provide details on the talks. His comments follow reports that commissioning the newer pipeline, Nord Stream 2, could be part of a US-Russian agreement on ending the Ukraine war, possibly with the involvement of US investors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nord Stream 2, which never went into operation, was halted by the German government following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. An explosion in September destroyed one of two completed pipelines. Other explosions at the same time destroyed both pipelines of Nord Stream 1, which had gone into operation in 2011. Russia stopped delivering gas through this pipeline at the end of August 2022. Lavrov said Russian gas had been refused for political reasons and that this had forced German industry to pay higher energy prices as a result. He named outgoing German Economy Minister Robert Habeck, outgoing German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in his criticism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They say that they will not recommission Nord Stream at any price. These people are either sick or suicidal," he said. Since deliveries via the pipelines were halted, Germany has been importing large quantities of liquefied natural gas from the US and other sources. Law and disorder: Police oversight and training confront a changing landscape A community in Alabama may soon be forced to close its local police department. At the end of February, a grand jury recommended disbanding the Hanceville Police Department, concluding that it "recently operated as more of a criminal enterprise than a law enforcement agency." City officials have said they are considering the recommendation, but for now, the department is, in effect, shuttered. Five officers have been arrested, and the entire force has been placed on leave. One state away, a former Rankin County sheriff's deputy came clean to Mississippi Today in early March about his role in a two-decade reign of terror by the department's "Goon Squad." The former deputy, Christian Dedmon, said that he and his colleagues regularly brutalized and humiliated suspects, lied in official reports, and frequently seized and destroyed evidence without a warrant during drug raids. Dedmon, like several former deputies from Rankin County, is serving prison time after being convicted last year in the brutal assault and torture of two Black men. Neither case will be shocking to regular readers of The Marshall Project. Previous editions have highlighted similarly extremeeven cartoonishinstances of police misconduct, corruption and brutality. We have also covered how some of those cases have triggered efforts at reform and accountability. But as the federal government, and to a lesser extent, public opinion, increasingly turns away from concerns over policingmore than four years since protests over police violence overtook the national discoursethe future of police accountability looks uncertain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deadly police violence has increased slightly since 2020. Statistics on police killings per capita show a slight but durable increase since the pandemic and George Floyd protests, according to a The Marshall Project analysis of the Mapping Police Database. Numbers released at the beginning of March suggest this trend continued through 2024, even as violent crime rates have largely returned to pre-pandemic levels. A graph showing number of police killings by year - The Marshall Project No more police accountability norms Under the Trump administration, the Department of Justice has insinuated that it will no longer pursue the kinds of federal investigations that regularly followed high profile acts of police violence during the Obama and Biden era. President Trump also rescinded an executive order signed by former President Biden in 2022 that established use-of-force restrictions for federal law enforcement and created a national database for tracking misconduct, which all federal law enforcement agencies were required to submit to. In February, the Trump administration took that database offline, The Washington Post reported. Because of its short lifespan, it's difficult to assess how effective the database was, or could have been, at its stated goal: preventing officers with a history of serious misconduct from finding new jobs in law enforcement. The single report released about the database in December 2024 found that despite nearly 10,000 queries run by officials in the first eight months of 2024, only 25 searches were made by agencies seeking information on an officer from outside their own department. The vast majority of misconduct incidents captured in the database were generated by border enforcement agents and corrections officers in federal prisons, The Appeal reported in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The executive branch isn't the only part of the federal government to sidestep a role in police accountability. In early March, the Supreme Court declined to hear a case that could have increased the legal responsibility police have to ensure they have the correct address when conducting raids on the homes of crime suspects. These "wrong home" raids can create lasting trauma for the people they ensnare. A lawsuit filed on Feb. 25 in Denver, for example, alleged that police looking for a man in apartment 307, instead raided apartment 306, and wound up locking a mother and her 5-year-old and 6-year-old daughters in a police car for an hour. In March, Anjanette Young marked the six-year anniversary of a wrong-home raid that made national news in Chicago. Young was handcuffed and left naked despite explaining to officers that they were in the wrong place. She has since become an advocate for changing the way police approach these kinds of arrests. "Six years since I stood before officerscrying, pleading, afraidonly to be ignored," Young said at a news conference outside City Hall at the end of February, WBEZ Chicago reported. "And yet I stand here again, afraid and demanding for justice, accountability, still demanding that those in power would keep their promise." Beyond changes in how law enforcement is (and isn't) subject to oversight and accountability, developments in late February have also raised some questions about who enters the profession and how they are trained. In New York City, the NYPD announced that it's lowering its educational hiring standards in response to what officials describe as a recruitment crisis. With new applications down by more than half since 2017, the department is reducing its college credit requirements from 60 to 24 creditswhile also reinstating a timed 1.5-mile run requirement that the department dropped in 2023, partly based on the belief it would help more women meet the qualifications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The return of that requirement comes just days after The Associated Press published an investigation which found that at least 29 police recruits have died in training over the past decade, often from heatstroke, excessive physical stress, or underlying medical conditions that were exacerbated by training activities. A disproportionate number of the deaths occurred in Black trainees with the sickle cell trait, a genetic condition which can cause fatal complications under high physical stress in otherwise healthy people. This story was produced by The Marshall Project, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that seeks to create and sustain a sense of national urgency about the U.S. criminal justice system, and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Knowlton Development Corporation (kdc/one), a provider of custom formulation, packaging design, and manufacturing services, has partnered with Clarion Group, a contract manufacturer, to establish a new joint venture (JV) in India. This collaboration, named kdc/one Clarion Beauty, will focus on providing advanced solutions for beauty packaging production and formulation development. The venture will address the region's packaging needs for colour cosmetics, skincare, and personal care, combining Clarions expertise in the local market with kdc/ones global innovation and formulation capabilities. kdc/one beauty and personal care global president Sandra Wisniewski said: 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. 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. As part of the JV, the partners will build a new manufacturing facility in the Indian state of Gujarat over the next year. This facility will be dedicated to the production of injection-moulded and metallised beauty packaging to meet the growing demands of the domestic market. Clarion Group chair K N Lakshmanan said: 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. 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. In October last year, kdc/one reached an agreement to acquire Laffon, an Italian company specialising in makeup packaging. "kdc/one and Clarion Group to launch beauty packaging JV in India" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand. Leaders in Washington want to keep criminals from stealing your cars catalytic converter. Starting April 1, a new bill will strengthen protections and fine people who dont play by the rules. Under House Bill 2153: Vehicle dealers will be required to mark catalytic converters so that when law enforcement comes across a stolen one, they can track it back to the source. Purchasers will be required to record who they purchase catalytic converters from and the vehicle identification number (VIN) from which it was removed. These records must be retained for three years. Purchasers must be licensed, regulated, and inspected. They will be fined at least $1,000 per violation. The licensing process will include a new $500 fee, which goes directly to the Washington State Patrol to fund inspections and enforcement. Anyone who knowingly and unlawfully traffics detached catalytic converters will face up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. What is a catalytic converter & why are they stolen? Currently, when a catalytic converter is detached from a vehicle, police have no reliable way to trace it back to a specific vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A catalytic converter is a metal cylinder that cleans a cars exhaust, making the air safer to breathe. People steal them to sell off whats inside. Often, theres platinum and palladium, worth more than $1,000 an ounce, and rhodium, worth almost $5,000 per ounce. Theyre also easy to steal. Someone can climb under a car and dismantle it in about 30 seconds. King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion hopes this new bill will curb catalytic converter thefts. For the first time, law enforcement and prosecutors will have the tools we need to hold people accountable for trafficking in stolen catalytic converters, said Manion. Thats a win for King County and for Washington State, and I am grateful to the partnership from the bills prime sponsor, Rep. Cindy Ryu, and for the strong backing from the Washington legislature. How do I know if someone stole my catalytic converter? If someone steals your catalytic converter, here is what Allstate Insurance says youll notice: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When you start your car, it will be loud because the thieves will have cut your exhaust pipe to steal it, which means the exhaust wont be channeled through the muffler. Your check engine light will also come on, and you may smell exhaust fumes. If this happens, dont drive the car. Report the theft to the police and your car insurance company. One afternoon in the early 1950s, the lawyer Paul Porter was walking through his private club in Washington when a fellow member accosted him. Porters firm, Arnold, Fortas & Porter, was only a few years old, but it was already well known around the capital for representing federal employees accused of disloyalty by the Truman administration as many as 200 a year, almost all pro bono. It was a risk that few other firms were willing to take at the height of the Red Scare. Paul, I understand your firm is engaged in defending communists and homosexuals, the man sneered. Thats right, Porter shot back, then deadpanned: What can I do for you? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In later years, this encounter, or some version of it, became part of the lore around Arnold, Fortas & Porter. It spoke to the firms eager embrace of civil-liberties cases in the face of mounting government intrusion into the private lives of millions of its employees, as well as a legal community that overwhelmingly shrank from the moment, lest it lose clients and gain the unwanted attention of Sen. Joseph McCarthy. The firm was founded in 1946, at the very beginning of the Red Scare, the era of anti-communist hysteria during which the country turned on itself, subjecting millions of Americans to investigations into their personal beliefs and associations. There was a real reason for concern about Soviet espionage, but the situation quickly devolved into witch-hunting. The moment demanded a vigorous defense of civil liberties. Arnold, Fortas & Porter was among the few Washington firms who rose to the challenge. Today we once more see a legal community divided over how to respond to a mounting legal crisis in a climate of confusion and fear. After the firm of Paul, Weiss agreed to a series of concessions to avoid presidential punishment, many observers worried that the rest of the nations top firms stocked with some of Americas best legal minds would follow suit. It is important to recognize the differences between then and now Arnold, Fortas & Porter did not face an administration bent on punishing its perceived enemies. Still, the firms story offers a refreshing example of a firm that went the other direction and stood on principle when its peers did not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thurman Arnold did not intend to go into the loyalty business when he reached out to Abe Fortas, one of his former students at Yale Law School, about starting a firm together. Both men were veterans of the New Deal: Arnold had run the antitrust division at the Justice Department before becoming a judge on the D.C. Court of Appeals, while Fortas had been undersecretary of the interior. A year later they brought on Porter, a former chair of the Federal Communications Commission. Their dream was to build a commercial practice on a portfolio of deep-pocket corporate clients, with a dollop of pro bono work on the side. But almost immediately, they found themselves enmeshed in so-called loyalty cases stemming from a new, expansive system of personnel checks established by President Harry S. Truman in an effort to root out Soviet spies. During its five and a half years in operation, Trumans loyalty program involved 4.76 million background checks, at a cost of $25 million a year (about $357 million in 2025). The screens resulted in 26,236 field investigations by the FBI, many of which culminated in orders to appear before a loyalty review board. Some 6,800 people resigned or withdrew their job applications, and 560 were fired. The system was both necessary in theory Soviet espionage was a real concern and ripe for abuse in practice. Much of the testimony brought before review boards was anonymous; in many cases defendants did not even know the details of the charges against them. Because these were administrative hearings, not court cases, employees were not afforded the usual due process protections even though, as Arnold wrote in a 1947 letter, the impact on a persons reputation was enormous. The dismissal of a government employee on charges of disloyalty or for security reasons, he said, is a penalty more severe than the conviction for a crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The firms first major case involved Dorothy Bailey, a mid-level supervisor at an agency that trained local employment officers hardly a sensitive position. An anonymous source accused her of being a Communist or a member of a Communist front, all of which she denied. When Bailey was called before a review board in 1948, she asked Arnold, Fortas & Porter to represent her. The partners sprang into action: All three helped prepare her affidavit, and Porter accompanied her to her hearing. Still, the board decided against her. It was not a hard call: Under the low standard outlined in Trumans order, all it had to find was reasonable ground to conclude that she might be disloyal. To find otherwise would be an indictment of the FBI and its powerful director, J. Edgar Hoover. Bailey was fired in February 1949. Arnold and Porter then personally took the case to court, eventually appearing before Arnolds former colleagues on the D.C. Court of Appeals. They called the FBI to testify, but its agents refused to appear because the bureau considered the agents identities confidential. It is unthinkable that the president of the United States in this un-American manner puts federal employees at the mercy of secret police, Arnold wrote in a brief. It didnt matter: Bailey lost 2-1 on a technicality two of the judges said that as unfair as the process seemed, she was not a civil servant and had minimal job protections. In 1951 the Supreme Court split on her case, 4-4, making her termination final. (As a consolation to their client, the three lawyers made Bailey their office manager.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the loss, the Kafkaesque nature of the process motivated Arnold, Fortas & Porter to persist. Others took notice: By 1949, similar cases were flowing into the firms offices on 19th Street in downtown Washington. Soon it was spending nearly half of its potentially billable hours on pro bono work. The firm had rules about what sort of clients it would take. It would not, for instance, take on avowed Communists as clients. The partners were deeply opposed to communism and, as a practical matter, knew that the Communist Party insisted on dictating legal strategy. And, argues Spencer Weber Waller in his book Thurman Arnold: A Biography, such a stance made the firms lawyers more believable when they advocated on behalf of actual clients. The loyalty-review process became part of the discomforting reality of Red Scare Washington, with most cases meriting nothing more than a short squib of an article inside the newspaper an article that more often than not mentioned Arnold, Fortas or Porter as counsel. The majority of cases involved low-level government employees in obscure federal agencies people who, by their very anonymity, could hardly be considered security risks, and yet were being hounded by a process and a political environment spinning out of control. Among those clients who did merit front-page coverage was Owen Lattimore. An expert on China who taught at Johns Hopkins, Lattimore had been fingered by conspiracy-minded conservatives as a pro-communist operative, based on a few comments he had made that were critical of the Chinese Nationalist government. In a speech in early 1950, McCarthy called Lattimore the nations top Soviet spy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, Lattimore was on business in Afghanistan. He called his wife and told her to hire Fortas immediately, then rushed home. McCarthys allegations led to months of hearings on Lattimore before two separate Senate committees, then two indictments by the Justice Department accusing him of perjury. A lawyer from Arnold, Fortas & Porter was with him the entire time, up until the moment, in 1955, when the government dropped the whole thing. The firm later estimated that the Lattimore case, which was entirely pro bono, cost it the equivalent of $2.5 million today. Despite the risks, taking on loyalty cases did not doom Arnold, Fortas & Porter. It grew steadily, and today, under the official name of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer, it is one of the largest firms in the world, with over 1,000 lawyers based in six countries. If anything, standing up to the Red Scare earned it a reputation for fearlessness, while costing little in the way of lost business though at least one client, Sun Oil, is said to have dropped the firm because of its civil-liberties activism. For that reason, some have questioned the purity of Arnold, Porter, & Fortass motives. Perhaps it was in part a marketing gimmick. But if so, it was a huge risk, one that the three highly regarded founders did not need to take. And if it was such a great gimmick, why was Arnold, Fortas & Porter the only one to try it? The truth is that the three partners and many of the associates they hired had long and deep commitments to civil liberties, along with an outsiders outrage at injustice, even in the face of a consensus that counsels acquiescence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arnold grew up in Wyoming and never lost his westerners maverick streak. He was fearless enough, enough of an iconoclast, valued government service, and viewed this through his genuinely patriotic values, Waller wrote. Fortas grew up an Orthodox Jew in Memphis, and he felt keenly the importance of protecting the vulnerable (although his reputation was eventually tarnished by a bribery scandal). And Porter, though he had a law degree, had spent most of his career as a liberal journalist in the Jim Crow South, giving him first-hand experience with injustice. It may be unfair to hold up the Red Scare experience of Arnold, Fortas & Porter as a model for todays firms, which may face penalties worse than lost clients. But it is also worth recognizing that the fledgling firm, confronted with a choice between following the crowd and speaking up, took the difficult route. And it paid off in a reputation that outlasted the governments witch hunt. We were scared, Fortas said, years later. But on the other hand, what was there to be done? Attorney General Gentner Drummond has offered support for legislation that would give his office the power to investigate reports of violations of the state's open records act. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY The Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office could soon have the power to investigate delayed or denied open records requests after the state House advanced legislation Tuesday. House Bill 2163 establishes the Public Access Counselor Unit within the Attorney Generals Office and allows people to file a report with the office with a written request. The measure is not expected to have an impact on the state budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando, who authored the legislation, said he hopes this will give private individuals, the media and lawmakers a path to speed up the release of public records. The way it is now in statute, the only recourse is to take the matter to district court. This will put an intermediary into the process to reduce time and court cost, he said in a statement. This would result in better transparency and accountability. Under the measure, the public access counselor can determine if the denied request is a violation of state law and has seven business days to forward the request to the public body and ask them to provide the records requested. The public body must then respond to the counselor. The attorney general would examine the request and response by the public body and issue an advisement. The public body would be required to take necessary action to reasonably comply with the Open Records Act or respond to the requester. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill authorizes the attorney general to issue advisory opinions on compliance with the Open Records Act and to investigate and prosecute any civil or criminal action relating to violations of the act. People requesting public records for commercial purposes would not be able to ask the office for a review. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond supported the Houses passage of the bill and said it was an important transparency measure. Oklahomans have a right to know how their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent and what their elected officials are doing to improve their lives, he said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drummond previously issued a statement urging House lawmakers to pass the measure. The bill is now eligible to be heard by the Oklahoma Senate after it was passed 80-9, with bipartisan support and opposition. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Rep. Tarra Simmons, D-Bremerton, is the first formerly incarcerated legislator in Washington state. (Photo courtesy of Legislative Support Services) Lawmakers have sprung to the defense of a Washington state lawmaker who faced a protest at her home over the weekend. Rep. Tarra Simmons estimated 20-25 protesters showed up at her Bremerton home on Saturday. The Democratic lawmaker held two town hall events that day in her district and was planning to stop at home after the first, but said she got calls from neighbors about the demonstration, so stayed away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I believe that people should have a right to free speech and assembly, I just wish theyd do it at my office or the Capitol, Simmons said Tuesday. Matthew Adams, who ran for Bremerton City Council in 2021, took credit for the hourlong protest. He said the demonstrators stayed on public property. We were pretty respectful, he added. He said they focused on Simmons because of her approach to public safety. Simmons, who was formerly incarcerated on theft, drug and firearm charges, has been a staunch advocate for strengthening rights and improving conditions for people in the criminal justice system, including those in prison. Criminals come to our homes, so why cant we go to theirs? Adams said Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the signs at the protest included a mugshot of Simmons. Another called her a Tarra-ist. Elected in 2020, Simmons said her legislative career has been about eliminating the stigma people continue to face long after leaving prison. Her criminal record has been expunged. This harassment could lead people to relapse and recidivate, she said. Lack of opportunity and constant harassment of people who have been incarcerated is what Im trying to fight. The tactics drew condemnation from both sides of the aisle. I think it is out of line for people to be targeted at their private homes for their political views, said House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, D-West Seattle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, agreed. I dont think its morally right to be harassing folks in their own home and making them feel unsafe, he said. But he also called Simmons soft on crime. One of her proposals, House Bill 1125, would pave the way for felony offenders to petition for a new prison sentence. But the House didnt pass the measure before a deadline, so it is likely dead for the year. By protesting at her house, you lose the very good message, which is that Tarra Simmons wants to let criminals out of jail early, and, instead, how the protest was conducted was the story, and I dont think thats wise, Stokesbary said. Stokesbary hopes Democratic leaders condemn protests at the homes of Republican lawmakers, citing Washington Education Association demonstrations over the past decade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the protest at her home, demonstrators took to Simmons town hall in Bremerton, which she attended with her seatmates. Adams said he called her a scumbag there. He said he likes Democratic Rep. Greg Nance, who is also from Kitsap County, but not Simmons. Adams said he doesnt plan to hold another similar protest, saying he thought this one was effective. In recent years, Lt. Gov. Denny Heck has championed bringing greater civility to politics. He spearheaded the development of the Project for Civic Health with the University of Washington, Henry M. Jackson Foundation and William D. Ruckelshaus Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A report from the group found governing has gotten harder at the local level, with more than one mayor reporting protesters outside their homes. One had that happen during a wedding. The incapacity for civil dialogue across differing opinions is a serious disease of our body politic, the report reads. Jacob Meyers gathers debris in his flooded yard in Athertonville, Feb. 17, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Austin Anthony) Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear decided to let a bill become law that not only allows Kentucky schools to make up days lost to bad winter weather and floods, but also protects a controversial online school from enrollment caps imposed by state education officials. Beshear allowed House Bill 241 to become law without his signature. The bills passage in the General Assembly was in doubt for a time after the Senate added a provision to protect the Kentucky Virtual Academy after the Kentucky Department of Education sought to curb its enrollment due to poor student performance and failure to meet staffing requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill was introduced to provide relief to Kentucky school districts running out of their 10 NTI days, or non-traditional instruction days, this school year. Even before Kentucky was hit with widespread floods in mid-February, some schools had closed and temporarily moved to virtual instruction due to bad winter weather or sickness. Leading up to the veto period, a free conference committee made up of House and Senate members reached an agreement on the bill that allows public schools to waive five required days and make up for lost instruction by lengthening the school day, while the free conference committee also agreed to guardrails to limit enrollment at the Kentucky Virtual Academy. A governors office press release said Beshears action is due to the General Assemblys contradiction of their own actions and attitudes toward in-person learning. In 2021, lawmakers approved legislation ending a mask mandate in K-12 schools and limited school districts to 10 NTI days a school year. The General Assembly previously mandated that children return to in-person learning during the pandemic, yet now they are promoting all-virtual learning, the release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Rep. Timmy Truett, R-McKee, originally presented the bill to the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee, he said most educators know virtual learning is not as good as in-seat instruction. He is an elementary school principal himself. Im telling you firsthand it is not, Truett said. Its not, but it does beat the alternative. When youre off school for two weeks because of weather or not going to see your kids for a month because of flooding, a virtual instruction day is so much more valuable than not seeing your kids at all. Truett also said that he didnt think the Republican-controlled General Assembly would approve a bill that just increased the number of NTI days each school district gets. One committee member, Rep. Felica Rabourn, R-Turners Station, voted against the bill at the time and said she strongly opposed giving more NTI days and would prefer schools have zero. Kentucky school districts are typically allowed no more than 10 NTI days in a school year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Senate Republicans argued for their addition which would have blocked state-imposed limits on enrollment at the Kentucky Virtual Academy, which is based out of the Cloverport Independent Schools. They cited testimony from parents of students who are enrolled in the online program. Concerns about the Kentucky Virtual School have been reported by the Louisville Courier Journal and Lexington Herald-Leader, which highlighted numerous accusations and lawsuits raised against Stride, a for-profit company that has a contract to run the virtual academy. While it serves students across the state through online instruction, the academy is attached to the district in Breckinridge County. Protesters, wearing shirts calling for "No New Gas," gathered Friday in Annapolis to protest the Next Generation Energy Act that was backed by House and Senate leadership. Senators heavily reworked the bill Tuesday. (Photo by Christine Condon/Maryland Matters) Senators on Tuesday rolled a laundry list of energy bills together into one package aimed at reshaping Marylands energy picture well into the future, and lowering costs in the process. And they added one amendment designed to provide consumers more immediate relief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a two-hour session Tuesday, the Senate Education, Energy and the Environment Committee added bits and pieces of other energy bills to leadership legislation that had largely focused on expediting the construction of new power plants in the state. But with Maryland residents face soaring electricity and gas rates, much of Tuesdays debate focused on the so-called Legislative Energy Hardship Credit for residential customers. A lot of the things in this bill wont really take effect for a while, said Sen. Mary Washington (D-Baltimore City and Baltimore County). Were probably planning in a way that maybe we should have done 10 years ago, 15 years ago. But this [consumer credit] would go right into some pockets of Marylanders right away. Money for the rebates would come from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund, a state account utilities pay into as a penalty for not meeting certain renewable energy requirements. In fiscal 2024, the payments totaled $318 million, according to the Funds most recent annual report, a considerable increase over prior years because it was often more economical to pay into the fund than buy credits from renewable-energy generators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That fund has been used to pay for energy-efficiency projects, but it would be sent directly to consumers next year under the Senate proposal. The payments would come in two installments, applied to consumers bills once in the summer peak energy season and once in the winter. Its not clear how much ratepayers would receive, but the amendment says the rebates would be based on the customers consumption of electricity supply that is subject to the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard. Sen. Cheryl C. Kagan (D-Montgomery) took issue with the fact that the refund would go to all residential ratepayers, regardless of income. I hate that someone who lives in a huge mansion is going to somehow be getting a hardship payment when theyre not going to need it, notice it or appreciate it, said Kagan, the vice chair of the committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The idea of a ratepayer rebate got the support of at least one Republican on the committee, Sen. Mary Beth Carozza (R-Lower Shore). Our constituents expect some type of immediate relief, Carozza said. Long-term energy goals While the rebates garnered plenty of the discussion, longer-term energy policy formed the larger part of the omnibus bill that senators cobbled together, with less than two weeks left in the legislative session. The amended bill builds on a package endorsed by legislative leaders early in the session that would create a fast track process to approve certain new power facilities in the state. But amendments set new limits on the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill would create procurement procedures for more nuclear power and energy storage technology, which could contribute stored power to the grid during peak times. It also aims to rein in utility spending on natural gas infrastructure, by requiring companies looking to get rapid reimbursement from ratepayers to first show that new infrastructure is needed for safety reasons. It states that investor-owned utilities cant use ratepayer dollars on trade association memberships or private planes. Environmental and consumer advocacy groups have long complained that a 2013 law meant to encourage updates to leaky gas pipes, called STRIDE, was actually causing utility companies to go overboard with upgrades, leaving ratepayers stuck with the tab, even as the state transitions from fossil fuel-burning. It [STRIDE] was passed to deal with aging infrastructure and there just werent any sort of checks and balances as part of the original bill, Washington said during Tuesdays work session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill also takes aim at multiyear rate plans, which when approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission let utilities raise rates annually over a period of several years, instead of coming to the PSC every time they wanted their next increase. Utilities would have to demonstrate a definite cost-savings to consumers to be approved for multiyear rate increases under Tuesdays amendments. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE If the legislature wants to address rising energy costs, the smartest thing they can do is stop relentless rate hikes from Exelon utilities by ending or reforming the STRIDE and multi-year ratemaking programs, and these proposals are a strong start, said Emily Scarr, a senior adviser at the Maryland Public Interest Research Group, in a statement Tuesday. The amended bill would also deny renewable energy subsidies to facilities that burn trash to generate energy. The development is likely to please environmental groups that had long fought against the subsidy, including in South Baltimore, which hosts one of the states two incinerators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Industrial facilities that use a large amount of energy (100 megawatts), such as data centers, were also targeted in the amended bill, which calls for utilities to develop a unique rate schedule for those customers, among other provisions. It is the intent of the General Assembly that residential retail electric customers in the state should not bear the financial risks associated with large loaf customers interconnecting to the electric system serving the state, reads the amended bill. Cold shoulder for original plan Environmental groups pushed back against the energy pack originally proposed by House and Senate leaders, arguing that it was essentially encouraging construction of a new natural gas plants, flouting the states climate goals. At a recent Maryland League of Conservation Voters event in Annapolis, protestors donned T-shirts with the slogan: No New Gas! Dont Need It, Dont Want It. Opponents have also questioned the notion that any new in-state power plants are needed at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maryland doesnt have a reliability problem. It has an affordability problem, said Susan Miller, a senior attorney with Earthjustice, during the Annapolis conference. The Maryland Office of Peoples Counsel, which represents ratepayers, has also cast doubt on the notion that the states energy supply is perilous. Two coal-fired plants that were set to be retired, Brandon Shores and H.A. Wagner, will keep operating while new transmission lines are added to account for their loss, read a recent report from the OPC. The relevant available data does not show that there is a near-term need for generation located in Maryland for reliable electric service, the report said. The transmission system in place can import sufficient power into Maryland, and new transmission under development will increase that capability as power plants retire. The amended energy bill sets new guardrails on what types of energy generation can receive expedited approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, it says the combined total capacity of natural gas generators approved under the bill may not exceed the combined summer peak capacity profile of coal and oil energy generating stations in the state. It also required four non-emissions emitting projects be approved for every one emissions-emitting project. Sen. Jason C. Gallion (R-Cecil and Harford) took issue with the natural gas provisions during Tuesdays proceedings. We have an energy crisis in the state, he said. I dont know why we would be capping natural gas. The amended bill requires that any natural gas plant approved through an expedited procedure at the PSC have the ability to convert to hydrogen or zero-emissions biofuel. After a new plant becomes operational, it would have to submit reports every five years regarding the feasibility of such a conversion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Ronald L. Watson (D-Prince Georges) worried about the 50-year time frame in the bill. A company goes in and submits their report, and then tomorrow, technology is available, and they get to burn unclean fuel for another five years before they have to do another report, Watson said. 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. 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. US-based insurer King Risk Partners has strengthened its national footprint with the purchase of health insurer Ricky Credille Insurance. Financial details of the acquisition remain undisclosed. Ricky Credille Insurance, with a 25-year history in health insurance, operates from Belmont and Tupelo, Mississippi. It focuses on Medicare, health and life insurance. The family-owned independent agency serves clients across the south-east region, including Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee. King Risk Partners CEO Malcolm King said: "We are delighted to welcome Ricky Credille Insurance to the King Risk Partners family. 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." Ricky Credille Insurance principals Jeff and Randy Credille said: "We are thrilled to partner with King Risk Partners. 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." The latest deal continues King Risk Partners buying spree. Earlier this month, the company acquired the Insurance Center, an independent agency in Warwick, Rhode Island. Last month, King Risk Partners took over the Barker, Beck, Collins & Kronauge Agency (BBC&K), headquartered in Dayton, Ohio. As mentioned on its website, King Risk Partners' portfolio of services encompasses business, home, auto, life and aviation insurance. "King Risk Partners expands with Ricky Credille Insurance purchase " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) Two new bills that would work to improve rail safety across the Commonwealth are headed to a committee for consideration. With over 5,000 miles of railroad track in Pennsylvania, Representative Lou Schmitt (R-Blair) wants to make sure that safety standards are at an all-time high. The railroad is synonymous with Pennsylvania, and we should be a leader in the nation when it comes to making the rails safer for everyone, Schmitt said. My bills are the result of lessons learned from past rail incidents, particularly the tragic disaster in East Palestine, Ohio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grant program to help eliminate lead in Pennsylvania schools The first piece of legislation, House Bill 540, would require a crew of at least two workers (an engineer and conductor) to be each engine. Exemptions for this would include when a train is being repaired or serviced. The second piece, House Bill 539, would limit the length of trains to 8,500 feet. The bill cited that the lengths of trains have increased over the years and it has led to safety concerns. Schmitt added that while there are safety concerns about trains, the railroad remains a major piece of the transportation infrastructure. Rail is also a key part of our economy by creating 167,000 jobs in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rail continues to be the most economical mode of transporting goods and a big part of our economy here in Altoona and across the Commonwealth, Schmitt added. We must ensure the safety of the men and women who work on the lines, as well as all Pennsylvanians. My bills take a commonsense approach to improved safety standards. Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. Both bills would allow the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) to fine rail companies that do not comply with the law. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. Thirty-four unsold B4 electric Class 4 trucks sit in the parking lot at Bollinger Motors in Oak Park, Mich. The company is being sued by its founder, Robert Bollinger. DETROIT Another electric vehicle startup, Bollinger Motors of suburban Detroit, appears to be in financial distress. The founder and former CEO of the Class 4 truck maker, Robert Bollinger who left in June filed a $10 million suit against Bollinger Motors on March 21 and is seeking to have a receiver appointed to manage and possibly wind down the business by liquidating assets until he is paid in full. The dispute centers around a $10 million loan Bollinger made to his old company in October. The terms of the loan call for periodic interest-only payments of $125,000, according to the lawsuit, which was filed in the Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Sign up for the weekly Automotive News Mobility Report newsletter for the latest developments at the intersection of transportation and technology. Robert Bollinger filed the lawsuit after the first interest payment, due Feb. 28, was not made within a three-day grace period. The company put up its entire assets as collateral for the loan, according to the lawsuit. Despite receiving a $125,000 payment March 12, Robert Bollinger is asking the court to appoint the receiver to secure the companys assets to ensure he and its creditors are paid. The company has built around 40 of its B4 electric trucks since production started last fall. The vehicles were built by Roush Enterprises under contract. It is unclear how many have been sold to fleet operators. At Bollinger Motors Oak Park, Mich., headquarters, it looked like business as usual early March 24. Employees were seen entering the building, and the parking lot was full. That includes 34 completed B4 trucks parked in rows in the lot behind the building. The B4 has a sticker price of $135,000. The lawsuit claims the value for all trucks built is more than $5 million. Robert Bollingers lawsuit alleges that Bollinger Motors is insolvent, cant pay its bills and is being sued by at least two of its suppliers. Bollinger Motors CEO Bryan Chambers said no trucks are currently being built. We can confirm that we have temporarily paused production. However, it is our policy not to comment on an ongoing legal issue, he told Automotive News in an email. This month, Bollinger Motors appointed Chambers as CEO, replacing James Taylor. The company employs about 100 engineers and marketing personnel, down from 130 last fall. Have an opinion about this story? Tell us about it and we may publish it in print. Click here to submit a letter to the editor. WASHINGTON (WCBD) U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham reaffirmed his support Wednesday for President Donald Trumps national security team after a journalist revealed he was accidentally added to a group message with high-level officials about planned military strikes in Yemen. President Trump and his team admitted that having a journalist in the group text was wrong, will be reviewed and falls in the category of lessons learned so that it doesnt happen again, Graham said in a March 26 statement. Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic, wrote Tuesday that precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing regarding a March 15 airstrike on Houthi targets was shared on the thread before it happened. Goldberg said he was invited to the chat on Signal, an encrypted messaging app, by a user identified as National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Atlantic releases the entire Signal chat showing Hegseths detailed attack plans against Houthis In addition to Waltz, the chat included Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Despite repeated assertions from Hegseth and others that no classified information was discussed, Graham acknowledged Wednesday that very sensitive information was disclosed on the thread. Recent revelations about the content of the texts while not discussing war plans per se do in fact detail very sensitive information about a planned and ongoing military operation, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The revelation sent shockwaves through Washington, with Democratic leaders calling for an immediate investigation into the matter. Let us be clear, if any American military servicemember, intelligence official, or law enforcement officer committed such an egregious breach of operational security and endangered the lives of their comrades downrange, they would be investigated and likely prosecuted, Schumer and the other senior Democrats wrote in a letter to Trump, according to reporting from the Hill. The National Security Council said in a statement that it was looking into how a journalists number got added to the chain. Some Republicans also signaled the need for a probe into the blunder but stopped short of calling for the removal of any administration officials involved. Graham said he believes those participating in the chat were under the impression that the app was a secure form of communication, echoing testimony given by Ratcliffe during a Senate hearing Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I was confirmed as CIA director, Signal was loaded onto my computer at the CIA as it is for most CIA officers, Ratcliffe told lawmakers. 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. Graham, a U.S. Air Force veteran, emphasized Wednesday that he stands by the administration, focusing on what he called the highly successful mission. The Trump Administrations decision to strike Houthi military infrastructure that was used to attack American naval vessels and international shipping was the correct response and highly successful, he said. The Presidents national security team had already appropriately advised regional allies before the attack. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Wouldnt it be great if anyone planning to run for political office would have to pass a qualifying exam? The test would make sure the candidate has some intelligence but more importantly ranks super high in common sense.Common sense is not happening in Washington and especially within the Oval Office. Our president reacts without considering the consequences and shows no sign of common sense. There are many examples. Hiring the unelected richest person in the world, who knows little about government and its functions at ground level, to use a hatchet to weed out inefficiency was far from exhibiting common sense. Elon Musk is supposedly cutting federal spending and government waste, yet his companies have received millions in government contracts, loans and subsidies. Today, money talks and can influence his requirements for himself and his companies. Our president, on national news, praised Musk, promoted Tesla and announced he was purchasing one. In Gaza, he proposed to deport all the Palestinians to build a resort area. Does he think Middle Eastern countries would allow the Palestinians into their nations? Maybe he will replace the ones he is sending home with all those Palestinians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now the tariffs. He established them, took them back, then reinstated them. He has now said he would raise tariffs in response to any country putting tariffs on our products. Businesses are confused and scared, and consumers will pay the price. How do we evaluate common sense before voting? Clyde Myers Upper Bern Township Several months ago Elon Musk talked about the need to seriously prune government spending, programs and agencies. If it was determined later that cut spending and oversight were really necessary after all, they could always get restored. I dont understand why, but when Musk cuts or freezes staff, spending and programs, people get alarmed. If he puts things back the way they were, people think he lacked foresight. But that was Musks announced plan all along. That said, I dont think Musk realized how hard, even in some cases impossible, it would be to rehire irreplaceable and necessary personnel once fired. Some mistakes arent so easy to undo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another Musk ambition is the consolidation and streamlining of agency operations. Musk said he didnt realize the waste and fraud problem was so huge, but once this initial spending reform is finished, we should expect significant elimination of executive branch redundancy, red tape, confusion and delays. The will of the people is expressed through the legislators we elect. The main executive branch function is to then carry out that will. Congress budgeted funding enables the federal government to do what is required. If an amount of authorized funding isnt necessary to that end, it shouldnt get spent. When President Donald Trump suggests giving budget excess to the taxpayers, he misses Musks point about the huge national debt problem. What we pay in taxes is still too little to cover what we want done; its what we borrow thats too much. Glenn Shrom Upper Bern Township To the editor: U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has been part of many rulings I wasnt happy about the overturning of Roe vs. Wade and giving President Trump unbridled immunity, to name two ("The chief justice is to blame for the Supreme Courts free fall," March 21). That said, I believe he takes his job seriously and truly cares about the court and the country. That's what made this commentary decrying his laudable, necessary rebuke to Trump and the rabid right for jump-starting the impeach-every-Judge-we-disagree-with bandwagon, so maddening and misguided. Now that Congress is gutless and ruled by fear of a demagogue, and Democrats are floundering trying to deal with nonstop assaults on reality, decency and the law, only the judicial branch has stood up to the unconstitutional, cruel, random actions of Elon Musk and Trump. Judges are applying the law and they, not the executive, are the arbiters of legality. Roberts was completely right to call Trump and his flunkies on their lynch-mob mentality. This article couldve been pasted together from extremist posts on X and is unworthy of the L.A. Times. This paper has hosted the views and well-written insights of many conservative voices I dont see eye-to-eye with, but appreciate. Hammer isnt one of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fuzzbee Morse, Los Angeles ... To the editor: Hammers rant failed to present a conservative balance to progressive rhetoric. His bias was underscored by his parade of adjectives: wildly-out-of-line criticism, mercifully, clumsy, ham-handed and self-aggrandizing, outburst and more. The only cognitive take-away is that Hammer just does not like Roberts. Louis Lipofsky, Beverly Hills .. To the editor: I submit that The Times, whatever its aims, is not standing up for balance when it publishes Hammer; its just sacrificing credibility. Truly conservative voices would be welcome, but views like Hammers are hardly conservative or even logical. He stands with Trump in the presidents megalomania: forget about the rule of law and due process in summarily expelling non-citizens; regard anyone who disagrees with the president to be at fault and deserving of pursuit; court decisions that hamper the president are based on paroxysms of frothing Trump-hatred. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roberts showed some spine in reminding the president that a call for impeachment is not an appropriate response to an adverse court ruling. Hammer calls federal Judge James Boasberg a rogue and considers impeachment fitting. What public service is The Times performing in giving such views a platform? Grace Bertalot, Anaheim .. To the editor: Once again, Hammer is using ridiculous, arcane references to make his point. His rationale to impeach Boasberg and why Roberts is "dead wrong" for suggesting that the remedy for rulings you don't like is by appeal, misses the point. Boasberg argued that Trump's application of the Alien Enemies Act to deport hundreds of Venezuelans a country we are not at war with was simply a means to avoid due process and likely unconstitutional. Roberts is right. If Hammer disagrees with him, he can appeal; his "remedial legal lesson" is on the line. Shawn Donohue, Thousand Oaks This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. To the editor: As we learn of hundreds of young men hauled off in shackles with zero due process to a brutal El Salvadorian prison, it is clear that cruelty is not a byproduct, but rather the point for this administration ("They were called gang members and deported. Families say their only crime was having tattoos," March 23). We have evidence some were not affiliated with gangs. Not a hint of regret for those whose only offense was escaping tyranny and torture in Venezuela and who now find themselves in a living hell. Immigration falls under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security headed by Kristi Noem. She appears to have auditioned for the role with the release of her book last year containing a tough-gal brag about shooting her dog and goat. Their offenses? Annoying her. In any normal world, this admission would have been a nonstarter for a position of power. Not in Trump's America. Is it any wonder this is where we are as a country when cruelty is sport and celebrated by the powers that be? Cathy Goldberg, Seal Beach Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement .. To the editor: The Alien Enemies Act, which is Trump's excuse for deporting people to El Salvador, only applies in wartime. The power to declare war, like the power of the purse, is expressly under the authority of the legislative branch. We are not at war just because Trump says we are. Scott McKenzie, La Canada Flintridge .. To the editor: President Trump cannot be allowed to round up any group of people in our country and perform all of the "due process" within the executive branch. He cannot go on to pay El Salvador to apply prison time while avoiding an American court of law, presumably because it is more convenient. That is unconstitutional. Douglas Chapman, Santa Ana This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Mar. 26PORTLAND A Lewiston man pleaded guilty to possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material Wednesday in U.S. District Court, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release. Harold Clayton III, 35, was charged after Lewiston police and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit carried out a search warrant in September 2022. State police received two CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and traced the identified number to Clayton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clayton's cell phone and laptop, which were seized during the execution of the search warrant, contained images and videos of children as young as toddlers being subjected to sexual abuse by adult men, the release said. The cell phone also contained communications in which Clayton distributed images and videos of children being sexually abused. Clayton will face 5-20 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine for distributing the material. He faces up to 10 years in prison and up to a fine of $250,000 for the possession charge. The U.S. Probation Office will complete a presentence investigative report before Clayton is sentenced by a federal district court judge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homeland Security Investigations also investigated the case with help from state and local law enforcement. Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less Peru man indicted for manslaughter in October crash in Auburn Juvenile arrested in Auburn shooting investigation If you drive through Gig Harbor, your vehicle wont be captured on automated license plate cameras, the Gig Harbor City Council decided Monday evening. Council members rejected a motion that would approve a city contract with private vendor Flock Safety to install 10 cameras at entry and exit points to the city, funded by a grant from the Washington Auto Theft Prevention Authority. The vote followed public comments from close to a dozen residents, most of whom opposed the contract. Gig Harbor resident Loreto Tessicini told the council he has many questions about Flock and their data sharing and access protocols. He told The News Tribune after the meeting that he previously worked for the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What database breach protocols are in place at the cloud level, at the point of contact locally? Tessicini said during public comment. I ... urge the City Council to authorize the mayor to not execute a master services agreement (with Flock). Christian Cole, an Artondale resident outside of city limits, said he works in data analytics and has friends who work in tech. Hes concerned about agencies that could access the data stored by Flock and would be in favor of license plate cameras that automatically delete non-hit license plate data after three minutes. Lakewood has had 31 Flock Safety automated license plate readers active across the city since early October 2023, which Lakewood police officials say will assist authorities in catching stolen vehicles and solving other crime, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023, in Lakewood, Wash. Two people who work to address retail theft spoke in favor of the cameras. Belfair resident Jeffery Rose said hes a Gig Harbor native and works as a corporate investigator targeting retail theft and fraud offenders. His company started deploying Flock cameras in 2024 and has since partnered with law enforcement agencies to target crime, he told the council. I saw immediate impact on suspect identification and case-closure rate, he said. An organized retail theft repeat offender can be more easily identified as well as located. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also said the cameras help investigators crack retail-theft fencing operations where the suspects re-sell the stolen merchandise. Gig Harbor has been a go-to city for organized retail crime offenders because it has main arterial routes of escape such as Highway 16 and Interstate 5, he told the council. In a discussion prior to the vote, council member Reid Ekberg said he doesnt feel as strongly as others about the risks the cameras pose, but he also feels he doesnt have as much to lose. Someone who wants to track how often I drive my Subaru to Little League practice, go ahead, he said. ... but there were some real concerns from groups tonight that I heard and I ... received numerous written comments that were not in support of this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that hed be open to discussing the cameras again at another time, but recognizes that citizens have said theyre not ready for this at this time. Council member Seth Storset said during the councils discussion that he would support Flock cameras in Gig Harbor in part because hes concerned that Gig Harbor will become an increased target for crime as surrounding jurisdictions set up their own license plate cameras. Council member Le Rodenberg also said he believes the cameras would be worth their dollar cost. If this could save one senior that took off in his daughters car not knowing where he was, if it could save one person, if it could save one child thats been kidnapped, I think thats worth $30,000, Rodenberg said. And if it was one of my loved ones, Id pay it myself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rodenbergs motion, seconded by Storset, failed in a 2 to 5 vote. Council members Rodenberg and Storset voted in favor and council members Ben Coronado, Reid Ekberg, Roger Henderson, Em Stone and Jeni Woock voted against. Gig Harbor Police Chief Kelly Busey told The News Tribune after the meeting that the Police Department will forego the $33,000 grant it received from the Washington State Auto Theft Prevention Authority following the councils decision. The funds, which had to be spent by June 30, cant be redirected for another purpose. He doesnt plan to reapply for the grant next year, he said. On Jan. 8, during the first week of the 2025 regular session, Gov. Andy Beshear delivers the State of the Commonwealth address to lawmakers at the Capitol in Frankfort. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Arden Barnes) Saying it threatens the life of pregnant women in Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear has vetoed a bill Republican lawmakers said would clarify the states abortion ban; the measure also would pave the way for Kentucky to open freestanding birth centers. The Republican-controlled General Assembly can override Democrat Beshears veto when lawmakers return to Frankfort Thursday and Friday following the veto period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kentuckys abortion ban has exceptions only to prevent death or permanent impairment of a life-sustaining organ; medical providers accused of violating the ban can be charged with a felony. Doctors had long said the language is too vague and restrictive, and they did not know when they could legally intervene to save a womans life, forcing delays in care. In House Bill 90, lawmakers attempted to provide clarity by itemizing emergencies and categorizing what is an abortion and what isnt one, based on intent. Doctors said the new language confused them even more than current law. Beshears veto comes after Planned Parenthood, joined by 85 health care providers, urged him to reject the bill. He also wrote in his veto letter that he was urged by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to reject the bill, with the organization clearly stating that it does not support this bill. Although supporters of House Bill 90 claim it protects pregnant women and clarifies abortion law in Kentucky, it actually does the opposite, Beshear wrote in his veto message. House Bill 90 creates an exhaustive list of specific emergency situations in which abortion may be provided to save the life of the mother. The bill is silent on any other emergency situations. No one, including legislators, can possibly create an exhaustive list of emergency situations that may occur in a hospital or medical facility. Gaps in the law are literally a matter of life and death. In his veto letter, Beshear also slammed the quick process by which HB 90 got final approval, saying it lacks transparency and violates the Kentucky constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill originally concerned only freestanding birth centers, but in a surprise move late in the session it was quickly altered to add the abortion language. That version of the bill received final passage the day before lawmakers adjourned for the 10-day veto period. The bill uses new definitions that have been advanced by advocates who oppose in vitro fertilization and birth control, Beshear wrote. These definitions set a stage for future legislation and litigation that put these important health care options at risk. Planned Parenthoods Kentucky director, Tamarra Wieder, praised the veto and asked the legislature to let it stand. HB 90 was never about clarity or compassion. It ignored medical standards, used anti-abortion rhetoric like maternal-fetal separation, and would have forced doctors to delay care during medical emergencies, she said in a statement. By vetoing this bill, Gov. Beshear put patients over politics and protected Kentuckians from needless suffering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conservative Commonwealth Policy Center, on the other hand, asked the legislature to override Beshear. Gov. Beshears veto demonstrates a greater commitment to Planned Parenthood than to healthcare providers whove asked for clarity in the law, Richard Nelson, the centers executive director, said in a statement. The governors choice to keep healthcare policy muddled doesnt help frontline professionals helping women who are facing life-threatening pregnancies. Since the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 paved the way for Kentucky and other states to enforce bans on abortion, there have been increasing reports from around the country of pregnant women forced to wait until they were in medical crisis before receiving care for miscarriages and other pregnancy complications, including reports of women who have died as care was delayed or refused because providers feared running afoul of abortion bans. Read Beshears veto message veto TYLER, Texas (KETK) East Texans can participate in various cleaning events, including the Dont Mess With Texas Trash-Off event, to help make spring cleaning easier and dispose of litter. LIST: Where to see flowers this Spring in East Texas Tyler The annual Smith Countywide Cleanup event will be held between April and May, where residents can use vouchers to take bulky items to the Greenwood Farms Landfill. Items not accepted: hazardous waste pesticides herbicides solvents gasoline oils acid batteries asbestos wet paint freon whole tires televisions computers refrigerators freezers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mattresses will be charged unless residents have a voucher that allows them to throw away one free mattress with a box spring. $50 will be charged per additional mattress. The Greenwood Farms Landfill is open from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6:30 a.m. to noon Saturday. Their phone number is 800-678-7274. Tyler residents can also participate in the Great Tyler Cleanup on April 12. This annual event encourages volunteers in East Texas to help dispose of litter. The event will be hosted by Keep Tyler Beautiful. Whitehouse Whitehouse is hosting its Dont Mess With Texas Trash-Off event on April 5. The event will begin at 8 a.m. at the Whitehouse City Park. Athens Keep Athens Beautiful will host a Dont Mess with Texas Trash-Off on April 12. The Aaron Street Collection Site will be open to Athens residents starting at 8 a.m. and will remain open until all dumpsters are full. Gilmer Spring Clean-Up is going on Tues. through Thurs. on the west side of U.S. Highway 271. Gilmer residents will be limited to one truckload of brush or trash per household. Angelina County An Angelina Beautiful Clean will be offering a free day at the landfill in April to help keep the county clean on April 5 from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. By Andrius Sytas VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuanian prosecutors said on Wednesday they believe that human error was the likely cause of the crash of a DHL cargo airplane in Vilnius in November and have asked Spanish authorities to question the pilot as a suspect. The Boeing (BA.N) 737-400 cargo jet operated by Spain's Swiftair crashed as it came in to land at Lithuania's Vilnius airport in the early morning of Nov. 25 as it came in to land after a flight from Leipzig in Germany. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plane split into pieces on hitting the ground, slid over 100 metres (110 yards) and smashed into a house. One person on the aircraft was killed. "The main version in the plane crash investigation is human error," a statement from the Prosecutor General's Office said. It had asked Spain to question the pilot, a Spanish national, who is recovering from his injuries there, it said. "After analysing and summarising the interviews conducted in Lithuania, inspections of the scene, recordings of the aircraft's flight recorders and cockpit conversations, and other data obtained during the investigation, it was determined that the plane crash likely occurred due to a disabled hydraulic system responsible for deploying the flaps," the Prosecutor General's Office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It ruled out other versions. The plane was carrying four crewmembers. A Spanish crewmember was killed and a German and a Lithuanian were injured as well as the pilot. (Reporting by Andrius Sytas in Vilnius; Editing by Angus MacSwan) Mark Cuban is once again openly criticizing Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The billionaire investor took to BlueSky to criticize Lutnick after a recent wave of controversial comments and interviews from the Trump administration official. Cuban questioned, Has Howard Lutnick done anything of value as Commerce Secretary? Don't Miss: Controversial Social Security Remarks Lutnick sparked backlash when he suggested that people who complain about not receiving their Social Security checks might be fraudsters. During an appearance on the All-In podcast, he said, Let's say Social Security didn't send out their checks this month. My mother-in-law, who's 94, she wouldn't call and complain. She just wouldn't. She'd think something got messed up, and she'll get it next month. A fraudster always makes the loudest noise, screaming, yelling and complaining. He added, Anybody who's been in the payment system and the process system knows the easiest way to find the fraudster is to stop payments and listen, because whoever screams is the one stealing. Trending: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm invest pre-IPO from $0.55 per share now. Lutnick claimed that older Americans typically wouldn't complain because they trust the government. Cuban wasn't buying it. In response to a post sharing the comments, he wrote on BlueSky, "Has Howard Lutnick done anything of value as Commerce Secretary?" a blunt swipe that quickly gained traction. His remark stressed a widespread frustration, especially among those who felt Lutnick's take ignored the financial reality for millions of retirees who depend on those checks to survive. For instance, the first comment under the post said, Lutnick is totally out of touch with reality! How lucky for his mother-in-law, her Social Security checks were chump change... Do your homework Secretary! Many hard-working people who paid into the SS system live on these SS checks. Your fraudster comments are insulting, you ignorant snob! (NewsNation) Top Trump intelligence officials at a House committee hearing about global security on Wednesday denied sharing classified information in a Signal group chat. This hearing comes one day after the committees Senate equivalent grilled the leaders over the group chat leak. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and FBI Director Kash Patel, among others, testified at the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligences open hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gabbard pressed on omission of climate change from threat report Though the purpose of the hearing was to discuss the intelligence communitys 2025 Annual Worldwide Threats Assessment, representatives were further questioned about a bombshell report from the Atlantics editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. Goldberg wrote that he was added to a Signal group chat where officials talked about a planned attack on the Houthis in Yemen. In her opening statements before being questioned by lawmakers, Gabbard addressed the Signal text chain, which the Atlantic released screenshots of Wednesday. She said it was a mistake that a reporter was inadvertently added to the chat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conversation was candid and sensitive, but as the President and National Security Adviser stated, no classified information was shared, Gabbard said. New Social Security requirements call for in-person checks Ratcliffe also said he did not transmit any classified information. The reporter, who I dont know, I think intentionally intended it to indicate that, Ratcliffe said. That reporter also indicated that I had released the name of an undercover CIA operative in that Signal Chat. I had released the name of my chief of staff, who is not operating undercover. However, Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn, said that according to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, any information providing indication or advance warning that the US or its allies are preparing an attack should be classified as top secret. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Democrat from Texas, said the idea that the information in the Signal messages, if they were presented to the committee, would not be classified is a lie. Thats ridiculous. Ive seen things much less sensitive be presented to us with high classification, Castro said. To say that it isnt is a lie to the country. Democratic Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who undoubtedly transmitted classified, sensitive, operational information via this chain must resign immediately. There can be no fixes, there can be no corrections until there is accountability and I am calling on the administration to move forward with accountability, Crow said. Several other Democrats on the committee also said Hegseth should resign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif. and Ratcliffe got into an argument after Gomez asked him and Gabbard whether Hegseth was drinking during the time of the Signal chat discussion. That is an offensive line of questioning, Ratcliffe said. Gomez responded that this question was on Americans minds. Of course, we want to know if his performance was compromised, Gomez said. NBC reported last year that Hegseth drank in ways that concerned his colleagues at Fox News. In addition, the New Yorker wrote about Hegseths drinking at two jobs he held at nonprofit veterans groups. Patel said he was not on the Signal chat and had not reviewed it. Senate scolds Tulsi Gabbard, John Ratcliffe and Kash Patel Tuesdays hearing in Congress upper chamber yielded little information into Goldbergs account of a message thread for administration members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump defends Waltz after Signal breach Gabbard refused to confirm whether she was part of the leaked message thread on Tuesday, but on Wednesday, she admitted she replied at the end of the chat. Asked what she was doing while the Signal chat was happening, Gabbard said she was traveling through the Asia-Pacific region. I dont recall which country I was in at the time, Gabbard said. Id have to go back and look at the schedule. The situation is currently under review by the National Security Council, Gabbard said. Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff asked Ratcliffe during the hearing, This was a huge mistake, correct? to which Ratcliffe answered, No. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite calls for Hegseth and national security adviser Mike Waltz to step down, President Donald Trump on Tuesday told reporters he doesnt think Waltz needs to apologize. I think he is doing his best, Trump said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. (WKBN) SNAP users in Ohio will have a different way to access their accounts starting this weekend. Users will need to use OHID Single Sign-On to access the Ohio Benefits Self-Service Portal. Current credentials will no longer work after this Friday. OHID Single Sign-On (SSO) refers to a single set of unique login credentials (OHID and password) used to access different State agency services and applications, such as the BMV and Unemployment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The login uses multi-factor authentication (MFA), which is a multi-step account login process that requires users to enter more information than just a password. SNAP benefit thefts continue throughout the Valley. The Ohio Department of Job & Family Services issued a warning in early 2024, encouraging SNAP benefit recipients to be extra cautious as more criminals target EBT cards. However, come December, Mahoning County JFS said the number of claims had more than doubled. The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) ended the program that funded the replacement of stolen benefits in January. The BMV provides additional optional identity proofing for another layer of security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To create an OHID account, you can visit OHID.Ohio.Gov, and select Create OHID Account on the homepage. Laurel Stone 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. LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) London police are asking for help finding the person caught on camera burglarizing a home. It happened just before 7 a.m. Tuesday at a home on First Street. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: The London Police Department shared images on its Facebook page asking for help locating the person. London Police Department London Police Department London Police Department London Police Department If you have any information, call the London-Laurel County 911 Center at 606-878-7000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. Louis DeJoys effort to turnaround the U.S. Postal Services financial fortunes was made more difficult by a host of entrenched interests, but he threaded the political needle in a way that gained grudging respect from stakeholders who often opposed his reforms. A day after Louis DeJoys abrupt exit as postmaster general, postal union leaders on Tuesday credited him with initiating a long overdue modernization effort rather than enabling ideas now contemplated by the Trump administration to privatize the U.S. Postal Service. His departure creates a major leadership vacuum at a time when the Postal Service is facing declining mail volumes and mounting pressure to maintain universal service and its status as an independent agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeJoy was appointed nearly five years ago with the help of President Donald Trump and a mandate to fix a broken business model bleeding billions of dollars per year, mostly due to structural handicaps imposed by Congress and the Postal Regulatory Commission. He frequently battled with those institutions for flexibility to implement changes. Now, some suspect, Trump pushed DeJoy to leave because he wasnt supportive enough of draft plans to merge the Postal Service into the Commerce Department, dismiss the board of governors or sell the agency to investors. DeJoys tenure was turbulent by most accounts, largely owing to the complex transformation he initiated in 2021. Since then, the Postal Service has rationalized air and surface transportation, redesigned package sorting and logistics processes, and upgraded the delivery fleet, and it plans next month to slow slow service in remote areas to improve overall efficiency. He also established policies to grow the parcel business and advocated raising rates on stamps and packages. Critics said higher prices contributed to the decline in mail volume, but other observers say the correction was necessary after years of undercharging for products and services. DeJoy made difficult choices to reduce the agencys operating deficit, such as eliminating overnight service for first-class letters between major metro areas and eventually instituting two-day delivery by greater utilization of long-haul trucking. He also eliminated a layer of upper management and consolidated regional headquarters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency recently achieved its first quarterly profit since the height of the COVID crisis, but its possible the improvement came from a huge injection of political mail during last years election. The former postmaster generals effort to consolidate processing centers didnt always work out. Mail service in Atlanta, for example, drastically deteriorated after the U.S. Postal Service combined a processing and distribution center into a single supercenter, which led to backlogs of trucks and other delays because of labor and infrastructure constraints. Large e-commerce shippers like Amazon didnt like DeJoys move to insource more package volumes and compete with commercial parcel carriers rather than simply serving as a dropoff for their last-mile delivery needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Labor and management sometimes disagreed on how to implement DeJoys Delivering for America strategy but were usually able to work out differences constructively, union leaders said during a panel discussion Tuesday livestreamed from the National Press Club in Washington. We were able to resolve some very difficult issues, such as putting new hires on a career path rather than treating them separately under a two-tier wage scale, said Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union. Whatever people thought about Louis DeJoy, he did not prove to be a privatizer. Brian Renfroe, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, said turning around an organization the size of the Postal Service, with 640,000 employees, is a tall order, but the momentum DeJoy created must be maintained to adjust infrastructure for a different mail mix centered on packages rather than letters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One expert, who spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to jeopardize a business relationship with the Postal Service, said DeJoys freedom to act was severely limited by regulators, Congress and restrictive labor contracts. Unions opposed moving from six-day- to five-day-per-week delivery because it would cost thousands of letter carrier jobs even though there isnt enough mail on Saturdays to justify the extra shift. Meanwhile, direct mailers fought to keep shipping prices as low as possible. Kevin Yoder, the executive director of Keep US Posted, a non-profit organization representing greeting card companies and mass mailers, told media outlet Axios he was glad to see DeJoy go because his rate hikes and service delays hurt businesses and consumers DeJoy also was praised for pressing Congress in 2022 to get rid of the obligation to pre-fund from revenues the health benefit costs of retirees. Instead, the Postal Service now pays premium payments when they are due. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agencys board of governors named Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino to replace DeJoy on an interim basis while it searches for a permanent leader. Tulino for years has been the Postal Services top negotiator in collective bargaining with unions. The union chiefs said they expect the board of governors to look for someone who will continue DeJoys modernization vision. (Correction: Doug Tulinos name was misspelled in an earlier version of this story) Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch. RELATED READING: US ranks low among international postal services on financial flexibility Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Postal Service weighs serving as logistics partner for federal agencies Postal Service to adjust delivery standards for network efficiency The post A look at DeJoys Postal Service legacy after quick departure appeared first on FreightWaves. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) March 25, 2021 was a devastating day for many residents across central Alabama as 10 tornadoes touched down from Pickens to Cherokee counties, four of which reached EF-3 intensity and became long-tracked. Most of the tornadic storms moved across the southern half of the area as the tornado outbreak began in east-central Mississippi on that Thursday afternoon before spreading east into central Alabama. This day was a rare high (level 5/5) risk for severe weather across the Deep South. The strongest of these storms started in Hale County near Greensboro, staying on the ground for 80 miles as it crossed into Bibb, Chilton, Shelby, and St. Claire counties, injuring up to 13 people. One of the more notable statistics from this tornado is that it reached up to 1.3 miles wide. The most impactful tornado of the day for the Birmingham metro was the north Shelby County storm which had winds of 140 miles per hour and carved a 50-mile path of destruction, producing extensive damage to areas along Hwy. 119, including Oak Mountain State Park and the Eagle Point subdivision off Hwy. 280. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our third EF-3 tornado in the area wasnt on the ground nearly as long, yet still carving an eleven-mile path of damage across north Hale County, before lifting near the triple-point of Hale, Bibb, and Tuscaloosa counties. Unfortunately, one of these storms did turn deadly which was the EF-3 in Calhoun County (Ohatchee tornado), taking the souls of six people and injuring at least ten. This particular storm also produced a large, wedge tornado with a maximum width of one mile, remaining on the ground for 24 miles. Be sure to follow the CBS 42 Storm Team: Follow Us on Facebook: Chief Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum, Meteorologist Michael Haynes, Meteorologist Alex Puckett, and Meteorologist Jacob Woods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. LOS ALAMOS, N.M. (KRQE) Seeing the invisible. Thats what a small group of scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory are trying to do with data recovered from a near-Earth asteroid, and while it sounds like a daunting if not an impossible task, its not the first time astronomers have used the theory of dark matter to make celestial discoveries. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nineteenth-century astronomers were puzzled by the orbit of the planet Uranus. Mathematical calculations indicated something massive was pulling on its orbital path. Then, on the night of September 23, 1846, astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle observed what would be the eighth planet in our solar system: Neptune. When we look at the trajectory of Uranus, and we found out that the Uranus motion has some irregularity different from the prediction, said Yu-Dai Tsai, Research Physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Astronomers successfully predicted where Neptune would be in the sky based on mathematical calculations, which opened a greater understanding of our place in the universe. That same method of discovery is being used in the 21st century, this time, searching for what is impossible to see. So the interesting thing about dark matter is that we know that it should have gravitational effect. We know roughly how its distributed, but we dont know any of the detailed particle property or any of the detailed wavelike property that dark matter should have, said Tsai. For more than a century, scientists and astronomers have theorized that there is an invisible form of matter tying the universe together. Now, scientists like Tsai at Los Alamos National Laboratory are employing near-Earth objects like the asteroid Bennu to search for this elusive particle. Were actually trying to see first if there is any force that is beyond our current understanding. And also we can use that to also study the dark matter distribution in the solar system, said Tsai. The 2023 NASA Osiris-Rex mission collected samples of dust and rock from the asteroid. Tsai said that the samples could help fundamentally change our understanding of the standard model of physics, adding a fifth element, not that fifth element, to the quartet of the known forces, including gravity, electromagnetism, weak nuclear, and strong nuclear force. If you can prove certain theory and discover a class of new particle or new forces, that will open up a new window to our further understanding of how nature works. But currently, we havent fully understood dark matter, and we havent found a fifth force. So its worth continue figuring out, said Tsai. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Tsai, Bennu is just the beginning. In 2029, the asteroid Apophis will make a close approach to Earth. While original observations showed it had a small chance of hitting our planet, its now calculated to pass by at a safe distance of just 19,000 miles. Thats closer than some satellites currently in orbit. The close call will give NASA another chance to collect samples and data on the asteroid with their OSIRIS-APEX mission. The fly-by will hopefully kick up more dust for Tsai and his colleagues in their search for the mysterious force. We are more and more, have a better and better precision on tracking all these asteroid. But still theres always surprise. And there, if there is extra force or extra dark matter distribution, it can have a subtle effect on some of these asteroids, said Tsai. While the slight variations caused by dark matter may not have astronomical effects on near-Earth objects, any slight variation in calculating an orbit can mean the difference between a near miss and a direct hit. Those are very important for our future survival. Whether we, if we know some place is going to be hit by asteroid, we need to evacuate or we need to deflect the asteroid. There are many things we can do, but we need to know beforehand, said Tsai. He hopes this data will not only further enhance LANLs research into dark matter, and a potential new physical element, but he also hopes this research will make the planet safer in our celestial neighborhood. Tsai said that while there is evidence of dark matter within the universe, proof of its existence within our solar system has yet to be found. About New Mexico Frontiers New Mexico is the doorway to the new frontier leading the way into the future of Aerospace, Bio-science, Renewable Energy, Digital Media and Film, Advanced Manufacturing, and so much more. Join us as Chad Brummett and New Mexico Frontiers profile the movers and shakers from our state who are changing the world. New Mexico Frontiers celebrates the enterprising spirit of the states businesses, scientists, creators, and entrepreneurs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (Bloomberg) -- Los Angeles strengthened its protections for undocumented immigrants even as President Donald Trump threatens to withhold federal funding from so-called sanctuary cities. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City Council on Wednesday approved measures to provide money and resources to help safeguard immigrants from raids conducted by federal authorities. One key initiative enables Los Angeles to monitor and track Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities. In addition, the city will launch a Know Your Rights campaign to educate residents about their legal protections. The council also passed a resolution urging state lawmakers in Sacramento to increase funding for deportation defense, and allocated resources for immigration legal services. Lawmakers didnt provide a full cost for the package of legislation. Los Angeles, the second-biggest US city, faces a $1 billion budget deficit. The votes come a day after Trump renewed his call for state and local governments that have sanctuary policies to comply with federal agents. The president, who has threatened to conduct the largest deportation in US history, warned that an executive order is in the works for jurisdictions that resist his crackdown. Sanctuary policies typically prohibit officials from aiding federal agents in identifying and deporting undocumented immigrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre guarding criminals, theyre taking the rights away from the citizens of their state and their city, Trump said on Tuesday. Los Angeles lawmakers disputed Trumps claims and vowed to resist the White House effort. This whole rhetoric about this being about criminals is simply not true, said Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez. This is about families and children, and we cannot play nice with this administration and try to appeal to their better angels. They simply do not exist. Wednesdays immigration measures expand on an ordinance passed unanimously in November, which declared Los Angeles a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants, and prevents city resources from being used to enforce federal immigration policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California passed legislation in 2018 that designated the entire state as a sanctuary. The law bars local law enforcement from sharing residents immigration status with federal agencies like ICE and Customs and Border Protection. It also prohibits state officials from notifying federal agents about the release or detention of undocumented immigrants, except in cases involving certain felony convictions. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. WARNING: Some viewers may find the photo below graphic. Viewer discretion is advised. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The Montgomery County Animal Resource Center is hoping to find out where a lost dog came from. Photo/Montgomery County Animal Resource Center In a social media post, the center asked the public for assistance in returning a lost dog to its rightful home. The dog is listed as a male and was found around 8 a.m. Wednesday morning in the area of Riverside and Old Riverside drives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you recognize the dog, you are asked to contact the animal resource center at 937-898-4457, then press 1 for dispatch. The dispatcher will need the animal ID of the dog as well, which is A083316. According to a Montgomery County spokesperson, the dog was hit by a car around 7:30 a.m. this morning. The dog is receiving treatment for injuries. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Randy Fine has leaned into President Donald Trumps endorsement to try to win a congressional special election in Florida. But its the Republican state senators progressive opponent who has used Trumps name to amass an eight-figure funding stockpile against him. The Democratic candidate, math teacher Josh Weil, reported raising more than $10 million for the April 1 race in a deep-red area of the state that went for Trump by more than 30 points. Fine, in contrast, has raised less than $1 million. Seems like its going to be a lot closer than people expected, said state Sen. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota), Fines Tallahassee roommate and closest friend at the state Capitol. He predicted Democrats would likely end up spending upwards of $15 million on the race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since early voting began Saturday, turnout was surprisingly close between the two parties, though Republicans began to edge up in numbers on Tuesday, according to Decision Desk HQ data. Gruters and other Republicans projected confidence that Fine will win, but the disparity in fundraising has the GOP sending reinforcements during the closing days of the campaign. Trump has restated his support for Fine on Truth Social, and the Republican Party of Florida jumped in to help the campaign pay for TV ad time, with data from AdImpact showing almost $1 million in ad spending from March 18 to election day. Vic Baker, committee member for the Volusia County GOP, said Florida Young Republicans were mobilizing to knock on doors over the weekend. We have got a little job on our hands with this congressional race, he acknowledged, noting that every special election is a challenge given the lack of attention from voters compared to what regularly scheduled elections receive. "We are annoyed but not worried," added one national GOP strategist following the race, granted anonymity to speak candidly. "Annoyed Fine hasn't done jack shit for himself and is counting on the ecosystem to bail him out." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A review of Federal Election Commission data shows most donations to the Weil campaign are coming from outside Florida. Democrats have urged supporters to back House candidates that might further narrow Republicans tiny House majority. Weil said targeted texts and emails, as well as ads through Facebook and Instagram, were the biggest factors helping him rake in cash. This is an opportunity for us to get in front of Trump's Project 2025 agenda, Weil said, referring to the recommendations from a conservative outside group that Trump disavowed during his campaign while later adopting certain policies. Ninety-nine percent of the country doesnt get a vote on this, he added, but they want to be actively involved. They want to have a say. And so theyre speaking with their money. The Democratic National Committee also said its sending in more resources but hasnt specified how much and the figure wont be accessible through campaign finance reports until after the election. Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried said the state party is providing volunteer coordination, voter protection and grassroots organizing support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have already knocked on 750,000 doors, made 1.4 million calls, and sent 350,000 texts, but there is still more work to do before Election Day, she said, promising to chase down every last vote. Republicans have dismissed Weil as an unserious and radical candidate, and frequently raise an incident during which he improperly restrained a student who accused him of choking him a decade ago. (Weil has said he was cleared of wrongdoing.) Fines allies, like Lake County GOP Chair and state Rep. Taylor Yarkosky, contend Democrats are grasping for a win wherever they can find one. If the Republicans were behind in the House as the Democrats are now and the national party decided that they were going to go after those seats, you would see the same kind of money come in, said Flagler County GOP Chair Perry Mitrano. Fine, who embraces the nickname Hebrew Hammer from Gruters, is well-known throughout the state as the sponsor of multiple pieces of high-profile legislation, including the push to dissolve Walt Disney Worlds special tax district and the effort to ban critical race theory from public schools. He also notoriously turned on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during the 2024 GOP primary, flipping his endorsement from DeSantis to Trump and saying the governor hadnt done enough to address antisemitism after Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 6th District is rather famous in the Sunshine State. Its the same place DeSantis started out his political career as a congressmember, representing slightly different boundaries before redistricting. Its former representative is Mike Waltz, who left the seat to become Trumps national security adviser and is currently facing a firestorm after accidentally adding a journalist to a messaging thread with top national security officials. Fine, who lives outside the district but will be moving in, got Trumps endorsement before he entered the GOP primary. He has run on being a soldier on the battlefield for Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson. During a Monday interview, he expressed confidence about his chances, pointing to huge majorities for Republican voters in the district and calling it gross for Weil to bring in celebrity endorsements. Fine derided his opponents campaign as a bonanza for consultants, given the significant portion of fundraising that has been spent on that purpose and tens of thousands of dollars spent on Airbnb, including a single transaction of more than $51,000. Its going fine, he said of his own campaign. I wish the Democrats werent lighting $10 million on fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gruters insisted the race wasnt about Fine, but about Trump. Act Blue and Democrats have done a much better job at trying to rally people around small-dollar donations and have that kind of impact, he said, referring to the online donation platform for Democrats. I still think Randy is going to win, but they certainly are giving him a good fight. DeSantis, however, disagreed with that assessment during a stop in Palm Bay on Tuesday, indicating his distaste for Fine had not abated since their dispute during the presidential primary. He called it a liberal media slant to say the race was close because voters viewed it as a referendum on Trump. Its a candidate-specific issue, DeSantis said. I think the district is so overwhelmingly Republican that theres literally its almost impossible for somebody with an R by their name to lose that district. I would anticipate a Republican candidate is still going to be successful. Do I think theyll be able to get even close to the margins that I received or President Trump received? No. Is that a reflection on the president? Absolutely not. Its a reflection of the candidate running in that race. (Despite the clash, Fine campaign spokesperson Bryan Piligra noted DeSantis deployed his team to help with the race Monday.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Fine nears the closing days of his congressional run, he has been splitting his time between campaigning and his state Senate work, given that the Florida Legislature is in session. During a hearing Tuesday, a person who got up to testify dug at Fines campaign upon reaching the lectern. "Excited to see you go, Chairman Fine, said Cameron Driggers from Youth Action Fund. And good luck at your congressional race it looks like you're gonna need it. "I'm not too worried, Fine shot back. Gary Fineout, Ally Mutnick and Isa Dominguez contributed to this report. Japanese seafood company Maruha Nichiro has announced a rebranding initiative, with plans to change its trade name to Umios Corp. from 1 March 2026. The move, which is subject to shareholder approval at an ordinary general meeting on 25 June, is part of the company's long-term vision and mid-term management plan, 'For the Ocean, For Life 2027'. In a statement, Maruha Nichiro said it will aim for sustainable growth under a new identity and transform itself into a 'solution company' that co-creates value with various stakeholders and solves social issues through food. As part of its strategic roadmap to 2035, the company plans to develop a value cycle that enables consumer-driven, sustainable value creation. The company aims to leverage its expertise in resource procurement, food processing, and supply chain management to create unique added value through sustainable protein and creating health value. This framework is set for global expansion with a localised approach. To support its vision, Maruha Nichiro is also refining its business portfolio by prioritising sustainable ventures and investing in downstream operations The mid-term plan, covering fiscal years 2026 to 2028, focuses on building the value cycle and promoting the so-called glocal approach. In the short term, Maruha Nichiro said it will move towards a culture of challenge' and co-creation, while improving profitability and capital efficiency. For the next decade, the company has set a target to generate over 70% of its ordinary income from overseas operations. The Tokyo-based company also seeks to achieve a return on invested capital (ROIC) of at least 7% and secure a position among the world's top ten meat and seafood protein providers by market capitalisation. By the end of fiscal year 2028, Maruha Nichiro targets Y40bn ($265.8m) in operating income, a ROIC of 5%, and over Y140bn in growth investments. In its most recent full-year accounts to the end of March 2024, the publicly-listed company booked a 1% increase in net revenue to Y1.03tn. Profit attributable to shareholders rose 12.1% to Y20.8bn. However, operating income dropped 10.3% to Y26.5bn. Maruha Nichiro issued its year-to-date results for fiscal 2025 in February, covering the nine months to 31 December. Net sales climbed 5.2% to Y828.1bn. Profit attributable rose 3.6% to Y23.2bn. Operating income increased 9.8% to Y27.8bn. "Maruha Nichiro to become Umios Corp as part of new strategy " was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand. Getty Images The federal government might have abruptly ended funding for Louisiana mental health and substance abuse services that was expected to last through the end of 2025, state health officials said Tuesday. Karen Stubbs Church, assistant secretary over Louisianas Office of Behavioral Health, told a Louisiana Senate budget committee the state received notice Monday night that as many as six of the states federal health grants had been canceled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Church was not specific about what programs the threatened grants support, only to say the money is used for crisis services. The message from the federal government was difficult to interpret, she said. For example, two of the six grants the federal government appeared to be seeking to end might have already expired. There is still a lot of confusion, Church told legislators. Were still working out the impact. Speaking at the same hearing, Deputy Health Secretary Pete Croughan said Louisiana could have lost as much as $10 million from the grants, though the funding was always temporary. It was already expected to end later this year. The money originally flowed to Louisiana through the American Rescue Plan, a massive congressional bill originally passed to help deal with fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trumps administration has made drastic cuts to several types of federal grant programs and attempted to lay off thousands of government employees since he took office in January. Among Trumps targets for large cuts is the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The agency oversees suicide hotlines, programs for opioid addicts and funding for drug courts around the country. It was expected to lose as much as 50% of its staff, according to The New York Times. The agency is part of the larger U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which Trump appointed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to run earlier this year. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Republican Gov Jeff Landry's budget proposal proposes increasing state spending on health care by $1.5 billion in the next fiscal year. (Getty Images) Gov. Jeff Landry has made public moves to cut state government spending in recent weeks, following the lead of President Donald Trumps Department of Government Efficiency and its dramatic reductions at the federal level. Shortly after Trump announced the creation of DOGE last year, Landry followed with his own government efficiency task force, which is officially called the Fiscal Responsibility Program but which the governors office has started to refer to as La. DOGE recently. Yet for all of the talk about cost-cutting, Landrys own budget proposal includes one major increase in spending that could overtake the savings measures he has floated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Louisianas heath care budget is set to increase almost $1.5 billion next fiscal year under the spending plan Landry unveiled a few weeks ago. Medicaid is fueling the growth, accounting for $19 billion of Landrys proposed $21.4 billion health care budget. Medicaid provides government-backed health insurance to low-income families, pregnant people, seniors in nursing homes and those with disabilities. In Louisiana, approximately 1.6 million people, or a third of the states population, get health insurance through the program. A billion-dollar-plus increase in health care spending isnt unheard of in Louisiana, but Landrys $1.5 billion jump comes at a time when Republicans in Congress and Trump may force unprecedented cuts to Medicaid spending. Louisiana is also running approximately $100 million over its Medicaid budget for the current budget cycle that ends June 30, according to a letter Louisianas interim health secretary Drew Maranto sent to legislators. As a conservative, Landry was expected to take a more skeptical approach to public health care spending when he came into office last year, especially compared with his predecessor, Democrat John Bel Edwards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet Landrys $1.5 billion growth proposal would be the second largest increase in Louisiana health care spending since 2017, the year after Medicaid expansion took place. Its greater than most years Edwards was in office, from 2016-24. The only larger jump in state health care funding took place in 2021, when the federal government plowed money into Louisiana for the COVID-19 pandemic. The Landry administration attributes much of his proposed health care increase to costs it cant control. Required costs The six private health insurance companies that run most of Louisianas Medicaid program said they had more money because their Medicaid enrollees used more expensive health care services than expected. Maranto specifically mentioned the rising costs of prescription drugs in an interview Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former health secretary Michael Harrington, who held Marantos job until last week, also said in an interview earlier this month that the state has brought some increased Medicaid costs upon itself. For example, lawmakers and voters approved a state constitutional amendment 11 years ago that requires nursing homes, whose owners are large political donors, to receive a Medicaid rate increase at least every other year, even when their services dont change. In Landrys latest budget proposal, this provision has resulted in an additional $105.4 million being set aside for nursing homes, which already receive over $1 billion each year. Louisiana also isnt alone in seeing soaring Medicaid costs. All states are seeing Medicaid expenses go up this year, in part because Medicaid enrollees appear to be sicker than expected, according to the Associated Press. This is no simple bullet that is going to fix this for Louisiana anymore than any other part of the country, said Steven Procopio, president of the independent Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even with a $1.5 billion increase, the Landry administration insists it has taken steps to control spending in the state health department. It cut approximately $11 million worth of contracts and eliminated almost 60 of the health departments 7,700 employment positions in an effort to reduce expenses, according to the governors staff. They seem like they have gotten a handle on things a little bit better, Patrick Goldsmith, deputy commissioner of the Louisiana Division of Administration, said about the health department last week. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Additional expenses But Landry has also made choices that would increase Medicaid spending by hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the urging of state lawmakers, the governors latest budget proposal includes an extra $258.4 million to increase physician payments for seeing Medicaid patients up to at least 85% of the rates used by Medicare, the government health insurance program for seniors. Harrington and Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham have said doctors must be paid more to treat Medicaid patients. Currently, Medicaid enrollees have trouble finding physicians because the programs reimbursement rates are too low. Medicare payments are typically higher, and doctors are more willing to take that insurance. The governor also unilaterally raised Medicaid reimbursement rates by $22 million per year for seven smaller hospitals in rural areas, including four owned by Rock Bordelon, a Landry campaign donor and hunting buddy of Donald Trump Jr. Landry increased similar rates by over $40 million per year to University Medical Center in New Orleans. The governors team has also asked the federal government for permission to raise another physician payment that would allow more doctors to charge closer to a commercial insurance rate for seeing Medicaid patients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This second round of extra physician spending hasnt been factored into the state budget yet. But if the proposal gains approval, it could add hundreds of millions of more federal dollars to Landrys existing Medicaid spending. Federal funding concerns Overall, Louisianas Medicaid budget is largely dependent on federal funds. Of the $19 billion Landry has proposed spending on Medicaid next fiscal year, $14.2 billion would be expected to come from the federal government. For years, money coming from Washington was less likely to be cut than state funds, but Trump and congressional Republicans are eyeing Medicaid for significant reductions. The U.S. House GOP is looking to siphon off as much as $880 billion from the health care program to help pay for tax cuts. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, who is from north Louisiana, and Trump have said they dont intend to cut Medicaid services directly, but experts say it would be nearly impossible to meet their spending goals without limiting the program. Congress might be able to avoid making cuts to Medicaid directly by transferring more of its cost burdens to states. Louisiana would likely not be able to afford to replace a significant portion of its federal Medicaid money that is lost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By comparison, the total amount of federal and state money Landry intends to spend on higher education, state police, the Office of Motor Vehicles and the prison system combined in the next fiscal year is $5.3 billion. Its not even half of the $14.2 billion in Medicaid funding the federal government is expected to provide. Without the federal money, state officials would have to look at cutting optional Medicaid services, including those for people with disabilities, or lowering the reimbursement rates for physicians Landry is currently trying to raise, among other measures. I think states should be very worried about a cost shift from the federal government, said Kelly Whitener, an associate professor at Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy for Children and Families. If the federal government cuts Medicaid and cuts Medicaid significantly as they are considering, states are going to be ones that have to make the decisions about what services are going to be cut, what provider services are going to be cut, she said in an interview. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Louisiana surgeon advocates for Foreign Aid Investment at Capitol Hill meeting BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Louisiana taxpayers should be assured that their money is not being thrown out the window, but rather invested in developing countries, said Dr. Charles Caplis, a pediatric surgeon licensed in Louisiana and Mississippi. Dr. Caplis met with representatives from the ONE Campaign on Capitol Hill, where he advocated for the release of supplies and funding for foreign aid, emphasizing its importance as a doctor, parent, humanitarian, and Louisiana taxpayer. The ONE Campaign, a nonpartisan advocacy group, works to shape positive foreign policy and foreign assistance programs, with an eye on ensuring taxpayer dollars are used effectively. Dr. Caplis believes these programs not only benefit foreign nations but also serve the best interests of U.S. citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I believe that with the ONE Campaign being a nonpartisan advocacy group, they help to formulate and encourage positive foreign policy and foreign assistance programs where our taxpayer dollars are going, said Dr. Caplis. According to the pediatric surgeon, critical resources like medicines, vaccines, and food are sitting unused on shelves, ready to expire, creating a waste of taxpayer money. He stressed that these supplies could be put to good use in global health initiatives, particularly in developing countries. Thats a true waste of taxpayer money, Dr. Caplis said. As a doctor, Caplis also recognizes the significance of vaccines in international health efforts. He pointed to ongoing programs like GAVI, which helps fight malaria in Africa but has been temporarily paused. He believes that supporting these efforts is not only morally important but also has a practical benefit in preventing disease outbreaks that could affect the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By supporting these countries, particularly in outbreaks like malaria, we help keep the direct Louisiana taxpayer safer by not having those diseases come to U.S. soil, he explained. Dr. Caplis remarks come at a time when foreign aid programs face scrutiny and budget cuts. However, Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, who was also approached for comment, expressed support for foreign aid that provides tangible benefits to people, particularly in nations vulnerable to diseases like malaria. Senator Cassidy noted that while he agrees with President Donald Trump on the importance of avoiding wasteful spending, he believes foreign aid programs that help people should continue. That so-called soft power how do we go to Africa and benefit the Africans in such a way that when it comes to competing for natural resources that we need, that they have, they look upon the United States as a better partner than they look upon the Chinese, thats just one example, said Cassidy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The senator also emphasized that certain foreign programs managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are still running effectively. He expressed confidence that the Trump administration will restore some of the foreign aid programs that had been previously terminated. 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. At first blush, the headline seemed to strike an encouraging note. Referring to Donald Trumps hapless White House national security adviser, NBC News headline read, Mike Waltz says he takes full responsibility for putting together text group that included a journalist. The lede told readers: National security adviser Mike Waltz said in a Fox News interview tonight that he takes full responsibility for organizing a text group on the messaging app Signal that accidentally leaked plans for U.S. airstrikes on Houthi militants in Yemen to the editor of The Atlantic. I take full responsibility. I built the I built the group, Waltz told host Laura Ingraham. My job is to make sure everythings coordinated. If we were to stop here, wed have a nice, tidy story. The White Houses national security team chatted in a Signal group over the sensitive details of a military strike in Yemen potentially in violation of some federal laws and they accidentally included Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantics editor-in-chief, in their chat. Waltz, who apparently sent an invitation to the journalist by accident, took full responsibility. He made the comments hours after the president effectively acknowledged Waltzs mistake, telling NBC News that his national security advisor has learned a lesson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alas, this is not the end of the story. Ive spent much of the last 48 hours trying to get a handle on what, exactly, the White Houses line is on this controversy, and its been difficult because Team Trumps position is a moving target. On Monday, for example, the White House confirmed the legitimacy of The Atlantics report, and a day later, the president told reporters that his administration would investigate an incident. The National Security Council also confirmed that an internal review was underway. A day later, however, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung rejected the legitimacy of the story, accused Fake News outlets of peddling misinformation, and accused unnamed critics of being enemies of America. That was followed by a related item from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who wrote via social media that the entire story is another hoax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why would the president approve an internal review of an incident thats a hoax? Team Trump hasnt said, though Im eager to hear an explanation. Whats more, it doesnt help that both the president and top members of his national security team insisted that the Signal group chat did not include classified information, despite new revelations suggesting that the chat absolutely included classified information. As for Waltz the one who told Fox News that he takes full responsibility for the debacle he had a variety of related comments during his on-air appearance that undermined his apparent interest in accountability. For example, the national security adviser raised the possibility that Goldberg whom Waltz invited to the White House Signal chat mightve deliberately worked his way into the group chat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, if Waltz organized an online meeting that was hackable by a journalist without technical expertise, that would raise fresh questions about his competence. He went on to tell Ingraham that he and his team made a mistake, which is the opposite message of Leavitts line about the entire story being a hoax. All the while, Waltz tried to slander Goldberg as scum and a liar, suggesting the lesson that he learned from this fiasco is that the smart move is to smear a journalist again, whom he apparently invited to the group chat instead of taking responsibility for the generations most scandalous White House security breach. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com It was just two weeks ago when Donald Trump, while seated alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, predicted that he will ultimately succeed in his quest to take control of Greenland. I think itll happen, the president said when he asked what his vision is for the potential annexation of the island. As part of the same set of comments, the American president also suggested that he might deploy additional U.S. troops to Greenland. It was against this backdrop that the administration announced earlier this week that White House national security adviser Mike Waltz, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and second lady Usha Vance were all going to Greenland this week. (According to the president, the second lady loves the concept of Greenland. I have no idea what that meant.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soon after, the delegation expanded to include the vice president. You know, 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, JD Vance wrote online. The Ohio Republican didnt elaborate as to the nature of the excitement, but if the Vances and the White House delegation is expecting locals to roll out a red carpet for them, theyll probably be disappointed with the reception. The Wall Street Journal reported that the visit is stirring anger and anxiety in Greenland. The report added that both Danish and Greenlandic officials have said they see the uninvited trip as a provocation. The New York Times ran a related report on the degree to which the White Houses plan is backfiring. His [Trumps] decision, announced this weekend, to send a high-powered U.S. delegation to the island, apparently uninvited, is already backfiring. The administration tried to present it as a friendly trip. ... But instead of winning the hearts and minds of Greenlands 56,000 people, the move, coupled with Mr. Trumps recent statement that one way or the other, were going to get it, is pushing Greenland further away. In case this isnt obvious, the White House has spent the last several weeks suggesting that Greenland loves the presidents plan to take control of the island. In January, for example, Trump declared, The people of Greenland would love to become a state of the United States of America despite a poll that showed 85% of Greenlanders said they want the opposite. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this week, Trump repeatedly said that people in Greenland have initiated White House outreach and welcomed American officials to visit the island. Soon after, Greenlands government flatly denied the presidents bizarre assertions. In fact, Greenlandic Prime Minister Mute Egede specifically called the delegations visit highly aggressive. What is the national security adviser doing in Greenland? The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us, Egede told the Greenland newspaper Sermitsiaq earlier this week. In the same set of comments, Egede added: Until recently, we could trust the Americans, who were our allies and friends, and with whom we enjoyed working closely. But that time is over. The American public doesnt appear to be on board with the White Houses territorial ambitions, either: The latest Fox News poll asked respondents about various parts of Trumps agenda, and the least popular idea was taking over Greenland, with 70% of Americans opposed to the presidents plan. When revising the list of the White Houses frayed alliances and avoidable international incidents, be sure to keep this one near the top. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Given how deeply divided Americans are on so many issues, its heartening to see there are still some issues that can bring people with different beliefs and values together. Take Jan. 6 pardons, for example. A Washington Post-Ipsos poll released last month found lopsided results on one of Donald Trumps signature issues: The presidents least popular action is his decision to pardon all those convicted of crimes in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. More than 8 in 10 oppose the pardons for those who were convicted of violent crimes. By most measures, 83% of Americans dont agree on much, but they agree that pardoning violent criminals who clashed with police and attacked their own countrys Capitol was not a good move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Republican not only continues to brag about his Jan. 6 pardons, hes apparently exploring new ways to give rioters additional benefits. Last month, for example, Trumps Justice Department said that the presidents clemency for Jan. 6 criminals covered unrelated crimes that were discovered during FBI searches. Around the same time, Trump made Ed Martin, a Republican lawyer with Jan. 6 clients, the interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., and he proceeded to launch a special project, to be known as Project 1512, that means to review the prosecutions of Jan. 6 rioters. Is there anything else the president can do for those who attacked the Capitol in his name? Evidently, yes. Politico reported: President Donald Trump on Tuesday floated the possibility of financial compensation for people who were prosecuted for taking part in the riot at the Capitol in 2021. Speaking to Newsmax on Tuesday night, Trump said he had taken care of his supporters who attempted to overturn his 2020 election loss and added there is talk about compensating them. In response to a question about a compensation fund for Jan. 6 rioters who were held accountable for their crimes, Trump talked about the idea as if it were under serious consideration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres talk about that, the president said. A lot of the people that are in the government now talk about it because a lot of the people in government really like that group of people. The Republican didnt elaborate on the details, but taken at face value, he appeared to be describing what would effectively be reparations for Jan. 6 felons, presumably to be financed by taxpayers. In other words, theres talk in the White House about transferring money from your wallet to rioters wallets not because they earned it, but because Trump is open to the idea of rewarding them for committing crimes that he approved of. I cant wait to see how well this polls. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Todays edition of quick hits. * A big ruling: A federal appeals court refused Wednesday to lift an order barring the Trump administration from deporting Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador under an 18th century wartime law. A split three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a March 15 order temporarily prohibiting deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. * The video of this is terrifying: Federal authorities on Tuesday detained a Tufts University graduate student while she was on her way to break her Ramadan fast with friends, her lawyer said, and the moment was caught on video. Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national who was maintaining a valid F-1 student visa as a doctoral student, was apprehended near her home by Department of Homeland Security agents, according to a statement from her attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * A story worth watching: Four U.S. soldiers went missing during tactical training in Lithuania, not far from its border with Belarus, the Pentagon said Wednesday. The soldiers were in a training area near the town of Pabrade, which is about 30 miles south of the capital, Vilnius, and 6 miles from Lithuanias border with Belarus, officials said. * A 7-2 ruling: The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a Biden administration effort to regulate ghost gun kits that allow people to easily obtain parts needed to assemble firearms from online sellers. The decision by a court that often backs gun rights resolves the legal dispute over whether the kits can be regulated the same way as other firearms. * Theres reason to worry about the NIHs near future: The Senate voted along party lines Tuesday to confirm Jay Bhattacharya as the next director of the National Institutes of Health. The vote was 53-47. As director, Bhattacharya would oversee the $48.6 billion agency, the worlds largest public funder of biomedical research. * In case you were wondering what prompted the latest Wall Street slide: President Donald Trump is expected to announce new measures imposing tariffs on automobiles Wednesday afternoon. It was not immediately clear what the scope of the new duties would be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * A rare display dissent against Hamas: Palestinians in Gaza protested against the war for a second straight day on Wednesday and chanted slogans against Hamas, frustrated and angry over the collapse of a cease-fire with Israel that many had hoped would become permanent. * A dangerous step backwards: The United States is planning to terminate more than $1 billion in funding for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, an international organization that offers lifesaving vaccinations for millions of people each year in some of the worlds poorest countries, according to information in a document the U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID, sent to Congress this week. See you tomorrow. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Donald Trump told Fox News earlier this month that he intended to use the power of his office to go after several prominent law firms. Evidently, he was serious. NBC News reported on the presidents latest move against the legal profession. Trump signed an executive order [Tuesday] punishing a law firm that hired Andrew Weissmann, a Trump critic who was a prosecutor on former special counsel Robert Muellers team that investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election. The order directs that employees of the firm Jenner & Block be stripped of security clearances and have their access to federal buildings limited and that federal agencies terminate any contracts with the firm. If youre new to this story, its worth pausing to review how we arrived at this point. About a month ago, the White House took an unprecedented step, punishing a prominent private law firm, Covington & Burling LLP. The New York Times described the move as a breathtaking escalation. A week later, the Republican nevertheless did it again, punishing Perkins Coie, a large international law firm with some prominent Democratic clients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tactics did not go unnoticed. Indeed, when Perkins Coie filed suit, challenging the legality of Trumps order, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell temporarily blocked the presidents policy, saying in reference to the executive order, It sends little chills down my spine. The judge added, I am sure that many in the profession are watching in horror at what Perkins Coie is going through. Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, a constitutional scholar, had a similar reaction, describing the White Houses offensive as dangerous as hell. A week later, Trump did it again, targeting the Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison law firm, ahead of the president extending his revenge tour to a fourth firm this week. In case this werent quite enough, he also signed an executive order last week that effectively threatened to punish any law firms that, from his perspective, challenge his administration in ways he considered unreasonable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president has justified his campaign against the legal professions by claiming that the firms did bad things and attacked him ruthlessly, violently, illegally. That was bonkers there is literally no evidence of the firms having been violent or committing crimes in cases related to Trump but he apparently expects the public to go along with the bizarre claims anyway. But as ridiculous as the White Houses line has been, it has also proved quite effective. One of the targeted firms caved to Trumps demands and gave the president everything he wanted as part of a deal that led him to rescind his order. Others are turning down clients the White House might not like, while scrubbing their websites of names that might draw the presidents ire. When pressed, Trump has said he simply wants law firms to behave themselves. As to what that means in practice, he apparently means that firms will have nothing to worry about just so long as they hire lawyers the White House approves of, take cases the White House approves of, adopt employment practices the White House approves of, and avoid litigation the White House might not like. If this sounds like how the legal system might work in an authoritarian system, its not your imagination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres no great mystery behind the motivation. The single great obstacle between Trump and his radical goals is not Congress. Its not public opinion. Its not norms or traditional institutional constraints. Its not shame or fear of embarrassment. Its the courts or more to the point, opponents of his agenda whove filed suit and brought their concerns to the courts, where the White House has been losing a lot over the last several weeks. In response, the president, his team and their allies have launched an extraordinary political offensive intended to smear judges and undermine the integrity of the federal judiciary, but that campaign is only half of the equation. The other half is focused on bringing some of the nations largest law firms to heel. Deborah Pearlstein, a visiting professor of law and public affairs at Princeton and the director of the universitys Program in Law and Public Policy, wrote for The New York Times, Of all of the American legal institutions now facing sustained attack, none would seem better positioned to push back against Mr. Trumps strongman tactics than this class of wealthy and politically connected firms, known collectively as Big Law. Counsel to the worlds most powerful corporations, they are engaged in every sector of the marketplace and central to ensuring that the United States and global economy continue to spin. Yet where many ordinary judges, law school deans and public interest attorneys of both political parties have found the courage to push back against Mr. Trumps anti-constitutional histrionics, Big Law has largely stayed silent or worse. Its not too late for the firms to put a fight. Whether they want to remains to be seen. This post updates our related earlier coverage. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Headed into this week, Pennsylvanias state House was evenly divided, with each major party holding 101 seats. With this in mind, a special election just outside of Pittsburgh drew quite a bit of attention, since it would tip the scales. The result wasnt especially close: Democrat Dan Goughnour a retired police officer, Teamster and local school board member easily prevailed, restoring the partys narrow majority in the state legislative chamber. But it was the results of the other special election in the Keystone State that will raise eyebrows far outside Pennsylvania. The Hill reported: Democrat James Malone has won an open Pennsylvania state Senate seat in a major upset in a district that comfortably voted for President Trump in November, Decision Desk HQ projects. Malone, the mayor of East Petersburg, is projected to defeat Republican Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons to represent Senate District 36 for the remainder of former state Sen. Ryan Auments (R) term. Anytime a party manages to flip a district, it tends to generate some attention, but the closer one looks at this contest, the more dramatic the results appear: This is a district that Donald Trump carried by 15 points last fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats more, as an analysis in The Downballot noted, Since taking its present form in Lancaster County 40 years ago, the district has always been held by the GOP, and the county as a whole has gone for a Democrat at the presidential level just once since 1856 (Lyndon Johnson just barely won it in 1964). This is not, in other words, a district where a Democrat is supposed to be competitive. And yet Malone prevailed by running on a notable platform. From The Downballots analysis: Malone focused his message heavily on education and cuts to the federal government that hes had to deal with as mayor of a small town, specifically calling out Musk for slashing benefits for veterans, retirees, and students. These results come just eight weeks after a Democrat in Minnesota won a state legislative special election, giving the party a majority in the state Senate, which coincided with a state Senate special election in Iowa in which Democrat Mike Zimmer narrowly defeated his Republican rival. The Iowa race generated some national coverage because of the broader circumstances: This special election was held in a district thought to be a GOP stronghold. Indeed, Trump won this district by 21 points. Then a Democratic candidate managed to flip the state Senate seat from red to blue anyway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Iowa and Minnesota contests came on the heels of a couple of closely watched state legislative special elections in Virginia, held a few weeks earlier, which Democrats also won. The contests were, as an NBC News report put it, an early test of the political environment. To be sure, the news comes with some rather large caveats. Legislative special elections tend to be low-turnout affairs, and drawing sweeping conclusions about the meaning of their outcomes is unwise. That said, in the aftermath of Election Day 2024, the conventional wisdom suggested not only that Republicans had entered an era of electoral dominance, but also that Democratic voters were demoralized, disheartened and prepared to withdraw from civic life for a while. So it's notable that the party has put together some victories, undermining some of the assumptions from November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conventional wisdom will be put to the test again in just six days, with a closely watched state Supreme Court race in Wisconsin and two congressional special elections in Florida on tap for April 1. Watch this space. This post updates our related earlier coverage. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com UK supermarket chain Morrisons has unveiled a comprehensive plan to revitalise its business operations as it embarks on the second phase of its strategic renewal programme. The retailer plans to close multiple facilities, including 17 convenience stores, 13 florist shops, 52 cafes, all 18 of its Market Kitchens, 35 meat and fish counters and four in-store pharmacies. At the end of the 2023/24 fiscal year, its network of convenience stores reached 1,600. The adjustments are aimed at fostering growth, streamlining processes and counteracting the impact of recent significant cost escalations. Morrisons chief executive Rami Baitieh stated: "The changes we are announcing today are a necessary part of our plans to renew and reinvigorate Morrisons and enable us to focus our investment into the areas that customers really value and that can play a full part in our growth. "Morrisons cafes are rightly famous for their great quality well-priced food, their place in the local community and their appealing mix of traditional favourites alongside exciting new dishes. In most locations the Morrisons cafe has a bright future, but a minority have specific local challenges and, in those locations, regrettably, closure and re-allocation of the space is the only sensible option. The company gave assurances that most employees affected by these changes are expected to be reassigned to appropriate roles within the company's stores. However, the closure will affect an estimated 365 staff members. Baitieh stated: "Although these changes are relatively small in the context of the overall scale of the Morrisons business, we do not take lightly the disruption and uncertainty they will cause to some of our colleagues. We will of course take particular care to look after all of them well through the coming changes." In its financial report for the fiscal year 2023/24, released in January 2025, Morrisons reported a revenue increase to 15.27bn, up by 3.8% from 14.71bn in the previous fiscal year. It recently enhanced its senior leadership with the appointment of three industry veterans and the formalisation of key internal roles. "Morrisons store and operations cost-cutting move risks 365 jobs" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. WINTERSET, Iowa A Madison County Board of Supervisors meeting grew contentious on Tuesday morning after supervisors disagreed on an agenda resolution. Lets move on, said Sheriff Jason Barnes to the board. Lets move on right now. Sheriff Barnes was standing in the back of a packed meeting room behind dozens of residents who showed up to attend. The room, located on the lower floor of the Madison County Annex, had reached its maximum occupancy of 49 people and had only standing room available. The Madison County Board of Supervisors meeting on March 25, 2025. The meeting started with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance but began to grow contentious during public comments when the work Auditor Teri Kaczinski has been doing was questioned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes not even there. She leaves every day at 2:30 to pick up her kids, said Mike Fletcher as he addressed Supervisor Heather Stancil, the boards Chairman. His comments drew some pushback. Mike, if you have an issue with the auditor, please address it with the auditor, she responded. Work requirements for Medicaid, public assistance programs passes through Iowa Senate Fletcher is a City Council member for the City of Winterset. However, he stated during his public comments that he was making the remarks as a private citizen, not as an elected official. Mike, you are a city councilman. You do not know what goes on in county business, Supervisor Stancil said. I suggest if you want to do county business, run for Supervisor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The back and forth continued until a resident who had joined the meeting by phone interrupted to complain about the unorthodox nature of the public comment session. Public speakers are allotted three minutes to address the board. Supervisor Stancil then provided Fletcher an extra minute to speak since she had engaged him. However, the major source of discord came a short time later after a vote to approve the hiring of a new, part-time Second Deputy for Auditor Kaczinskis office. The woman at the center of it, Leslie Beck, is Auditor Kaczinskis former campaign manager. Beck also recently created a GiveSendGo fundraiser for Supervisor Stancil and her husband to help cover his medical bills after a lengthy hospital stay. According to the crowdsourcing fundraiser, Supervisor Stancils husband has been battling a life-threatening condition since last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, there have been multiple efforts over the past several months to employ Beck, including twice as an employee of Auditor Kaczinskis office and a third time as an employee of a third-party consulting agency hired by Auditor Kaczinski in late January, called the RMG (Robert Morris Group). RMG charged the county $250 an hour for consulting services, according to documents obtained by WHO 13. Each previous attempt to hire Beck was met with public scrutiny. Some Madison County residents feel Becks potential hiring would be a conflict of interest. Meanwhile, supporters of the move point out that the job opening was posted and opened to public applicants recently. During the meeting, Supervisor Stancil said that Auditor Kaczinski could not disclose how many people were interviewed for the position. Iowa bill prohibiting diversity, equity and inclusion advanced by Senate Republican majority Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supervisor Stancil recused herself from the vote on Becks employment due to the financial fundraiser. Supervisor Diane Fitch and Supervisor Jessica Hobbs were left without anyone to be the tie-breaker. Supervisor Fitch voted Nay, and cited a lack of transparency as one of her reasons. Supervisor Hobbs voted Yay and pointed out that Beck cannot be discriminated against due to political affiliation. Madison County Attorney Stephen Swanson told WHO 13 that a conflict of interest connected to the hiring of Beck at the Auditors office was not a concern, and added that he had helped Beck coordinate with the Ethics Board before she created the online fundraiser. The tie vote meant the resolution did not pass and Becks hire was not approved. Supervisor Stancil immediately voiced her agitation. I am very disappointed, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supervisor Stancil lamented about not being able to vote due to her personal information coming to light regarding the fundraiser. Her angst was directed at Supervisor Fitch. Supervisor Stancil attempted to pressure Supervisor Fitch into discussing the reason behind her vote. Diane, the only time I have to talk to you about this stuff is now in a meeting. Are you saying you dont want to talk to me about it? said Supervisor Stancil. My concern is because every other time an election official has come before us, weve approved them. Every single one. Her comments continued, much to the chagrin of some people in the public gallery. For the first time in four years Ive been here, you vote against someone and you vote against her. I dont understand that, she continued. It seems to me that you are intentionally sabotaging this particular political office because your preferred political candidate did not win. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iowa law banning school library books that depict sex acts on hold again after a new federal ruling That statement prompted an outcry from some in attendance. You are so out of order! yelled one woman. Ive made my vote, replied Supervisor Fitch to Chairman Stancil. Im done. Just stop! Members of the public began to stand up in their seats. Several of them yelled toward the board. That is when Supervisor Stancil called on the Sheriff to step in and he directed the board to move on to the next item on their agenda immediately. The meeting then continued without incident. The Madison County government has been struggling to find peace after the January arrest of its Treasurer, Amanda DeVos, 37, for fraud and other charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That development uncovered months of alleged money mismanagement and began to stir up distrust amongst residents. WHO 13 has been reporting on the countys public meetings for several months, which have often included scathing public comments aimed at elected leaders. Supervisor Hobbs spoke to WHO 13s Katie Kaplan after the meeting. She claims much of the tension is due to public misinformation. This meeting was not in order. And Im hoping that we can make some changes in the future so we can have better decorum and more professional conduct, she said. That is my hope. And all that I can do to control that is to continue to try to work hard to serve the citizens as Ive committed to doing and continue to try to bring the facts to light and reality somewhat to counter some of the lies and misinformation that are being shared. Hobbs said the misinformation pertains to several topics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supervisor Stancil declined to be interviewed with WHO 13 after the meeting, accusing the station of misquoting her in a previous interview following a board meeting in early February when she stated on camera that she did not know about any issues regarding the Treasurers office. She claimed on Tuesday that she meant criminal issues. WHO 13 attempted to reach Auditor Kaczinski for comment. She had already left her office for the day when the reporter stopped by at noon on Tuesday, according to County Attorney Swanson. A phone call later in the day was not immediately returned. WHO also reached out RMG on Monday and left a voicemail, but did not hear back. Iowa news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. A MAGA activist issued a blunt response to Elon Musk after the billionaire chimed in on the Democrats' shock victory in a Pennsylvania state senate election. Democratic candidate James Malone defeated Republican Josh Parsons by less than one percent of the vote in a tightly-run race in the states 36th district. The Democratic victory in the northern Lancaster County race does not change Republican control of the states Senate. Scott Presler, the conservative political activist who took credit for helping Trump turn Pennsylvania red, appeared to show his dissatisfaction with Musk after asking Republicans for assistance in the district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The activist posted a screenshot of The New York Times projection late Tuesday showing Malone leading Parsons 26,951 votes to 26,469. I asked for help in Pennsylvania & no one helped us, he tweeted. 482 votes, he added, referring to the slim voting margins between the two candidates. Damn, Musk, a MAGA megadonor who spent more than $290 million supporting Trump and his Republican allies during the 2024 election cycle, said in the thread just after midnight on Wednesday. In late August, Musk made a $1 million donation to a Preslers PAC Early Vote Action. Presler issued a blunt response, punctuated by a full stop: Yes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An hour earlier, Presler replied to one of his X posts, which Musk had previously commented on last week, asking to speak with the tech billionaire. Dear Elon. We ended up losing this seat by 482 votes. I tried to warn people. Lets have a discussion. We dont have a lot of help, Presler wrote. Scott Pesler had repeatedly asked Republicans for help in a tightly-run race in the states 36th senatorial district (AFP/Getty) Musk has yet to respond to Preslers second message. Earlier on Tuesday, Pelser tweeted that an Illinois-based democrat PAC poured $100,000 into Malones campaign. Republicans, where are you? he added. Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin celebrated Malones expected victory and said that his party is coming for the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats just SHATTERED a 40-year Republican stronghold in Pennsylvanias State Senate!, he tweeted Tuesday evening. In a +15 Trump district, no less! This is a WARNING, Donald Trumpwere fired up, were mobilized, and were COMING FOR YOU! In November, President Donald Trump cruised to victory in the district by 15 points. Pesler has repeatedly taken credit for helping Trump win Pennslyvania. Elon Musk has been criticized by Scott Presler after the MAGA activist called on support for a key Pennslyvania state Senate race (AP) Ryan Aument, the Republican candidate in the 2022 state legislative election, ran unopposed. Augments seat was left open after he stepped down from his senatorial duties to become the state director for Pennslyvania Senator Dave McCormick in December. A Maine man who called 911 after his girlfriend was shot during a weekend argument has been arrested in connection with her death, state police said Wednesday afternoon. Jeremiah Godfrey, 43, was arrested on a warrant for murder at approximately 12 p.m. Wednesday in the town of South Berwick in connection with the death of Sherri Sweet, 37, state police said in a post on Facebook. He was taken to the York County Jail. On Saturday night, at approximately 8:44 p.m., South Berwick Police received a 911 call reporting a domestic dispute with shots fired at 48 Brattle St. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Godfrey called 911 and reported that he had an argument with Sweet, his girlfriend, state police said. Godfrey described to police that the two had a struggle over a gun, and that Sweet was unresponsive after suffering a gunshot wound, state police said. First responders responded to the scene. Sweet was taken by ambulance to Portsmouth Regional Hospital. She was pronounced dead the next day, at 10:15 p.m. on Sunday. South Berwick Police requested the assistance of the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-South to investigate. An autopsy conducted Monday determined that the immediate cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head, and the manner of death to be homicide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South applied for and obtained an arrest warrant for Godfrey, who was taken into custody a short time later in South Berwick. South Berwick is a small town west of Ogunquit, near the New Hampshire border. The towns population was 7,467 at the 2020 census. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Shenna Bellows waits outside the Maine House of Representatives chamber before legislators elected her to serve as another term as Secretary of State. (Photo by Jim Neuger/Maine Morning Star) Secretary of State Shenna Bellows announced her run for governor in 2026, becoming the first major Democratic candidate to throw her hat in the ring. Gov. Janet Mills is serving her final term that will end in two years, marking the end of eight years of Democratic control. Maine has not consecutively elected governors of the same party since the 1950s. While many current and former officials including U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, and Hannah Pingree, who runs Mills Office of Policy Innovation and Future are rumored to be considering a run, Bellows is the first to announce it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson told the Bangor Daily News that hes officially exploring entering the race while South Portland resident Kenneth Forrest Pinet has filed paperwork for the June 9, 2026 primary. During her address early Wednesday at the official launch event at the Hancock Community Center, Bellows said we need leaders who will meet the moment. Because while were paying our taxes or helping our parents measure out their medication, our country is being demolished by a greedy, unelected billionaire who thinks his dollars are more powerful than our voicesWho thinks the value of his stock portfolio matters more than the values of our community. Bellows has served as Maines first female secretary of state since 2021. She garnered national attention last year for initially disqualifying President Donald Trump from the 2024 Republican primary. Shes currently serving her third term as Secretary of State, during which she has focused on making voting more accessible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With so much at stake, we need a governor from Maine and for Maine someone who understands what families here are going through, because theyve lived it, Bellow said in a statement. Growing up in Hancock, she continued, my family didnt have much and we struggled to pay the bills, but we worked for everything we had. Its that perspective that will allow me to fight for families, workers, small businesses and children every single day as governor. Bellows, who now lives in Manchester, has worked in Democratic politics in Maine for more than a decade. Bellows served in the Maine Senate from 2016 to 2020, representing 11 towns in southern Kennebec County. She also served as Senate chair of the Labor and Housing Committee and was on the Judiciary Committee. Before her tenure as a state legislator, she ran as the Democratic nominee against U.S. Sen. Susan Collins for U.S. Senate in 2014. Before running against Collins, Bellows served as executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine. Throughout her career, shes consulted for and worked with several advocacy organizations including Sierra Clubs Maine Chapter, Consumers for Affordable Healthcare and the Maine Womens Lobby. She also worked on campaigns to pass marriage equality in Maine, and co-chaired a successful 2011 statewide ballot campaign to restore same-day voter registration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Secretary of State, her office has focused on modernizing technology, implementing online voter registration and automatic voter registration at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, among other initiatives. In 2022, Maine had the highest voter participation in the nation, and the November 2024 election yet again saw record turnout. This story was updated with a quote from Shenna Bellows Wednesday address. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The reveal that top advisers to President Donald Trump had accidentally leaked war plans to the press sent the Trump administration into denial. Now that The Atlantic has published the leaked plans in question, MAGA is charging ahead into the next stage of grief: anger. In a series of contentious interviews on Wednesday, Trump allies and associates haughtily blew off questions from concerned reporters. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene attacked the media for giving air to a scandal they viewed as ridiculously overblown. "We are not going to bend in the face of this insincere outrage," Leavitt told reporters at the White House. If this story proves anything, it proves that Democrats and their propagandists in the mainstream media know how to fabricate, orchestrate, and disseminate a misinformation campaign quite well." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leavitt's statement served as a preamble to a heated question-and-answer session. CNN's Kaitlan Collins asked if President Trump felt "misled" by his Cabinet, who assured him that no classified information had been shared in the compromised Signal chat. "I have now been asked and answered this question three times," she said. "I've given you my answer. The president feels the same as he did yesterday." When Collins attempted to ask a follow-up question, Leavitt rushed to the next reporter and refused to respond. Leavitt refuses to take a follow up question from Kaitlan Collins pic.twitter.com/TIjpygSW05 Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 26, 2025 Fox News' Jacqui Heinrich pressed Leavitt on what counts as classified information, asking her directly why "launch times on a mission" were not considered classified by the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Do you trust the secretary of defense...or do you trust Jeffrey Goldberg, who is a registered Democrat and an anti-Trump sensationalist reporter?" FOX NEWS: Why aren't launch times on a mission strike classified? LEAVITT: Again, I would defer you to the secretary of defense's statement pic.twitter.com/iR0q7EBmCR Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 26, 2025 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has maintained that he did not share war plans in the Signal chat, even as screenshots of messages revealing the timing of planned missile strikes have been released. In a post to social media, he said the texts he sent would have made "really s**tty war plans." "Those 'plans' include: No names. No targets. No locations. No units. No routes. No sources. No methods. And no classified information. Those are some really sh**ty war plans," he wrote. Later in the day, Hegseth reiterated that point to reporters in Hawaii, quickly leaving before they could ask him any questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rage at reporters isn't limited to active members of the Trump administration. Marjorie Taylor Greene attacked a reporter from UK outlet Sky News when she raised questions about the group chat. Greene told the reporter to "go back to [her] country" and worry about the UK's "major migrant problem. "We dont give a crap about your opinion and your reporting," Greene said. "You should care about your own borders." A year after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore , an independent government agency urged the owners of seven bridges in California including the landmark Golden Gate Bridge to urgently assess their risk of a catastrophic collapse. In a March 18 report , the National Transportation Safety Board identified a total of 68 bridges across the United States as not having undergone a vulnerability assessment based on recent vessel traffic. The bridges, it said, have an unknown level of risk of collapse from a vessel collision. The report, part of the ongoing investigation into the Baltimore bridge collapse, said that the owners of the bridges all built over navigable waterways frequented by ocean-going vessels are likely unaware of their bridges risk of catastrophic collapse from a vessel collision and the potential need to implement countermeasures to reduce the bridges vulnerability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the California bridge owners told The Times that, after the Baltimore bridge collapse, assessments were underway. The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District said in a statement that it was in "full compliance with all state and federal regulations, including federal bridge inspection and evaluation requirements" and that the famed bridge has "one of the most robust ship collision protection systems of any bridge on the West Coast." Still, the district noted, it hired a consultant earlier this year to conduct an assessment of the bridge's south tower fender systems structural capacity for ship collisions. "The results of the study will be submitted to the Federal Highway Administration," the district said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Goodwin, a spokesman for the Bay Area Toll Authority, which administers all toll revenue from toll bridges in the area that are owned and operated by Caltrans, told The Times that his agency began working last July with Caltrans and other groups to assess vessel traffic throughout the Bay, including the waterways under all seven of the state-owned toll bridges. "I think it is smart that we assess the vulnerability of all of the bridges," Goodwin said. "The risk of collapse is very small, but it is not zero. There's no false sense of security there." Most of the seven California bridges identified as potentially vulnerable are in the Bay Area: the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, the Carquinez Bridge, the Benicia-Martinez Bridge, the Antioch Bridge, the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge. The only one in Southern California is the San Diego-Coronado Bridge. The San Diego-Coronado Bridge, which connects Coronado and San Diego, in April 2023 (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Caltrans, which owns the San Diego-Coronado bridge, has said the agency is reviewing the report's recommendations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "All state-owned bridges are regularly inspected to ensure strict structural safety and have been seismically retrofitted to the highest national standards," a Caltrans spokesman told CBS affiliate KFMB-TV in a statement. "Caltrans is reviewing the National Transportation Safety Boards recommendations and will respond to its request once the review is completed. Read more: Would California bridges stand up to a direct hit? We asked experts The NTSB urged the owners of the seven California bridges to carry out a risk assessment based on guidance established by the American Assn. of State Highway and Transportation Officials, or AASHTO, more than 30 years ago. If the bridge owners determine that a bridge has a high risk level, the agency recommended that they develop and implement a comprehensive risk reduction plan that identifies short- and long-term safety strategies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts told The Times last year that California bridges were less at risk of toppling in a crash with an errant cargo ship than many bridges across the country, because their support columns have been retrofitted to make them withstand major earthquakes. Still, Robert Dowell, an associate professor of structural engineering at San Diego State, said the Baltimore collapse demonstrated how vital it is to protect bridge piers from large container ships by installing or upgrading large fenders and 'dolphins' on the bridges that keep ships clear of bridges' vital support piers. Read more: These California coastal cities face heightened flood danger from tsunami, data show "The impact force with these very large container ships is huge," Dowell said. "If you look at the big container ship that hit the bridge in Maryland, the top of the ship stuck way out from the bottom, so even if there was a fender around it, the top of the ship further up can impact the column part way up." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the 30 years since AASHTO introduced its guidelines, Goodwin said, vessel traffic in and out of the Bay Area has increased, and much bigger ships are plying its waters. The busiest bridge in the Bay Area the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge was not identified in the NTSB report. Goodwin said the bridge was left out because it already has been assessed and a $100-million project is set to begin some time after July to replace and upgrade the bridge's fender system. The upgrading of the Bay Bridge has been a regional priority after it was struck by ships in 2007 and 2013, Goodwin said. In both cases, the fenders absorbed and deflected the energy, but the 2007 collision, with an oil tanker, damaged the fenders and the ship, causing it to spill more than 53,000 gallons of oil. The next generation of Bay Bridge fenders, Goodwin said, would be constructed with rubber, so they could better absorb the energy from a ship strike and protect the bridge and the vessels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even so, Dowell said all bridges evaluated before the Baltimore bridge collapse should be reassessed, even the Bay Bridge. "Every single one of them should be looked at," he said. "If the assessment was done more than a year ago, I would double back and take another look, because there was a lot of work that's been done in the last year since the bridge collapsed in Maryland." The cargo ship Dali struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024, in Baltimore. (Maryland National Guard via AP, File) (Uncredited / Associated Press) On March 26, 2024, a 948-foot-long cargo vessel lost power as it left Baltimores port and rammed into a support pier of the Francis Scott Key Bridge , shattering the structure almost instantly. In 25 seconds, the entire bridge plunged into the Patapsco River. Six members of a construction crew were killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NTSB found that the Baltimore bridge was almost 30 times above the acceptable risk threshold for critical or essential bridges, according to guidelines established by AASHTO. While the Golden Gate Bridge was built in 1937, the other California bridges that could be at risk were constructed in the 1950s through 1970s long before AASHTO guidance was issued in 1991 for new bridges in response to the NTSBs investigation of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge collapse in Florida. In the March report, the NTSB urged the Federal Highway Administration to establish an interdisciplinary team with the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help the owners of potentially vulnerable bridges evaluate and reduce the risk of collapse. Read more: California's piers may not be able to withstand climate change Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Federal Highway Administration and AASHTO cannot require bridge owners to evaluate a bridges risk of catastrophic failure from a vessel collision if it was designed before the 1991 guidelines were issued. Even though existing bridges were not required to conduct a vulnerability assessment, the NTSB said in a news release that AASHTO recommended in 1991 and again in 2009 that all owners of bridges conduct such an assessment on existing bridges to evaluate their risk of catastrophic collapse. If the Maryland Transportation Authority, which was not required to perform a vulnerability assessment to evaluate the Francis Scott Key Bridge, had conducted such an assessment based on recent vessel traffic, the NTSB noted, the state agency would have been aware that the bridge was above the acceptable risk and could have taken steps to lower the bridges risk of collapse and prevent deaths. Dowell said the assessment of older bridges and upgrading, if necessary should be mandatory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think they should be required to do a detailed assessment," Dowell said. "And if the assessment, following the procedures that are laid out, show[s] that upgrades needs to be done or should be done, then I think they should be required to do it." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A 22-year-old man is accused of sexually assaulting multiple women, and Washington County officials believe there may be more victims. On Friday, Jordan Beyer was indicted on 21 counts relating to sexual abuse, including two counts of rape and four counts of unlawful sexual penetration. The Washington County Sheriffs Office says they began their investigation into Beyer last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives interviewed multiple women who said they had been raped or sexually assaulted by 22-year-old Jordan Beyer, who most recently has been living in rural Washington County near Banks, WCSO said. The sexual assaults happened at different locations in Washington County, including in and near Banks, Forest Grove, and Beaverton. Beyer frequently used physical force or threats to assault his victims, who were known to him. Beyer was arrested Monday during a traffic stop on Hwy 26, according to law enforcement. He was lodged in the Washington County Jail without bail. Officials say that additional charges are possible as WCSO seeks additional victims. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. AKRON, Ohio (WJW) An Akron man was arrested and charged with drug trafficking near a school. Police seized drugs as well as weapons and money from his home. According to the Akron Police Department, 29-year-old Paul Messenger was arrested by the Street Narcotics Uniform Detail without incident at a home on the 900 Block of Johnston St. in Akron on Tuesday. Person struck by multiple vehicles on I-271: Coroner Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was charged with: Improper handling of firearms Weapons under disability Trafficking drugs including methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl and MDMA Possession of criminal tools Akron drug trafficking (Credit: Akron Police Department) According to the release, Messenger was trafficking these drugs within 1000 feet of a school, which elevates the charges. Barricaded suspect runs from home as it goes up in flames During a search of the home, detectives found four pistols, one semi-automatic shotgun, one attachment to convert a pistol to a rifle setup, 320 grams of methamphetamine, 140 grams cocaine, 78 grams fentanyl, 13 MDMA pills, 42 packets of suboxone, $1395 cash, two pill presses, digital scams and other drug paraphernalia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. DENVER (KDVR) A 47-year-old Craig resident was arrested on March 20, according to the Moffat County Sheriffs Office, after investigators say he took voyeuristic photos of people in the womens restroom of a restaurant. Dustin Hyatt, 47, is facing 26 counts of invasion of privacy for sexual gratification, in addition to 25 counts of criminal attempt of invasion of privacy for sexual gratification, all of which are misdemeanors. He was given a bond of $1,500, which has been posted. Youth pastor arrested by Thornton police, facing charge of sexual assault on a child Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers first uncovered Hyatts alleged possession of multiple voyeuristic photos featuring people in a restroom on Feb. 21, according to the multi-jurisdictional All Crimes Enforcement Team, which includes officers and deputies from Routt County, Moffat County, Steamboat Springs, Hayden, Craig and more. The task force kept investigating and learned the images were captured in the womens restroom of Jimmy Johns located at 1755 Central Park Dr., Unit 131, Steamboat Springs. The task force interviewed Hyatt, who confessed to placing his cell phone under the bathroom sink on 10 separate occasions during 2024 to record the womens toilet area. Investigators reported finding 51 images of approximately 33 victims connected to Hyatt. Due to the cameras position, the victims faces are largely unidentifiable and all pictured appear to be adults. Hyatt is scheduled to appear in court next on April 8 in Routt County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. By Daniel Leussink ATSUGI, Japan (Reuters) -Nissan plans to dramatically cut its car development time to boost its competitiveness, the struggling automaker's incoming CEO Ivan Espinosa said on Wednesday. Japan's third-largest automaker currently takes about 55 months to develop a completely new vehicle. "We are slow. This is one of the things we have to face," Espinosa, currently chief planning officer, told reporters at an event about its product plans. He said he wants to cut development for the first car in a family of cars to 37 months while the second car or third car would take just 30 months. Espinosa, a two-decade company veteran known as a passionate product person, takes the helm on April 1. He is expected to refocus the automaker's priorities on developing vehicles more in tune with customers' tastes as he seeks to steer the company out of a deep sales slump. Nissan has several gaps in various markets, Espinosa said, adding that a key part of his vision was to have "five or six brand-oriented models" that would go into as many markets as possible. "Models like Patrol, models like the Z, probably the Leaf, you know, cars that are really describing what Nissan is about," he said. Underscoring the depth of its pain, Nissan has cut its earnings estimates three times for the year ending this month, has seen its debt rating reduced to "junk" and risks losing its rank as Japan's No. 3 automaker to Suzuki. It sold 3.3 million vehicles worldwide last year, a small decline from 2023 but only one of many with sales down some 40% since 2017. In China, Nissan has been pushed to the sidelines by local brands such as BYD, while in the U.S., it has suffered from its failure to launch hybrids. It also did not manage to capitalise on an early lead in electric vehicles. As part of Nissan's restructuring plans, the automaker has said it will cut 9,000 jobs, reduce global capacity by 20%, close a plant in Thailand by June and shut two more plants that it has not identified. Espinosa said the company was considering additional measures, but declined to give details. "I'm open to Honda or other partners as long as these partners are helping us drive the vision of the business," Espinosa said about potential collaboration with other companies. Nissan and Honda ended merger talks to forge a $60 billion car company in February. The deal broke apart due to Honda's proposal to make Nissan a subsidiary, sources have said. New vehicles to be offered in North America in the coming financial year include a Leaf crossover - the third-generation of the world's first mass-market electric car originally launched in 2010 - as well as its first plug-in hybrid, the Rogue SUV developed with Mitsubishi Motors. BILOXI, Miss. (WJTV) The man accused of killing a Biloxi police officer in 2019 will be indefinitely committed to the Mississippi State Hospital. WXXV reported that during a second competency hearing for Darian Atkinson, doctors from the hospital testified that he suffers from mental illness on the schizophrenia spectrum. The doctors do not believe Atkinson is faking or exaggerating his symptoms. 3 sentenced for helping suspect flee after officer killed Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to WXXV, Dr. Robert Storer testified that he does not believe Atkinson can be restored to competency with continued treatment in the foreseeable future. The judge ruled that Atkinson was not competent to stand trial, and the District Attorneys Office requested that Atkinson be evaluated once a year. Atkinson is accused of killing Biloxi Police Officer Robert McKeithen in 2019. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. CISCO, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) A man is in custody after allegedly stabbing a Cisco officer with a knife and assaulting another, authorities say. On March 12, police were called to a home where a man was behaving unruly and threatening a family member. After he barricaded himself inside, Cisco police forced entry into the house with the homeowners consent. According to the Cisco Police Department, the man charged at the officers when they entered his home and became combative. While attempting to contain him, one officer was stabbed in the rib cage with a knife. Fortunately, the officers ballistic vest prevented any serious injury. However, he did sustain cuts on his hands while trying to remove the knife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department reported that another officer was assaulted by the suspect, who grabbed and pinched the officers shoulder, causing minor injuries. The 46-year-old suspect was apprehended and treated at Eastland Memorial Hospital. After receiving treatment, the suspect was booked into the Eastland County Jail on multiple assault charges. The suspects identity has not been publicly disclosed at this time. The officer received treatment and was released. The Cisco Police Department is grateful to the Cisco Fire Department, Eastland County Sheriffs Office, EMS Services and the Eastland Police Department for their assistance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A 29-year-old man was arrested this past Sunday, March 23, for driving while intoxicated after running a red light in Horizon City, according to the Horizon City Police Department. Police say just before 1 a.m. that Sunday, they conducted a traffic stop at the 14600 block of Horizon after officers observed the vehicle failed to stop at a red light. Officers then determined the driver, Victor Manuel Contreras, 29, showed signs of intoxication and was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contreras was charged with DWI 2nd offense and was booked into the El Paso County Jail under a $10,000 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 KTSM 9 News. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Authorities have arrested the man accused of stabbing another man to death in a Parkrose neighborhood hotel on March 21. Portland police arrested 42-year-old Mitch Schoonover on charges of first-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, and third-degree assault. Little bandwidth: Portlands small businesses outline economic struggles in new survey Officers found Drew Hayden Courtright, 26, dead when they arrived at the hotel near 11700 NE Airport Way on Friday morning. Schooner was not at the scene at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A medical examiner determined Courtright had died from homicide by stab wound. Anyone with details about this stabbing is encouraged to contact law enforcement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A man was arrested after driving into multiple police vehicles in Livingston Parish. According to the Livingston Parish Sheriffs Office, Marlo Miguel Gonzales, 31, is accused of intentionally driving and crashing into marked and unmarked units in Denham Springs while attempting to flee. Gonzales crashed into a nearby canal, where LPSO K9 Diesel quickly captured him. Gonzales was arrested on Tuesday on charges of aggravated flight, aggravated criminal damage to property, and reckless operation of a motor vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheriff Jason Ard said the reason for Gonzales to drive in such a manner is unknown at this time. More charges are possible, according to Ard. 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. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) A man has received a life sentence for kidnapping a girl from Illinois and bringing her to Kansas, where he sexually assaulted her. Martin Brandon Gillen, 27, of Phoenix, Arizona, previously pleaded guilty in federal court to the following: One count of kidnapping Two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor One count of transportation for criminal sexual activity One count of transportation of child pornography One count of possession of child pornography Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Attorneys Office says it began in 2021 when Gillen started talking online with his victim, who was 17, and convinced her to take sexually explicit images and videos of herself and send them to him. Over the next three years, Gillen repeatedly made violent threats against her, and threats of using the images and videos against her. In March 2024, Gillen traveled from Arizona to the girls home in Illinois, kidnapping the young woman and taking her across state lines through Missouri and into Kansas, sexually assaulting her several times in the process. Butler County sting nabs 6 men for soliciting minors On March 18, Iola police spotted Gillen and the victim and took Gillen into custody. Police also found a firearm, multiple magazines, zip ties, and a cell phone in Gillens possession. On his cell phone, police found hundreds of images and videos of child sexual abuse materials, including images of the victim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon further examination, agents with Homeland Security Investigations also found images of Gillen sexually abusing an unrelated 4-year-old Utah child on the phone. A federal grand jury indicted Gillen in July 2024. He eventually agreed to plead guilty in the case. A federal judge has sentenced him to life in prison, plus 95 years for crimes related to the case. The sentences will run concurrently. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Iola Police Department, The New Baden, Illinois Police Department, and the Illinois State Police. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. (WBRE/WYOU) A high-speed police pursuit, a carjacking, a home invasion, and shots fired. Its all part of a chaotic, dangerous chain of events that spanned two local counties, and now we know the man at the center of that chaos is wanted for murder in Connecticut. Isaac Cintron 32-year-old Isaac Cintron is facing homicide charges in Connecticut for allegedly shooting and killing 43-year-old Heriberto Cotto. According to the City of New Haven Department of Police Services, on December 24, around 8:00 p.m., officers were called for a person shot. On the scene, officers found Cotto unresponsive with gunshot wounds; he later died at the Yale-New Haven Hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers said they discovered ballistic evidence in the street, along with the victims car, and were able to determine that the victim was involved in an argument with another person before being shot. Eventually, investigators linked Cintron as the suspect involved in the homicide case. On December 30, Pennsylvania State Police were notified of a stolen vehicle out of New Jersey traveling on Interstate 80. Butler Township Police discovered the reportedly stolen vehicle at Dunkin on North Hunter Highway. Cintron, listed as homeless in Connecticut, was driving the SUV. Police tried to get Cintron out of the SUV, but he refused and fled onto I-80 driving east in the westbound lanes, troopers noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While driving the wrong way on I-80, investigators stated Cintron hit another car, exited his vehicle, shot a pistol at another driver, chased the car, and kept firing the gun until Cintron ran into the woods. Cintron walked to the Sand Springs Community, and a homeowner called 911, informing police that Cintron entered their house, threatened them with a gun, and demanded keys to their car, as stated in the affidavit. The homeowner said they were able to chase Cintron out of the house; however, shortly after, Cintron threatened a woman at gunpoint and stole her vehicle, according to court documents. Multiple police units caught up with Cintron and found him driving on I-80, and state police tried to pull him over, but he ignored them, causing a chase to begin, police stated. The chase ended in Schuylkill County when Cintron crashed after going over spike strips. Around a dozen police vehicles surrounded the SUV before one trooper appeared to smash one of the windows to remove the driver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, state and local police did not know they were chasing a murder suspect. It could have been a lot worse. There was gunfire by the suspect at that point. Thankfully, nobody got seriously injured, and throughout the whole incident, no trooper, nobody else got injured, and not one shot was fired by local or state police, Pennsylvania State Police Hazleton Trooper Anthony Petroski said. Tractor-trailer driver charged after hit-and-run on I-80 At any given time, with the violence and the violence he used here. I think he probably would have used it against police officers, if he had the opportunity, or he would have used it against someone else if they resisted or given a fight, Butler Township Police Chief Bill Feissner stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Haven, Connecticut Police held a news conference Wednesday to announce that they had the evidence to prove that Cintron shot and killed 43-year-old Heriberto Cotto on Christmas Eve. Cottos sister says they just want justice. Nobody has the right to take somebodys life..It doesnt matter what hes doing, murder victims sister Yaris Beth Cotto said. Cintron is being held in Pennsylvania while awaiting extradition back to Connecticut. Reporter Andy Mehalshick will have more on the Cintrons arrest in later editions of 28/22 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 PAhomepage.com. Suze Orman recently advised a young musician to reconsider a big-ticket purchase a $6,500 French horn during an episode of her YouTube series "Approve or Deny." Orman's response was direct: the musician simply could not afford it. The Musician's Financial Situation Michael, 28, reached out to Orman to ask whether he should buy a new French horn. He explained that musicians sometimes outgrow their instruments and believed that the new horn would help him improve his musical skills. Don't Miss: Scrolling To UBI' Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. You can invest today for just $0.26/share with a $1000 minimum. Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? The percentage may shock you. Orman quickly questioned that reasoning. "You haven't outgrown your horn, have you?" she asked. Michael admitted that he hadn't but still believed the new instrument would make him a better musician. Michael's financial situation is relatively stable but limited. His total take-home pay is $2,942 per month, which includes: $980 from his regular income $1,962 from VA benefits His monthly expenses total $1,542, which includes: $640 for rent $902 for other expenses Michael also has $2,000 in credit card debt and $6,600 in savings along with $16,000 in a retirement account. Trending: Bezos' Favorite Real Estate Platform Launches A Way To Ride The Ongoing Private Credit Boom Orman's Concern Over the Purchase Orman immediately flagged the financial risk involved. She pointed out that Michael would need to dip into his savings or future income to afford the French horn, which could leave him financially vulnerable. "You don't have enough money in an emergency fund," Orman said. "And you're only making as much money as you're making because of benefits." Michael mentioned that his financial situation could improve soon, as his rent and expenses were expected to decrease in the spring. He planned to save more money and invest in CDs to help cover the cost of the instrument. Orman, however, remained unconvinced. "You are denied," she said firmly. "Do not waste $6,500 that you do not have." See Also: Its no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $250 million in art this alternative asset has outpaced the S&P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. Heres how everyday investors are getting started. Focus on Financial Stability First Orman advised Michael to focus on paying off his credit card debt and building a stronger financial foundation before making such a large purchase. She emphasized that while the French horn might be a worthwhile investment in the future, it was not the right financial move at the moment. *Attached video: Toll road text scams, How to know it isnt legit CLEVELAND (WJW) A man living in Cleveland was indicted by a federal grand jury after allegedly taking part in a grandparent fraud scam and helping to steal tens of thousands of dollars from victims in Pennsylvania and Ohio. According to a press release from Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti of the Western District of Pennsylvania, 34-year-old Luis Alfonso Bisono Rodriguez, originally from the Dominican Republic, is part of an organized crime group that targets grandparents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vice President JD Vance appeared to suggest delaying Yemen attack in leaked Signal chat According to the release, Rodriguez is the sole defendant in the five-count indictment charging him with receipt of stolen money that crossed a state border. He was charged on March 21 and was arrested last week in the Cleveland area. According to the release, the grandparent fraud scam was done by scammers who would call a grandparent and impersonate their grandchild being in a crisis, such as an accident or arrest. The scammers would then ask the grandparent to send immediate financial assistance. Money from the victims was then picked up in Pennsylvania and delivered by Lyft and Uber drivers to various locations in Northern Ohio. That is where Rodriguez was captured on surveillance videos from various stores meeting the drivers and receiving the stolen money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the release, much of the fraud proceeds were sent to the Dominican Republic via wire transfers. Portions of the fraud proceeds were also deposited into bank accounts. Person struck by multiple vehicles on I-271: Coroner At least five elderly victims were allegedly victimized by the scam between October 2024 and January 2025. They were defrauded out of a total of more than $50,000, the release said. The investigation has revealed that there are likely many more victims in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and other states, the release said. The Federal Bureau of Investigation asks that those with information about this scam and those who have or know someone who may have been a victim report that fraud through the Bureaus Internet Crime Complaint Center here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. The UK's North Sea oil and gas regulator, the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), has increased its investment and production forecasts for the coming years after 2024 figures exceeded expectations. The NSTA reported that capital expenditure (capex) reached 5.95bn ($7.7bn) last year, significantly surpassing an earlier projection, reported Bloomberg. Although this year's investments are expected to decrease to 4.8bn, they remain well above previous forecasts following the Labour Government's tax increase on the industry. Companies have expressed concerns over high taxes and policy uncertainties, prompting some to consider projects elsewhere, the report said. Oil and gas investments in the UK North Sea are being closely monitored as the government consults on the basin's future. The NSTA's revised forecasts are based on updated industry data. Offshore Energies UK, an industry lobby group, noted that last year's surge in upstream investment resulted from significant oil and gas developments advancing over recent years. The NSTA also slightly increased its estimates for the UK's oil and gas output, with producers pumping 1.09 million barrels of oil equivalent (mboe) per day last year, 20,000 barrels more than forecast in October. In a related development, a Scottish court recently overturned the UK Government's approvals for two North Sea oil and gas projects, requiring a fresh review. The court of session in Edinburgh ruled that the approvals for Shell and Equinor's projects were unlawful due to the failure to consider downstream emissions from the extracted oil and gas. In December 2024, Equinor Energy announced a new oil and gas discovery at the Ringland prospect in the North Sea, within production licences PL 923/923B. Located approximately 17km west of the Troll field in water depths of 304m, preliminary estimates suggest the discovery could hold reserves of between 2mboe and 12mboe. "NSTA revises UK North Sea oil investment and output outlook" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Law enforcement officials have provided more information on a fatal Sioux City stabbing that took place over the weekend. The Sioux City Police Department said in a Wednesday release that the victim has been identified as Timothy Chark, 53, of Sioux City. New Woodbury County Jail nears full completion Police were called to a stabbing Saturday around 3:40 p.m. at a residence in the 2200 block of South Maple Street. Officers arrived to man Chark with stab wounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chark was taken to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries. The police said that the case is still being investigated. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. [Watch previous FOX 8 I-Team coverage in the player above.] CLEVELAND (WJW) A man indicted in the death of a 7-year-old boy, who was struck by the mans SUV and dragged beneath it, is expected to avoid a homicide conviction. Donald Mynatt, 33, of Cleveland, was indicted in September on counts of negligent homicide, failing to stop after an accident and tampering with evidence. He was accused of fatally striking 7-year-old Amir Prewitt, while the boy was on a skateboard outside the Lakeshore Beach Apartments along Lakeshore Boulevard in Cleveland on Aug. 16. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Driver identified but not in custody in hit-skip that injured mother, son in Parma Prosecutors previously said Mynatt was driving an SUV on the main access road when he struck Prewitt. Mynatt then pulled into a parking area, turned around and sped away. Prewitt was reportedly dragged beneath the vehicle. First responders transported Prewitt to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. (St. Thomas Aquinas School) Authorities soon after found the SUV, which Mynatt had allegedly abandoned, and later found Mynatt hiding out in an abandoned office space above storage units in Lake County. Mynatt initially pleaded not guilty, claiming authorities charged the wrong person, the FOX I-Team reported in September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mynatt pleaded guilty on Thursday, March 20, to one third-degree felony count of failure to stop after an accident, but not the negligent homicide charge, a spokesperson for the Cuyahoga County prosecutor told FOX 8 News in a statement on Tuesday. After the investigation was completed and after a thorough review of the evidence including reviewing the videos and obtaining the cars data recorder and having it analyzed the state of Ohio was not able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Donald Mynatt was negligent when causing the death of Amir Prewitt, reads the statement from spokesperson Lexi Bauer. Ohio man wanted in Toledo teens murder shot by SWAT officer in Columbus When explaining why Mynatt did not face a charge of aggravated vehicular homicide, prosecutors last September said the charge would have required them to prove Mynatt had been acting recklessly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this time, there is no evidence that the defendant was operating the vehicle while under the influence, driving at a high rate of speed, using a cell phone or engaging in any other conduct that would be considered reckless under the Ohio Revised Code, reads a previous news release from prosecutors. Mynatt also pleaded guilty in two unrelated Common Pleas Court cases to felony counts of failure to comply with a police order and attempted domestic violence. He is due for sentencing on April 10. He faces a maximum of seven years in prison and a lifetime suspension of his drivers license, according to the prosecutors office. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. UPDATE: Steven Ashmore has been located. He is receiving medical treatment at a Las Vegas, NV hospital. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A 62-year-old man who was transferred to a Las Vegas hospital for treatment after he suffered a stroke has been reported missing. Steven Lantz Ashmore of Bullhead City, Arizona, was released from care in Las Vegas, according to information provided by his roommate to police on Monday, March 24, at 11 p.m. Ashmores roommate said he seemed to be disoriented during a phone call Monday afternoon. Steven Ashmore. (Photo provided by the Bullhead City Police Department) He is no longer reachable by phone, the roommate told Bullhead City police, adding that he is concerned for Ashmores welfare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ashmore is white, about 5-feet-8 inches tall, 190 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair. If you have information about Ashmores whereabouts, call Bullhead City Police at (928) 763-1999. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. A 33-year-old man accused of running over a Milton Police Department officer while fleeing a drug transaction that police were tipped off to pleaded guilty Friday and was sentenced to eight years in prison. Jory Edward Nelson pleaded guilty in Pierce County Superior Court to second-degree assault, unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, failure to remain at an injury accident and attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle. Officer Erik Haney was seriously injured in the June 19, 2024 incident and underwent surgery for a broken leg. Haney spoke at Nelsons sentencing hearing via Zoom. In a victim impact statement filed with the court, Haney said the man nearly killed him and that his injuries had left his career, financial security and familys future uncertain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He chose to physically resist two police officers, Haney wrote. He chose to put the vehicle in drive and used thousands of pounds of solid metal to break my bones, tear my ligaments, damage my flesh, and kill my nerves. Haney said the sound of his femur bone being broken was audible on nearby security cameras, and he remembered seeing the tires of Nelsons vehicle come inches from his head. Milton Police Department Officer Erik Haney was injured after a suspect ran him over in order to avoid arrest on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. According to charging documents, the incident occurred after a tipster told another Milton police officer they were going to meet Nelson at a Taco Bell on Meridian Avenue East to buy about an ounce of fentanyl. Nelson arrived there at 5:30 a.m. in a black BMW SUV. Haney was already on scene, and he approached the vehicle to arrest Nelson, according to the probable cause document. Nelson started the SUV, and Haney tried to grab the mans arm. Nelson drove off, dragging Haney, who eventually fell from the vehicle and was run over as Nelson exited the parking lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kent Police Department officers later arrested Nelson. A search warrant was obtained, records state, and inside the SUV officers found more than 26 grams of fentanyl, seven bags of magic mushrooms, three bags of marijuana, a bag of methamphetamine, digital scales and a fake gun. The sentence Judge Philip Sorensen imposed Friday was an exceptional sentence above the standard sentencing range. According to court records, the fact that Nelson knew the person he ran over was a law enforcement officer was an aggravating factor that justified an exceptional sentence, and prosecutors and the defense agreed to recommend a 100-month sentence as part of a plea agreement. Prosecutors also agreed to dismiss one count of vehicular assault. According to court records, Nelson had no prior felony convictions. He has seven prior misdemeanor convictions, including fourth-degree assault, carrying a concealed pistol without a permit and third-degree theft. In other news out of Superior Court: Tacoma man gets decades for murder in shooting that killed 1, injured 1 A 44-year-old man who fatally shot a man in a Tacoma parking lot and then shot the victims brother in the back while he ran from the scene was sentenced Friday to 39 years, five months in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement William Pierre Pelkey was found guilty in a jury trial Feb. 27 of second-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm for the 2023 shooting that killed 56-year-old Pepe Jaquez and left Jesse Jaquez, then 50, with life-threatening injuries. According to court records, the incident stemmed from a dispute between Pelkey and Pepe Jaquez over a months-long affair Jaquez had with Pelkeys longtime girlfriend. After Pelkey confronted the woman about the affair, she reportedly told him that Jaquez had nonconsensual sex with her, which she later reported to law enforcement as a rape. Jaquez denied that allegation when he was interviewed by law enforcement, according to court documents, and he accused Pelkey of being violent with the woman. The dispute between Pelkey and Jaquez initially played out in harsh phone conversations, according to prosecutors trial brief. It escalated in summer 2023 when Pelkey and the woman crossed paths with Jaquez on a bike path adjacent to state Route 16, which led to a confrontation at a nearby store where Jaquez allegedly pulled a knife on Pelkey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Things came to a head on Aug. 27, 2023, when Pelkey and Jaquez again crossed paths. According to prosecutors, Jaquez and his younger brother were spending time together that night at Franklin Park when Jaquez gave his brother a ride to see a friend. At the same time, Pelkey was out riding his bicycle. When the two groups saw each other at Union Avenue and 18th Street, Jaquez reportedly turned his SUV around and followed Pelkey. On Union, Jaquez stopped his SUV and reportedly said to Pelkey Will, whats up? Do you want to handle it now? There was some back and forth, according to prosecutors, and then Jaquez pulled into a bank parking lot. Jaquez reportedly drove toward Pelkey, and when the SUV arrived closer to him, Pelkey stepped out from behind a streetlight and shot Jaquez, striking him in the head. Prosecutors said Jesse Jaquez stumbled out of the vehicle and ran for his life. Pelkey then fired multiple shots at the man, striking him in the back. Jesse Jaquez continued to run and sought help while Pelkey rode away on his bicycle. The gun used in the shooting was reportedly never recovered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to prosecutors, Pelkey later told Tacoma Police Department detectives he shot Jesse Jaquez while he ran away because he was scared [Jesse Jaquez] was going to say my name. In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors recommended a high-end sentence for the attempted murder of Jesse Jaquez and a low-end sentence for Pepe Jaquezs murder, noting that jurors decided the state did not prove the murder was premeditated beyond a reasonable doubt. One of Pelkeys defense attorneys from the Department of Assigned Counsel, Chandra Carlisle, wrote in a sentencing memorandum that in the defendants interview with police, he repeated more than 30 times that he had been scared of Pepe Jaquez. While the jury did not find in favor of self-defense, this is not a situation where William Pelkey sought out Pepe and Jesse Jaquez looking for a fight, the attorney wrote. They came to him. Former Tacoma doctor and Army colonel sentenced in child-sex sting case A former Tacoma-area cardiologist and U.S. Army colonel who was caught trying to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex who was actually an undercover law enforcement officer was sentenced Friday to two years, seven months in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jeffrey Scott Kunz, 48, pleaded guilty in September to second-degree child molestation and attempted sexual abuse of a minor. The punishment Judge Philip Sorensen imposed was at the low end of the standard sentencing range, according to court records. Prosecutors and the defense had agreed to recommend the 31-month sentence. Kunz will be required to register as a sex offender, records state, and he will undergo a psycho-sexual evaluation. He was also ordered to have no contact with minors except his own biological children. Kunz had no prior criminal history. The sting operation Kunz was ensnared in was conducted by the Washington State Patrols Missing and Exploited Children Task Force, according to court records. Detectives posted advertisements seeking individuals who were interested in sex with minors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kunz was arrested after repeatedly texting a phone number in an ad between Nov. 22, 2022 and Jan. 19, 2023, then agreeing to meet up with the fictitious girl for $300 at a hotel on South 48th Street. The defendant was a cardiologist for MultiCare Health System when charges were filed in January 2023. A spokesperson said Kunz did most of his work out of Tacoma General Hospital, and he resigned from his position Jan. 25, 2023. Kunz previously worked as chief of Cardiology Services at Madigan Army Medical Center on Joint Base Lewis-McChord from 2014 to 2022, when he retired from service. Tacoma man sentenced for manslaughter in fatal shooting A 25-year-old man who fatally shot a man in a Tacoma apartment complex has pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years, five months in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keith Eldon Covey pleaded guilty March 17 to first-degree manslaughter and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm for the Dec. 5, 2023 incident that killed 27-year-old Lane Gouker. Judge Ingrid Mcleod sentenced Covey the same day, handing him a punishment at the high end of the standard sentencing range. According to court records, prosecutors and the defense agreed to recommend that length of sentence. Covey was initially accused of second-degree murder for the shooting. In a court filing, deputy prosecuting attorney Tyler Kennedy noted that evidence problems existed that made a conviction on the original charge doubtful. In his guilty-plea statement, Covey admitted to recklessly discharging a firearm that resulted in Goukers death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to charging documents, witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots at the apartment complex in the 9300 block of South Ash Street. One witness told police he was inside the apartment with Covey and two women, and he later saw Gouker outside, who reportedly told him he wanted to get his stuff back from inside the apartment. The witness allegedly went inside and told people that Gouker wanted his things back. People inside reportedly said Gouker would have to wait. According to charging documents, Gouker later tried kicking the door of the apartment open. Thats when Covey allegedly came out of his bedroom and fired three to four gunshots at Gouker. Gouker was then driven to a hospital in a private vehicle, where he was pronounced dead. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A former childrens pastor will spend over 29 years in prison for attempting to kill his family members in 2023. Matthew Lee Richards was sentenced in Johnson County, Kansas, court on Wednesday for two counts of attempted first-degree murder, with the sentences for each running consecutively. He previously faced five counts of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated arson. Richards pleaded guilty back in February. Teen convicted of Leavenworth school shooting threat granted probation Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators were called to a home on Sept. 16, 2023, near the 6600 block of Goode Drive, after receiving 911 calls of a house fire and someone being chased with a knife. When firefighters arrived, they found a fire in the basement and quickly got it out. According to court documents, after finding out he and his family were being evicted from their home, Richards told police he planned to burn down the house. He said he set the fire first, then grabbed a knife and attacked his family. Richards also told police they were going to be evicted that same day, and he was the only one in the family who knew. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Richards was a childrens pastor at a Johnson County church and a 7th grade English teacher at Christ Preparatory Academy in Lenexa. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. UPPER MARLBORO, Md (DC News Now) Troy Medley will spend the next 85 years in prison for fatally shooting a 62-year-old grandmother. Medley, 38, of Baltimore, Md., received his punishment Wednesday in Prince Georges County District Court for the March 27, 2023, shooting death of Lidia DeCarrillo. They didnt deserve this, and none of these family members deserved it, said an emotional States Attorney, Aisha Braveboy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WATCH: Governor Moore, Maryland leaders honor victims, first responders year after Baltimore bridge collapse She convinced Judge Carol Coderre to issue the maximum sentence. I feel like theyre family to me. You know, Braveboy said outside the courthouse, surrounded by DeCarrillos family. DeCarrillo, 62, died in the shooting outside her granddaughters home in Capitol Heights, Md. She came from El Salvador to attend her grandson, Moises Martinezs, funeral. Martinez died in a car crash two days earlier. Braveboy said Medley did not know the woman. It hasnt been easy for us, said her granddaughter, Fatima Carrillo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her family is still traumatized by what happened. My grandmother she was the main person in our family, Carrillo explained. Jurors convicted Medley of all the charges back in December. Medley received 40 years for second-degree murder, 25 years for first-degree assault, 20 years for use of a gun during a violent crimeall to be served consecutively. Who, at the time he committed these offenses, was on probation, said Braveboy. Medley apologized to DeCorrilla family. He must serve half of his 85-year sentence before hes considered for parole. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CHICAGO A man was shot and killed Wednesday morning in Roseland. Officers responded to the 10100 block of South Prairie just before 5:10 a.m. on the report of a shooting. A 33-year-old man was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds to the body. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one is in custody. Anyone with information can leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.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 WGN-TV. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Capitol police are investigating after a man was shot in the leg. The shooting occurred at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Hill Avenue just before 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25. Body discovered in Ridgeland landfill Bailey Martin, press secretary for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS), said the unidentified victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment. No arrest has been made. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information about the shooting can contact Capitol police at 601-359-3125. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. American glass manufacturer O-I Glass has completed a biofuel trial for sustainable glassmaking processes at its plant in Harlow, UK. The trial involved the use of biofuel in combination with advanced technologies such as cullet preheating to replace natural gas in the furnace. In a news release, O-I Glass said the trial demonstrated a "significant reduction" in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This achievement is part of a broader initiative driven by Glass Futures, a UK-based research and development organisation. It also aligns with the UK governments 'Net Zero Innovation Portfolio' programme, which explores sustainable fuel alternatives for the industry. O-I Glass confirmed that large-scale usage of biofuel is technically viable at the Harlow facility, though full-scale implementation will depend on the availability and cost-effectiveness of biofuels in the future. O-I chief administrative and sustainability officer Randy Burns said: Our participation in this programme is a testament to our unwavering dedication to driving positive change in the industry. The successful completion of the trial in Harlow has proven the feasibility of alternative fuels and has the potential to open up exciting new opportunities for the industry. Glass is already recognised as the ideal sustainable packaging material, and our job is to integrate innovative approaches with efficient processes to further decarbonise glassmaking. By doing so, we aim to contribute to a more sustainable and economically viable future for the entire industry. In another development, O-I Glass unveiled plans to install Lindes proprietary OPTIMELT thermochemical regenerator (TCR) technology at its glass container plant in Holzminden, Germany. This collaboration is expected to reduce fuel consumption and scope 1 carbon emissions significantly. The OPTIMELT TCR technology, which recovers waste heat from glass furnace flue gases to preheat and reform natural gas, is set to increase energy efficiency and reduce fuel consumption by approximately 30% compared to conventional furnaces. "O-I Glass advances sustainable glassmaking with biofuel trial in UK" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand. KINGWOOD, W.Va. (WBOY) Law enforcement and state officials seized suspected marijuana and a large amount of cash from a vape store in Kingwood. According to a press release from the Preston County Sheriffs Office, an investigation determined that the King Tobacco & Vape on West Main Street in Kingwood was selling marijuana as defined by WV State Code and was believed to be selling products to underaged customers, including students from Preston High School. On March 25, deputies and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture conducted a search and inspection on the shop and seized numerous items, including suspected marijuana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Woman was high on meth with 2 kids at Dairy Creme Corner, troopers say In West Virginia, vape stores often sell hemp-derived projects, and products that contain THC like delta-8 and delta-9, which are legal to sell to people who are at least 21 years old in West Virginia. According to the release, the school resource officer at Preston High School has received numerous complaints about students purchasing from King Tobacco & Vape. The release did not provide any additional information about pending charges in the case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. In the history of military recruiting ads, none is more iconic than the Marine Corps Rite of Passage commercial from 1998. In it, a nameless hero swings a sword with an Eagle, Globe, and Anchor on its hilt to slay a lava monster and then morphs into his Dress Blues. Although younger Americans may not fully appreciate the awesomeness of this commercial, its status as a legend was cemented in the HBO miniseries Generation Kill based on the book of the same name by Evan Wright in which Cpl. Josh Ray Person jokes that the ad got so many fking guys. Now Marine veteran Jackson Dodd is the proud owner of the 8.5-pound sword that inspired countless Marines to become one of the few, the proud, the lava monster slayers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dodd, who served as a Marine rifleman and a School of Infantry combat instructor from 2012 to 2021, said it was pretty mind-blowing when he acquired the sword earlier this year. A lot of people joined the Marine Corps specifically because of that ad, Dodd told Task & Purpose on Wednesday. It was incredible that the Marine Corps even considered producing something like that. Marines join the Marine Corps because they want action, they want to get involved. They just want to do crazy, fun stuff. And I think that ad really highlighted the mentality that most Marines have like, well do crazy things, but well have fun doing it. Dodd, who left the Marines as a sergeant, said he remembered the Rite of Passage ad from his childhood. Although it was not the main reason he joined the Marine Corps, he said, It definitely was in the back of my head, for sure. During his time in the Marine Corps, Dodd said he and his buddies would joke about how cool it would be to own the sword used in the commercial. Then this past November, he saw the ad on social media and somewhat like the hero in the ad he was inspired to a quest: to track down the sword and, if possible, make it his own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just had some time one evening, and I just thought to myself: Maybe Ill just see if I can find a replica or something of that sword that was used in that commercial, said Dodd, who lives in Richmond, Virginia. Somebody has got to have something similar to it. After a few hours of internet sleuthing, Dodd discovered a picture of a man with swords on display, one of which was the famous lava sword. The pictures caption included a name: Tony Swatton, a master blacksmith who has forged swords and armor for movies and television shows. After seeing Rite of Passage online, Marine veteran Jackson Dodd was inspired to find the sword used in the filming. He purchased it from the original blacksmith that forged it for the commercial, Tony Swatton for $6,000. Jackson Dodd Facebook photo and YouTube screenshot. Dodd reached out to Swatton, who confirmed he still had the sword from the Rite of Passage commercial. After a negotiation, the two settled on a price for the legendary sword of $6,000. Swatton, Dodd said, was as interested in getting the sword to the right person as the money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tony had mentioned to me that he was getting ready to bring the sword to an auction this year, but he was more interested in making sure that the sword went towards someone who could really appreciate it somebody who has an attachment to it rather than just a collector, Dodd said. So, he was very happy with that outcome, and I couldnt be more grateful for him giving me this opportunity. In January, Dodd received both the sword and a certificate of authenticity. He quickly learned that the weapon is very heavy and requires both hands to wield. Dodd is currently trying to get a custom plaque for the sword so that it can be properly displayed. He has also considered temporarily loaning it to the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia. He feels honored to own such an important part of Marine Corps history. When you become a Marine, it becomes a big part of your identity, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just the opportunity to hold onto something like this, its incredible, Dodd added. The Marine Corps will stay with me for the rest of my life. My wife is currently serving in the Marine Corps. It will always be a part of us. So, to be able to have something like this is just beyond words. The latest on Task & Purpose A group of California-based Marines are again clearing out maintenance and repairing swaths of barracks and housing as part of the Corps Operation Clean Sweep. Marines with 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, used funds to conduct in-house repairs instead of hiring contractors to do basic maintenance on the facilities, according to a Marine release. There was a lot of help from everybody in the command when we first started to plan what was needed at first, which cut down in delays with the work that needed to be done, said Sgt. Martin Torres, 7th ESB barracks manager. The whole battalion took a couple days off their schedule to come down to provide hands and people for Operation Clean Sweep. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marines tackle barracks repairs with elbow grease and outside expertise Operation Clean Sweep has highlighted long-standing barracks problems and prioritized the need for ongoing improvements, according to the release. Deferred maintenance and funding shortfalls have beleaguered Marine housing for decades. The conditions led to wall-to-wall inspections of the Corps more than 60,000 barracks rooms last year as Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smiths launched a barracks overhaul initiative. The inspections found that half of all barracks rooms were partially mission capable, which means the rooms were deficient in at least one of the regulated living standards, Marine Corps Times previously reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of the initiative, the Corps will consolidate Marines in the better buildings and demolish the worse ones, hire professional barracks managers and increase funds for barracks restoration. Assistant Commandant Gen. Christopher Mahoney previously said initial inspections were the baseline for understanding where the Corps should focus. The Barracks 360 Reset, which includes Operation Clean Sweep, is a local initiative between I Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Installations-West to address immediate issues as the Corps works on its larger Barracks 2030 plan. Barracks 360 seeks to address some low-level fixes by pairing experts in areas such as drywall repair, window screen replacement and air conditioning installation with Marine staff to make minor repairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Installations-West are investing nearly $9.6 million in housing maintenance and repairs, as of 2024. Operation Clean Sweep II was funded by Headquarters Marine Corps at a cost of $6.27 million. Headquarters contributed another $4 million in quality of life improvements not directly tied to the second operation, 1st Lt. Troy Garza, IMEF spokesman, told Marine Corps Times in an email statement. More than half of the funding was spent on a surge to clear backlogged maintenance. Remaining money was spent on air-conditioning units. The Marines have also identified housing rights and responsibilities and minimum acceptable standards for barracks rooms in a residents guide. Marines now feel the barracks have become an actual home, transforming it from a prison cell, as some described it, into a more comfortable space to look forward to after the workday is over, Torres said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Current plans call for IMEF, and subordinate units such as 1st Marine Logistics Group, to hold such clean sweeps twice a year, according to the release. In October, Marines at Camp Pendleton, California held a two-week standdown to address barracks housing problems across the base, Marine Corps Times previously reported. In a separate effort, the Corps rolled out the QSRMax system in July, which allows Marines to submit maintenance requests to USMCMax through a QR code on their phone. QSRMax then sends requests to barracks and building managers on the base, Marine Corps Times previously reported. Marine housing conditions had deteriorated as the Corps prioritized spending on weapons and training over the past two decades during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, again, I cant apologize for previous generations of Marines to prioritize training and equipping over quality of life, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith said in May 2024. But now the tide has to turn, and we have to get back to quality of life. A 2023 Government Accountability Office report found mold, dysfunctional plumbing, and poor heating and cooling in many Marine barracks. As of 2024, an estimated 87,000 Marines live in barracks, Maj. Gen. David Maxwell, head of Marine Corps Installations Command, wrote in a Marine Corps Gazette article. The article noted that 17% of the Corps 658 barracks buildings were listed as in poor or failing condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of March 2023, an estimated 17,000 Marines, or 20%, lived in barracks that fell short of military standards regarding privacy and room configuration, according to the GAO report. Recently, the Corps has spent an average of about $200 million annually for barracks maintenance. The Corps requested $274 million in its fiscal 2025 budget to address barracks conditions, a $65 million increase over fiscal 2024. The services total fiscal 2025 budget was $53.7 billion. An internal memo obtained by Marine Corps Times in 2024 showed that the service estimates it will need about $1.5 billion each year to bring all its barracks up to good/fair condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of 2024, the Corps deferred maintenance amounted to more than $15.8 billion, according to Navy budget documents. *CORRECTION: This article has been updated to accurately reflect funding figures and sources of funding. Congressional Republicans ripped into NPR and PBS on Wednesday, questioning the ideological slants of the nations two biggest public broadcasters and whether they deserve taxpayer funding. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called for the hearing, titled Anti-American Airwaves: Holding the Heads of NPR and PBS Accountable, in February. NPR chief Katherine Maher and PBS CEO Paula Kerger appeared in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday to answer questions about their respective organizations. There were several escalated exchanges throughout the hearing, including when Greene accused PBS of using taxpayer funds to push some of the most radical left positions, like featuring a drag queen dubbed Lil Miss Hot Mess in a show for kids. Greene called the drag queen a child predator and monster. Paula Kerger, president and CEO of PBS, testified before the House DOGE subcommittee on Wednesday, facing questions about federal support for public broadcasting. "There's nothing more American than PBS. As a membership organization, our local service is at the heart of our pic.twitter.com/cJwrnos4zI PBS News (@NewsHour) March 26, 2025 Kerger, in her opening statement, said PBS is an essential broadcaster that should retain its public funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PBS stations provide something that cannot be found on commercial networks, Kerger said. This is because PBS stations are focused on the needs and interests of the viewers they serve, especially in rural areas. Perhaps the most newsworthy moment came when Maher, who has run NPR for a year, said the radio network was mistaken in failing to cover Hunter Bidens laptop in the lead-up to the 2020 election. If you need a refresher, the New York Post on Oct. 14, 2020, published a story saying Hunter introduced his father, then-Vice President Joe Biden, to a top executive at a Ukrainian energy firm less than a year before the elder Biden pressured government officials in Ukraine into firing a prosecutor who was investigating the company. The Posts coverage, based on a laptop provided by Rudy Giuliani, also included pictures of the younger Biden with drug paraphernalia. Soon after, Twitter and Facebook blocked users from sharing the story, and NPR essentially followed suit. Then-NPR managing editor Terence Samuels, in a statement in 2020, said his outlet didnt want to waste our time on stories that are not really stories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mahers acknowledgement on Wednesday that NPR incorrectly failed to cover the laptop incident came a few months after NPR public editor Kelly McBride told TheWrap she was uncomfortable with censoring the story. Some more fireworks happened at the Wednesday hearing when congressmen brought up Mahers old tweets. Rep. Brandon Gill mentioned a tweet from Maher saying America is addicted to white supremacy, while Rep. Tim Burchett questioned Maher about a 2020 tweet in which she called President Donald Trump a fascist and deranged racist sociopath. I appreciate the opportunity to address this, Maher said. I regret those tweets. I would not tweet them again today. They represented a time where I was reflecting on something that I believe that the president had said, rather than who he is. I dont presume that anyone is a racist. Maher was also asked about the political and ideological chasm between Democrats and Republicans at NPR. Rep. William Timmons said NPR has 87 editorial positions filled by registered Democrats, while there are zero registered Republicans. Maher said she agred that number is a concern, if it is accurate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added: I do believe that we need to have journalists who represent the full breadth of society, so that we can report well for all Americans. Maher, who previously ran the Wikimedia Foundation, replaced John Lansing as the boss of NPR in March 2024, while Kerger has been the president and CEO of PBS since 2006. Their appearance on Wednesday came as Republicans have been looking to slash federal funding to public broadcasters since Trump returned to office. Elon Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, said in February that NPR should not be funded by taxpayers. Defund NPR. It should survive on its own, Musk posted on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NPR and PBS parent, The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, was set to receive $525 million in public funding in 2024, according to the Washington Post, although an updated figure since the end of the year has not been shared. From that funding, $126 million was earmarked for public radio stations but not all of that goes to NPR. The year prior, in 2023, $32 million of NPRs $318 million in revenue came from the CPB. Overall, NPR syndicates its programming to more than 1,000 public radio stations. While the bulk of NPRs funding does not come from federal funds, the outlet has said it is a critical component to staying on the airwaves. Federal funding is essential to public radios service to the American public and its continuation is critical for both stations and program producers, including NPR, according to NPRs website. Greene did not agree, and Wednesdays hearing did not change her opinion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will be calling for the complete and total defund and dismantling of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, she said in her closing remarks. Heres how it works in America: every single day, private businesses operate on their own without government funding. We believe that you all can hate us on your own dime. The post Marjorie Taylor Green-Led DOGE Panel Rips Radical Left NPR and PBS, Calls to End Public Funding appeared first on TheWrap. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) unloaded on a British journalist after being questioned about the fiasco over Trump officials sharing war planning on a Signal chat group. The Georgia Republican told Martha Kelner of U.K. broadcaster Sky News that we dont give a crap about your opinion, and urged the reporter to go back to your country during her unhinged rant on Wednesday. Taylor Greene spoke to the media as she chaired a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) subcommittee hearing where she accused NPR and PBS of using federal funds to push left-wing propaganda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Things turned fraught when Kelner asked about The Atlantic magazines revelation that its editor-in-chief was accidentally included in a text message group detailing imminent airstrikes in Yemen. As Kelner started to ask a question, Taylor Greene interjected and demanded to know: Wait, what country are you from? After Kelner, the broadcasters U.S. correspondent, told her she was from the U.K., Taylor Greene let it rip. She said, We dont give a crap about your opinion and your reporting. Why dont you go back to your country? We have a major migrant problem...you should care about your own borders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After telling the reporter I dont care about your fake news, Taylor Greene asked another journalist for a relevant question and appeared pleased with her choice. This is an American journalist, Taylor Greene announced, before the reporter acted in solidarity and asked the congresswoman to answer the British journalists question. Im not answering her question because I dont care about her network, Taylor Greene emphasized. Taylor Greene previously told a British interviewer to fuck off. Watch the full exchange below. "Should the Defense Secretary.." Marjorie Taylor Greene: "Wait what country are you from?" "From the UK" "OK we don't give a crap about your opinion and your reporting. Why don't you go back to your country. We have a major migrant problem. You should care about your own borders" pic.twitter.com/l1lYrYdEbH Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) March 26, 2025 Related... Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) accused the executives of NPR and PBS of pushing some of the most radical left positions, and brainwashing and trans-ing children while using federal funds to pursue their progressive, or Communist, agenda during a Wednesday hearing on Capitol Hill. NPR and PBS have increasingly become radical leftwing echo chambers, she said, going on to suggest the federal funds granted to both outlets be cut back. Greene serves as the chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, which was created this year to support billionaire Elon Musks so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Her hearing comes at a time when President Donald Trump, a longtime critic of press freedoms, has ramped up his attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NPR CEO Katherine Maher and PBS CEO Paula Kerger listened with neutral expressions throughout. At the hearing, Greene and her Republican colleagues argued that the radio network and public broadcaster were no longer relevant due to the popularity of podcasts and YouTube. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) pushed back, saying that platforms like YouTube were filled with ads that can be inappropriate for children, whereas PBS is not. Garcia also used his 5-minute time allotment to have some fun. The American people want to know: Is Elmo now, or has he ever been, a member of the Communist Party of the United States? he asked Kerger of the Sesame Street character. She said no. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Are you sure, Ms. Kerger? Because he is red, Garcia replied. Elon Musk and Marjorie Taylor Greene are trying to defund Sesame Street and dismantle PBS and NPR. Not on our watch. Fire Elon Musk, and Save Elmo. pic.twitter.com/BQQUwnuYby Congressman Robert Garcia (@RepRobertGarcia) March 26, 2025 He went on to grill the PBS executive on Bert and Ernie, two other puppets accused of being part of an extreme homosexual agenda. Theyre friends. Theyre supportive of each other. Now, that might be triggering to our chairwoman and some on this committee, [and] perhaps thats also why were here today, Garcia said. Garcia and other Democrats argued that Musks activities should be scrutinized, not those of public broadcasters. Much of the funding for NPR and PBS comes from individual donors and corporate sponsors, but both receive additional funds from the federal government. The outlets were formed under the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a publicly funded nonprofit that receives an approximately $500 million appropriation from Congress each year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maher said specifically that NPR received around $11 million from the federal government last year, which was primarily spent to maintain the broadcast systems used by public radio stations nationwide. She fielded the most accusations of bias from Republicans on the panel. She said that she regretted posting fiery political tweets about conservatives in America before taking her job at NPR last year, and agreed when Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) suggested NPRs editors should include more Republicans. Kerger highlighted the broad public support for PBS, known primarily for its childrens programming. For over two decades, the American public has consistently ranked public television as one of the best investments the government makes, she said in her opening statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At one point, Greene accused PBS of featuring a drag queen a monster, as the congresswoman put it in an educational video, but Kerger quickly corrected her. The video was never aired on PBS, but rather briefly uploaded by a New York member station by mistake. It was created in partnership with PBS for the New York City Department of Education. Other notable moments included Greens mispronunciation of the national motto, E Pluribus Unum; Rep. James Comers (R-Ky.) incredulous reaction to the idea NPR would have editorial standards because he thought the term referred to political opinions; and Comers acknowledgment that HuffPost has the right to exist. STURBRIDGE, Mass. (WWLP) A Marlborough man has been arraigned on animal cruelty charges after 96 dead animals were found on a property he was renting in Sturbridge. The Sturbridge Police Department and MSPCA Law Enforcement announced in a joint press release that Andrew Sebastiano of Marlborough was arrested on Tuesday following a search of his property on March 19. Mass. man arrested in Connecticut in connection with 2024 police pursuit Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the investigation, law enforcement found that Sebastiano had left the property in February. The dead animals that were discovered included chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, and rabbits. One living dog was also seized from the property on Tuesday and is now in the care of MSPCA-Angell, which will release further information on the dogs condition at a later date. MSPCA Law Enforcement said that Sebastiano had been previously arrested on animal cruelty charges in 2021 and was sentenced to probation. Courtesy of MSPCA-Angell. Courtesy of MSPCA-Angell. This is an extremely disturbing case of animal cruelty, none like I have seen in my career, said Sturbridge Police Chief Earl Dessert. The sheer number of animals that suffered and perished is truly heartbreaking. We are grateful for our strong partnership with MSPCA Law Enforcement, whose expertise was invaluable in this investigation. I also commend my officers who worked tirelessly on this investigation from the onset to make sure the individual involved was arrested and brought to justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sebastiano was arraigned in Dudley District Court on Wednesday on 96 charges of animal cruelty, subsequent offense, and 96 charges of animal cruelty by custodian, subsequent offense. He was held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for April 1. Were grateful to Sturbridge Police for collaborating with us on this and helping find the suspect, said MSPCA Law Enforcement Director, Chris Schindler. This was a devastating scene, and we wish that we had been able to intercede in the weeks before these animals perished, but, unfortunately, the call came too late. MSPCA said that Beacon Hill has proposed that those convicted of animal cruelty crimes should be banned from owning an animal for at least five years. More information on the proposal can be found at mspca.org. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. By 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. 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. BOSTON (SHNS) Talks are underway within state government about establishing a third long-term care home for veterans, Veterans Services Secretary Jon Santiago said Tuesday. At a Joint Ways and Means Committee hearing in Worcester, the secretary described the next budget cycle as being about the organizational maturation of the Executive Office of Veterans Services. The office became a Cabinet-level office two years ago after governance and operational shortcomings that proved fatal during the pandemic, particularly at the state-run veterans homes in Holyoke and Chelsea. He described how things are going at the new Chelsea facility that opened in 2023 and the work underway to prepare for the under-construction new Holyoke home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Santiago also raised the subject of a $200 million bond authorization that the Legislature, where he served at the time, included in a 2021 law to address long-term care for veterans in other parts of the state. There was a $200 million bond bill put forward to look into a third home, right, to increase that geographic equity. Thats something that were in a conversation with [the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance], to look where across the commonwealth we could potentially put a third home and what that would entail, the secretary said. The authorization to borrow up to $200 million in the 2021 law is specifically for increasing geographic equity and accessibility related to the continuum of long-term care services for the commonwealths veterans not primarily served by the Soldiers Home in Massachusetts located in the city of Chelsea or the Soldiers Home in Holyoke, including the establishment of regional or satellite veterans homes. The potential for a third state-run veterans home came up during a back-and-forth between Santiago and Rep. Russell Holmes of Boston, who asked the secretary about the diversity of the resident veterans served at the state-run facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It always feels like the Chelsea and the Holyoke homes feel like theyre local, theyre for local people. Thats just historically how theyve felt; people in the west thought it was for them in the west, people in the east thought Chelsea was for the east. And as you grow from 117 beds, it sounds like, to 234 in Holyoke. And then as you now opened up Chelsea, do you have an answer on diversity of the residents whos living there? Holmes asked. The representative said he was particularly interested in knowing how the state plans to make the additional beds that will come online in Holyoke available and what outreach will be done to make sure all veterans know their options. My understanding is, historically, its kind of been, you know, who you knew helped you get in. I hope were eliminating all of that as a part of this new process, Holmes said. Santiago said he completely agree[s] with Holmes about the way the Chelsea and Holyoke homes have been viewed. He said the vast majority of residents there are white male and told Holmes that while the current mechanism is a first come, first served method of accepting new veterans to the homes, its something he wants to look at it as part of a 2030 strategic plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of that is looking into how we make sure veterans who are underserved, irrespective of their race, maybe, or their gender, are cared to. We have 25,000 women veterans across the commonwealth. Traditionally, they have not gotten the services, respect, that they have fought for and that they have earned, he said. And so weve changed our management, weve changed our programs and policies to better address that, and we look forward to doing it with the veterans of color as well. If the state is going to establish a third home, Rep. Kip Diggs of Barnstable said it should be on or near Cape Cod. We have 19,000 veterans on the Cape and whats important to me is if that third spot, maybe we can get it closer to the Cape. Because, honestly, its all about taking care of my area and making sure you know, our veterans have done so much and asked for so little, he said. So I think its something thats just so poignant and so necessary that we bring something down towards the southern part of Mass. The secretary responded briefly to point out the significant cost that would be associated with any potential third facility. Others, including Sen. John Velis of Westfield, have previously mentioned that conversations about additional veterans facilities were taking place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers dug into a variety of topics with Santiago during their time for questions. Sen. Kelly Dooner of Taunton put a pitch in for finding a way to partner with a nonprofit to repurpose parts of Taunton State Hospital for veteran housing, Sen. Michael Brady of Brockton wanted to know about the impact so far and outlook for additional federal cuts at the VA, Rep. Judith Garcia asked about veteran needs that are not met through the state budget appropriation, and Sen. Ryan Fattman pressed officials on the need for better tracking of suicides among veterans here and especially among Mass. National Guard members. Santiago said Healeys budget proposes $206 million for his secretariat, $7.6 million more than the current state budget. He said the budget proposal includes an increase of $13.6 million to veterans benefits and annuities, as well as $80 million to support the state-run veterans homes in Chelsea and Holyoke. This overall allotment helps us maintain critical staffing, supports infrastructure improvements, allows us to operate and maintain our two veteran cemeteries in Winchendon and Agawam, and provides health care and supportive services to veterans at the long-term care and independent living facilities in Chelsea and Holyoke, Santiago said. We are particularly proud of the transformation happening at both veteran homes over the past two years. They both continue to show progress when it comes to modernization and quality of care, ensuring that Massachusetts veterans receive the highest standard of care. Chelsea Veterans Home Superintendent Christine Baldini told lawmakers that the implementation of electronic medical records was a significant milestone for her facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is transforming our health care operation. By replacing traditional paper records with a secure, integrated, digital platform, we have enhanced accuracy, reduced administrative burden and improved overall efficiency. Real-time access to resident information empowers the care team to make informed decisions more quickly, and fosters streamlined communication across all disciplines, she said. Holyoke Superintendent Michael Lazo said his team is preparing to expand into the new 234-bed facility the state broke ground on in August 2023. He told the Ways and Means Committee that the larger and modern facility will require approximately 40% increase in workforce spending, both clinical and non-clinical roles. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. VERNON, Conn. (WWLP) A Brighton man was arrested on Tuesday in Connecticut connected to two active arrest warrants in which he allegedly drove away from a car crash and engaged in a police pursuit. Springfield police arrest two suspects, seize sword in connection to carjacking Connecticut State Police said that at approximately 12:10 p.m. on Tuesday, troopers located 33-year-old Edward Contreras Jr. of Brighton at a business in Vernon, Conn., and arrested him based on two active warrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The warrants stem from a November 2024 incident in which Contreras allegedly abandoned the location of a motor vehicle crash, engaging state police in a pursuit. Contreras additionally exhibited reckless behavior when driving. Courtesy of Connecticut State Police. Edward Contreras Jr. was charged with: Reckless Driving Engaging Police in Pursuit Illegal Window Tints Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree Evading the Scene of a Collision Violation of Traffic Control Signals Interfering with an Officer Contreras was held on combined bonds totaling up to $250,000, which he was unable to post. He was brought to Hartford Correctional Center where he awaited arraignment at Rockville Superior Court on Wednesday. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. KYIV (Reuters) -Russian forces launched a massive drone attack overnight on Ukraine's Kharkiv region, injuring 21 people and damaging residential buildings and storage facilities, emergency services and officials said on Thursday. Emergency services said on the Telegram messaging app that the attacks triggered four fires in Ukraine's second largest city, and posted pictures of firefighters battling flames alongside piles of rubble. The Ukrainian air force said it shot down 42 out of 86 drones launched by Russia during the attack. A further 26 drones did not reach their targets likely due to electronic countermeasures, it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governor Oleh Syniehubov said the attack damaged multiple private residences, an apartment building, cars, and a production facility in the city, a frequent target of Russia's military, located some 30 km (18 miles) from the border. In the town of Zolochiv, the attack set fire to household items and injured eight people, including a child, he said. "No country should have to go through this," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday. "And against this backdrop, speaking about easing pressure on Russia, lifting sanctions, and so on, is definitely inappropriate and unhelpful." The United States announced separate agreements with Ukraine and Russia on Tuesday to pause their strikes in the Black Sea and against each other's energy targets, but the rhetoric from Moscow and Kyiv suggested they remained far apart. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A drone attack also triggered fires in the central city of Dnipro where it injured three people, regional governor Serhiy Lysak said on Telegram. Reuters video from the scene showed emergency services battling flames and providing aid to a resident injured by flying shards of glass. The attack damaged over 10 apartment buildings and 60 cars, in addition to enterprises and cultural facilities, Lysak added. The overnight attacks also left one of the frontline communities in Zaporizhzhia region without power and connectivity, regional governor Ivan Fedorov said. He did not specify the type of weapon used in this attack or the damage done in the community. (Reporting by Ron Popeski, Oleksandr Kozhukhar and Anastasiia Malenko; Editing by Sandra Maler and Bernadette Baum) Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) suggested first lady Melania Trump should be deported in an ill-conceived attempt to scold President Donald Trump for his attempt to kill birthright citizenship. During an anti-Trump administration march in the Westwood area of Los Angeles Saturday, the longtime congresswoman said the president was attempting to undo a constitutional right for those born in the U.S. When he talks about birthright, and hes 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 began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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, Waters continued in a video of her comments. We dont know whether or not her parents were documented. And maybe we better just take a look. Waters attempted to rally protesters demonstrating against the Trump administration in Los Angeles. Christina House via Getty Images Waters, 86, missed on several fronts. Melania Trump was born in Slovenia, then part of Yugoslavia, relocated to the U.S. to pursue modeling (perhaps illegally at first, according to AP), and became a citizen after marrying Donald Trump, outletsnoted. Her parents were sworn in as American citizens in 2018 after she sponsored them so they could receive their green card first. (Ironically, they benefited from chain migration, an emphasis on family reunification which Donald Trump denounced during his first term.) In January, Donald Trump issued an executive order to try to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants despite it being protected by the 14th amendment. Judges blocked the order shortly after. We are here because we are not going to let Trump, were not going to let Elon Musk, his co-president, or anybody else take the United States Constitution down. Waters told the crowd Saturday as Democrats try to regroup months since Trump retook office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But her message fizzled in an off moment that got highlighted by right-wing media. HuffPost reached out to her office for comment. Related... Mayoral candidate Zellnor Myrie is floating a plan to push back against the Trump administrations threats of withholding federal funds for New York City, as the president poses an increasingly looming presence over the mayoral race. Myrie, a Democratic state senator representing parts of Brooklyn, is proposing hiring 50 city lawyers to set up a line of defense against President Trumps agenda and is talking about a nuclear option of withholding state and local tax payments to the federal government if the president revokes city funds in defiance of court orders. No amount of capitulation will satisfy Donald Trump and his cronies. Playing nice will get us nowhereits time for New Yorkers to remind this country what were made of, Myrie said. The city will not comply with any illegal and coercive policy demands from the federal government. If they withhold funds, we will sue in the courts and win. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If they ignore the courts, we will withhold our tax dollars from the federal government, and we will march in the streets. The president is not a king, and New York City is not his subject. Myries blueprint comes as the president has threatened to pull funding over the citys stances on the MTA, schools and migrant services, among others. His campaign was unable to provide a cost for the additional lawyers or a specific funding source, saying just that the money would be carved out of the citys budget. According to the employment site Glassdoor, a lawyer in the citys Law Department earns a median salary of $121,000. Hiring 50 lawyers at that rate could add up to roughly $6 million a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Myrie, a lawyer, said that Trumps threats of withholding federal funds as punishment for the city bucking certain directives amounts to coercion under the 10th Amendment, which emphasizes that the federal government has only the powers explicitly granted to it by the Constitution. If Trump does enact funding cuts in defiance of any court orders, Myrie proposed a nuclear option of withholding from the feds state and local tax payments from government employees. The candidate said he would work with the state to hold back federal income tax payments to match any funds withheld by the administration, and the campaign says individual employees would not be on the hook with the IRS. Myrie is one of 10 candidates vying for the Democratic nomination. Hes polling consistently in the single digits, with a recent poll landing him at 2%. Queens state Sen. Jessica Ramos, who is also running for mayor, and Manhattan Assemblyman Micah Lasher recently proposed a bill in Albany that would work along the same lines. That bill would establish a framework for the state comptroller, governor and budget director to vote to withhold funds from the federal government to match whatever the feds withhold from the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Myrie said his blueprint dovetails with his plan to build and preserve 1 million homes in the city over the next decade, since that effort would increase the citys tax base. With the citys status as a major economic engine for the state and country, Trumps hometown and a place with progressive policies, it presents a bright blue target for the presidential administration. The issue of how to resist Trumps efforts to encroach on the governance of his home city has become central to the mayoral race. Candidate and city Comptroller Brad Lander has proposed bulking up the citys general reserve by at least $1 billion to protect from any cuts. And fellow challengers Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani (D-Queens) and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Queens) have also been outspoken against many of Trumps actions in the city. Others in the mayoral race have been less eager to attack Trump. Mayor Adams has committed to not publicly criticize the president, and while former Gov. Andrew Cuomos camp has slammed Adams as an agent of Trump, Cuomo himself has rarely denounced the president. By Nicole Jao NEW YORK (Reuters) -Oil prices diverged on Tuesday as a maritime and energy truce between Russia and Ukraine offset concerns about tighter global supply due to threatened U.S. tariffs on countries buying Venezuelan production. Brent crude futures settled 2 cents higher, or 0.03%, at $73.02 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 11 cents, or 0.16%, to $69. The United States reached deals with Ukraine and Russia to pause attacks at sea and against energy targets, with Washington agreeing to push to lift some sanctions against Moscow. Kyiv and Moscow both said they would rely on Washington to enforce the deals, while expressing scepticism that the other side would abide by them. "If there's a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, it might open the door for the reduction of sanctions on Russian oil," said Phil Flynn, senior analyst with Price Futures Group. Trump's threat of tariffs against countries importing oil and gas from Venezuela has raised supply concerns, and both benchmarks rose more than 1% on Monday following the announcement. "These secondary tariffs are an indirect sanction to degrade Venezuela's oil supply capability and hurt China's teapot refining system," said Mukesh Sahdev, Rystad Energy's global head of commodity markets, referring to China's small, independent refineries. Oil is Venezuela's main export. China, already a target of U.S. import tariffs, is its largest buyer. The Trump administration also on Monday extended a deadline to May 27 for U.S. producer Chevron to wind down operations in Venezuela. The withdrawal of Chevron's licence to operate could reduce production in the country by about 200,000 barrels per day, according to ANZ analysts. Last week, the U.S. issued new sanctions intended to hit Iranian oil exports. OPEC+, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, will likely stick to its plan to raise oil output for a second consecutive month in May, four sources told Reuters, amid steady oil prices and plans to force some members to reduce pumping to compensate for past overproduction. Executives from commodity trading houses said they expect a well-supplied oil market this year, with concerns remaining over global demand growth, Reuters reported. (Additional reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar in London, Yuka Obayashi in Tokyo and Siyi Liu in Singapore; Editing by Louise Heavens, Kirsten Donovan, Joe Bavier, David Gregorio and Rod Nickel) UPDATE, THURSDAY: Torkilo Hambrick has been charged with murder, felony fleeing and other charges in this case. See updated story here. Earlier story is below. ***** MEMPHIS, Tenn. A Memphis woman died in a crash Tuesday after a high-speed chase eastbound on I-40 in Arkansas, state police said. Police say an Arkansas State Police trooper saw a white Dodge Ram pickup truck committing a traffic violation near I-40 at the 173-mile marker in Lonoke County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ASP says after a traffic stop was initiated, the driver fled, starting an 18-mile pursuit. Police say the driver was driving on the right shoulder going over 120 mph. MS teacher facing drugs, gun charge in DeSoto County According to police, a trooper executed a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI) on the suspects vehicle near the 191-mile marker near Hazen in Prairie County, causing the truck to overturn and stop in a ditch beside the interstate. Laterrika Woods, 29, was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Another passenger, Latarica Walker, 26, of Memphis, was ejected and airlifted to Baptist Medical Center, where she remains in critical condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Woman, man injured in crash involving tractor-trailer on I-40 The driver, Torkilo Hambrick, 30, and passenger Zuri Jones, 45, both from Memphis, were transported to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and are currently in stable condition. Torkilo Hambrick (Photo courtesy of the Prairie County Sheriffs Office) Charges are pending against Hambrick in Woods death. During the investigation, troopers found two firearms, an unknown amount of money, a bottle of promethazine, marijuana, and narcotics in the vehicle. Police say Hambrick was found to have an outstanding extradition warrant from Shelby County, Tennessee, for probation violation. Hambrick is a registered sex offender. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry, Hambrick has had charges since 2012 of domestic assault, aggravated assault, driving while license suspended revoked canceled, unlawful possession of a weapon, aggravated robbery, and possession of controlled substance. This tragedy is a direct result of the suspects reckless, selfish actions. This is another example of what can happen when a suspect flees from law enforcement, said ASP Col. Mike Hagar. Fleeing suspects are terrorizing and traumatizing our communities. Our Troopers will not and cannot look the other way. Rep. Pearson gets heated during gun control hearing at Capitol Police say that Woods body will be sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab to determine the cause and manner of death. This is an ongoing investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. It is often said that if you are troubled by what people say, you should just imagine what they are thinking. The publication of a messaging app group chat of senior US politicians discussing their plans to bomb Yemen demonstrates quite clearly that the Trump administration doesnt care about European security. It also shows implicitly although they may not realise this that they dont see the United States as the worlds leading superpower at all. Gloating over the fact that they loathe the freeloading Europeans, and seeing them trying to work out how to extort money from Europe for US security operations in the Red Sea, the ignorance and stupidity of the current Trump administration is laid bare for all to see quite apart from the desperately amateur sharing of classified operational plans over a messaging app. At the time of the British Empires pinnacle, our economy and global power rested primarily upon British naval power enforcing freedom of navigation on the high seas for all. This coupled with free trade made us the most powerful Empire the world had ever seen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By pulling back from policing the high seas, the US is pulling back from her hegemonic role. This not only undermines her own power; it also creates a vacuum which endangers the safety of Europe and the UK. The decision to strike Houthi targets in order to help keep the Red Sea clear, whilst also viewing this task as a loathsome burden, shows clearly the contradiction between wanting power and knowing how to exercise it. So much for Make America Great Again. Economic extortion, the kind we have seen discussed in the now-infamous group chat, resembles the actions of a mob boss rather than a global power. While its true that these words came from vice-president JD Vance instead of Trump himself, its also true that the vice-president represents the future of Maga and is tipped to be the 2028 presidential favourite. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This problem is not going away. The Government must get serious about UK and European security, and it must start by building up our hard military power; only through being strong can we be secure. The Prime Minister must do what the Liberal Democrats have been calling for: increasing our defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP as a minimum and engaging in cross-party talks to come to a shared agreement on how we fund that increase; and accepting that part of that funding increase must go towards an Army that builds itself up to a personnel of 100,000 once again. We should also accept that the US is an unreliable ally when it comes to our defence and security, and we must work with our European allies to deliver the collective defence of Europe without the United States. This is a project that the UK as a nuclear power and one of Europes two great military powers should be leading on. Mike Martin MP is the Member of Parliament for Tunbridge Wells and a Member of the Defence Select Committee Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Mar. 26Mercy Health, one of the largest health systems in Ohio, and the health insurance provider Cigna are approaching an April 1 deadline as they continue to negotiate rate reimbursements that would keep the health system's services covered under Cigna's commercial plans. Mercy Health, which has locations in Springfield, Urbana and southern Butler and Warren counties, is working with patients to reschedule April appointments and procedures to avoid disruptions to care in case the health system goes out of network, Mercy Health leaders said this week. "Cigna's refusal to fairly reimburse Mercy Health while simultaneously bringing in significant profits paid for by patients and employers is incomprehensible," said Joseph Morman, chief clinical officer at Mercy Health Springfield Regional Medical Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Debates over costs A Cigna Healthcare spokesperson said it is disappointing that Mercy Health is choosing to go out of network due to Mercy Health "demanding unreasonable rate hikes" for its employer-sponsored plans. Almost all of Cigna's employer clients' benefit plans are self-funded, which means increases in the cost of care are paid directly by local employers, their employees and their families, a Cigna spokesperson said. Cigna is continuing to negotiate with Mercy Health to reach a fair agreement that will keep health care affordable for patients, the spokesperson said. Shareholders of the Cigna Group, the parent company of Cigna Healthcare, saw a net income of $3.4 billion for 2024, according to the Cigna Group's posted earnings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Cigna Healthcare alone, the health insurer reported revenue of more than $52.9 billion in 2024, up from $51.2 billion in 2023. It reported earnings of $4.2 billion in 2024, a pre-tax operating margin of 8%. On the opposite end, Mercy Health's parent nonprofit, Bon Secours Mercy Health, has been struggling with operating losses. Despite reporting a net operating revenue of more than $12.2 billion in 2023, Bon Secours Mercy Health's operating expenses exceeded $12.3 billion, according to bond filings from the hospital system. Operating losses were nearly $123.9 million. April 1 deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patients with a Cigna commercial plan can continue to see their Mercy Health providers through Monday . Unless an agreement on a new contract is reached, beginning April 1, Mercy Health hospitals, physicians, urgent cares, ambulatory surgery centers and other care sites in Ohio will no longer be in the Cigna network. "We urge patients to call Cigna at the number on the back of their insurance card to let them know how important it is to keep Mercy Health in its network," Morman said. Should Mercy Health go out of network, all patients will have access to care in the event of an emergency, the hospital said. Some patients may qualify for continuity of care exemptions that would allow them to maintain in-network cost arrangements. Cigna alone will decide whether to approve or deny the request, Mercy Health said. Cigna patients impacted by these negotiations were notified by letter. More information can be found at www.mercy.com/cigna-updates. The News Three global metals giants expressed interest in using Tanzanias main port as a transit hub to expand their Africa presence, The Citizen Tanzania reported. Delegates from China Metal Storage and Transport Company, the Geneva-headquartered Mercuria, and their jointly owned subsidiary Henry Bath & Son, visited the Port of Dar es Salaam over the weekend. This is our next strategic location. We currently have no presence here, but we see Dar es Salaam as a key hub with growing trade volumes, CMST President Wang Haibin said, The Citizen reported. Mercurias head of metals and minerals for Africa added that the partnership with Tanzania would allow the firm to expand our footprint in Africa. The energy-trading company has made a significant push into the metals market since late 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their interest is part of a broader push by China to encourage public-private partnerships in Africa, Elena Kiryakova, a research fellow at the think tank ODI, told Semafor. This offers a more sustainable approach to African investment than state-backed lending, she said. Dar es Salaam is an important transit point for cobalt and copper mined from DR Congo and Zambia. Logistics bottlenecks in South Africa have slowed exports in recent months, Reuters noted, prompting China to invest $1.4 billion in upgrading the 50-year-old Tanzania-Zambia railway. The line is a competitor to the US-backed Lobito Corridor, which aims to refurbish train lines in Angola, DR Congo, and Zambia to improve mineral supply chains. NEW YORK (AP) Federal prosecutors are considering seeking the death penalty against Mexican drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero in a sprawling case that includes the 1985 killing of an agent of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Saritha Komatireddy confirmed that capital punishment remains on the table as a possibility when pressed by a judge hearing the case in Brooklyn federal court Wednesday. The top count Caro Quintero faces leading a continuing criminal enterprise carries a mandatory minimum sentence of life imprisonment, with the possibility of the death penalty, prosecutors have said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A determination has not been made but it is going through the process, Komatireddy said as dozens of DEA agents packed the courtroom. Judge Frederic Block, in response, tapped a lawyer with experience in federal death penalty cases to serve as special counsel to Caro Quintero. Elizabeth Macedonio appeared alongside the 72-year-old former drug kingpin in court Wednesday. She previously represented the late Vincent Asaro, the New York mobster acquitted in the notorious 1978 Lufthansa Airlines heist at John F. Kennedy Airport that was dramatized in Martin Scorseses Goodfellas. Block also said he would weigh whether its appropriate for Caro Quintero to continue receiving court-appointed, taxpayer-funded legal representation as his family has not hired their own lawyer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He asked representatives for Caro Quintero to complete financial disclosure forms and for prosecutors to help the court review them. Block set the next court date for June 25. Caro Quintero, who has pleaded not guilty to a range of drug-related charges, didnt speak in court and his lawyers didnt immediately respond to emails seeking comment. He appeared alongside his codefendant, Ismael Quintero Arellanes, his nephew and former top lieutenant. Linda George, Quintero Arellanes lawyer, told the judge her client continues to discuss a possible plea deal in his case, which involves his role relaying messages and orders between Caro Quintero and members of the drug operation as well as helping him avoid capture as his personal bodyguard and head of security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quintero Arellanes, who was known as Fierro, is also due back in court June 25. Caro Quintero was among 29 imprisoned cartel figures expelled from Mexico by the countrys government in a bid to stave off the Trump administrations planned tariffs on Mexican imports. Long known as one of the FBIs most wanted criminals, he was head of the Guadalajara cartel that eventually joined the syndicate known as the Sinaloa cartel, the largest drug trafficking organization in the world. Prosecutors say Caro Quintero, also known as the Narco of Narcos, was responsible for channeling tons of heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana and cocaine into the U.S. over decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also orchestrated the torture and killing of DEA agent Enrique Kiki Camarena, who he blamed for a raid on one of his marijuana plantations. The death was dramatized in the Netflix series Narcos: Mexico. ___ Follow Philip Marcelo at twitter.com/philmarcelo. Morgan Lee Associated Press SANTA FE, N.M. A bill that would create a turquoise safety alert system for missing Native American people in New Mexico has been endorsed by the Legislature. A vote of the state Senate without opposition Thursday sent the rapid response initiative to New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who supports the proposal. The bill responds to a troubling number of disappearances and killings in Indian Country and would allow law enforcement to quickly share information about Native Americans who go missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The turquoise alert system taking its name from the blue-green mineral would function much like existing amber and silver alerts that highlight the disappearance of children and the elderly. Cellphone alerts would be issued when law enforcement finds evidence of imminent danger in the disappearance of a Native American. I carry with me countless stories of how our system has failed to respond to the disappearance or murder of Native people in our state, said Democratic state Sen. Angel Charley of Acoma Pueblo, a co-sponsor of the bill. We have answered the call. California, Washington and Colorado have similar alert systems, according to the New Mexico Department of Indian Affairs. Arizona lawmakers are considering their own alert system as the brutal death of San Carlos Apache teenager Emily Pike reverberates through Native American communities. New Mexico has 23 federally recognized tribes, including large portions of the Navajo Nation, as well as land holdings of the Fort Sill Apache. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The safety and concerns of those communities were on prominent display during a 60-day legislative session that ends Saturday at noon. A bill signed Wednesday by Lujan Grisham ensures students can wear their own Native American regalia at graduation and other school ceremonies in the spirit of free expression linked to cultural heritage. NEW MEXICO (KRQE) A New Mexico man was sentenced to three years of probation for stabbing another individual during a drunken altercation, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday. According to court documents, Leighton Spencer, 32, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, and two other individuals were at Spencers home in Newcomb, drinking a mixture of Gatorade and hand sanitizer, followed by beers. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said one of the individuals left, and when they came back, they found the third person dead in the doorway. Spencer initially claimed the person was sleeping, but emergency services were called, according to a news release from the DOJ. The Office of the Medical Investigator ruled the death a homicide caused by a stab wound to the neck. Spencer initially provided conflicting accounts of the incident before eventually admitting to the killing, saying he and John Doe got into an argument that turned physical, the DOJ said. According to court documents, John Doe first stabbed Spencer in the arm multiple times, and Spencer grabbed the knife and stabbed John Doe in return. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spencer pleaded guilty to the charge of involuntary manslaughter in March 2024. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. (Reuters) -OpenAI's Chief Operating Officer Brad Lightcap will spearhead global expansion and corporate partnerships, CEO Sam Altman said on Monday, as the Microsoft-backed startup seeks to cement its dominance in the rapidly growing AI industry. Altman will increasingly focus on the technical side to boost the ChatGPT-maker's research and product initiatives, while remaining in charge of things, OpenAI said. The company is partnering with SoftBank Group and Oracle to establish a network of data centers under the $500-billion Stargate project, aimed at powering artificial intelligence workloads. "Brad will lead our global deployment, focusing on business strategy, key partnerships, infrastructure, and operational excellence to maximize the impact of our research," Altman said. Lightcap, who previously worked with Altman at venture capital firm Y Combinator, joined OpenAI in 2018. OpenAI has also expanded the role of Chief Research Officer Mark Chen, who will integrate research and product development, the startup's co-founder said in a blog post. Altman said in February that OpenAI would simplify its products, a sign the startup was willing to make changes to attract new investments amid growing investor scrutiny around massive artificial-intelligence spending. San Francisco-based OpenAI, which is in the process of raising $40 billion, is seeking to transition into a for-profit entity, which it says is required to secure the capital needed to develop the best AI models. The company closed a $6.6 billion funding round in October. (Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru and Krystal Hu in New York; Editing by Pooja Desai) NEW MEXICO (KRQE) A recently published study by WalletHub has ranked New Mexico as the worst state for a taxpayers return on investment. This was determined by analyzing the quality of government services received by the residents paying local and state taxes. How to avoid identity theft during tax season Metrics used to rank the quality of government services include education, health, safety, economy, and infrastructure, as well as pollution. These metrics were further broken down into the following categories: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement School systems Roads and bridges Hospital systems Violent crime rate Water quality Percentage of residents in poverty New Mexico ranked in the bottom five of all these categories, with the exception of roads and bridges. For school systems, New Mexico came in at No. 50, and for hospital systems, No. 45. In terms of violent crime rate, New Mexico is in a four-way tie with Arkansas, Tennessee, and Alaska. Then, for water quality, the Land of Enchantment tied with Louisiana and Oklahoma. As for the number of residents in poverty, the state ranks at No. 48. The study took a look at all fifty states, with the top five being New Hampshire, Florida, South Dakota, Missouri, and Ohio. The bottom five included North Dakota, California, Alaska, Hawaii, and then New Mexico at No. 50. Source: WalletHub Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The extended methodology of this study can be found on the WalletHub website. Top 10 States New Hampshire Florida South Dakota Missouri Ohio Wisconsin Nebraska Rhode Island Iowa Virginia Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Related video: First Black Republican congresswoman Mia Love dies at 49 SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) The family of Mia Love has announced funeral plans for the former Utah congresswoman, who passed away Sunday, Mar. 23, at the age of 49, after battling brain cancer. Love will lie in state at the Utah State Capitol Rotunda on Sunday, April 6, from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., according to her official obituary. Members of the public have been invited to attend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of the public are also invited to attend Loves memorial services on Monday, April 7, starting at 10 a.m. The services will be held on the University of Utahs campus, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Institute of Religion building (1780 S. Campus Dr. in Salt Lake). Love is survived by her husband, children, parents, siblings, and grandchildren. Her family has asked that, in place of flowers, people donate to the Rober Preston Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University Hospital, or to the Huntsman Cancer Institute. What is glioblastoma, the aggressive brain cancer that killed former US Rep. Mia Love? In 2022, Love was diagnosed with glioblastoma, which is described by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons as a fast-growing and aggressive brain tumor. At the beginning of March 2025, Loves family posted on social media to say that the cancer was no longer responding to treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The absence of her physical presence is real and very difficult, Loves obituary reads. However, the words her voice lifted up and the life she lived will amplify the principles she believed far into eternity. Love was born in December 1975 to Haitian immigrant parents. She was the first Black Republican woman to be elected to United States Congress, and was also the mayor of Springville and a CNN commentator throughout her career. Mia Love was a fearless leader, a history-maker, and a woman of deep conviction, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson said on social media on Sunday. Utahand our nationare better because of her courageous work and unwavering belief in the American Dream. PREVIOUSLY: Former Utah Rep. Mia Love has passed away, family confirms Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Henderson has previously discussed how she and the former congresswoman were close friends. Also on Sunday, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox took to social media to share his condolences. A true trailblazer and visionary leader, Mia inspired countless Utahns through her courage, grace, and unwavering belief in the American dream, Gov. Cox posted on Twitter/X. Her legacy leaves a lasting, positive impact on our state. We will miss her deeply. Loves death was announced by her family on March 23, 2025, almost three weeks after the initial announcement that she was no longer responding to treatment. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) has announced sanctions against James Pai CPA and its sole owner and partner, Yu-Ching James Pai, for multiple violations of PCAOB rules and standards during two audits of an issuer client. The firm was reprimanded for not adhering to quality control standards and Pai was found to have contributed to these violations. PCAOB chair Erica Williams said: Performing appropriate risk assessments and obtaining sufficient evidence are fundamental to an audit, and failure to meet these most basic requirements puts investors at risk. The PCAOB's investigation was led by Tony Chen, Sherry Tao, and Kristy Gold, under the supervision of William Ryan, John Abell, and Joshua Cutler. It revealed that the firm and Pai did not perform adequate risk assessments and failed to obtain sufficient audit evidence in several areas. These areas included revenue recognition and transactions with related parties. In addition, the firm did not conduct engagement quality reviews and failed to secure written representations from management. It also did not comply with requirements regarding critical audit matters, audit committee communications, and audit documentation. Furthermore, it was found lacking in establishing and implementing a system of quality control to ensure that the work performed met professional standards and regulatory requirements. The PCAOB concluded that Pai either perpetrated or played a role in the same violations. Its order, which Pai and the firm agreed to without admitting or denying the findings, includes a censure and civil money penalty of $40,000. The firm's PCAOB registration is revoked with the possibility to reapply after three years. Pai has been barred from associating with any PCAOB-registered firm, with a right to petition for termination of this bar after three years. The firm is required to undertake remedial actions to enhance its system of quality control and procedures before it can reapply for registration. Pai is also mandated to complete 40 hours of additional continuing professional education before he seeks to terminate his bar. The announcement follows a recent statement of protocol between the PCAOB and the Autoritatea pentru Supravegherea Publica a Activitatii de Audit Statutar (ASPAAS) of Romania, aimed at facilitating cooperation in the oversight of auditors within their respective jurisdictions. "PCAOB sanctions James Pai CPA for audit failures " was originally created and published by The Accountant, a GlobalData owned brand. A woman from Milan is in the Scott County Jail after police say she cashed several counterfeit United States Savings Bonds at banks across the Quad Cities. According to the criminal complaints, the defendant, identified as Dannatta Binion, 37, knowingly cashed a counterfeit U.S. Savings Bond at TBK Bank on Jersey Ridge Road in Davenport on October 18, 2024. Binion cashed the counterfeit bond for a total of $2,073.60. The bond was returned as counterfeit to TBK Bank on December 10, 2024. Dannetta Binion (Scott County Jail) Binion allegedly deposited four counterfeit United States Savings Bonds at TBK Bank on Kimberly Road in Davenport on October 28, 2024, for a total of $8,294.40 or $2,073.60 per bond. All four bonds were returned as counterfeit to TBK Bank on November 20-21, 2024. All the bonds were marked as issued on June 19, 1992, which is consistent with the dates on other counterfeit bond cases in the area. The bonds were made out to Binion with an address where she lived in 2016. That would have been impossible to have printed on the bonds in 1992. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complaint says Binion opened the checking account with TBK Bank the same day she began to cash and deposit the counterfeit bonds. She is accused of cashing similar counterfeit bonds at other TBK Bank locations in Bettendorf and Milan. Binion admitted in a post-Miranda interview to cashing and depositing the bonds. A warrant was issued for Binions arrest on March 18, and she was arrested on March 25 on seven counts of felony forgery and two counts of felony second-degree theft. She is being held in the Scott County Jail on a combined secured and cash-only bond of $10,000 while she waits for an initial court appearance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Our mild weather pattern continues to give us nice temperatures, with more to come through Friday. Yesterday, highs reached the 60s across much of KELOLAND. It should be warmer today in the west and central. Sioux Falls will be fighting some increasing clouds, so temperatures may stay in the lower 60s late this afternoon. Thats still well above normal for this time of year. Futurecast shows the contrast in weather late this afternoon. Shower chances in the northeast will keep temperatures into the 50s this afternoon. Meanwhile, 70s will be common in the central and west. We expect the 70s to expand eastward tomorrow, with near record levels by Friday in southeastern KELOLAND. Notice the thunderstorm chances Friday night and Saturday morning in far southeast. Areas of rain will be on the move during the day Saturday, with a rain snow mix developing in western KELOLAND. Keep an eye on the details of this system. There is a scenario that would produce a band of accumulating snow across portions of our viewing area Saturday night into Sunday. Temperatures will turn sharply colder during this time period as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More storms are possible in the long-range forecast. Here are the details of the forecast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. A static display by Tower Solutions Inc. at the 2024 Border Expo in El Paso, Texas, shows off the company's mobile camera technology. Photo by Dugan Meyer Phoenix will be hosting a convention featuring President Donald Trumps border czar, as well as hundreds of military and tech companies bidding for government border contracts, including a company involved in the torture in Abu Ghraib. The Border Security Expo at the Phoenix Convention Center April 8 and 9 features panel discussions, as well as an expo floor where vendors can hawk their wares to government officials from around the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is just a big marketplace of companies mostly tech companies trying to sell things to the government, Dave Maass, director of investigations for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, told the Arizona Mirror about the event. The EFF has previously catalogued the vendors who attend the annual conference, with a focus on technologies such as AI, infrared cameras and more. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Trump administration has made border security a top priority after campaigning on immigration as a major issue. The administrations actions have faced scrutiny for their lack of due process and they have consistently tried to keep their mass deportation plans a secret. The Mirror attempted to get press credentials to the Border Security Expo but was told that the event is closed to the press this year. The event website lists media partners, which include online pro-law enforcement trade publications like Border Security Report, Homeland Security Today and Officer.com. Homeland Security Today is run by a group of CEOs whose companies are on the expo floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event will feature a number of high ranking officials from Customs and Border Patrol, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Drug Enforcement Agency and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The most high profile is Trumps border czar, Tom Homan. Homan served as the acting director of ICE in Trumps first term. He backed the controversial zero tolerance policy at the southern border and has been connected to far-right extremist and conspiracy theorist groups. Homan is scheduled to give the opening remarks at the event as part of a State of the Border discussion. Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels will also speak at the event on a panel to give local perspectives to border issues. While the event will feature a number of panel discussions and high profile speakers, it will also feature a litany of companies who will be aiming to impress government officials at the event in the hopes of securing a government contract or continuing an existing one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Mirror examined the list of companies set to be in attendance to highlight some of the key trends as well as noteworthy companies seeking the attention of the government officials. The military industrial complex Many, if not most, of the vendors at the expo also serve the United States military and militaries overseas. For example, Thales Defense and Security Inc. is a subsidiary of Thales Group, a French multinational aerospace and defense corporation. Its subsidiary has primarily done work on radio upgrades for the US Army and NATO forces and will be present on the expo floor. When it comes to immigration and border enforcement, the company has supplied the systems the United States uses at ports of entry that involve biometric data. Other companies known for their large military contracts, such as BAE Systems, also will be present. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One particular military contracting company with a dark past also will have a booth on the expo floor. In November 2024, a jury found that Caci International shared liability with the U.S. Army for the torture of three Iraqi men at the Abu Graib prion in 2004, awarding the men $42 million. The Virginia-based defense contractor has long gotten a number of contracts from the Department of Homeland Security. Caci International is not the only government contractor with a controversial past. Journalists at ProPublica recently exposed how private prison company GEO Group, an ICE contractor, has been refusing to pay detainees more than $1 a day for cleaning the governmental facilities at which they live. GEO Groups stocks have skyrocketed under the Trump administration to $4 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another group with ties to Trump and a controversial backstory that will be present on the expo floor is Constellis, part of the private security company known as Triple Canopy. Triple Canopy is a formation of what were once rival private security companies, Blackwater and Constellis. Guards from that company were spotted outside various federal agencies that were being taken over by billionaire Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency. Also present will be Anduril Industries, which has ties to Palantir, and whose director of defense technology was nominated by Trump to serve as the Armys No. 2 official. Military grade equipment The expo floor will be full of vendors showing off their products which range from physical products like cameras and ground sensors to software that can be used to process data obtained by law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much of that equipment is also military grade. Groups like ProTech Defense, Soal Marine Group and QuickSet Defense Technologies make military grade equipment that is marketed not just to federal agencies patrolling the border, but military customers. Other tech is similar, often showcased being used by armed forces in online literature or described with military jargon. Many of the surveillance camera platforms are similar or the same as those used on military aircraft, naval vessels or ground vehicles. Some firms, like Controp USA, boast about the capabilities of their surveillance platforms for both local law enforcement and military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The militarization of police and border enforcement has long been a point of debate among privacy advocates, with research suggesting that law enforcement that has more access to military grade equipment are more likely to have violent encounters with the public. Strongwatch will have a presence at the expo and it already has some of its tools in the hands of local Arizona law enforcement. The Phoenix Police Department has one of Strongwatchs Freedom on the Move surveillance truck platforms, which are frequently deployed at parades and protests. Anti/pro-drone This years expo also features a number of companies focused on anti-drone technology, something local lawmakers and Attorney General Kris Mayes have been focused on lately, as well. House Bill 2733 by Rep. David Marshall, R-Snowflake, would give local law enforcement immunity from liability for damage to personal property if they are shooting down a drone they believe is engaged in criminal activity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill comes amid an increase in drug cartel drones flying over the states southern border, GOP lawmakers and Mayes say that local police should be able to shoot them out of the sky without fear theyll be sued. A large number of tech companies at the expo this year are offering their own solutions to this problem. Fortem Technologies has provided its counter-UAS (unmanned aerial systems, a technical term for drones) equipment to Ukrainian forces, leading to it being sanctioned by Russia in response. The company has already been attracting interest from DHS, but other competitors have been vying for what appears to be a burgeoning market. The Mirror found four other companies that will be on the expo floor selling anti-drone tech, with another that has sent one of its devices to frontline forces in Ukraine. But there are just as many companies, if not more, wanting to put eyes up in the sky as there are that want to remove them. Aerial surveillance is a major strategy of CBP and DHS, who deploy aerial assets to the border daily to follow suspects or surveil areas where border crossers are known to frequent or smugglers are known to go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A number of companies focused on different forms of aerial surveillance are also present at this years expo including multiple manufacturers of aerostats, a type of blimp. Recently, one of CBPs blimps became untethered in Texas, leading to it flying miles away after being blown away by gusts of wind. QinetiQ, the UK firm behind the Zephyr pseudo satellite, a high flying unmanned aircraft that can stay aloft for months at a time, will also be at the expo. Ascent AeroSystems, a subsidiary of Robinson Helicopters, will be at the expo and is currently promoting a new drone that it says is advanced aerial surveillance in the palm of your hand. A number of new drone technologies appear to be on display at this years expo, including a hydrogen powered drone and a tethered drone as well. AI and more Another trend this year is the promotion of artificial intelligence. Many of the companies tout the use of AI either to boost already existing programs or to be used in new ways. One such company is Overland AI, which recently raised $32 million in funding. The company aims to create fully autonomous ground vehicles for the military and Overland is partnered with L3 Harris, one of the largest defense contractors in the world, who will also be present at the expo. Other uses for AI are for surveillance gathering and analysis, such as with Australian-based FiveCast, which has previously signed contracts with DHS to use AI to look for open source intelligence threats. Social media monitoring tools that have alarmed privacy advocates, like ShadowDragon, will also be present at the expo. Other software companies that will be on the sales floor have faced controversy in the past. One company, Perceptics, which has gotten contracts with the federal government for biometric data collection and automatic license plate reader collection, was part of the reason for a major breach in biometric data related to a facial recognition pilot program. A subcontractor working on this effort, Perceptics, LLC, transferred copies of CBPs biometric data, such as traveler images, to its own company network. The subcontractor obtained access to this data between August 2018 and January 2019 without CBPs authorization or knowledge. Later in 2019, DHS experienced a major privacy incident, as the subcontractors network was subjected to a malicious cyber attack, the Office of the Inspector General wrote in a 2020 report. Sponsors While the event is closed to the press and largely to the public, those who can afford it can opt to pay $1,395 for the full conference. Those with government email or .edu email addresses can get in for free, and the expo offers a guide to those seeking to justify the events cost to their employer. Akima, who got nearly a billion dollars in contracts with the United States Space Force last year, is the expos top sponsor. However, under the Supporting Organizations banner of the event are some more notable organizations. The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a conservative think tank whose members have been promoted by Trump in the previous administration and have denied climate change, pushed school vouchers and received funding from both the GEO Group and Koch Industries. The Texas Public Policy Foundation was also on the advisory board of the Heritage Foundations Project 2025. Project 2025 is a collection of right-wing policy proposals from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, to reshape the United States federal government and consolidate executive power under the Trump administration. The list of policy plans was largely created by former Trump aides and allies. Another supporting organization is the Border Patrol Foundation, whose president in 2018 garnered controversy for defending the use of pepper spray on migrants at the border by saying that a person could put it on nachos and eat it. That man, Ron Colburn, is on the advisory board for the expo. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Apartment residents in Mill Creek are concerned after several of their garages were hit during a break-in over the weekend. One of the residents, Sean Donovan, says the plastic covering on the garage door locks was pried off. By Tuesday, the apartment complex had replaced the locks with steel on Donovans and his affected neighbors doors. Sean first noticed it after batting practice with his son on Saturday. My first thought was my stuff was missing, then my son noticed the lock was laying on the ground and the wires were hanging out of the garage, Donovan said. My son checked the three locks for the rest of the [garages] and they were already taken out. The plastic around the lock had been broken, with steel plates replacing it to add some security. The Donovans had all their fishing gear stolen, along with tools and thousands of dollars worth of car parts that Sean was installing as he worked to restore a 1984 Chevy Blazer S10. The project had been a passion and a way to cope with his daughters death in 2009. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It frees your mind of everything, Donovan said. After my daughter had passed, I needed to figure something out to do with my time, so I started building that. Donovan has been working through insurance to try and file claims, and other residents have reported car break-ins at the apartments as well. One Resident, Gabe, is hoping for more cameras around the complex. Lots of people have had break-ins. If you have footage, you can actually take it to the police, Gabe said. Apartment complexes are generally required to have reasonable security measures, according to Sean Flynn, the chair and executive director of the Rental Housing Association of Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The question really is, whats a reasonable way to secure that piece of property at any given moment? You can think of different ways people can secure it, but you can also think of different ways of thieves breaking into those places, right? asked Flynn. Flynn says decisions are often made based on locations and trends in different areas. An apartment complex in Belltown in Seattle may have security guards patrolling the halls, but that may not be reasonable in an apartment complex in Redmond. This is why its not a set rule, right? Its whats reasonable in that given situation, Flynn said. Mill Creek Police offers that residents buy flood lights to act as a deterrent or request more security measures from their apartment management. Security cameras or Ring cameras can be helpful as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lights are always good, right? Like, its areas where people are congregating that tend to see lower crime. Cameras are good, but only if the prosecutors willing to prosecute the crimes, said Flynn. A Milwaukee man who allegedly drove with a suspended license told a court he is prepared to go to trial for killing another motorist in a crash last month. At a hearing Tuesday, Milwaukee County Court Commissioner Barry Phillips found enough probable cause existed in the case against Montavious Henderson to move forward. Henderson, 23, is charged with second-degree reckless homicide as a habitual criminality repeater, in addition to other offenses stemming from the Feb. 18 crash on Milwaukee's north side that killed Kay Farberg, 69. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Suspected drunken driver crashes into tree right outside Greendale Police Department Henderson appeared in court wearing an orange jumpsuit, while handcuffed to a set of crutches. He waived his preliminary hearing, and pleaded not guilty to the charge through his attorney, Wendy A. Patrickus. Henderson is expected to be back in court on April 17 for a scheduling conference before Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Wagner. More: Her daughter was 'fighter' since birth. Years later, Milwaukee man convicted in crash that killed her. Here's what happened that night, according to police Dispatchers received several 911 calls reporting a two-vehicle crash near Teutonia Avenue and Mill Road just before midnight Feb. 18. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The collision involved a 2024 Hyundai Sonata and a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. Occupants of each vehicle were alone. Farberg, the driver of the Malibu, was in critical condition and was taken to Froedtert Hospital, but later died from her injuries. The motorist in the Sonata, later identified as Henderson, suffered a serious leg injury and also was taken to Froedtert, according to a criminal complaint. Authorities noted that damage to the vehicles suggests the Hyundai was traveling at a high speed when it hit Farberg's vehicle, the complaint says. Surveillance cameras captured footage of the crash. It shows the Malibu traveling east on Mill through the intersection. The Malibu had the green light. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The video also shows the Hyundai, headed north on Teutonia, blow through a red light "at a high speed." More: 73-year-old bicyclist dies from injuries sustained in Monday crash in Glendale Montavious Henderson has had legal troubles involving his driving Henderson's driver's license was suspended at the time of the crash, Wisconsin Department of Transportation records show. He also told investigators during an interview he was aware it, the complaint states. Henderson was convicted in Glendale Municipal Court on Sept. 19 for operating while suspended. That stemmed from an incident that occurred in that city on July 15. He also was convicted June 20 for operating while suspended in Milwaukee for a May 7 incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Wrong-way driver who authorities say was drunk causes police car crash in New Berlin What are the charges Montavious Henderson faces? In addition to the reckless homicide count, Henderson also is charged with knowingly operating a motor vehicle while suspended (causing death) as a habitual criminality repeater. He remained in custody at the Milwaukee County Jail on Tuesday after he was unable to post an $18,000 cash bond for his release. How safe are Milwaukee roads and highways? Fifteen people have died in Milwaukee County in motor vehicle crashes in 2025 as of March 23, the most updated data provided Tuesday by the Wisconsin Transportation Department. The figures include the fatal crash on March 17 at 37th and Brown streets that killed a 19-year-old Milwaukee woman and injured five others. It also includes the March 22 crash in West Allis that left one teen dead and two others hospitalized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ninety-four traffic deaths occurred on Wisconsin roads and highways in all of 2024. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee man faces trial in Feb. 18 crash that killed 69-year-old woman SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) A burn ban is now in place for rural Minnehaha County. Commissioners enacted the ban this morning, because of the extremely dry conditions. Sioux Falls school board frustrated with legislative choices This comes after crews responded to multiple grass fires this month, including at least one Tuesday. Chief photographer Kevin Kjergaard was able to capture video of a fire just west of Sioux Falls. Were told the fire was caused by a controlled burn Monday night, before the ban went into effect. It rekindled this afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The burn ban will remain in place until there is significant rainfall or the grassfire index changes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) A former Minnesota state senator charged with trying to solicit a minor for prostitution and accused of attempting to obstruct the FBI's investigation from jail can be released to a halfway house pending trial, a judge ruled Wednesday. U.S. Magistrate Judge Shannon Elkins ruled that Justin Eichorn, a Republican, does not pose a risk to the community and that there were reasonable explanations for actions that federal prosecutors argued warranted keeping him in jail. But she ruled there was sufficient evidence to take the case to trial. He did not enter a plea Wednesday. The 40-year-old from Grand Rapids was arrested in Bloomington on March 17 after exchanging text messages with an undercover officer who posed as a 17-year-old girl and arranging a meet-up for sex for money, the charging documents say. He was charged with attempted enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution, a felony that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, and resigned from the Senate March 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, federal prosecutors moved to prevent his scheduled release to the halfway house on Tuesday. They leveled detailed allegations that he tried to arrange by phone from jail for a close, known associate identified by prosecutors as Individual A to retrieve a computer and other items from the St. Paul apartment where he lived alone during legislative sessions. They argued that she could have concealed and destroyed evidence in the apartment. Defense attorney Charles Hawkins revealed in court Wednesday that Individual A is Eichorn's wife. He suggested through his questioning of an FBI agent leading the investigation that she needed the computer because it contains records related to their apartment rental business, not to destroy evidence. The Eichorns have four children. His wife filed for divorce Monday. When she arrived at his apartment last Friday morning, FBI agents were already there. They declined her request to retrieve a computer that she said was used for her business. A few moments after she left, an agent called her and asked her to return for an interview. She refused. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During their search of the apartment, agents found a bag on the counter containing $1,000 in cash; a 9 mm handgun and ammunition; a laptop; a computer memory card; an iPhone; and several of Eichorns Senate business cards. They said the iPhone appeared to have been reset to its factory settings, which can erase all content on the device. FBI Special Agent Matthew Vogel conceded Wednesday that the phone appeared to have been reset Feb. 28 well before Eichorn began communicating with the undercover officers but said they were still studying it. Vogel also acknowledged that the defense had provided a password for the computer. He said agents had been able to access some information but that they were still working to unlock some encrypted data. Federal prosecutors Daniel Bobier argued that Eichorn lied when he told a pretrial services officer he had no firearms in his apartment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Hawkins argued that Eichorn misunderstood the officer because of the noise in the holding area. He argued that Eichorn had the gun because he was getting threats for cosponsoring a bill that would have designated Trump derangement syndrome as a mental illness. Hawkins declined further comment after the hearing, except to say he was planning to personally drive Eichorn to the halfway house in Duluth. And Eichorn declined to speak with reporters as they left the courthouse. Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday called a special election for Tuesday, April 29, to fill the empty seat, in time to seat a new senator for the final weeks of the legislative session. Primaries will be Tuesday, April 15. The district, which stretches from Brainerd to Grand Rapids in northern Minnesota, is heavily Republican. Regardless of the outcome, Senate Democrats will continue to hold a narrow majority. Surplus supermarket chain Company Shop is set to implement Pricer's electronic shelf labels (ESLs) across its UK store network. The advanced in-store solution aims to streamline operations, boost labour productivity and facilitate dynamic pricing strategies. Company Shop offers an extensive range of products from 800 brands, retailers and manufacturers. The company is responsible for redistributing more than 100 million items annually and plays a significant role in preventing 122,000 tons of CO emissions each year. The nature of Company Shop's inventory, comprising goods with shorter shelf lives that necessitate frequent updates, has traditionally demanded substantial manual labour to maintain accurate shelf-edge product information. By integrating Pricer's ESL tech, Company Shop anticipates considerable operational efficiencies by reallocating staff hours from manual labelling to other valuable in-store activities. The collaboration with Pricer marks a significant step in Company Shop's digital transformation journey. With ESLs providing real-time pricing adjustments directly at the shelf edge, the system has already demonstrated a productivity increase of more than 5%. The enhancement not only frees up employees to concentrate on customer service but also improves pricing accuracy. Company Shop retail head Gemma Edlin stated: Introducing Pricers ESLs has been a game-changer not just for our store colleagues, who have seen labour productivity boosted and their time freed to focus on delivering customer service, but especially for our members. Our vision is to create a world where no surplus products go to waste, so with real-time and to-the-second accurate pricing via the ESLs, our members know theyll always be getting the very best price on offer, meaning more sell-through and less waste. The ESL technology is already operational in Company Shop's St Helens and Long Eaton locations. Pricer, in partnership with Renovotec for installation services, is scheduled to complete the deployment of its ESLs across all 13 Company Shop stores by the end of March 2025. "Pricer to roll out electronic shelf labels across Company Shops UK stores" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. State officials say that 24 federal grants worth over $100 million for the state of Minnesota have been paused or terminated by the Trump administration. Bring Me The News obtained the list of grants paused as of Monday from the Minnesota Department of Management and Budget. A majority of the list comprises "payment holds" placed on Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, including grants focused on Homeland Security, violence and terrorism prevention, cybersecurity, flood mitigation and pre-disaster mitigation programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two other USDA grants totaling more than $17 million to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture have been canceled for Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) and for the Local Food For Schools (LFS) and Child Care Cooperative Agreement. The LFPA funding is earmarked for state, tribal and territorial governments to buy food produced within the state to support "local regional and underserved producers." The Local Food for Schools programs awards funds to states to buy locally-produced food from socially disadvantaged farmers to use in schools and childcare institutions. It also distributes food at no cost to underserved communities throughout the state. A full list of the individual grants are included below. A full list of Minnesota grants on pause or that have been canceled by the federal government as of Monday, March 24, 2025.Courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Management and Business The Minnesota Department of Commerce also has been unable to access a grant of $1 million in environmental justice funding through its payment portal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, a spokesperson from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety tells BMTN they've been notified of the payment delays. "We have been notified that FEMA is subjecting grant drawdowns to a manual review, which is resulting in some payment delays. Agencies were notified by email last month that the additional reviews were going to take place," spokesperson Jen Longaecker said "We are working diligently to ensure Minnesotans across the state have the resources and support they need while we navigate these federal delays." Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen said the department signed the two new agreements in January and were notified in March that the $13.2 million LFS and $4.7 million LFPA agreements will be terminated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Trump Administrations cancellation of these programs will impact hundreds of Minnesota farmers, schools, child care institutions, and hunger relief organizations. At a time when more Minnesotans than ever cant afford the food they need and farmers are on the frontline of a trade war, its beyond frustrating to see these critical farming and nutrition programs being canceled," Petersen said, adding that the department will continue to work within its current programs "to ensure farmers have markets for their products and Minnesotans are fed." "We expect the federal government to be responsible and follow through with its contractual commitments. President Trumps funding freeze is deeply concerning as it not only impacts the federally-funded services we provide, but could also affect long-term programs and partnerships." Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has joined a coalition of 22 state attorneys general, seeking a court order to stop the Trump administration from withholding FEMA critical disaster relief funding. Ellison's office notes that despite a preliminary injunction issued on March 6 that blocks the Trump administration from unlawfully freezing federal funds, it continues to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars in grants to states from FEMA. "Donald Trumps continued withholding of critical disaster relief funding is as cruel as it is unlawful, said Ellison. "The Federal Emergency Management Agency exists to help the American people when the worst happens, from floods to wildfires to hurricanes and so much more. I will not sit back and let Trump play political games with disaster relief funding the American people are relying on, especially when hes doing so in defiance of a court order." GRAND COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) The Grand County Sheriffs Office is seeking the publics help in the search for a runaway juvenile. Maci Halls reportedly ran away on the evening of March 24. Officials did not provide further details about where she may have been heading or what she was last seen wearing. The Grand County Sheriffs Office is searching for Maci Halls, last seen on March 25, 2025. (Courtesy: Grand County Sheriffs Office) Anyone with information about her whereabouts has been asked to contact dispatch at 435-259-8115. What should you do if someone goes missing? What to do when speaking to law enforcement about a missing person Here are some suggestions to keep in mind if someone you know goes missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Utah officials suggest taking notes on interactions with law enforcement to keep track of details such as officer names, dates and times of interactions, the case number, and what the officers say. When working with local law enforcement to report a missing person, it is recommended one shares as much information as possible about the missing person, including but not limited to: Full name or nicknames. Recent photos. Date of birth and age at the time they disappeared. Gender/sex. Detailed physical description (including unique scars or tattoos). Date of disappearance. Medical conditions. Last known location. Social media accounts. Additional resources For more information, the Department of Public Safety has a page on its website dedicated to resources for missing persons, as well as pages to view missing persons from Utah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additional hotlines and resources originally compiled in a 2021 guidebook are available below: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Governor Tate Reeves (R-Miss.) signed House Bill 1, which eliminates the states individual income tax. The signing took place at the Governors Mansion on March 27. I am proud to sign into law a complete elimination of the individual income tax in the state of Mississippi, said Reeves. Let me say that again: Mississippi will no longer tax the work, the earnings, or the ambition of its people. The legislation Im signing today puts us in a rare class of elite, competitive states. There are only a handful of states in the country that do not tax income. Today, Mississippi joins their ranks and in doing so, we plant our flag. House Bill 1 passed earlier this session with the major goal being the elimination of the state income tax. The bill does not include everything the House wanted, but it retains the elimination of the state income tax as a non-negotiable element. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House recently agreed to changes made by the Mississippi Senate, but a typo in the trigger language of the bill could accelerate the states shift into tax cut mode. House Minority Leader Robert Johnson III (D-District 94) said the language error will push the state income tax elimination into action faster than initially planned. Mississippi Democrats not happy with tax overhaul bill The trigger is actually no longer a trigger because at the 80/500 of a percent, we essentially are in tax cut mode right now, Johnson said. The bill also reduces the grocery tax from 7% to 5% and raises the gas tax by a total of $0.09 over three years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regardless of the other features or how you feel about other aspects of the bill, theres no denying it eliminates the income tax in as soon as 14 years. While thats not fast enough for some, the House plan was a little faster than that11 years, said White. Democratic lawmakers in both the House and Senate have voice strong opposition to the bill, particularly because of its impact on the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Starting in 2026, new state employees would see their retirement contributions split between a traditional pension and a 401(k)-style plan. State Senator David Blount (D-District 29) argued that this change will hurt Mississippis public employees. This bill is wrong for the retirement system, and its going to make it harder for school districts, for first responders, firefighters, law enforcement to be retained to do those vital jobs when their retirement benefits are not nearly what they are now, Blount stated. According to White, the Senate invited conference on Senate Bill 3095 last week. He is willing to negotiate about a trigger, but they want it to be reasonable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. HANCOCK COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) A Hancock County grand jury indicted a Pass Christian man who was charged with killing two and injuring four during a house party in Bay St. Louis. The Sun Herald reported Cameron Brand, 20, was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder and four counts of aggravated assault on March 20, 2025. Man accused of killing Biloxi officer ruled incompetent to stand trial Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mass shooting occurred on just after midnight on Sunday, April 30, 2023, in the 1000 block of Old Blue Meadow Road. Students had gathered for a party at the home on a sparsely populated road after Bay High Schools prom. The home is less than a mile from Bay High. When police arrived, they found multiple people suffering from gunshot wounds. Some shooting victims had already been taken to local hospitals by private vehicles. Police said the victims were between the ages of 15 and 18. Cameron Brand (Courtesy: Hancock County Jail) The two victims who died were identified as 16-year-old Haeleigh Stamper and 18-year-old DeArreis Smith. Brand has been held at the Hancock County Jail since his arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Associated Press contributed to this report. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. BARRY COUNTY, Mo. Were learning more about a body found in a burned vehicle last week near Shell Knob. Barry County Sheriff, Danny Boyd, says they were notified about a burned vehicle that had been towed by Schraders Towing in Shell Knob and thats where they found a body in the trunk of the vehicle. Following an autopsy on Monday, the body was identified using DNA technology as that of Marvin Lance McCullough, 55, of Aurora. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities investigate body found in Southwest Missouri Authorities say the vehicle was set on fire and towed from a residence on Farm Road 1170 in Verona. McCulloughs body was found in the trunk of the vehicle once it arrived at Schraders Towing in Shell Knob. Autopsy performed on body discovered in Barry County The vehicle is registered to McCulloughs mother, Carolyn Gentry. Officials say she told them her son was in possession of her car, but she had not seen him in several days. This incident is still under investigation, and we will bring more information as it becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A convicted felon is back behind bars after a traffic stop along Old Hickory Boulevard reportedly led police to a stolen gun and several drugs, including fentanyl. According to the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), detectives stopped a white Tesla with a Missouri tag Tuesday night because it matched the description of a vehicle that was involved in a recent road rage incident, where the driver brandished a handgun. Stolen AR-15 recovered from man who allegedly pointed it at detective in Nashboro Village Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver identified as 23-year-old Christopher Kee was reportedly convicted in 2022 for trafficking heroin in Kentucky. As the 23-year-old was being taken into custody, police said they recovered a handgun from the drivers seat, which was reported stolen from Panama City Beach, Florida last May. Inside the Tesla, detectives found 18 grams of fentanyl, 94 M30 pills, 31 Xanax pills, 12 grams of methamphetamine, 23 grams of cocaine and 3.5 grams of marijuana. In addition to the drugs, needles, scales and cash were also seized from the Tesla, officials said. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kee was charged with theft of a firearm, felony weapon possession, being a felon in possession of a weapon, drug paraphernalia and five counts of drug possession. He is being held in Metro Jail on $120,000 bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) Mobile police officers said a woman assaulted a person after she forced her way into a home. That bar is a shady place to go: West Mobile residents voice concerns over Alabama Bar & Lounge According to a Mobile Police Department news release, officers were called to the 1100 block of New Saint Francis Street around 3 p.m. on Monday, March 24, after receiving a call about a burglary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When they arrived, officers found that a woman, whom the victim knew, showed up unannounced at the home where the victim was staying. Officials said that when the victim went to answer the door, the woman forced herself into the home and began assaulting the victim before demanding money. 1 of 3 suspects in 2023 Heron Drive homicide pleads guilty: Mobile County District Attorney Police said this is an active 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 WKRG News 5. Evghenia Gutul, the head of Moldova's Gagauzia region, was detained at Chisinau airport on the evening of March 25 while attempting to leave the country, the Moldovan service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported. Gutul is implicated in the illegal financing case of the banned pro-Russian Shor Party. Moldova's Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office announced that it had completed its evidence collection. Moldovan authorities allege that she systematically brought funds from Russia into Moldova while serving as the party's secretary, working with an organized criminal group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gutul, elected governor of Gagauzia in July 2023 as a Shor Party candidate, has maintained ties with Moscow. She traveled to Russia in March 2024, where she met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and attended the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June. Investigators also accuse Gutul of helping to organize anti-government protests in Chisinau in the fall of 2022. She denies the charges, calling them politically motivated. Russia condemned the actions of the Moldovan authorities, accusing Chisinau of disregarding "the principles of political pluralism and democracy," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Human rights groups have accused Russia of systematically repressing civil society, political opposition, and free press at home. The U.S. imposed sanctions on Gutul on June 12, 2023, for her ties to pro-Russian oligarch and politician Ilan Shor, who fled Moldova in 2019 and has been accused of attempting to destabilize the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moldovan President Maia Sandu, a pro-European leader, has refused to approve Gutul as a member of the government, citing accusations of vote-buying. Gagauzia is an autonomous territory in southern Moldova that partly borders Ukraine's Odesa Oblast. It has traditionally favored closer relations with Russia while opposing EU integration. Chisinau has actively countered Russian influence, expelling dozens of Russian diplomats and embassy staff in July 2023 over espionage concerns. Tensions escalated further after Chisinau said that Russian drones repeatedly violated Moldovan airspace during air raids on Ukraine, with some of the drones crashing on Moldovan territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: There is talk of Nord Stream Lavrov eyes Russia-US energy cooperation Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ray Dalio will join a slate of newly appointed advisors to Indonesias sovereign wealth fund, Danantara. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced the fund last month in a bid to consolidate the countrys state-owned enterprises in one place and help achieve his goal of reaching 8% GDP growth by 2029. Legendary investor Ray Dalio will join Indonesias newly created sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, as a special advisor. Dalios appointment is part of a dream team of new advisors the firm announced on Monday. Alongside Dalio, Danantara also appointed famed economist Jeffrey Sachs and the former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto launched Danantara last month to much fanfare. The idea behind the new sovereign wealth fund was to consolidate Indonesias many state-owned enterprises under a single umbrella that would also have its own investment arm. The new combined company will eventually manage more than $900 billion in assets. Danantaras initial investment budget for this year will be $20 billion, which the firm plans to spend across 15-20 projects. Dalio met with Prabowo and Indonesias richest men at the presidential palace in Jakarta earlier this month, according to local reports. The meeting included the countrys largest magnates who have vast control over certain industries. Among the attendees were Indonesias richest man, Prajogo Pangestu, the real estate baron James Riady (who pled guilty to campaign finance violations in the U.S. in 2001), coal executive Garibaldi Thohir, and Franky Widjaja, whose agribusiness company dominates the palm oil market. The appointment of Dalio and Sachs comes as Danantara faces questions from global investors about accountability and governance. Investors feared that because Danantara would report directly to Prabowo it would lack the oversight needed to ensure it delivered returns. There were also fears that Prabowos role could lead to political interference in investment decisions. By naming trusted experts like Dalio, the founder of the worlds largest hedge fund, and Sachs, one of the worlds foremost experts on economic development, Danantara hopes to assuage the markets concerns. Since the start of the year Southeast Asian markets saw a major selloff, with Indonesia hit particularly hard. Indonesian stocks fell to their lowest points in four years and the central bank made major policy interventions to stop its currency from slipping. The wobbly response from investors was a hit to Prabowos plan for Indonesian GDP growth of 8% by 2029. SALEM, Ore. (KOIN) Annel Palacios owns a tire store and often brings her 3-year-old to work. When business is slow she cant afford a regular monthly child care bill of $2300. Palacios was one of dozens of people who marched with the Family Forward Oregon group to the state Capitol in Salem to talk with lawmakers about childcare access and affordability. Oregon bill would let hotel guests sue over photos, videos taken in private spaces Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its impossible right now, Palacios told KOIN 6 News. At the end of the month its a little bit impossible to pay rent. Dozens of people, including Annel Palacios, marched with Family Forward Oregon to the State Capitol to support subsidizing childcare for families, March 25, 2025 (KOIN) Legislators are deciding whether to put money into a fund to help childcare workers. Right now there are not enough providers, due in part to low wages. There are also 10,000 Oregon families on a waitlist for subsidized childcare. The push is also for lawmakers to put more money into subsidizing childcare for families. Daycare costs as much or more than rent for many people. KOIN 6 News will continue to follow this story Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. GREAT BEND, Kan. (KSNW) A babysitter discovered a man hiding under a childs bed near Great Bend. It happened in the 2000 block of Patton Road around 10:30 p.m. Monday. The Barton County Sheriffs Office says a babysitter was putting the children to bed when one of them told her that a monster was under their bed. Missing 3-month-old baby found safe at KC hospital The babysitter, hoping to comfort the child by showing them there was nothing, looked under the bed and came face-to-face with a man hiding underneath. There was an altercation, and the babysitter and a child were knocked over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man fled the home before the sheriffs office arrived. The man was identified as someone who used to live at the house but was barred from being there due to a protection from abuse order. The sheriffs office says deputies continued searching for the man in the area into the morning. He was found near the home again, and after a short foot pursuit, he was taken into custody. The 27-year-old man has been booked into the Barton County Jail on suspicion of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated burglary, aggravated battery, child endangerment, felony obstruction of a law enforcement officer, and violation of a protection from abuse order. He is being held on a $500,000 bond. Formal charges are still pending. KSN does not identify suspects until they have been formally charged in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. CLARKSBURG, Md. (DC News Now) An elementary school teacher in Montgomery County is in hot water after the family of an 8-year-old girl said she was harassed for being an American Muslim. The parents of the girl who attends Cabin Branch Elementary School filed a complaint with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) detailing a deeply troubling pattern of behavior from her teacher. Kensington neighbors concerned about proposed marijuana dispensary Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Maryland, the complaint said the teacher humiliated, threatened and intimidated the girl, particularly regarding her hijab. Who made disparaging remarks about her physical appearance and who allegedly subjected her to disparate treatment that led to her apparently receiving harsher consequences for infractions that other students were not receiving, Zainab Chaudry, director of CAIR in Maryland, said. The complaint alleged the teacher denied the girl access to basic necessities, including using the restroom and drinking water. This led to his daughter feeling, very anxious and very concerned, very afraid. She was reluctant to go to school, Chaudry said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chaudry said the family didnt get a satisfactory resolution from the school. Thats when the girls father took the complaint to CAIR, prompting advocates to contact MCPS. Immediately within, but not even a matter of days. We learned that the school had taken constructive action and that the teacher would no longer have access to the student, Chaudry said. Mold, air quality at Montgomery County elementary school draws concern Chaudry appreciates MCPS acting swiftly once they got involved. [However,] the fact that the family felt like they had to take that additional step to reach out to CAIR to request our assistance, it definitely signals that there is more work to be done, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement to CAIR, the girls father said, It means everything to my family that my daughter can now feel safe in class. This situation caused us a lot of stress and worry as parents, my daughter was afraid to go to school before. Shes young, she was struggling with what the teacher did. No ones kid should have to deal with this kind of situation from their teachers, no matter their religion. An MCPS spokesperson told DC News Now that because the incident is a personal matter, the school system is not allowed to comment on it. DC News Now asked again, personnel issues aside, for a comment on the alleged harassment of a child and did not get a response back. Maryland Attorney General announces no charges will be filed against officer in deadly Silver Spring shooting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, CAIR received 609 complaints and requests for assistance in Maryland. Chaudry believes that the number is low, given many unreported incidents. We hope that this outcome also inspires other families to also seek support if they are a loved one or its friend or someone that they know is going through a situation where they may potentially be discriminated against, Chaudry 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WHNT) The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce announced the birth of a new animal Monday. According to the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, Anuket was born on February 9. Anuket is a female Pygmy Hippopotamus named after the Egyptian goddess of the Nile River. The Montgomery Zoo said Anuket has been spending her first month of life bonding with her mom behind the scenes. (Photo: Montgomery Zoo) (Photo: Montgomery Zoo) (Photo: Montgomery Zoo) The zoo said the new hippo addition can now be viewed in the Pygmy Hippo nursing suite located near the Capybaras. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anuket made her public debut on March 14. Anuket is full of energy and eager to meet guests. Described as feisty yet full of love, she has already developed a strong personality and a particular fondness for watermelon. Her birth is especially significant as pygmy hippos are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This marks the eighth pygmy hippo birth at the Montgomery Zoo in the past nine years, highlighting the zoos dedication to conservation efforts, the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce said. The Chamber of Commerce said the Montgomery Zoo has a successful history of breeding Pygmy Hippos through the Species Survival Plan. Previous calves bred at the zoo are: Ronda (2024), Meela (2023), Hadari (2022), Betty Rose and Blanche (2019), Levi (2018) and Monty (2016). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Chamber of Commerce, all seven calves have been placed at other accredited facilities to support the continued growth of this endangered species. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) More than 200 Providence teachers have been notified that they would have to find another job in the state-run school district, Target 12 has learned. A total of 209 teachers within the Providence Teachers Union received displacement notices on Monday and Tuesday, according to a memo obtained by Target 12. Herman James, the districts chief talent officer, stated in a letter to the Providence School Board on Monday that for comparison, a total of 384 PTU members received displacement notices last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of PPSD annual staffing process, the district conducts displacement procedures for teachers and teacher assistants in alignment with our contractual agreements, James said. This process occurs due to shifts in student enrollment, programmatic changes, budgetary considerations, and cases where educators do not meet licensure compliance requirements. A displacement is not the same as being laid off or not-renewed, according to district officials, but means a teacher can apply for open positions they are qualified for in other schools. Last month, 17 non-tenured educators in the district were notified their contracts would not be renewed in the upcoming school year. The school board urged the R.I. Department of Education (RIDE) to rescind the decision. The district said in order for displaced teachers to obtain a new position, educators are required to apply for a minimum of five positions for the upcoming school year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You may apply for any position for which you are fully certified to teach, currently emergency or expert residency certified as long as you have provided proof to the Office of Human Resources that you are meeting your renewal requirements, a letter to displaced teachers stated. Teachers that do not acquire a new job at the end of the day on the last day of school will be assigned by human resources, according to the letter. Open positions will be posted on the school districts job board on Wednesday. James noted that there are 260 available positions. PPSD provided a breakdown of the positions on Wednesday. POSITION TOTAL Art 6 Business 3 CTE 8 ECH 16 ECH Sped. 1 Elementary 23 Elementary Sped. 4 Library 4 Music 3 PE/Health 16 Pre-K 1 Pre-K Sped. 1 School Counselor 11 School Nurse 6 School Social Worker 4 Sec. ELA 31 Sec. ESL 9 Sec. Language 5 Sec. Math 12 Sec. Science 6 Sec. Sped. 24 Sec. SS 12 Sec. Technology 1 Theater 2 Total 209 Separately, 95 teacher assistants were also notified they would be displaced, and that there are 104 positions available. TA jobs will be posted on April 7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. Josep Maria Recasens, currently chief operating officer at Ampere, will become CEO. Ampere, Renault Groups electric vehicles business unit, has promoted Chief Operating Officer Josep Maria Recasens to CEO, succeedinf Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo in that position. The unit includes all of Renault Groups EV-only factories, mostly in northern France, as well as R&D efforts focused on electric cars. It has about 10,000 employees. Recasens appointment comes at a critical time for electric vehicles at Renault Group. In addition to an overall push to improve EV market share to more than 20 percent by 2027 to meet EU emissions standards, Ampere is developing two sub-20,000 EVs, the next-generation Renault Twingo and a sibling model for Dacia, as it seeks to fend off low-cost competition from China. With the launch of Twingo and the first software-defined vehicle in 2026, the next compact EV lineup in 2028, and our efforts to reduce costs by 40 percent, we have a roadmap that matches our ambition: to become the benchmark for our industry in Europe, Recasens said in a statement. Ampere was originally split off from Renault Group in 2023 with the expectation of going public through an IPO or another mechanism. But that plan was canceled in January 2024 as investors enthusiasm for EV start-ups waned. Renaults one-time alliance partner Nissan has committed to invest up to 600 million, and Mitsubishi up to 200 million. Ampere also announced other management changes in a release on March 25: Maria Ollier, who joined Renault Group in 2024 from Faurecia, will become human resources chief; Sandra Gomez, now head of product planning and software at Ampere, adds responsibility for Ampere strategy; Vittorio dArienzo, head of platform strategy at Ampere, expands his role and becomes product global leader. Recasens, an engineering graduate of the University of Girona in Spain, started his automotive career in 2002 at Volkswagen Groups Seat brand. He held positions in R&D, product planning and international projects, including the Seat Ateca compact SUV from 2012 to 2016. He was appointed chief strategy officer in 2017, with the priority of accelerating Seats digital transformation. In 2020 he added the position of head of public affairs at Seat. He joined Renault Group in 2021 as senior vice president, head of strategy and business development. He was named to his current position at Ampere in November 2023. More than 11 million people visited Utahs Mighty Five national parks last year, a 5% increase over the previous year. In fact, national park visitation in the state grew 100% between 2005 and 2024. At the same time, National Park Service jobs grew 8%, according to a new report from the University of Utahs Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. As of 2024, more than 1,200 federal employees worked in tourism-related jobs in Utah, including 658 in leisure and hospitality (including national parks and recreation jobs) and 605 at the Federal Aviation Administration, per the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park and Zion National Park, Utah is home to 13 other national monuments, national recreation and geologic areas and national historic places. President Theodore Roosevelt established Utahs first national monument, Natural Bridges, in 1908, Jennifer Leaver, Gardner senior tourism analyst, said in the report. Since then, the states travel and tourism industry has boomed, with its 18 national parks and places receiving upwards of 16 million combined visitors annually. Park visitors spent $1.9 billion in Utah, generating a $3 billion economic impact in the state in 2023, according to the National Parks Service. Utah ranked third for national park visitor spending behind California and North Carolina. How much the feds put into Utah national parks All 18 parks in Utah are staffed by federal employees and receive federal funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal government allocated $48.9 million in ongoing funds to Utahs parks in 2023 and over $143 million in Great American Outdoor Act National Parks and Legacy Restoration Funds since 2021, according to the report. The states parks receive a combination of U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Department of Transportation ongoing and one-time funds annually. The money includes $103.2 million for national park projects, $24.6 million for 13 Bureau of Land management projects, and $15.5 million for one Forest Service Project. Utahs national parks and places comprise 5.6 million acres of land in the state. The National Parks Service manages all of them except for Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante and Jurassic national monuments and Ashley Karst and Flaming Gorge national recreation areas. Southwestern, southeastern, and northwestern Utah had the highest number of federal leisure and hospitality jobs in 2024, excluding FAA jobs, which are concentrated in Salt Lake County, according to the report. Garfield, Wayne, and Grand counties had the largest shares of federal leisure and hospitality jobs to total jobs. Travel and transportation funding Like the national parks and places, the states airports also receive federal funding and employ federal workers. FAA jobs include air traffic controllers, aviation safety inspectors, aviation engineers and technical specialists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Department of Transportation allocated $50.5 million in its Airport Improvement Program grant funds to the Salt Lake City International Airport and six regional and 11 municipal airports in 2024, per the report. The Salt Lake airport saw a record 28.3 million passengers last year. The Salt Lake airport received most of that funding ($34.8 million), while Utahs regional and municipal airports received $4.9 and $10.8 million, respectively. Utahs public transportation systems, including airports, roads, bridges, mass transit, and electric vehicle charging stations, have also received hundreds of millions of additional federal grant dollars in recent years. The report is the Gardner Institutes sixth in a series on state and federal economic connections. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2025 / SouthGobi Resources Ltd. (TSX-V:SGQ)(HK:1878) ("SouthGobi" or the "Company") announces that reference is made to the announcements of the Company dated July 31, 2023, August 18, 2023, February 26, 2024, May 22, 2024, June 12, 2024, January 20, 2025 and February 13, 2025 (the "Announcements") in relation to the Mongolia tax audit. Unless otherwise specified, capitalised terms used herein shall have the same meanings as those defined in the Announcements. On March 19, 2025, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary in Mongolia, Southgobi Sands LLC ("SGS"), received a notice from the Administrative Court in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (the "Administrative Court") requesting SGS provide supplemental information and cooperate with a Court proceeding brought by certain officers ("MTA Officials") of the Mongolian Tax Authority ("MTA"), as plaintiff, against the Tax Dispute Resolution Council ("TDRC"), as defendant. Upon further enquiry, the Company obtained a copy of an order dated March 7, 2025 issued by the Administrative Court (the "Court Order") regarding the commencement of Court proceedings brought by the MTA Officials. The Court Order suggests that the MTA Officials are attempting to dispute or overturn the previous decision made by the TDRC regarding the Re-assessment Result, in which the TDRC concluded that the tax penalty against SGS be reduced from approximately US$80.0 million to US$26.5 million. The Company is not a party to the aforementioned Court proceeding. According to the preliminary advice of the Company's independent tax consultant and legal advisers in Mongolia, Court proceedings initiated by individual members of the MTA against the TDRC rarely occurs. Based on the information available to the Company as of the date hereof, the Company is unable to ascertain the time required to conclude, and the likely outcome of, such Court proceeding and its impact to the Company. As of the date of this announcement, the Re-assessment Result remains legally valid. The Company will monitor the progress of the Court proceeding and will make further announcement(s) in order to keep its shareholders and potential investors informed as and when appropriate. Shareholders and potential investors of the Company are advised to exercise caution when dealing in the shares of the Company. About SouthGobi SouthGobi, listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange, owns and operates its flagship Ovoot Tolgoi coal mine in Mongolia. It also holds the mining licences of its other metallurgical and thermal coal deposits in South Gobi region of Mongolia. SouthGobi produces and sells coal to customers in China. SOUTH CAROLINA (WSAV) Dick Harpootlian, former State Senator and attorney who represented Alex Murdaugh, will now represent Hunter Biden in a libel suit. Harpootlian will represent Biden, son of Former President Joe Biden, in a federal libel suit against Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne in Los Angeles, Ca. He previously served as defense in the widely publicized 2023 trial in which Alex Murdaugh was found guilty of two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suit argues that Byrne falsely stated that Biden was reaching out to the Iranian government in the fall of 2021 and offering to have [his] father, President Joe Biden, unfreeze $8 billion in Iranian funds in return for $800 million being funneled into a numbered account for us. Biden calls the statements as outrageous and argues Byrne knows his statements are baseless and yet published and republished them anyway. In 2024, Biden pled guilty to tax and firearms-related charges. President Joe Biden pardoned his son for all the federal offenses before leaving office. WSAV has reached out to Harpootlians office for request to comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. Laurel District Court found probable cause Tuesday in the case of Brianna Rich, a 26-year-old London woman accused of shooting her mother. Rich was arrested by Laurel County Sheriff John Root around 9:30 p.m. March 14 on one count of murder. She was arraigned shortly after, pleading not guilty to murder. Laurel County Sheriffs Detective Taylor McDaniel, who is investigating the incident, served as a witness in District Court Tuesday, recounting the events and sharing new information regarding the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the London-Laurel County 911 Communication Center, Rich reported the shooting to dispatch, stating that she had shot at the female there and was performing CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Upon arrival to the scene a residence off Burnett Road, some seven miles southeast of London deputies saw Brianna Rich standing in the driveway with a deceased woman there as well. Deputies found approximately 10 shell casings while there. Richs mother Carol Rich was reported as dead at the scene with multiple gunshot wounds. Det. McDaniel shared that Carol Rich had been shot 5-7 times, both inside and outside of the residence, as the mother and daughter had had a dispute that took them outside. Blood was detected in the bathroom, kitchen, living room, and driveway. Detectives gathered that, based on blood splatter, Carol Richs body had been moved and shot again. Det. McDaniel testified that Brianna Rich told him that she shot her mother again when she couldnt get her to stop gurgling. McDaniel also stated that Brianna Rich was unemotional when speaking with him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although officers recovered a 9mm pistol on scene, the gun had not been determined as the weapon used in the shooting as of press time. Dep. Gilbert Acciardo informed The Sentinel-Echo that the LCSO did not have prior knowledge of a history of domestic disputes or violence between Brianna and Carol Rich. Acciardo additionally shared that there were no eyewitnesses to the crime. Brianna Rich remains lodged at the Laurel County Correctional Center in lieu of a $250,000 bond. Although defense attorney Emily Croucher requested that the bond be reviewed, it remained the same at press time. Rich will return to court April 18 at 9 a.m. to find out if she has been indicted by a grand jury. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Governor Spencer Cox has vetoed a bill that would have altered the way justices would be chosen and changed the courts governing provisions. In a letter to lawmakers, Cox expressed concerns regarding the bills break with tradition in giving the governor power to appoint Utahs chief justice. It is not lost on me that this bill actually gives me the Governor more power than I currently possess, Cox said in his statement to lawmakers. I admit it is very tempting to sign this bill and assure that the Chief Justice would need to stay in my good graces to retain his or her position. Knowing the head magistrate of our states highest court would have to think twice before ruling against me or checking my power is difficult to reject But just because I can, doesnt mean I should. And while I appreciate your faith and trust in extending me this new authority, I must respectfully decline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement S.B. 296 Judicial Amendments was a bill seeking to reform the way Utahs Supreme Court functioned, along with how its members were chosen. Among its provisions were: The governor appointing the courts chief justice during vacancies Requiring the governors selection for chief justice to be subject to advice and consent of the State Senate Modifying appointment procedures, and Modifying provisions relating to the internal management of the Supreme Court The bill was among several that were proposed to change the way Utahs court system worked. S.B. 296 also passed the legislature in controversy, after a deal was made between the courts and the legislature to drop some of these bills and allow others to remain. Although the judicial council remained neutral on S.B. 296. In a joint statement to ABC4.com, President Adams and Speaker Schultz said the veto had undermined the good faith compromise made between the legislature and the courts, and they didnt rule out an override. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This veto undermines that good-faith compromise, and we will work with our chambers to determine the best path forward, the statement reads. The Legislature remains firm in its commitment to improve transparency, efficiency, and integrity within all branches of government to ensure were responsive to and representative of the people in our state. The Utah State Bar Association issued a statement commending the Governors decision to veto. Elizabeth Wright, executive director of the Utah State Bar Association, said, Gov. Coxs decision to veto SB 296 demonstrates a thoughtful exercise of executive restraint and a deep respect for the constitutional principles that underpin our democratic system. Now that the bill has been vetoed, it will return to the legislature for further consideration. For bills that are vetoed, the legislature has until May 6 to begin a veto-override session in order to override the veto and allow the bill to become law. Along with the veto, the governor signed 200 additional bills, the biggest batch of bills signed in the 2025 General Session. In total, the governor has signed 376 bills, leaving 204 bills left for the governor to act on before the Mar. 27 deadline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bills the governor signed today are as follows: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) A state lawmaker whose House district includes Carolina Forest wants to dramatically ramp up penalties for people convicted of starting fires on public lands. State Rep. Tim McGinnis, R-Myrtle Beach, says he wants an update to the 63-year-old law that right now only sets fines of between $200 and $500 and a maximum jail time of 30 days. Thats not enough to make you think twice, I think, he said. You know, you can get traffic violations that will set you back more than that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McGinnis on Wednesday shared with News13 a draft version of the updated law, which sets fines of between $1,000 and $5,000 and a minimum one-year jail sentence for first offenses: Subsequent ones could bring fines of up to $25,000 and three years imprisonment. You think twice before you get behind the wheel of an automobile if youve been drinking because, you know the costs that could come with it, he said And I wanted the same thing to be done for burning. McGinnis says he hopes higher penalties deter those from burning during a ban. He says hes heard support from both fire and forestry officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were so fortunate that we didnt lose any property, and we didnt have any firefighters injured or killed in the line of duty, he said. And I dont want to see our firefighters be put in that position again because of somebodys neglect. With more than 12.8 million acres of forestland statewide, officials say taking care of that land must be a shared responsibility. A 2023 Congressional Research Service paper said 89% of all wildfires between 2018 and 2022 were human-caused. Part of team South Carolina are its people, and so when the governor and local folks do a burning ban, that is for a reason. And even if theres not a burning ban, you have to work with your fire department to make sure theres not something going on that you dont know about, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette told News13 at a March 8 stop in Conway. State Forester Scott Phillips said he supports lawmakers revisiting penalties for people convicted of starting fires on public lands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fines and fees that are on our tickets are very old, most of those originated in the 60s so it does deserve looking at, and were looking forward to evaluating that with the General Assembly, he said. * * * 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. * * * 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. ZEBULON, N.C. (WNCT) Two individuals were arrested in Nash County for trafficking methamphetamine. On Wednesday, Mar. 26, 2025, a search warrant was conducted by the Nash County Sheriffs Office Narcotics Unit and the Criminal Investigations Division at the address of 4165 Massey Rd, Zebulon, N.C. This was a result of complaints regarding the sale of methamphetamine by resident Amy Massey Wells. Several people were located on the property where officials found 45 grams of crystal methamphetamine packaged for sale, digital scales used to weigh narcotics, plastic bags for packaging narcotics, and glass smoking pipes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amy Massey Wells and Michael Ross Murray Jr. were arrested and charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Wells was also charged with Maintaining a Dwelling for Controlled Substances. Both Wells and Murray were placed in the Nash County Detention Center under a $50,000 Secured 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 WNCT. After video surveillance gave Nashville Police a suspect description, cellphone data and Instagram evidence led to the arrest of a 21-year-old man in connection with the execution-style killing of another person in a city park last year. Miguel Cruz-Lopez, 21, was booked into the Downtown Detention Center early Wednesday on charges of especially aggravated robbery and criminal homicide. Two Antioch residents were out for a walk at about 8 a.m. at William Pitts Park April 28 when they stumbled upon 36-year-old Francisco Almazan-Rojas dead of multiple gunshot wounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Almazan-Rojas had been shot seven times, five of which were at close range, according to an arrest affidavit for Cruz-Lopez. The victim "was in a kneeling position on the ground" at the time of the shooting, according to the Medical Examiner's autopsy report. Investigtors collected several 9mm cartridge casings from the scene and several bullets from the victim's body. They all came from the same pistol, the affidavit said. Three days after Almazan-Rojas' body was found, his pickup truck, with his cellphone inside, was found abandoned on Luton Street in East Nashville. Police used video footage from East Nashville businesses to identify Cruz-Lopez. "After identifying, obtaining and analyzing data from his Instagram account, I discovered he possessed two different 9mm caliber firearms prior to and after the victim's murder," a detective wrote in the arrest affidavit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cellphone records for Cruz-Lopez placed him at the park at the same time as the victim's phone. He also traveled the same path as the victim's cellphone from the park to where the truck was abandoned, according to the affidavit. Cruz-Lopez is being held at the jail without bond on the criminal homicide charge. This story was updated to add a video. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Cell phone, Instagram help Nashville cops make arrest in park killing NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Its been over two months since federal funding that helps refugees resettle in the U.S. was cut. In Nashville, a local nonprofit told News 2 it has put a strain on its clients, and now the organization is relying on community support to stay afloat. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE) is a nonprofit that helps refugees cleared to move here legally resettle in Middle Tennessee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We pick them up from the airport, we help them with cultural orientation, we help them find their first apartment, first job, we help set them up with English classes if they need it, said Annie Brzezinski, communications manager at NICE. However, earlier this month, the U.S. Department of State terminated all its agreements with organizations that help resettle refugees. On top of that, back in January, federal assistance programs that help refugees already in the U.S. resettle were put on pause. The circumstances have been quite difficult; we are no longer relying on that funding, it has been cut entirely, so we are being creative and relying on other sources, Brzezinski said. | READ MORE | Latest headlines from Nashville and Davidson County Brzezinski said the nonprofit now fully relies on community support to help refugees. Weve seen folks donate for the first time, sign up to volunteer for the first time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March alone, NICE helped with 37 job placements and matched 24 refugee families with mentors, and 35 students completed digital literacy training. In the last 20 years, NICE has helped resettle over 40,000 individuals in Middle Tennessee. Brzezinski said, despite the hurdles the nonprofit now faces, the work isnt going to stop. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Even though this is truly an unprecedented time in refugee resettlement, we believe wholeheartedly that NICE will remain no matter what, Brzezinski said. We have seen such an outpouring of support, and even though refugee resettlement might not continue, we have programs that will survive, and we will continue this work of welcome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre interested in volunteering or donating, 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 WKRN News 2. Editors note: On Wednesday afternoon, a NATO spokesperson issued a statement clarifying comments by Secretary General Mark Rutte earlier in the day on the missing soldiers. On the 4 US soldiers missing in a military exercise in Lithuania, the search is ongoing. We regret any confusion about remarks @SecGenNATO delivered on this today. He was referring to emerging news reports and was not confirming the fate of the missing, which is still unknown. Four soldiers died this week during a training incident in Lithuania, according to The Associated Press, which quoted NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. "This is still early news so we do not know the details. This is really terrible news, and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones," Rutte told reporters Wednesday, according to the AP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The soldiers had been missing since Tuesday afternoon and were members of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, based at Fort Stewart, Georgia. Their M88 Recovery Vehicle, which they were training in, had also been missing. Read Next: Marine Staff Sergeant Charged with Premeditated Murder Nearly 7 Months After Spouse's Death The identities of the soldiers had not been released. The Army and other military services typically wait to release that information until next of kin has been notified. The M88 is a heavily armored tow vehicle designed for retrieving disabled tanks and other large military equipment. It was being used as part of a broader training mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An Army official familiar with the situation said initial reports suggest the soldiers' vehicle may have become submerged in a swamp. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, cautioned that search teams are still exploring all possibilities, and the Army has not yet provided a definitive account of the incident. Lithuanian authorities launched an extensive search operation, deploying law enforcement personnel, military units and aircraft assets to assist U.S. forces. The soldiers were participating in a routine training exercise near Pabrade, a strategic military area close to the Belarusian border. Belarus, a staunch Russian ally, has played a critical role in Moscow's ongoing war in Ukraine, making Lithuania a key location for NATO training operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I would like to personally thank the Lithuanian Armed Forces and first responders who quickly came to our aid in our search operations," Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, the V Corps commanding general, said in a released statement. "It's this kind of teamwork and support that exemplifies the importance of our partnership and our humanity regardless of what flags we wear on our shoulders." The news comes after two 3rd Infantry Division soldiers died in a separate tactical vehicle training incident in January near Fort Stewart. Staff Sgt. Shelbe Butner, 28, and Spc. Jacob Mullen, 25, died when their Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, or JLTV, rolled over into a body of water and the cabin filled with water, according to a service incident report. The 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, was deployed to Europe in January as part of a broader effort to bolster NATO's front lines. Lithuania, a NATO member since 2004, has hosted a steady rotation of allied forces in recent years, serving as a key training ground for military exercises designed to deter Russian aggression. While combat fatalities have become relatively rare in recent years, tactical vehicle accidents are a leading cause of death for service members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such incidents have been attributed to sleep deprivation during training exercises and scant training on tactical vehicle driving. The Army saw 153 tactical vehicle accidents between 2010 and 2019 that resulted in a death or significant injury, according to data from the Government Accountability Office. Related: The Top Killer of Soldiers, Army Vehicle Deaths Are Tied to Poor Training, Though Numbers Down NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has spoken out unequivocally about how the Alliance will behave in the event of a possible Russian attack on Poland or another member state. Source: Rutte on Wednesday at a joint press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk during his visit to Warsaw, as reported by European Pravda Details: The NATO secretary general stressed that Poland is a vital contributor to NATO's collective defence at sea, in the air and on land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When it comes to the defence of Poland and the general defence of NATO territory, if anyone were to miscalculate and think they can get away with an attack on Poland or on any other Ally, they will be met with the full force of this fierce Alliance. Our reaction will be devastating," Rutte said. He added that this should be "very clear to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, and anyone else who wants to attack us". Rutte stressed that the transatlantic partnership remains the foundation of the Alliance, and this will not change. Background: Tusk, for his part, stressed that Warsaw wants quick peace in Ukraine but believes that it must be fair and guarantee the security of Ukraine, Poland, and NATO countries. Tusk recently announced that he is working on a model of military training for every adult male in Poland in case of war. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Spain's antitrust watchdog, the National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC), has initiated an investigation into potential anti-competitive practices involving Italian insurer Generali and Spanish health insurance provider Sanitas. The focus of the probe is a collaborative agreement between the two companies that commenced in January 2023, which is now under scrutiny for potentially violating competition laws. The CNMC is examining whether the agreement includes clauses that could restrict competition, specifically regarding the management of healthcare services for Generali's clients. The probe aims to determine if the insurers have fixed prices and commercial or service conditions, potentially affecting all current and future Generali customers covered by the agreement. The watchdog is also analysing if there are elements within the contract that could limit competition in certain client segments or other markets not directly related to the agreement. After a confidential information phase, substantial evidence suggested potential breach of Article 1 of the Law for the Defence of Competition (LDC) by both companies. The Italian insurer said it was "confident" about the terms of agreement "with the law in terms of competition", adding it remained "at the disposal of the CNMC to provide all the necessary information", reported Reuters. "This is a standard service provision reinsurance agreement in the industry," the company said. Under the ten-year agreement, Sanitas provides Generali's policyholders with access to an medical network including 51,000 professionals, 240 contracted hospitals and more than 4,100 medical centres. Meanwhile, in a separate development, Generali has completed the acquisition of shares in Generali China Insurance Company Limited (GCI), achieving sole ownership of its property and casualty insurance business in China. With all necessary regulatory approvals in place, GCI will now operate under the Generali brand in the Chinese market. Generali Group reported a 5.4% increase in its adjusted net result for the year 2024 to 3.8bn, up from 3.5bn a year ago. "Spain launches antitrust probe into Generali and Sanitas " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned on Wednesday that any attack on Poland or another alliance member would meet a forceful response, reaffirming the bloc's commitment to defending its eastern flank. "If anyone were to miscalculate and think they can get away with an attack on Poland or on any other ally, they will be met with the full force of this fierce alliance," Rutte said. "Our reaction will be devastating." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Referring directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Rutte added: "This has to be very clear to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, and anyone else who wants to attack us." Rutte's remarks, made alongside Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw, comes amid growing concerns in Poland and the Baltic states that Russia could seek to test NATO's unity if it prevails in Ukraine, perhaps through a limited military incursion or hybrid warfare. Poland, which allocates 5% of its GDP to defence, is one of the alliances most heavily armed eastern members. Tusk echoed Rutte's stance, calling for a "just peace" in Ukraine. "Only a just peace will give us all a sense of security," he said. ASHEVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) The North Carolina National Guard (NG) and NC Emergency Management (EM) worked together to rescue a firefighter who became injured while conducting clearing operations 20 miles south of Asheville. Around 3 p.m. on March 25, a seven-man rescue team, made up of three EM technicians, two National Guard pilots, one NG crew member and one NG medic, extracted the injured firefighter. It took around 30 minutes to rescue the firefighter. Credit: NC National Guard The firefighter, who was conscious but in severe pain, sustained a leg injury when a tree fell and trapped him underneath. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NC Emergency Mangements Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (HART) dropped him off at Polk Middle School in Middle Springs, where he received treatment from local EMS. Pilots and EM personnel are back in Asheville, preparing for potential future missions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) Wednesday was Nurses Day at the Legislature. Led by the North Carolina Nurses Association, hundreds of nurses marched to the state capitol to ask lawmakers to stand behind policies they say support them. By the end of the year, the nursing field will welcome Paige Ward among their ranks. Im very confident with being able to secure a position and knowing that nursing is such a flexible position or flexible career path, said Ward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A student at Eastern Carolina Universitys School of Nursing, she chose the healthcare field to help people in rural communities like the one she was raised in. Rural health care is very important to me because of the challenges of contacting your doctor, transportation to your doctor. So, expanding that in the eastern part of the state is very important, Ward said. That passion is why shes among the hundreds of nursing students and working nurses taking part in Nurses Day at the Legislature. Trisha Richardson, president of the NCNA says the day is about acknowledging challenges and going to lawmakers for solutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of those challenges is a dwindling workforce caused by aging nurses, burnout induced turnover and a nurse educator shortage. We have nursing students that are getting turned away. They want to be nurses, but theyre not able to step in because they dont have enough clinical seats in the setting, said Richardson. A shortage of more than 12,500 registered nurses is anticipated in North Carolina over the next decade which could lead to a strained healthcare system and longer waiting times for patients. Governor Josh Stein is joining NCNA in pushing for increased funding to hire more nursing instructors and the creation of more clinical opportunities for students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With our population continuing to age and that share of the population continuing to increase, demand for nurses is only going to increase. We have to tackle this problem now, Stein told the crowd of nurses at the Raleigh Convention Center. He expressed his support for policies related to workplace safety, fair pay and more investments in school nurses. As they continue that fight, its the resiliency of nurses that will carry the profession. What it takes to be a nurse and be resilient and persevere is to remember your calling, Richardson said. Its something Ward is keeping in mind. Knowing the environment that you go into is very supportive is what relieves the stress and anxiety of it, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of Nurses Day at the Legislature, nurses and students walked from the convention center to the General Assembly to speak with lawmakers directly about a number of bills. The bills include: House Bill 390: The bill seeks to alleviate the daily impact of surgical smoke on surgical teams. Senate Bill 537/House Bill 514: These bills call for the streamlining of regulations to allow Advanced Practice Registered Nurses more opportunities to practice Senate Bill 360/House Bill 464: These bills aim to provide at least one nurse in each school Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) An Oklahoma family is looking for answers and justice after their son was shot and beaten in the middle of the night outside of an apartment complex. Sharon Trouts world was turned upside down after her son, Zach Dixon was outside of apartment near Western and Hefner Road in the early morning hours of April 20, 2021, when he was shot twice. He had been shot point blank in the left side of his head. He had also been shot in his lower abdomen, said Trout. He deserves justice. We deserve justice. This has changed our entire lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doctors told Trout if her son lived, he would be on a ventilator for the rest of his life. While hes beaten the odds, it comes at a high price. VIDEO: Three caught on camera stealing from dispensary He walks, he drags on the left side. His left arm is pretty much useless, said Trout. Years later, Trout said the case appears to have stalled and shes hoping someone can come forward with a missing piece to provide justice for her son and his young daughter. I wish you would just come forward, Trout said. It would it would take a big weight off of you and you could quit running and because Im not ever going to stop, I will never stop looking for who did this to him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information is asked to contact the Oklahoma City Police Department. There is a cash reward available and Dixons family said they are willing to double it for any leads. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. LINCOLN, Neb. (KCAU) Nebraska officials are issuing a statewide tornado drill Wednesday morning. The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said it will take place at 10 a.m. CDT. At that time, the National Weather Service will conduct a drill through NOAA All Hazard Weather Radio. Nebraska communities may also sound off their sirens as part of the drill. The drill comes as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week, where officials highlight the importance of preparedness for severe weather. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NEMA Assistant Director Erv Portis said that some Nebraskans have already experienced dangerous fire weather this year, and should know what steps to take. Norfolk Public Schools accepts superintendents resignation; search for interim superintendent to begin Preparing for severe weather is something we should actively do year-round, Portis said. Dont wait until the siren sounds to start looking for your families essential items. Nebraskans have already faced dangerous fire weather this year, he added. Make sure everyone in your home knows and understands what to do if you were asked to evacuate on short notice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While tornado season in Siouxland peaks in June and July, tornadoes can strike at any time of the year. For more information on how to prepare for a tornado, click here. Every day this week, KCAU 9 is posting a story spotlighting a different aspect of severe weather. Maggie Warren contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. NEENAH, Wis. (WFRV) The Neenah Police Department announced in a release that one of their officers has been terminated from the force after he was charged with two counts of child pornography possession. According to the release, Officer Owen Halls had been employed by the department since March 25, 2024. On Monday, Neenah Police Chief Aaron L. Olson was alerted to an Internet Crimes Against Children tip with the suspect identified as Neenah Police Officer Owen Halls. Stole from every taxpayer in the country: Wisconsin man ordered to pay $2.2 million in restitution to Medicaid/Medicare, 21 months in prison Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kaukauna Police Department met with Chief Olson regarding the report, and evidence was handed off, with plans to detain Halls on Wednesday. Multiple search warrants were executed by the Kaukauna Police Department, leading to the following charge: Possession of child pornography (2 counts) The Kaukauna Police Department later confirmed the tip was linked to an address in their jurisdiction, and their investigation led to multiple search warrants and subpoenas that determined Owen Halls was a suspect. Mr. Halls alleged conduct has disgraced our department, our citizens and law enforcement as a whole, Chief Olson said in a release. He has been terminated from our department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Halls graduated from the law enforcement academy at Fox Valley Technical College on August 2, 2024, and started field training soon after. Regarding probation, Chief Olson added the following details in a follow-up to the original release: Many agencies have a one year probation period. Our probation period doesnt end until one year after they complete field training, so he would have been on probation until November 26, 2025. Neenah Police Chief Aaron L. Olson Former Green Bay Packer charged for dog fighting in largest seizure of dogs from one person The release added that they are following a procedure to decertify him as a Wisconsin Law Enforcement Officer. Chief Olson added the following statement: As your police chief, I am sorry. We conduct very thorough backgrounds, but somehow, Mr. Halls was able to deceive all of us. I understand this will and should cause concern. In my seven years as your police chief, nothing has disappointed me more than the reported actions of this former officer. Neenah Police Chief Aaron L. Olson No additional details are available at this time. The investigation is ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated threats on Wednesday to seize territory in the Gaza strip if Hamas failed to release the remaining hostages it still holds. "The more Hamas continues in its refusal to release our hostages, the more powerful the repression we exert will be," Netanyahu told a hearing in parliament, which was occasionally interrupted by shouting from opposition members. "This includes seizing territory and it includes other things," he said. (Reporting by James Mackenzie; Editing by Andrew Heavens) Exempt-interest dividends, often paid by municipal bond funds, are generally free from federal taxes. However, they may still be taxed at the state level. How states tax exempt-interest dividends depends on factors like the investors residency and where the bonds were issued. Some states exclude dividends from in-state municipal bonds while taxing those from out-of-state issuers. Others tax all exempt-interest dividends regardless of origin. A financial advisor can help you navigate the tax implications of certain investments, including municipal bonds. Connect with an advisor today. What Are Exempt-Interest Dividends? Exempt-interest dividends are distributions from mutual funds that invest in municipal bonds issued by state and local governments to finance public projects. These dividends represent the tax-free interest earned by the fund on its bond holdings, which passes to investors. Unlike traditional dividends from stocks or taxable bond funds, exempt-interest dividends do not stem from corporate earnings but rather from government-issued debt instruments. The appeal of these dividends largely depends on an investor's income level, portfolio strategy and long-term financial goals. Investors often use funds that generate exempt-interest dividends to manage tax-efficient income. This is especially true among those in higher tax brackets, where the benefits of tax-free earnings become more valuable. While these dividends are not subject to federal income tax, investors must report these on their tax return. They count toward modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) and can affect Social Security taxation or ones exposure to the alternative minimum tax (AMT). States That Fully Exempt Exempt-Interest Dividends A couple works on their tax return together. SmartAsset and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Nine states do not impose personal income taxes , thereby fully exempting exempt-interest dividends from taxation. In these states, residents can benefit from the federal tax-exempt status of these dividends without additional state tax implications. These states are: Alaska Florida Nevada New Hampshire South Dakota Tennessee Texas Washington Wyoming New Hampshire previously taxed interest and dividends, but repealed this tax in January 2025. Its important to note that while these states offer full exemptions, tax regulations can change over time. Investors should consult with tax professionals or refer to state tax authorities to confirm current tax treatments of exempt-interest dividends in their respective states. 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). 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. By Ariane Luthi ZURICH (Reuters) -One of Switzerland's main political parties could soon propose capping UBS's investment banking activities as part of a regulatory overhaul aimed at making the sector less risky, a senior lawmaker said on Wednesday. The right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP), the biggest group in parliament, would pitch the plan as soon as possible if the government proposed that UBS fully capitalize its foreign units, SVP lawmaker Thomas Matter said. Limiting the investment bank could be a way of reducing the amount of extra capital UBS would need to hold, he said. "I will propose that investment banking may account for a maximum of 30% of the total business of a systemically important bank and that the business areas are taken into account in the risk weighting," Matter told Reuters. Reuters reported this week that UBS has floated the idea of capping the size of its investment bank as one concession it is considering to try to reduce the amount of capital it might have to stump up under government proposals now expected in early June. Responding to that report, a UBS spokesperson said on Tuesday it supported in principle the government's efforts to strengthen financial stability provided they did not put disproportionate burdens on the institution. Reached on Wednesday for a response to Matter's remarks, the spokesperson said the bank's position was unchanged. UBS has been facing tougher regulation since it acquired Credit Suisse after its old rival collapsed in 2023, leaving Switzerland with just one major global bank. The enlarged bank has a balance sheet bigger than the Swiss economy and authorities want to avoid another meltdown by imposing stricter rules. These focus on the amount of capital UBS must hold to contain the potential risk to taxpayers. Financial market regulator FINMA and the Swiss National Bank have backed making UBS fully capitalize its foreign units. UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti has pushed back against saddling the bank with a heavier capital burden. He argues the lender is already well capitalized and that excessive regulation would put both UBS and Switzerland at a disadvantage. Matter said that while UBS is "much safer than it was before the financial crisis", the new legislation would need to be effective well beyond Ermotti's tenure at the bank to ward against potential mismanagement in the future. Excluding non-core and legacy assets, the investment bank accounted for about 21% of UBS's risk-weighted assets at end-2024, which would still allow some room for growth. By Samia Nakhoul and Timour Azhari DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa has a lot to prove to win over Western powers. If the first few week of his rule are anything to go by, he may be heading in the wrong direction. The West is watching Syria's leaders closely to ensure they rein in the Islamist jihadis who killed hundreds of Alawites, create an inclusive government with effective institutions, maintain order in a country fractured by years of civil war and prevent a resurgence of Islamic State or al Qaeda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To hammer home the message, three European envoys made clear in a March 11 meeting with Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani in Damascus that cracking down on the jihadi fighters was their top priority and that international support for the nascent administration could evaporate unless it took decisive action. The meeting has not previously been reported. "The abuses that have taken place in recent days are truly intolerable, and those responsible must be identified and condemned," said French Foreign Ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine, when asked about the message delivered in Damascus. "There is no blank check for the new authorities." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reuters spoke to the three European envoys as well as four regional officials during a trip to Damascus. They all stressed that the authorities must get a grip on security across the country and prevent any repeat killings. "We asked for accountability. The punishment should go on those who committed the massacres. The security forces need to be cleaned up," said one European envoy, who was among the group of officials who delivered the message. Washington has also called on Syria's leaders to hold the perpetrators of the attacks to account. U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said they were monitoring the interim authority's actions to determine U.S. policy for Syria. The problem for Sharaa, however, is that his Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group only comprises around 20,000 fighters, according to two assessments by Western governments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That makes him reliant on the tens of thousands of fighters from other groups including the very hardline jihadist factions he is being asked to combat and moving against them could plunge Syria back into war, five diplomats and three analysts said. Thousands of Sunni Muslim foreigners, from countries including China, Albania, Russia and Pakistan, joined Syria's rebels early in the civil war to fight against the rule of Bashar al-Assad and the Iran-backed Shi'ite militias who supported him, giving the conflict a sectarian overtone. One of the reasons Sharaa now depends on a relatively small force of some 20,000 fighters from several disparate groups, including the foreign jihadis, is because he dissolved the national army soon after taking power While the step was meant to draw a line under five decades of autocratic Assad family rule, diplomats and analysts said it echoed Washington's decision to disband the Iraqi army after the fall of Saddam Hussein - and could lead to similar chaos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sharaa's move, along with mass dismissals of public sector workers, has deepened divisions in Syria and left hundreds of thousands without income, potentially pushing trained soldiers into insurgent groups or unemployment, worsening Syria's instability, according to five European and Arab officials. Neither Sharaa's office nor the Syrian foreign ministry responded to requests for comment for this story. STUCK IN A PARADOX In addition to the challenge of quelling sectarian violence, Sharaa must also contend with a host of foreign powers from the United States to Russia, Israel, Turkey and Iran - all turning Syria's territory into a geopolitical chessboard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turkey holds the north, backing opposition forces while suppressing Kurdish ambitions. U.S.-backed Kurdish-led forces control the east with its vital oil fields, while Israel capitalised on Assad's fall to bolster its military foothold. It now controls a 400-square-km demilitarised buffer zone, supports the Druze minority and is opposed to the Syrian leadership. In response to the massacres of civilians, Sharaa has established an investigation committee and promised to punish those responsible, even those close to him. But any action against the jihadis who carried out the killings could ignite factional infighting, purges and power struggles - leaving the new government stuck in a paradox, the diplomats and analysts said. "Obviously Sharaa doesn't control the foreign jihadis and does not call all the shots," said Marwan Muasher, vice president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "What is clear is that the massacres were carried out by people who are Salafi jihadists, and are not listening to what he's saying." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While diplomats recognise that the inquiry is a step in the right direction, they said its credibility would have been far stronger with U.N. and international observers. Ultimately, they said, the true test of Sharaa's leadership lies not just in the commission's findings but in how he deals with the fighters responsible for the atrocities. The massacres were, however, a stark reminder of the forces at play in post-Assad Syria, signalling a brutal reality that toppling a dictator is the beginning of a larger, more perilous battle to shape the country's future. Abdulaziz Sager, founder of the Saudi-based Gulf Research Center, said the presence of "rogue groups" - the foreign jihadis - operating outside the law would lead to a collapse in security and undermine the state's authority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Therefore, the new leadership has no choice but to take firm action against such violations," he said. An Arab diplomat said political support from Arab states was also not unlimited, and would need to be matched by concrete steps, including inclusive governance, protection of minorities and real progress on the ground. That means genuine power-sharing with Alawites, Christians, Kurds and other minorities - and only then can the new leadership stabilise Syria and garner U.S. and European support, the Arab diplomat said. Washington and European states have tied the lifting of sanctions, imposed under Assad, to the new authorities proving their commitment to inclusive governance and the protection of minorities. Removing these sanctions is crucial to reviving Syria's shattered economy, Sharaa's most pressing challenge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SAME PLAYBOOK? But despite promises of reform, the five-year constitution Sharaa unveiled this month gave him absolute power as president, prime minister, head of the armed forces and chief of national security, as well as granting him the authority to appoint judges, ministers and a third of parliament - dashing hopes for democratic reforms. The constitution also enshrines Islamic law as "the main source" of legislation. Critics argue that the constitution swaps autocracy for Islamist theocracy, deepening fears over Sharaa's roots as the leader of a hardline Islamist faction once allied with al Qaeda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kurds, who control northeastern Syria and recently agreed to integrate with the new government, criticised the temporary constitution for "reproducing authoritarianism in a new form". Syria's dilemma, analysts say, mirrors the trials faced by Arab states a decade ago when, in 2011, a wave of uprisings ousted dictators in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Yemen. The "Arab Spring" upheavals promised democratic revival, but takeovers by Islamists, military coups, and violent fragmentation turned these hopes into setbacks. The victories were short-lived, with states such as Yemen and Libya descending into violence and chaos. Syria, having endured a far longer and bloodier conflict, now stands at a similar crossroad. Analysts say if Syria's rulers adopt exclusionary policies that ignore the cultural, religious, ethnic diversity of its citizens, they are bound to fail - just as late Islamist President Mohammed Mursi did in Egypt after the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak. In Mursi's case, his divisive constitution failed to meet the people's diverse demands and led to his toppling by the army. Such a policy in Syria, the analysts add, would fuel domestic resistance, antagonise neighbours, and prompt foreign intervention. "Some internal and external forces wanted a secular state, while the constitutional declaration reaffirmed the state's religious-Islamic identity, stating that Islamic law (Sharia) would be the primary source of legislation," said Sager. "A possible compromise could have been a model similar to Turkey's - a secular state governed by an Islamic party." Muasher at the Carnegie Endowment said Assad's fall should serve as a warning to those who replaced him in Syria. He said Sharaa must decide whether to adopt the same playbook that made Assad vulnerable and led to the mass Sunni uprising that eventually ousted him - or adopt a different course. "Syria's new rulers must recognise that the brutal authoritarian model of the regime they replaced was ultimately unsustainable, as is any political system based on exclusion and iron-fisted rule," Muasher said. "If they fall back on repression, they will subject Syria to a grim fate." (Reporting by Samia Nakhoul and Timour Azhari in Damascus; Additional reporting by John Irish in Paris, Matt Spetalnick and Humerya Pamuk in Washington; Writing by Samia Nakhoul; Editing by David Clarke) Yuval Abraham, one of the filmmakers behind the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, has criticized the Academy for not commenting on the attack of his Palestinian co-director Hamdan Ballal. Ballal was released by Israeli authorities on Tuesday after Abraham wrote on X the day prior that he had gone missing after being attacked. A group of settlers just lynched Hamdan Ballal, co-director of our film No Other Land, Abraham said. 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. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reports of Ballals attack and detainment sparked a petition calling for his release and statements from organizations like the International Documentary Association. On Wednesday, Abraham called out the Academy in a post on X for not speaking out. Sadly, the U.S. Academy, which awarded us an Oscar three weeks ago, declined to publicly support Hamdan Ballal while he was beaten and tortured by Israeli soldiers and settlers, he wrote. The European Academy voiced support, as did countless other award groups and festivals. Several U.S. Academy members especially in the documentary branch pushed for a statement, but it was ultimately refused. We were told that because other Palestinians were beaten up in the settler attack, it could be considered unrelated to the film, so they felt no need to respond. Abraham continued: In other words, while Hamdan was clearly targeted for making No Other Land (he recalled soldiers joking about the Oscar as they tortured him), he was also targeted for being Palestinian like countless others every day who are disregarded. This, it seems, gave the Academy an excuse to remain silent when a filmmaker they honored, living under Israeli occupation, needed them the most. Its not too late to change this stance. Even now, issuing a statement condemning the attack on Hamdan and the Masafer Yatta community would send a meaningful message and serve as a deterrent for the future. The Academy did not immediately respond to Varietys request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Ballal told ABC News from the hospital that he is afraid, adding: I feel, when they attack me, I will lose my life. Ballal told ABC News that he was severely beaten at the hands of Jewish settlers at his home on Monday, just outside the village of Susiya. It was a hard, hard attack, Ballal told ABC News. You know, I feel I will die, because this attack was so hard, I bleed from everywhere. Im crying from deeply in my heart. I feel pain everywhere in my body. So, they continue attacking me like 15-20 minutes. Ballal also confirmed the presence of soldiers with guns. An Israeli police statement said that Ballal and other Palestinians were incarcerated on conditions that include not contacting other people involved and self-bail. There were also allegations of stone throwing, which Ballal denies. I didnt throw stones, I didnt do any problems with the settlers, Ballal told ABC News. The settlers came attacking me and beating me. Thats it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Associated Press, Ballal was held at an army base, blindfolded for 24 hours and forced to sleep under a freezing air conditioner. All my body is pain, Ballal told AP. I heard the voices of the soldiers, they were laughing about me I heard Oscar but I didnt speak Hebrew. The Associated Press reported that activists from the Center for Jewish Nonviolence saw Ballal get beat up by Israeli settlers on the scene, describing that a group of 10-20 masked settlers attacked him and other Jewish activists with stones and sticks, and smashed their car windows and slashed their tires. On Tuesday, a group of global filmmakers including Alex Gibney and Christine Vachon signed a petition for Ballals release, saying that 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the petition was gathering steam with more than 4,500 signatures, Abraham posted on X that Ballal had 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, Abraham posted on X on Tuesday. No Other Land, made by an Israeli-Palestinian collective including Abraham, Ballal, Basel Adra and Rachel Szor, 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. The film first premiered at last years Berlin Film Festival, where it earned top documentary jury and audience prizes. The documentary continued to earn critical acclaim attention on the fall festival circuit, where it played at the Toronto, Vancouver and New York film festivals. Despite this, the film still doesnt have a U.S. distributor, leading the filmmakers to self-release the film in New York City on Jan. 31 and Los Angeles on Feb. 7. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Oscar-winning director Yuval Abraham has criticised the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences for refusing to put out a public statement in support of his No Other Land co-director, Hamdan Ballal, who was recently attacked by Israeli settlers and later detained by the Israeli military. Ballal, a Palestinian filmmaker, and his co-directors Abraham, Palestinian activist Basel Adra and Israeli director Rachel Szor, won the 2025 Oscar for Best Documentary Feature for their film No Other Land, which depicts the destruction of the occupied West Banks Masafer Yatta by Israeli soldiers and the alliance that develops between Adra and Abraham. On Monday, activists said Ballal was beaten by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank before being arrested by the Israeli military. He has since been freed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, according to Abraham, the US Academy, which awarded us an Oscar three weeks ago, declined to publicly support Hamdan Ballal while he was beaten and tortured by Israeli soldiers and settlers. The European Academy voiced support, as did countless other award groups and festivals. Several US Academy members especially in the documentary branch pushed for a statement, but it was ultimately refused, he wrote on X. We were told that because other Palestinians were beaten up in the settler attack, it could be considered unrelated to the film, so they felt no need to respond. Palestinian director Hamdan Ballal poses with his Oscar after being freed from detention by Israeli Forces (AFP via Getty) He continued: In other words, while Hamdan was clearly targeted for making No Other Land (he recalled soldiers joking about the Oscar as they tortured him), he was also targeted for being Palestinian like countless others every day who are disregarded. This, it seems, gave the Academy an excuse to remain silent when a filmmaker they honoured, living under Israeli occupation, needed them the most. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abraham further urged the Academy to change its stance and issue a statement condemning the attack on Hamdan and the Masafer Yatta community. Sadly, the US Academy, which awarded us an Oscar three weeks ago, declined to publicly support Hamdan Ballal while he was beaten and tortured by Israeli soldiers and settlers. The European Academy voiced support, as did countless other award groups and festivals. Several US Yuval Abraham (@yuval_abraham) March 26, 2025 Its not too late, he added, saying it would send a meaningful message and serve as a deterrent for the future. The Independent has contacted the Academy for comment. The Avengers star Mark Ruffalo was among the actors who called on every filmmaker and academy member to protest the attack. No matter where you stand on this issue this is an attack on our beloved art form of filmmaking, he wrote on Instagram. Hamdan Ballal is a political prisoner and this is an international incident in violation of human rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ballal has since recounted the attack, telling The Guardian: I thought I was going to die. The soldiers pointed their rifles at me while the settler from behind began beating me, he recalled. They threw me to the ground, and the settler started hitting me on the head. Then a soldier also began beating me; with the butt of his rifle, he struck me on the head. After that, he fired his weapon in the air. I dont understand Hebrew, but I gathered that he said the next rifle shot would hit me. According to Deadline, the Academy rarely releases public statements about detentions or instances of violence against Oscar winners. However, it did call for the release of multiple detained Iranian filmmakers in 2011. A day after No Other Land co-director Hamdan Ballal was released from his brief detainment in the West Bank, his fellow filmmaker Yuval Abraham has called out the Academy for not publicly supporting one of their own. Sadly, the U.S. Academy, which awarded us an Oscar three weeks ago, declined to publicly support Hamdan Ballal while he was beaten and tortured by Israeli soldiers and settlers, Abraham wrote early Wednesday morning. The European Academy voiced support, as did countless other award groups and festivals. Several U.S. Academy members especially in the documentary branch pushed for a statement, but it was ultimately refused, he added. We were told that because other Palestinians were beaten up in the settler attack, it could be considered unrelated to the film, so they felt no need to respond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, Ballal and Abraham were part of the Palestinian and Israeli filmmaking team who won Best Documentary Feature Film at the 2025 Oscars on March 2 alongside their other co-directors Basel Adra and Rachel Szor. The movie chronicles the displacement of Palestinians in Masafer Yatta by Israeli military and settlers after a court ruling declared the area a closed military zone. According to reports, Ballal was one of three Palestinians and one Israeli who were arrested on Monday after a rock-throwing fight ensued. Abraham further alleged that Ballal was beaten while he was detained, though an IDF spokesperson denied those claims. Sadly, the US Academy, which awarded us an Oscar three weeks ago, declined to publicly support Hamdan Ballal while he was beaten and tortured by Israeli soldiers and settlers. The European Academy voiced support, as did countless other award groups and festivals. Several US Yuval Abraham (@yuval_abraham) March 26, 2025 The filmmakers Wednesday message continued, In other words, while Hamdan was clearly targeted for making No Other Land (he recalled soldiers joking about the Oscar as they tortured him), he was also targeted for being Palestinian like countless others every day who are disregarded. This, it seems, gave the Academy an excuse to remain silent when a filmmaker they honored, living under Israeli occupation, needed them the most. Its not too late to change this stance. Even now, issuing a statement condemning the attack on Hamdan and the Masafer Yatta community would send a meaningful message and serve as a deterrent for the future, Abraham concluded his statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its worth noting the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences does not typically discuss political matters as a unit. Instead, they often acknowledge artists who do by uplifting culturally and technically relevant films through the Academy Awards as is the case with No Other Land. Still, TheWrap has reached out to The Academy for further comment. The post No Other Land Director Calls Out the Academy for Refusing to Publicly Support Hamdan Ballal Over Detainment appeared first on TheWrap. President Donald Trump brushed off concerns over a group chat between administration officials that inadvertently leaked sensitive information to the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. In an interview on Newsmax's "Greg Kelly Reports," Trump seemed nonchalant about the fact that a senior adviser on national security fat-thumbed a member of the press into a discussion of then-upcoming military actions. "Somehow, this guy ended up on the call," he said. "There was no classified information. There was no problem and the attack was a tremendous success." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Atlantic broke the news of Jeffrey Goldberg's unintentional behind-the-scenes glimpse on Monday, showing how Mike Waltz, Marco Rubio, JD Vance and other Trump administration officials coordinate in a bombshell report. Waltz, who put together the group chat, has spent the intervening day floating different justifications for his actions. Speaking to reporters alongside the president at the White House, Waltz disparaged journalists "making up lies" about the administration. In an interview with Fox News' Laura Ingraham later in the day, Waltz said he took "full responsibility" for the leaks before calling Goldberg a "loser" and suggesting he "deliberately" worked his way into the chat. Ingraham: How did the number end up Waltz: Have you ever had somebody's contact that shows their name and then you have somebody else's number. Of course I didnt see this loser. Whether he did it deliberately pic.twitter.com/ranmAPPNkT Acyn (@Acyn) March 25, 2025 Waltz told Ingraham explicitly that the blame did not fall on a staffer. That didn't stop Trump from using that excuse to distance Waltz from criticism, saying that a "lower-level" employee may have added Goldberg to the group. While rumors had swirled about Waltz's future job security, Trump said he was "very comfortable" with his administration's handling of information. "Somebody that was on the line with permission, somebody that worked with Mike Waltz at a lower level, had Goldberg's number or call through the app, and somehow this guy ended up on the call," Trump said. Gov. Kristi Noem speaks during a bill signing ceremony March 6, 2024, at the Capitol in Pierre as Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden looks on. (David Bordewyk/South Dakota NewsMedia Association) For a condemnation of Kristi Noems performance as governor, just look at what her former lieutenant governor is doing. You wont get him to admit that, of course. Larry Rhoden insists Noem did great things for South Dakota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet Rhoden has also positioned himself as Governor Reset after taking inspiration from a Native American tribal leader, Chairman J. Garrett Renville of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate. Noems departure to serve in President Donald Trumps Cabinet was imminent when Renville delivered a State of the Tribes address to the Legislature on Jan. 15. Today, lets reset, Renville said, sensing an opportunity for better state-tribal relations. Today, lets rebuild. Today, lets start to listen and actually hear. Rhoden could have fired back. Thats what Noem did two years ago after Crow Creek Tribal Chairman Peter Lengkeek used his State of the Tribes address to call for better state-tribal collaboration. Her office retaliated against Lengkeek with an 800-word email to the media saying his speech was a message of division that perpetuated false narratives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX When Rhoden delivered his first address to the Legislature as governor on Jan. 28, he chose to respond differently than Noem. He quoted Renvilles reset invitation and accepted it. I could not agree more, Rhoden said. Weve had our ups and downs over the years, but I am asking our tribal leaders to make a fresh start with me. Then he took the reset theme and ran with it, using it repeatedly in his public communications. I see so much division today even between those within the same political party, Rhoden said in a Feb. 28 press release. As South Dakotans, we need to regain perspective and unite. We need to talk with each other and not at each other. We need to reset. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his first two months as governor, Rhoden pushed the reset button so often that his fingers must be cramped and blistered. He pushed reset on Noems penchant for filling her staff with out-of-state ideologues, instead choosing two lifelong South Dakotans with deep experience in state government Matt Michels and Tony Venhuizen for two of his first and most important hires (Michels as senior adviser and counsel, and Venhuizen as lieutenant governor). He pushed reset on Noems combative relationship with the media, holding more press conferences during his first two months in office than Noem did during her last two years. He pushed reset on several years of sharply rising property taxes by quickly ushering his own plan into law, after Noem failed to even propose an idea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He pushed reset on property rights by signing a ban on eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines, after Noem let the issue fester and divide her party to such an extent that 14 Republican legislators lost to challengers in the June primary election. He pushed reset on Noems vindictive attempt to cut state support for South Dakota Public Broadcasting, and he appears ready to sign a budget restoring full funding. He pushed reset on Noems usurpation of legislative power with his signing of three bills proposed by Chris Karr, a top-ranking state senator that require greater legislative oversight of state budget transfers, building projects and leases. And he pushed reset on Noems prison debacle by forming a Project Prison Reset task force to study South Dakotas correctional system, after Noem spent and obligated a total of $54 million pursuing an $825 million prison construction plan that lost support during this years legislative session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need to talk with each other and not at each other. We need to reset. Gov. Larry Rhoden In other areas, Rhoden has missed opportunities for resets by following Noems misguided lead. He signed bills allowing concealed pistols at colleges and bars. He approved legislation inviting self-appointed toilet police to clog up the courts with lawsuits accusing people of using the wrong restroom. He praised President Donald Trumps Oval Office tantrum against the president of Ukraine. But even those who disagree with some of Rhodens decisions would have to admit hes showing how much governors can do, and how quickly they can get it done, when they focus on the job theyve got and strive for civility instead of sowing division. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Noem declared last year in the title of her infamous book the one with the slain dog and goat and the imaginary meeting with Kim Jong Un that Trump broke politics for the better and theres No Going Back. How richly ironic it is, then, that her handpicked successor has been going back ever since she left, by resetting the state to its pre-Noem brand of politics and accomplishing more in two months than she did in some whole years of her administration. Tim Whiskeychan, a Cree artist from Waskaganish, Quebec, flew to France this month to teach Cree culture through art with French students. Whiskeychan brought his talents to College Josette et Maurice Audin in Vitry-sur-Seine, France, to share Cree culture with a group of 30 middle school students during a one-day workshop on March 18. "It's like a vast exchange of people and exchange of knowledge," said Whiskeychan, who has been making art for over 40 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The opportunity came to him through a mutual friend, who introduced him to a teacher at the school. "I was asked to come and to teach art and to come and share some of our culture and then have an exchange with the teachers and students," said Whiskeychan. French students painting individual murals, based on their research projects on Indigenous artifacts. French students painting individual murals, based on their research projects on Indigenous artifacts. (Submitted by Tim Whiskeychan) After months of corresponding through emails and phone calls, the school flew him across the ocean to meet with the youth. First, Whiskeychan demonstrated how he makes murals and helped students make their own based on research projects they did on Indigenous artifacts. Then, he worked with them to create a large group mural that will be displayed in the school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I did some murals based on traditional items, artifacts or then I would explain a little bit about them and what's the use of some items and why it's important," said Whiskeychan. For Whiskeychan, art serves as both a means of expression and a way to document history with imagery and storytelling. "I was surprised they would see things beyond my expectation. And one girl made a bear with the fish and the other one was a bear and a moose," said Whiskeychan. Teachers from College Josette et Maurice Audin were proud to hang the mural in their school, according to Whiskeychan. Teachers from College Josette et Maurice Audin were proud to hang the mural in their school, said Whiskeychan. (Submitted by Tim Whiskeychan) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The students used the mural workshop to combine Cree culture with French culture, according to Whiskeychan. For the group mural, Whiskeychan prepared a large canvas with outlined sections for the students to fill in with colours. In the centre of the mural, he painted a tipi surrounded by animals and the face of an Indigenous man. "[They] kind of got their own culture to intertwine with native culture because all the lines were connected. I think it looks like a territory," said Whiskeychan. The students huddle together, painting a large mural to hang in their school. The students huddle together, painting a large mural to hang in their school. (Submitted by Tim Whiskeychan) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the students worked, Whiskeychan shared stories of his late father Jimmy who was renowned for crafted goose decoys with tamarack, which they used on hunting trips. Inspired by his father, he began to draw and paint snowshoes, animals, among other traditional items. "And I said, wow, I guess that storytelling really kind of opened their mind," said Whiskeychan. After the workshop, some of the teachers signed a postcard to thank Whiskeychan for his work. "'Your presence was a true source of inspiration for the students, giving them the opportunity to discover the history of your people and the richness of your art," read a line in the postcard. When asked how the students felt about their day with Whiskeychan they all had the same response. "C'est chouette [it's cool]," said Whiskeychan. Norway is allocating an additional NOK 1 billion (nearly 90 million or US$95 million) to finance gas imports to Ukraine to ensure adequate gas supplies for the countrys population, businesses and industry. Source: a statement by the Norwegian government, as reported by European Pravda Quote from Norways Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre: "A more secure energy supply is essential to Ukraines resilience. This was one of the topics discussed during President Zelenskyys visit to Norway last week. There is an urgent need for increased funding for gas imports to provide power and heating for homes, businesses and public institutions. Norway is doing its part to meet this need." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: The new funding will be channelled through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and will be used to purchase gas from Western sources. The recipient of the gas will be the Ukrainian state-owned company Naftogaz. The imported gas will be used to meet consumption needs and increase gas reserves in case of further attacks on gas infrastructure. The funding is provided under the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine, with NOK 1 billion drawn from allocations for Ukraines energy sector in 2025. Further international support is crucial for protecting Ukraines energy system. "Attacks on the Ukrainian power supply are, and have been, an attack on the very core of Ukrainian society. They are part of an attempt to weaken the Ukrainian economy and undermine the Ukrainian peoples trust in their Government. This is why it is both crucial and of strategic importance to help to maintain access to gas," said Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, who is visiting Ukraine this week. The additional allocation increases Norways total contribution to Ukraines gas procurement since 2022 to NOK 3.6 billion (about US$341.8 million). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, NOK 635 million (about US$60.2 million) were allocated as a guarantee for gas procurement. These funds have now been released and can be used to increase the total contribution. Thus, the overall amount of the agreement now stands at NOK 1.635 billion (about US$155.2 million). "We do not yet know how much gas Ukraine will need to import this year, but Norways contribution will put Ukraine in a better position to tackle the impacts of renewed attacks from Russia and make the necessary preparations for the next winter," Eide said. The EBRD has been cooperating with Naftogaz for several years, particularly in corporate governance. Channelling funds through the EBRD helps mitigate risks such as corruption and financial mismanagement. Background: On 12 March, it was reported that Norway is allocating 16 million for infrastructure and energy efficiency projects in several oblasts of Ukraine as part of the reconstruction process. Earlier, the Norwegian parliament decided to increase aid to Ukraine by US$4.6 billion to US$7.8 billion in 2025. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide and Tonje Brenna, Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion, have arrived in Kyiv on a visit. Source: Norwegian tabloid newspaper VG, as reported by European Pravda Details: The Norwegian ministers arrived in Kyiv on the morning of 26 March, VG reported. "We've come to Kyiv at a critical time for Ukraine. The war is unfolding at an intense pace and both sides are preparing their positions for negotiations that could lead to peace talks," said Barth Eide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He stressed the need to start planning for the post-war period now. "Norwegian support must be long-term and I believe it's important to consider how we will continue to assist Ukraine afterwards. I hope that one day, our support will go beyond large amounts of ammunition," the foreign minister said. This is Brenna's first visit to Ukraine, during which she plans to discuss preparations for the eventual return of Ukrainians with temporary protection in Norway. "For me, it's about understanding the needs. We want the 90,000 Ukrainians in Norway to be best prepared to return to their country, which will one day be rebuilt," she noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We want those currently studying to complete their education. Ukrainian youth in Norway should use this time to develop skills that align with Ukraines future needs. I will discuss with the Ukrainian government what will be required to ensure a functional society after years of war," the minister explained. Background: Last week, on 20 March, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Norway following a nearly two-day stay in Helsinki. In mid-March, the Nordic defence ministers met with their Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umierov, in Helsinki. In early March, Norway agreed to increase aid to Ukraine to almost US$8 billion this year. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona joins Alicia Menendez in for Nicolle Wallace on Deadline White House to discuss what the fallout should be in the aftermath of the security breach involving a leaked group chat detailing military attack plans, and if Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth and National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz should resign. Mark Cuban recently weighed in on the impact of tariffs, highlighting how they could disproportionately affect lower-income Americans. Cubans comments came after he listened to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's explanation on the "All-In Podcast" about how President Donald Trump views tariffs as a form of consumption tax. Cuban agreed with Lutnicks assessment, but also raised concerns about the potential economic consequences for the country's most vulnerable populations. Don't Miss: Tariffs as a Consumption Tax In his post on X, Cuban explained that tariffs function like a consumption tax because they are essentially passed on to consumers through higher prices on imported goods. According to Cuban, companies that import goods pay the tariffs, but those costs are often transferred to consumers through increased prices on everyday items like food and clothing. Trump's proposed plan suggests that revenue from tariffs could replace income taxes. "The biggest losers are the poorest people who make under the standard deduction. (15k, single 30k joint)," Cuban wrote. "They already pay no income taxes. So the tariff cost on food, clothes etc is a difficult tax for them. Cuban pointed out that while this approach could reduce the tax burden for some people, it would create winners and losers depending on their financial situation and spending habits. Trending: Bezos' Favorite Real Estate Platform Launches A Way To Ride The Ongoing Private Credit Boom How Tariffs Could Hurt Lower-Income Households In a reply to his own post, Cuban continued to lay out how Trump's tax and tariff plans could hurt everyday Americans. "For example," Cuban wrote, "if you are on Social Security or earn tips of 36K, you pay about $2K in taxes...The math says if you spend less than 20K on items that have 10% in tariffs attached...you benefit because you saved more in taxes than the under $2K you paid because of tariffs." However, Cuban noted that if someone is not eligible for tax savings such as individuals who don't earn tips, overtime, or Social Security tariffs would only increase their expenses without any offsetting tax relief. Trending: Its no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $250 million in art this alternative asset has outpaced the S&P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. Heres how everyday investors are getting started. The Impact on Domestic Manufacturing Cuban also addressed the potential benefits and drawbacks of tariffs for domestic manufacturing. He acknowledged that tariffs could encourage companies to move production to the U.S., which would create jobs and increase state tax revenue. You don't have to be more Catholic than the Pope, as the saying goes. But over the past week, an accidental leak to The Atlantic has transformed journalists into bigger defenders of government secrecy than the government itself. It has created the bizarre situation of journalists asking the White House to keep them away from juicy, fresh, newsworthy information. To recap: National Security Adviser Mike Waltz accidentally added Atlantic Editor in Chief Jeffrey Goldberg to a White House group chat for planning an upcoming military campaign in Yemen. After Goldberg reported on the existence of the group chat on Mondaywithout revealing much about its contentsthe embarrassed Trump administration downplayed how sensitive it was. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe all insisted that there was nothing "classified" in the text messages. On Wednesday morning, The Atlantic published the full transcript, with commentary complaining that this information would "typically" be classified and could have harmed U.S. troops had it "fallen into the wrong hands" before the campaign began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although The Atlantic meant to make the White House eat its words, the decision to publish on Wednesday also made several journalists eat theirs. Earlier in the week, mainstream media had praised Goldberg's "patriotic" decision not to report on the substance of the war plans. "If somebody else had been added to this group chat, there were real national security concerns here," CNN Chief Media Analyst Brian Stelter said on TV. "Goldberg was patriotic. He didn't tell anybody. He didn't go out and share the war plans, of course. He just listened in and tried to figure out if this was real or not, and apparently it was all too real." Meanwhile Stelter's colleague, CNN Chief National Security Analyst Jim Sciutto, spent his time arguing with Leavitt that the information should have been classified. Washington Post reporter Carol Leonnig similarly praised Goldberg "for treating the info more carefully than apparently the 'principles' overseeing U.S. security," referring to the White House Principals Committee. Respect for government secrecy is apparently a virtuewhich would make intrepid reporting a vice. Could the Pentagon Papers have been reported today? How about the secret National Security Agency mass surveillance programs leaked by Edward Snowden? Many mainstream journalists made it clear this week that they would avoid exposing such scandals, or only do so in order to push the government to be more careful with its secrets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Independent journalist Ken Klippenstein quipped in his newsletter that those reporters are acting as "self-appointed counterintelligence officers" and shirking their "duty to their client, the public." They're also acting against their own self-interest. Pushing for more restrictions on information and less forgiveness for leaks is a dangerous game for journalists to play, especially given the Trump administration's use of the Espionage Act against WikiLeaks and Gabbard's more recent threats to prosecute leakers. After all, some of the most important stories in American journalismincluding the Pentagon Papers and the Snowden leakscame from sources defying classification laws. There has historically been an "uneasy stalemate" between freedom of the press and the national security state in America, writes historian Sam Lebovic in State of Silence. While the government runs a tight ship internally and punishes employees for violating secrecy, information that breaks containment and reaches journalists has generally been fair game to talk about. The 2016 election was a turning point in the media's view of its own role. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton was dogged by scandals around her mishandling of classified emails, while Republican candidate Donald Trump benefited from leaks of Clinton campaign documents, some of which were allegedly released by Russian military hackers. The feeling that journalists had "failed" the "test" of 2016, and had to be more conscious of the national security implications of leaks, grew. Through successive incidentsthe discovery of Hunter Biden's abandoned laptop, the leak of J.D. Vance's campaign vetting documents, Trump's alleged bathroom hoarding of classified files, and the Discord document dumpmainstream media seemed to be becoming more defensive of government secrecy. (Klippenstein himself was banned from X and visited by the FBI for publishing the Vance dossier, which mainstream outlets refused to touch, because it was allegedly leaked by Iranian hackers.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Discord incident became an opportunity for American media to debate its newfound approach to leakers. When classified documents began appearing on Discord video game chats, investigative journalists quickly identified the leaker as Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira, and reporters from The New York Times arrived at his house just before the FBI did. Glenn Greenwald, one of the reporters who broke the original Snowden leaks, claimed that mainstream media "love leaks when the CIA and Homeland Security tell them to leak" but "will actually hunt down the leaker and demand that he be punished even more" when a leak undermines the government's story. Barton Gellman, a reporter who had covered Snowden for The Washington Post, told Politico that journalists owed Teixeira "no special protection, and his identity and motives are important elements of the story." After all, Teixeira was "not a journalistic source and didn't make this bargain with anyone," Gellman pointed out; his leaks just mysteriously appeared online as the media scrambled to make sense of them. Still, journalists often hold back on publishing information that can harm people, even if it's technically fair game for reporting. Goldberg, for example, has repeatedly declined to report on the identity of a CIA officer in the White House group chat. If it's unethical to expose a spy to the risk of prison or worse, then why wouldn't the same considerations apply to condemning a National Guardsman with poor impulse control to the same kind of consequences? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the flip side, the benefits of reporting on secret military operations sometimes outweigh the risks. In addition to revealing general problems with U.S. military policy in Vietnam, the Pentagon Papers unmasked specific military operations that the U.S. government had tried to keep secret, including air raids on Cambodia against Congress' wishes. The Nixon administration used the same appeals to troops' safety that The Atlantic did in arguing for courts to censor the Pentagon Papers. The Atlantic's decision to publish the full group chat transcript, however reluctantly, may prove to be a gift for public accountability. Yemeni authorities have accused the U.S. of killing women and children, while the U.S. military insists that it saw "no indications of any civilian casualties." But Waltz admitted in the group chat that the U.S. military killed a Yemeni commander by collapsing "his girlfriend's building" with no warning. Conflicting reports of civilian casualties from airstrikes are nothing new, but journalists and researchers investigating such incidents in other wars have rarely had such a window into officials' internal decision-making process. As Stelter argued, the White House group chat could have turned out quite differently in a different journalist's hands. Goldberg, an enthusiastic supporter of the undeclared war in Yemen and Middle Eastern wars in general, was far less willing to undermine the government's line than someone like Klippenstein or Greenwald would be. But to his credit, he at least published something. Many other journalists have revealed this week that they see responsible journalism as shutting up and trusting the authorities. The post It's Not Journalists' Job To Protect Government Secrets appeared first on Reason.com. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Earlier this week, Jackie Lonergan frantically took to social media, posting to a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Facebook group looking for help. While flying back home to New York from Salt Lake City, she lost her journal filled with notes of her faith and a custom-painted Book of Mormon somewhere in the Salt Lake City International Airport. She spent the next four hours before her flight searching through stores, restrooms, and trash cans with the help of airport staff, security, and desk agents. After exhausting every possible resource, Lonergan got onto her plane and shared the now-viral post on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the response, she said, was overwhelming. LDS church applies for smaller temple in Fairview, Texas, after reaching agreement; new rendering released By the time I got off the plane, it had over 600 comments and hundreds of reactions, explained Lonergan. People were messaging me saying they had friends or family who were flying through or who were pilots or they lived near the airport and were going to go check for me. Lonergan had just recently joined the Church after a chance meeting with a pair of missionaries in her native upstate New York. She said she was coming home from a morning coffee run with her friend when they were approached. She said she nervously giggled at the missionaries and brushed them off saying, Carry on boys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the moment stuck with her. They carried on, we went inside, and I just froze. I couldnt stop myself from thinking how much I had judged them so quickly without listening to them, she explained. I had this prompting to go back and find them. They ended up being on my back porch and we chit-chatted for a little bit and scheduled my first lesson. Two dozen Kohls stores to shutter this weekend: Including one in Utah Since then, Lonergan got her custom-painted Book of Mormon adorned with the phrase carry on boys written in calligraphy among other works of art. Her journal displayed her name, written on a nametag she had received a church-sponsored dance. The notebook itself was filled with personal notes from her Church lessons. Images courtesy: Jackie Lonergan Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She told ABC4.com that these pieces were more than just a book or just a notebook but were very sentimental and personal for her faith. I hold them so dearly to my heart because of some of the notes in there. I only have pictures of a few of the pages and I am holding on to those real tight, said Lonergan. Ive been looking over those images and crying, and it just means so much to me. I just want to do everything I can to find them until Im told there really is no shot. While her journal and Book of Mormon are still missing, Lonergan said the search continues. Both Delta Air Lines and the Salt Lake International Airport have open lost item claims filed and both have been working with Lonergan in finding the two books. She said her post is even making its way through the Delta employee group chat after one employee saw it on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the online community has come out in full support, with some driving more than an hour and a half to check in with the airport on the lost items. Others offered to redo the custom painting on another Book of Mormon to send to her. Her friend picked up a Book of Mormon after coming across it in a thrift shop and also said theyd give it a custom painting. While Lonergan expressed her sadness for losing such sentimental items, she said the resounding support from the community has meant the world to her. MJ Jewkes 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. A sign that reads Everyone is welcome here might be considered political and controversial in the West Ada School District, but in Boise, administrators and teachers beg to differ. Boise educators along with other participating community members took to social media on Monday to post photos of themselves wearing shirts depicting the message and image from a sign that West Ada leaders said broke school policy because it wasnt content neutral and conducive to a positive learning environment. West Ada has faced backlash since it became public that the district told Sarah Inama, a 35-year-old world civilization teacher at Lewis and Clark Middle School in Meridian, to remove two signs from her classroom in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One sign read, Everyone is welcome here, above hands of different skin tones. Another read, In this room, everyone is welcome, important, accepted, respected, encouraged, valued, with each word highlighted in a different color. Inama briefly took them down, before returning them to their previous places. Theres nothing wrong with (the messages), Inama told the Idaho Statesman. Its not a personal opinion. Its not a political opinion. I am really skeptical of what type of differing view is trying to be protected here. This photo posted to the Boise School Districts Instagram page shows several administrators wearing Everyone is Welcome Here T-shirts in response to the West Ada School Districts order that a teacher remove a poster bearing that message. Community members responded by creating T-shirts out of the signs image, and thousands were purchased. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boise resident Angela Voll created a Facebook event asking everyone to wear the shirt Monday and share a photo. If youve purchased an Everyone Is Welcome Here shirt, we encourage you and your children to wear it proudly on this day, Volls event page read. Lets fill our schools, workplaces, and communities with a visible reminder that inclusion matters. Boise School District spokesperson Dan Hollar told the Statesman that its staff participated as a visible reminder to our community of our commitment to welcoming and serving all students, regardless of their background, identity, or beliefs. This message is not a political statement its a reflection of our core values. We are here to teach and support every student who walks through our doors. We strive to provide a safe, secure and supportive learning environment where each and every student can learn, grow and thrive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We felt it was important to publicly reaffirm these values, especially in light of the conversations currently happening in our state and across our nation. Our intention was not to criticize another district, but to remind our own community that we are committed to creating schools where every student feels like they belong and are supported in their learning. Teachers from schools across Boise posted photos of themselves donning the shirts or hanging similar signs on Monday, including staff at Trail Wind Elementary, Riverglen Junior High, Koelsch Elementary, Hawthorne Elementary, Centennial High, Boise High, North Junior, Adams Elementary, Liberty Elementary and Rolling Hills Public Charter School. Borah High Schools staff also participated, even posting a video of its staff posing in various ways while wearing their shirts. Chris Stewart, the man who led the creation of the shirts, now wants to make a standing event in which people wear the shirts on the first Monday of every month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a simple way to keep the message going and growing, Stewart posted on social media. Keep posting your photos and using the hashtags this movement has already sparked so much positivity, and this will help it grow even more organically. Lets officially make the first Monday of every month Everyone Is Welcome Day. A man in Putnam County is facing charges of drug trafficking after a traffic stop with his kids in the car. Deputies said Thomas Carpenter was arrested after a traffic stop. A passenger told them they had just smoked marijuana. Deputies said Carpenter kept falling asleep while they were talking with him. Deputies said they found bags of weed, crystal meth, and other illegal items inside of the car. Investigators said after his arrest, he told the deputy, Theres nothing wrong with drugs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also violated his parole and was released from the state prison system in December 2024 after serving a three-year sentence. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) Notre Dame High School and Catholic Charities hosted a soup kitchen to help those in need. Barbs Soups on Cafe provided the food, and some students helped serve it. The goal for the fundraiser was to raise 31,000 dollars for Catholic Charities. Tickets were $50. This got you soup, bread, and coffee. The options for soup were creamy potato or Italian wedding. There were also some raffles you could buy tickets for. There was a 50/50 raffle and a bowl raffle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2025 Twin Tiers regional job fair links employers and job seekers After the event, attendees received a souvenir soup bowl as a reminder to those who are food insecure. The soup bowls were made by Notre Dame High School students. While attendees were eating soup, there were some speakers talking about the good they did for the community. This Lenten Season is a time of preparation, and as Catholics, we are called to fast, pray, and give to others. Attending this luncheon is a great way to live out this calling, says Payton Sutryk, a Junior at Notre Dame High School. Tioga County NY to hold I Voted sticker contest Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We thank you, for the many creative potters whose artistic hands fashioned the bowls that we received today. We thank you for all the people who work on farms, fields, factories, and kitchens so that we can have the food we are about to receive, says Fr. Richard Farrell, the Parochial Vicar at the Parish of The Most Holy Name of Jesus, while saying a prayer before eating. This event has been going on annually for nineteen years and has raised almost a quarter of a million dollars for poverty relief in the area. If you would like to donate to Catholic Charities, you can visit their website and click on the make a donation link on the 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 WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. President Donald Trump said theres talk within his administration about paying compensation to the rioters who were prosecuted for storming the Capitol in an attempt to overthrow the 2020 election results. A lot of the people that are in the government now talk about it because a lot of the people in government really like that group of people, he said Tuesday during an interview with Newsmax. Theyre patriots as far as Im concerned. On his first day in office, Trump pardoned about 1,500 people convicted in the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks and issued commutationsmeaning their convictions stand but their lengthy prison sentences have been cut shortfor the 14 people who organized and led the mob. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most violent rioters were found guilty of beating police officers defending the Capitol with flagpoles, stomping on their heads, and attacking them with pepper spray. Their other crimes included throwing a police officer down a flight of stairs, throwing a bomb into a packed tunnel, and plotting to murder FBI agents investigating the attack. In June 2021, a bipartisan Senate report found that at least seven people had died in connection with the riot, including three police officers, The New York Times reported. A month later, two more police officers defending the Capitol died by suicide, bringing the total to nine deaths. Trump supporters clash with police outside the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riots. / Shannon Stapleton/Reuters About 150 officers were injured in the attacks, and hundreds of workers were also traumatized by the mob, the Times reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the rioters have shown no remorse for the violence that took place that day. Michael Sparks, the first rioter to enter the Capitol, said during his sentencing hearing that his only regret was that the insurrection hadnt been successful, the BBC reported. Trump made their release a central campaign promise, though he had previously stopped short of calling for financial compensation. Some of the freed Jan. 6 rioters and their supporters, however, have long called for reparations, Politico reported. That includes Ed Martin, the lawyer Trump appointed to serve as the top federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C. These people are incredible people, Trump told Newsmax on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also pledged to look into the case of Ashli Babbitt, a 35-year-old conspiracy theorist with a history of violence who was shot and killed by Capitol police during the riot. Her family has sued the government for wrongful death, a charge the Department of Justice is fighting. Calling himself a big fan of Babbittwho has become a martyr for many MAGA supportersTrump said he would look into whether the case should be settled. His supporters who stormed the Capitol went there peacefully and patriotically, he added. The CEOs of NPR and PBS were dragged before Marjorie Taylor Greenes (R-GA) DOGE subcommittee on Wednesday for a hearing that mostly served as an opportunity for House Republicans on the panel to gloat about how badly they hope to defund public media organizations. Trump opened the floodgates with his recent executive action attempting to shutter Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Voice of America and Radio Free Asia. He also said just yesterday that he would love to see both NPR and PBS defunded. Democrats on the panel railed against their GOP counterparts for holding a hearing to go after the likes of Elmo and Cookie Monster and Arthur the Aardvark all for the unforgivable sin of teaching the alphabet to low-income families children and providing accessible local news and program, as Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) put it. House Republicans instead used the hearing as an opportunity to force NPR and PBS top leaders to apologize for covering the news in ways they found to be not adequately in line with their own talking points. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) launched into a diatribe that centered on his belief that NPR didnt cover his pet project of trying to impeach President Biden over the contents of his sons laptop as aggressively as he would have liked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think youve abused the privilege that you had with receiving federal funds, Comer said. Facing a half-hostile audience that wants to see public media companies like hers gutted and has been trying to do so for years NPR CEO Katherine Maher said that perhaps her organization had been mistaken and should have covered the Hunter Biden story more aggressively. She Co-Wrote An Op-Ed In Her Student Newspaper An international graduate student at Tufts University was arrested by federal law enforcement Tuesday night. DHS is saying Rumeysa Ozturk was arrested for supposed support of Hamas. Shes being held at an ICE detention center in Louisiana. Her lawyers have said that she maintains valid F-1 visa status as a student at Tufts. The video of the arrest, which shows unidentified men in masks and sweatshirts grabbing Ozturk off the street, is genuinely terrifying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ozturk was one of four students who wrote an op-ed in March 2024 in their student newspaper, the Tufts Daily, where they called on Tufts leadership to take up a series of resolutions that were passed by the student government at the time. The resolutions included a call to acknowledge the Palestinian genocide and divest from companies with direct or indirect ties to Israel. It does not mention Hamas. SignalGate Giving Some Senate GOPers A Spine We mentioned yesterday that Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker (R-MS) announced his panel would investigate what exactly happened when an editor from The Atlantic was mistakenly brought into a Trump administration group chat on Signal about highly sensitive war plans. He and ranking member Jack Reed (D-RI) announced today that they intend to ask the Trump administration for an independent Inspector General report on the episode. Its not just Wicker. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) was among those encouraging Wickers panel to investigate what happened. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) an occassionally vocal critic of the administration, put it bluntly: This is what happens when you dont really have your act together. More from The Hill: Well certainly be asking the IG to look into it, Wicker told The Hill of the incident, which has sparked concerns among Republicans and Democrats over the frequency with which senior Trump officials are using Signal to hold sensitive conversations. Senators say the Senate Intelligence Committee, which is chaired by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), will also investigate the security lapse, according to senators on the panel. In Case You Missed It Trump Admin Takes Short Break From Agency Rampage To Defend FCC In Intra-GOP Fight Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In An Escalation, House GOP Talks Of Defunding The Judiciary And Eliminating Courts Under Threat Of Contempt, Trump DOJ Tells Judge To Pound Sand Yesterdays Most Read Story SignalGate Is Bad; But OPSEC Isnt Even the Worst Part Of It What We Are Reading Mike Waltz Left His Venmo Friends List Public LA Times owner defends remaking paper to Tucker Carlson DOGE staffer, Big Balls, provided tech support to cybercrime ring, records show The Black Sea ceasefire proposal benefits Russia and leaves many questions unanswered, the MP for Ukraines Black Sea port of Odesa has warned. Oleksiy Goncharenko said he had concerns about competing statements from Ukraine, Russia and the US about the proposed truce. It would be important for Odesa to have a military ceasefire as it would protect our ports, Mr Goncharenko said. But I have heard nothingall three sides are saying different things. The Ukrainian politician said the proposed deal appears to benefit Russia, who has demanded sanctions be lifted before any ceasefire comes into effect. Russia is making new demands that sanctions should be lifted but for what? For commercial ships to move? They moved today and yesterday. I have a lot of questions and no answers, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hours after agreeing to the partial ceasefire, Russia launched a drone attack on the Black Sea port of Mykolaiv in Ukraine. Local authorities said the attack caused emergency power outages. The White House published two statements on Tuesday claiming that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to eliminate the use of force in the Black Sea. But the agreement with Russia goes further, with Washington committing to help seek the lifting of international sanctions on Russian agriculture and fertiliser exports. Shortly after the White House announcement, Moscow warned the deal would only come into force after the lifting of sanctions restrictions that have helped isolate the Kremlin since the invasion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Port of Odesa, Ukraines largest seaport, has come under repeated attacks by Vladimir Putins forces. Just four days ago, Russian forces launched a mass drone attack on Odesa, injuring three people and damaging buildings in the surrounding area. Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, on Tuesday accused the Kremlin of engaging in manipulation about the terms of the Black Sea ceasefire deal, which was agreed in separate talks between the US, Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, even now, even today, on the very day of negotiations, we see how the Russians have already begun to manipulate, Mr Zelensky said in his nightly video address. Oleksiy Goncharenko has questioned the Black Sea agreement - Global Images Ukraine They are already trying to distort agreements and, in fact, deceive both our intermediaries and the entire world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to sanctions on fertiliser exports, the Kremlin has demanded bans are lifted on its Rosselkhozbank, which services agriculture firms, and other financial organisations involved in ensuring operations on international trade in food products. The Kremlin said it also wants its access to the Swift international messaging system be restored. Analysts have suggested the terms would benefit Russia, leaving Ukraine in a weaker position. Nico Lange, a senior fellow at the Munich Security Conference, said: Russia had already been defeated in the western Black Sea and Ukraine had fought its way back to reclaiming the trade routes from Odesa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With todays agreement, Russia gives up almost nothing, but receives sanctions relief and new revenue for its war machine. The White Houses announcement of a partial truce came as a report by the US national director of intelligence claimed both Kyiv and Moscow would rather continue with war than accept a bad deal. The report found that Russias battlefield momentum gave it room for strategic patience, while Ukraine conceding territory or neutrality without substantial security guarantees from the West could prompt domestic backlash and future insecurity. But Mr Zelensky said that the proposed ceasefire was a step in the right direction and called for it to be implemented immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He warned Moscow he would seek tougher sanctions on Russia and more weapons from the US if the terms were broken. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Mar. 25VAN WERT Ohio Wildlife Officer Nolan Johnson has been assigned to Van Wert County, according to a press release from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Wildlife. A 2024 graduate of the Wildlife Officer Academy, Johnson previously served at-large in northwest Ohio. He replaces Ohio Wildlife Officer Nathan Robinson, who was recently promoted to wildlife investigator. A native of Marblehead, Johnson graduated from Hocking College in 2022 with a degree in natural resources law enforcement. Prior to becoming a wildlife officer, Johnson worked for the Division of Wildlife's Sandusky Fisheries Research Station as a wildlife technician. To reach Johnson directly, call 419-348-0311. To report suspicious activity involving wildlife, call 1-800-POACHER (762-2437). Reports can remain anonymous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mission of the Division of Wildlife is to conserve and improve fish and wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainable use and appreciation by all. Visit wildohio.gov to find out more. Featured Local Savings Do you have a legal question to put to Gary? Email askalawyer@telegraph.co.uk or use the form at the bottom of the page. Dear Gary, I must prefix this query by first saying I enjoy going to my office. The office manager has made the environment great, and all my colleagues are fantastic to work with. However, my employer has started using the building security badge swipes in and out of the building to monitor who is complying with the pretty relaxed two-days-a-week return to office mandate. We can basically choose if we work from home or in the office, but we should be doing at least two days a week in the office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In my opinion, this is a draconian measure. We already work on laptops filled with corporate spyware, so this tracking feels like one more step into working in a panopticon. My legal concern is whether this change breaches the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). The data collected for badge swipes was never intended to be used for attendance. Is this now classed as a disproportionate amount of data to collect? Mark Dear Mark, I am very glad you enjoy going into your office. I have said before that I am a big fan of office working, rather than home working. But my personal preference does not make something lawful! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To have a legally enforceable working environment which requires hybrid working between remote home working and physical office attendance, employers must comply with some basic protocols. First and foremost, the location of your place of work should be specified in your employment contract. And remember, all workers are entitled to a copy of their employment contract including key terms and conditions. You describe a working environment which is a hybrid model where you are permitted to work at home some of the time and be in the actual office premises at other times. In your case, you say the requirement is to be in the office at least two days every week. Your words also indicate this mandate to work from the office at least two days a week is a policy change. In that case, your employer should have gone through a process of reevaluating relevant roles and deciding that they should no longer be fully remote working. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I say all this to add context and to allow you to consider if hybrid working itself has been introduced in the appropriate manner. Regarding the particular concern you have about your employer edging you and your colleagues towards working in a panopticon, while I enjoy the rich language you used, I think you are being somewhat overdramatic. More to the point, you are losing sight of the fact that your employer is entitled to monitor you at work. Monitoring employees is about ensuring they are adhering to their employment contract and other rules of conduct in the workplace. But it can also be about protecting employees from unsafe working practices and ensuring they are working to their optimal ability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legal starting point is therefore that employers can monitor employees. The question is if and when that becomes excessive and, therefore, a breach of employee rights. You mention spyware within your IT. Some employers also use CCTV. And now you say data from your staff cards are to be tracked. All of these devices are acceptable if used across the board and not targeting any one individual employee. In 2023, the Information Commissioners Office (ICO), which is the UKs data regulator charged with overseeing the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) which you mention, issued guidance on employers monitoring workers. Do have a read of it. The ICO guidance says that any tracking must be done in the least intrusive way possible and that workers must be made aware explicitly of the nature, extent and reasons for monitoring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By your own admission, you have been told of what is to happen and why, and what your data will be used for. In your case, the purpose is to ensure you are complying with your employment contract. To be pitch perfect in their approach, your employer should refer to your data protection and privacy rights in the staff handbook for your organisation and explain what data will be collected and how it will be stored. Cases of excessive employee surveillance that contravene workers privacy rights can result in enforcement action by the ICO, including fines against the employer. But in this case, I do not see what is happening as being excessive. In my view, it is proportionate. It seems to me one problem here is that you say the two days in the office rule is pretty relaxed, but to my mind that interpretation is at odds with the conduct of your employer who clearly wishes to ensure it is a rule which is complied with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think there needs to be transparency on both sides. Your employer needs to be very clear you are all expected to be in the office at least two days a week. It needs to explain that one way of monitoring this will be use of the data harvested from your swipe cards. And as an employee, who enjoys your job and values it, you should be very visibly there at least two days a week. I always find with employees at my law firm that those who get it and fully play by the rules are the ones who are allowed the most flexibility because I am confident that they are fulfilling their side of the employment contract. In that sense, I am more relaxed about how and when they do their role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other words, be careful not to impose a panopticon on yourself by your own inflexible approach and conduct. Ask a Lawyer should not be taken as formal legal advice, but rather as a starting point for readers to undertake their own further research. 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. EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah (ABC4) Deputies arrested one adult and three minors after they allegedly broke into at least 16 vehicles over the weekend across Eagle Mountain. Colton Roger Jones, 18, is facing 30 misdemeanor charges and one third-degree felony in connection to his alleged involvement in the Eagle Mountain burglaries, according to the Utah County Sheriffs Office and court documents. Documents say Jones, and three juveniles who remain anonymous due to their age, stole items worth more than $1,500 total from more than a dozen vehicles between the hours of 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. on Sunday. They also allegedly attempted to use a stolen card multiple times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities began investigating after receiving numerous reports of burglaries throughout the city. Surveillance videos and photos allegedly showed the suspects driving a dark-colored Tesla, which was later found at a Tooele County home, documents say. Mother of AMBER Alert children found dead with neck wound in burning house, docs say Deputies said one of the stolen items had a tracking device installed and they followed that device to a house in Tooele County where they met with one of the juvenile suspects. They then located Jones at another Tooele home where more items from the vehicle burglaries were located, documents read. While he said he did not want to speak to police after being read his Miranda Rights, authorities said he told them the other stolen items and cash were with a different suspect. Most of the stolen items have since been recovered, according to the sheriffs department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones is facing 18 counts of vehicle burglary, two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, one count of criminal mischief, six counts of theft under $500, and four counts of unlawful use of a financial card. All charges are misdemeanors except one theft charge, which is listed as a third-degree felony. Jones was booked in the Utah County Jail on Sunday morning. The three juveniles are facing similar crimes in the 4th District Juvenile 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 ABC4 Utah. (This March 24 story has been corrected to say 'last three months,' and not '12 months,' in paragraph 2) (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's media company Trump Media & Technology Group said on Monday it is partnering with Crypto.com to launch exchange-traded funds and products through its Truth.Fi brand. Shares of the company, which operates social media platform Truth Social, rose 10.5% after the bell on Monday, but have fallen 38% in the last three months. The ETFs, which will be available through Crypto.com's broker-dealer Foris Capital, will include digital assets as well as securities with a "Made in America focus" across various industries, according to a statement. The funds are planned to be launched later this year and will be available internationally, including the U.S., Europe and Asia. Crypto.com will provide backend technology, custody and cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and cronos for the ETFs. Trump Media announced the launch of its financial services and FinTech brand Truth.Fi in January, amid a crypto boom. Its board had also authorized an investment of up to $250 million through Charles Schwab as it seeks to diversify its cash holdings, which exceeded $700 million at the close of the previous year. Trump Media had said it plans to allocate these funds into various investment options, including ETFs, separately managed accounts and cryptocurrencies. In February, Trump Media said it has applied to trademark six investment products that track bitcoin and the U.S. manufacturing and energy sectors. The trademarks include Truth.Fi Bitcoin Plus ETF, Truth.Fi Made in America ETF and Truth.Fi U.S. Energy Independence ETF. (Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Vijay Kishore) BROKEN BOW, Okla. (KFOR) According to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, one person has been arrested following a deadly shooting in Broken Bow. Officials say on March 23, 2025, Broken Bow police officers responded to a shooting call near North Park Dr. and Martin Luther King Blvd. Upon arrival, they found 27-year-old Colton Butler with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he died. LOCAL NEWS: Nearly fatal shooting and beating in OKC still unsolved four years later Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Broken Bow PD requested the OSBIs help investigating the incident. Special agents were able to identify the suspect as 27-year-old DeMonta Bell and obtain a First Degree Murder warrant for his arrest. DeMonta Bell. Image courtesy OSBI. The OSBI and local law enforcement began looking for Bell. He later turned himself in to the Idabel Police Department on March 25. According to the OSBI, Bell was arrested and booked into the McCurtain County Jail on First Degree Murder charges. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) One of the escaped inmates from the Chesterfield County Detention Center was sentenced to ten years in prison, according to the Office of the Fourth Circuit Solicitor. Kyonne McLeod, 22, pled guilty on Mar. 17 to escape and grand larceny in the Chesterfield County Court of General Sessions. The charges came from an incident that occurred on October 14, 2024, where McLeod and three others escaped from the jail before going on the run for days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After escaping, McLeod made his way to Patrick, S.C., where he and another escapee stole a truck. They were later found on Oct. 25 by Darlington police, where they were being held on trespassing, resisting arrest, and marijuana possession charges. McLeod was originally in the detention center for general sessions bench warrants. The safety of all citizens in the Fourth Circuit is of paramount importance to me. The 10-year sentence given to Mr. McLeod sends a message to those who put our community at risk, said Solicitor Mike Burch. His sentence will be served in a facility to be determined by the South Carolina Department of Corrections. QCNEWS.COM CHESTERFIELD COUNTY ESCAPEES Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Georgia made national headlines last year when the state executed Willie James Pye, a man who multiple expert witnesses had deemed intellectually disabled. Pye and two other people had been convicted of the 1996 murder, kidnapping, rape, and robbery of his ex-girlfriend, Alicia Yarbrough, in Spaulding County. Anti-death penalty advocates worked diligently to get Pye off death row, and they almost succeeded. After his attorneys competence was called into question, Pyes death sentence was reversed, only to be reinstated by an appellate court. He was executed by lethal injection on March 20, 2024. One year after Pyes execution, Georgia advocates are hopeful that a bill making its way through the State Legislature can reform the way intellectual disability is handled in death penalty cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its almost a little bittersweet knowing that had the standard been [different], that might well have prevented the execution of Willie Pye, said Nathan Potek, Pyes attorney through the Federal Defender Program. House Bill 123 would align Georgia with the other 26 states that practice capital punishment. Under current state law, a defendant must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they are intellectually disabled; the decision is made by a jury at the same time as those jurors decide the defendants guilt or innocence. On Wednesday, the senate judiciary committee approved the new bill that would require that intellectual disability be determined in a pretrial hearing and set a lower threshold for proving it. It will now move on to the senate floor for a full vote. Black people are overrepresented on death rows nationally; in Georgia, Black residents make up one-third of the states overall population but 44% of all people currently on death row. Ten people on death row have been convicted in metro Atlanta, four in Fulton County, four in Cobb County, and one in Gwinnett County. Seven of them were Black. Theres a lot of historical racial terror implications built within and baked into the death penalty system in America, said Joia Thornton, founder and national director of the Faith Leaders of Color Coalition, a nonprofit that organizes with Black and Indigenous clergy who are working to end the American death penalty system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though race is a component to any criminal justice reform conversation, advocates for this bill, like Wesley Myrick, executive director at the Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center, chose not to make it central to their work. This bill does not seek to resolve any conversations related to the death penalty and race it is simply not topical, Myrick said. Rather, this bill is about our shared obligation to love and protect our neighbors with intellectual disabilities to ensure they are treated compassionately through our adjudication processes and in a manner that honors their humanity above all. While the bill is limited in its scope Georgia has tried 90 death penalty cases since 2015 but only 10 have had intellectual disability claims advocates believe it would be an important step in the right direction. If we as a society have determined that its wrong to execute folks with intellectual disability, then we should make sure that we arent doing that, Potek said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1988, Georgia became the first state to ban the execution of intellectually disabled people. The law was passed more than a decade before the Supreme Court made its 2002 ruling in Atkins v. Virginia, finding that it was a violation of the cruel and unusual punishment clause in the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to execute a person with an intellectual disability. Though Georgias legislation was ahead of its time, critics say the law is ineffective. Since it was adopted, no one has been declared intellectually disabled and therefore ineligible for execution, according to the Southern Center for Human Rights. Critics of the law have been working to change it for years. Myrick said their relative success this year has been due to the interest of the speaker of the house and the support of the majority party, which he described as dedicated to ensuring that persons with disabilities are protected. The post One Year After Controversial Execution, Georgia Looks to Reform Death Penalty Laws appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta. LEBANON COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) One person was injured in a shooting in Lebanon County on Tuesday night, according to the Lebanon County District Attorneys Office. The DAs office said the shooting, which occurred on 7th Street in North Lebanon Township, was a domestic-related incident with one victim. The victim is expected to survive. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Livestream Alerts The shooter was arrested late last night and is currently in police custody, per the DAs office. There is no ongoing threat to the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details are limited at this time, but the DAs office said more information will be released later Wednesday morning. This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. TOPEKA (KSNT) The Topeka Fire Department says one person was found injured after a garage fire in east Topeka on Tuesday. Rosie Nichols with the City of Topeka said firefighters were called around 10:15 p.m. on March 25 to the 800 block of Southeast Rice Road on reports of a detached garage fire. Crews found light smoke coming from a garage in the area and started fighting the fire. One person was found and taken to an area hospital for treatment of injuries. The TFD said no working smoke detectors were found in the structure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kansas still waiting for $33.6m to plug abandoned oil and gas wells The cause of the fire is still being investigated, according to the TFD. The estimated total loss attributed to the fire was $700 in property and contents. 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. EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio (WKBN) An East Liverpool woman was arraigned on a felonious assault charge on Monday after she was accused of hitting a woman with a car. Read next: New Jersey man dies in Columbiana County crash: OSHP On Friday, police were called to Sullivan Drive around 9:30 p.m. Police were told that the driver, Kristina Williamson, 34, and the victim were arguing in the car prior to the incident, according to a police report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman who had been hit by the car told police that Williamson said, Watch this, and proceeded to put the car in reverse while she was getting out of the vehicle. The victim said she was then hit by the open car door and her feet were dragged over mud, the report stated. Police said the victim refused medical treatment at the scene. Police said they later found Williamson and the vehicle. Before police arrested her, Williamson said, I only hit her a little bit to officers, the report stated. She was then taken into custody. Williamson is being held in the Columbiana County Jail on a $25,000 bond. She has a preliminary hearing on March 31 at 1 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL) Auburn police have arrested a 32-year-old Opelika man on a felony charge of willful abuse of a child following an investigation into an alleged incident of maltreatment. UPDATE: Auburn City Schools teachers aide arrested for allegedly slamming student to ground According to the Auburn Police Department, Quendesmond Kellum was taken into custody on March 25, 2025, after authorities received a report of alleged child abuse the previous day. The complainant alleged an adult had abused a juvenile victim under the age of 18 on March 24 in the area of the 1500 block of North Donahue Drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators identified Kellum as a suspect, and evidence allegedly confirmed his involvement. Authorities determined that his interaction with the child met the criteria for willful abuse and maltreatment under Alabama law. A felony arrest warrant was issued, leading to Kellums arrest. He was transported to the Lee County Jail, where he is being held on a $10,000 bond. The Auburn Police Department has not released additional details about the case, including the nature of the alleged abuse or the condition of the juvenile victim. Authorities encourage anyone with information regarding child abuse to contact law enforcement or the Department of Human Resources Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. Francis Bacon warned that False friends are more dangerous than open enemies. For roughly the past 20 years, America has been dealing with a questionable ally: Turkey. Since Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party came to power in 2002, the gap between American and Turkish interests has widened significantly. Erdogan, who has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, has led Turkey to abandon the secular vision of its founding figure, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. He has systematically suppressed dissent and attacked civil institutions. This process accelerated after the failed 2016 coup attempt, which Erdogan used as a pretext to purge Turkeys military, judiciary and education system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under Erdogan, the Turkey that was once a stalwart ally of the United States during the Cold War has become all but an open enemy. In nearly every major global crisis involving the United States, Turkey has pursued policies at odds with American interests. Ankara has actively supported Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, increasing its economic dependency on China rather than prioritizing its economic relationship with the United States. Worse yet, Turkey has deepened its defense ties with Russia, a key U.S. rival. The most significant example was its 2017 purchase of Russias S-400 air defense system, which led to Turkeys removal from the F-35 fighter jet program and raised concerns about exposing NATO military technology to Russia. In Syria, Turkeys military interventions have undermined U.S. efforts to stabilize the region. Under Erdogan, Turkey extorted Europe with the threat of releasing millions of migrants fleeing Syria into the European Union. Turkey is almost certainly a shadow sponsor of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the al-Qaeda offshoot now currently at the head of Syrias new government. Turkey has also targeted U.S.-backed Kurdish forces, including the Syrian Democratic Forces, with indiscriminate force that also has killed and displaced Kurdish civilians. Erdogan has been vocal critic of Israel, another erstwhile ally of secular, democratic Turkey, even threatening it with invasion or military attack. His rhetoric and political support for terrorist organizations like Hamas have fueled regional tensions, further complicating U.S. diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turkey has also played a key role in helping Iran evade international sanctions. Iranian financial networks have used Turkish banks for transactions, and Turkey has facilitated Tehrans discounted oil and gas exports despite U.S. sanctions. These actions were a direct challenge to American efforts to contain Irans influence and reinforce concerns about Ankaras growing alignment with U.S. adversaries. Now that Irans regional power has been weakened, Turkey is beginning to fill the emerging power vacuum in Syria, and is now the major regional disruptor of U.S. interests. The neo-Ottoman Erdogan has long harbored even grander ambitions to secure Turkey as the regional power in the Middle East and to be the leader of a belt of Turkic states stretching across Central Asia. But if Washington acts decisively using diplomatic and economic pressure while capitalizing on Turkeys internal political struggles it could encourage political change in Ankara. Public discontent in Turkey has been rising. Fifty-five percent of Turks now have an unfavorable view of Erdogan a trend likely to grow as Turkeys economic woes continue and Erdogan becomes even more repressive. His purges of the military have likely created dissatisfaction among some officers, although there is no clear indication of widespread military unrest. Additionally, Erdogans political clashes with the Gulenist movement once a key ideological ally have further fragmented his base of support. Erdogans decision to arrest his main political rival, Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, has led to massive and growing protests in recent days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. must take advantage of this opportunity to reset Turkish-American relations. The U.S. should communicate to Turkeys government and military leadership that it will not tolerate any violent suppression of the ongoing protests. Turkey still relies heavily on U.S.-made military systems and equipment; the U.S. can threaten a reduction in military cooperation and subsidies. Likewise, the U.S. could revisit proposals to expel Turkey from NATO. These moves would certainly alarm the Turkish military, which has historically protected secularism and Kemalism in Turkey, and must now find the courage to do so again. Thanks to Erdogan, Turkey is no longer a reliable U.S. ally. There is no future for Turkish-American relations as long as he remains in power. But that could soon change, and both countries would be all the better for it. Arman Mahmoudian is research fellow at the University of South Floridas Global and National Security Institute. Jeff Rogg is senior research fellow at the University of South Floridas Global and National Security Institute. The views expressed in this article are their own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. March is National STEM Month a time to celebrate innovation and inspire future scientists, engineers and innovators. As teachers look to the future of STEM education, schools must ensure that students from all backgrounds have the opportunity to pursue their STEM dreams. For Black students, in particular, the path to STEM careers has often been hindered by a lack of representation and access. Growing up, I didnt see many people who looked like me in science or technology, and the path forward was often unclear. But through perseverance, resilience and a deep belief in my ability, I succeeded. I believe that regardless of background, students deserve access to high-quality STEM education. Now, as a physician, former astronaut and advocate for equity in STEM, I am committed to breaking down the barriers I once faced and creating opportunities for the next generation. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter STEM fields have historically lacked Black student representation, and while progress has been made, there is still more work to do. In industries like aerospace and medicine, Black professionals are still significantly underrepresented not because of a lack of talent, but because of limited access, mentorship and encouragement. The numbers are staggering: A recent McKinsey study shows that it will take Black Americans more than three centuries to achieve the same quality of life as white Americans. This gap is not just about economics its about opportunity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The key to overcoming these hurdles comes down to this: Students need to see themselves in STEM. They need to know that their dreams are not only valid, but achievable. I was lucky. I had strong influences in my life, including my family physician, who inspired me to pursue STEM and pushed me forward, along with my mother, who was a teacher and exposed me to the importance of education from an early age. But most Black students dont have that chance. Thats why systemic change is essential. Related Black Astronaut Bernard Harris on Terrestrial Mission to Boost STEM Education Through my work with the National Math and Science Initiative, where I served as a founding board member in 2007 and CEO from 2018 to 2021, and the Harris Foundation, which I founded in 1998, Im focused on giving all students the confidence and resources they need to succeed in STEM. This isnt just about inspiring young people its about creating concrete pathways to help them to excel. The initiative plays a pivotal role in making STEM education more inclusive and accessible, particularly for students from underserved communities. Its approach centers on providing high-quality professional development to teachers, equipping them with the skills to foster engaging and supportive classrooms. Teachers who are trained through the initiatives programs are better able to connect with all students and build their confidence, helping them see that STEM is a field where they can thrive. Dr. Bernard Harris Jr. in space aboard STS-63 in February 1995. (NASA) Advancing STEM education has been at the forefront of the initiatives work since its inception in 2007. Now, 18 years later, it has reached over 2.9 million students, 72,000 teachers and 1,800 high schools by expanding access to rigorous STEM coursework and college-level preparation. Through partnerships with schools and districts, the initiative works to increase access to Advanced Placement STEM courses while ensuring that students especially those furthest from opportunity have the support they need to succeed in those classes, opening doors to STEM careers for the nations future innovators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recent West Coast Analytics report evaluating the initiatives Professional Development Services found that students taught by teachers who have gone through this training showed significant gains in confidence and interest in STEM subjects. Notably, Black students demonstrated a remarkable increase in STEM career aspirations. This was measured through student surveys, where thousands of participants answered questions about their confidence in STEM subjects and interest in future STEM careers. Beyond the classroom, mentorship plays a crucial role in encouraging Black students to pursue STEM careers. Through the Harris Foundation, my team and I connect students with Black STEM professionals who can guide them, offer advice and open doors to networking. My team also provides scholarships, internships and leadership programs tailored specifically to Black students, helping to bridge the gap between education and career. For example, the Bernard Harris Math and Science Scholarship awards four Black and Hispanic high school seniors from Council of the Great City Schools member districts $5,000 each to pursue a STEM degree at a four-year college or university. I also created the DREAM Tour (Daring to Reach Excellence for Americas Minds) in partnership with ExxonMobil, which encouraged thousands of middle school students to recognize their potential and develop strong math and science skills. My team and I even made a brief tour of Africa, visiting schools in Angola, Nigeria and South Africa. The tour featured interactive programs, high-tech performances, discussions of goal-setting and STEM careers, and the opportunity for students to experience a simulated Space Shuttle launch. Exposure to real-world professionals and experiences is critical to shaping students futures, which is why Ive built partnerships with industries to ensure that students can gain hands-on experience and mentorship. Related Why Hate Math?: Brooklyn Sisters Tutoring Co. Helps Kids Build STEM Identity Another key priority in advancing STEM education is removing systemic barriers that have historically limited Black students success. Research shows that well-structured, sustained professional development for educators can lead to better student outcomes by improving instruction and fostering interest in STEM careers. Investing in high-quality educator training is a proven way to create lasting change, equipping teachers with the tools to close achievement gaps, inspire students and expand access to STEM opportunities for underserved communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Building an equitable education system that empowers all students is essential to our countrys future and that starts with a commitment to diversifying STEM fields. When Black students are supported and given the resources they need, they not only thrive they help move society forward. Innovation depends on diversity; without equitable access to STEM education, everyone will feel the impact. The time to invest, mentor and uplift the next generation of Black STEM leaders is now. The most pressing constitutional crisis facing the nation today emanates not from the Oval Office but from courtrooms across the country. Federal judges, often in coordination with partisan activists, are systematically undermining the authority of the president. Congress can and must step in. If the balance of power between the executive and judicial branches isnt restored, the consequences for both everyday Americans and American democracy will be severe. This is about determining our countrys true source of authority the people, via their elected leaders, or a cadre of unelected judges who impose their own preferences upon the citizenry. In recent years, weve witnessed an explosion in judicial interference with executive action. During George W. Bushs presidency, federal courts issued six nationwide injunctions Under Barack Obama, that number rose to 12. But during Donald Trumps first term, it skyrocketed to 64 and is now rising in the second. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nationwide injunctions, a tactic rightfully dubbed judicial lawfare, allows politically motivated groups to sue in hand-picked jurisdictions with sympathetic judges, who then issue sweeping rulings that effectively grind presidential initiatives to a halt, often before they even get off the ground. These rulings apply across the entire country, summarily overriding the will of the people and blocking policies chosen by Americans at the ballot box. Obviously, it wasnt supposed to work this way, as anyone whos taken civics in high school would know. The founders gave each branch of government distinct powers for a reason. The courts are supposed to interpret laws, not make them. Yet today, too many judges are deliberately playing the role of policymaker and, thus, arguably tyrant usurping the powers of the president and derailing the democratic process. Our way of life is at stake. When courts delay or derail executive actions meant to cut red tape, rein in bloated federal programs, or reverse harmful policies like DEI mandates, the costs fall directly on working Americans. Our taxes fund a sprawling bureaucracy thats increasingly insulated from accountability. When a president, such as this one, tries to reform that system and unelected judges block him at every turn, the result is a government thats even less efficient and less responsive. President Trump has made it his mission to scale back the colossal administrative state that taxes Americans to support programs they never backed and imposes burdens on job creators in the name of social engineering. But virtually every time he moves to implement change, activist judges throw up legal roadblocks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president didnt start this fight. Hes reacting to an onslaught of politically motivated lawsuits, many filed by state attorneys general and well-funded interest groups who see the courtroom as a weapon for policy warfare. Increasingly, these litigants dont need to win at the Supreme Court; all they have to do is find a friendly lower court judge willing to issue a broad injunction. Thats often enough to delay, defang or outright destroy a presidential policy. This isnt healthy democracy. Its obstruction. Its unconstitutional. And it hurts all of us. Fortunately, Congress has the duty and the power to remedy this situation. Under the Constitution, Congress controls the jurisdiction and procedures of the lower federal courts. That means it can pass legislation to restrict the abuse of nationwide injunctions, require expedited reviews for certain executive actions, and clarify the limits of judicial authority. Congress doesnt even need to wait for the Supreme Court to act. Judiciary Committees in both chambers can launch investigations into overreaching rulings and expose their real-world effects. Legal scholars have already proposed a range of reforms, many of which are ready for legislative action. One such reform would mandate fast-track appeals whenever a judge issues an order that blocks presidential action under emergency powers granted by Congress. Its absurd for the law to empower a president to act quickly only for a single judge to tie his hands for months or years while the case winds through the courts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legal system was never meant to function as a national policy veto. Extraordinary judicial remedies should be rare and narrowly tailored to avoid overriding the political process. That process, while sometimes slow and frustrating, is still the best mechanism we have for balancing competing interests and expressing the will of the people. When judges short-circuit it, they erode trust in the legal system itself. Americans may not follow every legal battle, but they know something is off when a judge in one part of the country can override the preferences of millions. Congress must act, not to defend one particular president but to defend the Constitution. If judges are allowed to continue rewriting the rules of governance from the bench, we risk becoming a nation ruled by lawsuits rather than laws. Thats a fate that no American, regardless of party affiliation, should accept. George J. Terwilliger III is a Washington lawyer and previously served as deputy attorney general and acting attorney general of the United States. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Donald Trumps first legislative whiff of this term came before he even took the oath of office. As president-elect, he called on Congress to pause the debt ceiling or eliminate it entirely as it worked to avert an end-of-the-year shutdown. Lawmakers completely ignored Trump on that front, leaving the debt ceiling in place and resolving to deal with it next year. Now the debt ceiling deadline is looming, but no one in Congress or the White House seems particularly worried about it. Indeed, the Department of Government Efficiencys hack-and-slash tactics and congressional infighting may have brought the default date closer. If default does happen, the economic fallout would be more likely to trigger a massive recession than the Golden Age that Trump has promised. The U.S. government technically breached the debt ceiling back on New Years Day. At that time, outgoing Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen authorized extraordinary measures to keep payments flowing without breaching the legal limit. But, as the word extraordinary implies, the protocols Yellen activated cant be used indefinitely. At some point, on a day ominously known as the X date, the U.S. government will be unable to borrow more money to cover its existing bills. With the full faith and credit of the United States no longer an ironclad guarantee, the resulting default would wreak havoc on the financial markets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Bipartisan Policy Center on Monday projected that the X date will hit sometime between mid-July and early October without congressional action. (The Congressional Budget Office is due to release its own forecast on Wednesday.) But the trusted nonpartisan think tank also cautioned that if collections from tax season fall far short of expectations, there is a potential for heightened X Date risk in early June. Heres the thing, though: While the Bipartisan Policy Center called a revenue shortfall quite unlikely, the odds this year are higher than might otherwise be the case. The Washington Post reported last week that Treasury Department and IRS officials are predicting a decrease of more than 10 percent in tax receipts by the April 15 deadline compared with 2024. That would be equal to about $500 billion in missing revenue, or over half of the entire governments nondefense discretionary spending. There are a few likely reasons for the reduced tax revenue, including the destruction Trump and Musk have caused inside the IRS since January. While the staffing cuts under discussion wouldnt be implemented until the April 15 tax filing deadline, almost 20% of IRS workers could be fired in the month after it. Most of those cuts would come from newly hired enforcement staffers (brought on as part of a Biden administration push to target tax dodgers) and workers at the Taxpayer Advocate Service, which helps people solve problems with their filings. That has spawned a growing concern that tax cheats will claim wildly inaccurate deductions or simply not pay their owed amounts, content with the knowledge that nobody will be available to audit them. Unsurprisingly, the GOP-led Congress isnt working as though theres a major crisis in the works. Instead, the focus has been on producing a budget bill for the upcoming fiscal year. Though the House and the Senate have each passed their own versions, the two chambers have very different timelines for Trumps priorities. The former condenses the entire Trump agenda, including a re-up of the 2017 tax cuts, into a single bill; the latter splits them in two, with the tax fight to come in the fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is hoping to have the differences between the two bills worked out and passed in the House again before April 10, after which theres another two-week recess in the books for Congress. But, as Politico noted, nearly every key decision remains unsettled, including how deep to cut into social safety-net spending, how to placate swing-seat lawmakers over a key tax break, how to account for the cost of extending existing tax cuts and how many more breaks they can pile on top. Those talks are already precarious enough that they dont leave much room to deal with the debt ceiling as part of this bill. The question then becomes: when? The answer isnt going to come from the White House any time soon, not while Trump is busy pouting that Congress didnt listen to him in December. Thats only a slight exaggeration of his attitude, according to Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana: I think the president is clearly aggravated having to deal with it. And I dont blame him. His attitude is: Why didnt yall fix this before I took office? But Trump is in office now, and the debt ceiling most certainly is his problem, especially since members of his party are the most reluctant to lift the debt ceiling at all. The truth is that this isnt a fight that anybody wants, but as of now theres no viable alternative that presents itself, either politically or legislatively. Congress will have to deal with this issue before an unprecedented default devastates any confidence in the American economy. The only certain thing is that Trump wont make it easy to avoid catastrophe. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Uniqlo's three-year project will provide job-ready skills to help vulnerable young adults, especially women, transition from unsafe and unstable work in the informal sector. The Job Oriented Vocational Training Centre targets job seekers aged 18 to 29 from Delhi's underprivileged communities. Priority is given to school dropouts, children of migrant workers, those living in poverty, or those with limited access to employment or vocational training opportunities. By December 2027, the goal of this initiative is to have equipped 2,700 youths with technical skills and professional world insights. Uniqlo is also considering offering internships at its stores and facilities for programme participants to gain real-world experience. Located in Dwarka, New Delhi, the new skill centre project will focus on imparting practical skills in nursing, retail services, and sewing machine operation. The curriculum, spanning 45 to 60 days, will also encompass soft skills development including digital and financial literacy, gender equality, diversity awareness, and workplace communication. Additionally, the programme seeks to help young people in India with job placements and subsequent follow-ups. Uniqlo India chief financial officer and chief operating officer Kenji Inoue said: Inspired by our LifeWear philosophy of making everyones life better, we hope this vocational training project will have a life-changing, positive impact for thousands of young Indian people. It is fundamental for Uniqlo that we always contribute to society in every country and region in which we operate, and this new project represents our long-term commitment to the Indian community. Education is an integral part of individual and societal development and, working with Plan International, we look forward to providing opportunities to empower young people. Fast Retailing, the parent company of Uniqlo, funded the project with contribution of 120m yen ($0.80m). The initiative is financed through Uniqlo's PEACE FOR ALL campaign that began in 2022. This campaign directs all profits from charity T-shirt sales to international organisations that implement developmental efforts worldwide. Plan International (India Chapter) executive director Mohammed Asif said: "With the launch of the new Saksham [Skill] Centre, Plan, along with Uniqlo, will be creating opportunities for young women and men to gain market-oriented skills, secure sustainable livelihoods, and become active contributors to nation building. This initiative aligns with our commitment to quality education, gender equality, and work & economic growth. We are grateful to our partner Uniqlo for their support in making this vision a reality. Uniqlo is taking on a bigger presence in India, this time with a job vocational training center to empower underprivileged youth. The three-year programJob-Oriented Vocational Training Centreis designed to provide young job seekers with sewing machine and retail training skills, as well as life skills such as financial literacy. It targets young adults between ages 18 and 29 from economically disadvantaged households. The Saksham Centre in Dwarka, Delhi, will host the program, which is in collaboration with Plan International and a donation of 120 million Japanese Yen from Uniqlo parent Fast Retailing Co. Ltd. More from Sourcing Journal Inspired by our LifeWear philosophy of making everyones life better, we hope this skill centre project will have a life-changing, positive impact for thousands of young Indian people. It is fundamental for UNIQLO that, in every country and region that we operate, we always contribute to the society, and this new project reaffirms our long-term commitment to the Indian community, Uniqlo Indias CFO and chief operating officer Kenji Inoue said. Education is an integral part of individual and societal development and, working with Plan International, we look forward to providing opportunities to empower young people. Plan Internationals India Chapter executive director Mohammed Asif said that the program will provide young women and men with market-oriented skills so they can become active contributors to nation building. Uniqlo India operates 15 retail stores and is looking to expand its store presence. Its first store in New Delhi opened in 2019. Most of the store locations are in New Delhi. The retailer opened its first Mumbai store in 2023. The brand sources some of its product locally, although T-shirts and its Heattech apparel that are manufactured in India are exported to its global store network. The brand is also considering retail internships at its stores for those who train at the Saksham Centre. Uniqlo in January agreed to stop using gig economy apps, such as Tempur and YoungOnes, to hire temporary store-based workers. The U.K. Trades Union Congress at the time asked some retailersthe retailers, including Uniqlo, are believed to have used the apps only briefly for the holiday selling seasonto stop the practice due to concerns that freelancers hired through the apps werent getting basic employment rights. When Fast Retailing posted first-quarter profits in January, the company said Uniqlos businesses saw favorable expansion in Southeast Asia, India & Australia, North America and Europe. The focus of store openings has been across North America and Europe. Fast Retailing in October 2023 detailed plans on how it would step up new store openings. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield joined a group of 22 other attorneys general on Tuesday seeking a court order forcing the Trump administration to unfreeze federal disaster relief. Even though several court orders blocked the Trump administration from freezing federal funds, the administration is still withholding millions of dollars in state grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, according to Attorney General Rayfield noting the blocked funding threatens life-saving emergency preparedness and recovery programs to help with emergencies from wildfires and floods to cybersecurity threats. The Trump administrations refusal to release this funding is not just dangerous its reckless, Rayfield said. It will harm people, and we wont stand by while the federal government plays politics with peoples lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No absolute certainty Martin Family car found in Cascade Locks The attorneys general filed a motion on Tuesday to enforce a preliminary injunction from early March, which would require the administration to stop the FEMA funding freeze. The administration froze the federal funding through a mix of actions, including a January 27 memo from the Office of Management and Budget, which froze trillions of dollars in federal grants for states, nonprofits and community health centers. After the OMB memo was issued, states, including Oregon, reported issues accessing federal funding for programs such as Medicaid and Head Start. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Killer whale pod makes rare appearance in Depoe Bay during Whale Watch Week Amid blocked FEMA funds, Rayfield says the Oregon Department of Emergency Management is among state agencies that have been greatly impacted by the funding freeze, adding that the agency has filed a declaration of support of the motion filed by the attorneys general. According to Rayfield, OEM administers nearly 30 FEMA grants or lines of federal disaster assistance that have been frozen. Those grants would support disaster prep, along with response and recovery planning and training. On January 28, Attorney General Rayfield and the coalition filed their initial lawsuit against the administrations federal funding freeze and on Jan. 31, the court granted their request for a temporary restraining order that blocked implementation of the funding freeze until further instruction from the court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Eye on Northwest Politics On Feb. 7, the attorneys general filed motions to enforce the preliminary injunction in order to stop the freeze. The group filed a second motion Feb. 28 seeking enforcement to stop the administration from freezing FEMA funds. On March 6, the attorneys general won the preliminary injunction to stop the federal funding freeze. As part of the injunction, the court ordered the administration to provide evidence that they unfroze FEMA funds by March 14; however, the funds continue to be unavailable, Rayfield said. Leading efforts in the funding freeze battle are the attorneys general representing California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island. Other attorneys general joining the effort include the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oregon parolee convicted of rape, murder transferred due to public attention The legal challenge comes one day after Oregon Governor Tina Kotek announced Oregon is unable to access federal disaster relief after declaring a state of emergency in 10 Oregon counties following devastating flooding. We are, at present, looking at up to $450 million in federal funds that continue to be inaccessible despite court orders, Governor Kotek announced Monday. 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. COLUMBUS, Ohio (COLUMBUS BUSINESS FIRST) An original vendor is counting down its final days at Cameron Mitchell Restaurants Budd Dairy Food Hall. Borgata Pizza said it will leave the food hall at 1086 N. 4th St. in Italian Village next month. We are saying a bittersweet goodbye to the Budd Dairy Food Hall come April 6, a post on social media read. Budd Dairy Food Hall opened in April 2021 with nine chef partners along with its rotating pop-up space called Hatch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more on this story, go to ColumbusBusinessFirst.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 NBC4 WCMH-TV. HUNTSVILLE, Ala. The Marine Corps answer to mobile, long-range fires now features a multirocket launch system and autonomous tech. Oshkosh Defense unveiled the newest iteration of the Remotely Operated Ground Unit for Expeditionary Fires, or ROGUE-Fires, at the Association of the U.S. Armys Global Force Symposium in Huntsville, Alabama, this week. The payload-agnostic platform, carried by the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, or JLTV, allows for long-range fires, autonomous resupply and logistics operations, according to a company release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ship-sinking missile for Marines headed to test fire As the battlefield continues to evolve, we are leveraging the mature and proven Oshkosh families of vehicles to design payload-agnostic autonomous platforms that deliver unmatched flexibility, enabling forces to outpace emerging threats and maintain operational dominance, said Pat Williams, chief programs officer at Oshkosh Defense. The Marines first awarded a $40 million contract to Oshkosh to build the unmanned missile launcher after a prototyping phase ended in September 2023. Developers removed the JLTV cab and attached a missile launcher to build a mobile firing platform that can be operated autonomously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Until this newest variant, the focus of the ROGUE-Fires platform had been to house the Naval Strike Missile, the Marines key to knocking out enemy ships to protect and gain access for U.S. Navy ships in littoral regions. The multiple launch rocket system family of munitions, or MFOM, gives the platform a new capability on top of existing features such as long-range precision fires, autonomous resupply and logistics operations. The company has also developed a power train that can be adapted for hybrid-electric power, which allows for silent modes of operation and fuel savings as well as electrical charging for devices and other platforms. Williams told Military Times that the company unveiled this new variant at an Army show in part because the system also fits Army needs, which include mature systems that have autonomous features and multipayload options. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The original concept evolved out of a previous program known as leader follower, which uses autonomy to drive ground vehicles. The Army used the same software in the ROGUE platform for its own autonomous driving in both the Expedient Leader Follower and Autonomous Ground Resupply programs, according to a 2021 Army release. The software allows for one manned vehicle to lead a series of unmanned vehicles in a convoy operation. The Marines awarded Oshkosh Defense the contract to add an off-road, self-driving package developed by Forterra, a ground-based autonomy company, to the ROGUE Fires vehicle in January, Defense News previously reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AutoDrive system gives the ROGUE Fires Oshkosh-built vehicle off-road, self-driving technology in nearly any environment, which moves beyond Leader-Follower capabilities, Forterra said in a Jan. 13 statement. The first test fire of the Naval Strike Missile from the platform happened in June 2020. The project sought to give Marines the punch needed for long range, anti-ship fires on a platform more mobile and able to hit moving targets than the legacy High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS. The missile has a range beyond 750 kilometers, which aligns with Marine warfighting concepts in which Marine units, some platoon or squad-sized, seize terrain for short periods and conduct sea control and sea denial for naval commanders. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) The Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents revealed on Tuesday that it has hired a D.C. firm to provide crisis communications support after the fallout of the sudden OSU Presidents resignation. OSU Board of Regents remains quiet on sudden resignations OSU A&M Board of Regents accepts President Kayse Shrums resignation Former OSU President Dr. Kayse Shrum set to return to campus Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oklahoma Voice first reported that OSUs governing board hired Pinkston Group to provide reputation management and other consulting as needed with a $120,000 contract that runs from February 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026. Christian Pinkston, founder and CEO of the Pinkston Group, said in a statement obtained by Oklahoma Voice saying, We have a specialized practice providing support to governing boards and universities across the country. The Pinkston Group services are expected to cover the regents and the institutions under OSUs governance. The boards jurisdiction includes Langston University, Oklahoma Panhandle State University, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, and Connors State College. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. MILLCREEK, Utah (ABC4) Officers with the Unified Police Department were involved in a brief overnight pursuit that ended with four men in custody. Unified Police tell ABC4.com that the pursuit happened shortly before midnight on Tuesday, March 25 near the Salt Lake City-Millcreek city line. The chase started when officers confronted a suspect who they said was wanted for allegedly disarming a police officer. The suspect fled the scene when officers attempted a traffic stop, leading to a brief pursuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details on the pursuit and resulting arrests are limited. However, Unified Police said officers requested assistance from a helicopter and were able to safely apprehend the suspect as well as three other men. All suspects have been identified as West Jordan residents, resulting in West Jordan SWAT being called to assist as well. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. WASHINGTON (AP) The attempts by President Donald Trump and top leaders of his administration to downplay a security breach that revealed military strike plans in a Signal group chat including a journalist stand in stark contrast to their reaction to Hillary Clinton's use of a home server as secretary of state. This time, they've largely focused their ire not on sweeping potential security lapses, or punishments as a result, but on the journalist who was errantly added to the group text and reported on it: editor-in-chief for The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg. Some of the text's participants who spoke out against Clinton haven't commented publicly at all about the Signal leak. One of the chief concerns about Clintons email server was that it was insecure, and that sensitive information could fall into the wrong hands. But former FBI Director James Comey said in recommending that no charges be brought against Clinton that there was no evidence that her email account had been hacked by hostile actors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump insisted Tuesday that no classified information was divulged in the group chat, though Goldberg wrote that messaging revealed precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing of strikes in Yemen. The White Houses National Security Council has said it is investigating. For her part, Clinton's reaction to Goldberg's reporting was one of astonishment: You have got to be kidding me, Clinton said in an X post that spotlighted The Atlantic article and included an eyes emoji. Here's a look at what some of the officials in the group chat, and some of those steadfastly standing by them, are saying now versus then. Trump Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now: The main thing was nothing happened. The attack was totally successful, Trump said during a meeting with a group of his ambassadors at the White House on Tuesday. He also called his national security adviser, Michael Waltz, a very good man and insisted he will continue to do a very good job, while adding, I think its very unfair how they attacked Michael" and labeling Goldberg a total sleazebag. Later, in an interview with Newsmax, Trump said a Waltz aide had Goldbergs number and this guy ended up on the call." He also added that he felt good about what occurred. "I can only go by what Ive been told ... but I feel very comfortable, actually. Then: Hillary is the one who sent and received classified information on an insecure server, putting the safety of the American people under threat, Trump said in an October 2016 speech in Warren, Michigan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rigged system refused to prosecute her for conduct that put all of us, everybody in this room, everybody in this country at risk. Hillary Clinton went to great lengths to create a private email server and to bypass government security in order to keep her emails from being read by the public and by federal officials, he said in a November 2016 speech in Virginia Beach, Virginia. And, during a Florida rally in July 2016, he even urged Russian hackers to help find a batch of emails said to have vanished from Clintons private server. Russia, if youre listening, I hope youre able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing." Waltz Now: I think theres a lot in the lessons for a lot of journalists in this city who have made big names for themselves making up lies about this president, Waltz said during Tuesdays White House meeting with Trump and the ambassadors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also said of Goldberg, This journalist, Mr. President, wants the world talking about more hoaxes. In a subsequent interview on Fox News Channels The Ingraham Angle, Waltz said, I take full responsibility. I built the group. He also contradicted Trump by saying that no staffer was responsible. Waltz further acknowledged, embarrassing, yes and said, We made a mistake. Were moving forward. Then: How is it Hillary Clinton can delete 33,000 government emails on a private server, yet President Trump gets indicted for having documents he could declassify? Waltz posted in June 2023, referencing charges against Trump for mishandling classified documents. The case was scrapped after Trump won a second term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Now: Nobody was texting war plans, Hegseth told journalists traveling with him in Hawaii on Monday. He said of Goldberg, Youre talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes. Then: Any security professional, military, government or otherwise, would be fired on the spot for this type of conduct and criminally prosecuted for being so reckless with this kind of information," Hegseth, then a regular contributor for Fox News Channel, said of Clinton's emails on the network in 2016. That same year, Hegseth asked on Fox News, How damaging is it to your ability to recruit or build allies with others when they are worried that our leaders may be exposing them because of their gross negligence or their recklessness in handling information? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In another 2016 Fox News segment, Hegseth said, If it was anyone other than Hillary Clinton, they would be in jail right now for what has been done. Because the assumption is, in the intelligence community, if you are using unclassified means, there is the potential for, and likelihood, that foreign governments are targeting those accounts and gathering intelligence from them." Secretary of State Marco Rubio Now: No public comment on the Signal group chat. Then: Nobody is above the law, not even Hillary Clinton even though she thinks she is," Rubio told Fox News in January 2016. The previous year in a Fox News interview, Rubio referred to the same emails when he said, What they did is reckless its complete recklessness and incompetence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller Now: No public comment on the Signal leak. Then: Miller posted in 2022: One point that doesnt get made enough about Hillarys unsecured 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 side of the globe. CIA Director John Ratcliffe Now: My communications, to be clear, in a Signal message group were entirely permissible and lawful and did not include classified information," Ratcliffe said at a Tuesday congressional hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then: On Fox News in 2018, Ratcliffe suggested of officials who mishandle sensitive information: Its always a good thing that we see that there is investigation and prosecution of folks if theyre not handling that information appropriately. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard Now: Theres a difference between inadvertent release versus careless and sloppy, malicious leaks of classified information, Gabbard said at the same congressional hearing. Then: Gabbard posted on X earlier this month, Any unauthorized release of classified information is a violation of the law and will be treated as such. Democratic Lt. Gov. Austin Davis speaks at a news conference after House Democrats passed legislation Tuesday, March 25, 2025, that would make the Affordable Care Act state law if the federal version is repealed. (Peter Hall/Capital-Star) With President Donald Trump promising to replace the Affordable Care Act , Pennsylvania House Democrats passed legislation Tuesday to make the health insurance coverage required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandatory under state law if the federal version is repealed. Four bills passed with broad bipartisan support in the chamber that would require health insurance companies to allow young adults to remain on their parents insurance until age 26, pay for preventative care and ban lifetime coverage limits and exclusions for pre-existing conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve seen threats to the Affordable Care Act in Congress, through executive action and through federal court lawsuits. We cant wait for D.C. politicians or appointees to take away our health care rights for millions of Pennsylvanians, House Insurance Committee Chairperson Perry Warren (D-Bucks) said at a news conference after the votes. Democrats, including Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and Sen. Vincent Hughes of Philadelphia, called on the Senate to pass the bills, noting Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro has said he will sign them. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE With a Republican majority in the upper chamber, similar measures passed in the previous House session with bipartisan votes died in the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hughes, the ranking Democratic member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, recalled the historic image of Obama signing the ACA with a young boy by his elbow and noted it was an achievement other presidents had attempted for generations before him. The context is important. It took decades to get this way. It, and in just a few short years, theyre trying to snatch it away. But we must remind them to keep their hands off our health care, Hughes said. In remarks on the Senate floor Tuesday responding to Hughes, Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Indiana) called his remarks fearmongering and said the House actions are premature. Pittman called Trump a change agent focused on figuring out a better path forward because it isnt working any more. Senate Republicans believe the best policy is encouraging economic growth to provide family-sustaining jobs that include health insurance as a benefit, Pittman added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont know whats going to happen in Washington, D.C., Pittman said. Lets cool the temperature down a bit and we will evaluate whatever bills that our friends in the House send to us and we will make rational, reasonable decisions on whether or not we think it is best for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania to pursue those policies. Signed by President Barack Obama in 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was designed to make affordable health insurance available to more people. Dubbed Obamacare by opponents, the nickname soon shed its derogatory connotations and became synonymous with more broadly available health insurance. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The law gave states the option to expand medicaid to include more low income people, which Pennsylvania did under Gov. Tom Corbett in 2014 and then further expanded in 2015 after Gov. Tom Wolf took office. The ACA originally pushed others not eligible for Medicaid to purchase minimum essential coverage. Congress in 2019 eliminated a tax penalty for those who chose not to buy insurance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The minimal coverage, available through federal or state exchanges, is required to include preventative care regardless of pre-existing conditions. Since its enactment, Republicans have attempted to repeal the ACA at least 50 times according to the University of Pennsylvanias Regulatory Review. In his first term, Trump issued an executive order seeking prompt repeal of Obamacare and came with a single vote in the Senate of repealing the ACA. After his reelection last year, Trump has indicated a desire to pursue a replacement for the ACA in his second term. U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Arizona) in January introduced new legislation that would repeal the ACA. And a Republican budget framework passed last month would require deep, damaging cuts to Medicaid, Philadelphia U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-2nd District) said. Each of the four bills passed in the evenly-divided state House did so with at least 20 Republican votes in favor and Hughes told the Capital-Star that Pennsylvanians need to speak loud and clear to their state Senators they want the measures to pass. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are fundamental protections that clearly are being threatened in Washington, D.C., Hughes said. We dont have to live like that with those kinds of threats. We can pass this stuff here in Pennsylvania and protect the people of Pennsylvania, because they certainly have benefited from it. By Alimat Aliyeva The UK government will increase military spending to 2.36% of GDP in the upcoming fiscal year, running from April 6, 2025, to April 5, 2026, Azernews reports. According to reports, on March 26, the UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, is expected to announce an increase of 2.2 billion ($2.9 billion) to the military budget during a speech in the House of Commons. This boost will push total defense spending to nearly 2.4% of GDP for the next fiscal year. The funds for this increase will be reallocated from international humanitarian aid programs, signaling a shift in government priorities as security concerns grow. In a broader strategic context, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer revealed on February 25 that the UK's defense spending would rise from the current 2.3% of GDP to 2.5% by 2027. Starmer emphasized that the government plans to further boost military spending to 3% of GDP in the next parliament, which will hold elections no later than August 2029. This increase in military spending comes amid heightened global security concerns, particularly in light of ongoing tensions in Europe and rising geopolitical competition. The UK governments decision reflects a growing emphasis on defense capabilities, as well as its commitment to NATO and broader international security alliances. TALLINN, EE / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2025 / Estonian digital finance leader Wallester concluded a transformative year marked by unprecedented growth and strategic expansion across Europe. Members of Wallester Management Board From left to right: Fred Soolate - hief Compliance Officer, Dmitri Logvinenko - Chief Operating Officer, Sergei Astafjev - CEO, Aivar Paul - Chief AML Officer Robust Financial Performance Unaudited revenue for the year reached 17.2M, representing an 87% Year-over-Year (YoY) increase. ARR (Annualised Run Rate) reached 26.3M, reflecting a 98% YoY growth. EBITDA surged from -0.5M to 3.4M, marking an 800% YoY growth, while net profit rose to 2.3M in 2024, representing a 457% YoY improvement. Under the leadership of CEO and Co-Founder Sergei Astafjev, Wallester White-Label revenue grew to 8.5M, a 70% YoY rise, while Wallester Business revenue doubled to 8.6M, reflecting a 109% YoY growth. Geographic Expansion One of the most notable events of 2024 occurred in March when the company received a cross-border activity license from the Estonian Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA), allowing the company to extend its services to the United Kingdom. Wallester continued its geographic expansion with the official opening of a new office in Riga, Latvia, in October, strengthening the company's ability to serve clients in the Baltic region and beyond. Client Acquisition and Partnerships The company welcomed 2,250 new clients and issued over 1,000,000 cards during the year. These clients span diverse sectors, including travel businesses, payment service providers, large corporations, fintechs, governmental providers, and many others. Award-Winning Year Wallester was named the top startup in Estonia at the Aripaev TOP100 Gala, secured the 5th spot in the Sifted 30 Eastern Europe & Baltics Leaderboard, and was named the Best FinTech Partner at the 2024 FinTech Awards Europe and Best Enterprise Software Solution by SaaStock. Looking Ahead to 2025 As we look towards 2025, plans are in place to expand business to new countries, grow the team significantly, and bring in fresh ideas and experts. Co-founder and CEO Sergei Astafjev commented, "Reflecting on 2024, I am filled with great pride at how our team dealt with numerous challenges and showed creativity and determination. Thank you to every business that chose Wallester as their partner." About Wallester Wallester is an Estonian-licensed financial institution and has been an official Visa partner since 2018, specialising in innovative digital financial solutions and card issuance. We empower companies across the European Economic Area (EEA) and the UK to streamline payments, launch branded cards, and scale efficiently. With a diverse team of over 140 professionals located in Estonia, Latvia, France and the United Kingdom, we are dedicated to developing high-quality, profitable products for our clients. Our passion for innovation drives us to improve and adapt to the evolving financial landscape continuously. The News An Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker who was attacked by Israeli settlers before being detained by the Israeli army was released. Hamdan Ballal was among the directors of , a self-distributed film about the forced displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank, which this month won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. He had been at his home when settlers assaulted him and others while they were breaking their Ramadan fast, according to The Associated Press. Israeli security forces detained Ballal and two others, as well as an Israeli, officials said, adding that they were being taken for medical treatment. Upon Ballals release, an AP reporter said he had bruises on his face and blood on his clothes. For a second straight day protests erupted across the Gaza Strip as thousands of Palestinians demanded an end to the war with Israel and voiced anger at Hamas leadership. Demonstrations broke out in several areas on Wednesday, including Beit Lahia and Gaza City in the north and Khan Younis in the south, witnesses told dpa. Many protesters openly denounced Hamas a rare occurrence in the territory, where the Islamist group typically cracks down on dissent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much of the anger was directed at Hamas leaders living abroad. Many demonstrators accused them of ignoring the suffering of Gazans, as much of the coastal strip lies in ruins after more than 17 months of war. While living conditions in Gaza are catastrophic, some senior Hamas figures are known to reside in luxury in places like Qatar. On Tuesday, hundreds also gathered in Beit Lahia to demand an end to the fighting, with some calling for Hamas to step aside. Similar protests reportedly took place elsewhere in the Gaza Strip. The war began after Hamas-led militants launched a deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Since then, heavy fighting has displaced most of Gaza's 2 million residents, and many have lost multiple family members in the conflict. Last week, Israel resumed large-scale military operations after ceasefire talks with Hamas collapsed. For a second straight day protests erupted across the Gaza Strip as thousands of Palestinians demanded an end to the war with Israel and voiced anger at Hamas leadership. Demonstrations broke out in several areas on Wednesday evening, including Beit Lahia and Gaza City in the north and Khan Younis in the south, witnesses told dpa. Many protesters openly denounced Hamas a rare occurrence in the territory, where the Islamist group typically cracks down on dissent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much of the anger was directed at Hamas leaders living abroad. Demonstrators accused them of ignoring the suffering of Gazans, as much of the coastal strip lies in ruins after more than 17 months of war. While living conditions in Gaza are catastrophic, some senior Hamas figures are known to reside in luxury in places like Qatar. On Tuesday, hundreds also gathered in Beit Lahia to demand an end to the fighting, with some calling for Hamas to step aside. Similar protests reportedly took place elsewhere in the Gaza Strip. The war began after Hamas-led militants launched a deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Since then, heavy fighting has displaced most of Gaza's 2 million residents, and many have lost multiple family members in the conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Israel resumed large-scale military operations after ceasefire talks with Hamas collapsed. Israel says new Gaza operations imminent Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz meanwhile announced that new operations would soon be conducted in further areas of the Gaza Strip, as he encouraged the anti-Hamas protests. "The IDF will soon operate with full force in additional areas of Gaza, and you will be asked to evacuate from combat zones for your own safety," he told residents of the coastal strip, in a video posted on X with Arabic subtitles. Katz said Hamas was endangering the lives of Gaza's residents and causing them to lose their homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Katz threatened that Israel would permanently take over parts of the Gaza Strip if Hamas did not release the remaining Israeli hostages held in the territory. The longer Hamas refuses to release hostages, the more territory it will lose to Israel, the defence minister said. Katz also called for continued demonstrations against Hamas, saying all Palestinians should "demand the removal of Hamas from Gaza and the immediate release of all Israeli hostages this is the only way to stop the war." Militants fire missiles at Israel The extremist group Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) launched fresh missiles from the Gaza Strip at Israel, the Israeli military said on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two rockets were fired at Israel from central Gaza, the military said, adding that one of the projectiles was intercepted. The second missile came down in a settlement near the border with Gaza, it said. PIJ said the attack was "a response to the crimes of the Zionist enemy against our Palestinian people." A third missile was fired by PIJ toward Israel on Wednesday evening. The Israeli military resumed air and ground operations in Gaza last week, effectively shattering the temporary ceasefire negotiated with Hamas in January. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in the renewed fighting, with Israel blaming failed negotiations with Hamas on extending the ceasefire. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) A Panama City 18-year-old is in jail, accused of having sex with a young girl. 18-year-old Stephen Hughes is charged with lewd or lascivious battery and promoting the sexual performance of a child. Bay County Sheriffs deputies say Hughes met the 13-year-old girl last week near a house where she was staying. Marianna man arrested for multiple counts of sexual activity with minor Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The girl allegedly told authorities Hughes knew how old she was, and that he suggested they video record themselves having sex. Deputies say they recovered the video from the girls phone. Hughes reportedly admitted to having sex and recording it, but claims the girl told him she was 16 or 17. Hughes is currently held in the Bay County Jail on a $30,000 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 mypanhandle.com. When it comes to billionaire money managers, Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE: BRK.A)(NYSE: BRK.B) Warren Buffett is in a class of his own. Since taking over as Berkshire's CEO six decades ago, he's overseen a jaw-dropping aggregate return in his company's Class A shares (BRK.A) of better than 6,321,000%, as of the closing bell on March 21. What makes the Oracle of Omaha so special -- aside from his investment track record -- is his willingness to share his thoughts on the U.S. economy and stock market, as well as the characteristics he looks for when investing in wonderful companies. Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett. Image source: The Motley Fool. Warren Buffett is also quite the optimist. He's encouraged investors on more than one occasion not to bet against America, and firmly believes that the U.S. economy and stock market will grow over time. It's why he's constantly on the lookout for a good deal -- and what better place to find a good deal than from the stocks already held in Berkshire Hathaway's $285 billion portfolio. Over the previous six weeks, regulatory filings show that Buffett added to Berkshire's existing stakes in six out of eight "indefinite" holdings. The Oracle of Omaha finds a gusher In Berkshire Hathaway's 2023 letter to shareholders, Warren Buffett outlined eight holdings that he viewed as indefinite. Two of these are companies that should come as no surprise to the investing community: Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) and American Express (NYSE: AXP). Truth be told, investors didn't need an annual letter from Buffett to know these are effectively "forever" holdings. Coca-Cola is Berkshire's longest continuously held stock (since 1988), with American Express its second longest-held position (since 1991). But this letter to shareholders introduced six additional holdings that Berkshire's chief views as the forever type -- and he added to shares of each of them recently. Based on a Form 4 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Oracle of Omaha spent about $35.7 million to purchase a little over 763,000 additional shares of integrated oil and gas giant Occidental Petroleum (NYSE: OXY) on Feb. 7. Since the start of 2022, Berkshire's stake in Occidental has been built up from scratch to almost 265 million shares. Warren Buffett doesn't put more than $12 billion to work in a company on a whim. Holding $12.7 billion worth of Occidental Petroleum common stock, along with more than $8 billion in preferred stock in Occidental, signals a strong belief that the spot price of crude oil will remain steady or head even higher. By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth texted about plans to kill a Houthi militant leader in Yemen two hours before a military operation meant to be shrouded in secrecy, according to screenshots of a chat released by The Atlantic on Wednesday. The revelation that highly sensitive attack plans were shared on a commercial messaging app, possibly on personal cellphones, has triggered outrage in Washington and calls from Democrats that members of Trump's national security team be fired over the leaks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican President Donald Trump's administration has sought to contain the fallout from the revelation that the March 15 chat included The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg on the encrypted messaging app Signal. Hegseth has repeatedly denied texting war plans, and Trump and his top advisers are saying no classified information was shared, bewildering Democrats and former U.S. officials, who regard timing and targeting details as some of the most closely held material ahead of a U.S. military campaign. "I think that it's by the awesome grace of God that we are not mourning dead pilots right now," Democrat Jim Himes of Connecticut said at a hearing of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee. Republican Senator Roger Wicker, who leads the Pentagon's oversight committee in the Senate, joined calls for an independent probe and said the texts appeared so sensitive "I would have wanted it classified." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Houthi leaders knew a strike was coming, they might have been able to flee, possibly to crowded areas where targeting is more difficult and the number of potential civilian casualties might be deemed too high to proceed. The chat did not appear to include any names or precise locations of Houthi militants being targeted or to disclose information that could have been used to target U.S. troops carrying out the operation. Pentagon officials aware of the planning believed that information Hegseth texted was classified at the time, one U.S. official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity, raising questions over whether, when and how Hegseth's text messages may have been declassified. It has also renewed scrutiny of Hegseth, who only narrowly won Senate confirmation after a bruising review that raised serious questions about his experience, temperament and views about women in combat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House played down the idea that Hegseth or others would lose their jobs, saying Trump retained confidence in them. Trump also played down the Yemen leak, calling it a "witch hunt" and defending Hegseth. "Hegseth is doing a great job," Trump said. Goldberg, who had initially declined to publish the chat details, did so on Wednesday. The Atlantic magazine did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the release of the additional messages. 'TEAM UPDATE' Hegseth's text started with the title "TEAM UPDATE" and included these details, according to The Atlantic: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TIME NOW (1144et): Weather is FAVORABLE. Just CONFIRMED w/CENTCOM we are a GO for mission launch" 1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package) 1345: Trigger Based F-18 1st Strike Window Starts (Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME also, Strike Drones Launch (MQ-9s) 1410: More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package) 1415: Strike Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier Trigger Based targets) 1536 F-18 2nd Strike Starts also, first sea-based Tomahawks launched. MORE TO FOLLOW (per timeline) We are currently clean on OPSEC Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Godspeed to our Warriors. Hours later, national security adviser Mike Waltz confirmed to the group the killing of the Houthis' top missile expert. "We had positive ID of him walking into his girlfriend's building and it's now collapsed," Waltz wrote, disclosing that the U.S. was carrying out surveillance operations. Reuters could not immediately establish what kind of building was brought down in the U.S. military strike, how many occupants were inside, and how the detail squares with Pentagon statements there were no known civilian casualties. Hegseth has declined to answer questions about whether he declassified the information on the Signal chat, perhaps retroactively. In Hawaii on Wednesday, he played down the controversy, telling reporters the texts contained "no locations, no routes, no flight paths, no sources, no methods." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Jamaica, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was part of the chat group, acknowledged to reporters that someone "made a big mistake" by adding a journalist to the chat. But he also dismissed concerns about any impact on the operations. Senior U.S. national security officials have classified systems that are meant to be used to communicate secret materials. But CIA Director John Ratcliffe testified on Tuesday at a Senate hearing that Waltz set up the Signal chat for unclassified coordination and that teams would be "provided with information further on the high side for high-side communication." Waltz has said he took full responsibility for the breach as he had created the Signal group. But on Wednesday, Waltz also played down the disclosure, saying on X: "No locations. No sources & methods. NO WAR PLANS. Foreign partners had already been notified that strikes were imminent." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a hearing on Wednesday, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Hegseth would be the one to determine what defense information was classified. "Ultimately, the secretary of defense (holds) the authority to classify or de-classify." Gabbard said, addressing the House Intelligence Committee. The U.S. military has so far declined to publicly offer even basic details about the offensive in Yemen, including how many strikes have been carried out, what senior leaders have been targeted or killed and even whether the operation has a name. (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle, Doina Chiacu, Susan Heavey and Ryan Jones in Washington; Humeyra Pamuk in Kingston, Jamaica; Editing by Howard Goller and Deepa Babington) Stephen Colbert became the latest late-night host to skewer the Trump administration officials caught up in the Signal text leak, calling for them to be fired before adding his belief that some should be jailed. The Late Show was recorded Monday shortly after it was revealed that White House National Security adviser Mike Waltz mistakenly invited The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to an encrypted chat where top officials hashed out secret war plans for an impending U.S. strike in Yemen. As Republicans attempted to brush off the embarrassing security breach and Waltz said he takes full responsibility, Colbert finally took his opportunity Tuesday to call for the 18 members in the group chat to face severe repercussions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of these people should be fired; maybe some should go to jail, he said on Tuesday evening to raucous applause from the studio audience. Who knows. Colbert also noted that the Signal chat may have violated the Espionage Act. Stephen Colbert skewered Trump officials involved in the Signal group chat leak (CBS/YouTube) The only reason we know that they were doing any of this is because they accidentally included a journalist, he said. What else are these merit-based hires posting on? What are they doing? Where else? For all we know, for just $4.99 a month, you might see the launch codes on OnlyFans. Again, all of these people on this group chat are the people with the highest possible security clearance in the world who hold our most dangerous secrets, who arent even supposed to say these things out loud, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colbert became increasingly irate and slammed Hegseths response after the defense secretary told reporters that Goldberg was a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist. Then why was he on the war planning group!, the furious host shouts as he approaches the camera. This guys an idiot and everyone hates him. Youre the guys that put him in the chatyou did. Hes a moron. Okay then, dont put him in the secret chat. Colbert became increasingly irate as he discussed Pete Hegseth's response to the security breach (CBS/YouTube) 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The national security and cabinet officials in the Houthi PC small group chatincluding the likes of Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubiohave been criticized for the security lapse by pundits and politicians from both sides of the aisle. Fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel shredded officials on Monday evening, joking that U.S. national security is being guarded by a bunch of doofs you wouldnt trust to throw your cousin a surprise party. 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. In another X post on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed that Goldberg is known for his sensationalist spin and that no war plans were discussed. Teslas CEO Elon Musk appeared to endorse this messaging, responding with three American flag emojis. In a phone interview with NBC News Tuesday morning, Trump claimed that Waltz was a good man who had learned his lesson and would not be fired. Traffic passes by an Old Navy and a Gap in New York City. - Image: Drew Angere (Getty Images) Gap is betting Old Navy (GPS) and AI will help solidify its position in retail. Old Navy, Gaps largest brand, is partnering with Radar, a tech company that uses RFID, AI, and computer vision to track inventory in real time. Horacio Barbeito, Old Navys CEO, said the tech will give store associates the power to better manage inventory and locate items around the store. Old Navy didnt elaborate on how the partnership would affect in-store experiences or customers privacy, nor did it specify if AI would be used for anti-theft purposes; Quartz has reached out to the company for comment. The San Francisco, Cali.-based retailer plans to roll out AI inventory monitoring across its stores nationwide over the next few years. The move is part of Gaps ongoing efforts to strengthen Old Navys position in the market. During Gaps March 7 earnings call, CEO Richard Dickson highlighted Old Navys social media presence and influencer engagement as key drivers of its expanding customer base. Dickson added that Old Navy maintained its spot as the leading speciality apparel retailer in the U.S. for the eighth consecutive quarter a stat that excludes department stores. In the year ahead, Old Navy will focus on innovation in key categories, with clear pricing, big storytelling ideas, and better in-store navigation, Dickson said, according to a FactSet (FDS) transcript. The rise of in-store AI is also hitting other sectors, particularly fast food. Earlier this month, chipmaker Taco Bell announced a partnership with chipmaker Nvidia to integrate AI into its global restaurant operations. Other chains such as McDonalds, Chick-fil-A, and Wendys say they are also using AI to manage product manufacturing and in-store operations. Retailers including Costco and Dollar Tree (DLTR) are also using AI to attempt to track customer engagement. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Samuel Howe, Zodia Custody's chief operating officer, has left the London-based company for a position in traditional finance (TradFi), the company said. Howe had been employed as COO for the past 3 months according to his LinkedIn profile. Prior to this he was head of operations at the crypto custodian. "Sam has left the company to go back to traditional finance, this shows the oscillation of roles and skills between crypto and TradFi," CEO Julian Sawyer said in an email. "He is replaced by Sam Hill who has worked with us for the last 18 months." Howe didn't respond to a request for comment by publication time. Before joining Zodia Custody, Howe was head of crypto operations at hedge fund GSA Capital, and was previously employed as head of capital markets operations at asset manager CoinShares (CS). He worked for banking giant HSBC and Kleinwort Hambros before joining the crypto industry. Howe co-founded a private crypto hedge fund in 2020 that he has advises on an ongoing basis. Zodia Custody is backed by Standard Chartered Bank (STAN), SBI Group, Northern Trust and National Australia Bank (NAB). RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) Police believe Jessica Aber, the former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia who was found dead over the weekend, died of natural causes. Alexandria Police were called Abers home Saturday morning for a report of an unresponsive woman, Nexstars The Hill reported. Aber, 43, had reportedly died in her sleep. The Alexandria Police Department continues its investigation into the death of Ms. Jessica Aber, the department said on Tuesday. At this time, detectives have found no evidence suggesting that her death was caused by anything other than natural causes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She will be missed: Police chief remembers former U.S. Attorney after unexpected death In a statement shared with ABC News and NBC News, Abers family said she suffered from epilepsy. The neurological disease can cause unprovoked seizures, the Epilepsy Foundation explains. According to the police, the investigation is still ongoing and will remain open until the medical examiner returns a final ruling on the cause and manner of death. We urge the public to respect the privacy of Ms. Abers family during this time of loss, the police release reads. Any further updates regarding the cause and manner of death should be directed to the [Office of the Chief Medical Examiner]. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aber started her role at the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) as an assistant U.S. attorney in 2009. From 2015 to 2016, she held a detailed position as counsel to the assistant attorney general for the Department of Justices Criminal Division. Following that, she took on the role of deputy chief of the criminal division at EDVA. In 2021, Aber was nominated by former President Joe Biden for the position of U.S. attorney and received unanimous confirmation from the Senate. She stepped down in January when President Donald Trump took office. The Hills Ailia Zehra contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. UPDATE: Eckhardt was found safe. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) Virginia State Police issued a Critically Missing Adult Alert on behalf of the Virginia Beach Police Department for a 58-year-old woman considered endangered on Wednesday, police said. 58-year-old Liza Eckhardt was last heard from on Tuesday around 3 p.m. She reportedly does not have a cell phone with her. Police said she drives a gray 2007 Honda Accord with the VA tag L1ZA. Eckhardt is described as 5-foot-6-inches with hazel eyes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her last known address was on Mill Crossing Drive. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) Police are searching for a suspect or suspects accused of shooting a 20-year-old in north Abilene. The shooting happened at an apartment complex on the 3300 block of Sherry Lane around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. A press release from the Abilene Police Department states several individuals and vehicles were involved in an altercation in the parking lot of the apartment complex, which resulted in several shots fired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Witnesses report hearing at least 9 gunshots and screaming. Everyone involved had fled by the time police arrived on scene, but the press release states a 20-year-old female was transported to the hospital via private auto with a non-life-threatening injury from the shooting. Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact Abilene Crime Stoppers at (325)676-8477 or the Criminal Investigations Division at (325)676-6610. All Crime Stoppers tips are guaranteed anonymous and good information could lead to a cash reward. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (ABC4) Police are searching for suspects after responding to a call of shots fired late Tuesday evening. According to the West Valley City Police Department, around 7:12 p.m., police responded to a call of shots fired in the area of Hunter View Drive and Hunter Village Drive. When police arrived on scene, they found many juveniles in the area, with some from the group allegedly fleeing down 3500 South. Police received conflicting reports about what happened, but according to witness statements, a group of about 10-20 kids were gathered for what was reported to be a fight. A few late teens to early 20-year-olds were reported to have been causing trouble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Human remains discovered in West Valley pond, investigation underway During this gathering, an apparent altercation occurred between members of the group. At some point during the altercation, police said shots were fired from a grey vehicle that was on scene, which then fled, causing many at the scene to scatter as well. As of Tuesday night, authorities said no injuries had been reported. After canvassing the area, police were not able to find shell casings or other evidence that shots were fired. Currently, it is believed that the casings were contained within the vehicle. Police are also unsure if the suspect or suspects who fired the rounds were involved in the altercation before the reported shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police made a call for other agencies to attempt to locate the vehicle. However, suspects have not been found as of Tuesday night. WVCPD is still investigating the incident and is attempting to identify the suspects. Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to call non-emergency dispatch at 801-840-4000. There is no further information at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Authorities in Riverside County are asking the public for help in ascertaining new information surrounding the 2014 murder of a woman in a trailer park. According to the Hemet Police Department, a call requesting medical aid to be dispatched to the 200 block of South Lyon Avenue in Hemet came in on Saturday, Mar. 22, 2014. Arriving first responders got to the location, a trailer park near downtown Hemet, and found a deceased woman lying face down inside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Images released of suspected college bathroom peeper on L.A. County campus She was identified as 47-year-old Dori De Ann Jamison. The Hemet Police Department was called in to investigate the suspicious death, authorities said. It was later determined the victim had been strangled. Further investigation into the circumstances surrounding Jamisons death revealed that she had recently broken up with her boyfriend and began dating another man. Individuals who were interviewed by police described her as always upbeat and happy, and neighbors said they never heard any fights or arguments from Jamisons trailer near the time of the murder. The exterior of the trailer belonging to Dori De Ann Jamison, who was found dead inside on Mar. 22, 2014. (Hemet Police Department) Officials stated that the last known person to speak with Jamison, her mother, described their conversation as positive, noting that she didnt notice any concerns nor did her daughter mention anything concerning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That conversation took place the Wednesday before Jamison was found dead, police said. String of businesses on famed Sunset Strip closing for good After not hearing from Ms. Jamison for several days, her ex-boyfriend came to check on her, Hemet police said. There was no answer when he arrived. He asked neighbors to go with him to her trailer, and he forced entry into the trailer, where he found her body. Detectives found no other signs of forced entry or a struggle within the trailer. Dori De Ann Jamison as seen in an undated photo. (Hemet Police Department) No further details were available, and the case has since gone cold. Caltrans contractor, father of 2, killed in construction zone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, 11 years later, the Hemet Police Departments Homicide Cold Case Unit is now asking the public for any new information or leads that could assist in solving the case and bringing closure to Jamisons family. To submit a tip, contact the Cold Case Unit (951-765-3898) or email Coldcase@HemetCA.gov Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. MANCHESTER, Conn. (WTNH) The Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad is seeking help in an investigation of an armed robbery of a delivery truck at the I-84 exit 62 Buckland Street commuter lot on Monday morning. According to police, between 6:30-7:30 a.m. a victim said that two or three masked individuals carrying firearms approached him and restrained him with zip ties. 2 arrested after sexual assault, police pursuit in Killingly Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspects allegedly stole an unknown quantity of Apple products from the truck and fled the scene in two separate vehicles. The vehicles were described as a dark gray Ford Expedition and a silver Ford Explorer, both of which were heavily tinted. Police are asking anyone who witnessed any suspicious individuals, vehicles, or activity in/around the I-84 Buckland Street commuter parking lot in Manchester on Monday morning, or anyone with a vehicle which was equipped with a camera and recording at that time, to contact Detective Cordeiro at (860) 994-7937 or Nathalia.cordeiro@ct.gov. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. A former U.S. attorney whose death at age 43 sparked conspiracy theories appears to have died naturally, police said Tuesday. Jessica Aber, who served during the Biden administration and resigned on Donald Trumps Inauguration Day, was found dead in her Virginia home on Saturday. The news generated suspicion because of the high-profile cases she handled. But the Alexandria Police Department doused speculation with a statement on X, formerly Twitter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this time, detectives have found no evidence suggesting that her death was caused by anything other than natural causes, the department wrote. Aber, the former U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Virginia, investigated cases involving alleged war crimes, intelligence leaks, international terrorism and espionage. Many on social media took that to mean she had built up her share of enemies and pointed to foul play. Other information also emerged Tuesday to quell the talk. Two friends of hers told The Washington Post that Aber had a serious medical condition. The newspaper did not name the condition for privacys sake. NBC News previously reported that a family friend said earlier in the investigation that law enforcement believed her death was related to a longtime medical issue. Two former Justice Department officials had also told the network earlier that investigators found no reason to suspect foul play. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cops on Tuesday emphasized that the case was not closed. The investigation is ongoing and will remain open until the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) returns a final ruling on the cause and manner of death, Alexandria police said. Aber was nominated by President Joe Biden in 2021. Erik S. Siebert, who now holds her former post, said: She was unmatched as a leader, mentor, and prosecutor, and she is simply irreplaceable as a human being. Police say signs point to natural causes in the death of former U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber. Virginian Pilot via Getty Images Related... For 17 years, Joseph Donald said he felt disrespected by the country he had served because he hadnt received a Purple Heart award for battle injuries during the War on Terror. In some ways, I felt like everything I did was in vain, he said. My country, my Marine Corps, had not honored me appropriately. I knew guys who had gotten a Purple Heart with much less injury, and that part weighed on me. After he moved to Stafford County three years ago, Donald met Daniel Cortez, a fellow Marine who served in Vietnam. Cortez advocates for other veterans and chairs the National Vet Court Alliance. The blood brothers, as Cortez refers to himself and Donald, started sharing war stories. Donald described dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic brain injury, and the cognitive and sleep-deprived issues that come with it, as well as chronic pain in his back and legs. He also mentioned hed never received a Purple Heart and that he and his wife, Susana, an Army veteran, had given up hope of ever getting one. It was just horrible, Cortez said about what he described as an administrative oversight, which he said hes seen through the years, in all branches of service. It never got processed. Cortez began making contacts, from the Marine Corps to Capitol Hill, and said things have moved with lightning speed with the Trump administration. He also credited efforts by Congressman Rob Wittman, who represents Virginias 1st District. Donald has been approved for his Purple Heart; all that remains is a date and time for the ceremony. Once we became aware, the case was processed swiftly, resulting in a determination in just 22 days, Marine Maj. Jacoby Getty, director of COMMSTRAT, Communication Strategy and Operations, said in an email. Thats a significant achievement given the typical 90- to 180-day timeline for such cases. Wittman said that he couldnt be more pleased to hear that Donalds service will be honored. Cpl. Donald sustained significant injuries while serving our nation in Afghanistan, he said in an email. Stories like these are why I continue to advocate for Virginias veterans community. Powerful blast Donald was a corporal in the Marine Corps, deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan during his six years of service. In August 2008, he was part of a security patrol in the Helmand province of Afghanistan, when his Humvee was hit by an improvised explosive device. Donald said the powerful blast melted everything in the vehicle, leaving his M4 assault rifle looking like a skeleton. Its actually amazing that we survived, he said, adding that if the device had been put closer to the surface, I wouldnt be here today. Donald pulled from the carnage two Marines, each of whom lost a leg in the attack. He received the Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a V for valor for his efforts one of two such commendations the machine gunner would earn for battling rocket-propelled grenades and Taliban fighters. The certificate states that he escaped the IED blast uninjured and with no regard for his own safety, returned to the burning vehicle. Donald said he was too hard-headed to be medically evacuated with the others. The other guys were in way worse shape than I was, I was concussed and adrenaline flowing, I didnt know what was going on, he said. By all accounts, I was babbling incoherently. The explosion lifted the front wheels of the Humvee off the ground and threw Donald into the machine gun turret, where metal plates smacked against his face. The munitions, grenades and other heavily flammable items on board started to explode they were cooking off, as Donald described it, which added to the chaos. A corpsman examined him on site for forehead lacerations and concussion symptoms. His lieutenant later told him he regretted not ordering Donald to be evacuated and evaluated at a proper facility. You gotta understand, we were way out in the middle of nowhere, he said. There was not a lot of medical equipment, you know what Im saying? Chronic pain As the months went by after the August 2008 attack, Donald said he realized how severe his injuries were. He wanted to finish his deployment, stay with my guys, but got sent back to the states for evaluation. He got physical therapy for his back, then three surgeries, then came the workup for the traumatic brain injury. He was rated as 100% disabled by the Veterans Administration and was medically processed out of the Marine Corps in 2011. I have chronic back pain, in some degree, every single day, said Donald, an at-home dad who also does work as a real-estate investor. The injury has kept me from pursuing things I wanted. I wanted to do 20 years in the Marine Corps. Getty said the process for awarding a retroactive Purple Heart requires command endorsements, medical documentation, and, if necessary, notarized eyewitness statements. A case manager reviews the package and submits it to an awards board, where a medical officer evaluates the injury, and board members take a vote. If approved, the medal and certificate is prepared. The Marine Corps takes this process very seriously, conducting thorough due diligence to ensure that every Marine receives the recognition they have rightfully earned while maintaining the high standards and integrity associated with each award, Getty said. This week, Cortez brought his own Purple Heart and certificate to show Donald. The two sat at the dining room table as Donalds children, Mia, 6, and Joey Jr., 4, climbed into his lap and looked at the medal that bears George Washingtons portrait. Its attached to a ribbon thats purple, Mias favorite color. Joseph and Susana Donald want their children and family members to witness him getting the long-awaited award. Gen. Anthony Henderson, Donalds battalion commander in Afghanistan, has agreed to be at the pinning ceremony, which should take place in a few weeks. Im very appreciative of everybody who got involved, said Donald, adding hes both relieved and grateful. If anything comes from this, I hope that other veterans dont have to go through this, that theyre awarded appropriately. A Fremont business owner was arrested on March 12 and charged with prescribing prescription drugs without a license and possession of a controlled substance with an intent to distribute. According to court documents, Joshua McIntyre, 45, owner of Max Nutrition, a supplement and vitamin store located at 1821 N. Bell St. in Fremont, was charged with one count of unlicensed practice of medicine in violation of cease and desist order and unlicensed practice of pharmacy in violation of cease and desist order, both Class III felonies, and four counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, a Class IIA felony. Both of the Class III felonies carry a maximum prison sentence of four years and a possible fine of up to $25,000, while each of the Class IIA felonies carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. According to the affidavit, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services received a complaint in April 2024 that McIntyre was selling Semaglutide out of his store. Semaglutide, an anti-obesity medication used for long-term weight management, is a controlled substance and requires a medical order and pharmacy license to distribute. During the investigation, a member of the drug task force spoke with McIntyre and informed him of the allegations. According to the affidavit, when investigators requested any and all exculpatory information with regard to Semaglutide, McIntyre said he would provide copies of such documents. As of the date the affidavit was filed, Feb. 5, McIntyre had apparently not provided any documentation. III Corps Drug Task force is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force responsible for investigating controlled substance violations and violent crime offenses in Dodge, Washington, Saunders and Cuming counties. In May 2024, DHHS sent a cease and desist letter via certified mail to McIntyre at the Max Nutrition address informing him to cease and desist selling Semaglutide without a prescription. A second cease and desist letter was sent in September. Investigators say they became aware in January 2025 that McIntyre was continuing to sell Semaglutide at Max Nutrition, noting a social media post by McIntyre and his wife, Lori, that Max Nutrition had back in stock Semaglutide. Lori McIntyre, who is the dean of students at Johnson Crossing Academic Center, is listed as a cosigner on the lease to the property along with her husband, but she has not been charged with anything. The affidavit states that on Feb. 3, an undercover officer entered Max Nutrition and asked the person behind the counter if he could purchase Semaglutide. The employee said that they sold both Semaglutide and Tirzepatide, which is another diabetes drug that can also be used for weight loss, and is also not available without a prescription. The following day, another undercover officer went to Max Nutrition and spoke with McIntyre himself. The UC (undercover officer) told McIntyre the UC heard Max Nutrition sold Semaglutide and was looking to purchase it, the affidavit states. McIntyre retrieved two vials from a shelf behind the check-out counter. The undercover officer purchased the Semaglutide and a package of Walgreens syringes for $250 in cash. The affidavit states that McIntyre put the cash in the register and did not provide a receipt. The UC asked McIntyre if he need any of the UCs information for the purchase. McIntyre stated he did not and it could just be purchased, according to the affidavit. On Feb. 5, based on the undercover officers purchase, a search warrant was issued for Max Nutrition. Police allegedly found Semaglutide and Tirzepatide bottles; Sustanon 250, a prescription-only testosterone treatment; Aspadol pills, a synthetic opioid available by prescription only; and a variety of other testosterone and hormone supplements. McIntyres attorney, Joseph Kuehl, provided the following statement: Our firm represents Mr. McIntyre. While we cannot comment on the specifics of the case or the investigation, we are aware that an abundance of information and speculation has been circulating on social media. We also understand that there may be some feelings of concern within the community. As Mr. McIntyres attorneys, we believe that our client has operated his business responsibly, and in good faith, and accordingly, any such speculation or concern is truly premature at this time. Our client greatly appreciates the outpouring of support and patience from his friends, family and customers. We can assure everyone that he is taking the allegations seriously, and we look forward to having an opportunity to present a separate perspective on this matter. Bond was set at $250,000 of which McIntyre paid 10% or $25,000. McIntyre is scheduled to return to court for arraignment on April 8. London Prince Harry has stepped down as a patron of Sentebale, a charity he co-founded in 2006 that was long aimed at helping children in southern Africa who have HIV/AIDS. The British royal said he was in a state of "shock" over having to abandon the charity he helped establish in honor of his late mother, Princess Diana. In the local language of Lesotho, where the charity is based, Sentebale means "forget-me-not." The British royal and his Sentebale co-founder, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, said they were stepping down as patrons of the charity in solidarity with five trustees who resigned over an internal dispute that has broken into public view. At the center of the standoff is the organization's chairwoman, who had been asked to step down but refused, reportedly over a change in Sentebale's mission. "With heavy hearts, we have resigned from our roles as Patrons of the organization until further notice, in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees who have had to do the same," said Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and Prince Seeiso in a joint statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "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," they said. "What's transpired is unthinkable. We are in shock that we have to do this, but we have a continued responsibility to Sentebale's beneficiaries, so we will be sharing all of our concerns with the Charity Commission as to how this came about." Britain's Prince Harry, right, flanked by Lesotho's Prince Seeiso, acknowledges the crowd as Coldplay perform at the end of the finale performance of an outdoor concert hosted by the princes' charity Sentebale, in Kensington Palace Gardens, in London, in a June 28, 2016 file photo. / Credit: Matt Dunham/AP Sentebale's chairwoman Sophie Chandauka has defended her work and leveled a string of allegations against her colleagues, without naming any. "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," said Chandauka, a corporate finance lawyer who served on the Sentebale board between 2009 and 2015 before becoming its chair. She said hers was 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 (discrimination against black women) and the coverup that ensued." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April 2024, Sentebale announced a shift in its mission from supporting children impacted by HIV/AIDS in the Kingdom of Lesotho and nearby Botswana, to "addressing issues of youth health, wealth and climate resilience in Southern Africa." "The recalibration of the Board is, therefore, part of Sentebale's ambitious transformation agenda," the charity said at the time. The U.K. Charity Commission said it was "aware of concerns" over Sentebale's governance, adding: "We are assessing the issues to determine the appropriate regulatory steps." Sentebale has stood at the core of Prince Harry's public image since his early 20's. It was seen in those early days as an attempt to revamp his image as a scandal-prone playboy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With his separation from the Sentebale, Harry remains a patron of just a few charities following his very public stepping down as a working member of Britain's royal family in 2021. Prior to that schism, he served as a patron of 16 organizations, supporting a wide range of causes from poverty and education to natural disaster relief and children's advocacy. What West Virginia's food dye ban means for your next grocery run Judge bashed by Trump in deportation flights case to handle Signal chat lawsuit Tense moments at House Intelligence Committee hearing as Signal group texts controversy grows Sir Martin Chamberlain didnt take long to make up his mind. The High Court judge had listened to a day of legal submissions and by 10 oclock the next morning his decision was announced: Tommy Robinsons contention that his treatment as a prisoner was unlawful and breached his human rights was not arguable, and it was not accurate to refer to his segregation as solitary confinement. His plea for a judicial review after he brought legal proceedings against Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, had fallen at the first legal hurdle. What emerged, however, during the court proceedings was a fascinating glimpse into life behind bars for one of Britains most notorious inmates, a life that appeared to one former offender to be so full of crazy perks that he questions why Robinson even bothered with the legal challenge in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think he genuinely had a chance of winning that case, says Alex Wood, who spent eight years in prison for fraud offences. Its all about keeping himself in the news and making a fuss. Tommy Robinson supporters marched through London earlier this year demanding his release from prison - Geoff Pugh for the Telegraph Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has hardly been out of the news since he founded the anti-Muslim (and now defunct) English Defence League in 2009. The latest in a long line of brushes with the law came in October last year, when the 42-year-old was jailed for contempt of court for defying an order not to repeat libellous allegations about a young Syrian refugee. Just before Robinson was led to the cells, the judge who sentenced him reminded the prison authorities that they had a legal obligation to take reasonable steps to keep him safe. Mr Justice Johnson noted that the impact of incarceration may be particularly onerous because the far-right campaigner would have to be kept apart from other inmates. He is well known. So are his views. They provoke considerable hostility, he said. The governor at HMP Belmarsh, the high-security jail in Woolwich, south-east London, where Robinson was transferred after his court appearance, heeded that advice. On his first night, he was placed in the Contingency Suite, a unit next to the health department designed to hold high-profile offenders assessed to be at risk of suicide or attack by other inmates. At the time it was empty. Ross Kemp visited Robinson in solitary confinement for ITVs HMP Belmarsh documentary Four days later, Robinson was moved to Woodhill Prison, 60 miles away in Milton Keynes. Opened in 1992, during an intensive period of prison construction and development, Woodhill has some of the highest rates of self-harm and violence among mens prisons in the country. In September 2023 it was labelled unsafe by Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons, who issued an urgent notification requiring the government to make immediate improvements. A review last year said thered been some fragile progress mainly because theyd shipped prisoners out and recruited more staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After his arrival, Robinson was taken to a cell at the back of Woodhills segregation block, an area known as the other side of seg. It meant he wouldnt come into contact with any other inmates, one-third of whom are Muslim. Prison managers felt separation would be in his own interests and help maintain order and discipline. Robinson had apparently been assaulted at the jail before and the governor, Nicola Marfleet, said there was intelligence that a lifer was planning to kill him and two other prisoners were plotting to assault him. Woodhill prison, where Robinson is currently serving, has some of the highest rates of self-harm and violence among mens prisons in the UK - Alamy Stock Photo The reason hes in segregation is because of his notoriety we need to protect him from other people, says a criminal justice insider with knowledge of the case. Governors will always find it tricky its kind of on your watch if something happens and the questions will then come. The segregation block at Woodhill, which usually houses around 15 prisoners, is grim. It holds inmates with complex and severe mental health problems, and was recently described by inspectors as run-down and dirty. One man had been kept there for nearly three years. For anyone held in such conditions boredom, exacerbated by a lack of social interaction, is the biggest problem, but Robinson has managed to keep himself busy. He has spent the past four months reading, watching TV programmes and DVDs, listening to music on a CD player and using his laptop to draft emails to friends and supporters (which are checked over by a security team before being sent). His cell has its own telephone and, like other prisoners, he has been allowed to make calls to pre-authorised numbers. The High Court was told Robinson has spent about four hours per day on the phone, making more than 1,250 social calls in four months, though the justice insider says each conversation would have been closely monitored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of his calls will be recorded, says the source. Some prisoners terrorists and those at a high risk of escape will be monitored live. I imagine hes on the highest level of monitoring as well. A criminal justice insider says Robinson -pictured here at a rally on St Georges Day last year - is in segregation because of his notoriety - Jamie Lorriman/Jamie Lorriman Most of those in segregation can leave their cells for about an hour each day to shower, exercise or use the laundry facilities. But because Robinson is serving a sentence for a civil, rather than a criminal, offence he has more privileges and is allowed to spend three hours out of his cell in the exercise yard, gym and washroom, with a further two hours, four times a week, receiving visitors. According to Marfleet, hes had 80 social visits and regularly sees relatives and members of the prison chaplaincy staff. He has a Bible study session every week. Theyre trying to keep him quiet and happy, says Wood, who was held in ten jails during three periods in custody. It doesnt sound like much of a punishment. More recently Robinson has been working. The High Court heard he does cleaning duties in the prison, by himself, on three days each week; the prison claimed hed been offered painting and decorating jobs, which would mean even longer out of his cell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his judgment, Mr Justice Chamberlain said that the very detailed process for reviewing Robinsons segregation had been followed, his mental health was being closely monitored and alternative prison accommodation had been considered and rejected. For the remaining four months of his sentence it seems there is little prospect that he will be taken anywhere else. It wouldnt be unusual to move someone like that around to a high security jail Full Sutton, Frankland or Wakefield but I think Robinsons in the best prison, says the insider. Its a really decent, modern prison with good facilities and a really good governor. Shell make sure he gets as much as hes entitled to. 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. PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) The agenda is out for the first meeting next week of the group that will recommend what direction South Dakota should head on a new mens prison. The Prison Project Reset task force, appointed last month by Gov. Larry Rhoden, is scheduled to gather on the morning of Wednesday, April 2, for an 8 a.m. tour of the current State Penitentiary and Jameson Annex in Sioux Falls that the new prison would largely replace. State Supreme Court hears NOPE case Tuesday Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a lunch break, the group will tour the state government-owned site between Harrisburg and Canton in Lincoln County, where the state Department of Corrections had planned construction of the new prison. The group will meet for a second day on Thursday, April 3, starting at 8 a.m., at the South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance building in Sioux Falls, located at 1600 W. Russell Street. The members are scheduled on that second morning to receive an overview of South Dakotas current DOC facilities and four presentations before breaking for lunch. Starting at 12:30 p.m. on April 3, the group plans to take public testimony. The groups chair, Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen, is in charge of deciding the duration of time each person can testify. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 4.02.25.Meeting.AgendaDownload My hope is that I dont have to be too restrictive, Venhuizen told KELOLAND News on Wednesday, March 26. I will ask testifiers to try to stay at ten minutes or so, and not to repeat prior testimony. We should have a couple hours and I want to be sure everyone is heard. Venhuizen said written comments and materials can also be submitted for distribution to the committee. Emailed comments and materials can be sent here. How we got here In her December 2021 budget address to the Legislature, then-Gov. Kristi Noem referred to a study that showed South Dakota had some $600 million in Department of Corrections needs. She suggested that state lawmakers start setting aside funds to meet those needs. In response, during the 2022 legislative session, the state incarceration fund was established. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February 2022, Gov. Noem announced the appointment of Kellie Wasko as state secretary of corrections. Wasko began on March 7 of that year, and DOC officials worked several years developing the plan for a new mens prison. In October 2023, Noems office announced the purchase of 300 acres of farm land in Lincoln County from the state Office of School and Public Lands. But in 2024, the Legislature passed and Noem signed into law Senate Bill 201, dealing with pipelines. SB 201 was referred to a statewide vote and was rejected in all but one of South Dakotas 66 counties. Just as significantly, a dozen incumbent lawmakers who had voted yes on SB 201 during the legislative session lost in the June 2024 primary elections. That turnover brought in a new crop of legislators who hadnt been part of the previous plan to set money aside for a new prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then Noem resigned as governor in January, with Rhoden automatically moving up from lieutenant governor. Secretary Wasko meanwhile raised eyebrows among lawmakers when she revealed that ongoing operational costs for the new prison would be significantly higher. All of that led to the House of Representatives deadlocking on House Bill 1025 that originally called for authorizing construction of the new mens prison and transferring $763 million to the Department of Corrections to pay for it. An attempt to keep HB 1025 alive by amending it to only transfer $148 million into the incarceration fund also failed. A local group calling itself Neighbors Opposing Prison Expansion aka NOPE Lincoln County meanwhile had sued state government, claiming due process wasnt followed in choosing the proposed site. The South Dakota Supreme Court heard arguments in the case earlier this week. How the Rhoden administration responded Gov. Rhoden then issued his first executive order establishing the Prison Project Reset panel on February 27. The order called for the group to deliver its recommendations and propose legislation to the governor by July 15. Rhoden told news reporters that he plans to call a special legislative session on July 22 regarding the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rhoden appointed the following people to the prison task force: Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen, Sioux Falls, as its chair. Yankton Police Chief Jason Foote, who has been with the Yankton Police Department since August 1998. Minnehaha County Sheriff Mike Milstead, who served in the Sioux Falls Police Department from 1973 to 1997, when he was sworn in as Minnehaha County sheriff. Minnehaha County States Attorney Daniel Haggar, who took office in January 2021 and has served in various public roles as a lawyer since 2011. Tiffany Wolfgang, CEO at Southeastern Behavioral Health Center in Sioux Falls since 2024 and previously director at South Dakota Division of Behavioral Health Services in Pierre. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jane Wipf Pfeifle, a retired state Seventh Circuit judge based in Rapid City. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley, Pierre. Rep. Jon Hansen, Dell Rapids, attorney. Rep. Erin Healy, Sioux Falls, philanthropy officer. Rep. Joy Hohn, Hartford, professional pilot/farmer/business owner. Rep. Greg Jamison, Sioux Falls, commercial real estate broker associate. Sen. Chris Karr, Sioux Falls, business valuation analyst/financial consultant. Rep. Jack Kolbeck, Sioux Falls, key account manager, Beal Distributing. Sen. Steve Kolbeck, Brandon, Xcel Energy principal manager for South Dakota. Sen. Mark Lapka, Leola, farmer/rancher. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Karla Lems, Canton, family-owned agri-businesses owner and manager. Sen. Jim Mehlhaff, Pierre, retired, former director of state Grain Warehouse Division. Rep. Brian Mulder, Sioux Falls, managing director at Volunteers of America-Dakotas. Rep. Scott Odenbach, Spearfish, attorney and real estate managing broker. Sen. Ernie Otten, Tea, retired home builder. Rep. Tim Reisch, Howard, retired South Dakota Dept. of Corrections secretary, retired South Dakota adjutant general, former Miner County sheriff. Sen. Jamie Smith, Sioux Falls, real estate agent and former teacher. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. Mar. 25LIMA A Lima man who turned 21 years of age on Saturday was sentenced Monday to up to two years in prison for assaulting a woman with whom he had a relationship. Allen County Common Pleas Court Judge Terri Kohlrieser imposed the sentence on Michael Bean after viewing photographs of the victim in the case. The photos showed the woman with bruises on her head, neck, arms and legs. Kohlrieser said that despite Bean's spotless prior criminal record, "the serious injuries suffered by the victim cannot be overlooked." Chief Assistant Allen County Prosecutor Kyle Thines said Bean struck the woman several times, beat her with a belt and struck her head on a sink until she lost consciousness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bean was sentenced on third-degree felony counts of abduction and attempted felonious assault. He was indicted by a grand jury on charges of abduction, felonious assault and domestic violence. He entered into a deal with prosecutors in February and pleaded guilty to the reduced charges. According to court documents, on Oct. 7, Bean, after an argument with his live-in girlfriend over a group chat she was in, allegedly punched her in the face and struck her on the leg with a belt several times. He then grabbed her by her hair and punched her more after he took her phone and discovered deleted messages from another man. He pushed her face onto a sink counter in a bathroom and she said she lost consciousness and threatened to kill her. Bean told the judge on Monday that what happened during that event was "not my normal behavior." Kohlrieser replied, "That is not 'I made a mistake' ... that's rage!" Featured Local Savings CHICAGO (WGN) Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday had a forceful response to President Donald Trumps executive order signed earlier in the day to overhaul elections, including requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. Voting is a fundamental right and sacred responsibility of every American. Yet, once again Donald Trump is ignoring the rule of law and circumventing Congress, Pritzker wrote in statement released Tuesday evening. Trump signs order seeking to overhaul US elections, including requiring proof of citizenship Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pritzker tries to chart a path for national Democrats to counter Trump The orders 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. Pritzkers statement continued: We need to call this what it is: another illegal, extreme, and dangerous attempt to take power away from the American people and hand it over the wealthiest man in the world, Elon Musk, who wishes to decide which U.S. citizens can and cant vote. We will not blindly follow illegal orders because Donald Trump wrote them down on a piece of paper. Illinois follows the laws of the land not the decrees of an aspiring king hell bent on disenfranchising millions of voters who deserve to have their voice heard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the face of these attacks on voting rights, Illinois will continue to administer free and fair elections while standing up for strong, secure, and accessible democracy. 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. Pritzker is a frequent critic of the president. Speaking last week at the liberal Center for American Progress in Washington, Pritzker described Trumps first couple of months in office as true villainous cruelty by a few idiots. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 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. You are the owner of this article. A federal judge last week dismissed the claims against an Avon police sergeant who transported a suicidal man to the Eagle County jail, as part of a broader lawsuit over the man's death in custody. (Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump and top allies struggled to fend off criticism over the inadvertent inclusion of a journalist in a Signal chat discussing military attacks in Yemen, after newly disclosed texts showed how Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed specific operational details. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and senior administration officials on Wednesday ratcheted up criticism of Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg who National Security Advisor Mike Waltz mistakingly added to the chat and maintained that specific timing of planned strikes, US weapons systems and targets contained in text messages did not amount to war plans or classified information. It had no impact on the attack, which was very successful, Trump said during an appearance on a conservative talk radio show. Yet that effort was failing to gain traction outside of the presidents most fervent loyalists. On Capitol Hill, Roger Wicker, the Mississippi Republican who serves as chairman of the Senate Armed Services committee, agreed with Democrats request to provide to lawmakers an expedited watchdog report on the incident. Wicker said he would also seek a secure briefing for his committee, and that he believed that the information disclosed in the chat was classified. And four of the officials on the chat, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, sought to distance themselves from the controversy, saying they had done nothing wrong and had been told by others that no classified information was shared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obviously, someone made a mistake someone made a big mistake and added a journalist, Rubio told reporters on a trip to Jamaica. Asked if the information in the text was classified, he responded, Well, the Pentagon says it was not. Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, acknowledged to a House panel that details of the attack had been shared. She maintained she was not directly involved in portions of the chat where some of the most sensitive material was provided. Im going to leave all that to the legal experts, Bessent said when asked on Fox News about the texts. You know, Ill say one of the few advantages of being one of the older people in the cabinet is that I still like to pick up the phone and call people. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt appeared undeterred by the blowback Wednesday, attacking Goldberg as an anti-Trump hater and calling Democratic critics in Congress hysterical. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the saga has demonstrated the limits of the Trump administrations defiant, flood-the-zone approach, in which officials including the president responded to The Atlantics initial report by attacking its veracity and dismissing concerns about a security breach as overblown. In response, the magazine published a story Wednesday saying it had come to believe that people should see the texts in order to reach their own conclusions after Trump and other officials insisted that the disclosure did not include classified material. The Atlantic published a transcript that included a text message from Hegseth to the full group which included Vice President JD Vance, Waltz and others giving precise times for two waves of US attacks against the Houthis, and featuring details of what weapons system would be used. Trump again Wednesday downplayed the significance of a breach, saying during his talk-show appearance that there werent details in the texts and there was nothing in there that was compromised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the chain, Hegseth said the effort would include strikes by F-18 Hornet fighter jet and MQ-9 Reaper attack drones. 1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package), reads one text from Hegseth. 1345: Trigger Based F-18 1st Strike Window Starts (Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME also, Strike Drones Launch (MQ-9s). The Atlantic said the White House had asked it not to disclose the plans. Earlier Wednesday, Leavitt called the reporting a hoax, arguing that the magazine had described the content as war plans in its original story but attack plans in the subsequent post. The Atlantic has conceded: these were NOT war plans, Leavitt wrote on X. This entire story was another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well-known for his sensationalist spin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No locations. No sources & methods. NO WAR PLANS. Foreign partners had already been notified that strikes were imminent, Waltz posted on X. The texts touched off a firestorm of accusations from Democrats and national-security experts who argued that top officials should not have used Signal, a publicly available messaging app, for such high-level and sensitive discussions. Calls grew louder on Wednesday for Hegseth and others to resign. The Signal incident is what happens when you have the most unqualified Secretary of Defense weve ever seen, Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly wrote on X. Were lucky it didnt cost any servicemembers their lives, but for the safety of our military and our country, Secretary Hegseth needs to resign. Hegseth, who is currently traveling in Asia, had also denied any wrongdoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nobodys texting war plans, he told reporters on Wednesday. You know who sees war plans? I see them. He described his text as general updates to keep everybody informed. Goldberg said Hegseth sent the chat on the attack plans more than 30 minutes before the strikes occurred. If the Houthis or a foreign US adversary had been aware of the texts, they could have prepared air defenses and jeopardized the lives of the US fighter pilots launching the strikes. In a classification guide released as part of a 2016 Freedom of Information Act request, general information or assessments regarding military plans, intentions, capabilities, or activities of the US would be confidential, while specific information or assessments regarding the military plans should be marked as secret. Information providing indication or advance warning that the US or its allies are preparing an attack, should be categorized as top secret, the guide said. While subsequent administrations could update the document, officials from previous administrations signaled the guidelines were still operative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the DNIs own guidance, this type of information should be classified TOP SECRET, former Biden State Department spokesman and CIA official Ned Price wrote on X, referring to the Director of National Intelligence. --With assistance from Stephanie Lai, Erik Wasson, Roxana Tiron and Courtney McBride. (Updates with comments from Rubio, Bessent and Hegseth) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. This article was first published in the State of Faith newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox each Monday night. A notable legal battle involving LGBTQ college students and a religious school has come to an end. Yeshiva University, a Jewish college in New York, announced Thursday that it will recognize an LGBTQ student club and allow it to be run like other clubs on campus moving forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The club, called Hareni, will operate in accordance with the approved guidelines of Yeshiva Universitys senior rabbis, the schools statement said, per The Associated Press. The name comes from a phrase thats recited before certain Jewish prayers. The phrase translates to I hereby undertake to fulfill the positive commandment to love thy neighbor as thyself, according to Forward. Yeshivas unexpected announcement resolved a yearslong clash between school officials and LGBTQ students and a lawsuit that made it all the way to the Supreme Court. The lawsuit began in April 2021, when students involved in what was then called the YU Pride Alliance sued Yeshiva, alleging that school leaders were violating the New York City Human Rights Law by refusing to treat their group like other student clubs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law outlaws discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, as I reported in September 2022. Campus leaders claimed Yeshiva University was eligible for a faith-based exemption to the Human Rights Law and argued that recognizing the club would force the school to violate its religious beliefs and harm similarly situated schools across the country. Yeshiva faced a setback at an early stage in the case when a trial court ruled that it likely didnt qualify for the religious exemption and needed to recognize YU Pride Alliance as the lawsuit played out. The ruling noted that the school confers many secular degrees and accepts non-Jewish students. Yeshiva officials rejected the idea that their school wasnt religious and appealed the decision to the Supreme Court. But the justices allowed it to stand, determining that school leaders had not yet exhausted their legal options in the lower courts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the Supreme Court ruling, Yeshiva officials temporarily suspended all student clubs on campus. But then YU Pride Alliance offered to forgo court-ordered recognition so that other campus groups could operate as usual. Now, two and a half years later, the school has reached a settlement with the LGBTQ club. The exact terms of the agreement have not been made public, but students have confirmed that they will be free to host a variety of events on campus and choose their own adviser. The club confirmed the agreement and said it will enjoy the same privileges as other student organizations on campus. It plans to host charitable events, movie nights, panel discussions and career networking events and will publicly use LGBTQ+ on flyers and advertisements, the AP reported. This agreement affirms that LGBTQ+ students at Yeshiva University are valued members of the community, Schneur Friedman, a president of the group, told the AP. Fresh off the press The first-of-its-kind case putting Utahs new religious freedom law to the test Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis has left the hospital after 5 weeks. Heres what comes next Tension between Trump and the Supreme Court is ratcheting up Term of the week: Serenity Prayer The Serenity Prayer is a famous prayer that is best known for its use in Alcoholics Anonymous. The most popular version goes like this: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to tell the difference. In a recent essay for The Conversation, Scott Paeth, a professor of religious studies at DePaul University, explained the prayers backstory, noting that it was written by theologian Reinhold Niebuhr for a worship service in the summer of 1943. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Niebuhrs original version used collective language instead of individual language and included a request not just for serenity, but also for grace. God, give us the grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, the courage to change the things that should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other, he said. Paeth wrote that the original version fits Niebuhrs belief that, to change the world, we must work together. What Im reading... When a memory involving my childhood church pops into my head, its about as likely to involve the church kitchen as the sanctuary. The kitchen was the site of some of my favorite events on the annual church calendar, from Wednesday night youth group dinners to the community barbecue in July. The church I grew up in still uses that kitchen, but kitchens are falling out of favor with many faith groups nationwide, according to Christianity Today. Its not part of the culture now, the church culture, where you have 20 women who come together and make a meal. Today we order Panera or Jimmy Johns, said Katie Eberth, an architect with Aspen Group, a leading firm in the field of church design, in the article. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have long been fascinated by Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, and his recent dissent in a death penalty case only increased my interest. Gorsuch argued the district court had inappropriately engaged in theological interpretation on the path toward rejecting a Buddhist inmates religious freedom claim, according to Reason. Want to be happier? Try reading happiness books. Cognitive scientist Laurie Santos recently listed several of her favorites in an interview with The New Yorker. Odds and ends Im in Miami this week for a Faith Angle Forum event. Im excited to share what I learn in future newsletters. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) We continue our celebration of Concho Valley Remarkable Women this month with Charlotte Anderson, the executive director of Keep San Angelo Beautiful. Her journey with the organization began in 2020, after a plan was put together in 2018 by City Council members Harry Thomas and Daniel Valenzuela, along with Republic Services Joe Spano, to reignite the program. We got fast to work on our strategic plan, including our mission to create awareness and maintain clean, green, and beautiful spaces through art, science, and education. We continue with our vision to support safe neighborhoods, thriving communities, and beautification to promote the economic growth and development of our business, Anderson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under Andersons leadership, Keep San Angelo Beautiful has earned numerous accolades, including the 2024 Keep Texas Beautiful Outstanding Program award, showcasing the organizations commitment to the environment and community impact. Anderson collaborates with other organizations to host events like the Dont Mess with Texas Trash-Off on April 5, which draws many volunteers. This is the one day more people pick up trash than any other day in the state of Texas. And this event is sanctioned by TxDOT, and they actually provide trash bags for us. And we, in turn, make sure our partnersright now about 20 different organizationswill be participating, Anderson said. With the help of these partners, the non-profit can provide essentials like gloves and grabbers for volunteers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anderson is proud of San Angelo residents for stepping up and keeping their community beautiful. Last year, we had over fifteen hundred volunteers in the city of San Angelo. People just really enjoy being a part of the community. We know that volunteering causes us to stress less. It gives us a purpose and a passion, and it also creates happinessand who doesnt love that? It makes coming to work every day such a joy knowing that I get to work with the greatest citizens in San Angelo and all those who want to make a difference, she explained with a smile. As Anderson nears retirement, her contributions to the community and the environment will leave a lasting impact. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) The fourth and final Remarkable Women finalist being honored is Dr. Mary Neiheisel. Dr. Neiheisel is a nursing professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Ive been in Lafayette for 58 and half years and everyday I learn something. And I have met so many remarkable women over the years Dr. Neiheisel said. Though nursing has been Dr. Neihesels profession, shes dedicated her life to giving back in any way she can. Whether thats treating hospital patients, caring for domestic violence survivors at Faith House, coordinating fundraisers for organizations like the Rotary Club of Lafayette, or sponsoring art shows at the ACA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest The organization Dr. Neihesel is most proud to be apart of is her help with volunteering and fundraising for the women at the Faith House. I think my work at Faith House has been most rewarding. Women are so deserving and so underserved. They are so poorly recognized as needing help. Dr. Neiheisel said. These are the most appreciative women and probably the women who most deserved help. By giving back to her community Dr. Neiheisel has been honored with many accomplishments such as the 2017 Lafayette Civic Cup, 2022 ACA Member Emeritus, 2022 Faith House Patron of Hope Award and 2018 Sarah Brabant Trailblazer Award. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Dr. Neiheisel continues outreach for those in community, her hope is that everyone would recognize the underserved and lend a helping hand. We all should be looking at our community. We all are very fortunate but we cannot overlook that we have people who are underserved and who need assistance. Dr. Neiheisel said And we need to reach out to people to participate more in the community, more toward improving the community. Dr. Neiheisel one of four women to be a Remarkable Women finalists. The winner will be selected April 1. Dr. Mary Neiheisel. Latest news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. Voters in Colorado's 8th Congressional District will have a chance to attend a town hall with a member of Congress later this month, but it won't be with U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, the first-term Republican who represents them. U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, a Colorado Democrat, questions Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's choice to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in testimony before the Senate Finance Committee during his confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington in this Jan. 29, 2025, file photo. While agricultural organizations did not succeed in their efforts to halt the reintroduction of more wolves, they found a more sympathetic ear among policymakers at the state Capitol. The Mayor's Chief of Staff Jamie Fabos told the Colorado Springs City Council that the resolution opposing Polis' recent executive order was "symbolic saber-rattling" that could risk millions of dollars in state funding. (This March 26 story has been refiled to correct grammatical errors in paragraphs 1 and 2) KINGSTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday said that Jamaica and the U.S. will discuss the Cuban doctors helping the Caribbean island's health system to better understand the medical program, after Washington threatened to halt visas for officials tied to these programs. Rubio has accused officials in the program of being involved in human trafficking and labor exploitation, accusations denied by Cuba and many Caribbean leaders, who say the Cuban medical programs are essential and comply with international labor laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Jamaica has a deficit in health personnel," Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness told a joint press conference with Rubio. "We ensure that they are treated within our labor laws and benefit like any other worker." "Any characterization of the program by others certainly would not be applicable to Jamaica," he added. Rubio said every country operated the program differently and that Washington would be engaging with Jamaica and have a better understanding of how the country was applying it. Cuba's leaders reject the U.S. accusations as Rubio's "personal agenda... based on falsehoods" and said the U.S. threat could affect millions of healthcare beneficiaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, Jamaican Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith told reporters her government was concerned about the accusation and the presence of some 400 Cuban doctors, nurses and medical technicians was important for Jamaica's healthcare system. "Their presence here is of importance to our healthcare system," she said, pointing to 400 doctors, nurses and medical technicians currently working in the country. Elsewhere in the region, other Caribbean leaders have rejected the accusations of labor exploitation and some have said they would rather give up visas than the medics. As well as targeting countries receiving Cuban medics, who have since the country's 1959 revolution been dispatched to countries around the world to help people in need, Washington has also announced tariffs for countries that buy Venezuelan oil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement POTENTIAL VISA BANS The potential visa restrictions come as the U.S. is also mulling possible wider-ranging visa bans for some smaller Caribbean nations, which have citizen-by-investment programs under which foreigners can pay for access to visas or passports. Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants and a fluent Spanish speaker, is a longtime hawk on Cuba and Venezuela policy, pushing for the region to reduce its ties with Cuba and Venezuela. Rubio highlighted the U.S. relations with Jamaica, saying it could benefit from the near-shoring of supply chains and that the U.S. would offer security support aimed at reducing gang activity there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This support, he said, would include forensic laboratories and initiatives aimed at reducing recruitment into criminal organizations. "I can think of no better friends than the Caribbean, and frankly, in the Western Hemisphere, than Jamaica," Rubio added. He did not say what business operations U.S. firms could launch in Jamaica. Under previous governments, many companies from IT firms to carmakers serving U.S. markets have moved from hubs in Asia to Mexico, though U.S. tariff threats have thrown the future of many of these supply chains into uncertainty. Rubio is scheduled to meet with leaders of Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Haiti, who traveled to Jamaica for the occasion, later on Wednesday. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Sarah Morland; Additional reporting by Daphne Psaledakis; Editing by Brendan O'Boyle and Aurora Ellis) Originally appeared on E! Online Ruby Franke and Kevin Franke are going down separate paths. More than a year after the disgraced 8 Passengers YouTuber was sentenced to up to 30 years in prison alongside colleague Jodi Hildebrandt for child abuse, she and her husband have finalized their divorce, according to KSL-TV Utah. Per the outlet, District Judge Roger Griffin signed the couples divorce decree March 20, granting Kevin sole custody of the couples four children who are still minors. (They are also parents to Shari, 21, and Chad, 20.) Ruby, meanwhile, has been ordered to have no contact with them, per an order from the 4th District Juvenile Court obtained by KSL-TV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And while typically child support is paid in a full custody agreement, Kevin agreed to consider any child support payments owed to him by Ruby Franke already paid, per KSL-TV. Kevin will also retain ownership of the couples home Springville Utah, along with a 2.8 acre-property in Scofield, Carbon County. More from E! Online Ruby will keep $85,000 that she withdrew from accounts after her initial separation from her ex husband in 2022 but all other financial assets in her name will be reallocated to Kevin. Neither party requested any additional alimony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the couple had been living apart since September 2022, Kevin filed for divorce in December 2023, three months after she was arrested. Ruby and Jodi pleaded guilty to child abuse charges last year after the 43-year-olds two youngest children were found emaciated and abused in their care. Utah state prosecutor Eric Clarke claimed that the women had committed horrible acts of child abuse. Instagram/Ruby Franke In February, Kevinwho married Ruby in 2000told People that he and Ruby were close to reaching a divorce settlement, and that he had cut off all contact with her in the last year. The last letter that I received from her from prison was maybe in March or April of last year, he told the outlet. And then I requested the Department of Corrections to ask her to stop writing me." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kevin admitted he was still very angry with his wife. I didnt want to hear anymore, he added. I didnt like what she was saying. It just didnt feel right and it didnt feel good. Keep reading for more information on Rubys troubling case. Aug. 30, 2023: Children Found Malnourished Utah police received a call about a starved child being found, they shared in a press release. The minorwho appeared "emaciated and malnourished" with "open wounds and duct tape around the extremities"was taken to the hospital in "severe" condition. He was later identified as YouTuber Ruby Franke's 12-year-old son, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by NBC News. He had been at the home of Ruby's business partner Jodi Hildebrant and had climbed out of a window before going to a neighbor's house to ask for help, per the document. Police then searched a nearby home, where another child was found "in a similar physical condition of malnourishment" and was also hospitalized, per the press release. Authorities later explained that they discovered Ruby's 9-year-old daughter "petrified" while sitting by herself in an empty closet in Jodi's house, per evidence released by the Washington County Attorney's Office. Aug. 30, 2023: Arrest Ruby was arrested for aggravated child abuse charges in Utah along with Jodi, who in 2007 established a life coaching service called ConneXions, which former clients described to NBC News as a "cult-like" program based on principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Aug. 31, 2023: Ruby's Daughter Speaks Out On Aug. 31, E! reported that Shari Franke, Ruby's estranged adult daughter, reacted to the news on her Instagram Story. "Me and my family are so glad justice is being served," wrote Shari, who was born in 2003. "We've been trying to tell the police and CPS for years about this, and so glad they finally decided to step up. Kids are safe, but there's a long road ahead." Aug. 31, 2023: Ruby's Sisters React to Arrest Ruby's sisters Ellie Mecham, Bonnie Hoellein and Julie Deru spoke out as well, saying the YouTuber's arrest "needed to happen." "For the last 3 years we have kept quiet on the subject of Ruby Franke for the sake of her children," they wrote in a joint Instagram statement. "Behind the public scene, we have done everything to try and make sure the kids were safe. We wouldn't feel right about moving forward with regular content without addressing the most recent events. Once we do, we will not be commenting on it any further." The siblings said Ruby's kids are "now safe, which is the number one priority." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sept. 6, 2023: Charges Filed The former 8 Passengers YouTuber and her business partner Jodi were each formally charged with six counts of felony child abuse by the Washington County Attorney in Utah. Sept. 6, 2023: Kevin Franke Breaks Silence Ruby's husband Kevin Franke came forward to deny involvement in her alleged crimes. His lawyer Randy Kester told Good Morning America the spouses had been living apart for 13 months before the arrest. "He is a good person, he's very gentle," the attorney said. "He's a very gentle guy. And no one has ever made any allegations that he's physically abused those kids or anyone else." Nov. 29, 2023: Kevin Files for Divorce Kevin officially filed for divorce from the Utah influencer, according to a domestic relations injunction obtained by NBC News. Dec. 18: Guilty Pleas E! confirmed Dec. 18 that Ruby had entered a guilty plea for four of her charges. At the time, per the Associated Press, she stated, "With my deepest regret and sorrow for my family and my children, guilty." Jodi would also plead guilty to four counts of second-degree felony aggravated child abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Feb. 20, 2024: Prison Sentencing Both women were sentenced to four consecutive one to 15 year sentences, which will be capped at the 30-year max in Utah. Feb. 20, 2024: Ruby Apologizes The parent vlogger apologized during her sentencing to her six kids and estranged husband. "For the past four years, I've chosen to follow counsel and guidance that has led me into a dark delusion," she said in court. "My distorted version of reality went largely unchecked as I would isolate from anyone who challenged me." She continued, "To my babies, you are a part of me. I believed dark was light and right was wrong. I would do anything in this world for you. I took from you all that was soft, and safe, and good." March 25, 2024: Ruby's Diary Revealed Prosecutors released her chilling journal entries, in which she wrote about her mistreatment of her children, including her "Satanic" tween son. "He slithers & sneaks around looking for opportunities when no one is watching & then he scurries," she wrote in an entry from July 10, 2023, which was her son's 12th birthday. "If he wants to emulate the savior, he needs to be 100% obedient with exactness. No wavering, no hiding." She wrote about punishing her children by beating them and withholding food and water. March 25, 2024: Kevin's Interview With Authorities Becomes Public Prosecutors released audio footage of Kevin talking with investigators after Ruby was arrested, in which he spoke about alleged restrictions he faced in their house. "There were all these rules now placed on me, like I can leave when I want but I couldn't come back until Ruby gave me permission," Kevin said in an audio clip obtained by E!. "I couldn't come into the kitchen to eat until Ruby gave me permission and the upstairs where Jodi was was completely offline. I couldn't go upstairs anymore in my own house. And Ruby would dictate all of the terms of how our interactions would be, when we would talk. And that was hard." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia on Wednesday condemned the arrest of the leader of Moldova's pro-Russian Gagauz ethnic minority, saying it was a blatant example of trying to use the methods of a police state to neutralise an opponent of President Maia Sandu. Police in Moldova detained Eugenia Gutul at Chisinau's international airport late on Tuesday, following the unexplained disappearance of two other wanted pro-Russian lawmakers. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The current authorities use methods of the most blatant pressure on current politicians who are somewhat popular and somehow compete with Maia Sandu," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for Russia's foreign ministry, noted that opponents of Sandu were complaining that the republic had been "turned into a police state". "It is obvious to any unbiased observer that it is precisely those Moldovan politicians and journalists who advocate building constructive relations with the Russian Federation who are under the most fierce pressure," Zakharova said. 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. Gutul, a fierce critic of the government, was elected bashkan in 2023. (Reporting by Dmitry Antonov in Moscow, writing by Anna Kozlova; editing by Guy Faulconbridge) Russia is importing large quantities of chemicals for manufacturing explosives by purchasing products from fertilizer companies that have avoided international sanctions lists, Bloomberg reported on March 26. Western countries imposed wide-reaching restrictions on the Russian defense industry following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but Russia continues to import key components and supplies for weapons production through sanctions evasion schemes. The Russian explosives manufacturer JSC Spetskhimiya has placed orders for tens of thousands of tons of nitric acid and a nitric-sulphuric-acid mix, according to documents seen by Bloomberg. The chemicals are essential for the production of TNT, gunpowder, and other explosives the Russian military uses in its war against Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JSC Spetskhimiya ordered the chemicals from subsidiaries EuroChem Group AG and UralChem JSC, fertilizer companies that are not subject to strict U.S. and EU sanctions due to their importance to global food security. Many of the 11 Russian plants scheduled to receive the chemical supplies have been sanctioned for their role in Moscow's war effort. The EU imposed sanctions on JSC Spetskhimiya in June 2024. The chemical orders appear to have been confirmed and will arrive in Russia over the course of 2025, documents reviewed by Bloomberg show. The volume of nitric acid being shipped would allow Russia to manufacture at least 6,500 152-mm artillery shells per day this year. "Our products are intended for use in agriculture and civil industry," EuroChem said in comments emailed to Bloomberg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The company is not part of the defense sector of the Russian economy." Both EuroChem and UralChem have ties to sanctioned Russian billionaires. The family of Belarusian-Russian oligarch Dmitry Mazepin controls UralChem, while EuroChem was founded by Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko. Melnichenko withdrew as a beneficiary from a EuroChem trust after being sanctioned by the U.S., U.K., and EU. Russia provides approximately 25% of Europe's fertilizer, a trade that has amounted to $5.4 billion since the launch of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to European Commission data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia on March 25 agreed to a partial maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea following negotiations with U.S. officials in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In return, the U.S. promised to "help restore Russia's access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports," among other benefits. Read also: We asked Ukrainian soldiers if theyd fight Russia with their bare hands Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A candidate for the Colorado Springs City Council is attempting to settle a million-dollar judgment against him in a breach of contract case before having to appear in Douglas County court in April. Local business owner Rick Gillit had a $1.5 million default judgment issued against him in Douglas County in July for not paying back a $240,000 promissory note taken out for a 2018 deal. Gillit is scheduled to appear virtually in court for the case April 7, less than a week after the City Council election April 1. Gillit is one of five candidates running for the highly competitive council seat representing District 3, which covers the downtown and southwest sections of the city. Gillit and his attorney Adam Aldrich told The Gazette Tuesday that the two sides are finalizing a settlement to end the case before the April court date. Gillit did not disclose the terms, but said they were "much more favorable" than the original judgment. The scale of the judgment against Gillit became the subject of election attack ads in recent weeks, paid for by a new and largely anonymous committee called Protect Colorado Springs. The committee paid for mailers and set up a website saying the court ruling should disqualify Gillit from a council position where he would be managing the city budget. "I don't appreciate certain people making it sound like something it never was. It's wrong of the person who did that and knows what it really was," Gillit said. Gillit said the $240,000 loan was a portion of a larger payment he provided to Scott Robbins when he purchased his Parker-based insurance company in 2018. He paid off around $180,000 of the loan before the deadline arrived in 2023, at which point Robbins filed the suit to collect the outstanding balance. Featured Local Savings "Mr. Robbins has repeatedly asked Mr. Gillit to make the payment but has received no response. The Plaintiff is accruing continuing attorney fees and costs as well waiting on repayment," Robbins' attorney wrote in the original complaint. According to court records, Robbins had originally asked in December 2023 for a default judgment of $63,286 to cover the amount that had not been paid back from the loan plus his attorneys fees. Gillit filed answers and motions with the court before his attorney left the case in March 2024. Two months later, Robbins and his attorney filed for a new default judgment that escalated the claim to $1.5 million. According to the second claim, Gillit had almost immediately defaulted on the loan by missing an early payment and he owed six years of interest on the original $240,000 amount at the maximum 45% rate allowed in Colorado law. District Court Judge Andrew Baum issued the higher judgment against Gillit in July after he failed to respond to the court. Gillit said the notices from that point in the lawsuit were sent to an outdated address and he was surprised to see how much the claim had jumped. "It is unfathomable that a loan for $240,000 that should have accrued interest at the rate of 6.75% ballooned to over $1.5 million through an absurd and unsupported application of the terms of the promissory note," Gillit's new attorney wrote in a December court filing. Robbins and his attorneys could not be reached for comment on the case or the potential settlement. Douglas County court staff said they had not received notice of a settlement agreement or stipulation as of Tuesday night. Monday was the deadline for voters in Colorado Springs to mail in their ballots for the April 1 municipal election, which includes six City Council seats up for grabs. After Monday, ballots must be dropped off at the City Clerk's Office or one of the 24/7 drop-off boxes around town. More voting information can be found at: coloradosprings.gov/election. The work of a district attorney whose discovery violations in part led to charges being dismissed in two high-profile murder trials, including the doomed Barry Morphew case, was also under a cloud of doubt in a 2023 triple murder case. The Colorado Supreme Court disbarred Linda Stanley in November for ethical violations and misconduct, much of that shadowed by her handling of the investigation into the 2020 death of Suzanne Morphew. Stanley testified that finding and retaining staff in rural jurisdictions with few resources was a challenge. Her former Assistant District Attorney Jeff Lindsey, who was elected in November, has taken over the flailing prosecution of Hanme Clark, after a year-and-a-half of motions that could have spelled the end of the prosecution's case. Clark is a former MMA fighter who allegedly shot three people to death and wounded another in a property dispute in an area northeast of Westcliffe. In court last week, Lindsey acknowledged that the case could be salvaged. This is the type of case that requires significant oversight and that didnt happen, he said, according to the Wet Mountain Tribune. If this case had proceeded it could have been another Morphew. Witnesses say Clark, 45, ambushed the group as they were preparing to install a fence along an easement which divided his and a neighbors land. The killings happened Nov. 20, 2023, but the case has languished as it moved through the courts not only due to discovery violations, but also because the DNA and ballistics evidence analysis that were being done by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation took longer than usual. Eleventh Judicial District Judge Lauren Swan sanctioned the DAs office last week and reopened the preliminary hearing, which will allow for witnesses and other evidence that was not provided early in the case to be examined. The evidence will be presented May 21 with a two-week trial scheduled for mid-June. A deadly dispute The shootings occurred in broad daylight in a wooded area northeast of Westcliffe. Beth Wade Geers, 73, and her husband Robert Geers, 63, of Colorado Springs, and James Patrick Daulton, 58, of Westcliffe were killed. Daultons wife, Patty Jean, 56, was rushed to the hospital in critical condition but survived. She is expected to be a critical witness in the trial as is the surveyor, who fled the scene unharmed. Clark was charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder and his wife, 50-year-old Nancy Rae Medina-Kochis, was charged with accessory after the fact. Featured Local Savings The couple allegedly fled and were arrested in New Mexico a day after the shooting. Complicating the case is the fact that the defense would like to cross-examine a Custer County Sheriff's deputy who knew a lot about the property dispute in Westcliffe because he had handled the complaints there before the shooting happened. However, Jason Salbato was fired, perhaps erroneously, after Stanley ordered her own investigator with the 11th Judicial District to look into a separate allegation that Salbato failed to report an incident of child abuse. He was arrested in March 2024, but the courts dismissed all charges against him. By that time the Custer County Sheriff's Office had turned over personnel and his job was lost. "It's like getting blood from a turnip" Though it appears that Lindsey has righted the four-county judicial district after Stanleys mistake-riddled reign, trouble still follows her. Last week, Judge Swan ordered Stanley to pay Fremont, Chaffee, and Custer counties more than $307,000 after each countys Board of County Commissioners sued her for using taxpayers money to pay for her defense in the Colorado Supreme Court ethics investigation. The amount is three times the money she spent, inflated for damages. The fourth county in the 11th, Park County, is the only entity that did not join in the lawsuit. So far, Stanley has not complied with the order and Fremont County Commissioner Kevin Grantham is not hopeful she will pay up. Its like getting blood from a turnip, he said. When the saga first started, it took nine days to serve the lawsuit because Stanley was living in a remote cabin in Guffey, according to an affidavit obtained by The Denver Gazette. When processors located her in December, she denied who she was and threw the paperwork into the dirt. A second attempt to contact Stanley through a registered letter was marked "rejected" and returned. Its a debacle which defies logic, Grantham said. Stanley did not respond to a request for comment by The Denver Gazette. Members of the University of Colorados Board of Regents have requested an internal investigation into one of its fellow members over possible conflicts of interests in efforts to cut funding for a CU program. The investigation, requested by regents Ken Montera and Callie Rennison, comes after fellow regent Wanda James objections to a campaign created by the state legislature and funded through the Colorado School of Public Health and CU Anschutz Medical Campus to educate the public on the health risks of highly concentrated marijuana. We know the people of Colorado expect the Board to provide excellent oversight and leadership to the University of Colorado, Montera and Rennison said in a joint statement. We expect that as well and are confident that this review will fairly answer questions that have been raised over the last several weeks. James, a Black woman and prominent owner of a Denver cannabis dispensary, took offense to a series of images created for a campaign called The Tea on THC released last December that she believed were racist. The images featured information on the debilitating effects of marijuana throughout a person's development and were accompanied by illustrations of a Black or dark-skinned person showcasing effects as they aged. She raised her concerns in January over the campaigns content with CU leadership, who agreed that the images were insensitive. The images were later removed and Initium Health which created the images for the campaign issued a statement acknowledging the concerns. In January, James continued to comment publicly on The Tea on THC through multiple media outlets. Among them was a story in Denvers Westword where she said she would like to have the campaigns funding pulled and reallocated to grants for marijuana business owners who qualify for social equity licenses. She was also quoted by the cannabis industry outlet Green Market Report, saying that she had conversations with Gov. Jared Polis about the images and pulling the funding from the Colorado School of Public Health. According to a memo by Jeremy Hueth, CUs university counsel, the Polis administration sent a letter to the state legislative Joint Budget Committee on Jan. 31 that expressed Polis desire to fully eliminate the funding source for the Tea on THC. Featured Local Savings Montera said he and other regents learned of the comments through these articles, social media posts and calls from constituents expressing concerns over a conflict of interest because of James roles with both the Board of Regents and the cannabis industry. We have a fiduciary responsibility to both the university and our constituents, said Montera, from Colorado Springs. We are doing this to keep the integrity of this board and this is by no way intended to single out anyone. This prompted Hueths memo, dated Feb. 28, to see whether James actions violated either the boards laws and policies or state statute pertaining to elected official conduct. The memo cites the boards policies about conflicts of interest, fiduciary responsibilities and undue influence. Regarding conflicts of interest, regent policy states that a regents judgment about board business must not be impaired as a result of conflicts between the interests of the university and the regent's own financial interest or personal interest, or the financial interests or personal interests of the regent's family or associates. Hueth concluded that the Board of Regents does not have the authority to remove one of its members, but can censure them if they are found to have violated a statute, board law or policy following an independent investigation. Rennison told The Gazette that there have been no talks to date about the possibility. An investigation through the state Attorney General's office could also be on the table. When reached for a response, James told The Gazette in an email that she answered all of those questions in other articles. Colorado Public Radio reported that James was upset after learning about the investigation and called the efforts by her fellow regents a smear campaign. The review will be performed by a third party in the coming weeks and a report summarizing the findings will be made public at the conclusion of the review. Rennison said that she hopes the results of the investigation will bring a fair and impartial end to a matter that has been enflaming some of the other regents to try and resolve this in recent weeks. There's a lot going on in higher education and Id think our time should be better spent addressing those challenges going forward rather than this, she said. On warm, blustery days this spring, Colorado Springs has already seen a handful of red-flag warnings issued by the National Weather Service calling for heightened fire risk. One such day saw two brush fires break out on opposite sides of the city earlier this month, prompting evacuations, closing roads, and threatening homes. According to Makoto Moore, weather service Pueblo lead meteorologist and fire weather program leader, the fire zone containing Colorado Springs has seen five red-flag warnings issued in 2025 up to March 15. Last year saw a total of 21. "Weve gotten off to a strong start," he said. But with temperatures warming, what makes a day ripe for a red-flag warning? Here's five things you should know about the weather designation. 1. It's a warning, not a watch. With tornadoes, a watch means the conditions are right for a twister, while a warning means one may already be on the ground. Fire watches and warnings work similarly, said Moore. A fire weather watch means that the predicted conditions may produce risk for wildfire. A red-flag warning, on the other hand, means the conditions are present for fire. For Colorado Springs in Fire Zone 227, that means weather service meteorologists are seeking a specific set of conditions when it comes to wind and humidity. A Zone 227 red-flag warning typically means humidity is below 15%. It also means winds are sustained or frequently gusting to over 25 mph. Those conditions need to be met for at least three hours over a 12 hour period. Those criteria are determined by local fire agencies, said Moore. 2. Weather isn't the only factor. Moore said not all dry, windy days prompt a red-flag warning. The other key ingredient is fuel. Featured Local Savings The National Weather Service works closely with local agencies like the Colorado Springs Fire Department and the U.S. Forest Service to report on the condition of vegetation in the area. Too dry, and the underbrush and prairie grasses around Colorado Springs are at risk of carrying a wind-blown fire. Too wet, and the risk drops significantly. "If the fuels (are) so wet that they can't carry fire, then it doesn't matter," said Moore. 3. Some times of the year are more dangerous than others, and it may not be when you think. Moore said now is the "busy time" for red-flag warnings in the year for Colorado, starting in February and typically lasting through May or June. The risk decreases as vegetation "greens up," according to Moore, entering a brief period when the environment may be too moisture-rich to sustain a wildfire. "We don't get a lot of red flags into the summer," he said. Dangerous fire weather usually makes a reappearance later in the year as vegetation dies back. "At some point theyll dry up, and well be back in business again," he said. 4. Ocean temperatures may be a factor. Moore said that the number of red-flag warnings issued in a year may be tied to weather phenomena caused by shifting temperatures in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the Americas a cold event is a La Nina, while a warm event is an El Nino. In the Colorado Springs area, he said La Nina events may mean less precipitation on average and gustier winds, meaning drier conditions for wildfires. Now is a transitional time between the two weather conditions, Moore said. 2025 began as a La Nina year and is predicted to have "neutral conditions" through the summer. 5. A warning doesn't mean there's a fire. Moore said meteorologists are not checking for smoke on the horizon when they issue a red flag warning. Whether or not a fire actually occurs during a warning period does necessarily not factor into the decision to issue it. "We're not trying to predict fires," he said. "We're trying to predict the dangerous, critical fire weather conditions that if a fire would start, it would be extremely dangerous." Honeybee colonies in the United States are projected to decline by up to 70% in 2025, entomologists at Washington State University said Tuesday. The university said in a news release that in the past decade, honeybee colony losses have averaged 40% to 50% annually. But this year, a combination of nutrition deficiencies, mite infestations, viral diseases and possible pesticide exposure during the previous pollinating season led to higher losses, the release said. "Losses have been increasing steadily," Priya Chakrabarti Basu, an assistant professor of pollinator health and apiculture at WSU, said in the news release. "Pollination demands havent gone down, so beekeepers face tremendous pressure to keep the same number of colonies to meet those needs." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The implications could be huge. About 35% of the worlds food depends on pollinators, according to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Swarming honeybees form a cluster on a tree in Las Vegas. Brandon Hopkins, a professor of pollinator ecology at WSU, said in a statement accompanying the release that higher losses could also lead to higher costs for farmers who depend on bee colonies. "I dont want to be a fear-monger, but this level of national loss could mean increased bankruptcies amongst beekeepers," Hopkins said. "Growers of crops downstream from almonds may need to scramble if the beekeeper theyve relied on to pollinate their apple trees, for example, isnt in business anymore." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Honeybees had a production value of nearly $350 million in 2023, according to the Agriculture Department. Hopkins added that the extreme honeybee colonies also put the almond industry at particular risk this year. "The almond industry frequently asks for strong colonies. But this year, growers are desperate," Hopkins said. "Anything with live bees in a box is in demand because the industry is short on supply." "I havent heard of that since the early days of colony collapse around 2008," he added. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A man is facing attempted murder and assault charges after an apparent "marital or relationship-related issue" turned violent Tuesday in Manitou Springs, according to police. Police were called to a residence in the area of Deer Path Avenue and Oklahoma Road around 7 p.m., according to a news release Wednesday from the city of Manitou Springs. Police said a man arrived at the victim's residence southeast of downtown Manitou and stabbed him in the neck in the driveway. The resident then shot the suspect twice in the stomach and chest and called 911. Both men were hospitalized and are in stable condition, according to police. Police said the suspect will be booked into the El Paso County jail after he is released from the hospital. The shooter will not be charged because detectives determined he was acting in self-defense. Anyone with information can call police at 719-390-5555. UPDATE: Snow White was found safe Thursday, according to a post on X by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is seeking help in the search for a 61-year-old southern Colorado woman who went missing Sunday. The Walsenburg Police Department said Snow L. White was last seen around 7 p.m. Sunday near the 700 block of Kansas Avenue in Walsenburg. White is described as about 5-foot-3 and 138 pounds with brown hair and green eyes. She is associated with a bronze 2018 Toyota Highlander with Colorado license plate number DAW-906. Walsenburg police said they have concerns about her safety and mental health. Anyone with information is asked to call 719-738-1044. In response to a series of actions resulting in a lost sales tax, the Woodland Park public school district has filed a complaint against the city of Woodland Park alleging a violation of Colorados Open Meetings Law. The complaint, filed March 18, specifically alleges that city council members went into an executive session without following the proper procedure to do so during a special meeting on March 10. Before the City Councils vote to repeal the 1.09% sales tax earmarked for Woodland Park RE-2 schools, Mayor Kellie Case announced that they would be adjourning into executive session followed by a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Catherine Nakai for the purposes of receiving legal advice on specific legal questions from the city attorney and for determining positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations. After returning from the executive session, the council unanimously voted to repeal the sales tax. Woodland Park RE-2 board president Mick Bates said the School Board decided to file the complaint in the days following the vote because the board members felt that the special meeting wasnt appropriate for that decision. Our intent is to get some more detail as to how they came to that decision that day, he said. (Were) just trying to get a little better understanding. In its complaint, the district alleges that the council failed to specify what they planned to discuss in executive session and that doing so wouldnt have compromised the purpose of the session. They added that this prevented the school district from knowing what exactly was discussed. While the Open Meetings Law allow all local government bodies to conduct executive sessions that are closed to the public, they are required to state the topic for discussion during the meeting. The topic may be generalized enough so that it doesnt nullify any confidentiality. Featured Local Savings The school district argues that they were not granted enough detail regarding the councils discussions on the sales tax during the meeting since they voted to repeal it upon returning to the public meeting. Before the vote, each council member addressed the public with a statement explaining the reasons. Council member Teri Baldwin resigned from the council immediately following the meeting. When reached by The Gazette, Case declined to comment since the litigation is ongoing. This is not the first mention of legal repercussions following the councils vote. Last month, The Gazette acquired a series of emails between the two governmental bodies legal representatives debating the legality of the council repealing the tax. RE-2 attorney Brad Miller wrote to Coty Attorney Geoff Wilson that their intergovernmental agreement prevented them from revoking the tax without an action in court for specific performance. Wilson argued that the citys plenary legislative power and the state constitution allowed them to do so over the agreement. Standing by the validity of their case, Bates said there could be future litigation. Were leaving all of our options open at this point, he said. Were clearly interested to see how this issue comes down (but) there certainly could be additional suits filed because theres room for that. The district is seeking a judgment declaring that the city council violated its rights under Colorados Open Meetings Law and the executive session to be retroactively declared a public meeting and an order ensuring that the council properly conduct executive sessions going forward. Colorado state law requires such meetings be recorded.. Sharon Peters has a PhD in human and organization development and is the former executive editor of The Gazette. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) scandal involving the state's most prolific and revered DNA analyst, Yvonne Woods, has led to the discovery of irregularities in procedures and manipulated or deleted data in over 1,000 past criminal cases. Despite the scandal breaking nearly 17 months ago, the true scope of the crisis remains mostly unknown, unclear or hidden. Critics allege it is intentional as those with potentially conflicting interests including the state's attorney general whose office represents CBI appear to be trying to limit the damage by finding ways to edit, delay, or outright block the release of needed information. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold announced Monday that she is seeking the Democratic nomination for attorney general in next year's election, promising to "stand up to Donald Trump to protect our rights and freedoms." A California-based video vigilante who led Albany police to two-dozen sex crime suspects in 2024 struck again this time in Lebanon. Meanwhile, another out-of-state vigilante group was publicly admonished by the Albany Police Department for not following guidelines regarding citizen-initiated sting operations. These types of vigilantes typically pose online as underaged people to snare adults looking to meet up with children for sexual purposes, coordinating with law enforcement and recording confrontations with the suspects to share on various platforms. In Lebanon Earlier this month, Lebanon police arrested 48-year-old Fritz Henry Lutje of Albany, who is charged with luring a minor and online sexual corruption of a child. Lutje allegedly believed he was meeting a 14-year-old boy at Walmart but was instead met by Cody Mattingly of the group People v. Preds. People v. Preds claims to have caught more than 500 alleged predators in recent years. The group gets mixed reviews in online discussions, with some applauding the proactive approach and others criticizing the methodology. Some say it amounts to entrapment because there is no real victim in peril. Lutjes arrest was a typical example of a video vigilante sting. According to an affidavit, Mattingly, who is reportedly from the San Diego area, contacted the Lebanon Police Department about Lutje communicating with his decoy profile on Grindr, a dating app primarily used by the LGBTQ community. Mattinglys decoy profile allegedly told Lutje he was 14 years old, but that did not stop Lutje from wanting to meet for a sexual rendezvous, the affidavit states, adding that through the conversation, Mattingly learned that Lutje worked at the Lebanon Walmart. While meeting with police, he told them he was going to Walmart next to confront Lutje and film the encounter, which he did. Lutje was arrested the following day at his home in Albany. According to the affidavit, he told police he thought about cutting off the conversation with the decoy once he learned the age. But he did not, and allegedly said he had gotten along with the imaginary boy he would have engaged in sexual activities with him. In Albany The second vigilante group, EDP Watch, is much more publicized online. Led by Jidon Adams, who goes by JiDion online and reportedly hails from Texas, the group offers premium content at a cost and sells merchandise as well. Its videos garner millions of views on YouTube. The group even has an IMDB listing. A Friday, March 21 news release from the Albany Police Department says the out-of-state group approached the department about its plan to pose as a child online and set up meeting spots in Albany to film interactions for their social media channel. We have previously met with these groups to establish guidelines for jurisdiction, proper evidence handling and explain procedures, the release states. The group today did not follow these guidelines and called us after the incident was underway. That puts officers at a perilous disadvantage, the release states. This method of investigating a crime is not recommended for untrained and non-sworn people and can be particularly dangerous, the release states. All our officers at APD are trained to investigate sex abuse crimes, and unfortunately do so on a daily basis. The target of the sting, 34-year-old Charles Harold Mellick of Corvallis, was arrested on an outstanding warrant at the Albany Walmart. Albany police are investigating the new allegations stemming from the sting. 'They gave us no lead time' They gave us pretty much no notice other than we're here, we're going to confront this guy, Albany police Chief Marcia Harnden said. We have this meeting, and you need to come right now. They gave us no lead time. With minimum staffing and without having vetted the probable cause for an arrest, all police had to go on was Mellicks name, which did yield a parole violation warrant, Harnden said, confirming that Mellick is a convicted sex offender. They want that arrest so they can put it on their social media page, and the danger level is just not acceptable for us, she said, emphasizing that if there had been a live victim involved rather than a decoy persona there would have been a more urgent response. Harnden said she doesnt doubt the group was probably dealing with a predator, and the investigation is ongoing, but she said law enforcement cannot just go and detain someone without checking into the facts first. She added the group had finally supplied its evidence after a delay. Videos shared by EDP Watch about the sting sparked considerable social media criticism of the department. Adams was apparently frustrated with the process and the lack of immediate sex crime charges for Mellick, lashing out at Sgt. Curtis Bell specifically after speaking with Bell at the Police Department. Fury turns on APB The fury turned on Sgt. Bell, Harnden said. He got hundreds of messages we all did saying that he needs to be fired, and he's a pedophile and so on and so forth, and so that's why we put out the very factual post and didnt leave comments on. We'll absolutely investigate and prosecute these cases, but they've got to be done in a safe manner, in an appropriate manner, and based on policies and procedures, she said. We want to make sure these guys go to prison, but we have to do it right. Instant gratification for YouTube views does not work for us. If you want to report a crime against children, contact CyberTipLine.org, 1-800-THE-LOST or the nearest law enforcement agency. Related story: Its path injured Johnsons trachea, fractured the first rib on her right side and struck the subclavian artery. The subclavian artery is the major artery, you have two of them and they feed your upper extremity, Prasher testified Jan. 28. ... I think the artery was the major injury, the windpipe could have been survivable, but the artery was rapidly fatal. Prosecutors read a statement from Cornelius Mitchell on Wednesday, where he talked about his final moments with Johnson before her death. "I am talking to her, telling her it's going to be OK Boo. I love you Boo ... help is coming," Mitchell's letter read. He tried to stop the bleeding from the gunshot wound using towels. Linda Gardipee described Johnson as a caring and loving human being who was a good listener. Johnson was born in Helena. "She was like the hub of her brothers and sisters. My boys would call her to talk when they had problems and they needed to talk to someone," Gardipee said. "She was there for them in any way that she could be." Before the imposition of sentence by McMahon, Greene denied an opportunity to make a statement. Prosecutors claimed throughout the process the defendant showed no sadness or remorse for his actions. Prosecutors requested a 10-year sentence for the weapons enhancement to the deliberate homicide charge, but McMahon imposed 20 years, the maximum allowed by the court. "Your mother, sister and friend was described as a very loving and compassionate person who went out of her way to help others," McMahon said addressing the gallery. "The pain that you feel and your words of sadness, anger and frustration, they do not go to hollow ears to this court." He expressed how sorry he was to the family and friends of the victim in the courtroom and on Zoom. "I beg each of you, do not let Mr. Greene win. Do not let Mr. Greene win by being angry and having your family as described, torn apart," McMahon said. "... The moment you think of Mr. Greene, he wins. Never ever let him win in your hearts, words, actions and how you treat others because in and of itself is the spirit that (Johnson) left you with. She is with you every day and every moment." As Rep. Greg Overstreet laid in a hospital bed on a ventilator, his doctors told him that hed likely end up in an assisted living facility for the rest of his life if he survived. Suffering from COVID-19 in the throes of the pandemic, Overstreet communicated to the doctors his wishes for a do not resuscitate order after seven days. If they took him off the breathing machine and he couldnt stay alive, so be it. At the behest of his wife, who begged and pleaded for more time, Overstreet extended his self-imposed deadline to two weeks. On the eighth day, his vitals showed enough progress to come off the ventilator. He started to recover. I wouldve killed myself, Overstreet said in front of the House Judiciary Committee on March 24, explaining that, at the time, he felt hopeless and feared being a burden. The Republican lawmaker from Stevensville shared this story to explain his vote on Senate Bill 136, which would ban medical aid in dying in Montana. He called his personal experience the tiebreaker in deciding to support the proposal. Im sure there are people who are completely capable of making decisions. Im not one of them, Overstreet said. This is a difficult bill, and I dont take it lightly. SB 136 from Sen. Carl Glimm, R-Kila, is one of two bills considered by the 2025 Montana Legislature that deal with the question of whether terminally ill people should be able to obtain life-ending drug prescriptions, currently practiced because of a legal loophole. Known by many names among them, dignity in death, assisted suicide and medical aid in dying physician-assisted death is legal in less than a dozen states. A quick internet search incorrectly names Montana as one of them. Glimms proposal would ban the practice, considered unethical by some because it preemptively ends life and gracious by others who say it saves dying people from unnecessary suffering. House Bill 637 tabled by the House Judiciary Committee last month would have explicitly permitted it. In 2009, the Montana Supreme Court ruled that physicians could use a dying patients consent as a defense if they are charged with homicide for prescribing lethal medication. Justices declined to weigh in on whether theres a constitutional right to medical aid in dying, instead leaving the Legislature to decide whether to explicitly legalize or criminalize physician-assisted death. A number of lawmakers have tried to do just that in the last 15 years but to no avail. Multiple bills, including past efforts from Glimm, have failed to advance beyond their first chamber. But SB 136 to prohibit medical-aid-in-dying is now one step away from the governor's desk. Hearings for both bills have been filled with tearful testimony and intimate accounts of people's loved ones final days. David Cooper from Jefferson City told lawmakers on Feb. 18 that his wife of 53 years described her pain from ALS toward the end of her life as a "13' on a 0-10 scale. Dan Steffensen, diagnosed with stage four carcinoma, pleaded with the committee that they dont take away his options for how to go when the time comes. Rep. Julie Darling, the Republican HB 637 sponsor from Helena, shared with her colleagues that her efforts to legalize medical aid in dying were inspired by her late sister, Jackie. Known in the family as the cruise director for her zest for life and love of a good itinerary, Darlings sister suffered from metastatic breast cancer that wasnt responsive to any kind of treatment. She decided to seek life-ending drugs. The cruise director wanted to be in charge until the end, Darling said. Jackie did not want to die. If she could have taken any medication in the world, she would have. She wanted to live. The bill included guardrails to regulate the procedure, make sure people have not been pressured by doctors and to ensure people have plenty of time to consider their decision and are equipped to make the choice. Members of the House Judiciary committee struck down the bill on a 9-to-11 vote. Rep. Tracy Sharp, R-Polson, was the lone Republican to vote for HB 637. I just cant vote to deny all the people that we heard something that I would want for myself, he said. For me, it would be too hypocritical. I would like to die with dignity, hopefully not today, but later on, and I feel very strongly about that. SB 136, the proposed prohibition, would place no restrictions on palliative or hospice care, but Rep. Melody Cunningham, a freshman Missoula Democrat and a doctor for terminally ill children, noted that even the most robust efforts to take away pain in a persons final days cant spare them from suffering. Cunningham described end-of-life discussions as profound and long." When its peaceful, those families find some significant solace, she said. When its not, they are haunted for decades. More than 10,200 people in the United States over the last 30 years have elected to die using lethal doses of drugs prescribed by a physician in states where it's legal, according to one analysis of available data. Thats roughly 62% of the people who were prescribed lethal medication. Most people were already in palliative or hospice care, and the majority chose to die at home. Because physician-assisted death is not a regulated practice in Montana, there are no records of how often people choose to die using prescribed lethal drugs. Those who seek to prohibit medical-aid-in-dying liken it to suicide. They say its incompatible with the professional responsibility of physicians, sends the wrong message to people that their life is not valuable and could even encourage suicide. Its an argument Russell Conti deeply resents. Diagnosed with ALS in October 2022, he describes his inevitable death whenever it comes as slow and painful. The disease has already taken away his ability to walk and live independently. It will soon attack his ability to swallow and breathe. I want to live a meaningful life, but I also want to live a meaningful death, Conti said to the House Judiciary Committee. He said conflating suicide with a peaceful death is an unfair, furious and manipulative argument. Its my death. Its my decision. Trump stands by national security adviser Mike Waltz despite war plan leak in group chat Xinhua) 08:14, March 26, 2025 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) DECATUR In the wake of prosecutors resolving the case of a Decatur woman accused of voting twice in the November general election, the man in charge of polling in Macon County says training to spot ballot cheaters is being "re-emphasized." Macon County Clerk Josh Tanner said election judges are given lists of voters who have already voted early or by mail, and are supposed to check them carefully. That, however, didn't appear to happen in the case of 70-year-old Brenda L. Wilcott, who was able to get a second ballot. "Training for election judges is tailored to the problems we had in the preceding election," Tanner told the Herald & Review. "So we always cover the general information but then we re-emphasize certain specific issues that come up. And so, for the next election, we will be re-emphasizing the need to check those lists of voters who have already voted." In Wilcott's case, however, two charges of having voted twice were dropped after the defendant reached an agreement with Macon County State's Attorney Diane Couri. That happened at a Macon County Circuit Court hearing Feb. 27 before Judge Jeffrey Geisler. Couri said Wilcott agreed to enter a "diversion program" where she acknowledged she acted improperly but made no guilty plea. She admitted to the offense within our office and was given conditions to abide by, said Couri. The states attorney said she didnt have a precise list to hand of the conditions that Wilcott must follow, but said diversion programs proceed along certain set rules. She has to stay out of trouble, complete various things and pay a fine, Couri added. And we then dismiss the case, pending that six month diversion program. If a person violates the program or doesnt complete it successfully, we would then refile the charges. Otherwise, the charges go away and there is no criminal record. Wilcott, who did not respond to a Facebook message seeking comment, has however previously spoken out on her Facebook page about her motivation in obtaining an extra ballot. She claimed she was conducting an integrity test of the voting system to see if it would detect what she was doing. TO TEST THE SYSTEM, I went to my usual polling place, gave my name, gave my signature and was handed another ballot!, her page said. OF COURSE, I did NOT vote again, but I did carry my ballot to a friend, who was officially observing, and asked to whom I should report this. I was taken to the judge and back to the person who checked me in. That person THEN double-checked my name and saw that I had INDEED voted previously In these days of election integrity, I managed to test the system and get another ballot. I left my 2nd ballot there and went home, heartbroken. Please pray for election integrity. If I can accidentally get a 2nd ballot in Decatur, Illinois, just imagine what might be happening in unscrupulous big cities. Wilcotts stress test of the voting system did, however, ring alarm bells. What she had done was reported to County Clerk Tanner and the case was investigated by the Macon County Sheriffs Office and the charges were filed based on the results of that investigation. Tanner said double voting or attempts to vote twice remain rare but not unknown. He said the polling system is set-up to guard against it but enforcing the rules requires diligence. The system works if everyone follows the rules, he said of election workers. But we can always keep reminding people and prompting them to follow the correct procedures. He also said each voter is identifiable by a "bar code" system, and so, even if not detected at the time, double ballots will be flagged by the computer system and investigated. Tanner said a previous rule that had to be re-emphasized was the issue of proper handling of ballots after the 2018 election for Macon County sheriff resulted in a prolonged court battle over disputed votes that eventually saw the election outcome being reversed. There are dozens or even hundreds of rules they (election judges) have to follow and, as problems arise, we tailor the training to emphasize issues weve had recently, Tanner said. So this election we will re-emphasize checking those lists of voters and also re-emphasize how to handle write-in candidates, as there are many write-in candidates. And while accusations of double-voting may be rare, the Wilcott case has echoes of a similar charge of double-voting brought against Decatur man David E. Badon, 49, in the wake of the Illinois primary election of 2022. The issue had been headed for a jury trial but was resolved in August of 2023 with a similar outcome to the Wilcott case; the charges were dropped after Badon agreed to enter a diversion program. Scott Rueter, the former Macon County states attorney, had said Badon described working long hours as a river boatman and had just made a balloting mistake due to forgetfulness. Support Local News Reporting Journalists at the Yakima Herald-Republic bring you timely, in-depth and credible local news. Your generous donation supports their work. Seattle-area real estate developer Ron Sher opened Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park in 1998. The store has since expanded to Ravenna and Seward Park. (Dean Rutz / The Seattle Times, 2018) Farmworker organizer Alfredo Juarez translates during an interview last year in Mount Vernon. He is being held at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma. (Jennifer Buchanan / The Seattle Times) President Donald Trump's refusal to respect the judicial system raises alarming questions about the security of the Constitution itself. GUEST RESEARCH: New report shows unplanned and cyber incident downtime can cost businesses up to AU$86 billion in Australia and NZ$75 billion Splunk, the cybersecurity and observability leader, today released a new report Downtime: A rising challenge for organisations in Australia & New Zealand, which highlights cybersecurity incidents as an escalating threat for businesses in ANZ. This report shows that unplanned downtime - any service degradation or outage of a business system - leads to both financial and operational losses. Expanding on Splunks The Hidden Cost of Downtime report launched last year, this survey provides a deeper look into the specific financial impacts, root causes and other consequences for unplanned downtime on ANZ businesses due to cybersecurity incidents and system outages. The survey revealed that Australian business leaders from organisations with over 500 employees have faced an average financial loss of $251,000 due to all unplanned downtime from cybersecurity incidents or system outages, amounting to a potential national cost of $86 billion[1]. In New Zealand, for businesses with 100 or more employees, the average loss was $211,000, which could lead to a potential national impact of $75 billion[2]. Furthermore, the survey points to key gaps in addressing cyber incidents and managing unplanned downtime. Cybersecurity incidents: a critical concern for the next 12 months Ninety three percent of Australian and 89% of New Zealand survey respondents claim they are prepared for unplanned downtime. However, as cyber attacks become more frequent and sophisticated in the region, ANZ businesses are seemingly struggling to keep pace: 53% of business leaders in Australia (53% in New Zealand) identified cybersecurity incidents as one of their top concerns in the year ahead. One in three (30%) business leaders in Australia (38% in New Zealand) said employees within their organisation are not trained in cybersecurity preparedness. Of those surveyed, over half (52%) of Australian business leaders working in the public sector expressed the same view. Despite being well-prepared for unplanned downtime, over 90% of Australian and 85% of New Zealand respondents have been exposed to a cybersecurity incident or system issue, highlighting widespread gaps across the region. 76% of Australian and 75% of New Zealand business leaders reported that these incidents led to some form of outage or unplanned downtime. The survey revealed the top three causes of system outages and unplanned downtime in Australian and New Zealand organisations are malware, software failures, and phishing attacks. In particular, phishing attacks were a significant concern, with 86% of organisations in Australias public sector and 78% in the financial services industry, flagging it as a main consequence of system outages or unplanned downtime. Unplanned downtime as a business risk From financial costs and productivity loss to reputational damage, the unplanned downtime experienced by ANZ businesses is proving to be a major disruptor: Sixty-two percent of business leaders in Australia (and 43% in New Zealand) experienced productivity loss because of downtime caused by cybersecurity incidents, followed by financial loss (33% in Australia and 29% in New Zealand) and operational cost in crisis management (27% in Australia, 28% in New Zealand). The average unplanned downtime as a result of cybersecurity incidents or system outages is almost two hours in Australia, and just under two hours in New Zealand. Business leaders in Australia and New Zealand have also reported prolonged recovery times following downtime due to cybersecurity incidents, taking on average 7.4 days to recover. Looking ahead: building digital resilience The survey reveals a growing focus on digital resilience as a consequence of these risks, with ANZ businesses prioritising upgrading their technology stack. 59% of business leaders in Australia (44% in New Zealand) plan to upgrade their existing technology/digital tools. 57% of business leaders in Australia and 45% in New Zealand are planning to implement more preparedness training to employees. 44% of business leaders in Australia and 49% in New Zealand plan to invest in new technologies like Generative AI and cloud-based security solutions. Craig Bates, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Asia Pacific at Splunk said: While ANZ organisations are increasingly prepared for unplanned downtime, there are still pressing issues that exist in ensuring true digital resilience. It is encouraging to see many business leaders investing in new technologies, upgrading digital tools and enhancing employee preparedness all of which are important strides in the right direction. However, digital resilience goes beyond isolated actions. It requires a proactive, unified approach that not only prioritises cybersecurity but also ensures the integrity of systems across their entire digital footprint. In parallel, were also seeing the Australian and New Zealand Governments taking a proactive role in prioritising digital resilience and strengthening cybersecurity frameworks, positioning themselves as key players in global cybersecurity leadership. This approach is particularly critical in todays AI-driven era, where leveraging the right technology, combined with accountability and transparency, is key to building strong digital defences across ANZ. For more insights from the Downtime: A rising challenge for organisations in Australia & New Zealand report, please visit the Splunk website. Methodology Lonergan Research surveyed 435 Australian business leaders in companies of 500+ employees and 116 New Zealand Business Leaders of 100+ employees. These business leaders were mid-level management, executive/business unit manager, senior management and business owners and founders. In addition, respondents were from 20+ industries, including manufacturing, construction, retail trade, transport, information media and telecommunications, financial and insurance services, and public sector/government. After interviewing, data was weighted to the latest population estimates sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Stats NZ. Cybersecurity and compliance company Proofpoint Inc . today has expanded its global partnership with Microsoft that leverages Microsoft Azures robust AI capabilities and trusted cloud infrastructure to host Proofpoints future innovations and scale AI-powered threat and data protection. With Azure as a foundation, the companies say they will be able to provide organisations worldwide with stronger threat protection, enhanced data security, and greater operational efficiency - and the expanded partnership drives scalable innovation and provides mutual customers with human-centric security security capabilities to proactively detect and mitigate a wide array of threats that target people and the data they work with. Proofpoint says that last year, the majority of publicly reported data breaches were due to human-centric compromises; of these, email, data loss, mis-delivery, malicious insider, and misconfiguration accounted for 90% of the underlying causes. Human-centric security is about enabling the digital workspace. And for most of our enterprise customers, that digital workspace is Microsoft, said Darren Lee, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Threat Protection Group at Proofpoint. Built on top of Microsoft Azure, were delivering advanced, preventive protection for the most important layer in the cybersecurity ecosystem the human layer. Were equipping organisations with the capabilities they need to reduce human risk at scale and thrive in their digital workspace. Microsoft Azure is the cloud platform of choice for security vendors across the industry, said Kathleen Brown, Corporate Vice President, Americas Enterprise at Microsoft. Todays announcement is a great example of how Azure provides powerful cloud infrastructure to help Microsoft, and our partners meet our mutual customers evolving security requirements. Proofpoint notes that with Azure as an engine for innovation, it plans to accelerate the growth of new features across its human-centric security platform, ensuring enhanced protection for mutual customersincluding faster threat detection, reduced operational complexity, and more effective risk mitigation. As part of this alliance, Proofpoint plans to host its human-centric platform and services on Azure, including its Nexus intelligence technologies, which bring together sophisticated AI models, behaviour analysis, and unparalleled threat intelligence to proactively detect and neutralise risks, by the end of Q2 2025. Proofpoint says that by bringing its human-centric platform to Azure and integrating into Microsoft 365, customers gain more robust, scalable, and proactive solutions to combat modern threats while maintaining the agility needed for todays dynamic digital environments, and with its frictionless API integration, organisations can strengthen their Microsoft security while reducing complexity and improving their security posture with: Advanced email security without disruptions, delivering comprehensive protection against phishing, business email compromise, ransomware, and other targeted attacks; Enhanced data protection across Microsoft 365; Lower operational costs and improved efficiency; and Protection against emerging data risks from GenAI tools. As the cyber landscape continues to evolve at a rapid pace, Proofpoint and Microsoft will continue to support interoperable solutions that further strengthen their mutual customers ability to detect and combat cyber risks. Security teams can move from a reactive security stance to a proactive, automated threat defence model with additional layers of defence, response workflow automation and acceleration, and data-driven security decision-making, the two companies say. A key component planned for this collaboration will be incorporating Proofpoints Nexus threat intelligence into Microsoft Sentinel via Proofpoint Targeted Attack Protection (TAP) SIEM APIs. This will allow Sentinel customers to seamlessly integrate Proofpoints threat intelligence and data into their analytics and extended detection and response (XDR) workflows. Security teams will gain richer insights, faster incident response, and greater visibility into emerging threats. Proofpoint on Demand Email Security for Microsoft Sentinel will enable the ingestion of Proofpoint on Demand Email Protection data and activity logs for monitoring email activity, events and threats in an organisation. This effort builds on existing collaborations, including Proofpoint Adaptive Email DLP and Microsoft Purview, which provide stronger email data loss prevention, and Proofpoint TAP with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, which extends advanced threat protection across email and endpoints. On availability, as part of this alliance, Proofpoint and Microsoft say they expect to begin bringing new integrations and solutions to market in Q2 2025, while Proofpoint API, Proofpoint Adaptive Email DLP with Microsoft Purview, and Proofpoint TAP with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint are available today. About Proofpoint, Inc. Proofpoint, Inc. is a leading cybersecurity and compliance company that protects organizations greatest assets and biggest risks: their people. With an integrated suite of cloud-based solutions, Proofpoint helps companies around the world stop targeted threats, safeguard their data, and make their users more resilient against cyber-attacks. Leading organizations of all sizes, including 85% of the Fortune 100, rely on Proofpoint for people-centric security and compliance solutions that mitigate their most critical risks across email, the cloud, social media, and the web. More information is available atwww.proofpoint.com. Budapest's chief prosecutor has charged a 45-year-old Dutch woman suspected of killing her partner in Budapest last February. The prosecution office said that since 2019 the woman had been in a relationship marred by conflicts with a man 10 years her senior. Having travelled from the Netherlands to Budapest on Feb 18 last year, they checked into their accommodation in the 7th district and then went out and consumed a large amount of alcohol. Back in the apartment at dawn, they argued and this turned heated. The suspect took a knife from her bag and stabbed her partner in the shoulder and back. She screamed for help when she saw the man lose consciousness, and neighbours called for help. The man lost his life shortly afterwards. The prosecutor has charged the woman with the crime of homicide and is seeking a prison sentence without the possibility of parole, the statement said. Photo courtesy: Police.hu Source: MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881. Opposition demonstrators at a protest in central Budapest organised by independent lawmaker Akos Hadhazy demanded the withdrawal of a recent amendment to the law on the right of assembly. Hadhazy told the event that the demonstration had fulfilled its goal because police had allowed the participants to occupy "only" a part of Ferenciek Square, yet a group of protesters blocked the road leading up to Elisabeth Bridge and held up traffic for two hours. He called for resistance against the government, and said that in addition to the withdrawal of the amendment passed last week, they also wanted to prevent future measures that could restrict the activities of the opposition. Hadhazy said the amendment to the assembly law was not just about the Pride march, but about the government "using every means it can to prevent demonstrations it doesnt like, because it feels its support slipping". He said a series of protests would continue next week. Krisztina Baranyi, the mayor of the 9th district, said that though the most important goal was to replace the government, this did not mean that they should seek a compromise. German MEP Daniel Freund accused the government of having appropriated 14 billion euros in European Union funds. Momentum deputy leader Lajos Locsei talked about protecting minorities, saying it was "a disadvantage" to be a Roma in Hungary today. He called for "ending segregation". Though the demonstration had been advertised as a non-partisan event, several protesters carried the flags of opposition Momentum and the Democratic Coalition (DK). Several opposition politicians were present in the crowd, including DKs Laszlo Varju and independent MP Antal Csardi. The demonstration at Ferenciek Square was still ongoing when a group of protesters marched over to the Pest bridgehead of Liberty Bridge, blocking traffic there. Police lined up to block the crowd near the Buda bridgehead. The protesters then split into two groups, with one group going back to Elisabeth Bridge and the other moving farther south to Petofi Bridge. Police lined up to block both groups at the Buda bridgeheads. Two detained at Tuesday Budapest protest The metropolitan police (BRFK) detained two people who took part in the protest in downtown Budapest on Tuesday evening, police.hu reported. The authorities had approved two demonstrations under the law on the right of assembly, police said in a statement on Wednesday. After the protest officially ended, participants proceeded to block traffic on Liberty, Petofi, Elisabeth and Margaret Bridge, they added. Police asked for identification from 289 people, filed reports for traffic violations against 18 people and detained two individuals for refusing to provide ID and another for a continued traffic violation. One man swam into the Danube and had to be resuscitated after he was pulled from the water, police said. Source: MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881. ********************************* You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? Then just contact us here. A government-mandated cap on markups for some staples has reduced prices of the affected food products by 17.7pc on average, Robert Zsigo, a state secretary at the Culture and Innovation Ministry, told public media. Zsigo said prices of around 70 products had increased, adding that the circumstances would be scrutinised. He said the impact of the measure was expected to show up in April inflation data, and a decision on whether or not to keep the cap in place or take further steps would be taken at the end of May. Zsigo noted that supermarket chains that failed to comply with the markup restrictions would face fines of HUF 5m per product category. He said the cap had addressed "unjustified overpricing", pointing to an earlier 42pc profit margin on chicken wings, a 68pc markup on milk and a 129pc markup on sour cream. In a video message on social media on Tuesday, National Economy Minister Marton Nagy said the markup cap was working. He said the measure would keep food price inflation flat, around 7pc, in March, while headline CPI fell under 5pc. In April, he put food price inflation under 5pc and headline CPI around 4pc. MTI Stock Photo - for illustrative purposes only Source: MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881. ********************************* You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? Then just contact us here. The two companies say the partnership supports tech companies with advice, connections, and pathways to access global market opportunities - and establishes a National TradeStart Adviser role to assist Critical and Enabling Technology companies. The announcement notes that the TradeStart Adviser will be embedded within the TCA team and work directly with tech companies across Australia - connecting them with Austrade services and programs globally - and this includes Austrades Landing Pads, located across the United States, United Kingdom, South Asia and Southeast Asia. Damian Kassabgi, TCA CEO, says, We are thrilled to be joining forces with Austrade to help take more Australian tech companies global. This partnership is a huge step forward in supporting our Australian tech sector as it continues to grow and compete on the world stage. TCAs mission has always been to raise the profile of the Australian tech industry and showcase our world-class capability. Together with Austrades global resources, we can help scale the next Atlassian or Canva, and bring more investment and productivity growth to Australian shores. Austrade CEO Dr Paul Grimes welcomed the partnership and the establishment of a new national TradeStart role. This partnership reinforces our commitment to supporting Australian tech companies as they scale their businesses globally. By working together with the TCA and Australias startups and scaleups, we can create even more opportunities for the sector to expand and thrive. The TCA and Austrade partnership underscores a shared commitment to growing Australias tech sector and strengthening Australias position as world-leader in technology. Come and discover why Britannica International School is the perfect fit for your child's education! The Open Day is an excellent opportunity for visiting the school, speaking to our teachers, viewing some lessons in action, touring the facilities and to get a feel of the welcoming school atmosphere. As Hungary's longest established British international school, Britannica International School Budapest is fully accredited to deliver high-quality British education for students aged 5-18. British-owned, the educational programme is based on the English National Curriculum, enhanced to meet the needs of international students from over 50 different nationalities. Families choose Britannica for its welcoming, nurturing, and personalised learning environment. The school successfully blends the highest quality, rigorous British education, culminating in IGCSE and A Level qualifications, with a learning environment that is positive, constructive and a happy place for students to spend the day. What to expect on the Open Day: Welcome speech and presentation by Principal, Mr Neil McGarry Meet our exceptional Teachers Experience the engaging learning environment in action Tour our facilities with our amazing Students Ask questions and discover how we support every Childs success Dont miss out on this chance to experience Britannicas unique approach to education. Date and time: 8:30 - 11:30, Tuesday, 1st April 2025 Location: Britannica International School, 1121 Budapest, Kakukk u. 1-3. Children are welcome to attend! Registration is required to participate in this event. Register here: https://britannicaschool.hu/events/open-day-3 Click here to virtually visit Britannica International School Budapest Those attending Community Focus Group sessions on Tuesday at the Kilgore Memorial Library couldnt agree if York was growing younger or older, if its population was increasing or stagnant. But they all seemed to think their local library does a lot and needs more space. A total of a dozen people attended sessions at 9 a.m. and noon, designed to pick the publics brain on the future of library services and community resources. A third session was at 6 p.m. Nicole Sedlacek, economic development manager for Nebraska Public Power District, facilitated the sessions, and Library Director Deb Robertson sat in. Im a big fan of libraries, which is why I jumped at the chance when Deb asked me, Sedlacek said. She urged those attending to dream big. No idea is too grand, she said. When asked about the librarys strengths, people in the first two sessions mentioned its staff, who were described as friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. What I like about that is the diversity of what they know, Denise Pfeifer said. Diversity also described the librarys offerings everything from books and STEM backpacks to community outreach and meeting space. In fact, the number of people using the librarys two meeting rooms in 2024, at 6,613, actually outpaced the number of registered borrowers, which was 4,766. Meeting space was something those attending the focus sessions thought the library could use more of. One suggested a special meeting room that families could rent. People in the first session liked that the library has room to grow, with half a block of green space to the north. But some thought the building needed more space for focused study. They were glad the library is launching a new makerspace. The start of it is amazing, said Lisa Hurley, executive director of the York County Development Corp. But the library needs to find adequate space for it, attendees agreed. Statistics presented at the meetings showed that the number of items in the librarys physical collection was down from 2022 to 2024, but the number of items in the e-book collection was up. People liked the Libby e-book app. A lot of people use it, Hurley said. More licenses per e-book would be fabulous. When asked what the library of the future should look like, one woman in the noon session said she hoped it would have books, but she wasnt sure it would. Some kind of outdoor space was a popular idea. Collette Kretz, who attended the 9 a.m. meeting with her 2-year-old son, E.J., said an outdoor space would be great for story time. City Councilman Stephen Postier suggested an outdoor stage or amphitheater. One woman said she would like the library to have multiple floors with books and activities for small children on the first floor. Upper floors could have more quiet spaces for study. People at the first session said Yorks population is growing and would require more services from the library. Theres a lot of young families, Postier said. Because of income disparity, not everyone has access to things such as Wi-Fi or a 3D printer, Hurley said, and the library can provide those. Kretz said the library should have someone who could help the public fill out applications for jobs or Medicaid, and Sedlacek wrote the idea on the board as resource assistance/navigator. Postier said the library should be more of a community education center. Brand it as something that offers a lot more services, he said. Of those in the noon session, one said Yorks population has always been about 7,000 to 8,000 and will never change. More than one said the local population is getting older, not younger. They suggested that the library take books to places where older people are, such as the Hearthstone skilled nursing facility. Sedlacek asked for ideas to make the library more welcoming and inclusive. Kretz said the lack of books in languages other than English keeps some people away. If I was a Spanish speaker and I wanted to read something for fun, I would have a hard time finding anything, she said. An idea floated at the noon session was adding a coffee bar, like a Starbucks. The library should also have more computers, they said. Robertson said the Seward library eliminated its computer lab, saying there wasnt enough use to justify the space. At the Kilgore Memorial Library, however, use of the 11 public-access computers is actually growing, especially after school. When asked how to keep the library vital for future generations, some suggested keeping up with technology without losing the core of what a library is. Kretz applauded the crafts and story times the library offers small children and said the library should encourage people of all ages to visit. Many families dont know all of the resources the library offers, she said. People attending the noon session liked recent offerings such as a presentation by author Lydia Kang and Puzzler Thursdays and thought the library should have more events like them. More space and funding were recurring themes, however. Sedlacek said she would compile the comments from all three sessions in a report for Robertson and the Kilgore Memorial Library Foundation. New Delhi: Indias startup ecosystem saw strong growth in early 2025 and raised 2.5 billion dollars in funding and ranked third globally after the US and the UK, according to Tracxn. In a major shift, Delhi overtook Bengaluru in total funding for the quarter, reshaping the countrys startup landscape. Bengaluru had more startup deals but Delhi led in total funding because of strong IPO exits. Delhi-based tech firms secured 40 per cent of all startup funding in India, while Bengaluru followed with 21.64 per cent. Neha Singh, Co-Founder of Tracxn, told MoneyControl that "India has become one of the largest ecosystems in terms of startup activity as well as funding activity." She added that India now ranks third globally in the number of unicorns and late-stage companies valued at over a billion dollars. Latest report by Tracxn revealed a rise in late-stage funding while early-stage investments declined. The company's co-founder linked this trend to a strong pipeline of IPO-ready firms, driven by the booming IPO market in 2024. He explained that many venture-backed companies went public last year. This creates success stories and paves the way for more mature startups to enter the IPO market. The report also noted that AI funding in India is mostly directed toward applications rather than infrastructure. Meanwhile, the quick commerce sector is expanding which is driven by the success of Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart. The report also noted a sharp rise in mergers and acquisitions, with 38 deals in Q1a 41 per cent increase compared to last year. With Tamil Nadu polls in sight, the meeting with All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader Edappadi K Palaniswami and Union Home Minister Amit Shah sparked speculations of a reunion with the BJP. After meeting Shah, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said he discussed the Enforcement Directorate case on the alleged scam involving the state-run liquor corporation, TASMAC, during his meeting and urged for a detailed inquiry. Palaniswami, also known as EPS in the state, dismissed rumours about possible alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the AIADMK for the Tamil Nadu assembly elections 2026. "There is nothing related to alliance. We came here for people issues. Only the media is giving news about alliances for sensationalism. There is still one year for the election," Palaniswami said. EPS said that he will only consider talks of an alliance after the election dates are announced. "Is election date is announced to speak about the alliance? In 2019 and 2021 we spoke about alliance only near to election. Alliance and ideology are different. Our ideology is constant and alliance would be based on circumstances. Circumstances only decide the alliance. There is still one year for election," he said. The Tamil Nadu Assembly elections are set to take place in 2026. After the passing of J. Jayalalithaa in 2016, the AIADMK formed an alliance with the BJP. However, the DMK emerged victorious in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the 2021 Assembly elections, and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The AIADMK and BJP contested the 2021 state elections together, with the BJP securing four seats. However, the AIADMK ended its alliance with the BJP in 2023.t Bihar News: A 16-year-old girl and her father were killed after a man shot at them before taking his own life at the Ara Railway Station in Bihar. According to the police, the incident happened on the footbridge, connecting platforms 2 and 3, they said. The gunman was identified as Aman Kumar, Bhojpur district's Superintendent of Police Raj police said. "He first shot the girl and then her father before shooting himself dead. All three died on the spot," he said, as reported by news agency PTI. "The motive is yet to be known. However, the love angle can not be ruled out," he added. The SP said an investigation has been started, and forensic experts have collected evidence from the spot. Speaking on the incident, RPF Senior Commandant Prakash Panda said that the murder weapon has been seized and the investigation in the case is underway. "... Three people have died. The accused, Aman Kumar, a 24-year-old man, a resident of Bhojpur shot dead Jiya Kumari and her father Anil Sinha. He later shot himself. We are investigating... We will make arrangements for CCTV cameras, Panda said. Although there are around 40 cameras at the railway station, we will get some installed on the foot over the bridge... murder weapon has been seized," he further stated. #WATCH | Arrah, Bihar: RPF Senior Commandant Prakash Panda says, "... Three people have died. The accused, Aman Kumar, a 24-year-old man, a resident of Bhojpur shot dead Jiya Kumari and her father Anil Sinha. He later shot himself. We are investigating... We will make https://t.co/xDfhWnyN5j pic.twitter.com/vPWQgxXYzr ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2025 It was learnt that the girl had come to the station to board a train to Delhi. (With agencies Inputs) Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla of allegedly not allowing him to speak in the Parliament. Talking to reporters, Congress Leader Gandhi said, "I requested him to let me speak but he (Speaker) just ran away. This is no way to run the House." The LoP also claimed that the Lok Sabha Speaker made an "unsubstantiated remark" about him before adjourning the House. "There is a convention to let the LoP speak, but whenever I stand up, I am not allowed to speak," he said. Speaking about his conduct in the house, Gandhi added, "I did nothing, I was sitting quietly... I have not been allowed to speak for the last 7-8 days." Further, the Congress MP also said, "In a democracy, there is a place for the Opposition and the government. Here, there is no place for the Opposition..." Talking about his intention to speak about Maha Kumbh and unemployment, Gandhi said that he was not allowed to speak in the House. "Prime Minister ji spoke on Maha Kumbh, and I also wanted to speak on (Maha) Kumbh Mela. I wanted to say that Kumbh Mela was very good. I also wanted to speak on unemployment but I wasn't allowed. I don't know what the approach and thinking of the Speaker are, but the truth is we are not allowed to speak," he added. #WATCH | Delhi: Lok Sabha LoP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi says, " I don't know what is going on...I requested him to let me speak but he (Speaker) just ran away. This is no way to run the House. Speaker just left and he did not let me speak...he said something pic.twitter.com/5cszadgc3w ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2025 On the other hand, the LS Speaker asked the LoP to follow the rules of the House and maintain the conduct, the news agency ANI reported. The LS Speaker said, "It is expected of you to uphold the high parameters of decorum and sanctity of the House. There are several incidents in my knowledge when MPs conduct was not in accordance with upholding the high parameters of decorum and sanctity of the House." "Fathers, daughters, mothers, wife, and husbands have been Members of this House. So, in this context, I expect the LoP to conduct as per the rules... It is especially expected of the LoP to maintain their conduct," he added and adjourned the House. (with ANI inputs) Rohtak: 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 persons 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. Bengaluru: Karnataka politics has hit a new low after the honey trap case took center stage. The recent developments, particularly the shifting stance of Minister K.N. Rajanna, have raised several unanswered questions. On Tuesday evening, Rajanna submitted a letter to Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara, a move that has sparked speculation about his political safety. The sudden change in his statements has only deepened the mystery. The U-Turn: What Changed for Rajanna? On Friday, Karnataka Cooperative Minister K.N. Rajanna made a sensational claim that "CD factories" were operating in the state, leading to honey trap incidents. He even stated that he had evidence to back his allegations. However, by Tuesday, he completely retracted his statement, saying there was no evidence and that he could be mistaken. What Caused This Sudden Shift? Political Pressure at Play? On Sunday, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge met with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for a detailed discussion. After this high-level meeting, Rajannas stance seemed to soften significantly. On Friday, Rajannas son, MLC Rajendra, confirmed in an interview with Zee News that they had been receiving suspicious WhatsApp video calls. By Tuesday, Minister Rajanna narrated a different story to the media: Two months ago, in Madhugiri taluk, a woman in a blue top and jeans approached him, requesting a private conversation. He ignored her. A few days later, the same womanthis time claiming to be a High Court lawyerapproached him at the Bengaluru government residence, seeking a discussion on a case. Sensing something suspicious, Rajanna ordered an inquiry through his contacts and allegedly discovered an attempted honey trap. However, he later backtracked, citing the absence of CCTV cameras in the Bengaluru government house as a reason for reconsidering his claims. Despite this reversal, Rajanna proceeded to meet Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara and submitted a request letter for an investigation. Addressing the media, Parameshwara clarified: "This is not a formal complaint, and an FIR cannot be registered at this stage. However, I will consult the Chief Minister on how to proceed." Key Unanswered Questions 1. Rajanna claimed no CCTV cameras were installed in the Bengaluru government residence, but what about the Madhugiri residence in Tumakuru district? 2. Since Rajanna and his son received WhatsApp video calls from the alleged gang, why haven't they traced the phone numbers? 3. If Rajanna's team uncovered information about the honey trap gang, do they have photos or other proof? 4. On Friday, Rajendra claimed to have evidence. Did he and Rajanna back down due to pressure from the high command? 5. If Rajanna was indeed a victim, why didnt he file a police complaint instead of merely submitting a request letter to the Home Minister? 6. Did Rajanna use the Assembly session to send a message to the high command, or was he silenced after Kharges meeting with Siddaramaiah? 7. If others are involved in the honey trap case, why did Rajanna and his son say they would be meeting the high command instead of law enforcement? Will the Truth Ever Come Out? With multiple unanswered questions, the Karnataka honey trap case has taken a political turn. While time may pass, the lingering doubts remain: Was Rajanna's voice suppressed? Was there more to this than meets the eye? For now, Karnataka waits for answers. By: Prashobh Devanahalli The NCP legislator from Pimpri Assembly constituency, Anna Bansode, on Wednesday was elected unopposed as the Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly as the Opposition had not fielded its nominee. Bansode is the 22nd Deputy Speaker of the Assembly. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis moved the motion proposing Bansodes election as the Deputy Speaker. Similar motions were moved by Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. It was seconded by the Legislative Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil. Thereafter, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar put the motion to a vote and announced his unopposed election unanimously. The CM, accompanied by both Dy CMs and Opposition members, took Bansode to his seat located near the Opposition benches and congratulated him. CM Fadnavis, in his speech, congratulated Bansode for his unopposed election and also thanked the Opposition for not fielding its candidate and extending its support to the NCP leader. Because of the Constitution of India, a tea seller has become the Prime Minister and now a paan seller has become the Deputy Speaker of the august House, he said, adding that Bansode will do justice to the post and discharge his duties impartially, in line with the customs and traditions of the House. Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar also congratulated Bansode for his election as the Deputy Speaker. Bansode started his political journey as the corporator and standing committee chairman of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation and later was elected from the Pimpri Assembly seat in 2009, 2019, and 2024 elections. Bansode on Tuesday had filed his nomination with the legislative secretary in the presence of Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar, Chandrakant Patil and industry minister Uday Samant. The filing of nominations was open till 12 pm on Wednesday, but no one from the Opposition ranks filed the nomination. The NCP had also shortlisted the name of party legislator Rajkumar Badola for the post of Deputy Speaker, but finally zeroed in on Bansode considering the upcoming election to the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. Bansode, who has been a close confidant of Ajit Pawar, joined him after the split in the NCP in July 2023. Bansode, who could not get a ministerial berth, has been picked by Ajit Pawar personally and will enjoy ministerial status. As a part of the understanding among the MahaYuti partners, the BJP and Shiv Sena gave the Deputy Speakers post to the NCP. NEW DELHI: India and China are trying to rebuild the ties damaged by the Galwan valley clashes of 2020 as a tense relationship will not serve either side, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday. In an interactive session hosted by leading think-tank Asia Society, Jaishankar said there could be differences between India and China in the foreseeable future as well but they shouldn't become disputes. Referring to the Galwan valley clashes, the external affairs minister said what happened in 2020 was "actually very traumatic for the relationship". "It wasn't just the bloodshed, it was the disregard of written agreements...The departure from the terms of what was agreed to was very sharp and very substantial," he said at the session moderated by Kyung-wha Kang, President and CEO of the Asia Society and a former foreign minister of South Korea. Jaishankar further added: "We're still dealing with some parts of this, it is not that the issue has completely gone away." He said the India-China relationship has seen some improvement since October last year. "We are working on different aspects of it. I have met my (Chinese) counterpart a few times, so have my other senior colleagues." "And what we are trying, step by step, is to see if we can rebuild, undo some of the damage which happened as a result of those actions in 2020, and we can rebuild that relationship. We genuinely, sincerely think that this is in our mutual interest," he added. In October, India and China firmed up a disengagement pact for Depsang and Demchok, the last two friction points in eastern Ladakh. Days after the agreement was finalised, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks in Kazan and took a number of decisions to improve the ties. Jaishankar said differences between India and China should not become disputes. India and China could have differences in the foreseeable future but they shouldn't become disputes, he said. "We do compete on many issues. But because we compete, it doesn't mean that there should be a conflict between us. We are very realistic about it," the external affairs minister said. There are ways of addressing the issues, he said. Jaishankar said a tense relationship between the two countries does not serve interests of either side. "How do we benefit by having a very tense relationship with that large number of troops out there in a very hostile environment and on all the collateral damage which it has done to the relationship," he said. "Because obviously, if peace and tranquillity in the border areas are disturbed, then the rest of the relationship can't go on as well," he added. While youngsters across the world are following the trend of getting tattoos on their bodies, in the Kashmir Valley, the opposite is happening. Basit Bashir, a tattoo removal artist in Srinagar, has removed over a hundred thousand tattoos from both boys and girls. Interestingly, most of the tattoos he has removed were of AK-47 rifles. Tattoo removal clinics in Srinagar has become a hub for youngsters these days. Hundreds of young people flock to the clinic every day to get their tattoos removed. The tattoo removal artist says that most of these youngsters either fear wearing rifle tattoos or do not want to hurt religious sentiments. In the Kashmir Valley, people with tattoos of arms and ammunition often come under the radar of security forces, which is one of the main reasons for getting these tattoos removed. Meanwhile, the artist also states that failed romantic relationships, as well as religious beliefs, play a major role in the increasing number of tattoo removals. Basit Bashir, the tattoo removal artist, said, Tattoo removal has become a trend in the Kashmir Valley. Everyone who comes to me for tattoo removal regrets getting them in the first place. I have removed over one lakh tattoos and still receive a huge number of clients every day. Judging by the rush at my clinic, I believe around 75 percent of the youth here have tattoos. The most common tattoos are names, flowers, and AK-47s. Some people have AK-47 tattoos on their necks, arms, or chests. Tattoos are considered haram in our religion. It is not allowed to make tattoos on our bodies, and many people regret getting them after realizing this. In Kashmir, getting a tattoo is considered taboo, which is one of the reasons why none of the people coming for tattoo removal want to speak on camera. Mudasir, who got a tattoo last year, realized after a year that it is against his religion to keep it. Mudasir Ahmad, who had his tattoo removed, said, I got a tattoo a year ago, and now I have decided to remove it. Its not allowed in Islam, and thats why I came here to get it removed. Islamic scholars and imams have categorically stated that tattooing is prohibited in Islam. These scholars frequently give sermons in mosques, advising against getting tattoos. Altaf Hussain, an imam, said, Islam is a pious religion, and anything that takes you away from it, such as getting tattoos, is discouraged. This trend is not only against religion but also leads to various health issues. People with tattoos cannot pray in mosques. Parents, in particular, should keep their children away from this practice. All Muslims should stay away from such things. While tattoo artists are running a successful business in the Valley, it is the tattoo removal artists who are getting more clients these days. Waqf Bill Row: Ahead of Assembly elections in Bihar, the political air in the state is heating up, and currently in the Centre is the Waqf bill brought by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government. To oppose the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has organised a protest which saw the presence of leaders across party lines including former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad Yadav. On Wednesday, the Bihar assembly was adjourned till 2 pm, within minutes of the commencement of proceedings, as the opposition created a ruckus over the Waqf Bill. The House was plunged into turmoil as soon as proceedings began at 11 am, with members of the RJD-led opposition, who carried placards against the bill, storming into the well. Speaker Nand Kishor Yadav was seen urging the unruly members to return to their seats, even as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar looked on. However, the opposition members continued to raise slogans demanding a rollback of the Bill and also "full implementation" of recommendations of the Sachar Committee, in which the poor socio-economic conditions of Muslims were highlighted. Some of the members also tried to overturn furniture meant for the reporting staff, prompting the Speaker to adjourn the House till 2 pm. Meanwhile, Lalu Prasad Yadav the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav joined the protest against the Bill in Patna. #WATCH | Patna: RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav joined the protest organised by All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill pic.twitter.com/AewXHZSgGX ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2025 Azad Samaj Party President Chandrashekhar Azad, who also arrived in Patna to attend the protest, said that given the kind of situation in the country, he will come forward to protect the rights of all those who are being attacked. "Understanding the kind of situation in the country today, whoever's rights are attacked will come forward to protect them. And the section for which we do politics, the Bahujan Samaj, the weaker section, the Constitution has given the right to protest to stop the attack on their rights," Azad told media persons. #WATCH | Bihar: Azad Samaj Party President Chandrashekhar Azad arrives in Patna to attend the protest organised by All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill He says, " Understanding the kind of situation in the country today, whosoever's pic.twitter.com/4G54RNeEtB ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2025 Addressing the protestors, Tejashwi assured them that his party and its leader, Lalu Yadav, firmly stand with them in their fight against the "unconstitutional" Waqf (Amendment) Bill. "RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav has come here to support and strengthen you. We have opposed this unconstitutional, undemocratic bill in Parliament, Vidhan Sabha, and Vidhan Parishad. Today, we brought an adjournment motion and demanded a discussion on it, but the House was adjourned. We want to tell you that we stand with you on this issue... Our effort is that this bill should not be passed at any cost," the RJD leader said. "We are followers of the Constitution, we believe in Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb, and at any cost, we will try to stop this bill from being passed," he added. Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, the former Deputy CM said, "This government is working to divide the country, dismantle democracy, and weaken the Constitution. Some parties, out of greed for power, are supporting this bill. But if we fight unitedly, we will win." All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) launched a nationwide protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Patna. Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party MP and chairman of the JPC on the Waqf Amendment Bill, Jagadambika Pal, criticized AIMPLB for its nationwide agitation, accusing the board of politicizing the issue. The protest by AIMPLB comes at a time when the NDA-led Central government called a meeting of all Members of Parliament (MPs) to discuss the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 in detail. The meeting will provide MPs with a one-hour briefing on the proposed amendments to the Waqf laws, scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in Coordination Room No. 5 of the Parliament. The government is keen on explaining the contents of the bill before presenting it to Parliament, amidst growing opposition. The Waqf Amendment Bill has sparked controversy across the nation, with many groups accusing the Central Government of acting against the interests of the Muslim community. Various Muslim organizations, including the prominent Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, have raised objections, calling the bill anti-Muslim. They argue that the amendments could lead to the mismanagement of Waqf properties and undermine the autonomy of the Muslim community in managing its charitable endowments. (With agencies Inputs) Bihar Assembly Elections 2025: The debate over the Waqf Amendment Bill has sparked a political storm, with protests erupting from Delhi to Patna. Muslim organizations, which have long been accused of encroaching on land in the name of Waqf, are now fiercely opposing the bill, fearing a financial setback to Waqf boards. In Patna, a massive protest was held today by various Muslim groups against the bill. The demonstration saw participation from opposition leaders, including RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav. The motive behind the oppositions involvement is clearto consolidate Bihars 17% Muslim vote bank. However, JD(U) countered this strategy with QR code posters highlighting the state's past under RJD rule. In Today's DNA, Zee News has analysed the Muslim Vote Politics In Bihar Muslim organizations took to the streets in Patna, vowing to resist the Waqf Bill at any cost. The All India Muslim Law Board, which led the protest in Gardanibagh, demanded an immediate withdrawal of the amendment. This protest follows a similar demonstration in Delhi on March 17, with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar now being the primary target of the agitation. Tejashwi Yadav's aggressive stance comes ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections scheduled for October-November this year, where Muslim votes will play a crucial role. To strengthen its Muslim support, the RJD has openly backed the protests, with Lalu Yadav himself joining the demonstration to send a strong message that his party stands firmly with the community. Meanwhile, JD(U), which supports the Waqf Bill, is using this issue to counter the oppositions bid to secure Muslim votes. The BJP is distributing Saugat-e-Modi kits to 32 lakhs poor Muslim families to help them celebrate Eid. Under this campaign, the Saugat-e-Modi kits have already reached Bihar for distribution. The NDA and the Mahagathnandhar are also holding Iftar parties to woo Muslims. Out of Bihars 243 assembly seats, 47 have a Muslim population of over 50%, while 11 seats have around 40% Muslim votersmaking them decisive in electoral battles. Sensing the political significance of these protests, JD(U) has reintroduced its old tactic of attacking RJD over "Jungle Raj" by circulating QR codes that link to the partys past record. With both sides using the Waqf Bill as a battleground for political dominance, Bihars political landscape is set for further turmoil as the assembly elections approach. New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Tuesday informed that Indian carriers are gearing up for a busy summer season, with a 5.5% increase in weekly flights compared to last year. 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. New Delhi: Comedian Kunal Kamra is making headlines due to his controversial 'gaddar' (traitor) joke, allegedly aimed at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. In a recent update on the controversy, the Mumbai Police have rejected the stand-up artist's request for a week's time to appear before the authorities. Kamra's lawyer submitted the appeal and the reply in person at Khar Police Station, but the police have turned down the request. The Khar Police will issue a second summons to Kunal Kamra today under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 35. Earlier, Mumbai Police had summoned the comedian, asking him to appear before the investigating officer on Tuesday. The MIDC police initially registered an FIR against him for his cryptic remarks during a comedy show at The Habitat, Mumbai. The case was later transferred to Khar Police for further investigation. The 36-year-old comedian, who is facing public scrutiny over his remarks, revealed that his phone number was shared online. As a result, he has received over 500 calls. According to NDTV reports, several callers have issued warnings, with some even threatening to kill him or cut him to pieces. Kunal Kamra's Jibe At FM Nirmala Sitharaman Comedian Kunal Kamra, who is facing criticism and defamation charges over his cryptic remarks, is now back with a new video. In the viral video recorded during his show at the Habitat, Kamra can be seen singing a parody version of the popular song 'Hawa Hawai'. Amid the ongoing controversy, Kamra's singing video has sparked an online debate. The parody, featuring the lyrics, "Aapka tax ka paisa ho raha hai hawa hawai", takes subtle digs at the BJP-led Centre, highlighting issues like traffic congestion and collapsing bridges. The video featured Kamra singing, "Traffic badhane yeh hai aayi, bridges giraane yeh hai aayi, kehte hai isko tanashahi (dictatorship)." Kunal further goes on to accuse the Centre of neglecting the aspirations of the middle class, who are made to pay more taxes than corporates. "Desh me itni mehngai sarkar ke sath hai aayi Logon ki lootne kamaai, sari waali didi aayi, salary churaane yeh hai aayi, middle class dabaane yeh hai aayi, popcorn khilaane yeh hai aayi, kehte hai isko Nirmala tai," he further said. Kamra further took a dig at FM Nirmala Sitharaman's education, he added, ''She is the JNU student the country deserves, galat university mein padhi Banaras Hindu University me padhi hoti toh achi Finance Minister hoti. '' the video concluded. Several political leaders condemned Kamra's remarks during his stand-up show and demanded action against him. In response, on Tuesday, Kamra released a new video mocking Shiv Sena workers for vandalizing Mumbai's The Habitat comedy club, where he had previously performed. "I will not apologise... I don't fear this mob, and I won't be hiding under my bed, waiting for this to die down," Kamra said in his first statement amid the controversy. On Tuesday, Deputy Chief Minister 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. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took 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 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," the CM said, adding that the people will decide whether Eknath Shinde is a traitor or a selfish person. (With ANI Inputs) New Delhi: Sobhita Dhulipala, known for The Night Manager, recalls a hilarious brand shoot incident. In a viral video, she shares how, despite earning acclaim for Monkey Man and Made in Heaven, she was unexpectedly replaced by a dog. Sobhita recalls the incident and said, 'It was for some brand I got called at 11:30 at night for an audition, and I mean this like creepy. I go and audition, I get told You have been cast . I go to Goa. Not Thailand or Australia but, Goa. I was still excited.' She further revealed why the shoot was delayed and explained, 'he first day of the shoot went great, but apparently, there was some issue with the camera, so the shoot was rescheduled.' Why Sobhita Got Replaced By A Dog? Sobhita explains why she was replaced by a dog, saying, 'The client saw the footage and said, no, the girl is not working. She looks too confident, which doesnt suit the brand image. So they replaced me with a dogbut I got paid, so that was fine.' Following this, her Made in Heaven co-star Jim Sarbh humorously added,'Dog suits the brand image.' Watch The Viral Video Below! Talking about Sobhita Dhulipala's personal life, the Monkey Man star married Naga Chaitanya on December 4, 2024. in Hyderabad. The duo tied the knot in a traditional Telugu wedding at Annapurna Studios, owned by Naga Chaitanya's family, which also holds significant sentimental value. The star couple's dreamy wedding pictures took over the internert, the duo often shares photos together, setting major couple goals. On the Work Front, Dhulipala has potential new seasons of Made in Heaven and The Night Manager lined up. Through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), the Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) will launch a ground-breaking new system for Provident Fund (PF) withdrawals. By the end of May or early June of this year, PF members will be able to withdraw funds via UPI and ATM. An automated system will enable PF members to make immediate withdrawals of up to Rs 1 lakh. The recommendation of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), an umbrella organisation that operates retail payments and settlement systems in India, has been approved by the Labour and Employment Ministry. How Much PF Money Can You withdraw via UPI, ATM from May End Or June? Speaking with ANI, Sumita Dawra, Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, said that by the end of May or June this year, PF members will be able to withdraw funds via UPI and ATM. Dawra said that by May-end or June, members' access to their provident funds would undergo a radical transformation. Members will be able to view their PF account balance directly on UPI, instantly withdraw up to Rs 1 lakh through an automated system, and select their preferred bank account for transfers, she said. PF Withdrawal options expanded According to Dawra, the organization has greatly increased the number of withdrawal options available to give people greater financial flexibility. Besides the current sickness benefits, members can now take out money for housing, education, and marriage. "The EPFO has made significant strides in digitalizing 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," Dawra said. According to Dawra, recent measures have also helped pensioners. With the option to withdraw money from any bank branch, 78 lakh pensioners have had more freedom since December. The geographical limitations for pension withdrawals, which were restricted to a few selected bank branches, have been lifted entirely. PM Modi's vision of "ease of living" for employees and employers According to Dawra, working on these reforms was challenging. The EPFO's massive scale is evident in its membership numbers. With over 7.5 crore active members, the organization is expanding, adding 1012 lakh new members each month across its 147 regional offices nationwide. Secretary Dawra said these reforms are in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "ease of living" for employees and employers. The initiative aims to streamline social security processes, update IT infrastructure, and provide India's workforce greater financial convenience. The upcoming introduction of UPI and ATM-based PF withdrawals will be a major turning point in India's digital financial transformation, offering millions of working professionals unprecedented ease and speed. New Delhi: 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." New Delhi: Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) will be operational from 1 April, 2025. Declared last year by the Narendra Modi government, the UPS seeks to provide fixed pension security to employees working in central government offices. People who are in a government job and are already enrolled in the NPS will have the opportunity to choose UPS. What is the minimum assured-payout under UPS? A minimum assured payout of Rs.10,000 per month has been guaranteed under Unified Pension Scheme in case superannuation is after 10 years or more of qualifying service, subject to timely and regular credit of contributions and no withdrawals. What is the family payout under UPS? In case of death of the payout holder after superannuation, family payout @60% of the payout admissible to the payout holder immediately before his demise, shall be assured to the legally wedded spouse (spouse legally wedded as on the date of superannuation or on the date of voluntary retirement or retirement under FR 56(j), as may be applicable). Unified Pension Scheme: PFRDA Regulations enable enrolment of three categories of central government employees. Check Major cut-off dates (i) an existing central government employee in service as on 1st April 2025, who is covered under NPS ; (ii) new recruit in the central government services, who joins service on or after the 1st day of April 2025 ; (iii) a central government employee who was covered under NPS and who has superannuated or voluntarily retired or has retired under Fundamental Rules 56(j) on or before 31st March 2025 and is eligible for UPS or the legally wedded spouse in case of a subscriber who has superannuated or retired and has demised prior to exercising the option for UPS. The enrolment and claim forms for all these categories of central government employees will be available online from 1st April, 2025 on website of Protean CRA - https://npscra.nsdl.co.in The employees also have the option to submit the forms physically. New Delhi: Indias leading real estate consulting firm CBRE South Asia Pvt Ltd on Wednesday released its report titled 2025 India Market Outlook. The report, that highlights key trends and projections for the Indian real estate sector, said India's office sector is expected to maintain its strong growth momentum in 2025. "This growth is likely to be driven by resilient economic fundamentals, a firm employment outlook, readily available talent pool, and favourable government policies, including relaxation of SEZ denotification norms, boosting occupiers' confidence in expanding their real estate portfolios," added CBRE South Asia. "The office sector has witnessed healthy supply growth over the past few years and is anticipated to maintain this momentum in 2025, underpinned by a robust pipeline of under-construction projects. Development completions would primarily be led by high-quality investment-grade assets, with ~60-65% of the new supply likely to be a part of integrated tech parks within top cities during the year. Developers are increasingly focusing on fully amenitised, green-certified assets in line with occupiers evolving preferences," it said. While established hubs such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi-NCR, and Mumbai remain highly attractive, other key cities such as Chennai and Pune are poised to gain further traction due to the influx of strategically located quality supply, readily available talent pool, and occupier strategies focused on diversifying beyond gateway markets. This trend is also likely to stimulate leasing activity in tier-II cities, said the report. Anshuman Magazine, Chairman & CEO - India, South-East Asia, Middle East & Africa, CBRE, said, The countrys office sector, having experienced record-breaking leasing performance in 2023 and 2024, is poised for sustained momentum in 2025. Indias abundant skilled talent pool continues to attract multinational corporations seeking to establish or expand their global capability centres (GCCs) and domestic enterprises looking to enhance their office footprint. With a strong pipeline of high-quality, investment-grade assets slated for completion during the year, the market is expected to witness an influx of fully amenitised, green-certified spaces that align with evolving occupier preferences. Pakistan Army is staring at an unprecedented situation with junior officers and former generals warning current Army Chief General Asim Munir to step down. According to reports, the officers have alleged that Munir has made the Pakistan Army a tool of political oppression while carrying out a vendetta. According to a CNN-News18 report, the letter was written by colonels, majors, captains, and jawans. In the letter, the army officials alleged that under Munir, Pakistan has plunged into an abyss reminiscent of 1971. This is the voice of the Pakistan Armed Forcescolonels, majors, captains, and jawanswho have watched you drag our institution, our nation, and our honour into the gutter....Your time is up. Resign ASAP, or we will take back what youve stolenby force if necessary," reads the letter. Pakistan army has been facing criticism for a long and has been accused of operating as a political tool for decades. Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has also alleged a threat to his life. On April 7, 2024, while in prison, Imran Khan told reporters that there was a plot to kill him during his incarceration. He also suggested that his fate was under the control of General Asim Munir. The letter also comes in the wake of the increasing attacks on Pakistan Army officials by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). The BLA recently targetted a train carrying Pakistan army officials and ambushed truck carrying jawans, killing many. Dhaka/New Delhi: 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. NEW YORK/WASHINGTON: A US intelligence report has named India and China as sources of precursors and equipment for drug traffickers and the primary source country for illicit fentanyl precursor chemicals and pill pressing equipment. The '2025 Annual Threat Assessment (ATA)', released on Tuesday, is the Intelligence Communitys (IC) official, coordinated evaluation of an array of threats to US citizens, the homeland, and US interests in the world. Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids remain the most lethal drugs trafficked into the United States, causing more than 52,000 US deaths in a 12-month period ending in October 2024, it said. Fentanyl is a potent opioid drug that is blamed for widespread drug addiction in the US. The Trump administration has initiated a crackdown on illegal import of fentanyl and also linked it with tariffs adjustments in case of some countries. Some transnational criminal organisations (TCOs) are producing and trafficking large amounts of illicit drugs that are imperiling American lives and livelihoods, the report said. Mexico-based TCOsincluding the Sinaloa Cartel and the New Generation Jalisco Cartelremain the dominant producers and suppliers of illicit drugs, including fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and South American-sourced cocaine, for the US market, the report said. However, it added, Non-state groups are often enabled, both directly and indirectly, by state actors, such as China and India as sources of precursors and equipment for drug traffickers. China remains the primary source country for illicit fentanyl precursor chemicals and pill pressing equipment, followed by India, it said. Cartels are largely responsible for the more than 52,000 US deaths from synthetic opioids in the 12 months ending in October 2024 and helped facilitate the nearly three million illegal migrant arrivals in 2024, straining resources and putting US communities at risk, the report pointed out. Last week, an India-based chemical manufacturing company and three of its high-level employees were charged in a federal court in Washington DC in a case related to illegally importing precursor chemicals used to make illicit fentanyl. Federal agents also arrested two of the top ranking employees of a Hyderabad-based company in New York City on Thursday. The report also flagged 'Transnational Islamic Extremists' and said, ISISs most aggressive branches, including ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K), and its entrepreneurial plotters will continue to seek to attack the West, including the United States, via online outreach and propaganda aimed at directing, enabling, or inspiring attacks, and could exploit vulnerable travel routes. In South Asia, Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP) operations in recent years have focused exclusively on targeting Pakistan, probably to avoid drawing more counter-terrorism pressure, it said. However, it observed, TTPs capabilities, historical ties to al-Qaida, and previous support to operations targeting the United States keep us concerned about the potential future threat. Anti-India groups, including Lashkar-e Tayyiba, similarly concern us in part because of their historical links with al-Qaida. Two US lawmakers have introduced a bill seeking to sanction Pakistan's Army chief General Asim Munir for engaging in the "wrongful persecution and imprisonment" of political opponents and the release of detainees, including former premier Imran Khan, a media report said. The Pakistan Democracy Act was introduced by Republican representative from South Carolina Joe Wilson and Democratic representative from California Jimmy Panetta on Monday, The Hill reported. The bipartisan bill accuses Gen Munir of knowingly engaging in the wrongful persecution and imprisonment of political opponents", and would place sanctions on the military chief within 180 days under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. According to the news portal, violators can be subjected to denial of entry to the US and ineligibility for US visas. It also seeks the identification of other key individuals involved in the persecution and the imposition of similar bans on them. The bill 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 called the 72-year-old former leader Khan a "political prisoner", and blamed Pakistan's powerful military for his "unjust detention", according to the news portal. Khan has been implicated in dozens of cases since his government was dismissed through a no-confidence motion in 2022. He was arrested in August 2023 and is currently incarcerated in Rawalpindi's high-security Adiala Jail. According to his party, he faces over 200 cases, got bail in some of them, was convicted in some others, and hearings are going on for some more. Wilson told The Hill that he wrote 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. Top 10 Most Dangerous Countries In The World: The global conflict and rising crime have pushed many countries into a dangerous zone, especially for tourists. There are many countries where even residents are facing threats to their lives. Global survey agency Numbeo has now released the 'Safety Index by Country 2025' ranking 147 countries and to many's surprise, the United States ranks below India and Pakistan. The world's most dangerous country is Venezuela while the safest country is the Andorra. As per the Numbeo list, India ranks 66 and Pakistan 65 (the lower the better) while the United States ranks 89th on the list. The United Kingdom ranks 87th while France ranks 110. The war-torn Ukraine ranks 80 and Russia at the 51st place. World's Top 10 Most Dangerous Countries: Venezuela Papua New Guinea Haiti Afghanistan South Africa Honduras Trinidad and Tobago Syria Jamaica Peru Numbeo ranked 147 countries based on overall crime levels, using survey data from website visitors. The rankings consider how safe residents feel walking during the day and night, along with concerns about mugging, robbery, car theft, physical attacks, public harassment, and discrimination based on factors like skin colour, ethnicity, gender, or religion. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. For me, the daughter of small business owners, winter and the holidays meant more family time at the dining table, not just to eat but to hand-write thank you notes to our customers. My brother would climb up to the attic to bring down bins full of greeting cards my mother and I had purchased the previous year after Christmas, when the holiday clearance sections at local stores offered boxes and boxes of them for 75% off. My father, a mechanic, would come home from a long, hard day of work at his auto repair shop, change out of his clothes and pick up a pen with his cracked, chapped hands to spend the last few hours of the day writing thanks. Thank you for being our customer. Thank you for trusting us with your car. Thank you for your loyalty. I was as young as 10 or 11 when I joined this tradition. At that age, my penmanship was not very impressive, but that was never the point. The point was to take time to communicate our gratitude in writing. I now teach writing at Harvard, a place where no one seems to have enough time. Students are always running out of it: They need more time to study, research, write and meet deadlines. Teachers are always wishing they had more of it. If only we had more time to return papers, more time to conference with students. In a place where there's never enough time, it's easy to lose small gestures like thanking someone in writing, even in a writing class. So when an opportunity presented itself, I took it. My class had two sessions outside of our usual classroom. The first was at Lamont Library, where we learned how to conduct research. The second was at the Harvard Art Museums, where we went on a tour to help us start thinking about art and objects as primary sources. Of course, we thanked both the librarian and the research curator in person and offered a round of applause at the end of each class. But I found it important to also thank our instructors in writing. The following week, I walked to CVS in Harvard Square to pick up two thank you cards so that students could write in them. I was shocked, first by how few thank you cards there were (I saw just three on a wall full of birthday, baby and wedding cards) and second, by the options available for purchase. One card simply stated: "Thank You for Being My Person." According to the Greeting Card Association, Americans purchase around 6.5 billion cards each year. Unsurprisingly, birthday cards make up more than half of those sales. But thank you cards rank at third place, making the lack of options I encountered all the more confusing. What I thought would be a five-minute errand resulted in me scurrying from one store to another for the next hour, desperately seeking a decent card. Of course, I could have purchased a "blank inside" card, but the absence of designated thank you cards troubled me. It felt like a sign that we don't know who to thank and what to thank them for. Have we stopped thanking people? Do we do it by email or text now? Has it become too complicated in our technology-driven world to search for and buy a card, write by hand and then give or mail it to someone? Or have we simply stopped being thankful? Perhaps my Harvard Square experience is an anomaly. But even so, it's worth paying attention to: If gratitude is missing in a college town, what lessons could we expect our students to pass on to future generations? My parents taught me early on that there is a difference between saying thank you and writing thanks. The spoken thank you is fleeting not to say that it's meaningless, but extending thanks in writing makes it more intentional, more thoughtful, a sort of archived gratitude that doesn't expire, a moment you could return to. In the end, it was at Bob Slate Stationer, a small business in Harvard Square, where I finally found a vibrant selection of thank you cards to choose from. The one I selected stated, "I want to thank you in writing." With a Sharpie, I turned the "I" into a "We," and asked my students to spend the last few minutes of our class writing thanks. Some wrote brief notes while others wrote thank you in their native languages, including Ukrainian and Choctaw. I'm not your writing teacher, but I have a suggestion for you. The next time someone does you a solid, take a moment to slow down. Go looking for a thank you card and write to them. They might seem small, these businesses, these moments, these gestures, this lesson. But the bigger picture looks less promising without them. (COMMENT, BELOW) Taleen Mardirossian was raised in Torrance and currently lives in Cambridge, where she teaches writing at Harvard University. She is working on a collection of essays about the body and identity. Jane Raybould, a Nebraska lawmaker whose family owns the parent company of Russ's Market and Super Saver, will retire as the vice president of B&R Stores at the end of this month, the company announced Wednesday. Raybould, 66, will leave after "22 years of dedicated service to the company" that her father co-founded in 1964 and where Raybould grew up working, she said in Wednesday's news release. "I grew up in the grocery business by starting in the fireworks tent at 8 years old, then in the bakery department frying donuts, and throughout high school and college as a cashier and administrative support," she said. "Grocery people are the best people. In an interview, Raybould said her retirement from the family's business had been in the making for years and she always planned to depart when the company opened its new Super Saver in Columbus, which began operations this month. Raybould said she hoped to retire two years ago when she began her first term as a state lawmaker representing a portion of central Lincoln in the Legislature but the company's project in Columbus was delayed after construction bids came in $4 million over budget. She said she spent two years doing "all the nitty gritty stuff" that the project required, including value engineering, while she also battled non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer that Raybould was diagnosed with last year that forced her to miss long stretches of the 2024 legislative session. Now, with her work on the Columbus project behind her and with her cancer in remission, Raybould said she "couldn't be more thrilled for the future of our company" and for her future in the Legislature. "This year and next year are gonna be great years," she said. "I have full energy. I'm in remission." Raybould has been juggling two jobs for 15 years, dating back to 2010, when she was elected to the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners, where she served for four years before she was elected to the Lincoln City Council in 2015. She ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 2014 and for U.S. Senate in 2018. "It's with excitement that I just have one job now. And you can probably tell I'm really happy," she said, laughing. "If you haven't picked up on that, I'm pretty happy." Still in her first term as a lawmaker, Raybould said Wednesday she is "thinking about it" when asked whether she intended to seek reelection to the Legislature next year. Her retirement from her family's business, which Raybould remains a co-owner of, comes as she champions a proposal that would undercut a law that voters approved in 2022 raising the state's minimum wage to $15 per hour. Nebraska's minimum wage is scheduled to climb to $15 an hour next January and increase annually with the cost of living each year after. Raybould's proposal would cap future increases to the minimum wage at 1.5% beginning in 2027 while also allowing businesses to pay children younger than 16 less than minimum wage. At a public hearing last month, Raybould's bill (LB258) won the backing of business and retail groups including the Nebraska Grocery Industry Association, raising potential conflict of interest questions over Raybould's family's business' stake in the legislation. She filed a potential conflict of interest statement with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission in January acknowledging that the bill's passage would benefit B&R Stores but indicating she did not plan to abstain from voting on the bill, which she said also would benefit retailers, restaurants, detasslers, child care facilities "and other small and independent businesses in our state." "We have a lot of farmers on the Ag Committee that I happen to be on, and there is a banking member who is the chair of the Banking, (Commerce) and Insurance Committee," Raybould said Wednesday, referring to Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte, who is the CEO of a bank. "So I happen to be a businessperson who is just one of many on the Business and Labor Committee. ... I think it's to the Legislature's benefit that they have expertise right on the appropriate committees on which you serve." Raybould also designated the bill as her personal priority this session, a move that increases its chance of being debated by the full Legislature, where it is sure to face a filibuster at the hands of her Democratic colleagues. The bill would require a supermajority of 33 senators to pass due to their attempt to alter voter-approved laws and are sure to face fierce opposition from Democrats in the formally nonpartisan Legislature though progressives would likely have to convince multiple Republicans to oppose the bill to stop its passage. Raybould joined 32 Republicans lawmakers earlier this month to pass a bill that would change Nebraska law to define app-based ride-share and food delivery drivers as independent contractors in a move that opponents argued "shifts the balance in favor of billionaires against working people." Iraq Steps Up Efforts to Revive Nimrud City A statue of a lamassu, an Assyrian protective deity, at the North West Palace of Ashurnasirpal in Nimrud, Iraq. Baghdad -- The Iraqi Minister of Culture, Ahmed Fakak Al-Badrani, stated on Sunday that efforts are being exerted to restore the ancient city of Nimrud in northern Iraq, which was destroyed by ISIS militants in 2015. In a statement to Rudaw News, Al-Badrani explained that approximately 35,000 artifacts have been recovered, and both unaffected and damaged objects are being identified for preservation using a scientific technique. ISIS militants began a full-scale attack in northern and western Iraq in June 2014, taking control of vast areas of land, including the city of Mosul in Nineveh province, which the terrorist organization announced to be the capital of their caliphate between Iraq and Syria. Nimrud was one among the historic sites that ISIS sought to destroy during their rule. A war crime was declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in response to the worldwide criticism of the destruction of Nimrud city. Al-Badrani said that Baghdad has not yet calculated how many antiquities were taken during the ISIS raids on Nimrud city. He also affirmed that foreign specialists were involved in the recovery of the stolen objects and commended the commitment of the archeological teams on the site, describing their work as inspiring. The city of Nimrud, which is 360 kilometers north of Baghdad and 32 kilometers south of Mosul, served as the capital of the Assyrian Empire between 1250 BC and 610 BC. In past decades, physicians practiced medicine. The majority were dedicated to patient well-being. They were paternalistic and decided what was in their patients best interests, and patients generally trusted their judgments. In the 1970s, ethicists concluded that patients and clinicians should make treatment decisions jointly. This position has been championed since then, despite multiple surveys demonstrating that more than 50 percent of patients prefer their physicians to be the decision-makers. Additionally, over 80 percent of individuals have difficulty making rational judgments about their care. Given the realities of present-day practice, clinicians neither have the time to motivate nor educate patients to enable them to be partners, nor, in my opinion, should this be their responsibility. Health educators could assist in these activities, but patients must be motivated to learn, to set aside established beliefs, and to accept contradictory information. This process can be arduous for many people, as the expectation of a desired outcome can blind them to other possibilities. More significantly, clinicians ability to practice largely unfettered has been co-opted by for-profit executives and politicians, neither of whom is patient-oriented. It was not anticipated that medical care would be discovered as immensely profitable and that mercantile entities would purchase an ever-increasing market share. Executives are driven by expanding earnings and manipulate the health care system, legally and illegally, to achieve this goal, increasingly compromising patient safety and life. Multiple recent studies, for example, have noted that when a hospital becomes profit-oriented, both staff and salaries are reduced, and when physician practices become for-profit, prices are increased, and patient visit times are decreased. One Medicare Advantage insurance company enthusiastically reported a 52 percent increase in profit for 2024 yet is requesting greater Medicare reimbursement, claiming that their profit margin was less than expected. Another company offered physicians $10,000 bonuses to increase the number of patient diagnoses not requiring treatment because the government paid more for complex patients. Prior authorizations (PAs) have received much bad publicity lately, but their present use is not why they were created. Medicare developed PAs with two goals: to ensure patients received care that followed best practices and to slow rising costs. Health insurers quickly adopted them to control payment and increase revenue. Sometimes, profit-oriented hospital administrators have required patients to prepay surgical bills, even when they are insured, to save themselves any future cost of haggling with an insurer. Will credit reports soon be accessed before emergency treatment and care based on ones score? One hospital denies patient discharge until it receives a written guarantee of payment by insurance or, if the patient is uninsured, a full cash payment. Also unexpected was that medical care would become politicized and used by federal and state legislators to favor individual beliefs and benefactors rather than patient health. Many proposed bills lack a scientific basis, defy common sense, and are contrary to the desires of the majority of their constituents. They are poorly written, broadly constructed, and obtuse. The six-week fetal heartbeat laws are exemplary, as embryologically, the heart is not developed at this age, the heartbeat arises from a different structure, and the fetuss circulation comes from the mothers circulatory system via the umbilical cord until birth, not from its heart. In their eagerness to curtail surgeries for trans-individuals, Florida legislators passed a law so vague that a surgeon could be imprisoned for removing cancerous reproductive organs. Not to be outdone, Ohio legislators decided that hospitalized COVID-19 patients can request Ivermectin, though ineffective, and its non-provision would result in incarceration! Of whom was not indicated. Legislators who composed the six-week abortion laws contend they are lucidly written and easy to understand. If so, why do physicians and attorneys have great difficulty interpreting them when confronted with pregnant females* with a life-threatening crisis? Or, when it was pointed out to the lawmaker who originated the Florida law that he had banned mastectomies and prostatectomies for cancer, he did nothing to exempt these and similar procedures from his bill. These legislators did not expect or seem to care that their actions would result in a long-term diminution of physicians practicing in their states, reducing quality care for all citizens. RFK Jr. doggedly believes that vaccinations cause more harm than good and insists that poor studies in low-quality journals outweigh decades of reputable research. In some states, physicians have been coerced into drug testing pregnant females and reporting those with positive results to law enforcement. Texas Governor Abbott has threatened the loss of state funding to hospitals that do not demand proof of citizenship at admission. In other states, an attorney general wants to deny medical care to birthright individuals he considers to have invalid citizenship in violation of the Constitution, while another wants a directory of pregnant women he believes might seek abortions, without defining whom these women may be. Will these unreasoning regulations result in people avoiding care for life-threatening or communicable conditions? At what point does medicine become wholly manipulated for political or monetary gain? I support reasonable regulation and profit, but the primary purpose of health care must be patient benefit and safety, not ideology, political advantage, or lucre. * Pregnant person is a social construct but biologically inaccurate as pregnancy and childbirth require functional female reproductive organs, regardless of the sex or gender one chooses to be. M. Bennet Broner is a medical ethicist. Aloma Isaac Junior, a Nigerian comedian popularly known as Zicsaloma, recently underwent rhinoplasty. This intervention exposed deep-rooted biases about masculinity, beauty, and body autonomy in Africa. Instead of curiosity or support, his decision was met with mockery, outrage, and accusations of self-hate. This backlash reveals a cultural blind spot. Plastic surgery is often seen as an indulgence for women, while men are expected to accept their looks as they are. Medical advancements have made procedures safer and more accessible. Shouldnt the conversation around male aesthetic surgery evolve too? The irony of this stigma is that body modification has been practiced for centuries by Africans. There have been scarifications, tribal markings, and cosmetic dentistry, among many others, which have long been part of African heritage. These modifications were often symbols of identity, status, and beauty, yet modern plastic surgery is viewed as unnatural or excessive. The difference? Perception. Traditional practices were sanctioned culturally, while Western-influenced cosmetic procedures are seen as rejecting ones natural self. But is there truly a difference between choosing tribal markings or a lip plate for identity and choosing surgery for confidence? Both are personal choices rooted in self-expression. The rest of the world is embracing male plastic surgery while Africa resists. According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) Global Survey 2023, the top five cosmetic procedures for men worldwide are eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), gynecomastia surgery (male breast reduction), liposuction, rhinoplasty, and facial fat grafting. In South Korea, cosmetic surgery is prevalent among young men, with procedures such as rhinoplasty and eyelid surgery being particularly common. A survey conducted in 2020 revealed that approximately 10 percent of South Korean respondents had undergone plastic surgery. The male respondents were more likely to undergo surgery for medical reasons, even though the majority were for cosmetic purposes. Plastic surgery is not just about vanity. Many procedures have functional and psychological benefits. Rhinoplasty isnt only cosmeticit can correct breathing difficulties caused by a deviated septum. Liposuction and body contouring can help men struggling with obesity-related self-esteem issues. Gynecomastia surgery helps men suffering from hormonal imbalances and body dysmorphia. Dr. Andrew Jacono, a leading facial plastic surgeon, explains that for many patients, plastic surgery is less about looking perfect and more about feeling comfortable in your own skin. Psychological studies show that correcting a long-standing insecurity through surgery can significantly reduce anxiety and depression. If African men are encouraged to work out, groom themselves, and dress well for confidence, then why is cosmetic surgeryanother form of self-careviewed so differently? Women who undergo plastic surgery often face judgment, but there is at least a general acceptance that beauty pressures exist for women. Men, however, are expected to be completely indifferent about how they look physically. This double standard is particularly strong in Africa, where rigid gender roles dictate that men should not concern themselves with aesthetics beyond fitness. But modern masculinity is evolving. More men are embracing grooming, skincare, and self-care, and plastic surgery is simply an extension of that. Zicsalomas experience is an opportunity to challenge outdated narratives. Plastic surgery is not about weakness but about personal agency. If a man can go to the gym to sculpt his body, he should have the same freedom to refine his features without societal ridicule. The main issue here is not just plastic surgeryit is the fundamental right to make choices about ones own body without ridicule or shame. It is time for a cultural shift in how we view plastic surgery. Medical advancements have made procedures safer, more effective, and accessible, and personal decisions about appearance should be respected, not ridiculed. For a long time, Africa has celebrated self-expression through body modification, and modern cosmetic surgery is simply a new chapter in that history. No one should be shamed for taking autonomy over their own body and image, whether for medical reasons, self-confidence, or just the desire to look a certain way. ADVERTISEMENT There is a lack of comprehensive data on male cosmetic procedures in Africa, which highlights the need for more research and open dialogue. Effectively addressing these issues requires an open mind and a cultural shift toward accepting personal choices in appearance and recognizing the numerous benefits that such procedures can bring. To conclude, as global acceptance of male plastic surgery rises, it is imperative for African societies to reevaluate their perspectives. Accepting individual autonomy in aesthetic decisions can lead to improved mental health outcomes and a more inclusive understanding of masculinity. Beauty knows no gender. Shirley Sarah Dadson is a medical student in Ghana. Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Developmental pediatrician Fiorella Castillo discusses her article, Advocating for immigrant children: a doctors perspective. Fiorella shares her firsthand experiences supporting immigrant families as they navigate developmental disabilities like autism and ADHD in a climate filled with fear of deportation and family separation. She explores the emotional and behavioral toll on childrenranging from anxiety and PTSD to struggles with social skillsand stresses the critical need for systemic change to protect these vulnerable communities. Fiorella offers actionable insights, such as supporting organizations like the Immigrant Legal Resource Center or The Legal Aid Society, and contacting elected officials to push for policies ensuring family unity and immigrant rights. Join us to discover how healthcare professionals and advocates can drive meaningful change for immigrant children and their families. Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Want to streamline your clinical documentation and take advantage of customizations that put you in control? What about the ability to surface information right at the point of care or automate tasks with just a click? Now, you can. Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Offering an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform, Dragon Copilot can help you unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, its backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise and its part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcareand its built on a foundation of trust. Ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow. VISIT SPONSOR https://aka.ms/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended Transcript Kevin Pho: Hi, and welcome to the show. Subscribe at KevinMD.com/podcast. Today we welcome Fiorella Castillo. Shes a developmental pediatric fellow. Her KevinMD article is Advocating for immigrant children, a doctors perspective. Fiorella, welcome to the show. Fiorella Castillo: Thank you so much for having me here today. Its so nice meeting you. Kevin Pho: All right, thank you so much for joining us. So, tell us a little bit about yourself, and then tell us about the article on KevinMD for those who didnt get a chance to read it. ADVERTISEMENT Fiorella Castillo: Sure, so I am a third-year developmental and behavioral pediatrics fellow over at the Childrens Hospital in Montefiore, and I was actually born and raised in Peru. And I moved to the U.S. in my early teens and went straight to high school. When I arrived, I didnt speak any English, and I learned all of that here. So, growing up as an immigrant in the U.S., I am no stranger to the health, economic, and educational disparities affecting our communities. And I became a pediatrician with the hopes to help children and their families, in particularparticularly those with developmental disabilities. Kevin Pho: Wonderful. So tell us about your article. Its titled Advocating for immigrant children, a doctors perspective. Whats your article about? Fiorella Castillo: So, my article touches on what are recent events that have created a toxic environment of fear and uncertainty for immigrant communities. We know that, whether direct or indirect, interacting with the immigration system is an adverse childhood experience, and this poses developmental and socioeconomic harm to children and their families. We know that about 1 in 12 children risk losing a loved one to deportation, and this leads to long-term trauma and adversity, along with what is the related economic, educational, and social disruptions in their lives. Now, in addition to that, immigrant children face compounding developmental and personal threats, including detention in unsafe, unsanitary, and developmentally inappropriate conditions. Even what were once safe spaces, such as churches, schools, and hospitals, are now subject to immigration activities. We think of children with legal status maybe being a little bit better off, but these children still experience developmental harms, which affect their mental health, as immigration status is often precarious, and sometimes this changes day by day. So, this situation overall is a source of confusion, anxiety, and harmful stress to everyone. Im here in the Bronx, instead of a very large immigrant community, and in my article, I discussed the case of a patient of mine with whom I was having a phone call. All of a sudden, she tells me that ICE is at her door, and in a very desperate voice, she asked me, What do I do? I mentioned Im not a lawyer, Im not a social worker, Im a physician, and even here in our clinic, we try our best to guide and help our patients, but sometimes its way more beyond what we can do. So we need to partner up with organizations that can better help our communities. Recently as well, all of this situation has caused a lot of stress, not just with our patients but also with our providers here. As we hear, for example, not that long ago there was a raid at a nearby high school here in the Bronx. A lot of our staff are local, so they are thinking about their own children, and theyre thinking about the families they serve. This is essentially what my article is discussing, as well as advocating for policies that lead to the prevention of family separation and detention. These are developmentally harmful and need to be avoided. We really need systemic changes to our immigration policy to stabilize what otherwise is a precarious legal status, and we really need high-quality, culturally and linguistically responsive mental health care. This is essential to support the well-being of our children and their families impacted by these issues. So this is, in a nutshell, what I talked about. Kevin Pho: So for those who arent familiar with developmental pediatrics, you mentioned that interactions with immigration authorities can lead to adverse childhood events and developmental issues. Specifically, for those who arent familiar with those, what exactly are some of the adverse events that we could see in our children? Fiorella Castillo: When we discuss adverse childhood experiences, were talking about experiences that can lead to trauma, one of them being, for example, the death of a loved one or family separationwhether its through divorce or other means. We talk about chronic health issues, having a parent in jail, or being a victim of abuse, whether physical or psychological. Those are some of the examples that comprise what we define as adverse childhood experiences. Kevin Pho: And the impact of these traumas and adverse childhood experiencestheyre lifelong. Fiorella Castillo: Exactly, yes. When we think about the effects of adverse childhood experiences, its not just related to mental health conditions. We talk about a much higher risk of things like diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic health conditions, and even an overall deterioration of healthnot just mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, or suicidality. Kevin Pho: You mentioned, of course, that youre seeing this in your clinic in the Bronx. Tell us about some of those conversations. You dont have to go into a specific oneof course, protect privacybut in general, what are some of those conversations like? What are some of the fears that the families are expressing to you in the exam room? Fiorella Castillo: At the Childrens Hospital at Montefiore, I work at the Rose F. Kennedy Center Evaluation and Rehabilitation program for children with developmental disabilities. I particularly see children who have autism, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental conditions. Some of these conditions may be more severe than others. No two children are exactly the same. We do have children with severe impairments, and its particularly some of those families who are the most worried, as something like separation can really affect their children who are severely impaired. Some of the questions that I get are like, If Im not here, whos going to take care of my child? My child doesnt speak. They have severe autism and an intellectual disability, and they cannot care for themselves, and I am the only caregiver. Whats going to happen? Other families worry not just about the children with developmental disabilities, but also some of their siblings or other family members who may be dependent on them. Every day, this conversation comes up. We are able to provide certain guidance in terms of how to best protect themselves and how to get everything in order, but if were not having those conversations, then these families really are left in the air with very little guidance and support otherwise. Theyre just fearful of speaking about this issue. So we become a safe space for them, a trusted source of information as well. Recently, I had a patient of mine tell me, I didnt know that my neighbor, who lives a few blocks away, had gotten deported until I saw a for rent sign on their front door. She asked the landlord what happened to that family, and they told her they had been deported and needed to rent the space to somebody else. These are things that we hear every single day, essentially, and not only that, but also the raids that go on in our neighborhoods. Kevin Pho: You mentioned some guidance that you can offer in the exam room. Tell us a little bit about that guidance, in terms of what you tell patients, and what are some other specific things that you can do as a physician in the exam room? I know that you mentioned earlier about immigration policy, but on a more individual level, what are some specific ways that you could support these families? Fiorella Castillo: We have developed essentially a listing of immigration lawyers who may provide pro bono services. Also, I believe the Immigrant Legal Resource Center has produced these red cards that have specific information about peoples rights and contact information for who to reach out to when encountering an immigration officer. Kevin Pho: Now how about outside the world of developmental pediatrics, because these issues are affecting all of our patients, Im sure. Primary care physicians like myself in internal medicinewe dont see it as often as you do, but Im sure that these are very common in the families we see. Tell us about some of the things that we can do in the exam room. Maybe some resources that we can share with our patients outside the world of developmental pediatrics. Fiorella Castillo: Yeah, similar to what I mentioned, having resources ready if a family is willing to disclose some of their concerns about what to do in the case that they encounter an ICE agent, or what happens when a family member gets detained. Having that information ready on next steps or who to contact based on the state where theyre located would be really useful, and also letting patients know about their rights when being detained or when an immigration agent comes in and speaks with them. Kevin Pho: In your article, you mentioned two organizations: the Immigrant Legal Resource Center and the Legal Aid Society, as options. Tell us more about those. Fiorella Castillo: They are local community-based organizations, and they provide pro bono services to immigrant families. They also cover other legal issues as well, but those have been the most supportive and vocal about working with immigration-related issues in this day and age. Kevin Pho: What do you see in the foreseeable future? Because the political climate probably isnt going to change for the next few years. So what do you see in the foreseeable future regarding this issue? Fiorella Castillo: I dont think I can speak in terms of what specific policies may be implemented or how this may evolve, because things have been rather unpredictable in many areas lately. But one thing that is very glaring to me is that these types of situations really affect the mental health of our children, whether they have developmental disabilities or not. In addition to the work that I do as a developmental pediatrician, I also study things related to school disengagement and how it intersects with mental health. Just adding extra stressan extra adverse childhood experienceto what is already a very disengaged community of school-aged children will make things much worse. It creates such an unstable and toxic environment, and I can see it affecting not just mental health but also education. Later on, as these children grow, they will become adults who carry trauma, and we will see that not just in mental health but in other chronic conditions. Kevin Pho: You mentioned earlier that theres also a tremendous amount of stress on the staff members as well, and on your colleagues and fellow clinicians. Talk more about thathow you are supporting each other and some of the things that you could do from a mental health standpoint among the staff. Fiorella Castillo: Because of the place that we work in, we establish very deep connections with our families. Some of us also have children with developmental conditions, so we really relate and get very close to our families. When we hear that patients are struggling with these specific situations, it really affects our mental health too. Weve had discussions here. Weve had a town hall. Weve had debrief sessions when we encounter, for example, families that have gotten deported. In terms of what we can do to help ourselves, we have a very robust wellness initiative here at Montefiore. Also, we talk about how prepared we can be to help other families as these things keep unfolding. Kevin Pho: Were talking to Fiorella Castillo. Shes a developmental pediatric fellow. Todays KevinMD article is Advocating for immigrant children, a doctors perspective. Fiorella, lets end with some take-home messages that you want to leave with the KevinMD audience. Fiorella Castillo: Like I mentioned in the article as well, policies that lead to family separation and detention are so developmentally harmful and really need to be avoided. We need to be a safe space for our families so they can feel comfortable asking for support, and we need to have information ready to give them in case they encounter immigration agents or other authorities. We really need systemic changes to our immigration policy to stabilize what otherwise are precarious legal statuses, and one thing that I feel very strongly about is that we need better quality, culturally responsive mental health care to support the well-being of our childrennot just those with developmental disabilities and those impacted by these immigration policies, but also everyone around them. Kevin Pho: Fiorella, thank you so much for sharing your perspective and insight, and thanks again for coming on the show. Fiorella Castillo: Thank you so much for having me. Cardinal Sako Pushes for Christian Quota Reform Before Vote Chaldean Catholic leader Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, pictured during a June 2023 visit to London, England. ( Mazur/cbcew.org.uk) Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako issued the appeal March 26, arguing that the current process failed to ensure Iraq's Christian minority was genuinely represented in parliament. In Iraq, Sako's move is likely to be seen as part of his ongoing clash with Rayan al-Kildani, a party leader who styles himself as the de facto protector of Iraq's Christian minority. Sako is the head of the Chaldean Catholic Church, Iraq's largest Christian community and one of the 23 autonomous Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the pope. His intervention is significant because four of the five seats allocated to Christians in the Council of Representatives of Iraq are currently occupied by members of the Babylon Movement, a Christian party founded by al-Kildani and politically aligned with the country's Shia Muslim majority. Sako and al-Kildani clashed publicly in 2023, prompting the cardinal to leave Baghdad for nine months of self-imposed exile. In his message, Sako noted that the Chaldean Church was encouraging its members to register to vote in the October parliamentary election. But he said: "Our current representation is incorrect, and we refuse to be used as fuel for the interests of others. From this standpoint, I appeal to the Shias, Sunnis, and Kurds in the federal government to help us regain our representation, our role, and our rights." "I propose restricting voting for quota seats to Christians through a special voter registry, so they can choose whoever they believe is most capable of serving their country." The restriction of voting for the five quota seats to Christians would require a substantial change to the present system, in which all registered voters in a specific region can cast ballots for candidates for reserved seats regardless of their religion. In Iraq's parliament, nine seats are currently reserved for minorities out of 329 seats. One seat each is allocated to Yazidis, Shabaks, Mandaeans, and Feyli Kurds. The five Christian seats are distributed by region, with one seat each in Baghdad, Duhok, Erbil, Nineveh, and Kirkuk, all of which have sizable Christian communities. Each seat is contested in the respective region, with candidates drawn from Christian political parties or standing as independents. The Babylon Movement's victory in four out of the five ballots in the last parliamentary election, in 2021, was controversial. The fifth seat was reportedly won by an independent candidate. Former member of parliament Joseph Sliwa argued that the election winners did not truly represent Christians because 90% of the votes they gained were from non-Christians. "The votes and parliament seats are not real," he told the Rudaw Media Network, based in the Kurdistan Region. Critics alleged that the Babylon Movement won the seats thanks to support from Shia voters mobilized by the Christian party's allies in the Shiite Coordination Framework, a coalition of Shia Muslim parties. Criticism of the present Christian quota system was expressed years before the 2021 election. In a 2018 paper, the Assyrian Policy Institute said: "A loophole in Iraqi electoral law has left the voting process for the selection of the Christian MPs who will fill the seats reserved by the quotas open to non-Christian voters, which enables powerful non-Christian parties to exploit the quota system." Cardinal Sako has criticized the present Christian quota system on previous occasions. But his new appeal comes amid a national debate over possible amendments to the electoral system ahead of the parliamentary election. According to Iraqi media, politicians are discussing whether to amend the country's electoral law, expanding the number of parliamentary seats to reflect the results of a November 2024 census, the first comprehensive population survey for almost 40 years. Almost 30 million Iraqis, out of a total population of around 45 million, are eligible to vote in the upcoming elections, up from 25 million in the 2021 election. Tensions between Cardinal Sako and Rayan al-Kildani came to public attention in early 2023. Al-Kildani, who claims to represent the interests of the country's Chaldean minority, accused Sako of "establishing parties, engaging in electoral battles, and jeopardizing the security and future of Christians in Iraq." The cardinal, in turn, said that al-Kildani was "self-aggrandizing and wants to become a leader." After Iraq's President Abdul Latif Rashid rescinded a civil decree recognizing Sako as head of the Chaldean Catholic Church, the cardinal announced his decision to withdraw from Baghdad and settle in a monastery in the Kurdistan Region. He said he took the step following a "deliberate and humiliating campaign" against him by al-Kildani's supporters. Sako returned to Baghdad in April 2024 at the invitation of Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. Not all Chaldean Catholic leaders are believed to share Sako's negative assessment of al-Kildani -- one of many disagreements besetting Iraq's Chaldean hierarchy. A lawsuit filed in a U.S. court in February accused Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil of being a "close associate" of al-Kildani, who was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2019. Warda categorically denied the lawsuit's claims. In a November 2024 interview with The Pillar, Warda addressed claims that he is close to al-Kildani. He said: "I am not a politician, I am a bishop, and as such my door is open to everyone." "Of course, it should be said that Rayan al-Kildani works in Baghdad, not in Erbil, politically he is completely outside of my region." He added: "But people should know that I have welcomed, and will welcome, anyone, because the role of the Church is to be a bridge of peace and reconciliation." Cardinal Sako said in September 2024 that he had filed a canonical complaint against several Chaldean bishops, including Warda. Sako had previously criticized the bishops for skipping a July 2024 episcopal synod, which bishops are ordinarily required by canon law to attend, and an August 2024 spiritual retreat. The number of Christians in Iraq may have fallen as low as 250,000, from around 1.5 million at the start of the 21st century. The advocacy group Open Doors ranked Iraq as the 17th-worst place in the world in which to be a Christian in its 2025 World Watch List. "There seems to be less tolerance for Christians even in areas where they were previously more welcome, such as in the Kurdistan Region," the group said. "Without meaningful reforms and guarantees of Christian rights, many fear the exodus of Christians from Iraq will continue unabated." Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church in India Gets New Catholicos Joseph Mor Gregorios is the new Catholicos of the Syriac Orthodox Church in India. ( Wikipedia) The Supreme head of the Syriac Orthodox Church anointed the new leader of their Church in India during a solemn ceremony in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, on March 25. Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, the Patriarch of Syriac Orthodox Church, led the special ceremony in St Mary's Syrian Orthodox Cathedral to anoint Joseph Mor Gregorios as Catholicos, the head of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church in India. Catholicos is the second-highest title in the Church after Patriarch. Gregorios has now assumed the title of Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Joseph I. His elevation follows the death of Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I, who was known for strong leadership and connection with people from all walks of life. Dignitaries, including ministers from the federal and provincial governments of Kerala state in southern India, the home state of the Catholicos, attended the special ceremony in Lebanon. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the dignitaries who expressed their happiness over Gregorios' elevation. In a message sent through an emissary, Modi said, "In various fields of the Church, the Catholicos has shown remarkable excellence." He wished "the Jacobite Syrian Church continued progress under his leadership." He wished "the Jacobite Syrian Church continued progress under his leadership." In his congratulatory message, Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil, the head of India-based Eastern rite Syro-Malabar Church, said that the "Catholicos' spiritual leadership will be a blessing for the Jacobite Church and society at large." Thattil also expressed the hope that the Catholicos will work towards the progress and welfare of the Christian community globally." Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a Hindu spiritual leader, said in his message, "his [Gregorios']commitment to spiritual growth and human values will continue to touch countless lives." "Through his dedicated efforts in promoting social welfare and interfaith harmony, he has made a lasting and positive impact," he said. The new Catholicos, born in India's Kerala state, has assumed charge amid a lingering property dispute between another faction of the Church in his home state. The Oriental Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch split in 1911 in Kerala into Jacobite and Orthodox factions. The Orthodox faction's supreme head is based in Kerala, while the Jacobites owe their allegiance to the patriarch of Antioch. They came together in 1934, agreed on a constitution, and even elected the Catholicos of the East, based in Kerala, as their common head, but again split in 1973. Both factions seized properties in areas where they had a numerical advantage, leading to litigation. In 2017, India's Supreme Court, the highest court in the country, declared the Orthodox faction to be the legal heir of the Church's temporal properties while recognizing their mutual consent to the 1934 constitution as a legally binding agreement for both parties. According to the top court's order, the Jacobite faction is required to hand over approximately 1,100 churches under its control but has refused to comply, resulting in another round of litigation. The Orthodox faction has so far taken control of about 60 churches with police assistance while the legal battle continues. Pope John Paul II has prayed for forgiveness of the sins of those involved in the Holocaust. However, he avoided any admission of Church guilt over alleged complicity. Since arriving in Israel as part of his Millennium Pilgrimage, the Pope has been under growing pressure to apologise for the Vaticans failure to speak out during the Holocaust. The 79-year-old placed a prayer into the crevices of the Western (or Wailing) Wall, asking for Gods forgiveness for the behaviour of those who in the course of history have caused these children of yours to suffer. I assure the Jewish people the Catholic Church is deeply saddened by the hatred, acts of persecution and displays of anti-Semitism directed against the Jews by Christians at any time and in any place, the Pope said. The pontiff added that there were no words strong enough to deplore the terrible tragedy of the Holocaust. A spokesman for the pontiff said he had paused for a moment of private prayer something personal and laid a hand on the wall. By placing his prayer, which was typewritten and signed by the Pope, in the wall he echoed the custom of Jewish worshippers over generations. The prayer was taken from the wall by a government spokesman and placed in the archives of Yad Vashem, Israels Holocaust memorial for the six million Jews killed by the Nazis. Israeli cabinet minister Rabbi Michael Melchior, who hosted the Popes visit, said he was very moved by the Popes gesture. The Pope is visiting the most sacred sites in Jerusalem at the climax of his week-long Millennium Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He is the first pontiff to go there in 36 years. John Paul II had repeatedly said he had dreamt of visiting the region since he was elected pontiff in 1978. The visit to the holiest site of Islam, Christianity and Judaism, saw around 7,000 Israeli security forces deployed in the ancient city. City police arrested several extreme right-wing Jewish residents amid fears of disturbances. Earlier, the pontiff visited the Al Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest Islamic shrine. He was greeted by the top Islamic cleric in Jerusalem and other Palestinian clerics and dignitaries. Outside the mosque, more than a dozen Muslim protesters screamed at PLO officials after they met the pontiff. Courtesy BBC News In context The Popes Millennium Pilgrimage was hailed as a great success. A Vatican spokesman said: The key to the success of this trip is that the Pope told everyone the truth without humiliating anybody. He spoke with love. An Israeli official said: The Middle East has already changed. Not so long ago it would have been unthinkable for the Pope to fly to Tel Aviv on Royal Jordanian Airlines and back to Rome on El Al. During his trip, the Pope celebrated mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site where Jesus is said to have been crucified and buried. Following John Paul IIs visit, Rabbi Michael Melchior announced that Israel would set up a forum to promote peace between Jews, Christians and Muslims. The Pope died at 2137 (1937 GMT) on Saturday 2 April 2005 after he failed to recover from a throat operation due to breathing problems. Local bus firm Transmac refuted rumors that its bus driver suffered a stroke while driving, following a social media post that made the claim. The firm clarified that the driver fell ill during a meal break at the Fai Chi Kei terminal, not while driving. The 57-year-old driver was diagnosed with a cerebral hemorrhage and remains hospitalized for observation. Transmac emphasized that the incident occurred on March 15 and urged drivers to prioritize their health and avoid driving while unwell. Related The phrase Give me liberty or give me death! has been expressed by protesters from the 1989 Tiananmen Square uprising in China to those who opposed COVID-19 restrictions in the U.S. in 2020. Malcolm X referenced it in his 1964 Ballot or the Bullet speech, demanding equal rights for Black Americans. President Donald Trump quoted it on his Truth Social platform last year, lambasting a judge during his criminal hush money trial. The phrase was reportedly first used 250 years ago Sunday by lawyer and legislator Patrick Henry to persuade Virginia colonists to prepare for war against an increasingly punitive Great Britain, just weeks before the American Revolution. Tensions were coming to a boil, particularly in Massachusetts, where the British replaced elected officials, occupied Boston and shuttered the harbor. The entire episode was about helping our brethren in Massachusetts, said historian John Ragosta, who wrote a book on Henry. Its about the community. Its about the nation. Its not about, What do I get out of this personally? The printed version of Henrys galvanizing speech in a crowded church was about 1,200 words. And yet those seven words have survived the centuries like a line from a Shakespeare play. Its a very malleable phrase, said Patrick Henry Jolly, a fifth great grandson of Henry. Its something that can be applied to many different circumstances. But I think its important that people understand the original context. Jolly is set to reenact Henrys speech Sunday in the same church where his ancestor delivered it. The presentation, which will be streamed online, is part of Virginias commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the nations birth. Heres more information on Henry and his speech: Who was Patrick Henry? Born to an influential Virginia family in 1736, Henry became a successful trial lawyer in his 20s. According to the Library of Congress, he once astonished a courtroom with an argument that man is born with certain inalienable rights, an idea echoed in the Declaration of Independence. In 1765, Henry won a seat in Virginias colonial legislature. He was instrumental in opposing Great Britains Stamp Act, which levied a direct tax on the American colonies to raise money for Britain. As tensions increased, many Americans felt like second-class citizens with no representation in parliament, Ragosta said. By the time of Henrys speech, many were thinking: The king wont listen to us. Theyve invaded Boston. What should we in Virginia do about that? Did he really say it? In his 2004 book, Founding Myths, historian Ray Raphael wrote it is highly unlikely Henry said, Give me liberty or give me death! Henry did not write down the speech and the version we know today was published 42 years later in an 1817 biography of him. The biographer, attorney William Wirt, pieced together Henrys words from the decades-old recollections of people who were there. The printed version, Raphael wrote, reflects the agendas of 19th century nationalists who were fond of romanticizing war. But other historians said there is ample evidence Henry uttered those words. We have multiple people, years later, saying, I remember like it was yesterday, Ragosta said, adding that Thomas Jefferson was one of them. They recalled Henry lifting a letter opener that looked like a dagger and plunging it under his arm as if into his chest before saying the famous phrase. Thats 18th century oratory, Ragosta said. Its very impassioned. Jon Kukla, another historian who wrote a book on Henry, cited other evidence. Men in Virginias militias soon embroidered their heavy canvas shirts with liberty or death. The popular 1712 play Cato about a Roman senator also contains the line, It is not now a time to talk of aught, but chains or conquest, liberty or death. It would have been part of the literate culture of the age, Kukla said. What happened next? The most immediate impact of Henrys speech was more support for independence and the expansion of Virginias militias. In the months afterward, Henry and others also were driven by fears that the British would free enslaved people, Raphael suggests in Founding Myths. Virginias royal governor, Lord Dunmore, offered freedom to enslaved people who fought for the British. But Ragosta said that was not a primary motivation for Henry, who enslaved dozens of people. That does move a lot of people off the fence into the patriot column, undoubtedly, Ragosta said. But thats not really whats going on with the Jeffersons, the Washingtons, the Henrys. They had already been very committed to the patriot movement. Following independence, Henry served as Virginias governor five times. He also became known as an anti-federalist, opposing ratification of the U.S. Constitution and a strong central government. But Henry later spoke in support of the founding document at George Washingtons urging in 1799, the year Henry died. He says, Look, I voted against the Constitution, but we the people voted for it. And so we have to abide by it, Ragosta said. Liberty versus license Jolly, Henrys descendant, said most people react positively to his ancestors famous words and acknowledge their historical significance. And there are some people that react thinking that its a rallying cry for them today to defend their rights on both sides of the aisle, Jolly said. Yet Henry and his contemporaries were careful to distinguish liberty from license, said Kukla, the historian. Liberty, as they understood it, was not the freedom to do anything you damn well pleased, Kukla said. BEN FINLEY, MDT/AP 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. CAROLYN THOMPSON, MDT/AP Lawmaker Lam Lon Wai has once again inquired about community mental health. In a written inquiry submitted through the Legislative Assembly, Lam emphasized the need to optimize the existing four-tier mechanism to address mental health issues, ensuring that high-risk cases are handled quickly. Lam pointed out that, according to official statistics, there are 177 registered social workers in the rehabilitation service sector, accounting for 12% of the total number of registered social workers. As of the end of September 2024, there were 3,600 people with certified mental disabilities, representing 19.43% of the total number of people with disabilities in Macau. Lam also noted that about half of these individuals are aged 55 or older. He highlighted that recently, the number of high-risk cases in the community has been growing among older citizens, with a low ratio of mental health professionals available to address the rising number of cases. According to the lawmaker, each staff member of the community psychiatric rehabilitation services is responsible for an average of 30 clients, a ratio that can also be found in other countries and regions. Still, he expressed concern that, with rapid socio-economic development, the issue of mental disorders in the local community will grow faster than the number of available professionals. Lam argued that the existing regulations for compulsory treatment and hospitalization for certain mental illnesses are difficult to implement, creating additional risks for both the community and those suffering from the diseases. He called on the authorities to optimize the norms and criteria for hospitalization to better address high-risk cases. The same lawmaker also urged the authorities to revise the 10-year rehabilitation plan and formulate better measures to secure more manpower resources and improve planning to respond to high-risk mental illness cases, ultimately easing the pressure on frontline staff and improving the management of these cases. Macau Legend Development Ltd has forecasted a significant financial loss of up to HKD40 million for the year ending December 31, 2024. This projected loss marks an increase from the previous years loss of HKD4.9 million, signaling deeper financial troubles for the company that operates Legend Palace and Macau Fishermans Wharf. In a filing with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange earlier this week, Macau Legend attributed the sharp increase in losses to a significant impairment loss associated with deposits, property, equipment, and right-of-use assets tied to the groups investment projects in Macau and Cape Verde. Additionally, a HKD415 million provision for Macau complementary tax, previously recognized due to the disposal of a subsidiary, was reversed to profit or loss as disclosed in the 2023 Annual Report. The company clarified that these impairment losses and the tax provision reversal are non-cash items, meaning they do not directly affect cash flow or daily business operations. However, they significantly impact the groups financial statements for the reporting period. Despite these challenges, Macau Legend noted a 4.3% increase in revenue for FY24. Official financial results are expected to be released by the end of this month. Outside of Macau, the company faced additional setbacks. Its concession to develop a casino resort in Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, was canceled by the local government. In November last year, the Cape Verde government announced the termination of its contracts with Macau Legend Development, citing repeated breaches of obligations tied to a USD264.7 million tourism and gaming project in Praia. The ambitious project was first introduced in 2015, aiming to boost tourism and economic growth in the region. However, progress stalled after initial construction began in 2016. The lack of development led the Cape Verde government to accuse the local firm of not following the legal and contractual terms, resulting in a setback for Macau Legend, which has been facing financial and operational challenges. The company also disclosed in August that it is grappling with material uncertainties regarding its ability to continue as a going concern. Officials in the South Korean city of Andong yesterday advised residents to evacuate to safe areas as firefighters struggled to contain wildfires that have ravaged southern regions since last week, forcing thousands to flee and destroying dozens of structures, including a 1,300-year-old Buddhist temple. Thousands of firefighters in South Korea were battling at least nine wildfires across the country as of yesterday afternoon, after the blazes fueled by dry winds burned more than 36,300 acres of land in the past five days. Officials in Andong, a city in the countrys southeast, and the nearby town of Uiseong ordered residents in several villages to evacuate to temporary shelters, including an elementary school and indoor gymnasium, as a blaze that began in Uiseong continued to spread from strong winds. The blaze in Uiseong destroyed Gounsa, a Buddhist temple built in the 7th century, according to officials from the Korea Heritage Service. There were no immediate reports of injuries, and some of the temples national treasures, including a stone Buddha statue, were evacuated before the fire reached the wooden buildings. The Korea Forest Service raised its wildfire warning to the highest serious level nationwide, requiring local governments to allocate a larger workforce for emergency response, tighten entry restrictions for forests and parks, and recommend that military units withhold live-fire exercises. South Korean officials said earlier yesterday that firefighters had extinguished most of the flames from the largest wildfires in the countrys southern regions, including Uiseong, the neighboring town of Sancheong, and Ulsan city. However, the ongoing dry and windy weather now appears to be causing setbacks. Four firefighters and government workers were killed in Sancheong on Saturday after being trapped by fast-moving flames driven by strong winds. At least 11 other people have been injured by wildfires around the country since last Friday that forced more than 5,400 to evacuate from their homes and damaged or destroyed more than 150 buildings, according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. The national government designated the hardest-hit southeastern regions as disaster zones to focus resources and accelerate recovery efforts. MDT/AP Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai will lead a government delegation to Hainan Province to participate in the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025. Scheduled from March 25 to March 28, the forums theme this year is Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future and aims to foster international cooperation and drive sustainable development. Sam will attend the opening plenary tomorrow. The forums discussions are categorized into four main topics: building trust and cooperation in a fast-changing world, rebalancing globalization for inclusive development, accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for effective responses to global challenges, and strengthening artificial intelligence for innovation-driven growth. Accompanying Sam in the delegation are the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Tai Kin Ip, and the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executives Office, Chan Kak. The Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the Macau Special Administrative Region, Liu Xianfa, will also participate as an advisor. During Sams absence, Secretary for Administration and Justice, Andre Cheong will serve as the Acting Chief Executive. Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the conference, Zafar Uddin Mahmood, policy advisor to the Boao Forums Secretary General, praised Chinas consistent commitment to expanding its opening-up policies and maintaining stable economic growth, as cited in a Global Times report. He noted that Chinas technological innovation particularly in hubs like the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area continues to drive significant advancements in the global tech landscape. Mahmood highlighted four key policy directions outlined by China: expanding its opening-up policy, stimulating domestic demand, attracting foreign investment, and scaling up outbound investments. He expressed confidence that these strategies would strengthen Chinas role as a major driver of global economic growth. The Boao Forum for Asia serve as a platform for dialogue, fostering collaboration and exploring innovative solutions to global challenges, with Chinas economic stability and technological prowess at its core. The child and adolescent psychiatry department at Conde de Sao Januario Hospital treated over 5,000 young patients in the past year, according to data from the Health Bureau (SSM). This statistic highlights the increasing demand for mental health services, especially as more young people in the region face mental health challenges. Dr. Tai Wa Hou, a medical doctor at the public hospital, addressed the growing pressures faced by youth in todays changing world during an event earlier this week. He emphasized that the hospital offers specialized outpatient psychiatric services for children and adolescents. Additionally, psychotherapists are stationed at nine health centers across the region, and a dedicated community psychiatric services team is available to monitor high-risk patients. Despite these efforts, Dr. Tai stressed that the causes of psychological and psychiatric disorders among young people are diverse. As a result, the responsibility for prevention and support should not rest solely with healthcare professionals. He called for a collective approach, with families, schools, and the broader community joining forces to safeguard the mental health of youth. This includes timely referrals to medical services and sharing relevant information with healthcare providers. Jiang Wen, head of the National Mental Health Prevention and Control Center, also spoke at the event, emphasizing the countrys strong commitment to addressing youth mental health issues. He noted that these challenges are often influenced by family dynamics, social conditions, and environmental factors. Jiang advocated for a collaborative model of prevention and intervention that brings together schools, communities, families, the media, and medical institutions. In line with this approach, the SSM outlined several key government initiatives aimed at promoting both physical and mental well-being. These initiatives include the Healthy City program, along with the Healthy Enterprises and Healthy Schools campaigns. The SSM have also partnered with the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) and the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) to form the Working Group for Monitoring the Physical and Mental Health of Youth. This group has already conducted 85 joint actions focused on promoting awareness, prevention, and control of mental health issues among local students. The SSM reassured the public that they would continue to support non-profit organizations that provide psychological counseling services. They also committed to offering clinical supervision and training for local psychotherapists to improve the professional quality of these services and increase accessibility within the community. Staff Reporter A suspected stabbing incident occurred yesterday at a telecommunications store on Rua do Campo, leaving two local men injured. According to a report from the Judiciary Police (PJ), at around 4 p.m., the suspect was loitering outside China Telecom. At approximately 5 p.m., he suddenly rushed into the store and attacked two male employees with a fruit knife. A 26-year-old man was slashed on his neck, causing a decrease in his level of consciousness. He was rushed to Conde S. Januario Hospital for emergency treatment. The second victim, a 29-year-old man, sustained a cut on his upper left arm but remained conscious and stable. He was sent to Kiang Wu Hospital for further treatment. The initial investigation by the PJ suggests the suspect may have mental health issues. The telecommunications store has since suspended business. Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident. The suspect, a resident of Macau, has been apprehended and referred to the PJs Criminal Investigation Division for further follow-up. LV The European Union today (Wednesday) urged citizens across the continent to stockpile food, water and other essentials to last at least 72 hours as war, cyberattacks, climate change and disease increase the chances of a crisis. The call to action for the EUs 450 million citizens comes as the 27-nation bloc rethinks its security, especially after the Trump administration warned that Europe must take more responsibility for it. In recent years, the EU has weathered COVID-19 and the threat from Russia, including its attempts to exploit Europes dependence on its natural gas to weaken support for Ukraine. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has warned that Russia could be capable of launching another attack in Europe by 2030. Todays threats facing Europe are more complex than ever, and they are all interconnected, said Preparedness and Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib as she unveiled a new strategy for dealing with future disasters. While the commission is keen not to be seen as alarmist, Lahbib said its important to make sure people have essential supplies for at least 72 hours in a crisis. She listed food, water, flashlights, ID papers, medicine and shortwave radios as things to stock. Lahbib said the EU should build up a strategic reserve and stockpile other critical resources including firefighting planes; medical, energy and transport equipment; and specialized assets against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats, The EUs plans are similar to those in France, Finland and Sweden. Last year, Sweden updated its Cold War-era civil emergency advice to better reflect todays security policy reality such as what to do in case of nuclear attack. Not all EU countries have the same level of crisis preparedness, and the commission also wants to encourage them to coordinate better in case of emergency. We can no longer rely on ad hoc reactions, Lahbib said. MDT/AP Related 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 know 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. Linggong Kong , Auburn University, MDT/THE CONVERSATION Joe Fox and his family are opening a version of their 3-year-old Monticello restaurant, Pink Heifer Saloon & Smokehouse, in Downtown Madison, with a goal of having 25 locations in the next five years. The new restaurants will be named Pink Heifer BBQ Saloon. The first one is going up at 569 State St. next to Mooyah Burgers, Fries & Shakes with a target opening date of July 21, Fox said. Six months later, Fox hopes to have two more Madison-area locations identified and have leases signed. Yeah, weve got a very aggressive plan, he said. The Madison restaurant is in the same development as Raising Canes and Colectivo and will be fast casual with counter service. It will serve Texas-style brisket, chicken, pork, Pink Heifers elaborate Southwest salad, mac n cheese with and without meat, and vegetarian options. The menu wont have the full-service Monticello restaurants ribs, burgers and prime rib. Its going to feel a bit like youre at the Pink Heifer Saloon, which Fox and his wife, Lauren Fox, opened in January of 2022 after buying a 28-acre farm near Monticello. They moved to the area from Southern California in May 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fox, 58, said theyd been waiting for the right location to open the first of the more casual restaurants. Hes also interested in Middleton and Verona, where his son, Jorden, 38, his wife and three children, moved seven months ago. Jorden will be running the State Street restaurant and managing the entire expansion. The couples other son, Levi, 33, handles the restaurants social media. Levi is also president of the Pink Heifer BBQ Group and was the first to sign off on State Street. Fox said hes doing some of the legwork. We see a really interesting opportunity in quality barbecue with a limited menu, but not a single-item menu which works great for Raising Canes, its fantastic, or Mooyah, fantastic but for barbecue, you got to do a little more than that. For the original Pink Heifer Saloon & Smokehouse, Fox gutted what had been Monticello House restaurant and renovated it. With its banquet hall, its about 9,000 square feet, while the State Street restaurant will be 2,200. Fox said the brisket is smoked for 12 to 14 hours and the meat is USDA prime. I say quality in, quality out, and so all of the things that we will be doing (on State Street) will be the same high quality, which I think is going to blow people away. We really care about the barbecue. He bought an Ole Hickory Pits hardwood smoker made in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Its one of the largest models the company makes, weighs about 2,500 pounds empty, and can smoke 700 pounds at a time. Fox needed to take down a wall and use a forklift to get the smoker into the kitchen, and concrete had to be poured between the floor joists because of its massive weight. When the State Street restaurant opens, at first all the smoking will be done in Monticello and brought to Madison daily, Joe Fox said. The next Pink Heifer in the Madison area will have a commissary kitchen, not only to supply the State Street restaurant, but also the next two in the Madison area, and catering orders, Jorden said. Jorden Fox was general manager of Pink Heifer Saloon & Smokehouse and is now CEO of Pink Heifer BBQ Group. He manages real estate his family has in California, Chicago and now Wisconsin, and said it makes good business sense to expand beyond small-town Monticello. The word chain can come off as pejorative and corporate, he said. Our biggest thing is quality. And if we can bring the same quality of barbecue and consistency to a place like Madison with lots more people, I think not only will they enjoy it, but I think well find a lot of success there. Levi, meanwhile, is using his real estate experience to locate Pink Heifer BBQ Saloon's next cluster of restaurants in the Orland Park, Illinois, area, near where he lives with his wife and child. Making the rounds The family also has a 24-foot Pink Heifer Saloon & Smokehouse custom food trailer that it brings to fairs and festivals. It was built for them in Texas and they picked it up in the summer of 2023. Theyre about to take it out of winter storage to vend at the Midwest Horse Fair from April 11-13 at the Alliant Energy Center. During the past two summers, theyve taken the trailer to several 300-person barn weddings, company parties, the Waukesha County Fair, Monroe Cheese Days and many other events in Wisconsin and Illinois. Theyve also done the Dane County Fair and Madison Night Markets. They participated in the Taste of Madison with a tent, which Fox said went great last year. We knew that we (had) to be in Madison, and so we decided that Madison would be our first of these BBQ saloons, Joe Fox said. The Monticello restaurant has live music on Friday nights and the State Street spot will have a small stage and an opportunity for college students and others to play for the crowd, whether its guitar or keyboard, and Fox said those who do well on the Pink Heifers social media and YouTube page can get a gig at the Monticello restaurant. Fox said his wife isnt involved in the business, but his close friend Jon Rosenberg is an active partner. Rosenberg had been barbecuing for 22 years, but not professionally until the Pink Heifer opened. The two friends have been working together on and off for 30 years, mostly in real estate and financial services. This is their first time working in the food industry, Fox said. Employees do most of the cooking, while Fox and Rosenberg work on product development. They plan to wholesale their popular wagon rolls, which are eggrolls stuffed with brisket and cheddar cheese and served with homemade Carolina gold barbecue sauce. How did the Pink Heifer get its name? Its an homage to his in-laws, whom he was close to. His wifes maiden name is Pinkham. When they bought the Monticello House in June 2021, he thought Pink Ham, Pink Cow, Pink Pig, and then just Pink Heifer came about. And because the building was originally built in the 1860s and then rebuilt in 1895, it made us think about an old-school saloon. Editor's note: This story has been updated to note that Levi Fox is also president of the Pink Heifer BBQ Group. A previous version also misstated the frequency with which smoked meats will be brought from Monticello to the State Street restaurant in Madison. Those deliveries will happen daily, Joe Fox said. Students learn Chinese language at the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, March 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] Cambodian civil servant Long Meikim was all ears and took good notes when a Chinese teacher taught Chinese on Monday at the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia. The 24-year-old employee at a state ministry in Phnom Penh said she was eager to master Chinese proficiency, as it would be helpful in her job and make it easy for her to communicate with Chinese people. Meikim is among hundreds of Cambodian students taking Chinese classes at the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia. After learning Chinese for four months, she can now communicate in simple situations and understand some basic vocabulary and grammar. "The Chinese language has helped me a lot in my current job. Moreover, nowadays, many Chinese people have come to Cambodia," she told Xinhua. Meikim said she really likes the Chinese language and culture, saying that learning Chinese would give her the possibility to gain insights into ancient and diverse cultures. "For China, I have never been there, but I'm impressed with its modern cities with skyscrapers and beautiful scenery," she said. "The field that impressed me the most is technology. Technology in China is advanced." Sharing her view on the current Cambodia-China ties, Meikim said cooperation in various sectors and cultural exchange has made the two countries' relations get closer, as their "ironclad" friendship has been further strengthened. "I'm pleased to see excellent relations between Cambodia and China," she said. "I hope China will increase its investment in Cambodia in order to help further boost Cambodia's economic growth, and Chinese education will be further expanded." Meikim said she has dreamed of studying in China since she was in high school, and she hopes that her dream will come true one day. Rorn Chanara, a 20-year-old learner of Chinese literature at the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said the influx of Chinese investors, businesspeople, and tourists had motivated him to study Chinese. "I think the Chinese language is good and will be useful for me in the future, helping me communicate well with Chinese people and get a proper job with a high income," he told Xinhua. As there are many reputable Chinese enterprises operating in the Southeast Asian country, Chanara hopes that he will become an interpreter for those companies in the future when he masters Chinese proficiency. "The Confucius Institute has greatly contributed to promoting good relations between Cambodian and Chinese people and providing Chinese education to students, allowing them to learn both Chinese literature and culture," he said. Chanara praises China for its advanced technology, high development and good education system, saying he is also keen to study in China if possible. Niu Li, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said jointly founded by Jiujiang University in East China's Jiangxi Province and the Royal Academy of Cambodia on Dec. 22, 2009, the institute has gradually developed into one of the largest and most influential Chinese education and cultural exchange institutions in Cambodia. "As the first Confucius Institute in Cambodia, the institute has always committed to promoting Chinese teaching, spreading Chinese culture and promoting cultural exchanges between China and Cambodia," he told Xinhua. In the process of development in more than 10 years, it has continuously improved its teaching network, Niu said, adding that it has now covered several provinces and cities in Cambodia, with Confucius classrooms, Chinese language centers and university Chinese departments in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville among others. "Our goal is to provide high-quality Chinese education to government officials, military personnel and learners from all walks of life," he said. "The total number of registered students exceeds 130,000, and the number of people studying Chinese at the institute each year exceeds 8,000." Wisconsins Ice Age Trail is feeling the heat from federal funding changes, as the National Park Service office and the partnering nonprofit that supports the trail are caught up in the spending cuts the Trump administration is unleashing across the federal government. The trails park service office has had its staff cut from seven to four due to the firings, hiring freezes and buyouts currently rocking the federal workforce. At the Ice Age Trail Alliance, staff remain locked out of obtaining about $600,000 in federal funding that had been promised to the group through its two main federal funding sources the park service and the National Park Foundation, a separate fundraising arm for the countrys parks thats mandated by Congress. The park service office did not return a request for comment. The Alliance, which is based in Cross Plains, relies on a network of staff and volunteers to back up the federal governments work on developing and supporting Wisconsins flagship hiking trail. But the funding freezes and uncertainty have put in limbo four of the Alliances eight upcoming trail construction projects planned for communities stretching from Manitowoc County on Lake Michigan to Polk County on the Mississippi River. Alliance Executive Director Luke Kloberdanz said that the trail is part of the common good for all of Wisconsin and that the lost projects will disproportionately hit small and rural communities in the state. We are a nonpartisan group. We have enjoyed support from both sides of the aisle and we work with all of our elected officials regardless of party to share what the trail brings to these communities, Kloberdanz said. Were proud of our ability to get things done. This is an unexpected twist in our workflow but were dealing with it. The withheld grant funding, which is made up of reimbursable trail construction costs and outreach programs, already has been pledged to the Alliance, too. But according to federal portals, those dollars are now listed as being under review. The administration hasnt provided a clear mechanism to access funds that were promised us that dont require review, said Bix Firer, the Alliances philanthropy director. Its next level obfuscation. Connections delayed Long a gem of Wisconsins recreation culture, the trail is a nearly 1,200-mile path snaking through some of the most scenic areas of Wisconsin, from Sturgeon Bay and the shores of Lake Michigan through Devils Lake State Park and the lakes of the North Woods. In 2023, the park service officially named it part of the National Park System. Currently, only about 500 miles of the trail are fully connected, and boosting that connectivity has been a key goal of the Alliance through its trail construction work. In the last two years, the Alliance has connected 25 miles of the trail across multiple projects completed mostly by volunteers. Those volunteer efforts can be a huge economic boost for small towns along the trail. Last year, Alliance staff estimated that its volunteer work injected about $3.4 million into local economies. If the federal funding isnt restored, it would effectively pull out about $200,000 in investment for Wisconsin communities. Because of the inability of the Alliance to access its grants from the federal government, it anticipates four projects being delayed in the upcoming construction season. Those projects are located at Tisch Mills in Manitowoc County, Straight River in Polk County, Cedar Lakes in Washington County and one of the two upcoming projects slated for Blue Hills in Rusk County. Beyond trail construction, the Alliances programming also has been jeopardized by cutbacks in the federal government. Through the National Park Foundation, the nonprofit was set to receive a grant to create a podcast with the Ho-Chunk about the geological history of the trail. A separate grant funds an annual effort to bring out 10,000 elementary students from around the state to the trail and hand out to them free national park passes. But under the Trump administrations crusade to root out diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and programs, those grant funds for the Alliance were frozen at the end of February. The Alliance has since submitted amended grant agreements that remove language that could be interpreted as supporting DEI. Its a program were really, really proud of thats making a positive impact that were worried is not going to get funded because were talking about serving underrepresented populations, Kloberdanz said of the program for elementary students. President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. expressed optimism about strengthening diplomatic ties with Colombia, Cambodia, and Ukraine, emphasizing goals of lasting peace and prosperity. President Marcos welcomed the countries new resident ambassadors to the Philippines in separate ceremonies at Malacanang Palace on Tuesday, where he received the credentials of Colombian Ambassador Edgar Rodrigo Rojas Garavito, Cambodian Ambassador Sin Saream, and Ukrainian Ambassador Yuliia Oleksandrivna Fediv. - Advertisement - I believe theres more that we can do, that we can explore many other sectors, and strengthen and deepen the relations between our two countries, Mr. Marcos told Rojas Garavito. The Colombian ambassador echoed the sentiment, citing his countrys shared aspirations with the Philippines for lasting peace and development. Formal diplomatic relations between the two nations were established in 1946, with about 100 Filipinos currently residing in Colombia. During his meeting with Saream, President Marcos highlighted the solid foundation of Philippines-Cambodia relations, which began in 1957. The Cambodian envoy expressed commitment to further enhance cooperation for the mutual benefit of both countries. Roughly 7,500 Filipinos live in Cambodia as of June 2024. Fediv, Ukraines ambassador, emphasized her readiness to advance bilateral ties and work on collective efforts promoting peace and prosperity. President Marcos reiterated the Philippines support for Ukraines pursuit of peace amid ongoing conflict. We will always support you in your efforts for peace, the president said. We are happy to welcome you here and discuss what we in the Philippines might be able to do to contribute to your quest for peace, he added. Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Ukraine were established in 1992. About 24 Filipinos are currently residing in Ukraine. For those who have invested in upskilling themselves through Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification, their dream of being able to travel the world while earning an income has become a reality. Thanks to the rise of remote work, TEFL teachers now have access to a wider range of career opportunities that allow them to travel for long periods and enjoy whats referred to as the digital nomad lifestyle, or one that allows a professional to work flexibly even if theyre not based in their home country. However, some destinations suit travelling TEFL professionals better than others. Its important for anyone who wants to try this arrangement out to remember that the cost of living, internet reliability, and visa regulations of some countries can make it challenging to sustain a stable and comfortable lifestyle while working abroad. - Advertisement - Fortunately, there are several destinations in the world that offer the perfect environment to support both work and travel for TEFL professionals. If you have a TEFL certification and want to explore the world while building a meaningful career, here are some of the best countries where you can teach, travel, and thrive as a digital nomad: 1) Spain Spain is a top choice for TEFL professionals due to its well-established job market and steady demand for English teachers. Many schools, academies, and private students seek native English speakers, particularly in cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville. Spain hosts programs like the North American Language and Culture Assistants Program (NALCAP), which is a government-sponsored initiative that provides an accessible pathway for those looking to teach in public schools. Freelance teaching is also quite common, with many TEFL professionals earning a good income through private lessons. For digital nomads, Spain can offer a strong infrastructure with reliable internet, affordable co-living spaces, and a flourishing expat community. It also offers a favourable climate, a relatively low cost of living compared to other Western European countries, and an abundance of networking opportunities for remote workers. If you plan to work as a freelancer, look into Spains autonomo (self-employment) visa early. This way, you can work legally while enjoying the flexibility of teaching online or offering private lessons. 2) Portugal Portugal has grown into a hotspot for TEFL teachers and remote workers. The countrys affordable living costs, high quality of life, and growing emphasis on English education make it an attractive destination for educators. Lisbon and Porto offer the most opportunities for English teachers, with numerous language schools catering to both young learners and professionals. Business English is particularly in demand, as many Portuguese professionals seek to improve their language skills for work. Online teaching is also a viable option for travellers and digital nomads, as Portugals solid internet infrastructure supports remote work. Unlike some European countries, Portugal provides a clear legal pathway for digital nomads and freelance TEFL teachers through the D7 visa. This is a residency visa designed for individuals with passive or freelance income, which allows non-EU citizens to reside in the country for one year, so long as they have proof of sustainable income. It would be a more stable option if you want to stay long-term. 3) Georgia Georgia stands out as one of the most accessible destinations for TEFL teachers and digital nomads due to its one-year visa-free policy for many nationalities. This allows English teachers to live and work in the country without the immediate hassle of obtaining a work visa. The Teach and Learn with Georgia (TLG) program also offers a structured pathway for those looking to teach in the public school system, and it also includes a salary, housing, and other benefits. Meanwhile, private tutoring and online teaching serve as additional income streams for digital nomads based in Georgia. Whats more, Tbilisithe countrys capitalhas a growing demand for English instruction, with positions available in both public schools and private academies. As such, you have a good chance of securing a remote work teaching position, whether through a formal program or private tutoring. 4) Mexico Mexico is an excellent destination for TEFL teachers due to its high demand for English instruction. Many private language schools, universities, and businesses seek English teachers, particularly in major cities like Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey, which means there are plenty of opportunities to secure stable teaching positions with competitive salaries. Theres also a strong market for private tutoring, which allows TEFL professionals to supplement their income through one-on-one or small group lessons. The countrys Temporary Resident Visa is a legal pathway for those who plan to stay for more than six months and can demonstrate a stable income. Many digital nomads and TEFL teachers also take advantage of Mexicos six-month tourist visa, which allows them to live and work remotely before deciding on a longer-term option. Furthermore, Mexico is a place where travellers and digital nomads can expect reliable internet, an abundance of coworking spaces, and a welcoming community. Here, you may be able to establish yourself professionally while enjoying a dynamic lifestyle. 5) Colombia Colombia has emerged as a top TEFL destination in Latin America, thanks to its government-backed initiatives to improve English proficiency. The Colombian governments English Teaching Fellowship Program (ETF), for instance, provides structured teaching placements with benefits such as stipend assistance with legal paperwork. Apart from this, Colombia also has a growing demand for language teachers. In cities like Bogota, Medellin, and Cali, numerous language schools, universities, and corporate training programs seek native English speakers who can provide high-quality instruction to students of all ages and professional backgrounds. Whats more, Colombia offers a low cost of living, a wealth of modern coworking spaces, and a rapidly expanding tech scene, making it an attractive option for TEFL professionals looking to build a fulfilling digital nomad career. As stated above, finding the right TEFL destination as a digital nomad means choosing a place that aligns with both your career goals and lifestyle preferences. To do this, you must consider the legal requirements, cost of living, and professional opportunities that will shape your experience. With the right preparations, you may be able to live out a fulfilling and sustainable life teaching English while exploring the world on your own terms. On the weekend of 14-16 March, more than 260 delegates and guests gathered in Vienna for the first congress of the Revolutionaren Kommunistischen Partei (RKP), the Austrian section of the Revolutionary Communist International. Branches of the RKP in the regions of Vienna, Lower Austria, Styria, Carinthia, Upper Austria, Tyrol and Vorarlberg had prepared for the event with intensive discussions. Guests travelled not only from all over Austria, but also from Switzerland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, former Yugoslavia, Sweden and Britain. The whole weekend was imbued with the spirit of internationalism: the debate on Friday began with a presentation on our perspectives for world revolution by Niklas Albin Svensson from the International Secretariat of the RCI. The presentation and discussion highlighted not only the massive upheavals in international relations, with wars and trade wars, but also the germ of a solution the epochal mass movements in Greece and Serbia show that the working class will not stand idly by and watch as living standards are destroyed. The discussion on the world situation provided a solid basis for discussing our perspectives for the Austrian revolution on Saturday. This topic was introduced by Emanuel Tomaselli, editor-in-chief of Der Funke, the paper of the RKP. He explained just how dire the situation is for Austrian capitalism. The dependence of this small export-oriented economy on world trade is becoming a millstone amid the epochal change from globalisation to trade wars and protectionism. The working class is supposed to pay the price. The reformists in the labour movement are either helping with this directly (like the Social Democratic Party of Austria), or are acting as a side dish to the left-wing liberals and are offering no alternative to austerity or racism (like the Communist Party of Austria). In the discussion, this analysis was deepened and illustrated, and the worsening conditions in factories, schools and universities were highlighted. The conclusion is clear: the working class needs a party that really wants to overthrow capitalism and we are building it: the RKP. Since the party was founded in autumn, we have been energetically doing this. In spring, the RKP is focussing its efforts on recruiting communists on university campuses. This was also the focus of the congress on Sunday: after Florian Keller introduced the debate on party building, delegates from all across the country reported on their experiences and successes in party building. The party congress was rounded off with an international report assessing the work of the RCI, a discussion on the finances of the revolutionary party (introduced by Martin Halder), as well as voting on the documents prepared for the congress which detail our perspectives for revolution in Austria, our strategy for building the RKP and a resolution on our work in spring and the election of the party's Central Committee. On Saturday evening, there was also a workshop on Marxist philosophy and language presented by Yola Kipcak. The entire congress was characterised by enthusiasm for the goal of achieving socialism in our lifetime, which is fed by a deep understanding of the ideas of Marxism, our perspectives and our tasks. This was evident, among other things, from the fact that participants continued to discuss and exchange experiences late into the evening but also from the fact that over 6,000 of communist literature and merchandise was sold. The first congress of the RKP was a great success and an important step forward in preparing the Austrian working class for the great events to come! For Sweden, both world wars followed the same pattern: first they supported Germany, then they turned tail and supported the other side when the tide of war turned. Contrary to the lie of a neutral and compassionate Sweden, the only thing that mattered to the war hawks was how much money they could make from the slaughter and destruction. But there were also those who fought back: the left and the Communists. At the beginning of the 20th century, Sweden had the highest military expenditure in the world, relatively speaking, even though it had not been at war since the campaign against Norway a century earlier. By 1905, the labour movement had prevented a new war against Norway through demonstrations, mass meetings and campaigns led by the Social Democratic Youth League. 100 million kroner, equivalent to about 5.5 billion kroner today, was spent on the military every year. The ruling class constantly wanted to invest more in armaments, not only for strictly military reasons, but also because of its usefulness in suppressing striking workers. The archenemy of the Swedish bourgeoisie and nobility was Russia, with whom they had fought for centuries for dominance over the Baltic Sea region. By the beginning of the 20th century, therefore, Russophobia was already old, and so was support for Germany. For example, in 1910, the Lindman government (led by what would become today's Moderate Party) initiated secret negotiations with the German government regarding a Swedish-German military treaty against Russia. The explorer, writer and national icon Sven Hedin, with the help of many Swedish capitalists, published the pamphlet A Word of Warning free to almost every household in Sweden. It portrayed Sweden as the outpost of culture against the barbarism of the East and asked the reader to imagine Stockholm after the battle. He describes schools converted into barracks, foreign cavalrymen in grey tunics at Gustav Adolfs torg (a public square), an artillery park in Kungstradgarden, and Russian horses drinking at Molin's fountain. Later in life, Sven Hedin would become a proud Nazi and a close friend of Adolf Hitler. German activism With the world war just around the corner, a movement called activism developed. They wanted an active foreign policy, which meant military support for Germany. The activists' idea and goal was to defeat Russia so that Sweden could take over the Aland Islands, and Finland would become independent from Russia and come under Swedish domination. It would be the same kind of false independence that we often see under imperialism, which would allow the whole of the Nordic region to be dominated by Sweden with the help of Germany. Finland would be a future buffer zone against the Russian enemy. Most of the Swedish bourgeoisie was inclined to support Germany because of the many economic and trade links they shared. Added to this were the many cultural links that existed between the Swedish and German ruling classes. Europe's monarchies were a prime example of royal inbreeding, and there were many links between the Swedish and German monarchs in particular. German was a second language in Sweden among the bourgeoisie, and correspondence and political decisions were often made through personal arrangements between friends or relatives. On 6 February 1914, a few months before the outbreak of World War I, King Gustav V and the right mobilised for a patriotic demonstration in favour of militarism / Image: Revolutionara Kommunistiska Partiet Gustav V (King of Sweden from 1907-1950, and the current king's great-grandfather) and his German-born wife, Queen Victoria, cousin of the German Kaiser Wilhelm, were some of the most rabid advocates of war on Germany's side. Peasant and labour marches On 6 February 1914, a few months before the outbreak of World War I, King Gustav V and the right mobilised for a patriotic demonstration in favour of militarism. 30,000 peasants went to Stockholm some tempted by money, others mobilised by wealthy big farmers to listen to a speech that came from the lips of the king, but which was written by the arch-activist Sven Hedin. In the speech, he argued, among other things, that conscription must be extended to prepare for war. The liberal Staaff government had not supported the speech, and resigned in protest against the king's intervention. In its place, Sweden got an unelected right-wing government led by the nobleman Hjalmar Hammarskjold. The whole thing threatened to lead to a monarchist coup d'etat. In reality, German activism did not have broad support among the common people, and not even the majority of the bourgeoisie took an open position in favour of a military alliance with Germany. In protest against the peasant march, the left of the labour movement organised protests around the country, including the largest demonstration in Swedish history thus far. On 8 February, 50,000 workers marched through Stockholm in a show of strength that clearly stated: We refuse to go to war, and if the bourgeoisie forces us, they have the entire working class against them. On 8 February, 50,000 workers marched through Stockholm in a show of strength that clearly stated: We refuse to go to war, and if the bourgeoisie forces us, they have the entire working class against them / Image: Revolutionara Kommunistiska Partiet The right-wing social democrats led by Hjalmar Branting had opposed the demonstration, in line with their general support for Swedish militarism. They also had strong ties to the German Social Democratic Party leadership. But they naturally opposed the king's attempted coup d'etat, and when it became clear how large the workers demonstration would be, they were forced to lead it anyway. The Arbetartaget (Workers' March) became one of the most important reasons why Sweden did not enter the First World War. The war begins On 28 June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand was shot in Sarajevo. World war was imminent. On 25 July, the German envoy to Stockholm, Franz von Reichenau, reported to the German government that King Gustav V had said that Sweden would side with Germany in a major war. The following day, the King expressed himself more uncertainly but still in Germany's favour when he said: We will not side with Germany's enemies. On 29 July, Foreign Minister Wallenberg expressed a similar half-friendly attitude towards Germany, stating that Sweden's neutrality would only last as long as Britain stayed out of the war. On 31 July, the Hammarskjold government officially declared neutrality in the war between Austria-Hungary and Serbia. The following day, Germany declared war on Russia, activating the Russian alliance with Britain and France. The world war had begun. The Social Democratic (or Second) International had been formed a couple of decades earlier, as the organ of the international working class's common struggle for socialist revolution. Many resolutions had been taken to turn the guns on the generals rather than send workers to shoot at each other. But under the pressure of the long capitalist boom at the turn of the century, the leadership had increasingly moved closer to the bourgeoisie of their respective countries. The outbreak of the First World War brutally exposed this reformist and nationalist degeneration of the International. Of all the social democratic parties in Europe that had organised themselves within the Second International, only the Serbian and Russian parties opposed the war and their own ruling class. All the others betrayed internationalism. The leader of the Swedish Social Democrats, Hjalmar Branting, showed his opportunism the very day the world war broke out. Faced with the pressure of war, the internal struggle of each people, however sharp they may become, must be put to the side, he argued. With their assistance, the bourgeoisie could count on the full confidence of a united people. This was a class peace a promise of the Social Democrats, or at least the right wing of the party, to bury the hatchet with the bourgeoisie during the war, and co-operatively implement a right-wing policy. Benevolent neutrality Sweden's official stance is usually characterised as benevolent neutrality towards Germany. Knut Gillis Bildt, a general in the Swedish military, is said to have explained to soldiers that Sweden could also help Germany by being neutral in the First World War. We must stay out of it. Germany has more use for us if we are neutral. If we join now, we will soon be exhausted. In the meantime we shall build up our army so that when the end approaches we shall be strong and able to assert ourselves in Sweden's own interests. (Threats to Sweden during the First World War, Militarhistorisk tidskrift, p. 59) This is precisely the attitude that Sweden adopted in practice. At the beginning of the war, large parts of the ruling class believed that Germany would win, and their neutrality was practically non-existent. While it was building up its army, through high levels of military spending each year, it was an active military and diplomatic ally of Germany, even if it was a non-combatant in the World War itself. There are many examples of this. In September 1917, it emerged that both the Swedish legation in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the Swedish Foreign Ministry had helped the German envoy in Argentina to send telegrams to Berlin urging them to sink Argentine ships without a trace. They also handed over Russian telegrams that passed through Nordic wires to Germany. Furthermore, the King and the government tried to prevent Italy from joining the war on the side of Germany's enemies. During the summer of 1916, Sweden laid mines along the entire length of the Kogrundsrannan (a body of water between Denmark and Sweden), stopping all merchant ships except Swedish ones. The mines were laid following a deal with Germany, and complemented their own mining of the sea. Germany was therefore able to block the last route for Entente (Britain, France, Russia) trade into the Baltic Sea. Making a fortune from the war Swedish exports rose by as much as 32 percent from 1915 to 1916, most of which went to Germany. Export prices in 1916 were 50 percent higher than before the war. Profits for industry quadrupled during the first two years of the war and increased tenfold for shipping companies. Luxury consumption increased and the bourgeoisie rewarded itself with fancier furs and more expensive furniture. Food queues in Stockholm in 1917. For workers and farmers, the war and the peace treaty meant increased exploitation and poverty / Image: Revolutionara Kommunistiska Partiet But for workers and peasants, the war and the class truce meant increased exploitation and poverty. They had to stop eating meat early in the war and survived mainly on potatoes. Food was exported abroad, mainly to Germany, and ran out in Sweden. The situation became desperate and Prime Minister Hammarskjold was nicknamed Hungerskjold. Knut Backstrom writes in Arbetarrorelsen i Sverige: For Swedish big business these were golden times, while the workers allowed themselves to be discouraged from fighting for their own interests and fell into dire poverty Before the war, Sweden had had virtually full employment. One month after the outbreak of war, between 35,000 and 40,000 people were unemployed. In 1916, the cost of living rose by between 20 and 25 percent. The left takes up the fight against the war Sweden had some of Europe's toughest laws against anti-militarism, the so-called Staaff laws. An article, a leaflet, a speech at an anti-war meeting or even at a funeral was enough to land you in prison for months or even years. Of course, this did not affect the right-wing of the labour movement, which collaborated with the bourgeoisie. The revolutionary left, on the other hand, was hit even more severely. The Social Democratic Youth League and a left-wing opposition within the Social Democratic Party organised resistance to war and rearmament. The Swedish left participated in the Zimmerwald Conference, the meeting that convened the parts of European social democracy that did not support their own imperialists in the war. In line with Zimmerwald, they organised the Workers Peace Conference in Sweden against the will of the party leadership. For them, this was a crime not only against the war policy and rearmament, but against the class peace as a whole. Peace at any price was their slogan. For the Workers Peace Conference, left-wing leader Zeth Hoglund was sentenced to three years' hard labour for conspiracy to commit treason. This was later reduced to one year's imprisonment, but it meant that during the first year of the war he was unable to take up his elected seat in the Riksdag. Branting and the right, for their part, distanced themselves from the left's support for Zimmerwald and condemned the Russian Bolsheviks. He labelled the left's attempts to break the truce and resume the class struggle against the war as revolutionary romanticism. At the congress in February 1917, they issued an impossible ultimatum to the Youth League, thus organising its expulsion. Modern social democracy, purged of revolutionaries and in alliance with the bourgeoisie, was born. The October Revolution, Finland and Germany The October Revolution put an end to Russian involvement in the war. The Bolsheviks also granted independence to Finland and inspired the Finnish Revolution of 1918. Class struggle in Finland developed into a full-scale civil war between the Whites the armies of the upper classes and the Reds the Communists. Within Sweden, the activists incited war on the side of the Whites, whereas the Reds were supported by the working class with massive demonstrations demanding that Sweden remain neutral. This stopped the ruling class and the government from officially intervening, just as the 1914 labour march had done. But unofficially, they gave direct support to the Whites. Red Guard in Tampere in 1918. The class struggles in Finland developed into a full-scale civil war between the Whites the armies of the upper class and the Reds the Communists / Photo: public domain Thanks to the left in Parliament, arms exports to the Whites were stopped, but officers who wanted to fight in Finland were allowed leave. Germany actively supported the Whites with troops, which were allowed to sail through Swedish waters with Swedish escorts. The Social Democratic Minister of Naval Defence, Erik Palmstierna, made naval vessels available for military transport. He was also the driving force behind Sweden's own little adventure in Finland the attempt to occupy Aland. The invasion of Aland In February 1918, the Swedish military was sent to Aland, which was still Russian territory. Officially, they were sent as peacekeeping forces, but in reality parts of the upper classes and the government were working to incorporate the island into Sweden. As we mentioned earlier, this had also been the goal of the pro-German activists, but the driving force was now the anti-German Minister of Shipping, Erik Palmstierna. Because of his noble birth combined with his (right-wing) social democratic leanings, he was known as the Red Baron. He said that: ...Sweden's interests dictate that neither Germany nor Russia should build fortifications on Aland, and that the German danger in the Baltic Sea is now at least as great as the Russian one. If Germany were allowed to establish itself in Aland, it would be at least as great a danger to us as if someone else did so. (Erik Palmstierna, Orostid 1914-1916, 1916-05-03) They were helped by a movement of Alanders who wanted to belong to Sweden, as well as by false rumours that Russian troops were carrying out atrocities on the island. The situation became complicated, involving troops from Sweden, Russia, both Whites and Reds from Finland, and eventually German troops. At its peak, there were 2000 Swedish soldiers on Aland. They helped the Finnish Whites to defeat the Reds and neutralised the remaining Russian soldiers. But at the request of the Finnish counter-revolutionary leader Mannerheim, German troops invaded the island shortly afterwards and the Swedes had to withdraw. Palmstierna did not want the Swedish troops to retreat: It would be our eternal shame. Let us calmly continue our action and show that we are succeeding. Only if there is a real threat of overwhelming force should we retreat. This will reveal Germany's attitude to the whole Swedish nation. If we creep away in secret after our proclamation to the people of Aland [...] our position is forever undermined, and the Swedish people can rightly say that we have not looked after their interests and their honour. (Erik Palmstierna, Orostid 1917-1919, 1918-02-21) The dream of taking over Aland was dead for the time being, even though Palmstierna desperately continued to argue the case in the newly established League of Nations (which would become the UN). The Finnish Civil War ended after a few months of fighting. The White counter-revolutionaries were victorious. It was a massive defeat for the revolutionary movement, and the revenge against the Reds was terrible. 20,000 men and women who fought for the Reds were executed in the White Terror, and 15,000 died of torture and starvation in prisons. Tens of thousands went into exile. According to some estimates, as many as a hundred thousand workers were imprisoned or exiled a quarter of the entire working class at the time. The Swedish Revolution When the world war had been going on for several years, the bourgeoisie began to doubt that Germany would win. The Swedish bourgeoisie thus switched sides. Many of Sweden's agreements with Germany remained in place, but now deals were also made with England and much trade was turned towards the British Isles and their allies. The Hungerskjold government continued to export large quantities of food. At its peak, it exported nine times more beef and three times more pork than before the war. At this time, Sweden suffered from crop failure and in 1917 the grain harvest was the lowest in 28 years. Stocks were depleted of basic goods and the price of potatoes tripled. Soon, famine was on its way to Sweden. During demonstrations at the Riksdag, they were stopped by military and mounted police who slashed at the masses with sabres / Photo: Victor Malmstrom, Pressens bild In normal times, this would have quickly led to a wave of strikes, but the civil peace held the workers back. However, history shows us that not even the most powerful bureaucracy or state can hold back the working class forever. In 1917, the working class had had enough. The Hungerskjold government fell on 30 March when it failed to resolve the issue of a new trade agreement with Britain that would increase food trade. On 11 April 1917, what has sometimes been called the hunger riots or the potato revolution began. We communists call it the Swedish Revolution. The Swedish working class could have taken power just as they had in Russia that year, but were prevented by the right-wing leaders of the Social Democrats. First, 200 working-class women walked out of the sawmills in the Soderhamn archipelago. As they marched towards the centre of Soderhamn, their ranks were filled with more and more people demanding to be allowed to buy food without harsh rations. The state's crown officials were forced to give in to the demands, and the demonstration became the first in a massive revolutionary movement that spread across Sweden. In Vastervik, the movement went furthest the workers took power over the entire town under the leadership of a workers' council that resembled the Soviets in Russia. They forced price reductions and chased away price speculators. In Vasteras the military was deployed against strikers, but contrary to the wishes of the bourgeoisie, the soldiers united with the workers. In Stockholm, 20,000 workers marched to the Riksdag and made demands: an end to the hunger policy, an end to food exports, more bread, cheaper milk, but also universal and equal voting rights. The new government, led by one of the predecessors of todays Moderate Party, looked with panic at the organisation of the workers and tried to secretly form a black guard storm troopers of middle-class people who would crush the workers. This information leaked to the press and Red Labour Guards began to form in response, prompting the government to halt their plans. On 1 May, 400,000 people demonstrated. The Social Democrats were intimidated by the movement, which clearly challenged capitalism, private ownership and the state. It was moving in the direction of socialist revolution an aspiration that these so-called labour leaders had long since abandoned. They tried to hold back the movement and condemned its most radical elements especially the women. In a Social Democratic report, an attempt was made to divide male and female workers by describing the men at a demonstration in Norrkoping as having generally shown calm and composure, while the women's behaviour was described as completely hysterical and disregarding all considerations. The culmination of the movement in 1917 was a strike on 5-6 June in Stockholm, which also resulted in demonstrations at the Riksdag. There, they were stopped by the military and mounted police who attacked the masses with sabres. Many were injured. After the street battles, the revolutionary workers were once again held back by their social democratic leaders, especially Hjalmar Branting. When the workers retreated to the People's House, left-wing socialists and syndicalists called for a general strike. Branting, to whom the masses listened respectfully at first, instead urged them to go home calmly. This was met by booing and he was prevented from speaking again. The meeting decided to demand that a general strike be called by LO (The Swedish Trade Union Confederation). The Workers National Council was formed the following day by left-wing socialists, and had the potential to lead a national struggle for workers demands. But the wave of strikes and protests had already begun to fade. The National Council was formed too late. Instead, attention turned to the September 1917 elections to the lower house of parliament, but the left-wing socialists had no clear program and their agitation about the election was confused. They failed to get a single person elected in Stockholm, losing their previous four seats. Things went better in other parts of the country, but the revolution had fizzled out for the time being. Partial victories in the class war and the end of the world war It was the German Revolution of November 1918 that gave new fire to the Swedish Revolution. German workers and soldiers formed workers and soldiers councils across the country and overthrew Kaiser Wilhelm. The working class did not succeed in seizing power, but they did manage to end the world war. The Swedish working class could have taken power just as they did in Russia that same year, but were prevented by the right-wing leaders within the Social Democrats / Photo: Norra Bantorget in Stockholm on May 1, 1917 The Swedish bourgeoisie feared a repeat of the revolutionary spring in Sweden in 1917, and were frightened by the way that what was previously their important weapon the military began to turn against them. This is what the Social Democrat Varner Ryden wrote in his notes on the situation in Stockholms military: The military could not be trusted anywhere. Not even at the Horse Guards could a reliable squadron be raised... At the same time, the ministers of war and navy reported on the situation in the army and navy. Both acknowledged that the mood was very revolutionary. The working class was becoming more and more revolutionary. Gustav V was convinced he would be overthrown and was reportedly deeply grateful when Branting managed to postpone the question of a republic by suggesting a future referendum. By correctly explaining that the alternative was revolution, the Social Democrats succeeded in frightening the right into agreeing to, among other things, universal and equal suffrage and an 8-hour working day with no change in pay. This saved capitalism in Sweden for the time being. In the newly formed Social Democratic Left Party of Sweden Socialist Party (later the Communist Party of Sweden), there was still a faction on the right that prevented the party from capitalising on the new upswing. The world war was over. For that, history can thank the mighty power of revolutions. The newly formed Russian workers' state had ended the war with Germany through the Peace of Brest-Litovsk, and the German revolutionaries had ended the predatory war of their own ruling class shortly afterwards. The Swedish Revolution won great victories, but because world capitalism survived, it meant that many more would have to die in its name. Once the bomb dust had settled and the trenches of Europe had emptied, none of the imperialist tensions that had led to the world war were resolved. The stage was set for an even bigger war just twenty years later. The Swedish ruling class's fervour for Germany would continue long after the Nazis took power. The revolutionary left, now under the banner of communism, would continue to fight back. Zhang Zhijia, a 38-year-old volunteer at Chifeng Museum in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, leaves home at 8:30 a.m. to share stories about the Hongshan culture with museum visitors. Almost at the same time, Li Jiawei, a 24-year-old graduate student who studies cultural relics at Chifeng University in the city of Chifeng, walks from his dormitory to the library to research materials for future archaeological projects. And 45-year-old Guo Lei, who is in charge of Songshanzhai, a cultural and creative company under the Chifeng culture and tourism group, has already engaged in discussions with his colleagues on the designs of refrigerator magnets inspired by the Hongshan culture. Despite being from different age groups and living different lives, they all share a commitment to the preservation and utilization of the Hongshan culture, which was an important archaeological culture during the Neolithic Age. The culture spans three regions: the west of Liaoning Province, the north of Hebei Province and the east of Inner Mongolia. Chifeng in Inner Mongolia has over 700 known Hongshan culture relics sites. "My hometown, Chifeng, is both the birthplace of the Hongshan culture and the place where it was named," Zhang said. The city's northeastern suburbs are marked by a red mountain, Wulanhad, which means "red mountain" in Mongolian. It is from this mountain that the city and culture took their names. Since childhood, Zhang has been fascinated by jade artifacts from the Hongshan culture, such as jade dragons and jade silkworms. "Some of the jade artifacts show slight markings made by cowhide ropes during their polishing process, which makes me imagine scenes of the Hongshan ancestors crafting these objects. It feels like touching history," he said. Motivated by this sentiment, he signed up to volunteer at Chifeng Museum, and he hopes that more young people can gain knowledge and joy through learning about history. "Volunteers are both narrators and learners," he said. "Recently, many visitors have been asking about the newly excavated jade dragons from last year. The Hongshan artifacts are 'updating,' and our knowledge must also be continuously updated." In 2024, three jade dragons from the Hongshan culture were unearthed -- the largest number of such artifacts found in recent years. Among them was the largest jade dragon ever discovered. The object, measuring 15.8 centimeters in length, 9.5 centimeters in width and 3 centimeters in thickness, was excavated from a stone tomb in Yuanbaoshan in Chifeng's Aohan Banner. It provides valuable new insights into the study of this ancient civilization. The piece has become a highlight of exhibitions and academic lectures, and it has also inspired designs in cultural and creative industries. Guo has been involved in the development of cultural and creative products inspired by the Hongshan culture for four years. Together with his colleagues, he has launched several products based on Hongshan artifacts, and is planning to release new refrigerator magnets inspired by the culture. "We design cultural and creative products that not only have high aesthetic value but also boast fine details and rich heritage, and we hope they can serve as a window through which visitors can understand the Hongshan culture," Guo said. Li shares a similar hope, and looks forward to uncovering more secrets of the Hongshan culture through archaeological work. "Archaeology is a way to engage in dialogue with the ancestors, as each jade artifact and pottery shard may contain their stories," Li said, adding that in the future, he wants to share more stories of the Hongshan culture with others. Today, the legacy of the Hongshan culture continues in modern life. In Chifeng, visitors can participate in themed research activities, watch performances, and even enjoy Hongshan culture-inspired feasts at local restaurants. "We dig into historical research and inherit fine traditional Chinese culture, enabling cultural empowerment for industrial development," said Zhang Guohua, Chifeng's vice mayor. South Sudans First Vice President, Riek Machar, has accused Uganda of violating a United Nations arms embargo by deploying armoured units and airstrikes in the country. In a letter addressed to the United Nations, the African Union, and the IGAD regional bloc, Machar claimed on March 25 Ugandas military intervention breached the 2018 peace agreement that ended the five-year civil war in South Sudan. Uganda, however, maintains that its troops were deployed at the request of the South Sudanese Government after tensions escalated between Machar and President Salva Kiirs Government. The tensions between the two leaders intensified in early March when South Sudanese security forces arrested several senior members of Machars SPLM-IO party following clashes between the military and the White Army militia, which the government accuses Machar of supporting. The SPLM-IO, however, denies any ongoing links with the militia, which is largely composed of ethnic Nuer fighters who opposed Kiirs predominantly Dinka forces during the civil war. Machars letter also accused Uganda of participating in airstrikes against civilians, urging international pressure to remove Ugandan troops from South Sudan. The military escalation comes as the U.N. warned that rising ethnic tensions and hate speech in South Sudan could reignite the conflict, exacerbating the already fragile peace. While Ugandas involvement is framed as a stabilising effort to prevent a wider conflict, especially with concerns about refugees and regional instability, Machar insists that the intervention is exacerbating civilian suffering and violating international agreements, including the ongoing arms embargo that has been in place since 2018. Both Ugandan and South Sudanese military officials have not yet responded to the allegations. A Sudanese war monitor has accused on March 25 the countrys military of carrying out a devastating airstrike on Turrah market in the western Darfur region, which reportedly killed hundreds of people. The Emergency Lawyers group, which documents abuses by both the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since the outbreak of civil war in April 2023, described the attack as a horrific massacre that also left hundreds more injured. Graphic videos shared on social media, including some from the RSF, showed the aftermath of the bombing, with charred bodies and destroyed market stalls. While the Sudanese military denied targeting civilians, stating they only attacked legitimate hostile targets, both the armed forces and the RSF have been accused of indiscriminately shelling civilian areas throughout the conflict. The RSF, a paramilitary group that controls much of Darfur, has also used drones in the region, while the army relies on warplanes for its strikes against RSF positions. The conflict has seen a significant escalation, with civilian casualties mounting, especially in recent months. Since the war began, over 12 million Sudanese people have fled their homes, creating one of the worlds largest displacement crises. With famine and widespread starvation, over half of the country is facing acute food insecurity. The United Nations has warned that Sudan is experiencing its worst humanitarian crisis, with civilian deaths estimated at over 150,000. Despite allegations of genocide and ethnic cleansing by the RSF, including the murder and rape of non-Arab women, the group continues to deny these accusations, and the international community struggles to respond to the ongoing devastation. Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye has escalated regional tensions by claiming possession of credible intelligence indicating Rwanda is preparing military action against his country, though he expressed hope for diplomatic resolution. We know that he has a plan to attack Burundi, Ndayishimiye stated in a recent interview, referring to Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Burundians will not accept to be killed as Congolese are being killed. Burundian people are fighters. Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe swiftly characterized the allegations as unfortunate, emphasizing that both nations were engaged in ongoing discussions and had previously agreed on military and verbal de-escalation measures. The diplomatic friction underscores the complex regional dynamics surrounding eastern Democratic Republic of Congos conflict, where Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have seized extensive territory since January, resulting in thousands of casualties. While United Nations reports indicate Rwanda has provided military support to M23, Burundian forces have fought alongside Congolese troops against the rebels. Rwanda consistently denies supporting M23, maintaining that its military operates defensively against Congos army and anti-Kigali militias. Burundi, which has maintained troops in Congo for years targeting Burundian rebels, withdrew approximately 12,000 personnel in February according to diplomatic sources. Recent weeks have seen multiple high-level meetings between Burundian and Rwandan officials. Sources familiar with these discussions indicate agreements have been reached stipulating that Rwandan forces and M23 would avoid occupying Congos Uvira territory, which borders Burundis commercial hub of Bujumbura. Both governments have confirmed these diplomatic engagements without disclosing specific agreements, while regional observers monitor the situation for potential escalation beyond Congos borders. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: David Peinado from Pexels Army bomb disposal veterans may have a significantly increased risk of developing bladder cancer compared to the general public, according to a newly published study. A research letter published in the medical journal BJU International and presented at the European Association of Urology Annual Congress in Madrid suggests that the incidence of bladder cancer among British Army veteran bomb disposal officers under 70 may be five times higher than among the general public, raising urgent concerns about occupational exposure to hazardous substances. The study was conducted by a team from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), University of Birmingham, King's College London, University of Glasgow and South Wales NHS Trust, and has identified a disproportionately high rate of bladder cancer among the cohort of former bomb disposal operatives following a survey of about 30% (688 of 2,300) of veterans serving in Explosive Ordnance Disposal since 1970. Dr. Gareth Collett CBE, an Executive Director at UWTSD's Wales Institute for Science and Art (WISA) and the study's lead author said, "This research isn't about blame; it's about raising awareness among veterans and general practitioners, protecting those still serving, and ensuring that lessons are learned. "Our findings suggest that there is a significant link between exposure to certain explosives encountered by ammunition technicians during their careers and bladder cancer, and a definitive study based on these findings could lead to real change that saves lives." Professor Rik Bryan, Director of the Bladder Cancer Research Center at the University of Birmingham and a co-author of the study said, "Despite the relatively small size of this initial study, the findings provide a strong signal that there is a considerably increased risk of bladder cancer among members of the ammunition technician profession who are exposed to certain explosives on a regular basis. This risk is significant enough to warrant urgent further investigation and a definitive study working with as many veterans as possible. "Bladder cancer is a common cancer, but many people may not be aware that, beyond blood in the urine, there are other signs of the disease such as changes in urination and bladder irritation that mimic the symptoms of a urine infection or cystitis. The majority of patients with these symptoms do not have bladder cancer, but further investigation should be initiated, particularly in at-risk populations. "With this study, the signs point to a group of heroic individuals who have served our country being at a greater risk of developing bladder cancer, and we would recommend that health care professionals have a greater awareness of a potential risk among veterans." Personal experience The research was inspired by the personal experience of Dr. Collett, a retired British Army Brigadier, and former head of UK bomb disposal. After being diagnosed with bladder cancer in November 2023, Gareth shared his diagnosis in a private social media group for retired and serving ammunition technicians. Within days, other members of that group reported similar diagnoses, leading Dr. Collett and a team of urologists, epidemiologists, and scientists to investigate whether there is a higher incidence among the population as the lifetime incidence of bladder cancer in the general population is below 1%. Dr. Gareth Collett said, "I was diagnosed with bladder cancer at the age of 56. I had been an ammunition technical officer for 33 years, seeing operational service in Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan and in less publicized operations globally. I was fortunate to survive when many of my friends and colleagues did not. However, I carry psychological scars and wasn't expecting to deal with another unwanted consequence of military service. The diagnosis was somewhat of a shock and the treatment quite invasive. "It affects your life and those around you. The impact of immunotherapy and transurethral resections of tumors is physical and psychological. It can prevent you from having intimate relationships with your partner, interfere with your sleep patterns, and change the way you need to peein the most severe cases, it may involve the removal of your bladder, prostate, lymph nodes and urethra. "The immediate supposition by medical professionals was that it was a heavy smoker's disease. This was not the case at all for me, leading to the possibility that it could be occupationally related given my service history and frequent visits to the Regimental Medical Officer with bouts of overactive bladder for over a decade. "Anecdotal evidence was already being amassed by the ammunition technical profession, raising concerns about the link between explosives and urological cancers. However, there was very little epidemiological evidence available for the MOD to consider this a matter of concern. "As such, I decided to gather factual and preliminary evidence, speaking with service charities, learned professors of urology and trade professionals to formulate an initial epidemiological survey. This survey led to the standard incidence ratios and confidence intervals reported in the paper, and the necessity for further action. "The profession is epitomized by the 'Lonely Walk,' that approach you do on your own when dealing with unpredictable explosives. This research suggests that those who have hung up their bomb suits, or destroyed stockpiles of ammunition during their careers, may have one further lonely walk to take long after their service is over. Let's make sure we have the support mechanisms in place to assist those who have given so much to their country." Implications for veteran health and policy change Further investigation linked the exposure to the disposal of munitions containing nitro-explosives such as TNT, and their combustion products. Studies have long established that occupational exposure to certain chemicals increases the risk of bladder cancer, particularly among professions such as tire and chemical industry workers but the team believe that this is the first study linking the disease to explosive ordnance disposal. Since the research began, two more veterans have been diagnosed with bladder cancer, highlighting the immediate need for better screening and preventative measures for those at risk. Service charities have already implemented self-help guidance on early detection, potentially saving lives by enabling earlier diagnosis. The study's authors are calling for: Further large-scale research into the long-term health impacts of explosive exposure. Changes in military safety regulations regarding the disposal and handling of explosives. Regular screening programs for at-risk individuals, using low-cost urinalysis tests for early detection of bladder cancer. Raised awareness among GPs when dealing with veterans exposed to explosives during their careers, particularly if they are aged below 70 and are experiencing blood in their urine. More information: Gareth Collett et al, Occupational incidence of bladder cancer amongst veteran ammunition technicians of the British Army, BJU International (2025). DOI: 10.1111/bju.16678 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: After decades of experimentation, pigs have emerged as the best organ donors for humans. Chinese doctors said Wednesday that they had transplanted a liver from a genetically modified pig into a brain-dead human for the first time, raising hopes of a life-saving donor option for patients in the future. Pigs have emerged as the best animal organ donors, with several living patients in the United States having received pig kidneys or hearts in the last few years. Livers have proved trickierand had not previously been tested out inside a human body. But with a huge and growing demand for liver donations across the world, researchers hope that gene-edited pigs can offer at least temporary relief to seriously ill patients on long waiting lists. Doctors at the Fourth Military Medical University in Xi'an, China, announced the field's latest breakthrough in a study in the journal Nature. A liver from a miniature pig, which had six edited genes to make it a better donor, was transplanted into a brain-dead adult at the hospital on March 10, 2024, according to the study. The trial was terminated after 10 days at the request of the family, the doctors said, adding that they had followed strict ethical guidelines. 'Bridge organ' The patient, whose name, gender and other details were not revealed, still had their original liver, receiving what is called an auxiliary transplant. The hope is that this kind of transplant can serve as a "bridge organ" to support the existing liver of sick people waiting on a human donor. Over the 10 days, the doctors monitored the liver's blood flow, bile production, immune response and other key functions. The pig liver "functioned really well" and "smoothly secreted bile" as well as producing the key protein albumin, study co-author Lin Wang of the Xi'an hospital told a press conference. "It's a great achievement" that could help people with liver problems in the future, he added. Other researchers also hailed the breakthrough but emphasized that this early step could not confirm whether the pig organ would work as a replacement for human livers. Transplants of livers have proved difficult because they carry out several different functionsunlike hearts, for example, which simply pump blood, Lin said. Livers filter the body's blood, breaking down things like drugs and alcohol, as well as producing bile that carries away waste and breaks down fats. The pig liver produced far smaller amounts of bile and albumin than a human liver could achieve, Lin said. More research is neededincluding studying the pig liver for more than 10 days, he added. Next, the doctors plan to trial the gene-edited pig liver in a living human. 'Impressive' Oxford University transplantation professor Peter Friend, who was not involved in the study, said the results were "valuable and impressive". However, "this is not a replacement for liver transplantation from human donors (at least in the near-term)," he told AFP in an email. "This is a useful test of the compatibility of genetically modified livers with humans and points to a future in which such livers can provide support for patients in liver failure." Lin emphasized that collaboration with US researchers was crucial. "To be frank, we have learned quite a lot from all the research performed and investigated by United States doctors," he said. Last year, scientists at the University of Pennsylvania attached a pig liver to a brain-dead patientbut instead of being transplanted, the organ remained outside the body. Both US recipients of pig heart transplants died. But Towana Looney, 53, is back home in Alabama after receiving a pig kidney on November 25, 2024. More information: Kai-Shan Tao et al, Gene-modified pig-to-human liver xenotransplantation, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08799-1 Journal information: Nature 2025 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A new study by researchers from Marshall University and the University of Missouri highlights how exosomestiny vesicles released by cellsmay play a key role in blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction in children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), particularly those with neurocognitive deficits. The findings, published online earlier this month in Experimental Neurology, could pave the way for personalized therapeutic strategies for pediatric OSA patients. OSA in children has been linked to cognitive impairments, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study analyzed exosomes in the blood of children with and without OSA-related cognitive deficits and examined their effects on a 3D blood-brain barrier model. Researchers categorized 26 children into three groups: healthy controls, OSA patients without cognitive deficits and OSA patients with neurocognitive deficits. The study found that exosomes from children with both OSA and neurocognitive deficits disrupted blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, leading to reduced trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) and increased permeability. Additionally, both OSA groups exhibited increased permeability in neurovascular unit cells within monolayer and microfluidic BBB models, suggesting a broader impact on barrier function. Further analysis using single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) identified distinct cellular clusters and signaling pathways associated with different OSA phenotypes, providing deeper insight into the mechanisms underlying neurocognitive dysfunction in affected children. "This research enhances our understanding of how OSA-related exosomes affect the blood-brain barrier, which may contribute to neurocognitive dysfunction," said Abdelnaby Khalyfa, M.S., Ph.D., professor of biomedical sciences at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and the corresponding author on the study. "By integrating advanced sequencing techniques, we can identify potential morbidity-related biomarkers and therapeutic targets for children at risk." "This successful collaboration between clinicians, researchers at Marshall, and our bioinformatics team is advancing Precision Medicine," said Trupti Joshi, Ph.D., lead author and associate professor, University of Missouri Department of Biomedical Informatics, Biostatistics and Medical Epidemiology. "Using advanced data analysis, our team uncovered key biological pathways linked to cognitive deficits in children with obstructive sleep apnea. This breakthrough could lead to personalized treatments for pediatric patients." In addition to Khalyfa, co-authors on the study include Trupti Joshi, Ph.D., Yen On Chan, Ph.D., Zhuanghong Qiao, Ph.D., and Leila Kheirandish-Gozal, M.D., M.Sc., all of the University of Missouri, and David Gozal, M.D., M.B.A., Ph.D. (Hon) of Marshall University. The study underscores the importance of in-depth exosome analysis in fostering our understanding of pediatric OSA and opens the door for precision medicine approaches to mitigate cognitive complications. Future research will focus on the development of point-of-care testing with the aim of accurately identifying those children who suffer from end-morbidity induced by OSA. More information: Trupti Joshi et al, Circulating exosomes in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea with or without neurocognitive deficits and their effects on a 3D-blood-brain barrier spheroid model, Experimental Neurology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2025.115188 Journal information: Experimental Neurology This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Veterans from Lebanon struggle more than veterans from Afghanistan after taking lives. The two missions were very different. Here, Norwegian naval special forces train in Afghanistan. Credit: Torbjrn Kjosvold, Norwegian Armed Forces. Taking a person's life is not automatically harmful to a soldier's mental well-being if the circumstances justified it, according to a study of more than 14,600 soldiers. "Killing another person does not in itself seem to be something that goes against human nature, and it doesn't necessarily harm the mental health of the person who does it," said Andreas Espetvedt Nordstrand, a Norwegian clinical psychologist. Commander Nordstrand is the head of research and development at the Institute of Military Psychiatry, Norwegian Armed ForcesJoint Medical Services. In addition, he is an associate professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU's) Department of Psychology. Published in Armed Forces & Society, the results of a new study directly contradict previous theories that taking a person's life is automatically detrimental to mental health. However, everything depends on the circumstances in which it takes place. Studied all Lebanon and Afghanistan veterans Nordstrand investigated the mental health of Norwegian veterans after they had completed their military service. He conducted this study with Professor Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair from the same department at NTNU and several other researchers. These include war veteran Ronny Kristoffersen, who was himself shot in Afghanistan, and former chief psychiatrist of the Norwegian Armed Forcesnow known from the Norwegian TV program Kompani LauritzenJon Reichelt. It is a comprehensive study. "We studied every Norwegian Armed Forces veteran who had served in Lebanon and Afghanistan, and identified those who have killed in combat," said Nordstrand. A canine patrol in southern Lebanon. Credit: Torbjrn Kjosvold, Norwegian Armed Forces. The study included 10,605 Lebanon veterans and 4,053 Afghanistan veterans, although only a small minority had killed someone. The researchers then investigated how the experiences during service had subsequently affected the soldiers' mental health. "We looked at PTSD, depression, insomnia, anxiety, alcohol consumption and quality of life," Nordstrand said. The results are strikingthe difference between veterans from Lebanon and Afghanistan is huge. The Lebanon veterans suffered more mental health problems "Taking a life in combat was a key factor among the veterans who had served in Lebanon. The veterans who had killed someone in combat were more likely to experience mental health problems, increased alcohol consumption and reduced quality of life later on," said Nordstrand. But that was not the case for the veterans who had served in Afghanistan. "For the Afghanistan veterans, taking a life had no subsequent impact on their mental well-being. We did not identify a trend in any of the variables we investigated," said Nordstrand. The researchers checked all the analyses to establish whether other exposure to trauma could explain the findings. The difference between the two veteran populations is striking. In Afghanistan, there was a relatively high risk of engaging in combat. Credit: Norwegian Armed Forces. Nordstrand believes the findings reveal something fundamental about human nature. "There is a widespread belief in society that taking the life of another person goes against human nature, and that this will easily create what psychotraumatology refers to as 'moral injuries'," he said. But that doesn't appear to be the case. "Our findings indicate that whether taking a life subsequently has a negative impact on mental health and quality of life is highly context-dependent," emphasized Nordstrand. Completely different situations for soldiers in Lebanon and Afghanistan Lebanon and Afghanistan were very different missions, which may account for some of the differences. In Lebanon, the soldiers' mission was largely to calm tensions and ensure that peace was maintained. There was a risk of combat, but it was nowhere near as dangerous as in Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, soldiers were much more likely to encounter combat situations with more aggressive opponents. In Lebanon, the soldiers' job was largely to calm tensions and ensure that peace was maintained. There was a risk of engaging in combat, but this risk was far lower than in Afghanistan. Credit: Torbjrn Kjosvold, Norwegian Armed Forces. "Participating in a peacekeeping operation seems to make soldiers much more vulnerable to the aftermath of killing another person than soldiers involved in combat missions," Nordstrand said. The expectations of the soldiers and their missions were very different. "We believe this supports the view that it is primarily violations of group norms and mission guidelines that make actions like killing harmful," he said. If the mission entails a high risk of the enemy acting aggressively, there is more leeway and acceptance for taking a life. The groups are more similar with regard to other traumatic experiences, such as being in life-threatening situations or witnessing something traumatic. "But the Afghanistan veterans experience fewer problems from being in life-threatening situations, such as participating in combat. This is probably related to training and preparation, which provide mental resilience in high-stress situations and make it less likely that such experiences will negatively impact the soldiers afterwards. Clear missions that establish norms "We believe the findings show that we must be acutely aware of the rules of engagement, expectations, and the mission guidelines we set when sending soldiers on armed missions," he said. As long as the mission is clearly defined and it is accepted that it may involve taking lives, the psychological impact is usually manageable afterward. Credit: Torbjrn Kjosvold, Norwegian Armed Forces. And it doesn't just apply to soldiers. The same is probably true for other areas where the government has a role in violence, such as the police. "These factors collectively create group norms among the soldiersnorms that determine what they perceive as right or wrong. It is these group norms that are either violated or upheld if they find themselves in a situation where they have to kill," explained Nordstrand. If soldiers know and experience that it is acceptable to kill when the situation demands it, such experiences rarely become a problem. They are not left with a feeling of having done something wrong. At the same time, killing someone is very far removed from what most people in Norway experience, so soldiers are often particularly careful to ensure that the action occurred within the established group norms. "The differences between the two groups of veterans in our study enable us to identify what creates protection against and the risk of negative consequences of taking a person's life. The common factor here is the context in which it occurs. This applies to preparations, both physical and mental, and how society and networks engage with individuals who have killed when they eventually return to Norwegian society." Five years of research Nordstrand started this project back in 2020, and although the data quickly provided clear answers, it still took five years for the article to be published. "This is a sensitive topic, and the findings may be perceived as somewhat taboo. In civilized, humanistic societies, people often dislike the idea that taking a person's life can be entirely unproblematic for soldiers, as long as it happens within the rules of war," he said. "We therefore took our time and ensured that we had solid evidence for the findings of the study and the interpretations of the results. I had several different statisticians thoroughly verify the findings." Determined by mindset Professor Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair joined the team to incorporate perspectives from anthropology and evolutionary psychology. "Traditionally, there has been an argument that war is unnatural, that killing is wrong, and that we expect people to be harmed by it, regardless. I have been skeptical of this line of thought," Kennair said. He believes the results of the study confirm that the internal group norms, or 'rules of engagement', determine the long-term effects. "The mindset with which soldiers approach a mission determines whether they expect, are prepared for and interpret the intense aspects of the role. If they are in war mode and fully aware of it, they will deal with it completely differently. They experience events and actions differently than if they are unprepared or have a peace mentality," explained Kennair. The well-known war veteran Ronny Kristoffersen contributed as a co-author and brought his personal combat experiences into the reflections on the findings. Important to address "I think it is important to bring evidence-based perspectives on this taboo subject into the public debate," said Nordstrand. Nordstrand said this is especially important during today's turbulent times, when many nations are increasing their military capabilities and there seems to be a greater risk of involvement in armed conflicts. "Soldiers kill, and being able to do that is actually a key part of their job. The findings are a clear call to take both political and collective responsibility when sending soldiers on dangerous missions, ensuring that they do not feel as though they have done something that goes against the norms of the society they are part of," Nordstrand said. More information: Andreas Espetvedt Nordstrand et al, Killing in Combat as a Potentially Morally Injurious Event: The Diverging Psychological Impact of Killing on Peacekeepers and Combat-Oriented Troops, Armed Forces & Society (2025). DOI: 10.1177/0095327X251321389 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain As the largest measles outbreak in the U.S. in 25 years spreads, health experts warn that more people choosing to be unvaccinated for infectious diseases will make it harder to replicate past successful responses to outbreaks. Measles, a respiratory virus, was effectively eliminated in 2000, when the U.S. only saw 86 cases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 3 million to 4 million people in the U.S. were infected with measles and an estimated 400 to 500 people died from the disease each year before the vaccine became available in 1963. But an outbreak in Texas that has spurred 309 cases as of March 21 and one death of a school-aged, unvaccinated child so far has spread throughout the country. New Mexico, too, has seen a spike in cases, with 42 people identified as having measles and one unvaccinated adult dying as of March 21, according to the New Mexico Department of Health. In West Texas, where the outbreak began, officials are urging community members to get vaccinated. "There's a reason why measles was declared eliminated in 2000 in the United States," said Phil Huang, the director of Dallas County Health and Human Services, at a March 18 media briefing. "It is because we have a really effective and safe vaccine that works." U.S. health officials have had success in dealing with past measles outbreaks. But as the share of unvaccinated individuals increases, it will be harder to replicate those successful responses to outbreaks. In March 2024, Chicago saw a measles outbreak that led to 57 cases. According to Simbo Ige, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, it took 30,000 vaccinations to control the spread of the disease. "Measles thrives when we have people who are unvaccinated. Measles is not able to spread if everyone is protected. If you have a fence in your house, it is harder for there to be a break-in," Ige said at the March 18 briefing. "So we are worried about the resurgence of measles, because, over time, more and more people have chosen not to be vaccinated, and so we now have a pool of people who are vulnerable to measles." Congressional worries While state and local health officials are focused on vaccination, members of Congress are urging Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to launch a nationwide vaccination campaign and to push back against misinformation about the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. "We are troubled that anti-vaccine misinformation, cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) workforce, and reductions in public health funding will threaten the country's ability to respond to the current measles outbreak, and future public health threats," said a group of Texas Democrats in a March 19 letter to acting CDC director Susan Monarez, who President Donald Trump announced he would nominate to head the agency on Monday. Kennedy, who has previously embraced widely debunked theories that vaccines cause autism, wrote an op-ed published March 2 on Fox News that acknowledged vaccines prevent infection and recommended unvaccinated individuals get the shot, but nonetheless called the decision to vaccinate "a personal one." William Moss, a professor at Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health and the executive director at the International Vaccine Access Center, said Kennedy's comments undermined the messaging on vaccines that the federal government should be giving. The messaging from the federal government, state and local health officials, he said, "should be really simple about getting a measles vaccination." Members of Congress are also concerned about an effective measles response amid the terminations of career employees at the CDC. In a March 14 letter to Kennedy, a group of seven Democratic senators asked him for answers about how those firings are affecting public health preparedness activities, including for measles and bird flu outbreaks. "These actions have not only led to unnecessary turmoil, fear, and chaos for public health officials, experts, and employees at the CDC, they also threaten our national security and disrupt our economy," the senators wrote. "The mass firings and instability at the CDC could directly impact public health initiatives in our states, particularly in responding to disease outbreaks and funding local health programs." Trust in public health As the share of unvaccinated individuals has gone up, an increase in vaccine skepticism and declining trust in public health institutions will pose serious difficulty in addressing further outbreaks of measles and other infectious diseases. Moss said that the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization and the undermining of confidence in measles vaccines in the U.S. remain among his biggest concerns, not just for stopping this outbreak, but for preventing future ones. "In the end, what we're going to see are larger and more frequent measles outbreaks here in the United States," Moss said. Liz Hamel, the vice president and director of public opinion and survey research at health care think tank KFF, said that current trends of vaccine skepticism are a continuation from the COVID-19 pandemic, but it's too soon to be able to look at trends in public opinion of vaccines and trust in public health institutions from the current measles outbreak. "We can't really draw direct causality to the current outbreak and some of the trends we're seeing, but I do think the trends do suggest some challenges for addressing any infectious disease outbreak in the U.S.," Hamel said. According to a Jan. 28 tracking poll from KFF, the share of people who say they trust the CDC "a great deal" or "a fair amount" to make the right recommendations on health dropped slightly from 66% in June 2023 to 61% in Jan. 2025. When it comes to state and local public health agencies, trust fell from 64% to 54%. "Most of the public and most parents still believe that the benefits of the MMR vaccines outweigh the risks," Hamel said. "They still support vaccine mandates in school, and most parents say that they keep their children up to date on vaccines, but what we saw in the most recent poll is that, for the first time, we found an increase in the share of parents saying that they think the risks of these vaccines outweigh the benefits." When the U.S. saw an increase in measles in 2019 from an outbreak of more than 900 cases from an Orthodox Jewish community in New York, an aggressive vaccination campaign prevented a death from the disease. The city of New York spent more than $6 million and dedicated more than 500 staff to the response. But in West Texas, where the outbreak has grown, increasing vaccination rates has been a struggle, according to Katherine Wells, the director of public health in Lubbock, Texas. Wells said at the March 18 briefing that although there has been success in getting more people vaccinated, it has been slow. The county has been working with schools to set up pop-up vaccine clinics to encourage vaccinations. The outbreak in Texas originated in a Mennonite community after an unvaccinated individual brought measles in from outside of the country. According to Moss, while there are many small outbreaks across the U.S., tight-knit religious communities are ripe for the spread of infectious diseases like measles. 2025 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Women affected by premenstrual syndrome (PMS) appear to experience less intense and debilitating symptoms after taking placebo pills even when told they do not contain any active medication, suggests a study published in the open-access journal BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine. PMS can result in significant distress for women of reproductive age and cause psychological symptoms such as irritability, depressed mood, and mood swings as well as physical symptoms including breast tenderness, bloating, and joint pain. Women with PMS are also more likely to feel suicidal, experience depression, have eating disorders and migraines. Often prescribed medical treatments to help with PMS, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and hormonal agents like oral contraceptives and danazol are often associated with side effects including dizziness, nausea, tremor, weight gain, gastrointestinal symptoms, and depression. Open-label placebos (OLPs)placebos that are provided with full transparencyhave been shown to have positive effects on various complaints, including irritable bowel syndrome, chronic low back pain, and menopausal hot flashes. Researchers in Switzerland set out to examine whether these OLPs could have a positive impact on PMS symptoms. They carried out a trial involving 150 women aged 18 to 45 years old who had PMS or premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Between August 2018 and December 2020, the participating women were randomly allocated into three groups to receive treatment as usual, receive OLPs with no further explanation than that they were receiving placebos, or receive OLPs in pill form with an explanation of what they were and why OLPs could potentially ease PMS symptoms. The researchers found that placebos reduced the intensity of PMS symptoms and interference in their social, educational and working lives considerably in women with moderate to severe PMS or premenstrual dysphoric disorder when they were provided with an explanation of the treatment. For their study, they measured primary outcomes defined as PMS symptom intensity and interference in their lives between groups across three menstrual cycles, and safety by adverse events, measured at weeks three and six after the start of the intervention. They also measured secondary outcomes, which were psychological and physical subscales of PMS symptom intensity and adherence. For the primary outcomes, placebos provided twice a day for six weeks with an explanation resulted in a 79.3% reduction in symptom intensity among these women and an 82.5% reduction in interference in their livesunderlining the importance of adequately providing the treatment explanation when giving placebos, said the researchers. Women receiving a placebo with no explanation reported a 50.4% reduction in the intensity of their symptoms and a 50.3% drop in interference in their lives. In contrast, women who received treatment as usual reported a 33% reduction in their symptom intensity and a 45.7% reduction in interference in their lives. There were also very few and no serious side effects among women in both placebo groups. For secondary outcomes, women in the placebo with explanation group had the highest decrease (70.7%) in psychological symptom intensity between menstrual cycles, followed by the placebo with no explanation group, which reported a 42.6% fall in symptom intensity, compared with a decrease of just 29.1% in the women receiving treatment as usual. Women in the placebo with explanation group also reported the highest reduction (82.5%) of physical symptom intensity between menstrual cycles, followed by women in the placebo with no explanation group (50.3%), and women in the traditional treatment group (45.7%). The study had some limitations, with the authors acknowledging that when they advertised the trial as a study for a side-effect-free intervention for PMS, they might have attracted participants who were more open to unconventional treatments and/or being dissatisfied with their current treatment, which could have limited how much the results were generalizable. Also, the results were reliant on self-reporting, so this could bias the results. Nevertheless, the researchers conclude, "Administering OLPs with a treatment rationale to women with PMS can decrease symptom intensity and interference considerably in the absence of substantial side effects and with full transparency. "Considering our results as much as the individual and societal burden of PMS, OLP treatment could serve as an acceptable, efficacious, and safe intervention for PMS." More information: Efficacy of open-label placebos for premenstrual syndrome: a randomised controlled trial, BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1136/bmjebm-2024-112875 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Collection-to-submission times by country for highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1). Credit: Nature Biotechnology (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41587-025-02636-6 The global average for countries to report genetic information about bird flu, crucial to tracking and preventing a human pandemic, was seven months, and Canada came in last, a new study has found. Authors of the non-peer reviewed commentary published today in Nature Biotechnology say the work highlights the urgent need for Canada and other countries to speed up the pipeline from sampling an infected creature, analysis of the genetic information, and submission to a global scientific database. Dr. Sarah Otto (SO), professor in the department of zoology, and Sean Edgerton (SE) (he/him), zoology doctoral student, discuss why getting this information quickly is crucial, and how Canada has pulled its socks up once before. Why do we need this data? SO: We need to track the evolution of viruses if we are to have any hope of preventing another pandemic. The particular flu strain we're worried about, H5N1, has wreaked havoc on the dairy and poultry industry in several countries and spread to hundreds of species of birds and mammals, but so far, the virus has not evolved the features needed to spread efficiently among humans. With real-time genetic data being submitted from around the world, we can keep an eye on these features and, if we see this evolution, raise the alarm. We did this with the COVID variants. By tracking the virus's evolution through genetic data, we were able to provide advanced warnings about the spread of variants, allowing public health responses such as increasing hospital capacity and quickly offering vaccines to those most at risk. Together, we saved lives. What did you find? SE: We looked at close to 19,000 H5N1 samples from January 2021 to December 2024 on a global database, the Global Initiative for Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID). We measured the time taken from when a sample of the virus was collected from an animal or human through analysis of the genetic data to submission to this database, where it's then available for other scientists to study. We then calculated the average per country submitting at least 50 sequences. We found the global average was about 228 days. Canada was the slowest at 618 days on average. The fastest countries were the Czech Republic and the Netherlands at only 25 days on average. It was a bit shocking how long it took especially for a virus with pandemic potential like H5N1. Why are the delays this long? SO: We're not sure, but the delays could be due to the number of different institutions involved in the entire collection, analysis, and submission process. In addition, there is little targeted funding to monitor H5N1 in Canadian wildlife, so most efforts to monitor the spread of this highly pathogenic flu virus are piggy-backing on other studies. What can we do? SO: I know we can get better. Canada improved submission times dramatically for SARS-CoV-2, dropping data delays from about 88 days to 16. Canada is now one of the strongest and most efficient countries informing the world about changes to the virus that causes COVID-19. We can do the same with H5N1. We are also concerned about recent restrictions on gathering and sharing information in the United States, with widespread firing of government scientists and restrictions on data sharing. Wildlife don't care about borders, so Canada needs to step up to the plate and monitor what's happening in North America to help alert ourselves and other countries to worrisome changes in this virus. More information: Sarah P. Otto et al, Lengthy delays in H5N1 genome submissions to GISAID, Nature Biotechnology (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41587-025-02636-6 Journal information: Nature Biotechnology Asia's role as global growth driver in focus 08:24, March 26, 2025 By Cheng Yu ( Chinadaily.com.cn Zhang Jun (right), secretary-general of the Boao Forum for Asia, and Zafar Uddin Mahmood, policy adviser of the BFA Secretariat, attend a news conference for the forum's annual meeting on Tuesday in Boao, Hainan province. The annual conference, which kicked off on Tuesday, will conclude on Friday. (Feng Yongbin/China Daily) Asian economies, with real GDP growth projected to be 4.5 percent for 2025, will continue to play a crucial role in driving global economic stability and growth, said a report released on Tuesday at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025. The forum comes soon after the China Development Forum 2025, which ended on Monday, and gathered top government officials and business leaders from across the globe. Experts said the forums' key message is crystal clear, that Asia spearheaded by China is reinforcing its commitment to openness and stability, presenting a sharp contrast to the rising economic isolation featured by the United States' arbitrary sanctions and tariffs. The "Asian Economic Outlook and Integration Progress Annual Report 2025", which was released on Tuesday, forecast that the share of Asian economies' GDP in the world economy will rise from 36.1 percent in 2024 to 36.4 percent in 2025. In terms of purchasing power parity, a metric comparing economic productivity and standards of living between countries, Asia's share of the global economy is projected to rise from 48.1 percent to 48.6 percent this year. Economies including China, India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Mongolia, Cambodia and Indonesia are expected to maintain a high growth rate of over 5 percent this year, the report said. Zhang Yuyan, a renowned economist and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said, "Such an economic performance means that Asia, as a key driver of the world economy, is set to benefit from global economic stabilization in 2025 and will also play a crucial role in contributing to this stability." The report also said that despite economic uncertainties, including monetary policy shifts in major economies such as the US and the European Union, and geopolitical tensions, most Asian stock markets are expected to maintain an upward trend this year. Amid such growth, China remains the region's most attractive destination for foreign investors. China's vibrant innovation in fields such as artificial intelligence, reflected by DeepSeek, has reinforced its status as a safe haven for entrepreneurship in a world where US sanctions pose increasing risks. Zhou Xiaochuan, a former governor of the People's Bank of China, said at the conference: "China is responding to global demands with responsibility and courage, continuing to provide stability and certainty to the world. As the year 2025 marks the conclusion of China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), China will further deepen comprehensive reforms and expand high-level opening-up. "China will adopt a more proactive fiscal policy and a moderately accommodative monetary policy, boost consumption, enhance investment efficiency, and expand domestic demand across all sectors," he said. Notably, the report highlighted that the trade war, which was initiated by the US in 2018, has not improved the US' standing in global manufacturing value chains. Instead, the gap between China and the US in this sector has widened. Global intermediate goods trade has become more dependent on China than on North America. In 2023, the dependency on China stood at 16 percent, compared with 15 percent for North America, the report said. Lin Guijun, former vice-president of the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, said: "The latest US tariffs have an impact on all major trade partners, not just China. Other nations are reacting in a fragmented and weak manner, lacking coordinated responses." Zhang, from the CASS, said "While international cooperation once aimed at mutual benefit, many nations have shifted toward a zero-sum game, and with the US' new trade measures, the situation has now worsened to a negative-sum game, where countries accept their own losses as long as their rivals suffer even more." "But the world needs a more open economy based on cooperation and shared prosperity. True success comes not just from personal gain but from lifting others up as well," he said. With the theme of "Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future", the four-day event has attracted nearly 2,000 participants from more than 60 countries and regions, according to the forum's organizing committee. Claus Rettig, president of German specialty chemicals giant Evonik Asia Pacific, who is attending this year's forum, said: "We have unwavering confidence in China's growth. The Asia-Pacific region is one of Evonik's fastest-expanding markets, and China sits at its core with the largest market share. "China is the world's top chemical market, backed by a robust infrastructure and a deeply integrated supply chain," he added. "We see China's economic strength as a solid foundation for growth and remain committed to expanding our investment here." (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) A 2013 news report about thousands of dead pigs floating in a river ignited the creative spark behind director Feng Yongqin's debut crime thriller, "The River of Fury." The cast and crew of "The River of Fury" pose for a photo at the film's premiere in Beijing, March 19, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Hanna Pictures] "At that time, I couldn't help but wonder if there was some dark secret behind those pigs that couldn't be revealed," Feng told China.org.cn. "In reality, the pigs were dumped into the river because of a swine epidemic. During this period in my life, I was also contemplating how a lack of love could breed an 'epidemic' in society. If that absence becomes a starting point, it can snowball into countless things, including extreme evil. That's how the characters in our film came to be, and that's how this story was born." After seven years of development, "The River of Fury" finally debuted across China on March 22. The film, written by Feng and featuring veteran actors Ning Li, Wang Xun, Liu Mintao, Duan Bowen, Li Chunyuan, and Lyu Xiaolin, follows the disappearance of a young veterinarian. As the investigation unfolds, clues link her case to a suspect in serial murders characterized by a gruesome ear-cutting method 20 years ago. With seven new victims emerging, a detective from the original unsolved case renews his vow to catch the killer. His investigation leads him to suspect the pig farm owner and her three children, ultimately revealing an even more sinister secret. "This film is actually an exploration of the dark side of human nature," the director said. "The subtle point here is that while we have many tools education, art, and so on to encourage people to be good, the primal power of humanity's dark side still cannot be ignored, even after all these years. Through this film, I hope to draw attention to these shadows within human nature while also reminding everyone to protect the kindness in their hearts, that spark of light, no matter the circumstances." Shot in Chongqing, the film is shrouded in the city's signature misty weather. The director also shared that they chose to focus on family relationships. "Because family is actually a breeding ground for evil in our story, and it's something close to everyone," he said. The story attracted Huang Bo, a veteran Chinese actor and producer, who included this project in his "HB + U" program designed to support young filmmakers. "Without Mr. Huang Bo, this film would never exist," Feng said, noting that Huang not only brought in funds but also shared years of filmmaking experience. "I saw the responsibility and dedication of a true filmmaker, and this truly became a source of inspiration for me. I believe this will benefit me for a lifetime." Actor Wang praised Feng for his directorial debut, "The film is brilliant. It has great elements like any commercial film, but it is also profound as if it borrows something from art-house cinema something that delves deeply into human nature." Wang added that Feng is highly talented, deeply passionate about film and relentless in facing challenges. "I believe many viewers will notice the director's maturity when watching the film." Wang portrayed a complex villain in the film, a pig farmer struggling with hearing impairment. Upon reading the script, he discovered that the evil character concealed profound inner wounds. "I felt there was a lot to explore and dig into with this character. As an actor, the worst thing is playing a role that feels predictable from the start, but this character is clearly not that kind," he said. "I feel that, although the director created a group of villains, he tells a story about what love is," the actor said. "These are stories that could very well happen around us, ones that we might find hard to accept. Such things definitely exist around us, and some might even be more terrifying than what's shown in the film we just don't know about them. So where does the root of it all lie? It lies precisely in the misunderstanding of love how to nurture and protect it. When love goes wrong, the consequences can be terrifying." "So, it's ultimately a film that explores evil to call for love," he added. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Researchers have created a chatbot to help educate the next generation of therapists. Credit: Shantanu Kumar via Unsplash When faced with a problem, it's increasingly common for us to ask a chatbot. Within seconds of posing the question, you have an answer. So it's unsurprising people are turning to artificial intelligence platforms like Woebot or ChatGPT for health-related queries. The uptick in AI in psychotherapy includes tasks such as analyzing transcripts of therapy sessions and educating students. But can a chatbot be a virtual therapist? Whether it's a physical or mental health problem, chatbots can provide quick solutions. And they're often delivered in an empathetic manner. This is because of the natural language processing trait found in most AI-driven chatbots. Also known as NLP, the process involves analyzing the spoken or written word for characteristics, traits or behaviors that could be linked to a human's emotions or feelings. This subsection of AI enables chatbots to better understand prompts to develop and deliver human-like responses. The potential of this technology has proven to be a tempting topic for Australian researchers. In WA, scientists have been testing a chatbot using NLP to determine its potential as an affordable and accessible virtual therapist. Murdoch University research analyzed the performance of an AI-driven tool called Bestie. Bestie is designed to interact with patients by analyzing the language in their questions and providing customized responses. While still in the research stage, initial results found Bestie could potentially provide early mental health services to individuals struggling to access a psychologist. But chatbots could be used for more than just patient welfare. A helping robot hand University of Melbourne researchers have flipped the use of chatbots as virtual therapists. Digital Health Senior Lecturer Dr. Simon D'Alfonso and his team have created a chatbot designed to help educate the next generation of psychologists. Called Client101, its purpose is simple. Act like a patient presenting with mental health issues so students can practice their skills without the need for a real patient or actor. "Client101 primarily started off as just a way to simulate mental health clients," says Simon. "Students need practice, and sometimes all they have is their peers that they can practice with, and their teachers don't really have much time to pretend to be patients." Promising results Initial results from the first Client101 trial were so positive the technology has been swiftly implemented. "We got a few students to try it out, about 15 students, and we just did a qualitative analysis of some interviews with them and it was promising," says Simon. "This semester, we're embedding Client101 into two University of Melbourne subjectsin a clinical psychology subject and an educational psychology subjectjust to see how it fares in terms of being part of the curriculum." With the average psychology student requiring a minimum of 300 work placement hours in a year, this technology could ease resource limitations. Simon says it would also allow students to practice whenever and wherever they can. "I think there's promise there, and using a chatbot as a training tool is far less problematic than trying to use it as a virtual therapist." With expensive fees and lengthy appointment waitlists, the use of AI as an online psychologist is increasing. Cost is the largest barrier for Australians to access mental health services, with some patients waiting up to 12 weeks to see a psychologist, according to the Australian Psychological Society. Psychological distress among youth has more than doubled over the past decade, so it's understandable people are turning to chatbots to get cheap, immediate help. Psychological distress in young Australians has more than doubled over 10 years. Credit: Nik Shuliahin via Unsplash Like any new technology, chatbots come with a warning for users to be aware of the risks of taking health advice from what is ultimately a robot. This warning is particularly paramount when it comes to therapy, which revolves around conversation and connection. More than an online connection The humanization of chatbots was first realized in the mid-1960s when psychologist Joseph Weizenbaum developed one of the world's first chatbots, ELIZA. ELIZA was used in an experiment designed to show the limitations of this type of system and the superficial nature of interactions between chatbots and humans. But the experiment backfired. "[Joseph] was a little surprised when the people around him that he tested became more immersed [and] involved than he thought they would be," says Simon. "What's behind the screen is not some sentient conscious agent, but there's a tendency of people to anthropomorphize in their interactions with systems such as chatbots. There can be risks in that area people developing these problematic rapports or connections with these systems, which ultimately can't be truly reciprocated." This rapport between human and robot has since been dubbed "the Eliza effect." It has resulted in some people developing friendships or even romantic relationships with chatbots. In extreme cases, the virtual connection has resulted in serious consequences, like when a 19-year-old attempted to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II based on a conversation with a chatbot in 2021. Not a replacement for human connection Despite the risks, the use of AI will become more common, including in therapy where psychotherapists are already putting the tech into practice. "When you think about psychotherapy, it's an inherently language-based task," says Simon. "People [are looking] into the possibilities of using natural language processing to analyze transcripts of psychotherapy sessions to get insights into what exactly is happening and ways that a therapist might be able to improve what they're doing. "It's not to be a replacement for the ground truths that I think humans are able to generate. "Sometimes it's simply just a matter of having a system because this is laborious work." This article first appeared on Particle, a science news website based at Scitech, Perth, Australia. Read the original article. 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. The Supreme Court (SC) has ruled in favour of NP Ponnamma in a prolonged family property dispute against her brother, NP Saseendran, affirming her legal ownership of the contested land. The judgement, delivered by a bench of justice JB Pardiwala and justice R Mahadevan, upheld the Kerala High Court (HC) 's decision, overturning the concurrent findings of the trial and first appellate courts. In an order on Monday, the bench says, "Once the document is declared as 'gift', defendant no1 (NP Narayana Pillai, the father of the siblings) had no right to cancel the same unilaterally and the sub-registrar had no right to register the cancellation deed. Once the document is categorised as a gift, in the absence of any clause or reservation to cancel, the executant has no right to cancel the same. The reasons for cancellation or revocation of gift have to be proved in a court of law. Therefore, according to us, the unilateral cancellation of the document is void and as a natural corollary, the sale deed dated 19 October 1993, executed by the father also, is invalid." "As already held by us, delivery of possession is only one of the methods to prove acceptance and not the sole method. The receipt of the original document by Ms Ponnamma and registration of the same, would amount to acceptance of the gift and the transaction satisfies the requirement of Section 122 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882. The creation of life interest with rights to enjoy the income from the property is a plausible and justifiable reason for Ms Ponnamma not to reside in the premises," the bench added. The dispute revolved around the legal nature of a property transfer made by the siblings' father, NP Narayana Pillai, in 1985. Ms Ponnamma claimed ownership of the property based on a settlement deed executed by her father, which, she argued, was a gift. However, Mr Saseendran contended that the document was actually a Will and not a gift, as their father had retained possession and later revoked the deed in 1993, subsequently selling the property to him. The trial court and first appellate court sided with Mr Saseendran, ruling that the 1985 document was a will and not a gift. However, the Kerala HC reversed these decisions, recognising the deed as a valid gift and invalidating the subsequent cancellation and sale of the property. The apex court was tasked with determining the nature of the 1985 document whether it was a gift, a settlement, or a will and the legal validity of the 1993 cancellation and sale deed whether the father had the authority to revoke the transfer and sell the property to Mr Saseendran. The SC examined whether the deed constituted a gift or a Will based on the principle of 'in praesenti' transfer meaning whether ownership was transferred immediately or only upon the father's death. The document explicitly conveyed ownership to Ms Ponnamma while allowing Narayana Pillai, the father, to retain a limited life interest, including the right to take income from the property and mortgage it up to Rs2,000. The apex court ruled that the reservation of life interest did not invalidate the transfer. The key test for determining whether a document is a will or a gift is whether ownership is transferred immediately. "Since the deed granted immediate rights to Ms Ponnamma and was registered as a gift deed, it was legally binding," the SC says. The Supreme Court ruled that since the 1985 deed was a gift, it could not be unilaterally revoked. It says section 126 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882, prohibits the unilateral revocation of a validly executed gift unless conditions for revocation were explicitly mentioned in the deed. Mr Pillai's act of cancelling the deed in 1993 and selling the property to Mr Saseendran is invalid and unenforceable, the SC says. The bench observed that the sale deed executed in favour of Mr Saseendran was null and void, as the property had already been transferred to Ms Ponnamma. This ruling reinforces the protection of gift deeds and clarifies that a validly executed and accepted gift deed cannot be revoked unilaterally, retention of life interest does not transform a gift deed into a Will and property transfers must be examined based on substance rather than title. The Supreme Court's decision upholds Ms Ponnamma's property rights and sets an important precedent for future disputes concerning gift deeds and Wills in India. (Civil Appeal No4312 of 2025 Date: 24 March 2025) The Supreme Court on Wednesday called for the stricter enforcement of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, and set a two-month deadline for States to set up mechanisms to receive complaints against misleading advertisements of medicines and cures (Indian Medical Association v. Union of India). The Bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan noted that although the Act against misleading advertisements of medicinal or other such products is now 74 years old, it is yet to be properly implemented. The Court, therefore, issued a slew of directions to ensure that this law is properly used to tackle misleading consumer advertisements including directions to State to set up a mechanism within two months to deal with complaints against misleading ads. Though the act is more than 74 years old, there is no implementation in letter and spirit. It is necessary for State governments to create machinery for the implementation of the Act ... State has to come up with a grievance redressal mechanism ... It may provide for taking complaints either on a toll-free number or by email. We direct the State governments to create a mechanism within 2 months from today, the Court ordered. The Court further directed that as soon as complaints regarding misleading ads are received, they must immediately be forwarded for necessary action, including the registration of a criminal case if necessary. "As soon as complaints are received, the same shall be immediately forwarded to the concerned officers to take action under the said provision. If the officer finds that there is a contravention, he shall lodge a complaint with the jurisdictional police station so that FIR is registered and criminal law is set in motion," the Court said. The Court has also called on legal services authorities to conduct awareness programmes to educate the masses about the 1954 Act and to warn the public about how their health could drastically suffer if they are influenced by misleading advertisements about health products. The Bench has asked the Court's registry to forward its order to the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) so that it may coordinate the conduct of sensitisation programmes. During the hearing of the matter today, concerns were flagged about the failure to appoint sufficient gazetted officers who are tasked with implementing the provisions of the Act. The Court has ordered States to ensure that such officers are duly appointed within a month. Moreover, the Court also noted that a centralised dashboard meant to receive complaints against misleading ads is still a work in progress. "As the dashboard is not completely developed, we direct the Union of India to ensure that the dashboard is developed in such a manner that the States can record all the information. We grant time of three months to Union of India to do so. We direct all the States and Union of India to report compliance by end of June, 2025," the Court ordered. The Court was dealing with a case filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) against Patanjali Ayurved over misleading ads published by Patanjali which disparaged modern medicine. The case has been pending before the Court on these larger aspects. Senior Advocate Shadan Farasat is the amicus curiae who is assisting the Court in these matters. On Wednesday, 919 stocks advanced, 3115 declined and 109 remained unchanged, with an advance decline ratio of 0.29 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), indicating negative closing of stocks in broader markets. The trend of the major indices on Wednesdays trading is given in the table below. On NSE, 23 securities advanced and closed at a new 52-week high whereas 187 securities sank to close at their new 52-week lows. In sectoral indices, Nifty Auto was the only gainer. Nifty Media, Nifty PSU bank and Nifty IT were among the biggest losers. Delhi High Court allowed Natco Pharma to manufacture a generic version of Risdiplam, a drug for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), rejecting Roches plea for an interim injunction. This decision is expected to drastically reduce treatment costs in India from Rs22 lakhRs72 lakh per year to just Rs3,000 annually. Bharti Airtel (+0.47%) launched its IPTV services in 2000 cities in India offering customers the large screen viewing experience. Customers will get access to an extensive library of on-demand content from 29 prominent streaming apps including Netflix, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime, SonyLiv, Zee5, 600 popular television channels, and Wi-Fi service at plans starting Rs699. Intellect Design Arena (-0.84%) entered into strategic partnership with LTIMindtree, a leading global technology consulting and digital solutions company. The partnership is designed to catalyse the evolution of financial services across the Middle East, Africa (MEA), and Asia-Pacific (APAC) leveraging the capabilities of eMACH.ai and iTurmeric. Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) (-4.14%) raised Rs910.37 crore through the issuance of privately placed subordinated Tier-II Bonds for a 10-year tenor at an annual coupon rate of 7.74%. Welspun Enterprises (-1.40%) subsidiary -- Welspun Michigan Engineers (WMEL) in joint venture with Aaradhyaa & Co (WMEL-ANC JV) was awarded a contract by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for upgrading the Haji Ali storm water pumping station in G/S Ward, Mumbai. WMEL holds a 75% stake in the joint venture. Jindal Stainless (+1.19%) received approval from board of directors for acquisition of 5.03% stake in Mynd Solutions, a leading Reserve Bank of India regulated Trade Receivables electronic Discounting System (TReDS) and supply chain financing platform, through a combination of primary and secondary investments. Along with the stake held by Jindal Stainless Steelway (JSSL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, it will result in a consolidated stake of 9.62%. KPI Green Energys (-4.05%) subsidiary -- Sun Drops Energia has been awarded Letters of Award (LoA) for the development of solar power projects with a cumulative capacity of 13.80 MW under its Captive Power Producer (CPP) business segment. Waaree Energies (-0.57%) received approval from board of directors for establishment of an additional 1.6 GW Module manufacturing line at its unit situated at Brookshire, in the state of Texas, USA and setting up of additional module manufacturing lines with a Capacity of 3.2 GW at its plant in Navsari in the state of Gujarat. The top gainers and top losers of the major indices are given in the table below: The closing values of the major Asian indices are given in the table below: The Delhi zonal office of the directorate of enforcement (ED) conducted search operations at three premises in Gurgaon under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The premises searched on 23 March 2025 belonged to Barinder Kaur, daugher of PACL founder late Nirmal Singh Bhangoo and her associate Manoj Kumar. Manoj Kumar is identified as a close associate of Ms Kaur and her husband Harsatinder Pal Singh. The raids, carried out on 23 March 2025, are part of an ongoing investigation into the massive Rs48,000 crore PACL fraud case. ED, Delhi Zonal Office has conducted search operations on 23.03.2025 at the premises of Smt Barinder Kaur, daughter of late Nirmal Singh Bhangoo, and Manoj Kumar, close associate of Harsatinder Pal Singh and Smt Barinder Kaur, in connection with the M/s PACL fraud case, ED (@dir_ed) March 25, 2025 During the operations, officials seized significant evidence, including digital records and property documents linked to PACL and its affiliates. ED has stated that further investigations into the scam are ongoing. The investigation stems from a first information report (FIR) registered by the banking and securities fraud cell (BSFC) of central bureau of investigation (CBI) under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, against PACL India Ltd, PGF Ltd, and key accused, including Nirmal Singh Bhangoo. The companies and individuals involved are alleged to have operated fraudulent investment schemes, deceiving thousands of investors. As part of the probe, Harsatinder Pal Singh, the son-in-law of the late Mr Bhangoo, was arrested on 21 March 2025 and has been remanded to ED custody by a special court. The PACL fraud case is considered one of Indias largest financial scams, with lakhs of investors allegedly defrauded through deceitful investment schemes. In February 2019, a committee headed by retired justice (retd) RM Lodha, which is supervising the Supreme Court (SC)-ordered process of selling PACL's assets initiated the process of refunds in phases for investors who had invested in PACL. PACL (or Pearls) is one of the largest Ponzi schemes in India which had been allowed to run for decades, amassing over Rs60,000 crore. The committee asked PACL investors to submit online applications for refunds. The Lodha committee has been processing applications received from investors in a phased manner, slab-wise and, currently, applications with claim amount up to Rs10,000 have been processed and payments have been made in respect of eligible claim applications. The documents uploaded by the PACL investors are verified and then payment amount is calculated, applications processed and, subsequently, payments are processed. The mobilisation of funds by PACL goes back prior to 1997. On receipt of a complaint, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on 30 November 1999 and 10 December 1999 issued letters asking PACL to comply with the provisions of the collective investment scheme (CIS) regulations. In September 2018, ED filed a charge-sheet against PACL and its chief Nirmal Singh Bhangoo in connection with a Ponzi scam involving over Rs49,100 crore, which was collected allegedly by two companies from millions of investors. The ED, which started the probe after lodging an first information report (FIR) in 2015 based on the CBI's case, had, in January 2018, attached Australia-based assets of the Pearls group and Mr Bhangoo worth Rs472 crore. Mr Bhangoo, his companies PACL and Pearls Golden Forest Ltd (PGFL), as well as several thousands of his commission agents were accused of cheating 55 million investors on the pretext of sale and development of agriculture land. The companies made false allotments of land to investors. However, the companies never owned any land in their own name. Mr Bhangoo and his companies promised the investors that allotment would be done on their investment between 90 and 270 days and, if not, handsome returns would be paid. Three months into his tenure as the 26th governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Sanjay Malhotra delivered a hard-hitting speech at the annual conference of bank ombudsmen, on 17th March. His words raised hopes of a much-needed transformation in how banks handle customer grievances. However, real change remains unlikely, unless the governor backs his tough talk with penalties and enforcement. Rising Complaints Not only are a large number of complaints getting escalated, a large proportion of them nearly 57 per cent of the maintainable complaints last year required mediation or formal intervention by the RBI Ombudsmen. You would all agree that this is a highly unsatisfactory situation and needs our urgent attention, said governor Malhotra highlighting a worrying surge in customer grievances under RBIs Integrated Ombudsman Scheme. Complaints increased at a staggering 50% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) over the past two years, reaching 934,000 in 2023-24. Worse, in what the governor called a gross regulatory violation, banks were found to be deliberately misclassifying complaints as requests, queries, and disputes, preventing them from being addressed. This number is on top of the 10mn (million) complaints received by 95 scheduled commercial banks in 2023-24, a figure that doesnt even include complaints against non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) and other RBI-regulated entities (REs). A Nordstrom-level Service Culture? Not Yet Governor Malhotra believes that even a single customer complaint is unacceptable. He recounted the famous Nordstrom story, where a customer returning snow tyres received a refunddespite the store only selling apparel and shoesbecause Nordstrom had recently acquired a retailer that used to sell tyres. He wants Indian banks to adopt a similar customer-first approach. For Indian customers, this expectation is amusing. A vast number of us have endured harassment due to the unilateral freezing of accounts for updation of know-your-customer (KYC) documents, while others struggle with unresponsive banking systems. The governor aims to prevent complaints from escalating to the banking ombudsman by ensuring banks handle them effectively at the initial stage. He called for: Systematic tracking and resolution of complaints surfacing on social media before they escalate. Treating repeat complaints as systemic failures requiring root cause analysis. A two-tier grievance redress system in large entities, with internal ombudsmen (IO) reporting to high-ranking officials. Yet, banks already have board-level customer complaints committees which are largely ineffective. Even complaints routed through the PG Portal once received better attentionbut that, too, has faded away. Read: Kanungo Committee Has Practical Suggestions for Bank Customers. It Is up to Us To Ensure They Are Enforced). Is RBI really serious about making IOs effective? In 2023, the Kanungo committee report said that an overwhelming percentage of rejected (fully/partly) complaints are not being referred to the IO by banks/Res, and less than a quarter of all complaints were vetted by the IO (). This led to RBI then tinkering with its master directions for IOs in 2023. In January 2024, deputy governor J Swaminathan, addressing IOs again pointed out that some entities do not escalate the complaints to IO. Will the latest speech make any difference? Mr Malhotra identified KYC, digital fraud, mis-selling and aggressive recovery practices as four areas that need improvement. Lets analyse what is happening in just one key area. KYC Nightmares: A Never-Ending Hassle Read: Beyond KYC Headaches: Building Trust and Security in India's Finances). So, why hasnt RBI taken action? Governor Malhotra pointed out that once a customers KYC details are updated, they should automatically reflect on the Central Know Your Customer Records Registry (CKYCR). The update is notified to all REs who are expected to check CKYCR records before seeking documents from customers. However, most banks and NBFCs have not enabled the same in their branches/business outlets, causing avoidable inconvenience to customers, he says. The bigger problem is that the biggest banks have a pathetic record of updating even basic customer data. (). So, why hasnt RBI taken action? Governor Malhotra believes artificial intelligence (AI) can revolutionise grievance redress by automating complaint categorisation and analysing large datasets to detect systemic issues. AI, he suggests, could improve speed, accuracy and fairness. While promising, AI remains a distant hope when banks fail to implement even basic complaint-tracking mechanisms properly. Until RBI enforces stricter penalties, technological advancements wont matter. A Citizens Charter without Teeth Governor Malhotra said that RBIs plans to revise the 2014 Citizens Charter to include service timelines for banks.. The original charter defined five consumer rights: right to fair treatment, right to transparency, fair and honest dealing, right to suitability, right to privacy and right to grievance redress and compensation. These are already comprehensive. They need to be become effective. Read: Moneylife Campaign: RBI has no intention to give teeth to the Consumer Charter and impose penalty on banks) Unless it changes its mind, merely identifying timelines for specific services will have no impact on rising consumer complaints. In 2017, RBI made it clear that it had no intention of enforcing these rights with penalties () Unless it changes its mind, merely identifying timelines for specific services will have no impact on rising consumer complaints. Key Policy Gaps RBI Must Address At Moneylife Foundation, we have repeatedly raised crucial issues with RBI and the Kanungo committee that require urgent action 1. Stop Banks from Illegally Freezing Accounts for KYC Read: KYC: Banks Dont Have the Right To Freeze Accounts. Its Illegal). Customers face financial losses, but banks face no consequences. To address this, RBI must: Despite the Kanungo committee stating that banks have no right to freeze accounts due to KYC updates, the practice continues unchecked. RBI itself admitted in an RTI response (January 2021) that it had issued no specific instructions preventing such actions. Consequently, banks frequently demand additional or irrelevant personal data during re-KYC processes, violating guidelines, with no penalties imposed (). Customers face financial losses, but banks face no consequences. To address this, RBI must: Prohibit account freezing for pending KYC updates; ensure banks upload data on CKYCR; and check the database before demanding documents. Mandate a verifiable digital record of all KYC-related communications to prove that three notices have been issued before freezing account. Impose penalties for needless harassment. 2. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Asset Transmission: Unlike SEBI, which now has clear SOPs and penalties for delays in asset transmission, RBI continues issuing circulars with little effect. SOPs with strict deadlines and consequences are needed to streamline inheritance processes and prevent undue delays. RBI also needs to coordinate with SEBI to use a centralised death register to streamline transmission through easy verification of data. 3. Improve Unclaimed Deposits Gateway To Access Information (UDGAM): While RBIs UDGAM portal helps customers locate unclaimed deposits, it remains cumbersome. Adding Boolean search functions and user-friendly enhancements can make it significantly more effective. 4. Lost Documents: Banks have, often, caused immense damage to borrowers by losing or misplacing original property documents submitted as collateral against loans. In most cases, banks refuse to acknowledge the loss or compensate customers. There are no clear rules in place to address the situation when documents are lost. RBI must mandate that banks must provide the borrower with an affidavit-cum-indemnity-bond (ACIB), in addition to a certified true copy of the document in a time-bound manner and prescribe a compensation formula for diminution of property value. This suggestion has been accepted by the Kanungo committee but its recommendation has not been implemented (Read: Lost Property Documents Permanently Damage Asset Values: Regulatory Solution Required for Fair Deal to Borrowers) Banks have, often, caused immense damage to borrowers by losing or misplacing original property documents submitted as collateral against loans. In most cases, banks refuse to acknowledge the loss or compensate customers. There are no clear rules in place to address the situation when documents are lost. RBI must mandate that banks must provide the borrower with an affidavit-cum-indemnity-bond (ACIB), in addition to a certified true copy of the document in a time-bound manner and prescribe a compensation formula for diminution of property value. This suggestion has been accepted by the Kanungo committee but its recommendation has not been implemented ( Will This Be More Than Just a Speech? Governor Malhotras words inspire hope; but unless RBI backs them with meaningful action, they will remain just that. The biggest test of his commitment will be whether he: Penalises banks for failing to upgrade CKYCR access. Holds banks accountable for misclassifying complaints. Enforces strict SOPs for grievance redress and asset transmission. Improving grievance redress needs regulatory action, not just speeches. If the governors push translates into decisive action, we may, finally, see a shift towards consumer-friendly banking. Otherwise, it will be yet another case of powerful rhetoric with no follow-through. Also read... Chinese author and business leader Wang Jing predicted the emergence of a "cosmic civilization" during a speech at the University of Cambridge on March 15, outlining her vision for humanity's future. Wang Jing, also known as Crystal Wang, speaks at a Cambridge event in the U.K., March 15, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Newland Group] Wang, who recently penned "Human Destiny: Institutional Governance," addressed nearly 200 attendees at the university's Selwyn College, discussing the evolution of human society and its potential trajectory. "Human society has evolved from clan tribes to continental and maritime civilizations, then to digital civilization," Wang said. "Each step reflects humanity's ongoing exploration to forge a path forward for its destiny." Wang suggested that future civilization could better reflect humanity's core nature than past eras. "And this is the 'cosmic civilization' a civilization defined by coexistence, common progress, mutual benefit and shared prosperity," she said. In her speech, Wang envisioned a future civilization that prioritizes reverence for life, compassion for all people and the pursuit of global harmony. She outlined five core values essential to this civilization: connection, harmony, symbiosis, co-creation and sharing. As CEO of Newland Group, a Digital China pioneer and a national political advisor of China, she shared insights from her multifaceted career. Wang's presentation explored innovation's impact on governance, strategies for women's empowerment in the digital age, and how cultural fusion could reshape global governance models. As a prominent female figure, Wang emphasized women's multifaceted roles in modern society. She stressed that women must nurture compassion and inclusiveness while developing broader perspectives and vision. Drawing on her extensive experience in entrepreneurship, corporate innovation and governance, Wang has persistently explored profound questions surrounding human destiny and global governance. This intellectual journey culminated in her book series, including "Human Destiny: Institutional Governance," the English edition of which was officially launched by Foreign Language Press under China International Communications Group at the 2025 London Book Fair on March 12. Wang Jing, also known as Crystal Wang, engages with the audience at a Cambridge event in the U.K., March 15, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Newland Group] The event, chaired by Alan Barrell, executive chairman of Cambridge Worldwide Associates, featured an opening address by Professor Gishan Dissanaike, dean of Cambridge Judge Business School. Dissanaike noted that Wang's visit strengthened China-U.K. ties and cultural understanding, contributing to bilateral and global progress. In her book, Wang describes the global governance system as humanity's most revolutionary evolution, arguing it could enable humankind to transcend primitive instincts and usher in a new era of civilization. "As citizens of our global village, we are now in the new era," she said. "We share the same heaven and earth. One world, one dream. One humanity, one family." Jurors deliberated more than four hours Tuesday before convicting a man of showing pornographic videos to a 7-year-old girl and then sexually assaulting her in his apartment bedroom in Butte. The jury of 10 men and two women found 57-year-old Raul Beltran guilty of sexual assault and sexual abuse of children, both punishable by up to 100 years in prison. The jury listened to about eight hours of testimony combined on Monday and Tuesday and heard directly from the girl, who is 8 years old now. She took the stand with a black lab-mix therapy dog at her feet to make her feel safe. Beltran took the stand in his own defense earlier Tuesday, saying he had never seen the little girl before she testified on Monday and never had any kind of contact with her. She was never in my apartment, Beltran said, adding he had maintained his innocence from the get go 14 months ago when the girls accusations surfaced and reached police. The jury listened to closing arguments early Tuesday afternoon and began deliberations around 1:45 p.m. They reached a verdict around 6:30 p.m. and it was announced in court shortly before 7 p.m. District Judge Robert Whelan ordered a presentence investigation and set sentencing for May 14. Beltran, who sat without expression as the verdicts were read, was then cuffed by police and escorted to jail. Beltran was previously convicted of incest for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in Helena in April 2005. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison, with 20 of them suspended, and was paroled in late 2020. Prosecutors were not allowed to discuss that case during this weeks trial. Both convictions Tuesday are punishable by up to 100 years but the one for sexual abuse carries the added penalty of no possible parole for the first 25 years. Ann Shea, who prosecuted the case with colleague Ellen Donohue, said she was pleased we were able to get justice for our victim. Its been a long road and shes a brave little girl and we couldnt have done it without her (testimony), Shea told The Montana Standard. It was a very important thing to do. Im pretty proud of her. RAINN If you or someone you know are a victim of sexual violence, RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is available to help. Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673 or chat online at online.rainn.org. RAINN is the nations largest anti-sexual violence organization, working in partnership with more than 1,000 local service providers. Online: rainn.org. Defense lawyers noted several times Tuesday that the girl looked around the courtroom while testifying Monday and said hes not here even though Beltran was sitting at a nearby table. That is reasonable doubt, and grounds for acquittal said public defender Shelby Danna. Prosecutors said the girl was nervous and Beltran looked significantly different than he did 14 months ago he was much heavier now, had longer hair, a full beard and wasnt wearing glasses. The girl told a forensic interviewer about the alleged sex acts, talked about tiger blankets and other specific items in Beltrans bedroom and backed those statements with testimony Monday. She also described a pornographic video police found on one of Beltrans cell phones, prosecutors said. He cant explain why she knows everything that was in his apartment, Shea said. The defendant stole her innocence when he subjected her to those videos, she said. He stole her innocence when he assaulted her. The girls parents believe the alleged sexual assaults by Beltran occurred because they found a video the girl had taken of her vaginal area to see what it looked like and then talked about the incidents. During a forensic interview, the girl referred to Beltran as guy and said he tells her she is cute, gives her candy, says he loves her and they are like family, prosecutors said in charging documents. She said Beltran showed her videos of two naked people doing stuff and there are other girls and boys in the videos. Beltran would undress her, put his mouth on her privates, take off his pants and have her perform sex acts on him, she said. She repeated some of that on the stand Monday but didnt describe the acts in detail, saying I dont want to say. She did agree with Shea that the specific alleged acts occurred. She said she would enter the apartment through the back door, was told not to bring her friends and Beltran told her not to tell anyone what happened. Beltran said Tuesday that he lived with his adult sister and nobody else had ever been in the apartment except a lady friend one night months prior and the landlord. We worked a lot and we went home, he said in answering questions from public defender Walter Hennessey. We kind of kept to ourselves He said he didnt know the little girl and had never seen her before she testified in court Monday. The girl told the forensic interviewer there were blankets with tigers on them in the bedroom and she talked about strawberry stuff and exercise equipment. Police took into evidence blankets with tigers on them and a bottle of strawberry lubricant from Beltrans bathroom and they were shown to jurors Tuesday. Beltran reiterated he has steadfastly denied the allegations from the beginning and still doesnt know how the girl could describe things in his bedroom. I cant explain that whatsoever, he said. Prosecutors said there was ample evidence and testimony to convict Beltran. A parents worst nightmare, a familys worst nightmare thats what this case is all about, Donohue said. Nearing the 60-day mark of the 90-day obstacle course that is the 2025 Legislature, Republicans' "judicial reform" agenda seems to be fleeting. As of this week, just one Republican-backed bill under the caucus' banner of court reform has fully passed the Legislature and been signed into law by Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte. Eleven of the 27 proposals are dead or being reworked under different titles. The Senate has emerged as the more stubborn chamber when it comes to those proposals; 10 of the 11 bills that have so far failed perished there, largely by the hand of a band of moderates unofficially called "The Nine" who have allied with Democrats to steer the chamber on some of the biggest items so far this session. That dynamic came into play again last week when the Senate considered another large offering from Republicans: a new layer of the court system that would be fully appointed by the governor. Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers, D-Belgrade, whose caucus partnered with moderate Republicans this session, said last week the "general claims court" was not something his caucus is interested in. "We have grave concerns about that. We think it's a terrible idea," Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers, D-Belgrade, said about Senate Bill 385, sponsored by Republican Senate Majority Leader Tom McGillvray. Three days later, the bill failed to pass the Senate Finance and Claims Committee, another panel controlled by the working group of Democrats and moderate Republicans. Republicans in January rode into Helena high on a historic election night, even after losing the legislative supermajority they wielded in the 2023 session. Two years ago the Legislatures big-ticket item, according to early political punditry, was the raft of constitutional amendments the Republican supermajority would muscle through the Legislature. In total, 50 constitutional referenda were drafted, 19 of which were actually introduced, and not one ultimately passed the Legislature that year. The only bill to be signed so far from the 27 proposals put forth by the Senate Select Committee on Judicial Oversight and Reform assembled by Republican leadership in 2024 is House Bill 39. It contains neither reform nor oversight of the courts, but will allow political parties to contribute directly to judicial candidates. Of those committees 27 bills, the proposal thats gotten the most play this session is the prospect of politicizing judicial elections. The vehicle for that policy is Senate Bill 42. Of course, dozens of pieces legislation outside the select committee's 27 anointed judicial reform bills will be heard throughout this session, either dabbling in the same policy proposals or bringing in new ideas entirely. Gov. Greg Gianforte's office, for example, heralded his signing of a bill the office on Tuesday called "landmark judicial reform," albeit in the same press release noted the bill "reinforces existing guardrails" on the courts. That bill is House Bill 409, and it said the courts could not consider a certain test when temporarily halting laws passed by the Legislature. GOP leadership, meanwhile, isnt discouraged yet about the prospect of reshaping the courts despite the slow start. "It was acknowledged throughout the select committee and legislative process that it was likely not all of the bills would pass, and Ive been very encouraged by the major judicial reforms the Senate has been able to advance to date, including Senate Bill 42," Senate President Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, said in a statement. "I also know that this topic is a priority for both House Republicans and the governors office, so Im confident their respective leadership will help get the most important bills across the finish line." Looking forward The real prize Republicans are chasing this session is law to allow, or require, judicial elections to become partisan affairs. Candidates for judicial office would campaign as Republicans or Democrats, nonpartisan or, through one proposal, "nondisclosed." Not long after legislators got to work on the several variations on this goal, newly elected Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court Cory Swanson threw some cold water on the specific policy, drawing a sharp line between himself and the party despite garnering the vocal support of Republicans during his campaign last year. "The judiciary should remain nonpartisan, despite the almost irresistible pull of partisan spending and messaging in these highly contested campaigns," Swanson told lawmakers during his State of the Judiciary address in February. Swanson added his statement was "based on my personal commitment to the people of Montana, and to each of you, to decide every case based on the facts and the law of that case, not based on the party or affiliation of the litigants." This came roughly a month after Gianforte had given his State of the State address, when he urged lawmakers to propel a bill implementing party labels for judicial candidates on his desk. The governor addressed the gap while taking questions from the press last week. Hes entitled to his opinion, Gianforte said. I support the chief justice in many areas, and this is a point where we disagree. Thats about the most respect a Republican has publicly shown a judicial officers opinion since 2020, when Republicans swept every statewide office and largely aligned themselves against the judicial branch. Indeed, Republican Attorney General Austin Knudsen is scheduled for a hearing this week before the Montana Supreme Court to contest a 90-day suspension the state's attorney conduct office recommended for statements Knudsen and his officers made impugning the courts in the early part the very conflict thats playing out with the current judicial reform agenda. Jeremy Johnson, chair of the political science department at Carroll College, said the new dynamic is reflective of what happens at the national level. Even Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court John Roberts has pushed back on President Donald Trump, who's taken to attacking the courts in recent weeks. "Trump can also be respectful with the chief justice at times," Johnson said. Even though Swanson's campaign got the support of many Montana Republicans, he never took that mantle up himself, Johnson noted. "He never ran as a partisan, so I'm not surprised that Swanson took the position he did," Johnson said. Eyes on the House Although the Senate has been the hurdle against much of the judicial reform agenda, it did pass SB 42. That means the House, where Democrats and moderate Republicans have occasionally aligned to kill hardline Republican bills, may host the final showdown for the GOP to capture the prize. SB 42 requires judicial candidates to declare a political party affiliation at every level of judicial contest even city court judges. That bill is scheduled for a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee this week, as is House Bill 838, carried by GOP Speaker of the House Brandon Ler, R-Savage. The bill, crafted by multiple members of House majority leadership, is something more of a compromise. It simply allows judicial candidates to take up a partisan campaign if they choose, and lets candidates who dont want to enter the political fray to be labeled as "nonpartisan." It's a middle ground if the spectrum includes the judicial branch, which asks for no partisanship, and the Republican majority political apparatus, which sees an opportunity to shift its statewide horsepower toward a branch where much of the GOP's most controversial policies have failed to pass muster against constitutional challenges. In a statement, House GOP spokesperson Joey Grewell called HB 838 a "thoughtful and measured approach" that gives candidates the options to communicate their values more openly with voters. "Speaker Ler sees HB 838 as a strong step toward restoring public trust in a branch of government that has long operated with limited accountability," Grewell said. Ler, through Grewell, said the bill prescribing mandatory party labels remains "a solid proposal." "Having both bills in play gives the caucus room to build consensus around the path forward and ensures the Legislature has multiple avenues for delivering meaningful reform," Ler said. Rep. Llew Jones, the Republican appropriations guru from Conrad who leads the moderate GOP "Solutions Caucus" and rarely gets publicly involved in policy debates, has signaled he wont support "full partisanship" for judicial elections. That's at odds with the governor, who doubled down on the question last week. "I personally think we have partisan judicial elections already," Gianforte said. "The Legislature is doing a lot of good work and its not over 'til it's over." Correction: This story has been corrected to remove an erroneous reference to the constitutional referenda process at the Montana Legislature. WASHINGTON 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, claiming 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 he's a good man," Trump said. The use of messaging app Signal to discuss a sensitive operation opened the administration to 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 struggled to explain why the publicly available app was used to discuss such a delicate matter. Waltz comments Waltz said Tuesday he was not sure how Goldberg ended up on the chat. "This one in particular, I've never met, don't know, never communicated with," Waltz said. "We won't be using it very much" in the future, Trump said of Signal. "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 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 Tuesday 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. 'An embarrassment' Both Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who was a participant in the Signal exchange and also testified at Tuesday's intelligence hearing, faced 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. There's 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 a social media 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. Classified disagreement 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. Facing heated questions from Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, Gabbard said there's 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. 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. "I'm 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 doesn't have an update on whether the FBI has opened an investigation into it. Warner asked for an update by the end of the day. "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 demand answers in a separate hearing Wednesday with his panel. Threats hearing Meanwhile, as Democrats focused the hearing on the text exchange, the Trump administration's intelligence officials stressed to Congress the threat they said is posed by international criminal gangs, drug cartels and human smuggling. The annual hearing on worldwide threats before the Senate Intelligence Committee offered a glimpse of the new administration's reorienting of priorities. It comes as Trump opened a new line of communication with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, and 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 Gabbard. 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." In the committee room, Republican senators hewed to the 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. Gabbard and other officials did note the U.S. government's longstanding national security concerns, including international terrorism and the threat she said was posed by countries including Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) is leading the charge in helping five African countries harness geothermal energy, aligning with its broader goal of phasing out thermal power. The latest countries to benefit from KenGens expertise are Tanzania and Zambia, which are tapping into the companys decades of experience and technological know-how in geothermal exploration. This move reflects Kenyas commitment to global climate goals, as outlined in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. The agreement aims to reduce carbon emissions, limit global temperature rise, and mitigate climate change impacts. Kenya is currently the regions leader in geothermal energy, generating 754 megawatts. With ambitious plans to boost its green energy capacity to 1,500 megawatts by 2034, KenGen is focused on supporting other nations in their shift toward clean energy. KenGens CEO, Eng. Peter Njenga, confirmed that the company has secured exploration rights in Zambia and Tanzania, while ongoing drilling operations are underway in Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Eswatini. Weve already helped Ethiopia and Djibouti tap into their geothermal potential, and next, we are focusing on Eswatini, which shows significant promise, Njenga said. Olkaria Power Plant Upgrade In addition to its regional efforts, KenGen is upgrading its Olkaria 1 power plant in Naivasha. The rehabilitation project, which is 50 percent complete, will see the plants output increase from 45MW to 63MW by 2026, contributing an extra 18MW to Kenyas national grid. Our goal is to add 18MW more to the grid, strengthening the national energy supply and supporting the countrys green energy vision, Njenga explained. KenGen is also seeking investors to fund its 10-year strategic plan, which aims to add an additional 1,500MW of green energy capacity. In a broader push for sustainability, the company is transitioning its fleet to green-powered vehicles. Sandis Mukhongo, Assistant Manager for Transport, announced that KenGen is rolling out plans to replace its fuel-driven cars with electric vehicles (EVs). We have already incorporated electric vehicles into our fleet, and we plan to expand this as we build more EV charging stations across the country, Mukhongo shared. KenGen is seeking additional partnerships to accelerate the development of EV infrastructure, ensuring that Kenya is ready for the clean energy future. Kenyas total installed energy capacity is 1,726MW, including 754MW from geothermal, 826MW from hydro, 120MW from thermal, and 25MW from wind. This photo taken on March 24, 2025, shows a view of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) International Conference Center in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. [Photo/Xinhua] Political and business leaders worldwide are gathering in Boao, a coastal town in southern China's Hainan Province, for the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 running from March 25 to 28. Amid rising global economic fragmentation and geopolitical tensions, the forum, themed "Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future," serves as a critical platform for fostering regional cooperation, driving global economic growth and strengthening the region's role in global governance. As Asia plays a bigger role in global growth, discussions are centering on how the region can help navigate challenges and drive sustainable development, with participants recognizing Asia as the world's growth engine and highlighting regional coordination, economic inclusivity and technological advancements as key drivers in addressing economic uncertainties and building up momentum for growth. Growing integration Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Hainan, the forum has long been a platform for regional dialogue, but its role is evolving as Asian economies become more integrated. "Fast-growing South-South trade and investment is making the Boao Forum for Asia relevant beyond the boundaries of Asia," said Denis Depoux, global managing director at Roland Berger, a Germany-based consultancy. Often referred to as the "Asian Davos," the forum brings together political and business leaders to discuss trade, investment and technology, with growing participation from Global South countries in recent years. "The forum highlights the power of partnership through its ability to create space for exchanging ideas, building relationships and collectively shaping the future of Asia," said Dino Otranto, CEO of Australia's mining giant Fortescue Metals. In an increasingly uncertain economic environment, Asia remains a key growth engine for the world economy. According to a report released by the forum, real GDP growth in Asia is projected to rise from 4.4 percent in 2024 to 4.5 percent in 2025, while the region's share of global GDP is expected to increase from 48.1 percent to 48.6 percent at purchasing power parity in the same period. The growth not only highlights Asia's economic dynamism but also its role as a stabilizing force in a world where traditional economic powerhouses face mounting challenges. Given complex geopolitical and economic dynamics, multilateralism, governance and development have become hot topics of discussions at the forum. "These terms are critical in shaping a more stable and prosperous regional landscape amid evolving global challenges," said Anna Malindog-Uy, vice president of Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, a think tank in Manila. Asia's potential The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), comprising 15 Asia-Pacific countries, has emerged as a powerful force in bolstering regional economic integration. The International Monetary Fund has projected that from 2023 to 2029, the RCEP region's GDP will grow by 10.9 trillion U.S. dollars, contributing over 40 percent to global economic growth. The integration of Asian supply chains has accelerated, driven by the need for greater competitiveness and resilience, Depoux said. "Asia's future in the shifting global landscape is incredibly exciting and full of promise," Otranto said. "It's not just about economic growth, but also about Asia leading the way in areas like innovation, technology and sustainability." As global trade and supply chains evolve, Asia's role in driving advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), green energy and digital transformation will undoubtedly be critical, he added. Take DeepSeek, a representative Chinese startup in the AI sector that attests to Asia's growing innovation capacity. Its latest R1 model outperforms many of the world's top AI developers across a variety of benchmarks, drawing significant attention from Silicon Valley. This breakthrough showcases Asia's growing technological prowess in advanced fields, notably AI. Technological innovation has become a key driver of Asia's sustainable transformation. From solar panels stretching across China's western Gobi Desert to smart city networks leveraging digital twin technology in ASEAN countries, Asia is reshaping its development model with cutting-edge technologies, said Wu Xiaochen, vice president of the Hainan Research Academy of Environmental Sciences. Meanwhile, experts at the forum stressed the importance of attuning technological progress to environmental responsibility. They called for stronger policies to ensure that businesses align their innovations with sustainable growth objectives. China's role Asia, particularly China, is seen as a key driver of global growth. The world's second-largest economy is restructuring by prioritizing high-end manufacturing, digital development and green industries, bringing new opportunities for Asia and beyond. As a key pillar of Asia's development, China is pivotal to rebalancing globalization, inclusive growth and regional economic integration, said Zhang Jun, secretary general of the Boao Forum for Asia. "China's rapid advancements in digitization, green transition and AI have positioned it as a key driver of global sustainable development," said Malindog-Uy. "Through cutting-edge research, large-scale industrial transformation and international collaboration, China's innovation-driven approach benefits global cooperation and economic progress." By fostering global partnerships in green energy, digital infrastructure and smart industries, China plays a crucial role in shaping a more resilient and interconnected global economy, she added. Through multilateral cooperation, China is injecting "Asian momentum" into global growth, translating regional experiences into viable ways for global governance, said Chi Fulin, head of the China Institute for Reform and Development. A Kenyan police officer deployed in Haiti as part of the international security force has gone missing after suspected gang members ambushed his unit during a patrol operation. According to the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission, the officer was part of a team assisting the Haitian National Police in retrieving a stranded vehicle when the attack occurred. As the rescue teams attempted to resolve the situation, suspected gang members lying in wait launched an attack, the MSS Mission stated. Following the ambush, specialized units were deployed to search for the missing officer. The attack took place on Tuesday in the town of Pont-Sonde. Reports indicate that the gangs ambushed security officers after a Haitian National Police (HNP) armored vehicle got stuck in a ditch while patrolling the Carrefour Paye-Savien Main Supply Route. Another vehicle in the convoy also suffered a mechanical failure. In response, two MSS Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles from Pont-Sonde were dispatched to assist in the recovery, MSS stated. Authorities believe the gangs deliberately dug the ditch as a trap before launching their assault. As the rescue teams attempted to resolve the situation, suspected gang members lying in wait launched an attack. As a result of the incident, one MSS Kenyan contingent officer remains unaccounted for, the statement added. Local Haitian media have speculated that the missing Kenyan officer may have been killed by the gangs, though authorities have yet to confirm this claim. According to Reuters, videos shared on social media showed the body of a soldier lying on the floor in a bloody uniform. This marks yet another deadly attack on Kenyan officers in Haiti. Just last month, a 26-year-old police constable was killed during an operation in Segur-Savien, becoming the first casualty among the Kenyan contingent. The fallen officer, Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai, was flown back home and laid to rest earlier this month. Kenya Airways has finally broken its 11-year streak of full-year losses, posting a net profit of Ksh5.4 billion for the year ending December 31, 2024. This marks a remarkable turnaround from the Ksh22.6 billion loss recorded the previous year, reflecting an impressive improvement of Ksh28 billion and a 124 percent surge in net profit. Although the airline had posted a modest half-year profit of Ksh513 million, it had not reported a full-year profit since 2013. CEO Allan Kilavuka attributed the financial rebound to the airlines recovery strategy, Project Kifaru. The initiative has focused on boosting operational efficiency and enhancing customer experience through targeted improvements. Despite ongoing global challenges in the aviation industry, such as shortages of aircraft, engines, and spare parts, our turnaround strategy is delivering results. We are committed to completing our capital restructuring plan to reduce financial strain, improve liquidity, and attract strategic investors, Kilavuka stated. However, shareholders will have to wait longer for dividend payouts due to the airlines negative equity position. Kilavuka explained that Kenya Airways will reinvest the profit to strengthen its financial standing. He reaffirmed the airlines commitment to securing a strategic investor to ensure long-term stability. Looking ahead, Kenya Airways aims to optimize its flight network, expand its fleet, upgrade cabin interiors, and diversify its business operations. These efforts will support sustained growth while keeping up with the evolving demands of the aviation industry, Kilavuka explained. Lawyer Willis Otieno has proposed eliminating the national tallying centre to ensure a free and fair election in the 2027 polls. Otieno argued that the national tallying centre violates constitutional principles and creates opportunities for election results to be manipulated. To achieve a free and fair election, we must do away with Bomas. There is no need for a national tallying centre, Otieno said in an interview on Spice FM. He elaborated on the legal foundation of his argument, explaining, The spirit of the courts decision in the Maina Kiai petition is clear: votes should be cast, counted, and results announced at the polling station, followed by the first tallying at the constituency level. Otieno emphasized that the responsibility of declaring the presidential vote should lie with the constituency returning officer, not a national figure. The role of a national returning officer, as Chebukati once called himself, is not supported by our lawswe do not recognize it, he added. Otieno argued that under a well-functioning electoral system, results should be available by the end of election night. He pointed to the United States as an example, where electoral units release results in real time, allowing media outlets to call elections as soon as the votes are tallied. Unlike the U.S., however, Kenyan media are not allowed to announce results and must wait for the official declaration from the IEBC. Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, the IEBC has projected a budget of Ksh62 billion, with a significant portion of that earmarked for the national tallying centre. Whoever the next commissioners are, we must ensure that we dont spend Ksh12 billion on a national tallying centre when results can be declared at the constituency level, Willis said. Otieno also pointed to the 2002 election, which was widely regarded as free and fair, where the process was conducted mainly at the constituency level. This method minimized the electoral commissions influence on the outcome. He recalled that then-chairman Samuel Kivuitu announced the results without the elaborate procedures seen today, noting, Kivuitu didnt even have a tallying centrehe was tallying results in his boardroom. A Nakuru County activist is calling on U.S. President Donald Trump to take action and ensure that Governor Susan Kihika returns to Kenya to resume her official duties. Engineer Evans Kimori, in a letter sent through the U.S. Embassy in Kenya, has requested the deportation of Governor Kihika, who has been absent from office for nearly five months. The letter, titled Request for the Deportation of Governor Susan Kihika to Resume Leadership Duties in Nakuru County, Kenya, calls for action on behalf of Nakuru residents. I respectfully request your intervention in facilitating (deporting) her return to Kenya so she can resume her duties. The people of Nakuru deserve accountable leadership, and her continued stay in the U.S. undermines the trust and democratic mandate placed in her by the electorate, the letter reads. In the letter, which was also sent to President William Ruto, Kimori points out that Kihika has been on maternity leave in the U.S. for far longer than Kenyan law permits. While maternity leave is recognized under Kenyan law for up to 90 days, she has been absent for nearly five months, creating a leadership vacuum in Nakuru County, the letter states. The activist further criticized the governor for seeking medical services abroad after her administration ordered the closure of War Memorial Hospital. He argued that thousands of Nakuru residents, especially those with chronic illnesses, have been left without essential healthcare while Kihika receives medical care in the U.S. As an elected governor, she has a constitutional duty to ensure that public services, including healthcare, remain accessible to the people. However, her prolonged absence while critical services in Nakuru deteriorate amounts to neglect of her responsibilities, despite receiving substantial salaries, Kimori said. Last week, Kimori, alongside more than 2,000 residents, submitted a petition to the Nakuru County Assembly, demanding answers regarding Kihikas absence, the management of the county in her absence, and the impact of her frequent trips abroad. The assembly has 14 days from March 17, 2025, to respond to the petition. Women Leaders Rally Behind Governor Kihika Meanwhile, women leaders have rallied behind Governor Kihika, defending her against public criticism over her prolonged absence from county affairs. Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, a group of leaders led by Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda urged the public to be patient, emphasizing the challenges women face in balancing leadership and family responsibilities. Mutinda also called for stronger policies to support women in leadership roles. As women leaders of Kenya, we stand in solidarity with Governor Susan Kihika and congratulate her on the birth of her baby. We are aware of petitions filed in government institutions regarding her extended absence from office, Mutinda stated. She further noted that motherhood comes with significant challenges, including post-medical complications, and urged Kenyans to be understanding. The journey to motherhood is difficult; it brings post-medical issues. Her absence has been caused by unforeseen circumstances. The nation should be patient and exercise empathy, she added. Kisii Woman Representative Donya Dorice also weighed in on the situation, responding to the letter from Evans Kimori to US President Trump to deport the governor back to Kenya. Dorice questioned the unfair bias women in leadership often face, stating, Why even write to the US to deport the governor? Nominated Senator Veronica Maina joined Senator Mutinda in supporting Governor Susan Kihika, urging her to remain strong during these challenging times. A woman is condemned if she has no child, so why should she be condemned again when she becomes a mother? Maina said. We encourage Kihika to be bold, and we stand together to ask for our rights. In a classic Only in Kenya moment, the Riandira Police Post in Mwea-West, Kirinyaga County, has been shut down due to unresolved rent arrears, and six officers have been transferred. The closure, attributed to a Ksh. 2 million debt, has left locals anxious about their safety. Mwea-West Subcounty Police Commander Rashid Ali confirmed the closure of the police post, which had served the Riandira community for eight years. Despite the closure, he reassured residents that security measures would remain in place. The move raised alarm among locals. We are worried that without the police, lawlessness will increase in the area, one resident said. While many werent fully aware of the landlord-police agreement, they voiced their concern over the growing risk of crime, particularly muggings and cattle theft. We just want the rent to be paid so the officers can stay, another resident stated. The issue stems from a house provided by the late businessman Mwangi Thuita, who passed away in 2018. His daughter, Irene Njeri, explained that the officers were told to start paying rent after his death, but the arrears have now piled up to over Ksh. 2 million. Before my father passed away, he told the officers to start paying rent from 2018. The arrears have now exceeded Ksh. 2 million, which is why we decided to reclaim the property and rent it out to others, Njeri said. Commander Ali assured the community that the Rukanga police post, located four kilometers away, would serve them temporarily. The incident comes after the recent discovery of a man running an unauthorized patrol base in Uasin Gishu, painted in National Police Service colors. Elsewhere in Kakamega, a gang was earlier this month arrested for operating a fake police cell, detaining and extorting victims. Senators are calling on the Ministry of Interior and National Administration to provide regular, detailed updates on the efforts to rescue the abducted chiefs and restore security in Mandera County. Nominated Senator Mariam Omar raised the alarming issue in the Senate, expressing deep concern over the abduction of four chiefs, one assistant chief, and the daughter of one of the chiefs in Wargadud Town on February 3. The victims have now been missing for 45 days, and Omar highlighted the growing anxiety among local residents who are left in uncertainty. Omar explained that the chiefs and assistant chief were on official duty when they were abducted. They were traveling to Elwak Town to meet with the Deputy County Commissioner ahead of President William Rutos upcoming week-long development tour of the North Eastern Region. We are urging the government to prioritize the immediate and safe return of these abducted leaders and civilians, Omar said. She also called on the government to strengthen security forces, enhance border security, and invest in improving infrastructure, education, and economic opportunities to reduce the number of people vulnerable to coercion by militant groups. In addition to the efforts to secure the victims return, Omar stressed the need for the government to provide physical, financial, and emotional support to the affected families. The prolonged disappearance of the chiefs has left their families in a state of trauma, with children particularly suffering from depression and behavioral changes due to the sudden absence of their parents. These abductions have a profound emotional, psychological, and financial impact on the families, particularly those left behind by the primary breadwinners, she noted. Omar further explained that these families are facing significant financial hardship, struggling to meet daily needs like food, medical care, and other essentials. The situation is even more devastating during the holy month of Ramadan, where these families must remain engaged in prayer and fasting, she added. Makueni Senator Daniel Maanzo also expressed shock at the situation, particularly because the administrators were accompanied by armed police officers at the time of the abduction. Despite this, the victims have yet to be located by either the police or the armed forces. Maanzo emphasized that if a chief, who is well-secured in the North Eastern region, could be abducted, then no Kenyan is safe from potential abduction. He urged the government to take all necessary actions to ensure that the chiefs are found alive and well. We must do everything in our power as a House to ensure these chiefs are found alive and safe, and to ensure that Kenyans are safe in the country. The primary responsibility lies with the President, the Defence Forces, and the Minister in charge of Interior, Maanzo concluded. Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan man who had been on death row in Saudi Arabia for over a decade, is finally set to return home after an agreement between Nairobi and Riyadh secured his release. The deal, which involved a $1 million (Ksh129 million) settlement, was confirmed by UDA party Secretary-General Hassan Omar. Omar announced that authorities cleared the fine following a direct intervention from President William Ruto. Speaking at the State Iftar dinner at State House Nairobi, he revealed that the Muslim World League facilitated the $1 million payment to secure Munyakhos freedom. The President made a heartfelt request on behalf of a Kenyan who was facing execution by beheading for murder. Both the Saudi Arabian ambassador to Kenya and Kenyas ambassador to Saudi Arabia have confirmed that officials granted the request, Omar stated. Munyakhos execution had initially been scheduled for May last year, but Kenyas Foreign Affairs Ministry successfully negotiated a postponement. The delay allowed further discussions involving diplomats and religious leaders who worked to secure a resolution. Munyakho, who had been working as a warehouse manager in Saudi Arabia, was sentenced to death following a workplace altercation. On April 9, 2011, he got into a fight with his Yemeni colleague, Abdul Halim Mujahid Makrad Saleh. During the scuffle, Saleh suffered stab wounds to his left thigh and thumb but managed to walk to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. A Saudi Arabian court initially convicted Munyakho of manslaughter in October 2011. However, in June 2014, a Shariah court reviewed the case and upgraded the charge to murder, which carried the death penalty. Under Saudi law, he faced execution by beheading. His execution was delayed because, under Sharia law, one of the victims sons was still a minor at the time. According to legal provisions, the son had to reach the age of majority to give consent before the sentence could be carried out. Negotiations to secure Munyakhos release began in 2019 when the Yemeni family agreed to accept blood money amounting to 10 million riyals (Ksh352.2 million). Further discussions led to a reduction of the amount to 3.5 million riyals in November 2023. Muhammad Al-Issa, the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, played a crucial role in brokering the deal. Omar also credited the efforts of Kenyan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Mohamed Ruwange and his Saudi counterpart Khalid Al-Salman. They have confirmed that officials honored the request, the $1 million has been paid, and the Kenyan will return home safely, he affirmed. However, Omar issued a warning to Kenyans living abroad, urging them to respect the laws of their host countries. The government can intervene, but its powers have limits, he cautioned. Munyakhos anticipated return marks the end of a 13-year-long ordeal, offering relief to his family and the wider Kenyan community following years of uncertainty over his fate. You are here: Business Hisense South Africa and China National Building Material Group (CNBM) on Tuesday signed a strategic cooperation agreement to provide smart energy solutions in South Africa. The deal was inked in Johannesburg, where the Solar and Storage Live Africa 2025, one of Africa's largest renewable energy exhibitions, is currently taking place. After the signing ceremony, Jiang Fei, general manager of CNBM Overseas Cooperation, told Xinhua the new partnership will help South Africans access energy-efficient products. "We are looking at providing new renewable solutions to help address the electricity shortages in South Africa. We see a great potential market for many of our smart solutions," said Jiang. She said Hisense South Africa and CNBM will provide smart meters, charging stations, energy storage solutions and other smart solutions for South Africa's transition to clean energy. Starting on Tuesday, the Solar and Storage Live Africa 2025 will run until Thursday, with many Chinese companies, including Huawei, showcasing their products and solutions. Professor Andrew M. Pardieck leads SIU Simmons Law Schools eDiscovery pro bono project. (Photo by Russell Bailey) SIU law students use eDiscovery tools to seek justice by Pete Rosenbery CARBONDALE, Ill. A program at Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School is teaching students how to navigate the explosion of digital information that has transformed the practice of law. In 2021, SIU Law established an electronic discovery or eDiscovery pro bono program to aid nonprofit legal aid organizations with the analysis of electronically stored information. Since then, SIU students have dedicated most of their time to combing case files from the Georgia Innocence Project. The current project involves SIU students, along with students from the Maurice A. Dean School of Law at Hofstra University, using eDiscovery software to analyze electronically stored information from files in five cases where the courts exonerated defendants. The goal is to determine whether there are patterns in the data relevant for consideration either by the Georgia Innocence Project and its attorneys or by conviction integrity units in prosecutors offices to prevent or remedy wrongful convictions, said Andrew M. Pardieck, the current endowed SIU Law Alumni Professor and director of SIUs eDiscovery pro bono project. The analysis includes students examining both prosecution and court records from these cases to determine if there are red flags, patterns in the evidence or procedural issues that warrant further review. Is there some sort of error or bias that crept into the litigation process that resulted in the wrong conclusion as to who actually committed the crime? Pardieck emphasizes that exoneration means not only that one person has been wrongly convicted but that the person who is truly guilty has not faced justice. To the extent that we can use some of these tools to pull out information that might inform both litigation and advocacy efforts going forward, we believe that is important, he said. Pardieck added that Relativity, a global legal technology company headquartered in Chicago, provides students access to its eDiscovery software free of charge as part of its Academic Partner and Justice for Change programs. A leader in eDiscovery While many law schools now teach eDiscovery, Pardieck, who came to SIU in 2012 and began teaching an eDiscovery course the next year, said that to his knowledge, SIU was one of the first to teach a standalone eDiscovery course and the first to offer an eDiscovery pro bono clinic that partners with a legal service provider and works with nonprofits. At the time, for much of the legal profession, eDiscovery was like the wild, wild west, he said. People didnt know how to do it. There were not established workflows. There wasnt good technology for collecting electronically stored information and getting that into evidence. People were all over the map, and the rules were all over the map. There was also an enormous divide between well-off litigants who could hire technologists and had the resources to gather needed information and those with limited resources, the small and medium-sized law firms involved in family law, personal injury and small business cases. The issue is still acute for public defenders and nonprofits, Pardieck said. In 2012, the American Bar Association amended its Model Rules of Professional Conduct to require attorneys to be technically competent when representing clients. That made SIUs pro bono eDiscovery program a win-win, he said. We were able to develop this pro bono program from which students could gain valuable experience and technical competency, and at the same time, we would be able to provide a service to nonprofits that dont have the resources to do eDiscovery. Important legal lessons Stacy Frank, a second-year law student from OFallon, Missouri, completed 40 pro bono hours on the project during the spring 2024 semester and is now Pardiecks research assistant for the project. She earned her bachelors degree in criminology and criminal justice and social work from St. Louis University. Frank said her work with Georgia Innocence Project has been a profound reminder of the immense responsibility legal professionals bear. It has also taught valuable lessons about practical applications of the law in addition to approaching her studies with a practical, client-focused perspective. It has been a constant reminder that legal work is about more than theory, she said. It's about serving others and upholding the integrity of the system. Clients place their trust in us to navigate a complex system where even small errors can lead to devastating consequences. This experience has deepened my conviction that being a lawyer is not just about earning a good living, but about passionately advocating for underrepresented individuals and ensuring accountability at every level of the legal system, from evidence handling to scene security. Frank said she always envisioned working in juvenile justice, but her experience in eDiscovery, particularly with document reviews for mass torts and data breaches, has sparked an interest in potentially exploring legal technology further. A powerful catalyst for change The SIU Law Alumni Professorship was established by an endowed gift and is awarded to an SIU Simmons School of Law professor demonstrating a high level of accomplishment. Pardieck was nominated by the law schools faculty and endorsed by its full professors. Pardiecks eDiscovery pro bono project is not just an academic exercise, but a powerful catalyst for change, said Angela Upchurch, the law schools acting dean. By helping to uncover patterns in wrongful convictions, students are not only honing their technical skills but also contributing to a larger movement for justice reform, Upchurch said. The collaboration with the Georgia Innocence Project and leading industry partners underscores our commitment to providing meaningful, real-world experiences that make a tangible difference in the legal community. Professor Pardiecks eDiscovery pro bono project exemplifies exceptional work that significantly benefits the legal community. By supporting Professor Pardieck and his graduate assistants in this endeavor, we honor the donors intentions and advance the mission of SIU Simmons Law School. SMPL Pune (Maharashtra) [India], March 26: Nikol Automotive Private Limited, operating under the brand name NIKOL EV, is pleased to announce that it has received the Certificate of Registration of Design from the Patent Office, Government of India. This certification pertains to the company's innovative design for an Alternate Current (AC) Hybrid Charger for Electric Vehicles, registered under Class 13-02. The official certification acknowledges the uniqueness and innovation of NIKOL EV's AC Hybrid Charger design, reinforcing the company's commitment to advancing electric vehicle (EV) charging technology in India. About NIKOL EV Established in 2021, NIKOL EV has been at the forefront of providing reliable and hassle-free EV charging solutions across India. With over 3,000 charging stations spanning more than 20 states, the company has played a pivotal role in supporting the nation's transition to electric mobility. NIKOL EV's charging infrastructure is designed to cater to a wide range of electric vehicles, ensuring accessibility and convenience for EV owners nationwide. Support from the Science & Technology Park, University of Pune NIKOL EV's endeavors have been bolstered by support from the Science & Technology Park, University of Pune (supported by the Department of Science & Technology), Government of India. This collaboration has enabled the company to invest in research and development, leading to innovative solutions like the AC Hybrid Charger. The DST's support underscores the government's commitment to fostering technological advancements in the EV sector. Innovative AC Hybrid Charger Design The newly registered design for the 14kW AC Hybrid Charger represents a significant advancement in EV charging technology. This charger is engineered to provide efficient and reliable charging for a variety of electric vehicles, addressing common challenges faced by EV owners, such as compatibility and maintenance. Commenting on the patent, Arjun D. Pawar, Founder, NIKOL EV, said, "This patent validates the hard work and dedication put in by our team in the last 3 years, and it only gives us the motivation to work harder and focus on bringing more innovation to solve the problem faced by EV users. The company's strategic placement of charging stations in urban and rural areas alike reflects its commitment to making electric mobility accessible to all. Innovations like this will only help in reducing the hassles of EV charging." Commitment to Sustainability NIKOL EV's mission aligns with global sustainability goals, aiming to reduce carbon emissions and promote cleaner transportation alternatives. By providing efficient and widespread charging solutions, the company contributes to the reduction of reliance on fossil fuels, supporting India's environmental objectives and the global fight against climate change. With the recent design registration, NIKOL EV is poised to introduce the AC Hybrid Charger to the market, further enhancing its product offerings and providing state-of-the-art solutions to EV owners. The company plans to continue its expansion, aiming to increase the number of charging stations and introduce innovative technologies that cater to the evolving needs of the electric vehicle market. Contact Information For media inquiries or further information, please contact: Nikol Automotive Private Limited Email: evcs@nikolev.in Website: https://nikolev.in (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) TP Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 26: The highly anticipated TiEcon Mumbai 2025 Entrepreneurial Leadership Summit, centred around the theme "Dhanda First," brought together a stellar lineup of entrepreneurs, investors, and thought leaders. The event served as a dynamic platform for attendees to gain deep insights into business strategies, industry trends, and innovative ideas, all while emphasizing the core tenets of sustainable and ethical entrepreneurship. The 'Dhanda First' Philosophy: A Guiding Mantra for Entrepreneurs The theme "Dhanda First" underscored the significance of prioritizing business fundamentals, adaptability, customer-centricity, and ethical decision-making in today's fast-evolving economic landscape. As businesses navigate challenges ranging from technological disruption to financial sustainability, this approach encourages entrepreneurs to focus on long-term growth, resilience, and innovation. Speaking at the summit, Ranu Vohra, President, TiE Mumbai and Co- founder & Executive Vice Chairman, Avendus emphasized Mumbai's pivotal role in India's startup ecosystem and its blend of financial expertise, technological prowess, and entrepreneurial spirit. He said "Mumbai is uniquely positioned to drive job creation, economic expansion, and innovation, contributing to India's goal of achieving Vikshit Bharat by 2047. It is necessity for startups to focus on solving pressing societal challenges and leveraging Mumbai's strength in physical resources, extensive infrastructure and human capital to propel the country's startup ecosystem forward." Dr Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, President-Elect, TiE Mumbai and Co-Founder, Venture Catalysts & 100Unicorns, remarked that India has the potential to produce global tech giants like Google and OpenAI but requires substantial capital infusion to realize this vision. "While India has witnessed a surge in retail and institutional investments, with family offices and investors contributing around $1 B to startups, India needs at least $5 billion in early-stage funding annually to achieve its goal of creating 1,000 unicorns. This can be achieved by encouraging large-ticket investors from family offices and the stock market to invest in early-stage startups, a goal that TiE Mumbai aims to support." Key Takeaways & Insights from TiEcon Mumbai 2025: * Compassionate capitalism fosters motivated employees and sustainable growth by ensuring fair wages, recognition, and a strong corporate culture. * AI should be assistive, not disruptive, meaning it should enhance human productivity rather than replace jobs. * Investment in AI components such as liquid coolant manufacturing and chip logistics presents lucrative opportunities, particularly as the demand for data centers and AI-driven computation grows. * Navi Mumbai is emerging as India's data center capital, attracting global tech investments due to its robust infrastructure and strategic location. * Ease of doing business will be a key accelerator for India's growth story, requiring streamlined regulations, reduced bureaucratic hurdles, and greater access to funding. * India is on the cusp of the Free Intelligence Era, with AI playing a transformative role in education, healthcare, and governance, enabling widespread automation and decision-making improvements. * Quick commerce and D2C brands are exploding in India's retail ecosystem, fuelled by increasing internet penetration, evolving consumer preferences, and advanced logistics solutions. * Strong governance, focus, and perseverance are crucial for entrepreneurial success, ensuring businesses navigate market fluctuations and regulatory challenges effectively. Building a MOAT (competitive advantage) by selecting the right audience is key, as companies that deeply understand their customers will sustain long-term market leadership.The summit featured an array of engaging keynote addresses, panel discussions, and interactive sessions, where renowned speakers shared their wisdom on leadership, market dynamics, and investment strategies. N R Narayana Murthy, Founder, Infosys championed the principle of "compassionate capitalism," urging businesses to treat employees with dignity and minimize wage disparities. He emphasized that employees seek recognition, appreciation, and respect beyond just monetary rewards. Highlighting Infosys' share distribution model, he demonstrated how businesses can foster a motivated workforce, contribute to national development, and alleviate poverty through innovation and job creation. On Artificial Intelligence (AI), Mr Murthy stated that AI involves two fundamental principles: machine learning, which enables large-scale correlation for predictive analysis, and deep learning, which mimics human brain functions to handle unsupervised algorithms. "Unsupervised algorithms which use deep learning and neural networks are the ones that have much greater potential to do things that will mimic human beings better and better," he said. He added that AI should be deployed in an assistive manner to enhance productivity without replacing human capabilities. Atul Nishar, Founder, Hexaware Technologies Ltd & Chairman, Techpro Ventures and Azent Overseas Education captivated the audience with a poetic tribute to the stock market, encapsulating its highs, lows, and unpredictability. His session offered a balanced market outlook, forecasting an optimistic rebound in the near future while acknowledging the cyclical nature of financial markets. The Chief Guest, Arvind Kumar, Director General, STPI lauded the 'Dhanda First' theme for its clarity, impact, and ability to shape India's entrepreneurial narrative. He emphasized Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as a catalyst for inclusive growth, calling for increased investments in deep-tech sectors like AI, quantum computing, and semiconductors. He highlighted the three pillars of startup success--Passion, Persistence, and Partnership, urging stakeholders to support long-term investments that drive India's vision of becoming a $35 trillion economy by 2047. Ritesh Agarwal, Founder & Group CEO, OYO shared OYO's extraordinary turnaround story, transitioning from a Rs1,000 crore net loss in FY21-22 to a Rs240 crore profit in FY24, with projections of Rs1,100 crore in FY25. He attributed this recovery to customer proximity, adaptability, and resilience. His insights reinforced the importance of perseverance and a profitability-driven approach for entrepreneurs. T V Mohandas Pai, Chairman, Aarin Capital laid out a visionary roadmap to position India as a dominant digital power. He proposed a $1 billion annual investment in AI, Machine Learning, robotics, genomics, and biotech, calling for stronger coalitions between academia, industry, and government. His focus was on nurturing deep-tech startups, fostering innovation, and attracting global collaborations. Harsh Mariwala, Chairman, Marico Ltd stressed that growth is essential to excite stakeholders and must be ingrained in an organization's DNA. He emphasized that businesses must balance sustainability and profitability while focusing on both topline and bottom-line growth. His key takeaway: dedicated resources and a focused approach are essential for scaling international operations. Shaleen Sinha, Head, Growth Tech India, Boston Consulting Group underscored India's economic trajectory, citing key growth drivers such as Quick Commerce, Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) brands, and fintech innovations. He projected that India's GDP would double in the next seven years, with AI applications alone valued at $1 trillion. Trivikraman Thampy, Co-Founder & Co- CEO, Games24x7 stated "We are witnessing a fundamental shift in the way businesses operate. Technologies like AI and data science have evolved from being enablers to becoming the very backbone of operational efficiency and personalised innovation. As India moves towards a trillion-dollar digital economy goal, the strategic adoption of AI and data-driven decision-making will be pivotal in propelling the next generation of startups and solidifying India's position as a global technology leader." Speaking about his product, technology and quality focused brand, Tarun Mehta, CEO, Ather Energy stated "Customers don't buy commodities, they put a lot of trust on brand and quality. There is an enormous power of word of mouth and all that comes down to the quality a product has." Commenting on the current geopolitical scene, Amrit Acharya, CEO Zetwerk stressed "As an entrepreneur, when you start a business, you don't think of hedging and diversification. Bust over a period, diversification is a good trait to have. In addition to being an expert in manufacturing, we also need to become an expert un geopolitics for our business long term." The TiEcon Mumbai 2025 Entrepreneurial Leadership Summit successfully reinforced the 'Dhanda First' mindset, fostering critical discussions on business fundamentals, strategic investments, and leadership. As India continues its journey toward global economic prominence, events like these play a pivotal role in shaping the future of entrepreneurship and driving innovation-led growth About TiE Mumbai The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), was founded in 1992 in Silicon Valley by a group of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and senior professionals with roots in the Indus region. Since 1992. TiE has been supporting entrepreneurs by offering education, mentorship, networking and funding opportunities. The mission of TiE is to foster entrepreneurship globally through the 5 pillars of TiE : mentoring, networking and education, funding and incubation. Dedicated to the virtuous cycle of wealth creation and giving back to the community. TiE's focus area is to generate enable the next generation of entrepreneurs. There are currently 11,000 members, including over 2,500 charter members in 60 chapters across 17 countries. TiE's mission is to foster entrepreneurship globally through mentoring, networking, and education. Dedicated to the virtuous cycle of wealth creation and giving back to the community, TiE's focus is on generating and nurturing our next generation of entrepreneurs. Media Contact Jacqueline Patel 9967040369 jacquelinepatel@yahoo.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by TP. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PRNewswire Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], March 26: izmo Microsystems, a division of 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. 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 izmoltd Marcommarcom@izmoltd.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2649862/izmoltd_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 26: The fixing expert fischer provides its customers with guaranteed safety, quality and efficiency in construction. More than 75 years of inexhaustible innovative power and technical fastening expertise are incorporated into the continuous expansion of the range of products and systems. Installation systems by fischer tailored to specific applications enable safe, cost-effective and simple fastening and routing of any technical building equipment conduits. "At fischer India, our mission is to provide world-class fastening solutions that enhance safety, efficiency, and durability in construction projects. Our extensive portfolio of installation systems is designed to cater to diverse applications, ensuring seamless execution and long-term reliability. By continuously innovating and adapting to the latest industry standards, we empower engineers, planners, and contractors with state-of-the-art solutions that simplify complex installations. Our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction drives us to push the boundaries of fastening technology, making fischer the go-to choice for technical building equipment solutions," says Mayank Kalra, Managing Director of fischer India. fischer fastening and installation solutions make it quicker and easier to install all kinds of supply lines, resulting in rapid, cost-effective and successful projects. A wide range of installation systems for lightweight to heavy loads covers all types of applications in residential, non-residential and industrial buildings. Galvanised variants are ideal for installations in buildings, while hot-dip galvanised or stainless-steel systems are suitable for outdoor use or in highly corrosive atmospheres. Users can also combine the required modular components depending on the conditions of the building and the circumference of the conduit. The fully hot-dip galvanised fischer heavy-duty system FMS replaces the need for secondary steel constructions during heavy installations, reducing costs by up to 30 per cent. The modular fischer universal channel system FUS also helps install medium to heavy pipe systems using rapid push-through connections for the channels. Lightweight loads can be installed using the simple 'Clix' mechanism with the fischer light channel system FLS. fischer installation grids can be created with FUS channels. These grids allow the media connections in factories, production facilities and similar buildings to be converted and reconfigured effectively and economically at anytime and anywhere. The new FYJB bracing element provides added flexibility for bracing and suspending installation grids on steel structures. Fire-proof pipe supports and conduit installations can be designed and carried out with products and systems by fischer. The European Technical Assessment (ETA) for the fischer FUS channels certifies the products' proof of usability under fire exposure according to stringent requirements. This ETA 21/0140 is based on the European Assessment Document (EAD) 280016-00-0602 for pipe support systems. Additional products and systems by fischer retain their load-bearing capacity long enough to give people time to leave the building safely in the event of a fire. Safety is ensured by fire protection test reports in accordance with the criteria of the German Guideline on Conduits (LAR) based on MLAR 2015 for installation in escape and rescue routes. The test reports further certify a fire resistance rating of R30 to R120 as per EN 1363-1/ F30 to F120 under DIN 4102-2. Fix points and sliding elements complete the range. Coordinated system solutions capable of absorbing the thermal expansion of pipes cover all types of loads, from lightweight to heavy pipe systems. The fischer range comprises numerous pipe clamps, both with and without sound insulation inserts, as well as construction elements and accessories to fasten light, medium and heavy pipes made of various materials for all types of conduit systems. The range further includes sprinkler loop hangers, pipe clamps, beam clamps and fastening elements approved by Germany's Property Insurer Associations, such as FM and VdS, certifying their safe application in sprinkler systems. Plugs and anchors suitable for sprinkler systems feature CE marking based on the relevant ETA. Last but not least, fischer's range of technical building equipment solutions comprises system solutions tailored to custom applications, such as the innovative fischer all-in-one systems for flat roof installations. Through targeted load distribution, the systems prevent stress to the roof sealing and insulation layer, thereby preventing damage to the surface. These clever solutions can be used to install secure and sealed air conditioning units, ventilation ducts, pipe systems, cable systems and other technical building equipment installations on flat roofs. Suitable fixing solutions are part of fischer's all-in-one system for technical building equipment installations. These solutions include the intelligent fischer DuoLine plugs with an innovative combination of materials that either fold, expand or knot depending on the construction material, allowing hanger bolts to be installed in any anchor base. The fischer UltraCut FBS II concrete screw with a diameter of 6 mm is also widely used. Its approval for multiple anchorages of non-load-bearing systems makes it ideal for fastening pipe systems, cable runs and channel systems alongside other applications in technical building equipment. Wide range of technical building equipment services From planning and implementation to documentation and subsequent monitoring of buildings and facilities, fischer offers a 360-degree service. Digital offers by the fixing expert meanwhile comprise BIM (Building Information Modelling) services and digital scanning tools for existing buildings. Further offers include automated construction with the fischer BauBot construction robot and the Construction Monitoring sensor innovation for efficient structural monitoring. INSTALL-FIX, a tool within the fischer FiXperience design software, supports customers with structural calculations involving the fischer installation systems. In just a few steps, planners and users can obtain a verifiable printout and list of materials of the required components. "We at fischer India believe that innovation and customer-centric solutions are the key drivers of success in the fastening industry. Our comprehensive support services, including fire protection solutions and on-site training, ensure that our customers receive the highest level of technical expertise and assistance. By integrating engineering excellence with a focus on safety and efficiency, we aim to revolutionize the construction industry and set new benchmarks. Our global presence and strong commitment to customer satisfaction make us a trusted partner in every project," adds Mayank Kalra, Managing Director of fischer India. fischer provides its customers with further support services, including calculations, surveys, approval procedures, BIM modelling, CAD and fire protection services for optimised planning. The company's engineering services are consolidated in its fischer Construction Engineering GmbH. During the construction phase, the fixing specialist's support services range from planning installation, preassembly services and training all the way to on-site briefing and installation. Flexible, customisable fischer office and storage containers provide customers with optimised logistics to increase efficiency on the construction site. The company's engineers, application engineers and field staff guarantee individual and professional support. With 50 operational subsidiaries around the globe, the fixing expert is always within easy reach of its customers. Fischer Building Materials India Private LimitedWard No. 76, Unit 101, First Level, No. 3 (Old 4 Prestige Sigma, Vittal Mallya Rd, Richmond Town, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001 (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) SMPL Jamshedpur (Jharkhand) [India], March 26: XLRI Jamshedpur successfully hosted Manakriti: AI & Business - Transforming Strategy, Innovation and Leadership, the inaugural edition of its AI Conclave organized by the PGDM (GM) AI Nexus Club. The event served as a premier forum for industry leaders, policymakers and AI experts to discuss AI's transformative impact on business strategy, leadership and innovation. The conclave was inaugurated by Dr. (Fr.) S. George, S.J., Director, XLRI Jamshedpur and Dr. Sanjay K. Patro, Dean (Academics), XLRI Jamshedpur. In his keynote, Fr. George underscored the ethical dimensions of AI and its role in responsible leadership, while Prof. Patro emphasized the need for business leaders to adapt to AI-driven transformations. Panel 1: AI & The Future of Work - Redefining Jobs & Skills Moderated by Dr. (Fr.) Kuruvilla Joseph Pandikattu, S.J., Chair Professor of JRD Tata Foundation on Business Ethics, the session featured distinguished panelists who explored AI's impact on workforce transformation, ethical AI governance and the evolving job market. Srivatsa Subbanna, Senior VP & Head of Intelligent Automation & AI, Axis Bank, highlighted Axis Bank's GenAI chatbot, Adi which is enhancing banking experiences across branches and contact centers. Mamta Aggarwal Rajnayak, VP - Head of AI-ML Products & Platforms, American Express, stressed the importance of Emotional Quotient (EQ) and Ethical Quotient (EQ) in AI-driven workplaces to ensure transparency and fairness in regulated industries. Debayan Nag, Associate Director, PwC India, emphasized that businesses must prioritize human-AI collaboration while building scalable and ethical AI frameworks. Dr. Sanmitra Sarkar, Senior Director & Global Head of Generative AI, Capgemini, discussed the shift from traditional AI to Generative and Agentic AI, shaping future business transformation. Sameer Sagar Mishra, Head of AI Projects, Tata Steel, showcased how 550+ AI models are deployed across Tata Steel's value chain to optimize manufacturing operations, blast furnace monitoring and energy management. Kshitiz Aggarwal, Asia Leader - Data & AI, Microsoft, emphasized the democratization of AI expertise while reinforcing the need for accountability, explainability and transparency in AI-driven decision-making. Panel 2: AI for Business - Transformation Moderated by Rahul Ratnam, PGDM-GM Student, XLRI, the second panel focused on AI's role in business transformation and strategic leadership. Sankarsan Mukherjee, Director, PwC India, highlighted that AI adoption must be use-case-driven, leveraging agile, cloud-based ecosystems for effective implementation. Anne Grace, Director, Verizon, emphasized that AI should solve the right problems, aligning AI-driven solutions with business goals and user needs. Amar Kumar, Principal Data & Applied Scientist, Microsoft India, promoted a "learn and conquer" mindset, encouraging leaders to focus on continuous learning rather than just technological advancements. Dr. Amit Sachan, VP, Jio, illustrated how AI-powered personalization is enhancing user engagement, citing Jio-Hotstar's AI-driven content recommendations as an example. Ramakanta Panigrahy, Practice Director & Head of Automation, Atos, discussed how businesses can use AI-driven automation to align with broader business objectives. Rohit Punnoose, Senior Director, Data Sciences, Target India, explained how AI-driven pricing strategies in retail are enhancing customer value while improving profit margins. XLRI's Commitment to AI & Responsible Leadership The Manakriti - AI Conclave 2025 reinforced XLRI's commitment to fostering meaningful discussions on AI's role in business, leadership and ethics. The event highlighted the importance of strategic AI adoption, ethical considerations and continuous upskilling for professionals navigating an AI-driven world. The conclave concluded with a vote of thanks by the AI Nexus Club, acknowledging the XLRI faculty, industry speakers and student organizers for their contributions. Special appreciation was extended to Dr. (Fr.) S. George, S.J., Dr. (Fr.) Donald D'Silva, S.J., Dr. Sanjay Patro, Dr. Sunil Sarangi and Dr. Vishwa Ballabh for their invaluable support. The event was seamlessly organized under the guidance of Dr. Kanagaraj Ayyalusamy & Ms. Anshu Kumari. As AI continues to evolve, XLRI Jamshedpur remains at the forefront of AI-driven discourse, shaping future-ready leaders who will drive innovation, transformation and ethical leadership in the AI-powered business landscape. For more information, please visit: https://www.xlri.ac.in/ (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 26: Karnavati University (KU), under the dynamic leadership of Shri Ritesh Hada, continues to redefine the landscape of higher education in India with its experience-led, holistic learning philosophy. More than just academics, education at KU is an immersive journey rooted in intellectual growth, service-before-self, leadership cultivation, and real-world readiness. Shri Ritesh Hada's transformative vision comes alive through a series of flagship events and initiatives that serve as catalysts for dialogue, discovery, and development. Among these, the Youth Parliament of India stands out as a powerful movement connecting the youth with the pulse of governance. The platform has hosted several national thought leaders and dignitaries, including Shri J. P Nadda, Shri Amit Shah, Shri Subramaniam Swamy, Smt. Smriti Irani, Shri Salman Khurshid, Smt. Kiran Bedi, Shri C. R. Patil, and Shri Gyanvatsal Swami - inspiring students to engage in critical thinking and civic responsibility. Karnavati University also hosted the prestigious Bar Council of India - National All India Inter-University Moot Court Competition, bringing together the nation's top law aspirants. The event was graced by Shri Manan Kumar Mishra, Chairman of the Bar Council of India, and Honourable Supreme Court Judges Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, offering students a rare opportunity to engage with India's highest pillars of justice. The University's Convocation Ceremony is a vibrant celebration of transformation and new beginnings. Past ceremonies have been illuminated by inspiring figures such as His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, renowned actor Shri Pankaj Kapur, and Admiral R. Hari Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff, motivating graduates to pursue bold, multidimensional success. Adding to the list of distinguished visitors to the KU campus are eminent personalities like Shri Parimal Nathwani and Shri Jay Shah, who have enriched the learning ecosystem with their insights and experiences. In a recent milestone, Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal inaugurated the Shree Shakti Convention Center and Ahmedabad Design Week at KU. He lauded Ahmedabad's growing influence as a hub of creativity and innovation, highlighting the city's and KU's contributions to India's evolving design ecosystem and future-forward thinking. Each initiative at Karnavati University is curated to evolve, challenge, and empower. As Shri Ritesh Hada's vision continues to inspire, KU stands committed to nurturing the next generation of changemakers and impact creators, ensuring that education here is not just learned - but lived. (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) 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. NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 26: On March 25, 2025, Kaivalyadhama, India's pioneering institution in yogic sciences and holistic education, marked its centenary milestone with the launch of its commemorative coffee table book titled "Kaivalyadhama - Synergising Yogic Traditions and Wisdom" at Priyadarshni Academy's 41st Anniversary Literary Awards & Educational Scholarships Function. A Tribute to a Century of Yogic Excellence The coffee table book chronicles Kaivalyadhama's remarkable 100-year journey from its humble beginnings to its current status as a global authority on yoga. The publication blends historical narratives with rich visual documentation, highlighting the institution's pioneering contributions to the scientific study and practice of yoga. The event, which celebrated excellence in literature and education and honored outstanding achievers, was held at Walchand Hirachand Hall, IMC Building, Churchgate, Mumbai, and brought together luminaries from various fields. The commemorative volume was unveiled by the Chief Guest of the ceremony, Shri Ashish Shelar, Minister of Information Technology & Cultural Affairs, Government of Maharashtra and in the presence of other notable personalities on the dias including Mr. Nanik Rupani, Founder & Chairman Emeritus of Priyadarshni Academy. Guests of Honor included Dr. Bhim S. Singhal and Dr. Jimmy Lalkaka, both trustees of the Neurology Foundation. Subodh Tiwari, CEO of Kaivalyadhama and Secretary General of the Indian Yoga Association, shared his reflections on this milestone: "Grateful for the opportunity to release this coffee table book today, amidst such eminent guests and gathering, as we come together to give back to our society." Founded in 1924, Kaivalyadhama is dedicated to the scientific research, education, and therapeutic application of yoga. Under the visionary leadership of its founder Swami Kuvalayananda, the institution has consistently worked to bridge ancient yogic wisdom with modern scientific understanding. Based in Lonavla with centers around India and internationally, Kaivalyadhama continues to impact millions through its educational programs, research publications, and wellness initiatives. (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 Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], March 26: AAFT University Raipur once again showcased its unparalleled commitment to arts and culture with its grand annual cultural program, Zephyr 2025. The event, held at the prestigious Satya Sai Auditorium, witnessed an awe-inspiring participation of over 500 students in various artistic disciplines, including dance, music, drama, singing, fashion, and culinary arts. With a house-full audience, the spectacular performances set a new benchmark for artistic excellence and professionalism. Gracing the occasion as the Chief Guest, Padma Shri Anuj Sharma, a renowned artist and Member of the Legislative Assembly, Government of Chhattisgarh, expressed his admiration for the event, stating, "I am truly amazed by the perfection, synchronization, and artistic brilliance displayed by the students." This outstanding showcase is proof that AAFT University has emerged as a leading institution, not just in Chhattisgarh but in the country, for nurturing talent in art and culture. The level of professionalism in these performances reflects the impeccable training imparted under the leadership of Chancellor Dr. Sandeep Marwah, a legendary figure in the world of creative arts." The evening was a testament to the university's strong foundation in skill development and creative education. Dr. Sandeep Marwah, Chancellor of AAFT University, Founder of Noida Film City, and Marwah Studios, emphasized the institution's legacy, saying: "I extend my heartiest congratulations to all the students and faculty members for their dedication and passion. The talent showcased today is exceptional, proving that skill-based learning is the key to quality education. AAFT stands as India's oldest skill development institution, holding an incredible nine World Records to its credit. Our focus remains on empowering students to reach new heights of excellence in their respective fields." A highlight of the evening was the recognition of outstanding students, who were honored on stage for their remarkable achievements throughout the year. The event was graced by the presence of parents, industry associates, educational partners, and distinguished personalities from Raipur, adding to the grandeur of the occasion. Later, Dr. Sandeep Marwah honored Anuj Sharma with the prestigious AAFT Memento, expressing gratitude for his esteemed presence and valuable contribution to the event. Dr. Shikha Verma Kashyap, Director of AAFT, extended a heartfelt vote of thanks, appreciating the collective efforts that made Zephyr 2025 a resounding success. Registrar Sudhir Ranjan was also present to witness the celebration of creativity and talent at its best. With Zephyr 2025 setting a new milestone, AAFT University Raipur continues to redefine creative education in India, paving the way for future generations of artists, performers, and cultural ambassadors. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL New Delhi [India], March 26: Luxury Packaging Designer and brand strategist Khushboo Goyal is redefining how brands capture attention and build consumer trust with her new book, Seven Seconds to Standout. Exploring the science behind first impressions, the book reveals why packaging isn't just an aesthetic choice but a powerful business tool that directly influences sales and brand perception. Through her design studio, Miss No Label, Khushboo has helped Indian and global brands create packaging that doesn't just look good--it sells. She believes packaging is a brand's silent salesman, making an impact before a single word is spoken. Seven Seconds to Standout highlights how brands have a tiny window to make a lasting impression, and those who understand this psychology gain a significant market advantage. "My research shows that a customer forms an opinion about a brand in just seven seconds. That first impression shapes their buying decisions, whether they realize it or not," says Khushboo. "I wrote this book to help businesses use those crucial moments wisely, crafting packaging that commands attention and builds trust instantly." The book delves into the art and psychology of luxury packaging, exploring how factors like material selection, typography, color psychology, and storytelling impact a brand's perceived value. Drawing from real-world case studies, Khushboo showcases how strategic design choices have helped brands elevate their positioning and increase sales. More than just theory, Seven Seconds to Standout provides practical insights into how businesses can refine their packaging to stand out in competitive markets. With her background in visual storytelling and consumer behavior, Khushboo brings a unique blend of creativity and strategy to luxury packaging. Trained at Central Saint Martins, London, she has closely studied how global luxury brands craft their identities. She now applies these insights to help Indian brands bridge the gap between aesthetic appeal and strategic impact. Through Miss No Label, she has been instrumental in bringing world-class packaging solutions to businesses looking to create a strong brand presence. "Luxury packaging isn't just about looking expensive--it's about creating an emotional connection. It's about making consumers feel something before they even interact with the product," she explains. Seven Seconds to Standout is now available on major e-commerce platforms. An essential read for businesses, marketers, designers, and entrepreneurs, it offers a fresh, strategic perspective on packaging design and its undeniable impact on brand success. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) SMPL New Delhi [India], March 26: The LSE-ISBF Symposium 2025 brought together leading educationists and school principals to explore the future of learning in an AI-driven world. Hosted by the Indian School of Business and Finance (ISBF) in collaboration with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), the event reinforced the deepening partnership between the two institutions and their commitment to bringing global academic excellence to India. The symposium featured senior representatives from LSE and the University of London, who engaged with principals from some of India's most reputed schools. Discussions focused on bridging the gap between school education and higher education, ensuring that students are equipped with critical thinking, analytical skills, and adaptability--key competencies needed in a rapidly changing academic and professional landscape. ISBF: Bringing Global Education to India ISBF has been a key academic partner of the University of London, delivering undergraduate programs with academic direction from LSE. This collaboration enables students in India to pursue globally recognized degrees in Economics, Finance, Management, Data Science, and Psychology, following the same rigorous curriculum as LSE students worldwide. Through this partnership, ISBF has been at the forefront of bringing world-class education to India, ensuring that students have access to LSE's research-driven pedagogy, global perspectives, and analytical approach. The symposium served as a milestone in strengthening academic exchange and discussing ways to further enhance student learning experiences. A Thought-Provoking Discussion on AI & Education The symposium's panel discussion, titled "Redefining School Education for an AI-Driven Future," explored how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming education and how schools can adapt their teaching methodologies to prepare students for an evolving world. The panelists were Oliver Trumble, Associate Director of Global Programmes at LSE; Prof. James Abdey, Associate Academic Director, UoL International Programmes, LSE; Erika Gallacher, Senior Business Development Manager, LSE; Simmy Kant, Vice-Principal, DPS Faridabad; B. Mahender Reddy, CEO, St. Mary's Educational Society. The discussion emphasized the importance of fostering creativity, problem-solving, and digital literacy in students to help them thrive in a technology-driven global economy. Speaking about the event, Arushi Bakshi, Director, ISBF, remarked, "The LSE-ISBF Symposium 2025 is a testament to our commitment to bringing world-class education to India. The presence of senior representatives from LSE and distinguished school principals reflects the importance of global academic partnerships in shaping the future of education. We are proud to provide a platform where educators can engage in meaningful discussions on critical educational reforms." With participation from renowned school leaders, senior academicians, and international education experts, the symposium was widely regarded as a resounding success. Attendees appreciated ISBF's efforts in fostering a globally connected learning ecosystem and strengthening the bridge between secondary and higher education. As the event concluded, ISBF and LSE reaffirmed their commitment to expanding academic opportunities for students in India, ensuring access to world-class education and research. This collaboration continues to be a significant step in bridging Indian and global education standards and empowering students with the knowledge and skills required to thrive in an AI-powered world. For more information, please visit: https://isbf.edu.in/lp/isbf-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) The Chhattisgarh government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NASSCOM, IESA and TIE Bangalore to boost the state's development and generate employment opportunities, according to an official release. On Wednesday, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai engaged with top industrialists and business leaders to explore investment opportunities in the state. Several major tech companies from Bengaluru, referred to as the Silicon Valley of India, have expressed interest in expanding their business in Chhattisgarh. Prominent companies from sectors such as engineering, textiles, electronics, IT/ITES, food processing, and green fuel presented investment proposals worth Rs 3,700 crore to invest in Chhattisgarh. Major corporations such as BEML, NASSCOM, Gokaldas Exports, Britannia, TIE Bangalore, and the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce lauded Chhattisgarh's business-friendly policies and infrastructure support and submitted investment proposals during the Chhattisgarh Investors Meet held in Bengaluru on Wednesday. The Chhattisgarh government also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NASSCOM, India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA) and TiE Bangalore The agreement was signed to explore immense possibilities of the IT sector, start up, semiconductor industry in the state. Several major companies have made significant investment commitments in Chhattisgarh. GPSR Arya Private Limited is set to invest Rs 1,350 crore in the CBG Green Fuel sector, promoting biogas and green energy production to drive a clean energy revolution in the state. Klene Paks will invest Rs 500 crore in the textile industry, boosting manufacturing capacity and creating new employment opportunities. Britannia has committed Rs 200 crore to the food processing sector, a move that will benefit local farmers and small entrepreneurs. Keynes Technology is making a Rs 1000 crore investment in IT/ITES, aiming to elevate Chhattisgarh's IT sector and generate large-scale employment. Additionally, Gokaldas Exports and SRV Knit Tech Private Limited will invest Rs 100 crore each in the textile industry, further strengthening this sector within the state. The Chief Minister said that with digital technology, Chhattisgarh is becoming a model state of good governance. The Chhattisgarh government has now eliminated the paperwork for investment, the CM said, adding that the NOC will be available in just one click, and the decision will also be made digitally. The new industrial policy has made the investment process easy and transparent, the CM said. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai assured investors of transparent and fast-track approval processes backed by industry-friendly policies. "Chhattisgarh offers immense opportunities for investors with its skilled workforce, rich resources, and strategic location. We are committed to creating a thriving industrial environment," Sai stated. (ANI) PNN New Delhi [India], March 26: On March 2025 at 11 AM, at Hotel Drake Longchamp in Geneva, the India Water Foundation (IWF), in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Mountain Partnership of the United Nations, convened a High-Level Policy Dialogue on Fostering Collaborative Efforts to Protect Receding Glaciers. The event, held to mark both World Water Day and the 17th founding Day of the India Water Foundation, transformed a hybrid conference space into a dynamic hub of global environmental discourse. Bringing together experts, policymakers, and environmental leaders, the dialogue addressed the escalating crisis of glacial melt and its far-reaching consequences. Dr. Arvind Kumar, President of IWF, emphasized the critical role of glaciers as giant freshwater reservoirs, warning that their retreat poses existential threats to water security, agriculture, and global stability. He urged governments and stakeholders to take decisive action, stressing that if current trends persist, 80% of South Asia's glaciers could disappear by the next century. In his chair address, Shri Dr. Raj Bhushan Chaudhary, Minister of State, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, highlighted the devastating impact of glacier loss on India's major rivers--Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Indus--which sustain millions. India's Himalayan glaciers are vanishing at a rate faster than the global average, with Arunachal Pradesh losing over 300 square kilometers of glacial area between 1988 and 2020. His address pinpointed how sserious the government of Indida is to address thes crucial challenge. Sh. Bharat Lal Secretary General of the National Human Rights Council of India in a very nuanced way in his keynote speech articulated that in a country like India with 1.4 billion population water security is national security. Paucity of water hinders socio economic development. India is preserving forests as carbon sinks and involving communities for collective action. He stressed the need for skill development, transboundary training, and innovative financing mechanisms to ensure long-term water security. Moderating the dialogue, Ms. Shweta Tyagi, Chief Functionary of IWF, underscored the alarming reality of glacial loss. Since 2000, global glaciers have lost 273 billion tons of ice annually, contributing 18 mm to sea level rise, a trend that threatens freshwater availability, biodiversity, and coastal stability. Mr. Ignacio Deregibus, Executive Director, International Water Resources Association, who emphasized that glacier melt is not just an environmental concern but a water, development, and justice crisis. He stressed the need for global cooperation, joint monitoring frameworks, and targeted climate finance to protect glaciers. Ms. Sonja Koeppel, Secretary, UNECE Water Convention, called for strengthening transboundary water cooperation, as 60% of the world's freshwater flows across political boundaries. She highlighted the role of regional adaptation strategies, urging nations to synchronize climate, water, and disaster management policies. Dr. Stefan Uhlenbrook, Director, WMO Hydrology and Cryosphere, presented data showing that 9,000 gigatons of glacier ice have melted since 1975, with 450 gigatons lost in 2024 alone. Swiss glaciers have shrunk by 10% in just two years, a warning for mountain regions worldwide. Ms. Sara Manuelli, Advocacy Officer, FAO Mountain Partnership, highlighted the devastating impact of glacier loss on food security, livelihoods, and traditional mountain communities. With 2 billion people globally dependent on glacier-fed water systems, she urged investment in sustainable agriculture, carbon sequestration, and gender-inclusive policies to build resilience. Dr.Mohd. Farooq Azam, Senior Cryosphere Specialist, ICIMOD stressed that climate change is altering monsoon dynamics, potentially leading to water shortages beyond 2050. The dialogue concluded with a strong consensus: Glacier preservation is not optional, it is imperative. Participants agreed that addressing the crisis requires a paradigm shift in climate policies, increased funding for glacier monitoring, and stronger international cooperation. Governments, intergovernmental agencies, civil society, and businesses must unite to implement science-based solutions, reduce emissions, and invest in sustainable water management. The India Water Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to fostering collaboration across borders, emphasizing that water security is not just about availability but about equity, resilience, and survival. As the world confronts this looming crisis, the time to act is now before the last glaciers vanish, taking with them the very foundation of life on Earth. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL Guwahati (Assam) [India], March 26: P.C. Chandra Jewellers, a name synonymous with elegance and trust, is set to mark another milestone with the grand opening of its first showroom in Guwahati and second in Assam. This new showroom, located at Boraj Arcade, GS Rd, South Sarania, Lachit Nagar, Guwahati, Assam 781007, will be the brand's 69th showroom nationwide. The inauguration will be graced by Uday Kumar Chandra, Managing Director; Prosanto Chandra Joint Managing Director, Suvro Chandra Joint Managing Director, Amitava Chandra, Deputy Managing Director; and Oushnik Chandra, CEO of P. C. Chandra Jewellers. For 85 years, P.C. Chandra Jewellers has been an integral part of celebrations, offering jewellery that blends intricate craftsmanship with contemporary designs. The new showroom in Guwahati will bring this heritage closer to the city's jewellery lovers, featuring a stunning range of gold, diamond, and precious stone collections, including the brand's renowned meenakari and filigree work. Exclusive Benefits and Offers at the Guwahati Showroom - Hallmarked gold jewellery - Certified diamonds and precious stones - Old gold exchange and buyback facilities - Zero percent interest EMI options - Free jewellery insurance coverage - Hundred percent guaranteed buyback on P.C. Chandra Jewellers' diamonds - Golden Dreams - A Gold Savings Plan - Gift cards for special occasions To celebrate the launch, P.C. Chandra Jewellers is offering exclusive inaugural discounts: - Fifteen percent off on making charges of all jewellery - Eight percent off on diamonds and precious stones These offers are available from March 2 to March 16, 2025, at the Guwahati showroom only. About P.C. Chandra Jewellers Founded in 1939, P.C. Chandra Jewellers is a trusted name in fine jewellery, known for its superior craftsmanship and unmatched designs. With a strong retail presence, the brand operates 69 showrooms across India, including key cities such as Kolkata, Delhi, Bangalore, and Mumbai, along with a growing e-commerce platform. Beyond business, P.C. Chandra Jewellers actively contributes to social welfare through initiatives such as: - J.L. Chandra Merit Scholarship for board exam toppers - Anuprerna scholarships for underprivileged students - Gyandhara knowledge centres in colleges - Neem Banani initiative for environmental conservation - #StopTheDrop campaign for water conservation This launch marks another step in P.C. Chandra Jewellers' journey of trust, craftsmanship, and excellence. Guwahati, get ready to experience timeless elegance. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Amazon MGM has officially confirmed that Amy Pascal and David Heyman will produce the next 'James Bond' film, marking a significant shift in the franchise's production history. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that this will be the first Bond movie to be produced outside the Broccoli family's control. Pascal, known for her work on the 'Spider-Man' franchise, and Heyman, the producer behind 'Harry Potter' and 'Fantastic Beasts', will take the helm under their respective banners Pascal Pictures and Heyday Films. Their selection follows a major deal between Amazon MGM and long-time Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, who have overseen the franchise since the 1960s. https://www.instagram.com/p/DHoUNtiok9j/ Courtenay Valenti, head of film at Amazon MGM Studios, praised the new producers, emphasizing their success in franchise filmmaking. "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," Valenti said, as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter. "Amy Pascal and David Heyman are two of the most accomplished, experienced, and respected film producers in our industry," Valenti added. In a joint statement, Pascal and Heyman acknowledged the legacy of the franchise and their commitment to continuing its success. "James Bond is one of the most iconic characters in the history of cinema. We are humbled to follow in the footsteps of Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson, who made so many extraordinary films, and honored and excited to keep the spirit of Bond very much alive as he embarks on his next adventure," they said, as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter. While Amazon MGM has yet to reveal further details about the upcoming Bond film, speculation continues about who will take on the role of the legendary spy after Daniel Craig's departure. (ANI) Actor Varun Sharma has voiced his support for the 'One Nation One Election' initiative, urging people to educate themselves about the proposal. Addressing an awareness event in the national capital on Wednesday, Sharma emphasized the importance of gathering knowledge and discussing the subject with peers and family. Expressing his views on the initiative while speaking to ANI, Sharma said, "I think it's a great initiative. I have been reading about this for the past two to three months. I think we should acquire more and more knowledge about it, we should read up on it. The more we talk about it, the more it will be taken forward." He further highlighted that a synchronized election system could enhance efficiency and save time for both the government and the citizens. "We have been taught since childhood that time is the most valuable thing. I am sure that when this is consolidated, a lot of time will be saved for everyone, including the government," he added. On the same day, BJP MP Bhartuhari Mahtab reflected on the recent all-party meeting that was convened to discuss the One Nation One Election proposal. Terming it a productive session, Mahtab said that legal experts had explained the subject comprehensively. "Today's meeting was fruitful, and many issues were discussed. The former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court and the Attorney General of India explained the entire issue very well," Mahtab said. Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha on Tuesday approved the extension of the tenure of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on One Nation, One Election until the first day of the last week of the Monsoon Session in 2025. JPC Chairman PP Chaudhary moved the motion, seeking additional time to finalize the report on two key bills: The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 and The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The JPC, which convened on Tuesday, heard representations from Attorney General of India R. Venkataramani and Justice D.N. Patel, former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court and current Chairperson of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). The session focused on the legal aspects and implications of implementing One Nation, One Election. The next JPC sitting is scheduled for April 2, where further discussions will take place with two more eminent personalities. (ANI) BJP MP Bhartuhari Mahtab said that he had a 'fruitful' experience at the all-party meeting called for discussion on 'One Nation-One Election' proposal. Mahtab stated that former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court and the Attorney General of India explained the entire issue very well. "Today's meeting was fruitful, and many issues were discussed in the meeting. The former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court and the Attorney General of India explained the entire issue very well...", Bhartuhari Mahtab said on Tuesday. Earlier, the Lok Sabha on Tuesday approved the motion to extend tenure of the JPC on 'One Nation, One Election' upto the first day of last week of the Monsoon Session, 2025. Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), 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 Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the 'One Nation, One Election' bill met at 3 pm on Tuesday. During the meeting, Attorney General of India R Venkataramani and Justice DN Patel, the former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court and current Chairperson of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), made representations before the JPC. Firstly, they will meet Justice D.N. Patel, the Former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, who currently serves as the Chairperson of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). Following this, they will engage in a discussion with R. Venkataramani, the Attorney General of India. The committee's next sitting is scheduled for April 2, which will feature interactions with two more distinguished personalities. Justice Hemant Gupta, a former judge of the Supreme Court, will share his insights, followed by a discussion with Justice BS Chauhan, former judge of the Supreme Court of India and the Chairman of the 21st Law Commission of India. (ANI) You are here: China 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. [Photo/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. Announcing this achievement, Chief Minister Manik Saha today said that the award was presented on the occasion of World TB Day, marking a significant milestone in the state's relentless fight against tuberculosis. Saha, who also serves as the Health Minister of the state, expressed his elation over this achievement. On Facebook, Saha wrote, "Proud moment for Tripura! Tripura has been awarded by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, for its exemplary performance in the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan on the occasion of World TB Day! We are grateful to Hon'ble Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda for handing over the certificate to MD NHM, Tripura." Saha extended his heartfelt gratitude to the entire team involved in this mission. "Kudos to our dedicated team, including District Magistrates, health officials, and Nikshay Mitras, who worked tirelessly for the detection of TB cases and effective treatment. Your hard work and devotion are truly appreciated," he said. (ANI) Congress protested against the suspension of 12 MLAs from the Odisha Legislative Assembly in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. The protest organised by Youth Congress was joined by state president Bhakta Charan Das and Odisha in-charge Ajay Kumar Lallu. The Congress leaders protested outside the Vidhan Sabha premises and were later taken to Congress Bhawan. Congress Odisha in-charge Ajay Kumar Lallu alleged of injuries to the CLP and stated that he was mishandled. Furthermore, Lallu launched a scathing attack on the Odisha government and alleged that 64000 women have gone missing in the state. He also alleged that minor girls are getting pregnant and school-going girls are giving birth in government residences. "I have talked to the CLP, he has injuries on his hands. He was manhandled... This is a dictatorship... For the Kolkata incident (RG Kar rape and murder case), the President put out a tweet condemning it, but in Odisha, 64000 women have gone missing, gangrapes are happening every day, minor girls are getting pregnant, and school-going girls are giving birth in government residences, and the President has not said a word about it. Our MLAs were demanding a discussion on this... We will continue to fight...", Ajay Kumar Lallu said to ANI on Tuesday. Furthermore, Congress Odisha president Bhakta Charan Das alleged that he is being arrested. Das said that section 144 is applied in the area due to which they have reduced their number to 4 from 5 people and hence should not be arrested. "According to Section-144, we reduced our number from five to four, and technically we should not be arrested. We requested them to allow one leader but they are not even doing that. We are being arrested now. Our CLP is also injured...", Bhakta Charan Das said to ANI. (ANI) The sleuths of Commissioner's Task Force, Central Zone Team and Khairatabad police station staff busted a prostitution racket being operated in a hotel in Lakdikapul, Hyderabad. The arrest was done under the limits of Khairatabad police station where one brothel organiser, Kartik Das (29 yrs) was apprehended. He did stone fitting by occupation and was a resident of Dari Ajodhya Charminar, West Bengal. Along with him, one customer Samir Maity (35 yrs), resident of Medinipur West Bengal, was also arrested. The police team rescued one woman victim from the racket. According to the police, the brothel organizer through online/WhatsApp mode operates this prostitution racket. Once a customer contacts them, they crosscheck his identity to ensure that they do not fall into a police trap. The accused persons would send the pictures of the women through WhatsApp to settle a deal with the customer and receive the amount online mode, and after receiving the amount the organizer will send the hotel room number details to the customer who will visit the place and meet the victim. There was no direct contact with the brothel organizer, customer and victim. The entire process was done online only. "Accused Kartik Das is a native of West Bengal State and residing in Charminar by doing Stone fitting in gold ornaments for his livelihood. A few months back he came into contact with an agent/brothel organizer...Two days back the organizer received the victim and booked a room at the above hotel for the purpose of prostitution. He used to collect Rs 9,000/- to Rs 10,000/- from a customer", a police official said. On March 24, the customer Samir Maity contacted with organizer through WhatsApp and received the victim's photo after setting a deal. The customer went to the hotel and was with the victim woman, meanwhile on credible information police raided the premises, apprehended the organizer and customer and rescued the victim. During enquiry, the victim stated that two years back she was brought from Bangladesh through a trafficker disguised as a maid-servant for work in India. After reaching West Bengal, the agents prepared a fake Aadhar card, and address proof and handed her over to the agent who then brought the victim to Delhi offered a huge amount and forcibly instigated the victim to perform prostitution. As per the direction of agents, she was moving from one place to another place and doing prostitution. The apprehension was made by Inspector of Police, Central Zone Task Force, Sub-Inspector and staff of Central Zone Task Force team and Staff of Kairatabad police station, Hyderabad city. (ANI) The Congress workers continued to protest outside the Congress Bhawan in Bhubaneswar against the Odisha assembly speaker Surama Padhy's decision to suspend 12 Congress MLAs for protesting in the well. The MLAs were suspended for seven days on the charges of "indiscipline, disrespecting the Chair and violating rules." Congress MLA Sagar Charan Das said that they were protesting peacefully and were raising the issue of 'women's safety'. He added that they are people's representatives and the issue is not a joke. Das further alleged the police assaulted two MLAs and stated that they would continue the protest. "We were protesting peacefully and we had only one issue- women's safety. The way all MLAs were manhandled and forcefully shifted and insulted is condemnable. We are people's representatives. This is no joke... The question is about society... Police have assaulted two of our MLAs... We will continue our protest. Rules take a backseat when it comes to fighting for the society...", Congress MLA Sagar Charan Das said to ANI on Tuesday. Congress MLA CS Raazen Ekka stated that they witnessed the hooliganism of Odisha police. He added that the Congress is exposing the BJP government and the MLAs are being mishandled. "We got to see the hooliganism of Odisha police. The BJP government is scared... Congress is exposing the BJP government today... Our MLAs have been manhandled... We will continue to protest... Congress stands for women's safety and the people of Odisha...", CS Raazen Ekka said to ANI on Tuesday. Earlier, Congress Odisha in-charge Ajay Kumar Lallu alleged of injuries to the CLP and stated that he was mishandled. Furthermore, Lallu launched a scathing attack on the Odisha government and alleged that 64000 women have gone missing in the state. He also alleged that minor girls are getting pregnant and school-going girls are giving birth in government residences. "I have talked to the CLP, he has injuries on his hands. He was manhandled... This is a dictatorship... For the Kolkata incident (RG Kar rape and murder case), the President put out a tweet condemning it, but in Odisha, 64000 women have gone missing, gangrapes are happening every day, minor girls are getting pregnant, and school-going girls are giving birth in government residences, and the President has not said a word about it. Our MLAs were demanding a discussion on this... We will continue to fight...", Ajay Kumar Lallu said to ANI on Tuesday. After being suspended by the Odisha assembly speaker, the 12 suspended Congress MLAs slept in the well itself and protested against their suspension. (ANI) The Uttar Pradesh Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday to handover notice to the Samajwadi Party MP from Sambhal, Zia ur Rehman Barq for his alleged involvement in the violence that broke out at Sambhal's Shahi Jama Masjid during a court-ordered survey of the mosque on November 24. The SIT went to MP's hostel at Western Court and handed over the notice to Barq. Zia ur Rehman Barq spoke to ANI regarding the issue and stated that he received the notice under Section 35(3) and as an MP he will cooperate with the authorities in the investigation of the Sambhal violence that took place in November last year. "I have received the notice given to me under Section 35(3)... Since I am a citizen of this country and also an MP, I have assured the police of full cooperation during the investigation", Zia ur Rehman Barq said. Violence broke out in Sambhal's Shahi Jama Masjid on November 24 last year which took the lives of four people. In November last year, Moradabad Police Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh confirmed about the FIR filed against Zia ur Rehman Barq and a son of a local MLA for their alleged involvement in the Sambhal violence. An investigation is underway. FIRs have been registered. FIR regarding instigation has been registered against Sambhal MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq and local MLA's son. 4 people have died. The injured are being treated. Strict action will be taken, if needed NSA will also be imposed," said the Moradabad Police Commissioner. In a joint press conference, Sambhal SP Krishna Kumar Bishnoi informed that a complaint has been filed against as many as 800 people after the violence. Addressing the media, SP Bishnoi said, "Our sub-inspector Deepak Rathi who got injured yesterday has filed a complaint against 800 people. Zia Ur Rehman Barq and Sohail Iqbal have been made accused. He said they instigated the mob. Barq was given notice earlier too. He had given provocative speeches earlier too and he was told not to do so." While the police had filed an FIR against Zia ur Rehman Barq, the Sambhal MP called it a 'pre-planned' incident. Samajwadi Party MP, Zia Ur Rehman Barq also spoke to ANI and said, "It is so unfortunate, it is a pre-planned incident. Across the country, Muslims are being targeted and such a bad situation has never happened after independence. The way the Places of Worship Act is being violated. One by one pleas are being submitted and hearing is happening on the same day itself and order is also coming, same day DM and SP went and conducted the survey. People were stopped from offering Namaz. What was the necessity of a second survey?" (ANI) Odisha Congress workers continued their sit-in protest outside the party's office on Wednesday, protesting against the suspension of 12 party MLAs from the Legislative Assembly. The party leaders have alleged that they were beaten up while being removed from the Assembly premises The suspended Congress MLAs had spent the night in the Odisha Assembly on March 25, demanding the formation of a House Committee on the alleged atrocities on women. However, after some time, officials removed the protesters from the assembly premises, prompting the sit-in protest to continue outside the state Congress office. Congress MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati alleged that he was beaten up by officials while being removed from the premises. "A house committee should be formed. They are afraid to make it because the truth will come out. When I was there, they hit me, and hit others too. I haven't seen anything like this in my life. I have not seen that the police would get inside the house and assault us, we have been suspended for seven days. Yesterday 12 MLAs were suspended," Bahinipati told ANI at the site of the protest. Yesterday night, party MLA Sagar Charan Das said that they were protesting peacefully and were raising the issue of women's safety. He added that they are people's representatives and the issue is not a joke. Das further alleged the police assaulted two MLAs and stated that they would continue the protest. Ramchandra Kadam, Odisha Congress legislative party chief, and also one of the suspended MLAs said that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government is not ready to listen to the demands for investigating the thousands alleged rapes of women in the state. "We were demanding to form a House Committee, for the protection of our women, our mothers and daughters, but government is not listening. It has been 14 days. The many rapes and assaults in Odisha which are happening everyday, of minors, is very shameful, and that is why we are demanding a house committee on it. In nine months, around 1700-1800 assault has happened on mothers, and students, it is only increasing," Kadam told ANI. Earlier on March 25, Kadam had 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. Odisha Speaker Surama Padhy had suspended 12 of the 14 Congress MLAs for seven days for "indiscipline, disrespecting the Chair and violating rules." (ANI) As per the police, the victims have been identified as Anil Sinha and his daughter, Jiya Kumari. The gunman was identified as Aman Kumar, a resident of Bihar's Bhojpur. The incident occurred on the Railway overbridge connecting platforms 2 and 3, police added. "On the overbridge between platforms 3 and 4 of Ara Railway Station, three people have died of gunshot wounds. According to the eyewitness, a man aged 23-24 years shot at a girl aged 16-17 years and her father. He later shot himself... Due investigation will follow," ASP Parichay Kumar said. The authorities are gathering evidence and statements to ascertain the exact motive behind the attack. RPF Senior Commandant Prakash Panda said that the murder weapon has been seized, adding that further investigation is underway. "Three people have died. The accused, Aman Kumar, a 24-year-old man, a resident of Bhojpur, shot dead Jiya Kumari and her father, Anil Sinha. He later shot himself. We are investigating... We will make arrangements for CCTV cameras. Although there are around 40 cameras at the railway station, we will get some installed on the foot over bridge. Murder weapon has been seized," Panda said. Further details are awaited. (ANI) Assam Police has recovered and seized 66,000 Yaba tablets worth Rs 20 crore in Assam's Cachar district on Tuesday, police said. Numal Mahatta, Superintendent of Police of Cachar district said that based on credible intelligence, Cachar District Police launched a special operation against the illegal transportation of narcotic substances at Raj Gobindpur, Baga along the Assam-Mizoram border under the jurisdiction of Dholai Police Station. "During the operation Police team raided the house of one namely Md Dil Bahar (36 years old) and recovered 66,000 Yaba tablets concealed inside the false ceiling at his residence. The narcotics substance has been seized in the presence of independent witnesses following all the formalities," Numal Mahatta said. He further said that the price of the narcotic substance in the black market is about Rs 20 crore. "The seized narcotic substance has been tested by drug detection kits (DDK) which resulted positive. The illegal psychotropic substance has been suspected of being transported from a neighbouring state. Further legal action is being initiated," Numal Mahatta said. Earlier on Sunday night, in a major operation, the Assam Police seized 8,000 Yaba tablets worth Rs 2 crore and arrested two drug peddlers in Assam's South Salmara Mankachar district, officials said. Based on input, a team of South Salmara Mankachar district police conducted a special anti-narcotics operation on Sunday night at the Shotimari-II (Indo-Bangladesh Border) area under the Mankachar police station. According to officials, the operation was based on input indicating that a consignment of Yaba tablets, brought from a neighbouring state, was about to be smuggled into Bangladesh by throwing it over the fence on Sunday night. "The consignment was concealed in a heap of sacks of local betel nuts in a house and the police team seized 8,000 Yaba tablets worth Rs 2 crore," the police officer said. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma lauded the police forces for the operation and said the Taba tablets seized were being smuggled to Bangladesh. "Major Drug Bust in South Salmara; 8,000 Yaba tablets worth Rs 2 crore seized. Acting on reliable information, an anti-narcotics operation was carried out by @SSalmaraPolice in a house and seized 8,000 Yaba tablets worth Rs 2 crore smuggled from a neighbouring State and destined to be sent to Bangladesh. Two drug peddlers have been arrested in this connection," he stated. (ANI) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is conducting raids at the residence of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in Raipur and Bhilai, said a statement from the office of the former CM. Baghel was set to reach Delhi today for the meeting of the All India Congress Committee's 'Drafting Committee' constituted for the AICC meeting to be held in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) on 8 and 9 April. Taking to a social media post, the office of Bhupesh Baghel on his X handle wrote, "Now CBI has come. Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is scheduled to go to Delhi today for the meeting of the "Drafting Committee" constituted for the AICC meeting to be held in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) on 8 and 9 April. Even before that, CBI has reached Raipur and Bhilai residence. (Office-Bhupesh Baghel)" https://x.com/bhupeshbaghel/status/1904725260081258582 Visuals from the residence of former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, showed a team of CBI reaching his residence. On March 10, the ED conducted searches at the residence of Bhupesh Baghel, his son Chaitanya Baghel and others in connection with an ongoing probe into the alleged multi-crore liquor scam. In a post on X, Baghel said, "ED has left the house. They found three things in my house. Pen drive containing conversation about transaction of crores between Manturam and Dr. Puneet Gupta (Dr. Raman Singh's son-in-law). Papers of SAIL company of Dr. Raman Singh's son Abhishek Singh." "The total of farming, dairy, Stridhan and "cash in hand" in the entire joint family is about 33 lakh rupees, the account of which will be given to them. The main thing is that ED officials have not been able to provide any ECIR number," he said. However, former CM and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel refuted the reports of Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoning his son Chaitanya Baghel and said that this is a "conspiracy" by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to "defame" leaders. "No notice has been received, so there is no question of appearing anywhere. We will certainly appear before them once we receive a notice. No notice has been received yet...ED's job is to create a deliberate media hype...Agencies are used to defame other individuals. That is what they have done so far...This is a conspiracy by the BJP to defame leaders," Bhupesh Baghel told reporters. The ED has alleged that a cartel of government officials, politicians, and liquor businessmen ran a scheme that illegally collected around Rs 2,161 crore from the sale of liquor in the state between 2019 and 2022. The alleged scam involved manipulation of the liquor supply chain, where a cartel controlled the sale and distribution of alcohol through government-run shops. The agency has earlier conducted multiple raids, including on politicians and bureaucrats linked to the previous Congress-led government in Chhattisgarh. (ANI) During the operations, security forces recovered arms and ammunition from several places. Forces recovered one 9 mm pistol with a magazine, one automatic single-barrel Gun, three 36 hand grenades with nine detonators, one .303 LMG Magazine, 144 5.56 mm live rounds, six .303 live rounds, three 9 mm live rounds, two 5.56 mm INSAS LMG magazines, one 5.56 mm INSAS Rifle Magazine, one Radio wireless radio set, two BP helmets, two BP jackets, 10 anti-riot shells, one blank cartridge, one empty ammunition box, five tube launchers and two sack bags from Chingkhei Ching in the Western side under Porompat police station in Imphal East District. On March 24, In a major crackdown on insurgent activities, security forces arrested three active cadres of the proscribed People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK-Pro) and seized a large cache of arms and ammunition in Manipur's Bishnupur district. The operation, conducted on March 23, led to the arrest of Oinam Abung Meitei (31), Yumlembam Romesh Singh alias Ratan (47), and RK Navy Meitei (32) from Kumbi Terakhong under Kumbi Police Station. A substantial cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from their possession, including one .303 Light Machine Gun (LMG), two .303 LMG magazines, sixteen rounds of .303 live ammunition, three 7.62mm Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) live rounds, one 5.56mm INSAS live round, one 7.62mm AK live round, and twenty-four Ballister cartridges. Additionally, security forces seized a No 36 hand grenade key, three grenade arm rings, one .303 blank round, a four-wheeler, and two mobile phones. Authorities suspect the arrested cadres were involved in subversive activities and are investigating their links to recent insurgent operations in the region. The People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) is an armed insurgent group in Manipur demanding a separate and independent homeland. (ANI) Visitors take photos of giant panda Fu Bao on Tuesday at the Shenshuping base of the Wolong National Nature Reserve in Southwest China's Sichuan province. [Photo/China News] After more than 100 days of rest, giant panda Fu Bao returned to public display on Tuesday at the Shenshuping base in Wolong National Nature Reserve in southwest Sichuan province, according to the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. In December, she was observed trembling while foraging and was immediately subjected to a physical examination and close monitoring by keepers and veterinarians. After undergoing a series of medical tests, including blood work and screenings for parasites and infectious diseases, no abnormalities were found. Fu Bao was then moved to a non-exhibit area for rest. In January and February, the panda exhibited normal estrus behavior, during which she received meticulous care from keepers and veterinarians. Renowned experts from Beijing were also invited to collaborate with the panda base's veterinarians for a joint consultation to further investigate potential causes of the trembling. The latest test results for Fu Bao show no abnormalities. Experts have determined that she is fit for display based on her current condition and medical examination results. Fu Bao was born in July 2020 at South Korea's Everland theme park in Yongin, about 40 kilometers south of Seoul. She is the first offspring of Hua Ni and Yuan Xin, a pair of giant pandas leased from China to South Korea in 2016. Her birth marked the first time a giant panda was born in South Korea, and she quickly became a beloved figure. Everland said that since her public debut in January 2021, she has attracted more than 5.4 million visitors. In April last year, in accordance with international agreements, Fu Bao was sent to China. Her departure was met with an emotional farewell from thousands of fans who gathered at Everland to see her off. Fu Bao's arrival in China has also sparked interest among South Korean tourists. Travel agencies have offered "panda tourism" packages to Sichuan, allowing fans to visit her in her new habitat. Some avid South Korean panda fans alleged mistreatment of Fu Bao shortly after her arrival in China, pointing to a patch of fur loss on her neck. The China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda refuted the claims, saying that tests suggested no abnormalities such as allergies, scabs or thickening of the skin. A spokesperson for the center said the Shenshuping base will continue to closely monitor and care for Fu Bao. To ensure her well-being, the base will adjust display times or suspend displays based on her health status and weather conditions. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) West Bengal General Secretary Priyanka Tibrewal accused Trinamool Congress (TMC) led West Bengal government of a "possible cover up" in the RG Kar rape and murder case. Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Tibrewal said "Everyone had this question, whether this was gang rape or not, whether there was a shady investigation or not, whether there was a cover-up or not, and if at all everything was there, then who are the people behind this crime?... We do not understand the fear of the state government..." "Mamata Banerjee very openly had said that we want the convict to be hanged. Now, why is itthat the state government before the Calcutta High Court said whether this matter is maintainable or not in a writ? Now that raises our question in the mind that this possible cover-up is at the behest of the state government," she added. On Sunday (March 23), Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar sparked controversy by accusing three leaders, including Somnath Dey, of being involved in the RG Kar College rape and murder incident. Majumdar claimed that Dey was rewarded with a prized posting as Chairman of Panihati Municipality by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for allegedly destroying evidence by burning the victim's body. "Three leaders had a role in it (RG Kar Medical College rape and murder). One of these three leaders, Somnath Dey, has been appointed as the Chairman of Panihati Municipality by Mamata Banerjee by giving him a prize posting. This prize posting is because it was on Mamata Banerjee's instructions that they destroyed the evidence by burning the (victim's) body... This is playing with the sentiments of the people of West Bengal," said Majumdar. Majumdar's allegations have led to a protest in North 24 Parganas, where he was joined by BJP workers. The incident has raised questions about the handling of the case and the involvement of political leaders. The RG Kar Medical College rape and murder incident occurred on August 9, 2024, when a 31-year-old female postgraduate trainee doctor was found dead in a seminar room on campus. The case led to widespread protests and outrage across the country, with many demanding justice for the victim. The investigation into the incident was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after the Calcutta High Court expressed dissatisfaction with the police's handling of the case. The CBI has since arrested several individuals, including the main accused, Sanjay Roy, who has been convicted of the crime. Earlier, the supreme court granted the parents of the victim in the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case the liberty to approach the Calcutta High Court, where their plea is already filed. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna allowed the deceased victims' parents to approach the Calcutta High Court, noting that a single-judge bench of the High Court is monitoring the case. The top court was hearing a suo motu case in the rape and murder of a trainee doctor, which took place at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Senior Advocate Karuna Nundy represented the victims' parents. (ANI) A day after presenting the National Capital's budget, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited certain areas of her constituency, Shalimar Bagh, on Wednesday, inspecting the newly inaugurated projects in the area and listening to the grievances of people. The Delhi Chief Minister visited Ward 47 of Pitampura first, where she was going to inaugurate a new water pump. However, she instead told the senior citizens of the area to inaugurate it. She is planning to visit a total of 6 locations across the constituency. She went around various wards of her constituency along with officers of the Delhi Jal Board and Public Works Department (PwD) while listening to the grievances of the people. Reportedly, some constituents conveyed to her some water pumps or street lights are not working, and sewers being clogged. Earlier on March 25, while presenting the Rs 1 lakh crore budget of Delhi, CM Gupta took a jibe at the Aam Aadmi Party, saying that the national capital was handed over "in a in which there was no infrastructure." "Our aim is to establish infrastructure in Delhi... Now, Delhi will be discussed but not only for traffic jams... This megacity turned into an anarchist capital because of damaged roads, traffic jams and incomplete projects... More money was spent on national advertisements than government projects," the CM claimed in the Delhi Assembly. "Today, the Yamuna is struggling with sewage and polluted water. We are committed to cleaning the Yamuna River. It is not just a river for us; it is our cultural heritage. Rs 500 crores have been allocated to develop 40 decentralised sewage plants so that any sewage water is not released directly in the Yamuna River..." she added. The Delhi government has increased this year's budget by 31.8 per cent, increased from Rs 76,000 crores to Rs 1 Lakh crore, according to the Delhi CM. Rs 19,291 crore has been allocated for education, an increase of 17 pc from last time. Similarly, the budget for the transport sector, including for roads and bridges Rs 12,952 crore, an increase of 73 pc. Housing and Urban Development projects budget has been increased by 9 pc from last year. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath vowed to revive as many temples as present in Sambhal. He said that the authorities have till now identified more than 54 pilgrimage sites in the city, and efforts are underway to locate the remaining ones. Speaking to ANI, the Chief Minister emphasised that important sites of Sanatan Hindu Dharma are symbols of India's inheritance. "Whatever it is, we will find it. We will show the world. Those whom God has given eyes, let them see. What happened in Sambhal? Sambhal is the truth," he said. Reacting to the issue of mosques built on the ruins of vandalised Hindu temples, Adityanath stated, "Islam says that worship places constructed after destroying Hindu temples are not accepted by God. Then why were they built?" "The significant sites of Sanatan Hindu Dharma are all symbols of our inheritance," he reiterated. He further stated that the government will continue to revive temples as much evidence will be found. "We have identified more than 54 sites and are searching for the rest. The scientific evidence is present. We are showing where they are, and we will address them one by one." When asked about the Mathura mosque dispute, he said, "We are abiding by the court's decision; otherwise, who knows what could have happened by now?" Referring to the Ghazi Salar Masood fair, which was held in Sambhal and Bahraich, he then said there is no place for "attackers" in New India. Yogi Adityanath stated that glorifying people like Masood is an insult to the country. "They should not be seen as idols, and there is no place for them in New India. Attacks should not be celebrated. We must also recognize that these attacks were carried out by foreigners. They targeted India's faith, insulted Indian sisters and daughters, and looted the country. His glorification is an insult to the faith of Indians. By glorifying him, we dishonour the country, and I believe no one in India will accept this," the UP CM stated. "These people supported forced religious conversions in the country," he added. Notably, Sambhal experienced violence after a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, a Mughal-era mosque, sparked protests and clashes with police. Recently, Zafar Ali, the chief of Jama Masjid Sadar and Shahi Mosque Committee, was taken into custody by Uttar Pradesh Police on Sunday for questioning regarding the violence that erupted in Sambhal on November 24 last year. Ali was taken to Chandausi for a medical examination under heavy security. His detention follows allegations of his involvement in the violence that broke out in Sambhal during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath assured that people from all religions are safe in the state, asserting that as a Yogi, he wishes for everyone's happiness. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, speaking to ANI, said that if Hindus are safe, then Muslims are also safe in his state. CM Yogi, highlighting the tolerant nature of Hindus, said that a Muslim family would feel safe among a hundred Hindu families. He, however, questioned the possibility of 50 Hindu families being safe among a hundred Muslim families. "A Muslim family is the safest among a hundred Hindu families. They will have the freedom to practice all their religious deeds. But can 50 Hindus be safe among 100 Muslim families? No. Bangladesh is an example. Before this, Pakistan was an example. What happened in Afghanistan? If there is smoke or someone is being hit, we should be careful before we get hit. That is what needs to be taken care of," Yogi said, while adding that he treats everyone equally. CM Yogi reiterated that Muslims in Uttar Pradesh are the safest, emphasizing that communal riots in the state have stopped since the BJP came to power in 2017. "In Uttar Pradesh, Muslims are the safest. If Hindus are safe, then they are also safe. If there were riots here in UP before 2017, if Hindu shops were burning, then Muslim shops were also burning. If Hindu houses were burning, then Muslim houses were also burning. And after 2017, the riots stopped," he added. "I am an ordinary citizen, a citizen of Uttar Pradesh. And I am a Yogi who wishes for everyone's happiness. I believe in everyone's support and development," the UP CM stated. He termed Sanatan Dharma as the most ancient religion in the world while asserting that there are no examples in the world where Hindu rulers, using their own strength, have established dominion over others. "Sanatan Dharma is the most ancient religion and culture in the world. You can guess from its name. Sanatan Dharma followers have not converted others to their faith. But what have they received in return? What did they gain in exchange? There is no example anywhere in the world where Hindu rulers, using their own strength, have established dominion over others. Such instances do not exist. While everyone has this mind-set--'this belongs to me, and that belongs to someone else'--which is a product of narrow and limited intellect. In contrast, for Sanatan Dharma followers, the whole world is considered a family, guided by this universal feeling," he said. Speaking about law and order in the state during Ram Navami and Eid, he said, "We sit with the administration from time to time, and we have already prepared an SOP for this. Uttar Pradesh is the first state that, according to the instructions of the Supreme Court, has controlled noise coming from outside its territory or has had it removed and controlled it through this communication." Referring to violence in West Bengal last year during Ram Navami, he asserted, "If we can do it, then why can't it be done in Bengal?" Speaking on the tarpaulin used to cover the mosque during Holi in Uttar Pradesh, the CM said that there are strict instructions not to throw colours at the mosque, but colours do harmy anyone. "If you are playing with colours, it does not harm anyone's existence. You tell me. It is not like that; there are rallies during Muharram. Doesn't the shadow of their flag fall on any Hindu house near the temple? Does it make the Hindu house impure? These are strict instructions not to put anything that is not coloured. But even then, if it has fallen, then the administration is cleaning it and repainting it," Yogi Adityanath said. (ANI) Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) leader Eknath Khadse claimed on Wednesday that the five-year-old case of Disha Salian resurfacing now is an "attempt to defame someone," Khadse referenced the recent complaint of Satish Salian (father of Disha) which named Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, former Commissioner of Police Parambir Singh, Officer Sachin Vaze and actor Aditya Pancholi. "The Disha Salian case is five years old, if after so many years this issue has come up then that means there is an effort to defame someone," Khadse told ANI in Mumbai. Criticising the government for inaction on their part, he said that the case should have been resolved by now, adding, "What did the government do in the last five years? Within that time we should have known who the culprit is, this is just an attempt to defame someone by mentioning this repeatedly." Earlier on March 25, Satish Salian, father of the late Disha Salian filed a written complaint with the Mumbai Police Commissioner seeking the registration of an FIR against Aditya Thackeray and others accused in connection with the offences of gang rape and murder of his daughter. Satish Salian's advocate, Nilesh Ojha, said that the complaint had been accepted by the Joint Commissioner of Police, and the accused in the case, include Aaditya Thackeray, former Commissioner of Police Parambir Singh, Officer Sachin Vaze and actor Aditya Pancholi. "Today, we have filed a written complaint to the CP office and the JCP Crime accepted it and this complaint is the FIR now," Ojha told reporters. He further alleged that Parambir Singh was the "main mastermind" behind the "coverup" in this case back in 2020. Ojha also alleged that Aaditya Thackeray is linked with a "drug cartel", which he said is also mentioned in the complaint. "Aaditya Thackeray is the main accused in this gangrape and murder case. Uddhav Thackeray is the main accused of misuse of power for the coverup... Aaditya Thackeray is found in the drug cartel and this is in the official records of NCB. We have also mentioned this in the complaint... Today, we will also release some pictures in support of this," he added. Earlier, Satish Salian approached the Bombay High Court seeking a probe into his daughter's death and requesting the registration of an FIR against Thackeray, among others. (ANI) Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday met Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann at his residence before the presentation of the state Budget for 2025-26. Earlier, Cheema signed the Budget copies ahead of the presentation of the state Budget. This year's budget will be the Aam Aadmi Party government's third budget after coming to power in 2022. The budget will be based on changes focused on development. As per reports, the budget will emphasise education, healthcare, and eradicating drug addiction. The Aam Aadmi Party is likely to take a strict stance on drugs in this year's budget. For the first time, a Drug Census might be discussed in the budget, as AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal had mentioned it in a rally a few days ago. Home Guards may be appointed to prevent drugs from entering the state through border areas. A separate budget may be allocated for drug prevention. The Punjab government may increase the number of Emergency Response Vehicles. Strengthening the Emergency Number 112 will also have a special provision in the budget. On the state budget, Congress MLA from Abohar Sandeep Jakhar said, "We should keep hope. If I talk about the Abohar and Balluana area, all our development works are pending. We hope that allocations will be made for us in this budget..." Meanwhile, shifting the strategy from broad enforcement to precision strikes against big fish as part of the ongoing war against drugs, the 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' campaign was launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav. According to an official statement, since the launch of this Anti-Drug Campaign on March 1, 2025, the arrest of 3957 drug smugglers after the registration of 2248 first information reports (FIRs) across the state has been made and led to the recovery of large amounts of contraband, including 137.7 kg of heroin from the possession of drug smugglers. The Chief Minister and the Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav directed all the Commissioners of Police (CPs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) to identify and catalogue the main drug suppliers/peddlers in their respective districts within seven days. The statement also mentioned that the directive was issued through a stern letter and aims to systematically dismantle supply chains fuelling the state's narcotics trade. (ANI) Karnataka Minister for Electronics, IT/BT, and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Priyank Kharge, voiced his support for stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra. Kharge on social media platform X, condemned attempts to suppress dissent and reiterated the significance of free speech in a democratic society. In his post, Kharge wrote, "No matter how many attempts are made to suppress dissent, the very foundation of our democracy is built on the right to speak, question, and challenge those in power. True patriotism isn't about blind obedience; it's about holding the government accountable." Kharge emphasized the importance of resistance in a democracy, stating that while authority may try to suppress it, the spirit of democracy ensures that these voices only grow louder. "While authority may try to stifle the sound of resistance, the spirit of democracy ensures that every suppressed voice echoes louder than before," he added. He also highlighted the role of the Constitution in protecting fundamental rights, urging citizens to stand up for their freedoms. Kharge wrote, "The Constitution stands as a powerful reminder, it demands that we STAND UP." Earlier, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath said that the freedom of expression does not mean that individuals can use it to attack someone else, adding that law should take action against such people "who are creating differences in the country." In an exclusive interview with ANI, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said, "Freedom of expression is in the realm of law. It should be in the realm of constitutional values. And in that realm, there is freedom of expression. The freedom of your personality cannot be used to attack someone else. It is unfortunate that some people have considered the freedom of this individual as their birthright to divide the country and increase the division. And I feel that the law should take action against such people who are creating a difference in the country," CM Yogi said. Mumbai Police on March 24 registered an FIR against Kamra based on a complaint by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel. He was summoned by Mumbai Police. (ANI) With the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducting raids on Wednesday at the residence of Bhupesh Baghel, Congress leader Sushil Anand Shukla accused the BJP of using central agencies against the former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and claimed it was an attempt to disrupt his scheduled trip to the national capital Delhi. Speaking to ANI, Shukla said, "Earlier, they (BJP) had sent ED to his residence. Today, the CBI has come to Bhupesh Baghel's Raipur and Bhilai residences. He is scheduled to go to Delhi today. To disturb this program, the BJP sent the CBI to his residence today. The BJP is rattled as it is not able to compete politically." Congress MP K Suresh accused the BJP of using all central agencies, including the CBI, ED and Income Tax, against the Opposition leaders. "CBI, ED and IT are being used against the Opposition leaders. This is not a new thing. Almost all Congress leaders and former CMs have been raided by the CBI. We have been facing this for the last 10 years," K Suresh told ANI. CBI conducted searches at the residences of Bhupesh Baghel in Raipur and Bhilai in a case related to the Mahadev betting app. Baghel was set to reach Delhi today for the meeting of the All India Congress Committee's 'Drafting Committee' constituted for the AICC meeting to be held in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) on April 8 and 9. Taking to a social media post, the office of Bhupesh Baghel on his X handle wrote, "Now CBI has come. Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is scheduled to go to Delhi today for the meeting of the "Drafting Committee" constituted for the AICC meeting to be held in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) on 8 and 9 April. Even before that, CBI has reached Raipur and Bhilai residence. (Office-Bhupesh Baghel)." On March 10, the ED conducted searches at the residence of Bhupesh Baghel, his son Chaitanya Baghel and others in connection with an ongoing probe into the alleged multi-crore liquor scam. In a post on X, Baghel said, "ED has left the house. They found three things in my house. Pen drive containing conversation about transaction of crores between Manturam and Dr. Puneet Gupta (Dr. Raman Singh's son-in-law). Papers of SAIL company of Dr. Raman Singh's son Abhishek Singh." "The total of farming, dairy, Stridhan and "cash in hand" in the entire joint family is about 33 lakh rupees, the account of which will be given to them. The main thing is that ED officials have not been able to provide any ECIR number," he said. However, former CM and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel refuted the reports of Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoning his son Chaitanya Baghel and said that this is a "conspiracy" by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to "defame" leaders. "No notice has been received, so there is no question of appearing anywhere. We will certainly appear before them once we receive a notice. No notice has been received yet...ED's job is to create a deliberate media hype...Agencies are used to defame other individuals. That is what they have done so far...This is a conspiracy by the BJP to defame leaders," Bhupesh Baghel told reporters. The ED has alleged that a cartel of government officials, politicians, and liquor businessmen ran a scheme that illegally collected around Rs 2,161 crore from the sale of liquor in the state between 2019 and 2022. The alleged scam involved manipulation of the liquor supply chain, where a cartel controlled the sale and distribution of alcohol through government-run shops. The agency has earlier conducted multiple raids, including on politicians and bureaucrats linked to the previous Congress-led government in Chhattisgarh. (ANI) Security forces also used drones during the search operation. After receiving input regarding the presence of terrorists, a joint operation was launched by Jammu and Kashmir Police and troops of the Rising Star Corps in the general area of Saniyal Hiranagar on Sunday night. On Tuesday, continuing its crackdown against banned separatist organisations, Kupwara Police conducted multiple raids across the district, targeting individuals associated with proscribed outfits such as Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Muslim League, and Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party. Early morning raids were conducted in the villages of 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) In a series of operations, the Indian Army and Assam Rifles formations, under the Spear Corps, undertook information based joint operations in the Kakching, Imphal West, Imphal East, Senapati and Bishnupur districts of Manipur resulting in recovery of 32 weapons, ammunition and other war-like stores, according to an official press release. The operation was carried out between March 22-25. The operations were launched in coordination with Manipur Police, CRPF, BSF and ITBP. The coordinated efforts resulted in the recovery of 32 weapons, ammunition and other war-like stores. On March 22, in Moltinchan of Kakching district, Assam Rifles and Manipur Police recovered one improvised Mortar, one 0.303 Rifle, one modified Carbine Machine Gun, two Single Barrel Rifle ammunition and war-like stores. Whereas, in Henbung of Senapati district, four bolt action rifles were recovered. Two Single Bore Barrel Rifles and two improvised mortars, ammunition and war-like stores were recovered from Sagolmang in the Imphal East district, the release stated. On March 23, the Indian Army recovered one INSAS, one .303 Rifle and one Self Loading Rifle (SLR) from Phaikot in the Senapati district. Whereas, Assam Rifles in Imphal East recovered one 2" mortar and one 0.32 mm Pistol. On March 24, the security forces recovered one 0.22 Rilfe, one 12 Bore Double Barrel Rifle, four 51mm Mortars and one 9mm Pistol in Imphal East. One AK-47, 12 Bore Rifle, one .303 Rifle, one Double Barrel Rifle, one modified Rifle and two improvised mortars were also recovered by Army from Dumpi in Bishnupur district on March 24. The recovered items have been handed over to Manipur Police for further investigation and dispersal. Earlier today, security forces conducted search operations in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts in Manipur. During the operations, security forces recovered arms and ammunition from several places. Forces recovered one 9 mm pistol with a magazine, one automatic single-barrel Gun, three 36 hand grenades with nine detonators, one .303 LMG Magazine, 144 5.56 mm live rounds, six .303 live rounds, three 9 mm live rounds, two 5.56 mm INSAS LMG magazines, one 5.56 mm INSAS Rifle Magazine, one Radio wireless radio set, two BP helmets, two BP jackets, 10 anti-riot shells, one blank cartridge, one empty ammunition box, five tube launchers and two sack bags from Chingkhei Ching in the Western side under Porompat police station in Imphal East District. (ANI) You are here: World Flash Russia and the United States have agreed on a category list of energy facilities spared from being targeted during a 30-day energy ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to a Kremlin statement Tuesday. The list includes oil refineries, oil and gas pipelines and storage facilities, electricity generation and transmission infrastructure, nuclear power plants, and hydroelectric dam facilities. The Kremlin added that the 30-day ceasefire on energy facilities is in effect starting from March 18 and may be extended by mutual agreement or cease to be in effect if violated by one of the parties. In an earlier statement, the Kremlin noted that Russia and the United States agreed to form measures to implement the 30-day ceasefire agreement. Russia and Ukraine held separate talks with the United States in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, on March 23-25. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said earlier in the day after the talks with the U.S. delegation that "all parties" agreed to develop measures implementing the energy facility ceasefire. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday expressed his support for stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra amid the controversy surrounding his remarks on Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and stated that the artist would rather die than submit or fear the alleged threats. "I don't know who is threatening Kunal Kamra or why. Kunal Kamra is someone I have known for many years. He is not the kind of artist who gets scared of threats. He won't surrender (Jhukega nahi). He would rather die than bow down or be afraid. Those issuing threats will soon find it difficult to continue their path," Raut told the media. Sanjay Raut also responded to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's statement on the Kunal Kamra controversy. CM Adityanath said that the freedom of expression does not mean that individuals can use it to attack someone else, adding that the law should take action against such people "who are creating differences in the country." To this, Raut said, "I agree with what Yogi Ji said -- freedom of speech doesn't mean people can say just anything. But what did Kamra say? He didn't mention anyone's name. He commented on a situation that happened in Maharashtra using satire. I often listen to poets like Kumar Vishwas and Surendra Sharma, and they, too, use satire. Vandalizing property in response to Kamra's words is not justified." Kunal Kamra sparked up a political storm with his controversial 'gaddar' (traitor) joke, which was allegedly aimed at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Several political leaders condemned Kamra's statement during a stand-up show and sought action against him. Kamra, however, on Tuesday, shared a new video to mock Shiv Sena workers for vandalising Mumbai's The Habitat comedy club, where he had performed earlier. Earlier on Tuesday, Deputy CM 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. CM Fadnavis took 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 led 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," the CM said, adding that the people will decide whether Eknath Shinde is a traitor or a selfish person. Earlier, Mumbai Police sent a summons 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. (ANI) Reacting to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's remarks that "Muslims are safe in the state," Bharatiya Janata Party leader Dinesh Sharma on Wednesday said that the BJP's national policy is 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas.' "BJP's national policy is clear in itself - 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas'... it is the government's responsibility to take everyone into confidence, and the government is discharging it very well. Yogi Adityanath has also said the same in his statement, there is no connection with any person or religion, the connection is with the person's thoughts and I think Yogi Adityanath has clarified very well that both Hindus and Muslims should be safe in Uttar Pradesh and the country," Sharma told ANI. In an interview with ANI, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath assured that people from all religions are safe in the state, asserting that as a Yogi, he wishes for everyone's happiness. CM Yogi, highlighting the tolerant nature of Hindus, said that a Muslim family would feel safe among a hundred Hindu families. He, however, questioned the possibility of 50 Hindu families being safe among a hundred Muslim families. "A Muslim family is the safest among a hundred Hindu families. They will have the freedom to practice all their religious deeds. But can 50 Hindus be safe among 100 Muslim families? No. Bangladesh is an example. Before this, Pakistan was an example. What happened in Afghanistan? If there is smoke or someone is being hit, we should be careful before we get hit. That is what needs to be taken care of," Yogi said, while adding that he treats everyone equally. CM Yogi reiterated that Muslims in Uttar Pradesh are the safest, emphasizing that communal riots in the state have stopped since the BJP came to power in 2017. "In Uttar Pradesh, Muslims are the safest. If Hindus are safe, then they are also safe. If there were riots here in UP before 2017, if Hindu shops were burning, then Muslim shops were also burning. If Hindu houses were burning, then Muslim houses were also burning. And after 2017, the riots stopped," he added. "I am an ordinary citizen, a citizen of Uttar Pradesh. And I am a Yogi who wishes for everyone's happiness. I believe in everyone's support and development," the UP CM stated. (ANI) The National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW), which specializes in training, research, and capacity-building in the healthcare sector, is set to roll out a new course aimed at fostering healthy relationships between doctors and patients. This initiative is designed to address conflicts and improve communication in the healthcare setting. Speaking to ANI, Director NIHFW Dr Dheeraj Shah said, "The hospital administration courses, which are in NIHFW, they also have the element related to avoidance of conflict, conflict management, as well as communication skills. Apart from that, we carry out the courses specifically designed for health professionals which train them in communication skills and other soft skills like leadership, time management." He added, "Apart from that, we are also proposing a new course which would be specifically for doctors to deal with all these issues, which will include medical legal issues, and which would also include communication and better patient management and how to communicate with them better, so that there is a healthy doctor patient relationship and there is conflicts are minimized." On rolling out the course, he said, "Our courses are carried out throughout the year, and this particular course which I am talking about should be rolled out in next three to four months. We have already got the program advisory committee approval for that particular course." The NIHFW Director also highlighted other courses that NIHFW provides. "We train people who can administer the health and family welfare programs of the country. So we do it through education, training, capacity building, research and consultancy. We have several educational courses where we create public health professionals. We have a three-year MD course in community health administration, diploma in health administration, then we have Master in Public Health. We have PhD in public health. We have six distance learning courses, one of which is in hospital administration. Apart from that, we carry out about 100 to 150 physical trainings which are related to health administration, hospital administration communication skills, universal health coverage, digital health regulation," explained Dr Shah. (ANI) The Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa on Wednesday claimed that the state's financial condition is "very" bad ahead of the 2025-26 budget, accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led government of failing to fulfill its pre-poll promises. Speaking to media persons outside the Punjab Assembly, the LOP blamed the state government for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. He also criticized AAP for not implementing the direct bank transfer scheme of providing Rs 1,100 to women, a promise made ahead of the 2022 assembly elections by the party. "The financial condition of Punjab is very bad. Punjab ranks 19th out of 28 states in financial status. AAP's pre-poll promise of giving Rs 1,100 to women remains unfulfilled. All administrative secretaries of the Punjab government are being transferred three to four times. The law and order situation in the state is poor," Partap Singh Bajwa said. Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh presented the AAP government's fourth budget today. Cheema, while presenting the budget, said that the Punjab government vowed to carry out the first-ever "drug census" to understand the prevalence of drugs and the usage of de-addiction centres in the state. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema proposed a total budget expenditure of Rs 2,36,080 crore. "I propose a total budget expenditure of Rs 2,36,080 crore for the financial year 2025-26. The effective revenue deficit and fiscal deficit are estimated to be 2.51 per cent and 3.84 per cent, respectively, which is an improvement over previous figures. This indicates that the state is on the path of fiscal consolidation," he said. "I am proud to announce that our government has made a historic decision to build world-class roads in the cities of Punjab. In the first phase, we will construct approximately 50 kilometers of world-class roads over the next year in four cities--Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar, and Mohali," Cheema said. "These roads will include the most important routes in the cities, where local residents and tourists frequently travel," the state Finance Minister added. (ANI) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut targeted the BJP over the five-year-old case of Disha Salian, saying that a political conspiracy aimed at 'defamation' had been ongoing in the case for the past five years. "This political conspiracy of defamation has been going on for the last 5 years. The BJP has no work; they don't have anything else to do," said Raut. The UBT leader expressed faith in the law and said, "If the matter is in court, let it stay there. We have full faith in the judicial system." The Maharashtra opposition has been targeting the BJP over the Disha Salian case, alleging a 'conspiracy' to defame Aaditya Thackeray. NCP-SCP leader Rohit Pawar had earlier attacked the BJP and claimed that the party would do politics over Disha Salian after her father sought a probe into her death. Earlier, Satish Salian, father of the late Disha Salian filed a written complaint with the Mumbai Police Commissioner seeking the registration of an FIR against Aditya Thackeray and others accused in connection with the offences of gang rape and murder of his daughter. Satish Salian's advocate, Nilesh Ojha, said that the complaint had been accepted by the Joint Commissioner of Police, and the accused in the case include Aaditya Thackeray, former Commissioner of Police Parambir Singh, Officer Sachin Vaze and actor Aditya Pancholi. "Aaditya Thackeray is the main accused in this case. Uddhav Thackeray is the main accused of misuse of power for the coverup... Aaditya Thackeray is found in the drug cartel, and this is in the official records of NCB. We have also mentioned this in the complaint... Today, we will also release some pictures in support of this," he alleged. Satish Salian had approached the Bombay High Court seeking a probe into his daughter's death and requesting the registration of an FIR against Aaditya Thackeray, among others. Disha was found dead on June 8, 2020, days before actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found hanging in his flat in suburban Bandra, Mumbai. This development came on the heels of the CBI reportedly submitting a closure report on the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput in 2020. According to sources, the closure has been filed in a Mumbai Court nearly five years after Sushant Singh's death. Sushant, 34, was found dead at his Bandra residence on June 14, 2020, which created a huge controversy, with the investigation later being handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation. His postmortem report stated the cause of death was asphyxia. The postmortem was conducted at Mumbai's Cooper Hospital. (ANI) A day after meeting with the floor leaders of political parties in Rajya Sabha, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar apprised the House on Wednesday that a "very fruitful interaction" took place regarding any concerns one might have regarding the National Judicial Appointment Commission (NJAC). He said that the "deliberations were consensual, reflecting cooperation, concern." "I need to indicate to the House that we yesterday had a very fruitful interaction on the issue that is agitating minds of the public. There was gracious presence of leaders of political parties, including Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition. Without going into the details, the deliberations were consensual, reflecting cooperation, concern, and the issue is not between institutions inter se," Dhankar told the House on Wednesday. "It is not that Executive, Legislature, or Judiciary are pitted against each other. All the institutions in the country have to function in tandem, in togetherness and also there are checks and balances which are well meant," he added. Dhankar said that the meeting concluded with both the leader of the House and Leader of Opposition of Rajya Sabha agreeing that they would discuss the issue with their respective parties and come for further deliberations. "It has been given by both Leader of the House (Jagat Prakash Nadda) and Leader of the Opposition (Mallikarjun Kharge) that after having wider consultations amongst all concerned in their respective parties and otherwise, they would come to the Chairman for further deliberations. That was the conclusion after both Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition had shared their thoughts along with others," he said. Earlier on March 25, as the Rajya Sabha Chairman, pitching for the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act and stated that "things would have been different" if the legislation concerning judicial appointments had not been struck down by the Supreme Court, he met the floor leaders of various political parties. "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 added. The meeting was held in the wake of allegations concerning Justice Yashwant Varma after a fire incident at his residence on March 14 led to the discovery of a substantial amount of cash. Justice Varma has vehemently denied the allegations, asserting that neither he nor his family owns the cash. Dhankar had said that the issue is agitating minds of all branches of governance. (ANI) Actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay paid homage to actor and film director Manoj Bharathiraja, who passed away on Tuesday night. Tamil actor-director Manoj Bharathiraja, son of legendary filmmaker and actor Bharathiraja passed away. Earlier, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin took to his X account to mourn the late actor's death, writing, "I am deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of Mr. Manoj Bharathiraja, son of actor and director Bharathiraja. He made his debut with the film Taj Mahal, directed by his father, and went on to act in many films, including Samuthiram, Alli Arjuna, and Varushamellam Vasantham, creating a mark for himself. He also tried his hand at directing." "His unexpected demise at a young age is deeply shocking. I express my deepest condolences and comfort to Iyakkunar Imayam Bharathiraja, his family, and friends from the film industry who are grieving the loss of their beloved son," he said. Several members of the Tamil film industry also paid their respects. Director Venkat Prabhu shared a picture of Manoj with his friends and wrote, "Really shocking to hear the news... can't believe you are no more, my brother. #Manoj gone tooooo soon... deepest condolences to @offBharathiraja, uncle, family, and friends. May your soul rest in peace." Actor, producer, and politician Khushbu Sundar wrote, "Extremely shocked to hear that Manoj is no longer with us. His untimely demise pains me. He was just 48 years old. May God give strength to his father, Thiru #Bharathiraaja, and his family to overcome this unbearable, painful loss. You will be missed, Manoj." Manoj Bharathiraja is survived by his wife, Ashwathi alias Nandana, and their two daughters, Arshitha and Mathivathani. More details regarding his final rites are awaited. (ANI) Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saugata Roy on Wednesday attacked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over his recent statement claiming that Muslims are the safest in the state. The TMC MP accused Adityanath of being communal and pushing an agenda to demolish mosques in order to build temples. "Yogi Adityanath is communal. He wants to demolish mosques to build temples. We want to oppose leaders like Yogi Adityanath. This statement is incorrect. What happened in Sambhal? Didn't a riot break out there recently?" said Saugata Roy. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday assured that people from all religions are safe in the state, asserting that as a Yogi, he wishes for everyone's happiness. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, speaking to ANI, said that if Hindus are safe, then Muslims are also safe in his state. CM Yogi, highlighting the tolerant nature of Hindus, said that a Muslim family would feel safe among a hundred Hindu families. He, however, questioned the possibility of 50 Hindu families being safe among a hundred Muslim families. "A Muslim family is the safest among a hundred Hindu families. They will have the freedom to practice all their religious deeds. But can 50 Hindus be safe among 100 Muslim families? No. Bangladesh is an example. Before this, Pakistan was an example. What happened in Afghanistan? If there is smoke or someone is being hit, we should be careful before we get hit. That is what needs to be taken care of," Yogi said, while adding that he treats everyone equally. CM Yogi reiterated that Muslims in Uttar Pradesh are the safest, emphasising that communal riots in the state have stopped since the BJP came to power in 2017. "In Uttar Pradesh, Muslims are the safest. If Hindus are safe, then they are also safe. If there were riots here in UP before 2017, if Hindu shops were burning, then Muslim shops were also burning. If Hindu houses were burning, then Muslim houses were also burning. And after 2017, the riots stopped," he added. "I am an ordinary citizen, a citizen of Uttar Pradesh. I am a Yogi who wishes for everyone's happiness. I believe in everyone's support and development," the UP CM stated. He termed Sanatan Dharma as the most ancient religion in the world while asserting that there are no examples in the world where Hindu rulers, using their own strength, have established dominion over others Speaking about law and order in the state during Ram Navami and Eid, he said, "We sit with the administration from time to time, and we have already prepared an SOP for this. Uttar Pradesh is the first state that, according to the instructions of the Supreme Court, has controlled noise coming from outside its territory or has had it removed and controlled it through this communication." (ANI) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday inspected the metro pillars and said that nobody has the right to damage government property. "Nobody has the right to damage government property. If we want a beautiful and clean Delhi, everyone's support is required here. No one should spoil government property. Metro pillars are the beauty of Delhi, and we should not paste posters and hoardings here," Delhi CM told ANI. The Delhi Chief Minister removed the posters from metro pillars and directed the officials to remove the posters and hoardings from the pillars. Delhi CM Rekha Gupta aslo stopped on her way to Vidhan Sabha as there were several cows seen on the flyover. She stopped and asked the concerned authorities to have a proper place for such animals and ensure they do not come on roads and get hurt in any possible way. On Tuesday, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta presented the budget as a "historic" step towards transforming Delhi into an investment and innovation-friendly city. With a total allocation of Rs 1 lakh crore, this budget is expected to drive growth, development, and improvement in the quality of life for Delhi's residents. The budget has seen a significant rise of 31.58% from the previous year, with a total allocation of Rs1 lakh crore for various sectors, including education, transport, and urban development. Furthermore, the budget for Housing and Urban Development has been increased by 9%. This will focus on providing affordable housing, improving sanitation, and enhancing urban infrastructure. "In the education sector, Rs 16,396 crore was to be spent in 2024-2025, which we have increased to Rs 19,291 crore in our budget and increased it by 17 per cent... We have increased the budget for the transport sector by 73 per cent...Budget for the Housing and Urban Development has been increased by 9 per cent....," said Gupta. Overall, Delhi's budget for 2025-26 prioritizes the needs of its citizens, focusing on education, transport, and housing. With a total allocation of Rs 1 lakh crore, this budget is expected to drive growth, development, and improvement in the quality of life for Delhi's residents. (ANI) Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Wednesday in a sharp criticism of the recent vandalisation of Mumbai's Habitat comedy club by Shiv Sena workers said that "hooliganism" by the 'Shinde Sena' was a reflection that the "truth" spoken by Kunal Kamra had hurt them. Speaking to ANI, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said, "First of all, you should stop calling them Shiv Sena. They are the Shinde Sena, who are doing hooliganism. Everybody knows what even children of Maharashtra call Shinde. Everybody knows what the Supreme Court has said about it...everybody knows how the Governor was misused...how this government was formed unconstitutionally...Kunal Kamra has said the truth, and that's why it has hurt them." Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut expressed his support for stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra amid the controversy surrounding his remarks on Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and stated that the artist would rather die than submit or fear the alleged threats. "I don't know who is threatening Kunal Kamra or why. Kunal Kamra is someone I have known for many years. He is not the kind of artist who gets scared of threats. He won't surrender (Jhukega nahi). He would rather die than bow down or be afraid. Those issuing threats will soon find it difficult to continue their path," Raut told mediapersons. "Freedom of speech doesn't mean people can say just anything. But what did Kamra say? He didn't mention anyone's name. He commented on a situation that happened in Maharashtra using satire. I often listen to poets like Kumar Vishwas and Surendra Sharma, and they, too, use satire. Vandalising property in response to Kamra's words is not justified," he added. Meanwhile, in a recent development in the Kunal Kamra controversy case, the Mumbai Police have rejected the stand-up artiste's request for a week's time to appear before the authorities. Kamra's lawyer submitted the appeal and the reply in person to the Khar Police Station. However, the police have turned down Kamra's request. The Khar Police will issue a second summons to Kunal Kamra today, under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 35. Earlier, Mumbai Police sent a summons to the stand-up artist asking him to appear before the investigating officer on Tuesday. The MIDC police registered a first information report against Kamra for his remarks during a stand-up comedy show, which was then transferred to Khar police for further investigation. Kamra sparked up a political storm with his controversial 'gaddar' (traitor) joke, which was allegedly aimed at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Several political leaders condemned Kamra's statement during a stand-up show and sought action against him. Kamra, however, on Tuesday, shared a new video to mock Shiv Sena workers for vandalising Mumbai's The Habitat comedy club, where he had performed earlier. (ANI) Flash 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. Bharatiya Janata Party MP Sakshi Maharaj has voiced his support for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's remarks that "Muslims are safe in the state," asserting that Muslims are safer in India than anywhere else in the world. Speaking on the revival of pilgrimage sites, the BJP MP said that the things will be done in a democratic manner. Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, Maharaj stated, "I want to say that Muslims are safer in UP and India than anywhere else in the world, not even in Pakistan, Afghanistan or Balochistan. Whatever will be done, it will be done in a democratic manner. We are against whatever the Muslim invaders have done." Reacting to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's remarks that "Muslims are safe in the state," BJP MP Dinesh Sharma said that the BJP's national policy is 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas.' "BJP's national policy is clear in itself - 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas'... it is the government's responsibility to take everyone into confidence, and the government is discharging it very well. Yogi Adityanath has also said the same in his statement, there is no connection with any person or religion, the connection is with the person's thoughts and I think Yogi Adityanath has clarified very well that both Hindus and Muslims should be safe in Uttar Pradesh and the country," Sharma told ANI. In an interview with ANI, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath assured that people from all religions are safe in the state, asserting that as a Yogi, he wishes for everyone's happiness. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said that if Hindus are safe, then Muslims are also safe in his state. CM Yogi, highlighting the tolerant nature of Hindus, said that a Muslim family would feel safe among a hundred Hindu families. He, however, questioned the possibility of 50 Hindu families being safe among a hundred Muslim families. "A Muslim family is the safest among a hundred Hindu families. They will have the freedom to practice all their religious deeds. But can 50 Hindus be safe among 100 Muslim families? No. Bangladesh is an example. Before this, Pakistan was an example. What happened in Afghanistan? If there is smoke or someone is being hit, we should be careful before we get hit. That is what needs to be taken care of," Yogi said, while adding that he treats everyone equally. CM Yogi reiterated that Muslims in Uttar Pradesh are the safest, emphasizing that communal riots in the state have stopped since the BJP came to power in 2017. "In Uttar Pradesh, Muslims are the safest. If Hindus are safe, then they are also safe. If there were riots here in UP before 2017, if Hindu shops were burning, then Muslim shops were also burning. If Hindu houses were burning, then Muslim houses were also burning. And after 2017, the riots stopped," he added. "I am an ordinary citizen, a citizen of Uttar Pradesh. And I am a Yogi who wishes for everyone's happiness. I believe in everyone's support and development," the UP CM stated. (ANI) Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad on Wednesday took a dig at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, claiming that Hindus, Muslims and daughters are not safe in the State since the BJP came to power. Reacting to chief minister Adityanath's remark that "Muslims are the safest in UP, Prasad said, "The truth is that neither Hindus nor Muslims, nor our daughters, are safe in Uttar Pradesh since Yogi Baba's government came to power. Jungle raj prevails in the State." "Bulldozers have been used to demolish only Muslim houses, and such actions are completely unconstitutional. To hide their shortcomings, they keep raising Hindu-Muslim issues," he said. The Samajwadi Party MP from Faizabad further alleged that "Yogi Adityanath spreads hatred." In an interview with ANI, Yogi Adityanath assured that people from all religions are safe in Uttar Pradesh, emphasizing that as a Yogi, he wishes for everyone's well-being. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister stated that "If Hindus are safe, then Muslims are also safe in the state." Highlighting the tolerant nature of Hindus, CM Yogi claimed that a Muslim family would feel safe among a hundred Hindu families but questioned whether the reverse scenario would be possible. "A Muslim family is the safest among a hundred Hindu families. They will have the freedom to practice their religious beliefs. But can 50 Hindus be safe among 100 Muslim families? No. Bangladesh is an example. Before this, Pakistan was an example. What happened in Afghanistan? If there is smoke or someone is being attacked, we should be careful before we become the next target. That is what needs to be taken care of," Yogi said, adding that he treats everyone equally. CM Adityanath reiterated that Muslims in Uttar Pradesh are the safest, emphasizing that communal riots in the state have stopped since the BJP came to power in 2017. "In Uttar Pradesh, Muslims are the safest. If Hindus are safe, then they are also safe. Before 2017, when riots happened in UP, Hindu shops were burned, and so were Muslim shops. Hindu houses were set on fire, and so were Muslim houses. But after 2017, the riots stopped," he said. "I am an ordinary citizen of Uttar Pradesh. And I am a Yogi who wishes for everyone's happiness. I believe in everyone's support and development," the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister stated. Speaking on the tarpaulin covering a mosque during Holi in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Adityanath said that strict instructions were given not to throw colours at the mosque, but also noted that colours do not harm anyone. (ANI) Rajya Sabha Leader of the House JP Nadda on Wednesday met with Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and held a discussion over judiciary accountability on the issue of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma. Both leaders said they would discuss within the party and get back to him about what exactly they would want, the sources said. A day after meeting with the floor leaders of political parties in Rajya Sabha, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar apprised the House today that a "very fruitful interaction" took place regarding any concerns one might have regarding the National Judicial Appointment Commission (NJAC). He said that the "deliberations were consensual, reflecting cooperation, concern." "I need to indicate to the House that we yesterday had a very fruitful interaction on the issue that is agitating minds of the public. There was gracious presence of leaders of political parties, including Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition. Without going into the details, the deliberations were consensual, reflecting cooperation, concern, and the issue is not between institutions inter se," Dhankar told the House today. "It is not that Executive, Legislature, or Judiciary are pitted against each other. All the institutions in the country have to function in tandem, in togetherness and also there are checks and balances which are well meant," he said. Dhankar said that the meeting concluded with both the leader of the House and Leader of Opposition of Rajya Sabha agreeing that they would discuss the issue with their respective parties and come for further deliberations. "It has been given by both Leader of the House (Jagat Prakash Nadda) and Leader of the Opposition (Mallikarjun Kharge) that after having wider consultations amongst all concerned in their respective parties and otherwise, they would come to the Chairman for further deliberations. That was the conclusion after both Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition had shared their thoughts along with others," he said. The meeting was held in the wake of allegations concerning Justice Yashwant Varma after a fire incident at his residence on March 14 led to the discovery of a substantial amount of cash. Justice Varma has vehemently denied the allegations, asserting that neither he nor his family owns the cash. (ANI) There has been 81 per cent reduction in Naxal violence in the last 14 years, since the 2010 menace touched its peak with maximum of 1,936 such incidents, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Citing data collated by the ministry, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said the number of naxal violence reduced to 374 in 2024. The number of "deaths (civilians + security forces) has also reduced by 85 per cent during this period from 1,005 deaths in 2010 to 150 in 2024." MoS Rai further said, "Incidents of violence by Left Wing Extremism (LWE) which were 501 in 2019 have reduced to 374 in 2024-- a reduction of 25 per cent." In 2023, 485 cases of Naxal violence were registered, compared to 413 in 2022, 361 in 2021, 470 in 2020, and 501 in 2019. As per MHA data, there was a drastic reduction in the naxal violence in Jharkhand from 166 LWE perpetrated violence in 2019 to 69 in 2024. Bihar has the similar data where naxal violence decreased from 48 in 2019 to two in 2024 followed by Maharashtra where 48 such cases were registered in 2019 and it remained 10 in 2024, and Odisha from 34 in 2019 to six in 2024. MHA says its employs multiple efforts to address the LWE menace holistically, including approval of 'National Policy and Action Plan' in 2015, and the resolute implementation of the policy has resulted in consistent decline in naxal violence. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has set a target to eliminate Naxalism from India by March 2026. His recent statement in the Rajya Sabha last week, Shah had made the statement-- a reflection of the government's commitment to ending LWE through a combination of security operations, development initiatives, and improved intelligence networks. Naxalism emerged from the Naxalbari uprising in West Bengal in 1967, as a peasant movement inspired by Maoist ideology. Over the decades, it spread to several states, forming what was called the Red Corridor, covering parts of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Bihar. The insurgency involved guerrilla warfare, attacks on security forces, destruction of infrastructure, and extortion from local communities. It posed a significant internal security challenge to India. The Indian government has adopted a two-pronged strategy to counter Naxalism -- intensified security operations and development efforts in affected regions. (ANI) After the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids on the residence of Chhattisgarh's former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Congress leader Sachin Pilot claimed on Wednesday that this move was taken out of "political animosity". Pilot criticised the BJP over the raid, stating that such tactics are being adopted to "harass" opposition leaders and "weaken" democratic values. In a social media post on X, Pilot wrote, "Today, a CBI team reached the residence of the former @bhupeshbaghel Minister of Chhattisgarh. This is no coincidence. Earlier too, the ED had taken action at his house. Now it is clear that all this is being done out of political animosity. Such tactics are being adopted to harass opposition leaders and weaken democratic values. Serious questions are being raised on the impartiality of central institutions and this trend should stop now. @INCChhattisgarh." https://x.com/SachinPilot/status/1904806166301204621 Earlier today, the CBI conducted searches on the residences of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel in a case allegedly related to the Mahadev betting app. Baghel was set to reach Delhi today for the meeting of the All India Congress Committee's 'Drafting Committee' constituted for the AICC meeting to be held in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) on April 8-9. Taking to a social media post today, the office of Bhupesh Baghel on his X handle wrote, "Now CBI has come. Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is scheduled to go to Delhi today for the meeting of the "Drafting Committee" constituted for the AICC meeting to be held in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) on April 8 and 9. Even before that, CBI reached Raipur and Bhilai residence. (Office-Bhupesh Baghel)" Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao criticised Congress for linking the CBI raid at residence former CM Bhupesh Baghel to politics and stated that the raid by CBI was part of the ongoing probe in the case. Sao said that central agencies like CBI are independent agencies and never take action on the basis of politics. Sharpening his attacks, he further claimed that several big corruptions took place during the regime of Bhupesh Baghel's tenure. Slamming Congress, the Deputy CM said that every time such actions are taken, Congress links it to politics. "When Congress was ruling the state and Bhupesh Baghel was the CM, so many big corruptions happened and ED and CBI are continuously probing these corruptions...today, CBI is conducting raids at over 50 various locations in Chhattisgarh. Some IPS officers, other officials and political leaders are also being raided...this CBI action is part of the probe...raid is not happening at the residence of one single person...so many people are being raided, so linking it to politics is not right. Congress links it to politics every time such an action is being taken... Who was the CM when these scams were taking place? If CBI is investigating, he should support the investigation... These are independent agencies and never take action on political basis. There is no such situation in the country. This probe is going on since long time and isn't a part of politics. Accusing someone is not right," Sao told ANI. (ANI) Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday slammed the Uttar Pradesh government's 8 years of governance and alleged loot and corruption in the BJP-ruled state. Akhilesh Yadav criticised the 8 years of "service, safety, and good governance" under CM Yogi's leadership and said, "The people of Kannauj have voted for the development of their constituency, yet those boasting about 8 years of achievements have disconnected Kannauj from progress. Those highlighting these so-called achievements have never witnessed such rampant corruption and looting. After 8 years, the UP police now have to file an FIR to apprehend their own IAS officer." "This will be a historic and first in the country, where a government celebrates its so-called achievements and development, while the very IAS officer involved is on the run," said Yadav. This comes after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath lauded the performance of his government on its eighth anniversary on Monday (March 24). During a special program organised to mark the completion of eight years of the BJP government, CM Yogi Adityanath expressed gratitude to the people of the state. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, Minister Brajesh Pathak, Minister Chaudhary Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary, and several other ministers and dignitaries attended the program. "Under the leadership of PM Modi, 8 years of service, safety, and good governance have been completed... the double-engine government of UP has completed 8 years today...I thank 25 crore people of Uttar Pradesh for their support," CM Yogi said at the press conference. Drawing comparisons from the previous governments, the Chief Minister said there was an "identity crisis" in the state, and its infrastructure, economy, law and order, everything was in a 'dire state'.He added that people can see how vast changes can be brought about just by a change in the government. "Most of us know what the condition and identity of UP was 8 years ago. The condition of UP's infrastructure and economy 8 years ago was not hidden...There was an identity crisis in front of UP; farmers were committing suicide, youth were struggling, daughters and traders were unsafe, and the people tolerated the poor economy because of riots and the collapsed law and order situation," the UP CM further said. "The state and the machinery are the same today, but we can see how there can be vast changes just by a change in the government," he added. Yogi Adityanath became the UP CM in 2017 after the BJP- which went to the polls without a CM face- chose the five-time MP from Gorakhpur to lead the government, which received an unprecedented mandate, winning 312 out of 403 seats. BJP returned to power in the state in the 2022 assembly polls, winning 255 seats in Uttar Pradesh, and its allies in the state also registered impressive performances. This made him the first CM in Uttar Pradesh's history to win two consecutive terms. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued a notice on a petition seeking a direction to declare the election of the New Delhi Assembly null and void and for re-election on this seat. BJP candidate Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma defeated former CM Arvind Kejriwal in the 2025 Delhi Assembly Election. The petitioner Vishvanath Agarwal was declared a candidate by NCP (Ajit Pawar) but could not file his nomination. He sought re-election and alleged that the election was not free and fair. His nomination form was not accepted. The petitioner has said that he could not participate and contest the election which caused shifting of votes in favour of the returned candidate or other candidates and ultimately resulted in unfair election results. It is said that non-accepting the nomination form of the petitioner by the Returning Officer is a clear deviation from the basic mandate of free and fair election. Justice Jasmeet Singh issued a notice to the Election Commission of India, State Election Commission, Returning Officer, Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, Arvind Kejriwal, Sandeep Dikshit and other respondents. The High Court has sought their response and listed the matter for hearing on May 27. The petitioner who is also an advocate appeared along with Advocate Kiran Bala Agarwal and submitted that the due procedure was not followed. It is stated that the petitioner visited the office of the Returning officer (AC-40- New Delhi), at Jam Nagar House, India Gate, New Delhi, to file a nomination on January 17 2025 and reached there at around 2:00 PM. The petitioner has alleged that he was not allowed to enter the RO room to file his nomination papers and Nomination papers were not accepted. The petitioner has sought directions from the court to declare the elections of the New Delhi Legislative Assembly Constituency Elections 2025 as null and void, and further direction to conduct of re-election of the constituency as such due to unfair, unjust, biased, illegal proceedings of Returning officer the elections do not adhere to basic structure of democratic institution. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pray at Ramanathswamy Temple in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu, on April 6 on the occasion of Ram Navmi. PM Modi will also inaugurate the new Pamban Bridge on the occasion. The new Pamban Bridge will replace the old 1914-built bridge, which was closed in 2022 due to corrosion problems. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, in November 2024, posted on X about "India's first vertical lift railway sea bridge." "Built in 1914, the old Pamban Rail Bridge connected the mainland to Rameswaram for 105 years. Decommissioned in Dec 2022 due to corrosion, it paved the way for the modern New Pamban Bridge, marking a new era of connectivity!" he said. The bridge spans over 2.5 km and is built at a cost of Rs 535 crore by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL). "It's designed to handle faster trains and increased traffic. The New Pamban Bridge is not just functional - it's a symbol of progress, connecting people and places with modern engineering," Vaishnaw posted on X. Earlier on Wednesday, President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended felicitations on the occasion of the National Day of Bangladesh. President Droupadi Murmu's message to Mohammed Shahabuddin, President of Bangladesh, stated, "On behalf of the government, the people of India and on my own behalf, I extend warm greetings and felicitations to Your Excellency and to the friendly people of Bangladesh on the occasion of your National Day." "India-Bangladesh relations are multi-faceted, with our cooperation encompassing diverse areas such as trade, multimodal connectivity, development partnership, power and energy, education, capacity building, cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. Bangladesh is at the focus of India's "Neighbourhood First" and "Act East" policies, our SAGAR doctrine and the Indo-Pacific Vision. India reiterates its support for a democratic, stable, inclusive, peaceful and progressive Bangladesh," President Murmu said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message to Chief Adviser of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus stated, "I extend my felicitations to you and the people of Bangladesh on the occasion of the National Day of Bangladesh." "This day stands as a testament to our shared history and sacrifices, which have laid the foundation of our bilateral partnership. The spirit of the Liberation War of Bangladesh continues to remain a guiding light for our relationship, which has flourished across multiple domains, bringing tangible benefits to our peoples," PM Modi said. "We remain committed to advancing this partnership, driven by our common aspirations for peace, stability, and prosperity, and based on mutual sensitivity to each other's interests and concerns," he added. The Bangladesh National Day, observed on March 26, commemorates the country's declaration of independence from Pakistan in 1971. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Wednesday permitted the withdrawal of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that raised concerns about the lyrics of the song 'Maniac', produced by YoYo Honey Singh Productions Private Limited. A bench comprising Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela declined to entertain the plea. The court advised the petitioner to explore other remedies, stating that if the matter involved vulgarity or obscenity, an FIR should be filed. Furthermore, the court took exception to the language used by the petitioner's counsel, particularly the term "Bhojpuri vulgarity." The judges emphasized that vulgarity transcends regional boundaries, asserting that "vulgarity is vulgarity" and should not be regionalized. The petitioner, Lavkush Kumar, through Advocate Kumar Utkarsh, stated that the song promotes explicit sexualization and employs double entendre, portraying women solely as objects of sexual desire. Additionally, the use of the Bhojpuri language in the song is criticized for allegedly normalizing vulgarity, which undermines the principles of women's empowerment. Upon reviewing the lyrics, it is claimed that the language and gestures used are obscene, appealing to lascivious or salacious interests, and potentially corrupting the minds of youth and other sections of society, stated the plea. While freedom of speech and expression is a fundamental right under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution, it is not absolute. This right is subject to reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2), which include considerations of public order, decency, and morality. Therefore, the petition emphasizes the need to strike a balance between individual freedoms and societal interests, the plea added. The proliferation of vulgar and sexually explicit content in Bhojpuri songs, as exemplified by Maniac, has reportedly had a significant impact on Bihar. Bhojpuri music, with its widespread influence, particularly among the youth, is said to normalize overt sexualization, the objectification of women, and derogatory language. This trend is alleged to erode societal values, fostering a culture of misogyny, sexism, and disrespect towards women. The glorification of such content in popular media is argued to create a harmful environment, exposing young people, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, to unhealthy and distorted notions of gender relations, consent, and respect. This, in turn, undermines the dignity of women and reinforces negative gender stereotypes, the plea reads. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Delhi police and sought its response on the bail plea of Manoranjan D, who is accused in the Parliament Security breach case. He has been in custody since December 14, 2023, along with other accused persons. The division bench of Justices Chandra Dhari Singh and Anup Jairam Bhambhani issued a notice to the Delhi police and listed the case for hearing in July 2025. His earlier bail plea was dismissed by the Trial court on December 24, 2024. He has been booked under section 186/353/153/452/201/34/120b of IPC 13/16/18 of UAPA. Senior advocate K K Manan appeared for Manoranjan. A petition has been filed through advocates Uditi Bali and Rahul Gautam. It is stated that the Petitioner has been in custody since 14.12.2023, and the trial is still at the stage of Scrutiny of documents. The trial will take a long time to conclude, and the same will lead to pre-trial detention. It is further submitted that a person cannot be incarcerated for an indefinite period pending trial as it is violative of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of India. It is also submitted that offences under UAPA are not made out in the present case. The ingredients of section 15 of UAP, which contains the definition of "terrorist act", are not fulfilled, the plea said. The "Terrorist Act" as crafted in Section 15 warrants utilisation of any substances or carrying of on any substances which is capable of or can potentially cause damage to life or properties, it added. The plea submitted that even if the prosecution story is believed in toto, the alleged act of the Petitioner merely be treated as protest against the system. Neither way can it be treated or termed as a "Terrorist Act" within the definition of UAPA, nor can other provisions of IPC be attracted. There is no evidence against the petitioner, which attracts the provision of UAPA and other sections of IPC, it added. (ANI) Flash China urges the United States not to project its hegemonic logic onto China or view China-U.S. relations through an outdated Cold War mentality, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said in Beijing on Wednesday. Guo made the remarks at a regular press briefing in response to a media query on a U.S. report that claimed China was the United States' top military and cyber threat. The U.S. side issues these irresponsible and biased reports year after year, spreading the "China threat" narrative and stoking competition between major countries, merely as an excuse to contain and suppress China, and to maintain its own hegemony, the spokesperson said. "China's development is based on a clear logic of history and a strong internal driving force. Our goals, pursued in an open and honest manner, are simply to allow the Chinese people to live better lives and to make greater contributions to the world. We have no intention of surpassing or replacing any country," Guo noted. He said that the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair, adding that the Chinese side remains steadfast in its determination to oppose "Taiwan independence" and safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and that no one should underestimate or misjudge this. "We urge the United States not to project its hegemonic logic onto China or view China-U.S. relations through an outdated Cold War mentality, and not to contain and suppress China under the guise of strategic competition," Guo said. He added that the United States should stop conniving and supporting "Taiwan independence" separatist forces in any form, and cease hyping up the "China threat" narrative. Instead, it should take concrete actions to promote the stable, healthy and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations. Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali, a member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), addressed concerns regarding the Waqf Amendment Bill, asserting that over 90 per cent of Waqf properties consist of masjids, kabristans, dargahs, and imambaras. Speaking to ANI, he emphasised that these properties generate no income, questioning the basis for objections raised against them. "More than 90 per cent of the properties are in the form of masjids, kabristans, dargahs, and imambaras. There is no income from these properties. So, there is no reason why objections are being raised. These properties have been managed by the Muslim community for hundreds of years," Maulana Khalid Rasheed said. Earlier on Wednesday, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) launched a nationwide protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Patna. Bharatiya Janata Party MP and Chairman of the JPC on the Waqf Amendment Bill, Jagadambika Pal, criticised AIMPLB for its nationwide agitation, accusing the board of politicising the issue. Pal stated, "The way AIMPLB is doing politics in the name of Waqf, they are trying to mislead the minorities and Muslims of the country." He further addressed the controversy surrounding the bill, referring to the Joint Parliamentary Committee's (JPC) report, which indicated that the government is preparing to introduce the amended law. He pointed out that despite the bill not being passed yet, AIMPLB was already organising protests for political reasons. "Right now, the law hasn't even come, yet, based on planned politics, they are already heading to Patna," Pal said. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to address key challenges by introducing reforms such as digitisation, enhanced audits, improved transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties. The proposed amendment seeks to ensure that Waqf properties are utilised for their intended purposes, benefiting both the Muslim community and the country as a whole. (ANI) Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi reviewed the training and administrative facilities of the Madras Regimental Centre, Wellington on Wednesday. In a post on X, Additional Directorate General of Public Information, Indian Army shared, "#GeneralUpendraDwivedi, #COAS, visited the Madras Regimental Centre, Wellington today, wherein he reviewed the training and administrative facilities of the training centre. The #COAS was given a brief on the modern training methodology and facilities of the Centre. He commended all ranks for their excellence in training as well as their contribution towards Nation Building." "The #COAS also stressed upon the need for incorporating technology in training so as to prepare professionally competent soldiers who are able to adapt to the rapid technological advances and adept at handling latest generation equipment thus enhancing operational readiness in #IndianArmy," Indian Army further shared. On March 19, Rear Admiral Garin Golding, Chief of the Navy of the Royal New Zealand Navy, met with General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Army Staff, to discuss matters of mutual interest and explore ways to enhance bilateral defence cooperation between India and New Zealand. In a post on X, the Indian Army said, "Rear Admiral Garin Golding, Chief of Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy called on General Upendra Dwivedi COAS & discussed aspects of mutual interest to enhance bilateral Defence Cooperation between the two Nations." Earlier General Dwivedi said that the world has been "cooling down" from major conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, with the turmoil "interspersed" with "subnational conflicts" and common threats to global peace like terrorism, radicalisation, and mass cyber-attacks. He also pointed out a "subtle" shift from democracy to "authoritarianism," which feeds into the turmoil in the world. "The world is just cooling down from two major conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, wherein the majority of nations took sides based on realism, idealism or religion. The turmoil is also interspersed with ongoing subnational conflicts and common threats to global peace like terrorism, radicalisation, mass cyber-attacks, and a subtle shift from democracy to authoritarianism," Dwivedi said while speaking at the fourth General Bipin Rawat Memorial Lecture. (ANI) Delhi Police officials on Wednesday were stationed inside the residence of Delhi High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma following a fire incident at his residence on March 14 that led to the discovery of a substantial amount of cash. Acting on instructions from the Inquiry Commission, the police secured the affected area where the fire broke out. Videos were also recorded by the police. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Devesh Kumar Mahla, was seen leaving the residence as investigations continue into the cause of the fire. Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court on Monday 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 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 deliberate conspiracy aimed at framing him. The Supreme Court Collegium on Monday recommended the transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma, Judge of the High Court of Delhi, back to his parent court, the Allahabad High Court. The resolution of the Collegium stated, "In its meetings held on 20th and 24th March 2025, has recommended repatriation of Justice Yashwant Varma, Judge, High Court of Delhi, to the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad." The Allahabad High Court Bar Association had raised an objection over the Supreme Court Collegium's decision to transfer Justice Varma to the Allahabad High Court. Speaking to ANI, President of the Allahabad HC Bar Association Anil Tiwari demanded that all judgments 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. "The CJI has been requested not to transfer Justice Yashwant Varma to Allahabad High Court or any other court because no court is a dumping ground. He should remain in Delhi under the close watch of Supreme Court until the completion of the proceedings. The second request is that all judgments given by Justice Varma during his tenure as a judge should be reviewed and scrutinized to infuse public confidence again," he said. "Thirdly, we have requested the CJI to permit CBI and ED to lodge an FIR and proceed with a formal investigation...We have also raised an issue of Uncle Judge syndrome. The concept is that the family members of those judges who are practising in a particular court should not remain in that court. They should go outside to infuse the public confidence and to ensure transparency," the President of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association said. (ANI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a PIL seeking independent probe by CBI or SIT into the alleged honeytrapping of legislators, public servants and judges in Karnataka. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sanjay Karol, and Sandeep Mehta declined the plea calling it "political nonsense". "You are a resident of Jharkhand. Why are you bothering about what is happening in that state? They are competent enough to take care of this," Justice Nath told advocate Barun Sinha who was representing the petitioner. When the advocate said allegations surrounding the honey-trap case were serious and a judicial inquiry is required, the bench said, "Why should you fall into honey-trap. If you fall into honey-trap, they are inviting trouble for yourself." When the lawyer said there are allegations judges are also involved in honey-trap, Justice Nath replied, "Forget about judges, they will take care of themselves." The plea filed by a Jharkhand resident, Binay Kumar Singh, sought independent probe by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising of police officers who are not subject to control or influence of the State of Karnataka. Last week, 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. The petition said "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 honey trapping 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." "Not only that, another minister of the government has not only echoed the allegations made by the first minister, rather alleged that the scale and proportion of the scandal is at least ten times than what is currently visible," it added. It further said that judges getting compromised by means like honey trapping poses serious threat to judicial independence and gravely undermines public confidence in the institution. (ANI) The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu, in collaboration with NITI Aayog and the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, organized the NITI States Workshop on March 26 at its Jagti Campus. Themed as "Promoting Innovation, Investment, and Industry in the MSME Sector," the workshop focused on textiles, food processing, and tourism, which are key growth drivers for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The inaugural ceremony was graced by Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, as the Chief Guest, and Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, as the Guest of Honor. The event was presided over by BS Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu. Other dignitaries included Anurag Goyal, Senior Advisor, NITI Aayog and Talat Parvez Rohella, Secretary, PDMD, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. The workshop commenced with a ceremonial welcome of the dignitaries, followed by the traditional lighting of the lamp, symbolizing the invocation of knowledge and wisdom. Several eminent dignitaries from the Government of India, NITI Aayog, and the Government of Jammu and Kashmir were present, alongside entrepreneurs, academicians, industry leaders, and policymakers. LG Sinha emphasised the crucial role of MSMEs in job creation, competition, and seamless public service delivery. "Drawing inspiration from Switzerland and Germany, J-K has fostered self-reliance, digital adoption, and investor-friendly policies. Notably, it became the first state to fully utilize a 10-year incentive in just 2-2.5 years, demonstrating remarkable economic progress and resilience despite challenges like COVID-19 impacting sectors like handloom," the LG said. Guest of Honor Atal Dulloo, IAS, Chief Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir, emphasised the vital role of MSMEs in the region's economy, highlighting the government's strong support for their growth. He recognised the handicraft industry as a key economic contributor and underscored the significance of food processing in adding value to local produce. Additionally, he stressed the tourism sector's immense potential in driving economic development, reaffirming the government's commitment to its promotion and sustainability. BS Sahay, Director of IIM Jammu, extended a warm welcome and emphasized that IIM Jammu, as an Institute of national importance, is deeply committed to the growth and development of Jammu and Kashmir. He highlighted the institute's dedication to building a sustainable ecosystem and its close collaboration with the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to foster innovation and economic prosperity. Anurag Goyal, Senior Advisor, NITI Aayog, emphasised that a strong nation is built on the foundation of strong states and Union Territories. He highlighted NITI Aayog's commitment to cooperative federalism, regional empowerment, and sustainable development. By fostering data-driven policies, strategic planning, and collaborative initiatives, he underscored how strengthening states and UTs ensures holistic national growth and resilience. Talat Parvez, Secretary, PDMD, Government of Jammu and Kashmir emphasised that Jammu and Kashmir had immense potential to emerge as a thriving entrepreneurial hub, driven by its rich resources, talented youth, and evolving infrastructure. With the right investments and innovation, the region was poised to foster startups, boost tourism ventures, and create sustainable economic opportunities. Additionally, he highlighted the immense scope for growth in food processing, textiles, and MSMEs, which could leverage the region's agricultural richness, traditional craftsmanship, and government support to drive industrial development and generate employment. A diverse group of stakeholders actively participated in the workshop, including senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, the Ministry of Textiles, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, the Ministry of Tourism, and NITI Aayog. State-level officials, including secretaries, commissioners, and directors from various departments, were engaged in the discussions. Vice Chancellors from IUST and SKUAST-Jammu, officials from tourism development authorities, district-level industries, agriculture, horticulture, and tourism departments, and representatives from industrial estates and MSME offices in Jammu and Kashmir contributed valuable insights. Also in attendance were officials from the SMVD Shrine Board and the Amarnath Shrine Board, hotel associations, Khadi and Village Industries, handloom, textiles, and food processing associations. Entrepreneurs, startups, apple and saffron growers, Shikara associations, business incubators, YUVA Mission officials, business associations, and civil society representatives further enriched the discussions, fostering a collaborative approach toward industrial growth and sustainable development in J-K. The afternoon sessions will feature parallel sector-specific deliberations on textiles, food processing, and tourism. The session on the textile sector will be chaired by Umesh Rai, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu, with Anil Kumar, Director, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, as the Co-Chair and Professor Ateeque Shaikh, IIM Jammu, as the Moderator. The session will bring together 150 industry leaders to discuss infrastructure modernization, traditional crafts, and investment avenues. The food processing industries session will be chaired by Ishtiyaque Ahmed, Program Director, NITI Aayog, with Pragti Kumar, Vice Chancellor, SMVDU Katra, as Co-Chair, Jabir Ali, IIM Jammu, as the moderator. Discussions will focus on value addition in agriculture, cold chain infrastructure, and agro-based startups, with active participation from government officials and food processing industry representatives. The tourism sector session will be chaired by Mugda Sinha, Director General, Ministry of Tourism, with Ravinder Nath, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Kashmir, and KS Chandrasekar, Vice Chancellor, Cluster University of Jammu, as Co-Chairs, moderated by Sanjay Gupta, IIM Jammu. The session will emphasize positioning J-K as a sustainable tourism destination, leveraging digital innovations, eco-friendly tourism initiatives, and infrastructure development, with 150 stakeholders from the tourism sector participating. In addition to sector-specific discussions, the workshop will host key sessions on transformative national initiatives. The 'NITI Initiatives for States' session will provide strategic insights into policy frameworks for regional development. The 'Karmayogi Bharat' session will highlight efforts to enhance governance through competency-driven civil service reforms. Another crucial session on 'ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce)' will explore how digital commerce can empower local businesses and drive inclusive economic growth. A series of high-impact panel discussions will further shape the roadmap for these industries. The 'Roadmap for the Textile Industry in J&K' panel, moderated by Ateeque Shaikh, IIM Jammu, will feature Vikramjit Singh, IPS, Secretary, DIC, Jammu and Kashmir, Harish Ahuja, Managing Director, Shahi Exports; Syed Afaq Qadri, Director, Quadri Textile Industries; and Renu Lata, Economic Advisor, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India. Discussions will focus on modernising textile infrastructure, fostering industry-academia collaboration, and sustainable growth strategies. The 'Roadmap for the Food Processing Industry in J-K' panel, moderated by Jabir Ali, IIM Jammu, will bring together Ishtiyaque Ahmad, Program Director, NITI Aayog; Shakil Ahmad Ronshwo, Vice Chancellor, IUST; and Amaresh Nashi, Senior Associate, NITI Aayog to deliberate on policy interventions, technology adoption, and market linkages for local produce. The 'Roadmap for the Tourism Industry in J-K' panel, moderated by Sanjay Gupta, IIM Jammu, will feature Mugda Sinha, Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India; Yasha Mudgal, Commissioner Secretary, Tourism, Jammu and Kashmir; Mr. Anshul Garg, CEO, SMVDSB, Katra; and Capt Anil Gour (Retd.), President, Travel Agents Association of Jammu and Founder Chairman, IATO Jammu and Kashmir chapter. Discussions will focus on enhancing infrastructure, digital transformation in tourism, and promoting J-K as a year-round destination for adventure, pilgrimage, and eco-tourism. Towards the conclusion of the workshop, Anurag Goyal, Senior Advisor, NITI Aayog, will present key takeaways and actionable recommendations from the discussions. Muniraju SB, Deputy Advisor, NITI Aayog, will deliver the concluding remarks, emphasising how insights from the workshop will contribute to future policy strategies and economic development in J-K. The event will conclude with a formal vote of thanks delivered by Ankush Verma, Chief Innovation Officer (CIO), Srinagar Campus, acknowledging the contributions of dignitaries, participants, and the organizing team. The NITI States Workshop at IIM Jammu will reaffirm the collective commitment to accelerating industrial growth, innovation, and sustainable development in Jammu and Kashmir. With the active participation of key stakeholders, the workshop is expected to drive transformative policy recommendations, investment opportunities, and strategic industry-academia partnerships. IIM Jammu will continue to play a pivotal role in catalyzing economic transformation in the region, ensuring that the industries of J-K are equipped for a resilient and future-ready ecosystem. (ANI) Congress MP Karti Chidambaram, on Wednesday, slammed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over his remarks on the 'three-language policy' row and urged him to 'teach' southern languages in government schools in Uttar Pradesh. Speaking to ANI, Chidambaram dismissed claims that opposition to the three-language formula under the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 was an attempt to divide the nation, asserting that it was merely resistance against the "imposition" of Hindi. "Nobody is dividing any nation, we are only opposing the compulsory imposition of Hindi on Tamil Nadu. I'm glad the UP Chief Minister is saying that the nation need not be divided based on language. I would urge him to teach southern Indian languages in the government schools he runs in UP," Chidambaram said. His remarks came in response to CM Yogi Adityanath's exclusive interview with ANI, in which the Uttar Pradesh leader criticised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin over the three-language controversy, calling it "narrow politics." Adityanath accused Stalin of attempting to create divisions based on region and language, suggesting that the Tamil Nadu CM was doing so because he feared losing his vote bank. He emphasised that language should unite, not divide, people and highlighted Tamil's status as one of India's oldest languages with a rich heritage. "The country should not be divided based on language or region. We are grateful to Prime Minister Modi ji for organizing the third generation of the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam in Varanasi. Tamil is one of the oldest languages in India, and its history is as ancient as Sanskrit. Every Indian has respect and reverence for Tamil because many elements of Indian heritage are still alive in the language. So, why should we hate Hindi?" the Uttar Pradesh CM said. The Uttar Pradesh CM also questioned the opposition to Hindi in Tamil Nadu and argued that if Tamil, Telugu, and other languages could be taught in Uttar Pradesh, then Hindi should also be taught in Tamil Nadu's universities. "I say that we should learn every language. We teach Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam at the universities in Uttar Pradesh. We are not only teaching these, but we are also teaching foreign languages at the universities in Uttar Pradesh. All of this has been implemented in the National Education Policy. If we can teach Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, and other languages in Uttar Pradesh's universities, then what is wrong with teaching Hindi in Tamil Nadu's universities? I believe we should adopt a broader perspective for the country," CM Yogi added. The three-language row has created a stalemate between the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government over the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. (ANI) Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will remain prohibited from flying to and from the United Kingdom, the UK Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed on Tuesday, dismissing speculation of an imminent return after a four-year suspension, The Express Tribune reported. A spokesperson for the DfT stated that airlines must undergo a rigorous review process before restrictions can be lifted, adding that the UK Civil Aviation Authority was in discussions with Pakistani officials. However, no timeline has been provided for when the ban might be reconsidered. The UK Air Safety List continues to bar all air carriers certified by Pakistan's aviation regulator from operating commercial flights to, from, or within British airspace. This regulatory measure, aimed at ensuring passenger safety, remains in effect despite recent reports that the British Air Safety Committee had discussed the possibility of lifting the ban, raising brief hopes among Pakistani authorities, reported the Express Tribune. The suspension, initially imposed in July 2020 by both UK and European regulators, followed revelations that numerous Pakistani pilots were flying with fraudulent licences. Then-Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan admitted to the issue in the aftermath of a PIA Airbus A-320 crash in Karachi, which killed nearly 100 people. The scandal triggered bans in multiple regions, including the European Union and the United States, costing PIA an estimated Rs40 billion (USD 144 million) annually in lost revenue. Despite the continued UK restrictions, PIA marked a small achievement in January 2025 by resuming direct flights to Europe, starting with a route from Islamabad to Paris. PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan stated that if the airline were to regain approval from British authorities, London, Manchester, and Birmingham would be its top priorities for resuming operations. Meanwhile, the Pakistani government is advancing plans to privatise PIA. The Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCOP) approved a fast-tracked process to sell between 51 per cent and 100 per cent of the airline's share capital, including management control, The Express Tribune reported. The decision, made during a meeting led by Deputy Prime Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, is part of efforts to reduce the airline's financial burden on the national exchequer. Dar reiterated the government's commitment to unlocking PIA's full potential through privatisation. (ANI) Several of President Donald Trump's senior national security officials, with backing from a key Senate Republican, placed responsibility on Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth for transmitting potentially classified information in a group chat discussing US military strikes in Yemen, which included a journalist as a participant, CNN reported. During a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard firmly denied that the messages contained classified material. Under scrutiny from Democratic senators, both officials asserted that no intelligence information requiring classification had been shared in the chat. "There were no classified or intelligence equities that were included in that chat group at any time," Gabbard testified. Ratcliffe, echoing this stance, maintained that no sensitive intelligence information from the CIA or the broader intelligence community was involved. However, when questioned about whether operational details concerning forthcoming strikes that Hegseth reportedly shared were classified, both officials deferred to the defence secretary, citing his authority to determine classification. "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 Defence is the original classification authority for determining whether something is classified or not, and as I've understood from media reports, the Secretary of Defence has said the information was not classified," Ratcliffe told lawmakers. When asked whether such details should be considered classified, Gabbard also deferred, stating, "I defer to the Secretary of Defence and the National Security Council on that question," as per reports by CNN. The conversation signaled a widening effort to shift scrutiny away from intelligence agencies and onto Hegseth, one of Trump's cabinet members. While the messages in the group chat largely revolved around general foreign policy discussions on the March strikes against Iran-backed militants, the texts reportedly sent by Hegseth--including specifics about US attack targets, weapons, and sequencing--have drawn the most concern. According to multiple current and former defence officials, any discussion of an attack's timing, targets, or weapons systems is typically classified due to the potential risks such disclosures pose to US military personnel. Signal, the encrypted messaging platform used for the discussion, is a commercial application that is not authorised for handling classified government communications. During the hearing, Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, chairman of the Intelligence Committee, suggested that Gabbard and Ratcliffe were making a distinction between military intelligence classified under the defence secretary's authority and intelligence controlled by the civilian intelligence community. "They testified--correct me if I'm wrong--there's no intelligence community classified information," Cotton said. "That's correct," Ratcliffe and Gabbard confirmed. "I can again confirm that with respect to the communications that were related as to me, there was no classified information," Ratcliffe reiterated. Hegseth, addressing reporters on Monday evening, dismissed concerns that war plans had been discussed over text, despite the Trump administration's earlier acknowledgment that the messages were authentic. "Nobody was texting war plans and that's all I have to say about that," Hegseth said when asked why the information was inadvertently shared with The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg. Speaking at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii, Hegseth also criticised the journalist, calling him "deceitful and highly discredited." Trump, when asked about the situation on Tuesday, stated, "There was no classified information, as I understand it," but did not specify who provided him with that assessment. Gabbard initially declined to confirm whether she had participated in the group chat, citing an ongoing National Security Council review. However, she later responded to specific questions based on her recollections of the conversation. Ratcliffe and Gabbard both claimed they did not remember any discussions of operational planning, though Gabbard later acknowledged that the group had engaged in "a discussion around targets in general." According to The Atlantic, messages later confirmed as authentic by the NSC showed Hegseth providing "precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing." The controversy may ultimately hinge on how Hegseth's classification authority is interpreted. As defence secretary, he has the power to declassify certain materials, though Ratcliffe stated on Tuesday that he was unaware if Hegseth had done so in this case. Neither Gabbard nor Ratcliffe directly criticised Hegseth or indicated that they held him responsible for the ongoing debate over the messages. Ratcliffe, in particular, attempted to draw a distinction between intelligence community practices and Pentagon procedures, emphasising that Signal is approved for certain government use but not for classified material. However, he conceded that "pre-decisional strike deliberation should be conducted through classified channels." Gabbard repeatedly claimed not to recall specific details of the chat. However, some Republican lawmakers have pointed the blame directly at Hegseth. "I think the most accountable, or the most guilty person is the secretary of defence 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. (ANI) Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has issued a statement clarifying the current status of its flight ban to the UK, as reported by ARY News on Wednesday. According to ARY News, citing a PIA spokesperson, the UK Department for Transport (DFT) has not yet made any decision regarding the resumption of UK flights from Pakistan and mentioned that no formal communication or public statement has been issued by the UK Department. Additionally, the spokesperson emphasised that Pakistani aviation authorities are in regular contact with the UK department, working together, and urged the public to avoid spreading rumours. Meanwhile, the PIA remains hopeful about resuming flights to the UK, citing their success in meeting all the requirements set by the DFT audit, ARY News reported. However, there are conflicting reports. According to ARY News, citing reports, PIA will continue to be banned from flying to and from the UK, as the UK Department for Transport has confirmed PIA's inclusion on the air safety list. This list prohibits any air carriers certified by Pakistani authorities from operating commercial services to or from the UK. As per the UK government, banned carriers include, but are not limited to, Airblue Limited, AirSial, Pakistan International Airlines, SereneAir, and Vision Air International. "All air carriers certified by the authorities with responsibility for regulatory oversight of Pakistan are banned from operating commercial air services to, from, and within the United Kingdom. Carriers include but are not limited to the following: Airblue Limited, AirSial, Pakistan International Airlines, SereneAir Private Ltd., Vision Air International (Private) Ltd,' The UK government website read as quoted by ARY News. This update follows recent reports that the UK Department for Transport may soon finalise an audit of Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which could lead to the restoration of UK flights. It's important to note that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifted its ban on PIA in November 2024, clearing the path for the airline's possible return to UK airspace. (ANI) The Baloch National Movement (BNM) organised a protest rally in Hanover, Germany, to mark the 77th anniversary of Pakistan's occupation of Balochistan. Activists at the event highlighted the ongoing human rights abuses in the region, using speeches, placards, and slogans to call attention to the plight of the Baloch people. They specifically condemned the detention of Baloch leaders such as Mahrang Baloch, Bebagr, Bebo, and others, demanding their immediate release. Prominent BNM leaders, including Sharhassan, Nadeem Saleem, Sadiq Saeed, and Rahman Baloch, addressed the crowd, emphasising that Balochistan remains an occupied nation. They reminded attendees that Balochistan was annexed by Pakistan on March 27, 1948, following a military invasion, and that the Baloch people have faced oppression ever since. Despite these challenges, the speakers reaffirmed the Baloch people's unwavering commitment to their struggle for independence. The rally also condemned the recent escalation of state violence in Quetta, particularly the March 22 attack on a peaceful sit-in on Sariab Road, where protestors were demanding the recovery of missing persons. The attack, carried out by Pakistani forces, resulted in the deaths of three individuals and injuries to dozens more. Participants noted that medical assistance was obstructed and public property was damaged, calling the actions a clear example of state terrorism. Looking back at Balochistan's history, the speakers reminded the audience that the Baloch struggle for independence dates to the 19th century, including the martyrdom of Khan Baloch Mehrab Khan in 1839. Balochistan declared independence from Britain on August 11, 1947, but Pakistan, through a combination of diplomatic pressure and deceit, forced the region's annexation. Despite the Balochistan Parliament's rejection of accession in December 1947, Pakistan launched a military operation in March 1948 to occupy the region. The speakers concluded the rally by reiterating that March 27 is observed by the Baloch people as a Black Day, marking their resistance against Pakistani rule. They called on the international community to speak out against Pakistan's human rights violations and support the Baloch people's fight for independence. This comes amidst the detention of Baloch leaders and activists such as Mahrang Baloch, Sammi Deen Baloch, Lala Wahab and many others during a peaceful protest in Quetta. Activists in Balochistan have consistently held protests and campaigns to highlight the region's marginalisation. In retaliation, authorities have carried out severe crackdowns, frequently resulting in the arrest of Baloch leaders and activists. Balochistan has endured ongoing and severe human rights abuses in Pakistan, including reports of killings, sexual violence, and forced displacements. Despite the region's wealth of natural resources, local communities see few benefits. Restrictions on freedom of speech, assembly, and movement remain widespread, and the international community has offered limited attention to the suffering of the Baloch people. (ANI) Changsha hospital introduces VR therapy to ease mental strain among infectious disease patients 08:25, March 26, 2025 By Liang Rui ( Global Times A patient with cirrhosis practices ''virtual therapy'' with a VR headset after developing typical ''ICU syndrome,'' where physical weakness exacerbates psychological distress. (Photo/Courtesy of The First Hospital of Changsha) A hospital in Central China's Hunan Province has introduced virtual reality (VR) therapy in its infectious diseases hepatology wards, using immersive technology to help patients manage mental distress. More than 30 cases have reported positive outcomes with customized VR content now under development to further enhance treatment, the Global Times learned from the hospital on Tuesday. According to the public relations department of The First Hospital of Changsha hospital, the VR therapy works by lowering stress hormone levels as patients are immersed in soothing virtual environments, allowing the brain to partially suppress pain signals. The method has proven especially effective for bedridden patients and those receiving long-term treatment. "When the VR headset is activated, the ward transforms into highly realistic and soothing scenes a sunny beach, a forest filled with birdsong, or a snowy mountain or hot spring," Kong Jinling, a head nurse of the hospital's infectious diseases department, told the Global Times. The therapy incorporates psychological techniques such as narrative therapy, breath control, mindfulness, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and hypnosis. Kong noted that one cirrhosis patient with ICU syndrome, where physical weakness worsens mental distress, underwent 30-minute daily VR therapy sessions. After two weeks of treatment, the patient saw stabilized blood pressure and heart rate, improved sleep, and reduced infection markers. Patients in infectious disease wards often face recurring symptoms like fever, infections, and bleeding, compounded by isolation, anxiety, and fear of losing social connection. Prolonged hospitalization has become a tough mental and physical ordeal, said Kong. Inspired by international research and case studies, the hospital launched the VR intervention program as a clinical psychological tool. The therapy has since expanded across various scenarios: Fever patients interact with penguins in Arctic landscapes, pain sufferers stroll beside lotus-filled lakes, and those undergoing procedures like paracentesis watch calming animations to ease tension. "Since May 2024, more than 30 patients have undergone VR therapy with positive feedback overall," Kong said. Still, challenges remain. Some elderly patients experience dizziness, while the critically ill may lack stamina for extended sessions. "We're optimizing solutions -adjusting scene dynamics, customizing content, and shortening duration," Kong said. The organic integration of psychological intervention with VR technology this time is an effective attempt, the nursing department of the hospital told the Global Times. "After the success in the infectious diseases department, the hospital will next promote it in other departments such as intensive care medicine, rehabilitation medicine, orthopedics, neurosurgery, and infection immunology, providing patients with more effective and comfortable psychological support." Previously, the Third Hospital of Mianyang in Southwest China's Sichuan Province utilized special VR video games to assist in treating patients with mental health disorders. The VR therapy simulated various medical scenarios for patients. At the same time, digital cognitive rehabilitation devices leverage computer-assisted methods to help patients restore cognitive functions such as calculation and memory, according to the Xinhua News Agency. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) The Office of Tibet in London hosted a group of 15 students from the University of Westminster for a 90-minute informative session on Tibet. As per a report by the Central Tibet Administration (CTA), the visit was facilitated by Dr. Frands Pedersen, the course leader for the MA Diplomacy and Global Politics programme, which aimed to enhance students' comprehension of non-state actors and paradiplomacy, essential elements of the Office of Tibet's mission. Secretary Tenzin Kunga delivered a presentation that provided a historical and geopolitical overview of Tibet. By utilising satellite imagery and maps, he highlighted the strategic significance of the Tibetan Plateau, outlined the democratic framework of the CTA, and described the extensive diplomatic and advocacy initiatives undertaken by the Offices of Tibet around the world, including in London, according to the CTA. The CTA report noted that the interactive Q&A portion of the session saw students asking a variety of thought-provoking questions, showcasing their genuine interest in Tibet's political circumstances and advocacy efforts. Questions covered China's reasons for controlling Tibet, the legitimacy of the Tibetan government-in-exile, the unique features of Tibetan Buddhism compared to other Buddhist traditions, and the wider geopolitical consequences of Tibet's struggle. Students also posed questions regarding China's policies in East Turkestan, the development of the Tibetan language after the occupation, and the potential repercussions of a renewed Trump administration in the US for Tibet's advocacy, as indicated by the CTA. Representative Tsering Yangkey and Secretary Tenzin Kunga provided detailed insights, addressing how China has sought to erase Tibetan identity for 'Xizang,' the assimilationist practices imposed through colonial boarding schools, and the ongoing significance of determining His Holiness the Dalai Lama's successor, as stated by the CTA. They stressed the resilience of the Tibetan diaspora and the strategic advocacy efforts that aim to sustain the resistance movement globally, as reported by the CTA. To conclude the session, Secretary Tenzin Kunga encouraged students to increase their engagement with Tibet by reading, discussing, and advocating for its cause in academic settings, as reiterated by the CTA. Representative Tsering Yangkey stated, "Engaging with university students is a vital part of our outreach at the Office of Tibet. Today's session allowed us to provide deeper insights into Tibet's situation and its global significance. The students' keen interest and critical questions were encouraging, and we look forward to conducting similar engagements with other universities in the coming months," as quoted by CTA. (ANI) President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended felicitations on the occasion of the National Day of Bangladesh on Wednesday. President Droupadi Murmu's message to Mohammed Shahabuddin, President of Bangladesh, stated, "On behalf of the government, the people of India and on my own behalf, I extend warm greetings and felicitations to Your Excellency and to the friendly people of Bangladesh on the occasion of your National Day." "India-Bangladesh relations are multi-faceted, with our cooperation encompassing diverse areas such as trade, multimodal connectivity, development partnership, power and energy, education, capacity building, cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. Bangladesh is at the focus of India's "Neighbourhood First" and "Act East" policies, our SAGAR doctrine and the Indo-Pacific Vision. India reiterates its support for a democratic, stable, inclusive, peaceful and progressive Bangladesh," Murmu said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message to Chief Adviser of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus stated, "I extend my felicitations to you and the people of Bangladesh on the occasion of the National Day of Bangladesh." "This day stands as a testament to our shared history and sacrifices, which have laid the foundation of our bilateral partnership. The spirit of the Liberation War of Bangladesh continues to remain a guiding light for our relationship, which has flourished across multiple domains, bringing tangible benefits to our peoples," PM Modi said. "We remain committed to advancing this partnership, driven by our common aspirations for peace, stability, and prosperity, and based on mutual sensitivity to each other's interests and concerns," he added. The Bangladesh National Day on March 26 commemorates the country's declaration of independence from Pakistan in 1971. India and Bangladesh observed December 6 as Maitri Diwas as New Delhi had recognised Dhaka on this day in 1971. India was the second country, after Bhutan, to recognize Bangladesh as a sovereign and independent state on December 6 in 1971. The day was designated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as Bangladesh-India Friendship Day (Moitree Dibosh) in March 2021. (ANI) Nepal has proposed a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the upcoming BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, according to an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As per the high-level official, Nepal has sent a request to the Indian side for a meeting on the summit sidelines, which awaits confirmation. "We've sent the proposal to the Indian side, and we are awaiting their confirmation. There is a high chance of meeting between the two prime ministers," the official told ANI, seeking anonymity. On Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced the visit of Nepal's Prime Minister to Thailand, the host nation for the sixth edition of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit. "Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is paying an official visit to the Kingdom of Thailand from 1 to 5 April 2025 at the cordial invitation of the Prime Minister of Thailand, Paetongtarn Shinawatra. This will be the first ever official visit by the Prime Minister of Nepal to Thailand," the release stated. As per the ministry, the Nepal'sPrime Minister will hold official talks with Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand, and discuss the various areas of bilateral relations between Nepal and Thailand. "Following the official bilateral engagements, the Prime Minister will lead a Nepali delegation to the Sixth Summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) to be hosted by the Government of Thailand on April 4 in Bangkok and address the Summit on the same day. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from BIMSTEC member states on the margins of the summit," the Nepal Foreign Ministry stated. The Nepali delegation will be led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli with the Arzu Rana Deuba, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada, Economic and Development Advisor to the Prime Minister and other high-ranking Government officials, representatives of private sector, also being part of the group. As per the ministry, the prime minister of Nepal will return to the country on April 5, 2025. (ANI) Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) expresses its support for the reintroduction of the Uyghur Human Rights Protection Act, a critical and timely bipartisan piece of legislation that aims to provide Priority 2 (P-2) refugee status to Uyghurs escaping persecution. This necessary measure presents a vital opportunity for those fleeing systematic oppression, and we sincerely appreciate Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), and Gregory Meeks (D-NY) for bringing this significant bill to light, as highlighted by CFU in a report. The Uyghur Human Rights Protection Act will grant direct access to the US refugee resettlement program and facilitate quicker asylum processing for Uyghurs. This legislation addresses an urgent requirement for a haven, as numerous Uyghurs in the United States face prolonged uncertainty while waiting for asylum and refugee status, subjected to transnational repression, CFU noted. CFU emphasized that the bill also requires the Department of State to engage diplomatically with third countries that host Uyghurs, ensuring they are not forcibly returned to China. The importance of this legislation is accentuated by recent occurrences, including the deportation of over 40 Uyghurs from Thailand to China, where they are sent back to a region known for documented genocide and crimes against humanity. "As the PRC continues to surveil Uyghurs abroad and pressure other countries to forcibly deport them back to danger, countless Uyghurs remain trapped in fear and uncertainty, anxiously awaiting asylum and refugee status. By passing this bipartisan bill, the United States will reaffirm its commitment to protecting human rights and standing with Uyghurs escaping genocide." Rushan Abbas, Executive Director, Campaign for Uyghurs, said as quoted by CFU. The campaign for Uyghurs fully supports this bipartisan bill and calls on Congress to swiftly pass the Uyghur Human Rights Protection Act, as stated by CFU. The Uyghur population in China has faced severe repression, particularly in the Xinjiang region, where reports of widespread human rights abuses have emerged. The Chinese government has been accused of implementing a policy of forced assimilation, including mass surveillance, arbitrary detentions in "re-education camps," and suppression of religious and cultural practices. According to several reports, Uyghurs have been subjected to forced labour, family separations, and forced sterilizations. International organisations and governments have condemned these actions, describing them as efforts to erase Uyghur identity. (ANI) The Baloch National Movement (BNM) organised a protest in Amsterdam to condemn the recent arrest and torture of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders, including Dr. Mahrang Baloch and Bebagr Baloch, by Pakistani authorities. The protest saw active participation from members of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), who expressed their solidarity with the Baloch cause. The demonstrators held signs featuring images of individuals who have gone missing, highlighting the ongoing human rights abuses in Balochistan. Speakers at the rally denounced a violent crackdown on a peaceful BYC protest in Quetta, where Pakistani forces opened fire, resulting in three deaths and several injuries. The protesters also criticized the arrests of Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Bebagr Baloch, and other activists, who were taken to unknown locations, while communication networks in the region were disrupted. BNM leaders condemned the Pakistani government's long-standing repression in Balochistan, which has seen thousands of enforced disappearances over the years, with families left in the dark regarding their loved ones' fates. They also expressed concern about the similar persecution faced by Pashtun activists, such as PTM leader Ali Wazir, who remains in custody for opposing human rights violations. Speakers called on international human rights organisations and the global community to take immediate action to address the ongoing oppression faced by both the Baloch and Pashtun peoples. One of the protesters expressed his rage and stated, "Pakistan is killing, and the world is watching. Pakistan is supporting terrorism. Stop Pashtun and Baloch genocide." He also demanded the release of Mahrang Baloch immediately. Prominent figures who addressed the protest included BNM Netherlands President Muheem Abdul Rahim, Vice President Waheed Baloch, Dr. Abdul Latif Baloch, Mahira Baloch, Ruqayya Baloch, Wahid Baloch, and Nabi Baloch. PTM activists, including Zar Khan Afridi, Jamal Baloch, Shari Baloch, and Mahmad Baloch, also participated in the demonstration. Recently Baloch leaders and activists such as Mahrang Baloch, Sammi Deen Baloch, Lala Wahab and many others were arrested by Pakistani authorities during a peaceful protest in Quetta. The Pakistani police also opened fire, which led to the deaths and injuries of several people. Activists in Balochistan have continually organised protests and campaigns to draw attention to the region's marginalisation. In response, authorities have conducted harsh crackdowns, often leading to the arrest of Baloch leaders and activists. Balochistan has faced persistent and severe human rights violations, including reports of killings, violence, and enforced displacement. Despite the region's rich natural resources, local communities see little benefit from them. Widespread restrictions on freedom of speech, assembly, and movement continue, while the international community has provided minimal attention to the ongoing suffering of the Baloch people. (ANI) The central organiser of the Baloch Women Forum (BWF), Dr. Shalee Baloch, has urged Baloch people to support the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) in every possible way and condemned the recent detention of Baloch leaders and activists, as reported by the Balochistan Post. In a recent statement, Baloch condemned the worsening situation in Balochistan, which she described as an environment of brutality and injustice targeting the Baloch community. She pointed out the false charges against prominent Baloch figures such as Dr. Mahrang Baloch and Sammi Deen Baloch, emphasising how the state's lawlessness continues to oppress peaceful human rights movements in the region, the Balochistan Post reported. Shalee Baloch also criticised the state's heavy-handed tactics, including illegal arrests, the use of tear gas, and indiscriminate firing, which she argued have failed to resolve the longstanding issues of Baloch rights, Balochistan Post cited. According to her, these methods, which have been ongoing since the forceful annexation of the Kalat State in 1948, have only intensified the sense of alienation among the Baloch people. The latest crackdown is just another chapter in this long history of state repression. Over the past three days, around 200 Baloch activists have been detained under fabricated charges such as "disturbing peace and tranquillity," including key figures like Mahrang Baloch, Sammi Deen Baloch, and Bebow Baloch, the Balochistan Post reported. Dr. Baloch argued that such actions are a cover-up for the state's broader attempt to stifle peaceful calls for Baloch rights. She also highlighted the ongoing violence, which has led to numerous deaths and injuries, exacerbating public anger over the state's repressive actions. According to the Balochistan Post, the statement further addressed recent incidents, such as the illegal raid on Gulzadi Baloch's residence and the detention of two minor girls, which has raised serious concerns regarding the safety and treatment of Baloch women and children. Dr. Baloch expressed alarm at the continuous threats and harassment faced by those involved in advocating for Baloch rights. Baloch pointed out the role of certain powerful figures in maintaining the ongoing conflict in Balochistan, suggesting that a peaceful Balochistan would hinder their personal interests. She stressed that the state's violence, even during the holy month of Ramadan, reveals a disregard for the well-being of the people, regardless of age, gender, or health, the Balochistan Post reported. In conclusion, Dr. Baloch urged the people of Balochistan to unite in solidarity with the BYC and its leadership, as well as with all those seeking justice. She said, "I urge the indigenous people of Balochistan to stand by Baloch Yakjehti Committee, its leaders and members and all those who are just and demanding what belongs to them in such a critical time. It is the only way to bring peace, tranquillity and justice to the people of Balochistan as a whole." (ANI) The 10th BRICS Policy Planning Dialogue concluded on Tuesday, in Brasilia, convening policy planners from the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, along with senior representatives from the newly expanded BRICS membership, covering pressing global geopolitical issues and regional developments, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated in a press release. Hosted by the current BRICS President, Brazil, the two-day event on March 24-25 laid the groundwork for the upcoming BRICS Summit later this year. The Indian delegation was led by the Joint Secretary of Policy Planning & Research of the MEA, Raghuram S. According to the release, the dialogue offered a platform to assess the bloc's institutional evolution following its recent expansion and key discussions centred on priorities such as global health cooperation, international trade and financial dynamics, climate action, artificial intelligence governance, and reforms to multilateral peace and security frameworks. Brazil's hosting of the dialogue underscores its leadership in steering BRICS toward addressing contemporary challenges and fostering collaboration among member states. BRIC, as a formal grouping, started after the meeting of the Leaders of Russia, India and China in St Petersburg on the margins of G8 Outreach Summit in 2006. The grouping was formalized during the first meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers on the margins of UNGA in New York in 2006. The first BRIC Summit was held in Russia's Yekaterinburg in 2009. It was agreed to expand BRIC into BRICS with the inclusion of South Africa at the BRIC Foreign Ministers' meeting in New York in 2010. South Africa attended the 3rd BRICS Summit in Sanya in 2011. A further expansion of BRICS took place in 2024 with five new members - Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The 16th BRICS Summit was being held under Russia's chairmanship in Kazan in 2024. The BRICS alliance continues to explore strategies for expanding trade and investment among its members. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a meeting with US Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne Clark in Delhi on Wednesday and discussed deepening trade and investments, building resilient supply chains and strengthening strategic partnership between two nations. In a post on X, Jaishankar stated, "Glad to meet President & CEO @USChamber @SuzanneUSCC today. A useful exchange on deepening trade and investments, building resilient supply chains and strengthening India-US strategic partnership." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1904805448479563794 Earlier on March 21, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India and the US are making significant strides in their bilateral trade negotiations, with the aim of expanding trade, enhancing market access, and reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers. During a weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the two governments are actively working to build a framework for the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), which will be a multisector agreement beneficial to both nations. The MEA spokesperson also mentioned Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal's recent visit to the US from 3-7 March, where he met with his US Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, to advance discussions on the agreement. He said, "India and the US are in the process of taking bilateral trade negotiations forward. The two governments are actively working to build a framework for the BTA, which would aim to expand trade, enhance market access, reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers, and deepen supply chain integration. "In this endeavor, as I told you, our Commerce and Industry Minister had visited the United States from March 3-7, where he met with the US Commerce Secretary, as also US Trade Representative. Government of India remains engaged with the US administration at various levels to arrive at a mutually beneficial multi-sector bilateral trade agreement," he added. His visit to the US followed US President Donald Trump and PM Narendra Modi's plans to negotiate the first tranche of a mutually beneficial, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by the fall of 2025. (ANI) The rapidly intensifying cooperation among four major adversaries of the United States - China, Russia, Iran and North Korea --spotlighting that Russia's war in Ukraine is a catalyst that could drag the United States into a multi-front conflict according to a report. The annual report of worldwide threats to the national security of the United States by the US Intelligence Community released by the office of Director of National Intelligence has warned about the deepening ties between these nations--primarily in security and defence--amplifying individual threats and creating a formidable bloc challenging US global dominance. It further mentioned China's pivotal role in amplifying the risks due to its ambitious goals and vast influence. "Cooperation among China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea has been growing more rapidly in recent years, reinforcing threats from each of them individually while also posing new challenges to US strength and power globally," the report said. This alignment increases the chances of US tensions or conflict with any one of these adversaries drawing in another, with China being critical to this alignment because of its global significance, particularly its power and influence. "Russia's war in Ukraine has accelerated these ties, but the trend is likely to continue regardless of the war's outcome. This alignment increases the chances of US tensions or conflict with any one of these adversaries drawing in another. China is critical to this alignment and its global significance, given the PRC's particularly ambitious goals and powerful capabilities and influence in the world," the report read. The assessment revealed that Russia's reliance on its partners has surged amid the Ukraine conflict, with North Korea supplying munitions, missiles, and troops under a June 2024 strategic pact; Iran providing UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) in exchange for advanced military support; and China bolstering Moscow's war machine with dual-use materials and components. "Trade between China and Russia has soared since the war began, helping Moscow withstand US sanctions," the report noted, while Russia's oil and LNG exports to China further cushion its economy. This alignment, accelerated by the Ukraine war, heightens the danger of a US confrontation with one nation pulling in others, a scenario the report deems increasingly likely regardless of the conflict's outcome. "Cooperation between China and Russia poses the greatest enduring risks to US interests," the report states, pointing to their decade-long joint military drills, now intensified, and plans for expanded Arctic operations, including bomber patrols and naval missions, to counter Western influence," it said. While driven by a shared aim to undermine US power, the report acknowledges the uneven nature of this alliance, tempered by escalation fears and divergent interests. Yet, it predicts continued collaboration, especially in the Arctic, where China leverages Russia to build icebreaker ships and secure economic footholds. The intelligence community cautions that this evolving axis, rooted in mutual gains, demands urgent US attention to safeguard its strategic edge. (ANI) Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus departed for China on Wednesday for a four-day visit. During the visit, Muhammad Yunus will hold bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on March 28, Bangladesh Foreign Ministry officials said. The officials said the two nations will sign a few number of deals during Yunus' visit to China. https://x.com/ChiefAdviserGoB/status/1904795820353806687 Earlier this month, the Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka, Yao Wen, met with Muhammad Yunus. Yao Wen said the upcoming official visit of the Chief Adviser to China would be the most important one in the 50-year-long relationship between the two 'trustworthy" and close friends. Professor Yunus would deliver a speech on Asia in a Changing World: Towards a Shared Future. The Chinese executive vice premier will also join him during the session. During the visit, Yunus would join and speak at the Boao Forum, considered the Davos of the East, where top leaders and CEOs gather every year to discuss top global issues, the statement said. The ambassador said Peking University, one of the world's top educational institutions, would confer an honorary doctorate to Professor Yunus during the visit. The Chief Adviser would also speak at the university, it added. Longi, the largest solar panel manufacturer in the world, has decided to set up an office and invest in solar panel manufacturing in Bangladesh, as Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen said. The ambassador said several top Chinese solar panel manufacturers visited Bangladesh in December to explore opportunities to invest in the country. They made the visit after Muhammad Yunus extended an invitation to Chinese companies to relocate their manufacturing plants here as part of the Interim Government's plan to turn the country into an economic hub. (ANI) Mar 26 (CNBC International) - Widely considered Japan's leading artificial intelligence startup, Preferred Networks is on a mission to tackle "real-world" challenges through deep learning. Founded in 2014, the company has embarked on several joint projects, ranging from autonomous driving to cutting-edge semiconductors. By attracting major investors like Toyota, Preferred Networks has grown into Japan's largest unicorn, a private company valued at over $1 billion. "We are trying to create a lot of new value in the world by focusing on computers and computer science, which we love," CEO Toru Nishikawa told CNBC's Christine Tan in the latest episode of Managing Asia. "Our vision is to make the world a better place by making the latest technology available in the shortest possible time," Nishikawa added. One of Preferred Networks' most ambitious projects to date is the development of AI-powered autonomous trucks, which aim to address Japan's declining and aging workforce in the trucking industry. OSAKA, Mar 26 (News On Japan) - In an appeal case challenging the government's refusal to recognize same-sex marriage, the Osaka High Court ruled on March 25th that the current legal framework is unconstitutional, overturning a previous lower court decision. The court stated that "a separate legal framework other than marriage would only create new discrimination," and concluded that the denial of marriage rights to same-sex couples violates the Constitution. Chief Judge Kumiko Honda of the Osaka High Court declared, "The current situation, where same-sex marriage is not allowed, is an irrational system that significantly undermines individual dignity." The high court rejected the earlier ruling, which had upheld the government's stance that "marriage is intended to protect men and women who bear and raise children." Instead, it emphasized that the institution of marriage is not inherently tied to the potential for natural reproduction, pointing out that it should be viewed separately from reproductive functions. Based on this reasoning, the court found the existing legal structure in violation of Article 24, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution. Additionally, the court ruled that it also violates Article 14, which guarantees equality under the law, warning that "establishing a separate legal framework only for same-sex couples risks creating new forms of discrimination." This marks the fifth high court ruling in Japan declaring such a legal stance unconstitutional. The government responded by stating it would "closely monitor the decision." Source: KTV NEWS NARA, Mar 26 (News On Japan) - A budget plan including about 32 million yen to fund a free K-pop concert was approved by the Nara Prefectural Assembly, paving the way for the event to be held later this year. The concert, proposed as part of the new fiscal year's initiatives, had initially faced strong opposition during committee deliberations. Lawmakers questioned the project's rationale, citing insufficient debate and a lack of clear objectives. As a result, the budget bill, which included funding for the concert, was rejected last week by a majority vote. However, during the full assembly session held today, the proposal gained renewed support, with some members of the Liberal Democratic Party and Nippon Ishin no Kai switching their stance and voting in favor. The bill passed, clearing the path for the concert to take place. Governor Yamashita said, "I'm glad we are now able to go ahead with the K-pop event as planned. It's good to meet the public's expectations." The free concert, which had stirred debate among lawmakers and the public, is scheduled to be held on October 24th. Source: YOMIURI OSAKA, Mar 26 (News On Japan) - A luxury tower apartment under construction in Grand Green Osaka, located in front of Osaka Station, has drawn attention for its record-setting price tag of 2.5 billion yen. The media was recently granted first access to a completed unit inside the building. The residence is equipped with automatic doors at every entrance, and some units feature car elevators that allow residents to bring their vehicles directly up to their apartmentshighlighting the developers attention to detail and luxury. Meanwhile, the trend of building high-rise apartments is expanding beyond central Osaka. In Kadoma City, the areas first tower condominium is now under construction. In Nakanoshima as well, interest is growing around a particular development. Despite the overall surge in prices, what these properties have in common is a sense of value. In particular, apartments with fixed-term leasehold rights are emerging as attractive options for buyers seeking affordability. With prices continuing to rise, questions remain as to how long this upward trend will last. We took a closer look at the shifting landscape of Osakas apartment market. Source: YOMIURI HYOGO, Mar 26 (News On Japan) - The political climate in Hyogo Prefecture has become increasingly volatile as Governor Motohiko Saito faces mounting pressure to resign, fueled by media scrutiny, opposition within the prefectural assembly, and a series of conspiracy-laden narratives circulating online. On the surface, the controversy centers around a report by a third-party committee investigating Governor Saito's alleged workplace misconduct. Of the 16 cases raised, 10 were recognized as instances of power harassment, though many observers argue the evidence remains inconclusive. Despite calls for his resignation from multiple assembly membersincluding a formal statement by the Communist Partyothers, such as assemblyman Katayama, have defended Saito, noting that he was elected twice by popular vote and suggesting continued criticism undermines the democratic process. Public sentiment appears divided. While mainstream media coverage has been largely critical of Saito, scenes of silent support from the assembly's gallery suggest a base of voters still stands behind him. Some critics argue that media outlets have pushed a one-sided narrative, using public figures to call for the governor's resignation. One particularly controversial instance involved lawyer and media personality Toru Hashimoto, who likened the current prefectural administration to a cult, drawing backlash for what many viewed as an inappropriate and inflammatory comparison. Adding to the tension are ongoing concerns about transparency and the motivations behind political attacks. Allegations have surfaced that former prefectural officials and political allies of Saitos predecessor continue to exert influence within the government, possibly fueling the current unrest. Conspiracy theories have also begun to cloud the public discourse. Online commentators have linked the recent assault on political firebrand Takashi Tachibana to a broader anti-Saito campaign, speculating that the suspectcurrently detained in police custodymay have received outside financial support. Theories range from questions about how the attacker covered travel and equipment expenses to broader claims of coordinated efforts against dissenting voices. A more sensational thread gaining traction on social media involves the unexplained deaths of individuals allegedly connected to Hyogos political scene. Several of the deceased were said to be alumni of a prestigious local high school, and their deathssome ruled as suicideshave fueled speculation about a deeper political conspiracy. Most recently, a 59-year-old man was found dead in a moat near Himeji Castle after attending a class reunion, prompting rumors that he may be the fifth in a string of politically-linked deaths. However, there is no confirmed connection between the man and the high school in question. Some have tied these incidents to larger development projects in the prefecture, such as the Harima Coastal Highway, a massive infrastructure plan supported by Saito's predecessors. Observers note that Saitos efforts to revise certain aspects of the project may have sparked resistance from entrenched interests, fueling opposition to his administration. Parallel concerns about media control and censorship are also growing, especially as Japan prepares to implement a new law allowing the government to demand removal of online content deemed misleadingpotentially including claims of man-made natural disasters. These moves have drawn criticism from free speech advocates, who fear the erosion of independent discourse. As the political drama in Hyogo unfolds, public attention remains fixed on whether the governor can withstand increasing pressure from both the media and within his own government. Saito's supporters argue that he is being targeted by an establishment unwilling to accept reform, while opponents continue to question his leadership and accountability. In the background, voices like Tachibanas continue to stir the pot, promoting theories that blur the lines between political analysis and online activism. Whether the public embraces these narratives or rejects them as fringe speculation may influence not only Saitos political future, but also the broader debate over media integrity and government transparency in Japan. Source: NAGOYA, Mar 26 (News On Japan) - Cherry blossoms began blooming in Nagoya on March 26th, according to an announcement by the Nagoya District Meteorological Observatory, two days later than the average year but two days earlier than last year. "We confirmed that more than five flowers were in bloom today, so we have officially observed the flowering of the standard Somei Yoshino tree at our observatory," said Kawaguchi Takahiro from the Nagoya District Meteorological Observatory. Around 10:30 a.m. on March 26th, staff at the observatory in Chikusa Ward confirmed that the Somei Yoshino tree on the premises had five to six blossomsmeeting the official criteria for declaring the start of the cherry blossom season. This marks the second consecutive year that Nagoya's cherry blossoms have bloomed later than the historical average. The observatory forecasts that the blossoms will reach full bloom in about a week to 10 days. Elsewhere in the Tokai region, Gifu reported the start of cherry blossom season on March 25th. Source: Nagoya TV News NAHA, Mar 27 (News On Japan) - A memorial ceremony was held in Zamami Village on March 26th to mark 80 years since the residents of the Kerama Islands were driven to mass suicide during the Battle of Okinawa, following the first U.S. landing on the islands in 1945. On March 26th, 1945, as American forces launched their initial assault on Zamami, many residentsfacing desperation and feareither took their own lives or those of their family members in a tragedy known as "compulsory mass suicide." At least 177 people died. This years memorial, hosted by the village, was held at the Tower of Peace and attended by bereaved families and many local residents. Takashiro Toshiko, 93, said, "Eighty years ago today, fierce fighting broke out here, and many villagers were doomed to die. I never want my grandchildren or great-grandchildren to go through the fear and pain I experienced." Zamami Mayor Miyazato Satoshi declared, "Eighty years after the war, in this milestone year, we pledge here at the Tower of Peace to pass on both the history of that tragic conflict and the peace and richness we enjoy on these islands today." As 80 years have passed since the tragedy, and few who remember the events firsthand remain, this years ceremony marked a significant effort to ensure the memory of what happened on the island is not lost to time. Source: Okinawa News OTV In the intricate world of aerospace and industrial engineering, the smallest components often play pivotal roles in ensuring the safety and efficiency of complex systems. Among these unsung heroes are the NAS1149 flat washers, meticulously designed to meet stringent military specifications and provide unparalleled reliability in critical applications. For a more in-depth exploration of NAS1149 flat washers, including detailed specifications and insights into their role in various industries, visit the original article: https://thebuzzbriefs.com/industrial/engineered-for-reliability-nas1149-flat-washers/. Unveiling the NAS1149 Flat Washer NAS1149 flat washers are standardized components adhering to military specifications, ensuring consistency and reliability across various applications. Crafted from materials such as carbon steel, stainless steel, and brass, these washers are designed to withstand diverse environmental conditions and mechanical stresses. Their primary function is to distribute the load of threaded fasteners, preventing damage to the assembly surfaces and maintaining joint integrity. Beyond their basic function, NAS1149 washers also serve as protective barriers between different materials, preventing galvanic corrosion in assemblies that involve dissimilar metals. This feature is particularly crucial in aerospace and industrial applications, where long-term durability is a necessity. Diverse Applications Across Industries The versatility of NAS1149 flat washers makes them indispensable in numerous sectors: Aerospace Industry In aircraft assembly, precision and reliability are paramount. NAS1149 washers are utilized extensively to ensure secure fastening of components, from the airframe to the engine mounts. Their adherence to strict military standards guarantees performance under extreme conditions, including significant temperature fluctuations, vibrations, and exposure to aggressive environmental factors such as fuel, lubricants, and hydraulic fluids. In addition to their structural benefits, these washers help minimize the effects of material expansion and contraction caused by varying flight altitudes. By absorbing small shifts in fastened components, NAS1149 washers play a vital role in reducing stress concentrations, thereby enhancing the lifespan of aircraft structures. Defense Sector Military vehicles and equipment demand components that can withstand harsh environments and rigorous use. NAS1149 washers provide the necessary durability and reliability, ensuring that critical assemblies remain intact during operations. Whether used in armored vehicles, missile systems, or naval vessels, these washers contribute to the robustness and stability of mechanical connections. Additionally, NAS1149 washers play a key role in securing electronic enclosures and equipment mounted on military vehicles, preventing vibrations from loosening fasteners and causing component failures during high-impact maneuvers. Industrial Manufacturing Beyond aerospace and defense, these washers find applications in various industrial settings. From heavy machinery to precision instruments, NAS1149 washers help maintain the integrity of assemblies, ensuring longevity and reducing maintenance needs. Their precise dimensions and load-bearing capacity make them essential in environments where high-performance fastening solutions are required. In industrial robotics, NAS1149 washers are commonly used to reinforce fastened joints, preventing loosening under repetitive motion. Their use in conveyor systems and automated assembly lines also underscores their importance in ensuring the smooth operation of manufacturing processes. Material Selection and Its Impact The choice of material for NAS1149 washers is crucial, as it directly influences performance: Carbon Steel: Known for its strength and affordability, carbon steel washers are suitable for general-purpose applications. However, they require protective coatings, such as cadmium plating, to enhance corrosion resistance. Stainless Steel: Offering excellent corrosion resistance and strength, stainless steel washers are ideal for environments exposed to moisture, chemicals, and extreme temperatures. Their durability makes them a preferred choice in both aerospace and industrial applications. Brass: With good corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity, brass washers are often used in applications requiring non-magnetic properties or in electrical assemblies. Each material type is selected based on the specific environmental and mechanical demands of the application, ensuring optimal performance and longevity. Precision Manufacturing for Critical Applications The manufacturing process of NAS1149 washers involves stringent quality control to meet precise dimensional tolerances. This precision ensures a proper fit and function within assemblies, which is vital in applications where even minor deviations can lead to system failures. Manufacturers adhere to specifications that dictate parameters such as inner and outer diameters, thickness, and material properties, ensuring consistency and reliability in every washer produced. Additionally, NAS1149 washers undergo rigorous testing, including tensile strength evaluations, corrosion resistance assessments, and thermal stress tests. These quality assurance measures ensure that the washers meet the high demands of aerospace and industrial environments, where safety and performance cannot be compromised. Enhancing Performance Through Proper Usage To maximize the benefits of NAS1149 washers, proper installation and usage are essential: Correct Sizing: Selecting the appropriate washer size ensures optimal load distribution and prevents potential damage to assembly components. Material Compatibility: Ensuring compatibility between the washer material and the components it contacts prevents galvanic corrosion and maintains assembly integrity. Torque Specifications: Adhering to recommended torque values during installation prevents over-compression or insufficient load distribution, both of which can compromise joint integrity. In applications where vibration is a concern, using NAS1149 washers in conjunction with locking fasteners can enhance stability and prevent loosening over time. A Commitment to Quality and Standards Manufacturers of NAS1149 washers are committed to upholding the highest quality standards. This commitment involves rigorous testing and certification processes to ensure each washer meets or exceeds the required specifications. By sourcing NAS1149 washers from reputable suppliers, industries can trust in the reliability and performance of these critical components. Companies involved in the supply of aerospace and industrial fasteners continuously invest in research and development to enhance washer performance. Innovations such as advanced coatings for increased corrosion resistance and precision-engineered geometries are being introduced to further improve washer functionality in demanding environments. In sectors where safety and reliability are non-negotiable, NAS1149 flat washers serve as foundational elements that uphold the integrity of complex assemblies. Their standardized design, material versatility, and precision manufacturing make them indispensable across aerospace, defense, and industrial applications. By understanding their critical role and ensuring proper application, industries can enhance the performance and longevity of their systems, one washer at a time. Whether in the skies, on the battlefield, or within the heart of industrial manufacturing, NAS1149 washers continue to prove their worth as essential components in mission-critical applications. Morocco had expressed its firm rejection of Algerias double speak as it desperately seeks to expand the mandate of the UN mission to the Sahara, MINURSO, to include human rights. Speaking in a public debate at the Security Council, Algerias representative to the UN, reiterated his countrys call for the MINURSO to include human rights monitoring, using false statements such as all peacekeeping missions are doing so. The call came after the Security Council excluded- in a resolution last November- the Algerian proposal while extending the mandate of the MINURSO for another year. In response to the Algerian representative, Moroccan diplomat Majda Moutchou debunked the claim as fake news, noting that 7 out of 11 UN peacekeeping missions do not include a human rights mandate. MINURSO has a ceasefire monitoring mission, she said, adding that the mandate has been clearly defined by the Security Council, and any attempt by the Algerian delegation to distort its role is either misinformed or deliberately misleading. She explained that Algeria is not well-placed to raise human rights given the grave violations taking place in the Tindouf camps, where it has kept thousands of Sahrawis under the mercy of a ruthless militia that has been using them as political pawns. Algeria has often used the issue of self-determination in a bid to unsettle Morocco in vain. Mrs. Moutchou made it clear that the principle of self-determination cannot be used to undermine the territorial integrity of sovereign states and asked the countries that use this principle to achieve their own narrow foreign policy agendas to apply it at home. Between the lines, her statement could refer to the plight of the Kabyle people who have been demanding their right to self-determination and independence from the yoke of Algerian occupation and the Cape independence movement in South Africa, a country that has also traded on self-determination. Algeria had better put pressure on its Polisario proxies to allow the resupply of the MINURSO teamsites, which have encountered obstacles in performing their mission east of the berm. This came in recent UN Secretary Generals reports as an issue that blocks the mission from performing its ceasefire mission. The recent UN Security Resolutions highlight the need to align the strategic focus of the MINURSO to ceasefire monitoring alone and commended the work of the Moroccan Human Rights Council in the Sahara territory. Human Rights in Algeria Algeria cannot hide the sun with a sift. A country with dim human rights records that continues to deny access to independent human rights observers in the country, including in the Polisario Tindouf camps, where abhorrent practices such as slavery, child soldiers, and extrajudicial killings are rampant. Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, expressed disappointment over the continued harassment and criminalization of human rights defenders in Algeria. The Algerian authorities have shut down several human rights groups, including affiliates of the League for the Defense of Human Rights (LADDH) and other independent organizations. This includes actions against Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International, as Algerian authorities have restricted their activities and presence in the country. Algeria should rather look itself in the mirror and address the serious rights violations in its territories, including the area in Tindouf it relegated as a rear base to the Polisario separatist militias. The American rating agency Moodys confirmed, during its periodic review in March, the Ba1 rating assigned to Morocco, with a stable outlook. This decision highlights the Kingdoms ability to maintain its macroeconomic stability despite ongoing challenges, such as slowed economic growth and increasing public debt, writes the magazine Challenge. In its report, Moodys emphasizes the strength of Moroccan institutions and the effectiveness of the countrys fiscal, social, and economic policies. These factors have helped maintain social cohesion and support economic activity, despite rising public debt, which is considered sustainable. The agency specifies that Moroccos external position remains strong, thanks to tourism revenues, exports, and Moroccan expatriates remittances. These financial flows help contain the current account deficit, estimated at 2.5% of GDP in 2024. Another key factor highlighted by Moodys is the strategic role played by Bank Al-Maghrib (BAM), which bolsters the credibility of the countrys monetary policy. According to the rating agency, Moroccos fiscal strength, rated Baa2, balances a rising but controlled public debt. However, certain risks remain, particularly those linked to the large public enterprise sector and exposure to exchange rate risk. Currently, foreign currency debt represents 17.6% of GDP. Moodys also warns about potential risks of deterioration, including budgetary pressures related to social security reforms and major infrastructure projects, as well as the countrys exposure to external shocks, particularly those related to climate. Zakaria Fahim, CEO of BDO Maroc, an accounting, consultancy and auditing firm, told the magazine that this Moodys rating sends a clear signal: Morocco is on the right track, but further efforts are needed. He stresses the need for rigorous implementation of reforms, particularly in terms of monetary stability, labor market reform, acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and digitizing public administration. According to him, the private sector must also play a central role by strengthening synergies with the public sector, enhancing regional value chains, and supporting young entrepreneurs. Maintaining this rating is a call to action, adds Zakaria Fahim. Now is the time to invest wisely, strengthen training, and capitalize on our human capital. The Ba1 rating of 2025 can become an A3 tomorrow, provided we view it as a strategic springboard and not just as a mere milestone, he says. Echoing Zakaria Fahim, economist Samuel Mathey said maintaining the Ba1 rating with a stable outlook reflects Moroccos ability to absorb economic shocks while maintaining a disciplined budgetary framework. This resilience is based on several factors, including strong foreign currency inflows via remittances from Moroccans abroad, tourism, and exports, particularly in the automotive industry and phosphate. These flows help mitigate the impact of trade deficits and stabilize the balance of payments. Although public debt represents about 70% of GDP, Moroccos fiscal management is viewed as credible. Ongoing reforms, particularly aimed at broadening the tax base and better controlling public spending, are boosting investor confidence. Furthermore, improvements in the business climate and the development of major structural projects, such as port infrastructure, renewable energy, and industrial zones, are fostering an investment dynamic favorable to growth. According to Samuel Mathey, the Ba1 rating reflects Moroccos institutional strength and its ability to manage public finances, but it also highlights the remaining challenges, particularly regarding economic growth and debt sustainability. Burundis president Evariste Ndayishimiye has raised alarms over what he claims is credible intelligence suggesting that neighboring Rwanda is planning to attack his country. Speaking in an exclusive interview with the BBC, Ndayishimiye also accused Rwanda of involvement in past instability, alleging that Rwanda supported a 2015 coup attempt in Burundi and continues to back rebel groups destabilizing his nation. He expressed concern that Rwandas actions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where it has been linked to the M23 rebel group, could be a precursor to further aggression against Burundi. They would say its an internal problem when its Rwanda that is the problem. We know that he [Rwandas President Paul Kagame] has a plan to attack Burundi, the countrys president said. Despite these claims, Rwanda swiftly dismissed Ndayishimiyes allegations as surprising and emphasized that the two countries are cooperating on security measures along their shared border, which has been closed for over a year. Rwandas foreign minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, called for calm, stressing the need for military de-escalation and dialogue between the two neighbors. Ndayishimiye, however, reiterated that Burundi does not intend to provoke conflict but will defend itself if attacked. Burundians will not accept to be killed as Congolese are being killed. Burundian people are fighters, the president stated. He also highlighted the importance of respecting existing peace agreements and called for Rwanda to take responsibility for its alleged support of rebel groups, such as the Red Tabara, which are accused of carrying out attacks on Burundian soil. Ndayishimiyes comments reflect the growing tensions in the region, with the conflict in eastern DRC further complicating relations between Rwanda and Burundi. Both nations face significant challenges as they navigate these complex security concerns, with the international community watching closely. Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy is facing a potential 10-year prison sentence as his trial over alleged corruption linked to his 2007 presidential campaign continues in Paris. Sarkozy is accused of striking a corruption pact with the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who allegedly funded Sarkozys campaign in exchange for political favors. The prosecution argues that Sarkozy and his associates, including ex-ministers Claude Gueant and Brice Hortefeux, orchestrated a covert financial arrangement with the Gaddafi regime to secure campaign financing through illicit means. The case centers on alleged financial transfers, including 6 million traced to intermediary Ziad Takieddine, and testimonies such as that of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, who claims he was pressured to alter his testimony regarding the funding. In their closing arguments on Monday (24 March), the lawyers for the plaintiffs highlighted the implausibilities, lies and contempt for the court in the defendants defense and cited multiple pieces of serious and concordant evidence. The 70-year-old ex-president, who has denied the charges from the outset, insists that he never received any illegal funds. Im not a highwayman, Im not a bandit, Sarkozy asserted in court, condemning the prosecutions assumptions. Prosecutors are reportedly seeking significant penalties, including a fine of 375,000 and a ban from public office. They have also suggested that Sarkozy could be detained immediately, even if he appeals. The trial is nearing its conclusion, with final sentencing recommendations expected by Thursday (27 March). If convicted, Sarkozys legacy as president could be irreparably damaged, and the case is expected to have lasting implications for French politics. The African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) have further deepened their 25-year-old partnership with the recent signing of the 20 million EU-African Union Partnership Performance Acceleration Programme (AUPPAP). This agreement, marking the 25th anniversary of AU-EU relations, aims to accelerate integrated development and strengthen institutional capacities across Africa, aligning with the AUs Agenda 2063 and the Joint Vision for 2030. The AUPPAP focuses on fostering economic growth, digital connectivity, energy, and sustainable development. Over the next two years, the program is designed to drive key initiatives that support Africas socio-economic transformation, enhance institutional effectiveness, and address shared challenges. This includes initiatives in digital, energy, and economic sectors, complementing the EUs Global Gateway Investment Package for Africa. At the signing ceremony, AU Commission director-general Fathallah Sijilmassi emphasized that the initiative will bolster African integration and sustainable development, directly benefiting AU institutions, member states, and African citizens. It comes as the AU and EU have launched a year-long celebration marking the 25th anniversary of their enduring and unique partnership, since the first Africa-Europe Summit in April 2000 in Cairo. This milestone, aligned with the Africa Agenda 2063 and the Global Gateway Investment Package, underscores the powerful impact of two unions representing almost 2 billion people and accounting for more than 40% of the UNs membership. The key pillars of the AU-EU partnership are centered on the following themes: a prosperous and sustainable Africa and Europe; peace, security and governance: partnering for stability; investing in human development; and a global force for multilateralism and sustainability. Leading up to the Ministerial Meeting in Brussels in May 2025, a series of initiatives will highlight the partnerships progress, fostering dialogue on shared challenges. The 7th AU-EU Summit will be held in Africa later this year. A new report warns of escalating rivalries among Tigrayan political leaders, raising fears that these tensions could derail the process of reintegrating the region into Ethiopias federal structure, ultimately spiraling into a broader conflict involving neighboring Eritrea and other regional powers. A fragile ceasefire, signed in November 2022 between Ethiopias government and the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), ended a devastating two-year war, but the report published by the Washington-based Africa Center for Strategic Studies warns of persistent instability as rival factions vie for control of Tigrays transitional authority. The conflict is centered around a leadership dispute between TPLF leader Debretsion Gebramichael and his former deputy, Getachew Reda, leader of the Tigray Interim Administration (TIA). The disagreement over the control of the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF) has further polarized the region, with Debretsion accusing the TIA of stalling the reintegration process and Getachew defending the administrations neutrality. The situation has worsened, with TDF forces loyal to Debretsion seizing key locations, including the regional radio station in Mekelle, and tensions mounting along the Eritrean border. Despite the Ethiopian federal governments insistence on a unified approach to Tigrays reintegration, the power struggle continues to undermine progress. With Eritrean forces still present in parts of Tigray and the looming risk of renewed conflict, international actors, including the African Union and the United Nations, have called for urgent mediation. The stakes are high, as the instability in Tigray could destabilize the entire Horn of Africa, already grappling with crises in Sudan and beyond. The need for sustained dialogue remains critical to prevent further escalation. With multiple armed actors in close proximity, the risk of miscalculation and provocation by political spoilers is high, the report warns. At least 54 people perished in a devastating airstrike on a local market in Sudans western Darfur region, according to humanitarian organizations documenting the escalating civilian toll in the protracted conflict. Mondays aerial bombardment targeted the village of Tora, located 80 kilometers north of El-Fasher, North Darfurs provincial capital. The attack devastated a crowded weekly market, triggering an extensive fire that consumed structures and claimed numerous lives. More than half the casualties were women, with an additional 23 people wounded and seven reported missing. Military spokesperson Brigadier General Nabil Abdullah denied targeting civilians, dismissing the allegations as incorrect while asserting that forces were exercising their constitutional and legal right to deal with hostile targets. This contradicts documentation from multiple humanitarian groups that characterized the strike as hitting an area densely populated with civilians. The Emergency Lawyers, a coalition tracking war violations, condemned the attack as a systematic war crime and called for independent investigations to establish accountability through international courts. Local organization Support Darfur Victims documented the aftermath, revealing destroyed infrastructure and numerous casualties. This incident represents the latest atrocity in a conflict that erupted in April 2023 when tensions between the military and Rapid Support Forces escalated into nationwide warfare. While government forces have recently recaptured significant territories including Khartoums Republican Palace, el-Fasher remains under military control despite near-daily RSF strikes. The war has claimed over 28,000 lives, displaced millions, and pushed parts of the country toward famine. Human rights organizations have documented widespread atrocities including mass rape and ethnically motivated killings, particularly in Darfur, that potentially constitute crimes against humanity. The East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) have substantially restructured their joint mediation initiative for the Democratic Republic of Congo conflict, expanding the panel of negotiators and enhancing its regional representation. Following Mondays virtual summit, the two influential regional organizations increased the mediation team from three to five members, appointing additional former heads of state to strengthen peace efforts between DRC, Rwanda, and M23 rebels. The expanded panel aims to improve gender, regional and language inclusivity, according to the post-meeting communique. Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Nigerias ex-leader Olusegun Obasanjo remain as mediators, while Ethiopias former President Sahle-Work Zewde replaces fellow Ethiopian Hailemariam Desalegn. South Africas former President Kgalema Motlanthe and Central African Republics ex-President Catherine Samba-Panza join as new appointees, creating a more diverse negotiating team. This reorganization follows Angolas withdrawal from mediation responsibilities, with Angolan officials citing competing priorities related to their African Union leadership mandate. Angolas presidential statement referenced the need to refocus on broader continental initiatives including peace, infrastructure development, and economic advancement, while also alluding to unsuccessful negotiation attempts and external interference. The restructuring coincides with deteriorating conditions on the ground, as M23 rebels reversed their pledge to withdraw from the strategic town of Walikale. Rebel leaders justified maintaining positions by claiming continued Congolese military operations in the region. Regional diplomats express cautious optimism that the enhanced mediation teams diverse composition might overcome previous negotiation barriers, though significant challenges remain given the complex intersection of regional interests, territorial disputes, and longstanding ethnic tensions underlying the persistent conflict. The very patriotic Lauren Boebert. Photo: Angelina Katsanis/POLITICO/AP Photo Just when you thought jingoistic gestures couldnt get much dumber than Trumps designs on Canada and Greenland, Colorado congresswoman Lauren Boebert outdid her idol by suggesting that plans are underway to rename the District of Columbia the District of America. Boebert was annoyed at Democrats for mocking Trumps determination to rename the international body of water known as the Gulf of Mexico for 400 years as the Gulf of America, as the Hill reported: Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) urged lawmakers to stop making fun of President Trumps decision to rename the Gulf of America, suggesting the nations capital could undergo the same change. I would caution my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to refrain from making jokes about the Gulf of America because next up may be the District of America that we are working on, Boebert said during a Tuesday hearing for the House Natural Resources Committee. Perhaps this was an idle threat. But then again, MAGA interest in remaking the nations capital is well established, as Trump himself noted during his recent address to Department of Justice employees: Were cleaning up this great capital, and were not going to have crime and were not going to stand for crime, and were going to take the graffiti down and were already taken to tents down there. Were working with the administration, and if the administration cant do the job were gonna have to take it back and run it through the federal government. Its not clear, however, exactly what problem Boebert and other Trump loyalists might have with the old name of the capital, first established as the Territory of Columbia by George Washingtons own handpicked commissioners. Columbia had already become a female symbol of the country, a predecessor to Lady Liberty and a ubiquitous presence in the patriotic literature of the 19th century. Illustration: Frances Adams Halsted and V. Aderente/Corbis/Getty Images The Columbia name was derived, of course, from Christopher Columbus, thought at the time to be the discoverer of America. Perhaps Boebert has woke concerns about Columbuss murderous treatment of the Indigenous Americans he encountered? I dont think so. It is interesting, however, that Boeberts big idea was articulated at a hearing over legislation sponsored by her frenemy Marjorie Taylor Greene to codify in law Trumps Gulf of America executive order (originally introduced even before the 47th president took office). Greene once famously referred to her former friend and ideological colleague Boebert as a little bitch for horning in on her legislative plans. So perhaps the Coloradan is returning the favor by one-upping her on renaming places. Come to think of it, Colorado sounds as foreign as Mexico. Maybe Trumpiana or Magarado would work better? Dont laugh Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photos: Getty Images Mike Waltz appeared on Laura Ingrahams Fox News show on Tuesday night to discuss why he added journalist Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal group text about war plans. It seems the national security advisers goal was to declare that he was taking responsibility for the debacle, while actually shifting the blame to the editor of The Atlantic and (even more nonsensically) Democrats and the Biden administration. Instead, Waltz basically delivered a live reenactment of the Were all trying to find the guy who did this meme, minus the hot-dog costume. Waltz kicked off the interview by announcing hes not a conspiracy theorist and immediately floating a vague conspiracy theory about how Goldberg wound up in the chat. Of all the people out there, somehow this guy who has lied about the president, who has lied to Gold Star families, lied to their attorneys and gone to Russia hoax, gone to all kinds of lengths to lie and smear the president of the United States, and hes the one that somehow gets on somebodys contact and then gets sucked into your group? Waltz said. Laura Ingraham: "How did a Trump-hating editor of The Atlantic end up on your Signal chat?" Mike Waltz: "I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but of all the people out there, somehow this guy...he's the one that somehow gets on somebody's contact and then gets sucked into the group? pic.twitter.com/TP6HXTWPtQ The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) March 25, 2025 So, Ingraham asked, was Waltz suggesting someone on his team added Goldberg? Well, no, he replied. Its embarrassing, yes. Were going to get to the bottom of it. We have I just talked to Elon on the way here. Weve got the best technical minds looking at how this happened. A moment later, Elon Musks crack team of investigators got a huge lead when Waltz conceded that hes the guy who added the journalist to the chat. Look, a staffer wasnt responsible, he said. I take full responsibility. I built the group and my job is to make sure everything is coordinated. So Waltz was communicating with Goldberg and accidentally added him to the group text, just as we all suspected? If only it were that simple! I can tell you for 100 percent, I dont know this guy, Waltz said. I know him by his horrible reputation, and he really is the bottom scum of journalists, and I know him in the sense that he hates the president. But I dont text him, he wasnt on my phone, and were going to figure out how this happened. Mike Waltz on the Signal chat leak: I just talked to @elonmusk... weve got the best technical minds looking at how this happened. I dont know this guyhes the bottom scum of journalists. pic.twitter.com/1TqToWQOZZ Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) March 25, 2025 The national security adviser then fleshed out his conspiracy theory, suggesting that Goldberg might have catfished him, on the off chance that Waltz would invite him to a high-level text thread about bombing Houthi targets in Yemen. Have you ever had somebodys contact that shows their name and then you have somebody elses number there? he asked Ingraham. So of course I didnt see this loser in the group. It looked like someone else. Now whether he did it deliberately or it happened in some other technical means is something were trying to figure out. So who broached U. S. national security via a duplicitous contact card? Thats a question for the boys at DOGE, not the national security adviser: INGRAHAM: But how did it end up in your phone? WALTZ: Well, thats what were trying to figure out. INGRAHAM: But, thats a pretty big problem thats disturbing. WALTZ: Thats why weve got the best technical minds, right? Finally, Ingraham who asked surprisingly tough questions for a woman who recently nodded along as Donald Trump claimed gold paint doesnt exist pressed Waltz again on whether he knows Goldberg. No idea, Waltz said. Wouldnt know him if I bumped into him, if I saw him in a police lineup. I do now. Knew him by reputation for lying about the president over and over and over again. What I can tell you for certain certainly wasnt reaching out or talking to him at all. Why would I? Then Waltz called Goldberg vile, accusing him once again of being a rampant liar. Waltz asks you this: What kind of person would publicly lie to the American people? Think about that for one second. Michael Waltz claimed that hes never met, dont know, never communicated with Jeffrey Goldberg. Heres a photo of Waltz standing next to Goldberg during a 2021 event at the French Embassy. The event Waltz attendeda Q&A with a French filmmakerwas moderated by Goldberg. pic.twitter.com/eTqOY7xnTl Anna Bower (@AnnaBower) March 26, 2025 Heres Waltzs full interview with Ingraham: John Lindsay campaigning in the Bronx in 1965. Photo: James Hughes/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images During a raucous city-election season 60 years ago, nearly everybody in New York agreed on two things: The city was going to hell in a handbasket, and something needed to be done about it. Im running a campaign that calls for change because change is needed, liberal Republican congressman John Lindsay thundered in a debate against his Democratic opponent, comptroller Abe Beame. There is one murder in this city every 14 hours, one rape every six hours, one theft every three minutes 100,000 middle-income families have left New York City, 18,000 jobs a year. The city is near bankruptcy. There is no long-range fiscal planning and no program planning. And the administration of which Mr. Beame has been part and parcel has to shoulder the responsibility for this. It was true. Before becoming comptroller, Beame had been a top finance official in the three-term Democratic mayoralty of Robert Wagner, which had run its course and done little to tame, trim or transform a sprawling, sluggish, patronage-infested municipal bureaucracy. A third candidate in the race, conservative William F. Buckley, dubbed Lindsay a flamboyant idealist as a put-down, but Lindsay won by promising to apply strong medicine to agencies that clearly needed to be merged, eliminated, or overhauled. As columnist Murray Kempton put it, He is fresh and everyone else is tired. New Yorkers picked the tall, good-looking WASP from the East Side and assigned him the mission of curing not just the visible and all-too-familiar urban problems of poverty, discrimination, troubled schools, and violent crime. Voters had also lost faith in the ability of political leaders and a sluggish, unresponsive bureaucracy to turn things around. A major, multipart investigative series on the citys problems by the Herald-Tribune newspaper in 1965 opened with the memorable words: New York is the greatest city in the world and everything is wrong with it. In New Yorks list of memorable, clearly consequential mayors like La Guardia, Koch, and Bloomberg, Lindsay is often given short shrift. Aside from a loop in Central Park and the newly refurbished East River Park, no major public buildings, parks, or structures bear the name of the mayor who brought New York air-conditioned subways; created the nations first 9-1-1 emergency call system; and signed the Rent Stabilization Act, which remains the citys most important affordable-housing measure to this day. Those of us who lived in the city at the time are more likely to associate Lindsay with the many labor strikes and street riots that happened on his watch, along with a notoriously botched response to a blizzard in 1966 that left 42 people dead. But Lindsays two tumultuous terms provide important lessons for this years crop of City Hall hopefuls in how to attack, and perhaps even slay, the stubborn dragons that are once again threatening to devour Gotham. (My three-part documentary series and panel discussion about the Lindsay years are online at You Decide, my podcast). The first and most important lesson: Think big and swing for the fences. Shortly after his inauguration, Lindsay decreed the citys bureaucracy a pile of old rusty junk and moved to consolidate 50 agencies into ten superagencies, forcing mergers by executive order when the City Council refused to go along. He created the Taxi and Limousine Commission, the Health and Hospitals Corporation and the nations first municipal Department of Environmental Protection and successfully pushed for the merger of the New York City Transit Authority with the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority to create the modern MTA. Importantly, Lindsay also established the 59 community planning boards that give citizens a voice in how development takes place as an alternative to the political clubhouses that controlled many neighborhoods. Not every Lindsay reorganization was successful a poorly conceived effort to simultaneously decentralize and desegregate city schools led to a paralyzing teachers strike but todays mayoral candidates should emulate Lindsays creativity and willingness to redraw the citys org chart when necessary. Should the Department of Correction be merged with Probation? Mayors Giuliani and Bloomberg temporarily had both departments run by a single commissioner; perhaps the move should be permanent. Should the Rikers Island jail complex be placed under control of a federal court monitor? Mayor Adams fought against the takeover at every turn, even as the number of suicides, overdoses, and other deaths of people in custody on his watch has climbed to 37. Do we need a separate, specialized agency tasked solely with addressing the complex needs of seriously mentally ill New Yorkers? And what about the idea, recently floated by Vital City, of empowering a single agency not necessarily the NYPD to be in charge of subway safety? If things in New York are as bad as todays candidates keep telling us they are, they should be thinking in big, broad strokes, not just doing a little tinkering here and there. The other big Lindsay lesson is his ability to attract and inspire men and women of extraordinary talents, many of them dubbed whiz kids, in their 20s and early 30s, whom the 44-year-old mayor entrusted with enormous power and responsibility. Several of these well-chosen aides went on to extraordinary careers as elected officials, including H. Carl McCall (state senator and state comptroller); Ronnie Eldrige (City Council); Elizabeth Holtzman (congress, district attorney and city comptroller); and Lindsays human-rights commissioner, Eleanor Holmes Norton, who has been the elected delegate to Congress from Washington, D.C., since 1991. Many of the whiz kids went on to run major institutions: Lindsays chief of staff, Peter Goldmark, became the president of the Rockefeller Foundation and executive director of the Port Authority; another chief of staff, Steve Isenberg, became chairman of Newsday; press secretary Bob Laird became op-ed editor of the Daily News; and First Deputy Mayor Dick Aurelio launched NY1, the nations first 24-hour all-news cable channel. Jay Kriegel and Sid Davidoff became the kind of behind-the-scenes fixers who spent decades nurturing, connecting, and representing all manner of public and private institutions. Lindsays bench wasnt just built on luck or Ivy-League personal connections. According to Goldmark, top hires went through an exhaustive gauntlet of interviews and background checks to assess who was hungry, smart, honest, and willing to work long hours, a process he learned from Fred Hayes, a budget expert Lindsay poached from the Johnson administration. It was fun to be with them because they were energetic and they had a lot of ideas, and they were doing things and they loved their work, Holtzman told me. They admired the mayor, and they all thought they were doing Gods work in the city I think all of us must have felt at some point some nagging feelings that maybe we werent old enough, wide enough, broad enough, deep enough. But hell, we were in it. We were going to give it all we got, and he trusted us, Isenberg later recalled. You went to work every day with the most wonderful illusion you can ever have: That you could make a difference for the city. That kind of energy, idealism, and reform spirit has been lacking in the Democratic primary campaign so far. But with just under 90 days to go, its not too late for us all to demand that the candidates talk about major structural changes rather than small adjustments and that they promise to find the very best people to run the citys agencies and turn them loose to do Gods work in a city that, 60 years after Lindsay, is in crisis once again. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux This article was featured in One Great Story, New Yorks reading recommendation newsletter. Sign up here to get it nightly. Before the assassination attempt on Donald Trump that precipitated Elon Musks MAGA conversion in the summer of 2024, there was at least one prominent member of Trumpworld who had been courting Musk in public for years. In May 2020, Musk posted, Take the red pill, with a rose emoji, to his 34 million followers on what was then known as Twitter. In a quote tweet, Donald Trump Jr. responded, Welcome. Six days after the January 6 insurrection, Don Jr. posted a video to his Facebook page to ask, Why doesnt Elon Musk create a social-media platform? Twitter had just permanently suspended his father for using the service to incite violence, and Junior was mad. Elon, why dont you do that? he demanded. Get out there and come up with a concept I think you are literally the guy to save free speech in America. A year later, after Musks successful takeover of Twitter, Don Jr. posted a screenshot of a Musk post that read, My pronouns are Prosecute/Fauci. Junior captioned it: This times 1000. He was the first major political figure to suggest that Musk take on government inefficiency, the crusade that has since turned Washington upside down. The day after Musk hosted a forum with Trump on Twitter, now rebranded as X, Junior posted, Who else loves the idea of Elon Musk heading up a government efficiency committee to eliminate the likely trillions of dollars of waste we have in our bloated bureaucracy? I cant imagine a better person for the task. Trump will make this happen! The post got 3 million views. This is not to suggest that Don Jr., who did not respond to requests for comment, was the puppet master pulling the strings that made Musk the the power behind the throne in Washington. But theres no denying that the principal way in which the second Trump administration differs from the first is in the rise of Musks strain of tech-bro fascism a school of political thought cultivated in online cesspools and gamerworld and disseminated via shouty podcasts that the elder Trump, whose technological know-how is limited to scrolling through his Spotify playlist at Mar-a-Lago, has little interest in. No, it is the extremely online Junior who is steeped in this world and has brought its luminaries into his fathers orbit. In 2016, Junior lured Peter Thiel to speak at the Republican National Convention, whose MAGA attendees were visibly unnerved by Thiels admission that he was gay. But Thiels early endorsement and $1.25 million donation was a radical step among Silicon Valley supremos who were largely still Obama Democrats. Eight years later, they are nearly all paying tribute to Trump, with Musk, Thiels fellow PayPal mafia, doling out $288 million from his own pocket in 2024. Junior has made alliances with all sorts of people who have been outside not only Republican circles, but MAGA ones, too, such as Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr. (About the latter, he smirked in 2024, I love the idea of giving him some sort of role in some sort of major three-letter entity or whatever it may be and let him blow it up.) Most importantly, he brought J.D. Vance onboard. Vance, a former Silicon Valley venture capitalist who loves the debate me style of trolling of the online right, had called Trump loathsome and an idiot and cultural heroin and compared him to Hitler. But in 2022, Juniors onetime aide Andy Surabian, who was working on Vances super-PAC during his run for the Senate in Ohio, put Vance on the phone with Junior, and by the end of the conversation, he was a Vance convert, soon encouraging his father to endorse Vance in the Republican primary and tweeting an alternative history of Vance to his millions of followers: Enough with the lies being told about this guy. When Trump had to choose his vice-president in 2024, Don Jr. used all his clout to plump for J.D. Whats crazy about this is that Junior has any clout at all. How did Donald Trump Jr. spurned nepo boy, the designated Fredo of his fathers first term, the failson to end all failsons emerge as the conduit between his father and powerful Silicon Valley edgelords? How did he become, in the span of the four short years his father was in political exile, the familys crypto point man, a prince among old-money Republicans and the MAGA faithful alike, and one of the most powerful figures in the country? The story of Juniors rise is equal parts scandalous and unlikely, granting his father near the end of his life the son he has always wanted and perhaps even a political successor worthy of his name. Born on New Years Eve 1977, the first of Ivana and Donalds three children, Junior was always the surly, underperforming son. He liked to joke that Dad had demanded his birth be induced for end-of-year tax reasons. Trump was a distant father even before he left Juniors mother for Marla Maples. After witnessing a ski-lodge confrontation between his mother and the showgirl, Junior didnt speak to his namesake for at least a year. He hated his father, one adult friend of his told me. Another observer who spent months around the siblings during the 2020 campaign thought all three of them were terrified of their father. Junior in the more innocent, beardless days of the 2016 campaign, with his then-wife, Vanessa. Photo: M. Scott Brauer/Redux The relationship always had a Kendall/Logan vibe. There was famously that time when Junior, a hard-partying frat boy at Wharton nicknamed Diaper Don for his penchant for passing out and wetting himself, was humiliated by his father in front of all his friends when he came to pick him up for a Yankees game. Don Jr. opened the door, wearing a Yankee jersey. Without saying a word, his father slapped him across the face, knocking him to the floor, his former classmate Scott Melker wrote on Facebook in 2016. He simply said put on a suit and meet me outside, and closed the door. (A spokesman for Don Jr. has previously denied these stories.) After college, Junior spent a year in Aspen bartending and drinking in relative obscurity (the name Trump wasnt top-shelf in the celebrity-thick ski town). Eventually, he returned to Manhattan to take a job in the Trump Organization and married the pretty model Dad introduced him to (then pulled a classic classy Trump move by agreeing to stand in front of the New Jersey jewelry store and give his betrothed, Vanessa, the free engagement ring the shop had provided in exchange for some advertising). Together, they spawned five kids. Junior also tested his Wharton degree on endeavors beyond the family business. But he wasnt so great at making money. Trump Senior had to take over a $3.65 million loan to rescue a South Carolina real-estate investment Junior had made. Many of his ventures involved his friend Gentry Beach. Beach and Junior are godfather to each others kids, hunting buddies. They had a charming rapport. In 2006, Junior sent an email to a group of men with the subject line Gucci Camping or (jhunt), in which he wrote, The first annual Madison ave camping trip has officially been scheduled for sunday sept 3rd. All goyem bring your guns. Beach responded, Jews, the other white meat. Look like chicken taste like fish. A Junior-Beach business, Eden Green Technology, was hit with a lawsuit that indicated the company was in financial trouble due to gross project mismanagement. The suit accused Beach and other executives of paying themselves exorbitant salaries and spending more than $19.4 million in the first nine months of 2018 while only generating $9,000 in revenue. (The parties reached a settlement soon after the lawsuit was filed.) By the time the 2016 campaign rolled around, Junior was kind of a joke, weak-chinned and beaver-eager, packed into a business suit but not ready for the ratfucking style of politics his father had learned at the knee of Roy Cohn. He notoriously set up the Trump Tower meeting with Russians after being promised dirt on Hillary Clinton that would be very useful to your father. Junior took the bait Dad might have done so, too but, JFC, he left a record. If its what you say I love it, Junior wrote in an email eventually made public. (Trump, who eschews email for exactly this reason, would later dictate the exact words Junior should use to get himself out of that jam: Pretend the meeting was about Russian adoptions.) The Russia meeting became a key point in the Putin owns Trump narrative. Reporters also ferreted out Juniors 2008 brag that Russian money was key to the Trump Organizations budget: In terms of high-end product influx into the U.S., Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets. It was all sort of embarrassing, piker corruption. In 2018, he flew to India to leverage Dads presidency to sell Trump condos to rich pals of Narendra Modi. There was something feral about Junior. He didnt have the slick panache of Ivanka and Jared, who tried and failed to grasp for the Trumps a Kennedy-esque respectability and beauty and glamour. In the White House, some administration members joked that, of all the Trumps, Junior was the most likely to someday walk in with an automatic weapon and go Columbine. Juniors love of firearms and hunting, rooted in boyhood summers in Europe in the woods with his Czech grandfather Milos, also had a vicious aura, with pictures of the Trump boys grinning next to the corpses of leopards and elephants. Junior once bragged that he shot 4,000 birds in Argentina in a day. (In February, Italian authorities accused his hunting party of shooting a protected breed of duck in wetlands near Venice. He didnt personally deny it, but his spokesman said, Don takes following all rules, regulations, and conservation on his hunts very seriously and plans on fully cooperating with any investigation.) Halfway through the first Trump administration, Juniors marriage fell apart. Vanessa filed for divorce in 2018. (She is now dating Tiger Woods.) In 2020, he proposed to MAGA diva Kimberly Guilfoyle. The California-born lawyer, nearly ten years older than him, had a long and colorful history in politics already, as the former wife of California governor Gavin Newsom. And as a Fox News personality, she distinguished herself as possibly the only female the company has sacked for sexually harassing her staff. Guilfoyle knew how to make money. Junior complained about his ex-wife hitting him up for incidentals in addition to the monthly alimony. One of their friends told me Guilfoyle handled these calls from Vanessa. During the 2020 campaign, all three Trump siblings campaigned for their father, each with a role appropriate to their public personas. Junior was dispatched to fluff the MAGA rabble, pique the QAnons with conspiracy-theory wink-winks, and roll his eyes about pronouns. All that pandemic summer and fall, he would often stroll onto rally risers unmasked, business shirt tucked into jeans, no jacket, and in a nasal rapid-fire declare his bona fides: Ive had more blue-collar jobs than Joe Biden! His favored sign-off was, We will make liberals cry again! Meanwhile, as Trumps 2020 campaign finance chair, Guilfoyle offered to give a lap dance or share a hot tub with the highest donors. Trump lost the election, bringing him to his lowest point as a politician. Ironically, this is when Juniors prospects, for the first time, began looking up. If Don Jr.s staff had had their way, he might not have been on the Ellipse on January 6. Juniors adviser Arthur Schwartz had texted other aides that Junior didnt approve jack shit about showing up at the Stop the Steal rally until he learned his father would be there. Once my fathers speaking, then, you know, I feel obligated to obviously do it, he later told the House committee investigating the insurrection. Im going to help my father, you know, when I can. For her part, Guilfoyle had been furious and angry, according to texts, about not being on the rally speaker list because the couple were due to get $60,000 from Turning Point USA for the appearance. She fought her way on to the stage and told the crowd, We will not allow the liberals and the Democrats to steal our dream or steal our elections, before Don Jr. told the crowd to fight, stand up, and hold your representatives accountable. In a video he took of the family just before Trump sent his patriots to assault the Capitol, a giddy Junior selfies himself and Guilfoyle boogies to Laura Branigans Gloria. Don Jr.s ticket to influence was the Big Lie, which for a time isolated his father from the Republican Party and led Jared and Ivanka to scurry for the hills. The ignominious end of the first Trump administration coincided with Juniors continued promotion of his 2019 book, Triggered. In the Biden interregnum, as Dad went about raising money for his legal defense and fended off one prosecution after another, his namesake did what he could for the cause, spewing Biden global corruption conspiracies and shrieking about the weaponized deep state. Juniors growing popularity as a MAGA red-meat tosser got him a seven-figure podcast deal from Rumble. Junior was an early champion of J.D. Vance. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux Personally, he had been evolving. His weak chin had disappeared under a beard, which gives a strong teenage-werewolf vibe. Casual consumers of X posts and right-wing media today know Junior as a bright-eyed pocket mouse of a man whose lib-baiting jackhammer monologues have spawned suggestions that he is a drug user. Cocaine News with Don Jr. is a regular feature on The Daily Show. But he has insisted cocaine is not my thing. And people who know him say that its highly unlikely he has a drug problem. He once barfed all over a hotel after a few hits of powerful weed. Another friend told me Junior, in contrast to his college days, is now noticeably judicious around alcohol. I watched him say no, one friend said. I never thought we were in the presence of someone with a problem. It is possible the hopped-up Triggered podcaster is a party persona. One-on-one, he is phenomenal, another friend told me. We had intelligent conversations. When the posse are around, he is the leader of the pack. If a fanboy showed up, maybe there was a little peacocking. He launched a few business endeavors, including a right-wing publishing company with pal Sergio Gor (now the White House director of personnel). He also helped found a hunting lifestyle magazine, Field Ethos, which bills itself as a digest for the unapologetic man. The magazine got good reviews, but it felt like Junior was more interested in continuing to make liberals cry. As his father began to reassert his control over the GOP ahead of the 2024 election, Junior was amplifying voices in the neofascist tech-reactionary world, radicalizing the MAGAverse even more. Racist pseudoscience and quasi fascism were always in the water around Trumps, of course. Two years ago, Turning Point USAs Charlie Kirk, Juniors bodyman in the 2016 cycle, posted, Whiteness is great. Be proud of who you are. But the Richard Spencer version of the so-called alt-right was giving way to new strains of technocratic authoritarianism and manosphere revanchism, all of which swirled around Junior and Vance and others who capitalized on the period of Trumps exile from power. They were part of Thiels universe, where people like Curtis Yarvin were pontificating on the need for monarchy to rule the dumb masses. Junior and Vance were also keyed into a misogynistic white-supremacist subculture that includes Bronze Age Pervert, a Romanian American defender of masculine virtue, and Raw Egg Nationalist, a British fascist and manly wellness influencer. Vance is among the 76,000 X followers of Captive Dreamer, an anon who has identified himself as a translator of fascist classics in French and German and who was one of the first to claim that Haitians were eating dogs and cats in Springfield, Ohio. Junior hosted white nationalist Darren Beattie, who has said various Black people need to learn their place in society and take a knee to MAGA and has called for sterilizing low IQ trash at least seven times on his podcast in the last two years. Beattie is now a top official at Marco Rubios State Department. As his father prepared to storm back to the White House, Junior was also upping his girlfriend game. Bettina Anderson is an actual to-the-manner-born Wasp, from the enclaves of Palm Beach that used to look down on the Trumps. She is nine years younger than Junior, and she doesnt appear to have submitted to the Mar-a-Lago face restructuring popular among many ladies in Palm Beach MAGAland. Palm Beach society is a little surprised at Anderson, since Junior is the most despised member of the family; hes an asshole, a spoiled heir, according to one insider. But everyone understands why a smart girl might hook up with a presidents son. With German efficiency, Dad announced Guilfoyle as ambassador to Greece on the same day in December that the Daily Mail broke the news of Juniors new beau, showing them holding hands on the way to her birthday party. Bettina wanted her out of the area, a People source said cattily. The course was clear, in more ways than one, for Don Jr. to jump to a new echelon. It goes without saying that Trump 2.0 is raking it in. A modest accounting in mid-February of the money the family has made since the election and thats a tally only of the known knowns is $80 million. Juniors role in this windfall has been both pivotal and personally enriching. Junior, along with Vance, is the conduit to crypto. Dad had been calling crypto a scam for years, but in September, he rolled out, with Junior and Eric, a murky endeavor called World Liberty Financial. The purpose of the WLF enterprise is unclear an exchange? a crypto bank? but ethics experts and Democrats have suggested the venture could eventually involve potential conflicts of interest surrounding Trumps financial ties. Chinese crypto investor Justin Sun, under SEC investigation for alleged crypto-fraud activity and fresh off spending $6 million for Maurizio Cattelans duct-taped banana (he videotaped himself eating it in Hong Kong), was the first big investor, dumping $30 million into WLF just before the election. Junior with the other members of Trump Force One in Nuuk, Greenland, in January. Photo: Emil Stach/Ritzau Scanpix/Reuters Junior met WLF co-founders Chase Herro and Zachary Folkman through the son of Trumps fellow New York real-estate mogul Steve Witkoff (now Trumps Russia-Ukraine and Middle East negotiator). Even in a business rife with shady dealers, Herro and Folkman have colorful resumes. Herro has a few misdemeanor convictions under his belt and hundreds of thousands in unpaid back taxes. Folkmans business ventures include Date Hotter Girls, a dating-advice service that he advertised with the line Youre going to be ripping their clothes off and throwing them up against the wall. Junior had praised Herro and Folkman, saying, You could put them in a boardroom at Goldman Sachs, and theyre going to smoke the people in the room. But they seem as astounded as the rest of the financial world. If you would have thought six months ago that Donald Trump is dropping a decentralized finance project, would anyone have believed it? Folkman asked on the livestream announcing the project, according to the New York Times. The events moderator called the men two crypto punks. At the end of January, Trump Media the litigation-plagued holding company for Trumps Truth Social announced it was pivoting to financial services tied to crypto. In March, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump Organization, led by Eric, was in talks to purchase a stake in crypto exchange Binance, at the same time that Binance founder Changpeng Zhao is in a position to receive a pardon from Trump for a conviction related to money laundering. Meanwhile, Trump made David Sacks his crypto czar, and in March announced the creation of a strategic bitcoin reserve to shore up crypto markets and keep them humming. Since the election, Junior has been invited onto so many boards and has been cut in on so many deals that his head must be spinning. A week after the November election, Junior joined 1789 Capital, a Palm Beachbased $150 million venture-capital firm that aims to invest in companies with deglobalization and anti ESG policies and whose founder, Omeed Malik, was fired by Bank of America for allegedly making unwanted advances toward multiple women in its prime brokerage unit. (Malik sued for defamation, and the bank settled.) Malik hosted a fundraiser for Vance in 2022, with Junior an invited guest. A week after that announcement, drone-maker Unusual Machines announced Junior had joined its advisory board. Its stock hit a new record on the heels of the announcement, but the company dismissed the idea that the move was designed to take advantage of Juniors connections in Washington. In December, months after Trump Media went public through a SPAC, Trump moved all of his shares, worth $4 billion at the time, into a trust controlled by Junior, and PublicSquare announced that Trump Jr. had been appointed to the companys board of directors. Headquartered in West Palm Beach, the company aims to be an anti-woke Amazon, with offerings like consumer financing for the shooting industry and pro-life diapers. In January, Junior was named an adviser to GrabAGun, an online firearms retailer founded in 2010 that plans to go public this year in a merger with Omeed Maliks SPAC Colombier Corp II. The same month, he joined the prediction market Kalshi as a strategic adviser, stating that he and his family had used Kalshi on Election Night to know we won hours ahead of the fake news media. In early February, digital pharmacy company BlinkRx announced that Junior would be joining its board of directors. A week later, Dominari Holdings announced he and Eric joined their advisory board. No one picks him for his acumen, competency, or charisma, said Gil Duran, a San Francisco journalist. His sole value is that hes Trumps son. He is clearly a middleman in the new alliance between the tech authoritarians and his father. But Junior isnt just cashing out. The day after the fourth anniversary of the January 6 coup attempt, a Boeing 757 painted Trump Force One with a little Donald Trump action figure mounted on the cockpit descended on the capital of Greenland. Rumors that Junior was coming had been around Nuuk, a town of 20,000, for a day or two, but the government did not send a representative to meet him. Nobody knew what to do, a Greenlander told me. Go meet him? Call the police, send special forces? The American expeditionary team that strolled into the airport in bomber jackets (personalized with their names and the words Trump Force One) included Junior, Charlie Kirk, and Sergio Gor. Junior started speaking, his yelling rat-a-tat delivery a little much for people used to hunting fish and bear in silent expanses of snow and ice. To our ears, it sounds like a cannon shooting, a witness recalled. People had to put their fingers in their ears. They could not believe it. Junior explained that he came as a tourist who loves wild animals. His team then passed out MAGA hats and little American flags. The crowd drifted off. The Americans made their way to the Hotel Hans Egede, where a right-wing local blogger had reserved two tables for them. But the restaurant was kind of empty. Bad optics! Social-media fluffers were dispatched to a small park that attracted panhandlers and drug addicts. For the price of donning the red hats, the outcasts were happy to chow down on whale heart with the Americans. All the drunks and beggars say yes. And now all these people are sitting there eating free food, the witness said. Junior dialed up his dad, who crooned over the speaker that the United States needed to take over Greenland because there are ships sailing around, and theyre not the right ships. A few handshakes later, the Trump Force One team dashed back to the airport, where the pilot gunned the jet back toward America. The trip mystified everyone except those in on the joke. Besides giving Trump an opportunity to do some American chest-beating, the stunt was an extended dog whistle to a subculture of Silicon Valley geeks and woke-enraged white male academics who have been dreaming of an American imperium and the breeding of a race of alabaster-skinned supermen in Greenland. Greenland has mythic significance for the race pseudoscientists surrounding Musk, Vance, and Junior, who are enamored of what 20th-century Italian fascist Julius Evola called fabulous Hyperborea Arctic regions that are supposedly the primordial homeland of a divine race of white-philosopher priests. It is highly unlikely Junior is unaware of the connection. Bronze Age Pervert, for example, has been open about his hope to rebreed the original Aryan race in the Arctic, and the white nationalists in his circle have been known to post maps of an American empire that, like Hitlers Lebensraum, show the incorporation of all the white nations Russia, Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, and even South Africa into a single unit. The fantasy of a white nationalist beachhead in Greenland is something an Xbox sword-wielding hero homunculus would dream up the essence of tech-bro fascism, if you think about it. Greenland has become so central to the MAGA imaginarium that Vance is sending his wife Usha there later this week. After Junior left Nuuk, a small team of social-media creators stayed an extra day for content, bribing truant teens to stand before cameras and recite support for an American takeover. They were walking around and giving everyone $100 and a MAGA hat to make videos where participants were told to say, Yeah, we want to join the United States, a Greenlander told me. These kids are schoolchildren, maybe skipping school. Of course, the parents, after they saw these videos, were like, What? You gave my child a hundred dollars and a stupid hat? Afterward, Dad got the president of Denmark a woman on the phone. He was so rude, so vehement about taking Greenland for America, that witnesses described the exchange as horrendous and like a cold shower. Sending No. 1 Son on such a mission suggests trust, of course, and Junior was later dispatched to Serbia to support both its beleaguered president and his familys real-estate deals there. A January poll of Republicans found that Junior trailed only Vance among possible candidates for president in 2028. Whether that sits well with a father thinking about a third term is another question. Asked about the possibility of running for president, Junior freaked out: Oh, God, he said. No, no, no, dont get me into trouble. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during an Oval Office meeting announcing the F-47 sixth-generation fighter jet on March 21. Photo: Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post/Getty Images On Tuesday, Trump-administration officials denied that they had shared sensitive material about an ongoing military operation in a Signal group chat that mistakenly included The Atlantics editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. There was no classified material that was shared in that Signal group, Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national security, said while testifying before Congress. But on Wednesday, The Atlantic followed up on its bombshell report, publishing the detailed plans that were shared to the text chain, which involved a planned strike against the Houthis in Yemen. The magazine redacted only the name of a CIA operative named in the text chain by CIA director John Ratcliffe. In the texts, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth laid out the series of events with specific time stamps and descriptions of the fighter jets that would be used in the operation: TEAM UPDATE: TIME NOW (1144et): Weather is FAVORABLE. Just CONFIRMED w/CENTCOM we are a GO for mission launch. 1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package) 1345: Trigger Based F-18 1st Strike Window Starts (Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME also, Strike Drones Launch (MQ-9s) 1410: More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package) 1415: Strike Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier Trigger Based targets) 1536: F-18 2nd Strike Starts also, first sea-based Tomahawks launched. MORE TO FOLLOW (per timeline) We are currently clean on OPSEC Godspeed to our Warriors. The planned attack commenced shortly after the messages were sent. Despite the staggering level of detail reportedly shared by Hegseth, the White House landed on a new target for its spin: The Atlantics headline. Rather than address the content of the Hegseth text, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt pointed to the publications use of the term attack plans in its latest report, suggesting it was walking back its earlier contention that officials shared war plans in the group chat. The Atlantic has conceded: these were NOT war plans. This entire story was another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well-known for his sensationalist spin, she said on social media. Trumps national security adviser, Mike Waltz, who Goldberg says invited him to the Signal chat, echoed Leavitts words in his own post. No locations. No sources & methods. NO WAR PLANS. Foreign partners had already been notified that strikes were imminent, he wrote. BOTTOM LINE: President Trump is protecting America and our interests. Hegseth also blasted The Atlantics report, suggesting that the publications reveal was far less damning than it claimed: So, lets me get this straight. The Atlantic released the so-called war plans and those plans include: No names. No targets. No locations. No units. No routes. No sources. No methods. And no classified information. Those are some really shitty war plans. This only proves Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) March 26, 2025 The published text seems to conflict with the congressional testimony of top Trump national security officials who asserted under oath that specific details of the military operation werent shared. During an exchange with Arizona senator Mark Kelly, Gabbard was asked if there was any mention of any weapon or weapon system being used in the operation in the chat. I dont recall specific names of systems or weapons being used, she said. The Atlantics publication of the text has prompted calls for Hegseths resignation from congressional Democrats. Kelly, a Navy combat veteran and former astronaut, said Hegseth should step down, writing, The Signal incident is what happens when you have the most unqualified Secretary of Defense weve ever seen. Representative Pat Ryan, a New York congressman who served as an Army intelligence officer, said the details that the Defense Secretary shared wouldve clearly been considered classified information. Hegseth is blatantly lying (or is somehow even more clueless & incompetent than we all thought). He must resign, IMMEDIATELY. And should lawyer up, he wrote on social media. The Signal group chat is set to receive even more scrutiny. Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, told reporters Wednesday that the panel will be asking the Trump administration to expedite an inspector general investigation into the text messages. 14 items in this article 6 items on sale! Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers, Joe McKendry Strategist Brain is a series where staffers share the stores theyve stopped into, stuff theyve spotted, and extra tidbits from stories theyve worked on. Youll hear from a different writer every week. As it turns out, apartment decorating in your 20s is basically like the myth of Sisyphus. The second you get the rock close to the top of the hill, it falls back down again or in my case, the second you find that perfect rug for one apartment, you move again. Needless to say, the hunts I was occupied with when I last wrote a Strategist Brain five months ago (namely an expansive yet simple rug for my common space and some hanging bookshelves) are more or less resolved. The new apartment has some built-in shelves, which solved my bookcase search, and the nice blue rug from Ruggable I bought for the first apartment worked just as well in the second. Now, Im moving onto smaller items, like a nice-looking clock to put on one of the walls in my living room. My parents had one in the kitchen of my childhood home, so it feels fitting to have one in my own space (even if I usually look at my phone for the time anyway). My boyfriend, Jack, and I chose a blue aesthetic for our apartment, so it only makes sense that said clock would be somewhere on the blue spectrum, less sterile than what youd find in a high-school classroom, about 12 inches wide or larger, and $150 or less. Here are a few options that Im currently considering. During my search, I came across a few options that could persuade me to break away from the blue color scheme. Im usually charmed by anything Mackenzie-Childs, and who knew Yamazaki made such a handsome wooden wall clock? Meanwhile, Im usually pro-numbers when it comes to clocks, but I like how dainty this ribbony Umbra one is. Heres everything else Ive seen recently Saved View New! You can now save this product for later. PugetSoundCharm Personalized Bag Charm $51 $51 I may be spending money on my move, but my new apartment is cheaper than my old one, so Im excited to treat myself to a few little luxuries with my extra spending money. First on the list is a bag charm. It seems like everyone in New York City has a dog-shaped leather-bag charm on a Polene Cyme bag. While I may not have said Polene bag, Im a dog person and would love one of those adorable charms. My colleague Brenley Goertzen recommended this Etsy shop, which sells this charm that looks similar to my familys Bernedoodles. $51 at Etsy Buy Daisy and Wilson, the Bernedoodles I grew up with, are best friends and the inspiration for my future bag charm. Photo: Bella Druckman Saved View New! You can now save this product for later. Le Labo Basil Hand Pomade $48 $48 Second on the little luxury list is a nice hand lotion. Ive spent many recent weekends wandering between Le Labo, Diptyque, and Malin+Goetz, trying out their lotions and smelling their candles. Im flirting with spending-danger here, but Ive been thinking about Le Labos basil-scented hand pomade for about a month now. The basil and verbena (a citrusy and vegetal aromatic note, according to Le Labo) always has me repeatedly smelling my hands after I leave the store. Its pricey, but Im a pro at making things last. (Yes, I was the kid who would ration their Halloween candy until the next year.) $48 at Le Labo Buy Saved View New! You can now save this product for later. Amboy 25 W x 66 H x 9 D Over-The-Toilet Storage $157 $157 On a more practical note, Im searching for some extra storage space. Jack and I will likely look at some secondhand shops for bookshelves, but Im not picky when it comes to my bathroom. As it stands, we only have three narrow shelves behind the mirror, so Im into this white over-the-toilet organizer, which is on sale and looks nice, too. $157 at Wayfair Buy Saved View New! You can now save this product for later. Set Active Sleepy Jersey Classic Sleep Pants $72 $72 Im still in that stage of moving where Im not sure where all my clothes are. In a random bag in the closet? Somewhere in the kitchen? Who knows. Needless to say, Ive been living in these Set Active sleep pants, which happen to be one of the few comfy items I have on hand. Theyre a stretchy, breathable option that dont feel tight on my waist yet have never threatened to slip down while Im carrying heavy furniture items. $72 at SET Active Buy Saved View New! You can now save this product for later. Buck Mason Surplus Rib Weekender Pant $98 $98 Ive been building out my collection of pocketless sweat(ish)pants, which I prefer over bulky sweats with pocket lines (which I find more offensive than panty lines). So far, that collection includes some old Muji sweats Im trying to part with, the Set Active pants, a pair from Garage, and some Madewell waffle pants that I included in a Strat Haul. Im clearly covered when it comes to pairs I can sleep in, but Im still looking for a pair that I feel comfortable enough to wear during grocery and pharmacy runs. Since these are a bit thicker and sleeker than the others, I think they might be it. Theres just a Buck Mason store visit in my future in order to make sure theyre not too long. $98 at Buck Mason Buy Saved View New! You can now save this product for later. Laderach FrischSchoggi Hazelnut Milk $33 $33 Last but not least: My latest dessert of choice, which I discovered while wandering around Fifth Avenue in a hungry haze. Laderach was offering samples of this hazelnut-studded milk chocolate thats so good I immediately bought myself a quarter-pound. Its a delightful mix of creamy milk chocolate and caramelized hazelnuts that taste like what youd want the nuts from Nuts 4 Nuts to taste like. My stash is currently empty, but Im planning a trip to replenish stat! $33 at Laderach Buy get the strategist newsletter Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. Yesterday Variety published a bonkers piece basically blaming Rachel Zegler for everything going wrong with the Snow White MovieHer "crime": her support for PalestineBig name producer Marc Platt flew out in person asking her to delete a "Free Palastine". She refused.Platt son Jonah also had something to say in an Insta comment California Company Fined Over Trench Worker Death Cal/OSHA fined W. A. Rasic Construction $157,500 after a fatal trench collapse exposed serious excavation safety violations. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has issued $157,500 in citations to W. A. Rasic Construction for multiple violations of workplace safety regulations following a fatal trench collapse. The incident resulted in the tragic death of an employee working in an unprotected excavation. What Happened: On August 28, 2024, at around 3:00 a.m., a worker was inside a 17-foot-deep trench when a portion of it collapsed. The collapse 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. What Cal/OSHA Chief Debra Lee said: No worker should lose their life due to preventable safety failures. We will continue to enforce trench safety regulations, hold employers accountable and work to ensure that safety standards are upheld to protect workers. Violations Identified by Cal/OSHA: 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, a requirement that has been in place for more than 30 years. This failure exposed employees to the hazards associated with working in an unshored trench. Failure to conduct a proper inspection of the excavation site The employers inspection 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, which could have prevented the collapse. Failure to Provide Adequate Cave-In Protection The employer did not provide the necessary cave-in protection for employees working in an excavation approximately 17 feet deep. This critical 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. New Mexico Seeks Heat Safety Rule to Protect Workers Amid Rising Temperatures The New Mexico Environment Department has petitioned for a new rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses and injuries amid rising temperatures. The New Mexico Environment Departments Occupational Health and Safety Bureau has submitted a petition to the states Environmental Improvement Board to adopt a proposed rule on occupational heat illness and injury prevention. The rule is a critical step in protecting New Mexico workers from exposure to high temperatures while at work. The New Mexico Environment Department, and the Departments Occupational Health and Safety Bureau, have been actively advocating for worker safety in hot environments for several years through public outreach, presentations to employer associations, worker safety advocacy groups, and climate related non-governmental organizations. According to the National Weather Service extreme heat is a leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States. The American southwest, including the state of New Mexico, is among the fastest warming regions of the country. The New Mexico Department of Health reported there were over 800 heat-related emergency room visits in 2024. Most of the visits were concentrated in the southern and northwest portions of the state, but the impact of heat on workers is dangerous throughout the entire state. New Mexico is both hotter and dryer than in years past due to the impacts of climate change, said Kristy Peck, acting occupational health and safety bureau chief. Employers need to protect their employees from the reality of heat-related injuries. Under the proposed rule, employers are required to take measures to protect workers from heat-related illness and injury. These measures include: Taking time to acclimate to hot environments. Providing access to clean, cool drinking water throughout the workday. Mandating frequent rest periods in the shade. These simple actions prevent harm to employees working in high temperature settings. The rule protects the health of workers and safeguards our rapidly growing economy. Those working within our growing industries, such as construction, energy infrastructure, extractive industries, film and television, and outdoor recreation, are among the most at risk for heat-related illnesses and injuries. The rule will make sure they can safely continue their work. If the rule is adopted by the states Environmental Improvement Board, New Mexico would join five other states California, Nevada, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington in protecting its workers from the dangers of heat amid a warming climate. The Environmental Improvement Board is independent of the New Mexico Environment Department. It adopts and promulgates nearly all regulations administered by the Environment Department. The board was established under state law and consists of seven members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the New Mexico State Senate. Environment Department Occupational Health and Safety Bureau submission of the petition to the Environmental Improvement Board is the first step to start the rulemaking process. The petition requests a two-day hearing before the board in June of this year. When the Environmental Improvement Board adopts the rule, it will take effect in July 2025. The next step is for the Occupational Health and Safety Bureau to open comment on the rule for 60 days in April and May of 2025. All public comments received during the comment period will be evaluated and responded to as appropriate by the New Mexico Environment Department prior to submission of the final rule to the Environmental Improvement Board before the hearing date. A copy of the draft rule is available here for review. Report Identifies Key Corporate Themes Shaping Workplace Safety ASSP has released a new report capturing insights from industry leaders to help guide strategic improvements in workplace safety across various industries. The anniversary of the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire that spurred workplace safety in 1911 is a time to refocus on steps that help protect workers everywhere. The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) has published the fourth installment of a corporate safety insight report that contains firsthand views and experiences of business leaders from all industries. Environmental health and safety (EHS) professionals can use these key observations to make strategic decisions that drive improvements at their companies and around the globe. Valuable feedback and context from seasoned executives is gathered each year through ASSPs Corporate Listening Tour, an activity that helps inform and direct ASSP as a trusted advisor as well as corporate initiatives that protect worker safety, health and well-being. The project is led by CEO Jennifer McNelly, CAE, who meets with a broad range of safety executives to discover trends impacting their companies and the safety profession. Investing in safety is a direct investment in people, business sustainability and long-term success, McNelly said. The latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that nearly 5,300 fatal work injuries occurred in 2023, meaning that a worker died every 99 minutes. Thats not acceptable. On-the-job fatalities are preventable. ASSPs 2025 report from its Corporate Listening Tour describes EHS as a business imperative and identifies three interconnected themes that shape workplace safety today: Workforce Challenges: The Shifting Labor Market This theme explores workforce instability and retention; the development of company leaders; and mental health and psychological safety. Aligning Safety with Business Strategy This theme examines leadership commitment and decision making; risk management and connecting safety to the bottom line; and going beyond legal compliance. Safety Leadership and Culture This theme involves moving from compliance to influence; using safety as a competitive advantage; and strengthening employee engagement. The report proposes a set of questions to help spark discussions among safety teams and with their colleagues and corporate leaders, said ASSP President Pam Walaski, CSP, FASSP. Its through proactive conversations about trends and potential risks that we can better integrate program improvements to reduce worker injuries, illnesses and fatalities. Learn more about the Corporate Listening Tour and download the reports from the ASSP website. The success of the Palisades reopening could serve as a blueprint for other energy companies to refurbish existing nuclear facilities, addressing the growing demand for power and avoiding a reliance on fossil fuels. In recent years, interest in developing the U.S. nuclear power capacity has grown. Under the Biden administrations push for a green transition, more companies were encouraged to invest in clean energy. In addition, the power demand is expected to grow much more rapidly than previously thought, as the tech sector drives demand with plans to construct huge data centres. This, and efforts to improve the public perception of the safety standards of nuclear facilities, have revitalised support for nuclear power. In addition to plans to build new, large-scale nuclear reactors and small modular reactors (SMRs) in the coming decades, the U.S. hopes to refurbish several of its long-neglected power plants. There were 104 operational nuclear reactors in the U.S. between 1998 and 2013, but this figure declined to 92 by 2022. In 2023, 22 commercial nuclear power reactors at 18 sites were in various stages of decommissioning, according to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Now, with reinvigorated support for nuclear power, several companies are interested in renovating viable nuclear plants, which could be potentially cheaper and faster than developing new projects. Last year, Holtec International, the private owner of the Palisades Power Plant in Covert, Michigan, announced plans to reopen the facility after it closed in 2022 following 40 years of operation. The plant closed two weeks ahead of schedule due to a glitch with a control rod, despite a $6 billion federal programme to save nuclear plants suffering from increasing costs. Holtec said it hoped to get the plant up and running again by the end of 2025. Despite the significant uncertainty surrounding the clean energy industry under the new President Donald Trump administration, nuclear power seems to be one thing that both Biden and Trump agreed on. Trumps recently-appointed Energy Secretary Chris Wright has voiced his support for nuclear power. His first Secretarial Order stated, The long-awaited American nuclear renaissance must launch during President Trumps administration. As global energy demand continues to grow, America must lead the commercialisation of affordable and abundant nuclear energy. This month, Wright announced the release of the second loan disbursement of almost $57 million - of an up to $1.52 billion loan guarantee from the Loan Programs Office - to Holtec for the Palisades Nuclear Plant. Its development will be further supported by a $1.3 billion loan from the Department of Agriculture and $300 million in grants from the state of Michigan. Wright stated, Unleashing American energy dominance will require leveraging all energy sources that are affordable, reliable and secure - including nuclear energy. He added, Todays action is yet another step toward advancing President Trumps commitment to increase domestic energy production, bolster our security and lower costs for the American people. The Palisades will be the first U.S. commercial nuclear plant to recommence operations after they were ceased, subject to U.S. NRC licensing approvals. Once complete, it is expected to deliver 800 MW of clean power and support 600 jobs. Holtec now plans to repair the steam generators, at the facility as the standard procedure for maintaining the units was not followed when the plant was closed. If successful, the reopening of the Palisades Nuclear Plant could provide a blueprint for other energy companies to follow. With the demand for power increasing rapidly, the refurbishment of existing nuclear facilities could provide the clean power needed to avoid a transition back to fossil fuels. However, the project is not without its challenges. The Palisades first began operations in 1971 and, having been shut for three years requires some work to get it up and running again to the necessary safety standards. Holtec found that there are damaged tubes in the plants two generators, which were installed in 1990. The tubes are needed to protect public health as, if a tube ruptures, it is possible for radioactive material to be released. Plant operators must show NRC that if any tube failure occurs, any release of materials would remain below conservative limits. Alan Blind, the engineering director at Palisades from 2006 to 2013 under the previous owner Entergy, explained, The NRC is scared to death of steam generator tube ruptures. Its a very real accident. Its not a hypothetical. Holtec has told the media that the generators are fully repairable and has requested that the NRC complete its review of the repair plan by 15th August. However, federal regulators believe it may take longer to reopen the Palisades than Holtecs current deadline. Holtecs repair plan is scheduled to commence in the summer following inspection and testing. Both Holtec and the government are optimistic about the reopening of the Palisades. If successful, it could encourage nuclear companies to invest in the refurbishment of other plants. However, should the project be more expensive, complicated, or slower than anticipated, it could deter other companies from undertaking similar projects. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The potential for decentralized energy production from renewables poses a political challenge to Azerbaijan's authoritarian model, as it could reduce government leverage and empower local communities. On the outskirts of Baku, the smell of sulfur hangs thick in the air. Flares from oil refineries light up the night sky, a constant reminder of the industry that has dominated Azerbaijan for over a century. The country has vast, untapped potential for renewables, particularly wind and solar, which could redefine its energy future. But as the postcard images of Bakus Flame Towers highlight, Azerbaijans energy outlook remains dominated by fossil fuels. Azerbaijan has the potential to be a renewable energy powerhouse. The countys offshore wind potential in the Caspian Sea is estimated at 157 GW vastly exceeding its current total power capacity of 8 GW from all sources with signed deals with Masdar and Fortescue Industries promising an additional 22 GW. Meanwhile the sun-baked Aran region, where temperatures regularly hit 40C (104F), could host solar farms to rival those in sunbelt countries. Yet, these opportunities remain sidelined as the government prioritizes oil and gas. Azerbaijan has announced several renewable energy projects, but progress has been mixed. The 240-megawatt Shafag Solar Power Plant in Jabrayil District, initially announced in 2020, only began construction in late 2024, with completion expected by December 2026. Despite years of feasibility studies, no major offshore wind farms are currently operational on the Caspian Sea. A 2019 study identified 16 potential sites for Caspian wind farms, but development has yet to commence. While Azerbaijani officials have expressed interest in developing renewable energy setting a target of 30 percent of the countrys power needs being generated by renewable sources by 2030 actual progress has been slow. Key barriers include a lack of competitive electricity markets, bureaucratic hurdles for independent producers, and an unclear legal framework for private-sector involvement. Instead of creating an open and competitive market, the government has largely kept renewable energy under state control, much like the oil & gas industry. Since gaining independence, Azerbaijan has enacted five major energy laws, but it was not until 2021 that a law specifically addressing renewable energy was passed introducing auction and tariff systems for renewable projects. Despite incorporating auction and tariff mechanisms intended to liberalize the renewable energy market, the design of this law grants the state continued control and influence over the process. One reason for the lack of action is that the transition to renewable energy can challenge the influence of existing state energy-sector monopolies. For instance, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance notes that concentrated power in the electricity sector can obstruct progress toward clean and cost-effective energy solutions. Embracing decentralized ownership and generation through local solar energy could give private-sector entrepreneurs, as well as local communities, a greater say in developing the clean-energy sector, thereby diminishing the influence of centralized, monopolistic utilities. Azerbaijani officials are dismissive of critiques of their energy policies, highlighting a 2030 green energy roadmap and a recent agreement to supply the European Union with natural gas. Baku is also looking to export lots of electricity to the EU. In other words, Azerbaijani leaders already feel assured that they have succeeded in positioning the country as a bridge for renewable energy sources, even as reports circulate that the country will hike fossil fuel production by one-third over the next decade. Ultimately, the core reason for the governments slow approach is likely about power; political, not electric. Renewable energys potential to decentralize production poses a direct challenge to Azerbaijans authoritarian model. Unlike oil and gas controlled by state monopolies solar, wind, and hydro projects could empower local communities, businesses, and municipalities to generate their own energy, reducing reliance on centralized grids. Such energy independence could very well entail a reduction of government leverage over economic activity in the country. To establish a renewable project in Azerbaijan, several steps must be followed, including obtaining land use and construction permits, securing an electricity generation permit, signing a power purchase agreement with the state-owned Azerenerji OJSC, and finally, acquiring an electricity connection permit from either vertically integrated Azerenerji OJSC or Azerishiq OJSC, both state-owned entities. Unlike decentralized models in countries like Denmark, where municipalities play a key role in approving renewable projects, Azerbaijans system is much more centralized: the government uses an Atlas to designate renewable zones and makes final decisions, leaving little room for local input. The auction mechanism, widely used worldwide to attract private investment, exists in Azerbaijan but operates under significant state oversight. Renewable energy producers are selected through a competitive auction, but direct procurement for strategic projects can bypass this process. Tariffs for electricity generated from renewable sources are either set by authorities or determined through auctions, with guaranteed prices specified in power purchase agreements. While this structure provides revenue predictability, it also reinforces state dominance in the sector, creating uncertainty for independent investors. Azerbaijans energy transition remains stalled for several other reasons. First, oil and natural gas have long provided immediate and substantial revenue, enabling the state to fund social programs and maintain economic stability. The economy runs on a simple equation: oil + gas = instant revenue. Fossil fuels account for 90 percent of export earnings and fund nearly half the state budget. By contrast, renewable energy projects require long-term investments, often with high upfront costs and delayed returns, making them less attractive in a context where rapid financial gains are prioritized. Second, the regulatory framework for renewables in Azerbaijan is relatively weak and remains highly state-centric. This centralization limits the development of competitive market mechanisms and independent oversight, which are essential for attracting private investment and ensuring efficient project implementation. Finally, there is a notable absence of incentives for businesses and individuals to adopt renewable energy solutions. Without financial incentives, tax breaks, or supportive policies that lower the cost of transitioning to clean energy, both consumers and private enterprises have little motivation to shift away from conventional fossil fuels. The winds and sun of the Caspian hold immense potential, but the real question is whether Azerbaijans leaders will see the light. By Mahmud Rzayev via Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The mothballed Nord Stream gas pipelines from Russia to Germany may return to service at some point as Europes industry would need some Russian gas to stay competitive, TotalEnergies chief executive Patrick Pouyanne said on Wednesday. I would not be surprised if two out of the four (came) back to stream, not four out of the four, Patrick Pouyanne said at an industry event in Germanys capital city, Berlin, as carried by Reuters. There is no way to be competitive against Russian gas with LNG coming from wherever it is, the executive added. Gas leaks in Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in the Baltic Sea were discovered at the end of September 2022. Nord Stream 2 was never put into operation after Germany axed the certification process following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia, for its part, shut down Nord Stream 1 indefinitely in early September of 2022, claiming an inability to repair gas turbines because of the Western sanctions. But speculation has intensified in recent weeks that a revival of the pipelines could be a part of a deal for the end of the war in Ukraine. Earlier this month, Germanys outgoing economy and energy minister Robert Habeck said that ideas to resurrect the Nord Stream gas pipelines from Russia to Germany are the wrong direction of discussion. The Ukrainians are still under the aggression of Russia. So I think talking about the potential of Nord Stream 2 or Nord Stream 1, if it's going to be repaired, is completely the wrong direction of discussion, Habeck said. In response to reports about a resurrection of the pipelines, Germanys Economy Ministry early this month said that it is neither willing nor planning to discuss a restart to the pipeline. Estonias Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, for his part, said, The right place for Nord Stream 2 is at the bottom of the sea, in pieces, not on the EUs energy market. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com While sanctions are pushing prices up, potential deals between the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine regarding hostilities and sanctions relaxation are introducing counterpressure and uncertainty to the oil market. Crude oil prices earlier today touched a three-week high, driven by the latest U.S. oil inventory report by the American Petroleum Institute and expectations of tighter supply on Washingtons double-down on oil sanctions against Iran and Venezuela. Brent crude was trading at $73.13 per barrel at the time of writing, with West Texas Intermediate at $69.12 per barrel, after the American Petroleum Institute reported on Tuesday that oil inventories in the county had fallen by 4.6 million barrels in the week to March 21. This was a bigger than expected draw, with expectations being for a draw of 2.5 million barrels. Inventory figures from the Energy Information Administration are due out later today. Earlier in the week, President Donald Trump threatened any country importing Venezuelan crude would be subjected to a 25% tariff on all trades with the United States, with the new regime set to begin next month. As a result, loadings of crude at Venezuelan ports immediately slowed, according to a Reuters report, suggesting a tighter supply situation on the horizon, especially in heavy crude. Citing TankerTrackers.com data, Reuters said there were three supertankers loading at Venezuelas largest oil port, Jose, but there was an empty berth there as well. No loadings were detected at the port of Bajo Grande. At the port of Jose, there were also tankers waiting to load, although two vessels that had completed loadings were sitting in Venezuelan waters, TankerTrackers.com told Reuters. While the Venezuela sanction news is having a bullish effect on prices, there is counterpressure coming from the geopolitical world, where the U.S., Russia, and the Ukraine appear to have struck a deal for a suspension of hostilities over the Black Sea and on energy infrastructure although reports did not say when the suspension would enter into effect. As part of the deals, negotiated separately with Russia and the Ukraine, the U.S. has committed to lobby for a relaxation of sanctions on Russia. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Despite the agreements, significant challenges persist, including differing interpretations of the terms, Russia's strategic goals in Ukraine, and the need for further technical consultations. The United States brokered separate agreements with Ukraine and Russia to prohibit the use of force in the Black Sea and halt strikes on energy facilities, aiming to de-escalate the ongoing conflict. 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." By RFE/RL More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Analysts express concerns about the feasibility and implications of Chinese peacekeepers in Ukraine, particularly regarding Russia's reaction and China's strategic interests in the region. European leaders are actively discussing and planning a "coalition of the willing" to help secure a lasting peace in Ukraine, including the potential deployment of a significant number of troops. Reports indicate that Chinese diplomats have explored the possibility of their peacekeepers joining a broader peacekeeping force in Ukraine, although Chinese officials have denied these claims. As European leaders attempt to organize a Ukraine peacekeeping mission amid a push by US President Donald Trump to clinch a cease-fire deal between Moscow and Kyiv, reports have spread that Beijing may want to play a role in maintaining the peace. The German newspaper Die Welt quoted anonymous European Union diplomats on March 22 as saying that their Chinese counterparts have reached out to explore whether their peacekeepers could work as part of the broader force being considered in European capitals. The idea was raised earlier this year at the World Economic Forum and Munich Security Conference. The EU diplomats told the German newspaper that Chinese participation in such a mission could potentially increase Russia's acceptance of peacekeeping forces in Ukraine. But Beijing rebuffed that claim, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun calling the report false on March 24. Three EU diplomats who spoke to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity in order to discuss internal matters also said that there have been no discussions with Chinese officials about Beijings participation in a peacekeeping force. Zero contact on that, said one EU diplomat. Another EU diplomat speaking anonymously was not aware of Beijing raising the issue of Chinese peacekeepers, adding that we dont know where the Welt articles information comes from. This comes as European leaders try to hammer out details of how the so-called coalition of the willing led by Britain and France could help Ukraine deter Russia from reinvading once a peace agreement is reached. French President Emmanuel Macron will host leaders of the coalition -- including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy -- in Paris on March 27 for the next round of talks as they explore a variety of options to secure a lasting peace in Ukraine. Theresa Fallon, director of the Brussels-based Center for Russia Europe Asia Studies, says that there's "a lot to question" about the latest rumor about Chinese peacekeepers and that it reflects the uncertainty facing Europes security framework as the Trump administration pivots to accommodate Russia while rejecting requests to contribute US troops to enforce any peace deal. Why would Russia want Chinese troops there? How would China benefit from this?" Fallon told RFE/RL. "It might score points with Europeans, but the fact that China denied this perhaps points to the larger strategic picture that Moscow has different plans for Ukraine and also prefers to limit Chinas influence in the region. Why Do Chinese Peacekeepers Keep Getting Mentioned For Ukraine? This isnt the first time that a Chinese peacekeeping force has been floated for Ukraine. Zhou Bo, a former senior colonel in the Chinese armed forces, suggested on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in February that China could lead a UN-backed peacekeeping force in Ukraine should one get launched, saying that Beijing and other non-Western powers like India could play a role. The Economist also reported in January that the potential role of Chinese peacekeepers in Ukraine was also mentioned by US Vice President JD Vance, who allegedly told European officials a force made up of only European troops would be less effective in preventing Russia from launching further attacks on Ukraine. A Chinese peacekeeping contingent was also mentioned as an option at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January by Wolfgang Ischinger, the former German diplomat who serves as the president of the foundation that runs the Munich Security Conference. Part of Ischingers argument at the time was that Europe may simply not have enough troops to maintain peace along the more than 1,000-kilometer line of contact. And those discussions are still playing out as European leaders aim to put together their own peacekeeping proposal that could see them send 10,000 to 30,000 troops to Ukraine. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said in a recent report that a force of up to 30,000 troops backed by long-range artillery with broader air and maritime support would be able to handle more than one Russian incursion should Moscow look to break a peace deal. But IISS estimated that 60,000 to 100,000 troops would be needed to conduct sustained high-intensity land combat, adding that European militaries may not be able to raise such as force as it would drain resources from across the rest of NATOs borders with Russia. Could Chinese Peacekeepers In Ukraine Work? Another major concern is that European troops deployed to Ukraine could get sucked into a hot war with Russia without substantial US support to back them up. Moscow has also categorically refused to accept troops from a country that is a member of NATO in any future peace deal. Analysts see the deployment of Chinese peacekeeping troops -- along with those of other nations like India or Brazil that have warmer ties with Moscow -- as one solution to this problem, saying Russian forces would be less likely to fire on them. But analysts also say that adding Chinese peacekeepers into the conversation around Ukraine also raises new difficult questions: Would Beijing, which views itself as a superpower on the global stage, accept being part of a European-led force? China would also need to bear in mind that contributing peacekeepers to a Western mission could also strain its valued relations with Moscow, which have grown closer since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Yurii Poita, an expert on Ukraine's relationship with China at the Kyiv-based Center for Army, Conversion, and Disarmament Studies, says that Ukraine may not oppose Chinese peacekeepers because it has a weak hand in negotiations. Nevertheless, Kyiv has little trust in Beijing given it supports Russias war effort. The most decisive factor is the United States. If Washington were to suggest that China could be part of this security arrangement, then Kyiv doesn't really have many other options, Poita told RFE/RL. But when it comes to Chinese troops, there are also so many vulnerabilities from Kyivs point of view. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine three years ago, China has mostly ignored Ukraine and been a vital backer of Russia. Beijing has professed neutrality and even proposed its own peace outline in February 2023, but it has also aided Russia by buying oil and gas and selling technology for weapons. Would China provide information to Russia? Would China say that this deployment is in exchange for access to military tech or telecoms networks? Poita asked. There is a lot of risk here. By RFE/RL More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The U.K.s recent lifting of sanctions on several major Syrian firms particularly those connected to its former cornerstone oil and gas sectors is part of a coordinated strategy by the West to secure the western flank of the Middle East that has unfettered access to the Mediterranean Sea. That coastline encompasses Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt and is regarded as a strategic zero-sum game by both the West and the East, given the access it provides to the worlds sea routes and to land routes along in southern Europe and northern Africa, a senior source who works closely with the European Unions (E.U.) energy security complex exclusively told OilPrice.com last week. The multiple advantages of securing influence over what happens down that coastline are magnified for whichever side has it by the fact that the other side doesnt, he added. This is a key reason why the West removed [former Syrian President, Bashar] al-Assad and why it is now focused on rapidly expanding its investment imprint there, especially through the oil and gas sectors, he said. In fact, oil and gas was and could be again the foundation stone for Syrias economic and political rehabilitation in the Wests view. Aside from the money that its firms could make from investments in key oil and gas projects there over the long term, under international law foreign oil and gas companies are entitled to station as many of their own staff including security personnel on the ground of the countries in which they operate to safeguard the relevant facilities. This was the primary mechanism through which Russia dramatically expanded its on-the-ground presence across Syria prior to the 2011 uprising and it formed the basis for the involvement of a greater military presence after that. The same pattern of creeping colonisation has been seen from China across the Middle East and in the Asia Pacific region, executed under the cover of its theoretically commercial project the Belt and Road Initiative. It is no coincidence, according to the E.U. source, that Russias President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are admirers of the British East India Companys role in the expansion of the British Empire. Established in 1600, the huge firm functioned extremely successfully for nearly 300 years using trade and investment as the means to gain control over large swathes of Asia, including India and Hong Kong, with all such projects safeguarded by a British security force at one stage as large as 260,000 men. The additional benefit for the British East India Company and its home country was that its colonising activities more than paid for themselves in the profits from the business it transacted, and the West is hoping its efforts in Syria will do the same. Related: Deferred EU Ban On Transshipment of Russian LNG In Force Today If done in a systematic fashion there is no reason why they should not be, said the E.U. source, as the country still has sizeable oil and gas reserves and much of the adjunct infrastructure could be brought back to full working order over time. In this context, it should be remembered that at the time of the outbreak of hostilities in 2011, Syria had been producing around 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil from proved reserves of 2.5 billion barrels. For a long period before that prior to the recovery rate dropping off due to a lack of enhanced oil recovery techniques being employed at the major fields -- it had been producing nearly 600,000 bpd. Europe imported at least US$3 billion worth of oil per year from Syria up to the beginning of 2011, and many European refineries were configured at that time to process the heavy, sour Souedie crude oil that makes up much of Syrias output. The bulk of this this went to Germany, Italy, and France, from one of Syrias three Mediterranean export terminals: Banias, Tartus, and Latakia. As an adjunct to this, a multitude of international oil companies were operating in Syrias energy sector, including the U.K.s Shell, Petrofac and Gulfsands Petroleum, Frances then-Total (now TotalEnergies), the China National Petroleum Corporation, Indias Oil and Natural Gas Corp, Canadas Suncor Energy, and Russias Tatneft and Stroytransgaz. The countrys gas sector was at least as profitable as its oil one, with proved reserves of 8.5 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas, and around 316 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) of dry natural gas produced, as fully analysed in my latest book on the new global oil market order. The expansion of the South-Central Gas Area by Stroytransgaz started at the end of 2009 and boosted Syrias natural gas production by about 40% by the beginning of 2011. This allowed Syrias oil and gas exports to generate a quarter of government revenues at that point, and to make it the eastern Mediterraneans leading oil and gas producer at the time. After the fighting in Syria began in earnest in 2011, the first of the three major options to support its energy and financial infrastructure for whichever group took over was proposed by the U.S. This involved moving gas from Qatar through Saudi Arabia and Jordan, and then through Syria whereupon it could be moved into Turkey and sold on in the rest of Europe. The European option involved United Nations peace-keeping monitors in Syria, bringing in hydrocarbons industry experts from the UN Security Council member states, and letting the Qatar-Syria-Turkey, and Iran-Iraq-Syria-Turkey, pipelines develop organically over time. The Russian option focused on resuscitating the Iran-Iraq-Syria pipeline, moving Iranian, and later Iraqi and Syrian gas into Europe. After al-Assad survived the initial phases of the uprising crucially supported by the Russian military -- he went with Moscows plan. In November 2017, a revamped version of the original 2015 Russia-Syria Cooperation Plan was signed, encompassing the restoration of at least 40 energy facilities in Syria, including offshore oil fields, and much more as well, as also detailed fully in my latest book on the new global oil market order. Initially, the focus would be on expanding the power sector, based on a deal signed between Syrias then-Electricity Minister Mohammad Zuhair Kharboutli and Russias Minister of Energy Alexander Novak. The plan covered the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Aleppo thermal plant, the installation of the Deir Ezzor power plant and the expansion of capacity of the Mharda and Tishreen plants, with a view to re-energising Syrias power grid and restoring the main control centre for the grid back to Damascus. This aligned with the statement in December 2017 from then-Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin that: Russia will be the only country to take part in rebuilding Syrian energy facilities. Aside from the four power plant projects that were to be optimised as a priority, the key infrastructure project was the repair and upgrading of the Homs oil refinery (Syrias other was then in Banias). The work was led by Irans Mapna and Russian companies, with the initial target capacity being 140,000 bpd. Phase 2s objective was 240,000 bpd and Phase 3s was 360,000 bpd. The intention was that it could also be used to refine Iranian oil coming through Iraq if needed, before onward shipment into southern Europe. Russia, and to a lesser degree China, will not stand idly by and let the West comfortably establish itself in Syria. Putin ordered his forces into the country in 2015 to prop up Bashar al-Assads rule as it had already identified Syria under the regime as being crucial to Russia for four key reasons, as also detailed in my latest book on the new global oil market order. First, it was the biggest country on the western side of the Shia Crescent of Power that Russia had been developing as a counterpoint to the U.S.s own sphere of influence centred then on Saudi Arabia (for hydrocarbons supplies) and Israel (for military and intelligence assets). Second, it offered a long Mediterranean coastline from which Russia could send oil and gas products or anything else it wanted from itself or from its allies (notably Iran) to major oil and gas hubs in Turkey, Greece and Italy or into north, west and east Africa. Third, it was a vital military hub, with one major naval base (Tartus and Russias only Mediterranean port), one major air force base (Khmeimim) and one major listening station (just outside Latakia). And fourth, it showed the rest of the Middle East that Russia could and would act decisively on the side of the autocratic dynasties across the region. It is little wonder, then, that 28 January saw the arrival in Damascus of Russias Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov to meet the new President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa. That said, al-Sharaa will be all too aware that it was the U.S. and U.K. that played the key role in removing his predecessor from office, so in the race to win the battle for influence in the new Syria, it currently looks like the West holds most of the aces. By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com U.S. supermajor Chevron has expressed interest in oil and gas exploration in two additional offshore blocks south of the Greek island of Crete, Greeces Ministry of Energy and Environment said on Wednesday. Earlier this year, Greece said that Chevron had expressed interest in exploring the area southwest of the Peloponnese peninsula and to the west of the island of Crete. Now, Chevron has also expressed interest in exploring south of the island of Crete in areas known as South Crete I and South Crete II, the Greek energy ministry said. The ministry accepted the interest and will announce an international tender for the two blocks, whose exact coordinates will also need to be drawn up. These two blocks already have environmental impact studies approved, Greece said. The two new blocks now essentially double the total area for exploration to 47,000 sq km (18,147 square miles). The new areas that Chevron looks to explore are next to blocks where the other U.S. supermajor, ExxonMobil, is already exploring for oil and gas. Chevrons latest expression of interest is a vote of confidence for Greece and the attractive investment opportunities it offers, Greek Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou said. Greece has been looking to boost its domestic energy supply by installing renewables and boosting offshore gas exploration after the energy crisis of 2022 and the halt of Russian pipeline gas supply to most EU countries. Greece has been hoping that its waters could hold giant natural gas resources, similar to the ones discovered in the Eastern Mediterranean offshore Egypt and Israel. In October of 2024, Greece said that a consortium led by ExxonMobil had successfully completed the first exploration phase southwest of the Greek island of Crete and decided to proceed with the second exploration stage. The second exploration phase is expected to last three years, and its minimum requirement pertains to completing the collection and assessment of 3D seismic data. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Chinese gas and clean energy distribution firm ENN Energy Holdings Limited has been valued at around US$11.6 billion (HK$90.50 billion) under a privatization offer from another ENN affiliate, the companies involved in the proposed transaction said on Wednesday. Under the proposed deal, ENN Natural Gas one of the affiliate companies of ENN Energy part of the ENN Group of Chinese billionaire businessman Wang Yusuo will buy the remaining stake in ENN Energy it does not already hold. ENN Natural Gas currently owns 34.28% in ENN Energy. The offer from ENN Natural Gas contains an exchange ratio of 2.9427 shares plus a cash payment of $3.15 (HK$24.50) per share for the ENN Energy shares that ENN Natural Gas does not already own. Accordingly, with 1,131,224,275 ENN Energy Shares in issue as at the announcement date, the entire issued share capital of ENN would be theoretically valued under the proposal at approximately HK$90.50 billion, or US$11.6 billion, the companies said in a filing with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. ENN Natural Gas and ENN Energy are two of the four listed firms within the ENN Group conglomerate, which was founded by Wang Yusuo. ENN Energy invests in the construction, operation, and management of gas pipeline infrastructure and the sales and distribution of piped gas, LNG, and other multi-energy products, it says. ENN Natural Gas is one of the largest private energy companies in China. It operates more than 250 city gas projects nationwide and has an annual LNG distribution capacity of over 10 billion cubic meters (bcm). ENN Natural Gas also runs the first large-scale private LNG terminal in China -- Zhoushan LNG Terminal. The companys business is in the entire gas value chain, including distribution, trading, storage and transportation, production, and engineering. The privatization offer for ENN Energy is a major development in China, the worlds biggest oil and LNG importer, which looks to boost its energy security. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com An EU ban on transshipment of Russian liquefied gas (LNG) in ports introduced in June 2024, with a deferral granted until March 26, 2025, has finally come into force. The sanctions also prohibit EU countries from providing technical support, brokerage services, and financing for transshipment operations. Similar to previous sanctions, the import ban is intended to disrupt Putins ability to continue financing his war in Ukraine. Although Russian LNG accounted for just 5% of the blocs energy consumption in 2023, it still netted the Kremlin ~$8 billion in revenues. If they can't transship in Europe, they might have to take their ice-class tankers on longer journeys, Laura Page, a gas expert at the Kpler data analytics firm, told Politico, adding that Russia may not be able to get out as many loadings from Yamal because their vessels cant get back as quickly. Europe has cut Russian gas imports dramatically, with imports of Russian gas declining from about 450 million cubic meters per day (mcm/d) at the end of 2021 to about 150 mcm/d currently. Norway and the U.S. have replaced Russia as Europes biggest gas supplier: In 2023, Norway supplied 87.8 bcm (billion cubic meters) of gas to Europe, good for 30.3% of total imports while the U.S. supplied 56.2 bcm, accounting for 19.4% of total. However, there are talks about a potential return of more Russian gas to European markets, including during the latest Londons International Energy (IE) week. The Financial Times has reported about a plan by the former head of Nord Stream 2s parent company to start up Nord Stream 2 with U.S. businesses buying the pipeline so as to act as middlemen between Russia and European consumers in the hope that would make flows seem more reliable. However, StanChart has pointed out that such a plan would need approvals from multiple jurisdictions, with the injection of U.S. interests not necessarily improving the reliability and supply security of Russian flows. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Europes benchmark natural gas prices fell on Wednesday for a second consecutive day amid milder weather and increasing LNG supply as Chinese demand weakens. Dutch TTF Natural Gas Futures, the benchmark for Europes gas trading, fell by 1.5% at $44.19 (40.92 euros) per megawatt-hour (MWh) as of 9:18 a.m. in Amsterdam on Wednesday. The front-month futures price slid for a second straight day, following a 3% slump on Tuesday after news broke that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to a partial ceasefire in the Black Sea. The ceasefire, however, remains elusive as Russia set conditions for implementing a naval ceasefire in the Black Searemoval of some sanctions on Russian banks and agriculture and fertilizer trade. Still, European gas prices continued their downward move on Wednesday amid milder spring weather in northwest Europe and a rise in LNG cargo arrivals this month. LNG imports by key consuming countries in northwest Europe have jumped so far this month, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. Despite the recent drop in European benchmark gas prices from the a two-year high in the middle of February, Europe continues to draw LNG while spot LNG prices in Asia remain close to the three-month low amid weaker demand. Europe could have easier months ahead for LNG procurement as Chinese LNG imports are expected to drop this year, according to the latest estimates from BloombergNEF. China is set to see the first annual decline in LNG imports since 2022. European gas prices have retreated since mid-February as the heating season and winter are coming to an end, and solar and wind power generation is picking up to regain some share of the European power generation mix, following prolonged periods of wind speed lulls and little sunshine in Europe during the winter. The recent decline in natural gas prices in Europe could also offer some relief to power prices, which have remained high this winter on the back of the high natural gas price. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com British Oil & Gas giant BP Plc (NYSE:BP) has received final approval by the Iraqi government for the redevelopment of the giant Kirkuk oil fields, with an initial plan to produce 3B boe. BP will develop Iraq's Kirkuk oil and gas fields based on a profit-sharing model, Iraqi oil ministry officials have revealed. BP will spend as much as $25B in a deal that will last more than 25 years. Previously, Iraqs oil ministry and BP signed a confidentiality agreement, after which Iraq handed over the data package for Kirkuk's four fields and installations. According to the officials, Kirkuk oil fields are currently producing 245,000 barrels of crude per day. Iraq is OPECs second largest producer after Saudi Arabia. Iraq's economy relies heavily on crude oil exports, with crude accounting for more than 90 percent of the country's revenues. The Kirkuk deal is a breakthrough for Iraq, where oil production has been curtailed by years of war. Lately, Iraq has been pushing to re-open abandoned energy projects. Last year, French oil and gas multinational TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) reached an agreement with the government of Iraq to start a long-delayed $27 billion energy project. Total first signed a deal with the Iraqi government in 2021 that would see Total build four oil, gas, and renewables projects in southern Iraq over 25 years with an initial investment of $10 billion. Unfortunately, the giant project was shelved amid disputes and squabbling between Iraqi politicians over terms of the deal. However, Iraq finally agreed to a smaller 30% stake in the project, setting in motion a deal that could lure foreign investment back into the country. After years of instability, Iraq has been enjoying a period of relative stability, increasing the chances of foreign investors returning to the country. "The government of Iraq confirmed the whole contract, no modification at all ... so that was for me more than good news," Total Chief Executive Patrick Pouyanne has told Reuters. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Kenya expects to launch an oil and gas exploration round for 10 blocks in September, Opiyo Wandayi, the Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary of the East African country, has said. This presents a unique opportunity for investors to explore Kenyas hydrocarbon potential through a transparent and merit-based process, Wandayi was quoted as saying by local outlet The Star. The Kenyan government has renewed its efforts to launch an oil and gas industry and is offering tax incentives, among other incentives, the cabinet secretary said at the East African Petroleum Conference and Exhibition 2025 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Kenya is also investing in infrastructure to support oil and gas exploration and development, the official noted. The East African country has oil and gas resources, but development has stalled after UK-listed Tullow Oil failed to secure investor partners for a major oil project that has been years in the making. Tullow Oil and its minority partners sought to develop the South Lokichar project for years. However, French supermajor TotalEnergies and London-listed Africa Oil decided two years ago to withdraw from the project in Kenya, leaving Tullow Oil the sole owner of the blocks and further complicating Kenyas oil dream. Plans have been made for the development of the oil fields discovered in the SouthLokichar Basin in Kenyas north. The partners had sought to secure financing for a pipeline to ship the crude out of the landlocked northern region. However, Tullow Oil has failed to secure investors to back the Lokichar Basin development and the commercialization of the crude, further delaying Kenyas dream to become a petroleum-exporting nation. The government earlier this month restructured its petroleum exploration blocks to align with global best practices and its legal frameworks, which enabled Kenya to identify ten highly prospective blocks, selected based on geological and scientific data. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com After years of selling liquefied natural gas on the spot market, Venture Globals Calcasieu Pass LNG plant is ready to begin operation officially, according to a filing the company made with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Per the filing, Calcasieu Pass believes it has filed all requireddocumentation demonstrating readiness to commence service ofthe remainder of the facility, Venture Global said, as quoted by Reuters. Plans are to launch the plant at capacity by April 15.The Calcasieu Pass facility, which started producing in 2022, has a capacity of 10 million tons of liquefied gas annually. What this means is that Venture Globals long-term buyers may finally start getting the cargos that Venture Global until now sold on the spot market, prompting these buyers to turn to the courts, accusing the company of deliberately not completing the facility officially in order to avoid fulfilling its contractual obligations to make more money on said spot market. The long-term buyers include Shell, BP, and Spains Repsol. Shell last year alleged that Venture Global had wrongfully earned $3.5 billion from selling cargos from long-term contracts on the spot market and that this had caused serious LNG sourcing difficulties for one company that had to resort to sourcing the gas from five other U.S. producer, incurring additional costs of $1.5 billion. The way Venture Global did all this was by using a loophole that stipulated it could trade its product on the spot market before the production facility was completed. In view of keeping the spot market business going, Venture Global has been delaying the official completion of the Calcasieu Pass for as long as it has been able to. It seems the time has come to go official. In the meantime, another energy major has refused to join the client list of the company. TotalEnergies passed on the opportunity to sign up for long-term liquefied natural gas from Venture Global because it did not trust the company, the French supermajors chief executive told Reuters last month. I don't want to deal with these guys, because of what they are doing. ... I don't want to be in the middle of a dispute with my friends, with Shell and BP, Patrick Pouyanne told the publication. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The United States is pinning its hopes on reclaiming expenses incurred on Ukraine during its war with Russia by tapping Ukraines vast mineral potential including the development of rare earth element deposits. The problem with this deal is two-fold: one, the deposits in question are mostly within Russian-occupied territory; and two, rare earths are difficult to find lumped together in economic quantities, and even harder to separate into rare earth oxides, that are used in everything from cell phones to electric vehicles to high-tech weaponry. The deal First, the proposed deal. It outlines a plan to use future revenues from Ukraines rare earth and critical mineral reserves, as well as oil and gas. According to Al Jazeera, a Reconstruction Investment Fund would be created, using revenues generated from Ukraines natural resources to reinvest in reconstruction following over three years of intense war. Ukraine would contribute 50 percent of revenues from state-owned resources to the fund. It is unclear where the remaining half would come from and how much control the US would wield over the funds, says Al Jazeera, adding the US will support Ukraines efforts to secure lasting peace but offers no direct security guarantees. How much aid was sent to Ukraine? In that now-infamous meeting between Trump, Vice President Vance and Ukraines President Zelensky, Trump said the US has paid more than $350 billion in military aid/ support to Ukraine. Zelensky disputed that figure likely an unsubstantiated Trump guesstimate, which started at $500B saying it was much lower. The Kiel Institute for the World Economy, which has tracked military, financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the war began, said the United States has donated $118 billion. The US Department of Defense puts the number at $183 billion, which includes the cost of replenishing Ukraines defense stocks. What minerals does Ukraine have? According to Ukraines Economy Ministry, the country holds deposits of 22 out of 34 minerals classified as critical by the European Union. These critical minerals whose reserves made up approximately 5 percent of the global supply as of 2022 include precious and non-ferrous metals, ferroalloys and minerals such as titanium, zirconium, graphite and lithium. Ukraine has an estimated 500,000 tonnes of lithium reserves, which are considered among Europes largest repositories of the battery metal. Related: Iraq Hands BP Final Approval for Kirkuk Oil Development As for the rare earths, according to The Independent, Ukraine has rare earth elements such as lanthanum and cerium, used in TVs and lighting; neodymium, used in wind turbines and EV batteries; and erbium and yttrium, whose applications range from nuclear power to lasers. EU-funded research also indicates Ukraine has reserves of high-priced scandium, but the data is classified. These rare-earth resources are estimated to have a value of more than 12 trillion, and according to The Independent, Zelensky has been trying to develop them for years. He reportedly offered outside investors tax breaks and investment rights to help mine these minerals in 2021, but war broke out a year later. More than 95 percent of industrially useful rare-earth metals are produced by China, creating supply chain and national security vulnerabilities in the US and elsewhere. A recent graphic by Visual Capitalist says Ukraine claims to hold nearly $15 trillion worth of mineral resources, making it one of the most resource-rich nations in Europe. The country is home to the continents largest reserves of lithium, titanium, and uranium. According to data from the Ukrainian geologic survey, Ukraine possesses 5% of the worlds mineral resources, including 23 of the 50 materials deemed critical by the U.S. government. These include: Titanium Used in aerospace and military applications Graphite Essential for battery production Lithium A key component of lithium-ion batteries Beryllium Vital for defense and telecommunications Rare Earth Elements Crucial for electronics, renewable energy, and defense industries Source: Visual Capitalist Where are the deposits? The Independent says A little over 6 trillion of Ukraines mineral resources, which is around 53 per cent of the countrys total, are contained in the four regions Mr Putin illegally annexed in September 2022, and of which his army occupies a considerable swathe. That includes Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, though Kherson holds little value in terms of minerals. The Crimean peninsula, illegally annexed and occupied by Mr Putins forces in 2014, also holds roughly 165bn worth of minerals. The region of Dnipropetrovsk, which borders the largely occupied regions of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, and sits in the face of an advancing Russian army, contains an additional 2.8 trillion in mineral resources. Russian difficulties with major military operations seem likely to preclude a serious attempt to take the region but mining operations in the area would be perilous with Moscows soldiers so close. Before the Russian invasion, Ukraine had registered 20,000 mineral deposits, with 8,700 of them proven and encompassing 117 of the worlds 120 most used metals and minerals, according to the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development. Other key points made by Al Jazeera: The country has some of the worlds top recoverable coal, gas, iron, manganese, nickel, ore, titanium and uranium reserves. Most of these minerals span Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporzhizhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Korovohrad, Poltava and Kharkiv. Russia, which controls approximately 20 percent of Ukraine, including large parts of Luhansk, Donetsk and Zaporzhizhia, is sitting on about 40 percent of Ukraines metal resources. Ukraine has said that a significant portion of its rare earth elements are in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. However, despite all the hype about rare earths in Ukraine, the country doesnt even make the top 12 countries ranked by the US Geological Survey as having the largest rare-earth mineral reserves. These countries are, in order, China, Brazil, India, Australia, Russia, Vietnam, the US, Greenland, Tanzania, South Africa, Canada and Thailand. Are they mineable? According to IEEE Spectrum, Ukraine doesnt have any mineable rare earths. The publication quotes Erik Jonsson, senior geologist with the Geological Survey of Sweden, who says there are four areas with substantial deposits of rare earth ores, and four slightly bigger deposits: Yastrubetske, Novopoltavske, Azovske and Mazurivske. All but one are within the zone that the Russians currently control. The other problem is identifying the size of the deposits. While numbers are available, there is no detailed outline of how they were arrived at, and they are believed to come from the Soviet era dating as far back as the 1960s. The rare-earth deposits dont look that relevant, Jonsson concludes. I mean, I wouldnt go for them. Two of the deposits are dominated by a mineral called britholite, he notes, which is not desirable because it has not been processed for rare earths, which means that almost nothing exists in the way of process chemistry and equipment. Jack Lifton, executive chairman of the Critical Minerals Institute, is more scathing in his criticism. If you want critical minerals, Ukraine aint the place to look for them. Its a fantasy, he says. Theres no point to any of this. Theres some other agenda going on here. I cant believe that anybody in Washington actually believes that it makes sense to get rare earths in Ukraine. I doubt very much that President Trump cares about rare earths, adds Lifton. Hes being told theyre important. Hes operating as a pure businessman. There is ample truth in what Lifton is saying, if one knows anything about rare earths. Mining rare earth elements is fairly straightforward but separating and extracting a single REE takes a great deal of time, effort and expertise. According to one expert, the ore is first ground up using crushers and rotating grinding mills, magnetic separation and flotation gives the lowest-value sellable product in the rare earth supply chain: the concentrated ore. The milling equipment crushers, grinding mills, flotation devices, and electrostatic separators all have to be configured in a way that suits the type of ore being mined. No two ores respond the same way. The next step is to chemically extract the mixed rare earths from the concentrated ore (cons) by chemical processing. The cons must undergo chemical treatment to allow further separation and upgrading of the REEs. This process, called cracking, includes techniques like roasting, salt or caustic fusion, high-temperature sulfidation, and acid leaching which allow the REEs within a concentrate to be dissolved. This separates the mixed rare earths from any other metals that may be present in the ore. The result will be still-mixed-together rare earths. The major value in REE processing lies in the production of high-purity rare earth oxides (REOs) and metals but it isnt easy. A REE refinery uses ion exchange and/or multi-stage solvent extraction technology to separate and purify the REEs. Solvent-extraction processes involve re-immersing processed ore into different chemical solutions to separate individual elements. The elements are so close to each other in terms of atomic weight that each of these processes involve multiple stages to complete the separation process. In some cases it requires several hundred tanks of different solutions to separate one rare earth element. HREEs are the hardest, most time consuming to separate. The composition of REOs can also vary greatly. They can and often are designed to meet the specifications laid out by the end product users a REO that suits one manufacturers needs may not suit anothers. Less technically, The Independent says investors highlight a number of barriers to investment in Ukraine, such as inefficient, complex regulatory processes, difficulty accessing geological data, and obtaining land plots. They said such projects would take years to develop and require considerable up-front investment. It's worth noting that the United States currently has only one operating rare earths mine, Mountain Pass in California. Rare earths are mined and made into a concentrate before being shipped to China for further processing. Developing a mine from discovery to production in places like the United States and Canada can take upwards of 20 years. Is the minerals deal still on? It appears to be. After the disastrous meeting in the Oval Office, Zelensky wrote a letter to Trump saying that Ukraine is ready to sign the minerals deal even though the US hasnt offered Ukraine any security guarantees. The current ceasefire deal looks to be heavily skewed toward Russias demands. Ukraine and Russia have agreed to a moratorium on attacking each others ships in the Black Sea. However, the Kremlin said it would only implement the ceasefire once the US delivers sanctions relief on Russian agricultural products and fertilizers, The Guardian pointed out Wednesday, noting that observers are questioning whether Russia has given anything to secure its first offer of sanctions relief since the beginning of the war. Ukraine has opposed any sanctions rollback on Russia. The Guardian analysis said the Trump administration appears ready to make a deal with Russia that offers two prices to halt its war with Ukraine: political and military concessions from Ukraine as well as an escape from the international isolation that began after its full-scale invasion in 2022. By Andrew Topf for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com By Oregon House Republicans Caucus March 24, 2025 Today a group of Oregon House Republicans sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to assist her in defending President Trump against Washington v. Trump and the efforts to block President Trumps Executive Order to protect children from chemical and surgical mutilation. The letter included data provided to the legislature last year by the Oregon Health Authority. The data proves that contrary to the plaintiffs specious claim, these procedures are being performed on children in Oregon. The letter also requests a federal investigation into Oregons use of Medicaid funds. The Medicaid-funded Oregon Health Plan now covers abortion, needle exchanges, air conditioners, food, free housing, and so-called gender-affirming procedures. In the letter, the lawmakers accuse the Oregon Health Authority of concealing the extent of taxpayer-funded procedures on minors and suppressing internal findings that show no evidence of benefit. Between 2019 and 2023, 26 genital surgeries were performed on Oregon minors, according to insurance data analyzed by the medical advocacy organization Do No Harm. This is state-sponsored medical experimentation on kids, paid for with your tax dollars, said House Health Care Committee member Representative Ed Diehl (R-Stayton). And when OHAs own commission found no evidence to justify it, they buried the report. Its a clear misuse of Medicaid funds, said House Health Care Committee member Rep. Darin Harbick (R-Rainbow). The DOJ needs to actthis isnt health care, its political ideology masquerading as medicine. The lawmakers are backing House Bill 3338, which would force the state to publish science-based reviews of these procedures. Former House Health Care Committee member Dwayne Yunker (R-Grants Pass) added: Oregon is turning Medicaid into a political slush fund. Its time for accountability. Senate Bill 110 suspiciously requires Oregon to study income taxes By Taxpayers Association of Oregon OregonWatchdog.com Senate Bill 110 is a bill directing the State of Oregon to study income taxes. Sometimes these study bills are a placeholder for a gut-and-stuff (actual tax increase bill) a few weeks later. Other times, these study bills are a way to use taxpayer dollars to create a report on increasing (maybe lowering) taxes. Nonetheless, the Taxpayers Association of Oregon submitted this super-simple testimony on Senate Bill 110. If the State of Oregon wishes to study income taxes we first recommend that Oregon study how income taxes are misspent $28 billion unsustainable PERS pension debt $1.1 billion ODOT accidental over-spend $2.8 billion accounting errors identified by auditors Oregon has the highest income tax in the nation for average middle class families. They do not need to pay more. Our government needs to waste less as in waste billions less. Was this helpful? If so, Contribute online at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty). BLOOMINGTON "Tacos, Amigos, Tequila" is the slogan of Ancho & Agave, 3006 E. Empire St. in Bloomington, and also describes three things one can always find at the restaurant, which opened in May 2019. Managing partner Stefan Hodges has worked at Ancho & Agave since May 2023, but has been in the restaurant industry for over 20 years. He said he got his first job at a Peoria steakhouse, where he started off as a dishwasher and eventually worked his way up to executive chef. After the Peoria steakhouse closed, Hodges was transferred to a location in Evansville, in southwest Illinois, and became a managing partner. He then received an opportunity to move back closer to family and work at Ancho & Agave in Bloomington. Ancho & Agave also has locations in Lombard and Deer Park in Illinois, as well in Middleton, Wisconsin, and Omaha, Nebraska. "We definitely take pride in everything we do ... and we definitely take pride in that most of our kitchen is from scratch. We make our own tortillas, cook them up on a flat top every day," Hodges said. "It's a lot of love and care ... the team, they get behind each other. They really take care of each other. So, we try to treat it like a little family." Hodges added they train everyone in all aspects of the restaurant, including hosting, bartending, serving and more. Ancho, along with the Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano next door, where Hodges was previously a chef, are sister restaurants, both based in Bloomington and built from the ground up. Ancho & Agave's name refers to an ancho, which is a type of chili pepper, and agave, a plant used to make tequila and other beverages. One of the most popular items at Ancho are the esquites, an "off the cob" Mexican street corn appetizer made with lime aioli, Chile-lime seasoning and queso fresco. Hodges said customers also love anything on the menu that is birria-related. As for drinks, the signature margarita and the mango-habanero margarita are the most popular. Each month, Ancho also offers a variety of new specials including a new margarita flavor to test in different markets and, depending on their popularity, they may be added to the regular menu. April specials will include the following: A truffle mushroom taco made with roasted cremini, oyster mushrooms, portobello mushroom truffle crema, caramelized onions and rainbow microgreens A carnitas torta made with braised pork, refried pinto beans, avocado, lettuce, tomato, charred red onion, pickled jalapenos, a Mexican cheese blend, Telera bread and served with French fries A pork shank pibil made with braised pork shank, spicy xnipec habanero salsa, black beans and cilantro-lime rice A blueberry-lemon ice box cake, made with mascarpone cheese, blueberries, lemon curd, whipped cream and Mexican Marias cookies A hibiscus margarita, made with reposado, hibiscus syrup, St-Germain liqueur, fresh lime juice and triple sec. "It's a nice atmosphere. It's a great place to hang out ... you don't have to come here and be super formal. If you want to dress up, you can, but you don't have be," Hodges said of what customers enjoy about the restaurant. "You can come in, you can enjoy a nice cocktail. You can sit back and relax. There's no pressure to have to ... order something really expensive. You get a nice meal for a good price ... the location is beautiful." Hodges describes Ancho as having a beautiful, family-friendly atmosphere and tasty food. Things really get fun when the outdoor patio opens for the summer, he added. Hodges said his favorite menu item is the kung pao chicken tacos, which are made with hoisin-ginger soy cause, water chestnuts, roasted peanuts and scallions. He also loves the birria items, he said. Hodges also said he enjoys talking to guests and seeing them happy with their food, especially little kids who are "ecstatic" about their tacos. "Honestly, it's nice to kind of get away from the fine dining aspect and get into something that really, it's a lot of fun," Hodges said. "We believe in quality over quantity, and we definitely want to make sure that our guests are happy. ... We try to make sure ... we're touching every table and talking to everybody. We don't want anybody to leave upset." Hodges said the restaurant is looking to continue to expand and grow. Ancho & Agave's sixth location will open in Naperville in mid-July. Hodges also wants to continue promoting Ancho's catering, which he said is a big side of the business. They have done several weddings, including venues such as The Hesed House in Heyworth, Ewing Manor in Bloomington and more. Hodges said he would love to see Ancho have a taco truck, but joked that he's not sure corporate is ready for that idea. "Just getting out to the community more would be a great one," he said. IF YOU GO What: Ancho & Agave Where: 3006 E. Empire St., Bloomington Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday Phone: 309-590-3200 Website: anchoandagave.com NORMAL Two Bloomington-Normal men, both convicted of murder in two unrelated McLean County cases, are arguing innocence in appellate court. A panel of justices in the 4th District Appellate Court heard oral arguments Tuesday morning in the Bone Student Center at Illinois State University, co-hosted by the school's Department of Politics and Government and the McLean County Bar Association. Karl Leonard and Debra Loevy, attorneys with The Exoneration Project, argued for Bart McNeil and Jamie Snow, who were convicted in the 1990s and have long maintained their innocence. Justice Amy Lannerd presided over McNeil's case and Justice Robert Steigmann presided in Snow's case, both accompanied by Justices James Knecht and Peter Cavanagh. DNA on McNeil's sheets McNeil, 65, was convicted in 1999 in the suffocation death of his 3-year-old daughter, Christina, and sentenced to 100 years in prison. He has alleged his ex-girlfriend, Misook Nowlin, killed his daughter. Nowlin is currently serving 55 years in prison, convicted of killing her mother-in-law, Linda Tyda, in 2011. She has also sought a new trial for her conviction, but McLean County Judge Scott Kording denied her motion in August 2023. McLean County Judge William Yoder denied McNeil a new trial in February 2024 following a third-stage post-conviction hearing. On Tuesday, Leonard told the panel of justices "powerful evidence" points to Nowlin as an alternate suspect in the 3-year-old's death, citing the woman's DNA that was recovered at the scene. Her hair was found on the bed in McNeil's apartment where Christina died, the attorney said. When Nowlin was questioned about the girl's death, she asserted her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and declined to answer under oath, which Leonard argued was indicative of her guilt. "There's evidence she told a friend if McNeil had not broken up with her, Christina wouldn't have died. And, of course, there's evidence she had confessed," Leonard said during Tuesday's hearing. During McNeil's most recent McLean County post-conviction hearings, his attorneys argued Nowlin had confessed to killing Christina by telling two relatives. Yoder ruled the testimonies regarding Nowlin's alleged confessions would "almost certainly not be admissible" in a new trial. Leonard said Nowlin had a history of prior domestic violence incidents, as well as allegations of threats made to suffocate her own daughter. He also argued Nowlin killed her mother-in-law by strangulation, "by the same means, with the same motive." "The facts couldn't be any more dissimilar," said Adam Rodriguez, appellate prosecutor in this case. "It's not relevant in this case." The prosecutor argued Tyda's death was premeditated, but Christina's was not. McNeil's exoneration attorney argued the Circuit Court erred in the second and third post-conviction stages by not allowing the DNA evidence to be admitted based on the probability that Nowlin had stayed at the residence prior to the girl's death. Rodriguez also argued this evidence was not enough. "DNA doesn't provide a time stamp," he said. Justice Knecht noted Nowlin had slept at McNeil's apartment seven days prior to Christina's death, and Nowlin and McNeil had shared a previous apartment, which had the same bed. However, Leonard said there was evidence the sheets had been laundered the day of the murder, with a receipt to prove this claim, meaning Nowlin's existing DNA would have been destroyed prior to the murder. In his argument, Rodriguez said the crime scene showed no evidence of a third party in the apartment at the time of the murder. The prosecutor noted McNeil had told police his door was locked, meaning an intruder would only have been able to come in through a window. The state's position was this would be "impossible" considering there were no footprints near the window on the rainy night of the murder or evidence of the window having been disturbed with dust on the pane, and spider webs around the window. Leonard stood by the defense's position that Nowlin entered the residence through the window, citing a biology expert who said the spider webbing looked as if a spider had re-webbed near the window. The justices asked Leonard if Nowlin could have invoked the Fifth Amendment for a reason other than guilt, such as a pending post-conviction matter in a separate case. "Instead of doing the one thing that would've helped her case, she didn't. Because testifying truthfully would have involved admitting to murdering a 3-year-old," Leonard said. Rodriguez said the claims have been assessed and ultimately found to be without merit. Fingerprints, DNA in Snow's case Snow, 59, was sentenced to life in prison in 2001 after he was convicted of fatally shooting 18-year-old gas station attendant William Little a decade earlier. He is appealing the trial court's denial of his request to introduce new evidence through DNA testing and fingerprint analysis. "Technology has improved and databases have changed," said Loevy, arguing for the justices to allow the evidence to be tested She said this evidence, which includes 21 fingerprints found at the crime scene on the door handle, cash register and counter, could prove Snow's innocence. Loevy said out of those 21, only one fingerprint was taken in 1991. She also argued there was evidence of a struggle between attacker and Little, resulting in bruising on the gas station clerk's forearm and head. Previous courts had ruled there was no evidence of a struggle, therefore Loevy argued they had erred in those decisions. Loevy said the courts' rulings were "ignoring abundant evidence." In addition to the 21 fingerprints, Loevy said new advances in technology could allow for the blood pool near the victim to be tested for multiple sources of DNA, separating Little's from an attacker's DNA. Loevy further argued the attacker's DNA could be found on Little's clothes because of the evidence indicating a struggle. She noted Snow was only connected to the death by a lineup more than eight years after the crime was committed, and no other evidence connected him to Little's death. Additionally, Loevy said police had other suspects, who could be cross-examined with DNA and fingerprint evidence, if tested. The defense "doesn't have to prove (Snow's) innocence, just advance his claim," the defense attorney said. Prosecutor Allison Paige Brooks argued the defense's argument was "speaking about possibilities, which are speculative." Brooks said, in a previous request for a new trial, the DNA and fingerprint evidence were denied for the same reason: the crime happened at a public gas station. "There's no way to determine the time the fingerprints were deposited," Brooks said. She added that defendants cannot enter an alternate suspect of a crime unless it is definitive. Brooks argued, when a previous court ruled on this issue, the court denied Snow's appeal because of the speculative nature of these claims and there was no possibility to prove if the DNA came from a struggle. The prosecutor also said Snow had made statements about this crime to a "large number" of people, including officers. Brooks said Snow had admitted to the crime, though she was unable to state to whom when asked by the justices. She said the admissions were made to Snow's friends or acquaintances. Since these admissions, The Exoneration Project has been working to attain retractions from witnesses, Brooks said. 'Absolutely innocent' Chris Ross, McNeil's cousin who has been a public voice for his exoneration case, spoke with media after the hearings Tuesday. "Who's to say this wasn't premeditated?" Ross said in response to the prosecutor's arguments related to Christina's death. Ross said he's been following the case for 14 years and was thankful it was heard in the appellate court before a room of around 100 observers. He said he believes it is "obvious" Nowlin is guilty of killing Christina McNeil from the evidence presented Tuesday. If McNeil had been present for the hearing, Ross said he would have been thankful for the supporters, family members and his legal team, which includes both the Illinois Innocence Project and The Exoneration Project. Ross noted "very pointed questions," asked by the justices, and he applauded Leonard's arguments. He said he is hoping either for a new trial or a reversal of McNeil's conviction all together, and he wants McLean County to pursue Nowlin as a suspect in Christina's murder. Additionally, Ross noted, in a 2005 appeal, McNeil's attorneys did not get a chance to present DNA and credit card evidence to prove the sheets were freshly laundered. Ross said during McNeil's initial trial, the presiding judge had told McNeil that if biological evidence were presented, his innocence assertion may have held up. "This is a wrongful conviction case. Bart is absolutely innocent," Ross said. Grand Mercure Phuket Patong Executives Expand into Luxury Real Estate with ANNARA Residences On March 25, 2025, the Annara Residences project held an official groundbreaking and blessing ceremony at its project site in Cherng Talay, Phuket. The event was attended by Mr. Sotthinon Tannapai and Ms. Pornpun Sormayura, the founders of Fivewood Estate Co., Ltd., along with distinguished guests and executives from various sectors. With a total project value exceeding THB 423 million, Annara Residences marks the beginning of a new luxury villa development designed for discerning clients seeking privacy, exclusivity, and high-end living in one of Phukets prime locations. A Unique Luxury Pool Villa Development Annara Residences is an exclusive luxury pool villa project featuring only 9 units in Cherng Talay, Phuket. Developed by the executives of Grand Mercure Phuket Patong, the project blends hospitality expertise with real estate development and construction know-how to create a high-quality living experience. Key highlights of the project include: Thoughtful architectural design with a Modern Tropical 5-Star Resort concept Comprehensive property management and rental services 15-meter saltwater swimming pool for ultimate relaxation Prime location just 5 minutes from the beach and 15 minutes from Phuket International Airport Close proximity to lifestyle amenities, including shopping malls, schools, and hospitals Smart Living Meets Luxury Annara Residences offers a harmonious blend of modern design and natural elements, maximizing natural light throughout each villa. Every unit is a Smart Home, allowing residents to control lighting and other features remotely via smartphone. A standout feature of the project is the Tree House Pavilion, a versatile multipurpose room that can be customized as a spa, gym, or home office, catering to a variety of lifestyle needs. Each villa includes: Two master bedrooms with spacious walk-in closets Three kitchen options: Asian Kitchen, Outdoor Kitchen, and Pantry 24-hour security, property management, and rental services for ultimate convenience The project is expected to be completed and ready for residents in 2025. For More Information & Inquiries: Website: www.annaragroup.com Email: info@annaragroup.com Call: +66 (0)89 3666659 Facebook: Annara Residences This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: An abandoned road and brine transitional pool at the margin of the Salar de Atacama Halite Nucleus. Credit: UMass Amherst New research into lithium mining in the "Lithium Triangle" of Chile, Argentina and Boliviasource of more than half of the world's lithium resourcesshows that the commonly accepted models used to estimate how much water is available for lithium extraction and what the environmental effects may be are off by more than an order of magnitude. The paper, published in Communications Earth & Environment, reveals that there is far less water available than previously thought. With demand for the mineral, which is critical for batteries powering the green transition, projected to increase 40-fold in the coming decades, the research suggests local communities, regulators and the lithium mining industry must quickly collaborate to bring their water usage within sustainable limits. Lithium, says David Boutt, professor of geosciences at UMass Amherst, the paper's senior author, is a strange element. It's the lightest of the metals, but it doesn't like to be in a solid form. Lithium tends to occur in layers of volcanic ash, but it reacts quickly with water. When rain or snowmelt moves through the ash layers, lithium leaches into the groundwater, moving downhill until it settles in a flat basin where it remains in solution as a briny mix of water and lithium. Because this brine is very dense, it settles beneath pockets of fresh surface water, which lie on top of the lithium-rich fluid below, forming lagoons. These lagoons often become havens for unique and fragile ecosystems and iconic species such as flamingos, and are crucial for local communities, including the indigenous peoples who have long called the Lithium Triangle home. Any use of freshwater runs the risk of disturbing both the ecological health of the region and the indigenous ways of lifeand that's where Boutt and his team, who have previously published on the age and lifecycle of water in the Triangle, come in. "We looked at 28 different basins in the Lithium Triangle," says lead author Alexander Kirshen, who completed the study as a research assistant at UMass Amherst, "and we wanted to understand how scarce the fresh water is." This is not an easy task, because these basins are located in very high, extremely arid and relatively remote regions nestled within the Andes mountains. The Lithium Triangle is more than 160,000 square miles, and there are few sensors and monitoring stations with which to track factors like streamflow and precipitation. "The climate and hydrology of the Lithium Triangle is very difficult to understand," says Boutt, so scientists and engineers have relied on global water models to best estimate water availability and environmental impacts of lithium mining within the Triangle. The two most commonly used global water models suggest that the freshwater flowing into the Lithium Triangle's basins is approximately 90 and 230 mm per year. "But after an initial assessment," says Kirshen, "we suspected it was going to be too inaccurate for our purposes." Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. So the team built its own model, called the Lithium Closed Basin Water Availability model, or LiCBWAand what they found was a sharp divergence from the conventional understanding. "There's not much new freshwater at all coming into these systems," says Boutt. While global models estimate an average of 90 and 230 mm per year of inflow, LiCBWA estimates from 2 to 33 mm, depending on the particular basin, with an average of just 11 mm per year for the 28 basins in their study. "The conventional wisdom is overestimating the amount of water by at least an order of magnitude," says Boutt, "and we found that all but one of the 28 basins in our study should be classified as 'critically water scarce," even without incorporating current, to say nothing of future, demands on the water supply." At the same time, the processes for mining lithium are changing. The older method, called evaporative concentration, is being supplanted by direct lithium extraction (DLE)and 56% of the DLE sites in the Triangle use more water than the older, evaporative process. Nearly one third of the DLE facilities (31%) used 10 times more water than evaporative concentration. "Because lithium mining is a reality in the Lithium Triangle," the authors conclude, "scientists, local communities, regulators and producers must collaborate to reduce water use," as well as commit to better monitoring precipitation, streamflow and groundwater levels for an even more precise hydrological picture. Researchers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Alaska Anchorage and the University of Dayton contributed to this study. More information: Freshwater inflows to closed basins of the Andean plateau in Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia, Communications Earth & Environment (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-025-02130-6 Journal information: Communications Earth & Environment This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A new class of antibiotics has been identified by McMaster University researchers. Credit: McMaster University The last time a new class of antibiotics reached the market was nearly three decades agobut that could soon change, thanks to a discovery by researchers at McMaster University. A team led by researcher Gerry Wright has identified a strong candidate to challenge even some of the most drug-resistant bacteria on the planet: a new molecule called lariocidin. The findings were published in the journal Nature on March 26, 2025. The discovery of the all-new class of antibiotics responds to a critical need for new antimicrobial medicines, as bacteria and other microorganisms evolve new ways to withstand existing drugs. This phenomenon is called antimicrobial resistanceor AMRand it's one of the top global public health threats, according to the World Health Organization. "Our old drugs are becoming less and less effective as bacteria become more and more resistant to them," explains Wright, a professor in McMaster's Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences and a researcher at the university's Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research. "About 4.5 million people die every year due to antibiotic-resistant infections, and it's only getting worse." Wright and his team found that the new molecule, a lasso peptide, holds great promise as an early drug lead because it attacks bacteria in a way that's different from other antibiotics. Lariocidin binds directly to a bacterium's protein synthesis machinery in a completely new way, inhibiting its ability to grow and survive. "This is a new molecule with a new mode of action," Wright says. "It's a big leap forward for us." Lariocidin is produced by a type of bacteria called Paenibacillus, which the researchers retrieved from a soil sample collected from a Hamilton backyard. The research team allowed the soil bacteria to grow in the lab for approximately one yeara method that helped reveal even the slow-growing species that could have otherwise been missed. One of these bacteria, Paenibacillus, was producing a new substance that had strong activity against other bacteria, including those typically resistant to antibiotics. "When we figured out how this new molecule kills other bacteria, it was a breakthrough moment," says Manoj Jangra, a postdoctoral fellow in Wright's lab. In addition to its unique mode of action and its activity against otherwise drug-resistant bacteria, the researchers are optimistic about lariocidin because it ticks a lot of the right boxes: it's not toxic to human cells, it's not susceptible to existing mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, and it also works well in an animal model of infection. Wright and his team are now laser-focused on finding ways to modify the molecule and produce it in quantities large enough to allow for clinical development. Wright says because this new molecule is produced by bacteriaand "bacteria aren't interested in making new drugs for us"much time and resources are needed before lariocidin is ready for market. "The initial discoverythe big a-ha! momentwas astounding for us, but now the real hard work begins," Wright says. "We're now working on ripping this molecule apart and putting it back together again to make it a better drug candidate." More information: Gerard Wright, A broad-spectrum lasso peptide antibiotic targeting the bacterial ribosome, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08723-7. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08723-7 Journal information: Nature This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain When a company launches a new initiative, framing it as an "all or nothing" pathway to success is tempting, especially when the goal is restoring the status quo of years before, perhaps when business was more profitable. But is it the best approach? Not always, according to a new study co-authored by Matthew Lyle, assistant professor at Binghamton University, State University of New York's School of Management. Researchers found that "all or nothing" strategies are more likely to weaken employees' support for future initiatives if those plans fail to completely meet the objective. Instead, managers should frame new initiatives as chances to improve upon what they have done wrong while building on what they have done right. "We know that history can be very motivatingreturning to a proud period and using it as an inspiration to break away from an awful periodbut we found in this study that you can motivate people more effectively by telling them that even their attempt to enact the initiative is valiant," Lyle said. "That's enough to get people on board so you can get the support you need to make a change happen." Lyle and his co-researchers believe a good way to start is by encouraging the more experienced employees to share their memories of previous initiativessuccesses and failuresopenly and honestly. This can create strong bonds that outlast a single strategic initiative, Lyle said. Their study, "Generation Gap? The Branching Influence of Historical Myths," published in the journal Organization Science involved examining two union organizations within major South Korean broadcasters. Both displayed distinct generations of cohorts shaped by experiences and memories of South Korea's media democratization struggles from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. Between 2009 and 2012, new CEOs were appointed to each organization, and during that time, journalists perceived internal pressure to provide biased coverage alongside stories involving public criticism. Unions at both broadcasters went on strike in 2012 to remove their CEOs and advocate for their journalistic values, but both strikes ended without achieving their goals. Lyle and fellow researchers analyzed data collected through direct interviews, analysis of online message boards used by senior and junior members of both unions to share news and opinions, and 30 YouTube videos produced by the unions. A co-author of the study also spent significant time alongside strike participants attending rallies, protests and informal gatherings. Based on the information gathered, researchers determined that when organizations talk about learning from an entirely positive past to prevent a disastrous future, failure leads people to avoid collective discussions about what happened and, therefore, miss opportunities to learn from it. As a result, Lyle said, they develop a feeling of "learned helplessness," and people tend to ask themselves or others, "What's the point in trying again?" When another chance at organizing a strike arose in 2014, one of the unions avoided it. Junior employees felt they had betrayed an organization that had "always succeeded," describing it now as being in a "vegetative state," unable to try again when the previous failure effectively paralyzed them. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. By contrast, the study noted, the union exposed to "a largely shameful past" in 2012 jumped at the opportunity to strike again, viewing this as an opportunity to finish what they had started when their shameful history endedand their proud one begantwo years prior. This union viewed the simple act of striking in 2012 as a historic turn and endured through the failure. Their success in forcing the CEO's resignation in 2014 appeared rooted in how they motivated participants in 2012, according to the researchers. "There's a good use for this research in any organization wondering if it can stay afloat. I would encourage them to be more honest about what needs to get done and acknowledge that, while they likely haven't always succeeded, everyone's going to do their best now to draw upon those positive elements of the past to make a better future," Lyle said. "Some might view that concept as 'loser talk,' but we've found that it's much more sustainable as a strategy in the long run." More information: Sung-Chul Noh et al, Generation Gap? The Branching Influence of Historical Myths, Organization Science (2025). DOI: 10.1287/orsc.2022.16982 Journal information: Organization Science This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Cost estimates of infrastructure damage by mid- or late century caused by projected warming and thawing permafrost compared to the annual national averaged climate and weather disaster price tag. Credit: Communications Earth & Environment (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-025-02191-7 In the Arctic, permafrost plays a crucial role in building infrastructure. However, as the region warms and permafrost thaws, infrastructure is threatened as the ground shifts beneath the built environment. Unfortunately, the full extent of the risks associated with this process is not yet realized, but researchers are working to address this knowledge gap. UConn Department of Natural Resources and the Environment researchers including Ph.D. student Elias Manos and Assistant Professor Chandi Witharana, and Anna Liljedahl from the Woodwell Climate Research Center developed a method that uses high-resolution satellite imagery and deep machine learning to double the mapped infrastructure of Alaska and more accurately project economic risks associated with permafrost thaw. Their findings are published in Communications Earth & Environment. Witharana says this is the latest in his research group's long-term study of how satellites can help monitor changes in the Arctic landscape over time; in this case, the largely unaccounted-for risks of thawing permafrost for communities and their vital infrastructure like buildings and roads. "The main focus here is there was a visual gap for infrastructure, and we need to have more detail to create critical information layers for downstream analysis like economic risk. We didn't have that for Alaska," says Witharana. The motivation behind this research stems from the need to understand hazards in a changing world, says Manos. However, those assessments cannot happen without a clear understanding of what is in harm's way. "We know that local temperatures are rising and there is change in the frequency, intensity, and timing of extreme weather and hazardous events. Whether they are rapid onset events like hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, or slow-onset hazards like droughts, permafrost thaw in this case, we need to understand the potential harm these events pose," says Manos. Manos says that permafrost serves as a structural foundation where piles are secured through it and buildings are designed to help maintain its thermal integrity. It is, therefore, essential that the pile foundation remains stably anchored into the permafrost, but the structural integrity is compromised as this layer thaws. "When the temperature of permafrost starts to increase, piles start to shift out of place, and that's what we call bearing capacity loss, or decrease in bearing capacity. That was the main hazard that we looked at which impacts buildings," says Manos. "Then there's also transportation infrastructure that's primarily impacted by ground subsidence. When ice-rich permafrost thaws, the ground will cave in and that was the hazard we used to assess the disaster risk for roads." Previous studies made risk estimates based on data from OpenStreetMap (OSM), which is one of the most widely used geospatial data sets available, says Manos. OSM is available for every nation across the globe, and information is updated by volunteers who manually input local data, like buildings, trails, roads, or other kinds of infrastructure, from high-resolution imagery on a global scale. For some regions, like Europe and parts of the United States, the data is accurate, says Manos, but that is not true for all locations. Unfortunately for the Arctic, OSM data is lacking. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. "There are several previous risk studies that relied on this incomplete infrastructure data. It all goes back to the fact that infrastructure across the Arctic is not completely mapped, and that's problematic if you want to understand disasters because you must have the full picture to understand the scale of what is or could potentially be exposed," says Manos. One of the objectives of Witharana's research group is to improve methods to analyze large sets of satellite images quickly and accurately. Here, they developed a method to accurately map infrastructure and permafrost thaw risk called High-resolution Arctic Built Infrastructure and Terrain Analysis Tool (HABITAT). The model uses machine learning and AI to extract road and building information from high-resolution satellite images from the years 2018-2023. They compared the HABITAT data with OSM data to evaluate the new model's quality and to look for potential misclassifications. Then they added the new information to OSM, nearly doubling the previous amount of information available for Alaska. "The sheer amount of infrastructure and buildings that were missing from Open Street Map was, really shocking to me, 47% missing," says Manos. "Though OpenStreetMap is a powerful volunteer-based resource, it has limitations and that is not a surprise." Owing to the large amount of data previously not considered, the researchers estimate that the costs of permafrost damage to infrastructure will double under low and medium emissions scenarios by 2050. "Damages to infrastructure caused by permafrost thaw is on par with the average yearly cost of all natural disasters in the country, yet permafrost thaw is not recognized by the federal government as a natural hazard making it harder for people in Alaska to obtain disaster relief funding. In addition, Alaska is decades behind the rest of the country in terms of geospatial data readiness. Maps are key for assessments and planning and I think the research community can help with some of that," says Liljedahl. Witharana's research group and collaborators are working to fill these knowledge gaps to create data that can be used to help prepare communities for the future. Manos plans to expand this analysis to account for the entire Arctic region to assess economic losses using a comprehensive infrastructure map. Witharana adds that by combining OSM data with the thousands of sub-meter resolution satellite images provided by the National Science Foundation, along with access to NSF supercomputing infrastructure, it was possible for the researchers to enhance the completeness of these datasets. "We can see that impact and do better assessments of economic disturbances and risk so we can prepare for whatever policy actions or downstream efforts that are needed," says Witharana "That's a major outcome. Overall, the integration of AI and big data sets within our application has helped make useful, actionable products that researchers and communities can use right now." More information: Elias Manos et al, Permafrost thaw-related infrastructure damage costs in Alaska are projected to double under medium and high emission scenarios, Communications Earth & Environment (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-025-02191-7 The combined HABTAT and OSM dataset is available for anyone to explore on the Permafrost Discovery Gateway. Journal information: Communications Earth & Environment This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Journal of the American Chemical Society (2025). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c15818 Researchers at the Universities of Amsterdam and Zurich have developed a molecular system for the controlled release of iron. They integrated ferrocene, a molecular sandwich that encloses an iron atom, with a carbon "nanohoop." As a result, the system allows for the release of Fe2+ ions upon activation with benign green light. The study is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS). The research was carried out by the groups of Dr. Tomas Solomek at the University of Amsterdam's Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences and Dr. Peter Stacko at the University of Zurich (Department of Chemistry). Their expertise is in photocages, molecular photochemical tools that offer precise control over substrate activity in time and space using light as a bio-orthogonal stimulus. Photocages permit the activation of biologically significant molecules such as proteins, nucleotides, or drugs. Not only are they a great tool to study mechanisms and dynamics of biochemical processes, they also have potential for therapeutic applications such as photoactivated chemotherapy. In the research now published in JACS, the researchers shifted their focus from controlling the activity of organic molecules to another crucial component in many biological systems: iron. Renowned for its role in oxygen transport in the human body, it also has a pivotal role in the energy-providing redox processes in mitochondria, in the synthesis of deoxyribonucleotides, or in protecting cells from oxidative stress. Strain-induced photorelease Nature has developed a protein-based system to tightly regulate iron's uptake and balance. In their paper, the researchers present a less sophisticated yet fully functional synthetic equivalent that stores iron and releases it "on demand." The system is based upon the use of ferrocene as the iron carrier, and enables controlling its function by integrating it into a carbon nanohoop. Ferrocene is an organometallic "sandwich complex" that tightly holds an iron atom between two cyclopentadienyl rings. By itself, it is chemically rock stable and resistant to light. Incorporating it into a molecular nanohoop, however, changes this. When the two cyclopentadienyl rings are connected by means of six coupled benzene rings (a cycloparaphenylene nanohoop), a system emerges that enables control over the iron containment. Although conformationally stable, the integration twists the entire nanohoop structure and exerts a large mechanical stress on the ferrocene. As a result, the system becomes susceptible to irradiation with green light, which results in the release of iron. In their paper, the researchers describe how the iron can be released with high efficiency upon irradiation. They expect this strategy of introducing mechanical stress in molecules to offer great promise also beyond the realm of photocages. For instance, it can potentially enable the development of new responsive materials in supramolecular, organometallic, or polymer chemistry. More information: Remigiusz B. Krecijasz et al, Strain-Induced Photochemical Opening of Ferrocene[6]cycloparaphenylene: Uncaging of Fe2+ with Green Light, Journal of the American Chemical Society (2025). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c15818 Journal information: Journal of the American Chemical Society This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Average levels of political trust before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. Credit: Political Research Exchange (2024). DOI: 10.1080/2474736X.2024.2403438 Five years have passed since 22 March 2020, when the German government at the time imposed the first lockdown in an effort to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. What began as a two-week measure developed into a prolonged crisis that led to restrictions on close interpersonal contact, curfews, and closed schools and daycare centers. In the three pandemic years that followed, attitudes in Germany towards political institutions changed considerably. A recent study conducted by the University of Oldenburg in collaboration with the Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories (LIfBi) published in Political Research Exchange shows that trust in political institutions and media surged during the first year of the crisis, but declined considerably in the later phases of the pandemicwith long-term consequences. Trust in the police and print media also decreased and did not return to pre-pandemic levels until spring 2023. The study, which is based on longitudinal data from the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS), shows that in the first year of the pandemic Germany experienced a "rally-around-the-flag effect": on a scale of 1 to 4 (1 = no trust; 4 = high level of trust), the mean political trust rose from 2.37 to 2.55 at the beginning of the crisis, before dropping again in the second year of the pandemic. Core state institutions such as the federal government and the Bundestag benefited most from the "trust bonus" at the start of the pandemic. "Times of crisis often lead to a short-term increase in political trust. However, the longer a crisis lasts and the bigger the social and economic burdens become, the more likely it is that this effect will be reversed. The decrease in trust in the federal government and the Bundestag in the second year of the pandemic clearly demonstrates this," explains project leader Gundula Zoch, Professor of Sociology of Social Inequalities at the University of Oldenburg. Loss of trust in the police The police, who played a central role in implementing infection control measures during the pandemic, lost a considerable amount of trust over the course of the crisis. Whereas before the pandemic they were considered one of Germany's most trustworthy institutions, their trust rating dropped sharply in the second year of the pandemic and did not return to pre-crisis levels during the period under research. One possible explanation is that certain sections of the population took an increasingly critical view of effective police enforcement of measures such as contact restrictions, assembly bans and curfews. Media also affected by crisis of trust But not only state institutions were affected. The study also points to a significant loss of trust in various types of media: trust in social media in particularwhich were already the least trusted before the pandemicincreased first but fell sharply, similar to a decline in trust in television and newspapers. Although the mean level of trust in the media increased again in 2023, there were major differences between the different media types: social media, for example, recorded a strong increase and even enjoyed greater trust by the end of the crisis than at the beginning. By contrast, trust in more established print media did not return to pre-crisis levels. "Our analysis shows that there were major fluctuations in political trust during the pandemic. A particularly critical aspect is that while trust in television and social media recovered, trust in the established print media remained permanently weakened," says Dr. Steffen Wamsler, member of the project team at the Leibniz Institute. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. The long-term dangers of lost trust "The study makes clear that political trust is particularly fragile in times of crisisand that it takes time for lost trust to be restored after a crisis," says Professor Zoch, summarizing the results. Long-term, stable trust in political institutions, as well as in the media, is essential for a functioning democracy. If this trust erodes, the functioning of the government may also be severely impaired, for instance if the legitimacy of its decisions is called into question. A lack of political trust is also a key trigger for the spread of conspiracy myths, which can be damaging to both social coexistence and the political system. The study and its data The study is based on data from 7,008 respondents from the Adult cohort of the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) who were interviewed five times between 2017 and 2023 in combination with statistical data from 353 districts in Germany. The analysis takes account of both individual and regional factors such as incidence rates, infection prevention measures, changes in work and family life and pandemic-related stress factors. The results were calculated using longitudinal regression models in order to track individual changes in political trust and the factors that influenced this over the course of the crisis. The study was conducted as part of the project "Political attitudes and political participation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic" (PEPP-COV). It analyzes changes in political attitudes and the associated social and political participation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. More information: Gundula Zoch et al, From rally to reality: unveiling long-term dynamics in political trust over two years of COVID-19 in Germany, Political Research Exchange (2024). DOI: 10.1080/2474736X.2024.2403438 Provided by Carl von Ossietzky Universitat Oldenburg This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Scientists in Britain assessed the lasting impact of one of the oldest known mining tracks in the vast Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), stretching between Hawaii and Mexico. Scientists said they have seen the first signs of life returning to deep sea mining tracks carved into the abyssal seabed more than four decades ago, but warned on Wednesday that full recovery may be "impossible." The new research, published in the journal Nature, comes as countries argue over the creation of the world's first mining code on deep sea extraction at a meeting of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in Kingston, Jamaica. Scientists and campaigners have long insisted that future industrial-level mining will threaten marine ecosystems. Risks range from species extinctions and damage to the ocean food web, to the potential for exacerbating climate change by churning up sediment that stores planet-heating carbon. In the latest research, scientists in Britain assessed the lasting impact of one of the oldest known mining tracks in the vast Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), stretching between Hawaii and Mexico in international waters. At depths of more than 4,000 meters (13,000 feet), the seabed here is scattered with metal rich rocks known as "nodules" and is home to a huge number of strange and rare animals almost entirely unknown to science. A 1979 test in the CCZ left a wide strip of seabed cleared of nodules and framed by deep tracks eight meters (26 foot) apart made by the mining machine. In 2023, scientists surveyed the site and found these marks in the seafloor remained clearly visible. "The numbers of many animals were reduced within the tracks but we did see some of the first signs of biological recovery," said lead author Daniel Jones of the National Oceanography Center. While small and more mobile creatures were seen within the mining area, larger-sized animals that are fixed to the seafloor were still "very rare," he said. The sediment plumes kicked up by the machines were not found to have had a lasting impact, according to the research. The authors said that while more modern equipment could be designed to limit the impact on ocean wildlife, the likely scale of any mining operations if they went ahead meant "visible physical impacts of the collection can be assumed to last for at least many decades." They added that a full return of life in affected regions "may be impossible" with the removal of the nodules, which are themselves a habitat for marine animals. Spies to smartphones The research marks "the longest term assessment of a deep sea mining track," Jones told reporters earlier this month. Jones trawled the archives to pinpoint the location of the 1979 test, which was carried out following a CIA plot to recover a Russian nuclear submarineusing deep-sea mining as a cover story. The CIA then leased their ship for real deep-sea mining, according to Jones. He said the 1979 test, carried out by private firms, was to see if harvesting the nodules was technically feasible and was "much smaller than a true mining event would look like." After that, interest and funding fizzled out. But recent years have seen renewed interest in exploiting the potato-sized nodules, which are thought to have formed over millions of years and contain metals like cobalt and nickel, which are used in technologies such as smartphones and rechargeable batteries. There are estimated to be around 21 billion tonnes of nodules on the seabed of the CCZ. "Our results don't provide an answer to whether deep-sea mining is societally acceptable, but they do provide the data needed to make better informed policy decisions," said co-author Adrian Glover from Britain's Natural History Museum. He added that it could help in creating protected areas and inform monitoring efforts. More information: Daniel O. B. Jones et al, Long-term impact and biological recovery in a deep-sea mining track, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08921-3 Journal information: Nature 2025 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Rootworm pressure and Bt planting rate using 2014-2016 data. (A) Rootworm pressure, measured as root injury in non-Bt trials. (B) Planting rate for rootwormactive Bt hybrids. Credit: Science (2025). DOI: 10.1126/science.adm7634 Widespread planting of corn hybrids designed to combat corn rootworm, the crop's most damaging pest in the Corn Belt, is reducing both the technology's effectiveness and some farmers' profits. The findings come from a new analysis of 12 years of field trials and seed usage data across 10 Midwestern corn-growing states, including Iowa. The study, published in Science, shows rootworms are increasingly resistant to the built-in protection of corn that is genetically engineered to produce insecticidal proteins derived from a bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). The title of the Science article, "Too much of a good thing: lessons from compromised rootworm Bt maize in the US Corn Belt," captures the study's main thrust, said Aaron Gassmann, professor of plant pathology, entomology and microbiology at Iowa State University. "'Too much of a good thing' is really the key message," said Gassmann, one of three Iowa State faculty members among the study's 20 co-authors. "Overplanting Bt corn causes farmers to lose some of its benefits for suppressing rootworm populations and preserving yields." The study found that farmers in some parts of the Midwest were planting rootworm Bt corn at a higher-than-ideal rate, based on an optimum that weighs current-year benefits along with the future impact of pest suppression and resistance. The overplanting gap was especially pronounced in states where it is rare for farmers to continuously plant the same fields with corn, the study found. "When we crunched the numbers, we found that some of those farmersfrom their own immediate private profit perspective, not considering the broader effectswere planting more rootworm Bt corn than they should," said David Hennessy, Cargill Professor in Economic Systems at Iowa State and one of the paper's co-authors. Powerful tool weakening Adult corn rootworm beetles lay their eggs in the summer to overwinter in soil before hatching in late spring, when the larvae feed on developing corn roots. Bt corn designed to combat rootworm imbues the plant with proteins that are toxic to the insect but harmless for most other organisms, including humans and livestock. By comparing root injury in Bt and non-Bt corn, researchers can estimate the efficacy of Bt protection. In the analysis of field trial data, effectiveness fell from 2005 to 2016 for all three Bt proteins studied. The pooled efficacy was 92% in 2005, two years after rootworm Bt corn was first introduced. By 2016, it had fallen to 80%. Slowing rootworm's Bt resistance is important because it's a highly damaging pest that costs U.S. farmers up to $2 billion per year in management costs and reduced yield. "Probably 80% of what I talk about is corn rootworm management. If I'm going to offer a range of topics to choose from, they always pick rootworm," said study co-author Erin Hodgson, a professor of plant pathology, entomology and microbiology and ISU Extension and Outreach extension entomologist. Bt hybrids are an appealing rootworm solution for farmers because they're a simple, effective and safe alternative to applying pesticides, Hodgson said. The vast majority of Iowa's corn crop is Bt corn. "When rootworm Bt corn became available, it was a big step up. Farmers really liked it. Regardless of what sort of pest pressure they have, they continued to use it because it worked so well. They don't necessarily want to back off," Hodgson said. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Rotation reduces Bt need Overall populations of rootworm have fallen thanks to Bt corn, but fields where corn is grown continuously give the pest an ideal habitat to develop resistance and damage crops. In the western states included in the studyIowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska and the Dakotascontinuous corn is relatively common, and yield loss from rootworm in the final three years of the analyzed trials averaged 47.5 bushels per acre. Crop rotation's dominance in the study's eastern statesIndiana, Michigan and Ohiohelped reduce rootworm pressure, leading to yield loss of only 8.5 bushels per acre. The difference in yield protection benefits made the ideal Bt rate far lower in eastern states, though actual Bt usage didn't differ nearly as much throughout the regions. In eastern states, Bt corn rates were about 50% from 2014 to 2016. If farmers throughout Indiana, Michigan and Ohio had instead planted Bt corn at an optimum 18% rate, they collectively would have saved $99 million per year by avoiding the $25.7 per acre premium for Bt seed. Optimum Bt rates in the western states ranged from 45% to more than 75%. "We were still managing the pest using Bt hybrids as if rootworm was a prime driver of yield loss in states like Indiana. It wasn't, and it hadn't been for some time," said Christian Krupke, a field crop entomology professor at Purdue University and the study's lead co-author, along with Ziwei Ye, assistant professor of agricultural economics and rural development at Renmin University of China. The wide difference in ideal rates for western and eastern corn shows how critical crop rotation is for controlling rootworm. Rootworm pressure builds in fields over time, so any interruption in corn planting helps keep rootworm populations in check, Gassmann said. While there are often economic incentives to plant continuous corn, even giving fields a break from corn every few years helps manage rootworm pressure, Hodgson said. "My soapbox talking point to farmers is to check your fields. Go below ground and evaluate root injury. Seeing where you are at will help you make better choices about the coming year," she said. Providing more choice Offering farmers more seed choices also would help reduce Bt overuse, researchers said. Bt traits targeting insect pests such as rootworm and corn borer are usually bundled with other valued genetic attributes, such as yield performance and drought resistance. Farmers have little opportunity to customize by only selecting traits they prefer. In a separate study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), Gassmann described another seed-design factor contributing to rootworm's growing resistance to Bt corn. Modifying crops to produce two or more different Bt toxins is a common method for delaying resistance, a "pyramid" approach that slows down natural selection. But seed companies often offer Bt pyramids in which one of the traits is already seeing significant resistance, which undermines the intended redundancy of including multiple toxins. The PNAS study showed rootworm pests resistant to one trait in a pyramid tend to develop resistance to the other trait, as well. Combinations of Bt traits need to both be effective for the approach to work, Gassmann said. Increasing the typical 5% level of non-Bt "refuges" in Bt corn fields, and considering Bt technology as part of a rootworm strategy instead of the entirety of it, would also help. "Novel pyramids and more diversified management would make those Bt traits more durable," he said. Bt traits are expensive and time-consuming for seed companies to develop, and improving strategies to delay resistance can help increase the longevity of those traits, Gassmann said. Study's value Reports from individual field and laboratory studies have documented the presence of rootworm's resistance to Bt corn for about 15 years, including prior studies by Gassmann. But the Science study covers multiple states over many years, analyzed by a group of entomologists, plant pathologists, crop scientists and economists from 13 institutions. "It's rare to have data this good. Getting the plots year after year is a challenge," Hennessy said. The study originated from observations of a U.S. Department of Agriculture-organized working group for corn entomologists, and it shows the value of public datasets generated by long-term applied research, Krupke said. "These are among the most useful types of data for developing policy recommendations," he said. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Forest Ecology and Management (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2025.122581 A study using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) has identified the optimal planting density for Mongolia pine plantations in China's arid regions, offering a science-backed solution to combat tree die-offs threatening anti-desertification efforts. The research, conducted in a long-term trial in Zhanggutai, Liaoning Province, challenges traditional methods based solely on aboveground indicators and reveals the crucial role of belowground interactions in plantation health. Conducted by researchers from the Institute of Applied Ecology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, this study pinpoints the root cause behind the mysterious decline of Mongolia pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) plantationsa cornerstone of China's "Three-North Shelterbelt" reforestation project. The findings, published in Forest Ecology and Management, reveal that overcrowded tree stands lead to intense underground competition for water, accelerating forest degradation in semi-arid zones like the Horqin Sandy Land. Mongolian pine was introduced in 1955 to combat desertification along the southern edge of the Horqin Sandland. However, after 3540 years, many plantations began to decline, exhibiting symptoms such as leaf yellowing, weakened growth, and increased pest infestations. These issues have largely been attributed to high initial planting densities and insufficient thinning practices. Recognizing that survival in arid and semi-arid regions depends on root-mediated water and nutrient uptake, this study reconsiders stand density from a belowground perspective. Using the Noggin 1000 GPR system alongside traditional soil coring, the researchers examined coarse roots (>5 mm) and fine roots (<2 mm) across 25 trial plots with planting densities ranging from 1,111 to 10,000 trees per hectare. More than 40 years of natural thinning resulted in six distinct density gradients, from 383 to 2,367 trees per hectare. The GPR allowed the team to quantify the spatial distribution of coarse roots without disturbing the soil. The results showed that as stand density increased from 383 to 2,367 trees per hectare, coarse roots shortened horizontally from 3.65 meters to 1.81 meters and became more densely clustered. Root depth also decreased by 20%, from 95.3 cm to 75.8 cm, pushing trees into shallower, drier soil layers. Simultaneously, fine roots concentrated near the surface (020 cm), intensifying water competition. "Even the lowest density plot still showed root overlapping and intense root competition," said lead researcher Dr. Li Mingjuan. "This proves why thinning is essential." By establishing quantitative relationships between stand density and root competition intensity indicators, the researchers identified the optimum stand density as being between 177 and 214 trees per hectare for 45-year-old plantations. A notable advancement of this study is the use of GPR, which overcomes the limitations of earlier, labor-intensive, and destructive methods. GPR not only provides a fast, noninvasive means of mapping root distribution but also offers a more accurate understanding of the belowground interactions that drive tree competition and forest stability. This technological breakthrough marks an important step forward in forest management, particularly in arid regions where water availability is a critical limiting factor. More information: Mingjuan Li et al, The optimum stand density of plantation forests in semi-arid sandy areas determined by the spatial distribution of tree root systems, Forest Ecology and Management (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2025.122581 Journal information: Forest Ecology and Management This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: View of the cone junction of a simulated flow field. In the image labeled as A, B and C are the locations of the conical shock, wavy separation line and the discontinuity in the circular shape. Credit: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign At hypersonic speeds, complexities occur when the gases interact with the surface of the vehicle, such as boundary layers and shock waves. Researchers in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, were able to observe new disturbances in simulations conducted for the first time in 3D. The study, "Loss of axial symmetry in hypersonic flows over conical shapes," is published in Physical Review Fluids. Fully 3D simulations require a great deal of processing power, making the work expensive to compute. Two things made it possible for Deborah Levin and her Ph.D. student Irmak Taylan Karpuzcu to conduct the research: Time on Frontera, the leadership-class computer system at the Texas Advanced Computing Center and software developed in previous years by several of Levin's former graduate students. "Transitioning flows are 3D and unsteady in nature, regardless of the flow geometry. Experiments conducted in 3D in the early 2000s didn't provide enough data to determine any 3D effects or unsteadiness because there weren't enough sensors all around the cone-shaped model. It wasn't wrong. It was just all that was possible then," said Karpuzcu. "We have those data to compare, but having the full picture now in 3D, it's different. Normally, you would expect the flow around the cone to be concentric ribbons, but we noticed breaks in the flow within shock layers both in the single and double cone shapes." Karpuzcu said they observed the breaks near the tip of the cone, and with a shock wave near where the air molecules were closer together, making them more viscous and at Mach 16. "As you increase the Mach number, the shock gets closer to the surface and promotes these instabilities. It would be too expensive to run the simulation at every speed, but we did run it at Mach 6 and did not see the break in the flow." Karpuzcu said the cone geometry represents a simplified version of many hypersonic vehicles and understanding how the flow affects surface properties can help lead to design considerations. "Our group's in-house software made it efficient to run the simulation in parallel processors, so it's much faster. There were already data from experiments under high-speed conditions, so we had some intuition about how the simulations would look, but in 3D we found breaks that we didn't expect to see." He said the most difficult part of the work for him was in analyzing why the break in the flow was happening. "The flow should be going in all directions, but uniformly. We needed to justify what we were seeing. Our literature review indicated that a linear stability analysis based on triple-deck theory can be applied to this flow. After analyzing the complex formulations and connecting them to our case, we developed a code to numerically simulate the problem again. "Running the 3D direct simulation Monte Carlo simulation is hard, but then we set up a second computer program to make sure everything works and is within the limits for our flow conditions. When we did that, we saw the break in two big chunks in 180-degree periodicity around the cone." Karpuzcu said the beauty of the direct simulation Monte Carlo is that it tracks each air molecule in the flow and captures the shocks. "When you use other methods to calculate fluid dynamics, it's all deterministic. When we introduce a particle to the flow field, there is a probability of that particle colliding with other particles or any solid surfaces that's calculated on physics-based formulas, but the output is a roll of the dice. "The Monte Carlo method does random, repetitive attempts. It's more extensive than classical computational fluid dynamics methods and we're tracking billions of particles. This makes sure there are enough particles within the flow field and collisions are captured properly." More information: Irmak T. Karpuzcu et al, Loss of axial symmetry in hypersonic flows over conical shapes, Physical Review Fluids (2025). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevFluids.10.033901 Journal information: Physical Review Fluids This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The Kangaroo Island Insect Collection is often used for education and community engagement. Here, Dr Richard Glatz speaks to a students from University of South Australia studying conservation ecology. Credit: Richard Glatz/DEstrees Entomology For more than two decades Dr. Richard Glatz has been on a one-man mission to catalog Kangaroo Island's insects. Since starting the collection in 1998, Richard has collected about 80,000 insect specimens, many of which are unique to science. To keep them safe, they are housed in a bushfire-proof building at Richard's D'Estrees Entomology on Kangaroo Island, an isle off South Australia. As the island's native fauna has been isolated from the mainland for thousands of years, many have evolved to separate subspecies from their mainland counterparts. Kangaroo Island is home to South Australia's only remaining population of Green Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata). The Kangaroo Island Assassin Spider (Zephyrarchaea austini) was believed to be extinct until it was found following the 2019 bushfires. As part of the Atlas of Living Australia's (ALA) Biodiversity Data Mobilization Program (ABDMP), Richard submitted 16,475 insect records to Australia's biodiversity infrastructure. This nearly tripled the number of records in the ALA from Kangaroo Island. Digitizing that many specimens is no mean feat. But, with support from the program, Richard was able to ensure the thousands of specimens were digitally recorded for safekeeping for the future, and in a way that can be shared. Richard's dataset is one of 19 to be added to the ALA through the ABDMP. It has added more than 520,000 specimens to the ALA's online catalog. The annual ABDMP is designed to improve the scientific understanding of Australia's rare and remarkable biodiversity. Applications for the 2025 round of the program begin on 24 March 2025. Like a moth to a flame Richard was always interested in insects, but it took until his second stint at uni to realize he could turn that into a career. "When I was a kid, a friend and I were really interested in insects. We'd always be searching around looking for them. Not collecting or anything like that, just looking," he said. "But when I went to university, I wasn't aware I could turn researching insects into a career. I ended up studying a degree in computing. But after I finished that I didn't want to work in that field, and I ended up increasing the hours I was working at a servo. "I thought about what I was interested in. That was biology, so I went back to uni to study an agriculture degree, mostly thinking about work opportunities. And about two years in, I found I could start specializing in insects." Richard grew up in Riverland in rural South Australia where he first developed an interest in ecology, especially mallee eucalypt systems. Richard moved to Adelaide for university in 1988 but wanted to eventually move back to a rural area. In one fateful university class, Richard had to make a collection of insects. At about the same time, he made his first trip to Kangaroo Island, where he was shocked by the mallee systems he loved. He decided his collection would document Kangaroo Island's insect fauna. "This led to a range of discoveries, most notably the Enigma moth (Aenigmatinea glatzella) which represented an entirely new family of primitive moths (Aenigmatineidae), and its specific parasitoid wasp (Ovaustra aurantia) which represented a new genus," Richard said. "The rare ant-associated butterfly Ogyris halmaturina halmaturina was rediscovered after 80 years of no records and found to be a sub-species endemic to Kangaroo Island." For years the collection was stored in his office on the island. But he was always worried about the threat of bushfires. The Kangaroo Island Insect Collection holds data on many specimens that are the only record of their species for the island, and in some they are the only ones known to science, including the only known specimen of the spider-parastoid fly, Panops infrequens described in 2023. Credit: Richard Glatz/DEstrees Entomology Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. The butterfly effect The 2019 Kangaroo Island bushfires devastated the island. Two people lost their lives and almost half of the island was affected. Homes, businesses, and infrastructure were destroyed. Thousands of head of livestock and native animals were killed. Richard's collection was unaffected, but the tragedy confirmed his fear that the tens of thousands of specimens could easily be lost in another fire. "It had been on my mind for some time, but the 2019 fires solidified it. It went from something in the back of my mind to something I had to act on," he said. "I thought 'If I'm serious I have to build something that won't burn down.'" He engaged local builders who created an above-ground bunker on a standalone slab, made from double-thick hebel panels with no windows. It was finished in 2023 and now houses Richard's collection. A bug in the system When Richard started his collection, he put his computing degree to good use, building a database for his growing collection. But as the number of specimens increased, he couldn't keep up with the amount of cataloging and digitizing that was needed. By 2023, this represented the biggest collection of Kangaroo Island's insects. While Richard had about 16,000 records accounting for 25,000 specimens, these were only available in his database, not to the broader scientific community. The ALA's ABDMP was a way to make his data available to the public. "I've always done this work out of my own pocket. I didn't have the time or capacity to upload thousands of records to the ALA," he said. "The Data Mobilization Program allowed me to modify my database to streamline further transfers of data in the future through understanding the processes and capabilities of the ALA team. "This facilitated the changes to my database and allowed all current data to be transferred." Onto the next What's next for Richard and D'Estrees Entomology? More of the same. There are thousands more specimens in the collection that need to be digitized and eventually uploaded into the ALA. Among those thousands of specimens, Richard believes are rare and unique insects that should be published. And in the meantime, he will keep adding to the collection. "It just keeps going. We are always collecting. There are probably about 50 to 60,000 specimens that need to be classified. And once you start looking at everything in the collection there is quite a bit of new material. "For me, this has never been just about building a collection. It's always been about science," he said. Provided by CSIRO This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Housing tends to be a key part of household wealth, but despite its importance, it has been difficult to measure the value of a property. In a new article, researchers have studied the impact of a popular machine-learning pricing algorithm on the U.S. housing market. The study found that overall, the algorithm benefited the market. The study, by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, New York University, and the University of Toronto, is published in Marketing Science. "Our work is among the first to demonstrate and explain the impact of machine-generated property value prediction on the housing market, as well as its economic and social implications," explains Param Vir Singh, Carnegie Bosch Professor of Business Technologies and Marketing at Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School of Business, who co-authored the study. Several online real-estate marketplaces have proprietary algorithms that use large amounts of data to estimate property values. The algorithms' estimates are displayed on the marketplaces' websites. In this study, researchers analyzed the impact on housing market outcomes of Zestimate, a machine learning algorithm developed by Zillow, the most popular U.S. real estate marketplace company and one of the first to publish algorithm-generated property value estimates nationwide. Because Zestimate tends to be more accurate for rich than for poor neighborhoods, raising concerns that the tool may increase socioeconomic inequality, researchers also examined how and to what extent Zestimate's effects differed across socioeconomic segments. The study focused on the more than 4,000 properties listed in 140 neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, PA, between February and October 2019. Using data on Zestimate and housing sales, researchers built a structural model of the housing market in which sellers and buyers faced uncertainty about property values and Zestimate provided an unbiased signal of property value. Overall, Zestimate benefited both buyers and sellers in the housing market, leading on average to a 5.4% rise in buyers' surplus and a 4.2% increase in sellers' profits. This occurred primarily because its effect in reducing uncertainty allowed sellers to be more patient and set higher reservation prices to wait for buyers who truly valued the properties, which improved the quality of seller-buyer matches, say the authors. In addition, Zestimate reduced socioeconomic inequality in housing: Both rich and poor neighborhoods benefited from Zestimate, but poor neighborhoods benefited more. The average seller profit increase by Zestimate in poor neighborhoods was nearly 5%, compared to 3.7% and 4% in midrange and rich neighborhoods; the average buyer surplus increase by Zestimate in poor neighborhoods was 8.3%, compared to 3.2% and 6% in midrange and rich neighborhoods. This occurred because poor neighborhoods face greater prior uncertainty, and therefore, would benefit more from new signals, according to the authors. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Among the study's limitations, the authors note that they did not model a case where multiple buyers engaged in a bidding war, which usually boosts the selling price. In addition, their model considered buyers who looked at one property at a time, but buyers may look at multiple listings, leading to competition among sellers. "The emergence of algorithms that predict the market value of properties has the potential to reduce uncertainty in the housing market," suggests Yan Huang, Associate Professor of Business Technologies at Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School of Business, who coauthored the study. Co-author Kannan Srinivasan, Professor of Management, Marketing, and Business Technology at Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School of Business, notes, "When evaluating the disparate impact of algorithms, it is crucial to consider the status quo of different groups and the counterfactual outcomes when the algorithms are not there, rather than simply looking at the algorithm's outputs." More information: Runshan Fu et al, Unequal Impact of Zestimate on the Housing Market, SSRN Electronic Journal (2023). DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4480469 Journal information: Marketing Science This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: In 1986, this specimen was the first Bonelli's eagle chick in the world with a long-distance reading ring. Credit: Joan Real. Knowing how wildlife populations change is decisive for improving the management and conservation of biodiversity. The complexity of fieldworklogistics, capture and marking of individuals, recaptures, etc.and the lack of long-term monitoring make it difficult to predict the future of the species under study, especially if they are threatened. Now, the methodology for determining how the demographic parameters of species vary in the natural environment has taken a step forward with an efficient and flexible protocol promoted by the Conservation Biology Group of the Faculty of Biology and the Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio) of the University of Barcelona. The methodology, applicable to most birds of prey and other territorial species, makes it possible to accurately identify the four main demographic processes that cause population changes in a given species: births, deaths, emigration and immigration. This advance will help to have a global view of the demographic processes and to direct conservation strategies on those processes that most affect the viability of the population (increasing births, reducing mortality, retaining specimens that migrate, etc.). The study, by experts Joan Real, Jaime A. Badia-Boher, Antonio Hernandez-Matias, Santi Manosa, Francisco Pares and Diego J. Arevalo-Ayala, from the UB-IRBio Conservation Biology Group, and Josep Maria Bas, from the University of Girona, is published in the journal Ecological Applications. The Bonelli's eagle (Aquila fasciata) population in Catalonianow recovering after many years of declinehas been used as a model to implement the new population study methodology after nearly 50 years of scientific monitoring. Decline and recovery of the Bonelli's eagle in Catalonia One of the most outstanding advances in the study of the demography of wild animal populations is the use of the Integrated Population Model (IPM), which has provided a way to examine the immigration process in the studied populations. "These IPMs help to obtain more robust and reliable estimates of population dynamics, since they are formulated so that all sources of data on a wild population (censuses, ringing or tagging data, observations during the breeding season) inform each other," explains Professor Real, head of the UB's Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences. "Another advantage of the IPMs is their flexibility. In this study, we have used up to five different types of data, collected over the long term since 1986. This has allowed us to accurately determine demographic processes on births, deaths, emigration and immigration," says Badia-Boher, first author of the article, which is part of his doctoral thesis at the UB. In the case of the Bonelli's eagle in Cataloniaa species in regression and seriously endangered throughout Europethe methodology has detailed that the population declined rapidly during the 1980s and 1990s. The population decline of this bird of prey was halted during the 2000s, and since 2010 the population has been recovering progressively. "During the population's decline, the arrival of immigrant individuals from other populations in the Iberian Peninsula in a better state was probably a relevant factor to prevent the decline from being greater," says Professor Hernandez-Matias. Today, with population recovery and youth survival on the rise, "The importance of migrants is lower, while the number of individuals migrating to other populations has increased. This factor may have helped other populations currently threatened in other territories," adds the expert. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Non-breeding population is also decisive The results indicate that the floater populationi.e., those that cannot reproduce due to biological or ecological factors and do not have a fixed territoryplays a key regulatory role in the eagle population, an aspect for which there has been very little empirical evidence so far. "When the breeding population declined sharply in the 1980s and 1990s, the floater individuals were not enough to cover the losses, probably also due to high mortality and thus causing the population decline. Conversely, from the 2000s onwards, the floater population recovered, thus helping the breeding population to expand," explains Professor Manosa. "We now know that an abundant floater population can help stabilize the breeding population, avoid population declines, and help the species to expand." The decrease in mortality of non-breeding juveniles and territorial adults has been decisive for the recovery of the population. "The improvement of the population in Catalonia is also contributing to the viability of nearby populations thanks to the increase in the number of emigrants. Therefore, improving the conservation status of the Catalan population can have a beneficial effect on populations in other territories," explains expert Badia-Boher. A recovering albeit fragile population in Catalonia The results of the study suggest that conservation measures implemented in recent decadessuch as the correction of power lines to avoid electrocutionsand perhaps the progressive increase in rabbit populations in areas of juvenile dispersal, may be behind the recovery of the species. "Coordination between researchers, naturalists, managers, landowners and companies is key to the future of the species. We must continue to detect dangerous nets or power lines and correct them, not only where there are territorial populations, but also in areas where they live and feed non-breeding individuals, as well as improving the habitats in which they live," says Real. Despite the recovery of the Bonelli's eagle in Catalonia, the situation is very fragile and many eagles still die today as a result of accidents with power lines, drowning, gunshots or collisions with infrastructures. "To conserve the species, it is urgent to plan and carry out a more sustainable use of the territory that involves reducing urbanization, limiting the implementation of infrastructures, having a less intensive agriculture and on the other hand, recovering traditional mountain activities favoring biodiversity," says the team. In the future, it is necessary to continue scientific monitoring, such as that of the breeding population in their territories, and to gain a better knowledge of the floater population, which is the least known. "Apart from monitoring tasks, it is essential to understand the factors that determine population dynamics, such as the occupation of territories in a changing territorial framework and in a context of a biodiversity crisis that is affecting and extinguishing more and more species," the experts point out. A historical note: 50 years of scientific monitoring This year, it will be 50 years since the first Bonelli's eagle was tracked in Catalonia. Thanks to long-term studies, it has been possible to detect the warning signs of the conservation status of the populations and thus establish appropriate management and conservation measures. Apart from scientific monitoring, it is also crucial to promote research on basic biology (life cycle, land use, trophic resources, reproduction, survival, etc.) and the factors that condition these aspects. During all these years, the UB-IRBio Conservation Biology Group has promoted both basic and applied research on the species, an activity that has generated different doctoral theses, scientific and informative articles, technical manuals and scientific dissemination actions for the general public. "This knowledge has made it possible to apply relevant conservation measures on the territory, such as the correction of power lines that had an impact on mortality, the improvement of habitats or the collaboration with private and public land managers. It is worth remembering that public and private organizations, research centers, NGOs, landowners and citizens have collaborated in all these tasks to conserve this endangered species," concludes Real. More information: Jaume A. BadiaBoher et al, Fall and rise of a threatened raptor: Unraveling longterm population dynamics with spatially explicit integrated models, Ecological Applications (2025). DOI: 10.1002/eap.70013 Journal information: Ecological Applications This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations (ACERO) researchers Lynne Martin, left, and Connie Brasil use the Portable Airspace Management System (PAMS) to view a simulated fire zone and set a drone flight plan during a flight test the week of March 17, 2025. Credit: NASA/Brandon Torres-Navarrete NASA researchers conducted initial validation of a new airspace management system designed to enable crews to use aircraft to fight and monitor wildland fires 24 hours a day, even during low-visibility conditions. From March 17 to 28, NASA's Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations (ACERO) project stationed researchers at multiple strategic locations across the foothills of the Sierra de Salinas mountains in Monterey County, California. Their mission: to test and validate a new, portable system that can provide reliable airspace management under poor visual conditions, one of the biggest barriers for aerial wildland firefighting support. The mission was a success. "At NASA, we have decades of experience leveraging our aviation expertise in ways that improve everyday life for Americans," said Carol Carroll, deputy associate administrator for NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate at agency headquarters in Washington. "We need every advantage possible when it comes to saving lives and property when wildfires affect our communities, and ACERO technology will give responders critical new tools to monitor and fight fires." One of the barriers for continued monitoring, suppression, and logistics support in wildland fire situations is a lack of tools for managing airspace and air traffic that can support operations under all visibility conditions. Current aerial firefighting operations are limited to times with clear visibility when a Tactical Air Group Supervisor or "air boss" in a piloted aircraft can provide direction. Otherwise, pilots may risk collisions. The ACERO technology will provide that air boss capability for remotely piloted aircraft operationsand users will be able to do it from the ground. The project's Portable Airspace Management System (PAMS) is a suitcase-sized solution that builds on decades of NASA air traffic and airspace management research. The PAMS units will allow pilots to view the locations and operational intents of other aircraft, even in thick smoke or at night. During the testing in Salinas, researchers evaluated the PAMS' core airspace management functions, including strategic coordination and the ability to automatically alert pilots once their aircraft exits their preapproved paths or the simulated preapproved fire operation zone. Using the PAMS prototype, researchers were able to safely conduct flight operations of a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft operated by Overwatch Aero, LLC, of Solvang, California, and two small NASA drones. Flying as if responding to a wildfire scenario, the Overwatch aircraft connected with two PAMS units in different locations. Though the systems were separated by mountains and valleys with weak cellular service, the PAMS units were able to successfully share and display a simulated fire zone, aircraft location, flight plans, and flight intent, thanks to a radio communications relay established by the Overwatch aircraft. Operating in a rural mountain range validated that PAMS could work successfully in an actual wildland fire environment. "Testing in real mountainous environments presents numerous challenges, but it offers significantly more value than lab-based testing," said Dr. Min Xue, ACERO project manager at NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley. "The tests were successful, providing valuable insights and highlighting areas for future improvement." Pilots on the ground used PAMS to coordinate the drones, which performed flights simulating aerial ignitionthe practice of setting controlled, intentional fires to manage vegetation, helping to control fires and reduce wildland fire risk. NASA ACERO researchers fly a drone to test the PAMS during a flight test on March 19, 2025. Credit: NASA/Brandon Torres-Navarrete As a part of the testing, Joby Aviation of Santa Cruz, California, flew its remotely piloted aircraft, similar in size to a Cessna Grand Caravan, over the testing site. The PAMS system successfully exchanged aircraft location and flight intent with Joby's mission management system. The test marked the first successful interaction between PAMS and an optionally piloted aircraft. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Fire chiefs from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) attended the testing and provided feedback on the system's functionality, features that could improve wildland fire air traffic coordination, and potential for integration into operations. "We appreciate the work being done by the NASA ACERO program in relation to portable airspace management capabilities," said Marcus Hernandez, deputy chief for CAL FIRE's Office of Wildfire Technology. "It's great to see federal, state, and local agencies, as it is important to address safety and regulatory challenges alongside technological advancements." These latest flights build on successful PAMS testing in Watsonville, California, in November 2024. ACERO will use flight test data and feedback from wildland fire agencies to continue building out PAMS capabilities and will showcase more robust information-sharing capabilities in the coming years. NASA's goal for ACERO is to validate this technology, so it can be developed for wildland fire crews to use in the field, saving lives and property. The project is managed by NASA's Airspace Operations and Safety Program and supports the agency's Advanced Air Mobility mission. Provided by NASA This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Workers at a construction site in India during 2022's partial solar eclipse. The moon will cross in front of the sun for around four hours on Saturday, creating a partial solar eclipse that careful skygazers will be able to see in parts of the Northern Hemisphere. The eclipse will stretch from eastern Canada to northern Russia, and potentially be visible in most of Europe and some areas of northeastern North America and northwest Africa, according to France's Paris Observatory. The eclipse will begin at 0850 GMT on Saturday and end at 1243 GMT. The relatively rare celestial event occurs when the sun, moon, and Earth all line up. A total solar eclipse is when the moon totally blots out the sun, creating an eerie twilight. But this time, the moon will cover at most 90% of the sun in some northern latitudes, turning the sun's rays into "cold light," Paris Observatory astronomer Florent Deleflie told AFP. The maximum amount of eclipse will be visible in northeastern Canada and Greenland at 1047 GMT. It will be less spectacular in other areas. In France, for example, between 10% to 30% of the sun's disc will be obscured, depending on the region. "The naked eye will not be able to see any difference," Deleflie said. Be careful People wanting to see the moon apparently take a bite out of the sun will need to take precautions. A partial solar eclipse behind the Taj Mahal in 2022. Looking straight at the sun -- during an eclipse or otherwise -- can lead to irreversible vision loss. "Using special glasses is one solution," Deleflie said. However, if the glasses are not new, even a slight defect or "microscopic hole" can cause eye damage, he warned, advising people to try observing an eclipse at a local astronomy observation center. There, "you can safely verify the precision of celestial mechanics and marvel at interesting details on the sun's surface, such as sunspots," he said. The partial eclipse will not turn up on a smartphone camera without a suitable filter, Deleflie added. "The light is so intense that the obscured part won't appear." The latest celestial show will come two weeks after skygazers across much of the world marveled at a rare total lunar eclipse, dubbed a "blood moon." An airplane flies past a partial solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Saturday's partial solar eclipse will be the first of the year, and the 17th of this century. A bigger one is coming -- On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse will be visible in Iceland, northern Spain, and parts of Portugal. More than 90% of the sun will also be obscured in parts of Europe including Britain, France, and Italy. It will be the first total solar eclipse since one swept across North America in April 2024. 2025 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Nikita Kotrelev from Pexels "Angry" citizens often experience a lack of trust in politics and democracy. Governments are doing everything they can to involve this group in democracy again with referendums and participatory budgets. Research by Rosa Kindt shows that this is having an effect: these meetings provide satisfaction and a feeling of being heard, especially among right-wing populist citizens. Kindt's Ph.D. defense will take place on 1 April at Radboud University. In the public debate, there is often talk of angry, populist citizens who feel that they are not being listened to. As political scientist Kindt points out, "We often hear about groups that want to take power back from the elite, for the people. But of course these are rather empty concepts. What kind of power do they want, and for which people? After all, a left-wing populist citizen may have a very different idea of which 'people' are not being heard than a right-wing populist citizen. Kindt's research shows that right-wing populists in any case make a strict distinction between "ethnic Dutch" and everyone else, while on the left side of the spectrum there is hardly any distinction between who does and does not belong to "the people." "These are quite radical differences. I was curious to see if this has consequences for how these groups think about democratic innovations. Because if you have a very narrow definition of the people, how do you feel about a meeting where people also have a role that doesn't meet that definition?" says Kindt. Legitimacy More and more local governments are experimenting with these kinds of innovations, such as participatory budgets in which citizens can decide how (part of) the municipal budget is spent, or referendums. The goal of these initiatives is to increase trust in democracy by putting citizens at the center of the decision-making process. But is that really how (populist) citizens experience it? The surprising answer (also for Kindt): yes. "Citizens were not only happy to participate in these meetings, but almost all of them indicated that they appreciated the outcome and saw it as a good reflection of what is going on in society." For her research, Kindt spoke with participants in participatory budgets in Duiven, Maastricht and Amsterdam. She conducted interviews and distributed questionnaires to a wide range of citizens, both populist and non-populist, left-wing and right-wing. Being heard The right-wing populist group, which had indicated beforehand that it was concerned that many non-ethnic Dutch people might attend the meeting, resulting in a non-representative representation, also appeared to have a positive experience. Kindt says, "They greatly appreciate the opportunity to share their opinions with other citizens, where there is room for every story. The fact that they are being listened to leads to a positive outcome, especially for this group." According to Kindt, this is an important starting point for future citizens' initiatives: it suggests that the mistrust of democracy is mainly rooted in the feeling of not being heard. Although many people are increasingly fearful of populist sentiments, Kindt warns that it is important not to tar all populists with the same brush. The survey shows that many populist citizens want democracy to better represent the people, with the people being understood to be a very broad group. These populist citizens can therefore give democracy a boost by ensuring that citizens play a greater role in the public debate. Local politics has a big task ahead of it. "If you really want to do something with those angry citizens, you have to keep involving them in citizens' initiatives. They too will then feel more connected to our democracy," Kindt explains. More information: Rosa Kindt, "In the hands of the right people: Exploring how different conceptions of who belongs to the people shape populist citizens' democratic legitimacy perceptions." This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Podcasting was once the underdog of the media world: a platform where anyone with a microphone and an idea could share their voice. With low barriers to entry and freedom from institutional gatekeeping, it promised to amplify marginalized voices and allow underrepresented groups to tell their own stories, on their own terms. Today, however, this promise seems increasingly strained as corporate interests tighten their grip on the industry. As money flows in, the podcasting space is beginning to resemble the rest of the digital media worlddriven by advertising revenues and political polarization. The promise of podcasting Six years ago, audio scholars Martin Spinelli and Lance Dann described podcasting as a "revolutionary" medium for its ability to inspire empathy through innovative forms of audio. Podcasting was heralded as a format that broke through the barriers of traditional media by offering new ways to engage with underrepresented voices and ideas. Media and cultural studies pointed to the direct-to-ear deliveryfree from the biases of visual cultureas a uniquely intimate way to consume content. Globally, the industry boomed as a result of pandemic lockdowns, with the number of podcasts on Spotify skyrocketing from 450,000 in 2019, to 1.5 million in 2020. Listenership has also surged in Australia. According to a 2024 report by Edison Research, we've seen a 20% increase in listenership from 2022 to 2024with 48% of those aged 12 and above having listened to a podcast within the past month. From open space to rat race In his 2024 book Podcasting in a Platform Age, podcast researcher John Sullivan warns the podcasting space is being increasingly dominated by a handful of powerful media companies that dictate what and who gets visibility. Larger podcasts with higher production budgets, celebrity hosts and backing from major networks are attracting larger audiences, with independent creators struggling to get a foot in the door. At the time of writing, of the top 50 most popular podcasts in Australia, more than half (52%) come from overseas, and primarily the United States. Of the 24 Australian-made podcasts on the list, 80% are backed by a media organization, with most (64%) connected to major networks such as LiSTNR, which is owned by Southern Cross Austereo. Only 12% of the Australian podcasts on the list come from truly independent creators without any corporate funding or major production support. Why does it matter that large-network ownership is on the rise? To understand this, it helps to first understand how ads keep podcast networks in businessand how this can impact content decisions. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Deepening ideological divides Advertisers follow the crowds. In a podcasting context, this means they're more likely to funnel their dollars into large networks, further bolstering their resources. At the same time, networks want to drive as many ears to their ad sponsors as possible. To do this, they focus on producing content they know will get the most engagement. The result is a vicious cycle in which attention and advertising power feed each other, making it even harder for independent voices to break through. Over time, this feedback loop can lead to less content diversity and more polarization. It's here that we're seeing an increase of politicians using podcasts to push their views and cultivate ideological loyalty. In the lead-up to the 2024 US election, Kamala Harris appeared on Call Her Daddy (the second most popular Spotify podcast in 2024), while Donald Trump was on The Joe Rogan Experience (the most popular). Both interviews were later fact-checked and found to contain false or misleading claims. Trump's interview in particular was flagged by CNN for having 32 false claims. Nonetheless, analysts and researchers pointed to it as a driver behind his success with young male voters. The political podcasting trend is also playing out in Australia ahead of the next federal election. Late last year, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton appeared on the podcast Diving Deep With Sam Fricker. This was followed by an appearance on Straight Talk, hosted by businessman Mark Bouris, in January. More recently, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Greens leader Adam Bandt separately appeared on It's A Lot with Abbie Chatfield. Diversity in the podcasting space According to 2022 Pew Research Center data, 55% of Americans said their major reason for listening to podcasts was "to learn", while 29% said they wanted to stay up-to-date with current affairs. But information-hungry listeners may be getting shortchanged, as podcasts are less likely to be fact-checked against the same editorial standards that govern traditional media. As platform researcher Michael Bossetta notes, although large platforms such as Spotify have the potential to create a more informed world, they are more likely to push content that keeps users hooked (that is, content they already enjoy and/or agree with). Recommender algorithms also have a role to play. One 2020 study found that while Spotify's personalized suggestions increased user engagement by 28.90%, they also reduced the individual-level diversity of podcast streams by 11.51%. But platforms do have the power to do better. They could, for instance, use their algorithms to prioritize content diversity. This would help ease the "engagement-diversity trade-off," in which personalization increases engagement, but limits the diversity of content consumed by an individual. That said, it's unlikely platforms will voluntarily change the way they operate. If meaningful reforms are to happen, they will more likely have to come from government regulations or through independent governing bodies. In the meantime, listeners aren't powerless. While we can't stop algorithms from pushing certain content to the top of our feeds, we can disrupt them by actively seeking out independent voices and diverse stories. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Immigration has dominated recent election campaigns in countries that include the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the United States. The subject sparked particularly fierce debates over welfare. While some politicians called for more support for typically economically vulnerable immigrant populations, others argued that welfare systems are already too generous and accommodating to newcomers. Unfortunately, many debates on this subject lack solid evidence. A newly launched data set could change that. The data, which provides systematic information on immigrants' access to social programs across different countries and different time periods, can help ground some of these discussions in empirical reality. The data set reveals key insights. One striking observation is that the countries where politicians most frequently complain that immigrants are treated too generously are among the most exclusionary from a comparative perspective. It also shows that although most welfare systems were moving towards greater inclusion up until the 2010s, since then, social programs in many countries have become more inclusive in some respects but more exclusive in others. A new data set for 22 countries The data set, called the Immigrant Exclusion from Social Programs Index (IESPI), measures how much immigrants' access to pensions, health care, unemployment benefits, housing benefits, social assistance and active labor market programs compares to that of native-born citizens. The index uses 32 indicators to measure factors like whether immigrants have to have resided in the country for a certain period of time, held a specific type of residence status, or met standards of successful integration before they can access social programs. The data covers the years 1990 to 2023 and includes information for 22 countries. Complaints about inclusion In the United States, President Donald Trump has voiced concerns about immigrants' welfare access repeatedly, both during his first term and since taking office again this year. In last year's British election, a staple of Rishi Sunak's campaign was the insistence that immigrants threaten the sustainability of the welfare state. On the other side of the North Sea, the political party that won the Dutch elections made the argument that immigrants are "pampered" a central feature of its election platform. Ironically, all three of these countries are among the most exclusionary, according to the most recent IESPI data, as the graph below illustrates. (Note that the IESPI is organized such that a value of 0 is maximally inclusionary and 100 is maximally exclusionary.) Inclusionary trends have ended A second observation is that the era of social welfare systems becoming more inclusive for immigrants has ended. From 1990 until the 2010s, most Western welfare systems were removing barriers for immigrant access to social programs. But since then, levels of immigrant welfare exclusion have not changed dramatically over time. Closer inspection shows that this picture of stability since the 2010s hides negative trends in different social programs. On the one hand, health care programs and active labor market policies have gradually become more inclusionary. More and more countries have been making health care services accessible for vulnerable immigrant populations, and rolling out targeted programs to improve newcomers' chances in the labor market. On the other hand, social assistance policies have generally become more exclusionary over time. Many countries have intensified restrictions for recent arrivals, migrants without permanent residence status and migrants who cannot demonstrate successful integration. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Large differences in historical trajectories When we look beyond aggregate trends, we also note very different trajectories in different countries. In some countries (Austria, Germany, Finland, Iceland, Malta, New Zealand, Portugal and Spain), social programs have become consistently more inclusionary. Other countries (Canada, Luxembourg and Sweden) have also undergone an inclusionary development, although at a more modest pace of change. In a third set of countries (Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Norway and Switzerland), policies initially became more inclusionary but this trend was halted or reversed around 2010. The social programs of three other countries (the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States), finally, have consistently become more exclusionary over time. These comparisons within the IESPI data set hopefully enable us to make sense of the frequently charged nature of discussions about immigrants' access to social programs. Most obviously, they show we should be cautious when listening to some of the politicians who are most critical of immigrant welfare access, like Donald Trump, Rishi Sunak and Geert Wilders. If their arguments that exclusionary reforms in their countries are nothing but reasonable adjustments to overly generous approaches ever had any merit, that merit is quickly evaporating. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Images of 73 protoplanetary discs in the Lupus star forming region (two of the images contain binary stars). Only a fraction of the discs extend beyond the orbit of Neptune, when compared to our own Solar System. Most of the observed discs are small and show no structures like gaps and rings. Credit: Guerra-Alvarado et al. Many protoplanetary disks in which new planets are formed are much smaller than thought. Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) scientists of the Leiden Observatory (the Netherlands) looked at 73 protoplanetary disks in the Lupus region. They found that many young stars host modest disks of gas and dust, some as small as 1.2 astronomical units. The research, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics, establishes an important link between observed protoplanetary disks and exoplanets. In the past decade, astronomers have imaged hundreds of protoplanetary disks around young stars using powerful radio telescopes on Earth, like ALMA. When compared to the size of our own solar system, many of these disks extend far beyond the orbit of Neptune, our outermost planet. Furthermore, most of the disks show gaps where giant planets are thought to be formed. Research of Ph.D. candidate Osmar M. Guerra-Alvarado, postdoc Mariana B. Sanchez and assistant professor Nienke van der Marel of the Leiden Observatory now show that these disks might not be typical. Using ALMA, the researchers imaged all known protoplanetary disks around young stars in Lupus, a star-forming region located about 400 light years from Earth in the southern constellation Lupus. The survey reveals that two-thirds of the 73 disks are small, with an average radius of six astronomical units. This is about the orbit of Jupiter. The smallest disk found was only 0.6 astronomical units in radius, smaller than the orbit of Earth. "These results completely change our view of what a 'typical' protoplanetary disk looks like," Guerra-Alvarado says. "Only the brightest disks which are the easiest to observe show large-scale gaps, whereas compact disks without such substructures are actually much more common." Artists rendering of planet-forming disc. Credit: ESO/L. Calcada Optimal conditions for super-Earths The small disks were primarily found around low-mass stars, with a mass between 10 and 50% of the mass of our sun. This is the most common type of star found in the universe. "The observations also show that these compact disks could have optimal conditions for the formation of so-called super-Earths, as most of the dust is close to the star, where super-Earths are typically found," Sanchez says. She is a postdoc at Leiden Observatory and a contributor to this research. Super-Earths are rocky planets like Earth but with masses up to ten times that of our planet. This could also explain why super-Earths are often found around low-mass stars. Furthermore, the research suggests that our solar system was formed from a large protoplanetary disk that produced large gas planets like Jupiter and Saturn, but no super-Earth. Super-Earths are thought to be the most common planet types in the universe. The missing link The research establishes a "missing link" between observations of protoplanetary disks and observations of exoplanets. "The discovery that the majority of the small disks do not show gaps, implies that the majority of stars do not host giant planets," Van der Marel says. "This is consistent with what we see in exoplanet populations around full-grown stars. These observations link the disk population directly to the exoplanet population." Previous high-resolution observations of ALMA mainly focused on bright disks which are often much larger. For the smaller disks only the brightness was measured and not the size. High-resolution observations can be more complicated to take, and it was not clear if ALMA would be able to image the relatively faint disks. For their research, the scientists used ALMA observations, taken in 2023 and 2024, with the highest possible resolution of 0.030 arcseconds. They also used archival data to create a complete high-resolution disk survey of an entire star-forming region for the first time. Van der Marel says, "The research shows that we've been wrong for a long time about what a typical disk looks like. Clearly, we've been biased towards the brightest and largest disks. Now we finally have a full overview of disks of all sizes." More information: O.M. Guerra-Alvarado et al, A high-resolution survey of protoplanetary discs in Lupus and the nature of compact discs, Astronomy & Astrophysics (2025). Preprint (pdf): www.astronomie.nl/upload/files arado-et-al-2025.pdf Osmar M. Guerra-Alvarado et al, A high-resolution survey of protoplanetary disks in Lupus and the nature of compact disks, arXiv (2025). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2503.19504 , arxiv.org/abs/2503.19504 Journal information: Astronomy & Astrophysics This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Using a 56-qubit quantum computer, researchers have for the first time experimentally demonstrated a way of generating random numbers from a quantum computer and then using a classical supercomputer to prove they are truly random and freshly generated. Credit: Quantinuum In a new paper in Nature, a team of researchers from JPMorganChase, Quantinuum, Argonne National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and The University of Texas at Austin describe a milestone in the field of quantum computing, with potential applications in cryptography, fairness and privacy. Using a 56-qubit quantum computer, they have for the first time experimentally demonstrated certified randomness, a way of generating random numbers from a quantum computer and then using a classical supercomputer to prove they are truly random and freshly generated. This could pave the way toward the use of quantum computers for a practical task unattainable through classical methods. Scott Aaronson, Schlumberger Centennial Chair of Computer Science and director of the Quantum Information Center at UT Austin, invented the certified randomness protocol that was demonstrated. He and his former postdoctoral researcher, Shih-Han Hung, provided theoretical and analytical support to the experimentalists on this latest project. "When I first proposed my certified randomness protocol in 2018, I had no idea how long I'd need to wait to see an experimental demonstration of it," Aaronson said. "Building upon the original protocol and realizing it is a first step toward using quantum computers to generate certified random bits for actual cryptographic applications." Quantum computers have been shown to possess computational power far beyond that offered by even the most powerful classical supercomputers. Last year, a team from Quantinuum and JPMorganChase and another from Google each announced they had performed tasks on their respective quantum computers that would have been impossible with existing supercomputers, a feat known as quantum supremacy. However, converting this power into solving a practical task remained an open challenge. This challenge has now been addressed by leveraging random circuit sampling (RCS) to generate certified randomness. Randomness is an essential resource for many applications in areas such as cryptography, fairness and privacy. Classical computers alone cannot generate truly random numbers, so they are typically combined with a hardware random-number generator. But an adversary could commandeer the random-number generator and use it to provide the computer with numbers that are not fully random, allowing the adversary to then crack cryptographic codes. Using the new method described here, even if an adversary had commandeered the quantum computer, it would theoretically be impossible for them to manipulate the output and still be certified as random. Accessing the 56-qubit Quantinuum System Model H2 trapped-ion quantum computer remotely over the internet, the team generated certifiably random bits. Specifically, they performed a certified-randomness-expansion protocol based on RCS, which outputs more randomness than it takes as input. Overview of the protocol. Credit: Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08737-1 The protocol consists of two steps. In the first step, the team repeatedly fed the quantum computer challenges that it had to quickly solve which even the world's most powerful classical supercomputer can't quickly solve and which the quantum computer can only solve by picking one of the many possible solutions at random. In the second step, the randomness was mathematically certified to be genuine using classical supercomputers. In fact, the team showed that randomness could not be mimicked by classical methods. Using classical certification across multiple leadership-scale supercomputers with a combined sustained performance of 1.1 x 1018 floating point operations per second (1.1 ExaFLOPS), the team certified 71,313 bits of entropy. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. "This work marks a major milestone in quantum computing, demonstrating a solution to a real-world challenge using a quantum computer beyond the capabilities of classical supercomputers today," said Marco Pistoia, Head of Global Technology Applied Research and Distinguished Engineer, JPMorganChase. "This development of certified randomness not only shows advancements in quantum hardware, but will be vital to further research, statistical sampling, numerical simulations and cryptography." In June 2024, Quantinuum upgraded its System Model H2 quantum computer to 56 trapped-ion qubits and, in partnership with JPMorganChase's Global Technology Applied Research team, used this system to perform RCS, a task that was originally designed to demonstrate quantum advantage. H2 improved on the existing industry state of the art by a factor of 100 thanks to its high fidelity and all-to-all qubit connectivity, leading to the conclusion that the result could not have been obtained on any existing classical computers. This upgrade, combined with Aaronson's protocol, led to the breakthrough now described in Nature. "Today, we celebrate a pivotal milestone that brings quantum computing firmly into the realm of practical, real-world applications," said Dr. Rajeeb Hazra, President and CEO of Quantinuum. "Our application of certified quantum randomness not only demonstrates the unmatched performance of our trapped-ion technology but sets a new standard for delivering robust quantum security and enabling advanced simulations across industries like finance, manufacturing and beyond. At Quantinuum, we are driving pioneering breakthroughs to redefine industries and unlock the full potential of quantum computing." "These results in quantum computing were enabled by the world-leading U.S. Department of Energy computing facilities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory," said Travis Humble, director of the Quantum Computing User Program and director of the Quantum Science Center, both at ORNL. "Such pioneering efforts push the frontiers of computing and provide valuable insights into the intersection of quantum computing and high-performance computing." More information: Marco Pistoia, Certified randomness using a trapped-ion quantum processor, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08737-1. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08737-1 Journal information: Nature This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Men in local leadership positions are unaware of gender leadership disparities and are less likely to challenge dominant stereotypes compared to women, suggests new research by the University of South Australia. The work is published in the journal Contemporary Social Science. UniSA researchers interviewed more than 30 people in local leadership roles in regions experiencing industrial transformation, across government, business, sporting clubs, religious organizations and academia. All participants were from communities directly affected by the closure of Australia's automotive industry in 2017, in suburban Melbourne, northern Adelaide and Geelong. They were interviewed in 2023 about gendered stereotypes that existed when the crisis unfolded and progressed, as well as when COVID hit. The findings suggest that women and men leaders agreed on what makes a good leader. However, women experienced daily impacts related to gender leadership stereotypes and actively worked to break down these biases. On the other hand, men leaders tended to be unaware of gender differences, believing they didn't exist. Lead researcher Dr. Lynette Washington says the men in the study largely accepted dominant gender leadership norms without questioning them, limiting their ability to push for alternative leadership styles which might assist to drive real change in regions undergoing a major industrial shift. "The thing that was most striking was that when we spoke to women, they immediately identified that they were impacted by stereotypes and they undertook detailed, sophisticated work to deconstruct those ideas. They understood how stereotypes impacted them, they thought about that impact regularly and deeply, and it was very much front of mind for them," she says. "When we asked the men about gender bias, they didn't believe that it existed for women or men leaders. And because of that, they couldn't deconstruct these ideas to understand how they functioned and impacted people in the workplace." The research was centered around the concept of "place-based leadership," a collaborative, community-led approach to leadership that aims to improve the social and economic outcomes for a specific community. Dr. Washington says place-based leadership is not so much about the job a leader is doing but the way they're doing itwith an emphasis on collaboration, leading through persuasion, soft power and networking. "It's about their understanding and care of the place. Many place-based leaders live in the place they lead and key to being a place-based leader is having a connection or a personal investment," she says. "The findings of our study suggest that greater awareness of gender in leadership would help create more inclusive and effective leadership and this could lead to fairer outcomes." One of the research participants shared her experience with gender bias in local government. "The first time I stood up to speak in council, the town clerk said to me, "Well, that's very nice. Now be a good girl and sit down," she said. Researchers have documented gender bias in leadership since the 1970s, a phenomenon that US researcher Dr. Virginia Schein called "think manager, think male." Dr. Washington explains the issue now is that men must do more to help deconstruct bias. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. "If men can't take that first step of acknowledging that gender stereotyping in the workplace is real, they can't do the work to address it. Women are acknowledging it and working hard to deconstruct and change it, but part of the reason it's not progressing in the way that it needs to is that men aren't also doing that work to the degree that is required for change," she says. "Without equality in leadership, we can't access the full wealth of knowledge, experience and ability that exists in places. Left behind places need to access the full range of skills and abilities that they hold to ensure they can meet the challenges ahead. "Places like the northern suburbs in Adelaide and Geelong in Victoria experienced significant disruption when the car manufacturing industry closed and were also hit hard during the pandemic. We need the best possible leadership in these places and that means challenging old ways of leading and introducing new, more effective leadership styles. One way to do that is to have a greater awareness of gender within leadership. "This will result in more equal outcomes across the regions." More information: Lynette Washington et al, Gender, place leadership and levelling up across regions, Contemporary Social Science (2024). DOI: 10.1080/21582041.2024.2441856 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: GLOSTFM multi-temporal display based on FY-3D data. Credit: AIR A research team, led by Prof. Meng Qingyan from the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has successfully developed the Global Spatiotemporal Fusion Model (GLOSTFM), a high-efficiency spatiotemporal fusion model that utilizes multi-source satellite data. By integrating thermal infrared and microwave observations from the Fengyun-3D (FY-3D) satellite, GLOSTFM enhances the spatiotemporal resolution of land surface temperature (LST) data. The findings were published in Remote Sensing of Environment. LST is a crucial indicator for researching climate change, ecosystems, and human health. However, traditional remote sensing technologies often face challenges, such as limited spatiotemporal resolution from individual sensors and cloud cover interference, which can lead to data gaps or decreased accuracy. To address these limitations, the researchers developed the GLOSTFM model, which combines the "image pyramid" principle with multi-source satellite data. This technique layers high-resolution thermal infrared imagery (with a resolution of 1 km) onto low-resolution but all-weather microwave data. The model gradually merges these layers to produce a high spatiotemporal resolution global LST product. Utilizing the FY-3D's daily revisit capability, GLOSTFM incorporates microwave data to cover cloud-covered areas, significantly reducing data loss. In this study, the researchers tested GLOSTFM in five representative global regions, including major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, as well as agricultural zones in Australia, yielding impressive results. The fused land surface temperature data generated by GLOSTFM demonstrates high accuracy, with temperature estimates averaging only 2.87 K off from real-world measurements. Additionally, the data show a correlation coefficient (R) of 0.98, closely aligning with actual observations, making it a reliable tool for climate and environmental research. Moreover, GLOSTFM can process 648 million pixels of global data in 25 minutes, which is dozens of times faster than traditional models. This capability allows for the handling of large-scale data in near real-time for the first time. By overcoming the trade-off between high resolution and extensive coverage in land surface temperature monitoring, this technology provides high-precision data that supports climate modeling and carbon neutrality initiatives. More information: Qingyan Meng et al, GLOSTFM: A global spatiotemporal fusion model integrating multi-source satellite observations to enhance land surface temperature resolution, Remote Sensing of Environment (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.rse.2025.114640 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain As flood threats rise, wetlands across South Carolina could play an important role in fending off high water before it soaks homes, businesses, roads and other property that people depend on. But wetlands that control flooding and shelter wildlife are in substantial jeopardy as a result of a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limited federal protections for many of the watery depressions, according to a report released this week. In one of the first reports outlining how many wetlands could be affected, an environmental group says South Carolina could lose federal protection on more than 1 million acres of wetlands. That's more than three-quarters of the state's wetland areas currently protected under the nation's clean water law. South Carolina is one of 20 states where more than 1 million acres of wetlands could be open for development with little or no government oversight as a result of the high court's decision, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, which produced the report. All told, the defense council report says a minimum of 19 million acres of wetlands could be unprotected and open for development nationallyan amount roughly the same size as the entire state of South Carolina. In the worst case, some 70 million acres, or about 84% of the country's wetland areas, could be open for development as a result of the Supreme Court ruling, the NRDC said. "This analysis reveals that the Supreme Court has torn the heart out of the country's principal law to protect people from polluted water and from the consequences of destroying critical waters," the NRDC report said, referring to the 2023 decision. Under Democratic President Joe Biden, federal agencies had taken the position that while some wetlands protections were limited by the Supreme Court ruling, others remained. Republican President Donald Trump, since taking office in January, has signaled that the ruling will be interpreted differently and affect far more wetlands. The Supreme Court decision "has exposed communities to increased flooding, threatened their drinking water supplies; undercut protections for wildlife; and made it less likely the places people go to fish, swim and boat will be clean and healthy," the NRDC report said. The ruling, known as the Sackett decision, curtailed the reach of the federal Clean Water Act in shielding wetlands from development and farming practices. The ruling said the act does not let the agency regulate wetlands near rivers, lakes or other water bodies unless they are connected to those waters. Many wetlands do not have that connection and are isolated from major waterways. The court's decision was in contrast to decades of legal precedent that generally said wetlands were subject to protections through the clean water law, enacted in the early 1970s to safeguard rivers and other waters from environmental threats. To develop in wetlands, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must issue a permit after weighing the harm done by the proposed work. Often that means reducing the impact on a wetland before a permit is approved. Wetlands, including swamps and bogs, are soggy depressions that have been protected by the Clean Water Act because of the environmental benefits they bring, including soaking up storm water and filtering pollution before it reaches rivers. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. They are also rich with wildlife, providing spawning habitat and food sources for an array of species, including birds, fish and amphibians. The report said nearly half of all species listed as threatened or endangered by the federal government depend on wetlands. Despite those benefits, wetlands can get in the way of development projects, slowing plans to build houses, businesses and public works projects, such as highways. Many developers , builders and farmers have long complained that wetlands rules are too onerous because they don't often distinguish between minor depressions and major, ecologically important swamps. Earl McLeod, former director of the Home Builders Association of Greater Columbia, said some wetlands are little more than slight depressions that occasionally fill with water. But he said the process to obtain permits to fill them can be time-consuming. "I would not call the process smooth; it's anything but," said McLeod, who is now retired. "Delays cost money. I don't think anybody I've ever dealt with over the years intentionally wanted to destroy wetlands. It's just a question of who defines what a wetland is and is not."' Steven Mungo, executive chairman of Mungo Homes Inc., said he's interested to know how the Sackett ruling ultimately will be interpreted. Developers and home builders want rules that are certain and easy to understand, and they need limits on how long it can take the federal government to issue permits, he said. "Navigating the regulatory environment regarding wetlands is very difficult," said Mungo, whose company operates in 10 South Carolina markets, including Columbia. "I'm not sure Sackett is going to make it any better at the end of the day."' SC wetlands in crossfire South Carolina's wetlands include salt marshes along the coast, but the majority are freshwater bogs that dot the entire state, even as far inland as the mountains. Most of the state's wetlands, however, are in the coastal plain. They include rare Carolina bays, densely forested flatwood wetlands and open savannas. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council report, wetlands in 10 South Carolina countiesmostly in the coastal plainface the greatest threats from the Sackett decision. Those include the large, high-growth counties of Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester and Horry, as well as smaller developing counties near the coast, including Jasper. But the report said Orangeburg, a mid-sized county in the state's interior south of Columbia, also faces substantial threats to wetlands. Charleston County, for instance, could find a minimum of 18,804 acres of wetlands and 4,910 individual wetlands open for development. But the numbers could be as high as 69,891 acres of wetlands and 8,291 individual wetlands depending on how the court's ruling is interpreted, the report said. That's notable because more than 86,000 properties in Charleston County face an 80% risk of flooding in the next 30 years, the report said. Jasper, a gateway to busy Hilton Head Island, has 5,448 properties with an 80% chance of flooding over the next three decades. Horry County, home to booming Myrtle Beach, has more than 39,000 properties with at least an 80% of flooding during that time period, the report said. It found that Horry County could lose protections of as much as 98,433 acres of wetlands. Flooding can be associated either with sea-level rise that affects property on the coast or with flash flooding that occurs in interior areas of South Carolina. Rising sea levels and more intense storms are blamed for more floods. The Natural Resources Defense Council study examined three different potential outcomes from the 2023 ruling: scenarios that gauge minimum, moderate and extreme results. Those impacts depend on how the Trump Administration interprets and applies the Supreme Court ruling, the council said. To come up with the estimated acreage of at-risk wetlands, the NRDC used two national databases from federal agencies.The environmental group took that information, which includes maps of wetland areas, to look at what are considered protected and nonprotected areas. In South Carolina, more than 325,000 acres of wetlands could be open for development under the minimum scenario. But in what's considered the most extreme scenario, the government could open nearly 1.8 million acres for development, the report said. The Palmetto State has about 2.3 million acres of wetlands now regulated by the government. Coupled with wetlands that are not federally regulated, the state has more than 4 million acres of wetlands, one of the highest percentages in the Southeast, federal data show. In addition to wetlands loss, the report says the Sackett ruling also jeopardizes streams that dry up for parts of the year. The ruling says a minimum of 2.5 million miles of creeks would not be protected nationally. Anywhere from 44.7% to 55.3% of streams in South Carolina could lose protections, the report said. The loss of federal wetlands protections, even with the minimum scenario presented by the NRDC report, could mean states will look at tougher rules to protect swamps and bogs locally. South Carolina's Office of Resilience has previously said the state needs a law to protect some of its most sensitive wetlands, including rare Carolina bays. Such depressions are unique to the Carolinas and Georgia, and harbor an abundance of wildlife. Getting that done, however, may be a long shot in conservative South Carolina. The state Legislature has rebuffed multiple efforts in the past to protect and preserve wetlands after hearing from business interests. Since the Sackett decision, wetlands protection has not surfaced as a major issue in the S.C. Legislature. 2025 The State. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A student uses their cell phone after unlocking the pouch that secures it from use during the school day at Bayside Academy, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024, in San Mateo, Calif. Credit: Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle via AP, File More states are moving to ban or restrict cellphones in school, a trend that continues to win bipartisan support in legislatures. Senators in Georgia voted 54-2 on Tuesday to give final approval to a bill that would bans students in grades K-8 from using phones or other personal electronic devices during the school day. The measure goes to Republican Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature or veto. Currently, nine states ban phones in school, but that number will likely soon rise. Similar bills this year have passed by wide margins in New Mexico, Tennessee and Utah and await action by those states' governors. Measures are also progressing rapidly in other states. The push for cellphone bans has been driven by concerns about the impact screen time has on children's mental health and complaints from teachers that cellphones have become a constant distraction in the classroom. "This bill isn't just about academics, it's about students' well-being," Republican Georgia state Sen. Jason Anavitarte of Dallas said during debate Tuesday on House Bill 340. "Studies link excessive phone use to mental health issues, decreasing social skills, and an increase in bullying. We want students engaged in school, socializing with friends during lunch and focusing in the classroom." Nationally, 77% of U.S. schools say they prohibit cellphones at school for nonacademic use, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. But that number is misleading. It does not mean students are following those bans or all those schools are enforcing them. Arkansas, California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia have enacted measures banning or restricting students' use of cellphones in schools. The specifics of the measures vary widely. Georgia's bill says students can't access their personal devices at any time during the school day, but enforcement is up to local school districts. Some Georgia districts are already using locking pouches, but schools could also just tell students to leave their phones in their locker, to turn them in to a teacher, or disable them using an online application. Students who need devices to monitor medical conditions or to help overcome intellectual disabilities would still be able to use them. Some other states would still allow phones or other devices to be used in some situations. For example, the Utah bill lets schools permit classroom use under local policies. Georgia isn't providing any extra funding, although supporters suggested districts might be able to use yearly school safety grants if they need to buy pouches or other equipment. New Mexico's bill sets aside $10 million in aid for local schools to help fund adoption Objections to the proposal often center around concerns that students and parents won't be able to contact each other in case of emergency. In September, when a student killed two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School northeast of Atlanta, many students communicated with their parents and with emergency services using their phones. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Sen. Rashaun Kemp, an Atlanta Democrat, said he was voting for the bill. But he pleaded with Republican colleagues to restrict guns to stop school shootings. "What if that phone could save lives in an active-shooter situation?" Kemp asked "These are true concerns as a parent that all of us will typically think about. What if that phone is the last opportunity for my child to communicate with me?" But supporters of the bans have noted that students' phones could pose additional dangers during an emergency by distracting students or by revealing their location during an active-shooter situation. Republican Sen. Randy Robertson of Cataula said a parent's job is to "sit down, be responsible and trust the school to follow their emergency action plan. Their calls will go unanswered because their children's phones will be locked away." For others, though, the bill doesn't go far enough. They want to see the ban extended to high school. Republican Rep. Scott Hilton of Peachtree Corners, the bill's sponsor, said that was likely in a future session. "This bill is a step in the right direction, but let it be the beginning and not the end," said Democratic Sen. Jason Esteves of Atlanta. "Let's ensure that every student from kindergarten to 12th grade has the opportunity to learn free from unnecessary distractions." 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Mechanism of ecosystem homogenization. Credit: Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adr4199 Scientists don't call it the "Great Dying" for nothing. About 252 million years ago, upward of 80% of all marine species vanished during the end-Permian mass extinctionthe most extreme event of its kind in Earth's history. What followed was a mysterious, multimillion-year span that could be called the "Great Dulling," when marine animal communities looked remarkably alike all over the planet, from the equator to the poles. Researchers have long sought an explanation for this so-called taxonomic homogenizationa scene that played out after other mass extinctions over the past half-billion years. Now, Stanford researchers have shown that profound environmental change likely provided the means for select survivors of the end-Permian extinction to dramatically expand their ranges. The researchers focused on the marine animal fossil recordthe most complete evidence of the extinction's aftermathand created a model that predicted how creatures like clams, oysters, snails, and slugs flourished in suddenly warmer, less-oxygenated waters. The findings, published in Science Advances, offer insight into life's recovery not only in bygone eras, but also into the present, ongoing mass extinction wrought by human activity. "For us in the paleobiology field, this model is the equivalent to climate scientists getting computerized climate models to make quantitative predictions of how the world should change based on some simple mathematical representations," said senior study author Jonathan Payne, the Dorrell William Kirby Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. "We are now able to study big biogeographic changes of mass extinctions in a new way and get a better sense of why some animal groups made it through while others perished." Reconstructing the past In addition to the fossil record, scientists understand ancient oceans based on naturally occurring chemical markers that reveal past temperatures and environmental conditions. Toward the end of the Permian period, Earth was reeling from cataclysmic volcanic activity in modern-day Siberia, which ushered in intense global warming, oxygen depletion, and ocean acidification that killed most marine organisms 252 million years ago. But the extinction alone doesn't explain the bizarre presence of its surviving speciespreviously constrained to certain specific locationsin every ocean across the globe in the millions of years that followed, known as the earliest Triassic geological period. To convey the surreal concept of taxonomic homogenization on a planetary scale, lead study author Jood Al Aswad, a Ph.D. candidate in Earth and planetary sciences, offered a modern analogy with land animals: "If someone asked you today where you'd find kangaroos, you'd say Australia," she said. "But now imagine some major disaster happened, like a giant volcano erupted, and afterward you're finding kangaroos in great numbers all over the globethey're all the way out in Antarctica, they're hopping by the pyramids in Egypt, and they're even in Stanford, California." Fossils before and after the end-Permian extinction "go from richly diverse communities to almost boringly alike communities, wherever you look," Payne said. According to the research, the variety of species across different parts of the world was reduced by more than half after the extinction event. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Setting up shop all over Researchers have debated the cause of these stark fossil record differences for nearly 200 years and, in recent decades, proposed multiple mechanisms for why different locations had remarkably similar inhabitants following the end-Permian extinction. One hypothesis is "ecological release," where the die-offs of certain predator and competitor creatures allow one surviving group of organisms to go gangbusters. Another common theory is that the climate changes in ways that produce a favorable environment for the same few organism groups just about everywhere. The study authors put these hypotheses to the test, using geochemical data that provides information about ancient ocean oxygen levels and temperature conditions to build a climate model for end-Permian environmental change in the oceans. They then applied data from physiological experiments on living marine invertebrate animals such as clams and snails that are related to the survivors and victims of the Great Dying to populate a climate model with simulated species. These virtual species were able to respond to environmental changes of the end-Permian era based on their ability to survive alterations in temperature and oxygen availability. In this way, the model provided a "physiology-only" evaluation of how the geographical distribution of species would be expected to change if oxygen and temperature were the main drivers of where species could go. The results show that the hardy clique of mollusks monopolizing the marine fossil record in the Great Dying's aftermath were indeed well suited for the conditions of the changed world. As a result, the model did not even have to consider ecosystem-level factors such as loss of predators and competitors, which might have also played a secondary role. "Our study has provided a simple environmental explanation, rather than an ecological one, for why certain survivors of the end-Permian extinction prospered and why homogenization happened on a global scale," Payne said. Views into the future In addition to illuminating the deep past, the new model can also help scientists and policymakers predict and better understand the presently unfolding biodiversity crisis, an impending mass extinction caused by the planet-altering activities of billions of humans. "The current biodiversity crisis is anticipated to herald changes in ecosystem composition that surpass even those seen in the earliest Triassic, which has been the greatest homogenization event to date," the study authors wrote. Al Aswad, Payne, and colleagues are now extending their model to examine other past mass extinctions, such as the end-Cretaceous event that famously wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs. "Our model offers a great way of studying how animals respond to extreme changes in the environment," Al Aswad said. "With anthropogenically spurred climate change, there has been some warning that if we continue, then in the future we're going to see taxonomic homogenization of organisms in modern oceans as well." Other Stanford co-authors of the study are Pedro Monarrez (previously a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford and now an assistant professor at Virginia Tech) and Mohamad Bazzi, a current postdoctoral scholar in Payne's lab. Justin Penn and Curtis Deutsch from Princeton University are also co-authors. More information: Jood Al Aswad, Physiology and climate change explain unusually high similarity across marine communities after end-Permian mass extinction, Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adr4199. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adr4199 Journal information: Science Advances This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Bribie Island Research Centre seaweed cultivation. Credit: Belinda Comerford, Monash University Seaweed farming could be the sustainable solution the world has been looking for, but new research from Monash University and the University of the Sunshine Coast suggests Australia has a long way to go before it can capitalize on growing global demand. In a study exploring ways to grow the fledgling industry in Australia published in the Journal of Applied Phycology, researchers found key improvements to farming equipment and practices could provide the kick-start it needs. Lead researcher Dr. Belinda Comerford, from the Marine Evolutionary Ecology Research Group at Monash School of Biological Sciences, said seaweed cultivation could be a gamechanger to meet Australia's net zero targets and transition to greener industries. "We have seen global production of algal aquaculture like seaweed increase 4.3 times in the past 20 years," Dr. Comerford said. "This is an industry with huge potential, and something a country like Australia is well positioned to leverage, with an abundance of coastal land that is suited to seaweed cultivation. "Our work focuses on giving industry the tools and expertise to produce yields that will make their operations commercially viable on a large scale." Seaweed can be cultivated on land, in tanks where it is rotated around using seawater and air pumps, requiring fewer resources and generating fewer emissions than other Western farming practices. It has a variety of uses, including food, pharmaceuticals, building materials and an energy source. Dr. Comerford and her team conducted their study at the Bribie Island Research Center in Queensland, where the plants were grown free-floating in 1,000 liter tanks. She said a key finding was that the tanks needed to better mimic underwater light conditions, with the study showing the seaweed experienced periods of under- and over-exposure to light as the seaweed rotated around the tank. "What we were able to do was discover just how different the patterns of light exposure between seaweed growing naturally and seaweed growing in our culture tanks were," she said. "This is really important because it allows us to provide advice to industry about optimum conditions. "We can then provide recommendations to the industry that will help set the standards for best practice, such as stocking density, or lead to the development of new equipment, like different size tanks. "As with any commercial venture, maximizing yields is critical to the viability of the operation, which in turn will help develop and sustain an Australian industry." More information: Belinda Comerford et al, Land-based seaweed cultivation creates darker, less predictable light environments, Journal of Applied Phycology (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s10811-025-03462-8 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Technician Cesar Gutierrez climbs a tower to detect and locate lightning strikes in the study area. After detection, drones and on-the-ground teams monitor the strike's impacts. Credit: Evan Gora / Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies Getting zapped with millions of volts of electricity may not sound like a healthy activity, but for some trees, it is. A new study, published in New Phytologist, reports that some tropical tree species are not only able to tolerate lightning strikes, but benefit from them. The trees may have even evolved to act as lightning rods. The research was led by Evan Gora, a forest ecologist at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. Gora studies how lightning impacts biodiversity and carbon storage in Panama's tropical forests. Lightning kills hundreds of millions of trees per year. But in 2015, while working in Panama, Gora and his colleagues came across a Dipteryx oleifera tree that had survived a strike with little damageeven though the jolt had been strong enough to blast a parasitic vine out of its crown and kill more than a dozen neighboring trees. "Seeing that there are trees that get struck by lightning and they're fine was just mind-blowing," Gora recalled. Over time, the team encountered other Dipteryx oleifera trees thriving after getting hit, so they decided to take a closer look. Scientists had previously suspected that some trees evolved to tolerate lightning, but evidence to back it up was lacking. In 2022, Gora and colleagues demonstrated for the first time that trees differ in their ability to survive getting hit by lightning. Their new paper is the first to show that trees can benefit from these electric jolts. Using a unique lightning location system, the team tracked the outcomes of 93 trees that had been struck by lightning in Barro Colorado Nature Monument in central Panama. For two to six years after the strike, the team measured tree survival rates, crown and trunk condition, number of parasitic vines or lianas, and neighboring tree mortality. The study included nine directly struck Dipteryx oleifera trees, and compared them with 84 other trees that had been struck. All nine Dipteryx trees survived direct lightning strikes with only minor damage. In contrast, directly struck trees of other species were badly damaged, losing 5.7 times more leaves from their crowns, and 64% died within two years. When each Dipteryx tree was zapped, an average of 9.2 neighboring trees were killed as the electricity traveled between adjoining vines and touching branches, or jumped across small gaps between trees. Lightning strikes also reduced Dipteryx liana infestations by 78%, freeing trees from some of the pressure these parasitic vines have on light and nutrient availability. A Dipteryx oleifera tree just after being struck by lightning in 2019 (left) versus two years later (right). The tree survived the strike with minimal damage, and benefited from having its parasitic vines and competing neighbors removed by the strike. Credit: Evan Gora / Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies These patterns also bore out across the broader population. The team found that Dipteryx trees tend to have fewer lianas. Analyzing trends in tree death over the past 40 years, the researchers found that the trees neighboring Dipteryx trees were 48% more apt to die than other trees in the forest, likely because of lightning. Using drones, Gora and colleagues created 3D models of canopy height, which showed that Dipteryx trees tend to be about four meters taller than their nearest neighbors, likely because lightning killed their taller neighbors, giving them an advantage in competing for light and space. "These data provide the first evidence that some trees benefit from being struck by lightning," the authors write. Or, as Gora puts it, "It's better off for a Dipteryx oleifera tree to be struck than not." Because of all these benefits, Dipteryx oleifera trees may be specially adapted to attract lightning. With their distinctive height and unusually wide crowns, they may be up to 68% more likely to get electrocuted than other trees with average height and crowns, according to the team's calculations. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Estimates suggest individual Dipteryx oleifera trees are directly hit by lightning every 56 years, on average. And since the trees can live for hundreds or possibly more than a thousand years, they are expected to survive these blasts many times throughout their lives. During the study, one of the Dipteryx trees was struck twice in just five years. Also known as the eboe, choiba, tonka bean or almendro, Dipteryx oleifera is native to Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador. Its hard wood is used in construction, and it produces almond-flavored seeds that are edible and sold in local markets. A keystone species of Panamanian forests, D. oleifera fruits and seeds are a crucial food source for rainforest mammals such as agouti during the dry season. Credit: Evan Gora / Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies The remarkable ability to survive lightning strikes and benefit from the removal of lianas and competitors gives Dipteryx trees a major advantage over other trees. According to the scientists' calculations, lightning tolerance boosts the species' ability to produce offspring by 14 times. Next, the team aims to investigate what electrical or structural traits allow these trees to survive lightning strikes. They would also like to explore whether other species show lightning tolerance, to better understand how common this phenomenon is. What is clear is that lightning plays an underappreciated role in tree competition. And with lightning on the rise in many regions due to climate change, its influence may increase, potentially favoring lightning-tolerant species like Dipteryx oleifera. Understanding lightning and its role in shaping forests may be important for predicting changes in biodiversity and carbon storage, and for informing tropical reforestation efforts. More information: How some tropical trees benefit from being struck by lightning: evidence for Dipteryx oleifera and other large-statured trees, New Phytologist (2025). DOI: 10.1111/nph.70062 Journal information: New Phytologist